Who knew that a vampony can so easily fit in to the pony society?
Pinkamena Diane Pie; Pinkie Pie remembered the name. Haunting her past and family name, she's always wanted a normal life as a filly. Now in Ponyville, she's got it all. And she does not want anything to ruin it.
But when Nightmare Moon comes back, she's forced to confess and face the truth. And who would have known that she wasn't alone...
If you have a better picture for this story (or you made one) I'd be happy to see it! If it really applies to the story's plot then I'll put it as the picture! :) Thanks!
The darkness of the night reached Ponyville. A clump of fog ran through the warm, misty air and fled into the starry night sky. Both fillies and foals were getting ready for bed, and most of the mothers were picking a bedtime story to read aloud to their young. Some ponies, however, were purposely wandering in the darkness, in the free all-you-can-eat-buffet known as the wilderness. And then there were the hunters.
Pinkie Pie sighed; she was exhausted after the passing hours of babysitting for the Cakes. Her hooves were busy wiping up the twins' messes, her eyes focusing on the moon through the nearby window. Somehow, it was hypnotizing. Sure, Pinkie could take her eyes of it by force, but it seemed to have a beauty of its own; uniqueness that spread through Equestria. Just looking at it was a wonderful experience.
"Pinkie, what you are doing?"
A sudden voice made Pinkie take her eyes of the moon and its glow, turning to see who the owner of the voice was. Even if she already knew who it was.
"Just wiping away your messes, Pumpkin!" Pinkie laughed warmly, blushing. Pumpkin Cake and Pound Cake, the Cakes' twins, were finally old enough to talk, but only barely. Pinkie knew it was better to talk to them then to hear the basic foal talk, which, of course, she couldn't understand. Pumpkin, crawling in her adorable diapers, blinked her large, black eyes in response, giggling.
"Oh!" Pumpkin responded.
Pinkie Pie looked at her half-suspiciously, half-jokingly. "Aren't you supposed to be in bed, silly?"
Pinkie could only hear giggles before the unicorn transported herself back to bed, before she could get caught by the pink foal sitter. Her hoof reached the towels again, and before she knew it, she had finished her work.
"Ah," the earth pony looked up at the moon once again, smiling. There would be a time, she knew, when she had to leave the two ponies she loved so much individually. Of course, she had other friends, but these twins had something special about them. Something she couldn't put her hoof on.
"'Bout time I got to bed," Pinkie muttered to herself, glancing at a nearby clock. With exactly five ponies living in the corner bakery, she knew it was best to read a short story to them and go to sleep; Work was ahead of her, she knew, and Mr. and Mrs. Cake liked it when she was decent and just went to bed at a normal time. After all, she shouldn't take advantage of the nicest employees in the world.
Pinkie put away the cloths to the dishwasher for tomorrow's cleanup, and flung her frilly pink apron on a coat rack by the door. Her hoof fell onto the first step of the stairs, the way to her upstairs bedroom, eyeing everything to make sure it was cleaned properly. She liked to surprise the Cakes with the nicest house possible, even if she didn't get any pay for foal sitting the twins that she loved oh so much.
Hoof steps echoed through the upstairs hallway as Pinkie made it to the last step. In the darkness, it seemed dark and eerie, especially if unknown shadows danced across the walls like it did when Pinkie started foal sitting, but in the light it was the happiest place in the world, with the sun's reflection gleaming through the windowpane on the far end of the hallway.
The twins' room was always easy to find, even with the many doors in the hall. Once somepony came up the stairs, they would come face-to-face with the twins' room. Pinkie nudged the door open, as it was always unlocked; the twins were lying quietly in their cribs, though Pinkie doubted they were really asleep. Her hoof entered the room, the noise echoing through the delicate walls. This was no expensive, luxury house; it was a bakery, and costs for such a house were still tough to pay. She, Pinkie, had a low income, but enough to pay for what she needed. The Cakes fed her, offered her shelter, warmth, and protection; they did anything real, loving parents would do to their children, ever since she was a filly. Her past? She didn't like to talk about that.
"Which little foals would like me to read a bedtime story to them?" Her high-pitched voice sprung loud and clear, as it always did, on the edge of laughter.
The twins, automatically, opened their eyes and hopped up from their blankets, nodding their head like playful puppies. The party pony giggled, and sat in a chair by their cribs, glancing at Pumpkin and Pound.
"Me!" Pumpkin shouted.
"Me!" Pound Cake replied.
"Alright! Why don't you choose a story this time?"
"YAY!" Pound and Pumpkin Cake yelled, happily.
Pumpkin and Pound Cake shared a few glances. Then Pumpkin nodded, as if they were communicating to each other by thought. Pound Cake spread his vanilla-colored wings and flew to the bookshelf, using the entire young foal's strength to pull out a brownish book from the bookshelf on the east wall. He was back in his crib soon enough, though, holding up the book he had fetched. Pinkie just laughed warmly, and held the book in her hoof, reading the title aloud.
"Snow White and the Seven Dragons, huh?" the earth pony smiled. It seemed to be their favorite book of all the books in the bookshelf; they didn't mind hearing it read over and over again to them. It was her favorite book, too, when she was a filly. Of course, it was delightfully funny and breathtakingly dramatic, but that's not exactly why she liked it. She liked it because it reminded her of her own past.
The twins nodded without hesitation in response. Their big, round eyes, were wide open. The party planner smiled again.
"Once upon a time there was a princess, with a coat as white as snow and eyes as red as wine," Pinkie read smoothly, following the story's exact words, glancing every so often at the twins, who were usually blinking at her, emotionless, waiting and listening patiently. They always reminded her of her as a filly.
Soon she was halfway through the story, which was purposely short. The writing always made a vivid moving picture go on in her head. "The evil unicorn disguised herself as an old pony, and went to Snow White's cottage with an apple, half-dipped with poison!"
Pinkie Pie made a sarcastically scary face, which made the twins laugh.
"Witch! Witch!" Pound exclaimed. It seemed to Pinkie that the Witch was Pound's favorite character in the story. Pumpkin's favorite character was, of course, the princess.
Suddenly, Pinkie was done with the story, the time passing so quickly to her. Eyeing the twins, they were softly snoring; she simply kissed the twins goodnight, and exited the room.
Slam!
'Oh! The Cakes are here!' Pinkie thought, 'I better go meet them before I go to bed!'
Pinkie walked down the staircase carefully and steadily. She could see the Cakes putting their coats on the coat rack from the top of the stairs. They didn't notice her yet, but they would after they finished their process.
"Hello Mr. and Mrs. Cake!" Pinkie Pie giggled, not to softly though not to loudly. The Cakes turned to see their fellow baker, smiling.
"Hello! Are the twins sleeping?" Mrs. Cake asked, whispering carefully.
Pinkie Pie nodded.
"Oh! You should go to bed, though." Mr. Cake said hesitantly, "You need sleep! Tomorrow's a big day ahead of us, and we need to be prepared for the deserts!"
"Alright!" Pinkie Pie bounced upstairs into the familiar hallway.
The party pony's room was next to the window, on the right side. She took no rush in arriving there, of course, but she was tired. The moonlight gleamed through the hallway, and Pinkie had to force her eyes to the door, pushing it open with her nose. It was like always; a bed, basic yellow boards on the floor. Her eyes were focused on the bed, and she easily bounced onto it. Gummy was sleeping in his own bed, so all was in order.
But Pinkie Pie felt something odd. The blankets were soft, but there was something on top of it, Pinkie noticed. Bouncing off her bed, she saw a hoof written note.
The day awoke beautifully with a bashful birdsong, the sun rising in the distance, the stars fading into the daylight. Twilight Sparkle rubbed her head with her hoof, her messy purple hair all over the place. Her sparkling eyes seemed to glisten, catching the eye of her assistant who seemed to have awoken earlier than her. Spike, Twilight's number-one assistant, smiled at the purple unicorn, holding many dull-colored books in his scaly claws.
"Good morning, Twilight," Spike said politely, holding out a book to her, "Mind Magic for Beginners. Weren't you looking for that earlier?"
The purple librarian nodded, smiling gratefully down at the helpful baby dragon. His poor, large eyes were baggy and tinted red at the sides, and he would yawn every once in a while, shelving the books slowly and sleepily.
"Oh, Spike, you don't have to do all this," the unicorn smiled warmly at the assistant.
"I don't?" Spike asked.
"No, you don't," the purple pony laughed, removing the floral blanket from her back hooves, "I can do it while you're snoring away under Applejack's hoof-sewed blanket!"
"Really?" Spike's eyes were wide.
"Yep. But you're still my number-one assistant, don't forget that," Twilight Sparkle said, as she watched Spike hop into his blankets, instantly falling asleep.
Twilight sighed. She brought a comb to her hair and began brushing, her mane becoming neater and neater, Twilight starting to make out the pink and dark, grayish purple streaks. Soon, she was finished with both her mane and tail.
Ding, dong!
"Right on time," Twilight Sparkle muttered to herself, laughing, "Otherwise I'd look like a complete mess in front of that pony!"
She took no rush into walking to the door, but made sure to quicken up her normal pace to not keep anypony waiting. That'd be simply rude. And nopony likes a rude pony!
A bright pink aura circled around the door knob. Twilight easily pulled the door open and...
Fwoosh! A quick breeze flew past the librarian, with a blob of pink. The unicorn's eyes were squeezed shut and her mane had stuck in a certain unattractive hairstyle. It didn't take her a second to guess who it was.
"Pinkie Pie?" Twilight Sparkle rubbed her eyes with her hoof, opening them carefully to see the pink pony standing in front of her, worriedly, "What are you so worried about?"
"Do...do you have the time? It's a long story," Pinkie Pie said slowly, innocently.
"Yeah," Twilight Sparkle said, simply.
"Alright...uh..." Pinkie Pie glanced at two chairs behind her, walking towards them, "C'mon. Sit down."
~~~
Twilight and Pinkie shared a few glances before Pinkie Pie started her story.
"It all started when I was a little filly. I was born and raised by my very, very boring parents, Clyde and Sue Pie, simple, normal ponies who lived outside of Ponyville on a rock farm. You know that...right?" Pinkie began.
"Yes, I do. From your cutie mark story." Twilight kept a normal tone, though she was pretty excited in learning new information. Especially about the unknown wonder of Pinkie Pie.
"Yeah. Right. My Cutie Mark story." Pinkie said slowly, hesitantly.
"Alright...Let's...uh...begin."
Pinkamena Diane Pie felt around her bag for her homework. The sun outside was dull and the sky was gray, the normal weather for the boring rock farm. It was early in the morning, and Pinkamena was just getting ready for school with her older sister Inkamena and her younger sister Bellamena. As close sisters, they often used the nicknames they gave each other: Inkie, Blinkie, and Pinkie.
Pinkie looked around the room; it was her bedroom that she shared with her sisters, as they were not that rich and could only afford a house with one floor and two bedrooms; There was also a few other rooms like the kitchen and the family room, too, though, so they could have a proper life.
"Hey, Inkie, Blinkie, do you have your homework in your bags?" Pinkamena asked curiously, "Momma will be very angry if you forget it. You know her."
Blinkie giggled. "Oh, yeah. How about you?"
"Hey, Blinkie," Inkamena whispered, "No laughing. No smiling. If Momma catches us talking she'll be super angry. Remember the rules..."
"Do not talk until you have permission," the three sisters said blandly in unison.
"Well, do you have your homework, Pinkie?" Blinkie whispered.
"I-I think so. There's so much stuff in my bag, though, that...that I can't really tell."
"Why don't you take out all the stuff in the bag? Clean it out?" Inkamena asked maturely.
"W-what? A-and take away...take away this?" Pinkie held up a small bag with three balloons; one yellow, two blue.
Inkie and Blinkie looked curiously at the light-blue bag. "What's in it?" Inkie asked.
"An alligator egg!" the dull pink pony exclaimed.
"WHAT!? AN ALLIGATO--!" Blinkie yelled, shushed by Inkie's hoof on her mouth.
"Not so loud, you guys," Inkie whispered, "Otherwise Momma might catch us..."
There was a sudden, awkward silence.
Suddenly, the room seemed to darken. Pinkie and Blinkie had weird expressions on their face, looking behind Inkie. Inkamena seemed surprised to have them both looking at her weird, and wasn't really suspicious of anything until...
"No talking without permission," a cold voice said from behind them.
Inkie slowly turned around, with an utterly embarrassed expression; She was frozen speechless.
"This has been the hundredth time I have caught you three foals talking without permission," Sue Pie said in a monotone, though she was obviously disappointed and angry from the whole thing, "But that's not why I'm here. We need to talk. Into the family room. With me. Now."
Pinkamena was still holding the bag. Her eyes were forced on it, and she felt tears in her eyes. It was going to be a birthday present to herself, since her birthday was tomorrow. They never really had birthday parties, unlike the other ponies at school. That school. That...school...
"May I have permission to talk?" Pinkie asked her mother, as they all were exiting their bedroom.
"Yes. You may," Sue answered simply.
"Oh. Well, what about school? If we go to the family room for a talk then we will have barely any time to pack up our things to go to school!" Pinkie calculated.
