Following the events of Pinkamena 3: Homecoming, Pinkamena 4: Recovery tells the aftermath of Pinkamena's demise. May is in the hospital and suffering painful and massive wounds. The doctors say it could take a couple months to an entire year for her to recover. She also is having strange nightmares in which she is being confronted by Pinkamena. This may not seem bad, except for the fact that the dreams may just be real...
Rated TEEN - for Disturbing Situations and Some Violence.
May slowly opened her eyes and let out a soft groan. She looked around but couldn't make anything out. Her vision was still pretty blurry. She felt her chest and let out a cry of pain. For some reason, it hurt a lot. She heard rapidly approaching footsteps.
"You're awake." said a kind voice after the footsteps ceased.
"Wh-where am I?" May asked groggily.
"At the hospital in Ponyville." said the voice. "You were brought here by Princess Celestia herself."
"Celestia?" May asked weakly.
"Oh, I just remembered something." said the voice. "You have a visitor. Shall I send her in?"
May nodded weakly and heard receding footsteps. She waited for a minute or two until she heard footsteps approaching her bed.
"May?" asked a familiar voice.
"Who is it?" May asked weakly.
"It's me." said the voice. "Dawn."
"Dawn? I can hardly see you."
Dawn placed her hoof on May's hoof.
"The nurse said you should be able to see in a little while. You're still groggy from the sedative."
"Sedative?" asked May, suddenly remembering...
9:45am
May squirmed on the operating table and yelling out in great pain. The puncture marks that Pinkie inflicted on her were hurting like crazy. The nurse by her side was trying to keep her held down.
"Can I get some help over here!" she yelled.
A couple nurses ran over to help strap her down.
"Somepony get a sedative!" the nurse yelled.
May continued to yell until one of the nurses stuck a needle into her neck. May suddenly felt weak and then passed out.
12:03pm
"Feeling any better?" asked Dawn. "All the others are really worried about you."
"I'll feel better when I can see again." May said, trying to force a smile. "Tell the others not to worry. I'll be out of here in no time."
There was a long moment of silence. May was starting to get worried.
"You still there?" she asked.
"Yeah." said Dawn, hesitantly.
"What's wrong?"
Dawn took a deep breath. "The nurse said that you could be here for a while."
"A while?" asked May. "How long is that?"
"They're not sure." said Dawn with sadness in her voice. "Could be anywhere from a month to a year."
"A year?" asked May.
"Maybe more."
"More than a year?" May asked, quickly sitting up.
Dawn gently pushed her back down.
"I know it sounds like a long time." said Dawn.
"'Cause it is." May muttered.
"But we're all here for you."
May smiled slightly. "Thanks."
"I should be getting back to the others." said Dawn. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"Can you bring Fern with you?"
"Shouldn't be a problem." said Dawn. "See ya."
"See ya." said May as Dawn gave her a hug.
9:26pm
May couldn't get to sleep. She had just had a nightmare where she was being chased down a dark hallway by Pinkamena. She held her forehead with her hooves and let out a yell.
"Go away!" she yelled. "GO AWAY!"
A nurse quickly entered the room. When she saw May freaking out she rushed to her side. The nurse then held May down and began to try to calm her down.
"It was just a nightmare." the nurse reassured her. "Just a nightmare."
"Why me?!" May cried. "Why?!"
The nurse embraced her and waited for her to calm down.
May quickly awoke and looked around. Her vision was still blurry but it was starting to clear. May let out a sigh of annoyance and fell back to sleep.
4:35am
May awoke yet again, this time hoping to be able to see. It was clearer than before but not perfect.
"Come on!" May muttered, falling back to sleep.
6:00am
May awoke once more and found that she could see. She let out a squeal of delight and sat up. She looked around at the hospital room. She smiled at the fact that she could now see. Just then she felt agonizing pain in her chest from where Pinkie bit her the other day. She lay back down and tried to keep from screaming in pain. She screamed under her breath. Just then, not being able to hold it in any longer, she let it all out. A nurse ran in and tried to quiet her.
"It's all right." said the nurse pushing a button on the wall. "We're right here."
A couple nurses appeared. One of them had a syringe. When May saw the syringe, she freaked. A yell escaped her lips and she lunged away, falling onto the floor. She let out a loud yell of pain as her injuries began to hurt even more. A unicorn nurse lowered the hospital bed and another gently helped May back on. The unicorn then raised the bed and held May down. The nurse with the syringe quickly stuck it into May's neck and injected the sedative. May felt the pain fade away, along with everything else.
9:36am
May slowly opened her eyes and let out a groan.
"You're finally awake." said a voice.
May looked to her left. Dawn and Fern were both standing in the corner of the room.
"Hey, Fern." said May. "You made it."
"Of course." said Fern, smiling and heading over to May's bedside. "Why did you want to see me?"
"You're one of my best friends." said May. "I like your company."
"I like your company, too." said Fern.
11:04am
Fern sat in a chair next to May's bed. The two were watching the television on the wall.
"I can't believe Daring Do is now a TV show." said May.
"They make every best-selling book series into a movie."
"That's true." said May.
1:08pm
Fern had set a checkers board on May's lap and set up the pieces. They were now halfway into the game. May was winning with two kings.
"Don't be going easy on me 'cause I'm in the hospital." said May.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Fern lied jokingly.
3:00pm
Fern stood in the corner while nurses checked on May. One took her temperature. Another checked her heart rate and blood pressure. The last one recorded her behavior.
3:30pm
Applejack stopped by to visit.
"Hey, Applejack." said May.
"How ya feelin', May?" asked Applejack.
"Doing good." said May.
"I need to get back to the farm." said Applejack. "Anything I can get ya for tomorrow?"
"Could you let Twilight know that I'd like something to read?"
"Sure thing, sugarcube." said Applejack. "Anything in mind?"
"Daring Do."
5:46pm
Fern turned the TV back on. The news was on.
"...psychotic pony was killed the other day in Ponyville."
Fern made a move to turn it off.
"Leave it." said May."
"The pony, named Pinkamena Diane Pie, was killed by this pony." A picture of Macy appeared on the screen. "Macy of Fillydelphia. She will forever be remembered as a hero who put an end to Pinkamena's bloody rampage. In other news..."
Fern turned off the TV.
8:00pm
May had closed her eyes and appeared to be sleeping. Fern slowly left the room and ran into Dawn.
"Hey, Dawn." said Fern. "Sorry for taking all of her time."
"No need to apologize." said Dawn. "It's nice to see her making friends." She paused and smiled. "Thanks for being there for her."
May stood in a dark room, wondering where she was. She looked around and realized she was in a kitchen.
"What's going on?" she asked aloud.
There was laughter behind her. She slowly turned and saw a figure standing in the shadows. Eyes glowing red.
"Hello?" asked May.
The figure started moving towards her. As the pony left the shadows, May saw that it was Pinkamena. She had a large grin on her face, eyes wide, and hair over her face. May took a few steps back and bumped into a table.
"What's wrong?" asked Pinkamena. Her voice sounded like multiple overlapping voices, each with a different pitch. "Don't you wanna play?"
May hunkered down against the table leg.
"Go away." May whimpered.
"Oh, come on." said Pinkamena, quickly kneeling down over May. "You can't run from me forever."
"What are you talking about?" May asked, shuddering.
"We all have demons inside that are waiting to be free." said Pinkamena. "I'm your's."
"What?"
