//------------------------------//
// The Terrible Fate of Berry Punch 
// Story: Inverted Harmony 
// by AmazingBluie 
//------------------------------//

Berry Punch woke up with a minor headache. She remembered taking a bit of a tumble the previous night and figured the ground must have hit harder than she realized.

Crawling out of bed and looking outside her bedroom window, the purple earth pony sighed. It was a nice day outside, at least. Some fresh air would do her good. Walking around town might put a spring in her step, as it often did.

Berry smiled and ate a quick breakfast, finally trotting out the door to face the day. Already, her spirit was brightening. She could easily see this day going very well for her, and couldn't wait to enjoy it to the end.

___________

Less than an hour later, things weren't quite turning out as much in her favor as Berry would have liked. She had a problem in the form of Fluttershy, who had somehow seemed fit to follow her on the way to the market.

It wouldn't have been that bad had it just been a matter of being followed. Rather, Fluttershy was oddly determined to have her sample some sort of a drink; one that was homemade, apparently. The problem was that Berry was not thirsty and she didn't like drinking anything but water this early in the day. Anything else upset her stomach, especially unknown substances.

Berry admitted to herself that Fluttershy was good with animals and probably knew what sort of liquids would be healthy for pony physiology. This mare had a rule, however, that she would not trust anypony more than herself when it came to her body; that included her doctor. Anything not water would have to wait until the afternoon, and that was final.

The yellow pegasus didn't quite see it that way, though, and her insistence became more determined. "It's just a taste, really," she went on. "It's oh so delicious, and you know it will make you feel as energetic as a foal. Nopony knows better than me."

Glancing quickly away from Fluttershy's frightening smile, Berry grimaced. This had moved past awkward and into creepy territory. The Element of Kindness sounded like a sinister whisper that seduced young ponies into bad lifestyles. Phrases came to mind such as, "You know you want to try it," or "It won't hurt you, your parents just don't understand." The next thing the town knows, it's been invaded by jazz music and Snickers bars.

She probably wouldn't be so against the Snickers if not for her peanut allergy. As far as she was concerned, they were death sticks.

The mare sighed as her kinda-sorta-friend clung to her hind hooves, wearing her down in more ways than one. Berry finally shook her off and relented. "Okay, okay, I'll try a little taste, all right?"

Fluttershy jumped up in excitement, practically bouncing in joy. "Oh, yes! Oh, my, yes!" Her shouts of enthusiasm were only just audible a foot away, but that was expected from the socially inexperienced mare. She had always been very quiet, that Berry could recall.

Berry took the bottle with the drink inside and held it up to take a sip.

"Be sure to take a nice, big one, so you can get the full flavor!"

The earth pony nodded and returned it to her lips, tilting it back. Her eyes widened as she stared ahead, strangely.

Fluttershy stared intently, still waiting for Berry to finish… or start; the liquid was kind of hovering just balanced on the tip.

Berry suddenly pointed in the direction she had been staring. "What's that?"

While the obsessed pegasus turned to search out the distraction, Berry dumped a mouthful of drink into the grass behind her. She brought it right back where it had been in time for the other mare to turn around, then dropped it back down to her side. She wiped her mouth, as if to rid it of remaining drink. "Ahhh! That was somewhat refreshing!"

Fluttershy blinked and stared at the bottle for a moment. Satisfied it was missing an appropriate amount of fluid, she smiled and returned her attention to the pony that had finally drank it.

Berry grinned and tossed her the bottle, which she clumsily caught. "Well, Fluttershy, that's decent stuff you've got there, but I've got places to go."  With that said, Berry felt confident the problem was over. She turned around and continued trotting off to the market.

After a few minutes, she was cantering, then full out galloping to get away from the crazy pegasus still stalking her with a strangely expectant stare.

___________

Panting from her mad maneuvering, Berry Punch peeked out from behind a bush to confirm whether she had lost her tail; the crazy pony tailing her, not her actual tail.

She sighed and rubbed her temples with her hooves. She didn't know what was wrong with the other mare, but it now had her a bit stressed and was wrecking her good day.

