//------------------------------// // Torture // Story: The Party Breaker // by PonyXpress //------------------------------// Five days. Five days had passed since that afternoon. Pinkie had barely left Sugarcube corner at all. She spent her time working and on occasion, going to visit Dashie to talk about, the topics that crossed her mind. Not once did she let on about her true feelings. They were kept hidden, well away from public eyes. Those five days, felt long and arduous. Pinkie could have sworn somepony had turned time down, slowing it to a near stop. It was torture. Twilight stopped by to visit every day, she knew something was wrong. Pinkie was usually out and about, yet there she was, staying in the bakery all day, everyday. She wanted to help the pink party mare, with whatever the problem was, but every attempt made to lend a hoof was met by a bright smile and a confirmation that nothing was wrong. Twilight soon realized that she wasn't going to get anywhere by simply asking but she had no clue on what else she could do without hurting Pinkie more. The unicorn figured it would probably best to let time take it's toll. On the rare occasion Pinkie did leave the store, after Mrs Cake had coaxed her into a break. She'd spend her spare time with Rainbow Dash. Talking about whatever came to mind, occasionally heading out for a little prank. She didn't dare tell Dash about what happened that afternoon. They'd roam all over town, dropping buckets, tugging ropes, kicking thunder clouds and the like. Rainbow could feel something odd. Pinkie wasn't herself, she looked and acted like the same Pinkie she knew. The one that could make anypony laugh, the one that cared about everypony in town. Yet, there was something missing, something Rainbow couldn't quite put a hoof on. Like somepony had reached down in the pink pony's mind and taken something important from her. Rainbow had asked about how her confession with Fluttershy went. Pinkie merely responded with a calm "Oh nah, I didn't tell her" and that was the end of it. She hadn't seen Fluttershy in those few days, she felt she wasn't ready yet. The yellow pegasus had come to visit, but Pinkie had made Mrs Cake aware that she didn't want to see her just yet. Fluttershy was fed lies of Pinkie being away, so the pink pony wouldn't have to worry about accidentally bumping into her while working. Pinkie's sad moments became less frequent, and crying every night became obsolete after day two. However the sugar binge every night became a ritual, it helped her relax, somehow managing to put her to sleep. Mrs Cake had begun to ask where some of the sweets were going. Pinkie told her she'd kept some in her room for a rainy day. Pinkie thought, maybe she was finally learning to deal with it, maybe she could move on again, live normally. Pinkie slowly trotted into the kitchen, smiling at Mrs Cake who had already taken her role of work for the day. "Oh, good morning dear" Mrs Cake greeted the still drowsy pink mare Pinkie shook her head to wake herself up, becoming aware of her surroundings. "Uh...Hi Mrs Cake" Pinkie looked at the blue earth pony wearing her apron, slightly confused. "I figured you needed a day off, Pinkie. You've been working non stop for five days" Pinkie jerked her head back. "What? No, I'm fine I don't need a break" Pinkie retorted Mrs Cake gave a sheepish grin, slightly afraid of the angered pink pony in front of her. "Please Pinkie, you look like you're worn out, just let me handle today" "No, It's fine, really!" Pinkie said dashing forwards in panic. The last thing she wanted was a day off to help jog her memory. Work was keeping her mind off the thoughts she wanted to escape. A day off could easily ruin five long days of trying to forget. "I insist Pinkie, you need a break" Pinkie clamped her eyes shut in frustration. "Fine" She muttered "I guess I'll go see Dashie for today then" Pinkie turned herself towards the front door. "Great, I'll see you this afternoon then, don't worry about the store I've got things covered" Mrs Cake called to the pink pony leaving the store. Pinkie stepped outside into the morning sun, letting out a deep sigh. Ponies were already out and about, selling and buying, visiting friends and the like. The noise of the town was somewhat relaxing, slowly seeping any doubts out of Pinkie's mind. "This is going to be a looooong day" Pinkie said to herself. She took a moment to recap her thoughts. "Well then, lets try have some fun!" Pinkie smiled hopping off into the bustling town ahead. Pinkie hopped through the various buildings that made up Ponyville. Ponies were waking, trotting, playing, carrying on with their lives. Normal day to day chores and errands, jobs and leisure. She bobbed and weaved through the townsfolk. Her mouth blabbed greetings to almost everypony she passed. She felt normal. The pink earth pony, so caught up in her cheerful greetings, almost forgot where she was headed. Her body jerked and turned, with the sudden thought of her destination. She hopped onward to the outskirts of town, following a plain dirt path in an open meadow. Pinkie could see Rainbow's cloud home in the distance. Rainbow was always there to help Pinkie take her mind off things, if she couldn't work, she'd play. Pinkie's mind began to wander to the various tricks and pranks they'd be able to pull today. She let out a quick snicker a the thought. "Rainboooow!