“♪No more pencils, no more books, no more teacher’s dirty looks!♫”

Scootaloo sang cheerfully as she walked down the middle of the road, turning suddenly and walking backwards to turn her wide grin toward her friends.

“Still got one more day, Scoots,” Apple Bloom deadpanned, earning a nudge from Sweetie Belle, who walked on her right side.

“Oh, don’t be a party pooper,” Sweetie snickered, shaking her head with a smile of her own. “It’s technically the last day, anyway; I can’t wait for summer vacation, either.”

“Yeah, well,” Apple Bloom rolled her eyes at the skipping pegasus. “At least you ain’t bouncing around like an itchy cat on a hot rock.”

Scootaloo blew her a playful raspberry, turning her wide grin to William, who walked in silence on Apple Bloom’s left. Unsurprisingly, he walked with his head down, completely lost in thought.

“How about you?” the unicorn asked Apple Bloom. “What are you planning for the summer?”

She shrugged, and rolled her neck. “Before or after we get our Cutie Marks?”

“We’ll all get them this year, for sure,” Sweetie Belle nodded. “Well, except for one of us, I mean.”

It was silent for a moment, before William realized that both Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom were staring at him.

“… What?” he asked suddenly, shaking himself from his reverie.

“Jus’ seems kind of weird, is all,” Apple Bloom shook her head. “I mean, no Cutie Mark at all?”

“I dunno,” Scootaloo slowed down until she walked alongside William, giving him a sly grin. “Maybe Will got a Cutie Mark without telling anypony. We should check.”

He spluttered immediately, struggling to form a proper sentence as heat flooded into his face.

Scootaloo only cackled good naturedly, but Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle both held serious expressions.

In an attempt to save him some embarrassment that Scootaloo was blatantly enjoying causing him, Apple Bloom gave a little sigh and asked “Alrighty, Will – what are you planning this summer?”

Uncomfortably clearing his throat, William started to mumble something along the lines of ‘name is William’, but changed it to “In all likelihood, I shall be spending the majority of the season in summer school.”

Sweetie Belle drew in a sharp breath sympathetically. “Diamond Tiara, huh?”

He nodded silently, his expression grim.

Scootaloo walked a little less enthusiastically at the mention of the spoiled filly, but it couldn’t wear down her good mood.

“Aw, Miss Cheerilee couldn’t be that mean,” the pegasus said uncertainly as they approached the schoolhouse. “The last time anypony got summer school was…”

She paused for a moment, thinking.

“That time Snails kept barfing in her desk?” Apple Bloom offered helpfully.

“No, no,” Scootaloo waved her off distractedly. “I think it was that one time – no, not even then. Huh.”

“She’s usually fairly lenient with punishments,” Sweetie Belle reassured him. “Unless you do something so bad that she goes completely overboard, Miss Cheerilee’s kind of hard to make angry.”

William doubted it, but carried on nonetheless.

The ticking of the clock on the wall filled the air, a dreadful silence lingering over the classroom.

Cheerilee let out a quiet breath, looking back and forth between William and Diamond Tiara.

The boy sat with his hands folded awkwardly before him, staring ahead at her with a blank look. Diamond Tiara, who actually sat directly next to him for once, was just as nervous; albeit, slightly more obvious about it. She tugged at her forelegs with her hooves in agitation, awaiting the jurisdiction of her teacher.

“Such a difficult debate,” Cheerilee said ominously. “I do suppose that you seem to be getting along…”

Diamond Tiara perked up a bit, giving a wider smile and scooting a little closer to the disgruntled William to display just how well they were apparently getting along.

“Then again,” she spoke slowly, scratching her chin. “Mister Klaskovsky hasn’t adhered to the ‘every day’ policy…”

“What?” Diamond Tiara recoiled. “You mean, just because he missed one –”

“More than one,” Cheerilee said bluntly. “I was counting.”

“We still have to go through summer school?” Tiara’s horrified look was plain on her face, and the dejection in her voice was just as obvious.

Cheerilee gave the filly a somber, flat glare.

“Well?” Silver Spoon pried as William slipped out of the doorway, peering around for her friend. “Well, well?”

