Whatever Happened to Pinkie?

AJ starts today like most of her friends, sleep deprived. The walk home the night before had been wet and miserable, but she had gotten home safe. At home she had talked to Granny Smith and Big Mac about what happened the previous day. Their faces had said it all: shock with a complete lack of understanding, but they weren't there.

Together, they decide to tell Applebloom what happened. Apple Bloom had already spent most of the previous day alone in her room crying. They decide the best way for them to move on is to get everybody together, dress up and hold a funeral for Winona. It is a lot for Applejack to take in. She had been with Winona since she was little. The family had decided a few years back that they needed a farm dog, and Winona's energy had been perfect for herding animals.

Now she's gone. Yesterday, Applejack had forced her emotions away. She had done what needed to be done and left it at that. Today, however, is different. Her emotions refuse to leave her and even as she gets dressed tears form at her eyes. Winona had been her dog. Applejack had taught her everything she knew. And now she was gone.

AJ dresses herself in the most formal wear she can find. She had always kept one formal dress stashed in the back of her closet just for unusual special occasions such as these. She isn't certain that special is the best term for it, especially not this particular situation, but she dresses herself anyway. It's a hot day, but regardless, she puts on the long, grey, unflattering, wool dress. She can feel the uncomfortable heat, but it's the last thing on her mind today.

The sun rises and Applebloom does not. Her room is silent. The family lets her rest for a few hours. Normally, there would be the usual morning chores, herding cattle, planting apple trees, but nobody pushes the issue. As the morning gets later, however, Big Mac gives AJ a look. She knows the look and knows it's time.

AJ trudges up the stairs, her hooves feeling weighed down as though anchors were tied to them. She pauses in front of Applebloom's door and takes a deep breath. She tries to bring herself to knock, but stops. She stares at the door for a few minutes more, breathes again and mutters to herself, "Here goes nothing."

"Don't bother." Says the voice on the other side before AJ can even reach up her hoof. "I'm not coming outside today. I'll do my chores tomorrow."

"Sugarcube, I didn't come up here to tell ya that, I just-"

"I said I don't want to talk."

AJ struggles to think of something to say in the silence that follows. The door had seemed like a barrier enough, but a second wall of silence? AJ winces at the silence and feels her heart drop into her stomach. She cannot bring herself to say anything.

"Look," Applebloom says "Just...go, okay?"

"Wait," AJ says, "Before you silence me again, ah jest want to speak my peace. Then, if ya still want, I'll leave ya alone, okay?'

There is only silence on the other end of the door. Once more AJ takes a deep breath.

"First, ah wanted to let ya know that we're havin' a funeral for Winona. You're welcome to come if ya like. If not, ah...understand."

More silence.

"Second, I wanted to apologize, Applebloom. I'm sorry you had to be around when this happened to her."

AJ pauses to hear if there is a response. Applebloom still says nothing. "I'm not sure what happened myself, but there was nothing I could do to stop her. There was no preventing it."

"No preventing it!" AJ hears the shout through the door and then the door opens. Applebloom's face is a bright cherry red. Her eyes look red and swollen from crying. "You didn't even do anything! You didn't even try to help her! You just said 'Oh well, guess my dog is dead. Time to move on.'"

Now Applejack turns red. "It wasn't like that! What was I supposed to do?"

"Oh, I don't know, how about picking her up and taking her to a vet, or to Twilight? Her magic could have helped. Fluttershy was right there. You just gave up on her. Why didn't you take her?

"I couldn't, Applebloom. By the time I got there, she was already-"

"Already what?"

AJ's face drops and turns pale. She shivers. "Applebloom, what I saw...nopony should have to see that, especially you. I love you too much to ever let you see something so awful," AJ looks around the room, trying to distract herself from her tears. "That's why I was so quick to leave. I didn't..." She practically chokes on her tears. "I didn't want you to be near whatever the thing was that did that to Winona."

"You should have done something." More tears well up inside of her and Applebloom cries on her sister's chest. AJ cries too.

"I'm so sorry, Applebloom. Maybe you're right. Maybe I could have done something more, but I didn't want you to get hurt like she did. I could never forgive myself if that happened to you."

Applebloom sniffles and regains her self control. "Sis, I want ya ta promise me somethin."

"Anything, sugarcube," AJ says.

"Promise me that if something happens to me, you won't give up on me."

AJ looks Applebloom in the eye. "Sugarcube, you have my word. But nothing like that will happen to you, because I'm gonna find out what happened to Winona, and I'm gonna put a stop to it."

Applebloom smiles like a puzzle missing a few pieces. "Whatever that thing is, sis, you whip it good."

