Ch. 6
Immutable Mistakes
or: After-Party Clean Up
BY: cleverpun
Princess Luna and Princess Celestia slowly walked out of the library doors, stopping a few feet away from where Pinkie Pie was waiting. Pinkie immediately looked at them, unsure whether to feel relief or trepidation.
“Well, we have purged your mental residue from everypony in town. Except….” Luna tried and failed to find a way to break the news gently.
“Except what? Except what!?”
“We were not able to fully remove your thoughts and memories from Twilight Sparkle’s mind; they have become too interwoven with her own.”
“But... why? She didn’t have them for much longer than anypony else did.”
“This is true, but whereas the townsponies had your mind forced upon them, Twilight, in some ways, has accepted it as a part of herself.”
“So... she’ll never be the way she was again?”
“We removed many memories and thoughts from her mind, but no, she will always carry elements of your personality from now on. The Twilight you knew is present, but she will not be the same as she was ever again.”
“This is all my fault...” Pinkie's tears swelled even larger than they already had.
“In some way, it is her own fault. The way she clung to those memories... I cannot fully explain it.”
“I can. Pinkamena's outlook on life is, in its own way, very addicting... Even I wasn’t able to resist it fully. I wanted Twilight to discover the magic of friendship, but this is the last scenario I envisioned...”
“This is hardly your fault, sister...”
“If only it were that easy to believe….” Celestia turned back to Pinkie Pie. “Now Pinkamena, as for your punishment...”
“I know what I did was wrong, Princess. Whatever punishment you choose, I know I’ll deserve it.”
“I know you did not mean for this to happen; Twilight using a spell she could not handle led her to this, but you are directly responsible for what happened to the rest of Ponyville, regardless of your efforts to undo your actions. For that reason, Princess Luna and I are going to seal your body from all forms of magic, so that this can never happen again. All magic, good or bad, will be unable to touch you, and you will lose the connection to the earth that all Earth Ponies share.”
“*SNIFF* I understand.”
“We have also made certain that all memories of this incident remain in your fellow townsponies. Winning back their trust and friendship after this event will be no small task, and I fear their scorn is a burden you must bear for a long time.”
Pinkie had begun crying too hard to answer, and merely let out a small nod.
“Are you sure that is a fitting punishment, sister? It seems rather light in comparison with all the trouble this has caused, and with all the damage it might have done….”
“Believe me, sister; after seeing into Pinkamena’s mind it is clear this mess is not solely her fault. Besides, given both her desire for and dependence on the companionship of others, this event will haunt her for some time.”
Princess Luna gave a small nod, and turned to perform the sealing ritual with her sister. The two Princesses touched their horns together, sparks flying from their horns as their powers mixed together. Magical energy began to swirl around the two of them, and then a beam of gold and blue light shot from where their horns met towards Pinkie’s body.
Pinkie could feel their magic invading her body. Saturating it. Every inch of her felt like it was under pressure. But right before it became uncomfortable, the pressure stopped building, and Pinkie knew it was over, even before the light faded.
“We take our leave, but know that we will be watching your actions closely, Pinkamena Diane Pie, lest these events foreshadow a greater problem in the future.”
The two princesses took flight, and as they flew off, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Applejack emerged from the library’s door. When they saw Pinkie, each of them became uncharacteristically stoic.
“Is Twilight OK?”
The four ponies exchanged glances.
“She’s...”
“Chipper?” AJ volunteered.
“She is fine physically, and she seems to be taking things well emotionally, but… there is a clear difference in her personality.”
“But Luna and Celestia prolly already told ya that.”
Pinkie tried to clear her tears, but more quickly replaced them.
Rarity took a few steps toward Pinkie. She extended a hoof towards the sobbing pony’s shoulder, but hesitated at the last second. After a few seconds of visible indecision, she gave Pinkie a few light taps and then quickly withdrew her hoof.
