Dear Ms. Pinkamena D. Pie,

This letter is to remind you of your 5pm appointment with Dr. Rorschach Inkblot on Friday, 27 Aphrilis 08 LR. We hope to see you there!

Sincerely,

Canterlot Institute of Psychology

Such a simple note, yet it leaves a stone in Pinkie Pie's stomach. But it is no ordinary stone. No, this stone has been sitting in sludge for a week, so while she has a weight in her that makes it hard to breathe -much less move- she also feels sick just by looking at the postcard with the smiling filly and beautiful cursive.

Pinkie Pie briefly thought about throwing the card away and pretending that no such appointment was made, but that idea will not work since Twilight set it up herself and made sure to get the best doctor available. Plus, Twilight made it clear that she will accompany her to the Institute and had her schedule reworked to make it so.

With that in mind, Pinkie Pie rests her head on her table, poking at a snow globe of swimming alligators in Santa hats.

Sighing, Pinkie Pie looks at the grinning cat clock on her wall. With the bustling noise outside and downstairs she almost does not hear the ticks and tocks, but they are there.

Tick-tock.

Tick-tock.

Tick-tock.

The eyes and tail swing left to right.

Left to right.

Left to right.

Tick-tock.

Tick-tock.

Tick-tock.

Swing and swing.

Tick-tock.

Tick-tock.

Tick-tock.

Swing and swing.

Time is crawling ever so slowly. It is maddening! But Pinkie Pie has no energy to move. The dread is sucking every bit of it away. Even if Twilight is by her side it still will not change the fact that someone will be going in her head and messing around with it.

This brings Pinkie Pie to wondering what they will break this time. Or if Twilight will even notice them trying to rip her psych apart and restitch it to however they want her to be. Celestia knows that her parents didn't notice last time.

Or maybe Celestia did not know that her parents did not know and did not know about the deliberate acts of insanity perpetrated by the one that is paid to remove the “in” from insanity.

Some goddess she is.

Some parents they are.

Tick-tock.

Tick-tock.

Tick-tock.

Pinkie Pie looks at the letter again. Surely Twilight would not put her under the care of a madpony pretending to be a sane pony. But, then again, this is Twilight. Her good deeds always seem to have some sort of malevolent side effect that no one could have anticipated. But maybe she will be lucky this time.

Tick-tock.

Tick-tock.

Tick-tock.

Maybe-maybe-maybe.

Or maybe not. Only time will tell.

Hopefully the maybe will be a maybe-yes and not a maybe-not.

Tick-tock.

Tick-tock.

Tick-tock.

Knock-Knock.

The new noise brings Pinkie Pie's ears to flick, and when the door creaks open she shifts her eyes to its direction, watching Twilight carefully enter the room wearing her purple and gold trimmed saddle. Flash is there, as well, but he remains in the hallway. Twilight is careful when she steps over the mess of party supplies, toys, schedules, notebooks and dirty dishes, and when she is by Pinkie's side she smiles and gives her wings a small flap.

“Are you ready?” asks Twilight.

Pinkie Pie's eyes drift to her saddle. The pink, sturdy fabric with her cutie mark stamped on it lays by her closet, stuffed to the point where the bags are bulging and the straps are barely holding on. Seeing the saddle is a sickening sight, but she still nods as a reply to Twilight's question.

“Great!” Twilight nudges Pinkie Pie out of her seat and levitates the saddle to her, grinning all the way. “Tempest's train is leaving in forty five minutes, and ours is leaving thirty minutes after. That will cut it close, but I think we will make it. Also, I asked the girls to come by to see us off. They were a little bit hesitant with Tempest -and Applejack tried yet again to find an excuse not to see her- but they will all be there.”

“That's nice... Do they know about the... um... thingy?” asks Pinkie Pie.

“I told them you and I got a friendship quest in Canterlot.”

“Okay...”

“And~” Twilight levitates from her saddle a ring-bound script with Pinkie Pie's name on it, “to limit any chances of conflicting stories I wrote us a script with background information that we can fall back on in case somepony probes.”

“You mean when Rainbow Dash has nothing but questions for us for five hours after we come back?” asks Pinkie Pie, staring at the floating script with a near blank look.

“Precisely.” Twilight puts the script away. “We can study this on the way up, during free time and on the way down. But we gotta go. We already spent two minutes here and time waits for no one!”