Stepping out from cover, Berry still felt eyes following her. She didn't see Fluttershy anywhere, and that was not a pony that knew how to sneak, as quiet as she was. Yet, she still held the firm belief that somepony was watching her. The area was out of the way of normal equine traffic and had few places to hide, and there was no indication of anypony aside from herself within half a mile, so it did not seem like a rational thought for somepony to be observing her without her notice.

She walked cautiously back toward the path to the market, keeping her glances fleeting and in every direction. Berry watched in front of her and saw the path ahead. She glanced behind her and saw the bushes she had left. Looking to her left, she saw a small waste bin. To the right, there was nothing.

She stared upwards and counted five medium-sized clouds. Berry even glanced down and saw the ground beneath her feet. Starting over, she looked forward and saw a blue hoof. Looking back, the mare saw the bushes she had left.

She had not willingly initiated that last glance.

The hoof had connected with a spot under her jaw, close to her neck. It hadn't been hard enough to force her head back that much, but there must have been a pressure point somewhere because her body's resistance had been almost limp. Somepony was attacking her and knew what they were doing.

Berry felt panic as another hoof connected, this time on the left side of her chest, near her shoulder. She felt her body dip a bit in that direction and tried to call out in surprise. She found her mouth could make no noise, however, and instead felt a slight pain in her chest when she tried.

Another punch connected, this one on the back of her shoulder blade. It felt different, and she imagined her attacker using their elbow for it. Her body spasmed before she started to sway forward, towards collapsing on her face.

One more punch, this time in her side and just below the ribcage. Now, Berry collapsed sideways and felt herself crash into the dirt. She didn't know what was happening and was so stunned she honestly hadn't figured out how to feel about it. Especially when she caught the form of her opponent.

Rainbow Dash.

What was her beef with me? First Fluttershy and now Rainbow Dash? Did I do something to irritate all those six?

Suddenly, she remembered last night and yelling at the Crusaders. Were they getting some kind of sick revenge on her for that? It hadn't been that bad!

As she lay on the ground, unable to move her body, Dash reached above her and chopped downward with a foreleg. Berry felt it bash the side of her head, directly in front of her ear. Suddenly, she felt herself quickly losing consciousness.

As the darkness claimed her, she watched Rainbow Dash trot away, saying something along the lines of, "Well, I'm glad that worked! If I hurry, I can just make it in time to join other me without anypony being the wiser. Then it's off to find Smite!"

Berry's mind faded away as she lost consciousness, wondering why Dash had taken off after leaving her alone and defenseless.

___________

Waking up from the craziest dream, Berry Punch reached over to grab her water glass from her nightstand.

Frowning at the fact her hoof wouldn't move, she blearily opened her eyes to see what was restraining her. As the mare realized she was, in fact, not in her bedroom, she also concluded that this room was not one she wanted to be in for long.

The table below her was cold metal, and she was fastened to it with thick straps that held her in place. The only light in the room was directly over her, and somehow did not go far. Visibilitiy practically died past a few feet beyond her in any direction. There was a table at one side that she could see, partially. It held a large bag on it, though she could not guess what might be inside.

As she pondered the situation, the only answer she could reach was that some nutjob had gotten ahold of her. This was confirmed as the town nutjob entered the radius of the light. "Hiya, Berry!"

Berry sighed. Last night must have been worse than she remembered, if even Pinkie was getting in on the revenge. This seemed a bit excessive, but that was hardly unexpected from the popping pink party pony. "What do you want, Pinkie?"

Pinkie laughed. "I just wanted you, silly! And wouldn't you know it, you were just laying there, out in the field, like you were waiting for me! That was so thoughtful!"

Berry grumbled, "You're welcome."

Pinkie giggled as she happily trotted to the bag on the table. "Oh, don't be such a sourpuss! I promise I'm going to turn your frown upside-down!" She opened it and started to pull stuff out and lay them on the table, but Berry couldn't see what anything was with Pinkie in the way. Pinkie pulled something else out and giggled, but there was something weird about the sound that made Berry a little nervous. Pinkie continued her apparently unfinished sentence, "Quite forcibly."

