Warm Hugs

by Flash Notion

Rating: teen
Tags: Horror, Other, Equestria Girls, Sunset Shimmer, Twilight Sparkle (EqG), Dark, Death, Drama, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Length: 6093

Sunset and SciTwi take a trip to Equestria, and find something so dangerous it could wipe out both worlds- unless they're able to leave first.

Sunset Shimmer believes something seriously wrong is happening in Equestria. So she pays them a visit, along with the human Twilight Sparkle. On the other side of the portal, they find a far emptier world. One that holds unexpected danger. And now, what should have been a day-trip is turned into a fight for survival. The girls need to get back home, before the Equestrian threat beats them to it.

Published 2021-12-22 15:30:00 UTC
Last updated 2021-12-22 15:30:00 UTC

The Only Chapter

A mosquito buzzed past my neck, and I absently swatted it. Missed. I was too busy paying attention to the ground in front of me.

At least, it looked like ground. In reality, a small layer of quicksand covered a portal- between the human world.

And Equestria.

Leaves rustled behind me, and Twilight stepped out of the jungle looking disgusted. She brushed cobwebs off her glasses. “Gross! Oh,” she said, noticing me. “You found it.”

“Yeah,” I said. My mouth was dry.

Normally, I'd have used the portal back in Canterlot to visit Equestria. Just step through into Princess Twilight's castle and boom! Easy-peezy.

So why was I trekking across a tropical island? The answer was ominously simple: for the first time since Princess Twilight opened it, the portal was closed.

And she wouldn't tell me why.

She wasn't answering me at all, actually. In spite of my increasingly worried messages. I'd waited ages for her horn-writing to appear in my journal. Nothing.

So now I was here, with my Twilight. And at the literal edge, I was hesitating.

“You're hesitating,” Twilight noted. She knew me so well. “Is something wrong?”

“Besides the obvious?” I tried joking.

Twilight crossed her arms. “I'm serious, Sunset. Should we... not do this?”

I blinked. “Of course we should! Princess Twilight might be in trouble. As her friends, we have to help her.”

“Well, then what are we waiting for?” Twilight adjusted her backpack, then stepped forward. “I'm ready when you are!”

I turned back to the portal. Clenched my fists.

And jumped.

A familiar tingle passed over and through my body, pins and needles as the portal molded me into a very different shape. It was over in a second, and then I felt the old sensation of cool air on my coat. I snapped my eyes open, and lit my horn, knowing where I was landing.

My hooves impacted on the stone floor of the cave, and I grunted. A glowing orb hovered just off the tip of my horn. Magic- for me at least- was just like riding a bicycle.

A moment later, Twilight materialized from the ceiling. She had just enough time to realize she was falling before I caught her in a magic field.

“Thank you,” she said as I set her down. She wobbled on her hooves. “Ugh. Was it this hard for you? When you came to my world?”

I shuffled, my past a sore point even now. “It was... difficult. Honestly?” I reached out and adjusted the saddlebag that had replaced her backpack. “Walking on two legs was probably the easiest part. Want to lean on me?”

Twilight shook her head. “Absolutely, but I think I have it. Cuddles later.”

“I'll hold you to that.”

We made our way to the cave mouth. So far, everything was seeming very normal. Rocks, dripping water. A few scraggly bits of moss. Slimy-shelled beetles eager to devour the flesh of a careless pony. Nothing I wouldn't expect from a cave in the Everfree Forest.

We emerged onto the hillside, which was virtually unchanged since we last came this way. The forest still stretched to the horizon in three out of four directions. Turning north, this world's Canterlot gleamed on a mountainside in the distance. Ponyville's buildings were visible much closer.

I took in a deep breath.

“Let's go get some answers.”

As we got closer to Ponyville, the knot in my stomach tightened. The town had always been a bustling, happy place when I visited in the past. Everypony so full of energy. Half the time I'd be greeted with a pie in the face as a good natured prank. But as we approached, the only thing that struck me was the silence.

Nopony said hello.

No street vendors were hocking wares.

No foals played in the streets.

