Tragedy strikes the Pie family, leaving Pinkie scarred. Letting her outwitting Gypsy mind get the best of her, Pinkie is convinced the past can be changed, which one day, leaves little Apple Bloom dealing with more than she bargained for
Tragedy strikes the Pie Family, scarring Pinkie through her childhood and for life. As Pinkie comes to terms with her apparent former Gypsy roots, her out witting mind gets the best of her and she is convinced that something can be done. Even if it means using those around her. Especially her innocent little helper, Apple Bloom.
Pinkie continued to work on the rock farm along with her sisters, Marble Pie and Limestone Pie, months after her visit with Sunshine. She would talk about him all the time in such detail that they admitted as if they knew him as well as Pinkie did. They even wished to meet him too. While working Pinkie would think greatly about Sunshine and from time to time she would visit him every week or so and stay from hours on end. She would sit in his place through the quiet afternoons, humming a song she called “Smile” that she sings for him while looking into the sky; watching him fly happily through the air with his family, laughing down at her from the clouds, teasing her to fly, though she had no wings to join them.
One day while Pinkie was helping her sisters stack rocks into piles for shipment into the nearby city of Hoofston, a stallion came trotting up the road. Pinkie wondered what this was about. Normally they didn’t get many visitors around there so this got the attention of both Marble and Limestone too.
“Igneous!” the stallion called. He was a strong built stallion that looked a little above middle aged. He had a grey coat and a black mane with purple eyes. Pinkie had recognized him. She didn’t know his name but she had seen him many times helping her father with the rock shipments. “Igneous!” the stallion continued to call out approaching the farm along the road, while Pinkie called for her father, “Papa, Papa!”
Igneous turned his attention away from loading rocks into wheel barrows and noticed the stallion approaching them. “Corpal is that you?” asked Igneous. Corpal approached Igneous, “What’s the rush?”.
Corpal responded, “Igneous I’ve got some news from Hoofston.” Igneous listened, “There was a horrible forest fire from an unknown cause and it’s over taken areas on the outside of the city and it’s spreading wildly. There could be a chance that it might make its way inside the city!” Pinkie and her sisters were to their father’s side and were listening intently.
“What’s he talking ‘bout Daddy?” asked Limestone. “It’s nothing now, come on.” said Igneous, leading the girls away, “Girls go back to work now. We need those piles ready for delivery by Tuesday.”
Pinkie and her sisters obeyed and went back to work peering over their shoulders to the conversation. “Now.” said Igneous, “What’s this about some little fire happening?”
Corpal sighed, “Look Igneous. There is a fire that must’ve been caused by some care less pony or something on the out skirts of Hoofston and its getting out of control. With the drought going on and all along with the harsh winds we’ve been receiving, it’s galloping fast like an escaped nut head from the Crack House and it’s dangerous.”
“Well I’m sorry about that Corpal.” said Igneous, “I really hope they get everything resolved out there, you know I really do, but it’s no reason to come here and start scaring my girls. Why you telling me this anyway? It ain’t affecting us.”
“Oh but yes it is!” snapped Corpal back, “Your daughters should be concerned. You all should!”
“Corpal.”
“Igneous listen! The fire’s raging fast and going wide. You need to be like everypony else, pack up your family, and get outta dodge!” Corpal was huffing and puffing frantically.
“Corpal.” said Igneous sternly but calm, “Relax son. I’ve lived here for forty years. Knowing this area we are out of the path of whatever you claim to be coming. What could there be that would catch? Look around! It’s a rock farm for Celestia’s sake.”
Corpal looked around. There really were literally only rocks ,but there were also small patches of trees and grass and the forest line was nearby too.
“Igneous I’m telling ya you’ve…” “No Corpal I’m telling you.” Angrily, ”Nothing is going to happen son. Now I’m gonna have to ask you to leave.”
Corpal began to leave and then turned back, “Fine, but don’t be expecting me to come in on Tuesday.” And with that he turned and trotted back down the road.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next day came and the Pie family were very busy. Igneous was loading rocks into huge metal crates. Limestone walked up to her father with a little worry in her voice, “Daddy, is the fire Mr. Corpal was talking about really gonna hurt us?” Igneous looked down at his daughter with a comforting smile stroking her soft mane, “Of course not honey, now c,mon. Daddy’s got a big load tomorrow.”
As Pinkie Pie shoveled rocks into wheel barrels with Marble she looked up and began to notice far off into the horizon the slightest glow of orange light and the sky above appeared to be a bit dark.
Marble noticed this too and turned to Pinkie, “Pinkamena you don’t suppose what Mr. Corpal was saying could actually be true do you?”
“What?” exclaimed Pinkie, “Don’t be silly! Papa knows this place better than any of us and if he says nothing’s gonna happen then nothing’s gonna happen.”
