A Friend In Deed
Pony's Log Number 218: To truly make somepony smile, you got to take the time to learn what makes them happy, even if they are as stubborn as a donkey...
High up in the top floor of Sugarcube Corner where Pinkie's living space was located, Mario was helping her out for the day and she had brought him up to her floor for some special exercises.
"Put this on," said Pinkie as she handed Mario his exercising uniform.
"Wait! I seriously have to wear this?!" Mario exclaimed.
"Do you want to be on your A game or your A+ game?" Pinkie asked him sternly as she turned on some dancing music. Mario sighed and went behind a screen to change.
"Let's do this!" said Pinkie confidently as she put on some blue and yellow stripped exercise fore-hoof bands, some yellow leg warmers on her hind legs, a blue headband as well as a yellow aerobics tank and blue shorts. She also clipped on a teal belt around her waist. Mario had on a similar outfit and, yes, Pinkie made him wear leg warmers since they did have workout high top shoes. They both looked like they were about to do a 1980s workout session.
"I feel like Buck Norris in this outfit," Mario remarked.
"Good, 'cause I'm supposed to be Mane Fonda," Pinkie remarked, "Now follow my lead!" Before they knew it, she and Mario were wiggling their tongues back and forth while jogging in place. They then made wide smiles before opening their mouths wide to wiggle their tongues some more.
"Happy, Sad! Happy, Sad! Happy, Sad!" Pinkie repeated as she and Mario waved a fore-hoof over their faces as they changed facial expressions.
"Open, shut, open, shut, open, shut, open, shut," Pinkie repeated as they both looked in the mirror and blinked their eyes open and closed a few times. Mario found it rather awkward that Pinkie's eyes tended to look a bit cross eyed as she blinked but said nothing.
"Yep, yep-yep-yep-yep-yep-yep," said Pinkie and Mario as they raised both their fore-legs in the air and waved them from their right to left.
"Nope, nope-nope-nope-nope-nope-nope," Pinkie and Mario chanted as they raised their fore-legs in the air from left to right. They are now sweating heavily as Pinkie grabbed something in front of her.
"Oooweooo, oooweooo, oooweooo, oooweooo, oooweooweooweoo!" Pinkie and Mario chanted as the former moved the object up and down. It turns out that it was one of the cribs belonging to the cake twins. She then gave them a playful raspberry before she and Mario panted from exhaustion. Pumpkin and Pound Cake just gave them annoyed looks before looking at each other as Pumpkin pouted.
"You guys are tough to please," said Mario, "cut me some slack! I'm wearing an outfit that I would never go out in public in!" The twins just glared as Pinkie pinched her nose and sat down. She didn't notice until too late that she had sat on some leftover jacks. Once her flank was poked, she jumped high into the air, got spun around by the ceiling fan, and then rocketed toward a corner of the room.
"I gotcha...OOMPH!" Mario called out as he caught the flying pink pony and then both were sent tumbling into the large collection of stuffed toys. One toy landed in each of their heads. Pumpkin babbled happily to her brother as he smiled and wrapped his fore-hooves over his head as the two began to laugh and smile.
"Nailed it!" Pinkie chanted with a hoof pump. Mario rolled his eyes, but couldn't help but smile too.
Despite the embarassing outfit and exercise routine, he was having fun.
(Main theme)
It was early sunrise the next morning as the rooster crowed to welcome the start of another beautiful day in Ponyville. A familiar cow was making her way toward Sugarcube Corner when Pinkie poked her head outside of the entrance door.
"Morning, DaisyJo," said Pinkie, "You hear to pick up some cookies to go with your milk?"
"Oh ya, Pinkie, don'tcha know?" said DaisyJo. Pinkie hopped into the cow's back as DaisyJo shifted her body to make Pinkie bounce off behind the cow.
"Well, Mrs. Cake just baked a fresh batch of your favorite oatmeal," Pinkie told her.
"Moo, sounds delightful," said DaisyJo excitedly as she headed inside. Pinkie happily trotted over to Mario's house and lightly knocked on the door. Mario opened the door a few seconds later.
"Mornin' Pinkie," said Mario.
"Mornin' Big Brother," said Pinkie as she presented Mario with a swirly pastry, "Somepony could use a chocolate croissant for breakfast! You're favorite!" Mario smiled as he took a huge bite of the delicious pastry, savoring the chocolate inside since the pastry was still warm.
"Delicious! Thanks Pinkie!" said Mario.
"Are you ready to see how I make ponies smile?" Pinkie said excitedly. She had invited Mario to spend the day with her so she could show off her special talent.
"Sure," said Mario as he finished his pastry and then joined the pink pony as they trotted down the streets of Ponyville.
"Oh Rose," said Pinkie as she stopped by the said pony's flower stand, "your Calla lilies look even better than last year! I bet you'll take first prize at the flower show again."
"Thanks, Pinkie!" said Roseluck cheerfully, "Would you and Mario like one?"
"Absolutely!" said Pinkie.
"Yes, please, thank you," Mario replied. Rose then plucked off the flower of two Calla lilies and tossed them towards both ponies, who caught them with their mouths and munched away. Pinkie was the first to swallow her lily when she noticed an elderly pony walking by wearing a large bow tie.
"Looking fit as a fiddle, Mr. Waddle," said Pinkie, "and you're wearing my favorite tie!"
"Aw, shucks, Miss Pinkie," said Mr. Waddle with blushed cheeks, "you flatterer you." Mario chuckled to himself as they continued on their way until a familiar maroon pony approached.
"Well, happy birthday, Cheerilee," said Pinkie as Mario presented the birthday pony a wrapped present. It was thanks to Pinkie he nearly had all the birthdays in town memorized.
"Thank you, Pinkie," said Cheerilee, "and thank you for the present Mario!" Mario smiled as he and Pinkie continued on their way.
"Happy day-after-your birthday, Zecora," said Pinkie to the zebra.
"What a lovely hi, Miss Pinkie Pie!" Zecora replied.
