//------------------------------// // A New Beginning // Story: Pinkamena's Awakening: From Malice and Hate // by Kingsley //------------------------------// Chapter 1: A New Beginning 2 years time... 2 years have passed since Eternal Sleep, The Embodiment of Death, sealed Pinkamena into The Apocrypha as punishment for her attempts to escape using Lilith's body as a vessel. In the present, Eternal Sleep has made residence in Canterlot Castle to oversee the daily life of the ponies of Canterlot and Ponyville for the time being. As for everyone else, it took about 3-4 months in the hospital for Twilight and her friends to recover from the beatings they received when Pinkamena took control of them. As for the ones who stopped them, Lilith, whom has changed her appearence to look like that of a normal pony rather than a little filly, decided to make residence in Ponyville with Grimm Smiles so neither of them would be alone, with Eternal Sleep still keeping watch over her. Caramel Swirls however, decided to move on after revealing her "side" to Pinkie in the fight against Twilight and Rarity. Although Pinkie insisted that she stayed, Caramel's mind was already made up and left Ponyville to pursue other places to try and start over once more. With life pretty much back to normal and everyone fully recovered from past incidents, everyone was relatively happy... except for one forgotten individual. Pinkamena's Prison, which was The Black Book, was located in Lilith's Old Chamber deep under Canterlot Castle, and more specifically, under the Throne Room. The chamber had been remodeled to have the book on a pedestal, chained and protected with multiple different sealing spells. No one was allowed near it, even Eternal Sleep forbid herself from going near it. Pinkamena's prison however, wasn't a cell of any type. It wasn't meant to be a prison in the first place. Now after being confined to The Apocrypha for so long, she is finally given an opportunity by her watcher, Hermaeus Mora. "Catching up on some more reading are you?" Hermaeus Mora asked, appearing next to Pinkamena in the form of a floating eye with multiple black tentacles. "Of course, what else is there to do in a place that seems to contain information on everything in the known universe." Pinkamena said sarcastically. "I'm honestly more surprised that you haven't succumbed to insanity from being in here for so long." Hermaeus Mora said. "I succumbed to insanity a long time ago Mora, now it's just boring." Pinkamena said. "I've... been trying to harbor these malicious feelings, since I can't ever get rid of them because it's who I am... the least I can do is try to repress it." Hermaeus Mora chuckled silently to himself. "What's so funny?" Pinkamena asked. "The fact that you are just now trying to repress your malicious intent, when you could have completely avoided this fate if you only did it sooner." Hermaeus Mora said. "Like when you were given the chance too." "Yea well I tried... I just didn't have the patience to keep it up..." Pinkamena said, as she closed the book she was reading. "Look at the bright side, the information on maintaining stability outside of the pink one's body really was in here." Hermaeus Mora said. "If only you'd have waited just a little bit longer before attempting that escape you did..." "Yea yea I get it I get it I MESSED UP okay? You don't have to keep telling me... I feel bad enough as it is already..." Pinkamena said sadly. Pinkamena walked towards the edge of the floor and sat down near the odd green flowing ocean, sticking her hoof in it and splashing it around. "Let me ask you this... if you were given the chance to leave this place, would you take it?" Hermaeus Mora asked. "How do you think others on the outside would react to your return?" "I... I guess not very well... I didn't really think about that." Pinkamena replied. "Don't get me wrong though, I want to be free of this place so badly... that's not me saying I don't like your company, you've actually been a pretty enjoyable guy Mora." "Your feelings towards me is appreciated." Hermaeus Mora said. "I've noticed that in the time you've been here, you haven't tried to actually escape this place of you're own will." "Well what would be the point? Sure there's probably some information here somewhere on leaving this place but where would It get me? There's probably a huge chance there's maximum security on the book that pulled me in here anyway." Pinkamena explained. "Also like you said, if I did manage to get out I'd probably just be hunted down by Eternal Sleep or someone and just be shoved back in here, or maybe she'd just end my life right then and there." Hermaeus Mora looked diligently at Pinkamena. "I mean sure I've repressed most of my malicious intent in the time I've been here, but I don't think I'd get the chance to do anything on the outside..." Pinkamena said. "...Why are you asking me these things?" "I can obviously set you free of this place without any effort, but I wanted to see what your answer would have been if I just blatantly asked." Hermaeus Mora explained. "Honestly, I have to say I'm thoroughly impressed with your answer." "Oh yea? Well thanks and all but like I said before, even you were to set me free, I don't think I'd survive long out there..." Pinkamena said, punching the green liquid. "You seem to forget who I am my dear... I can help you so that when you leave this place and return to the outside world, you can have the life you once dreamed of..." Hermaeus Mora offered. "I can change you..." "Y-You can? You'll... actually help me leave this place? You'll help me be different?" Pinkamena asked frantically. "H-How? How can you help me?" "Well first things first, we'll have to change that appearance of yours." Hermaeus Mora said. "Since we definitely can not have you walking back outside as you are now." "What do you suggest then? A different mane style? Outfit?" Pinkamena asked. "We'll have to go a bit above and beyond since that dark coat color of yours is sure to give you away." Hermaeus Mora explained. "We'll have to change the entirety of your appearance." Hermaeus Mora's eye began to glow a deep green color. "Do you have any preference to how you'd like to look?" Hermaeus Mora asked. "Not exactly, just go with whatever you think is best." Pinkamena said happily. Pinkamena started to feel a tingling sensation as her entire body became engulfed by green aura. It lasted