Chapter Text
November 26. It’s been one whole year. I stare down at the colorful calendar in shock, as if my staring can change the numbers. The calendar is small enough to fit in my pocket, and is printed on cupcake-shaped stationary. I remember buying it a few days after the new year, while at a craft fair with my best friend, Fluttershy. I remember her wiry frame weaving through the crowd, tucking her wings behind her back stiffly to allow other people to pass her by. I remember her long, pink hair was roughly tied back into a ponytail, and the excess strands were held at bay by a headband with daisy print. I remember the sunburns beginning to form on her light brown shoulders due to hours bent over in the garden. That’s where I’d found her that day, bent tenderly over some daffodils, when I asked about checking out the craft fair. Her eyes always lit up with both excitement and fear when I suggested such activities. She always got anxious in crowds, her hands balled at her sides, her eyes darting to look anywhere but at people. It always helped her to have a friendly face, though. I remember jogging to catch up with her longer stride, and taking her hand in mine to remind her I was there. She smiled down at me, nerves still visible behind her deep brown eyes, as I began to lead her to some of the less crowded stalls. We looked at wood carvings, crocheted blankets, and colorful pottery, before we finally found ourselves in front of a bright pink tent. The owner of the tent was a channeler, their horn decorated with origami flowers. They had short, bright blue hair and wore a baggy t-shirt that looked more like a dress. Their face was a splash of color, with pink and blue makeup over one eye and purple and yellow over the other. They were so energetic, greeting us with a loud gasp. “YOU’RE PINKIE PIE AND FLUTTERSHY! YOU’RE PINKIE PIE AND FLUTTERSHY!!!”
A few people nearby stared, causing Fluttershy to flinch. I simply turned to wave and smile at the unwelcome attention. We were both somewhat accustomed to this kind of treatment, although it still made Fluttershy uncomfortable. She and I were two of the Champions of Harmony, heroes who wielded the Elements of Harmony to protect Equestria from monsters, dark magic, and evil schemes. Fluttershy was the Champion of Kindness, using her magic to shield others from harm. I was the Champion of Laughter. I used my silly nature to bring smiles to my friends faces, and used my magic to create illusions and explosions to confuse the enemy. It’s so hard to recall that same manic energy. As two of the most powerful magic users in Equestria, we were pretty famous.
“Yep-a-doodle-doo! That’s us two!” I grinned at the stall’s owner. I remember pouring over their wares, giggling at all the silly little notepads and calendars, before deciding on the cupcake one, due to cupcakes being my favorite food. It’s been a while since I’ve had one, though. I remember purchasing two, so Fluttershy and I could be “Pal-endars.” It was silly, but it made her smile wide, showing her teeth. I remember how hard it was at first to make Fluttershy smile like that. Of course, it was always easier for me, being the Champion of Laughter. Former Champion? That, and being her friend, made it easy for her to smile in my presence, revealing the small dimples on her cheeks. It was always a smaller, more reserved smile than that of my other friends. I was used to grins, revealing every tooth, creating lines under the eyes and around the cheeks. But Fluttershy’s was always one of my favorites. It conveyed that she was comfortable, a quite rare sight considering her constant battle against anxiety.
I close the calendar and hastily shove it back into my pocket before I can cry on it. I’d been doing so well with not breaking down lately, too. It’s a vicious cycle, though. I spend days on end sobbing, spend the next few days unable to make myself do much more than sit, and then spend the next few weeks traveling silently, determined to get over it. Until inevitably something reminds me of my friends and the whole damned thing repeats. I was hoping I’d finally broken it this time, but then I whipped out the calendar and the image of Fluttershy’s timid smile forced its way into the forefront of my mind. With it comes more images of her. Fluttershy holding Angel out towards me, the white rabbit’s nose twitching curiously at me. Fluttershy giggling as she delicately places a flower crown in my pink curls. Fluttershy’s wings spread as she flies through the sky. I shake my head, trying to force the images out, trying not to remember the more… unpleasant memories. I rub my eyes quickly and suck in a huge breath, before forcing myself to my feet again. For the past few months I’ve been diving deeper and deeper into the Everfree forest. It’s proven to be quiet, safe, and filled with vegetation, all of which make it the perfect place to hide. As I begin to walk across the overgrown ground, I begin to wonder, not for the first time, if I really should be hiding. But what else can I do? Fight my old friends? Seek help from the princesses? Use the Elements of Harmony? All of these are impossible. I haven’t been able to access my elemental magic since… that day.
