The Dark Truth
Twilight Sparkle trotted through Ponyville, her head turning back and forth as if she was looking for something. Which she was. A few weeks ago, Pinkie had made an announcement that she was opening an new bakery in Ponyville. Every pony was overjoyed at the news, but they're smiles soon morphed into confused frowns once Pinkie said that her business partner was Rainbow Dash. Her only explanation was;
"It turns out she's not as bad at baking as you'd think!"
Every pony was still a bit confused, but after tasting the amazing treats that were made in the new bakery, they seemed to forget all about it. The bakery became a massive hit almost immediately, with every review being positive. Twilight was proud of her friends for such accomplishments, but the question kept circling her head.
How were they able to make the bakery, knowing their intrests?
Rainbow Dash didn't know the first thing about baking. Plus, she'd rather clear clouds from the sky all day than spent her time baking. And Pinkie was all about baking. It was a mystery of how they got along so well. So, Twilight decided that after getting a little bite to eat, she'd have to speak to the chefs.
After what had seemed like hours, Twilight finally got to the new bakery. The title, Rainbow Cupcakes was in neon lights above the entrance. Twilight walked right in, a little bell dinging as she opened the door. A noise maker screamed in Twilight's face making her jump.
"Hi, Twilight!" Pinkie exclaimed pulling the noise maker away from her lips to greet the princess. She eyed the alicorn's startled expression. "Sorry if I scared you there," Pinkie said, rubbing her hoof on her neck. "I'm guessing you're here to eat some tasty treats?"
Twilight shook the shocked expression from her face. "Yeah," she said. "That's exactly what I came here for. What do you guys have?"
"Well, we're serving a new flavor of cupcake." Pinkie beamed, ushering Twilight to a seat. "Little Lyre, or as I like to call it, 'Lyre, lyre, hooves on fire!'"
Twilight chuckled as she sat down. "I guess I'll have that, then."
Pinkie zoomed off to the kitchen. Twlight looked around the room. the interior was full of colors. The walls were light pink, close to Pinkie's coat color, with a few bright pink lines scattered around. The ceiling was light blue with rainbows. It was a cute design, and Twilight couldn't help but grin at the work. Twilight shook her head. Remember why you're here, Twilight! she reminded herself.
"Order up!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed, flying out of the kitchen with minty green and white cupcakes on a plate. She zoomed across the room to Twilight and gingerly placed the plate of cupcakes on her table.
"Hey Twilight!" Dash said as she saw her friend. "I'm glad you came. I'm guessing you the rumours about how totally awesome our bakery is?" she asked excitedly.
Twilight bit into one of the cupcakes with delight. "Well actually I came to ask you and Pinkie a question. Mmmm, this is so good!" Twilight answered as she swallowed the cupcake.
"Oh? And what's that?" Rainbow asked, smiling cockly at the alicorn.
"How did you two make this bakery together exactly? I feel like we haven't been given a good explanation."
Rainbow hesitated to answer the question. "Um... well..."
"Dashie," Pinkie said, laying a hoof on Rainbow's shoulder. "She wants to know."
Rainbow sighed. "Alright, but we can't tell you here. It's kinda private."
Twilight raised an eyebrow. What could be so private about having a business partner? Reluctantly, she followed the two. Twilight soon realized that she was being lead to the basement. Unlike the rest of the building, which was bright, the basement was very dark. So dark that she could barely even see in front of her. She tried using a light spell, but Rainbow Dash held her hoof up to Twilight's horn before she could do anything.
"Okay," Pinkie finally spoke. "What you're about to see may surprise you, but don't worry. It's normal for ponies like you!"
"What do you mean by-" Before Twilight could even finish her sentence, the light turned on, blinding the princess temporarily. As her vision started to come back, she looked around the room to see blood. Most of the room was painted in the crimson color, coating the floor and walls. Before Twilight could scream, Rainbow knocked her out, hitting the back her head with her hoof. The last thing Twilight saw before blacking out was Pinkie's poofy hair starting to deflate.
"Y'know, I still don't get why they call the hacksaw, well, a hacksaw! I don't hack with it!"
"Good point. In my opinion it should be called...um...a saw...?"
Twilight heard the voices of her two friends in front of her, talking about nothing in particular. She opened her eyes, and realized that she couldn't move. She had figured that she was hung up on the wall. Twilight saw her friends, but not in the way she was used to. Pinkie's mane was straight, as if she had brushed the curl out of it. She was also wearing a dress that looked like it was made from random little patches of cloth. The dress also had a few wings displayed on the back. Rainbow Dash wore a white coat splattered with different colors. Both of them seemed to have evil looks on their faces. When they noticed Twilight had woken up, Pinkie beamed.
