Oh, h-hi Rainbow Dash.
Glad to see you're
recovering well.
That was...was quite the
race you ran last week.
What's wrong,
Lyra?
It's...
it's Bon-bon...
Oh no...
She left for a candy fair and
convention over in Hoofington
several weeks ago. She was
supposed to be back last week,
but no one had any idea where
she was. I started to fear the
worst, as those disappearances
had been happening for months and...and...
They just told me last night. This
was found in the basement of
Sugarcube Corner, and her cutie
mark was on that psycho's dress...
I...I know it's hard, losing
someone very special. Thinking
that life will never be the same.
But if anything, I know she'd
want you to be strong, Lyra.
At least it's over.
Thanks Rainbow, you're right.
I have to find my way through
this, just like you are. I can't
imagine it's easy for you.
Always being on the ground now.
I'm finding ways to adapt. It
hasn't been easy in any sense,
but I've been doing a lot of
thinking. And the Running of
the Leaves was something of
a distraction, as well.
Rainbow...I – I have to know.
What happened to you?
What happened to Bon-bon?
You don't want
to know, Lyra.
Rainbow, I saw you when
you first came out of the
hospital. I see the scars on you-
And if those don't give you
enough mental images, I'm not
going to give you any more.
You don't want to do that
to yourself, Lyra.
I-I just don't want to
think that she suffered...
Then don't think about
it. Remember her for who
she was. Don't focus on
what happened down there, okay?
Hey, Twilight.
You got a minute?
Oh, hi, Rainbow.
What's on your mind?
A lot, really.
Mostly about Pinkie.
Oh?
I...I don't know how to
feel...about any of this.
That she is now gone,
and it is somehow my fault.
Rainbow. I don't think
it is your fault.
But I was the one who
suggested the surprise
party back then...
Thanks a lot for coming,
guys! It was a blast!
Happy Birthday Spike!
Thanks for
the party!
See ya tomorrow,
Pinkie!
Guys, I have an idea
I've been thinking about.
Oh?
Go on.
Well, Pinkie's birthday is in a
couple weeks. I know she always
plans and organizes the parties
around Ponyville, but I thought
it would be awesome if we could
throw her a surprise birthday party!
Rainbow, that's a great
idea! She'd never expect it!
But where could we organize
it? Pinkie's all over the place.
How about the barn over on
the Acres? There's not much in
there right now, plenty of space!
And I'm sure the Cakes could
keep a secret if I placed an
order for a birthday cake for her.
I could decorate the barn!
It'll look fabulous!
Fluttershy and I could
bring you decorations
from around town,
and Cloudsdale.
What about Spike?
Wouldn't he want
to help?
Puleeze. He can't keep a
secret for 10 whole minutes.
You want him to try and
keep a secret for weeks?
So that settles it.
Surprise party for Pinkie!
And then the day came and
she was very determined to
know why we didn't attend
Gummy's after-birthday party.
But it was her, not you,
who convinced herself that
we didn't want to be
friends with her anymore.
I know! And still I keep
linking her surprise party
to the lives that were lost.
I know I could not have foreseen
this, and yet, even if matters
were completely out of my hooves,
I feel responsible somehow.
Rainbow, you had no control
over what Pinkie did in that
basement. It wasn't your fault.
Why is this coming
up all of a sudden?
I-I haven't been sleeping
well. I don't know why,
but I'm feeling guilty for
the lives Pinkie took away.
I wonder if it's
survivor's guilt?
Huh?
When you make it out of something
a whole lot of other ponies didn't,
sometimes you feel guilty and
responsible for the lives that were
lost. They call it survivor's guilt.
No, Twilight! I'm not talking about
me being the only one making it out!
I'm talking about, what if we could've
stopped this? Helped Pinkie when we
realized what had happened to her! I...
I never told you guys what I saw
right before the surprise party.
I didn't tell anypony until it
was too late...
...or what I saw after...
Hey there, Pinkie Pie.
How're you doing?
Just...just cleaning
up, that's all.
Listen, Pinkie. I wanted to talk
to you, make sure you're okay.
Well sure, why
wouldn't I be okay?
Well, because of
this for one.
I...I really don't know
what came over me. I was so
afraid of losing my friends...
Maybe you should see a doctor,
Pink. Just make sure that, you
know, everything's alright up there.
No no, I'm fine. That side of
me is gone as far as I'm concerned.
As soon as I get this mess cleaned
up, I can forget all about it.
Are you sure, Pinkie? You're
my friend, and I want to
know you're alright.
I'm alright, Rainbow Dash,
honest. I know now never
to doubt my friends again.
Well, alright then.
I never told anyone. I knew something
was wrong and I just lied to myself,
convinced myself that it was over,
just like she had. And...
and look what happened to her...
Rainbow...
I could've stopped it. I could've
stopped this all from happening.
Rainbow, what you did wasn't wrong. You were being a
friend to Pinkie. You didn't want to hurt her feelings
or your friendship by insisting that she get help. If
you keep on going over past events like this, believing
it could have been different, you're going to drive yourself insane.
It's not just
that...I don't...
How am I supposed to remember her?
How are all of us supposed to
remember her? As one of the most
energetic full-of-life friends ever?
Or as this...'Cupcake Killer'? Is that
the best way to honor her memory?
I just...just need to
find some peace. Some
closure to all this...
Well Rainbow. It's a beautiful
day out there. I'd say take a
walk around town, get some fresh
air. Talk to some of our other
friends, get more perspectives,
or maybe go for a swim. Just let
your mind wander, maybe it'll solve
this problem all on it's own.
