Healing

2. Cupcakes and Tea Time

Shadow's eyes popped open. The sweet aroma of cupcakes and candy wafted into the room, emanating from the floor below.

He inhaled though his nose heavily, and exhaled.

After he did, Pinkie came trotting happily up the stairs, with three cupcakes resting on her head.

Shadow sat up slowly. Pinkie pie beamed at him."Morning, Sleepy head!" She walked over to him. "I backed these cupcakes this morning especially for you!" She set them on his lap, beaming proudly.

Shadow stared at the cupcakes.

They were vanilla, with light blue frosting. Pink sprinkles dotted the frosting's swirl, making it look most decedent.

"So?"

Shadow looked up to the bubbly pink mare. She was about to burst with excitement.

He directed his eyes back down to the cupcakes.

'I should at least try them for her. Vanilla is my favorite Flavor, after all.'

He picked up the cupcake, and took a bite.

The taste of vanilla, blueberries, and strawberries exploded onto his taste buds, pleasantly surprising Shadow.

"Wow. This is really good. Like, really really good."

Her smile only got bigger.

"It's my blue skies surprise!" She spread her hooves out wide, her smile just the same.

Pinkie pie leaned next to Shadow, and whispered into his ear.

"The surprise is strawberry." She grinned at him.

Shadow blinked at her.

Pinkie snickered with satisfaction, and hopped back down the stairs to continue her morning shift.

Shadow allowed himself to smile. A small smile, but a smile nontheless.

"Huh."

He finished the cupcakes, and moved his legs to the side of the bed. He sat here for a few.

'This Pinkie pie... She's..... Just like Maria. Only.... a little different."

Shadow put his hand on his heart, and looked down. "Please....."

He looked over to the blanket. The green emerald remained the same color, but, no longer shining. He closed his eyes.

'If this emerald is here, could the other ones be here too?'

Shadow examined his surroundings.

There was a balcony, near where the bed laid.

'Mabye I could get over there.'

He slowly stood, using the bedframe as a crutch. It still hurt to move, but not as bad as yesterday.

He walked along the wall slowly, grunting here and there. He was only halfway, when Pinkie came bouncing up the stairs, a satchel on her. She giggled, Shadow realizing that she had caught him.

"What are doing, silly?" She giggled again, and hopped over to him.

"I just wanted to get some fresh air, and, maybe look around, but my body can't move. I can stand just fine, But-"

"Oooh, use me, use me! I'll give you a ride!" She hopped around for a moment before crouching next to Shadow, beaming wide.

Shadow wanted to smile at her. She was just so...