5. How Many Friends
5. How Many Friends
Pinkie skipped out of her house. It was such a beautiful day. Twilight and Fluttershy had left to go do something, but that was okay. Her friends were so amazing; naturally they would be in high demand. Besides, Pinkie had things to do too; she had to say “hello” to every pony in Ponyville. It was just one of the many fun parts of being Pinkie Pie.
As she bounced down the street she saw her first new friends: a teal unicorn and an off-white earth pony.
“Hi, girls!”
“Oh, hello, Pinkie.” The unicorn didn’t sound very happy.
“What’s the matter? You don’t sound very happy. Did you skip breakfast or something?”
“No, it’s, uhm…”
The earth pony nudged her friend. “Lyra, what are you doing?” she whispered. “Stop talking to it.”
“Who’s ‘it?’” Pinkie glanced around. “You two sound sad. Is there something I can do to help? I was gonna say ‘hello’ to every pony in town, but you know I always have time to help my friends!”
Lyra looked to the side. “It’s nothing. We’re just late for…something.”
“Oh, okay! Have fun at your appointment, Lyra, and…uhm, what was your name again?”
But the ponies had already left. They were arguing about something; they must not have heard her.
Pinkie shrugged and continued skipping. Then she saw her next new friend. They weren’t having a good day either. Neither was her fourth friend. Or her fifth.
Then she saw one of her old friends.
“Hi, Rarity! What’re you up to?”
Rarity looked up from the bread she had been examining. “Oh, uhm, hello, Pinkie. Just buying some groceries.” She hastily handed some bits to the pony behind the counter and settled the loaf of bread into her bags. “How are you doing today?”
“Great!” Pinkie punctuated the word with an upward pronk. “I was saying hello to everypony in town, but none of them want to talk to me.”
Rarity started walking towards a different stall and Pinkie hopped after her.
“Do you know why everypony is so grumpy today? Did something happen?”
“Well, honestly I wouldn’t know.” Rarity kept her eyes on the road ahead. The streets were mostly empty this early in the day.
“Really?” Pinkie frowned. “But you’re so smart, you’ve gotta know something!”
“Sorry, Pinkie, but I really have to finish up my shopping.” Rarity ground to a halt as Pinkie appeared right in front of her face.
“You’re sure you don’t know what’s wrong? You’re acting just like everypony else.”
Rarity’s eyes flicked to the side. “Well, Pinkie, sometimes it’s hard to notice how something is different.”
“What do you mean?”
Rarity reluctantly made eye contact with Pinkie. “I mean, sometimes little changes can make ponies just as, er, ‘grumpy’ as big changes can.”
Pinkie scratched her head. “But wouldn’t the little ones be easier to fix?”
“Well, as I said, often the smaller things are harder to notice.”
Pinkie giggled. “But then why would they bother anypony at all? Shouldn’t they just ignore them?”
“Well, some ponies certainly can, but it’s not always that simple.”
Pinkie cocked her head. “Why not?”
“They build up, all those little things.” Rarity glanced at her saddlebags. “It’s like the stitches on clothing. If just one thread comes loose it’s often not a concern.” She looked back at Pinkie. “But if a dozen do then the entire piece feels different. It might be too loose in certain spots, or too tight in others, and you can’t tell exactly what is wrong, you just know that something is. And some ponies don’t react to that very well.”
Pinkie nodded. “Ohhhh, okay, I see what you mean. So you think a bunch of little things changed and that’s making everypony upset?”
Rarity looked away. “Perhaps.”
“Well, I’ll just have to keep an extra-careful, super-attentive eye on everything while I say hello to everypony! Maybe I’ll be able to help un-grumpify everyone!” Pinkie beamed. “Thanks a lot, Rarity!” She took a step in no particular direction. “I’ll let you get back to your shopping. Be sure to tell me if you notice any of those little differences!”
Pinkie bounced off, humming an unfamiliar tune. Another talk with somepony, another new friend with an important appointment. Pinkie shrugged and skipped off again, still humming.
She didn’t notice Rarity watching her. She didn’t notice Rarity sigh, wipe her eyes, and walk off, either.
Twilight stared at her book. It was still on the title page, same as it had been for the last hour. A glance at her parchment showed it was still completely blank, save her name scrawled unevenly across the top. She closed her eyes, and the test flashed through her mind again. Especially the end. Pinkie had gotten so excited when Twilight declared her the winner. So happy about…
Twilight’s eyes snapped open. She knew it wasn’t healthy to dwell on it; all the books said so. Despite all the assurances it wasn’t her fault, it just wouldn’t leave her mind. The simple fact was that they had no Pinkie Pie anymore, just some imposter who wanted to replace her. All the clone’s attempts to be Pinkie Pie only rubbed salt in the wound.
