Chapter 1: Jubilant Surprise Pie
Pinkamina Pie stood over her sleeping filly with a contented smile. They’d shared a slice of cake and a glass of milk before the mare insisted it was bedtime. She couldn’t help but check out the window constantly for an approaching chariot or carriage. She knew Jubilant Surprise would be missed, and the matron of the home for wayward foals would already be on her way.
Five years ago today her foal had been born. Some ponies called it a miracle birth. They couldn’t recall ever seeing Pinkie with a stallion for more than a few moments, let alone long enough to get pregnant. Some joked that that’s where the ‘Surprise’ part of her name came from. Pinkamina Pie’s little surprise. She didn’t do anything to help or hinder the many rumors surrounding her daughters’ conception.
The trouble began when her filly had been born a unicorn. The little town didn’t have its own doctor, and Fluttershy had performed the delivery herself. She’d had enough experience assisting her animal friends in the act, and out of necessity played midwife to Pinkie. Fortunately, the birth went smoothly, no complications or anything. Both were dismayed to see her horn. That meant the Queen’s seekers would come to take the newborn to the closest unicorn city, most likely Canterlot..
It was the first and only time she’d broken her promise to one of her few remaining friends from the old world. Well, friend may be a bit strong, but she had so few ponies she could have a sane conversation with anymore that each and every one of them was precious to her. That made her smile again. Pinkie Pie wanting sane conversations. Using the gift he left behind, she’d temporarily hidden her foals’ horn. She didn’t dare use it long but it was enough to fool the seekers. Convinced it was an earth filly, they left.
After that, it was a whole song and dance routine of hats, bandanas, and headbands. It was… stressful. Not just having to hide her filly’s true nature from the towns ponies, but dealing with magic surges. And boy oh boy did her little Surprise have some doozies. That phase was short lived, thank Celestia, but still the perpetually cheery mare’s pleasant disposition was sorely taxed during the time.
Her ‘career’ she’d been assigned when the world changed suffered for a time. She felt the magic wash over herself, then her cheerful little home she’d shared with Jennifer was gone, replaced by this… huge monstrosity of a manor. It didn’t take long for her to riddle out where her special talent was applied to in this new unicorn dominated world. Parties among her fellow earth ponies were few and far between, and the pegasi so far as she knew didn’t even know the meaning of the word anymore. High society functions were definitely not her idea of a party, but once she realized she was with foal, she knew she had to buckle down and get back to work.
Once Surprise was born however, it got trickier. At first she’d panicked, knowing she couldn’t bring the magically unpredictable filly with her or they’d be instantly found out. Fluttershy had saved the day yet again. Whenever Pinkie had to leave town for a business trip, her friend would take the filly—her goddaughter by then—into the Everfree to her hut to stay. There was no safer place in Equestria than Fluttershy’s hut in the Everfree Forest. Her rapport with animals slowly extended to the unnatural beasts lurking within to the point where even the ursas showed affection toward their pony neighbor.
Not to mention the forest’s other pony occupant. Pinkie sighed at that thought but shook it away. She’d tried her best to help her and get her involved with Surprise, but the mare had stubbornly refused. Not that she held it against her; it was hard for her sometimes too. Casting one last look at the sleeping filly and giving her a gentle nuzzle, Pinkie stepped from her bedroom making her way back downstairs.
No sooner had she arrived than a sharp rapping of hoof on door sounded. Taking a deep breath and squaring her shoulders, she answered it. Of course it was Dinky Doo. The unicorn had grown into a young mare over the past few years. She had no guards with her, Pinkie noted with interest. Last time it took six seekers to restrain her when they’d come for her filly. Dinky’s tail flicked and she offered a faint smile. “Hello Miss Pie. May I come in?”
Her confusion only grew. Dinky was a unicorn, a common born one, but a unicorn nonetheless. That meant if she wanted to come in, she certainly didn’t need permission, even from such a well-connected earth pony. “Sure. D’you want something to drink? Looks like you had a long hike.” She stepped aside, admitting the other mare.
“No thank you, Miss Pie. I think you know why I’m here.”
Pinkie’s first instinct was to buck her right back out the door, but she resisted. “For Surprise.”
“Yes. I didn’t bring any guards or seekers; I hoped we could resolve this peacefully.”
