"Let us commend Persimmon Mills, celebrated in life with a gift of literature, to the mercy of Celestia."
Twilight stood solemnly, watching the glass coffin lowering down as she shed a single tear. Applejack placed her hat against her chest, silently weeping.
Many ponies had come to mourn for the once-famous author. The crowd was filled with sadness as the coffin reached the bottom.
"We therefore commit her body to the ground." the priest spoke in a somber tone.
Twilight watched as dirt started scattering over the glass.
"Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust; in the sure and certain hope of the Resurrection to eternal life."
The clink of shovels and the scatter of dirt soon died down. Everypony wept in a bitter silence as the coffin became concealed under a layer of dirt.
"I really owe her a lot, don't I?" Applejack asked Twilight, waving her cast around. "She saved my life and all."
"I guess so," the unicorn replied.
The granite gravestone was clean, gleaming. An intricate array of words were carved into the surface.
Forever Etched In Our Hearts
Persimmon Mills
Rest In Peace
A marble bowl stood on a bronze edifice. A small ember flickered around, the coals slightly sparking up.
"She sure is famous." Applejack said, looking at the departing crowd.
Twilight spotted a group of ponies huddling close together next to a tree.
"Excuse me?" she said, closely walking up towards them.
One of the ponies looked at Twilight. "Yes, miss?"
"I couldn't help but notice," she said, looking at the three ponies.
"Are you Persimmon's children?"
The mare nodded silently. She looked slightly younger than Twilight.
"And you are?"
"I'm a friend," Twilight explained hastily. "Listen, before she passed, there's something she wanted you all to know."
The other two ponies glanced at her with curiosity as Twilight began:
"She wanted to tell you that she's sorry. Very sorry."
The mare looked at the younger ponies, a look of seriousness in their eyes.
"She never meant it, miss."
Twilight was slightly taken aback.
"What do you mean?"
Applejack and Vinyl trotted towards Twilight as the mare's voice changed into a whisper.
"Follow us."
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The atmosphere in the room was serene, yet an uneasy silence seemed to drape over everything inside.
It was the third time Rainbow visited Pinkie Pie, yet she could not help but feel disturbed by her friend's condition.
The pink pony stirred for a moment, before silently slept again.
The blue pegasus chuckled. Even in her sleep, Pinkie is one funny pony.
The bandage was still there, reminding her of Pinkie's ordeal.
"Hang in there, Pinkie."
A small knock on the door caught her ears, as Rainbow Dash turned to look.
"Hi.. R...Rainbow."
"Fluttershy." the blue pegasus grinned widely at her.
"She's still asleep. Come in!"
The yellow pegasus tiptoed through the room, on her back a small rattan basket filled with fruits.
"I brought this for Pinkie."
She settled the basket on the table beside her, carefully trying not to wake the pink pony up.
"How is she?" Fluttershy asked with concern.
"I don't know what's going on in her head right now."
Rainbow's voice was filled with doubt. Pinkie's mane was flat as before, but looked more frazzled.
"Chocolates..." Pinkie Pie whined a little as she moved a little. A small smile seemed to creep on her face, before disappearing again.
Fluttershy giggled softly along with Rainbow Dash.
Pinkie Pie seemed to have heard them, as she sat up slowly, stretching her hooves and letting out a small yawn.
"Rainbow? Fluttershy?" she murmured, rubbing her eyes.
"Hey, Pinkie." the blue pegasus said with a grin.
"Good to see you're awake."
"Here Pinkie." Fluttershy handed her an apple from the basket. "I... I brought this... for you."
Pinkie Pie took the apple from her hoof, her face nearly expressionless. "Thank you."
"So," the pink pony began. "when can I leave?" she said before biting into the apple.
Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash glanced at each other with uncertainty.
"Well..." Rainbow fidgeted her hooves.
"You might need to stay a teeny-tiny weensy bit longer in here, Pinkie."
Pinkie sighed in disappointment, while Fluttershy let out a sigh of relief.
