The next morning, Twilight was patrolling her castle vigilantly. As soon as she had her a creak, she had rushed to the scene, but it was too late. She saw the vinyl record left on the small cot on the floor that she had set up for Vinyl to sleep in. Twilight immediately assumed the worst, even if there was no indication of blood or other gore.

She was so preoccupied in her worries that she didn't stop walking until she stumbled over something.

"What in Equestria?" She asked rubbing her jaw.

The princess turned to see Vinyl curled up by the door Lyra had come out of only a night or two ago.

"Vinyl?" she asked shaking the sleeping unicorn.

Vinyl tossed and turned, almost throwing Twilight off of her.

"Vinyl!" Twilight snapped.

She awoke with a start.

"Huh? Oh. Morning, Twilight."

"Good. You're alive. Now why are you out of solitary confinement?"

Vinyl shrugged.

"I don't really remember anything that happened last night. Like I'm totally lost. But I feel happier than yesterday."

"How?"

"Beats me. Also why did you say you were glad I was alive?"

"Because I saw one of your records on your cot and---"

It happened. Vinyl shot up onto her legs and her eyes turned blank.

"Um, hello?" Twilight asked.
"Equestria to Vinyl Scratch! Come in, Vinyl Scratch!"

Almost like a wind-up toy, Vinyl stood on her front legs and took out four vinyl records. Next she tossed one up in the air. Then another. And another. And another.

Twilight stood in astonishment. Was Vinyl...juggling?

"How...do you know...?"

She was lost in awe. Vinyl was so focused on her craft. Or was she? It seemed like she was on autopilot the whole time. After about five minutes, Vinyl caught each record one by one and bowed. Then she shook her head.

"Oh. Yeah, I know I was suicidal beforehand, but I tried something yesterday and it seemed to work."

Suddenly the door where Vinyl was sleeping by opened and out stepped Octavia.

"Octavia! What the buck are you doing out of your cell?" Twilight snapped.

"I'm so sorry, Twilight," Octavia told her calmly.
"But I'm actually feeling a lot better now, so I don't think I need to be in the cell."

Twilight narrowed her eyes at the two. This didn't seem like a mere coincidence. She decided that she would release them both, but not right away.

"Just stay in your cells until I know for sure."

Later that day, Twilight was working on a detox spell for Berry Punch when she heard the door open.

"Hey, Twilight!" A familiar voice called.

Twilight whirled heart jumped in shock.

"Pinkie! I haven't seen you since the day you got my book. Where have you been?"

"I've been making preparations for the cure and running a few tests. So far it's been working great!"

"This isn't like the time you tried to prepare cupcakes, is it?"

Pinkie shook her head.

"I swear, I honestly don't know why the cupcakes tasted like blood, Twilight. But anyway, no. This is even more super duper! Stage 1 is almost finished."

"What's stage 2?"

Pinkie gave a laugh that made Twilight slightly uncomfortable.

"I can't tell you that, silly! That would ruin the surprise! Well, I just wanted to see how you were. I have some more tests to run! See ya!"

Pinkie bounced out of the library as another pony walked on in. Her curled, violet mane was a comforting familiarity to Twilight. But her mane didn't have as much of a curl as it normally did for the winter blues had gotten to her as well. Though she didn't seem as melancholy as she had in the recent past.

"Rarity! How nice of you to visit!" Twilight greeted her.

"Why, Twilight, you seem especially upbeat," she remarked.
"Have you been trying Feng Shui as well?"

Twilight knew of the concept, but had never bothered to try it. What confused her was how Rarity knew about it.

"No, I haven't."

"You simply must! You know about Oriental Silk, don't you?"

The princess shook her head.

"They're the most quality and energy-centric fashion designer in all of Equestria. They told me all about Feng Shui and advised me on how I should arrange my boutique."

"They?" Twilight asked.
"Is Oriental a he or a she?"

"Oriental is nonbinary, darling. Or agender. I don't remember which one. But they're absolutely clever. It's only been a week since I rearranged the boutique how they told me to and the energy has been absolutely uplifting. Just this morning, I was able to brainstorm a new clothing line; I've decided to make this one a quality and energy-centric line for agender and nonbinary ponies in honor of Oriental. Oh! That reminds me. I'll have to ask Oriental for tips on how to design such a line."

"That's fantastic, Rarity!" Twilight smiled.

"So anyway. How have you been attempting to combat the blues? Especially what happened with the summit. I'm so sorry it didn't go well."

"It happens. I haven't really been doing anything. But Pinkie---"

Twilight trailed off. Should she tell Rarity about it?

"What about Pinkie?" Rarity asked.
"Is something wrong with her?"

Twilight sighed.

"Just yesterday morning, Berry Punch told me Maud Pie got caught in a rockslide and died about a month ago."

Rarity gasped in shock.

"She never told me about that," she choked, her voice breaking.

"She didn't tell anyone about it apparently. Berry Punch was there when Pinkie got the news. She said Pinkie just kept smiling and trotted away. But that's not the strangest thing. About two or three days ago, Pinkie was in my library searching for a book on psychotherapy."

"Are you sure that was actually her?" Rarity asked, wiping away her tears.

"Positive. And after I gave her the book, she just zipped off and I didn't see her until just then. Then I bumped into Lyra on the first night and I said something and her eyes went blank and she started walking on her front legs and tumbling. On top of it, her mane started to become curly."

By this time, Twilight was talking rapidly.

"And then this morning, I stumbled across Vinyl and I said something and her eyes went blank as well and then she started juggling some vinyl records."

"Twilight, darling, slow down!" Rarity exclaimed.
"It must be the blues getting to you."

"I wish it was," Twilight sighed.
"But hallucinations aren't often a part of winter blues."

"Perhaps you're simply an exception. Well, I need to get working on my line and you need to relax and take care of yourself for a time. Goodbye!"

As Rarity trotted out, Twilight couldn't help but wonder if this was really just a hallucination. Part of her wanted to believe it was, but something else told her that it was real.

Twilight sighed. She tried to focus on the detox spell but the query kept eating away at her until she could bare it no longer. She was going to get the answers she needed one way or the other.

Author's Note

I normally don't have as much motivation to write because of my depression, but I've got big plans for this story.

I also have a Chemistry quiz and an AP Gov MC final tomorrow. I'm at risk of Fs in both of those classes, but I have a chance to bump it up. I'm aiming for at least a D+/C- or higher in both of those classes by the end of the semester. I'm at a C in French, B in Health, and A in Choir. I have a D- in Chem, which is a college level course, and an F in AP Gov (which was at 44%, but I got it bumped up to 58% recently. Thank you, Public Policy Project checkpoint 1!) so I'll have to take time today to study for both. Mostly Gov, though. (I usually pick the class I'm struggling in the most to study first.)