"Did you really think you were rid of me?" Pinkamena let out a laugh. "I live inside you. And the longer you live in fear of my memory, the stronger I get."
"Then I just won't be afraid of you anymore."
"I'm afraid I can't let that happen." said Pinkamena. "I live inside you. You can't kill me without killing yourself. You'll just have to release me."
"I'll never release you." said May.
Pinkamena let out a sigh. "Well, I can't kill you in your dreams. But just wait when you wake up."
"Wait..." said May. "What?"
"See you in your dreams." said Pinkamena. She placed a hoof on May's forehead. "Time to wake up."
She opened her mouth, revealing her sharp metal teeth, and lunged forward.
6:46am
May quickly sat upwards, sweating with fear. What had just happened? Was that real? She looked around her room to see if she could see any signs of unusual activity. There was nothing. She lay back down and let out a sigh. She decided to dismiss what had happened as just a nightmare. After all, she saw Pinkie die in front of her. There was no way she could still be alive. Could she?
10:26am
"Hey, May." said Twilight, entering the room.
May turned towards the door, eyes bloodshot.
"Hey, Twilight." said May, tiredly.
Twilight set the books she was carrying on the table next to May's bed.
"Are you okay?" she asked. "Looks like you didn't get any sleep."
"I didn't." said May. "I had a... nightmare. I think?"
"What are you talking about?" asked Twilight, standing next to May's bed.
"Well, I had a nightmare where I was in a kitchen... and... she was there."
"She?" asked Twilight.
"Pinkamena."
"Oh, no." said Twilight sympathetically. "Must have been awful."
"It was worse. She said that she was still alive and living inside me."
"I'm sure it was nothing." said Twilight, trying to make sure to keep May calm.
"It seemed pretty realistic." said May, still sounding tired.
"You sound tired." said Twilight. "Why don't you take a little nap and I'll come back later?"
"I don't want to... to..." May stammered.
May could barely make out what Twilight was saying. She slowly drifted away.
xx:xx
May opened her eyes and found herself in the kitchen again.
"Oh, May." said an unsettling and familiar voice.
May turned around and saw Pinkamena sitting at the table. She was holding a knife, digging the blade into the table and twirling it around.
"She didn't believe you, did she?" Pinkamena asked in her creepy voice.
"Who?" asked May, getting a little creeped out.
"Twilight Sparkle." She let the knife fall against the table as she got up. "You tried to tell her, didn't you?" she asked, walking around the table.
"What are you going to do?" May asked, backing against the wall.
"Give you a little taste of things to come."
Pinkamena stood in front of May.
"Y-you said you couldn't--"
"I said I couldn't kill you in your dreams." Pinkamena lifted a hoof and slammed it against May's throat. "I never said I couldn't hurt you."
May collapsed to the floor, trying to catch her breath.
"How can you hurt me in my dreams?" May choked.
"Pain is in the mind." said Pinkamena. "You make it real."
"Just let me go." said May.
"One condition."
"What?" asked May.
"Don't try anything cute. I will be free. Soon. And I will not let you ruin it."
"Fine." May cried. "I won't."
"Good." said Pinkamena. "See ya tonight."
She opened her mouth again and lunged forward.
5:00pm
May opened her eyes.
"You're finally awake." said Twilight.
She was standing in the corner.
"It happened a..." May stopped what she was saying.
"What?" asked Twilight.
"Nothing." said May quickly.
"Well, I should be getting back to the Library. I brought you some books like you requested."
"Thank you." said May.
"Don't mention it." said Twilight with a smile. "Just let me or any one of the others know what you want. We'll be glad to help."
May smiled.
"You're a good friend, Twilight. All of you."
Twilight gave her a smile as she left the room. May watched her leave and then glanced over at the clock on the wall. It said 5:10 at night. She had no intention of going to sleep so she turned on the TV. It was a cartoon show about a kidwho wore a white hood and a green backpack. He had a dog with him that could change shape.
"Such a nice show." said May, not feeling tired at all.
7:45pm
May lay back in bed and stared at the ceiling. She looked over at the books on the table. She levitated one over to her. She read the title aloud.
"Daring Do and the Quest for the Sapphire Statue. Cool. The first one."
She opened the book and started to read the first page.
May struggled to not fall asleep. She did not want to see Pinkamena again. She forced her eyes wide open but they seemed to heavy. The words in the book became blurry. She slowly closed it and set it on the table.
"Not gonna sleep." she mumbled.
She used her magic to make a water glass appear over her head. She tipped it over and the water splashed her in the face. It didn't work. She then heard a voice in her head.
"Sleeeeeeeeeep." said the voice.
"No." said May, sleepily. "I won't."
But she was too tired and couldn't stay awake any longer.
xx:xx
May found herself in the kitchen again.
"Couldn't stay awake, could you?" Pinkamena asked.
The two were sitting across from each other at the table.
"Why can't you just leave me alone?" asked May.
"Why would I do that?" asked Pinkamena. "You're my ticket out of here."
"I won't let you." said May, getting out of the chair. "I'll do whatever it takes." Pinkamena grinned. "You will NOT hurt my friends."
"We'll see about that." said Pinkamena. "As I recall, you'll be put to sleep for a while so they can operate on you. And when they do... I'll be waiting."
May let out a gasp. she knew Pinkamena was right. The doctors were going to give her a sedative to put her to sleep. It was one of the first things they mentioned when they brought her to the hospital. Only she didn't know when.
"Oh, no." she said softly.
"Oh, yes." Pinkamena whispered. "We're gonna have so much fun."
"I really wish I knew you before all this happened." May said, wiping her eyes.
"And why is that?" asked Pinkamena.
"Because then I would have had good memories of Pinkie and you wouldn't exist."
Pinkamena smiled. "Pinkie's not coming back, May." she said. "All your fear of me has led to this. I guess I have you to thank."
"Leave me alone." said May, taking a step back.
"Still haven't figured it out?" Pinkamena asked. "I'll always be with you until I'm freed or you die."
"Just wake me up." said May. "Please?"
"All right." said Pinkamena, holding up a knife.
She stabbed May in the chest. May let out a yell of pain and collapsed to the floor.
"Still alive?" Pinkamena asked. She pulled the knife out and stabbed May again. "Why won't you die?"
May gasped for air. Either Pinkamena would kill her or she'd die from blood loss. Either way, she'd wake up. Pinkamena brought the knife in front of May's eye. May saw the knife pull back slightly and then fly forward.
6:56am
May awoke and sat up. Pain shot through her chest as the wounds began to act up. She let out a moan as she tried to control the pain. A nurse pony entered the room.
"Feeling okay?" she asked.
May took a couple breaths as the pain slowly faded away.
"Now I am." she answered.
"Good." said the nurse, checking the EKG monitor.
"So, uh..." May began. "When exactly is the operation scheduled?"
"Let's see." said the nurse, holding up a clipboard. "It's scheduled in seven days."
"Seven days?" asked May.
She knew Pinkamena was going to have some fun with her. And the worst part was there was nothing she could do.
"Well, everything seems to be fine." said the nurse. "I'll talk to you later."
"Kay." said May.
The nurse left the room and Dawn entered.
"Hey, girl." she said.
"Dawn." said May with a smile. "So good to see you."
"Yeah, sorry I couldn't get here sooner. I just had a lot of things to do."
"Don't worry about it." said May as Dawn stood beside her bed.
