"T-Th... th-that can't be!"
A small thud disturbed the silence of the Boutique, the news hitting the unicorn even harder than the floor was hit by her. She could hardly believe it, that something so disastrous was locked up in her sister's head.
Never before in her life had she so hated being right; something really was bugging Rarity... and now it's bugging her. She could tell that something was wrong right after Rarity started the story; the way her eyes moved around the room, always ending up back at the hole in the roof, the panic in her voice when they discovered it, the pain of learning what happened from the doctor. It all felt like it could happen in a few moments.
It'd scare anypony, just how quickly death can occur.
"I thought the same, I assure you," Rarity fell onto her own flank with a sizeable thud, staring at the floor. She seemed spent, every feature of her face and mane screaming exhaustion. Sweetie Belle couldn't say she felt much different; when the story came to the climax, she felt like she was punched in the gut. Nausea, sadness, shock... everything just locked up.
"Have you... told anyone else?" Belle wiped her eyes quickly, trying to keep herself strong.
"No, not yet. So far... only me, Twilight, Fluttershy, and you are aware. I'm also hoping the doctor and his staff stay quiet as well," Rarity blinked, the hole in the roof pulling her eyes away from the floor, "Strange how the most irritating things in life can leave the biggest holes," she solemnly chuckled at the pun, a grin trying to crack through the macabre expression of her face.
Belle followed her eyes, staring at the hole in the roof. Being greeted by such a happy sky made her feel sick; as if the day had any reason to be happy right now! Somepony just died... and here was the blue sky, smiling as if nothing happened! She glared through the hole, willing the sky to turn red, or simply go dark with a sad moon moving overhead. At least then, her sister and her friends wouldn't be alone in their depression.
"I guess we're keeping this secret then?"
"For the moment, yes."
"... What now, then?" Belle moved her eyes back to the couch where a pegasus once lay, finding her efforts to incite sadness in the world useless. The back of the couch was soaked, as if shedding tears of its own.
"Now? Well, what would a lady do for her fallen friend? Organize a funeral," Rarity sighed and headed over to her drawing board, her steps containing renewed determination, "And at a funeral... everypony always looks their best."
"I'm gonna go find Scootaloo... see if she's heard about this," Belle walked to the door; why did every step feel heavier? C'mon, Belle, focus, you have to find your friend! If Scootaloo learns about this... well, I'm not sure what might happen. It'd involve a lot of tears, screaming, and probably a visit to that place... therapist? Thurapest. Thirapest?
Oh, one other pony to find, actually; Twilight.
The walk through Ponyville, despite the sun hanging high in the sky and the happy ponies going back and forth, felt heavy, as if the world itself was trying to suck all manner of reason out of Belle's efforts. If Scootaloo found out about her, then she would've been tackled already by a frantic filly, or Apple Bloom would be running around screaming her name. Would Scootaloo even be in town anymore if she found out?
A few minutes passed, not even a sound helping to confirm or deny her suspicions. Belle already decided the search for Twilight was pointless; a quick stop-in with Spike at the library confirmed that, but her search for Scootaloo wasn't turning anything up either. What would that filly do, anyway? Would she run away? Lock herself up? Go find somepony else for help? Or-
Belle stopped in her walk, now feeling the tears running down her cheeks. No, she wouldn't do that, never. She'd go find somepony, she'd look for the other Crusaders! Don't start thinking the worst, Belle, just carry on. She'll turn up, no doubt! With a quick wipe of her eyes, she continued on her way. Sugarcube Corner sat straight ahead, oblivious to all the evils in the world with its happy colors and gingerbread house look; Scootaloo did enjoy her cupcakes, almost fanatically so. Belle picked up her pace into a trot.
"Hello!" The bouncy pink mare behind the counter near-shouted as Belle came through the door. Her greeting seemed to fall on deaf ears however, as the filly's eyes simply moved about the room. "Oh, hi Sweetie Belle! Come in for a treat?"
"Huh? Uh, n-no, I'm actually looking for somepony. Have you see Scootaloo at all?"