"They should just let me go already." the pink pony complained while munching on her apple.
"I feel fine."
"It's okay," Fluttershy assured her. "I took care of Gummy for you."
"That's not the point," she said dejectedly.
"I miss going out. I miss Sugarcube Corner. I miss you guys..."
She sniffled a little as Rainbow Dash placed a hoof on her shoulder.
"Cheer up, Pinkie." the blue pegasus said.
"We'll bring you for a walk, okay?"
Pinkie Pie nodded slightly, a smile plastered onto her face.
"Thank you."
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Octavia looked out the window, trying to stay put as Rarity helped her comb her mane.
"Almost finished, Octavia..." the unicorn said through a mouthful of pins.
The grey pony felt her mane twist and turn a little as her friend continued twining her mane around.
She felt her mane clip for one last time.
"Done!" Rarity said proudly.
Octavia looked at the mirror in amazement, as she saw her black mane braided at one side.
"Wow, Rarity." she exclaimed.
"And I thought you were only good with dresses!"
"Hair styling is more of a past time, really." Rarity chuckled, brushing it off.
"So, how's Crimson?"
"Doctor says his therapy is alright." Octavia replied with a grin.
"Otherwise, it's just normal old him."
"Can he still perform his dance routines and such?" Rarity asked, chuckling a little.
Octavia looked at her friend.
"Well, he can still sing, but performance wise, I'm not sure."
"That chandelier really fractured his leg."
Octavia shuddered at the thought of that night. The night they finally performed together.
"Well," Rarity spoke suddenly. "I hope he'll be okay."
Both mares sighed gently, lying on the bed.
"So?" Octavia quipped, her eyes widened in interest.
Rarity looked at her. "What?"
"Aren't you gonna tell me who your future coltfriend is?" the gray pony said with a wink.
"Well, I... uh," Rarity stammered, trying to think of something to say.
"Come on!" Octavia giggled slightly. "Don't tell me it's him."
"Him?"
"You know?" the grey pony nudged her friend teasingly. "Him"
Rarity pondered a little.
"You mean Big Mac? Of course not, silly! I mean, we're close, but not that close."
Octavia raised an eyebrow quizzically.
"Not him. The other one!"
"You know there are many stallions in Ponyville, right?" Rarity said.
"Many stallions, yes~!" the gray pony said with sarcasm.
"But only one dragon."
Rarity was slightly startled. "You... You knew?"
"Course I knew," Octavia said, rolling her eyes.
"The way he looks at you. Sheesh, it's enough for everypony in town to know!"
Rarity blushed a little, her words fumbled as her friend giggled.
"But is it true?" Octavia asked suddenly with a slight hint of worry.
"Was Spike injured?"
The unicorn trembled a little.
"Y-Yes." she managed to stammer, holding back her tears.
"What?" the grey pony flinched a little, surprised by the answer
"But... But why?"
"I don't know." Rarity whimpered. "I really don't."
"But I do know Mirror Mare had something to do with it."
Rarity said to her with a new-found strength.
"And I'm gonna find out why!"
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The lock clicked open as Twilight, Applejack and Vinyl watched the mare turning the key.
A small scent of licorice filled their snouts as the six ponies stepped inside. It looked grand for an apartment despite the size. The furry Persian carpet swept their hooves as Twilight and her friends strode inside.
"This is our home." the oldest mare said, smiling invitingly as she ushered them in.
"Wow," Applejack whistled in amazement. "You ponies sure have a nice place!"
The sisters smiled at her as they settle their bags down.
"It's small, but cozy."
Twilight noticed a golden-framed painting hanging on the wall. A pair of ponies stood,their expressions gazing down somberly as Twilight recognized one of them.
"That's Persimmon." she said, pointing at the painting.
Applejack walked up to her, both ponies staring at the deceased pony.
"She looks so young." the orange pony quipped.
"She was a much serious pony back then." one of the mares said, arranging a few daffodils in the corner.
