//------------------------------//
// I: Prologue 
// Story: Dreams & Nightmares 
// by TheUnknownPerson 
//------------------------------//

Pinkie sat in the small corner of her small, dirty cell, littered with dirt and grime painted the concrete walls.  There was a springboard bed at the side a dirty mattress sitting atop of the sharp springs.  She was uncharacteristically silent from the horrors she had just witnessed.  Not to mention Pinkamena's confession.

"Pinkamena... you have to be lying.  There's no way I'm just some imaginary friend who took you over." Pinkie said, her voice shaking with every word. "You have to be lying..."

I'm not.  You're going to have to face the truth eventually, Pinkie.

Pinkie got up and bucked against the wall with all her might, trying to break it through.  Yet, despite her effort, the wall still stood tall.

"Just let me out of here!" Pinkie called out, kicking the wall.  She sat for a moment, her hind-hooves beginning to hurt.

It's not happening, Pinkie.  You aren't getting control.

"You coward!  You'll never get with this!  Once I get my hooves on you--" Pinkie stopped herself.

No-- I won't sink to her level.  I won't go that low. She calmed herself, before turning back up to the ceiling.

"Pinkamena, what do you want?  What do you want me to say to get me out of here?" Pinkie asked.  Though she had nothing to offer, she figured it would be worth a shot.

There's nothing you can do.  I'm staying in control for the moment.  Even if I wanted, I couldn't.  We're in a dream-state right now.  And there's not a thing you can do about it.

Pinkie groaned, half-heartedly kicking the wall in frustration.

Giving up? 

"Never.  I'm just resting." Pinkie said as she took a moment to take a breath.

So... I wonder the family's doing right now... Pinkamena said.  Pinkie glanced up, her eyes full of anger, and her lips curled into a frown.

"Don't go there, Pinkamena..." Pinkie warned.  In the blink of an eye, her prison became a large, fenced, foggy area.  Thunder rumbled in the air above, a mist had began circling around her.  There were tombstones of differing sizes and shapes. Neither Celestia's sun nor Luna's moon were in sight.  

"What the hay?" Pinkie questioned.  She looked around, checking for anypony.

I'm not going anywhere.  Just checking in on Maud...

"Please don't, Pinkamena..." Pinkie pled. "She was your sister too."

She was never my sister.  That moment when she willingly-- willingly cut off my wing, we separated.  She severed whatever chance of forgiveness or love I'd ever give her.

Pinkie hooves unwillingly marched towards a small gravestone.  Wilted flowers leaned against the right side, left there for whomever the grave belonged to long ago.  There was a large crack running down the middle, becoming narrow towards the bottom.  There was a small rock beside her, sticking out abnormally from the rest.

"Stop Pinkamena!" Pinkie called out, looking away as she came to a stop.  She fought back tears.

Why?  It's my dream.  I can do whatever I want with you.

Pinkie's head slowly began to turn back towards the headstone.  "Stop it!" She cried.  "I won't look!  You won't make me!" Her head fought back against the forces pulling it towards the headstone.

"Are you sure about that?"

Her head suddenly whipped towards the grave, her eyes jolting open.




Here Lies Maudline Mudstone Pie
Worked her whole life
Even in the end




Pinkie felt tears rise to her eyes as she read the gravestone.

"Why... why are you doing this to me?"

You have to know what'll happen to her.  Her due.  Our retribution.

Pinkie looked away from the gravestone.  She couldn't stomach any more of this torture.

"Get me out of this dream!  If you're gonna torment me, at least be brave enough to meet me face-to-face!" She called out.  The graveyard reverted back into the same prison she was previously in.  A new door had materialised at the front of the cell, holding seven metal bars in its frame, with her captor standing on the other side. 
Pinkie leapt towards it, ramming her shoulder into the door.  She bounced back into the bed, her shoulder stinging.

"You're gonna have to do much more than that to break outta this place."

"If I get my hooves on you, I'm gonna--" "You're gonna do what?" Pinkamena interrupted with a confident smile.  "This is my dream.  My imagination!  I can do whatever I want to do to you, whenever I want to, where ever I want!  You're powerless against whatever I may do to you." She said, pacing back and forwards in front of Pinkie's cell.

"I don't care!  I'll get out somehow!" Pinkie exclaimed, pulling against the bars.

"Sure you will..." Pinkamena said in a mocking tone.


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Marble Pie's eyes fluttered open with a quiet yawn.  She had ended up falling asleep in a rigid, plastic chair, sat right beside her father's hospital bed.  Limestone was in her own steel chair, with her head resting against the foot of Igneous' bed.  Her mane was messy, strands sticking out of place and her neck sitting at an uncomfortable angle.  Igneous was laying in his bed, with the white sheet covering his lower body, up to his chest.  She stood up, stretching out her hooves and back.

The hospital room was quiet, the only exception being her father's snoring.

I shouldn't wake them... maybe I could go visit mother and Maud. she began to walk towards the room's exit before stopping.  I probably shouldn't leave Limestone looking so uncomfortable. Marble quiet trotted to the opposite side of the bed.  She lightly lifted her head, putting her right fore-hoof under her head before resting gently setting her chin back down.

There, that's better. She nodded.  Now, to Maud and mother's room. Marble trotted out of the room, gently shutting the door behind her.

The hospital was quiet, the excitement of the previous day seeming to have passed.  She remembered turned to her right, trotting down the hall. 

Hopefully this is the right way to their room. Marble had a tough time remembering where exactly the other half of her family were stationed, what with the madness and chaos of getting all of them in the hospital.

