Pinkie Pie has the best life ever! She's got all her friends with her, and everypony smiles all the time! Nothing could possibly ever be wrong... Until the day Pinkie realizes EVERYTHING is wrong.
Pinkie Pie has the best life ever! She's got all her friends with her, and everypony smiles all the time! Nothing could possibly ever be wrong... Until the day Pinkie realizes EVERYTHING is wrong. Everything she believes in is thrown off kilter as she realizes that not everything in her life is just smiles...
Pinkie smiled brightly at the shining counter in Sugarcube Corner. Light streamed in from the open windows, brightening up the room with a glow that only Celestia’s noonday sun could make. She glanced around at the now clean bakery. The foals, Pumpkin and Pound, had been a bit fussy with her today. They had made a big mess at lunch time, so Pinkie had busted her flank cleaning after she put them to bed.
Pinkie sighed happily at the place around her. This place was perfect for her. Much better than the old rock farm she had used to live at. She had chosen to follow her passion for parties and move to a place where she was needed. Ponyville was close enough to her home that she could still visit her family whenever she wanted, and vice versa. When she had first come here, she didn’t have much money. She had been very hungry, and the smell from the bakery had attracted her. She had been about 19 when she had moved here, and noticed a help wanted sign in the window. She had gone directly to the owner of the shop, a Mr. Cake, and asked him about it. When he asked her why she was interested in the job, she had simply responded with the words “I’ve never known a cake to make somepony frown!~”
“And to this day,” Pinkie said to herself, “I haven’t seen one make somepony frown!” She giggled and hopped over to the door. She stopped, however, as her ears went floppy, her knees twitched and her eyes fluttered. She gasped loudly and ran to the window, looking up at the sky. “That was the combo for a BEAUUUUUTIFUL rainbow!” Sure enough, high in the sky was a gorgeous rainbow, the different colors blending together as the sun shone through it. Pinkie tilted her head to the side. “Waait… There hasn’t been any rain today…” Suddenly, her ears flopped, her eyes fluttered, and her knees shook and twitched again. Pinkie gasped and hopped quickly away from the door just as it opened to reveal her bestest friend, Rainbow Dash!
Rainbow looked at her best friend curiously. Pinkie was somehow half suspended in the air, her mouth agape and her eyes wide. “Pinkie… What are you doing?”
Pinkie fell to her hooves, a bright smile on her face. “Oh, well, I just had two combos in a row! I was wondering why there was a beautiful rainbow in the sky if we hadn’t had any rain, and then my Pinkie Sense told me to beware opening doors! So, I figured you’d be coming in, since you make the prettiest, specialist rainbows out there, Dashie, and I WAS RIGHT!!” Pinkie squealed in delight as Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes.
Dash grinned boastfully, however. “Yeah, I DO make the best rainbows around here! Heck, I probably make the best rainbows in ALL of Equestria!” Pinkie fell to the floor, snorting and laughing. Dash cocked her head to the side, confused. “Why are you laughing?”
“Y-Your face l-looked so silly when you said things like that!!”
“Like what?”
“LIKE THIS SILLY!” She continued to giggle as Rainbow Dash just shook her head in confusion. Rainbow just figured it was Pinkie being Pinkie again. Pinkie hopped up to a standing position, still giggling slightly. She tiled her head slightly, smiling brightly. “Why did you come over, Dashie?” She gasped widely, if possible an even bigger smile alighting her face. “Are we gonna do some pranks?! Oh, I’ve been planning a really funny one involving some cupcakes, streamers, and 76 trombones!”
Rainbow laughed, snorting a bit herself. “Pinkie Pie, you are SO. Random.” Pinkie just giggled and waited for Dash to answer her question. “Actually, Pinkie, I was wondering if you could throw a party tonight. I know it’s short noti-“
“A PARTY?!?!” Pinkie gasped loudly, her mind racing. “OhmygoodnesshowonearthcouldIhaveforgottenthattodayisTank’sbirthday,OhmygoodnessIneedtograbmypartycannon,there’shardlyanytimeand-“
“PINKIE PIE,” Rainbow shouted, unable to follow the frantic mare’s speech.
“-And I said, Oatmeal was better than PEARS!! Oh, sorry.”
Rainbow rolled her eyes again, not even questioning what the pink mare had started rambling about. “It’s just a party, Pinkie. I knew you were totally awesome at parties, and who better than the most awesome partier to make a party for the most awesome turtle ever?”
Pinkie giggled. “Aww, thanks Dashie! Oh, but he’s not a turtle. He’s a tortoise.” Rainbow smiled and nodded. Pinkie couldn’t help but giggle at Dashie’s smile. She always loved seeing her best friends smile.
“So, the party will be tonight around 7, alright? Think you can handle?”
“You can count on me, Rainbow Dashie!” Pinkie giggled and waved goodbye as Dash flew off to go buy presents for her pet. Pinkie started planning immediately, thinking of the different balloons she’d need and streamers and cake and punch and – there was so much to plan!
Pinkie began to walk towards her room upstairs where she kept all her party stuff when she stopped. She felt strange. “Pinkie Sense?” No, this didn’t feel like her Pinkie Sense… She gasped as her hoof flew up to her head. Suddenly, her head felt like daggers… T-this wasn’t fun! What was this?? Her head hurt badly and she couldn’t stop it from hurting. She felt tears in her eyes. They weren’t happy tears. Why weren’t they happy tears? She was happy. She had to be happy.
Opening her eyes as far as she dared, she saw the gingerbread colored walls and bright interior of the bakery slide away to a horrible white. Everything around her was bright and dark all at the same time, the colors blurring and shapes melting into a horrible blackness, a gaping hole of pain and misery. Pinkie heard herself scream once, seeing moving shadows of what looked like ponies around her. She tried to back away, but she couldn’t move, something was holding her back.
Pinkie heard her own frantic breath. She wanted to go back, where had Sugarcube Corner gone?! S-she needed to be happy, she needed her friends, where were her friends?! The shadows came closer. Pinkie heard herself panicking as she began to hyperventilate. She was crying so much, everything shone and swam through her tears.
Pinkie gasped as she felt something prick her side. Everything was swimming… She felt a small smile grow on her face. The black was going away… the colors were coming back…
Pinkie shook her head from the daydream. That had to be what it was. A daydream. She had gotten too excited and had dreamed up some horrible nightmare. That was it. “Silly Pinkie, no more stressing about the party! All I need to do is fire up my party cannon!” With a small giggle, she forgot her troubles and hopped upstairs. Everything was fine. Her friends were happy. Her friends were well. Everything had a smile.
The party was fun. Granted, that was expected of a patent Pinkie Pie Party. All of Pinkie’s closest friends had shown up. Twilight was chatting with Rarity over by the punch bowl, while Fluttershy stood next to the record player, happily bobbing her head in time with the dance music. Rainbow Dash and Applejack were playing a board game on the table near the wall. Pinkie had to giggle at their competitive spirit. Right now, Dashie was winning, and Applejack seemed rather smug about it. Can’t have that, Pinkie thought. She hopped on over to the board game table, smiling brightly. “Heya Dashie! Hiya Applejack!”
Dash looked up from her move in the game, smiling brightly. “Oh, hey Pinkie Pie. Did’ya see? I’m so totally beating this game!”
Applejack looked up at Pinkie and rolled her eyes. “Ah almost had ‘er this tahm, Pinkay. Almost.”
“Aww!” Pinkie patted AJ on the back, giggling. “Better luck next time, Applejack! Ooo, How about we open presents for the little birthday boy!?” Pinkie hopped on over to where all of the pet animals sat (Or, in Tanks case, flew), next to where the presents were.
Rainbow Dash grinned. “Awww yeah! Time for my super awesome turtle to get some super awesome presents.”
Fluttershy slowly walked over to the group of animals, looking at Rainbow. “Um,” she said softly, not wanting to sound mad. “A-actually Rainbow, he’s a tortoi-“
“Oh, lighten up, Fluttershy!” Pinkie giggled and hopped up and down. “It’s time for presents!!”
“O-Oh, sorry Pinkie.” Fluttershy gave an apologetic smile and sat next to Angel Bunny. Angel quickly hopped up into her mane, disappearing from the group.
Twilight walked over to Owlicious, letting him rest on her back. “Let’s open Rainbow’s present first. That seems fair.”
Applejack trotted over to Winona, receiving a vicious licking of the face from the over excited pup. “Woah there, Winona!” She laughed and calmed down her pet, wiping her face. “Ah think that’s a wonderful idea, Twilaht.”
Rarity sat next to Applejack, allowing Opalescence to curl up by her hoof. She lightly pet her cat, getting a small hiss of disapproval from the fickle cat. Rarity lowered her hoof with a rueful smile. “Oh yes, mine after Rainbow’s. I’m sure he’ll just adore it~”
Pinkie jumped down next to Gummy, hugging him tightly as though he was more of a stuffed animal than a pet. He didn’t seem to mind. “Let’s get this part-ay start-ed!!”
Dash smiled brightly and sat next to where Tank floated above everyone else with his helmet. Dash lightly grabbed him and slid it off, making him ground locked again. He slowly smiled at his owner, causing everyone to giggle due to how slow turtles – or rather, tortoises – can really be. “Alright, alright!”
The present opening went by rather quickly. Dash had bought Tank some new goggles with the signature Wonderbolt insignia on them. “You’ll be the fastest turtle in the Wonderbolts!”
“A-actually, h-he’s a tort-“
“Open mine next, darling~” Rainbow rolled her eyes as she opened Rarity’s gift to find a… tux. Fit for a turtle. “Oh, don’t you think he’ll look just lovely in it?!” Rarity squealed in happiness, thinking of Tank flying around in her tux.
“Y-yeah, it’s a great gift, Rarity. I guess he can wear it to important… turtle business.” All of the ponies gathered laughed at this, imagining Tank in different circumstanced when he could wear the gift around. The image was funny enough that none of them could resist laughing.
Applejack nudged her gift towards Rainbow. “Al’righ’, mai turn.” Rainbow opened up the gift to find a small bag, sewn together haphazardly. Rainbow guessed Granny Smith had helped Applejack with the homemade gift. “Tank kin either ride ‘round in it, or carry it ‘imself.”
“Thanks for the gift, AJ. Alright, Twilight’s gift next.” Twilight beamed as Rainbow opened her gift. Nopony was surprised by its contents: A Book. Rainbow laughed. “Twilight, I don’t think Tank here knows how to read!”
Twilight’s ears folded back as she blushed lightly. “Well, I just assumed that you could read to him sometimes.” She smiled. “It was one of the few I managed to save from Golden Oaks after it had been destroyed.”
Rainbow smiled brightly. “Great idea, Twilight. Though, with all our training, reading’s gonna be scarce.”
Fluttershy made a worried little squeak. “O-oh, Rainbow Dash, make sure you don’t work him too hard, i-if that’s alright with your schedule…” She lightly nudged her gift towards Rainbow with her wing, smiling softly. “I-If you don’t mind much, m-maybe you could open mine next? T-that is, unless Pinkie wanted to go next…”
Rainbow smiled brightly and tore open the gift, receiving a startled squeak from Fluttershy. Shy moved back to where she had been sitting as Rainbow Dash unwrapped her gift: A box of Tortoise treats. Rainbow smiled brightly. “Hey, Tank, what do you think of these treats?” Tank responded by pushing his neck as far out of the shell as it could go and munching down on the side of the box.
Pinkie giggled brightly at the display. Then, her eyes widened in surprise. “Oh goody, it’s my turn!!” Reaching into her mane, Pinkie pulled a huge present out of her curls. Nopony questioned how on earth she had hidden a present in her mane of that size. She tossed it to Dash happily. “Here it is!”
