Pinkie Pie's Nightmare Log

Dear Nightmare Log,

I know this isn't something that happened in a dream, but it seemed relevant enough to write down. At least, I think it was something that wasn't a dream. I still need to write it down. It might have been a dream.

...It was probably a dream.

I need to get a better grip on reality, and you help me do that.

I was busy putting together some balloons last night, when I heard a tap-tap-tap coming from my balcony door. I righted myself quickly, peering out the door-window. Rainbow Dash was there, waiting outside the window. I opened the door for her, and she nodded to some pony below the balcony. Then, with a bang, Twilight Sparkle was there. I've always been jealous of her natural talent regarding teleportation. It's always been so hard for me, but she does it super-easy!

Anyways, I was super-duper happy that my two friends were here to visit me, but they both looked tired and sullen. I smiled and bounced, and told them exactly how super-duper happy I was, and then I told them that they looked all saddie-faced, and then I told them "isn't there anything I can do to make it better?"

I don't know if I should have said that. At least I didn't Pinkie Promise.

My friends shared a glance.

"Do you know what time it is, Pinkie?" Twilight began.

"It's nearly four, silly!" I laughed. How could Twilight Sparkle, of all ponies, forget the time? It was really silly of her to do that. I appreciated the irony immensely before realizing that the question might have been rhetorical. As I mulled it over, Rainbow Dash spoke.

"Pinkie, we're really worried about you. Every pony knows: you hardly ever sleep!" Rainbow Dash yawned, but her eyes never lost her conviction.

I frowned. Why was that a reason to be worried? Sleep wasn't a good thing. It was silence. It was unconsciousness. It was the closest that any pony could come to practicing for death. Nightmares rode the backs of the dream, and long rests let thoughts best not thought rise to the surface. I smiled, for their sake.

"Don't be silly, Dashie! And you too, Twilight! I'm just fine!"

Twilight shook her head. "Pinkie, how long has it been since you last slept?"

Now that was a funny question! I counted back in my head, tapping on my hooves to keep the place of the numbers.

"About three days!"

Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle shared a look of concern. I didn't want that! No pony wants their friends to be sad, or concerned. I need something to say, something to make it better.

"It was a whole four hours, though! I slept lots!"

Twilight grimaced. Ooh, I shouldn't have said that! I really shouldn't have, because that made it worse!

"Pinkie... that isn't healthy. You need your sleep." Twilight's voice was gentle, and insisting. I knew she was going to make me do something!

"Nu-uh!" I quickly retorted. "Sleep is awful! I don't get to do anything while I'm asleep, nothing at all!"

Rainbow Dash just kept frowning. She looked sad. Rainbow Dash never looks sad! I know Dashie! She's strong, and she's confident, and she never looks sad... or afraid... or concerned...

I was about to say something to her, but her mouth opened first.

"Pinkie... I'm going to stay with you all night, until you sleep." This resolution was solemn, devoid of the usual cracking of Rainbow's voice. The grimness of the situation was only enhanced by the dark circles underneath Rainbow's eyes. "If you're going to spend the nights sleepless, you deserve more than to spend them alone."

Twilight nodded. "Pinkie, we really do care about you. We can't have you suffer like this."

I wasn't suffering! It was so much better this way! When I close my eyes, I see things that shouldn't be seen. Bad things! It's better for every pony if I don't sleep!

"I've talked with our other friends. We're going to take turns staying up with you. We can't all stay up every night, but together, we'll have four days to recuperate after each stay. We'll see you through this."

"I'm fine, silly!" I protested. "Really!"

But they wouldn't have it.

And Rainbow Dash looked so sad throughout the whole thing! She looked tired, she looked so worried... Rainbow Dash doesn't do those things. So maybe that was a dream. Rainbow Dash is still here, but she could have just got here. She's looking over my project, poring over the details. Maybe she came in just a bit ago. Maybe the whole part with Twilight, was just a little daydream. More like a night-dream, actually! Wowie, that's silly!

Maybe the Rainbow Dash I see here is a dream, too, even. Maybe I'm still dreaming. That's why I like you, Nightmare Log. Nightmare Journal. Dream Diary. I can write in you, and when I read you, it tells me that I wasn't dreaming. It isn't important whether or not I was dreaming about what I'm writing about, here. What matters is that while I was writing, I wasn't dreaming. It confirms my existence. I mean, I suppose I could just have a really good memory, and I re-imagine the dream journal every time I open it, and it's all a dream... but I don't think so. I don't think I'm that smart.

Rainbow Dash is coming over to me now. She looks over my shoulder, to see what I'm writing. I don't mind, she's—