Though this was said with full confidence, a little bit of doubt and uncertainty made its way into Pinkie’s mind. That night Pinkie lay in her bed, exhausted from the day’s work. She and her sisters had set all the rocks, freshly dug up from the ground, into crates and were ready to be shipped to Hoofston. For what the use of them exactly is, she was not sure of. She laid all snug up in her bed in the middle of two other beds of which on the right was occupied by Marble and on the left Limestone. Marble was fast asleep, Pinkie half, but Cloudy Quartz, the girl’s mother, was still tucking in Limestone.
“Mama,” said Limestone, “Are we gonna be alright? I saw some smoke tonight.”
“Oh Lime.” said Cloudy, “You know nothing’s gonna happen. You’re worrying too much. You know Mr. Corpal is quite the exaggerator Whatever is going on in Hoofston I’m sure will be fixed.
Ll.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Deep into the night the smell of smoke awakened Pinkie causing her to cough and gag. She twisted and turned all around. Finally she had awoken to someone screaming.
“Wh-What?” Pinkie opened her eyes and noticed that there was a glow from outside illuminating the room, “What the..” She walked to the window and what she saw horrified her. The working field was covered in…fire! The trees around had caught and patches of grass around were completely set ablaze.
Pinkie screamed, “Marble! Limestone! Wake up!” Pinkie went to Marble’s bed and shook her violently. “Marble wake up!” she screeched.
Marble coughed and shook her head, “Pinkamena what’s going on?” “Help me wake up Limestone. We need to go get Mama and Papa! There’s fire outside!”
“What?” Marble went to the window and saw what Pinkie was talking about. Fire surrounded the area. How had it gotten here and spread so quickly in such few hours? She turned to Limestone’s bed with Pinkie, “Limestone, Limestone!” They cried, get up!”
“What do you want.” Limestone said with annoyance in her voice.
“Get up!” Marble screeched. The three girls rushed down the stairs of their two story house and down the hall way to their parent’s bedroom.
“Mama! Papa!” the girls yelled
“Igneous wake up.” said Cloudy. “Huh?” he responded gruffly, “What is it girls?” he asked. Pinkie spoke up, “There’s fire outside! We need to leave!”
“What you talking about?” responded Igneous. Cloudy began coughing and held her hoof over her mouth, “Oh my, Igneous do you smell that? It’s smoke. Get up!”
“It’s probably the neighbors having a late barbeque.” Igneous joked.
“Igneous we don’t have neighbors.” replied Cloudy frantically, “This is serious!”
The family rushed back down the hall to the front door but what they were greeted with was horror. Fire had made its way into the house inside.
“Corpal was right!” yelled Cloudy to Igneous.
“Holy Hay it’s in the house, everyone to the back!” Igneous led the family to the back door only to find more flames had spread throughout the house, all over the floor, around the walls, and even catching on the furniture, but the way to the back door of the house was clear. As they turned to escape suddenly Limestone screamed, there was a crashing sound, and when they turned back she was trapped under a wooden beam that had fallen.
“Daddy help!” she screamed. Igneous rushed to her side and tried to lift the beam off of her, “Girls get outside now!”
Pinkie and Marble rushed through the back door and out of the house. “Cloudy help me!” he called to his wife and she too rushed to Limestone’s side and worked to get the beam off.
“Igneous hurry it’s spreading!” warned Cloudy. “I know!” barked Igneous, “The darn thing won’t budge!”
Outside by the road Marble and Pinkie waited nervously for their parents and Limestone to be running out to join them but no such thing happened.
They watched as more and more of the surrounding blaze climbed the house. The entire property was engulfed in flames. “How did this happen?” they thought. They looked to each other in terror. Then after a moment, more wood popped, crashes were heard from inside the house, and all of a sudden, from inside, the piercing screams of Igneous, Cloudy, and Limestone together. “Do you hear that!” cried Marble, “We have to help them!” Marble bolted back into the house and Pinkie tailed behind her.
“Marble no stop! Please!” protested Pinkie, but before Pinkie could keep up with Marble into the burning house it was too late. More and more planks of wood came crashing down and the house began to collapse. Sparks flew and bits of house fell all around. The whole place was getting ready to cave in.
Right as it did Pinkie heard the final screams of her family from inside and then the house fell as she ran back to the road. Now the base of the house with scraps and rubble were only standing still in flames. All of what use to be the house was just a pile of burning scrap. All fell silent except for the crackling of the fire all around and the heavy sobbing of Pinkie Pie. She lay down on the ground with her head in her arms and cried so much. She looked upon her home burning to dust as well as the rest of the land. She breathed and wheezed heavily, her heart pounding. Everything she had not a few hours ago, her family, and her home, lost forever…or so it’s thought.