"You are correct," the foal's mother answered, "You need not to go to school now. This, I promise, will change everything."
"May I have permission to talk?" squeaked Bellamena, shyly.
"Yes. You may," Sue repeated.
"What...exactly...will it change?" she asked.
"You'll see."
Inkamena shivered, still unable to say anything.
Soon they arrived in the family room. The three foals sat next to each other in one large uncomfortable sofa, while Sue was left alone sitting on her personal sofa with hoof-sewn pillows. She didn't really claim it as her own; it was just that the Pie sisters were too scared to sit by her, and Clyde, their father, usually worked all day outside, harvesting rocks, while she cooked. She smiled slyly at them all.
"There's been a family secret I've wanted to tell you all..." she laughed, "Since Pinkamena's birthday is coming up."
Pinkie gulped. She covered her face with her hair.
"Follow me."
The three foals followed their strict mother to the refrigerator. She opened the small, white door; inside was the regular stuff: milk, fruit, etc.
"What...what are we supposed to be looking at?" Pinkie asked harshly.
"Shut up," Sue snapped, "Anyway, have you noticed this part of the fridge?"
Her hoof moved a few items so they saw the back of the fridge, where ten blood packets laid.
"A-are we making a blood donation company?" Blinkie asked.
The mother rolled her eyes. "We're vamponies, you idiot!" she screamed.
Bellamena squeaked, and hid behind her oldest sibling, who seemed able to talk now.
"Mother," Inkamena argued, "Vamponies are not real. I think you may need to see somepony about that..."
Sue Pie rolled her eyes. She focused on the three foals, her eyes glowing a dark, blood-red, opening her mouth to reveal...
Fangs?
There was an incredible silence. Pinkie's heart was beating faster than Rainbow Dash's flying when preforming a Sonic Rainboom. Twilight Sparkle, her mouth open wide, was hesitant.
Then she smiled. And laughed. And giggled.
"Oh, Pinkie!" Twilight smiled, "You're the best actress I've ever seen!"
"Act...what? I wasn't acting!" Pinkie felt offended.
Pinkie Pie frowned. "I wasn't making it up," she said coldly, tears forming in her eyes, her poofy mane starting to deflate. This was what she dreaded. Her wisest friend, not believing the simplest of stories?
"I knew this day would come," she muttered.
The unicorn stopped laughing. "I'm sorry, Pinkie," she put her purple hoof on the pink party pony's, "I...I just can't believe you until I have proof. And nopony has proof!"
Pinkie stopped in her tracks. Looking up, she smiled. "I--I have proof."
Focusing, she closed her eyes, and felt power surge through her body and into her eyes and teeth. Then she felt a pop. She opened her eyes and mouth, and Twilight gasped, falling over.
"Did it work? Did it work?" Pinkie asked.
"Y-YES...!" the librarian was frightened.
"Hmm...it sure feels nice having the teeth out again."
Twilight Sparkle seemed to calm down. She went back to her chair, a little hesitant and unsure.
"There's been a question I wanted to ask you..." Pinkie said, her fangs growing duller by force and her red eyes turning back to the normal, clear, sky-blue, "Will you accept this?"
Twilight Sparkle hesitated. She looked at Pinkie Pie, then spoke the one word that changed everything.
"Yes."
Pinkie Pie's eyes widened her mane poofing back to her normal hairstyle. "YAY!"
"One thing, though..." the purple pony held her hoof up.
"What? I'll do anything!" the party pony smiled at her friend.
"Tell me more. Why didn't you stay at the rock farm? What about that alligator egg? Does this explain your super-hyper, super-social, personality? And the Pinkie Sense?"
Pinkie Pie sighed. "Alright. Even though it's painful for me to think about my past."
She glanced at Twilight Sparkle, who glanced at her. Then she began again.
"My Cutie Mark Story was a lie," she whispered.
"WHAT?" the librarian couldn't hold in the shock.
"I'm not the element of honesty, Twilight. I'd thought you'd understand," she continued, "Staying there was way too much for me. At dinner Mother gave us blood claiming it was 'fruit punch'. Then as a 'bedtime story' she told us the history of vamponies, revealing that my father was one too, and that we were a 'rare' kind."
The librarian calmed quickly. "I understand, Pinkie," she said, "Now what's that rare kind?"
"Half-psionic, half-regular," Pinkie Pie answered, "That means I can drain energy or drink blood. I only drained a bit of energy, once, from somepony named Ditzy Do, and her eyes weren't the same ever again."
She sighed.
"Please continue," Twilight Sparkle said.
"All the...um...'stuff' that happens such as not showing up in mirrors only work when they are in 'vampony' mode, with the fangs and the red glowing eyes and all. Vamponies are supposed to have ever-lasting energy, and they are supposed to be immortal, and have special powers. Mine are shape-shifting, my Pinkie Sense, and...Some others," Pinkie continued, "I only used shape-shifting once, to get away from...err...my parents. I left when it was dark, even though vamponies have heighted senses in the dark. And can see in the dark," the pink pony groaned, "I left for Ponyville, since it was the closest. With the help of Luna. She's...um...like me. The rare type of vampony. I soon found the Cakes and they left me a room there when I was a filly and..."
"Wait, Pinkie," Twilight Sparkle interrupted, "Did you say Luna was a vampony?"
"Um, well, yeah, and..."
"What about last Nightmare Night?" the unicorn asked curiously, "If you knew each other personally, why would you be scared of her? And what about when I came to Ponyville? You knew who Nightmare Moon was!"
Pinkie Pie blushed. "Well...yes. I wanted to hide the fact I knew her to be more...more normal. She must have been depressed, thinking that I might have done this special ritual to cure my vampirism, and wanted to avoid her. We made the whole, 'being scared is fun' thing up after I talked to Luna about it, and the others just were doing that for fun in the first place. I wanted to avoid her...to be normal. Again. We're friends, actually. And some vampires can change...um...forms. Luna changes into Nightmare Moon. Celestia doesn't change because she's not a vampony, but knows much about them. And I...well...I have this poofy mane apart from my normal straight one that triggers my craziness. Vamponies, when transforming, often have split personalities," Pinkie Pie explained, "And the alligator egg was dented. He cracked open during my great escape, right before midnight. I don't exactly know how, but he became toothless at birth. I celebrated my birthday in Ponyville...I had the best time in my life there. With Luna, the Cakes, everypony really, I was so happy to be finally free from the grasp of my parents. That's how I got my cutie mark."
"There's a ritual to cure vampirism!? And Celestia never told me about vamponies?" Twilight asked angrily.
"Yes....vamponies are too dangerous to spread information about," Pinkie said, "And there is a ritual to cure vampirism. But it comes at a very high price, and needs rare herbs. And if you do one. Thing. Wrong. Well, then you're turned into a werewolf. Worse than vamponies, who can actually kind of control themselves. But there's a really easy ritual to turn ponies into vamponies. Only Luna knows, though."
"Humph," Twilight muttered, "The princess doesn't trust me with information?"
Pinkie Pie shrugged. "It's...a detailed topic. I took a lot of energy from me to even say all of it!"
Twilight backed away. "Don't...don't drain my energy, okay? Or blood!"
"I wouldn't! I couldn't!" Pinkie Pie assured her friend, who sighed in relief.
"So, let me get this straight," the purple unicorn said, "You're a vampony. Luna's a vampony. You escaped from your vampony family and...you lied about most of your life?"
Pinkie flushed. "Well...um...yeah."
"Was this what you came to me for?" Twilight asked suspiciously.
"Well...um...no. There's this...you know...a thing...and...um...see for yourself." Pinkie grabbed a piece of paper out of nowhere and handed it to Twilight Sparkle.
"Hmm..." Twilight Sparkle floated glasses to her eyes, glancing at the text carefully, reading the letter out loud:
"Dear Pinkamena Diane Pie, I know you do not like your vampony fate. But you are one of the strongest vamponies I have ever met, and I would like you to join the Nightmare. With you we can rule together; I have a clever plan, and I think you'd like the end.
We can turn everypony in Equestria to food. Make the night last forever. And if you want, we can even spare your friends if they agree in this special 'ritual' I've planned for them. And only them.
My plan is in action. Do not fail me. If you want to help me you must come to the Canterlot Castle before midnight tomorrow.
~Nightmare Moon
"They want to turn the rest of the Elements of Harmony into...into vamponies!" she cried into her chair.
Twilight gulped. "Don't worry, I have another plan. For the good of Equestria. And I know just what to do."
"For the good of Equestria?" Pinkie asked.
"For the good of Equestria."
__________________________
Author's Note: I'm sorry if this chapter was boring to you. This was mainly about explaining vamponies to Twilight Sparkle. And Pinkie's back story of course.
Why the vampires in Twilight sparkle? Because she ate them! :P LOL
Applejack glanced blankly at Twilight Sparkle and Pinkie Pie, scratching her head with her hoof.
The sun dimly shined onto the cowpony's family farm; Applejack held two baskets filled with apples on her back, her mane glistening with sweat from all the hard work; bits of her golden blond hair were sticking out on the ends. The familiar dark red ribbon in her mane was tied lazily around, almost falling out from all of the cowpony's movements.
"A vampire, or more commonly known as a vampony," Twilight Sparkle corrected.
Applejack laughed. "Vamponies are non' other than' fancy fiction' characters! Pinkie's surely not one!"
Pinkie Pie raised an eyebrow to Applejack's offending insult. "Oh. Really."
"I'd believe ya Pinkie. I'd believe ya. If there was any proof; if there was proof, then I'd believe ya."
Twilight made a hesitant grin. Pinkie and Twilight shared glances through the silence between them.
"Of course. I'll see if I can do it again."
She tightened her eyes, signaling the vampony power inside of her that she had reached before. Applejack could see the party pony tense up, her hooves pushing at the floor. Pinkie let go suddenly, and opened both her eyes and...
"Woah nelly!" Applejack backed away from Pinkie; She covered her eyes with her orange hooves.
"Ow! Ow! Ow, ow, OW!" Pinkie howled, jumping back into the shade of a tree, opening her wide, glowing red eyes.
"Y-you know what I told you before? About all the fabled stuff about vamponies only happens when their...their in...vampony mode?" Pinkie asked, shielding her eyes from the wretched sun.
"Uh...yeah...but what does that have to do with it?" Twilight asked, glancing at Pinkie.
"Well, t-this applies to it t-to! Argh!" She looked away, opening her mouth to reveal fangs, making Applejack a little more unsure about getting close to her friend.
"Y-ya'll were tellin' the truth?" Applejack just simply asked.
The unicorn closed her eyes. "Yes, Applejack. We were telling the truth."
Applejack hesitated. The only sound there was the background music of birdsong. And Pinkie was afraid that Applejack wouldn't accept her for who she was. Pinkie Pie relieved herself of the sun's pain by growing her fangs back in to a regular flattened style and her eyes turning its regular, clear sky blue.
But she only smiled.
"Tell 'me more."
~~~
By the time they had gotten to Rarity's, the sun was high in the sky, the clouds cleared already, and the birds chirping a sweet melody. They could hear a soft, sweet tune in the air, which Pinkie recognized belonged to Rarity's sister, Sweetie Belle.
Rrrring!
Applejack's hoof pushed the door open to Rarity's boutique; the familiar sounding entrance bell rung clearly throughout the building, echoing with the sound of hoofsteps in the background.
The three of them walked in, just as Rarity was walking down from her room upstairs.
"Why, hello, Twilight! Applejack! Pinkie!" Rarity smiled gracefully, walking to her friends politely.
The Element of Generosity's eyes sparkled. "Do you want to request an item? Or browse, perhaps?"
"Uh, no, actually," Applejack frowned, "You see, there's this...er...thingy we all wanted 'ta tell y'all."
"Yes, and, um, I don't know if you'll actually believe it. If you don't, well, I think we need to close the curtains," Pinkie squinted at the sunlight peering in the window.
"What is the thing you want to tell me, darlings?" Rarity asked, taking a pen and sketching out a new design.
"Ah dunno how 'ta say it, Rarity," Applejack said.
"Don't worry, Applejack," Twilight nodded at her cowpony friend, "Well, Rarity, Pinkie's a vampony. And Nightmare Moon's coming back to turn us all into vamponies, and the rest of EQUESTRIA into FOOD!"
There was no hesitation. Rarity smiled at her friends.
"D-do you believe us?" Pinkie asked.
Rarity laughed. "Of course I believe you darlings!"
"What?" Applejack, Pinkie, and Twilight said in unison.
"Vamponies...I've read a lot about them. Sure, Pinkie Pie doesn't sparkle with beauty and grace, but she sure isn't a roughian of any kind. She sparkles on the inside. With her super-social, bouncing-off-every-wall personality, who would have any doubt?"
Applejack shared nervous glances with Twilight Sparkle.
"Now, let's move on. Where's that letter Nightmare Moon sent you?"
Pinkie Pie was curious. "What? How did you know about the letter?"
Rarity smiled kindly at the pink pony. "You know, I'm not stupid," she laughed daintily, "Nightmare Moon is royalty! Do you know why Celestia always sends her letters instead of meeting her in pony? It's because she's busy! And Nightmare Moon would be awfully busy if she planned to turn Equestria into food! And probably she would also be busy on planning that vampony ritual for us."
