The Prompt:
Mirror, Mirror
Pinkie Pie raced through the Everfree Forest, with the timberwolves hot on her trail. The brambles and vines of the forest tore past her in a blur as she galloped at top speed, but she hardly even noticed that anymore. All that was important was getting away from those wolves!
This wasn't her first time running away from timberwolves, and it probably wouldn't be her last! This is just what happened to ponies that went into the Everfree Forest, and Pinkie Pie was in there all the time! She hopped easily over a fallen tree, and then dodged sideways through a bush, that might slow them down!
And into her own reflection she stared...
Whoops! That last bite was awfully close! Pinkie Pie would have to super-double-time it if she wanted to get away this time! She ducked under a branch, and couldn't help giggling at the frustrated sound the timberwolf that smacked right into the branch made. But a big scary wolf like that wouldn't be stopped by a tree, and neither would his friends!
Friends. Pinkie Pie missed her friends.
Yearning for one whose reflection she shared...
Pinkie Pie scrunched up her muzzle. Even galloping as fast as she could, and with the wolves behind her leaping and running at full tilt, somehow their breath STILL managed to stink the whole woods up! How did a bunch of magical sticks and leaves even HAVE bad breath? Did cragadiles have bad breath too? Pinkie hadn't run into one of those, even with how often she was in the forest!
Wait, that didn't matter right now! What mattered right now was going just as super-fast as she could!
And solemnly sweared, not to be scared...
Pinkie Pie was scared witless! The forest rushed by in a mix of green and brown and darkness and scarey-ness and she had long since lost any idea of where the hay she was or where the path was, or Zecora's hut, or ANYTHING! All there was in the whole world was galloping and panting and sweating and timberwolves and branches and logs and-
At the prospect of being doubly mared.
Sunlight!
Pinkie Pie crashed through the sudden mass of bushes and vines that marked the edge of the forest.
The first thing she thought was WOOHOO! Timberwolves super didn't like leaving the forest, and that meant that she was probably safe, if she could run just a little more!
The second thing she thought was PANIC! Because right there in front of her was a little blanket with food laid out (including yummy-looking cupcakes and pies!) and six ponies (and one dragon!) all around it.
Pinkie Pie collapsed on her front, her limp, straight mane all around in her a briar-and-branch-tangled mess. The timberwolves rushed out of the Forest behind her, roaring in frustration at the long chase, but a few blasts of purple magic scattered the timberwolves' pieces all over everywhere. Ponies were suddenly all around her, eyes widened in surprise and maybe even fear.
Pinkie Pie looked up at Pinkie Pie, and then passed out.
"But who is she?"
"I reckon she's one of them extra Pinkies from that magic pond."
Who was that? Oh, Applejack! That was the name.
"But how is she still here? I sent all the duplicates back to-"
"Not just the duplicates, silly! What about the double-doubles and the double-double-doubles and the--"
Pinkie Pie certainly recognized that voice. But her eyelids felt really heavy, and she didn't really want to open them and see everypony right now.
"I sent them all back, Pinkie!"
"But she sure looks like me!"
Pinkie opened her eyes, and found that she was still on the ground, though now with the picnic blanket over her back. The ponies were standing only a few feet away, all huddled up.
Rainbow Dash flew a few feet above the ground, like usual. "Well then stop talking about it and blast this one too!"
"No wait!" Pinkie Pie said, and then cupped a hoof over her mouth when all of her friends looked over to her laying on the ground.
Twilight hesitated. Wait, was that still Twilight? She had wings now!
Rarity glanced at the Pinkie on the ground. "You know, Pinkie, Darling, it might be good to straighten your mane now and then. It really could be--" She coughed into her hoof, quieting herself at the disbelieving looks from most of her friends.
Fluttershy spoke next, quietly, but almost firmly. "Um, it wouldn't... be fair to just send her back. She hasn't... done anything wrong."
"Wait, what? She's not even a pony! Just blast her!" Rainbow frowned, and Fluttershy wilted at her tone.
Pinkie Pie suddenly giggled and bounced over to the Pinkie Pie on the ground, before throwing her forelegs around her in a warm, soft hug.
It had been way, way too long since Pinkie had been hugged. It was the most super funnerific thing in the whole world, and she totally forgot about everything else. At least for a few long, happy seconds.
Twilight, Princess Twilight now, Pinkie guessed, sat down heavily on her rump, looking troubled. "Well, we can't just have two Pinkie Pies running around, but Fluttershy's right, we also can't just send her back after all this time..."
Pinkie giggled, and nuzzled the messier, straight-maned Pinkie. "Of COURSE we can't! She's my new twin sister! And if she can't be Pinkie Pie, maybe she can be... Pinkamena Diane Pie!"
Twilight gave a flat look. "But that's your name. Your real name, I mean."
"Really? I can stay? You really really mean it?" Friends? Other ponies? Real food? No more running from Everfree Forest monsters?
"You sure can! Don't worry, Pinkamena, we'll have you smiling and happy again in no time! Ooh! I've got so many things to tell you about! It's been a super long time since we talked!" Pinkie Pie squeezed her close, and giggled happily at her own non-joke.
Pinkamena Diane Pie hugged her sister tightly in return, and for the first time in forever, felt like she was home.