//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 - The Omen // Story: Pinkamena: The Dark Descent // by Wolokai //------------------------------// Chapter 1…The Omen “It started when I was just a young filly, when I still lived on the rock farm. It was right before Dashie’s awesome, super spectacular, amazing Sonic Rainboom! Anyway, I was moving rocks from the East Field over to the West Field, when I heard this awful saddy-waddy crying coming from one of the bushes on the edge of the forest. I went over and saw this poor, innocent little bunny in a bush, bleeding all over the place!” Pinkie Pie said with a sad tone in her voice. Her and her yellow Pegasus friend, Fluttershy, were seated outside a small restaurant down the street from Sugar Cube Corner. They sat on their stools comfortably, a pink and white umbrella over there head to shield them from Celestia’s burning sun. The Weather Team had brought about a furious storm a few days ago, and it needed drying fast, thus, the heated day. As Pinkie Pie told her story, Fluttershy let out a tiny squeak of fright and sadness, muttering “Oh…oh my! Not the poor wittle bunny rabbit…what happened next?” When she asked what happened next Pinkie Pie hesitated to answer, simply taking a small sip out of her milkshake that was sitting in front of her. Fluttershy put a hoof on hers, smiling a little and whispering “It’s ok Pinkie Pie, I won’t judge you at all, you can tell me what happened.” Pinkie smiled at her words, always being comforted by her timid friend. She sighed and stared at her shake for a moment before looking up and mumbling “I felt so bad about not being able to do anything…we didn’t have any fancy medicine or anything, and the bunny was bleeding too much. I had to do something though…so I found the nearest rock…” At this Fluttershy threw her hooves up to her mouth, her pupils contracting in horror as Pinkie Pie felt tears brimming in her eyes. She choked out a sob before finishing quickly “And I bashed his little head in…I hit him and I hit him, over and over until he didn’t squeak anymore…” Fluttershy hopped off her stool and quickly trotted over to Pinkie, grasping her in a tight hug and shushing her, trying to sooth her crying. The poof of Pinkie’s hair had begun to flatten slightly as she hugged her friend back, and together they just sat there, holding one another. It was Fluttershy who broke the silence first, whispering “There, there Pinkie, It’s ok. There’s nothing else you could have done, he was in pain and it couldn’t be helped…” Pinkie could only let out another sob and push her hooves against her eyes, crying into them and saying “But I…I…” Liked it, she thought. The crying of the bunny had gotten so annoying and had made her unable to think. She felt so horrible about the bunny but at the same time she just wanted it to SHUT UP! So much stupid noise, so much crying! It wasn’t happy, and she HATED not being happy! Pinkie Pie had never felt that way ever again since that day, and she was happy to have Fluttershy telling her that she understood her woes. Pinkie sniffled and wiped her eyes, smiling a little “Thank you Fluttershy…for today.” Fluttershy only winked and said “Today’s not over yet Pinkie dear, we still have the party to throw, don’t we?” At this statement Pinkie’s hair re-poofed as she jumped from the stool in joy and shouted “I TOTALLY FORGOT ABOUT MY OFFICIAL FIRST DAY OF OWNING SUGAR CUBE CORNER PARTY!!!” Fluttershy smiled as together they both trotted back towards Sugar Cube Corner. They giggled, told jokes and admired the local flora of Ponyville that had begun to come out and shine since the rain’s end. Pinkie Pie bounced with every step, smiling widely and getting herself psyched for the upcoming party, which was sure to be the most awesome, super-duperest party of all parties EVER!!! The Cakes were retiring from a long, loving life of baking goods and teaching their apprentice, Pinkie Pie, the fundamentals of baking and even some business when it came to financing the store. For their final act of kindness, they entitled the entire business and building of Sugar Cube Corner to their dear pupil, Pinkie Pie. She was of course, so overjoyed that she cracked a smile for days that was even wider than the one she had on when the Sonic Rainboom had been performed near her Rock Farm. But today was the day of the party, and it was going to be GRAND! Upon approaching the shop, the two mares were all smiles, but suddenly they stopped. Standing in front of the shop door was a rather big Colt, hammering a piece of paper into the door. His coat was a dark green color, like the trees of the Everfree Forest, and his mane a lighter brown. His cutie mark was that of a donut over a red cross, and at this Pinkie Pie could only gulp. She knew who this colt was...he had visited the Cakes loads of times before. He was always so rude, asking questions about the business and state of the shop. The colt turned his head, done with his hammering and nearly ran into Fluttershy who squeaked with fright and dove behind Pinkie Pie. He blinked in surprise for a moment and instantly cleared his throat, looking down at Pinkie Pie with a venomous look. His voice was guttural and low as he rumbled to Pinkie “Good…evening Ms. Pie…” Pinkie Pie tried not to let her nervousness show, simply giving a happy swing of her hoof into the air and shouted “Well hi there Health Inspector Trottington! What brings you all the way out here to Ponyville?” Inspector Trottington seemed to scowl at the Pink Mare’s silly, careless attitude and simply growled “Your, INSPECTION, Ms. Pie…is coming up, and I do hope things are not going to utter rot now that the Cakes have left” Pinkie Pie frowned at this, and simply muttered “The shop’s just fine…I clean it every…” She was suddenly cut off by the Inspector’s loud cough as he grumbled “Yes, yes, very good, see to it this establishment is spotless and all health issues in order by this time in three days, or you know the consequences!” He didn’t give Pinkie Pie a chance to say anything else as he was already trotting away, a graceful clop in his step. Pinkie Pie watched him go, eyes partially narrowed and frown deeply set. Fluttershy came out from behind Pinkie, gently poking her shoulder. When Pinkie’s face softened to look at Fluttershy, not wanting to scare her, the yellow mare asked “W…who was that?” Pinkie Pie simply sighed and looked down, muttering “That…is Chief Health Inspector Trottington of Manhattan’s Sugar Drop Incorporated, a fancy chain of sweet shops and bakeries that are starting to open up across Equestria.” Fluttershy nodded and tapped the Pink Mare, smiling “Well, don’t let him get you down Pinkie; you still have your wonderful party to throw.” Pinkie Pie nodded, smiling a little and together they both went inside. Fluttershy stopped a moment before she had entered the shop fully, and reared up gently on her back legs, gripping the notice on the door in her mouth and ripping it down. She gave a slight nod and went inside, the door closing gently behind her with a light ‘click’ and the jingle of the shop’s bell. Cold winds suddenly began to blow through the streets, causing several Ponies passing by to shiver, even in the heat of Celestia’s sun! From inside Sugar Cube Corner, ingredients had been laid out amongst the counter, ready to be mixed into specialty goods. The wind however, pushed open one of the windows and began blowing about the kitchen, making pots hanging over head sway. One gave way and fell to the counter, crashing into a bottle of Ketchup and small knives. The bottle fell first, a knife quickly after it, plunging into the bottle with a loud ‘TWHACK!’ Ketchup began to seep from the wound of the knife, as the contents created a dark puddle of red under the bottle. If anypony had seen this occur, they would think it simply an accident…but it was dear Fluttershy who had backed up quickly and hit the counters behind her with fright, and had seen this terrifying event occur. She watched the red ooze seep out everywhere, and trembled with fear. She didn’t know why she was so scared…but she took this as a very bad omen. A very bad omen indeed…