A week has gone by since Pinkie Pie's hospital discharge, Pinkie and Vinyl were a couple of days behind on their job, but gradually progressed through it, making it up for what they have missed. Pinkie Pie worked with Vinyl Scratch as party planners, and owned a business van. They get called when they're needed at an event: Vinyl Scratch being the DJ and Pinkie Pie being the event planner and a dance instructor (if party-goers are clueless on a particular dance routine, that's where Pinkie Pie jumps in leading them how it's done). It was a business travel tool that they have been on for years, and it all seem to work out.
SUGAR CUBE CORNER, HUMANEHATTAN - 11:00 AM, TUESDAY
Through all these long years, Sugar Cube Corner hasn't changed. The table that we all sat every day thirteen years ago still remained in that very spot, as well as our engraved carved names on the edge. But sadly, three strangers are sitting by it. It's usually lively at this time of the day, but ever since the new bakery opened across the street, they were getting a lot more attention.
In the kitchen, Mr. and Mrs. Cake kept everything organized and spotless regardless how busy their day can become, from varieties of dough to batters, it was made fresh every morning. Mrs. Cake usually bakes one dough very early in the morning for an alluring scenting purpose, to attract customers. Pinkie Pie volunteered to help on her off day as a thank you for taking care of her during her times of recovery at home for bringing sweet breads. Through all these years of hiatus, Pinkie Pie still remembered how to prep the variety of dough, which all lined up perfectly, tray by tray, and placed in trolley baking racks. Mr. Cake was amazed at Pinkie Pie's ease of speed.
"Wow Pinkie, you still have it in you."
Pinkie Pie was engrossed, she waved her hair and replied expressionlessly, "How would I forget... I did work here with you guys, right?"
Mr. Cake in a curious look, he remarked, "Well.. Yeah, but.. It's just I haven't seen the great Pinkie Pie at work in such a long time. Mrs. Cake and I were always dumbfounded by you."
Pinkie Pie, in a state of an absent mind, she refuted, "Yeah... Thanks."
"Pinkie, is there something bothering you? You can always talk to us..."
"No.." Pinkie Pie quickly interrupted him.
The chimes sounded from the entrance door, and a party of three girls venting to one another about Team Canterlot losing an exhibition basketball game to Team Wondercolts. They approached and gazed at the deliciously displayed baked goods behind the pastry glass.
"Grrrr, Where's Mrs. Cake?..." Mr. Cake pleaded.
Mr. Cake hastily came out of the kitchen, and walked towards the front desk without a quiver, and smiled, "How can I help you ladies?"
Pinkie Pie was in a state of auto-pilot prepping the variety of dough. But what's going through Pinkie Pie's mind are the moments she had with her other five friends, who she no longer sees. She would always hear them giggling in the background while in the kitchen prepping or baking, but those days were long gone, thirteen years ago. She finished half the batch of the dough prepping, she approached to a different station, then began mixing the batter for the cupcakes. With a sly, dull smile, she reminisced how high-spirited and silly she was in those days of her teenage years: The crazy hairstyle; the confettis; the obsessive behavior for cupcakes and icings; and the party cannon, which she still kept in her home basement covered in dusts. With Pinkie Pie, it all began right after high school graduation.
TWILIGHT SPARKLE'S BACKYARD, HUMANAVILLE - 12:00 PM, FRIDAY (THIRTEEN YEARS AGO)
Pinkie Pie had planned a surprise birthday party for Twilight Sparkle in the backyard of her house. Party tables, party hats, balloons, etc; Ursa Major shaped pinata held on by a string which hanged on a corner-edged roof of Twilight's house; and a colossal of a cake with hundreds of trickling candles lit displayed on an over-sized table. Pinkie Pie skipped across around the area through every detail of the arrangement to make sure everything is in perfect order, her favorite music was playing in the background, Her party cannon was ready to be blown, all there's left to do is wait for all seven to show up.