"Finally you're awake! I thought for second Dashie had killed you!"
Twilight looked at the party pony with fear and confusion. "What's going on? Why am I tied to the wall?!"
"Well Twilight, you know how we said the reason we work together is secret?" Dash asked.
"Yeah...?"
"This is why!" Pinkie said. "You see Twilight, we found out that we had a lot in common, so we decided to take that to our advantage."
"Well, how does that have to do with the fact that I'm on the wall?" Twilight snapped.
Pinkie giggled. "We both like killing!"
Twilight's eyes turned into pin pricks once Pinkie said that sentence. Slowly, her frown curled up into an awkward grin.
"Alright, girls you got me," Twilight laughed awkwardly. "But don't you think this is a bit too far?"
"Twilight, this isn't prank!" Pinkie exclaimed, keeping her wide smile. "Did you really forget what you saw before Dashie knocked you out?"
"Honestly, I'd think an egghead like you would've been smart enough to remember that!"
It started flooding back. The blood she saw in the basement. It looked too real to be fake. Then she realized. The patches on Pinkie's dress weren't cloth, but cuties marks of different ponies. Twilight started screaming at the top of her lungs. Her screaming was cut short when Rainbow Dash put her hoof on Twilight's mouth, keeping her from saying anything else.
"I'm guessing you have a lot of questions Twi, but don't worry, we'll be sure to answer all of them! This will be your last day alive anyways!" Pinkie said grabbing a knife in her mouth and starting to walk towards Twilight.
"No, no, no, please!" Twilight begged. "Don't do this! I don't know what I did to deserve this but-AAAAAHH!!!" Twilight screamed in pain. She felt the knife go into her flank and circle around her cutie mark.
"Why don't you start off the story, Dashie? Pinkie said, looking over at her partner in crime. I'll do the rest of the story once your turn comes."
"Well, Twi, you know how I used to work in the weather factory in Rainbow production? Well..."
Rainbow Dash looked over the facility, making sure no pony was slacking off on their job. 4 years. She had worked at this factory for 4 years, ever since she performed her second sonic rainboom. She would go out and visit her friends from time to time, but she new that she could never leave the factory. Suddenly, something interrupted her thoughts.
"Hey, ma'am," a worker called to blue pegasus. Dash jumped slightly.
"What is it?" she said in annoyance.
"You have a letter." the worker replied, pulling out an envelope from a pocket in his white coat. He hoofed it to her.
"Who's it from?"
"Um... somepony. Ponkie?"
"Rainbow rolled her eyes. "Pinkie." She reluctantly opened the envelope, taking out the paper inside it. Her eyes followed the words on the paper.
Dear Dashie
It's been a really, really, REALLY long time since me or anypony else has seen you in Ponyville. So, why don't you come on over to Sugarcube Corner? I have a surprise for you!
Your best friend forever, Pinkie Pie!
Dash rolled her eyes. She was about to tell the worker to throw the letter in the trash, but then he thought about it a little. Pinkie does have bright colors. Perfect to test the machine out on something other than pegasi.
"Tell the other workers that I'm taking a break," Dash said, hoofing the letter back to the worker. "I've got a pony to visit." Dash took off her bloody coat and flew out of the factory, taking off towards Ponyville.
Dash noticed a few things had changed since the last time she was here. Plus, she could tell that some of the residents were looking up at her curiously, probably because she's been gone for so long. Some even came up to talk to her, asking why Rainbow's been away. She ignored everypony. Dash had only one pony in mind to talk to. She landed right in front of Sugarcube Corner, looking up and down at the cakey building. She took a deep breath.
Alright, Dash. Just go on in, get her trust, and trick her into coming to Cloudsdale. Simple as that.
Dash opened the door and walked in.
"DASHIE!" Pinkie Pie pounced on the pegasus, screaming her name in excitement. "I'm so, so, so glad that that you were able to come!"
"Yep," Rainbow Dash gasped out, trying to get out of the pink pony's tight embrace. "I'm glad too. Now, what did you want to show me?"
"Well," Pinkie bounced toward the oven "I've been trying different methods of baking, but I'm not sure if tastes good or not. So, I decided, 'Why don't I have one of my friends do a taste test?'" Pinkie chuckled, taking a tray out of the oven. "And thought you'd be the best one to do it, so have a bite!"
