//------------------------------// // Ch. 6; Immutable Mistakes or: After-Party Clean Up // Story: Think Pink! or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Parties // by cleverpun //------------------------------// Ch. 6 Immutable Mistakes or: After-Party Clean Up BY: cleverpun Princess Luna and Princess Celestia slowly walked out of the library doors, stopping a few feet away from where Pinkie Pie was waiting. Pinkie immediately looked at them, unsure whether to feel relief or trepidation. “Well, we have purged your mental residue from everypony in town. Except….” Luna tried and failed to find a way to break the news gently. “Except what? Except what!?” “We were not able to fully remove your thoughts and memories from Twilight Sparkle’s mind; they have become too interwoven with her own.” “But... why? She didn’t have them for much longer than anypony else did.” “This is true, but whereas the townsponies had your mind forced upon them, Twilight, in some ways, has accepted it as a part of herself.” “So... she’ll never be the way she was again?” “We removed many memories and thoughts from her mind, but no, she will always carry elements of your personality from now on. The Twilight you knew is present, but she will not be the same as she was ever again.” “This is all my fault...” Pinkie's tears swelled even larger than they already had. “In some way, it is her own fault. The way she clung to those memories... I cannot fully explain it.” “I can. Pinkamena's outlook on life is, in its own way, very addicting... Even I wasn’t able to resist it fully. I wanted Twilight to discover the magic of friendship, but this is the last scenario I envisioned...” “This is hardly your fault, sister...” “If only it were that easy to believe….” Celestia turned back to Pinkie Pie. “Now Pinkamena, as for your punishment...” “I know what I did was wrong, Princess. Whatever punishment you choose, I know I’ll deserve it.” “I know you did not mean for this to happen; Twilight using a spell she could not handle led her to this, but you are directly responsible for what happened to the rest of Ponyville, regardless of your efforts to undo your actions. For that reason, Princess Luna and I are going to seal your body from all forms of magic, so that this can never happen again. All magic, good or bad, will be unable to touch you, and you will lose the connection to the earth that all Earth Ponies share.” “*SNIFF* I understand.” “We have also made certain that all memories of this incident remain in your fellow townsponies. Winning back their trust and friendship after this event will be no small task, and I fear their scorn is a burden you must bear for a long time.” Pinkie had begun crying too hard to answer, and merely let out a small nod. “Are you sure that is a fitting punishment, sister? It seems rather light in comparison with all the trouble this has caused, and with all the damage it might have done….” “Believe me, sister; after seeing into Pinkamena’s mind it is clear this mess is not solely her fault. Besides, given both her desire for and dependence on the companionship of others, this event will haunt her for some time.” Princess Luna gave a small nod, and turned to perform the sealing ritual with her sister. The two Princesses touched their horns together, sparks flying from their horns as their powers mixed together. Magical energy began to swirl around the two of them, and then a beam of gold and blue light shot from where their horns met towards Pinkie’s body. Pinkie could feel their magic invading her body. Saturating it. Every inch of her felt like it was under pressure. But right before it became uncomfortable, the pressure stopped building, and Pinkie knew it was over, even before the light faded. “We take our leave, but know that we will be watching your actions closely, Pinkamena Diane Pie, lest these events foreshadow a greater problem in the future.” The two princesses took flight, and as they flew off, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Applejack emerged from the library’s door. When they saw Pinkie, each of them became uncharacteristically stoic. “Is Twilight OK?” The four ponies exchanged glances. “She’s...” “Chipper?” AJ volunteered. “She is fine physically, and she seems to be taking things well emotionally, but… there is a clear difference in her personality.” “But Luna and Celestia prolly already told ya that.” Pinkie tried to clear her tears, but more quickly replaced them. Rarity took a few steps toward Pinkie. She extended a hoof towards the sobbing pony’s shoulder, but hesitated at the last second. After a few seconds of visible indecision, she gave Pinkie a few light taps and then quickly withdrew her hoof. “Look Pinkie, I know you didn't mean for things to happen this way, and the four of us want you to know we will always be your friends, through the good and the bad, but… we're going to need some time apart from each other to... from you, to process all this properly.” “It’s not you, it’s us.” “We know you’re still the Pinkie Pie we know ‘n’ love….” “But that’s also what scares us.” Fluttershy quickly turned away when Pinkie tried to look at her. “I… I underst—” Pinkie’s sentence was cut off as she tried, and failed to hold back more tears. “I’m sorry, Pinkie, but after what’s happened, who wouldn’t need some time to reflect?” “I… I understand…. I do…. I regret what I did, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. I just wish I could forget it.” “Just because everypony remembers it doesn’t mean they won’t get over it eventually, sugarcube.” “Even if they do, I don’t know if I can forgive myself for it….” Pinkie broke down again, and AJ managed to put a hoof on her shoulder and keep it there. “Don’t talk like that, Pinkie. You just… lost your head fer a bit. You wised up and fixed it eventually, that hasta count fer somethin’.” “*SNIFF* Really?” “Now would I lie to you?” “Mebbe she should just go see Twilight.” “Yes, she has to eventually.” “Right, Twilight….” Pinkie stood up, managed to wipe off her face, and trotted towards the library. As the door swung closed, the other four walked away. “Do you think she’ll be alright?” “She’ll forgive herself eventually, it’s the rest of the town I would be worried about.” “Eh, I dunno what everypony is all worked up over, being Pinkie wasn’t that bad!” “Funny, Rainbow, you didn’t seem to feel that way when Celestia was chasing you through town….” “Yeah, well… whatever!” Pinkie walked cautiously up to Twilight’s room, and found her on her bed reading a book. Well, at least that hasn’t changed. “Uh… Hi Twilight.” “Oh, hi Pinkie! Boy am I super-duper glad to see you!” “Y-you are?” “Of course, we’re baking cupcakes together tomorrow, remember?” Pinkie couldn’t help herself, and fell to the ground in a puddle of tears. “I’m so so sorry, Twilight! This is all my fault! If I had just helped you in that party store instead of helping myself, none of this would’ve happened and you’d still be your old self!” “Hey hey, don’t cry, Pinkie.” Twilight walked over and sat next to her. Once she had settled Pinkie reached over and clung on to her. “I just... I just hate being alone, Twilight. It's insufferable being with myself, being rejected, being alone. And when you walked into that store, and told me what you had done to yourself, I just couldn’t help it. Someone just like me to spend all my time with... it was too good to be true! And I let my own selfish fantasies stop me from helping you. And now you’ll never be the same again.” As Pinkie sobbed into Twilight’s lap, the purple pony began to slowly stroke her mane. A bit tricky because of how poofy it was, but the gesture was clear. “No, Pinkie, it’s my fault. I should never have asked you to help me with that spell. The truth is, ever since the first day I met you I've been jealous of you. All that carefree energy, everyone liking you, loving you; you were everything I wasn’t, and I thought, maybe, just maybe, if I could see into your mind, maybe some of that gregarious power would stay with me when I left. I may not be just me anymore, but I can't think of anypony else I'd want to be on top of that.” “*Sniff* really?” “Really really, with a cherry on top.” “So we’re still friends forever?” “Mental mixup or not, forever and ever.” Pinkie dried her eyes, and scooted forward until she was pressed against Twilight’s chest. The hug made Pinkie feel a thousand times better, but even as she listened to Twilight’s heartbeat, felt her breathing, there was one thing nagging at the back of her mind. When she had walked in, and Twilight looked up from her book, her eyes were still blue.