Down a Staircase
A pink mare with a puffy mane takes a step down the staircase, a large cake balanced precariously on her nose. Streamers and confetti surround her while the sound of laughter rises from below. Used games are strewn across the floor and scraps of food litter the tables in small clumps. The trash cans are filled with objects nopony would expect to see together—rubber ducks and strange costumes contrast with unusual shapes folded from paper.
The rainy day is forgotten by everypony present, the atmosphere created by Pinkie’s party cutting through the dreary day. Forgotten by everypony except the hyper party mare. Damp spots still show on her coat, betraying the truth of her day.
Another Pinkie Pie party. One of countless parties she has thrown, and certainly not her most difficult. Of course, she has not failed yet. No. Failure is never an option with so much at stake.
The party mare extraordinaire feels anything but. Supplies had to be bought, food cooked, and games set up. All in almost no time. But she has experience in party planning and it was easy. Right?
It always gets done ‘somehow’. It is just Pinkie being Pinkie and she does it through some means neither science nor magic can explain. Her friends just pass it off as nothing. Do they think her life is effortless?
She gives a mental shake. It does not matter to her. Only the result matters. It has always been about the result, ever since she got her cutie mark.
***
Three days had passed since she saw the sonic rainboom for the first time. Sweat coated Pinkamina’s face from the increased pace as she lugged the final rock to the correctly sized pile, but she was used to it now. Her muscles ached and there were the usual cuts formed on her back legs from her haste, but she could ignore that. She did have to wash out the grime and sweat in her coat, of course, lest anypony worry about her. If they worried, it defeated the purpose.
After finishing early another day in a row, the filly trudged off of the farm to ‘play’. Her parents approved of her newly found worth ethic, and seeing them happy was a truly new experience. But she had to do more.
The pink-maned pony finally arrived at her destination in the nearby town. A burly, brown-coated stallion greeted her.
“Hey Pinkie, you’re early today. With your enthusiasm we will be done in no time.”
“Hi Mr. White Paint! That’s great! This’ll be awesome! Oh, and did you get the supplies?” Pinkie said, hopping up and down. Her tense muscles hurt even more, and she winced internally, fighting to keep her smiling façade. “I have everything planned already!”
“Of course I did. But what would you need such strange materials for? Ah, forget it. Knowing you, it’d be best I didn’t know,” he said with a small chuckle.
Finding work for bits was difficult due to foal labor laws, of course, but it was easy to volunteer in return for some supplies.
“Hey, I know! You should totally come over tomorrow morning and I can SHOW you!” The filly said with a grin. She hastily added, “…sir.”
The stallion gave another chuckle. “Aw, why not. It’s the least I can do for all the help you have given me. Anyway, why don’t we finish up the painting here, huh?”
***
As the excitable mare carefully takes another step down the stairs, the cake tilts threateningly. She eyes the staircase. Still a long way to go. All five pairs of eyes are on her, in them not a hint of worry for the cake’s safety.
***
The rain planned since the morning promised the group of friends a depressing day, but that was one promise the party pony could not let nature keep. Finishing up her morning exercises, Pinkie grabbed her money bag and trotted downstairs into Sugarcube Corner.
“Hi Mister and Mrs. Cake! I’m throwing a party and it would be so awesome if you can make some cakes and sweets and milkshakes and muffins and cupcakes and more cakes and—”
Mr. Cake sighed and turned toward the pink face, which was about two inches away from her own. “But you just had a party a few days ago. Why would you need to throw another one?”
“But…But…Pleeaaaase? It’s super important that my friends stay happy and its going to rain today and I don’t want them to get sad and what if—”
Mrs. Cake gave her husband a knowing look and cut in, “Alright, alright. And for you, we’ll charge eighty bits.”
Pinkie’s smile faltered, but she composed herself. In a pink blur, the mare instantly wrapped her arms around the Cakes in a hug.
“Oh thank you thank you this will be the BEST PARTY EVER!”
She quickly shot out of the room, leaving the bits in a pile on the desk. The owners of Sugarcube Corner turned to each other, sighed once again, and got to work.
Pinkie Pie trotted happily down the streets of Ponyville, the remainder of her money balanced in a bag on her back, greeting everypony with her trademark smile and wave.
A peach colored earth pony with a rose cutie mark was sniffing at some flowers growing in her personal garden.
