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// Tea Parties 
// Story: Madame Mel 
// by Prince Solstice 
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	The table had been set according to the standard rules of tea time. There were saucers with tea cups on them, the tea kettle in the middle of the table, and the typical characters were placed around the table. Pinkamena stood next to the table in excitement as Pinkie entered into the room. To Pinkie’s surprise, there was even piping hot tea. She knew because the steam was emitting from the spout of the kettle. Pinkie looked around the solid oak table. There were a few stuffed animals, and for some weird reason there was a jar with a cricket in it. Also, there was a cardboard box with a heart on only one side of it.
“This is sir Reginald.” Pinkie tapped the jar with the cricket and moved on to the next seat. “This is Princess Fluffybutt,” as she touched one of the ears of a stuffed rabbit. She moved in a clockwise fashion “this is Togo, and this is Wheatly.” Pinkamena touched the bear and then the box. Each of which Pinkie smiled at, and she giggled a little bit at Princess Fluffybutt. Pinkamena pulled out a chair and motioned for Pinkie to come sit down. Pinkie trotted over and took her seat. Pinkie was excited and ready for tea time to start.
“Thank you so much Pinkamena, you are a super duper host!” Pinkie gave Pinkamena a smile as she was sitting down. Pinkie looked across the table to Sir Reginald chirping inside his glass jar. Pinkie was wondering what the cricket in a jar could mean. Each character that sat at the table Pinkie didn't recognize. Why would her mind create images that make no sense? Pinkie was beginning to grow a little concern that something might turn out bad. She had that twitch in her tail after all.
Pinkie tried to shrug the feeling, but the twitch kept her on edge. Still, she smiled and laughed as Pinkamena was having pretend conversations with all the interesting characters around the table.
“So, Princess Fluffybutt, have you heard about the guy who invented knock knock jokes? No? He won a no-bell prize!” Pinkie and Pinkamena laughed, Sir Reginald chirped loudly. The two ponies were having a blast, even if Pinkie found this whole thing to be pretty weird.
“Hey, Pinkamena?” Pinkie had one thing bearing heavy on her mind, and she finally had to ask, “Where is Grandma?” 
“You mean Madame Mel?” Pinkamena looked at Pinkie with a serious look. Pinkie was beginning to become confused by the fillies games.
“You called her grandma before.” Pinkie took a sip of nonexistent tea.
“Well, you seemed to disapprove of that name, so call her Madame Mel, because she is such a lady, and her full name is Matilda.” Pinkamena gave a forced smile. Pinkie was still curious about this grandma, or Madame Mel, character.
“Who is she, I’ve never met her before, and trust me I remember every pony I’ve ever met.” Pinkie had lost her smile by this point, and had a curious look on her face. 
“She is my nanny!” Pinkamena began to become angry, Pinkie flinched a little. “She helps me not be so scared.” Pinkamena was standing out of her chair now, with her front hooves slammed down onto the wooden table.
“Geez, I was just wondering. You don’t have to get defensive over her.” Just then there was a loud throat clearing.
“And who might you be?” There was an older ladies voice that came from behind Pinkie. She turned around to see a darker grey pony staring down at Pinkie. It was the same mare from the picture of Madame Mel, and she had a look of intrigue on her face. Pinkie quickly stood up to face the nanny.
“I’m Pinkie Pie, and I was wondering exactly the same thing about you!” Pinkie stood on her hind legs and put her front legs on her hips. She had a look of annoyance on her face, and Madame Mel just stared at her with an uncaring look.
“Yes, well maybe we should sit down and talk this through." Madame Mel gave Pinkie a look of expectancy, making Pinkie realize that maybe she should sit down. Pinkie sat, and looked up at Madame Mel with the same annoyed look.
“Well, to begin with, my name is Matilda, grandma, and as of lately Madame Mel.” She gave out a snort. “I am Pinkamena’s nanny.” With that Madame Mel looked Pinkie over. “That seems to have been established, but if you want further explanations, I will provide them.” Pinkie lost her look of annoyance, and became curious and ready to start the questionnaire.
