It wasn't until thirty minutes later that I let out a long, slow breath. The crystal in my head melted away, letting all my thoughts and worries bubble up to the surface of my mind.
"I.... I'm sorry. I just, Erica, and... hearing anybody was shot. Even if they're unhurt, I... Look. I just can't cry about things like that, because I'm too upset to cry. It's too sudden. It's too.... loud."
The car was quiet for a few minutes after.
Then Linda turned around. "Hey. I'm sorry I yelled at you. You didn't deserve that... look, Erica seems to be okay. Even if she's lying to protect us, she'll probably want us to be happy when we meet her. Well, you know, I mean like happy to see you, not like sugar rush happy."
"I know. I... She's alive, and unhurt. And we're finally going to meet her."
"That's a good thing, right?"
I nodded. Yeah, it was a good thing. All this time, I had to keep up a mask of Pinkie...ness because these fans wanted it of me. And the way that Pinkie was pushing in the back of my head did nothing to help my state of mind. But with Erica, I finally had somebody who could relate.
Who knew what it was like to have hooves instead of hands.
Who realized why looking up where you used to just look made you feel inadequate...
Who could make sense of my mind, or at least part of it.
"Yeah... Yeah, this will be great!" I smiled. "I'll finally be able to talk with somebody who understands!"
Linda raised an eyebrow.
"No offense, of course, but..." I waved my pencilly hoof. "This whole thing has gotten to me a lot more then I want you to know, and she probably could help out. So, yeah."
"No, I get it... kinda. I just hope you don't have another freakout."
I shrugged. "I'll try. I mean, I'm still worried, but now I'm excited too!"
There was a funny noise.
"...and now my mane's poofy again! I--actually, I liked it better straight."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Pink curls are just plain creepy."
Linda shrugged and turned back. A sudden image cropped up in my thoughts, where the felt Pinkie was holding her mane and giving me an honestly confused look.
"I stand by my ridiculous claim," I muttered.
In my head, an image of the pink pony in an over-the-top vampire outfit jumped across a felt night sky to needlessly melodramatic music... before smacking into the wall of a felt building and sliding down slowly.
"...still creepy."
***
"Right, the message says to turn right here."
Ian followed my instructions, glancing at the virtual blockade of vehicles and camera phones around us. "I hope we can get past without too much trouble... Some of these people have guns, Reid."
"Makes sense. They want to protect Erica... or Fluttershy," I muttered. "Just tell me when we get near the inner circle and I'll roll the window down."
My brother nodded to his left, rolling down his window. "I think we're already there. Hello, officer."
Indeed, a policewoman stood right next to the car, arms crossed firmly as she glowered. "I'm sorry, sir, but for the safety of miss Erica we are restricting anybody from driving any closer then this."
"That's completely understandable. But, um... I have a pony in the back seat."
"Hi there!" I added with a helpful wave. "I'm Pinkie Pie! Well, I'm also Reid Priddy, but you get what I mean."
The woman looked over her sunglasses at me. "I... see. Hmmm. I suppose you could go on, if you made sure everyone here understood why. I don't want a mob on my hands."
"Meh, easy enough." I rolled down my window and leaned out with a big smile and a large wave "HEY EVERYBRONY! IF YOU RECOGNIZE ME, YELL CUPCAKES REALLY LOUD!"
My ears involuntarily pressed against my skull at the deafening reply.
With a smug grin, I turned back to the officer. "That red van's with us. May we proceed please, ma'am?"
She glanced briefly in the direction I indicated--Harold waved from the driver's seat--before sighing and waving us on. We rolled into a small parking lot, surrounded by trees and a sign proclaiming that this was a campsite.
As we poured out of the vehicles, Linda cave a cursory glance around the area. "So.... where are they?" Ginny seemed to hear the annoyance in her voice and clutched Figment to her chest tighter; her eyes darted around, desperately searching for the yellow pegasus.
"I think they're around here somewhere," I reassured her. "Probably not in plain sight. News van and all that." Casually I indicated the vehicle in the blockade that had a large camera mounted on its back. "Also, Ginny, I claim first glomping rights." She nodded, relaxing slightly.
"Pinkie!" The object of our affections suddenly burst from the bushes, grinning broadly and wearing a hat and glasses... plus, wonder of wonders, the Element of Kindness itself.
I grinned right back, rushing at her. "Flutter--no wait. Erishy!" With unbridled joy I tackled her across the grass, rolling to a stop four feet away and clutching her tightly. In the heat of the moment, I began to release all my emotions in one long babbling speech.
"Oh my gosh it's so good to see another one of us finally somebody who understands you don't look hurt so I'm guessing you're not oh flark you are skreeping adorable--"
Curiosity got the better of me, and I suddenly flipped the surprised pegasus around, gripping a wing and moving it through the motions of flight. "Radial motion of about 168 degrees--"
"Wha--? Was all she managed before I went straight back to hugging her tightly.
