Befriending Pinkamena: Part 7

>It's been about an hour since Pinkie knocked herself out with the ball.
>Your legs have fallen asleep since then, with her upper body on your lap.
>She looked too peaceful to move though.
>You hoped that would be the case when she woke up.
>On the bright side, you were actually getting pretty good at bouncing the ball.
>You hear the tray come again, but don't bother to go over to it.
>You'll go when Pinkie wakes up.
>You start to think back.
>How many days has it been? 5? 6? You lost count.
>What was the point of you being with her?
>Why did it matter if she had a friend?
>And what would happen to her after this?
>Either way, you were glad that they paired her with you.
>Pinkie turns in her sleep, mumbling something.
>If she wasn't human, then what was she?
>You sigh. There was way too many questions that you didn't have the answer to.
>Pinkie starts to stir.
>Uhoh. How mad will she be at you?
>You just realized that you were holding her. Again. After she told you not to.
>What are you going to do?
Pinkie: Mmmmm...
>Well it's too late now.
>Pinkie opens her eyes, quickly widening them, and then looking at you.
Pinkie: What-
>She quickly seperates from you.
Pinkie: Augh! A-Aanon! I told you to stop that!
>Was she blushing?
>She quickly regains herself, openly showing her disgust.
Pinkie: What is wrong with you?!
>You get up, and so does she.
>Pinkie begins to rub her head.
Pinkie: Oww.. why does my head hurt?
>Does she not remember?
>Pinkie glares at you.
Pinkie: What did you do to me?
What? Nothing..
Pinkie: Did you hit me in my sleep? You did, didn't you?!
>She starts to advance you again.
>You were getting really tired of this..
Pinkie-
Pinkie: You don't get to hit me!
Pinkie, I-
>She gets up close to you again.
Pinkie: Why do you think that-
PINKIE!
>She jumps back, shocked that you raised your voice.
Pinkie, you know that's not the truth.
>Pinkie just stands there, stunned.
We've been over this Pinkie, I'm not going to hurt you.
>She lowers her head.
Pinkie: I know.. I'm just..
>Pinkie begins to sniffle.
>Is she okay? This isn't like her..
Pinkie, please don't cry..
Pinkie: I'm not crying!
>You couldn't stand the look on her face. You were never the one to comfort someone, but you may as well try.
Pinkie, what's wrong?
Pinkie: Nothing's wrong! I'm just..
Look, you can talk to me about anything, ok?
>God, you sound like your mom.
Pinkie: I'm fine.
>You lock her in embrace. Surprisingly, she doesn't try to squirm out of it.
What's wrong Pinkie?
>Pinkie sighs.
Pinkie: I'm just.. tired. Of everything. Ever since I came here, there was nobody that treated me nicely, no matter how nice I was in return.
>That sounds familiar.
Pinkie: Every single person was mean to me, and they only wanted to use me..
Pinkie: I snapped. Just one day, I snapped. It was too much for me. They kept using tests on me, and experiments.. horrible experiments. I.. I hurt people Aanon.
>She rests her head on your chest.
Pinkie: And then I met you.. you were the first human nice to me. The only human nice to me. But I'm not used to kindness anymore.
>Pinkie sniffs.
Pinkie: I'm used to violence, being mean.. But I wasn't always like that. And now.. that's the only way I know how to express myself..
>You hold her tight.
Pinkie: I'm.. a monster Aanon. It's all I think of doing now. Even to you..
But it doesn't have to be that way Pinkie. If you learned to be violent from them, you can unlearn it.
>Pinkie raises her head, looking at you, hope in her eyes.
Pinkie: You really think I can change?
I know so Pinkie.
>And with that, she hugs you, her warmth spreading to you, and yours to her.



>……………………….
>…………………………………………………..
?: ………………………………………………………. Why isn’t it working?
??: Patience, it will work in due time.
?: But I don’t get it, she likes him now.. Why isn’t she changing back?
??: She still has doubts about Aanon. She still isn’t used to kindness yet.
?: This is taking too long!
??: It will work if we give him more time.
?: Why do you think it will work? We’ve sent in countless people, and everyone of them failed. We had the top psychologists in the country go in, and they all failed. Why do you think that this.. this kid, is any different?