“It's a ghost town,” Twilight whispered. I nodded.

We kept trudging through, and I started to notice the smaller details. Some buildings had boarded-up windows. Some of those boards had been smashed. Some of the buildings were in complete disrepair. One had graffiti sprayed across it- STAY APART! DON'T LET THEM TOUCH YOU!

All of them were empty.

A chill meandered down my spine. Or maybe that was the wind- a paper blew into Twilight's face. A flyer. Twilight peeled it away and showed me. A pony was missing. Then I looked past it, to a notice board down the street. Dozens of similar papers were layered on it, the most recent still weeks old.

Whatever happened, it didn't happen all at once. It had taken time.

I still kept watch. Maybe there was still somepony there, holding out.

But our only company was the echo of our hoofsteps.

It seemed forever before we got to the castle. I knocked on the big door, not really expecting an answer. None came.

We pried the door open, went inside. There was no sound, no light. A fine layer of dust coated everything.

In a room on the backside of the castle, towards Twilight's school, we found the mirror portal. It was covered by a sheet; when I pulled it off, the dust cloud nearly choked us. But it was intact, and I quickly figured out which lever to pull on the device Princess Twilight had made. The surface of the mirror shimmered, and I knew going home would be as easy as stepping through.

That was all we had to do. Just walk away.

Twilight nervously shifted. “I- I think we should go now.”

I agreed. But...

“We can't,” I said quietly. “I- What happened here. I need to know. I need to know if- if it was just here.” I turned, looking Twilight in the eye. “This isn't my home anymore, but- but I still-”

She pushed a hoof against my muzzle. “It's okay, Sunset. I understand.”

I pushed her hoof down, but kept hold of it a moment longer. “Thanks.”

Twilight cantered over to one of the princess' desks. “Maybe we can find a clue in here?”

We searched. And then we searched the rest of the castle. The princess had notes and books and charts on every subject imaginable, and even a few I couldn't have imagined. But there was nothing that told us what happened to Ponyville.

We sat on the front steps of the castle, weary. “I guess the Princess was affected first,” Twilight said. “Or close to it, anyway.”

That made sense. “She had enough time to disable the portal. Makes me think this was a who rather than a what.” I shuddered. “Equestria has no shortage of villains...”

“But where are they?” Twilight asked. “Why haven't we seen anyone? There's no bad guy mooks, or bodies in the street.”

“Maybe everypony's been dragged off to the salt mines.”

“But there should still be clues,” Twilight insisted.

“Well there aren't any here!” I snapped. “Life isn't like a comic book; the bad guys don't have to tell us their evil plan!” Twilight blinked, then pouted. I swallowed, tamping down my frustration. “Sorry. You're right; we should still be able to find something. Why don't we split up? Check the town.”

Twilight raised an eyebrow. “You want to split up while searching a ghost town? Have you never read a mystery novel in your life?”

The corner of my mouth twitched into a half smile. “Stay within earshot, of course. And don't be afraid to scream.”

“Yeah, that'll save me.”

At the edge of the town proper, Twilight went left, towards the more uppity, rich-pony side. I headed right. I could see the cupcake top of Sugarcube Corner, and Sweet Apple Acres stretching off behind that. If I were trying to survive in a ghost town, those would be my picks for shelter.

Along the way, I ducked my head into some of the houses. Some were clean. Some showed evidence of struggles. Some smelled sour. Like death. 'The salt mines are seeming more and more likely', I thought.

Standing in front of Sugarcube Corner, I was less sure about using it as a home base. The whole place seemed on the verge of collapse. Every timber groaned with the slightest breeze. There was a hole in the roof.

Still, I pushed open the door. Immediately, the smell of rotting cakes rolled over me. I gagged, but kept going. Maybe nopony was there, but they could've left a note or something. It'd be a nice-

“Surprise!”

I shrieked, falling backwards onto my rump. My horn flared, a blast of magic smashing through the back wall as I instinctively lashed out.

It was a few seconds before the adrenaline wore off enough for me to think. And a few seconds more before my brain actually registered the pony now in front of me.