"Scootaloo, Scootaloo... I don't think I've seen her since yesterday! She ordered a lot of cupcakes, I had to make three batches to cover the order! How do you think she eats them all? Even I have trouble eating three batches of cupcakes, although the batches I make for myself are twenty in one tray while the batches I make for other ponies are thirteen in one tray which would be a baker's dozen but-"
"Miss Pie, slow down!" Sweetie fell on her rump, fore hooves flailing in the air; no rambling! A tangent would keep her there all day!
"Woops, sorry! Guess I got ahead of myself!" Pinkie smiled her typical toothy grin; Sweetie almost hated how infectious that smile could get as a smile started to grow on her own face. She shook her head, staying focused on the mission at hoof, and turned back to the door.
"Not gonna buy anything, Belle?" Pinkie inquired with a quirked mouth, bouncing around the counter. Belle stopped at the door and scuffed the floor, grimacing slightly; maybe bringing Scootaloo a cupcake would be good...
"Well... yeah, sure. I... don't have any money on me, though," Belle turned, keeping her eyes to the floor in a slight squint.
"That's ok! I can run a tab for you, then you can pay me tomorrow! What'll it be?"
"Um... a cupcake would be nice... make it two," Belle nodded; one for her and one for Scootaloo. She'd need the sugar boost to get through what's coming anyway.
"Coming right up!" Pinkie saluted and vanished into the kitchen, a pink trail left behind. Belle found just enough time to sit down before her eyes fell upon two cupcakes that seemed to have sprouted pink roots; the cupcakes have pretty good decorations, too! Blue icing... multi-colored sprinkles all arranged in... a rainbow?
"Uh... th-thanks, Pinkie... could you put them in a bag, please?"
As if reading her mind, Pinkie was already behind the counter before Sweetie could finish her sentence, and two seconds later, she returned with a bag between her hooves. Sweetie gingerly took the bag in her teeth and turned back to the door, thoughts other than how two cupcakes will hammer her already lousy allowance plaguing her mind.
"Oh! Belle, before I forget!"
"Huh?"
"Have you seen Rainbow Dash anywhere? She and I are supposed to go pranking tomorrow, and I wanna make plans before hand!"
Belle froze at the door mid-step, bag crumpling under her tightening jaw; she wanted to see Rainbow? Scenarios started scrolling through Belle's head, all varying degrees of very, very bad. Should I tell her the whole story? Say that Rainbow died today? Or should I ease into it? Should I even say anything at all?
Lie? Tell the truth? What should I do!? And why did she have to ask now of all times!? Dealing with Scootaloo is gonna be hard enough, but Pinkie's been friends with Rainbow for who knows how long! What to do, what to do!?
She very gently placed the bag down on the top step of Sugarcube Corner's front door, using as much time as she could so she could think things through. If she lied, then Pinkie would know... and if she told the truth, then Pinkie would... would do something! Why did this have to be so hard!?
"Um... I, uh," Belle stuttered, keeping her eyes faced outside. If she saw her face, Pinkie would literally taste the fear coming off her! Focus, Belle, focus! Think up something! She's gonna find out eventually, right? Why do I have to be the bearer of bad news?
Of soul crippling, mind destroying bad news?
She's going to find out eventually... going to find out eventually...
Somepony's going to tell her sometime. Maybe...?
"Um... I-I have s-seen her," Belle kept her sight locked on the street, shivering slightly. She dug deep to find any form of resolve she could, any bastion of inner strength that would hold against the incoming storm, but every single structure crumbled under the terror of what was coming.
"Where? Is she at her house? The library? Oh, I bet she's at the library! Daring Do is pretty cool!" Pinkie bounced with a giggle or two, this only serving to make the message more painful for Belle to deliver. The filly stepped to the side, taking her cupcakes with her, and sat down in the shade of the wall. Funny, the shop was pretty well lit, yet this one wall had a shadow... perfect for the message that was coming, right?
