//------------------------------// // Celestia // Story: Pinkie and Celestia Have Some Tea // by JaketheGinger //------------------------------// Pinkie Pie is one of my more interesting subjects. Hm, no, friends. Yes, that’s better. I love all my little ponies equally, but Pinkie is a character that stands out amongst the crowd. It is rare to find a pony like that who has good qualities in equal measure. Her random nature is not what surprises me. Rather, it is the consistency of it, coupled with her kind demeanour. I may have not known her for a while, but I cannot recall a time where she was sad. Her randomness and kindness ran alongside each other, parallel. I find it fascinating. Pinkie had finished her tea, but was still fidgeting with the cup. I poured more in, which made her smile. “Thanks, Celestia!” I admit, her smile is contagious, even for one highly trained in the art of poker face. “Think nothing of it.” Since she had asked me some questions, I only saw it fit to do the same. Of course, I already knew her history, but that wasn’t why I was asking. “So, Pinkie, can you tell me where you born?” “On a rock farm!” she answered, her voice brimming with pride as she nodded once. Rock farms may sound curious to any pony in the city, but they have been established for a very long time. Before mines, they were rock farms. “I see. That is quite interesting. Do you visit often?” Pinkie nodded, which suggested she was on good terms with her family. However, her silence indicated something else. “Are you close to your family?” “Not literally, but I do love them lots and lots, yeah! I’m just…” She shuffled a little. “Different, y’know? Not a bad different, not a good different, just different! But they all said they love me anyways, no matter how different I am.” Ah, good. She was loved. I could sense that she felt a little isolated from the rest of her kin, but it was not something I would press on. I nodded, deciding to change tact. “I assume you cherish Ponyville quite a bit.” “Yah-huh! It’s great! Everypony there is my friend, and they just love to sing and party!” I didn’t say anything, wanting her to expand on her point. Her earnesty, however, was a delight to watch, so perhaps I had an ulterior motive. “And it’s a real nice community. I feel a part of something really really special, y’know? I’m sure Canterlot has a great atmosphere too, but… there’s just something about Ponyville.” She tilted her head, looking at me, her eyes brimming with wonder. “Do you get it?” I nodded, smiling. Ponyville is a town that I’ve always had my eye on. The world is changing, technology is improving and cities are growing bigger by the day. But that one town seems to be a relic of the past. I believe it’s the power of its community. Some would say it is being held back, and to them, I would say to look at things from a different perspective. Pinkie shook her head, then bonked it with a hoof. “Silly me. Why’d I even ask that? Of course you’d know that! You’re Celestia!” I raised an eyebrow. “One of my oldest and smartest friends ever!” My brow settled. I’ve been held up as a paragon of power and wisdom many times before. My little ponies call me their Goddess, when I am merely a princess. Princesses are many things; perfect is not one of them. But this was different. I could feel it in Pinkie’s tone and her expression. Bright-eyed, looking up at me, but not in wonder, or awe. Neigh, she looked upon me as if I was irreplaceable in her life. Only a few ponies have ever looked at me that way. Pinkie sat there, her grin never faltering, waiting for me to say something. Of all the Elements, Laughter is the brightest. Yes, Magic is very powerful, but it requires the other elements in order to be such. Laughter does not have such an issue. Laughter stands tall, a light in the darkness, a beacon of hope. Truly, I had made the right choice in choosing its bearer. Pinkie saw everyone she met as an equal. She did not judge, she analysed. Her friends were the best part of her life, and she treated them rightfully so. Was she perfect? Neigh, far from it. But she always strived to be the best friend she could to anypony she talked to. I saw it only fit to reward my friend with something I knew she would appreciate. I opened my wing, gesturing at the space around it with a nod. Pinkie blinked, looking at my wing, then at my face. Resisting the urge to giggle, I nodded at her. With a noise that I can only describe as a ‘squee’, she hopped over and I wrapped my wing around