“Pinkie Pie?”

She giggled. Awfully cheerful for somepony who barely dodged getting lasered, but that was normal for her. “Of course, silly! That's my name, don't wear it out.”

“You scared me!”

“Well duh, that's the point of a surprise.” Pinkie stepped closer. “So was it a good surprise?”

I took a few more deep breaths. “Well, I could've done without the heart attack, but I am glad to see you.” I gestured around. “What happened to Ponyville? Where is everypony?”

Pinkie shrugged. “I'unno. I see some ponies around, sometimes. Say!” She pronked over, quick as a flash. “We're friends, right, uh... Sunset? Sunset Shimmer?”

I hesitated, briefly. This was Pinkie Pie, but not my Pinkie Pie. Still... “I guess so. Why?”

Pinkie sat back and clapped her hooves. Her grin went past giddy and more towards crazy. “Well, then get over here and give your friend a hug!” She spread her forelegs wide.

I blinked. “What? Pinkie, something is seriously wrong with Ponyville.” My brow furrowed. “Are you okay?”

She nodded. “Other than the fact that my bestest friend in the whole wide world won't give me a hug!”

Pinkie reached out, but I flinched back. “Stop that! I know you have a hard time treating anything seriously, but you need to focus. What. Happened?”

Pinkie's eyes fluttered- I realized with a start that I hadn't seen her do that since she jumped out. Her stare was... intense. She stepped towards me, and I backed up, my butt thumping into the wall. Pinkie kept advancing. “Don't you want a hug, Sunset?”

A chill swept along my spine. “Nope. I am good. All I want is to find out what happened and go home.”

“Oh. That's too bad.” Pinkie's mane deflated, just a little. She backed up a step, and I let out my breath.

I blinked.

And Pinkie was gone.

“Ya know, it's not polite to refuse a hug.”

I swung around, eyes darting to the ceiling. Pinkie's voice seemed to be coming from everywhere... and nowhere.

“But that's okay. I forgive you.”

I felt like I'd swallowed a rat, and it was clawing at my throat. Blood pounded in my ears. This wasn't survival, I realized. Pinkie was hunting me.

“And you know how we show forgiveness?”

I backed along the wall, keeping my head on a swivel. Pink flashed in the corner of my eye, but I saw nothing.

Suddenly, I felt breath on my ear.

“Give me a hug,” Pinkie growled.

Even as I jumped away, I could sense Pinkie's legs about to wrap around me. I knew, for whatever reason, I did not want her to hug me. But I had no spell ready; there was nothing I could do.

“GET AWAY FROM HER!”

The shrill voice shocked us both. Pinkie froze. And a blur of yellow slammed into her.

Not Twilight, then. Who-

No way. I blinked. “Fluttershy?”

I barely recognized the pegasus in front of me. Her mane and tail had been cut short. She was lankier, toned, even. But the biggest change was in her eyes. I'd seen a demonstration of her Stare; it was like she'd made that her default.

Fluttershy turned quickly, kicking Pinkie across the shop. “We need to run,” she said- commanded, actually. I nodded, nearly tripping over my own hooves as I scrambled for the door. Fluttershy zipped past me in the air, and I followed her.

After a moment of us tearing down the street, Fluttershy angled herself down, staying only slightly ahead. “What-” I started, but she cut me off.

“First things first, Sunset Shimmer. Did you or did you not come here alone?”

“Uh-”

“Please answer the question!”

“Okay!” Her tone allowed no room for argument. “I came with my world's Twilight.”

For a brief instant, something passed through Fluttershy's eyes. It might've been sadness, or regret, or something else entirely. But it was gone just as quick. “We have to find her,” Fluttershy said.

At that moment, a scream echoed over Ponyville.

I skidded to a halt, Fluttershy swooping around. A second scream, and I knew exactly where and who it was coming from. “Correction.” I swallowed. “We have to save her.”

Thoughts pounded in my mind, as hard as my hooves pounded on cobblestones. Something was wrong with Pinkie Pie. Something was wrong with Ponyville. Hugs were part of it- a symptom? The cause?

