//------------------------------// // I Know What I Saw // Story: An Alicorn Learns to Fly // by Cryogenii //------------------------------// In the first light of the next day Rainbow Dash hurried into Sugar Cube Corner, her wings slightly ruffled from the early morning breeze. Although the sun had barely been risen, she spotted Pinkie Pie bustling around in the bakery with a tray of freshly baked pastries in front of her. However, something seemed off. Pinkie's usually vibrant demeanour was subdued, and there was a trace of sadness in her eyes that reminded Rainbow of that awful afternoon when Pinkie had become convinced that none of her friends liked her. "Hey, Pinkie," Rainbow greeted, trying to sound cheerful despite her worry. "I need some pastries for Twilight. She's probably going to wake up very hungry, and I want to grab her some breakfast." Pinkie Pie forced a smile as she arranged a batch of cupcakes. "Oh, sure thing, Dashie! Just a moment!" She packed a few pastries into a small box, her movements less bouncy than usual. Rainbow Dash couldn't help but notice the faint traces of tear tracks on Pinkie's cheeks. Concern gnawed at her. "Pinkie, are you okay? You seem kinda... down today." Pinkie Pie sighed, her forced smile fading as she set the box of pastries on the counter. She looked at Rainbow with a hint of vulnerability in her eyes. "It's just... well, you know how Twilight became an Alicorn, right?" Rainbow Dash nodded, recalling the recent events. "Yeah, I was there Pinkie. But you know Twi; she'll handle it like a pro. Why do you ask?" Pinkie hesitated for a moment before responding, "It's just that... I'm happy for her, of course, but it feels like things are changing, and I'm not sure how to handle it." Rainbow Dash frowned, her concern growing. "Changing how?" Pinkie Pie sighed, her shoulders slumping. "What if she's not the same Twilight any more? Like, what if she's too busy being a princess for silly Pinkie Pie stuff? What if I can't make her laugh like I used to?" Rainbow Dash leaned closer, resting a hoof on Pinkie's wither. "Hey, that's not gonna happen, Pinkie. Twilight is still our friend, and inside she's still the same pony she's always been. Her wings might be new, but her heart is still the same." ”But what if she's really not the same Twilight?" Fretted Pinkie, as her fears seemed to become more intense as Rainbow watched, "we all saw what happened. No pony wants to talk about it, but our Twilight was incinerated." "We've blasted others with the Elements of Harmony! I mean, Discord's been on the receiving end," said Rainbow in a calming tone, "and he's still here and being a royal pain in the flank." Pinkie Pie's face brightened into a smile and she hugged Rainbow Dash. "I guess you're right. Thanks, Dashie. You always know how to cheer me up." Rainbow returned the hug, feeling a deep sense of loyalty to her friend. "Anytime, Pinkie. We're in this together, no matter what changes come our way." With that reassurance, Rainbow Dash collected the pastries and turned to leave the bakery.  As she was going, she just caught out of the corner of her eye that the smile had evaporated from Pinkie's face and she looked thoroughly miserable again.  To see the pink pony in this shape shook Rainbow to her core, but she needed to return to Twilight. Rainbow Dash stepped out of Sugar Cube Corner and was relieved to spot Rarity just approaching the bakery. She quickly trotted over to her elegant friend and greeted her in a hushed tone. "Hey, Rarity," Rainbow said, trying to keep her voice low. "Listen, I hate to ask, but I just left Pinkie Pie inside, and she's not herself today. She could really use a friend right now, but I've got to get back to Twilight. Do you think you could stay and chat with her for a bit? I'd really appreciate it." Rarity's expression softened with understanding. "Of course, darling. I'd be more than happy to spend some time with Pinkie. Something was clearly bothering her last night." Rainbow Dash nodded, her gratitude evident in her eyes. "Yeah, she's a bit upset about Twilight becoming an Alicorn. It's throwing her for a loop because she's worried that she'll lose her as a friend, or worse"  "Poor thing," Rarity frowned with concern, "I'm sure that isn't going to be the case." "Erm, yeah.  I'm pretty sure Twilight's gonna be leaving town for a bit," said Rainbow with a pained expression on her face, "we'll have to keep a close eye on Pinkie and make sure she's ok when that happens." "I'll do whatever it takes, dear," Rarity assured her. "Thanks, Rarity. I'll check in with  you later." With a look of relief on her face, Rainbow Dash took off towards the Golden Oak Library.  Rarity watched her go with a worried look, before turning to head towards the bakery once more. Rarity greeted Pinkie Pie with a warm smile, taking note of her friend's sombre demeanour. She could see the emotional rollercoaster that Pinkie was riding on today and felt a pang of concern.  