//------------------------------//
// Chapter 2 
// Story: Looking Back 
// by baconcake 
//------------------------------//

      Spike's sobbing fit lasted for a few minutes until he was finally able to pull himself together. He lifted his head from his hands to realize that his throat now ached, and his eyes were left with that annoying, post-crying stinging sensation. Spike heaved a heavy sigh and, after wiping his tears, fell back onto the hard cave floor. Remembering, he thought, why is it so hard? Granny Smith was able to look through her old photo albums without shedding a tear. In fact, she even laughed quite a bit.
      Spike sighed again and rolled over on his stomach. He let his head rest on his hands and closed his eyes, the position he always chose when in deep thought. Spike loathed what he was about to do. And his loathing soon became dreading. And his dreading soon became despising. Spike didn't want to have to remember, but putting it off would only make the dread build up inside of him, causing more pain. So, with much difficulty, Spike began to think back.
      He began with the pony who popped up first in his mind, Pinkie Pie. What was it about Pinkie Pie that made her the pink, swirling ball of energy that she was? Of course, sugar was the obvious answer, but sugar doesn't give someone unbelievable party throwing prowess. Sugar didn't create the funniest mare that Spike had ever known. Sugar didn't give one the unstoppable drive to make sure that everyone around her was as upbeat and happy as she was. Sugar didn't make her heart beat for everyone else in the world but her. But it could have. Just once. If it had beat for her on Spike's 75th birthday, everything would have been alright.