Twilight was in danger.

That thought superseded the others in a big way.

I'd been following Fluttershy away from Sugarcube Corner without paying attention; I'd gone further away from Twilight than I ever meant to. But already I was closing in on her screams.

I skidded around the corner and saw her- she was literally backed into a corner. Two stallions were advancing towards her, held off by wild magic bolts and flailing hooves. They were plainly starving- ribs showing on their barrels, sallow skin pulled tight on their muzzles by rictus grins. Still, they closed in.

One of the stallions suddenly hurled himself forward, ignoring the promise of pain. His dull eyes were more desperate than anything I had ever seen. Twilight recoiled, only barely avoiding his grasp.

“Twilight!” I shouted.

She looked up, freezing in place. I knew what I had to do.

There was a rush of magical energy, a small pop from the air closing in. I flashed out of existence, briefly felt the void, then reappeared at Twilight's side.

She gaped. “Oh right, telepor-” I grabbed hold of her.

Pop!

“-tation,” she finished. Twilight swayed at my side, having never experienced the spell herself. “I- I need a minute.”

I glanced back. The stallions were recovering from their shock, turning around to find we hadn't traveled far. I was never good at long distance 'porting. “We don't have time,” I said. “We need to run!”

I pulled Twilight with me around the corner. Yellow flashed in the corner of my eye. “Over here, boys!” I heard Fluttershy call.

“Hugs!” one of them shouted, clearly frustrated. His partner took up the cry. “Hugs, hugs, hugs!”

Their deranged chanting faded only slightly as we ran down the abandoned streets. But far more terrifying: I could hear other voices join in, from all over the town.

After a minute, Fluttershy swooped down beside us. “Are you okay?” she asked, some of her old warmth in her voice. “Did they hug you?”

“I'm good,” Twilight panted. The poor girl never had been very athletic.

“Good,” Fluttershy sighed. “In that case- follow me. We'll be safe at my place.”

She flapped her wings, angling into a wide turn. Twilight and I exchanged only the briefest look.

In our minds, there was no other option.

It seemed like Fluttershy had the same idea as me, because she didn't lead us back to her cottage. Instead, we found ourselves at Sweet Apple Acres.

“I moved in here not long ago,” she explained, settling onto the ground by the entrance. “After- after Angel Bunny... I couldn't stay at home.”

I increased my pace slightly, pulling alongside her. “Why not?” I demanded. “What's going on here?”

Fluttershy held up a hoof and stopped at the door. Her ears flicked, clearly listening. After a moment, she relaxed, and opened the farmhouse door. “I'll do my best to explain,” she said. “Starlight would've been better, but she-” Fluttershy faltered. “She isn't here. Please! Let's have some tea.”

Twilight and I sat down at the kitchen table. While Fluttershy fussed over the teapot, I focused on my girlfriend. “Are you really okay?”

“I- no, I don't think so.” She swallowed. “Once, when I was little, my brother took me to a haunted house. We got separated, but I thought it was okay. None of it was real, right?” I made noises of agreement. Twilight continued, “Well, I wandered into a room full of costumes and decorations, and there were these mannequins. They'd been turned into super-realistic zombies. But I didn't just find them. I tripped, and they fell on top of me, pinning me down. I was stuck there for an hour before Shining Armor managed to find me.” Twilight's hooves were shaking, so she pressed them against the tabletop. “I'd almost forgotten about that- repressed it. But looking at those ponies, being trapped- it brought it all back.” She looked up at me now, her eyes watering. “That's what they were. They were zombies.”

“Not exactly,” Fluttershy interjected before I could say anything. She set a teacup and saucer down in front of Twilight, then did the same for me. “They were still alive- for now, anyway.”

“But they were zombie-like,” I said. “I can't argue with that. Was there some kind of outbreak? Somebody messing around with magic they weren't supposed to?”

Fluttershy sat down across from us. “We all wondered about that, too. Was this a curse? A disease? We were asking the wrong questions. ” She shook her head bitterly. “It started a few months ago. Ponies acting strangely, then disappearing. And then the ponies closest to them would start acting strange, too.”

