Chapter XIX

Pinkie Pie stayed with Rarity that night. Rarity offered her the bed and laid a blanket down on the floor for herself. As she laid down on the floor, Rarity felt Pinkie Pie beside her. The unicorn rolled over.

“Please hold me.” Was all Pinkie said.

Rarity held Pinkie Pie.

The next morning, Pinkie Pie was sitting at Rarity’s desk. The white unicorn picked herself off the dusty floor and walked over to her. She put a hoof on the little pony’s shoulder.

“I’m sorry Pinkie.” Rarity said gently. Pinkie had been crying, a little puddle of tears had collected on the varnished surface of the desk. She didn’t move and simply stared at the white glass of the clock face.

“They said he was too big, that he was going to get teeth soon, and that I had to put him-” She wept softly. Rarity felt party pony shake with grief. “He wasn’t mean.” She said in tortured confusion. Rarity swallowed. “But there was nothing I could do.”

“I’m sorry Pinkie, do you want me to walk you home?” She asked.

“I don’t have a home!” Pinkie cried. “There aren’t enough sales in the recession and we lost a lot of money in the repairs. The rent came due yesterday, Sugarcube Corner is out of money!” The cottony mare laid her face down on the desk and sobbed. “I don’t have anything. Sugarcube is stupid and none of my old friends like me anymore! I don’t understand why everything is so terrible now!” The guilt thundered down upon Rarity. She had treated Pinkie horribly, all while her life was coming down around her.

She had never even thought to consider that the little confectionary might actually close, it seemed so well-liked. She had never thought that Pinkie might not even like spending time with her cousin, they seemed so similar. And Rarity had never considered that Pinkie might have gotten fucked up by the Blast, she had seemed so happy.

“I’m so sorry Pinkie. I treated you terribly, I.” Rarity felt the tears in her eyes. “Didn’t know what was happening to you. I was so focused on myself this summer that I never thought you were doing badly.”

Pinkie cried aloud.

“I, I thought things would stay the same after the Blast! But you, and Rainbow Dash and everypony, they changed! I told myself to be brave after Fluttershy died because I had my friends.” She looked up at Rarity, Pinkie’s face was a mirror image of Dash’s. That same wondering expression, those Goddamn eyes. “I thought I had you.” She whimpered. “And then business got slow, and we sent out all of those letters to our friends asking for money.” She shook with sobs. “Nopony cares anymore.”

“I’m so sorry Pinkie, God fucking damn it I’m sorry.” Rarity whispered as she clutched her friend. “I swear to God I’m going to help you in any way I can, I’m not going to hurt you anymore.”

“P-please don’t leave me, that’s all I want.” Pinkie cried. For the rest of the morning, Rarity just held Pinkie Pie.

At around two, Pinkie seemed to run out of tears. She was still seated in Rarity’s desk chair and the unicorn still knelt beside her.

“Do you want me to take you home? Mr. and Mrs. Cake might be worried about you.” Rarity asked. Pinkie stood up weakly and steadied herself against the chair.

“I don’t feel good.” She said softly. “Would it be alright if I laid down?”

“Yeah.” Rarity said as she helped the pink mare over to her bed. Pinkie crawled into Rarity’s little bed. She pulled the covers around herself and closed her eyes.

Rarity watched her for a few minutes. She felt horrible inside. All through the summer she had simply thought that Pinkie Pie had just moved on after the Blast. She had assumed that Pinkie Pie and Sugarcube got along. She has assumed that Sugarcube Corner was fine. She had just gone on with her life like Pinkie Pie didn’t exist. She hadn’t given a fuck, she had been too focused on herself and how annoying Pinkie had been. She felt the tears in her eyes as she watched the sad little pony lying asleep in her bed. She hadn’t even considered giving grace to Pinkie.

For the rest of the day, Rarity stayed inside the tower with the sleeping Pinkie Pie. Rarity worked on a backup design for her dress and every few minutes, she would look over at the unconscious party pony.

The giant hands of the clock both rested on the eight when Pinkie Pie awoke.

“Hey, how are you doing?” Rarity asked gently. Pinkie Pie rubbed her reddened eyes.

“I’m a little hungry, do you have anything to eat?” She asked timidly. Rarity opened her cupboard.

“There’s some hay in here, and a few flowers.” She awkwardly scooped some onto a plate and gave it to Pinkie.

“I’m sorry Rarity.” Pinkie said as she ate her meal. “This is a big imposition, I should go.”

“No no! It’s no big deal, I’m waiting for some materials for a dress to come in, so there’s nothing I have to do.”

“I thought you worked at the Lone Star.” Pinkie said softly.