Dash caught it quickly, careful not to let the gift fall to the floor. She smiled and opened it up to reveal a giant cake, shaped like a pond. Dash laughed. “How’d you throw it without the cake getting messed up at all??”
“It’s a Pinkie Pie trade secret~” Pinkie pulled the large cake out of the box and set it on the counter. “I know how much Winona looooves cake, so I put the cake into one of Tankie’s gifts so everypony got their fair share!” Everyone smiled at Pinkie’s consideration.
The rest of the night seemed to be passing at a slow, easygoing pace. Everything was going fine at the party. The cake was slowly devoured by both guests and pets. Everypony was smiling and happy, which made Pinkie beam with joy. As long as she kept her friends happy, then she would always be happy back. It was a never ending cycle.
Pinkie gasped. “Oh, I know just the right game for a tortoise to play! Hold on, let me grab it!” Pinkie began to hop away when she stopped suddenly, her eyes wide. Her head started pounding suddenly. I-It was happening again.
Twilight looked up from where she sat with Applejack, both mares concerned. They had never seen Pinkie just stop like that before. “Y’alright, Sugarcube?”
Pinkie turned slowly to where the voice had come from… Applejacks face was slowly melting away, everything becoming distorted. She saw the purple form of Twilight stand and walk closer to her. Pinkie instinctually backed away, bumping against the wall as tears formed in her eyes. The wall felt fluffy behind her back, why did it feel fluffy? “N-No, No no no no no,” she heard herself repeating. She ran her hooves over her fur, outlining invisible scars that only she could feel. She started to see them, the pink of her own fur melting away to burning, horrible, blood red scars. It was as though she was bleeding still. Again. W-when had she been bleeding?!?!
Pinkie screamed as the monstrous forms of her friends gathered around her. The cyan and rainbow blob that had been Dash got closer, a grim smile on its face. All of them were smiling, they never stopped smiling, they needed to smile. “Pinkie Pie,” the voice asked. “Are you alright??”
“Nonononononono get away get away!” Pinkie began to breathe frantically, rubbing at her skin with her hooves. Everything was melting together, the walls turning white and her mane messy and unkempt. She heard the voices of her friends, but all of them seemed to blend together. The colors were all fading away, she was losing her friends! She screamed and curled up as tightly as she could, sobbing. W-what was happening?!
“P-PINKIE WAKE UP!” She heard a crystal clear voice, just for an instant, scream her name. It sounded like somepony she knew, maybe Rainbow Dash? S-she couldn’t tell. Each of her friend’s voices shouted her name in unison. Why were they telling her to wake up? Why were they getting so quiet now?...
“Pinkie… Pinkie… Pinkamena…”
Her eyes widened as her full name was used… Nopony in Ponyville called her that… The voices had melded into one, deep voice… who?...
“Pinkamena, please. It’s time to wake up.”
Pinkie realized she had shut her eyes tightly. She hadn’t remembered doing that. She was scared, sobbing. What if she opened her eyes to more horror and pain?... Wait, pain… Her headache seemed to fade slightly… S-she felt scared, but somehow… warm… She softly began to open her eyes, tears rolling down her face.
The room was white. She was curled up in a ball, dressed in a white dress. It looked like a hospital gown. She felt like she was blending in. The pony who had spoken smiled at her. He was a dark – brown coated stallion wearing glasses and dressed in a doctors outfit. He had a nametag, but Pinkie couldn’t read it though her tears. She sniffed and sat up a bit straighter, confused. W-where was she, how had she left the party, w-what had happened?! She opened her mouth to voice all of these questions, but found her voice was raw from lack of use. The doctor pony shook his head. “Best not to speak, Pinkamena. You’ve been here for a very very long time now, and it’s time to wake up. It may take a lot of getting used to, but… I think you can manage it.” He smiled softly at her.
Pinkie shook her head slowly, confused. Psychiatric hospital? Why was she here? She managed to croak out of her raw throat, “B-but I-I was – friends…”
The doctor sighed softly, shaking his head and standing. He helped Pinkie up. “I had hoped we wouldn’t have to go over this again…”He lightly led her to the nearby bed. Pinkie hadn’t noticed it in her confusion earlier. The bed looked hard and clinical with restraints on the sides. Pinkie didn’t really want to lie on that bed, but… I-If she was in this place, maybe it was best for her to follow the doctor. At least until she understood what was happening.
The doctor lightly sat her down, sitting beside her afterwards. “Your name is Pinkamena Diane Pie.” She nodded, knowing that much. “You used to live in a small rural town called Ponyville.”
Pinkie shook her head, speaking once more. “N-no, I live there now…” She noticed her voice was starting to get a bit warmed up, sounding less cracked.
The doctor shook his head. “You had lived there, Pinkamena. You don’t anymore. Now you live here, at Canterlot Psychiatric.”
Pinkie shook her head forcefully, shutting her eyes angrilly. “N-No, I was just with Twilight and Applejack and Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy and Rarity a-and – I was just there!”
The doctor stopped her head, looking deeply into her eyes. “Pinkamena… Your friends are dead.”
Pinkie sat, her eyes wide. Friends dead? N-no, she had just seen them… Hadn’t she? “B-but… Saw them… J-Just a second ago… Party… We were having a party…” The doctor reached out a comforting hoof to her. Pinkie flinched back from him, eyes wider. “N-NO! YOU’RE LYING!” She realized she was crying. “I-I WANT TO GO BACK I WANT TO GO BACK!” Her voice felt more comfortable with the screams, as though she had been screaming for all her life. She was used to screaming. Screaming was normal.
The doctor stood quickly, startled. Pinkie normally never reverted to this state so quickly. Her mind was degrading faster than previously thought. “Pinkamena, calm down!” He reached out for her, trying to stop her from doing anything dangerous.
Pinkie stood quickly and ran to the door. There was a small window there. She could just see out the small window, looking at a hallway with no peripheral vision. There were bars outside, covering the window. There was no escaping that way, but she had to try. She screamed, banging against the window, trying to have somepony, ANYPONY, heed her calls. “P-PLEASE SOMEPONY!! ANYPONY HELP ME!!”
Pinkie screamed again as she was grabbed from behind by the doctor. He held onto her tightly, his horn glowing. Pinkie saw a syringe floating towards her exposed neck and screamed again, tears streaming down her face. “N-NO NO NO NO!!”
Pinkie gasped as the needle pricked her neck. The medicine swam through her blood stream. Quickly, Pinkie slumped a bit in the doctor’s hooves, feeling limp. She was still sobbing a bit, but it was quieter now. She felt weak… her eyes began to droop. The doctor sighed and picked her up, lying her on the bed. “I’m sorry for that, Pinkamena. I hope you will be calmer next time.”
She glanced up at the doctors eyes as darkness tugged at the edges of the room. She tried to smile, but her smile felt broken here. Nothing here was right… Her friends weren’t dead… S-she was… at the party…
“Goodnight, Pinkamena.”
With a startled gasp, Pinkie opened her eyes. She was in her room. She felt an ice pack on her head and a multitude of warm blankets covering her body. She was comfortably snuggled up and tucked into her bed. How…?
“O-Oh!” Pinkie sat up a bit, startled by the small sounds. She turned her head to see Fluttershy standing beside her. Fluttershy was smiling brightly, happy to see her friend awake. Her smile made Pinkie feel warm… Pinkie smiled very softly back. “O-oh my goodness, Oh my goodness! I-I need to go get the others!” With a quick dash, Fluttershy flew out of the room.
Pinkie sat up against her pillows, her smile still etched on her face. Here, her friends were happy… her friends were alive.
She shook her head happily. Of course her friends were alive! Why wouldn’t they be? Pinkie must have been stressed out from planning such an amazing party. She had probably fainted and her friends had carried her up to bed. How kind of them to care about her.
Pinkie smiled brightly at each of her friends as they trotted into her room, one by one. All of them looked ecstatic that she was fine. Those smiles made Pinkie beam more. Applejack trotted over quickly. “Y’ okay, Sugarcube?? Y’ went an fainted on us last nayght.”
“Yeah, Pinkie,” Rainbow said. “You scared us last night!”
Pinkie giggled. “Sorry guys. I guess I partied too hard. Pinkie Promise, I won’t work that hard again!” And with that, everything was fine once more. Everypony was happy. Everypony was fine. Everything was fine. Pinkie had just had a bad nightmare, and that was all. Nothing to worry about.
“Come on, girls,” Twilight said, smiling. “We should let Pinkie rest.” Everypony nodded and walked out. Twilight stopped at the door, her hoof resting on the light switch. She glanced back at Pinkie, smiling. “You gonna be okay, Pinkie?”
Pinkie smiled brightly. “Everything is Okie Doki Loki, Twilight! Go and have fun. I’ll rest and then we all can have even more fun than ever!”
Twilight smiled. “Alright. Goodnight, Pinkie.” Strange, Pinkie thought. That sounded almost like a goodbye. Pinkie shook her head slightly. What a silly thought. Twilight flicked off the light and walked downstairs after shutting the door behind her.
Pinkie lied back on the bed, her eyes drooping. Her friends were so kind to her. To think they were dead was so silly. They would always be with her, smiling and laughing. That was how things in Ponyville went. Nothing bad EVER happened here. Nothing permanent, at least. Pinkie yawned, shutting her eyes. She could think about all of this tomorrow.
Pinkie hopped away from Sweet Apple Acres, smiling brightly. Applejack had needed some help with apple picking that day and Pinkie had been happy to oblige. Pinkie giggled to herself. She loved helping her friends, because helping her friends made her friends smile.
Pinkie craned her head up at the sky, glancing at the light rays criss - crossing the sky. The sun had begun setting, creating long streaks of color up and down the sky. Pinkie smiled at the dark purples and blues and oranges through the sky. It was so beautiful to her. The clouds reflected all of the colors, fracturing them into shards of light like crystals.
She hopped to Sugarcube Corner, smiling. It had been a long day, and Pinkie could use some nice rest. Maybe she could munch on some cupcakes while she sat on the couch or something. She walked into the bakery, smiling, and walked to the kitchen. She grabbed a cupcake and hopped back to the couch, sitting and taking a bite out of the tasty treat.
Pinkie gagged. “Ugh! What’s in this cupcake?!” Pinkie was a fan of all flavors – Chocolate, Vanilla, Artichoke and Banana, and even the occasional ‘Fake Blood’ cupcakes for Halloween – but this cupcake tasted like someone has shoved blandness into nothingness and wrapped non-existent pastry around it! Pinkie shook her head. “How on earth did somepony manage to make a cupcake like this???” She stood and walked over to the trash can to throw the horrible baked BAD away.
As she stood, Pinkie noticed she was a little unsteady on her hooves. It had been a long day. She could use some rest. After drinking a bit of water to wash out the taste of blandness, Pinkie walked upstairs to her room. Her room wasn’t very large, but it was hers. Everything about it was just perfect for her – there was nothing bad about her life in Ponyville. Not even the big dumb meanie Discord could have ruined the life she had there.
Pinkie lied down on her bed, feeling dizzy. She knew she hadn’t been working so hard to make her feel this weak. She still tasted the tastelessness of the cupcake from earlier. How could somepony make a cupcake like that? She closed her eyes, thinking about this. All of her thoughts felt as though they spun around in a little whirl, confusing and chaotic. Nothing seemed to be right in her mind, and her head hurt horribly. She felt herself slowly drift off to a fitful sleep, her dreams haunted by the voices of her friends.
“It’s coming from a dragon.” Twilight stood on the bridge in town, Spike riding her back per usual for the baby dragon. Everypony around gasped. Twilight asked all of her close friends if they could follow her to her house to explain in further detail the smoke spreading over all of Equestria.
