The Last Laugh

by Gandalf158

Rarity

    A few days after Rainbow and Pinkie's “incident” with the Cutie Mark Crusaders, it was my turn to spend the day with Ponyville's resident party pony. I had the whole day planned out; after decorating for the Party, we'd go and relax at the day spa, then we would get something to eat at the diner for lunch. Finally, we would return to my Boutique to, as Rainbow Dash would put it, “hang out”.
    That was the plan, anyway. When I got to Sugarcube Corner, though, I moved “getting something to eat” to the front of our schedule. The pink Earth Pony looked ghastly; she was thin enough that I could count her ribs, her mane was slightly less poofy than it normally is, and her usually bright, electric blue eyes seemed distant and cold. I barely held back the tears that threatened to fall at the sight of one of my best friends reduced to such a state.
    “Pinkie, darling, how are you feeling today?” I asked her.
    “Okay, I guess. How're you feeling?” she asked in a weak voice.
    “I'm... alright. Why don't we head over to the diner? I hear that today they have a special on their special celery soup!” I said in a sing-song voice, trying, rather pathetically, to cheer her up.
    “Alrighty!” she said, and her eyes seemed to brighten a little at the thought of food, so I took that as a good sign.

    On the way to the diner, we passed by ponies who, upon seeing Pinkie Pie, would bow their heads in sorrow. Pinkie, however, didn't seem to notice. When we got to the diner, we took an outside table and ordered our meals.
    It was a beautiful day; very few clouds, it had rained the night before, so the air smelled sweet, and the sky was a simply breathtaking cyan. A complete and utter contrast to how I, and assuredly the whole of Ponyville, was feeling.
    “It's a beautiful day, isn't it Rarity?” Pinkie asked, as if reading my mind.
    “Yes, quite beautiful indeed.” I replied, wondering where exactly she was going with this.
    “Ironic, isn't it? The most beautiful days on the outside always come on the worst days inside.” she said.
    I was... surprised... at this. I had no idea what to say to that, so for a few moments, I just sat there, mouth trying to make words, but brain unable to make a coherent thought.
    “It's alright, Rarity. You can talk about it, I've come to terms with this.” she said, breaking the silence.
    It was precisely at that moment our waiter brought over our food; a bowl of celery soup for me, and a daisy sandwich with a side of hay fries for Pinkie.
    “Mmm, this soup is simply divine. Would you like to try some, darling?” I say, in an attempt to change the subject.
    'I'm good. Would you like a hay fry?” she asked.
    “Pinkie, may I ask a question of you?” I asked.
    “Shoot.
    “How are you feeling? I mean how you are really feeling. Not Pinkie the Element of Laughter, Pinkie my friend whose about to die.” I say, wanting her to be honest.
    “I felt fine, a bit tired, but fine. Don't worry about me, my time is coming, but it isn't here yet. Let's just enjoy what little time I have left.”
    “Alright then, it's agreed. We'll enjoy what time you have, and worry about what's coming when it comes. When you're finished with your food, we'll be off.”
    She finished her sandwich, and after paying we were off to the day spa. When we arrived, Aloe and Lotus were there to greet us.
    “Good day, Miss Rarity, how are we today” Aloe asked.
    “I'm quite alright, thank you for asking. I'm here for my regular, plus one.” I say, gesturing to Pinkie.
    Aloe nodded, and Lotus led us back to the mud room. After about a half an hour, we moved on to the massage room.
    “So, Pinkie, have you thought about how you want to decorate the Party?” I ask.
    “Lots of streamers, confetti cannons, and balloons.” she replied in true Pinkie Pie fashion.
    “Don't you want anything more... extravagant?I mean, if there ever was a time to go all out, darling, it's now.”
    “Well, I was going to crack into my good confetti cannons. Why, what did you have in mind?” she asked.
    “I was just thinking you might want something more than that. But it is your party. When we're done here, we'll head over to the Corner.”
    “Okie-doki-loki!”

    An hour later, we were decorating every wall with streamers, hanging balloons from every chair, table, window, and anywhere else we could, and strategically placing confetti cannons. A lot of them. This being her last party ever, she was going to use all her remaining party supplies. Let's just say that she had quite a stockpile of supplies.
    “Rarity! We need more streamers over there!”
    “What color?”
    “Salmon!” she instructed, placing another cannon along the eastern wall.
    I hand the streamers as instructed, and continued to hang decorations around the shop until there was no more room in the Corner. Then, as if reading my mind again, Pinkie spoke.
    "I think we should decorate the outside now!” and that is what we did.
   
    For two more hours, we decorated the store front, the street in front of the bakery, and two of the surrounding businesses. When we were done, I invited her back to the Boutique.
    “Well, that was fun!” Pinkie said as we walked through the front door.
    “It was quite... memorable.”
    “Hi Rarity! Hey Pinkie!” Sweetie Belle said, coming in from the living room.
    “Hiya Sweetie!”
    “Sorry about the other day, Pinkie. We-”
    “I should be the one apologizing. Rainbow didn't mean it like that. But that's all over now.” Pinkie quickly said.
    “Well, that's a relief. Rarity? Is It alright if I spend the night at Apple Bloom's? We want to plan our weekend crusades.” Sweetie asked, giving me the puppy dog eyes, a trick I taught her, for the record.
    “Very well, I'll see you on Monday, Sweetie.”
    “See you later, Pinkie!” she said, grabbing her suitcase, already packed, I might add, and walking out the front door.
    “Well, how about I make us some nice celery soup?” I ask.
    “Ooh, I'd love some soup!”
    “Two bowls of celery soup, coming up...”