~" Pinkie called out into the sky The blue pegasus zoomed out of one of her windows in almost no time, almost as if she were waiting for her. She looked down to see the pink earth pony looking up at her with a smile of anticipation. "Hey Pinkie Pie" She greeted "Did you wanna come play today? I thought of a few more pranks for us to pull!" Pinkie's face radiated with excitement. "Sorry Pinkie, I think I'm just gonna stay home and finish this new Daring Do book" Rainbow apologized her face fading to that of shallow guilt "Maybe some other time okay?" Pinkie's smile faded almost instantly. "Oh" Pinkie sighed "Okay then Dashie, I'll see you later" Pinkie forced a false smile before turning around to hop on to her next destination. Rainbow looked at the pink pony hop off, slightly worried, before shrugging it off and rushing back into her home. Pinkie bounded through town once again, unsure of where to go. She thought about Fluttershy, her bouncing stopped abruptly. It just wasn't possible to stop thinking of her, she was always there. Pinkie contorted her face, lowering her brows. "Maybe...I could see how she is...she usually makes me happy, maybe that hasn't changed" She stopped to think about what she had just suggested to herself, what if it brought out the best in her? What if everything goes better than she expected it to? Yet, on the other hoof, a visit to Fluttershy could make her feel just as bad. Again that gamble of good and bad paid Pinkie another visit. "Should I really take the risk?" She murmured to herself She stood in her place for a few minutes, thinking things over as hard as she could. Her eyes closed tightly, tilting her head at the ground. "Yes, I will, I'll take that chance, Fluttershy is worth it" Pinkie nodded triumphantly. Pinkie tried to reassure herself as she made her way across town, following the same paths she had become all too familiar with. Soon the buildings became less common, being replaced by fields and trees. The refined town roads became open dirt paths that lead to the cottage, the ones that Pinkie had come to love. As Pinkie approached the cottage just over the horizon, she noticed Fluttershy just outside the front door. The yellow pegasus sat by a table as though she were waiting for somepony. She felt her worries lift, she suddently felt happier, just to see her. Her walking hastened to a trot, her smile growing wider with every closing inch. "Fluttershy!" She called out The yellow mare perked her ears, looking out at the path Pinkie was running along. She raised a hoof in a wave. Pinkie ran up to her special friend with a grin. "Pinkie! I haven't seen you in days" Fluttershy exclaimed Pinkie panted, trying to catch her breath "Yeah I'm sorry I guess I just got a little...uhh" Pinkie's voice faltered for a moment "Sick...yeah, too much sugary stuff" Pinkie let out a hearty giggle "You know me" Fluttershy sent a gentle heartwarming smile. The pair of ponies turned their heads at the sudden sound of the front door opening. A well built red stallion emerged from the cottage, one Pinkie knew all too well. The pink pony felt her world shatter yet again as he walked over to the shy pegasus. He placed a small cup of what seemed to be juice on the table beside her. Fluttershy gave a giggle. "Thank you Mac" Fluttershy turned back to Pinkie. "Pinkie, I'm sure you already know, but this is Big Macintosh" The final pieces of joy and happiness were now trodden and replaced with remorse and hopelessness. "Howdy" The big red stallion greeted with a caring smile. Pinkie sat silently with a blank face, swallowing down the negativity as best she could. She wanted to scream, to shout, to yell at both of the ponies that were in front of her. "Hi!" She grinned "I've heard a lot about you!" The stallion shied his head away. Fluttershy stretched her neck out pressing her nose against Mac's. Pinkie felt something snap inside her. As though the last piece's of hope she had left had faded. "Well...I think I better head off, leave you two be" She winked "Besides, I'm feeling a little off, uh...too much sugar" She groaned with a lie. "Oh, well okay then Pinkie. I hope you feel better soon" Fluttershy hoped with slight worry "You should stop eating so many sweets, I'm sure that'll help" "I'll be fine Flutters!" Pinkie shouted as she trotted off down the path. Mac