"And Miss Matilda, happy birthday to you," Pinkie to told the female donkey, who suddenly gave her a puzzled look.
"In one hundred and thirty two days," Pinkie finished as Mario silently gasped in surprise.
"Pinkie Pie!" said Matilda impressed, "How do you remember everything about everypony?"
"'Cause everypony's my friend," Pinkie answered, "and I love to see my friends smile." Pinkie could feel a song coming up and turned to see Mario just smiling at her.
"I'm about to sing a song," Pinkie told him, expecting some sort of remark. Mario chuckled.
"I'm in a good mood this morning," said Mario, "I wanna hear it." That made Pinkie beam with a smile so grand that it shine brightly in the morning song.
[Pinkie Pie - She walked down the street with a bounce to her step with Mario walking beside her with a smile on his face. As she sang, Pinkie said hello to various ponies walking by. Then she saw a pony sitting on a lounge chair as she tilted the tree away so the sitting pony was no longer under a dark shadow, making the pony smile at her.]
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
[Pinkie Pie - She walked over to some fillies looking very glum, stood in between them and pulled them with her. As she tossed them into the air, they landed on her back and then slid the slope next to some stairs, making the fillies cheer happily. Mario slid behind them. He and Pinkie jumped in the air and landed in some hay stacks inside of a wagon that was being pulled by Big Mac. He quickly galloped off to give them all ride. Ponies saw them ride by with smiles on their faces. Pinkie then looked back and found the two fillies smiling widely at her. Mario was smiling as well. Then she and Mario hopped out of the wagon, leaving the fillies to enjoy their ride.]
'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
[Pinkie Pie - a silhouette appeared next to Pinkie and Mario as they continued to walk about. Pinkie then went to jump rope with some fillies, then Scootaloo began to jump with her, followed by Dinky, then two other fillies joined in, and even Mario as they were all jumping rope together with the rope somehow turning all on its own. Two more fillies gave Pinkie a hoof-bump.]
I like to see you grinning (Awesome!)
I love to see you beam (Rock on!)
The corners of your mouth turned up is always Pinkie's dream (Hoof bump!)
[Pinkie Pie - Apple Bloom sat alone in the distance with a spare jump rope next to her, looking rather glum. Pinkie ran over to her as she sang and gave the yellow filly a concerned look. Apple Bloom continued to look at the ground until Pinkie scooped her up from below and used the single jump rope as Apple Bloom just enjoyed a ride on the pink pony's head. The others, including Mario, just watched happily.]
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
[Pinkie Pie - She and Mario returned to town with six ponies following them with smiles on their faces. She then saw Applejack trying to paint the barn and looking glum. She and Mario arrived as Applejack showed them both the wall that needed painting. Pinkie then pondered, whispered something to Mario. Mario nodded in agreement before Pinkie grabbed a brush and together, they painted the barn wall with a picture of Pinkie and Mario's heads with a yellow sun surrounded by hearts. Applejack smiled in approval for their job.]
'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
[Pinkie Pie - The view darkens as P walked about looking rather sad as she sat alone in a forest area. Even her coat is a darker shade of pink. She then looked up to see...herself, standing on the roof of a house. Except this Pinkie was smiling and her coat was a bright shade of pink. The happy Pinkie pulled up the sad Pinkie, making her smile and brightening the color of her coat. She lifted her fore-hooves in the air as she continued to sing, followed by a raised hoof-pump that made the other ponies appear around her.]
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 make my whole life worthwhile
And that's when I talk to my friends and get them to smile
[Pinkie Pie - she and Mario leaned to the left toward some smiling ponies and then leaned to the right. Then a crowd of the ponies followed her and Mario from behind. Pinkie and Mario then hopped from rooftop to rooftop with several ponies doing the same. Pinkie then reappeared around the hopping ponies before heading back to the ground. As she and Mario walked along, a mother and her child smiled when they see her, including Mayor Mare and her assistants. She then appeared in the foreground.]
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
[Pinkie Pie - Then Applejack scooped her up as the rest of her friends appeared below her. She continued to sing as her six best friends paraded her down the street as confetti filled the air. Those watching the parade soon followed her from behind.]
'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
[Pinkie Pie and Mario]
Come on everypony 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
[Choir and Pinkie Pie - (Mario is singing with the choir) Some ponies were popping out of the windows as they sang. Pinkie jumped into the air and stood on her hind legs as the rest of the ponies did the same behind her, linking fore-hooves as they stood up. They also began to sway from side to side.]
Come on everypony 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
[Pinkie Pie - She sang a solo as the choir continued to sing and sway.]
Yes the perfect gift for me
Is a smile as wide as a mile
To make me happy as can be
[Choir -sang as Pinkie sang her solo]
Come on everypony smile, smile, smile
Fill my heart up with sunshine, sunshine
All I really need's a smile, smile, smile
From these happy friends of
[Choir and Pinkie Pie - top view of Pinkie twirling on her hind legs as a ring of linked ponies danced around her.]
Smile, smile, smile, smile, smile
[Pinkie Pie - finished her song with smile.]
Come on and smile
Come on and smile
As Pinkie finished her song, she found herself face to face with a brown donkey pulling his wagon into town. The donkey just glared as Pinkie inspected him. Mario just watched from a short distance away.
"I've never seen you before," said Pinkie.
"Kid, you're smarter than you look," the donkey remarked as he started to walk away.
"Thanks!" Pinkie answered, clueless to the fact he was being sarcastic, "What's your name?" The donkey said nothing and just kept moving forward as Pinkie headed toward the back of his wagon.
""Property of C.D.D."," Pinkie read aloud, "I'm guessing that last "D" is in Donkey."
"Quick as a whip, kid," the donkey remarked in his sarcastic tone.
"Now, how 'bout that "C"?" Pinkie pondered to herself, "Hmm...Calvin? Calhoun? Caleb? Carl? Carmine? Carlo? Charlie? Chester? Chico? Claudio? Cletus? Clifford? Coraline? Cornelius? Cortez? Crank? Christopher-?" As Pinkie made her name guesses, she began poking her head around the donkey, making him more and more annoyed until he couldn't take it any longer.
