"Her Rock to Stand On"

Alternate Ending #16 Continued

By Professor Piggy

It smelt delicious. That was a given, o' course. If there was one thing that filly was good at - and there were quite a number of things the pink filly was in fact remarkable at - it was baking. On second thought, it was probably lucky for her that it was a given since she couldn't actually smell it, not having a nose or anysuch. Pinkie'd been at it for hours, and she'd been helping her every step of the way. This was no ordinary dessert - not like any o' the things Pinkie made for whoever happened to ask her or be in a three foot radius of her at any given second.

Nah, this was a masterpiece - weeks in the making. Fourteen layers of sweet chocolatey goodness with every inch dipped in top-quality marmalade - that struck her as a strange thing to put on a cake but hey, Pinkie'd promised it was Gummy's favourite and who was she to argue? - covered in sweet honey and enough marshmallows to build a boulder. The monstrosity had then been coated in chocolate icing and topped with a masterfully chiselled chunk of peppermint carved to resemble the mug of the lucky little guy.

It looked perfect. And so it should - it had taken the two of them - mostly Pinkie, since baking or even moving wasn’t exactly the easiest thing in the world for her to do without some help, but she’d been on the sidelines the whole time providing moral support - more work than almost any of her other projects they’d worked on before, but it'd been worth it. As Pinkie placed the last cherry on the very tip of the slightly creepy edible alligator’s snout, Rocky felt a quiet but very real rush of pride. She had helped Pinkie. Pinkie had cared enough to include her. She wasn’t quite sure why her old friend was suddenly hanging out with her again - until she’d taken Rocky down about a week ago she’d been sitting up on that same shelf in the corner of Pinkie’s teeny little room, gathering dust, for what felt like years.

Not that she minded the peace or relaxation, of course - she’d never say no to a good long nap, and having nopony to answer to suited her fine. But after the first few months the lack of company had started getting to her, just sometimes. It was one thing to nap peacefully high above the floor, looking down on whatever passed beneath her. It was quite another to look down and see all her friends having fun without her, and seeing how they ignored her when she tried to call out. Pinkie’d spoken to her a handful of times, true, but they’d been rare - maybe three the whole time she’d been stuck up there. Not at all like back when they were both a little younger, and little Miss Pinkamena was a little lonelier.

Not that she wished that on Pinkie, of course - she was glad the lonely little pony had friends now. She’d missed her oldest friend bad though, and it was nice to be back with her again and just hanging out, like they hadn’t since she’d wandered off into the Everfree with her fancy new friends and saved the world. That’d been a story to hear, even if Rocky’d had to hear it second hand courtesy of Gummy. Even if since then Pinkie didn’t have time for her oldest friend any more.

The party pony swept her eyes across the cake - and Rocky didn’t think she was too far from being able to say that literally. The pony’s baby blues were narrow and piercing as she circled the cake, her face scrunched up in concentration and her tongue poking out from between her lips just a little. Ever few seconds she’d stop and dart forward so that her eyes were almost touching it, tilting her head this way and thataway. It might’ve unnerved Rocky if she hadn’t been used to it - sure woulda bugged Pinkie’s new friends. They seemed to think she was dumb, and crazy - like the two had to go hand in hand. She didn’t have to be dumb just ‘cause she was crazy!

And that filly wasn’t dumb. When she poured her little heart into something she gave it everything - and now that it was done, she had to make sure it was perfect. She’d done the same, even back then - picking out only the biggest, nicest stones to make sure she was the best Rocky she could be. Little things like that meant the world to Pinkie - and those were the moments you could see just how clever she really was.

Not that she didn’t look completely ridiculous, of course. Because really? Even Rocky was having a hard time not laughing at the poor kid. After a few more minutes Pinkie nodded slowly, face a grim mask, and stepped away from the cake. She spun on Rocky, and shot her a smile like a sunrise - big, beautiful, and shining.

“Doesn’t it just look amazing? I mean of course it looks amazing ‘cause it’s cake and cake always looks amazing because it’s just so delicious but even when you compare it to other cakes it looks amazing so I guess that makes it super terrifically amazing! I think it might be the single most delicious thing I’ve ever baked - I know I say that every time, but this time I really mean it and I think Gummy’s really gonna like it, don’t you?”

The rambling stopped, after a little too short a time – Rocky didn’t like it – something was off with the little pink pony she owed so much. Pinkie’d been acting not quite Pinkie all day. The pony in question stared at her, blinking expectantly, but she couldn’t answer - Pinkie was so beautiful, and she didn’t know what to say. The breath’d been knocked straight out of her. It hardly mattered - after a moment Pinkie continued speaking as though she’d never stopped.

“Thank you for helping me, Rocky. You’re the most terrific baking buddy ever!” And with that she had bounced away, cake balanced - amazingly, impossibly - on her back and not wobbling even a little.

Rocky just sat, stunned, and watched her go.

----

Pinkie Pie had never had a particularly large number of possessions.

Well, really that wasn’t quite right. She’d had plenty of things in her life - probably more than a lot of ponies would ever have in theirs but their things tended to be things that just sat around not doing anything and her things tend to be the kind that went patchoo and exploded or made noise or colours or other things like balloons, so even though she’d probably had a whole lot more than some ponies, her things were always getting used up or popping so she ended up having a whole lot less which suited her fine, because really she’d never seen the point in owning lots of stuff anyway unless it was the kinda stuff that made her or her friends happy. And since she’d never needed stuff to make her happy, she’d never really had a need for stuff that wasn’t presents, party supplies or just plain fun.

