Pinkie woke up after a long refreshing sleep that definately made it up for the sleepless night before it. She wasn't sure how long had she been sleeping, but she felt well rested now and full of energy. Almost as if everything was alright. She stretched and yawned. "Where am I?" she wondered aloud while looking around with one of her eyes, because she was rubbing the other one. The place she was in didn't seem familiar. But, one thing was certain. This definately wasn't her room. "Good morning, Pinkie Pie," a known voice said. "Did you sleep well?" Only then did Pinkie realize that she is in Luna's chamber in Canterlot. Luna's wing was covering her back to keep her warm while she is sleeping. Pinkie thought that it's a blanket before she saw the princess. "Princess Luna!?" she exclaimed. That was definately surprising. "Why am I here?" The last thing she remembered was a party. Yes, a party A nice party where she had a lot of fun with her friends. But then... what happened after that? She remembered dark, fear... "Pinkamena..." she whispered in a weak voice. "What have I done?" Luna moved closer to Pinkie and shushed her.
"It's okay, Pinkie. Everything is okay." Pinkie looked at Luna with sadness in her eyes. "But, your highness... my sister... I have forgotten about my own sister. I... I even thought that I made her up and that she isn't real. How could I have ever done something like that? I'm terrible." "It is not your fault. You had a hard childhood. A hard life." Pinkie sighed. She decided to stop talking. She didn't want to bother the princess with her problems. Luna probably had her own problems and better things to do than comfort her. "I think that I should go home. Thank you for taking care of me," she said and got up. She was about to leave, but Luna stopped her. "Wait, Pinkie Pie." She put her hoof on Pinkie's shoulder. "I know well how it feels when you hurt your sibling. And how it feels when you look into her eyes after all that happened." Pinkie's mane suddenly straightened. She felt like a small, helpless, fragile foal again. Her eyes searched for comfort in Luna's. And, they found it. They found more than enough of it. Luna knew what she was talking about. She felt that way too. Pinkie knew what happened between her and Celestia. And, she knew how sorry Luna was. Right now... Luna's mere presence was enough for Pinkie to feel safe. Pinkie couldn't help it but allow herself to do something that her rank probably wouldn't allow. She hugged the princess and started crying and sobbing quietly. But, Luna didn't seem to mind at all. She didn't seem to mind that Pinkie was just a magicless earth pony. She just wrapped her front leg around Pinkie, hugging her.
It took quite a while for Pinkie to calm down. And Luna was patiently comforting her the whole time. Pinkie wiped what was left of her tears and looked at Luna again, suddenly remembering who is the other mare. "I'm so sorry, princess. I didn't mean to..." But Luna put the tip of her hoof on Pinkie's mouth, silencing her. "Don't apologize," Luna said calmly. "It seems like you really needed this." Suddenly, someone knocked on the door. "Come in," Luna allowed. The pony who got in was no other than Celestia herself. "Sister, I have bad news. The whole Ponyville was searched, but there wasn't a single pony named Pinkamena Dolores Pie. No one heard about her. Her description was shown to everypony who could know something, and that included all of the citizens. Nothing. Absolutely nothing." Luna found out the name when Nightmare Moon showed her those pictures in Pinkie's mind. She told Celestia the name and made an exact drawing of the pony she saw. The exact copy of Pinkie, but with flat mane and without a cutie mark. "How can that be possible?" Luna asked. She really hoped that they will find at least some tiny little clues while searching Ponyville, but that hope was now shattered. "I do not know," Celestia answered. Pinkie was looking at princess of the Sun in surprise without even blinking.
Luna looked at her, and then back at Celestia. "There might not be another choice. We have to talk to the rest of the Pie family and ask them about the whereabouts of Pinkie Pie's twin sister. Just leave everything to us. Pinkie Pie and I shall find them and tell them everything. If you wouldn't mind, please notify princess Twilight Sparkle about Pinkie Pie's current state." Pinkie bowed to both of the princesses. "Sorry to interrupt, my princess but... couldn't my friends go with me? I don't want you to have to go through that just because of me. I can even do it myself, if it's necessary" But Luna shook her head. "Sorry, Pinkie. For some reason, Nightmare Moon found you to be a suitable victim. And you are the Element of Laughter. I can't take that risk. I do not know when she might strike again. Not even where, but she will most likely attack you," she said. It wasn't just about Pinkie. Nightmare Moon also wanted to toy with Luna and Luna knew that well. "Nightmare Moon!?" Pinkie Pie's eyes widened. She had a dream about Nightmare Moon the night before she saw Pinkamena. Still, it was just a dream, right? "But, it can't be. We defeated her." Luna looked away. "I don't know how it happened, but she is alive," she said with a small frown on her face. Then she looked at Pinkie again. "That's why we can not afford to take that risk." Shaking her head, Pinkie slowly retreaded toward the corner of the chamber, as if that could stop the fact that Nightmare Moon is alive, from entering her mind. A weak and quiet "no," was the only thing she could say. Luna walked over to her and raised her head with her hoof, so Pinkie was looking straight into her gorgeous eyes. "If Nightmare Moon corrupts even one of the Elements, we'll stand no chance against her. I will not let her cause any more harm. Not to you. Not to anypony else."