??: …….. Do you know how Aanon came here?
?: Uh, I’m guessing you forced him here? Probably kidnapped him?
??: Look at his record. He had a family. Friends.
?: Okay..
??: We only take in people that won’t be missed, that will disappear without a blip on the radar.
?: Wait.. So.. Why is he here?
??: I’ll tell you later, I have more pressing matters to attend to.
?: More pressing than this? This is our top experiment.
??: It’s related to this. Just make sure, no matter what happens, she is kept alive.
?: And what will happen to the kid after this experiment?
??: Well, he’s seemed to help us all we can. Immediate termination.
?: ……………………………..




Pinkie: Exactly how does this help me again?
It’s a trust exercise. To build trust.
>Pinkie rolls her eyes.
Pinkie: and what’s the point of this?
I think it may be easier for me to help you if we built more trust between us.
Pinkie: That sounds stupid.
Well, we have to do something.
>Pinkie sighs.
Pinkie: Ok, what do I do?
You’re just going to fall back, and I’ll catch you.
Pinkie: What? NO.
Oh, come on Pinkie. I promise I’ll catch you.
Pinkie: I don’t care, I’m not doing it.
Pinkie, you aren’t making this any easier.
Pinkie: I’m not doing it.
Fine, would you like it if I went first?
>Pinkie thinks this over.
Pinkie: Yes.
>You go in front of Pinkie.
Okay Pinkie, I’m just going to fall back, ok? Just remember to catch me.
Pinkie: Yeah, yeah..
>You totally didn’t trust her.
>Looks like you both need to do this exercise.
>You take a deep breath, and tilt backwards.
>Falling, falling, you were going to hit-
>You feel Pinkie grab your shoulders.
>You feel her stagger under your weight, knocking her down, both of you hitting the floor with a solid thunk.
>You hear Pinkie let out a yelp, and you automatically get up.
Are you ok?
Pinkie: Yeah.. That just.. scared me.
>You offer your hand to Pinkie. She looks at it for a minute, then finally takes it, pulling her up.
Sorry Pinkie, I forgot that I’m heavier than you.
Pinkie: That’s okay.. I’m just..
>Pinkie sits down.
Um.. are you ok?
Pinkie: I think so, I’m just- ow!
>She grips her ankle.
>You get down to inspect it.
Can you move it?
Pinkie: Yeah, I think- ouch!
>It was just sprained, thank goodness.
>She would have to keep off of it today.
Soo..
>You get back up, and crouch down to her. You put your left arm under her legs, and your right arm under her torso.
Pinkie: W-what are you-
>You slowly stand up, being as gentle as possible. She was lighter than you would have thought.
>She automatically grips your shirt in fear.
Pinkie, just relax, I’m just putting you against a wall.
>Pinkie breathes a sigh of relief.
Pinkie: Oh..
>You reach a corner, and gently put Pinkie down.
>And for the first time, Pinkie smiles at you, not trying to hide it.
Pinkie?
Pinkie: Yes Aanon?
You can let go of my shirt now.
>She had a fistful of your shirt still in her hand. Pinkie blushes, and lets go of it.
Pinkie: So.. Are we done with trust exercises?
No, just for today.
>Pinkie shoots you a glare.
Pinkie: What? Why not?
Because we haven’t built any trust. Don’t worry, You won’t have to catch me anymore.
>You sit down next to Pinkie,
Pinkie: Aanon?
Yes?
Pinkie: I trust you.
>You stare right into her eyes.
I know.
>You put your arm around Pinkie, Your chains forcing you to wrap around her.
>You didn’t mind, and neither did Pinkie.
>You both sit there for a while, until the dinner tray came.
Are you hungry?
Pinkie: Starving.
>You unwrap your arms from Pinkie, and walk to the tray. You take the tray, and bring it back to Pinkie.
>You open the lid. Sure enough, there was half candy, and half steak, and potatoes, even with utensils this time.
>You put the plate on Pinkies lap.
Ladies first.
>Pinkie automatically eats the candy.
>Damn. She was hungry.
>She doesn’t stop until all of it was gone. She burps, fully satisfied.
>You then take the tray from her. This time, you pick up the utensils, wanting to at least look a little respectful.
>You pick up the spoon, and eat the potatoes. Good as last time.
