The Trotting Dead

"Rainbow Dash!" Scootaloo exclaimed as she bounded towards her role model, who caught the little filly in outstretched hooves as she leapt into the blue pegasus mare.

The two shared a tight hug as Sweetie Belle and Rarity nuzzled each other affectionately, tears streaming down their snouts.

Only Apple Bloom was not included in any reunion, choosing instead to stare out into the Everfree Forest towards Ponyville through one of the broken window spots in the wall.

Princess Luna's night was beautiful, if the night was even hers still.

Resting her snout on the cold stone as she used her hooves to keep herself stable in this bipedal position, Apple Bloom sighed deeply and sadly at having nopony to turn to.

Her immediate family was all dead, and the only pony she could think of that might possibly be alive still was Braeburn, but he was all the way out in Appleloosa.

I hope he's safe... Apple Bloom wished before a pegasus wing laid itself across the little filly's back in a comforting manner.

Apple Bloom turned her head to see the gentle gaze of Fluttershy, who then proceeded to pull Apple Bloom into the warmest hug the little filly had ever experienced.

"F-Fluttershy? Why're you cryin'...?" Apple Bloom asked quietly as she felt the yellow mare's hot tears land on her back.

"I-It's just so sad...Your friends all had somepony to hug and hold when they got back, but you don't have anypony anymore..."

Apple Bloom sighed softly and leaned into the hug, letting her own tears form as the reunions carried on around her.

It was...Oddly peaceful, like this was all just a vacation from regular old Ponyville.

The only indication that this all wasn't just a dream was the fact that Pinkie Pie sat slumped in a corner, shooting those daggers she had as eyes at anypony who looked at her; and that just so happened to be Twilight Sparkle.

Everypony else was huddled up to another, Rarity with Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo with Rainbow Dash and Apple Bloom with Fluttershy.

Twilight felt like a unicorn had grabbed hold of her heart and gave it a violent tug when it dawned on her that the little filly had nopony close to turn to.

But amongst all the happiness that seemed to be filling the room, from Rainbow Dash telling Scootaloo adventure stories to Sweetie Belle and Rarity discussing the little filly's singing and magical abilities and to Fluttershy calming a tearful Apple Bloom, only two ponies remained on their own.

Twilight furrowed her brow and started to trot towards the dark corner where Pinkamena sat, now idly playing with one of her knives.

The knives made Twilight uneasy.

Sure, they had some use in a bakery where Pinkie Pie used to work, but that didn't make her an expert on blade-play. Then again, she didn't seem like an expert when she was simply driving the steel into Carrot Top's exposed head over and over.

Letting out a shiver of disgust and fear, Twilight pressed on until she was almost on top of the pink mare whose furious eyes were glaring up at her; one hidden carefully behind her straight pink mane.

"What do you want?" Pinkamena spat.

"I...I just want to talk...You seem lonely over here all by yourself." Twilight responded, sounding hurt by Pinkie's sharp words.

Almost as sharp as her knife... she thought for a moment.

"I like being lonely. Means I don't have to get sad when somepony close dies again."

"Pinkie, was-"

"I told you, my name isn't Pinkie! It's Pinkamena!" Pinkamena suddenly snapped, jumping to her hooves and pressing her forehead close to Twilight, who jumped back a few steps at the sudden outburst.

Everypony in the room had fallen silent and simply stared at the pair before slowly, unsure, returning to their conversations as Pinkamena shrunk back into her corner grumpily.

"I'm sorry, Pinkamena..." Twilight continued. "Was that the reason you've been acting this way towards us all? Because somepony close to you died?"

Pinkamena snorted and folded her hooves across her chest. "You wouldn't understand, Twilight; you've been holed up in your library the entire time. I had to take care of two innocent foals! TWO of them, Twilight! And they both...And now they're..."

Pinkamena went from demonic anger to pitiful sadness in a heartbeat, and Twilight found herself holding the sobbing mare tightly, letting her spill her emotions (quite literally) into Twilight's chest.

It's alright, Pinkie...We'll get through this with the power of friendship. Twilight thought hopefully.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, your majesty. She has been active for nearly two days now."

"And her friends?"

"They are holed up in the Moon Castle still, and they've found the Cutie Mark Crusaders."

"She's making excellent progress. Alert me if she ever leaves Ponyville or attempts to head for Canterlot."

"Of course, your majesty."

...

"You are quite the pony, Twilight Sparkle...Quite the pony indeed..."