When Pinkie Pie reaches the crowded train station with Twilight and Flash taking the lead she buries her anxiety with a smile and forces herself to hop. She does have an appearance to keep, after all, and if anybody else sees through her like how Tempest did then that will destroy her very being, which is the last thing she wants or needs. She cannot be her if nobody sees who she wants them to see.

With the energetic hops in her steps she bounces next to Tempest, who has taken a seat at the far end of the only unoccupied bench with her saddle in front of her. Spike and Grubber are at the end of platform, talking without a care and the rest of the Elements are there, as well, plus Quibble Pants, who is reading a bound manuscript with the aid of reading glasses despite Rainbow Dash nagging him.

“The horrible grammar will still be there an hour from now and tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. Just put it away,” says Rainbow Dash.

“Unlike you, I actually take deadlines very seriously. Especially for a Tom Clopsy book,” says Quibble. He then glances up and with a tone as unkind as frostbite, he says: “Flash.”

“Quibble,” returns Flash. “Nice weather.”

“I've felt better.”

“Air conditioning doesn't count as weather.”

“And being a princess bride doesn't count as a personality trait.”

Flash narrows his eyes and Twilight butts her way between the two, nudging Flash away.

“Okay, let's walk away,” says Twilight. She then snaps to Rainbow Dash and uses her magic to pull her close, whispering harshly: “Why did you invite him?”

“Because he needed to get air,” says Rainbow Dash. “He's been in his office for three weeks doing his editing junk and eating delivery pizza.”

“You know he and Flash don't like each other.”

“So? Not everypony has to like each other, Twi.”

“Just keep him away from Flash.”

“Sure. Got a leash I can borrow?”

Twilight rolls her eyes and walks towards the other girls, who are huddled around each other and talking in a circle while keeping an eye on Tempest. They give Pinkie Pie a condemning look when she sits by Tempest, and all the pink mare does in return is smile and wave. The only one who returns the wave is Fluttershy.

“So, Fizzles, you're really going on the train, huh?” asks Pinkie Pie.

Tempest nods and glances at Grubber when he and Spike laugh about something neither of the mares heard.

“I told Grubber he could stay, but he wanted to be by my side. We're peas in a pod is what he told me,” says Tempest.

“Awww, that's sweet. By the way, have they said anything to you?” asks Pinkie Pie, nodding to her friends.

“Fluttershy said good afternoon without getting a panic attack.”

“Oh. Improvement!”

“And Rarity gave me a red dress with a big black bow and striped socks even though I never visited her. It appears she got a heads up about it.”

Tempest looks at Pinkie Pie suspiciously and the Element looks at the clouds, whistling innocently. Tempest's expression soon softens to a smile and she pats Pinkie Pie's head, which would have been a little bit painful due to the metal boot if there was no thick mane to protect her head.

“For what its worth, that night at the arcade was fun despite the setbacks,” says Tempest.

“Good, good. So, I know you said that Equestria is not your home, but when are you coming back?” asks Pinkie Pie. “For a visit, I mean.”

“I don't know. Maybe soon. Maybe never. We'll just see where my hoofs take me.”

Pinkie Pie's ears droop. “Oh... okay.”

“Don't be upset. You still got them,” says Tempest, nodding to the other Elements. “And surprisingly I know how to write and I know you and Twilight's addresses, so while I'll be exploring the world without burning it I will be sending you two letters.”

“But what if I want to send you a letter? I can't exactly send a letter to somepony who is always moving.”

“I got a solution for that!” says Twilight.

The two mares look up, and Twilight smiles down at them, barely able to sit still as she levitates a pair of metal tubes in the air. One is orchid with a trio of sparks stamped on it and the other is purple with Twilight's symbol on it.

“I enchanted these tubes so that way we can stay in touch,” says Twilight, giving the orchid colored on to Tempest. “I slip the mail in mine and it comes out on your side and you slip the mail in yours and it comes out on my side. Cool, huh?”

“Indeed,” says Tempest, inspecting the simple device with her hoof. “But if you spam me I will plug this.”

“Oh, I won't, but I will be expecting a friendship report every week about what you learned.”

Tempest barely lifts her eyes to Twilight with one brow raised. “Seriously? What if I don't learn anything for the week?”

“I'm sure you will.”

“I doubt it.”

“Just make up stuff. She won't know,” says Grubber, coming up next to Tempest with Spike taking a spot next to Twilight.

Hearing Grubber, Tempest sighs and pats him on the head, and Twilight looks down at him with a faint frown.

“Grubber, I'm right here,” says Twilight.