"What? How did you know about the ritual?" Pinkie sounded surprised.
The fancy unicorn rolled her eyes. "I read books, Pinkie Pie."
"THAT'S IN BOOKS?"
The beautiful pony ignored her friend calmly. "Now, now, come on," Rarity said, "We haven't got much time to waste! Let's go on and tell Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie can explain the note every back story to me on the way. Now let's go!"
"Where is Rainbow Dash today?" Pinkie wondered aloud.
The group of ponies followed her. Their hoofsteps made echoing noises through the loud, blowing wind. Applejack shrugged in response, along with the others. Nopony knew where Rainbow Dash was.
"Uh...maybe Fluttershy knows! Or...she could help. With her wings, she can reach higher places then us," Twilight Sparkle explained wisely, "We'll surely find Rainbow Dash with her."
Applejack looked up at the sky as they changed their direction. "Er...why are we gettin' Rainbow for again'?"
Pinkie Pie giggled. "We need to make an army, silly! So we can defeat Nightmare Moon together!"
"It was my idea," Rarity said gracefully.
There was a silence. Rarity inspected her horse shoes while Applejack adjusted her hat for comfort; Twilight Sparkle led the way while Pinkie Pie glanced nervously at the light.
But finally, they had arrived at Fluttershy's Cottage. It looked dark inside, with most of the cottage's curtains closed; Pinkie saw it safe and shady enough to transform inside without getting those extremely bad sunburns she got near the light. When she wasn't in vampony form, she had a stronger coat against the sun, though it was lighter then most ponies'. The thought of Fluttershy disbelieving her, however, was horrifying. What if Fluttershy didn't believe her? The sweet and innocent pony seeing a vampony would probably scar her...maybe it'd scare her?
Pinkie Pie shivered. It would be absolutely horrible to lose a friend. But, so far, it seemed like telling her friends her secret was getting easier and easier. It seemed odd that it did. Maybe Fluttershy would know without Pinkie even telling her? And what about Rainbow Dash? Rainbow didn't seem like the one who'd really accept and believe things, even if she wasn't Twilight Sparkle, or any other of those obsessively logical unicorns.
The rest of the group followed Twilight Sparkle and Pinkie Pie over the bridge to the door. Twilight Sparkle knocked loudly, the sound loud and clear enough to be heard by anypony inside.
"Er...hello?"
The door creaked open to leave Pinkie Pie and Twilight face-to-face with the familiar cyan pegasus. Her rainbow mane was blowing to the wind outside, her eyes squinting through the annoying sunlight.
"Oh, um, hey guys," Rainbow Dash said.
"What are you doing at Fluttershy's?" the party pony asked.
Rainbow Dash shrugged. Suddenly the yellow Pegasus' head popped out from Rainbow Dash's slightly-opened door, kindly greeting her friends.
"Oh...um...hello! Rainbow Dash and I...if you don't mind me telling them...were just training Tank! He's getting real good at his flight machine, so I thought about teaching him some 'cool' new tricks! Um, right Rainbow? If you want to agree with me of course..."
"Oh, uh, yeah. Tank's flying is improving, and soon he'll be able to fly with me in the clouds. And...can they come in Fluttershy? The sun's really annoying!"
Pinkie Pie raised an eyebrow at Rainbow Dash. Maybe she was a vampony, with her ideal magenta eyes. It was well enough close to red, but she knew Rainbow Dash spent lots of time in the sun, and most vamponies hated to spend time in the sun. Since Pinkie was a rare kind, she could tolerate it more then regular vamponies outside their vampony form.
Pinkie Pie peeked inside the cottage and quickly threw away the thought of Rainbow Dash being a vampony. It looked like complete darkness inside, even to a vampony who could see quite well in the dark. Since they were the children of the night, after all.
Rainbow Dash must had a hard time adjusting to the bright light outside, Pinkie Pie reasoned with herself.
"Oh...um...yes, but whatever you want is fine..."
The group took no hesitation into coming inside the shady cottage. Pinkie could see why the curtains were closed, probably to block the heat from reaching the cool inside of the cottage. The sun was so hot outside it was safe to call it burning hot, and Pinkie Pie was even thinking that her coat was simply going to melt if she had to spend another minute outside of the shade. Her coat was so hot it took a few minutes inside the air-conditioned cottage to cool it down. She knew she wasn't alone on it when Rarity, sweating continually, jumped in surprise when the coolness of the cottage reached her snowy-white coat.
"Wow! Fluttershy, you have wonderful air conditioning! Outside was absolutely horrible to my coat!" Her hoof reached to brush off some dust in her mane.
Twilight Sparkle nodded. "I wouldn't say it like that, but I must agree. Thank you Fluttershy!"
Fluttershy blushed, smiling. "Oh...um...you're welcome. And I don't have air conditioning though, it would cost too much. It's just I usually close all my curtains and let the cold air come by itself, and usually my, um, bird friends help out." She nuzzled her muzzle with a bluebird's beak.
"Yeah...anyway," Rainbow Dash said, "Tank's pretty happy here. Of course, he's happy anywhere. But he seems to like it here, and the snacks. But he doesn't rush into eating, not because he can't. Isn't that right, Tank?"
The tortoise stood in the middle of the shaded room, nodding slowly. Everypony laughed.
"And...why did you come here anyway?" the rainbow-maned pegasus asked suspiciously, "We never told you about this event, and you'd probably not care unless it involved your own pets."
Applejack looked at Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy, tilting her cowpony hat back so the shade of it would not block her eyes. "Ah recommend ya'll listen closely. I know most of 'ya probably won't believe it 'and I didn't at first either but ya'll need'ta listen and try to believe it as best as you can. And also..."
Twilight Sparkle rolled her eyes. "And I thought I was the one who kept lecturing others," the librarian interrupted, "Okay. Let this be straight and clear, right from my mouth: Pinkie Pie's a vampony."
There was a silence. Then Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Applejack nodded.
"D-do you believe us?" Pinkie asked the two ponies who were silently standing in front of them.
"I-I'm speechless," Fluttershy replied, surprisingly calm to discover something so big like this, "I've healed vampire bats all the time. They wouldn't bite me though, since they're so kind and I have my way with wild animals. But this? I don't really know if I can take it all in now. B-but since all of you girls believe it, I guess I will too."
"Woo-hoo!" Pinkie Pie smiled, "What about you, Rainbow Dash?" The pink party pony turned to her cyan friend.
It looked like the fast pegasus was disbelieving it...on purpose. Her eyes wouldn't connect with Pinkie's or any of her other friend's, and her usual smile was stuck being in a frown.
"I-it's enough. I don't want to hear anymore." Rainbow Dash slid on Tank's flying machine, shaking her head angrily.
"W-why? You can't just leave us Rainbow! We're a team! A-and you're the...the..." Pinkie Pie slid down to her hooves, her mane slowly deflating as she muttered, "...You're the element of loyalty."
Rainbow Dash heard those few words right before she had her hoof on the door. She dropped Tank carelessly on the floor besides her, turning harshly around.
"Element of Loyalty? ELEMENT OF LOYALTY?" Rainbow Dash screamed, "I don't have to be LOYAL when I'm facing a couple of DUMB LIES! Why shouldn't I betray MY ELEMENT when APPLEJACK HERSELF is betraying HERS? WHY DO YOU EVEN NEED ME? I'M WORTHLESS..." she trailed off, wiping a tear from her eye. Quickly, she pulled herself off her hooves and carried Tank to the door once again. "I-I need to leave."
Pinkie Pie's heart just broke. Her mane flattened completely, because she was totally emotional on this topic. What she thought Fluttershy would do was what Rainbow Dash did, only rougher and with more screaming from the athlete. Fluttershy's eyes were full of tears, and Rarity just didn't look at Rainbow at all. Twilight Sparkle was looking at the floor while Applejack was trying to comfort Pinkie the best that she could.
Rainbow Dash looked at the group once again, Pinkie noticing her eyes were filled with pain and cruelty and bitterness.
"Vamponies...vamponies..." she growled, "Vamponies are just....just a couple of LIES and DUMB PONIES too STUPID to face the TRUTH!"
Pinkie Pie gasped. Rainbow Dash may have been harsh before, and Pinkie accepted the fact the Rainbow herself couldn't help but be emotional. It was an impulse, and Pinkie has always been emotional before. But this...this was going over the line. Pinkie Pie knew that it wasn't just a pony's emotional impulse. She was doing this all on her own. Through some kind of pain. But Pinkie Pie didn't care about that.
It was the last straw.
Pinkie's heart raced. Her eyes glowed an evil red, her fangs popping out of her regular teeth, gleaming a deadly, blinding white. And before she knew it she had pinned Rainbow Dash down on the ground, her fangs close to Rainbow Dash's neck, her voice dark and mysterious.
Rainbow Dash could barely see the small amount of light peeking from the curtained windows. Her body refused to turn towards the rest of her friends, and when she did her eyes ignored them completely. Her hope was failing right now, and the memories from fillyhood that hit the cyan pegasus was the only thing she couldn't neglect. Her heart racing and aching, it didn't seem right. Nothing seemed right. She just wanted to run away and escape the troubles she was going through now...
Twilight Sparkle worriedly glanced at Rainbow Dash, then at Pinkie Pie. Pinkie Pie's mane was flattened, and she was sobbing into Fluttershy's soft pink mane. Rainbow Dash, well, nothing was worse then being ignored by the element of loyalty. At least Rainbow Dash could pity them. Twilight Sparkle glanced at the pink party pony again in the awkward silence. She had finally gotten her off of Rainbow Dash with the help of Applejack with ease, but she was still recovering, and it was obviously not quick. She wasn't a threat to them, was she?
Pinkie Pie was sobbing inside and out. Fluttershy was calmer then usual, but she couldn't control herself. Every single emotion she had hid from everyone ever since she was a filly on that dumb rock farm came flowing out, and she couldn't say she liked it. She absolutely hated the feeling of her tears dripping down her face, when she brought smiles to everypony else. That secret, though it felt good to let it all out and to be honest, she hated the after feeling. The feeling wasn't joy, or happiness. It was pain. Misery. She absolutely loathed it.
Fluttershy, Rarity, and Applejack shared knowing glances, trying their best to comfort the two. Twilight Sparkle seemed to be confused from all this, not knowing exactly what was going on. That was her. Her weakness: being not able to figure out what was going on, after being so used to knowing everything. Fluttershy was not struggling on being calm, while Applejack and Rarity, not knowing exactly what Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie were so worried about, kept their cool and shed no tears. Not like they didn't want to burst into an emotional breakdown.
Twilight Sparkle stared at Pinkie Pie awkwardly. "What was that all about, Pinkie?" Twilight whispered.
"M-me? I-I...vamponies usually have....impulses. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to do that, especially to Dashie."
Twilight Sparkle could hear from the other side of the room mumbles from the rainbow-maned pony. Pinkie Pie turned to look at Rainbow Dash.
"DID YOU HEAR THAT? I SAID I'M SORRY," Pinkie Pie yelled at Dashie a little louder then expected, snapping the weather pony back to reality.
Rainbow Dash began to shed tears. Turning, her eyes were red and sore, and her mane was messier then usual.
"I...I...." She looked like she was about to explode with anger, but instead breathing it calmly in and out.
"I'm sorry too..." Rainbow Dash nodded, surprising everypony else (Rainbow wasn't one to apologize) "I...it was my impulse. It's just that I've had a very...interesting fillyhood. That involved..."
Rainbow Dash seemed to tighten.
"...Vamponies."
Pinkie Pie seemed shocked. But she released her grip on Fluttershy (who was relieved, because Pinkie was literally pulling her mane out), scooting a little closer to Rainbow Dash.
"I...I'm sorry...I'm so very sorry if my race was horrible to you. But...that's not me. Those ponies...those vamponies...aren't me. And I'm here for you. No matter what."
Rainbow Dash looked her in the eye. "I know that."
Pinkie Pie giggled. She put a hoof on her cyan friend, who teasingly pushed it off of her.
"Just, tell me what happened. I promise it'll be alright."
Rainbow Dash smiled. "I'm sorry that I insulted you. You...erm...should've bitten me anyway," the cyan pegasus looked away, frowning, "I don't deserve life."
Rarity sniffed. "Of course you deserve life, darling! I mean, you'd be an ideal Wonderbolt, and surely if I combed your mane to be straighter instead of that wild, tomboyish style..."
Rainbow Dash laughed. "Don't get ahead of yourself, here."
"Oh. Right," Rarity smiled gently.
Fluttershy glanced at Applejack, who shrugged. Applejack was sure this was the time when they could get moving, seeing that the light from the windows were fading slightly. Something was going on, and it surely involved Nightmare Moon. Twilight and Pinkie had explained it to her when they were on their way to Rarity's.
"Uh, guys," Applejack nodded towards the fading light, talking with her heavy cowpony accent, "I don't thank it's time for long back stories, nhow that we know Nightmare Moon's gonna take over."
Rainbow Dash stiffened. "N-nightmare Moon? What's she gotta do with this?"
