Night of the final day:
12 hours remaining
Twilight and her friends noticed that it was already nighttime on the last day. The bells rang, announcing the end was near. They saw Pinkie in a state of depression, walking slowly down a path, not bothered by the impending doom over Clock Town.
All the other ponies were running around frantically, trying to escape the town and survive. Some of them even knocked down others who were in their way.
"We must follow her and see where she's going. She's heading into that underground tunnel. Let's go, everyone. We'll do our best to help her. Nobody deserves to feel so much pain in their life," Twilight said.
The group followed Pinkie into the tunnels under the town, and they saw her heading towards a hidden room on the right side of the way to the Observatory. They were shocked to see a chair and a noose; Pinkie had planned to hang herself. "Oh no, you won't, Pinkie," Twilight said. But the Terminian Pinkie just glared at them.
"I want to be alone! Why does everybody keep bothering me? Hey, it's you guys again. Just leave me alone!" Pinkie was trying to put the rope around her neck while Twilight tried to talk her out of it.
"What happened to you to make you feel this way, Pinkie? Please talk to us," Twilight said, doing her best to listen to her.
"Why do you guys care? Everyone's going to die anyway. Death looms over this town." Pinkie replied.
"We know that. But we're not going to leave you alone," Twilight whispered to her. "So, Hero. Are you going to use that Song? Do you think it'll work?" Twilight asked.
Hero nodded. "I'll leave it to you, then. Please help her, Hero," Twilight said, tears welling up in her eyes.
Hero pulled out his ocarina and played the Song of Healing. The room went quiet as the healing magic soothed Pinkie's wounded soul. She smiled for the first time in a long time.
The Song finished its work on Pinkie, and Hero nearly doubled over from a sudden surge of powerful emotions. "Hero? Are you okay?" Twilight asked.
Hero nodded, and he toughed it out. He wondered what that was just then and why he felt such raw and unfettered emotions running through his body.
In a sudden flash of insight, Hero was granted a vision that allowed him to see the depths of Pinkmena's sadness. He saw a shadowy figure that resembled her, sitting alone in a state of despair with no hope or joy left in her life. As the vision progressed, the shadowy figure dissolved away and was replaced by her shadow and five other shadows, all huddled together in a loving embrace.
The feeling of bitter sadness slowly melted away as the vision transformed from one of sorrow and despair to one of acceptance and hope. Hero could sense that Pinkmena was hopeful that she would be reunited with those she had lost, and that thought brought her a measure of comfort. The vision was a powerful reminder to Hero of the importance of hope, love, and the connections that bind everyone together.
Pinkie dropped the noose from her hooves and stood there with a shocked expression upon hearing that song. "Why do I feel so happy now? I can't explain it, but I feel fine with passing away now. I... I feel healed. Since you guys have made it this far, I'll tell you what was wrong with me," Termina Pinkie said. "I used to live out where the canyons are, towards Ikana. We had a rock farm there. But a group of bandits raided us, and I watched helplessly as my sisters and parents were murdered in cold blood because we had nothing to give them. The one who made the killing looked a lot like you do," she glared balefully at Applejack, who looked sad as she knew that the Terminian version of herself caused this.
"So, my evil version is a looter and a killer? Land Sakes, sugarcube. I'm so sorry about that."
"I don't know why, but I believe you. You're not the Applejack that I saw before. Why is that, I wonder? Well, after today, none of it will matter. I guess I'll be reunited with them soon."
"Thank you, guys, for helping to ease me into a more calm end. I already know that the end is inevitable. But at least I won't have to leave this world feeling miserable." Twilight tilted her head in sorrow as she shed tears for her friend.
"I understand. I'm sorry we couldn't do more for you. But we could at least do our best to show you friendship—genuine friendship." Twilight then hugged Terminian Pinkie, who just accepted it in turn.
"It's nice to know that not all our other selves are foul. Poor Pinkie." Rarity and the rest of Twilight's friends came in to hug Termina Pinkie as she looked at her other self, who was bubbly and giggly, in stark contrast to her.
"How do you manage to stay that happy? I couldn't accomplish that."
"That's easy, Me. I've got my best friends here. Especially Hero. He's such a cool pony. I'm super duper sorry that you lost all your family. We'll leave you be then." Pinkie said as her other self spoke up.
"I'll just let the moon above do what it will, and it's not like I can say no. Thank you, guys, for healing me and making my last moments more bearable." Termina Pinkie then walked out of their room and made her way out to the surface of Clock Town while Twilight, her friends, and Hero all did the same.
The heroic group emerged from the tunnels to find Pinkie lying on her back, with her hooves splayed out and a serene expression on her face. Though not an ideal solution, it was much better than her previous state of depression. "Thanks, Hero. I suppose this was the best we could do for her," said one of the group members.
