I was somewhere dark and colorful. It was that space between worlds I'd been in once before. I couldn't feel Aiko anymore, or anyone else. It was just me, and the ribbons of light that didn't really care if I was there or not, I guessed. I felt around, which itself felt odd, since there was nothing around me, but I could still feel.

Home wasn't there. At least, not my home. The exact place I started from. It just wasn't there, as if it never was to begin with, but I could feel others that were just like it, so close there were other... me... Each one had a Pinkie. I could feel it. If I went to one of those, then there'd be two Pinkies, and though I'd make a great friend to me, it'd probably confuse a lot of ponies.

I was cold, and tired, and worn out from all of my adventure. I just wanted to go home! Aiko and the others could take care of themselves. I'd done all I could for them, and I was pretty sure they'd get the rest of the way under their own willpower. They were good ponies. I was just a beat one.

I felt a soft pulse and drew closer to it. Each world was both hugely immense and the size of a marble, and I held it up close. Something inside it called to me. Something inside reminded me of my real home. Sure, it had a Pinkie too, but that something wasn't in Ponyville, and if I didn't go to Ponyville, I probably wouldn't upset that world's Pinkie or her friends.

I would find it, and maybe I'd find enough of home to be satisfied. I wasn't asking for too much. A nice warm place to curl up and go to sleep for a while would be a start, then a place to start a new life, maybe a few dozen parties! I'd have to start a new personality collection of friends. Shoot, there was so much to do, but sleep first. I was so tired...

I pressed into the sphere. I fell into the world.

Nopony noticed the shooting star that revealed a pony that didn't really belong. I wanted a bed, but right that moment, the cobblestone of that Canterlot alley would just have to do, and I slept. I promised to myself just before it embraced me that I'd find that shred of my old home.

So much to do. So tired...

Author's Notes:

Last Time:

Where'd Pinkie go?
1: Tell us what happened to Pinkie or I swear to god... 5.54 votes
2: Look, I said already to tell us where Pinkie is! I'll hunt you down at a convention! 1.53 votes
3: How'd things work out in Europe? I want to hear that! 2.95 votes
4: You don't seem to have told us where Pinkie is? I'm a l33t hacker, I can find where you live! 3.03 votes
5: Africa's such a huge place! What sort of strains popped up there? 3.95 votes
Total for Pinkie: 10.1 votes!

I am not surprised.

Pinkie? Where are you? What happened to your home? If you read my other stories, you likely know what happened to it and what comes next. That isn't a challenge.

Pinkie is officially out of this story. The tale of One Step is no longer her problem.

So what place should we consider exploring?
1: Go back to the first group!
2: Europe!
3: Africa!
4: Russia/Soviet Union!
5: Australia!