Darkest Equestria

It was a strange place indeed, the world of dreams. And it was stranger still when a pony was aware of it. Usually, Pinkie's dreams were full of flame and death, the burning town of Ponyville, or being in the patient cells of a hospital. This time however, Pinkie found herself not in those dreaded places, but somewhere much more beautiful.

She was sitting on a hill in Ponyville. The grass was green and vibrant, the trees were full of life. The skies were blue and crystal clear. Pegasi flew above the town, kicking clouds and managing the fine weather. The town itself was in immaculate condition. There were no decrepit buildings, no sign of burn and scar, it was exactly how it had been in the distant past.

Ponies walked the streets of the town, smiling and laughing. Pinkie trotted down the hill, walking through the crowds. A smile pulled across her face as she wove through the crowd. Somehow, somewhere, this world was real somewhere.

However, as she walked, she couldn't help but feel out of place. Like she didn't belong here. It all felt so real, like it wasn't really a dream. Ponies didn't acknowledge her as she walked by. She was a ghost in this beautiful world, a phantom. Despite the town looking immaculate, her scarred body was the same as it always was. The wounds remained from her war on the Everfree. This land was peaceful, and she was not.

"You don't belong here." A calm yet powerful voice spoke to her. "This is not your world. Go back to whence you came."

Pinkie turned and saw a pony that amazed her. It was a massive mare, her coat dark and soothing. Silver shoes covered her hooves, and her flowing ethereal mane looked as if the night sky had been trapped within it. Captured stars were imprisoned in the hair, each strand a separate galaxy. On her flank was a crescent moon. She had massive wings, and on her head was a massive horn. It was an alicorn.

"Who are you?" Pinkie asked with a chipper tone. "Black snooty?"

The alicorn smiled at that. "It seems that you are the same in all worlds, are you not? At least that is a solace."

"All worlds?" Pinkie asked.

"The world of dreams is my domain. Sometimes the barriers between different worlds grow thin, and a few ponies can pass over in dreams. You are one such pony. Fitting, considering you are Pinkie Pie." The alicorn said with a light smile. "An anomaly, without a doubt. Is your world in peril?"

"I guess so." Pinkie looked around. "In my world, magic is all but a distant memory. Things... things aren't right. Nothing is right, it's all damaged."

"I'm sorry to hear that." The alicorn said. "I can sense your mind is damaged by nightmares. Am I gone in that world as well?

"Who are you?" Pinkie asked.

"A guardian of dreams. I will say nothing more." The alicorn said. "Just know that our meeting is only possible due to the state of your world. Fractured, broken it must be."

"So, what now? Are you here to kick me out?" Pinkie glanced around. It was so beautiful, so peaceful. And then... she saw herself.

Walking down the streets was her. She pranced, pink and lively as ever. There were no scars on her body, no worry lines, nothing but joy. And as she pranced, the ponies around her greeted her with joy and she greeted them back.

"Is that me?" Pinkie asked.

"That is our world's version of you. You cannot interact with her; you can interact with no pony. You don't belong here." The alicorn said. "And soon, you must go."

"Kicked out. Rough." Pinkie huffed. "I guess no pony can stay where they are not welcomed."

The alicorn frowned at that. "It is not that I don't welcome you. This is simply not your world. I am sorry."

Pinkie watched the world for a moment. Its serene beauty, untouched by the darkness that plagued her own world. How strange it was, to look at what could have been. To look at another version of herself with everything she ever wanted.

"You are being tormented." The alicorn said. "Something with control over dreams in your world has brought you here."

"Why?"

"I don't know." The alicorn said. "I have never felt such darkness before. It lingers around you like a cloud. I... cannot imagine what a world full of such darkness is like. I am sorry you cannot stay here, and I wish you the best of luck in whatever you face."

The world around her flickered, like a distant memory. It was fading out.

"Am I happy here?" Pinkie asked, the question coming to her lips before she even realized. This world, this thing that could have been, it was so beautiful.