Twilight Sparkle looked into Rainbow's eyes seriously. "Nightmare Moon has come to take over Equestria. Pinkie Pie, as a vampony, knows Luna personally, Luna a vampony also, and now she's taking over the world, turning Equestria into a free blood bank for the vamponies, and wants to spare us and turn our friends into vamponies, and if they reject the offer the pony who rejected the offer will be turned into food for the rest of the vamponies."
Rainbow Dash looked at Twilight. "Oh, yeah, I get it."
Twilight Sparkle was surprised. She didn't think Rainbow would understand so quickly. "Really? You do?" Twilight looked at her with hopeful eyes.
"....," Rainbow Dash glanced at Twilight, "Um, no. I don't."
Pinkie Pie sighed. "Listen, Rainbow, Nightmare Moon is coming," Pinkie Pie explained, "She's going to take over, turn the rest of the elements of harmony into vamponies, turn anypony else who is not a vampony into food, and make it eternal night. Okay?"
Rainbow took no hesitation to shake her head in response to both pony's explanations. "Nope. Still can't process it."
Rarity sighed and face-hoofed. "I think it'd be easier if she read the letter," Rarity explained to Pinkie, who nodded, taking out the letter and handing it to Rainbow.
The cyan mare took a few seconds to read the entire letter, mumbling the words under her breath so she could confirm that it was real, and not her imagination. She shook her head, read it over, and glancing at the rest of the Mane Six with worried eyes.
"Oh no! Nightmare Moon...she's returning, and trying to turn us into vamponies! I don't...want...to...be...one...of..." Rainbow could barely go on.
Pinkie Pie nodded. "We've got to stop her. I don't want to do this to Equestria. I don't want to be a big baddy-pony like Nightmare Moon is!"
Rainbow Dash smiled kindly. "I hope we can stop her...before she turns us into..." her smile faded, and she looked away.
There was a sudden silence. Applejack looked at the fading light again, and it seemed to be covered up by many shadows.
"Er...Rainbow, ah think all this awkward pausin' can wait for after we save Equestria from Nightmare Moon," Applejack explained.
"Oh, yes. Girls, Applejack is..." Rarity glanced at Applejack's messy mane in disgust, "Sadly right, despite her horrible image. We must take the train to Canterlot and alert Celestia of what is to happen. And Rainbow Dash here can explain every back story along the way."
Applejack glared at Rarity. "Well 'least I don't worry 'bout every single detail!"
Twilight Sparkle sighed. "Now, girls, we musn't fight. We aren't going anywhere if we just laze here all day arguing and insulting each other!"
Pinkie Pie nodded. "Yeah, Twilight's right," Pinkie agreed, "For the sake of Equestria, we shouldn't be all meany-pants around each other."
Rarity glanced awkwardly at Applejack. "Well, alright," Rarity said, biting her lip, "I guess we could keep back the resentment and save Equestria for now. After all, we are friends, right?"
Applejack laughed, nodding.
"Now let's go, everypony!" Rarity exclaimed, "We've got a Canterlot train to catch!"
Pinkie Pie felt a little awkward sitting there outside of Fluttershy's cottage. Nightmare Moon must have put her plan in action already, because the overly hot sun was cooler then usual. Pinkie Pie and the others laid down for rest, not speaking to each other really. Pinkie Pie was trying to figure out everything and get her thoughts organized, but it was no use. Really. No use.
The party planner glanced at Twilight who laid next to her, and she was suddenly reminded of her duties. HER duties.
"Ohnoohnoohnoohno," Pinkie Pie suddenly muttered to herself, jumping up and onto her four hooves.
Rainbow Dash, on a cloud close to the ground above the five friends, peeked over the plush white fluffiness to glance at Pinkie.
"What's up, Pink?" Dash asked curiously.
"Whats up? WHAT'S UP?" Pinkie was sort of screaming right now, but not in the mean, 'I'm-mad-at-you-so-I'm-gonna-scream-and-yell-at-you' way, in the panicy, worried way, "Besides you, of course."
They both giggled. Applejack noticed, and got up. "Are you alright, sug'acube?"
Pinkie Pie looked at the floor. "Yeah, I guess," Pinkie mumbled, "I just forgot about the Cakes, that's all. I mean, they didn't know I left! What if they left the shop in my hooves because they thought I was just sleeping in? And what about the Cake twins? They must be hungry! But what if they were there anyway? They would worry about me. Maybe check in my bed, see that I'm not there, and get disappointed! DIS-A-PPOINT-ED!"
"...um, why not just pay them a visit then?" Rainbow asked, laying back on a cloud, "You could just, I dunno, walk there? I mean, Fluttershy's cottage isn't THAT far away, and I'm sure you won't get burned up by sunlight since Nightmare Moon's taking over."
Pinkie glared at the cyan pegasus, but they both laughed anyway.
Rarity smiled. "Rainbow's right, darling," Rarity agreed, "It isn't very far away, I'm sure."
Pinkie Pie smiled, nodding. "Alright. You all can stay here and rest, I guess."
Twilight Sparkle, overhearing the conversation, got up. "I don't need much rest," Twilight explained, "I could go with you. In case, you know. Safety first."
Pinkie rolled her eyes. "Alright, Twilight."
~~~
Pinkie and Twilight made their way to SugarCube Corner. It didn't take very long, and that was a good thing, because Nightmare Moon's return just couldn't wait.
Pinkie Pie nudged the door open with her nose, after she unlocked the door with her keys. Nopony seemed to be home, and the shop was closed, so she didn't exactly know what to say. The lights were off, her hoof poking at the switch, turning all the lights on the first floor on. It was empty on the first floor.
Twilight Sparkle nodded at the note that had been left on the bakery counter. Pinkie Pie shrugged, silently moving, in case of dangers. Since Nightmare Moon was returning (though she didn't announce it personally, though Pinkie was almost totally sure that she was going too, once she was more into the plan she had) there were many risks and threats, so they had to be careful. Especially since they were part of the elements of harmony.
Pinkie Pie opened the note, reading it carefully. She was half-worried that it might be a threat note from Nightmare Moon for kidnapping the Cakes, half-relieved that it might be the Cakes giving her the day off. It was all half-and-half, but when she finished reading it, she realized she was off by a lot. And she was not able to go to Canterlot...
"FOALSITTING THE CAKE TWINS? NOW? WHEN ALL OF EQUESTRIA is in DANGER?" Pinkie Pie breathed hard, her heart racing, mind filling with possibilities.
What could she do now?
Twilight Sparkle nudged Pinkie, getting the party pony's attention. "It's not wise to worry, especially at a time like this," Twilight Sparkle explained.
"...But....but what should I DO?"
"First of all, calm down," the librarian advised.
Pinkie Pie nodded, listening to her friend. She let relaxation flow through her body, Pinkie tingling with relief.
"Second of all, why don't you greet them? Maybe I could let Spike take on the responsibility, or somepony else like Colgate or Starsong, if they're responsible enough of course," the purple unicorn suggested.
The pink pony nodded with hesitation. "A-alright," she sighed, "Why don't you come with me? You haven't seen them in a long time, have you?"
Twilight Sparkle smiled, following the foalsitter upstairs and into the twins' room. Pinkie Pie simply nudged the door open, and to Twilight's amazement, inside was total and complete chaos. The twins were giggling, flying around, knocking down every piece of furniture except their crib, chewing on every toy in the room, and messing everything up so Discord would've been proud of them. Pinkie Pie frowned in disappointment, while Twilight Sparkle stared at it in both horror and curiosity.
Pinkie turned to Twilight. "I'm, um, sorry, if you are annoyed by all this...erm..chaos."
Twilight Sparkle shook her head as Pinkie nudged her again. Her head connected with her hoof as she thought deeply. Whispering and mumbling things under her breath, she shook her head again.
Twilight Sparkle said nothing. She just stared at the twins.
"Twilight, you're scaring me," Pinkie rolled her eyes, "Please stop the joking, alright?"
Twilight Sparkle muttered something under her breath. Pinkie could barely hear it, but she was pretty sure Twilight was talking to herself. She shook Twilight's hoof, staring at her worriedly. There was nothing wrong...right?
Pinkie sighed. Of course nothing was wrong. She was overreacting. Probably Twilight was just reminded of something that gave her...that gave her the...erm...shivers? Pinkie didn't exactly know.
"No...Pinkie...no...this can't be right..." Twilight Sparkle said.
Pinkie smiled at the thought of the orange bird. "Yes, why?"
The librarian nodded towards to the twins, Pumpkin Cake floating around things and chewing on them, while Pound Cake flew around freely.
"When I was little, I had strange power surges that weren't controllable when I was younger then Pumpkin Cake. When I was older, it got blocked by other memories that were inside my brain at the time. Same for Rainbow Dash; she could fly when she was younger then Pound, but her flight tricks faded away by...I don't know. I need to do more research..."
Twilight Sparkle shook her head, getting off subject. "Anyway, Pound Cake and Pumpkin Cake should be powerless now since they had reached well...this...age, but, there they are, making a mess of things."
Pinkie gulped. "What...what you're saying is that...Pound and Pumpkin Cake...are abnormal?"
Pinkie shook her head, trying to disbelieve this. There was enough abnormality in the Cake family, and she didn't exactly know what to say.
"Erm....I...guess...we should get somepony to foalsit them..." Pinkie said.
Twilight Sparkle nodded. She clapped her hooves together, gulping nervously at the twins.
"Now, now, Pound and Pumpkin, we're gonna get a new foal sitter for you while...um...we go and save Equestria..."
That Pound and Pumpkin Cake heard. They stood in front of Twilight with sad looks, and to Pinkie pleading glances. They surely liked Pinkie that much.
"Pinkie, no leave!" Pound Cake shouted, crying. They were over protective of their foal sitter.
"Yeah, Pinkie, no go!" Pumpkin agreed, talking so loud it was almost as if they were using the Royal Canterlot Voice.
Pinkie Pie raised a hoof awkwardly. "Um...sorry, guys, but I really need to go and stop Nightmare Moon...for your sake, okay?"
Pumpkin Cake and Pound Cake didn't change their opinion from even that. Pumpkin seemed furious to lose her favorite foal sitter, stomping on Twilight's hoof.
"Ow. Ow. Ow. OW! Pinkie, could you please get Pumpkin off of my hoof?" Twilight asked.
Pinkie was nervous. Twilight was nervous, too, but she didn't show it. Pinkie pulled Pumpkin Cake off of Twilight with all of her strength plus her vampony strength, soon pulling Pumpkin in the air, Pumpkin angry and twitching.
"Now, now...um...Pumpkin...don't do that..." Pinkie began.
Pumpkin stopped her. Her eyes glowed red, and she hissed.
Pinkie dropped Pumpkin to the floor, surprised by Pumpkin. She glanced worriedly at Twilight, who had the same expression as Pinkie.
"You're...you're...vamponies?" Pinkie asked, pulling herself up on all fours.
They didn't answer. Pinkie Pie and Twilight were worried, and sure having an explosion of all the emotions except for happiness. Pinkie's mind raced. It...it wasn't happening. Was it?
Pinkie Pie was frozen. She didn't do anything. She couldn't.
Pinkamena Diane Pie laid back in her train seat. They had gotten on the train to Canterlot (when Pinkie and Twilight came back from the Cake's, of course) directly from Fluttershy's house. Twilight Sparkle had sent a letter to Spike explaining everything, letting him take care of Fluttershy's animals while they were gone on the mission. They took a vote, and Pinkie Pie was the only one who didn't want the Cake twins to come along with them; they sat in the last seat, playing with each other. Nothing made sense to her now.
They had all packed saddlebags filled with items they felt they needed for the battle against Nightmare Moon.
Glancing at her friends, she noticed she was the only one not talking, while the others chatted away like nothing was wrong. Except for Rainbow Dash who still felt kind of awkward, of course.
Pinkie Pie glanced out of the window, staring into space. What her friends were saying echoed in her mind filled with thoughts and worries. What about the Cake twins? She didn't know exactly what they were...doing. But it all fit like puzzle pieces now: their super-hyper actions, their powers that seemed to last longer then a normal pony. Anything else fit there easily, but somehow, Pinkie didn't know what was happening. What would she do? What about her friends? She couldn't just surrender, could she? Vamponies were the source of all her problems now.
The pink pony glanced back at her friends. They were all...still happy. It disgusted her to see them joyfully talking away while they knew perfectly well that their 'Element of Laughter' was in pain.
"I'm making a new fashion line for each zodiac symbol..." "There's a new Daring Do book, Rainbow, that I'm sure you'd love to read..." "Ah'm planting some flowers in the garden ta attract attention from hungry customers..."
Twilight Sparkle froze, suddenly. "Wait, if we're going to defeat Nightmare Moon, don't we need the Elements of Harmony?"
Her words hung in the air, as everypony hesitated to answering except for the fashionista.
"Of course not, Twilight! We're powerful to defeat her ourselves. Don't ever doubt that," Rarity laughed.
Pinkie Pie smiled. "Well duh, of course I have the elements of harmony!" Pinkie pulled out the necklaces and the crown from her saddlebag, "I mean, what would we be without them?"