Pinkie walked down the streets of Pony Ville back from Zechora’s hut carrying a bag of strange herbs and ingredients of some sort.. She passed by the old orphanage which was now rotting away from the harsh years ,but stopped to observe the old building. The place was in desperate need of somepony putting it out of its misery; the once brightly red brick covered in crusted mold, the once clean green cut grass growing overwhelmingly knee high, and the boarded up windows with shards of broken glass sticking out from the frames.
Pinkie reminisced in the memories of attending the run down complex.
Pinkie was forced to be shipped off to an orphanage shortly after the fire for she had no other relatives to turn to. Even Pinkie's oldest sister, Maud, who wasn't present the night of the fire, was reluctant to take her in after the great loss of their family, for she had other certain complications.
She remembered playing and dancing with young orphans like her-self. They’d play tag and hide and seek for hours each day. Those were Pinkie’s favorite games. She’d always be the fun filly around that developed a reputation for being able to make other children laugh, no-matter what the case was. She had long lost all connections with her friends. When the time came for the max age limit at the orphanage everyone moved out to lead lives of their own, including Pinkie. Yes, she did have good times here as a younger child ,but she still felt disturbed for the reason she was there in the first place.
As Pinkie peered up on the third floor into the window of the room where she used to sleep. Tears fell from her eyes and rolled down her cheek. “I miss you.” she whispered to no one in particular, “But I’ll see you all soon.” And with that she left and practically skipped all the way back to Sugar Cube Corner.
She opened the door and went straight back behind the counter and to the kitchen. There was no business today for it was a Sunday where the majority of the shops around Pony Ville were closed and everypony was busy enjoying their personal time locked away in their homes. Pinkie Pie lay out all of her ingredients she got from Zechora in a neat fashion and waited... She looked up at the clock as it ticked away by the minute, “Alright.” She said to herself, “Apple Bloom should be coming right about…now.”
She turned to the door and as you would know it Apple Bloom came bolting through the door as excited as could be, “I’m here Pinkie Pie!” Apple Bloom exclaimed in her little country accent.
“Hey!” greeted Pinkie Pie happily, “Thank goodness you’re not late. Five minutes early in fact than I was expecting you.”
“Late?” Apple Bloom questioned, “Apple Jack always taught me that if ya right on time; you’re late and if you're early, you're on time. Especially for something as fun as baking with you!” Apple Bloom rushed over and gave Pinkie a big hug, “Thank ya so much for having me over by the way. I can’t wait to get started!”
“No problemo.” responded Pinkie with a big grin on her face, “It’s been a big day actually for baking. Rainbow Dash was here earlier helping me make some cupcakes.”
“Oh man. You’re not too tired already are ya?” asked Apple Bloom disheartened.
“Are you kidding me?” Pinkie Pie snapped back, “Knowing me, like you should, when am I ever too tired for anything? It’s always fun! Or else I wouldn’t have invited you in the first place.”
“Oh right!” agreed Apple Bloom, “I’ve been waiting all day for this then. What are we gonna bake? Cupcakes? Muffins? A Birthday Cake? What!” Apple Bloom rushed over to one side of the kitchen and grabbed a chef’s hat, “I’m ready!”
Pinkie giggled and said, “Well Apple Bloom, I didn’t technically mean that we’d be baking actual pastries and such.”
“Oh.” said Apple Bloom a little upset but confused, “What do you mean though? Ain’t that why I’m here?”
Pinkie giggled again, “Yes ,but it isn’t that sort of baking that I need your help with. Although we will be using some of the same things, It's something really special.”
“Well I gotta say I’m a little confused Pinkie.” said Apple Bloom, “What sort of other baking is there?”
“Well,” said Pinkie, “Let me show ya.” Pinkie disappeared into a closet at the far end of the room and came out pulling a big black metal cauldron large enough for a Pony to fit inside.
“Woah.” said Apple Bloom, “That pot’s huge! What kind of cooking can you do with that?”
“You’d be surprised.” said Pinkie leaning against it, “Had it for a while just waiting to be used.”
“What are we gonna make?” asked Apple Bloom anxiously. Pinkie giggled to herself, “Oh you’ll see. It’s a surprise. But now let’s get started!” Pinkie Pie winked, “This is gonna be our mixing bowl.” “Awesome!” jeered Apple Bloom
The two went over to the counter where all the ingredients were neatly set out. “So what am I gonna do?” asked Apple Bloom.
“Okay well help me dump all this flour into the cauldron.” Pinkie Pie and Apple Bloomed laughed and giggled as they hauled a huge bag of flour over the cauldron and let it all pour out Lots of it spilling and powdering them both.
“Whoo boy, that’s a lot of white!” said Apple Bloom excitedly.
“Haha yeah I know, and now for the eggs!” said Pinkie.
“Yay!” cheered Apple Bloom.
“Yup! Now I want you to crack all twelve dozen of these eggs into there while I cut up some of these herbs that I got from my friend Zechora.”
