Leave it to Pinkie Pie to take the most poignant of moments and leave the door wide open for comic relief.

The evening of our last Christmas together, Pinkie Pie, Sansana, Russel, Ariela and I were in the living room when we heard a knock at the front door. As I got up to answer the door, I wasn’t the only one among us wondering if perhaps my parents had decided to come over to visit, perhaps to meet Pinkie Pie’s Equestrian friends. If it was Pinkie’s friends knocking at the door, I had a sneaking suspicion that the experience of Rainbow Dash and her human was going to be unique to them.

Russel and Ariela kept Pinkie Pie occupied as I left the living room and headed through the hallway to the front door. And, when I opened it, I wasn’t surprised to see eight equines there. Having watched all the episodes of the show, those on the discs anyway, I recognized alicorn princesses Celestia, Luna, and Twilight Sparkle, as well as Rarity the unicorn, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy the pegasae, and Applejack and Maud Pie the earth ponies.

Before I could invite the group in, I saw Maud Pie sniff at a pebble, and heard her say, “Hmm, sedimentary.” Having watched the two episodes with her in them, I wasn’t surprised to see and hear her do and say that.

As I gestured for the group to enter, I said, “Specifically, shale.”

Maud was the first to enter, and she lingered for a bit as she looked up at me and said, “You know about rocks.”

As I led the way into the house, down the stairs, I answered, “I studied geology for a while, and I did enjoy it. After all, geology rocks.”

Having become familiar with the episode “Maud Pie,” as well as Diane and her personality, which, I was learning, was very much similar to Maud, and thus developing an understanding of Pinkie’s logic in becoming so attached to her oldest sister, I wasn’t at all surprised when she said, in an almost bored tone, “Geology is the study of rocks.”

I stated, “That’s true. But, nowadays, the meanings of various words have gone through some modifications. To say that something ‘rocks,’ for instance, is to say that it’s a lot of fun.”

You know, it was all I could do to keep from laughing when I heard Maud, in her near monotone, answer, “Oh. You are correct. Geology is a lot of fun.”

I can’t be sure, but I think it was Princess Luna who closed the door behind her. I know, as I guided the group of ponies through the hallway, that the nighttime princess was the last to enter. And, it's usually the last to enter that closes the door.

Whatever the case was, I lead the group through the hallway as I heard Rainbow Dash ask, “So, I’m guessing Pinkie Pie is still living with you?”

I answered, “That’s right. And, she’s been doing pretty well, if I do say so myself.”

I then heard Rainbow Dash grumble, “She’d better be. Because, she and I have some things to discuss.”

I occupied the outside center of the hallway while I said, “Now, if it’s alright, I have some questions for Maud, if she doesn’t mind answering them.”

In a flat tone, Maud said, “I thought you might. I will answer your questions.”

As Maud joined me in the corner, I pointed to a door and said, “Now, Pinkie Pie’s waiting down the second door on your left, along with my wife Sansana, my son Russel, and my daughter Ariela. But, I feel I should warn you: she had a cold recently, so she’s gonna be a little hoarse.”

There were gasps around the group, until Rainbow Dash said, “Wait a minute. From a human’s perspective, we’re all little horses.”

I’m still not sure whether Rainbow Dash, or the other ponies in the group, got my joke or not. Considering I didn’t hear any laughter, I’m guessing they probably didn’t.

At any rate, I’m guessing it was Princess Celestia who opened the door to the living room. Whoever it was, I watched Rainbow Dash hover in the doorway, and heard her ask, “Pinkie Pie, are you in here?”

Then, I heard Pinkie Pie call out, “Dashie! Come on in!”

As I watched the ponies filter into the living room, I heard Rainbow Dash say, “Pinkie Pie, we need to talk. But, first of all, why do you have wings and a horn?”

Finally having enough room to move around, I made my way, with the gray earth pony following me, to and into the kitchen. I waited for Maud to enter, then closed the door behind her; then, she waited for me to pass before she started following me again, and we went to the table, where we each took a seat on opposite sides of the table from each other.

I’m not quite sure how she managed to pull the chair out, although I think she grabbed the closest leg with her teeth before pulling.

