Twilight tucked Spike into his basket with a sad smile, “There you are. You can read a comic before you fall asleep. Don’t wait up for me, this shouldn’t take very long.”

“Promise?”

“Yeah. I’m just going to go chat with the girls for a little. If...if you hear anything from Marjoram’s room, write Princess Celestia.”

“Suspicious?”

“He’s...he’s not doing very well. Princess Celestia will know what to do. I’ll be at Sugarcube Corner. Just the one comic, okay?”

“Okay,” Spike whispered.

Twilight nuzzled him, “Goodnight. Hopefully tomorrow will be better.”

Spike nodded, picking up a new comic and settling in to read under the little lamp beside his basket. Twilight offered another reassuring smile before she entered the public part of the library. She sighed, casting a forlorn look at Marjoram’s door as she passed.

The cold, night air invigorated her somewhat. In the darkness, Luna’s sky provided ample illumination. Twilight made her way through the too quiet streets of Ponyville, towards the closed Sugarcube Corner.

Ignoring the locked front doors, Twilight went to the back of the building, climbing a staircase that served two purposes: a fire escape, and a separate entrance to Pinkie’s apartment. Pinkie’s lights were on, which was good. Twilight was worried she was running late.

“There you are, darling,” the door opened before Twilight even knocked, “We were getting worried.”

“I’m late?”

“By nearly forty-five minutes,” Even Pinkie seemed more subdued than usual.

“Sorry girls. Marjoram...wasn’t himself today and Spike took the brunt of it. I had to calm him down enough to go to bed.”

“Nothing...physical?”

“No, no of course not!” Twilight looked disgusted at the idea, “Marjoram was just a little verbally harsher than usual.”

“I saw him earlier today. He’s not...looking his best is he?”

“I saw him too, he looks like shit,” Rainbow stated bluntly, examining a chip in her hoof.

“Rainbow!” Rarity looked surprised at the vulgarity.

“It’s the truth,” Applejack defended, “sadly,” she added hastily.

“I-I know. He looks...better now. He took a shower.”

Rainbow snorted, “That won’t be enough. Even his eyes aren’t right. He looks like he died!”

There was silence at that, for several heartbeats.

“Too harsh Rainbow,” Fluttershy gently chides. Rainbow snorts, rolling her eyes.

Suddenly, Twilight felt herself break down. The stress, and worry, and everything of the last weeks came to the forefront of her mind. She was surrounded by friends who could mentally help, and she felt like she could let go of her problems out without burdening anyone who couldn’t handle it.

“Oh, oh Twilight-”

“What’s wrong-”

“I didn’t mean to hurt you-”

“Girls! One at a time!” Applejack interrupted. Silence, except for Twilight’s sobs.

Twilight looked around at her friends, hiccuping, “I’m sorry...I’ve just been so worried lately.”

“It’s okay, sugarcube,” Applejack reassured, “We understand. How can we help?”

Twilight looked down at her hooves, sniffling, “I just don’t understand what’s going on.”

“You...weren’t in a class with uh, mental illness as a main topic?”

Twilight blinked, “It’s super rare-”

“It’s very common. That’s why we learn about different ones. It doesn’t always help, not with how hush-hush it all is, but that’s why we’re taught.”

“Really? The teacher made it seem like it wasn’t important.”

“Well, then, Your teacher was wrong,” Applejack looked to the others, almost begging for help with her eyes. The others refused to meet her gaze.

“I just want things back to normal,” Twilight whispered brokenly, “I keep thinking I’ll wake up and he’ll-he’ll-” Twilight broke down into tears again, sobbing harder.

Applejack left her chair, and wrapped Twilight in a hug. The others followed suite, all whispering reassurances.

“I’m so scared,” Twilight muttered into Applejack’s neck, “He’s not himself, and he’s wasting away and-”

“It’s okay, Twilight-”

“It isn’t!” Twilight pulled away so Applejack could see her eyes. They were red and bloodshot, dark circles rimming them. Tears matted the fur of her face, and her nose was beginning to run, “It isn’t okay, Applejack! He’s sick, and this isn’t like his cough! I can’t fix this!”

“In the morning, you write to the princess and tell her what’s going on. She’ll know what to do.”

“I don’t want to waste-”

“This isn’t a waste of time Twilight. Not for her, not for you, and certainly not for Spike or Marjoram. You want Marjoram around as long as he can, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then, write to Princess Celestia first thing. Have Spike deliver it. If you can get Marjoram to eat and drink, do it. Whatever he wants, so long as he’s eating something. That’ll help.”

