Pinkamena had seemed to have found a lovely spot on the ground in the cozy realm of her mirror, as Pinkie Pie paced in the darkness of her room. She was furious at what her friends have said to her. They had called her ideas and parties crazy and didn’t understand that her element was the only shot they had at repelling the wrath of her reflection! The summoned personality that she had imprisoned quite recently did make the bells in her head clank together rather harshly in the sense of a warning. Too bad she couldn't understand why confronting the little-demonized voice mocking her steps had not diminished the growing sensation of goosebumps all over her body.

Pinkie Pie looked over to see her "shadow" slyly waving at her before she mumbled and went back into her deep thoughts. It’s not like Pinkamena could actually come out of the mirror and wreck havoc on Ponyville, but when the pouty pony was at an all-time low, her particular Cutie Mark failed her. Nothing could contain the voice of the captive inside her head, silently perched on a cliff overlooking the chaos below her when the chance to break free was in her grasp.

Pinkie Pie would never harm her friends, but she didn’t exactly know what Pinkamena could be hiding in her brain. When she peered into her reflective ruby-red eyes, she couldn't accurately determine what it was that the mare was trying to shove her way. Just staring into her eyes was enough to give Pinkie a strange feeling of foreboding, as if her reflection was torturing her by dangling the answers she was seeking without even saying a word. She was dangerous to society, always carefully picking out the right words to slide into Pinkie Pie's ear when she had rising doubt of her friends or her life. Her words could detonate the protective walls the sugary pony put up to keep her emotions in check; eventually forcing her to lash out and take down ponies around her in the process.

Pinkamena smacked her lips, massaging her cheeks pitifully; “Could we like get some tea in here or something, all this talking is making my tongue feel like sandpaper.”

Pinkie Pie ignored her while mumbling to herself. Perhaps the danger was not Pinkamena? It could be possible that the threat was still out there, after all, she still got a shake after her confrontation with her reflection. The confusion was intensely making her head throb, the only pony capable of causing this much chaos was the one she was interrogating, but she was much more crafty than the "reformed," Discord every pony knew. What didn't make sense was how Pinkamena could create this odd wave of disharmony when she was nothing but an active figment of her own imagination with no power over the existence of Equestria.

Pinkie Pie pointed to Pinkemena, “You. Talk. NOW! Confess!”

Pinkamena shrugged innocently, “Alright… your friends annoy me, I hate sunlight. Mudbriar is a loser, I am allergic to the color pink, music makes me want to vomit. When ponies say hello I want to shove their heads into the ground, I can’t blink my eyes repeatedly, or I get dizzy, dragons smell bad-”

Pinkie Pie put a hoof to the surface of the mirror, to hush Pinkamena from speaking but she nearly just straightened her posture to overlook the top of Pinkie's head. She wore a grin that a foal would possess after deliberately doing something that would anger their parent.

“I meant confess about what you are up to, quit being difficult you know exactly what I was trying to say.”

Pinkamena blinked as if she had no idea that she was stalling. She casually brought up her hoof and bonked herself on the head gently; all the while replying sarcastically, “Oh my goodness and here I was chattering on and on about my darkest secrets, you should make clearer directions next time.”

Pinkie Pie sniffed, still unable to process what had happened and even found a group of tears dripping down her face now and then. The words of her friends were harrowing, she just wanted answers, she wanted hope, and wanted anything that could help her feel like she was not a failure! She knew herself well enough to understand when something was not right, and her friends shutting her out as if her opinion didn't count was hurtful.

“Well I guess I can tell you just the tiniest most unhelpful thing of all time, how does that sound?” Pinkamena said, watching Pinkie Pie turn her back to her own reflection but unable to escape the straight haired mare’s eyes.

Pinkamena bounded from one mirror to another, until her face was once again in front of her companion. If Pinkie Pie were to explain it, her mirror-bound twin was identical to a coiled rattlesnake that was itching to sink her fangs into the tenderest parts of her insecurities.

The darkened face before her grinned as she tapped her chin repeatedly making her head dance as if she were thinking of something important. Her ears flopped while her red eyes watched Pinkie Pie grow weaker by the second until she finally collapsed onto the ground releasing another large heap of sobs. This was a bad idea, her shadow would just laugh her tail off and dance around the subject like she always did.

Pinkamena cooed softly, “Let’s just say you are right… about a threat.”

Pinkie Pie picked up her head with her fresh tears running down her face as her reflection gave her a toothy grin. Did she actually just confirm she was right? Without even toying with her? The disheartening fact of the matter was that Pinkamena knew about the threat she had sensed, but the cotton-candy maned pony had a bad feeling that was all she was going to get out of her crafty twin. Both of them gazed at each other silently shooting daggers, but once again Pinkamena’s poker face took over with nothing more than a silent giggle plastered on her face.

Pinkamena stretched her back, giving the impression that she was not at all worried about the chilling words she had said. Her relaxed tone was enough to make Pinkie Pie want to claw her mane out, this was a time of great alarm! Why was her twin not bothered by her own confirmation what-so-ever?

“There is a threat coming to Equestria, your Pinkie whatever was telling you the truth… and it sure is a doozy!”

Pinkie Pie scratched her head, how come Pinkamena’s words seemed to calm her in a weird sense? Perhaps it was because now she knew she was right and her friends were wrong?

Pinkie Pie made a pathetic and defeated giggle, “It’s kind of funny that my imagination is helping cheer me up.”

