Internal Conflict

"And that was the creature you freed. It could have escaped on its own, but they like to test the ponies they think need help the most, to see if they are worth."

Pinkie was laying on the couch in the library while Twilight sat in a chair and read from a book, explaining what had happened. After a small silence, Twilight spoke again. "Pinkie, I know it's been a week, but I'm really sorry that I hurt your feelings that morning."

"It's okay, Twily." Pinkie replied.

Twilight looked at the pink mare. She was just laying on the couch, not bouncing or jumping around or anything like that. "Are you okay? You know I want you to tell me whenever you feel like Pinkamena again."

Pinkie bit her lip as she sat up. "I know, but I feel like that all the time. Well, I used to. But those thoughts still come up everyday." Twilight crossed the room and sat next to Pinkie. "I know you girls are my best friends, but what happens if you mean more to me than I do to you?" Pinkie looked down.

Twilight put her hoof under Pinkie's chin and made the pink pony face her. "That will never happen." A smile graced Twilights lips as the party pony broke out into one of her signature grins and squeezed Twilight into a hug so tight she couldn't breathe.

"There was one thing that bothered me that Pinkamena said that I don't think the others picked up on." Pinkie's smile faded, but she didn't say anything. "Pinkie, please don't ever hurt yourself."

Pinkie blinked. "I couldn't," she said  simply. They sat in silence for a while. For Twilight, it was a new experience. Pinkie not constantly grinning or moving around or rambling about something. She was worried about her friend, but she thought that maybe, just maybe, this was how Pinkie really was. "My face doesn't hurt anymore when I go to bed at night. I used to think if I didn't smile all the time, no pony would like me."

"You do still smile all the time," Twilight told her. "You're smiling now."

"Yeah, but it's not the kind that makes my cheeks hurt after a couple hours." Pinkie leaned against Twilight. "I really just want to thank you, Twily. I don't know exactly what Pinkamena said, but when you were holding me and singing…why did you sing that song?"

Twilight looked Pinkie right in the eye. "Because I wanted you to remember that even though sometimes what other people think can be scary, it shouldn't be. Especially between friends as close as us. And that was the first time I really admired you for being you."

They sat on the couch a few minutes more before the library door opened and Spike walked in laughing. "Have fun?" Twilight asked.

"Yeah! Scootaloo decided we should go cliff diving—"

"What?" Twilight was on her feet in an instant.

"We didn't, don't worry. Instead we played truth or dare in the clubhouse." Spike smiled.

Twilight sat back down as Spike walked up the stairs to his bedroom. "You know, Pinkie, I think tomorrow would be a great day for just me and you to hang out."

The party pony's signature grin was back. "Really Twily? Oh this is going to be so much fun." She started hopping around, telling Twilight exactly what they would be doing. Twilight just chuckled and smiled.

She couldn't wait to spend the day with her best friend.