//------------------------------// // Can't hold back. // Story: Manic smiles // by Babycord //------------------------------// Pain. It is something Pinkamena Diane Pie knew all too well, and as she sat across the table from her mother and father she knew that pain was going fo become a factor once again. "explain yourself". The pink pony huffed. She could and very well should but that wouldn't change the outcome of the situation. No, for you see the pink pony was smart, and because of that she knew that no matter what answer she gave it would still be her fault. Her fault. "Well?! father Barked. His tone was cold and demanding as he stared into the eyes of his second-youngest foal. His steel gaze sent a spark of fear down her spine. "It wasn't our fault! The colt offered to bring a friend and they were being too rough and then they pushed down Mar-" The sound of hoof against flesh echoes in the room as Pinkamena's World spins. She falls. Her back connected with the hard floor as pain exploded on her right cheek. Fighting back tears the mare waits for her vision to clear before looking up. father looks back down at her hoof raised. 'You had one job, Dian, now even more ponies will begin to suspect! Snorting the filly looks away. Tears flow down her cheeks no matter how hard she wipes them away. It wasn't her fault! Why does she have to take the blame despite being the second youngest? It wasn't fair. It. Wasn't. Fair. "Get up" her mother orders her voice soft but it was no mistaking the disappointment andcruelty behind two simple words. Rolling to her stomach the filly starts to stand. Only to receive another blow, this time to the back of the head with enough force to surely cause am conscious. Once again the filly drops her vision swarming with ity bity black dots. For a moment she lays there. Unable to move or process the reality of it all, as quickly as the moment came it vanished, and instead of continued silence the silly discovers two distinct voices. Familiar voices. Her sisters. "stop!" Limestone barked as she and Marble stood in front of their pink kin. Shielding her from their parents. Limestone despite it all was a very brave outspoken pony and wasn't afraid to voice her opinions to the world. Marble on the other hoof was more reversed and silent. By herself, she took everything head-on without flinching or complaint. However, when the time came for them to stand together the sisters didn't hesitate for a second. "It was just some stupi-'! A hoof struck and in an instant, the grey mare was on the floor nearly colliding with Pinkamena. "DON'T YOU DARE RAISE YOUR VOICE IN THIS HOUSE!" father's voice booms. The look in his eyes was something Pinkamena would never forget for in that instant she felt true fear. Frozen to the spot and unable to move as her sister lay in an unconscious heap next to her she watches helplessly as Marble took a stance to protect them. Her head lowers and her eyes lock on the floor. It was mother who spoke next. "Move Marble". She doesn't. A hoof strikes. Marble stumbles nose beginning to bleed but she holds her ground. Another hoof. She falls back eye beginning to swell but she stands up again. Father's eyes were getting darker now as Mother stood idly by watching the events unfold. If they want to play games and do not realize that actions have consequences then it is up to the two of them to do as they please. A third hoof. This time Marble felt something inside her physically break as her ribs roared with pain. Yet she does not move. "YOU WILL LEARN!" Father roars raising another hoof. Seeing this something inside breaks within Pinkamena and the filly lets out a scream as she stands lunging forward intending to take the blow. It was then at that moment that something inside the house screamed back. Silence. Slowly Father and Mother turn locking eyes with each other as a silent message passes between them. Then they heard it. A voice. Raspsy, small, weak. "insects are eating at my insides spiders whisper in my sleep, in the darkness the hanged mare speaks. Slowly ever so slowly the ponies turn their heads toward the locked and barricaded cellar door. Something slams against it. Hard. The door shook as cracks appeared causing both parents to back away slightly. However, Father scowls after a moment. He refuses to be afraid this is his house! His ho-'! "LET ME IN!" The voice screamed as the door shook once more as if it was desperately trying to contain a wild animal. Fear took hold of his soul once more as he backed away. Mother thinking quickly on her hooves went over and tried to calm the thing on the other side of the door. Her voice held a sweet tone that was replied with roars of rage as the shaking intensified before it broke into laughter sickly sweet as if mocking her tone. Pinkamena Dian Pie watched her parents. The very same ponies who hurt her and her sisters just for having fun are now just ponies scrambling around like ants. It was funny. So very funny. Pinkamena made a sound. She blinked and realized she couldn't stop. She blinked twice before noticing Marble grabbed a knife from the counter. She blinked a third time before seeing Limestone regain consciousness. She turns her head back to see the cellar door break apart as a scarred hoof bursts through grabbing Mother by the neck. She gasps as her father screams only to be silenced by a chair to the skull, blood mixed with brain matter scattering across the floor. Pinkamena sees all of this and in this moment she realizes that she isn't sobbing or anything like that. No, she was laughing. Laughing because even though no cutie mark appears she has just found her purpose. Their purpose, And something told her that cupcakes are somehow gonna get involved.