//------------------------------// // Act II: Chapter 5 // Story: Miss Sparkle, Psychopath // by Adda le Blue //------------------------------// “What's up, little guy?” For the umpteenth time that morning Angel unraveled his almost-smooth scroll and held it up for another pony to see. The mare smiled. “Wow, did you draw that?” she said patronizingly. “That's really good!” Angel slapped his paw against his forehead as she turned to sell her carrots to another customer. He rolled the sketch up, held it in his teeth and bounced across the market in search of more helpful ponies. After the Mayor's press conference Angel had thought that more ponies would have understood his goal, but most of them brushed him off like they would an irritating foal. He'd learned long ago that being a bunny in a pony town wasn't easy, no matter how intelligent a bunny he was, but he had no choice but to continue his quest. He had to find an answer. Fluttershy was depending on him. A clopping from behind alerted him of the approach of one of the town's many new couples. An arctic-blue pegasus affectionately bumped noses with her special somepony as they meandered down the street, determined not to let the morning's news ruin their perfect day. The pair reared onto their hindlegs in fright when Angel bounced into their path and held his sketch aloft. The stallion, a yellow-orange earth pony, recovered first. “Jeez, rabbit!” he exclaimed. “Watch where you're going!” Angel gave him a flat stare and pointed to the drawing raised over his head. “Oh look, Caramel, the bunny drew a picture!” the filly smiled. “A good one, too. Where'd you learn to draw like that, bunny?” Angel ignored her praise. Instead he pointed to himself, lifted a paw to his eyes and peered about as if scanning his surroundings, then pointed toward the picture once more. “Are you... Are you looking for this pony?” the pegasus asked. Angel nodded happily. She leaned in and narrowed her eyes in thought. “Hey, you know what? Doesn't he look familiar, with those big eyes and the mane like that? That's not a manestyle you see around here very often.” “Yeah, I think I know who you're talking about,” Caramel agreed. “I haven't seen him around for a while, though.” The mare's eyes widened and she clapped her hooves over her muzzle. “Oh, no!” she squeaked. “Did Twilight Sparkle get to him too?” Even his tremendous skill in charades and interprative dance weren't enough to clue them in. After a few fruitless attempts he scampered off in a huff, leaving them to their worry. Half an hour later he was still wandering the marketplace. He held the drawing high over his head, pointing it at anypony that passed his way. He had almost given up hope of any results when a voice called out to him. “Oh, hey!” a blue-coated unicorn said as she passed by. “Is that Cappuccino?” Angel spun and held the sketch aloft, bouncing excitedly in place. Finally, a lead! “Yeah, I think it is!” she continued. “Brown coat, blond mane, star cutie mark?” He grinned widely as he let her know of his quest, but her smile became a frown. “Sorry, little guy, I haven't seen him for a while,” she said apologetically. “He's not really, you know, friendly most of the time.” Angel shrugged, offered her a paw to bump, then spun and sprinted southeast, still beaming. “Glad I could help... I think!” the mare called after him. The bunny burst through the doors of the town hall and weaved through the legs of hurrying ponies. Mares and stallions alike squeaked as he brushed against their fetlocks. Soon his destination came into view, the same destination as earlier that morning. Applejack was still rooted the spot she'd occupied two hours prior, forging through paperwork with very little luck if the frustrated frown she wore was any indication. He hopped from the floor to a bench and onto the table and thumped his foot a few times. Applejack gave a start. “What in tarnation– Oh, there you are, Angel!” He spat the scroll, by now slightly damp and wrinkled on one side, into his paw and once again began to unroll it. “What's that, Angel?” she asked, obviously pleased to have an excuse to look away from the sheets before her. “You finish that drawing of yours?” He nodded excitedly and passed it to her. As Applejack looked it over her eyes began to widen. She poked at it with a hoof. “I know you drew this for a reason,” she said, anticipation drawing her eyebrows up. “What is it? Where'd you see him?” Angel pointed east. “What's over there?” she asked. She turned from the table and cantered to the window. “The Everf–” She cut herself short with a gasp. “Fluttershy's cottage!” she exclaimed. “You telling me he was...” Applejack's eyes darkened. “Angel, is this the pony that hurt Fluttershy?” she said dangerously. Without hesitation Angel nodded once more. Applejack walked