“Hi Rose! Your flowers look ready to pick for the market already! How do you get them to grow so fast?” Pinkie giggled slightly. “Oh sorry, I know: trade secret, right?”
Rose turned around and also giggled. “Can’t go tellin’ everypony without losing business, now can I?” She winked before continuing, “but for you I might make an exception.”
“I’ll hold you to it, but I need to get going. You know, parties to plan!”
Rose smiled at her. “Of course Pinkie.”
Pinkie Pie bounced down the road, turning up to see the progress on the storm. The pegasi had just started to move clouds into position. The one nearest Pinkie held a grayish blue pegasus pony.
“Hey there Cloud Kicker, great job with the sky! And I hear you will be leading the storm team today.”
“Thanks Pinkie. I really hope I do well, it being my first leadership position and all.”
“Oh you have nothing to worry about silly,” she replied with a giggle. “I’ve seen how great your work is. Now get going! You don’t want to be late your first day.”
She threw the pink mare a grateful smile and rushed toward Cloudsdale.
The party planner glanced at a nearby clock.
“Oh, ponyfeathers. Now I’m going to be late if I don’t hurry,” she muttered to herself.
The first store on the right belonged to Berry Punch, the best place for quality drinks in all of Ponyville.
“Hi Berry,” she said, making her way into the store. “I’m throwing a party for some of my friends and it would be great to have some drinks.”
“Sure, help yourself. Take as MANY as you want,” she replied, her head leaning sideways on the counter.
Pinkie frowned.
“Something wrong, Berry?”
“No, nothing’s wrong. Besides the fact that you are the only pony here.”
“Oh I’m sorry. I mean it when I say nopony makes better drinks than you. You really should have more customers. But don’t worry, I’ll always be here!” She finished with a grin.
Berry Punch snorted. “Yeah. Great.” Her head suddenly bounced up as a cartful of drinks slammed onto the counter.
The purple mare counted the drinks, hesitated for a second, and stated confidently, “That’ll be thirty bits.”
Pinkie just stared for a few seconds, her right eye twitching slightly.
“Okie dokie lokie,” she said, emptying most of the bag onto the counter.
She grabbed the bag of drinks and hurried out of the store without turning around. The sky was already darkening as clouds were moved into position for the rainstorm. As she galloped back to Sugarcube corner to drop off the drinks, Pinkie could feel droplets of water hit her coat. She quickly deposited the drinks and rushed in the opposite direction of town toward Surprise Party Supplies.
“Hey Ms. Pie,” said Surprise. “Great seeing you here again!”
“Hey there Surprise! Just need to pick up a few supplies for another super duper awesome party I’m throwing.”
He chuckled lightly, turning back to the register. “When are you not?”
The party master made her way through the aisles with practiced accuracy and skill, picking up various objects that could be useful. She remembered most of the parties she had thrown, and like them all this one had to be unique. In consequence, she picked up items nopony would expect to be bought together.
She dumped the various supplies onto the register.
“Ring it all up, Surprise.”
Surprise looked at the assortment of items, slowly counting them. “That’s quite the variety, Ms. Pie. And that’ll be 25 bits.”
“Of course silly,” she replied, opening her money bag. “What’s the fun in having the same party twice?”
“Oh, shoot!” Pinkie exclaimed in mock surprise at the lack of bits. “Looks like I’m almost out. How about I give you five now and the rest when I come back for my next party? I’m really in a hurry right now!” She fluttered her eyelids in an attempt to convince him.
“Look Ms. Pie, you said that last time and you still owe me money. I really need it to keep my store running. You are one of my only customers, you know. I can’t let you have those supplies unless I get the money. I’m sorry, really.”
“I understand,” she said, her face drooping slightly. “But don’t worry, I’ll go get some bits and come right back.”
With that she turned around and made straight for Sugarcube corner again. Her legs were starting to hurt and the rain was pouring in full now. The streets were deserted save for a few stragglers still heading home.
“Mr. Cake!” She said as she burst into the store. “I need an advance on my next paycheck! This is important!”
The cakes walked into the room, suddenly worried at the appearance of Pinkie. Her mane was soaking wet and she was panting slightly. Her hair looked ready to deflate at any moment and she was shivering from the cold and the water.
“Are you okay? What happened to you?”
“The money! I need it!” She looked at the clock worriedly.
“What are you doing, you’re going to catch a cold. Why don’t you put this little party of yours off a few days? You look like you need some rest.”