At any rate, when she was comfortably seated human-style, with her forelimbs on the table, I said, “Now, when Pinkie Pie first arrived, I noticed her mane and tail would curl and uncurl, and when her mane uncurled it’d always fall to the one side of her head.”

I’m guessing the gray earth pony with light purple hair was anticipating my question when she said, “Her mane and tail did that when she was born. Father thought she was possessed, and mother thought she was two ponies in one, and they were just trying to get noticed in turn.”

I opened my mouth to speak, but Maud continued, “I studied this, and among ponies it’s known as pony compoundism. Nopony knows what causes it, and cases of it are extremely rare. Based on cases I've studied, it's even more unusual for them to survive to adulthood. Perhaps mother is right, and my little sister is one of those rare compound ponies. What it means beyond that, not even the Princesses know.”

I waited for Maud to continue speaking; then, when she didn’t, I stated, “Your mother was right.” I looked for an indication of understanding about what I said, some emotional response, but I couldn't see any. After a few seconds, I continued, “The morning after she arrived, my parents and I took her to a vet just outside of town and got her checked out. The checkup didn'y yield any answers, and Pinkie Pie wouldn’t allow her mane or tail to be cut; so we had to study some of her hair while she was still attached to it.

“The only source that gave me and my parents information on what was happening to Pinkie Pie was the bishop of our ward at the time, and he told us that Pinkie Pie was actually two physically identical ponies, conjoined so completely that they were essentially two pony spirits in one pony body. And, he was apparently a walk-in then.”

I watched as Maud Pie only moved her mouth when she said, “So, mother was right all along.” She stared at me for a few seconds before continuing, “Father always preferred the Pinkie Pie with straight mane and tail, something about her looking better with her mane to one side of her head.

“Mother, on the other hoof, had her own pet names, it seemed like, for the two different Pinkies. She always named the curly-haired Pinkie Pie Pinkamena, and the straight-haired Pinkie Pie Diane.

“I think Pinkie Pie always liked being around mother because of that, because she was always free to be either Pinkamena or Diane around her.” She then focused on me and asked, “Have you noticed anything about Pinkamena or Diane?”

It seemed only reasonable to me that, if I was going to ask Maud some questions, Maud should feel free to ask me some questions as well. I answered, “It’s been my observation that Pinkamena is the more happy-go-lucky of the two, the more adventurous. I don’t think either Pinkamena or Diane is bad, but I have noticed that Diane is the more goodly of the two, if that makes any sense.”

Maud said, “Have you noticed anything specifically about Diane?”

I answered, “Well, Diane is the more serious of the two. She doesn’t demonstrate emotion, at least not the way I’ve seen Pinkamena demonstrate it. She defends Pinkie, that is Pinkamena, from dangers that Pinkamena isn’t aware of, and Pinkamena has shown that she's perfectly happy with that arrangement. The two have developed a code between them; and, while Pinkamena goes about her day, I’ve noticed the code work effectively for both of them; and it's also involved me. For instance, I've been nearby to see Pinkie Pie’s tail twitch, and it’d be up to me to defend her against anything that might fall and hurt her, or someone else, or anyone who might fall and hurt Pinkie Pie or themselves. When Pinkie Pie got a pinchy feeling in her knee, again she’d look to me to defend her against anything that might threaten her.”

At this point, Maud said, “Yes, the Pinkie sense. I’m fully aware of it.” Then, she asked, “So, I’m guessing Diane and you have been faithfully defending Pinkamena against all sorts of dangers that could come along?”

I answer, “We have. But, that’s not all. Diane has also been there to let Pinkie know about anything that might potentially make her happy. The two have developed quite a form of communication that allowed Diane to let Pinkamena know, for instance, if there was going to be a rainbow, or if I was going to surprise her with a present, or if I was just going to say something nice or funny to her that she’d want or need to hear. For that matter, the nice thing said didn’t have to come from me.”

Maud looked down at the table and said, “So, Diane has been taking really good care of Pinkamena. And, she doesn’t demonstrate emotion the way Pinkamena does.”

You know, I guess I had expected these similarities. But, actually having Pinkie Pie's oldest sister there, and being able to observe her behavior, I had confirmation that Maud and Diane indeed had similar personalities. And, I remember saying as much to Maud, at least about Diane’s personality being like Maud’s.