I remember being confused as to why I’d been called to Twilight’s castle. Twilight was not only one of my best friends, but she was also one of our fellow Champions (of the Element of Magic) and the Princess of Friendship. As the smartest person I know - knew? - and a princess, Twilight’s message had worried me. No, not worry. Dread. It was a feeling I’d never been entirely familiar with. Of course, these days, it seems my only friend in this empty forest is that pit in the bottom of my stomach, gorging itself on my nerves, causing my palms to pool with sweat, and my eyes to dart from side to side. However, at the time this was a bit of a new sensation. As I arrived at Twilight’s castle, the familiar building seemed less inviting than ever. The large, purple palace was held aloft by a tree trunk of sharp blue crystals, reflecting the light of the rising sun. Despite all of Ponyville seeming to sleep, every window was illuminated in the castle. I began to dread entering the doors, dread the climb up the unforgiving spiral stairs, dread sitting down on my throne. I didn’t entirely know what was wrong, but what I did know was Rainbow Dash, the athletic, energetic Champion of Loyalty, hadn’t been seen flying the skies in a week. Which was concerning, as Rainbow Dash was never known to stop moving. It was a part of everybody’s morning routine, seeing her fly over Ponyville, circling town square, racing down the streets before finally landing at Sugar Cube Corner, the bakery I worked at, to have my famous blueberry pancakes. I also knew that Rarity, the Champion of Generosity, hadn’t left her house in three days, because she had unexpectedly canceled our promised spa trip, which I’d been looking forward to all month. Rarity had known how excited I was. She was also, admittedly, a touch vain. As a fashion designer, she always took pride in her appearance, thus her spa membership. She’d also been having a rough week, as she was releasing a new line of fashionable winter coats, and a trip to the spa always helped her wind down after completing a hefty project. Something was wrong.
I remember pacing anxiously outside of the castle, before standing still and bouncing on my heels, trying desperately to dispel this negative energy. Eventually, though, Rarity appeared, silhouetted in the morning’s light as she approached. The light illuminated her smooth, deep brown skin, and reflected off of her shimmering jewelry. Her long, purple hair was hidden by a scarf worn on her head like a bonnet. She had on one of her new winter coats, a pea coat in a deep purple, with a large faux fur collar that gave her an interesting silhouette, one of her favorite things in fashion. She matched this purple with the bright white of her scarf, heels, and gloves. She silently approached the door, her long horn beginning to shimmer a light blue, as her magic swung it open. I noticed a slight strain, but I assumed it was due to the heavy door at the time. She eyed my outfit, as she often did, but said nothing. Usually, she would have remarked on my bold choice to wear a yellow coat. She would have marveled at how I somehow made rubber duckie earrings work. She would have complimented my braid, which I had intricately woven beads into. Instead, she walked silently through the door, holding it open for me to follow. Something was wrong.
I remember trying to swallow my dread and walking nervously through the door, and into the entry hall. The crystal walls stretched high, holding the ceiling aloft, with shimmering crystalline structures hanging from it, shedding light on the foyer. The only audible sound was that of Rarity’s heels clicking across the floor, making her way to the familiar spiral staircase. Twilight had installed an elevator of sorts, at the base of the stairs, but it required a channeler’s magic to use, and as a Terran, I only possess nature-related magic, and even then, I hardly used it before, so I was resigned to the winding staircase. I quickly raced towards it, the stomping of my feet echoing off the walls, sounding like a doomed march. Towards what, I wasn’t sure. I began to ascend the stairs just barely behind Rarity, and in an attempt to calm my nerves, I began talking. “So, Rarity! Your new coat looks incredibelicious! It really brings out your- uh- eyes!” Rarity responded with a thankful grunt. I began to panic. “I mean, I’m so glad that you’re bringing back pea coats! Everyone’ll look really fancy now, walking around town with those sharp silhouettes, right? And- and you could bring back top hats next! Top hats are so fun, because then, you can pull rabbits out of them, and have bunny friends!” Rarity didn’t respond, seeming to be lost in thought. I should’ve stopped there, but I kept going. “And- and who doesn’t want a bunny friend, right! Fluttershy would agree, she has lots of bunny friends! Hey, do you think Fluttershy’s here yet? I’ve been meaning to ask her when Angel’s birthday is, so I could throw him a party! Do you think bunnies celebrate their birthdays? Do you think they even know them? That must be suuuuper sad, right Rarity? Right?” At that point, however, we’d reached the top of the stairs, and Rarity was using her magic again to pull open the door to the throne room. The pit in my stomach was beginning to expand, threatening to swallow my entire torso. Rarity walked stoically through the door, and after a nervous pause, I did too. I was afraid, but worse than that, I was confused. I might’ve been the silly one, might’ve said a lot of things that didn’t make sense, but that was a fun kind of confusion. It was fun to be confused over why one would wear rubber duck earrings, fun to be confused over why one would have a giant portrait of a donut hung in their room, fun to be confused over why one would have a pet alligator who wears party hats. But it wasn’t fun to be confused over why one’s friend wasn’t talking to them, not fun to be confused over why one’s friends weren’t hanging out with them, not fun to be confused over an urgent letter from the Princess of Friendship saying that this is an emergency meeting, but not saying over what. Something was wrong.
