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- "Uh, Mrs. Cake? Pinkie is digging a hole outside the shop. Thought you should know."
- > Mrs. Cake sighs and shakes her head
- > "Poor mare. I remember my digging days, it felt like it would go on forever."
- > You raise your eyebrows
- "So this is something ponies just...do?"
- > The baker nods
- > "There comes a time in a mare's life when you feel empty, like a shore without a sea. Digging a hole helps fill the space in your heart, a little bit. And if some handsome stallion happens to climb in..."
- > You tilt your head
- "I think I get it. So, uh, is there anything we can do for Pinkie? It doesn't sound like a fun time."
- > Mrs. Cake grins
- > "Nothing I can do, but I think she would love to hear how concerned you are about her."
- > You roll your eyes
- "Subtle. Still, what kind of friend would I be if I left her alone like this?"
- > Mrs. Cake smiles fondly at you
- > "You're a good colt, Anon. Never change."
- > You stare down into the 6ft deep hole
- > Pinkie is swaying, her limp curls of her mane inflating and deflating
- > You glance around, but most ponies either ignore it, or send pitying looks at the hole
- > You sigh, then sit cross-legged at the edge
- "You alright, Ponks?"
- > She looks up at you with wide eyes
- > "Nonners? I mean, haha, yeah! Just, uh, just wanted to see what the dirt was like, you know, for party planning!"
- > You raise your eyebrows
- "That's some deep preparations."
- > Pinkie Pie giggles, her mane inflating a bit more than usual
- > "Yup! You have to plan the hole thing out in advance!"
- > You chuckle
- "Well, I don't want to dig too deep into your business."
- > The party mare wiggles her hoof in a so-so gesture
- > "Eeeeeeeeehhh, half points for using "deep" again. Anywhoodles, what brings you to my dig doodles?"
- > You scratch your cheek
- "Mrs. Cake told me a little about digging days? I don't entirely get it, but I figured you could use some company to keep your mind off things."
- > Pinkie beams at you
- > "That's super de-duper sweet! And I would know!"
- > You grin
- "Thanks, Ponks. Hey, I'm going to go get some grub, then I'll be right back."
- > Pinkie wiggles happily
- > "Good idea! I'll be right here, so come back quick!"
- > You can't help but get caught up in her cheerfulness
- > You get up with a grunt and start jogging towards the Apple stall
- > You're going to need a decent amount of food, and it has to be cheap and able to drop a fair distance, so apples it is
- > Even though the mare can eat like Scooby Doo, you suspect she just has a stomach of holding for desserts
- > When it comes to healthy foods, she just eats normal amounts
- > Baffling
- > Of course, after a few headaches, you followed the local wisdom and just stopped trying to figure out Pi-
- > You stumble, skipping a bit to stop from falling on your face
- > "Look at what you just did, Bloom! You nearly made Anon hurt himself!"
- > You turn around to find Applejack glare over the counter of her stall at a pothole
- > The pothole replies dejectedly,
- > "Ah'm sorry, Anon. Ah didn't mean to do you no harm."
- > You look down to find Apple Bloom at the bottom of a two-foot deep hole
- "Uh, right. This that digging days thing again?"
- > Applejack rolls her eyes
- > "No it ain't, she just wanted to get some practice in. An' she'll fill that hole right back in if she knows what's good for her!"
- > Apple Bloom clambers out of the hole, scrunching hard
- > "Ah know, Ah know! Do you really have to yell at me in front of a stallion?"
- > Applejack blinks, then tips her hat to you, her cheeks red with embarrassment
- > "Beggin' you're pardon, Anon. Sorry you had to hear all that. Can Ah get you anything?"
- > You smile and wave your hand dismissively
- "It's fine, I don't mind. I would like two dozen apples, though."
- > Applejack's hat rises in surprise
- > "That'll be four bits, but uh, Ah can't help but notice you forgot your saddlebags. How about Apple Bloom helps carry 'em to where you going?"
- > You pay the mare and eye the pile of apples
- "That's not a bad idea. Lemme just..."
- > You pull the hem of your shirt up, and scoop about half the apples into the makeshift sling
- > Applejack's eyes flicker from the lumpy dip in your shirt to your face
- > "Maybe Ah should just carry them all myself? Ah'd hate to stretch out a colt's clothes like that for no good reason."