Twilight suddenly looked up, her eyes wide.
“That’s it,” she whispered to herself. It wasn’t a very good plan. Twilight knew that. Even as she said the words she felt ashamed of herself. That wouldn’t matter if it worked, though. Anything would be better than wallowing in her own failure like this.
Twilight grabbed her bag and stuffed a few select books in it, then set off for Sugarcube Corner. When she opened the library door, however, Rarity was standing in her way.
“Sorry to barge in on you like this, Twilight. I was just talking to…” Suddenly Rarity noticed Twilight’s bag. “Oh, sorry, were you heading somewhere?”
“Oh, nowhere important.”
Rarity sighed. “You’re a terrible liar, Twilight.”
“Really, it’s nothing. What did you need?”
“Oh, well, I know I’ve been trying to stay calm about it, and I know you haven’t gotten over it yet, but I just saw Pinkie downtown and had to talk to somepony.”
“Why? What happened?”
Rarity gave her the gist of it, then sighed loudly. “I know I shouldn’t expect anypony to just accept it. I certainly haven’t. But, well...” Rarity leaned closer to Twilight. “I think Pinkie may be making it worse.”
“Making what worse?”
“You know, adjusting to all of this. Accepting the...situation.”
Twilight smiled. “Don’t worry, Rarity. I was actually just about to go fix that very problem.”
Rarity frowned. “I do not like the sound of that.”
“Trust me, Rarity, it’ll work. I haven’t planned it all the way through yet, but I’m certain it will work.”
“Dare I ask the nature of this plan?”
Twilight’s smile widened. “I’m going to help her be Pinkie, of course.”
Rarity shook her head. “I should have known better than to try and confide in you. You’re taking this harder than any of us.”
“Of course I am! But it’s going to be okay now. Like I said, I have a plan.”
“Twilight, you cannot fix grief with plans!” Rarity leaned forward. “It simply doesn’t work that way.”
“Ha, that’s what you think!”
Rarity put a hoof on Twilight’s shoulder. “Twilight, please, listen. I know you’re not taking this well. Nopony is. Nopony can. Nopony should. But being reckless will only make things that much worse.”
“I’m not being reckless. I made flowcharts, I weighed every option, I planned out everything.” Twilight tapped her head, pushing Rarity’s hoof away in the process. “It’s allll up here. I just haven’t written them down yet. I’ll show you when I get back, then you’ll see that this will work. But right now I have to go.”
“Twilight, listen to me. I know whatever you’re planning seems like a good idea, but just slow down and think about it for a second. You can’t be impulsive about these sorts of things.”
“Get out of the way, Rarity.”
Twilight stepped towards the door, but Rarity planted a hoof in front of her.
“I am not moving until you listen to some sense.”
Twilight narrowed her eyes, and with a loud pop and a flash of purple of magic, she vanished.
Rarity didn’t have to guess where she had gone. She sighed loudly and fluffed her mane. “Well, perhaps it’s good I went to her, after all. Damage control is better when it’s timely.” Rarity started toward Sugarcube Corner at a brisk, though still ladylike, pace.
“I don’t get it, Goomi. I was friendly to everypony all morning, and none of them wanted to talk to me.”
The alligator slowly opened one eye, then closed it again. The rest of his body remained curled up and immobile.
Pinkie laughed. “Guess you’re right. I have the whole afternoon to keep trying!”
Pinkie grabbed one of her cupcakecookiebrowniecrumpets and popped it into her mouth. Mmm, chewy.
There was a knock at her door and Pinkie’s eyes lit up. In no time at all she had zipped over and opened it.
“Hi, Twilight! I’m so glad to see you!”
“Hi, Pinkie. May I come in?”
“Of course, of course! What’s up?”
“Well, I was thinking… After eating your…food, earlier, I think it might be good if I gave you some baking lessons!” Twilight was not good at faking cheer.
Pinkie giggled. “Oh, Twilight. I already know how to bake! I’m Pinkie Pie, remember? That’s what I do!”
Twilight knew Pinkie would say that. She had planned out all her answers just in case, and number eleven was already leaving her mouth before Pinkie had even finished. “But that’s just it, Pinkie! You could always be better at being…yourself.” She faltered on the last word, but Pinkie didn’t notice. “Why do you think I read so many books? It’s all so I can be a better Twilight.” Twilight really was a terrible liar.