The purple earth pony frowned. How could she forcibly make her smile, unless she physically pulled the sides of her mouth upwards? Even Pinkie would know the difference between that and actually smiling, though.

Shrugging, Berry sighed again. "All right, Pinkie. Whatever's going on, let's get it over with. I have errands I need to run today."

Pinkie laughed. "Don't be a silly billy! You're not going to be running errands, today!"

The trapped mare raised an eyebrow. "I'm not?"

"Nope!" Pinkie turned around with a hacksaw and icepick. "You're not going to be doing any running again! Not after I'm through with you!"

Berry started blinking rapidly now, trying to come to terms with the image in front of her. Pinkie looked absolutely normal, but at the same time, she had never seen anyone scarier than the pink pony with the poofy mane in front of her. She got the feeling that Pinkie wasn't teasing her. This was something that could actually be serious.

Pinkie laughed again, but Berry felt nothing uplifting from the sound. "We're going to have so much fun!"

___________

Second Twilight had watched as Berry Punch and Fluttershy walked to the market together. Although she felt bad for subjecting her kind friend to watching the death that was to come, it was too perfect a chance to miss. Everypony would be talking about what they saw during her heart attack throughout the day, and Twilight would have all the data she was looking for without even needing to be there to witness it.

Currently, Second Twilight was in her room at the inn, sitting at her desk. She had the Death Note in front of her, though it was closed. She was taking her time in this, giving it the appropriate reverence for the occasion. The first Death Note attempt in a parallel universe was about to begin, and she felt a deep level of excitement and foreboding at the thought.

She pulled the cover open with her magic and flipped to the last page she had used. Tracing a hoof over the last few names, Twilight felt a smirk grow on her face. There was a rush of power from the knowledge that she’d taken the lives of these ponies. They had broken the law, and she had brought justice down on them. With just a face and a name, she had ultimate power.

Now it was time to use it once more.

___________

Berry pushed against her restraints again, but found no give to them. They were sturdy, despite being made of some form of taffy. Luckily, there was enough stretch to them that they weren't uncomfortable.

The situation, however, more than made up for that.

Berry watched as Pinkie Pie sharpened a kitchen knife with a grinding wheel. The noise was loud and grating, but the little sparks that popped off served as a distraction to her own fear.

"Sorry about having to take care of preparations, first." Pinkie looked back at her with a little apologetic smile. "The noise would've bothered other ponies if I had done it in my room. I didn't want to be a nuisance, after all."

Berry shrugged and looked away. Her hopes of this being a joke were passing slowly with every minute. Already, her captor had several tools sharpened and available. She was not looking forward to finding out what they were for.

"So, I was thinking we'd start with the cutie marks." At the sound of her voice and the halting of her grinding, Berry couldn't help but look back at her. Pinkie was gathering her tools up in a little carpenter’s tool belt. The grinding wheel was oddly nowhere in sight. "I have a use for them, you see, and I like to collect them before your coat starts staining from all the other work I'll be doing."

Berry tried not to concentrate on the implications, but felt sick anyway.

"After that," Pinkie went on, "I think the forelegs would be a great place to start. Tell me, what's the furthest you've filed your hooves?"

The earth pony turned her head as far as it would go, determined not to cry or show fear, but unable to look at the pink terror approaching her.

After a moment, she heard Pinkie speaking right next to her, and felt a light punch on the shoulder.

"Oh! Don't be like that! It's pretty rude to ignore your friends when they're talking to you, right?"

Berry turned and tried to give her the most hateful glare she could gather. "You are no friend of mine."

Pinkie frowned, but shrugged. "Well, I'm sorry you feel that way. But you're my friend, like it or not!" Pinkie wrapped a hoof around Berry's shoulders in a half-hug. "110%!"

Berry stared blankly at her, mind boggled by the mixed signals this crazed pony gave her. "So… you're not going to kill me?"

"Pshh." Pinkie waved a hoof in a "don't be silly" motion. "Whoever gave you that idea?" She picked up a chainsaw she hadn't had a moment ago and flipped it on. The roaring filled the air and hurt Berry's unprepared ears, and suddenly she felt every suppressed tremor of panic wash over her all at once.