It truly was a shock, the mare she had spoken to for years had a habit of being a bit brash. Her vain temperament towards other ponies and her friends made her extremely hard to get along with, but she still depended on Pinkamena's words to help her feel confident when she was low.

Pinkamena mashed her teeth together, grinding her hooves against the surface as she slammed her muzzle against the glass. “I am real! What did we say about using THAT word!”

Pinkie Pie flinched at her sudden change in tone, before giving a nervous smile towards Pinkamena’s jabbing stare. Like she had stated earlier, she was very opinionated about herself and others; a very harsh personality to get accustomed towards.

Pinkamena’s face softened before she took her hooves off the glass and paced in a circle, she hesitated for a moment as if the floor was on fire, before resting herself with a large plop. She blew a strand of flat hair out of her face, before resting her chin on the floor and gazing into Pinkie Pie’s watering eyes with a look that couldn’t be deciphered.

Pinkie Pie sighed, “Even though I was right about the threat I still made a mistake by putting my friends in danger.”

Pinkamena’s ears shot up, before twisting towards Pinkie’s voice without moving her head. “Your friends are a mistake!” she mumbled.

Pinkie Pie quickly defended her friends without a second thought, “Pinkamena they aren’t a mistake!”

Her words were not of a lie, and Pinkie Pie just wanted to stick a disapproving tongue out towards the demeaning eyes of her conversation partner. For the first time ever, her reflection's eyes seemed to submit to the harsh gaze of the wet-cheeked pony in front of her. Pinkamena picked her head up noticing Pinkie’s change in attitude and decided to gently ease her back into a state of calm.

“My deepest apologies,” she chirped.

Pinkie Pie let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding, as she eased her body back into a sitting position before Pinkamena’s cocky voice decided to creep back into her ears, “They are a regret.”

Pinkie was about to force her twin to apologize, but her voice caught in her throat. Pinkamena seemed to be proud of herself, knowing she hit a nerve and created questions forming in the back of Pinkie Pie’s mind. Did she regret having them as friends? Did they regret having her as a friend? She hated the way they spoke to her, and she hated the way they acted, but they were still her friends! They were just in the heat of the moment, scared of what would happen during the battle and upset that Pinkie Pie seemed to put them in danger.

Pinkamena tapped her hooves on the ground, “you know the shadow pony they were fighting did flee… all because of your party cannon. You got him away from the town, and not to brag but also averted a crisis! Also, have you wondered why the fight was brought to you and why he was distracted when you spoke?”

The mare was chill as she practiced with an invisible bongo on the floor, making a beat separating them from the eerie night silence. Pinkie Pie lost herself in a deep trance, she didn’t remember seeing any of that… but Pinkamena seemed to have caught it all when she was unaware… how could a figment of her imagination have that ability?

Pinkie Pie looked at Pinkamena curiously, “H-How did you catch all that?”

Her twin winked at her before grinning once again her mischief seething through her white teeth, “told you I am real. You have two extra set of eyes watching at all times, but only four hooves exclusive to you since I cannot get out of this darn mirror!”

Pinkamena clawed at the surface, her hooves running against it like a puppy begging to be let out of its cage. Her twisted up face and cries of frustration and little pouts were sort of adorable, it just made Pinkie's soft side want to scoop her up and pat her mane to comfort her. She would never... never tell Pinkamena these thoughts though, for fear of enduring the endless howling rage that her angry counterpart would expel for the rest of her days.

Pinkie Pie managed to let out a small giggle, the sight of Pinkamena trying to force her way out of the mirror just looked kinda… funny. She quickly decided to stop herself in concern that the other pony in the room would catch on, but her snorts and chokes couldn't be suppressed.

Pinkamena’s ears caught onto Pinkie Pie who was trying to stifle a laugh, by covering her mouth with her hoof. Pinkie’s “extra set of eyes” seemed somewhat amused as she cocked her head to the side and examined the mare.

“Do my ears and eyes deceive me, or did I actually make you laugh?”

Pinkie’s muffled chuckle stopped for a second as she nodded her head in response to Pinkamena. It was undeniable that her actions had made her giggle quite a bit, but she still had a tickle in her stomach with the fear of her other minded mare's reaction.

Pinkamena seemed rather surprised that her actions made Pinkie Pie laugh, and her look of astonishment and confusion just made her laugh harder. Sure Pinkamena was mischievous, but her reflection was the only thing she could talk to during her darkest hours, and the same went for her devious little shadow as well. They had each other at the end of the day, and the storm that was formed by the outside world could knock her down as much as it wanted, but she was never alone during the worst of the wind... and she did not know if that was a good or a bad thing yet.

Funny thing was Pinkie Pie found herself… enjoying it? Did she really just admit that to herself? Pinkamena was actually starting to grow on her, regardless of her past... ahem.. bad examples.

“Thing is Pinkie, the way I see it your friends seem to be the constant problem with your sanity. Every time they muck up your happiness we both always end up here, questioning their friendship and wondering what you did wrong. Do you ever think that they might be the problem?”

Pinkie Pie wanted to disagree with her, but the question still lingered in her head without an answer for a shocking amount of time. Her friends were good… loyal, kind, honest, genuine and magical; but did she really fit in with the rest of them when it came down to it? They had their ups and downs, but calling her parties crazy and dangerous was just hurtful and something she couldn’t bring herself to smoothen over. Her heart was bleeding with puncture wounds from the jabs of insults they threw at her, so Pinkamena's question still remained with the forming words in her head; was this healthy?

