CHAPTER 25
The picnic went perfectly. Nothing very exciting happened. It was... Normal. Pinkamena was friendly with everypony, and everypony was friendly with her. Fluttershy even opened up to her, which caught me completely off guard. When everything was said and done, we all went our separate ways, and Pinkamena and I headed back to Sugarcube Corner.
"Shadow... I can't thank you enough." Pinkamena gave me a one-hoofed hug so that we could keep walking.
"Ah, it was nothing, really. I just did what was right." Pinkamena gave me a big, sincere smile.
"Exactly. I never would have thought that ponies would like me... But you sure proved me wrong. You deserve at least my thanks." I lifted my hoof over her, and hugged her back.
"I guess. I just don't want other ponies ending up like I was. Sad, alone... Full of hatred. When I saw you like that, instead of just fearing you or running away, I felt some drive that was telling me to help you, so I did... Hey, we're here." I pushed the door open, and saw Mr. and Mrs. Cake standing there, and their expressions went from nonchalant to mortal fear in an instant.
"Oh dear! Pinkie, are you alright? What's wrong?" Mrs. Cake held Pinkamena's face and stared her in the eyes.
"What did you do to her?!" Mr. Cake gave me a look that could kill.
"I didn't do anything! And that isn't Pinks!" The Cakes stopped whatever they were doing, and stared at me like I was insane. "Alright, let me explain. This is Pinkamena, another pony within Pinks' mind. She used to only come along when Pinks was really, really sad, or angry, and things like that. But... I've changed that." Pinkamena nodded, and The Cakes just kept staring at us as we walked up the stairs together. When we got back to Pinks' room, we sat down on the bed.
"Shadow... Thanks again."
"No problem, Pinkamena." She gave me a big hug.
"I'll see you soon..." I gently pushed her back, and stared her straight in her eyes, which had tears welling up in them.
"What'dya mean?"
"I'm letting Pinkie come back, but don't worry, I'll be back. I promise." Before I could say anything else, her eyes brightened up, and her coat and mane returned to the bright pink of Pinks', and her mane poofed up. Next thing I knew, I was holding Pinks, not Pinkamena.
"... Pinks?"
"Shadow..." She buried her head into my chest, and started crying. "I... I can't believe you did all of that for Pinkamena..." I started stroking her mane.
"It's alright... I'm sorry." She lifted her head, and looked at me.
"Don't be sorry... You've already done so much for me, and you've just added another thing to the list. All this time I thought Pinkamena was just evil, but she was just hurting. She was hurting so badly, but you helped her..." She buried her face back into my chest, and kept saying "Thank you" in-between sobs. I rested my head on top of hers, and moved down to rubbing her back.
"It's alright... Let it all out. I'm here for you..." My hoof drifted to the lower part of her back, above her Cutie Mark. She was still crying, but it slowly became less violent. She tightened her grip on me, as if I were the only thing in the world. I stopped rubbing her, and hugged her back.
"Promise me that you'll never let go..."
"I don't promise. I Pinkie Pie Promise." Her crying stopped. She leaned back and looked at me, a small, but all-telling smile on her face. "I take it I said the right thing." She giggled a bit, and nodded. She leaned it a bit more, and the weight made us fall back onto the bed. I felt my face heat up. Pinks was holding herself up with her forehooves, staring down at me, her face as red as mine. "Pinks..." She silenced me with her lips. The kiss was passionate, and seemed to last forever. I couldn't focus on anything but her. When she broke the kiss, there was only one thing I could say. "Are you sure about this?" She nodded, and I wrapped my hooves around her neck. She took the signal, and then there was no turning back.
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The next morning, I woke up feeling wonderful. I felt a calming warmth throughout my entire body, partly from the events of last night, and partly because of the beautiful mare wrapped around my stomach. I poked the side of her head a few times, and she slowly woke up, batting her eyelids, and then rubbing her eyes. She slid up to my chest, and rested her head there.
"Morning, handsome..." I craned my neck, and rubbed my nose against hers.
"Morning, sunshine." I looked at her, and I felt a bit guilty. It had been her first time. I felt like I was taking away the innocence of something that was supposed to be innocent forever. I shoved those thoughts aside, and stuck to the positives. I'd become one with the mare that I loved, and that was all that mattered. Pinks started gently biting at my neck. "Sheesh, already wanting seconds?" I chuckled a bit, and she stopped, and moved to hover above me again.
"Oh, you have no idea... I'm known for my appetite." Apparently, I was right. She dove down, and kissed me, but it wasn't a regular kiss, it was a hungry, passionate kiss. A kiss telling me that she didn't just want more... She wanted more than more. When she broke the kiss, there was some drool arching between our lips. I wiped my mouth, and a big grin broke across my face.
"Well then, I'm all yours."