Pinkie pondered for a moment. “Wellllllll…I guess that makes sense. But do you even know how to bake?”
“Of course. P—I mean, a friend of mine taught me how. She was one of the best.” Twilight trotted into the kitchen, pulling out the cookbooks she had brought.
Pinkie shrugged and bounced after her. No harm in humoring Twilight. Besides, baking with one of her best friends was sure to be lots of fun.
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Plot indeed.
...
Not in that sense, you perverts.
The Plot!!!
uh what cupckakes twilight? i dont like cupcakes but it seems it is going that way infact i cant think of it going any other way
oh and um maybe it is pinkie she could have been so hard on herself that she made herself into a not pinkie but really she is the real pinkie :P she has a imagination it could happen she could even force the names...
Drugs. Then she kidnaps the fake Pinkie.
JUST STOP BEING GIGANTIC DICKHEADS AND THINK FOR A SECOND PONIES.
I know prey/herd animals are mispositioned for the sort of "Outsiders bad" thing, but... Damn. just.
Nopony here is accepting?
Applebloom, who accepted a zebra, wont accept pinkie? Applejack?
I get that grieving is hard, but, if I saw pinkie, I would just give her help, not tell her she's not a pony and walk by,
just. stop being assholes goddamnit!
2247022
Uncanny Valley--Sometimes being slightly different is more disturbing than being concretely different.
I had to move the in-universe explanation to a later chapter, but perhaps I should've left it where it was...
Ooh ooh! I know what Twilight's gonna do! She's gonna kill and skin the Pinkie-clone and then she and the others can wear it and pretend to be her!
Did you know that I found this on EQD? Congratulations! And, you know, you definitely deserve it. I love this story and will continue to read it.
2247496 I doubt this is her plan, sadly I do think it will be something this crazy though.
2247059
I dunno, I'd certainly be like : Oook, this is so very wrongity wrong, but this pony clearly needs my support, even if she doesn't quite know why.
But im not a prey driven pony who went through pinkie induced hell..
Why dosn't she just bring the imposter back to the mirror pool, have her duplicat herself again, and then wait untill what Twilight assumes is the real Pinkie Pie and then go from there?
2247496
Cosplay.
I only sporadically read fanfics, and almost never drop any comments, but I was idly curious when I saw this linked on EQD and the brevity of the chapters made me give it a shot.
I've kinda wanted to see someone play off the possibility that the wrong Pinkie was allowed to stay in that episode, and I like your approach. It's relatively succinct, it maintains its own continuity well, and it keeps you engaged. I honestly wouldn't have a problem if it were longer but it doesn't necessarily need to be.
I'm curious to see what you do with the "fake" Pinkie (I also liked that you specified she was the first clone to spawn from the pool); I have a few thoughts that I would (and wouldn't) like to see, but I know an author always has their own agenda, so I won't sit and type anything up myself :P Good stuff so far, keep goin :)
2248199
Thanks, glad you liked it so far!
My agendas are never well-planned or set in stone, as my editors and story notes can attest. If someone makes some interesting comments they may find their way into my plan somehow. If nothing else I like reading other people interpretations of things.
You could always comment anyway, and then you'll be able to say "I knew it!" later
Sad
I will keep reading but oh gawd if I have figured out how this ends it will be too sad to keep...........
2248516
2247030
No, technically a "Back from whence you came" spell would send her back into her mother's womb.
So this whole mess will be fixed in approx. 10 - 20 years!
I'm intriqued about the idea of the other side of the pond and hope that it gets explored very soon.
I do have a number of crackpot theories for it, but I would rather just let it be and see what you have come up with.
2249101
Well, I do love listening to crackpot theories if you change your mind
Tragic and horrifying and hard not to read. I am hooked, and it makes me sad.
Did First Clone want to win the most because she had already experienced not having fun? She seemed to me to be the most self-aware of the clones, and thus the clone with the most empathy. This is the only bit I find less realistic.
Of course I could be saying that because I've already written a sadfic about First Clone, but...
2247955
Presumably she'll just generate clones of First Clone, and never actually get the original Pinkie Pie.
Sorry I'm a bit late, but congrats to making it on EQD. I really enjoy what you have so far. It's a really interesting way of exploring Pinkie's relationships with the other ponies even in her absence.
Congrats on getting eqd!
