Pinkie Pie flopped down in the long, sweet grasses of Whitetail wood and breathed the clean air, smiling all the while. It had been a busy week, with seven birthdays, two anniversaries, lots of silly relationship advice, and a kitchen fire. It had been fun - every week was fun, but Pinkie still felt like old taffy, all stretched out and stringy with all her colors mushed together. It happened sometimes, when she got really tired or grumpier than she should have or cried over nothing. Twilight had called it burnout, and said it was natural to feel that way. Because Pinkie wasn’t as amazing as everypony made her out to be, really. It seemed like all of Ponyville thought she was running at 100% every second of every day, like some kind of Supermare. But when she’d finally gotten brave enough to talk to Twilight about it, Twi had understood. She’d given Pinkie a hug and flashed her awkward little smile and said, “You’re just a pony like the rest of us.” And that was that.
Pinkie rolled around on a root and giggled a little as it scratched at just the right spot on her spine. It was always important to be happy and comfortable before starting everything. So she stretched out her neck and shook out her legs and sneezed twice and shook the dead grass from her coat before lying down again, with more ceremony behind it. Then she began breathing, in and out, steady and slow and peaceful. When Twilight had first given her a book on guided meditation, she’d been skeptical. But she’d tried one out and surprised herself. She’d done it so many times since that she knew it by heart.
Think of somepony you love. That was easy. Twilight, Fluttershy, Applejack, Dashie, Rarity, the Cakes, her Granny... the list went on and on. Picture them in your mind’s eye. Dozens of faces filled the darkness behind her eyelids, all smiling. Breathe in, breathe out. Wish them health, wish them peace, wish them happiness. She wished it so hard she could feel a bead of sweat running down her neck and fought to relax her jaw. Breathe in, breathe out.
Now think of somepony you don’t know well, or that you don’t like quite as much. Think of why that is.Pinkie searched her mind and pondered, breathing slowly, letting her brain drift free like a kite. Bon Bon? She didn’t have anything against Bon Bon, but she didn’t like the way she treated Fluttershy. Wish them health, wish them peace, wish them happiness. Pinkie felt the weight of petty anger fly off her chest as she breathed away her dislike. Breathe in, breathe out.
Think of somepony you actively dislike. Think of what it is that makes you dislike them. This was always the hardest part. Everypony had their reasons for being the way they were. Pinkie searched all through her mind and finally, guiltily, settled on Discord. He was better than he had been, but the way he had treated her friends, the way he had made her act... Pinkie breathed a little harder and made an effort to relax her muscles. She still trembled with indignant rage, although it was less than it had been. Now, picture this pony in your mind and forgive them. Wish them health, wish them peace, wish them happiness. Pinkie took a deep breath and tried to let out her anger. It took four more breaths until it was gone, and Pinkie could almost be flying. Finally, she sent her well-wishes towards him and calmed herself down with some simple breaths.
Now picture somepony who loves you unconditionally. Feel the warmth of that love. The Cakes. Twilight. Applejack. Rarity. Dashie. Fluttershy. Her parents. Allow that love to flow through you. Pinkie basked in the love, felt warm pulses of it throbbing through her veins with each beat of her heart. She could be her own sun, right now, lighting up the forest glade. She almost cried for how much love she felt in that instant. Breathe in, breathe out. Now take your love and turn it towards yourself. Wish yourself health, wish yourself peace, wish yourself happiness.
Pinkie felt tears trickling down her face as she breathed slowly, filling herself with the love she so often threw at others. She could feel a buzzing happiness start in her hooves and work its way into her heart. She sat behind closed eyes, holding the love to herself closely, feeling it get stronger and stronger with each calm breath she took. Finally, the love inside her was ready to overflow. Pinkie opened her eyes and blinked in the bright afternoon sunlight, wiping away the lingering tears on her face. And she smiled, so wide it nearly hurt her lips to let it happen, and bounced up high into the air, free as a bird, light as a cloud, and full to bursting with warm, electric love.
She ran back to Ponyville, grinning a little bit wider with each step. With so much extra love, it only made sense to start sharing.