"So, Twilight tells me that something's bothering you?"
"What?" asked May in a fake shocked voice.
"She said you seemed a little on edge. That you mentioned you see Pinkie Pie in your dreams?"
"That was just... uh..."
"It's okay." said Dawn. "You can tell me."
"I... can't." said May. "Please, believe me."
"Hey, look..." said Dawn. "I'm not gonna force you to say something you don't wanna say."
"Good." said May. "Thanks for understanding."
"No problem."
"So, how're the others?"
"They're doing good." Dawn answered. "Every pony's wishing you the best of luck on your operation. When is that, anyway?"
May took a deep breath as she thought about Pinkamena. "Seven days."
5:45pm
May and Dawn spent the whole day together, watching TV and talking. Dawn had just left, leaving May alone in her hospital room. May suddenly had an idea. She wouldn't sleep for as long as she could help it. She levitated Daring Do And The Quest For The Sapphire Statue up from the bedside table and held it in front of her.
May sat in bed, her book lay open on the floor. Her eyes were bloodshot and her mane was a mess. A nurse cam in to check on her.
"Whoa." said the nurse, noticing May's eyes. "You don't look good. Did you get any sleep?"
May slowly shook her head.
"No." she said groggily.
"You need your sleep." said the nurse, approaching her bed.
"I'm not going to sleep."
"But you--" the nurse started.
"No!" May yelled sleepily.
"All right, then." said the nurse, turning to look at the EKG monitor. "Have it your way."
May returned her gaze to the ceiling.
"Can I get you something to drink?" asked the nurse.
"Something with lots of sugar and caffeine."
The nurse gave a forced smile and left the room.
12:00pm
Dawn entered the hospital room and approached May's bed.
"May." said Dawn, seeing her blood-shot eyes. "Didn't you sleep?"
May shook her head. "No." she said softly.
"Why?"
"I can't say."
"Why not?" Dawn asked, now getting a little scared.
May started to cry. "Don't ask me to say. Please."
"May, I--"
"Please!" May cried.
Dawn let out a sigh. May could hear Pinkamena's faint laughter.
"All right." said Dawn. "I won't ask again."
"Thank you." said May, really glad that Dawn wasn't going to ask anymore. She didn't want to risk her life by telling.
"Just promise me you'll get some sleep."
"I can't promise that." said May. "But... I'll try."
"That's good enough for me." said Dawn with a smile.
xx:xx
Pinkamena was sitting in a chair in the kitchen. There was banging coming from a nearby door. Pinkamena looked over at it. The banging continued. Pinkamena's lips formed into a smirk.
2:15pm
May's eyes shot open and she quickly sat up.
"Something wrong?" Dawn asked.
She was sitting in a chair next to May's bed.
"What happened?" May asked, sweating.
"You started to doze off."
"Doze off?" asked May.
"But you're awake now." said Dawn, levitating the TV remote. "How 'bout some television?"
"Why not?" said May, rubbing her eyes. "Let's do it."
Dawn turned on the TV. It was a music video featuring the pony band Starlight.
"Oh, Starlight." said Dawn. "I love them."
"Starlight?" asked May. "Who are they?"
"Only the greatest band ever." she said excitedly. "I met them once and they're so cool."
"You met them?" May asked.
"Yeah. They had a live performance in Trottingham and I was able to meet them."
"Wait." said May. "I think I remember a band playing live in Trottingham. I just didn't know who."
"The lead singer, Amber, is really nice. Gem's cool and Jewel's really sweet."
"I wish I could meet them."
"Maybe someday." said Dawn with a smile. "Maybe someday."
5:40pm
May lay in her bed, eyes half-open.
"Just go to sleep." said Dawn, getting up from her chair.
"No." May mumbled. "I'm not gonna sleep."
Dawn sighed and opened her mouth to say something, but stopped.
"I promised I wouldn't ask, so I won't. Just tell me that everything's okay."
"Everything's fine." said May sleepily.
Dawn nodded slightly.
"Okay." she said softly. "I'll see you later,"
"See ya."
Dawn took one last look at May before leaving. May suddenly heard Pinkamena's voice in her head.
"You can't stay away forever. Sooner or later, you'll sleep."
May grabbed her head.
"Shut up. Shut up. Shut up." she whispered.
8:00pm
May's eyelids felt heavy but she managed to keep them open.
9:00pm
May levitated the Daring Do book up from the bedside table and hit herself over the head. It woke her up for a few seconds and then she felt tired again.
10:00pm
An excruciating pain shot through May's chest. She let out a loud scream of pain and a nurse ran in to assist her.
11:00pm
May picked up the Daring Do book again and continued reading.
May struggled with all her might to keep her eyes open. She suddenly had an idea, but it would be risky. She slowly pulled the covers off and slid her legs over the side of the bed. She grabbed her chest as she felt a pain. She waited for it to pass and slid off the bed and onto the floor. She fell to her knees as she felt more pain. She braved it out and got back up. She slowly moved towards the door and looked out. A nurse pony was talking with another nearby. There was a medical cart next to them. May read the labels on the syringes until she found what she was looking for; Adrenaline. She used her magic to levitate the syringe up from the cup and started moving it towards herself. When one of the nurse ponies turned around, May lowered the syringe next to the cart and out of sight. She quietly puled her head halfway into her room. the nurse looked around and returned to the other.
"Guess it was nothing." she said.
"Yeah, this place'll play tricks on you after a while."
May let out a sigh and quickly brought the syringe over. When it was close enough she brought it inside and made her way back to bed. She slid under the covers and held the syringe out in front of her. She felt bad for stealing it but it was a matter of life or death. She took a deep breath and brought the needle to her chest. She took one last breath as she raised it up and slammed it back down. The needle punctured her skin and she injected the Adrenaline. She suddenly felt a wae of energy and suddenly wasn't tired anymore.
7:37am
Dawn entered May's room expecting to see her incredibly tired. Instead, she found May sitting up in bed, laughing at the sit-com she was watching on TV. She looked over at Dawn.
"Hey, Dawn." she said.
Dawn looked in awe at the energetic unicorn.
"What happened?" she asked. "Last time I saw you, you were incredibly tired. Now..."
"I can't explain it." May lied. "I just feel so good."
"Well, that's good." said Dawn. "I was on my way to go shopping. Want me to pick you up anything?"
May thought about this. She knew she didn't have it in her to keep stealing and lying, so she came up with an alternative.
"How 'bout a video game?" May asked. "I need something to fidget with when I get bored."
"You got it." Dawn said with a smile. "Be back in a bit."
"Okay." May said with a smile.
7:50am
Dawn stood in front of a game store. There was a sign that read "Zack's Game Shop" above the door. Dawn entered, the door bell ringing. The unicorn behind the counter looked over at her. He was dark grey with white hair. His hair resembled that of Pinkamena's. Dawn shuddered at that thought. His Cutie Mark was that of a game disc.
"Morning." said he unicorn.
"Morning." said Dawn, approaching the counter. "Zack, right?"
"That's right." answered the unicorn. "Can I help you with something?"
"My friend's in the hospital and she asked me to get a game for her." Dawn explained, poking through a bin filled with video games. "Any suggestions?"
"Well, if your friend's in the hospital," Zack said coming out from behind the counter. "I'd recommend hoof-held games." He trotted over to a wall where game systems hung. "The PonyStation Portable's a good choice." he said, levitating the box from the shelf and held it in front of Dawn.