She had always enjoyed Pinkie's unwavering enthusiasm and boundless energy, but she couldn't ignore the fact that her friend had a tendency to experience extreme mood swings. Pinkie's emotional dial was usually stuck on maniacally happy, spreading cheer and laughter throughout Ponyville, but Rarity had also witnessed moments when Pinkie would plummet into a state of inconsolable sadness, isolating herself from her friends. It was these sudden shifts that troubled Rarity the most, for she knew the significance of addressing such emotional fluctuations. Rarity resolved to keep a close eye on Pinkie, offering her unwavering support and understanding through the ups and downs that lay ahead. She hoped that, with the strength of their friendship and the bonds they shared, they could navigate the uncertainty of Twilight's transformation and help Pinkie find stability in her emotions once more. "Good morning, darling," she called out in a brightly cheerful tone, "could I have a cinnamon bun please?" "Hi Rarity," Pinkie replied in a listless manner, "I'll just get a bag for that." "Actually, dear," answered the white unicorn, "why don't I have it here, with you?" Pinkie pulled a stool over to the counter, placing it next to the plate with Rarity's pastry on it.  Once seated, Rarity gently asked, "Pinkie, dear, is something troubling you? You seem a bit off." "Twilight becoming an Alicorn is making me feel all sorts of strange. I'm scared she won't want to be friends with a plain ol' earth pony like me anymore. What if she's too busy or too fancy for parties and fun now? And Rarity," Pinkie's voice quivered as tears came to her eyes, "what if she decides to leave Ponyville?"  Rarity listened sympathetically to Pinkie Pie.  As her friend spoke, her tone shifted erratically between sadness to anger and back again, reflecting the emotional highs and lows that Rainbow Dash had spoken of. Rarity, though out of her element when it came to such intense mood swings, tried her best to comfort her friend. She reached out, placing a hoof gently on Pinkie's, and said, "Pinkie, darling, I understand your concerns. Change can be frightening, especially when it involves someone as close as Twilight. But remember, no matter what happens, true friends remain connected, no matter the circumstances. We'll find a way to adapt to these changes together, and Twilight won't leave you behind, I promise." The early morning sunlight filtered through the bakery's windows, casting warm rays onto the counter. Pinkie nervously nibbled on a cupcake, and Rarity observed her friend's agitation growing again. Rarity, concerned for her friend, decided it was time to broach the subject. "Pinkie please, you still look rather pensive," she began again, gently. "Is there something more you'd like to talk about? You know you can confide in me." Pinkie's eyes darted around nervously as she fidgeted with her cupcake wrapper. "It's just... I don't know how to feel about all this, Rarity.  Yesterday I was worried that Twilight might not have time, or want to, hang out with us anymore.  But I can't forget what happened. I mean, we all saw Twilight get vapourised, and what if she's now a different pony? What if she's just not the same Twilight Sparkle anymore!  Can't anypony else see that?" Rarity placed a comforting hoof on Pinkie's shoulder. "Darling, I understand your concerns. Truly I do, but it feels like your imagination is running away with you." As Pinkie's anxiety spiralled further, her voice grew louder and more desperate. She slammed her hoof on the counter, causing a few cakes to tumble to the floor. "It's not Twilight Sparkle, Rarity! She's different, and I don't know if I can handle it!" Pinkie shouted, her emotions running wild. Rarity recoiled slightly, startled by her usually exuberant friend's outburst. She reached out to Pinkie, trying to soothe her. "Pinkie, darling, please calm down. I can see this is something that you are having difficulty with, but what makes you think that Twilight's gone?" "Well what if Twilight was a cake?" Demanded Pinkie, much to Rarity's surprise, "What would you say if that cake got burnt to a crisp, but somepony made an exact replica of it… no not a replica, a cake that looked like it but was better.  Would you say it was the same cake? Would you?" "Pinkie, darling, Twilight's not a cake," spluttered the shocked unicorn as she gathered her thoughts, "cakes don't have memories.  Cakes don't have personalities, friends, family…  we must simply accept that Twilight was transferred into her new form." Tears welled up in Pinkie's eyes, and her anger gave way to sadness. She hugged Rarity tightly, trembling with emotion. "I'm just so scared, Rarity. Scared that everything's changing, and we've lost the Twilight we know and love." Despite her best efforts, Rarity couldn't help but feel a bit out of her depth in dealing with Pinkie's emotional turbulence. She could feel her neck becoming wet with Pinkie's tears as the pony clung to her and wept inconsolably.  She wished there was a way to ease her friend's worries and bring back her usual cheerful disposition, but this despair seemed so deep that she simply didn't know what to do beyond holding her friend close. As she gently hugged and soothed the deeply troubled earth pony, an idea popped into Rarity's head.  There was one pony they knew who had experience in dealing with loss and sorrow.  As soon as she thought Pinkie was fit to be left alone, Rarity was going to have a long conversation with her.