back to the table and slammed the picture onto it; the sound rang through the town hall, attracting the eyes and ears of everypony present. “I need more, Angel!” she said as he rolled the sketch and cradled it in his paws. “You got a name?” At his agreement she bit down on the nape of his neck and tossed him onto her back, then bolted toward the center of operations, her mane whipping at Angel's whiskers. Citizens gathered excitedly around the earth pony. “Somepony give me names and a box of crayons!” she shouted as she slowed to a halt. Angel leaped from her back to the tabletop. “We're looking for a male pegasus.” As a few clerks began to dig through their folders and stacks she turned back to the bunny. “You know anything else about him?” He borrowed a quill, and quickly sketched a rough star onto the pegasus's flank. Applejack beamed at him. “We got his cutie mark!” she said confidently. “That narrows it down.” A little box of eight crayons, a rainbow of colors with the addition of brown and black, landed on the table next to him. He pried it open and went to work, adding rough layers of yellow wax to the mane and tail. “Now Angel, this is real important,” Applejack said. “Did you see his eyes?” He nodded as he reached for the brown crayon. She placed a hoof over his paw and fixed him in place with a stare. “You gotta be a hundred percent sure on this one, Angel,” she said firmly, “'cause it's gonna decide whether he's the one we're looking for or if he's just another poor soul this pony's hurt. Now, were his eyes purple?” Angel dropped the brown crayon to the tabletop, turned back to the box, and slid free another. It was bright green. A wicked smile split Applejack's muzzle. “Gotcha,” she hissed. ,', The two mares rested in the shadows, or at least they lay silently; the air carried a tension that kept their break from being very restful. Rainbow was sprawled out on her back and staring up at the rocky ceiling of their hidden campsite, a little pocket worn into the side of Ghastly Gorge. The tightness in her wings and flanks would not go away no matter how many times she flew out to check their surroundings. Twilight lay with her forehooves dangling over the edge. A shift in the ambience drew her eyes to the sky; the sun fell gently below the horizon to be replaced by its sister, the moon, mirroring an exchange Twilight knew would be taking place far to the north. In the dying light Twilight gazed into the depths of the gorge. Her eyes traveled over the canyon walls, watching the shadows play over fallen boulders and the mouths of long-abandoned quarray eel tunnels, but her thoughts paid them no mind. She turned her head just far enough to watch Rainbow Dash out of the corner of her eye. Rainbow had been wearing that same frown since their conversation in the bog. The pegasus scratched idly at in itch hidden in her chest tuft; there wasn't much water left at the bottom of the canyon, certainly not enough to wash away the sweat and grit of the day's travels. The pegasus heaved another sigh as she sought relief. Twilight didn't need a guidebook to figure out what was eating at Rainbow. Her ears fell back. “Trust me, Rainbow Dash,” she said quietly. Rainbow's ears and eyes swiveled toward the unicorn, but she couldn't gather the gumption to rise. “It's for the best,” Twilight continued. “I know it hurts, but when this is all over, you'll know that my decision was the right one.” Rainbow rolled onto her side, turning her back to her unicorn. “That doesn't make it hurt any less,” she muttered. “Look, Rainbow Dash. I don't know what else to say,” she sighed. “You don't have to say anything else.” Twilight wasn't so easily deterred. “If we free you from this spell and you still want to try something, then... then I'll think about it,” she offered, “but for now that option has to stay off the table. You understand, don't you?” Rainbow rolled back, finally facing her friend though she still seemed unable to meet her eyes. “It's not about that,” she said. “It's not?” Twilight asked, but the pegasus didn't seem as though she was simply avoiding the subject. “Then talk to me, Rainbow,” she commanded gently. She rose to her hooves and crept toward her friend, mindful of the uneven surface. “It isn't healthy to keep everything bottled up, and in our situation I think it'd be even worse. Why won't you tell me what's on your mind?” Rainbow shrugged. “I don't want to make you mad.” “You won't.” “But if I do?” Rainbow insisted. Twilight shrugged. “Then I'll talk to you about it,” she said. “We're just two normal ponies having a normal conversation.” Rainbow shifted onto her elbows “I don't think I can be that kind of normal around you, Miss–” “Twilight,” the unicorn interrupted firmly. “My name is Twilight.” The ensuing silence was broken by a sharp giggle. “You want