When Pinkie Pie looked up, Pinkamena met her eyes with a soft but curious expression. She seemed to have reacted well the last time her deflated playmate laughed, and so she perked up wanting to experiment with this feeling and playfully poke fun at something once again. Pinkie could guess that in her own way, she was trying to cheer her up without giving the impression that she actually cared... which failed miserably.

“Friends or not, nothing can be done about today just worry about tomorrow when the sun is up. Just don’t summon me in the sunlight, vampires burn in the rays of the sun.”

Pinkie snorted jokingly, “Pinkamena you aren’t a vampire silly.”

She gave the mare a dark, mysterious look before lowering her head and replying, “How can you be sure? I do love feasting on the blood of my enemies.”

Pinkie Pie’s ears dropped, teasing Pinkamena by acting like she didn't understand “W-What?”

Pinkamena sighed, “That was my attempt at a joke.”

The mare lit up, trying to shoo away the dark cloud forming overtop of Pinkamena's head. Clearly she didn't get that Pinkie was just teasing her! It was strange knowing that the depressed companion of hers fed off of teasing but couldn't fit the pieces together when she played back.

"Pinkamena I was just-"

“It’s not funny anymore.”

“Sure it is, I get it I was just-”

“You RUINED it go to bed!”

Pinkie Pie pushed out her bottom lip in an attempt to gleefully poke fun of her pouting reflection but was met by a wrinkled muzzle and flattened ears. She could almost swear that a scarlet blush of embarrassment formed over the pale cheeks of her mood-supporter even though she wouldn't admit to giving her that title either. She genuinely was trying to help, even though she would hiss and bite if Pinkie Pie were to bring it up. The cheered up mare felt her jaws stretch into a yawn, and soon Pinkamena's harsh command for her to sleep was starting to sound refreshing to her. So the tired party pony sulked drowsily to her bed, climbing in, and rested her head on the soft pile of marshmallows stored in her pillowcase.

“Hey Pinkamena,” Pinkie Pie called out causing the other mare’s ears to flick, but her head did not move, “You aren’t so bad.”

The silence in the room was nerve-wracking, she didn't know how the sulking mare would take it. Believe it or not, even though Pinkie had admitted to feeling better by speaking to her own self she wanted to befriend the shadow in the mirror. She just seemed so lively, with hidden potential locked up tight to where it would never see the sunlight in fear that it might be rejected. Pinkie Pie was silly and non-serious about eighty percent of her life, but during that twenty percent she could think deeply and expose ponies when they least expected it. Pinkamena was lonely, it was present in her voice, and she seemed strangely... jaded?

Pinkie Pie knew a scared and hurt pony any day, but for the life of her, she couldn't understand how her imagination could function with these properties... like she was real.

Pinkamena mocked Pinkie Pie silently by mouthing her words, before mumbling a reply, “I still hate you.”

Pinkie Pie giggled, “don’t ruin the moment party pooper.”

Pinkamena turned her head and fluttered her tongue making a fart sound, as she curled inwards towards the closet and faced her back to Pinkie Pie. While her thoughts started to fade away, and her eyes started to drift into the pleasant realm of dreamland, Pinkie Pie had one last thought skip across the open meadows of her mind.

Perhaps Pinkamena is more real then she initially thought?

With that last thought, she left go of reality and plunged into a deep sleep.

“Ten thousand and one, ten thousand and two..”

Pinkie Pie mumbled as she heard a voice awakening her senses, but she hugged her blanket and tried to force herself to fall back into the peaceful state of her dreams. The voice kept counting, and the warm embrace of the dream realm started to fade as her eyes fluttered open and the bright sunlight hit her right in the face.

Pinkie Pie rubbed her head, forcing all the sleepy stars circling her head to go away as her eyes crept to the mirror where Pinkamena was on her back looking up at the ceiling in the mirror. Her mane was sprawled messily on the ground, her eyes weirdly straining as her hoof waved in the air tracing something on the ceiling.

“Ten thousand and twenty… wait nineteen? No! I lost count, and I have to start all over! Where was my spot anyways?”

Her nose was scrunched up in concentration and her sleepy, happy counterpart couldn’t help but be intrigued at what the counting mare was doing.

Pinkie's eyes squinted before she eagerly traced her sleep-deprived partner's line of sight up to an icing slathered ceiling above her. Her goofy grin immediately resurfaced for the first time that morning when her mind caught onto what was going on. She realized her acquaintance had spent all night in concentration, counting all the misfires of icing drops that had failed to reach their delicious objective; when Pinkie Pie was frosting the pastries in her room. She just had to ask, because it sounded just as entertaining as watching paint dry, and Pinkie has been there and done that! She swears to Celestia never again!

“Why are you counting the dots of icing on the ceiling?” Pinkie Pie asked the color washed pony, starting her journey counting all over again.

Pinkamena turned her head and gave her a bored look, before returning her gaze back to her spot; "Well you didn't exactly banish me back to your Bumgeon-"

"Fungeon," the giggling pony said, lightly correcting the bored pony before her.

Pinkamena covered her eyes with her hooves, sliding them down her face while making a long and exaggerated low growl; "whatever you call IT." She took a deep breath before rolling over and giving Pinkie Pie a smirk, "I was counting all the times you avoided diabetes since you decided to let me hang around a little longer."

Pinkie Pie burst out laughing, almost scaring the fur right off of Pinkamena! Her unexpected crack of laughter made the annoyed mare hold her ears as Pinkie Pie's piercing laugh surrounded them both. She knew her die-hard laugh was very loud, but she couldn't help it... it was funny! Pinkamena’s face was suddenly pressed against the mirror, as her tail swept across the floor. She watched Pinkie Pie sigh once her laughter stopped as the memories of her friends started crawling back.

