//------------------------------// // Night // Story: Short Cakes // by Cloud Wander //------------------------------// PUMPKIN I want nothing to do with him, she thought. He should go into the Closet, with the other monsters. I want him to go away, where he can’t hurt me anymore. She huddled in her bed. The MONSTER lay beside her, in darkness. He tried to press against her, to touch her, but she shriveled inside her blanket and wormed away. Go away! she thought, furiously. I don’t love you anymore! You hurt me and I hate you! He shrank away from her. Hurt. Good! she thought. Now you know how I felt. Seeing you. Broken. They had run up and found Little Wing cradled gently by Rainbow Dash. Little Wing wasn’t moving. And Rainbow Dash’s eyes were wet. Pumpkin then discovered a fear she had never known. She discovered mortality. And it had terrified her, worse than anything she had ever felt before. The MONSTER was finally asleep. Now, in the night, she cried. She held herself and sobbed until her chest hurt. I almost lost you! You stupid, stupid MONSTER. I followed you into the world. You can’t leave the world without me! Don’t go without me, Pound, please! At last, tiredly, timidly, reluctantly, she reached across to the sleeping MONSTER. And rubbed his brown mane. TBBFF. Be more careful, okay, she thought, as she slipped away to sleep. *** POUND He stole across the ceiling, silently. As was his habit. His wings were stiff and sore. Still, they held him up. He looked down. There was the Toy Box, crowded with Pumpkin’s toys. They grinned, thoughtlessly, into the darkness. His own stuff, blocks and trains and crayons, were underneath. But that was okay. Pumpkin’s friends were on top, and he would be lying if he said he wasn’t comforted, sometimes, in the dark hours of the night, by the cheerful face of Munchy Monkey or the tender glance of Yummyfly, gazing at him across the bedroom. You are the precious brother of Pumpkin. Come, dear one, he thought they said. He crept down the wall towards them. He flittered down to the Toy Box. He pawed the floor. He thought, hesitantly, she doesn’t know that you’re toys, right? She doesn’t know that you aren’t really alive? In the darkness of the bedroom, Chewie Chickie slowly nodded. No. She doesn’t know that her light gives us life and movement. No, not yet. She hears our voices in her mind, without knowing that it is her own voice she hears. We are parts of her. I am her strength, boasted Munchy Monkey. I am her curiosity, chirped Chewie Chickie. I am her hope, whispered Yummyfly. I am her kindness, said Tasty Turtle, bashfully. I am her love for you and Mom and Dad and Pinkie, sighed Rubber Pullet. She keeps me near for you. Because I am small and simple and comfortable, easy to love. But she only loves me because she loves you, even when you make her angry, or sad, or scared. And she has always loved you, brother, best of all. She followed you into the world. Into life. Pound gazed at the bedroom floor. But he looked into his heart. She’s very irritating, he thought. She is so noisy! And she smells really bad sometimes. And I think, I think that Mom and Dad and Pinkie like her more than me. And I hurt her! And she hates me because I’m stupid! He pawed the floor again. He cried a little. Pumpkin. Sister. He rubbed his chest. Why do you always make me hurt? He looked up at Pumpkin’s toys. And they all beamed at him. We all love you. Because she does. Even when you make her angry, or sad, or scared. Pound, added Tasty Turtle quietly. You only hear us because part of her is in you. In your heart. Do you understand? Pound thought for a moment, rubbing his chest. Then, with new determination, he nodded: well, all right then. He walked up to the Toy Box and gently prized Rubber Pullet away from the other toys. He pulled her out, flapped his aching flappers, then quietly winged his way towards the bed he shared with his sister. Wobbling a bit, unsteady with his passenger, he landed at the foot of the bed. Solemnly, he propped Rubber Pullet up against the edge of the crib. Is this okay? he asked. She will see you when she wakes. The rubber chicken nodded slowly. I have to sleep, he thought, pressing his hooves to his eyes. You will watch over her, okay? Keep her safe? The rubber chicken nodded slowly. Well, all right then. He snuggled down into his blanket, careful not to wake the TH- Pumpkin. His sister. She’s pretty nice, come to think of it, he thought, as he drifted off to sleep. I love h—. We know. *** RUBBER PULLET And the Moon rose over Ponyville. The children’s room had a broad window, the curtains open. The Moon and Stars spread their glory across the Night, unnoticed. Princess Luna’s light crept silently inside. The Twins, sleeping, did not see it. But Her silver glow eventually fell upon Rubber Pullet, who sat at the foot of their bed, watching over the children. Rubber Pullet nodded. Luna’s light shone upon her and Rubber Pullet’s eyes gleamed. Pumpkin and Pound slept peacefully. The rubber chicken toy nodded. A tiny, happy squeak escaped from her. There is only this moment. And this moment is enough.