I yawned and opened my eyes to a blank ceiling. I had been up almost all night taking care of Chocolate and Paprika. Chocolate decided that he wanted to keep me up as long as he could without bothering his mother, who was out like a light. Paprika on the other hand must have been hungry because she didn't want to stop crying until I woke up Pinkie. It was amazing how quickly she got up after I told her that Paprika wouldn't stop crying. After she was fed, she went right back to sleep just as quickly leaving me to take Paprika back to bed and make sure that she fell asleep. By that time, it was four in the morning. My eyes were heavier than lead balloons, but I managed to keep them open long enough for me to get up and take a bath. I turned the water off and chuckled. It was going to be this way for a while, at least until the little ones are big enough to where we won't have to get up that late. I looked out the door and something caught my eye. There was a receipt in the waste basket. Out of curiosity I picked it up and looked at it.
We haven't bought anything recently... I thought.
I looked up at the clock and realized what time it was: Time to go. Pinkie Pie had woken up and I went to kiss her good morning while simultaneously stuffing the receipt into my apron pocket.
"Good morning darling." I said to her.
she yawned and tried her best to smile at me.
"Have a good day at work sweetie." she said giving me a quick kiss.
"Have a good day with the little ones." I replied. She smiled and hugged me.
I turned to go out the door, but stopped in the door way.
"I love you all. More than anything." I whispered to myself.
I put on my hat and walked outside.
*****
"Have a nice day Ms. Bon Bon!"
"You too! Oh, and congratulations by the way!"
"Thank you! Come back soon!" I smiled and waved to the light creme colored pony.
I wiped my hooves on my apron and heard a crinkling noise in my pocket.
What is...? Oh... That receipt. What is that about? I thought.
I started to pull it out of my pocket, but before I could get it out I heard Mr. Cake call me.
"Pineapple! Can you come here please?"
"Yessir!" I called back.
I guess it can wait til later. I thought, stuffing the paper back into my pocket.
"Yes Mr. Cake?"
"You've filled ten orders single hoofedly!"
"Uh. Yessir. Is that a bad thing?"
"Why heavens no!" he said in shock. "It's just that that is a lot of orders! A new record for you in fact. Anyways, that's not what I called you for. I wanted to know how she's doing. Mrs. Cake and I have been wondering for a while now."
"Oh! Well, it was a successful! It was really painful for Pinkie, but she's doing fine now. We had two foals, a boy and a girl, and that's pretty much it. If you want you can pop by later to see them!"
"That would be delightful!" he said with a huge smile on his face.
I chuckled at the joy and smiled.
"I've got to get back to work."
"Wait! Why don't you take the rest of the day off?"
"What? But-"
"No buts! Go spend time with your family! You don't have much time before your proper wedding. I'd say four days. Go on! I'll take your shift."
I smiled wider and hugged him out of pure happiness.
"Thank you so much Mr. Cake!"
"Go on!" he said shooing me out the door.
I put up my apron and went out the door. Then I remembered something.
The receipt! I have to know what it's about. I thought.
I walked back into Sugarcube Corner and went to my apron.
"Sorry Mr. Cake, I forgot something in my apron."
"It's alright Mr. Spice! Have a good day!"
"You too!" I said walking out the door looking at the receipt.
It's for the hospital... Why would this be there...? It's not the one from yesterday... I thought looking up. I guess there's only one way to find out.
*****
"Hello?"
"Yes, what did you need sir?"
"Is Krystal here?"
"Yes sir. She's in room five."
"Thank you." I said looking down the hall.
I trotted down the hall and stopped before I got to room five and waited. When the blue and white pony came out I called her by name.
"Krystal!"
She turned around quickly with her eyes opened wide.
"Oh... Yes? Is something wrong?"
"I need to see what this receipt is for."
She eyed it for a long time and then looked up at me.