When she’d first come to Ponyville all she’d had with her was a big bag of homemade pastries, a few blankets, a bunch of tools and - balanced proudly on her head and wearing a little hoofmade raincoat - Rocky, and she’d been okay. She hadn’t had many friends then, of course, and Gummy hadn’t even been born so it’d been just her and Rocky, and she’d supported the both of them by building things and doing odd jobs around Ponyville - even then, though, nopony had taken her seriously and some of them had given her really mean looks and worse words, but her friends had helped her and eventually she’d gotten her job with the Cakes at Sugarcube Corner after Fluttershy had shown them some some of her baking. They’d even given her a room. She remembered the day she moved in - she’d placed Rocky in his own special little corner, tucked in her bed and known she was home.

But some days - not very often - her little room, filled with only a few more things now than it had been then - mostly gifts people had given her which she’d never, ever let go of as long as she lived - felt awfully empty. Today was not one of those days. Every inch of the room was strewn with decorations! Banners bedecked, balloons bounced, streamers streamed and confetti... did whatever it was that confetti did. Confettied? Festooned? Bedazzled? What would Gummy say? Oh! That it danced through the air like autumn leaves on a breeze, twisting this way and that, entrancing the eye. And then he’d try to eat some. And that was good, because it was his day after all and she’d made special edible confetti just for him - she would have given some to Rocky of course but Rocky couldn’t eat and – she’d forgotten Rocky!

She’d left her rough little friend sitting all by herself in the kitchen while she’d been busy being all proud of herself like a silly lazy Pinkie instead of a good-friend Pinkie and that wouldn’t do at all! The party pony stopped her celebratory dance around the room, carefully placing her three errant legs back on the floor and - after ensuring she was in proper walking position - turned to head towards the door.

Rocky sat on her table, next to the cake, looking at her with what she could have sworn was a little smile. That seemed odd – she hadn’t even heard the door open and usually Rocky was real loud on account of being so heavy and all. But Pinkie was glad to see her and so, of course, she grinned back.

“Hi, Rocky! I was just coming back for you - sorry it took so long. I guess I got a little caught up partying about Gummy’s think!”

Oh, wait. Oops.

“Or maybe I was even thinking about Gummy’s party!” she added with a giggle, waiting for the first friend she had made in her life to laugh along too.

Rocky didn’t laugh. She didn’t even answer – she did not, in fact, react at all.

Pinkie felt her smile falter, just a little – nopony else would have noticed it but then nopony, and that meant nopony, else was as good a smiler as she was, she practised all the time and she was really good at it, she had to be ‘cause almost nopony could ever tell when she didn’t really mean her smiles – which, thankfully, wasn’t really all that often.

She meant this one. She wanted to hear Rocky laugh – to hear that loud guffaw bellow outta her friend, like she hadn’t in way too long. All she wanted to do was share Gummy’s special day with her oldest new best friend, but all Rocky kept doing was being a grumpy pants about it.

Maybe …

Maybe she was a bad friend?

No. No, she couldn’t think like that. Those were the kinds of thoughts that danced in her mind like those little dancing cupcakes that were always begging her to eat them when she was asleep, except less delicious and more the kind of thoughts that would make ponies think she was crazy and not want to be her friend. Today was a good day, and she was going to spend it with her friends – her bestest friends. The party would cheer Rocky up and Gummy would stop ignoring her and Dash would keep her promise, and they’d all be friends again.

But of course, the pink pony pondered, she wouldn’t be a very good friend if she didn’t at least ask what was wrong – and she wanted to help so of course she should and then she could try and make it all better.

“Hmmmmmmm.” She dropped her voice low and put on her best suspicious face, creeping towards Rocky on the tips of her hooves, then stopped about a foot away. When she spoke, her voice sounded absolutely serious – a tone belied by the smile she suddenly found tugging at the corner of her mouth

“Rockamina Snuggleton Pie! You’re being all quiet today and I wanna know why – you better answer me, missy, or I’ll have no choice but to withhold your bedtime story!”

Rocky still didn’t laugh, and after a few moments Pinkie frowned deeply and stalked off to continue preparations for Gummy’s very own special Pinkie Pie party.

-----

All around Rocky, there was noise. Streamers popped, music played an’ Pinkie’s little friends danced and danced and ran their little mouths and had fun. And everywhere she looked, there was Pinkie – when the clumsy purple one accidentally tripped Fluttershy and she fell, Pinkie caught her. When What’s-her-face – the snooty one - spilt punch all over herself and started complaining about how her life was ruined, Pinkie was first in line to offer a listening ear an’ a hug.

Rocky suspected – just a little – that Pinkie didn’t so much get what was wrong with wearing the wrong hat outside, but it was important to … Rarity! That was it. And that was what mattered to Pinkie.

Rocky had different opinions. She’d never quite forgotten the time lil’ Miss Sophisticated had cast that stupid gem finding spell on ‘er, sniffed and proceeded to ask, loudly, whether Pinkie knew she’d been lugging around a ‘perfectly ordinary rock’ all this time. Since then, Rocky’d more or less decided Rarity was a complete jerk. Just ‘cause she wasn’t some stuck-up gemstone didn’t make her not special. Pinkie’d gotten her back, though. Rocky didn’t even think it’d been intentional, but it’d been real anyways.

Pinkie’d blinked her beautiful eyes all innocent like and said, “Huh. I guess you’re right, Rarity. I mean, you know more about rocks than anypony except maybe my dad but maybe even more than him since you’re so good with dresses and all! Like that big one you were carrying around back when Discord showed up! I mean, everypony else thought you were just being weird but not me, no sir. I thought, ‘Rarity has a plan for that there rock and it’ll be great!’”

After a short pause she had smiled sheepishly and added, “Well, that’s what I thought after I turned back into me again. You probably don’t really want to know what Meanie Pie thought. I mean, I sure wish I didn’t!”

