Aftermath of A Fallen Star
By Rated Ponystar
Edited by The Unnamed Pawn and Commander X5
Pre-Read by: Magic Man
Many Voices, One Traitor Part 3 (Pinkie Pie’s POV)
***
I hadn’t slept in my old bed for a long time. I can’t even remember when I did. My room was still the same as when I left it. The balloon wallpapers, the funny clown nightlight, the rainbow colored fan on my pink ceiling with a big smiley face on it. I stared at that face, wondering if I was ever gonna have something similar ever again.
After what we’ve learned, I don’t think we’ll ever be happy again.
Of course we’ll be happy again! We just need to turn our frown upside down, forgive Marble, and we can all have a big party!
Forgive that lying and betraying witch? Buck her. I say we throw her down the stairs and break her neck.
But what about the baby?!
You mean the spawn of the one who orchestrated Twilight’s death? Better to kill it now before it kills somepony else we care about!
Hey! That baby may be from a meany pants but that doesn’t mean that we should judge it to be the same as it’s daddy! Besides! I’ve always wanted to be an auntie and spoil my niece or nephew!
I took my pillow and covered my head with it in a vain attempt to stop their arguing. They had been going on about the foal for an hour; now even my medication hadn't silenced them for long. I was out of them, and it would take some time before I could get more. The only time I ever had to go through my supply of meds in one go was when Discord returned.
The rest of my family wasn’t doing too well either. I could still hear Maud crushing boulders outside in an attempt to sway her anger. I didn’t know who she was angry at. Blueblood, for getting our sister pregnant after using her. Marble, for being so foalish. Or herself, for not being there to protect her little sister. Limestone has been trying to coax Marble to leave her room she locked herself in. She had given up awhile ago.
Mother and Father were, naturally, arguing over what was best for Marble and our family.
“She has to get rid of that baby,” said my father below the crack of my room. “We have no other alternative. If she does keep it and word gets out on who the father is, it will not only ruin her but our entire family as well.You saw what happened to most families of the conspirators after their executions. Ruined beyond repair. By Faust’s tail, if they find out she is pregnant they’ll investigate and might even find out that Marble gave them the metal to kill Twilight. They might even have her charged for treason.”
Wh-what will they do if she was found as a conspirator?! We don’t want to lose our sister... do we?!
YES!
NO!
“Igneous Jeremiah Rock Pie,” scolded my mother. “I never thought I would hear that you, of all the ponies in the world, demand that your daughter get an abortion. After all the funding you have given to Pro-Life organizations and all the speeches you have given about how babies, even in their wombs, are the most precious things there is, you suddenly want to become a hypocrite. You didn’t even budge when Princess Twilight, Faust rest her soul, revealed herself to be Pro-Choice and was working to legalize it in other cities. You stayed firmed.”
“This is different, Cloudy, and you know it,” growled my father. “This is more than just a political or principal difference, this is our daughter’s future we are talking about! Maybe her life! Do you believe the baby would be given a fair shot at life if the truth ever came out?”
Daddy really is scary when he’s angry. I hope he didn’t drink too much.
Please, if he was really drunk he’d be screaming from here to high heavens.
“Principles are how we of the Pie family managed to stay successful for hundreds of years,” pointed out Cloudy. “Have you ever thought what your daughter wants? She is old enough to make her own decisions.”
“And look where that got her,” muttered Igneous Rock.
“Yes, but is it not similar to how we got Maud? You and I were barely eighteen when we had her and you married me,” pointed out Cloudy.
My ears perked up upon hearing this. This was news to me.
“Back then, I loved you. And I still do. I just...” I heard Igneous Rock sigh and something slam on the table. “I just want to protect my daughters...”
I heard a chair move followed by hoofsteps. “I know, dear. Faust will help us see through this. She always has. She gave us four miracles and another miracle by giving us a chance to help Pinkie deal with her... voices. This foal is also a miracle, despite how it came to be.” There was a brief minute of silence.
Hey! She’s talking about us!
“But we must not lose faith in her. Nor in each other.”
I hugged my pillow closer to my chest and whimpered. What were we gonna do? What should I do? I wanted... no, I needed Twilight. She would know what to do. She would tell me what the right thing to do was.
You already know what the right thing to do is.