Is it bad I feel Twilight is in the right for acting like a bit of a dick? And that I want Twi to win?
hi hi
It may be hard for Twilight to accept the new Pinkie Pie, because of her bond with the old Pinkie Pie, but there's more to it than that. If Twilight accepts that the new Pinkie Pie is an individual in her own right, then all the other clones were potentially individuals as well. Its bad enough offing one person by mistake, how bad do you suppose it will be when she realizes she took out a whole group of people by design.
2247022
Uncanny Valley.
Look, it's not that she's different, it's far more ominous than that.
For all intents and purposes, Pinkie Pie is dead.
To top that off you now have this thing, taking pride in unintentionally murdering her, using Twilight as a weapon, walking around in Pinkie's skin, arguing for the right to be Pinkie.
And you saw what Ponyville was like when Fluttershy tried to be Pinkie Pie, let alone an Uncanny Valley murder-pod-pony.
For all intents and purposes everypony is encouraging Twilight to be friends with the animated corpse of the friend she killed.
2250448
2247819
I think that is part of the point. In the episode itself, before anyone got zapped away, nopony ever considered trying to befriend any of the clones. Helping them to become better was never an option, the only pony who tried teaching them anything was Pinkie Pie. (Discord was afforded more consideration in Keep Calm and Flutter On, than any of Pinkie Pie's clones got.)
2249744 Darn...
clever twist on an episode plot and well written to boot
congrats on a well deserved eqd!
2250214
Yea, just a bit.
Oh damn, it's reverse cupcakes time.
I've always liked stories that play with the identity conundrum. This Pinkie is biologically the same as the old one and even has the same personality. All she lacks are the memories, which makes her pretty much the equivalent of an amnesiac Pinkie Pie. What if the original's memories and skills could be given to this Pinkie Pie, though? If she's indistinguishable from the real Pinkie, is she the real Pinkie? Likewise, if she's indistinguishable from an amnesiac Pinkie, does that simply make her a real amnesiac Pinkie? I like the idea that both the First Clone and Pinkie could be considered the same as "the old Pinkie Pie," while being separate entities from each other, with one merely possessing the original's memory while the other doesn't. Something like the Flesh Doctor. It's also nice to see the What Measure is a Non Pony issue of the Cloning Blues being addressed. I mean, come on, Clones Are Ponies Too.
2251802
Here is the thing though, if the spell would not have sent Pinkie to the water (and it is clear that the possibility of this was on the mind of Twilight in the episode) then there would be no reason for the test in the first place as they could have just used the spell on every Pinkie and just waited for the spell to not work on the real Pinkie. It is clear that the characters in the show thought that they could accidentally send back the wrong Pinkie so this story line can work.
I figured it out. Twilight Sparkle can use the spell from Discord Returns episode to give Pinkie Pie's memories to fake Pinkie Pie. It would take some minor adjustments and then she will implement all of the memories onto her. Bam! Problem solved.
goes into kitchen
Hey pinkie does this smell like cloraform?
why yes it doe.....
*then twilight drags fake pinkie to the mirror pool and repeatedly throws her in, trying to get back the real pinkie
THE END
2251914
Don't forget the Guilt Complex creating Replacement Goldfish!
2252383 2246853
Twilight doesn't have a backup copy of Pinkie's memories laying about on her bookshelf. Or... does she?
Really, what this reminds me of is someone who's had a bad enough concussion that it causes damage. They're the "same" person, but everything's different...
"It's a genuine problem, you won't try To work it out at all you just pass it by, pass it by"
2247955 well that's assuming there are a finite number of clones within that pool of a pony. On the other hand, what if duplicating always comes up with a doppleganger, never making a previous duplicate?In that case, then what you suggest could easily result in making more duplicates. But I really like your idea, in fact I prefer it.
Actually, couldn't Twilight just use that memory spell on Pinkie and just fill in the blanks?
4633606 I always assumed that pony Time magic can only result in stable time loops. In fact, I even wrote an entire story based on that conceit.
4633787 I will refer you to this comment; 2253735
The way Twilight is acting... Reminds me of Maka from Soul Eater towards the end of season 1... When Soul got that scar from Crona, and Maka kept blaming herself...
I'm enjoying this story so far.
Pronk. Huh. I learned a new word today.
Yeah, this whole 'teaching Pinkie to be Pinkie' thing isn't going to end well. I have to wonder, though; certain things could be opposites, which makes perfect sense since she's a 'mirror' clone. Good baker becomes bad baker, and so on. I just have to wonder how deep that concept goes.
I do wish you'd stop saying 'Twilight was a bad liar' and actually show us some kind of body language or other indication of her being so. Just telling me she's a bad liar a half-dozen times isn't putting any images in my head.