> Comatose > by MemoryLane > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Twilight Sparkle > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Twilight Sparkle was the first one to find out the terrible news. She was working on a special new type or teleportation spell in her home, when Spike almost scared her when he unintentionally walked up behind her. "I got this letter Twilight. I think it's from the Princess." Was all Spike had to say, as he handed her the note. Twilight took it and raised an eyebrow at it. She wasn't expecting anything from Princess Celestia today. She wondered what could have possibly been the reason for this. She unwrapped the neat bow from around the letter with her magic and opened it. She only read the first few words: Dear Twilight Sparkle, There has been an accident, it's about Pinkie Pie...she's currently at the Ponyville hospital, although- Twilight stopped reading, she wasn't sure if she wanted to actually read the rest. Her heart had stopped. She bolted out the door, headed to the hospital, letting the unread note float gently to the floor. What could have possibly have happened to Pinkie... Her eyes started to water a little bit at the thought of Pinkie getting hurt. Twilight's pessimism had started to cloud her mind, and she couldn't seem to get the bad thoughts out of her head. She was sure Pinkie Pie was fine. She's always fine, and happy and laughing. She couldn't imagine... The Ponyville hospital wasn't very far from her house, and it had only taken her a few minutes to get there. Although it seemed like an eternity. She rushed in the door, panting and wheezing heavily. She stopped in front of the receptionist, who was currently taking a phone call. She noticed Twilight's eagerness and quickly ended her call before asking: "Hello there, what can I do for you?" Twilight took a second to catch her breathe before responding. She really shouldn't have ran here that fast. She knew Pinkie was probably fine anyways. Well, better safe than sorry... "I'm here to see...Pinkie Pie?" Twilight said in-between wheezes. The receptionist took out a clipboard and looked at it for a brief moment, scanning for Pinkie's information. She let out an audible gasp, before looking at Twilight compassionately. "Room 117. Second floor. There is an elevator down the hall to the left." The receptionist said to her. Twilight thanked her and walked down the hallway to the elevator. She scanned the hospital interior: White. Almost everything was white. The walls, the doors, even the floor. The only things that weren't white were the randomly scattered paintings of very serene things that she passed by every now and then, such as flowers and sunsets. Doctors must do that for a reason, maybe to calm down nervous or frightened ponies and foals Twilight deduced. It also seemed to calm her down as well, although she wasn't sure if it was for the same reasons. She hopped into the elevator, instantly pressing the button for the second floor. She was the only pony inside the elevator at the time. Calming elevator music played from the speaker above her. Hm, Ponyville Philharmonic? Twilight guessed. She wasn't sure. The elevator beeped as it quickly reached the second floor, the doors in front of her opening up, she promptly walked out and surveyed her surroundings, searching for room number 117. The one nearest her right was 128. She turned and walked down the opposite way down the hall. 120...119...118... 117 Twilight stood there outside of Pinkie's hospital door, somewhat afraid to walk in. She was afraid of what she might see. She had no idea what even put her in the hospital in the first place, but she was still nervous. She took a deep breathe before walking in. What she saw made her heart drop. Pinkie Pie was lying there on the hospital bed unmoving. Her mane was surprisingly flat, and seaweed-like. Twilight had only seen her hair like that only once before, and the circumstances for that weren't as good either. Her hooves were placed at her sides, outside the covers that was placed over the lower portion of her body. There was a heart monitor that continuously beeped like a metronome. Twilight also saw the large bandage over her forehead and chest. "Pinkie?" Twilight asked her. Her only response was silence. Twilight hadn't really expected an answer in the first place. Twilight walked over to the broken mare in the hospital bed. Tears forming in her eyes. What happened to you... Was all she could think to herself. She stood at the side of Pinkie Pie's bed. "Pinkie..." She felt her body breaking down. Like she just wanted to cry on the ground below her. But she didn't. She knew she would be alright...sort of. No! I can't think like that! She argued with herself. Trying to keep her pessimistic side at bay. "What happened to you..." Twilight continued to question the unconscious mare, never receiving any sort of response. Memories of Pinkie flooded her head. What would life be like without Pinkie? She couldn't imagine it. Life wouldn't be the same without Pinkie there being...well, Pinkie. The fluffy pink pony would pop out at literally the most random times. Twilight was surprised when she found herself smiling as she thought about Pinkie. The things she would say, they always made her smile. Well, Pinkie knew how to make everyone smile. She was a great friend. Twilight tried to remember the last party the pink pony threw, although she couldn't recall. The wasn't good at keeping up with Pinkie's party antics. She wished that she had had a chance to party with her before. She'd been invited a few times, but she'd never actually danced and partied with Pinkie Pie before. It made Twilight feel like crying again, she missed a memory that she could have had with the pony. She couldn't believe herself. She were indeed good friends, but Twilight still wasn't the 'partying' type. So she would refuse party invitations often, giving Pinkie lame excuses such as "I have to organize the library." or "I'm in the middle of reading this new book that I really want to finish, maybe next time." But there never was a next time. That realization made tears start falling down Twilight's face. And now, she might be gone for good... Twilight took Pinkie's hoof and started to rub it. "Pinkie. I'm so sorry..." Twilight wanted to let out all the words that she was thinking, but the words were finding it difficult to leave her mouth. "I don't know if you can hear me, but I'm so sorry..." Twilight's tears made a soft Droop noise as they hit the ground, which was the only other noise in the room except for the hypnotizing sound of the heart monitor.The sun began to peer out from behind the clouds, letting a nice ray of sunshine into the room, hitting Twilight and Pinkie. Twilight felt like the sun was trying to send her a message from Celestia. She couldn't really make it out, but she felt as if it was trying to say "It's not your fault." "I know I'm not the one that caused this upon her, but...in some way, I feel like a terrible friend..." Twilight sobbed, covering her face with her forearm. The suns rays disappeared behind another cloud, leaving the room dark, and very dreary. "What happened to you Pinkie..." No response, just barely audible breathing. Twilight felt like hitting her head into a wall. She knew a thing or two about comas, how they can take from hours, to years to snap out of. She couldn't stand to have to see Pinkie in here for a year. Maybe longer. Everyone around Ponyville would miss her. She was friends with every pony after all. What about Pound and Pumpkin Cake? They practically grew up with Pinkie Pie, how will they react...Poor kids. Twilight assumed that Mr. and Mrs. Cake would be just as upset as the kids. Twilight imagined the kids, crying because they want to play with Pinkie Pie. But she never came. They never saw her again. Leaving them to wonder as they grew up, 'What happened to their favorite foal sitter? Twilight hoped she didn't have to tell the family that Pinkie was in the hospital in the first place. She didn't feel like breaking the bad news to anyone at all. "Pinkie, I'm so sorry, about not coming to your parties. If I ever seemed like a...jerk..." Twilight started to beat up on herself. "Please...just hang in there." More tears started to fall on the ground, and also wetting Pinkie's sheets unintentionally. Twilight thought about the last time they even spoke with Pinkie. ~*~*~ It was yesterday. She thinks. She had stopped over her house. Actually, she just appeared out of nowhere. Twilight had thought for a moment that she had came from the ceiling. "Hi Twilight!" Pinkie said in that high and cheery voice of hers. Twilight jumped a few feet in the air. She was still working on that teleportation spell. Pinkie had frightened her right as she was getting ready to test it out, and accidentally teleported herself high into the air. She landed on the floor with an "OOMPH". "Oops! Sorry!" She apologized, that big grin of hers still on her face. "Ouch...it's fine, don't worry about it." Twilight said, this was the moment when she wondered how the hay Pinkie had even gotten into her library in the first place. "Yay! So whatcha doin'?" Pinkie said quickly. She was still as hyper as always. Twilight wondered what exactly gave her all of her energy. Helping out at Sugarcube Corner maybe? "I'm trying to work on a new teleportation spell! And so far it's not going too good..." Twilight responded, looking at the ground disappointedly. Pinkie appeared at her immediate side and tried to cheer her up. "Don't worry! You'll get it eventually! Just like the time I tried to make muffins! I'm not used to making muffins, usually cupcakes, but we ran out of ingredients yesterday and I was really sad, so I tried to make muffins instead. Have you ever noticed how much harder it is to do than making cupcakes? I didn't, but now I sure do! Oh but when they were all done, boy! Were they yummy! I ate them all in just a few minutes by myself! I might have to make muffins later! What would happen if your tried to mix a cupcake and a muffin together?" Pinkie suddenly paused her onslaught of words and pondered this for a second, leaving the two in an awkward silence. "Oh, silly me! That's probably just be a regular cupcake! Except it wouldn't be a cupcake but a cuppin maybe? Or a mufficake? Ooooh those both sound delicious..." Twilight couldn't help but smile and roll her eyes. "Okay Pinkie, can we save this for later? I need to finish working on this spell." Twilight said, picking up her instruction book that had fallen to the floor when Pinkie had scared her just a moment ago. "Oh sure! I'm going to stop by Applejack's and Rarity's to see what they are up to! See ya later alligator!" Pinkie said, before seeming to disappear into thin air. "She's getting crazier by the minute" Twilight chuckled to herself. ~*~*~ When Twilight snapped out of her daydream, she was smiling again. The tears that were falling down her face had stopped. She got onto her feet and stared at Pinkie Pie, who was still lying there, and not showing any signs of improvement. "Pinkie, please, don't give up. I know you're stronger than this. You can make it through this, I know you can." Twilight stood there for what seemed like a few good minutes before she looked at the clock. It was almost seven o'clock. She had spent a whole two hours there, although she wasn't surprised. She decided to head home, visiting hours were almost over anyways, and she needed to let Pinkie Pie rest also. Twilight walked out of the room, turning around and looking back at her one last time a moment before she walked into the hallway, just in case this is the last time she would actually see her again. Twilight reminded herself for the final time not to think like that. She had hope for Pinkie. She knew she would make it. Her Pinkie Senses told her so. > Rarity > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rarity sang a little song to herself as she worked on a new dress of hers. One of her newer creations, and one of her best pieces so far. According to her, anyways. It was starting to get late, and her stomach had started to growl softly. She wore her favorite red glasses that she liked to wear while she worked, and clutched a needle in her mouth. She used her magic to move things gingerly around the room, such as thread, fabric, and even accessories. The look on her face was of pure concentration, never taking