her, pulling her close. “Thanks, Celestia,” she said, getting all settled. Her body pressed against me, her forelegs wrapping themselves around my frame and squeezing it. “I should be the one thanking you,” I replied. She looked up with an inquisitive gaze. “For one thing, being my friend. But also for being Twilight’s friend and bringing so much joy to so many ponies’ lives.” She gave me a mock salute. “Just doing my duty!” I considered her words, staring at the crackling fireplace. A fire could only go for so long until it ran out of fuel, and simmered down without so much as a whimper. I wondered if Pinkie ever had a stopping point. Even extroverts like her needed some time to themselves. “You give yourself some quality time alone, yes?” I asked, watching sparks dance off the flames. Although I couldn’t see it, the silence that followed told me that Pinkie was thinking over the question very carefully. “Well… there is bed time.” “Do you have a routine for bed time?” “Yep! I brush my teeth, singing the brushie brush song me and Colgate wrote, then I make sure Gummy’s all nice and snug in his pond, then I sing him another song, which changes every day so it doesn’t get all samey, finally I go to bed, get all nice and snug under the covers, and start snoozing away and dreaming.” Her outward appearance did not hint at such a large lung capacity. Despite the impressive length of her answer, it did not yield the information I was looking for. “And what do you think of before you go to sleep?” Pinkie shrugged. “Y’know… kinda sad that the day’s over, but super excited for dreams and the next day! I like being an early bird, so I can say hello to the worm.” I could see that. “You never dwell on any problems you might have?” Silence fell. The fire began to die out. “Well… yeah. ‘Course I do.” “And what do you do about them?” I spread out my wing a little, in order to give her more breathing space. “I deal with them, after thinking of a cunning plan,” she replied. After a beat she added, "The mustache kinda helps with that sometimes." “Alone?” I asked. Her gaze fell toward the floor. A pang of guilt entered my system for having affected her, but it was nothing I couldn’t deal with. What was important was that I was here to help her. As friends should. “You do a lot of giving, is that fair to say?” She brightened up slightly at that. “Yep! I just love throwing parties, hoofing out goodies, and just generally giving the gift of giving!” Reaching into her mane, she brought out a pristine looking cupcake and offered it to. I didn’t decline; it looked luscious. It tasted just as good as it looked. I got a napkin and wiped my mouth free from crumbs. “Thank you, Pinkie. But what about taking?” My horn glowed as I transported a freshly baked cupcake into the room, floating it near Pinkie. She jerked back, eyes-wide. A rare moment where she was the one being surprised, I’m sure. Slowly, she took the treat and nibbled on it. “Not so much, but thanks.” I brought my head just a bit closer to hers, speaking softly, “Perhaps, if you are ever feeling down, you should do some taking so you can start giving at one hundred percent?” She nodded, smiling and dipping her hoof into the cupcake’s frosting. Said hoof then touched my nose, leaving it covered in a sugary mess. “Can I send you a letter?” I licked what frosting I could off my nose, using the napkin to clean up the rest. “You may, but it might be quicker to talk to your friends in Ponyville, don’t you think? I know they would be more than happy to help you if you ever had a problem.” Pinkie slowly nodded, reaching up and wiping away the last of the frosting on my face. “I can try that. Thanks, Celestia.” I could tell that she would not learn instantly, but that is how ponies are. Even myself. Experience is the best teacher of them all. I had simply nudged her onto the right track. “Don’t worry about it, Pinkie.” I smiled, causing hers to grow even bigger. “Merely being the best friend I can be.” I added more wood to the fire, reigniting its flame. My sides were then assaulted by pink forelegs, binding my body and squeezing. Admittedly, I almost lost my breath, and remembered that there was more to Pinkie than what her looks suggested. “And you’re one of the bestest.” Her words brought a smile to my face, despite her titanic grip over me. Thankfully, she loosened her hold, and I relaxed, bringing my tea cup to my lips and taking it a sip. I have my own suspicions, but somehow, it was the best cup of tea I had ever tasted.