The Last Party

Pinkie’s eyes were looking straight down at the wooden floor of the train station’s boarding platform. Nopony had realized that her eyes were starting to tear up. There were shouts of congratulations and hugs going around, but Pinkie was the only one who couldn’t seem to find herself enjoying these moments. Before her first tears hit the ground, she found a purple hoof resting on her shoulder.

“Pinkie, I swear I’ll come back and visit! You know I’m always true to my word, so don’t worry so much. Just watch, before you know it, we’ll be having a genuine Pinkie Pie party, with all of us there, laughing at the good times just like when we were younger!” Twilight said, trying to calm the weeping pink pony. Pinkie looked up and latched gazes with the purple unicorn. Twilight’s eyes shone with wisdom far beyond her years; there were no doubts as to why she’d been picked to be the headmaster at Celestia’s University for Gifted Unicorns. After being the Princess’ protege for nearly two decades, she had almost matched Celestia’s own wisdom, much to the surprise of the Princess herself. Her thirst for knowledge had led her to learn more about magic within twenty short years than most unicorns who had spent their entire lives studying the arcane art.

“Yeah, Pinkie! I mean, she is the egghead, after all, and she’ll never break her promise,” Rainbow Dash said, adding onto Twilight’s words. She pulled the party pony into a deep hug and started to roughen up her puffy cotton candy-esque mane with her hoof. “You know there’s nothing to worry about!”

Their timid yellow friend agreed. “Umm... If I can say something... I mean, if that’s alright with you...” Pinkie turned to see Fluttershy walking up to her. She nodded at the pegasus, a little bit surprised that even after all this time, the shy pony was still so awkward around her friends that she felt she had to ask permission to speak. “Um, Pinkie, why don’t we ask Twilight to Pinkie Promise that she’ll come back?”

As Twilight let out an audible groan, Pinkie found a smile creeping onto her face for the first time in the last five hours. Ever since she had waken up she had been wearing a frown. She didn’t want to say goodbye to such a good friend. Although the last seven years had been fun, there were ups and downs and loops that life liked to throw at the group that helped strengthen their bond. Their friendship was immortalized between them, and Pinkie feared that saying goodbye to a friend would make them never come back.

Despite her groan, a smile had crept onto Twilight’s face as well. “Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!” Twilight mimed the words as she said them. “I swear, Pinkie. Don’t be sad, I really will come back, and you know what? The thing I’ll be looking forward to most of all will be your ‘Welcome Back Twilight!’ party that I know you’ll throw for me!”

Pinkie shot her an euphoric look. “Do you really mean that, Twilight?” she asked.

“Of course I do! I mean, I did Pinkie Promise, didn’t I?” Twilight let out a small laugh. Pinkie suddenly tackled her into a powerful hug.

“Haha, Pinkie. Yes, I love you as well. Now, can you please... let go... I... can’t... breathe!” the purple mare spat out, in between short gasps of breath. Realizing what she was doing, the enthusiastic earth pony quickly let go.

“Whoopsies, Twilight! Guess I just got a little bit excited,” she giggled, as she wiped the last tear from her face. “I mean, you will be coming back, and there will be a party waiting just for you! With streamers, and balloons, and punch, and decorations, and Gummy will be there, and everypony’s favorite party game - Pin the tail on the pony! Then we’ll dance while listening to music, and have a good time, and everything will be normal again!” Pinkie finished, giggling.

“Uhh... sure, Pinkie. I’ll definitely be looking forward to it!” Twilight affirmed her decision with a quick nod.

“Now, Twilight. I know yer goin’ to be the headmaster and all of some fancy-shmancy university, but please come back to visit yer friends. This group wouldn’t be the same without yer organizational skills and useless trivia! Heck, Ponyville wouldn’t even be the same!” Applejack said, finally getting her moment. Twilight felt her cheeks redden. She attempted to cover them with her hoof.

“Aw, Applejack. You don’t mean that. I’m sure Ponyville can manage just fine without me!”

“Now, Twilight. We both know that’s not true. Who’s saved our plots during Winter Wrap Up each and every single year?” the cow pony asked.

“Uh, I guess that would be me?” Twilight answered, trying to remain as modest as possible. Just then, Rarity rounded a corner while levitating a black leather suitcase at her side. Spike was comically using his tail as a propeller as he was flying along right behind her.

“Twilight, oh, how I’m ever so sorry for being late. But I simply can not allow a friend to leave without a goodbye present! Now, I spent all night making these. They’re part of my new summer catalogue, with extra diamonds thrown in. You’ll simply look smashing in them!” the white unicorn said, while trotting towards Twilight. The new headmaster opened the suitcase and took a look inside. She gasped as she saw the contents.

“Rarity! These are absolutely beautiful!”

“I know, Twilight. They were tailored specifically for you. Would you expect anything less?” the fashion designer asked. Pinkie watched as the two unicorns hugged for what seemed like an eternity. “Oh, darling. I simply hope you enjoy your time in Canterlot. Be sure to write to me about all of your fabulous experiences!”

“Oh, I will Rarity. You don’t have to worry about such a trivial thing like that, what with Spike coming with me, we can send mail straight to you at any time!” Spike looked sheepishly away from Rarity.

“So... Rarity. I guess this is the last time we’ll see each other in a long time...” he said, fighting back tears. Spending even a week without being able to see Rarity was something Spike had always dreaded.

“Oh, I’m afraid so, Spike. I will certainly miss your help. Sweetie Belle will miss you also, even though she’s too busy at school right now to come and say goodbye to Twilight. But don’t worry, I will give you something to remember me by!” And with that, she leaned down and gave Spike a quick kiss on the cheek. Spike blushed furiously, mouthing never washing this again before embracing the mare in a hug.

“Well, I have something to give to you, too, Rarity. I... I hope you enjoy it.” He took out a heart-shaped ruby that he was hiding behind his back. Rarity gasped.

“Spike, this is beautiful! Wherever did you find this?”

Pinkie watched from the sidelines as she listened to Spike tell a heroic, but completely made-up, story of how he fought off Diamond Dogs, Hydras, and fully-grown Dragons, to obtain this ‘beauty of a gem’ that could only be ‘matched by Rarity herself.’ The party pony sighed, and began to walk away. She didn’t feel like looking at her friends right now, they all seemed so happy, while she was stuck in a fit of depression. It seemed nopony had noticed her leave. Applejack was too busy poking holes in Spike’s story, while Twilight was fighting back a laugh. Rarity was listening as intently as she could, and Fluttershy just watched with a small grin on her face. Rainbow Dash was the only one that couldn’t contain her laughter, as she was rolling around on the wooden platform, tears of mirth flowing from her eyes.

How can you cry when they’re so happy? Pinkie thought to herself. It just makes no sense! Anyway, silly Pinkie, you shouldn’t be so down on yourself! Twilight promised she’d come back to visit. She Pinkie Promised! And nopony can break a Pinkie Promise! With this thought in her mind, the mare trotted back to Sugarcube Corner. She didn’t hear Twilight call out for her, or see the bright rainbow streak that crisscrossed the sky, searching for her. She was too busy thinking about how she was going to throw that ‘Welcome Back Twilight’ party. The one thing she did manage to hear, though, was the whistle’s shrill cry through the early morning quietness, followed by the sound of the train itself departing. She entered the oversized gingerbread house with a sigh.

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Pinkie waited for the mailmare’s delivery, although she knew that the letter she really wanted wasn’t coming. At first, Twilight had lived up to her promise of sending regular mail via Spike’s magical fire-breath, but it seemed that Spike himself now had too many responsibilities in Canterlot, leaving Twilight to resort to regular Pegasus Post. She’d been writing every few days then, but as the weeks stretched into months, the letters themselves got shorter, and the time between them got longer. It had been roughly eight months since Twilight left Ponyville, and two months since her last letter. She hadn’t visited Ponyville again. It was almost as if she had forgotten her friends.

The letters she had sent were usually the same. She wrote about how great her students were, how great being the headmaster was, how great it was to be able to live close to Princess Celestia. She promised she would write back soon, but she never did. A month after the letters stopped, Pinkie had cried herself to sleep for the first time in many, many long years. An entire part of her was ripped out. She felt her friend had completely abandoned her and the others, even after making a Pinkie Promise. Her real friends had comforted her that night she’d cried, with false promises of Twilight’s happy return. But she could see in their eyes that they had also felt the sting of betrayal. It was a bittersweet moment, and Pinkie hated every last second of it.

Nearly two weeks passed before she got the next share of bad news. Fluttershy had walked into Sugarcube Corner looking for her. After Pinkie greeted the yellow pegasus, she received something she thought she’d never have to hear again. Another goodbye.