her eyes off of her prize. "Almost...done..." She murmured to herself, not blinking. The dress was so close to being finished. A drip of sweat fell down her forehead and planted itself on her cheek. "HI SIS!" "EEK!" Rarity shouted, dropping all the things that she was levitating with her magic, making a large CRASH as it hit the ground. She frustratedly turned back to the familiar voice which startled her, and wasn't surprised at all. Sweetie Belle stood there, an apologetic look on her face after seeing her big sister drop everything on the ground. "Sorry..." She said. Rarity picked up everything that she had dropped, setting them on nearby desks and tables, out of Sweetie Belle's vicinity. The filly was pretty accident prone, after all. "Oh deary it's fine. Don't worry about it." Rarity said, changing her attitude to a much more kind and polite one. "What do you need?" "Oh, I just wanted to see if you wouldn't mind if I spent the night at Applebloom's tonight. It's her birthday and she's having a slumber party!" Sweetie Belle asked. A large, bright smile appeared on her face in anticipation, like she already knew Rarity would say yes. "I didn't know today was her birthday, how come I didn't hear anything about this from Applejack?" Rarity asked her. Usually Applejack tells her everything, being the Element of Honesty and all. Rarity found it a little odd. "It's pretty last minute if you ask me." Sweetie Belle said simply. Rarity pondered if it would be alright, but it really didn't matter. She couldn't say no to Sweetie. "Sure, don't forget your things." Sweetie Belle rolled her eyes as she walked away to go grab her needed items. "Don't forget your toothbrush! Oh, and hairbrush!" Rarity reminded her from the other room. "I won't!" Sweetie Belle said, her voice getting farther and farther away. As soon as Rarity knew Sweetie Belle was gone, she picked up the needed materials for her dress and began to get to work again. The lamp next to her shone directly at the spot she needed to sew, Just these two...last...fabrics... "Rarity?" "What?!" Rarity said, irritatingly and loudly. She turned around to see Twilight Sparkle behind her, while also once again dropping everything she was holding. She quickly backpedaled. "Oh! Twilight! I'm so sorry, I thought you were...someone else..." Rarity said, thinking of Sweetie Belle. "It's fine..." Twilight Sparkle responded, obviously saddened. Rarity picked up on this within seconds of her speaking. "Is everything alright dear?" Rarity asked, her usual formal and elegant voice showing through. "Um...not really...I think you should stop by the hospital sometime soon..." Twilight said, tears forming in her eyes. Rarity didn't know exactly what to say. "What ever for?" She asked. She wasn't sure if she actually wanted to know the answer. "It's about Pinkie...um, just stop by there whenever you get the chance." Twilight said meekly. She couldn't bring herself to go into detail about it. She didn't want to be the bearer of bad news to Rarity. So she decided to let her find out on her own. Rarity could only nod. Twilight walked back out the door, her head hanging low in thought, and a slight depression. Rarity just stood there, not saying or thinking about anything. After a minute or two, she walked back inside of her house. She walked back over to her dress, hoping to finish it as soon as she could. She picked up her needle and thread carefully, the needle shook as her blue magical aura surrounded it. She couldn't stay focused. How is she supposed to stay focused after that? Pinkie Pie's obviously hurt, or still hurting, for that matter. Rarity dropped the needle and thread on the table loudly, and trotted right out the door with a sigh. Well, I guess I'll go see what's up. She probably just got a stomachache again from eating to many cupcakes... She thought. That has actually happened more than a few time, each time Pinkie ended up absolutely fine after a few hours. It was roughly 7:20, and the sun was starting to go down. Rarity wasn't really fond of walking at night, even though Ponyville was a pretty crime free community. No crimes are ever committed there. Every since she's lived there, in actuality. But she was still pretty nervous. She didn't want to trip on something she didn't see, and end up getting hurt, or even dirty. Rarity's boutique is about 10 minutes away from the hospital if she walked. She was quite happy about that, just in case this wasn't anything big, it wouldn't take her long to get back to her dress. She could at least be generous enough to at least visit Pinkie. For some reason, it only took Rarity five minutes to get to the hospital. She noticed from the outside that most of the light's were off, except a select few that shone brightly. She felt the uneasiness of the hospital reach her, as she slowly walked inside of the building, almost being blinded by the bright, white colors all around the room. "Hello! Welcome to Ponyville Hospital!" Said a light green colored receptionist behind the desk. Rarity walked up to her, chills making their way up her spine. "I heard that Pinkie Pie was here?" Rarity asked her. The receptionists face immediately turned into a frown, which filled Rarity full of worry. "Second floor, room 117..." She responded, not needing to check her clipboard this time. Rarity thanked her kindly, before making her way down the hallway. The brightness of the area was blinding to Rarity. She wasn't used to all these bright light's all at once. She really wished that they'd changed the colors in here, maybe to a magenta here and there, or even a baby blue... It did not take her long to find the elevator at all, and it didn't take her long to find room 117 either, about 45 seconds, actually. Instead of taking her time, she waltz into the room, a confused look on her face. "Pinkie? Pinkie Pi-" She stopped at what she saw on the hospital bed. Pinkie was lying there, breathing quietly, and unmoving. Rarity felt immediate guilt after realizing how serious this was, and that she didn't come sooner. She had so many questions to ask, but no answers. She looked around for any kind of doctor. Was there EVER anyone at Pinkie's side helping her today? There was a clipboard on the bulletin board next to the hospital bed, Rarity walked over to it, and looked at it intently. It looked pretty official, and immediately sparked her interest. She carefully read it: Name: Pinkamena Diane Pie Condition: Semi-stable. Date entered into hospital: April 7th Cause of injury and current state: Blunt force trauma induced coma. Time of awakening(If necessary): Unknown U-Unknown!? What was that supposed to mean? That Pinkie Pie might never wake up? At this realization, she turned to Pinkie Pie's broken state, a tear forming in her eye. Rarity blinked it away. Be strong...Rarity...be strong... She thought, only bringing more tears in her eyes. She couldn't even remember the last time she even talked to Pinkie, she was ashamed when she realized that it was four days ago(The dress of hers kept her held up in her boutique the whole time). How could she not realize something was up? Pinkie always pops up in her house, uninvited or not, you know something's weird when she ISN'T popping up places. Rarity stared pitifully at the pink pony in the hospital bed, she grabbed a chair with her magic and set it right next to the hospital bed. She took a seat and started to run her hoof through Pinkie's flat hair gently. "It's going to be okay darling..." She whispered to her serenely. Beep...Beep...Beep... Rarity could only sigh sadly, the thought of the pain Pinkie Pie must be in right now is unbearable for her. Pinkie Pie never feels pain, it seems. If someone says something mean to her, she just brushed it off with a smile. Never feeling pain. Almost as if she was invincible, at times. It was a trait everyone, including Rarity, wished that they had. Her smile enough was one to melt hearts, what if she never got to see it again? Rarity gave into the temptation, letting a tear fall down her cheek. "It's going to be..." Rarity choked up a little bit, but quickly regained her senses. "...alright. Trust me." She whispered once again. She heard hoof steps from far down the hallway and, not thinking, and out of sheer habit, wiped away her tears. The steps got closer, and fast, as if some pony was running down the halls, Rarity almost jumped as a figure appeared in the doorway. "Pinkie?!" Rainbow Dash said as she barged into the almost empty room. "Rainbow Dash? How did you know..?" Rarity was wondering if Twilight told Rainbow Dash too. "Twilight told me something was up with Pinkie." She said, not taking her eyes off of Pinkie Pie, in a complete state of shock. "W-what happened?!" Rainbow Dash asked her desperately. "I looked at the report, but it didn't say too much..." Rarity couldn't bring herself to tell her what the cause was. Rainbow Dash looked at Pinkie face to face. In most cases, Rainbow Dash didn't like to show sadness very much because it's "Not cool". But in cases like this, Rainbow Dash can't really control herself. She just started bawling, tears streaming down her face. It almost surprised Rarity how much she was crying, actually. Rarity walked over to Rainbow Dash and squeezed her tenderly, giving her a comforting hug. "There there, it'll be alright." Repeating what she said to Pinkie Pie to Rainbow. She hugged her until she calmed down. It took longer than Rarity had anticipated, about five minutes, but still longer than she thought. "W...why..." Rainbow Dash said in-between sobs. Pinkie Pie was the most gentle soul, well one of the most at least. She couldn't think of a single time when she behaved crudely since they've been friends. Pinkie was her best friend after all, pulling pranks, making cupcakes...she just couldn't believe it.Why Pinkie? Why!? Was all she could think, asking herself the question over and over in her head. Rarity didn't know how to answer the question. So she just squeezed Rainbow tighter. Rainbow had a giant burden on her mind. One that was plaguing her mind with guilt and sorrow. She wanted to say it out loud, but couldn't. Rainbow Dash stopped sobbing and wiped her eyes, breaking the hug. "What was the last thing you said to her?" Rainbow asked out of nowhere. "I beg your pardon?" Rarity hoped the rainbow mare didn't ask what she just thought she asked. "What was the last thing you told Pinkie Pie...before..." Rainbow looked at Pinkie before turning back to Rarity. "...this." Rarity didn't want to share, she really didn't want to. For the fear that she would start bawling herself. But she decided if it would make Rainbow feel better, then it's for the best. "...Alright, I'll tell you...the last time I spoke to Pinkie was about four days ago..." ~*~*~ Rarity was humming a song to herself, walking through Ponyville with a giant bag full of materials, supplies and various goodies. She just came back from the supply store to gather items for her dress. She was quite excited, and proud. Rarity felt a slight chill, which made her shiver slightly. It was a nice day, so she didn't understand why she received the shiver. Well, only for a few moments she was left wondering when a pink pony was standing in her way. "Hi Rarity!" She shouted. Still hyper as ever, even though no one knew the exact reason why. "Oh, hello Pinkie." Rarity said back to her, thinking about how to put her next words kindly. "Would you like to hang out today? Maybe make some cupcakes? Oh! Or even do something else fun! How about go on a hike? Or have a tea party! Ooooh! What's in the bag?" Pinkie asked as she finally noticed Rarity's large bag. "Ahem, I am working on a dress for a costumer, and I needed to get some supplies. Why do you ask?" Rarity asked, although she already knew the reason. "Oh nothing, just curious." Pinkie responded. "Ah, well I cannot hang out tonight, actually, for the next few nights actually. I need to work on this dress. It's a very important order and it needs to be finished very soon. So I really need to work on it. But maybe later?" Rarity said, being as polite as possibly as to not hurt her feelings. "Oh, well okay then!" Pinkie said, her usual bubbly smile appearing on her face. "I'll talk to you some other time alright?" Rarity said, who was starting to walk back down the street. She wasn't trying to avoid Pinkie, but she was merely in a hurry. "Okie Dokie Lokie!" Pinkie said as she literally bounced away, merrily. Her pink, fluffy mane bouncing with her every...well bounce. Rarity continued to walk down the street, not paying much attention to the song that Pinkie happened to be singing as she left. And if that mockingbird don't sing, Momma's gonna buy you a diamond ring... Rarity found it weird that she'd be singing that song to herself. Frankly, she didn't think Pinkie even knew that the song was about. But that's not her problem. She made her way, with a happy grin, down to her boutique. ~*~*~ "So...That's the last time you talked to her?" Rainbow Dash asked, who was listening very intently. "Yes it was..." Rarity said, choking back tears as she was telling the story. "Heh..." Rainbow Dash Chuckled.. Rarity gave her friend a mean look. "What's so funny?" Rarity asked her, hoping that she wasn't laughing at the story she had just told. "You're lucky..." Rainbow Dash uttered, looking at the ground. Rarity raised an eyebrow this time. "You don't have to live with the pain, do you even know what the last thing I said to her was?" Rarity was conflicted on what the respond to that with. "You're last meeting with Pinkie Pie was fine. But mine wasn't..." Rainbow Dash said, even more tears filled up in her eyes again. "Rainbow Dash...it's okay, you can tell me." Rarity said, comforting the pegasus by putting a hoof around her back. She sighed. "Well...yesterday..." ~*~*~ Rainbow Dash sat in her home, reading a book. She was on the last chapter of the brand new issue of the Daring Do book that Twilight had had from her library. She was sweating with anticipation as she read the story out loud. "Daring Do climbed onto of the boulder, and using the power of the Emerald Braclet, broke it in two! Releasing all the innocent townsfolk that was left inside! 