"Well," the oldest pony stepped forward. "I guess we haven't introduce ourselves properly yet."
"My name is Dahlia." she said with a grin. "I'm the oldest."
"My sisters, Tulip and Ivy."
Both of them gave a slight bow as they continue tidying up the room.
"Well, my name is Twilight." the purple unicorn said.
"These are my friends, Applejack and Vinyl."
"Howdy," Applejack tipped her hat towards them.
Dahlia flashed a smile. "I'm glad my mother has made some more... proper friends."
She arranged a stack of papers neatly, dusting a few as she finishes.
"Proper friends?" Vinyl asked quizzically
"She has, or had, friends," Dahlia said with discomfort.
"Friends that I don't want to talk about."
"It's okay" Twilight assured her. "We won't pry."
"It's just when making friends, you have to be careful. That's all."
Dahlia threw a few glass bottles away, shoving them into a black plastic bag.
"Some friends just pretend they're 'friends'," she warned them. "My mother had many of those."
Twilight nodded understandingly. Vinyl felt her shoulder nudged as Applejack let out a small giggle.
"Heard that, DJ?" she said.
Vinyl sighed. "I'm old enough to know that, cowgirl, but as far as I know-"
"Anyways," Twilight interrupted. "You said your mother didn't mean her apology?"
"That's right." the auburn mare said, stirring a mug of coffee.
"My mother usually plays riddles with us, giving us secret codes and messages every time."
"When we left Manehatten for college," she ruffled her mane, as if regretting her decision. "my mother always said: if she was sorry, she must show something she had always treasured to the pony that gave the message."
"But I never thought she meant that..."
Dahlia started weeping softly behind her mane, trying hard not to think of her mother.
She felt a hoof around her shoulder.
"Dahlia?" Applejack quipped. "Your mother... she's one of the nicest and bravest ponies I know."
The orange pony laughed a little. "I gotta say, our first meeting didn't go well-"
Twilight and Vinyl let out a nervous laugh.
"-but I found out just how a wonderful pony your mother is." Applejack finished.
Dahlia looked at her, a variety of expressions crossing her face.
"What I'm trying to say was, you gotta stay strong. For your mother, 'ya know?"
Applejack waved her cast around. "I could end up far worse if Persimmon didn't save my flank."
"And... I owe her a lot."
Dahlia looked up in surprise. "She...... saved your life?"
Applejack smiled. "One of the first."
The auburn pony smiled back, the biggest since they arrived.
"Come on," she said. "My mother said you needed to see this."
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"And now! The moment you've all been waiting for!!"
Caper swooshed his cape around, dazzling the audience with a glittery spectacle.
"Bring out: The Separation Cage!!
A giant guillotine-like frame was rolled onto the center of the stage by two ponies, followed by a circular buzzsaw. Behind them, an engine was carted in by a wheelbarrow.
"Now, to demonstrate," he began as the ponies began setting up the contraption.
"This buzzsaw, attached here," Caper gestured to the top of the wooden frame. "will be triggered by the pull of the cord from this motor."
Caper then directed everypony's attention towards the engine.
"This engine will activate a system of pulleys. So when you pull this..."
He gave the cord a yank, making the buzzsaw spin with a loud screech.
"...you have exactly half a minute before the buzzsaw falls downwards. Now I would like a pony to volunteer as a temporary assistant to be on stage."
"Who would like to try?"
The crowd murmured and whispered as Caper tapped his hooves patiently on the floor. The buzzsaw suddenly stopped screeching, pummeling downwards with a great force as it shredded the surface of wood.
"Even the buzzsaws are impatient!" Caper said with a laugh. "Come on, don't need to be shy!"
A small hoof raised from the crowd, prompting everypony else to look.
"Well, well!" Caper beamed. "I see we have a brave soul in here. Come on down!!"
The audience clapped as the pony walked down the steps, taking each step with extreme care.
"Now, miss. Please step this way..." Caesar said as he took a glance at the mare.
