//------------------------------//
// Broken Bond 
// Story: Pumpkin's Struggle (Part 3): Love is a Lie 
// by AngelShy24 
//------------------------------//

	Acer was in a very tight spot, and if no one could stop Pumpkin’s rage, who knows what she would do to him; he feared that this was his final moment… being killed by one that he adored. But luckily, Pumpkin suddenly found herself surrounded by a circle of unicorn ponies that came onto the scene; ones that she recognized very well.
“Halt! That’s far enough, Pumpkin Cake!”
“Oh no, it’s the medical corps!” shouted Pinkie, “I-I mean… yay, it’s the medical corps!”
It was a huge relief to see them here; Acer might have been dead otherwise. But to Pound, this was the worst thing that could’ve happen. If they have to restrain his sister by force, they’ll have no choice but to bring her back to the ward for the time being to keep everypony safe.
Ruby slightly smiled looking up and seeing that the plan was finally going to be complete, “H-heh, right on time.”
“We don’t want to hurt you,” said Diamond Star, the head of the medical ponies.
“Heh, says the group of ponies who have their horns pointed at an innocent little filly,” said Pumpkin with an amused smile.
“Just put the colt down, calm your rage, and come with us quietly.”
Pumpkin gazed upon Acer’s mighty wings and a sinister smile came upon her face as she looked back at the medical ponies.
“Say… you guys are doctors; how much pain do you think Acer will be in if I break all the bones in his wings?”
Acer’s eyes went fearfully wide as tears came down his cheeks; he was hoping that she wasn’t being serious.
“Pumpkin, don’t do anything to rash,” shouted Pound.
Ruby was trying her best to stand up and try to stop her, “Please, don’t you dare do anything to him!”
“Put him down,” said Diamond, “or I’m afraid that we’ll have to force you.”
“Please; please do it…” Pound thought to himself.
Unfortunately, it was no use, “I’m afraid none of you fools have any luck… and neither does he.”
Pumpkin suddenly started to compress down on of Acer’s wings and the young colt started to yell out in pain.
“NO!” shouted Pound.
Some of the Medical ponies quickly fired at the demented filly, but they were easily deflected by her magic.
“You missed…”
Suddenly, they heard a loud snap sound, and Acer’s scream could be heard across the entire area; his first wing was now completely broken.
“Acer!” Ruby cried out with tears in her eyes.
Acer hung there crying a bit feeling the immense pain in his broken wing.
“Ooh, that sounded real painful,” said Pumpkin with a psychotic smile, “Care to feel that again; a second time?”
“We have no choice,” said Diamond, “Everypony, fire!”
“Wait, stop!” shouted Pound; but even he knew that there was nothing he could do.
All of the medical ponies fired a high-level restraining spell at Pumpkin in an attempt to restrain her long enough to calm her down. But… all she did was stand there and smiled,
“Heh, pathetic.”
She absorbed it all in her horn in one fell swoop; a lot of mouths suddenly dropped at the sight; was that even possible for a filly like her?
“Holy celestial moons;” shouted Pinkie, “Did you see that!”
Suddenly, Pumpkin fired back their shots as her own and all of the medical ponies were held down by their own spell; unable to do anything more.
“You ponies were already too late; nopony can stop me now.” 
And with that, Acer felt another huge surge of pain as Pumpkin successfully broke his other wing. He screamed out loud again and more tears poured out. He’s felt a couple of scrapes and bruises before, but none of that could compare to what he was feeling right now having both of his wings broken.
Ruby was just laying there sobbing her eyes out continuously. At that moment… she completely regretted everything she did; she just wished that she could take it all back.
“No… it wasn’t supposed to end up like this; Acer!”
“Aw, you poor thing,” said Pumpkin as she dropped Acer on the ground and approached him, “Those wings were so precious to you, weren’t they? Well now they’re crushed… just like my tortured heart.”
Still crying a bit, Acer slowly looked up at her and was careful not to move his wings too much, “P-P-P-Pumpkin… it’s… not too late for you. Just please, stop hurting me… and don’t hurt them.”
Pumpkin’s eyes were boiling with rage just by listening to his words. She had enough of him and his deceitful tongue.
“After how you treated me and tricked me… you expect me to suddenly believe you again?! No more; do you hear me, no more!”
She used her magic to form a nice long spear with a very sharp point and aimed it at Acer’s chest. A psychotic, creepy grin found its way back on her face again.
“I wonder… how far can I push this into your body before it snuffs out your life?”
“Y-you know,” stuttered Acer weakly, “this is not you. The Pumpkin I k-know would never believe whatever she thought she s-saw… or what she didn’t want to believe. So… if you do kill me, I won’t blame you. Nopony will.”
Pumpkin took a moment to stare into Acer’s eyes for a second like she was having a second wind, but then she just scoffed as raised the spear above him, “*Sigh* If only that were true… jerk.”
But just as she was about to lunge the spear into Acer, a loud voice suddenly screamed out to stop her.
“STOP!!! Please, stop! He didn’t do anything to you!” 
