> Invisible Walls
>  by Harmony Charmer
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Prologue
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	When I was little, I always had a smile on my face. It sounds cliche, but it was true. I loved having fun and making people happy more than anything else in the world. Clean the dishes for mom? Anything to help! Not telling on my brother for pulling my hair? I don't see why not! 

But, I didn't age mentally like the other children like I "should" have, though. I thought if I did, I would stop being so nice. It sounds ridiculous, but I guess some part of me knew that with growing up, meant giving up your innocence. So, this caused me to be a victim of bullying. I didn't let it bother me, though. If it made them happy to see me knocked down, I was alright with it. 

One thing always kept me company as a child; My Little Pony. Now, this was back when they had straight-to-home My Little Pony movies and specials. One of my favorites was Minty's Christmas Special. I thought it was so sweet of Minty to go out of her way to make everypony happy. I didn't realize just how rare it was in my world.

I spent the early years of my life with my aunt, uncle and cousin. My cousin owned all the My Little Pony movies and specials, and we watched them together practically every minute of every day. But, when my mom moved out, I had completely forgotten about My Little Pony; and everything went downhill from there. 

When we moved to a new school, I was a total outcast. No matter what I did, I couldn't make friends. All the lessons about friendship did nothing. And yes, I am extremely aware of how silly that sounds, but the bronies who watched the earlier generations like I did who happen to be reading this know what I'm talking about. 

And the friends I did make... weren't really my friends. It was because of my my idiocy I ended up getting in trouble for things my 'friends' blamed me for and stopped my schoolwork. For the next few years, I would befriend the "unpopular" people, pretend to be loyal, tell them lies in return, say mean things behind their back, "borrow" things from them and never give them back.

It was a rare occasion where I would tell these people the truth, but only because some of them were able to see through my facade. No matter how many lies and secrets were told, they held their end of the bargain and never told any of mine.

There were true aspects to my personality that I hid from everyone, for fear of ridicule. I absolutely loved to sing. Whenever no one was around, I sang my heart out, made up little rhymes and songs just for the fun of it. Heck, sometimes  sang about nothing and I still loved doing it! I sang until my lungs hurt, and danced around until my arms and legs ached with exhaustion. I didn't have the voice of a pop star and I bet I looked a flopping fish on the shore, but quite frankly, I didn't care; being me was something I flaunted, but only when no eyes were there to witness it. 

I also loved to bake. My mom had taught me everything I knew about baking, and when she had nothing else to teach me, I took Home Economics at school. No one suspected my true passion, because I constantly complained about it and made a big show of it. I made cupcakes, candies, and all sorts of treats. I would spend hours, making up different recipes and names for my sweet concoctions. But, I was still very afraid of people making fun of me.

But, my friend Amanda ruined everything for me. She had spray painted on the school wall and told the principal I did it. I didn't even know there was graffiti in the first place! But, they believed her and fined me with $500 for defacing public property. And if that weren't enough, they had the gall to send me to I.S.S.(In School Suspension). For weeks, I would be stuck with all the real troublemakers, one of which I bet was a drug dealer. I was given piles of work and hours of solitude. 

After I was finally released, rumors had spread like wildfire. I would hear whispers and snickers as I walked by. Whenever I went to sit down at lunch, people would actually move to stay away from me. Whenever I looked over at the table where Amanda sat, where I used to sit, she would just turn to one of her cronies and start whispering in their ear and start laughing hysterically. One day, when I walked in, someone had the nerve to throw their food at me. It was Sloppy Joe day, so it got all over me and I had to go to the office for a change of clothes. The teachers never saw who, but I bet my butt Amanda had something to do with it.

The next day, when I was walking down the aisle, someone tripped me. When I fell, my tray flew into the air and my spaghetti landed all over me.  I looked up and saw Amanda, grinning like a hyena. Her message was clear; You don't belong here. She sat up, looked appalled and screamed, "Oh my, God, she wet herself!" Following her outburst was an evil laugh unlike any I've heard. I looked down and saw my milk carton burst open and landed on my pants, making it look like I had wet myself.

Everyone started laughing hysterically and fingers were pointed in my direction. I ran out of the cafeteria, sobbing like a baby. I ran past several faculty, who yelled as I ran past, but I didn't care. I ran into the girls bathroom and cried my eyes out. The next day, I walked into the lunch detention room and sat there. The faculty were confused as to why I would want to be there willingly, but allowed it. I spent all of my lunches in there for the rest of the school year.

I pulled myself away from everyone, refusing to make any contact whatsoever. I delved into my studies, trying to make up for all the mistakes I made in the years before. Each week that passed, regular class work grew boring to me and less challenging. By the end of seventh grade, I had earned myself a place in AP classes for next year.

It was in my time of being studious that the whispers in the hall grew louder and more aggressive with each passing moment. With each covered conversation and hushed laugh, it only drove me to excel even further. I soon learned they didn't teach you anything more than regular classes; they just gave you more work. 

In a fit of anger, I demanded that I be taught like I was actually advanced, not someone you give busywork because you're too lazy to teach(and yes, I actually said that to the teacher's face). The school didn't ignore me and actually offered to let me take High School courses early, which I gladly accepted. But, it was because of my hissy fit, I was too busy with schoolwork to express myself in the private time I had put so much effort in to preserving.

It was when winter break hit the torture began.

After we moved out of my cousin's house, my mom had been trying to start her own business. She was always out, trying to find clients and a workplace. She was working hard to provide for our family, her being a single mother. She was constantly stressed out about bills and pay days from her clients. And because of me being blamed for Amanda's graffiti, I became her personal assistant; no pay at all. 

I would run into the courthouse to get papers she needed, bring back receipts, check her file, check her mail, carry heavy boxes that almost broke my back and run all sorts of errands that cause me nothing but torture and stress. For hours, I would sit there and listen to court hearings, seminars and all sorts of boring events, while dressing in formal clothes that made me itch and nearly squeezed me to death. And because I foolishly accepted the early high school courses, whenever I wasn't working, I was studying for the school year. 

The highlights of my summer were my short visits to my cousin's house. Those days where I would sprawl on her couch and she would just talk, talk, talk until I thought my ears were going to fall off were probably the best of my life. Of all the people I had ever had a relationship with, she was my true, true friend. One night, when I was sleeping over, we were watching a movie.I don't remember what movie we were watching, but it must have been a good one, because she only talked during the commercials(which I found was a miracle within itself). 

When it went to commercial and the chain of silence was broken, I saw a scene of a pink cartoon pony trotting up to a purple one , gasping exaggeratedly, then running away. It then showed a little animation clip the pink pony saying, "My Little Pony; Friendship is Magic every Saturday, only on the Hub!"  A flash of Minty leaving her brightly colored socks on ponies fireplace went through my mind at that very moment. But, I didn't put any actual thought into the show until later on that week, right before school was about to start up for the second semester..

I was in my room, studying for geometry, when my brother called me into the living room where we had our computer. I knew better than to not listen to him, knowing he wouldn't quit until I did whatever he asked. Not wanting to waste time, I walked in to see him excitedly waiting for me. He then showed me a video from My Little Pony called "Pony Swag". The commercial I had seen a while ago flashed through my mind. I watched the video, because I was genuinely intrigued by the animation and how well put-together video was. 

He then begged for me to watch an episode, to which I reluctantly agreed. When it showed the opening, I noticed ponies from the old show, but their names weren't coming to mind at the moment. Then, when it showed Twilight walking into town, I saw that pink pony run up to Twilight and run away. I instantly freaked and screamed, "Pinkie Pie!" Her cutie mark was a dead giveaway for me. How come I hadn't noticed before?

When Pinkie Pie jumped out to surprise Twilight, and she began talking like she was being timed, I smiled after what felt like ages. When the episode ended, my mom kicked us off the computer to work. But, later that night, when I was done studying and mom was asleep, I watched the next episode. And when Pinkie Pie started laughing and singing to make the ghosties disappear, I had fallen in love with the show. But, I secretly hid my obsession, knowing no one would approve of my love for a show intended for little girls.

Pinkie Pie intrigued me the most of the six ponies. Sure, Fluttershy is adorable, but Pinkie Pie was so... well, different is one way of putting it. She always had a smile on her face, and she made it her goal to make everypony happy, even at her own expense. Whenever I watched her flash a smile and laugh hysterically at nothing, memories of me acting like that would flash through my mind. 

When I was in my room looking through my DVR late one night, I saw an episode in my list titled, "Griffon the Brush-Off". That episode is the why I am telling you this story. Pinkie Pie is so unbelievably kind. When Gilda was being mean to her, she threw a party for her, got presents for her and even made a special cake in her honor(even though she was being, like Pinkie said, "A big mean meanie pants"). And although it didn't go how she wanted, she still put all her effort into making Gilda feel welcome to Ponyville. Would anypony go to that much effort to let bygones be bygones? To make somepony you didn't like happy?

