She had expected intense pain, maybe even a trip to heaven when she hit the bottom of Ghastly Gorge, but instead, Confetti Surprise was lost in an endless void of darkness. She couldn’t tell up from down or left from right, couldn’t see past her own hooves in front of her, couldn’t even tell how much time had passed. Was she even alive? She did hear voices from time to time: Lightning, her children her parents and siblings, even Galaxy and Roy on occasion. Confetti figured she must have been alive, but she couldn’t be sure.
 
“Hello? Can anypony hear me?” She called out, hoping for an answer even if it was futile. “Where am I?”
 
“Confetti…”
 
She turned her head to spot a bright light in the distance, which quickly faded as a familiar purple figure approached her. She gasped in shock as she realized who it was.
 
“Paint Swirl? Oh Celestia, am I really dead?”
 
“No,” Paint said, to her surprise. “You’re in a coma, Connie. You have been for three months.”
 
“Three months…” Confetti’s wings drooped and bit her lower lip. “I‘m going to die, aren’t I?“
 
“You won’t,” Paint shook her head. “But you have to wake up soon or you will.”
 
Confetti let out a shaky breath. “I…I don’t know how. I’ve heard them talking, but whatever I try I can’t do anything to show them I’m still there. I don’t even know where I am. But I don’t want to leave them! I miss my babies, and my Bolty, and my whole family. How would they carry on without me?”
 
“They shouldn’t have to carry on without you. You shouldn’t have to leave them. You have your whole life ahead of you. It’s not your time to go.”
 
“I sure hope it isn’t…” Confetti stepped towards Paint. “How did you get here? Do you know a way out of here? Is…is any of this even real? Are you real?”
 
“Please, don’t come near me!” Paint stepped back. “You don’t want to come with me! Not yet.“
 
Confetti was about to respond when a bright light caught her eye from behind. “Paint, what’s happening?”
 
“It’s time to wake up,” Paint smiled. “Go back to them, Connie. Lightning, the kids, your family and friends, they all need you. It’ll be hard, but you have to stay strong for them.” As she noticed her body begin disintegrating, time was running out. “And one more thing…”
 
“Yes?”
 
“Thank you for being there for my family when I couldn’t.”
 
Confetti smiled and closed her eyes as the light enveloped her.
 
“You’re welcome. It’s what friends do.”