The unicorn’s reaction’d been priceless. And later Pinkie had sat Rocky down and told her that even if she didn’t sparkle she was still the prettiest rock in the whole world. It was garbage, o’ course – Rocky knew it, and had said so. She’d never been much for sentiment. But she had to admit that when she thought of that particular moment she couldn’t really help but grin a little – even lies were nice to hear sometimes.

Lies like the ones Pinkie was stuffing down her friends’ throats, for instance. All the smiles, all the laughs and hugs and reassurances she was throwing at ‘em – all lies. It was obvious - no matter where she looked, there were signs. The way the party pony didn’t immediately join in when her friends started dancing. The way her eyes’d get all sad, just for a second, when ‘er friends weren’t looking. The way she’d insisted nopony cut the cake – nopony touch the cake – because it was for Gummy. Because he’d eat it when he got back. Because of course, the traitors hadn’t come. They had promised – sworn up an’ down – that they’d be back in time for the party. Promised Pinkie they’d all have fun together. And they hadn’t come.

And her friends didn’t care. Sure, they’d acted all concerned when they’d arrived – asked if she was okay, hugged her, promised her that the guest of honour and his blue floozy would be there real soon – another lie, but one she could forgive. One told for the right reasons. But she couldn’t forgive the way they’d all taken Pinkie at face value when she’d laughed it off, promised them it was okay and that she didn’t mind them abandoning her again as long as they were happy. Not the words Pinkie used, o’ course. But the ones she meant.

The hours dragged by – Rocky wasn’t sure how many. Didn’t have a whole lot of reason to keep track of time, mostly, what with not having a whole bunch to do and all. But she kept a close watch on that crazy little farm filly. If Pinkie looked like she was gonna have a meltdown or lose it Rocky was going to be there, like Pinkie always was for her. She needn’t o’ worried - it wasn’t like it was the first time her friend had played this particular game. Pinkie wouldn’t break down in front of her friends - not because she didn’t trust ‘em or nothing, but ‘cause she was afraid they’d think she was crazy. Rocky’d seen her do it a lot, but it never got any less terrifying. Over the years, Pinkie’d come to rely on her to tell it like it was, instead o’ how she wanted to see it. But today Pinkie didn’t seem to hear her. Or maybe just didn’t want to.

It was hard to tell, with that pony - but she’d been chatting to Rocky all day so she kind of doubted it was on purpose. She hoped it wasn’t on purpose.

Only one of Pinkie’s friends was still hanging around - the purple one. The one who kept trying to help Pinkie look after the little baby ponies, even when Pinkie kept tellin’ her it was fine. Celestia? No - that was a different one. The big one. Twinkle? Yeah, Twinkle. That was it. Twinkle was telling Pinkie all about how Dash and Gummy had probably just lost track of time somewhere and it wasn’t that they didn’t want to be there and ... lots of other, big words, that Rocky was pretty sure meant the same thing. But she didn’t believe ‘em. Heck, from the look on her face when Pinkie had said so she didn’t even believe the pair of ‘em were out together.

But Pinkie smiled and bobbed her head and hid her eyes - anything to make Twinkle believe she was okay, and not be a burden to her friends. And it must’ve worked ‘cause not too long after, the purple pony walked out the door, with Pinkie waving her off with a smile on her perfect pink face. A smile which disappeared as soon as the door shut. Which fell into a frown as she slowly plodded over to the window and sat, staring out the window without a word.

And then, all alone except for Rocky herself, Pinkie Pie started to cry.

------

Rocky was staring at her again.

Not that that was even a little odd or anything, nope nope - the little pile of rocks never seemed to be able to take her eyes off of Pinkie, though actually she didn’t really have eyes what with being made of rocks but she did have pebbles and they spent an awful lot of time peering at Ponyville’s Premier Party Pony, and Pinkie didn’t even know why. It wasn’t like she minded or anything - it was nice to feel like she mattered to someone, even just a little and even if she didn’t quite get why Rocky was staring so much. Most days the party pony didn’t even notice it anymore - Rocky’d been with her almost all her life after all, and if she wanted to sit there and stare at Pinkie, who was she to tell her no? Although of course if she really wanted Rocky to stop she would ask and of course she would because the two of them were friends, duh - but today wasn’t like most days. Today she was crying. And her friends should never, ever have to see her cry - crying Pinkie scared ponies away. But it wouldn’t scare Rocky away. Rocky would be her friend no matter what. And he understood just why this particular day mattered so much.

Today was Gummy’s birthday. His third birthday, in fact - and rather than sticking around for his birthday party like he always had before, he’d blown her off to go gallivant around with Rainbow Dash! He hadn’t even said, ‘Hey Pinkie, do you mind if Dash spends the day with us’ and that didn’t make sense because she would’ve been like, ‘Ohhhhh, Gummy, that’s a super duper terrific idea’ and then they could have had fun together. But Gummy hadn’t wanted that. And neither had Rainbow Dash. They hadn’t wanted her.

Not that she should have minded, really - if anything she should have been happy for them because really, how often did somepony get to see the two ponies - or one pony and one gator - she loved most in the world find a pony they could spend the rest of forever with. Not often, that was for sure - you’d have to love an awful lot of ponies best to have it happen a lot, and even though she loved an awful lot of ponies, Rainbow Dash and Gummy were right at the top of the list.