me to call you that?” “Yes, Rainbow, I do,” she said. “I never wanted otherwise. I never was 'Miss Sparkle'.” “I know.” Rainbow smiled uncertainly. “It's still weird, though.” “I understand that it might be difficult to adjust to, especially since the compulsion might still drive you to do otherwise, but I know you can do it. You've called me by my name before.” “It was an accident,” Rainbow said hastily. Twilight placed a hoof on her shoulder. “It shouldn't have to be. Call me Twilight.” Rainbow looked up into her eyes for a long moment. “Then can you...?” Twilight waited patiently, but her words wouldn't come. “Can I what?” “Can you...” Rainbow looked away and studied a hoof. “I want you to call me Dashie,” she said quietly. Twilight barely stopped a relieved laugh from escaping. “Dashie?” she repeated. “But that's Pinkie's nickname for you. It always sounded to me like something your mom would've called you when you were a filly.” “It is,” she admitted. “It's what my parents called me when they weren't mad at me for breaking something or getting into trouble.” She kneaded her hooves into the stone and stared off into the distance. “They only called me Rainbow Dash when I did something wrong.” “But everypony calls you Rainbow Dash now,” Twilight pointed out. “Yeah, well, you're not everypony,” Rainbow said simply. “I really want you to, you know, be proud of me or something. Whenever you call me that, I'll know I'm doing something right. I won't have to keep worrying about letting you down.” “Rainbow Dash, you're not letting me down.” Twilight lay down beside her friend and pressed her shoulder to Rainbow's. “This is a terrible situation for both of us, and I know it's not easy for you but I just want you to be yourself!” “But I've been trying to be myself all along,” Rainbow whimpered, “and you keep getting mad at me.” “No, Rainbow, I'm not mad at you,” Twilight sighed. “I'm mad at the pony that did this to you.” “Then you're taking it out on me,” she insisted. The words cut Twilight. “I don't want you to keep yelling at me when I'm trying to be good, okay? It hurts a lot.” Twilight pulled her closer with a hoof around her ribs, but she couldn't meet Rainbow's eyes. She could feel it in Rainbow's tight shoulders, see it in the little dirt-filled lines on her face. She'd rarely seen Rainbow so depressed. “I'm sorry that I hurt you,” the unicorn said softly, “but some of the things you do hurt me too.” “I don't mean to.” “Nor do I, Rainbow Dash.” She folded her hooves in front of her and rested her chin upon them. Rainbow followed suit. “What do I do that bothers you?” she asked. “I'll stop.” Twilight took a deep breath as she fought with herself. Part of her wanted to spare Rainbow the truth but even discounting the hypocrisy, she knew it would only add to the tension between them. “Well,” she began, “I don't like seeing you belittle yourself for my benefit.” “What do you mean?” Twilight cocked her head as she thought back. “When you said those things in the library... those things you thought I'd told you about your mind being inferior to mine... that hurt, Rainbow. I thought you'd know by now that I'd never say something so mean to you.” “It wasn't mean, it was honest!” Rainbow disagreed. “No, it was mean,” she said. “You're not stupid, Rainbow Dash. You might not be a scholar like me, but you are smart in your own way. You're a quick thinker, a capable strategist... Besides, you're very skilled in some aspects in which I don't excel, like handling social situations. We all have our own strengths, Rainbow, and the fact that yours are different from mine doesn't make them lesser.” Rainbow lifted her head a little and blinked at Twilight. “You think I'm smart?” “Yes, Rainbow,” she smiled. “You're just as smart as the rest of us.” Rainbow smiled back. “Thanks.” The two shared a silent moment of warmth, but soon enough Rainbow had to ruin it. “Well, if that's the worst I've done, I guess I'm not doing too bad!” Twilight shifted her limbs uncomfortably. “Is that the worst?” she asked nervously. “What else did I do?” Twilight shrugged. “It's too late now,” she muttered. “It's never too late to make up for your mistakes,” Rainbow countered. Twilight had no reply to that. Left with no other choice, she turned her head away and spoke. “To be honest, Rainbow, you said a lot of things that hurt me over the last few days.” “Like what?” Rainbow asked innocently. Twilight frowned. “Rainbow, you managed to convince everypony in town that I was an evil sadist determined to spread my influence over the world. I know it's what you remember, but if you really think that highly of me, why didn't you believe me when I said it was all a lie?” Rainbow's lips tightened for a moment. “I didn't know you were telling the truth,” she mumbled. “I thought you were just tricking