Tragedy

Twilight nervously looked up at the ruins. The old castle brought back memories, both good and bad. She steeled herself and made her way inside, unsure of what she would find. She began to head up the only tower in the ancient building, noticing deflated balloons and scattered streamers hugging the steps while the walls had crude drawings of herself and other assortments of party items. As she neared the top of the tower and the room where she had discovered the Elements of Harmony all those years ago, she began to hear faint murmurings that she couldn't quite make out until she finally reached the top. She shut her eyes as tight as she could, afraid of what she would find.

"TWILIGHT!" a ghostly familiar voice yelled out.

Twilight was scared to open her eyes. "P...Pinkie Pie?" she managed to squeak out.

"Do you want more cake, Twilight?" the voice asked.

Twilight began to recall memories of Pinkie Pie offering her cake and couldn't help but grin a little. "I... I'd love some..." she said softly, her voice fading as she opened her eyes.

There she was. There was Pinkie Pie standing no more than fifteen feet away, with her back to Twilight and a piece of cake in her hand, trying to feed a sack of grain that had been painted purple with a eerily familiar face on it and a mophead for hair and a carrot for a horn. Twilight couldn't find any words to say as she looked at the scene in front of her. "Oh, silly Twilight! You sure are clumsy. You dropped your cake again!" Pinkie said as the cake slid off the sack and onto the floor. Pinkie Pie suddenly froze. "What's that, Twilight? We have a visitor? But, this is a private party today and I didn't send out any invitations!" Twilight cringed at the thought of what might happen if she was seen, but found herself unable to move an inch. "Well then... let's see who came to party-crash, shall we?" Pinkie said as she spun around and leaped into the air. It only took a split-second, but Twilight lost sight of Pinkie. She had vanished.

Twilight looked around, and with panic nearly choking her, she managed to call out to Pinkie Pie. "P...Pinkie Pie?" She was frightened and turned around ready to leave but bumped into a smiling, pink face.

"AHA!" Pinkie Pie screamed. Twilight also screamed as she stumbled into the room and fell back on her flank in shock. Pinkie Pie leaned over Twilight and stared at her without saying another word.

"Pinkie... it's me..." Twilight whispered.

Pinkie suddenly let out a huge gasp; just like the very first time they had met. "YOU!" she shouted in her usual happy tone. "YOU LOOK LIKE TWILIGHT!"

Twilight smiled. "You remember me? Oh, Pinkie, I'm so -"

"WOW, TWILIGHT! YOU NEVER TOLD ME YOU HAD A TWIN SISTER!" Pinkie screamed as she turned around and leaped over to the sack while Twilight slowly stood up. "Huh... what's that? Can she party too? Of course she can, silly!" Pinkie Pie grabbed the sack and began to twirl around as if dancing. Twilight watched on, unsure of what to do. "Hey Twilight's sister, whats YOUR name? Come dance and tell me all about yourself!" Pinkie said cheerfully, still swinging the sack around.

Twilight walked closer to her. "No Pinkie, it's me Twilight, it really is, I came to -"

"Your name's Twilight too? Oh, WOW! That must have been really confusing for your parents," she said, giggling at the fact.

Twilight shook her head and tried to explain. "NO, Pinkie. Listen, PLEASE... I'm Twilight." She paused, hesitant to continue. "You... you are dancing with... with... a sack of grain..." Her voice trailed off while Pinkie stopped dancing to look at at the sack then she turned to Twilight. "See, Pinkie? It really is me. You remember me now? I... went away, I'm so -"

"That's a pretty mean thing to say to your own sister, Twilight's sister! I think you should apologise." Twilight facehoofed as she tried to get Pinkie to see the truth.

"PINKIE, look at it; it's a sack. It's not me, please, just look at me," Twilight said as she lowered her head, grief weighing her down with all the other emotions from today.

Pinkie again looked at the sack. "Hmm, Twilight says, 'prove it!' If you're really Twilight, do some magic."

Twilight lowered her head more. "I... can't. My magic hasn't worked since I woke up from the coma."

