Chapters “Nothing beats a day like this for a picnic!” Pinkie cheered as she spread out a checkered blanket onto the soft grass atop a rolling hill. Nearby was a burly tree that provided shade from the midsummer sun. In addition, Pinkie felt a gentle breeze brush her poofy mane.
She looked around to find that her friends haven’t arrived yet. It seemed odd to her that they weren't right behind her. But then an idea flashed in Pinkie's head.
"Maybe they're coming up the hill right now!"
She bounced down the side in the hopes of spotting her friends. But nope! They were not there yet.
"Huh, I guess I must have gone a little ahead!” Pinkie said to herself. That was enough for a giggle. Pinkie Pie always found something to laugh at. It was just so funny!
After a quick laugh break, she checked the bottom of the hill again. But sadly, they still weren't there. This confused Pinkie. She needed to find a solution to this! She needed to think! To do that, she hopped around a tree. Pinkie always found it easier to think while bouncing.
"Where could they be? Come on, Pinkie! Use that brain!"
And then it came to her like magic.
“Oh! They must still be at Sugarcube Corner!”
As the idea popped into her head, she closed her eyes. The blackness didn't last longer than a second before she re-opened them. Pinkie found herself behind the front counter of the bakery. And sure enough, her friends were in there. Each of them carried baskets and were standing completely still.
“Hey girls!”
On cue, the others turned to see their beloved friend. They all held huge smiles.
“There you are, Pinkie. You’re just in time!” Twilight cheered.
Pinkie answered with a wide smile, which was the face she was known for. She then jumped from the counter and landed in front of Twilight. Pinkie’s eyes darted over to her friend’s wings.
“Have you started flying yet?” she asked while staring at the new appendages.
“Yeah, but it’s much harder than I thought,” Twilight answered as she looked down at them.
Rainbow Dash then zoomed over to Twilight and flew laps around her.
“But I’m helping you out!” Rainbow Dash said, “Soon, you’ll be the second best flyer in Equestria!”
As she spoke, she flapped her wings and rose until her head was touching the ceiling. She then closed her eyes.
“After me of course!”
The others laughed at their friend’s remark.
As Rainbow Dash triumphantly descended, Pinkie opened the door to let the others out. They thanked her as they trotted out with their baskets.
Pinkie was the last to leave and she got a glimpse of the glorious day and her companions before taking a routine blink.
But when her eyes opened, she was awaited to a blank whiteness. Her friends’ faces were nowhere to be found and the streets of Ponyville had vanished.
She looked up. White.
She look down. White.
Pinkie was floating in an endless sea of nothingness.
“Twilight?...Girls?” she said as sweat dripped from her face. But none of the others appeared.
“Very funny, Twilight…”
She chuckled to herself as her legs trembled. She moved her head around the vast space in the hopes of finding somepony.
“Great prank, Dashie...how did you get Twi’ to pull that one?”
Pinkie hacked out more laughs. They just weren't coming out naturally. Her legs gave and she collapsed, but there was an invisible floor that saved her from an eternal fall.
She squeezed her eyes shut and embraced the darkness.
“I’ll just open my eyes...and then I’ll see you all...and then we’ll have a big laugh over all this…”
Silence.
“I’m opening them...now!”
Pinkie jerked her eyes open.
The whiteness persisted, but the sight was now capable of burning her eyes. In response, she clamped them back shut. Although it gave her some comfort, the light seared through her eyelids.
Pinkamena also felt as if a hundred pounds had been dropped on her. She couldn’t move.
“Pinkamena?”
That voice. Pinkamena hasn’t heard it in years, but she recognized it immediately. However she remembered it as being monotonous. The one she heard was filled with curiosity and concern.
“Mom?” Pinkamena asked herself.
She opened her eyes again. They still hurt, but she was able to tolerate it. The white was dimming and her vision formed specific contours, colors, and shapes. Before her was a blank slate of white, but there was also a wall of blue. To her right was gray and green. And to her left were several ponies.
One of them was right by her side. She was a gray mare with a tight mane to match. Behind her were four others. One of them was a brown stallion while the others were dull mares.
“Pinkamena!” the older mare cried as she gripped Pinkamena’s hoof.
Pinkamena’s eyes widened as much as they could in this foreign light. Her hoof was being crushed, but that wasn't what hurt her. Her eyes darted across the room, but she couldn't find her friends. The only ponies in the room were her family. She cared for them very much, but the Cakes were a second family and her best friends were a third. She considered herself lucky. Not many ponies had three families. But where were the other two?
Pinkamena opened her mouth, but it just hung there. She wasn't breathing or talking. But after a moment, she found the strength to do both.
"W-Where am...I?" Pinkamena whispered.
She noticed a beeping noise that was gradually speeding up. At the same time, her breaths were coming faster.
"You're in the hospital," she answered.
Pinkamena's eyes raced in a desperate search for someone. She felt her upper body jump to life and she raised her hooves.
"Where are you Twi? Dashie, show yourself!" she yelled.
The older placed her own hooves on Pinkamena's shoulders.
"Pinkamena, what's going on?" she asked.
"Where are you? Where are you?" Pinkamena screamed while flailing her hooves.
"Pinkamena, just calm down." the mare said. Panic was ridden on her face.
The brown stallion raced to the other side of the bed.
"Stop screaming, Pinkamena." he said.
"Hear me! Why can't y-"
Pinkamena froze. The erratic beeping was the only sound in the room. But then a thumping was made. Pinkamena had fallen back into her pillow.
The gray mare's mouth hung open. Her wide eyes stared at the unconscious body.
"Pinkamena?" she said.
No response.
"Pinkamena."
Silence.
"Pinkamena."
Tears escaped from the mare's eyes, but she didn't notice. All she did was repeat that name to a space of nothingness. Even with the persistent beeping, she was convinced her daughter would never re-emerge.
The mare also didn't register the stallion planting his hoof on her shoulder. Instead, she got louder with each word that came out of her mouth.
"Pinkamena!"
A green mare in a white coat rushed into the room grabbed her gray hooves.
"What happened here?" the doctor asked.
The colorless mare was barely able to see the doctor through her blinding tears.
"S-She was awake! For a m-minute she was screaming...and then she fell down and she w-won't wake up..."
She couldn't hold it in any longer and broke down. Her head plummeted into her chest and her throat tightened. The doctor grasped her hooves in an effort to comfort her, but it was of no use.
"Mrs. Pie...are you saying that Pinkamena woke up?" the doctor asked calmly.
Mrs. Pie barely noticed the doctor. Her sobs were overwhelming her mind and body. The stallion stared at the doctor as he rubbed Mrs. Pie's shoulder.
