Intro:

Long ago, upon a tiny rock farm, a simple family lived well enough. Most of these simple ponies were content, never needing anything beyond what they had. Not everypony there was. Something had been calling to this young filly for many years, yet she never understood just what that was. She had heard stories from her grandmother about all the wonders beyond the humble farm, so it came as no surprise that she would one day see the world.

After a fateful event that awoke her true calling, Pinkamena was now dedicated to spreading happiness to ever corner of this wondrous land and beyond. No matter how grim things became, Pinkie Pie could always turn the situation around, she could always inspire a smile…

Track 09: Picture Perfect Lie

The town of Ponyville, no longer the happy place it had been for so long, it was now one of the locations deepest in the turmoils of chaos. When Sweet Apple Acres fell, the impact hit everypony in town hard, leaving none to doubt just how bad things had been getting.

Keeping to her traits, Pinkie Pie worked hard, harder than she had ever to spread her joy to the suffering ponies. She was joined by Spike, sending their goodwill and optimism far as they could between just the two of them. Though they had done great work, they gave all they had to care for Ponyville, and it was not even a success.

A number of ponies had fled the dangerous areas, some not just leaving towns, but the very land of Equestria. They would dare the harsh lands of the Dragons, Gryphons, or beyond. Those who stayed, took other measures. Some ended their own lives to escape the suffering, and others still had turned against their own and joined in the wickedness of the villains. These broken ponies killed and tormented, not even fearing the Lunar Armies that had been striking down such rouges.

This was far too much for a single mare and her dragon friend to combat, and the failure ate at them.

Pinkie Pie sat in the foal’s room in the Sugar Cube Corner, hoping to gain some kind of recharge and escape a bit of the loosing battle by spending time with the Cake Twins that she had become rather close too. The pair had fallen asleep in her arms, forcing her into a quiet status. It was rare for the mare to be so calm or silent, but her mind was abuzz while she was using the moment to contemplate her options.

“The world has gone nuts,” She thought, drifting between her mind and the room. “You two don’t even know it though. I wish I could pretend to be a foal, and not deal with all this reality” A single tear had slipped from her, joined by another and a few more as they became a steady stream. “I want to protect you two, and bring everypony out of this… but how can I? I’m only just me”

After Pound and Pumpkin had woken from their nap, Pinkie returned them to the care for their parents, who were grateful for the chance to focus on other things for the time. “You are so great with them” Mrs. Cake praised. “Plus you work so hard you do around the shop, and not to forget just how hard you have been going in Ponyville. We’re lucky to have you around”

The younger mare smiled at the compliment and appreciation, it was almost enough to forget all about her worries for a moment, then Mr. Cake added. “Just don’t burn yourself out, take some time for yourself too. You are only one pony, after all” Though meant to get her to relax, it only furthered Pinkie’s concerns.

“Yeah, only just me” She said, before given them her goodbyes. She wanted some of that alone time that Carrot suggested, yet she knew it would not be anytime soon. When Spike came up to her with some big news, she knew events were going to keep her busy even longer.

“Pinkie!” The little dragon shouted, as she found her leaving the Cake’s home and business. “Twilight has returned, and she is an Alicorn now!” He was understandably filled with excitement, but also confusing as well. It had never been known just where Alicorns came from, if it was a matter of being made into one or just born into it. Twilight was now the former case. When it was clear that Pinkie had her own questions, Spike added “She said something about a Tree of Harmony”

No longer burdened by the problems of the world, Pinkie was bounding at this news. “That is amazing! Does this mean she also has some great power that will allow her to combat the villains and-” She stopped in mid sentence, redirecting herself. “Does this mean she can fly?! Is she a princess now? What would she be a princess of?”

“I think she can fly, but I’m not sure about the princess thing. She wants us all to meet her back in Canterlot, to speak to Princess Celestia about this, and what we’re gonna do next”

Not wasting any time, Spike and Pinkie traveled together to Canterlot, leaving the others to come at their own time. Being the first there, the pair were all over the newly reformed mare with Pinkie leading the conversation. “You’re taller, oooh your horn, are your wings bigger than Rainbow Dash’s?.. maybe because of your new height, oh are the the same proportions as Princess Celestia, Luna, and Cadence? Can you make another an Alicorn, cause I fell like I was meant to have wings; like, originally designed too but something changed me to be an Earth pony. Weird huh?”

