//------------------------------// // How to find the real Pinkie? // Story: Pinkie revolution // by Communist_Egor //------------------------------// Pinkie thought she was playing tag. However, all Pinkies thought the same when the Apples family herded them into the town hall in the center of the city. But then the gates closed, and Twilight addressed the assembled pink ponies: "Hello, all Pinkies, hello. Please, everyone, take a seat, make yourselves comfortable," but the pink ponies were undeterred. "I know you all don't like sitting in one place very much, anyway, sit down," but Pinkie continued to shout, "Fun!" "Everyone sit down!" Twilight shouted, and all the Pinkies stopped shouting, staring at her. "That's better. Now, you're probably wondering why I gathered you all here," the unicorn addressed all the Pinkies. "To have fun?" suggested one Pinkie. "No. Quite the opposite, actually." "Wait, one more thing! When I found her, she was drawing sad faces on the ground with her hoof," Rainbow Dash brought in another Pinkie. "Let her sit with the others," Twilight didn't pay attention to the fact that this Pinkie was sad, as she was focused on her plan. "So, we gathered you to undergo a trial." "Ahh!" The Pinkies were disappointed with such a proposal. "Don't worry; it's simple. There's no easier trial. And whoever succeeds will stay with us." The Pinkies raised their hooves in confusion, not realizing the danger they were in. But suddenly, one Pinkie Pie asked: "What does this mean? How will you determine which one is the real Pinkie?" asked the pink pony, sensing a Pinkie-sense of unease. "Let the curtain rise! You will watch as the paint dries. Pinkies who get distracted will be returned to the magical pond by the spell. But our true friend will endure the trial for the sake of friendship!" Twilight replied. "This will be interesting!" Spike grabbed popcorn and prepared to watch the show. "But why do you want only one Pinkie to remain?" another copy asked. Twilight was surprised by the clone's curiosity but replied: "You're destroying the town! And we want to find our friend! The real Pinkie, who won't shout every second that she's having fun," Twilight stated. "And for this, you're willing to kill all the extra Pinkies?" suddenly, a straight-maned pink pony asked. "That's not fun at all!" the mane of another pink pony drooped. "Friends want to kill Pinkies! It's horrible!" another Pinkie suddenly wailed, and a moment later, the entire hall was filled with tears. "Lies, I'm not a killer!" Twilight shouted. "Only one of you Pinkies can be a living pony. All the others are soulless copies created by the magic of the pond," Twilight tried to justify her radical actions. "But we're alive too! We breathe, jump, shout, feel, and think! And you want to kill all of us!" tearful Pinkie exclaimed. "I don't want to die! I'm alive too!" new voices came from the hall, and Twilight realized that she couldn't send anyone to the pond now. Moreover, the unicorn was horrified that she had nearly killed dozens of living Pinkie copies. "I almost became a killer! And I could have sent the real Pinkie to the pond. I'm a terrible friend," Twilight addressed her friends. "Sugarcube, we're all to blame. None of the residents of Ponyville thought of the copies as anything other than a problem to get rid of," Applejack admitted. "Perhaps we rushed with the plan. But we can't leave everything as it is! We still have to find the real Pinkie!" Rainbow Dash demanded. "Although Pinkie destroyed my shop, if they're really alive, we almost became monsters!" Rarity shuddered. "And where's Fluttershy?" Twilight and her friends looked around for the pegasus. As it turned out, Fluttershy was tearfully apologizing to each Pinkie. "Oh, Fluttershy! I can imagine how her conscience torments her!" Rarity sympathized with her friend. "It's my fault for coming up with this terrible plan! And there's no forgiveness for a killer!" the unicorn couldn't hold back her tears anymore. Her friends and Spike immediately hugged her. "Twilight, it's not your fault! You just wanted to help!" Spike reassured her. And suddenly, Pinkie Pie joined the group. "Twilight, it's not you, it's me who's to blame for everything! Because of my silly desire to be everywhere, I went to the pond of doubles without thinking about the consequences. In the end, my copies almost destroyed the entire Ponyville. Forgive me!" the real Pinkie cried. "Pinkie, you're back!" Twilight smiled through tears. "We're so glad you're safe, sugarcube!" Applejack said. "Darling, next time, consult with us before running to the magical lake!" Rarity requested. "Wow, you really stirred up all of Ponyville!" Rainbow lightly nudged her friend's shoulder. "Pinkie, you're back!" Fluttershy quickly joined the friendly embrace. "I'm so happy!" "Thank you, girls! You are the best friends in the world!" Pinkie Pie smiled at her friends. Meanwhile, the other Pinkies in the hall noticed this scene. "They found the real Pinkie! It's the end for all of us!" shouted one copy. Immediately, all the copies started running in panic throughout the town hall, trying to escape the trap! "Everyone calm down!" Twilight used magic to make all the Pinkies freeze in place. "I promise no one will be sent to the pond! I'm very sorry for wanting to do that to you. Forgive me," the unicorn pleaded. "And us too!" added Twilight's other friends. The copies didn't know what to say. But the curious Pinkie, who started asking questions, spoke first: "I forgive you! We're to blame ourselves for forcing you to resort to such drastic measures. We almost destroyed all of Ponyville. And we didn't think that others weren't having fun. FORGIVE US!" the copies pleaded in unison. Twilight's friends nodded approvingly, and the unicorn replied: "We forgive you!" "But you'll have to fix all the damage done to the town!" Rainbow Dash added. The copies sighed heavily, but the real Pinkie Pie addressed her copies: "I know that working is not fun at all. But we need to fix our mistakes. Besides, helping friends is always pleasant. And I'll gladly take the lead! Who's with me?" "I am! I am! I am!" the clones shouted. And when the gates of the town hall opened, Pinkie and her copies set out to restore Ponyville. "Twilight, wait, how will we recognize the real Pinkie again?" Applejack asked. "Don't worry, I cast a tracking spell on our friend. It's a temporary measure; we need to figure out where to send all the copies. They can't stay in Ponyville. They won't even have a place to live!" Twilight replied. "Um, Twilight! I think it's time to reach out to Princess Celestia. She'll find a solution to any problem!" Spike suggested, holding a scroll in his hands. Twilight pondered over this suggestion. She had no other solutions to the problem, so turning to her mentor seemed like the only option. Nodding to the dragon, she began to dictate: "Dear Princess Celestia..."