about 1 minute and then dissipated shortly after. Hermaeus Mora then materialized a mirror in front of her. "Well? What do you think?" Hermaeus Mora asked. "I... I can't believe it... I don't even recognize myself..." Pinkamena said in awe. "It's like... I'm a completely different pony..." Pinkamena no longer looked the way she once did. Her coat was that of a light gray and her mane and tail were both long and voluminous, stripped lavender and pure white. Her eyes also became that of a cool, crystal blue. "I... I can't believe you can do this... I thought my powers were crazy but this is just amazing!" Pinkamena said very happily." "It looks like you're pleased with that appearance." Hermaeus Mora said. "Your dark appearance before resonated with only unpleasant emotions... so I gave you something that spurred a feeling of tranquil and relaxing emotions." "It's perfect! You're amazing Mora!" Pinkamena exclaimed. "Wow... I can't remember a time I acted so... ecstatic... I didn't even think I harbored those emotions..." "Perhaps a part of your first vessel stayed with you..." Hermaeus Mora said. "Heh... maybe... can't say for sure though." Pinkamena said. "So is that it? Am I ready?" "Not exactly." Hermaeus Mora said. "There's one last thing we need to change." "What would that be?" Pinkamena asked. "Tell me my dear, what is your name?" Hermaeus Mora asked. "My name? You know that Mora! It-" Pinkamena stopped herself. "It's... my name is..." "Along with a new appearance, you'll need a new name to go by correct?" Hermaeus Mora said. "You're right, I didn't even think about that..." Pinkamena said. "Do you have something in mind?" "How about... Einna?" Hermaeus Mora suggested. "It's an innocent sounding name and quite a cute, uncommon one at that." "Einna..." Pinkamena said softly, thinking about it. "Yea... Einna... I like it! It's a cute sounding name you're right!" "Well then, it looks like you have a new persona, Einna." Hermaeus Mora said, materializing a lavender shawl in front of her along with a brooch. The center of the brooch was swirling green and black, resembling the ocean of The Apocrypha. "What are these for?" Einna asked, wrapping the shawl around her neck and fastening it with the brooch. "Just to make me look even cuter?" "It's a bit more than that." Hermaeus Mora said. "You see, because that appearance is created using my own energy, it will destabilize if you're not within The Apocrypha." "What!? Then how will I be able to stay like this on the outside?" Einna questioned. "That's exactly what the brooch is for my dear." Hermaeus Mora said. "It's linked with the energy here in The Apocrypha, as long as you have it on, your appearance won't fade." "You really think of everything don't you?" Einna said, chuckling. "I have to say... I'm gonna miss you Mora... you've acted more than just a prison warden to me... in fact you're acting quite the opposite now Heh..." "You don't have to worry about us not talking anymore, that brooch also acts as a communicator so you can continue to talk with me even after you've left this place." Hermaeus Mora said. "I should also mention that those powers of yours will no doubt leak an unsettling aura and alert ponies like Eternal Sleep to your presence, the brooch also hides that aura and keeps it from escaping, so Eternal Sleep shouldn't be able to notice you." "I didn't think about that either! This brooch does everything it's great!" Einna exclaimed. "However, it will only mask that aura if you don't use your powers, if you do use them then the brooch will not be able to hide you for a while." Hermaeus Mora explained. "You can still use your speed and strength without revealing yourself, but everything else is off-limits." "Right, that makes perfect sense, hopefully I won't have any need to use my powers anyway!" Einna said. "Alright... I think everything is ready to go...But wait... what about the outdoor security? There's gotta be alarms everywhere for even the smallest movement there..." "Who said that you could only leave through the book?" Hermaeus Mora said. "I can create an exit to wherever you so desire, all you have to do is tell me." "You truly are amazing Mora..." Einna thanked. "Okay... I want you to open a portal that's on the outskirts of Ponyville... I'm going to try and finally do this..." "I have the utmost faith in you my dear." Hermaeus Mora said, creating the portal exit behind Einna. "W-Wait! I can talk to you when I'm out there right? About where I go and what to do and stuff? I-I've seen some stuff through Pinkie's eyes when I trapped there but it's been so long and I don't remember a lot of things..." Einna asked. "Of course you can, just try and not make it look suspicious, we wouldn't want others to think that another unstable pony who whispers to her accessory would be moving in right?" Hermaeus Mora said. R-Right! That wouldn't be a good start to things now would it..." Einna said, turning to look at the portal exit. "...I have one last thing to ask you in person before I leave Mora." "What would that be?" Hermaeus Mora asked. "...Why did you decide to free me? To help me leave this place?" Einna asked. "I don't think this is what Eternal Sleep expected of you as my warden... and I didn't expect it myself..." "I might have agreed with Eternal Sleep that this place would be your prison... but I never said for how long." Hermaeus Mora said. "Besides... you are a very interesting case as most people say... and I'd hate to keep something so rare locked up..." Einna looked at Hermaeus Mora and started to tear up, her hooves wiping the tears from her face. "Come on, no tears now dear." Hermaeus Mora said. "You have someplace to be." "Y-Yea... S-Sorry..." Einna said, wiping the remaining tears from her face. "...Thank you Mora... I'll always be grateful for what you've done for me." Einna turned back around and looked into the portal exit. She took and deep breath and leaped into the gateway. -Outskirts of Ponyville- The portal opened on the outskirts of Ponyville behind a large tree like Einna requested. Einna carefully trotted out of the portal and looked around to make sure no one saw her. "Good, no pony saw me." Einna said, taking a breath of relief and looking out to see Ponyville in view. "Alright Mora... you there?" "Always." Hermaeus Mora said. "Good... alright then..." Einna said, taking a big gulp and walking towards the path into town. "Here goes nothing I suppose!"