"--I was just so scared when I heard the news and now you're here and you're safe and we're together and your necklace looks neat why aren't you wearing any clothes--"
My scientific lust was not sated, however, and I broke off briefly once again to begin counting her ribs. Thirteen, fourteen, fifteen... "Hmmm... I'll count mine later." That established, I clamped on a third time.
Erishy giggled, returning my hug warmly. "It's so nice to meet you! I mean, I kinda remember you but more Pinkie you. From before all this." Then she glanced over my shoulder at my brother and the others. "Hey, are you all okay? You look like you all have seen a ghost."
She gave them all a reassuring smile; Ginny smiled back, finally managing a wave as she released Figment.
Then she turned back to me with a shrug. "Clothes aren't really necessary, I figure. I didn't wake up in any."
I nodded, taking her words at face value. "Anyway it's just superfabulotastic to finally see you in person and oh my gosh I know this is totally Pinkie talking but we should totally have some sort of small party and wait what?"
My brother gently brought a hand to his face as I leaned back, considering the words I had missed earlier in my glee at finding another pony.
"You... see me as Pinkie."
After a moment, I released her, eyes downcast. "Oh. Okay. I can handle that, makes sense." My hoof went to the back of my mane as I coughed awkwardly. "Um. Right!"
Erishy shrunk back a bit, realizing she had said the wrong thing. "Can we all go sit down at the tent? It's really awkward just standing out here." I don't think she realized it, but she was rubbing one of her hooves as she looked at me.
"Sure, hold on." Even with my own problems, I'd made a promise; I stepped to the side, glancing over my shoulder. "Ginny, it's your turn."
Good god, if I'd covered four feet, that girl had hit at least double.
The pegasus seemed to take it all in stride. "My number one fan," she said with a grin. This elicited a squee so loud it stunned a few birds out of the branches.
Linda took out her phone and opened an app, raising an eyebrow at the image on the screen. "Just look at that decibel count." Harold rolled his eyes and swatted her arm lightly.
Erishy whispered something to the girl as she wrapped around her tightly. I could see Ginny rocking back and forth gently, tears coming out of her eyes as she muttered something over and over again. Deciding to give the two of them some privacy, I glanced around for some sort of distraction and found it in the form of a white unicorn who, probably, had come over when we were all focused on the Shy one.
"Oh hey there Shining," I greeted him casually. "Or... whoever."
He turned to me with a small smile. "Julien. Shining seems less... eager to jump inside my head. Less need to."
"Yeah..." I glanced aside uncomfortably. "Need."
Jacqueline cleared her throat. "Ginny, Darling, I know this is a wonderful moment for you... and us all... but I'm pretty sure Fluttershy needs to breathe."
Ginny released the pony with a startled gasp. "OHMYGOSHYOU'RERIGHT! I am so so so sorry you have no idea are you okay I didn't hurt you or anything--"
Erishy giggled as she fluttered her released wings. "I've had worse." Then she turned to me, concern overwhelming her feature. "Now Reid. You seem scared."
I snorted, and tried to wave it off with a laugh. "What really?"
"Everyone can see it," Ian helpfully supplied.
I gave him an incredulous look. "What really?"
"Yep," Harold agreed.
"I had my suspicions," Jacqueline added.
"You were terrified," Linda confirmed.
Ginny glanced between them in confusion. "I didn't notice anything."
"Yes, but you were distraught, darling," Jacqueline explained gently.
I still leapt on the statement. "There, see, Ginny says I wasn't scared. Right Figment?" I turned to the plushie/puppet dragon, who lolled gently on the sidewalk. He believed me, right?
Erishy gave me a brief look before spreading her forelimbs wide with a cheerful smile. "Group hug!"
"Wait what?"
With only that brief warning, I found myself drawn into a massive conglomerate clutch of friendship and joy. After a moment, I rolled my eyes and smiled. "...okay, fine, I'm feeling better now."
Erishy leaned in close. "It's okay to be scared," she whispered. "I know how scary it is to have these other thoughts, and how quickly it can seem like you are losing it, but it isn't bad. I promise, everything is going to be okay." She released the group, ending the hug as suddenly as it began.
I stared at her, processing her words. It wasn't bad? Losing your identity wasn't a bad thing? How could she possibly say that? How could she... Of course. She'd already succumbed to Fluttershy. Well, I supposed there were worse ways to go.
"...Do you peeps mind if the shy one and I have a little private filly talk?" I asked calmly, not breaking my gaze from the pegasus.
Linda shrugged. "So long as it doesn't descend into rule 34 I'm hip."
Shining armor--no, Julien chuckled. "I've got bread, come on everyone." He led everyone away from the scene.
Leaving just two ponies and the birds in the trees.