In no time, Luna and Pinkie were in Luna's carriage, pulled by dark grey pegasi. Pinkie was just sitting there and looking at her own hooves. Luna knew her long enough to know that this is not how she would usually act. Even though Pinkie recovered a bit, she still didn't return to her former self. "Child," Luna started. When Pinkie raised her head, she continued. "No need to be worried. We shall make everything alright." Pinkie looked down again. "I know, your highness. I am just... a little worried, that's all." "About your sister?" Pinkie nodded. "To think that she is my sister and that I don't know a thing about her right now..." "Even those you spend every day with can surprise you to a point where it seems like you don't know them at all. But you will get to know her again in no time. I am sure about that." Pinkie studied Luna when Luna didn't look. "I wonder... It probably happened to you, didn't it?" she thought. But, who could the person she is talking about be? Celestia? Sunset Shimmer? "Ah, we have arrived," Luna said after a while, pulling her out of her thoughts into reality.
Pinkie looked around. They were surrounded by the same murky clouds she grew up under. And on the ground, there was a small rock farm. Pinkie swallowed a lump that formed in her throat. She haven't been there for quite a while. When carriage touched the ground, she got out, together with princess Luna. A grey pony with lilac mane, stood in shock for a few moments at the sight of the princess. She definately didn't see that comming. When she pulled herself together, she immediately bowed down to Luna. "Maud!" Pinkie exclaimed. Pinkie's dad was away, so when they entered the house, they were surrounded by the female part of the family. After all, Pinkie didn't have a brother. Pinkie's mother was literally jumping around and offering almost everything they had in their house to the princess. Pinkie wasn't sure if she had ever seen her mother in such hurry and under such pressure. All three of Pinkie's sisters were doing the same, trying to help their mother. Luna kept thanking and saying that she isn't hungry nor thirsty. In the end, she agreed to a glass of water. Then Pinkie's mother and her daughters finally sat down and relaxed. "If I may ask, what brings you all the way here, your highness?" Cloudy Quartz asked while adjusting her glasses. " Luna's face was blank, like always, so even with those on, she couldn't see any trace of... well, anything. "There is but one important thing we have to ask you about and it would be of much use if you could give us an answer. Where is the residence of your fifth daughter?" Cloudy Quartz tilted her head. "M-my fifth d-daughter?" she stammered. "Yes. We need to know where is she." Everyone in the Pie family was confused except for Pinkie.
"With all due respect, your highness... I do not have a fifth daughter," Cloudy Quartz answered. "I only have four of them." Pinkie Pie shook her head and furiously got up. "You're lying!" she yelled. "Pinkamena Diane Pie, watch your tone! How dare you speak to your mother like that?" Cloudy Quartz scolded her daughter. She wasn't yelling, but she was speaking strictly and firmly. "Pinkie Pie, please calm down," Maud said. "NO!" Pinkie threw her chair into the wall and looked at her mother. Luckily, the chair didn't break, even though the sound was really loud. "You're lying! You're lying! Why do you hate Pinkamena Dolores Pie enough to say that she is not your daughter!?" But, she didn't even wait for an answer. She just ran out of the house. Marble Pie ran after her. "Pinkie, wait up! Where are you going?" she asked. Luna looked back at Pinkie's mother. "I am so sorry you had to see that, your majesty. I really don't know what has gotten into her. She had never been like that." "You are saying that you don't have the fifth daughter named Pinkamena Dolores Pie? Pinkie's twin sister?" Cloudy Quartz shook her head. "Yes. I don't have a fifth daughter. I wouldn't lie about something like that. Especially not to you." Luna furrowed her brow. She knew what might be the problem. "I had to ask you in person, just to make sure that no one has an opportunity to manipulate this information. Thank you. You helped us a lot," she said and got up. She headed for the door. Cloudy Quartz went to walk Luna out, together with her daughters. But, before she got out, Luna looked at Cloudy Quartz once more. "I would appreciate it if you don't blame Pinkie Pie for what happened today," she said. The other mare nodded. Luna could almost see thousands of questions appearing in her head. But, she couldn't tell her anything more than she already told her.
Pinkie was hiding behind a huge rock. Marble was trying to talk to her, but Pinkie was trying to make her get away from her, while yelling that her whole family is full of liars. "I will take it from here, child" Luna told Marble. Marble bowed and then nodded, before returning to her house. Pinkie's mane was flat and her eyes were empty. "I apologize for running away like that, your highness. But, I just couldn't stop myself. My mother... How could she say something like that?" Luna tilted her head. "Let us return to Canterlot. We shall talk there," she said. "But, what about my sister?" Pinkie asked. Panic could be heard in her voice. "Do not worry," was the only thing Luna said.