Immortality: Pinkie Pie's Search

Pinkie woke up extra early that morning, ready to go out and prove to the world that Vinyl and Lyra were immortal. With Fluttershy, of course.

Pinkie crept downstairs and grabbed a waffle.

"Mom? What are you doing?" Pinkie turned around to see Buttercream standing at the base of the stairs.

"Hi, Buttercream! I'm just having an early breakfast," Pinkie replied, chewing the waffle.

"Are you going to run off with another stallion?" Buttercream asked. Pinkie was surprised.

"Of course not, Buttercream! I love your father, and we have you!" Pinkie enveloped her daughter in a hug. "Fluttershy and I are going out to talk with Lyra and Vinyl Scratch. And it's super duper important, okay?"

"Okay!" Buttercream replied.

"Wait a minute! Why are you up?" Pinkie asked. Buttercream looked at her hooves.

"I was gonna make myself a cupcake," she admitted. Pinkie ruffled Buttercream's fluffy blonde mane.

"When your dad gets up, ask him if you can have a cupcake," Pinkie told her. "Alright?" When Buttercream nodded, Pinkie continued, "I have to leave now, sweetie. See you later!"

"Bye!" Buttercream responded. Pinkie waved as she pushed the door open and stepped outside into the cool morning air.

Pinkie bounced to Fluttershy's house, like she did all those many years ago. For a moment, Pinkie was caught up in a memory. Pinkie remembered foalsitting Pound Cake and Pumpkin Cake. She hadn't done any bouncing then, because it had been such a hassle chasing those foals around! Well, maybe she had done some bouncing when Pound Cake refused to come down from the ceiling!

They're all grown up now, Pinkie thought wistfully. Didn't Pumpkin go on her first date a couple weeks ago?

Pinkie suddenly snapped back to the present as she narrowly avoided a collision with a tree. By now, Fluttershy's cottage was almost in sight.

"Fluttershy!" She called loudly. "Wakey wakey, eggs and cakey!" Several birds chirped at their tranquil morning being disrupted.

"Sorry!" Pinkie called to them in a quieter tone.

"Pinkie?" Fluttershy came to the door. Her hair stuck up in all directions. She yawned. "What are you doing here this morning?"

"We're going to reveal the truth about Vinyl and Lyra! Don't you remember last night?" Fluttershy rubbed her eyes.

"Pinkie, why are you- that is, if you don't mind me asking- why do you want to prove this so bad?" Pinkie thought for a moment.

"Don't you think everypony deserves truth?" She asked. Fluttershy averted her eyes.

"Sometimes the truth can hurt," she whispered.

"Aw, come on, Fluttershy! We have to find them! But first, you really should get a manecut."

"What? What's wrong with my mane?" Fluttershy asked defensively, putting her hooves up and feeling her mane.

"Nothing!" Pinkie assured her. "It's just, really long, and that might get in the way when we investigate."

"Investigate?"

"Whatever it's called that we're doing. Revealing immortals." Pinkie grinned. Fluttershy sighed.

"If this all means that much to you, then of course I'll cut my mane," she replied. "Let me go get my scissors."

~

About half an hour later, Pinkie and Fluttershy were strolling through town. Fluttershy looked almost like she did twenty five years ago. Her mane was cut just below her wings, and her tail only dragged a few inches on the ground.

"Uh-oh. Why is Bon Bon crying?" Pinkie asked when they arrived at Lyra's house. Fluttershy shook her head.

"What's wrong, Bon Bon?" Pinkie asked.

"It's Lyra!" Bon Bon wailed. "When I knocked on her bedroom door this morning there was no response! When I looked in, most of her stuff was gone! She's been my housemate for over twenty years, and she just up and leaves!" Bon Bon blew her nose into a hanky. "Not even a goodbye note."

"LYRA LEFT?" Pinkie asked in shock. Bon Bon glared at her.

"Weren't you listening? Yes!"

Pinkie led Fluttershy away from Bon Bon.

"She knows we're on to her," Pinkie told Fluttershy in a low voice. "She must have taken the train." Fluttershy squeaked in nervousness.

"Hey, Bon Bon!" Pinkie called over to the sobbing mare. "What time last night did you last see her? And what time did you realize she was gone?"

"I dunno, maybe 8 o'clock last night. This morning, I discovered at, maybe 9 o'clock?"

"Thanks!" Pinkie shouted. Turning to Fluttershy, she commented, "Trains don't run that often in that time frame. Go find out what trains ran between 8 and 9; I'll check at Vinyl's house." Fluttershy nodded and tried to flap her wings. When she couldn't, she blushed.

"I couldn't fly with all that hair. Now I'm rusty." Pinkie giggled.

"See ya!" She waved and gallopped away to Vinyl Scratch's place.

"Octavia! Where's Vinyl?" She yelled up. Octavia pulled open a window.

"She left on the train to Dodge Junction last night!" Octavia yelled. "Said she needed to move on with her life! That she wasn't returning!" Octavia slammed the window shut.

"Peculiar!" Pinkie exclaimed. "I wonder if Fluttershy's found anything yet." Pinkie flew through town as fast as she could. For a fleeting second, Pinkie felt as if she had become the persona of Fili-second again, faster than the fastest Pegasus! But the memory passed, and Pinkie was just galloping at top speed.

"Fluttershy!" She called when she reached the train station. She spotted Fluttershy talking to the ticket salespony.

"Thank you," Pinkie heard Fluttershy say. Fluttershy turned and flittered over to Pinkie.

"There were three trains that Lyra could've taken," she informed Pinkie softly. "Canterlot, Dodge Junction, and-"

"Dodge Junction is where Vinyl was headed!" Pinkie exclaimed. "We have to go there!"

"But wait!" Fluttershy protested. "What about Lucky Clover and Buttercream? And my cottage?" Pinkie waved a hoof.

"This is so important! I feel it! Now come on, we can send a letter when we get there!" Pinkie dragged Fluttershy to the ticket booth.

"Two tickets to Dodge Junction, please."