At that point, Maud looked up at me and said, “That explains why Pinkie Pie liked me more than her other sisters, Limestone and Marble. If Diane demonstrates emotions as I do, and she is, in fact, a pony spirit so closely attached to Pinkie, to Pinkamena, then it is only logical that she would form such an attachment to me, if she sees in me the goodly sister that’s her other part.” Then, I’m sure I saw her tilt her head just a fraction of a degree as she said, “Now, when Rainbow Dash entered your living room, she said something about Pinkie Pie having wings and a horn.”

Now, it was my turn to anticipate Maud’s question, as I answered, “Yes, she got those while I was caring for her, as well as her cutie mark. And, I’ll say this much for sure. The cutie mark I was expecting. The wings and horn, not so much. About all I know about that is it came with the things I and others taught her. And, that’s another thing. Did you know about Pinkie Pie’s eagerness to learn?”

Maud, who had been looking up at me while I spoke, looked down at the table and answered, “That was one of the things father stopped as soon as he could.” Looking back up at me, she added, “Father never did like being asked questions. And, it was always Pinkie Pie who asked them. I wonder what he would think if he knew a human had allowed, even encouraged, her curiosity, and that the allowance for her curiosity enabled her to become an alicorn.”

I thought about that for a moment, then said, “You know, when you go back with Pinkie Pie, it may be a good idea to go back to the rock farm with her so she can be with you and the rest of her family again.”

Maud immediately focused on me and answered, “I disagree. If mother and father see Pinkie Pie as an alicorn, well, it could cause more problems than any of us can handle. Mother would accept her, but father would not.

“Father always believed that Pinkie Pie was something evil, and he was happy to see her leave after the first party she threw, the party that earned her her cutie mark. Or, that’s what I got from the letter mother sent me after Pinkie had left.

“But, you confirmed what mother always believed, that Pinkie was, is, a compound pony; and, while neither of the two spirits in her is evil, one of them, the one mother called Diane, is just better than the other, the one mother called Pinkamena.

“If Pinkie were to come back to the rock farm as an alicorn, father wouldn’t be able to accept it. He’d demand that either Pinkie get rid of her horn and wings, or he would divorce mother. And, he’d demand it happen immediately. I … I seriously doubt he'd return if he ever left, … or, … or that he’d let mother return if she ever left.”

You know, I think that was the first time I saw Maud demonstrate emotion, as I saw tears roll down the sides of her face. Evidently she didn’t just care about Pinkie, she cared for her whole family.

I wasn’t sure what to do at that point, except ask, “So, what do you think should be done?”

Now, I’m sure I heard Maud’s voice shake just a little as she said, “I can think of nothing except to keep Pinkie away from the rock farm from now on.”

I could only guess Maud must be right, based on what she said, as well as her demonstration of emotions. We sat there for a few seconds in silence, before I finally spoke up and said, “Well, I can’t think of anything more to talk about. So, unless you have any more questions for me, I think it’s time for us to go to the living room so you can meet with Pinkie again.”

Maud didn’t answer vocally, just shook herself out, then nodded.

As I got up and headed to the door, Maud said, “Mormon, I have questions for Pinkie, questions I think only she should hear and answer. When we’re in your living room, will you dismiss Pinkie’s friends to come here, to your kitchen, so Pinkie and I may have privacy while we talk?”

I paused for a moment before answering, “You know, maybe it’d be a better idea if I had her come in here and talk to you. The reason I chose the dining room was because, since the rest of the family is in the living room, I figured this room’d provide some privacy for us. I’m sure it’ll work the same way for you and Pinkie. Is that alright with you?”

Maud looked down at the table again, inhaled deeply, then let the breath out slowly. When she looked up at me again, she answered, “I suppose that would be the best.”

Getting her confirmation, I rose from the table, pushing back the chair under me with my legs. When I reached the door, I turned to Maud and said, “Pinkie’ll be here in a minute.” I then exited through the door and proceeded to the living room. As I entered, I turned to pink party pony, who turned to me as well; and I said, “Pinkie, Maud wants to talk to you in the dining room.” Then, as she agreed, I backed away from the door and allowed her to pass. When she was on her way to the dining room, I entered the living room and chose the place approximately where I saw she’d been seated.