My eyes began to grow wet when Pinkie gave a heart-felt confession, saying that if she threw a party for her so she'd feel more welcome, that maybe Gilda wouldn't see a need to mean to everypony. Nobody in my world would ever go to that much trouble to do that for someone they hated. 

It made me realize how little my world actually cared about anything meaningful. I knew my world was cruel and hurtful, but it began to sink in deep. My heart aching, I sank into the depression and sorrow that had been building up so much over the years. How come I couldn't have friends? Every echo of the lies I told and the whispers down the halls began to ring through my mind like a bee that wouldn't stop buzzing.

"Hey, that's her! She's the one who vandalised the school!"

"Look who it is; the criminal!"

"Don't get too close; she probably bites!"

I looked out my window, hoping to get these horrible thoughts out of my head. Instead, the moon showed fully, making me sink even further than I thought. I looked away, hoping the pain would subside. I had immediately thought of Luna and how nopony paid her any attention. All alone, with no one to appreciate her. I looked up at the moon again, the pain not feeling as bad. 

Luna, you don't understand how important you are... The ponies wouldn't be able to play in the daytime if they couldn't rest in your beautiful night... I thought childishly, knowing she wouldn't be able to hear me. Luna really was a sweet pony... But nopony took the time to notice how important she was. Without night, nopony would be able to sleep. What's the point of daytime if there isn't a nighttime? 

How can people be so stupid?! I thought angrily, Luna's just as amazing as Celestia! I looked at the moon again and a small, but bright star caught my eye. Like a naive child, I recited the chant that had given me so much hope and so much more ache... 

Star light, so bright

First star I see tonight

I wish I may, I wish I might

Have this wish I wish tonight

I closed my eyes and made my wish, thinking- no, knowing, it wouldn't come true. "I wish that I lived somewhere I can be happy..."  And with that, I closed my eyes and fell into a deep slumber. And when I awoke, I wouldn't be able to believe my eyes.
> Chapter 1: Blank Flanks...? AND THE EVERFREE FOREST?
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Hello?" asked a voice.

"Do you think it's alive?" asked another.

"Of course it is! It's breathing, Inkie!" shouted the third.

I tried to open my eyes, but they stuck together in that annoying way they do. I let out a groan and I heard a squeal. "It's awake! Run!" As I sat up and rubbed my eyes, I heard little hurried steps. "Huh? Wait, don't leave!" Despite not knowing who they were, I didn't want to be left alone; I'm pathetic like that. I heard them skid to a halt. "Y-you can talk?" said a small voice. I opened my eyes and I nearly fell back to ground. 

Three little ponies were standing just a few feet from me, looking absolutely petrified. One of the ponies looked almost exactly like Pinkie Pie, except her hair was straight and her flank was bare. This couldn't be Pinkie Pie, could it? Plus, there was no way I could ever be in Equestria. And, since I wasn't exactly an expert on background ponies at the time, considering I was new to the show, I didn't know who the other two were.

"Who are you? What are you?" asked the dark gray filly next to her. I stood up, which scared them enough to take a few steps back. I suddenly realized how short I was in this world or dream, whatever it was, but nonetheless, tall compared to the fillies in front of me. "It's alright. I won't hurt you," I said in an attempt to calm them down. The ponies didn't budge.

"My name is Caroline. And I'm, uh, a human." Revealing who and what I was seemed to calm them down, but only slightly. The three fillies looked at one another and back at me. "Is that a type of monster?" asked the pony only a shade lighter than the other gray filly. Who were these ponies? And why were they with this Pinkie Pie look-alike? I didn't say anything, for fear of frightening them. Much to my surprise, the pink pony stepped up. "Caroline is such a strange name," she said quietly. I was taken aback by this, then realized ponies had different names from humans. "Well, yes. It's common, where I'm from."

The dark gray filly walked up and sniffed my pajama bottoms. "You smell weird. Where are you from, anyway?" I could tell she was the most curious of three ponies, which sent a shiver down my spine, considering Pinkie was the cat that got away from curiosity on multiple occasions. "Uh, not from around here is all I can say," I said. I then looked around me and froze. 

Dark tendrils hung overhead and the sun was hidden. This place looks familiar... I thought, feeling cold all of a sudden, too familiar... It took me moment to realize it and my eyes widened to the size of saucers. I looked back at the fillies in front of me. "What are you three fillies doing in the Everfree Forest? It's dangerous here!" The three fillies glanced up in shock and then looked down in shame. "It was Blinkie's idea! She wanted to see if it was as scary as everypony says!" the light gray pony shouted accusingly, pointing at the dark gray filly. Blinkie's glare clarified her claim.

I glanced at her and sighed. I was so used to the blame-game from over the years, and it was really starting to get on my nerves. "Passing the blame isn't going to fix anything now is it?" She looked down and dragged her hoof over the ground. "Come on; let's just get out of here before any ghosties get us, " I said, pushing them along. Pinkie nudged my leg. "We don't know where we are; we're lost," she said, tears warbling in her eyes. 

Do you have any idea how heart-breaking it is to see someone you admire greatly cry? If you do, then you can imagine the large crack it left in my heart. Not wanting to see the filly cry, I picked her up and held her in my arms(she was surprisingly light). "It's alright, darlin'," my dang accent seeped through as I said it, "we'll find a way out." She looked up at me and my chest ached when I saw her try to smile. But, it immediately fell down. I put the pink pony down and started walking in a direction. The ponies exchanged glances, but followed.

*   *   * 

I don't know how long we walked, but by the time we had gotten out of the forest, Celestia had set the sun down. I learned things about the ponies on the way out. Apparently, the pink pony I was seeing was Pinkie Pie, but she sure didn't act like it. The light gray filly's name was Inkie, and they were all triplets. I looked up at the moon and felt a stab of pain in my heart. Poor Luna... I thought, I can't express how much love you deserve...
Ponyville looked exactly like the animators had designed it, amazingly. "So," I said, looking back down at them, "Where's your house at?" The three fillies looked at each other and then around. "This isn't where we came in; we don't know where we are," said Blinkie. Suddenly, Inkie yawned loudly and Pinkie began to sway slightly. Even Blinkie, the most energetic of the three I learned, looked wiped. I sighed and lifted each pony off the ground. I wrapped my arm under each of them and held them there.

"You little fillies need rest," I said, readjusting them in my arms, "I just need to know where your house is." Pinkie looked up lazily and said sluggishly, "Our house is near the forest... It's near Rumbling Rock Ridge..." Having NO idea where that was, I began to walk alongside the river that was by the forest praying to Celestia and Luna nothing bad would happen.
> Chapter 2: Meeting the Mister and Missus.
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	Believe it or not, I found it. Seriously. I found Pinkie Pie's house. Well, it was more of a farm, but still, I found it. Blinkie's slurred, sleepy words had clarified this for me. Only one problem; I had no idea what to do about it. I couldn't just walk up to the door and knock. "Hey, I'm from a different world and I found your daughters in the Everfree forest when I suddenly appeared there." Yeah, not happening. But I couldn't leave them there. I'm not heartless. So, swallowing my fear, I walked up to the door and knocked. Nothing. The three fillies had begun to stir in my arm. My arms had fallen asleep somewhere along the way, but I didn't care.

I knocked again, this time harder. "Mr. Pie? Mrs. Pie? Are you there?" I heard hoofsteps and the door creaked opened. Mr. Pie came to my neck in height and was extremely dissheveled. His gray mane had hairs sticking out in all directions while he had bags under his eyes. "Why are you-" He never finished his sentence because when he saw me, he screamed. He backed away screaming and yelling. "Monster! Monster!" He was screaming it over and over again as Mrs. Pie saw me and backed away in fear, joining in the chorus of screaming. The ponies in my arms immediately woke up. Blinkie jumped out of my arms and ran up to her father. "Mom, Dad, calm down! She's our friend!" The word 'friend' took me a moment to bounce back from. I have almost never I heard it used positively. Inkie and Pinkie had jumped down and run up to him with their sister.

"We went to the Everfree Forest and we got lost! But we found her and she got us out! She's really nice!" Inkie said this at record speed, like Pinkie usually does when she gets excited. But, Inkie was anything but excited; she was petrified. Mr. Pie looked at me, then his wife, then his daughters, then back again. "Who are you? Why did you help them? And why are you here?" He looked at me with a stare unlike any other I had gotten from any authority figure. And believe me, I have had my fair share of those looks. Mrs. Pie looked absolutely terrified. I took a deep breath and began to explain. "I woke up in the forest and I have NO idea how I did," I started, which caused all of them to look at me curiously. "When I woke up, these three were there," I gestured to the fillies beside him. "Anyway, they told me they were lost and so was I, so I walked with them until we got out." Mr. Pie looked at his daughters for validation. "Then they told me that they didn't know how to get back here other than through the forest. And the rest you can figure out."