“They were infected,” Twilight said. She took a sip of tea. “Like zombies.”

Fluttershy nodded. “You can't tell who's infected at first. They can still talk, and reason. There isn't any sign- maybe they smile a little more, but that's all. But it doesn't take long for infected ponies to end up like those two you encountered,” she said, pointing at Twilight. “They stop eating, they stop sleeping, they stop thinking. All they try and do is hug other ponies.”

A moment of silence passed.

“What happens when they do it?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Fluttershy turned, her eyes drilling into mine. “Well, that depends. The freshly turned are fine for a little bit. They get to keep going and infect others. The ones that have been around a while, starving... it happens in an instant.”

“What happens.” Twilight said hoarsely.

“They die,” Fluttershy said, still looking at me. “They. Just. Die. They fall to the ground and don't get up, ever. And any pony they hugged is infected.” After another moment, she blinked, breaking the spell. “Of course, it doesn't work when they hug another infected pony. For whatever reason, they only die if they hug somepony who is... clean.”

Every hair in my coat bristled. The air in the kitchen felt as heavy as stone.

Now I knew.

This was what had befallen Ponyville. Maybe even all of Equestria. I had wanted to know.

And now I did.

Instinctively, I grabbed Twilight's hoof in my own. She returned the death-grip.

Don't even think about that word.

I sat as still as possible, absorbing the terrible news, trying to ground myself in a new reality, where almost everypony I had ever known was probably dead or dying.

Trying.

Trying.

There was a knock on the door.

Twilight jumped, and I lit my horn. Even Fluttershy looked startled. Then she looked suspicious. The pegasus tip-toed over to the door.

“Who is it?” she asked.

“Iiiiiiiiiit's Pinkie Pie!”

Sunset exchanged looks with Fluttershy, then glanced at Twilight. “Is she infected?” Twilight whispered.

I nodded. “Not sure for how long, though.”

Fluttershy shifted. “I think only a couple of days? I can't be sure, but she's still talking, so it can't have been too long.” She raised her voice. “What do you want, Pinkie?”

Pinkie's voice was sing-song. “Well, I recognized Sunset Shimmer, and that made me realize something! If she's here, then that must mean the portal to funky human land that Twilight tried to keep closed is open again!”

Fluttershy looked back at me for confirmation, and I hoped my panicked look was enough. It seemed to be- her eyes widened.

“Anyway,” Pinkie continued, “I'm just out telling all the other infected ponies and thought I'd let you know I was leaving. Bye! Happy Inter-Dimensional Freedom-to-Hug Day!”

The spring-like sound of Pinkie's pronks faded quickly. My fears did not.

“We have to get back to Twilight's Castle!” I said. “If even one of the infected gets through, it could be a disaster. One group hug could destroy the world! We need to shut down the portal, before it's too late.”

“You're right.” Twilight stood up, different fears now giving her drive. “Will you help us, Fluttershy?”

The pegasus hesitated briefly, then nodded. “I won't let Pinkie infect your world. I promise!”

The three of us leaned out from behind the house. The castle was only a short distance away, but that distance was packed with ponies. Pinkie had done exactly what she said, and gathered all the infected in the area. I estimated there were several dozen of the 'hug-zombies'.

They milled around on the castle's front lawn, bumping shoulders and occasionally hugging. Like Fluttershy had said, none of them died.

The only good thing, in my opinion, was that none of them seemed to be able to open the door. They'd all been infected too long to be capable of that.

The bad news was, our path was blocked. There was no way the three of us would be able to sneak through to the front door.

“So we go around,” I said. “There's got to be a back door, right?”

Fluttershy squinted in the castle's general direction. “I don't remember one. But there are windows and balconies.”

“Aha!” Twilight rummaged through her saddlebag and brought out a rope. “I came prepared for a climbing scenario. And a falling scenario. Also a medical emergency, and a cave in. And-” She faltered, seeing Fluttershy and I exchange looks. “What?”

I leaned over and gave her a quick peck on the cheek. “Just appreciating how awesome you can be. Keep it up, okay?”