Pinkie gave a chuckle. "I knew it! YOU'RE an impostor! In fact, if I remember, Twilight didn't have ANY brothers or sisters! So, you must be here to..." She paused a moment before letter a giant gasp of realization escape. "KIDNAP TWILIGHT AND STOP MY PARTY!" Pinkie Pie shouted as she jumped in front of the sack, taking an aggressive stance against Twilight.

Twilight backed off a little. "Oh, Pinkie Pie, what did I do to you? Why couldn't I keep my promise to... if I would have known this would happen to you and everypony -"

"You broke a promise? Now I KNOW you're a bad pony," Pinkie said, not backing down from protecting the stance.

Streams of tears began to crawl againts Twilight's face, much like it had for most of the day. "I'm so sorry Pinkie... I'm so sorry..." Twilight managed to squeak out as Pinkie Pie started to walk toward her.

"Twilight would never break a promise to me... see? She came back. YOU don't make promises you can't keep," Pinkie Pie accused as Twilight backed herself against the wall.

"You... you're right. I deserve this." Twilight couldn't go on anymore and gave up. She collapsed and fell to the ground as Pinkie Pie edged closer.

"Yes you do. And do you know what we do with bad ponies who break promises?" she said as she stood above Twilight. All Twilight could do was close her eyes.

But nothing came.

Twilight opened her eyes and saw Pinkie Pie standing there quietly. Twilight looked up at Pinkie's face. It was worn and haggard. She had dark rings under her eyes, and her hair was slightly going grey. Twilight felt sick; she hadn't had time to really look at Pinkie until now, and just by looking, she could see Pinkie Pie was gravely ill. Twilight began to cry harder than she had the entire day. "Oh... Pinkie Pie..."

"Why, Twilight? Why did you lie to me?" Pinkie Pie asked, whimpering, her voice no longer cheerful or happy, but tired, as she sat down next to Twilight. "I waited for you to come back, I waited so long and you didn't come to my party."

Twilight tried to stop crying to speak but found she couldn't. "Oh, Pinkie, I wanted to. I never meant to lie to you. I know it won't change anything, but I never thought i would be gone so long."

Pinkie turned her head away. "You didn't write to us; you didn't send any word. They all said you died with the Princess but I never believed it because you promised and I knew you would never break that promise..." Pinkie's tired voice trailed off for a moment. "But, you never came."

Twilight embraced Pinkie Pie in a tight hug. "But, I'm here now! I did come back, Pinkie! I... I made you wait and I can never make that up to you, but... I'm here now."

Pinkies head drooped a little. "But, you're too late. You missed the party," she said, sighing lightly.

Twilight shook her head and tried to reassure Pinkie Pie. "I'm here now. We can find the others and we'll make a new party, all of us, TOGETHER." Twilight smiled at Pinkie who looked up at Twilight and smiled back.

"I'd like that," Pinkie giggled.

Twilight managed to let a soft chuckle out. "Yeah, a party for all our friends. We'll have cake and streamers, pin the tail on the Pony, a pinata, gotta have a pinata."

Pinkie Pie bounced up from the ground with a smile. Twilight remained sitting there, watching her. Pinkie turned to Twilight. "And, Fluttershy can SING for us with her birds; I always loved her singing. It's so cute." Twilight's heart sank a little. "And... and Rarity can make us all pretty dresses like the ones we wore to the Gala! I loved that dress but it didn't have enough pink ribbons but I guess that was a little silly of me." Pinkie bounded around the room some more while Twilight tried to talk, but she couldn't find the strength. "And, Applejack! Applejack can make a bunch of apple dishes, and I got some great ideas for a few pranks I want to pull!" Pinkie let out a loud giggle. Twilight gritted her teeth. She knew what was coming. "And Rainbow Dash, WOW, she must have learnt a ton of new tricks! Maybe, maybe... she'll do a -" Pinkie Pie let out another huge gasp. "A DOUBLE SONIC RAINBOOM! I bet she can, after all, she's the BEST flyer in all of..."

"STOP... Pinkie, please, just..." Twilight begged Pinkie who turned to look at Twilight.

"What's up Twilight? Oh, am I being too loud again? Haha, sorry," Pinkie Pie said, still with a smile on her face.

Twilight's heart sank lower as she looked to the ground, her body tensing up. "Pinkie... you don't know? You haven't seen any of them?"