"Wait! Wait! I thought you were going for my flank before making a mess?!"

Pinkie paused, the lowered blades mere inches away from the other pony’s stomach. "Oh." She made a giggle-snort. "Right!"

Throwing away the machine, she pulled out a scalpel. "Thanks, Berry! You really have been a great friend so far!"

Berry gritted her teeth, heart thrumming fast from the unexpected chainsaw and not slowing at the prospect of what was about to happen to her. "Wait! Just wait! Whatever you want! We can do it! I'll get you anything! Anything!"

Pinkie smiled, but waved a hoof. "Oh, silly! This is what I want!" She rinsed the scalpel in some cleansing solution from a bowl. Berry had given up trying to figure out where these things came from and went. "Thanks for the offer, though!"

"Why?" Berry Punch was not one to give up on something, and talking a madpony out of cutting into her was at the top of the list on when not to give up. "Why are you doing this?!"

Pinkie blinked before pondering the question seriously. "I suppose there is a reason." Then she smiled and leaned over to look at Berry from above her purple tummy. "I'm just not sure what it is right now."

Suddenly, Pinkie Pie's eyes widened and she gasped. "I forgot the most important part!"

As the random pony ran over to the table and grabbed a hammer, basin, and umbrella, Berry breathed a quick, gasping sigh of relief. It was getting to be too much, and she felt tears starting to brim around her eyes.

Her ears flicked as she heard Pinkie singing, "Hey, we're Pinkie Pie and Berry Puuuuunch, aaaaand together we'll make great luuuunch! 

Berry grimaced at the song, and something else that just made this whole experience all that worse. It had only bothered her a little before, but now, with the singing, it was suddenly all she could think about.

"Beeeerry! Beeerry! Life's all good candy and veeeerrry shoooooort." Loud banging punctuated Pinkie's suddenly deep voice at that last word in the song and Berry watched her pound the edge of the basin with the hammer. "Let's get some drinks and things to munch." Pinkie brought the hammer up once more, readying for the crescendo.

"It's all for a pony named Berry Punch!" The last word was punctuated very loudly.

Berry couldn't take it any more. As horrible as being sliced up and baked into cupcakes would be, as frightened as the chainsaw had made her, that song was what finally snapped the doomed pony. She lost control of her emotions and burst into tears while simultaneously snarling, "Stop it! Just stop it! Let me go, you freak! And would you quit calling me that?!"

With the heavy hammer again raised up high in the air, Pinkie stopped. Slowly, she lowered the tool and turned to her captive with a puzzled look. "Huh?"

___________

Second Twilight dipped her quill in ink and hovered it over the page. She could almost feel the power radiating from the surface. It was the most powerful weapon, now spanning multiple universes.

She thought about all she could do once she mastered her own world. There was so much she could accomplish if she convinced Discord to work with her a little; at least until she discovered how to cross the dimensional rift herself. She would be the master of reality.

It had a catchy ring to it.

Giggling, Twilight realized she was going overboard. With as many times as she had written ponies' names in here, this should be no different.

Abruptly dropping the dramatics, Twilight finally set the quill to paper, and penned the name of Berry Punch.

It would not be long, now.

___________

Pinkie Pie was just about finished shaping the basin. It was almost ready, just a few more hits, and she'd be able to move on to the best part.

Still, there was something bothering her. "What did you mean by asking me to quit calling you that?"

"Why does it matter?"

"Well, you said it, silly. I just wanna know what you meant."

Berry sniffled, then drew some breaths to at least finally be able to correct something that had been bothering her for awhile. If nothing else, she could do that much before being slaughtered by the mad pony. "My name. Everypony always calls me Berry Punch. Ever since I was a filly, that's all anypony ever remembered."

Pinky slowed what she was doing and watched her in confusion. "But… that's your name. Isn't it?"

Berry shook her head, then looked down. It was easier to relive the story told to her when she wasn't looking at all the sharp instruments in front of her. "It was the other name my parents considered. But they changed their minds during the last hour before I was born." She shrugged. "Or, at least, that's what I'm told. I wasn't exactly aware of what they were saying or doing at that time in my life, obviously."