'Thank you so much' said one orange and white little filly. But then! The little filly grew and grew and grew to the size of a building, was he....a dragon in disguise? How!?. 'Thank you Daring Do! For releasing me from my stone encasement! I am Embyr! The new ruler of this world! Mwahaha!" Rainbow Dash stopped to take a breathe before continuing to read.This story's really getting to me! "Just then, the dragon-" "Oh Rainbow Daaaash~" Pinkie shouted from outside her house. Ugh... Rainbow groaned internally. She got up from her chair and opened the door, and saw a grinning ball of pink on the ground. "Yes? Pinkie Pie" "Hi! Would you like to-" "I can't!" Rainbow Dash said, a little too early and eagerly. For once, Pinkie Pie's ears flattened and a sad look appears on her face. "Aw, why not?" Pinkie Pie asked her childishly. "I'm...just busy right now." Rainbow Dash didn't want to tell her that she'd rather read a book than hang out with her right now, but looking at where in the story she stopped, she REALLY wanted to finish it. "Please? No one else can play with me today..." Pinkie Pie whined. "Ugh, Pinkie I said no!" Rainbow Dash was not in the mood to put up with Pinkie at the moment. Plus, she hated it when she whined. "But-" "Not now!" Rainbow Dash shouted back down to her as she walked back inside of her house, irritated. Pinkie dejectedly walked away from Rainbow Dash's home, looking at the ground. Rainbow Dash walked about 2 steps away before realizing what she had just done. She ran back and opened her door and called after Pinkie. "Pinkie! Wait, I'm sorry, come back!" She shouted, but Pinkie was already gone. ~*~*~ Rarity stood there, awestruck. So this is the last thing you said to her before this... Rarity's heart was breaking. Rainbow Dash and Pinkie were almost best friends, so this was already tough for her, and now having to live with the fact that she shouted at her angrily during their last conversation together. No. Not last. We don't know that yet. Rarity tried to think positively for a second, but could for only that second. Rainbow dash wiped her eyes once again, before heading for the door. "W-where are you possibly going?" Rarity asked her. Rainbow turned back to her and simply stared at her, before saying: "Somewhere..." Rarity noticed how bloodshot Rainbow's eyes were due to her crying, and that she was also trembling as she said those last few words. She looked back at Pinkie Pie, who was still lying there, unmoving, unknowing as to what was going on. When she was sure that Rainbow Dash was gone, and wasn't coming back, she took a seat on the chair once again, and started running her hoof through her friend's mane again, and sang her a lullaby, crying as she did so. "Hush little baby, don't say a word... Momma's gonna buy you a mockingbird... And if that Mockingbird don't sing... Then Momma's gonna buy you a diamond ring..." > Applejack > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Next Day... "HUMPH" Applejack said as she rammed her hind legs into a tree, carefully knocking the apples that have fallen into pre-placed buckets. She wiped the sweat from her forehead. "Whew, finally, the last of it..." She said tiredly as she scooped up the buckets onto her back. It was very early in the morning for most ponies, but no, not for Applejack. This is pretty normal for her, she had already eaten breakfast, took a shower, and even did some chores around the house first before actually coming outside to buck the apples, and it's not even 8 o'clock yet. Applejack was proud of that, but not too proud. The sun peered out from behind the barn, it blinded her, and caused her to squint just to see where she was going. This was one of the ONLY things she hates about the morning. She tossed the two buckets of apples with the rest inside of the barn. "Whew! Finally!" she said once again, taking a look at her work, which was tons upon tons of apple baskets. She walked out of the barn, the sun seeming to shine into her green eyes no matter where she looked. She started to get annoyed and headed inside, where Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Applebloom were eating breakfast. "Heya girls!" Applejack said as she walked in. "Hi!" "Yo." "Hey sis!" "What're ya'll up to?" Applejack already knew the answer, but she asked for the sake of having a conversation starter. "Eating some cereal!" Scootaloo said, unnecessarily loud as she took a large bite of her had cereal. She wished that they girls weren't so loud sometimes. "Ah see...Sweetie Belle, how's your sister doin'?" She asked, she decided that starting conversations is one of the things that she needs to work on from now on... "She's good, I think." Sweetie Belle responded, shrugging. "What do ya mean by that?" Applejack asked her. "I dunno, Twilight came over for a few minutes talking about something, about Pinkie. I don't know much since I wasn't really trying to eavesdrop." Applejack nodded. Sweetie Belle's a pretty respectful little filly most of the time, much like her sister. Applebloom...on the other hoof, is another story... "Oh, well alright then, well ah'll just let y'all fillies have fun." Applejack said as she walked out of the room, somewhat awkwardly. "Bye!" "See ya." "Okay." Applejack trotted back up the stairs of her home and into her room, being careful not to disturb Granny Smith and Big Mac, who were still sound asleep. Applejack didn't know how much longer, since the girls were now awake, but she decided to let them sleep while they can. She lied down on her bed, her eyes getting increasingly heavier. She hadn't been getting much sleep over the last few nights, for whatever reason. She still has that to figure out. She's sure it wasn't her diet, or her work schedule, because neither of them have changed over the last few weeks. But even still, she was forced to get up this early, and for once she was regretting it. She let her head hit the pillow, and felt almost immediate bliss. There is NO way ahm moving from this spot...She thought. Her eyes drifted closed and and her body relaxed. "Ah'll just sleep for..." She yawned loudly. "a few more minutes..." She fell asleep almost instantaneously after that. ***** "Um...Applejack?" Applejack groaned, before turning over in her bed. "5 more minutes momma..." "Applejack? Wake up please..." "Nnnghh..." Was all Applejacks response. "Um, okay, I'll just stop by later then...nice talking to you Applejack..." The voice said as it left her room. Applejack smiled happily. She lied there for a good 30 seconds before the realization finally hit her: There's no way she going back asleep. She hopped out of her bed as she remembered the fact that there was a voice in her room a few seconds ago. She stood up and looked out her window to see a dejected pegasus pony walking down the road to Ponyville. "Fluttershy! Wait!" She shouted. Fluttershy turned around to see the orange pony staring back down at her from her window. "Oh! Hi Applejack!" Fluttershy said in no more than a whisper. "I'll be down there in a second!" Applejack said as she sprinted down the stairs, she felt bad about completely ignoring her, and didn't want to keep her waiting any longer than she already was. She passed the fillies, who were watching cartoons on television. Applejack didn't really have time to say anything as she ran out the door. She huffed as she finally approached Fluttershy, who was a little concerned. "Are you alright Applejack?" She asked. "Ya, ahm fine. Sorry about earlier." She apologized. Fluttershy just smiled at her. "Don't worry about it Applejack, I know you were probably tired or something from apple bucking. I shouldn't have tried to disturb you." She said, blaming it on herself. Applejack ignored her accusation. "So what did ya need?" "I was just wondering if you've seen every pony. I can't seem to find them anywhere..." Fluttershy said, as meek and timid as ever. Applejack raised a single eyebrow. "What do ya mean by 'every pony'?" She questioned. "I mean Rainbow Dash, Twilight and Rarity. And Pinkie as well, I haven't seen her in about three days now..." Fluttershy said, shrugging as she looked down. Her pink mane falling in front of her left eye, as it always did. Now that she mentions it, Applejack hasn't seem any of them in a while either. She's not so much surprised by the fact that Rarity and Twilight are gone, as they like to hole themselves in their homes, whether it be for work or study. Now Rainbow Dash, that's quite odd. Pinkie especially, she usually pops out of no where. It worries her a little bit. "Hm, that's odd. Have you checked their houses?" Applejack asked her, Fluttershy gave her a certain look. "Um, yes I did. No one's home." She responded. "Oh, well, aim not sure what to tell you. If you'd like, I'm not doing anything...would you mind if ah helped you search?" Applejack asked her. It was true though, she had finished all of her work earlier this morning, so she didn't really have anything to do. Also, she really didn't want to be stuck hanging around her sister and friends all day. She can just leave that to Big Mac. "Oh, of course I don't mind!" Fluttershy said quietly, not taking her eyes off the ground. Applejack couldn't believe that they have been friends for all this time, but she's still shy towards her. Some ponies never change. She tried to think that without sounding judgmental, but it very much seemed like it, and Applejack frowned at herself. "What's wrong?" Fluttershy asked. "Oh, nothing, just thinking." She responded before she headed down the trail, leaving Sweet Apple Acres, and headed towards Ponyville. Fluttershy silently lagged behind her. ***** The day itself was warm and pleasant, and the birds chirped happily. The sun was no longer an issue for Applejack, as the morning was now the afternoon. Applejack looked around the streets, searching for any of their four friends. All she saw were other ponies mingling around, laughing and having a good time as they walked to their destination. Applejack eventually stopped. "Where in tanarnation could they be?" Applejack said, after a good while of looking. She looked over at Fluttershy, who just shrugged. Applejack was starting to get a little worried. "Let's go check by their homes again, maybe they just left when ya got there er something. Maybe they're all meeting up somewheres. Applejack said. A look of understanding sprung upon Fluttershy's face as she nodded in agreement. The first stop was Twilight's library. They knocked on the door, waiting for either Spike, or Twilight to answer the door. There was a ruckus inside, many BANGS and CRASHES before the door was finally opened. A small purple dragon stood at the