"Cranky!" the donkey snapped, "It's Cranky, alright?!" Pinkie stood in front of him.
"And your middle name?" Pinkie asked.
"Doodle," he muttered to discreetly that nopony could understand him.
"I'm sorry?" Pinkie remarked, hoping he would repeat himself.
"Doodle," Cranky said very quickly.
"One more time...!" Pinkie requested since she still couldn't hear the name properly as she raised a fore-hoof to her ear.
"Doodle," Cranky said a third time, nice and clear with a heavy sigh. Pinkie gasped excitedly.
"So you're a Cranky Doodle Donkey?" said Pinkie. And, once again, she began to sing.
[Pinkie Pie - bounced about as she sang, got into his face, and then wrapped a fore-hoof around his neck.]
You're a Cranky Doodle Donkey guy
A Cranky Doodle Donkey
I never met you but you're my new friend
and I'm your best friend Pinkie Pie!
Mario couldn't help but face-hoof himself. Something about this felt a little too familiar to him, especially when Cranky just gave Pinkie a glare.
"C'mon now, Doodle, give me a smile!" said Pinkie as she pushed the corners of his lips upward to make him smile. It wasn't a second later that his smile went back into its frown, but his lips were stretched out, making him look even more annoyed. Pinkie looked disappointed at his lack of smiling.
"Nopony calls me Doodle!" Cranky snapped angrily, making the pink pony lean away nervously. He then stomped off as Pinkie quietly watched him walk away as Mario approached her.
"Well, that went smoothly," Mario remarked as Pinkie still looked rather confused.
"What just happened?" said Pinkie when suddenly a felt diorama appeared with felt cut outs of Pinkie and Cranky, "Meet somepony new, check. Introduce myself, check. Sing random song outta nowhere, check. Become instant best friends...uncheck." As she mentioned each item, each checked item had a green felt check cutout placed over it, except for the last item, which had a red X placed on it.
"I don't get it," Pinkie continued, "How can somepony not become instant best friends with me?"
"Well, if I may interject..."
"Was it something I said? Was it something I sang?" Pinkie pondered, not hearing Mario speak up.
"Well, if you ask me..."
"This is no time for the blame game, Pinkie," the pink pony told herself, ignoring Mario again, and grabbed a notepad and used her fore-hoof to write, "There's somepony new in town, and you need to win him over! Try everything you can to make Cranky smile and be your friend...Check!" Mario couldn't help but roll his eyes, especially when Pinkie held up a giant green checkmark to emphasize her plan. Thought, he had to admit. It still surprised Mario how much Pinkie and Twilight had in common when it came to checklists.
Cranky just quietly made his way down the street when Pinkie was watching him from the side of a nearby house. Of course, Mario was with her as he and Pinkie leaned against the wall.
"Alright, Pinkie," the pink pony told herself, "if you're gonna win Cranky's friendship, you're gonna have to bring your A game." She then cupped one fore-hoof into the other to emphasize her determination.
"Are you sure about this?" Mario asked. Pinkie blinked before giving him a glare.
"I'm the master of making people smile, you're the apprentice," Pinkie remarked, "I know what I'm doing. You watch and take notes." Mario rolled his eyes indignantly before using his magic to grab the pencil and note pad Pinkie had given him.
"Let's do this," Pinkie told herself as she zoomed ahead of Cranky and then bounced backwards so they were walking side by side.
"Howdy-doody, Cranky Doodle," said Pinkie cheerfully but he keep moving forward and ignored her. She quickly recovered and got in front of him walking backwards since he wasn't going to stop moving for her, "So, uh, are you moving to Ponyville, Cranky?"
"What gave you the hint there, kid?" said Cranky irritably, "The cart full of stuff, maybe?"
"Well, I'd be happy to show you around," said Pinkie as wrapped a fore-hoof around him and gestured at the surrounding area, "It's the least a new friend can do."
"That's a good idea," Mario said to himself, so far liking how Pinkie was handling the situation, for the most part, and wrote down some notes. He was also keeping a fair distance away to keep himself out of attention.
"Listen, kid," said Cranky sternly, "I traveled around Equestria my entire life. I've made many friends. I don't need any more."
"Ouch," Mario winced.
"Gosh! I could never have too many friends," Pinkie remarked a two ponies past her and she waved hello.
"Well, why don't you go and make some more?" said Cranky.
"Geez, Cranky sure lives up to his name," Mario said to himself as he kept writing down notes.
"But I don't need to go when I can stay and make friends...with you," said Pinkie as she tied his ears into a bow, but his ears unwrap themselves right away. Mario suddenly felt his discomfort return.
"There's that nostalgia again," said Mario to himself.
"Look, kid, y-" Cranky tried to speak, but was cut off.
"Oh, Cranky, you can call me Pinkie," she told the donkey, "All my friends do."
"Pushing, pushing," Mario warned, but not loud enough for Pinkie to hear him.
"Look, kid," said Cranky, "I came to Ponyville for some peace and quiet and privacy, to be alone with my memories. All I want is to get to my new home and unpack my stuff." Cranky didn't waste time getting into her face, making Pinkie bounce back a bit. But as he was talking, Pinkie headed over to his cart and hopped inside and started rummaging through his things.
"Pinkie, what are you doing?!" Mario mouthed in shock as Pinkie popped out holding what looked like red tree ornament.
"Ooh, what does this bauble do?" Pinkie asked curiously.
"Don't touch that!" Cranky snapped.
"Ooooooh, what's this?" Pinkie as she grabbed an object that looked very similar to a court jester's stick and spun it about on top of her fore-hoof, making it fly away like a helicopter.
"Please don't," Cranky begged.
"I can't look!" Mario whimpered as he covered his eyes with a fore-hoof, not wanting to see Pinkie break something.