the girls.” “And you let me!” Twilight barked. Rainbow blanched at the sudden explosion of noise. “Don't you see what kind of pony this potion has turned you into? You're putting the desires of a fictional parody of me before your well-being or that of all of Equestria!” Rainbow drew her head as far back as she could. “But I did it for you!” “No, you did it for the pony you thought I was,” she muttered. “You didn't care about my feelings, just 'Miss Sparkle's'. You wanted her to be real. You chose 'Miss Sparkle' over me, Rainbow – everypony did! – and that... that is the worst...” Her voice broke and with it a dam broke within her, flooding her eyes with tears she didn't know she still had to spare. Her throat tightened until it hurt; her cheeks tightened her lips into a teeth-baring grimace. “My friends abandoned me!” Rainbow was on her before she could blink, laying a wing and a hoof across her back and crossing Twilight's neck with her own. “I do care,” she said softly. “I'm sorry I couldn't understand. I wasn't thinking. I didn't know they'd hate you because of what you did to me. I never wanted you to lose your friends.” “I know,” Twilight choked. “I don't... I don't blame you.” “I just wanted everypony to be as proud of you as I was,” the pegasus explained. “Why couldn't they understand what a great thing this is?” “They stripped you of the power to choose!” she cried. “You deserve free will!” “I still have free will,” she countered. “I choose you.” “You chose me because of a lie!” Now that her feelings had begun to come out, there was no stopping them. “You only like me because of the effects of this potion, but you keep acting like it's real and I'm forced to deal with your affection and politeness and sometimes I wish it was real, but I know it never will be because you are not Rainbow Dash!” “But Miss...” “I want the Rainbow Dash who was constantly striving to better herself, not one that's willing to lie pinned beneath the hoof of another mare! I want the Rainbow Dash who would never hurt her friends just because somepony told her to!” “But...” “I don't care if she feels that way about me or not,” she sobbed. “I want my old Rainbow back!” “Twilight?” The unicorn gasped and choked on a sob. “I'm sorry,” Rainbow said quietly. “I'll try, okay?” Twilight rested her cheek against Rainbow's. “You said my name,” she breathed. “I'm gonna try to remember,” she promised. “I might mess up sometimes, but...” “But at least you're trying,” Twilight agreed. “That is enough.” The hoof around Twilight's shoulders began to stroke her ribs. “I don't care if we find the pony who did this to me or not,” Rainbow said eventually. “I swear, if we make it back to Ponyville, I'll fix this. I'll help you be the hero you want to be, no matter what.” A bead of moisture slid down Twilight's cheek. She was silent for a long time before she found the words. “Thank you, Dashie.” Rainbow's faint squeal of happiness was reward enough. Twenty minutes later Twilight found herself alone in the waking world. She had cried herself dry onto Rainbow's shoulder for the third time in as many days and the two rested with their cheeks together and Rainbow's wing stretched over Twilight like a downy blanket. It was a welcome comfort even on a warm and still spring night. From her place near the wall of their little crevice, Twilight couldn't see the moon. She idly wondered if it could see her. Since Pinkie Pie had been found in Ponyville it was likely that the Mayor had sent somepony else to alert the Princesses to her town's latest catastrophe; in fact, she should have done so as soon as the train from Canterlot came in. With any luck one or both of the Princesses would be in Ponyville soon, if not already, and if Princess Luna knew of her situation, perhaps she would investigate in her own way. “Luna, walk my dreams tonight,” she whispered. Rainbow snuggled closer and sighed, contentment brightening her features more than any amount of starlight could. Twilight allowed her weight to sag against the pegasus and closed her eyes. ,', “Sorry to keep you up so late,” Applejack apologized. A tall and lithe white figure stepped from the back of her chariot. “The hour is no issue,” Princess Celestia assured her. “My guards and I are used to the occasional late night.” “I and mine as well,” her navy-coated sister agreed from her own. “The night is our realm, after all. We are most eager to resolve the situation.” The fair alicorn lit her horn and a globe of white light appeared above them, softly illuminating their surroundings. “Has Twilight been found?” she asked. “No, Princess, she hasn't come back.” Princess Luna's frown deepened. “We must find her immediately,” she declared. “I am no stranger to the corruption of some magics. I will not allow Twilight Sparkle to suffer the same