Morning had found Pinkie Pie feeling considerably better and ready to face the following day of recovery with a clear mind. There was quite a bit to look forward to in the pink mare's mind. Firstly, the Doctor in charge of her recovery would be doing a series of medical tests to see if she could have any of her means of recovery. Though she doubted such a short time frame would allow for a significant recovery, she had learned that there was always hope. Always something to look forward to.

Secondly, she hadn't realized it when she spoke to Fluttershy and Rarity yesterday, but today was hearts and hooves day. It would be nice to see if Rarity and Fluttershy were now a couple, although since they both revealed their love for each other to Pinkie Pie, there was very little reason to doubt it, unless Rarity had lost her bottle. She hoped to hear only good news about this, especially on this special day to celebrate the love between two hearts by ponies showering their other halves with ridiculously expensive gifts, being extra mushy, and... Some might call it a useless day, but still, it has a meaning for others.

Finally, something that was long overdue. Her six best friends - Rainbow Dash, Twilight, Rarity, Fluttershy, Applejack, and Spike - actually being in the same room as her. The last time the seven got to spend real quality time together was just after Twilight Sparkle's coronation. Sure, Pinkie Pie had spent time afterwards with all of them, but not at the same time. Unfortunately, after Twilight's coronation, at least one of the seven were busy all the time, and then, of course, there was Pinkie Pie's several-year absence.

As custom over the past few days, Pinkie Pie just lay waiting. While it was usually visiting hours she was waiting for, today the Doctor in charge of her treatment, Doctor Stable, was due to pop in to take various readings to see if any of her means of recovery could be taken out. Usually, waiting like this would draw Pinkie Pie into clock-watching. However, her medical neck brace made maneuvering her neck impossible. The back of her head may as well have been super-glued to the hospital bed in which she lay. There was a clock in her room, reminding her with each tick that time was, indeed, still moving.

Doctor Stable's arrival in Pinkie Pie's hospital room couldn't have come soon enough. "Good morning, Miss Pie. How are you feeling today?" He asked, his voice full of that type of enthusiasm that only Doctor and Nurse ponies seem capable of.

"Good morning, Doctor. I'm feeling a lot better today, thank you," Pinkie Pie replied.

Doctor Stable could hear the improvement. On his rounds the previous day, her voice had sounded weak, and very difficult to hear. On this morning, however, her voice was nice and clear. On closer inspection, he also noticed her coat, mane, and tail had regained a lot of their signature pinkness. Her mane and tail were still flat though. "Well, I can certainly see and hear an improvement. Now lets get these checks done as quickly as possible so as your visiting can start ay?"

"Okie dokie lokie," replied Pinkie Pie.

With that, Doctor Stable set about his various checks. "Pulse, normal," he said, making a mental note, "breathing, normal. Blood pressure, normal. It looks like all your vitals are normal. We are still going to need a twelve hour monitor, just to ensure, and then you can be taken off the vitals monitor," he added before making his way over to a trolley holding two things. One was a clipboard with various different pages, and the other was an empty plastic bag with straps going around the top and bottom, complete with a place at the top for a tube to be pushed through, to put it simply, a catheter bag. He picked the plastic catheter bag up, unfeeding the tube from the old one that was strapped to her hind left leg. He then removed the old one and replaced it with the new one, feeding the tube in. "Urine looks normal, both in appearance and amount," he muttered. He then moved back over to the trolley, placing the full catheter bag on a different shelf for disposal. He then turned his attention to the second item. He picked up the clipboard and started to make mote of all the readings he was getting, adding to the line graph plot of all the previous readings. "Well, Miss Pie, you seem to have improved considerably. I won't be at all surprised if you aren't discharged by the end of next week. You are still dangerously underweight, but with steady feeding, that should soon be resolved. There is just one more thing. How is your neck feeling?"

"Well," Pinkie Pie started, "as it is, it's feeling ok. But I can't really move it to see if it hurts with this on." She rubbed a hoof over the neck brace.

"Well I suppose we can see. I will take it off, roll your head around, turn it and nod it. Do this a few times and tell me how it feels. But Pinkie..." said Doctor Stable noticing a smile forming on Pinkie Pie's face.

"Yes?" the Pink mare asked.

"Please, tell me the truth. I realize it is a bit annoying and completely limiting your movement, but it's for your benefit. If it still hurts, you must tell me."

