The Mask

Pinkie Pie trotted outside, her winter scarf wrapped around her. A slight chill was in the air, and she could smell snow coming. Pinkie Pie felt a strange emptiness today. Like something was weighing her heart down. Perhaps it was because there was no parties today, no sad ponies to cheer up. Even the Cakes didn't need her help. She sighed, her blue eyes trailing on the ground as she walked, the gears in her mind working. She liked when no pony was around, for then she could let the mask slip. No pony knew that she was a master actor. Everyday she put on her mask, stepped into her skin, played the part of the bubbly party planner. No pony understood how much other ponies words cut through her. Well that's because no pony see's the blood, everypony turns away from the tears, and cover their ears so they won't hear the screams. Their words echoed in her head.

"She's just being Pinkie Pie."

"Pinkie Pie is a mystery none of us will understand."

"Don't question her, darling."

Pinkie felt tears beginning to surface, and she quickly used her scarf to wipe them away. She began to run as the voices of her friends got louder and louder and she could not hold back her tears any longer. She stopped running and let out a scream.

"STOP IT!"

She collapsed where she was, finally letting her tears flow freely. The weight that she had felt before came crashing down, and her hair began to deflate.

"You...you don't understand me because...no pony ever asks.." She whispered. She began to rant as she dug circles in the ground with her hoof.

"If you took the time to ask about me, then you would know. You wouldn't just assume things about me. Maybe I have been having a rough day, but you know its fine. I'll just put on my happy face for you! Doesn't that make you feel good? The one thing that makes everypony happy is a lie. I've been lying to you all, and not a single one of you has figured it out. Why do you even keep me around? To make yourselves happy?" Her throat began to tighten as words became more difficult.

"I always felt like I didn't belong. Didn't belong with my family, don't belong here. I'm just an outcast. And to think, I thought maybe I could make something of myself. To be somepony. To...to show my family that...that...I'm more than just a...a...a....rock...farmer...to p..prove them w..wrong..." Pinkie began to cry again, burying her face in her hooves. She had never felt like this before. This was an all time low for her, even at her darkest moments. All the pain that had been building up has finally been released. She knew it was coming, but she didn't know it would be this ugly. She slowly brought her head up, to look at the horizon. Luna was raising the moon. How beautiful. She weakly smiled.

"What do you know..." She paused to wipe away tears.

"There are still things to smile about in this world."