Twilight was in her library engaged in her favorite activity. Arranging books. While most found it a dreary task, she enjoyed it. She loved the feel of books, the smell of ink and paper, the calm peace of ordering them in their proper place. She was a mare of order. Order and peace. These were concepts she valued. Although, since coming to Ponyville she had learned the value of friendship, of spontaneity and even the occasional, chaotic fun. She placed Stargazer’s Starry Guide to Stars next to In Search of ExtraEquine Life. The shelf dedicated to astronomy and all the mysteries of the vast cosmos were now complete. Just as she was about to move on to the section on weather magic a pink blur zoomed into the library.

“What the f-”

“Twilight ya gotta help me! Ya just gotta!” The pink blur stopped bouncing around long enough for Twilight to recognize it as her friend Pinkie Pie.

“Pinkie, what’s wrong?” Twilight asked, taking hold of the equine enigma. “Is it serious? Do we need the Elements?”

“I don’t know what to get Mommy for her birthday!”

Twilight blinked. Pinkie Pie was looked like she was on the verge of tears as she blurted that out. Her shoulders shook, her mane was frizzier than usual and her eyes were bloodshot.

“Er, calm down Pinkie. I’m sure your mom will like anything you get her.” Twilight said, trying to reassure her.

“But what if she doesn’t?! What if she hates it?! That won’t make her happy, it’ll make her sad! And if words get out that I can’t make my

own mother smile I’ll never throw another party again!”

And I thought I had mommy issues. “Well, you are the best party pony around. I mean finding a gift for your own mother shouldn’t be hard for you. When is her birthday party?”

“Tonight.”

Twilight’s jaw dropped, then she winced at Pinkie’s hurt expression.

“Pinkie, I’m sorry. I just got surprised.”

“I’m a bad pony.” Pinkie whimpered.

Twilight gently stroked the earth pony’s mane. “Hey, that’s not true. You’re a good pony and a good friend. You always make me happy anyway.”

Pinkie gave a small smile. “Really? I…I always thought you thought that I was annoying.”

“I did at first, before I got to know you.” Twilight said. “Before I learned the magic of friendship. But your laughter has gotten me through a lot of bad days. I would like to help you through this just like all the times you’ve helped me.”

Pinkie smiled. “Thanks.”

“How about I go get you some hot chocolate? Does that sound nice?”

Pinkie nodded and Twilight went to her kitchen. She rummaged around in the cabinets before finding the hot chocolate. She liked the beverage, but she mostly kept it for those days Pinkie showed up. Pinkie showed up quite a bit, actually. While all the Element Bearers were her friends she seemed to have something special with Pinkie. She got a pot, filled it with water and put it on her stove. Then she dumped the chocolate powder into two cups. A spark of magic set the water boiling.

“Ooh, that is so cool!” Pinkie praised as she trotted into the kitchen.

“Yeah, it’s a pyromancer spell the Princess taught me. She didn’t trust me with pyromancy until recently.”

“What kind of pie?” Pinkie asked.

“No, pyro. It means fire in ancient Pegasan-pegasii are surprisingly good at manipulating that element because of their control over lightning. Pyromancy is any kind of spell having to do with fire. Celestia, of course, is the foremost expert on it.” Twilight would have rambled on indefinitely, but she decided the water had boiled enough. She poured two cups of hot chocolate and handed one to Pinkie. They sat down at her table.

“I was meaning to get Mama a gift, but things slipped away from me. I was planning Trixie and Gilda’s wedding-”

“How are they by the way?”

“Not back from the honeymoon yet. And then Applebloom had a birthday and Diamond Tiara had a birthday and Silver Spoon had a birthday and Dashie had a birthday and Mr. Waddle had a birthday and you had a birthday and Fluttershy had a-”

“So, a lot of birthdays?”

“LOTS and LOTS of birthdays! And that’s not counting the weddings, anniversaries, welcoming parties, just because parties, friendly get togethers, my job at the bakery, fighting that meany Discord. I’ve been really busy!” To prove her point Pinkie slouched in her chair and gulped her hot chocolate.

“It has been quite a year hasn’t it?” Twilight reflected as she sipped her cocoa.

Pinkie forcefully nodded her head.

Twilight continued to sip the cocoa, meditating on the problem she’d been presented with. It was still early, around ten o’clock. There was plenty of time to solve the dilemma. Yet, she was used to dilemmas of the mind. Things that could be approached from a place of reason and logic. Cold facts without feelings getting in the way. This was a dilemma of the heart and the heart had its own rules. If it had been her she’d send her mother a card and might visit her.

Might.

“Look, Pinkie. I might not be the best pony to ask about this.”

Pinkie bounced in her seat. “But you’re the smartest pony in Ponyville!”

“Yes when it comes to magic. But not relationships or social interaction. Remember why the Princess sent me here in the first place? Rarity might be better at this than me, Applejack even. Besides I don’t get along with my mother.”

