//------------------------------//
// Syphoning Life 
// Story: Moments in Time 
// by Shingo 
//------------------------------//

“How did you think of this?” Rainbow Dash asked. She stood in one of Ponyville’s many parks with a long nail in her hooves. Fused to the head of the nail was a bit. The nail was gently pushed into the ground. Rainbow stepped back from it before a hammer pushed it further down. At the other end of the hammer was a pink earth pony. She had a wide smile on her face as she continued using the hammer. “It’s brilliant. I don’t think I could have ever thought of this. What’s your secret, Pinkie?”

“I don’t have one,” she said swinging the hammer. “Well, that’s not true. I have plenty of secrets. But as for the secret of how I thought of this, I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?” the hammer hit the nail.

“It just came to me one day,” the bit sank into to the ground. Pinkie placed the hammer down and inspected her work. The bit appeared to be sitting on the ground as if somepony had dropped it. “What do you think? Does it look suspicious?” Rainbow circled around the bit. After three laps around it, a large smile formed on her face.

“It’s perfect, Pinkie,” she said. “Come on, let’s hide before somepony sees us.” She walked away from it to a nearby bush. Pinkie picked up the hammer and began to walk away. As she moved her hooves, she noticed them becoming stiffer with each step. She stumbled forward dropping the hammer. No, no, no! Not now!

“Pinkie!” Rainbow’s head popped out of a bush. “Hurry up before somepony sees you.” The pink pony crouched down grabbing the hammer. She hopped as fast as she could towards the bush with the hammer in her mouth. Rainbow’s head sank back into the bush as Pinkie dived into it. She dropped the hammer and sat behind her friend. The two of them sat there for what seemed like forever to them. During that time, Pinkie’s body became stiffer and stiffer. The sunlight that was on her made her feel as if she were on fire. She bit her lip to stop herself from screaming in pain.

“Where is everypony?” Pinkie asked. “Isn’t this park usually full of ponies by now?”

“Patience, Pinkie,” Rainbow murmured. “Yes, I’m aware of how strange that sounds coming from my mouth, but the point still stands. All we have to do is wait, eventually somepony will come around.” A silent groan came from the pink pony. She looked at Rainbow. She was so strong, so energetic, and so very full of life. Her back was turned to her leaving her completely vulnerable. Pinkie turned her head to the hammer then back to Rainbow. It would be easy to place it into the back of her skull. It would be quiet too so nopony would notice. Though easy, she would be losing somepony very close to her. The very thought was sickening, but she would at least be alive if she went through with it. Pinkie sighed as she reached for the hammer. She could barely move her joints due to how stiff they became. Her forelegs were outstretched as she picked the hammer up. The hammer was slowly brought over her head. Tears formed in her eyes as she turned to Rainbow. I’m so sorry, Dashie. I don’t want to do this, but this is a last resort. I need your life to save mine. Just as she was about to drop the hammer, a cyan hoof gestured to Pinkie.

“Somepony’s coming!” Pinkie dropped the hammer beside Rainbow’s tail. She made a small hop to her friend’s side. Her eyes looked out of the bush. Two earth ponies were walking along the park path, a cream coloured earth pony mare with a magenta mane, and a fuchsia earth pony mare with a blond mane. The fuchsia pony noticed the bit. Both her and her companion stopped in front of it. “Oh, this is going to be good.” Silent snickering came from the pegasus. Pinkie took in a deep breath as Rainbow snickered. Her body felt slightly softer and the burning became a little bearable. The fuchsia pony reached down and put her teeth over the bit. She tried to pull it up but was stopped. Her eyes held confusion as she held onto the bit. More effort was put into trying to pull it off the ground. The mare pulled with as much effort as she could manage. After a few moments of struggling, she tumbled backwards. Rainbow pointed her hoof out and laughed. The laughter held happiness, energy, and most importantly, life. Pinkie followed Rainbow’s example and laughed. As she did, the energy from Rainbow’s laughter was syphoned to her. The stiffness in Pinkie’s body was going away and the burning nearly disappeared. The cream coloured pony helped her friend up and approached the bit. Like the fuchsia mare, she tried to pick up it up. And like her, she failed to do so. Rainbow fell back and continued laughing.

“Dear Faust,” she said wiping a tear away. “This is hilarious. Pinkie, don’t stop doing whatever you do to think of these pranks.” Pinkie’s laughter slowly went away. She smiled at Rainbow and stuck out a hoof. Rainbow cupped the hoof and was pulled up. She pushed her head out of the bush.

“They’re gone now,” Rainbow said. “Want to move the bit?”

“As long as it’s still funny,” Pinkie replied. Both ponies moved out of the bush. Rainbow had the hammer in her mouth and used it to remove the bit from the ground. Pinkie hopped to her side just as the bit was pulled out.

“Follow me,” Rainbow launched herself into the air. “I know a place where we can set this up.” She flew off with the bit in her mouth. Pinkie picked up the hammer. She moved each of her legs and her neck. Her body was still slightly stiff but the burning was no longer there. A smile was on her face as she hopped towards the rainbow trail left by the receding pegasus.