Pinkie looked up at her parents with sad eyes. "Can she stay with us?" That little pony's sad face made me want to cry right then and there. I hated feeling this way... He hesitated, looked back at his wife, and sighed. "Just for tonight. But, tomorrow, it- She, has to leave." I wanted to hug Mr. Pie right then and there. Inkie was shocked; Blinkie looked grateful; Pinkie tried to smile again, this time almost succeeding. My heart broke again when it fell. "Come on, girls. You need to get to bed," I said. The fillies looked saddened but did as told and walked down the hall. "Thank you," I said to Mr.Pie while Mrs. Pie went upstairs to bed. And I meant it more than anything.

Mr. Pie only grunted and gestured towards the couch. It was the size of a regular couch, oddly enough. I walked over and 	laid down, making myself comfortable. Then Mr. Pie shut off the lights and went upstairs to bed. I laid there for a while, trying to understand the situation I was in. I was in Equestria! How on earth did I get here? "I wish I lived somewhere I could be happy..." My heart began racing, hard and fast. My wish... That was why I was here... But who could've answered my prayer? Who? God? Celestia? A star isn't that powerful! It's just a ball of gases! Or, can it be more than that? Maybe I'm overthinking this... It took me a few moments to realize just how tired I was after walking forever. My eyes began to droop and I fell into a deep slumber.

*   *   * 

I awoke at dawn, despite how late I went to bed. I looked around, to see if I was in my bedroom. Or in a hospital. I was still in the Pie's home. I tried to go back to sleep, but I was too awake now. I sighed and got off the couch. As soon I stepped out, I realized how dirty the floor was. I hate messes. With my OCD tingling irritably in my head, I searched for a broom. I walked into the kitchen and saw a broom. And a pile of dirty dishes. Just grab the broom, I said to myself, don't get sidetracked. I grabbed the broom and began to sweep in the kitchen. Slowly, it escaladed to the hall, then the living room. I began to sweep upstairs(quietly, as not to wake PInkie's parents). Sooner or later, all the dirt was swept out the door. I walked over to the kitchen and began washing dishes. Your'e sitting there thinking, why are you cleaning everything? Again, OCD is not something you want to ignore. It'll drive you crazier than a swarm of parasprites(yes, I mean actual parasprites and trolls).

After every dish and pan was clean and dry, I surveyed the kitchen with a sense of pride, like I usually do when I clean. Then, my stomach started growling. I sighed, like I usually do, and walked over to the cabinet. I saw flour, baking soda and other different ingredients. Pancakes, I thought, I'll make pancakes! I picked up the flour, baking soda, sugar, baking powder, and salt from the pantry. I placed the ingrediants down and walked over to the refrigerator. I picked up the buttermilk, an egg and butter and placed it on the counter with the other ingredients.

I put one cup of flour in the bowl, then added a tablespoon of sugar and a teaspoon of baking powder. Then, I added half a teaspoon of baking soda with a dash of salt. After I used the dry indredients, I put them to the side in case I need them again. I then added one cup of buttermilk, one egg and three teaspoon of melted butter. I picked up a wisk and began to mix until the batter was smooth.

I picked up the pan and placed it over the stove, and, just to make sure it wouldn't stick, I placed a little piece of butter on it and let slide all over the pan till it was all buttery. Then, I placed small portions of batter on the pan and began to make the pancakes. After the last pancake was made, I began to put the ingredients away and clean up the mess on the counter. On six different plates laid three pancakes for everyone on the table with glasses and two large pitchers, one with orange jouice, the other with milk. "Oh, I forgot the syrup!" I said out loud. I looked in the cabinet and found a large jar of maple syrup. I placed it in the middle of the table and smiled at the layout. I heard little thumps and a voice say, "What is this?" I turned and saw Mr. Pie with a surprised look on his face.

"I made breakfast," I said, "What are you doing up so early?" Mr. Pie looked at me strangely. I just remembered that he lived on a farm. He kind of had to wake up early. "Never mind, stupid question. So, what do you think?" Mr. Pie looked at the food on the table and back at me. "Do you mind waking the girls? I need to get Sue for this." He began walking up the stairs without waiting for a reply. I walked down the hall and knocked on the door. "Girls, it's time to get up. Breakfast time!" I heard stirring on the other side of the door and then steps.

I opened the door and the three fillies eyes widened when they saw me. "We thought you had to leave!" Inkie exclaimed. My heart stopped for a solid three seconds at that moment. I have to leave today... That was all I could think of. I tried not to look sad, for the girls' sake... knowing if I let my mask down, I'd burst into tears. "Right... Well, breakfast is ready," I said, walking back to the table glumly. Mr.Pie and Mrs.Pie were already at the table discussing something quietly. Blinkie sat beside her father, then Inkie sat beside her, then Pinkie followed. Which left a seat beside Pinkie. I gingerly sat on the seat, not wanting it to break. Silence followed.

"So," Mrs. Pie said, "Clyde tells me you made this breakfast for us." I glanced over at Mr.Pie, who was shoveling pancakes into his mouth like no tomorrow. "Well, yes. It was the least I could do for you letting me stay the night." Clyde sent a glance her way in a told-you-so manner, much to her obvious distaste. "I also noticed the dishes were cleaned and floors were swept. Was that your doing?" Her eyes were narrowed to slits, as though she might strike me. Part of me wanted to cower like a child; the other wanted to make a snappy comeback."Well, I'm a bit of a neatfreak," I said, poking at my pancakes,"I know it wasn't my place to-"

"It wasn't," she snapped.

See, I don't like being snapped at. And mother of Pinkie or not, I will not stand for any crap, pardon my French. But before I could give a lashing retort, Blinkie stood up. "She was trying to be nice, Mom!" She said defensively.

"Yeah! Don't be mean!" Inkie argued.

Even Pinkie stood alongside her sisters. "Can't somepony do something nice without you criticizing them about it?" She was jaw-dropped shocked, which I just loved. But, I know how horrible it feels to be yelled at for merely staitng your opinion. And let me say, it is not fun. "Girls," I said sternly, "despite the issue, you do not, and I repeat not, ever talk back to your mother like that again. You understand?" The ponies stood there for a moment, stunned, then sat down. Mrs. Pie was just as, if not more, stunned, but she look a little impressed. Despite her being rude, I was willing to stand up for her. Something tells me that was rare for her. Mr. Pie looked extremely uncomfortable with the situation.

"So, I never caught your name," he said, trying to steer away from the awkwardness. "My name is Caroline," I said, sending him a grateful look. He raised his eyebrows. "Caroline? That's an uncommon name from around here." Because I'm not from here... I thought to myself. I started laughing, which took everyone by surprise. It took me a moment to fully compose myself. "I-I'm sorry, I don't know why I find that so funny..." I said, trying to regulate my breathing again. Breakfast was eaten in total silence.

After I finished my plate, I stood up. "Is anypony finished?" They all raised their hooves high. "Alright then. Who wants to help me clear the table?" As soon as I said that, the girls had started to gather the plates and glasses. Their parents looked bewildered by their daughters new found love for cleaning. After the dishes were cleaned and put away, Clyde put his pilgrim hat on. "It's time to get the rocks from the south field to the east field," He said, walking to the door. You can imagine my shock at his comment. "Rocks?" All the ponies in the room looked at me surprised. "This is a rock farm," Mr. Pie said, pointing his hoof out the window. I looked outside ans sure enough, there were piles of rocks of different sizes and colors everywhere. No wonder they were depressed; their lives are more depressing than mine. The three fillies looked at each other, then at their father. "Dad," Pinkie said, "what about Caroline?" Mr. Pie looked at me, as if he had genuinely forgotten I was there. "Oh," he said, "I have no problem with her staying. It's your mother who needs to decide."

My jaw dropped farther than Mrs.Pie's jaw at his response. He likes me? He doesn't mind me staying? "I promise, Mrs. Pie, I'll earn my keep! I'll cook, clean, work, anything! Just- please?" All three fillies were looking expectantly at her, holding their breath. He glanced over at his wife, and she sighed. "I could use some help with cleaning the house once in a while..." she muttered. And with that, I hugged her.
> Chapter 3:BOOM! Now we have a party!
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	I was starting to regret saying I would work to stay. Rock farming was hard. Never take it up as a profession. Ever. It's hard, gruelling work. I really had no idea just how depressing it was to do it. No talking, no smiling... just rocks. And guess what I learned? They don't use wagons. They PUSH the rocks into piles.  But, with me carrying rocks in my arms, work went by faster for the ponies. At least, that's what Mr. Pie told me later on. And when the work bell rang at the end of the day, I was exhausted. Mr. Pie and the others had already gone in while Pinkie and I were outside. "Man, I am tired!" I exclaimed, stretching my arms out. Pinkie sighed sadly in reply. Seeing her sad face made me upset and I was thinking of something to say; but no thoughts came to my mind.

