I woke up the next day, but I was feeling a little sad that Raven had to leave...oh well, guess I'm not really that good at looking after a pet, but as long as I have Trixie and my best friends, I should get over it quick...speaking of which, I could do with a song from Pinkie...as long as she's not just being a playmate to the cake twins.

It looked to be quite a hot day too, so I left my clothes and shoes alone, before leaving the house trying to create a smile as I walked through the town. Then, I spotted Pinkie trotting down the street with a smile and greeting everypony she went by with various messages which got me curious.

"Morning Pinkie." I greeted.

"Oh hey, morning Bond, are you doing well?" Pinkie asked.

"In some way, I am."

"Awww but what's wrong?"

"Well, remember the eagle that I took as my pet a long while back, it left the nest so to speak yesterday, but he left with a polite departure...so I'don't have a pet anymore."

"Awww, that's disappointing to hear...I guess not everypony is good at raising pets."

"You're right about that, but it's alright, I have plenty of others to share my love with such as you and the other mares."

"Awww, you're amazing with words, Bond and always will be."

"Thanks, by the way I was listening to your greetings earlier, how do you know everything about every other pony?"

"Cause everypony's my friend and I love to see my friends smile."

She then showed off a big smile with her teeth on show...I then heard the beginning of a melody playing, I guess there's a musical part coming up and for the first time, I needed one to smile proudly again.

"Well, could you do me a favor by singing that song you sung when I first came here?" I asked Pinkie, "It would really help me cheer up."

"Whee!" she replied while bouncing, "I haven't sung that one for a while, of course, I'll sing it for you, just listen and I'll make you smile!"

The music then began to play as I trotted alongside her in a rhythmic motion

"My name is Pinkie Pie (Hello!)

And I am here to say (How ya doin'?)

I'm gonna make you smile and I will brighten up your day

It doesn't matter now (What's up?)

If you are sad or blue (Howdy!)

'Cause cheering up my friends is just what Pinkie's here to do"

During which, she cheered a few fillies up.

"'Cause I love to make you smile, smile, smile

Yes I do

It fills my heart with sunshine all the while

Yes it does

'Cause all I really need's a smile, smile, smile

From these happy friends of mine"

We then trotted to the filly school and shared a few smiling moments to a few fillies which made them happy.

"I like to see you grin (Awesome!)

I love to see you beam (Rock on!)

The corners of your mouth turned up is always Pinkie's dream (Hoof bump!)

But if you're kind of worried

And your face has made a frown

I'll work real hard and do my best to turn that sad frown upside down"

We then trotted in unison through the town again and at this point, I began to smile better.

"'Cause I love to make you grin, grin, grin

Yes I do

Bust it out from ear to ear let it begin

Just give me a joyful grin, grin, grin

And you fill me with good cheer"

We then took a quick stop to think about the sad stuff, but we shared a hug and smiled again.

"It's true some days are dark and lonely

And maybe you feel sad

But Pinkie will be there to show you that it isn't that bad

There's one thing that makes me happy and makes my whole life worthwhile

And that's when I talk to my friends and get them to smile"

We were then back on our hooves and trotting again.

"I really am so happy

Your smile fills me with glee

I give a smile I get a smile

And that's so special to me

'Cause I love to see you beam, beam, beam

Yes I do

Tell me what more can I say

To make you see

That I do

It makes me happy when you beam, beam, beam

Yes it always makes my day"

At this point, the other five mares turned up to join in with us which made me it more fun and happy for me.

"Come on every pony smile, smile, smile

Fill my heart up with sunshine, sunshine

All I really need's a smile, smile, smile

From these happy friends of mine"

The ponies across the town then joined in the singing, I couldn't stop smiling right now.

"Come on every pony smile, smile, smile

Fill my heart up with sunshine, sunshine

All I really need's a smile, smile, smile

From these happy friends of mine"

"Yes the perfect gift for me ([Choir] Come on every pony smile, smile, smile)

Is a smile as wide as a mile (Fill my heart up with sunshine, sunshine)

To make me happy as can be (All I really need's a smile, smile, smile; From these happy friends of)

Smile, smile, smile, smile, smile

Come on and smile

Come on and smile"

The music ended with all the ponies cheering before they all went back to their work, leaving the seven of us together....I was so happy that I forgot all about the sadness about my pet leaving me.

"Wow! Thank you so much Pinkie!" I exclaimed giving her a big hug, "I really needed that."

"No problem Bond, I'm glad you cheered up." Pinkie replied, sharing my hug for a few seconds.

"Cheered up, what happened earlier darling?" Rarity asked me.

"Oh you remember my pet eagle, the one I took in after the gorge incident? He left me but with a polite departing gesture." I answered.

"Oh no, I'm sorry to hear that, Bond." Fluttershy responded.

"It's alright. To be fair, I wasn't being much of a good pet person with all the recent stuff around me."

"But what matters is that you still have us as your awesome friends." Rainbow Dash assured.

"And of course Trixie who you love very much." Twilight added but in a quiet tone so nopony else heard.