Pinkie Pie pondered a moment and responded as if she didn't have a care in the world. "Hmm, um, not in a few years, I think. Nopey dopey, it's been a while." Twilight felt sick to her stomach as she gave a heavy sigh. How could she tell Pinkie? But, if she didn't, how would Pinkie react when she met them again? Pinkie Pie thought she had lied before, and she couldn't do it to her again, but what could she say? "Twilight?" Pinkie Pie prodded Twilight lightly with her hoof.

Twilight looked up at Pinkie with a somber face. "Pinkie, listen to me. The others they... they have changed. A lot of bad things happened while we were away from them and... they aren't how you remember them."

Pinkie looked confused. "But, I remember them like it was yesterday! How much can you change in a few years, silly?" Pinkie giggled as Twilight grabbed her hoof and explained everything she had learned that day.

Pinkie sat down, her face not as bright as it had been as Twilight apologized. "I'm so sorry, Pinkie, but now when we see them you will know what happened and -"

Twilight was interrupted by Pinkie's hoof softly covering her lips as she shed a single tear. "Twilight... I... I think I don't want to see them after all now."

Twilight shook her head. "No, it's okay. We will all work it out! We can bring the group back together and..."

Pinkie mouth turned a tired smile. "Twilight, I was happy here. I was happy with the party and with you. We talked a lot about all the cool things we did and we shared old memories together. They were so happy; we were ALL happy!" She turned to Twilight. "I don't want to change that. I don't want to see them hurt."

Pinkie looked up through the broken ceiling at the stars that filled the night sky. "I want to stay here. I want to -" Pinkie started to lightly cough as she laid her head down on the ground.

Twilight placed Pinkie's head in her arms, cradling her gently. "Pinkie, are you okay?"

Pinkie smiled up at her and spoke in a soft, sad whisper. "It's nothing. I think my heart just broke. That's all."

Twilight shook her softly. "Don't say things like that, Pinkie Pie, please! I'm worried about you..." Pinkie chuckled softly before erupting in a fit of violent coughing. "Pinkie Pie!" Twilight shouted.

Pinkie eventually caught her breath. "Twilight?" Pinkie asked, her voice, quieter than before and wheezing. "I think it's time to go now," she said smiling up at Twilight who nodded in agreement.

"You're right, let's get you out of here," Twilight said as she tried to carefully pull Pinkie Pie up but she resisted.

"It's okay, Twilight. I'm going to have one, last, farewell party," Pinkie whispered.

Twilight looked at Pinkie with confusion. "A farewell party?" she asked before Pinkie Pie started to fade. "Pinkie?" Twilight panicked as she shook her again.

"I said it was okay, Twilight. Actually, I think I died a long time ago..." Pinkie said as she smiled at Twilight again, trying to tell her that it would be okay. "The thought of seeing you again... kept me here; I wanted you to have one last party with me. So, I made you be with me... so we could party together... forever..." Pinkie's voiced faded as she rolled over on her back.

Twilight still held onto her and shook her gently. "No, no no no, PINKIE, DON'T YOU DO THIS! PINKIE, WE'RE GOING BACK TOGETHER!" Twilight's tears were soaking Pinkie as she sobbed quietly.

"Twilight, it's okay. I'm too tired to party now anyway... and the other girls, I don't think they want to party after everything that's happened, but it's okay. I had a fun time and you DID come to my party. I'm happy." Pinkie wheezed but still smiled up at Twilight.

Twilight began pounding the ground with her hooves feeling cheated. "Why? WHY is this happening? I FOUND YOU! We were going to BOTH go back, so, WHY?"

Pinkie Pie closed her eyes, still holding a smile. "Twilight, don't be sad. I still love you, silly."

Twilight held Pinkie tight in her arms. "Please, please, forgive me Pinkie, please. I LOVE YOU, but please..." Twilight begged for forgiveness.

Pinkie still smiled and turned her head to Twilight, opening her eyes just a crack. "Of course I forgive you, silly. How can I stay mad at someone I love so much?" Pinkie giggled but it was full of sorrow. Twilight couldn't do anything more than scream up at the night sky. A few moments had past as Pinkie turned in Twilight's arms. "You know, I'd like... to sing my song I sang for us in... the Everfree Forest when we were all scared, so I... you won't... be scared when I go. Is that... okay?" she asked in a soft whisper again as Twilight held on to her tight.