“I’m doing a job for an old business acquaintance, then I’ll go back to the Lone Star.”

“Mr. Cake was trying to get me hired there.” Pinkie said.

“Wait, that was you?” Rarity realized that Mr. Cake would probably try to find a new job for Pinkie if Sugarcube Corner closed. She recalled the fighting that Mr. and Mrs. Salukas had had about this mystery hire.

“Mr. Cake told me that you weren’t hiring.” Pinkie Pie said, setting the plate down.

“I could probably get you a job there.” Rarity offered. “I can put in a good word for you.” Pinkie shook her head.

“It doesn’t matter. I’m moving today.” She said quietly.

“What? Where?”

“To Yanhooyer, with Sugarcube’s family, they want to take care of me.” Pinkie swallowed. “I, wanted to say goodbye to you last night, but then I found out about Gummy, and I couldn’t do it alone…” Her voice trailed off. Pinkie Pie sniffed back some tears. “Well, goodbye.” Party pony said with a sad smile.

Rarity’s throat closed.

“I’ll be right back.” Rarity said quickly.

She dashed down the stairs of the tower. In her haste she tripped on a stair. She only fell two flights, but a bent nail caught her leg and opened an inch long cut. She ignored the pain and galloped out of the tower.

Rarity sprinted through the town, she struck ponies who were in her way and knocked them over in her mad dash. She struck the doors of Sugarcube Corner at full tilt, nearly shattering the glass.

Mr. and Mrs. Cake were hauling suitcases down the stairs.

“Rarity! What’s wrong?!” Mrs. Cake asked in surprise.

“Nothing, I, just.” Rarity gasped. “Needed.” Two outrageously yellow ponies walked out of the kitchen and all four stared at the panting unicorn. Rarity looked at Mr. Cake. “I need to tell you something about Pinkie Pie.”

“Oh my, where is she?” Asked Mrs. Cake in concern.

“She didn’t come home last night, she had to put her pet alligator down. She’s moving today and I think she wanted to say goodbye to you.” Explained Mr. Cake.

“Is Pinkie Pie all right?” Asked the yellow stallion. Rarity took a second to catch her breath.

“Pinkie Pie is staying with me.” Rarity declared. Both couples looked at one another.

“What?!” They asked in shock.

“Why, no she isn’t, Pinkie Pie is coming with us!” Said the yellow mare indignantly.

“Rarity, what are you talking about?” Asked Mrs. Cake in confusion.

“Pinkie Pie is living with me now.” Rarity said factually.

“No she isn’t.” Said the yellow stallion in anger. “She’s coming to Yanhooyer with Sugarcube. The two got very close over the summer.”

“The Lone Star gave her a job doing half of the baking. She’s living with me.” Rarity explained to the Cakes.

“Stop saying that!” Shouted the yellow stallion. “She is not staying with you!”

“You want to bet?!!” Rarity shouted back. Mr. Cake stepped in between the two, who were starting to approach one another.

“Stop!” He looked at Rarity. “Rarity, these are the Squares, they’ve been very generous and have offered to take Pinkie in. I’m sorry but it’s not up to you to decide where she goes.”

“Listen miss Rarity, we’ve come a long way, and Sugarcube loves Pinkie, don’t think you can just-” The yellow stallion began.

“Walt, stop it.” Mr. Cake said over the other stallion. He looked back at Rarity. “Please, Pinkie Pie is going to live with them, can you tell us where she is?” Rarity looked at the yellow stallion and realized that the decision had already been made a long time ago.

“The clock tower, she’s at the clock tower.” She said in helpless rage. Mrs. Cake sighed.

“Alrighty then, let’s walk over there and get her.”

The five ponies walked to the clock tower. Mr. Cake advised that Rarity have a doctor look at the cut on her leg. Rarity didn’t give a fuck about her leg. She thought desperately for some plan or idea, but nothing came to her.

“We’ll just pick her up and be on our way, you don’t need to come with us.” The yellow stallion said curtly.

“Walt, she’s a friend of Pinkie’s.” Mr. Cake chastised. He turned to the bleeding unicorn. “Rarity, it’s very generous of you to want to help Pinkie, but the plans have already been made.”

“You can come and visit her sometime if you would like.” The yellow mare said gently. “Walt” muttered something about not on his watch.

They reached the tower, Pinkie Pie was making Rarity’s bed as the group entered.

“Hi Pinkie Pie!” The yellow mare said kindly. “It’s time to go home!”

“Yes, get your things and let’s go.” Walt said in irritation. Mrs. Cake walked forward and put her hoof on Pinkie’s shoulder.