She took it in her magic and eyed it.
"She'd like this." said Dawn. "What are some games you recommend?"
Zack went over to a bin and poked through it.
"Ah-ha." he said, raising up a game.
It read "Equestrian Idol". Dawn took it and looked at the back, reading it to herself.
"She could like this." said Dawn, heading back to the counter.
When Zack got back behind the counter and rang up the price, Dawn paid and made her way to the door. On her way she spotted a rated "M" game. It was titled "Massacre At Willow Hill". A brief image of a blood-covered Pinkamena flashed through her head. She shook it away and opened the door.
"Hope your friend feels better." said Zack.
"Thanks." said Dawn, leaving.
9:15am
Dawn arrived back at May's hospital room to see her clenching her chest and groaning.
"Are you okay?" asked Dawn.
May held out a hoof to say "hold on a second". She took deep breaths as she let the pain pass.
"Wounds still acting up?" Dawn asked, setting the bags she was carrying next to May's bed.
"Yeah." said May through a groan. "Is that what I think it is?" she asked, looking down at the bag.
"It sure is." said Dawn with a smile.
May levitated the PonyStation Portable (PSP) out of the bag and stared at the box.
"No way." said May, eyes lighting up. "The PSP."
"Like it?" asked Dawn, sitting in the chair next to the bed.
"Like it?" asked May. "I've always wanted one. How much did it--"
"Don't worry about it." said Dawn, holding up a hoof. "Just enjoy it."
May quickly ripped the box open and pulled out the plastic case inside which the PSP was attached to.
"Oh." said May. "Twistie-ties."
"Hmm." said Dawn. "How much do you think?"
"Seeing as there's the system with the cords... six?"
"Then let's get started." said Dawn.
10:09am
"It's about time." said May. "Now I can play it."
"Actually..." said Dawn, lifting up the plastic-wrapped game.
'Oh, come on." said May impatiently.
10:20am
"FINALLY!" shouted May, opening the case and inserting the cartridge. She flicked the switch and nothing happened. "What's going on?"
Dawn picked up the box and looked at the back.
"Does not... come... charged."
She stared at the box ad then up at May, who was staring wide-eyed at her. Not moving. Dawn held up the power cord.
11:00am
Dawn picked up the PSP and looked at the screen.
"How far is it?" asked May. Dawn just stared at the PSP. "Well?"
"It's..." Dawn cleared her throat. "half-way there."
May fell backwards, hitting her pillow hard.
"Come on." said May. Again, impatiently.
11:40am
"YES!" shouted May as Dawn handed her the PSP. "This'll be awesome!"
Dawn watched May enjoy her new gift and smiled.
1:30pm
May turned off the PSP and set it down on the bedside table.
"What do you wanna do now?" Dawn asked.
"I don't know." said May. "Guess I could wait until I get bored and play it again."
Dawn smiled and stood up.
"Well, I must be going now." she said. "See ya later."
"Yeah." said May, as Dawn headed for the door. "See ya."
"And enjoy your game." Dawn said, leaving the room.
May smiled and turned to the TV.
5:00pm
May lay in her bed, looking bored. The TV was still on but May was hardly watching it. She glanced over at the PSP and the Daring Do book. She picked up the PSP with her magic, then stopped. She took another look at the Daring Do book. She then set the PSP down and picked up the book, continuing where she left off the night before. She read and read all through the night. At various points, she could hear Pinkamena's voice again. It was louder this time, though.
The nurse entered May's room and headed to the EKG monitor.
"Still no sleep, huh?" she asked, writing the EKG results down on a chart.
"Nope." said May, almost cheerfully.
"Hmm." said the nurse. "I'm surprise you haven't had waking terrors yet."
"Waking terrors?" May asked, now getting a little frightened.
"It's when you have dreams while you're awake." This left May silent. "Be back later."
The nurse left the room, leaving May cowering in her bed. She could hear Pinkamena's laughter.
"Isn't this fun?" Pinkamena's voice said. "Waking terrors."
May held her head.
"Shut up." she whispered, closing her eyes.
Suddenly a force caused May's hooves to slam against the pillow. She opened her eyes and found herself face to face with Pinkamena.
"Long time, no see." she said with a smile, which slowly faded. "You thought you could escape me?"
May struggled to try and free herself.
"How can you touch me?" May asked.
"I'm inside your head." Pinkamena explained. "As far as your brain is concerned, I'm real." She looked down at the wounds on May's chest. "Looks painful." She reached out a hoof and poked one of them. May winced in pain. "Hurt?"
"What are you gonna do to me?" asked May, tears in her eyes.
"Well..." said Pinkamena, laying down on top of May. She crossed her hooves and rested her head on them. "Guess I could gnaw on your leg for a bit."
"No!" yelled May, sitting up quickly.
Pinkamena, also quickly, shoved a hoof over her mouth and forced her back down. She then leaned in so close that May thought she was gonna kiss her.
"Don't attract attention, May." Pinkamena rolled off of her and lay beside her. "It's nice in here."
"What happens if you cut me when I'm awake?" May asked, a thought she had going around in her head.
Pinkamena looked over at her.
"What?" she asked with a chuckle.
"In my nightmares, when you cut me, I'm fine when I wake up. But, now..."
"The cut will not go away."
May let out a small gasp.
"Why?" she asked softly.
"This is your physical body." Pinkamena explained. "In your nightmares, it's your astral form. Can't permanently harm it." May closed her eyes and started to cry. "What's wrong with you?" asked Pinkamena, almost sounding annoyed.
"I can't stay awake or you can physically hurt me without killing me." May cried. "But if I sleep, you can do anything you want to me."
Pinkamena smiled.
"Finally. You understand."
May continued crying. Pinkamena rolled halfway on top of her and began stroking May's mane,
"W-what are you doing?" asked May, getting a little uncomfortable.
"Comforting you." Pinkamena answered. "Isn't that what you want?"
"It makes me feel kind of... uncomfortable."
"Well, that's my job, isn't it?" Pinkamena asked, leaning in closer.
May started to sweat from being nervous. She wasn't sure what to do. Or what Pinkamena was about to do. May watched as Pinkamena eyed her up and down.
"What are you doing?" asked May.
"Just wondering what you would taste like." Pinkamena answered. She then stuck out her tongue and slowly licked May's cheek. May shuddered as she felt Pinkamena's tongue against her skin. "Mmm." said Pinkamena when she had finished. "Tastes good. Too bad I won't be able to eat you."
"Y-you're not gonna eat me?" asked May, still trying to recover from Pinkamena's lick.
"Well... not yet, at least." she said with a smile. "But I'll tell you something..." May kept quiet, waiting to hear what Pinkamena was going to say. Finally she spoke again. "If you agree to help me come back and be my little helper... I'll let you live." May let out a soft gasp. "How 'bout it, May?"
"Never." she said.
Pinkamena's grin turned to a scowl. May elbowed her, knocking her off the bed. She then rolled off the other side and fell to the floor. She winced with pain when she landed on her stomach. She took a deep breath and quickly got back up, ignoring the pain. She ran out of her room and looked back. She couldn't see Pinkamena anywhere in her room. She looked up and down the hallway, seeing no pony. The halls were empty. Must be on lunch break, May thought. She turned to her left, jumping with fright as she came face to face with Pinkamena once again. She had an angry expression on her face as she slammed May into the wall. Her I.V. line came out of her arm.