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      "OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH..." she took a breath. "OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH for he's a jolly good dragon, for he's a jolly good dragon, for he's a jolly good dragon, which is why i baked him lots of yummy cupcakes!"
      After Pinkie Pie half sung, half screamed her non-rhyming ode to Spike, she removed the flowery, pink tarp from the table. Spike saw why the tarp was there in the now messier, but even pinker Pinkie Pie owned Sugarcube Corner. On the table was the the most delicious sight that Spike had ever seen. Pinkie Pie's Extra Special Super Duper Just for Spike Gemstone Cupcakes. Emerald flavored, sapphire flavored, ruby flavored, amethyst flavored... Spike's mouth watered at the mere thought of sinking his teeth into these delectable pastries.
      "Well?" Pinkie Pie now stood before him with that trademark smile plastered on her face, jerking him out of his admiration.
      "Pinkie," Spike breathed, "this is... amazing. You've outdone yourself.
      Pinkie smiled triumphantly. She had succesfully made yet another citizen of Ponyville happy. Spike would never understand Pinkie. She was the most enigmatic pony Spike had ever met. He could never comprehend why she did the things that she did. But then again, could anybody?
      Spike observed the now aged Pinkie Pie. Besides the burden of age rasping her voice and graying her fur, it had had no effect on her. In fact, Spike was sure that she had actually gotten more Pinkie-like with age. While other ponies slowed down, she sped up. While other ponies dragged their hooves, she seemed to bounce higher. The only explanation that Spike could ever think of was that she was some kind of a superhero, but whenever he'd ask her about this, she would just giggle and say, "They would call me Super Pinkie, Defender of Cupcakes!" and would pretend to fly off into the distance, satisfied with the title that her childlike imagination had cooked up.
      As Spike stated earlier, it truly was amazing. Not just the cupcakes, not just the party, but Spike's current life. He had his beautiful wife, Rarity, by his side, his new job acting as a diplomat between dragons and ponies was enjoyable and well paying, and all of his friends were happy and always there for him. Everything, though not perfect, left nothing for Spike to complain about. He was, in a word, happy.
      "Alright everypony, let's PARTY!" At that, Pinkie Pie strode over to a large sound system and pressed a button, and the room was filled with booming party music. The whole town seemed to be there, getting their groove on. All for Spike. It was truly a good day.
      About an hour into the party, Spike remembered that he should probably thank Pinkie Pie for really pulling out all the stops this year. He found his way through the busy crowd looking for her until something caught his eye. In the corner of the room, Spike saw what looked like a grayish-pinkish mass. Oh no. This was bad. This was very bad. Spike walked toward the laying-down Pinkie Pie and rolled her over so he could see her face.
      She just lay there, shuddering, looking up at Spike but missing the usual light that seemed to shine from her eyes. Oh Celestia, this was bad.
Figuring Twilight might know what to do, Spike called her over. She suddenly became very serious and cleared everyone from the party but Spike, Fluttershy, Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Rarity. Immediatly, Twilight ran for a doctor.
      In about 10 minutes, Twilight returned with a doctor at her side. Rarity had used her magic to put Pinkie Pie in her bed, where she lay with a pulse, but unconsious. At once, the doctor strode into Pinkie's bedroom, telling the rest to wait outside.
      After the longest 15 minutes of Spike's life, the doctor walked slowly out of the room to deliver the worst news that Spike, up to that point in his life, had ever recieved.
      "About six months ago," he began, "I diagnosed Pinkie Pie with lung cancer. I told her that she had approximately five to seven months to live. She seemed sad, but even more worried about how she would tell her friends. She said that she didn't want to worry you. I'm terribly sorry, but within the hour, your friend will have passed away. She's awake, so I reccomend you say your final goodbyes." And he left.
      Spike just stood there, feeling like he had been kicked in the stomach. Pinkie Pie was dying? That couldn't happen. Who would always be there to cheer him up when he was down? Who would delight him with the most delicious food he had ever eaten? Who would be there to give him the best hugs ever? She would be leaving. She would be gone forever. 
      And then, out of nowhere, the cool, composed Twilight Sparkle spoke. 
      "So... i guess we should all say goodbye."
    The six friends all walked in to see the soon to be missing piece from their puzzle lay in her bed with a weak smile on her face. Rainbow Dash flew directly above Pinkie and began to scream, "Why didn't you tell us, you idiot?!?" hot tears springing from her eyes.
      Pinkie Pie gave a little chuckle, not at all surprised by Rainbow Dash's brash behavior. "Because, Dashie, you guys have enough to worry about. You don't need me on your plate as well."
      Rainbow Dash sunk to the side of the bed and began to sob heavily into the sheets. Spike and the rest of the ponies all cried silently to themselves for a few minutes until Pinkie, through obvious pain, spoke up. "Where are the rest of the guests, Twi?"
      "I sent them all home, Pinkie," she replied, taking a break from her weeping.
      "Awww, you party pooper." Pinkie said in disapointment. "There's probably still cake in there..."
      Then something happened that nobody expected. The usually calm, calculating Twilight Sparkle ran up to Pinkie and wrapped her forelegs around her. "Please, Pinkie!" she yelled through her tears. "Please stay here. We need you. I need you!"
      For a moment, Pinkie Pie was silent as she thought up a response. Suddenly, she said, "Oh Twilight, i can't do that. Leave the jokes to me, you silly goose." And Twilight's loud crying began again.
      After about a minute of nothing but crying, Pinkie spoke again.
      "Ever since i was a filly, I wanted to make others smile. That was all that I really wanted in life, and I seemed to be good at it. I didn't know why I enjoyed it so much, but i did, and I didn't question it. But this morning when i was baking Spike's cupcakes, I figured today might be my last. So what was the point of my life? Did I make ponies smile? And why? And then I realized, happiness is contagious. No matter how down I was, if I made you guys smile, I would smile too! It was a game where I had to see how happy I could make myself." She smiled up at the ceiling. "Looks like I won."
      The six standing friends let the impact of what Pinkie said hit them. She had never said anything so meaningful. Then being Pinkie, she interrupted their peaceful thoughts.
      "Hey guys, what do you get when you cross a bunny with an ursa major?"
      Applejack smiled through her tears and answered, "I don't know, Pinkie, what do ya get?"
      Pinkie grinned and delivered the punchline. "You should never cross an ursa major." Pinkie giggled at her own joke. After a few seconds of laughing, she closed her eyes, that peaceful smile frozen on her face forever.

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      Spike sat staring at the cave wall, tears in his eyes. That was more painful than he had anticipated. But all of a sudden, he started to snicker, and that snicker turned into a giggle, and that giggle turned into a roaring laugh that must have lasted a full minute. After he was able to calm himself, he wiped the tears of joy and sadness from his eyes and whispered to himself, "Never cross an ursa major... I get it."