All of the Mane Six except for Rarity laughed. Pinkie could swear out of the corner of her eye she saw Rarity glare at her.
"Hey, guys, 'bout Nightmare Moon," Rainbow Dash finally spoke, "Is she...really evil? I mean, truly evil? We've known Luna personally, and she doesn't seem that evil to me."
Pinkie Pie rolled her eyes. "Vamponies of my type usually have split personalities. They're like, for example, two different ponies against....well...each other for control of that body. Nightmare Moon is the other side of Luna, and after a few years of building up her strength and healing herself, she's gotten enough power to finally convince Luna to let her free. So...um...yeah."
Rainbow Dash nodded slightly. "Oh. Okay."
Pinkie Pie giggled. "Now to get information out of you, Dashie!"
The cyan mare looked a little confused at Pinkie's statement.
"Your back story, silly!" Pinkie poked the rainbow-maned pegasus.
"Ow." Rainbow laughed, though didn't seem to happy to explain her filly hood.
"Alright."
It was stormy. Of course, in the place where little Rainbow Dash lived, it was always stormy.
Rainbow Dash hopped along the little cloud house. Suddenly, she felt a little familiar poke; turning, she saw her oldest brother, Chrome. He was the oldest of three, while she was the youngest.
Chrome had a silvery short mane, looking a lot like Rainbow's father, and the same emotionless black eyes. And acting like him, too; Chrome was cruel, bossy, and inconsiderate. And he loved to brag.
"Aw, little Dash, still missing her cutie mark. How sad." Chrome began to sarcastically cry, mocking the fact that Rainbow was a blank flank. Though he didn't mention that the rest of Rainbow's class didn't have a cutie mark yet, either.
"Oh no, I'm so scared," Chrome laughed, "Mom isn't even home. She's never home. You're like mom; a weakling. Can't even fight. While dad is here to straighten you up. To be a REAL racer."
Rainbow gulped. She hated her dad. While her mom was nice in every way possible. Like her dad should be...
Her second-oldest sibling raced in. She was a lot like her mom, and had the same beauty both on the inside and out; Rainbow Dash smiled. Spectrum.
She had a rainbow mane, much like Rainbow Dash's, only flowing and wavy. Her eyes were a glistening gold, almost the opposite of the deep black pit that were Chrome's eyes.
"What's up, Spectrum?" Rainbow asked, knowing well that Chrome wouldn't fight when Spectrum was there.
"C'mon, mom's waiting for you outside to take you to Junior Speedster's flight camp!"
"Yeah!" Rainbow raced to the door, her heart pounding with delight. Junior Speedster's flight camp was the chance to get away from Chrome and her disgusting father.
"And...um...bye, Spectrum!" She awkwardly waved her hoof at the one sibling of hers who was nice to her.
"Bye, Rainbow!"
~~~
It was the BEST WEEK EVER! Rainbow Dash thought.
Rainbow laughed as she hopped into the house. She had taken a bus home from the flight camp since her mom or dad had been able to pick her up. She glanced happily at her flank.
"The first one to get my cutie mark in my CLASS! I'm on FIRE!"
Giggling, she hopped into the kitchen. A note lay there, which Rainbow read aloud:
"I'm out to do stuff with dad. From, Chrome."
Rainbow squealed with delight. Chrome was off her back, even though Rainbow wanted to rub in Chrome's face her new cutie mark she had earned earlier then Chrome got his.
At least she could spend time with mom and Spectrum. Hopping around, she didn't hear anything more silent then this. She wandered around, and couldn't find either of them anywhere.
"Moooom! Spppeeeectrrruuuum!"
Rainbow saw a little shadow in the room upstairs. She hopped over to the room, squeezing her eyes with delight to tell them everything.
"Mom! Spectrum! It had the best time at flight camp! I made lots of friends and I met a griffon! Aren't griffons so rare? Her name was Gilda! And there was this other pegasus named Fluttershy! She was so shy, but I defended her from a couple of meanies! And I got my cutie mark! And I made a Sonic Rainboom, even if it was only thought of as a myth! And--"
She wondered why her mother or Spectrum wasn't answering any of that.
"-Mom? Spectrum?"
Her eyes opened, but she regretted it. Every single ounce of happiness was drained from her in a second.
Her mother and Spectrum were dead. They laid on the floor, lifeless. Pools of blood were splashing all around as Rainbow Dash came closer to them. They were pale, and had bite marks on their necks. Bite marks...that had to belong to vamponies.
Myths...myths...myths always had to end up being real.
"No....no...mom...please...Spectrum...don't leave me here...all....alone..."
Tears came flowing out of her. Her hoof came to Spectrum and her mom, and began to shake their bodies wildly.
"MOM! SPECTRUM! WAKE UP NOW! WAKE UP! PLEASE! IT'S NOT FUNNY ANYMORE! IT'S NOT FUNNY! IT'S SICK! WAKE UP!"
She fell to the blood-stained ground, crying. Her salty tears dripped onto the ground and into the leaked blood.
She was scared. She needed help. She needed a friend...
And suddenly, she saw a...sign of some kind. The blood pools...made out a word...
Revenge.
Rainbow Dash soaked her tears into the train's chair when she had finished the story. Fluttershy had put her hoof on Rainbow, who pushed it away, making the shy pony squeal.
"I...I'm sorry. I didn't mean to..." Fluttershy squealed.
Rainbow Dash shook her head. "It...it's not your fault....Fluttershy..."
Pinkie Pie gulped. "Did you ever think that...um...your oldest brother may be a vampony?"
Rainbow Dash laughed, choking slightly on her tears. "No, he spent too much time in the sun...he...he...he would've burned..."
Rarity snorted. "Rainbow, how many times do I have to tell you, they don't BURN. They just are really....um...sensitive to the sun."
Pinkie Pie smiled. "Rarity, how do you know this much about vamponies?"
"Books, Pinkie," Rarity laughed.
Pinkie Pie gulped, at the thought of that vampony book, revealing all of their secrets to the world.
And then she thought of something else.
Rarity raised an eyebrow. "Pinkie, it's not THAT surprising."
Pinkie shook her head. "It's not that, Rarity," The pink earth pony laughed, "It's...my family. I...I need to ask the conductor something..."
She rushed to the Conductor. Surely, they could afford to make another stop.
The wind blew in Pinkie Pie's mane like it would to a pony in one of those super-dramatic, life-and-romance, cheesy movies.
Though not literally, because movies weren't really made of cheese.
But ponies still had a taste for them.
Pinkie Pie laughed at her thoughts. Sure, they were confusing. She was confusing. Everything was confusing, and sometimes she couldn't even understand herself.
But she was getting way off topic. She tended to do that in times that needed Pinkie's attention and concentration on the subject at hand. It was weird like that. Even if she was a secret, super-smarty pants, she would usually be totally random and odd, but the good-kind of odd, not the bad kind. Because the bad kind was just plain bad, and baddies are usually meanie-panties, and of course ponies didn't regularly wear pants, not in Ponyville, since Canterlot was the only place where they cared about wearing clothes, but they usually wore dresses not pants...
"PIIINKIIE! Earth to Pinkie Pie!" Rainbow Dash yelled, noticing Pinkie Pie's eyes going way off, kind of staring into the distance to the side.
Pinkie Pie shook herself, focusing on who she was talking to. "Oh...um...yeah, what, Dashie?"
The cyan pegasus rolled her magenta eyes, pointing to the place in the distance.
They had arrived at their destination.
Twilight Sparkle quickly caught up to the two, since they were leading the way and the rest were all behind, chatting. Her mane bounced as she jogged, settling into perfectly in place as she rested her hooves next to Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie.
"Pinkie, why would you want to visit the old rock farm?" Twilight asked, glancing from the tall hill they were on and onto the flat ground of Pinkie's ex-home.
Pinkie laughed. "Come on, my old siblings may be still on the goodie-pants side, and I'm sure if they're as good as me they would take no hesitation into joining our group to defeat Nightmare Moon, even if she IS their own race."
Twilight Sparkle looked hesitantly at Pinkie.
"Whatever you say, Pinkie Pie," Twilight said, "But I'm still having second thoughts about them."
Pinkie Pie joyously hopped over and onto the flat land, completely ignoring Twilight's mumbling. The pink party pony took no hesitation into knocking on the familiar, falling-apart house that she used to live in. The knocks echoed through the farm, disrupting the eerie silence that was spread around.
Rainbow Dash flew past her, landing gently on the roof, being extra-careful not to break the fragile object.
"Hey, don't take too long," Rainbow said, "The train isn't waiting for you. Spend a second after one hour here and you just earned a ticket to staying here forever until you find your own way back home."
Pinkie Pie giggled. "Don't worry, this'll be quick."
As soon as she had finished her statement, the door to the small house opened, standing there instead a familiar, grayish face.
"IIIIIINNNKKKKKIIIIEEE!" Pinkie screamed, reaching for a hug to her old sister, who, to Pinkie's surprise, avoided it purposely.
"Oh. Pinkie Pie," Inkamena answered, snarling, "Haven't seen you since you ran away from home."
Pinkie Pie laughed. "Don't worry, Inkie, I missed you too," the pink pony smiled, "Anyway, I gotta be quick, Nightmare Moon's gonna take over and I want you and Blinkie to try to help us stop her!"
Inkamena Pie seemed a bit surprised. "Nightmare Moon? Mother's in league with her," she replied, "I don't think you'd...erm...be close to her. Mother knows her better than anypony."
"Don't worry, I know her! I'm really close!" Pinkie Pie chirped, "I know the Lunar Princess personally, because I'm the element of Laughter!"
"Element...of..." Inkamena growled, "Um, nevermind. Being an element of harmony isn't important. Anyway, why should I help you? Mother's been treating us well...and you just had to run away when things got exciting."
"I...uh..." Pinkie Pie was lost in her words.
"And now I guess you're living a normal life in Ponyville with your so-called friends, right? These 'Elements' of whatsyacallit? That just have to save the day when there's somepony to finally disrupt our stupid order?"
Pinkie Pie now had nothing to say. Her mind was like a puzzle, missing so many puzzle pieces.
"Well, I guess you'd be feeling happy for yourself, completely avoiding who you really are. Vamponies. And you've finally told them all that? Am I right?" Inkamena smirked, getting happy torturing her younger sister.
"And how about those? Those your friends? Food? In between?" Inkamena asked, nodding towards the rest of her friends in the distance, taking their time while walking, chatting away and paying no notice to what was going on with Pinkie and Inkamena.
Pinkie Pie looked up, expecting to see Rainbow Dash and gain her support, because she was truly melting right now. Instead, she saw the lone roof, Rainbow Dash flying to join the others.
"Well, then, I guess you expect me to join you. That I'm still good. Right? Right!?"
The party pony gulped, glancing nervously back at Inkamena.
"Inkie, no need to mind read right now in emergencies like these," Pinkie Pie answered, feeling the familiar vampony mind-reading tingle in the back of her thoughts, "I expected a welcoming greeting, not my sister yelling at me. I expected it to be like the old times we had."
"Oh, right, riiiighhht," Inkamena smirked, though trying to cover it with a false welcoming smile, "Please...um...come in. Mother is...um...busy with work, but I'm sure she and Blinkamena could make time to see their old..."
Pinkie Pie smiled, not noticing Inkamena's tone of voice. She was just happy that her sister was 'welcoming' her politely and correctly, or at least a tiny bit that way.
"Okie Dokie Lokie!"
"Erm...why don't I close the door to preserve the heat? And maybe we can...discuss things with Mother and Blinkamena."
"Alrightie!" Pinkie delightfully hopped into the main room as Inkamena closed the door behind her. Pinkie quickly chose a chair by the table, radiating pure happiness.
Inkamena said nothing in reply. Her expression was emotionless, as she was trying her best not to ruin the wonderful plan she had made in her mind. A plan to reunite them all, to make endless happiness for Mother. Because she was part of Mother, and Mother gave her everything. So why shouldn't she do something good for her once in a while?
"Bliiiinnkkkiiie! Mooooothhherr!"
Pinkie's ear twitched, turning quickly around to see Blinkamena, the first one to arrive; her 'Mother' was taking her time, obviously, to answering Inkamena's call.
"BLLLLLIIIIIINNNKKKKIIIE!" Pinkie Pie jumped from her chair to hug Blinkamena, her sister which she had loved dearly; Blinkamena did not avoid it, instead she squeezed Pinkamena with all her might.
"Pinkie! I never thought you'd ever come back! I missed you so much!" Blinkamena said, her hooves wrapped around Pinkamena's body.
Inkamena glared at her, and Blinkamena released her hold on her sister.
Pinkie giggled. "I missed you too, Blinkie! At least when I saw you, you weren't as grumpy-licious as Inkamena!"
Inkamena scowled.
It wasn't long before 'Mother' came. As soon as she saw the pink pony she glared in disgust, taking Inkamena to another room for a little 'talk'. They came back soon after, seeing Pinkie Pie and Blinkamena chatting away, like friends who haven't seen each other in a while; in this case, sisters who haven't seen each other for most of the sister's life.
