Saying Good-Bye
This is for Ryder. I miss you, pup.
This is also for anyone who’s ever had to give up a pet.
It was a day she had been afraid of for a very long time, but a day she’d known was coming whether she liked it or not. But that’s the funny thing about the future; it seems so far away, you can just ignore it. But before you know it, the future is today and today is the day you’ve dreaded.
She supposed she’d always known that she couldn’t keep him forever; he was just going to get too big. The Cakes were adamant; he had to go. The toothless alligator was already fifteen feet long from the tip of his snout to the end of his tail and he was barely in his teen years. Pinkie had fought long and hard and even started to pack her things, fully intending to move somewhere where she and Gummy could stay together.
In the end good sense, as well as a little counseling from good friend Twilight Sparkle, won out. With the help of her friends, she had started looking for a new place for Gummy to live. In this case, the obvious choice was the best choice; Froggy Bottom Bog. It was plenty big, wet, and swampy with a healthy stock of smaller critters the growing reptile could swallow whole when he got hungry (a thought that sent Fluttershy into convulsions.)
On the fateful day, she leashed him for the last time and led him down Main Street. Passers-by gawked at the tremendous reptile held only by a thin leather leash, but Pinkie herself did her best not to look. She knew that one look into those big purple eyes would lead to her calling the whole thing off.
Twilight, Spike, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity, and Fluttershy all accompanied them on their final walk, bringing along Owlowicious, Pee-Wee, Tank, Winona, Opal, and Angel respectively. Together they formed a strange parade of pony and animal that trekked slowly down the streets of Ponyville. Gummy, for his part, seemed completely unaware of what was going on and simply followed his ‘Mommy’ as he always did.
After a walk that wasn’t nearly long enough for Pinkie’s tastes, they arrived at the shores of the deepest part of the bog. A picnic lunch was laid out, toys were pulled from saddlebags, and the circle of friends and pets had themselves one final pet play date. Even Pinkie Pie laughed and sang and had a good time… until she looked over and watched Gummy chew on his favorite ball, now dwarfed in his mammoth jaws.
She began to sob, and the others took that as a signal that it was time.
One by one, the assembled friends bid Gummy farewell with scratches on his scales and more than a few light kisses on his nose.
Finally, only Pinkie herself remained.
She stepped forward and scratched him on his snout, right on his favorite spot. His eyes closed contentedly and his back feet beat the ground with pleasure. The pink mare flung her arms about his great scaly neck… and simply refused to let go. She sobbed into his scales, her tears flowing down his sand-paperish skin.
Finally, Gummy understood. The other pets, the ponies being slightly sad… it all made sense. He closed his jaws on Pinkie’s tail and gently pulled her away. Once she was separated, he released her, turned, and made his way into the muddy bog, the brown water splashing and rippling beneath him.
Pinkie tried to follow, but Dash and Twilight held her back, tears spilling from their own eyes. Applejack hid her own tear-streaked face with her hat. Fluttershy bawled into Angel’s fur, and to his credit the foul-tempered rabbit did not fight back.
He was too busy crying himself.
Rivers flowed from Pinkie’s eyes and she called desperately after the alligator, begging him to come back.
All of Gummy was submerged now, save the top of his head. He turned and his eyes met Pinkie’s. Her mournful cries ceased for a moment as she read a look there.
It was as though he was telling her everything was going to be alright. He was alright. She was alright.
And he would love her always.
A single crocodile tear leaked from his eye… and then he was gone, lost in the murky waters.
Pinkie called for him once more, then her knees buckled and she collapsed to the ground, weeping uncontrollably. Her friends all rushed to her and sat with her, crying with her and supporting her.
After a little while, the tears just wouldn’t come anymore.
Pinkie carefully stood and looked out at the waters. She inhaled, and slowly, sadly… she began to sing.
“Saying good-bye,
going away,
Seems like good-bye’s
such a hard thing to say.
Touching a hoof,
wondering why,
it’s time for saying good-bye.”
Her friends stood with her… and sang with her.
“Saying good-bye,
why is it sad?
Makes us remember
the good times we had.
Much more to say,
foolish to try,
it’s time for saying good-bye.”
They stayed there and sang a little while longer until the sun began to sink. One by one they bid their farewells and left until only Rainbow Dash and Pinkie remained.
“You gonna be okay?” The Pegasus asked her closest friend.
Pinkie thought about it, shrugged her shoulders, and forced a smile. “I dunno, Dashie. Maybe…” She thought a little more and looked back out at the bog. “Yeah… I think I’m gonna be okay.” She hugged Dash close. “Thanks. For everything.”
Dash hugged back. “Anytime.” She turned. “You ready to head back?”
Pinkie shook her head and waved a hoof. “Go on. I’ll catch up.”
Dash offered a little salute and was gone with a flap of her wings.
