Pinkamena has finally been killed. Or has she? Gruesome killings begin to plague Ponyville once again, with all the signs of Pinkamena. Has she returned to finish the job? Or is it something far more sinister?
2 Days After The Events Of Pinkamena 4: Recovery...
Applebloom sat outside the main barn at Sweet Apple Acres, lost in thought. Applejack stepped outside and looked down at the little filly.
"You okay?" she asked, sympathetically.
"I'm fine." answered the foal, snapping out of her trance.
"You sure?" asked Applejack. "You went through some mighty difficult stuff. Stuff no pony as young as yerself should ever have to go through."
"I'm sure, big sis." Apple Bloom said, getting up. "I'm gonna go to my room. See ya later."
"See ya." Applejack responded.
I hope she's okay, she thought. iShe's been through a lot recently. I just hope she can recover.
May and Dawn entered Zack's Game Shop. May had sort of recovered ever since Pinkamena's spirit left her body. Now the most she felt was a few minor pains. The doctors said this was from the surgery and that she should be careful. But also that she was fine to leave. Zack looked over at them.
"Hey, you're back." he said in a friendly tone. "Is this your friend?"
"Yeah." said Dawn, "This is May."
"How you feeling?" he asked.
"Okay, now." said May. "I should be perfect in a few days."
"Well, that's great to hear." Zack said with a smile. "Need anything today?"
"As a matter of fact, I do." said May, approaching a shelf of games.
Twilight was rearranging books in the library when she heard a knock on the door. She put the books down and went to the door. Upon opening it, she saw a purple pony.
"Hiya." said the pony. "Got any good mystery books?"
"Sure do." said Twilight. "This way, please." she said, leading the pony to a shelf of books.
Rainbow Dash sat on a cloud, doing absolutely nothing.
Rarity stood in her studio at Carousel Boutique, trying to come up with ideas for a new dress. She thought and thought until she finally came up with an idea. It would be pink in memory of Pinkie Pie. She smiled at this thought and went ahead on making the dress.
Fluttershy was in her yard, taking care of the animals that resided there. She kept thinking about Pinkie Pie.
Trixie and Fern were at the spa, having a wonderful time.
Macy was at Sugarcube Corner checking on the Cakes. Pinkie Pie was like a daughter to them. Ever since her initial death they've been a little depressed. Macy felt it was the right thing to do to NOT tell them she came back and died again.
Every pony was going about their business as if this was an ordinary day. And why shouldn't they? Because once the next day comes around, they'll be in for one big surprise.
Twilight awoke to the sounds of terrified screaming. She fell out of bed and ran downstairs. Spike continued sleeping. Twilight burst through the front door of the library and found a group of ponies gathered in a circle. She began pushing her way through the crowd until she got to the front. She almost threw up at what she saw. A pony lay on the ground. Her stomach ripped open and her guts spilled out of her body.
"No!" yelled Twilight.
The front door to the barn flew open.
"Hey there, Twilight." Applejack greeted.
"What's up?" Apple Bloom asked, standing next to her sis.
"What's going on?" asked Apple Bloom. "More murders?"
"I'm afraid so." said Twilight.
Apple Bloom took a step back. "I thought you killed her."
"We did." said Applejack. "This has to be some pony else."
"I'm not so sure." said Twilight. "If you saw the body..."
"Pinkamena's dead." said Applejack. "Pinkie Pie killed her two days ago."
"Then, come see for yourself." said Twilight.
Applejack followed Twilight.
"Stay here, Apple Bloom." said Twilight. "You do not want to see this."
"Is it really that bad?" Apple Bloom asked.
Twilight and Applejack arrived back at the scene. Royal Guards were wrapping the body up and taking it away. Celestia and Luna were both there as well.
"Princesses." said Twilight, approaching them.
"Hello, Twilight." said Luna. "
"What's goin' on?" asked Applejack.
"I'm afraid another pony has been... slaughtered."
"You did get rid of Pinkamena, did you not?" asked Celestia.
