[center]The Lies We Tell[/center]

A single snowflake gently fell down, tumbling on an errant breeze. The flake twirled and came to rest on the nose of a young girl with wild pink hair, bringing a soft smile to her face. A moment later when the snowflake melted, the smile melted away with it. She looked up to the sky, the barest hint of a frown tugging at her expression. Turbulent grey clouds blotted out the Moon and the stars, bringing the world into a realm of shadows and darkness. The girl sighed and leaned forward, allowing gravity to pull her out of the window. The brief trip down sent adrenaline coursing through her veins. With a wild grin, she picked herself up and dusted herself off. There were a few new grass stains adorning her sweater, she didn’t even spare them a glance.

She walked up to the lone tree that dominated the barren front yard of her parents’ rock farm. It easily towered over her house, dwarfing the diminutive building beneath it. She placed her hand on the trunk of the tree and sighed as her hand idly caressed a carving in the withered trunk. A gentle breeze carried the girl’s secrets around the branches and among the few remaining leaves. A feeling of contentment resonated from the powerful life in the old tree, bringing forth fond memories and a ghost of a smile.

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"Pinkie, dear, are you alright? What on Earth are you doing down there?" The girl's sky blue eyes snapped open. It took her a moment to realize that she must have dozed off among the roots of the old tree. She had a slight crick in her back from the awkward position she had lain in, but she was no stranger to pain and easily ignored this lesser ache.

With a sheepish blush, she hopped up and brushed herself off again, "Sorry, Rarity. I guess I spaced out for a bit!"

"You have nothing to be sorry for, I was the one running late."

"Guess we're both guilty then!" She paused for a second, “[i]Can[/i] we both be guilty?”

Rarity smiled sweetly, “I suppose we could.” Pinkie beamed at her, hiding the anguish within her heart.

She pushed past the feeling, holding on to her mask. Her only life preserver in these raging rapids. 

"Are you ready to go, Pinkie? It wouldn’t do to be late to our dinner reservations, now would it?" 

The girl felt her mask once again slip into place and grinned at her closest friend. She lunged forward and grabbed Rarity’s hand, another lifeline in the storm.

"Let’s go then! I’m starving!" 

Smiles are the easiest lies to sell, after all.