"Well, no. Pinkie, can you stop bouncing around, please? This... this is serious," Belle looked up at Pinkie, and the mare immediately stopped bouncing. Her eyes seemed to change as her smile disappeared, and with a blink or two, she took a seat on the floor as well. The two simply stared at each other, each seeking something within the others' eyes; Belle looking for some form of understanding, something that would free her from having to say what she had to, while Pinkie sought out the truth, searching for some form of hint. One felt like her life was on the line, while the other simply felt it was another game.
"I'm not sure how to say this, but... Rainbow Dash... she's," Belle shook slightly, her eyes wavering every so slightly, "S-She's... in t-the hospital."
Pinkie remained surprisingly silent, though her own expression started to waver. Before, she seemed neutral, indifferent, impervious to any kind of news, but the mere mention of her friend being in the hospital hit a nerve, and her mouth curved into a slight frown.
"What's wrong with her?" Pinkie's flat tone, however defensive to her emotion, was almost scary to the filly before her. This wasn't like her at all...
"S-She's... s-" Belle sniffed, tears creeping into her eyes.
"Tell me," Pinkie's brow furrowed as she leaned in, digging further into the unicorn's eyes, looking for that truth again. Her cerulean eyes dove straight down into Belle's soul.
"I..."
"Tell me."
"I c-can't..."
"I'm going to find out eventually, Sweetie Belle... just tell me."
Belle simply quaked, despite the encouraging words; This is only gonna end in disaster! Pinkie's gonna leave, crying, and it'll be all my fault! She whipped her head back and forth quickly, tears flying off muzzle from the expression of denial.
"Please, tell me!"
Her breath was ragged, waterfalls sprouting from her eyes as she looked back up to the baker's own. She knotted her brow, still seeking that one shelter to protect her own heart from the storm.
"Tell me, Sweetie!!"
Another pause. Another damning pause, another few seconds burning away in Belle's search. Nothing was strong enough, no walls, no cliffs, no mountains... just the shore, and the coming tidal wave. Pinkie leaned in further, her eyes driving further into Belle's mind, their muzzles close enough to be considered a crime. This is a bad idea! A very bad idea! Stop listening to me and leave, Pinkie!
"Belle, tell me, I'm just gonna find out later if you don't say anything!" Pinkie's own expression lost strength as she grabbed the filly by the shoulders, "Don't let this be a surprise! Please! Just tell me what's wrong with Dashie!!"
"She's...!" Belle shivered again, her legs losing strength, "She's!" Her knees finally gave out, causing her to stumble, but she found the structure she needed... that final castle. Now or never!
She takes as deep a breath as she can, and Pinkie moved back, the room holding a breath of its own. Their minds put up a final wall in preparation for the storm, the filly praying hers was strong enough.
"SHE'S DEAD!!"
An echo... then silence. Numbing, frigid, locking silence. Two pairs of eyes looking into each other, now both seeking some form of refuge. A mane burst, losing its usual puff, a coat lost its vibrant color, yet the silence held strong. Neither could find it in themselves to cry. Belle's refuge crumbled, Pinkie's defenses fell...
A moment of weakness could shatter a soul... not even a speck of dust was capable of making a sound. The two simply stood still, staring at each other, nary mouthing a word, making a sound, their eyes speaking volumes for them. Belle's heart clenched, staring into the cerulean eyes now spilling their own tears; she would leave in tears... but she would cry eventually... it'd be best to start now, right?
Bad news should always be given first, shouldn't it?
Pinkie rose to her hooves and walked over to the door, mane draped over one of her eyes. She mouthed out a silent 'thank you' before walking through the door, quickly picking up into a sprint. The filly left behind simply looked out the door, gathering up the rubble of her castle, building it back into a reasonable defense.
This was going to be one long day...