My eyes widened and I was sure my breath stopped as well. All was silent, even my voices, upon hearing the voice. I slowly sat up, wondering if I had finally gone crazy or if this was real.
“T-T-T-Twilight?”
I’m here, Pinkie. I’m here.
What the hay are you doin-
“Quiet!” I shouted, as tears fell from my eyes. I had heard this voice a few times before, mixed in with the others. The reason I didn’t want to take my medicine for such a long time was her voice alone. My friend’s voice. The voice of Twilight Sparkle, who always lead the way. “I missed you...”
I miss you too, Pinkie Pie. But I’m not the one you should be talking too. It’s your sister.
Hey that’s what I was think-
SILENCE!
My voices went quiet.
You three and everypony else in her head have caused her nothing but misery! You will stay quiet or, so help me, I will silence you myself!
And just like that... it stopped.
I felt something in my head. Something I had never felt before in years. It was so strange, so alien to me that I forgot the word for it until I remembered that Twilight already said it. It was silence.
Sweet sweet silence. For the first time, since the voices started, I was the master of my own head. No thoughts but my one except for one other.
I wish you had told me you had this.... ‘condition’, when I was alive. I could have helped you.
“I... I was scared... that none of you would be my friend if you knew,” I whispered. Truth was, I never told any of my friends about my curse. Very few ponies even knew. “I’m so sorry.”
Pinkie Pie, don’t apologize. I would still be your friend regardless, and as your friend, I need to help you. I listened closely. Pinkie, you have to forgive Marble and help her take care of the filly.
“... I know,” I answered. “I knew that even before. It’s the right thing to do, but... can I do it?”
Yes, you can.
“How?”
Because you’re Pinkie Pie.
My eyebrows raised up.
You’re the pony whose sole purpose is to make ponies happy. You can turn any frown upside down. You are the Element of Laughter, who spreads hope and joy in even in the deepest darkness. This world is in the darkness, Pinkie. Our friends, family, Princess Celestia, Spike. Everypony is in despair because I died... and there is nopony I trust more in this world to save them and make them laugh again than you.
“You... have that much faith in me?” something began to stretch across my muzzle. Something very familiar and very warm. Something was also bubbling in my chest. The fun kind! The kind that makes you... makes you...
Pinkie Pie, I never lost faith in you.
.... smile.
I was smiling. Honest to Faust smiling. My hair was still down, my eyes were still crying. But I was smiling! Smiling! Smiling! Smiling! The bubbling in my chest released itself as I giggled. Giggled! I almost forgot how that feels.
“Are... are you the real Twilight? Or just another voice?”
I’m your friend, Pinkie Pie. That’s all that matters. Now, I’m afraid I have to go.
I gasped. “No! Please! I want you to stay with me! Even if you're not real, please stay with me.
I’m always going to be with you, Pinkie. I’ll never leave you or anypony. I’m always in your heart and in the magic of friendship. As long as that magic continues to flourish in Equestria or anywhere in the world, I will be there.
I rubbed my misty eyes. “I... I love you...”
And I love you.
And then she was gone. I didn’t feel her anymore. That one voice, the one voice that ever tried to help me, was gone. The other voices were slowly returning, but I didn’t care about them anymore. I had a duty to do. I got up and ran out my door and into the hall. I passed by Maud and Limestone who were talking. I smiled at them (the looks on their faces! HA!) and waved before entering my other sister’s room where she was laying on her bed.
I must have scared her good cause she gave a yip as I dived right in and hugged her without warning. Oh, this is so warm! So nice! When I get home to Ponyville I’m going to hug the first pony I see! And then the second pony. Third pony! Fourth pony! Ah, hay, I’ll hug everypony!
“P-P-Pinkie?!” shouted Mable as I looked at her with my smiling face. Plus, I think my hair was getting poofier. I don’t know.
“So what’s the name?!” I demanded with anticipation.
“N-name?”
“Of our newest member of our family, duh! I was thinking Joey Spaloosy if its a boy or Pippy Loopy if it’s a girl!” I cheerfully said. “Of course, if you already have a name, I mean it’s your baby, then I need to know for the shower!”
“Shower?” asked my three sisters, the other two entering the room.