“Why the long face Pinkie Pie? Get it, because you are a pony? This is the only moment in history where this joke is relevant.”

Pinkie Pie smirked in appreciation towards Pinkamena, “Are you trying to cheer me up?”

She heard a low hiss from behind the mirror as the dark pink pony stuck up her nose in defiance, “Get over yourself Pinkie my job isn’t to throw flowers around your hooves when you walk.”

Her attitude changes from playful and teasing into cold and rude pretty quick, but her sudden change in gears was not surprising. Pinkamena usually had a conflict in her mind, she was unpredictable to what she was going to say. She could be leaking sugar, but just before you get comfortable, she can come up and bite you with a mouth full of venom.

Pinkie Pie flashed Pinkamena a grand smile, before coming close to her reflection and smiling. Her scowling other-self seemed a little uncomfortable with how close she was without thinking twice of invading Pinkamena’s space.

Pinkie Pie snorted, “Pinkamena you know you can be nice it wouldn’t kill you, trust me its fun and you know I am an expert at anything fun related.”

Pinkamena rolled her eyes, “Oh goodie, teach me senpai."

Her muzzle created wrinkles as if she was attempting to growl, with her eyes squinted and prying. Pinkie Pie took her face away from the glass, allowing the mare on the other side to relax her arched spine. She was poised in an attempt to be defensive like she was about to rake invisible claws right across Pinkie’s cheek!

“You’ll warm up to me, every pony does!”

Pinkamena chuckled darkly at Pinkie Pie’s cheery words, her happy and colorful counterpart was just as annoying as when they first met. Nothing seemed to change, Pinkie was still as giddy and cuddly as if nothing had ever come in-between her and her happiness. The friends she had didn't seem to have an effect on her anymore since she talked to her, and Pinkamena could almost swear she was going a few steps backward.

Pinkie Pie walked over to the door, as Pinkamena lost herself in a deep thinking coma unable to register anything around her. The refreshed mare breathed in the fresh air flowing from her window, happy that she could start baking and serving ponies during her job. Most ponies complained about their work, but Pinkie Pie rather enjoyed the feeling of watching ponies and their glowing faces when she brought their tasty treat to them.

It was even more rewarding when she made them feel better, by gently soothing them and making them smile. Pinkie Pie’s heart was full of love, accessible to any pony that needed it, but her cuddly waterfall of love couldn’t wash away all the doubts running through her mind. Some ponies thought her ways of expressing herself were crazy, and now she knew Rainbow Dash felt the same. Her parties were the only thing she knew she was good at, the reason her element reacted with the magic inside her… laughter was a powerful weapon, able to change the darkest situations into a gathering of friends.

Pinkamena was right about one thing, her friends were scared of what they couldn’t understand, and that made them a problem. If her summoned reflection was speaking the truth, the crazed shadow pony that was mentioned fled instead of continuously attacking the town. Then again, her party was the issue that caused him to be drawn towards Town Square.. but why?

They didn’t understand Pinkie Pie’s methods, but Pinkamena picked up on the threat as well, so she knew she was onto something. Her hunches are usually correct, well the ones that were serious that is.

Pinkie Pie slipped on her baker hat, only to see Pinkamena’s eyes grow wide and her ears droop in fear. Her eyes reflected that of an abandoned filly, left alone to wander the outskirts of Equestria without any knowledge as to what she did to deserve it. It was quite the heartbreaking scene, and she couldn't help but want to stay with the mare in an attempt to show her that Pinkie Pie cared and that she was never going to abandon a broken soul such as hers.

“W-Wait, please don’t leave me here, I get lonely! Let me OUT!” Her raging voice pierced the air as she covered her ears with her hooves as if the confinement of the mirror was starting to make her a little crazy. Pinkie Pie felt terrible for the mare in the mirror, the chaotic and mischievous side of her was forever doomed to live in a dimension deep within Pinkie’s mind. Pinkamena’s personality was locked away tight for a long while, before she was summoned forth once again during Pinkie’s break down; and she could only guess that she didn’t want to go back there.

Her emotions seemed just… so real.

Pinkamena only existed through Pinkie Pie, gently guiding her emotions to cause her mane and tail to flatten in distress. She was still Pinkie Pie regardless of her change in mood during those times though. She just never understood why she could speak to something like it was a whole other mind altogether, picking up on detail, generating her own opinions, and emotions. Pinkie Pie had spoken to other ponies about talking to another individual in her head. Her old therapist had said when Pinkie Pie gets lonely her brain mimics the job of her friends, creating some pony for her to talk to when she was alone.

Pinkie Pie was not crazy, sure she was loony and a little on the odd side… but NOT crazy.

Pinkie Pie giggled, “Don’t worry Pinkamena I will be back! After all, I am not one to have fun without my friends!”

Pinkamena snarled, but her gesture of annoyance was overlooked as Pinkie Pie bounced her way through the doorframe. She would be back, she would finish up her work and come running back to the group of mirrors containing the negative friend that she grew a fondness for! One way or another they would and WILL be friends.

“We are not FRIENDS!” Pinkamena shouted after her, sticking her hoof towards the surface of the mirror in an attempt to point. Suddenly there were ripples in the mirror as if the glass had turned to water, and her hoof was now just breaking through the surface. Pinkamena seemed shocked, quickly pulling her hoof out of the surface as the glass made a soft sucking sound.

