Illusions
By Derpyx2
Pinkie heavily breathed in and out as she lay on her beach towel. Her dream had seemed so... real. So vivid. Yet, it was just a dream. Nothing more, nothing less. Besides, it wasn't as if this wasn't common for Pinkie. Her imagination would run so wild, it could come up with all sorts of scary things! Pinkie would constantly have nightmares about things like the Boogie Mare and creepy ghosts. But this time it was different. Pinkie didn't feel as if she were the one making this up. This dream wasn't just inside her head. She wasn't in control anymore. And although she tried to convince herself that everything was a dream, Pinkie still felt that sharp stab of fear she had previously felt while falling in the dream. Pinkie had felt as if she had an icicle piercing her coat. It felt as if its cold and sharpness was running throughout her entire body. It seemed as if the icicle was in her blood, coursing through her veins, through her entire being. This feeling had only happened once before, back when she was living on the farm as a filly.
~~~~~~
It started when she had first created her imaginary friends. Not only did Pinkie create those friends for company, Pinkie liked to pretend that she put all her sorrows into them when she created them. Although it did help her rid some of her sadness, there was still some sadness that clung on, like the few pieces of her mane that refused to be brushed down with the rest of her mane. Neither wanted to move. Thinking of this past pain, something struck Pinkie. She felt it in the back of her mind. And she could remember the day like it was yesterday.
After the death of her sister, it seemed as if Pinkie was getting more and more depressed by the minute. One sad, depressing morning, she had looked in a mirror to brush her mane, when she saw a reflection of herself. The reflection scared her at first, as it was a twisted reflection of Pinkie herself. The reflection constantly chased Pinkie, and it always muttered about "control, control". But eventually, the reflection caught up to Pinkie and explained that she wanted to control Pinkie's sadness, and make her feel better. Now that everything was explained, Pinkie slowly warmed up to the reflection, although she always felt a bit uneasy around her. But Pinkie shook that feeling off, since the reflection told her that it could "take the pain away". What happened next was hazy, and Pinkie couldn't remember what had happened. All she remembered now was that she woke up, and she had felt as though a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders. She felt free for the first time in what seemed like months! It was as if chains had been lifted off her hooves, and thrown away forever! Then, to top her happiness off, she had gotten her cutie mark that day! As a sign of her happiness, her mane went from a limp, clump of hair to a poofy, lively bundle of mane! Whatever had been dragging her (and her hair) down was gone! She felt carefree, so carefree and happy that she didn't even put up a fight that night when she went to sleep at eight.
She was about to go to sleep, when she heard faint crying coming from her mirror. And there she was, her reflection, her savior, her friend... crying. Pinkie remembered rushing over to her reflection, asking what was wrong. Pinkie once again shook off the uneasy feeling that was churning in her gut. After shaking off that feeling, the reflection had replied with "Everything!" in answer to her question. The reflection said that it was happy that it had taken Pinkie's weight off her, but now, all she consisted of was sadness. Pinkie felt so responsible, yet she didn't know what to do. After some thinking, the reflection had requested a deal. She would continue to be Pinkie's sadness, if Pinkie agreed to give up her happiness at night. Pinkie agreed, thinking nothing could go wrong. The only downside to the deal was the constant nightmares about her reflection, which resembled the nightmare Pinkie had had today. Pinkie remembered when she moved to Ponyville, she was still having these nightmares, as she was still giving up her happiness at night. She was growing tired of the constant sweat on her face, and terror in her mind. Since she didn't want to visit any therapists or psychologists, Pinkie Pie decided to talk to her good friend Applejack about her nightmares. Since Applejack was a "practical pony", she didn't believe Pinkie when she said the dreams were real. Applejack had said that Pinkie was just imagining this reflection, and, no matter how real everything seemed, the reflection could never hurt or get to her. The reflection was probably just the aftermath of one of Pinkie's fears, anyways.
Applejack had offered some great advice about not feeding the nightmare or her fear, and Pinkie put the idea into action. She ignored the sobs or the soft whispers at night, and they eventually disappeared. After they disappeared, Pinkie woke up with a sudden weight on her chest, and she figured that since the contract was broken, she had to be sad now. Since it had been so long, Pinkie didn't know how to deal with these negative feelings. She would hold in her sadness and anger until she burst. Pinkie was always like a piece of glass. At one little nudge, she would fall to the ground and break. When she was nudged, Pinkie would lose all of the happiness that she once had, and she would either become depressed, extremely angry, or crazy. She only snapped out of it when somepony was there to remind her that she had beaten the reflection. That she could gain herself, gain her happiness, and have control once more.
~~~~~~
The reflection Pinkie saw as a filly had to be the same reflection she saw today! It couldn't be just a coincidence! Pinkie had felt the same as before, and she had seen the same things too! But why would she come now? Revenge? Was she mad Pinkie hadn't been nudged at all in a long time? Did she want her happiness back? Pinkie didn't know if she could live with that! All these thoughts were worrying Pinkie, and she had no idea how to get rid of them. It was as if they were controlling her mind, and she couldn't stop them. The only thing Pinkie could think to do at the moment was go to her friend who had been there for her. The one who understood. The only one who didn't say to "get professional help". The one who helped her during the times when the reflection was controlling her. With that decided, Pinkie Pie headed over towards Sweet Apple Acres.