~~~~~~
Thunder. Lightning. Anarchy. Chaos. There was no fitting word to describe the state of Pinkie's mind as she raced through the streets, ponies flying left and right to get out of the way of the pink train. She made a sharp right, dust flying up as she struggled to stay on her hooves, mane fluttering in the wind behind her. For once in her life, she felt glad that she could run so fast, grateful for her time working on the rock farm; it made her legs the strongest things she knew in life. The four pillars carried their payload all the way to the hospital with frightening speed, the double doors quickly coming into view. She hit the brakes and turned to her side, using her flank to soften the blow of opening the doors.
Well, it certainly softened the physical impact against her skeleton, the same couldn't be said for the two ponies suddenly grabbing their chests as the doors slammed into the walls. "Sorry!" Pinkie shouted as she slid up to the desk with a spin. Her hooves slammed down in front of the receptionist, and he was treated to the second set of frantic eyes he'd see that day, only these ones unsettled him to his core. "Where's Dashie?"
"W-What?" The receptionist leaned back as Pinkie came closer, nearly pushing herself over the desk.
"Where's. Dashie?" She asked again, brow furrowing with growing frustration.
"D-D-Dash-"
"Rainbow Dash!! Where's Rainbow?!" Pinkie shouted, throwing the receptionist onto his back. He rolled over his head and stood upright, saluting in terror.
"M-M-Morgue, m-ma'am!"
A pink dust cloud was left behind for him to speak to, and he slowly lowered his salute. A blink beat his mind registering that a psychotic mare was now charging through the hospital, and he ran after her. "Hey! Wait!!"
The shouts fell on deaf ears as Pinkie charged about the halls, expertly dodging around patients and doctors, searching for the room called 'Morgyou'. That was what he said, right? What's a morgyou? Sounds like candy! Maybe that's why Rainbow was there!
Pinkie's mind twisted and flipped with every jostling turn she made, sometimes making complete one-eighties and running back and forth down the same hall. She finally crashed into the receptionist, and he grappled her in his forehooves, keeping her on the floor.
"Wait a minute, miss!"
"I need to see Rainbow! Please!"
"Just let me take you there! Calm down and stop running!" He shouted, tightening his grip; this mare was powerful!
"I need to see her now!"
"I know, just stop flailing! You ran past the morgue about five times!"
"Oh," she immediately gave up her fight with a flat expression, and the receptionist slowly let her go, confused by the sudden surrender. They both rose to their hooves, eyes all around staring at them.
"Um, s-sorry gentlecolts. I'll take care of this," the receptionist let out a nervous chuckle; his boss was watching, wasn't she? "R-Right, this way."
The walk was meagre and silent, Pinkie waging war against her urge to blurt out another tangent, and thankfully winning. The receptionist would throw glances back to her from time to time, worry constantly etched into his wrinkled brow, but he breathed out a sigh of relief as she remained completely calm.
Well, she looked calm, sure. In her head was the most terrible storm imaginable, the kind of storm that would burn the entire planet away, but she looked completely calm. Stone-faced. Poker faced. Calm and collected. Cool. About to lose her mind, but she looked fine.
"Are we there yet?" She asked flatly, several lightning strikes vaporizing a house in her mind.
"Almost," he replied, sweat creeping down his brow. The sign hanging next to the next set of double doors brought a wave of relief to him, which was quickly replaced with spine-shattering terror; the Morgue was where dead ponies went... she wanted to s-
"Here it is!" Pinkie exclaimed, confirming the stallion's terror, and bounced up to the door. She pushed it open, the very air recoiling in appalled horror of her expression; how dare she smile while entering the room! Yet she moved into the room, taking in the sights.
The first relation she made was the cold air. It felt like her fridge at the bakery! Chilly! A shiver ran through her spine down to her tail as she walked on, two doctors staring at her with furrowed brows. She waved at them, completely oblivious, and continued looking around. Steel lined the walls like a giant vault, simply doors all marked with numbers. Twilight would love it here! So many numbers!
Her mane refused to puff back out, and the pink curtain blocking half her sight annoyed her; she was happy! Rainbow would be here, just sleeping! She'd be fine and they'd go out pranking again!
"Um... where's Rainbow?" Pinkie tapped her chin, looking around; the room did lack a certain rainbow maned laugh machine. Weird.