"Yes." said Twilight. "Well, Pinkie Pie did." Celestia and Luna had a puzzled expression. "It's a long story."
"Well, we'll get to the bottom of this." said Luna. "Just let us know if you see anything suspicious."
"Will do." said Applejack.
The two princesses took off back to Canterlot. Twilight turned to Applejack.
"We need to speak with Apple Bloom."
"Why?" asked Applejack.
"Because she spoke with Pinkamena before we arrived. Maybe she mentioned something."
"Good idea." said Applejack. "Let's go."
They arrived back at Sweet Apple Acres to find Apple Bloom playing with Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo in the fields. The two ponies approached them.
"Apple Bloom?" asked Applejack. "May we speak with you in private?"
"Okay." responded the filly.
"See you later." said Sweetie Belle, as she and Scootaloo trotted away.
"Yeah. See ya." Apple Bloom responded. She looked up Twilight and Applejack. "What's up?"
"Did Pinkamena say anything to you before we arrived?" Twilight asked.
"Umm..." Apple Bloom thought aloud. "She did say something."
"You 'member what?" asked Applejack.
"Something about how she had a plan for coming back. She didn't say what it was, though. I thought that when Pinkie defeated her, she wouldn't be able to."
"Perhaps she found a way." said Twilight. "Whatever the case, we have to find her and stop her."
"But, how we gonna find her?" asked Applejack.
"You sure she didn't say anything else?" Twilight asked Apple Bloom. "Anything at all?"
"If she did, I can't remember." said Apple Bloom. "I was very distraught that afternoon."
Twilight let out a sigh.
"I guess we just need to keep our eyes open for now."
"How does she keep coming back?"
"I don't know, AJ." said Twilight. "I just don't know."
Apple Bloom sat in her room, looking out the window. Applejack came up behind her.
"I can't believe it's happening again." said Apple Bloom.
"I know, sugar cube." said Applejack. "We'll get to the bottom of this."
"Yeah." said Apple Bloom. leaving the window and heading for the door. "I hope so."
Apple Bloom left the barn and stood outside. She let out a sigh and started to sob. She decided a walk would make her feel bettter, so off she went.
A teal pony with a purple mane left her house to go on her night walks. She did this about every night and she absolutely loved it. She closed her eyes as she enjoyed the nice breeze. It wasn't too long before she bumped into someone. She opened her eyes and looked down.
"Sorry, Apple Bloom." she said.
"It's fine." said Apple Bloom. "Don't worry about it."
The pony saw the look of sadness on Apple Bloom's face.
"You all right?" she asked.
"I'm fine, Blueberry." said Apple Bloom. "I just have a lot on my mind." She turned her back to Blueberry. "With what happened this morning' and everythin'."
"Yeah, I--" the pony started before she felt something sharp swipe against her neck.
She began to choke on blood as she collapsed to the ground. She looked up and saw Apple Bloom crying.
"Berry?" Apple Bloom asked. She quickly knelt down next to her fallen friend. "What happened?"
Berry couldn't say a thing. Bllood squirted through the wound in her neck onto the little foal's face. Apple Bloom pressed a hoof on Blueberry's neck wound to stop the bleeding. Blood oozed out from under her hoof.
"SOMEPONY HELP ME!" she cried hysterically. "HELP!"
Ponies in nearby house ran out to see what the commotion was. They instantly ran to help when they saw Blueberry.
"What happened, Apple Bloom?" asked Celestia.
The two were standing near the scene of the accident.
"I don't know." said Apple Bloom with tears in her eyes. "I turned my back for a second and when I turned around again..." She trailed off. "Oh, Blueberry..."
She began to cry again and Celestia put a hoof around her. She turned to one of the Royal Guards standing by.
"I want a curfew to be put in effect immediately," she ordered. "Everypony MUST be indoors by 8:00. NO exceptions."
The guard nodded and walked away.
"Please catch whoever's doing this." cried Apple Bloom. "I want this to end."