“FREE AT LAST, FREE AT LAST!” Diamond Tiara shoved past William ecstatically, causing him to stumble. She and Silver Spoon cheered jubilantly, performing what was possibly one of the oddest victory dances he had ever seen.

“Bump! Bump! Sugar-lump rump!” the pair of them caroled simultaneously, earning a revolted look from Scootaloo as she gave a hoof to William to help him to his feet.

“That was absolutely disgustin’,” Apple Bloom frowned in distaste.

“Can it, farm pony,” Diamond Tiara stuck her nose in the air, Silver Spoon swiftly following her lead.

“Yeah,” Silver said huffily. “We’ll be just as disgusting as we want to be.”

Diamond Tiara groaned quietly, and shook her head.

“For buck’s sake, Silver.”

Diamond Tiara gave a small huff, turning her attention toward William and playfully asking “So… see you later?”

“Yeah, yeah,” Sweetie Belle waved them off, having waited along with her friends outside to discover the judgment. “Something, something, something, better than everypony else, something. Have a fun summer!” she grinned, pulling the frustrated Apple Bloom back before she could say more.

Both Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara drifted from sight as they trotted away briskly, their chattering fading into the distance.

“So, I take it you don’t have summer school?” Scootaloo cocked an eyebrow.

William merely shrugged. “Apparently, summer school would do little to no good for ‘us irascible rapscallions’.”

Sweetie Belle snorted, tossing her head as they walked.

“See?” Scootaloo punched William in the arm lightly. “I told you that you didn’t have anything to worry about!”

“No you didn’t,” Sweetie Belle furrowed her brows.

“Details, details!” the pegasus beamed. “Summer!”

“But –”

“Summ~er!” Scootaloo darted forward, wooping excitedly as her wings buzzed joyously through the air.

“Summer.” Sweetie Belle shook her head, unable to keep from grinning. “Coming with us to the clubhouse this time?”

William remained silent, and she had to ask him again.

“What?” he asked absentmindedly, turning away from watching Scootaloo.

“The Cutie Mark Crusaders headquarters,” Apple Bloom repeated. “Aren’t you gonna come with us?”

William pondered for a few seconds before slowly shaking his head.

“Actually, I have… something important to take care of.”

William rapped at the door of Sugarcube Corner once again, awaiting idly for someone – anyone – to open the door.

Just as he was prepared to give up, he was alerted by the sound of someone shuffling inside; and moments later, an out of breath Pinkie Pie peered out the door. She grinned at him friendlily, looking a bit odd in what William could only describe as the pony equivalent of workout attire. Bright blue and yellow hairband with sweatbands, and the obvious upbeat music in the background almost screamed ‘training montage’.

Pinkie Pie quickly shut off the music, returning with a tired smile to the waiting boy.

“Hiya, Will!” Pinkie panted, wiping her brow with her hoof. “What’cha up to?”

William clasped his hands behind his back nervously, and cleared his throat.

“Actually, Miss Pie –”

“Seriously,” Pinkie snorted, ushering him inside kindly out of the sun. “When are you going to start calling me ‘Pinkie Pie’ like everypony else?”

“I prefer to maintain formalities,” William said a little grumpily, even though her infectious good mood was already starting to get to him.

“Formalities, shmor…malities,” Pinkie shrugged. “You did tell Rainbow Dash that you’re here this time, right?” she inquired suspiciously.

“Yes,” William unobtrusively bowed his head. “She specifically requested this morning to be left al- that she didn’t mind if I came home late,” he said quickly.

“I… see,” Pinkie said quietly.

“Well… actually –” William started, only to be carefully cut off by a shake of the head from Pinkie Pie.

“Here to talk?” the mare asked wearily, and he could have sworn that he saw a bit of her mane droop.

In an instant, William regretted his decision.

“I apologize for wasting your time, Miss Pie,” he shifted suddenly, turning for the door. “I’ve –”

“No, no,” Pinkie patted him on the head with a small smile. “It’s fine, really – you just happen to have caught me at an odd time is all.”

“I’m terribly sorry –”

“Stop apologizing so much,” Pinkie Pie giggled. “You’re starting to sound like Fluttershy.”

“I’m s-”

“Ahp!” she smirked, holding up a hoof and causing him to grin sheepishly as well. “None of that, mister.”