Once I was comfortable, I was surprised when I turned around, to find myself nose-to-nose with Rainbow Dash, who was glaring at me.

Presently, she asked, “Why does Pinkie Pie have a horn and wings now?”

It took me a few moments to regain my composure, after which I answered, “That’s something I helped her with. I watched those DVDs with the ‘My Little Pony Friendship is Magic’ show on them with her, which is why she recognized all of you when you came.”

Sansana added, “Mormon helped her earn her wings, but I also helped her earn her horn.”

I couldn’t see Sansana, Rainbow Dash wasn't allowing me to see anyone else. While my wife spoke, she closed her eyes and tapped in between them with one of her front hooves. When Sansana was finished talking, the blue pegasa opened her eyes again, turned to and pointed at Sansana, and said, “This is between me and Mormon. You keep out of this.”

I didn’t see Fluttershy, but I did hear her from behind the blue pegasa say, “Now, please, Rainbow Dash, calm down.”

Rainbow Dash, when she turned a hundred eighty degrees in her place, slapped me in the face with her tail, which I didn’t mind that much. After all, her tail was evidently clean; and she didn’t spin anywhere near fast enough to cause any pain or damage.

In the mean time, I heard Rainbow Dash say, after a second or two, and more calmly, “You’re probably right, Fluttershy. I shouldn’t have been angry at Mormon’s wife. He’s the one I should be angry with, not her.” I think, at that moment, something of what I’d said occurred to the rainbow-haired pegasa, as she spun to look at me again, once again slapping me in the face with her tail.

I have to admit, on the second strike, it was all I could do to keep from laughing. I just couldn’t hide the smile, though.

I just had to laugh, though, when Rainbow Dash asked, “And, just what is so funny?”

I answered, “Oh, nothing. It’s just your tail.”

I can’t say for sure if it was because of the glare she was giving me, or in spite of it. All I can say is I couldn’t stop laughing when she asked me, “And, what is so funny about my tail?”

I answered, “It’s just that you hit me in the face with it twice, and it was the softest attack I’ve ever felt.”

I seem to remember, at that point, that at least one of the princesses also started laughing.

But, it was clear to me, at least Rainbow Dash made it clear with her expression, that something I’d said offended her. But, she calmed down after a few seconds before asking, “Well, as I was about to ask, you watched ‘My Little Pony Friendship is Magic’ with Pinkie Pie?”

I answered, “That’s right.”

As far as I know, I never got the name of Rainbow Dash’s human, although I seem to remember her naming him. Most likely because she used a profanity before saying it. She was pretty angry at the time. But, I do remember that she asked him why he didn’t watch the show with her. At any rate, she flew backwards away from me and asked, “And, she never resented seeing herself as a cartoon character?”

I answered, “Not that I ever saw. Of course, I started watching the show with her as soon after she arrived as possible.”

I was still focused on Rainbow Dash when I heard Princess Celestia say, “Mormon, Rainbow Dash isn’t the only one with questions.”

Presently, Rainbow Dash settled down on the ground to allow me to get a look at the white alicorn, at which point I turned to her and said, “I’m not surprised. I have questions I'd like to ask.”

As Rainbow Dash galloped a step or two out of the way, Princess Celestia approached me; but, it was Twilight Sparkle who said, “Well, thanks to Rainbow Dash, I at least have an idea of why Pinkie Pie’s an alicorn now.”

Then, Princess Celestia nodded and added, “Yes, and you helped her with that, is that right?”

I nodded and answered, “That’s right. Like Sansana said, her wings came first, and then her horn.”

I remember the daytime princess smiling as she asked, “And, how did she get them?”

I smiled back as I answered, “Well, while her wings came first and then her horn, they came for pretty much the same reason, as a result of a successfully thrown party.” I then looked around at each of Pinkie Pie’s friends before saying, “I’m guessing it actually is unusual for a pony from Equestria to grow wings and a horn.”

Again it was Twilight Sparkle who responded, “That’s right. While there are ponies that already have a horn, and ponies that already have wings, I’m one of the few, that I know of, to have one, and get the other.” She then asked, “Was Pinkie Pie consumed in a ball of energy when she got her wings and horn?”

