Hopping along one of the many paths outside of Ponyville, Pinkie Pie hummed a random tune while she enjoyed the beautiful scenery. Having just finished her rounds checking her emergency ball stashes, there was little else left to do. Not that this bothered the pink mare one bit, as there was always something going on in the deceptively sleepy little town. Either a birthday, a party, a birthday party, or a random monster invading from the Everfree. Even the occasional world-ending apocalypse, caused by some poor misunderstood villain with a tragic back story, that only needed a friend and some cupcakes to change them around. Oh, and then there was Discord.

Today however seemed like it was going to be totally uneventful, and added to the fact that it was her day off from the bakery, Pinkie was just enjoying the moment. That was, right up until she spotted some strange creature sitting under a tree. She stopped, puzzling on what it could be. It sort of resembled a pony, if a pony had been shaved, and stretched out, and then it’s ears chopped off. Then again, it looked nothing like a pony at all. Whatever it was, it seemed to be staring at something in the tree, and had its back turned to her.

So, Pinkie being Pinkie, she did the first thing that came to mind, and hopped right up to say ‘hello’.

“Hello! What are you?” She practically shouted, causing the creature to jump.

“Oh, hello. I’m John. What are you?” The creature turned around and stuck out an arm. Pinkie looked at it a moment, seeing that instead of a hoof, it had a claw, like Spike, but softer.

“Oh, I’m Pinkie Pie. I’m a pony. Glad to meet ya!” She grabbed the arm and shook it, like Applejack taught her years ago. Tilting her head with a puzzled frown, she looked closer at the creature, deciding he sounded like a little colt, maybe about Spike’s age. “What’s a John? Is it a kinda dragon with no scales? And where’s your tail?” Indeed, as the creature stood up, standing barely eye level to her, she saw he had no tail at well, dragon or otherwise.

The colt laughed, smiling brightly, and responded. “John is my name. I’m a human. My friends call me Little John, because Big John was my fath... You don’t look like a pony.”

The sudden change in topic took Pinkie of guard for a moment, but she bounced back quickly. “I don't?” She spun a quick circle, trying to get a better look at herself, and getting another laugh from the human. “Well I look like every pony I have ever seen. What is a pony supposed to look like then?”

“Well my Da- um, I went to a zoo once, and they had a pony there. It was all shaggy and furry, and kinda looked like a little horse. They were gonna let me ride him, but the line was too long. I got to pet him though! He was really shaggy, like a rug, and his hair covered his eyes.”

“Oh, I know a pony in town that kinda looks like that, and his name is Shaggy! But most ponies don’t look like him.” She pondered tapping a hoof on her chin. Suddenly getting an idea, she grinned again, sizing the little human up. “Ooh, ooh! I know! You’re small enough, you can ride me if you want to!”

The human’s eyes lit up, and he grinned happily. “Oh can I really? That’s awesome!”

“Yupperooni, just climb aboard the Pinkie Pie Express!” Crouching down, she let the pale creature climb onto her back. With a spring, she lept back to her hooves, and grinned back at him. His feet just barely touched the ground, and when he bent his knees he was seated easily. Pinkie was actually surprised at how light he was, weighing no more than a pony foal, despite his taller height. She supposed he would most likely be no bigger than most children if he was to stand on four legs like a proper pony.

Suddenly John gave a tap on her barrel, and a tug on her mane, shouting, “Hi-ho Pinkie, away!”

Pinkie reared back, flailing her forehooves like a fierce warpony, and whinnied happily, before taking off at a gallop. She was careful to use her natural talent for balance to make sure the human never fell off, and he seemed to have his own special talent for staying glued to her back as she charged down the dirt road. His laughter urged her on, as she merrily galloped down the lane, dodging the occasional pothole, and even leaping over a fence or two bordering the pathway.

As her heart pumped, a giggling laugh bubbled forth from the pink mare. The laughter and cheers from her little passenger urged her on while she barreled around the road towards Sweet Apple Acres. Finally coming to a stop, she crouched down again as the human lept off her back with a mighty woop. She panted and laughed, trying to catch her own breath, as her passenger danced and cheered.

“Woohoo! That was awesome! I never went that fast before. It was like I was flying!” Suddenly he was hugging the earth pony, and they both laughed.

“Yeah, that was fun, wasn't it? I was like all ‘Woosh!’ and you were all like ‘Yeehaa!’. I bet that’s what Applejack feels like in the rodeo.” Falling on her back, Pinkie began to roll around in the grass as she gasped for breath. John joined her, and they lay back, looking up at the sky.

Suddenly Pinkie had a thought, and she gasped, “Oh I just realized! I never met you before, and that means you are new, because I know everypony. And if you are new that means I need to throw you a party to welcome you to Ponyville!”

“Oh yea, I guess I am new. I don’t even know where I am, or how I got here, but a party sounds awesome!” Leaning up on one elbow, the human looked surprised. “Oh, and even better, because tomorrow is my birthday!”

“Awesome! So tomorrow I can throw you a ‘Welcome-to-Ponyville’ Birthday Bash! I can invite all my friends, and they can all meet you, and you can see what real ponies look like, except for Shaggy, who looks like the shaggy pony you saw.” Rambling on, Pinkie scratched her head and paused. “How old are you anyway, and are you a boy human or a girl human?”

“Well Duh! I’m a boy, ‘cuz girls are creepy and gross! And tomorrow I will be turning eight years old.” Grinning proudly, the boy sat up and crossed his arms.

“Oh not all girls are creepy, Johnny. Most of my best friends are girls, or mares, and most of them are really neat! I bet you will love meeting them.” Rolling to her hooves, Pinkie held out a hoof to help the boy up. “Just wait, you can meet them and see how fun they are.”

“Well, I dunno. Maybe if they are girl ponies they won't be so gross and girly. I mean you are cool, Pinkie, and you are a girl pony, right?” Scratching his head, John looked as if he was trying to convince himself of the possibility of a girl that wasn't anything other than a pest. His mom is cool, after all, and she is a girl. Although she was also a mom, so that didn't really count.

“That’s the spirit! So what are we gonna do next? I have the rest of the day with nothing to do, except plan your superrific party, of course!” Bouncing in place, the manic pony grinned with the prospect of spending more time with her new friend.