"Oh, I will, Applebloom. Ya don't have to worry about that."

A short cry and a long hug later, Applejack softly steps down the stairs. The rest of the family look up at her hopefully. "She's comin' down, just getting dressed is all."

Granny Smith nods and smiles. Applebloom comes down wearing her flowery blue dress. While not appropriate for a funeral, it is the only formal wear she owns. Her sniffles have now softened to light spasms.

The heat outside the farmhouse is repressive. The members of the Apple family stand awkwardly and stare toward the ground.

"We...uhn haven't really organized this or nuthin, but we set this special stone here to mark Winona's grave. If anypony wishes to say any words, please do so now."

Applebloom looks at the others nervously, then steps forward. "Winona was...a good dog. Not just a good dog, she was a great dog, and a companion, and...she was jest the most friendly animal that you'd ever meet. Ah don't know what happened to her, not sure I want to after talkin' to Applejack, but...what happened to her wasn't fair." She sniffles again and tries to control her crying. "I think that's why this is so hard. She was such a loving dog, and all of this is so unfair."

Applebloom steps back, her face like broken glass. Applejack swallows. "Well, I spose I should go next," She ruffles her wool dress and takes off her hat in respect. "Winona wasn't just a dog. She was my dog, and I loved her. She was obedient, loyal, and a wonderful companion. She was there ta listen ta ya when ya needed to relax, and she wasn't demanding or nothin'. I'm going to miss her so much, and I would do anything to have her back." She sighs. "She was more than just a dog. She was a close friend."

Granny Smith and Big Mac have their turns at a few brief words, then together the family quietly goes inside. AJ walks upstairs. Applebloom follows behind. "Sis?"

"Yeah, sweetpea?"

"Please. Whatever did this to Winona, make sure it can't hurt anypony else, okay?"

AJ takes off her dress, tosses it aside in the closet, and puts on her hat. Her eyes are solid and focused. "Oh, don't you worry about that one bit, sis."

Normally, I would be impatiently pacing around by now, waiting for the others, but I think the past few nights have caught up to me. My face rests on the crystal meeting table in front of me, my cheeks squished. I don't really care right not how dorky it looks. I breath rhythmically, on the table. My body refuses to move. I can close my eyes, just for a few moments. The others will probably take a while to arrive.

"Uh Twilight?"

My eyes open and I see a familiar pink mare smiling back at me. I jolt back on pure instinct, but quickly realize it's the right kind of smile and the right Pinkie. I instantly take a relaxed breath.

"Wow, someone's jumpy today. Just making sure you're okay!" She practically singsongs her words and then trots away. "I hope AJ shows up soon."

"Me too," I mutter half awake.

Pinkie bounces around a little and stops to look at me.

"It's okay, Twilight. I can wake you up when she gets here. Go on back to bed."

I mumble out some nonsense that even I don't understand.

"No no, I won't take no for an answer. To bed for you."

She attempts to pull me up.

"No, Pinkie. Mmmgle..."

"C'mon! You silly filly, you need your sleep!"

"Mmmm. Pinkie, I'm okayyyyyy..."

Fluttershy walks in. "Good morning, Pinkie." She looks at my disheveled state and cocks her head. "Is Twilight okay?"

"No she's not okay! She's tired! And she won't get to bed while she's waiting for AJ!"

"She'll be here any minute. I can..." My eyelids droop shut. "Okay, maybe just a few minutes." The two help me into bed. I fall asleep quickly to the first dreamless sleep I've had in three weeks.

I feel like I'm in a fog, until a soft thump bumps my forehead. It jolts me a little and the fog begins to lift. I feel it again. "Hello? It's time!"

My eyelids slowly open. I discover its Pinkie's hoof thumping me. "Pinkie? I thought you were going to have me nap. Is she here already?"

"Already? You've been sleeping here for 2 hours. Good thing we took you to bed because AJ just got here 10 minutes ago."

I sit up quickly. "What? AJ's been waiting for me? Why didn't you say so?"

"We just were chatting with AJ real quick," Fluttershy adds. "We didn't want to wake you right away. You were so tired."

"Well," I sigh. "I suppose I did need it. Its just that things are getting really weird around here and we have no idea who or what is behind this. We don't have time to lay around."

We walk together back to the meeting table where AJ is waiting.

"Howdy, Twilight. Don't know 'bout you, but ah've got a mighty itch to figure out this thing and put a stop to it."

"I couldn't agree more," I say. "Let's start by sharing what we already know." I lean back and try to relax. "Okay, so we know Pinkie disappeared about 6 months ago and then just came back yesterday. Pinkie has no memory of this. Animals in the area have been acting funny, including..." I clear my throat. This next part is going to be hard. I don't have the chance to speak.