Pinkie held out the cupcakes to her friend, as if she was a princess passing the heir down to Dash. Rainbow reluctantly picked up one of the cupcakes off the plate and took a bite.
"Do you feel anything?" Pinkie said, grinning widely as the pegasus munched on the cake.
"No, but this is pretty good but I need to--" Dash then felt something in her mouth. Something hard. She spat it out on the ground to see what it was. It was a round white pill.
"A sleeping pill?! Why would you put a sleeping pill in a cupcake?" Rainbow exclaimed.
"Uh, for ponies who have trouble sleeping..?" Pinkie excused. "It's a nighttime cupcake!"
Pinkie suddenly shoved another cupcake in Dash's mouth before she spat it out again.
"What are you doing?! Are trying to poison me?!" Rainbow Dash cried.
"You know I would never do that, Dashie! You're my friend!"
Pinkie inched closer to Rainbow, who had backed away from the pink pony. Her mane was starting to deflate, and the color of her mane and coat became darker.
"C'mon, Dashie! You trust me, right?"
Before Pinkie Pie could get any closer, Rainbow punched her the face, knocking her out.
Finally. Rainbow thought. Gosh, I didn't think Pinkie would try to poison me. Whatever. I'll be able to get her the factory now, and that's what matters.
Suddenly, something pulled on Dash's hoof, knocking her down.
"Did you really think I would go down that easily? I'm stronger than that you know!" Pinkie towered over Dash, Her tone angry, but her crazed smile remained.
"Get away from me, you creep!" Rainbow cried, backing away from Pinkie.
"I can't let you go now. You've already seen too much! You'll tell everypony about what I tried to do to you!"
"I won't! I promise! In fact I kill ponies too!"
"Hold still, Twilight! You're not making this any easier!"
Pinkie struggled as the alicorn shook violently, trying to get Pinkie to stop. The earth pony was now trying to chop off the horn to the now wingless pony.
"Rainbow, why don't you take over? This is getting tiring. I'll finish the story."
Rainbow sighed. "Alright,"
Rainbow Dash took the knife from Pinkie and tried to finish the job.
"Why?!" Twilight said through screams and cries. "Why are you doing this?! What did I ever do?!"
"You didn't do anything, Twilight!" Pinkie answered. "But you wanted to know, so here you go! Now where was I? Oh right! So, I guess you could say I was pretty surprised after hearing that from Dashie..."
"You what?"
Pinkie stared at Rainbow Dash in shock. The pegasus covered her mouth.
"I-um-you-you heard that wrong! I--"
"Dashie, you really think I'd tell anypony you do the same thing as me? Of course not! That stays between you and me."
Dash smiled slightly. "Thanks, Pinkie. So, why did you want to poison me, exactly?"
"Well, it's kind of a long story..."
Pinkie explained everything, from finding out how good ponies tasted in cupcakes, to using numbers to pick out the ponies she'd use in cupcakes. The fact she explained it all in her usual joyful manner was a bit unsettling. She would even chuckle at a few parts she thought she was funny. All Rainbow Dash could say after the explanation was a simple "Wow."
"So, what do you do, Dashie?" Pinkie asked.
"Oh, well, y'know how I was hired to work with rainbows a few years ago, well, we get young pegasi who fail their flight test and...turn them into rainbows."
Pinkie shook her head in surprise. "Wait, what?! Isn't that a bit discriminatory for ponies who can't fly correctly? I mean sure, I kill ponies at random, but not because there's something wrong with them!"
"Well, if pegasi can't fly correctly, we don't really have any need for them," Dash replied.
"Hmm, I guess that kinda makes sense." Pinkie then perked up. Her deflated mane bounced back up again as if it was a balloon filling with helium. "Actually, while you're here, wanna help me make cupcakes? I was actually working on cupcakes from a different pony, but I haven't finished it yet."
Rainbow thought a bit. "Okay, but I can't stay long. The factory workers will wonder where I've gone after a while."
"Why don't you quit your job. I mean, who would want to be paid killing ponies."
"That's kinda hypocritical, Pinkie. You sell cupcakes made of ponies."
"Whatever." Pinkie Pie turned to walk to the island, but then got an idea.
"So, how do you make ponies into rainbows, anyways?"
"Well, we get a machine that sucks the color out of them and grinds them up in the process. Why?"
"Great! I've been having a lot of trouble making the colors of the icing match the pony they're made from. But with your help, I can get the actual colors!"
Rainbow Dash hesitated. "Um, well I can't really get the machine all the way from Cloudsdale and bring it down here."
Pinkie pouted at the response. "Oh.".