"Oooh, look at those!" Pinkie commented as she held up a wind chime and brushes a fore-hoof against it to make it produce its musical chime and giggled, "Eeeheeeheee!"
"Pinkie!" Cranky snapped as he swatted the wind chime out of Pinkie's fore-hoof, "Keep your hooves off my wagon!"
"Okay, Cranky," said Pinkie sadly as she turned to walk away, but then go an idea and dashed away. Mario had already opened his eyes when Cranky had scolded her. He then saw Pinkie twitch excitedly in the air and zoomed away. Cranky just snarled and kept moving. Mario groaned when he saw Pinkie bringing over a small wagon over to Cranky.
"I promised not to touch your wagon, so I brought my own!" said Pinkie excitedly, "I use it to welcome folks!"
"Who'd'a guessed?" Cranky remarked sarcastically.
"Maybe we can be wagon buddies!" Pinkie proposed, but Cranky just turned away and kept moving.
"Well, you gotta at least let me give you the special welcome that comes with it..." said Pinkie sadly. Cranky stopped and turned around as Pinkie gave him the sad eyes and puppy dog whimper. Cranky gave an irritated sigh and eye roll.
"Let's get this over with," Cranky groaned.
"That's the spirit," said Pinkie and wasted no time pulling the donkey right out of his harness. She then pushed him over to her wagon and pressed a button to make the top open. Inside were some flags, trumpets, some cannons, and an oven. Or as Mario would call the entire thing:
"A weapon of mass destruction," he said aloud as he wrote that in his notebook. Pinkie began to sing for the third time this episode.
[Pinkie Pie - she bounced about and danced on her hind legs for him. Then put a party hat on his head and then blew a trumpet by sticking it through both of his ears (ouch). She then danced back to her wagon and posed.]
Welcome, welcome, welcome
A fine welcome to you
Welcome, welcome, welcome
I say how do you do?
Welcome, welcome, welcome
I say hip hip hurray
Welcome, welcome, welcome
To Ponyville today
"Wait for it," Pinkie said slowly. It was then some confetti blasted out of the oven into Cranky's face and the cannons shot out two glops of cake batter. Mario gasped.
"Noooo!" Cranky groaned as the cake batter covered the both of them.
"Oh, silly me," said Pinkie with a giggle as her eyes popped out of the cake batter, "I must've put the confetti in the oven and the cake in the confetti cannons! Again!" Pinkie giggled to herself as she pulled herself out of the cake batter so quickly that the batter retained the shape of a pony. Pinkie then gobbled it up in one bite.
"Mmm, still delicious!" said Pinkie, "Try some, Cranky, it's sure to make you smile." Cranky wasn't really paying much attention. He seemed to be trying to look for something but couldn't see because of the cake batter on his eyes.
"Oh, where is it, where is it?" said Cranky frantically.
"Where's what?" Pinkie asked and then saw something black near her tail and yelped, "Spider! Big hairy Spider!" Pinkie shook the object off and began to stomp on it constantly with her hooves. Mario groaned loudly since he knew it wasn't a spider, but it was too late for him to do anything about it. Cranky finally managed to get the cake batter off his face and saw what Pinkie was doing.
"Stop, stop, stop!" Cranky shouted as Pinkie stopped stomping and looked at Cranky. She then took a good look at what she had been stomping.
"Oh. Was that your wig?" she asked as she held the remains of the toupe in her fore-hoof, which had been destroyed. Cranky growled at her angrily. Mario bit his lower lip, waiting for the inevitable shout of anger and fury.
"I can fix this, I can fix this!" said Pinkie quickly and rushed away. Pinkie quickly climbed a flagpole and then pulled out a mega phone.
"Hey everypony! Does anypony have a toupee?" said Pinkie though her mega phone. The other ponies listening just looked rather puzzled.
"Huh? Toupee?" some of the ponies said to each other. Mario just groaned loudly and face-hoofed himself.
"This donkey is really, really bald!" Pinkie said loudly as she pointed at Cranky. The other ponies laughed as Cranky looked very embarassed as he covered his head with his fore-hooves. Pinkie looked as clueless as ever.
"What's so funny?" said Pinkie through her mega phone, "this is serious business, everypony! Cranky needs a new wig to cover his hairless head!" While Mario knew Pinkie meant well, he still felt she had said too much...again.
"I have had enough!" Cranky snapped, dug out a small little flower and some dirt, plopped it on top of his head, and walked away to his wagon.
"Oh, you're losing him Pinkie," she told herself, "Wait, Cranky. Please, let me make it up to you!"
"No!" Cranky snapped angrily.
"Please! Oh, please, please, please..." Pinkie said over and over as she pushed Cranky towards the Ponyville Spa. Mario just sighed, shook his head and went after her. He did try at least once to get Pinkie to leave him be, but Pinkie refused to listen. It wasn't long before Cranky found himself inside the lobby of the Ponyville Spa where the receptionist was filing her fore-hoof.
"Ladies, this is a spa emergency," Pinkie announced, "Cranky needs help! STAT!" The two spa ponies, Aloe and Lotus Blossom, smiled as Pinkie handed them the fee for a full spa treatment, and dragged Cranky away as Pinkie waved him goodbye for now. The spa ponies wasted no time giving him a head wash, then placed a towel on his head as they dumped water onto some hot coals to activate the sauna. Then they gave him both a back message and fore-hoof filing. Once they were finished, Cranky walked out of the spa and groaned as his coat shined like a sparkling gem. He had barely taken a few steps when a certain pink pony arrived with Mario being pulled alongside of her. The sudden stop made Mario tumble forward beside the donkey.
"Hi, Cranky," said Pinkie, "I have a gift for you!" Pinkie showed him a wrapped package to him.
"The spa treatment was gift enough," Cranky replied as he pushed the package away and started to leave.
"It's not going to explode or anything, promise," said Pinkie, "Just open it!" Cranky conceded and opened the package. His eyes blinked at what was inside.
