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// Chapter 5 - Reflection 
// Story: Story of Diane Pie: Re-Unity 
// by Middle Ground 
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I woke up early to a new day and I wash my face to wake up. I was given the day off from the bakery/café for all the hard work. It's funny because I should be sleeping in bed right now. I guess old habits don't take a day off. I walk downstairs to see Miss Jubilee making pancakes and Bitter Sweet at the table eating a plate full.
"Good morning, Diane~! I hope you're in the mood for some sweet pancakes~!" The smell of freshly baked pancakes never gets old. I was excited to have some, but I was then beaten by Day and Charm rushing to the table.
"PANCAKES! PANCAKES! PANCAKES!" Day and Charm didn't waste any time at all.... I then took the only free seat at the table.
"You two didn't wash your faces.... Go do that or no pancakes." Miss Jubilee always was one for washing up.
"AWW!" Day and Charm were both sad and they both went back upstairs to wash their faces. They're so childish.
"So Diane, do you have any plans for your day off? I saw Tough Love leaving early this morning." Bitter Sweet was drinking some coffee as he ate his pancakes.
"Not really.... I don't really have many things to do when I'm not working. I guess I'll just spend the day at home." Maybe I should get a hobby or something....
"Now that doesn't sound like fun~! In fact, I have received an invitation to Canterlot from Princess Luna! She wants to purchase a bag of my family's famous cherries~! And she said I could have a friend tag along~! You would like to join me, right Diane~?" Now that she mentioned it, I would like to meet with Luna again.
"I would like that. It's better than doing nothing." I then filled my plate with the freshly made pancakes and covered it with syrup.
"Then it's settled~! Later today, we're going to Canterlot~!" Miss Jubilee was excited to go. I am also looking forward to the visit.
"PANCAKES!!!" Day and Charm then arrived after washing their faces and they were both ready for the pancakes. This family is always full of excitement. After breakfast, Miss Jubilee and I prepared for our visit to Canterlot. She packed up a bag full of cherries onto a cart she rented and she even called up some strong ponies to pull it. It was 12:12 pm and we were ready to go. The day was clear and no clouds in sight.
"Alright boys, let's go~! Bitter dear, look after Day and Charm while we're away~!" Bitter, Day, and Charm were there to see us off.
"Will do. Be careful on your way there."
"We'll be waiting...!"
"Tell us how it goes!" They each gave us a fond farewell before we left.
"Alright then, let's go~!" Miss Jubilee made the call and the ponies began pulling the cart with their combined strength. We waved goodbye to Bitter, Charm, and Day and they waved back. We were making our way to Canterlot with great speed and the day was still so beautiful. I couldn't wait to see Luna again. I hope she's doing alright. We then arrived into the kingdom and it was still as majestic as ever. We then parked the cart on the outside of the city, gathered the bag of cherries, and we were ready to visit Princess Luna.
"Thanks for the pulling, boys~! You can go and enjoy yourselves. I'll see you in a few hours." The four ponies that pulled the cart then left to do so and we then left to meet with Princess Luna. We made our way to the gate of the castle and the two guards stopped us.
"Halt! Please state your business for visiting the castle!" They were both very serious and I can respect that.
"I was called here by Princess Luna to deliver this bag of cherries. My name is Cherry Jubilee." She presented the bag of cherries to the guards and they inspected it.
"Ah yes, she has informed us of your arrival. And is she a friend of yours?" They were referring to me.
"Yes, she is. Princess Luna did say I could bring a friend with me." I'm glad she did otherwise I would be sent off to wait for Miss Jubilee's return.
"Alright then, you may enter. I will escort you to her chambers." The guards then opened the gate and we then followed the one guard into the castle. We walked through the halls and then we saw Princess Luna waiting at the front of her room.
"Ah...you're here! And you have brought the cherries I have ordered! Good!" She seemed a little excited to see us. I guess she was expecting Miss Jubilee only. I also think she was hiding the fact she knew me personally to avoid showing favoritism.
"Yes, you're highness. I am so glad you wish to try my family's cherries. I can promise your enjoyment." Miss Jubilee then presented the bag to Princess Luna.
"Thank you. Guard, you may leave. I wish to spend some time with them." The guard then bowed his head and left us.
"Please, come inside. Let us talk to pass the time." We then followed Princess Luna into her chambers and we then saw two ponies I did NOT expect to see: Pinkie Pie and Maud Pie.
"What in the-?!" Just before I could say anything, Pinkie Pie then grabbed onto me and held me tight.
"I'M SO GLAD YOU'RE ALRIGHT, DIANE! I WAS SO WORRIED! When I found out you were gone and then I met you again, and lots of other stuff happened and...and...!" I was being swung about in her embrace and my world started spinning.
"Forgive me, Diane, but I have planned for this to happen. Though, I did not expect this to happen so...abruptly." I was too dizzy to focus my attention. I was then freed from Pinkie's embrace and we all sat down. I have never felt so awkward in my brief life.