"Well ok Doctor," Pinkie Pie said, the smile still not faltering.

With this, the Doctor Pony removed Pinkie Pie's neck brace, before placing it to the side. Pinkie Pie managed to sit up, which was one of the small things she was looking forward to. Initially, her neck felt really stiff, due to it's severe lack of movement, but eventually, she started moving it. It was completely painless.

"So, how does it feel?" asked Doctor Stable.

"It feels great. No discomfort or pain," replied Pinkie.

"Well then Miss Pie, you may continue treatment without it. I must say, your recovery is outstanding. Out of your brace, and I have all faith that your next check up in twelve hours will yield suitable results to take you off close vital monitoring. That wraps up your checks now. I will send your friends through right away of they are in the waiting room."

***

If Rainbow Dash were to sum up her initial feelings on waking up, it would be a word that the pink earth pony of her dreams made up. Nervouscited. Her exact feeling matched Pinkie Pie's description to a T. She felt really excited for the day ahead, yet at the same time, she wanted to curl up in a ball and hide in the corner all day.

There was a good reason she felt like this. Today was a special day indeed. Well to Rainbow Dash, it wasn't usually all that special. In fact, usually the warmth and fuzziness of such day usually led her to hide away all day, and be awesome on her own. That is exactly how she liked it. The day in question was, of course, Hearts and Hooves day, and Rainbow Dash had plans. Very big plans.

The timing couldn't at all be better, though the situation could be vastly improved. In a way, Rainbow Dash did wish for a lot better of a situation. In fact, many ponies did, but none quite like Rainbow Dash. Her plan? Today, she would tell Pinkie Pie exactly how she feels.

Part of her debated that it was far too soon to reveal such sensitive information to Pinkie Pie. Hell, Rainbow Dash wasn't even sure if Pinkie was over Applejack yet, but whether or not this was the case, Pinkie Pie had only been back for a matter of days, and she was still on the road to recovery. That side was her more rational side. Rainbow Dash never played rationally. Thus, the side of her that told her she should wait went completely ignored. After all, Rainbow Dash had learned that it is better to say something too early, than to run the risk of never being able to tell them at all.

Rainbow Dash risen from her bed, giving each of her leg joints a quick stretch until each of them cracked. She then blinked several times to rid her of her morning drowsiness before taking a minute to unfurl her wings, closely inspecting for loose feathers, then returning them to her sides.

The familiar group of five ponies and one dragon were to meet at the town center a quarter of an hour before visiting time. This would give them enough time to reach the hospital in time for visiting time. Rainbow Dash looked up at the clock noticing it was three quarters of an hour till visiting time.

Being the fastest pegasus in Equestria meant it would still be a good twenty five minutes before she even had to think about leaving her home. It would only take exactly three minutes and twenty eight seconds to fly from her cloud home to the town center. She knew the exact time it took her to get to any significant locations - mostly her friends houses, but also locations like the hospital and town center - while flying at half her full speed. For instance, if she were to fly straight to the hospital, it would take four minutes and five seconds, whilst Sweet Apple Acres, the furthest significant point from Rainbow Dash's home, would take six minutes dead.

This morning, she didn't feel hungry. Probably the nervous part of her nervouscitedness destroying her appetite. So she didn't go for breakfast, and she had very little to do before going to meet her friends. So she opted to relax and wait.

Rainbow Dash sat alone with the mare of her dreams, Pinkie Pie. She knew this was a perfect chance to tell Pinkie exactly how she felt. The rest of the group had departed about five minutes ago. Despite the short time they were gone, this may be the only chance to get her alone on this day.

The only problem was she just couldn't. Rainbow Dash didn't want to risk giving her such big news. Pinkie Pie was weak enough as it was, without being told about her feelings. Little did she know that Pinkie Pie wasn't to keen on the silence that had been going on between the two.

"Dashie? What's the problem?" the Pink mare lying upon the hospital bed asked, her weak voice full of concern. Unable to answer, Dash remained silent. "Dash?" Once again, no answer. "Forget it then. If you are just going to sit and pretend I'm not here, then you may as well go."

"I'm sorry..."

"Forget it, you don't want to listen to me, I'm not going to listen to you. Please go away."

"I'm sorry Pinkie."

"You just said that. Now go away."

"Please let me explain."

