Pie in the Sky

Pinkie Pie and Cloudy Sky were riding his motorbike up the mountain to the restaurant near the peak for their first date. It was more than Pinkie could stand and she gave a "Whoopie!" of delight as they hurtled up the rocky path and nearly broke their necks.

Eventually they arrived and dismounted the motorbike, taking off their helmets and letting the wind whip back their hair. They walked into the cosy restaurant, more like a shabby pub than anything, and ordered a most Pinkie Pie romantic dinner - it was all-day breakfast day and there were bacon and syrup pancakes for dessert. They shared some small talk and they kissed when they finished their meal. Yet they didn't realise the danger of one kiss.

Trixie took the photo at just the right moment. It was uploaded to Grapevine, a new social media platform, within seconds, with the caption Pinkie's Fall from Grace and the Darkening Sky! Who will realise first that they were made to fall apart?! Trixie was half ashamed at Pinkie's choice of boyfriend, but to her, Pinkie was weird. It was exactly the kind of choice she would make.

***

The next Monday, people were laughing at Pinkie and Cloudy. Hard. They received a sneaky kick in the ankles from a few giggling girls, and they laughed harder when Pinkie fell over. Pinkie realised immediately that whatever joke was going around was on her and Cloudy.
"Brilliant photoshopping, Trixie!" called Rainbow merrily. "Oh hi," she said when she saw Pinkie. "I shouldn't have kept this from you, but Trixie's found an old photo and edited it. It's hilarious! Oh the idea... I would kill you if it was true... You should look!"
Rainbow Dash showed Pinkie her phone. It was the new social media platform, Grapevine, designed for gossip and jokes. The picture was from Pinkie and Cloudy's date at the weekend, with the most horrifying caption:
Pinkie's Fall from Grace and the Darkening Sky! Who will realise first that they were made to fall apart?!
"Ha ha ha," Pinkie said unhappily with an ounce of sarcasm. "It's so funny I could die laughing any moment now." She gave Rainbow the evil eye and stormed off. Rainbow looked on, confused, unaware of her friend's feelings.

As you can guess, Pinkie Pie wasn't in the music room at lunch. She was outside in the rain, sat this time with Cloudy and telling him about Rainbow Dash teasing her. He was kind and thoughtful, comforting her.
"Sorry, Buttercream, being picked on is an occupational hazard when you're around me."
She batted her eyelids and her eyes misted over. For him. Not for anyone else. They would get the stony stare. Just for him.

"Where's Pinkie Pie?" asked Fluttershy.
"Oh, she's probably sulking because of the rumours," Rarity dismissed Fluttershy's concerns with the airiness of a queen dismissing a servant.
"What rumours?" questioned Sunset Shimmer.
"Oh darling," said Rarity, "of course, you don't have Grapevine yet, do you? It's just a little photoshopping, switching pictures around, like you did before the Fall Formal to Twilight." There was an element of disappointment when she paused. "Like that, but with more positive intentions."
"So show me."
Rainbow held up her phone for the second time. She said, "I don't get it! I showed her, and told her that Trixie photoshopped something for a laugh, and she stormed off! I thought she was the Element of Laughter or something, and she can't take a joke!"
"This is many things," snapped Sunset with the attitude she had before the Fall Formal, "but it is not a joke. This is mean. Tell Trixie to take it off the website."
"Listen, she's mollycoddling Pinkie! And Cloudy Sky! Ooh, Pinkie and Cloudy!" Rarity laughed.
Applejack and Twilight came in.
"We just found Pinkie and Cloudy sobbing outside. I just witnessed something awful out there!"
"You mean them kissing?!" sniggered Rainbow Dash. It was all a laugh to her.
"That Grapevine comment is so disgusting, so foul, so, so, so horrible that I will knock the next person to mention it into Equestria!"
Applejack was such a terrible liar.
"Applejack, it's not funny!" Twilight cried out. "They're a perfect couple, it's just because it's Cloudy..."
"IT'S TRUE!!!" yelled Rainbow.
"Let. Me. Talk." said Sunset, emphasising every syllable.
Silence.
"Yes they are together. But they're being bullied. And Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow, I expected more from you. Applejack, be honest with yourself. This is not what friends do. Rarity, be generous and give Pinkie Pie and Cloudy the time and peace they want and need together. Rainbow Dash, be loyal to them and stop those comments. Please, all of you?"
"Sorry," the three of them muttered.

***

Days passed, and Pinkie and Cloudy received more bullying and she didn't speak to her friends. They didn't talk to anyone from CHS, for that matter. They could not focus in class due to the comments and looks sent their way, and soon stopped going to school altogether, sending fake phone calls saying they were sick and spending time up the mountain. One day, while they were on mountain bikes (not the motorbike), Pinkie asked him, "How come you aren't affected? You don't have to tell people to fall off a cliff! You don't break down in tears!"
"It hurts, being picked out and picked on. There are two things that help. One is the fact that it's been going on for so long. The other is the fact that I have autism, remember? My brain is wired differently. To me they are weird. They have to fit into a status quo to be accepted as a human being, and don't accept anyone who doesn't fit in, anyone who's different. Having to fill an ultimatum to be accepted into society makes no sense to me."
"Uh huh." Normal(ish) Pinkie Pie returned when they were alone. The usual, bouncy Pinkie was happier when they were in the woods together.

Meanwhile, the rest of the Main Seven were in geography class when Principal Celestia walked in and asked to talk to them. They left the class, slightly worried.
"I understand that you are Pinkie Pie's closest friends and that you spend a great deal of time together. Am I correct?" Celestia asked.
"Yes," said Sunset, "but-"
"She's been skipping school recently. So has Cloudy Sky. I know that she rents a flat somewhere in town, although I don't know what area, and that he lives with his parents. I do not know where they are going. I rang up Mrs Sky this morning to ask where Cloudy was and she said that he had left for school. I am beginning to become concerned you know why they are not coming to school?"
"Well, I think that the words should come from Flash Sentry, Bolt and Volt Thunder, and Trixie," said Rainbow Dash, embarrassed. "The best way of explaining is admitting that some of us haven't been that nice to them. I thought Pinkie would laugh it off, I didn't realise that she was upset. We tried calling her and everything!"
Celestia thought for a moment. "It sounds like you are telling me that two of Canterlot High School's students are being bullied. I am assuming that you wish for this to stop. I cannot stop it, however, until I speak to Cloudy Sky and Pinkie Pie in person." She turned to Sunset. "You ride a motorbike, am I correct?"
Sunset was surprised. "Please don't report it, Principal, I'm actually eighteen..."
"It's ok, Sunset. I just have a task for you. Cloudy also has a licensed motorbike. I am hoping that you can get in touch with them."
A smile crept across Sunset's face. "Done," she said.