"Sorry to say this, Diane, but I was also in on this plan. Princess Luna came to me in my dreams and we made this plan for you to meet with your 'real' family. So was Tough Love. This meeting is why she gave you the day off." I can't believe they all set me up like this.
"I told Pinkie about you, Diane. I told her that you have been safe all this time. Apparently, she knew about you all this time." Maud sat on my right while Pinkie sat on my left. This...is too uncomfortable.
"When Maud told me about you and your family, I was super happy for you! You must be super-duper happy! What are they like?! Are they nice like Cherry Jubilee?! Do you really work in a bakery?! Is it like Sugar Cube Corner?!" I don't know which one of her questions to answer first....
"Pinkie Pie, I think we should stop with the questions and get to the point of this meeting." I'm glad Princess Luna is the one to end this madness because I'm not sure how long I can take this....
"As you may know, Pinkie Pie and Diane Pie are two of the same pony. Yet they are both very different. And that is why I had them meet face to face. So here is my question: What will you two do?" They then looked at Pinkie Pie and myself and were expecting an answer. We both looked at each other and it was like looking at a mirror.
"Well, I want to be friends with her! We could have all kinds of fun together! Twilight and everypony would love to mee-" That was where I stopped her.
"Pinkie Pie, I do not want that." My words shocked her and the others.
"But why...? Did I do something wrong?" She gave me a sad look, but I was not changing my decision.
"Your friends could never accept a pony like me. If they could, then all those other Pinkie's would still be around, right?" That fear still lingered. I wasn't there to see it for myself, but I know what they did. I will not let that happen to me. Pinkie Pie was the most shocked for what I said. But I will not take it back.
"Diane, I am aware of what happened and I understand your fear. The fear of being removed completely. After all, it happened to me once before...."
"No, you don't, Princess Luna. You were banished to the Moon and you returned. Should I be removed, I can't return at all. Those other Pinkie's may not have been 'real', but I am and I am not going to disappear. Not after becoming my own pony." It then fell silent after all I have said. Whatever they had in mind, it could never work.
"Diane, I'm sorry.... I just...wanted to make my friends...happy. But I only caused them trouble.... And now I'm causing trouble for...somepony else." Pinkie's mane then became deflated and her coat became dark. She looked almost like me.
"Diane, I know what I did was....terrible. And I felt many sad feelings. I felt unreal.... I felt empty.... And I felt...broken. Maybe those other Pinkie Pie's could have been happy like you, but...."
"But what, Pinkie? Because you're the 'Real' Pinkie Pie, they shouldn't exist? Am I not real to you? Do I not have the right to exist? And what about you Maud? Can I even be called your sister at all?" Feelings of anger and fear began filling my mind as this entire conversation continued. I noticed Maud and Luna both had tense expressions on their faces. Perhaps they knew this conversation was going nowhere too....
"Diane, you need to calm down. I know you're afraid and you don't trust them, but they want to help you. They all called you here to accept you. Maybe...if you gave them a chance, I'm sure you can work things out. Just...give them one chance. That's all you have to do...." Miss Jubilee expects me to actually do this? And with the one pony I want nothing to do with?
"Diane, as your friend, I ask that you try to open yourself to other ponies. I do not want you to be lonely like I am. You can bring much happiness to yourself and others if you just...reach out to others. That, I can assure you." Princess Luna...do you feel lonesome? Do you really? With all this weighing heavily on my shoulders, I grinded my teeth and took a deep breath. I then faced Pinkie Pie and her eyes was streaming tears.
I gave a deep sigh, "Pinkie....I will give you a cha-MPH!" Pinkie's mane then became poofy, her coat became light-pink again, and she grabbed me in her embrace again.
"THANK YOU, DIANE! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!" I was being swung about in her embrace...again.
"I'm so happy. So is Boulder." Maud gave a little smile. She must be overjoyed.
"I'm so happy for you, Diane~! You're finally opening up to other ponies~!" Miss Jubilee then joined Pinkie in her embrace. I'm getting smothered....
"I will aide you as much as I can. But this is something only you must do, Diane. Just try your best."
I then freed myself from the embrace, "I'll try.... I'll try." Miss Jubilee and I then left the castle and were about to take our leave.
"I hope we can talk soon, Diane! We'll get to have lots and lots of fun together!" Pinkie is about as excited as Miss Jubilee. I just hope there won't be any more of her embraces.
"I'll join you as well. I'll be sure to bring some rock candy for us to enjoy." Maud is also going to spend time with us? This is too much....
"Until then, take care of yourselves. Farewell." We then began to leave as Princess Luna saw us out.
"Bye! Until next time!" Pinkie and Maud both waved goodbye as we left.
"See you later!" Miss Jubilee and I both waved goodbye as we left. Just what have I gotten myself into...?