Tales from the Conversion Bureau: The Last Bastion

by Sachiel

Laughter

Sugarcube Square, Altensteig, Grand Duchy of Baden, Confederation of German States, European Union, some years ago

The winters were getting colder

Since she'd come to the town in the Black Forest the winters had definitely gotten colder, her creaky knee didn't lie. The snow falling outside didn't either, Pinkie Pie took it in as she whiled away her lunch break, sipping a mug of apple cinnamon infused hot chocolate. She spied her reflection in the glass bar a couple of wrinkles and grey streaks in her mane and tail (that made her look like a candy cane, so that was a plus) she still looked good for her age. You had to focus on the good things, she'd learned that pretty fast once she'd come to Earth

After a few years as a 'consultant' to the UNHCR (refugees were always in need of parties and fun after all) she became fast friends with the Grand Duke (one of the agency's biggest supporters) after planning his sons birthday party. On his invitation she'd gone to visit the EU and ended up 'advising' its new government for awhile, keeping busy planning parties in her spare time. Soon she'd gotten enough cash together to get back to what she was best at on her own terms and Sugarcube Square was born. The bakery/confectionery was her pride and joy

She'd found Altensteig after her friend recommended it, falling in love with the place, it reminded her so much of Ponyville. It didn't hurt that the Grand Duke's son had a holiday villa in the town and that his grandson loved seeing his Auntie Pie whenever she could drop by for a visit. The boy reminded her of two little foals she'd known a long time ago and he loved seeing Sugarcube Square

They did baked delights and every kind of candy you could imagine, they also did parties, everyone from the kid down the street to the Emperor of the Germans knew who to call when they needed an epic shindig

As she enjoyed her hot chocolate she felt her back muscle pinch, it must be her lucky day. Feeling inspiration strike her she went and grabbed her hat, scarf and warm boots

“Greta!” she called out
“Yes Pinkie?” her manager called back from the front
“I'm gonna go check on the stall, be back later”
“Sure thing boss, we'll hold down the fort here!”

She downed the last of her hot chocolate and stepped outside into the snow, when it was your lucky day there was no sense hiding inside, every pony knew that, Besides, she knew her vendor wouldn't mind some extra help

Christmas Market, Altensteig

Before Pinkie knew it she was at the stall, it was more of a little wooden hut like the others at the market but she'd added her own touches. The walls looked like giant pieces of sponge cake, the roof shingles like slabs of gingerbread and the awning like runny frosting. All fake of course. Sadly.

She thought Rarity would approve, looking at her shops sign, six purple, yellow, blue, red, green and pink gems arrayed around a six-pointed magenta star on a dark background , same as the one in Sugarcube Square. She tapped some snow from the awning, put on a mane and tail net and ducked in the back

Inside her vendor was adjusting the display when she heard a “Hi Klara!” and jumped, sending a trap of cupcakes flying, Pinkie deftly caught them, balancing the tray on her poofy tail

Klara Douai had long stopped questioning how her boss could appear out of nowhere the second she turned her back, so had everyone from the cashier to the Grand Duke himself, it was just Pinkie Pie. She could not be stopped

“Oh hey boss, how's it going?”
“Great! The Square's okay so I thought I'd check up on my favourite vendor, how're you doing?”
“Pretty good so far, moved most of the stock, we should be sold up by the time the market closes today”
“That's great but I asked how you were doing, not the stall silly, it's your first time working for us”
“Long day, never worked a stall before this job, not used to the rush yet but I think I'm managing” Pinkie put a hoof on her shoulder
“If you're not let me know” Klara knew she meant it, she'd done a few seasonal jobs and Pinkie was by far the best boss she'd ever had

Just then a little boy and his mother came up to the stall, Klara was about to ask what they wanted but Pinkie jumped in

“And what can I get you little man?”
“One of the gingerbread ponies please”
“Excellent choice, that'll be two euros please”
“Here you go” the little boy said, handing the coins to the pink pony who smiled warmly as she handed him the gingerbread pony
“And here you go little man, enjoy, you got here just in time, only one more left” he smiled
“Thank you Frau Pie” he replied before turning to go with his mother, Pinkie sat there and smiled, watching the boy enjoy his treat. No prompting from mom, he'd been raised well, she hoped the Cake Twins were as polite as him

He was enjoying it so much that he that he didn't notice the pile of melted snow. He slipped and down he went into the dirty slush, the gingerbread flew from his hand. He pulled himself up looking more stunned than anything, then he noticed the gingerbread pony on the ground and began to cry. Pinkie immediately went to get the last one, just in time to see her vendor hand it to a young woman

