The Shimmering Truth

Pinkie Pie yawned and hung her hoof idly off the bench she was laying on. She was at a park, back in Ponyville. She yawned, and her hoof lightly dipped in a puddle.

"Wow. Some dream that was! I'm just glad I'm home." Pinkie said to herself, stretching. She got up and decided to find Twilight, to tell her about the dream. Pinkie got up, and stepped off the bench, trotting towards the library.

"Hey!"

Pinkie turned around. What? Who was that? "Huh?"

"Yeah, Pinkie! Hi!"

Pinkie was confused, and looked around her. There was nopony around her, besides a distracted Berry Punch. She was probably drunk again. She really needed to stop.

Pinkie dismissed the voice as just her imagination, as she did have a rather big one. She turned back towards the library, when she heard it again!

"Hellllooooo?"

Ok there was no mistaking it. She turned around again, slightly intrigued. "Where are you?"

"Down here!"

Pinkie looked down, to see... Nopony. A bench, a tree, and the puddle her hoof had dipped into earlier. She saw something though... It was her reflection! Wait. No, the angle was way off.

Pinkie stood over the puddle, eyeing her reflection. She stuck her tongue out, and the puddle stuck it's tongue out too. She then made a silly face, which was again copied by her reflection. She leaned in close, smiling, as her reflection leaned back, and brought up a hoof.

What? The reflection suddenly pushed forward, striking Pinkie on the muzzle. Pinkie fell, rubbing her mouth, and scooted back in horror as her reflection jumped effortlessly out of the puddle!

Pinkie immediately got up, and struck a defensive stance. The other Pinkie smirked, stepping forward.

"Hi Pinkie." The living reflection sneered, and she stepped even closer. Pinkie whimpered and backed up, suddenly bumping into a wall! That hadn't been there earlier!

Twilight suddenly appeared next to the impostor, and spat at Pinkie, yelling, "You were never our friend! Discord was right. We just needed a good laugh!" Twilight punctuated this by galloping forward, and slamming Pinkie into the now brick wall.

Before she could react, Rainbow Dash descended on Pinkie Pie, snatching her up.

"Ouch!" Pinkie sputtered, half crying now. "Thank you Rainbow, Twilight hu... Hur..." Pinkie broke down in sobs. She held onto Rainbow, who was still flying. She hugged her tighter, as fresh new tears sprung from her eyes.

Pinkie looked up at Dash, who was grinning. "Your welcome!" Rainbow said. Then, Dash hugged Pinkie, and let go.

Distracted by the sudden hug, Pinkie had loosened her grip on Rainbow. She was now flailing, and plummeting to the ground! Pinkie looked up in shock, and began to scream.

Almost instantly, her scream was cut short by all the air exciting her lungs. This caused her scream to get louder from all the air screeching out at a time. Pinkie felt her voice box break. No more talking. No more singing.

Pinkie lay in a heap, as her 5 friends surrounded her, making insult after insult.

"Useless!"

"Klutz!"

"Annoying!"

Rarity spat on Pinkie, then took her hoof, and slammed it down on Pinkie's ribs. They shattered. The pieces embedded themselves into her lungs. Her friends laughed at her wheezing on the ground, and took turns kicking her, shattering more than just her body. As she lay mangled, Twilight and the others stepped back. Maybe this would be the end of her torture?

Pinkie groaned, and attempted to sit up, but couldn't. She couldn't speak either. No limbs left attached, and no tears left un-cried. She saw the other Pinkie come back, and mutter a horrible phrase.

"NOPONY LIKES YOU! NOPONY WANTS YOU IN THEIR LIFE! PINKIE, YOUR BETTER OFF DEAD."

Pinkie sat there helplessly, as a wave of green flame engulfed her body, searing what was left of it.

"Pinkie Pie wake up!" Terran yelled as he shook her, causing the bed to sway. He then stopped, and jumped onto her bed, and started bouncing on it! The screeching from the metal springs made a horrific noise, as if he was jumping on banshees!

Pinkie awoke with a jolt, and started screaming and flailing. She breathed rapidly (and uselessly) as she tried to regain grip on what was real and what was dream. Then her screaming turned into laughter and squeals of joy as she bounced on the bed.

"This is fun! She said in between laughs.

Terran quickly got off of her bed and apologized. "I'm sorry Pinkie, I was trying to wake you up."

"Don't be sorry, silly! Sleep-screaming isn't fun at all! You woke me up from a nightmare! Thank you sooo much Terran!" Pinkie's grin went wider as she sprung up, jumped off her bed, and gave Terran a huge hug! He was surprised, but gladly hugged back.

Pinkie felt better. This stallion was really sweet. She knew that had to be a dream. Cheering up almost instantly, she smiled at Terran.

Pinkie broke the hug, lightly brushing her cheek against Terran's neck as she stood back, feeling his soft coat. She blushed. Then a look of surprise washed her face.

"What?" Terran asked, confused.

"I'm not dizzy!" Pinkie exclaimed, looking down at herself, then jumping for joy.

This filly was really fun to be around! Terran decided it wouldn't hurt to be just a little attached to her, because she was all better, and he doubted the universe would allow anything to happen to such an wonderful pony. "Yup! You're all better, and can.. Leave..."

The reality of what he just said, hit him moments later. She could, and would, leave. Looking down at the floor he sighed. Well, it was good knowing her.

"Really! Can I go now? I wanna be outside in the fresh a... The warm su... You ponies are really missing out." Pinkie mused, looking a bit apprehensive.