“Are you ready dear?” She asked gently. Pinkie Pie looked at the two yellow ponies.

“I-I think so.” She said softly. She looked at Rarity. “Thank you Rarity.” She hugged her. “I’m gonna miss you.” She whispered. Rarity’s heart broke apart as the pink pony squeezed her one last time.

“I’m going to miss you too Pinkie.” She whispered back, the tears already returning.

“Can we go please? The reservation at the hotel closes at eight.” Walt said impatiently. Pinkie Pie released Rarity. Rarity saw that Pinkie was crying too.

“Ok.” Pinkie said shakily. “I’m ready.”

“Thank you Rarity.” Mr. Cake said. Walt and his mare each put an arm around the small pink pony and the five departed. Pinkie looked back one last time before the door closed. Their eyes met. Then the door closed, and Rarity was alone.

Atticus Finch, the architect who designed Ponyville’s clock tower, placed the glass clock face exactly twenty feet and three quarter inches above the ground. The thinking behind the placement reflected Finch’s desire to expose the beautiful frosted glass to anypony walking through the town. Rarity never knew Atticus, but as she hurtled toward the pavement, she reflected upon killing him for putting the clock face so damn high. She struck the ground hard and rolled forwards over countless glass shards that had landed a moment earlier. She cried out in agony as the frosted caltrops slashed her face and body. Rarity feared that she had fractured her legs from the fall, and blood ran down numerous lacerations across her body, but she staggered toward the door to the tower. Walt was the first one out, he was talking about getting a bite to eat. Rarity shoved him aside. Pinkie Pie was beside the yellow mare.

“Pinkie Pie!” Rarity shouted, even though the two were only a few feet apart. “I treated you badly, I fuckin’ treated you like shit!” She paid no mind to the petrified screams of the mares and the angry shouts of both Walt and Mr. Cake. “I want you to come and live with me so I can make it up to you and show you that I’m still your friend!” Pinkie Pie’s eyes were wide as she beheld the bloody unicorn.

“Are, are you serious?” She asked in shock.

“Oh my God! Rarity! What’s going on?!!” Asked Mrs. Cake in horror.

“Get away from her!” Shouted Walt as he moved between Pinkie and Rarity. “You stay away from her you hear? You need help.” He said severely to Rarity.

“Fuck you. I treated that pony like shit, and I’m gonna make it up to her.” Rarity spat. He shook his head.

“No. You’re clearly insane. You need to be committed.” Rarity was about tackle him when Pinkie cried out amidst the chaos.

“I want to live with Rarity!” Everypony looked back at her.

Mr. and Mrs. Cake rushed over to Pinkie Pie.

“Pinkie, listen to us.” Mr. Cake began. Pinkie kept her eyes on Rarity.

“No, she is my friend, I want to live with my friend.” Pinkie said firmly.

“She’s crazy!” Walt shouted. “Sugarcube is at home, she’s dying to see you Pinkie! How is Rarity more of your friend than her?”

“I want to stay with my friend.” Pinkie Pie repeated.

“Pinkie, dear, please, listen to us.” Mrs. Cake pleaded. Pinkie Pie shook her head.

“I want to live with my friend Rarity.”

Walt threw up his hooves.

“Well! That’s it I guess! You travel a hundred miles to pick up an ungrateful brat who wants to live with a deranged unicorn! Well, that’s it!” He shook his head and started away. Mr. Cake chased after him.

“Pinkie, dear, what’s gotten into you?!!” Asked Mrs. Cake. Pinkie walked over to where Rarity stood.

“You jumped out that window to ask me to live with you?” She asked the injured unicorn. Rarity nodded. The two stared at one another for a moment, then Pinkie Pie hugged her tightly.

“You’re my friend Rarity.” Pinkie Pie whispered in her ear.

“I’m going to try.” Rarity whispered tearfully. “I’m gonna fucking try.”

“Pinkie, please, if Rarity can’t support you, you’ll have nowhere to go. The Squares are the only family who offered to take you in.” Mrs. Cake pleaded.

“My friends are my family too.” Pinkie said softly.

For a second nopony talked, then Mrs. Cake let out a long breath. The mare looked out toward the road where Mr. Cake and Walt and his mare were arguing. She looked back toward Pinkie Pie and Rarity.

“Walt’s never coming back, I know that much.” She said with a sigh. “And we’re leaving for Cantorlot to seek a tax refund later today.” She closed her eyes and sighed again. The middle aged bakerpony looked at the lacerated unicorn that stood beside her stepdaughter. “Rarity, please, take care of Pinkie Pie, she’s in your hooves now.” Rarity gulped down some blood.

“I’m going to do my best.” She answered.