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Digging Days (RGRE)

By Uh-hmmm
Created: 2020-12-19 00:20:25
Expiry: Never
anonpinkie pie/rgre/

  1. 1.
    "Uh, Mrs. Cake? Pinkie is digging a hole outside the shop. Thought you should know."
  2. 2.
    > Mrs. Cake sighs and shakes her head
  3. 3.
    > "Poor mare. I remember my digging days, it felt like it would go on forever."
  4. 4.
    > You raise your eyebrows
  5. 5.
    "So this is something ponies just...do?"
  6. 6.
    > The baker nods
  7. 7.
    > "There comes a time in a mare's life when you feel empty, like a shore without a sea. Digging a hole helps fill the space in your heart, a little bit. And if some handsome stallion happens to climb in..."
  8. 8.
    > You tilt your head
  9. 9.
    "I think I get it. So, uh, is there anything we can do for Pinkie? It doesn't sound like a fun time."
  10. 10.
    > Mrs. Cake grins
  11. 11.
    > "Nothing I can do, but I think she would love to hear how concerned you are about her."
  12. 12.
    > You roll your eyes
  13. 13.
    "Subtle. Still, what kind of friend would I be if I left her alone like this?"
  14. 14.
    > Mrs. Cake smiles fondly at you
  15. 15.
    > "You're a good colt, Anon. Never change."
  16. 16.
     
  17. 17.
    > You stare down into the 6ft deep hole
  18. 18.
    > Pinkie is swaying, her limp curls of her mane inflating and deflating
  19. 19.
    > You glance around, but most ponies either ignore it, or send pitying looks at the hole
  20. 20.
    > You sigh, then sit cross-legged at the edge
  21. 21.
    "You alright, Ponks?"
  22. 22.
    > She looks up at you with wide eyes
  23. 23.
    > "Nonners? I mean, haha, yeah! Just, uh, just wanted to see what the dirt was like, you know, for party planning!"
  24. 24.
    > You raise your eyebrows
  25. 25.
    "That's some deep preparations."
  26. 26.
    > Pinkie Pie giggles, her mane inflating a bit more than usual
  27. 27.
    > "Yup! You have to plan the hole thing out in advance!"
  28. 28.
    > You chuckle
  29. 29.
    "Well, I don't want to dig too deep into your business."
  30. 30.
    > The party mare wiggles her hoof in a so-so gesture
  31. 31.
    > "Eeeeeeeeehhh, half points for using "deep" again. Anywhoodles, what brings you to my dig doodles?"
  32. 32.
    > You scratch your cheek
  33. 33.
    "Mrs. Cake told me a little about digging days? I don't entirely get it, but I figured you could use some company to keep your mind off things."
  34. 34.
    > Pinkie beams at you
  35. 35.
    > "That's super de-duper sweet! And I would know!"
  36. 36.
    > You grin
  37. 37.
    "Thanks, Ponks. Hey, I'm going to go get some grub, then I'll be right back."
  38. 38.
    > Pinkie wiggles happily
  39. 39.
    > "Good idea! I'll be right here, so come back quick!"
  40. 40.
    > You can't help but get caught up in her cheerfulness
  41. 41.
    > You get up with a grunt and start jogging towards the Apple stall
  42. 42.
    > You're going to need a decent amount of food, and it has to be cheap and able to drop a fair distance, so apples it is
  43. 43.
    > Even though the mare can eat like Scooby Doo, you suspect she just has a stomach of holding for desserts
  44. 44.
    > When it comes to healthy foods, she just eats normal amounts
  45. 45.
    > Baffling
  46. 46.
    > Of course, after a few headaches, you followed the local wisdom and just stopped trying to figure out Pi-
  47. 47.
    > You stumble, skipping a bit to stop from falling on your face
  48. 48.
    > "Look at what you just did, Bloom! You nearly made Anon hurt himself!"
  49. 49.
    > You turn around to find Applejack glare over the counter of her stall at a pothole
  50. 50.
    > The pothole replies dejectedly,
  51. 51.
    > "Ah'm sorry, Anon. Ah didn't mean to do you no harm."
  52. 52.
    > You look down to find Apple Bloom at the bottom of a two-foot deep hole
  53. 53.
    "Uh, right. This that digging days thing again?"
  54. 54.
    > Applejack rolls her eyes
  55. 55.
    > "No it ain't, she just wanted to get some practice in. An' she'll fill that hole right back in if she knows what's good for her!"
  56. 56.
    > Apple Bloom clambers out of the hole, scrunching hard
  57. 57.
    > "Ah know, Ah know! Do you really have to yell at me in front of a stallion?"