Twilight snuffled again. Pinkie Pie handed her a box of tissues. Twilight took the box gratefully, leaning away from everyone else. The girls settled themselves back in their chairs as Twilight wiped at her still leaking eyes and nose.

“Then what?”

“Try to talk to him. If he shuts you out, just let him know you’re there. Remind him that you love him, and that you always will.”

“That’s it?”

“Sometimes that’s all you can do, Twi. Until the princess writes back. Write Shores while you’re at it, too. She’ll want to be informed.”

“What do I tell them?” Twilight’s eyes shone with unshed tears and fear.

“The truth. That’s all you can do.”

Twilight nodded, eyes catching sight of Pinkie’s clock, “Oh! I should go home! I told Spike not to wait up, but he probably still is-”

“Twilight,” Applejack interrupted, “Sit down for just one more minute.”

Twilight sat back, curiosity overshadowing her grief for a moment.

“What will you do if something happens?”

“Like what?”

“Like if he tries...if he tries to kill himself.”

Twilight’s eyes widened, and she started crying with renewed vigour.

Rarity glared in Applejack’s direction, “Tact!”

Applejack shrugged helplessly, “I’m sorry, but it needed to be said-”

“That was so much harsher than what I said-”

“Girls!” Fluttershy’s normally whispery voice was sharp and clear. All attention landed on the pegasus, even Twilight’s unfocused eyes landing on the source of the sudden noise.

Fluttershy cleared her throat, “I uh. I um...it’s good to get it in the open, right?”

Twilight shook her head, “I’ve been trying not to think about it. I don’t know what I’d do.”

“It’s hard, but you need to have a plan. Put Ponyville’s emergency numbers on your fridge-”

“Already have them.”

“Oh...um…”

“What else, then? What can I do?”

“Just call who you have to, I suppose. Acting quickly might help, if it ever comes to that.”

Twilight nodded, swallowing thickly. She blew her nose, and wiped at her eyes again. She tried to hand the tissues back to Pinkie, but Pinkie shook her head. Twilight tried to smile, but she just sobbed again.

Pinkie hugged Twilight, rubbing soothing circles into her back, “It’s okay, Twilight. We’ll get him smiling again soon!”

“I hope you’re right, Pinkie,” Twilight whispered, “I-I don’t know if I can watch him go on like this for much longer.”

“You won’t have to, not if you write to the princess.”

Twilight nodded, sniffling, “Thank you, girls. I’ll write to her first thing in the morning. I really can’t thank you enough.”

Twilight extracted herself from Pinkie, only to be swallowed up by a group hug. Still sniffling, and crying as silently as possible, Twilight let herself out of Pinkie’s apartment. The door swung shut, leaving five mares to their thoughts.

“Do you think he’d do it?” Pinkie asked suddenly, her voice hoarse and low. She’d been trying hard to stay cheerful for Twilight’s sake, but it was hard to lie to herself.

“He’s sick,” Fluttershy intoned, almost unheard, “Lots of animals have a...plan, in case they get worse.”

“You mean, he could have a plan to take his own life? And he could have had one for a long time?”

Fluttershy shrugged, shrinking under the attention, “I-I don’t know. We’re more complex, but-”

“Whatever,” Rainbow tossed her head to the side, flipping her forelock, “He shouldn’t be this selfish.”

“Rainbow!” Applejack snapped, “You know that’s not how it works!”

“What are you? A psychologist?”

“You’re not either, y’know! I did some research before Apple Bloom took that class, so I could answer any questions she had. I’m not nobody in this field of medicine, but I’m smart enough to recognize the signs! Damned stallion is depressed, and he might be suicidal if we don’t do something about it soon!”

Silence. Even Applejack shocked herself at her blunt delivery. Though, it felt good to speak frankly and clearly. No more sidestepping the issue.

Rainbow had the decency to look a little ashamed, “We’ll help him, AJ. You know that.”

“I know. Promise me girls, we’ll help them however we can.”

“Pinkie Promise!”

So, sitting in Pinkie’s living room at almost one in the morning, five mares made a solemn Pinkie Promise. They wouldn’t let Twilight, or her family, down. Not if they had the power to help.

Author's Note

I'm just gonna set this down here and leave.