//------------------------------//
// A Slice of Pie 
// Story: Cupcakes: Rainbow Reincarnate 
// by Surprise The Pegasus 
//------------------------------//

"Where are we going, and how're we gonna stop Pinkie?" Asked Applejack.

"I know a mare who will answer both those questions. Her name is Twilight Sparkle."

"Y'all know Twilight Sparkle?"

"Yes. And I know she'll help us." Rainbow and Applejack galloped faster, almost colliding with several other ponies. Twilight's house was coming into view. AJ and Dash skidded to a halt in front of the Library. Twilight swung the door open and ushered her friends inside.

"Hi girls." Greeted Twilight.

"Twilight, we need to talk." Said Dash, taking a seat next to Applejack.

"About what?" Asked Twilight.

"I know who did it, Twilight. Applejack told me, right AJ?" Applejack nodded.

"Who!? Who did it?" Twilight practically jumped over her coffee table.

"It was…Pinkie Pie, Twilight. Pinkie Pie did this." Twilight fell and landed in a quivering heap on the floor.

"W-what? P-Pinkie Pie? No, she wouldn't do something like that! HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT!?" Twilight yelled between sobs.

"Ah'm sorry Twilight, but it's the truth." Applejack offered a comforting hoof.

"YOU SHOULD BE SORRY!!" Twilight smacked Applejack's hoof away and continued to cry into her hooves.

"Ah' saw her, Twilight. It's the truth, ah'm tellin' you. Pinkie Pie-"

"MAYBE YOU SHOULD HAVE YOUR EYES CHECKED, APPLEJACK!! Pinkie Pie would never do something like that! Don't you remember her at all!? She was the kindest, most lovable pony in all of Equestria! She couldn't hurt a fly…" Twilight brought her face out of her hooves and wiped her tears.

"Twilight, Applejack wouldn't lie to you, or to me. Pinkie Pie is a killer, and she needs to be stopped before she hurts anypony else. Now, are you gonna help us, or not?" Dash narrowed her eyes.

"Would you 2 just SHUT UP!? I need to think." Twilight ran her hooves through her mane as she whispered to herself. Twilight then stood up and faced Rainbow and Applejack. "Ok, my mind is made up. I'll help you, on one condition."

"What's your condition?" Asked Dash.

"We are NOT killing her. Understand?" Twilight eyed the 2 mares.

"We wouldn't dream of it, Twilight." Said Applejack. Rainbow Dash nodded in agreement.

"Alright then, it's settled. To SugarCube Corner!"


.....................


"Are y'all ready?" Asked Applejack. The trio was outside of SugarCube Corner, planning their assult.

"As ready as I'll ever be…" Twilight whispered.

"Girls?" Asked Dash.

"What's up, sugarcube?"

"I need to face Pinkie alone."

"But why? You don't even know er', and even I wouldn't challenge a killer alone." Applejack gasped.

"Applejack, I have a confession to make."

"Now isn't the time fer' this!" Applejack whisper-screamed.

"Yes, it is. My name isn't Ranbow Blitz."

"Really!? That was it!? Well then, what's yer' real name!?" Applejack hissed.

"I'm Rainbow Dash." Applejack's face grew red with fury.

"How DARE you say that you're Rainbow Dash!! If you're tryin' to prank me, it ain't funny!!" Applejack shoved Dash into a wall.

"Applejack, stop!" Twilight pushed Applejack away from Dash.

"What're you doin', Twilight! Lemme at er'!" Applejack growled.

"No, Applejack. She's Rainbow Dash, I swear!" Twilight pleaded.

"Alright then. I'm gonna ask you a question only the real Rainbow Dash could answer. Who came with us on our camping trip up to Winston Falls?"

"There were me and you, Applebloom, Rarity, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo, my little sister." Said Dash.

"Oh my stars, it's really you! I've missed you so much." Applejack have Dash a tight hug. "Alright, Rainbow. If you wanna go it alone, that's fine by me. Twilight and I will be right outside if you need us." Dash nodded.

"Alright girls, I'm going in." Dash trotted up to the door, then gave it a light knock. Mrs. Cake cracked open the bakery's door.

"I'm sorry, but SugarCube corner is closed on Sundays." Said Mrs. Cake.

"I'm here to see Pinkie Pie, actually. Is there any chance she's here?"

"Pinkie Pie hasn't been feeling too well of late, so yes, she's home." Mrs. Cake opened the door all the way, and Dash entered. Mrs. Cake closed the door behind them. The interior of SugarCube corner was bathed in darkness. The only light came from the lantern that Mrs. Cake was carrying.

"Pinkie Pie's sick? The last time she got sick was when we had the "Baked Bads" incedent. Do you know what's wrong with her?"

"To tell you the truth, this has been going on for about 2 years now. She refuses to leave, and doesn't let anypony in her room, or in the cellar. Mr. Cake and I take care of her and run the bakery. I don't know what's gotten into her. But it's gotten worse over the years. It's gotten to the point that she won't even get out of bed, and sudden movements set her on edge. She talks to herself, and once she ripped out a chunk of her mane. I'm scared for her." Mrs. Cake explained.

"I'm here to fix it, Mrs. Cake." Said Dash.

"That's kind of you, it really is. I wish you could fix her, but I think she's beyond fixing."

