I woke up with my eyelids still closed. Feeling something warm against my coat, I remembered where I was, and snapped my eyes open.
Her forelegs were clinging around my waist. I gently moved them off of me, going slower every time I thought she was waking up. The sun wasn’t up, and it was almost pitch black. I flipped one of the curtain straps to make sure. To my surprise, the sand outside looked even darker than usual. The only thing visible in the distance, was the moon.
I headed over to my desk, trying to soften my steps. I flipped on the small lamp, and a dim glow lifted away the darkness. The clock above me read 4:01 AM. The box of cupcakes were still on my desk. A fan was the only thing cooling it. Not that I needed to keep them refrigerated. They surely wouldn't melt in the cool autumn weather, let alone winter, which it will be in a month.
I looked over at Pinkie, who was- I noticed something different about her. Raising an eyebrow, I closed in on her. While I lifted up my hoof to put to her cheek, a strand of her mane was to the side of her head, over her ear. It was... Wavy?
She had always had straight hair, with her bangs evened off. I felt it on my hoof, turning it over to inspect it. Her entire mane looked like a partially filled balloon. Puffy. I was perplexed by this. Unless she somehow got hot and sweaty last night... (I couldn't help but put the thought into my mind.) I don't see how her mane could be this messy. When I inspected it a bit more, I couldn't help but smile. I had to admit, it was adorable.
I trotted over to the desk, still smiling, and grabbed a cupcake from the box. The cupcake looked beautiful, and that's when I realized how hungry I was. I took a bite of it, tasting and smelling the frosting and yellow cake. Then, I heard something. I looked over at pinkie. She was sitting straight up in bed as if she was wide awake. I took a step back, surprised, almost scared, when I hit the table and almost smashed the cupcakes. Pinkie was licking her lips eagerly
"I LOVE cupcakes!" She said.
Her voice was high, and quick. Not saturated with mellow like it usually is. Just standing there, I looked down at my cupcake. I was perplexed by her change in personality, but I was just happy that she was happy. I smiled and opened up the box again, not talking due to cupcake in my mouth.
"C-Can I have one?" She said, almost stuttering. I swallowed and cleared my throat.
"As many as you want." I said, smiling.
Her hair sprang up, as if it inflated like a balloon. She seemed to run to the box with the force of a speeding bull, but floated down like a piece of paper. She then gobbled one up, unladylike, but I kept smiling and didn't mind.
Then, she attacked me. She forced her lips onto mine, and her tongue to mine, catching me off guard. This was... not her. Not, the Pinkamena Diane Pie I knew. I could taste the frosting on her lips, and it was even better then straight-up eating them.
A while later, the cupcakes were nearly gone, we both wolfed them down in a few minutes. We still had plenty of time left, so we decided to spent it together. I hopped on my bed gracefully, reducing sound, and laid down on my back. She smiled above me and curled up against me, between my forelegs. She was warm and her adorable breathing made my heart leap.
I rested my eyes, and tightened my grip on her hips. I edged towards her and kissed her on her neck. She gasps softly. I fell asleep once again. We were both perfectly still. I didn't know if she fell asleep, or just relaxed, or whatever, but I think that she enjoyed it as well.
I woke up, once more, this time by the sun creeping in through the window. I got up from the bed and made sure that I didn't disturb her. I walked over to the desk to see the box wide open, with nothing but crumbs inside. There were about one or three cupcakes left when we stopped eating, so I assumed she ate some while I was asleep. I smirked, and wrapped my saddlebags around my waist. I put a hoof to Pinkie's shoulder and gently shook her awake. Her adorable eyes opened up and stared into my heart.
"H-Hey..." I said just after pecking her on the cheek.
"Ughh-gh alright..." She said before yawning.
We said our goodbyes, hugged, and I was off to the showers.
"Eighty... S-Six..." I said, letting out a huge puff of air. The sun was beginning its descent, and was gleaming through the mountains. I couldn't help but glance over at Pinkie. Every time I needed some encouragement... I was looking for her affection, hoping she'd give me some. But, I found disappointment every time. At least... I think I did. There were several times that I thought she might have been looking at me too. I noticed that her mane was straightened again, and she had the same gloomy expression on her face, like always. However... It seemed more... highlighted... If that makes sense.
On my way back, I heard Igneous calling us back in. He congratulated us, once again, in his dry and lifeless tone. He attempted a smile, showing his grimy teeth, which faded quickly. Everybody went into the mess hall. Pinkie brushed up against and smiled at me on her way. It was a welcoming surprise. I considered joining them (her), but I remembered that I had other plans..
I found myself staring into space, and I shook myself out of it. Then I saw something odd. Igneous was simply standing there, like I was. He was staring straight ahead. Not to me, but it looked as if he was staring at me through a corner of his eye. He was expressionless. I decided to slip away to where I needed to go.