Pinkamena was appalled, did the mirror just...?

She sniffed, sticking her nose dangerously close to the surface of the mirror. The dead silence of the empty room was dispersed as the sharpness of her breath picking up over the roaring blood rushing through her veins. She gently touched the tip of her hoof to the mirror, before it bent and shaped around it as if she were cutting through a thin layer of liquid silver. Her eyes glittered with what looked to be fascination, yet a twinge of fear sparkled in the deepest pits of her pupils as she gathered enough courage to stick her muzzle through.

More of her nose poked through, before she pushed her head, and her forelimbs through. Pinkamena was cautious, but a little curious as her body slipped through the mirror as if it was never there. The resistance began growing weaker before her flat tail flicked itself straight out of the rest of the mirror.

Pinkamena clutched her chest, her heart felt like it was about to leap out of her chest from excitement and shock! Her hooves were now solidly on the wooden floor, the smoothness of the wood feeling good under her and the fresh air blowing through her mane. She seemed to jump, as the breeze tickled her short fur like she has never felt such a thing in her life or rather... it was like an emotional reunion.

Pinkamena looked back, her ears flicking as she returned her gaze to the prison she was once a part of. She held a sharp breath when the bedroom was the only thing she could see reflecting back at her. Her face, her body, and her eyes were missing from the shining glass, but she seemed to have expected it.

She lifted her hoof, looking at it with such tenderness it seemed abnormal as thoughts swam in her head, “Well isn’t this an odd change in events, I was not expecting it to go this way; this is strangely refreshing but not at all according to the plan I had in mind.”

Pinkamena’s lips curled in a smile, her freedom was definitely not an accident or luck… it had something to do with…

She shook her head clear, “Just a minor step ahead I still have a mission, and I cannot get distracted, for… their sake.”

Pinkamena made a face as if she was nervous, before taking a deep breath and slowly trailing after Pinkie Pie. “There is no denying it now,” Pinkamena snickered her tail dragging behind her as her ears dipped low, “The beast was finally let out of her cage.”

Pinkie Pie happily got a batch of fresh cupcake mix going, humming as she mixed a few eggs into the squishy liquid in her bowl. Her mane already was sloppy with traces of flour, and her nose twitched at the wonderful smell of pastries being freshly prepared in the oven behind her.

Suddenly Pinkie Pie saw something poke its head around the corner of the staircase, watching her intensely. She didn’t feel threatened, but she stopped to examine the bright red irises staring back at her. Hidden in the darkness away from the morning sun, the eyes blinked hungrily as they watched Pinkie Pie set down the bowl and soften her gaze towards them.

“Pinkamena would you like to come over and make cupcakes with me? I promise it's super duper fun, you can even lick the icing off of the spreader once I finished frosting them!”

Pinkamena slowly stalked out of the shadows with a confused look on her face, wondering why Pinkie Pie never even asked as to why she was there instead of trapped in a mirror. The oblivious pony before her smiled cheerfully, before flicking her hoof towards her in an attempt to encourage the moping mare to join her on the other side of the counter. Pinkamena's cautious steps forward were accompanied by a vague expression. She glanced to the side feeling a little strange without the protection of a solid slab of glass in front of her.

The mare dragged her hooves as if they were made of concrete as she mumbled under her breath, before joining Pinkie Pie’s side. She rested her chin on the counter and slumped her shoulders before her companion slid over the bowl of mix over to her.

Pinkie Pie watched Pinkamena give her an “are you serious?” look, before she nodded at the dark-maned pony. Within seconds it looked like her fun-killing baking guest was trying to hold back a dangerous urge, a slow rising and muffled scream could be heard as she resisted the temptation of screaming like a lunatic. Pinkie Pie had no clue as to why she was doing this and just continued on without giving too much thought as to why she was clutching her head angrily.

“You know what, I have an idea!” Pinkie Pie said, hopping over to a cabinet before grabbing a pencil and paper before slapping it down in front of her making Pinkamena jump. “How about you invent a cupcake recipe, you said you’ve been watching over me for a while so you must know how to make a delicious mmm-tastic, mouthwatering batch of happiness!”

Pinkamena lifted her head, as Pinkie Pie bounced in place with an excited smile. Her recently added "friend," seemed like she was on the verge of a rampage as she gently moved away from Pinkie's pencil and dropped her ears in an effort to block out her counterpart's excited jumps.

“I know a recipe, but you wouldn’t like it.” She scoffed, before turning away from Pinkie Pie and making a sound like she was a deflating balloon. Pinkie hated seeing the frown on her friend's face, and decided she had enough with her depressing mood and she would fix it no matter what.

Pinkie Pie brought her mouth close to Pinkamena’s ear, “Pleaaaaaase?” she whispered with a lingering plea within her voice. Her companion's sensitive nose picked up on the scent of icing, and the breath of Pinkie Pie was what lead her nose to catch onto the scent. She inched her rump across the floor to avoid Pinkie's hot words spilling from her plea, the scent being obvious from Pinkie sneaking in a quick little snack without any pony looking.

“I pity the fool who actually thinks making cupcakes with you is fun,” Pinkamena replied scratching her ear in annoyance. Pinkie Pie’s lips came closer to her ear once again.

“Or I could start singing… all day,” Pinkie Pie teased making Pinkamena’s eye twitch with the thought of listening to her loud and probing voice echoing throughout the bakery for hours. “My mind has plenty of songs about rainbows, and feelings and love and friendship… Pinkamena, I could go on forever.”