looked at the yellow pegasus with a bit of curiosity "Flutters?" The deep voice repeated Pinkie's words. Fluttershy blushed "Oh it's just what Pinkie calls me" She smiled. The pink pony bounced into town, the sun clearly beginning to lower in the slightly orange sky. She approached a building she had come to visit a lot in the past few months. She knocked on the wooden door lightly. "Helloooo~!" She called out Twilight appeared as the wooden door swung open with a creak. "Pinkie Pie?" The lavender pony seem genuinely surprised to see Pinkie "What brings you here?" She asked Pinkie shrugged pushing her way into the library "I dunno" Pinkie looked up at all the bookshelves as she'd always done upon entering the library. There was just something so...interesting about seeing so many books in one place. Where did Twilight even get all these books, and what were they all for? What does she do with the one's she's already read? Put them back to read again some other time? The thought slipped through her mind as she turned around to meet the unicorn standing behind her. "Actually, Twilight" Pinkie started Pinkie paused, running through her thoughts. "I wanted to know if you wanted, hang out or something, you know, just play?" Pinkie asked with a grin. Twilight raised a brow in confusion. Pinkie never wanted to 'play' with Twilight before, what made now any different. Twilight's suspicions grew stronger, something was clearly off. "Uh...play?" Twilight asked "Yeah, you know..." Pinkie waved her hoof in the air "Play!" Twilight frowned, taking a few steps toward her friend. She narrowed her eyes "Pinkie...Are you ok?" Pinkie's face grew blank for a few moments before bursting into a giggle "Of course Twilight, why do you keep asking?" Twilight rolled her eyes, in frustration "I know something's wrong Pinkie, You've been acting...different lately" Pinkie's bubbly smile faded "What do you mean?" Twilight took a few more steps towards the pink pony. "I mean the staying at Sugarcube Corner for five days straight, I mean how you want to 'play' with me" Twilight's voice stammered a little "Me! Of all ponies and I mean how you spend the time in Sugarcube Corner working, I mean how Mrs Cake has to lie to Fluttershy just so you don't have to see her!" Twilight brought her hooves to cover her mouth as soon as she let that last phrase slip out of her mouth. "Wait! No! I mean..." Twilight shrunk her head back in regret. Pinkie's ears lowered. She felt her bottled emotions leak once again, only this time the bottle broke. The pink pony lowered her head, clamping her eyes shut as tight as she could. She tried to fight off the tears. Five days of hard work were undone as Pinkie buckled under her hooves. She fell to the ground, tears streaming down her face and on to the flooring of the library. Twilight jumped back at the sudden movements, unsure of how to react. "It hurts Twilight! It hurts so much!" Pinkie wailed Twilight rushed over to her quickly sitting beside the downed pink mare. She placed her hooves around her in a hug, in hopes of trying to lift her mood. "What does?" Twilight asked gently Pinkie sniffled and sobbed, wiping her face with her hooves "Fluttershy...she...she's with Big Mac...I was too late. I know I sound...like I'm being greedy, crying and whining because...I..I didn't get what I wanted...b...but i can't help it!" Twilight couldn't help but feel tears begin to well up in her own eyes. The usually happy pony was a pile of misery and self loathing, radiating despair to anything around her. "I tried to forget about it, I don't want to tell her because I don't want her to worry about me" Pinkie cried Her sniffles and hiccups were as uncontrolled as lightning, the pink mare threw her arms around Twilight, trying to comfort herself. Twilight could feel Pinkie shaking, rattled with emotion, she could feel Pinkie's warm tears roll onto her body. "Pinkie..." "I don't know what to do, Twilight, I can't visit Fluttershy anymore...because....because it feels like somepony has a knife in my chest" Pinkie's hold on Twilight tightened as she rubbed her face into Twilight's mane as a small filly would their mother. "And...they're twisting it around, again and again" Pinkie continued "It's dug right in there and I can't get it out" Twilight began to cry with her, the grim metaphor tearing Twilight's heart in half. "I'm sorry Pinkie" "I want to be happy for her, I really, really do..but...I can't do it. And.. now...I started wishing I'd never met her and it makes me feel so bad" Pinkie cried Twilight had no idea what to say, what to do. She figured there was nothing she could do, the best thing she could do was let her friend talk. Let her get all of her troubles out. Pinkie's crying lasted for hours, the two ponies sat on the library floor, holding each other, Pinkie letting out all the sorrow that boiled and