“Yes doctor, she was briefly awake, but then she blacked out again,” he said stoically.
Despite the crying mare, the doctor held a coolness as she faced her and her husband. She was confident in carrying out what she needed to say.
“Don’t worry, Pinkamena is alright. When ponies first emerge from a deep coma, it’s normal for them to only be awake for short periods of time. As they recover, though, they will ease their way back to normal.”
Mrs. Pie finally looked up with her watery eyes and her trembling mouth slowly opened.
“How long will it that take?” she asked.
“It varies, however it usually takes anywhere from several weeks to two months,” the doctor said. She took another good look at the family, “Does anyone have any questions or concerns?”
Mr. Pie opened his mouth.
“Will Pinkamena have any damage to her brain?” he asked.
“I can’t say at the moment, however I can run some tests once she starts being awake longer.”
Silence filled the hospital room sans the sounds being made by the machinery. The doctor realized she had done her job and turned to the door.
“I’ll let you be,” she said before leaving.
Tears fell from Mrs. Pie's cheeks and dripped on the white floor. Mr. Pie could only touch her shoulder. But an urgency shouted in his mind. He wanted to do something he has only done a couple times before. Even though he felt the need on numerous occasions, a mysterious restraint kept him from carrying it out. Only in those few instances was he able to resist it. And today he had the strength he needed to do so.
He took another look at his morose wife before sliding his hooves around her body. It was a slow movement, but he was determined to see it through. His two hooves eventually met on Mrs. Pie's back. He locked them together and he gently leaned his wife's body into his.
Mrs. Pie continued to cry into her husband's sturdy chest. Mr. Pie rested his head on her shoulder as he stared at three younger mares watching on.
"Children, step outside for a minute," he said dryly.
The three of them rose simultaneously and marched through the open door. The last one to exit closed it.
Mr. Pie could only hold his sobbing wife and stare at his unconscious daughter resting in bed.
"Igneous..." Mrs. Pie said through her tears, "I-I was so s-surprised when Pi-Pinkamena woke up..."
Several more sobs choked her as she struggled to speak, "b-but then I w-was so afraid that she would be back i-in a coma all over again..."
Mr. Pie was silent and his face was stone. He didn't know what to say to her. After all these years, he has tried to learn, but even that hasn't been long enough to break down a solid stone. All he could have done is say what he meant to himself. Even if the recipient never got it, he was relived whenever the message played in his mind.
"It will be okay, Cloudy."
Over the next three weeks, each day was the same as the last. Pinkamena rose without warning and started bawling. Mrs. Pie did what she could to comfort her, but her daughter blacked out just as quickly as she woke up. Mrs. Pie then sat back down and began to formulate what she would say next time Pinkamena would be able to hear. Little was learned about Pinkamena in those three weeks. The only hint her family had was her "friends".
Now at this moment, Pinkamena was resting. Mrs. Pie stared at her motionless body as she was perched in her chair. The door opened, but she barely noticed. It was Igneous and he carried a salad on her back.
"Cloudy, I have brought you a rock salad from the cafeteria," he said.
"Just leave it beside me," she said blankly while staring at Pinkamena.
Igneous trudged over to the set of chairs and placed the salad down on one of them. Next to that was another empty chair where he decided to sit down.
"The children are rotating the rocks," he said.
Cloudy didn't answer. Her face was immovable and lifeless. Igneous thought to himself how he could continue a conversation. He went through all the possible topics before making his decision.
"The doctors are planning to start Pinkamena's testing tomorrow..."
The words moved in an orderly fashion through the still air and entered Cloudy's ear.
"Okay..." she said. Her voice lacked emotion, which was what Igneous was used to.
The relaxing beeps kept the room from falling into silence. Igneous's eyes were focused on his wife and daughter, but he couldn't do anything else. And that's how the room was for a while.
Igneous's body was frozen as well as Cloudy's and Pinkamana's. All the while, the rock salad sat in its empty chair completely untouched. The repetitive beeping dominated the room.
"Cloudy," he said. Igneous stopped for a moment and stared at his wife. She wasn't looking back, but he continued, "are you alright?"
There was a brief silence.
"You have asked me that question everyday for the last three weeks. And everyday I have told you yes."
Had she said that ten years ago, Igneous would have left it at that. But something about her familiarly empty voice hit him dead on. It had done so every time she used it, but the mysterious restraint barred him from going any further.
And the beeping was all he could hear.
Pinkamena's eyes slowly opened to reveal the same white wall.
"Pinkamena," Cloudy said, "is everything all right?"
Pinkamena dully looked at her concerned mother and stoic father before dropping her head into her chest.
"Now, there's no need to cry," Cloudy said.
But Pinkamena didn't cry. It wasn't going to bring Pinkie back, so she found no point. Her once bright eyes were now devoid of life. Her once wide smile was now a trembling frown. Her once vibrant, poofy mane was now a collection of deprived strands.
The door opened and a wheelchair rolled into the room. It was surrounded by a green rim and there was nopony pushing the handles. Behind it was a unicorn nurse that was levitating a notepad.
"Pinkamena, it's time for your MRI scanning," she said kindly.
There was no response from the dull mare.
"She's ready," Cloudy said.
The nurse focused her horn on the solemn patient and a glowing green light enveloped her. She was lifted from her bed and her body hung limply. The nurse levitated Pinkamena across the room before carefully resting her in the wheelchair.
"The scan will take about an hour to complete. Is there anything you need?" the nurse said. She then waited for a response from the two parents, but one never came. She smiled at the two stone faces before turning to leave.
Cloudy gripped her hooves together and stared at the empty bed.
The nurse pushed Pinkamena through the pristine halls with her magic. The patient was frozen and unmoving. The nurse couldn't help but draw her attention to the sight. Something built up in her mind and worked its way down into her throat. To her, it was something that she needed to get out.
"So, Pinkamena...how have you been feeling lately?" she asked. But she was unable to get anything out of her. The sad mare was a statue and her face was hidden behind her limp mane. The nurse gave her a smile and trotted on.
The rest of the journey to the MRI room was travelled in unsettling silence. The soft steps made by the nurse was the loudest sound that was made.
The nurse came across the double doors that led into the MRI room. She stopped the wheelchair and went over to the doors herself. The nurse pushed one of them open and used her magic to roll the chair and it's holder through.
The MRI scanner was white and round. A platform was situated on the apparatus and it was long enough to hold an adult pony.
"Nurse Smiley Bunch, place the patient on the scanner," a voice said over an intercom.
"Yes, doctor," she said. She then used her magic to lift Pinkamena's weightless body from her wheelchair and onto the scanner's platform.
