//------------------------------// // The Dark Carnival // Story: Friendstuck // by Rubix Cube //------------------------------// Twilight was enjoying some tea and a book when the door was shot off it's hinges for the second time. She sighed, put down her book and cup, and walked to the door frame. Standing in it's place was a smiling Pinkie Pie with Tavros held like a battering ram under her hoof, the door held firmly to the tip of his horns. "Hi Twilight! Look, I found a fun way to open doors!" The earth pony said happily, letting go of Tavros and hopping over to the Unicorn. The horned pony sighed and tried shoving the door off his head as Pinkie began talking. "Has Gamzee been here earlier? I haven't seen him since yesterday, and neither has Tavros! He left a note, see?" Pinkie took out a slip of paper and gave it to Twilight. going out for awhile DON'T MOTHERFUCKING FOLLOW ME Twilight put down the note and stared at Pinkie. "This doesn't bother you at all?" "Nope! The only thing that does is that he took my rolling pins! And he left his pie in the kitchen. What's odd is that when I gave to Pound and Pumpkin Cake they got super-duper sleepy! Maybe that's why he never let me touch them." Pinkie Pie said, when Zecora walked into the library, glancing at Tavros still trying to pry the door off. "Pinkie Pie, There you are! You weren't at Sugar Cube Corner, but i knew you wouldn't go far. I need a favor you see, can you give this to your friend Gamzee?" She reached into her bag and pulled out a large fern. "At your last party, he seemed worried, so I asked him what his trouble might be. He needed a herb that helped him sleep, so I gave him this special leaf. I thought by now he had ran low, but he wasn't there, so I'd let you know." It was at this very moment Tavros got the door off and stood up quickly. "What did he call the thing?" He asked quickly. "The leaf, you mean? He called it 'Sopor,' I believe." Tavros's eyes widened and he ran outside. "He's not sober, he's not sober, he's not..." He continued repeating this. "What the fuck is he doing?" Karkat said, entering the room. "He's running outside saying 'he's not sober,' Silly." Pinkie said. "WERE YOU TALKING ABOUT GAMZEE?" Karkat said quickly. "Yes. Why'd you ask?" "Shit." Karkat followed Tavros outside, causing Twilight, Pinkie, and Zecora to chase after. They eventually got to town square, with Karkat perched on top of Tavros. "EVERYONE IN HORSEVILLE! GET IN YOUR HIVES! THERE'S A MANIAC ON THE LOOSE!" He shrieked on the top of his lungs, causing the flower trio to scream and run into their shop. The rest of Ponyville quickly followed, except for Rarity, Fluttershy, Eridan, Sollux, and Rainbow Dash. "U-Um...What's going on...?" Fluttershy said, before being grabbed by Karkat. "Are Equius and Nepeta Okay." He asked firmly. "Y-yes..?" She said awkwardly. "Karkat, what's the meaning of this?" Twilight asked. He sighed heavily and sat down. "Okay, listen. I don't have good details, but these will have to do: A time ago, Gamzee was like he was when you met him. Being a stoned, idiot miracle and faygo-obsessed clown. Yet he was still a good friend. It was all peachy and other shit until 1) An asshole named Dave sent him this video that shall not be named, and 2) He ran out of Sopor Slime, this thing that helps us trolls sleep. He came to the conclusion: 1) it was destroying his brain. True. 2) He is a descendant of the High Subjugglators, a bunch of assholes that killed others. True. 3) He is both of the messiahs of his own religion. Controversial. 4) He has to kill everyone. Highly troubling. and 5) Paint pictures with their blood. Terrifying. He killed Equius with HIS OWN BOW, and then beat Nepeta to death. Eventually, he collected the heads and bodies of Eridan, Feferi, Tavros here, Nepeta, and Equius. He was a psycho asshat that only I can get sober once again." A quiet breeze blew during the silence that followed. "And I don't think he's afraid to do it again." And at that moment, a scream rang out in the distance. Karkat and Tavros didn't hesitate and sprinted. The others followed. "By the way," Rainbow Dash said. "Eridan and Sollux know how to fly now. But now's not a good time to celebrate." She turned to the two mentioned Pegasi cutting through the air. "...Oh no." Tavros mumbled as he stopped. Twilight caught up with him to see what he was referring to. In front of him was the schoolhouse with a broken window. Twilight and Rarity rushed in. Inside,desks were toppled over, floorboards were broken, books were