“What in tha name of all thin’s cinnamon swirl is a full grown dragon doin’ here in Equestria,” Applejack asked, concern pouring out of her voice.
“Sleeping.” Twilight’s horn glowed as she moved a few scrolls into her bag. Her 5 friends all looked at each other, confused. “According to Princess Celestia, he’s taking a nap. His snoring is causing all this smoke.”
Pinkie looked at Applejack and Rarity. “He should really see a doctor. That doesn’t sound healthy at all!”
“Well, at least he’s not snoring FIRE!” Rarity turned to Twilight. “W-what are we supposed to do about it?”
“I’ll tell you what we’re meant to do,” a boisterous voice shouted from above them. Everypony turned to Rainbow Dash. “Give him the boot!” She kicked a small statue on Twilight’s desk aggressively. “Take that!” She tried to attack it again, saying “And that!” However, Twilight used her magic to levitate the statue. Rainbow went flying into a bookshelf.
“We need to ‘encourage’ him to take a nap somewhere else,” Twilight said, putting emphasis on the word encourage. “Princess Celestia has given us this mission and we must not fail. If we do, Equestria will be covered in smoke for the next 100 years!”
Rarity scoffed, glancing at Pinkie Pie. “Talk about getting your beauty sleep.”
“Alright, Everypony! I need you to gather supplies quickly. We’ve got a long journey ahead of us. Let’s meet back here in less than an hour.”
Rainbow flew up into the air. “Okay, girls! You heard her! The fate of Equestria is in our hooves! Do we have what it takes?!”
“Oh yes- You bettcha!- We can do it!- Obviously-“ All of the friends voices coupled together as they left the treehouse, going to their separate homes.
Pinkie hopped to Sugarcube Corner quickly, eager to be back at the tree quickly. Oh, she was so nervousxcited! She quickly went searching for her balloons and confetti. Maybe throwing the dragon a super duper awesome party would mean he would be so hyper, he wouldn’t even need to sleep!
Pinkie jumped as there was a roar. It sounded close. She heard screams. She heard… static? A man was screaming for her… or was it at her? She heard herself saying ‘No more no more wake me up wake me up’ loudly. Why would she need to wake up unless… this was a dre-
Pinkamena sat up and screamed as she awoke from her nightmare. Two doctors were attempting to restrain her as the stallion in front of her stopped screaming her name. She stopped screaming as well, tears rolling down her face. The nightmare had seemed so real…
The stallion in front of her was the same from before. He sighed with a small smile of relief. “Thank Celestia, you’ve woken. You scared us, Pinkamena.”
Pinkie looked around. She was in the room from the dream… She tore her hoof out of the stallions’ grasps and wiped away her tears to see better. She made sure to glance at the doctors name tag. Doctor Silver Tongue. Pinkie stuck the name in her mind to remember for later. She wanted to remember as much as she could about this strange world. “C-call me Pinkie…” Her voice was sounding better than before. Maybe it was because of the sparse amount of talking she had done the last time she was here.
“The first time you saw me, Miss, you asked me to call you Pinkamena. I have never once wavered from that order.”
Pinkie thought about his statement. Had she really told him to do that?... She shook her head. This was a dream, she reminded herself. She had fallen asleep back in Ponyville. If he said he wanted to call her Pinkamena that meant that somewhere deep in her mind she wanted to be Pinkamena. Or something like that. She nodded to him. “A-alright… You can call me Pinkamena.”
Doctor Silver smiled. “Very good, Pinkamena. Are you starting to feel a bit better than last time?”
Pinkamena looked at him closely. “W-what was last time again? I want to make sure…” She felt strange. The last time she had been here, it had induced a horrifying panic. Now, however, she felt calm. Sedated, even.
“The last time you were here, you learned your friends were dead.”
She hung her head. That’s right. In this strange dream place, her friends were all dead. She sighed, feeling tears well up in her eyes. She wanted to know more about this strange place… so she would have to follow by its rules. “H-how did they die,” she asked hesitantly.
The doctor’s eyes widened in surprise. Pinkamena had never admitted to the fact that her friends had died. This was proof that she was changing. “There was a dragon… He woke from his sleep and laid waste to your town. Only a spare few survived, including you. No one survived unscathed.”
Pinkie looked down at the scars marring her body. Burn marks. Her mind flashed back to the dream she had just woken from. A fire, a dragon… It had been the same dragon Fluttershy had tamed with her soothing words… What had gone wrong? “Who all survived?...”
“A mare who had permanent damage to her eyes and seems to have some mental scarring. We’re having trouble finding the name. A male Pegasus with a peculiar coat who goes by Time Turner. His scars seemed to heal rather quickly. A mare by the name of Lyra, who is mourning the death of her close friend. And finally, there seems to be a small dragon…”
Pinkie perked up. Dragon? “Green and purple?”
The doctor nodded with a small smile. “Yes, Pinkamena. Spike survived.” The doctor stood. “Do you wish to see him?”
All thoughts of her own home were driven from her mind as Pinkie stood up, a smile brightening on her face. “Yes, p-please, I need to see somepony I know.”
The doctor nodded and opened the door. “Then let’s go.”
Pinkie stumbled through the hall, Doctor Silver holding her steady as well as he could. Pinkie obviously hadn’t been walking very much these past… however long she had been here. Around her, other patients shuffled around; some laughing, some crying, some barking like Diamond Dogs – and all of them avoided each other. Not a single one looked at the other, as though they would be hurt if they did. So much fear… Pinkie kept walking, eager to find her only friend in this strange place. Finding her friend would make everything good again. Everything would be fine.
The doctor stopped her at a door, number 221. She glanced at him. “T-this is his room?” The doctor nodded softly, smiling. Pinkie smiled and pushed open the door, gently walking inside.
The room was dark. There was a small window to the side, but the curtains were drawn, letting no sunlight in. At the side of the room were a few burnt things. There was a burnt book, a few normal gems, a burnt quilt, and a small, heart shaped ruby. Sitting by the window was the form of a small dragon, the tips of his scales still charred slightly. Spike sighed, not looking up. “I told you ponies to stop bothering me. Now get out before I fry you.” His voice sounded rugged and torn, as though he had been crying.
“S-spike…”
The little dragon’s face perked up as he heard Pinkie say his name. He turned quickly, ran up and hugged her. Pinkie gasped, surprised. A hug… I forgot how this feels... Pinkie fell to her hooves and buried her head into his shoulder, sobbing. He kept holding her, lightly stroking her straight mane. “I-It’s okay now Pinkie… I’m here, Pinks…” Spike continued to say those comforting words, his voice practically shedding his tears for him. Pinkie continued to cry, realizing only now that her friends had to be dead if Spike was here. They were all gone. Every last friend was dead. She had lost them all, even Gummy. Twilight and Fluttershy and Rarity- Oh, Spikey – Wikey had lost Rarity too – and all of her other closest friends.
“S-S-Spike, t-tell me i-i-it’s not true… P-Please, e-everything has to be okay, p-please…”
Spike lifted her chin softly, staring into her eyes. She sniffed, seeing tears in his eyes. He softly shook his head, not trusting his voice to say what needed to be said. She shook her head to, not wanting to believe…
“What ah’m saying to you is the Honest truth…”
“Sometimes we all just need to be shown a little Kindness…”
“I cannot let such a crime against fabulosity go uncorrected!...”
“I’d never leave my friends hanging!”
“A different kind of spark… I felt it the moment I realized how happy I was to hear you… to see you… How much I cared about you… The Spark ignited inside me when I realized that you all are…”
“M-My friends,” Pinkie said softly, her final web of resistance shattering. Everything she had known… They had been the best of friends… and the instant that dragon… that horrible red dragon… “My friends are dead…”
Spike nodded. “Our friends are dead.”
Pinkie sniffed. She felt… empty. She wanted desperately to go back to her world, where everypony smiled and nothing was ever wrong. Everything was fine. Nothing was wrong… but everything was wrong. Because Pinkie couldn’t smile. The Smile pony couldn’t smile… and neither could her friends. She just needed to see them smile… She needed to see them… She wanted…
Pinkie stood slowly, turning to the doctor. “Take me to their graves.”
Pinkie stood on the wintery snow, her hospital gown fluttering around her. She had refused a coat or scarf or anything of the like. She was too numb to feel the cold anyways. She didn’t feel the need for a jacket, much like she didn’t feel the need to smile.
After all, who would she be smiling for, now?
Doctor Silver Tongue stood nearby, wrapped up neatly in his layers, holding an extra coat for Pinkie. His face was worried, but he stood close by if she needed sedated. They had decided it would be best to comply with her wishes. After all, she had been responding better to what they had wanted.
Diane looked at the 5 graves that surrounded her in a semi circle. Each grave bore an etching on it, of the cutie mark associated with each pony. She saw first Twilight’s, at the start of the circle. A 6 point star, with 5 stars around it. She had thought, once, that those 5 stars were her and Twilight’s other friends. Seems the stars have gone out, haven’t they Twilight?
Pinkie turned next to Applejack’s grave. A single apple was engraved on the stone. Representing her simplicity, and her talent for harvesting. Always working, always harvesting… I hope you had some fun on that farm, Applejack… I’ll miss the sense of family I had with you…
The next stone was Rainbow Dash’s. Pinkie felt a pang in her chest, one of the few feelings returning to her. The lightning bolt marked the grave with a small cloud above it. Pinkie recalled all the times Dash had used lightning in their pranks. She would never get to play pranks with her closest friend again. Dashie… I’m sorry that in the end, I wasn’t as loyal to you as you were to me. I couldn’t save you…
She turned to Rarity’s grave. A gem, simple yet elegant, much like the pony it represented. Pinkie sighed, looking at it. Rarity had often asked for Pinkie’s help planning for social gatherings. She had always had a comment about a party Pinkie had planned, always had something nice to say. Rarity… True to your name… I’ve never met another pony quite like you. I’ll miss you…
Lastly was Fluttershy. Dear, sweet Fluttershy… A little butterfly fit her perfectly. Never willing to hurt even a fly, Fluttershy had been by far the kindest and gentlest pony she had ever met. If only they had gotten up the mountain in time, if only they had gotten to that dragon, Fluttershy would’ve been the one to save the day. Fluttershy, of all ponies… You would’ve been a great friend, Shy… If any of you had survived…
She looked at each grave in turn, feeling the first tear drops she had shed this entire trip finally form in her eyes. Since she had left the hospital, not a single tear had fallen from her face. Now… She couldn’t even hope to hold them back.
She fell to her hooves at their graves, tears rolling down her face. Twilight, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy… All of them are lies… All of my life is a lie… “E-everything I ever wanted is what I had… I-I never wanted this!”
Doctor Silver Tongue slowly crept up to her, careful not to startle her. “Please, Pinkamena. You need to remain calm, or I shall have no choice but to sedate you and bring you back to the hospital.”
Pinkie sobbed into her hooves. “T-they’re all gone… All 5 of them, they’re really dead… T-they’re never going to laugh again… N-never going to smile…” Pinkie sniffed, trying to contain her emotions. The Doctor wouldn’t wish to see her cry. I-If I can make him smile, m-maybe that will make up for the fact that I can never make them smile again. “I-I’m sorry, Doctor… I-I’ll go back to the hospital with you… A-and maybe you can help me feel better.” Maybe you can take this pain away…
The Doctor smiled. “Yes, Pinkamena. Let’s head back. Then we will discuss how to stop all of this pain.”
Pinkie stood, turning her back on the graves. It was time to let her friends rest in peace. No more smiles. No more pain. No more living. It was time to go.
