“So Pinkie Pie tried to surprise all three of you, but you snapped at her for it?” Applejack asked.
“Sadly, yes.” Twilight Sparkle said. “That’s what happened. I was annoyed that Pinkie Pie scribbled in my book, but I didn’t think she’d take it this bad. If I had known, I would’ve been gentler.”
“And I’m sorry for lashing out at her too.” Rarity said. “She was just trying to surprise me in, well, her own silly Pinkie way.”
“Pinkie may be a bit reckless, but she just wanted to make the three of us smile.” Said Fluttershy. “She didn’t know Bubble Fish turn purple when they’re sick. I was too hard on her too.”
“It’s okay. We’ll clear this up after we’re all together again.” Rainbow Dash said. “For now, let’s search for Pinkie.”
“But how?” Fluttershy whimpered. “She said she was going somewhere far, far away! She could be anywhere by now.”
“Um, guys.” Twilight said. “I think this trail of muffin crumbs here looks a little bit suspicious…
———
“Okay. This is it… I know something that can make anypony happy.” Pinkie said, after the two ponies shared a dramatic brooding session. “A parade. We’ll have Doom-and-Gloomsville’s first ever super fun parade.”
“A parade?” Lavender asked. “Those only exist in the legends of long ago…”
“Well, back in Ponyville, we always had parades.” Pinkie Pie said. “They were so vibrant. Everypony dressed up and celebrated in the streets and partied. Everything was filled with color… and music… and dancing…”
With each word Pinkie said, she began to recall a long-forgotten emotion but by bit.
“My five friends and I would laugh and romp around, and eat delicious food and sing and dance, and celebrate together… Yes! My five friends!”
Pinkie Pie suddenly turned from blue, back to gray. She had become a bit happier, but she wasn’t out of the woods yet. After all, her hair was still deflated and she wasn’t quite back to pink yet.
“I want us to feel all the magic my five friends made me feel. Well, too bad I’ll never see them again. But… No! I must stay positive! Me and you, Lavender Snow? We are going to party hard!”
———
Twilight and the four other ponies (and Spike) were closely following the trail of muffin crumbs.
“Man, this trail goes on forever.” Rainbow Dash said. “Pinkie really must’ve been distraught.”
“Ooh, this is all my fault.” Rarity said.
“It’s nobody’s fault.” Twilight said. “We have to find Pinkie and save our friendship with her before it’s too late. We’re currently nearing The Outskirts, and the sun will set in three hours. In The Outskirts, after nightfall, all sorts of monsters come out!”
“MONSTERS?” The other ponies and Spike gasped.
“According to my books, they fly around at night and suck out the joy from unsuspecting ponies. If they attack us, we might not be able to feel joy for the rest of our lives!”
“No! We have to find Pinkie Pie, quick!”
———
“Okay, I think that if we dance in the street, all other ponies around us will discover how wonderful it is to be happy, and join us!” Pinkie Pie said.
“But… we can’t.” Lavender said. “I… I’ve never danced before. It’s illegal.”
“Well, whoever is in charge of this law is bound to change their mind when they see how much joy we’re having.” Pinkie said. “Trust me.”
“…Okay.” Lavender said. A hint of a smile blossomed on her face. “I’ll try. I’ve never danced or had fun before. But I’ll try.”
The sight of Lavender’s small yet hopeful smile was so uplifting, that Pinkie smiled too.
Just like that, Pinkie’s usual rosy pink color filled her body and mane until she was pink again. She was glowing.
“Hey, I think I made you happy.” Lavender said, admiring Pinkie’s color.
“Hey, you did!” Pinkie said. “Now… let’s PAR-TAY!”
Pinkie and Lavender danced down the streets and bounced around and held hooves as they walked through the streets of the gloomy town.
“Hey, youre doing pretty good for someone who’s never danced before.” Pinkie said. “How does it feel?”
“It feels… it feels like my chest is full. And my heart is fluttering. And my hooves are tingling. Is that bad?”
“No, silly! It means you’re having fun!”
“It feels good.” Lavender said. “I want to feel like this forever!”
As Pinkie and Lavender danced down the roads, the joy and feel of dancing with a new friend filled Pinkie’s heart with an emotion she thought she’d forgotten.
Suddenly, Pinkie started shaking and quivering with all sorts of wonderful feelings, and… BOOM! A colorful explosion went off, and Pinkie’s trademark poofy hair was back!
“Yippee!” Pinkie said. “I’m so happy, it makes me wanna burst into a song!”
So, she did.
“My name is Pinkie Pie,
And I am here to say…
I'm gonna make you smile and I will brighten up your day!
It doesn't matter now,
If you are sad or blue.
'Cause cheering up my friends is just what Pinkie's here to do!
'Cause I love to make you smile, smile, smile!
Yes I do!
It fills my heart with sunshine all the while!
Yes it does!
'Cause all I really need's a smile, smile, smile…
From these happy friends of mine!”
“Whee! Come on, Lavender Snow! Smile!” Pinkie made a funny face.
“Haha! That’s so silly…” Lavender laughed. There was a glowing smile on her face. She definitely looked a lot better in it than with a frown.
“Yay!” Pinkie Pie bounced and cheered.
“Um, Pinkie Pie?” Lavender looked into the pink mare’s shining blue eyes. “I just want to say thank you. For making me feel all this joy…”
“You’re welcome! Thank you too, Lavender, for telling me to try.”
The two looked in each other’s eyes and smiled together, sharing a hearty laugh.
“Now let’s continue!” Pinkie and Lavender marched through the street, filling it with laughter.
———
“Man, now we only have TWO hours left until sundown.” Rainbow Dash cried. “We have to find Pinkie FAST.”
“Why? Are you scared?” Applejack said.
“What? This is no time for bantering.” Rainbow Dash said. “And so what if I’m scared! I’m not, though. But even if I was, so what?”
“It’s getting quite dark already too.” Fluttershy said.
“Don’t worry, my horn can light up the darkness.” Twilight said, as she made her horn glow.
“I’ll help too.” Said Rarity, lighting up her horn as well.
Suddenly, the five ponies (and Spike! Remember he exists too!) heard lively music coming from the distance…
“That couldn’t be… could it?” Applejack muttered.
“Music that lively could only mean one thing.” Twilight said.
“Indeed!” Spike said. “Pinkie Pie! I’m glad she’s having fun now.”
“Pinkie is beyond that hill! Follow that music!” Rainbow Dash said.
So the ponies (AND SPIKE!) followed the sound.
———
Pinkie and Lavender romped through the street, and by this time, a large, chattering parade had formed. Pinkie had found an accordion somewhere and was playing a lively tune, introducing everyone to the magic of music.
But all the lively commotion eventually got the attention of the mayor of Doom-and-Gloomsville once they got to the town hall.
The mayor was the one who had put all the no-fun laws in place. She was a dreadful, miserable, yet powerful unicorn who knew no joy. Even the mention of her name made the sound of thunder crash.
She was Nocturne, Hater of All Things Fun!
(Thunder crashes.)