“I’m... umm, leaving Ponyville, Pinkie. I’m going to be heading to Zebrica with Zecora to help my studies on animal health and herbal remedies. I, umm... I don’t know if I’ll ever be coming back, because, umm... Zebrica is really far away,” she said, a tint of sadness filling her voice. Pinkie stared at the pegasus with a look of shocked depression.

“You... won’t be coming back?” Pinkie asked, in a very quiet voice.

“Oh! I will be coming back, just... just not for a long time,” the pegasus replied. “I hope you understand, Pinkie... You do know I will always think of you and your parties when I’m gone... If that’s okay with you,” she finished softly.

“Oh, that’s okay! I hope you don’t pull a Twilight, though. Pinkie Promise you’ll come back, then do it again to make sure!” Pinkie Pie retorted.

Fluttershy looked at the ground, then at her hooves. “Oh, alright. Only for you though, Pinkie. Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.”

“Now one more time, to double ensure you’ll return one day!”

Fluttershy sighed. “Pinkie, is this really nec-”

“Yes it is!” Pinkie yelled, “now do it!” Fluttershy was taken aback by her friend’s sudden hostility and slowly started backing away. Pinkie sighed, then she bounced over to Fluttershy and pulled her into a tight hug. “Look, Fluttershy, I’m really really sorry for screaming at you, but I don’t know how I’d cope if I lost another friend. I hope you can forgive me...” She turned her head to the ground, a small tear escaping her eyes.

The timid pegasus lifted Pinkie’s head to match gazes with her. “Oh, Pinkie. Of course I’ll forgive you, that’s what friends do!” Tears started to form in Fluttershy’s eyes. “I promise I’ll come back once I’ve finished my studies. Everything will be as if I never left. We’ll all come together and celebrate and go on an adventure... as long as it doesn’t involve cliffs, or hills... or dungeons, or caves... or dragons!” She squeaked. Pinkie laughed at her friend.

“Oh, Fluttershy. Did I ever tell you how cutesy you sound when you do that? I’m really going to miss you doing that... I really do hope you’ll come back someday. Then I’ll have to throw you a ‘Welcome Back... Fluttershy’ party...” tears started falling out of Pinkie’s eyes upon finishing the sentence. “Oh, I really mean it, Fluttershy. Don’t promise me that you’ll come back, and then never do!”

Fluttershy embraced her friend and started stroking her mane. “Shh, it’s okay, Pinkie. I’d never break a promise to a friend, you know that. Just wait, I’ll come back one day,” she said in a motherly voice. “Now, Pinkie, as much as I’m enjoying this moment... I have to go. Zecora said I needed to hurry and pack my things, we’re going to Manehattan to catch a ship, and we’re in a bit of a hurry. They’re not going to wait for us, you know!”

Pinkie looked up at her friend’s face again. “Oh, promise me you’ll be safe!”

“I promise.”

Pinkie nodded, and let go of the hug. “I’ll miss you, Fluttershy.”

Fluttershy felt her tears breaking through, so she turned away, not wanting to have a breakdown in front of her friend. “I’ll miss you too, Pinkie!” she cried as she galloped away, tear drops falling freely from her face.

Pinkie ran outside, watching as Fluttershy ran away. Were they tears of happiness or tears of sorrow? I guess happiness, she gets to experience true wonders in her life. She also did promise she’ll come back whenever she can. I guess I should be happy for her. I still have three other friends I can have fun with, and I don’t think they’ll be leaving anytime soon! That reminds me, I should do a ‘Friendship Party’ party to renew our close friendship! She jumped and let out a loud gasp at the idea, before bolting inside Sugarcube Corner again to gather the supplies. She glanced out the door just once, and she noticed that Fluttershy wasn’t anywhere in sight. With a half-sad, half-happy sigh, she trotted to her room to plan.

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It was almost like déjà vu to Pinkie as she waited for the mailmare to deliver the mail. Fluttershy was fond of sending letters, unlike Twilight. For the past three months, a new letter would arrive each week, addressed to all of her friends. Pinkie was the first to receive it though, as a sender’s request. As if on cue, the mailmare rounded the corner, nearly flying into a lamp post, but she managed to right herself before it happened. She looked both ways down the street, before catching sight of Pinkie Pie. With a wave, Derpy flew over to Pinkie, a letter clamped in her mouth.

“Muffins!” Derpy proclaimed, before dropping the letter off for the grey pegasus.

Pinkie pulled one of the baked treats out and offered it to the grey pegasus, who happily accepted her gift. Snack in her mouth, the mailmare flew away as Pinkie tore open the letter and began to read it.

Dear friends in Ponyville,

It’s been a week since I last wrote to you. I’m proud to announce that I have learned much in my few months in Zebrica. Zecora has been my personal tour guide for the adventure, and her family has welcomed me in with open hooves. Who knew she had a family? But that’s not the main reason I’m writing, oh no. You see, we’re going to start exploring other areas in this country! As happy as that makes me, I won’t be able to write again for a rather long time. The area I’m in is the only nearby village that has a working postal office, and the places we’re going to visit are the poorer areas, where foals are starving. We’re going to help in an emergency-help provision team, distributing food and clean water. I promise I’ll write the next time I get the chance, but that might not be for a long time. I hope you can all understand, and I hope you all stay safe until my next letter.

Love, Fluttershy.

As Pinkie was reading the last sentence, she felt a wetness begin to form in her eyes. She didn’t want to accept losing another friend for a long time. As quickly as her hooves could take her, she galloped towards Rarity’s Carousal Boutique. Using her head to knock on the door, she waited patiently for the fashion unicorn to answer.

“Hello, Pinkie. How are you doing on this marvelous - oh! Darling, what’s wrong?” The white unicorn had caught sight of Pinkie’s face.

Tears poured down Pinkie’s cheeks as she handed the letter over to Rarity. The unicorn looked over the note, then looked up to see that Pinkie had already run away, before she could be comforted. With a sigh, she made her way over to Sugarcube Corner, only to find that Pinkie wasn’t there. Rarity put her hoof on her forehead.

“Oh, I do certainly hope Pinkie doesn’t do anything she’ll regret...” she said, worry plaguing her words. She turned around and walked back over to her home.

Pinkie didn’t want to have to deal with anypony talking to her at the moment. Once she had given Rarity the note, the party pony had taken off in a gallop, heading straight towards her private area. It was a small piece of land on the outskirts of Ponyville, a secluded cliff that watched over the ocean far below. Recently, Pinkie had been coming here more frequently. She found solitude here and, strangely enough, relief. She could shout her worries to the world beyond the horizon and they would listen, giving her a silent reaction in which the pink mare would embrace herself. It was like those times when her friends would listen to whatever she said, even when it didn’t seem to make sense; all the times they were there to give her words of consolation. She lay down on the soft green grass, and looked up into the wide sky. A few birds were flying overhead, being another part of the audience that listened to the depressed earth pony’s words.

“Why is everypony leaving my life, birds?”

A bird squawked in reply.

“I mean, we’re supposed to be the bestest of best friends! Our friendship was supposed to be forever! I guess Fluttershy is doing what she thinks is best for the world, but Twilight had no reason to abandon her best friends!” The tears were creating a small waterfall down Pinkie’s face, soaking the dark green grass underneath of her. “It’s not fair! We should’ve been together for our entire lives, and now... and now they’re all going to leave. But at least I still have you, right, birds?”

Another squawk, this time followed by the birds slowly descending towards the ocean below, flying just above the waterline towards the never-ending horizon that seemed to house the sun for the time being. Pinkie sobbed openly, staring at the uncaring sky above, asking it for the chance for her two absent friends to come back. She closed her eyes and rested her head against her hooves, trying to stop the flow of tears, but to no avail. After what seemed like an eternity to the pink mare, her tears finally stopped flowing. Her face was soaked, the grass containing a miniature pool. Pinkie decided to go and talk to her friends, thinking maybe that would help her overcome this grief. She got up from her resting place in the grass, which held Pinkie’s outline, as a reminder of her presence in the area. She turned to look towards Ponyville, and slowly started to make her way back to town, keeping her head down and staring sadly at her front hooves for the entire trip.

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It had been a month since Fluttershy’s last letter. Pinkie watched Rainbow Dash fly off into the sky, a look of determination on her face. After begging the Princess to pull some strings as a favor, the rainbow-maned pegasus had earned herself a private try-out for the Wonderbolts, who were now seated on a cloud, watching her well-drilled performance. She had already done the Super Speed Strut, which involved her flying just a few inches above the ground while moving her hooves in a trotting matter, giving the impression that she was walking at extreme speeds. Rainbow quickly followed with the Buccaneer Blaze. The stunning move left the Wonderbolts with their jaws wide open, hanging almost to the floor.