Then, a loud BOOM echoed thorughout the sky. A large circle of beautiful colors made a perfect ring, which expanded, causing a large gust of wind to rush by us both. The colors of that boom were so bright and beautiful as it grew larger and slowly began to dissipate.  A surge went through my entire body, electrifying and warm. I had never seen something so beautiful in my life.  Pinkie Pie's eyes brightened , her hair curled crazily from the wind and the corners of her mouth slowly began to rise. And when they fully rose, a surge of happiness and joy filled my very being. Pinkie's smile was the biggest and most genuine I had ever seen in my lifetime. Her eyes were so bright and colorful, I could spend an eternity watching them. Pinkie had found joy; but she wasn't the only one.

The rainbow slowly faded away, but our happiness didn't. "Pinkie," I breathed, looking at the pink filly. Pinkie looked away from the area where the rainbow was. "You felt it, too, didn't you?" Her question took me a moment to register. "Yes," I admitted, "that was- amazing." Pinkie and I looked up at the sky again, trying to make sense of how one little rainbow could create such a feeling. Pinkie looked up at me again, this time sad. "How come other ponies can't feel this way?" She asked, which of course made my heart break. Everypony deserves this feeling. Everybody deserves this feeling. If people knew what this feeling we felt was- anger and hatred would be a thing of the past. I shook my head of those thoughts. Nobody in my world could ever feel the way I did. Nobody. Nobody had seen that rainbow. Not the way I had. Suddenly, an idea came creeping into my mind, and I silently thanked Gilda for being a grump. I turned to the pink filly beside me and smiled ear to ear.

"Pinkie, do you want to throw a party?"

*    *    *
If you ever think about helping somepony reach their destiny, all I can say is, it is hard. Harder than rock farming. But, nonetheless, fun! Pinkie and I had a little bit of trouble trying to make cupcakes. First off, the ingredients; I could not, for the life of me remember how to make cupcakes. My home ec. training disappeared when I stepped into that kitchen. I made pancakes that day! Why couldn't I make any cupcakes for goodness sake? "How are we supposed to make cupcakes if we don't know how?" Pinkie's lower lip started warbling. I began panicking and tried to frantically to remember how to make the treats I had made millions of times. Suddenly, one of my old rhymes came to my mind and without thinking, I began singing.

All you gotta do is take a cup of flower, add it to the mix!

I threw a cup of flour into the bowl. Pinkie was surprised at my sudden burst of song.

Now just add a little something sweet, not sour!

A bit of a salt, just a pinch!

I picked Pinkie up and began twirling her around after a quick flash of movement of putting salt and sugar in the mix.

Making these treats is such a cinch!

Add a teaspoon of vanilla!

Add a little more and you count to four

and you never get your fill of-

I placed Pinkie down and began twirling around to the song.

Cupcakes! So sweet and tasty!

Cupcakes! Don't be too hasty!

Cupcakes! Cupcakes! Cupcakes!  Cupcakes!

It had only taken a moment to realize that I had just sung in what seemed like a million years. I looked down at Pinkie, frightened by what she would say. She stared at me strangely, then, surprisingly, burst into laughter and began singing the song back to me, in perfect pitch. I swear to Celestia, I almost cried.

The second problem was decorating said cupcakes when they were baked. There was absolutely NO frosting anywhere. So, Pinkie and I had to sneak away and buy frosting. Well, Pinkie did. I stayed hidden from the other ponies. And when we finally got back, we spent forever decorating them. I spent an hour teaching Pinkie how to decorate the cupcakes and make them look like hers from the show. We made cupcakes every color of the rainbow and placed them accordingly on a cupcake stand she bought.

And then came the cake. Pinkie and I had agreed on making a big cake, three levels to be exact. It had been awhile since I made a cake that size in a short amount of time(the last time being at my older cousin's wedding.) After several hours of work on the food, then came the decorations. Pinkie and I put streamers on every nook and crany of the silo and party hats were placed everywhere. Not wanting everypony to fill up on junk food, Pinkie had gone to Sweet Apple Acres and grabbed a bunch of apples(I bet she met filly Applejack while she was there, who, I didn't know at the time, had earned her cutie mark that same day). Finally, came the music. Pinkie and I had scrounged up an old record player from a storage room and played a record with bouncy and vibrant music. The party was ready.

I heard footsteps from outside and Clyde say, "We better harvest the rocks from the south field..." I ran over to the record player and played the music loud enough for the family to hear. "Pinkamena Diane Pie, is that you?" Mrs. Pie shouted. Pinkie bounced over to the door and opened it. "Mom! I need you and Dad and the sisters to come in! Quick!" I could tell they were confused, but I knew they were going to come in. When the family came in, their faces were priceless.

"Do you like it? It's called- A PARTY!"
> Chapter 4: 365 days and counting
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	One year. One year had gone by so fast. So many things had happened within that time period, it would be hard for anyone to remember it all. But I remember everything so vividly. After Pinkie's party, sadness and anger were a thing of the past for the Pies'. The change in Pinkie and her sisters behavior had earned them a hoofful of friends that were begging to be acknowledged by them. And if that weren't enough, Pinkie wasn't the only one to find her talent that made her special.

Inkie turned out to be an amazing writer with handwriting(I mean, mouthwriting) I envy greatly. She found her talent when she signed up for the newspaper club at school and was asked to cover an article about Sugar Cube Corner(I tried not to squeal). Then, she was asked to write a story about "anything that comes to mind" by Miss Joy Lee. When Inkie wrote her story, Miss Joy Lee called down Clyde and Sue(I had gotten used to calling them that after about two months) to the school. She was so impressed by Inkie's work, she wanted it to be published as a short story. And believe it or not, it was. The story was so amazing, you wouldn't believe how many ponies bought it. Inkie proudly wears her scroll and fountain pen cutie mark.

And Blinkie helped bring those stories to life with her amazing directing skills. Blinkie had seen an old video camera at somepony's yard sale and began filming anything that moved. After weeks of filming her short film, she presented it with pride. The film was so classicly detailed, with beautiful music set at the right moment every time. And with each scene unfolding, the audience laughed at the jokes, cried at the sad scenes and gasped when the twist occurred. After the end credits came up, and the show gained a standing ovation, an old film reel took its place on Blinkie's flank.

Clyde and Sue seemed to take the biggest change in their behavior. Apparently, the purpose of their rock farming was to place the rocks in an area where the sun will shine(and are placed in the south when winter arrives). When the rocks are in the sun long enough, gold begins to grow out of it. (Equestria would be the victim of forty-niners in ten seconds flat.) After about two weeks, we go to harvest the rocks. And after Pinkie's party, when we went to get the rocks, Clyde claimed this to be the best year he'd seen for a long time. The rocks were growing so much gold, they were almost becoming it.

After we had cashed the gold in, we had a celebreatory feast in honor of the good year. After we stuffed ourselves with sweets, Clyde pulled out his old guitar and started playing. Apparently, Clyde had been in a jazz band as a side job, but quit to focus on rock farming and his family. You learn a new thing everyday. We danced and laughed until we couldn't move a muscle. And if that weren't enough good news, Sue made Pinkie and me each a cooking apron. On the small aprons were Pinkie's cutie mark embroidered into it. "Because Pinkie's cutie mark is just as much yours as it is hers," is what she had said.

In the time I spent with Pinkie, I taught her how to make apple fritters, brownies, homemade lollipops, muffins and, best of all, cupcakes. I spent about two months teaching her all the cupcake recipes I knew from memory and came up with all kinds of different recipes. After several hours of taste testing, we had gotten it down. And during that time, Pinkie had started reciting her own songs, to which I gladly sang along and added lyrics to.

The one year had gone by so fast. Each day held an adventure and smiles that never ceased. Only one bad thing had occurred during my stay.

It was after one of Blinkie's premieres at the Community Arts Center For Ponies. Her movie, unsurprisingly, earned a standing ovation. I was asleep on the couch again. I know it's not an ideal choice for people, but nonetheless, it was comfortable. I had grown attached to the old thing. I had just closed my eyes when I heard a scream. I instantly jumped off the couch. It only took me a moment to realize it was the girls who screamed. I ran down the hall to where they were asleep and flung the door open. Pinkie's hair was straight, just like the day we met, when she was depressed and was too sad to ahve a personality, which scared me more than anything.

"Pinkie! Wake up!" I began shaking her until she woke up, breathing hard and shaking. "What happened?" I was genuinely scared of what could have happened; these girls meant the world to me and I wasn't afraid to admit it. Pinkie broke into tears the instant she stopped gasping. "I h-had a n-nightmare!" She began sobbing uncontrollably, and pulled her pillow over her small body.  I looked over and saw her sisters had been awakened by her screaming. I picked the small filly up and held her in my arms. It wasn't uncommon for me to hold her when she was upset; it had become a ritual for us. When Pinkie was upset, she would come to me and I would hold her till she felt it was alright again. But she never burst into tears like this; her hair usually just flattened, like a deflated balloon.

I began shushing her and cradling her in my arms. I put her back on the bed and looked into her blue eyes. "Pinkie, hiding from something that scares you isn't going to make it go away!" I was one to talk; that was all I did. Pinkie cocked her head to side, confused. I took a deep breath and began singing the song that had caused my love for the show to blossom.

