In just another bright, beautiful day in Ponyville, Sugarcube Corner was just as busy as ever. But today was an important day; besides just running the shop, Pumpkin and Pound Cakes' birthday was coming up, and Pinkie Pie wanted to make sure they had a blast when they turned 4.
Pinkie Pie loved watching the two grow up, even though they could be hooffuls at times. She was with Mr. and Mrs. Cake when the two bundles of joy took their first steps, when they gurgled out their first words; she even helped potty train them. Tomorrow marked the day when the twins turned into big ponies. Despite helping customers, to Pinkie, there was always time for party planning. She invited the whole town and baked the cake herself, with extra frosting and extra sweet chocolate stuffed inside.
"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Pumpkin and Pound Cake, happy birthday to you!" sang everypony in the shop. "And many more -" added Snips, before being promptly smacked by Snails. The two little foals glanced at each other, took a big breath, and blew out the candles together. Everypony cheered and clapped their hooves.
While they cut the cake and gave presents, Pinkie Pie bounced over to her 5 friends, practically bursting at the seams with joy. "So, whattaya think?" she asked, beaming.
"You've outdone yourself, sugar cube!" said Applejack, taking a sip of the apple punch she and her siblings made just for the party.
"Oh yes! I just hope they're gentle with the baby bunnies I gave them," added Fluttershy quietly.
"I know they'll simply ADORE the outfits I made for them!" chimed Rarity, flipping her mane.
"I can't wait to read them the new Daring Do book!" said Twilight.
"Just let me read it when you're done," piped up Rainbow Dash. "And when it's all over, I'll blow everypony away with my awesome Sonic Rainboom!"
Pinkie Pie bounced up and down excitedly. "You guys are the best! I couldn't have done it without you!"
"Pinkie Pie," called Mrs. Cake, her and her husband joining the conversation. "We just wanted to say thank you."
"We really appreciate it more than words can say," added Mr. Cake.
"It's my treat, but don't just thank me," Pinkie replied. She threw her hooves around her friends' shoulders, drawing them close. "Thank my friends too!"
Five days passed. Mr. Cake was awakened by the sound of both his foals' loud coughing. He tiptoed into their room to check on them. "I hurt, daddy," Pound Cake whimpered. "Me too, daddy," said Pumpkin Cake.
"Where do you hurt?" asked Mr. Cake, tucking them in more securely.
"Everywhere..." they mumbled.
"Well just hold on, Daddy will get you some medicine," Mr. Cake said. He crept to the kitchen and mixed cough syrup with chocolate milk to dilute the foul taste. He administered the medicine and kissed his little foals on the cheek, then returned to bed.
"Are they okay?" Mrs. Cake muttered sleepily.
"Just a little cough; they'll be okay," replied Mr. Cake.
This "little cough" would not cease to plague them, however; it came to the point where Pinkie Pie had to manage the shop all by herself because the Cakes were so busy caring for their little foals. Although Pinkie was glad to help, it was hard work.
Nothing seemed to work; Pumpkin and Pound Cake only seemed to be feeling worse by the day. Everypony was losing sleep from hearing the poor little ones cough incessantly at night.
Then, after 3 days of futile bedrest, cough syrup, and soup, the shock came.
Exhausted, Mrs. Cake was dabbing her little ones' heads with wet towels to relieve their fevers, when they began to cough up blood. Mrs. Cake just stared in horror.
"Mommy... what's wrong with me?" Pumpkin Cake cried, tearing up.
"It hurts, mommy..." wailed Pound Cake.
In the waiting room of the hospital, Mr. Cake sat numbly in the chair while Mrs. Cake paced restlessly.
Nurse Redheart called them in to see the doctor. They followed her anxiously. The look on the nurse's face was not encouraging.
Nurse Redheart glanced at the doctor and sighed. "Mr. and Mrs. Cake," she began. "It's never easy to say to this to anypony..."
"Come again!" Pinkie Pie said cheerfully as she handed her customer the sack of freshly baked sugared almond pastries. The colt smiled and left. A few moments later, Mr. Cake opened the front door, sullenly entering. Mrs. Cake followed, sobbing quietly and dabbing a hoofkerchief at her eyes.
The smile on Pinkie's face slowly turned into a concerned frown. "Where are Pumpkin and Pound Cake?"
"Pinkie Pie... we're going to have to close up a little early today," Mr. Cake said, staring at the floor.
"Why?" Pinkie asked.
Mr. Cake swallowed hard and looked her in the eye. "Pumpkin and Pound Cake have leukemia."
Pinkie was speechless. She slowly walked over to the shop window and flipped the open sign over.