- > You shake your head
- "Nah, don't worry about it, you still have a stall to run."
- > Then you look down at your t-shirt and shrug
- "The damage is done, and Rarity will only try to kill me a little. Ready, Apple Bloom?"
- > The filly salutes
- > "Yes sir! The cargo is locked and loaded!"
- > You nod at her
- "Autotrots, roll out!"
- > Then you give Applejack a nod and a smile as you set off
- "See you around, Applejack."
- > She tips her hat
- > "Be careful not to fall in some mare's hole, alright?"
- > You call out over your shoulder,
- "No promises!"
- > She just chuckles and waves
- > You can't help but watch Apple Bloom waddle along, her saddlebags almost dragging on the ground
- "You alright down there?"
- > She holds her head high and puffs out her little chest-tuft
- > "Ain't no need to worry about me, Ah'm a big, strong mare! 'Sides, Ah carry way more apples at a time back home."
- > You adjust your shirt and move one of the apples closer to the middle of the pile
- "Really? How many can you handle?"
- > Apple Bloom chews on her lip
- > "Uh, fourteen, Ah reckon."
- > You let out a low whistle
- "That's a lot!"
- > Apple Bloom beams at you
- > "You betcha! Granny says it won't be long before Ah can pull the wagon!"
- > You shake your head
- > You've tried pulling that wagon, it's pretty heavy
- > Then again, Earth Ponies are considerably stronger than they look
- "They grow up so fast."
- > Apple Bloom nods
- > "Granny's been sayin' that too."
- > As you approach Pinkie's hole, you realize you don't have anything to put the apples on
- > Well, you can just brush off the dirt
- "Just set them down by that hole, Apple Bloom."
- > She blinks
- > "Oh! Okay."
- > The filly trots over and peeks over the edge
- > "Hi Pinkie Pie!"
- > You listen to them exchange pleasantries with half an ear as you set your load of apples down
- > Apple Bloom empties her saddlebags with practiced ease, then gives you a salute
- > "Payload delivered, Sir!"
- > You salute back
- "Payload received, private. You are dismissed. And good luck with your practice!"
- > Apple Bloom blushes
- > "Thanks. Um. I'll leave you two alone now."
- > She gallops off, and you just shake your head
- > You shrug, then sit down by the hole
- "Want an apple, Ponko?"
- > She wiggles her haunches
- > "You betcha! Fire at will!"
- > You toss one down and she leaps to bite it out of the air
- > You blink, and the whole thing is gone
- > Pinkie spits out some seeds and a stem
- > "Mmm, thanks!"
- > You honestly can't tell if she's very hungry, or just rather Pinkie
- "No problem. Want another?"
- > She hums in contemplation
- > "Nah, I'm good for now."
- > You nod
- > ...
- > To be honest, you aren't really sure if you should ask about the digging thing, you have no idea how to deal with normal depression, let alone horse depression
- > You mean, her hole, is just so big
- > You can't believe it's just so round, it's like out there
- > You mean geometric, look
- > It's just so, deep
- > "Sooooooooo..."
- > You blink, pulled out of your reverie
- "Yes?"
- > "Wanna play I Spy?"
- > You look down at the cheerful mare, then the hole which cuts off most of her line of sight
- "...Sure."
- > Pinkie rubs her hooves together in anticipation
- > "Okie dokie! I spy, with my all-seeing eye... something brown!"
- > Surely it's not the obvious thing
- "Is it the shaft of the shovel?"
- > She giggles
- > "Nope! Guess again!"
- > ...
- "Is it dirt?"
- > She gasps
- > "How did you know?"
- > You look at her with a deadpan expression
- "Psychic powers."
- > Her eyes go wide
- > "Woooooooow, that's amazing! Okay, your turn!"
- > You look around
- > It's a fair bet that she knows the shops and landmarks around here
- "I spy something white."
- > Pinkie sits in lotus position, her forehooves pressed against her temples
- > "Clouds?"
- "Nope."
- > "My teeth?"
- "That's a negatory, pink friend."
- > "Sugar Cube Corner!"
- "Yup. Your turn."