Before any response can be made, a whistle is blown and a burly stallion waves his hoof to the train door.

“ALL ABOARD!” hollers the stallion.

And just like dogs reacting to an order, ponies crowd around the train doors, turning in their tickets before entering the brightly colored vehicle.

As the crowd shuffles around, trying to get ahead for the good spots, Tempest takes her time slipping on her saddle. Grubber already has his pack on and is gripping Spike's hand so that his muscles will flex, not that anyone can see said muscles since the fat is hiding what little he has.

“I'll see you later, Spike,” says Grubber.

“See ya, bro,” says Spike, returning the flex, but with more success. Then he notices Twilight and the other girls staring at him (with Rarity shamelessly smiling in awe). “What? Its a guy thing.”

“That's adorable!” says Rarity.

“No it's not. It's cool. Big difference.”

Meanwhile, Pinkie Pie stands on her hind legs and wraps her hoofs around Tempest's neck, hugging her tight and burying her face in the crook of her neck. The tall unicorn stiffens from the gesture, but after some seconds she relaxes and with noticeable hesitation she lifts her hoof to pat her back.

“Stay safe, Fizzles,” says Pinkie Pie.

Tempest smiles thinly. “This is me we're talking about. Of course I won't stay safe.”

Pinkie Pie pulls away. “Oh ha. Ha. Seriously, I don't want to get any bad news about you.”

“The feeling is mutual.” Tempest puts her hoof on Pinkie's shoulder. “You know what you have to do, so do it.”

Pinkie Pie nods, swallowing the discomfort. “Twilight will be there.”

“Good.” Tempest approaches Twilight, and with the heavy tone of a stern mother, she says: “Take care of her.”

“Of course! Just don't forget to write,” says Twilight.

“I mean it,” snaps Tempest, poking Twilight in the chest. “I don't want to come back and find out she skipped out on her job.”

“I personally set up everything and will be going with her. She will see it through. But you better give me updates on your travels and friendship lessons.”

Tempest waves her off. “Whatever. I'll only write when it is relevant.” She then looks over Twilight's shoulder at the rest of the Elements and the pair of stallions. “Adios, losers.”

And just like that, Pinkie Pie snorts a laugh, seven scowls pop into existence and Twilight scoffs angrily.

“Really, Tempest?” chides Twilight.

“I don't like any of them. Except for you, Rarity. I actually like you.” Tempest walks over to Rarity and holds out her hoof. “Thank you for the dress. I'll be sure to send you something, too.”

“Oh, uh...” Rarity lightly touches Tempest's hoof. “Thank you.”

“LAST CALL! ALL ABOARD!” hollers the stallion.

“That's my signal. I'll see you when I see you,” says Tempest.

“Yeah, don't come back,” says Flash.

Twilight slaps him with her wing and he snaps a glare at her, which she returns with a scowl and snorting hot air.

“What?” he says.

“Be nice,” says Twilight.

“I am being nice.”

“You have been mean to her the whole time she's been here.”

“Oh, I'm sorry. I guess I'll make her breakfast in bed next time she turns me and my team into stone!”

Tempest smirks and pats Flash on the head, causing him to growl and swipe away her hoof.

“There, there. The big bad mare is going now. You won't be seeing her ever again.” Tempest then leans against his ear and whispers. “Or will you?”

Flash recoils and ruffles his feathers, meeting her taunting smile with a steely eyed glare.

“Just get on the train,” orders Flash.

Tempest chuckles and without another word she and Grubber give their tickets to the stallion and get on the train. With them on the train, the stallion hops on and seals the door, and several minutes later the train pulls away, leaving a trail of puffy white clouds in its wake.

Not long after the train started moving, Tempest has herself safely sealed away in her room. She quickly found comfort by laying on the long cushion, however she keeps her eyes fixed on the door, watching the shadows move past the fogged glass, listening to the chatter and the faint clanks of the spinning metal.

“Do you want to wave at them? They can still see us,” says Grubber.

“No. I have never looked back and I won't start now,” says Tempest.

“Yeah, you got a lot to learn for your friendship stuff. Friends always wave bye to other friends.”

“Since when are you an expert on friendship?”

“Spike's given some pointers.”

“Right~” Tempest turns on her side and squeezes her saddle, causing some of the red dress to poke out, and then she buries her face into the saddle's old fabric. “Wake me when we get to San Palomino.”

“Sure... By the way, do you want something to eat? I'm kinda hungry.”