I shook my head and answered, “Acutally, no." I stopped shaking my head as I continued, "Her wings sprouted from her back, and her horn sprouted from her head. I was there to see each of the instances, and I found it really interesting to watch.”

At this point, I heard chuckling from Applejack. I turned to see her smiling at Ariela, who had pulled off the orange earth mare’s hat and was wearing it herself.

In the mean time, Russel had evidently gotten Pinkie Pie’s brush, and was using it on Rarity, who was evidently enjoying the grooming.

Rainbow Dash then drew my attention back to her when she asked, “So, Mormon, you lived with Pinkie Pie for ten years. Did you ever see her when she was, you know, crazy?” And, she stuck her tongue out to the side, made her eyes spin in their sockets, and drew circles in the air with a front hoof over a spot on the side of her head.

I think it was as much the question as it was Rainbow Dash’s actions afterwards that Rarity took offense to, as I heard her say, in a tone of mixed surprise and anger, “Rainbow Dash!”

I had a sneaking suspicion I understood what Rainbow Dash was talking about. In the episode “Party of One,” when Pinkamena had withdrawn and forced Diane to take over (at least that’s the way I choose to look at it), Diane had tried to pull her out of it with a party involving a dust bunny, a stack of rocks, a bag of flower, and a bucket of turnips. The result was shown as Pinkie Pie losing touch with reality before Rainbow Dash had gotten to her and had to drag her to the barn at Sweet Apple Acres where all her friends had prepared a party that they were going to throw for her.

Having this idea in mind, I still thought it’d be a good idea to be sure; so, I asked, “I’m not sure I understand. Could you explain?”

My question seemed to surprise Rarity.

After rubbing the back of her head and glaring at the white unicorn for a moment, the azure pegasa turned to me and said, “I mean, have you ever seen her when her mane and tail were straight?”

That question from Rainbow Dash gave me the information I needed. I answered, “Yeah, I have seen her that way. And, while she was different, personality-wise, I wouldn’t say she was crazy.”

Then, Luna, who had been sitting canine-style behind the television, rose and asked me, “Hath Pinkie Pie had the chance to meet ponies in your world?”

I turned to the nighttime alicorn and answered, “As a matter of fact, she has. I’d take her on walks through the residential areas of town; and the two of us, on occasion, would have the chance to see horses and ponies in various fields and stables.”

As I remember, it was Rarity who asked, “And, how did she behave around them?”

I turned to the white unicorn and answered, “Well, the first time she met one, she just galloped up to him, bounced around, and repeated the word ‘hello’ as fast as she could; which scared that pony away. I had to explain to her that ponies in my world, in this world, are different from Equestrian ponies; and she needed to approach them differently from the ones in Equestria. After that, she calmed down; and she’s learned to curb her enthusiasm around ponies native to this Earth.”

I seem to remember, at that point, Rainbow Dash holding her front hooves out to me and asking, “Why couldn’t I have had you as my human?”

I turned to her and said, “Without a record of the experiences of you with your human, I would’ve had less of an idea of how to raise Pinkie Pie. Your human's experiences were rarely an example of how I should treat Pinkie Pie, and more often examples of how I should not treat her. But, they were helpful to me.”

Rainbow Dash glared at me and asked, “So, when Pinkie Pie was sick, you never fed her chicken soup?”

I answered, “Of course not! She’s a herbivore! I’d never feed her meat!”

Rainbow Dash seemed taken aback as she asked, “So, what did you feed her?”

I took a moment to calm down before answering, “Oatmeal and apples.”

Rainbow Dash looked down at the ground in front of her and said, “Now I’m really jealous.”

At that point, I decided to take action. I moved off of the couch, sat in front of the blue pegasa, legs crossed under me, and started stroking her mane as I said, “It’s true that I treated Pinkie Pie very differently from how your human treated you. And, I’m sure that as your other friends here meet their own humans in this world, their humans will treat them differently as well.”

Rainbow Dash continued to look at the ground in front of her, and I’m sure I saw tears leaking from the eye of hers that I could see.