The alicorn gave her a warm smile. She glanced, and Pinkie followed her gaze.

This world's Pinkie was surrounded by friends. Old and new. Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Twilight. The faces of Fluttershy and Rarity met her eyes, and it nearly brought Pinkie to tears. She had not seen those two in forever. They were all there, and Pinkie was in the middle of them, laughing and joking. They were all laughing, smiling, basking in the joy that was life. There was no hardship in this dream. There was no room for spite or blood.

"More than you could ever imagine."

And with that, Pinkie woke up.

Pinkie's eyes snapped open, and pain engulfed her once more. Everything hurt, the slicing wounds that shrapnel had wrought on her body were brought to mind in an instant. She gritted her teeth, tears nearly coming to her eyes. Without adrenaline pumping through her body, the pain was now much more noticeable.

She was lying on a hospital bed. Bandages were wrapped around her wounds, and many were stitched shut. She felt weak as she struggled to open her eyes against a desire to sleep. Forcing herself to stay awake, Pinkie looked over to the other hospital bed.

Trixie was laying there, looking like a mummy with the number of bandages she had around her. Though her eyes were closed, she still drew breath. It was a steady in and out motion, the breathing of a sleeping pony. She shifted uncomfortably but remained asleep.

Pinkie sighed in relief at the sight. Trixie had survived the night, and that was all that Pinkie had wished for. How Nurse Redheart had saved her was unknown to her. It just seemed impossible. And yet, Nurse Redheart had healed worse with her blessed hooves. Some wounds cut deeper than just flesh. It never was a problem for Redheart.

She shifted on the bed, trying to get comfortable from the wounds on her body. It was mildly effective, and eventually, she just sighed in frustration and laid back down.

Her mind wandered to that dream she just had. That couldn't have been real, could it? Maybe it was her mind playing tricks on her again. It just felt so real, that dream world. In that world she had everything she ever wanted, and it felt so far away in this place.

She nearly couldn't stop her eyes from watering at the thought of that other world. That place existed somewhere, and she was not welcome.

The window next to her showed her the world she lived in. Through the glass she saw gloomy skies, and a sun stuck overhead. Moving it would take the magic of at least four unicorns. After they moved it, their magic would be gone forever, the strain was too much for normal unicorns. That was the world she lived in, a world of dark, where even the faintest hint of sunlight cost a terrible price.

Pinkie put her head in her hooves and longed for that other world. Where had it all gone wrong? Could things even go back to how they were before? Pinkie was starting to believe that it could never happen. They would forever be doomed to this dark world. For every inch they gained against it, the darkness extracted its terrible toll. A toll paid in blood and life. Perhaps it wasn't even worth fighting against anymore.

And yet, that different world remained vibrant in her mind. It was possible to have it. If only this darkness could be cleansed. She couldn't give up on it. Not yet.

"Pinkie?" A raspy voice, Trixie's, came from the bed beside her.

At least she had saved some pony from the clutching shadows. They could still win yet, as long as they kept fighting.

"Trixie!" Pinkie gave her a worried smile. "Are you alright? Do you need anything?"

"Trixie feels terrible and is parched." Trixie rasped as she slowly looked around her. "Where is her prized skull?"

Pinkie glanced around and saw that the skull was sitting just where she left it, on a counter next to her. "I have it right here."

"You kept it safe?" Trixie asked.

"I did. Had to make sure you had something to smile about when you woke up." Pinkie said.

Trixie puffed up at that, her face scrunching up in pain as she did so. She looked down at her body, and her eyes widened. "What happened to Trixie? Her body is a mess! How is Trixie supposed to perform magic shows with a tattered coat?"

"It was the cannon." Pinkie said. "There.... there was so much blood..."