“Grubber, I'm-” Tempest stops herself, and after a brief thought she lifts her eyes to him. “Actually, bring me a slice of pie and some juice.”

“Got it!”

And Grubber scampers out of the room, and when the door closes behind him, Tempest stands up and opens the window, filling the room with a rush of cold air and fast wind abusing her ears. Tempest pokes her head out as far as she can go hoping to see the train station and Twilight and Pinkie Pie, but all she sees is a dot in the distance that gets smaller with each passing second.

With a wet lump in her throat, she closes the window and lays back down with her makeshift pillow. Only this time she digs her hoof underneath it and presses it into her face to smother her self loathing. Next time -if there is a next time- she will wave to her friends.

But there is no turning back, now. She missed the mark and all she can do is live out the new days ahead of her in the hopes that she will get another chance to wave. She also hopes that when her hoofs bring her back to Ponyville she will still have someone waiting for her.

Oh, who is she kidding? Of course she will have at least one waiting for her, and that is all she will need for the new days ahead.

As the train gets smaller, Pinkie Pie eagerly waits for Tempest to poke her head out and wave farewell, but that never happens. She is not surprised about it, but it does not stop her from feeling an icky sense of disappointment, and so with drooped ears she sulks back to the group.

“I'm actually surprised Tempest likes me. I thought she would hate me the most,” says Rarity.

“Well, I'm glad that she's gone,” says Flash. “That is one less problem I have to deal with.”

“Yes, because it is so hard being you,” says Quibble, still reading the manuscript.

“You are just asking for a flank kicking.”

“You two will have plenty of time to fight after Twilight and Pinkie Pie leave,” says Rainbow Dash, coming between the two. “Which reminds me, why are you and Twilight going to Canterlot?”

“Friendship quest,” says Pinkie Pie. “Confidential. Select parties only.”

Rainbow Dash scrunches her brows. “Uh huh... Can we get a hint?”

“Nope.”

“Oh come on. I'm good with secrets. Its some government hotshot, isn't it? Is it Spitfire? Soarin? Kibitz? Its Kibitz and Tiberius, isn't it!? Its gotta be Kibitz and Tiberius!”

“Fine, here's a hint. They breathe, have colors, and have a birthday.”

“You just described everypony in the country.”

“And that's all you're getting.”

“But that's not how hints work.”

“Leave her be. If she and Twi don't want us knowin' 'bout the details of their quest then we need to respect that,” says Applejack.

“You won't be gone long, will you?” asks Fluttershy, meekly rubbing her hoof against the pavement.

“We shouldn't,” says Twilight. “But this case is also intense, so it might take a few weeks. Or a month. Hard to say.”

The next train pulls up, its breaks screeching until the vehicle comes to a complete stop, and as the passengers file out the next group waits patiently at their lines. After several minutes, when all is cleared out, a scrawny stallion blows his whistle.

“All aboard!” he says.

“You ready, Pinkie?” asks Twilight.

“As ready as I'll ever be,” replies Pinkie Pie. She then spins on her hoofs and hops in front of Applejack, wrapping her in a tight hug. “Later, Cousin Jack.”

“See ya, Pinks,” says Applejack, returning the hug.

Pinkie Pie then hugs Rainbow Dash. “Bye-bye, Dashie. Don't go spying on us, now.”

“Oh, I won't. I'll be too busy babysitting these two,” says Rainbow Dash, nodding to Flash -who is hugging Twilight- and Quibble -who is still reading, and she adds with a whisper: “But I'm gonna shake the jar to see if they'll fight.”

Pinkie Pie snickers. “You're terrible.”

Rainbow Dash grins. “I know.”

Now Pinkie Pie goes Rarity, hugging her as well. “Thanks for making that dress for Tempest.”

“You're welcome,” says Rarity with a smile. “But it cost me a fortune to make. Do you realize how expensive fire-proof fabric is?”

“Very?”

“Yes, but it was worth it. A lot of practice and a fabulous outcome with an unfamiliar fabric really lifted my spirits. I just hope Tempest sends me something nice. She is not exactly a civilized mare. The last thing I need is a filthy dream catcher or other barbaric trinkets.”

“I'm sure you will get something cool. She is way more observant than you think. She probably had you all figured out after a couple of days!”

Rarity's smile fades. “Oh... I hope that is figurative and not literal.”

“Literal. But you'll be fine. She's a good mare!” And with that, Pinkie Pie squeezes Fluttershy in a bone crushing hug that leaves the pegasus paralyzed and gasping for air. “And you have a fantastic time without me popping in your cabin all the time!”