Again Pinkie had to quell her fight instinct. It’d do nopony any good if she beat the hay out of Dinky. She knew it wasn’t her fault she was acting this way, very few ponies managed to escape Galaxia’s spell that day. “… She’s just going to keep coming back you know.”
Dinky frowned gently now, and made her way to the seat cushions, taking the smaller of the bunch in the sitting room. “I had a feeling that might be the case. To be honest I was hoping you could tell me how she got away in the first place. The home is well protected; wards, guards. One of the most heavily defended buildings in Canterlot in fact. It’s rare, but sometimes we get attacked by berserk parents…” She blinked, realizing the other week Pinkamina was one such parent.
Pinkie simply nodded. “I can imagine. Have you seen her using magic?”
Dinky pursed her lips in a bit of a frown. “I haven’t actually. She does everything by hoof and mouth for the most part. I assumed you trained her to do so.”
The older mare laughed a little, and despite Dinky’s words earlier, set some tea on the stove. “Nope. She wanted to be like everypony else in Ponyville. My only rule was if she went out, her horn had to be covered.”
“So you encouraged her magic then?”
“Of course. She’s my daughter. I want her to be the very best at everything. That includes magic.”
Dinky Doo regarded the earth pony curiously. “That’s… very forward thinking of you, Miss Pie. Most earth ponies are very disdainful of magic.”
“Oh please, call me Pinkie. All my friends do after all.”
Now the younger pony shifted uncomfortably. “That’s not very professional…”
“You came here without your goons this time, Dinky. I beat up six stallions before you guys magic’d me from here to Canterlot and back. Coming all by yourself wasn’t very professional either. So why’d you do it?”
Dinky hadn’t remembered telling Pinkie her name. “… I feel a little… bad… for Jubilant Surprise. She seems very attached to you.”
“You weren’t attached to your mom when they took you from her?”
Now the young mare’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “How did you know about that?”
“Lucky guess.” The mare happily chirped as she fetched the tea from the kitchen. “Anyway! You wanted to know how she got out, right?”
“More than anything.”
Pinkie smiled, conspiratorially leaning in close. “She can teleport.”
Dinky almost spit out the mouthful of tea she’d been sipping. “D— don’t be absurd! She’s barely five years old!”
“I know how old my filly is. You really don’t believe me?”
“Of course not. Teleportation is only mastered by the most skilled and powerful unicorns. The very idea that a filly her age could do that is… is… insane.”
Nodding slowly, Pinkie rose from her cushion. “Wait here, just one sec.”
“Miss Pie please don’t try to run…”
Pinkie offered her a toothy smile. “Promise. I’m gonna go get Surprise is all.”
Nodding a little, and willing to give the mare who’d shown her a shocking amount of kindness the benefit of the doubt, she settled down to sip her tea. A few moments passed and she began to grow concerned.
“SURPRISE!”
Dinky whinnied hysterically and reared back on her hind legs, flailing and falling flat on her back. Chest rising and falling as she frantically tried to calm herself, she looked incredulously at the wildly giggling filly rolling about the ground, clutching her sides. “Wh— where did you come from!?”
The little pony finally managed to get her giggles under control. Pinkie had come downstairs and was watching with a little smile. “My room, duh. Mom came and woke me up and said I should surprise you! So did I getcha!?”
“… Y— yes Jubilant you… you certainly got me.”
The little green pony wrinkled her nose. “I don’t like being called Jubilant.”
Dinky recalled that her mother referred to her as Surprise. “Oh um… sorry... Surprise?”
She smiled again. “It’s ok! You didn’t know!” Looking at the pair of them, Dinky could see a lot of resemblance. Aside from their coat colors of course. Pinkie’s was appropriately pink while Surprise’s was a deep forest green. Though both had the same baby blue eyes, and Surprise’s mane and tail were a dark pink, curling wildly and out of control. She’d tried to tame both after a particularly hellish bath time experience. Surprise most certainly did not like a brush getting anywhere near her mane.
“How um… did you do that, Surprise?”
She tilted her head. “Do what?”
“Appear down here so fast.”
“Oh!” Her horn lit up with a shimmering green aura and with a flash of swirling multihued lights, she vanished with a pop. Only to reappear with an identical pop, nose-to-nose with Dinky. “Surprise!”
