Pinkie Pie hadn’t slept so well in a long time.
Not under the darkness of a starry sky, and not within the comfortable confines of her bed in Sugarcube Corner.
Regardless, the first beams of sunlight shining through the window quickly remove any semblance of tiredness; she bounces out of bed and pronks over to the window.
“Good morning, sun!” she calls out the window. “Say ‘hello’ to the moon for me!”
Pinkie glances over her shoulder as Gummy stares blankly in her direction. He blinks once.
“That’s what I like about you, Gummy; you’re not as judgmental as Boulder and Twiggy were. But seriously: guess what today is!”
Gummy blinks again.
“Today’s the day Twilight returns from her three-day conference in Canterlot! That’s deserving of a celebration; I got so much to do and so many to see, but it’ll all be worth it to see Twilight’s reaction! Oh, I can’t wait!”
Gummy stares.
“Well of course you can help! Come on; we got some baking to do!” Pinkie’s tail wraps around her pet gator and gently places him on her back. She joyously pronks down the stairs to the main area …
… and gasps as her eyes grow. “Twilight! You’re here … as in, ‘here’ here!”
“Pinkie Pie, I’m glad I caught you before you left Sugarcube Corner; we’re meeting at the Castle right now.”
“Oh …” Pinkie silently gulps, thinking about how far behind she may get with her plans. She maintains a strong exterior: “No problem,” she replies as her tail carefully wraps around Gummy and lifts him off her back, placing him on the ground. “Ready to go,” she states as she starts towards the door.
“Allow me,” Twilight replies; her horn glows, and in an instant, the two disappear in a flash.
Pinkie looks around the Cutie Map room, surprised to see nopony other than herself and Twilight. “Hey, where are the others?”
“They’ll be here any minute,” Twilight assures. “There’s a lot to get through, regarding the reformation processes. But I wanted to ask you, in private before anypony else got here …”
An uneasiness comes over Twilight. “Is everything OK?” Pinkie asks.
“Yes, everything is fine … but the stories you told us on the way back from the gardens, they were … powerful.”
Pinkie giggles. “I never said I was Supermare,” she states.
“Not that kind of …” Twilight chuckles at the response, before continuing: “It’s just so incredible; what you had to endure, what you were able to accomplish on your own … I don’t think anypony else could have done what you did.”
“I’m sure you could have,” Pinkie suggests. “You’re so much smarter than me … though maybe I know a bit more about cockatrices now, after all the research I put in at the archives.”
“You’re missing the point. Maybe I could have returned Tirek, Chrysalis, and Cozy Glow from their stone state, but I don’t think I ever would have convinced them that they could be redeemed. And I certainly could never have convinced Princess Celestia as much … I’m still taking it all in now, to be honest … so what convinced you? How did you come to that conclusion?”
Pinkie ponders Twilight’s question as she thinks back to her time in the archives. “I remember finding the work you put in, trying to find a counterspell. I thought I blew it by not coming to Canterlot sooner … but Sans Smirk, he assured me that it was OK, that it wasn’t my fault. It was a dark moment for me, and he was there when I needed a friend the most … and, well, that was when it occurred to me, maybe the Key was the act of forgiveness itself. And who else was there to forgive but Tirek, Chrysalis, and Cozy Glow. That was the moment for me when …”
Pinkie pauses.
Twilight raises an eyebrow. “Everything OK?”
“Yeah, it’s just that—”
The sound of numerous hooves clomping from down the hallway intensifies. “Maybe later,” Twilight says as three ponies trot into the room … and one pegasus flies in, coming to rest at her designated spot at the table.
“Everything’s going as planned,” Rainbow states; her comment draws mean looks from Applejack and Rarity. “Uh, I mean … we’re all here now, just as planned.”
Twilight nods. “Now I can update all of you on the events of the last several days. But before I start … it is great to see all of you here again, together!”
“It’s certainly an experience I never wish to have again,” Rarity states. “And even that thought is rather selfish, compared to what poor Sweetie Belle had to endure; apparently, she was one of the last to disappear … she could only watch as all her friends vanished right in front of her.”
“Do we know any more ‘bout what caused all this?” Applejack asks.