Berry looked up and saw that Pinkie had dropped the hammer onto the table and was staring at her. It was as if the pink monster was intensely hanging off her every word. She continued, "When they first told me that story, I was a little filly and thought it was the funniest thing. I had everyone in school call me Berry Punch. I thought it was cool at first, like I was a different pony for a little while."

She grimaced at the memory. "But then they got used to it. I could never get them to go back to my original name, and eventually I gave up. Even my friends ended up forgetting my real name, and that sort of thing just depressed me to think about it. So I stopped."

Falling into quiet, she noticed Pinkie was unmoving. Her eyes were wide and mouth ajar, gaping. Eventually, she managed to ask, "What… what is your name?"

"Fruity Flavors."

Pinkie fell on her knees and lifted her forehooves high into the air, screaming, "NOOOOOOOO!"

___________

With a final flick, Twilight finished writing the name of her victim and closed the Death Note.

Now that she had done the deed, she felt what she believed to be the appropriate level of remorse. She had just killed another pony, one that she had no guarantee had done anything wrong. Though, it was likely.

It had to be done, of course; for science. This was much-needed data, and she had a responsibility to collect it, for the future. Berry would be missed, and Twilight was sure an appropriate funeral would be placed for her, regardless of whether she earned it. It was as consolation that Twilight told herself that everypony died, and this was for a good cause. There were worse ways to go.

Glad that she had gotten through her mourning of her duties, Twilight grinned as she set the Death Note away and laid back on her bed. "Now all I have to do is wait!"

She giggled, anxious to hear the frightened townsponies react to the sudden death of one of their own.

It would be a strangely long wait.

___________

"I am so sorry!"

Fruity was a little shocked that Pinkie was unbinding her straps. She was actually more than a little shocked, especially with the insane pony apologizing for her actions so far. The other mare seemed genuinely sorry for almost torturing and killing her, to say nothing of baking her into cupcakes.

Pinkie was halfway through undoing the last strap when she jerked back and started slamming her head into the table. "Stupid, stupid, stupid Pinkie Pie! It never even occurred to me somepony might use a false name!"

Fruity undid the last strap herself, eager to get away. Though, she couldn't help but pause. Biting her lip, she hesitated before asking, "What, exactly, is wrong?"

Pinkie's head was currently flattened against the table, literally, and then it sprang back up and formed into its natural state. She then returned it once more to the hard surface before the question seemed to reach her. Shooting herself upright, though with her nose still flat against her face, she started exclaiming loudly and with animated hooves.

"I'll tell you what's wrong! My entire numbering system is based on pony names! It's the way I do business! I set up a machine that gives me a number, I use my special Dewey Deckemall system to interpret that number into a relevant name, and then I use that pony to make my special brand of cupcakes! If the number's wrong, the whole system breaks down! I've messed up everythiiiiing!"

It was at this point that the murdering psycho broke into tears, sobbing at her miserable failure to select the correct random pony. For a moment, Fruity honestly didn't know whether to feel bad for her.

"Um… if it's pretty much random ponies, does it really matter?"

Pinkie tried to stop crying so she could answer properly. It took a minute, and Fruity kept having to hold herself from running away. Full of sniffles, Pinkie gathered her breath and finally explained. "I don't wanna."

It was another moment of complete silence, aside from Pinkie's sniffles, before Fruity finally shook her head and started to leave.

With her near-victim calmly escaping, Pinkie gasped. "I'm going to have to make a whole new system!"

Fruity's eyes widened and she froze. It had probably been too much to hope for that to be the end of the crazy pony's apparent rampage that she had never known about.

Pinkie suddenly got excited, grabbing a hacksaw and hammer and looking at them as if they were inspiration. "Yeah! A brand new system! And no silly pony names, either! They're so stupid!" Pinkie stuck her tongue out in contempt.

"It's so easy to fake a name, so I'm going to go with something totally different: mane colors!" Pinkie Pie threw her hooves into the air and waved her instruments of baking wildly to emphasize her proclamation.