And she had been happy, the first dozen or so times they’d disappeared and left her behind - she’d just hung out with her other friends and ignored that feeling in the back of her mind like maybe she wasn’t good enough. The next dozen times she’d still smiled for them, and her and Rocky had started talking more too. So maybe that was okay - it was bad manners to neglect your friends after all and, boy, had she ever neglected Rocky. That wasn’t really her fault though, was it? I mean, it wasn’t like Rocky ever even tried to start conversations with her. There were even some days when Pinkie tried to talk to her and she wouldn’t talk back - she’d just sit there and stare. Like today. When Pinkie needed her most.

“Rocky?” She tried again, voice shaking slightly as she tried to stop the tears. No answer. She glanced over to where the little pile of rocks sat on her bed, staring at her still. Meeting the small pebbles that were Rocky’s eyes - a new addition, small and grey and tough just like Rocky herself - she continued:

“I’m sorry I called you Rockamina. I know ... I know you don’t really like it much when I do that, but I thought maybe if I did you’d answer me.”

Still silence. Rocky hated her. She must hate her. Pinkie had put her up on that shelf and just left her there - forgotten all about her. But Rocky had always forgiven her before, and she’d try harder. She’d be a better friend. She knew what it was like to feel abandoned by your friends, and she’d never ever want Rocky to feel like that, and she loved Rocky - not like she loved stupid Rainbow Dash, of course - but still more than anything she had to make her see, why wouldn’t she understand?

“Rocky, say something. Please? I really need you.”

She rose to her hooves and took a few hesitant steps forward, hoping desperately that Rocky would open her mouth. Would say something, even if she wanted to tell Pinkie what a horrible pony she was, it would be better than the quiet and at least she’d know Rocky cared even if it was the wrong kind of caring, and then she could fix it but there was nothing.

“I’m so sorry. I’m sorry I hurt you. I’m sorry i’m a bad Pinkie who doesn’t deserve a friend like you. I’m sorry I haven’t been talking to you and -” A sob escaped her, and she bit back tears. And then in a blur of motion she cast herself forward, throwing her forelegs around her oldest friend and letting the tears flow free.

And then it was all okay. She felt Rocky press a little closer against her cheek, felt the cold rock and clung to it as a voice whispered in her ear, gentle but strong and powerful, “You got nothin’ to be sorry for, Pinks. Not a thing in the world. ‘S not like you threw me into the street or glued eyes to me or somethin’. You just made some new, less awesome friends, that’s all.”

Pinkie snuffled, just a little, and hugged her cold, heartless friend closer, wondering distantly how she managed to be such a nice rock-pile when she didn’t have a heart. “I ... I thought they were my friends. I mean, Fluttershy and Applejack and Twilight and Rarity are all my friends for real, but I thought Dashie was too. What’d I do wrong, Rocky? Why does she hate me? Why does everypony always hate me?”

“Hey, don’t talk like that - everypony loves you, kid. All your friends had a blast tonight - and that was all you.”

“But I was pretending. I didn’t wanna dance or play games or party. I didn’t even want any cake!”

She felt Rocky jump at her last remark, just a little. The thought of piggy-wiggy-party-Pinkie not wanting cake had to be as foreign to her friend as it was to Pinkie herself - she couldn’t remember ever not wanting cake before. She felt sick. Ashamed. What kind of party pony didn’t want cake?

It was only after a long moment that Rocky spoke again. “That’s … I mean, wow. No cake? Not even a little cake? I mean, look at that thing - it’s practically beggin’ you to go over there and stick your little face in it! You know you wanna.”

“No! That’s what the cake said! But I don’t want cake! I don’t want anything! I just …”

She sighed, finally out of tears, and whispered the next words.

“I just want Rainbow Dash.”

-----

“What!?” Mare Do Well snapped, glaring down at him. Gummy could imagine her beautiful eyes, glistening like diamonds behind her mask. Glowing in the night and shining with anger and defiance. He wanted to kiss her - to leap up, and take her face in his hands. To meet her lips tenderly, as she had taught him.

He also wanted to taste her tongue, but for some reason his Rainbow had screamed and gotten very angry the last time he had attempted that. She had refused to kiss him for a month afterwards, and had hesitated to even come near him. She also hadn’t spoken to him quite as much, though Gummy was fairly certain that that was a result of her sudden difficulty speaking - he wondered, not for the first time, what had caused it. His Rainbow had refused to tell him, going so far as to take wing the moment he mentioned it.

“Well? What are you giving me that look for? I suppose you’re going to tell me I did something wrong again?” she demanded, and he knew her face was twisted into a scowl even if her radiance was hidden from him by the mask she wore.

Gummy hesitated.

It did not seem wise to further anger his Rainbow, but when she had agreed to his courtship he had sworn never to lie to her again. Never to give her reason to doubt him. And when she had asked him to teach her, she’d demanded he be brutal. She had rewarded him well. He could almost taste the strands of her mane as he remembered. Certainly, she would hurt him for his words, well intentioned and loving as they were. Though not on purpose. Never on purpose. And he would be a good and patient and handsome Gummy and forgive her.

He blinked up at her, doing all he could to channel every ounce of love he had for her into his eyes, before he spoke.

“My landing wasn’t cool enough!? What the heck are you talking about!? That was way cooler than anything you’ve pulled off the whole time you’ve been doing this - oh, so now I’m not awe-inspiring?” She stomped a hoof on the ground and snorted in irritation.

“Well, you sure seem impressed by my flanks for someone who’s not in awe! Like with those last guys! There were four of them, and you just stand on the sidelines drooling?”

The memory was a recent one. And a fond one. Gummy could picture -

“Stop that!” his Rainbow snarled, pressing her face against his. “If you’re not gonna take this seriously, why are we even bothering? All you’ve been doing for the last three hours is complaining about how everything I do is -” She stopped, and when she spoke again there was an edge of panic in her voice, and all Gummy wanted to do was wrap his arms around her and tell her it was alright.

