Tuesday is a special day.
Tuesday is when Pinkie Pie loves to cheer other ponies up.
Just like she does every day.
But especially Tuesday.
On this Tuesday, Pinkie Pie visits the Ponyville Hospital. The hospital is bright and sunny.
Like a flower, Pinkie thought.
Nurse Redheart knows her immediately. She’s a regular.
She ushers her through the doors. Pinkie knows the way well.
WARD C.
It was written in red capital letters.
Only one pony in a room by herself, looking out the window. She was pale and hardly had any hair left in her mane.
How ya doing there?
Are you a doctor?
She laughs.
No, silly. I’ve come to see how you were doing.
Not so good.
I’m sorry to hear that. Would you like me to stay?
Please? I haven’t had a visitor in days.
Where are your family?
The pony doesn’t answer.
I’m sorry.
I like your mane.
Oh?
It’s like cotton candy.
They both laugh.
My name is Pinkie Pie.
Honey Bubbles.
The two of them chatted until the sun was setting and visiting hours were done. Pinkie promised she would be back.
On this Tuesday, Mrs. Cake is looking after the children. She only got five hours of sleep.
She sees Pinkie Pie put some of the day-old pastries in her bag.
On this Tuesday, Doctor Stable is looking over his patient reports. His eyes are red – there are bags under them.
Nurse Redheart knocks on his door. It’s already open.
It’s been filed.
The doctor nods, running his hoof through his frazzled mane.
What of patient 12?
His thin lips twist in a frown.
I don’t like the report.
We tried another round.
Unaffected. I don’t like it. Nopony makes it a third round. Nopony.
The nurse remains silent.
Ward T?
He doesn’t look up, but gestures with his hoof, nodding, as Nurse Redheart leaves.
Never a third, he mumbles.
On this Tuesday, Rarity waits in the hospital lobby reading a fashion magazine. She has on her sunglasses indoors. They’re large, with thick rims and studs.
Sweetie Belle is next to her. She got to miss a day of school today – slight fever.
They’re waiting for their number to be called.
The door opens.
Rarity looks and sees Pinkie Pie walk out.
She isn’t smiling.
Sweetie Belle greets her.
She goes unanswered.
On this Tuesday, Spike is rearranging books in Twilight’s library. All of them have to be sorted alphabetically, by subject, and in order of importance.
Twilight prefers romance novels.
Then there’s a loud bang – the doors slammed open.
Visitors at this hour?
Spike doesn’t think much of it until he hears the voices. They echo off the stone wall, like phantoms.
Moments pass, the voices die, and Twilight enters the room.
Spellbooks, Spike. Anything - everything we’ve got.
What is going on?
Her cheeks are red – burning.
It’s going to be a long night.
Can you tell me what this is about?
Don’t argue with me now Spike. Medical texts. Remedies. Anything you can find.
The dragon doesn’t protest. He knew it wouldn’t do any good, not when she was like this.
He grumbles, as he starts to pick through the books again.
And I just organized these…
On this Tuesday, Pinkie Pie goes to visit Honey Bubbles. She’s carrying a balloon and a box of chocolates on her saddle bag.
Are you eating? You look so thin.
I’m not hungry most of the time.
You need to eat. You have to keep your strength. Here, I brought you some of those hay cakes you like so well.
Pinkie, I don’t think…
Of course you do! Don’t you dare say you’re not getting better either! If there’s something I can’t stand it’s that kind of talk!
Pinkie feels her heart fall.
I’m sorry I…I don’t know where that came from. Please don’t cry. Please don’t…
She didn’t mind wiping her eyes for her.
On this Tuesday, Mr. Cake is getting ready for work. It’s early, the sun hasn’t come out yet.
He ties his apron around his waist and makes his way upstairs. He’s forgotten his hat.
As he passes Pinkie’s room, he sees her sitting in front of her dresser, praying.
On this Tuesday, Ward T is silent. Two orderlies are cleaning up the rooms. Beside one the bed they find a container with haycakes and some chocolates.
They throw them in the trash.
In a chair down the hall, Pinkie Pie sits alone. Nopony notices her, except Nurse Redheart. She approaches her and puts a hoof on her shoulder and hands her a letter written on faded paper.
You should have this.
She doesn’t know what else to say.
Pinkie Pie nods and takes the letter, but doesn’t dare look at it.
Tears always make the ink run.
On this Tuesday, Pinkie Pie sits alone at a crossroads on the outskirts of town. There are flowers around her in the field nearby – lilacs and forget-me-nots.
She closes her eyes and listens to the mockingbirds singing in the trees, smells the earth beneath her, feels the cool wind run through her hair.
The lightning bugs dance above her.
In the darkness, she sees a figure approach, a glowing light leading them.
Twilight sits next to Pinkie in the tall grass.
It’s beautiful out tonight.
You didn’t have to come.
It’s what she would have wanted.
It’s all my fault.
Don’t say that.
But it’s true.
You couldn’t have stopped it Pinkie. Nopony could have… I couldn’t. But you were there when nopony else was. When she needed a friend most, you were there for her. And we are here for you, Pinkie. Your friends.
The pony looked up as the stars began to appear in the sky, one by one; lights piercing through the darkness.
I don’t know if I can make it.
I know you can. And we’ll do it together.
The two of them sat there together, hoof in hoof, and stared up into the unending array of heaven, as the light faded away, and gradually disappears forever.
