Then it was Pinkie’s turn. The next day, while helping Pinkie set up some decorations for an upcoming debate team party (neither of them were on the team, but Pinkie had her fingers in every party at school), Sunset took the opportunity to apologize to Pinkie, and give her her gift of restitution.
They had been working for about 10 minutes, when Sunset came up to Pinkie sheepishly, and opened her mouth. Pinkie’s eyes went wide. She took a huge breath and jumped right in. “Oh my goodness! Is this the time for you and me to have a heartfelt exchange of apologies and forgiveness that will totally finally completely clear the air between us so we can be besties forever and not be awkward at all and just be really really happy together plus a restitution gift?” She smiled toothily and a bit maniacally.
Sunset was still getting used to Pinkie. She just stared, her mouth still open. After a couple seconds, she closed her mouth, blinked a couple times, broke into a smile almost against her will, then got a determined look and finally spoke.
“Yes, Pinkie, it is, and you’re not allowed to short circuit it.”
“Aww,” Pinkie complained. “I don’t like it when you’re sad. But I guess we have to do this, right?” She frowned, and her hair partially deflated.
This made Sunset extra guilty, but she pressed on, knowing that this had to be done. “It’s true; this may be more for me than you, but it still has to be said. Now that I know you, being mean to you and making you unhappy seems like just about the worst thing in the world. That’s what I did, and I need to tell you that I’m sorry. So, here goes…” she looked at Pinkie, waiting for permission.
Pinkie could be serious when needed, as Sunset already knew. She looked at Sunset encouragingly. “I know. It’s ok. But you already know what I’m going to say, right? Oh Sunny, I don’t want you to be in suspense!”
“I do know. So…here’s what I’m sorry for. And when I say I’m sorry, I’m really, really sorry, Pinkie. All of this – I wish I could undo it. I’m not sure…I can put into words how much!” Sunset paused for a moment to regain her composure, then pressed on. “It was me who sent those emails to Rarity making her think you were excluding her from helping with party set-ups. And I was the one who told you that Fluttershy wanted a party-auction – not Fluttershy. I ruined your relationship with both of them, and because of me, you lost over a year of time to be friends with them. And I popped some of your balloons in the gym before the Fall Formal, and then had Snips and Snails wreck the decorations to blame it on Twilight. I understand now how much of an insult that was to you. And to top it all off, when I tried to…” here Sunset had to pause to gather her resolve. “When I tried to…kill Twilight…that fireball I used – it would have killed you too!” Unsurprisingly, Sunset was now crying very hard.
“Oh, Sunset,” said Pinkie very softly, as she reached out to stroke Sunset’s hair. “I already knew that it was you who pushed me and Rarity and Fluttershy apart.”
“You… you did?” Sunset sobbed.
“Yes. Twilight figured it out. I wasn’t thinking – I should have told you that so this would be easier for you.” With elaborate care, Pinkie pulled Sunset into her arms and held her. “Guess what.”
Sunset looked up from Pinkie’s shoulder. “Wh…what?” she asked meekly.
Pinkie smiled fondly at her. “I forgive you. Totally and completely, for all of it. I promise. Restitution gift or not.”
Sunset wept even harder, bawling into Pinkie’s shoulder. Pinkie just held her tightly, rocking her gently for many minutes. Finally, Sunset sniffed one last time, then pulled away a bit. “Thank you, Pinkie! Thank you so much.” She was breathing hard, and, after a few more minutes of hugging, she started to recover. “So…you wanna see what I got you?” Sunset asked at last, looking at the ground shyly.
“OF COURSE! I can hardly wait!”
Sunset smiled and went over to her bag. She pulled out three small boxes about the size of a box of cereal.
“THREE things?!” Pinkie cried, jumping up and down again.
Sunset’s smile broadened. “Yes, Pinkie. Here’s the first.”
Pinkie tore into the wrapping like a ravenous kitten. Suddenly, she gasped with joy. “Balloons!” she cried in triumph. “YAY!”
“Not just any balloons,” Sunset clarified. “These are the highest quality I could find.”
“Oh wow! This is so great!”
Sunset handed Pinkie the second box. She tore it open with equal enthusiasm to the first box. It turned out to be a bunch of extremely colorful confetti for her party cannon. Pinkie was as overjoyed as with the balloons. “But what could be better than what you’ve already given me? I just might explode, Sunset!” she exclaimed, her eyes growing almost comically wide. “OOO! OOO! I KNOW! IS THE THIRD BOX CUPCAKES?”
“Well, no, but I will buy you one later just for fun,” Sunset said with unabashed fondness. “No, the third box is special. Go ahead, please open it.”
Pinkie opened this box more carefully. It was smaller than the others. The box contained seven balloons that were iridescent and sparkly almost like mirrorballs. Pinkie looked confused.
“Unfold one of them,” Sunset prompted knowingly.
Pinkie unfolded one of the balloons, which were larger than normal balloons and appeared to be made of an unusually thick and strong material. As she unfolded it, it became clear that the balloon had a picture of Rarity on it. It was a great picture of her, too. Pinkie gasped again. Quickly, she unfolded the rest of the balloons. Each of the 7 balloons had a picture of one of the friends on it. She was stunned. For the first time in Pinkie’s experience, she had been rendered speechless.
“They are special balloons – extra sturdy, and they can be refilled. If you take care of them, they should last forever,” Sunset explained.
Pinkie turned and looked at Sunset with her mouth wide open. Then she practically exploded with joy and scooped Sunset into another hug. “OH SUNSET THIS IS INCREDIBLE! I didn’t even know this was possible! This is the best thing ever! Oh thank you, thank you!”
“You’re so welcome, Pinkie. I hope they do last forever.”
Pinkie held Sunset at arm’s length. “I do too. Wow, this is so great!” she sighed happily. “Now, come on – let’s get on with the decorating. I’ll put these aside and save them for our next sleepover. They’ll be our mascots!” She gave Sunset’s arm a last affectionate rub and the two girls returned to decorating the debate room. They had more fun together than ever before.