Dinky’s body contorted comically from her on-the-back pose as she flopped over to the side with a little shriek. “Y— you can teleport!” She looked to Pinkie. “She can teleport!”
Pinkie shrugged. “Yup.”
The young house matron rolled to her hooves, looking over the seemingly ordinary filly in astonishment. “This is… this is amazing. Miss Pie, your filly may be the most gifted unicorn of all time!”
“Mmm. I don’t know about that.”
Dinky blinked in astonishment. “What do you mean? That’s a very high level spell!”
“Well true. Surprise packs a wallop, but she’s awful with spells.”
Dinky Doo looked from Surprise, then to her mother. “But she teleports.”
Another shrug from the older mare. “Uh huh. But she won’t learn anything else besides that and levitation, and she could teleport since she was two or so. It just came naturally to her, like levitation does to most unicorns. Believe me, we tried and tried to get her to learn anything else. She’s very stubborn.”
Having grown bored with the conversation, Surprise was busy bouncing on the large stuffed alligator in the room. Dinky nearly fainted again when the huge monster’s eyes snapped open and it rolled on its back, dislodging the filly. She screamed as its jaws snapped down around an unsuspecting surprise… its toothless jaws. “Hi Gummy!”
“M— Miss Pie is that…a pet alligator?”
“Yup! That’s Gummy. Hatched him myself.”
Dinky Doo was watching in morbid fascination as the large reptile gnawed harmlessly on the delightedly squealing filly in its jaws. “Is… that safe?”
“Well sure it is. Gummy loves playing with Surprise.”
The young mare watched the scene silently for several moments. “You… are a very odd family, Miss Pie.”
Pinkie smiled softly. “But we’re a happy family, Dinky.”
The blond mare frowned gently. “I have to take Surprise with me, Miss Pie. If my superiors notice her missing…”
“I understand. Do you mind just… waiting a little bit?”
Dinky sighed softly. “If it’ll keep her from running away again, I can wait until morning. You know a noble lord has taken an interest in her? She could have a very comfortable life.”
Pinkie watched as Izzy joined in, the dog excitedly barking and bouncing circles around the wrestling gator and filly. “Comfortable doesn’t always mean happy.”
“Well Lord Fancy Pants is a very kind stallion, and I haven’t met his wife but I’ve only heard good things. They say the Lady Rarity is one of the most generous mares in Canterlot.”
This drew Pinkie’s attention. “I know all about Rarity and Fancy Pants. So they’re the ones who were looking at Surprise?”
“Well he was. He said he wanted to discuss it with his wife. He seemed very enthusiastic.”
This brought a warm grin to the earth pony. “I can convince her to behave if you can promise me she won’t get stuck with anypony but Fancy and Rarity.”
Dinky frowned. “Why?”
“Because I know them. I planned their wedding, and just about every other party Fancy Pants has thrown. He’s one of my best customers.”
“R— really? Is that how you afford such a nice house?”
“Mmhm. Everypony comes to me for their parties; they just like to pretend they don’t.”
Dinky drew small circles in the carpet with her hoof. “I can’t promise they’ll adopt her, but I’ll do my very best to keep her from being taken by any other parents. To be honest, it’s rare our wards are adopted at all. Most ponies think they uh…” She frowned.
“They’re not as good as a pure blooded unicorn? I know. And I believe you’ll do your best, Dinky. Why don’t you stay the night? It’s pretty late, and you can take the train back in the morning.”
Dinky frowned slightly. “It is pretty late. Thank you for your hospitality, Miss Pie.”
With a happy shrug, her hostess led her from the room to one of the many guest rooms upstairs. “Sleep tight! Lemme know if you need anything.”
Nodding, Dinky shut the door behind herself. Pinkie pondered for a moment. She could probably take Surprise and head west. There were rumors that somepony was standing up to Galaxia’s regime out there. But what kind of life would that be for her filly? Sighing softly, she made her way back down to find Surprise rolling about the carpet, getting Gummy’s saliva out of her fur. “Alright kiddo, you need to go back to bed.”
With a pouty sulk, Surprise glared up the stairs. “I don’t wanna go with her.”
Sighing softly, Pinkie settled next to her daughter. “I know, cupcake. But it’ll just be for a little bit okay? I promise, things are going to get better.”
Eyes narrowed dangerously. “Do you Pinkie Promise?”
“Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.”