"I'm sorry, who are you?" One of the doctors asked, lowering his clipboard, his eyebrow moving in the other direction.
"I'm Pinkie Pie!"
"Ah, yes, the baker and famous Element Bearer... you're looking for a Miss Rainbow Dash?"
"Yeah, I am! Where is she? I thought she'd be in here!" Pinkie smiled again as a town burned to the ground in her brain. Thousands died in the flames as the storm relentlessly tore the country apart.
"Er... can we show her?" The doctor turned back to his co-worker, and the two lowered their voices as they spoke to each other. Pinkie leaned in, her hard-coded want to eavesdrop taking over.
"... She is a friend, it's in our policy..."
"... Mental anguish..."
"... trouble?"
"... Fine..."
The doctors nodded to each other, and the one with the clipboard turned back, his yellow eyes glinting in the blue light of the room. His expression became serious as he placed the board on the counter and walked to the end of the room, "It is within our policy to allow friends and families to see the patient. You're absolutely certain you wish to see her?"
"Of course I am! I don't know why I'd be here otherwise!"
Ponyville exploded into chaos in her mind, Twilight battling against innumerable abominations rising from the Everfree, a Hydra leading the charge as it tore through ponies and houses alike.
"Then come over here. I'd suggest you brace yourself," he placed a hoof against one of the doors, this one marked 'CI-47', and Pinkie joined him at his side. He pushed her slightly to the other side of the door, and waited a moment. His eyes fell on the mare before him, but her expression just seemed... childish to him. Didn't she know what was held behind this door?
"Well? I'm ready," her voice fell to a much more serious tone, and the doctor was taken aback. He blinked, confused, but simply gulped, shoving his fears back.
"Well... here you go."
The door opened as a terrible earthquake tore apart Canterlot's support pillars in Pinkie's mind, causing the entire city to fall to the earth below. Lightning fell all around, ripping apart the country's fields and hills as the doctor moved around the door and placed a hoof on the bed within. She remained as the last pony in a country of fire and destruction, facing down the horrible thunderhead as the doctor pulled on the bed...
And when she saw that rainbow rise from the darkness of the cell...
She died as well. She wasn't even sure of what killed her... it could've been lightning, a Hydra cutting her in half with its teeth, or simply her heart stopping.
Everything just froze as she looked at her friend's face, and she moved her pink mane out of the way to take in the whole picture. Rainbow didn't even bother to look back at her, but how could Pinkie expect that to happen? A pink foreleg draped over the blue neck and drew Pinkie closer, staring at Dash's closed eye. She was frigid...
An eerie, raspy laugh echoed through the destroyed landscape of Equestria, lightning still falling like rain all over. Pinkie stared up into the black clouds, unable to move her body; did she even have one anymore? Whatever killed her was pretty thorough if she couldn't even move her eyes.
The laugh bounced around in her head, throwing up fleeting clouds of dust that passed over her vision. Her eyes burned... couldn't blink to get the dirt off, so she just lived with it. Something pulled her up, or at least it felt like she was being pulled up.
A lock of hair fell into her vision, followed by a pair of magenta eyes. That same laugh passed across the land, throwing dust up again, but the mouth below the eyes never moved.
"Dashie...?" Pinkie's voice bounced in her own head, projecting from nowhere, but arriving everywhere.
"Not anymore," the voice replied, "Well, I guess my nickname won't go away that quick... but I won't be hearing it again."
"Dash..."
"C'mon Pinkie, where's that smile of yours?"
"How can I smile at a time like this?"
"Because it's what you do best, Pinkie."
The world darkened with a blink, the clouds above sharpening. Pinkie continued staring upward.
"No... I can't smile now. My friend's dead..."
"I may be gone, but you've gotta keep smiling."
"What've I got to smile about? Smile for?"
"Well, you can smile about tomorrow coming around eventually. Your next party's coming up, isn't it?"
"Yeah..."