Suddenly, John looked up, as if hearing someone calling him. His face clouded over, and he started to look worried. “Actually, I think I gotta go. I had a real fun time hanging out with you, Pinkie Pie, and I can't wait to see you again tomorrow!”

As the human turned to go, Pinkie held out a hoof, “Wait, don’t go! We still have lots of fun stuff to do, and I want you to meet my other friends!”

Before she could hear a reply, he stepped around a tree, and seemed to vanish. Running desperately, she circled the tree, calling his name, but her newest friend seemed to have disappeared into thin air.

Ears splayed back, a frown crept onto the party pony’s face, as she felt a tear form in her eye. Before it could fall, however, she wiped it away, and forced a smile back into place. Her new friend said he would be back, and she had an awesome party to arrange! With a new spring in her step, she started back towards Sugarcube Corner, humming a song that happened to pop into her head. She wasn't sure where the tune had come from, but it just felt right.

The party was planned, invitations were delivered, and everything else was ready. It was only after that Pinkie realized something was wrong. She had no idea where or when to meet her new friend. She waited by the tree he had vanished at, but John never appeared. Then she waited a bit more where she had met him, and yet he still failed to appear. It was finally when she was about to give up, the party planned to start in just minutes, that she heard a boyish giggle, and turned to see John sitting in the tree, holding a bright blue ball.

“I finally got it! I was wondering how it got stuck up here, when I met you yesterday.” Tossing it down, he swung from the lowest branch and landed in front of the pink mare, instantly dropping to his rump with a loud ‘Oof!’.

“Careful Johnny! You don't wanna hurt yourself falling outta trees on your birthday.” Pinkie hugged him tightly, trying to hide the worry on her face. This earned her another giggle in response.

“Hehe, your hair tickles, Pinkie Pie.” With a quick hand, he tickled one of her ears, which she quickly pulled away with a twitch.

“Well your hands tickle!” Together they laughed, and she helped him get to his feet. “So are you ready for your supertastic party?”

“Heck yea I am! Let go, my faithful steed!” With a hop, he landed on Pinkie’s back, and held onto her mane.

“Wheeeee!” cried the party pony, as she reared back, and then shot off towards town.

In minutes, they were coming up on Sugarcube corner, and not a pony could be seen in site. Pinkie grinned to herself, knowing this meant that everypony was inside waiting for the guest of honor, so the party could begin. Motioning for John to hop off, she told him to wait outside for her to introduce him, and quickly slipped inside.

“Oh there you are Pinkie! We were all wondering what happened to you.” Twilight spotted her as she came in the door, and quickly trotted over. “Everypony is here, and the party is ready to start. Where is your new friend you wanted us to meet?”

“Yes darling, we are just dying to meet the little scamp. I even brought my sister to meet him, since you say he is so young. Maybe she can get herself a little coltfriend?”

“EEEWW!” All three of the Cutie Mark Crusaders responded at once, making various sick gestures.

“Seriously sis, colts are gross. Stop trying to hook me up, and just let me have fun with my friends!” Sweetie Bell rolled her eyes at her older sister, while the other two girls nodded in agreement.

“Yea, Rarity, you’re a dressmaker, not a matchmaker.” Rainbow Dash joined the fillies in a group eye roll, before turning to Pinkie. “So where is the kid anyway, Pinkie? We can't very well have a birthday party without the birthday boy.”

Don’t you worry, Dashie! He’s right outside, so everypony get ready.” She slowly opened the door, and took a deep breath. “Ladies and gentlecolts, fillies and friends! I present to you, John the Human!” With a wave of her hoof, she took a little bow and motioned her friend to enter. Her eyes closed, she waited several moments for a reaction, until she heard a polite cough. Looking up, she saw the concerned looks on her friends faces, and boredom in the case of Rainbow Dash.

“Umm, where is he?” Fluttershy quietly broke the silence, before ducking back behind her mane.

Turning around, Pinkie spotted John standing shyly in the doorway, waving. “Um, hi?”

Again the polite cough. Turning back, Pinkie saw confusion, and boredom on her friends faces.

“Still waiting here, Pinks.” Dash crossed her arms, as she hovered in place.

“Girls, he’s right there! I know he looks a little strange, but that’s because he’s a human.” Pointing to the open doorway behind her, she saw the looks on her friend’s faces grow grim.

“What’s a human?” Rainbow Dash dropped to the floor, scratching her head.

“Pinkie, Ah don't think this prank was a very nice one. We all got things ta do.” Applejack looked downright angry as she stomped a hoof. “We all ‘preciate yer parties an stuff, but iffin yer not gonna be serious bout it, we jes might not come next time. Hay, Ah left Mac doin all the chores so’s Ah could attend.”

“Yeah, Pinkie, I had a report to work on, and I’m sure Rarity has orders to fill.” Twilight rolled her eyes, getting an affirmative nod from the fashionista.

”Quite right. Playing a prank is one thing, but ruining everypony’s day is out of line, even for you, Pinkie.” With a toss of her head, the white mare started for the door, the rest of the group grumbling as they started to follow her.

‘Wait, what are you all talking about? He’s right here! Can't you see him?” Stepping over to her friend, she patted him on the head, and even went so far as to shake him gently.

“Pinkie, why can’t they see me?” John tilted his head, looking at all the ponies that seemed to look right through him.

“I dunno, Johnny! I can see you just fine!” Looking around at the angry and disappointed looks from her friends, she started to panic.

“Pinkie Pie, give it up. It was a dumb prank, and you got called on it. Believe me, I know dumb pranks.” Rainbow Dash made to push past Pinkie, and then walked right through the little boy as if he wasn't even there.

Pinkie’s eyes grew wide, and John jumped back, looking down at himself in surprise. “What just happened?” He cried out, then stepped over to put his hand on Pinkie’s mane. It easily made contact, and he was able to feel it’s fluffy texture as he ran his fingers through the curls. In response, the pink mare leaned into his hand, feeling comforted by it’s solidity.

Unaware of this, the other ponies filed out of the shop, one by one, giving their own looks of disapproval. “I am disappointed in you, Pinkie.” Muttered Twilight, as she levitated Spike onto her back and trotted out the door. The young dragon didn't say a word, only looking back at Pinkie with confusion and sadness.