  58. 58.
    > Applejack blinks, then tips her hat to you, her cheeks red with embarrassment
  59. 59.
    > "Beggin' you're pardon, Anon. Sorry you had to hear all that. Can Ah get you anything?"
  60. 60.
    > You smile and wave your hand dismissively
  61. 61.
    "It's fine, I don't mind. I would like two dozen apples, though."
  62. 62.
    > Applejack's hat rises in surprise
  63. 63.
    > "That'll be four bits, but uh, Ah can't help but notice you forgot your saddlebags. How about Apple Bloom helps carry 'em to where you going?"
  64. 64.
    > You pay the mare and eye the pile of apples
  65. 65.
    "That's not a bad idea. Lemme just..."
  66. 66.
    > You pull the hem of your shirt up, and scoop about half the apples into the makeshift sling
  67. 67.
    > Applejack's eyes flicker from the lumpy dip in your shirt to your face
  68. 68.
    > "Maybe Ah should just carry them all myself? Ah'd hate to stretch out a colt's clothes like that for no good reason."
  69. 69.
    > You shake your head
  70. 70.
    "Nah, don't worry about it, you still have a stall to run."
  71. 71.
    > Then you look down at your t-shirt and shrug
  72. 72.
    "The damage is done, and Rarity will only try to kill me a little. Ready, Apple Bloom?"
  73. 73.
    > The filly salutes
  74. 74.
    > "Yes sir! The cargo is locked and loaded!"
  75. 75.
    > You nod at her
  76. 76.
    "Autotrots, roll out!"
  77. 77.
    > Then you give Applejack a nod and a smile as you set off
  78. 78.
    "See you around, Applejack."
  79. 79.
    > She tips her hat
  80. 80.
    > "Be careful not to fall in some mare's hole, alright?"
  81. 81.
    > You call out over your shoulder,
  82. 82.
    "No promises!"
  83. 83.
    > She just chuckles and waves
  84. 84.
     
  85. 85.
    > You can't help but watch Apple Bloom waddle along, her saddlebags almost dragging on the ground
  86. 86.
    "You alright down there?"
  87. 87.
    > She holds her head high and puffs out her little chest-tuft
  88. 88.
    > "Ain't no need to worry about me, Ah'm a big, strong mare! 'Sides, Ah carry way more apples at a time back home."
  89. 89.
    > You adjust your shirt and move one of the apples closer to the middle of the pile
  90. 90.
    "Really? How many can you handle?"
  91. 91.
    > Apple Bloom chews on her lip
  92. 92.
    > "Uh, fourteen, Ah reckon."
  93. 93.
    > You let out a low whistle
  94. 94.
    "That's a lot!"
  95. 95.
    > Apple Bloom beams at you
  96. 96.
    > "You betcha! Granny says it won't be long before Ah can pull the wagon!"
  97. 97.
    > You shake your head
  98. 98.
    > You've tried pulling that wagon, it's pretty heavy
  99. 99.
    > Then again, Earth Ponies are considerably stronger than they look
  100. 100.
    "They grow up so fast."
  101. 101.
    > Apple Bloom nods
  102. 102.
    > "Granny's been sayin' that too."
  103. 103.
    > As you approach Pinkie's hole, you realize you don't have anything to put the apples on
  104. 104.
    > Well, you can just brush off the dirt
  105. 105.
    "Just set them down by that hole, Apple Bloom."
  106. 106.
    > She blinks
  107. 107.
    > "Oh! Okay."
  108. 108.
    > The filly trots over and peeks over the edge
  109. 109.
    > "Hi Pinkie Pie!"
  110. 110.
    > You listen to them exchange pleasantries with half an ear as you set your load of apples down
  111. 111.
    > Apple Bloom empties her saddlebags with practiced ease, then gives you a salute
  112. 112.
    > "Payload delivered, Sir!"
  113. 113.
    > You salute back
  114. 114.
    "Payload received, private. You are dismissed. And good luck with your practice!"
  115. 115.
    > Apple Bloom blushes
  116. 116.
    > "Thanks. Um. I'll leave you two alone now."
  117. 117.
    > She gallops off, and you just shake your head
  118. 118.
    > You shrug, then sit down by the hole
  119. 119.
    "Want an apple, Ponko?"
  120. 120.
    > She wiggles her haunches
  121. 121.
    > "You betcha! Fire at will!"
  122. 122.
    > You toss one down and she leaps to bite it out of the air
  123. 123.
    > You blink, and the whole thing is gone
  124. 124.
    > Pinkie spits out some seeds and a stem
  125. 125.
    > "Mmm, thanks!"
  126. 126.