Diane sat on the bed, feeling more drained than exhausted. Was there really a difference, she wondered. Drained verses exhausted… When a normal pony was exhausted, they just wanted to sleep. But she was drained right now… She was empty. Sleep wouldn’t help her become full again.
Her ears twitched as she heard Doctor Silver speaking. She tuned in, realizing she had zoned out again. “I’m sorry, doctor, what was that last bit?”
The doctor stopped mid-sentence. “I… You weren’t listening, were you?” She shook her head slowly. No point in not being honest. Not when Honesty is dead, after all… “Very well. As I said earlier, you’ve been through quite a lot, Pinkamena.”
“Please, doctor, that’s a mouth full. Call me Diane if you must. Or just whatever feels most comfortable at the time.”
“Very well, Diane. Now, you have been flipping between these two… ‘realities’ for quite some time. For about a year now, it’s been hard to get you to see anything else. You’ve been so caught up in your fantasies of Alicorns and Chaos and even a… Crystal Kingdom, if memory serves. These wild fantasies are all made up, and all of them are made to support your illusion. Yes, your friends were the elements of harmony, but when they died, all of the elements fluxed.”
“Fluxed?” Pinkie sat up straighter on the bed, her eyes curious. Though, had the doctor known her before the accident, he would’ve seen that they were not the eyes she had once had. These eyes were full of pain – the kind that you can’t suffer from quietly. Yet, somehow, Diane managed to hold back all of her tears. No point in making him suffer because of me… that wouldn’t be very Kind, now would it?
“Yes. Each element disappeared and found a new host – another Element Bearer, if you will. The only one that has not changed is Laughter, which you still retain.” Pinkie nodded, understanding. “Now, this past year has been a bit of trial and error… I’ll need to ask you some questions about this ‘other world’.”
Pinkie sighed, lying back on the bed. She wished she could end this now. She wished she could go back to her illusion and smile. She just wanted to smile with her friends. But they aren’t my friends. I’m betraying who they really are now, aren’t I? No, I need to stay Loyal to the ponies who stuck with me, the ones who were REALLY there for me, and not an illusion. “Very well. Ask away.”
“How long has it been since you saw your family in that world?”
Pinkie sat up, startled by the question. She opened her mouth to speak, but she could hardly find the words. “I… I can’t remember the last time I saw them. I saw Maud, but it wasn’t a long visit…”
The doctor nodded. “You see, your family was too real for you to handle. If they had visited you each day in the fake world, then it would’ve fallen apart much sooner. Their concerned faces would block out the smiles, so to say.” Pinkie nodded, realizing that made some sort of perverse sense. “Next question. Has there been anything strange in that world, such as colors dulling or anything not quite making sense?”
Pinkie thought about it for a moment. There had been something strange… “There was a cupcake that I ate that didn’t have any flavor. It was like I was eating nothingness. It was horrible.”
The doctor nodded again, jotting it down on his clipboard. “That would be the world beginning to collapse. The cupcake was imaginary, and since the world was beginning to collapse around you, the cupcake’s flavor was finally showing it’s true colors – that is to say, none at all.” Pinkie thought about that. It made more sense than anypony making a cupcake that tasted like nothing. “Last question. Would you like to see your family?”
Pinkie gasped. “My… My family.” The doctor nodded. “Yes, please!”
“I’m afraid that only your sisters could make the trip this time. Something about your father and mother needing to rotate the rocks to the south fields.”
Pinkie felt the first smile she had felt in a long time begin to form on her face. That sounded like her parents. She realized dimly how her face stretched to form the shape of a smile. She realized how good it felt to do that again. It’s almost like Magic. “Please, are my sisters here right now?”
The Doctor smiled and nodded. He opened the door and talked to the nurse outside. Within minutes, her sisters were there. Pinkie felt tears in her eyes, but these were tears long forgotten from her face – These were tears of love and joy. Her sisters even came with gifts for her, like a warm blanket. They took time out of farming just to make sure I was okay… They even brought me gifts… How Generous my family really is… Pinkie smiled as she realized how wonderful her family was. It was almost like having friends again.
“Pinkie, I’m so glad you’re okay!” Blinkie hugged her tightly, crying. “The Doctor told us you had had a breakthrough, that you might stay this time!”
Pinkie was overloaded with emotion. She hadn’t seen Blinkie in so long in… that other world. “Y-Yeah, I’m starting to get a bit better, I-I think.”
“Pinkie.” Pinkie looked at her sister Maud, smiling. She looked overjoyed, more than Pinkie had ever seen – A small smile actually touched her lips. Maud reached into her bag and pulled out a rock candy necklace. Pinkie felt a spark inside her, looking at it. “I made you one for every day you’ve been here. I only brought one today. The rest are at home.”
Pinkie smiled brighter, more tears streaming down her face. After all this pain, her family was there to comfort her. Not everything was lost. “T-t-thank you very much, Maud…”
Pinkie felt a small tap on her shoulder. She turned, and was suddenly engulfed by a hoof-sewn blanket. She was surrounded by warm fuzz as the blanket wrapped around her. She peeked out of the blanket to see her oldest sister, Inkie, watching her with tired looking eyes. But a smile still rested on her face. “Hello, sister. Glad to see you’re awake.”
Pinkie smiled softly, the warmth around her not totally from the blanket. “Glad to see you.” Pinkie reached out and hugged her sisters tightly, all of them joining in the group hug. It was the most comfortable she had felt in this world for a long time.
She smiled. She felt… happy. And then she laughed, a bright pure laugh, nuzzling her sisters. “I love you all, so much. Thank you.”
Doctor Silver Tongue smiled brightly. Pinkie was starting to heal. The Princess would want to know about this. As he thought a bit longer, his smile left his face. It wouldn’t stay this happy for long, he realized. Not when she realized what she would have to do to stay in this world.
Not when she realized she would have to make a permanent sacrifice.
Pinkie hugged the blanket close to her as she watched her sisters walk out. They had spent the entire visiting time to tell her everything that was happening on the farm. Their father had been promoted to the highest ranking rock farmer in all of Equestria. While the job at first seemed to be lack-luster, when you realized how many rocks it took to build the sisters castles alone, you could begin to understand a rock farmer’s importance. Rocky had inspired a new short story for Maud to write – ‘Sedimentary, my dear Watson’ was the title. Maud had always had a soft spot for mysteries. Pinkie sighed happily, rolling her sisters’ visit through her mind.
She turned to the door as Doctor Silver Tongue walked in. She didn’t like the look on his face. He looked serious and contemplative. “Is… everything alright, Doctor?”
“I need you to stay calm, Diane. Somepony very important is here to see you.”
Pinkie tilted her head to the side, confused. Who would be so important that the Doctor was behaving this way?
Pinkie’s question was quickly answered. She gasped as Princess Celestia trotted in, her face serious as always. “Hello, Pinkamena.”
She didn’t know how to react. Seeing her brought back… everything. She was a startling reminder of everything – Twilight’s ascension, Discord, the Elements – Everything Pinkie had lost. And all Pinkie could respond with was… “Why didn’t you stop it?”
Anger.
Celestia sighed, bowing her head. “I tried everything I co-“
“NO.” Pinkie felt herself stand in her anger, hardly realizing she had. “You didn’t!” The Doctor moved to restrain her, but Celestia stopped him. Pinkie didn’t care. “In all those dreams I had, that entire Illusion, it was all the same with you. You NEVER fought back if Twilight could solve the problem for you. And even when you DID fight back, you lost. You burnt out. You failed. Twilight and my friends were always better than you had EVER been, Celestia, and now they’re gone! They’re gone, and you were powerless to save them!” Pinkie realized she was crying and panting, her anger having taken over. Seeing this almighty being… she realized that she had hoped beyond hope that Celestia could’ve saved them. That there had still been hope.
Celestia glanced at her once, and Pinkie knew that hope was shattered. Her eyes bore more loss than Pinkie had ever seen in them. Those lavender eyes that had shone as bright as the sun now sat, cold and dismal pearls in the Goddesses eyes. “You’re right,” Celestia said simply, her voice sorrowful. “I was powerless to save them.”
Pinkie watched Celestia closely as the immortal being began to walk to her. She knelt down next to Pinkie, her eyes on her. “Your illusions were close to the truth, in some cases. I am moderately powerless without the Elements. But the Elements are not as you believe them to be.” Celestia sighed. “The Elements came from my own and Luna’s souls. We ourselves became the Elements, until those Luna bore became corrupt. As Twilight and you and all your friends came to shine as those Elements did, I lost a part of myself – But I gained something far better. I gained the ability to love. Twilight became far more than a student in my eyes – She became a daughter, and all of her friends my family. I loved all my subjects, but those in Ponyville held a special place in my heart.”
Celestia stood again, her voice beginning to crack with emotion. “Yet, I had still lost that part of me. I had still lost my strength. Because of this, I had to depend on a pony who was stronger than I – And who else would I trust than the one whom I saw as a daughter?” Celestia turned away from Pinkie, tears rolling down her face. “Say as you will, Pinkamena, but remember this: You are not the only pony affected by your losses. Ponyville lies in ruin, and with it, my love.”
Pinkie tried to speak, but little to no sound came out. The Alicorn’s speech had made her heart waver as she realized how self-centered she had been about this whole thing. Celestia was right. She was not the only one affected, and she had been acting like she had been this whole time. She felt tears well up in her eyes as she felt the full brunt of everypony’s sadness – All those with relatives outside of Ponyville, all those who had survived the flames yet lost their friends… So much pain… “I-I’m so sorry, Princess,” Pinkie finally managed to croak out, sniffing. “I’m sorry for your loss.”
Celestia laughed, an old bitter laugh of somepony who had seen far more in their time than you would ever know. “I thank you for your apology, Diane.” Celestia turned back to Pinkie, her eyes dry. However, Pinkie saw tear stains still fresh on her fur. “I am saddened to say that I will have to apologize next.”
“W-what do you mean, Princess?”
“You and I have very much to discuss, Diane. More than you can ever imagine is about to happen… and your mind might not be prepared for the conversation ahead.”
Pinkie sniffed, her mind suddenly alert. The Princess had gone from sad to serious, and Pinkie knew she had to as well. “Whatever you wish to talk about, I’m prepared for.”
Celestia nodded. “I have requested that you have leave from this institution tomorrow. You will be reporting to my chambers in Canterlot castle tomorrow, escorted by a royal guard. They will pick you up tomorrow morning.”
Pinkie glanced at the Doctor, wary of his gaze. He obviously isn’t too keen about me leaving… I don’t know if I’m ready to be out in public yet. She turned to look at Celestia. But she means business… Whatever she has to say, she knows it can’t wait. Pinkie nodded. “Alright, Princess. I’ll be ready.”
Celestia nodded. “One last thing, Pinkie…” With a spark of her horn and a bright burst of magic, Pinkie’s Element hung from her neck. Pinkie looked at it closely. The edges of it seemed darker than before, singed from the flames no doubt. The balloon in the center was cracked slightly, causing a strange reflection. “You’ll be needing this tomorrow. I suggest you keep it on through the night. It needs to reconnect with you.”
“Reconnect?”
“After all the fellow Elements died, they went into flux. All of the Elements have disappeared but yours. As you can see, yours has been damaged – Just as your mind appears to have been.” Pinkie nodded, understanding. “You will have to keep that on until tomorrow’s meeting. It needs to reconnect with you, recognize who you are. After that happens, then the Elements shall have their power once more.”
“I understand.”
“Very good, Pinkie.” Celestia smiled briefly, but it quickly faded from her face. She turned to the Doctor, nodded, then walked out. He followed and shut the door behind him. They obviously have something to talk about, Pinkie realized.
