//------------------------------// // Chapter 6 // Story: Pinkie's twisted world // by tyion //------------------------------// Pinkie ran like she never ran before, she was already deep inside the Everfree Forest. Yet, she did not intend to stop, she tried to outrun everything, running kept her occupied, hoping that it would also keep her sane. Pinkie wanted to leave everything behind, her nightmares and her fears of hurting her friends. After what felt like an eternity she stopped due to her exhaustion: her heart was beating in an rapid pace and her head pounded profusely, and the wet fur she had combined with the lashing winds made Pinkie shiver frantically. She sat down, leaning against a nearby tree, the rain pouring down on her mercilessly,she hoped that it would wipe away her tears. ==== Meanwhile Fluttershy ran around in confusion and panic, she had no idea what just happened. She didn't even know what to do right now, call her friends? No.... Pinkie ran towards the Everfree Forest, which meant that time is of the essence. Fluttershy gulped. She concluded that the only thing she could do was to go after her... which meant inside of the everfree forest. The pegasus took a deep breath before flapping her wings and flying the same path Pinkie ran. Fluttershy's wings were beating in an rapid pace, she could take a glimpse at various creatures while rushing through the forest. She was flying around aimlessly now, the tracks of Pinkie were no longer visible, and she had no clue where to go. Fluttershy nearly gave up when until she heard the sound of somepony silently sobbing. "Pinkie? Is that you?" she stammered Pinkie turned her head in a rapid motion when she heard her name being called. ”What is she doing here? She should just stay away from me”. Fluttershy stared at the pink pony, her huge eyes full of concern, not having the slightest idea what was going on in the brain of her friend. “Pinkie we should really get back, it’s not safe here,” she pleaded. “I can’t go back with you,” Pinkie replied with a low voice “Why?” “I just can’t , I don’t want to hurt you” Fluttershy was confused at that statement. Why would Pinkie want to hurt her? Isn’t she her friend? “You don't have to worry, you would never hurt a friend of yours,” Fluttershy said with reassuring smile. “How can you be so sure? How can anypony be so sure?” she replied with a despairing voice “Because you care for your friends and I know you only want to see them happy, you would never hurt them on purpose” "I do care deeply for you, all of you. Yet, I still hurt Dashie, who can assure me this wont happen again?” Pinkies thoughts were interrupted by a distant roar. She looked at Fluttershy and figured that she was as clueless as herself regarding the sound they have just heard. Suddenly a huge shadow formed around Pinkie. She turned around and saw that an Ursa had approached them. “Fluttershy, run!” she screamed before running away. Fluttershy had the advantage of having wings, which was why she was a lot faster than the wild Predator. Pinkie however had to stay with her hooves on the ground, which wouldn’t be that much of a problem because she's a fast runner, but in the forest the ground was rough. That was her calamity, she tripped over a loose branch and fell, not being able to get on her hooves in time to escape. It seemed to be her inevitable fate to die here, when all of a sudden Fluttershy appeared and grabbed the earth pony, trying to get away. Unfortunately she was not fast enough as the Ursa lunged out for a crushing blow. He was able to hit Fluttershy in her desperate attempt of flying away with Pinkie. His razor sharp claws cut deep into her back. The pegasus fell down along with Pinkie, hitting her head as she landed on the hard soil. “Fluttershy?” Pinkie shook her firmly but the pegasus gave no response. The pink pony concluded that she must be unconscious. ”I have to save her, this is my fault in the first place. I have to get Fluttershy out of here alive.” Pinkie tried to think of a solution, futile. She gazed onto the pegasus and saw that blood was dripping out of her injury. The vibrant red of the blood caused Pinkie's eyes to dilate, and sent her into a trance. Everything around her seemed to vanish and the only thing she could see was the scarlet red liquid that escaped the torn flesh of her friend. This sight caused her heartbeat to accelerate, and her brain was not able to process anything else. The Ursa was now approaching the two ponies, his mouth already watering up when he thought about the delicious dinner he just found. He was standing in front of them now, Pinkie still staring at Fluttershy’s wound, not even aware of the fact that they are going to die if she didn't do anything. The predator closed in for the kill and swiped with all of his might, but he didn’t hit anything. Dash saved them in the last second, she heard the roar which escaped the Ursa’s mouth and figured that Pinkie and Fluttershy had to be there since she didn’t find them at the cottage. She was carrying Fluttershy on her back and held Pinkie with her hooves. Pinkie slowly returned to reality, she inspected her surroundings, and realized that she was in the Everfree Forest, flying. As her mind processed what had happened she remembered that Fluttershy was hurt. “Dash you gotta get Shy to the hospital!” she exclaimed with a worried tone. Dash didn't reply but simply nodded. ==== Several minutes passed until they arrived at the hospital, Dash dropped Pinkie and carried Fluttershy into the entrance hall, after a couple of seconds filled with the usual questions, she checked