“Oh I’ve heard about her.” said Apple Bloom. Pinkie put on an old kitchen apron and took out a large knife and began to chop. While Pinkie minced up all the herbs Apple Bloom was busy at work of carefully cracking away at the eggs. Cautiously making sure no egg shells fell in.
When Apple Bloom was done she walked over behind Pinkie, “That’s a lot of eggs and flour for that big cauldron.” She said, “What is it that we’re making that looks big enough to feed all of Pony Ville?”
“Again I told ya it’s a surprise.” Pinkie said.
“Ugh okay.” gave in Apple Bloom.
Apple Bloom looked at all the herbs and other plants Pinkie was cutting away at. “Pinkie.” said Apple Bloom snooping around, “Where did you exactly get all of these things? I’ve never seen these types of crops around the farm.”
There were groups of colored flowers and plants that took different shapes and forms, some with thorns and strange looking buds. In some small enclosed bags there seemed to be some other strange unidentifiable objects. There were also many liquids set out in different sized bottles.
Pinkie nodded, “Well it’s because these types of things aren’t found around these parts.”
“Oh.” said Apple Bloom, “Then how did ya get them? Like these plants here.”
“Zechora got them for me.” said Pinkie.
“Well I guess that’s nice of her, but are all these things really needed for this?”
“Oh yes!” snapped Pinkie, “One thing a good baker must always know,” raising up her hoof into a pledge, “is that when baking, cooking, or anything in the kitchen, whatever the recipe calls for, each ingredient is important for the final master piece."
“Oh okay, well um… Is there anything else you need me to do?”
“Mhm.” said Pinkie, “I need you to start pouring all the milk into the mix then start stirring until it gets really doughy.”
“All the milk?” asked Apple Bloom.
“Yup every drop.” assured Pinkie. Apple Bloom went into the fridge and pulled out three cartons of milk and poured each one into the cauldron and began mixing with a large wooden spoon Pinkie gave her. After a while Apple Bloom finally let out a big huff of breath. She was exhausted.
“Well I’m done Pinkie.” said Apple Bloom gloomily.
“Awesome!” said Pinkie, “And so am I!” Pinkie gathered all her freshly chopped herbs and plants and dumped it into the cauldron.
Apple Bloom gave an uneasy look into the big pot and then spoke up, “Pinkie are you sure we need that stuff?”
“Absolutely!” snapped Pinkie, “Always use what the recipe calls for. Remember that!.”
“Oh okay.” said Apple Bloom a bit uneasy. Pinkie began pouring a bunch of strange liquids into the cauldron and put a lot of other strange objects into the cauldron that did not look familiar.
“There we go!” exclaimed Pinkie ,proudly.
“Are we done? Is that it?” asked Apple Bloom.
“Of course not.” said Pinkie Pie, “We still need to cook this up.” Pinkie directed Apple Bloom towards a closet across the kitchen, “Go start bringing some fire wood.” Apple Bloom stopped, “What fire wood? You have fire wood in here?”
“Yes.” rushed Pinkie, “Now make haste! Go get some out of that closet and put as many pieces as you can around the cauldron.”
Apple Bloom went to an old looking closet and just as Pinky said, there was a big pile of wood stacked inside. As neatly as she could she grabbed it bit by bit and placed them around the cauldron.
Apple Bloom began to question all of this and developed an uneasy feeling inside her. “Well I’m done.” stated Apple Bloom tiredly.
“Awesome!” Pinkie cheered, but then Pinkie noticed Apple Bloom’s sour looking attitude.
“Apple Bloom?" asked Pinkie, “What’s wrong?”
“Oh, nothing why?” answered Apple Bloom.
Pinkie shook her head, “C’mon Bloomy you’re looking gloomy.” Pinkie giggled to herself, “What’s wrong?” Pinkie nudged her.
Apple Bloom sighed, “Well Pinkie, It’s just that I’m tired and this all just seems a little weird. Not really what I was expecting.” Pinkie listened. “I mean I thought we’d be having some messy fun making cupcakes or brownies or something. But this doesn’t feel right Pinkie. It just feels odd…It’s just not really your type…”
Pinkie nodded, “I see Bloom.” Pinkie winked, “I know it’s been a little slower than usual but you gotta get down to business when making a time spell.”
“Well I really think I should…wait.” Apple Bloom paused, “What did you say?”
Pinkie giggled “A time spell!” Pinkie explained, “Zechora taught me how to make one!”
Apple Bloom became nervous, “Pinkie I don’t understand. Why In Equestria would you need a time spell?”