“Wait. What time is it? Are we late for Pinkie’s thing? Oh man. We gotta go, Gummy!”

And then she was holding him, and they were soaring through the air. He had come to love this feeling more than any other. As he listened to her heart beat, all was right in Gummy’s world.

------

“I know you do, Pinks. And I know nothin’ I say’ll make it okay or anything. But for what it’s worth, she’s an idiot if she doesn’t care about you. Heck, she’s an idiot anyways! She promised, and she can’t even be bothered getting that stupid technicolour tail of hers here on time. And the little traitor’s no better! All this effort, just for him. And he don’t care.”

Rocky was angry. Beyond angry. That stupid little gator and his girlfriend had hurt Pinkie, and hurt her bad. Nopony was allowed to hurt Pinkie - especially ponies she loved as much as she did them. More than she’d ever love Rocky.

“You didn’t do a thing, Pinks - unless you count ‘carin’ about your friends too much’ as a flaw, and I sure as heck don’t. They’re the ones with the problem. Not you. And you know something?”

Pinkie looked up at her, eyes desperate and hopeful, and shook her head.

“That whole party, earlier tonight? That wasn’t you pretending, even if it feels like it was. That’s a big part of you, an’ even when you don’t feel it, won’t acknowledge it, it’ll always be there. Always look after you. Your friends loved it, Pinkie - Twinkle, and Fluttershy, an’ all of them.”

“But -”

“Shh. Just listen, okay, kid? Yeah, they loved it because you were all smiles - but that’s ‘cause they thought you were happy. I …”

Rocky hadn’t expected explaining this to be quite so hard. She really, really hated this sentimental stuff. She’d never had a head for it. But Pinkie needed her, and Rocky wouldn’t - couldn’t - let her down.

She didn't know when she'd started looking at Pinkie different. It hadn't always been that way, she knew that - Pinkie'd been a little kid when she’d made Rocky, after all, and she wasn't some kind of sicko. Not that she hadn’t loved Pinkie then, of course - that little filly'd meant the world to her right from the start. That big dopey grin of hers had been the first thing Rocky saw, and it was what she lived for now. But she hadn't loved Pinkie like that for a long time after ...

First time she'd realised had been about two years back now. It'd been Pinkie’s birthday then - not the little green traitor gator’s. None of her stupid mean friends had turned up, and that'd suited Rocky fine. She figured if they didn't care enough to even remember the one day o’ the year that was just for Pinkie, they weren't worth knowing - she'd remembered, after all. But the kid hadn't taken it so well. She'd grabbed a sack o' flour, some dirt and a bucket full of turnips and started talking to them. Like they were alive.

Rocky'd known she was crazy, even before that - but she hadn't known just how crazy until that day. But she hadn't wanted to hurt the birthday girl’s feelings, ruin her day like her fake friends had. So she'd played along. She’d made nice with the freaky little things, just to make Pinkie happy. And she'd been doing good. When Pinkie’s stupid - if hot - blue friend turned up to drag her off and hurt her some more, Rocky'd stepped up. But Pinkie'd gone anyways. And there hadn't been a thing Rocky could do to save her.

She'd spent the rest of the day sitting there, just staring at the door. Waiting for it to open so she could hug that pony and tell her it was okay. Hours and hours, without moving an inch. But then Pinkie'd come back. And she'd been laughing. Smiling. Dancing on those hooves of hers like a fuzzy pink angel. Rocky had never been able to make her that happy. And even though she knew in her little stone heart she should be happy, should've smiled, it had broken her heart.

And that was when she knew: She loved that little pink pony. She'd do anything for her. To make her smile. Even ...

Even let her go. Let her find somepony who could make her that happy. Like the dumb blue one. Only it hadn’t quite worked out that way. The stupid one’d fallen for Gummy, of all things - the alligator was barely alive and she’d picked him over Pinkie. Talk about not having any taste. Not that Rocky hadn’t liked Gummy, o’ course. She’d seen the little guy grow up, after all, and she had a certain attachment to him. Didn’t like him any more, though.

And now Pinkie was a wreck and she didn’t know what to say to make it better. But she had to try. She couldn’t just leave Pinkie like this. Not after all that pony’d done for her, and not when Rocky loved her as much as she did. Pinkie, who fed off the happiness o’ those around her - and not in a mean way, but like a ... like a gem, reflecting sunlight - she made that happiness brighter and reflected it right back again. And suddenly, Rocky knew just what to say. It wouldn’t fix it all, of course. She knew that. But maybe it would help.

“You make ‘em happy, Pinkie. You’d make ‘em happy even if you put on your biggest frownie face and cried that big heart of yours out - they’d be sad, sure. But even if they’re dumb - Fluttershy, of course, excepted - they love you to little bitty pieces. And they’d want to help you, and when they did you’d be smiling again, and then they’d be happier than ever. You may be annoying as hell sometimes, kid, but not one o’ those ponies’ lives would be half as bright or wonderful if you weren’t in it. They didn’t enjoy your fake smiles - they enjoyed you. Like I do. Like everyone with sense does.”

Pinkie sniffed and backed away slightly from the little rock pile. Her voice was a whisper as she spoke “You really think so, Rocky? You really think they’ll like me anyway?”

“I dunno. They’re pretty stupid. And they don’t have taste like I do. Especially snooty little Rarity.”

“They’re not stupid. And you know it!” Pinkie huffed as she spoke. That was good - it meant she was cheering up, at least a little - she had enough feelings to spare to defend her little friends now. That was the Pinkie that Rocky wanted to see. “They just trust me to tell them when I’m not okay and so they should! I’m their friend. And I lied to them.”