Twilight had to admit that, although she could barely keep up, it was nice to be with Pinkie like this again. Just as she was about to speak, answering some of the ramblings, Rarity trotted into the room. She was alone, leaving Twilight to wonder about the missing member. Addressing Rarity first, she said. “Glad to see you Rarity, did you hear from Rainbow?”

“Hello,” Rarity was first with a pleasant greeting, before bitterly responding. “Not directly, but I wouldn’t expect her” She was clearly annoyed, not even really taking in Twilight’s new form. “Some Doctor, I’ve never hear of, said she was unfit to move and to leave her alone”

“Doctor? Doctor who?” Twilight asked, not liking the sound of this development.

“I doubt it was Doctor Whooves. The Doctor is not really that kind of Doctor, you see” Pinkie explained, in a bit of her randomness.

Ignoring this, Rarity answered. “Dr. Atmosphere, or something. Must be from Cloudsdale, and rather rude, even for them”

Twilight was about to scold Rarity for such a comment, but Pinkie let out a gasp that called their attentions. “Dr. Atmosphere?!”

“I suppose you know him, you do usually know everypony?” Rarity asked, with a bit more of a mocking tone, than sincerity.

Pinkie did not respond right away, thinking about what she had heard. “Oh wait, I’m thinking of Dr. Mcintyre”

“Dear that makes no sense, even for you. They don’t even sound the same” Rarity replied, seeming even more annoyed by the mare, not receiving the same charm that Twilight had felt for it after so long.

Regaining control of the situation, Twilight brought the topic back to at hoof. “Doesn’t much matter, as much as the loss of Rainbow Dash is to the cause, we have already lost two others, and really one is all is needed to negate the use of the Elements of Harmony”

“Does it also ne-fence them too? Can’t have a gate without a fence” Pinkie asked.

“I suppose it does” Twilight allowed herself a brief smile, before going back to her serious tone. “I want to help our friends, but until we can control these bigger problems, until the very fate of Equestria is not upon our backs, we have to hope that they can manage while we focus our efforts and achieve a victory for all of us”

Without announcing herself, the three ponies and dragon became aware of Princess Celestia as she trotted into the room. “It is a hard choice,” She started, dwindling the distance between them. “Sometimes we have to choose the greater good” She was now before them, and turned toward Twilight. “You have made a choice like this before, a couple of times. Though not on this scale, it was just as hard of a decision for you. I cite such events as when you had given Spike the Crystal Heart, at the risk of your own future in going against the rules of the test. I too had to make such a choice, more like what you face now, when I chose Equestria over my sister those many years ago”

Not to waste more time on formalities or pleasantries, the royal mare moved right into the topic of their gathering. “My faithful student, dearest friend, you have achieved something I had only dared dreamed of for you. Very, very few Unicorn can reach your status, those who are especially gifted, dedicated and true. As a cutie mark is the physical appearance of our change to a more aware state, becoming an Alicorn marks that you have now reached the height of your awareness. You have also gained a royal status with this new form, along with being chosen as the Tree of Harmony’s champion. My sister and I had once enjoyed such a privilege, and now you have it”

Feeling humbled by such praise by one she revered for so long, Twilight slightly bowed her head to the princess. “I hardly feel worthy of such an honour or your compliments, but I will do my best to live up to your expectations…” The notable sound in her voice, hinted to what she was about to say next. “I only wish the price was not so high, or I might be able to enjoy this more…”

“The losses of Equestria will echo through the coming years, and the death of the Tree will be a blow to our future that too few will know to even mourn. We must honour all those who have suffered and fallen, by seizing the chance we have to change the course of fate…”

As Twilight and Princess Celestia talked, Pinkie was thinking to herself about her own role in all of this. “All this fighting and struggling, there needs to be something to bring the spirits up. More now than ever!” She processed what she could do, loosing any track of what the two mares spoke of now, focusing on what had been said. “Princess Celestia said that Twilight was gifted, dedicated and true. I think I’m pretty gifted, I give them all the time. Am I dedicated? What can I do to prove myself, to really make a difference? Twilight has given so much, and I know I can give as much as she has. I will find a way to match what she does in the battle against the wicked, by fighting against the sadness!”