Turning back, the cyan mare flew tight twists and turns through an avenue of trees, before shooting straight up into the clouds. Flying a close circle around the first cloud she could reach, she gained extra momentum by making the cloud spin. When her speed had rapidly tripled, she rocketed up into the sky, creating enormous strain on her already exhausted body. Performing a tight u-turn, Rainbow started plummeting towards the ground. As she beat her wings so rapidly that they became nothing more than a cyan blur, a small shimmering cone started to form around her body, shaping itself around the disturbances of her passage through the air. Holding both of her front hooves straight out, the rainbow-maned pegasus accelerated as fast as her body would allow her. The mach cone expanded into an arrow, and slowly started to shift colors from a snowy white, to a bright shimmering rainbow. With one final push, the sky exploded with technicolor light as the Sonic Rainboom unfurled. Vivid colors expanded into every direction, as the sonic boom given off finally reached her friends sitting on the ground.

Pinkie was waving a giant foam finger in the air, cheering madly at seeing her friend perform the mythical stunt. Her friends had fallen back when the shockwave had hit them, but Pinkie was still on her hind hooves, leaping and hollering, as if nothing could ever stop her from cheering. She watched as Rainbow Dash began her descent towards the small group of her friends.

Applejack was the first to speak up. “Well, Ah’ll be, Rainbow! That sure was one heck of a show ya put on! If that didn’t knock those Wonderbolts onto their flanks, I don't know what would!” 

Rainbow Dash took in the comment, enjoying her friend’s praise as she gently flapped down to the ground. “I know, wasn’t I just awesome?! But, what can you expect from the greatest flier in all of Equestria?”  As soon as she landed on the welcoming grass, she was tackled by a high-speed pink blur.

“Wow, Dashie! That was so super-duper-epically awesome! At first you were all whoosh! Then you flew so fast! Then you were all pow, and you made a rainbow through the sky!” Pinkie said rapidly, not even taking a breath between the words.

Rainbow Dash nodded as her friend complimented her. “I can’t take all the credit! Your cheering may have helped me just a teensy bit, Pinkie! Now, umm... can you get off me? You’re sort of standing on my wings.”

Pinkie looked down and gasped, before hopping off of her friend. “Whoopsies, Dashie! Sorry about that!” she giggled, looking at the flustered pegasus on the ground.

“Well, I must say, that certainly was superb, Rainbow Dash. That fine selection of colors really did it for me, I may just base my next catalogue around a rainbow-inspired theme, since it was so marvelous!” Rarity said, finally getting her word in.

“Only if it’s twenty percent cooler than that dress you did for me for the Grand Galloping Gala, Rarity!” Rainbow retorted.

Pinkie watched as Rainbow Dash had her ego stroked by her friends. She was so caught up in receiving compliments, that she failed to notice an orange-maned pony in a Wonderbolt suit fly up behind her.

“Well, Dash!” Spitfire said, catching Rainbow’s attention. “That certainly was some awesome flying!”

Rainbow flapped a few feet into the air and spun around, staring open-mouthed at Spitfire. “Omigosh omigosh omigosh omigosh omigosh!” She gasped, before falling back to the ground, apparently unconscious.

Spitfire turned toward Pinkie. “Does she always do this?”

“Yeppers!”

Spitfire facehoofed. “Any idea on how to wake her up?”

Pinkie bounced over to Rainbow Dash and lowered her muzzle besides the rainbow mare’s ear. Taking a deep breath, she yelled “Spitfire’s waiting to see you and she may have a crush on you!” Sure enough, the pale-faced Rainbow Dash jumped up from her faint, as the Wonderbolt captain turned away slightly, obviously embarrassed, a faint blush adorning her cheeks.

Dash had come to her senses. She tried to look her pink friend squarely in the eye, but her gaze kept flicking over to Spitfire. “Wait... What? Are you being serious, Pinkie Pie?!” Rainbow asked.

“Nope! Just trying to wake you up, you silly filly!” Pinkie said, bouncing in happy circles around her friend.

“Alright, now that we got that figured out.” Spitfire interjected herself into the conversation. “The other Wonderbolts and I have come to a decision. Rainbow Dash,” she cleared her throat. “Would you like to be the newest addition to the team?” Rainbow Dash fainted immediately. Spitfire sighed again, before shaking her head. “Are you sure she’s alright? I’m pretty sure passing out twice within five minutes is unhealthy for anypony...”

Pinkie continued bouncing around her now unconscious friend. “She’s just being Dashie! She just got what she’s wanted all her life, is all! She’ll wake up soon, and I’ll throw her a ‘Welcome to the Wonderbolts, Dashie!’ party to celebrate her achievement!”

Spitfire looked at the bubbling pink mare. “Oh, yeah... Um, about that. Look, if she accepts... Well, she’ll be a Wonderbolt. That means she’ll have to get into the training routine, and she’ll have to learn the set performance moves, and it always takes some time for the rest of us to get used to a new flier. We really do have to start training right away, or it’ll mess up our show schedules,” she said apologetically.

Pinkie felt her smile give way to a frown. “Oh... That’s okay, I guess,” she said slightly sadly, digging at the ground. Then she brightened. “I guess I’ll just throw her a party after that!”

“Yeah, um... “ Spitfire really looked embarrassed now. “Being a Wonderbolt is a full-time job. We don’t really get much free time, we’re always training and practicing for the next show, and we’re not going to be visiting Ponyville for another... I think it’ll be about half a year. But I’ll definitely let you take care of the party when we arrive next time!” she said, confirming this with a smile and a nod.

“Oh, a ‘Welcome to Ponyville, Wonderbolts’ party! That sounds like a great idea!” Pinkie replied, glaring at the orange-maned stuntpony through slightly narrowed eyes. She somehow managed to keep sounding surprisingly cheerful.

Spitfire looked down at the unconscious mare. “Want to wake her up again for me? And, um, this time? Don’t say anything she could misinterpret...”

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Pinkie watched as her friend, the brand new Wonderbolt, finished up with her packing. Rainbow Dash was going to be gone for a long time, and had already bade farewell to her other friends. She’d decided to save her goodbye to Pinkie for last. The sky-blue pegasus took one last look at the comfortable cloud-home she’d built for herself, then gave it exactly the right kick in exactly the right spot. As the magnificent floating house broke up into streamers and bands of foggy mist, the rainbow-maned pegasus headed down to her earth-pony friend waiting below. Pinkie Pie spoke before she could.

“So, this is it, Dashie. Until the next time you come back, that is,” said Pinkie, her voice unusually  calm, and her face maintaining a stoic expression.

Rainbow Dash scratched the back of her head. “Yeah, I guess it is, Pinkie. But don’t worry, I’ll be back before you can say ‘Parasprite!’”

“Just... okay, just promise me one thing. Since you are the Element of Loyalty, I do expect to see letters from you! But, I have to ask you. Since your house was a cloud and the only real possession you have is Tank, what did you pack in the bag?” Pinkie inquired.

Rainbow Dash blushed a little. “Well, if you really want to know...” She opened up her bag, and took out a picture of the six friends back on the day when they turned Nightmare Moon back into Luna. “It might be a bit lame, but it’s, ya know... it’s real important to me. It reminds me of all the good times we’ve had as best friends, the years we spent together. Uh, until recently, of course.”

Pinkie stared at the picture. She was struggling to hold back the tears. She had this picture framed in her room, but she hadn’t taken a proper look at it in ages. This was the first time that she’d seen all of her closest friends together for... for a very long time, now. Swallowing hard, she somehow managed to speak. “We... oh, we all looked so happy back then! What’s happening to our friendships, Dashie?! We’re all starting to split up, and it feels like there’s nothing we can do stop it! With Twilight running that university in Canterlot, and Fluttershy, oh, she’s so far away in Zebrica, helping those poor starving foals! Now you’re leaving to tour Equestria with the Wonderbolts! I mean, I’m just so happy for you, Dash, but don’t you think we’re all leaving too quickly?”

Rainbow Dash thought hard about what Pinkie had just said. “Yeah, I can see what you mean, Pinkie Pie. I guess that we’re all getting, what, our hearts’ desires? Our dreams are all coming true at almost the same time. I mean, yeah, it’s really sad, but as crazy as this is gonna sound, I feel real happy for my friends. Even if we can’t stay in touch, we’re linked by the Elements. Our special connection will last until the day we die, I guess. Don’t ever forget, it, Pinkie! We’re friends, and I promise to write as long as I’m not too busy.” The technicolor pegasus flashed a magnificent smile at her sad pink friend. “I’d never leave a friend hangin’! You should know that!”

Pinkie stared at Rainbow Dash for a moment, before suddenly tackling her into a hug. “Pinkie Promise?”