The party pony seemed to have a great interest in the floor all of a sudden. “I’m a terrible pony.”

Okay. Maybe that wasn’t quite as good. Rocky hadn’t so much been aiming to make Pinkie feel worse, after all. That was a problem. Rocky had to convince her, had to make her see.

“No! You’re not. You’re a good pony! The best pony! You just didn’t wanna hurt ‘em. You think they tell you every time they’re upset? They don’t, I’m tellin’ you that now - and not ‘cause they don’t trust you, they do. I mean ... like Fluttershy! How many ponies would she let grab her the way you do without panicking!? Or the purple one? She stayed after the party just to make sure you were alright! Would she have done that if she didn’t like you?”

Pinkie looked at her for a long moment, eyes wide and staring, without saying a word. And when she did speak, she gave Rocky a gift - a little smile, just for her. “I guess you’re right, Rocky. And even if they didn’t care, I’d still have you right? But they do. Twilight and Fluttershy and Rarity and Applejack - they’re all my friends. And they all love me. But I don’t think any of them could ever understand me like you do, I mean, you’ve known me like forever and you always know just what to say. Thanks.”

Before Rocky could answer, Pinkie’s expression darkened. Her smile - Rocky’s smile - faded, and was replaced with a familiar frown. Her next words were a quiet mutter. “I’m glad someone cares about me. Not like Rainbow Dash. Or little Mister Traitor Pants. Why didn’t they come? They promised!”

Rocky was worried, now. Nothing she tried was working. So she did what she always did when she didn’t know what to do - it had only ever failed her before, so it made sense it’d work this time. She blurted. “Ah, I bet something happened to ‘em is all. I know they care about you, Pinks. Gummy adores you - and that pretty one, remember that speech she gave you?”

“Well, yeah. But what if she didn’t mean it? What if she just said it to make me feel better and it was all just lies and she thinks I’m a stupid pony who’ll believe anything she says and - wait.” Pinkie tilted her head , ever so slightly, to the left and blinked at Rocky in confusion. “How do you even know about that? You weren’t there.”

“You told me about it, o’ course, you dope. How else would I know?” Even to her own ears - nonexistent as they were - Rocky’s words sounded a touch off.

“I … No. No, I didn’t. I’d remember that. That mattered. How do you know that, Rocky? Have you been spying on me!?” Pinkie’s voice rose a little, became shriller, as she spoke. Rocky knew she had to be careful now.

“What? No. Don’t be stupid. You know I wouldn’t do that to ya. Fact is you tell me a lotta stuff you don’t think you tell me. Does it matter, kid? Fact is I know. Don’t you trust me?” Oh, that was low. Even for her. But this was a bad line of questioning. It needed to be stomped out. Quickly.

“Of course I trust you, silly!”  Pinkie sounded cheery. That was bad. A slight edge of hysteria undercut her voice. “You’re my friend! You wouldn’t lie to me. Ever. No sir, not you. You’re the only who’s always been there for me. I’d be crazy not to trust you!”

Pinkie hesitated, and when she spoke again it was in a more even tone - but there was something desperate and frightened in it. “But I don’t understand what you mean. Please, tell me!”

“Pinkie, you gotta relax. Calm down. You can’t panic now. It’s just ... it’s just cause o’ how well I know you, that’s all. I mean, I can see how you’re feeling  at the worst of times - I’m good at that.  And when I walked in the door that day you were sitting there and watching, and you were dancing on your hooves and I could tell, I could just see it on your face, how happy you were. I knew something had to have happened, so I asked Gummy!”

Pinkie was breathing heavily, and shaking just a little. Her beautiful blue eyes were wide, and stared unblinkingly at Rocky. After a moment that seemed to last forever, she closed them, and her breathing became slow and deep. It was a minute before she stopped shaking.

And then she was grinning at Rocky, and bobbing her head up and down furiously. “Yeah, of course Gummy told you, I mean, duh, he must’ve been so excited and so was I, and I’m sorry I didn’t tell you myself but I was kinda sad too because ... well, you know why, don’t you?” A little giggle escaped from the pony as she spoke. It frightened Rocky. Just a little.

“Yeah,” was all Rocky could think to say. “Yeah, Pinks, I sure do.” She thought for a second, and then, feeling clever, added, “And don’t worry about it. I get it. But I’m always here for you. You know that.”

“I know.” Pinkie hugged her closer, and then pulled away and turned to gaze out the window.

“Rocky … you don’t think something happened to them, do you?”

-----

Rocky didn’t answer, at first. That normally wouldn’t have worried Pinkie, because if Rocky was anything she sure was quiet, and it’d been a really long time since she’d said as much as she had tonight so maybe she was tired or maybe she was just thinking really hard and if that was the case the last thing Pinkie wanted to do was interrupt, because she knew all about being interrupted when she was thinking - Twilight had even called her an expert on it once! - and it wasn’t a fun thing at all. So normally she’d have just let Rocky be until she felt like talking again.

Only this felt different. It didn’t seem like Rocky was being quiet just ‘cause Rocky liked being quiet - this felt like the kind of quiet that meant Rocky didn’t want to answer her. And that would mean Rocky thought something had happened to Gummy and Dashie and that would mean it was her fault for letting them go Mare Do Welling and not putting a stop to their daring do when she had the chance. And if they were in trouble because of her that meant she had to go find them!

Then again … maybe she was jumping to conclusions? Ponies had told her she did that, sometimes. She hadn’t really noticed herself, but her friends didn’t lie to her very often, and when they did they had super duper good reasons like surprise parties or being ashamed of doing really well, which still confused her ‘cause doing well was something you should be really proud of, but anyway she thought she should probably make sure she wasn’t putting words in Rocky’s mouth or whatever it was Rocky used to talk since she didn’t really have a mouth.