“I know this is my mind. Why have I never met you before?” Pinkie asked
“Ah, because to be truthful, I am a part of your minds defenses. I keep bad thoughts away from Pinkamena.” Pinkie became a little confused.
“Wait, so who is Pinkamena?”
“Well, she is everything you oppress normally, like anger, sadness, and even darkness.” After Madame Mel said that, there was a familiar voice that rung out to Pinkie.
“Pinkie Pie? Where are you?” the voice was really loud, and sounded much like Luna.
“What the?” Pinkie got up to go outside. There in the distance was Princess Luna. The alicorn looked up and shouted.
“Pinkie!” Luna flew over to Pinkie and came in between the door and Pinkie. “You are in danger!” Luna had a grave look on her face.
“What do you mean Luna?” Pinkie had become even more confused and a little frightened.
“You must not associate with yourself like this. It’s not just a dream anymore!” Just then there was a flame that shot into Luna. Luna screamed out in pain, and vanished. There behind Luna was Pinkamena.
“Pinkie! It is rude to leave the table without excusing yourself!” Pinkamena looked furious, her eyes had dilated; her entire face was furrowed forwards, and her teeth were smashed together. “Get back inside and finish your tea!”
`	”Whoa, what are you doing?” Pinkie was scared to the point of trembles. She had no idea what was going on. Madame Mel came stepping out from behind Pinkamena.
“Pinkamena, calm yourself. This is not how we treat our guests. Now, Pinkie, I would highly recommend that you come inside. There is so much to discuss, and you really don’t have a choice in the matter. Suddenly shadows morphed out of the ground and wrapped around Pinkie’s legs. They lifted her in the air slightly and slid over towards the giant table. They slammed her back in the chair and held her down.
“What is going on!?” Pinkie yelled at the two ponies. Pinkamena just giggled at Pinkie, and Madame Mel shoved her a little.
“You really don’t understand. Pinkamena here has wanted a real play mate for a long time. This isn’t just your dreams, it is the part of your mind that you abandoned as a child. This is your old imagination. Here is your innocence, here is your emotions, and here is your prison. You are going to be Pinkamena’s playmate forever.” Just then there was a flash of white, that froze both of the ponies and became brighter and brighter.
Pinkie opened her eyes to see Twilight looking at her. Pinkie soon realized that she was in the hospital back in Ponyville. Pinkie had cold sweats running down her face. Twilight got a giant smile on her face and looked like a mess.
“Pinkie!” Twilight hugged Pinkie.
“Ouch! Twilight that hurts!” Pinkie cringed because twilight accidently hugged her rib cage. Twilight quickly let go.
“Oh, Pinkie, I’m so sorry… For everything.” Twilight began to get a tear in her eye, and Pinkie sat up rather slowly.
“What happened?” Pinkie asked, and Twilight looked at her.
“Well, the party cannon had too much pressure built up for your launch. You overshot the target and your parachute cord had malfunctioned. Luckily you hit the trees as you lost momentum, but the resulting crash gave you a broken rib and front leg. You were bleeding pretty badly from a couple of gashes made. You passed out from exhaustion, and we found you not even in ten minutes. Just I am so glad you are alive!” Twilight had streams of tears running down her face. Pinkie reached out with her non broken hoof and wiped Twilight's tears away.
“Don’t worry; I’m still alive and happy as ever.” Pinkie knew she was lying. The dream she had dealt with. There was so much about it that really did scare her. “How long was I out?”
“You have been out for almost an entire day. There was something else too. There were small traces of neurotoxins found in your blood. It causes ponies to go into a coma like state. What’s really weird though, you were talking in your sleep. I’ve been here for the last two hours recording what you said. What was your dream about, you seemed to have gotten frightened or something.”
Pinkie just looked at Twilight and gave a sigh. Pinkie had just learned about darkness inside her mind. She wanted to try and forget about the dream, but it seems like she had to tell Twilight about it.