"It will, my child." Celestia cooed. "But you should consider yourself lucky."
"Lucky?"
"Whoever did this to Blueberry could've gotten you, too."
"That only makes me feel worse." Apple Bloom cried, trotting away.
Applejack heard a knock on the front door. She opened it to find Twilight and Trixie.
"Hey, AJ." said Twilight. "May we see Apple Bloom?"
"Sure." said Applejack with a sigh. "Though she hasn't left her room since the other night."
Applejack led them to Apple Bloom's room.
"Apple Bloom?" asked Twilight.
There was no answer.
"It's us." said Trixie.
Still no answer. Twilight gently nudged the door open. The room was dark. Apple Bloom sat on her bed, trembling. Twilight and Trixie approached her.
"How are you?" asked Twilight.
"I..." said Apple Bloom. "I..."
"Apple Bloom?" asked Twilight, getting nervous.
"I'm fine." the filly finally finished. "It... It... was..."
"Horrible." finished Twilight. "I know."
"Why are... you here?"
"We came to check on you." Trixie answered. "We were really worried when we heard what happened."
"Did you see who did it?" asked Twilight softly.
Apple Bloom slowly shook her head. Twilight hung her head and placed a hoof on Apple Bloom's shoulder.
"I'm sorry, Apple Bloom." Twilight apologized. "I thought we got her."
"We did get her, Twilight." said Trixie. "You saw it. May freed Pinkie and she killed Pinkamena. It's over."
"Over?" asked Apple Bloom. "If what Pinkamena told me before she died was true... then she's walking the streets as we speak." Twilight and Trixie shot each other a worried look. "Please." Apple Bloom pleaded. "Kill her for good this time."
Twilight nodded. "We will. I promise."
She stood up and the two mares left the room.
"How do you plan on stopping Pinkamena?" Trixie asked. "Stabbing her didn't work. And her actually being dead didn't work either. She keeps on coming back."
"I understand that, Trixie. There has to be a way."
Zack was about to close up shop when he heard laughter. He quickly surveyed the blackened store.
"Hello?" he called out. "Who's there?"
"Oh, no pony." said a mare's voice. "No pony whatsoever."
"Who are you?"
"Name's Pinkamena. You may have heard of me?"
"Pikamena?" Zack asked. "But you were killed by Dawn's friend. It was on the news."
"It's such a bummer, isn't it?" asked Pinkamena's voice. "Why can't dead things just stay dead?"
"What do you want?"
"Want?" asked the voice. "One simple thing."
"What?" asked Zack, getting scared.
"You. I want you."
"Are you going to kill me?" he asked with fear in his eyes.
"Now, there's a thought. But I have something better in mind for you."
"What?"
"Because you were so nice to my friend, May... I'm gonna give you a choice. Either do what I say... or die."
"I'll never obey you."
"THEN DIE!" boomed the voice.
"Wait!" yelled Zack. "What shall I do?"
Pinkamena let out a laugh.
"Not now, Zack. I'll come for you soon enough."
And then there was the sound of a door opening and closing. The back door. Zack ran into the back and burst through the door. No pony was in sight.
The ten friends gathered at Applejack's barn to discuss the recent events.
"What do you think's going on?" asked Twilight.
"I think it's somepony else." said Fern. "There's no way she can be back."
"Is that so?" Rainbow Dash. "She didn't seem to have a problem coming back before. Who's to say she didn't do it again?"
"Rainbow's right, ya'll." said Applejack. "We've all seen what that mare can do. We almost lost some of our friends because of her."
"So, what do you propose we do?" asked Trixie. "If Pinkamena really is back from the dead, how do you plan on finding her?"
"She seems to be targeting Apple Bloom... or ponies close to her." said Twilight. "We must keep on our guard so we can make it through this."
"Uh... Applejack?" asked May.
"Yeah, May?"
"I need to use the little filly's room." May whispered.
"Right over there." said AJ, pointing at a nearby hallway.
May quickly got up and made her way to the hall.