"Not a good idea, May." Pinkamena said with a scowl. May could tell she was angry. "I show you kindness and try to comfort you... and you attack me? How ungrateful." May swore she saw fire burning in Pinkamena's eyes. "Well, I guess if kindness won't work..." She raised a hoof. "maybe this will."
She slammed her hoof against one of May's wounds. She was about to let out a shrill of pain when Pinkamena placed a hoof over her mouth. Pinkamena looked to her left and saw the nurse leaving one of the hospital rooms. She turned back to May.
"Act cool." Pinkamena ordered. "Or else."
The nurse spotted May and started to approach her.
"Going for a walk?" she asked.
Pinkamena held up a hoof to her lips to tell May to keep quiet.
"I, uh..." May began, turning to face the nurse. "I needed some help with my IV line. It came out." She held up the dripping IV line.
"Let's get you back in your room and I'll fix it for you."
"Thank you." said May, putting on a fake smile.
She turned back to Pinkamena, who smiled and stepped aside. May trotted passed Pinkamena and got back in bed. Pinkamena followed the nurse inside and sat down in a chair in the corner. The nurse gently put the IV back in May's arm and left.
"Glad we got that sorted out." said Pinkamena, rising from her chair.
"Now what?" May asked.
"Now we hang out and have fun."
"Fun?" May asked, a little confused.
"Yeah. Like a game."
"A game?"
"Hold on one second." said Pinkamena, leaving the room. "I need to get something."
May watched the door, waiting to see what Pinkamena was doing.
"Got it." came Pinkamena's voice, making May jump.
She turned around and saw Pinkamena leaning against the side of the bed, holding a switchblade.
"What's that for?" May asked, a little frightened.
"Our game, of course."
"What kind of game?"
"Let's see how long you can hold your breath.
"Say what?" May asked, even more frightened.
Pinkamena placed a hoof on May's chest.
"Exhale all the air in your lungs." Pinkamena ordered. May hesitated. "DO IT!" Pinkamena yelled, waving the blade in front of May's eye.
A tear fell from May's eye as she obeyed. She let all the air out from her lungs and held it.
"Very good." Pinkamena said calmly. "Now let's up the stakes a bit, shall we?"
She placed the tip of the blade gently on top of May's stomach.
"If you take even the slightest breath, the knife will penetrate your skin."
May started to sweat. She was starting to feel the need for oxygen. Soon, she felt as though she couldn't hold it anymore. She needed to breathe but knew she mustn't. Now, she was starting to feel lightheaded and felt as though she would pass out. Then, suddenly, Pinkamena removed the blade and laughed. May inhaled deeply, gasping for air.
"What... was that?" May asked, gasping for air.
"I told you I wasn't gonna kill you yet." Pinkamena laughed.
"What's so funny? I thought I was going to die."
"And that's what made it so funny."
"So, the thought of death is funny to you?" May asked.
"Funny... Enjoyable..."
"You're sick."
"Oh, May." said Pinkamena, calming down a bit. "I would've thought after all our time together..." She placed a hoof gently on May's cheek. "that you would've known me better by now."
"You'd think, wouldn't you?"
Pinkamena got in bed next to May.
"How 'bout some television?" asked Pinkamena.
"Fine." said May, knowing it was no use arguing with her new roommate. "What if my friends come to visit me?"
"Tell them you're busy." Pinkamena answered. "It's just gonna be us."
May sighed and turned on the TV.
11:59pm
Pinkamena was asleep. She was nuzzled up against May with a hoof around her. May shuddered at the thought that Pinkamena was in bed with her. Could it get any worse? she thought. Well, that's a nice way to jinx yourself, isn't it May?
May looked at the sleeping Pinkamena, who had her head resting on May's chest just below her neck. She looked peaceful. I guess she is kind of... May thought. NO! May thought, turning her head away from Pinkamena. Don't think that about her. She's the enemy! She looked back at the sleeping mare. Still... Pinkamena opened her eyes a tad and smiled.
"You know I can hear what you're thinking, right?" she asked softly.
"You can?" May asked, surprised by what she said.
"I'm in your head, remember?" May let out a sigh. "I knew you liked it when I touched you."
"No!" May whispered loudly. "It's not like that. I--"
"Don't kid yourself, girl." said Pinkamena with a yawn. "Tell me what you really feel about me."
"What I really feel?"
"And don't lie because..." She tapped a hoof to her head. "I'll know."
May was about to say something but just sighed instead .
"All right." she said, taking a deep breath. "I think you're evil. Pure evil. No pony likes you and no pony ever will.... But..."
"But?" asked Pinkamena. "Go on."
"But when you're sleeping, you look so peaceful and..." May sighed again. "kind of... pretty." she finished hesitantly.
"Pretty?" asked Pinkamena, lifting her head. "How so?" She almost sounded intrigued by what May was saying about her.
"When you don't have a scowl and your eyes are closed... you look nice." May explained. "And your hair is, despite who you are, very beautiful. It's long and straight and I've noticed how it glistens in the light. I think you were a pony who was wronged in the past and decided to wear her hair over to face, as if to hide herself from the world. And deep down, you long for friendship and companionship, which is why you enjoy... cuddling with me. You want to be loved but, at the same time, feared. Your emotions are what drive you to be who you are. It seems you're filled with rage and vengeance that can only be satisfied by causing pain to others. You want others to feel and share your pain. I have a feeling that, somewhere deep down inside, you wish you could end your killings. To put aside your need for revenge and feel what it's like to be loved again. You miss the old days when you were loved by every pony, don't you?" Pinkamena said nothing. She was in shock by how deep May's words were. And... they were all true. "I think you do." May continued. "I think you want to be loved again." She placed a hoof under Pinkamena's chin. The mare didn't even bother shaking May's hoof away. "You want some pony to be your friend. To care about you." She paused again. "To love you."
To Pinkamena's surprise, May leaned in and kissed her on the lips. When May pulled away, Pinkamena was left speechless. Her eyes started to water and her lip began to quiver.
"May." she said softly. "Finally... some pony who understands what I'm going through."
May began to stroke Pinkamena's hair. "I feel sorry for you." said May. "What happened to you was not right."
"I know." said Pinkamena. "Those ponies are the reason I'm like this."
"No." said May. "It wasn't them." Pinkamena looked confused. "Twilight told me everything. How you thought all your friends were avoiding you that day and, when you finally got to Sweet Apple Acres, you thought they were throwing you a going-away party. You over-reacted. And that over-reaction is what led you to become like this. A piece of your heart went missing when you thought you lost your friends. That void made way for rage and anger. And day by day, you turned more angry and more vengeful until suddenly... you were consumed."
"Whether it was an accident or intentional, they're still the reason I'm like this. They're to blame for all the ponies I've killed."
May shook her head and put a hoof around Pinkamena's waist.
"Listen, Pinkamena. You're going through a tough time right now. Obviously. I just want you to that I'm here for you."
Pinkamena began to cry. "Why do you have to be so nice?"
"It's who I am."
"Well, I can't kill you now." said Pinkamena.
"Why is that?" May asked, a tad bit confused.
"Because I don't kill friends."
"Oh, Pinkie." May said softly.
11:59pm
May spent the rest of the day comforting Pinkamena, exchanging a kiss every now and then. May hoped that she had gotten through to Pinkamena and that maybe she would stop her evil ways.
