Epilogue
Seeing the Pattern
Part 10: Epilogue
Pinkamina hauled the final box and hefted it into the bonfire. All the papers and scribbles and candid photographs started to curl and brown. It had been almost a month with no sign of the Pinkie Sense from either Surprise or herself. It was safe to say that, somehow, with their separation, the ability had left them. It depressed Pinkamina to know she could no longer foresee the deaths of others and try to prevent them. She wasn’t an especially friendly mare, but she had to admit toying with the universal design had been rather thrilling while it lasted.
Surprise had tried to throw her a ‘congratulations on getting your life back and moving in with your coltfriend’ party, but she’d dryly refused in favor of a rather normal cook-out at Sweet Apple Acres. Applejack and her family were hosting the get-together. Pinkamina could already see the alternate motif of examining her in a social setting. The pink mare wasn’t stupid. The scowl she wore on her face was a knowing one.
Poking the bonfire and standing at her side, Lickity Split smiled gently at her and chanced nuzzling her in public. She scowled at him more deeply, but allowed it. When nopony was looking her tail twitched and swatted his butt with mild affection, making him jump. She would need to get used to this new and public life. She hadn’t been in full control of herself since age… what… ten? Twelve? Before she’d gotten her cutie mark, that was for sure. The dark circles under her eyes had vanished, for full nights of sleep had made her into a much healthier mare.
“Pinkamina?” Lickity said with concern as she watched her life’s work curl up in black heat. “Are you gonna be okay, now that all this is officially over?” he nodded towards the boxes they’d been burning since the start of the party. With the Pinkie Sense gone there seemed to be little point to hanging on to it all. It would only remind her of the angry, sleepless nights.
“Yes. I’ll be fine.” Pinkamina said. There was a passing look between them, one of genuine affection. The pink mare was hard-pressed to know how to express herself facially. Having been all alone for so long, she’d not really needed to use her face for much. Fluttershy had mentioned that it made her look hawkish, since even when hawks were happy they seemed to be glaring at the world. A good analogy. “I’ll just need to find something new to do, is all. Surprise is the new Pinkie Pie, so she’s working at Sugar Cube Corner.” She gestured at the white mare who was chatting animatedly at one of the picnic tables with her friends.
“Well, if you still wanna save lives,” Lickity said gently, stoking the flames of the bonfire a bit. “Maybe go for the fire brigade? Or a medical job?” he listed a few things off.
“I’m not very fireproof. And I really don’t want to spend the next ten years getting a medical degree.” Pinkamina shook her head with a loud sigh. “I don’t know what I want right now, and its already been a month. I can’t just work in an ice cream parlor for the rest of my life.” She winced inwardly when she saw his troubled expression. “Well, what I meant was, it’s not my special talent. I really don’t have one, truth be told. Pinkie Pie was the party pony, and now surprise has almost the same mark anyway.” Pop! Just like that, the three balloons on her flank vanished. Lickity startled back, his mouth agape. Pinkamina turned to look, rather openly shocked.
“Oh my Celestia lookit that!” The Cutie Mark Crusaders had materialized out of the crowd of milling ponies. “Pinkamina’s got no cutie mark! She’s a blank flank like us!” Applebloom announced, and more than a few heads turned. The pink mare flushed hotly, scowling at the three fillies. “You wanna join the Cutie Mark Crusaders?!” she was bouncing up and down excitedly. “We look for our cutie marks ev’r single day!”
She ignored the bouncing fillies entirely, sighing in a tired way until they gave up following her across the barbecue’s grounds. “Why did that take a month to happen?” Pinkamina pondered, lifting her back leg a little. “Did I just have to acknowledge it?” Nopony could seem to figure it out, and Lickity Split pawed at it a little. She kicked him firmly and he yelped, smiling apologetically. Troubled, Pinkamina roamed to get another dandelion burger and take her place at the head of one of the picnic tables.
“Hey Pinkamina.” Said Twilight Sparkle, trying to be friendly.
“Hey.” She said, lifting her burger before deciding she needed salt and ketchup. “How is Surprise doing?”
“Just fine. She’s basically Pinkie Pie in another body. Just a different color.” Twilight chuckled good-naturedly. They both knew it was true. Surprise had taken to her new body with all the gusto one would expect from their sugar-wired friend. “So tell me, what’re you going to do now? Will you stay in Ponyville?” she said in a low voice, curious.