- > Her eyes dart around the hole
- > "I spy with my third eye... something cute!"
- > Your heart sinks
- > You just got tricked
- > Backstabbed, or quite possibly, bamboozled
- > Something Pinkie Pie finds cute? That could be anything!
- "The shovel?"
- > "Nuh-uh!"
- "The clouds?"
- > "Youplayit, Pinkie on the bottom, nope on top!"
- > You frown
- > Pinkie did mention a third eye
- "Apple Bloom 5 minutes ago?"
- > The party mare giggles
- > "No, silly, I can't see her right now."
- > Well, that doesn't leave many possibilities
- "The dirt again?"
- > "That'd be a good fake-out, huh. Too bad that's wrong!"
- "The sky?"
- > "Nopers Nonners!"
- > You sigh
- "I give up. What is it?"
- > Pinkie grins
- > "It's you!"
- > You groan
- "I totally forgot abo-"
- > Hold up
- > She's saying you're cute
- > You blush, a hand automatically covering your mouth
- > "Ehehehe, I spy something pink!"
- > The folks at immigration told you about this
- > They said the mares are clever and strike without warning
- > You should have listened
- "Th-that's not fair!"
- > "Oho, has somepony finally gotten the better of our favorite janefilly?"
- > You look to find Rarity trotting towards you with an amused smile
- > Pinkie jumps up above the rim of the hole
- > "Hi Rarity!"
- > She falls back down, then jumps again
- > "Isn't he the cutest?"
- > You purse your lips, not sure what kind of face you'll make
- "I am not cute."
- > Rarity raises an eyebrow, wearing a smug smile
- > "Truly? This is news to me, Darling. At any rate, I thought I would drop by when I heard Pinkie was digging, but I see you have the situation well in hoof, or hand as it were."
- > Pinkie jumps again
- > "Thanks! I-"
- > Jump
- > "Appreciate it!"
- > Rarity seems about to leave, but you speak
- "Say, do all ponies have digging days? Unicorns and pegasi too?"
- > Rarity flicks her tail
- > "We do have something similar. Pegasi build nests out of colorful and shiny things. After Rainbow Dash raided my inspiration room, I just leave a box of scraps and gem shards outside."
- > You smile
- "That's nice of you. What about unicorns then?"
- > She examines her forehoof, her tail swishing back and forth in a way you recognize as embarrassment
- > "We, ah, find the highest perch we can and consider our place in the universe."
- > Pinkie Pie flops halfway onto the rim of the hole
- > "I remember that! You were on top of Town Hall and were all like, 'Wahahaha! Cower before me, unfabulous mortals!' "
- > Rarity blushes
- > "Yes, well. I really must get going. It was good to see you, Anon, and I'm glad you're feeling better, Pinkie."
- > Pinkie wiggles her forehooves
- > "Bye bye, dark mistress of fashion!"
- > You pat Rarity's withers
- "It's too late for me, flee while you still can."
- > She shakes her head
- > "If you two had a colt, he would rival Discord for whimsy. Good luck Darlings!"
- > Rarity vanishes in a burst of sparkles and high class laughter
- > You roll your eyes
- "Like she's one to talk about whimsy. Right, Panko Pe?"
- > "R-right."
- > You look down to see Pinkie blushing like a tomato, slowly sliding back into the hole
- > You poke her cheek
- "You alright there?"
- > She squeaks, flails, then falls down with a thump
- "Oh crap!"
- > You hurriedly drop down after her
- > Pinkie winces, rubbing her flank
- > "Good thing I got so much cushion in my tush-in!"
- > She laughs a little shakily
- > You frown in concern
- "Should I go get a doctor or something?"
- > She gets to her hooves, wincing
- > "Nah, I think my fruity patooty is just bruised. Wanna kiss it better?"
- > You roll your eyes
- "It certainly sounds like you'll be fine."
- > Pinkie grins
- > "Worth a try!"
- > She almost goes to sit down again, then winces
- > You frown, sitting down cross-legged and patting your lap
- "Come here, lay down. It's better than the dirt."
- > She blushes lightly and trots over
- > It takes her a little to get comfortable, rolling onto her back and wiggling a bit
- > The mare is kinda heavy and warm, but it's not so bad
- > You automatically start rubbing her belly, and she positively melts
- "That better?"
