> Bruised Pink
>  by Brian Sheil
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Pinkie’s worst nightmare
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mr. Cranky Doodle just finished talking to his class about the importance of weather. 
“Now, class,” Cranky Doodle addressed, “are there any questions?”
One student, Vermilion Torch, raised his hand. “Yes, Mr. Cranky Doodle. Can you repeat all that to Pinkie Pie?”
He got off his chair and went over to Pinkie Pie’s desk.
“SHE WASN’T LISTENING!” Vermillion yelled as he pushed Pinkie off her chair and she hits the floor.
He returns to his seat as Pinkie recovers. Cranky Doodle goes over to her.
“Are you okay?” Cranky Doodle asked with concern.
“I think so.” Pinkie answered nervously. “That yelling really scared me.”
Later that day, during lunch, Pinkie eats nervously. Her friends start to get concerned.
“Everything all right, Pinkie?” Twilight Sparkle asked. 
“I don’t know.” Pinkie whimpered. “All day, Vermilion Torch has been yelling at me, and push me around. It’s a nightmare.”
“I’m glad I don’t do that anymore.” Sunset Shimmer added. “The last thing anybody needs is a bruiser couple.”
The girls nodded with agreement.
“Anyone knows where this Vermilion Torch comes from?” Rainbow Dash wondered.
“I heard he recently moved from Manehattan.” Rarity answered.
“He must’ve grew up from the rough side of that city,” Sunset wondered, “if he’s pushing Pinkie like that.”
“That varmint has no manners what so ever.” Applejack proudly stated.
Just then, Vermillion barged in and came to the table. He looks at Pinkie and his face got red.
“What are you doing, you pink pest?” Vermillion asked angrily.
“I...I’m having l..lunch.” Pinkie asked while panicking.
“Hey, Vermillion.” Rainbow Dash protested. “Leave her alone!”
“You heard her.” Rarity added. “Step away, you big bully!”
But, Vermillion didn’t hear them. Instead, he grabbed Pinkie’s lunch tray, dumped her food in the garbage, and bashed the tray on her head. Everybody was shocked to see that happening.
“You are a troublemaking pink goof!”
Vermillion yelled as he grabbed Pinkie by her shirt. “Does anyone want you here?”
Suddenly, he gave a big slap to Pinkie’s face as he gives her the answer. “NO!”
Pinkie started shaking as Vermillion started to yell at her. “You are not to be with anybody! Your father and sister, Limestone, are angry with you right now!”
Vermillion barged out of the cafeteria dragging Pinkie by her hair. “To the principal’s office!”
Vermillion threw Pinkie into Principal Celestia’s office. She landed hard as the principal and vice principal saw it happen.
“Here’s the crazy Pinkie Pie!” Vermillion bellowed. “I’m sure you want her punished! And, so does her family!”
Vermillion stomped on Pinkie’s back. The pain was terrible. He gets his foot off her back and pulls her on to her feet.
“Wait until your father hears this!” The deep orange skinned boy yelled. “He’ll ground you for THE WHOLE SCHOOL YEAR!”
After slapping Pinkie again, he left. Pinkie was left shaking and crying like crazy.
“Are you okay, Pinkie Pie?” Celestia asked.
Pinkie shook and cried badly. “I haven’t done anything bad. Why would Vermillion Torch do this to me?”
Principal Celestia put her hand on Pinkie’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. Me and my sister won’t punish you, just because that young man said so.”
“I better call your parents.” Vice principal Luna said with concern. “They should know about this.”
Twenty minutes later, Pinkie’s father, Igneous Rock Pie, shows up. Pinkie was afraid he’s going to be upset. He looked at her, and got nervous. “Pinkie Pie! Are you okay?”
Pinkie looked at her father. And, she shook more than ever. She thinks that he won’t believe her story. He sees her and realized that she’s been through a nightmare.
“Come on, Pinkie.” Her father suggested with concern. “I better take you home.”