    > You honestly can't tell if she's very hungry, or just rather Pinkie
  127. 127.
    "No problem. Want another?"
  128. 128.
    > She hums in contemplation
  129. 129.
    > "Nah, I'm good for now."
  130. 130.
    > You nod
  131. 131.
    > ...
  132. 132.
    > To be honest, you aren't really sure if you should ask about the digging thing, you have no idea how to deal with normal depression, let alone horse depression
  133. 133.
    > You mean, her hole, is just so big
  134. 134.
    > You can't believe it's just so round, it's like out there
  135. 135.
    > You mean geometric, look
  136. 136.
    > It's just so, deep
  137. 137.
    > "Sooooooooo..."
  138. 138.
    > You blink, pulled out of your reverie
  139. 139.
    "Yes?"
  140. 140.
    > "Wanna play I Spy?"
  141. 141.
    > You look down at the cheerful mare, then the hole which cuts off most of her line of sight
  142. 142.
    "...Sure."
  143. 143.
    > Pinkie rubs her hooves together in anticipation
  144. 144.
    > "Okie dokie! I spy, with my all-seeing eye... something brown!"
  145. 145.
    > Surely it's not the obvious thing
  146. 146.
    "Is it the shaft of the shovel?"
  147. 147.
    > She giggles
  148. 148.
    > "Nope! Guess again!"
  149. 149.
    > ...
  150. 150.
    "Is it dirt?"
  151. 151.
    > She gasps
  152. 152.
    > "How did you know?"
  153. 153.
    > You look at her with a deadpan expression
  154. 154.
    "Psychic powers."
  155. 155.
    > Her eyes go wide
  156. 156.
    > "Woooooooow, that's amazing! Okay, your turn!"
  157. 157.
    > You look around
  158. 158.
    > It's a fair bet that she knows the shops and landmarks around here
  159. 159.
    "I spy something white."
  160. 160.
    > Pinkie sits in lotus position, her forehooves pressed against her temples
  161. 161.
    > "Clouds?"
  162. 162.
    "Nope."
  163. 163.
    > "My teeth?"
  164. 164.
    "That's a negatory, pink friend."
  165. 165.
    > "Sugar Cube Corner!"
  166. 166.
    "Yup. Your turn."
  167. 167.
    > Her eyes dart around the hole
  168. 168.
    > "I spy with my third eye... something cute!"
  169. 169.
    > Your heart sinks
  170. 170.
    > You just got tricked
  171. 171.
    > Backstabbed, or quite possibly, bamboozled
  172. 172.
    > Something Pinkie Pie finds cute? That could be anything!
  173. 173.
    "The shovel?"
  174. 174.
    > "Nuh-uh!"
  175. 175.
    "The clouds?"
  176. 176.
    > "Youplayit, Pinkie on the bottom, nope on top!"
  177. 177.
    > You frown
  178. 178.
    > Pinkie did mention a third eye
  179. 179.
    "Apple Bloom 5 minutes ago?"
  180. 180.
    > The party mare giggles
  181. 181.
    > "No, silly, I can't see her right now."
  182. 182.
    > Well, that doesn't leave many possibilities
  183. 183.
    "The dirt again?"
  184. 184.
    > "That'd be a good fake-out, huh. Too bad that's wrong!"
  185. 185.
    "The sky?"
  186. 186.
    > "Nopers Nonners!"
  187. 187.
    > You sigh
  188. 188.
    "I give up. What is it?"
  189. 189.
    > Pinkie grins
  190. 190.
    > "It's you!"
  191. 191.
    > You groan
  192. 192.
    "I totally forgot abo-"
  193. 193.
    > Hold up
  194. 194.
    > She's saying you're cute
  195. 195.
    > You blush, a hand automatically covering your mouth
  196. 196.
    > "Ehehehe, I spy something pink!"
  197. 197.
    > The folks at immigration told you about this
  198. 198.
    > They said the mares are clever and strike without warning
  199. 199.
    > You should have listened
  200. 200.
    "Th-that's not fair!"
  201. 201.
    > "Oho, has somepony finally gotten the better of our favorite janefilly?"
  202. 202.
    > You look to find Rarity trotting towards you with an amused smile
  203. 203.
    > Pinkie jumps up above the rim of the hole
  204. 204.
    > "Hi Rarity!"
  205. 205.
    > She falls back down, then jumps again
  206. 206.
    > "Isn't he the cutest?"
  207. 207.
    > You purse your lips, not sure what kind of face you'll make
  208. 208.
    "I am not cute."
  209. 209.
    > Rarity raises an eyebrow, wearing a smug smile
  210. 210.