"May?" asked Twilight.
"Yeah?" May asked, turning around and squirming.
"Be careful."
"Uh huh." May said quickly, taking off down the hall.
"You really think Pinkamena could sneak in here without us knowing?" asked Trixie.
"I don't know." answered Twilight. "But we've all seen the things she can do. I wouldn't be surprised if--"
"AAAAAHHHHHH!" screamed May's terrified voice.
The friends quickly jumped up and ran to the bathroom.
"May?" asked Dawn frantically.
"Don't hurt me!" cried May. "Please."
"Is that--" Macy began to ask.
She was cut off by Pinkamena's laugh.
"Oh, May." she said. "I really wish I didn't have to... but liars must be taught a lesson."
"No, STOP!" pleaded May. "I'm SORRY!"
"Too late for apologies!" screamed Pinkamena.
"Quick, girls!" screamed Twilight frantically. "Knock the door down!"
"Pinkie..." said May's voice. "I lo--"
"Don't say it!" Pinkamena yelled. "I'm sick of your lies!"
May let out a scream of pain.
"HURRY!" screamed Dawn.
The friends began to bang harder.
"Pinkie, don't." said May, crying.
"Too late." she said with a dark tone.
May let out a long scream that slowly built up.
"That's it, girls." said Twilight. "Step back."
She charged up magic in her horn. It sent off a loud whining noise as the light grew brighter. She then fired it, blasting the door off its hinges. Twilight and Dawn ran in while the others stood at the door. May was sitting on the floor with a blindfold on. Her left forearm had a stab mark and her right back leg had a large cut. The bathroom window was open. Dawn knelt down with her friend as Twilight approached the window and looked out.
"May?" asked Dawn frantically.
"Dawn?" asked May. "Is that you?"
Dawn gripped the blindfold with her teeth and pulled it off.
"What happened?" she asked.
"Not entirely sure." said May. "I felt a knock on the back of the head which blurred my vision. Then somepony put a blindfold around my eyes. I wasn't sure who it was until I heard that laugh." Tears began pouring down her face. "Why is she doing this?" May asked. "I just want her stop... I just wanna be with her."
Twilight quickly looked over at her shoulder at May before returning her gaze to the window.
"See anythin', Twi?" asked Applejack.
"There's a trail of bloody hoofprints on the grass outside, but it stops when it hits the road."
She left the window and joined Dawn.
"How are you?" she asked, kneeling down.
"Been better." May answered.
Twilight placed a hoof on her shoulder. "Let's get you to a doctor."
The nurse finished wrapping the bandage around May's back leg. Her friends waited in the lobby.
"She's really back, isn't she?" asked Fluttershy.
"I'm afraid so." said Dawn. "Poor May. She seems to be suffering a lot. Just like little Apple Bloom."
"I know." said Trixie. She kicked the water cooler. "I hate feeling this useless."
"We all do, Trix." said Twilight. "But we don't even know where to start looking. She could be anywhere."
"If she's even visible." muttered Fern.
"Huh?" asked Twilight.
"Well, you remember what state she was in the last time we saw her, don't you?" asked Fern. "She was like mist. What if, since she's even weaker than before, she's invisible?"
"If that's the case," said Twilight. "we'd all better be on our guard. Pinkamena now seems to be targeting us. The attack on May is proof. We need to be ready at all times." The others nodded. "We're not gonna let her win."
Later that night, May was released from the hospital and went home with Mrs. Cake. Sugarcube Corner had plenty of spare rooms.
"And here's where you'll be staying, dearie." said Mrs. Cake.
"Thanks for letting me stay." May thanked.
"No thanks necessary. We're glad to help a pony in trouble." She gave a smile. "Well, see you tomorrow." she said, leaving.
May got ready for bed and laid down, staring up at the ceiling. She was about to doze off when she heard a rustling sound.
"Wh-who's there?" she asked, frightened.
An eerie laugh echoed throughout the room.
