A Touch of Pink P1

>Day of loneliness in Equestria
>You wake up in a feverish sweat, startlingly jumping up from your bed.
>What in the hell was that?
>You are Anonymous.
>And you just had a dream about Rarity.
>Actually, it could have been a nightmare at this point.
>From what you remember, it involved dozens of tiny Rarities all doing…stuff to you while you were strapped to a table for some reason.
>Thankfully, you woke up before they had managed to fully strip you naked.
>You were no horsefucker, that’s for damn sure.
>Even after a few months of being here in Equestria, you’ve still not crossed that probably inevitable hurdle in your time here.
>You had hoped to never cross it, but…you were getting way too comfortable around here.
>And out of all of the ponies that you knew…there was just something about Rarity that made you smile like an idiot.
>Horsefucker…no.
>Ponycuddler?
>Why not?
>You sigh, scratching your head.
>You glance at your alarm clock, its bright green digits shining at you angrily.
>3:45AM
>Goddamnit, why do you always wake up before your alarm goes off?
>You had a job helping Pinkie Pie at Sugarcube Corner, which was nice because it was basically your career back on earth.
>Or well, the beginnings thereof.
>You were apprentice pastry chef back home, now you’re just a baker.
>Either way, you should probably get your shit together and head out the door.
>You crawl out of bed, beginning the shambles of your morning routine.
>You didn’t really need to shit, but you took a piss.
>You took a quick shower, enough to wash your hair and the bits that tend to get smelly.
>And you didn’t shave, instead preferring a sort of 7 o’clock shadow that you trimmed sometimes.
>And you used to hold yourself to such high standards.
>You throw on a work shirt and your only pair of denim jeans.
>You’d go to Rarity for some more, but…you kinda didn’t want to approach the alabaster p0ny, in fear of losing your spaghetti.
>And any time you have to socialize with her around…it’s like an Italian family just set up shop in your pants, just barely able to contain their extensive supply of pasta.
>You grab your chef coat and head out the door.
>It was one of the only remnants of your time back on earth, and you had tried to preserve it.
>It had seen better days though.
>For being an apprentice pastry chef, trained in culinary school by master chefs…you still managed to make a mess of pretty much anything that you put your hands to.
>But…you were getting better.
>Mostly.
>The walk to the bakery is cool, the spring breeze whipping at you as the moon shines the last hours of its light down on you.
>You had the feeling you were forgetting something, but couldn’t quite put your finger on it.
>Ah, well.
>No harm done in forgetting things sometimes, right?
>After a brief stroll you arrive at Sugarcube Corner, the windows showing faint light coming from the kitchen.
>Pinkie lived there, so she was able to start earlier than you, but damn that pony had an insane amount of energy.
>Here you were practically running on coffee just to make it through the day...
>SHIT THAT’S WHAT YOU FORGOT
>Oh today is going to be grand.
>Here’s to hoping Pinkie put a pot of coffee on for you.
>You open the door with the key Pinkie gave you, the little door chime tinkling in the darkness.
>You throw on your coat, buttoning it up and grabbing your hat from the rack next to the door.
>Time to work.
>You stroll into the kitchen, seeing the pink pony adamantly rolling out some Danish dough on the main table.
>”Oh, hey Nonny. Sleep well?”
“No, I had some weird ass dream and woke up too damn early. You?”
>She giggles, turning and smiling her infectious smile towards you.
>You smirk.
>”Did you dream about Rarity again?”
>You hang your head a little and nod.
>”Well…you’re in luck, Anon. Did you forget?”
“Forget what? I forgot my coffee does that count?”
>She shakes her head.
>”Today’s Hearts and Hooves day! Come on, it’s your first real p0ny holiday!”
>Oh.
>THAT’S what you really forgot.
>And in the darkness of the front of the bakery, you probably missed the pink, red, and white explosion of decorations that likely adorned the place.
“So…so it is. I fail to see what you’re implying, though.”