~~~~~~
Pinkie quickly galloped towards the shelter of the Apple's barn. The sun that had earlier shone that day was now hidden away by clouds, and little droplets of rain had soaked Pinkie's shivering backside and mane. She knocked on the barn door with all her might, desperate to gain the attention of one of the country folk so she could be let in, into a dry place. Luckily, Applejack came to her aid. After glancing at her soaking, freezing friend, Applejack rushed Pinkie inside and got her a nice, fluffy towel from another room. "Why, Pinkie, y'all are absolutely soaked! Why'd ya go outside 'durin a doozy like this?" Pinkie shivered in response, and Applejack brought her a warm cup of cocoa. When she was warmed up, Pinkie gazed fearfully into Applejack's eyes.
"A- Applejack? I.. uh... I had a nightmare. I haven't had one in a long time but itseemstohavecomebackandIdon'tknowwhattodobecauseitscaresmealotandI-" Applejack cut Pinkie off with a curt stomp of her hoof.
"Pinkie! Slow down, would ya? I can't keep up with yer fast 'talkin Pinkie language!" Pinkie blinked, then realized that she had slipped into "fast mode" with her voice. It happened whenever she was scared or nervous. Really scared or nervous.
"S- sorry, Applejack. I- I'll slow down, so you see..." Pinkie told Applejack all about the nightmare, and how it resembled the nightmares she used to talk to her friend about. Throughout the story, Applejack nodded her head, or, at rare times, shook her head as if it were all nonsense. When she had finished, Applejack looked Pinkie straight in her bright blue eye. It was the most serious gaze Applejack had ever given Pinkie. Normally, her "serious" gazes held a twinkle beneath the gaze itself. But this gaze, this serious gaze, was hollow. Nothing but an honest, sober look met Pinkie's gaze.
Applejack sighed, and opened her mouth. She closed it shortly after, as if struggling to find the words. For a short while, Applejack struggled to find words for Pinkie's dilemma. It was as if she could open the book of words, but she could read not a single one. Finally, Applejack let out another exasperated sigh and opened her mouth. "Pinkie, y'all know this isn't real. They're just dreams is all. Maybe... I dunno. 'Somethin happened. 'Somethin made this nightmare come back. But I know y'all can make this nightmare go away.. You've done it before. Pinkie, 'jus try ta forget about it. It'll all go away eventually. Just use that happiness you have to counter its negativity. But for now, since it's 'rainin hard, why don'tcha stay for dinner. Trust me. No nightmare'll dare enter this house! Not while I'm around!" Applejack declared. Pinkie looked at her for any hint of laughter or humor, but she found none. All of Applejack's words were honest sincerity.
"Thanks, Applejack. I appreciate it. A lot. Like, really a lot! I mean, this is the nicest, bestest, awesomest thing you've ever done for me! It's so great, hey! maybe we can throw a party!" Applejack laughed and shook her head.
"That's alright, Pinkie. This is just what friends do for each other. Now, would y'all like to help out with dinner?" Applejack asked, her eyes and mouth still smiling.
"Of course! Why wouldn't I?! This is going to be so much fun!" Pinkie went on and on as she and Applejack trotted over to the kitchen.
~~~~~~
After making and eating dinner with the Apples, Pinkie was exhausted. Fun could be tiring! Pinkie said her goodbyes, gave her hugs, gave more hugs (even with the protests from Applejack), and then trotted home. Mrs. Cake said she was so happy to see Pinkie smiling and being herself again, and Pinkie promised to work super duper hard the next day. After making Mrs. Cake Pinkie Promise that she wouldn't pay Pinkie extra for getting up early for work, she trotted up to her room, satisfied. Pinkie threw on her pajamas and hopped into her bright pink bed. She closed her eyes, and started counting out Gummys (her pet alligator) in her head to help her go to sleep.
Pinkie was drifting off, when a soft sound pierced the dead quiet in the room. It was sniffling. Soft, faint, sniffling. Though the sound sent a shiver through her spine, Pinkie didn't like to see, or hear, anypony unhappy. Pinkie trotted closer and closer towards the sound, the fear in her gut growing. Though she knew she should turn away and go to sleep, something, some invisible force, pulled Pinkie nearer and nearer to the sound. When the sound got louder, Pinkie suddenly turned towards the mirror. Standing there, in the mirror, crying, was Pinkie's twisted reflection. The reflection looked at Pinkie, sorrow and anger in its eyes. Studying it, Pinkie knew there was else in the reflections eyes. But she couldn't place her hoof on it. Suddenly, the reflection locked eyes with the bright pink, trembling mare. In a voice as cold as ice, as breakable as glass, the reflection said, "You broke our promise, Pinkie, and now you must pay." At that announcement, all the happiness drained from Pinkie's body. She was nothing, falling into that deep, dark pit once more. The only thing she felt was stabbing, cold pain.
"Help," Pinkie whispered desperately. But the reflection just stared down at her sadly.
"No."