3 Years Ago
Zack looked out the window of the train. Kat was sitting next to him.
"So, what do we do when we get to Hoofington?" asked Kat.
Zack turned from the window to look at her. "We find a room at a hotel. Once there we can figure out what to do next."
Kat nodded. "Alright."
Zack put a hoof on her shoulder. "Hey. It's gonna be alright."
Kat smiled. "Yeah? You think so?"
"I know so." said Zack. "We managed to survive Pinkamena and get away. Ponyville is way back there." he said, motioning to the fading town. "We're far away from all that now. There's no need to worry."
"Yeah, I... I guess you're right." said Kat. "I just hope we never have to see her or that griffon again."
Zack smiled. "Same here."
Present Day
Pinkamena sat on the couch with May. There was a knock at the door. Dawn walked passed the couch and headed for the door. When she got there she, obviously, opened it. The whole gang was there. Dawn stepped aside allowing them to enter. The group gathered in the living room and took their seats. Some sat in arm chairs and some on couches. Two had to sit on the floor. They all looked at Pinkamena. The pink mare couldn't bring herself to make eye contact. May placed a hoof on her shoulder.
"Come on, Pinkie." she said gently. "All your friends are here. Aren't you gonna say something?"
Pinkamena took a deep breath. "I... I'm sorry. For everything."
"It's all right, Pinkie." said Twilight. "Don't w--"
"No!" yelled Pinkamena. "It's not okay!" She quickly looked up at the group, tears in her eyes. "I hurt you. All of you. There wasn't a day that went by when I didn't think about that."
Kat got up from her chair and went over to Pinkamena.
"Pinkie..." she said. "That's the past. Don't worry about it. And I'm sure if Zack was here, he'd say the same thing."
She leaned in and gave Pinkamena a hug. May looked around and noticed she was right. Zack wasn't here. Kat ended the hug and sat back down.
"You see, Pinkie?" said May. "There's nothing to worry about anymore."
Pinkamena smiled as there was the faint scent of smoke.
"Is something burning?" asked Macy.
"Ah, crap!" yelled Dawn, dashing off to the kitchen.
"You made food?" asked Fern.
"Yes." said May. "I thought we'd all sit down and have a meal.
"Awesome." said Fern.
The group gathered at the long dining table where plates of food was set.
"This looks really good, Dawn." said Twilight as everyone sat down.
"Thanks. I worked hard on this."
"I can tell." said Twilight.
The group all started eating. Pinkamena stared at her silverware and slowly began reaching for the fork. She managed to pick it up but stopped when she used her other hoof to reach for the knife. May looked down at Pinkamena's hoof which was hovered above the knife, shaking. May placed her hoof on Pinkamena's and looked at her. The pink mare looked at May with a saddened expression. Twilight and Dawn watched what was going on.
"Pinkie." whispered May. "You can do it. I believe in you."
"So do I." said Twilight, leaning across the table so no one else could hear.
Pinkamena and May looked at her.
"Me, too." whispered Dawn with a smile.
Pinkamena looked at both of them and then down at the knife. She slowly picked it up and began eating. She was on her second bite when her hoof started to shake. A tear formed in her eye as she lowered the fork. She could feel the urge rising but she tried her best to hold it back. All she could do was stare at the fork.
"Pinkie?" asked May, noticing her behavior.
The pink mare didn't hear her. She was too focused on the fork.
"Pinkie!" said May louder.
The pink mare let out a gasp and quickly looked over at May. The others at the table were watching with an upset expression. No one like seeing their friend like this.
"Pinkie." May repeated. "It's all right."
Pinkie looked back at her fork and then back at May.
"I-I can't do this." she finally said, leaving the table. "I'm sorry."
May let out a sigh and watched her leave.
"The poor dear." said Rarity. "I wish there was something we could do to help."
"She's on her own, I'm afraid." said May. She returned to her food. "Only she can make hereof better."
Applejack was outside admiring the garden. Pinkamena left the house and walked over to her.
"Howdy, Pinkie." she said, seeing the mare approaching.
Pinkamena stopped next to her.
"Applejack... I just wanted to apologize for what I said before."
"What're you talkin' 'bout, sugarcube?"
"I should never have blamed this on you. It wasn't your fault."
"When did you--"
"The little filly's right." said Pinkamena. "I will kill each and every one of you." she knelt down in front of Applejack. "Starting with the one responsible for my condition."
"Me?" asked Applejack, shocked.
"Yes. It was you who lied to me, miss Element Of Honesty. Must've been hard for you to do, huh?"
"It was a surprise party."
"If only you had told me the truth... even in secret... none of this would've had to happen. And you know I would've acted surprised."
"Oh... right. I remember."
"I'm sorry, AJ."
"Oh, heck. Don't worry about it."
"You sure?" asked Pinkamena.
"It's all water under the bridge, Pinkie. I'm over it."
Pinkamena smiled. "Thanks, AJ."