Trixie started breathing heavily, her eyes scanning over her body. She tried to move, but restraints kept her in place. She thrashed, eyes dilating and flicking from her body to Pinkie. "What happened to the great and powerful Trixie? She is- She-"

Pinkie stood up from her bed and came to Trixie's side. She set a hoof on her side and gave her a sad smile. "You're going to be okay."

Trixie looked up at her, eyes darting about. She locked eyes with Pinkie. Her breathing stilled as she stared, and slowly, her struggling stopped. "What happened?"

"The cannon almost hit you. Luckily, I managed to get you out of the way in time." Pinkie said.

"You saved Trixie. She will not forget this." Trixie relaxed a little. "Even if... Trixie is not entirely whole. Her beautiful coat... ruined."

Her eyes started to water, and tears pooled at the bottom of her eyes. A sob wracked the air as Trixie looked at her battered body.

Pinkie hugged her gently. She didn't know what to say. So, she let her presence speak. Tears filled her eyes, but she didn't let her sadness be known. She just wanted Trixie to know that she was there for her. "It's going to be okay."

They stayed like that for a moment. When Pinkie finally pulled away it felt like an hour had passed.

"Trixie remains." She said dully. Her voice empty.

"She does." Pinkie reaffirmed. "Do you need anything?"

"A glass of water." Trixie said. "And... if you would remain here. That would be welcome. Trixie does not wish to be alone."

"I think I can do that." Pinkie said. "I'll be right back."

She left quietly, glancing back to make sure Trixie was okay. The mare already seemed like she hadn't cried. She looked weak, but her eyes were hard. A moment of weakness, a crack in the armor, but nothing more than that. Pinkie wondered just how deep that crack went, but it was impossible to tell.

Surface wounds could be healed, but some cut deeper than they appeared. It was a fact Pinkie knew all too well.

"Redheart?" Pinkie called out, every step sending lances of pain through her body. She hissed and stopped in the doorway.

The halls were empty. She started to pace them out, looking for the white mare. She passed by decrepit and neglected rooms, but there was no pony to be found in them. The distant echoing of screaming came from down one hallway, but Pinkie wasn't keen to investigate. She had been in the patient cells before, and they were terrifying. There was just something about being strapped down in an empty room that made her want to scream even now.

"Pinkie? You're up?" Twilight's voice came from beside her.

Pinkie nearly jumped out of her skin. She looked over to see Redheart and Twilight coming out of one of the rooms. They were walking side by side, and Twilight was holding a clipboard with a sheet of paper on it.

"Yep! I'm up." Pinkie gave her a pained smile. Everything hurt, but she gave her a smile. A genuine one. They had survived, Trixie was alive, and there was still hope. That brighter world in her dreams... she would never forget it.

"Oh, thank Celestia!" Twilight said. "When I heard what happened, I couldn't bear the thought that you got hurt. You and Trixie, it's my fault this happened. I should have waited before sending you out. Even if the darkness is encroaching, we still have more time."

"It's not your fault Twilight. We made a stupid decision." Pinkie said. "Every pony survived, and that is what matters."

"About that." Nurse Redheart cleared her throat. "I have unfortunate news."

Pinkie froze. Hearing that from a nurse was never good. Was Trixie injured in such a way that something would ever work again? The thought sent a deep dread through her stomach. "Is it about Trixie?"

"Yes." Redheart said. "And you."

"Me?" Pinkie asked. "What's wrong with me?"

Redheart stared at Pinkie’s bandaged and bloody body. Most of it had been washed, but the bandages were already stained again. "The mental treatment seems to be wearing off. I asked Twilight to go ahead to refresh it, but she denied it."

Pinkie nearly cried thanks to Twilight. Anywhere but that hell again. "Oh, that's... good news."

"Other than that, I will have to evaluate Trixie's mental state." Redheart said. "Madness cannot be tolerated in this town. You remember what happened to Ms. Ditzy Doo."

"Oh, I'm sure Trixie’s fine up there!" Pinkie said. She remembered what happened to Derpy, also known as Ditzy Doo. Mad ponies took her warning of a dark future too far, ripping her eyes out and sending her running into the Everfree. She was never seen again.