“No more than what Pinkie Pie described,” Twilight responds. “As far-fetched as the notion may be, that our … world … was trying to teach us all a lesson … I mean, we’ve all seen firsthoof the powers that we all hold within us, particularly in the darkest of times.”
The others all turn from one neighbor to the other, shrugging in acceptance.
“We may never know the full facts,” Twilight continues, “but if nothing else, it gives me something else to research in my spare time.”
“Yeah,” Rainbow says, “because if there’s one thing you don’t have enough of in your life, it’s studying.” Her comment elicits chuckles from the group.
“So what’s to become of the … Terrible Trio?” Fluttershy asks.
“We … probably need to stop referrin’ to them like that,” Applejack points out.
“Indeed,” Twilight adds. “That was one of the first points Celestia made to the populace of Canterlot during her speech to the town.”
“You mean the speech where she stood side-by-side with Chrysalis, Tirek, and Cozy Glow?” Rainbow asks. “How’d that go over?”
“Better than you’d think,” Twilight responds. “For sure, there were many who still won’t accept their redemption as sincere …” She looks up and eyes each of her friends. “… and I won’t judge anypony here who is in that camp … but from what I’ve witnessed, I think they’re really trying. I honestly think that those three, maybe for the first time ever, are giving friendship … true friendship … a chance.”
“Oh really,” Applejack drawls. “How ‘bout startin’ with Chrysalis. We’ve seen time ‘n again what she’s capable of … you really think she’s givin’ ‘true friendship’ a sportin’ chance?”
“Considering her first task, I’d say so.”
“Oh? And what task would that be?”
“Traveling back to the Hive, on hoof, with Starlight and Trixie.” Twilight’s response draws gasps from the others.
“You must be joking!” Rarity insists.
“I kid you not. Just yesterday, I had a chance to speak with Starlight.”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Rainbow says, “you didn’t say you were traveling with them.”
“I didn’t … Starlight’s improving on her teleportation abilities, and she popped over to where I was staying in Canterlot yesterday evening. She couldn’t stay long; she had to return to the Hive … but we had a good chat about how things have been going.”
“And?” Fluttershy asks.
Twilight’s eyes roll back. “Well, the three of them found a common bond. They all have stories … about me, actually … I was grateful that she didn’t go into any details. But by the time they arrived, they shared several good laughs … mostly at my expense, I guess …”
“Well that’s wonderful!” Rarity exclaims.
“Yeah … ‘Great!’ …” Twilight shakes off her feelings of self-consciousness and continues: “They arrived, and though there were some dirty looks from some of the changelings, Chrysalis does have a powerful ally.”
“Thorax?” Rainbow asks incredulously.
“Almost … his brother, Pharynx. According to Starlight, Pharynx had difficulties adapting to the new changeling lifestyle. He was very quick to share his experiences with Chrysalis; from what Starlight says, that bonding led to others opening up about their own insecurities with the new changeling normal.”
A thought crosses Applejack’s mind: “Do you think there’s a chance all that bondin’ with their former queen could lead to another attack?”
“I don’t think so. Thorax is still their ruler; maybe Chrysalis will need more time to fully accept that, but for her, the process has just begun. And besides: the main reason for their attacks on Equestria was the need to fill their insatiable hunger, and that’s no longer a concern.”
“Well then …” Applejack ponders Twilight’s update. “Ah guess we’ll just see how it goes from here, then.”
“Let’s move on,” Twilight says. “I understand that Cozy Glow is back in Ponyville now, and she will be re-admitted to the School of Friendship, hopefully with a new perspective on friendship.”
“Oh my,” Fluttershy says. “Trying to get all her old classmates to believe in her might be more difficult than what Chrysalis is going through.”
“I know it will be a hard sell for some ponies … and nonponies, for that matter,” Twilight replies, “but she does have some support.”
“Really?” Fluttershy asks in surprise.
“Yeah, this here’s a case Ah know more about,” Applejack responds. “Apple Bloom ‘n the other CMCs are giving her some guidance; plus, they’re offerin’ to talk with any student who still got concerns.”
“Tolerance is good,” Fluttershy adds, “but finding someone to bond with like Chrysalis did with Pharynx might be tough.”