"It's a new toupee," said Pinkie as she set a tuff of now golden yellow hair onto his head, "I had my friend Rarity make it. She calls it the "dreamboat special"." Cranky looked rather bored but then adjusted the new toupee on his head as Pinkie just smiled excitedly. Mario just recovered and discreetly rolled his eyes at her overexcited nature.
"This is wonderful," said Cranky in a tone that was actually genuine, "Thanks, kid." Pinkie began to bounce on her hooves, hoping for a smile, but Cranky didn't smile and just turned away. Pinkie just sat down in disappointment.
"He's starting to warm up, but still no smile," Pinkie pondered as she rubbed her chin with a fore-hoof, "Hmmm."
"You know Pinkie," said Mario, "Not all friendships can be made in a day. Sometimes they need time to develop. I certainly see this being the case."
"Maybe," said Pinkie, "but I'm known for making friends quickly. Just keeping watching and learning my apprentice." Pinkie then bounced away.
"All I'm learning is plenty of things of what not to do so far," Mario muttered as he followed after the bouncing pony. It wasn't long before the two ponies reached a small cottage on the outskirts of town. Cranky was busy unloading his cart when a certain pink pony came bouncing over to him. Mario was a short distance behind.
"Hey!" said Pinkie loudly, startling the donkey and almost making him drop his music player, "Whatcha doing there ol' buddy ol' pal?"
"What's it look like?" Cranky remarked with his usual sarcasm.
"Looks like a yard sale," said Pinkie, popping out of the music player horn as she grabbed a snow globe and shook it to make it jingle, "I'll give you two bits for this."
"I'm not selling, kid," Cranky snapped as he pushed his music player with his head, "I'm unpacking." Pinkie jumped out of the music player horn.
"Well, why didn't you say so?" Pinkie remarked.
"I thought I had," Cranky retorted before making his way inside and setting the music player on a table.
"This is so pretty!" said Pinkie as she balanced the snow globe on her nose, "where'd you get it?" Cranky looked at Pinkie nervously.
"Manehatten," said Cranky sternly, "Now put it down, gently." Pinkie wasted no time setting the snow globe down by the fireplace.
"Really? What were you doin' there?" Pinkie asked.
"Trying to find a friend," said Cranky as he walked away.
"Oooh, I'm always trying to find friends, and today I found you," said Pinkie as she did a high jump, a flip, and then landed softly to sit down, "See how good am at it?"
"This was a special friend," said Cranky.
"Like me?" Pinkie answered with a bright smile and batting her eyelashes at him. Mario, who had been watching her from outside a window, just rolled his eyes and made a face at her.
"No, you're extra special, kid," said Cranky in his sarcastic tone.
"You got that right," Mario remarked to himself.
"Yes I'm in," said Pinkie, giving herself a hoof pump. Mario just groaned.
"Pinkie, must you be so clueless," Mario remarked to himself, shaking his head as Cranky grabbed an old camera and Pinkie rushed over to some other boxes.
"Woow, where in Equestria did you get this, Cranky?" Pinkie asked as she found a red ornament.
"Fillydelphia," Cranky answered with a glare as Pinkie hung the ornament from the front of her mane.
"It's awfully pretty," said Pinkie.
"Yes, she was," said Cranky softly with a hint of sadness in her tone.
"Huh?" said Pinkie puzzled.
"I mean, it was-I mean it is," Cranky suttered before shaking his head and sternly snapped at Pinkie, "Yes, it's pretty. Now put it down!" Pinkie felt a little intimidated as she gently set the ornament down on a nearby table and Cranky headed outside. It was then she noticed a blue book with a pink bow on the front cover.
"I wonder where Cranky got this," Pinkie said to herself as she looked through the pages of the book and then found something interesting on one page, "Huh. Will you look at that? Hey, Cranky. Can I ask you about-" Pinkie had only take a step forward when a floorboard that wasn't nailed down properly gave way. As the end she stepped on went down, the opposite end went up, knocking the red ornament from the table. The ornament bounced off a ceiling beam, knocked off a hanging lantern, which smashed apart...right on top of the book and setting it on fire.
"Oh no!" said Pinkie with worry as Cranky and Mario came back into the house. Cranky had seen Mario looking at him and Pinkie from the window. Once he learned Mario wasn't a prowler and just Pinkie's big brother, which he accepted without question, He put Mario to work helping him move in some of the heavier items into his house.
"What did you say-ayayayayay?" Cranky gasped frantically, "What have you done?!" Cranky rushed over to the book as Pinkie quickly grabbed a cup that had some flower in it and dumped the contents on top of the book to put out the fire.
"There! Uh, all better?" Pinkie asked nervously as Mario just rubbed his face with a fore-hoof.
"No, not all better, all soggy!" Cranky snapped angrily.
"I'm sorry, Cranky," said Pinky sadly.
"Oh, you're sorry!" said Cranky indignantly with an eye roll, "Well, then everything is fine!" Pinkie just looked ashamed.
"...It is?" said Pinkie, actually believing him, but this only made the donkey angrier.
"No!" Cranky yelled as he made both Pinkie and Mario back out of the house, "Listen to me, kid. I will never be your friend!"
"Never, or never-ever?" Pinkie asked, squatting down a bit since Cranky had gotten into her face.
"Never, ever, ever, ever, ever!" Cranky yelled so loudly that Pinkie flinched and her mane was blown back and then turned to Mario, "If you can't control your sister, at least keep her as far away from me as possible!" Mario flinched at his tone before he slammed the door. Pinkie just put a fore-hoof to her neck as she looked at the shut door.
"That's four "evers"," said Pinkie, "That's like...forever." Pinkie looked sad with tears brimming from her eyes as she noticed Mario just looked at her with a stern look on his face.
"Not. A. Word!" said Pinkie sternly as she walked off.
"Did I say anything?" Mario asked as he followed her.
"You were gonna!"
"I didn't say anything!"
The two had headed back into town and headed straight for the Grand Oak Library where Twilight and Rainbow were just enjoying some reading together. Pinkie had wasted no time telling them what had happened.