Sue tried on a big fake grin, but Pinkie didn't notice the 'fakeness' because of her conversation with Blinkie. 'Mother' and Inkamena were standing there silently, as Blinkie's and Pinkie's talk ended.
Pinkie Pie giggled. "So, can you help me?" she asked.
"Of course, Pinkie. Mother, can she stay a while? Please with a cherry on top? And can I show her around, too?"
Sue couldn't resist while looking into Blinkamena's pleading eyes. "F-fine. She can stay, and maybe have dinner with us too. It's in 20 minutes."
Pinkie smiled. "Oh, and my throat's a little dry from my long trip. May I have a glass of water?"
The mare smiled slyly. "Of course, Pinkie, dear. Right away."
Blinkamena shrugged at her mother's sudden exit. She ignored it and faced Pinkie with a great, big smile.
"I haven't smiled like this in the...longest time," Blinkie giggled.
"Well, if you come to Ponyville, everyday is like a visit from Granny Pie!"
Blinkie paused. "Granny...Pie?" she asked, "You mean the bestest granny ever to exist?"
Pinkie nodded, then frowned. "You would remember her more then me," she said, "Anyway, where is she? I know she lives in Manehatten but she visits almost daily!"
Blinkie rubbed the floor with her hoof nervously. "Well, yes, she did, but..."
"What do you mean 'she did'?" Pinkie asked, frowning.
"She passed away," Blinkie said, her smile gone, "I just...hope that she lasted longer..."
Pinkie pushed Blinkie's frown into a big smile. "Nevermind that, it's the past, and I'm sure Granny wouldn't want us to waste our lives mourning for her!"
Blinkie giggled. "I guess so..."
Inkamena rolled her eyes. "Mother? Is dinner ready?"
Sue walked into the room, balancing a glass of red juice on her hoof. "Yes, Inkamena, it is, and here, Pinkie, this should help that dry throat."
Pinkie glanced at the mysterious liquid. "What is that? Punch?"
Sue nodded hesitantly. "Um...sure."
"Okie Dokie Lokie!" She quickly took the glass and drank the entire thing down with one gulp.
"Refreshing?" her mother smiled.
The party pony nodded. "It's so deliciously yummytastic...it almost reminds me of..."
Sue's sly smile got wider. "Blood, perhaps?"
Pinkie gulped. "Ah...well...nice one, mom...it's a...heh...funny prank...I do pranks all the time in...heh...Ponyville..."
Her mother frowned.
Blinkamena scowled. "Mother! You made her drink blood?"
Sue nodded, smiling. "Of course. She hasn't had it in a while, so why not treat her to something...special?"
"I...um..." the pink pony began, "Um, anyways, so here's this letter, can you help me with this Nightmare Moon thingy?"
Blinkie took the letter from her sister's hoof, reading it carefully. "Nightmare Moon? Aren't you in league with her, Mother?"
Mother's eyes went wide and she snatched the letter from her daughter's hoof rudely. "What the..."
"You are the most powerful vampony she's ever met?" Sue snarled, "Surely she meant me or somepony else."
Pinkie rolled her eyes. "Um, no, she put the note on my bed where I sleep at Sugarcube Corner in Ponyville."
Mother bit her lip.
"It's probably because I'm one of the elements of harmony," Pinkie explained.
"One of the elements of harmony..." her mother repeated with disbelief.
"One of the elements of harmony...." Blinkie said, "Oh my, Pinkie! You're famous? Which element are you?"
"Laughter," Pinkie answered.
Inkamena took the letter, reading the signature over and over. "Yep, that's Nightmare Moon's own signature all right," Inkamena spoke, "So you are actually one of the elements of harmony. I thought you were lying. So those friends of yours...waiting outside this house...are elements of harmony too...?"
"...trying to destroy the perfection Nightmare Moon has planned?" Sue asked, "Really, Inkamena? You never told me her friends were here."
Inkamena gulped. "Well, you see..."
Sue rolled her eyes. "Anyway, I'm sure you don't expect any of us to join you...on this...good side. But I expect you to be loyal to your mother...and join us."
Pinkie gulped. She had figured out every part and piece to her plan and trip, but she hadn't expected this. She hadn't planned anything. So she decided to wing it...
"N-no," the party pony said hesitantly.
"No..." her mother considered that aloud, "No...No. NO. NO????? YOU CAN NOT SAY NO TO ME!"
The pink earth pony shivered.
"I...I--"
"GIRLS! GET HER!"
Inkamena rose up with cruel laughter, while Blinkie hesitantly got onto her hooves.
"BEFORE MY BIRTHDAY!"
Blinkie and Inkie nodded quickly, at Sue's surprising tone of voice. Inkie took no hesitation into punching her sister, seeing the quick bruise form. She smiled.
Pinkie's mane flattened a bit from the horrible pain she was going through. Then she looked at her straight in the eye.
"Do. That. Again."
Inkamena nodded, shrugging, and punched her in the same place, under her eye, making the bruise bigger.
Pinkie held back the painful tears. Suddenly, her voice ran through the room.
"HEEEEEEEEEELLLPPP!"
Pinkie smirked at Inkie and Blinkie's startled expressions, as well as Sue's.
Inkamena looked back at her, smiling evilly. "What did that do--"
With no hesitaiton, the part of the wall where the door was collapsed quickly, behind it five colorful, candy-colored ponies.
That weren't looking so happy.
"Make no mistake," she smiled, "We are no pushovers."
~~~
It was like a world war that had begun. Only, it wasn't a world war. It was more like the Mane Six versus three, powerful vamponies.
Only the vamponies were more then just vamponies. They were natural vampony warriors.
Sue and Inkamena avoided most kicks and punches given by the six ponies, but sometimes when they were tired they'd fail to avoid it, falling to the ground, then getting up and fighting again. Blinkamena was hesitant, but she was still of good skills. She blocked and avoided, but didn't hit until she desperately needed to.
But eventually, it was 6 to one.
Applejack and Rainbow Dash teamed up to take down Sue Pie, and it was surprisingly easy because she was older and weaker. Twilight Sparkle and Rarity fought Inkamena until she gave up, and that was easy too, because though she was quick and young, she was also less experienced, as Twilight was with magic.
Now all was left was Pinkie and Fluttershy against Blinkie.
The others were either resting or busy holding down Sue and Inkie, careful not to let them escape. So Pinkie and Fluttershy were on their own. But that didn't stop them.
Pinkie Pie, in vampony mode, was stronger, faster, and had heightened senses so she could predict attacks. Fluttershy built up strength from all the hurt caused to the others. Blinkamena was not really fighting, so she was getting most of the pain. But then, she would throw in a punch and kick or two, at perfect timing. And they would be hurt as well as Blinkie.
But soon, Pinkie and Fluttershy were weaker. They did not have training or experience, so neither knew how really to deal with a situation like this. Pinkie was quickly pinned down by Blinkie.
"Blinkie! No! Blinkie, don't do it!"
Blinkamena saw what she meant. Pinkie was already damaged, and another punch in the face would knock her out for sure. She could give one thousand punches while having her pinned down but...
It just didn't seem right.
Is this all I'm worth? Is this all my life has to give? Is this...me? Blinkie thought, hesitant, ignoring the continuous glares from her relatives.
It wasn't.
But, she had to be loyal. Otherwise she was never to be forgiven...
Blinkie moved her hoof nervously. She didn't know that she was being watched at the time.
Blinkamena blinked, trying to get the world around her less blurry. She didn't remember much, so she didn't exactly know what was going on.
"Oh, silly!" Blinkie saw a super-hyper pony, a blur of pink. She tried to rub her eyes, but she couldn't. Looking down, she could see some blurs and knew that she was tied together...with rope.
Rope? When did she black out?
There was giggling from the pony. Her eyes widened as her vision cleared.
She was on one of the Canterlot trains, and Pinkie Pie was in front of her...
Had she tied her up?
"Smile! Always remember to smile!" Pinkie's hooves extended to push the ends of her mouth so she was 'smiling'.
Blinkie scowled anyway.
"What? Pinkie! Let me go!" Blinkie yelled, almost pleaded, "Pinkie, I don't like being tied up! You know that!"
Pinkie giggled, almost evilly. But it wasn't evil. It was more like...good.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a yellow pegasus pony. Had it been...Fluttershy?
"Oh...um...hello," Fluttershy waved shyly.
"FLUTTERSHY! Guys!" Blinkie tried to get out of the ropes, but suddenly an aurora of magic got hold of her and she stayed in position, whether she liked it or not.
A strict looking purple unicorn glared at her. "Watch your tone, Blinkamena."
"Blinkamena? How do you guys know my..."
Suddenly, she saw the visions. She recalled the memories. She had blacked out...
"I see you have awoken, Blinkie," A white unicorn with curled purple hair noted, peeking from the chair to see their 'prisoner', "Now, you're probably wondering why you...blacked out."
Blinkie was about to say something rude, or yell at them, but she hesitated and quickly remembered that they weren't there to hurt her. No, they were the good guys. They would not hurt her unless they needed to hurt her.
"Of...of course," she said, glancing awkwardly at the pale unicorn. She looked so familiar to her...but she was a pony Blinkamena couldn't quite put her hoof on...
"Do..do I know you? What's your name again?"
Rarity frowned. "Rarity, of course."
"Rarity? That sounds familiar."
Rarity ignored her. "Anyway, you were wondering how you blacked out, right?" she asked, trying to change the subject.
Blinkamena nodded hesitantly. "Um, sure. Yeah."
Fluttershy blushed. "Um...when you moved your hoof...I was nervous, so I just kicked the back of your head. I'm so sorry."
She was about to yell and scream that she 'should be', but she didn't. This shy pony was just protecting her friend. Like she should have done with Pinkie...
"D...don't be. I deserved that. Either way I wasn't going to be loyal, to my sister or to my mother. I hate Sue, anyway," Blinkamena admitted, "Just, I want to go to Ponyville. I want to feel real joy, like you did. I should have went with you when you ran away; I could have met all of you, as you did, Pinkie. I want to have real friends."
Pinkie Pie looked at her. She just smiled.
"You never felt true friendship, did you?"
Blinkamena shook her head in reply. "Not in the slightest."
Twilight smiled at the awkward moment between the two sisters. "Well, why don't you come with us to fight Nightmare Moon when we get there? I'm sure your skills would be at good use."
She hesitated, then shook her head again. "No way. I've been weakened, and it takes vamponies longer time to heal. Pinkie's better than I am, really, though she has less experience she has the element of laughter in her soul. I...I'm just her sister. I can't be to any help."
Twilight nodded hesitantly. "If you insist..." she replied, "But if you change your mind, just...come after us. The castle isn't very big...at least to me, since I had lived there since my early fillyhood."
The grayish-blue earth pony smiled. "Well, I can't come after you if I'm still tied up."
Pinkie nodded, smiling. Her hooves went to the rope to untie Blinkamena.
"Hey, where's...um..." Blinkamena hesitated, forgetting the cyan pegasus and the orange earth pony's names.
"AJ and RD? They're taking naps, of course," Pinkie answered quickly, her usual hyper self, as she finished untying the last knots in the rope that held Blinkamena down.
Blinkamena could move, finally. The rope knots were undone and Pinkie took away the ropes anyway, so she could move at last...
"Hey, what's with the flailing?"
Blinkamena looked up to see the cyan pegasus awake, above her. She blushed, realizing that she was moving way too much.
Suddenly, the train stopped. The familiar brown earth pony came by, informing them that they had reached Canterlot Castle, their destination.
Twilight Sparkle nodded. "Thank you, good sir."
The earth pony scowled. "Don't call me that."
He left quickly, into another part of the train. Rainbow Dash frowned at him as he left.
"Touche."
Pinkie rolled her eyes. "Anyway, we better get going. Blinkamena, if you're hungry, here's some snacks and some drinks," she tossed her sister Cheetos and a Diet Cola.
Blinkamena's eyes brightened at the sight of the food. "Cheetos!" she squealed, taking hold of the orange bag of cheddar snacks and ripping the top open.
Pinkie smiled. "Remember, use it for emergencies. If you run out..." she gave her a pack of gummy bears.
"If...I run out..."
"If you run out," Pinkie Pie confirmed.
"Gummy Bears!"
Pinkie giggled. "Yeah, well, anyway, I guess we better leave. Nightmare Moon...she's waiting for us. And we have to be quick, or else Nightmare Moon will take over. So, yeah, you know what else."
Blinkamena nodded, chewing a Cheeto. "Of course. If I change my mind, go in after you. If I get hungry, eat the Cheetos. If I run out of Cheetos, eat the gummy bears. If I get thirsty, drink this giant bottle of Diet Cola." She pointed her hoof to the large bottle, just to show her point.
Twilight nodded. "I guess you've got yourself covered," she said, "Bathroom's in the back, if you want to--"
"Don't talk about that," Blinkamena interrupted.
Pinkie nodded at Twilight, and they gathered everypony else. Pinkie took her saddlebag and hung it over her shoulder, as did the others. She nodded at Blinkamena, who nodded back. She just...didn't want to make a mistake.
"Ready?" Twilight asked the other five.
"Ready," they responded in unison. They marched out of the train and onto the grounds of Canterlot.