Nodding in satisfaction, Surprise promptly curled up in her mother’s forelegs. “Fine. I’ll go with her tomorrow.”
“That’s my girl. Just remember what I told you…”
“Always keep smiling!”
“That’s my girl.”
“Applejack, Ah don’t care whatcha say, Ah ain’t goin’ nowhere!”
Applejack scowled at her little sister. “This ain’t a democracy, Applebloom. Somepony’s gotta take a stand, an since Ah don’t see none a’ the others doin’ it, well… s’gonna be me.”
Applebloom shook her head violently. “But’ya can’t! Ah already lost everypony else! Ah dunno what Ah’d do if Ah lost you too.”
Taking a deep breath and straightening her Stetson, Applejack rested a hoof on her sister’s shoulder. “Now listen here sugarcube. Th’way things’re goin’, we’re gonna be out on our plots in the street while somepony else moves in an takes over th’ farm. If we’re lucky, we got us a year b’fore they buck us out. Ah got’ya a train ticket fer Appleloosa. Cousin Braeburn’s a good sort; he’ll take ya in.”
Stubbornly, Applebloom refused to back down. “Ah ain’t goin’, an ya can’t make me!”
With another sigh Applejack smiled sadly. “Had a feelin’ that’s what’ya were goin’ t’ say.” She turned away from her sister, eyes settling on the family photos on the mantle. “But Ah promised Ma nothin’d happen t’ ya. An Ah ain’t one t’ break a promise.” A smile formed on Applebloom’s face at the mention of their parents. She was about to say something appropriately heartwarming, when without warning her sister bucked her square in the face. She crumpled like an empty apple sack.
Gaze shifting to the prone form of her younger sister, Applejack calmly meandered to the kitchen, solidly hog-tying and gagging her little sister. With a grunt, she tossed her over her own back, and carried her out to the barn. Finding an empty barrel, she gently dumped her in, sealing the lid. “Land sakes, Ma’d tan my hide fer this.” Shaking her head at what the state of the world had forced her to do, she nudged the barrel onto the cart and left for the train station. The pegasi would be coming soon for their tribute, but it wasn’t apples she intended to pay them in.
Jubilant Surprise had always been an early riser. Much earlier than her mom, that was for sure. She took a few moments to bask in the warmth of her mother’s body. Some of the other ponies in school made fun of her for how much affection she shared with her mom in public, but what’d they know? She had the best mom in the world.
With barely a thought she blinked away from her mother’s hold, to the stairs leading to the second floor. She knew it wasn’t called blinking, but teleportation… but that word was big and sounded goofy. She called it blinking. Glancing back at the mostly untouched cake, she levitated it—box and all—onto her back and resealed the top. With a baleful glare upstairs at Miss Doo’s door, she trotted outside. She had promised to return to Canterlot and she intended to keep her word. She just didn’t say when she was going to go. She loved Ponyville. The tiny farming town had been her home her whole life, and she wasn’t inclined to leave without saying goodbye to it.
For a moment, she considered visiting Aunt Fluttershy, but there was no guarantee she was even home. Plus mom always gave her a swat when she found out she’d gone into the Everfree alone. Which was so unfair! She was a big filly; she could handle a few manticores or whatever. Plus she knew her other friend in the forest watched out for her.
She didn’t have many friends in town. Miss Cheerilee was nice, but she’d be getting ready for the days lessons right now. Plus, no doubt she’d run into Diamond Tiara, the filly who’d sold her out to the seekers in the first place to make a few bits.
Instead, she set out for the farm where she’d earned bits on now and again, helping with the apple harvests. Miss Applejack was nice after a fashion. She usually never smiled, didn’t talk much either for that matter. But she did appreciate a hard worker, and Surprise was certainly one of those. She never used her magic like her mom asked, but she’d gotten pretty good at apple bucking. Nothing like either of the Apple sisters, but she earned her bits. Plus Miss Applejack always had a little something for her on her birthday.
This thought in her mind, the suddenly cheery Surprise practically pranced the long distance out to the farm. Her pleasant mood fled as the sky darkened overhead, seemingly from nowhere. Thick black clouds rapidly descended over Sweet Apple Acres as a small squad of pegasi began to descend. She didn’t recognize most of them, but she knew the one with the rainbow mane and tail was Private Rainbow Dash, Ponyville’s official pegasus liaison.