"There is also the matter of your wound treatment." Redheart said. "Other than the blood loss, I found a worrying presence of fungal mycelium reaching into your flesh."

"What?" Pinkie balked, a streak of horror running through her. "A-Am I turning into a mushroom pony?"

"No." Redheart said. "You are lucky Ms. Pie. I received a revised recipe for my creation of tonic from a mentor of mine, Doctor Paracelsus, just a week prior."

"Is that the experimental one you were talking about?" Twilight asked. "The one that was untested?"

"There was one subject it was tested on. Based on the results I am sure it will be more than effective." Redheartidly scratched her leg. "The serum cleanses everything. It purges the body of infection by changing body chemistry. Bleeding is staunched, and any venoms are cleaned as well. It is a miracle serum. It is an expensive but powerful cure created by me and the plague doctors."

"Plague doctors?" Pinkie asked.

"Medical practitioners.." Redheart said with a dismissive gesture. "I need to check on my patient. And you, Pinkie, should not be walking around. You're opening up wounds, and I need to monitor the effects of the serum."

"Wait, so am I going to turn into a mushroom pony?" Pinkie asked.

"No." Redheart stared emptily towards her, her single eye pinning her in place. "Now go back to bed. I will check on both of you in a moment."

"I need to talk to Pinkie." Twilight said.

"Then do so in the room." Redheart pointed. "Come along, you can speak while I work."

They went back into the room. Trixie's panicked eyes followed her every step of the way. At the sight of her, they relaxed a little. Redheart went over to her, and they started talking.

Twilight winced at the sight of Trixie, a look of guilt on her face.

"So, what did you want to talk about?" Pinkie asked as she laid back down on the bed.

"I just wanted to check and see how you are doing." Twilight said. "And to get your side of things. From what I heard; the mission got out of control. I need data in order to better extrapolate planning missions in the future."

"Well, I'm fine. Other than my wounds." Pinkie didn't feel like talking about more than that. The boom of the cannon still felt as if it was ringing in her ears, reverberating through every bone in her body. She shook her head. "As for the mission, I can tell you how things went..."

Pinkie explained what had happened during the mission. How it had been going well, her stupid idea, and then the charge on the cannon which ended up in their current situation.

"A combination of my own poor planning, lack of knowledge of the ponies I employ, and unfortunate decision making." Twilight mumbled. She flipped a page on her clipboard and scribbled something down. "I am sorry Pinkie. This was my fault."

"Stop being so hard on yourself. If it was your fault, then it was my fault as well." Pinkie said. "We all have some blame for what happened."

Twilight sighed. "I know you're just saying that. As the manager of this operation, the lives of the ponies I employ fall under me. I will do better."

"Do what you can, that is all any pony can ask of you." Pinkie said. "I don't want to admit it, but it is true. More ponies are going to die before this is all over."

"I know." Twilight said. "I just wish that wasn't that case.”

"We all do." Pinkie looked over to Trixie.

Redheart was scanning her over, poking her with a metal piece. Trixie jerked at the poking. "Watch where you poke the great and powerful Trixie!"

Redheart poked her again. "Nerves seem stable... brain functioning normally..."

"Brain functioning normally? What did you inject the great and powerful Trixie with?!"

Pinkie wondered just what was in that serum as well. She felt fine, but maybe her heart was beating a little faster? Maybe she was a little woozier. Every slight change in her physique felt all the more noticeable. Never had she felt more… alive. Then again, it could be her mind playing tricks on her.

"It's good to see that you two are relatively okay." Twilight said. "I was really worried that the damage might have been traumatizing."

"We are fine. We're adventurers!" Pinkie said. "Adventurers don't get mental problems. We are unstoppable! Isn't that right, Trixie?"

"Of course. The great and powerful Trixie is unaffected by the traumatizing feeling of having my flesh stripped from my coat!"