Pinkie, you gotta stand up tall! 

Learn to face your fears!

You'll see that they can't hurt you!

Just laugh and make them disapeeeeeeeeear!

The three fillies looked at me crazily. I gave them a wide smile as reassurance.

Ha. Ha. Ha.

The girls hopped on the bed to get a full view on the situation while Pinkie slowly began to smile.

SOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Giggle at the ghosties!

Guffaw at the grossly!

Over the course of my stay, Pinkie had grown accustomed to my random spurts of song. In fact, she had just began to sing her own. There were those moments where we could tell what the other was going to sing before they even sang it. This was one of those moments.

Crack up at the creepy!

Whoof it up with the weepy!

Then, in that odd way of ours, we began to sing together.

Chortle at the kooky!

Snortle at the spooky!

I began dancing around, making Inkie and Blinkie laugh hysterically. Inkie stood up and began singing along too.

And you tell big dumb scary face to take a hike and leave you alone!

Blinkie joined in.

And if he thinks her can scare you, then he's got another thing coming!

Pinkie's hair inflated to it's original craziness as she began to sing.

And the very idea of such a thing just makes you wanna-

And they all started laughing so hard they couldn't breathe, so I finished it for them.

Laaaaaaaaaaaaugh!

After we stopped laughing(which, believe me, was a lot harder than you think), I tucked Pinkie, Inkie and Blinkie back into bed, and then I followed suit. It was right when I was about to fall asleep I realized I never asked Pinkie what her nightmare was about. I sighed and turned onto my side. I figured I would ask her in the morning. But I hadn't. I didn't have the courage to. I didn't feel as if I had the right to. Whenever I looked at Pinkie, she had some sort of unconscious way of telling me, Don't ask me what happened.
> Chapter 5: Falling Apart
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	A few days later, I was sleeping on my couch(I know it's not my couch, per se, but as I've stated before, I had grown attached to that stupid thing!) I had already said goodnight to the girls and Clyde and Sue. As usual, I was tired from rock farming, but happy from our family time. It really made me want to cry that they accepted me as if I were part of their family. 

When I finally closed my eyes, I swear to you, to this very day, I regret slipping into unconsciousness. Because, in that moment, every horrific thing that happened to me was thrown back at me. All of it. But, it was somehow a lot more vivid than it was when it actually happened. I think it was because of the fact I knew what was going to happen and I knew it wasn't what my mind thought it to be at the time. Also, my mind decided to make everything a lot worse than it actually was.

The bullying was more torturous, the insults and hits more and more painful with each moment that passed. My loneliness was deeper and stronger than I could have begun to fathom. Pinkie's smiles didn't have an effect on my loneliness in my nightmare. No matter how many times she surprised ponies, made cupcakes, or smiled, I was never even remotely close to happiness. And then I saw myself, looking out my window, making the wish I was so glad I made. And the worst part? This time, it didn't come true.
*   *   * 

I was awoken by severe shaking and to the sound of screaming. It only took me a moment to realize that I was the one who was screaming. I instantly stopped and began breathing at record speed. The last time I had hyperventilated like this was when Amanda punched me in the gut in a fight we had when we met. I finally manged to unscrew my eyes so I could see. 

The whole Pie family was staring me down with mixed expressions. Clyde looked surprised, as if he never thought I could break into psychosis. Sue looked frightened, as if she had never seen anypony wake up screaming from a nightmare. Blinkie and Inkie looked rattled, afraid something had happened to me. And Pinkie, poor little Pinkie, looked downright confused. There was no other way to explain it. She just looked confused.

And I was, too. I thought that I had built such a strong foundation of happiness for myself. But, yet again, I was proven wrong. It was my luck as a human being, not as a resident in Equestria. Something in my life was bound to go wrong and I never saw it coming. And this time, it hit me really, really hard. Human beings were never meant to experience happiness, whereas the ponies in this bright and colorful world are able to live practically care-free.

After I finally managed to slow my breathing down to a reasonable eveness, I curled up into a ball and cried. I don't how long I did and I don't know how long they watched me fall apart. If they tried to comfort me, I don't remember it. I don't know how I fell asleep again, or how I even stopped crying, but I did. 

When I awoke, Inkie and Blinkie were laying asleep next to me, with tear stains on their cheeks. Clyde and Sue were leaning against each other for support as they slept sitting beside each other. Little Pinkie had no tears on her cheeks, however. I guess she nominated herself to be the pillar of support through this difficult time. It was dawn, and by the bags under their eyes, I could tell they had only recently had fallen asleep. I let out a very ragged sigh and got off the couch, careful not to wake up anypony.

I walked into the kitchen and pulled my apron on. I grabbed all the things I needed for the meal that changed my life when I had arrived. I had been making them for so long, that my mind didn't even need to turn on for me to make them. I delicately placed the plates with pancakes on the table and walked over to the sleeping family in the living room. I shook Clyde and Sue lightly, as if they might break if I weren't careful. 

Their eyes slowly creaked open and I could tell they knew what was coming as they focused on me. I nodded towards the fillies on the couch, to which they acknowledged with a nod. I lightly shook Pinkie and watched as her tired eyes revealed that confusion I had seen earlier. I could tell the poor filly didn't have it in her to walk to the table, so I carried her over, just like that day in the forest.

As we all sat down at the table, a perfect silence followed as they examined the breakfast I had made. I took a deep breath and waited for them to look at me. "I know you are all thinking about what happened," I started, taking a ragged breath. They all looked down at their plates, but I still continued. "I have been hiding things from all of you." The silence that followed was deafening.

"I'm not from here." I looked to see what their reactions were. Sue raised a brow in a "You don't say?" kind of way. If I weren't confessing my life story to them, I would've laughed. But I was, and laughing was the exact opposite if what I wanted to do. "What I mean is," I said as I cleared my throat, "I'm not from this world."

The story came pouring out of me and it wouldn't stop. It started with how I was picked on as a child, then it escalated to how I changed, my wish to be happy and- well, you get the gist of it. Everypony listened intently in silence as my story slowly began to weave the little things unexplainable about me into a tapestry of my life. I looked down at the table in shame, not wanting to meet their eyes. Nopony said anything.

I put my face in my hands, not saying a word. I did not cry; I did not sob. I just sat there, silent. I felt something nudge against my leg, so I instinctively looked down. Pinkie was looking up at me with tear-filled eyes. I never liked seeing anybody cry; but I was almost never the cause of it. And I hated it. I hated that I made everypony feel this way. I hated that my old life had to interfere with my new one. Why had it happened now? Why? I asked myself that over and over again, but I never found an answer.

"Why?" Pinkie Pie looked hurt beyond repair. "Why? Why did you lie to us? Why didn't you tell us about what happened to you? Why did you waste your time here if you weren't ever going to tell me the truth? Why? Why? WHY!?" Pinkie Pie turned tail and ran away sobbing. I stood up and ran after her. "Pinkie Pie, wait!" I heard Pinkie's door slam loudly and ran even faster. I began banging on the door. "Pinkie, please! You don't understand!"

"Go away! I don't want to see you!" Pinkie wailed, her sobs echoing loudly.

"Please! Let me explain! Please!" 

"NO! I don't want to listen anymore!"

"PINKAMENA DIANE PIE, OPEN THIS DOOR THIS INSTANT OR ELSE!" I heard Sue gasp in shock, seeing as how I never spoke to Pinkie or the others in such an awful tone of voice. Pinkie was silent for a moment. I think she was surprised that I screamed at her. "Or else what!? I don't want to talk to you! I HATE YOU!" 

Three little words; three little words that hurt me more than anything in the world. I stood there for a moment, trying to process what I had just heard. Then, without warning, burst into tears. Why? Why did this have to happen? I don't know how, but I managed to calm myself down. I slunk back over to the couch, and laid there. 

I didn't sleep, but I wasn't awake either. I was in some type of comatose state. Nopony tried to "wake me up", or maybe they did, but I didn't notice. Before I knew it, it was late in the evening. Everypony had already gone to sleep. I slowly stood up and walked over to the refrigerator, but not to get ingredients. I instead grabbed one of Inkie's pens, the papers we kept for lists, and began writing.

Dear Everypony,

I know you are all confused and angry and upset with me. But, please, I beg of you, find some forgiveness in your hearts for me. I am sorry. I know it's not enough, but I hope it's a start. I am now going to leave specific messages for all of you...

After I had written my letters, I walked out the door. As soon as it closed, I ran. I ran out farther and faster, not caring where I went, just wanting to get away from there. I heard twigs snapping under my feet, felt thorns scratching my skin, but I didn't care. I needed to get away. I couldn't face her again. She hates me, I thought, she hates me. Suddenly, I crashed into something. I opened my eyes and saw dark tendrils and overgrown grass. The Everfree Forest. My vision slowly began to blur into black. "Pinkie... I'm sorry!" My pathetic wail was weak, but it seemed to echo throughout the entire forest. Then, everything went black.
> Chapter 6: A Rude Awakening and An Unbelievable Discovery
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	"Caroline? Are you awake?" My eyes slowly creaked open, but immediately shut once they saw the brightness of the lights. "She's awake! Mom, she's awake!" Blinkie? "She is?" Why did Sue sound so different? I gave opening my eyes another try, and saw the bright lights again. 