A shiver went down her spine as she recalled what Pinkie had done.

Why would she do that?  I mean mother, father, and Maud haven't done anything... Marble thought for a brief moment, before writing it off. No-- don't be stupid.  That couldn't have been Pinkie.  She'd never do that to us.

Marble pondered the thought as she looked around the empty hall for her mother's room.  After a moment, she found the room and entered. Cloudy Quartz and Maud Pie sat in two beds beside each other, both motionless.

"Mother?" Marble quietly asked.  Cloudy didn't answer, only pointing her head away from Marble.

She's may be asleep.  Her surgery was just a few hours ago...

Marble trotted over to Maud's bed.  She rested her right fore-hoof on Maud's left fore-hoof.

"Maud?  Can you hear me?" Marble whispered as she stared down at her injured sister.  She could've never imagined her elder sister- the toughest and hardest-working out of all of them could be in such a vulnerable state.  Her breathing machine beeped, giving her another breath. 

Please be okay.

"Maud?" Marble whispered again.  Another breath.

"I don't know if you can hear me, but I'm glad that you made it through surgery." Marble whispered, squeezing her hoof.  She leaned down to Maud and nuzzled her neck.

"I hope you wake up soon.  I love you, okay?" Marble said, turning away from Maud as she took a deep breath.  Her mother was now turned towards her, with her eyes bloodshot.

"Hello, dear." Cloudy said.  Her voice was raspy and weak.  A large strand of her mane hung out over her left eye, the bun in her mane beginning to undo.

"Oh--" Marble turned away. "I-I'm s-sorry.  I d-didn't mean to wake you, mother."

"It's fine dear.  You didn't do anything wrong." Cloudy said.  Marble nodded as she hesitantly turned back towards to her.

"How is your sister?"

"S-she's asleep, but a-all right." Marble slowly trotted to her mother's bedside.

"Good, good." Cloudy said, somewhat relieved. "How is your father?"

"Asleep too."

"I suppose I should've known... it is early." Cloudy noted.  Marble shrugged in acknowledgement.

"Be honest with me for a moment, dear."

"Mmhm?"

"Are you okay?" Cloudy asked.  Marble glanced away for a moment.

"It's okay to be afraid.  I won't be angry regardless of what you say." Cloudy said.  Marble remained quiet for a moment more, before she worked up the confidence to speak again.

"I-I'm scared, mother."


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"Let me out!" Pinkie called out as she pulled against the bars. "You have no right to do this!"

"My body, my mind, my rules." Pinkamena said as she stood just out of Pinkie's reach purposely.

Pinkie huffed, slipping her hooves back behind the bars.  She sat down in the corner of her cell, staring at Pinkamena.

"I'm going to get you."

"And how are you going to do that?" She asked.  Pinkie remained silent.

"That's what I thought.  I will not tolerate back-talk, especially from something like you.  I think that there needs to be a punishment for such rudeness..."

"What?"

"I know what you're afraid of..." Pinkamena said.  She swallowed nervously.  Oh no...

"How about we relive those scary moments with Fluttershy?" She said.  Pinkie jumped up and rushed to the bars.

"Please, no!  You can't!"

"You shouldn't have been so rude." Pinkamena said.  The prison turned into Fluttershy's bedroom.  Blood had been splattered on the walls, the carpet was dampened and darkened with it.  Pinkie was standing over her, a knife in her right fore-hoof.  She tried fighting against Pinkamena's control, but it was no use.

"Please Pinkie..." Fluttershy pleaded.  Pinkie tried to look away, but she couldn't.  Pinkie stabbed into Fluttershy's left wing, not of her own will.  Fluttershy's back arched in pain.  A small sob slipped through Pinkie's lips as she continued to stab her, with more fury.

Pinkie stabbed into Fluttershy's chest, bringing a pained scream with it.

"Please s-stop..." Fluttershy called out softly.  The vivid memories of the night rushed through Pinkie's head, guilt and remorse washing over her like a tidal wave.

Please, take me out of this nightmare.

In a moment.  I want to see the look on your face.

Tears ran down her cheeks as she helpless looked down at her friend.  Her hoof trembled as she tried to stop herself.  

I... can't!

You will.

She stabbed into her other wing as Fluttershy's eyes closed.

"Are you happy now?!  Can I be let out of this nightmare?"

Very.

Pinkie's surroundings changed back to the prison cell.  Pinkamena was standing in front of the bars.

"W... why..." Pinkie questioned as she leaned against the wall.

"Because I need this.  I need others to know."

A moment of silence passed between the two, before Pinkie spokr once again.

"Y-you have to accept what happened, Pinkamena."

"You don't understand.  Not like anyone else does." Pinkamena said.  She seemed distracted.

"If you miss your wings so much, just dream of them.  Do something-- just stop doing this to me." Pinkie said.  Pinkamena's face switched from a cheeky grin to a look of intrigue.

"That's a good idea... excuse me."

"Wait, Pinkamena!  You can't just leave me here!  Not after that!" Pinkie called out, her voice echoing.  Pinkamena continued to walk away, seemingly unaware or indifferent to what she said.  Pinkie managed to squeeze her head between the bars and look outside.

"Please let this work... please." Pinkamena quietly pled as she shut her eyes.  Her face became tensed, squeezing her eyes shut tightly.

POOF

A small cloud of dust enveloped her.  Once the dust cleared, there was a sight that neither Pinkie nor Pinkamean could believe.

There was a set of wings on Pinkamena's back.


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