Pinkamena opened her eyes. She was, once again, resting her head on May's upper chest. May, herself, was awake and watching the morning news.
"Morning." she said, seeing Pinkamena was awake.
"Morning." Pinkamena said with a yawn.
She sat upright and rubbed her eyes.
Sleep well?" asked May.
"Yeah." Pinkamena said with another yawn. "You?"
May gave her a look. They both let out a little giggle.
"I've been thinkin'." Pinkamena said.
"About what?" May asked, lowering the volume on the TV.
"About what you said yesterday." Pinkamena answered. "About... not killing anymore."
"Really?" asked May.
Pinkamena nodded.
"You saved whatever life I have left."
"I guess I can release you now, right?" May asked.
"I think I'd prefer it right where I am.... With you. If I leave and am reunited with my body, I'll be locked up for a very long time. No pony would ever be my friend again."
"We'll make it work. I'll visit you every day until you're released. We'll change your name and appearance and start anew."
Pinkamena smiled. "You'd do that for me?"
"You bet."
Pinkamena slid out of bed and opened the window.
"Ya know, it's been a while since I admired the sun." She turned to face May. "Guess I have you to thank for that, too."
Just then a nurse appeared in the doorway.
"You have a visitor, May." she said. "Shall I send her in?"
"Yes." May replied.
The nurse left, and soon after, Dawn appeared and entered the room.
"Hey, you." she said. Dawn, of course, could not see Pinkamena.
"Hey, Dawn. I've been thinking."
Dawn sat down in the chair next to May's bed.
"About what?" she asked.
"About Pinkamena." said May, making Pinkamena smile.
"Pinkamena?" asked Dawn. "Why her."
"Why not?"
"I thought you hated her."
"I never said that." May shot back.
"Yes, you did. You said that you never wanted to be her friend because she was evil, psychotic, and murderous."
"I..." May said, looking over at Pinkamena, who's eyes were extremely narrow.
"I think that's why you haven't been sleeping, May." said Dawn. "You're probably having nightmares about her." Pinkamena headed for the door. "So, why were you thinking about her?"
Pinkamena stood in the doorway, took one last angry look at May, and then slammed the door. This startled Dawn and made May jump a bit. Dawn got up from the chair and headed for the window.
"Some powerful wind, huh?" she asked, closing the window halfway.
"Yeah." said May, thinking about Pinkamena. "Powerful."
12:38pm
May lay in bed, staring at a blank TV screen. She was thinking about what Pinkamena was feeling right now. She must think I was lying to her before, May thought. Dawn had left about a minute ago to go meet up with Fern. May let out a sigh.
"Pinkamena." she said softly. "Please don't be mad."
Suddenly, she had an idea. Tonight, she would sleep. She would go see Pinkamena and try to explain. Maybe she'll see that I meant what I said, she thought. She spent the rest of the time watching TV.
6:18pm
May was visited by Trixie who only stayed for a minute or two. She was in a hurry to get somewhere but thought that she would stop by and see how May was doing.
8:45pm
A nurse entered May's room to check the EKG monitor.
"Can I have something to help me sleep?" May asked the nurse. "I haven't been getting any lately."
The nurse smiled and left. A minute later, she returned with a pill and a cup of water. May thanked her and she left. She took a deep breath and stared at the pill.
"This is it." she said to herself. She took the pill and swallowed the water. "I'm coming."
She closed her eyes and slowly drifted off.
xx:xx
May opened her eyes and found herself standing in a field of daisies. She looked around. The sky was a beautiful blue and in the distance she saw trees.
"What's going on?" she thought aloud. "Pinkie?" she called out. "Pinkamena!" her voice echoing all around her. "I know you're there! I'm sorry!"
The grass around her suddenly burst into flames. May hunkered down as her view of the field and sky were blocked out by fire. When the fire died down, she found herself back in Pinkamena's kitchen. Pinkamena herself was standing a foot away, holding a kitchen knife.
"Sorry?" she asked, approaching May. "Sorry? You lied to me."
"I didn't."
"Yes, you did!" Pinkamena yelled. "you only said those things so that I wouldn't kill you. You didn't mean them!"
"Pinkie, I--" MAy started before getting cut off.
"I WAS GOING TO CHANGE FOR YOU!" Pinkamena cried. "I TRUSTED YOU! I THOUGHT YOU CARED!"
"I do care. I care a lot."
"Enough to lie to me?" May sighed. "Just wait until your operation, May. When you see what I have planned for you, you're gonna wish you were dead. And when I finally get free... your friends will suffer while you watch."
She took the knife and stabbed May in the chest.
11:00pm
May awoke, crying.
"Oh, Pinkie." she cried. "You leave me no choice."
May stood in front of the open window, tears in her eyes. She knew what she must do. She just didn't think she could do it. She looked back at the door. She had propped a chair up against it so no pony could get in. She returned her gaze to the window and slowly pulled the IV out. She let it drop to the floor, liquid slowly leaking out. She stepped up onto the windowsill and closed her eyes. Memories of all her times with her friends flashed before her eyes and she started to cry even more. She knew she had to. For her friends' sake. She took a deep breath and stepped off.
Nurses on the first floor heard screaming from outside. They all ran to investigate. May lay on the ground, not moving.
"What happened?!" yelled one of the nurses.
Twilight and Applejack were walking by and stopped to see what was going on. They let out a gasp when they saw May.
May slowly opened an eye, her whole body aching. Why didn't I die? she thought. Without moving her head, she looked as far up as she could. She had fallen three stories. A nurse rushed over with a stretcher and others joined her. They gently lifted May up onto the stretcher and wheeled her back inside the hospital.
Twilight ran up to a nurse.
"What happened?" she asked.
"It seems it was an attempted suicide." the nurse explained.
"Suicide?" Twilight asked, shocked. "You sure?"
"Her door was barred from the inside."
The nurse left Twilight and she returned to Applejack.
"What happened?" asked Applejack.
Twilight looked up at the open window of May's room.
"Attempted suicide."
6:00am
The nurses quickly wheeled May back into her room and hooked her back up. May's entire body ached. She was sure she had at least a broken leg. She was violently gasping for air. She could barely understand what the nurses were saying. But she was able to deduce that they were gonna perform the operation a day early. They had to act quickly if they were going to save May. She turned her gaze to the doorway and saw Dawn, tears in her eyes. She saw a nurse with a sedative and knew that she would be seeing Pinkamena again. Soon. The nurse injected the sedative into May's IV and she slowly dozed off.
May opened her eyes and found herself standing in Pinkamena's kitchen.
"Well, look who showed up." said Pinkamena, sitting at the table. "You're early." She stood up. "I guess when you try to commit suicide they put you under as quick as possible."
"You left me no choice." May said, taking a step back as Pinkamena started walking towards her. "You were gonna kill my friends."
"Of course I was." Pinkamena said with a grin. She knocked May backwards into a metal chair. Restraints came out of the chair and locked May's hooves in place. "Comfy?" Pinkamena asked.
"What are you gonna do?" May asked as Pinkamena wheeled over a try with various kinds of blades.
Pinkamena pulled up a wooden chair and sat down.
"Everything and anything I want. Though, I need to be sure I don't kill you. If you die under this heavy sedation, you'll just... slip away."
She picked up a scalpel and gently touched the tip of the blade to May's chest. She slowly dragged it down her chest, not cutting her, though. May started to sweat and Pinkamena inhaled deeply.