But they weren't alone at the station.
A familiar tall white pony towered over them all. Her evil grin grew bigger as they realized who they had approached. Her shadow covered over the six like a dark blanket.
Twilight managed only to say one word.
"C--celestia?"
~~~ Author's Note: -I think this is good, for a short chapter. Yes, a short chapter. And yes, I did it on purpose. Because I thought I could just make it quick and go to the good part already; heh, I'm impatient. Anyway, you can always soak up the glory of Chapter Eight. Just saying.
"Well well well, if it isn't the famous Twilight Sparkle."
Standing in front of the Mane Six, Celestia rose up tall against the group. Her mane was fiery and she was wearing glistening golden armor. Her coat was a pale white they had ever seen, being so pure and bright as it was. Her right eye was a bright, kind of faded pink, the other one an unnatural gold. Her wings, instead of the feathery white ones, were covered in golden armor in the style much like Nightmare Moon's, a batlike shape. And her laughter was unlike anything Twilight could imagine...
"And that's Solar Flare to you!" She stomped her hoof, still wearing the golden princess horseshoes, her voice similar yet deeper and darker in comparison.
"Twilight," Pinkie came to her side, whispering in a hushed tone, "Nightmare Moon must have her in a hypnotic trance. We have to knock her out to remove it."
Twilight Sparkle nodded, then shook her head quickly. "Knock her out? It's almost impossible to defeat alicorns, and it's not going to be as easy as blacking out Blinkie."
The pink pony just looked off into the distance. Finally, she spoke. "I guess we have to try our best--"
"TRY OUR BEST!?!" the librarian exclaimed, though still talking in whispers.
Pinkie nodded. "...try our best so we can reclaim Celestia and not let everlasting nighttime take place in Equestria. And I'm not giving up my best friends just because one of them can't at least try to save the day...again."
The purple unicorn nodded and...
"You know that I'm still hearing you, right?"
Twilight turned to her corrupted mentor awkwardly, blushing. "I-I knew that..."
Solar Flare sighed and shook her head. "Anyway, my sister has ordered you at the castle. Are you going to meet her, perhaps?"
The librarian frowned. "N-no, we--"
Pinkie shoved her hoof in her purple friend's mouth. "Yes! Of course! We...are here to see Nightmare Moon! We are agreeing to her offer!"
Celestia raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
The pink pony nodded, carefully removing her hoof from the librarian's stern face. "Really."
Solar Flare nodded hesitantly. "Very well, my master does as she does. You may proceed."
The mane six started on their way, but then the white alicorn spoke again.
"...except for you. Pinkie Pie, Pinkamena Diane Pie, whatever, come with me."
Pinkie Pie raised her hoof, stopping. Turning around, she walked back towards Celestia, nodding to her friends who had stopped. "Just...go without me, okay? I'll be there soon."
Solar Flare just smiled. "Of course. It'll only take a few minutes, I promise."
The rest of the Elements of Harmony simply nodded, and continued walking. Pinkie Pie turned to face Celestia with a stern expression, one her father always would use.
"What do you want?"
The alicorn seemed surprised at her anger. "No, no, no, you must have me mistaken. I just wanted to...ask you something. Have a little...discussion. To get to know you."
The party pony's expression grew angrier and more suspicious...until it finally popped back into its naturally happy smile.
"Okie Dokie Lokie!"
Celestia's mouth formed a smile. "Very well. We can walk through Canterlot. And you don't have any problem with the dark, do you?"
Pinkie Pie shook her head. "Not at all," she replied.
Solar Flare nodded, smiling evilly. "Good."
~~~
All was quiet in Canterlot. Instead of what Pinkie suspected was high-pitched screams from fanciful ponies and racing mares and stallions wearing suits and dresses as their everyday clothing, there wasn't a single pony outside, instead all of the home's lights turned off. It was...surprising.
And plus, Canterlot looked deserted.
Celestia hadn't said a thing to Pinkie Pie, and Pinkie Pie didn't spoke a word since walking with Solar Flare.
She took a quick look at her. Yes, it was like a fiery, Celestial form of Nightmare Moon...she looked quite dangerous, if she was to say so herself. Her mane was the only thing lighting her way, besides the moon's distant light, as she gazed upon the skies.
The night was dark and mysterious, the skies forming different though recognizable constellations. She had never studied them, but had fell asleep during one of Twilight's unnecessary speeches on space.
Suddenly, the alicorn spoke. "Pinkamena. I know your secret."
Pinkie was took aback. "W-what secret?"
"The secret you've been hiding from me," her eyes turned towards the pink pony, "You're a vampony. And you never told me."
The pink pony said nothing.
"And wow, lookie there, you don't even try to help your friend save the day. Discord. Element of laughter? How useless. I can see a reason for all the others, but not the element of laughter," Celestia's eyes burned, "Element of loyalty is obvious. Element of Honesty...honestly, she needs to help you. Element of Generosity is...I don't even need to say it. Element of Kindness...well of course. And Element of Magic unites them."
"I--" Pinkie began.
"Dont!" her wings unfolded quickly, her anger rushing quickly, "I was your ruler! I kept secrets, but was honest when somepony asked! And now, I believe you are lying once again!"
Pinkie gulped, afraid what to expect. It was like Nightmare Moon equipped Celestia with the anger of Applejack and Rainbow Dash combined.
"I can't believe Twilight became friends with a lying mischievous pony! And now I'll take care of you...and Nightmare Moon will take care of her..."
The party pony nervously glanced at Solar Flare's grin.
"Goodbye, Pinkie Pie."
Pinkie ducked as the corrupted Celestia threw a punch. She was afraid to hurt her, knowing that the true Celestia was inside. She just stayed shivering on the ground as the alicorn regained her balance.
She was expecting more of a frown upon Solar Flare's face. But instead, her smile was bigger.
"GUARDS!"
The Ponyville baker shivered as the ground shook. Cracks formed on the grass and sidewalk concrete bigger then usual, and skeletal hooves reached out and took hold, pulling themselves up.
She had summoned undead skeletal guards.
Pinkie jumped back. Her mane bounced as her eyes glowed red, her fangs popping out. There was no need for the sensitivity of the aching sunlight, since the moon was only there, glowing. It wasn't hurting at all.
Celestia smiled, nodding. Her voice was simple though evil.
"Get her."
Pinkie quickly dodged as the skeletal guard attacked her. She kicked it aside...she didn't need to worry about having them hurt while they did nothing wrong (she hated to do that). They were skeletal guards rose from their grave in necromancy. And they were attacking her. She had nothing to worry about.
Another skeletal guard attempted the same thing as the other. Pinkie did the same as she did...kicked it aside, the skeletal guard falling into miscellaneous pieces of bone. The guards weren't all that intelligent...they just did the same thing as the last.
It wasn't too late before the pink pony had defeated all of them that Celestia had summoned. It was just her and Solar Flare now...
"You cannot defeat your princess," she proclaimed, rising tall up against the vampony.
Pinkie gulped. It was true, she could not truly defeat her. She was simply in a trance...if she...
Celestia quickly kicked her to the ground. Pinkie was under Her Majesty's hoof; this, she knew, was nothing what the real Princess Celestia would do.
"Ready to die?"
The pink pony did not hesitate. She did nothing, though. All she did was think of a plan.
And she thought of the perfect one.
"No," she answered silkily.
Her eyes glowed a fascinating bright yellow. Her fangs pulled back into her teeth, but Solar felt a surge of energy taken from her.
She was drinking the energy from Solar Flare.
Pinkie looked at the corrupted Celestia. She was screaming in agony...it was something she hated. But the best part was that nopony was watching.
Solar Flare fell to the ground. Her screams died out and soon she was simply struggling...but not much since she didn't have enough energy to do so.
Her eyes went back to its normal bright blue after a while. She wasn't going to actually kill Celestia...a power she had but would not do...just make some time for her to escape and warn her friends about everything.
~~~
Twilight Sparkle was leading the way. Her horn glowed light, and it was much easier for them all to see. It was something Rainbow Dash called 'Twilight the yellow-horned unicorn' (and she started to sing a song about it) though it didn't make much sense to anyone else.
Applejack looked at them all when Rainbow Dash quit talking. "Ya know, I seriously hate it when ponies lie ta me. Or anypony else, for that matter. And Pinkie just lied there...there and then!"
Twilight Sparkle rolled her eyes, sighing. "She's the element of laughter, you can't blame her Applejack," the librarian explained, "Besides, it was for the good of us all. Tolerance is the key to success, anyway."
"Ah guess," she grumbled, "But Ah'm still furious with her!"
Fluttershy shared glances with Rarity. She blinked her sky blue eyes and Rarity blinked hers. They said nothing.
Rainbow looked at them all, looking around and grumbling at the sky. Nopony knew what she was doing, until they realized she was grumbling at the dark clouds scattered all over Canterlot. There was many of them.
"These so-called pegasi are doing a terrible job at clearing the clouds," she exclaimed, "Whereas I can clear it in ten seconds flat!"
Nopony answered her about that.
Rarity rolled her eyes. "Anyway," she spoke, "Excuse me if I may be interrupting, but..."
"Just go 'right ahead Rahrity."
"Ahem. Alright, where should I begin..." she began, "Oh yes. Ponies are different in many ways; their personalities are very...unique, and I am no exception because my name means unique itself. So...um...many ponies have high expectations. This is another story, but I am telling it to you anyway. You see, ponies...since they are different...they are expected of things. Others just expect others to expect them for things. I am one of those ponies. And...you see...um...I..."
"Just get to the point!" demanded Rainbow Dash.
Rarity smiled nervously. "Well...I...alright," she explained, "Princess Luna is a very high Canterlot pony. Higher then fancy pants, as one of the two princesses who bring us day and night. Even higher then Cadence. She may or may not have very high expectations...I am not taking any risks. I need to go and clean up and reapply my makeup so I look the very best, even if she's evil and planning on taking over the world and I...I'm...well...I...how do I put this pleasantly..."
Twilight put on a bland expression. "You need to go to the bathroom."
Rarity nodded, blushing. "I...why yes...Twilight...I need to go to the little filly's room very...badly?"
Applejack facehooved.
Twilight looked at Rarity semi-angrily. She was about to yell...but she just sighed, rolling her eyes.
"Whatever," the librarian said, "Just go."
Rarity looked at Twilight Sparkle with a thankful look. "Why thank you, Twilight. You really are the best friend I could ever ask for," she smiled, "And don't worry. It's just a quick makeup change and a...um...you know what. I'll be right behind you when I'm done, and I'm sure to run as fast as I can possibly can with...heels on."
Rainbow Dash groaned.
"Just..."
Rarity smiled and nodded at her purple friend. She turned around and headed in the opposite direction of where the four ponies were walking.
"Wait...Rarity...there's..." Fluttershy spoke gently as she saw her friend turn and run, not hearing the yellow pegasus, "There's the bathroom in the castle..."
Applejack looked over the road. Making sure Rarity was out of sight or at least out of range so she could not hear what the cowpony was going to say, she spoke.
"Consarn that Rarity!" she stomped her hoof, "She thinks she can do everythin'! Ah mean...this is complete evil we're standin' up against! It's not like the Nightmare would even' care what Rarity looked like! And high heels?"
Twilight Sparkle bit her lip. "Come on, Applejack," she calmed the angry cowpony, "I know you can get very angry easily. But, like in Rarity's completely unnecessary lecture, ponies are different. They like different things; and as you know, you and Rarity are an example of this difference between ponies. You may like to splash in the mud and play with your little sister, but Rarity is a fashionista and...sadly...proud of it. Even though I can't see a reason for the 'necessity of shoes and clothes', I try to make myself decent and get along with her."
Applejack calmed, and nodded. "Alright, even though pointin' out that I have anger issues isn't really helpin' mah problem," she said slowly and softly, "But gettin' mad twice in a row isn't goin' ta make me calmer anytime soon, ya hear?"
Rainbow Dash laughed. "And Twilight, don't give an unnecessary lecture after another pony's unnecessary lecture," the speedster advised, "It just makes things overly boring and eggheadish."
Applejack couldn't help but laugh.
Twilight rolled her eyes, changing the subject. "When is Pinkie Pie going to get here? My 'mentor' has promised that she'd talk to Pinkie within a few minutes, and I'm very sensitive about time and time limits."
"Oh...Pinkie? Isn't she running up and down the streets in our direction flailing her arms?" Fluttershy asked the rest of the group, "Oh my! She's running up and down the streets in our direction flailing her arms!"
Twilight looked behind them, and Pinkie was there, just doing as Fluttershy described.
"Um...Pinkie?" Rainbow Dash began.
The pink pony ran up to them quickly. It wasn't unknown throughout the group that she had amazing speed, especially since she was a vampony. Once she had reached them (while the rest of them looking at her awkwardly, even Fluttershy) she was sweating and panting and holding herself as she collapsed onto the floor. She quickly got up again, looking terribly paranoid, and racing away and closer to the Canterlot Castle. Win. It was only a few feet away.
Twilight Sparkle ran up to her, trying her best, trying to speak to Pinkie through pants and grasps of breath.
