Therapy with Twilight Sparkle

"This day was going to be fun-eriffic!"

Of course, Pinkie Pie had this thought every single time she woke up. And it came true almost every time, except for those days when her hair went limp and she didn't want any sweets but buck those! Everything was gonna be a-mazing!

She was up way too early today. The sun was not even up yet. Still, Pinkie felt rejuvenated and as such began her morning exercise. During one of her jumping jacks she spied a purple alicorn speeding off towards Canterlot. Mentally wishing her friend good luck, Pinkie carried on.

After a quick bath she came downstairs. It was time to stop shaking and get baking! She looked at the special orders and started whipping up a cake for the Apple Family.

The day was going perfectly fine. Her treats were cheering ponies up and she needed little more than smiles on their faces. Another customer walked in. Pinkie started bubbling with joy. It was Twily! One of her five bestest friends! She did Twilight's order and sat down to have a nice chat over a cup of cocoa. As the conversation happened, Pinkie couldn't help but notice that there was a little something her friend was worrying about. Still, she felt this "something" was very insignificant right now, so she decided not to press the issue. They finished their meals and stood up.

"Oh Twilight, I almost forgot! Could you make a delivery to Macky and Jacky for me? I am working double-time today to make some time in my schedule and don't know if I can make the delivery myself!"

Twilight happily agreed and took the special cake. Pinkie saw her out and walked back into the kitchen to continue her work.

Pinkie tasted the new experimental cream she just cooked up. Yummy! This was great! Suddenly, she felt something different in the fabric of her reality. It tasted like marshmallows and grape jam. Even yummier than her cream, because it was her friend! She bounced out of the kitchen to welcome Rarity. Then she heard what Rarity was proposing. She brightened up with joy. A prank suggested by her prim and proper friend! How a-MAZING! The planned their nefarious scheme for a good few minutes and then Rarity went away. Pinkie was a bit sad they had to part so soon, but hey, they had a prank to do this evening. Wasting no more time, she zipped into the kitchen to finish her job.

She spied the target next to Rarity. It was almost time. She studied the curvature of the road and the trajectory of the target. Tensing up her muscles she made a calculated buck with a small "whee!" and her cart struck true. Wasting no time she activated the camera and started taking pictures. For some reason Rarity asked her to give her the photo to complete the prank, but it didn't matter as long as they all had fun!

Meeting Rarity at their rendezvouz, she passed the photographs. Rarity packed them into an envelope and the envelope into her saddlebag. Flashing her friend one last smile, Pinkie went to hitch the cart used for the prank and bounced away back to Sugarcube corner with it. She needed some rest.

All things considered the next morning was pretty normal all-around. The Cakes, thankful for her work yesterday, let her off early. She spent some time with Rainbow Dash thinking over their newest prank they would pull off on Applejack on their next get-together. Then RD went a little red in the face and asked if Pinkie had any heart-shaped cakes. Pinkie gave her a coy smile and showed her the assortment of goods in Sugarcube. Paying up, Rainbow took the cake in her teeth and sped off, blushing under Pinkie's knowing look.

Then Pinkie decided to pay a visit to Applejack. She bounced over to the farm. She saw Applejack and Big Mac finishing up their chores. Deciding to wait until they finish their work she made the last big bounce and ended up on a branch of an apple tree. It gave a warning creak under her weight. She scurried off closer to the trunk, giving herself a disapproving look. "How come your tummy is so big, Pinkie?! You are getting so much exercise." Pinkie giggled and closed her eyes, becoming one with the errant cosmos. She reached out to Applejack and Big Mac, biting into their souls.

Big Mac tasted a little more sour today than usual, but nothing too bad. She then took a bite out of Applejack. Her eyes shot open and she reflexively spit nothing out of her mouth. Her taste buds were still feeling the bitterness. Something very bad happened to Applejack and she needed Pinkie's help NOW.

She tried everything she could think of over the course of the next few hours. Applejack was impossible to crack and Pinkie only felt worse and worse as she tried to make her friend feel better. Defeated, she bid her farewells and trotted off dejectedly, her mane slightly deflated.