Finally, after all the other ponies had left, Pinkie turned to see only Fluttershy remaining, looking rather sad. “Oh, um. Pinkie, I just wanted you to know, I didn't mind the prank too much. I really didn't have anything better to do today. It was still kinda nice to be with all my friends.” Looking down, the yellow pegasus slowly scratched a hoof against the floor, before going on. “But, umm. If you don’t mind, could you invite Discord too next time? He’s one of our friends too, and I’m sure he would have liked the prank. That is, if you don't mind?” Without waiting for an answer, the last pony trotted out into the street, leaving a stricken Pinkie Pie in her wake.

“What just happened?” turning to her new human friend, Pinkie found herself completely alone at an empty party. There was no sign of the boy, and as tears threatened to fall, she felt the joy flowing out of her like a draining bathtub. Not even an alligator was left, as her heart broke and her hair started to uncurl.

“B-but, it wasn't a prank!”

Several days went by, and every morning Pinkie would arrive at the tree. Every day she stared up at the blue ball in the branches, one of the many emergency ball stashes around Ponyville. Every day, her friends came and tried to talk to her, but she only shrugged and ignored them. She knew she wasn't crazy. She knew John was real. And she knew he would be back, and wanted to be there to meet him.

“Pinkie Pie, you gotta snap outta it. This isn't funny anymore, and the others are getting worried.” Rainbow Dash tried to give her friend a hug, but was shrugged off. She tried sitting next to her, looking at the ball, wondering what was so fascinating. She even tried bringing the ball down and giving it to her friend, and finally got a reaction. However, all that happened was Pinkie tossed the ball back into the tree, sighed, and went back to staring at it. Dash really started to worry, since she hadn't seen Pinkie’s hair straight like this since that disastrous birthday over a year ago.

“I’m sorry, Pinkie Pie. I just can't do this anymore.” Finally, boredom won out, and with one last hug, she flew off.

Other friends came and went.

“Darling, you really must stop this foolishness! Ponies are starting to talk and frankly, the girls and I are quite worried about your behavior!” Nuzzling her pink friend, Rarity tried to coax a reaction, but all was in vain. “Pinkie dear, please come back to us. We all miss you terribly”

Blinking, she leaned closer, thinking she heard a response, only to discover that her friend was merely humming a song to herself. It was a strange tune, one that she didn't recognize. Part of it seemed happy, and yet part seemed so forlorn that it made her heart break to hear it. Finally with a weary sigh, she wandered off muttering to herself, to find help and solace from her other friends.

On the fourth day, Pinkie trotted up to John’s tree, as she had started thinking of it, and sat down. She had with her a small lunch in her saddlebag, so she wouldn't have to leave, and she settled down for another day of waiting. Nopony had come to talk her out of it the day before, and while part of her heart hurt that her friends had given up, mostly she was glad that they had finally stopped telling her how crazy she was for waiting. She wasn't crazy. She had never been crazy, only different. She saw the world in a unique way, and she had long ago learned to keep most of what she saw to herself. John was no different.

And who had the right to say she was wrong? Fluttershy swore she could talk to her animal friends, when nopony else understood them. Why couldn't Pinkie Pie see the interconnections that made friendships, and hear the songs that made them happy. She just did. And as she waited, she heard the song, Johnny’s song, echo through her mind. She couldn't help but hum along, as a sad smile made its home upon her face.

But then suddenly, she wasn't hearing it in her head. Suddenly someone was humming the song with her, and she perked her ears up to locate the source. Her smile growing, she hopped up to canter around the tree, and there sitting among the roots was her friend. He was looking a bit paler, and his clothes had changed, but it was him. Gone were the blue denim pants and the striped shirt, replaced with a soft robe and slippers on his feet. But despite this, he was smiling, looking up at the blue ball stuck in the tree.

“Johnny!” Leaping in the air, Pinkie felt her hair inflate like a balloon, and she landed with a bound in front of her friend, who opened his eyes and beamed at her.

“Pinkie Pie! I missed you so much!” Leaping to his feet, the little boy threw himself at the pink mare, wrapping his arms around her and burying his face in her mane. “I’m so sorry I was gone for so long, but they tried to take you away, and I couldn't find you again. I felt so lost and alone, and I missed you so much!” Tears wet Pinkie’s coat and mane, as she gently hugged the little child and tried to comfort him, making soft noises like her Granny Pie used to do when she was a little filly.

“It’s okay now, it’s okay. Pinkie is here and you are safe.” Giving him a tighter squeeze, she felt her own tears forming, as she closed her eyes. “Nopony is gonna take me away from you, Johnny.”

“I’m scared Pinkie. I dunno where I was, but there were people in white, and they tried to take you away. I tried to tell them you were real, but it was like your friends. They didn't believe me! Nobody would listen. And then finally they gave you back, and I heard you singing, and.. and.” hugging her again, the lost little boy held the mare and sobbed.

Pinkie just held him until the shaking stopped, and his breathing grew even. Looking down, she saw that he had fallen asleep, a little smile on his face. It was like looking down on the face of a sleeping angel, and her heart melted as she eased him onto her back. Careful not to let him slip, she gathered her things and trotted off towards her home at Sugarcube Corner.

The next morning, Pinkie awoke to a hesitant tapping on her door. Stretching her stiff muscles, she arose from her makeshift bed on the floor. Johnny had slept in her bed, never once waking up, and smiling happily as he dreamed. She couldn't bring herself to wake him, and stood watch most of the night, until sleep overtook her as well.

The knocking resumed, bringing her back to the present, and she started to walk to the door before pausing to glance at the still sleeping form of her young charge. Suddenly her blood ran cold, as she saw the bed was empty, and no sign of the human child remained. Rubbing her eyes with a hoof, she trotted back over to pull back the sheets, finding no sign of the human.

“Pinkie dear, umm, are you awake?” The soft, motherly voice of Mrs. Cake drifted through the closed door, oddly distorted with apprehension. “Your friends are here to see you. I really think you should come down and see them. We are all worried about you, honey.”