>You had to play stupid sometimes, unfortunately.
>However, Pinkie knew otherwise.
>In fact, Pinkie was your best friend in this crazy world, and never ceased to take time out of her day just to make sure your day was going swimmingly.
>The two of you tried to hang out together when you weren’t working, just shooting the shit or lazing about.
>For being the energetic party pony, Pinkie Pie certainly knew how to make one feel pretty relaxed.
>”Well aside from the fact that OF COURSE I PUT COFFEE ON FOR YOU, we’re gonna be super duper busy today.”
“Oh. I thought you meant something else.”
>She stops rolling her dough for a moment, the two of you locking eyes for a brief second.
>”Nope. But if ya wanted to do something special for Rarity…I think I may know a pony that could help you. After work, of course.”
>You smirk.
>She’d been trying to help you get with Rarity for a while now, ever since you told her about your little crush.
>She nearly broke your back in that excited hug.
“You know what, Pinkie. Today might be the day I take you up on that offer.”
>Because why not.
>You barely, if ever, had the chance to celebrate Valentine’s day back on Earth.
>Why not give it a shot, you’ve got nothing to lose really.
>You walk over to the coffee machine and take your dosage of medicine, and begin working.
>It is now midday, and the two of you are dog tired.
>You’d made so many danishes, bagels, muffins, croissants, rolls, cakes, and other assorted patisserie that you swear you had flour caked permanently under your nails.
>But you had a smile on your face.
>One, because Pinkie was the best co-worker ever.
>And two, because you were off work, and it was the pony equivalent of a holiday that generally meant loneliness back on Earth.
>Here, you were far from alone.
>You struggle out of your coat lazily, and throw it over your shoulder as you walk out the door with Ponkie Poo, leaving the Cakes to tend to the bakery for the rest of the day.
“Jesus christ Pinkie. Does it always get that bad?”
>”Around the holidays yeah, but it was fun wasn’t it?”
>You smile, putting a hand on the fuzzy pink one’s mane and rustling it.
”Everything is fun with you, Pinks.”
>You can swear you just saw her face turn another shade of pink, but it was probably just the lighting.
“So…what’s the plan? I’ve only got a day to do this I guess.”
>She puts a hoof to her chin as the two of you make your way back to your place.
>”Well, if I know Rarity, she’d really like it if you put a lot of work into it. So…why don’t you invite her over for dinner and maybe buy her something fancy. Rarity likes fancy, I think.”
>You blink at her, a little puzzled.
>”Pinkie, hate to be so up-front about this…but you don’t pay me nearly enough to buy someone jewelry and a fancy dinner on a whim. If it weren’t for Celestia’s gracious patronage, I’d not even have a house, probably.”
>”Nonsense Nonny, you could always live with me!”
>She beams at you and you roll your eyes at her.
>”And…maybe I’ll help you out if you’re scrapped for bits…I mean I do have a little saved up for…nevermind. I’ll give you a hand, okee dokey?”
>You raise an eyebrow at her, but think against questioning her further, thinking it best to leave Pinkie’s mind an enigma.
“Alright, I guess. I’m a little new to this so I’ll let you be my wingpony or whatever. What do I do first?”
>The two of you reach your house and sit down at your table, relaxing for the first time.
>Your little wooden chair creaks as you lean back into it.
>”Well, I was thinking…if you didn’t want to spend money…um…something from the heart would be best.”
>She’s definitely blushing a tad, turning away as to not look at you.
>Silly Pinkie Pie.
”Nah, I think I remember women like expensive shiny things. It’s not like I can draw her a picture or give her a shitty homemade vase or something.”
>Her face kind of loses a little of its sunshine for a moment, making you cock your head a little, but then she returns to normal.
>”Okee dokey…so expensive shiny stuff it is. Then maybe some flowers…girls love flowers.”
>She smiles, and then licks her lips.
>Oh, right.
>Ponies eat flowers.