"I'll try." Dash followed Mrs. Cake up the stairs to Pinkie's room. Mrs. Cake gingerly knocked on the door.

"Pinkie Pie, a nice pony is here to see you." No response came. Mrs. Cake cautiously opened the door and led Dash inside. "I'll leave you 2 alone." Mrs. Cake set down the lantern, then headed back downstairs.

"Pinkie, this has to stop." Said Dash. Pinkie was hidden under her blanket in a quivering lump. "Pinkie Pie, I know you can hear me. You have to stop this." Pinkie slowly peeled the blanket back, revealing herself. Her pink coat was matted and dirty, and her cotton candy mane clung to her head and neck in a pink miasma. The worst was her eyes. Her beautiful blue eyes… her pupils were dilalated differently, one was larger than the other. Her eyes were screaming and begging, and she couldn't stop shivering.

"You need to l-l-leave." Stuttered Pinkie.

"I'm not leaving until I know that you're ok, and that you'll stop killing innocent ponies."

"K-killing…that's why you need to leave…Dashie." Said Pinkie.

"How did you know that…Pinkie?"

"How did I not know? I've missed you so much, you have no idea."

"Then why did you and Fluttershy kill me?"

"I didn't, I wouldn't! It was P-P-P-Pinkamena. She m-made me do it. And Fluttershy wasn't there. It was just, just, her. I'm trying so hard to keep her contained…but I still loose control sometimes, and that's why I stay here, to keep her from hurting anypony else." It was then that Dash realized: the only way to save what was left of Pinkie Pie was to take her out of this room, this house. It was plaguing her mind, like poision. Pinkie Pie's psyche had always been unstable, but the friendships she's made have held her together all her life. Friendship could save her.

"Pinkie, it's time to go outside." Pinkie shrank back.

"N-no, I'm not ready! I can't leave yet!" Pinkie started to kick wildly.

"Pinkie, you've secluded yourself in here for 2 years. You are ready, you just need to be brave." Dash placed a hoof on Pinkie's chest, and her flailing subsided. Pinkie took a deep breath.

"Ok, I think I'm ready now. But Dashie?"

"Yeah?"

"C-can you help me?"

"Yeah, I can help you." Dash offered a hoof, and Pinkie took it. Pinkie slowly sat up, placing her back hooves on the wood floor. She cautiously put her front hoof down, the other in Dash's hoof.

"Ok, let's go." Dash started to walk forward. Pinkie hesitated, then began to walk herself, her hooves shaky. Dash started to pick up the pace, while still walking slow. "Dash, not so fast! Can you please slow down?" Pinkie pleaded.

"Here, how about you lead the way?" Pinkie nodded, then led Dash downstairs, step by step. Finally, Pinkie and Dash were at the door. "Are you ready to go out, Pinkie?"

"Mhmm." Dash slowly opened the door, and the flood of light hit Pinkie like a wave. She winced at the sun's light. This was the first time she had seen real sunlight in 2 years. Pinkie let go of Dash's hoof, then walked up to Twilight and Applejack.

"Pinkie Pie, I'm so glad you're alright!" Twilight hugged Pinkie tightly, a tear escaping her eyes.

"I'm glad I'm ok too, Twilight." Twilight released Pinkie from her death hug.

"Oh Pinkie, ah'm glad you're back. Things haven't been the same without ya'." Said Applejack. For the first time in 2 years, Pinkie Pie smiled.


..................


"Just like new!" Rarity cheered. It was true. Pinkie Pie looked much better than she had yesterday. Her cost was clean, her mane was back to being cotton candy, and her pupils were dialated properly. She looked just like her old self, but she didn't feel like her old self. Insanity still clawed at her mind.

"I do look like new." Said Pinkie. The rest of the gang nodded in agreement. Dash trotted up to Pinkie and whispered something in her ear. Pinkie nodded, then followed Dash downstairs.

"Remember how you told me it was just Pinkamena, and that Fluttershy wasn't there?"

"Mhmm."

"I asked that because I had a vision, or heard something, I don't know. But I heard Fluttershy, and I heard you. I just don't understand…" Dash scratched the back of her neck.

"You were just hearing things. Fluttershy wasn't there, and she couldn't hurt anything, especially her friends. You have nothing to worry about." Said Pinkie. Dash nodded.

"Rainbow Dash! Guess what I just found!" Said Twlilght happily. Twilight joined Dash and Pinkie on the couch, a book in her hooves.

"I don't know, some kind of spell?" Asked Dash.

"Exactly! But this isn't just any spell, it's a spell that can fix you, restore you." Said Twilight.

"Whoa, cool. Cast away, Twi!" Said Dash excitedly.

"Here goes…" Twilight stood, her horn glowing a bright magenta. Twilight's horn flared, then Dash was enveloped in magic. There was a blinding flash of light, and the spell was complete. Dash looked herself over with disbelief. Her coat was back to its natural cyan color, her mane was rainbow once again, and best of all, her feathered wings were back, as well as her cutie mark. And she had her guts back, too. The rest of the Mane 6 came rushing downstairs, their jaws dropping slightly. Pinkie Pie bounced off the couch.

"Hey, you know what this calls for? A PARTY!!" Pinkie exclaimed. The girls high-hoofed. Out of the corner of her eye, Rainbow Dash saw Fluttershy smile darkly, and mouth the word "soon".


The End