“Look Pinkie, I know you didn't mean for things to happen this way, and the four of us want you to know we will always be your friends, through the good and the bad, but… we're going to need some time apart from each other to... from you, to process all this properly.”
“It’s not you, it’s us.”
“We know you’re still the Pinkie Pie we know ‘n’ love….”
“But that’s also what scares us.” Fluttershy quickly turned away when Pinkie tried to look at her.
“I… I underst—” Pinkie’s sentence was cut off as she tried, and failed to hold back more tears.
“I’m sorry, Pinkie, but after what’s happened, who wouldn’t need some time to reflect?”
“I… I understand…. I do…. I regret what I did, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. I just wish I could forget it.”
“Just because everypony remembers it doesn’t mean they won’t get over it eventually, sugarcube.”
“Even if they do, I don’t know if I can forgive myself for it….” Pinkie broke down again, and AJ managed to put a hoof on her shoulder and keep it there.
“Don’t talk like that, Pinkie. You just… lost your head fer a bit. You wised up and fixed it eventually, that hasta count fer somethin’.”
“*SNIFF* Really?”
“Now would I lie to you?”
“Mebbe she should just go see Twilight.”
“Yes, she has to eventually.”
“Right, Twilight….” Pinkie stood up, managed to wipe off her face, and trotted towards the library.
As the door swung closed, the other four walked away.
“Do you think she’ll be alright?”
“She’ll forgive herself eventually, it’s the rest of the town I would be worried about.”
“Eh, I dunno what everypony is all worked up over, being Pinkie wasn’t that bad!”
“Funny, Rainbow, you didn’t seem to feel that way when Celestia was chasing you through town….”
“Yeah, well… whatever!”
Pinkie walked cautiously up to Twilight’s room, and found her on her bed reading a book.
Well, at least that hasn’t changed.
“Uh… Hi Twilight.”
“Oh, hi Pinkie! Boy am I super-duper glad to see you!”
“Y-you are?”
“Of course, we’re baking cupcakes together tomorrow, remember?”
Pinkie couldn’t help herself, and fell to the ground in a puddle of tears.
“I’m so so sorry, Twilight! This is all my fault! If I had just helped you in that party store instead of helping myself, none of this would’ve happened and you’d still be your old self!”
“Hey hey, don’t cry, Pinkie.” Twilight walked over and sat next to her. Once she had settled Pinkie reached over and clung on to her.
“I just... I just hate being alone, Twilight. It's insufferable being with myself, being rejected, being alone. And when you walked into that store, and told me what you had done to yourself, I just couldn’t help it. Someone just like me to spend all my time with... it was too good to be true! And I let my own selfish fantasies stop me from helping you. And now you’ll never be the same again.”
As Pinkie sobbed into Twilight’s lap, the purple pony began to slowly stroke her mane. A bit tricky because of how poofy it was, but the gesture was clear.
“No, Pinkie, it’s my fault. I should never have asked you to help me with that spell. The truth is, ever since the first day I met you I've been jealous of you. All that carefree energy, everyone liking you, loving you; you were everything I wasn’t, and I thought, maybe, just maybe, if I could see into your mind, maybe some of that gregarious power would stay with me when I left. I may not be just me anymore, but I can't think of anypony else I'd want to be on top of that.”
“*Sniff* really?”
“Really really, with a cherry on top.”
“So we’re still friends forever?”
“Mental mixup or not, forever and ever.”
Pinkie dried her eyes, and scooted forward until she was pressed against Twilight’s chest. The hug made Pinkie feel a thousand times better, but even as she listened to Twilight’s heartbeat, felt her breathing, there was one thing nagging at the back of her mind. When she had walked in, and Twilight looked up from her book, her eyes were still blue.
That ending . . .
encrypted-tbn2.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSrAuJ3l9XMNhI1JQApWlUuIJ_7Walq_H2bNPvNvc4ijH3pm5BZzQ
1111796
Assuming it's over yet...
1111806 I meant the ending to the chapter. If he ended it here the amount of would be so high, he'd have to make a sequel out of fear that he would be killed otherwise.