“Actually,” Rarity says, “the CMCs have someone in mind already.” She turns to Twilight. “You’re not the only one whose turned enemies into friends, you know.”
“Wait,” Twilight says. “You mean …”
“… Diamond Tiara,” Rainbow answers. “And believe me, I was there with AJ and Rarity when the CMCs introduced those two to each other; they could have been sisters in another life.”
“There sure wasn’t any shortage of talkin’ points with those two,” Applejack adds. “And Diamond introduced Cozy to Silver Spoon; now they’re talkin’ friendly rivalry with the CMCs themselves. But Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo are more than happy to have ponies to challenge them. All the same,” she warns, “Ah’ll be keepin’ a closer eye on all of ‘em, just to be safe.”
“A place for everypony, I guess,” Twilight concedes. “Which brings me to my final update: Tirek.”
“Seems to me that Tirek is the squarest peg to fit into a round holes,” Rarity admits. “What place could Celestia possibly find for him?”
“Honestly,” Twlight says, “she doesn’t … not yet, anyway. But somepony else has plans … Starswirl the Bearded.”
“Wow,” Rainbow says, “first Scorpan and now Tirek. Starswirl’s gonna be able to name-drop with the best of anypony.”
“What plans does Starswirl have?” Rarity asks.
“Remember that Starswirl is new to the modern world himself,” Twliight reminds the group. “He’s still learning a lot … but he plans to share his experiences with Tirek. And Starswirl has somepony in mind as well, when it comes to sharing experiences.”
“Who’s even left?” Applejack asks.
“Stygian. He’s acclimated himself well to the modern age, but he hasn’t forgotten about his experience as the Pony of Shadows.”
Rainbow pauses for a moment. “So what do you do when all your enemies are friends?”
“There will always be enemies,” Twilight says. “Enemies to individuals, or threats to Equestria or even the world. We don’t know when or how these will appear to us … we’ve dealt with so much over so many moons … but we know that together, we’re strong enough to face any challenge. And the more friends we can add to our ranks, whatever their histories, the stronger we will be.”
For a minute, all is silent.
“You’ve been really quiet this whole time,” Rainbow says as she looks to Pinkie. “Everything OK?”
Pinkie looks up. “Huh? Oh, sorry Rainbow Dash. Just thinking about things, you know?”
Rainbow opens her mouth to respond; Rarity quickly interjects.
“Pinkie Pie’s been through so much, Rainbow Dash. I don’t think any of us can even begin to imagine the ordeal she’s been through. And how can we ever show our appreciation for all she did for us … as well as for the world?” she asks with a nod.
As if on cue, Rainbow nods, spreads her wings, and quietly soars out the door.
“Hey, where’s Rainbow Dash off to?” Pinkie asks; a moment later, the pegasus returns and nods.
Twilight turns to Pinkie. “I think we’re done here. After you, Pinkie Pie.”
“After me? What’s going on?” Pinkie asks.
“Seems like your Pinkie sense might need to be recharged,” Applejack suggests with a grin.
“I feel fine,” Pinkie replies, “but why should my Pinkie sense be going off now?’
“Hold on a second,” Twilight says as she closes her eyes. Instantly, the group of six disappear … and reappear at the entrance to the castle. “After you,” Twilight repeats.
Pinkie takes one final look at Twilight, then turns to the door. She opens the door and sees …
*SURPRISE!!!*
Pinkie’s eyes widen as she observes all of Ponyville laced with ribbons, balloons, and banners bearing her beaming likeness. Confetti rains from the clouds, washing over the populace of Ponyville; the crowds cheer with delight upon seeing Pinkie at the doorway.
“Whaaaaa???” Pinkie exclaims in astonishment.
Applejack turns to Rainbow Dash. “Glad we were able to avoid the issues we had the last time we threw her a surprise party.”
“Well, we did have help this time,” Rainbow responds.
Pinkie turns her attention from the celebration to her friends. “This is incredible … but how did you all do this? I mean, if it was anypony else, I’m sure I would have been the one to throw this party. But this party is for me and I didn’t throw it for myself, so who …”
Pinkie gasps enthusiastically as one pony quickly comes to mind. An exclamation of “Surprise!” comes from behind; even before turning around, she knows …
“CHEEEEEESE!!!!”