Spending the better part of the day going over the details of what they could do, Princess Celestia and Twilight lead the discussion, with Rarity being rather aloof in her interaction, and Pinkie drifting in and out of reality and her own mind. Absently she processed what was being said, adding bits of her humor that broke up the tension at the right moments.

Into the evening, just as the two Alicorns were nearly done, a pair of Bat ponies had come to speak to the princess. It was clear by their armor that they were both part of the New Lunar Republic Army, both of a high rank. They had to wait until the two mares finished, leaving the Bats to linger and they looked uneasy to even be here. The Stallion trotted around the room, while the mare stood a little more collected.

Pinkie had never seen a Bat pony, and could not miss the opportunity to talk with one, choosing the mare who was called Mist Dancer. “How long have you been in Equestria?”

“All my life” She responded with a bit of confusion, and a little offended. “Hallow Shade has always been apart of Equestria, even if it was forgotten by the rest of it” This was one of the few times that Mist had been around a non-bat pony in a casual setting, and the strange question was only making her a bit more unsettled.

“Really?” Pinkie was a little distracted by her thoughts again, but spoke out loud. “Wow, a whole place to explore and meet new ponies to befriend” Her excitement was brief, as sadness claimed it.

Despite her unease, Mist Dancer could not ignore the shift in the others mood. “What’s wrong?” She asked, putting aside her own feelings.

With a sigh, Pinkie explained what had brought her down. In quick, Pinkie style, she gave a recap of the events since Nightmare Moon’s return. “-So lately I’ve been so busy in keeping everypony I can happy, it’s all I do. I miss meeting ponies, seeing new places, but I just have no time anymore. I’m glad to help, it is something I love, but I would need like a baker’s dozen of me to be able to do all the things I want to do again and help everypony!”

Mist Dancer, to her credited, was able to keep up with the ramblings of the earth pony. It did take a moment to process it all, as she looked blankly at her as she did. Seeing how distraught the mare was, she hesitantly moved to comfort the strange pony. “You’re not alone,” Mist began, putting a leathery wing on the mare. “A lot of us in the New Lunar Army wish we could do more, and we are doing a lot as it is. Just because you are only one pony, does not mean you can’t do all you can do. You can’t be expected to do any more than your best. Remember, every little bit helps”

Pinkie felt slightly better, but it was still not completely erasing her feeling of lacking. “Thanks, I guess you are right. I can only do so much, even if I wish I could do more”

Moonrazor trotted back toward his friend, seeing that Princess Celestia and Twilight had finished. “Time to do our duty, and help Princess Luna”

Nodding to him, she wanted to make sure to leave Pinkie with the best advice she could, and has learned from joining the ranks of the New Lunar Republic’s Army. “When we feel we have done all we can, but more is still needed, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Combining your resources, even if it is just one or two more can give you the power of many” These, of all things Mist had said, sank deep into Pinkie’s mind.

******

Returning to Ponyville, Pinkie Pie left the rest behind to their own courses. Twilight sought information in the sealed off areas of the Grand Library, while Rarity decided to enjoy some of the Canterlot Nightlife, and Spike had a friend in the city that he did not often get to see. With the words of the Bat Pony sparked a new thought in the earth mare, and the city offered nothing for her new quest.

She had arrived early in the morning, but that was only a stop toward her destination. Pinkie traveled into Everfree without hesitation, or preparation. The forest felt different to her, she did not know just why. She believed it to be due to the loss of the Tree of Harmony, and that it no longer gave what protection it could. Her concern for this was brief, for with or without the tree, she had something else as mysterious and forgotten within the legendary forest.