"Including Winona," AJ says. "No sense beating around the bush. We don't have time. Winona took her life in a manner I'd rather not give details on."

Rarity covers her mouth, and Fluttershy shudders. I don't know what to say.

"What?" Applejack says. "Look. We don't have time to sit around. The longer we wait, then longer this thing, whatever it is, can hurt somepony else I care about. Let's stay focused, here!"

I shake myself out of my trance. "Yes, of course. In addition to this, Snails threw a big commotion the other day and bashed his head into the floor, then spit blood on me."

"Oh my Celestia!" Rarity gasps.

"What?" Pinkie says.

"Luna has also been stuck sleeping for over 24 hours straight now. When I visited her, she sat up straight for a period, held onto me, said a bunch of gibberish and went back to sleep. Finally, Rainbow Dash has gone missing. Have I overlooked anything?"

"Winona found a body."

"What?" The sound is universal around the room.

"Winona, before she went crazy and um...did what she did, there was a body there. The body of a pony. That's why I was so surprised when I saw Pinkie here. I thought...I thought the body was Pinkie."

"That's...well that's unexpected."

"Yeah..."

"Is there anything else?"

A silent moment passes. Everypony looks around at each other quietly.

"Okay then, well-"

"Um. Excuse me?"

I stop and look at Fluttershy. "Yes, Fluttershy?"

"I know you asked me not to say anything, Twilight, but don't you think you should talk about the other thing?"

"Other thing?" I ask.

"Yes...I know I said I didn't want to hear it, but I think it might be a good idea if it helps us figure out what is going on."

I pause. My face drops like a heavy stone. It feels like the stone lands all the way in my gut. I begin to feel myself sweat.

"What other thang, Shy?" AJ speaks up. "What's she talkin' bout, Twi?"

"Well," I say. "I didn't want to say anything at first, because I was afraid you would all think I was crazy...I've been having awful dreams every night. The dreams are so awful that, well I was afraid people would accuse me of being crazy or dangerous just for having them." I don't even realize the tears until they start pouring down. "The dreams...they're so...awful. And, now that I think about it, Dash was telling me the other day that she was having awful dreams, too."

Fluttershy looks back at me and blinks a few times. Her head turns to the floor. "So that's why you were asking me if I had any bad dreams?"

"Why didn't you say something earlier, darling?" Rarity looks at me with sympathetic eyes.

"I didn't want to...I was so afraid of what you all would think."

AJ huffs. "Twilight, crazy stuff is happenin' to everypony. We wouldn't have judged ya. If we are to figure this thang out, we need ta work together and be 100 percent open. I'm not letting anything happen to anypony like it did ta Winona."

I nod. "You're right AJ. I'm sorry."

"So..." Pinkie starts hesitantly. "What are your dreams about, Twilight?"

I freeze. "They're...about you Pinkie." Pinkie's eyes grow wide. "In my dreams, you have this wide, unnatural smile, and you have to remember, up until now, I thought you were gone. Really gone. You tell me to smile, and then you start twitching violently. It's awful. There's also another pony. She looks like a smaller me, with a different cutie mark. She does it too, the twitching, the awful smile. It's...why I wanted to see Luna, because I thought she could help. Dash was dreaming about Pinkie too. Dreamt that Pinkie touched Scootaloo and Scootaloo did the same thing, smiling, twitching. And then Snails, he said the same thing. Told me to smile before he let the Ponyville guard drag him away. Once he said it, he stopped struggling, like he was delivering a message."

"You mentioned another Pony, dear?" Rarity tilts her head slightly. "Do you know who she is?"

I look down. I cannot make eye contact with anypony while I talk about this.

"I...might. When I was a teenager, I babysat my niece...She...she disappeared when I was watching her."

"Twilight, darling, you're shaking!" Rarity wraps a blanket around me.

"No trace of her was ever found, no cause, no reason. Her mother had died a few months earlier from a strange illness. My niece was an only child. I searched the house in a panic for about an hour and then called the police. I stayed awake all night, terrified of what happened."

The others stare at me with their mouths open. I've seen that stare before. They think I'm a freak.

"Twilight?" Fluttershy looks up at me, fear in her eyes. "What happened to her father?"

"When he found out, he completely lost it. He had to be institutionalized. I don't know if he's still there or what happened after that."

I can't stand anymore. My legs force me down into a chair, the tears keep coming. "There, there," Fluttershy cooes. "You've been keeping that in for a long time. Just let it out."