Deciding not to mention that mane colors were often dyed, and not wanting her own to be found particularly appealing, Fruity decided to take the chance and split. However, she did catch a bit more from Pinkie before being long gone.

"Oh, but wait! Some manes have more than one color! That means… I would have to bake Rainbow Dash into cupcakes a whole bunch of times!"

___________

Fruity trudged along the path she was on, not sure where she was going, exactly. Looking up, she realized she was on the outskirts of the town. Wondering if that was perhaps a sign, she turned to go home and considered moving. Manehatten was nice this time of year.

The purple pony known to most as Berry was shaken by her experience of everything that morning, and it had only just passed noon. She realized she might have to start trying to figure out how one should file a report against the Elements of Harmony. It probably wouldn't go over well with the Princess.

Her stomach growling diverted Fruity's attention. It was past lunchtime, and she could really use sustenance. It was still a bit of a walk to the market, but that didn't really concern her at the moment.

Rarity did.

The pale unicorn was standing on her path back into town, holding a picnic basket. She had a friendly smile on, and waved enthusiastically at Fruity. Rarity seemed genuinely happy to see Berry Punch approaching her.

Fruity turned around.

Applejack.

Right there, in the opposite direction of this two-way path, was the familiar orange pony, smiling happily. There was something sinister in her smile, though, and it was enough to send Fruity toward Rarity.

Head drooping low, Fruity didn't freak out or run away. She calmly trudged past the dressmaker on the way for some food. Her stomach growled to accentuate those thoughts.

Rarity heard the sound. "Oh, my! Berry, dear, you look positively famished! Have you had anything to eat?"

Fruity stopped and looked at the basket that the unicorn was lightly waving for her attention. As tempting as it was, she ignored it and moved on. With her luck that morning, it probably contained a large kitchen knife and nothing else.

Rarity was not dissuaded by the brush off, and quickly fell into pace beside her. "Oh! Why as it just so happens, I was on my way to a picnic with… Fluttershy! And wouldn't you know it, she had to cancel last minute!"

Probably to stalk me, Fruity thought bitterly.

"You know," Rarity rubbed her chin in thought, "you could join me instead! I know we'd just have the most delightful time, and I've got the perfect spot for a quiet day like this!"

Fruity wanted to pick up her pace, but couldn't really work up the energy to do so. She had a feeling nopony would do something to her in the open, so she felt safe for the moment. All the same, when she reached a split in the road and saw Applejack waiting on one path, Fruity turned and took the other.

Rarity huffed. "You know, it's really rude not to acknowledge a pony when they're talking to you!"

Fruity felt her lip curl into a small snarl as she turned to look at her unwanted companion. She took a moment to stare into her eyes and properly get a message across. It was, after all, a comment that deserved a response, considering the situation. "I have nothing to say to you or your crazy friends!"

A dark shadow passed over Rarity's face as she set down her basket. She had dropped her friendly disposition like a mask. Fruity watched a hoof slip into the basket, and for a moment, she wondered if she may have been right about that knife, after all.

Then Rarity was all smiles again as she yanked her hoof out of the basket and started fluffing her hair, innocently. "Applejack."

Fruity's eyes widened as she spun around to see that Applejack had decided against waiting for her. She had one on either side of her now and was starting to wonder about her previous assessment of safety outdoors.

If I have ever been ungrateful for a dull life before, I take it all back.

Fruity's thoughts were ignored as Rarity and Applejack glared at each other through smiles. She had the distinct feeling of being a worm on a hook between two different fish.

"Hey, Rarity," Applejack greeted. "What'cha got there? A picnic basket?"

Rarity nodded, but shoved said container behind her.

"Seems like a great idea! Great day for a picnic." Applejack looked up and around at the sky for a moment, before focusing again on the unicorn. "Say! You know, I think I saw Fluttershy wandering around a minute ago. I bet'cha she'd just love a picnic!"

Rarity lost her smile for a moment. She seethed for a split second at the smashing of her excuse, before regaining her smile. "What about you, Applejack? Shouldn't you be helping at the orchard or something while we wait? Spending time with your siblings, perhaps?"

Applejack's look darkened at the mention of siblings, before waving Rarity's suggestion aside. "Naw, I don't wanna bother nopony. It might be awkward and all."