>That’s kind of weird, but alright.
“Okay, flowers and jewelry. Then…what I go ask her out?”
>She nods her head, helping herself to your fridge.
>She was probably going to eat all of your fruit.
>Goddamn that’s basically the only snack food here.
>To you surprise she pulls out a jar of peanut butter and a jar of jelly.
>…you didn’t own any peanut butter or jelly.
>And who the hell keeps peanut butter in the fridge.
>You raise a finger and start to comment but stop yourself.
>Pinkie.
>Right.
>”Well…yeah. That’s all there is to it I think.”
>She sits down, making herself a sandwich out of the conjured goods and your bread.
“Hey Pinks…I’m kind of curious…do you have a valentine?”
>She looks at you like you’re crazy for a little bit.
>”You mean…a special somep0ny?”
>You see her ears wiggle a bit at the word.
“Yeah, I guess so, if that means what I think it does.”
>She takes a bite of her sandwich, a bit of jelly leaking out.
>And then she takes a long time to chew said bite.
>And then even longer to swallow it.
>Never once breaking eye contact with you.
“Uh…Pinkie?”
>She blinks once, and shakes her head wildly.
>”Oops, sorry Anon! I guess I kinda spaced out there. What were you saying?”
“N…nothing. I guess we should head out?”
>You decide to drop it.
>Maybe Pinkie was one of those kinds of people that didn’t like relationships and stuff.
>Your first stop is to get flowers.
>The two of you venture into the marketplace, the place all aflutter with busybodies making their ways through the day.
>You catch sight of plenty of couples as well, walking hoof in hoof or just enjoying each other’s company.
>You wonder if it’s as awesome as it looks…being with someone.
>Not having to wake up alone all the time.
>Having someone to talk to about anything.
>Someone who shared interests with you and someone you could have a ton of fun with.
>You smile a bit, daydreaming.
>You arrive at Roseluck’s flower shop, the yellow pony’s place of business filled to the brim with all manner of pony wishing to partake of her plants.
>”One at a time! Please! I only have one register. Oh god please put that down! AGHH!” she cries through the commotion.
“Wow she seems pretty stressed , just like we were this morning eh?”
>You turn to Pinkie and find she has gone missing.
>Wait, what?
“Pinkie! Hey, Pinkie!” you call to the crowd, your extra few feet of height proving not really all that much of an advantage in such a cramped pony-sized space.
>Plus, Pinkie seemed to have blended into the ocean of Technicolor horses and you lost track of her.
>Lovely.
>You step out of the shop and sit on the steps outside.
>She’ll probably be out in-
>”Got em’ Anon. Let’s go, times-a-wastin!”
>She shoves a bundle into your hands and starts to trek off towards the next destination.
>You jog after her, opening the paper slightly.
>You didn’t know flowers, but they were purple and smelled nice.
>Good enough.
“Wait, Pinkie, did you buy these for me?”
>She doesn’t answer, instead seemingly charging headlong into the next shop.
>It’s a small jewelry shop, manned by an aged purple pony with a white mane.
>It is significantly less packed than the other one.
>Once again, Pinkie takes charge, but there’s no sea of pone for her to hide in this time, so you’re able to follow her.
>”Hello Madame and…sir?”
>He looks up to you like you’re crazy.
“Anon, and yes I’m a sir. I’m looking for a-“
>”-He’s looking for a necklace. I’m thinking silver and amethyst. Under 200 bits.” Pinkie cuts you off, speaking rather matter of factly.
>Actually, that sounded like a pretty good idea.
>Wait, 200 bits?
“Wait, Pinkie that’s way too much. I don’t even earn but 50 bits a paycheck!”
>”Shh, Anon. If being with Rarity will make you happy, I’m willing to help any way I can.”
>You’re taken aback by her statement, as the jewelry pony shows her a selection of necklaces in a counter further down.
>Would being with Rarity make you happy?
>…probably?
>Hell, it was worth a shot, right?