Everyone there including the medical ponies all looked at the young unicorn filly, Ruby, who somehow found the strength to stand back up. She was sobbing from almost seeing Acer die… and it would’ve been all her fault.
“Ruby?” said Acer.
Pumpkin turned her glare over to Ruby feeling annoyed by the huge distraction, “What are you trying to say, ingrate?!”
“I-I’m saying that… Acer did none of that stuff to you. Well… technically he did, but he didn’t do it on his own accord! He’s was under the lying spell.” 
They were all completely blown away by that thought; it was finally starting to make sense to them!
“A l-lying spell,” said Acer, “is that what caused me to black out a bit. But… w-who did it?!”
Ruby gathered all of her courage and took a deep breath and told the truth… if it meant to save Acer’s life.
“It was me, okay? I did it; I casted the spell!”
“What?” said Pumpkin as the spear deformed.
“Ruby,” said Acer, “you did this? You… you’re the reason I almost got killed?!”
There was an awkward silence all around the area and everyone was trying to take in about what Ruby just said; even Pumpkin was pondering about why on earth she would do such a thing. Some of the darkness in her eyes was slowly disappearing.
“This is all my fault; the letters you both received, Acer’s actions against Pumpkin, Acer not remembering anything, and Pumpkin willing to kill Acer for playing her, it was all my doing! And for what… because I was jealous.”
Pumpkin’s eyes somehow changed all the way back to their natural blue color; but her horn was still glowing and any hints of her magic didn’t fade yet, meaning that she wasn’t all back yet.
“You did all of this because you were jealous… of me?” the seldom filly asked.
“Pretty stupid, right?” Ruby responded sorrowful smile, “Acer, I admit to you, Pound, and Pinkie, I was so jealous of her that I was willing to do anything to ruin it.”
“By making Pumpkin kill Acer!?” exclaimed Pinkie.
“No! It was a plan to make Acer so scared of her that he would no longer want to be near her; I never meant it to go this far! I thought I could handle her magic like I have been long enough until those guys showed up,” She pointed at the Medical ponies, “but it didn’t go as… I planned. I thought doing this would make Acer realize how dangerous it was to be around her. UGH! I can’t believe I made you do such a thing!”
Ruby wiped a few tears off to the side while trying to catch her breath and stand straight, “I guess… the real monster here… is me. I’m sorry, Acer; I regret everything.”
Pumpkin suddenly walked up closer to Ruby giving her a calm look, “So… all of this was your doing?”
“Y-yes.” Ruby responded.
Too bad for Ruby; it was a huge mistake to admit that in front of her in hindsight. Suddenly, Ruby saw the darkness appearing in Pumpkin’s eyes again; and before she could react, Ruby was pushed forward by a sudden magical force she tumbled on the ground and landed on her back; wincing from the painful wounds that she had already.
“Wait, what the…”
Pumpkin suddenly pounced on top of Ruby giving her a very dark, grim scowl; and Ruby was truly scared for her own life as Pumpkin re-formed the same sharp spear she had over Acer earlier over her.
“So it was you all along;” she said in her dark, demented tone, “You made me think that all of this was a lie!? You’re the one who caused my pain?!”
She rose up the spear over Ruby’s shoulder and the defenseless filly had tears in her eyes preparing for the incoming pain.
“Pumpkin, don’t!” Pound shouted.
But it was too late; Pumpkin rammed the end of the spear into Ruby’s left shoulder showing no remorse. Ruby cried out from the pain, on top of the pain she was already in. Everyone there watched helplessly as Pumpkin retracted the spear from Ruby’s shoulder and held it over her again in an attempt to deliver a fatal stab into terrified filly’s chest.
“And once I finish impaling your body,” said Pumpkin staring at Ruby intensely, “your bitch of a mother is next!”
Suddenly out of nowhere, a force spell smacked right against Pumpkin knocking her on her side. The sudden interference caused the spear to disappear, as well as any source of her magic. She quickly got up and leered in the spell’s thrown direction.
“Ugh, where did that come from?!”
At that moment when her guard was down, Pumpkin was suddenly held down by the restraint spell from the whole medical corp. Her rage was rising from being held down so easily and was trying to escape the restraints.
“Let… me… GO!”
“Please, Pumpkin, you have to calm down!” shouted Pound, “It’s over; you have to let your hatred go! Listen to your brother!”
The medical ponies had to use every ounce of energy just to keep Pumpkin from escaping. If she got loose, they might have been all doomed. Pumpkin glared at her ordering brother with no sense of care in her eyes.
“I… listen… to nopony. It’s not over until the source of my pain… is no longer breathing!”
The medical ponies could feel their grip loosening against Pumpkin’s power; Diamond Star just shook his head, “I’m afraid we have no choice.” Then he thought to himself, “I sorry for doing this, Mr. and Mrs. Cake.”
He summoned a knockout spell that fell upon the deranged filly. She was fighting it with all her might, but she just felt her strength fading. She fell on her knees and looked over at her brother. Pound could see that her eyes soon changed back to normal right before she closed her eyes fell down unconscious.
“Well, thank goodness that is over,” said a voice nearby.