Sighing in defeat, Pinkie pulled the covers back into place, trudging back to the door as her mane again began to deflate. Opening the door, she saw the worried look on her adopted mother’s face, as she fidgeted in the hallway. The realization that she had been hurting the ones that loved her as much as she hurt herself finally started to hit home, and for a brief moment, the pink mare felt ashamed.

“I’m sorry Mrs. Cake, I don't mean to be such a mopey-pants. I’m just... I dunno. Not feeling very Pinkie lately.” Scuffing a hoof on the floor, she tried to look into the eyes of the mare that had taken her in, and cared for her after she had left her home so many years ago. It hurt. It hurt almost as much as seeing the looks her friends had been giving her, and for a moment, she started to wonder if they were right.

“It’s okay dearie. We all have our bad days, along with the good. It’s all about how we deal with them, and the friends we have to help us with the rough patches.” The rotund mare pulled her younger charge into a hug. “And what’s most important right now is, you have five very worried friends downstairs that want to help you through this.”

“Thanks, momma.” Pinkie looked up at the older mare, before burying her face in the fluffy pink mane.

“You’re quite welcome, my dear. I swear I will never forgive that cousin of mine for kicking you out, no matter what the town council said about those noodles.” Holding tight, she smiled bitterly.

Chuckling, Pinkie pulled back and smiled shyly at the blue earth pony. “We aren’t supposed to talk about that, remember?” Together they just laughed, wiping away tears and putting on happier faces.

Moments later, Pinkie was making her way down the stairs, her mane still flat, and her face barely holding the trace of a smile. The worried looks and brittle smiles her friends greeted her with made it harder for her to hold her own expression, but she dug deep and pulled out the biggest Pinkie smile she could find, and greeted them.

“Hiya girls! What brings you all around to see little old Pinkie?” She could feel her jaw creaking from the stress of such a large smile, but she carried on.

“Heya Sugarcube, we all umm. We wanted to see ya, an... ahh..” Applejack tried to respond, her eyes shifting around the room erratically.

“Welcome to your intervention, Pinkie Pie! OW!” Rainbow Dash yelped, before rubbing a shoulder, where she had been thumped by a book held in a violet telekinetic glow. “It was all Twilight’s idea!”

“Ahem!” The named alicorn cleared her throat, glaring daggers at the blue pegasus, before looking back at Pinkie with a forced grin of her own. “Yes, well. What Rainbow Dash was so tactlessly trying to say is, we are all worried about you. Everypony is, and we all decided to pool our resources and try to see if there was any way we could help you.”

“Yes Darling, we can all see there is something wrong, and it behooves us as your friends to try and help in any way we can.” Rarity, stepped closer, her smile just a bit more genuine. “A friend in need, and all that. And my dear, you are obviously in great need.”

“Please let us help you?” Whispered Fluttershy from behind Applejack. Suddenly, to the surprise of everypony, the shyest of ponies rushed forward, and wrapped the troubled pink mare in her wings, cooing gently, “Pinkie Pie, please, oh please, let us help you? It makes us hurt to see you having such troubled, and not letting us help you deal with them.”

“Seriously, Pinkie Pie, we all miss your parties, and I miss not having to reshelf piles of psychiatry books after Twilight is done looking up ways to help with your crazy.” Spike spoke up, then looked at the angry glares of the ponies around him before shrugging. “What? I thought this was supposed to be about getting the truth out in the open!”

Shaking off the yellow wing, Pinkie glared at her friends with her own growing anger. “Oh I see how it is. Crazy old Pinkie Pie is acting strange again. She is doing things we can't understand, so we need to fix her. Well buck all of you!” The rage built and Pinkie felt her face flush with anger. “Where were you all when I tried to show you my new friend? Not one of you believed me. Not one of you even cared about anything other than getting happy old Pinkie back.” stalking around the room, she looked each of them in the face, staring down the looks of shock and shame until each pony looked away.

“Well I have news for you. All of you! John is real. John is my friend. He is a friend I can see, hear, and feel every bit as one of you. He came to me and told me how the people in white tried to take him away, trying to take me away from him! He cried in my hooves last night until he fell asleep, and then I spent the entire night watching over him. He’s real, and he’s a scared little foal that just wants somepony to be his friend. And I am that friend. If you don’t want to believe that, then you can all go buck yourselves!”

As her tirade panned out, the looks of shame grew into ones of sadness and resignation, until finally they all looked to Twilight, who had a determined look in her eye as she glared at her pink friend. Finally the enraged earth pony turned to face the young princess, and glared back in defiance.

“I’m sorry girls, we tried.” Sadly looking away from the angry Pinkie Pie, she sighed in defeat. “I guess we have to go with Plan B.’

With a flurry of movement, everypony moved at once, grabbing hold of the earth pony, and keeping her from moving.

“What are you doing? Let go of me! LEMME Go!” Yelling in frustration and anger, the pink mare tried to buck her friends away, but found firm hooves and wings holding her in place. She glared in defiance, which quickly turned to horror as she saw the alicorn princess advancing on her with a glowing horn.

“I’m sorry Pinkie, but this is the only way. It’s for your own good.” Slowly she lowered her horn to the struggling mare’s forehead, with tears in her eyes. “You will thank us when it’s all over.”

And then the world when white.

Pinkie awoke to the sound of beeping, as she blinked her eyes open. At first she thought she had gone blind, surrounded by so much white, but she quickly focused and saw that she was in a white room, in a white bed, as golden white light drifted in through white curtains. The beeping was coming from a monitor next to her bed, and she felt the sticky sensors tug on her coat as she got up.

Hearing a soft click, she turned to see a pony in a white coat peeking through the door, and had a sudden moment of panic as she remembered her friend crying about the people in white trying to take her away from him. The heart monitor started to beep faster, and the pony stepped into the room to turn it off.

“Oh good, you are awake. There is nothing to be afraid of, Miss Pie. My name is Doctor Feelgood, and I am here to help you get better.” As he advanced on her bed, he continued to talk in a soothing voice, before reaching out and disconnecting the monitor cable from her hoof.

Flinching, Pinkie stammered out a reply, “W-where am I Doctor? W-what h-happened?”