His eyes widened in amazement as a pale yellow face stared back at him, her pupils glittering a bright gold. Her mane was flipped to the side, shining a bright brownish-orange. She gave him a purely gentle smile, as she stepped towards the center.
Caper fumbled for a while, letting out a giggle from the mare as he began.
"W-What's your name?"
The mare flipped her mane to the side. "Autumn. Last name Palgiot."
"Hello??"
Autumn waved her hoof as Caesar snapped out from his daydream.
"You okay, Caper? You've been staring at me like that for about... fifteen minutes maybe?"
"I'm alright, Autumn." he laughed it off. The black pony looked around.
They were in the cafe, simply known as Pendant Delights. The strong smell of muffins wavered around like a magic aura, tempting those outside to come in.
Autumn looked out the window as Caper followed her gaze. A crumbling stone platform stood, the marble columns tilting or already fallen over. She let out a depressed sigh.
"I used to jump on those," the mare gestured her head to the columns. "when I was young."
"Really? Is this part of tradition or-"
Autumn just shushed him. Caper smiled.
It feels good to be submissive sometimes.
The station was quite crowded today, with workers already rebuilding from scratch.
"How is it?" Caper asked. "The station, I mean."
"It's not half done," she answered back, trying to push it to the back of her mind.
Something caught her attention. From afar, a gray pony trotted towards the notice board, carrying a stack of papers on his back.
"What's the mayor doing here?" Caper asked with curiosity.
Another pony followed, carrying a can of glue. The mayor coughed a little as he started pasting one of the papers on the board.
Autumn's heart sank. Her eyes widened in horror as realization struck her painfully in her face.
"Caper." she said, frantically taking her purse. "I gotta go."
"Why?" the black pony asked. "Where are you going?"
She turned back, clenching her hooves as she uttered:
"To speak to my brother."
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A small gust of wind blew into her pink mane as Pinkie Pie walked down the gravel path. Rainbow Dash followed closely behind, along with Fluttershy, who was admiring the hospital garden.
A small bunch of orchids dangled from an arch, as Pinkie found her hooves straining to sit down.
"Need any help?" Rainbow asked worryingly.
"I'm fine," Pinkie said with a laugh. She settled herself on the wooden bench in the archway, taking care not to trip.
"So, have you guys done anything while I'm gone?" she asked Rainbow as both pegasi sat down beside her.
"Well," the blue pegasus ruffled her rainbow mane.
"Not much, really. Ponyville isn't really... Ponyville, if you know what I mean."
"Rarity's doing fine over at the palace." she continued with a chuckle.
Pinkie shivered a little, with images of a smiling silver mask taunting her mind.
"I hope she can catch that... pony." she managed to speak.
Fluttershy looked over with concern as Rainbow watch her mane starting to flatten more than it already used to.
"Cheer up, Pinks!" the blue pegasus stifled a nervous laugh.
"I'm sure she would."
Pinkie gave her a smile. It was more of a twisted grimace filled with dejection.
"Can we go now?" the pink pony grumbled.
The three ponies rose from the bench, continuing their small walk down the path.
A few ponies glanced nervously at Pinkie, with slight whispers flowing slightly from their mouth.
"Why are they all staring at me?" she complained.
"Can't they just look at somepony else?"
"Um... I think they like you.. I-I guess."
"Fluttershy," she said scornfully to the yellow pegasus.
"I know how ponies look at others, and I don't think they like me."
She gritted her teeth. "Not one bit."
"Don't be like that, silly!" Rainbow nudged the pink pony, who was becoming more agitated with each stare.
The doors to the hospital stood at the end. Rainbow let out a quiet sigh of relief.
"See, Pinkie?" she said. "It wasn't that bad!!"
Pinkie never questioned her friend, just giving her an unnerving smile.
Her mind suddenly became fogged with voices. She tried to calm herself down, but her ears perked as her mind taunted her morbidly.
"She's a scary one, that pink pony..."