Pinkie gasped. “But…she’s your mom!”

“Yes. Yes, to my eternal regret and dismay I am the biological daughter of Twilight Velvet, but it just doesn’t mean anything to me.”

“But she gave birth to you!” Pinkie shouted.

Twilight shrugged. “And what has she done for me lately?”

“So, I guess I couldn’t ask what you got your mom for her birthday.”

“A card. Just like every year.” Twilight responded flatly.

“Do you…do you hate your mom?”

An uncomfortable silence descended on them.

“Tell me about your mother.” Twilight finally said.

“She’s sweet and kind and, oh, she bakes a lot! When I smell baking bread it always reminds me of her. And when I get sad-and I do get sad sometimes even if I am the Element of Laughter-I bake her cinnamon bread. Just the scent of cinnamon makes me happy, makes me remember her and the good times we shared. Me and Mama and my sisters used to spend a lot of nights baking. I loved being with her and my sisters, the baking, the talking and the laughing…there wasn’t much laughing or talking on the farm, but those moments were special.”

“You could buy her a baking pan.” Twilight said, trying to be helpful.

“She has a million of those!” Pinkie said then continued. “I also think of baths when I think of Mama. Kinda strange right? But when we got home from working she wouldn’t let us in till we got a bath. That included Daddy! She’d bring out a tub and if we didn’t want a bath she’d scoop us up and drop us in. It was big enough for two of us at most so we took turns.”

“You didn’t have running water?” Twilight asked, surprised.

“We were poor. Poor but happy.” Pinkie said. “I also remember when she would gather us around in the evenings and tell us stories. Granny Pie used to do it with her, but after she passed on it was just Mama. Daddy too sometimes when he felt like telling a story. And she’d sing to us.” Pinkie closed her eyes and began to sing a rhythmic tune. The melody was joyful and sweet. “It was long ago, in an age of woe, when brave ol’ Puddinghead his people led to a land of plenty…by his side Beautiful Platinum and Majestic Hurricane, together they marched through snow and rain…”

She trailed off. “I…um…can’t remember the rest.”

“The Fifteenth Song of Chancellor Puddinghead. It’s one of the longest.” Twilight said.

“You know it?”

“I studied Earth Pony folk songs. Isn’t it part of some huge epic?”

“Uh-huh. We’d spend all night singing different parts of it. Did your family ever do stuff like that?”

“We’d do it sometimes, holidays especially.” Twilight said. A smile tugged at her lips as she recalled sitting alongside her parents and brother singing the Celestial Hymns that recalled all the heroes and happenings of their race. It was among her happiest memories, leaning against her big brother as they clapped their hooves to the rhythm of the songs of Starswirl the Bearded or the great warrior Majesty. It was a poignant reminder that not all of her childhood memories were sad.

“I still remember all the songs she sang.” Pinkie mused. “And when I was thinking about leaving home ya know what she told me? ‘Pinkie, you’re a light. You don’t keep a light hidden at home. Go out and share that light with the world.’ I was so scared she’d be upset with me leaving, but she wasn’t. She and Daddy supported me every step of the way and still do. I still visit her every week.” She hung her head. “I still can’t believe I forgot her birthday.”

Twilight placed a hoof on Pinkie’s shoulder. “Look, I’m sure she’d forgive you if you told her.”

“Of course she would! That just makes it worse. She’s just so nice. What do you get the best mama in the world?”

“I wouldn’t know.”

“Seriously, Twilight, after this we’re having a long talk about your mom.” Her face lightened up. “Ooh, I can throw you two a party!”

“Um, she doesn’t like parties.”

Pinkie gasped.

“She does like cupcakes though. What does your mom like? Come to think of it, what did you get her for her last birthday?”

“A necklace and before that ear rings. She never wears them though. I mean she acts like she’s happy when I give them to her, but I never see her wear them. I was planning on getting her something new this year, but I can’t figure out what!” She pouted, her blue eyes suddenly watery and wide.

“You say she likes to sing?” Twilight asked wandering over to a bookshelf.

“Uh-huh! She used to be a traveling singer before she settled down with Pa.”

“Do you think maybe she’d like something to do with music?” Twilight suggested.

Pinkie squealed. “Oh my gosh that is a brilliant idea!”

“I have a music section right here.” Twilight said, guiding Pinkie to it. Pinkie looked through before coming to a book about guitar. A memory flashed into her mind, something she hadn’t thought of in years.

                                                                                                                             …

“I’m sorry, Mommy.”

“It’s alright. I’m not mad anymore. I’m sorry I yelled at you.” Sue Pie said as she glanced at the remains of what had been a guitar. Binkie and Pinkie had been playing ball when the ball had hurtled through the window. In addition to hitting a vase that vase had somehow hit Sue’s old guitar.