William cleared his throat uncomfortably, but before he could say more, Pinkie took control of the situation with startling swiftness.

“Go ahead and make yourself at home,” she said as she started up the stairs. “I’m going to grab a quick shower before the Cakes get back from the park with the twins; I won’t be long, I promise!” Pinkie called after her shoulder, and he heard the sound of water running shortly afterwards.

William tried sitting at the table in silence for a while, his thoughts heavy.

Eventually, he quietly pulled himself up the stairs, following the sound of falling water. Pondering, he surveyed the trail of steam leaking from the bathroom door and silently sat beside it, his back leaning against the wall as he listened to the sound of Pinkie Pie humming and eventually singing a cheerful tune.

He caught himself almost falling asleep, regardless of the odd position or place to do so; perhaps it was the warm steam, or that he found the sound of Pinkie’s voice relaxing. Or maybe he had just become very tired for no reason. William gave himself a little shake, gripping his knees with his small hands and drawing up closer to the wall.

William could have sworn that Pinkie Pie was loudly humming something familiar, he just couldn’t quite put his finger on it. He closed his eyes and focused solely on that for a while, merely listening to her contented humming as the water fell. He almost didn’t even notice when the shower water actually stopped, and a damp Pinkie Pie emerged from the steamy room, adjusting a towel over her mane.

“You have a lovely voice.”

Pinkie Pie jumped, almost slipping but catching herself on the doorframe.

Gasping for breath and staring wide eyed at the expressionless boy, Pinkie felt like her heart were going to leap out of her chest.

“Jeez, Will!” Pinkie wheezed. “I didn’t mean make yourself that at h- wait.”

William shifted from the discomforting look that she was giving him.

“… How long have you – were you sitting here waiting for me the whole time?” Pinkie withdrew a little.

He fiddled with the tips of his fingers, suddenly unable to look up.

“… Maybe.”

“Well, Will…” Pinkie fiddled with the towel atop her head. “That’s actually kind of… creepy. Definitely kind of creepy, Will. Don’t do that.”

He hung his head, suddenly feeling much smaller.

Pinkie sighed eventually and gave him a slightly wet pat on the head.

“It’s okay, Will. Didn’t I say I wouldn’t be long?” Pinkie smiled at him, and William seemed constantly on the verge of trying to speak, but unable to find his voice.

“Yes, Miss Pie,” he nodded slowly. “I apologize for my impatience.”

Pinkie resisted the urge to exhale heavily as William pulled himself to his feet. She gave him a helping hoof, which he accepted with a surprisingly large smile of his own.

“Okay, okay.” Pinkie tittered. “You have my complete and undivided attention.”

William quickly became awkward again, toying with the tips of his fingers as he tried to look at her.

“If it’s all the same to you, Miss Pie, I’d-I would prefer if we could speak of important matters in-in private.”

“There’s nopony else home, Will,” Pinkie deadpanned, but frowned concernedly at the oddly worried and agitated look on his face. She couldn’t quite place it, but shook it off. Pinkie eventually let out another little sigh, her smile rising right back up again afterwards.

“All right, all right,” she rolled her eyes as she turned, leading him down the hall. “Just don’t look so glum, sugarplum!”

William followed her closely down the hall, and she eventually led him to a room at the end which he supposed was her own. It was a brightly painted, colorfully decorated room, with a large circular rug covering half of the floor and a comfortable looking bed in the center of it. Pinkie hopped with a springy bounce up onto the bed, the towel atop her head flopping slightly as a few strands popped out.

He stood and stared for a moment, before she patted the bed next to her.

“Don’t just waddle and dawdle, silly Willy!” Pinkie grinned. “Hop on up, and tell your Auntie Pinkie Pie what all the fuss is about.”

William silently clambered atop the surprisingly spongy bed, his hands folded in his lap as he took a deep breath. Pinkie Pie held her small smile, but inside, she was steeling herself. There was a reason that she was deliberately taking as long as possible, and a small part of her even wished that the Cakes would come home early.

And she didn’t really know if she could properly handle talking about William’s father.

She toiled to find the right words for the inevitable question, and William struggled to speak.

“Miss Pie –”

“Pinkie,” she said softly.

“… Pinkie.” He took another steep breath. “I have a great deal of respect for you.”

