As Pinkie headed out of Sugarcube Corner, she couldn't help but think over of what Pumpkin had said. "Pinkie seemed a bit...off." Was it really becoming that noticeable? She immediately felt the eyes of Ponies staring at her. "Well, now it sure is." Pinkie thought bitterly. "It's fine. Just smile and it'll be fine." Pinkie almost on instinct plastered a fake smie on her face as she headed through Ponyville. She didn't even know where she was even going. All she cared about was to seem normal. "It's fine Pinkie. Smile and it'll be fine " As soon as she felt the eyes of other ponies fall away from her, the pink mare gave a sigh of relief.
She then immediately looked around to figure where the hay she was. "Sweet Apple Acres."
Pinkie said. "Well, at least, in a part of the massive farm of apple trees at Sweet Apple Acres. I hope Applejack is out apple-bucking so she can find me." Then, right on cue, she instantly heard the orange mare approach from behind. Pinkie repainted the smile back on her face as she faced Applejack. "Hi Applejack!" Pinkie said, cheerfully. "Hey sugarcube." Applejack said back with a nod. "Say, what are you doing here? Not that I don't enjoy your company, but, why are you in the middle of the apple farm by yourself?" Pinkie gave Applejack a little chuckle. "Well...I kinda wasn't paying attention to where I was going and..." Applejack rolled her eyes. "Well, follow me sugarcube. I know this place like the back of my hoof." "That's Great!" Pinkie said cheerfully.
Please...stop smiling for once. Pinkie Pie, please...
She mentally begged with herself. Despite how cheerful, and happy go lucky Pinkie seemed on the outside, that was far from the case. Pinkie was still the party planner of Ponyville, and still enjoyed bringing joy to other ponies, but for the last few months...She had overworked herself. Too much. There was a time in the past where Pinkie would never turn down a chance to host an epic party, but...
Pinkie always attempted to look at things from a positive outlook, but this was too much. If she kept up the strict party schedule, she would work herself into the ground. She hadn't been able to get nearly any sleep for the past few days...
Pinkie Pie you need to stop. You work so hard to make other ponies happy, but never try to check and see if you're hppy doing it.
"If you keep this up, you'll work yourself to the ground..."
"Excuse me?" Applejack asked, turning to face the mare. Pinkie realized that she had said the last part out loud. Her overly cheerful exterior and fake smile buckled. She couldn't take it...She was too tired...
"P-Pinkie Pie?" Applejack asked, concerned. They were at the main section of Sweet Apple Acres at this point, when Pinkie began to breath heavily . Please...smile and make everypony happy... Pinkie collapsed. "T-too tired.." Pinkie croaked. Smile...I'm begging you. Don't make them worry... Applejack scrambled to get Pinkie back onto her hooves, but Pinkie didn't comply, and eventually lost consciousness.
"Somepony, HELP!"
Twilight turned and watched aghast as Applejack ran in her direction, with Pinkie slumped over on her back. She had simply come to buy some Apple Jam, as they had run out during breakfast earlier that morning. The jam issue was immediately pushed to the back of her mind as she noticed the terrible condition Pinkie was in. "What happened?" Twilight asked, as AJ came to a halt. "I dunno, but I found her near the edge of the Apple tree farm, and as I was leading her to the barn, she collapsed!" Applejack was talking so quickly, she might've broken Pinkie's words per minute record. Twilight looked at Pinkie's unconscious body and noticed how tired she looked. "I think it's fine, as far as I can tell, she just needed a big power nap, but we should probably take her to the hospital, just in case."