“Where is it, where is tha-” The lone mare whipped her head around, not paying attention to the terrain, she missed the sudden drop. She tumbled down the hill, and rolling toward a large hole in the ground where she stopped just short of it. Opening her eyes, she looked into the void and found the unknown. “Wow, I almost fell into this…” Taking in the surroundings, Pinkie noticed a couple landmarks she had been seeking. Taking a deep breath, she rolled into the opening.

The drop was great, but she landed on a ledge a part of the way down. She slid to an incline, that was steep enough for her weight to pull her down in a steady, safe speed; not sturdy enough to simply trot. The she felt that the deeper she went the darker it would get, for a brief moment it seemed so, then it started to get lighter deeper down. Near to the bottom, it was almost as bright as midday. All around the walls, ceiling, and ground were crystals that illuminated the hidden cavern. Deep below Everfree, a pool sat calm in its long solitude. Pinkie moved toward it, now on flat ground, she noted that it looked to be purer than any body of water she had ever seen. When she moved to see how deep it was, she saw that it was not clear, but a liquid mirror. She placed a hoof into it, and it gave no ripple or resistance to the intrusion. “Twilight would have a field day down here, or cavern day?” When she spoke the name, Twilight appeared in the pool, so clear and real that Pinkie looked around expecting to see her friend with her. When she looked back, doubting what she saw, the image was gone.

Pinkie stepped back and took a seat at the edge, she was now trying to recover memories of her grandmother’s, involving the pool. “Let’s see… ‘where the brambles are thickest,’” she recalled. “A pond beyond the twisted vines” then she said
‘And into her own reflection she stared,
Yearning for one whose reflection she shared,
And solemnly sweared not to be scared
At the prospect of being doubly mared’”
As she recited these words, she stepped into the pool water. To her, the world seemed to completely turn over, and yet when she passed through she was still standing in place like she had never moved. When the disorientation passed, she was staring at herself, but not in the pool. “Holy Cockpit!” The original Pinkie exclaimed.

“Who’s that?” The second asked, with the same level of excitement.

“A Wonderbolt, but anywho, I have a copy!.. Hearths Warming is gonna be interesting this year”

The second Pinkie started to bounce in place. “Yeah! What is that?!”

Pinkie classic scratched her chin. “Hmm… you’re kinda… not smart… no offense”

“Who’s that?!”

“Oh mare” Pinkie wondered about what went wrong. “Maybe it was my state of mind going in? Well, I’ll try a few more times, I’ll need a bit of help anyhow” She then went in a few more times, repeating the rhyme each time, but trying to think or feel differently each time. Each copy resulted differently, coming out in a verity of ways, they all did have extreme personalities.

After finishing her experiment, she took stock of the group to an alarming find. “Wait… I didn’t go in that many times” She counted them, and the numbers were much more than they should have been.

“Cus we joined you a couple of times” One copy responded, sounding a little shady in her tone.

“Then a couple more times on our own!” A particularly excited one stated.

Taking in the group, Pinkie saw reflections of herself in many personalities and traits, with multiples of each. “Maybe I shouldn’t have let them watch… I guess when dealing with magic, I should expect a Surprise” She looked a white Pegasus mare in the group, with a blond mane and tail, and violet eyes. Her cutie mark was like the rest, only the same colour as her eyes. “My OC”

Refocusing herself, she gather herselves to go on with her plans. She was first concerned by the numbers, but also felt that the more the merrier. “Ok Pinkies, and Surprise” The white Pegasus shouted out at her name being called. “Equestria is in dire need of help, we mares are its best hope to turn the frowns upside down!” She was trying to pull some inspiration from Princess Celestia’s speech to Twilight. “Now I can’t teach you all the names of our friends across the land, and unfortunately while you all have my personalities, you lack my memories. I have prepared some flash cards, some key ponies that who you will likely talk to you when you see them”

“How’d you do that?” One asked. “You’ve never left the cave, and its been like a half hour” This caused some muttering in the ranks.