Pinkamena ground her teeth together, her eyes growing with fear when she heard Pinkie Pie take a long and exaggerated breath. It would be almost too easy to annoy her semi-friend to the point of breaking, she did the same thing to Tirek and she had a strong feeling Pinkemena would react the same way he did. What would she pick, a song about friendship..? Nah, rainbows were speaking to her today.

"I hope you like rainbows Pinka-Wiinka!"

“I have a rainbow in my mind that I am fond of, but it’s created full of colorful words to describe you right now!” Pinkamena said, her words breaking with a grand crack of desperation as her tough act started to melt. Pinkie Pie knew the pony before her hated everything to do with deafening songs sung by the only pony that could forge her voice into a deadly weapon.

Pinkie Pie brought her head around to Pinkamena’s cheek giving a mocking smile, “All you have to do to avoid it is make a few tiny-itty-bitty cupcakes, nothing you can’t handle unless you would rather hear me sing a song about working and you don’t have to participate… I win either way.”

Pinkamena slammed her head against the table, so hard Pinkie Pie jumped back in surprise!

“Fine!” she screamed from under her scattered mane, as the tips of her ears grazed the countertop. Pinkie Pie smiled, before watching Pinkamena’s head slowly rise; her mane falling over her face before her breath blew it away.

Pinkie Pie victoriously slid the drying bowl of baking mix towards her defeated twin, reaching out her nose and taking a giant whiff right in front of Pinkamena. In a satisfied sigh of happiness, she brought her muzzle back up and rested her eyes on her friend's disgusted look.

She smiled in shame once she noticed the judging looks her ex-reflection decided to give her, "Trust me it smells wonderful! Stick your nose in it and take a big, gigantic, Pinkie Pie patented inhale... then and only then will you understand my thinking."

Pinkamena shook her head, with a large snort from her nose as she stared once more at the bowl. "I am about one hundred percent sure it is no longer sanitary thanks to you. I don't want to get infectious monopinkieosis and have my brain rot and wither into a state of uselessness from your uncurbable disease."

Pinkie Pie tapped her chin trying to understand what kind of disease the quick thinking mare was referring to, "I do not have an uncurbable disease, whatever pony that told you that is a meanie liar! Even though my laugh is contagious it won't hurt you, I promise! Pinkie promise to be sure! Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye! Also, I am actually very smart so don't worry your pretty little head about my intelligence!"

Pinkamena thought for a second before singing a witty rhyme in order to mess with her head, "Everypony from Sugarcube is dumb; everypony who eats here's a bum. Don't care if I make her cry, but next to Pinkie my IQ's high, talking to her makes my mind go numb."

Pinkie Pie stood with an unreadable expression before slowly replying, "You have a beautiful voice Pinkamena! If it were not for the tone containing the urge of you wanting to hurt me, you could rival Fluttershy!"

She made an annoyed sigh, "I give up! Let's just make these stupid cupcakes and be done with this relentless torture!"

Pinkie Pie was nearly impossible to wound when she was on a mission to make a friend, she knew Pinkamena only lashed out in fear that she would be hurt. So naturally she was prepared for a little bit of backlash during their road to friendship, but she knew the reward would be a sweet one!

Pinkamena took her hoof and got ready to stir the batter, but once her hoof touched the whisk it went right through it! Her ears flattened before she tried to touch the object once more this time focusing more attention onto the whisk she needed to grasp in her hooves. Once again, her attempt was in vain, and Pinkie Pie could see hot steam metaphorically bubbling out of her friend's ears! Pinkamena angrily tried to snatch the whisk, her hoof gliding through it as if she was made of air until she kept trying again.. and again... and again!

She made a thunderous roar, before trying to grab the bowl and smash it on the ground; but her hoof went through that too! Pinkie's cheeks grew red from her trying to hold her laugh in, as Pinkamena screamed and cursed in a way that the baking master couldn't recognize. When Pinkamena attempted to kick the glass showcase behind her in an attempt to express her sour temper tantrum, and instead went right through it landing on her chin; she couldn't hold it in anymore!

Pinkie Pie laughed so hard she fell to the ground, tears flowing from her eyes as she clutched her ribcage in an attempt to stop the pain in her chest.

"This is... humiliating.." the floor-bound mare grumbled, tapping her hoof on the ground waiting for Pinkie's hysterical laughing to eventually die down. "This makes perfect sense, I can leave the mirror but cannot interact with any objects... fantastic."

Pinkie wheezed, before leaning over the bowl and slowly mixed the rest of the batter while trying to catch her breath, "Don't worry Pinka-Wiinka I got your back! I am sure you can still lick the icing once we are done, if not we will find something else that's super funerific you can do!"

Pinkamena seemed upset, an anxious blush spreading across her face as she hid her head and nose under her mane. The pony behind the counter giggled at her embarrassment, it was somewhat unexpected and entertaining, to say the least, but she should never be afraid to express herself around good ol' Pinkie Pie!

Pinkie sniffed.... something was missing... eggs? No, she had added those in earlier, had to be something more than that... it didn't smell quite as what she was expecting. It was not a bad smell, just not the kind of scent that would make you float off of your hooves along a trail of smoke kinda smell. "Hey Pinkamena, happen to know what kind of ingredient I am missing in this batch?"

Pinkamena lifted her head, "You forgot sugar."