"It looks like it was for two ponies. Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash. I remember that day. They came here in an emergency. Said they were in some sort of fight down at the Colt 'N Lead. Rainbow Dash was banged up pretty bad, and the other was not as hurt, pretty close, but crying a lot."
I felt my heart drop into my stomach and my legs get cold.
"A fight? Before she birthed our children...?"
Krystal looked up at me.
"I'm very sorry..."
My expression was blank, and I have only a faint idea of what happened next. It felt like my vocal cords tore.
*****
I kicked open the door to the establishment and dust flew everywhere. I stepped in slowly and looked around.
"Alright." I began. I looked at the owner and he hid behind the counter in the front. "Who did it?"
"W-who did w-what?" the owner said.
"I'll give you all two seconds to tell me who did it." I said with fire in my eyes and heart.
"Hey." I heard a voice say as I instantly shifted my eyes to be fixed on him. "I saw a pink pony juss like this one when that Rainbow one clocked you Joe."
"Yeah. I think your right."
"So it was you huh?" I said staring directly through him with my burning gaze. "You hit her?"
"Well, she was bein' rude, that rainbow one. So I-"
"I meant the pink one." I said walking right up to his face.
"And what if I did?"
"Then your going to go straight through that wall. You and your buddy there."
"HAHAHA! You think YOU, a girly prancing pink little pony, can get me through that wall?! AAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! I'd like tuh see yew freakin' try it!"
"If you insist." I said to him.
I immediately turned around and kick the black coated pony clear through the wall of the establishment. I fixed my eyes on the slightly less buff pony in the seat next to him.
"Your turn." I said as I turned around once again.
I kicked him straight up into the roof, with a less powerful kick. After all, I wasn't angry with him. The black coated pony came back through the wall and spit red saliva onto the ground.
"Is that the best ya got?" he said with one eye half closed
I stopped in the middle of my stride and turned around.
"You want more? Fine. Your move."
He charged at me with all of his strength and I dodged and tripped him. His face hit the floor with a loud thunk, and I smiled slightly at this. He got back up and immediately swung at me, to which I tripped him again. This time taking him by the hooves and bending them behind his back.
"Check mate." I said as I stamped my right hind leg into his upper back, keeping him from getting up.
"I give... I give! I'm sorry!" he cried
I lowered my mouth next to his ear.
"So am I."
*****
Why would she not tell me what happened?! I don't understand! Does she not trust me?! I thought.
I turned my head towards the sky and yelled
"ANSWER ME!!!"
I panted and tears rolled down my face. I came to a trot, then to a quick sprint, and then to a full run all the way back to my home. Where it was "Safe."
I opened the door weeping loudly. Pinkie came to the door and put her hoof on my shoulder.
"What's wrong Pineapple??" she said with a frown.
"Why..." I began through a curtain of tears. "Why didn't you tell me..."
Pinkie shook her head in confusion. Then started backing up.
"I-I..."
"I didn't want to hurt anypony. I didn't want to feel this way towards you. I just wanted you to trust me!!" I said taking a vase and throwing it across the room where it met with the wall and shattered into pieces.
Both of the kids started crying and I did too.
"Well." she said with an angry look in her eye. "I didn't think you would act this way. I didn't think you were so immature."
"Don't you pin this on me! It's not my fault you tried to keep this from me!" I said enraged.
"You woke up the kids." she said turning around going into the other room.
"DON'T TURN YOUR BACK ON ME! I'M TALKING TO YOU!"
"Well I'm NOT talking to you!!" she screamed. "And if this is how you really are... Then I'm never talking to you ever again." she said with both the children in their carriers. "Let me through the door."
My face turned from anger to sadness as I opened the door and stepped out of the way. She stopped right next to me and whispered in my ear.
"The wedding is off." she said before leaving my home.
Tears rolled from my eyes and I fell on the floor crying.
Congratulations. I heard my father say. You just lost the three most important things in your life.
I am so proud of you son.