Twilight looked away, her chest puffing out slightly. “I mean- yeah, okay. Okay.” For the first time since we got to Equestria, a small smile crossed her muzzle as she hoofed over the rope.

Fluttershy took and wrapped it over her shoulders. “I can fly over the top,” she explained. “You two meet me there, and then I'll lower the rope.”

“Understood,” I said.

We watched her ascend for a moment, then turned to our own task. Avoiding the infected was fairly easy. As long as they didn't see us, they just stayed on the main road. Occasionally we ran into some stragglers still heading in that direction. When that happened, we would duck into an alley and wait for them to pass. “Hugs!” they would call out. “Hugs!”

The houses thinned out, gaining yards and fences. Traveling offroad got slightly harder. And then, after a minute, there were no yards. No houses. Just a stretch of grass leading to the lake shore, the School of Friendship across the water. I spared a brief thought for all the creatures that had been studying there when the infection spread, who probably carried it home to the other lands. The image of a dragon bellowing “Hugs!” was both amusing... and terrifying. So I shook my head and focused.

Twilight and I followed the lake shore, until finally we made it to the back of the castle. Fluttershy was waiting, hovering just outside an open window. “Hurry!” she called down, trying to keep her voice low. “I don't know how long the front door will hold them.” She ducked back inside, and a moment later the rope sailed out.

I approached cautiously, giving it an experimental tug. “Seems like it'll hold,” I murmured. The problem was the actual climbing. “Here,” I said, pushing the rope end over to Twilight. “You should go up first. Wrap it all the way around one front hoof, and pull yourself up. Then squeeze your back hooves together as tight as you can, and slide your front hooves up. Keep doing that and shimmying until you reach the top.”

Twilight looked up, then back at me. “Any chance you could just, I dunno, hold me with magic while you do it?”

I shook my head. “I wouldn't be able to concentrate enough to hold you. But you've got this! I've seen you carry a whole stack of book-filled boxes, up a staircase! This has to be easier.”

“I guess.” Twilight adjusted her glasses, then grabbed hold of the rope. “Wrap, pull, squeeze, and slide.” She performed the actions as she said them, and I mouthed the words with her. “Repeat; wrap, pull, squeeze, and slide. Repeat.” It took a minute, and I may have stopped her from sliding down the rope with magic a couple times. But it wasn't long before Twilight hauled herself over the window sill.

She popped her head back out, grinning like a loon. “I made it!”

I smiled back, happy for her.

“Made it?”

My ears flicked. My blood froze.

The voice was from out front. The infected- they'd heard. I watched Twilight's face contort into fear, my own mimicking. “Climb!” she screamed.

“Climb! Climb, Hugs! Climb!”

I scrambled for the rope, pulling as hard and fast as I could. But I could hear their hooves trampling the ground into mud. Hoofsteps pounded in my head like a concert for an all-drum power metal band. Looking up, the window seemed further away than ever.

“Climb! Hugs! Hugs! Climb!” The voices were practically in my ear, my shoulders and haunches were aching. I felt something brush against my hoof...

“Hold on!” I heard Fluttershy's voice. My grip on the rope couldn't get much tighter, but I tried anyway.

“Hugs! Hugs!”

Suddenly I felt air rushing past my face. At first I thought I was falling. But no- I was going up. The rope was being pulled up!

I held on, shaking, until the window was close enough to grab onto. I pulled myself up and inside, gasping as I finally took a breath. For a moment I just lay on the floor.

Gradually, I became aware of Twilight, laying beside me. “Thank you,” I whispered.

She nuzzled at my shoulder, wetness from her eyes and nose leaving streaks in my coat. “I thought I was going to lose you.”

“Not yet.” A short, humorless laugh escaped me. “Nah, not yet.” I slowly got up, still letting her lean on me, because I was still leaning on her. “You saved me.” I looked over at Fluttershy. She was rubbing her leg, trying to catch her breath. “You both did,” I acknowledged. I spread my forelegs for a hug.