Pinkie knew that was a lie, they both knew that was a lie, but perhaps if they both said it enough it would become true. There could be no weakness in this place, and strength was found in numbers.

She laughed out loud, a sound that broke the stifling atmosphere. Trixie giggled lightly as well, maybe from Redheart tickling her ear with a swab.

"At least you're in good spirits." Twilight said with a sad smile. "Applejack and Rainbow Dash said they would be over later today. I have more work to do, otherwise I would stay. Please, rest well. Spike and I have been working hard. Soon you will have trainers, a blacksmith, and everything else needed for an operation like this."

"Oh, they are coming over?" Pinkie's smile became a bit more strained. She really didn't want to talk to those two ponies right now. Applejack wanting to leave Trixie behind and Rainbow Dash killing the bandit really reminded her of the worst pony kind had to offer. Though, they did still show some of their old selves near the end. A bit of harmony.

"They wanted to see you. Do you want to? I can tell them no if you want." Twilight said.

"It's okay. They can come over if they want to." Pinkie said. It was better to face it now rather than later. Wounds left to fester would rot after all.

"I'll tell them." Twilight said. "You did good Pinkie."

"It wasn't just me, and the expedition was a failure. How did I do good?" Pinkie asked.

"You saved a life. Isn't that good enough?" Twilight said. "And the expedition was a success. All I wanted was the roads to be clearer. You did your job."

Pinkie smiled at that.

"Rest well Pinkie, and try not to let Redheart try any more experimental serums on you. I'll have to look into who these plague doctors are." Twilight said. "They sound... interesting to say the least."

"I'll try." Pinkie said.

Twilight patted her on the back and then left. It seems that her work was never over. Her gait was slow and shaky as she left. Her muscles were tight, and her eyes had been strained. Twilight seemed to be working just as hard as every pony else was.

Pinkie leaned back into her bed. Once she was healed, her work would begin again. If the Everfree was to be cleansed, more work would have to be done.

Redheart had finished whatever she was doing. In her hooves was a vial filled with a bit of blood. She walked over to Pinkie, leaving a sleepy Trixie behind.

"What did you do?" Pinkie asked.

"I injected her with a pain suppressant and drew some blood. I was able to make some of the pain suppresants with the supplies I collected." Redheart said. "As for you, your injuries are severe, but I am sure we can do without the suppressants."

"Oh, how fun!" Pinkie said. "Needles, I'm assuming?"

Redheart withdrew a syringe. "I would suggest closing your eyes."

After Pinkie had her blood taken and her wounds looked over in an extremely uncomfortable and painful time, Redheart left, murmuring something about analyzing the blood.

"Trixie? Are you okay?" Pinkie asked.

There was no response from the mare. Her eyes were fluttering, not quite closed, and not quite open. Lazily, she looked towards Pinkie. A strange sound came out of her mouth, kind of like a groan, but more like a sigh. Then, she closed her eyes and moments later snoring was heard.

It seems that whatever Redheart injected her with was suppressing more than just the pain.

Pinkie sighed and leaned back in her bed. Redheart had some... interesting yet effective methods of medicine. In this place, the traditional ways of healing didn't seem to work as well. Maybe due to the darkness, or whatever was lurking in the Castle of The Two Sisters.

That place. It seemed so far away still. And with each passing day, it seemed like they would never get there.

At least Trixie was ok. Wounds could heal, death could not. She seemed okay in other ways too. Trixie was able to laugh even despite the pain. As Twilight said, she was in good spirits. At least, that is what she showed. Pinkie hid most of her negative emotion deep inside, and she couldn't help but think that Trixie was probably much the same.

Pinkie would be there for her though; she would be there for any friend who needed her. That was one of her purposes in life.

She closed her eyes. Maybe if she went to sleep, she could experience that dream again. To see the world as it could have been.