Pinkie looked back out at the bog… and saw several little bubbles break the surface. She smiled sadly and began again to sing.
“Don’t want to leave,
but we both know,
sometimes it’s better to go.
Somehow I know
we'll meet again.
Though I'm not sure quite where,
and I'm not sure quite when…”
She caught herself trying to cry again. She managed to stifle it, but wasn’t quite able to stop one tear from falling into the waters. It sent out a ripple… and, from somewhere in the dark waters, a ripple came back.
She didn’t have to force the smile that time.
She looked back out at the dark water and sang.
“You’re in my heart
so, until then,
wanna smile,
wanna cry,
saying good-bye.”
She blew a kiss across the water. “Mommy loves you, Gum-drop. Good-bye.” At long last, she turned her back to the water and began the long walk back to Ponyville.
Deep beneath the water, the toothless gator heard her… and smiled.
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That was simply beautiful
Bravo good sir. Man tears are shed
Did you write that song? That was beautiful! Manly tears were shed
A sweet and short one-shot.
Upvoted and favorited.
She could always visit him at the bog?
A very touching little story. Thoroughly enjoyed the song
1619420
this
Could've done with a little dialogue in the first half to bring it to life
but otherwise, it was a very nice 'lil story
"...began to sing."
Nope! Nope! I'm not reading ANY farther. I am NOT going to start crying at 6 in the morning!
1619091 No. The song is from the film 'the Muppets Take Manhatten.'
While I usually avoid sad stories... This one... I don't know why, but this one made me stop and read.
Good job. It is sad indeed, but also beautiful. It shows the sensitive side of Pinkie that we so rarely see.
Bittersweet. I also avoid sad stories, but I read this one anyway. It was heartwarming despite being sad.
1619420 ...Well, yeah. I guess she could.
This wasn't one of those 'let me write to tell a story' stories. This was 'oh god I'm so sad must get these feelings out before they destroy me' stories. Hence the shortness and lack of dialogue.
1620417 than make a damn sequel
Anything Muppets deserves a medal, so have one. *sniff*
great story i loved it
1619420 But it still wouldn't change the fact that he has to live in the wild now and can't come back with her.
I'm so sorry this day had to come Pinkie Pie, but Gummy will always remember you.
nice!
That wasn't nearly as depressing as what I expected. I was half expecting it to be his dying day rather than being let go.
This was sweet and sad. Good job.
This is a song symbolizes the end with a bittersweet ending. Fits well for a walk home theme, like Pinkie's doing.
Silver out!
i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag83/TrollestiaSubject/crying_luna_by_keanno-d49w9cq.gif
I hate you so much, but I love you at the same time
so many tears... so many
This is one of the few fics that has ever made me cry.
Great job.
Amazing Sir just amazing
, can't wait for "Dear Scootaloo", when is that coming out?
/5
1623835 If my timing is correct, 2-4 weeks. In the mean-time, watch out for two more chapters of 'Morning Glory' and the start of 'the Hearth's Warming Eve Carols.'
The feels......
media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mdt67uB2B91qzq3lr.gif
Damn, man. Right in the feels.
Definitely one of the more sad stories that I've read, though 'Simply Rarity' is so much worse on the feels. Go read it on EQD. It's great.
Awwwww! That made my heart break into a million tiny pieces! Awesome story!
You left out part of the song lyrics.....still, so beautiful....
I swore to myself that I wouldn't read ths because of all the feels. Then you made the contest... The feels I have for my old cat Merlin...
Lie on ground
Try not to cry
Cry a lot
I could not have cried more over a story.
at the beginning of the story when he says this is for Ryder that reminded me of the rottweiler that my parents had before I was born..... his name was Ryder too.
Darn it! This is the 5th story I've read by you today and 4 of them made me cry unexpectedly. Good job
The feels
Oh god the feels
Hi! I actually read your story right after it was linked to in the comments of mine, and I must say that I really, really enjoyed it. The last pony pet playdate was a really sweet idea, and I cried for poor Pinkie as she bade her Gum-drop a farewell. Awesome job!
All of my feels are belong to you
sad labeled book bet Its not that sad...
..I um..i
...NO I WONT DO IT..
...um..ok...um
...it liquid pride im not...
the feels
I LOVED it
that was nice
Feels, sadness, but not breaking out tears from my eyes.
Welp, the same result as many good sad stories.
You made me cry :pinkiesad1:
This was really well written, made perfectly to cause the emotions desired; really amazing work.
No fair you can't make me cry over an alligator with no personality.
I'm just gonna say WHAT ON EARTH?! WHY AM I CRYING OVER AN ALLIGATOR (OR CROCODILE) THAT ONLY BLINKS THREE TIMES A DAY?!
8555276
BECAUSE ITS GUMMY