Pinkie looked back at her friend. She had total fear in her eyes, but seemed to be refreshed altogether, even if she was panting and sweating and running.
Celestia didn't catch her. They ran into the castle against Pinkie's will. And Pinkie and her friends were held within a magical familiar dark-blue aura that strapped them up to the walls.
The world slowed as Pinkie struggled against the ropes; the walls were uncomfortable, first of all, and were gray, dark, and musty. It must have been the new style and theme Nightmare Moon had chosen, until she realized...she was in the dungeon.
She didn't have a clue how she would've entered the castle first level and ended up in the dungeon. Nightmare Moon must have transported them all...she knew they were present...
Her bag clanked; the elements of harmony weren't very happy either. She knew that inanimate objects were...inanimate, but she had gained more respect for them after the incident she named 'Party of One'. After all, they were loyal enough to comfort her even if she made them all move...and talk....
Pinkie shook her head; she had a habit of getting off of subject quickly. The pastry chef looked around groggily, since her head was getting dizzy; it was some effect that happened when she was strapped to walls with rope. How she found out about the effect, she did not know.
Twilight, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy....all of them except for Rarity were with her. Where was she at the time of need?
"Where's Rarity, guys?" Pinkie asked, her voice dulled by the 'strapping-effect', what she called it.
Applejack snorted. "She's applyin' makeup and gettin' all fancied-up so she can face the prin'cess that's what she's doin'," she explained less-than kindly, "Now will ya'll focus? We need'a get out of this...this trap!"
Rainbow Dash beat her wings up and down, trying to rip the straps off. "This rope is tight! Like...glue!"
Twilight Sparkle sighed. "Applejack, I know; but we really need to figure out a proper way to do it. And Rainbow, it's not glue; it's a magical force that may allow the creator, a powerful creator, to unlock it or lock it against one's body whenever he or she pleases, and I know now that Nightmare Moon's behind this."
A deep, mysterious voice congratulated them. "Congratulations, Twilight Sparkle. You've finally figured out it was me."
There was a blinding blue magical flash, and the nighttime alicorn appeared. "And Pinkie, ah, you've arrived. With your friends," she smirked, looking at them all, then at Pinkie Pie, a sparkle in her eye, "Are they ready?"
Somehow, she knew exactly what she was talking about. "No! We've come to stop you," the baker replied fearlessly, baring her teeth, "With as much force as we've got!"
"Yes, Nightmare Moon; but I want to ask you only one question," Twilight Sparkle explained calmly, though strong and serious, "Why have you turned on us, Princess Luna? I thought you've finally realized that the nighttime does not hate you and that we all love your creation, just as much as Celestia's day."
Nightmare Moon was taken aback by the use of her princess title, but recovered quicker than expected.
"That's exactly what it is: Celestia's day," she smiled, her eyes filled with pure evil, "I overheard a long conversation from Celestia, when I foolishly believed her lie about how everypony loved me and that we'd all be equal, and heard her agree to another pony that they would shorten the night to make more room for day," her eyes filled with tears but disappeared as soon as they were shown, "And that was enough. I listened on and found that more than a handful of towns across Equestria wanted day instead of night. It was even in an official survey!"
She gulped her distress, and continued. "So I planned it out. Carefully. How my plot will take over Equestria, and destroy most of the cities which wanted day instead of night. And so it was." Her eyes flashed a blood red, and she smiled once again. "I will give you more than just one chances. Now, will you join me, or not?"
"N-never!" Pinkie shouted without hesitation, "You must have overheard something different! It's not right!"
She smiled suddenly, and giggled. "Besides, you said plot!"
"I give you no choice, Pinkamena Diane Pie, so shut up before I send you to the dungeon!" Nightmare Moon shouted.
She had a puppy-dog face. "But, we're already in the dungeon!"
The alicorn facehoofed and ignored the obnoxious pink mare. She faced the others, grinning; quickly, she lowered her head, pulled the strength of her magic as the blue aura surrounded her horn, and flew upwards, as if opening something.
Clanking was heard in the distance. Clanking, that sounded like the opening of a dungeon door of some kind.
A pale mare entered the room. A mare with sparkle, her mane curly and beautiful. She was like a model...a model that they all recognized.
The rest of them just gasped, mouths hanging open at the sight of the familiar fashionista before them.
She just giggled. "Now, dears, close your mouths, you'll catch flies."
Rainbow Dash growled angrily in response. "Rarity! You traitor!" she beat her wings, fruitlessly trying to escape the ropes and chains which tied her to the wall like the others.
"Now, Rainbow, please, I'm just here to settle a deal with you," she flipped her mane and walked along the room so she could go eye-to-eye with Rainbow Dash, eyes glistening, "I'm sure you already know what the deal is."
"I don't want to be one of those monster blood-drinkers, Rarity, you're my very best friend and I certainly hope you understand that," Fluttershy whimpered, "You know that's not right for me, or you, either."
Rarity rolled her eyes, opening her mouth to reveal fangs. "Oh, darling, I'm already a vampony," she closed her mouth, her red eyes fading back to its normal blue, "And I want you to join me, and Nightmare Moon. See, I've always been a vampony. Not very powerful, just one of the normal vamponies. I've always been close to the Pie family, you see, when they were younger, which Pinkie had forgotten," she stole an angry glance at Pinkie who looked sheepish, "I've been jealous of them actually. So they decided, when Pinkie left for Ponyville, for them to take me in temporarily as their younger daughter. My parents thought I was doing something of a summer job. But I had to leave them when Sweetie Belle was born, but, I love my sister, too."
Applejack glared at Rarity. "Rarahty, ah thought we were friends. From all the things we did like that sleepover at Twilight's. And now you're gonna turn us all into vamponies!? And your sister's gonna turn my dear Applebloom into one too!?!?"
Rarity smiled. "Silly Applejack, Sweetie Belle's little fangs haven't exactly grown in yet, and she's not really ready either for knowing," she grinned, showing her fangs again, "But, of course, once she has her fangs, who knows about Scootaloo or Applebloom?"
Applejack threw her arms against the chains as she tried, like Rainbow Dash in an Earth Pony style, to get out. "Oh no you don't! You won't touch a single hair on mah little Applebloom's mane, ya hear!?" With that, she threw herself out but the ropes just held her a foot near the ground.
"Ooh! Bungee jumping!" Pinkie jumped, like Applejack, and ended up the same way, "Yay!"
Rarity stomped over to Pinkie and quickly floated her up, the straps over her becoming stronger. "Now, Pinkie, we have serious buisness to do," she smiled seductively, "Now, make a choice: be good and join us, or rebel hopelessly and lose against our powers."
Pinkie frowned. "Hey! You rigged it!"
"Rarity, you make the word 'good' sound twisted," Twilight grunted.
Rarity focused on her lavender friend. "Oh, Twilight, you know we can be best friends if you decide to join us," she put on her most innocent expression, "Best friends forever."
"You're being extremely ominous and suspicious, Rarity, not to mention being an evil vampony," Twilight explained, "I can't exactly trust you."
"Me neither," Applejack shouted, "Especially the way you've been! Poor Applebloom!"
"Count me out," Rainbow Dash agreed, "I can't believe you!"
Fluttershy shivered. "The way you've been acting makes me remember the days when we were best friends. Best friends, Rarity, we'd go to the spa together and...I miss those days. If only you would understand."
"Oh, I do understand!" Rarity huffed, "I understand completely that you don't want to be my friends anymore!"
She smiled silkily. "I guess we'll just have to do this the hard way."
Her horn glowed a dark, deep purple, and with a bright flash, it all went black.
The world was completely messed up, she could admit to herself -- to anyone, including the walls and floors. They all looked green and purple, like Spike, Only they had big bouncy eyes and a happy cartoonish mouth....And the fact that they were all talking and singing about the happiness of life.
She shook her head, realizing her mane was flattened somehow. Ah she realized -- Rarity had put her into a crazy state of which she could not easily escape, though could, being a vampony and such. Grimacing at her new hairdo, she poofed it up with a small hint of a smile, and went back to scowling again.
The window helped shine glowing moonlight throughout the room. It was not dark, yet not light either -- that was the essence of the moon. It was not bright, nor complete darkness, for it could, as well as the sun, create light, though not effect photosynthesis for the plants. Pinkie noted that pointless bit of knowledge she gained and wondered to herself how could the plants and farmer ponies survive during Nightmare Moon's era (if she were to defeat them all with Rarity, which was very unlikely). For the moon did not help with their growth and survival. She had learned about that also during another one of Twilight Sparkle's lectures about photosynthesis.
Examining her surroundings, she noted that she was in some sort of Canterlot dungeon, in one of the prison cells. The poles were rusty and the walls and floors also, as they were made of the same material -- metal. That was one of the worst mistakes to put a vampony into.
She got up slowly, with total confidence, and put her hooves on the bars. With all her strength, she tried pulling on them -- to break out -- but it had ended in the part where the bars had electrocuted her and sent her flying back. Useless. Rarity and Nightmare Moon must have been thinking outside the box, creatively. They had planned and known that Pinkie would have thought of doing so and added the extra protection on the special bars, enchanting them so they would zap her, or anypony, who touches it.
Looking at it once again, she noted that there were no keyholes on the outside or inside, and no key as far as she could see, so Pinkie wondered how they got her in, or how she could get out. Transportation? Yes, that would have been useful -- except she was an Earth Pony. She trashed the thought.
Suddenly, she heard soft hoofsteps -- they seemed to be coming closer and closer. She suspected that it was Rarity, since Nightmare Moon had more of an elegant walk and would much more be preparing the prisoners for something, she did not know, and would have sent her 'wing' pony (though Rarity was a unicorn, except for that one time where she had enchanted fake wings, ha!), which was Rarity, to check her most prized prisoner. But, as the pony came closer, she recognized her and saw that it was hugely unlikely for it to be Rarity.
"Blinkie! What the hay are you doing here?" Pinkie shouted, "I thought you were supposed to be on the train!"
Blinkie sighed, pulling her hair behind her ear so it showed both her eyes. She had a bag on her back, which was lumpy (she did not want to know what was in it) and moving. She rubbed her hoof on the ground.
"You told me that I could come whenever I wanted," she reminded her, straightening up a bit, "And I had felt, I do not know if this is an emotional connection or something, but I felt that you and the others were in trouble. I had remembered Rarity from somewhere and suddenly realized that she was buisness partners with mother -- I recognized her voice since I was always up in my room whenever she came and discussed things with her. I had just decided to check on you to see if you were okay."
Pinkie nodded, understanding her younger sister's worry. "Yep. You predicted correctly -- I'm stuck in this horrid prison and Nightmare Moon and Rarity are completing their evil scheme and doing something -- I don't know what but I know it's something horrible -- to my friends. You've got to help me!" she nodded, then cocked her head, "What's in the bag, first of all?"
Blinkie nodded. "Yes, that," she turned and opened the bag, two small filly heads poking out, "You forgot them in the train car. They were eating the food all the way here, I'm afraid they were very hungry and ate most of my supply," she laughed, "Anyway, I thought they may be useful to you since, you know..." she looked at the ground as if she had disappointed her older sister.
"Oh, you hungry little munchkins!" Pinkie teased, glancing at the Cake Twins, then looked back at Blinkie, confused, "What are you doing? You look...like you disappointed somepony."
Blinkie perked her ears up and stood taller immediately, "I'm sorry, sister, it's just I'm very used to doing that whenever I do something to Inkie or Mother. They are almost always disappointed by me."
Pinkie laughed. "Don't worry, and why would I be disappointed? I'm pretty much the opposite. You have come to rescue me and now you deserve thanks. Now, er, do you have some kind of plan to get me out of this cage? I'm pretty much stuck here -- the bars electrocute you when you touch it."
Blinkie cocked her head. "Hmmm...now do they? Mother had told me about something like this once..." she trailed off, trying to remember, "Oh yes! When a vampony unicorn chants a spell about electricity, a powerful enchantment, this would only apply to their own species. It cannot be harmful to griffons, dragons, you know, as well as ponies or lycans. It's only fair."
"So vamponies do have a source of weakness?" Pinkie questioned.
Blinkie giggled. "Of course, all vamponies have a limitation of power," she explained, "But another way of reflecting it, I just thought of it. Why not let the Cake Twins try? Their fangs have not properly grown in yet and therefore they are not yet vamponies, not full-grown at least. They just have the powers of them, so they could still bend the bars at will."
"I guess we found our loophole, then!" she winked.
"Yep," Blinkie answered.
The blue mare crouched down on her fours behind the two babies. "Now, Pumpkin, Pound, if you want Pinkie to stay alive and end eternal night, then break those bars for us, sound good?"
The Cake Twins paused for a moment, then nodded, giggling as if this was some sort of game for them. They threw their arms at the bars and within the gasps of both of the mares, touched them without any effect from the electricity. Pinkie exhaled with relief as they used their vampony strength to break open the bars, and after a few tries, successfully did so. The bars held no chance against them and quickly crumbled into dust on the fourth hit.
Pinkie's eyes widened, and took no hesitation to escaping the prison, picking up and hugging the twins gratefully while doing so. They looked innocently up at her, laughing.
And she could say this was one of the best moments of her life.