I gasp for air. "Nobody believed me. Everybody just thought I did it. The police, Evening Light, the questions the police asked me, there was no end to them. They just kept on pushing. They wanted me to be at fault, because that made sense. It's one of the reasons I've studied magic so intensely. I wanted to see if maybe, I could find out why."

"Well," Applejack says, "You're closer now than ever."

"Who's Evening Light?" Fluttershy asks.

"Oh, that was my niece's father."

Pinkie gasps loudly. "Evening Light? You mean Snails's adoptive father Evening Light?"

"What?"

"Yeah." Pinkie shrugs. "He's actually a really nice guy. Not crazy or anything. He cares a lot about Snails."

"I would too if I knew my son was in the crazy house," AJ scratches her head. I give her one of my patented glares. "What? Oh...sorry Twi. Didn't mean nuthin' by it."

I sigh. "I know...Look. This Snails thing needs investigation, but we also have to deal with the body in the forest, and we need Rainbow's help."

AJ rolls her eyes. "Are you suggesting we split up?"

I shrug. "I don't like it either, but do you have a better idea?"

AJ places her hoof on her cheek and pauses. "Naw. We got a lot of ground to cover, and we need ta be quick. Splitting up is the only way."

"Um..." Fluttershy mumbles. "Are you sure we should be messing with the..." She gulps. "The body? Shouldn't the police handle that?"

"Oh my fritters! We forgot to tell tha police! How'd we forget?"

"Oooh" I start to shake. "This is going to look so bad! If we go to the police now, after seeing a dead body and just going to sleep, we'll look suspicious. The police will make us the prime suspects. We could go to jail! What do we do?"

"Now hold on, Twilight. I think yer overreacting. We'll just tell them the truth. I'll tell them that you didn't know."

"Then, you'll look suspicious, AJ. Think about it. You find the body of dead pony in the forest, and then you just go home to sleep. Nothing more to it. You don't call the police, you don't say anything to anyone else but us, and even then, not until the next day. They'll think you did it."

"Except I didn't even touch the body, and it has decomposed for a long time. Twilight, get it together. Remember? If we're gonna see this through, we have to be honest with each other."

"No, AJ. You don't understand what it's like to be questioned by the police. They'll ask you every little thing, make you relive the moment, over and over and over. You can't-"

"Hold on there, you two." Rarity sticks her hoof between us. "There's another part of this we're missing."

"Oh? And what's that?" AJ snorts.

"If you tell the police now, they'll set up a crime scene around the body and strongly, ahem, discourage any further investigation from us. We won't find out who the body belongs to, and Twilight is probably right about the questioning. AJ, if you're tied up answering a bunch of questions to the police, you can't investigate. If Twilight is right, and this is getting worse, the police won't be able to figure it out until it's too late. Please also consider that Twilight is the one getting haunted by dreams and spitted on. The police have nothing to go off of. If the police get involved, we could be putting the entire fate of Equestria in danger!"

"Hmmm..." AJ thinks it over. "Normally, I'd say you're being dramatic, but ah think ah actually agree with ya, Rares...Don't like it though. Think it's an awful stupid thang to do that'll no doubt bite us in the hindquarters."

Fluttershy pales. "I...don't like it either. N-n-no police? We have to do this...ourselves?"

Pinkie gives Fluttershy a hug. "It's gonna be okay, okay?" Fluttershy smiles.

I take a deep breath. "Well, now I guess the only thing left to do is decide who should go where."

"AJ, Fluttershy. You knew where the body was in the forest so-"

"I don't wanna go back there." I look over at Fluttershy.

"Why not, Fluttershy?"

"Please, just the thought of...a body. Don't make me go there."

"Okay...well, we need to search for Dash and you and I have wings. How about you come with me to her house? She could probably use your soothing nature."

"Oh thank you, thank you Twilight!"

"So I'm goin' alone to tha forest?"

I tilt my head. "No...I don't think sending anypony to the Everfree forest alone is a good idea. We should probably have two ponies go there."

"I'll come with her!" Pinkie practically jumps in the air.

"You? really?"

Her face sobers. "I have to know who this is, Twilight. I need answers. Please. Let me go."

I hesitate...The dream. What if she is...a killer? No. I push the idea from my mind. "Okay."

"What of me, dear?"

"Rarity, I'm sorry to make you go it alone, but I think this is the safest of the three, especially since Snails doesn't know you as well and doesn't have any reason to harass you, and whatever is going on doesn't seem to have been impacting you directly. I need you to speak to Evening Light, and then head to the hospital to see what you can find out about Snails. Please.

"I won't let you down, Twilight."

Though we go our own ways, together, we will get to the bottom of this.