//------------------------------// // Chapter 8 - And Then It's Gone // Story: Pinkie The Match-Maker // by Ficta_Scriptor //------------------------------// Chapter 8 – And Then It’s Gone Two days later Applejack stood in the doorway, almost speechless at the sight of the troubled mare before her. She wanted to wrap a hoof around her and explain that everything was alright, but she could only stare blankly. “Is Big Mac home?” the other mare repeated, an emotion somewhere between desperation and sadness in her voice. Applejack placed a hoof to her mouth. Never had she seen her friend quite like this. “Ah don’t know where he is but—” “Then I should come back later.” With that, the pink-maned pony turned away. Her brain suddenly jolting into gear, Applejack leapt after her. “Wait!” she cried, clamping a foreleg around her friend’s shoulder. “Maybe y-you should come inside. Ah can fix you up somethin’ if you’re hungry.” She looked over the sullen mare, feeling her heart sink into her chest. There was no response at first, but eventually the other mare nodded in agreement and trotted slowly back to the Apple family home. She was led into a large room with a crackling fire and instructed to take a seat. After a few moments of family chit-chat, Applejack shut the dining room door behind her and took a seat next to her friend. She cut to the chase. “Big Mac’s been actin’ awful strangely too,” she whispered softly, trying to be as caring as possible. “Somethin’ happened at the party, didn’t it?” Fluttershy took a deep breath before answering. “Something like that.” Two days earlier Twilight was lost for words. Before her, the usually lively, cheerful and fun-loving mare was led face down on her bed in a pool of her own tears. But there was no sound of sniffling. No wails. No cries. Pinkie wasn’t making a sound… Octavia could only look on, mortified. The unicorn charged breathlessly towards the pink mare and pulled her up. “Pinkie!” she cried, lifting up the pony’s head and pulling it towards her. “Pinkie, what’s—” “I just wanted to make her happy…” Twilight remained still for a moment, both her mind and breath caught by some invisible force. “I just… w-wanted to…” The pink-coated earth pony threw her forelegs around Twilight, a cascade of tears streaming down her face. He voice came out as a series of bleak, muffled sobs. “I promised her a h-happy ever after, and now she… I’ve broken a promise, and she’s gonna hate me because… because…” She finally opened her eyes, the dazzling blue overshadowed by the oppressive red of overworked blood vessels. “Because Big Mac, he… he kissed me. I think… I think he loves me.” Octavia had managed to break from her stupor and joined her filly-friend in comforting the poor mare. This wasn’t anything like the usual, comical Pinkie cry. This was something much more heart-wrenching, something indescribable beyond the sheer pain that even listening to it caused. To even bear witness to it was almost too much for Twilight to handle, so for Pinkie… “Shhh… It’s going to be okay,” Twilight whispered, running a hoof through the mare’s mane. She didn’t know exactly what had set her off, but Pinkie’s previous words had given her a few ideas. Oh goodness, Pinkie, what have you done? “I need to know what happened, Pinkie. You said something about Big Mac.” Pinkie took a few deep breaths, trying desperately to piece her words together in a way that wouldn’t overload her with sorrow once again. It didn’t seem all that plausible, though, so she did what she always tried to do when she was down in the dumps. She smiled, and tried to look on the bright side of life. “I see you two are getting along together,” she said with a forced grin, her bottom lip quivering uncontrollably. “At least I did something right.” Twilight pressed her forehead to Pinkie’s, trying her best to keep herself calm, lest she worsen the state of the troubled mare. She noticed Octavia turn her head, unable to resist cracking under pressure. “Take it slow, Pinkie,” the unicorn instructed. “Tell me what’s going on.” And so, Pinkie did. It took longer than expected and was broken up by the occasional bout of spilt tears, but she managed to explain her match-making plans, Fluttershy’s feelings for Big Mac, and finally, Big Mac’s revelation to her amidst the downpour. Once she finished, she hung her head limply, taking deep, deliberate breaths. Twilight took a few moments to go over each detail in her mind, trying not to let either pure rationality or bubbling emotion get the better of her. She could hardly believe that while she and Octavia had been getting to know each other, a whole other world of hopes and dreams had crumbled. Pinkie, Fluttershy, Big Mac… It had gone so horribly wrong for all of them. “Okay, Pinkie. Now listen to me. Fluttershy isn’t going to hate you.” “But I got her hopes up so much, told her that she could be happy! I just wanted what was best for her, and I really thought Big Mac would…” She trailed off, shaking her head slowly. “I never thought