1111806
1111819
That's the end; I like endings that leave some room for interpretation, and I don't think there's much left that can be explored with this idea (though naturally I could be wrong).
1111819
1111881
It's better than trying to return everything to the status quo, which would have been unsatisfying. I do wonder if it was a little... abrupt. Felt like at least another chapter could have been squeezed out of it in the meantime.
Oh well! A good story can't be criticised too harshly. The idea of Pinkie Pie taking over the world is just scary enough to be worth it. Got to say, the best part of the entire thing was Rarity's little mental fight. She just... and it just... well. It was good. Freaky good.
For a moment I though the conversation with Pinkie would spark a reaction that would return Twilight to normal, then again its probably better this open ending then a returning everything to normal one.
This...cdn.chud.com/a/aa/aa669c35_reverse-1233928590_citizen20kane20clapping.gif ...was so damn beautiful...i1193.photobucket.com/albums/aa347/CieruHive/Tumblr%20GIFs/feels.gif ...and also a super cool ending....you get a full FIVE mustaches...use them well, for they are a great source of mighty power...
Something about this ending just rubs me the wrong way. At least make an epilogue to see how everyone is adjusting to the new Twilight. I honestly want to see more of that personality.
Still though it was a really good story.
1111915
Abrupt? Possibly. I didn't want a flood of details or exposition, but perhaps I went too far in the other direction? A chapter showing how twinkie and celestia took over the town might be an option for the rewrite.
And don't be silly! If I was perfect there'd be no need to read the comments But thanks, that was one of my favorite parts to write.
1112643
I intentionally left it open to interpretation; how different is twilight after all this? Does Pinkie ever win back the trust of her friends? Or the town? Does everypony accept the new twilight? Or does she only serve to remind them of Pinkie's instability?
I suppose I might have been too vague, but as a reader I value my own reaction to events, and my own interpretation of the aftermath, so I tried to include that quality in this story.
1112731 It just feels like it's the beginning of the story like you can do a little bit more with it, the ending just seems weird like Twilight died and came back with Blue eyes.
It's like how much of Pinkie does Twilight have in her.
I can see ways of going with this story but i sure as hell don't have the writing power to do it.
Everyone, I have a solution:
Epilogue!
Ok, I see two major problems here:
Disabling all magic, including her innate earthpony abilities, will effectively destroy Pinkie Pie. The premise of the show is "friendship is magic", cutting her magic will take her out of the loop, as we see in the way her friends keep their distance from her. And that will not get better.
The missing element of laughter is merely an afterthought, compared to that.
The other one is responsability:
Twilight had Pinkie's way of thinking already in her mind, deep enough to be unable to control it, when Pinkie pushed her over the edge. But Pinkie had neither the knowledge about magic nor the time to think or realize the scope of this. And she confesses to feelings of anxiety and loneliness.
I wonder what kind of punishment her royal studentness got. Or did she get away with a stern talking to? Again?
1113268
If inspiration strikes it's not out of the question, but prolly unlikely
1113496
Losing her connection to the earth and animals may or may not hamper her other skills; depending on your interpretation of earth pony magic, a case could be made for either notion. It will definitely make her a bit of a black sheep in pony society, and that's why it's a punishment. It's also the surest way (from Celestia's view) to prevent a repeat of this whole incident.
As Celestia tells Pinkie, it's not a question of how much she is responsible; the fact she is responsible at all demands she be punished regardless of whether Twinkie or Pinkie had a bigger share of the responsibility. Also, Celestia actually remembers the events of the first three chapters from Pinkie's view since she received a copy of her memories- this could have affected her view of events.
It's left to the reader to decide whether Twilight received a similar punishment, a harsher one, none at all, or if having her mind irrevocably altered due to her own pride was punishment enough. Any of those options would be in character for Celestia.