Pinkie Pie was clearly getting angry now. "You've done nothing but sit in silence all day. Fluttershy spoke more than you when she was here then you have all day. You remember what you said? I'm your best best friend? Yet you clearly don't want to be here. When I tried to speak to you, all you've done is ignore me. WHY SHOULD I LISTEN NOW!?"

The next scene happened all to fast. All of a sudden Pinkie Pie's heart rate monitor shot to beeping rapidly as Pinkie Pie thrashed around in a fit of rage. Two medical ponies - one male, one female - quickly entered the room to try and calm her. This failed. But soon Pinkie Pie's thrashing stopped. This would have been relieving if the heart rate monitor wasn't screeching, revealing a flat line.

"Nurse, defib stat!" the stallion Doctor ordered, to which the medical mare ran off, returning only seconds later with a defibrillator. The doctor tried several times to restart Pinkie's heart. However in the end, it was a lost cause.

"I'm afraid we've lost her. Patient name - Pinkamena Diane Pie. Time of death," he said, looking up at the clock, "TH:15 15 4 DR:34:M." The Nurse mare noted it down before walking past with the name and time of death easily visible. If Rainbow Dash weren't too busy being absolutely heartbroken, she would have noticed the 'time' appeared to say 'This is a dream.' Even when the doctor read the time out, she was too busy in her own world to notice anything strange about it.

Suffice to say, Rainbow Dash was devastated. The mare of her dreams had just passed away, and it was by her own actions. If only she had just spoke to Pinkie, even if she had to avoid telling Pinkie how she felt. At least that's would be better than how the events played out.

Rainbow Dash didn't cry. She was far too emotionally destroyed to even do anything other than to just sit staring at the shell that once held the mare of her dreams soul. She was gone for good. It was her fault.

*KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK*

Rainbow Dash awoke in a cold sweat to some pony knocking on her door rather loudly. Naturally - as any nightmare would - the dream she just had chilled her very bones, but as well, a nightmare of this caliber was quite soul-destroying. She genuinely quickly prayed to Celestia that it was only a dream, and not a memory or a foresight.

*KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK*

It came again equally as loud, or perhaps even a little louder. Whoever this was at her door was clearly impatient. She made her way over to the front door, opening it to reveal a concerned looking Twilight. "Oh hello Rainbow Dash," The purple alicorn spoke, "It's good to..." Twilight was about to continue, but she noticed something. Rainbow Dash looked extremely panicked. "Are you okay Rainbow? You don't look too good."

"Please tell me she's ok Twilight. Please tell me she is," begged Rainbow Dash.

"Who? Pinkie Pie? As..."

"Yeah. I think..."

"What was that?"

"I think I caused her to die, Twilight."

"Rainbow, you've been here all morning, sleeping I've no doubt. You were meant to meet us fifteen minutes ago. Visiting hours are starting now."

"so, you think it was all a bad dream?"

"I'm sure it was Rainbow. Besides if visiting hours hadn't started until a few minutes ago, how could you possibly have caused her death? Well, her death that never happened."

Rainbow Dash thought about yesterday, but she remembered the visit yesterday and remembered that it had gone fairly well. "Oh thank Celestia. It was just a dream," said the blue pegasus, confident that Pinkie Pie was, indeed, still alive.

"Yes, Rainbow, she is, and you can come and see her now. Your not the only one who's late though. Fluttershy went to get Rarity. Said Rarity was at her cottage till early hours this morning. Spike and Applejack carried on. They are probably with Pinkie by now."

"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's get going."

The memory of the dream still lingered. She had to ensure that this was not a dream that would come true.

***

Applejack and Spike made their way towards Pinkie Pie's room. Twilight had gone to fetch Rainbow Dash, while Fluttershy had gone to fetch Rarity. For the moment, they were on their own.

Much of the short journey was made in silence, but that was ok, they were outside Pinkie Pie's room now. Applejack, having been there twice in a short time, was sure she learnt the journey off by heart. Spike checked the door number, confirming that they were at the right place.

They entered the room, to see a big surprise. It was a pleasant surprise though. Sitting up in the hospital bed, free of her neck brace, was Pinkie Pie. The surprise didn't end with her lack of neck brace though. She was smiling, looking genuinely happy to be free of it. To top it off, she looked much more pink. Whilst not returning to her full shades of pink, but with the color, lack of neck brace, and smile, it was clear her condition had vastly improved.