She sighed, lying back on the quilt she had gotten, finding comfort in the warmth. Reconnecting, huh? This is going to be a struggle… She shut her eyes, day dreaming about her friends. She realized dimly that they would always be in her memories, no matter how much happened. Reassured by that thought, she curled up and dozed, finally resting.
That night passed uneventfully. The Doctor was glad to wake her up in the morning to find that she had not returned to her fantasy world. She awoke and was quickly met by the guards. “Alright,” she said softly, drawing the cloak the Doctor had provided for her around herself, trying to hide the scars from the flames. “We’re off to see the Wizard.”
While the trot to Canterlot Castle was certainly less than it had been when she had lived in Ponyville, it was exhausting nonetheless. More so, Pinkie thought, since she had been walking so little since the accident. Her hooves ached. Worse still, it was raining, and while Pinkie used to enjoy gallops through the rain, it simply reminded her now of Rainbow Dash setting up clouds for her to prance under. She didn’t want to remember her friends right now – She wanted to learn about them, find what had happened and sort out the honest truth. But what irked her the most, she learned, was that Royal Guards are the most serious ponies she had ever met.
The entire way to the castle, they didn’t respond to a single thing she said. The walk had been spent in complete silence from them – Pinkie could hardly stand it. She had never been one for peace and quiet. She babbled to them, telling them they were just like the Royal Guards in her fantasy world, and how come they never answered back to her, and what breakfast did they prefer, oatmeal or apple slices, because oatmeal was simply crazy to eat – And she digressed.
Still, they said only 2 words, at the very end of the trip. “We’re here.”
“Well, duh, like I couldn’t see that.” Pinkie shuddered at the slight edge in her voice. She wasn’t quite sure why she sounded so cold now – Although, she was absolutely certain why. She just refused to admit that the death of her friends changed her so much that she was on the verge of bullying others. “Time to see the Princess then.”
Security was a hassle – Seems that stayed the same, no matter what reality she was in. They let her in (after about an hour long search and clear for a mental patient around the castle) and she was quickly led to the throne room doors. Inside, ponies could meet with the Princess privately. Of course, the Princess had sent away all commoners today – Pinkie had important business with her.
The guards opened the door for her and she trotted in. The room was as it always had been. Pinkie was glad there was no stained glass here, however – She would hardly be able to stand seeing all the empty planes of things they had never done. Instead, the windows were bare, curtains drawn to the sides to let in sunlight. Upon the throne rested the Princess of the Sunlight, her mane flowing in a non-existent wind.
“Heya.” So much for formality, she almost heard Twilight say in her mind. She shook out her mane, dripping water on the tiles below. Her mane hung down, but not from the rain – She had started wearing it that way. It had always seemed to fit when something bad had happened, after all. “What do you need to tell me, Princess?”
“Ah, Pinkamena… Guards, I request you wait outside. This business is a private matter.” Pinkie turned to see the guards nod and turn, leaving through the large doors. While she understood the matter being a tad more private, she didn’t quite understand what harm her mental health was. Wasn’t she healing?
“It’s nice to see you again, Pinkie. Tell me, how was the trip here?”
“Your guards need a better sense of humor,” she said dryly. “I didn’t come all the way here for idle chit-chat, Celestia. What’s so important that you need to talk to me in private?”
Pinkie watched as Celestia’s horn glowed. In a bright flash, they were in her own personal bedroom chambers. Pinkie hardly paid attention to the surroundings – Everything around her was obviously expensive, beautiful, and more than likely held the insignia of the sun. Celestia sat on her bed. “There. Now we’re guaranteed privacy.”
“And when the guards come into the throne room and realize you’re missing?”
“I left them instructions not to bother us. They wouldn’t disobey their Princess.” Celestia looked at her, more serious than Pinkie had ever truly seen her – Of course, she really couldn’t count anything she remembered from her other world. “Did you bring your Element?”
Pinkie undid the cloak around her to reveal her necklace resting there. It was cold and still, just like your average necklace. “I hid it in case anypony along the way asked any questions. Of course, I assume here that the Elements aren’t nearly as famous as they were in my world.”
“You’re probably right about that… Tell me, Diane, what… What happened, in your world? Where had you left off?”
“I…” Pinkie took a deep breath. She knew how much this would hurt the Princess. “Tirek escaped his prison in Tartarus.” Celestia’s eyes widened. “He began to absorb the magic of all those around them. Discord, freed from stone and reformed by Fluttershy, went to him to try and stop him. Instead, Tirek pulled him into his crazy plan. However, Tirek didn’t know that… Well…”
“W-well, what?” The princess’s voice had shook just a tad. Tirek was indeed real, and there was hardly any record of him in any book. How Pinkie had gained knowledge of that, she would never know. Discord, he was just a statue in the grounds – He could never be set free unless on purpose by the Elements.
“He… didn’t know that another Alicorn had come to power.”
Celestia stood, amazed. “Another Alicorn!?”
“One… One you knew very well, Princess.”
Celestia knew that could mean only one thing. Pinkie watched her amazement turn to pain. Unbelievable pain. The Princess turned and trotted to the window – Pinkie had no doubt in her mind that she was crying. After a few moments, the Princess spoke. “What of me and Luna?”
“You, Luna and Cadence, actually. There are 3 Alicorns already in my world, without… Without Twilight.” Celestia nodded, practically unfazed at this point. “All three of you… You poured your magic into Twilight.” No response. “She… She held onto it, trying to keep it a secret. After absorbing all of the magic from Equestria, he turned to you all. When he learned you had no magic, he was in a rage… That’s when he learned about Twilight.”
“He… He drained all of our magic... He then betrayed Discord, stealing all of his magic as well. Twilight faced off with Tirek then…”
“Tell me she didn’t die.”
Pinkie frowned softly, sighing. “No… Not in my world at least. She and Tirek were evenly matched.”
She saw Celestia perk up a bit at that, but only slightly – Apparently there was something surprising about that. It didn’t matter much, though. Pinkie didn’t care about what had apparently never happened. “Tirek then tried to bargain all of us, including Discord, in exchange for all of the Alicorn magic. Twilight… She agreed.”
“Discord gave her a medallion as a sign of their friendship, and how he had truly reformed now. It turns out that that medallion became the last key needed to open a certain box that contained untold power, all stemming from the Tree of Harmony, where the Elements of Harmony came from. Using that power, we defeated Tirek and sent him back to Tarturus, and returned all the magic back to Equestria… Oh, and Twilight got a castle.”
Celestia nodded, and both remained silent for some time. Then she heard Celestia speak softly. “Then it will be very hard for you to kill my faithful student.”
“Kill your… Princess, Twilight is dead. All of my friends are gone.”
“Not in your dream world.”
Pinkie’s eyes widened as she began to understand – At least, she thought she understood. She hoped beyond hope she didn’t, that she had misheard. But hope was a privilege of those who were still able to be happy. “You… I… Kill her?”
“And all of your friends as well. Please, sit down Diane.” Wordlessly, she took her seat, hardly comprehending what was happening. “You see, Pinkie, your mental health is of great worry to me, and to Luna as well.”
“W-why?... I thought I was healing. It’s been awhile since I went back.”
“But that’s the thing, Pinkie. What if you DO go back – Perhaps after meeting the new Elements of Harmony, the ones who now represent the Elements?” Celestia sighed, turning back to Pinkie. “What if you begin to blur the lines between friendships? Between worlds? What if you go on a rampage, thinking a monster is invading when it is simply a dream?”
“P-Princess, I-“
“We cannot allow you to remain among others if you are still in the dark, Pinkie. If there is even the slightest chance you might return to that world, then you must be retained in the Asylum for… Well, until that world is gone, one hundred percent.”
Pinkie sat in silence, processing this. I can’t be in public… I’ll be seen as insane, I would be locked away… My family would have to travel all the way here to see me, and I would be alone most of the time… It’s hard for me to feel any better when I’m so alone. “Princess,” she said softly, questioningly.
“Yes?”
“… Why did you say I have to… to kill them?”
Celestia sighed. “The doctor explained to me certain parts of your condition. This… dream world, it is held together by your 5 friends. Without them, the dream would collapse. You would be able to find what is real in all the lies.”
“But… W-why me? W-why them? Why do I have to…”
“It must be you, Diane. You must be the one to end them – It is the only way you can properly see to it that you bear no love towards them. You must rid yourself of their false images and remember instead the ones who died, here.” Celestia trotted up to her, her horn gently glowing.
Pinkie glanced down at her element. It shone a bright golden for an instant, until the aura seemed to fade into the crack inside. “You must keep this on as you shift between worlds, Pinkie. It will help you remember what is real and what is not.”
Pinkie gently brought her hoof up to the necklace, thinking. Murder… She had read about it, certainly – But it was akin to an old mare’s tale. Nopony had been murdered since the darker times of Discord’s reign. It was like a story gone wrong, thinking of what she had to do. “I… Princess, I don’t know if I can do this. T-they’ve already died once, a-and to murder them, to do this myself…”
“I know, Pinkie. It will not be easy. But you must do it. If not… If not, you put all of Equestria at risk.”
“W-what?...”
“Your Element… You have hardly smiled since the accident, since you made this fake world to retreat to… But it clings to you, instead of fluxing with the rest. You aren’t dead, but… broken. And anything that is broken can be fixed. Your Element senses this, and is begging, pleading that you return to normal. If not… If not, then none of the other Elements can work either. It is all or none.”
“So if something attacks…”
“We will be all but powerless to stop it.”
Pinkie took a deep breath, mulling it all over in her mind. She couldn’t believe she had to do all of this – Her closest friends, the very ones who taught her the meaning of friendship, how wonderful it was to have ponies to talk to, to love… She had to… to end their lives. “… Could you do it? If it was Luna, or Twilight? Could you kill them, Celestia?”
Celestia looked a bit shocked at the question – But her face soon returned to its sorrowful grimness. “… I would hardly be able to… But I would know that I must, for the sake of millions of other ponies.” Gently, she rested her hoof on the broken mare’s shoulder. “… I-It’s… what your dead friends would want… what Twilight and her friends would want.”
All at once, Pinkie felt tears rising to her eyes. One by one, the bodies of her dead friends flashed through her mind. Above each body stood a laughing figure – Herself, drenched in their blood, their bodies pale as that vital fluid pooled around their gutted bodies. She felt sick, disgusted – She would become a monster, for the sake of Equestria.
“I-I…” Pinkie sobbed, feeling herself shaking slightly. “I-I just thought that world was so wonderful… W-we all only have one chance to be here, a-and my only chance will be filled with pain and death…” She wiped away her tears, a broken smile rising to her face. “B-But it’ll be to save them, right? I-I’ll be saving so many ponies, w-won’t I?”
Celestia watched her sadly, her head hung lightly. “Yes… you will…” In another flash of magic, Pinkie felt a tissue in her hoof.
“T-thank you…” Diane blew her nose, wiping away her tears. “I… I’m going to miss them. T-that world, i-it’s like my safety net… I-I had it so that I could deal with them dying…” She laughed bitterly. “I suppose now I have to deal with them dying b-by my hooves…”
Celestia nodded. “Whenever you want, you can return to the asylum. From there, the doctor will watch over you and make sure nothing bad happens with the… process.”
Pinkie stood, nodding. She sniffed, took a deep breath, and smiled. “I… I’m ready to go back now. Please… Let’s just get this over with.”
“Are you sure?”
Pinkie hesitated a moment – Any sane pony would. But she nodded after a moment. “Yes…” She sighed softly, her eyes turning cold. “… Off to work I go, then.”
