Pinkie Pie awoke, her mind instantly springing to life as if somepony had just pressed an on/off button. She shot her head up and blinked a few times. She was lying in a hospital bed. Her muscles were all sore, but the pain was mostly gone now. She closed her eyes and looked inside for the trace of her fighter persona. It lay there, dormant, awaiting a call from her, ready to fight when it was necessary. Pinkie Pie smiled, as she realized the multiple possibilities of being able to turn pegasus or earth pony on the spot. Think of all the pranks she could pull! And, what was way more important, one of her biggest dream – to be able to fly in the sky alongside her bestest friend and a secret crush – could now become a reality. She giggled and soon burst out laughing as joy overwhelmed her.
The door to the hospital room opened as all of her friends burst inside.
“Are you OK, Pinkie?” Though everypony asked their concerns in different words, it was apparent that was the meaning behind each question.
“I'm fine,” she replied. “Just a teensy-winsy bit sore.” A smile graced her face. It was one of her distinctive magical smiles that always succeeded in bringing warmth in the heart of everypony they were directed at. “How long was I out?” she asked, rubbing her chin with a hoof.
“Well, you took your time,” teased Rainbow Dash, nudging Pinkie's elbow with her own. “You were sleeping for the whole night and day.”
The rest of her closest friends moved away, unclogging the door and letting princess Celestia pass. Pinkie noticed that the princess managed to regain her usual majestic posture, her multicolor mane flowing freely with the solar wind.
“How are you feeling, my little pony?” she asked with a sincere concern.
“I'm fine, princess,” replied Pinkie with the same smile.
“Is now a good moment to inquire about your incredible fighting skills?” another question followed.
“Yeah, Pinks, you were just SO AWESOME!” interjected Rainbow Dash with an audible squee. “Where did you learn to kick flanks like that?”
Pinkie blinked for a moment then beamed, lightening the room with her joy. “I have no idea!” she exclaimed, still smiling. It was the absolute truth. “It was a surprise for me too, you know.”
Pinkie hopped out of the bed, massaging her limbs and shoulders. She was not going to spend another minute in a hospital bed.
“Are you sure you feel well enough to walk?” asked Fluttershy in a barely audible whisper, her usual tone of voice.
“I told you, I'm fine,” insisted Pinkie. The other ponies exchanged glances and shared a nod.
“Then come with us to the Sugarcube Corner,” proposed Twilight. “You must be hungry after all that exertion.”
“You bet I am!” exclaimed Pinkie, loud rumbling in her stomach confirming her words. “Let's go!” She hopped out of the room towards the bakery. All of her friends and the princess followed.
***
Pinkie led the group to the Sugarcube Corner, hopping and bouncing her usual way. She was curious why the street seemed so empty tough it was only an early evening. She asked Twilight about it, but the unicorn only said something about ponies still returning from the woods after they had fled for their life earlier.
They finally reached the bakery which Pinkie Pie promptly entered. It was dark inside but only for the briefest of moments.
“SURPRISE!” the deafening shout erupted inside the building, lights bursting suddenly, confetti exploding everywhere as dozens of ponies jumped out from their hiding places. Pinkie Pie looked amazed at the impromptu party they had all managed to prepare without her help.
SURPRISE PINKIE PIE was written on a banner hanging overhead. To its right was a portrait of a familiar pink face with an enormous smile. To its left was the same face, but the coat was white and the mane gold.
Pinkie's eyes tingled for a moment, but before any tear of happiness could escape them, her mood shifted rapidly (typical Pinkie Pie style) as she took to governing the party.
“Come on, everypony!” she shouted, thrusting a hoof in the air. “Let's PARTEH!”
Vinyl Scratch started her magical music device and soon the party was in full swing.
***
The evening slowly turned to night. Luna's moon was gracing the beautiful sky with its luminous presence. The town was unusually quiet, except for the Sugracube Corner which was bouncing about in unison with music managed by Vinyl Scratch. Pinkie sneaked outside, wanting a little fresh air.
“What's wrong, Pinks?” a familiar voice asked behind her. “It's not like you to skip the party.” Rainbow Dash passed her a glass of punch.
“Nothing's wrong, silly Dashie,” the contagious smile bloomed on the earth pony's face. “I just wanted to get a little fresh air. I still feel a little sore, you know.”
Rainbow Dash kicked her hoof on the ground, clearly wanting to say something but having trouble finding the words. The pink mare waited patiently.
“Pinkie...” the pegasus finally began. “What you did back there... It was just so awesome I don't even know what to say.”
“Well then, don't say it.” Pinkie's smile never left her face. Rainbow Dash looked taken aback for a brief moment, but burst out laughing soon afterward.
“I just wanted to say thanks, you know,” continued the pegasus after she had gotten her voice back. “For saving us all. I felt so helpless back then. Being the Element of Loyalty can be very hard when there's nothing you can do to save your friends.” She looked sheepishly at Pinkie.
“Aw, don't sweat it. I will always be there for all of us.” The pink pony beamed. “And, you know what's even more super-duper great about it?”
“Shoot.”
“I have always been jealous of how you pegasi could fly through the sky. Ever since I saw your Rainboom back on the rock farm. Of course I didn't know it was you back then, but after I met you in Ponyville, and after we teamed up as the official pranksters, I have always been so super envious of you. Of your freedom, of you not being bound to earth, of the amazing speed you could reach high above.” Pinkie paused for a while, her smile, though still present on her face, looked sadder for a moment. “But now I don't have to be jealous anymore. Nuh-uh, I can finally chase after you,” she proclaimed. Rainbow Dash missed the true meaning of her words, instead concentrating on some other message they carried.
“So wait...” she said, her eyes blank with confusion. “You mean you can do that again?”
“Anytime I want. She's still there, you know.” To confirm her words, Pinkie closed her eyes and concentrated. She reached deep inside her, extending an imaginary hoof towards the dormant part of her mind, towards the source of all her incredible strength. She snapped her red eyes open, the golden aura blazing around her body, her mane gold, and her coat white as snow on the first day of winter.
Rainbow Dash's jaw almost hit the bottom of the steps they were sitting on. “Wait... You said 'she'. Is this not you, Pinkie?”
“Of course it's me, silly Dashie.” The smile on her white snout was the exact same as the smile on her pink one. “She just provides the strength. And the wings.” She flapped them as if to confirm.
“So, um...” Rainbow Dash looked slightly confused. “What do you call her?”
“Huh...” Pinkie gasped, surprised. She hadn't thought of that. But right then an image of the party banner flashed in her mind. On the right, there was her pink snout with PINKIE PIE written next to it. On the left, there was her white snout with... The name engraved itself with golden letters in her heart.
“I've got just the right name.” She leaned towards her friend and whispered the name into her ear.
“Good one. I like it,” replied Rainbow. “It really suits her... you. And fits nicely, considering everything that happened today.”
“So what do you say, Dashie?” Pinkie looked straight into the cyan pegasus's magenta eyes, her own red orbs seeming to extend from their sockets. “Will you teach me the Sonic Rainboom?”
“Ha, you think you can keep up with me?” teased Rainbow Dash.
“I know I can,” replied the white pegasus confidently. She raised her hoof, which Rainbow Dash instantly bumped with her own.
The two mares started towards the clear night sky, illuminated by Luna's dearest moon and countless stars. Soon after, two booms were heard, one right after another. Two circles of light brightened the dark sky. One was prismatic with a colorful rainbow extending from the middle. The other was bright pink, giving birth to what looked like a golden streamer dragged across the sky.
THE END