A solemn aura hung over the air as Pinkie’s friends gathered around to listen to her tale. She started at the party, and spoke all the way up to the note. She told of her depression, and of how her friends were all that she had to live for.

“Pinkie, darling, we’ll always be here for you!” Rarity exclaimed, the anguish washing over her face.

Pinkie smiled up at Rarity, only able to hold it for a few seconds before the large wave of sadness crept over her face once again. “Thanks guys, but you all know that I’m going to go back there in the end. She’ll make me choose. Luckily, I got a good piece of information in my last stay there.”

All stared questioningly at her. She just rolled her eyes and continued. “She said that Rainbow Dash, although super insane…”

Dash looked at Pinkie oddly, as if asking what she meant by that. Pinkie didn’t pay attention to the looks she was getting.

“She said that Rainbow Dash was the fastest pony in all of Equestria. That means that wherever that place is, it’s still in Equestria.”

Twilight jumped up, suddenly interested in the matter. “Then why couldn’t we find you!? There was nothing in my books, and I tried every spell I could think of. We were so worried, and we know that you couldn’t of just disappeared like that!”

All of the ponies put their hooves to their faces, knowing that it was time for Twilight to pry every single detail out of Pinkie.

“I-I don’t know, Twilight. All Dr. Sparkle said was that this world was fake, as were all of you.” Tears swelled up in Pinkie’s eyes, the thoughts of losing her friends swarming her thoughts.

“Well, Ah know that we’re not fake! Ah’m about as fake as you, if that were true!!” AppleJack proclaimed.

“I know that! I know you guys are real...my problem is that I have to go there, and I have to stay there.”

All of her friends gasped. Their best friend and party pony was leaving! All broke out in a fuss, telling her that she didn’t have to do that.

“Girls, I really do need to do this. What I’ve been dealing with has been going on my whole life, and I’ve finally found an escape. I know you girls want to help, I really do...but you can’t This is my decision. Plus, I have something for you...all of you.”

Pinkie reached in her hair, pulling out a few objects, including the letter. Of course, all her friends stared at her, wondering how she could fit so many things in her mane. One by one, she started handing them out. She started with Fluttershy.

“Fluttershy, here I have a collection of all of my animal whistles. I never got a chance to finish them all for you, but I still hope you like them.

“Rarity, for you I have a bow. I remember this bow, because it was the first thing you ever gave me. You thought my hair was in too much of a mess, so you gave it to me, but it fell out as soon as I put it on!

“AppleJack, I could give you so many things, couldn’t I? I’ve decided that I can’t give you anything worth my life, but I can give you a new hat. I stitched it together myself…”

Already, all of her friends were in tears. They all loved the gifts, but just weren’t able to open their mouths to tell her. They all just let her continue giving them her joy.

“Rainbow Dash, I actually only have one thing for you. I have a ticket to the Wonderbolts show tomorrow night. There’s even a pass in there that lets you meet up with all of them. I talked to them, and they said they might consider you for their squadron.”

Rainbow Dash was the only one who moved. As quick as she could, she took Pinkie up in her hooves, hugging her tightly. The tears streamed down Pinkie’s mane as she hugged back. When Dash finally let go, she took one last thing from her mane.

“And Twilight, I remember the day that you came to Ponyville. You weren’t looking for friends. You were clueless as to why you were here, and I seemed like a total idiot at first. I just never got the chance to tell you that I’ve had such a great time here with you, and nopony can replace that.

“For you, I brought you a book. It may not seem very special, but you dropped it on the same day when my tail was a-twitching. I was going to give it back to you, but I just had to read it. Your very first journal in Ponyville is an absolutely great read. I love all of you guys, but you can’t forget me.”

Twilight stared down at the book, the tears already staining the pages inside. She couldn’t contain her happiness, and it shed itself in the form of her tears. All of her friends continued to beg her not to go, but the choice was made.

She leaned in for one final hug, and all of them stood there in an embrace for almost ten minutes. When Pinkie pushed away, she took one last look at her friends.

“Girls, thank you for giving me the best years of my life. I could never have survived without you, and it’s been so wonderful. Please, don’t ever give up your amazing spirits. I’ll abo able to visit you, or at least I would hope so...I love you all. Goodbye for now, my friends…”

Pinkie walked out of her door, leaving all of her friends to wrap into each others’ arms. They knew that Pinkie wouldn’t be back for a long time, and they were fine with that. As long as her spirit still lived within them.

~~~

Pinkie looked up, expressionless, to Twilight. “I’m ready.”

Twilight looked down at Pinkie and nodded, reminding her that Twilight was just a fantasy character.

“But, on one condition…”

This caused Dr. Sparkle to turn around, confused.

“You have to show me what’s outside. That’s all I want. Ten minutes outside, and then I’ll go wherever you want me to go.”

Dr. Sparkle did nothing but nod, continuing down the hall that Pinkie remembered so well. All the doors had been stripped of their names, as if all the patients had checked out. At the end of the hall, there stood a door, marked “Exit.” Pinkie pushed it open and walked out, her face gaping in awe at what she saw.

All around her, memories of her life grew right in front of her eyes. Each new memory opened up a new feeling for Pinkie Pie. One moment she would be really sad, and the next moment jumping for joy. This was the outside, and Pinkie loved it. Once she reached the end, she turned around, taking her time to admire every last drop of refreshment these holograms projected to her. When she reached the door once again, Dr. Sparkle spoke quietly.

“Pinkie, it is your time to go. You have lived a good life, and we all love you. We cannot wait to see you again someday.”

Pinkie just smiled at the Twilight look-a-like. Her friends would always be the core of her memories, and the best memories she would ever have. She was ready to let go of everything. She was ready to leave.

“Thank you, Ms. Sparkle. Do I just walk down the hall once again, all the way to the end?”

With the approval of the nod, Pinkie began walking, the doors being replaced with streamers and balloons. The sounds coming from these rooms sounded so much like all of her parties. Her joyous tears flowed down her face, like the sweat dripping down the face of Rainbow Dash after her big race as a filly.

She saw food platters, stacked high with cupcakes and various other treats. Beside these, pictures of her friends were arranged neatly, covered in signatures. Each signature was written neatly, each table of sweets decorated specifically for one of her friends. When she came upon her own table, she finally broke down in tears. Her crying just made her smile more, making her call out each of her friends’ names.

Finally, she reached the door at the end of the hall. The door was labeled as “Celestia’s Kingdom.” She opened it, and a bright light overtook her. Walking in, Pinkie was blinded for a second. Looking around, she noticed she was in Equestria again, and her friends were standing there. It was her dream land. Her friends would truly be with her forever…

Pinkie wasn’t going anywhere.

Author's Note

Only one chapter left! The epilogue! Hehe I hope you all are ready for the completion of this story!