But Fluttershy recoiled, shaking her head. And suddenly I realized how remarkably insensitive I was being. “Oh, right. Sorry.” I put my hooves down.

“It's fine,” she said. But she sounded... morose, I decided. “We should get to the portal.”

I nodded and looked around, getting my bearings. “Okay, that's a bathroom over there. So the portal should be... there.” I pointed up and off to the side. “Follow me.”

The three of us ran through the crystalline halls, the tuc-tuc of hoof on crystal our only company. Either things outside had quieted down, or their voices just weren't carrying up. I chose to believe it was former. Made things slightly less creepy that way.

Another minute, up the staircase and around the corner, and we were there. I allowed myself to relax a little. We'd made it. There had been no sign that the infected ponies had managed to force their way inside. No splintering wood or shattering crystal. I reached out and grabbed Twilight's hoof as I pushed open the door. We were going home.

Or... not.

Twilight stiffened at my side.

The door was open. The portal was there.

And so was a very.

Pink.

Pony.

Pinkie froze as soon as I opened the door, her hoof just barely touching the mirror. Portal magic rippled outward from that point of contact.

The room was better lit than Sugarcube Corner had been, and now I could see how much of a difference there was in Pinkie's appearance. Her coat was dull, her mane not as poofy. Behind her manic grin, her eyes were unfocused and lifeless. And she was thinner- the pony Pinkie I knew had been more on the plump side.

“Oh, hi Sunset!” she said. Her voice was full of energy, but monotone. There was nothing genuine about it. “Glad you could make it. I'm so excited at all the new hugs to give. Wanna go through together?”

I swallowed. “N- no, Pinkie.”

“Whaddya mean?”

Twilight shivered. “She means we won't let you.”

“That's right,” Fluttershy said. “We won't let this- this plague spread any further.”

Pinkie put her hoof down, slowly turning her body to match up with her head. "Huh. That doesn't sound very fun. Not like giving everypony hugs and making them smile.” As if to emphasize, her own smile grew, until her gums were showing.

I took a deep breath, trying to think. I could try and grab Pinkie with magic, but she'd probably jump away. Same if I tried attacking her. And anything more subtle would take too long.

I wouldn't be able to reach the control lever in time.

I couldn't blast it without destroying it.

I couldn't move it with magic without Pinkie noticing.

Which left one option.

“You think this is making ponies smile?” I blurted out. Fluttershy and Twilight glanced over, but I waved them back. I have this, I think. “Because you're wrong.”

Pinkie turned her gaze squarely on me. “I don't think so. Didn't you see all those ponies out front? They have the biggest smiles. Like me!”

I took another breath. Hiccuped. Tried again.

“Pinkie,” I began. “Maybe I wasn't the 'bestest of friends' with this version of you. But I still know you. You're crazy. You're loud, and occasionally get on everyone's nerves.”

“Are you trying to make her kill us?” Twilight whispered.

“Shush. It's true.” I made sure I was meeting Pinkie's eyes without flinching, even as she stepped forward. “But that's because you're always doing whatever it takes to makes others feel good. Not just smile, but really feel that laughter in their hearts.” Something flashed in Pinkie's eye, and I pushed ahead. “You give a hundred percent, all the time, maybe more. But you don't just clown around, pulling the same jokes on everyone. You find what makes them laugh. You work hard to figure out what they need, because everyone's different. That's why you've memorized everyone's birthdays. It's why you take on so many jobs, so you can afford party after party. It's why you have a secret party planning cave full of files, even for people you've only met once in your whole life!”

Pinkie stopped, her muzzle just inches from mine. I could feel the puff of her breath on my nose. My own breathing was rapid, shallow. I didn't dare hope- but I saw a single tear start to fall down Pinkie's cheek. “You want to make ponies happy. But right now? The way things are here? No pony is happy. Especially not you.”

The tear broke free, splattering on the floor. Pinkie closed her eyes, blinking hard, and then looked down. When she looked up, her smile was gone. “I- I'm sorry everypony. I just- I'm so sorry!” Pinkie dropped to the floor, sobbing hysterically. Tears puddled underneath her.