In a nearby room, a doctor turned on a series of monitors. Meanwhile, Smiley Bunch flipped a switch which caused the platform to recede into the cylindrical scanner. As that was happening, the monitors popped to life with a blue outline of Pinkamena's brain.
"Good morning, Pinkamena," the doctor said. His voice traveled to a different intercom located inside the MRI scanner. It's volume was softer for the sake of Pinkamena's ears.
"For this test, I will describe to you a series of objects and actions. It will be your job to imagine those things as I say them. Do you understand?"
Pinkamena didn't speak, but splotches of bright colors painted the doctor's monitor. This indicated that her brain had processed the sound.
"Alright, Pinkamena, I want you to imagine a red ball."
"There was that one time where I threw a party and one of the filly's brought one to play with her...friends..."
The doctor noticed the colors popping up on the monitor and recorded the activity in his personal notepad.
"Okay, I want you to now imagine a butterfly."
"Fluttershy loved them...they were even on her cutie mark..."
"I want you to now imagine a flower."
"So many...so many flowers...in the grass...ponies selling them...they were beautiful..."
Pinkamena felt a stinging in her eyes. The light in the scanner was becoming overwhelming and she clenched them shut to prevent any further pain.
"I want you to now imagine a rock."
"That's all...I've ever been...and it's...all..."
Tears streamed down Pinkamena's cheeks and sniffles took over every inhale. Sobs choked the mare as she cried inside the scanner.
"Pinkamena, is something wrong?" the doctor asked. Pinkamena's answered with wretched crying. It was difficult for the doctor to hear.
"Nurse Smiley Bunch, get her out!" the doctor ordered.
The nurse hit the switch and the platform slid itself back out. She rushed over to the shaking mare as she was being exited from the scanner and got her into a sitting position.
"Pinkamena, what's wrong?" Smiley Bunch asked as she wrapped her into a hug. Pinkamena continued crying as she was held by the nurse. This prompted the doctor to race out of the room and approach the two mares.
"Pinkamena," the doctor said "speak to me!"
Smiley Bunch held Pinkamena and blew soothing sounds into her ear. But the crying mare barely noticed the nurse's efforts.
"Calm down," Smiley Bunch whispered, "it will be alright..."
Pinkamena's body shook in Smiley Bunch's hooves as she whimpered. It was heartbreaking for the nurse to hear her cries, but it was all a part of the job.
As time went by, Pinkamena started to calm down. To her, Smiley Bunch's embrace was warming her mind. Eventually, her sorrow was softened to sniffles. Smiley Bunch slowly moved back from Pinkamena and noticed her face was covered by her mane. She took her hoof and gently moved the dull pink strands to expose watery blue eyes and trembling lips.
"Do you want to talk about what's wrong?" Smiley Bunch asked with a small grin.
Pinkamena's mouth opened slightly and a weak gasp escaped her. Her eyes filled with tears that threatened to fall. Pinkamena squeezed them shut as her mouth widened.
"My b-best friends...are gone..." she said.
This confused the nurse when she thought about the circumstances, but she kept her reassuring expression as she kindly looked at Pinkamena.
"How did it happen?" Smiley Bunch asked.
Pinkamena opened her eyes and stared at the nurse before she sniffled through her red muzzle.
"W-We were a-all going o-out for a pi-picnic...and then e-every-thing...was white..." Pinkamena said.
She tried to breathe again, but was cut off by a sniffle.
"And...then I-I was here...i-in this...place...a-and now I-I can't...find..."
The tears broke free and cascaded down her pale cheeks. Her head plummeted and she cried again. Smiley Bunch pulled her into her hooves and she slowly swayed her. Pinkamena whimpered into the nurse's chest, but Smiley Bunch held a determination to comfort the pony in need.
Meanwhile, the doctor was witnessing this display from nearby. He assumed it was best for Smiley Bunch to do what she prided herself in.
"Nurse Smiley Bunch," the doctor said calmly. The nurse turned her head to the doctor while holding onto Pinkamena, "take Pinkamena back to her room and help her in any way you can. I'll postpone the scan until she is ready."
Smiley Bunch was reluctant to break from Pinkamena. She stared at the doctor with wide eyes, but quickly dropped the expression. She lit up her horn and lifted Pinkamena from the scanner and into the wheelchair. Smiley Bunch used her magic to push the wheelchair out of the room. During the journey back to the room, she trotted alongside the crying Pinkamena and rubbed her hoof on her shoulder. All the while, Smiley Bunch kept a genuine smile on her face.
Smiley Bunch opened the door to the hospital room and rolled the wheelchair inside. Cloudy and Igneous were stoically sitting in their chairs. The only thing separating them was an untouched rock salad.
Cloudy jerked her head to the forlorn pony. A million things raced through her mind as she saw her daughter.
"Nurse, what happened?" Cloudy asked. Her rigid face had broken free of its curse and its muscles tensed.
Smiley Bunch maintained her grin as she levitated Pinkamena onto her bed. She then walked over to her and Igneous.
"Something happened during the MRI scan...if you...don't mind...I would prefer Pinkamena telling you when she's ready..." she whispered to the two parents.
"I want to know now!" Cloudy demanded. Her usually gray cheeks were showing hints of red.
Smiley Bunch dropped her smile, but her voice was still warm.
"It wouldn't be right for me to tell you. It would upset her," she responded.
Cloudy jumped from her seat and trotted over to the bedside. Pinkamena was still crying and she didn't notice her mother take her hoof.
"Pinkamena...tell me what's wrong," Cloudy said.
Pinkamena's limbs were lifeless as more tears fell from her eyes. Smiley Bunch stood beside her and stared at the patient, whose face was once again hidden by her dull pink mane.
"Pinkamena, please let me help you," Cloudy continued.
Pinkamena started sobbing and her hooves were now shaking.
"J-Just...leave...me alone..." she said through her sorrow.
Cloudy eyes widened and she gripped Pinkamena's hoof.
"You're never gonna get better unless you let me help."
"Please...Mom..." Pinkamena said with her small voice. She sniffled from behind her mane, "...leave...me alone..."
Despite this plea, Cloudy never let go of Pinkamena's hoof. Her face had calm down to support Pinkamena. Even though her daughter didn't see its charm, Cloudy kept it because she knew it would make her a good mother.
Smiley Bunch watched her attempt to comfort her daughter as she heard the sound of crying and beeping.
Author's Note
If anyone wants to create a work of art for the cover, then feel free to submit one to me via PM.
A white doctor entered the room with a notepad wrapped in her hoof. Like many of the employees at the hospital, she had a collected composure with a calm face and relaxed limbs.
The doctor saw Pinkamena sitting in her bed. Even though she was awake, she was inactive. Her parents were watching her from their chairs nearby.