“Rooooooooooooooooooooooocky?” She waved a hoof in front of Rocky’s face. Rocky sat staring at her, and looking unamused, but not saying a word. Pinkie thought, for a moment. She could leave Rocky in peace, but this was important. So she did what she always did when Gummy wouldn’t answer her, because maybe it’d work on Rocky too. She leaned close, and very, very gently poked her in the side.

She had not been expecting Rocky, usually so stoic and distant, to lean forward and nuzzle her hoof. To whisper, in a voice softer and more reassuring than anything Pinkie had ever heard from her. “You worry too much, kid. You know Dash, and you know Gummy. Which means you know anyone pickin’ a fight with the pair of ‘em would be in real trouble. And that Dash isn’t exactly what you’d call good at keepin’ track o’ time.”

“So... you don’t think they abandoned me, either?” Pinkie couldn’t keep her voice from shaking.

“You don’t think they did. Not really. Me? I dunno so much. And I say even if they didn’t, they still got a whole heck of a lot of grovelling to do - how hard is it to turn up on time to your own birthday party!?” After a brief pause a gravelly, nervous chuckle escaped the rock and she added, “Uh … no offense, Pinkie. I wasn’t sayin’ -”

Pinkie smiled, and then laughed a little quiet laugh. “I know, I know. I don’t think I’ll ever forget that day. My first birthday party. And you got to meet Dashie! But it’s kinda different for Gummy. His birthdays actually matter.”

“So do yours, Pinks. Trust me, kiddo. The day you waddle off to whatever’s waitin’ for you on the other side, the world’s gonna cry for you - all your little friends, Gummy, and ... well, at least one actual part o’ the world. You mean a whole heck of a lot more than you think you do.”

Pinkie, for the first time in a long time, didn’t know what to say. So she said nothing. She just closed her eyes and let the warmth that Rocky’s words had carried heat her up. Felt herself rise, like yeast in an oven or a thousand balloons sailing away into the sky. And as she said her next words, she smiled. “Don’t you worry, Rocky. I’m not going anywhere for a long, long time yet - Pinkie Pie never abandons a friend, and I’m never going to leave you all alone.”

Then, because she knew Rocky would squirm and get all awkward and adorable if she left it at that, she plowed on. But she felt Rocky press a little closer to her hoof, and it felt good.

“I ... I don’t know what to do. About Gummy, I mean. And Dashie. I know they’re not doing it on purpose because I know they love me, I know that, but they’re pulling away and I don’t understand. I feel like I’m losing them. But if I say anything they’ll think I’m crazy, and then they won’t want to be my friends and Dash’ll go and she’ll take Gummy.” There was a moment of hesitation before she finished.

“Only ... only she won’t, will she? She wouldn’t do that to me.”

“See, kid? I knew you’d get there in the end.” Rocky’s voice carried a hint of gentle teasing. But she could hear a smile in it. That was good - Rocky didn’t smile much, and that always made Pinkie a little sad. Nopony was there for her like Rocky was, and Rocky deserved to always be smiling. But Rocky was still talking, and she forced herself to listen. “You always do. Just need a little push sometimes, is all. From certain charming and intellectual-type rocks.”

Pinkie tried not to laugh. It would be rude to interrupt. She just nodded her head, expression grave, as Rocky finished in a more serious tone.

“You do know what to do. You tell her. You tell them both. You explain it, just like you did to me just now. And they’ll understand. They love you, Pinks. They’d never hurt you on purpose. And sure, maybe they think you’re a little loopy, but you know what? That’s okay. You are a little loopy.”

“Hey!” That had hurt, just a little. She wasn’t crazy. She knew she wasn’t. But Rocky only laughed again.

“It’s okay, kid. You have to be a little crazy to light up the world the way you do - it takes a certain ... perspective. Heck, your friends are crazy too. Twilight spends all her time with her nose buried in books - if you went over there now and took her for a ride to Cake Mountain in your flying doohickey, she’d spend the whole time taking soil samples and trying to figure out how it got to be cake. If you went to Rarity, she’d refuse to use the doohickey at all ‘cause its colours are wrong. They don’t make sense to me, and I’m willing to bet they don’t to you either.”

It was true. Pinkie couldn’t even imagine what it’d be like to see something that amazing and just want to take it apart and see how it worked - like with the doozy of a disaster Future Twilight had told Twi about, when she’d gone all crazy trying to figure it out so she could fix it. Pinkie woulda just thrown a big party, so that every pony in Ponyville would be there and she could look after them because, really, nopony would miss a Pinkie party. And why did it matter if her mane liked to poof up? It was happy that way. But Rarity thought it was some kind of monster from the way she used to look at it. Slowly, she shook her head. “No. You’re right. They don’t. But that doesn’t make them crazy!”

“I know. But that’s all the ponies who look at you and call you crazy are doin’ - not getting you. Not understanding. And if that makes you crazy, then they all gotta be crazy too. And if that’s the way it is … well, nothin’ wrong with being crazy. World’d be a snoozefest without crazy. So tell them, Pinkie.”

“And heck,” Rocky finished. “Why not ask if you can take that cute little cape off her and go out doing the whole Mare Do Well thing with ‘em? I know you wanna.”

And suddenly Pinkie knew what she had to do. And maybe, just maybe, everything was okay again.

-----

When Rainbow Dash crashed in through the window a little while later, she was met by a smiling, bouncing ball of pink. As Dash apologised and apologised and offered all the excuses she had running around through that thick head o’ hers, Rocky watched. She watched Pinkie laugh, and hug her, and tell her it was okay, and she forgave them. Asked them to be more careful next time, ‘cause she’d been sad when they hadn’t come.