that he’d like me.” “It is how it is,” Twilight said softly, sitting herself next to the mare. Octavia did the same, most of her tears now brushed away. “But like I said, Fluttershy won’t hate you.” “Well maybe she should. I hate me.” Twilight physically recoiled at Pinkie’s words. “You don’t mean that, Pinkie. And even if you did, you shouldn’t feel that way. You’re a great friend, and I’m sure Fluttershy knows it too. Don’t forget, you planned everything for her. You didn’t have to do that, you did it because you care about her, you want her to be happy.” Pinkie nodded sadly in response. “And it’s not like you went off with Big Mac behind her back. Believe me when I say that if you had, we’d be having a very different conversation right now.” Pinkie broke into a nervous giggle, smiling for the first time that day. “I guess you’re right.” She stared off into the distance for a short while, stuck in deep thought. “You girls can leave me alone now,” she said simply. “You two want to be spending some quality time together I bet, and I can’t be all selfish by making you stay here.” “If… If you’re absolutely sure,” Twilight replied, looking worriedly to her filly-friend. “We can stay for a while if you want.” “No, it’s fine,” Pinkie assured, prodding the unicorn’s nose playfully. “Don’t you worry about little old me. I’m Pinkie Pie, remember? Smile, smile, smile and all that?” The pink mare wasn’t sure who she was trying to convince more, Twilight or herself. “Okay, I understand,” Twilight replied with a half-grin. “You need some alone time for a while. Just remember that your friends are here for you, should you ever need us.” She ran her hoof through Pinkie’s straightened mane, secretly wondering when she would see its usual bounciness return. “Though I think there’s one pony who needs you.” Pinkie sighed, wiping away the tears from her face. “Fluttershy.” Twilight nodded. “Right. When you start feeling a bit better, I think you should go pay her a visit. You know more about Fluttershy’s situation than anypony, and I bet she could really use your support.” Pinkie sniffed, forcing another short-lived smile. “You’re right. I just… I just need some time.” Twilight gave her friend one last hug and crept slowly towards the door. She paused for a moment, one last thing on her mind. “And Pinkie?” “Yeah?” “Just don’t… do anything that you might regret.” The poisonous undertones of her seemingly innocent advice left a bitter taste in Twilight’s mouth, making her wish she hadn’t said anything at all. Pinkie gave a small nod in response and the two other mares left the room. Their hoof-steps growing more distant, Pinkie led back onto her pillow and sighed deeply. Sorry, Twilight. Too late for that, she thought, grabbing a distressed-looking Gummy from atop her chest of drawers and pulling him into a tight cuddle. “Stupid Pinkie…” “Ah’m fine.” “No ya ain’t!” Applejack shot back in annoyance, becoming frustrated by her brother’s incessant lies. Being the Element of Honesty gave her a decidedly keen sense of whether somepony was telling the truth, and right now, every alarm bell inside her head was ringing without abandon. With all the work that had to be done, she wanted things resolved as quickly as possible. “Ah don’t mean to get angry with you, but if you’d just tell me… Now where in the hay are you goin’?” Big Mac mumbled something in response and kept on walking aimlessly through the orchard. “What? Can you speak up?” “Ah said Ah’m going to the far-fields!” he yelled, the usually stoic stallion clenching his teeth and glaring at her. “Ah could do with the walk.” Applejack’s stubbornness faltered as she stared back into his eyes, a lone tear crawling down his cheek. Never before had he spoken to her like this. In fact, in all the years that she’d known him, and despite being the closest pair of siblings this side of Equestria, she’d never seen him like this. Without another word he turned and began pacing rapidly towards the far side of Sweet Apple Acres, grabbing a wooden basket in one swift movement along the way. He’d gone from unabashed cheerfulness to… this, in just one day. Applejack wanted to run up to him and find out what was wrong, to talk him through his problems like they’d always done since they were foals. And yet, she was scared. So very scared. With a nervous sigh, she turned on her hoof and got to work. Oh, how he wished he could talk. Oh, how he wished he wasn’t some pitiful little bunny. In his own mind, Angel imagined himself cradling Fluttershy’s head and stroking through her mane, holding her close as she wept into his shoulder. And then he’d tell her that everything would be alright, that he would help her through this. She’d smile back at him, and he’d remind her of all the good things in life. He’d tell her to forget that nasty Big Mac. After all, running out on her like that was completely out of order. He’d do everything in his power to make sure that she was never hurt again. He’d offer the most sagely of advice, and maybe she’d