    > "Truly? This is news to me, Darling. At any rate, I thought I would drop by when I heard Pinkie was digging, but I see you have the situation well in hoof, or hand as it were."
  211. 211.
    > Pinkie jumps again
  212. 212.
    > "Thanks! I-"
  213. 213.
    > Jump
  214. 214.
    > "Appreciate it!"
  215. 215.
    > Rarity seems about to leave, but you speak
  216. 216.
    "Say, do all ponies have digging days? Unicorns and pegasi too?"
  217. 217.
    > Rarity flicks her tail
  218. 218.
    > "We do have something similar. Pegasi build nests out of colorful and shiny things. After Rainbow Dash raided my inspiration room, I just leave a box of scraps and gem shards outside."
  219. 219.
    > You smile
  220. 220.
    "That's nice of you. What about unicorns then?"
  221. 221.
    > She examines her forehoof, her tail swishing back and forth in a way you recognize as embarrassment
  222. 222.
    > "We, ah, find the highest perch we can and consider our place in the universe."
  223. 223.
    > Pinkie Pie flops halfway onto the rim of the hole
  224. 224.
    > "I remember that! You were on top of Town Hall and were all like, 'Wahahaha! Cower before me, unfabulous mortals!' "
  225. 225.
    > Rarity blushes
  226. 226.
    > "Yes, well. I really must get going. It was good to see you, Anon, and I'm glad you're feeling better, Pinkie."
  227. 227.
    > Pinkie wiggles her forehooves
  228. 228.
    > "Bye bye, dark mistress of fashion!"
  229. 229.
    > You pat Rarity's withers
  230. 230.
    "It's too late for me, flee while you still can."
  231. 231.
    > She shakes her head
  232. 232.
    > "If you two had a colt, he would rival Discord for whimsy. Good luck Darlings!"
  233. 233.
    > Rarity vanishes in a burst of sparkles and high class laughter
  234. 234.
    > You roll your eyes
  235. 235.
    "Like she's one to talk about whimsy. Right, Panko Pe?"
  236. 236.
    > "R-right."
  237. 237.
    > You look down to see Pinkie blushing like a tomato, slowly sliding back into the hole
  238. 238.
    > You poke her cheek
  239. 239.
    "You alright there?"
  240. 240.
    > She squeaks, flails, then falls down with a thump
  241. 241.
    "Oh crap!"
  242. 242.
    > You hurriedly drop down after her
  243. 243.
    > Pinkie winces, rubbing her flank
  244. 244.
    > "Good thing I got so much cushion in my tush-in!"
  245. 245.
    > She laughs a little shakily
  246. 246.
    > You frown in concern
  247. 247.
    "Should I go get a doctor or something?"
  248. 248.
    > She gets to her hooves, wincing
  249. 249.
    > "Nah, I think my fruity patooty is just bruised. Wanna kiss it better?"
  250. 250.
    > You roll your eyes
  251. 251.
    "It certainly sounds like you'll be fine."
  252. 252.
    > Pinkie grins
  253. 253.
    > "Worth a try!"
  254. 254.
    > She almost goes to sit down again, then winces
  255. 255.
    > You frown, sitting down cross-legged and patting your lap
  256. 256.
    "Come here, lay down. It's better than the dirt."
  257. 257.
    > She blushes lightly and trots over
  258. 258.
    > It takes her a little to get comfortable, rolling onto her back and wiggling a bit
  259. 259.
    > The mare is kinda heavy and warm, but it's not so bad
  260. 260.
    > You automatically start rubbing her belly, and she positively melts
  261. 261.
    "That better?"
  262. 262.
    > Penka Po hums in contentment
  263. 263.
    > "Mmm, yeah, that's the stuff."
  264. 264.
    > For your part, you still can't get over how soft and smooth their fur is
  265. 265.
    > You lose track of time, just petting her fur and watching her twitch a leg from time to time
  266. 266.
    > It's comfortable, in the shade of the hole wall, listening to the murmur of passing ponies going about their day
  267. 267.
    > Eventually, your arm gets tired, and you just rest your hand on her soft tummy
  268. 268.
    > "Nonny?"
  269. 269.
    "Yeah, Pinkie?"
  270. 270.
    > Her stomach growls
  271. 271.
    > "I could go for another apple right now."
  272. 272.
    > You nod seriously, only smiling a little bit
  273. 273.
    "So I hear. But you'll have to get off my lap if you want me to get you one."
  274. 274.
    > She pouts
  275. 275.
    > "But this is a once-in-a-lifetime thing, Nonny! If I leave your lap now, I might never get to get your sweet, sweet belly rubs again!"