“Well. It’s kind of a long story. Look at it this way...” Pinkie began jumping around the store singing loudly, "Ohhh, When you're rife with devastation there's a simple explanation. You're a toy maker's creation trapped inside a crystal ball." Apple Bloom began to feel a little unnerved, "And which ever way he tilts it, know that we must stay resilient. We won't let them break our spirits as I sing this silly song." Apple Bloom was dumbfounded, "When I was a little filly a galloping blaze over took my city. They shipped me off to the Orphanage!” “Oh Pinkie…” said Apple Bloom, “They said “Ditch those roots if you wanna fit in.” So I dug one thousand holes and cut a rug with orphan foals, now memories are slurred and faces obscured but I still know the words to this song!” Pinkie began out of nowhere tying a gypsy bandana around her head and put on large gold earrings. “Pinkie what are you doing?” asked Apple Bloom with a little strain in her voice. But Pinkie continued in the lively song, “Oh when you’ve bungled all your bangles and your loved ones have been mangled ,listen to the jingle jangle of my gypsy tambourine!” Suddenly Pinkie made an old gypsy tambourine ,that looked several years old ,appear out of nowhere and she started shaking it violently. Pinkie continued on, "As these sounds are hypnotizing now all the dead are harmonizing, so Bloom please stop your crying and just go along with me!" Then she thrust the tambourine towards the wood under the cauldron and struck the wood. Several sparks fire shot up and the wood began burning.
“How-how did you do that Pinkie!” Apple Bloom squealed trembling, “I don’t think the Cakes would want that to be there.”
“Oh psh, don’t worry about them. They’re off with the kids on vacation for the week. They even took Gummy for the kids to play with. I’ve got the whole place to myself!”
“But-but…” stammered Apple Bloom.
Pinkie looked at Apple Bloom with dead on serious eyes. “Apple Bloom I’m so happy that you’re here today.” She began approaching her. Her voice getting deeper, “I’m gonna share some things with you that…” Pinkie broke into a whisper, “That I haven’t even shared with my best friends.”
Apple Bloom began to cower, “Li-like what?” Pinkie just giggled and replied, “Well as you heard in my awesome song, my city burned in a raging fire when I was a young filly like you and…So did my family along with it. But after years of loneliness in that stupid orphanage ,I decided to do something extraordinary! I did some family research and apparently dating way back to the early days of Equestria I come from gypsies! Would you imagine that? And you know all about gypsies don’t you?”
Apple Bloom nodded. “Good. Well I figured out that with my gypsy blood I have magic that can be done without needing a Unicorn. With this new bit of information I talked to Zechora and she agreed to help me come up with a time spell to go back so I can change what happened. Amazing isn’t it! See? She even gave me a little book on how to do it.” Pinkie flashed a little black book proudly.
“So they were right." spoke Apple Bloom, "My sister always talks about how she and all her friends make fun of you claiming to have gypsy magic, but Pinkie, I never thought it was true.” Apple Bloom said and then began to protest, “That sort of magic is forbidden! It’s evil!”
“Well not the way I see it.” stated Pinkie, “This book’s got a lot of interesting things in it. But you ever think Twilight or Rarity would ever help me with something like this? No! I’ve learned that if you want something done you have to do it yourself! I got myself out of that orphanage and on my feet just like I’m going get myself to save my family!”
This whole situation got very dark. This was a side of Pinkie Apple Bloom had never thought to see in her life and she was scared...
“Pinkie I- I think I better go home. Apple Jack may need some help at the farm. Maybe we could do this some other time.” Apple Bloom headed for the door but before she could leave it suddenly locked itself. “W-Wha?” Apple Bloom yanked and pulled and pushed but it didn’t budge.
“Leaving so soon Apple Bloom?” Pinkie asked in a cheery but cryptic way, “The fun’s only just beginning.”
“Pinkie please I don’t want any part of this!” pleaded Apple Bloom backing up against the jammed door.
“Oh, but you know too much.” said Pinkie “Pinkie please I swear I won’t tell anypony! Just let me leave.”
Pinkie returned back to a happy sound, “But Apple Bloom how silly of me would it be for me to do that if I need you the most? You’re actually a big helper for this part.” “Pinkie please!” suddenly Pinkie clapped her hooves and everything went black. Absolutely black....
When Apple Bloom awoke she found herself tied up with harms at her side and was suspended from the ceiling directly over the cauldron by a rope. She trembled and whimpered looking around frantically. The entire store was dark. The windows were covered over with drapes blocking any light to get in, the only light was candles placed all around the floor. All around the walls strange words and symbols were inscribed. Pinkie’s cauldron sat in its place from before under her, except now the fire wood under it was burning wildly. Miraculously it was not spreading around; must’ve been more of Pinkies magic. Inside the cauldron some sort of substance was boiling. It was a different color that Apple Bloom had never seen before.
Something caught Apple Blooms eye and she noticed that leaning against the far wall was half turned over…Sweetie Bell! But she seemed unconscious. “Sweetie Bell!” Apple Bloom shouted, “Sweetie Bell!”