"Hello everypony," she said. It took Cloudy and Igneous several moments to turn their heads towards the white mare. The two of them coldly stared at the doctor as she looked down at her notepad.
"I have the results of Pinkamena's MRI scans. I'm glad to say that Pinkamena's brain is actively working. This is a big step towards her recovery."
Cloudy's eyes widened and her face loosened.
"Does that mean Pinkamena can come home?" she asked.
"It's going to be a while before Pinkamena can be released. She will also need physical therapy to get her body back in shape and counseling sessions to improve her mental health."
Cloudy stared at her daughter, who was listening to the exchange, and then back at the doctor.
"Do you know how long those will take?" Cloudy asked.
"My recommendation would be to oversee her progress for three weeks. Afterward, she will probably be released, however she will still need to return to receive treatment."
Cloudy nodded.
"Okay."
"Do you have any questions?"
Cloudy thought for a moment before shaking her head.
"Well if you need anything, just contact a nurse."
With that, the doctor exited the room. Beeping filled the room as Cloudy observed her inactive daughter. Even though the machines beside her bed clearly showed she was alive, Pinkamena might as well have been dead.
"Will she ever forgive me?" Cloudy asked herself.
Nurse Smiley Bunch pushed Pinkamena's wheelchair down the hallway using her magic. It was the same story as the trip to physical therapy earlier that morning. Smiley Bunch knew there wasn't much fun or variety when it came to moving her patients, but she always tried to make the stroll a little lively. It usually didn't accomplish much, but she thought it was worth the effort.
"We're here," Smiley Bunch said as she opened a white door.
The office was slightly larger than the normal rooms in the hospital. To the side was a wall that was covered with books. The other side was white and had various picture frames mounted. The back of the room had a square window and a desk that was seated by a brown mare with a short gray mane.
"Good morning, Pinkamena," she said.
No answer came from the mare. Instead, Smiley Bunch lifted Pinkamena from the wheelchair and landed her on a green couch on the side of the room. Smiley Bunch looked on as the mare rose from her desk and trotted to the patient.
"I'm Dr. Goodtalk and I will be your therapist," she said nonchalantly.
Smiley Bunch felt a pinch of discomfort in Goodtalk's voice, but quickly rubbed it off.
"Goodbye Pinkamena...have a nice time..." Smiley Bunch said as she slowly backed away to the door.
"So Pinkamena, can you tell me about your emotions?" Goodtalk said.
"..."
"I have been told by several doctors and nurses that you have been sad since waking up from the coma. Would you care to talk about it?"
"..."
Goodtalk stared at the dull, limp mare. The only sense of life was the occasional rising and falling of her chest. Goodtalk was by no means shocked by the sight, but she was still eager to hear Pinkamena.
"...Why...did they have to go away..." Pinkamena said. Her voice was small and fragile, "Why can't I...go back to them..."
Goodtalk heard a weak sniffle.
As silence took over the room once again, Goodtalk copied down what Pinkamena had said.
"Who are 'they'?" Goodtalk asked.
Pinkamena took several difficult breaths as her lifeless eyes stared at the wall.
"My...f-friends..."
"Can you tell me about your friends?"
Pinkamena's blue eyes finally moved and rested on the forest green carpet. They lazily hung there as if there was nothing to hold them up.
"I..."
As Pinkamena gazed at the emerald fibers of the floor, an image entered her head. She pictured that same green in her head and brightened its shade. Her new product was a green that was like a bed of grass on a sunny day. But it also reminded her of something else. A certain mare came to mind that had such a color for her eyes.
"...Applejack..." she whispered to herself. It was just loud enough for Goodtalk to hear.
"Applejack...what was she like?" Goodtalk asked.
Surrounding those green irises were two oceans of pure white. Beyond them were freckles that bordered between pale orange and a continuation of the vast white. These spots served to compliment an orange coat that has been exposed to the elements. Also along her body was a long piece of sun-baked blonde hair. She was her Applejack.
"Applejack was a farmer...of apples...she farmed apples..." Pinkamena said.
Goodtalk recorded her patient's description in her notepad.
"Then...there's Fluttershy...she's shy and scared a lot...but she's very nice..."
Pinkamena felt her hooves moving slightly as she spoke.
"And then there's Rarity...she's pretty and she's very good at making clothes for everypony...even though ponies rarely wear clothes, they're nice to have..."
Pinkamena's hooves shakily clicked together and lightly pressed against her stomach.
"And there's Rainbow Dash...who is the fastest pony in Equestria...she...can zoom and swish through the air...and she wants to join the Wonderbolts..."
For the first time in several weeks, Pinkie's eyes brightened.
"And lastly, there's Princess Twilight Sparkle...she's the smartest, bestest pony ever...she likes Princess Celestia and Princess Luna and Princess Cadence and Starswirl the Bearded all smushed into one."
Goodtalk's eyes widened as she wrote down those words, but was happy to see a smile on Pinkie's face.
"So those are my bestest friends in all of Equestria..."
Silence.
Abruptness.
Goodtalk stared at Pinkamena as her entire body crashed. Goodtalk thought that she had fantasized her patient's rise and fall.
And there was more silence.
"Pinkamena, are you alright?" Goodtalk asked.
Her answer was a sniffle.
"I'm...I-...I'm trying to...find them...they're...missing...and..."
Her voice fell as well. Goodtalk saw her patient's trembling body lying limp on the couch. And another sniffle was heard.
Goodtalk's bottom lip loosened, but she kept it from opening. Instead, she read through what she had recorded while also granting her client some air.
"Can you tell me about the last time you saw them?" Goodtalk asked.
Pinkamena's body shuddered, causing small ripples in her straight mane. Her eyes gradually fell shut as well. Goodtalk sat silently as she waited for her patient to find the strength to speak.
"We...we-we were going t-to have a picnic...and then I...closed my eyes...but when they o-opened," she said as she did the same, "there was nothing...but white...everywhere..."
Pause.
Goodtalk sat in her chair without movement as she waited for her patient to continue.
"...But...then...everything dimmed...to a room...and Mom was there...and Dad was there...and my sisters were there...but none of friends were..."
Pinkamena choked another sniffle as she felt a small tear escape her eye.
"Do you need any tissues, Pinkamena?" Goodtalk asked as she rose from her chair.
The dull mare clenched her lips into an awkward form and shakily jerked her head sideways.
"Are you sure?"
Pinkamena's eyes clamped shut as well as she shook her head once more.
Still standing, Goodtalk turned to face the tissue box that she had resting on her desk. She trotted to it and removed a generous amount of tissues before approaching her patient.
"I'll give you some anyway if you need them," Goodtalk said before sitting in her chair.
The bundle shook in Pinkamena's hooves as she stared down at them with glassy eyes.