doorstep. "Yes?" Spike said, a book in his arm. Applejack couldn't help but read the cover: "Science and Biology for Dummies." Hm, seems like Spike and Twilight aren't that different after all... "Hi there Spike. Ah was wondering if you'd seen Twilight anywhere, or even Rarity and the others, we can't seem to find 'em anywhere." Applejack explained. Spike looked over her shoulder and smiled. "Well, Fluttershy's right behind you." Spike burst into laughter, obviously thinking he was a riot. He looked at Applejack's unamused stare and quickly regained his composure. "But in all seriousness, I haven't seen her since this morning. All she said was that she and some others were headed into Ponyville for a while, then she left." Spike answered. Applejack sighed sadly. "We were just walking through there, we didn't see her at all..." Fluttershy responded. Finally peeking out from behind Applejack. "Well, I don't know, maybe you just got to look a little harder," Applejack and Fluttershy looked at each other with worry. "Now if you'll excuse me, I was in the middle of this here book." Spike held up his book, making Applejack laugh.Spike, your inner Twilight is showing... "Well thanks, Spike. See ya later." Applejack said, turning away from him. "Bye!" Fluttershy whispered, but Spike had already closed the door behind him. Applejack couldn't help but sigh. Where would they go, and why wouldn't they tell Fluttershy and I? "Come on, let's go back inta Ponyville. Maybe Spike's right, maybe we just didn't see 'em." Applejack retorted as she walked back into town. "Actually, Applejack, I'm kind of hungry. I really need something to eat, is it okay if I catch up with you a little later?" Fluttershy asked her. Applejack listened carefully, and heard Fluttershy's stomach growling loudly, which made her chuckle. Fluttershy's stomach is louder than her actual voice! "Sure hun. I'll see ya later okay?" Applejack said as Fluttershy began to walk toward her cottage. "Oh yes!" She responded, before disappearing from sight down the path. Applejack had two choices, to go home, or to continue looking for her friends. Well, it was weird that they disappeared, and that they didn't even say where they were going. She decided that it's better to keep looking. Applejack suddenly felt more lonely than ever now. ***** As time went on, Applejack's patience grew thin, and her worry grew immensely. This wasn't like any of the other girls at all. Maybe something came up out of the blue? Applejack didn't know. She just wanted to give up looking, in all honesty. She figured they'd all show up eventually, she hoped. She couldn't help but think bad thoughts. What if everyone ditched her? Left her behind? Did she do anything to make them upset to the point that they wouldn't want to be friends with her anymore? Ugh, she felt herself turning into Twilight sometimes. She continued to walk down the Ponyville streets, but it didn't take to long for her to see a rainbow mane stand out from the crowd. She noticed it was heading right toward her. "Rainbow Dash!" Applejack yelled toward her. Rainbow jerked her head up, noticed who it was, and then dipped her head again and sighed. "Hey AJ..." Rainbow said as she unavoidably walked up to Fluttershy and Applejack, who gave her a stern look. "Where were you and the others today? Ah can't seem to find Twilight, Rarity, or Pinkie anywhere..." Rainbow Dash trembled as soon as the word "Pinkie" escaped from her mouth. Applejack didn't understand. "Rainbow...what's wrong?" Applejack had asked. "Uh, nothing. Nothing at all. I'm fine, just...don't worry about it..." Rainbow Dash said, as she made her way past her, almost shoving her aside. Before Applejack could say anything, Rainbow Dash sped off down the street, ignoring her friends' calls for her to come back. I wonder what her deal is... "Rainbow? Come back!" A voice called out near them, Applejack turned, it was Twilight, who had a worried expression on her face. Next to her was Rarity, who seems to be much more composed than Twilight was at this time. "Girls? Where in the sam heck have y'all been? I've been searching high and low for you girls!" Applejack said as she ran up to them eagerly. Finally! It only took all day... "Oh, hello Applejack. And sorry, we were...taking care of a few things..." Rarity said, looking at Twilight. It was obvious that Twilight nor Rarity has told her. Applejack raised an eyebrow. "Why did Rainbow run off like that...?" Applejack asked them sincerely. She was genuinely confused as of right now, and would really like her answers to finally be answered. Twilight sighed painfully. She looked over at Rarity and nodded, almost indicating to her 'Do it'. "Well, I'll tell you, just...come with us alright?" Twilight said, before turning around, heading toward the hospital. Applejack followed behind her, while Rarity stayed right at her side. "Um, where's Pinkie?" Applejack unknowingly asked her. Twilight could only hold back a tear. "Please....just follow me..." Was all she said. Her voice was full of sorrow, and sadness. It make Applejack's heart feel...painful. Applejack didn't know what to say. She observed the direction where they were headed, and put a few pieces together in her head. Oh please...tell me were not going to the hospital...she thought. Her mind was filled with worry now. Did...did something bad happen? ***** "Room 120...119...118...117. Here we go..." Twilight said, letting Rarity walk into the room. Before Applejack took a step inside, Twilight took her aside and spoke to her in the hallway. "So just know, that there's no telling if she's coming out of this, and that it's okay if you're upset. We all are..." Applejack heart dropped so far down that it almost made her lose her balance. W-What is the supposed to mean!? She ran into the room, and saw the same hideous sight as the other have seen. A mangled and torn Pinkie Pie, in a hospital bed. "W...What..." Applejack couldn't even get out the words. "What happened to 'er?" Applejack asked, she tried to be strong, and wasn't much for crying at all. But she didn't know... Rarity finally got the courage to tell her straight up what had happened. "Well, it says here on this clipboard..." She levitated the clipboard over to both Applejacks view, she read it carefully: "B-Blunt Force Trauma induced Coma!?" Applejack staggered back, she couldn't believe this. How...why...what!? Applejack started to put more pieces together. "So ya mean...she was assaulted!? Or attacked!?" Anger was starting to rise deep inside of Applejack now, and she didn't like it. "No one knows darling. We'll have to ask her when she wakes up." Rarity simply stated. Applejack took another look at the clipboard and frowned. "But right here...it says 'Time of awakening: Unknown', what does that mean" Applejack asked, not really wanting to know the answer. "Well...to put it bluntly, there's not telling when, or even if she'll wake up..." Rarity said. Applejack looked over at Pinkie Pie, and back to everyone else. Applejack didn't know what to think, or what to say. She just stood there, dumbstruck. When the feelings and thoughts finally returned to her, she fell to the ground in a heaping mess of tears. "Applejack!" Rarity shouted, helping Applejack back up to her feet. Applejack wanted nothing more but to lie on the ground and cry. As much as she didn't want to do it in front of her friends... "Applejack, I think Rainbow would want me to ask you this..." Rarity got ready to ask. That reminded Applejack about what happened earlier, with Rainbow Dash. She seemed really upset, and looked like she was in a big hurry to get away. Now she knew the reason. She finally managed to get the feeling back in her throat. "What would that be?" "What was the last thing you said to her...?" Twilight finished for Rarity. They both wanted to know. Applejack blinked away a few tears as she tried to remember the last thing she said to Pinkie Pie. It took her a moment to think of it. "W-Why do ya wanna know that?" Applejack first responded. "Rainbow Dash seemed really upset earlier, and she felt really bad due to the last things she said to her. She asked me the exact same question. Would you care to answer it for us, sweetie?" Rarity said, her voice turning ever more gentle and calm. Applejack choked back some more tears. "Fine...ya'll really wanna know...it was three days ago..." ~*~*~ Applejack sat there under a tree, taking a break from a long day of apple bucking. She groaned as she tried to get into a more comfortable position. "Ugh...just a little bit more. Then I'm done..." She said to herself, tipped her hat over her eyes, enjoying the very little moment she had to rest. She cherished simple times like these. Her legs were very refined to doing a large amount of apple bucking each day, but today, her legs were really giving her trouble. They had been throbbing and painfully hurting her all day. She had been pondering if maybe she had slept weird, although she sincerely doubted that. Pinkie Pie poked her head out of the top of the tree that Applejack was standing under, but she lost her grip, and fell down into Applejack's lap. Landing with a thud. "Mother of Celestia!" Applejack shouted in astonishment, before glaring at Pinkie Pie angrily. Pinkie only gave her an embarrassed look. "Oopsie, my bad." She responded, finally stepping off of Applejack, who had gotten up from her comfy seat under the tree. She began to dust herself off with her hat. "Don't worry 'bout it sugar cube. What's up?" Applejack asked, her mood genuinely changing for the better. "Nothing much, no one can really play today...let me guess, you're busy?" Pinkie asked her sadly. Applejack responded truthfully, with a simple nod. "Ah, I see. Well that's fine then! We can party later!" Pinkie said, a large grin appearing on her face. It make Applejack laugh. "Well that's what ah like ta hear!" Applejack responded. "Hey, um...I never had a chance to tell everyone else this, since they've been so busy lately..." Pinkie Pie started, Applejack was all ears. "But my Pinkie Senses have been...unnerving me lately." Applejack bore a confused look on her face. "What do ya mean?" "I just have a bad feeling about something, and I want you to remember one thing, alright?" Pinkie said. Applejack leaned in a little closer. "LIFE IS A PARTY!" She cheered, straight in Applejacks ear. Out of no where, confetti came and landed on her body, and various amounts of glitter as well. Usually Applejack didn't like it when she got her all full of silly things like that, but for some reason she let it slide. "Haha, definately Pinkie. Well I gotta get back to work." Applejack looked at the position of the sun as it was making it's decent and already knew that her break was over. She was a little disappointed, but it didn't matter, she was almost done anyways. "Alrighty! See ya later alligator!" Pinkie Pie said as she, once again, bounced away. Down the trail from Sweet Apple Acres to Ponyville. Life is a Party? What next...? Applejack thought as she picked up a few apple buckets before getting back to work, bucking the tree that Pinkie had just fallen out of. ~*~*~ "...so yeah...that's the last time I saw her..." Applejack concluded. The room was dead silent. Except for the beeping of the heart monitor. The tension in the room was cold, and dead, and a chill suddenly appeared. "I'm so sorry..." Twilight said to her. Applejack was getting ready to cry again. "Life is a party, huh...I'm not surprised she'd say something like that..." Rarity said, taking a look at Pinkie Pie, eyeing up the bandages around her forehead. "Yeah, ah didn't really get it either." Applejack responded, in between sobs. "I think I know what she means." Twilight spoke up. "Well? What?" Applejack asked. "I think she means, 'Live life as if it's a celebration. Celebrate a new day, a new dawn, and new dusk. What it means to be alive..." Twilight said. Looking at Pinkie. Who knew Pinkie was so good at deep, hidden messages like that... "You know what Twilight, that actually makes a lot of sense..." Rarity said, going back to thinking to herself. "Did anyone tell Fluttershy about this yet" Twilight asked the two of them. Applejack shook her head, but Twilight had already knew that she didn't. They had just told her about Pinkie's condition just now. So she looked at Rarity, who just shrugged. Applejack didn't feel well, she almost felt sick to her stomach, so she sat down