on the floor, and Cherilee laid on her desk unconscious with a bruise on her forehead. Twilight rushed over to her and shook her awake. The schoolteacher opened her eyes a small bit and looked around the room. "Where... Where are... Where are the foals...?" She asked, looking at Twilight. "Cherilee, stay still." Twilight let her close her eyes again and turned to the others. "She has a concussion. Tavros, what should we do?" Tavros didn't answer, for he was too transfixed on the wall. On it was written crudely in ink. I'M BACK :o) "He took the foals." Rarity said, covering her muzzle. Karkat grabbed Rainbow Dash. "Is there any place abandoned near the town." He asked quickly. "There's an abandoned castle in the Everfree forest. Would he go there?" Twilight said quickly. "Knowing Gamzee, he would." The ponies rushed outside and toward the Everfree. Gamzee looked around the interior of the castle. It would have to work. He threw down the bag of foals and walked forward. The CMC fell out and looked at Gamzee with terror. Scootaloo inched forward. "When Rainbow Dash gets here, She'll kick the heck outta you!" She said loudly. Gamzee turned around and put down his rolling pins. "Did your teacher manage to save you?" He asked. "...No." Scootaloo said. "Did the others try and save you?" "No." "Then what makes you so sure she'll motherfucking save you?" Scootaloo stared down in defeat. "I'll let you know something. I'm a bit lost here." "Excuse me?" Applebloom said. "I mean, how am I going to preserve your bodies. I know what to do with your heads, but not where to store your motherfucking bodies. It's a bit frustrating." The foals shook in fear. Gamzee twirled the rolling pin in his hoof as he eyed Sweetie Belle inching to the door. He walked over, grabbed her by the tail, and got close to her face. The unicorn whimpered. She had talked to Gamzee before, and he might have been weird but he was nice to her. "It's funny. Nepeta tried to run too. But I'm not beating ya yet." He dropped the filly and grinned. "But when I get my friends again, It'll be one big motherfucking miracle." Pinkie Pie tried budging the door. "It's locked!" "Of course it is." Karkat said. "For wood, It'll be hard to break." "Sweetie Belle..." Rarity whispered. Rainbow Dash tackled the door while Pinkie Pie closed her eyes and thought. Her eyes popped open. "TAVROS!" She yelled, grabbing him and hoisting him above her head. The horned earth Pony didn't have time to question when he has thrown against the door and jammed his horns in the lock. Pinkie grabbed his forelegs and pulled. After a few seconds, the lock was ripped out of it's place and once again jammed onto his horns. Pinkie pie opened the door and walked in. "Gamzee!" She called to the Earth Pony. "What are you doing!" Gamzee seemed startled, before turning around and growling. "Let the foals GO!" Pinkie Yelled. She lowered her head and prepared to charge. Gamzee didn't even blink. He was prepared for this. "They're in the other Motherfucking room. Go ahead." He said calmly. Pinkie raised her head, eyed him, and stared as she stalked forward. "If you want to rescue the ungrateful shits." Pinkie stopped. "Ungrateful?" She asked, not turning around. "You don't know? I thought it was obvious." He said, a small grin creeping to his face. "What are you talking about?" Pinkie asked. Gamzee had to hold back a laugh. "Remember that motherfucking story you told me about the motherfucking parasprites? Really cool. But did anyone thank you afterword?" Pinkie frowned. "...No..." "Oh? And even with how much you had to bear to use that song once again?" "...I don't know what you're talking about." Pinkie said, and walked forward. "Don't lie, Pinkie. Motherfucking Cakes told me everything. How you got your Cutie Mark. What happened on that day. What happened to your family." Pinkie froze in place as Gamzee smiled. He circled her. "Yep. Everything. How you 'didn't know the swarm would be attracted to that song. Your family saved you, but you didn't see them again.'" Pinkie bit her lip. "'You didn't want to play that song anymore.' Yet you did. You hated every minute of it. But you did it. And no one thanked ya. Not even your friends." "No, They didn't!" Pinkie said, stomping her hoof. "Even with what I did..." Memories flooded back to her, things she didn't want to remember. And slowly, her hair flattened. She smiled. "She's been in there for awhile..." Eridan said. "Pinkie! What are you doing!" Rainbow Dash called. No Answer. "Welp. Screw this." Rainbow charged through the door. Everyone else followed, finding the lobby empty. "Scoots!" Rainbow Dash called, and was rewarded with a cry for help in the other room. She bucked open the door and surveyed the room for Gamzee or Pinkie. "Is-is he there?" Fluttershy asked, crawling into the room. "Nope." Pinkie Pie trotted out from behind a statue, her head held high. "Pinkie!" Twilight said, relieved. "Where's Gamzee?" Pinkie Grinned and walked forward, the group gasping as her flattened hair came into view. "Not Pinkie." She said as she lowered her head. "Pinkamena." Gamzee stepped out from behind her, smiling. "What the heck!?" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. Pinkie chuckled. "i just came to My senses, that's all." "Where's the foals!?" Twilight yelled. Pinkie just pointed to a net by the window. In it was the CMC, Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon, and Twist. Pinkamena shrugged and flipped a knife around. "This is insane!" Rarity said. "Hey, Just doing what I motherfucking want." Gamzee said. Rainbow dash growled and charged forward. Pinkamena swiftly dodged and grabbed Dash by the wings. "Nice try." Pinkamena threw her to the left and continued flipping around her knife, smiling at Gamzee who grabbed the rolling pins and neared Dash. Eridan flew forward and tackled Gamzee as Twilight, Sollux and Karkat began trying to untie the net. "We'll get you out of here, I promise." Twilight assured the foals, using her horn to cut the net open. Eridan was kicked off of Gamzee and landed in front of the three. Karkat growled and ran forward. Twilight felt relief wash over her. Karkat was Gamzee's friend, he could snap him out of it and save them-- He tapped Gamzee's muzzle and began muttering shoosh. "...What." Rainbow Dash muttered. Gamzee just grinned evilly and threw Karkat to the side. "That doesn't motherfucking work on me anymore, bro." He laughed. Karkat stared at him in shock. He didn't have his sickles with him, and everyone else here didn't have a weapon. He looked around quickly, trying to find something to use. In the corner, shivering, was a scared Fluttershy. "Hey! YOU!" Karkat called to her. "You're good with beasts! Try and calm him!" "ARE YOU CRAZY!" Fluttershy yelled back. "TRY!" Karkat yelled, running behind Pinkamena and tackling her. Fluttershy creeped forward, hiding behind the pillars before managing to get behind Gamzee. The clown was too busy watching the chaos to notice the yellow Pegasus fly above him. Sollux took this time to tackle him to the ground, "NOW!" Karkat yelled, holding down Pinkamena. Fluttershy whimpered and glided down to the struggling Gamzee. Confused, she hesitantly tapped his muzzle and shushed him. Gamzee stopped struggling for a few seconds, before thrashing around and making honk sounds. Fluttershy eeped and drew back, but she whimpered and did it again. He yelled and struggled against Sollux's hold. Fluttershy seemed like she was about to faint, but she did it once more. Gamzee topped for a few more seconds, before fainting. Fluttershy groaned and fainted with him. "One down, one more to go." Rarity mumbled, readying her horn. Pinkamena kicked Karkat off and grabbed him by the neck. She held up her knife and drew it back. "Pinkie, NO!" Twilight yelled. Pinkamena grinned and readied the knife. Before she could bring it to Karkat, a window broke and she was tackled down my a blue blur. Pinkie was knocked out. Karkat looked up and his eyes widened. "JOHN!?" "Karkat?" Rose, Dave, Jade, Bon Bon, Lyra, and Derpy opened the door to the room. While the trolls and others asked questions, John saw the knife in Pinkie's hoof, smiled, few up and began to sing. If there’s something strange in your Sburb session Who ya gonna call? JOHN EGBERT! If there’s something weird and it don’t look good Who does the windy thing? JOHN EGBERT! I ain’t afraid of no Jack! I ain’t afraid of no Jack! If you’re seeing things in Skaia’s clouds Who can ya call? JOHN EGBERT! If an angry troll is messing with your head Who ya gonna call? JOHN EGBERT! I ain’t afraid of no trolls! I ain’t afraid of no trolls! Who ya gonna call? JOHN EGBERT! If ya feeling glum boot up Pesterchum I won’t mind! JOHN EGBERT! I ain’t afraid of no Jack! I hear he likes to stab! I ain’t afraid of no Jack! Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah! Who ya gonna call? JOHN EGBERT! While Karkat yelled for John to shut up, Lyra looked around to see the trolls. "Oh my Celestia, THERE'S MORE!" She squealed, and was the fourth pony to faint that day.