Rainbow groaned. “Do I have to?”

“Yes! You... Dash, you have to!” She yelled, before tears claimed her vision. “I know you’ll be willing... to at least keep your promise!” Pinkie Pie dissolved into sobs.

“Oh, Pinkie,” Rainbow Dash sighed. She was starting to feel really awkward. “Fine. Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye! There, happy?”

“Very!” The change in Pinkie’s attitude would have been unbelievable, if Dash hadn’t known her for so long. She’d released the pegasus and was now sitting back on her haunches with a massive, genuinely joyous grin on her face.

“Now, I’m sorry Pinkie, but the Wonderbolts are waiting for me. If we don’t end up leaving right now, we’re probably gonna be late for our show in Fillydelphia. I’ll catch ya later, Pinkie! I’m really sorry that I can’t talk to you longer, but we’ll see each other again, I promise!”

Pinkie nodded. We will see each other again Dashie, I’m positive of that! You’ll never let me down. You never have before, after all. She looked down, as a tear escaped her eye. Despite her optimism for the future, her throat was burning. She finally managed to speak. “Goodbye, Dashie.”

“Don’t think of this as a goodbye, Pinkie. Think of this as an ‘I’ll see you later’ moment!” Rainbow Dash replied, grabbing Pinkie’s head and forcing it up to look at her. Rainbow let their gazes lock. “I’ll always be with you, so no worrying about me!” She roughed up Pinkie’s mane with her hoof. “Okay now, I’ll see you later, tell Scootaloo I said bye!”

Pinkie nodded again. She watched as Rainbow Dash flew away to the six Wonderbolts who had come to collect her. Pinkie didn’t wait to see them steal her friend. Without another word, she turned tail and galloped back to her private spot.

As Rainbow Dash flew away from Ponyville, she looked back to see Pinkie running in the opposite direction. Despite the rapidly-widening distance, and even though she could only see the back of the earth pony’s head, the spots and droplets flying from her receding form made it plain that Pinkie Pie was crying just as hard as she could.

Oh, I hope Pinkie’s going to be okay, she thought. I’d really hate for her to do anything stupid while I’m not there for her...

--------------------

Pinkie looked up into the vast sky as she lay once again on the edge of the cliff. She turned her head toward the jagged rocks that lined the bottom of the foundation.  There were no birds flying in the sky today. Pinkie sighed. Guess I can’t talk to the birds today... maybe the fish below will talk to me, she thought. Staring at the blue mass that was in front of her, she screamed. “Hey, fish! Why is everypony leaving me! Th... they’re supposed to be my friends!” she managed, before breaking into tears. “We’re... su-supposed to be to-together forever!”

A fish jumped out of the water, creating a small splash upon landing back into the ocean. This was followed by the rest of the school, the sun glimmering off of each of their scales, creating a vivid rainbow reflection.

Pinkie looked upon the series of colors the fish gave off. “Yeah, I’ll miss her, too. But I’ll be fine, I mean, I still have two good friends. Who needs the others? Everything will be perfectly fine, I only need these couple of friends to remain happy forever! We can have small parties, and talk, and enjoy our time together! We can go to pet day, and play with each other, and do everything normal friends do!” The party pony nodded, forcing herself to believe in what she said. Still, Rainbow Dash will keep in touch. There’s no denying that, I mean, she’s never let us down before... But neither have Twilight or Fluttershy, yet I don’t speak to them. Fluttershy at least had a reason... but Twilight was just being a meanie. I guess she never wanted to be friends in the first place... well, she’ll never be my friend again! Pinkie thought. She got up from the ground and galloped back towards Sugarcube Corner. She had a friend to erase from her life, the one named Twilight Sparkle.

--------------------

Pinkie looked upon what had once been a bubbly pink room. Whereas before it had been the very embodiment of happiness and laughter, it was now almost totally destroyed. Every single thing that had reminded her of Twilight was broken. Even the framed picture of the group of six friends on the wall had a hole where Twilight’s face should have been.

It had been roughly two weeks since Rainbow Dash left for Fillydelphia to fly with the Wonderbolts. Pinkie had originally felt joy for her friend, but as the days went on, she found herself depressed without the jester pegasus. She grasped the pillow on which she was lying.

“Oh, I had all of these great pranking ideas I was going to do with Dashie, but I’ll never get the chance now!” she said, sniffling to hold back tears. A loud knock  filled the house, causing Pinkie to jump out of bed. With a sigh, she begrudgingly trotted downstairs, to see a familiar yellow-maned pegasus hovering above Sugarcube Corner’s doorstep. Upon seeing Pinkie, Derpy waved.

“Muffin delivery!” The mailmare chirped happily, before flying in a circle.

“You seem excited today, Derpy!” Pinkie proclaimed.

Derpy attempted to look down at the mail in her mouth. Pinkie took the hint, and bolted over to her and took it.

“Thanks, Derpy!” Pinkie produced a large muffin from behind her, and tossed it in the air towards Derpy. The mailmare gasped and caught it, holding it like a foal, before taking a bite. She nodded happily and flew away, leaving Pinkie alone with the mail.

“Let’s see... Oh! It’s from Dashie!” She quickly tore it open, making sure to preserve the letter inside. She began reading.

Dear Pinkie, and friends. Pinkie scoffed at the word ‘friends.’ Letting her gaze fall upon the first sentence, she started reading in earnest.

Hey! How’s it going? I’ve gotta tell you, being in the Wonderbolts is so awesome! Sure it’s hard work, but I enjoy it! Hey, you weren’t kidding, Pinkie! Spitfire does have a crush on me, you shoulda told me earlier! I gotta learn how you know these things before anypony else! Anyway, I was actually in my first show a few days ago. It was just like I imagined! The crowd was chanting my name, the wind was blowing through my mane. Weather conditions were perfect for a show. You should’ve seen the crowd’s reaction when I did a Sonic Rainboom! I had to come out again at the end of the show for a flying ovation! It felt so amazing. I hope everything’s going really well in Ponyville, especially with the weather team. Without me, the weather must be lacking! I mean, I was their best weather pegasus. Also, how are my friends doing? I won’t be visiting for nearly six months, so I expect you ponies to send me letters. Sadly, though, I probably won’t be able to send any letters again. Spitfire takes up all my free time, and all of my other time is spent learning new tricks, practicing, and performing. We need to wake up early and go to bed early. It’s rough, but I’ll maybe try to write a letter in between shows, but I can’t guarantee. I hate to leave you guys hanging, but it’s really something I’ll try to overcome. Anyway, Spitfire’s banging at my door. We’re going to some fancy restaurant where you have to dress up. Like, ew, who wants to dress up to eat? Anyway, gotta go, bye!

Love, Rainbow Dash

Pinkie sighed, she feared this was coming.. “Letters need to be condemned! They’re always giving me bad news!” she yelled, ignorant to the fact that Applejack had just walked into the bakery.

“What’s the matter, sugarcube?” the earth pony asked.

“Rainbow Dash wrote a letter, here, read it!” Pinkie replied, shoving the letter into Applejack’s muzzle. Applejack placed it on the floor, and started reading it. When she finished, she turned to Pinkie.

“Oh, come here, Sugarcube.”

They trotted towards each other and embraced each other tightly. “Applejack... why are all our friends leaving?” Pinkie Pie mumbled into her friend’s ponytail. “I mean, it’s happening too quickly! First it was that cursed purple unicorn!”

“You mean Twilight, hun’?” Applejack corrected.

“Don’t say that name!” Pinkie yelled. Applejack seemed taken back by her friend’s sudden outburst.

“You sure yer okay, Pinkie? You seem awfully nervous, and don’t try to tell me otherwise.”

“I’m just... angry at Twilight! She didn’t have a reason to stop writing, but she just did! She abandoned us, Applejack. Abandoned. Us. Without so much as a warning!” Pinkie took a deep breath, before shouting, “Why, I bet she’s hanging out with a new group of fancy pony friends at Canterlot, going to parties hosted by somepony else! Trust me, she doesn’t want to be our friend anymore!”

Applejack pondered what Pinkie said, as true as it was that Twilight did stop writing letters rather suddenly, she was never one to turn her back on her friends. “Now, Pinkie. I know things may not seem like they make much sense. But trust me, everything will work out in the end. Just give her a little time, she’s probably too busy reading or helping her students.”

“Yeah, sure, and Fluttershy’s really taking a vacation in Manehattan away from us all! We both know that’s a lie, Applejack. Face it, Twilight doesn’t want to be with us!” Pinkie screamed, before bolting upstairs to her room.The sound of a door slamming filled the oversized gingerbread house.