“Baby shower! We need to have one now that you're pregnant!” I said before pressing my ear against my sister’s tummy. “Oooh, he or she sounds excited for it too.”
“Pinkie... I thought... I thought...” muttered Marble.
‘Thought what?” I asked as I looked at my sister, tilting my head.
“I thought you hated me?”
I blinked only once before I gave a small smile and gently placed my hooves around her. Resting my head on her shoulder, I whispered, “I don’t hate you. I forgive you.” I felt her straighten up upon hearing those words. “You’re my sister. You were just trying to find love and got used. I don’t hate you, I love you and I love your baby. And I’ll do everything I can to make you and your foal happy.”
“... why?”
I smiled and gave her a wink. “Because I’m Pinkie Pie.”
My sister’s lower lip trembled before she gave out a wail and hugged me. And I hugged her back. Maud and Limestone soon joined us. The four of us. Sisters. Hugging each other.
My mind thought back to the day I left the farm for the Cakes. How Marble was the one to hug my in my room and later my sister’s joined in to let me know how much they love me. Now I was the one to hug Marble.
And I knew that everything was going to be alright.
Plus, my hair was puffy again and I like it looking like cotton candy thank you.
***
The Pink Balloon returned home in Ponyville
The next day the entire town was filled with balloons, streamers, cakes, and more
She got up on the town center and shouted for a party
And slowly, the smiles returned
Sorry I don't see Twilight being pro abort.
I wonder about that Twilight voice, can she actually return or is that just a stablizing voice for Pinkie?
And now Pinkie Pie can heal. Though I wonder if the voice is truly Twilight's magic helping her or just a more powerful voice that Pinkie Pie uses to save herself?
5528855
I kinda do. Twilight I can see that kind of person who is an a Pro-choice opinion.
5528861
Up to the reader to decide
5528870 No, she loves life And she is a logical caring being.
Uh, I think you already established that Marble knew what she was getting into when she fell in love with Blueblood. He may have played to her weaknesses, but she still made the decision to concieve a child with him, and to get drunk enough to tell Blueblood where to find the metal.
I don't quite think she's a victim of Blueblood's greed, she was more of an unwitting pawn. She unintentionally provided him with the means to silence his political rival.
5528898
True, not what I was trying to say. I'll fix that
A... a good ending for Pinkie?! A really really optimistic ending with the warm fuzzies?!
... Right before we are maybe completely crushed by how this affected Spike.
5528915
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I'll be honest, bringing talk of abortion into the story wasn't a good idea. Granted its only for this chapter and likely won't pop up again but I'm just not a fan of inserting the pro-life/pro-choice debate into My Little Pony. That aside though well written chapter. Looking forward to Peewee's chapter especially since it'll have some insight into how poor Spike's doing.
5528930
Normally, I don't either. But such a topic is bound to come up in a case like this in real life and it's still something people will relate too. As much as I didn't want to do it, I felt it was something that could add drama to the scene. That being said, however, I will not be bringing it up again.
Excellent chapter and a good end to the Pinkie story though I hope if you get to it we can learn more about the child and how he/she grew up. Also I noticed an error in the author's note; in there you say Twilight is Pro-life when it is pro-choice.
There is a point with marble out of her room I assume that was ment to be maud
A good end to the Pinkie Pie portion of the story. For a while, I was afraid it would go the same direction as Cupcakes. Glad to find that wasn't the case, and can't wait to see who you write about next!
5528886
Wouldn't it be more logical for her not to get involve or voice weather she is for either. I see Twilight more likely trying to not involve herself in such politics for, the Pro-Life/Choice is a more personal decision made by experience Twilight lacks and when she lacks something she goes to book, list, pros and cons and not form a decisions.
And I can name a lot of pros and cons.
Pro Choice: give the child a chance to live, free any possible guilty conscious, create potential family or influential people, and moral absolution if the parent can move on.
Pro Abort: fewer children in a broken/over-staff foster system if mother puts them in the system as they are unable or willing to care for such children, less likely the unloved child is abused, fewer potential ruined lives or evil people, less likely to ruin a woman's health and physic depending how the child was conceived (health, age and rape).
I am not saying pro-choice for it doesn't mater what I think. This is about what I think Twilight think. This is me seeing what I think Twilight would, and that is stepping away from such discussion and leave it in more experience hands or society to decide, as episodes show Twilight dislike taking a side unless it deals with knowledge or if its to protect her friends.