Both uncertain of how to respond and positive that he had more to say, Pinkie remained silent.

Uncomfortably, William took another long breath and said “As a matter of fact, I think that I trust you just about more than anybody else.”

Pinkie blinked, thinking.

She smiled kindly, which he began to mirror. “Well, Will, I’m glad to know that you feel that you can trust your friends.”

“I do,” he nodded. “Very, very much.”

Furrowing his brows slightly, he uneasily added “Which is why I thought that I could come to you about – about… things.”

“Of course you can, Will,” Pinkie reassured him. “Pinkie promise.”

He began struggling again, fitfully pulling at his own hands as he found himself incapable of expressing himself properly.

“It’s just – I mean, I feel that sometimes –” he stuttered, flexing his fingers again and again, straining with himself. “Sometimes, it’s just so… so…!”

Pinkie rested a hoof on his shoulder, and smiled sympathetically.

William let out a little huff at his own vernacular catastrophe, obviously torn.

Without warning, William immediately cupped her head in his small hands, pulled her forward, and kissed her.

He ran a single hand through the strands of moist mane sticking out from beneath her towel, which gradually fell unnoticed to the floor. His fingers met a little resistance, curling over his hand.

Pinkie blinked, jolting back in shock.

“Whoa!” she shouted, irises narrowing to pinpricks. “William, what are you doing?!”

William jumped at the sound of her panicky raised voice, his eyes wide.

“What?” he cringed, hurt and confused. “What? What did I do?”

“What did you do?” Pinkie yelled incredulously, “William, I-I can’t even – William, what? Just, what?”

“I-I’m sorry!” he quailed, holding up the palms of his hands, almost on the verge of tears. “I’m sorry! I was – I was only being affectionate!”

“Affectionate!?” she shrieked, in time curbing the volume of her voice. Pinkie took a few deep breaths, keeping herself in check when she realized that William was silently crying.

“Will,” Pinkie said carefully, not daring to move. “No - no, no no no. William, no. That’s… that is not how you show affection to somepony!

“I’m sorry,” the flinching boy pulled at his hair, barely able to speak above a croaky whisper. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”

Despite her own feelings, Pinkie was still struck with a sense of pity watching William in such turmoil. Slowly, cautiously, and quietly, Pinkie Pie drew a little closer and pulled him into a gentle hug, his head beneath her chin as he wept.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry,” he was muffled against her chest. “I’m sorry. I didn’t – I didn’t know. I’m sorry.”

Pinkie hushed him lowly, rocking deliberately side to side, her hooves wrapped around him.

“Shhh, shh shhh.” Pinkie quieted him soothingly. “It’s okay, Will. Auntie Pinkie’s here.”

“… I don’t want to live anymore.”

Pinkie actually stopped rocking for a full beat, and she realized just how badly he was trembling.

Even more than she was.

It took her far longer than she thought that it would to find her voice again, his words had cut her so deeply. The outright despondence in his tone, the sound of despair; Pinkie knew the sound. She probably knew it better than most.

“Will,” she spoke softly. “Why would you ever, ever say something like that?”

He only shook harder.

She held the crying child for a while longer, finally putting a hoof under his chin and slowly forcing him to meet her gaze. When he did so, he saw that her own eyes were red, but she held her composure.

“Look – look at me, William,” she said quietly. “Don’t you ever – ever – say that again.”

“I’m sorry,” he breathed. “I’m s-”

“No, no, Will,” Pinkie gradually began rocking back and forth again, refusing to let go. “You don’t have anything to be sorry for. It’s okay, Will. Auntie Pinkie Pie’s here. It’s okay.”

It vaguely occurred to William that, as she held him, Pinkie spoke to him in nearly the same manner that a person might confront a spooked or injured animal; with pacifying, gentle speech and slow movements.

Oh, the irony.

“Twilight?” Pinkie Pie leaned across the table on her elbows, massaging her temples. “He’s got issues.”

“I don’t know, Pinkie,” the unicorn sighed heavily, thankful for the silence of the library. “He seemed like he had his head on his shoulders pretty firmly the last time I –”

“Lots of issues, Twi,” Pinkie said seriously. “I mean it.