"Doctor, she's awake!" Doctor? I thought, alarmed, they brought a doctor in? Slowly, my eyes began to adjust. Instead of seeing the Pies, like I had expected, I saw my cousin and aunt, along with my mom, brother, and a doctor. "Hey there, sleepyhead! Have a nice nap?" asked the doctor in an unbelievably cheery voice. Nap? What was he talking about? 

"Where's Pinkie Pie?" I asked, panicky. They all looked at me strangely. "Pinkie Pie?" My brother asked, "Why would she be here? She's just a cartoon pony!"  What? I was just with her... No, oh Celestia, no... Was it all... A dream?

And this time, I actually did cry. Not in my dream, in reality. Because that was where I was; I was in the real world. And this time, I couldn't wake up from it. Everypony- no, everybody, my heart aching as I began to realize it, looked at me strangely. With my voice still ragged and broken, I asked, "How long?" 

No one had to ask what I had meant; how long had it been? How long had I been dreaming? "About a year," said my mother. More tears started flowing from my cheeks. "How? How did this happen?" No one said anything. Their silence only brought me more tears. I grabbed onto my own arms and held them close in a makeshift hug. When I did, I felt bumps on my wrists. I fearfully looked down at my wrists and saw a scar on each wrist. 

I had never realized anything so horrifying in my entire life. I had tried to kill myself. That thought seemed almost impossible. I didn't even remember it. All of my pain drove me to do that? I never even considered it... But, the scars were undeniable. Losing Pinkie and the others was forgotten as my discovery shook me to the core.

I looked at all of them and saw the pain and confusion in their eyes. Like me, they didn't know why. Was my suicide attempt the cause of my fantasy? Was I really so tired of my own life, that in my fragile and desperate state I created a world where I could make people- no, ponies, happy and in turn, make myself happy? 

I pulled my knees to my chest and wrapped my arms around them. All of this was too much to take in... I felt tears fall down my cheeks, but I refused to sob, knowing if I did, I'd never stop. "We'll have to run some tests to check if she's ready to move around," Said the doctor, obviously uncomfortable with the current situation. "Are you insane? Look at her! She is no state to go through anything like that!" My mother screamed. I swallowed hard, feeling my throat swell. She sounded just like Sue. "See? Postpone the tests! She needs love and..."

Her speech had gotten lost as my world began to fade around me. Everything I thought I knew was a lie. My life in Equestria was never real, meaning my happiness wasn't either. I'm not meant to be happy, only meant to suffer and struggle so others can be. It was a sad thing I had come to terms with before all of this happened... But doing it again hurt me a lot more than the first time.

"No," I said firmly, looking up from my knees. They all looked at me in shock. "Go through with the tests. Anything," I said, "to forget." My words caused everyone in the room to flinch, afraid of what I would do.The doctor looked from me to my mother. "Are you sure? Because, we can postpone them until you-"

"Just get it over with," I interrupted, laying back down and turning on my side. I closed my eyes and shut out their murmuring voices. What did it matter what they said about me? Because that's just it, I thought to myself, nothings matters. Not anymore.
*    *    *
I was healthy as a horse, which I find completely ironic. My time at the hospital was probably the worst in my life. I spent most of my day in my hospital bed, but barely slept. When I wasn't moping around, I was being forced into physical therapy. They tried a therapist, but silence was the only result. 

After a few days, I overheard some of the doctors calling me "a hopeless case" after one of my sessions. And afterwards, I'd be force fed by a stingy nurse. My days repeated like an annoying skip on a CD or tape. But, my stay at the mental ward was about to have a new development.

I was laying in bed when it happened. I was waiting for my lunch, as I had grown accustomed to. When the nurse came in with the tray, there was a little white paper bag on it. None of my other lunches had a bag on it, so I was suspicious. There was a small note of the side of it. It said, "Eat after you eat your veggies!" Baffled, I took the tray from the nurse and ate it, without being force fed. The nurse couldn't believe her eyes and almost started celebrating. When I finished my tray, I lifted the bag up and opened it. And I swear to Celestia, I just about had a heart attack. Inside, was a cupcake, with pink frosting and Pinkie's cutie mark on it. I slowly lifted it out of the bag and saw another note attached.

Dear Caroline,
You don't know me personally, but I feel like I know you. Your brother has told me about your dilemma and I hope you get better soon~! And I mean it from the bottom of my heart! Like Pinkie says, "Gotta giggle at the ghosties!"
With love and tolerance, a fellow Brony.

I blinked in confusion. "Brony"? What's a "Brony"? And why did they care about me? And what did they mean by a "fellow one"? I looked over at the laptop on the side of the bed my mom put there in case I was bored. I had never thought to use it before then. I reached for it and turned it on. Then, I searched up, "What is a brony?" A few thousand results popped up, which surprised me. I picked a link and my heart nearly stopped. There was a picture from My LIttle Pony and another of people dressed up as the characters.

A brony was someone who loved watching My Little Pony and celebrates the show itself. I put my hands to my face and tears started flowing. The nurse saw this and ran out to get a doctor, but I was too overwhelmed to care. There were people who loved the show like me? I thought that I was the only one! I looked back down at the cupcake on the bedside table. My heart began to warm up all over again, just like when that rainboom hit.

The doctor ran in the room with the nurse in tow. He began asking me questions, but I ignored him. On the website, there were several videos with songs from the show. I scrolled down and saw one titled, "Pinkie's song compilation". Although I didn't want to, I clicked on it. Almost immediately, I saw footage of Pinkie bouncing around and singing all of her wacky songs. 

It first started with Giggle at the Ghosties, and songs I wasn't familiar with followed. The words to the songs would pop into my mind, but I was never really sure if they were right. Whenever I thought I was wrong, it turned out to be right. About halfway through, a song I was all too familiar with came on. 

All you gotta do is take a cup of flour!

Add it to the mix!

Now just take a little something sweet, not sour!

A bit of salt, just a pinch!

I could feel the tears gather in my eyes, but I wiped them away. I don't know what surprised me even more; that the song was in the show or that Pinkie was singing it. Something moved inside me; it felt like a flicker... but of what? Hope? Was there a small possibility that what I experienced for the last year was more than a dream? I felt myself taking a deep breath, not understanding why. My voice, something I thought was diminished what felt like ages ago, found its way out of me, for everyone to hear.

Baking these treats is such a cinch!

Add a teaspoon of vanilla!

Add a little more and you count to four,

and you never get your fill of-

I could feel my lips curve upwards into a smile as each word left my mouth. I jumped out of bed and began twirling around, like back in the Pies' kitchen. I threw my arms up in the air and shifted from foot to foot as I twirled and twirled. 

Cupcakes! So sweet and tasty!

Cupcakes! Don't be too hasty!

Cupcakes! Cupcakes, cupcakes, cupcakes!

I stuck one foot out to stop my twirl and stuck my arms out, mimicking a ballerina. Both the doctor and nurse had bewildered expressions on their face. Then, unexpectedly, I started laughing. The nurse and doctor, who had stood in silence the entire time, exchanged glances with one another. 

I sat back down on my bed and held my sides as my laughter faded to muffled giggles. The nurse looked back at the doctor and in a frightened voice asked, "Has she gone mad?" The doctor looked over at me for a moment, then shook his head. "No," he said firmly, "I believe she's made a full recovery."
> Chapter 7: The Change
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

After my emotional crying episode and my discovery of the bronies, lots of things changed. I had reached that point where I had no idea what to do with myself. I don't think I could ever revert to my original anti-social, sullen outcast role... But I could never reach that level of security and joy ever again. Like a blank canvas, I was waiting to be painted on, waiting for a mistake or a stroke of genius to make me into a work of art to either be admired or despised. After about two weeks of physical and emotional therapy at the hospital, I was released. But, my doctor had me entitled to a therapist who specialized in my "situation", to which my mother gladly accepted.

I was sitting in my room, watching TV when I heard a knock at my door. I paused the show I was watching and walked over to the door and opened it to see my mom. "Yes?" Slightly uncomfortable, and extremely surprised. I wasn't really used to my mom knocking on my door. She looked just as uncomfortable as I felt. "May I come in?" She asked, glancing around my room. The walls of my room were bare, almost as if I were a mental patient. It bothered my mother not to have any pictures or posters on the wall to extremes, whereas my lack of personality and friends kept them bare. I opened my door even more for her to come through as an indication for 'yes'. She walked over to the bed and sat down on it. She patted the bed to tell me to sit down. I obliged.