“Honey are you okay? You're not hurt are you?” his mother asked, frantically checking him, then saw the gingerbread pony, broken into pieces and already soggy from the slush

“I'm sorry honey, we'll get you another one” Pinkie heard her and her heart sank, she wasn't looking forward to telling her they were out. So much for it being her lucky day

Then her vendor stepped in

“Here” she suddenly appeared next to the boy (Pinkie could've sworn she was right next to her) holding out a gingerbread pony. He sniffled and looked at his mother, she nodded, it was okay
“Thank you miss” he took it from Klara and held it carefully in his hands

“No problem kiddo, you enjoy the extra horsepower” she said, he giggled and took a big bite, his tears forgotten

“Thank you so much, he's been so sad since his big sister went to the bureau, this is his first Christmas without her” his mother said before they headed off to explore the rest of the market

“I thought we were sold out” Pinkie asked
“We were, I bought that one to have on my break but I wasn't gonna let that little boy be sad, we all need a reason to laugh these days”
“You know what? I couldn't agree more”

The next hour passed, in between serving the customers she and Pinkie made small talk

“...and that's how I ended up saving the Emperors birthday cake!”
“You've had quite a life Pinkie”
“What about you? We haven't talked much since you started, what's my favourite vendor get up to when she's not here?”
“Not much really, I spend most of my time at my ausbildung apprenticeship and I do seasonal jobs to get some extra cash whenever I can, especially around this time of the year. Also do a bit of freelance baking on the side if I've got the time”
“Wow” even for a pony who was a baker, party planner and element of harmony Pinkie was amazed, Klara shrugged

“You've gotta do what you gotta do when it's your family”
“You help support them?”
“I help my big brother look after my nieces, their mom remarried and went through the bureau after the divorce” she sighed “it's why I could relate to that little boy form earlier, it's gonna be their first Christmas without her too, I do what I can to make them happy” she felt a warm hoof rest on her hand
“They're lucky to have you”
“Thanks” Pinkie looked away

“I...I'm sorry”
“For what?” she moved to sit on the chair at the back of the booth, the normally energetic pony moving more slowly, wincing as she moved her legs
“We tried to stop it, to stop her, we really did, we tried so hard but we couldn't do it”
“The barrier?”
“We should have tried harder, used the Elements better, used the mirror and joined Sunset”
“Pinkie I...” tears began to well up
“It's going to keep coming on and the bureaus will keep taking people in and spitting them out as Our Town ponies and your nieces lost their mom and that little boy lost his sister and won't ever see them again and it's all because we...”
“Pinkie!” her boss looked at her, the party pony was gone, the mare in front of her stared out from tired eyes, her coat was faded, her hair even seemed flatter as she lowered her head in shame. Klara placed a hand on her hoof

“I don't know what happened back then, I wasn't born, hell my grandparents weren't, but I do know what it's like now” she motioned out the window to the rest of the Market
“Look at them, what do you see?” Pinkie looked
“People”
“What're they doing?”
“Shopping”
“No, not just shopping, look closer”
“Talking”
“And?”
“Laughing”
“They're living” Klara squeezed her hoof

“They're enjoying their lives, they're happy, you help with that, I've lost count of how many people and ponies come in to Sugarcube Square glum and sad and leave laughing and smiling. Everyone, the Grand Duke, my nieces, that little boy, they go in or they come here, they meet you and they come out happy. Even if it's just for a little while you make them feel better, help them forget about the barrier and everything else, help them escape from their burdens, give them hope. You do so much, look at that, look at what you do and did, not what you couldn't”

Pinkie was quiet for a moment, then her head jerked back up, her hair reflated and she had a big smile on her face, neither noticed the rainbow glow that flashed in the others eyes

“You're right, I do do a lot” she looked around at everyone, a few people passing by the stall even waved at her, she waved back. Looking at Klara she sighed “guess I forgot that”

“I think most creatures do, we just need a friend to remind us from time to time” Klara replied when a grumble cut through the air

“I think it's time for lunch” Pinkie said, Klara went to where she'd stashed the gingerbread pony before she remembered she'd given it away
“Oh, well I can get a pretzel or something” Pinkie reached into her hair and pulled out a lunchbox
“Wha...”
“I keep sweets stashed in case of lunch emergencies, this is a new recipe I've been working on” she handed the box to her
“Wow, thanks Pinkie” Klara replied, Pinkie smiled
“What are friends for?”

Pinkie watched as the girl ducked out the side door and headed off to explore the market with a smile on her face, she didn't mind giving up her lunch, she wasn't hungry, all she needed was a smile from a happy friend.

Comments

[MatTheBook]

Laughter