Abortion is always a tricky topic, but it would be absolutely illogical if this question didn´t pop up given the current situation, whether it is fantasy or real life. So, I´m grateful you added it. From me you´ll only hear that I am by Twilight´s side; letting the parents decide since there are many circumstances that can lead to the idea of... ehem... getting rid of the yet to be born baby. But I respect your opinion as I am sure you respect mine.
5528886
So you basically just said anyone who is Pro-Choice is an illogical being who does not love life. You're really going to start THIS debate on a story we came here to enjoy? Do you want to go down this path, insulting everyone who doesn't think like you because you're so certain that your way is objectively right?
Shit you don't bring up in social situations, ever:
Religion.
Politics.
Abortion, the bastard child of both. (Which probably should have been aborted!)
5528930
Any debate started is from the stupidity of the readers, who should have learned by now not to set off comment wars by starting off with their mouths wide open on a sensitive topic. That does not mean it should not be present in fictional material. Otherwise we should also go through and remove from all stories any sort of tribalism/racism (despite being canonically represented!) as well as any references to alicorns being religious symbols, and indeed relegate all mention of the princesses or supposed governmental bodies to the background in order to not stir up debate just because some people can't stop themselves from dragging up the Three Triggers. I mean, Marble was essentially raped if I remember correctly, under heavy inebriation when she agreed to this? No one complained about that, but they'll certainly complain about this?
It is not the author's fault. Blame the people who are responsible for starting such issues. Then laugh at them for being dumb, while patting yourself on the back for not being them.
I had to read this line three times for it to make sense. "Didn't" should be "hadn't", as in "even my medication hadn't silenced them for long." and there should really be either a comma or a semicolon between "now" and "even".
"Could". "before I could get more."
In this case, it would be "widened"
"you had told me"
"Than". Then is time, than is comparative.
5529062 Unless a mother is in danger yes. And blame the author to bring the issue up. Consider who her mentor is and the family that raised Twilight. She would be taught to treasure life for Celestia herself knows how fragile it is.
If there is anywhere on the internet where people aren't going to duke it out over social issues, it's here, on this site, and with this writer. Honestly, this is one of the few place I have seen people be cordial to one another during debates on issues they disagree about (namely, the afterlife) If flame wars spread here, I will be surprised.
5528999 personally I think Equestria does not have this issue. Or at least be a very big thing that it is here.
This issue is personal for me because I was adopted. My mom was single and she could have easily had me aborted, but instead she allowed me to live and I have a loving family.
The problem with the issue of the day is that most of the leaders of the pro-life movement only seem to care about the lives in question up until they're delivered.
5528936
Well given the situation it was bound to come up and you pulled it off pretty well. It's just that whenever abortion is brought up in a story the debates that follow tend to get really ugly(though so far things are pretty calm, maybe I'm just worrying about this too much).
If am I right, after finishing Peewee you are gonna work with Big Mac and Applebloom, and i suposse those are gonna serve as prologue storys to AJ, just as Maud was to Pinkie.
5529126
In other words, you are forcing your personal views onto the characters and saying that characters you like obviously feel the way you do despite no context or evidence, simply just your headcanon which you are presenting as near-factual. Then you also go on to say the author is at fault because you couldn't keep your mouth shut?
Please, it's puff-puff-pass, and I'm still waiting for my hit.
5529167
Mac is actually gonna focus on AJ's issues and AB is not touching AJ at all, but somepony else
Hrm... so Twilight exists... of a sort... on? Is this going to be happy ending? I imagine it would be a bit of whiplash if she some how came to life again, or will she become some sort of spirit, being bound to Magic means that she exists as long as magic exists. Without a physical form, she becomes something of a spirit or guide, possibly for the rest of the Mane 6, or for Equestria as a whole.
Author never touched on if Celestia/Luna are likewise mortal (though very hard to kill) or if they are truly immortal.
Funny how I see this right after reading about all the Americans getting arrested for natural miscarriages...
5529183
Celestia and Luna can be killed, they are not gods. And Twilight is not coming back to life. As for her being in spirit or if that was just another random voice, I leave that up to the readers
Twilight silenced the voices in Pinkie's head!? Whoa...
