//------------------------------// // Her Baking Fire // Story: Who'd Have Guessed? // by DBP12012 //------------------------------// 'Because, Pinkie, you care.' Pinkie's lips and eyes trembled, her body shuddering at the memory. Tears began to well up in her eyes, and before she knew it, silent tears began to drop onto the kitchen floor. "He cares for me..." She whispered, "He really does... He wasn't just faking..." Her small voice echoed through the empty shop. "And I pushed him away...for what reason?" She went on, squeaking her words out slowly. "My pride?" She pondered, ignoring the cookies slightly burning in the oven. The smell of smoke quickly filled the room, but Pinkie ignored it. 'This is something you won't be able to do alone.' "Who am I supposed to do it with, then?" She thought aloud, starting to inhale some of the smoke filling the small room. She began to feel light-headed and dizzy, yet did nothing about it. She remained sitting on the floor, slouched over, crying and thinking to herself. 'Pinkie...' The smoke grew thicker and thicker, making it impossible to see. Pinkie still didn't move, squeezing her eyes shut. "Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot." She repeated over and over to herself, becoming quieter and quieter as the smoke wrapped itself in her lungs. 'Pinkie.' A voice echoed, though Pinkie couldn't tell if she had gone insane or somepony was actually speaking to her. She went with the former, and continued to cry. Her crying soon turned into choking, the small breaths turning into wheezing and panting for clean air. 'Pinkie Pie...' Somepony called to her, their voice mellow and soothing. The gray cloud of burnt confections surrounded her entirely, muffling the voice ever-so-slightly. A shrill siren barked, silencing the voice even more. Pinkie smiled, giggling internally. She leaned forward, a curve on her lips and wet stains on her eyes. "I'm here," she replied softly, hoping to catch the voice's attention. 'Pinkie Pie!' The voice became shrill and piercing, shaking Pinkie out of her trance. She opened her eyes, only to be greeted by a new form of darkness. A cinder popped out at her, burning through her fur. Pinkie shook herself lazily, too weak to move. The cinder stung her skin, quickly joined by many others. She yelled as loud as she could, but no noise made it past her lips. "Pinkamena Diane Pie! Can you hear me?" The voice had lost its soothing tone, appearing more realistic. Pinkie stumbled to get up, her face stricken with fear. She staggered over to the door, attempting to open it. She shrieked, jiggling the knob as hard as she could. Tears streamed down her face once more, cooling her burnt coat. "Pinkie, stand back. We're breaking down the door." W-we? Is there more than one pony who cares? I must be going crazy... Pinkie slid away from the door, weeping more and more as her fluffy pink coat and mane got singed by her baking catastrophe. There were small holes all over her body, each of which were black and a few even charred. Her mane was no better, perhaps even worse. It had lost any pink hue, taking the color of charcoal. Her salty tears burned her skin, only making her cry more. A purplish tint surrounded the door, captivating it and destroying it altogether. Pinkie passed out, not before seeing a group of four heroes. Two mares, two stallions. Three earth ponies, one alicorn. They had come to her rescue. His eyes glittered in hers, a pale red blush overtaking his orange cheeks. She giggled, blushing along with him. "You're pretty, Pinks." He said, smiling goofily. She smiled widely, her cheeks turning an even darker red. She leaned in, kissing him on the cheek. "You're sweet, Cammie," She whispered in his ear, "I love you." He laughed, tackling her into the grass. He kissed her back, this time on the lips. She jolted back, shocked. She eased into it quickly, realizing this was his way of saying 'I love you' back. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?" He asked, rolling onto his side. "I could've bought the ring in time." He teased, reaching to his side. She gasped, breathing slower. "Y-you don't mean?" She asked, looking at him hopefully. "I do mean, Pinks. I love you, and I want to spend my life with you." He said, revealing a golden ring with a single small, white diamond on it. "Yes!" She said, springing up and sliding it over her right ear. "Cammie, this is the best day if my life!" Squealing, she ran over and hugged him tightly. She cried tears of joy into his shoulder. "No," he said, breaking the hug and looking into her eyes, "our life." "Our life," she agreed. "Will she be okay, Nurse?" Caramel spoke first, staring down at Pinkie. The nurse looked at the group of friends, her face grim. He hesitated before answering, and closed her eyes for a second. "Well, she has several third-degree burns. Her mane will grow back in due time, but I can't say it'll still be pink when it grows back. The cinders burned thick into the roots where the Spectra decides what color it is. I don't think any of her vital organs were harmed, aside from her lungs and skin. The skin will take time to heal, but I can't say all of it will heal. As for her consciousness.. She should wake up in a few hours, after the smoke filters out of her lungs." The nurse replied, adding a sigh. "I... apologize." She then headed for the door, leaving the five of them. "Pinkie!" Twilight all but screamed, refusing to hold back her tears anymore. "Why did I ignore you? I should've saved you sooner! You could've been okay, I-" She babbled. "Twilight, you saved her." Caramel interrupted. "If it weren't for you, none of us would've know she was even in that kitchen. So don't blame yourself." Twilight nodded, then continued crying. Caramel led her over to one of the chairs, sitting down with her awkwardly. They both looked like Lyra then, with two hooves touching the ground and back leaned up against the wall. Twilight whispered Pinkie's name over and over, along with the occasional 'I'm sorry'. Caramel held back his own tears, instead relieving some of the princess's. Somepony had to be strong, and Caramel decided it would be him. He lay a hoof around her shoulder, calming her non-verbally. Applejack and Big Macintosh stood on the other side of the room. Applejack had shed a few tears, her hooves clinging on the side of Pinkie's hospital bed. Big Mac stood by her side, his eyes watered. "Pinkie..." They whispered in unison. Applejack glanced over at Twilight, then back up at her brother. This was the first time she'd seen him cry since... Applejack shook her head, dismissing the memory. She nuzzled into her brother's broad shoulder, muffling her voice. "Why? Why..." She gasped, her tears leaving two wet circles on her brother's coat. Big Mac suddenly gasped, and started stuttering. Applejack lifted her head, following her brother's gaze. Caramel stopped looking at Twilight for a minute, glancing over at Pinkie's bed. He couldn't see much from the angle he sat, so he went back to rubbing the princess's shoulders. "Pinkie..." Applejack trailed, filled with wonder. Pinkie's mane was fully inflated again.