“I can buy a new guitar anyway.”

She never did.

                                                                                                                             …

How old had she been anyway? Four or five? She remembered Mama playing guitar for them, but after that incident Mama had just stopped playing. She sniffled.

“Hey, Twi. I just came up with something. Thanks, you’re the best.”

She hugged her unicorn friend who hugged her back. Pinkie bounced out the door, no longer in a state of panic. Her next stop was the music store where she found the perfect gift. There were still several hours left before her mother’s birthday, but she decided to get there

early and catch the train. As the train went further south the lush and verdant valleys slowly dwindled into a flat, grey expanse. This was the last frontier of Pony civilization, where their civilization met with Changelings and Diamond Dogs. It was a wild, barren place often hostile to any but the strong. Pinkie called it home. It was, after all, where her family had settled generations ago in an attempt to tame the wild land. No matter how barren and uninviting the grey and rocky fields they were still the fields where her sisters had endlessly worked and occasionally played. She had once said there was no laughing here. That wasn’t entirely true. The train pulled up in sight of her home town and she hopped off the train with her other passengers, her gift wrapped up and slung across her back. Her home town consisted of little more than a general store, a pharmacist, a saloon and three farms. Upon entering her family farm she was mobbed by her sisters.

“Inkie! Binkie! Maud!” She said, hugging them tight. “How have you two been?”

“Missing you!” Binkie said, letting go of her sister. “What have you been up to?”

“Well, there have been a bunch of parties that I’ve planned and did I tell you about Queen Meanie and Discord?”

“I had to go and look at him. He makes a most impressive statue.” Maud said in her flat monotone.

“I hope he stays a statue!” Pinkie said. She sniffed the air. “Is that chocolate?”

“We got a chocolate cake for Mama.” Binkie said. “It’s from Aunt Rocky.”

“It smells delicious!” Pinkie said. Her sisters followed her into the kitchen where many of her relatives had gathered. She was greeted and hugged by a bewildering assortment of aunts, uncles, cousins and then her parents. Everypony always wondered how she could memorize everypony’s name in town, but it was easy when she has a twelfth cousin twice removed that frequently showed up for family events. She laid down her gift in a pile with the other presents. There weren’t as many streamers or balloons as at a party she’d throw, but she hadn’t designed this one. Her ears drooped just a little. Not that she hadn’t been asked, but she’d been throwing three parties at once this week. If she’d cancelled one it would have hurt somepony’s feelings. Telling Binkie she couldn’t plan the party had felt like stabbing her own hoof. She had even started crying after.

'You ignored your own mother’s birthday party what’s wrong with you?!' Pinkamena shouted.

'Go away Pinkamena. I just wanted to make everypony happy, but…I missed somepony.'

'Your own mother. The mare that gave you life. That put up with all your teenage bullshit. Put up with me. I reiterate-what’s wrong with you?'

Binkie touched her hoof. “Pinkie are you alright?”

“I’m fine.” Pinkie snapped then softened her tone. “Let’s go eat some cake.”

After everyone had their fill of cake Sue began opening her various birthday gifts. She gushed over the jewelry Pinkie’s aunts got her as well as some fancy new clothes (when she’d ever wear them was another issue altogether.) She paused as she came to Pinkie’s gift. It was unwrapped slowly.

“Pinkie…I…”

“Do…do you like it?”

Sue examined the guitar, strumming a few chords.

“I haven’t played guitar in years…”

“I thought you’d…I’m sorry.”

“For what? Honey, I love it.”

Pinkie brightened. “You do?”

“I always meant to buy a new guitar, but I just never got around to it.”

The family began to gather around her as she began to strum out rhythms and melodies, her hooves dancing over the strings. Some of the Pie family began to dance as Sue’s songs picked up speed, the old mare picking up confidence. She began to play out a lively jig and for a while the Pie family all swayed to the music. Binkie grabbed Pinkie, Inkie grabbed Maud and they began to dance. Evening fell and Sue continued to play. Young and old were too caught up in dancing to Sue’s guitar to notice Luna’s moon begin to rise. Pinkie herself broke from Binkie (who’d begun dancing with a cousin) to snag another slice of cake. She watched her mother as she continued to play, completely caught up in her music. Clyde Pie sat down next to her. The ghost of a smile tugged at his weathered face.

“I hope you realize what you’ve done.” He told her.

“It’s a good thing, right?” Pinkie asked.

“I haven’t seen her smile like that in years. Except maybe the time you got your cutie mark.”

Pinkie smiled herself. “I just wanted to make her happy.”

“And you have, Pinkamena.”

Pinkie’s smile turned into a grin when Sue’s music turned into an upbeat polka. She grabbed her father lifting him from his seat.

“Dance with me!” She cried.

Clyde rolled his eyes. “Oh, alright.”

They spent the rest of the party dancing.