"Now Pinkamena...how long have you known your friends before they 'disappeared'?"
There was another silence. Pinkamena's mouth hung open, but no words came out. Soundless packets of air flowed in through the lifeless opening.
"I...I..." she said. Pinkamena stopped and dug through her recollections. She had a feeling she knew somewhere. Eventually, she produced the response, "don't know..."
Goodtalk scribbled her patient's exact words into the notepad.
"Well...can you describe to me how you met each of them?" Goodtalk asked.
"Well...I met a lot of them...during my "Welcome to Ponyville" party...it was how I became friends with them and...everypony else in Ponyville..." Pinkamena said before forcing in an unsteady breath, "...I learned their names and what they liked...but...they didn't become my bestest friends in all Equestria...until Twilight came to Ponyville..."
Pinkamena hacked a chuckle, which sounded more like a pitiful cough.
"That was when all six of us...became the keepers of...the Elements of Harmony...and how we became the bestest friends in all Equestria..."
The mare's eyes widened as a breathy sound escaped her. Those blue eyes flashed as something crosses her mind. But alas, it was a passing flicker as her body shut down once more.
"Is there something you would like to say?" Goodtalk asked.
Time passed by again, but the silence was prolonged-- destined to drag on indefinitely. Not even a whimper was able to break free from its broken confinement.
Goodtalk read through her notes once more-- which now took up two whole pages. She looked up at her patient, who was devoid of sound and life.
"Well, if you aren't comfortable speaking now, then we can save it for another time...Would that be alright?"
No answer.
"I'll just call Nurse Smiley Bunch to bring you back to your room."
Goodtalk rose and walked to the phone that was mounted to her desk. She picked it up and brought it to her ear.
"Nurse Smiley Bunch," Goodtalk said as she kept an eye on her patient, "the session has ended for today. You may pick up Pinkamena."
Goodtalk returned to her chair and watched her patient. She has had extensive exposure to those that preferred silence and this one was no different. It was never easy for her to be surrounded by forlorn ponies, but she always asked herself who would help them if she didn't. Goodtalk also thought about the times when she herself was in need of to supportive companion. Her cutie mark-- a smiling face-- was a clear indicator of her perseverance.
The intoxicating silence was shattered by a gentle knock on the door.
"This is Nurse Smiley Bunch," a voice said.
"Come in," Goodtalk replied.
The door opened to reveal the pony and the empty wheelchair she was pushing with her magic.
"Alright Pinkamena, here we go," Smiley Bunch cheered as she lifted her body from the couch to the wheelchair.
"Have a nice say, Dr. Goodtalk," Smiley Bunch said before rolling out of the room.
The door was shut with the same demeanor as the one that opened it. Meanwhile, Dr. Goodtalk trotted to her sturdy desk and read through her notes once more.
Dr. Goodtalk's door opened to reveal two pale ponies. Goodtalk had been going through some papers when she heard her oiled hinges swing.
"Good afternoon, Mr. and Mrs. Pie," Goodtalk said as she placed down the document she was holding, "the two of you may sit down."
Igneous slowly lifted his legs to walk across the fine carpet. Cloudly delayed for a moment as her eyes stared at the chair, but she found the ability to join her husband.
The two ponies were now focused upon Goodtalk and the doctor returned the gesture.
"After two sessions of talking with your daughter, I have found that she has had some sort of dream while she was comatose. She's in denial over the fact that what she saw as real was nothing more than her imagination."
"What's makes you sure?" Igneous asked. His eyes-- while blank-- held a certain caliber of coldness.
"Pinkamena has been able to piece together her memories and I am certain that they can only lead to this conclusion. According to her, her life turned around when an explosion happened at the rock farm. It was-- and I quote--," Goodtalk said as she grabbed out a piece of paper and read, ""a splotch of colors that [she] had never seen before. It was the most wonderful thing [she] had ever seen and it made her smile."
Goodtalk turned her eyes from the paper and to the two ponies.
"This sounds very similar to the Sonic Rainboom that happened on the day she became comatose."
"So is that why Pinkamena is depressed?" Igneous asked.
"It's very likely. Ponies that dream in a long coma begin to accept the world their in as reality. Pinkamena's "life" seems to have been pretty happy. So to be forced from that world and to deal with the truth can be difficult."
Cloudy clenched her hooves and squeezed her strained eyes.
"Will she ever be happy again?" Cloudy asked. Her voice was conspicuously breaking.
"Pinkamena will continue to have therapy sessions every other day, however the two of you must play your part as well. Talk to her whenever possible to show that you care. Try to be warm and open so that she will be comfortable doing so."
"Very well," Igneous said.
The couple sat silently. Their eyes stared at Goodtalk, whom returned their look.
"Is there anything you want to tell me?"
"Yes. Is there anything else we should know?" Igneous asked.
"Nothing much about Pinkamena's condition. If physical therapy continues as planned, she should be ready to leave in three weeks. But trust me when I say that you talking to your daughter will help her recover on an emotional level."
"Alright," Igneous said as he got up from his seat. He looked down at Cloudy, whom was struggling to get up, "Do you need help?"
Cloudy shook her head.
"No thank you..." she said.
Her gray hooves wrapped around the chair's handles as she gradually lifted her body to a standing position.
The couple then walked side by side out the door.
"They are real! I can see them, hear them, talk to them, hug them, and anything else you can do with a real pony!"
"Pinkamena, it's alright," Goodtalk stated.
"I don't know why I was put in here! You're all meanies for taking me away from my friends!"
Goodtalk jumped from her chair and made the distant journey to the couch where Pinkamena was crying.
"Why w-won't you let me l-leave?" Pinkamena struggled to make out, "W-what did I do?..."
Goodtalk gently stroked Pinkamena's back with her smooth hoof, accompanied by a sympathetic look on her face.
"Pinkamena, you have done nothing to deserve any sort of punishment. What you went through all those years shouldn't happen to anyone. But it's alright, because I— along with your family and the ponies here— want to help you move on. It may not be easy, but with tim-"
"You're lying to me! All you want me to do is make me forget my friends!"
Tears streamed down Pinkamena's face as she stared at Goodtalk. All the while, the counselor rubbed her patient's tight skin.
"That's not true. I know that your 'friends' mean a lot to you, but they're not going to pop up in the real world." Goodtalk said.
"No! I can...uh..."
The mare sat silently as tears fell from her eyes.
Her face then jerked up.
"I can imagine them in my head!"
Pinkamena squeezed her wet eyes shut. The tears halted before a feigned giggle was coughed from the mare's throat.
"Oh, silly me! Why didn't I think of this earlier?" Pinkamena said as she perked a strained smile, "Hi, Twilight! I missed you so much!"