As I walked into the large meeting room, I noticed all the seats were filled, but the room was eerily silent. It only worsened the pit. Fluttershy sat quietly, her thin frame hidden behind a large woolen sweater. Her long pink hair was cascading over her shoulders, and she failed to meet my friendly gaze. Applejack, the Champion of Honesty, sat straight in her chair, an unfamiliar sight considering her love of slouching. Applejack is - was? - a strong woman, with broad shoulders and visible muscles, which were currently hidden behind her sleeves. Her skin was tanned from all her time in the sun, and was covered in freckles. She always wore a combination of a flannel shirt and jeans, as she did then, had her iconic cowgirl hat atop her head, and always braided her hair. She usually had a large grin on her face, eager to get to work and help others, but today, her familiar grin was replaced with a solemn frown. Rainbow Dash, the Champion of Loyalty, was slouching in her chair, her legs nervously bouncing. Rainbow Dash was a lean, athletic Avian with large wings and bright green eyes. Her ears and face were littered with piercings, and she always wore a number of bracelets to play with. Her hair was dyed every color of the rainbow, something Rarity had warned her against, but Dash had done regardless. She, too, refused to meet Rarity and I’s gaze, quickly glancing down and beginning to tug at a string on her oversized hoodie. Twilight sat at the head of the table, a bag of scrolls sitting next to her chair. She pushed her glasses back up her nose, a nervous habit I was used to seeing. Her short, wavy black hair was tied back, the dyed streaks of purple and pink beginning to fade. She was dressed hastily, wearing a button-up shirt over polka dotted pajama pants. It would’ve been funny, had it not been a sign of how little she must’ve slept. Her usual regal appearance, as one of Equestria’s only Celestians, was thrown aside. As a Celestian, she had the horn of a Channeler, the wings of an Avian, and the earth magic of a Terran, like me. She utilized her powerful magic to flicker the lights, getting our attention, and then to raise the table from the floor. I hadn’t noticed at the time, but looking back on it, I should’ve noticed the small hiccup in her magic, how the table hadn’t fully risen. Rarity quickly circled the rising table and sat down next to Applejack, both sharing a quick glance and whispered words. I bounced over to my seat, attempting one last time to call on my usual cheery energy. “Alrighty, Twi! Why’d you call us all here?”
Everybody’s eyes landed on me, confused by my burst of energy. “Sorry, this is serious time, isn’t it?” I giggled awkwardly. I was beginning to panic. Twilight stood up and unfurled a scroll, depicting a large, hulking beast made from fungus. Mushrooms grew all over its body, and around it on the ground. Its eyes glowed due to the bioluminescent mushrooms that grew in the empty sockets. It was a sickly grey color, looking as if it were made of mold and not mushroom. It had a large, gaping maw and large, deformed limbs, as if it were a crude imitation of a human.
“We all remember the Mycanoid, yes?” Twilight asked.
The others had battled with it in a small forest near Canterlot. I had been recovering from a nasty flu, but from what they’d told me, the creature had kidnapped several people who were picnicking in the area. The fight had been quite easy, despite the creature getting in some early hits, but ultimately, Fluttershy had felled it with a shot from her magical bow and arrow. Rarity had skipped out on the battle as well, saving those the monster had captured.