“You were not feeling well, and your friends brought you here to help. You are in the Happyhoof Psychiatric Center. We all want to help you.” Levitating a stool over, he sat down and brought a clipboard up to write on. “So tell me, Miss Pie, what do you remember?”

“They brought me to a crazy house? I-I’m not crazy doc. Sure, I get a little hyper sometimes, but i just have lots of energy, and enjoy making my friends happy. Sometimes acting silly is what it takes to make somepony laugh.” Slowly, Pinkie curled her tail around herself and started to idly stroke it. Part of her realized that Twilight did the same thing, and now she understood how comforting it felt. But the rest of her just felt betrayed. Betrayed by her friends, who didn't believe her.

Frowning at her response, the doctor used his years of experience to hide his distaste for how others saw the hospital. It was not a crazy house. It was just a place for ponies that were having trouble dealing with things to get the help they needed to get on with their lives.

“I understand what you are saying. I once thought about going into theatre myself. I was a rather good actor, and loved making people laugh.” Shrugging, he set aside the clipboard and leaned forward. “But, luckily for me, I got sick, and found that as much as I loved performing, I liked helping the other foals at the hospital feel better even more.” Smiling brightly, the doctor stood up, and turned to display his cutie mark. On his flank was a theatre mask, overlaying a red cross. “By the time I was all better, I had gotten my cutie mark, and the doctors recommended me for medical schooling.”

“That’s great doc, but what does that have to do with my friends? They don’t believe me. They don't think my friend John is real.” Gripping a pillow, she hugged it to her chest. “I know he’s real, Doc. I held him in my hooves, and carried him on my back. I could feel him, smell him, and hear him. I can still remember his song, even when he’s not around.” She paused a moment, looking confused, “Well, I didn't try to taste him, but all the other stuff proves he’s real!”

“Well Pinkie, the mind is a very complex thing. It makes up who we are, remembers who we were, and helps shape who we might be. And sometimes, if we wish hard enough, it can make things we want to be real seem that way. It can fool us into thinking things are there just by wanting them hard enough.” Sighing, the doctor sat back onto the stool. “You are a healthy, happy mare, with lots of friends that love you very much. However, from what I hear you seem to always feel the need have more friends. I believe that you have wished so hard for more friends, that now you are imagining new ones, and your mind is making them seem real.”

“B-but I’m not!” Pinkie started to cry, and the room grew hazy as tears clouded her vision.

“Pinkie Pie, think about it. What is more likely, that some creature that nopony has ever heard of just magically appears, and that only you can see him, or that maybe he’s just in your mind, and that you have been fooling yourself? What do you think, Pinkie?” Leaning forward, the doctor patted the crying mare on her fetlock.

“W-well, maybe. I mean, there was that time I thought that a bag of flour and some turnips were my friends. But I was really really sad then, and thought that all my friends hated me!” Looking up she glared defiance at the doctor.

“And how do you feel about your friends now, Pinkie Pie?” Leaning back, the doctor waited as the mare before him processed the information.

“Oh no! I was all sad and mopey again, and thought none of my friends believed me, and didn't wanna be my friends anymore!” And finally she broke down, crying into the pillow.

“It’s alright Pinkie. Your friends still love you, and we will all do our best to get you back in shape and throwing parties for all of Ponyville.” Patting her on the back, the doctor waited until the mare had cried herself to sleep, and then quietly slipped from the room. Outside, six worried voices filtered through the door as Pinkie drifted off.

The next day dawned bright and beautiful, as Pinkie began to wake up. The beams of sunlight filtered across her face and made her wiggle her muzzle as they warmly tickled. Her ears turned as they picked up a sound, one that was both strange and all too familiar to the pink mare. It was the sound of a small voice humming.

Blinking the last of the sleep from her eyes, Pinkie sat up, and looked around the room. What she saw made her pause, not because she didn't believe it, but because she wanted to so badly. John was sitting in a chair, humming the song that she kept hearing, while holding a little pink toy. It was a little toy pony that looked an awful lot like her.

“Pinkie Pie! I missed you so much. I was afraid when I saw you sleeping that... that.” A look of pain and loss contorted the youthful features of the child into something ugly. Clearly tears were being held in check, and he gripped the small toy even tighter.

Leaping from the bed, Pinkie forgot all of her own inner turmoil, and the idea that maybe she was imagining her new friend. Quickly she pulled the boy into a hug, and planted a tender kiss on his forehead, whispering, “It’s okay Johnny, I’m here. Auntie Pinkie will never leave you like that.”

“Sniffling, the little boy wiped his face on the sleeve of his robe, and looked deep into the cerulean eyes of his pink friend. “Y-you promise?”

Grinning from ear to ear, the party mare leaned back. “Even better, I Pinkie Promise!” And with a flourish, she went through the motions for the most solemn of vows, eliciting a giggle from her young friend.

“Thank you, Pinkie!” Throwing his arms around her in another hug, John rubbed his face into her soft, pink coat.

“So where did you go Johnny? I was worried too when I woke up and you were gone, and then my friends brought me here, and told me you weren’t real, and I was all sad and started to believe them!” Pinkie started to cry as she rambled on, the flood of confused emotions pouring out.

“I’m so sorry, Pinkie. It sounds like the people in white. Sometimes I wake up in the bad place, and they are there.” looking down, the child seemed to shrink in on himself.

“The bad place? What bad place?”

“It’s a place where my mom is always crying, if she isn't yelling. The bad people are there, and they tried to take you away from me.” Gripping the doll tighter, John looked up at his pink friend. “But you are real. I know you are, and you make me happy, and I don’t wanna go back to the bad place!”

“It’s okay now, you’re safe with me.” Stroking the little boy’s hair, she wiped away her own tears and smiled her happiest smile. “Come on, let’s get outta here. I don’t like this place either, and I don't like the ponies in white telling me you aren’t real.”

Marching toward the door, Pinkie took comfort in the boy’s hand on her withers as she made her way out. She shed the hospital gown, and pushed the door to the room open, only to walk right into the cyan pegasus. This made them both blush, but Pinkie stood her ground and waited for the other mare to move.

“Pinkie Pie! It’s good to see that you are up and around. You had all of us worried for a bit.” Rainbow Dash quickly backed away, but never took her eyes off her friend. “So... How are ya, Pinks? Still seeing critters and stuff?”