There was a moment of silence.
"I know! These silly ponies thought they could take me away from you! Hey! Since we're all back together, maybe we should have a 'Welcome Back To Ponyville' party! That's a great idea!"
Goodtalk sat dumbfounded as Pinkamena went through her bizarre episode, but not surprised or unprepared. She sat beside her and let her patient continue— all the while waiting for an appropriate entrance.
"Let's party!" Pinkamena cheered. Although it held the volume of an enthusiastic cheer, it lacked any verisimilitude. Accompanying it was forced laughter.
"Oh Gummy! You shouldn't be in the punch! Silly gator!"
Her face lost its fake smile.
"Where did you go?...Why is there only bla- There you are!"
Pinkamena giggled again, but Goodtalk could only pull her in.
"Pinkamena," Goodtalk said.
"I can't hear you! Not with all this music playing! Just keep it up Vinyl Scratch!"
As those words escaped her mouth, the tears followed suit from her sealed eyelids.
"Pinkamena," Goodtalk said.
"That's a weird song that's playing, but I like it."
"Pinkamena, please let me help you."
But it was useless. The silly filly was back "home".
"Nopony's gonna take away my friends." Pinkamena vowed to herself as more tears cascaded down her pale cheeks.
"What if she never forgives me?" Cloudy asked softly.
"You've asked me that before," Igneous said.
Cloudy continued to watch her daughter as she slept. Pinkamena looked peaceful in her sleep; a tranquil stillness that wasn't present during her years in the coma. The sun was still too high to be seen by the window, which caused her body to be lit by the artificial beams above her.
"I know...it's just that I still feel it..."
"What will make you feel better?" Igneous asked. Each syllable had the same stress.
"Again...if only I could talk to her...and say that I'm sorry..."
"You could if you wanted. The doctor did say that we should talk to her."
Cloudy took another look at her daughter as she drew in another breath.
"I...will...hopefully..."
Igneous turned back to her daughter and watched her some more.
Cloudy was alone with Pinkamena, who was still resting. Igneous had gone out to the farm but she chose to stay.
Her older eyes refused to leave Pinkamena. Her exposed face, gently moving chest, and frozen legs were all they could focus on.
"Pinkamena...I'm terribly sorry...
Why is that all I can say? It just isn't enough....it's never enough...
I know you may not remember that day...And you may not have cared these past ten years...
But...I'm sorry...for all the pain you're going through right now"
A sound was made. Cloudy didn't bother to find its source, however she saw Smiley Bunch enter her vision.
"Good afternoon, Mrs. Pie, " the nurse said warmly.
"You too, nurse."
"I'm just here to check on Pinkamena; making sure she's doing alright."
Smiley Bunch then turned to face Cloudy.
"Do you need anything?" Smiley Bunch asked.
Cloudy shook her head.
"Are you sure?"
Cloudy replied with a simple nod.
"Well...alright...if you do, just call," Smiley Bunch said before exiting.
"Maybe I should talk to her like the nurse. She's seem nice."
Cloudy grasped the handles of the chair and pushed herself up. It was a struggle, but the mare managed to get on her legs. She then turned to Pinkamena— her daughter— and opened her mouth. But nothing came out.
"Maybe my voice is a little weak."
Cloudy mustered the effort to clear her throat.
"...Pinkamena..." Cloudy said.
"...I know...you're sleeping...and you may not hear me...
...but..."
Before another word was breathed, Cloudy found herself falling back into the chair. Nothing to say. Nothing that could be said.
"Maybe I'll try again tomorrow."
The hill was a nice place for a picnic. Pinkie had known it. Her friends had known it too.
"So then I said 'Oatmeal, are you crazy?'" Pinkie joked.
Everypony— including Pinkie herself— were in stitches. Laughter was always soothing and Pinkie never failed to bring it.
"Oh Pinkie, you got us good there!" Dashie cried as she wiped a joyful tear from her eye.
"You see! I told you I would make you laugh! Or I'm not Pinkamena Happy Pie!"
"But isn't your middle name Diane?" Rarity asked.
Pinkie's smile fell. Faster than Dashie when she whooshes, zooms, and tops it off with a Sonic Rainboom.
"Oh..." Pinkie said. There was a brief pause before she opened her mouth, "I...forgot...."
Pinkie tried to laugh, but she sounded like she was coughing up cake.
"Yeah....I must have eaten too much cake too quickly.....Silly me!"
But nopony was there to hear her. There was only white.
Pinkamena's eyes flung open to reveal the dark ceiling she has seen every day for three months. Everything in the room was the same— the empty chairs beside her, the blank white wall before her, and the window on her right
"Good morning Pinkamena," Smiley Bunch cheered as she came through the door. Before her was a tray that she levitated, "I have your breakfast."
The nurse paused and waited for her patient to say something. She didn't. Again. It wasn't as if her face was smothered by her pillow. In fact, her face was visible on that morning. Smiley Bunch waited a whole minute before serving Pinkamena the tray.
"Did you sleep well?" Smiley Bunch asked as she gave Pinkamena a smile. But as foreshadowed by the tear-stained cheeks and lifeless eyes, one would never be returned.
"Is there something cool and awesome you wanna talk about?"
Some would say that she should have known better than to try, but she stayed anyway. Rather than going to the door, Smiley Bunch sat in one of the vacant chairs and watched Pinkamena. At first, the nurse hoped that she would say anything. But even Pinkamena's breathing was silent. She hoped that she would eat her breakfast. But Pinkamena's muscles were tired, even after a night's rest.
"Is there anything you need at all?"
It was as if the nurse was talking to a wall— nothing. Although Pinkamena's eyes were facing the other side of the room— not too far from where Smiley Bunch was standing-- telling whether or not they were focused was impossible.
But even with the sad sight, the nurse gave a beaming grin.
"If you need anything," she said— again—, "just push the button."
Goodtalk was sorting through her papers—notes, reports, and other documents— when her door opened. The mare looked up and saw Cloudy and Igneous Pie.
"You wanted to see us?" Cloudy asked.
Goodtalk nodded.
"Yes," she said before pointing her hoof at two chairs, "sit down."
The two ponies found themselves in the chairs before directing their attention at Goodtalk.
"Now," Goodtalk started, "I have been observing your daughter every day for over two months, expecting for her to become happier. And...."
The mare paused, looking at the staring parents before her, before continuing.
"there has been little progress....
Yes... it's about time I admitted it. I know it's not something you would want to hear from someone like me, but I cannot be in denial forever....
I have been trying to do what I can to help Pinkamena overcome her depression, but her fantasy world continues to act as a roadblock. She refuses to accept reality."
Goodtalk paused to take a breath.