They shared a moment of silence for their friend from an alternate reality before bidding her farewell. Rainbow realized they needed to turn back time to the first day, but they were running out of time. Hero played the Song of Time on his ocarina, and the group embraced him as the radiant energy grew brighter.
As they fell back through time, they saw Pinkie's peaceful smile for the last time before their escape from the doomed timeline. They were back to the first day as time thrice lost.
As everyone woke up from their journey through time, they found themselves back in the Clock Tower. The Happy Mask Salespony, a cheerful and friendly salesman, greeted them with a smile, "So, you have returned? And one more friend is back in your company, wonderful. I'm sure there are more things to be done. How can I be of service?"
Rainbow spoke up, "Yeah, we're getting closer to obtaining Majora. We promise. But we need your help. What do you know of the Four Giants? Those huge alicorn-like creatures we saw? They seem to be important to our mission."
Twilight recognized the Salespony as Flam from Equestria and scowled slightly. She didn't trust him and wondered what his true motives were. However, she kept her doubts to herself and focused on the task at hand.
The Salespony's expression turned serious as he replied, "Ah, the Four Giants. They are magnificent beasts of immense power who have sworn an oath to defend Termina from danger. They were created by none other than Gaia Everfree herself; they're about as old as time—four peaceful giants: Swamp, Mountain, Ocean, and Canyon. The four farthest regions of the land of Termina have temples made in their honor. Majora's evil magic might have tampered with them, I'll bet; the four temples were originally constructed for them to dwell in slumber until they were needed."
"How do you know so much about these giants and about who made them?" Twilight asked Flam how he knew so much about the Four Giants.
He chuckled and replied, "Let's say that I have my sources. And you, Hero. You look like you're getting stronger, but I can sense weariness in your soul." Hero nodded to affirm Flam's words.
"I might have neglected to mention that once you heal someone with the Song of Healing, it does indeed heal them from their inner turmoil. However, that pain has to go somewhere. Haven't you noticed that yet?" Hero felt pure and poignant emotions welling up deep from within as he clutched his chest with his forehooves while sitting on his haunches.
"That is what makes that Song so powerful; it is healing for its intended target. You have been healing several broken souls in Termina, haven't you?" Hero nodded to him. "Most impressive that you're still standing even after you healed your soul from that changeling curse. There's something about you, in particular, that's extraordinary. I can't explain it, but you're a mighty warrior in a small stallion's body."
"That's because he's the Element of Courage, Flam," Twilight told him. Flam stroked his mustache in awe and said, "I see. So, his will is strong enough to withstand the pain and turmoil of others. That's not easy to do, you know. Most ordinary creatures, let alone a single person, cannot handle the pain of their grief. But I wonder what keeps you going; what makes you do the things you do? I have a feeling that it's not just about your friends. You are driven towards something, my friend."
Fluttershy asked, "Oh, dear. So Hero's body is like a sponge for all the pain he heals from others?" Flam nodded in affirmation. "Oh, goodness, that's just so awful. I'm so sorry, Hero." Fluttershy hugged him as he hugged her back.
"You're a very gifted and strong-willed pony. I haven't seen anything this incredible since a long time ago." Flam put on one of his happy masks to jest around with them before taking it off and spooking them in a manner akin to peek-a-boo before chuckling. "I know you'll be able to do this, my friend. Just believe in your strengths and your friends. I'll wager that it won't be much longer until you save your friend who's possessed by that mask. From what I have gathered, she's vital to you guys."
"She is. She is the sister of Celestia, and they both are rulers of Equestria. So we have a personal stake in this as we also view her and Celestia as our friends." Twilight told Flam. "We cannot leave this place until we free that last giant, save Starlight, Celestia, and Luna, and stop Majora from destroying everything."
"That is true. The powers of that mask are far too great to be left unchecked. And I have difficulty believing she can handle such immense evil power. So, I leave everything to you once more. Remember to come here to rest if you need to. How much have you all had? Probably not much. I would advise that you all get some rest so you'll be at peak performance. Remember that time does not move in here."
"That is a curious detail. Why not?" Twilight asked Flam.
"That's because inside of here is special; it is at the core of Termina itself and, therefore, does not adhere to the laws of time outside. So, there is no reason to worry right now."
"You're not Flam. Something's not right with you. Based on what you've told me, it doesn't add up. Why is this place the only place to never worry about time when time flows everywhere, regardless of location?" Twilight asks as her suspicion progressively grows.
"Also, why do you often reference past tense when describing yourself and your esoteric knowledge of those giants, implying that you have known them and been around for ages? You're hiding something, Flam. I'm sure, but we've got bigger problems to worry about right now, so we'll rest up for the moment to be ready to begin our quest," Twilight finishes with a huff of irritation.
"You're quite insightful, aren't you? Very well then, I'll leave you to be for now." Flam said as he walked away to the lower levels of the Clock Tower below.