Applejack sighed, and turned to walk outside, grasping the letter in her mouth. Oh, Pinkie. I hope you find something to make you happy soon... she thought, before trotting outside to deliver the letter to Rarity.

--------------------

Pinkie looked at the giant smoke cloud that had taken up most of the sky. This wasn’t supposed to happen! This is all... Dash’s fault. If she hadn’t left, the weather would’ve been normal! Now Applejack will be forced to leave all because of her! To think I used to call her a friend! The pink mare thought.

It had been a normal day, until the unplanned storm entered Ponyville. Without Rainbow Dash, the weather factory was lacking experienced workforce. They had let a storm above the Everfree Forest slowly drift over to the farmland, not even attempting to stop its electrical rampage. It had all happened too fast for the last of the three friends that still remained in the village. Applejack and her family had taken refuge in the storm shelter, although even that wasn’t safe, as the wind had torn open the door and sheets of rain were pouring inside. The Apple family was forced to huddle together in an attempt to ride out the storm, until a thunderbolt struck nearby. Applejack had passed it off as loud but unimportant, until the smell of smoke wafted to her nose. Ignoring her own safety, she left the family behind and looked outside.

“Oh no...” was all she managed to gasp as she watched her house ignite into an inferno of raging flames, growing rapidly unstoppable, even in the driving rain. “Big Mac, we got a problem!” Applejack tried to yell against the wind, unable to match its volume with her voice. The fire had managed to engulf the entire house by now, slowly gnawing its way at the walls and leaving charred wood behind. Applejack quickly galloped back down into the shelter. “Big Mac! The house... it’s on fire!” she shouted, fighting back tears.

Big Mac’s usually unshakably-calm expression dissolved into horror as he galloped outside. He turned to see the once-grand barn they had called a house, and a home, for many generations rapidly turning into a blackened shell of its former self. A warm wetness began to emerge from his eyes as a tear slid down his cheek. Another crack of lightning shot nearby, making the stallion jump. He turned in the direction to see the unfathomable happen right in front of his eyes - the orchard was on fire. The flames were wasting no time jumping from tree to tree, as if pursuing a target that was constantly out of its grip. The smell of roasted apples surpassed the smell of smoke, as their livelihood burned in front of his eyes.The rain was slowing the progress of the fire, but it wasn’t enough to put it out. His enormous shout had no problem penetrating the noise of the downpour. “Applejack! The orchard!”

Applejack rushed back outside of the shelter into the unforgiving embrace of hard rain drops, matching the tears she was shedding from the loss of the house she’d grown up in, the home in which she had spent her entire life. She turned to the orchard, to see it almost entirely consumed by flames, assisted by a few more lightning strikes to scattered trees all over the orchard. “Big Mac, why are ya’ just standing around?!” She pushed the stallion. “Do some... something... We ca... we can still save them...”

Big Mac rested his hoof on his sister’s shoulder. “Sorry, AJ... There’s just nothin’ we can do until the fire goes out on its own. If the rain ain’t stoppin’ the spread, we sure as heck can’t. Now, you just go back inside, wait until the fire’s done, an’ maybe... maybe there’ll be some trees that were spared.” His stoic expression was back. Applejack couldn’t distinguish the tears from the rain drops flowing on his cheeks.

Applejack slowly began her walk back into the shelter, followed by her brother. She turned to look at her little sister, who was wearing a mask full of horror and confusion. “Now, Apple Bloom. What Ah’m about to tell you ain’t gonna be easy to take in, heck, Ah still can’t believe it happened so fast. But we’re going to have to move after this storm. Our house... just isn’t there anymore.”

Apple Bloom looked up at her sister. “What’cha talking about, sis? Our house won’t get knocked over by some silly storm! Ah mean, you’re just playing a joke on me... right? Applejack?” the filly asked.

Applejack looked up at the wooden roof holding the rain back from its relentless assault on the family. “It’s true, no normal storm could do anything, but lightning ain’t so forgiving. A stray bolt from the cloud caught our house, and before we coulda done anything, it was up in flames. Everything we’ve ever owned is gone, sweetie pie.” Her eyes started welling again; the orange mare turned her head away, not wanting to let Apple Bloom see her crying.

“That’s not true! We still have our orchard! We still have each other! We have friends and family that will always be with us! You can’t say everything we have is gone, because it’s just not!”

Applejack looked at the filly, stunned. She had never expected to hear such strong words coming from Apple Bloom. She looked over at Granny Smith, who was peacefully sleeping, muttering something incoherent. “You’re right, Apple Bloom. We still have family all over Equestria. Say, how would you like to visit your uncle Braeburn for a little bit? I’m pretty sure you haven’t met him just yet.”

Apple Bloom looked outside as the rain started to die down. A beautiful rainbow was visible in the sky behind the rain, growing brighter and stronger as the storm moved on. “Uncle Braeburn? In Appleloosa?! Would I?!” the filly gasped.

Pinkie Pie snapped back to reality. Everything Applejack had told her of the fire and its aftermath was indelibly imprinted onto her mind. All of the details of the early morning disaster were as clear as if she’d witnessed them herself. If only Rainbow Dash hadn’t left, this could’ve been avoided! Now Applejack’s leaving to go live with Braeburn until she can get back on her hooves! Knowing Applejack, though, she’s going to stay in Appleloosa with her family so nothing bad happens... I mean, if she does, that’s going to leave me with... Rarity. I mean, she’s nice and all, but if anything comes up she’ll be the first to take it! If Rainbow Dash couldn’t keep a promise, Rarity definitely can’t... Pinkie snapped out of her thoughts as Applejack herself entered Sugarcube Corner.

“Hi Applejack! What can I get for you today? Cakes, cupcakes, muffins, eclairs, you name it, we have it! Baked fresh out of the Pinkie Pie oven!” Pinkie said, her voice bubbling with excitement as usual.

“Uh, about that, sugarcube. Ah’ve been talking to the family, and... uh, we’re gonna move out to Appleloosa. Don’t worry though! As you know, Ah am the element of honesty. Ah give ya my word that Ah’ll keep in touch, unless something comes up.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to have anything, Applejack, even if it’s on the house?”

“Pinkie, listen to me. Ah’m leaving, but Ah will be back.”

“Come, take a seat! I’ll make a super extra special hot chocolate for you with a doughnut!”

“Pinkie, listen.”

“Oh, we could talk about everything that’s happened recently! Did you hear that Lyra and Bon Bon finally got engaged? The wedding’s in about three mont-” Pinkie stopped as a hoof hit her in the back of the head.

“Pinkie. Listen to me. Ah know things are pretty rough right now, but they’ll get better, sugarcube. It seems like all of our friendships are fallin’ apart, but we are connected spiritually, or whatever fancy word Twilight liked to use. No matter how far apart we may be, we’ll always be friends.”

“Then don’t leave, Applejack! You can stay here with me! Oh oh oh, it’ll be just like a never-ending slumber party! This time without Twilight bucking things up with her books! It’ll just be us two! Please, don’t go!” Pinkie pleaded.

Applejack pulled the pink mare into a hug. “Ah reckon Ah don’t like this anymore then you do, Pinkie, but life don’t always work out the way we want it to. Things change, sugarcube, ponies change. Everything changes over time. Sure, Ah wish Ah could stop it all, but sometimes you just gotta let yer friends go.”

“There must be another way for you to stay, Applejack! I... I don’t even speak to Rarity anymore! You’re the one last true friend I have here! You have to stay, you just gotta stay! Please!”

“Ah’m sorry, Pinkie. We’ve already bought the train tickets with the last of our bits. There’s no going back anymore, an’ what’s done is done,” Applejack stated, as a tear escaped her eye.

“Then get out,” Pinkie responded.

“Beg pardon?”

“I said get out!” the pink mare yelled angrily. “D-d...on’t e...ver let me ca-catch ” - she sniffled - “catch you ar...around he...re again!” Pinkie shouted, choking back tears.

“Pinkie...”

“P...please just l..eave me alone!” Pinkie screamed. She couldn’t hold back the tears any longer. Eyes suddenly streaming, she seized a cake from the counter and threw it at Applejack, who dodged it with a swift duck.

“Fine! Ah’ll leave. Ah hope yer happy Pinkie! You’ll... n...ever see me... again!” Applejack managed, before bursting into tears herself. “You or this silly little town!” she shouted, spinning around and galloping out of the house.

Pinkie slowly walked over to one of the seats and slumped into it. I’m... sorry, Applejack. I hope you can forgive me... She laid her head in between her hooves and cried to herself for what seemed like an eternity as the anterior conversation replayed itself in Pinkie’s mind, over and over, until exhaustion took over, and she fell asleep.