"This day is... okay, " she thought to herself, placing another batch of cookies into the oven. She couldn't help Applejack right now, but she could always help her later. And if she got sour other ponies would get upset too, so she had to be strong for them. For Ponyville! FOR EQUESTRIA! Her spirits lifting up slightly, she trotted out of the kitchen, a tray with an order balanced on her back. She set it down and returned to the counter when her taste buds nearly exploded from the assault of different tastes. That could only mean one thing and it was not a good one!

The door was suddenly flung open and Twilight stood before Pinkie. The mare's mane was disheveled, her eyes had a grim determination in them and her face bore a slightly unhinged grin. Her horn flared and a mountain of bits appeared on the counter. Pinkie's boost in confidence was already gone, along with any extra volume of her mane.

"Pinkie, I want pastries and I want them NOW! Also, lots of cocoa."

The next hour was a frantic mix of baking, serving and worrying for Twilight's mental and physical state. Pinkie was a heavy eater and it showed, but even she was staring in horror as mountains Sugarcube Corner's stock evaporated in Twilight's mouth. A scream took her out of her thoughts. Twilight's seat was already empty. Wasting no time she trailed her friend, subconsciously teleporting from corner to corner. They came to the town square, where a scene was playing out.

Pinkie walked back home. She just witnessed one of her bestest friends nearly end a pony. Her hair was no longer the poofy goodness it once was, but she was happy that at least nothing irreversible happened and she felt that not all was lost for Rainbow Dash.

Inside her room she found a very serious-looking Rarity. The unicorn opened her mouth and began her confession. Pinkie wanted to close her ears or beg her friend to shut up, but it was too late. Rarity has already said everything she needed to say. Giving an apologetic smile she left the room. Her mane and tail now completely limp, Pinie fell into her bed and began to bawl. The Cakes came over and comforted her. She thanked them but continued bawling.

It was so peaceful and serene. The sun of the new day was shining through her curtains. Pinkie set down her cupcake and continued looking at the rock in front of her. It was gneiss. She felt a feeling of comfort sitting next to something so ancient and unchanging. A few more hours passed, as she and the rock made some small talk. Finally, she bid him farewell and drifted off to sleep.

Rocky and Madame LeFlour came back from their trip. The party was fun-e-rific! Of course, Gummy was the soul of it, mingling with guests and dancing the evening away. Some fuzzy yellow and pink creature was trying to disrupt the party but Pinkie was having none of it! She threw the creature out of the door, making it "ow" in pain.

Some of Mister Gneiss's friends came to visit the next morning. She was having an absolutely rocking tea party with them, when somerock knocked at the door. Opening it, she looked at the strange rock in front of her. His texture was very soft and oddly furry. He also was a pretty lavender colour and smelled of apples mixed with something.

"Hello Pinkie Pie, may I come in?" the rock said to her.

"Get out, you are not invited to our party."

The rock glowed slightly in one place and the next moment the party pony felt something washing over her.

"Yes... Twilight. You can come in." Pinkie ushered her friend in and plopped down on the bed.

"Pinkie, for the love of Celestia, please tell me what happened to you!"

"Oh, just three or four of my friends going off the deep end while I'm absolutely powerless to help and one of them also used me to frame a pony as an adulterer. Other than that, not much at all."

Twilight started saying a lot of words. The pink mare listened to them mirthlessly. Still, some of this information was pretty interesting. For instance, Rainbow apparently got over her anger problem, Applejack was at peace with herself, Rarity made amends with everypony and was incredibly sorry and Twilight was of sound mind and body. Great news, sure.

Wait what? Her friends were fine again? Was this nightmare all over? With a "Pomf" her mane regained its usual poofiness. She let out a loud "yay" and tackled Twilight to the ground.

"At last, everything is fine, " Twilight thought as they cleaned up Pinkie's creepy party. "Everything, except for my failed assignment." She did not let this sour her mind. She had known Celestia for a long time and she wouldn't punish Twilight. If anything, it would be an important lesson to learn.