Curiously, she picked her way closer, keeping behind trees and moving from bush to bush. Miss Applejack was standing tall and proud in the middle of the orchard, not backing down an inch as Rainbow Dash landed in front of her while her fellow flyers circled overhead. Surprise couldn’t pick out the exact words but… they both looked really angry and were shouting. She gasped as Private Rainbow Dash’s blades slipped out of her foreleg guards. Miss Applejack reacted in a flash, her hind hooves connecting with the colorful pegasus and sending her flying into some bushes.
The other pegasi descended instantly. Miss Applejack put up a good fight, but there were just too many. The cheaters would swoop down and kick or cut at her. She managed to clip one or two with her hooves, but it wasn’t enough, and she was soon forced face down into the dirt. Surprise scooted close enough to hear Private Rainbow Dash as she stood over Miss Applejack.
“…he authority vested in me by Queen Galaxia, I declare you a traitor to the nation, Applejack. The penalty is… is death.” Surprise had a feeling the private wasn’t very happy about this, but she knew a little bit about pegasus ponies. Namely that duty to their queen and country came before personal feelings.
Rainbow Dash was torn as she stood above the earth pony, blade raised for the strike. Applejack glared up at her, her one visible eye blazing with defiance. Rainbow Dash had to admire that. It was rare for these dirt ponies to show real spirit. If only she’d been born with wings… how different would things have been? Steeling herself for what had to be done, she brought her blade swinging down…
…and was knocked on her snout as a piece of chocolate cake—magically propelled at high velocity—smashed into the back of her helm, knocking her forward and spinning the helmet the wrong way.
“Who wants cake!?” Five shocked pegasi turned to the high pitched voice. It was a little unicorn filly. A large chocolate cake held in her magical aura. “I’ll even cut!” Suddenly alarm turned to amusement at the sight of the little filly trying to look brave. One even chuckled looking down at his commanding officer as she straightened her helmet.
“Wh— what the heck do you think you’re doing kid?! You’re interfering with official business!”
Surprise licked her lips and took a moment to line her sights up properly. Six targets meant she’d have to fire six pieces at once. It was more objects than she’d ever tried manipulating at once, but Miss Applejack needed her help! “Well you already got one, but if you want seconds…”
Rainbows eyes widened at the filly’s implications. Before she could react, another piece smashed right into her muzzle, sending her flat on her back. Her soldiers began to snicker before they too got a helping of the filly’s birthday cake square in their faces. While they flailed about, Surprise darted forward and magically snapped the rope around Miss Applejack’s hind legs. “Time to go?”
Scrambling to her hooves with a nod of thanks, Applejack scooped the filly in her mouth and tossed her onto her back. “Reckon it is sugarcube.” She kicked into a gallop without delay, having no real destination in mind other than ‘away’. “Happy birthday by the by. Thought y’all were in Canterlot?”
“I didn’t like it. Don’t go this way! Turn right!”
“Right!? Darlin’ that’s the Everfree!”
Already the pegasi had recovered from the delicious bombardment; one was even licking his face clean. Rainbow Dash… was fuming. She’d been taken down twice by a filly with a birthday cake! “Get those ponies! I don’t care about Applejack, I want that filly!” Their CO was famous for two things; her speed and her temper. It was best not to be on the receiving end of the latter, and they wasted no time beating their wings and giving chase… only to screech to a halt as the mare and filly ran into the forest. Dash was still fuming. “Did I say stop?! Get in there and get them!”
“M— ma’am, that’s the Everfree Forest...”
“I don’t care if it’s Queen Galaxia’s outhouse! Move it! That’s an order!”
No pegasus could ignore a direct order without incurring grave repercussions from their higher ups, usually involving the loss of their wings. Steeling their courage, they blazed into the forest after Applejack and Surprise.
Applejack was running as hard as she could, while the Everfree almost promised certain death, the furious pegasi warriors behind her promised it with a lot more certainty. “Ah hope y’all have more of a plan then ‘run around ‘til we get eaten’!”
Clinging to Applejack’s mane, Surprise nodded, not that her bearer could see it. “Just keep running! I’ll tell you when to turn!” Normally not one to rely on a foal to save her life, but seeing few other options, Applejack complied. Surprise had her twisting and turning seemingly at random, but she sounded pretty sure of herself. Risking a glance over her shoulder, she saw the pegasi were closing fast. Lowering her head, she plowed on, pushing herself as hard as her hooves would carry her.