“She can’t hear you.” said Pinkie sternly, suddenly appearing out of nowhere. Apple Bloom, startled, turned to Pinkie. She was standing over a basement door and a sealed up bag lay next to her. The bag was a large cloth bag with stains of blood around it. Pinkie stood there dressed in gypsy garments. She had a red bandana wrapped around her head and large bull-earrings still hung from her ears. She also now wore an emerald necklace with a gold horse shoe medallion.
“What do you mean she can’t hear me?” asked Apple Bloom frightened, “She’s my friend.”
“Oh I know.” replied Pinkie Pie, “But funny thing you see as I was setting up my little…well…setup here, she came knocking on the door looking for you. I told her you were helping me make something. She got jealous and begged to help too. So I let her in, but when she noticed you knocked out behind the counter she began to run. In my quicky fast ways, I wouldn’t let that happen..”
Pinkie walked over to the unconscious Sweetie Bell and turned her over. What was revealed made Apple Bloom almost throw up. Sweetie Bell’s horn was cut off from the base and now there was a bloody patch in the middle of her head.
“See? I needed a Unicorn’s horn and Sweetie Bell was just so cooperative to give it to me. I mean it did take a little “explaining” but It all worked out.” Pinkie said proudly.
“Sweetie Bell no!” Apple Bloom began crying. Pinkie Pie opened the cloth bag and pulled out Sweetie Bell’s horn and set in on the counter.
“Now,” said Pinkie, “It’s true that Sweetie Bell has helped me, but Rainbow Dash also gave a nice contribution.” She pulled opened the set of Rainbow Dashes severed wings. “See here? A small set of Pegasus wings are also needed as well as a unicorn horn.” And she tossed both the wings and horn into the cauldron. They sizzled, mixed, and then disappeared into the stew.
“Pinkie, please whatever any of us did to you we’re sorry. I’m sorry!” Apple Bloom pleaded.
“Ha! That's what Rainbow Dash said too, but honestly what are you apologizing for?” asked Pinkie in a cheerful voice, “You never did anything.”
“Well then why are you doing this?” asked Apple Bloom.
Pinkie answered back, “It’s simple. I just want to get my family back.”
Apple Bloom began weeping again, “Awe, don’t worry Apple Bloom no need to be sad. Here, have a taste of what we've got so far. ” Pinkie said as she approached the cauldron. She brought out out a large silver spoon and scooped some of the mixture up. She held it up to Apple Blooms mouth. Apple Bloom closed her mouth tight and shook it away. Pinkie giggled to herself putting it into her own mouth, sloshing it around. "Pretty tasty! Now we’re almost done and this is gonna be my favorite part!” Apple Bloom looked down at Pinkie. Pinkie held her tambourine up in the air and slowly began to shake it in a slow but speeding beat.
“Pinkie.” whimpered Apple Bloom, “W-what’s going on? What are you doing now?”
“Well let me tell ya.” said Pinkie brightly, “See the only way for this to work is by using three special ingredients for instance, the horn of a Unicorn, the wings of a Pegasus, and the flesh of an Earth Pony, as well as many other mythical things which you saw earlier.” Pinkie giggled again, “And what will happen is that once the spell is sung, a time portal, will open up. When it does, I’ll go back and save my family before the nasty fire comes and we all live happily ever after!. You know I've actually used time travel before. But the farther back, the more is required.”
“Pinkie Pie.” said Apple Bloom, “What do you mean by the flesh of an Earth Pony?”
“Well Apple Bloom, that’s where you’re going to be the biggest help to me.”
Apple Bloom froze in shock for she understood.., “What? That’s what you wanted me here for after all!”
“Yup.” Nodded Pinkie Pie, “What we need for fun is a little bit of you! And that’s why you are now voted by me, Pinkamena Diane Pie, my new bestest friend!” Pinkie began clapping. Apple Bloom searched through her mind to find some way to stall. Call for help? Try to reason with Pinkie? It was worth a shot though, no doubt Rainbow Dash had probably tried. “Pinkie, me and AJ grew up without our parents either, but this kind of thing happens in life. You just have to accept it and move on! It’s no one’s fault and there’s no way to fix it!” Pinkie shook her head, “That’s where I have to disagree with you Apple Bloom. You don’t know how it is, to be alone day in and day out. Crying yourself to sleep every night remembering how something you loved and care for about so much was just suddenly taken away from you, and every day of your life with no real love or support, having to hide the pain away behind a stupid smile, pretending that nothing has ever gone wrong. Luckily for you you’ll never have to go through that now will you?”
“But Pinkie!” Apple Bloom pleaded.
“No! And even IF this sort of thing does happen, you can’t just accept it and move on; there ARE ways to fix it and that’s just what I’m doing! I’ve already lost one friend before and that’s something that I can’t change, but with my family…Something...something can be done.” Pinkie stood over the cauldron and shook her tambourine into a lively tune, “And now,” said Pinkie, “to sing!”
