//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: The Cold, Empty bottle of Sarsaparilla // by Desert pony with no name //------------------------------// The Cold, Empty Bottle of Sarsparilla Part 2 Pinkie Pie woke up, stretched, and finished off with a great, big, “Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawwn! What’s today gonna be like, I wonder.” Immediately after yawning, everything began to come back to her as she turned in her bed, trying to grab those last few precious moments of sleep. She began to remember that everypony in Ponyville mysteriously disappeared. Oh well at least I’m in my warm - actually, this bed feels a bit colder than usual, Pinkie thought to herself, and firmer... And where’s my alligator? WHERE’S GUMMY!?! Opening her eyes, she quickly scanned the room around her: her happily-decorated home seemed to have been replaced with a cold, cubic, concrete room. Her fluffy, cozy bed was substituted with a cold springy cot with no sheets and a single blanket that seems to be made of burlap. She looked at her surroundings several times to make sure they were correct. “Hello? Is anypony there? Please!” she shrieked, desperately trying to make sense of the situation. Her eyes began to tear up. “I just wanna go home!” Suddenly, the sound of footsteps from outside the large metal door at the other end of the room met with her ears. “I think this one’s awake finally! Do you mind if I check on her?” said a familiar voice. Pinkie perked up at the small trace of familiarity, hopeful to be liberated from whatever she was in. The metal door made a loud *CLANK* as the door unlocked and its slides opened. One of the two figures she’s been seeing in Ponyville a lot of late emerged from the door, smiling. “Hello miss, you’re awake! How are you feeling? Better perhaps?” asked the figure as he began to write notes on his clipboard. All Pinkie Pie could do was hide under the blanket and give out a faint *whine*. “I’m sorry miss, I didn’t mean to scare you! My name’s Mr. Nathan - soon to be a doctor though!” he said. “And who might you be?” “Um... umm...” Pinkie mumbled under her breath. She felt almost like Fluttershy at the moment, but she was somewhat glad her friends weren’t there to see her in her current condition. “Mr. Nathan!” came another voice as the other familiar figure with horn-rimmed glasses appeared. “Why didn’t you tell me she was awake?” Nathan just fiddled with his clipboard until he looked up at the other figure. “I’m sorry sir, she just woke up right now. And I was hoping to get in some notes on the effects of the-” “That’s enough, Mr. Nathan,” he interrupted, “just remember: we’re doctors. The well-being of the patient comes first!” Pinkie Pie was humming quietly to herself and thinking the words to a song to drum up some bravery: I'd hide under my pillow, From what I thought I saw. But Granny Pie said that wasn't the way To deal with fears at all. She said: Pinkie, you gotta stand up tall, Learn to face your fears. You'll see that they can't hurt you, Just laugh to make them disappear! The song did little to calm her nerves, but it did get the doctors’ attention. “I’m sorry miss, what song was that? It’s beautiful!” Nathan commented in an encouraging tone. “Yes, yes, miss, you must be a natural - amiright?” the horn-rimmed glasses doctor retorted to Nathan. “By the way miss, I’m Doctor Mathews, and what might your name be?” The doctors’ friendly faces helped put Pinkie’s mind at ease. “My name’s Pinkie Pie!” she said, putting on a brave face. The doctors just looked at each other with concern. “Uh, miss, what might your real name be?” asked Dr. Mathews. Pinkie looked at him in a bit of disbelief. “That is my real name, you silly willy!” Pinkie answered. Mr. Nathan began scribbling something onto his clipboard. “Um, miss - do you mind if I ask a few questions?” Dr. Mathews asked, somewhat nervously. “Okey dokey lokey!” she replied; her fear completely gone from her voice. Dr. Mathews cleared his throat. “First off, where are you from?” he asked with a straight expression on his face. Pinkie thought for a moment, surprised at the obvious question. “Well, I’m from Ponyville, of course!” Pinkie replied. Dr. Mathews’ facial expression remained straight. “Uh hum, and where is Ponyville?” “Well, I’m not too sure of the location on a map. My friend Twilight Sparkle could point it out! All I know is that it’s in Equestria!” Dr. Mathews’ raised an eyebrow. “Who is this ‘Twilight Sparkle’? What does she look like?” “Oh! She’s the smartest unicorn in all of Equestria, except maybe Princess Celestia.” Pinkie replied, still oblivious to the whole situation. “And who is Princess Celestia?” “Well duuuuuuuuugh! She’s the ruler of Equestria, of course!” “Where is this, Equestria?” “You don’t even know where Equestria is? Boy do I feel sorry for you!” she said as she giggled. “Alright, one last question miss. Without the use of a mirror, can you describe your physical characteristics?” he asked, still retaining his neutral expression. “Fish-full Mayor-picnics? Fizzy-cal Care-tear-tricks? UUMMMM...” “What you look like! Tell us what you look like!” he stammered with a tone of frustration. “Oh, well then! My coat is pink, my hair is also pink and curly, like cotton candy! And on my flank are three balloons. See?” She explained as she tried to look at her flank. But couldn’t see her cutie mark - or her tail for that matter. “HEY! Where’s my tail?” she shouted as she began to panic. “HEYIDON’TKNOWWHATITISTHAT’SGOINGONBUTSOMEPONYBETTERTELLME!” she screamed at the top of her lungs, flailing her arms about wildly. “NURSE! I need a tranq here!” Doctor Mathews shouted as he and Nathan held Pinkie Pie down. She kicked and shouted as the nurse came in with another needle filled with a clear liquid. “NOTTHENEEDLE!” was the last thing she shouted before feeling a prick in her flank, and falling asleep.