"Fear. Just what I need."
May let out a gasp, understanding what Pinkamena meant.
"That's right, May. Just keep making me stronger."
Pinkamena continued dragging the scalpel across May's skin. Just when May thought she wasn't gonna do anything, Pinkamena drove the scalpel forward. The blade punctured the skin. May let out a scream. Pinkamena held the scalpel in place for a minute or two before pulling it out.
"I wish I didn't have to do this, May." said Pinkamena, setting the bloody scalpel down on the tray and picking up a blow torch. "But you left me no choice." She flicked the torch switch a couple times, the fire coming and going with each flick.
"Pinkamena, please." May pleaded.
Pinkamena picked up a steel rod and positioned the blow torch in front of it. She turned the torch on and the fire struck the tip of the rod. Pinkamena held it in place for a minute before turning it off. The tip of the rod was burning red.
"Nice and red." said Pinkamena, holding the rod in front of May's face.
"What's that for?" May asked shakily.
Pinkamena smiled evilly as she touched the tip of the rod to May's cheek. May let out a scream as her skin sizzled from the heat. Pinkamena pulled the rod back. A red circle was branded into May's cheek.
"Too hot?" she asked, touching it to May's other cheek. May let out a scream and jerked her head to the side. The rod slid across her cheek and Pinkamena pulled it away. A red burn line streaked across May's left cheek.
"Perhaps we should try something else." Pinkamena said, setting the rod down on the tray.
She hovered her hoof over the various tools and stopped above a scalpel. She picked it up and held it in front of May. "This should be fun."
May began to sob, tears running down her cheeks.
"Please." she begged. "Stop."
"Why should I listen to you?" Pinkamena asked. "The last time I did I was betrayed."
"You have to believe me." May pleaded. "I think I... love you."
"LIES!" Pinkamena shouted. "SOMEPONY WHO LOVES ANOTHER DOES NOT LIE TO THEM!" She swiped the scalpel, cutting May's left foreleg. May winced with pain. "SOMEPONY WHO LOVES ANOTHER DOES NOT TRY TO KILL THEM!" She swung again, cutting the side of May's chest. "I never lied to you, May." said Pinkamena, sitting on May's lap so they were face-to-face. She put her hooves around May's head. "Tried to kill you? Yes. Killed your friend? Definitely.But lie?" She leaned in closer. "Never. I know the consequences of lying firsthand. No pony should have to experience the pain that I did. But they must know how I feel." She got off of May and went back to the tray.
She set the scalpel down and picked up a hammer/
"What's that for?" May asked, shaking with fright.
"This." said Pinkamena, swinging the hammer.
It struck May across the face causing her to spit out blood. May felt around her mouth with her tongue. Luckily, no teeth were missing. The blood came from May's lips, gums, and nose. The restraints on the chair opened up and May collapsed to the floor. Pinkamena dropped the hammer and went over to May, who wasn't moving. She knelt down and rolled May over. Her face was covered in blood that was still pouring from her nose. She started coughing, spitting up so more blood. She slowly reached up a hoof and placed it on Pinkamena's cheek.
"Come closer." said May, softly.
Pinkamena hesitated but finally leaned in. May quickly sat up and gave Pinkamena a hug, not letting go.
"I feel sorry for you." said May weakly. Pinkamena didn't even try to wrestle free. "Whatever happened to you has left you with trust issues. You don't believe anything anypony says. Your mind perceives it as a lie..." She leaned back and stared Pinkamena in the eyes. "even when it's true."
Pinkamena sighed. "This is who I am, May. I will get out of here and I will have my revenge." May closed her eyes, distraught by the fact that Pinkamena was beyond help. "I almost have enough energy to escape." May opened her eyes again. "Time to wrap this up." said Pinkamena, standing up. May fell forward, no longer having a body to lean on. "Let's make this one fun, shall we?" Pinkamena asked, returning to her tray of torture devices.
She picked up the scalpel again and turned back to May, who was watching and sweating from fright.
"What are you--" May started.
"If you shed a single tear, I win." Pinkamena interrupted. She knelt down in front of May. She held the back of May's head with her free hoof and held the scalpel in front of her eye.
She brought the scalpel closer and closer to May's eye.
"Don't!" May pleaded.
"One tear."
May let out a blood-curdling scream as half her vision suddenly disappeared. She pressed a hoof to her empty eye socket.
"No tears?" Pinkamena asked. "Impressive." She brought the scalpel over to May's other eye.
"NO!" yelled May.
The scalpel was centimeters away from May's eye when a tear fell. An evil grin spread across Pinkamena's face.
"Finally." she said. "I'm free."
May watched as Pinkamena faded away and the room she was in faded into darkness. This was it. Pinkamena had won.
A doctor and a couple nurses were gathered around May's bed. They had wheeled her into the operating room and had just finished the operation. Twilight and the others were waiting outside. Dawn was looking through the window.
"Well, that wasn't too bad." said the doctor.
A nurse chuckled quietly. Suddenly, a force threw them all backwards. They hit the walls of the room and fell to the floor. A dark energy shot from May's mouth and formed a cloud in the air above her body. Once the cloud was formed, it lowered a couple inches off the ground. It then began to take it's true form; a gaseous version of Pinkamena. Her eyes glowed a bright red. She took a couple steps forward, leaving a smoke trail as she walked.
"Freedom." she said in a distorted voice.
May quickly awoke and sat up as Dawn burst into the room.
"YOU!" Dawn yelled.
"Hey, Dawn." Pinkamena said with a smile. "Nice to see you again." Twilight ran up next to Dawn. "And you as well, Twilight."
"Pinkie?" Twilight asked, shocked.
May gasped for air and rolled off the bed. She winced as she landed on a wound. It didn't hurt as much now. Pinkamena looked back at her. May looked up and stared Pinkamena in the eyes.
She reached up and felt her face. Her eye was back. Pinkamena knelt down in front of May.
"Pinkie." May said softly.
"I told you." said Pinkamena. "I can't permanently harm your astral form."
"You..." May said, lowering her hoof. "You knew I'd live?" Pinkamena said nothing. "You do care."
Pinkamena scoffed and stood up, turning to Twilight.
"A pleasure as always, Twilight... but I've got a date with a little friend of mine."
She burst passed Twilight and Dawn and left the hospital. Trixie took off after her but returned shortly.
"I lost her." said Trixie. "She just vanished."
"Where'd she go?" asked Applejack.
Twilight paced back and forth.
"Let's see..." she said. "A date with a little friend."
"What are you getting at, Twilight?" asked Applejack.
"Not sure." said Twilight, ending her pacing. "Who did Pinkamena connect with the most in Ponyville? Somepony who's little."
"Oh, no." said Applejack. "You don't mean..."
Applebloom stared out the window of the main barn at Sweet Apple Acres. She let out a sigh and headed for the door that led out of her room. Suddenly, the door slammed shut and a creept laughter echoed throughout the room. Applebloom turned around and saw Pinkamena standing in the corner.
"You're back." Applebloom said.
Pinkamena grinned as she approached Applebloom
"It's gonna take a lot more than a stake in the heart to kill me, little filly." Applebloom backed up against the door. "Don't be afraid. You were always my favorite."
"What do you want?"
"I need to get back to my body
"Applebloom!" came a faint, frantic voice from outside.
"Applejack?"
Pinkamena's eyes narrowed. "It's too soon."