Pinkie: What is that exactly?
You’ve never had mashed potatoes?
Pinkie: No, I don’t really eat anything without sugar.
I’ve noticed.. It’s made from potatoes, obviously. You just boil and mash them.
Pinkie: Oh.. Can I try?
Sure.
>You take what little you had left, and put it on the spoon, giving it to her.
>Pinkie stares at it, sniffing it, and finally putting it in her mouth.
>Pinkie widens her eyes, and smiles.
Pinkie: Hey! That’s not so bad!
>You can’t help but laugh.
>Do you want to try some of my steak?
>Pinkie gives you a disgusted look.
Pinkie: No thank you.
>You ignore it, and cut your steak, savoring every bite.
>Every time you take a bite, Pinkie gets greener and greener.
You okay Pinkie?
Pinkie: Do.. You have to eat it in front of me?
What do you mean?
Pinkie: You’re eating.. meat.
>You get the hint, and turn away from her, finishing the meal in silence.
>You finish, and push the tray to the door.
Hey Pinkie?
Pinkie: What?
Do you want to try another exercise?
Pinkie: No falling on me?
I promise.
>You explain how it works to her
Pinkie: So, I just stare into your eyes? How does that build trust?
It doesn’t really, but since you can’t move, I guess we can work on honesty.
Pinkie: Wait, how exactly does this work?
You can ask me anything you want, and I’ll answer honestly.
Pinkie: Oh, ok.
>And if I ask you a question, you answer me honestly.
Pinkie: Wait. I don’t know about this.. And how will I know that you’re telling the truth?
That’s the trust part of it Pinkie. You have to trust me, just as I trust you to be honest.
>Pinkie breathes in, and looks you dead in the eye.
Pinkie: Ok, I’ll go first. What.. is.. your favorite color?
Blue, but I am growing fond of pink now..
>Did she just blush?
My turn. What’s your favorite color?
Pinkie: Really? You’re asking me that?
Yes.
Pinkie: It’s pink.
And why?
Pinkie: Because.. It’s just that I was born with pink hair, and I just like the color. Now it’s my turn.
>Pinkie scoots closer to you.
Pinkie: Why are you here?
>You sigh.
Pinkie, I really can’t answer that.
Pinkie: Why not?
It’s.. complicated.
Pinkie: hmpf..
Just, trust me on this Pinkie. I’ll tell you later, ok?
>You see her eyes light up.
My turn. Why do you like sugar so much?
>Her eyes are pretty..
Pinkie: I never got much as a child, so now I just can’t get enough of it.
>You wonder if her people get diabetes. Hopefully not.
Pinkie: Do you like me?
>That took you by surprise.
What?
Pinkie: Do.. do you like me?
>You ponder this yourself.
>Do you like her?
>You get a mischievous idea.
In what context?
Pinkie: Um.. just as.. friends.
Of course I do Pinkie. You are the greatest friend I could ever ask for.
Pinkie: Oh.. Well ok then..
>It is just then that you realize how close your faces were, just inches apart. Pinkie’s head lowers a little.
My turn.
>You put her chin up..
Do you like me?
Pinkie: You’re a good friend Aanon.
No, I mean do you actually like me? Not as friends.
>Pinkie gets redder then you have ever seen her.
Pinkie: U-Umm.. I..
>You wait patiently, staring as innocently as you can.
Pinkie: .. No! Of course not..
>Her eyes betray her, showing you the truth.
Ok Pinkie, your turn.
Pinkie: I.. think I’m good.
>Pinkie quickly lays down, turning her back on you.
>You lay on your back next to her, just thinking.
>It took a while for her to sleep. You could tell she was faking it since she shakes sleeping.
>After she fell asleep, her body betrays her again, turning over, and wrapping her arm around your torso.
>You think about what she asked you.
>Do you like her? You definitely didn’t before, with her telling you she’s going to kill you and all, but you weren’t sure now.
>You start to get drowsy again. Pinkie’s body heat made you sleepy.
>You wonder what would have happened if you just said yes to her.
>Was she.. going to kiss.. you? Would.. you have let.. *yawn* it happen?
>You put your arms around Pinkie, pulling her even closer to you.
>If she..did.. You.. wouldn’t..