She got back really late at night, carrying a sack of letters around her neck. She dropped the sack in the living room, intending to properly read and sort it all tomorrow. She noticed a dark figure illuminated by the moon's light in the kitchen.
Was it a zombie?! She mentally smacked herself, ENOUGH WITH THE ZOMBIES ALREADY! Berry carefully crept towards the figure by the kitchen table, about ready to strike. But stopped when she heard the slow, steady breathing of a sleeping Cheerilee.
She flicked on the light with her tail; the kitchen light eliminated the sleeping Cheerilee sleeping upon a pile of tests, letters (including one that could only belong to Big Macintosh) and...photo albums? She thought about waking Cheerilee, but hesitated. What if she yelled at her? What if Cheerilee was really mad at Berry, could she really handle the scolding she was probably due for? She could just go to bed, put it off until tomorrow. No. No she couldn't. She was a grown mare, and she made mistakes that she should own up to. Isn't that what she'd been teaching Pinchy?
Don't run from your mistakes.
Everyone makes mistakes, but the important thing is not to dwell on them.
Instead, learn from your mistakes.
Okay yes, she did try to cover up Drunk Berry's mistake, but at least she learned from it (and that lesson is don't let drunk berry handle important task)! Baby steps! Two out of three! Passing grade!
She sighed and shook her sister with one of her fore legs. Berry realized she needed to be the good sister here and bring her back up to her room at the very least. Berry had woken up from sleeping at a table before, and it was not a fun experience.
Roused from her sleep, Cheerilee's eyes drifted towards the softly smiling face of Berry Punch. Without warning, she threw her hooves around her sister. "You idiot." Cheerilee muttered under her breath, locking her sister in a tight embrace.
Berry could do nothing but pat Cheerilee on the back, "Sorry." Berry noticed that Cheerilee had been looking through albums of the two sisters during their foalhood days. There was one when the leaves started to fall, Nightmare Nights long past, Hearth Warming Eve celebrations, visiting relatives, daily adventures. Cheerilee had taken a sad and lonely trip down memory lane. Berry felt like crap for making her beloved older sister feel this way.
"Come on, let's get you to bed." Berry lent Cheerilee her side as she guided the drowsy older twin up the stairs to her room. "Listen, I did some thinking on the way back. I don't think I can ever be completely free of drinking, plus I really don't want to. Hear me out, I think I should practice balance. I don't want to go cold turkey, because I know how that's gonna turn out. But if I keep drinking like I do, well...I might end up in a worse situation in the future. So, I'm gonna practice moderation. I know, it's a small thing...but I think it counts for something at least. Right?"
"...Berry."
"Yeah?" Berry opened the door to Cheerilee's room.
Cheerilee walked to her bed, turned to Cheerilee and said; "I'm glad you're home." And then fell on her bed, going straight back to sleep.
"I'm glad to be home as well." Berry shut the door to her sister's room, letting her sleep in peace. Well, that was painless. It wasn't over yet though; there was still one last stop she had to make.
She lingered in front of Pinchy's door, would the little filly be angry at her? Would she be glad she's home? Would she hate her for ruining nightmare night for her? Maybe this was a bad idea, could she handle a life where her daughter resented her? She sighed. Now or never, better to get it over with quickly. The door creaked open as Berry Punch looked into Pinchy’s room, seeing the little filly tucked peacefully away.
“Pinchy?” She silently called, but there was no answer. Like a ninja pony, she silently moved to her bedside. She sat next to her daughter, and stroked the filly's rose-colored mane with her muzzle.
“Mmmm.” Pinchy stirred, with a dazed look she stared into the eyes of her smiling mother.
“Mom?” She said while half-asleep and then she immediately threw her forelegs around her mother and buried her face against her mother’s side. The soft sound of her sobs echoed throughout the room.
“Sorry Pinchy. Mama‘s okay.” She said as she lovingly nuzzled the filly’s mane, tears welling up in her eyes. “Hey, hey, come on now. Don’t cry. Mama’s just fine, see?” She pulled away from Pinchy just a bit so she could see Berry’s smiling face. Berry frowned when she saw Pinchy’s tear stained face, puffy cheeks and red eyes, she’d been crying before, "Mama. You're crying too."
Berry raised a hoof to her eye, sure enough she was, "Yeah...I guess I am." Berry couldn't hold it in anymore, I'm so sorry, Pinchy." She said a little louder than she intended! Berry must’ve ruined her night. Stupid impulsive pony. She didn't deserve to be this filly's mother, she made the most important pony in her life shed tears because SHE wanted to hide her own mistakes rather than own up to it. She hated herself for that. Once again, she was unsure if she made the right decision. What's done is done...
Pinchy just hugged her mother tighter, "It's fine. Just...please don't go away again. I was so scared that you wouldn't come back! I-I was mean to you, and I broke our tradition and I..."
"Shhh, shhh, shhhhh." Berry hushed her little filly by lovingly stroking her mane, "It's okay. I'm not going anywhere. I'll always be here when you need me, I promise. And I really mean it, this time. Pinkie Pie promise!" Berry wiped her own tears, then put a smile back on her face, “Now come on, smile for mama. Please?”
Pinchy tried her hardest to smile through the streaming tears, and then buried her face in her mother’s side again.
“There there. Tell mama about your night, you know…before I ruined it.”
“You never ruin anything, mama. I…I love you.” She said as she hugged her mother tighter.
Berry tried to fight back the tears that were reforming but this was a losing battle, “I love you too, Pinchy.” The two ponies just sat there for a while, hugging out their feelings. They talked for a bit, told stories until Pinchy started feeling tired again.
“Mama.” Pinchy called to her mother as she stood in the doorway.
“Yes, Pinchy?”
“I love you.” She had said that a lot during their conversation, as if not saying it enough times would make Berry want to go away again.
“I love you too, Ruby Berry Pinch." She kissed the little filly on her forehead, "Now rest up, my little pony.” Berry said softly while closing the door. She felt…happy. For once in her life, she didn’t feel like a complete screw up. And she was very likely going to screw up again in the future, but she'd deal with those when they came. Right now, she knew the most important pony in her life loved her. And that was all that mattered to her. As long as Pinchy was safe and happy, Berry could live as the screw up. As long as she had Pinchy's love, Berry could go through this wonderful life of hers with a smile on her face.
Pinchy was Berry's most precious, irreplaceable treasure after all.
~Fin