She took a deep breath and exhaled deeply. "Caroline, when we first found you, I was so confused about why you did it," She started, taking deep breaths to stay calm. "But, about a few months ago, I got a call from the school. It turns out, your friend Amanda was the one who put the graffiti on the school. And, it has also come to their attention, that the kids at school had been giving you a hard time about it. So, Amanda was forced to give a public apology and was sentenced to 100 hours of community service." Despite all the crap that Amanda put me through, I felt sorry for her. Probably because of my brony lifestyle; Love and tolerate. Then I had to remind myself she lied and made my life a miserable hell. Sometimes even the bronies can't hold back the hate.

"What I'm trying to say is..." She took another deep breath for good measure. "Are you ready to go back yet?" Her question didn't surprise me. I had been asking myself that question ever since I got back from the hospital. Was I ready to go back? I had absolutely no idea. My mom sighed and stood up. "I can tell you need to think about this. Come and tell me when you have your answer." Without another word, she walked out of my room.

I sighed and fell back onto my bed. I turned my head and looked at my closed closet doors. An idea formed in my head. I jumped up off my bed and walked over to my closet and swung the doors open. I looked at all the clothes I bought because everyone else was wearing them. I thought about all the times I yelled at my mom for not getting the things I wanted. I started to feel anger unlike any other. Who were they to tell me how to dress? I grabbed the rod and yanked it down as hard as I could.

I picked up a T-shirt my dad had gotten me a few years ago, with "Daddy's girl" etched in with cursive. I was neither the girl he knew, let alone his girl. I threw it to my left. I picked up another one that had a cupcake on it. I threw it to my right. I repeated this process; right for things I wanted, left for things I wanted gone. I looked at how little items were in the right side. I glared at the pile of lies to my left and stormed out of my room. My mom was surprised to see me so riled up. "Take me to the store; we have some work to do."
*   *   *
I would like to warn you that this part of the story gets INSANELY girly, so please bare with me. I had missed a lot during my year long coma. My mom had managed to get her business a lot of recognition and money was rolling in faster than ever. So, she had no problem with taking me shopping. I sound really spoiled, but I couldn't stand to wear the things in that pile anymore. We spent about three hours walking around the mall for clothes. When I went on My Little Brony, I had heard they had My Little Pony shirts at Hot Topic, so that was the first place we went to. I grabbed exactly 13 different MLP shirts, and dozens of other accessories to go with them. Then, we got few pairs of jeans, some dresses, and some other T-shirts from other shows I liked.

As we were walking out the store, I saw a hair salon across from us. There was a large sign with bright colors that said, "Clearance on Makeovers and Hair Coloring! Any color you want!" My mom looked at where I was looking and sighed. "Caroline, I get the whole, "brand new me" thing, but are you sure want to go that far?" She asked. I nodded in return and started on my way over to the salon.
*   *   *
It was my first day back at school. I had arrived early so I get the paperwork filled out for my classes. Remember how I said I went totally Twilight? Well, it's because of that I was allowed to go to tenth grade no problem. I would be taking Algebra and regular classes so I would be able to catch up with everyone easily. The office wasn't sure if I was really me, the girl with no personality and who was so quiet and make things so quiet, you could hear a pin drop whenever she was around.

Nobody but teachers and faculty were in the hallway, so I recieved some pretty strange looks. I don't blame them, but I didn't let it bother me. I looked down at my schedule to confirm I was in the right place. I took a deep breath and turned the knob. I felt the rush of cold air as the door swung open. Everyone looked up at me. Now was the time for judgement.

I don't know what freaked them out the most. I was wearing a dress that resembled Pinkie Pie's Gala dress and thigh high blue and white striped socks, so maybe that was it. Or my brightly colored BRONY bracelet? Or maybe it was my magenta hair. More than likely the hair. Everyone's face was absolutely priceless. There were a few open mouths and a whole lot of wide eyes. Even the teacher couldn't take her eyes off me, though she tried her best to.

"Uh, class, some of you must remember Caroline," she said, as if trying to convince herself rather than her students. She pointed to an empty seat, and who do I see but Amanda, the traitorous, lying, greedy girl who stood for everything I hated myself for being and everything I stood against. She was just as, if not more surprised than everyone else. I smiled as widely as I could. 

"Hello! I'm really glad to see you again! I hope we can have a fresh start!" I practically skipped to my seat and gave Amanda a big smile. "Hi, Amanda! Been awhile since I've seen you! " My smile didn't waver as I sat down. Everyone was already shocked that I made such a statement with my appearance; now I had indirectly sassed Amanda, the delinquent who everyone feared and resented. I must have looked like a god.

The teacher walked up to the front of the class and tried to peel the class's attention away from me. Once she managed to get the majority of us to listen to her, I felt a pencil prod my back. I turned and looked back to see a boy grinning like a maniac. "Hey, you're supposed to be Pinkie Pie, right? Spot on, bro!" He whispered. I smiled in return, then looked back to the teacher. As I did, I caught Amanda turning her head around quickly. Was she looking at me? I decided to let it go and listened to the teacher give her lecture. After about five minutes, a note landed on my desk. I opened it up and it read;

We need to talk! What are you trying to prove? Do you have any idea how much crap you put me through?

I looked back up at the back of her head and sighed. She really believes, after all this time, after what I did to myself, after she was punished, she really believed she was the victim? I grabbed my pink pen, sighed heavily once more and wrote in cursive:

Friendship is a wondrous and powerful thing. Even the worst of enemies can become friends. You need understanding and compromise. You've got to share. You've got to care. You have done neither of these things; meaning, you were never my friend. And I've never been happier to say so.

As I tossed her the note, I could feel a smile form on my face. A smile no one could take away from me.
> Epilogue
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	"Mrs.Caroline? They're here to see you now."

I had barely registered what was said, let alone who had said it. Age does that to a person, I suppose.

"Lucy, you know me enough not to call me 'Mrs' anymore," I replied with a rasp, turning towards her with a smile. God knows it was difficult to do.

Lucy returned the smile, but it was strained. She knew my humor was a shield. "You're really not afraid, are you? Of what's gonna happen?"

I shook my head tenderly. Moving was extremely difficult. "I learned to face my fears ages ago. I've told you that enough, Lucy."

Lucy titled her head to the side and she held her clipboard to her chest just a little tighter. "'Giggle at the ghosties'," she murmured nostalgically.

I chuckled, but it faded into a grunt. "Lord help all those ears I've talked off with that phrase."

Lucy nodded slightly, and she said nothing in return. I believe it was because of those tears in her eyes that she turned away and to the door. She knows I hated to see people cry.

With a white knuckled hand, Lucy opened the door to my pink-walled room. Almost immediately, I heard the familiar pitter-patter and scurrying of little feet, the sound of which causing me to smile and my heart to break slightly.

"Grandma!" said a chorus of shouts.

I turned my head and smiled at the beautiful, bright-eyed creations before me. There was Tony, a mischievous eyed, dark haired troublemaker eight year-old who had a thing for sparklers and fireworks. His eyes sparked like the explosives he loved so much and his smile was as just as bright.

Then there was little Allison, who was six. She was shy and quiet, but when you got her to talk, she couldn't shut up. Her blonde curls were in their signature pig tails and they bounced with her as she tried to climb onto the bed, but to no avail. Her pink dress was bunched up and her shoes were on wrong, as usual. Her poor mother must have tried so hard to fix them.

And the oldest of them all, was Caroline, named after your truly. She, too, was a blonde, but you wouldn't have known at the moment, on account of the pink hair dye that covered her head. She hadn't taken the time to even curl it, I soon saw, as it laid limply against her head. She must have been upset, then, which was completely understandable. She was the only one of my grandbabies to know the truth.

"Hi, little ones," I greeted, but it was slightly broken. God, I hate these sorts of things.

"Grandma," Caroline said, her voice weak, "how are you feeling? Do you need me to get you something?"

Bless that child, and her heart. No one could see how broken up she was. "No, Cupcake, I'm just Pinkie keen."

She smiled, but I could see her eyes shining. "OK, Grandma. I just wanted to make sure."

I smiled back at her, the most I could at the moment. "Where's your mother?"

"I'm here, Mama," I heard a light voice say.

I turned my head to the doorway, where I saw my sweet daughter standing. She was leaning against the door frame, but it wasn't casual in any sense. She was clinging onto the frame tightly, her knuckles white as she clung onto something to support her. Lucy was next to her, who fared no better, but she clung onto her clipboard instead.

"Mom," Caroline said quietly, "how long?"

Her mother shook her head. "Not long."

Tony and Allison frowned. "Do we have to leave?" Tony asked, "We just got here!"

Caroline put a hand on Tony's shoulder. "We came yesterday, Tone, remember? We got to... we got to spend all day with Grandma."

Allison pouted. "But I like seeing her!"

Caroline's face wavered. "I know," she replied in a wobbly voice, "I do, too."

"Kids..." their mother said softly, "can you go wait in the hall?"

The little ones looked like they wanted to argue, but Caroline cut them off. "Alright. Come on, you two."