I continued, “You had many tests of your element of loyalty with your human, and Pinkie Pie had many tests of her element of laughter with me. Now, assuming your other friends get and take the opportunity to meet their own humans, I’m sure they’ll have many tests of their own elements. Rarity will have her generosity tested with her human, and Applejack will have her honesty tested with her human. Fluttershy will have her kindness tested with her human, and Twilight Sparkle will have her magic tested with her human.”

Whether it was intended as a distraction from seeing Rainbow Dash silently crying, or just a question of satisfy her curiosity, I can’t say for sure. All I know is that I heard Applejack ask, “Now, wait a minute. What kind of human do you s’pose Ah’ll git that could test my element?”

I looked at her and answered, “Knowing humans as well as I do, if I were to guess, I’d say your human would most likely be a politician.”

Then, Fluttershy asked, “And, what about me? What kind of human do you think I’d get?”

I turned to the yellow pegasa, who was still behind Rainbow Dash, and answered, “I’d imagine the kind of human that’d be the best test of your element would be someone with a mental illness of some kind, one that acts out violently.”

At this point, I remember Celestia saying, “The more I hear about this, the less I like it. I’m beginning to wonder if it’s a good idea to let anypony else find their human.”

Then, Rarity nervously asked, “A-and, what about m-me?”

At this point, I couldn’t help grinning as I answered, “Who knows? Maybe you’ll end up with a soldier as your human. Then, you’ll be able to tell your future offspring that their mother wore army boots.” I stopped grinning in a few seconds when I realized that none of the ponies seemed to understand my joke. Or, if any of them did, they didn't think it was funny.

In fact, Rarity seemed to take offense to what I’d said. Considering her reaction, maybe the white unicorn did understand, and just didn't find it funny.

Before I could tell Rarity that I was sorry, Twilight asked, “And, what kind of human do you think I'd get?”

I think Twilight’s question frightened Celestia most of all.

I returned to sitting on the couch as I answered, “Yours is probably the most difficult question to answer for sure. You could end up with a chemist, a magician, an atheist, or a hillbilly. For all i know, you could even end up with a human that believes in Islam.” At this point, I looked around the room at each of the element bearers and said, “Any one of you could end up with a human that could be a threat to your life, or your greatest defender. Humans are frequently their own worst enemies, but they can also be their own best friends. If you can show your humans their greatest strengths, and how to use them to the greatest benefit, then you can be their greatest allies.”

It was then that the door to the living room opened, and Pinkie Pie strolled in, followed by her sister Maud.

When the gray earth mare was clear of the door, I said, “Pinkie, if you haven’t already done so, you should get the things you want to take with you back to Equestria.” You know, even now, looking back on the experience, considering how I was feeling at the time, I’m still surprised at how calm I sounded, at least to myself. I watched Pinkie Pie turn around and head out the door, and head for her room to gather the things she wanted to take with her.

Between the time Pinkie left the living room again and the time she returned, about all I can remember being said was about it being time for her to return to Equestria. And, based on the almost emotionless tone, I’m sure it came from Maud.

When Pinkie came back to the living room, she had, among other things, a few of her board and video games, and a copy of the Book of Mormon. And, when she saw me sitting on the couch, she approached me and, nodding, said, “I guess this means it’s time for us to say goodbye, then.” Then, as she jumped up on the couch next to me and settled down into a canine-style sitting position, except for her breathing, she stopped moving, as though she’d turned into a statue. In fact, she sat like that for at least a minute. Finally, she turned to me and said, “Mormon, I’m having trouble getting Diane to take command. I need your help.”

Considering how aloof Diane had been this past month, I wasn't surprised; although, I was still wondering why she was behaving that way. I nodded to PInkamena, then got up off of the couch and knelt on one knee in front of the pink party pony, looking into her eyes, my nose, I’m sure, just a few inches from that of Pinkie. In that position, I stroked her left cheek with the back of my right hand and said, “Diane, come on out. Please come out, Diane. It’s time for us to say goodbye now.” I waited to see if she’d respond. When she didn’t, I continued, “Whether you talk to us this last time or not, you will be returning to Equestria with your sister, the princesses and the other element bearers. But, your human siblings, your human mother and I would like to talk to you now, if for no other reason than just to say goodbye.”

