//------------------------------// // Prologue: Why is this Happening to Me? // Story: Don't Look Back // by JerryTheHouseGhost //------------------------------// Pinkie Pie was running down a long, dark pathway in the Everfree Forest. She was running away from... Something... No matter how deep into her brain she dug, she couldn't seem to remember what it was she was trying so hard to avoid. Now Pinkie couldn't recall if it was something she was running from; maybe she was attempting to reach something or some place. All she really understood was that she was running, and had been for a while; she was beginning to feel the strain on her legs, the feeling that she could collapse at any given moment. But she couldn't stop; she refused to stop. But why? What was so important? Pinkie Pie stopped. She examined her surroundings. The trees that bordered the path were the only things Pinkie could see perfectly; everything beyond them was almost instantly consumed by the darkness of night. The pathway she had been running on was made of dirt. Pinkie Pie looked behind her, but there were no dust clouds formed by her hooves hitting the dry dirt; or at least none she could see now. Pinkie Pie began to think. What was she doing before she began to ran? Even after straining her brain, attempting to figure out what was going on, nothing came to her. It was almost as if the pony had amnesia and couldn't remember anything, except she remembered everything; all but the reason for her sudden urge to sprint to the nearest... Whatever Pinkie Pie happened to be after... It was troubling to this pony; not being able to remember. She remembered just about everything about anything. Pinkie Pie had been stopped for much longer than she should have been, for she began to sense a lingering presence hidden behind the thick foliage. "Wh- Who's there?" asked Pinkie Pie, who was so exhausted that she wasn't even sure if she could even feel frightened without it being too much on her body. Luckily, and unluckily, she was able to handle this feeling; a mix of extreme nervousness and fright that almost rendered her motionless. Pinkie was just about to look in another direction when her pursuer stepped out of the bushes and onto the pathway, blocking the way Pinkie was previously going. This figure, though almost a complete silhouette, was so familiar to Pinkie Pie; she just couldn't place a hoof on how this figure fit in to what was happening. The figure began to slowly make its way down the path towards Pinkie Pie. Then everything started coming back to her. At first it was only a single memory of the appearance of this pony, but soon became a flood of memories washing over Pinkie's mind. Pinkie Pie soon wished she hadn't remembered anything. "You! How did you find me!?" Pinkie Pie demanded from the pony she wished wasn't even there. The new arrival didn't speak at first, and continued to walk slowly towards Pinkie. The pony began to get illuminated, revealing its full appearance. It was... Pinkie Pie... But also not Pinkie Pie. It had the same colors and the same eyes, but it was much duller than Pinkie Pie. The mane this pony had was not the frazzled, fun-filled mane of the true Pinkie Pie's; it was straightened down like it was when Pinkie was a filly. "Oh, it isn't hard to track you at all. You see, no matter where you run, no matter where you hide, I will always be able to find you," said the other Pinkie Pie with a grin on her face. Hearing her own voice come from this dull pony sent shivers down Pinkie Pie's back. "What do you want with me?" asked Pinkie Pie. Being in the presence of this pony had made Pinkie feel even more frightened than before she even knew what was following her. The aura this other Pinkie Pie let off was purely terrifying; a doppelgänger come to corrupt the good of the world. "I thought you'd never ask," the dark Pinkie Pie said. She slipped into the bushes, and, before Pinkie Pie could attempt to run again, came back out with a white rabbit. Not perfectly white, however, unless one is to associate red with white in any way. "Such a beautiful sight, don't you think?" Pinkie Pie couldn't breathe for a couple seconds. "Is- Is that..." "Angel? No; but I wish it was. Just practicing for when I do get to him, though. I can't wait." "Stop it! Just shut up!" "What, you can't take me talking about a dumb rabbit? Jeez, Pinkie; and to think I'll be moving on to even bigger things with you." "Go away!" yelled Pinkie. She finally got the strength to begin running again. Away from what she hated; away from what she feared. She knew she couldn't stop running for a long time. She finally knew exactly what she was running from: the forgotten memories that she had so foolishly remembered. Pinkie saw a pony come into view in front of her down the path. "Help! You've got to help me! There's a-" It was her other self. The dead rabbit lay in front of her. "You forgot something back there," said the doppelgänger, nudging the snow-white rabbit stained with red towards Pinkie Pie. "No!" yelled Pinkie Pie. She left the path and began to run between all the trees. Why is this happening to me? she thought. The pathway was much easier to travel; Pinkie could hardly see anything around her in the forest. She should have gotten back on the path, but now she had strayed too far away from it, taken so many different turns, that she had no clue where the path was anymore. She began to hear what the other Pinkie Pie had said. No matter where you run, no matter where you hide, I will always be able to find you. Pinkie continued to run, despite beginning to feel her legs getting tired faster and faster. She had no idea where she was; no idea where she would even go. I will always be able to find you. Pinkie Pie's legs finally gave out. She fell over and hit the ground hard. It was suddenly bright in the forest- except it wasn't even the forest anymore. Pinkie had awoken from a nightmare. She was relieved that she was in her room; such a familiar surrounding was a sight for sore eyes after what she had experienced in her sleep. She crawled out of her bed, ready to start the day. She froze when she saw it. Laying on the ground in front of the door was a white rabbit stained with blood. Pinkie began to silently cry. She slowly made her way back to the bed, got on it, and pulled the covers over herself. She had tried to stop it before, but nothing ever worked; it was unstoppable. Pinkie Pie knew this day would come, but hoped it never would. It was the only way to keep everypony safe. Pinkie Pie knew that she had to leave. Now let the story begin.