“Well, as a Pinkie Pie you will learn that we are able to do things beyond explanation” The original explained, then she paused as she watch one of her leaving. “Um, sorry, but the seminar is not over yet. You’ll need to know these ponies and pointers if you are going to go Pinkie”

Stopping, the dull coloured, and limp maned mare turned to look back at the bright group. “I won’t need to know ant of this useless information, because I don’t care” Her voice matched the rest of her, depressed and cold. Without anything further, she just left.

Making a pouting face, Pinkie original wondered. “Will that have some unexpected consequences? Na, when I get like that, I don’t do much of anything but sulk. I’ll fix it later” Turning her attention back to the group, she went over the notes and cards, giving them the information she felt they needed to deal with the ponies out there. When they seemed ready to take on the task, she made different groups of them and pointed them to different parts of Equestria. Each group had a focus, on who and what to expect in the places they would go.

******

Nearly a week had passed since the secret mission of Pinkie Pie, but it did not seem her effort was doing much to help Ponyville. Although the Pinkies were set to their tasks, and no pony had caught on, the copies were not very much like her. Lacking her memories or seeming to grasp what they had been taught, they were simply too one dimensional to actually do any good. Things began to unravel as ponies started to notice the strangeness in the copies, even for Pinkie. One pony had come across a copy, and then shortly after another, with the time and location of the two making it impossible for Pinkie to have been both places. The worst of these encounters would start to get back to the original, who had been spending more of her time with the Cake Twins.

Mr. And Mrs. Cake came home in great annoyance and called to Pinkie, who was coming down the stares with some trash. “Oh, you’re home early. I just laid the twins down, but haven’t changed-”

“Pinkie,” Mr. Cake cut her off. “Why were you out of the house when you were suppose to be watching our babies?”

“Out? I’ve been here the whole time” She protested.

“We saw you, leaving the hay burger stand” Mrs. Cake countered. “Without our children! If you wanted to go out, that is fine, but do not leave out babies alone!”

Pinkie looked between them with honest confusion. “But, I didn’t. If Pumpkin and Pound could talk, they would agree”

Not taking her at her word, they shook their heads in disappointment. Although the years together had proven Pinkie to be trustworthy, one could not deny what their own eyes had see without a doubt. “Now you are lying to us?” Mr. Cake asked bitterly. “No pony in Ponyville, or even most of Equestria is like you. That aside, we’ve known you for long enough that we wouldn’t mistake just any pony for you. Pink coat, pink cotton candy-like mane, you are the only mare like that, and we saw you clear as day”

“Tell us, did you leave them alone, or did you at least have somepony here?” Mrs. Cake asked, hoping to save the situation.

Pinkie realized the situation, and her eyes grew wet. She could not explain what she had done, and if she was to be honest, to them it would always be a lie. A story about a magick mirror pool, it would likely be seen as some cover up, leaving her stuck in her own mess. “I swear I was here the whole time, I would never leave them alone, or abandon my duty!” She took a deep breath and taking a chance, daring to tell the full truth. As she explained the pool and its magic, the worst fear came and they only saw it as more lies.

Angrier now, Mr. Cake snapped. “If you can’t be honest and admit that you made a mistake, then… you can leave” He had a hard time saying this, but his family came first. He pointed at the door, emphasizing his seriousness.

“But…” Pinkie had a choice in actually lying to get out of loosing what she had, or keep to telling the truth and being called a liar for it. Applejack was known for her honesty, but Pinkie was just as truthful, and it would cost her by loosing the only home she had known since leaving her farm. She lost the friends she had made here, and the two foals she had come to care for as much as any pony she had ever called a friend.

The loss of her home and dearest friends in Ponyville was only the start of her troubles in the town, and the more and more she was seeing what her experiment was doing to her. As she wondered the town, she was noticing more ponies turning from her or giving dirty looks. Some blamed her for various situations where a pink mare just like her was seen: the ruining of Rose Luck’s garden, flooding at the Spa, a fire at the Smith’s, even a rogue tornado; it was clear the copies were out of control.