Pinkie began to harmonize and sing while Apple Bloom watched, trying to struggle out, “Oh I’ll cook up a solution with the knowledge I’ve accrued. They say a kitch-en time saves nine but I’m just saving few. I’ve gathered some ingredients to make some time sorbet. There’s hardly room for seconds when the seconds melt away!” Pinkie began cheering and shouting and dancing all around. The mixture inside the cauldron seemed to begin moving. Pinkie continued dancing crazily around the room, “Watch as I work my Gypsy magic! Eye of a newt and cinnamon. Watch as this matter turns to batter open the portal jump in!” Pinkie came over to the cauldron, still harmonizing and shaking the tambourine. Apple Bloom noticed that several objects from the tables around began floating in the air. Like chairs and salt shakers. Pinkie let go of her tambourine and with it still playing on its own, it too began floating around. “It’s working!” Pinkie cried. She dipped her hands into the cauldron and pulled out a somewhat solid substance that seemed all goo like but also resembled batter. “Watch as this matter turns to batter, open the portal jump in!” repeated Pinkie. Apple Bloom thrashed and struggled to escape from her bonds with no prevail. Pinkie looked up at Apple Bloom and continued to sing, “Crude, stew, do you fear it Apple Bloom? Sometimes life is not a cake walk served up on a silver spoon!” Pinkie began spinning this substance around on her hoof like pizza dough. “Toss a fig and save the date and…” Pinkie Pie began chanting with melody to it, “Bread and butter, chant and mutter, marination, incantation, chocolate icing, timeline splicing! Yeast is rising, rectifying!” Apple Bloom tried quickly to reason with Pinkie in a way that would catch.
“Pinkie please just listen to me, they’re all dead and gone. Please don’t bake this portal just leave it and move on!” No success.
Pinkie continued shaking her head looking into Apple Bloom’s eyes, “My cauldron is pre-heated and I’ve got you in my thrall. Let’s mix these yolks and save my folks by baking the fourth wall!” Pinkie spun the substance around on her hoof faster and faster chanting, “Watch as I work my Gypsy magic, sea pony tears and provolone. God help this out cast with her witch craft, today I’m gonna go home!” Pinkie threw the mysterious substance into the air and it turned into a white mist that lingered in front of Apple Bloom. “And now, for the final ingredient. You!” Pinkie said as she grabbed a knife from the counter and approached Apple Bloom, “Again Apple Bloom. Thank you so much for all your help today. You will always be remembered as my best friend!” Pinkie reached the knife to the rope suspending Apple Bloom, but just as Pinkie was about to split it, the several slams pounded on the front door and then it broke down. There standing there in the door way was Apple Jack...
“What in tarnation is going on here!” raged Apple Jack, “Apple Bloom I told you that you could not come to Pinkie’s so when we get back to the farm young lady for disobeying me you are…” Apple Jack paused realizing her surroundings. She saw all the candles and the covered up windows and all the odd inscriptions on the walls. She saw poor battered Sweetie Bell slumped over against the wall.
“Wha-what the blazes is going on?” Apple Jack looked around dizzy and confused, “Pinkie what in the hay is all this?”
“Hey Apple Jack!” greeted Pinkie, “You’re just in time!”
“In time for what?” asked Apple Jack, “Pinkie where’s my sist...?”
“Apple Jack! Apple Jack!” cried Apple Bloom. Through the dark Apple Jack saw her little sister suspended up over the boiling cauldron and the portal still lingering in front of her. “Apple Jack, help me please!”
“Apple Bloom!” cried as Apple Jack stood there in shock. “Please get me down from here!” pleaded Apple Bloom.
“Pinkie what are you doing to ma sister!” demanded Apple Jack.
Pinkie laughed, “That’s what you’re just in time for silly!” Pinkie raised the knife back up to the rope.
“No!” shouted Apple Jack and with that she ran as fast as she could across the room and just as Pinkie cut the rope Apple Bloom screamed but just as she almost fell Apple Jack jumped over the cauldron and swooped Apple Bloom from the air and they both landed hard on the other side.
“Apple Bloom ya okay?” asked Apple Jack. Apple Bloom nodded frantically shaking with tears streaming from her eyes.
Pinkie gasped, “Apple Jack, look what you did! I needed her!”
Apple Jack bolted up “Yeah? Well I need you too so I can kill you myself!”
“Haha first you’ll have to catch me!” and as Apple Jack lunged at Pinkie she dodged out of the way and it became a goose chase throughout the room. Apple Bloom huddled helplessly in a corner struggling to free herself from her bonds.
Pinkie ran around the room laughing hysterically. Pinkie threw chairs and other objects into Apple Jack’s way and Apple Jack did her best to dodge them. It seemed that this would go on forever until finally Apple Jack came to a halt. While Pinkie still burst out with endless energy, Apple Jack breathed heavily and panted. She was worn out.