thank him, a small glimmer of happiness in her eyes. Of course, if only he could talk. If only he wasn’t a bunny. Fluttershy hadn’t moved from her bed, her mane splayed messily across the headboard. She hugged her duvet cover tightly as Angel and a host of other critters crowded around, many with their heads hung solemnly. Her cries had died down to mere whimpers now, but she was in no condition to live out a normal day. The beautiful red dress that Rarity had made was now crumpled into an old wardrobe, out of sight. “Ah’m so sorry, Fluttershy.” Big Mac’s fateful words played over and over again in her mind. How could he have left her there like that? Didn’t he like her? Or maybe… Maybe he really was in a relationship with Cheerilee, but he was keeping it a secret from everypony, even Applejack. And so when Pinkie asked her… It would explain everything. He didn’t freak out until the moment I kissed him, and now… “I’m going to die alone,” Fluttershy mumbled. No you won’t, Angel wished he could say, tears now rolling down his own cheeks. No you won’t… The next day It was around two in the afternoon when Fluttershy finally found the strength to pull herself out of bed. She smiled to Angel — who had been curled up at the foot of her bed — and the ever loyal bunny followed, looking decidedly pleased that his owner was finally up and about. She was still far from happy though, as he quickly noticed. “Are you hungry?” Fluttershy asked. “We could share a bowl of lettuce if you wanted.” Angel nodded cheerfully as the two of them plodded on into the kitchen. Fluttershy quickly whipped up the meagre meal and took a look outside. I haven’t fed the chickens today, she thought. Taking just a few bites from a lettuce leaf, she soldiered on, tending to the rest of her animals. It was an odd experience doing it in the afternoon as opposed to early morning, but it kept her mind busy as she greeted the rest of her critter friends. They all greeted her with beaming smiles and harmonious chirps. And so, she smiled back, willing herself to feel even a fraction of the happiness that they felt. What was it that Pinkie always said? That if you give a smile, you get a smile? Yes… There was some truth in that, she supposed. And so she continued on with what would be any normal day. The cottage wasn’t going to clean itself. She had her precious animals, the ones who doted on her more than anyone. She could at least comfort herself with that, but… Isn’t that what got me depressed in the first place? That I’m not good enough for anypony? That I’m best left out of the way while everypony else socialises and lives their lives in a normal way? Just so that strange little Fluttershy can live all alone while Big Mac marries Cheerilee and lives a happy life. And they’ll have foals, not like unlikeable Fluttershy. Nopony to care for her, nopony to be part of a family with. No family. No Big Macintosh… Fluttershy hadn’t even realised that she’d been crying until she was snapped back to reality by a distressed bunny clutching at her fore-hoof. “I can’t do it, Angel,” she whispered. “I just… I don’t know what to—” There was a knock at the door. Fluttershy made no attempt to answer it, instead slinking quietly over to her couch and curling herself up. She knew her friends would want to speak to her some time. Probably out of pity, she cursed inwardly. Poor little Fluttershy, so pathetic and helpless. There was another knock followed by a familiar voice. “Fluttershy? It’s me. I know you probably don’t want to see me right now, but I at least want to talk to you.” Fluttershy perked up, wanting to call back but unsure what to even say. “I just wanted you to know that I’m sorry. About… About everything. I got your hopes up and then I…” The voice was followed by a series of muffled sobs. “And I ruined everything…” Fluttershy raced to the door, swung it open and wrapped her hooves around Pinkie, the two mares locking into a tearful embrace. As if to echo their emotions, a light drizzle fell from the sky, dousing their coats with a thin layer of water droplets. Without any words, Fluttershy pulled her friend inside and out of the rain. “It’s a lot warmer in here,” Pinkie remarked, forcing a smile. “Fluttershy, I’m so—” “You have nothing to be sorry for,” Fluttershy affirmed, pulling Pinkie into another tight hug. “You did what you thought was right. You were trying to make me happy. I… I’m thankful that you tried.” “But I failed,” Pinkie muttered, her smile gone in an instant. “I was so sure that he liked you. I thought you two would make such a lovely couple and I… I didn’t even realise that he—” “It’s okay, it’s okay. I shouldn’t have gotten my hopes up so much. For all I know, Cheerilee deserves to be with him more than I do.” “Cheerilee?” Pinkie asked, her voice receding to little more than a whimper. “No, Fluttershy. It was never about Cheerilee.” “It wasn’t?” Pinkie took a deep breath and gazed wearily into Fluttershy’s eyes. “Take a seat, Fluttershy. I’ll… I’ll tell you everything.”