--------------------

Pinkie looked around her room. Most of the pink wallpaper had been chipped and torn away, leaving only scraps punctuated with small holes in the walls. It had looked like a war had been won and lost in her room, and she was on the losing side. Her eyes fell upon the picture of her friends, hanging lopsided on the wall, the frame’s glass smashed. Rainbow Dash’s, Applejack’s, Twilight’s and Fluttershy’s heads had been torn out, leaving only holes, Pinkie’s way of cutting them from her life. She sighed and looked upon the smiling face of her last friend. The only one that remained. Rarity. I would’ve expected her to be the first one to leave... Life works in funny ways, Pinkie thought. But no, it had to be that traitorous unicorn! Followed by that worthless pegasus, then that other even-more-worthless pegasus right after. Then that no-good earth pony! I’m glad they all left, they weren’t true friends at all! All those parties I wasted on them, when I should’ve been doing them for my real friend, Rarity! She’ll never leave me. Never, ever, ever! She’ll always be here for me! A loud rapping reached from the door, an echo filled the now silent and mournful home.

“This... is getting awfully familiar. Every time I enter in deep thoughts about the ponies I once considered a friends, there’s a knock on the door!” Pinkie said aloud, holding her hoof to her muzzle, as if in deep though. “Oh well, let’s go see if they’re customers!” She opened her bedroom door and bounced down the stairs, to see an ever-familiar yellow maned pegasus.

“Muffin?” Derpy asked.

“Sorry, Derpy. We’re all out today. Come back tomorrow, and I’ll make a special one just for you.”

The mailmare had hung her head in defeat, but brought it up again with a large smile as Pinkie finished speaking. She reached into her bag, and pulled out a letter. “Dewivery!” she exclaimed, the envelope slurring her speech.

Pinkie took the letter and waved to Derpy, who happily repeated the gesture, before flapping off haphazardly on the rest of her rounds. Pinkie Pie looked at the return address. “Let’s see... Appleloosa? It’s from... Applejack? Why would that worthless mare send me a letter?” She ripped open the envelope and began to read.

Dear Pinkie,

I’m writing to say I’m sorry about the argument we got into before I left. I never should’ve done that without considering your feelings, and I feel awfully terrible about it. I hope we can continue to be friends, and put this behind us! I mean, we sure did have some good times growing up in Ponyville with the rest of our frie- 

Pinkie crumpled the letter and threw it at the wall. What does Applejack know about friends? She’s too... trusting for her own good. But I can see them for who they really are! Oh yes, they’re all meanies who couldn’t care less about auntie Pinkie Pie! Even after all I’ve done for them! The pink mare started weeping softly. She reached out and pulled the bakery’s front door closed, sliding the latch to lock it. Then slowly, she began her ascent back up the stairs to her war-torn battleground of a room.

“I’m just going to... close the store for today. Nopony will care if they have to go without cakes and pies for a day... or two. Right, Gummy?” she shot at the half-asleep alligator.

Gummy blinked his left eye, followed closely by his right eye.

“Yeah... Nopony will mind.” With a jump, she landed on her bed, one of the few relics left intact in the room. “It’s a day... for sleeping.” She rested her face on the pillow, already soaked from her tears, and laid there waiting for sleep to take her in its grasp.

Pinkie opened her eyes to see a tall red barn standing in front of her. “Is... this a dream?” she asked aloud. A rainbow blur shot past, before settling down in front of her.

“Pinkie Pie! How’s my best friend doing?” Rainbow Dash asked. She opened the barn door with a push, and gestured the pink pony inside. “Come on in, I got something to show you!”

Pinkie followed Rainbow into the barn, to see all of her friends waiting there with party hats on.

“Pinkie! We’re so glad you could make it to your party!” Twilight said, beaming. “Come look at your cake, we had it made specially for you!”

Pinkie slowly trotted over to the cake, before a spotlight appeared on it, making the words perfectly legible. “‘Pinkie’s Going Away Party?’ Is this some sort of prank, you guys? Because this really isn’t funny...”

“Oh, darling, it’s not a prank! We’re throwing you a ‘Get Lost’ party!” Rarity chimed in, appearing from the shadows of the barn.

“Why would you be doing this to me? I thought we were friends?” Pinkie asked, horror and despair creeping into her voice.

“Friends? Friends with the likes a’ you? Ah’m sorry, sugarcube, but you were never our friend to begin with!” Applejack stated with a smirk, standing next to Rarity.

“Yeah, Pinkie. I mean, you’re just not cool enough to hang with us!” Rainbow Dash said through her cold smile, appearing right beside Applejack.

“The only reason we pretended to be your friend was so that we could beat Discord and Nightmare Moon!” Twilight said, placing herself beside Rainbow Dash.

“Yeah! And we never liked your parties, either!” Fluttershy stated, before taking her spot next to Twilight.

“Even you, Fluttershy? Come on guys... this isn’t funny! Please tell me this is just a joke! Just a terrible, horrible prank!” Pinkie pleaded.

Rainbow Dash flew beside her, before smacking Pinkie in the back of the head. “I told you, we’re not your friends! Now get lost, and don’t ever come back to Ponyville!”

Pinkie stared at the rainbow-maned pegasus for a moment, before turning around and galloping out of the barn. Sudden wetness flooded her eyes. With tears dripping off her face, Pinkie ran. She had no idea where she was running to, and she didn’t care. Anywhere was better then back at the barn. But it didn’t matter how far she ran, the voices of the ponies she’d thought were her friends were following her, keeping pace, merging into one raspy voice that hit her from every angle.

“Keep on running!”

“Nopony wants to be your friend!”

“Your parties are lame!”

“You are lame!”

“Your friends all abandoned you!”

“You were a lousy friend!”

“The worst friend ever!”

“Leave. Me. Alone!” Pinkie yelled, shooting up in her bed. She blinked, gasping and trembling. She looked around her bedroom. Another tear came to her eyes at the realization. “It was just a dream, but what kind of dream was that? I’ve never been so scared of... any dream before in my life!” she whispered to herself. She looked at her bedside clock, slightly dented from where she’d thrown it at the wall, but still ticking. She’d only been asleep for half an hour. With a sigh, she got out of her bed and headed downstairs. She turned back to look at Gummy, who was sleeping peacefully in his own little bed, covered in a pink blanket. “Maybe it is a good day to open the store, I bet there’s lots of hungry ponies out there looking for a delicious snack to eat! Also, it would be a good way to get my mind off of that silly dream! I wonder,” she thought aloud as she trotted down the staircase, “why was Rarity in that dream? My bestest friend Rarity would never join those... those meanie-meanie-faces!” she happily exclaimed, before taking her place behind the counter, cheerfully humming a tune to start off the afternoon.

--------------------

Pinkie scratched another mark into the wall. “Four months without speaking to my only friend... Four months of dreaming that horrible dream every night... Almost two years without throwing a party. Why does life hate me, Gummy?” She turned towards the sleeping alligator, who yawned and turned over. “Nopony seems to care about Pinkie Pie anymore... maybe I should talk to Celestia about all of this, she’d know what to do. She can give me advice!”

A streak of pink bolted from inside the bedroom and down the stairs of Sugarcube Corner, before abruptly colliding with a pony coming in from the shopfront. “Oh my! I’m so so sorry abou- Rarity! It’s you! I haven’t seen you in months!”

Rarity struggled to get off the floor. She looked back at her mane to see it covered in dirt. “Oh no! I just spent an hour working on my coiffure!” She shook her head sadly for a moment, then looked at Pinkie. “But that’s not important, my dear. It has been a while since we last spoke, yes. And I have important news to tell you!”

Pinkie started bouncing in circles around her friend. “Oh, you need a party and I’m the only proper party pony in all of Equestria that can give you the most super-duper-ultrarific party you’ve ever had?!”

“As nice as that’d be, that isn’t the reason... Oh, I should have told you earlier, Pinkie. I’m so sorry, you’re probably going to hate me for this. I hope you can forgive me...”

Pinkie, expression suddenly blank, glared at Rarity. “Don’t tell me...”

“I’m afraid so, dear. Hoity Toity has hired me in Canterlot as his premiere fashion artist. I must say, it really was only a matter of time, but I did receive the news roughly two weeks ago. I just didn’t know how you’d take it, darling.” Rarity raised her hoof in an attempt to caress Pinkie’s cheek, but was met with a smack as Pinkie turned away.

“Get out,” Pinkie snapped.

“What was that, Pinkie?”

“I said. Get. Out. You’re no better than the others, leaving poor Pinkie Pie all alone! Maybe you should’ve just thrown that ‘Get Lost’ party in the first place, that way I wouldn’t have to get attached to this false friendship!” Pinkie said, struggling to hold back tears.