in nearby chair. "I wish we didn't have to tell her..." Twilight said, a desperate look on her face. "Why do we have to?" Rarity asked, instantly taking back what she had just said. "How would you feel if we kept information like this from you!? Huh!?" Twilight angrily retorted. Rarity just apologized and took a step back from Twilight. On edge, much? "I'll be right back..." Twilight said as she exited the room, and ran into the hallway. Leaving Rarity and Applejack alone. Applejack only sighed, it was a lot to take in at one time. She couldn't stand to see Pinkie like this. But the question still remained implanted into her mind...What happened to Pinkie Pie...? "Life is a party..." Rarity spoke up. She looked over at Applejack, a determined look on her face. "One of the most true statements I've ever heard." > Rainbow Dash > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The rainbow maned mare walked gloomily down the Ponyville street, her hooves hitting the pavement like a metronome. Her mane fell effortlessly in front of her face, but the pony made no attempts to move it. She was of no importance to her, but everything else was "Pinkie...I'm so sorry..." She whispered, she looked up and noticed all the happy and grinning ponies that she passed by. Talking and giggling with their friends, joking around. It broke Rainbow Dash's heart. It reminded her of everything that they used to do together. She remembered those fun little pranks that her and Pinkie used to play on the townsfolk. Everyone, including Pinkie and Rainbow, thought they were a riot. Her breathing came to a halt for a moment as soon as she realized that there wouldn't be anyone that could replace Pinkie Pie. She tried not to cry. Not now. She didn't want to break down in the middle of town. Although she DID have a reputation to keep up, but right now she didn't care. She wanted to hang out with Pinkie. She cursed at herself. How could I have been so stupid? Chosen a stupid book over my good friend? I deserve to have her taken away! Wait! Rainbow how could you think that!? Well, actually it is kind of true... "GAH!" She screamed outloud, the ponies nearby jumped before stopping to look at Rainbow Dash in confusion, who just blushed timidly before carrying on her way. The voices in her head were fighting. She was surprised that she didn't see an angel or a demon pony on either of her shoulders trying to fill her head full of good, and bad. She left the hospital, she didn't know why. But she just couldn't stay there. She had to leave, or else she would have literally lost it. Rarity was lucky. Rainbow bet the other three were lucky as well...they didn't have to live with the pain. Rainbow knew that they were indeed hurt by what was going on in some way, but she didn't know the extent of it. What she did know, was that if Pinkie never woke up, she'll never be able to live with herself. She walked down the street, gloomily taking her time. She wasn't in a rush anyways. She was sure that they'd be home. They never really leave their home, especially with all the responsibility that they have. She thought about them. What if they didn't know yet? How will they react... Her destination, unfortunately, was on the other side of town. But that didn't matter to Rainbow. She didn't have anything more important to do anyways. Especially not her book. Which she did, indeed, finish. The ending wasn't as good as she thought it was going to be anyways... It took her a longer time than she'd hoped to get there, but it was her own fault, as she walked as slowly as she could while still actually staying in motion. She looked up at the large, pink building, and the sign that was hung up in front of it. "SugarCube Corner!" Rainbow Dash remembered all the good times her and Pinkie had here. One time they had a strawberry-flavored cupcake eating contest, it was needless to say that she lost. And even after Rainbow Dash unwillingly admitted defeat, she still kept on eating cupcakes. Saying things like "What? You're done already?" and "Wow! These are the best cupcakes I've ever eaten in my life!". Rainbow Dash would have laughed along with her if she wasn't so bloated. She was about to walk in, but she hesitated. What if they didn't know? What if she had to break the news to them...Rainbow Dash doesn't know if she wants to ruin someones day with miserable news, even though it was increasingly important. She walked inside of SugarCube Corner, and was immediately met with the bright smile of Mrs. Cake. "Rainbow Dash! Hello!" She said, moving various cupcakes and other sweets around her shop on her back. It seemed very heavy to Rainbow Dash, but she didn't ask about it. Must be an Earth Pony thing. "Hey, Mrs. Cake!" Rainbow Dash said, trying to sound as happy as possible, fortunately, Rainbow Dash isn't very good at faking, and Mrs. Cake saw right through her charade within moments. "Are you alright dear? Would you like a free cupcake to make you feel better?" Mrs. Cake said. Rainbow knew that Mrs. Cake has been watching over her kids a little TOO much, because the way she said that to her made her think that she was a five year old. Mrs. Cake pulled a cupcake out from one of the unopened boxes and handed it to her politely. "Here! Take it!" Rainbow looked at it, before realizing what flavor it was. Strawberry. She instinctively knocked it out of Mrs. Cakes hooves onto the floor. Sprinkles and frosting littered the floor at their hooves. Rainbow Dash blushed for the second time within a timespan of 45 minutes. Today just isn't my day... "Rainbow! Why did you do that?" Mrs. Cake said, sadly. Rainbow realized who was initially going to be the one to have to clean up, and quickly apologized to her, multiple times. "Oh no! I am so sorry. I don't know what came over me. I'm really sorry..." She pleaded. Mrs. Cake couldn't help but snicker. "Oh, that's alright. Nothing to worry about at all! Just got to grab a cloth and we can have this cleaned up in a moment." Mrs. Cake said, putting down the many boxes she was carrying and walking into the employee only area of the shop. Rainbow looked around awkwardly. Luckily, Mrs. Cake returned within seconds and quickly cleaned up the floor, which was now spotless. "Again, I'm really sorry. That was rude of me..." Rainbow apologized again. I need to stop hanging out with Fluttershy so much... "Rainbow Dash, it's fine." Mrs. Cake responded, putting the now dirty rag down on a nearby table. "Hey, hun, what's going on out here?" Mr. Cake said, coming out from the employee only area behind the shop. "Hey Mr. Cake." Rainbow Dash said politely. Trying to move the attention away from what she had just done. Her blush began to fade at this point. "What'd I miss?" He asked, giving Rainbow Dash a kind and welcoming smile. "Um, not much...eheh..." Rainbow Dash responded, the blush once again appearing. Mrs. Cake found Rainbow's embarrassment to be amusing, and tried to contain a laugh, barely succeeding. " Ah, well what brings you here Rainbow Dash?" Mr. Cake asked her, shrugging a little bit. Good question... "Well, I was just wondering if you knew..." Rainbow gulped. She REALLY hoped they already knew about it. "about what happened to...Pinkie Pie." She could barely make out the words without choking up. Just saying or mentioning her name makes her want to shed a few tears. But she didn't to save face. Mr. and Mrs. Cake eyed each other worriedly, almost as if they were speaking to each other telepathically. Rainbow Dash mentally gave a relieved sigh, she already knew just by their reactions that they had already known. "Uh...why yes we have." Mrs. Cake said for her husband. Mrs. Cake looked upset, but she didn't cry. Rainbow Dash wondered why not. Maybe it was just not in her to cry at something like this, even though it sounds, and is itself, unusual. "Oh okay, I was just making sure. I'm kind of glad you are, I really didn't want to have to inform you guys in case you didn't." Rainbow dash said honestly, looking down at her hooves. Mr. Cake couldn't help but nod at her sincerity. "I know what you mean. We were devasted when we found out. We visited her late last night, when the kids were still asleep." Mr. Cake said. Rainbow Dash expected as much, Pinkie was almost like a child to them. That's when Rainbow Dash was reminded of the kids, Pound and Pumpkin Cake. Rainbow didn't even want to get started thinking about that, because she knew that that would just make her upset. So she forced herself to push those thoughts into the back of her mind, where she would hopefully never find them. "I came over here wondering something, do you guys know what actually happened to her? I mean why she's in the hospital..." Rainbow Dash said, hoping to get a serious answer out of the two of them. Neither of the Cakes said anything for a moment. They all just sat there, in total silence. Rainbow Dash remembered at times like these, Pinkie would pop out of nowhere and say completely random- Get a hold of yourself, Dashie! "Um..." Mrs. Cake finally spoke up, her friendly and happy-go-lucky tone turning to one of those that reminded Rainbow of sorrow. "Well, yes...and no..." Rainbow Dash's eyes lit up, for the first time in a while, with hope. "What happened? Please tell me. I really need to know." She begged, not caring about saving face anymore as a tear rolled down her cheek. Mrs. Cake only sighed and looked at her husband, who could only nod back at her. She groan echoed throughout the empty shop, as she opened her mouth in explanation. "Well, in the hospital, we couldn't seem to find a doctor anywhere..." She paused for a second before continuing. "But I read a clipboard near Pinkie's hospital bed. It said "Blunt Force Trauma induced Coma..." Rainbow's jaw dropped. "What..how!?" She couldn't even ask the question properly. "I have no idea. Like I said, there was no doctor around to give us any details." Mrs. Cake responded. Rainbow Dash wanted to cry, but didn't. She wanted to know more. How did Pinkie get hit on the head? Well, she might have gotten dropped on her head when she was a filly, but that didn't count. Some kind of accident maybe? Or...someone tried to... "She was attacked?" Rainbow Dash said, unknowingly coming to the same exact conclusion as Applejack. Mr. Cake walked out of the room, to let the two mares talk in peace. He didn't want to be there. "No one knows, except Pinkie. Or maybe a doctor. Both of which are unaccessible." Mrs. Cake said, Rainbow Dash noticed a hint of anger in her voice as she spoke. Maybe she was just as upset and Rainbow Dash after all. "That clipboard...what else did it say?" Rainbow Dash said, eagerly scooting a little closer to Mrs. Cake, who took a step back away from the anticipating pony. Mrs. Cake tried to think of a way out of this one. "Uh..." Mrs. Cake looked at the clock. "Oh! The cupcakes are done in the over, I have to go grab them, I'll be right back~" She said as she started to walk away, but Rainbow Dash help her back. Rainbow looked into Mrs. Cake's eyes and put her heart and soul into the next words that she was about to say. "Mrs. Cake. Pinkie and I are best friends. She means the world to me, and I'd do anything to get her back. Especially after the last thing I told her before she ended up in the hospital was to 'Go away'. Now, if there is anything that can tell me a little bit more about what happened to her, I would be very happy." She said, her eyes still watering. Mrs. Cake looked down, a tear now rolling down her own cheek now. She didn't want to tell Rainbow, it would just break her heart. But it looked like she didn't have a choice. "A-alright...there was one more thing on the clipboard..." She said, not looking at Rainbow Dash anymore. She couldn't bear to do it. "Yes?" "It said 'Time of Awakening" on it as well..." Rainbow Dash felt another glimmer of hope. Maybe she'll wake up soon! "But..." That word. That one word. That one word that can make someone feel instant misery, the word "But". Rainbow Dash's excitement fell. "It said 'Unknown'." Mrs. Cake waited for the onslaught of tears that she expected from Rainbow Dash. But none came. Rainbow stood there, unmoving. Her mind racing. "U-Unknown!?" She asked her. She was surprised when she didn't cry when she was told this. Just one of those things... Does this mean, there's a chance that I'll never see her again...? Mrs. Cake didn't respond to her initial reaction, her mind full of regret after telling her this information. But what's done it done, it's too late to take it back. It took a second, but the tears silently started to fall down her face. She walked over and hugged Mrs. Cake. She needed someone to hold her for moment. Usually Pinkie does that for her, but...there may not be another chance. She looked Mrs. Cake straight in the face and thanked her for telling her what she knew. Mrs. Cake didn't utter a word out of response. Rainbow Dash headed for the door, Mrs. Cake not even trying to stop her, only making a whispery "Bye" as she walked out of SugarCube Corner. Mrs. Cake walked into the employee only area of the shop after picking up her boxes that she left on the floor. "I knew it was a mistake to tell her that..." She said, calling after her husband. Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash knew what to do now. She knew about Pinkie, she just didn't know how it happened, and she knew how she was going to find out as well. She was determined now. She wasn't going to leave Pinkie's side, even if she is in her state for a month. No, a year. No! FIVE years! Even longer if she had to! She was going to stay by her side. She was loyal to all her friends, and Pinkie was no exception. > Fluttershy > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Mmm..." Fluttershy exclaimed as she took another bite of her salad. A great lunch, if she does say so herself. She was starving, and this definitely hit the spot. She was starving earlier! She just couldn't walk around anymore, she could have gotten sick if she had. She couldn't help but wonder how Applejack was doing, and if she found the others yet. This whole situation is really make Fluttershy nervous, she hoped nothing bad happened to any of them. Gasp! What if now that I left Applejack, what if she'll disappear just like the others? Fluttershy giggled to herself. "There's no way..." She said out loud, trying to contain her nervousness. She was sure they'd be fine. They were probably just...visiting Princess Celestia? Or something like that maybe...? She sighed. She was starting to feel increasingly lonely. She could go out and visit some of her animals, but unfortunately, most of them were resting. So that was out of the question. She could go out and look some more for her friends? No, she already spent most of the day doing that. She could....oh, what's the use... She was starting to get a little restless, which was very unusual for her. There was nothing to do, no one around...she hated this feeling. This is exactly how every day seemed before she had met her five other friends, so she had forgotten this deep and depressing feeling on loneliness. She wished she wasn't so shy sometimes. Maybe if she was a little more like Pinkie Pie, she had tons upon tons of friends. Meanwhile, Fluttershy only had five. Don't get her wrong, there's nothing wrong with that, but she wishes she knew more ponies around here, just incase something like this ever happens again. Oh! I sound like a huge jerk now...I'm sorry... she mentally apologized to herself. Suddenly, a knock at the door. "Oh, guests?" She wondered if it who it could possibly be. Did one of her friends finally make a return? Fluttershy curtly walked over to the door, and cracked the door open a little bit, and looked through. Not knowing who the guest was. She flew the door open when she realized that it was Twilight Sparkle. Fluttershy was ecstatic. "Twilight!" Fluttershy loudly whispered. She felt like hugging her, she really did miss her, after all. But she decided to contain her excitement. "Um, hey Fluttershy." Twilight said. It was going to break her heart to do this to her. Why am I always the bearer of bad news...? "Would you like to come in? I was just eating some lunch." Fluttershy said, opening the door a little bit wider in an inviting manner. Her smile almost lighting up the area. Twilight hesitated for a minute, before reluctantly walking inside her cottage. Fluttershy's cottage was actually pretty clean. So she didn't mind company. She doesn't really like to make messes anyway, the only one that actually does enjoy it is Angel, but she didn't know where he was at the moment. Probably outside roaming or something. She was sure he was fine. She took a seat on her couch, taking another bite of her salad. Twilight sat right next to her. A little too close. It made Fluttershy a little bit uncomfortable, so she scooted farther down the couch, a little smile on her face. "Twilight, I've been looking for you and the girls all day! Where have you all been? I couldn't find any of you anywhere...!" Twilight didn't want to answer. She wanted to hold off telling her, because she knew that it would break Fluttershy's heart. She didn't really know what to expect from Fluttershy. She wondered if it was possible to drown in tears... "Um, they've been...around." Twilight said, trying to think of something on the spot, while not exactly lying. "You probably just didn't see us or something" An airy "Ohh" noise came out from behind Fluttershy's mouth. Well, it is possible after all. Ponyville was pretty busy today. Maybe she did just miss them? "Oh, ok. Good thing you showed up! I was starting to get a little worried, like something happened to you girls or something." Fluttershy took another bite of her food. While Twilight just it her lip. Oh how she really didn't want to do this... "Haha...yeah..." Twilight let out a very fake laugh. Fluttershy noticed how weird it was, but didn't question it. "So, what brings you here?" Fluttershy asked, trying not to sound rude. Since that was exactly what she was trying not to do. Twilight bit her lip just a little bit harder due to nervousness. Fluttershy was starting to get curious as to why Twilight was acting the way she was. Maybe she was hungry too? "Fluttershy...I think it's time I told you what's going on..." Twilight said glumly. Fluttershy didn't like the sound of that at all. She tilted her head in wonder. "What do you have to tell me?" Twilight closed her eyes and took a deep breathe. She hoped Fluttershy would take this well, although it was almost guaranteed that she wouldn't. "Something's happened with Pinkie Pie..." Twilight said. A hurt look appeared on Fluttershy's face. H-Happened? "Oh..." To Twilight's surprise, Fluttershy didn't ask the questions that the other ponies had asked such as "What happened? Where is she? Did something happen?" Or anything of the sorts. Perhaps maybe she didn't want to know? "Yes. She is currently in the hospital right now. She's been in a very bad accident. No one knows what happened exactly." Twilight finished. But it had seemed that Fluttershy had already began to go back into the mechanisms of her mind. Pinkie...b-but I just talked to her the other day! She thought. Her throat tightened to the point where she thought she was going to choke. "B-B-But..." Fluttershy's throat was so constricted that she could barely speak. "I'm sorry Fluttershy..." "I-Is she going to...you know..." Fluttershy gulped and turned away from Twilight, her eyes watering. "...alright?" Twilight was dying inside. This was absolutely killing her having to tell her all this. Somepony had to, though, and since Rarity made that remark earlier, she decided that she's going to be the one to have to do it. "No one knows. She could take up within the next few minutes...or a few months from now. Even longer." Twilight hated how blunt she was, but then again, she was glad she got the message out the way she had. A few tears fell onto the couch right over where Fluttershy sat. I...I can't believe...Pinkie might not ever be okay again? The feeling of abandonment grew inside Fluttershy's insides. Yet she knew there was nothing that could be helped. Fluttershy reached across the couch and hugged Twilight Sparkle, catching her off guard that she almost sent them both on the floor. She sobbed loudly into into her shoulder, barely taking breathes in-between cries. Fluttershy at first didn't want to accept it, she wanted to believe that she'd be okay, that she'd always been okay. Pinkie is always okay when she visits her, always energetic and giggly. Fluttershy just wanted to hear her voice one more time... Twilight patted her back comfortingly. "It's going to be alright-" "No!" She sobbed. Twilight did a double-take at what just came out of Fluttershy's mouth. "It's not..." "Yes she is. Pinkie's a strong mare. She can make it through this." Twilight said. Still rubbing her back. Fluttershy knew this. Pinkie was pretty strong, after all. Most Earth Ponies were. But Pinkie was different. She was strong emotionally, physically, and even mentally. Yes, it may not seem like it, but it's one of those things that a friend just knows. She knew Pinkie was strong enough to get out of this, but Fluttershy herself didn't feel strong enough to get through this. It felt like someone stabbed her heart with the most dull knife they could find, and buried it in her heart both painfully, and where it counted. "I...I know..." Fluttershy said, trying her best to calm down. She may be upset, but she still thought about Twilight enough to think about how she felt right now, and how she probably didn't want to have Fluttershy crying on her shoulder for an hour. So she broke their hug. Fluttershy sat there on the couch, sniffling excessively. "Don't worry...she'll be okay..." Twilight knows that she had just said this a moment ago, but she felt like Fluttershy needed to be told again. She didn't like seeing her friends cry, and neither did Fluttershy. "C-Can I see her?" Fluttershy asked, wiping away some of the excess tears on her face. She didn't like looking like a mess. Twilight didn't think this was a good idea at all. She was actually afraid of what would happen. Fluttershy would probably have a heart attack, after all. Just the sight of Pinkie Pie would make her burst into tears. But that's just a guess. "Um...I don't-" "Twilight, please. I can handle it. I just really want to see my friend Pinkie Pie right now..." She said, interrupting Twilight. Twilight didn't know how to respond. Her conscience told her yes, that it's the right thing to do. But logic told her no. Her mind was entirely conflicted. "I really don't think that's a good idea..." "Twilight, please..." Fluttershy's eyes started to water again as she gave her a saddened look. Twilight gave a defeated groan in her head. She can't say no to someone like Fluttershy and mean it.... "Alright..." Twilight said, she had no idea how this would turn out. Fluttershy just sniffled before giving a half-hearted smile. "Thank you." "Visitation hours are almost over...So it's better that we don't waste time." Twilight said, looking at the clock. It was five o'clock. Fluttershy just nodded, they both got up from their seats from the couch and made their way towards the door. ***** Twilight and Fluttershy appeared in the hallway, right outside Pinkie Pie's room. Before Fluttershy was about to make her way inside, Twilight blocked her path. "Are you sure you want to do this?" Twilight asked once again. She had already asked multiple times on the way there, but she wanted to make sure that Fluttershy was completely up for this. "Yes, Twilight." She said. Twilight groaned and moved from in front of her spot in front of the door. Fluttershy took a deep breathe and took a step inside the room. And stopped. Twilight walked in behind her, a new addition to the room was that there were now four chairs around the room, two on each side of the room, facing Pinkie's hospital bed. She was surprised when she saw that Rainbow Dash had returned, and was sitting in the chair closest to Pinkie, while Applejack sat next to her. Rarity was on the other side of the room, watching as Fluttershy entered the room, a worried look on her face. Fluttershy saw Pinkie Pie lying there. Red, blood stained bandages covering her forehead and her chest area. Blood. Pinkie Pie's blood. I don't feel well... Fluttershy's eyes rolled to the top of her head and she fell over onto the hospital floor with a THUMP. Her mane landing and covering the side of her face as she did so. She saw as her friends rushed to her side before everything went black. ***** "F-Fluttershy! Are you okay!?" Rainbow Dash was yelling at her now. Fluttershy's head hurt. She must've smacked it against the ground when she had fallen. She opened her eyes to see the worried looks from her friends meet hers. She was in the one chair