After taking a shower, I opened the door to the hobby room and stepped in. Remembering something, I stopped in my hooves. The door made a creaking noise when I opened it slowly. I peaked my head out. No Igneous was in sight. Letting out a sigh of relief, I flipped the analogue sticks to turn the TV on, and changed the channel to the new episode of Stallion Park. The episode did a lot to lighten my mood. Of course, it was already sky high because of Pinkie.
Creeeeeeeeeek
Speak of the devil.
"Can I come in?" She said in her high pitched voice, which warmed my heart every time I heard it.
"Of course!" I said, angling my head up to her and smiling.
I made room for her, and got up from my laying position. Clearly, that isn't what she had in mind. She leaped into my lap, pressing out a puff of air from me.
"You're just full of surprises, aren't you?" I said, smiling at her.
She giggled back to me. I shifted back into my laying position, with my arm around her. We both watched, but I was having a hard time paying attention to the show. All of my emotions were focused on her. I felt her vibrations against me as she laughed. Minutes passed, and I still couldn't stop thinking about her. I brought her closer to me, tightening my grip on her.
BOOM
Lightning struck; The window lit up with white. Pinkie immediately shifted her head to the window. Rain was hitting and streaming down the roof. The dead tree, just outside the window tapped on the window. It never didn't amaze me how fast the Pegasi change the weather.
Shaking.
Pinkie was shaking. I put a hoof on her (The one I didn't already have around her.) My aunt was afraid of lightning. What did my mom call it? Astraphobia? Yeah, that was it.
"Do you have astraphobia?" I asked.
"What is that?" She asked in her mellow tone.
"It's the fear of light--" I said, just before another strike came, which was followed by heavier rain.
The TV turned black. The room was black. I told her to hold tight, and I went to look for a flashlight. Near the TV, there was a straw basket with a lot of junk in it. I dug everything out and found a TV remote (Which had no batteries,) a phone book, a handful of VHS tapes and.... and a key. I picked it up, pondering on what it could be to.
Shrugging it off, I went to the shelf to the other side of the TV. I tripped on my way there, over a cord to the TV.
"Ah... Shit..." I sighed, pulling myself up.
"A-Are you okay?" Pinkie asked through her trembling hooves.
"Yes, I'm fine, thank you." I said, feigning happiness.
While I was down, I saw an umbrella on the table under the TV. I'll definitely have to take a mental note of that. I continued to the shelf.
There were mainly only books and old magazines. I keep hearing that the books belong to another pie sister, Maud, who I've never met. There was, however, a gas lantern. I picked it up and shook it. It still had a little bit of juice in it. I remember seeing some match boxes in the bathroom, so I went there.
I remembered to be cautious on my way there. Since the bathroom and the hobby room were in the same cabin, It was simple. I go the matchbox, took a match out, and lit the lantern. The room sprang up in orange light. I set the lantern on the table between the TV and the couch. Pinkie calmed down a bit.
It's when I set the lantern down, that I realized how cold it was. The fall's night air was getting more and more cold every day. Winter was on it's way. The lantern gave some warmth, but not enough. I had a new objective, to find blankets. There was a closet, which I opened. It was full of boardgames, but no blankets. I might bring one over to Pinkie, though.
I looked all over the room, but I couldn't find any blankets. Then, an idea popped into my head. I went into the bathroom, picked up a few towels, and brought them to the couch.
"Sorry, but It's the best that I could find." I said, laying one on her.
"It's fine... Thank you." She said with a grateful smile.
I smiled back at her and kissed her on the forehead.
"I found some board games in the closet, want me to bring those out?" I asked.
"Sure." She responded. "I think there is a trivia game in there that I like."
I nodded and went back to the closet. After some digging and searching, I think I found it. I then brought it to the table. I set the lantern to the side. Pinkie seemed delighted to see it. I was delighted simply because she was. We began to open the box, then play.
After some giggling and playful insults, the rain began to weak and the lightning was reduced to thunder. In regards to the trivia game, it was actually fun. However, I didn't know if the game itself was fun, or playing it with her was fun, but either way, I enjoyed it. You'd be surprised at the amount of stuff you have crammed in the back of your brain. She ended up winning every time. But it was debatable if she really knew the answers or just had the questions memorized. We were there for at least an hour. The power came back, so I shook the lantern out.
"That was fun, I'm glad you showed me that game." I said with a smile.
She hugged me and got up and walked over to the door.
"Hang on." I told her, then reached under the TV. I pulled out the umbrella and gave it to her.
"Thank you." She said, with those beautiful eyes staring into mine. I lost control, grabbed her, and kissed her goodbye. When we broke, she continued smiling at me. She picked up the umbrella in her mouth, opened the door, and left, all without saying a word. I sighed with relief. Is this really going to where I think it's going? I stood there for a few minutes.
I remembered something that perplexed me. The key. I couldn't contain my curiosity. What was it for? I decided to dig through the basket and pulled it out. I put it into my saddlebag.
I opened the door to the outside world, and walked out. On my way back to my room, I heard a dry voice behind me.
"Hey, can I talk to you for a second?" He said.