The trek home was long and cold, and few words were spoken between Pinkie and the Guards this trip. Pinkie barely registered their minute concern for her. She was busy mulling it all over in her mind. All of her friends that she had known and loved for years now… How long had it actually been again? Time had seemed to suck away those days, weeks, months she had had them as friends. Now it was all fading away, like ash and dust after that fateful fire that had ruined her life.
She pulled the thin cloak around her tighter as she walked, shivering. She would have to kill her friends. The thought of that still sent chills down her already frozen spine. Her friends were going to be murdered by her, and they would probably die grotesquely; after all, they would probably struggle. She felt a fresh taste of bile in her mouth for the second time that day.
They reached the asylum just as the rain started to let up. Pinkie sighed, glancing at the building. This was her home now. "How depressing..."
The guards escorted her to the door, still as stoic and silent as always. She rolled her eyes as they opened the doors with their magic; why do unicorns always insist on using their magic for the simplest things? She thanked them and trotted inside, shaking out her dripping mane. "How was the trip?"
Pinkie glanced at the doctor, sighing. "You knew all along what I had to do, didn’t you?” The doctor nodded grimly, his lips a thin mark on his muzzle. Pinkie shook her head, but let it pass. What was the point of getting angry now? “Might as well save my aggression for what’s to come,” she mumbled to herself. “C’mon, just lead me back to my room…”
Pinkie traveled down the hallways, remembering her lack of mobility the first time she walked down here. She was a fast healer - she always had been. She still stumbled from time to time, but she refused the doctor’s help. She didn’t want to need help anymore. She wanted to be able to do this all herself; kill her friends, save the world. Do something horrible, but save the world.
Become a murderer, for the greater good.
She waited as the doctor opened her door for her. As it swung open, Pinkie was a bit surprised to remember just how bland her current housing arrangement was. White, sterile walls and a single drawer for all of her things. The bed took up most of the room, restraints at the sides to do as their name implied. The only thing she hadn’t noticed before was the small bookshelf in the corner, filled with dusty looking children's books. She must never have read them.
Other than that, it was just a small little room that she hoped to be out of soon. Stretching, she slipped off the cloak, giving it to the doctor. “Alright…. Do I just fall asleep or something?”
“I’m afraid not, Pinkamena.” Trotting outside to give the nearby nurse the jacket, he sighed. Pinkie’s ear twitched as she heard him whisper something to the nurse. What it was, she couldn’t make out. He trotted back in, smiling softly. Pinkie noticed he was smiling a lot - maybe to comfort her? That made sense. “Now… Why don’t you go ahead and sit down?”
Sighing, Diane complied, resting on the hard bed. “Don’t tell me you need to use the straps.”
“No, not at all. It’s just easier to explain all of this when you’re more comfortable.” She refrained from pointing out that she would be far more comfortable curled up in her own bed at her own home. "We'll have to induce your hallucinations. That will require a chemical injection..."
Pinkie shut her eyes as he rambled about chemicals and needles and blood tests and Celestia knows what else. So she was going to kill her friends. She supposed she would have to call them her other side friends. These were just figments - ideas of how her life could have been, had friendship been fast enough to stop that dragon. In the other world, her friends were strong in their friendship. It sickened her to think this way, but she had to think of a way to kill them all.
Fluttershy would probably be easy. Pinkie knew she had lots of medicine. Maybe… Maybe she could make it painless. Maybe she could make it look like an accident. That would be best - murders would make ponies suspicious.
Rarity… Rarity would have to die gracefully. Pinkie knew she deserved nothing less. She herself would probably help set up the funeral - Rarity would be buried in only the finest clothing.
Rainbow. How was she… How would she ever… Maybe lightning. It would look like a prank gone horribly wrong....
Applejack… A tree falls on her? Pinkie didn’t know anymore. She didn’t want to think about this. Maybe a fire.
Twilight. How to stop her magic? How to kill her without hurting herself?
“Do you agree to this procedure, Diane?”
She opened her eyes. Around her was only white. She was in another world, another place entirely. Her friends were dead. All she had to do was tear up their pictures and leave without a second thought. Nothing more, nothing less. “I don’t have a choice, do I,” she said absently, simply watching the ceiling. “Just… one question, Doctor.”
“Ask away.”
“Could you do it? Could you kill all… all of the ponies you love?”
The Doctor seemed somewhat taken back from that. He opened his mouth and closed it without a sound. He sighed after a moment. “I don’t think I could. You are far braver than I.”
Pinkie couldn’t help but chuckle at that - as she did, her Element seemed to brighten, even a slight bit. “Figures I’m the brave one…” She shut her eyes again, sighing. “Seeing as the brave ones died… I suppose I have to be the brave one now.”
The Doctor trotted up to her, gently placing a hoof on her side. “Again… You’re far braver than I.” They smiled softly at each other before he took a more serious face. “Now… are you ready?”
Pinkie gulped as she saw the needle. She had always hated those. She had her hoof around the jewel around her neck, seeking some form of comfort from the gem. Somehow, it almost seemed to spread warmth through her body. It was reassuring. Real. It would come with her.
“Diane,” the Doctor said, holding the needle, standing calmly and patiently next to her. “I need you to relax your body, including your hoof.” Taking a deep breath, Pinkie nodded, leaning back once again. She kept her body still, trying to relax. She shut her eyes, willing her mind to think of happier things; her friends, her job, Gummy…
No. Happy things; not little fictions. She thought of Maud and Blinkie and Inkie. She thought of the home she could return to soon. She thought of the world she could discover, after it was all over. She couldn’t help but smile ever so softly as she thought of it all. Perhaps all was not as lost as she thought.
But that didn’t stop the needle from setting off every alarm bell in her head, every sense of fight or flight. Her eyes widened as she began to tense up, the needle clenching in her fur. The Doctor quickly pushed his hoof down against her chest, keeping her still, firmly, but gently. She took a shuddering breath as she saw the needle, in her skin, in all too much detail. It was like she was a balloon, and her skin was going to pop. She would explode. She would die. Needles were bad bad things, and she should yank her hoof out of it’s fatal embrace right now.
She took another shuddering breath, willing her eyes shut. It took all her strength not to leap away. It had to be done. She had to remain here, she had to suffer through this. Through this all. She would have to endure the deaths of her friends one more time. Just one more time, and it would be over.
“I’m injecting the chemical now, Pinkamena.”
“Just get on with it, Doc,” she said through gritted teeth. “I’m ready to go.” The Doctor nodded and began to slowly slide the syringe down, releasing the chemicals into her blood.
She gasped as she felt it. She felt the liquid join her blood and oh Celestia, did it burn. She bit down on her lip hard, tears welling up in her eyes as pain tugged at every orifice of her body. Each and every joint, bone, every bloody blood cell in her body screamed out in agony as the chemical bit and tore at her. She resisted the urge to scream, only offering up to the pain a small whimper. The Doctor kept his hoof on her stomach, still gently restraining her as the last of the chemical drained into her system.
Her mind began to burn. She felt like she was melting. She hardly registered the removal of the needle as it slid out of her skin. She did, however, feel the cool cotton pressed against her hoof. She wished it would cool her entire body, inside and out. She took a deep breath, feeling it once again falter in her lungs. The world around her was becoming entirely too bright. She had her eyes shut tightly, but it was still too bright. Then it grew bright and dark at the same time…
The pain was fading, and she was so very tired…
So very very tired.
“Goodluck,” she heard. That was all she heard.
*~*~*~
Pinkie groaned as she opened her eyes. The sun was shining. The birds chirped. It was yet another beautiful day in Ponyville. It was a beautiful day in Equestria. But Pinkie knew that everything was wrong.
She stood, disregarding the playful alligator that nipped at her hoof. She trotted away from the bed, nearly falling on her way there; she would regain her balance soon. She shook her head as the world became less fuzzy. She made her way to the door, taking a deep breath. Even the air felt fake here - fuller, and sweeter. It was hideous. This entire world made her feel hideous.
She took another deep breath and raised her hoof to her neck. She looked down and saw nothing, but she still felt it. Others might not see it, but Pinkamena had her necklace on. She was true Laughter today. She was bravery. She could do this.
She just hoped she believed those words.
Pinkie stumbled down the stairs, one at a time. Mrs. Cake glanced up at her, concern etched into her face. “Pinkie, dear, are you alright?!”
“I-I’m fine, Mrs. Cake. I need to see my friends…”
Mrs. Cake ran up to her quickly, worried. “Sweetie, you’ve been asleep for nearly a full 24 hours! Are you sure you aren’t sick? You do look pale…”
“I said I’m fine… I just need to go see my friends.”
“A-alright… If you say so.” Pinkie nodded, trotting outside. She winced at the daylight lightly, but continued on her way. She had this step planned out; first would be Fluttershy. Mrs. Cake watched her out the window, sighing in anxiety. She could only hope Pinkie would be alright.
*~*~*~
Pinkie walked along the abandoned path, her hooves far more steady beneath her. The day was just starting, and few ponies were up yet. Not that many travelled out as far as the edge of the Everfree. Who would, other than she this day? She shook her head and kept going.
She thought as she walked. How would she end up doing it? How would she end it? It was going to be hard, she knew - no. Hard wasn’t the word. Difficult? Terrifying? Agonizingly horrible, with a side of sorrow? She didn’t know, but hard was the closest thing to describe it. She wasn't sure what she would do…
She stopped as she heard something. It sounded like a bird... It was clear, bright, happy... It sounded beautiful, and Pinkie hated every minute of it. It was just another reminder of what she was going to lose when this was all done. She scowled as she drew nearer to Fluttershy's cottage. She peeked over a few bushes, carefully observing.
The Pegasus mare was whistling. She was going about, feeding all of her little animals. Critters bounded around her as she whistled. Fluttershy smiled the entire time she whistled, watching the little critters hop and chirp and enjoy her music. She loved waking up so early, being so isolated with just her and her little critters. That freedom she missed from not flying; this was that freedom. This was a far better freedom, and one she could enjoy on the ground. “Here you are, Mr. Rabbit,” she said, giving him a bit of rabbit food she had prepared. Pinkie took a deep breath and moved away from the bushes. She just had to do it. Some how, someway, she had to. She put on her biggest smile and trotted up to where Fluttershy was. “Heya, Shy,” she shouted, trying her best to keep her voice from wavering.
She apparently did a decent job of it. Fluttershy jumped a bit from the shout, spilling food on the ground (at which the animals jumped at), but smiled when she saw it was Pinkie. Pinkie, her good friend. Pinkie, her friend who would never hurt her. “H-Hello, Pinkie,” she said timidly, putting down the food. “What brings you here this early?”
Pinkie giggled. Somehow, it sounded foreign to her; still, Fluttershy saw nothing wrong with her giggle. It was the same giggle as always, right? Pinkie glanced around. “I uh… was hoping for some advice! Yeah! Gummy’s been acting strange lately. I was wondering if you could give me some pointers!”
Fluttershy hid her face behind her mane, and Pinkie could practically hear her heart break. This little timid mare would be the first one she would kill. How? How could she do that to her, that whistling mare who was just so happy to be kind? “Y-You want my advice,” she asked, her voice sounding so happy. It wasn’t often ponies came to her for help. “I-I suppose I can help… Why don’t we go inside first? I have to feed Angel Bunny anyways.”
“T-that sounds fine,” Pinkie said, hardly keeping her voice under control. Fluttershy glanced at her briefly. “Sorry, just a tickle in my throat,” she said quickly, hoping her voice was bubbly enough. Fluttershy smiled and gently glided to her door. Pinkie made an effort to bounce along behind her. She had to keep up the charade. She laughed aloud as she thought of the classic game which she used to love; Fluttershy didn’t even notice the laugh. That was the most peculiar thing to her - the laughing. She kept laughing, and nopony questioned it here. How could one pony laugh that much.