"Well...we can keep trying," Cloudy said, "Igneous and I have visited her every day."
Goodtalk remained silent as she listened to her. Afterward, she sighed.
"There.......is a possible solution.......it would work, but I'm a little hesistant."
Cloudy leaned in closer to Goodtalk. Her eyes widened as she hoofed the chair's handles.
"What is it?" she demanded.
The professional was anxious— her hooves twiddling together and her face tensing up— but she opened her mouth.
"It's a memory removal spell. It's often used on war veterans with painful, traumatic memories but it can be just as useful on Pinkamena. We can customize it so that it only removes her memory of her coma dreams....
But...."
Goodtalk stopped and rolled her lips inward.
"I have always been skeptical about it. Although it's been proven to be successful, I feel like it's wrong to rob somepony of their memories. It's a part of who they are. Besides, it's good for someone to come to terms with something on their own. It's a good quality for someone to have...."
The counselor grabbed a sheet of paper and handed it to Cloudy.
"But....it's not my decision over whether or not she gets it. The patient has to sign this form, agreeing to accept the treatment."
Cloudy stared at the form and all its information before looking back at Goodtalk.
"If you don't agree with it, then why are you suggesting it?" she asked.
"In most cases, I believe that the spell is too extreme, especially when counseling can help people recover.....but if there is little success, then progress can only be made by psychiatric means. And given that Pinkamena's depression is rooted in memories, I believe that eliminating them would assist her more than counseling ever could....I want Pinkamena to be happy again, and if push comes to shove, then I would go for it."
Cloudy took another look at the paper and noticed a certain clause on the form. She read it over and an idea came to her head.
"But......even though Pinkamena's an adult, she's never really matured because of the coma.....so.....could I sign it on her behalf?" Cloudy asked.
Goodtalk shook her head.
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Pie. Coma or not, she is a legal adult that is capable of making her own judgement. You can convince her to sign it, but you cannot do it for her."
Cloudy was clearly shocked— as shown by her wide eyes. But she knew that nothing could have been done to change things. Taking the sheet, she stood up and faced the mare before her.
"Well, thank you Dr. Goodtalk. We'll tell Pinkamena as soon as possible," Cloudy said.
"Okay."
Igneous got up shortly after and followed his wife out of the room.
Cloudy and Igneous returned to Pinkamena's room and sat down. The former held the blank form in her hooves as she stared at her own daughter— resting in a dreamless sleep. The mother tried to formulate words in her mind, imagining Pinkamena in her mind. She tried bending phrases, placing things as nicely as possible, but all she could see was her daughter screaming in protest— tears streaming down her pale cheeks— before being tranquilized by one of the doctors.
"How are you going to tell her?"
Cloudy snapped out of her trance and looked at her husband. It wasn't every day that he spoke up.
"I don't know," Cloudy responded.
The older mare turned back to her daughter. She was all Cloudy could look at for the past ten years.
"To think that you would have been happy to wake up. I thought happiness could only come from the outside."
Even with the physical therapy, Pinkamena spent more time asleep than awake. But even when conscious, she didn't do much. Her dead eyes faced the wall and never bothered to move.
"Maybe it won't sway her. Maybe she won't even notice."
"I think we should go spend time with the Daintyflowers," Igneous said.
Cloudy turned to her husband. She was briefly surprised that something as simple as a name would turn her away from her daughter but she quickly figured that it was justified.
"Igneous, we can't lose our heads over this! We need to make a decision!"
"I know we do...but who ever said that we can't take a little break every now and then? And I think we both need to something to calm us down."
A flare of anger flashed over Cloudy but it was quickly extinguished. A cool sensation took over at the thought of peace. Every part of her body relaxed, especially her face.
"But..." she said, still trying to fight against her physical urges. She quickly noted, however, that it was of no use, "fine."
"Okay, then. Let's go," Igneous said as he got up from his seat.
Cloudy reluctantly pushed herself out of the chair. Her eyes remained glued on her daughter even as she was making her way out of the room. It took a large effort to finally break the eye contact.
The couple trudged through the hallways, greeting the friendly nurses and doctors that passed by. Cloudy tried to block out any need of rushing back to Pinkamena but her daughter's forlorn face kept searing her train of thought. Igneous glanced at his wife, whose lips were curled and eye brows furrowed.
"Maybe I should say something to her."
The two continued to move in silence as they approached the stairwell. The stallion occasionally looked at his wife before returning his focus to what was ahead of him. His mind told him to take its advice but he was not quick to carry out the action. Eventually, the couple was on the first floor approaching the main door. Upon seeing the gateway to the outside world, Igneous slowly brought his muzzle toward Cloudy's neck. It was an awkward motion that was unnoticed by the gray mare. The sudden sensation of nuzzling stunned her and diverted her attention from Pinkamena.
"Igneous!" she exclaimed, "What on Earth are you doing?"
"Something that I have seen other married couples do before. I figured it would calm you down."
At first, she was speechless. Such an intimate action made her head feel twenty pounds heavier and her chest warmer.
"Well I didn't need calming down to begin with," Cloudy said, "and what you're doing doesn't feel right."
Igneous pulled himself away from his wife's neck and stared at her.
"I see it happen every night when we have to leave here. You're falling apart, Cloudy."
The stallion's wife's mouth slightly fell and her blue eyes widened.
"You haven't been the same since Pinkamena was first brought in here," Igneous continued, "and I figured it was about time I started to show my concern for you."
Cloudy's mouth slowly closed again and the muscles around her eyes relaxed. She gently gazed at her husband before walking toward the door. Igneous saw his wife moving, his willingness to speak having dissipated.
"Maybe I'll try again, later," he thought to himself before catching up to Cloudy.
The silent couple strode through the streets of Ponyville, the closet town with a hospital. The walk to the train station was automatic, one composed of little thought. The two of them entered the station, Igneous purchased a copy of the Canterlot Press, and purchased two tickets.
"Two tickets to Pershling," Igneous said, "round-trip."
The pony behind the counter was surprised despite hearing that town's name from the stoic stallion before. He was more accustomed to hearing "Nickerlite" from the stoic stallion. The customer paid his bits and in return received his tickets.
The wait for the Friendship Express was short and silent as well. The sound of the train's rusty brakes and exiting passengers were quite enough for the moment. Once the carts were empty, the two ponies entered and took an empty row. The train slowly filled with more riders with places to be, filling it with noise. Cloudy paid no mind to her husband and stared out the window. He followed suit and took out his newspaper.
As the Express started along the tracks, the sight of the outside world raced past her eyes. Ponyville was situated in a beautiful region, one more lively than the barren rock farm. Grass grew where the dirt stood, the sun stood proudly in the blue sky, and animals frolicked on the hills. Cloudy felt something beneath her nose she hasn't felt in years, a smile.