Splaying her ears back in reaction to her friend’s brash questioning, Pinkie felt her face flush for another reason. “Thank you for waiting for me, Rainbow Dash.” Tersely, she responded, while glaring at her old pranking buddy, “As a matter of fact, John is with me now. We are going to go out and have fun together. I may even throw a party.” Shoving her face back into the personal space of the pegasus, causing her to stumble back and fall on her rainbow tail. “My other friends are invited, if they want to come, and if they can deal with my new friend, John.”

“It-it’s cool, Pinkie. We all don’t mind, we just want you to be well. I’m just, I mean, we are all worried about you, is all.” Rubbing one hoof along her leg, Rainbow Dash looked away for a moment. “We have all been taking shifts, waiting for you to wake up, so that you would have a friendly face to wake up to.” Making a disgusted face of her own, Dash rolled her eyes. “I mean, I know I hate hospitals. The food here is lousy, the nurses are all stuck up, although your doctor is kinda cute... I would never leave a friend hanging in a place like this.”

“Thanks Dashie!” with a pounce, the pink mare glomped her colorful friend and hugged her tight. “I knew you would be there for me, no matter what!”

“Heh, yeah. What the Element of Loyalty are you talking about? Of course I’m here for ya, Pinks!” With a quick nuzzle, Dash stepped back, and started to step away. “So, umm. Lemme just go find that doctor, and we can get you outta here.”

“Sure thing! Johnny, hop on my back, and lets ride off into the sunset!” Crouching down, she let her passenger board once again.

Seeing this, Dash’s eyes grew wide, and she remembered why her friend was here in the first place. “Umm, wait here Pinkie, I’mma go get the doc!” And like a bolt, she was off.

“Hmm, she sure is acting weird.” Tapping her chin with a hoof, Pinkie shrugged.

“I dunno, I think she’s kinda cool! She was all like ‘WOOSH!’ and off she flew!” Excitedly the boy bounced on the back of his mighty steed. This got a giggle from the candy-colored mare.

“Yeah, she’s the fastest flier in all of Equestria!” As they chatted, the pair trotted down the hall, just in time to see Dash returning with the doctor in tow, looking rather harassed.

“Ms. Dash, please unhoof me. I will see to my patients in my own time. There has been absolutely no sign that your friend is in any immediate danger.” Angrily, the unicorn tugged his lab coat out of the grip of the pegasus. “Ahh, Miss Pie, so nice to see you up and about. And how are you feeling today?”

“I’m just fine, Doc! Me and Johnny are gonna go out and have some fun!” Smiling, she turned pack to nuzzle the little boy, getting a giggle in return. Turning back, she saw the worried looks of the other two ponies.

“See Doc, she’s still seeing things! You gotta help her get better! She’s my friend!” Pleading with the doctor, Dash settled to the ground, looking nearly in tears.

Turning from the distraught mare with a flat look, the doctor smiled as he faced Pinkie. “So, is what your friend saying true, Pinkie? She seems to be worried that you are somehow seeing things and that I need to help you.”

Giggling, the party pony rolled her eyes. “Don’t be silly, Doc. Of course I am seeing things. I always see things. How else am I gonna keep from falling over my hooves?” For a moment, a flicker of pain flashed across her face as she looked over the doctor’s shoulder at her disloyal friend, then she looked back with a smile. “I would like to leave now Doc, if it’s okay with you. I have a friend I need to cheer up, and you know how serious I take my cheering up duties!”

With a sigh, the unicorn shrugged. “I highly disapprove of this, Miss Pie, but there is nothing I can do to stop you. You have shown no signs of being a danger to yourself or anypony around you, so there is no grounds to keep you here against your will.” Glancing over his shoulder at Dash he shrugged again, then turned back to Pinkie. “I wish you the best of luck, and want you to know that if you ever need help, or just want to talk about it, I am here for you.”

“Thanks Doc!” Totally ignoring her other friend, Pinkie happily bounced out of the room and towards the hospital doors.

“Oh man, I totally blew it, and now Pinkie will never trust me again!” Rainbow Dash lamented, shaking her head with her hooves. “I gotta get Twilight and the others! We can fix this!”

“Ms. Dash, a word of advice?” The doctor sternly offered. “A pony is a complex thing. Nopony will ever fully understand what goes on inside another pony’s head, and to try only invites madness. If your friend is willing to accept that her view of the world is different, then maybe you should be the better mare and learn to accept it.”

Glaring out of half lidded eyes, the pegasus stared for a moment before responding. “That's the biggest load of horseapples I have ever heard, Doc. You just can't admit that you suck at being a head doctor.” Rolling her eyes at the irate glare she got in return, Dash lept into the air to leave. “I don't have time for this, I have a friend to make better!” And like her name, she dashed off.

Sitting under their tree, Pinkie and John enjoyed the beautiful sunshine. It was a typical Ponyville day, with clear skies, singing birds, and wonderful weather. There was just enough shade for a picnic, and both friends were chatting happily, their past woes forgotten for the moment.

“And then Tammy ran up the slide, but every time she got to the top, she would slide back down!” John finished with a chuckle, getting a giggle from Pinkie Pie.

“Oh that's classic! That reminds me of when I was a filly, and my sisters dared me to push a big ol boulder up a hill. It was bigger than me, and no matter how I tried, it kept rolling down!”

“What did you do, Pinkie?” The little boy asked, wide eyed.

“I outsmarted em! I used the super secret Pie family technique to split the rock in half, then rolled each half up the hill!” Another snorting giggle filled the small glade, and they both rolled in the tablecloth laughing.

“So Johnny, where did you get that neato toy? It looks alot like me!” Nosing the small doll, who had her own plate of food, Pinkie cocked an eyebrow at the human.

Snatching the doll up, John hugged it to his chest, and gave a weak smile. “I got it from my f-fa... My d-da. Um. It was a gift. A very special early birthday gift.” Suddenly a frown crossed the child’s face, and pain could be seen clearly as he stammered.

“Oh, it’s okay, we don't have to talk about it. It’s a very nice gift for your birthday.” Hugging her little friend, she gave him a gentle nuzzle.