They made their way inside, Pinkie sitting on the couch as Fluttershy went into the kitchen for food. She looked around. There were hanging birdhouses all around, desks in odd places… Fluttershy was a tad bit disorganized. It was obvious she had a lot on her mind, what with all the animals she took care of. She was terribly clumsy sometimes as well. Perhaps she could make it look like an accident? That would be best, she thought with a sickened little smile, always smiling as she had to. An accident, so no one suspected. She gulped as her smile grew the instant Fluttershy stepped hoof into the room with the food. “Having fun feeding your animals today?”
“O-Oh yes,” she said with a giggle, “I’ve been having lots of fun. You know how much I enjoy my mornings, Pinkie Pie.” She trotted over to what Pinkie had seen as a desk; it simply held food bowls for certain critters. The desk sat underneath a birdcage, currently uninhabited. “Now, Angel,” she said, addressing the hopping bunny beneath her hooves, “I know you want food, but you’re going to have to sit still.”
The bunny looked back at her with an angry little glare, but stopped hopping nonetheless. Pinkie took in the scene with little emotion; the bunny had always annoyed her. She glanced at the birdcage curiously. It looked as though it was loosely hanging on the hook it was on. “No happy birdies to fill that up,” she asked.
“None as of yet,” Fluttershy said with a sigh. “Oh well. I’m sure somepony will have a bird I can take care of.” Fluttershy smiled as she began to pour out some food for Angel. She was bent over as she held the heavy bag in her hooves. In fact, her body was right underneath the birdcage.
Pinkie’s eyes widened as Fluttershy began to giggle. “I miss the birds so much lately, I’ve been whistling through my chores. Do you ever whistle, Pinkie?”
“I… I don’t think so! I’m more of a singing type of gal.” Pinkie stood, picking up the flower vase Fluttershy had sitting on the table. It was empty and fragile, but maybe…
Fluttershy began to whistle. Pinkie felt her eye twitch. That happy, beautiful whistling. It was another reminder of the beauty she was sacrificing for the world. She took a step closer.
That maddening noise. Angel Bunny looked at her. He tried to warn Fluttershy as Pinkie stepped ever closer, her hooves somehow silent to the whistling mare.
The whistling hit a high note. The flower vase rose.
The noise stopped as shattering filled the air, soon to be followed by a scream.
Fluttershy fell as the bird cage slammed against her spread wings, bending them out of place. She was trapped momentarily, breathing frantically as her chest was stuck against the hardwood floor. Glass fragments sprinkled down on her, causing her to gasp in pain as they imbedded themselves in her back. What just…
She saw Pinkie standing over her. “P-Pinkie, what’s going on?!”
“Stop whistling,” Pinkie whispered, her eye twitching. She pulled the bird cage off her friend’s back, groaning. Fluttershy tried to scramble to her hooves, but Pinkie quickly pushed her back down with a hind hoof, standing straight like a diamond dog. She groaned again, hoisting up the cage. “I CAN’T STAND IT ANYMORE!”
“P-PINKIE, WHAT ARE YOU-”
No more waiting. The birdcage came down. Pinkie centered it around her close friend’s head, pushing it down as hard as she could.
There was a sickening crunch as it bashed in her friend’s skull. Fluttershy cried out in agony as her skull fractured from the almighty strength of the blow. Where had Pinkie gotten that strength!?
Pinkie groaned as she lifted up the cage again. She had to do this right - her wings might have been broken, but they might not be able to connect the wings to the cage. If she could get it in that same spot…
She felt powerful. Something was surging through her. She just knew it was the element. It still strengthened here, even now. She grinned. It felt… good.
Fluttershy looked up at her, blood sliding down her head. She panted as she coughed, blood stuck on her lips along with spittle. “P...inkie… w-why are you…”
“W-what is it you like to do, Shy? Whistle while you work?”
With a perverse, power mad grin, Pinkie slammed the cage down again. She began to whistle as she picked up the cage again and again, slamming it into that same crevice now in her friend’s head. Fluttershy made no more noises - unless you counted the crunching of her skull as the cage widened the hole.
Pinkie laughed as she left the cage imbedded in the fresh corpse. It was more a laugh of relief - or release. Release of anger, of anything. She looked at the blood staining her fur. It looked… strange. Foreign. But it wouldn’t for long.
She took a step back from the body, careful not to let her bloody forehooves hit the floor. She walked haphazardly to the kitchen. She quickly bumped on the water, washing the blood. It came out surprisingly easily. Fresh blood does, apparently. She watched the red fluid for minutes, she lost track. It looked… beautiful. Real. Real, true beauty.
She shook her head, gulping. Reality. It was setting in. She had just… she had done that. That just happened. She… smiled. She was freeing herself. Her mind felt somehow clear. She felt… happy. Full of laughter.
She turned off the water after all the blood had been washed out. She dried her hooves on her fur, careful not to dry it on a washcloth. No making any more mess than necessary.
She trotted back to the main room, but stopped in her tracks as she saw it. Animals were sniffing at the blood; rabbits, birds and cats alike watched it curiously. Angel sniffed at the body. He had never liked that rabbit food anyways.
Pinkie stumbled out of the house, feeling sick as the image of Fluttershy’s corpse being ripped apart by animals was fresh in her mind. She hadn’t quite been prepared for that. She swallowed the bile rising in her mouth as she trotted along to the next and nearest destination - Sweet Apple Acres.
She shook the memory of the sight she had just seen. She thought instead of the plan. Who she would kill, what order. Applejack was closest, of course. She lived right on the edge of the Everfree as well. She had to get this all done in a timely matter - if the bodies of the Elements of Harmony kept turning up, ponies would begin to suspect.
But who after Applejack? Rainbow Dash? Pinkie felt worse as she remembered her close friend. They had hung out more than anypony else she knew. How could she…
“Wipe that thought away, Pinkie,” she whispered to herself. “You just killed the Element of Kindness. That blood is on your hooves… There’s no ‘how could you’, anymore. Just ‘how will you’.”
Pinkie took a deep breath and continued on her way, thinking now only on how she would kill Applejack. Brutality might not work on this one. Applejack was much stronger than Fluttershy was. She would undoubtedly fight back. Worst of all, Pinkie still had to make these look like accidents. There had to be explanations for these bodies.
She gulped ruefully as she thought of the dent in Fluttershy’s head. Perhaps she had gotten overzealous. There would be a lot of blood; more than, perhaps, what would be logical for the height the cage fell at. And what about the fragments of glass? What if ponies put two and two together and figured out that she had been murdered? That a vase hadn’t just happened to fall off the desk, and that she had actually been murdered?
She stopped in her tracks as she thought of it. Applejack… Honesty. She would have to admit to what she did, in any circumstance. She would never be able to do anything wrong without admitting it.
She thought of a horrible idea. A horribly wonderful idea.
*~*~*~
Applejack was bucking apples. It was something she always did, of course. There really wasn’t anything unusual about it, and there really was nothing more to say on the subject. Apples were just her calling. She hit the tree again, smiling as she heard the crate beneath it begin to fill.
Applejack liked that it was a simple task. Hard work, but simple. You hit the tree here, the apples fall from there to there, and you take them to a specific place for a specific purpose. She tugged the crate up onto her back, smiling. It was off to the barn with this batch - luckily, it wasn’t a long walk. Though, Applejack wouldn’t mind a walk in the morning. The air was crisp this time of year, and though It might be early, it’s the best time to buck apples. Wakes you up.
Still, today seemed somewhat off to her. Too quiet, too simplistic. It was strange; no birds flew overhead, so the orchard was an eerie, tranquil place. It made sense, she supposed, that there were no birds - it was starting to become fall, after all, and some birds had the common sense to leave all by themselves. Still, the quietness felt… unnatural.
“Heya, Applejack!”
“AH!”
Applejack jumped up high, surprised as she turned to see Pinkie. Odd that she was up so early. Still, she looked happy enough. “Consarn it, Pinkie, y’just up and gave me a heart attack!”
Pinkie giggled. “Woops! Sorry, AJ.”
“What brings you down t’the orchard?”
“Oh, well, I was actually hoping I could talk to you? Maybe in the barn or something? I’ve got something really important to tell you.”
Applejack tilted her head. “An… why can’t y’just tell me out here? We’re already in private.”
Pinkie’s eyes darted back and forth. “No telling who could be listening!” She made a spooky little face, going ‘ooooo~’ under her breath. Applejack smiled and rolled her eyes. Just Pinkie being Pinkie again. “So come on!”
“Alright, alright…” Applejack was headed to the barn anyways - it wasn’t really much of a trouble, after all. Together they walked, their hoofsteps silent against the ground. Yet another strangely quiet thing. The only sound was the wind in the trees, though it wasn’t really a whistling sound. More like a quiet whisper that rustled through the leaves and apples. Pinkie smiled as she walked, glancing around at the leaves as the wind slowly made them dance. Applejack noticed she wasn’t bouncing as she usually did. Maybe she was tired from the early hour?
They reached the barn quickly. Applejack opened the door and trotted inside, dropping the crate of apples off by the others. She sighed in relief at having the weight off her back. “Now, what’s it y’wanted to tell me?”
“Weeeell… I sort of need a favor.”
“A favor?” Applejack tilted her head. “What sorta favor needs t’be asked for in private?”
“Well, you see,” Pinkie said, “I accidentally murdered Fluttershy and need a fall pony for it!”
Applejack began to nod, out of politeness, before processing what her friend had just said. She then stopped and stared at the bubbly pink pony. She stared for awhile in silence. After a moment, she cleared her throat. “That… wasn’t really a funny joke, Pinkie Pie.”
Pinkie tittered and giggled, waving a hoof in the air as though brushing the comment aside. “That’s cause it wasn’t a joke, silly! I really did kill Fluttershy, but nopony can know, so I’m asking you to admit to killing her!”
Applejack took a step back. “Pinkie, that’s enough foolin’ around! S’not right to joke about serious stuff like that!”
Pinkie rolled her eyes, huffing out a sigh. “I PINKIE PROMISE, I’m telling the truth about killing her! Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!”
Applejack’s eyes were wide in horror. One of her closest friends… She couldn’t be lying. Nopony breaks a Pinkie Promise, especially Pinkie Pie. That meant… Applejack felt sick. She felt very very sick. “P-Pinkie…”
“Ah, don’t be sad, AJ! We’ll have this all sorted out in a jiffy! I just need you to write me something!”
Applejack shook her head, unsure whether to charge at Pinkie and tackle her to the ground, or stall with conversation before running and getting the guards. “Pinkie… A-Ah’m not doin’ any favors for you! Y’killed one of… Y’killed Fluttershy! Y’MURDERED HER!”
Pinkie shushed her, looking around. “Not so loud! If you keep that up, everypony will know what we did!”
“WE?!” Applejack fought the urge to punch her, still trying to maintain a slightly level head. She started to pace, getting closer to the barn door. Pinkie didn’t seem to notice - thank Celestia for that. “Pinkie Pie, what d’you mean by ‘we’? Ah sure as heck didn’t have anythin’ to do with… with THAT! P-Pinkie, how could yah?”
“But that’s just it, Applejack! You DID have something to do with it! And you’re even going to admit to it!”
Applejack stopped, confused, next to the door - and Pinkie - now. “What d’you mean, ‘Ah’m gonna admit to it’?”