“I’m going to stay with Lickity Split.” Pinkamina said around her burger. Both mares turned and watched the stallion prancing about with the three fillies. They’d roped him into being a playmate for the time being. Cantering around the barn and through the milling ponies, they were helping to light the lanterns hanging off of the barn as the dusk drew deeper. It was the end of summer, the night would grow chilly if they didn’t stoke the bonfire and light a few lights. “He’s been… kind to me, through all of this.” The pink mare said carefully. Twilight Sparkle watched Lickity play with the fillies, laughing when one of them decided to climb on his back and be mare of the mountain. This of course brought the other two to tackle him down to get at her. Big Mac watched from afar, quite happy that for once he was not the mountain.
“You and Lickity Split, huh?” Twilight said with a smirk, watching the fillies conquer the poor stallion and climb all over him trying to get at each other. Pinkamina nodded slowly. “I’m happy for you.” She said, smiling genuinely for her. Pinkamina bit into her dandelion burger, watching the crowd of ponies chatting, laughing, eating, and having a good time in her honor. It was a good feeling, she supposed, to fully become a part of the community rather than skulk in shadow. It would just take some getting used to. While she was eating, though, she paused. Something felt funny. Her brow furrowed and her eyes darted around. Something wasn’t right. Twilight saw her scowling and looked around as well. “What? What is it?” A strange, electric feeling was buzzing in the back of Pinkamina’s mind. It worked its way slowly down her spine, making her shudder a little. “Pinkamina?” Twilight’s voice seemed to be fading into the background while the pink mare squinted around the party.
The buzzing feeling traveled down her back, slowly to her tail until TWITCHY-TWITCHY-TWITCH! Pinkamina rose quickly from her seat with a panicked expression, snatching Twilight Sparkle’s burger right off of her plate. “Sorry.” She quickly turned and baseball-pitched it over the crowd! No one seemed to notice the flying food. Over where Lickity Split was playing with the Cutie Mark Crusaders, an old barn lantern’s rope snapped. The lantern fell, spilling its oil out onto the four of them. They looked up just in time to see the lantern tumble through the air, the bright flame threatening within. Something struck it in midair, making it spin off course and away from them. Scootaloo screamed! It fell with an explosion of glass and oil, whooshing briefly into flame. Thankfully, it hadn't hit any of them. Big Macintosh rushed onto the scene, stamping it out with his massive hooves before the whole barn went up in flame. Lickity and the three fillies froze on the spot, fearful. That could’ve fallen right onto them and set them on fire!
“Pinkamina, how did you—?!” Twilight was silenced and Pinkamina quickly sat and shoved her hoof into the lavender mare’s mouth. The two of them exchanged a serious, long gaze. The crowd was rushing over to make sure the four ponies were okay, but Pinkamina and Twilight stayed at their seats, their eyes locked.
“I didn’t. You didn’t see anything.” said Pinkamina slowly. “The wind must’ve knocked it loose. It was a lucky thing it didn’t land on them.” She said in a low growl, programming the story that Twilight would tell to anyone who asked her. The librarian nodded slowly, her eyes still wide with shock. Pinkamina ripped her dandelion burger in half and put the bigger half she hadn’t bitten off of onto Twilight’s plate to conceal the evidence. Hunching low so it looked like she’d never risen from her seat, the pink mare slowly looked over her shoulder to check on the four of them. They were being wiped down of the oil and the three fillies coddled. Everything would be okay, nothing bad happened, there there. Lickity Split looked a little rattled but otherwise okay. “I’m… going to get some air.” Pinkamina rose slowly from her seat, stuffing the last of her burger into her mouth. Twilight nodded slowly, watching her go. Pinkamina left the barn unnoticed, for everyone was making sure Lickity and the fillies were okay. The door was pressed slowly shut.
“We have you now, Pinkamina.” A haughty voice greeted her from the darkness beyond the edges of the bonfire party. “You’ve done exactly what we told you not to.”
Pinkamina stood stalwart against the massive shadow. “Keep your voice down, Princess. This is a happy day.” She walked, side by side with darkness. The earth pony and the alicorn regarded one another cautiously, both of them very dangerous for very different reasons. They walked along a silent path amongst the orchards.