Her view fell to a sight of the wartorn landscape as she got pushed up into a sitting position, Rainbow draping a leg over the back of her neck; it felt like ice over her spine.
"And who to smile for? The rest of your friends, obviously."
"Twilight, and Applejack..."
"And Rarity and Fluttershy. You've still gotta make them happy, right?"
"But I can't make you happy..."
"If you just carry on, that'll make me happy. I'm there in spirit, aren't I? And what am I gonna think if the local party master isn't up to snuff?"
"I guess you wouldn't be very happy..."
"I can't be disappointed in my friends," Rainbow pulled her in, and Pinkie looked over, finally regaining control of her eyes, "But I don't think I'd be too happy seeing a frown on your face."
"No, I don't think you would... still..."
"C'mon, Pinkie, smile."
Pinkie looked back across the landscape, some fires still burning, the green hills and grass turned to torn up dirt and burned earth. The storm continues to broil above, lightning strikes landing in the distance. How could she smile right now? Everything's destroyed, everypony's gone, and all that was left was her and Dash.
Everypony was gone. Nopony left to smile for, no smiles left to give, no laughs left to make. Pinkie's eyes drifted back to the pegasus beside her as she was taken into a hug, and her strength returned to her legs. She lifted up two torn, bleeding legs, and weakly returned the hug. Her grip passed into Rainbow's body, but the cold was there.
"Just smile for me, please."
Pinkie tried to tighten her hug, but she simply hit her stomach everytime she tried to pull her friend closer. She shook as the efforts continued, a hurt sniffle coming out.
"Smile..."
"I-I'm trying... b-but how? You've always been there..."
"I haven't been around as long as you think I have, and you've been smiling for longer than you think. You have your other friends... I'm not saying forget me, I'm saying try and move on."
"I can't! I can't just move on after this!"
The pulls turned into weak flails.
"You have to, Pinkie. You've gotta move on and stay strong for everypony else... I can't be there anymore."
"You're lying! T-This is another prank, I know it is!"
"I wouldn't do that. You taught me pranks should make everypony laugh in the end, right?"
Pinkie felt herself get pulled closer as her legs finally got purchase, and the two pulled each other into a tight hug. The lightning continued to fall all around them, the storm not giving up in its thorough mission to end all life under its deadly shroud.
"T-That's right... you wouldn't hurt us like this..."
"No, I wouldn't. I don't know why I died... or how... but all I know is you have to move on. Please..."
"Not without you..."
Pinkie leaned up against the frigid form of her friend and closed her eyes. Her lips fell on the cold neck, shivering as she made contact. Rainbow pulled her away and looked her in the eyes.
"You have to. Neither of us have a choice in this..."
Pinkie pulled at Rainbow's shoulders, but her friend's grip held her in place rather easily. She wanted to take Rainbow back in her embrace again, feel her, even if it's just a cold image... her heart screamed out for the two to join together again, but the world just wouldn't have it. She pulled as hard as she could, but she started to fall backwards. The storm cracked above them, a ray of light shining down as Rainbow's wings spread.
Her friend gave her a single kiss on the nose before she rose up, "I'll see you around, Pinkie... remember, smile for everyone. Stay strong..."
"Dash!" Pinkie screamed, her body losing all control. She flopped back onto the ground as her eyes shot wide, the rainbow mane flowing in some invisible wind, "Dash!!"
"See ya... I'll always be with you."
"DAAASH!!!!"
Pinkie shot up off her friend's chest, screaming her name. The doctors jumped in response as her tears started flowing freely, dripping on the cold steel of the morgue bed.
"Dash! Come back!" Her eyes shook, perceiving something besides the corpse before her. She pounded the bed as the other doctor by the counter rushed over to her, "Come back to me! Please! Come back! Come back, Dashie!!!"
"Miss Pie, please, restrain yourself!" The doctor shouted as his magic kicked into gear, grabbing Pinkie by the forelegs. She was dragged backwards, flailing like a madmare as her friends shadow disappeared into the sunlight.
"RAINBOW DAAAAAAAAAAAAASH!!!!!!"