"Thank you girls...I love you all too."

We then shared a group hug...it felt like a very long time since we had a hug altogether.

"Well, I gotta go back and take care of the animals." Fluttershy said.

"I've gotta get back to studying." Twilight added.

"I have to go as well, Sweetie Belle needs time with me." Rarity also added.

"And ah have to finish off painting a side of the barn ah'm working on." Applejack said as well.

"Alright girls, I'll see you all soon." I replied.

They all waved and went to where each of them were needed. this left me with Pinkie and Dash.

"So what about you, Dash?" I asked her.

"Actually, I was gonna go back to Cloudsdale but I'll stick around for you if you want." she replied.

"Really...thank you Dash and what about you, Pinkie?"

"I spotted a donkey that looks kinda down so I'm gonna go try and befriend him....later!" Pinkie replied before trotting off in a direction.

"So, wanna race with me around the skies?" Dash asked with a smirk look.

"Just bring it!"

I then zoomed into the sky before Dash could and the race was on... we flew around the whole area of Ponyville as an impressive speed, whilst dodging the clouds which was no problem since there wasn't much around today. We then flew around Canterlot but we kept away from the castle area before flying around at a slower speed across Cloudsdale.

After a while, I could see Dash beside me beginning to flap her wings harder and harder.

"Umm Dash, why don't we land by Twilight's library as the finish line area?" I asked her

"Okay, here it goes!" Dash then zoomed down to the ground before landing as I did the same and landed beside her.

"Whew...it's been a while since I used my wings for a challenge as big as that." I said.

"Although, Dash once again took supreme...with humility and grace." Dash replied.

"That's good to know, shall we go inside?"

"Yeah sure, besides, I have a Daring Do book I need to borrow from Twilight."

We then knocked on the door and walked on inside to see Twilight with a book she's reading.

"Oh hey there Bond and Rainbow, what's up?"

"Hey Twilight, I have a Daring Do book I would like to request borrowing."

"Sure Dash, which one would you like?"

"Daring Do and the Griffon's Goblet."

"One moment..." Twilight then pulled out a book with the same title on it and brought it over to Dash. "Here you go, clean as new."

"Thanks!" Dash then sat on the stairs and began to read.

"What about you Bond?" Twilight asked me.

"Oh I'm alright...I'm still reading the History Of The Alicorns book I borrowed a while back." I reminded her.

"Oh yeah, is it good for you so far?"

"It's really fascinating so far...I think I even learnt a spell from it."

"Cool, what spell is it?"

"It's the one where I can turn an object into a different object, but I won't do that now."

Just then, a door opened and it was Pinkie who walked in but she didn't seem to be her happy self.

"Hey Pinkie, what's wrong?" I asked.

"I just can't believe it." she replied.

"Believe what?"

"Cranky said he would never forever be my friend. " she then began to feel upset. "It was horrible." she added before her voice began to crack.

"Umm, who is this Cranky?"

"The donkey that I saw a while ago, I tried to be friends with him but none of my ideas worked."

"I know this is hard for you Pinkie, seeing your friends with everypony, but you're just gonna have to accept that Cranky is the only exception." Twilight advised. "He just doesn't want to be bothered."

"Yeah, he doesn't wanna be bothered by your over the top super antics." Dash added, although I think she didn't it in a mean way.

"Rainbow!" Twilight scolded lightly.

"No no, it's okay Twilight. I get what you're saying...what you're both saying." Pinkie assured, "And I guess I can leave Cranky, right after he accepts my apology." she then trotted out of the library.

Twilight then face-planted on her book in disbelief...so that's where Facebook came from.

"Want me to go with Pinkie?" I asked them.

"Just to make sure she's alright." Twilight answered.

"Okay, see you both soon."

I then left the library and began to follow Pinkie...I then had an idea.

"Wait, Pinkie!" I called out to her "Does Cranky have any friends or somepony that he might remember that would get him to feel better?"

"Well, he did mention something about being "alone with his memories"." She replied.

"What about that female donkey I saw you greeting to earlier today?"

"You mean Matilda?"

"Yeah, she could be the one that would make Cranky smile."

Pinkie then gasped and smiled, "Oh my god! Bond Racer, you're a genius!" she exclaimed, "I'll go and get Matilda right now."

She whooshed off quickly I didn't reply to her in time. Shortly afterwards, Pinkie brought a female donkey with her which was indeed Matilda and the three of us walked to a home where Pinkie found Cranky was living in.

"Shh." She shushed and began preparing herself to talk to Cranky again. She knocked and began speaking. "Cranky? It's me again. I understand that you don't wanna be my friend or accept my apology... before I leave you alone forever, I have something to at least try to make up for ruining your book."

"No, I don't want it, kid! Anything you would give me is sure to lead to some sort of disaster!" He answered harshly.

"Goodness, you really are cranky." Matilda responded.

We heard some movement of locks and chains, and Cranky slowly opened the door. Pinkie moved her head to face him, but he placed his hooves on her head and pushed it away, as if something else caught his attention… He then began staring at Matilda… These two must know each other…

"It can't be..." He quickly rushed back in to retrieve his wig and place it back on. "Is it really you?"

