Before I start, I just want to say thanks to someone who's been sending me positive messages, and encouraging me to keep going. This person is kind, and they obviously are willing to take the time to help me on the road to becoming a better author.

This person is…cartuneslover17. Thank you so, so, so much.

This fanfic is the prologue to "Thanks for the Memories." This was also heavily inspired by the song "Vanilla Twilight" by Owl City.

On with the fic.

A lone pink ribbon. It was swaying gently in the breeze, and no one could bear to look at it. It had been worn in the mane of a pink pony named Pinkie Pie on the last day of her life. No one had known she was going to die that day.

She had died in peace at least, with her friends by her side. The party pony had fallen to the ground while walking with Applejack. At the hospital, they had told her that there wasn't any hope for the cheerful pony, but she was requesting their presence.

Walking into the room, Fluttershy had burst into tears. Pinkie Pie was lying in a white bed, looking suddenly very weak and frail. She tried to crack a smile, but it came out more as a grimace. "Well…I guess…this….i…is…go…goodbye…h…huh?" She had murmured.

Twilight had then used her magic to pull the covers up to Pinkie Pie's chest, and fluffed her pillow. "Just want to make sure your comfortable…" she choked out, trying not to cry. Applejack walked forward, and grasped Pinkie Pie's right forehoof in a gentle but firm grasp. "We're here fer' 'ya Pinkie. We ain't lettin' you go alone."

Pinkie smiled, tears running down her face. Rainbow Dash looked away, blinking furiously in an attempt not to cry. Rarity smiled weakly, tears streaming down the fashionista's face. "OH WHO AM I KIDDING?" Came an angry voice from behind Twilight, and Rainbow burst into tears. After seeing her friend start to sob, Twilight immediately started to as well.

"Com…come…o…on…yo…you….guys….s…smi….smile…fo…for…me?" Pinkie said, softly, her speech coming in short gasps. Twilight smiled through her tears, and lifted a tissue with her magic, and brought it over to Pinkie Pie's face. Drying her tears, Twilight looked at her friend sadly. "Anything for you Pinkie." She murmured softly.

"Thanks…" Pinkie Pie whispered. "J…just…re…remember….al…always…sm…smile." And then the pink party pony closed her eyes. Twilight stepped back from her bedside, shock and horror written clearly across her face. "Pinkie!" Applejack yelled, squeezing the ponies' hoof. "Tell me yer jokin'! Please Pinkie! Please…please…"

There was no response from the pony. Fluttershy moved forward, and laid her hoof down above Pinkie's heart. The saddened look on her face said everything. "Is…is she…" Twilight couldn't bring herself to say the word 'dead'. "She's gone…" Fluttershy whispered, tears streaking down her face.

Twilight held open her hooves, and Fluttershy fell into them. "Shh….just let it all out…" Twilight crooned, stroking her friend's mane. She felt her other friends wrap their hooves around her, and she was grateful for their comfort.

Twilight broke away from her friends after a while, and walked over to where Pinkie was lying. A pink ribbon was threaded through her mane. Grasping it with her magic, she gently pulled it out of the other ponies' mane. She walked back to her friend's with the ribbon in the air next to her.

"Just remember. Always smile." Twilight said soflty, and she let the ribbon go, out of the window. It slowly wove it's way through the air, bending with the breeze. "We'll always remember you Pinkie Pie." Rarity said softly.

"Always." Rainbow echoed. "You where a great friend." Fluttershy said. "A happy-go-luck pony, and great to be around." Applejack stated. "We're glad to have known you…" Twilight said softly. "And we'll miss you…"

The five friends turned away from the window, and walked slowly out of the hospital, hearts heavy, ears flattened against the back of their heads. "Why aren't we smiling?" Rainbow Dash suddenly demanded. "It's what Pinkie would have wanted. And you don't want to see Pinkie angry…Remember the Applejack's Pinkie Promise and the "Rairtycatchme!" incident?"

Everyone giggled, and suddenly they burst out laughing. Feeling considerably better, they kept walking, sharing funny stories, and just laughing. They all spent the night at Twilight's house, and they stayed up 'till late at night telling stories and jokes about Pinkie Pie, some at their own expense, but no pony really cared. They where happy together, and that's what really mattered.

Three years later, Fluttershy died.