There it is again! Pinkie thought. Rainbow Dash needs help!
Pinkie followed her friend’s cries for help until they finally became less distant-sounding.
“HELP!” came Dash’s cry, now loud and clear. “AHHHHHHH!”
Pinkie realized it was coming from behind the door to her right. She pushed it open and bounded into the room. To her horror, Rainbow Dash was tied down, staring at Pinkie with terrified eyes. Another pony came out of the shadows. She looked almost exactly like Pinkie, only her mane was flattened out, her coat had a more greyish tone, and she wore a sadistic expression on her face. It was Pinkie’s dark counterpart...
“Pinkamena?!”
Pinkamena grinned psychotically at Pinkie. Pinkie turned around, ready to bolt out the door, but it wasn’t there. She turned back to Pinkamena, who cackled as the room became darker and darker. Pinkie felt like everything was spinning as the cold darkness swallowed her up...
Pinkie’s eyes popped open. She waited a moment to catch her breath, then her eyes searched the room. She was in bed, with her husband Buttercream slumbering beside her. Pinkie tried to roll over, but her oversized belly made it a bit difficult. She giggled softly. She wasn’t even a mother yet, and her foal was already a handful--er, hoof-full. After a minute of struggling, Pinkie managed to get herself out of bed. She trotted down the steps and into the kitchen. As she turned on the light, she smiled a bit. Even though she had been living in this house for a little over a year, she was still just as delighted to have her very own kitchen. Pinkie got to work right away. She gathered most of the ingredients she needed, then paused to think about what flavor she wanted to make.
Chocolate! she decided. Chocolate fixes everything!
Pinkie grabbed a stool and stood up on it, trying to reach the chocolate chips. But her very pregnant belly made it difficult to keep her balance. Suddenly, she fell backward--and was caught by none other than her husband, Buttercream.
“Careful, darling,” Buttercream said quietly, as he helped her back to the ground.
“Sorry, Cream,” Pinkie replied. “I just wanted to make some cupcakes--but I guess I can’t until I have my foal.”
“I’ll make the cupcakes,” Buttercream said with a wink. “Chocolate?”
Pinkie giggled. “You know me so well!” she said.
Pinkie went into the living room and sat down on the couch.
“You want hot sauce too?” Buttercream called.
“Yep!” Pinkie replied. "And pickles!" Being pregnant caused her to have weird cravings, though that wasn’t anything unusual for Pinkie Pie.
After a little while, Buttercream came into the room with a fresh batch of chocolate cupcakes--covered in hot sauce and pickles. Pinkie licked her lips. Not too long after the cupcakes were set before her, there was nothing left but Pinkie’s face covered in hot sauce and cupcake crumbs. Buttercream laughed and grabbed a washcloth. Soon, Pinkie’s face was clean. Buttercream plopped down next to his wife and nuzzled her. He peeked at her swollen belly and sighed. He couldn’t wait to be a father.
“Buttercream?” Pinkie said softly.
“Yes?” Buttercream replied.
“I had that dream again.”
“The one about the dragon, the elephant, and the mug of cider?” Buttercream asked.
Pinkie giggled a little, then her face grew worried. “It was the one about Pinkamena.”
“Oh, Pinkie...”
Buttercream patted Pinkie’s back comfortingly.
“I’m scared,” Pinkie said. “Why do I keep having this dream?”
“I don’t know,” said Buttercream. “But I’ll tell you what--I’ll ask Twilight and Panja about it tomorrow. They might be able to find an answer.”
“Thanks, Buttercream!” Pinkie said with a smile.
Buttercream kissed her cheek. “Let’s go get some rest,” he said.
--
Buttercream stretched and yawned. It was early, but he couldn’t sleep anymore. He had to help Pinkie. He rolled over and smiled at his sleeping wife, who was lying on her side with her back turned to him. Buttercream gently brushed her messy mane aside and planted a kiss on her cheek. Then he got out of bed and grabbed pen and paper. He wrote a note explaining that he had gone to Twilight’s house and would be back soon.
--
Pinkie was in a dark corridor, her only source of light being a lantern she held in her mouth. The flame didn’t light her way very well, but it would have to do. She trotted through the strange room, trying to keep her nerves calm. She felt as though two piercing eyes were following her, watching her every movement. Suddenly, she heard a scream. Startled, she slapped a hoof over her mouth before she could scream. She couldn’t risk being heard. Whatever that dark presence she felt was, she knew that the last thing she needed was to alert it that she was there. Then, there was a deep moan. A feminine, sorrowful moan. Pinkie started to tremble all over.
“Giggle at the ghosties...” she sang softly to herself, her voice shaking.
“Guffaw at the grossly
Crack up at the creepy...”
Pinkie heard a cackle behind her. It was familiar--too familiar. Her heart raced. Sweat poured down her face. She couldn’t hide anymore. Pinkamena had found her. She made a run for it, running so fast that began panting for air, but she kept going. Her legs began to complain, but she made herself keep running. Finally, she reached a dead end. She collapsed in defeat, not knowing where to turn, and having no energy left as it was.
“Whoop it up with the weepy...” she whispered to herself, trying to calm herself. But it wasn’t working.
A pair of blue eyes stared back at her, and a menacing grin appeared below them. The little light that the lantern gave her was enough for her to make out the creature’s shape. It was a pony, no doubt, and it had long, completely straight mane. Pinkie knew who it was, but she wished that it wasn’t.
Pinkamena opened her mouth, and a sweet but cold singing voice finished Pinkie’s song:
“Chortle at the kooky
Snortle at the spooky...”
Pinkamena walked closer to Pinkie, the red light of the lantern’s flame reflecting off of her beautiful yet intimidating features. Pinkie hid her face, terrified.
“Aw, don’t be frightened,” Pinkamena said in a mock comforting tone. “I thought you liked to laugh!”
“GO AWAY!” Pinkie screamed.
Pinkie’s eyes snapped open, and she was breathing very hard. Her eyes shifted, and she saw that she was in her room. Celestia’s gorgeous sunlight peeked through the window, and Pinkie welcomed the presence of the beckoning, warm light. She sighed in both relief and worry. It had been another nightmare. She practically rolled herself out of bed and stretched, basking in the warm glow of the sun. She noticed a piece of paper on her nightstand, and realized it was a note.
My Darling Pinkie,
I have gone to Twilight and Panja’s house. They may be able to find what is causing your recurring dreams about...you know... Anyway, I should be back later. Love you, my dear!
From Buttercream
XOXOXOXO
P.S. Oh, have fun at your cousin’s!
Pinkie gasped and dropped the note. She had almost forgotten that her cousin Surprise was hosting a baby shower for her! (Pinkie had held one herself some months ago, but it had ended in a disaster involving a collapsing giant cake and Scootaloo in a chicken costume; so when Surprise moved into town she had offered to throw her another one.) Pinkie quickly got dressed in the outfit she had set aside (it looked similar to the one she had worn for her “You Got to Share, You Got to Care” song, only it was tailored to fit her pregnant belly), and she happily trotted out the door, humming happily to herself as her excitement crowded out her thoughts of Pinkamena.