A shoulder to cry on
8-year old Pumpkin Cake ran into Sugarcube Corner and slammed the door. She sprinted up to her and Pound's room, tears streaming from her baby blue eyes. She threw herself down on her pink and orange bedspread, letting out big blubbery sobs all over her pillow.
Knock knock knock
"Honey? Are you okay?" It was Ms. Cake, sounding worried and confused.
"Go away!" Pumpkin cried, her face red and blotchy from crying. "I don't wanna talk to anypony right now!" Eventually, Pumpkin could hear Ms. Cake walking down the stairs.
Pumpkin Cake sat up, still sniffling, and walked over the pair of saddlebags she had left on the floor next to the double dresser she shared with Pound. She pulled out a diary book and a pen, then walked back to her bed and lay down on her stomach. Picking up the pen in her magic, she opened the book and began to write.
15 October
Dear Diary,
You have been infiltrated! That awful Sapphire Stone from school took you from my saddlebags and read you aloud at recess today!
It was absolutely awful, Diary! She had picked out the worst and most personal pages possible and practically yelled so that everypony on the playground could hear! It was possibly the most embarrassing moment of my life.
The worst part is that she read the pages about Thunder! You know, that colt I like? Well, she did all these hoof motions and did a bunch of kissy faces while she read, and everypony was laughing at me, and.. oh, it was just horrible!
I always knew Sapphire hated me. I've known it ever since she tripped me when I walked up to the front of the room during the oral reports. And Ms. Lillypad actually believed her lie that she 'accidently' slipped her leg just as I walked in front of her! And now Sapphire's off to ruin my love life along with my social one.
And it's not like Pound is much help either. Today he was out playing kickball with the rest of the colts, but when everypony stopped to listen to Sapphire, he just watched everypony making fun of me and didn't do a thing! I thought brothers were supposed to help you out when you're in trouble, but if Pound Cake is any example then I guess I was wrong.
So now I'm the laughing stock of the whole third-grade class. And I'll bet big bits that come tomorrow when everypony else is teasing me about today, Pound will just laugh right with them.
Pumpkin Cake
Pumpkin closed the diary, a fresh set of tears welling up in her eyes. She couldn't believe that her own brother would abandon her in her hour of need. She sobbed into her pillow until she eventually cried herself to sleep.
A few minutes later, Pound Cake opened the door into their room, looking worried. He saw his sister lying on her bed, her diary open to the most recent entry. Pound would have just left it alone if he hadn't spotted his own name written on the page. Eager to learn what his sister had written about him, Pound picked up the diary and began to read the entry. As he went farther, however, he began to get a sick feeling as he remembered the day's events. He remembered watching that horrible filly read aloud his sister's diary and everypony laughing at Pumpkin. He had wanted to make them stop, but all the colts he was playing with were laughing, except for Thunder who had been very embarrassed.
Now that he knew what his sister thought about his actions of the day, he felt very guilty. But suddenly, he was angry. Angry at Sapphire, angry at the foals who laughed at Pumpkin, but mostly, he was angry at himself. He hated himself for not doing anything, for not beating up anypony who dared laugh at his sister.
I need to put things right. he thought. I need to.
Pound Cake ran out the door, knowing what he was supposed to do.
***
Several hours later, Pumpkin Cake woke up, groggy and tired. The tear marks on her pillow reminded her of the day's events.
Groan.. she thought. Suddenly, somepony spoke to her.
"Are you okay, Pumpkin?"
It was Pound Cake, speaking from across the room on his bed. He looked a little worried.
Pumpkin scowled. "Like you care," she said heatedly. "My life is ruined and all you did was stand and watch."
Pound Cake shook his head. "Nuh, uh." he said. "I just got back from that mean filly's house about fifteen minutes ago. I went over there to teach her some manners." He smacked his hoofs together menacingly.
Pumpkin gasped. "You mean- you hit her?!"
"What? No, no I just told her that if she or any of her snarky friends try to be mean to you again, they'll have to answer to Pinkie Pie."
Pumpkin laughed rather weakly. "Oh Pound, you didn't!" Her expression softened. "But thanks, I guess."
Pound shrugged. "Yeah, well, I'm your brother. I'm not a total jerk."
"That's up for debate."
They both laughed, and Pound Cake knew he was forgiven.
"Hey sis?" said Pound.
"What?"
"I think you're awesome."
"Aw, thanks Pound!"
"-Even if you look like Pinkie's alligator."
Pumpkin whacked him on the head with her diary book, and they both laughed.
"So.." said Pound Cake. "We're cool with each other?"
"Real cool, Pound. Real cool."
And they walked out of their bedroom, laughing the whole way.
*The End*