//------------------------------// // A Maze of Challenging Strengths // Story: Introspection // by -Hidden Identity- //------------------------------// This is a bad time to be lost I wonder what my friends are up to this is a strange place why would my sister hate me like that am I going the right way I am going the right way I am most certainly not going the right way I wonder if there are any more cupcakes here that looks bad how could I forget her name that is another CAKE wait...not cake. Such was the stream of unaltered, pure thought of Pinkie as she wandered through the mental maze in a forlorn manner. Yet she was not always forlorn, as the mind quickly changed her opinion of how she felt at that time and place. Regardless of how quickly her thoughts would spin away from her to be replaced by other, far more annoying, thoughts it was clear to her that she was failing miserably at her vengeful sister's challenge put to her to somehow navigate a maze constructed to test her intuition and sense of direction. To find the correct passages amongst a multitude of their brethren was a hardship by itself, but it was the fact of the matter that the passages were not marked, not signaled, no hints as to where she should go were bestowed upon her to instill her with a sense of direction, or hope. Every turn yielded a new outlook on life or perhaps the answer to some great question that had been pondered by those of higher learning for ages and would for ages to come, as this was the mind of Pinkie Pie, and the works of great minds, or the delicate underlying subtext of ancient tomes were lost to her, and would not breach the walls of her mind to be relayed to those who would spend their years pursuing them only to find themselves earning a long and well deserved rest among the dust of centuries past amongst those forgotten by time and blood. Pinkie, while enraptured by the cascade of thought, had a single greater drive to discover the path to salvation from her current antagonist. To be said she was simple minded, however, was folly, as this isn't the right passage either why are some darker than others my hooves hurt and I want to be out hey that isn't a flower why can't I get this right so this is what it means should I tell my friends when I get out or not I should that is a terrible idea I should have another party. Through the stress of constant disappointment and the ache her hooves now felt from the miles she had wandered throughout the maze, Pinkie was forced to pause for a moment. She wondered for what span of time she had been wandering the maze, yet time bore no meaning here, so the question fell away from her, unanswered and useless. What was her sister's game? Perhaps there was no correct passage, and she was nothing more than a fool, wandering blindly for eternity until madness took her into its false comfort. Yet Pinkie, as trusting as she was, could not bring herself to accept this. If there was no hope, there would be no challenge to rise above. She had lived this time and time again, so what gain was there in giving up? The earth pony could not think of any. So she was not giving up, fine. She could "not give up" her life away in this place, and it wouldn't do her any good. Another frown and a lower lip bitten, this was not good. Yeah, we'll obviously it wasn't good; she had that figured out already. "I don't know sis, but I want to say I'm sorry and that I really mean it." Nothing. "Can you just say something to me? I’m lonely.” “You expect me to talk to you?” her sister’s voice rang out above the walls of the maze. “You talk to yourself all the time, which is why you are so very alone. Any time you shut up is a blessing, Pinkie.” “Well sometimes all you need is yourself.” “Then why do you want to talk?” “I said sometimes, not always.” “Pinkie…what is this to you? A game? You trapped us in here with you, and now you must face each of us to be able to reach your precious friends again.” “So are you all going to be outside in the real world when I escape.” “Somehow I doubt you will escape, but yeah we will be. Oh, why am I even talking to you? Stop messing with my mind.” “You mean my mind?” Pinkie gleefully replied. “Yes, I mean no…this is only going to get harder Pinkie, don’t expect any favors.” With that her sister’s voice fell away to leave Pinkie to bask in her solitude. Yet her sister had helped her more than she had meant to and as such had supplied the challenged with a very useful hint: that it was only going to get harder. This was lost upon the pink pony, who frowned yet again when the conversation ended. It wasn’t exactly what she had wanted, that bit of banter, but it had been encouraging to her to know that she was being watched over, even if it was rather malicious; but she would take what she could get. After all, it’s not every day that you get lost in a maze this ridiculous. Pinkie stopped to take a moment to truly think about this maze, and just how ridiculous it really was: every turn would change both direction and thought, it had a wide assortment of strange passages that were intended to be scary, but scary wasn’t really Pinkie’s weakness, per say, but then again it seemed to her that this maze wasn’t supposed to prey on her weaknesses. This was a maze of strength for her, a maze based around the odd quirks and talents that made her who she was: Pinkie Pie, the Element of Laughter and the bane of all things shadowy or sad. She, as her friends pointed out on several occasions, very random at times and what was this maze if not random? The dark did not waver her as she strode through it and gave her friends support in their time of turmoil is several occasions. She hated to be alone, yet she could thank her sister for some amount of company, even if it was just the company of a sibling who had been consumed by an internal feud. In all, this was actually a pretty nice place to be lost in. “No! Stop being impressed by my maze! Be scared already!” her sister was back in vocal form. “But I like it!” Pinkie shouted back. “Well stop it!” “Why?” “Because it’s not supposed to make you pleased!” “Oh…but it’s such a great maze!” “Too bad!” Pinkie, who still hadn’t moved from the spot where she had halted, took a moment to think of a good reply. None came to her. Five seconds of deep contemplation passed. “Wait! How can you hear what I’m thinking?” Pinkie asked. “I…don’t actually know.” The voice responded. “All of a sudden I could hear you think. This is your mind, you tell me.” “That’s strange, it wasn’t like that before. This just means I can talk to you all the time!” Pinkie stared ahead. How about a hint?” “No.” “Please?” “I said no.” “Well at least it sounds like you’re cheering up!” With that she lost the conversation and was plunged into silence. Improvement at last, and hopefully something for her sister to think about before Pinkie escaped the maze. Perhaps it wouldn’t be much harder after all. Something clicked, and the wheels turned. Harder, becoming harder and wouldn’t be so hard after all. To her left was another innocent passage. In front of her was a trail with many brambles and briars. On the right was one of those strange mists that lurked close to the ground in a manner most unpleasant. She had just come from a path lined with flowers and a fresh smelling scent. So…if it was to become harder for her, then she had no choice but to take CUPCAKE! Fifteen seconds passed, as she felt that it was necessary to savor the taste. Anyway, she had no choice but to take the left hand trail and hope for some luck. Some random luck, that is. A deep breath, and a short turn of direction. “Time to find out if this I really am selfish.” Pause “I really am selfish. I was being selfish. How? What was I being selfish about? I always try to give my friends what they want and make them happy by sharing laughter and smiles. The other one was angry because I left, and now I’m selfish? It’s not that I’m selfish in general, this sister is mad at me for this instead of any of the others.” Pinkie reached another intersection, and took bearings. She could continue and keep the same thought, or choose from the passages that stretched and wove away from her. One held another white mist, and the other was Dusk. No…she needed some thorns; that was the next step. Passing by the presented options, she moved forward. At least this maze was multiple choice, made it a bit easier. She never was very good at essays. Aha, a trail lined with thorns and other unpleasant aspects…perfect. “Ok, sis. I really am selfish and…because I’m generous. I’m selfish because I’m generous?” A peal of laughter echoed above her. “I did say it was only going to get harder, didn’t I?”