Fruity didn't know what they were talking about, but she had spent the last minute slowly moving away so that the two were fully facing each other and not watching her. She gradually increased her speed as she went further along the path into town.

"All the same," Rarity began, "I really think you should- agh! Berry! Wait- wait for me, dear!"

Fruity galloped hard and fast.

___________

Fruity Flavors was seriously considering leaving town. These ponies were every bit as crazy as she’d always believed, and then some. Pinkie Pie alone was reason enough to get out of town, but creepy Fluttershy and violent Rainbow Dash were the icing on the cake. Rarity and Applejack were simply cherries on top, or whatever analogy was appropriate.

She didn’t know what they wanted, but Fruity knew she had to get rid of them.

She turned to look at the two ponies who were following her but watching each other. They seemed content to leave things be if there was a witness to whatever they were planning, and Fruity was more than happy to leave it at that. Now she just had to get away from the both of them without stranding herself with either.

Coming up with a plan, Fruity stopped in her tracks. After a second or two of staring at each other, her stalkers realized she'd stopped moving and did so as well. Fruity turned to confront them with a pleasant smile. "You know, I'm feeling rather hungry. Who's up for lunch?"

Rarity smiled, practically glowing. "Oh, yes, dear! We could have a lovely picnic! I have some beautiful cutlery I'd love to show you. Er, plastic, of course, heheh." Her nervous chuckle did nothing to ease Fruity's distrust of her, but she kept her smile unchanged.

Applejack snorted. "Who needs a fancy picnic? I've got the best apples in the county, and ya'll know it. Come on over to the orchard, Berry, you know we'll treat ya right."

"Well, my professionally styled picnic blanket won't go well amongst the closely grown trees, so you'll have to forgive us for bailing on you Applejack."

"Well, Rarity, you can go enjoy your fancy tablecloth by yourself, because Berry knows the Apple family makes the best apple pie she's ever tasted. Isn't that right, Berry?"

Fruity's face hadn't changed, but she let out a forced chuckle. "You sure do both want to spend time with me, don't you? Well, how about a little contest to choose whose idea to follow?"

Both ponies blinked at her before breaking out into grins.

"Sounds reasonable," Applejack mused aloud. "What exactly did you have in mind?"

"Well…" Fruity pretended to consider it. "You both want me to join you for lunch. So, over there in the market are several items I would like to make an excellent sandwich." She pointed to the market they had almost reached when she had stopped. "First to get me the ingredients gets to choose the location for us to eat!"

Rarity shot a hoof forward to add an amendment. "Oh, and the loser cannot join the picnic!"

"Agreed! But it's the orchard, instead!" Applejack's response was quick and borderline desperate. They had both found a point in common, and Fruity was willing to let it go at that. She didn't plan on being stuck with either of them.

"Okay, then!” Fruity started speaking really fast as she listed the necessary items. “I would like pretzel bread, tomatoes, lettuce, daisies, a garlic clove, two pickles, exactly forty-two hay fries, and a seven-layer caramel cake filled with mint ice cream topped with an ice sculpture of both Princesses playing Hungry Hungry Griffons. On your marks!"

Rarity and Applejack looked at each other in surprise at the abruptness, before scrambling for readying positions.

"Get set! …Go!"

The race was on, and both ponies were completely focused on their tasks. It was exactly as planned, and Fruity watched and waited for them to get to the first stall before making a stealthy getaway.

Spinning about, she took a step forward before freezing. Her forward momentum nearly toppled her onto her face. She jerked herself back in an attempt to steady herself, and barely stayed upright.

There, in front of her, was an upset Fluttershy with a bottle full of a familiar unknown substance. Her left eye was twitching and her mane was a fuzzy mess. She was breathing rapidly, like she'd been hyperventilating.

Fruity's jaw dropped in shock, and the butter-yellow pegasus took advantage by shoving the bottle into her mouth.

"Drink it!" Fluttershy shrieked.

Some of the liquid entered her mouth, but Fruity reacted harshly and managed to break her mouth free. Fluttershy's foreleg that had been shoving it at her was abruptly deflected and the other mare ended up with her face in the dirt.