She looked around Applebloom's room and her gaze fell upon a teddy bear. She grinned evilly as she came up with the perfect plan.
Applejack burst through the front door of the barn. She saw Granny Smith and Big Mac tied together on the floor. They both had a cloth in their mouth that muffled their screams.
"Help them!" Applejack ordered, heading towards Apple Bloom's room.
Trixie and Dawn helped untie the captives.
Applejack burst through the door of her sister's room. Apple Bloom was standing in the middle of her room.
"WATCH OUT, APPLEJACK!" shouted Apple Bloom.
Pinkamena stepped out from behind the door and whacked Applejack on the back of the head. She fell to the floor with a thud.
"Well well well. If it isn't Applejack." said Pinkamena, circling around to the front of AJ. "Come to save your sister?"
"If you hurt her..." Applejack started, looking up at Pinkamena with anger in her eyes. "I'll--"
"You'll what?" asked Pinkamena.
Twilight appeared in the doorway.
"Pinkie?" she asked.
"It's Pinkamena, now. Pinkie's not here."
"You are Pinkie." said Twilight. "Somewhere inside, you still are."
"Forget it, Twi." said Apple Bloom. "She won't listen to you."
"The little filly's right." said Pinkamena. "I will kill each and every one of you." she knelt down in front of Applejack. "Starting with the one responsible for my condition."
"Me?" asked Applejack, shocked.
"Yes. It was you who lied to me, miss Element Of Honesty. Must've been hard for you to do, huh?"
"It was a surprise party."
"If only you had told me the truth... even in secret... none of this would've had to happen. And you know I would've acted surprised."
"Don't blame her!" Twilight shouted. "You're the one that--"
"No, Twilight." Applejack said, standing up. "Ah may not have done it on purpose, but it's still mah fault."
Pinkamena smiled and whacked her across the face, knocking her across the room and slamming into the wall.
A little earlier...
May sat on the floor of the operating room, looing around at the nurses and doctor who were laying unconscious on the floor. She thought about what she told Pinkamena about how she cared about her. And then Pinkamena not believing her. She closed her eyes and began to cry.
"Oh, Pinkie..." she cried.
She suddenly had a thought. If Pinkamena gains power from fear, does that mean... She pondered this for a bit and then suddenly knew what she must do. She found the strength within and got to her hooves. She wobbled a bit but managed to keep her balance. After shaking off the drowsiness, she made her way out the door, leaving the now chaotic hospital.
Applejack struggled to get to her hooves. The impact of hitting the wall hurt her side. Pinkamena started to approach her. She looked over at Apple Bloom who was cowering in the corner. Pinkamena now stood directly over Applejack.
"Ready to die?"
Applejack lunged at Pinkamena. To her surprise, she went through Pinkamena, landing on the floor. Pinkamena whipped around.
"Foolish girl." Pinkamena laughed. "You can't hurt me in this form." She approached Applejack again. "But I can hurt you."
"Stop it!" yelled a voice.
Pinkamena looked over at the doorway. Twilight turned around and saw May. The others were gathered behind her.
"Stop this at once." May demanded.
"And what are you gonna do about it?" Pnkamena sneered.
May approached Pinkamena.
"Please don't make me do this." said May calmly.
"Do what?" asked Pinkamena. She rammed into May, sending her into the wall. She collapsed to the floor, propped up against the wall. "You can't kill me."
"I never said me." May said, closing her eyes, concentrating.
"What are you doing?" Pinkamena asked. "Knock it off!"
May concentrated harder. Pinkamena ran full speed at May. She was about to attack when a inure rammed into her, kocking her to the side. Twilight and the others stared in awe. They had no idea what was going on or how this was possible. Pinkamena got to her hooves and whipped around. She let out a gasp.
"YOU!" she yelled. "But... how..."
"You see, Pinkamena," May started. "You said you were fueled by hatred and fear. So I thought... does that mean that Pinkie Pie's fueled by happiness and cheer?"
"This can't be." said Pinkamena.
"Oh, but it is." said Pinkie Pie, approaching Pinkamena.
"And how exactly do you plan on beating me, Pinkie?" Pinkamena asked, mockingly.
"There's something you should know about me." said Pinkie Pie. "I may not be a fighter, but, when my friends are in danger, I'll do anything to protect them."
"How sweet." said Pinkamena. "Prepare to die for good."
Pinkamena lunged at Pinkie Pie, knocking her to the floor. Pinkie kneed Pinkamena in the chest, knocking her off. The psychotic pink mare dove at Pinkie, biting her in the foreleg. Pinkie let out a scream and kicked her off.
"How can you be so strong?" Pinkamena asked.
"Because... friendship is--"
"I swear to God," said Pinkamena. "if you say friendship is magic... "
Pinkie Pie smiled.
"Silly Pinkamena." said Pinkie Pie. "You can't win and you know it."
Pinkamena growled and lunged at her. Pinkie stepped and ducked to the side, dodging Pinkamena's attack. Pinkamena swung back around as Pinkie backed away.
"Just stand still!" yelled Pinkamena angrily. Pinkie Pie was hopping around the room. "PINKIE!"
Pinkie stopped hopping. "Yes?"
"You should take this seriously. Your friends' lives hang in the balance."
"I know that." said Pinkie. "But I also know you can't harm them."
"What?" Pinkamena laughed. "How so?" Pinkie Pie approached her and hugged her. "What are you doing?"
"Killing you with kindness." said Pinkie.
A beam of light shot out of Pinkamena's leg.
"WHAT?!" she screamed
Pinkie Pie continued holding on while Pinkamena frantically wailed on her. A beam of light ripped through Pinkamena's foreleg. Pinkie Pie tightened her grip and a bright light shot from Pinkamena, blinding the others in the room. When the light faded, Pinkamena lay on the floor, her body slowly disintegrating away.
"This isn't over." she said before her head faded away.
Applejack sat and watched the results of this battle. A tear fell from her eye. Pinkie Pie went over to her and knelt down. Applejack looked her in the eyes.
"I'm so sorry, Pinkie." said Applejack. "This was my fault."
Pinkie Pie put a hoof on Applejacks shoulder.
"I forgive you." Pinkie said softly.
She smiled and stood up. She then looked over at Twilight and the others.
"It's so nice to see you girls again." she said. Everyone had tears in their eyes, happy to be able to talk to their friend one last time. "It's been so long."
"It has." Twilight said through tears. "Oh, Pinkie. We miss you so much."
Pinkie smiled.
"I have a feeling we'll meet again." said Pinkie. "Maybe not me personally, but a part of me. A part of me that will never leave you."
Twilight smiled. "I can't wait."
Pinkie took another look at Applejack before turning her gaze to May, who was sitting on the floor.
"I want to thank you, May." said Pinkie kneeling down in front of her. "You showed me kindness even when I hurt you. You gave me a second chance. I only wish I had taken it when I could. I only wish that part of me believed you." May began to cry. "I wish I had a physical form so I could comfort you, May." Pinkie sighed. Her left foreleg suddenly began fading away. "It looks like my time's up." she said, standing up. "Till next time."
Pinkie's form slowly faded away, leaving everyone in awe at the events that transpired here. Then everyone smiled at the thought of seeing Pinkie Pie again. Soon, they all left. Even Apple Bloom who managed to pull herself from her corner. As she walked passed the teddy bear on the shelf, she could've sworn it was watching her. She shrugged the thought away and left.