Who was that alicorn? It almost looked like Nightmare Moon, only less scary. Well, considering the alicorn was in another world, if her pain addled mind was to be believed, then she would never see her again. It wasn't worth thinking about.

As her breathing slowly deepened, and sleep started to claim her once more, the opening of a door snapped her out of her half slumber.

In the doorway was Applejack, and behind her, Rainbow Dash. What little scrapes and wounds they had from the expedition were already bandaged up and taken care of. Pinkie wondered why they had come here.

"Hey sugar cube." Applejack entered the room. "How are you doing?"

"Doing as good as I can be." Pinkie said stiffly. "What do you need?"

Applejack shuffled into the room, and Rainbow Dash did as well. Pinkie couldn't help but follow Rainbow's movements carefully. It really was strange how she knew the forest so well and seemed to know how bandits operated.

"I was thinking about what happened." Applejack said. "I think we got off to a bad start in those woods. With the argument and all. You and Trixie have shown you deserve a chance, so what do you say to forgetting that argument happened and starting over?"

"You already know my answer." Pinkie said with a pained smile. This was her burden. To be the one to always forgive first. It was the only way to keep it all together. "I'm always up for second chances."

Applejack nodded. "Thanks for that. If we work together, then maybe we can all get what we want without further complications. And... I want to apologize for my call on rushing the camp. I wasn't thinking straight with that argument on my mind."

"You will have to ask Trixie to forgive you." Pinkie said. "She is the one who got hurt after all."

Applejack looked towards the now sleeping Trixie. She sighed. "I suppose I will have to. Feels strange being on the wrong side of things for once. Crusade never made me have to think twice about where to swing my blade."

"Thank you." Pinkie said.

"For what?"

"For being honest. For apologizing. Not many ponies would do that." Pinkie said. "At least, not nowadays."

"Well, it's the least I can do." Applejack said. "It doesn't cost me anything."

It cost pride, and Pinkie could recognize that. She turned towards Rainbow who was staring at her.

"It's good to see that you're doing well." Rainbow said. "Didn't expect that much viciousness out of a pony like you."

"Didn't expect that much out of you either." Pinkie crossed her hooves. The death of that betrayed bandit was still fresh on her mind, but a sick part of her was glad it happened. Especially after the cannon incident. Was that wrong of her?

"I did what I had to." Rainbow said. "Can't let a bandit get away. They always come back for more."

"How do you know so much about bandits?" Pinkie finally asked the question that had been on her mind.

Rainbow paused, glancing over to Applejack. She nodded.

"Well. It's shameful to admit it, but I was one." Rainbow's expression was hidden behind her mask, but her eyes shifted away guiltily.

"You were a bandit?" Pinkie asked. She kind of already knew it, in the back of her mind. So, it didn't really surprise her. The confirmation sent a spike of rage through her. Though, her face didn't show it, that she made sure of.

"Yes. Not a bandit like the ones we were fighting though. I had integrity. I was cooler." Rainbow Dash said. "At least, that's how it was supposed to be."

Pinkie scoffed. How was a bandit cool? All they were good for was bleeding out and ruining lives. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Tell the pony who said she was going to bleed out every bandit?" Rainbow said. "I'm only telling you this now because, well..."

"I can barely move?" Pinkie said.

"Yea. But I thought that now that we have gone on an expedition together, you can see I'm not like them." Rainbow said.

Pinkie remembered the bandit that Rainbow had killed without hesitation. Not like them indeed.

"I'm a changed pony. I've made some mistakes, and I'm here to repent for them. To make some good in the world." Rainbow nudged the pony next to her. "Isn't that right Applejack?"

"Sure thing." Applejack turned away. "I... made some mistakes as well. Figured this is the only place I could start to repay them."

"Like what? What could be so bad that you thought you would have to come here to make up for it?" Pinkie asked.

Rainbow looked down at her locket. She stared at it, her eyes going misty. She murmured something beneath her breath.