"This was probably where Pinkamena lived all this time."
That name made her shudder, though, as she was brought back to reality. As she continued to watch the lush scenery rush by her, the sight of her daughter playing with the animals and rolling in the grass twisted her stomach.
"If this is what her 'life' was like....then who would I be to take such memories away?"
Her eyes never left the landscape during the ride. Eventually, the train's wheels screeched and Cloudy's body fell forward, only being stopped by the seat in front of her.
"Come on," Igneous said, "let's go."
Cloudy turned to face her husband's lifeless face. She briefly took in its plain details before standing. The couple waited for the crowd of passengers to file out of the train's narrow doors. Once the aisle was empty, they exited as well.
The Pie farm had no place in the town of Pershling with its strong, healthy trees and its emerald grass. Cloudy was always disappointed that the trees on the farm couldn't flourish like the ones in Pershling despite her best efforts.
The Daintyflowers' small house was fairly close to the train station and the Pies were at its front door within minutes. Each side of the lawn was fluttered with flowers of red, yellow, and blue. Cloudy looked around the display and took in their lovely aromas. In front of her was Igneous, who knocked on the door upon reaching it.
"Coming," a muffled voice said from behind it. It didn't take long, though, for the door to open and reveal Mrs. Daintyflower: a yellow mare with a pink mane.
"Igneous? Cloudy?" she said. A smile then grew on her face, much like her flowers, "It's been a while! How are you two doing?"
He simply nodded his head. Cloudy stared at the mare for a brief moment before emulating her husband.
"Why don't you two come on in, get nice and relaxed," she said as she moved aside. On cue, Igneous placed one of his brown hooves onto the carpet. And then another. And then another. As he entered the house, his eyes maintained a blank gaze, never focusing on any of the furniture or details. Cloudy followed her husband however she was quicker to take in the scenery: the white walls, the brown upholstery, the staircase leading to the second floor, and the doorway to the kitchen were all the immediate sights. As she approached the living room, she noticed some of the other things; the most striking of which was a photo of a filly mounted on a small square. The filly looked identical to Mrs. Daintyflower and held a small smile on her face.
"Is there anything I can get you?" Mrs. Daintyflower asked, "Tea? Salad?"
"No thanks," Cloudy answered. She looked back to see a chair behind her and lowered herself onto its soft cushion. Igneous had sat down in a chair next to her's and Mrs. Daintyflower was still standing, looking on at him. He shook his head.
"We want to talk, though," Igneous said.
"About what?" Mrs. Daintyflower asked as she sat down next to him.
"Pinkamena woke up."
"That's wonderful!" she replied, her grin growing, "How is she doing?"
"Not well."
Mrs. Daintyflower's smile then started to shrink. She turned to Cloudy, whose expression matched her's. Her gaze then moved closer to Igneous, whose face was as static as it had always been, "Could you care to tell me?"
"She's been really sad," Cloudy said. Daintyflower directed her vision toward her as she continued to speak, "She says that she has been having dreams in her coma. They were so good that she thought they were real," she paused as she imagined the flowery, colorful hills she saw on the train rides and the inner words that accompanied them, "She never thought she was in a coma until she woke up. And now she doesn't know how to go on."
Mrs. Daintyflower flashed her a smile and placed her yellow hooves on Cloudy's gray ones, "Well, I think if you give her enough time, then she will gladly accept the real world."
"The doctors are not so hopeful," she answered, "they want to give her this spell that will make her forget all about her dreams. I don't know if it would be best for her, though."
Mrs. Daintyflower's shrank until her lips mirrored those of her. Her eyes, though, held a strong look of understanding. The swirling storm of distress within Cloudy's mind seemed to slow down, even if only a little bit.
"I don't it's fair," Cloudy said, "because I think it would be better for her to learn to let go without some fancy spell. I also think that she has a right to remember the past ten years of her own life...I don't think we have the power to take them away..."
She paused as a new thought came across.
"But at the same time...she's been empty."
Her mouth was still open but the words didn't come out. All she could think about was her Pinkamena—her special little filly that was devastated by that horrible Rainboom. Eventually, though, she managed to continue.
"She barely eats, she wakes up crying. She spends her days lying there, looking at nothing," Cloudy said while seeing those images, "I know that she didn't always show her feelings way back then but this is different. I can see how sad this all makes her and I want to make her feel better but I just can't."
She stopped to take a long, deep breath. All the while, she couldn't help but think of that old, emotionless lifestyle on the rock farm.
"I've never been good with counseling or making ponies happy. When we first met, I just sat here while you cried your eyes out. It wasn't me that made you feel better, it was your family and your friends. They knew how to make you feel better..." she paused for a moment before continuing, "The counselors, the ponies that are good with this type of thing, can't make Pinkamena feel better and I'm worried that no amount of talking or hugging will make her feel better."
She paused to breathe again. Her throat was starting to narrow, weakening her voice. Still, though, she was determined to finish.
"Because of this, I feel like the spell would get rid of the sadness and allow her to recover. I feel that by saying yes to it, I would be helping her get over this mountain..."
The final memory was on that dreadful day. She remembered directing Pinkamena out the door, the explosion, the blast of colors, and the limp body that has haunted her since.
"It's the least I could do to say that I'm sorry," she said as some tears welled up in her eyes.
Mrs. Daintyflower lifted one of her forelegs and wrapped it around Cloudy's neck. Cloudy accepted the gesture and allowed herself to be pulled in.
"I don't think you should give her the spell," Mrs. Daintyflower said. Cloudy's head turned slightly in order to face her. She could see the tears threatening to break free, "Sometimes bad things happen and we want to forget about them. When Fluttershy passed away, I wanted to act like she was still with me. But that's not how we should face them. I know that in time, Pinkamena will accept the truth and be able to move on. She may always remember her dream but she will be able to find happiness in other things. She may be able to make her dream a reality."
"But..." Cloudy said, "how am I supposed to help her? Nothing I say does anything..."
Mrs. Daintyflower gave her a smile and a gentle pull inward.
"Just being there can do great things. But remember this,"
She wiped her teary eyes and stared at her friend.
"If she doesn't get better right away, then don't beat yourself up. Time eventually mends all wounds."
Taking in those words, Cloudy moved back from Mrs. Daintyflower. Her mouth muscles etched a small grin on her face.
"Okay, then," she said, "I'll try."
She then walked over to the door, Igneous following behind, and bid her farewell. Mrs. Daintyflower smiled even after the couple had left her sight. She then walked over to the portrait and picked it up with her hoof. As she held it, her grin grew even more as she remembered days in the park, the garden, and the woods with her little filly.