Raising Cakes Part 2

"Pinkie, are you ready? It's time"

>The sun had risen early this morning

>There were no clouds to be seen

>By all accounts, it was shaping up to be a beautiful day

>And you were going to a funeral

>Pinkie came downstairs

>She had tied a simple black band around her mane

>It was still as straight as ever

>You'd kept it together as best you could to give her some time to process what had happened

>She had not

>The two of you had barely said anything to each other. You had taken care of the four of you, looking after the twins

>Looking after Pinkie

>Today you had dropped them off with Granny Smith

>No child should have to watch their parents being buried

>You had put on a black jacket

>With the weather you're sure to feel the heat

>You've been thinking like that a lot lately

>Cramming your mind full of trivial thoughts. Mainly so the important ones don't seep in

>You were taking care of everone now, whether you liked it or not. Grief can come later

>"I'm ready Anon"

>Pinkie's voice, monotone as ever, breaks your train of thought

>You open the door and step outside together

 

>Pinkie's friends are already here

>You're on first name terms with a few of them

>You're in regular contact with Applejack, her family is one of your best suppliers

>The rest you've only met once or twice

>They look at you, giving you small sympathetic smiles

>You nod back

>You aren't really in a smiling mood

>There are plastic seats laid out on the lawn in front of two freshly dug grave plots

>And beside them sit two boxes

>The service begins. An old grey stallion begins to speak about the Cakes life

>You hear little of it

>Looking around, you see many ponies in attendance

>Most are crying, or on the verge of tears

>You realize you are not

>You think to yourself, why?

>It's sad, funerals are sad, so cry

>Nothing

>You knew them, they were your friends

>They were your family

>Be sad! Show some sort of emotion

>Prove you cared at all...

>You look down at Pinkie

>Her face was blank, expressionless

>Just like yours

>The two of you stood, completely lost, as your loved ones were lowered slowly into the earth

>Unconsciously, you placed your hand on Pinkie's shoulder

>You felt her flinch as the caskets touched the bottom

>You untense your hand, realising you'd been gripping her tightly

>She didn't seem to register it

>You stayed until the last shovel full of earth had been heaped

>And long afterwards

>Slowly, everyone left

>Everyone but you and Pinkie

"Come on. Let's get back"

>Pinkie remained, unmoving

"Pinkie, we have to leave..."

>Finally, she turned to look at you

>Her face creased up, and the tears fell

>You knelt and held her tight. As if by holding her as tightly as possible, you could somehow make things right, turn things back to the way they were

>She didn't make any noise

>Just wept silently, in that quiet graveyard. Just her and you, alone with your grief

>After a time, she broke away

>She wiped her eyes with her hoof and gave you a weak smile

>"Thanks Anon" She whispered

>She turned and left. This walk home was for her and her alone

>You didn't want to leave just yet

>Leaving meant accepting they were gone and getting on with your life

>It was childish, but you wanted to put that off as long as you could

 

>Walking through the gravestones, you were surprised to see Applejack sitting alone

>She was holding her hat in her hooves

>As soon as she saw you, she stood up and replaced her hat

>"Well howdy Anon. Ah'm awful sorry about-"

>You nod, cutting her off

"Thank you, Applejack. I don't really want to talk about it."

>She cocks her head

>"Shucks, talking about it's the only way you'll feel better"

>You stare at her

>How could she possibly know what you're feeling?

>How dare she presume to know?

"Thanks all the same, Applejack, but I'd prefer it if you dropped the subject."

>"Ah was only-"

>That's it

"Only what? Only sticking your goddamn nose where it doesn't belong? You're talking about shit you couldn't even begin to understand!"

>She looks upset

>"Ah'm sorry Ano-"

"Yeah, I'm sorry too Applejack. Now why don't you just get out of here?"

>Tears fill her eyes and she turns and runs from the cemetery

>You kick the nearest gravestone in anger

>Not at Applejack, but at the situation

>How could they do this to you?

>Just leave?

>Your foot was killing you

>What did you just kick?

>You pay attention to the headstone for the first time

>'Ma and Pa Apple. Loving parents. Gone but never forgotten.'

>Wow. You fucked up.

>Applejack was just trying to talk things out with you, and you treated her like dirt, not to mention pretty much pissing on her parents grave

>The reasonable thing to do would be to head down to Sweet Apple Acres and apologise

>You aren't feeling very reasonable right now

>You make your way out of the cemetery

>Upon reaching the gate you turn

>One last look back

>That's all you'll allow yourself

>Got to keep it together Anon

>Like you kept it together with Applejack?

>You strode back through town

>You need to find someplace with a liquor licence

 

>You were back on the couch

>Only sideways

>You were staring at three strange receptacles made of a see through material

>And someone has stolen the Irish bathwater that used to be inside them

>Oh wait

>You jiggle about

>Sloshing sounds from your stomach confirm it

>You drank it all

>Silly Anon

>You so cray cray

>Not for real real though. Just for play play

>You itch your belly and sit up

"Why is this place so fucking pink?"

>You wonder out loud to yourself

>The day had dragged on, and still no Pinkie

>You figured Applejack had gone home and told her while she was picking the foals up

>You didn't want them to see you like this anyway

>You weren't normally a big drinker, but, you muse as you uncork yet another bottle you found in the folds of the couch

>Today has been not normal

>Wait, that doesn't sound right

>Un-normal?

>Disnormal

>Fuck it, disnormal

>The door creaks open slightly

>"Anon?"

>Oh good, Pinkie is home

"I'm *hic*- oh excuse me- I'm in here"

>She comes nervously closer

"Pinkameeeeena! That's a silly name, Pinkie"

>She bites her lip as tears well up in her eyes

>"You're drunk" Her voice cracks

"Ding ding ding! Give this girl a medal!"

>You begin to clap and giggle

>"I... Anon, you..."

>She runs from the house in tears

>Good going Anon, that's two mares in one day

>Shut up man

>What? I'm just saying-

>Just leave me alone

>You turn over on the couch

"Celestia, I'd do anything to have them back"

>You descend into a fitful sleep