“Look, Pinkie,” Twilight said irritably. “That’s a bit of a stretch –”

“I think somepony hurt him, Twilight.”

Pinkie Pie gave Twilight the most level, focused and sharp look that the unicorn had ever seen from the normally jovial mare, and she lost herself in thought for a few seconds.

“He’s been hurt. Hurt bad, Twi,” Pinkie said lowly.

“That’s still an awfully heavy accusation…” Twilight miserably rubbed her own aching head, wishing it were all as simple as slapping a single spell over the whole situation and fixing everything like everypony expected her to.

How was she expected to solve the problem when she didn’t even know where to start?

Twilight sighed again, and said “I know that you’re concerned for William, but after the… ‘incident’,” Twilight said carefully, making air quotes. “I am really not certain that your judgment is unimpaired b-”

“Don’t you dare.”

Pinkie barely spoke above a whisper, but she still made herself heard clearly. As a matter of fact, right then, Twilight was sure that she could have heard a pin drop.

“That won’t ever happen again, Twilight Sparkle.” Pinkie Pie vowed quietly, her mane flattening tightly against her head ever so slowly. “Never, ever again.”

“Pinkie –”

“No,” she cut her off swiftly, and if Twilight expected her to display anger, or frustration, or anything, then she was sorely mistaken. Pinkie Pie spoke emotionlessly, blankly. She didn’t raise her voice, and Twilight had a hard time detecting the anger that she spoke with.

“No, Twilight,” Pinkie said a little more softly. “Don’t question my ‘mental stability’. I knew exactly what I was doing. I did what I had to do, when I had to do it – it’s done, it’s over with. I can’t change that now, and I never can. But I’ll be damned – ” she slapped the flat of her hoof against the table suddenly, causing Twilight to jump. “ – if I’ll ever make that mistake again.”

The unicorn breathed heavily through her nose, only for Pinkie to carry on.

“Obviously, Dashie isn’t in her right mind right now,” Pinkie Pie said slowly. “And even if you believe – even if it’s only because you want to believe – that Rainbow Dash is getting better, she still-still isn’t well enough to take care of him.”

“Not as well as you’d like, you mean,” Twilight spoke almost inaudibly.

“I’m just… I’m just worried, Twi,” Pinkie rubbed her eyes furiously, and shook her head. “Will and me talk a lot, but I know that there’s a lot that he’s not telling me.”

“And vice versa,” Twilight added dryly, but clamped her mouth shut when she saw the look that her friend was giving her.

“There are some things I’d rather he not know,” Pinkie seethed bitterly. “We’ve been over this. Don’t make me repeat myself.”

She took a deep breath, forcing herself to remain calm before carrying on.

“He needs help, Twilight,” Pinkie pleaded exasperatedly. “There is no colt his age that should ever say some of the things I’ve heard.”

“I’ll back your decision, Pinkie Pie.” Twilight nodded carefully. “You don’t have to keep trying to convince me; you’ve made a solid argument, which is a pleasant surprise.”

“You make it sound like you expected me to spout nonsense,” Pinkie narrowed her eyes dangerously.

“No,” Twilight shook her head quickly. “It’s just pretty rare that anypony manages to best my logic, and I was acknowledging your capacity to do so.”

Pinkie Pie snorted. “Sure didn’t sound like it,” she leaned back in her chair, obviously dissatisfied.

Twilight shrugged self-consciously with a little chuckle.

“Right,” Twilight veered off of the topic gracelessly. “You know, I suppose that, deep down, I knew that this day would come eventually. I just really never wanted to be there when it happened.”

“I know how you feel, Twilight,” Pinkie nodded as she stood, her mane beginning to regain a little more of its previous bounce as color gradually came back to her cheeks. “Trust me, I know.”

“Nothing left for it, then,” Twilight said gloomily. “You know what to do. Let’s go stage an intervention.”

Journal of William Zachariah Klaskovsky

Day 23 –

It would appear that I have made an egregious error.

I don’t belong here I may have irrevocably damaged my friendship with Miss Pie.

I should have kept a more level head. I should have properly analyzed the situation enough to realize what an utter fool I’ve been. Maybe I should never have been born.

This is what I get; this is what I deserve for opening up again.

Stupid.

It’s no wonder that nobody really wants me.