A Surprise Indeed

>Wiping the sheen of sweat from your brow, you take a deep breath and stretch out your front legs.

>Making sweets all day was fun and all, but it was rather exhausting.

>Placing the tarts in the oven, you clean the flour from your apron and prep station.

>Your adorable pink face smiles back at you in the reflection of the now clean marble counter.

>The bouncy, wild pink mane is still on top of your head, so nothing was out of place since the last time you looked in the mirror.

>You proceed to make funny faces at your reflection, giggling at your own silliness.

>Your ears perk at the sound of a bell ringing.

>There was a customer entering the store!

>With small hops, you make your way out of the kitchen to the store front.

>Anonymous stands at the counter, impatiently tapping his fingers against the glass case.

"Hiya Anon! What can I getcha?" you squeak, making sure to widen your already exposed smile.

>He gives you a deadpan stare and lets out an depressing sigh.

>"Let me get one chocolate cake and box of candles."

>You look over at the calender and check the date.

>Had it already been a year?

>Anon doesn't like chocolate, but in the five years he's been here in Equestria, he always gets the same cake on the same day every year.

>Sure enough it was that day of the year again.

"Yeah, I should have one made in the back. Are you throwing a party?" you ask with a bit of curiosity in your voice.

>"No," he barks, not making eye contact with you.

"Then why would you need a cake? Are you gonna eat it by yourself?" you question, trying to figure out this cake's purpose.

>"No. Can you get me my cake, please?" he replies, raising his tone.

>Tilting your ears back, you mutter, "Okay," and retreat back into the kitchen.

>Opening the fridge, you dig around, looking for the dessert.

>What is Anon going to do with cake if it wasn't going to eat it or use it for a party?

>Was it a gift for someone?

>Putting your hoof to your chin, you try to remember everyp0ny's birthday today.

>The only pony who had a birthday today was Lyra, but she bought a cake earlier.

>Just who was this cake for?

"Ah! There you are!" you exclaim, grabbing the cake from the back of the fridge.

>You proceed to wrap it up, making sure sure to double tie the knot and add a bow.

>Grabbing the package, you bring it back to the front and place it on the counter along with a box of candles.

"That'll be ten bits!"

>Anon pulls out his coin sack and leaves the desired amount on the counter before leaving with his goods.

>You can't help but watch as he sulks out of the store and out onto the street.

>For about five minutes, you stand there, staring at the doorway, letting the questions ferment in your head.

>Suddenly, you remember!

>The tarts!

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>At the end of the day, you take off your apron and wash your hooves.

>The entire day, you couldn't help but wonder who that cake is for.

>It constantly pecks at you, slowly driving you insane.

>The Cakes begin cleaning up their prep station as you look out the window.

>It was already dark out.

"Mr. and Mrs Cake, I'm going to go out for a bit. I'll be back later," you mumble, making your way out the back door.

>You don't even stay long enough to hear their response.

>The only thing that's on your mind is that cake.

>Walking down the street, you watch as the ponies pass you by, occasionally saying hello to the ones who say it first.

>It's a short walk; Anon only lives a few houses away.

>Putting your hoof against the front door, it opens slightly with little effort.

>It's almost as if a spirit had taken control of your body; the next thing you know, you were entering the house without even so much as asking for permission.

>Darkness engulfs your vision as you enter the room, making it rather difficult to navigate through.

>A dim light emits from down the hall, attracting your attention like a bug.

>After bumping into a multiple pieces of furniture, you enter what looks like a kitchen.

>Anon sits at the table, his back to the door, not moving a single muscle.

>He just sits there staring at the cake.

>You stnad beside him and give him an almost mischievous grin.

"Hi again!"

>He doesn't take his eyes off the candles, which have melted down to half their normal size.

"You left your front door open, so I came in to make sure you were alright."

>"Hmm," he grunts, still fixated on the dessert.

"Why is it so dark in here? Oh! Are you throwing a surprise party? Who's it for? Are you—"

>You cut yourself off as you notice a single tear roll down his cheek.

>Anon begins to sniffle, trying his hardest not to cry.

>"No, Pinkie. I'm j-just..."

>Your smile quickly fades as Anon attempts to finish his sentence, only to break into a sob.

"I'm sorry Anon! Was it something I said? I didn't mean to make you cry."

>He wipes the tears away, trying to regain his composure.

>"It's okay Pinkie. Today is supposed to be my son's birthday," he mutters, still a bit shaky.

>You move in closer to him as her directs his attention to you.

>"He's six years old today. I... I haven't seen him since I came to this world. Every year I do this, wishing that I was back home to see him and my wife. And it seems like I never will."

>He begins crying again, trying his hardest to finish.

>"I-I'll never get to see him walk h-his first steps, or hear his f-f-first words, or see him off on his first d-day of school. It's heart breaking."

>Your heart feels as if it was in the pit of your stomach now.

>This creature was mercilessly torn from his family and never told anyp0ny about it.

>Everyday he walks around with a forced smile, not telling a single soul about the pain he's going through each and everyday.

>To see him break down like this is almost torture.

>You're at a loss for words.

>There's nothing that comes to mind to help mend this.

>No song, no rhyme... nothing.

>You attempt to open your mouth, but nothing comes out.

>All you can do is sit there and stare as he continues to sob.

>The only thing that comes to mind is to wrap your hooves around him and embrace him in a hug.

>You nuzzle your nose against his neck as he wraps his arms around you, crying into your mane.

>Tears begin to leak out from your eyes as you hold tighter, feeling his pain.

>Neither of you says a word as the candles slowly burn down to nothing, let darkness fill the room.