Pinkie Pie was getting old. She knew this. Every party became slightly less pronounced. Every dance step less exuberant. Every smile less cheerful. She, the Element of Laughter itself, found it harder to find the breath to laugh.
She sat in her bedroom, which Pound Cake, the current owner of Sugarcube Corner, had simply given to her after his parents retired. She didn't even work at the Corner anymore, but it was a place of joy to her... and a home. Her mane was less poofy than it used to be, but she barely minded. The room was dark and alone, after she had outlived even her pet alligator.
"Come on, Pinkie. You know you're dying. You still have time to throw one last party, though!" a voice in her mind told her. It was the voice of her old, hyperactive self.
"No... just let me die in peace..." another voice protested. It was sullen and downcast, the voice of her fillyhood. "I only have a week left, if that. I've spent my whole life partying. Shouldn't my last days be quiet?"
"Oh, who's a big ol' grumpypants?" the other voice asked. Pinkie saw in her mind a pouting version of herself. "Come on, that's exactly it! You've spent your whole life partying! So when it's time to die, make it a good one!"
"But... but why?" the second voice asked. "My friends are as old as I am. Those that aren't older, anyway. I can't throw parties like I used to. These bones are old and tired, and so are theirs. What, do you expect me to call Vinyl out of retirement?"
"Hey, why not? I'm sure she'd be thrilled to drop a bass again! Though come to think of it, I never actually saw her dropping anything..." the first voice replied excitedly. "Anyway, just act like it's a normal party! Dance the night away! If you're going to die-"
"Die with a smile on your face," the second voice ended.
Pinkie's ears perked up. Granny Pie told her that, just a month before her own passing. Granny Pie had fulfilled her own advice, and Pinkie decided that she would, too. She climbed to her hooves with a smile, and walked downstairs. Pound Cake was giving cupcakes to the former Cutie Mark Crusaders, still friends after all these years.
"Howdy, Pinkie!" Applebloom said. "How are you doing?"
"I'm doing fine. In fact, I like that you three are here. Could you deliver some invitations for me?" Pinkie asked, a twinkle in her eye.
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Pound Cake and Pumpkin Cake helped Pinkie to set up decorations all around Ponyville. Pinkie had decided that her own Deathday party would be one for the record books. Everypony in Equestria was invited to celebrate. Pound even worked overtime to help Pinkie prepare enough sweets for the inevitable deluge of party guests. He didn't know what had caused the sudden spark of life in the old mare, but he was happy to see her as he remembered her from so many years ago.
The turn-out did not disappoint. Besides everypony in Ponyville, there were famous guests like Vinyl Scratch (who was mostly there to advise the younger generation of DJ's), all 3 Princesses, the families of every holder of the Elements, and more. Even Pinkie didn't know half the guests.
Pinkie was congratulated multiple times throughout the day and late into the night on an excellent party, perhaps even her finest. Finally, at 1 in the morning, when her body could finally take no more party, she stepped onto a stage where bands and DJ's had been playing the whole time.
"Everypony, I would like to thank you for attending this party," she said into a microphone. "I can't tell you how much it means to me. I'm sure many of you are wondering why I threw such an extravaganza." She was met with silent nods. She swallowed the last remnants of her fear as she choked out her next sentence. "The reason is because... this is the night... that I'm going to die." A sharp gasp could be heard from the crowd, and her five oldest friends and two sister stepped closer to the stage. "I know this may come as a shock to all of you. I've been planning this party for a week, to make it the biggest, best party the world has ever known. I want to die like I lived: seeing everypony smiling and partying like the world doesn't matter. I don't ask for gifts, or sympathy. I lived well. All I ask for now is that you all remember me, and live the same way I did: happy, carefree, and friendly. I will retire from this party, now, to go to sleep forever. However, if I can have a few minutes with some of my closest friends, I would enjoy that."
She stepped off stage, and was immediately surrounded by her five friends and her sisters. She took them, Princess Celestia, and Princess Luna with her to her bedroom, where they discussed her life for nearly an hour, and what may come afterwards. Finally, though, her eyelids fell shut, and she smiled.
"Good night, everypony," she said with a yawn. "I'll see you... in the morning..."
And those were her final words. She died with a smile on her face, just like she wanted.