Pinkie embraces Equestria’s preeminent party-planner, causing audible cracking sounds to come from Cheese Sandwich’s body.
The last of the cake had been eaten.
The last of the confetti had been swept up, along with any remnants of glass.
The balloons had been deflated, the banners taken down, the lace and ribbon lovingly undone and put away for another time.
The streets of Ponyville lay empty under the moonlit sky, save for two earth ponies seated on the grass, looking up at the sky.
“I’ll never forget this day,” Pinkie states.
“I’ll never forget you allowing us to have this day,” Cheese replies.
“Well I’ll never forget that comment,” Pinkie counters with a grin.
“And I’ll never forget you promising to remember my comment,” Cheese responds in kind.
Pinkie laughs, unwilling to stretch the joke any further. She sighs. “Thank you again. You really are a special party pony.”
“I learned from the best.”
“But you did things that I would never have thought of. How did you get those clouds to rain confetti?”
“That strange draco-like friend of Fluttershy’s … that part was his doing. I had an idea for that for some time, but he was able to just snap his fingers and make it reality. Well, that’s just one more task to let ol’ Sans figure out next time I see him.”
At the mention of Sans’s name, Pinkie turns her head towards Cheese. “You’ve seen him recently?”
“We both returned where we last were, which was in Sans’s office. Funny story there, too … well, funny now, I guess I should say.”
“I like funny stories.”
Cheese turns his head to address Pinkie face-to-face: “I was stopping by the factory to relate my latest ideas to Sans and his team. We were in his office and he was nodding at all my ideas. Then his glasses just fall off and he ducks behind his desk. But he never comes back up!”
Pinkie’s eyebrows raise as Cheese continues.
“So I shout out, ‘Hey, great trick! Now the room is ‘sans Sans!’ ’ And I’m just waiting for him to reappear, but he never does. I walk over to behind the desk and find his glasses there on the floor, but he’s just gone. And then I started hearing screaming coming from the factory floor,” he says, the smile fading from his face. “I started running back down the hallway, but I never made it … next thing I remember is me and Sans being back in his office, wondering what happened.”
Pinkie shakes her head in disbelief.
“Hey, it’s OK, Pinkie; we’re back now … all of us, and all thanks to you.”
“But Sans … he couldn’t have disappeared, he was … he came to Ponyville, after everyone else vanished. He was with me.”
Cheese recollects. “No, he went ‘poof’ like the rest of us. Maybe the first one.”
“He was here!” Pinkie staunchly responds as she scrambles to her hooves. “He came all the way to Ponyville, he had an apple lunch with me at Sweet Apple Acres, it was his idea to go to Canterlot, his idea to check out the Archives, without him … without him …” She turns away and closes her eyes.
Cheese gets to his hooves and eyes Pinkie. “Is there anything I can do? Maybe we should speak to Twilight.”
“No … no, I’ll be OK … but is it really possible that … the trip to Canterlot, the time in the archives … could I really have done all that … alone?”
“You were alone for so long … who’s to say how anypony’s mind would react?”
“I guess …”
…
“Wanna go exploring?” Pinkie asks.
Cheese strikes a curious glance. “What do you mean?”
“Like last time … see Equestria, plan more parties, maybe … see where that path takes us?”
“I would be thrilled … but what about your friends in Ponyville?”
“Twilight has a lot of last-minute planning in Canterlot coming up, and the School of Friendship is still a couple weeks away from reopening. And the others all have their own plans right now. I got some downtime at the moment, and … I want to spend it with you.”
“Well you know,” Cheese responds, “as a self-employed party planner, I set my own vacation time. Maybe I could use a break, too. Hey, have you ever been to Las Pegasus?”
“Not with you,” she replies.
“No time like the present, right? Let’s go!”
“Let’s!”
The two start walking down the road.
“You know, your life would make for one heck of a story,” Cheese states.
“I hope it has a happy ending, then,” Pinkie replies. “I like stories with happy endings.”
“Every story has a happy ending,” Cheese replies, “you just have to know where to end it.”