It was dark out, and I couldn't see who it was. I took a few steps forward into the void. The wind flowed through my mane, sending chills down my vein.
"Yeah, what did you need?" I said.
Out of the darkness, a stallion storms into me and drives me into a wall. I was forced into the dirt, as he landed on top of me. "What the f-" I said, just before getting clobbered in the face with a dark hoof. I continued getting jabbed with the dark hoof, bringing new pain each time. I didn't feel any blood spilling, but I did see it. All over the stallion's hooves. The blood looked like paint on his ebony hooves. I was feeling light headed. I looked up at him. It was Pinkie's father. I was greeted with another hoof in my eye, blacking me out for a second. My head slammed into the ground, which woke me up immediately.
"Wha--Why did y-" I mumbled.
"You're not good enough for Pinkie, stay away from her." He said, beginning to back away.
His dark eyes stared into my soul, as I coughed up blood onto the ground. My lip dripped crimson and was beginning to swell up. At his words, I was filled with rage. Rage that I hadn't felt for a long time. I got up on my four legs, took a few steps, picking up speed every time. But, I lost balance and fell back into the mud. A tear fell from my eye into the already moist soil. Igneous was gone when I turned my head back up. I decided that there was no way in hell that I was going to bed like this, so I went back to the bathroom, in the hobby room.
I looked at myself in the mirror. Blood was drying on my black fur, mud all over me, especially in my mane when he drove me onto my back. I sighed and stepped into the shower. The water gushed on my face and body, but it was frigid. I sprinted out of the shower, tripping on the lack of a translation between the shower and the tile. I hit my head on the counter edge and fell down, gushing new blood. More tears were poured in frustration and despair.
The water began to warm, so I went back in. I made sure to cleanse my new wound on my forehead. I watched as the red tainted water was sucked down the drain. I got out of the shower prematurely. Feeling lightheaded, I picked up my saddlebags, and turned off the shower. On my way out, I picked up the lantern in my mouth and a few matches which I put in my bags.
I made sure that Igneous was gone, which he was. So I walked in silence back to my room, letting the autumn air into my new wounds. Surprisingly, it felt really good. At least it was less painful. I opened the door to the hallway and walked down to my room, slowly because I didn't want to lose my balance again.
I was just happy that the day was over. Happy about Pinkie and the time we spent together, but with strands of sadness and confusion with Igneous. I took a match and lit it, bringing the room up in light, then using that match on the lantern. I put out the match and tossed it into a waste basket I had bought. The lantern was warm, and I was freezing, so I held it close to me.
Closing the window's blinds, I bounced onto the bed that sprang me up. I set the lantern on the shelf near the bed. As I drifted to sleep, I heard a voice.
"Hey, are you alright?" They said through a thin but noticeable crack in the wood paneled wall.
I looked into the crack, it was Ferrosium.
"Yes, I'm fine." I said, laying my head back on my pillow.
"Well you didn't look so good thirty minutes ago." She said.
I tried to exert a chuckle out. "Yeah, I had to clean up afte- You saw that?"
"Well... No. But I did hear it." She said.
"E-Everything?" I said nervously, afraid she heard what Igneous said.
"Yes." She said. After a long pause she said, "I wont tell anybody about her if you don't want me to."
I smiled, even though she couldn't see me. "I appreciate that." I said.
Another pause took place. "Do you know what happened to Maud?" She asked.
"No, tell me." I said, closing my eyes.
She was frowning in my mind. "Haven't you been seeing those barbarian ponies on the news?" She said.
"It sounds vague, yet familiar." I said.
"Well, she went into the woods one day as punishment for not responding to her dad's question. Hours passed and she hadn't come back. We all assumed that she was just busy playing with rocks..." She said. "That was two months ago."
I found it insulting that they figured that she was playing with rocks, but nonetheless, I asked. "W-Why hasn't anybody said anything?!" I was beginning to lose my sanity.
"Well, some people handle these things differently. You know how Cloudy has been her happy self? Well that asshole Igneous keeps her secluded from these things. She doesn't even know her own daughter is missing. And the pie sisters... Some of them have handled it better than others... But just look at them." She said. It sounded like she was letting off steam.
I didn't say anything for what seemed like an eternity. I sighed and asked. "Why haven't you told her? I'm sure that she would go to Ponyville and get help."
"Igneous threatened us. He is the only one who knows who hasn't changed. I can't tell if he doesn't care, or just is bottling up his feelings. But, we needed a new worker, which is why we hired you. You're sleeping in her bed." She said. My lantern was changing her fur into a golden shade.
More silence.
"Thank you for telling me." I said.
"You're welcome." She said, pulling up her covers. "By the way, you and Pinkie make a cute couple."
My heart warmed at her words. I shook the lantern out and fell back in bed.
"Good night Ferrosium." I said.
My day went from good, to great, to amazing, to perplexed, to heartbroken. But, there was one thing that ended off my day with a sliver of good. And that was that I had a new objective.
And that objective, was to find Maud.