I didn't relax yet. But I did pat Pinkie on the shoulder. “Okay. Let it out. Okay.” I glanced over at the other two, but they were still keeping their distance. Smart. “How are you feeling?”

Pinkie sniffed. “Pretty awful. But I'm thinking right ways up again.”

“Are you...”

“Cured?” She popped up a little. “Nope. I still feel it. I wanna hug all three of you real bad! But-” She paused, getting up fully. “I won't. Not for now, anyway! I dunno how long I can hold off.”

“Then maybe it'd be best if you left,” Fluttershy pointed out.

Twilight nodded. “You could get rid of the rest of the infected ponies. Tell them to leave, or just lure them away!”

“If anypony could do it, it's you,” Fluttershy said.

Pinkie looked thoughtful. “I mean, I guess I could...”

“It'd make us really happy if you did,” I said.

“Sold!” Pinkie perked up, giving a real smile now. A bit of color spread into her coat. “Live long and laughter!” she shouted, and ran out the door. After a minute, her hoofsteps faded. We were alone again.

Now I relaxed. I turned around, and saw the others do the same. This time, we'd made it.

I looked at the mirror. “We'll have to figure out a way to close it after we leave. Maybe we could rig something with Twilight's supplies?”

“Don't worry about it. I'll turn it off.”

Twilight's head whipped around. “You're not coming with us?”

Fluttershy shook her head. “There are more ponies out there. Surviving. Scared.”

“You know that?” I asked.

“Somepony is moving the sun and moon still.” Fluttershy kicked at the floor. “There's still hope we could fix this. Besides... I don't belong in your world.”

I wanted to insist she was wrong. That she should come with us and save herself. But I could see in her eyes that she'd already made up her mind. And we were running out of time.

“Okay.”

“Okay?” Twilight gasped. “It's not okay, it's- she's-”

I put a hoof on Twilight's shoulder. “We need to go.”

“But- but...”

“No buts.” Fluttershy put a hoof over her mouth. “Go. Don't worry about us.”

Twilight swallowed. Looked between us. Nodded, slowly.

She adjusted her glasses and stepped up to the mirror. “Goodbye,” she said. And stepped through.

Another knot in my chest unraveled. Twilight was safe now, for sure. I turned back to Fluttershy. “I won't say goodbye,” I said. “'Cause you said this can be fixed, and I believe you.”

“Thank you, Sunset Shimmer,” Fluttershy sighed. “That makes me feel much better. But just in case... when you see your Fluttershy? Could you give her a hug for me?”

I smiled. “I'll do that. But, just in case- I think you deserve one, too.”

“Wait, no-”

Fluttershy let out a squeak as I embraced her for a farewell hug. She trembled. But slowly, she brought her hooves up, and returned the hug.

Fluttershy collapsed against me.

Her weight, little as it was, suddenly fell like stone.

She didn't move.

I blinked. “Fluttershy?”

I backed up. She slid away, her head smacking against the cold floor.

Her eyes were lifeless.

Thud, thud.

Blood pulsed in my ears, and my lungs felt like they were being crushed.

No.

Fluttershy was dead.

I hugged her. She hugged me back.

And she died.

My stomach turned over, and I began to sweat. Unbidden, my hoof came up and grabbed at my foreleg.

No, no!

Maybe... maybe it had been something else. Like a heart attack! Or starvation!

Anything else.

Please!

I stared at Fluttershy's body for a long moment.

And then a warmth crept up my spine.

It was strange, but soothing. My heartbeat slowed down. The room spun for a second, and when it stopped, things felt... better.

I wasn't worried anymore.

Why should I be worried?

I didn't feel cold, either. I wasn't nervous, or tired.

I was feeling something, though. It was like... hunger. Or maybe thirst. There was something I wanted- no, needed. I wasn't exactly sure what it was.

I turned, looked around the room, trying to puzzle it out. My eyes hit on the mirror.

Of course! I needed to go home. Yes, that was it. There were so many people I wanted to see again.

And when I did, I knew exactly what I was going to do.

I was gonna give them a nice warm hug.