A few silent, morose days later, Pinkie Pie accompanied Mr. and Mrs. Cake to visit the little ones. For the first time in days, they slept soundly, but the sight of the twins completely still in hospital beds was almost too much to bear.
Nurse Redheart looked them in the eyes sadly. "We gave them some powerful pain medication to help them sleep, but if you want to provide them with any real relief, we'll have to begin chemotherapy immediately, but it will cause their manes to fall out..."
"Please... do it," begged Mrs. Cake, tears welling up in her eyes. "I can't stand to see my little ones in pain..."
Nurse Redheart sighed. "I'm so sorry, Mrs. Cake. This hurts me as much as it does you."
Pinkie Pie hugged Mrs. Cake tightly. Mr. Cake just nodded at the nurse without saying a word.
The nurse smiled faintly. "All right then... we'll begin as soon as we can."
Two weeks passed, and the six friends decided to hang out in the peaceful tranquility of Fluttershy's cottage.
"I'm so happy!" Pinkie Pie squealed. "After two whole weeks, I'll be able to see the twins again!"
"Give them my regards, sugar cube," Applejack said.
"Yeah, I hope they feel better soon..." Rainbow Dash said. There was a brief silence as everypony knew the answer to that.
"Why don't we all just go see them together?" Twilight suggested.
"Yeah, I'll bring lots of flowers to brighten their day," Fluttershy said.
"I have a better idea, that is if you girls are willing," Rarity offered. "If you would follow me to the shop!"
They all travelled to Rarity's dress boutique. Once there, she explained her idea. The girls all heartily agreed to participate. A bit surprised, Rarity grabbed the scissors, needle, fabric, and thread.
"Well then... I suppose we should get started."
"Hello, girls! I take it you're here to see Pumpkin and Pound Cake?" Nurse Redheart asked as the ponies entered the hospital.
"Yes ma'am, we've got quite a surprise for them!" Applejack said.
"Alrighty then! They've just finished eating their lunch. I think they'll be very happy to see you! Follow me!" the nurse said, leading them to their room.
The sight of the two little foals was bittersweet. Although they were bald with no tails and visibly sickly, their bright little smiles still lit the room with their cheer. They squealed with delight and clapped their hooves.
As part of their surprise, the six friends had asked Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Applebloom to come with.
"Pound Cake and Pumpkin Cake, we would like to officially accept you as honorary members of the Cutie Mark Crusaders!" Applebloom announced proudly.
Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle came forward, each brandishing the red capes of their club. They wrapped the capes around the two foals and fastened the pins. "Thank you," they both mumbled sweetly.
"Don't mention it!" said Scootaloo, and each of the Crusaders hoof-bumped the twins.
Then Pound Cake pointed, referring to the six's manes. "What happened to your manes?"
"Yeah," giggled Pumpkin Cake. "They're all cut-up looking!"
The six nodded to each other and smiled knowingly. They presented the two gifts, and Rainbow Dash said, "We made you these!"
The six presented two hoofstitched wigs beautifully crafted with a keen prowess only Rarity could muster up. One had large chunks of Twilight's smooth bangs, a few of Pinkie's energetic ringlets, Rarity's fabulous curls, Fluttershy's gorgeous length, and the other was made of Applejack's thick sweepy bangs and Rainbow Dash's brash colorful length.
The twins stared in amazement. The six put the wigs on the two little foals. They were just a little large, but the twins obviously appreciated them.
Pumpkin Cake's bright but tired eyes peeped out from underneath Twilight's former bangs. "Thank you," she murmured as she smiled.
"It was no trouble at all! It's just a mane, it grows back!" Pinkie chirruped.
"Thank you," repeated Pound Cake, tugging on Rainbow Dash's former locks. "You helped us feel normal again."
"Has it really been a year?..." Mr. Cake asked quietly.
"Yes... it has," replied Mrs. Cake, leaning on his shoulder.
"Nothing will ever be the same..." he said under his breath as he placed the flower bouquets on the dirt before him.
Thunder rumbled softly in the distance and a light drizzle fell from the gray, sullen sky.
"Happy birthday to you..." Mr. Cake began. Tears blurred Mr. Cake's vision as he stared at the words engraved in the headstone:
Here lies our dear Pumpkin & Pound Cake
Their souls were sweeter than their names, and their smiles and laughter brighter than the colors of Sugarcube Corner
Age 5
R.I.P.
"Happy birthday to you..."
Mrs. Cake began to quietly sob.
"Happy birthday, dear... Pumpkin... and Pound Cake..."
Thunder rumbled again in the distance and the drizzle steadily increased.
"Happy birthday... to you..."
End