Two hours later, Pinkie Pie still waited on a chair with legs crossed. She murmured to herself blissfully, "What's taking them so long, I should've held a Pinkie Promise!" Pinkie Pie still waited patiently and dangled her crossed leg with a birthday hat on. These are one of the times that she should've brought her cell phone so she can fiddle around with her apps. But she didn't feel the need to bring her phone if she hanged out with them everyday; On the contrary, she waited this long enough anyway, wouldn't hurt to run back home for it.
Pinkie Pie hastily opened her house entrance door, swiftly to her bedroom to grab her cell phone that was resting on her bed. As she exited her front door, she stopped for a moment to take a quick glance at her cell phone noticing a blinking blue light on the corner edge of her top side bezel, which cues for a text notification. She turned her cell phone screen on with Twilight Sparkle's text message to everyone:
"Hey girls, I just would like to give you some heads up that I will not be here for my birthday, I will be at the Canterlot University's library to study for the entrance exam, hope you all would understand, love you girls. I hope Pinkie Pie gets this message."
Pinkie Pie got the message alright, but not soon enough.
Pinkie Pie, remained a smile, paused for a second or two, she mumbled to herself, "Okey Dokey Lokey! It was my fault. If I should've known I've gotten this text message sooner, I wouldn't have prepared the surprise party."
She skipped along the side walks while humming a melody towards the backyard of Twilight's house. For each and every party supplies, including the Pinata and the cake, she magically concealed all of them in her inflated balloon-like hair without any looks of constraint, she hummed the melody while doing so. The tables, she actually had to call Big Mac for a trolley, Big Mac came and helped fold each table then placing them on the trolley. The trolley was not required for the Party Cannon as it already came with wheel casters.
"Thank You, Bic Mac!" with a large smile on Pinkie Pie's face.
"Eeyupp." replied, Big Mac.
Big Mac pushed the trolley, exiting from Twilight's backyard, towards the side walk and headed to Pinkie Pie's house. As Pinkie Pie pushed the party cannon with impulsion, she hopped on, but at the same time moving to the direction where she had pushed it, "Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Weeee Waaaaahoooooooooooooooo!!! Thiiiiissss iiissss ffuuunnnnnn!!!!!" Pinkie Pie arrived home faster than a space rocket. Then Arrived Big Mac, helping unload the trolley to the side of Pinkie Pie's house temporarily. It's been quite a long day of humdrum for Pinkie, patiently waited only to find out that today's party, is literally cancelled.
"Thank you thank you thank you Thank You!!" Pinkie Pie had said Whimsically at the same time jumping up and down.
"Eeyupp." Big Mac responded with a straight face.
Days gone by, she had been using her cell phone more frequent these days. Everyone has been really busy. Apple Jack and her Apple Farm, Rarity having a full time job at Philly Ever 21, Rainbow Dash with another girl named Gilda and some basketball buddies, Flutter Shy spending time with animals more often than usual, and the college life of Twilight and I. Pinkie Pie hasn't gotten any text messages back from any of them but me. I would at least reply with "Hey, what's new; Hey I'm busy right now, ttyl; Hey you wanna hang?"
I had the same kind of problem, but the only difference is, I at least had my mind occupied with nursing school and all. But it sure did felt strange not having them around.
It's been two weeks since Twilight's birthday. Pinkie Pie's cheerfulness was diminishing. She spend the whole days in her room, being depressed, lying down, and never grasped for fresh air since then. The rest of the Pie family were very concern for Pinkie's lack of social conduct for the past weeks. It's not like her. Pinkie Pie's father, Igneous Rock Pie, entered Pinkie Pie's dark bedroom and sat next to Pinkie Pie on the side of her bed. She was laying down the opposite direction from her father while scrolling through her facebook page on her cell phone.
"Pinkie Pie." her father called out broodingly.
"What..." Pinkie Pie replied in a standard tone while scrolling through the pictures of her friends on facebook.
"It's been a couple of weeks that you've been acting like this. I gotta say, I am quite worried."
"I am fine, dad."
"No you're not."
Pinkie Pie heavily sighed.
"Pinkie, you know you can't be cooped up in here forever, you should get some fresh air too, it's for your own health."
Pinkie pie continued scrolling through the facebook pictures of Flutter Shy and her animals.
"I know it's not in my place to ask, but whatever is on your mind, you gotta move on from it. It's a beautiful world out there you have yet to experience, and you're missing it."