Fruity coughed out the drink, trying to be sure to empty her oral cavity of every drop. When she felt she'd come close enough, Fruity looked up to find Rarity and Applejack mere feet away. Only half the ingredients were present, which meant Fluttershy's attack had caught their attention.

Eyes twitching, throat burning, and mind warped by the day, Fruity Flavors sat on her haunches and let loose with a desperate, frustrated cry that stopped the ponies in their tracks and gathered the attention of dozens of nearby pedestrians. Her entire body started spasming as she glanced about her in paranoia before settling on screeching again to the sky.

"I've had it! This is it!" Everypony watched as a wild-eyed Berry Punch went mad, spit flying out of her mouth like a sprinkler as she practically foamed with outrage. "I am done with this town! I have been attacked, tortured, stalked, and abused in the past six hours, and I won't take it anymore!"

With all the spit flying out of her mouth, nearby ponies only heard angry garbles with the occasional intelligible word thrown in. The tone of the message was clear, but nopony had a clue what was actually wrong. This didn't bother Fruity very much.

The demented pony shook her hoof and let out a few more words no one could understand before heading away from the direction of the market, straight for the edge of town. Fruity no longer cared if anypony followed her, and didn't even notice that her stalkers were currently struck silent by her freakout. With some more shouting, she angrily pushed past any ponies in her way, advancing on some imaginary exit to her troubles.

While storming away, Fruity paused for a moment before turning around and shouting at the top of her lungs, "And my name's not Berry Punch!"

Still fuming, she turned around and stomped right past a befuddled Twilight Sparkle.

___________

Byuk snickered. It was close enough, anyways, if one were lenient with the term.

Second Twilight ignored him, regardless of the correct name of the sound. "It's fine, really," she groused. "I have plenty of other chances for experimentation. Just because I don't know one pony's real name, that’s no reason for discouragement."

Byuk shrugged and picked up Twilight's bag, rooting around for an apple. After a few moments of not finding one, he dumped it on the bed, behind her, contents spraying out onto the mattress.

Twilight was lying halfway on the bed, perpendicular to it, with her hind legs hanging off the side. She chewed her lip before shrugging, admitting defeat for now. "While I could try to learn more about her, I think Berry, or whatever her name is, can take a pass."

She sat up and pounded her hooves together. "Next time, though, I won't miss!"

___________

As Fruity Flavors reached the border of the town, she stopped for a moment and looked back. She had lived here most her life and would miss it. She may even return one day. She’d have to come back at least long enough to get the rest of her stuff... in a month or two. For now, she had family in Fillydelphia.

Of course, it was still hard to just leave.

As Fruity stood there debating, an old friend spotted her while walking past. “Berry! What brings you out here?”

Fruity looked over to her teacher friend, Cheerilee, and smiled. “Oh, Cheerilee! I’ve had the lousiest day!”

“Oh?” Cheerilee looked interested, but hesitant. “I’m terribly sorry, Berry, but there’s a school play I have to set up for, so I don’t have much time.”

The little ray of hope Fruity had faded, as did her smile. “Oh. It’s no problem. I just wanted to tell you I’ll be leaving town for awhile, maybe even forever.”

Shocked, the teacher’s jaw dropped. “Oh, my! I hope you took your time making a huge decision like that.”

Fruity shook her head. “It was that bad of a day.”

“Oh... well...” Cheerilee obviously had no idea what to say. “If it’s a matter of you leaving for good, why don’t you join me, first?”

She considered it. “Help put together your play?”

Cheerilee slowly nodded. “Something like that. Maybe I can find some way to convince you to stay.”

“I doubt it.”

The teacher smiled and tilted her head inquiringly, her experience with children showing in her persistence. “Would you give me the chance?”

Fruity looked back and forth between the way she had come and where she was going, then looked in the direction her friend had been heading. “Sure. I’ll go with you.”

A wide grin went across Cheerilee’s face as Fruity joined her and the two trotted off together. “Good. We’ll have some fun together setting up the scenery. It’s going to be a lovely garden.”