"Oh, May." came Pinkamena's voice. "I would've thought that would've been able to tell it was me by now."
"Have you come to finish the job, Pinkie? Or are you just visiting?"
"What's with all the negativity?" asked Pinkamena. "If I wanted to have killed you, I would have."
"What are you saying?" asked May.
There was a pause before Pinkie answered.
"I..." she began. "I do... love you, too. But I can't let that get in the way of my mission."
"You... you love me?"
"Which is why I'm saving you for last. You're my back-up in case I need some extra power."
"Pinkie... just stop this."
"I've had enough of your whining, May. I'm out of here."
"Pinkie, wait!" May heard the door open and close. "Who are you going after now?"
"A nightmare?" asked a voice. "You ain't seen nothing yet."
May ran out of Sugarcube Corner and headed for Dawn's house. She knocked on the door frantically.
"DAWN!" she yelled.
Dawn opened the door.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"Oh, good." said May. "You're alive!" She grabbed Dawn's hoof and pulled her along with her.
"What's going on?"
"Pinkamena's gonna try to kill one of us tonight." May answered.
"What? Really?"
Ropes shot out from the darkness like a lasso and wrapped around Fern's neck.
"Time to play." said Pinkamena's voice with a laugh.
May banged on the door of Twilight's library.
"TWILIGHT!" she screamed. "TWILIGHT!"
Twilight opened the door, yawning.
"What's wrong now?" she asked.
"It's Pinkamena. She's gonna kill one of us tonight. Any ideas who?"
"She'll probably save her old friends for last. Seeing as how Dawn's with you, she'll go after either Fern or Macy."
"I got Fern." said May. "You get Macy."
The figure in the dark had pulled Fern off the bed and onto the floor.
"What are you gonna do to me?" asked Fern.
The voice laughed. "Whatever I feel like, girl. Why does everypony keep asking me that?"
The intruder slipped a Magic Inhibitor Ring on Fern's horn, preventing the use of magic
"HELP ME!" yelled Fern.
Twilight banged on the door of Macy's house.
"You in there!?" she yelled.
Macy opened the door. "What's up?"
"Oh, good." said Twilight. "You're alive."
"Alive?" asked Macy. "What's going on?"
"Pinkamena's gonna try to kill Fern."
"WHAT?!" yelled Macy. She slammed the door shut behind her and took off for Fern's.
May and Dawn stood outside Fern's house.
"FERN!" they yelled. "FERN!"
A colt stepped out of a house nearby.
"Do you mind? he asked. "Some of us are trying to sleep."
May whipped around. "DO NOT MESS WITH US!" she yelled. "WE'RE HAVING A REALLY BAD NIGHT!"
The colt slowly backed up into his house and closed the door. May turned back to Fern's house.
"What do you plan on doing, now?" asked Dawn. May took a step back and rammed the door down. "Guess that works."
"PINKIE!" yelled May, running into the house. "DON'T DO IT!"
Fern's vision was soon taken as a blindfold crept over her eyes.
"That's better." said the voice.
Fern suddenly felt something sharp run down her back. The rope around her neck was yanked, rolling her over on her back. Something sharp began running down her chest.
"I wonder where I should cut first."
"NO!" yelled Fern.
May ran to the bedroom door.
"FERN!" she yelled.
"HELP ME!" screamed Fern.
May banged up against the door. Nothing. She tried again and again.
"It won't budge."
"Just bust it down again." said Dawn.
"NO!" screamed Fern. "PLEASE!"
"Just use your magic." said Dawn. "You're a unicorn, after all."
"And so are y..." May started. "Oh."
She turned to the door and shot a beam through the door. May looked through the hole. She couldn't see but she could hear.
"Hang on, Fern!" she yelled.
"PLEASE, HURRY!" yelled Fern, letting out an agonizing scream.
May stepped away from the door and charged up the magic in her horn. She then sent a burst of magic smashing through the door. The two mares ran in and turned on the lights. The bedroom window was open and Fern lay on the floor, covered in cuts and blood.