that was unoccupied. Her friends must have put her there, because she sure doesn't remember walking. "What...happened?" Fluttershy said, rubbing her throbbing head. Rainbow Dash hugged her. "I thought we might've lost you too." "You fainted. I knew this was a bad idea..." Twilight said, actually answering the question. "Can you stand?" Fluttershy nodded, queuing Applejack to swiftly help her to her feet. Fluttershy wobbled for a second before regaining her balance. "I'm fine. I just didn't expect blood..." Fluttershy said. Twilight thought Fluttershy's lack of common sense was astounding at this moment. Fluttershy looked back over at Pinkie Pie, who was still unmoving on the bed. She walked over to her, trying her best to ignore the blood stained bandages that had previously made her collapse. Tears swelled up in her eyes, and her friends just watched her as she got ready to let out all of her emotions, everyone knew it was imminent. She walked over to the side of Pinkie Pie's hospital bed, and rested her forehead and hooves on Pinkie's chest. She decided to just let the tears flow, not even trying to corral her emotions. She cried endlessly. She wanted to know that Pinkie was going to be fine. That'd she's wake up any second now. But alas, she didn't. Fluttershy's hopes for Pinkie waking up were falling as each individual minute passed by. Rainbow Dash couldn't hold it in anymore, even though knowing it was a bad time. "What was the last thing you said to-" "Rainbow!" Rarity yelled at her. "Now is not the time for that!" Rainbow Dash retreated, noticing her mistake. There was no way Fluttershy was going to talk during this state. But Fluttershy did know what she said to her last. She remembered it as if it had just happened, and she would never forget it. ~*~*~ "Fluttershy~" Pinkie Pie called to her from outside her cottage door. Fluttershy was in the middle of making dinner for her and her animal friends, but she didn't want to leave Pinkie outside. Alone. When it was almost dark. So she quick ran over to the door and opened it. "Oh, hi Pinkie." Fluttershy said shyly. Pinkie was almost shaking with excitement. "Hi Fluttershy! I was wondering something!" "Um, what would that be?" "Um...hold on I forget..." She said, bringing her hoof to her mouth in deep thought, they stood there in a weird silence as Pinkie tried to remember. "Oh yeah! Did you ever try one of my mufficakes? Or cuppin? I still haven't decided on a name yet!" She asked her. Fluttershy raised an eyebrow. "No, I don't think so..." She said meekly. Pinkie beamed. "Oh! Well here!" She took a 'mufficake' out no seemingly no where and put it in Fluttershy's hooves. "I made one just for you! They're extra tasty!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed. Fluttershy didn't know what to say, so she just took a small bite out of it. It exhilarated her taste buds. It was actually pretty good! "Pinkie, this tastes really good!" Fluttershy exclaimed, chewing her current bite before taking another. Pinkie blushed. "Thanks! I try my best. If you ever want some more, I'm going to be making a lot more down at SugarCube Corner!" Pinkie Pie cheered. Fluttershy smiled at her. If only she was as outgoing as Pinkie was. "I'm currently making dinner, Pinkie, if you'd like to come on for some in an eat you can...if, um, that's okay with you." Fluttershy went back to her timid ways, and Pinkie jumped with joy. "Well sure! It'll be fun! I can help cook if you want!" Pinkie said, bolting into the cottage with such a speed that it almost messed up Fluttershy's mane. The meal Fluttershy was originally going to make was much more time consuming than both her and Pinkie would had preferred. So she scrapped it and, within minutes, just made some sandwiches for the two of them, with a hint of apple and other veggies. "Mmm! This looks really good! Thanks Fluttershy!" Pinkie said, before taking a large enough bite that managed to only leave half of the sandwich left. Fluttershy was amazed by the ponies big mouth. But then again, she wasn't. "Oh it's no problem at all!" Fluttershy said, leaving the sandwich on her plate. She wasn't really hungry, all of a sudden. "Hey Pinkie, I just wanted to ask you a question. Pinkie was in the middle of chewing, so she just raised an eyebrow. "How do you make so many friends?" It took Pinkie a few seconds to ponder an answer, and to also chew and swallow her food before responding. "Make friends? It's easy!" She said. "Not for me it isn't..." Fluttershy said, dejectedly. Pinkie gave her a look of understanding. "I was in you're position once. I used to live on a rock farm remember? No fun, no friends, just rocks. But then one day my life changed." She took a drink of a nearby glass of water before continuing, washing down her food. "The thing is, the amount of friends you have shouldn't matter. It's the quality." She said. Fluttershy thought about the other girls, and that, yes. When it comes down to it they are quality friends. "But then why do you have so many? If it's not about the amount? Aren't you friends with everyone in Ponyville?" Fluttershy asked. Pinkie just shrugged. "Sometimes there are ponies who don't or can't have any friends. Everyone needs at least one friend, and if no ones going to step up to be said friend, then I gladly will. As long as I can make others smile, one way or another, I'll be happy." Pinkie responded. Fluttershy smiled at the pink pony, who was not finishing up the rest of her sandwich. "That's really nice of you Pinkie." Fluttershy said sweetly, staring at her food. She scooted the plate over to Pinkie Pie, who wolfed it down within seconds. Pinkie just shrugged. "I don't do it because I enjoy it, I do it because it's the right thing to do." Pinkie looked at the clock, and Fluttershy swore she saw Pinkie's hair expand as a shocked look appeared on her face as she noticed the clock. "Uh oh! I gotta go! Mr. and Mrs. Cake are expecting me!" Pinkie Pie got up from her seat and headed for the door. "Thanks Fluttershy! See you later!" She said, before bouncing out the door. Fluttershy gave a sincere smile on her face as she also got up from her seat and shut the door behind Pinkie. ~*~*~ Tears continued to stream down her face, and onto Pinkie's bandages at the thought of what she had said to her just the night before. It broke her heart. She never knew why she did what she did. But Fluttershy never knew that it was because she cared so much for every pony. Fluttershy had a new found respect for Pinkie Pie tonight. But with everything that's going on right now, it only felt like she was being torn apart. "Are ya okay, Fluttershy?" Applejack asked her from the other side of the room. "Please Pinkie...come back...." Fluttershy cried, ignoring Applejack. Her heart felt like it was shattering into a thousand pieces. But even if Pinkie pie were to pass, Fluttershy will never forget what she told her that day. Never in a thousand years. > Twilight Sparkle (Continued) > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Twilight felt her heart being ripped out of her chest at the sight Fluttershy was currently making. She was slumped over Pinkie Pie's unmoving body, crying her eyes out. Twilight didn't know what to do with her. She felt like crying along with her, but as of right now, she couldn't cry anymore. The tears have simply said 'I'm done', and stopped flowing. The stared at Fluttershy, not really knowing what to do. No one really knew, really. They all knew that nothing they did would cheer her up anyways. "I-I-I just want her to come back..." Fluttershy repeated over and over again. Twilight sighed before giving her the exact same answer she gave her a little while ago. "We all do Fluttershy. She doesn't deserve this...nopony does." She said. "When I find out who did this to her...there will be hay to pay..." Rainbow Dash said, raising a hoof in anger. Applejack lowered Rainbow's arm for her. "Calm down Dashie, we still don' know what happened to 'er in the first place..." That was one thing that bugged Twilight about Ponyville: The lack of doctors and nurses. Yes, Ponyville is indeed a small town, but there still should be more staff here. Twilight's not even sure if she's seen a single doctor or nurse here. The only worker she's seen is the receptionist who first greeted her downstairs. Twilight was not even sure if Pinkie was even getting proper treatment. "Girls, I think it's about time we head home, it's starting to get late, we need to let Pinkie be for a while..." Twilight said, looking at the clock. Time had flew by, as it was now 8:30. Fluttershy reluctantly stood up from her position with the help of Rarity, while everyone else headed for the doorway. "I-I don't want to just leave her here!" Fluttershy said, looking back at Pinkie will her melting, cyan eyes. Rarity needed the assistance of Applejack just to get her to leave the room, the whole while protesting, asking for "Five more minutes". Which Applejack and Rarity both refused. Everyone piled out the door, leaving Pinkie alone in the darkness of the hospital room. ***** Twilight decided to walk with Rainbow Dash home. Rainbow Dash's house wasn't that far away anyways, so it really didn't matter. Rainbow didn't look up from the ground the whole walk until Twilight finally spoke up after a long, silent pause. "You going to be alright Dashie?" Twilight asked her. The rainbow pony scoffed. "That depends. Why don't you answer that question for yourself before you try to ask me things like that." Rainbow said in a very monotonous tone. Twilight was shocked at her rude response, but as she thought about it, it made sense. She didn't know if her own self was alright either. She made a mental note to plan out her questions a little more carefully. "Look, I know about what happened that last time you saw Pinkie Pie..." Twilight said. Rarity had told her earlier when Rainbow Dash was crying over Pinkie. Rainbow kicked the dirt. "I just don't want that moment to be the last one that I have with her..." Rainbow Dash whined. Twilight didn't really know how to help her out anymore. She had nothing else comforting to tell her that she hadn't already told her a million times. Twilight looked up at the sky. The moon was shining as bright as it always is. A full moon... Twilight felt bed for Rainbow Dash, and she knows that this whole situation is just killing her slowly. Twilight just hoped she wouldn't do anything drastic... It didn't take long to reach Rainbow Dash's house. They both stood under her home, which was floating precariously on top of a cloud. Rainbow Dash gave a little nod as a goodbye before beginning to flying up to her home. Twilight could've swore she saw a Rainbow give an angry grunt as she slammed her front door. Twilight Sparkle, at that moment was all alone. She looked around, noticing her surroundings. She could literally see her house from here. She couldn't wait to get to sleep, that is, if she even could. A cold breeze made a chill shoot up her spine, she shivered. She started to make her way home. she knew that Spike was probably still awake. She didn't really want to talk to him. At all. She just wanted to be left alone, and preferably go to sleep also. Her eyes stung after wiping them all day, and all she wanted to do was rest them. She opened the door to her house, which was pitch black. Oh good, Spike must be asleep. But her conclusion was proved to be false when she closed the door behind her quietly, and the light switch flicked on. *AHH!" Twilight screamed as a small figure appeared next to her. She was so frightened she actually stood up on her hind legs and put her back against the door. As her bloodshot eyes started to become used to the light, she noticed that the small figure was indeed Spike, he was staring at her long and hard with his arms crossed. "Twilight!" He said. Not amused. "What?! Why did you have to scare me like that..." Twilight said, clutching her chest. That had truly frightened her. "Because you deserve it." Spike said, eyeing her up. Twilight didn't like where this was going. "Why didn't you tell me about Pinkie! Also, where you were going! I was worried sick." Spike said, throwing his hands in the air dramatically. Spike sometimes had a habit of forgetting who was the assistant here. "Um...well..." Twilight tried to come up with a solid reason, but couldn't. She didn't really have a reason for why she didn't say anything to Spike. Earlier she sort of just, left. She was in a hurry due to panic, and at that time she didn't really want to say anything to Spike since she still wasn't sure what was going on. She looked away from Spike ashamedly. "Look, I'm sorry Spike, I know. I should have told you..." She said with apologetic eyes, trying to soften him up. Spike sighed, reluctantly unable to standing up to her. "It's fine. I jut think you should have told me." Spike said, before taking a seat on the floor pouting. Twilight smiled, she though he was adorable when he pouted. "I'm really tired, I think I'm just going to go to bed now..." Twilight said, walking towards the stairs the led to her room. Spike didn't say anything to her besides a low grumbling noise. She laughed before heading up the stairs. She literally hopped in her bed, not caring anymore, and threw the covers over herself. She sighed a peaceful sigh before closing her eyes and waiting for sleep to over take her. One minute passed. Then five. Then thirty. Twilight was starting to get irritated. Her eyes were tired. They stung from how tired she actually was. But her mind was too active to sleep. Everything that happened today, with Fluttershy, and with Applejack...it bothered her to no end. She wondered how everyone else was holding up. Especially Rainbow and Fluttershy. She didn't really expect them to get any sleep either...and it made Twilight feel bad. She sighed before rolling over in her bed, grunting angrily. She wanted nothing more to sleep. She hated when things like this happened. Sitting up in her bed, she looked at the clock. 