Sunset woke on Cloud’s bed, the room was drained of colour. She called out “Cloud, where are you?!” There was no response, she pickled up her pistol and knife from her bedside table, she then walked down the stairs. There wasn’t a single light on in the downstairs room. She exited the house only to hear the sounds of moans, she turned around only to see countless zombified ponies shambling towards her.

She rushed forward tearing through the horde with fury, she stabbed her knife into one head before shooting another. She then threw a zombie into another three before casting a simple immolation spell incinerating them, soon all that was left was a pile of corpses.

Sunset them felt something slam into her back, she threw the creature off only to see Rainbow’s rotten face looking at her. The moaning grew as she see Rarity, Applejack, Fluttershy and Pinkie shambling towards her, tears began to form in her eyes “I’m sorry, girls.” She fired a shot at Rainbow before turning around firing four more shots.

She turned around as she heard the sound of hoofsteps only to see Cloud’s deformed face, Sunset cried as she lifted up her gun “Don’t make me do this, please!” Sunset closed her eyes as Cloud appropriated and the sound of a single gunshot filled the air.

Sunset screamed “WHY!”

She then jolted up to find Cloud looking at her worried “You were crying, please tell me what happened.” Sunset gave Cloud a hug as she sobbed on her withers, Cloud gave her a weak smile “It will be okay.”

After two hours of Sunset sobbing on Cloud’s withers she then explained everything, Cloud gave her a light hug “That will never happen, you won’t let I know you won’t.”

Sunset smiled “Thanks for listening Cloud.”

Cloud smiled “Speaking of which we have to head over to Applejack’s to help set up Pinkie’s birthday party.’

Sunset smiled “I believe we can all use a break from all of complications happening lately.” Cloud nodded both of them were not happy with the fact Sunset had just returned after handling diplomatic matters with the Buffalo for the last few days.

Cloud frowned as she ducked under a flaming bird, Sunset growled “Philomena, you are a guest here and you must behave!”

Spike grimaced “I’ve tried to tell her that but she refused to listen to me.”

Philomena squawked at Sunset, Sunset’s eyes narrowed “Don’t make me make your next rebirth happen early, because I will do it!”

Cloud blinked “What is going on?”

Spike shook his head “Nothing that concerns you, I’ll tell you two if Philomena does anything wrong don’t worry. You have a party to set up.”

Sunset smiled “Thanks Spike.” Cloud nodded with her own smile leaving the young drake to glare at the petulant phoenix that shared the house with him.

Cloud shook her head as they headed towards Sweet Apple Acres “That phoenix is quite a bit of trouble, when did you meet her?”

Sunset giggled “It was my first day as Celestia’s personal student, I was reading a book with Celestia when she attacked me. Celestia then gave a similar threat to the one I did.”

Cloud frowned “I was a bit shocked when Celestia decided to leave her with us.”

They were interrupted as Applejack called out “Over here!” They had been so busy discussing the phoenix that they had already arrived at the farm.

Cloud smiled as she saw Rarity putting streamers up insides the barn, Rainbow and Gilda were tying to balloons to the rafters while Fluttershy was carefully placing the party food on the table “It seems you have done a lot of work already, soon we’ll be able to bring the guest of honour.”

Sunset frowned “Now I’ve been gone for a few days, so I want to know has anyone here talking to Pinkie during all this.”

Rainbow and Gilda gave each other concerned looks, Rarity shook her head “Unfortunately no we haven’t.”

Sunset sighed “How long will it take you to be done?”

Cloud frowned “Ten minutes, tops why?”

Sunset grimaced “Pinkie is probably bawling her eyes out because her friends don’t want to spend time with her. I’ll talk to her as I haven’t been involved. That should give you enough time to finish while I go and give her some of my time.”

Sunset runs to Sugarcube Corner, she entered to see Mr and Mrs Cake frowning as the sound of sobs fills the air. Sunset sighed “Can I go and see Pinkie?’

Mr Cake grimaced “I don’t know why you girls haven’t been spending time with her but she has been quite upset.”

Sunset walked over and explained everything to the both of them quietly enough that no-one else could hear it. Mrs Cake sighed “I understand, still you should cheer up the guest of honour.”

Sunset nodded as she headed upstairs, she lightly placed her claws on the Pinkie’s wither “Pinkie.”

Pinkie looked up with tears in her eyes “Our friends don’t like me anymore, they have been avoiding me all of yesterday. Have I done something to upset them? Have I thrown too many parties?”

Sunset shook her head “They have been planning something special, I’ll show if you like. I promise you’ll enjoy it, just trust me. I promise you’ll be smiling at the end of the day.”

Pinkie forced herself to her hooves sniffling “Okay.” Sunset gave a smile to the Cakes as the pair left Sugarcube Corner.

Sunset slowly guided Pinkie to Sweet Apple Acres, as soon as they entered the barn everyone in the room jumped out with a smile “SURPRISE!”

Pinkie’s eyes widened before she saw the huge happy birthday banner with her name on it, she began bouncing up and down “Thank you everypony!” Everyone in the room rolled their eyes as they swept up in her hug before they began having fun playing various games.

Author's Note

I hope you enjoyed this chapter.