fate.” “Wait, Princess!” Applejack said hurriedly. “Things have changed. You're never gonna believe it, but we found out who's behind all this! He's a pegasus named Cappuccino, brown coat, yellow mane, green eyes, star-shaped cutie mark. He brews fancy coffees and teas and that. Looks like he's been branching out into potions.” “And you know this how?” Luna asked suspiciously. “Because Angel Bunny saw him!” Applejack grinned. “Cappuccino didn't pay him no mind 'cause he's just a bunny!” Celestia smiled, and anypony who knew her as well as Applejack did could have seen a tension lift from her shoulders and eyebrows. “I knew my Twilight could never have done this.” Applejack frowned. “But the thing is, Rarity doesn't know,” she said worriedly. “She went off to find Twilight and Rainbow Dash and bring them back to stand trial, but I'm worried she's gonna do something stupid. She ain't been handling it very well.” Princess Celestia's smile fell away. “Where did she go?” “South,” Applejack replied uncertainly. “That's all I know.” “My stallions will search the forest,” Luna decided. “The darkness will not hinder their keen sight.” Celestia nodded. “Until they return, Applejack, let us go to the town hall. We must wake the Mayor as well; I will need the two of you to tell me everything you know about the events of the last few days.” “And I have two ponies and a dragon to attend to,” Luna said sadly. “Fluttershy's in her cottage – you remember where her cottage is, right?” the farmer asked nervously. “East of town?” Luna nodded impatiently. “And Spike's in the library and Pinkie's... well, we had to move her to the prison.” “The prison?” the alicorn said, her mouth twisting in distaste. “Has she grown violent?” “No, she just... She keeps sneaking into ponies' houses and stealing paper and quills,” Applejack mumbled. “We didn't want her getting herself into trouble.” Luna shook her head, spread her wings and soared off toward the prison. She swept through the doors, scaring the living daylight out of the solitary watchmare at her post. “Where is Pinkie Pie?” she asked loudly; her nerves had gotten the better of her. “She's the only one here right now!” the policemare replied hastily. “She's just inside. I wanted to keep a close eye on her.” The Princess nodded her thanks and turned to the door leading to the cells. The mare took a step with her. “Do you... do you want me to come with you?” “No, thank you,” she said politely. “I would like to keep things between us until I can uncover the root cause of her condition.” “Well, here...” The mare rounded her desk. “Take this.” She hoofed the Princess a sheet of parchment. “She'll need it.” Luna studied it in confusion. “The page is blank,” she said. The mare nodded sadly. “I know. You'll understand.” Luna frowned and opened the door to the cells. Immediately a familiar pink pony jumped into view. She wrapped her forehooves around the bars of her cell and gave her Princess a huge smile. “Hi, stranger!” she said happily. “Isn't Canterlot great?” The Princess's brow furrowed as she closed the door. “Excuse me?” “I'm really having a lot of fun!” Pinkie continued. Suddenly her eyes lit up and she bounced away to the opposite corner of her cell. When she returned she was balancing a steel mug on her nose. “Want some coffee?” she asked. “Donut Joe's specialty!” The Princess wrinkled her nose. “Thank you, Pinkie Pie. That is... most gracious of you.” It certainly didn't smell like Donut Joe's. It certainly didn't smell like coffee. She pulled the proffered mug through the bars and sent it floating off toward the main door. “Oh, I've been so busy,” Pinkie said happily. “I've met all kinds of new ponies and I've been, like, everywhere and seen everything! I have so many letters to write...” Her eyes drifted out of focus. In a flash she slammed into the bars in front of Luna's muzzle. Luna flinched back in the face of the filly's onslaught, barely out of reach of her swiping hooves. “Calm yourself, Pinkie Pie!” the alicorn commanded, but the filly didn't hear her. Pinkie's muzzle crinkled in determination. “Gimme!” she demanded. “Gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme...” Her hoof managed to bump the corner of the blank page Luna held and knocked it out of her grasp. It quickly disappeared as Pinkie retreated with it into the recesses of her cell. Soon a crayon appeared from somewhere. “Dear... girls...” she muttered. “Not yet, Pinkie Pie,” Luna said gently. Her magic lifted the filly from the cold stone floor and pulled her back toward the bars. Page and crayon fell from Pinkie's grasp; her eyes shifted from burning rage to confusion to quiet interest. The princess rested her forehead against the earth pony's, ignoring the icy touch of the iron bars, and closed her eyes. “Where are you?” she muttered. Princess Luna dove in.