At this point, Pinkie’s mane and tail straightened out; and her mane fell to one side of her head. While I was happy to see that Diane was finally in control, I was also surprised to see the expression on her face when she was finally in control of Pinkie. I’m used to seeing Diane with little or no expression on her face, and in general monotone, just like what I'd seen of Maud, including that last evening. I’m also used to seeing Pinkamena showing a lot of emotion. But, this is the first time I saw Diane really emote, in this case a mixture of sadness and terror; and, as I continued to stroke her face, I could feel her trembling.

I moved a short distance away from her, then asked, “Diane, are you alright?”

Aside from vibrating and leaking tears from her eyes, Diane gave no response.

I decided to move toward her again and give her a hug.

If Diane emoting fear and sadness wasn’t surprising enough to me, then, when I wrapped my arms around her, she started bawling.

For all I know, the other ponies in the room, aside from Rainbow Dash and Maud, might’ve been thinking that Pinkie Pie was being overly dramatic. I can imagine Rarity probably thought that.

On the other hand, let me go on record that my theory is that Diane was probably not used to feeling emotion at all, much less the strong, profound emotions she was experiencing right then. She and Pinkamena had spent the past ten years with me, and now she was going to leave, with her conjoined sister, and return to her first home.

When I tried to tell her that it was going to be alright, she pushed away from me and sobbed, “No, it will not be alright! Don’t you understand what this means? Pinkamena and I are leaving! That means we’re dying!”

As I remember, it was Applejack that asked, “Wait, watcha mean, dyin’? Pinkie, ya look jes fine. How can ya be dyin’?”

I turned to the orange earth pony and said, “It’s alright. I know what she means.” I then turned back to Diane and said, “Yes, we are going to be separated. But, who knows? Maybe some day you’ll be able to come back and visit me. You and Pinkamena. Wouldn’t you like that?”

Diane continued to sob, but she nodded.

I continued, “I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again. It’s been a great honor and pleasure raising and teaching you and your sister Pinkamena. But, now it’s time for you two to go back to your home in Equestria. Remember, the reason why the two of you came here was to find a way to help your friend Rainbow Dash. Now, if nothing else, the three of you have one thing in common that you can share: both of you have spent at least a decade with a human.”

Diane stammered through her sobs, “B-but, R-rainbow Dash is, is r-right here.”

I added, “And, you’ll be going back to Equestria with her and the rest of your friends. And, when you get there, you two can help each other readjust to life in Equestria, where you lived before you came here. You and Pinkamena can share with Rainbow Dash stories of the experiences you had with me, and Rainbow Dash can share with you two stories of experiences she had with her human. That on its own may help the three of you at least share each others burdens while you’re making the adjustments.”

It was approximately then that the thought occurred to me, and I added, “And, there’s one more thing. Pinkamena is going to need you just as much as you’ll need her. Remember, you share the same body, and you two can’t be separated and survive. You’ve made that a strength before, an advantage; and I want you to continue to make it an advantage. Keep being Pinkamena’s best friend, so she can keep being yours. Do you understand?”

By the time I finished talking, Diane hadn’t completely stopped trembling; but she wasn’t vibrating nearly as much as she had before. Still, she just nodded as she collapsed on my shoulder and sobbed a bit more, then rose again and said, “Yes, I understand.”

I hugged her a bit more, then set her back up on the couch before saying, “Now, your human brother, sister, and mother want to say goodbye to you as well.” And, as I moved to one side, where I knew Russel, Ariela, and Sansana could reach her, they, in that order, approached and hugged her; and the situation was equally poignant for each of them.

Then, when Sansana backed away from the straight-haired, pink alicorn, Diane said, “I’ll let P-pinkamena h-have control again.” And, with that, Pinkie’s hair once again curled, showing that Pinkamena had taken control again.

The curly-haired pink alicorn then said, “Oh, Diane.” Then, she looked past me and asked, “Maud, are you alright?”

It took me a second or so to turn from Pinkie to Maud, during which time I heard, from the gray earth mare, a loud sniffle and a badly-controlled sob. When I did focus on her, she was clearly battling strong emotions of her own. I’m still really not surprised that Diane’s emotional outburst had such an affect on Maud. After all, the two share one trait in common: they demonstrate emotions differently from most Equestrian ponies, at least from Pinkamena.