“Stop!”
Applejack reared and almost flung the filly off her back at her sudden shout. “Sugarcube there’s nothin’ here an they’re closin’ quick!”
Surprise hopped off her back and pranced in place, smiling wide the whole time. “Just wait.” Swallowing, Applejack looked back to find the pegasi were nearly on them. She could see the fury blazing in Private Rainbow Dash’s magenta orbs. About to scoop Surprise up and take off again, she paused. The filly was curled up on the ground, hooves clamped firmly over her ears. “Cover your ears!”
Once again against her better judgment, Applejack complied, hunkering down and doing as instructed. No sooner had she complied than an ear splitting wail split the air. Applejack could feel it rattling her bones, and she scrunched her eyes tight against the terrible noise. No doubt some horrid creature had found them and they were about to be eaten at any second.
When the sound finally stopped, she kept her eyes shut and ears covered for several moments more. Finally she peeked one emerald orb open. She just barely caught a glimpse of some… thing disappearing into the brush, only seeing a purple haired tail flick before it vanished from sight entirely. Surprise was just waving cheerfully at the departing creature. Looking back at the pegasi, she found each and every one sprawled out across the floor of the forest, blood leaking from ears and noses one and all.
“S— sugarcube… What in the hay was that!?”
Her smile never wavered as she began to merrily trot back the way they’d come. “My friend! She lives out in the forest. I see her sometimes when I visit Aunt Fluttershy. She never talks, but she saved me from a manticore once.”
Again Applejack looked to the unconscious pony’s. “Are they… dead?”
“Nah! But they’ll be out for like… ever.”
More than likely they’d wind up in some critter’s belly if she just left them out here. Surely they’d intended to kill her but… it just didn’t feel right. Sighing softly, she tossed a couple over her back. “Surprise honey, would’ya mind getting’ th’ rest?”
“Sure thing, Miss Applejack!” Her smile never faltered as she hefted them into the air with her magic, trotting ahead happy as can be. Applejack shook her head silently as she followed the surprisingly capable filly. She didn’t know what to think when it was revealed her part time helper was a unicorn. She’d seen the little ankle biter grow up over the last few years. The little scamp reminded her of Applebloom when she was a filly; always getting into trouble, but not a mean bone in her body. Unlike most of the folk in town, she didn’t harbor any real resentment toward the unicorns. Heck, a couple of ‘em were her best customers.
Once they exited the dangerous woods, she unceremoniously dumped her burdens on the ground. Giggling delightedly, Surprise did the same. They groaned softly, but none woke. “Right. Let’s gitcha back t’yer ma. Reckon she’s wonderin’ where y’all are by now. Then Ah think Ah gotta train t’ catch.”
“Yes, Miss Applejack.” She huffed, but knew better to argue.
No doubt the seekers would come to take her away, if they weren’t there already. Applejack wished there was more she could do for the family. That Pinkie Pie was a strange one, but she was always happy t’ throw her bits around trying to make life a little easier for folk. More than a few times she’d offered to buy extra sunlight for the farm. Applejack was starting to wish she’d taken her up on the offer. With a grunt, she dispelled such thoughts. No sense dwelling on what-ifs. She’d made her stand, even if her life was spared by the actions of the filly at her side.
She hesitated at Pinkie’s door. Ponyville’s wealthiest resident always looked at her with such sad eyes. She had no idea why. Pity maybe? Applejack had lost most of her family, and it was common knowledge her farm wasn’t going to be hers much longer. Still, she had to see Surprise back in her mother’s hooves before she left the only home she’d known her whole life. The decision was taken out of her hooves as Surprise barged in. “I’m home!”
Wincing a little, Applejack followed. Pinkie Pie bounded up, a scowl on her face. “Surprise! Do you know how worried I was!?” Her expression shifted to the usual sadness as she spied Applejack. “O— oh. Hey there Applejack… she wasn’t causing trouble, was she?”
Taking her hat from her head in respect, Applejack fiddled with the brim in her hooves. “No ma’am. Just th’ opposite. Yer little filly here saved mah life from a buncha hopped up featherheads. Just wanted t’ see her home before Ah caught the train out.”