"She's escaped again." said Dawn.
May ran and knelt down next to Fern.
"You still alive?"
Fern coughed. "Barely." she answered softly.
Twilight and Macy ran into the room.
"Fern!" yelled Macy, kneeling down next to her.
"What happened?"
"Pinkamena came back." said May.
"How are we gonna stop her?" asked Macy, running a hoof through Fern's mane.
"She's trying to get back at me." said May. "She wants to kill all of you because she knows you're all my friends."
"What are you gonna do?" asked Macy.
May let out a sigh. "I'm gonna go find her." She paused. "Alone."
Dawn and Macy stood in her room along with Twilight and Applejack.
""So, May's gone?" asked Applejack.
Macy nodded. "She's gone to look for Pinkamena."
"Think that's a good idea?"
"Pinkamena won't kill her." said Macy.
"Why not?" asked Applejack.
"I'll tell you why." said Macy as she thought back.
Pinkie let out an annoyed sigh. "One more day."
"One more day for what?" asked Fern.
"One more day and I can eat again."
"You're still on about that?" asked Fern. "You still eat other ponies?"
"Of course." said Pinkie.
"Then... why haven't you eaten me yet?"
Pinkie paused before saying anything.
"Because, I..." She stopped and sighed.
"Because you what?" asked Fern.
"I... kind of... like your company."
This caught Fern by surprise.
"You... you do?" she asked.
Pinkie nodded. "That's why I want you to do what I say so I won't have to eat you."
"Wait." said Fern. "You'd still eat me?"
"Sure." said Pinkie. "Meat is meat. But I wouldn't like it."
"How'd..." May cleared her throat. "How'd she die?"
"I shouldn't say." said Fern.
"Please." said May. "She was my best friend."
"Exactly."
"Please." said May. "Tell me."
"It was... Pinkamena."
May took a step back. "What?" she asked, softly.
"She made me send Strawberry to the basement where she... she... oh, God."
She threw up some more in the toilet.
"What happened?"
"She ate her."
"She..." said May.
She stumbled backwards and bumped into Pinkie. May spun around.
"You girls okay?" she asked.
"I HATE YOU!" yelled May, crying.
All the ponies stared at her.
"May..." said Pinkie. "I..." May took off, heading to her room. "What did I do?"
"I remember that." said Dawn.
"Pinkamena wants a friend." said Macy. "And May's the closest thing that's come to one."
Twilight smiled slightly at the thought, but then something on the floor caught her eye. It was sticking out from under the bed.
"What's this?" she asked.
She trotted over to the object and slid it out into view. She let out a gasp.
"Applejack?" she asked, shocked.
"Yeah, Twilight?" she asked, joining her. "What is i.." She noticed the teddy bear on the floor. "Oh, no. Apple Bloom."
Apple Bloom sat on her bed, breathing heavily. Just then the door to her room burst open and Applejack entered. She threw the teddy bear near the filly.
Apple Bloom snatched the teddy bear in her mouth and dove out the window. She tumbled across the grass, wincing at the cuts. She then took off towards Ponyville. Applejack took off after her. Twilight, who was waiting just outside the entrance, saw them and took off. The filly leaped a fence and entered the main section of Ponyville. She looked around and saw a ladder. She began climbing and finally made it to the roof. When she got there, she knocked the ladder over. She thens et the teddy bear down.
"I'm so sorry, Pinkie." she said to the bear. "It's all my fault."
"Don't worry about that now." said Pinkamena telepathically. "All the injuries you've cause and all the chaos you created has given me the strength I need. Now take me to the cemetery. And be quick about it."
Apple Bloom nodded and picked up the bear. The ladder she had knocked over was being put back in place by magic. The filly ran to the edge of the building and looked down. To her luck, she spotted a canopy. She looked back and saw Twilight just getting off the ladder. Apple Bloom jumped off the roof, aiming for the canopy. she hit it spot on and bounced off. She then landed on the ground hard.