As I watched the normally stoic earth mare battle her emotions to at least a standstill, I heard Pinkie say, “I know how Diane feels. I feel the same way. Now, Mommy, Russel, Ariela, you come and give me a hug.”

Funny, isn’t it, how I remembered her saying that? Especially when I was so focused on Maud for a few minutes that nothing and no one else seemed to exist. That is, until I felt a hoof-tap on my shoulder and heard Pinkie say, “Daddy, it’s your turn now.”

I turned to the pink party pony and hugged her as I said, “Now, you take care of Diane and your friends, alright?” Although I’m sure I sounded like it, I can’t say for sure how well I was keeping my emotions in check.

All I know is, occupied as she was, Pinkamena only vocally Pinkie promised to follow my instructions. And, she added, “I just want you to know that I am so thank you—uh, I mean, thankful to you, for the things you taught me.” You may find it interesting that the more emotional sister seemed to have an easier time keeping her emotions in check than the more stoic one.

I stroked her mane with my closest hand and said, “That’s alright, I understand. I’m also thank you for the things you taught me.”

I seem to remember Pinkie Pie chuckled a little before sobbing into my shoulder some more.

Now, it seems to me that only someone devoid of emotion, or someone disconnected from their emotions, would be unable to share what Pinkie and her twin sister had expressed and were expressing at that time. I was never one of those; and, as long as I can help it, I never will be.

When we finally separated, Pinkie said, “Well, I guess that’s it then. Tell grandma and grandpa that I’m glad I could be part of this family, and I hope we can come back some day.”

I promised I would, and helped Pinkie with the belongings she’d decided to take with her. That is, I would have, except that Twilight and Rarity took full control of them with their magic. At any rate, I lead the group of ponies and humans out of the living room, through the hallway, and out the front door.

From there, Princess Celestia took the lead to a position not far from the doorway to my house. Then, when Pinkie Pie took a position between Rainbow Dash and Rarity, and Rarity and Twilight set Pinkie’s belongings down in front of her; I took a few steps back away from the group, then turned and went back to the doorway, waiting for Sansana, Russel, and Ariela to enter ahead of me.

Before I could head down the stairs behind Ariela, though, I heard Rainbow Dash ask, “Wait a minute, did Pinkie Pie’s human just say he was thank you?” And, I’m sure it was the flash of light that indicated that they’d left after that.

I have to tell you, Rainbow Dash’s question stuck in my mind. In fact, it stuck so well that I couldn’t help laughing about it. And, I wasn’t the only one. Russel, Ariela, and Sansana also laughed about Rainbow Dash’s question. I remember we made it back into the living room, and we must’ve been laughing for hours before my parents came and knocked on the door.

Based on that conversation that I’d had with Pinkie that day after completing my second playthrough of the game, it’s clear to me that her and Rainbow Dash’s experiences, Pinkie with me and Rainbow Dash with her human, set the example for the other four, who each got to find and live with their own human, or thus I got from what Pinkie had told me. And, my guess is that Twilight Sparkle was the last to go. I have yet to hear of them getting the human I predicted they’d get, but they did each, according to Pinkie Pie, at least get their own human.

We did have to adjust to life without the pink party pony, she’d made quite the impact on our lives. Without her, I wouldn’t have married, I wouldn’t have had my own children. But, as much as I had to adjust to Pinkie Pie no longer being a part of my life, I did still have those episodes on DVD to remind me of the times I’d had with her. And, those memories I made with her will be a part of me for the rest of my life, if not longer. Thank you, Pinkie Pie, and thank you to the people who made the “My Little Pony Friendship is Magic” cartoon series.

And, thanks to the head start Pinkie Pie gave me with the video game, all of her ideas and suggestions, it was only a day before I went back to work on the communication video game that’d allow me to talk with the pink party pony once again. And, thanks to the time I spent with her, I was able to make, I think, an excellent simulation of her in the game, “Hey, Batter!” And, according to Pinkie Pie, I need to work on the simulated versions of her friends. But, my first expansion of the game is complete now; so, I’ll have to work on the personalities of her friends in the next expansion. I wonder now, how many people out there would be interested in this game?