"What?" Pinkie asked, not quite catching the words.

"Look. Don't ask Rainbow about it okay?" Applejack said. "We both made mistakes, but we don't want to be asked about them. Brings up bad memories."

Pinkie could relate to that.

"Okay, I won't ask." Pinkie said. "What matters is you two are doing what is right and helping out in this quest. The past can stay there if you don't want to tell me. But if you ever do, I'm all ears."

"I'll keep that in mind." Applejack said.

The group stared at each other for a moment. There was a certain sadness in the air, a despair. Frowns were etched onto their faces, and their heads were low. Beaten, defeated. Was this all it took to break a pony's spirits? One simple loss?

"We can win, you know." Pinkie said.

"What do you mean?" Applejack said. "Win what?"

"Win against this evil." Pinkie said. "As long as we never give up, it can never win."

Applejack huffed. "Not sure about that, but we can try."

"You don't believe we can do it?" Pinkie asked. "Why?"

"All of this, it's just a means to redemption." Applejack said. "We may never win, but maybe in death we can find solace."

Rainbow nodded at that, her eyes growing hard. She closed her locket with a snap. "I don't plan on dying, but I wouldn't be opposed to it. Fitting maybe, for what I've done."

Those grim words weren't exactly what Pinkie wanted to hear.

"I won't give up yet. Don't you remember how Equestria used to be?" Pinkie asked.

"It's hard to remember." Applejack said. "It's been so long."

"I remember flying. That's about it." Rainbow said.

"We have to fight for Equestria. For a better world. Is this really the world you want to live in?" Pinkie asked.

"It's just the way the world is." Applejack said. "I would love to have the farm back, but plants don't grow right anymore. This is never going to change. Too much had gone wrong, too much had deteriorated. I suspect that even if this evil is gone, the world just wouldn't be the same as it used to be."

Those words cut deep for Pinkie, but she didn't want to believe them.

"We will change the world yet." Pinkie said with a smile. "Don't you two give up on it. Whatever your other goals, pursue them, but always make sure to save a laugh to share with me, and a hope to share with the world."

"That's funny you still think that way." Rainbow snickered. "After all this time, you still haven't changed."

"It's because I'm already the best version of myself!" Pinkie said. "And I'll never give up! I'll never stop laughing! No matter what comes my way!"

Applejack shook her head. "You do you Pinkie. Just don't expect the world to change. We need to head out, thanks for listening to my apology."

"And for giving me a chance." Rainbow said. "Can't say I believe your philosophy, but I can respect it."

"As long as you extend a hoof, I will extend one as well." Pinkie said with a wink. "No evil forest can keep this pony down for long, and it won't keep me from giving up on two of my oldest friends!"

Applejack and Rainbow shared a look and chuckled. If it was laughing at her or with her, right now Pinkie didn't care. They laughed, and that was what mattered.

"See you around Pinkie." Rainbow said.

"Rest well sugar cube." Applejack said.

"Don't give up on yourselves!" Pinkie yelled as they left. "I won't give up on you, I won't give up on any pony, or anything!"

The sound of their hooves going down the hallway slowly faded. Pinkie was left alone in the hospital room, other than the sleeping Trixie. She wouldn't be giving up on Trixie either.

In truth, she hadn't really forgiven them entirely. It was just too hard. But she was willing to give them a chance.

Still, Pinkie couldn't help but shiver. The truth was the forest could keep her down. Even now she thought of quitting, of going back to the bakery and rotting away there. The boom of the cannon echoed in her ears, and her wounds hurt more than ever. It was scary, but she wouldn't give up yet. She would laugh it off and try again. Maybe even until death. Death was better than living an unfulfilled life in this fractured world.

She would lift those around her up, make them realize the truth. That this world could be saved, that harmony could exist once more. She wouldn't let them give up, wouldn't let them die if she could help it.

That world in her dreams was real somewhere.

And she would bring it to reality, no matter the cost.