“Thanks Pinkie, but it’s not as nice as the real thing.” With a lurch, he wrapped her in a hug, which was happily returned.

“Thanks Johnny, I think you are extra special awesome too!”

The party went on a little longer, until the sound of wings caught their attention. A certain lavender alicorn came flapping into view soon after, and the Princess landed in the clearing near them.

“Thank Celestia I found you, Pinkie!” Panting hard, the librarian paused to catch her breath before continuing on. “What where you thinking, leaving the hospital like that?”

For a change, the happy pink pony looked unamused. In fact, she looked downright melancholic. Only a pony who grew up with a sister like Maud Pie could have ever possibly have leveled a look as dead and flat as Pinkie showed Twilight. Without a hint of malice or anger, a single look made the would-be princess of friendship take a step back in shock.

“Really, Twilight?” A voice as dead and flat as bare stone grated, and even her human friend stepped away from the mare. “You are supposed to be the smart one. How can you dare to ask such a stupid question? I mean Dash, i can understand. She’s fast, strong, brave, but none too smart.” Taking a step forward, Pinkie narrowed her eyes as Twilight took another step back. “You however, have no excuse. You were supposed to be my friend. You are the Princess of Friendship, for Luna’s sake! And yet, you knock me out, drag me off to a hospital, and try to get a doctor to tell me that I am crazy and that my friends are not real!” Slowly gaining in volume, the tears of betrayal started to course down the pink mare’s face as she turned away.

“Go away Twilight. I don't think I want to be our friend anymore.”

Unsure what to do, the purple mare panicked. “No! I won’t let it end like this. You are my friend, and if there is one thing that I have learned about friendship, is that you must always fight for it!”

In a flash, Twilight appeared in front of Her friend, her horn aglow. Suddenly, unable to move, Pinkie cried out, “Twilight, what are you doing? Let me go!”

“No Pinkie, I am doing what I have to, and I am going to fix you, no matter what!” Pulling a mall vial from her saddle bags, she dispensed a small pill onto her open hoof. “I pulled some strings in Canterlot, and got this. It’s a new anti-psychotic, and is guaranteed to help you with your problem.”

“No! Don't do this Twilight! I’m not crazy! Why won’t you believe me?” Crying, the pink mare tried to fight, but her muzzle was forced open, as the pill was magically inserted in her throat. Finally her mouth was clamped shut by a violet glow, until she swallowed, tears in her eyes.

“I’m so sorry, Pinkie, but this is for your own good. All of your friends are worried about you, and it’s our responsibility to look after one another.” Taking a step back, the alicorn sat back on her haunches, tears in her own eyes. Sobbing, she wiped her eyes with a fetlock. “It’s tough love, Pinkie. We love you, and we want you to get better.”

“What have you done? No, no, no!” Holding her belly, she backed away from the her traitorous friend.

“Pinkie? I don't feel so well.” With a look of horror, Pinkie turned to find her human friend laying on the ground, looking pale.

“Johnny! No, Johnny, please don't be sick!” in a flash, the the earth pony was at the young boy’s side, cradling his head as he began to shake. No, no, no! Please be okay, please be okay!”

As she held him, the boy seemed to flicker and fade, like an image on a lake, while he shivered with cold. His eyes looked off into the distance, seeming unable to see her, and the tears falling from her face seemed to fall through him as if he weren’t there.

“Twilight! You have to save him! What did you do?” Crying, her mane now completely flat and lifeless, the pink mare pleaded with her friend, who seemed to be shocked at the reaction. “TWILIGHT! HELP ME!”

Finally snapped out of the shock of seeing her friend go through a total mental breakdown, one that she had caused, Twilight blinked and rushed to her friend’s side. Unsure what to do she just looked desperately around for an answer.

“Pinkie, it’s not real! It’s all fake, you have to believe me!” Desperately she tried to shake her friend out of her panic.

“How can you say that! John is dying, and it’s all your fault! He’s real, and you gotta help him!” Crying desperately, Pinkie rocked the poor child back and forth, as he faded slowly away like morning fog. She could see the ground beneath him and was starting to see her hooves as she held onto him.

“No, you don’t understand, the pill was fake! It was just a vitamin I grabbed from my house. There is no way they would let an untrained pony dispense experimental drugs, even a princess.” Gulping air to regain her calm, she looked into her friend’s frightened eyes. “I’m sorry Pinkie, but I lied to you. I thought that if I could make you think some medicine could make you better, then you would stop believing in your imaginary friend.”

“S-so, if the medicine is fake, then him being sick is all in my mind?” Blinking, Pinkie looked into the purple eyes of her friend, the wheels of logic grinding away in her head.

“Yes, exactly! It’s all in your head, Pinkie!” Beaming, Twilight nodded to her distraught friend.

“So... that means that I can make him better with my mind! But how?”

“What? No, that's not what I meant!” Blinking, Twilight took a step back, but Pinkie was on a roll.

“I know, the song! Our song!” And with that, she began to hum. The song came to her easily, after many days of humming it to herself and with the little child, and it flowed forth across the glade. Slowly she began to feel weight in her hooves, and she looked down to see John had stopped fading.

“Twilight! It’s working! Hum the song with me, please!”

“B-but, Pinkie, I don't...” Twilight stammered, unsure if she had lost the battle for her friend’s sanity, or if she should keep fighting.

“Please Twilight! You gotta help!” Tears streaming down her face, the pink party pony pleaded piteously for help.

Slowly, in fits and starts, the Princess of Friendship tried to hum along with the song. Closing her eyes, she caught the rhythm and started to enjoy the melody and refrain, despite not knowing the words, or even the name. it had a haunting quality that made her heart ache, and yet lifted her spirits.

Pinkie too, feeling the song flow through her, closed her eyes, as the weight in her hooves grew heavier. Suddenly, her friend stopped her own humming with a gasp, causing Pinkie to open her eyes.

“Sweet Luna’s Fetlocks! What in Equestria is that?” Twilight exclaimed, getting Pinkie’s attention

“You can see him?” Desperately hoping, Pinkie turned to see her friend staring at her now filled lap, with the peacefully sleeping child.