cooked within her for five days straight. Pinkie talked and talked, about how much she cared about the shy pegasus, how much she meant to her and most importantly, how much she wanted to be with her. "You can't tell her Twilight, please, don't tell her" Pinkie pleaded The pink pony began to grow tired, she began to relax, running out of energy to use and tears to shed. She collapsed on Twilight still sniffling and sobbing, her face damp and ragged. She slowly began to drift off to sleep. Twilight managed to keep herself awake a little while longer. The lavender unicorn's horn began to glow, lifting a blanket from her room upstairs toward her. She laid the blanket over the two of them, figuring it'd be best to sleep with Pinkie for tonight, to comfort her. Twilight laid herself down nuzzling Pinkie's bright pink poofy mane, eliciting a sob from the pink party pony. ------------------------ The days flowed on by, soon becoming weeks. Pinkie's attempts to suppress her real feelings became futile. Pinkie often holding strong during the days, bouncing around like that happy mare everypony knew her as. Then, as the sun set, she'd visit Twilight, like some sort of therapy session. She would explain her feelings, how she had dreams, of herself. Talking to herself. Abusing herself. Twilight couldn't help but begin to feel like she was useless, unable to help Pinkie with her problems. She was clearly tearing herself apart and there was nothing anyone could do to help her. Fluttershy started to visit Pinkie. Pinkie would try her best not to show any discomfort, sometimes it would work. But usually, Fluttershy began see the pink pony falter and shake. Sometimes a tear forming in her eyes. Pinkie would insist that she was fine, that she'd just had a little to much sugar and was making her shaky, which soon became partially true. The yellow pegasus began to ask her friends if they'd noticed Pinkie's strange behavior. Rarity had been busy with work, not seeing much of Pinkie. The same applied to Applejack, however they agreed that when they did see Pinkie, she definitely acted different. Rainbow hadn't seen her since she asked to play a few weeks ago, telling Fluttershy that she had turned her down after she asked to hang out. Pinkie was beginning to isolate herself, which was definitely not in her nature. When Fluttershy asked Twilight, the lavender unicorn simply bit her bottom lip in an attempt to hold back the sorrow beginning to build in her eyes. The pegasus rushed to her asking her what was wrong, but she'd promised Pinkie she wouldn't tell her. It only made Twilight feel even more helpless, she began to relay Pinkie's feelings, crying on the spot. Fluttershy gasped, unable to understand why Twilight cried at the mere mention of Pinkie's unusual actions. Soon Pinkie's conflicted feelings became a burden to each of the 6 friends, affecting them in ways they hadn't expected. ------------------------ Pinkie lay on her floor, staring up at the ceiling. The past few weeks had been anything but easy, yet she was still here. "Maybe I should leave Gummy" She said out aloud to the alligator hopping around the room on a blue ball "Maybe someone might be able to help me forget all this stuff. Some really powerful unicorn somewhere has to be able to get rid of memories right?" Pinkie pondered her thoughts for a moment. "Hmm...do i really want to forget about her though? She's so special to me..." The little alligator let out a gargle. "You're right Gummy, I can't forget her, that would be mean...I mean imagine if I saw her again" The pink pony frowned "I'd never recognize her, but she would know me...I bet she'd be super sad if i didn't remember her" She sighed, waiting a moment before continuing on. "Well what else can I do? I can't just cry or eat myself to sleep every night" Pinkie said sarcastically with a frown. Pinkie rolled herself over, picking up another slice of cake from the box beside her. She pressed the cake into her mouth swallowing it almost whole. She rolled back over, returning her gaze up at the ceiling. The pink pony began to feel her body heat up, she wasn't sure why. "I wonder where I'd go if I did leave" she whispered trying to ignore the sudden influx of odd sensations. Soon the feelings became too hard to ignore. She tried to pull herself up, her arms felt weak and her stomach began to hurt. Her limbs collapsed back down, her head landed on the floor with a thud. Her cheeks began to feel hot, her eye lids growing heavier by the second. She felt her hooves begin to burn, almost as if they were on fire. "Wh...w" Pinkie felt her eye lids slowly close themselves, her whole body beginning to relax and weaken. The pink pony lay on the floor on the verge of passing out. As the last few moments of consciousness slipped away from her, she panicked. She shouted Fluttershy's name before her mind blacked out.