"Diabetes is a terrible thing."
A rather infamous My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic fanfic where Pinkie Pie dies of diabetes. The story revolves around everyone's reactions to her death, as each of her friends handle the loss differently. Unfortunately, they aren't left to their grieving; a new crisis threatens another one of their friends... but can they face it without Pinkie Pie?
Is on Fanfiction.net
as Bittersweets and on Equestria Daily as Bittersweet. No relation to Bitter/Sweet.
Tropes that star in this story:
- Artistic License – Biology: The portrayal of diabetes is inaccurate. The commentary for Rainbow Dash Presents: Bittersweet notes that a diabetic trying to sugar themselves to death would take days, if not within two weeks, and due to how the serious illness that would result from it worksnote , would be an absolutely horrific way to go. That, and diabetics can safely consume foods with carbs and sugar much the same as anyone else, as long as factors like exercise, diet, their current blood glucose levels, and the required insulin to take are all accounted for.
- Big Damn Heroes: In the final chapter, twice.
- Bittersweet Ending: Fittingly, considering the title, as Rarity's plan to revive Pinkie fails, yet her spirit is able to give her friends the closure they needed before departing.
- Book Ends: The first and final chapters contain the line "Where do you think we are?"
- Dark Reprise: In the penultimate chapter, "Giggle at the Ghosties" is reprised to send Pinkie to her final rest.
- Deconstruction Fic
- Decon-Recon Switch: The story switches to Reconstruction in the alternate ending, when Pinkie Pie comes to terms with her diabetes.
- Death Fic: The story revolves around Pinkie dying of diabetic-related complications.
- Driven to Suicide: Pinkie decides she can't make the changes required to live with diabetes and gives herself one final binge on sweets, eventually dying from Diabetic ketoacidosis.
- Even Evil Has Standards: In this case, "Even Jerks Have Standards". Gilda doesn't quite like the fact that Rainbow Dash left Ponyville after Pinkie's death.
- He Didn't Make It: Unwilling to explain to his little sister about death, Big Mac tells her that Pinkie's "on vacation". When she finds out, she's not happy.
- It's All My Fault: Rainbow Dash blames herself for Pinkie's death.
- It's What I Do: Pinkie Pie's explanation for her choice in the first chapter.
- Pre Ass Kicking One Liner: "Did somepony order a PARTY?!"
- Revised Ending: An alternate ending was posted after the epilogue where it was All Just a Dream...except Pinkie having diabetes, but she doesn't die from it, at least, and simply chooses to live with it rather than leave her friends behind.
- Sanity Slippage: While her friends react to losing Pinkie in various ways, poor Rarity goes into outright denial, to the point of seeking a spell to bring her back from the dead.
- Spin-Off: The side story Apple Blossom revolves around Apple Bloom's reaction to learning Big Mac lied to her about Pinkie's death.
- Ship Tease: Hinted at in the main story. The final part before the epilogue has some Pinkie Pie/Rainbow Dash hints. It's also implied very heavily in the alternate ending.
- Shout-Out: The first chapter heavily draws from the Scrubs episode "My Screw Up", including the line "Where do you think we are?"
- Sweet Tooth: Deconstructed. Pinkie's sweet tooth led to type 2 diabetes. She, however, doesn't want to live with the dietary restrictions and ends up killing herself by binging on sweets.
- What the Hell, Hero?: After learning about Pinkie's death, Gilda calls out Rainbow Dash for running away from her problems and turning her back on the others right when they need her the most.