"It can, and it is."

"Matilda!" He exclaimed and walked towards her. "But how?"

"Pinkie." She faced Pinkie, who returned a bright smile as she waved her hoof.

"But... I never told you about her!"

"You didn't have to." Pinkie Pie responded. "I put two and two and two together and it added up to Matilda." She pointed her hoof towards her.

"What?"

"Well when you were talking about your souvenirs, you said something about trying to find a special friend!" Pinkie Pie explained. "And y'know, I wasn't just born yesterday, nuh-uh! My birthday isn't for another seventy five days!"

"Huh?" He questioned, still confused.

"And then, in your scrapbook, there was a flower, an old ticket, and a menu from the Grand Galloping Gala! And I knew I recognized all these things."

"But how could you have ever seen them before?"

"Because I also have them in my scrapbook." Matilda answered his question, presenting a pink scrapbook with a blue bow in the top.

"And I'd seen them in Matilda's book!" Pinkie added excitedly, pointing towards the book.

Matilda then opened her scrapbook, allowing Cranky to take a view inside it. "Oh, Matilda. The night we met at the gala was the most magical night of my life…" He took a pause to continue to analyze the pictures and such. "I couldn't wait to see you again. But when I came to your room the next day, you were gone."

"Didn't you get my note?" Matilda asked.

"No, I never got it! Ever since that day I've gone from town, to town, to town... searching all over Equestria for you, until finally I gave up. I came to Ponyville to retire from my search…"

"I was living in Ponyville the whole time. I always hoped that someday you would come and find me. Doodle."

Pinkie Pie widened her eyes from shock. "Uh. Matilda? Nopony calls him Doodle..." She rubbed her hooves anxiously.

Cranky walked closer to Matilda in a sort of romantic way. "Nopony... but Matilda. Mmm." They then began rubbing each other's head, causing me to smile and begin to see things lighten up and quickly escalate to better statuses. I also noticed Pinkie grin brightly.

"Oh, Doodle, I'm so happy to see you." Matilda commented and kissed him on the nose.

Cranky suddenly widened his eyes in shock and began quivering. Pinkie widened her eyes as well, but in excitement. We both observed how his mouth continued shaking and quivering until it finally transformed into a bright smile. Pinkie gasped and smiled very brightly as well, seeing how her wish was complete. Both of the donkeys looked at each other and rubbed their heads happily.

"So does this mean that you accept my apology?" Pinkie asked hopefully.

"Yes, Pinkie, I accept your apology, and I am honoured to call you my friend." Cranky responded proudly.

From standing up, Pinkie quickly sat down and began grinning as if she was holding something in. But then I noticed that she was actually about to literally explode in happiness as I could only slightly widen my eyes at her. She shook violently and suddenly burst upwards in the air like a rocket. "Woohoo! This is just fantastic!" She began falling back towards the ground, causing me to quickly hold out my hooves and catch her.

"Pinkie, we're eternally grateful to you." Cranky explained. "But... Matilda and I just want to spend some time together in peace and quiet."

"Oh. Um, but we're still friends?"

"Pinkie, you went way, way, way out of your way to make me happy." Cranky walked over to Pinkie and placed his hoof on her shoulder. "Of course we're friends."

Matilda then walked over to Cranky, which caused him to begin walking her to his home.

"Great!" Pinkie exclaimed and watched as they both walked inside.

"Come on, Pinkie." I announced. "Let's go home."

She smiled brightly and began walking with me as we headed towards home.

"I'm so glad!" She commented.

"So am I...and you know what, I think I've learnt a lesson today because of you, Pinkie."

"Really? What did you learn?"

With my magic, I then created a scroll and quill and began to write.

"Dear Princess Celestia, there are many different kinds of friends, and many ways to express friendship. Some friends like to run and laugh and play together! But others just like to be left alone, and that's fine too. But the best thing about friendship is being able to make your friends smile!"

"That's fantastic, Princess Celestia will like that." Pinkie complimented.

"Thanks Pinkie, I've gotta send this to Twilight and I'll see you again." I replied.

We shared a quick hug before she bounced towards her sweet shop home whilst I walked over to the library to see Twilight just come outside.

"Hey again Bond, how's Pinkie?" she asked.

"It's all good now, Cranky found his special friend that he was looking for so many years and he forgave Pinkie, plus I also have here a lesson I learnt today."

"Oooh great, I'll make sure Spike sends this right away....see you soon." she replied taking the scroll from me.

"Same to you, Twilight." I replied before going back to my home.

I headed straight to bed as I had nothing to take off today, I began to read my book once more and recap on today. Pinkie really helped me to cheer up with that song as well as that group hug. Racing with Dash was a major breeze of enjoyment and even Pinkie and I learnt a lesson about friendship.

As I began to fall asleep, I realize that I need to go shopping again...guess I need to cut down on the food I eat. Next Chapter: Putting Your Hoof Down Estimated time remaining: 18 Hours, 37 Minutes