Pinkie Pie dramatically gasped and slapped her forehead as Pinkamena's head smacked right back on the floor to wallow in her sorrow. She ripped open the cabinets and sharply shrieked when there were no bags of sugar left, she must have used them up already and needed to restock! Now that she thought of it, she vaguely remembered the Cakes mentioning their supplies were getting a little short-hoofed.

"No, no, no, no-y! I cannot be out of sugar, that means I have to restock!"

Pinkamena snorted leaning her head into her hoof as she watched Pinkie Pie start to hyperventilate as if her life was over! She ran around searching desperately for some trace of sugar, just any kind of sugar would do! Her scouring search ended up empty-hooved though. She sulked back to Pinkamena who seemed greatly amused as she sat down with her on the floor in silence.

"Sheesh drama queen, just go buy some from the market; no big deal whatsoever!" Pinkamena suggested, only to see a single tear drop from her upset companion which made her a bit alarmed, "Woah chill out with the water-works and stop being a baby!"

Pinkie Pie wiped her eye, "its not the sugar I am worried about, I am... afraid... I am afraid of running into one of my friends. I can't handle them yelling at me again, and Sugarcube corner is the only place I feel safe knowing they are walking around out there with a big nasty sign that says 'I hate Pinkie Pie' on it!"

Pinkamena rolled her eyes, "I am sure you won't run into them if you are sneaky, but just in case you should follow me I know a little path through Sweet Apple Acres that can get us across town without running into any pony."

She looked hopeful, but Pinkamena avoided her thankful gaze as Pinkie spoke up, "you really would help me like this?"

"I am not helping you, I just think a sobbing Pinkie Pie is more annoying than a happy Pinkie Pie." She replied, picking herself off of the ground and nudging open Sugarcube Corner's heavy door. "We have to slip out of a small part of town first without getting caught, so no singing or dancing or anything that will make me want to slap you over the head with my hoof!"

Pinkie Pie nodded, wanting to hug the unnaturally generous pony but held back not wanting to ruin her assistance and make her regret her decision. They both crept outside, the sunlight hitting the two of them making Pinkamena hiss at the happy rays of Celestia's sun. Pinkie rolled her eyes and giggled before her guide hastily slipped out from under the shadow of Sugarcube corner's exterior and motioning her follower to move with her.

They moved as one silent mind, neither of them talking as the leader weaved in and out of the outskirts of Ponyville. Pinkie Pie could almost guess that she was specifically taking them to Sweet Apple Acres because it sat on the edge of the town in solitude. Her mind clicked and understood that if they were to walk through the farm and around the edge of town, they could walk all the way towards the market while cutting through everything else!

Suddenly Pinkamena motioned for Pinkie to get behind her, as she stretched her neck around to where she could see something beside her around the other side of the house. Pinkie grunted as she lifted her head above her escort's lowered noggin, only to see Starlight Glimmer chatting with some ponies sitting at a restaurant.

"Hello, I am really sorry to bother you Lyra and Bon Bon. I was just wondering if you two have seen Pinkie Pie lately, her friends want to speak with her, and she was not in Sugarcube corner when I stopped by there."

Pinkie Pie covered her mouth to keep from gasping, she had just left moments ago, and it would have been tough to slip away from the powerful magic-wielding unicorn known as Starlight Glimmer!

"I mean no not really, Bon Bon has been too busy stuffing her face all day with hay fries to pay attention to relatively ANYTHING! Like her friend trying to tell her about the stallion she's been wanting Bon Bon to introduce her to all week!"

Starlight smiled awkwardly, "oh well okay, I guess I will talk to you two later..."

When the Unicorn started trotting towards them, Pinkie Pie bolted leaving her ex-leader to quickly follow after her in fear of being left behind in the dust. They galloped past the end of Ponyville, over hills and passed the lake Pinkie loved to chill by with Rainbow Dash, circling back around until they were running along an un-marked forest that Fluttershy usually tended to during her animal bonding times. When she finally collapsed on the ground in gasping huffs, they were near a small cave hidden within hanging moss and vines; tucked away in the silence of the forest.

She plopped on her back, with Pinkamena sitting next to her eyeing her suspiciously.

"This is not the market," she mumbled grumpily as Pinkie Pie hugged herself to keep from crying.

Pinkie Pie looked at her confused friend before responding, "I am sorry I just can't face my friends in this state, they just want to talk to me so they can throw a 'Yell at Pinkie Pie' party! Those are the worst kinds of parties, they make you feel all icky inside and worst of all they never give you a slice of cake!"

"When are we going to go back?"

Pinkie Pie shot up quickly, "never! We are going to live here and become one with the forest! If I don't go back, I can't be kicked out of the group, or yelled at, or put any pony in danger!"

Pinkamena sighed, "well guess living in the woods isn't so bad... it could be worse."

Just then thunder boomed overhead before a long heavy rainfall pounded on both of the mare's heads. Pinkamena rolled her eyes, as her hooves became soaked in mud and her mane stuck to her face. Pinkie Pie looked at her with a warm smile, before gently flicking her head towards the cave that loomed over the both of them. They both trudged through the slippery mud, before entering the mouth of the shelter they now called home. Pinkie Pie wandered off, before her company wrung out her mane, and shook the water from her fur soaking the rocks around her.

She heard something dragging behind her, and when she turned, she saw Pinkie Pie pushing a crate towards them with great effort.

"I... heh, hid this box full of... ugh I am dying here.... Apple cider for Rainbow Dash as a surprise one day, but I think we are more deserving of some delicious treats after what we went through today." Her voice was strained as she tried pushing the box with one final movement until it crashed right beside Pinkamena with Pinkie gasping on top of it, "This is my secret party cave.. well my second one, I come here when I need to gather my thoughts."