"I don't care about the world." Pinkie Pie disputed.
"Well you may not care about the world, but the world may care about you."
Pinkie Pie stopped scrolling through her facebook page, switched her phone screen off, and turned her body to face her father, "What?"
"What I am trying to say is, you may not care about the world, but the world wants you to try and take the opportunity to experience the different things it can offer. It's a challenge, it's a game, it's destiny, and it's a true adventure."
"I don't get it." Pinkie Pie puzzled.
"Sweetie, whatever that's bothering you, you shouldn't let it get the best of you. You're better than that. We, The Pie Family, are better than that. If you remain this way, they win. If you commend to strive, they lose. Show them that you are strong and will-powered. No one can control your life, but yourself."
Pinkie Pie thought for a moment, she can relate to what's been happening lately with her friends. Maybe she didn't need them, maybe friendship was not meant to last forever. It came to her realization that all good things came to an end. She sat up from her bed, and shifted closer to her father's side, held his arms and laid her head softly on his shoulder. "Yes daddy, I am strong."
Pinkie's father laid his head against hers and pecked a kiss on her forehead.
"Now c'mon, it's time for dinner, you're mother made rock soup."
"Aw man, that again?" Both freed from each other and stood up.
"uh uh uh," Igneous Rock Pie swayed his index fingers side to side at Pinkie, "First lesson, beggars can't be choosers."
"Whatever dad, you're lucky that I am hungry." Pinkie Pie exited her bedroom right before her father and followed after.
"Sorry I was late!" as Mrs. Cake kicked the door in through the entrance of the bakery with her hands filled with baking ingredients and supplies. The customers looked her way when one of the baking funnels dropped to the floor. A customer approached to pick it up and placed it back in the bag from where it fell, "I need a hand here!" Mrs. Cake yelled to the kitchen. Pinkie Pie hastily walked from the kitchen, to the front desk with her hands slightly covered in baking flour, and quickly helped grabbed the supplies from Mrs. Cake.
"Where's Mr. Cake?"
"He's in the refrigerator doing inventory."
Mrs. Cake with a mild sigh, she yelled out even louder across the kitchen that leads to the closed walk-in refrigerator, "Mr. Cake!!!"
"I am coming honey, I was just counting the bagels." Mr. Cake finally rushed out of the walk-in refrigerator and assisted of grabbing the rest of the baking ingredients and supplies from Mrs. Cake, and placed it on a prep station.
"So Pinkie, had a productive day?" Mrs. Cake had asked with a grin.
"Yes, thanks, I actually needed this to unwind."
"You're leaving?" Mr. Cake asked bluntly.
"Yes, unfortunately, I have lots of events planning to organize tonight for the next couple of days, and tomorrow morning, I gotta help Vinyl get the Party and DJ Equipment prepared. We were called to set an event for tomorrow's CHS Prom."
"How exciting!" Mrs. Cake asserted with lightheartedness.
"Oh yes yes, very awesome!" Mr. Cake added.
Pinkie Pie took her apron off, hanging it on an apron hanger as letting her long straight hair down, and washed her hands.
"Mrs. Cake, Mr. Cake, it was a pleasure, Thank you for having me. I must go home."
Mrs. Cake immediately reached out a warm bag of freshly baked sweet bread to Pinkie Pie. "Please, accept it. We realized how much we missed you being here."
"Yes, and please don't hesitate to ask us for anything, we're here to help." Mr. Cake added.
"Thanks, you guys. I'll see you later." Pinkie Pie replied in a low tone and a straight face.
Pinkie Pie kindly accepted the bag filled with warm sweet bread, grabbed her coat and purse from the coats hanger as waving a goodbye then left the kitchen. She took her cell phone out from her purse to check for any missed calls or messages and escorted herself towards the exit of the bakery, but before doing so, she took a final glance at the table of where they all used to sit and giggled. Thirteen years had passed, but the moment still struck her to this very day. The only remnant of that moment she has with them, is me. Reflecting back on what her father's words taught her, she has to move on. But deep inside, she still believes that there's hope for us all to come back together, with elements of harmony.