>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!
____________________
 
>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.