"I just can't believe it," said Pinkie sadly, "Cranky said he would never forever be my friend. It was horrible." Twilight just kept reading her book, but was still listening to Pinkie talk. Mario had just kept quiet since Pinkie hadn't left anything out.
"I know this is hard for you, Pinkie," said Twilight sympathetically, "seeing that your friends with everypony, but you just have to accept that Cranky is gonna be the exception. He just...doesn't want to be bothered."
"Yeah," said Rainbow as she sat on the floor reading another Daring Do book, "he doesn't want to be bothered with your over-the-top super-hyper antics." Rainbow couldn't resist making her eyes roll about with her remark.
"Rainbow!" Twilight scolded.
"Pinkie might be a bit hyper and over-whelming at times," said Mario sternly, "but she's still a friend worth having!"
"No, no, it's okay, Twilight and Mario," said Pinkie, "I get what you're saying. What all three of you are saying. And I guess...I can leave Cranky alone..." Pinkie closed her eyes sadly as Twilight nodded in agreement, but then Pinkie got a determined look on her face, "...Right after he accepts my apology!" Twilight blinked and face planted her book as Pinkie got up to leave. Mario zoomed in front of her.
"Are you thick in the head?!" Mario remarked sternly, "What part of "leave Cranky alone" do you not understand here?"
"Move it, Mario!" said Pinkie sternly, "I know what I'm doing!"
"No you don't!" Mario protested.
"Yes I do!" Pinkie argued, "I'm going to get Cranky to accept my apology one way or another!"
"Pinkie, why can't you just back off?" Mario retorted angrily, "you can't force ponies to like you and be your friend! Remember what happened when you tried that with me? There's a reason why we didn't become close friends sooner and your crush on me was only part of it!"
"This isn't about him liking me, or being my friend!" Pinkie snapped, "This is about helping him smile! I got my cutie mark in making people smile, Mario! Even you could tell something is making him feel sad and I just might know what that is!"
"Well he's made it clear he doesn't want your help!" Mario shot back. Pinkie gave a horse snort. Twilight and Rainbow just watched the two friends argue with interest. Twilight was even standing up in case she had to intervene.
"Why can't you just trust me?" Pinkie replied. Mario let out a deep breath.
"Because the last time I did," Mario said calmly, "You were on the floor bawling your eyes out."
"That was different!" Pinkie protested, "I didn't know what I was doing!"
"She finally admits it," Rainbow remarked, earning glares from all three ponies.
"Making people smile is my specialty, Mario," said Pinkie angrily, "I won't rest until I help Cranky smile, or at least have him accept my apology."
"And what if he refuses?" said Mario.
"He won't," said Pinkie, narrowing her eyes at him. Mario just rolled his eyes.
"Fine," Mario conceded as Pinkie left the library as Mario just huffed and turned to face the others.
"That pony is setting herself up for a big fall," Mario said sternly.
"You got that right, big bro," said Rainbow in agreement when Mario turned to leave.
"Where are you going?" Twilight asked inquisitively.
"Somepony has to be there to pick up the pieces if Cranky leaves Pinkie heartbroken," Mario pointed out.
"Mario, Pinkie needs to learn that she needs to leave Cranky alone," said Twilight, "Sometimes, we have to learn lessons the hard way."
"Exactly," said Rainbow, "Pinkie's a tough cookie. She'll get over it." Mario then glared.
"Do you really want to risk the return of Creepytown or Pinkamena?" Mario asked as Rainbow's eyes shrunk.
"Well don't just stand there looking handsome!" Rainbow retorted, "Go help Pinkie Pie!" Mario nodded and left the library. Twilight glared at the blue Pegasus.
"Handsome?" she asked jealously.
"Heh, sorry," said Rainbow, "Besides, Twilight, he loves you anyway."
"Good, cause he's mine!" Twilight muttered under her breath.
"Huh?"
"Nothing!" Twilight retorted and went back to her reading. Rainbow just smirked. She had heard Twilight's remark loud and clear.
"Glad to see you're finally getting feelings for him," said Rainbow. Twilight kept reading, blushed, and said nothing.
It wasn't long after Pinkie had left the Library that she had arrived back at Cranky's cottage. Poor Cranky was fighting not to cry as he found that his book was literally damaged beyond repair. It was then Pinkie peeked inside by standing on the top half of his front door.
"Cranky!" said Pinkie. Cranky gasped when he saw the pink pony.
"No! No! Leave me alone!" said Cranky as he took off, making his door flip over with Pinkie standing on it upside down. Cranky was now sprinting as Pinkie casually bounced along side of him.
"Wait! I understand that you don't want me as a friend!" Pinkie told him.
"No, I don't!" said Cranky, not slowing down at all as they ran through town.
"So I just wanted to say "I'm sorry"," said Pinkie.
"Fine! You said it!" Cranky snapped.
"But do you accept my apology?" Pinkie asked.
"No!" Cranky shouted as he ran through some apple trees.
"Oh, Cranky! Please accept my apology! Please!" Pinkie protested as she poked out of one apple tree to the next and then stood in front of him.
"No!" Cranky shouted as he took off at high speed. Mario then made his move and ran alongside the donkey.
"Cranky, for your sake as well as my sister's," said Mario, "Just accept her apology!"
"NO!" Cranky shouted.
"Cranky, my sister is very persistent and is one of the best trackers in Equestria!" said Mario, "She will follow you to the ends of the world until you accept her apology So please, for your sanity, if you want her to leave you be, stop running and accept her apology!"
"NEVER!" Cranky then zoomed off and left Mario behind. Mario slowed down when he saw a pink blur coming up fast.
"Pinkie! Stop!"
BASH!
Before Mario could react, Pinkie ran right over Mario, flattening him into a pancake.
"Momma mia..." Mario groaned as he floated to the ground. Meanwhile, Cranky had made his way to the top of a snowy peak. Before the donkey could recover, Pinkie poked out of the snow underneath him.