Pinkie’s expression—if possible—turned sadder. “So… you’re leaving too.” It wasn’t a question… just a statement laced with resignation.
“‘Fraid th’ farm ain’t quite th’ home it used t’ be. Applebloom’s already on her way an Ah’m fixin’ t’ meet her. Y’all take care now, Miss Pinkie. Yer a good sort.”
Tugging her daughter close, Pinkie sighed. “You too, Applejack. Say hi to Braeburn and Applebloom for me.”
Nodding politely, Applejack took her leave. Pausing only for one more errant thought. ‘How in the hay did Miss Pinkie Pie know mah cousin’s name?’
Rubbing at her sore backside, Surprise sulked up at her mother. “Well I couldn’t just do nothing! They were gonna kill Miss Applejack!”
Pinkie had a hard time poking holes in her logic. “W— well… you’re still a filly and you went into the Everfree! Again!”
“Hmph! And I’d do it again in a heartbeat!”
Pinkie Pie bristled, about to scold her filly further, when all the anger drained from her. This was probably the last time they’d see each other in a while. She didn’t want to part angry. Instead, she gently ruffled Surprise’s mane. “I know. You did the right thing… just… it’s so dangerous out there.”
“Ah mom… I was fine! Miss Applejack was with me! And my friend was in the forest!”
“I know she was. She always looks out for you, doesn’t she? Let’s get some breakfast in you, then you have a train to catch with Miss Doo.”
Pout returning three fold, Surprise planted her butt at the table. Dinky Doo was making her way down cautiously. She’d clearly been awake sometime and overheard the whole exchange. “… Everything alright down here?”
Pinkie smiled winningly. “Just fine! I was gonna whip up some pancakes, then see you girls on your way!”
“That’s very kind of you, Miss Pie. Thank you.” Dinky took a seat at the table, offering a smile to the little filly. She received a glare that could freeze a phoenix in return. She couldn’t keep staring into those blazing blue orbs for long, and she backed down first.
After one of Pinkie’s amazing breakfasts, the three ponies found themselves at the train station. Dinky procured two tickets while Pinkie fussed over her daughter. “Now you listen to Miss Doo. No more running away, alright?”
“Yes mom.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.”
“Pinkie promise?” Curses. The one vow she could never break. Squirming uncomfortably, but seeing her mom had that… mom look, she relented and went through the sacred vow and motions. The train could be heard chugging toward town. Mother and daughter met in a tight embrace, tears in both their eyes. “I’ll see you soon, alright cupcake? Just behave. Miss Doo’s a nice pony.”
“I promise mama… I’ll be good.”
Dinky shifted uncomfortably. “It’s time to go, Surprise.”
Reluctantly, the two parted. “I’ll… I’ll send letters, mom!”
Now Dinky frowned gently. “Oh, I’m afraid that’s not allowed.”
Pinkie and Surprise shared a smile. Pinkie Pie might have omitted one or two of Surprise’s magic tricks. “Well, we’ll work something out.”
No more words were said. Surprise followed Dinky Doo into the train, and settled in the car. The filly kept her face stony as the train pulled away… separating her from her mother for a second time. Cautiously, Dinky rested a hoof on her shoulder. “Things aren’t so bad. And now you get to be with your own kind, Surprise. Doesn’t that sound nice? I hope you and I can become good friends.”
Surprise’s mask cracked and twisted to one of anger. She slapped the older pony’s hoof off. “We’re not friends. We’ll never be friends. And I’ll never forgive you for what you’ve done. Never.” She turned away from Dinky and faced the wall, lying down with a grunt.
Dinky Doo sighed softly. Sometimes she hated her job.
Pinkie Pie remained at the train station until well after the train had vanished from view. Slowly, she turned back, trotting to her far too silent home once more. She slowly moved about, cleaning the kitchen and picking up the small mess her filly had left in the living room. With nothing else to do, she settled for collapsing on her well-worn cushion, prepared for a spectacular mope.
“Why Pinkamina Diane Pie. I have never seen you look so miserable.” Pinkie jerked upright in a second at the voice. She turned to find a brown coated unicorn stallion, standing on his hind legs leaning against the front doorframe. Dressed in his ridiculous purple pinstripe suit, and wearing a smile that would rival one of her own back in the day, he casually twirled an ornate cane over one hoof. “I think it’s time we had a talk about our filly.”