//------------------------------// // A Bit Odd // Story: My Guardian Angel // by RandomHamster33 //------------------------------// There's a tray balanced on my dark pink, fluffy mane. It bounces slightly as I trot happily through the establishment. SugarCube Corner is quite busy today, as there's a young filly's birthday party going on. Her name is Sweetie Belle. I met her a few days before when I was meeting up with Rarity. Sweetie Belle is her little sister. She's turning ten today. There are pink and purple decorations hung up all over the room; streamers dangling down from above, balloons floating lazily from where they're tied to chairs and tables. I readjust a dark purple streamer that's starting to undo itself from the rafters and continue onward, knowing full well that the birthday filly is anxiously waiting for her cake. I just need to get this dirty dish that's riding on my head to the kitchen and retrieve the baked good from where it is oh so carefully sitting on the counter. I enter the kitchen though the swinging, saloon style doors and skip over to the sunk. I tilt my head so the silver tray falls off my mane and into the warm dish water that's eagerly awaiting the platter. There's a constant smile on my face, as there always is. I never go a day without smiling, even on my worst days. Everypony's just so nice. Who would ever want to frown? Pink hooves already in the action of putting the cake on my small dessert cart (I'm always extra careful with birthday items), I clear my throat, getting ready for singing the Birthday Song to Sweetie Belle. I sing it to all the young ones, and even the older ponies I get, unless they request it not to be sung, which is the rare occasion. The large, circular cake on the tray is a bright white, with light purple frosting in a twirling pattern trim along the top and bottom. In a stunning green, written with a gel icing pen, right across the center of the cake, slightly curved as to look nice, is Happy Birthday Sweetie Belle. I wrote it in my best cursive, just as Rarity requested it. She said to make sure that there was a lot of loops and swirls, so I added that all in. Along with the words, there were a few little golden bells tied together with blue ribbons in all the corners. I also drew them on with gel icing. I've always like gel icing the best; it's just so shiny and colorful, like water standing still. "Ooh, here she comes with the cake!" I hear as I emerge a few moments later from the kitchen, walking on my hind hooves so I can push the cart with my fore hooves. I see it's Rarity talking, trying to get the kids to notice. As soon as the words come out of the white unicorn's mouth, the heads of all the fillies and colts swivel my direction. They're all smiling and grinning ear to ear; it makes me smile wider. To me, the only pay I'd ever need to receive is a smile from a friend. That's all I want in life. They make me truly happy. "Come on, everypony!" I declare as I finish rolling the cake to Sweetie Belle, who's seated in the middle of the tables, "let's all sing Happy Birthday to Sweetie Belle!" I throw my hooves in the air and get a huge cheer in response. "Alright, here we go!" I see Sweetie Belle shrink down a bit in embarrassment, her white cheeks flushing slightly red. Her older sister gives her a smile and pats her back affectionately. "Happy birthday to you!" Clap "Happy birthday to you!" Clap "Happy birthday dear Sweetie Belle!" Clap "Happy birthday to you!" I end the song, giving a few small bows as the children laugh and applaud me, even though most of them were singing along. I wave my hoof at them, commenting nonchalantly on how it was no big deal. After all, I did do this for a living. "Alright, who wants cake?" I ask suddenly. The room erupts in cheers and I grin; Works like a charm. "Goodnight, dear," Mrs. Cake says to me as I start towards my room on the second floor. I respond with a slightly weary: "'night," and continue up the stairs. That party was by far one of my best ones; it had to be! It was for Rarity's little sister, and only the best for one of my best friends. I felt a yawn coming and let my mouth open wide, sucking in air. I lick my lips idly as I trot into my room. I let the door shut behind me. "Busy day?" the oh so familiar voice sounds from behind me. I stop in my tracks and turn around. The small white pegasus is leaning against the wall on two hooves; one back hoof crossed over the other and front hooves crossed. She blows a small strand of bright yellow hair out of her face and drops onto all fours. "You would know," I tease, scooping at the air with a fore hoof, my eyes swirling around in my head a moment. She smiles and nods. "Yeah, I guess I would. I am always watching," she admits, gazing around my room. I was just joking. Wait, wait one second! "Surprise, what do you mean?" She stops looking at the few silly little drawings I had plastered over the wall. "What?" "When I said 'you would know', I was joking," I push out, trying not to get emotional. "You're actually always watching?" That seems to stop her. She freezes slightly and her tail twitches. "Well, yes." "Then. . . why aren't you ever here?" "Pinkie Pie. . ." I feel angry tears welling in my eyes. "You