“Simple,” Pinkie said. “You see, all you’re going to do is -”
Applejack was on the ground before she knew what was going on. Pinkie had charged her mid sentence, slamming her hoof into Applejack’s skull. Applejack cried out in pain, caught by surprise. She quickly tried to push Pinkie off of her, but Pinkie was moving too fast with her punches for Applejack to recover. Applejack had to focus on trying to dodge the smacks and slaps. Had she not been so focused on the matter at hoof, she might have realized how careful Pinkie was being - she wasn’t doing anything that would leave lasting damage. She was only distracting her, not fully hurting her.
Applejack was so busy trying to fight back, she hardly felt the rope Pinkie had grabbed begin to wrap around her hooves. She only felt them as she finally pushed the Pink mare off her. She stood, but nearly fell over as she felt the rope coiled tight around her back hoof. She glanced at it, surprised. Pinkie smiled as she was this, and picked up another rope while Applejack tried to escape her current bindings.
Applejack didn’t have time to take it off before Pinkie grabbed her forehooves and binded them behind her back. She tried to get back at Pinkie, squirming and knocking her head back, shouting all the while. Nopony was near, however - all the Apples were either fast asleep or in the far orchards.
Pinkie took precautions, however. After tying down all of her friends hooves to posts by the front door, she tied a rope around her friend’s head, sliding it into her mouth to keep her gagged. “There,” she said as her friend finally fell silent. “I always knew my speedy reflexes would come in handy! Maybe I should’ve been the Iron Pony.” She giggled and sighed with a sense of nostalgia. “Now…”
Applejack tried to twist her head around as Pinkie moved behind her. She could just see the pink tail in her peripheral vision. She looked to be sorting through some of their old tools. While she was busy, Applejack tugged at the ropes. They were tight enough to hold her, but again, not tight enough to leave markings on her hooves. She thought for a moment, and realized the fact she should’ve grasped earlier. Why was Pinkie being so careful not to hurt her? She had already murdered somepony else, and she had her trussed up like a turkey now. What was she planning?
“You see, Applejack,” Pinkie said, bringing the farm pony back to earth, “I need your help. If anypony thinks I killed Fluttershy, I might not be able to finish my job.”
“Mooffb,” Applejack said, attempting to question what said job was. She bit at the gag in her mouth; too tough to bite through.
“Well, you see, Fluttershy was just my first target. I need to kill ALL of you for this to be done.” Applejack’s eyes widened as she realized Pinkie was going to kill her. She felt tears begin to rise as she realized her friends would die soon as well. Her resolve hardened - she had to stop Pinkie.
Pinkie glanced at her, hearing the small sniffling. “Oh, don’t cry, AJ! You’re not real, so it doesn’t matter!” Pinkie giggled. “I’m just saving myself from a fate worse than your death. The real you would understand what I’m doing. I’m sure of it.”
Applejack gasped as best she could as Pinkie stepped back into her vision again, this time holding a device they had put away after getting Winona. A Cattle Prod.
It had been invented by unicorns about 7 years back. A device that used magic to shock an animal and could help herd it. It didn’t leave any marks, thanks to the magic, but it could go from a gentle shock to stunning an elephant, depending on how high the settings were. Applejack tugged at the ropes, realizing slowly what Pinkie had in store for her - they were still too tight to escape from, but she thought she felt one on her forehoof slide ever so slightly. It wasn’t enough.
Pinkie looked at the device with casual interest. “This looks like it can get pretty painful! That’s why I picked it out - I used to work on your farm, remember?”
She did remember. Pinkie had helped out, and then there was that time she had switched cutiemarks. She nodded as best she could, eyes wide, with fear instead of sorrow now.
“Good! Well, I found this nifty little device last I was here. I was thinking, on the way from Fluttershy’s, just how I would kill you and keep it a secret. Then I realized - what if you had killed Fluttershy? You would have to admit to it! Then I thought, ‘but Pinkie, if she admitted to it, she would have to go to the guards!’ But then I thought, ‘what if she was dead before she went to them?’ and I realized the only way to make this all work is to have you kill yourself!”
Applejack took a minute to process everything she had said. Kill herself? She would never…
“I know what you’re thinking. You think you’d never do it. But that’s just it - I’ll help you do it! It’s the least I could do for a friend like you!” Applejack recoiled as Pinkie got dangerously close - but she was simply taking the gag out. Applejack let her, confused until she held up a pen she had shaken out of her mane. She watched as she also produced a small slip of paper. “All you have to do is write the note!”
“N-Note,” she said in a wavering voice.
“Duh! They always leave behind a note!”
Applejack felt that sickness rising again. She swallowed to try and settle her stomach from the carefree joy of the murderer before her. “A-Ah’m not gonna do it,” she said with her shaking voice. “You’re never gonna break me.”
Pinkie sighed, frowning. “I was hoping you weren’t going to say that.” Applejack struggled, but Pinkie slipped the rope back into her friend’s mouth. “That means I have to use this.” Pinkie put her attention the to cattle prod, flicking it to the lowest setting. It hummed to life, a yellow pulse lighting between the two metal bulbs. “Round one, then,” Pinkie said as Applejack’s only warning.
Applejack gasped as it touched her skin. It was white hot and cool all at the same time. She felt it spread through her body, like a shot into her fur. She shuddered - it had lasted only a second, but the after effect was still there. Unconsciously, her body pulled in the other direction of the cattle prod.
Pinkie frowned at her slow reaction. “Not nearly as painful as I was expecting.” With a smile, she turned it up. The humming got louder as the machine in her hooves sparked. “There! Let’s try this!”
Applejack gasped and bit down hard in the gag as it touched in the same place on her side. The hot pain didn’t last for a second this time - it was a burning, lingering feeling on her side that pulsed through her body. She was reminded of the times when cooking, as boiling water splashed in little droplets onto her hooves. It was as though those drops had all centered on her side. She tugged away, grimacing as the ropes tried to keep her in place.
Pinkie smiled. “Much better.”
She began her repeated assault on the mare, smiling the entire time. Again and again, she prodded the farmer, grinning as she writhed. She started on the sides, then the chest, then the hooves. Applejack struggled the entire time, trying to stay strong. As Pinkie moved to her hooves, however, Applejack began to weaken. The pulses were taking their toll. She began to shy away from the electric volts, wincing as the ropes pulled. Pinkie paused for a moment as, when she pushed the electrodes against her friend’s skin, she heard a soft whimper of pain. “Oh? Are you ready to give up yet,” she asked, smiling. “It’s getting late in the day, and somepony will surely be here soon.”
Applejack was strengthened by that thought. If she could just stay strong for a little while longer, maybe, just maybe somepony could stop this madness. Maybe she could be vital to stopping Pinkie P-
She couldn’t hold back a short scream of surprise and shock as the prod hit her again on a much higher setting that before. Pinkie grinned sadistically as she held it there for a few seconds, watching her friend thrash around in her binds in pain, crying out. “Oopsies,” she said, giggling as she pulled it back. “Guess my hoof slipped!”
Applejack went limp in the ropes, eyes welling up with tears. For an instant there, she could swear she felt her blood boiling. She tried to stop them, but tears began to fall from her face, one at a time, until there was a steady march of moisture down her face. She whimpered softly into her rope, bitterly angry at herself for showing weakness. She was angry at herself, and at this monster who was doing this to her. That monster was making her cry. She was making her weak.
Pinkie smiled a bit ruefully. “It’s okay to cry, Applejack. I did too, at first. I cried a lot! But you’ll be in a better place soon.” She held up the pen and paper again. “All y’gotta do is confess.”
Applejack looked at the paper. For a fleeting instant, she thought about it. She could just give up. She could give in and stop the torture and just forget about what Pinkie had done and what she would do. But there still had to be hope left, right? Somepony could stop her. She couldn’t just give up.
Swallowing around the gag, she shook her head no. She shut her eyes tightly as she heard Pinkie’s sigh, followed by an even louder hum. She bit down hard, but screamed again as she felt the blinding agony of the magic against her skin. Pinkie started jabbing her in split second intervals, three times in a short row. Applejack never felt a break between the prods.
She kept crying. She just couldn’t seem to stop. Surely, the machine was leaving marks? She knew it wouldn’t, though. She knew that the magic was too efficient - it dug beneath the skin, not into it. There was no hope that on her dead body, they would find the marks of her torture. She would be lifeless with no good explanation other than the fact that she had killed herself.
She tried to stop thinking about that route. Someone would find her.
But as she kept thinking it, she lost hope it would come true.
She hardly realized as Pinkie pulled the prod away from her. She opened tired eyes as Pinkie lifted her chin up. She was hanging loosely from her bonds, tears rolling down her face. Pinkie hugged her, and Applejack couldn’t help but find some perverse comfort in the embrace. She needed comfort; her body ached with sorrow and pain. “There there,” Pinkie whispered.
Applejack wanted to recoil. But this pony promised her there would be something better. Something better than remembering Fluttershy was dead. Something better than sitting here, helpless, in pain, as no one looked for her. She was just in the background, helpless, as she was ignored. No one knew she was here. No one would know…
Pinkie pushed up her chin again, smiling reassuringly. “You can trust me, Applejack,” she said softly, comfortingly. “You can go to sleep… safe and sound… I’ll take care of everything, Applejack. You don’t need to worry about anything anymore.”
Applejack sobbed softly, muttering something through her mess of tears and the gag. “What was that, Applejack?” Pinkie slipped the gag out of her friend’s mouth.
“Give… give me the pen… please…”
Pinkie smiled and put the pen in her friend’s mouth. She lifted up the paper. Crying and writing through blurry eyes, Applejack wrote. She wrote out everything. Everything she had to write out in order to be free of this. She didn’t try to tell the truth on the paper - she knew Pinkie would check it first. If she tried to tell everyone who the real killer was, Pinkie would just make her wallow in her hatred longer. Lying was the only way out, now.
She let the pen fall from her mouth as she finished writing. As expected, Pinkie read it all. “Oh Applejack,” she whispered as she finished. “I had no idea you felt this way…” She hugged her friend again, leaning towards her ear. “Do you want to die, Applejack?” There was a pause before her sobbing friend nodded. Pinkie smiled softly. “I’ll give you what you want, then.”
The bonds were removed. Applejack lie on the floor, simply crying. Pinkie took the ropes not covered in tears or saliva and fashioned them into a lasso. Applejack looked at it. How simple a noose it was. Simple was the way she wanted to go, after all. Short. Sweet. Simple.
Pinkie got a chair and hung it up high, leaving the lasso hanging down. It was about a head too tall for Applejack to reach without a stool of some kind. The perfect height.
Pinkie helped her listless friend stand. “You’re almost done, Applejack. See? Your halo is here already.”
Applejack looked at the noose through dead eyes. She knew she could fight back right now. She knew she could. But she knew it was hopeless, now. If she tried, Pinkie would overpower her. She was simply too weak. She would, and would always be, too weak to have helped. Too weak, too ignored, too useless to have helped anypony regain hope. She nodded softly, not saying a word.
She stepped onto the chair Pinkie placed under the noose. Shaking out her mane, she stuck her head through the lasso. Pinkie tightened it for her - how thoughtful a friend she was.
“Are you ready to go,” Applejack heard. Her only response was to kick out the chair from under her herself. She wasn’t about to let Pinkie kill her. Her last act of defiance. Her last act of hopeless hope.
Pinkie hung her head as she heard a snapping sound. She smiled softly. “Now she’s an angel,” she whispered, her mind overtaken with that same fogginess from earlier. She felt the element around her neck buzzing. She had already ended two.
With a happy heart and a joyful bounce to her step, she left the note by the chair. She trotted out of the barn, happy to see nopony outside. They would be there soon, however - the sun had risen fully by now, and Ponyville would be awake.