9:30. Ugh. ***** It was 2:00 in the morning before Twilight actually fell asleep. She actually woke up early that morning, unwillingly. Spike had woken her up, saying that someone was at the door for her. She mumbled the words "No...five more minutes" before Spike literally had to push her out of bed before she got up. Twilight wasn't very angry about that, she was going to have to get him back for that later. She didn't even brush her hair or her teeth that morning. She went straight down the stairs and to her door, curious as to who it was. She was surprised when she saw Rarity standing at her doorstep with a look of despair on her face. "Oh! Good Morning Rarity! What are you doing up so early?" She asked her. Rarity looked at her with soft eyes. "Twilight...hello...I um, learned what about what happened to Pinkie Pie..." Rarity said, not even being able to look in Twilight's direction. Twilight's heart started to beat faster. Finally! Someone knows! "Who told you?" Twilight asked. "I couldn't sleep, so I went back to the hospital very early this morning. Luckily I was able to catch the doctor in Pinkie's room right before he left..." Rarity paused. "And? What happened!?" Twilight said, not wanting to be toyed with. Rarity sighed. "He said, that according to the bystander that found her, that she was found in front of Sugarcube corner. It was apparently that she fell from the roof. I honestly have no idea what she was doing up there. Neither did the doctor, but the facts don't lie..." Rarity said. Twilight was in shock. So...she fell... She thought. At least she wasn't attacked like they had originally thought. That solved one question.But another question was burned into her mind: Was she going to be alright? "A-are you sure?" Twilight asked Rarity. Though she already knew the answer. "Yes, I heard it straight from the doctor." Rarity nodded. Twilight knew Rarity wouldn't lie about something like this. What was Pinkie doing on the roof anyways?. Maybe she did what Twilight liked to do. Which was, when she couldn't sleep, she would walk onto her porch and look at the stars. That doesn't seem unlikely at all. Actually, the more Twilight thought about it, the more sense it made. "Are people allowed to visit her right now?" Twilight asked, she really wanted to see Pinkie right now. "I think so...but I'm going to go home in sleep, I haven't slept in ages..." Rarity said, putting a hoof over her forehead dramatically. Twilight couldn't help but laugh. "Alright. I'll see you later." Twilight said to her as Rarity headed for her home. She closed the door, and immediately ran for the bathroom to brush her mane and her teeth. She wanted to see Pinkie now. Now that she knows what happened, then that changes everything. Maybe there can be a way she can help. Maybe she can help save Pinkie. She didn't know much about being a doctor, but there has to be a spell out there to help her heal her friend. She did just as she was planning to do and swiftly ran out the door, headed for the Ponville Hospital with a new-found hope. She was going to save Pinkie herself. ***** Twilight was waiting in the elevator, eager to get to Pinkie's floor and room. She had remembered a healing spell that she had learned roughly a year ago. It had taken a while for her to actually remember it, because it was actually a very difficult spell to do. She reached the second floor, flying out the door and flew into Pinkie's room, a little bit a sweat falling down her forehead. "Pinkie! I got-" She stopped, and stared at the empty hospital bed in front of her in disbelief. P...Pinkie? She thought. She was sure that she was in the right room. Where was she? What happened to her? Twilight noticed the clipboard was precariously hanging on a nearby billboard near the hospital bed. She slowly walked over to it, and what she read made her heart sink so fast and so hard that she immediately broke down in tears: Pinkie...Pinkie please no... Name: Pinkamena Diane Pie Condition: Semi-stable. Date entered into hospital: April 7th Cause of injury and current state: Blunt force trauma induced coma. Time of awakening(If necessary): Unknown Date of decease: April 10th A/N Yes, I do realize this is a shorter chapter than usual, but trust me, you'll understand why when you read the next chapter. Take care! -Cyneryk > Pinkie Pie > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pinkie Pie felt her body getting slower and slower. Her usually fast, sugar-fueled, drum that was her heart was feeling sedated. She knew that she was going to die. Pinkie didn't want to accept it. But in the end, she knew that she was going to have to. There was no way she was going to live through this, the pain, and the injuries, were to severe. She heard everything. Everything that her friends had said while they visited her in the hospital. She was awake. She could hear everything. She just couldn't move. Couldn't speak. Couldn't communicate at all. There was nothing she could do, except listen as her friends cried and cried over her. It broke her heart. All she wanted was for her friends to smile. She knew that it wasn't top priority to them right now, Pinkie Pie's actual health was. But to her, they were wrong. She didn't want this moment to be sad. She wanted her friends to be happy. Happy that she was moving on with her life. Her time has come to an end. She is able to accept that, and she hoped her friends would be able to as well. The smiles of her friends was all she wanted right now. Although she couldn't see them smile, she could still feel it. She could still feel a smiles embrace. That's what smiles do to her, they wrap her like a cozy hug. Keeping her warm on the inside. She loved the feeling more than anything else in the world. Besides her friends of course. She felt like crying herself after listening to her friends' constant sorrow. The crying. The tears. When Fluttershy must have fainted. It made her feel terrible that she was the sole reason for all of what was happening. She didn't care so much about her condition as much as her friends feelings. If she could tell each one of her friends one thing... She forgives Rainbow Dash for what she said the other day to her. She can't get upset over Rainbow Dash. She was busy, doing who knows what. Pinkie can't help that. She also heard Rainbow Dash explain how sorry and upset towards the way she acted toward her, but Pinkie had already forgave her the moment she expressed her guilt. She wanted to let Rainbow know that it was alright, and that there is nothing to be upset over. She wanted to let Applejack know that she always loved her sort of like a sister. Applejack was always there for her, and she was always there for her. They both worked hard. They both put others before themselves, Applejack did it physically why Pinkie did it emotionally, that's why Pinkie respected Applejack so much. She would really miss Applejack. She wanted to let Fluttershy know that what she told her the other night is true. It doesn't matter how many friends you have, just the quality. You can have a million friends, but only a handful of them will be there for you when you truly need it. It took Pinkie a while to realize that. Pinkie is friends all over Ponyville, but out of all her friends, how many showed up? The ones who did were quality. She wanted to let Rarity that even if life gets you down, when sadness dwells in every step and breathe you take, keep on going. When work is killing you, and when everything becomes unbearable, just keep going. Everything always works out in the end. She learned that after a while of working in the rock farm when she was a filly. Some days she felt like the misery would never end, until that fateful day. And finally, she wanted to let Twilight Sparkle know, that Pinkie will never forget her. Ever since Pinkie met her the first day she came to Canterlot , she knew a special bond will be made, and she was right. Twilight is definitely one of her best friends, someone that she will never, in a million years, forget. It made Pinkie sad that she was leaving Twilight behind. Pinkie hated herself for putting everyone, including her, in this situation. It was her own stupid fault... ~*~*~ Pinkie sighed as she sat stepped out of the window of her room out to the rooftop of SugarCube Corner. She liked to sit out there at night, stargaze, and just think about life itself. Sort of relive the day, minute by minute, in her mind. It was one of the things she liked to do. It made her smile. It was almost midnight, when almost every pony else was asleep. That was how she liked it. She took a seat on the rooftop right outside of her window and thought about her conversation with Fluttershy that day. She hoped that she didn't seem to rude for eating over and then leaving out of the blue. But she needed to leave to help Mrs. Cake with the cupcake order that she had due the next morning. It was a large order. Some pony had asked for over 60 cupcakes for a party that was going on near the park. The night was beautiful. The moon shone very brightly, almost illuminating the area, and the stars twinkled like christmas lights. The summer breeze was cooling, and very relaxing. She loved these kinds of moments. The moments when she can finally tone down and relaxed. During the day she's usually all hyped up on sugar, not really letting her relax and enjoy the daytime. So that's what makes these times so special. She doesn't stay out there for long though, she would like to get some sleep, however. So she stood up to retreat back into the comfortable territory of her bedroom. However, the night dew had made the rooftop slippery, much to Pinkie's dismay, she slipped. And was sent tumbling down the rooftop in a rolling fashion, finally falling off the roof entirely. She felt nothing but air for a good three seconds. She felt her heart drop due to the g-force that she was sustained to, until her fall came to a painful end. She landed on her chest, and heard a terrifying CRACK as she hit the ground, she smacked her head against the ground, Hard. She stayed conscious for a few good seconds. She took note of how much it hurt the breathe, and the dull throbbing pain in her head. The pain... It hurts... So bad... ~*~*~ It was her own stupid fault that that had happened. And now both she, and her friends had to suffer for it. But she herself was okay with this. She was in no hurry for her mind to her mind to shut down. Her senses began to fail her. Her hearing began to dim. She wished her friends would come back. She knew she wasn't going to live for much longer. She didn't wish it, but it was almost time. Everything was beginning to darken. Her whole world. Her mind, her thoughts were lessening. She felt like sleeping. Just remember, you're all my friends. My very best of friends. Her last thoughts, as she gave her dying breathe. Smile with me.