They all looked over and saw a middle-aged mare suddenly approaching them.
“Is that… you, Mrs. Rose?” said Acer while keeping his wings steady.
“It is me child, and even though the medical corps asked me to stay out of sight and harm’s way, I think that were all a bit lucky I came and made that interference shot just in time. I’m not used to casting quick spells like that nowadays.”
“Wait a minute, Mrs. Rose,” said Pinkie, “You’re Ruby’s mother!”
“That I am, and I am sorry for what has happened. The medical corp would have been here earlier if they have believed me about my… mother’s intuition. I had a weird feeling of something happening that involved that unfortunate little filly.”
Pound couldn’t help but kinda glare at the gray mare; this was the same one who he heard didn’t seem to care too much about his sister and her condition.
“I see,” said Acer while eyeing Ruby, “so it was you who called the medical corps. I guess we should thank you.”
“No need to thank me, Acer,” said Envy, “Nopony dying today is thanks enough for me.”
“Well, I guess we’re going to have to bring Pumpkin back to… the ward;” said Diamond, “We have no choice. Do you mind if we carry your daughter to the health center.”
“I think I can manage,” Envy responded, “Not that I trust you doctors but I rather save my bits and treat my daughter myself; I do have certain healing methods.”
While approaching Pumpkin, the group had to stop suddenly when Pound stepped in front of them with his wings spread out.
“Please you can’t do this;” pleaded Pound, “She couldn’t control herself, and it wasn’t even her fault; it was that mare’s daughter!”
“We understand Pound,” said Diamond, “but that’s just the point. Two ponies here have been severely hurt, and it would have been worse if we didn’t come. I’m sorry, but we have to bring her back to make sure it’s safe enough for everypony.”
“Do understand that they must do what they have to;” stated Envy while looking at Pound, “It’s best for best for all of Ponyville. Now do stand aside so I can take care of my business.”
Unfortunately, Pound didn’t budge; he wasn’t planning to let his sister spend another minute in that wacko place at the. He stood his ground preparing to do anything to defend his sister.
“Um, Pound… what are you doing?” said Pinkie while panicking.
“Not one more step; I won’t let you take my sister!”
Envy looked upon him and shook her head, “Please be careful on what you do next boy. You don’t want others to think that you have the same problem as your sister; seeing as you two are twins after all.”
Pound was glaring rather intensely and Envy; but he looked over at his sister who was still unconscious then looked at Ruby and Acer, and realized that there really wasn’t anything that he could do even if he could stop them. He just stood down and lowered his wings allowing them to go by him.
“Hey, now that was uncalled for!” shouted Pinkie as she comforted Pound.
“No, it’s okay Pinkie; she’s right. Don’t worry about.”
“No it’s not okay! That mare needs to learn some manners!”
Envy used her magic to spread some magical healing ointment that she had with her on a cloth and wrapped it around her daughter’s stab wound.
“I’m sorry that I didn’t get here in time, Ruby; I guess that we were a bit too late in handling the situation. At least you and Acer are still alive.” 
She then gave Ruby a little kiss on her forehead to soothe her pain, “Do you want me to fix you up anything specifically when we get home?”
Ruby didn’t feel like talking as she held her head down and shook her head. Suddenly, she saw Acer headed her way being carefully carried by some of the medical ponies; he didn’t look too happy though. As he came by Ruby, he asked…
“Excuse me; can you stop here for a second?”
Ruby wasn’t even looking at him; she couldn’t, not after what she did to him.  Acer wasn’t looking at her either, he was looking rather miffed. Without looking at her, he just spoke these words…
“You just couldn’t let it go, could you? Here I thought you gotten over this whole friendship thing; all of this just because you were jealous, seriously? I appreciate that you finally told the truth, but I’m afraid it’s too late for any main apologies now.”
Ruby still couldn’t say anything; she knew that everything that Acer was saying was right and she couldn’t deny him.
“Well, I hope you got what you wanted. I hope that getting that stab wound on your shoulder and me having both of my wings completely useless was all worth it; cause as of now, I rather not talk to you anymore.”
Acer then took his leave away from Ruby, leaving her to feel sorry for herself.
“You want us to contact your parents,” said one of the medical ponies.
“Yes sir… that would be nice.”
Envy lifted Ruby up with her magic and laid her on her back. Feeling that it would be fine in the end, Envy just told her daughter, “I know how you feel, Ruby. I never said that doing the right thing would be easy to handle. Give the young colt some days, and soon he’ll realize why what you’ve done was so important; you did what you chose to do, and you were aware of the consequences. Now let’s get you home and have you cleaned up.”
As Envy carried off her daughter, Ruby, she was just looking around seeing everything that she caused. She saw Pumpkin being carried onto a stretch matt while still out of commission, Acer lying nonchalantly on matt to be carried, and she saw Pinkie with her hoof over Pound who was too busy sobbing for his sister.
After everything that had happened that early afternoon, did she still think that this was all worth the effort to just try to get Pumpkin away from Acer? No… it wasn’t; and in her mind, as a single tear trickle went down her face, she wished that she never did such a stupid stunt.
“What… have I done?”