“Y-You hardly pop in, though,” says Fluttershy, her voice strained and eyes inflated.

“That's what you think.”

Pinkie Pie releases Fluttershy, and while the pegasus coughs and flaps her wings in an attempt to straighten her feathers, Pinkie Pie hops to the conductor and gives him her ticket. She waves one last time to the group and bounces her way to the back, making sure the passengers see her and her bubbly aura. Though, when she passes the last occupied room her bouncing comes to a halt and she sulks inside the farthest room. There, she slips off her saddle and hops on her seat, fighting to keep her lunch down and the shakes away.

Pinkie Pie looks out the window and sees Twilight blitzing through the hugs and farewells, and when she gets to Spike she summons a scroll that unrolls in front of him. And it keeps unrolling...

And unrolling...

And unrolling...

And unrolling...

When it is finally done unrolling it is a bundle at Spike's feet. The little drake glares at Twilight, but she ignores that and gives him a quick hug and peck on the cheek, and does the same for Flash.

“Behave, you two! We'll be back as soon as we can!” says Twilight.

The group waves and shouts their farewells, and Pinkie Pie yanks open her window, pokes her head out and waves, as well, shouting: “BYE, EVERYPONY! REMEMBER ME!!!”

“Just hurry back. We don't want to be waiting forever for you!” says Rainbow Dash.

“Relax, I'll be back in a jiffy. In-out-boom-done! I'll see all of you very soon!”

“Last call! All aboard!” says the conductor.

Pinkie Pie seals the window, slumps in her seat again, and her practiced smile crumbles. Her hoofs shake and she hunches over, trying to suck air into cotton-stuffed lungs. When Twilight shows up a couple of minutes later, she stops in the doorway and watches Pinkie Pie curl forward, rocking herself back and forth, mouth hanging open just to breathe.

“Are you okay?” asks Twilight.

“I'm okay,” says Pinkie Pie.

The train whistles and trudges forward, and Twilight sits next to Pinkie Pie, using her magic to close the door.

“I know you're scared, but you have nothing to worry about. I'll be right there with you and I selected the best doctor available,” says Twilight.

“I know, but... but you won't be the one having your brain poked and prodded and warped,” says Pinkie Pie.

“Pinkie, nopony is going to warp your mind. We're just going to be there for a little while to figure out the cause of your condition and what exercises we can do to make you feel better. We won't be there for very long. I promise.”

Pinkie Pie nods, and Twilight smiles and rubs her shoulder.

“Get some rest. We're going to have a long night and busy days ahead,” says Twilight.

Pinkie Pie nods again, rests her head against the cushioned seat and closes her eyes. She does not want to rest, but knows she has to. The train is taking her to new days- long days. Days she does not want, but still they must come. It really is a cold, dark feeling that is clouding everything inside her and the the only light she sees to this is coming from the purple alicorn next to her.

“Hey, Twilight,” says Pinkie Pie, cracking her eyes open.

“Yes?” says Twilight.

“I'm glad you're my friend.”

Twilight smiles. “Me, too. Now get some rest. We're going to need it.”

With those words, Pinkie Pie quietly lays down and burrows herself into Twilight's barrel. A quick moment later, and a hoof drapes over her and Twilight rests her head on top of Pinkie Pie's, breathing softly into her ear. This brings a smile to Laughter's face, and bit by bit the cold fear dissolves until it is but a tiny seed, leaving a comfortable warmth to be with her.

It is all she needs for now.

And for now she can say: Let the new days come.

-Koniec-

Author's Note

I really hate writing endings. There is always something more to be said, something more to do. But this story had to end or else it would go on and on and on and on and on and probably turn into something that I usually write which is totally dark and edgy stuff with elementary philosophy.

Anyway, I don't know if I will do anything else with CherryPie beyond this story. Don't know what will stem from this. Maybe something. Maybe nothing.

However, story aside, it is important to remember that friends are important. Friends shape us and become an irreversible part of us, even when the paths take you on different roads. Through thick and thin friends exchange perceptions of the world, lessons and stories, and create memories that we carry for the rest of our lives. Friendship changes people. It gives people a family outside of a family, and creates a haven that not even their own blood can give.

Just remember, if you are going through life thinking you are alone, you aren't. Somewhere there are ears to hear you, eyes to see you and hands to lift you. You are not alone.

Be happy.

God bless.