Gathering every Pinkie she could find, the original hope to regain the control she believed she had, until she noticed that the numbers had grown. Many of the Pinkies were utterly wild, and it was looking like the copies had made copied; and also seemed the same degradation of character after the first copies also multiplied with each time. With Twilight gone, occupied in Canterlot and not likely to return soon, Pinkie utilized the Gold Oak’s Library as a place to keep the copies locked up. The copies would likely wreck the room they were in, and though it would cause Twilight to be angry with her, she had little choice. What was one more pony mad at her?

Spike was still around town, being the liaison to Twilight as she served a larger plan. With Rarity gone, the dragon was less then enthusiastic with being in the small town.

Upon finding Spike, Pinkie Pie quickly explained everything going on. At first he believed it to be just another of her random fantasies, but he could sense her seriousness was not a delusion or trick as she went on. Calming her down, Spike agreed to send word to Princess Twilight; She was just as sceptical of the tale. Spike sent another letter that reinforced the urgency of the situation, verifying it after seeing the copies. Twilight was stuck in Canterlot however, and not able to come as immediately as she would have liked. Instead of coming herself, she told Spike to inform the citizens of Ponyville of the situation and that Pirncess Twilight Sparkle would come as soon as she could find a solution. They would need to be cautious of the copies still loose, and avoid them if at all possible.

With aid from the Mayor, a meeting was held and word was spread to every part of Ponyville. These effort would be too late for Pinkie and Spike to undo the damage upon the former’s reputation, the copies were still growing in numbers and risk. They broke out of the room, and soon the library completely. They discovered that they could use any reflective surface to multiply, cloning themselves all over town and spreading like locus. They were swarming and destroying anywhere they went, lying waste to much of Ponyville by the time Spike was able to send another message to Twilight. This new message forced the new Princess to come to the embattled town,and luckily she had spent time researching the situation and the Mirror Pool. Twilight had discovered the trick to the pool, and knew a way to deal with the copies.

Princess Twilight was able to strike out each copy in the town, after using tracking spells to hunt them down.. Soon it was back to just the original Pinkie, who informed them that there were likely even more problems throughout Equestria, or soon would be. The princess gathered a special force of royal guards to track down the copies and use the spell to rid all of Equestria of their plague.

Although the ponies of Ponyville forgave Pinkie, as well as apologize for lashing out at her, Pinkie could tell that there was a lingering sense of resentment for unleashing the chaos upon them. Life could not be the same for her, even after how much Mr. and Mrs. Cake professed their shame in doubting her. They expressed to her how they loved her, but Pinkie felt too broken by what she had done and wrought upon all she cared for to ever be able to go back.

When all the copies were believed to be gone, Pinkie met with Spike.

“You can’t go!” the dragon protested, once the mare spoke of her plan. “You and Twilight are the last of the Elements of Harmony ponies, Equestria needs you!”

“Equestria doesn’t need a pony who can be so careless that she unleashes too many Pinkies upon” She was looking more like the Pinkie who had left the cave, with lifeless mane and tail, and colour seeming to be darker. “No pony can look at me without fear or resentment, and I can’t undo the damage I have done. I’ll never make that mistake again, and I’ll never be the pony I was” She put down a box, and pushed it toward Spike. “Princess Twilight has all the power of the Tree of Harmony, but maybe she will one day need this, and if not, give it to the Cake twins. That are too young to remember my mistake, maybe this will let them recall their aunt as she was, not she she became…”

As she turned to leave, Spike grabbed her leg. “Please, don’t go” He was tearing up as he spoke, voice breaking. “We’ve lost so many already, we can’t loose you too. I’ve lost almost all my friends…”

She broke his hold and trotted on, just stopping briefly to say. “We all lost Pinkie Pie, the moment she made that first copy” She took a deep breath. “You will make better friends, some day”

Outro:

Use your smile to change the world,
Don’t let the world change your smile.
-Chinese Proverb

Author's Note

Normally I do something silly here, but getting real about this particular chapter. I don't remember writing any of this, so I struggled with typing and cleaning this up. Also been doing another project, so that is why this took so long to post.

Hopefully it was enjoyable to read, was a pain to work on.