The five mares were gathered around the hospital bed. Fluttershy's head was leaning on Rainbow Dash's, and she was sobbing quietly. Rainbow was patting her shoulder, tears glistening at the corners of her rose-coloured eyes. Applejack continued to wipe away her tears, while Rarity blew her nose on a hoofkerchief she had brought just in case. She had needed it, that was the worst part. Twilight Sparkle didn't even bother to wipe her eyes, just looked down at Pinkie Pie's limp body that, all things considered, could have been mistaken for a dead corpse.
"Why Pinkie Pie?" whispered Fluttershy through her tears. "Why her? When she brought so much joy and happiness to so many ponies..."
"Pinkie..." murmured Twilight. She ducked her horned head. Why? Fluttershy was right. Pinkie Pie was the one everypony could count on, the one who was always smiling, the one who could cheer anypony up, bring them up from the depths of depression. But it was Pinkie who was out of commision now, Pinkie who could not call back to her friends' fruitless cries.
Applejack wiped her eyes yet again. "Ah... ah dunno what tah say..."
"H-how did this... h-h-happen..." sniffed Rarity, blowing her nose.
"I dunno," replied Rainbow, her teeth gritted. "I was just flying around... and then I decided to drop by Sugarcube Corner to visit Pinkie... we were planning a new prank..."
Rainbow seemed to be having a hard time stopping herself from dissolving into tears. She sniffed and, regaining some form of self-control, continued her tale. "Well, I saw her on her bed. I tried to wake her up, but she didn't respond... after a while I got scared and felt her pulse and..."
Twilight raised her head slightly as Rainbow began to cry freely. The good die young, everypony said that... But Pinkie was strong. Pinkie would not die. Pinkamena Diane Pie was...
She was Pinkie. And that would be enough to see her through this ordeal. Right?
Right?