Everyone in the room nodded in agreement. Despite not having fought it, I still felt my head bobbing up and down. Twilight made sure everyone was on the same page, before continuing. “After the Mycanoid’s attack, I kept tabs on the people it had kidnapped, and found some… disturbing results.” She reached into her bag and pulled out a scroll, and quickly unfurled it over the table. As I leaned over to look, I felt my stomach catch in my throat. Everything I’d eaten that day was attempting to escape my system, escape the things I was seeing. I seemed to be the only one reacting that way, I noticed, as my eyes scanned the other’s grim expressions. The scroll had many notes scrawled in Twilight’s illegible cursive, but I was focused on the pictures. A man’s back, with grey fungi coating his shoulder, trickling down towards his spine. An arm, with a large gash being filled in with a similar substance, some mushrooms even poking from the skin. A face, half coated in the grey fungus, eyes filled with fear. I remember how the fungi looked rooted, anchored into the skin. How the skin discolored around the decomposers. After what felt like hours, Twilight gently nudged the rolled paper in front of her, and the images disappeared as the scroll rolled in on itself, eventually even rolling off the table. Rarity silently bent down and picked it up, passing it over to Applejack, who had to lean on the table to reach Twilight. All was silent as she placed the scroll in her bag, until Applejack spoke up, in her familiar country drawl. “So, I’m assumin’ Pinkie’s the only one who didn’t know.”
“Didn’t know about… about…” I felt my breaths growing shallow, the air hiding in my lungs, making my chest ache. “What even is that!?!”
“I’m currently calling it the Mycanical Infection.” Twilight said grimly. “And we are all suffering from it.”
My heart sank. I felt myself swallow the acidic remains of my quick breakfast. Twilight lifted her shirt to reveal a large gash on the side of her stomach, with the telltale grey fungus spilling from the cut. She nodded to the others. Rarity carefully removed her gloves, peeling off one finger at a time. Applejack quickly rolled up her sleeves, desperate to get this over with. Rainbow Dash lifted her leg onto the table, spreading her wings to keep steady as she rolled up her pant leg. Fluttershy was still as this happened, before removing her sweater to reveal a simple pink crop top underneath. Each of my fellow champions, my fellow heroes, my friends, revealed the horrible grey fuzz growing from their skin. Rarity’s fingertips were grey, as if with frostbite. Applejack’s arms were coated in both freckles and fungus. Rainbow Dash’s leg seemed almost cut open, spilling grey from the wound. Fluttershy’s wounds were the worst of them all. Her left arm and stomach were becoming overgrown with the grey. It was as if she was being swallowed by grey moss. Visible mushroom caps were beginning to dot up from her skin. I think then was when I finally threw up.
Twilight looked over at me. “Considering your reaction… I think AJ is right. You’re… you’re not infected.” She said this slowly, a mixture of relief and horror in her voice. She wore a look of shock in her deep brown eyes momentarily, before it disappeared behind a veil of business. “Now, I admittedly know very little about the disease currently, but I’m going to have the Mycanoid’s first victims and anyone they’ve come into contact with since come here to the castle to quarantine. We don’t know how bad this is yet, and I can’t risk it getting worse. Agreed?” Everyone nodded solemnly, except me. “What will I do?” I tried to get out. It came as a hoarse whisper. Everyone looked at me sadly. “Pinkie…” Fluttershy said, after a short pause. “Take care of the animals. Or at least, find them good homes.”
“Does this mean… Does this mean I can’t see you guys?”
“Yes.” Twilight said firmly. “I hate it too, but it’s the safest option. We can’t risk losing all of the Champions of Harmony.”
“You’re not going to die!” I shot back, a hope I didn’t exactly feel filling my voice. “You’re the smartest person I know! You’ll find a way to fix this, and then we can throw a party afterwards! I’ll make a six tier ice cream cake and we’ll eat it ‘til we puke!” Before I could go on, Rainbow Dash laughed, lifting the solemn mood. “Then it’s a deal! Twi, you’d better start working on a cure. And Pinkie, it’d better be a chocolate cake.”
Everyone else grinned at me, making the situation feel just a bit better. It was as if they were just sick with a common cold. They’d get better soon, and then we could all go have fun again. It was then I began to fall into denial. It couldn’t take my friends. It wouldn’t.
As I skipped out of the meeting room after exchanging goodbyes, I waited until I was down the stairs to let the fear overwhelm me. I cried for a few minutes before drying my eyes, reminding myself that they were in Twilight’s capable hands.
It couldn’t take my friends. It wouldn’t. But it did.
Now, one whole year later, everybody in Ponyville is reduced to a greying, empty husk of who they were. One whole year later I find myself hiding in the Everfree forest, desperately staying alive. One whole year later, my smile has fled with my hope. But I keep fighting and staying alive, not for any kind of noble quest, but because I fear that giving up will not kill me. It will do much, much worse.