"Hey Pinkie," said Spike.

"alright Pinkie Pie," said Applejack.

"Hello Spike, hello Applejack," replied Pinkie Pie.

"The others will be here in a bit. Ah think Fluttershy went ta get Rarity. She said Rarity was round til' late last night. So Ah'm guessin' overslept. And Twi' went ta get Rainbow Dash. Ah don't know why she weren't there, but if Ah know Rainbow, she was probably oversleepin' aswell." Applejack slowly approached Pinkie Pie, followed by Spike a few steps behind.

Almost as if on cue, Rainbow Dash and Twilight came through the door. Pinkie Pie noticed how Rainbow Dash looked a bit shaken, but decided not to bring it up around every pony else in case it was something Rainbow Dash didn't want to talk about. If she had a moment alone with her, she might ask, but she wouldn't press the issue.

"That was quick," said Spike, referring to Twilight's and Rainbow Dash's entrance.

"I teleported us outside the hospital. It was just a matter of seeing if visiting had started, then getting here," Twilight proclaimed proudly. "By Celestia, you've certainly improved Pinkie," she added.

"Yeah Pinkie, it's good to see," added Rainbow Dash, though rather dryly. It was now clear to every pony and dragon in the room. Spike and Applejack both looked at Twilight as if to silently ask what was wrong with Rainbow Dash, to which Twilight simply feigned not knowing with a shrug. She didn't fully know, but if she were to have a good guess, she would connect it with the fact that Rainbow Dash thought she caused Pinkie Pie to die.

Not too long after, Rarity and Fluttershy arrived, the former looking drowsy, but none the less, Pinkie Pie had an important question to ask the pair, regarding last night. Though the evidence was quite obvious. After all, why else would Rarity stay round Fluttershy's at those sorts of times? Any other pony, ok, but Rarity with her 'beauty sleep,' no chance. Still, may as well ask, but later.

***

The hours slipped away, and soon enough, lunch time came round. Whilst Applejack, Twilight, and Spike had already gone, Fluttershy, Rarity and Rainbow Dash stopped behind to say a few words to Pinkie Pie.

"Pinkie Pie, I speak for myself and Fluttershy when I say thank you. I don't think I could have done that without you," said Rarity.

Rainbow Dash looked confused. She had no idea what happened. "Urm...done what?" She asked.

"Oh, I suppose there's no harm in friends knowing, Rainbow Dash. Rarity and I are now an item," Fluttershy proclaimed happily.

Rainbow Dash's jaw dropped to the floor, while Pinkie Pie gave Rarity a smile that said exactly what it needed to. She knew Rarity could do it.

"Anyway, with that out of the way, I'm going to take my leave," said Rarity.

"me too," added Fluttershy. With that, the white unicorn and yellow pegasus left the hospital room. This was the moment Rainbow Dash dreaded. She was left alone with Pinkie Pie. It wasn't the time alone with Pinkie Pie she dreaded, well it was, but it wasn't Pinkie Pie's fault. It was that stupid dream. She had to start speaking, and quick.

"is everything okay Dashie?" Pinkie Pie asked, beating Rainbow Dash. The spectral pegasus was stuck for an answer. But she would not make the mistake she made in her dream.

"Yes Pinkie, I'm fine," Rainbow Dash replied.

"Are you sure? Because when you first come in, you looked super terrified," the Pink mare asked again, voice full of concern for her best friend.

"Look, I had a bad dream, and then I was teleported here is all. I've just got a lot on my mind, that's all."

"Dashie, you know if there is anything you need to talk about, I will do my best to help. You know that."

Rainbow Dash breathed out a deep sigh, preparing herself, "Pinkie there's something I need to tell you. The time you were away killed me. It was hell for me, Some days I just couldn't bare it any more. I guess what I'm trying to tell you is..."

With that, two ponies entered the room. They were both earth ponies. The larger of the two was a stallion. Brown coat with a tail containing two shades of grey. The majority of his mane was covered by the hat he was wearing, but what could be seen was also grey, with a matching grey set of sideburns. His cutie mark depicted a pick axe. He was also wearing a grey collar, and a darker grey tie.

The smaller one was a mare. Coat colour was grey, with a mane and tail a sort-of sea green color she wore a black scarf-like accessory, as well as glasses that were sitting low on her muzzle. Her cutie mark was three stones.