“Dost thou mean to continue preventing deaths, despite our warnings to the contrary?” Princess Luna growled at her as they went past apple tree after apple tree. “Dost thou not fear my wrath anymore?”
“Well, technically your threat has already been carried out.” Pinkamina said in a very business-like way. “I disobeyed you. You killed me. Pinkie Pie was my sacrificial lamb. You cannot punish anypony for the same crime twice.”
“Pinkie Pie was punished for lying, and even that turned out to be false. Thou must not twist our words.” Luna said, careful to keep her voice down and not panic the local populace. Pinkamina read her like a book. If she stayed calm and collected, so would the alicorn. Don’t show fear, don’t show shock, she would be fine. “I promised to execute you if you prevented another death. By fate’s design, that stallion or one of those fillies was meant to die by the flames.”
“Which one?” Pinkamina asked.
“We are not sure. The threads of fate grow more complex when more than one pony is involved. All we know is that one of them would’ve burned to death.” The Princess spoke of the agonizing death as though it were tomorrow’s lunch. How jaded she was. Pinkamina frowned, waiting for her to continue. “We have come to deliver one final warning, pink one.” The goddess stopped and turned to her. The full moon silhouetted them against the night, casting long shadows. If one were to look at the ground, one would think that Pinkamina stood just as tall as the princess herself. “If thou prevent-est any more deaths, for any reason, something terrible wilst happen to thou. And we do not mean the wrath of ourselves.” She raised a powerful hoof in warning. “Your time as a preventer of death is over. Move on and embrace thy stallion. Raise a family. Get a normal profession. Live a normal life.” There was a long silence, Pinkamina refused to speak. They scowled at each other. The dark alicorn took wing before long, leaving her alone with her thoughts.
A familiar itch began to work on Pinkamina’s mind. Just out of the corner of her eye, she saw something. Turning her head, she stared at it. There was a figure standing far away, among the apple orchard’s trees. She could barely make him out, but it was definitely a stallion. His eyes glowed red in the moonlight, and a thick cloak hung over his body. The hood all but concealed his face, but she could see even from the distance he had no lips. Pinkamina’s eyes widened in horror when she saw the skeletal face turn towards the moonlight to watch the princess of the night fly away. Death? In pony form? He turned to look at her again with his burning, otherworldly gaze. There was a hatred in his gaze, a frustrated and burning hatred. The pink mare glanced at the alicorn in the sky as she hit the horizon and headed towards Canterlot. When she turned her head back to him the stallion was gone, replaced only by a dissipating wisp of black mist. It had been a warning. A brief and terrible warning, to see death incarnate.
Her time as a preventer of death was over, the Princess had said. “No Princess. It’s not over.” She whispered stubbornly. Pinkamina’s curtain-like mane hung low over her face for a few moments as her head dipped towards the ground. There was a sparkle of magic on her dull pink flank. A white skull appeared on her rump, crossed by a black scythe. “After all… it’s my special talent.” Her horrific smile returned and she turned her gaze to the moon, grinning impishly. She didn’t need her papers, pictures, or research anymore. The Pinkie Sense was hers, and now she could understand it. Her mind slowly expanded, grasping the metaphysical meanings of all the Pinkie Sense had to offer. It was beautiful. “I’ve only just begun.”
THE END
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So...time for a party?
Aw yea! Let's scroll through this horseapple! Time to comment like buck!
This is a sure
on pinkamena, you've garnered my interest 
Wait... incomplete?!?!
I'll read later
Oh YAY
this was the first fic from Aegis I read, and still one of my all time favs! I really hope he makes a 2nd sequel! 
OOOH new cover art?
Okay something wierd happened and I suddenly (apparently) Havn't read all this...
That makes way too much fucking SENSE
thanks for bringing this back.. i really wish for another sequel
this is the best thing ive ever read!
Let's see if we can't get this to the feature box again.
1301786
There is. Its called>>>>>>Seeing the pattern: Death Awaits. Or something like that.
huh, i've never seen this story of yours before. I'm gonna read this later
Wow very cool. It is awesome to see a Pinkimina story where she is a good guy. It is also nice that she has found somebody to make her happy. Now if surprise could only be so lucky...well maybe she is with Rainbow around j/k maybe?
Luna is sort of ridicules but that is alright as it keeps the story moving and the rest is so much fun that I don't care.
This character could certainly fill more stories so I hope you continue to write sequels to this story and the like.