The smile was real, this time. The laughter in her eyes and on her lips not forced out. But there was something else too - a nervousness in everything she did. Rocky saw it. None of Pinkie’s other friends woulda seen it. Except ... Gummy did. And so, to Rocky’s surprise, did Rainbow Dash. And she asked.

There were fewer smiles, then. Sad words. Sad ponies. And Dash did get mad - but not, as Pinkie had feared, because her friend was complaining or being crazy. But because she hadn’t told her. There was some yelling, by both of them. But not once did Pinkie come close to losing a friend, that night. Rocky didn’t hear the words too well, though. She was busy having a little talk with a certain alligator.

-----

Gummy was frightened. It was not a feeling he liked, and he wished very much that it would go away. When his Rainbow had tumbled - gracelessly, always gracelessly but oh so perfectly - through the small window that had once seemed an impenetrable barrier to him, when he was smaller and before she had taught him the joys of flight, he had immediately hugged his Pinkie. Had whispered apologies in her ear, which tasted sweet and felt like safety, while his Rainbow said too many words at her again. But they were better words, this time. Gummy had smiled, at that.

And when their conversation had become different and private, Gummy had come to visit Rocky. He had been expecting adulations, congratulations on another year of wisdom and joy - a wonderful year, if a painful one. He had not been expecting the one who had helped his Pinkie raise him, had been almost a second parent to him, to round on him as she had. Rocky stood over him as he pressed his back into the corner, willing himself to disappear. Her eyes were narrowed and her voice a low growl when she spoke, hopping menacingly towards him with each word.

“You stupid little idiot! What do you think would happen when you didn’t turn up? She’d just be all sunshine and roses happy and do a little jig?” He had never heard Rocky, usually so calm and aloof, so angry. Her voice was like ice in his veins, chilling him to his bones and filling him with a fear he had very rarely felt. He huddled into a ball, blinking up in terror at her as she stopped directly in front of him.

“She was in tears!” Rocky spat at him “You broke her heart!”

She leaned down so that her smallest rock, her face, was close to his - and smiled, pulling him into a hug. “Just messing with you, Gums. I know it was an accident. Just be more careful next time, huh?”

Of course. Of course she had been joking. Rocky could never hate Gummy - they had been friends forever, and she knew him well. Knew he would never intentionally hurt Pinkie and that in his heart he was - “Stop that. The staring into space thing. It’s creepy.”

Then she booped his nose, and hopped away - turning only to add, “Oh, and happy birthday, little guy.”

Gummy stood there for a long time, contemplating his next move. Eventually, he decided that whatever it was it needed to involve cake.

-----

Pinkie Pie looked ridiculous. There was no question of that. Dash wasn’t entirely sure how she’d managed to make a moustache entirely out of marmalade, and she didn’t remember giving the party pony her hat and cape - but they had definitely disappeared off her costume at some point during the night, and now Pinkie was dancing around Gummy in the centre of the room, eager to demonstrate her worth as a Mare Do Well.

Seemed kind of ironic, thinking back. But hey. If the party pony wanted to spend more time with her and Gummy, she sure as heck wasn’t going to say no. Maybe she’d be useful. And it’d definitely make things more fun if Gummy had someone else to criticise for once.

As the alligator leapt into the air, tackling Pinkie to the ground and devouring her facial hair in one bite, Dash realised just how exciting the idea was to her. And then, moving quickly, she took her hat back and ran away with it, Pinkie chasing after her with a giggle.

-----

The two sat, staring across the table at one another with grim expressions and serious eyes. Rainbow Dash had left an hour ago, and Gummy was curled up on Pinkie’s pillow snoring loudly. There was nothing to distract them. Nothing else to focus on. All that mattered was Pinkie, Rocky, and the prize. They would do battle - a battle for the ages - and the winner would claim the prize.

It sat between them, the last remaining piece of a once magnificent cake. It promised delights beyond imagining. Richness, sweetness and the soft caress of crumbs against their lips. Sprinkles, frosting, peppermint alligator, marmalade! It was glorious. A thing a beauty that sang out, begging to be eaten.

Neither would blink. Neither could blink. As soon as they did the cake would be gone, and they would never taste another like it.

Pinkie Pie was starting to sweat. In all of Equestria there were less than a dozen ponies that could hold their own against her in a staring contest. But it had been almost five minutes, and Rocky didn’t even seem to be trying. For the first time in her life, she was going to be beaten at her own game. And then she’d have to make another cake. And it wouldn’t be as good as this one because it wouldn’t be as special.

And then, Rocky sneezed. A simple error, but one that came at great tactical cost - as she did, her eyes snapped shut and her fate was sealed. When she opened her eyes, she found herself staring once again into the sparkling jewels that were Pinkie’s eyes. And as the party pony grinned at her, her heart skipped a beat.

Pinkie stared at the cake for a long moment. Admired the colours, the scent, and imagined how it would taste - how this cake was, at least for tonight, the most delicious thing she had ever baked. And then, in one swift movement, she nudged it towards Rocky, rose to her hooves and kissed her oldest friend firmly on what she assumed was her forehead.

“Enjoy it, Rocky. You deserve it. Thank you. For always being my rock.”

And then she was gone, and Rocky was alone. But she was smiling. She knew - had always known - that she’d never hold Pinkie, never kiss her or hear her say she loved her. But she had made her happy. And for Rocky, that was enough.

End Next Chapter: Alternate Ending: Rarity Ending, Part 3 (Guest submission from Bubbleberry Pop) Estimated time remaining: 13 Minutes