Rainbow Dash didn't recognize either of these ponies at all. Pinkie, however, did. "Mom! Dad!" She screamed at the top of her lungs.

Her mother spoke first. "Oh Pinkamena, thank Celestia you're ok"

"yeah mom. I'm so sorry," replied Pinkie, looking guilty.

"It's okay, we heard about what happened. We heard you were in hospital, we just had to come down to see you."

Rainbow Dash just sat there in silence. Although her dream put her off just sitting in silence, this silence was, at least, justifiable. After all, Pinkie Pie was talking to her family. Admittedly, the only pegasus in the room was grateful for this extra time to plan her strategy. But for her pink friend, at least introductions were in order.

"Oh yeah, mom, dad, this is my best best friend Rainbow Dash. The element of loyalty, the fastest pegasus in Equestria, and the only pegasus to pull off a sonic rainboom. She's done two of them. Rainbow Dash, meet my parents. My other friends have just left for lunch."

Greetings and formalities happened for the next minute or so, Pinkie Pie's parents properly introducing their selves. Before Pinkie Pie spoke again, "What were you going to say Dashie," she asked, with no idea and full innocence.

Rainbow Dash was extremely nervous by now. "Oh...Urrrm. It can wait for now. I'm going to lunch. I'll tell you when I get back. I'll leave you with your family for a bit. See ya later Pinkie. It's been nice meeting you two." In a second Rainbow Dash was out the door.

"My my," said Pinkie Pie's mother to her father, "if I knew her better, I'd say she had feelings for our daughter."

This made Pinkie Pie feeling awkward, she doubted Dashie liked her, in fact, Pinkie Pie was sure Rainbow Dash was far to obsessed with Soarin to like mares, but on the other hoof, it was undeniable that there was good evidence with how nervous she got, especially in light of her parents being there. Still, whatever the case, she would state her doubt, "Mom! Dashie doesn't even like mares. She obsessed with Soarin from the Wonderbolts to like mares."

Pinkie's father was next to speak, "It's okay, Pinkamena. No need to be defensive. It was only a joke. Besides, for her age, I'll say she's a good looking mare." This earned him a strike from his wife, "Waht?" he asked addressing Pinkie Pie's mother.

"Look, Pinkamena, I know this is going to be hard for you. And it's a choice, not a demand. When we sent you here a while back, we sent you in gold faith that you would be happier here than at home. We did it to give you a future that you wanted." Pinkie Pie's mother was now lost for words, but her father soon took the reigns.

"What we are trying to say is, we know you have friends, and a home here, but there is clearly something making you unhappy here. We won't ask what it was. But we both think you would be better back in Rockopolis with us, and your sisters."

Pinkie Pie was lost for words. She didn't know what to say. She didn't want to leave Ponyville behind, but more often than not, parents know exactly what is best for their offspring. Great, now I have Dashie, and a big decision to worry about, thought Pinkie Pie.

"We will give you time to think about it. Your friends and carers will be welcome to see you at any time. Goodbye Pinkamena."

***

Having had some time to clear her mind, it was time for Rainbow Dash to face the music. It was time to tell Pinkie Pie how she felt. For real this time. She was confident that Pinkie Pie was alone again. She made her way, once again, into Pinkie Pie's room.

Initially Pinkie Pie looked in deep thought, but a quick cough from Rainbow Dash snapped her out. "I don't want to waste time here Pinkie. I'm sorry I had to get away. It's hard enough telling you as it is. I just couldn't say it around your parents. Just speaking now is giving me doubts. So, I love you Pinkie. I've loved you since before you ran off."

Pinkie Pie just sat there, mouth agape, clearly surprised.

Author's Notes:

So guys and gals, here it is, the special extended valentines day chapter. I hate this day, I don't actually believe in it but meh. For all you spoken-for bronies and pegasisters, I wish you a very nice v-day with your loved one or ones if your not monogamous and have more than one lover (it happens).

Oh, and here is a lovely little cliff-hanger for you. Try not to hate me, the outcome for the revelation will come next week, and the decision in a few chapters time.

Also, this fic has now hit 500 views dead. I'm well chuffed about that. Thank you sincerely everyone who's supported. Now it's off to kill a few (thousand) zombies on black Ops I think