Oh no. She wanted to leave! He had thought she liked him back but... Ugh. Maybe not. With a sigh, and a cringe, Terran said "Sure. Come to the waiting room and I'll check you out."

Pinkie hopped down the halls, already knowing which way to go somehow. Terran didn't notice though. He lagged behind her with his head slightly down. Maybe he could visit her sometime? No, she would probably get frustrated with him.

Pinkie loudly opened the door to the waiting room and burst in, earning a few curious and/or irritated stares. Taken aback, the nurse at the desk asked, "May I help you?"

"Yup!" Pinkie said merrily. "Terran is checking me out!"

The nurse glanced over at Terran, with his head slightly lowered, looking at Pinkie. She smirked.

Terran noticed her expression and scowled. "I'm checking her out from the hospital, Clair." He emphasized 'from the hospital', and rolled his eyes.

The nurse, Claira, snickered, and playfully teased Terran just a bit more. "That too I guess, you naughty boy."

Pinkie shifted her hooves, glancing back at Terran. "Ummm can I be checked out yet?"

"Your being checked out filly!" The nurse said playfully. Pinkie giggled. The nurse decided to spare Terran further embarrassment and regained her air of professionalism. She picked a few papers out of a file labeled "Pinkemina Diann Pie", and slid it over to Terran. "Here, sign these."

Terran was struggling not to turn around. Some ponies who were in the waiting room laughed, and whistled. With an inferno on his checks, he took the pen laying on the counter in his mouth, and looked down at the papers. Just a few legal documents. He signed the first one, then the third, but hesitated on the second. In a nutshell, this one was making sure Pinkie was okay to be released from the hospital. He had to sign it. He couldn't let his own selfish attractions get the better of him. He somberly wrote his name, then gave all three back to Claira. "Here."

She took them and put them back in the folder. "That's all. Bye Pinkie, stay well!" She waved at Pinkie, and when Terran sadly looked away, she winked at Pinkie.

Pinkie smiled, exciting the hospital. "Bye Clair, and bye Terran!" She walked out the door, hearing a feint "Bye" come from the broken hearted stallion.

He watched her leave, and sighed. "Oh well, that's life I guess." He thought.

Pinkie walked casually down the stairs, but when she got passed the window that looked into the waiting room, she immediately flattened herself against the wall, and waited for a few moments. Looking back in the window, she saw Terran leave the waiting room.

Pinkie walked back up the stairs and silently opened the door, careful not to alert Ter. She stepped in, and went to the counter, where Clair was sitting, pleased to see her.

"Where does he live" Pinkie asked quietly, and with a blush.

"Ooh creepy. Just kidding. Here." She jotted down a few numbers, and gave a piece of paper to Pinkie.

"Thanks!"

Winking, the nurse waived again. Pinkie winked back, and left. Immediately she started planning. Terran Asher was in for a surprise.

Brushing her teeth was always an important thing to do. Twilight refused to skip it this morning, even with Spike begging her to leave. "Come on Twilight! Let's go to Sugarcube Corner!"

The little dragon was ecstatic about a visit to his favorite store. He was practically dragging Twilight away from the sink.

She rolled her eyes at him. "Give me a second!"

Spike huffed, then tromped down the stairs. "Girls take forever to get ready." Spike picked up some books that had been strewn across the floor, and replaced them on the shelves. "I mean, for someone with OCD, you would think she would at least take care of her books!"

Spike paced across the floor for a moment.Then another moment. Then another moment. That was too many moments. "TWILIIIIIGHT!!"

"ALRIGHT SPIKE I'M COMING!"

Twilight groaned, then put back her toothbrush. He needed to learn some patience. Walking out of the bathroom and down the stairs, Twilight motioned towards Spike.

"Finally!" He said, happily opening the door. Twilight followed him out, and they set out for Sugarcube Corner.

"Hey Pinkie!" Spike waved at the pink mare sitting at one of Sugarcube Corner's tables.

"Hi Spike."

Spike wasn't expecting that. She was usually bouncing of the walls. Sometimes even literally! He walked over, and gave her a questioning gaze. "So what's wrong?"

"Nothing." Pinkie said blandly. She was just sat at the table, enjoying a cupcake. She stared at the back wall, seemingly bored.

Twilight got worried and cut into the conversation. "Pinkie, you've been acting strange lately. I'm worried and I think you should visit the doctor. I don't have any idea as to what is wrong, but frankly I miss the old you. Do you want to go now or later?"

Pinkie looked up and smiled. "I'll go now."

"Great!" Twilight said.

"NOOOOO!" Spike raced for the counter, and quickly ordered a few doughnuts. He waited impatiently, then licked his lips as Mr.Cake handed him a brown paper bag with 3 doughnuts. "Here girls!"

Spike handed each pony a doughnut, each covered with lots of sparkles, and Pinkie's with pink frosting.

"Thank you Spike."

He turned to Twilight and was about to say 'you're welcome', when Twilight cut his statement short with, "Thanks Spike! I was getting a little hungry." Wait.. Pinkie had... She really was acting weird.

Spike decided not to think about it, and took a bow. Twilight giggled, but Pinkie just looked on. Strange.

Twilight lead Pinkie and Spike towards the hospital. She had a strange feeling, almost as if this wasn't Pinkie Pie. She just assumed it was a side effect of the mirror pool. Hopefully it was only temporary.

They arrived at the hospital, where a reddish stallion greeted them, and helped then find a room. Later, a doctor came in and started poking and prodding Pinkie Pie, doing various tests.

They left the doctors and started back home. The doctor said that the results would be in tomorrow. Twilight hoped for the best, but deep down, secretly prepared for the worst.