“Yes Pinkie, I can actually see him! Dear Celestia, I can see him, and I am so sorry!” Renewed tears streamed down the purple alicorn’s face. “Makers forgive me for what I almost did, I am so sorry!”

“It’s okay now, Twilight.” With a sigh, Pinkie softly nuzzled the little boy.

Slowly, the human’s eyes fluttered open, and he looked directly at the fledgeling princess, who looked back at him. “Hello, I’m John. Are you one of Pinkie’s friends?”

Sobbing, Twilight wiped a tear sodden muzzle with a fetlock, and smiled. “Yes, John. My name is Twilight Sparkle, and Pinkie is a very dear friend of mine. If you will let me, I’d like to be your friend too, and welcome you to Equestria.”

“That’d be nice.” The small child giggled and reaching out a hand, he touched the face of the princess, who gasped in shock, before leaning in to nuzzle his hand in return.

Like waiting rooms everywhere, the lights are dim and indirect, the seating is uniform, and the decor is designed more for functionality than comfort. As the doctor enters the room, he spies a woman who had obviously been crying for far too long, and carefully approaches her with years of practice.

“Mrs. Johnson?” At the sound of her name, the woman, who had clearly been crying, looks up, and he goes on. “We have managed to stabilize him, and you can come see him if you want.”

Nodding, the woman gets up and follows the doctor into the room without a word. More indirect lighting reveals a bed, where a small form rests, eyes open, staring into nothing. The only sign of life is the steady rise and fall of the sheet, as the monitoring machines blink away the beats of the child’s heart.

“What happened to him, Doctor?” The woman’s voice is hoarse with pain and worry.

“We still aren’t sure. There is no apparent cause of the seizures, and he seems to have come out of them totally fine. I have ordered more tests, but as far as we can tell there is nothing physically wrong with your son.” Face and voice professionally neutral, the doctor delivers the news.

“Nothing wrong? Just look at him, Doc! Why won’t he wake up?”

“I honestly don't know yet.” Trying another tack, the doctor tries to change the subject. “I read the report. There was a drunk driver involved...”

“That drunk bastard was my husband. He had no reason to be out driving, and he should have never had our son.” Her voice turned angry, she rounded on the physician. “The least the worthless ass coulda done is have the decency to just die alone. Instead, he leave me alone, and takes away the one thing in my life I still love. Now I have a son that's a vegetable.”

“Well, the truth is, you son is fine. His body is sound, but his mind is suffering from the stress of the incident. PTSD, err... Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, as it’s known. His mind is just hiding until he can deal with what happened. The reports say he was holding your husband as he died.”

“I know all about PTSD Doc. My husband was in the Gulf War. He had his own share of problems, but I thought that only happened to soldiers?” Sitting down in the chair across from her son, the woman glared at the doctor.

“PTSD can happen to anyone. It’s one of the mind’s coping mechanisms. Your son had been through a very traumatic experience, and he is simply hiding from it. It’s like the toy he has. I was told that he went into panic attacks when it was taken away.” The doctor gestured toward the small pink doll that could be seen peeking from under the covers.

“Yeah, I think my worthless bastard of a husband gave it to him as an early birthday gift. It’s from some stupid ass kid’s show. I swear it was the only thing that made him really happy after he came back from the war.” Sighing, the woman leaned her head back against the wall and looked vacantly out into space. “He got my son into the show, and it became their bonding time. They were going to some sorta meetup with other fans. Figures he would get drunk. That’s all he did after the war, drink and watch that fucking show.”

“Yes well, wherever he got it, your son has become very attached to it. I had to order the nurses to never take it away from him until he is ready to come back to us.” Taking a seat across from the woman, the doctor stared off in thought himself.

“I just wish he would wake up, Doc. All he ever does is hug that doll and sing that damn song. Day in and day out. The same song.”

“Yes, that is strange. Perhaps he was listening to it when the accident happened? Or it was something special he shared with your husband? If we can figure it out, perhaps we could make some progress in reaching him.” Sighing, the doctor rubbed the bridge of his nose wearily.

“I wish I could tell you doc, but there was alotta stuff they shared that I never understood. They were so into that damn show, and I never understood it. I mean I used to be a girl and I never got into that stupid girly pony shit. I was an army brat myself, and my dad had me field stripping guns as a kid.”

Finally the silence was interrupted by a knock on the door, as a nurse came in. “Doctor, you asked me to bring the test results right away.” Handing the charts she carried to the doctor, she stepped toward the bed. “Is this the boy?”

“Yes, Nurse Ratchet, that’s little Johnny.” Looking over the reports, he just shook his head. “It just doesn’t make any sense. There is nothing wrong with him physically. He should be a normally little boy, and yet all he does is hold onto that doll and sing that strange song.”

“Is he ever gonna wake up doc?” The worried mother looked pleadingly at the physician.

“I just don't know, Mrs. Johnson. It’s all up to him to decide when he is ready to wake up and come back to us.” Pocketing the charts, he begins to turn and leave when he hears the nurse gasp.

“Doctor, I know that song!” Fumbling in a pocket, the nurse pulls out her cell phone. Cringing at the look she receives for having the device which is forbidden on the floor, she quickly turns it on.

“This better be good, Miss Ratchet. I don’t want to have to report inappropriate cell phone use during your shift.” The doctor sternly berates the young nurse.

“Nurse, please just tell me what my son is singing, i gotta know!” The mother stands closer to the young intern, and hungrily stares at the device in her hand.

“Hold on, I downloaded it the other day! Here it is!”

As the music began to play, the mother could only cry as she listened to the words. Even the nurse was overcome, as the doctor held her close, staring into space while pondering the meaning to the words.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcrbM1l_BoI

Author's Notes:

Sorry this took so long, but it was one of those things that popped into my head and wouldn't let me go. It was supposed to be a special Memorial Day gift to my fans, but sadly I failed miserably. Also, am still without any editors, so I apologize for any mistakes.

Yes, I am aware it pulls many similarities from Clever Pony, but meh, nothing is original anymore. Enjoy some bittersweet horse words.

Now hopefully I can get that damn song outta my head and get back to my other stories!

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1J68Q0DQPmrpXo32k6Cz8kkdh3tzd9WE9uVaqW8y2P6Y/edit#