Bittersweet: Alternate Ending
Written by anon
Transcribed and edited by nukeiffum

It was the biggest party Pinkie Pie had ever put together. She'd been baking since before noon to get enough goodies ready, and everypony in Ponyville had turned up to celebrate the news of Rainbow Dash's acceptance to the Wonderbolts after the most amazing tryout any of them had ever seen. The Wonderbolts themselves had even stopped by, and were now busy signing autographs and taking pictures with everypony in sight. The day couldn't have been more perfect, but Pinkie heard a strange sound coming from one corner of the room.

Somepony was crying.

Pinkie ran over to discover none other than the pony of the hour herself, Rainbow Dash, backed up against a wall, sobbing. She didn't even seem to notice how many people had turned up for her party.

"Aw, Dash, what's wrong? Are you just so amazingly super duper happy you can't help crying? I made you some special cupcakes with rainbow sprinkles, so dry those eyes and let's have some fun!" But dash didn't seem to hear her. "You okay, Dash? Are you crying for real? Are there not enough balloons?"

"P… P-Pinkie…" The blue pegasus could barely get the words out.

"I'm right here, Dash," Pinkie responded. "What's wrong?"

"Pinkie, p-please…"

"Hm?"

"Pinkie please… please get up."

Pinkie Pie tilted her head, confused. "Huh? I'm not the one sitting on the floor at a party. Are you feeling okay?"

"Please, Pinkie." Rainbow Dash pleaded. "Please wake up. You're my best friend and I…I—" She broke into tears again. Pinkie put a hoof around her friend's neck.

"I'm right here Rainbow Dash. We're at your party. Don't you remember?"

"I'll… I'll give up flying for the rest of my life if she just gets better." Pinkie couldn't figure out who Dash was talking about, but suddenly she started feeling dizzy. The room was spinning, and the room started to blur. Bad cupcakes maybe? Everything went black, then Pinkie realized she must have fallen down. She opened her eyes.

Pinkie wasn't at the sweet shop anymore, and this new room was empty. It was dark outside and she was lying in somepony else's bed. What had happened at the party? Pinkie turned her head and saw Rainbow Dash sitting on a stool, smiling at her friend with tears in her eyes.

"Hey Dash, what happened at the party?" Pinkie asked weakly. "I think I fell asleep."

"Pinkie…" Dash tried to find her voice. "I think you were dreaming, Pinkie. We've been here at the hospital for two days, ever since your…" She choked. She didn't want to think about how horrific it had been to find Pinkie in her condition, to see her pass out and start convulsing like that. The trip to the hospital carrying Pinkie on her back was quicker than Dash could usually fly by herself, and she'd nearly thrown up after the nurse ponies had forced her out of the room when Pinkie stopped breathing. It wasn't until an hour later when they let her back inside, and Pinkie was out cold. They didn't know how long it would take for her to come around.

They sat and stared at one another in silence. Pinkie did her best to think about what had happened. Her fateful doctor visit, the awful needle, the first fit of depression the cheerful Pinkie Pie had ever felt, and how she tried to kill herself with sweets. And Rainbow Dash catching her in the act. Now the pink pony was choking back her own tears. "Dash, I'm sorry. I'm sorry I acted so selfish. I'm sorry I made you feel sad. I'm supposed to be the one who makes everypony smile and laugh."

Dash chuckled. "I'm just happy you're still here. I was really… I… I was so scared. And after I got you here I couldn't do anything to help. I felt so useless."

"You stayed with me, Rainbow Dash. I think that helped a lot." Pinkie looked away. "I'm sorry for what I did. I don't want to make anypony sad, especially my best friend. If I can't eat sweets anymore then that's okay. I can still make people laugh. I can still make my friends smile."

"Pinkie, I was thinking about what you said that night." Rainbow Dash said. "About it being like me not being able to fly anymore. And you were right." She paused. "But I made a promise. I said if you'd just get better I'd never fly again. I'd rather give up flying than give you up."

Pinkie turned back towards her friend. "I think I could hear you when I was dreaming. But Dash, I don't want you to do that. You're not happy stuck on the ground, and if you can't be happy, I couldn't be happy either."

Dash couldn't keep it together after that. She jumped up and threw her forelegs around Pinkie, hugging her friend tightly. Neither spoke until Rainbow Dash finally released her friend and stood up.

"So what were you dreaming about, Pinkie?" The blue pegasus asked. "Something good?"

"Yeah, something good. I'll tell you, but it's super top secret, so you can't let anypony else know." Dash leaned in closely to hear what her friend had to say, and Pinkie tipped her head forward to plant a tiny kiss on Rainbow Dash's nose. They both blushed.

"Pinkie Pie, you are so random."