I liked the twist there at the end, but my interpretation of the ending takes that twist a bit further:
Twilight hit Pinkie with magic when she converted Rarity back in chapter 3. Pinkie's thoughts had been unusually logical, lucid, and worry...y ever since then. And, not that Pinkie is incapable of being contrite, but she seemed to be uncharacteristically fearful of Luna and Celestia (that's more the domain of the lock-you-up-in-a-dungeon-in-the-magical-kindergarten-that-she-banished-you-to pony). In this last chapter, Twinkie is clearly acting significantly more Pinkiey than "Pinkie" is.
Also, we never did see Pinkie's eyes...
Twinkie and Pilight?
1121400
An intriguing interpretation! Certainly not what I had in mind, but considering how unstable Twinkie is, and given that she doesn't perform the spell perfectly the first time, it's definitely a valid idea.
I come from the land of TF2R. Time to read!
1113496>>1114312
Yeah, I figure that having to be Pinkie is Twilight's punishment here.
1248979
Discord is the spirit of chaos and disharmony, he has a negative influence on everything and enjoys it quite a bit.
Pinkie is a bearer of an element of harmony and IMO just as much a victim to circumstances as anyone else.
It's kind of like comparing Stalin and Alfred Nobel: "I don't care what you did with your money or power, you are both evil because your actions killed thousands!" Hardly a balanced judgement.
Ohh...
Tatewaki2000 here. Now that I'm lookin' at your story, I think I see the problem.
The format is ugly. Like, really really ugly.
Just make it look more like your fanfiction dot net format, and all shall be goooooddddddd.
STILL I WUB YOUR STORY!~~!!!
I'm really not sure how I feel about this. I like the story, definitely, but I don't know whether to be happy that Twilight got what she technically wanted in the end, or a bit horrified that she couldn't be turned back to normal. While she fought it for a bit, she didn't fight nearly as hard as Rarity or Celestia did, so maybe she wanted it in a way? That's what she seems to imply in the last chapter.
Of course, the point is a bit moot if Celestia just chose to punish "Twinkie" by leaving her mind alone, rather than actually being unable to turn her back to normal. That's definitely a possibility.
Actually, I'm surprised that Celestia didn't punish Pinkie in an even harsher way, given the fact that she only has Pinkie's memories up until Rarity was turned, since Pinkie herself wasn't involved in turning Celestia so they probably used the memories in their own heads to turn her. And Pinkie didn't show any sign of regret until after Rarity.
Anyway, I am so emotionally confused by this story.
1517998
Life is full of gray areas, and I tried to make this story reflect that.
I tried to make it ambiguous at the end whether Pinkie's lingering mental patterns were affecting Twilight's interpretation of the situation and her explanation to Pinkie.
What isn't ambiguous, however, is the way all the other characters react to it. Everypony but Twilight treats it as a fairly horrible occurrence, and I think this may be what causes a lot of indecision for most people. Do you identify with Twilight, despite the fact her mind has been altered? Do you identify with everypony else, and condemn Pinkie? Do you identify with Pinkie, who doesn't know exactly how to react but is clearly depressed as she is faced with the aftermath? Or do you identify with the rest of the main 6 and the Princesses, who are disapointed, but know they have to accept the situation now that it has happened and can't be fixed? There is a lot of potential ways to take the story and its events, and I think that aspect of it is rather hit-or-miss for a lot of people
Glad you liked it, sorry if it was too vague.
In Chapter 6, I recommend adding "X said" to the dialogue so we know who is saying what.
Man, it hurts to cry when you have a sty on your eye! Rhyming! But, seriously this made me cry and I have a sty so this really hurts. Nice story.
Well I just got done reading this for the third time and I'm not saying do it but it would rock if you did one like this for all the mane 6
I have cried, and now I need to undo the damage to the nerdling with chaotic force
(Lightning and screaming)
It is done, but now to remove that seal... pinkie is no longer alone, she has the warp to look into and now she must forgive herself
By all magic, does that include the Elements/Rainbow Power? Because if yes, then Celestia and Luna just created another problem...