could stop in and say hi whenever you want, but instead, you just leave me here, alone?" "No, not at all," she argues, at my side in the literal blink of an eye. She puts her hoof around me. "I can't always be here, Pinks." "Well, why not? Tell me that." My voice is thick with sadness and a tear makes its way down my cheek. "It's. . . well, it's kind of hard to explain. . " she starts. She releases me from her grasp and decides to pace the room a bit. "I'll understand. Just tell me," I say. Surprise takes a breath and exhales it through her nose. "There's this energy, right? And I only have a certain amount of energy. It may take a while to manifest it, so sometimes that's why I'm never there. It was so much easier when you were little, as that's how big I was, too, so there was less energy to contain. As you get older, it takes longer to gain the energy. Soon, I'll barely be there. And I'm sorry for that, but there's nothing I can exactly do about it." "Oh," I say slowly, "I see." I gaze at the floor for a few moments. "Is there anything I can do to speed it along? The energy gaining, thing, anyways." Surprise ponders it, putting a hoof to her chin. "Hmm. . . I guess there is. I forgot about it, but yes, there is." I perk up, my ears swiveling forward. "Alright, what is it?" The pegasus digs in her curly mane and pulls out what looks like a charm that would go on a necklace. It stands out darkly against her white hoof. It's completely black, in the shape of a pony skull. I frown. "That's it? What is it?" "I know it doesn't look pretty," Surprise comments, approaching me on three hooves, "but trust me, it works." "Well, okay then. How does it work?" "Just keep it with you at all times. Your energy, your being, will help me manifest faster." She drops it into my outstretched hoof. The skull is made out of some sort of lightweight metal. It shines dully under the light. I tuck it into my mane, deep into the curls, so it won't fall out. I glance back up at my angel. "So, do you feel any different?" Surprise shuffles her wings. "A bit. More. . . rejuvenated, I guess, is the way to put it." "I'm glad," I say, smiling in relief. "I hope to see you more often now." "I'm sure you will. But for now. . ." She dips forward and kisses me gently on the snout. I feel as though a butterfly has landed on my nose and I close my eyes. I know what she's done that for; I can never see her leave. I think it's a terrible burden, no one ever being able to see you vanish. Someday, I hope I'll see her go. Mrs. Cake and Mr. Cake are leaving tomorrow. They have this trip to Las Pegasus planned, and they'll be away for a week. I'm so excited. They trust me enough to leave me alone for that long! I never thought they'd ever be able to depend on me, because of my schizophrenia, but I guess I was wrong. Right now I'm washing a few dishes in the sink. It's around eight at night, SugarCube Corner having been closed since seven, the usual closing time. I keep half of my attention focused on washing the little white dish in my hooves, while the other half is listening in on the Cakes' conversation out in the eating area. My right ear is swiveled towards their voices. ". . . I can't wait for our trip! We haven't been able to go anywhere since we opened this place," Mr. Cake eagerly says to his wife. "Me neither. I know Pinkie will look after this place while we're gone," Mrs. Cake responds. I smile at that; they definitely believe in me! "There's just one thing I'm worried about," Mr. Cake comments uncertainly after a moment. My smile vanishes. I falter in my dish washing. "What's that? Is it about her condition? She's never had any sort of episode while I've been around, or that I know about at all," the little blue mare says. "Well, after she went up to her room, I remembered I had to check on something, so I went upstairs. When I passed by her room, I heard her. . . talking to somepony." "Well, it was in the privacy of her own room. I guess, as long as it's not a bother to anypony else, it's not a primary concern of ours." I let out a breath I hadn't known I was holding, tensed muscles relaxing. "Okay, as long as it's not a problem to you, dear. I just thought I should mention it," he responds. "I think everything will be fine," Mrs. Cake soothes. "Me too." Mrs. Cake pops her head into the kitchen, startling me, but I quickly hide my surprise and pick up my dish washing speed. I turn my head towards her, blinking large, blue eyes. "Pinkie Pie, dear, we're heading off to bed. It's an early train ride, so remember, we'll be gone before you wake up," my employer reminds me. I nod firmly. "Yep, I remembered!" I throw a wet hoof at my face, slapping myself with the force. I give my head a quick shake, ignoring the slight sting from the hit, and keep the large grin that is currently plastered on my face. "Alright then. We entrust you with the business while we're gone. If anything goes wrong, just close for the week. We don't want to lose customers." She gives me a smile. "Not that I fear for you, or anything. You're a fine young mare." "Thanks, Mrs. Cake! I'll do my best!" "That's nice." She pauses. "When you're done with that, you can go to bed. Goodnight, Pinkie Pie." "Okie dokie lokie, 'night!"