"I feel sorry for her friends..."
"Why is she here? She should be in the Everfree Forest!!"
"That pony is crazy!"
"I'm not crazy!!!"
The eyes of everypony fixated onto her, as Pinkie panted rapidly, her eyes seething with rage.
"Pinkie?" Rainbow approached her friend with caution.
"Are you alright?"
"Alright..?" the pink pony grumbled under her breath. "Alright?!"
"You think I'll be alright?!" Pinkie scowled, trying to keep her cool.
"P..Please, Pinkie..." Fluttershy whispered silently.
"Don't 'please, Pinkie' or anything."
She kicked a little dust, ignoring the bandage on her hoof.
"You don't know how it's like to have everypony talk behind your back, Fluttershy."
Fluttershy cringed, hiding behind Rainbow Dash.
"Pinkie," the blue pegasus looked at her with concern. "What's the matter with you all of the sudden?"
"Nothing's the matter!" Pinkie shook it off with a cold sarcasm. "Nothing at all."
"Please Pinkie. You're not making this any easier."
"And you think you are??!!"
Rainbow stumbled back, bumping into Fluttershy who was now hiding her face into her blue wings.
"You think it's fun?!! Lying around all day?!! Doing absolutely nothing but looking at the ceiling for one whole day?!!"
"Pinkie, it's for your own good!!" Rainbow shouted back, pain twisting her voice.
Pinkie just scoffed, her face darkening as she glared at her friend.
"You don't know anything about this, Rainbow!"
"I was here before, Pinkie!" she shouted.
"I know how it's like!!"
"No you don't!!"
"Pinkie-"
"Shut up!!!"
Rainbow was taken aback, her eyes widening with shock.
"You don't know a single, bucking thing about what I've been through!!" Pinkie shouted at the top of her voice.
The other patients started cringe in fear as Rainbow took a small step back.
"He pushed me, Rainbow!!!" she continued as tears started falling from her eyes.
"He pushed me out the window!! Did anypony pushed you out of windows, Rainbow??!!"
Rainbow glanced around nervously, trying to think of something to say.
"Anypony??!!"
"No, Pinkie!" she replied sharply. "Nopony!!"
Pinkie stepped forward, her eyes still furrowing at her friend.
"I knew it."
She started giggling coldly with satisfaction, yet Rainbow can still feel the rage emanating from the pink pony.
"And they say I'm crazy!!" she snorted. "Who would've thought I'm crazy??!!"
She started laughing, rolling around the pavement. Her mane was still flat, brushing against dirt and dust.
"Pinkie..." Fluttershy bit her lip, watching her friend laughing hysterically.
Rainbow Dash glanced away, greatly disturbed by her pink friend.
Pinkie stood up, finishing her laughter. Her eyes pierced deep into Rainbow's, who was avoiding her glance.
"I told you so, Rainbow." she scoffed.
"You wouldn't know anything about this..."
Her voice faltered as Pinkie felt the world darkening, stumbling around dizzily. Rainbow and Fluttershy suddenly looked at her with fear.
"Pinkie?!"
The pink pony collapsed onto the path. Rainbow rushed to her side.
"Pinkie?! Pinkie, don't do this!!"
The pink pony lay motionless on the ground. Fluttershy let out a gasp as a few ponies rushed into the hospital.
"Pinkie!!" Rainbow screamed at the pony. "Don't do this to me!!"
"Pinkie..."
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The blanket fluttered gently, a small chirp tensing in his ears.
He let out a small yawn, his eyes slowly opening as he looked around in a blur.
"W...Where..."
He reached around, trying to focus. He felt his legs tremble as he finally touched the floor.
"What..."
His head pounded as he groaned with frustration. He felt cloth running through his fingers.
He blinked slightly, his vision becoming clear.
"Wha-?" He looked around in bewilderment.
"What am I doing here?"
Everything seem to flash through him in a split second, as a sudden dawn of realization hit him.
"Rarity!!"