“What party? We never would’ve thrown a ‘Get Lost’ party, Pinkie. What has gotten in-” Her sentence was interrupted as a pair of pink hooves knocked her to the floor.

“Why won’t you listen to me, Rarity? I told you to get out!” Pinkie stated flatly.

“I’m not going to leave until you’re sure of what you’re doing, Pinkie. I’m not going to leave without a word like Applejack did!” Rarity yelled, jumping back to her hooves. “If that takes you beating me down to see, then just feel free to!”

Pinkie stared dumbfounded at the unicorn, then turned her attention to her hooves. “Oh, Rarity! I’m so sorry, I just don’t want to see you leave too! You’re the last friend I have, everypony else is gone!” A waterfall of tears streamed down her face as she spoke.

Rarity cautiously approached the pink mare. “Are you going to be alright, Pinkie? I really do have to go, I sold the boutique, and I’d hate for you to do anything... Now, how do I say this properly... Ah, yes! I’d hate for you to do anything... stupid, while I’m gone.”

“I really don’t know, Rarity. I guess I’ll try to be alright, for your sake!”

Rarity pulled Pinkie into a hug. “That’s my Pinkie... Now, if you wouldn’t mind, I’m a little bit famished at the moment. Do you have any cupcakes I could have before going?”

Pinkie broke free from the hug and ran into the kitchen, and re-appeared almost instantly with a package of six cupcakes. “Chocolate cupcakes with white vanilla icing and diamond shaped candies on top, made just for you!”

Rarity stared at Pinkie. “Sometimes, it’s a wonder where you get your energy from, dear. But these cupcakes sound absolutely divine. How much are they?”

“On the house, for my most bestest friend!” Pinkie replied, handing the package over.

“It truly is a wonder why any of our friends left, Pinkie. You are one of the greatest friends I have ever had. But alas, I must head out now! Hoity Toity sent me a personal chariot to ride in, he doesn’t want me to so much as even get my hooves dirty!” Rarity stated, then she looked briefly back at her mane. It didn’t look too bad, and she could brush the dust out on the way to Canterlot. She picked up the cupcakes, and with a flick of her tail, made for the door. “Now, I will see you later, Pinkie. Until next time, darling!”

Pinkie watched her friend leave, without even a promise of writing a letter. Maybe she forgot? I think she’ll write letters at least... Then again, Rainbow Dash had to stop even though I know she’d have lots of spare time, despite what Spitfire said about them always being busy, and I guess ignoring Applejack maybe was a bad idea... Fluttershy is gone for who knows how long, and Twilight, well. I’m not going to bother with her. But Rarity really should’ve talked to me before she sold the boutique, I mean... why would she talk to me after selling it? Maybe... no. That can’t be it. Maybe she is trying to get away from me. That’s why she was already packed and ready to leave upon coming here! She was trying to get away from me! That bucking liar! Pinkie thought, as everything finally clicked together for the pony. She galloped upstairs. With a look around her room, she trotted over to the picture of her now ex-friends with four holes already in it. She aimed her hoof at Rarity’s head, and struck the wall with all her strength.

--------------------

“Pinkie, I’ve looked over every single medical note I can find, and there just seems to be no logical explanation for your condition. I don’t understand why your coat would lose its color and, your hair, its volume. I’m sorry for scheduling this emergency appointment, I thought there may have been something seriously wrong with you,” Nurse Redheart stated, flipping over some notes. “But do you know why this could be happening?”

Pinkie put her hoof to her muzzle. “Well, it usually only happens when I’m really sad I guess...”

“Oh? So you’re going through depression? Well, let me prescribe something for that, can’t have you getting too sad about things!” Redheart said while opening up one of her cabinets. She sifted through it, and grabbed a pill bottle. She placed the small container beside Pinkie. “This here is called an anti-depressant, I’m going to prescribe them for you, but I must warn you. Don’t mix them with alcohol, and only take one of those a day. Having more than the maximum dose could be fatal, and we really don’t want that!”

Pinkie took the bottle and turned to walk out. “Thanks... I guess. See you later, miss Redheart.”

“Oh, Pinkie! Before you go!” The dull-pink earth pony turned around. “I expect to see you next month, so we can see how those anti-depressants are working, okay?”

“Will do. Bye.” Pinkie turned back towards the exit of the clinic, and walked outside. The day was dreary, clouds hung ominously in the sky, gentle rain starting to cover the landscape. She looked both ways across the street, before beginning a slow trot back to her own home. It’s strange. Anti-depressants? Why would I need those? I’ve got lots of friends, I’m not depressed! In fact, I’m going to throw a party today, and everypony will show up! Then we’ll dance, and play games, and eat food, and drink punch, and I’ll get to show them the new addition to my party cannon! Now it fires cupcakes! Pinkie happily thought to herself. Alright, now, the first thing to do would be to invite everypony, but they usually just come whenever I throw a party! So I’ll save the invitations for later, now... to prepare the bestest most wonderful super giant awesome party this town has ever seen!

This thought added a bounce to her step, as her mane regained a little bit of its former poofiness. Her coat was less dreary to look at, and a smile was plastered on her face. She half-galloped half-bounced all the way to Sugarcube Corner. Oh, this is going to be an awesome day and I can’t wait to see who shows up at my party!

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“Would you like some more punch, Rocky?” Pinkie filled a cup and gave it to the pile of rocks.

“Why, this punch is absolutely delicious, Pinkie! It’s a shame nopony else came to enjoy such a fine party!” Rocky said, after ‘sipping’ some of the punch.

“Aw, you don’t have to be so kind, Rocky. I’m just doing what I always do!” Pinkie said, looking over the table. Rocky was sitting at the far end. He looked a lot more weathered than the last time he had joined one of Pinkie’s parties. The pink pony looked over at Madame LeFlour. “Say, Madame, would you like another cupcake?”

“Why, oui! Zat would be wonderful, Pinkie!”

Pinkie nodded happily, and laid a cupcake down in front of the sack. “You don’t look so fine, Madame. I’m glad that you came to my party instead of going to see somepony about your problems! That makes me feel so glad!”

“It’z okay, Pinkie. I’m feeling excellent! I juzt feel a little bit empty, zat’s all, I swear!”

Pinkie looked at the empty flour sack. “If you say so, Madame. Say, do you know where Mr. Turnip and Sir Lints-a-lot went? They usually don’t miss my parties!” Pinkie inquired.

“I ‘eard zey were out of town, madame. Zey are idiots for missing such a lovely party!”

“That is a bit rude, LeFlour. I mean, they’re out of town doing important things, right?”

“I don’t know, Madame Pinkie. Zey could be out doing whatever it is zey want to do, but zey are still missing zis wonderful party!”

“They’re a bunch of chumps, Pinkie. Nopony should miss this party! Just like those ponies you used to call friends!” Rocky stated, interjecting himself into the conversation.

“My friends weren’t that bad, Rocky. They were just... busy!” Pinkie stated.

A timer went off in the room. “Oh! It’s time for my medication!” Pinkie shouted, rushing over to her dresser. She pulled one of the drawers open, and reached in with her mouth, withdrawing a small blue pill bottle. She tossed the bottle onto the table and pulled the lid off.

“Madame Pinkie? What is zat medication for?” Madame LeFlour asked.

“It’s for my depression, silly! Although I’m happy, I still need to take these!” Pinkie giggled. She emptied the container onto the table, picked up one of the pills, and tossed it into her mouth, swallowing it instantly.

“What do they do, Pinkie?” Rocky questioned.

“Oh, they make me super-duper extra happy, Rocky! So I can throw parties for all of my friends! Even though nopony showed up over the last five days for the parties I’ve thrown, I still have you guys, and you’re my best friends!”

“Well, if one of them makes you happy, how happy could the entire bottle make you?”

“That’s a good idea, Rocky... Maybe I should bake them up into a cupcake!” Pinkie giggled.

“Why, yes! Zat is a wonderful idea!” Madame LeFlour agreed.

“Madame LeFlour’s got the right idea, Pinkie! A cupcake can do you wonders!” Rocky added.

The dull-pink pony contemplated this idea for a moment, then, coming to a sudden decision, she scooped all of the pills back into the container, grabbed the bottle, and bolted to the kitchen.

Pinkie was throwing bowls and spatulas onto the work table. The front door was locked and all the curtains were closed. She didn’t want any interruptions, not while she baked herself the perfect cupcake. Flipping the oven on to preheat, she set to work with the mechanics of baking. Trotting happily over to the fridge, she pulled out the butter, and using her well-trained eye to judge exactly how much she needed, she cut off a perfectly-measured slice and popped it into the bowl. Pinkie blended the sugar into the butter happily, taking her time, using much more care than she usually would. She was so happy, she started singing to herself.

“All you have to do is take a cup of flour...”

