Raising Cakes Part 3

 

>Your eyes snap open

>Toilet. Must find toilet

>You roll off the couch and land hard on the floor

>You look around helplessly for a container of some sort to contain the inevitable outcome of your nausea

>Porcelain friend is too far away to help

>Kitchen sink shall have to do

>You crawl sluggishly to the counter, pulling yourself up just enough to be within firing range

>You let loose, bile going everywhere

>You wipe your mouth and slide, exhausted, into a sitting position at the base of the counter

>Never again

>You recall the events of the previous day

>How you'd behaved towards everyone

>You felt sick, and this time it wasn't just the alcohol

>The way you treated Applejack, not to mention Pinkie, was inexcusable

>But you were going to make things right

>And then you were going to make your preparation to leave Ponyville

>There were too many bad memories here

>You crossed your arms behind sighed your head

>Then grimaced as the smell of your pits wafted up

>You'll set things right

>Right after you take a shower

>You stink of cheap alcohol and sadness

>Oh god, you've turned into your mother

>After drying yourself off and changing into a clean pair of clothes, you make your way into Ponyville

>Sweet Apple Acres is across town after all

>You open the door to find the sun way all up in your shit

>Squinting, you tug at your collar. It's as warm as it was yesterday

>You pass through the centre of town, walking by town hall

>You'd heard it'd had some work done

>You couldn't really tell the difference

>"Mr. Anonymous! Wait!"

>You turned at the sound of your name

>A small brown mare is running across the square

>You attempt to remember where you saw her before

>Oh yeah! She works at town hall. You remember her from when everyone insisted you applied for citizenship

>You figured you'd do it, if only to get them off your back

>What could she want?

>Gasping for breath, she skids to a halt in front of you, her glasses nearly falling off her face

>"Mr. Anonymous, we've allocated an appointment for you and Miss Pie to hear the reading of Carrot and Cup Cake's Will"

>They had a will?

>They'd never mentioned anything like this to you

>"2 o'clock today, Mayor Mare's office"

"The Mayors office? Won't she be using it?"

>She shakes her head

>"The Mayor has been called to Canterlot for a special conference. I, being the Mayors aide, have been selected to fill in. Just for today."

>A thought comes into your head

"So, you're the Mayor-for-a-day? Anything you're not allowed to do?"

>She turns to you, her face dead serious

>"I'm not allowed to fail the Mayor. Not ever."

>You turn to leave

>"Oh, and Mr. Anonymous? Please bring the Cake foals"

>At least now Pinkie HAS to talk to you

>Although you don't know why the twins needed to be there

 

>You reach the outskirts of Ponyville

>The houses and shops have given way to apple trees

>As the barn comes into sight, you hear a deep *thwack* sound

>Searching for the source of the noise, you spot one of the two ponies you came here to to talk to

>One of the two ponies you were dreading talking to

>You stride purposefully up to her

"Uh... Hey, Applejack."

>She doesn't stop kicking the tree. The scowl on her face speaks volumes though

>Off to a great start

>You take a deep breath

"Maybe it's good you're not talking to me, because I'd prefer it if you just listened. Yesterday I said some awful things to you. And I'm sorry."

>She stops working, but still refuses to look at you, instead staring angrily into the bark of the tree

>You sit down, crossing your legs

"Applejack, I know I didn't have any right to snap at you like that. I was just... I was angry. But not at you. Hell, I don't even know what I was angry at... It was like-"

>"You were angry at everythin an' nothin all at the same time"

>She turns to you

>You open your mouth. Then close it and nod

>The two of you sit there for a little while, neither of you saying anything

>Finally she stands

>"Well, come on. From what I hear, you got some straightening out to do with Pinkie as well."

>You uncross your legs and stand up

"We okay?"

>She smiles

>"Fer now, Anon"

>You grin back

>The two of you walk towards the farmhouse

>On the way, Applejack tells you what the foals had been up to

>"...An' Ah know they've only been here a day, but the little scamps have all but turned the house upside down"

>You laugh, and stop as you remember your plans to leave, tucked away at the back of your mind

>You'll miss Pumpkin and Pound, but you couldn't stay

>Not now

>You step into the kitchen, refreshingly cool after the warmth of the day

>Granny Smith sits in her chair, regarding you

>You wonder if-

>"Well howdy there Mr. Anonymous! Come in for a glass of pink lemonade?"

>How you hated that old mare's pink lemonade

"Not today, Granny Smith"

>Applejack motions upstairs

>"Pinkie's up yonder"

>You nod your thanks

 

>Climbing the stairs, you hear laughter

>"Where's Pinkie Pie? Wheeere's Pinkie Pie?"

>You smile

>That stupid game

>As you reach the landing, you see an open door

>With a pink butt poking out of it

>"Wheeere's Pink-"

>Pinkie stops playing when she catches sight of you

>You give a small, awkward smile

"Hey Pinkie"

>She just stands there

>Great, it's Applejack all over again

>Tears form in her eyes

>Let's just get this over with

"Listen, Pinkie, we have- oof!"

>You are tackled, your wind firmly given the eviction notice

>"I'msorryIranoutAnonIjustdidn'tknowwhattodowhenIsawyoulikethatalllyingonthecouchandstuffanddon'tworryaboutthefoalsthefoalsareokaythey'reinherejustdon'tbemadatme-"

>This mare

>This wonderful mare was actually apologising to you?

"Pinkie, just stop"

>She looks up, fear and sadness in her eyes

"You're doing this all wrong"

>She looks up at you from your chest, her arms still wrapped firmly around your middle

>She sniffs and wipes her eyes

>"What?"

"You're supposed to be mad at ME. Then I come in and apologise."

>After prying Pinkie off your chest, you switch to a kneeling position and look her in the eyes

"I'm so, so sorry Pinkie"

>She smiles at you

>Like, really smiles. A Pinkie Pie smile

>You hadn't seen one of those in what seemed like forever

>The Aide's words from before come back to you

>Shit, what was the time?

>You look at a conveniently placed grandfather clock

>One fifty

>Oh, that's not so- Shit you have ten minutes to get across town

"Pinkie, we need to go to town hall. Like, now."

>She looks confused

>You explain the situation to her as quickly as you can

"...Which is why you need to come with me."

>She nods

>The two of you make your way across town with Pumpkin and Pound in tow

>You just hope you hadn't missed the appointment