"Yes, I'd love to hear it, Pinkie Pie. Sing it for me," Twilight said, softly crying her eyes out.

Pinkie began softly singing, her voice quiet and calm but brave.

"When I was a little filly and the sun was going down... The darkness and the shadows they would always make me frown. I'd hide under my pillow from what I thought I saw... but Granny Pie said that wasn't the way to deal with fears at all... She said, 'Pinkie, you gotta stand up tall; learn to face your fears. You'll see that they can't hurt you... just laugh to make them... disappear..." Her voice faded as she gave Twilight one last big smile. And then she was still.

Twilight held her for what seemed an eternity. She didn't want to let go. She couldn't let go, but eventually she had to, if only just to get out of the room. She slowly stood up and made her way over to the sack with her face on it. She tried to smile but quickly gave and and dragged it back over to Pinkie, placing it in her arms. She wanted to cry, but her tears were finally spent. She kissed Pinkie's head and whispered to her that she hoped they had everlasting parties in heaven. She made her way down the stairs and to the entrance to the ruins, a soulless look in her eyes.

Once outside, Twilight began to wonder if she had any more purpose other than destroying the lives of her best friends. "I don't want to do this anymore..." she said to herself. She walked to the edge of the cliff. "I can't take this..." She paused as she peered into the darkness below. "Everyone and everything I ever cared about is gone or destroyed, all the things I held dear... all I cause is pain..." She teetered on the edge. "I'm so sorry everyone, for everything." She looked up into the cold night sky at the stars. "I want to see you all again but it's too much to bear... Dash, take care of Fluttershy. Rarity, please find it in your generous heart to change your ways. And Applejack..."

Applejack peered into the mist as she crossed the rope bridge. She could barely make out a figure. "Twi, is that you?" she called out.

Twilight dangled one hoof over the edge. "Applejack... please don't come any closer. I don't want you to talk me out of this. I... I can't go on like this any more," she whimpered, trying to cry.

Applejack walked closer until she could see Twilight clearly and stopped dead not wanting to provoke her. "Twi, what are ya doin'? Where's Pinkie Pie?"

Twilight hung her head low. "She's... gone, Applejack, I couldn't save her; I couldn't save any of you!"

Applejack frowned and sat down. "This is whut we were all afraid would happen, that's why -"

"She passed away peacefully... she was happy but... even so. I set these events in motion, Applejack, it doesn't matter what my intentions were. I was selfish and this is what it brought me. I still caused it." Applejack got up and slowly took a step toward Twilight. "Don't, Applejack." Applejack did as she was commanded.

"Even if you had stayed with us, there's no way you coulda known that any of our lives would've turned out different, Twilight. Ya can't blame yerself."

Twilight shook her head. "I know Pinkie's would have. Out of all of us, she... was the one who enjoyed life the most... and I took that happiness from her. I'm never going to make that mistake again." She turned to Applejack. "Please be nice to them, it's all I ask... and Applejack, I'm so sorry."

"Twi, NO!" Applejack yelled out but it was too late. Twilight stepped forward and began to fall.

As she fell, Twilight began to remember the happier days she had with her friends; Spike, Pinkie and Princess Celestia all appeared in her mind.

"Twilight, it's okay! Your faithful, number-one assistant is here for you. I'll be sure to tidy up before you get here," Twilight could hear spike say.

"I have an invitation for you to my newest party, Twilight! I'm sure you'll come to this one, but it's okay if you're late this time, I have a feeling you might be," she heard Pinkie Pie in her old, joyful voice, giggling.

"Twilight Sparkle, my faithful student. Do not be sad. Life has many lessons to be learned, both good and bad. Do not worry, in time, we will be able to talk about them together, and not just by letters." Twilight could hear the soft laughter of Princess Celestia. "I will see you soon, and Twilight, although things may not have ended as you had hoped, I am proud that you tried to bring your friendship back together again. Goodnight, my little one." Twilight saw Princess Celestia smile one last time.

Twilight shed one last, final tear as she whispered to herself, "Thank you, Princess."

Everything went dark.