“I told you this was important!” She was almost yelling now.
“But…But nothing can be more important than your health…” She sounded unsure.
“THIS IS FAR MORE IMPORTANT THAN MY HEALTH. MY FRIENDS COME BEFORE EVERYTHING.”
She calmed down slightly.
“Now can I please get that advance? I really, really, really, really need it right now.” Pinkie looked ready to cry.
Mrs. Cake looked relieved at Pinkie’s calmness. “Well I guess so…”
Mr. Cake interjected, “but wait, you got an advance for this week last week.” Mrs. Cake nudged him sharply in the side. “Although I guess we can give you next week’s salary today…” he finished lamely.
***
The pink mare takes another step down the stairs, her hoofwork impeccable despite her aching legs. The cake begins to balance. The five friends watch her as if nothing is happening.
***
Twilight was reading a heavy tome on complex illusionary magic when she heard a knock on the door. She opens it to find a heavily disheveled Pinkie Pie with a strangely forced grin on her face.
“What in the world happened to you, Pinkie?”
“Absolutely nothing!” She says without breaking her smile.
“Okaaay then…” Twilight still looks worried.
“Oh don’t worry silly, it was just a game I was playing. Anyways, I was wondering if you could invite everyone because I’m throwing a ‘It’s a Gloomy Day but We Should Be Happy’—”
“—party. Yes, Pinkie, I figured,” she said with a roll of her eyes.
The party mare’s resolve almost broke right there, but she knew she had to stay strong.
“Alright, I’ll tell them.”
***
The regaining of the cake’s balance is just false hope as her hoof begins to slip on a staircase. She knows her hoofwork must be perfect to prevent disaster. Of course, nothing less is expected.
***
A soaking wet mare—the pink hardly even showing in her coat because of dirt and Celestia knows what else—was dragging several full bags into Sugarcube corner. The largest was on her back, while a slightly smaller one was being carried by her mouth. Her tail looped through another while two more were hooked in her hooves and trailing across the ground. She opened the door and deposited the load inside, panting heavily.
Mrs. Cake came rushing in from the kitchen, worry plastering her features. “Oh you poor dear, what did you do to yourself?”
“Not now, Mrs. Cake. I have a party to host!” Her voice was broken by deep breaths in the middle. “Did you get all the food done?” She bent down to pick up just one of the bags.
“Yes, of course. Now make sure you—”
“Okay thanks bye.” Pinkie had already disappeared upstairs with the bag. Mrs. Cake sighed and turned to her husband, who had been listening in from behind the door.
“I really worry about her sometimes, you know?”
“We all do, but you know her, once she’ll jump right back up tomorrow.”
“I hope you’re right, dear.”
“Now come on, stop worrying and let’s get to that restaurant I reserved for us.”
As they trotted out of the room, somewhat reassured, one lone mare remained in her room. She took out three board games from the bag and placed them on the floor.
“Well Gummy, can’t say this was the most enjoyable of parties to set up.” She exhaled and looked toward her pet alligator. “It’s worth it though, right? I know everpony always has fun.”
Gummy looked up to her and slowly blinked his two large eyes.
The still-dirty mare pawed at the closed boxes. “But what if they are just taking advantage of me for the parties?”
The toothless alligator jumped onto Pinkie’s head and playfully chewed her mane. She giggled shortly and softly.
“But I don’t know how much longer I can do this. And when I stop throwing parties, I’ll just be boring old Pinkie Pie that nopony cares about.” She lay her head down on top of the box.
Gummy used his mouth to hit the mare repeatedly on top of the head.
The party pony’s head shot up. “You’re right Gummy. It doesn’t matter what it takes as long as my friends are happy.” She stood up, every part of her body resisting.
“Now come on Gummy, we have a party to host!”
***
Pinkie Pie completely falls down the staircase, throwing the cake directly upward as she slips. She lands in soft hoofs, caught as a rainbow-maned pegasus shot forward. Just as the it is about to hit the floor, a magenta glow of magic surrounds the cake, stopping it in midair.
The pink mare’s body hurts and her coat is still wet from both water and sweat. Yet as she looks into the faces of her friends, she knows she will continue like she has for the past ten years. She knows she will descend the staircase countless more times. She knows she will continue no matter the cost because the result is clear in front of her eyes.
And as she looks upon the smiles on their lips, the party mare extraordinaire knows her life is effortless.