"Ow." she groaned.
"Hurry." said Pinkamena. "They're coming."
Apple Bloom ran into a nearby building. Dawn and Applejack met near the canopy as Twilight jumped down. She bounced off the canopy and landed on the ground.
"You all right, Twi?" asked Dawn.
"I'll live." she answered, rubbing the back of her neck. "Where's Apple Bloom?"
"Ah have no idea." said Applejack.
"Check the surrounding buildings." said Twilight. "She has to be in one of them."
Dawn and Applejack went in opposite directions as Twilight entered the building that Apple Bloom ran into. It was some kind of game shop. Twilight looked around and saw a colt behind the counter.
"Excuse me, sir?" asked Twilight.
"Call me Zack." said the colt. "Please."
"Zack. Did a little filly run in here?" she asked.
Zack shook his head. "No. Sorry."
Twilight let out a groan.
"Thanks, anyway." she said, leaving.
When she left, Apple Bloom stepped out from behind the counter, her eyes were red and narrowed.
"Thank you, Zack." she said in Pinkamena's voice.
"You're Pinkamena, right?" asked Zack.
"Not this body, no." said the filly. "But I am."
"I can't believe you corrupted this filly." said Zack. "That's just evil."
"Evil?" asked Pinkamena. "you must not know who I am."
"Whatever." said Zack. "Is my job over yet?"
The filly smiled evilly. "Not by a long shot."
"Did you find her?" asked Dawn as the three mares regrouped.
"No." said Applejack.
"Me, neither." said Twilight. "Where'd she go?"
Twilight suddenly heard a door open. It came in the direction of the game shop. She ran around to the back of the building and saw that the back door was opened. The other two joined her.
"Twi?" asked Dawn.
"She was here."
Applejack looked down the streets of Ponyville and saw Apple Bloom in the distance.
"There she is!" she yelled. "After her!"
The three mares took off after the filly.
"Where's she going?" asked Dawn.
"If she keeps running staright, she'll wind up at the cemetery." answered Twilight.
"The cemetery?" asked Dawn, confused. "Why there?"
Twilight thought about it for a second.
"Oh, no." she finally said.
"What's wrong?" asked Applejack.
"Pinkamena's taking Apple Bloom to the cemetery so she can become one with her body again."
"She can do that?" asked Dawn.
"At this point, I'm considering all possibilities." said Twilight. "Nothing seems impossible anymore."
"Then we need to hurry." said Applejack. "She's almost there."
Apple Bloom stood at the top of the hill. Thunder and lightning flashed, lighting up the tombstone.
PINKAMENA DIANE PIE.
Surprisingly enough, there were fresh flowers on the grave. Apparently, someone cared.
"Now, do it." said Pinkamena.
"Hold it right there!" yelled Twilight. "Not a step further Apple Bloom."
"Buck." whispered Pinkamena. "I got this."
"Wha--" began Apple Bloom.
The filly looked down at the ground as her body trembled.
"Apple Bloom?" asked Dawn.
Apple Bloom slowly looked up. Her eyes were red.
"Long time, no see." said the filly in Pinkamena's voice.
"Pinkie?" asked Twilight, a little confused.
"Surprised?"
"Very." said Twilight. "So all those murders..."
"Figure it all out yet?" Twilight said nothing. The filly grinned. "Then let me explain it for you."
Apple Bloom crept up to the edge of a nearby building, eyeing the mare.
"Do it." said Pinkamena telepathically from the teddy bear.
"Do I have to?"
"Do it or I go after your sister."
"Applejack." whispered Apple Bloom.
She let out a sigh and snuck up behind the mare, knife at the ready.
"Forgive me."
The mare looked back and was about to scream, when...
SLICE!
CHOP CHOP!
Twilight awoke to the sounds of terrified screaming. She burst through the front door of the library and found a group of ponies gathered in a circle. She began pushing her way through the crowd until she got to the front. She almost threw up at what she saw. A pony lay on the ground. Her stomach ripped open and her guts spilled out of her body.