After getting her stuff from her locker, Pinkie went with her father outside of the school. Just when they got into the car, Vermillion rushes in to confront Pinkie again.
“Now, you’re in for it!” He yelled. “Your father is going to punish you when you get home! Then, Limestone is going to get very mad too!” 
“Hey, you bully!” Igneous yelled. “Stop hurting my daughter!”
“I’m just doing what you want to do, sir. You’re not fond of her antics either!”
Vermillion opened the car door, and slapped Pinkie’s face again. Then he left. Igneous saw Pinkie’s face being red with humiliation.
“Come on, Pinkie.” Igneous said with concern. “Let’s get you out of here.”
The car starts, and leaves the school. Later that day, the Pie family discuss this frightening situation.
“Why would anyone hurt Pinkie like this?” Pinkie’s Mother, Cloudy Quartz, asked.
“I don’t know.” Igneous replied. “Limestone and I may be on odds with her. But, even I wouldn’t have her go through this torture.”
Pinkie’s younger sister, Marble, got scared. “Poor, Pinkie. I would be upset too if that happened to me.”
“That’s for sure.” Limestone added. “Even I don’t do this to her.”
Igneous turns to the eldest Pie sister. “Limestone, you and I have been keeping your old treehouse in good condition. Right?”
“That’s right, father.” Limestone answered.
“Why don’t you and Marble take her there. A little visit there might help her calm down.”
After dinner, Limestone escorted Pinkie to the treehouse in their backyard.
“Oh my!” Pinkie blurted, still tearing up. “This is still standing?”
“That’s right, sis.” Limestone answered. “Dad and I have been keeping this place stable for a long time.”
“So, where’s Marble?”
“She’ll be with us in a bit. Let’s start climbing. Lead the way.”
Pinkie Pie climbed the ladder, and entered the treehouse. Limestone soon followed. The two sisters look at the neighborhood as the sun starts to set. But, Pinkie is still very upset.
“I can’t believe what happened to me.” Pinkie sobbed.
“Dad and I can’t believe it either.” Limestone replied. “Why would someone cause you so much pain, and said that this is what me and Dad wanted?”
Pinkie cried and grabbed her curly hair. “What am I going to do?”
Limestone grabbed her hands. “Pinkie! Don’t do that! You might tear your hair out.”
Then, they heard Marble’s voice calling them. “You two up there?”
“Sure are, Marble.” Limestone answered. “Come on up.”
With a duffle bag draped on her shoulder, Marble climbed the ladder, and joined her sisters. Limestone was curious about the bag. “What’s in the bag?”
Marble opens the duffle bag, and pulls out a straitjacket. Pinkie got confused as Marble approached her.
“I’m sorry, Pinkie.” Marble said. “But, this is for your own protection.”
Suddenly, Marble starts putting the straitjacket on Pinkie. As Limestone held her still, Marble buckled the straps on the back. Pinkie’s arms got wrapped around her body and strapped behind her back.
“What’s this for?” Pinkie asked in a panic. “I’m not crazy! I didn’t make this up!”
“We know that, sis.” Marble replied. “I just don’t want you to hurt yourself.”
Pinkie looked at her situation. “Am I really that upset?”
“Afraid so.” Limestone answered. “What this guy did has hit a panic button in you.”
“Oh boy. Twilight and the others won’t believe this.”
Just then, their father called out to them. “Everything okay, girls?”
“Fine, dad.” Limestone answered. “Marble had to restrain Pinkie though.”
“Since it won’t rain tonight nor tomorrow, I think you three should spend the night up there. I’ll bring blankets and pillows later.”
Igneous Rock leaves. Pinkie was still concerned. “I still can’t believe you and dad are helping me, Limestone.”
Limestone used a tissue to wipe tears from Pinkie’s eyes. “True, dad and I give you a hard time, Pinkie. But, you’re part of our family. And, family members help each other in times of darkness.”
Pinkie Pie starts to calm down a little. “I’m so happy to hear that. Thanks, Limestone.”