"BUT, I can get a syringe we used if the machines don't work. They suck the color right out!"
Pinkie beamed again. "That's great! Go get it, Dashie! we're gonna finish those cupcakes!"
Rainbow Dash hesitated to take off.
"Pinkie, I really don't think I should be doing this. I could get in trouble at the factory, or even become a rainbow myself!"
"Not if you quit that is!" Pinkie piped. "Like I said you can just quit. Now go!"
Dash decided that there was no way she could convince the party pony otherwise. So, of she went. On the way, she thought about the decision.
Well, honestly, it's not the best job. The workers are probably the worst part. I mean, when I first joined, they yelled at me constantly!
Dash kept thinking abou this as she snuck into the factory, trying to get a syringe. She tried to remember where they were usually put.
Maybe...the tools room.
Dash opened the door to the room where all the extra tools are kept for safe keeping. She looked around the pitch black room. Hopefully one day these idiots will install some lights in this dumb room, Rainbow Dash thought to herself. After a bit of searching, she was able to find a syringe. Dash was just a bout sneak back out when someone caught her.
"Oh, hey! You're back already?" It was the pony who had given Dash the letter to Pinkie.
"Hi!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed, quickly hiding the syringe behind her back. She gave the pegasus an awkward grin. "I just came over to pick something up, so I can't stay for long!"
"Um, not to sound mean or anything, but you're acting pretty weird. Is everything okay?"
Rainbow Dash tried to think up an excuse, but it was no use. Dash had to spill the beans.
"I'm quitting. I have other ideas."
The pegasus Dash was talking to was shocked.
"But...you're the best worker in this factory! Why would you quit?"
"What? That's not what happened," Dash said, stabbing adrenaline into Twilight like it was nothing. "I just snuck in, got the syringe, and got out of there!"
"It's called making a longer story Dashie! And don't get distracted!"
"I'd rather have you keep the story accurate. Know get to the point! At this rate, Twilight will die before you can finish!"
"Okay, okay! Anyways..."
"Yay! You got it!" Pinkie exclaimed excitedly as her friend came back to Sugarcube Corner.
"So, now what do we do?" Dash asked.
Pinkie looked around to make sure no one was watching.
"C'mon, to the basement!"
Pinkie bounced to a door in the back of the bakery, Rainbow following close behind. As the duo opened the door, Dash realized how much darker the basement was compared to the rest of the building. Dash was caught off guard when a light suddenly turned on, making the basement bright as the sun. Dash looked back over to Pinkie to see that her bouncy mane deflated again. Rainbow Dash backed up, knowing her past experience with Pinkie's mane being down.
"Don't worry, Dashie!" Pinkie giggled. "My mane doing this is basically automatic once I go down here." At one end of the room laid a corpse of white unicorn with a pink mane.
"I was having some success, but none of my pink frosting is the exact color as the pony's mane. Soooooo, mind doing the honors, Dashie?"
Rainbow Dash trotted up to the pony corpse with her syringe, and stabbed it. All of the color drained right out of the corpse, leaving nothing but a colorless husk. Pinkie swiped the syringe out of Rainbow's hoof the second it was filled up. Pinkie went back upstairs to the kitchen, and filled the frosting with the pink color of the pony's mane.
"Perfect!" Pinkie exclaimed. "It's so perfect!"
"Glad I could help, Pinkie." Dash said. "Now I better go back to the factory-"
"WAIT!" Pinkie screamed, grabbing Rainbow Dash's tail before she could fly away.
"Don't go! I need you to help me make cupcakes! Without you I'll be a disaster!"
"Pinkie, it's just a change in color. No pony will ever know it came from a pony anyways."
Pinkie looked up at her friend with pleading eyes.
"Please?"
"And then Dashie said yes, we started working together, and then we got the best idea! What if we made our own restaurant? And the rest is history!"
Pinkie finished, watching Twilight struggling to stay awake.
"Don't beat yourself up, Twi!" Dash said. I'm sure you're gonna make a lot of ponies happy, even when you're gone!"
"So Dashie, what do you think her cupcake should be called?"
"How about 'Egghead Extra!'"
Pinkie and Rainbow's laughter echoed throughout the room. Twilight thought about the events that had gotten her here. That one question in her mind was answered, but it costed her life. The answer wouldn't be known for long, as Twilght slowly closed her eyes, giving in to the pain that came at the cost of only one question.
How were they able to make the bakery, knowing their intrests?
The last thing Twilight ever heard was the crazed laughter from the ones who killed her