“Hey you stopped.” said Pinkie, “My turn!” and with a big grin on her face Pinkie lunged at Apple Jack still wielding the knife. Apple Jack dodged and missed as Pinkie thrust the knife at Apple Jack missing each time.
“Ugh.” said Pinkie frustrated, “Hold still!” Then Pinkie Pie took one last final swing and stuck Apple Jack in the arm.
“Ahh!” yelled Apple Jack in pain as blood streamed down. Pinkie Pie took another swing, but Apple Jack quickly spun around and knocked Pinkie behind her head and with a sharp yell and she stumbled to the floor dropping the knife. Apple Jack kicked it away and stood over Pinkie Pie. She turned her around and began beating her. Swing after swing and hit after hit. Pinkie received several injuries to the face.
Pinkie blocked Apple Jack's blow and noticed the portal. The portal seemed to slowly be getting smaller.
“It's closing!” Pinkie cried. Then she turned back to Apple Jack and without warning struck Apple Jack knocking her to the ground. She got up and ran to the cauldron. The portal shrunk faster.
“Pinkie!” called Apple Jack after her, “Gotta run!” and Pinkie waved back and just as the portal was closing, “Pinkie! No!" But it was too late. Pinkie leaped into the air and squeezed through the portal just as it closed and disappeared.
Pinkie flew back out the other end and landed hard onto rocky ground. “Ah!” exclaimed Pinkie in pain. She got up and the watched as the portal disappeared into thin air. Pinkie shook her head and looked around. She didn’t know where she was. It was nighttime and there were a few trees around but not many. Rocks and tough dirt littered the ground. There was a large worn down house with a barn next to it a few good yards away. Of coarse! She was on her family’s rock farm! Out in the field!
“Haha I did it!” cheered Pinkie, “I really did it! No need for silly old Apple Bloom after all.” She danced around then stopped confused, “But wait.” She thought, “where’s the fire?” She looked in all directions for a glow of some sort but there was nothing. It just seemed like a regular night. “There’s nothing.” Pinkie said, “But no. I must be early. There’s still a chance for them, but no time to waste!”
Pinkie galloped to the house but as she reached yards from it she looked around just in case. Again, she saw no sign of danger anywhere. Although she was certain that this was the right place and the right time, questions filled her mind. As she began to approach she took one step but as her hoof landed the ground sparks flew and a small little flame appeared and disappeared , “Ow!” squealed Pinkie, “What was that?” She took more steps ,but more and more sparks and little flames appeared. “Ah!” Pinkie began a little trod to the house but more and more of them came; each a little bigger than the last. Finally Pinkies hoofs began to hurt with little burns all over them so she ran back.
“What’s going on?” she asked herself, “What was that?” she began to gallop around the house and tried to move closer in but each time she did so more little flames popped up. “Hey!” she said angrily. She began to walk around the house except this time as she took each step, sparks or random flames would appear from mid-air. Pinkie looked around, too scared to move. She waited a bit then continued on but the same thing happened except now bigger flames appeared in the air and on the ground. The ones on the ground caught onto the dry grass and soon began spreading and growing larger. “No!” cried Pinkie. She tried to stomp it all out with her hoof but every time she did this it never helped. In fact more flames arose around her. Each movement she took caused more to appear out of nowhere. Panicked, she ran all around trying to avoid the barrage of flames, but more and more showed up. She finally stopped and she looked around at what seemed like Hell. Everything was on fire! She heard the crackling of the trees and the ground and everything! A strong orange glow illuminated the dark around her. It was so bright but heavy smoke began seeping through the air.
“What is this!” cried Pinkie with tears streaming down her face rapidly, “What’s happening!” Pinkie looked on to the house.
“This is it.” She thought. “This is the fire! But this is wrong!” How was this happening? Then it came to Pinkie. She had a sudden flash back to words she had spoken to Apple Bloom.
“Remember Apple Bloom. What a good chef should always know is that whether its baking, cooking, whatever the recipe calls for it is very important to add every ingredient for the final master piece.”
Pinkie came back. Those words echoed all around her mind. Apple Bloom never got into the cauldron therefore the spell was incomplete... Pinkie knew what this meant.
“No.” she said softly to herself, “No! No! Noo!” she began frustratingly crying with anger. She began running towards the house.
“Mama! Papa!” she screamed. She ran , but more flames came up around her. They singed her hair but she ignored the pain and persisted on, “Limestone! Marble! Wake up!” Pinkie came closer to the house but as she did monstrous flames swirled and surrounded her. “Please wake up!” she cried and cried still running to the house, “Please!” But before she could push any further, flames engulfed every inch of her. She screamed in terror! “No! Pleeeaase!” she gave one last whimper with tears quickly evaporating from her eyes.
"I'm sorry..."and then more and more of the flames took over her.
The fires all around feed off the house and everything around it while the family inside desperately tries. to escape.
None, but one pony walked away that night. One scared, desperate, lonely, vengeful Pink pony...