“You’re welcome.” Limestone cooed as she gives Pinkie a small hug. “We’ll always be there for you.”
Later that night, the stars came out, and the full moon is shining brightly. The three Pie Sisters look at the scenery.
“Hey, Pinkie.” Limestone said calmly.
“Yeah?” Pinkie replied. Her voice being more calm and relaxed.
Limestone relayed a good memory from the past. “Remember when we were seven or eight, we used to look at the night sky before bedtime.”
Pinkie soon remembered that night. “I think so. You said it’s a good way to relax.”
“That’s right. And, this is two months before dad built this treehouse.”
Marble soon yawned. Limestone got the idea. “I guess it’s time for bed.”
After Marble and Limestone took off their shoes, the eldest sister took off Pinkie’s sneakers, places a pillow under her head, and covers her with a blanket.
“Thanks, sis.” Pinkie said quietly.
“You’re welcome, Pinkie.” Limestone replied. “And, we’ll have that straitjacket off you in the morning.”
Pinkie nodded, and soon fell asleep. While getting comfy, Marble looks at Pinkie.
“Now, she looks peaceful.” Marble quietly said.
“I know.” Limestone replied softly. “This is the most quiet we seen her all day. Good night, Marble.”
“Good night, Limestone.”
As Marble snuggled down to sleep, Limestone got comfortable too. She gave a soft kiss to Pinkie’s cheek, and whispered a peaceful message. “I love you, Pinkie.”
Soon, Limestone got comfy, and she fell asleep. Back in the house, Igneous Rock was watching TV as Cloudy Quartz walks in.
“Heading for bed, Igneous?” Cloudy Quartz asked.
“In a bit, darling.” Igneous answered.
Soon, they heard an announcer say, “Have you seen this man?”
They saw a picture of the brutal Vermillion Torch as information is being announced. “He is Tangelo Lava. Alias: Vermillion Torch. Police reports say that this young man would physically and mentally hurt teenage girls, and tell them that they’re in trouble all the time. This young man is an expert on psychological warfare. He is seventeen years old, stands...”
Igneous turns off the TV, and is starting to figure something out.
Next Monday, it’s lunchtime at Canterlot High School. Twilight and her friends gathered for lunch. Soon, Pinkie Pie joined the group.
“Hi, girls.” Pinkie called out. Her voice is cheerful, just like it should be.
“That’s the Pinkie Pie we all know and love.” Rainbow Dash said.
As Pinkie sat down to enjoy her lunch, Twilight asked her about her situation. “How are you doing?”
“I’m feeling so much better.” Pinkie answered happily. “Thank goodness we had a week off.”
Sunset Shimmer put her hand on Pinkie’s shoulder. “Glad to see you happy and fun again.”
“Dad, Limestone, and Marble saw to that. Even though Vermillion Torch tried to hurt me, my family was there to help me out.”
“That’s good to here.” Fluttershy chirped. “Don’t forget, you had us to support you too.”
“Fluttershy is right.” Applejack added. “We’ll always be there for ya.”
Pinkie Pie was very happy about her life now. “I’m so lucky to have you guys and my family to help me through my little crisis.”
Trixie Lulamoon walked by. Hearing the conversation, she decided to ask Pinkie about something. “Pinkie, What happened to Vermillion Torch. Also known as Tangelo Lava?”
Pinkie Pie gave Trixie a unique answer. “Let’s say he’s cleaning up his act.”
Meanwhile, on the side of a street, Tangelo Lava, wearing an orange jumpsuit, was busy picking up trash, with a cop watching him.
“This is so not fair!” Tangelo grumbled. “I should not be here!”
“Well, you here now.” The officer said. “So get busy.”
“No one should do this to me! I got rights like everybody else!”
Just then, Igneous Rock was driving by. He sees Tangelo, pulls over, and gives him a statement. “Quit acting like a crybaby, young man! After all, six months of community service isn’t exactly torture, since it’s your first offense.”



THE END