"But I'm really, really, really..." Pinkie didn't finish as Cranky gasped and ran down the hill and under a stone bridge. As Cranky tried to catch his breath, a brick came out of the bridge wall and two blue eyes looked at him.
"...really, really..." Pinkie continued as Cranky gasped again and took off, the sound of engines revving up as he ran off toward the backside of an apple tree. Cranky breathed a sigh of relief.
"...really, really..." Pinkie chanted, wearing a beaver suit, as Cranky took off once more and hid under a statue of Princess Celestia.
"Really, really, really," Pinkie repeated, now standing above him, as Cranky took off again. A map could be seen as Cranky ran everywhere he could go, but no matter where he went, Pinkie was there, saying "really, really, really..." over and over again, forcing Cranky to run again and again. Finally, Cranky made a mad dash for his house. Cranky rushed inside his house. He quickly boarded and locked up his front door tightly. Cranky then slumped to the floor in exhaustion. He then heard some loud thumps from the front, making his eyes widen with fear, but then the thumping stopped.
"Really, really, really...sorry!" Pinkie shouted as she poked her head inside from the chimney, making the donkey jump. Cranky slammed a metal door over the fireplace opening and locked it up. Pinkie then peeked inside of the keyhole, somehow managing to stick her big eyeball through it.
"Cranky, please, please accept my apology!" Pinkie pleaded, "I'd do anything to make it up to you!"
"But there's nothing you can do," Cranky snapped, "You ruined my book! You destroyed all I have to remember her by!"
"Her? Her who?" said Pinkie as she pulled her eyes out of the keyhole, "The special friend?"
"Go away, Pinkie!" Cranky yelled as Pinkie flinched and turned sadly away. Mario was there waiting for her.
"Now will you leave him alone?" Mario asked. Pinkie just said nothing until she got another idea and tried to take off, but was then pinned to the ground as Mario used his magic to hold onto her tail.
"Pinkie, just...stop it!" Mario pleaded sternly, "You're only hurting yourself!" Pinkie glared before she let out a long sigh.
"This is my last idea," said Pinkie calmly, "If it doesn't work, then I'll give up. Pinkie Promise."
"Pinkie..." Mario sighed in exasperation.
"Mario, this isn't about the apology anymore," said Pinkie, "I know what Cranky needs to smile. Please...I know I haven't given you a reason to do so today, but please...can you just...trust me?" Mario just sighed deeply.
"Everything inside of me is screaming to say no," Mario said calmly, "So I must be out of my mind because I'm going to trust you." Pinkie smiled and gave him a hug before they took off together. Back inside, Cranky just sighed. He hadn't been listening to their conversation and was hoping Pinkie had left for good as he removed his toupee and examined it. He then jumped when somepony knocked on his door.
"Cranky, it's me again," said Pinkie, her voice muffled by the front door, "I understand that you don't want to 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!" Cranky yelled, gritting his teeth, "Anything you would give me is sure to lead to some sort of disaster!"
"Goodness," said another female voice, "You really are cranky." Cranky gave a shocked whimper as he quickly unlocked his door. There before him was Matilda, the female donkey Pinkie had spoken to earlier that day. Pinkie tried to block his view with her head, but Cranky quickly shoved her out of the way when he got a good look at the female donkey, who just smiled at him as some butterflies floated around her.
"It can't be..." Cranky exclaimed as he quickly put his toupee back on, "Is it really you?"
"It can, and it is," Matilda answered as Cranky walked out of his house.
"Matilda!" he exclaimed, "But how?"
"Pinkie," Matilda answered. The pink pony smiled and waved at him. Mario just smiled as he stood nearby.
"But...I never told you about her!" Cranky protested.
"You didn't have to," said Pinkie, "I put two and two and two together and it added up to Matilda." Pinkie somehow managed to make six pink hooves appear in sets of two before pointing at the female donkey.
"What?" said Cranky puzzled.
"Well, when you were talking about your souvenirs," Pinkie explained as she walked over to Matilda and gave him a wink, "you said something about trying to find a special friend! And y'know, I wasn't just born yesterday. Nuh-uh! My birthday isn't for another seventy-five days!"
"Huh?" Cranky replied in confusion.
"And then," Pinkie continued, "in your scrapbook, there was a flower, an old ticket, and a menu from the Grand Galloping Gala! And I knew I recognized all those things."
"But how could you have ever seen them all before?" Cranky asked.
"Because I also have them in my scrapbook," said Matilda as she presented a pink book with a blue ribbon on it.
"And I'd seen them in Matilda's book!" said Pinkie pointing at her book.
"Oh Matilda," said Cranky as he walked over to her and she opened her book, "That night we met at the Gala was the most magical moment of my life." The scene then changed to black and white featuring some old time style music in the background. A younger Cranky and Matilda could be seen at the Gala. Matilda gave Cranky a kiss, making the male donkey giddy and happy before they began to talk and look at each other lovingly.
"I couldn't wait to see you again," said Cranky as his younger self went to visit younger Matilda's guest room, "But when I came to your room the next day, you were gone." Younger Cranky looked sad and left.
"Didn't you get my note?" Matilda asked as Younger Cranky closed the door and behind it was a piece of paper attached the door, which later floated off.
"No, I never got it," said Cranky, "Ever since that day I've gone from town to town to town, searching all of Equestria for you..." Younger Cranky is seen visiting several different times. As time passes he becomes less optimistic, older, and his hair starts to recede until eventually he was wearing the toupee Pinkie had destroyed before and looking glum.
"...Until I finally gave up," said Cranky as the view returned to the present, Pinkie and Mario are just sitting a short distance away listening to his story, "I came to Ponyville to retire my search."
"I was living in Ponyville the whole time," said Matilda, "I always hoped that some day you would come and find me...Doodle." Pinkie blinked as she rubbed her fore-hooves together and zipped over to her.
"Uh, Matilda," said Pinkie nervously, "Nopony calls him Doodle."