She gently sifted the flour into the bowl. She was really taking her time with this one. One perfect cupcake. She reached for the flavorings, passed over the lemon.

“Now just take a little something sweet, not sour...”

She’d beaten the mixture to a perfectly smooth consistency. Adding a precise pinch of salt, she mixed it in gently, then considered some chocolate chips. She decided to pass.

“Baking these treats is such a cinch...”

She added a carefully-measured teaspoon of vanilla essence, then popped the top off the medicine bottle and shook twenty or thirty of the small pink tablets into the bowl. She looked at the mixture, then cocked her head.

“Add a little more...”

Upending the bottle, she sent the whole month’s supply of anti-depressants cascading into the batter. Picking up the spatula again, she stirred gently, counting slowly to four. She poured the mixture carefully into a specially-shaped baking tray, molded it perfectly, and popped the best cupcake she’d ever made into the oven. She paced back and forth, counting down the minutes and seconds in her head until the oven finally dinged. She yanked the door open, and, wearing oven mitts, she pulled the tray out of the oven. Carefully removing the giant cupcake from the tray with her baker’s knife, she took a moment to marvel over it. This sure does look like one beautiful treat, and it’s going to make me super duper extra happy! Then I’ll throw the bestest party Ponyville has ever seen! Pinkie thought. She couldn’t be bothered letting it cool down so she could frost it. She threw the pastry into the air, and caught it in her mouth, chewing on it as soon as it landed. This certainly does taste extra yummy! I hope it makes me super duper happy! She trotted out to the party in the main room.

“So, how was ze cupcake, Pinkie?” Madame LeFlour asked.

“It was super tasty, Madame! I’m glad you gave me the idea!” Pinkie chirped, bouncing in large circles around the room.

“Now your party will be extra cool, Pinkie! With only your close friends, this time!”

Pinkie blinked. She felt kind of funny for a moment. Then, all of a sudden, her head spun in circles around the room as an unbelievably powerful tiredness overtook her. “Woah, this cupcake is making me feel extra tired! Maybe it’s time... to end this... party.” She finished the sentence with a yawn. Sluggishly walking over to her friends, she yawned again. “Hey, everypony... I’m sorry, party’s over! Go home, Pinkie’s feeling really tired.” She watched Rocky and Madame LeFlour stand up sadly and get ready to leave.

“Zank you for ze party, Pinkie! I’ll see you next time!” LeFlour said.

“Yeah, thanks, Pinkie. That was a really awesome party!” Rocky stated.

“Yeah, sure. I’ll make... sure the... next party i-is e-e... ven better!” Pinkie stuttered through an enormous yawn. A wave of nausea passed over her as her friends walked out the door. Stumbling over to the stairs, she tried to climb them without falling over, and somehow succeeded. She pushed her bedroom door open and jumped into her soft and welcoming bed, covering up in the blankets and resting her head against the pillow. “Good night... G-Gummy!” Pinkie said, closing her eyes. Why do I feel so cold? Must be the weather... but the window’s closed. Oh well, maybe it’s just my body feeling silly!

Pinkie opened her eyes to an ever-familiar encompassing red barn. Without conscious thought, she pushed open the door and walked in. Five ponies stood inside, each wearing a party hat.

“Glad you could make it, Pinkie!” Rainbow Dash said, before flying towards her friend. “We were afraid you wouldn’t come for your friendship party!”

“Friendship... party?” Pinkie questioned. A light turned on in front of her, showing a cake that was invisible in the darkness moments earlier. She slowly walked over to it. “ ‘Happy... Friendship Day, Pinkie Pie!’? Aw, you guys didn’t have to do this for me!”

“Of course we did, Pinkie.” came a familiar voice.

Pinkie looked over to see Twilight standing just a few feet in front of her.

“I’m really sorry if I hurt you earlier, Pinkie. I hope you can forgive me!” Twilight said, almost pleadingly.

Pinkie pulled her into a hug. “Of course I can, Twilight! We’re the best of friends, we can always forgive each other!”

“Oh, Pinkie. I hope you can forgive me too, Sugarcube.” Applejack said, appearing out of the shadows as well.

Pinkie somehow pulled her into the hug. “Same as with Twilight, you guys are my friends! I’ll always forgive you! Everypony, get in the hug, don’t make me grab you!”

A few murmurs were heard, before the other three ponies and a dragon joined into the embrace.

“This is the best party ever, guys. I love you! I love all of you so much!” Pinkie stated, wrapping her friends as tightly as she could into the hug, as a fuzzy blackness started to creep in on the edges of her sight.

Much like in her dream, a smile was on Pinkie’s face as her chest rose and fell for the last time.

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Rainbow Dash flew to her circle of cheering friends. “How’d you guys like the show? Wasn’t I just awesome?!”

“Well... Umm... It certainly was entertaining, and I actually tried cheering loudly this time!” Fluttershy said.

“It was marvelous, darling. Do you always end the show with that Sonic Rainboom now?” Rarity questioned.

“Well, yeah! I mean, it is the greatest move ever, done by the best flyer in all of Equestria! Why wouldn’t they save it for the finale?” the rainbow-maned pegasus retorted.

“Speaking of which, has anypony seen Pinkie Pie? I know she probably doesn’t want to see me right now, but isn’t it strange that she didn’t come to the show?” Twilight inquired.

“Now that you mention it, Ah ain’t seen her since Ah got here this mornin’. Awfully strange of her, if ya ask me,” Applejack said with a small frown on her face. “Ah’ll go see if she’s hidin’ at Sugarcube Corner, you guys just stay here...”

Twilight placed a hoof on Applejack’s shoulder. “Sorry, Applejack, but we’re all going to go and look for her. She’s as much of our friend as she is yours.”  

The farmpony nodded. She began trotting in the direction of the bakery, followed by the sound of four other sets of hooves in unison behind her. I hope nothing has happened to her... was the only thing flowing through her mind.

The five friends trotted through their old town, taking in the sights, noticing the small changes that months and years bring about. After what seemed like an eternity, they arrived at the gingerbread-house-shaped bakery. Applejack pushed on the front door, which didn’t budge. She stepped back and looked at Twilight. “Looks like it’s bolted shut, Twi’.”

The lavender unicorn looked around, getting nods from the others, then focused her magic through the door and onto the bolt holding it closed. There was a faint ‘click.’ The purple pony pushed open the door and stepped into the darkened shop. “Pinkie?” she called. Then she stopped short, as the other ponies crowded in around her, all of them surprised by the scene that was laid out before them.

Rainbow Dash looked upon the room. Streamers and balloons were everywhere, draped over everything possible, hanging down from the ceiling in bunches. The floor was almost completely covered in confetti. A half-filled bowl of punch and a cupcake sat on one of the stools. The thing that horrified the cyan pegasus the most were the pile of rocks, and the empty flour sack, that were sitting on the stools adjacent to each other. “Guys... uh, this is very bad,” she managed to say. “Last time I saw Pinkie do this was when she was really depressed... She might have done something serious to herself, without anypony here to comfort her!”

Twilight Sparkle had always been a pony of immediate action, and now was no exception. She tore upstairs as fast as she could, her friends following along in her wake. Polite manners didn’t matter at the moment. She blasted Pinkie’s bedroom door wide open with her magic and galloped straight inside, only to be brought up short with a sight that shocked her.

Pinkie Pie’s room was almost completely destroyed. Twilight’s eyes fell, first of all, on the only thing left on the wall directly opposite the door, a lopsided picture frame hanging sadly alone. “Uh, guys? Did you see this? That old photograph. All our... faces... She’s torn our faces out of the...” Twilight’s eyes turned towards the bed. The soft quilt was covering an unmoving lump...

Her horn ignited with a flash of deep red light. Closing her eyes, she grabbed the covers with her magic and wrenched them off the bed, sending them flying across the room. A collection of gasps, followed by screams, came from her friends as Twilight opened her eyes to see Pinkie Pie lying on her bed, rigid, pale, serene, her eyes closed, a smile on her face. “Oh no... Pinkie...” Tears started slipping from Twilight’s eyes.

Nopony moved for a while. They just stood there, too shocked to do anything, staring at their old friend as she lay dead in her own bed. Applejack finally stirred, breaking the utter silence with the soft sound of her hooves on the floor. Staring hard at Pinkie’s face, crying rivers of tears, she slowly approached the bed. The only thing that occupied her mind now was the smile on her friend’s face, a smile of total rapturous joy. She took off her Stetson and placed it on Pinkie’s chest, then drew her gaze back up to the pink earth pony’s peaceful face.

“Well, looks like something finally made you happy, Pinkie.”

End

Editors: Angelhood101, MadJedi, Smayds

Image: Es337

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