her in. Dash followed the nurse into the room Fluttershy was brought into. Pinkie was trotting closely behind. “Is she going to be alright?” Dash asked upon entering the room. “I can’t tell right now, but it doesn't look too severe” the nurse replied inspecting the wounds. Dash felt a huge weight being lifted from her, she felt so guilty for leaving Pinkie and Fluttershy alone. How could she have been so stupid? “It seems like I was right, her wounds are deep but her vital organs were unharmed. I’ll just need to disinfect her wounds so they don't become inflamed.” the nurse said walking out of the room. “Phew, that's good to hear, isn’t it Dashie?” Pinkie walked next to the cyan pegasus. Dash did not respond, she didn't even bother to look at Pinkie. She was feeling reluctance towards the pink pony. “Is something wrong?” Pinkie asked, but again Dash gave no sign of acknowledgment “Hey Dashie, I’m talking to you!” “Pinkie,” Dash replied with a calm voice “were you the one who did that to Fluttershy?” Pinkie’s eyes widened in shock as she heard the question she was just asked, how should she respond to this? It was her fault after all, and she also wanted to hurt her. “Pinkie, was it you who hurt Fluttershy?” Dash asked again, this time she was not able to maintain the same calmness in her voice. “Not exactly...” she answered coyly “What do you mean with not exactly?” “It was my fault that she got hurt, because I ran away from her but I was scared to hurt her even though I didn't want to hurt her, but I had this urge I couldn’t withstand any longer, and that's why I ran out from her cottage into the Everfree Forest. But she came after me and asked me what happened and I didn’t want to tell her because I didn’t want her to hate me, and then this Ursa appeared and we ran away but I tripped over something and then...” Pinkie stopped as she remembered what happened, she was already on the verge of tears “What happened then?” “She... she tried to save me but got hit. Oh it’s all my fault, I don’t even deserve to have been saved by her after what I wanted to do. I bet she regrets that she came after me” Pinkie sobbed out “Oh thank Celestia.” Dash stated, dropping herself onto the bed where Fluttershy was laying. “I was so scared that it was you who did that, I’m so relieved.” Pinkie didnt respond, she avoided any eye contact with the rainbow maned pegasus “I’m sorry Pinkie, I should’ve trusted you.” she apologized “That’s not it. It is still my fault that Fluttershy got hurt, I hope she can forgive me” “I wouldn’t worry about that. I bet Fluttershy would save you again without any hesitation, that’s just how she is.” “I hope you’re right” “Hey, I've known her since she was a filly, I’m sure of it.” Dash stated and smiled at her unconscious friend. What followed was a long period of silence, both of them just laid around and thought, which was unusual for them since both were typically active and juvenile ponies. The silence was disturbed by a nurse who walked into the room “Sorry, the visiting hours are over” “Can’t we stay here for the night? I don't want Fluttershy to wake up alone, she will be confused and worried” Dash asked politely “I’m sorry can’t do that,” the nurse replied “Pretty please?” Pinkie begged The nurse was caught off guard with this plea, after a couple of seconds she sighed “Oh what the hay, but just one of you. I’ll get in enough trouble if they find one of you.” Dash thought about it for a second before wondering “Pinkie, are you fine with me staying here for the night, I don’t want to leave Fluttershy alone here” “Uhm... sure I’ll be fine” she replied, whereupon Dashie gave her a quick kiss on the cheek With those words being said the nurse guided Pinkie out of the hospital. Dash moved the second patient bed next to Fluttershy and jumped on it. ”What a day” she thought ”At least it turned out alright - kind of”. She was so relieved at the fact that Fluttershy wasn't severely hurt, and that Pinkie wasn't the one who did it. She would have no idea what to do if either of that would’ve been the case. She loved Pinkie, for sure, but Dash also knew Fluttershy since she was a filly and the timid pegasus was like a sister to her, the thought of her being hurt by Pinkie was unbearable. ==== Pinkie arrived at sugarcube corner, she unlocked the front door and trotted inside. The bakery was empty and dark inside, and with the Cake’s still being on vacation she was all alone. Pinkie hated being alone. A long yawn indicated her exhaustion, it was a long day after all, but Pinkie didn’t want to go to sleep, for obvious reasons. Yet, she decided to hit the hay, fighting it was useless anyway, she had to sleep sooner or later. Pinkie quickly fell asleep and shifted worlds hoping that she may find rest this night. She did not. She woke up in a familiar environment, everything was dark and dusty, which she was getting used to by now. This time she was not sad, no this time she was angry. She could not take it any longer, it was everywhere, destroying her life, her dreams, everything. Why couldn’t it just end?! Why can't I escape this hell? So many times I’ve tried But I’m still caged inside Somebody get me through this nightmare I can’t control myself So what if you can see the darkest side of me No one will ever change this animal I have become Help me believe, It’s not the real me Somebody help me tame this animal! I can’t escape myself So many times I’ve tried But there’s still rage inside Somebody get me through this nightmare I can’t control myself! ------------------ Hohoho who knows which song I am using in the underlined text ;P