- > Penka Po hums in contentment
- > "Mmm, yeah, that's the stuff."
- > For your part, you still can't get over how soft and smooth their fur is
- > You lose track of time, just petting her fur and watching her twitch a leg from time to time
- > It's comfortable, in the shade of the hole wall, listening to the murmur of passing ponies going about their day
- > Eventually, your arm gets tired, and you just rest your hand on her soft tummy
- > "Nonny?"
- "Yeah, Pinkie?"
- > Her stomach growls
- > "I could go for another apple right now."
- > You nod seriously, only smiling a little bit
- "So I hear. But you'll have to get off my lap if you want me to get you one."
- > She pouts
- > "But this is a once-in-a-lifetime thing, Nonny! If I leave your lap now, I might never get to get your sweet, sweet belly rubs again!"
- > You nod seriously
- "That is a pretty difficult problem there, Ponks. What if, now hear me out, we eat some food, then I sit down and you lay in my lap, and belly rubs happen again?"
- > She squints at you, rubbing her chin
- > "That just might work!"
- > You chuckle
- "It's crazy, I know. But I think we can pull it off."
- > Prencissa Piana rolls onto her hooves, bouncing in place as you get to your feet
- > You stare up at the rim of the hole, just high enough that you will have some trouble getting up
- "In retrospect, I should have brought a ladder or something."
- > Pinkie puffs out her chest tuft
- > "We don't need a ladder, you've got me!"
- > You blink
- "That's true, I'll just-"
- > She jumps completely out of the hole, then turns around and reaches out a foreleg to you
- "-grab on, I guess."
- > "Yuppers!"
- > You reach up and put one hand on the rim, and hold on to her foreleg with the other
- "One, two, thr-"
- > Pynekey Poi hauls you up with a grunt, and you actually catch some air before you land on your feet
- > You shake your head in awe
- "Dang, girl. You're freaking strong!"
- > She grins
- > "You betcha! Ain't no mare like an earth pony party mare!"
- > You dust off your pants
- "I'll say."
- > You bend down, pick up an apple, and dust it off on your shirt
- "Thanks, Pinkie."
- > You toss it to her
- > She snaps it out of the air, caught between her teeth
- > "Wou're wewow, wowwy!"
- > You chuckle and start cleaning off an apple of your own
- > Between the two of you, you manage to finish off about a third of what you bought
- > Pinkie licks the apple juice from off her lips
- > You crack your neck
- "Well, shall we go back down, Pinkie?"
- > She tilts her head, tail twitching a little
- > "Mmm, I don't think so. I'm not feeling hole-y mole-y anymore."
- > You smile
- "Glad to hear it. What are you going to do now?"
- > She chews on her lip, blushing lightly
- > "Well, I might have to do some special preparations, depending."
- > You start picking up the apples
- "Oh? Depending on what?"
- > Pinkie Pie takes a deep breath, then looks you straight in the eye
- > "If you would like to go on a date with me."
- > You blink in surprise, not even sure what to think
- > But you feel a warmth in your chest that tells you all you need to know
- "Yeah, Pinkie. I think I would like that."
- > Her eyes go wide, and her mane inflates almost to the breaking point
- > "R-really?"
- > You smile, feeling your face warm up
- "Yeah, really. You're a fun mare, and I like hanging out with you."
- > Pinkie grins, vibrating in place
- > "Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! This is really happening! Okay, well, I gotta get everything ready, so I gotta go and do that and and-"
- > You boop her nose
- "Just let me know when you're picking me up, okay?"
- > She comes to a stop and takes a deep breath
- > "Be ready by eight! And bring a rubber chicken!"
- > You nod
- "Eight, and rubber chicken. Got it."
- > She squeals happily and disappears in a puff of smoke
- > You shake your head at her antics, a smile stuck on your face
- > You turn to look at the hole, but it's mysteriously filled in
- > When?
- > You had your eyes on her the entire time!
- > Maybe she wasn't vibrating, you were only seeing her afterimage?
- > ...
- > No, no use trying to figure it out
- > Anyways, you have a rubber chicken to buy and a date to go on
- > You pick up the rest of the apples and set off, a vibrant warmth lingering in your chest long after you get back home
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