5529190
Personally, I'm going with half and half, in the sense that after knowing someone intimately for such a long time, it's like you carry something of an imprint of them along with you. You can know how they'd react, know what they'd most likely say, can almost hear them saying it if you really wanted to. It's all in Pinkie's head (literally and figuratively), but is still essentially Twilight. I believe that feels the most poignant, and displays the depth of their friendship - as well as how helpful Twilight was to Pinkie that even such an imprint could drown out her other selves.
Also because if Twilight appeared only to Pinkie and no one else, that'd feel a bit deus ex machina and sort of unfair to her other friends and family.
5529179 again look at what we've seen in Equestria. We've only had 1 confirmed bad guy death. And again a ageless being ruling for ages. And a common theme for long lived good beings in treasuring life.
5529190 ooohhhh pooo!
5529027
Not to mention writing the opposing side to such a divisive issue in such a positive light while writing the side you agree with in a negative light purely for the sake of maintaining characterization.
5528936 You absolutely did the right thing when bringing up this extremely sensitive topic. Heck, I couldn't tell which side of the debate you were on until you stated it yourself at the end. Good on you! Keep being awesome!
5529268
Yes, I am a pro-life person and I am against abortion (I'm Catholic). That doesn't mean I don't respect other people's believes nor am I against writing characters who are pro-choice.
Hell, if you want me to be completely honest. I am a religious person, but Twilight in my head-cannon is either Agnostic or Atheist.
5529240
Again, you continue to prove my point. I think we're done here. You go right on thinking you're right, I don't have a problem with that. I have a problem with it when you start insulting other readers with your comments, and pushing blame off on someone innocent (the author) for something YOU did. It's irresponsible, immature, and ass-backwards. Assume responsibility for your own shortcomings, they are not someone else's fault.
Wow. Pinkie is so mentally unstable she created a Twilight Persona in her mind to advise her. Here sudden super happy 180 at the end kinda came off as creepy to me.
5529305 And where did i insult? I stated my view and defended it. ANY author opens themselves up for this whenever they put in such an issue.
5529217
I like this interpretation.
one of the best and strongest families ever, this chapter made me so happy
5529343
Right here: 5528886
And when 5529062 called you on it, you outright confirmed it: 5529126
It's really quite shameful of you that you brought up this issue by indulging in base personal attacks. And it's also quite shameful that you're now trying to deny what you did, even though you personally confirmed it earlier. The author, in stark contrast to you, demonstrated the proper way to bring up this issue by being fair and measured with it.
5529781 BECAUSE I DID NOT PERSONALLY ATTACK ANY ONE!
And fine lest go on it. Except for medical reasons, where as mother's life in danger. Abortion is a cheap out for careless people. They're are plenty of families willing to adopt. Those who were raped, I'm sorry for that but NEVER blame the child for the sins of the father. Don't want to raise it fine, but don't kill it. Also the abortion operation can injure a woman or even threaten her life. THUS abortion is an illogical move outside of medical reasons.
Saying a position is illogical is not insulting the people. It is stating a belief.
And again ANY author who brings these issues up will start a debate.
I go back to my first comment on this chapter. I thought that considering her mentor, the family dynamic we have seen, and how she has acted leads me to believe she be prolife over pro abort. that's all. others jumped on me.
So Shade the real shame is you guys/gals attack me for stating a view and jumping on me.
This is probably my least favourite chapter just because it seems Marble got off easy.
I'm going to assume it wasn't actually Twilight. Because Twilight probably would have used this chance to tell someone "Oh yeah, don't let the innocent suffer over this." Unless she wants the innocent to suffer over her death, but that seems out of character.
5530004
Got off easy? For what? She didn't know what was going to happen, she was used and discarded as soon as she wasn't useful anymore.
Been a while since we've had a happy end.
Althought I have a small gripe with the abortion part of the conversation between Pinkie's parents. It felt a little "forced".
"Marble"
5530061 Yet she knowingly gave away family secrets to a stranger not only that but that blunder lead to a murder. She isn't innocent just because she is/was ignorant.
Great chapter, but in all honesty the "abortion debate" feels more like a distraction than controversial. I would have rather seen more of Pinkie's turmoil or more about Marble's fate.