SPOILERS
Hmm. Interesting. I assume Surprise's (or Pinkie Pie's if you prefer) feelings for Lickety Split went out of the window after she thought he had raped her, since that is not addressed at all anymore. But will there be a follow up story here?
I think the biggest question remaining is, why is it so bad those deaths are prevented? That is never explained, really, nor do there seem to be any repercussions so far. There are other questions of course. Why are there so many deaths in such a short time frame anyway? If preventing these deaths is such a problem, why would it be somepony's special talent? Two out of the four ponies that almost got killed in that last incident were almost killed before... Was that fate or karma or whatever trying to set things right, or was one of the other two the target this time? Will what Pinkamena does have any consequences for Lickety Split or someone else?
Will there be more or does it end here?
A very nice story, but luna is a bit of a drama queen. RAirity is said here position as biggest on is taken
1300513 Bad Twist joke is bad.
1302787
, but it got the point across didn't it? 
A Pinkamena that isn't blatantly evil and psychotic? You have my attention already.
Very very cool. Loved the story. Sensible, funny, well-written, with a helping of more "realism" than most other fics. Thoroughly enjoyable. Definitely going to check out that sequel.
Please keep writing, I'll keep reading!
Aegis Shield is featured. TWICE. You sir, are a GOD
What happened to your account?
edit: Read the blog post.
I'll read this. Interesting take on Pinkamena.
1302459
denver.mylittlefacewhen.com/media/f/img/mlfw2982-xYAkr.png
I likes this!
This pinkamena is perfect.
That said...
You just came back to ponyvile after a long month away for a psychiatry conference, you are minding your own business, on your way to a cafe for some relaxation.
Then you see her. Pinkie Pie with her mane flat and a grinning skull for a cutie mark.
And that's the story of how Mind Helper the earth pony left for Neighponn and never came back to ponyville.
1302596
Searched, but couldn't find it. Anypony know if there is a sequel? I really want to see what happens next!
1303151 It was deleted a bit ago along with this story. It'll probably be restored in time, so for now you'll have to wait a bit longer.
That said, I just love this Pinkamina to bits. <3
1303151
Seeing the Pattern 2: Death Take You by Aegis Shield
_____________________
^^^ That's it right there.
I really enjoyed this story, IT MADE SO MUCH YES.
lovin it
Please make a sequel to this, with the way you ended it, it could work. This is officially joining my Book of Awsome Fics :)
Twilight Sparkle Agrees
This is awesome. I think I like this story better than any of your previous ones.
Please please PLEASE find the sequel somewhere! I absolutely loved this!
1302751>>1302685>>1303151>>1303413>>1303469
I have the sequel, Seeing the Pattern 2: Death Take You, lined up already. It should be posted in its entirety before midnight tonight.
1303585
Yeah, I only realised after commenting this was a re-upload. Heh. But still, good to know.
1303585
..... You sir, are now in my top ten Favorite Writers
But know that you tell me this im not going to get any sleep tonight thanks
But I CANT WAIT.
first time i've seen something like this with pinkamena
Once again, sir. You have outdone yourself. A work of art.
SEQUAL! NOOOOAAAAA!!!!!!!
Wait... didn't I already read this some time ago?
Wow! That was an awesome and intense fic. Nice to see Pinkamena depicted as non-evil for a change and its always nice to see Surprise pop up. Great work!
So Pinkamina is preventing deaths or Pinkie Pie is preventing herself from causing deaths?
Ha take that Luna Pinkamina's talent is preventing death you can't touch her, unless you're friends with Satan which I doubt you are.
Did you rewrite this, Aegis? I know you had this story up before.
Aegis Shield, new story, Pinkamina, preventing deaths....This is summing up to a whole wack of unexplained spontaneuousness! Is that even a word?
Adding to read later, expect another comment from me...when I ever I get to reading it!
Pinkamina- For the win!
I loved this too much.TOO MUCH!
This is really interesting. I'm going to spend some time and read this later.
1303585
Does that mean Celestia can die in Tartarus?
(You can tell by now that I jest?)
Pinkamina is preventing deaths. Why? I don't know. She clearly has major issues with Luna's Aspect of Death. So far, the reason hasn't been revealed.
1303585
That's i just said.
Although not about Midnite part.
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Cute Pinkamina pics. I like her "Don't give a fuck" look on her face.