  276. 276.
    > You nod seriously
  277. 277.
    "That is a pretty difficult problem there, Ponks. What if, now hear me out, we eat some food, then I sit down and you lay in my lap, and belly rubs happen again?"
  278. 278.
    > She squints at you, rubbing her chin
  279. 279.
    > "That just might work!"
  280. 280.
    > You chuckle
  281. 281.
    "It's crazy, I know. But I think we can pull it off."
  282. 282.
    > Prencissa Piana rolls onto her hooves, bouncing in place as you get to your feet
  283. 283.
    > You stare up at the rim of the hole, just high enough that you will have some trouble getting up
  284. 284.
    "In retrospect, I should have brought a ladder or something."
  285. 285.
    > Pinkie puffs out her chest tuft
  286. 286.
    > "We don't need a ladder, you've got me!"
  287. 287.
    > You blink
  288. 288.
    "That's true, I'll just-"
  289. 289.
    > She jumps completely out of the hole, then turns around and reaches out a foreleg to you
  290. 290.
    "-grab on, I guess."
  291. 291.
    > "Yuppers!"
  292. 292.
    > You reach up and put one hand on the rim, and hold on to her foreleg with the other
  293. 293.
    "One, two, thr-"
  294. 294.
    > Pynekey Poi hauls you up with a grunt, and you actually catch some air before you land on your feet
  295. 295.
    > You shake your head in awe
  296. 296.
    "Dang, girl. You're freaking strong!"
  297. 297.
    > She grins
  298. 298.
    > "You betcha! Ain't no mare like an earth pony party mare!"
  299. 299.
    > You dust off your pants
  300. 300.
    "I'll say."
  301. 301.
    > You bend down, pick up an apple, and dust it off on your shirt
  302. 302.
    "Thanks, Pinkie."
  303. 303.
    > You toss it to her
  304. 304.
    > She snaps it out of the air, caught between her teeth
  305. 305.
    > "Wou're wewow, wowwy!"
  306. 306.
    > You chuckle and start cleaning off an apple of your own
  307. 307.
    > Between the two of you, you manage to finish off about a third of what you bought
  308. 308.
    > Pinkie licks the apple juice from off her lips
  309. 309.
    > You crack your neck
  310. 310.
    "Well, shall we go back down, Pinkie?"
  311. 311.
    > She tilts her head, tail twitching a little
  312. 312.
    > "Mmm, I don't think so. I'm not feeling hole-y mole-y anymore."
  313. 313.
    > You smile
  314. 314.
    "Glad to hear it. What are you going to do now?"
  315. 315.
    > She chews on her lip, blushing lightly
  316. 316.
    > "Well, I might have to do some special preparations, depending."
  317. 317.
    > You start picking up the apples
  318. 318.
    "Oh? Depending on what?"
  319. 319.
    > Pinkie Pie takes a deep breath, then looks you straight in the eye
  320. 320.
    > "If you would like to go on a date with me."
  321. 321.
    > You blink in surprise, not even sure what to think
  322. 322.
    > But you feel a warmth in your chest that tells you all you need to know
  323. 323.
    "Yeah, Pinkie. I think I would like that."
  324. 324.
    > Her eyes go wide, and her mane inflates almost to the breaking point
  325. 325.
    > "R-really?"
  326. 326.
    > You smile, feeling your face warm up
  327. 327.
    "Yeah, really. You're a fun mare, and I like hanging out with you."
  328. 328.
    > Pinkie grins, vibrating in place
  329. 329.
    > "Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! This is really happening! Okay, well, I gotta get everything ready, so I gotta go and do that and and-"
  330. 330.
    > You boop her nose
  331. 331.
    "Just let me know when you're picking me up, okay?"
  332. 332.
    > She comes to a stop and takes a deep breath
  333. 333.
    > "Be ready by eight! And bring a rubber chicken!"
  334. 334.
    > You nod
  335. 335.
    "Eight, and rubber chicken. Got it."
  336. 336.
    > She squeals happily and disappears in a puff of smoke
  337. 337.
    > You shake your head at her antics, a smile stuck on your face
  338. 338.
    > You turn to look at the hole, but it's mysteriously filled in
  339. 339.
    > When?
  340. 340.
    > You had your eyes on her the entire time!
  341. 341.
    > Maybe she wasn't vibrating, you were only seeing her afterimage?
  342. 342.
    > ...
  343. 343.
    > No, no use trying to figure it out
  344. 344.
    > Anyways, you have a rubber chicken to buy and a date to go on
  345. 345.
    > You pick up the rest of the apples and set off, a vibrant warmth lingering in your chest long after you get back home

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