//------------------------------// // Party of Four // Story: Last Mare on Earth // by Coyotek4 //------------------------------// Odd … I thought I saw a pink pony in the distance, but it’s gone now. And where did that streak of pink come fr— *OOF* “Ohmygod-it’s-been-like-forever-but-I-knew-I-couldn’t-be-the-only-pony-left-this-is-incredible-thankyou-thankyou-thankyou-we-have-so-much-to-discuss-I’m-so-excited-are-you-excited-I-mean-of-course-you-are-but-can-you-be-as-excited-as-me-hey-are-you-okay?” Pinkie’s exuberance ebbs as she gets up off of the grey earth pony. She eyes a familiar cutie mark of a damp blanket. “Wait a minute … I know you! You’re Sans Smirk!” Sans picks himself up from the ground and sweeps off bits of dirt with his tail. He speaks with a quiet monotone: “If that’s your reaction to strangers, I shudder to think how you treat your friends.” Pinkie bursts into laughter. “HAHAHAHAHAA … classic Sans!” “Yes, I suppose that was rather humorous,” he accedes. Regaining her composure, Pinkie asks, “So what are you doing all the way over here in Ponyville?” “Pinkie Pie, you’re the … you’re the first pony, really the first anyone I’ve seen in two months. Everyone I’ve ever known is … gone.” He looks around the various buildings. “I assume it’s the same for you.” Pinkie’s ears droop. “I lost a lot of friends and family.” Her expression perks up: “But I’m not totally alone. Follow me and let me introduce you!” “Wait, so there are more …” Sans cannot finish his sentence before Pinkie turns and races back to the center of town. His hopes rising, he sprints after her. “Sans Smirk, say Hello to Boulder and Twiggy.” Sans inspects the rock and stick at Pinkie’s hooves, then picks his head up to face Pinkie, a look of confusion on his face. Moments later … “Ah, I understand,” he says in his understated manner. “This is a joke. Most humorous … ha ha.” “A joke?” Pinkie asks sincerely. She turns to the rock and stick. “He didn’t mean it; he just doesn’t know you yet. But he’s got plenty of time to catch up!” “Wait … so when you said you weren’t alone, you meant … that these inanimate objects are your companions.” “INANIMATE???” Tears begin to form in Pinkie’s eyes. “How could you?” Realizing his error, Sans quickly backtracks: “I am sorry, I did not mean to insult your … your friends. Please forgive me, it has been a long journey for me and my judgment may not be what it used to be.” Wiping her tears away, Pinkie composes herself. “No, I understand. It’s OK … the truth is, I felt the same way about Twiggy. But we’ve had a lot of time to make things right, isn’t that right?” … “I know … but I’m really trying. You have to at least give me that, right?” … Pinkie sighs with relief. “We’ll get there,” she assures the stick. Turning back to Sans, a thought crosses her mind: “So how did you know to come here?” Putting aside the recent conversation, Sans recounts: “I’ve been alone in the factory for a while now, watching all my fellow coworkers disappear. Soon it was just me. I found ways to occupy my time … assorted books, puzzles, plenty of gags for amusement … but over time, the solitude started to get to me. I wasn’t sure if I was truly the only pony left, but I didn’t want to leave the comforts of what I’ve always known as ‘home’.” “So what changed your mind?” “You did, I suppose. One day, I heard a voice calling … it said, “Alive in Ponyville.” Pinkie gasps. “YOU HEARD ME!!!” She turns to the rock and stick. “I told you that would work.” She scoffs: “And you thought that was all a waste a time!” She laughs. “Yes,” Sans continues, “in any case, hearing your voice … and remembering how much you were able to help the last time our paths crossed … I knew I had at least one more friend still in this world. I set off at once; it was a … quiet journey, to say the least. Sleep was tough, of course, with the sun and moon now permanently up; I fell asleep only out of exhaustion, and would continue my trek whenever I woke up.” “Well at least now you’ll have a place to stay with curtains to block out the sunlight … uhh, don’t mind the lack of windows, though.” Sans nods in acceptance. “Food wasn’t an issue, of course, though I have grown a tad tired of grass. But what really got to me … and I admit, I did not believe this would be the case with me … was the sense of total isolation. Not even just ponies, mind you; any sentient life. No rabbits, squirrels, cows, bears … not even a mosquito. Honestly, I wish I had any answers to how all this happened.” Pinkie turns to the rock and stick. “I know all too well now, Sans. Boulder and Twiggy are the only friends who haven’t left me. Twilight, Rainbow Dash, the Cake foals … even Gummy left me. I don’t know why I’m left, either … but I’m glad to have somepony else to talk to,” she concludes with a smile. One name sticks with Sans: “Twilight … Princess Twilight Sparkle. You knew the successor to Princesses Celestia and Luna?” Pinkie sighs. “Everypony was my friend … everycreature, really … but Twilight was my bestest best friend. She was always so smart, but never aloof. Always caring. I miss all my friends, but I miss her the most.” A realization dawns on Sans: “You’re one of … one of the Elements of Friendship! I … I had no idea!” he stammers. Pinkie forces a chuckle. “Heh … yeah, that’s me, the Element of Laughter. Wish I had more to laugh about these days.” “I’m very curious; what can you tell me about your exploits? How did you come about this, I guess we should say, this plague? When did you start to see things change.” Pinkie turns away. “I’m sorry, Sans, I’m not … I can’t …” “No, no, I apologize again,” Sans backtracks. “As bad as this ordeal has been for me, I’m sure it was infinitely worse for you.” Pinkie pauses, her attention still drawn to the rock and stick. Her head picks up as she scans the area around her before turning to face Sans. “Wanna get something to eat besides grass?” Sans takes in the sight of acres upon acres of apple trees. “The Apple family must have been the greatest farmers in the history of the world. I am truly astounded.” Pinkie joins Sans in overlooking the natural splendor of Sweet Apple Acres, enjoying the view from in front of the stately barn. She turns her attention to the picnic blanket and grabs an apple from an overflowing bucket. She takes a succulent bite and contemplates Sans’s comment. “It sure beats grass, doesn’t it?” Pinkie finally says. “I haven’t baked anything in a long time. I still got some supplies back at Sugarcube Corner, but I’d only have myself to enjoy them … I just don’t feel like I’d enjoy them. But now that you’re here, maybe I’ll dip into the cupboards and get a tasty, hot apple pie going.” “That would be wonderful,” Sans replies, “but please don’t go out of your way just for me.” “Why shouldn’t I?” she counters with a smile. “Now that you’re here, maybe there are others! Your being here gives me hope … hope that I was losing just this morning.” “It will take some time, at least at first, with just the two of us …” Sans recognizes Pinkie’s quizzical look as a sign he had misspoke. “I mean, the four of us. Um … do Boulder and Twiggy ever eat anything?” “Just air,” Pinkie cheerfully replies. “That leaves more apples for us!” Sans nods and takes in the scenery for several more minutes. … “Sans?” “Yes, Pinkie?” “I … I think I want to talk about what it was like … you know, before all … before all this happened.” Sans blinks. He examines Pinkies a bit more before answering: “I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable. If you’re not ready …” “No … you should know,” Pinkie flatly responds. “You’ve come a long way just to be here; it’s the least I could do.” “Well … OK then.” Sans sits up and focuses on his new friend. Pinkie takes a deep breath, then tells her tale …