"Sorry, Apple Bloom." said Blueberry.
"It's fine." said Apple Bloom. "Don't worry about it."
The pony saw the look of sadness on Apple Bloom's face.
"You all right?" she asked.
"I'm fine, Blueberry." said Apple Bloom. "I just have a lot on my mind." She turned her back to Blueberry. "With what happened this morning' and everythin'."
She let out a sigh, knowing what she had to do.
"Yeah, I--" the pony started before Apple Bloom swung around. She felt something sharp swipe against her neck.
She began to choke on blood as she collapsed to the ground. She looked up and saw Apple Bloom crying. What have I done, thought Apple Bloom
"Berry?" Apple Bloom asked. She quickly knelt down next to her fallen friend, feeling awful. "What happened?" she cried, more so to herself than Blueberry.
Berry couldn't say a thing. Blood squirted through the wound in her neck onto the little foal's face. Apple Bloom pressed a hoof on Blueberry's neck wound to stop the bleeding. Blood oozed out from under her hoof.
"SOMEPONY HELP ME!" she cried hysterically. "HELP!"
Ponies in nearby house ran out to see what the commotion was. They instantly ran to help when they saw Blueberry. Apple Bloom took a step back and ran away, crying.
"What have I done?" she cried.
Apple Bloom snuk up to the side of the barn and opened the window. She climbed in and found herself in the bathroom. She set the teddy bear in a corner and hid when she heard footsteps.
"I'll take it from here." said Pinkamena's voice.
Apple Bloom suddenly felt like she had control over her body as Pinkamena caused her to attack the approaching mare. It was May. Apple Bloom's body knocked the mare out and tied her up.
"Now, the fun begins." said the filly in Pinkamena's voice.
"You?" asked Twilight.
"Yes and no." said Pinkamena. "I did most of it. Apple Bloom only did the first two. She didn't even finish the first one. I had to." She let out a sigh. "But all that doesn't matter at this point. What matters is that I'm powerful enough to come back." She looked over at her grave. "All I need is my body."
"We won't let you! Now release our friend!" yelled Dawn.
"JUST TRY TO STOP ME!" screamed the filly. "COME ANY CLOSER AND I'LL KILL THE FILLY!"
Twilight, Dawn. and Applejack took a step back. The filly grinned.
"Good." She picked up the teddy bear and began backing up towards her grave.
"What are we gonna do?" asked Applejack.
"We have to destroy that bear." said Twilight. "It's where Pinkamena's soul is."
The filly stood on Pinkamena's grave.
"It's been fun, girls. But I'm afraid you've lost."
Just then a figure tackled her from behind, causing her to drop the bear. Twilight took off to the grave and snatched the bear off the ground. The filly looked up and saw May.
"You?" asked Pinkamena.
"I finally found you." said May
"What do you want?" asked Pinkamena.
"There's something I want you to understand." She took a deep breath. "I really do love you. A lot."
"Um..." said Apple Bloom. "I love you a lot, too?" she asked, confused.
May looked over at Twilight who had torn the bear to pieces.
May got up off Apple Bloom and helped her up.
"Forget about it." she said.
"Apple Bloom?" asked Applejack, running to her sister. "Is it really you?"
"Yeah, sis." said the filly, hugging her sister. "It's really me."
Twilight smiled and walked over to May.
"Is it over?" asked May.
"I think it is." said Twilight. "The bear is gone and so is Pinkamena's soul."
"Yeah." said May, sounding a bit upset and walking away.
A tear fell from her eye.
Later, when the four mares and one filly had left the cemetery, Zack approached Pinkamena's grave.
"Looks like it didn't work." he said. "Too bad."
He let out a grin as he started to turn to leave. Just then a hoof shoot of the ground, causing him to trip. He fell and looked back at the grave. A body crawled it's way out of the dirt.
"Pinkamena?" asked Zack, frightened.
The mare got out of the grave and stood on the grass. She leaned her head back and sighed.