"Nopony...but Matilda," said Cranky, "mmm." Cranky and Matilda nuzzled each other's noses as Pinkie smiled excitedly. Even Mario couldn't help but awe at the cute gesture.
"Oh Doodle," said Matilda, "I'm so happy to see you again." She then gave Cranky a kiss. Cranky blinked in surprise and began to bray for a bit. Pinkie grew more excited as Mario just watched with interest. Then Cranky gave one of the brightest smiles the two ponies have ever seen. Pinkie gasped happily as she felt happy tears in the corners of her eyes as Mario held her close with a smile of his own. They were also standing on their hind legs together.
"So does this mean that you accept my apology?" Pinkie asked hopefully as Mario let go.
"Yes, Pinkie, I accept your apology," said Cranky with a genuine tone, "and I am honored to call you my friend." Those words made Pinkie's day as she smiled widely and her body began to tremble. Mario backed away a bit before sitting down on the grass.
"Happiness overload in 3...2...1..." said Mario when Pinkie rocketed into the air and exploded like a firework in the evening sky, "Liftoff...we have liftoff!"
"Woo-hoo! This is fantastic!" said Pinkie as she jumped around and started talking and bouncing about like a pony who had way too much sugar, aka Pinkie being her normal self, "ooh, now we can hang out together and chat and sing songs and..." Pinkie gasped, "...party! Oh, I have to throw you guys a big party. It'll be called "Welcome to Ponyville/I Found My Lost Love/I'm BFFs with Pinkie Pie" party..." Then Pinkie noticed that the two donkeys are not paying attention to her and she quickly settled down, "...Or maybe something less over-the-top and not so super-hyper." Cranky and Matilda just smiled.
"Pinkie, we're eternally grateful to you," said Cranky, "But...Matilda and I just want to spend some time together in peace and quiet."
"Oh. Um, but we're still friends?" Pinkie asked, worried Cranky had changed his mind.
"Pinkie, you went way, way, way out of your way to make me happy," said Cranky as he approached her, "Of course, we're friends."
"Great!" said Pinkie as Cranky and Matilda headed to the house. Pinkie and Mario smiled as they watched them head inside.
"Dear Princess Celestia," Pinkie recited in a letter later that day, "There are many different kinds of friends, and many ways to express their friendship. Some friends like to run and laugh and play together. But others like to be left alone, and that's fine too. But the best thing about friendship is being able to make your friends smile." As Pinkie recited her letter, she could be seen hoping about with other ponies on the rooftops. Then Cranky and Matilda were seen sharing a moment together inside Cranky's house alone. Pinkie and Mario just smiled as they head away from the house. Pinkie then began to sing.
[Pinkie Pie]
He had a Cranky Doodle sweetheart!
She's his cranky doodle joy!
I helped the Cranky Doodle boy, yeah!
I helped the Cranky Doodle boy!
The two donkeys were about to share a kiss when Pinkie started singing outside their window.
"Pinkie!" Cranky and Matilda said together with a glare.
"Whoops," said Pinkie sheepishly, "privacy, sorry!" She giggled sheepishly before Mario pulled her away. Once they were toward the edge of town, Pinkie choose to speak up again.
"Hey Mario?" Pinkie asked quietly as she sat down.
"Yeah?" Mario answered curiously as he sat next to her.
"Thank you," said Pinkie, "I know I seemed...a tiny-weenie-bit obsessed over making Cranky smile..."
"A little?" Mario asked with a smirk.
"You get my point!" Pinkie snapped before calming down, "What I'm trying to say is, despite how I handled everything...you still were there for me and supported me...even when it didn't make sense or...I was only making things worse. Thank you...for being such a good friend." Mario smiled and gave Pinkie a warm hug.
"Anytime," said Mario, "and I'm sorry I got so upset with you. I just didn't want to see you get hurt."
"I know and I'm grateful," said Pinkie, "But Twilight did have a good point. The day might come when somepony won't want to become my friend no matter what I do. I just hope...I can learn not to let it get me down...or..."
"Make you doubt yourself?" Mario finished. Pinkie nodded.
"It's why I get so...determined...sometimes," said Pinkie, "I...just hate failing at my own talent. I was so determined with Cranky that I don't even realize how annoying I'm becoming to him. Despite, what you think Mario, I'm not that clueless. I'm aware I'm making a fool of myself when I get that way. I just get so desperate when nothing I do seems to work." Mario chuckled.
"I see," said Mario, "but you really shouldn't be so hard on yourself. You just need to take a deep breath and think your decisions through a little more."
"I try to, but it's hard for me to think straight when I get so excited sometimes," said Pinkie.
"I can tell, Pinkie," said Mario gently, "but you can get better at that. You have friends who are here to help you succeed and help you learn from your mistakes. Just like your persistence was with making Cranky smile, you can put that same persistence and determination to improve your ability to empathize with others. Then you can take a step back and find out what it is that will make them happy." Pinkie looked at him rather surprised.
"That...is...so...deep," said Pinkie slowly, "You know, I was saying all day that I was the master and you were the apprentice, but...when I think about it...you seem to be better at my talent than I am."
"Not true," said Mario, "I might be better at empathizing with others, but that doesn't mean I'm as good at making others smile. Usually, all someponies really need is just a simple pick-me-up to turn their day around, or to make them feel happy. That is where you shine, Pinkie. Even if you make a few mistakes along the way, you truly do have a special gift for making ponies smile." Pinkie couldn't resist shedding a couple of tears as she stopped walking and hugged him again.
"You really are the bestest big brother I could ever ask for," said Pinkie, "With your help, I know I can be even better at my special talent." Mario chuckled to himself and held her for a bit as they watched Celestia lower the sun over the evening sky.
This episode always was special to me because this was when I really started to like Pinkie as a character, despite her over the top antics trying to get Cranky to like her.
I need to warn that next chapter is going to be extra dramatic. Because the issue that Fluttershy deals with is not just close to home for Mario Star, but also is an issue that I've had to deal with myself. Until next time...
Peace Pony Fans!