Tony and Allison tried to scurry off, but Caroline had gotten a good hold on them and she drug them out of the room. I couldn't help but notice the tears in her eyes as she did.

As soon as they were gone, my daughter came up to my bed, her arms held together tightly as she forced her way over. Lucy stepped out of the room, her hand over her mouth as she turned away. She had no reason to be there anymore. She had already said goodbye.

"Mama..." she said as she knelt beside my bed. She put her hands over mine, her unblemished hands so strange next to my aged ones.

"Diane, you know I don't like see you upset," I told her in a chiding tone.

Diane shook her head. "Mama, I already lost Daddy. I don't wanna lose you, too."

I smiled at her, but for the first time that day, I didn't even bother to hold back the tears in my eyes. "I know, Diane. He was a good man."

She chuckled, but it came out weak and wispy as she shed tears of her own. "Mama, I'm scared. I don't wanna say goodbye."

"I don't, either," I told her, "but you know why we have to."

She shook her head. "I wish those doctors weren't right. I wish that you were fine."

"I am fine," I reminded her, giving her another smile, "I'll always be fine."

Diane breathed in raggedly. "Mama, you're sick. Real sick. You're not fine."

"You're here, aren't you?" I asked.

She wiped her eyes. "I can't help but think of all those times you said that I shouldn't be scared. That I had to... That I had to laugh 'em away." She scoffed lightly. "I don't think I can laugh this away."

"You can't," I told her as I shed tears of my own, "believe me, I've tried."

She gripped my hands. "Do you remember all those times I'd come running into you and Daddy's room, crying about some awful nightmare I had? And how you used to sing me a song to make me feel better, even if it was the silliest thing?"

"I never forgot." My voice had long since broken.

"I do that with the kids, even Caroline, when she's real upset," Diane told me, "she always calls me names because of it, but she's always smilin' afterwards."

I couldn't hold my smile anymore. "You never told me that."

Diane let out a weak sigh. "I thought it was a silly thing to do. But, now I see what you were tryin' to do. You hate seein' people sad, Mama. And I understand how that feels, too."

I gripped her hand. "Sweetheart..."

"Mama," Diane said softly, "for once in my life... Can I do something to make sure you're not sad?"

I let out a weak, ragged sob. "Just being here is doing that."

Diane shook her head. "No. For once, let me make you feel better the way you did for me." She chuckled lightly. "God knows I can't sing a lick, but it's not gonna stop me."

I wanted to speak, but I found I couldn't as emotions overfilled me. Either that, or I was losing all of my bodily functions. Either or.

Diane took a deep, ragged breath and she closed her tear-filled eyes. Finally, she opened her mouth.


When I was a little filly and the sun was going down...


I felt my heart skip a beat. Sweet Lord, how long has it been since I heard that song?


The darkness and the shadows would always make me frown...


I looked at Diane's tear-streaked face. She was tone deaf as all get out, but that wasn't going to stop her.


I'd hide under my pillow, from what I thought I saw
But Mama told me that wasn't the way to deal with fears at all


I closed my eyes and sighed in remembrance of the first time I sang that song. I don't know if it was real or not, but that didn't mean it wasn't special to me in any way. Little Pinkie and her sisters, all huddled together and laughing and singing along in the most ridiculous manner...


She said, Pinkie, ya gotta stand up tall, learn to face your fears


I froze. Wait, did she just say... Pinkie?


You'll see that they can't hurt you,
just laugh and make them disappear


She stopped singing, and it was silent. Not sure what to think, or why she stopped at all, I opened my eyes. And I swear to you, I would've fallen to the ground if possible.

Standing in front of me, where Diane had been, was none other than Pinkie Pie, my sweetheart, my angel, my hero. She was no longer that little filly I spent a year with, but rather the mare that she was meant to become. The one that had inspired me, and I her.

But, she wasn't alone.

Standing by her side were Blinkie, Inkie, Clyde and Sue, all of whom were looking at me with the kindest smiles I've ever seen.  Inkie and Blinkie had grown up like Pinkie had, but Sue and Clyde didn't seem to have aged a day. I couldn't help but gape at what I was seeing.

"Ha, ha, ha," Pinkie said, her smile unwavering, "Hi."

I somehow managed to regain my sense and I replied in the most dorkish manner, "Pinkie Pie?"

She giggled, a sound I never thought I'd ever have the pleasure of hearing again. "Uh-huh."

Blinkie leaned forward and put a hoof over my hand. By God, they were real! "It's good to see you again."

Inkie giggled. "It's weird, seeing you so old now."

Sue smacked her foreleg. "Inkie!"

I put a hand to my mouth. "How are you all here?" I felt like crying again, only I wasn't entirely sure it was because I was sad.

Pinkie shrugged. "Dunno. Just wanted to see you."

I blinked in shock. "But... I thought that--"

"No, Caroline, I don't hate you," Pinkie told me, "I don't know why I said that and it was stupid to say." Her smile wavered. "I feel awful about saying it."

I felt tears come to my eyes. "Pinkie... You don't have to..."

She put a hoof over my hand, like Blinkie had. "Inkie's right. It is weird, seeing you so... grown up. You look really, really different now."

I smiled at her tenderly. "Well, I am 76. A lot happens in that lifetime."

Pinkie smiled at me. "I'm gonna miss you."

"I haven't stopped missing you," I blurted out, "I haven't stopped missing any of you."

Pinkie's smile wavered. "I know. I haven't, either." She looked at everyone else. "None of us have."

I paused for a moment. "Am I dead?"

Pinkie shook her head. "No. Not yet, anyway."

"So, where am I, then?" I asked, "Am I dreaming again?"

"I don't think so," Pinkie told me, "I just... I don't know." She looked down. "Did you really name your daughter after me?"

I felt tears in my eyes. "Yes, but she goes by her middle name instead. She thinks her first name is too embarrassing."

Pinkie pouted. "What the hay is wrong with Pinkamena?"

I smiled and shook my head. "I don't know. She's weird like that."

Pinkie looked into my eyes. "This is it, huh? This is goodbye?"

I nodded. "Yeah." I didn't even bother to smile again, knowing it would be fake. "It is. At least I get to say it this time."

I suddenly felt everyone else's hooves go over my hand, and I looked at all of their sad faces. Their eyes said what their mouths couldn't: that I was forgiven, even though I most certainly didn't deserve to be. I had abandoned them and left them alone, with only letters to explain my leaving. I shouldn't have received their love, or their forgiveness, but that wasn't going to stop them.


So, ya gotta giggle at the ghosties


Pinkie frowned. "It's time."


Guffaw at the grossly


"Already?" I must have sounded like a child, I knew.


Crack up at the creepy


"Yeah," Pinkie told me, "I don't wanna say goodbye." She had tears in her eyes.


Whoof it up with the weepy


"I don't, either!" I exclaimed, tears running down my face.


Chortle at the kooky


I grabbed Pinkie's hoof. "Don't leave me! I don't wanna say bye to you!"


Snortle at the spooky


Pinkie's tears finally fell as she shook her head. "I love you, Caroline."


And you tell that big ol' scary face to take a hike and leave you alone


"We all do," Clyde told me, the first thing he had said since his arrival.


And if he thinks he can scare you, then he's got another thing coming


I shook my head. "I wish I had never run out of the house. I wish I had never--"


And the very idea of such a thing just makes ya wanna


Pinkie shook her head. "Caroline... Remember what you left behind in this world..."

Suddenly, I wasn't in that bed anymore. I was back in that classroom, on the first day of class in high school. I was sitting in that seat, behind Amanda and in front of who would be the man I would marry and the father of my daughter, Seth. He had been the first to compliment me, and the first to understand who I was aspiring to be.

I gasped when I recalled laying in a hospital bed, but I was hardly near peace. In fact, I was in excruciating pain. My poor, poor husband's hand was broken in at least three places from how hard I was squeezing it. But, it was all worth it when I got to hold sweet, little Diane in my arms afterwards. I didn't even care that that first birth would be my last.

I then recalled every single time I held Diane in my arms when she had woke up screaming her head off, and every single time I sang a silly little song to make her feel better. It then became more frequent when Seth died in an awful traffic accident, the remembrance of which causing a slight twinge of pain in my heart.

Then, there was the time where I myself was on the other side of spectrum, coaching Diane through her first birthing experience as well. Her husband fared no better than mine, which made me feel a little sad knowing that he couldn't be there to see his first granddaughter being born. I felt tears in my eyes as I recalled how Diane had told me that she was naming her baby after me.

Then, there were the two times after, where Tony, then Allison came into our world. And every year that followed, where I got to help Diane through it all, even when she and her beloved split up after one too many arguments. 

And, as Diane's voice dwindled away, though I can't be sure if it was on her part or mine, I realized that Pinkie had been right. I had left good things in this world, Diane being the most important of them all. I know she will remember all the lessons I taught her and I know that my grandbabies will, too. Because, in the end, sometimes, all you gotta do is...


Laaaaaaaaugh