Pinkamena grunted unhappily, "I can't interact with objects remember?" She cuddled in the dirt of the cave, listening to the rain as Pinkie Pie popped open the box and rolled over a sealed bottle.

"I am pretty sure you can still smell it....riiiiight?"

Pinkie Pie wasn't sure, but she could have sworn she heard a small giggle come out of Pinkamena, not a sarcastic one, but a real (yet she tried to hide it) giggle. Pinkie took out another bottle, opening it with her teeth, before coming over and leaning against Pinkamena. She expected to just hit the air, but she was shocked when she actually felt... fur?

Her steady breathing matched Pinkie Pie's she could feel her working lungs, her wet and warm fur, and could smell her scent! Pinkie couldn't help but reach out and touch the living pony in front of her, her straight mane slipping through her hooves as Pinkamena stared out into the rain oblivious to the crazy realization Pinkie made.

She was real!

Real, real, REAL... all of her! This was not possible, this couldn't be! Pinkie Pie really was crazy, her mind had really outdone itself this time! She couldn't imagine this, she couldn't imagine feeling and smelling the mare she resting against, the warmth radiating off of her body was not a hallucination.. it couldn't be!

"You're real," Pinkie Pie breathlessly said.

Pinkamena's ear turned to where it faced Pinkie Pie, "I am more real than you could possibly understand."

Her lingering stare into the rain was stopped abruptly when she felt two hooves wrap around her neck. Pinkamena froze, her ears flattening in both shock and frustration at the unexpected physical contact she was now a part of. She squirmed as if she had never felt a hug in her life, but Pinkie didn't let go as she rested her head on Pinkamena's neck listening to her swallow nervously.

The embrace was entirely out of line, Pinkie Pie knew that... but Pinkamena was all she had left. Their warm hug was stopped as Pinkamena moved out of range, making Pinkie's locked forelimbs drop to the ground. It was nice while it lasted, fortunately, there would be more chances to snag a quick hug in the future! Pinkie was ecstatic that her shadow was real, but she didn't understand how it was possible... and she couldn't ask Twilight to figure it out either!

Pinkie Pie brought her nose to Pinkamena's cheek, nudging a bottle of apple cider towards her in an attempt to bring her out of her bad mood. When she got no response, she poked her cheek once more gently encouraging her to take the bottle and relax with her, she had many things she wanted to discuss!

"I can't touch objects! How many times do I have to say it," Pinkamena said.

Pinkie Pie looked into her red eyes before grabbing her hoof gingerly and speaking softly, "I have a feeling that you can."

Pinkamena allowed her to place the bottle into her exposed hoof, as she just waited for the cider to slip right through and crash to the ground. When she heard the solid sound of glass hitting the keratin that made up her hoof, she seemed to jump straight out of her fur! Pinkie Pie gave a sweet smile, as Pinkamena held the bottle with wide and surprised eyes. She started stroking it while feeling the cold water collected on the surface for the first time!

She was utterly fascinated, Pinkamena didn't understand why this process was taking place! She was not supposed to escape the mirror that way, she was not supposed to be able to hold things like this, and her plan was completely going down the drain! Pinkie Pie, there was something about her that was causing this to happen, they were not two bodies they have always just been one. Friendship... the Elements of Harmony, they were all lies... she knew it, she still believes it, they were corrupted, vile, evil, yet still...

"Not yet, it is not time."

Pinkamena felt it, those words were not of her own mind, but from something else entirely. Yet, it was right, and she knew she needed to observe a little longer before allowing herself to crumble under the kindness of the one she feared. When she turned her head and looked into Pinkie Pie's eyes, she saw only concern and love in them; it was confusing... and just downright wrong. She knew the devastation the Elements bring, she knew how dangerous their princess truly was, but here she was questioning her own memories as if they were silly nightmares.

"Pinkamena," Pinkie Pie spoke softly attracting the attention of her thinking equal before she turned her head giving her a half-attentive stare, "Are we friends?"

Pinkamena looked to the side thinking heavily for a second before responding gently, "We are not friends, but we are no longer foes."

They both were silent as the rain blew and howled around them, leaving Pinkie Pie to stare vaguely at the swaying leaves of trees above. They were not friends, but they were not foes, for some reason, she was happy with that; knowing how Pinkamena was that was about the highest compliment she could get. Even though she risked getting kicked in the stomach, she nuzzled her nose into Pinkamena's mane taking in her cinnamon and honey scented coat. For some reason she allowed it, causing Pinkie Pie to want to cry happy tears.

Pinkie Pie curiously looked behind her, knowing the answer but wanting to examine anyway. The result made her smile, regardless of how it didn't make any sense

She had no shadow!

Pinkie Pie cuddled deeper into Pinkamena before sincerely admitting she was glad she had Pinkamena... during the worst of life and the storm.

Author's Notes:

Awww a semi-sweet ending to Chapter Two right? This is getting deep, Pinkie Pie just realized her shadow is real! Yes, I know I did not explain much... but my biggest pet peeve is when everything is thrown out into the open too early! Do not worry my fellow readers, I will not leave you completely confused as to why Pinkamena went from a reflection to a solid pony. I will make sure to explain some of it in Chapter Three, very clearly so the confusion will not be too bad! Hope you enjoyed my latest work, and I hope to hear from you guys in the comments! Have a great day!