Pinkie's gone to a mental institution. Peek into her brain as she finds a cure to her disease and gets another disease- love.
She's Psychotic
Pinkie Pie's weirdness has an answer in the form of a mental disorder. When it goes out of control, she's transported to the Equestrian Mental Institution. What she finds? Help. Savior. Cure. And.... romance.
"My, well, Mrs. Pie, I'm afraid your daughter has damage in her emotion center. It goes off too easily and the excess signals confuse her brain to hyperactive imagination. It's impossible to know what will happen inside her head, and in the future it might prove dangerous," said Dr. Whooves.
"Does anyone else have this in Ponyville?" Mrs. Pie asked, obviously distraught with the news about her daughter.
"The only other pony in this town to have a mental disorder is Derpy. Her brain doesn't take information quickly. She's at the same danger. Maybe they'll become friends."
They can't know what's in her head.
But I can tell you. While listening at the same time, she thought this-
"Cupcakes. Cupcakes are yummy. La la la la la hey Doctor is saying something. Emotion. I feel emotion, I'm happy, excited, giddy, AAND MAGICAL! Cupcakes. Cakes in a cup. Smiles. Mom isn't smiling. She's talking. She's worried. Distraught. Hey, she has a necklace. It's a red heart on a gold chain. Shiiiiiinyyyyyyy. Hearts beat. Bump. Bump bump. Bump. Bump bump." She kept on bumping until she heard 'Derpy' and 'friends.'
"Derpy? Friends? With me? hahahahhahahhahahhahahha funny. I don't want to be friends with the derp. She's derp derpitty capital derp."
All of that happened in a 20 second period of time. Stray signals?
Yes, very much.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pinkie promised she wouldn't let them get her. It started with the day they took Derpy.
Pinkie was asleep at the time. It was about 10 pm. Outside of the Cake's house, Lyra, Bon Bon, and Derpy were doing... whatever they were doing.
Derpy got mad and Lyra. Really mad. She jumped on her, punching her over and over and over again until the mare was bloody and broken. Bon Bon called 911. Derpy woke everyone with her screams and Lyra was wailing.
If you listened, you could make out this- " WHY DID YOU LET HER CHEAT? I SHOULD HAVE WON. YOU LOVED ME LAST YEAR I KNOW YOUR DIARY." In between the wails was a desperation cry of an angry Derpy, the worst and deadliest kind of Derpy.
Police officers and an ambulance came. They grabbed Lyra, unconscious, away from Derpy. They led Derpy into the police car and drove her away.
Bon Bon was broken down, sobbing like crazy. Cheerilee called Mr. and Mrs. Heartstring. Mrs. Cake tried to comfort Bon Bon, but she wouldn't stop crying. Seeing how distraught and broken her friends had been, she promised she wouldn't ever break down like Derpy had.
Here's what happened on November 16th, 3013 to Pinkadema Pie. At least, that's the day it started.
"I'm going to bed Pinkie, close up the shop for me will ya?" said Mr. Cake.
"Sure, I'll be going to be soon too," she replied, ringing up the last customer's order.
Later, she flipped the sign and locked the door. She swiped the floor and put up the chairs. After the last supplies were put away, Pinkie bounced upstairs to her room.
Usually, she just flops in bed until she falls into REM. But this night was a little different. She realized she was very tired. Pinkie fell asleep almost instantly. She had a terrible dreams. Each time, some creature with tentacles killed one of her friends. She'd wake up, then remind herself it was only a dream. She'd fall asleep and it would kill another person she loved. Eventually, after 8 of her friends had been dream-killed, she gave up.
She sat there. And sat. And sat. Then she'd black out.
During these blackouts, she'd wail and scream. You'd see her rolling around screamed and writhing as if in pain. Her stray signals were taking over. Everyone would come up and see her in her bed, peacefully.
During the day, Pinkie changed as well. You would find her glaring at a wall in a random corner. There was no overexcited smile, just glare until you talked to her. Then she'd be normal for all of 5 minutes, like a timer. Then she'd glare again.
All of the town was worried about her. She hadn't hosted a party in a month, and Rainbow Dash's birthday was coming soon. Who would throw her party?
After a week of wails, it stopped. Pinkie stopped sleeping. She'd just sit and think and read.
November 24th, Rainbow Dash's birthday.
Twilight and Rarity planned the party. There was rainbow decorations, and she got tickets to see the Wonderbolts in the nearby town of Fillydelphia. There was music, games, and everyone had a good time. Pinkie could even keep a smile for 8 minutes.
Until a.... friend showed up. Actually, two friends. One hasn't been forgiven, and one was forgiven when she proved her worth.
Lightening Dust had been invited. She's friendly now. Gilda wasn't, and she isn't.
"Hi guys, you don't mind that I brought a friend? She's my new friend." Said Lightening Dust.
"Oh, no mind," said Twilight nervously. She was too nice to say there was a huge problem.
"What the hell is Gilda doing here," Rainbow Dash said when she spotted the bird.
"I was invited. Happy Birthday RD," she said sarcastically.
Rainbow looked at Twilight.
"She showed up with Lightening Dust, I couldn't just kick her out."
"Yes, you could. So can I. Gilda, get out of my party."
"What's going on?" Lightening Dust said, approaching with two drinks in tow.
"They're trying to kick me out of the party," Gilda said, acting all innocent.
"Why are you doing this?" Lightening asked.
"Because last time she was in Ponyville, she was the worst friend I've ever had." Rainbow Dash had no mercy. It was her party, and she wanted her out.
"Is this true Gilda?"
"No way! I'd never hurt anyone!" Then in a flurry of movement, Pinkie broke her promise.
"LIAR! LIAR LIAR LIAR!" Pinkie screamed as she tackled Gilda and started slapping her. Everyone went silent.
"YOU TRIED TO SEPERATE ME FROM MY FRIENDS!" she screamed. It was true. As her anger and stray signals merged, she was uncontrollable.
She has had her breakdown, now it's time for the institution.
Pinkie sat in the station. She was ashamed, frustrated, and worried.
Ashamed she broke her promised.
Frustrating at how she acted.
And worried about her friends.
Would they hate her? Be scared of her? Never speak to her again?
A policepony rushed by, speaking into her walkie talkie. Pinkie tapped her hoof on the ground as she waited for news. About where'd she go, what she'd do. She knew the answer. She wouldn't go back to Ponyville. She'd go to the Equestrian Mental Institution. She'd be with Derpy.
"Ms. Pie," said the policepony. Inside the door were more policeponies and her mother.
"Hello Pinkadema, I'm Officer Stern. We've looked into your medical files and have assessed your... mental situation. Your doctor will be here shortly."
"Ok. How are my friends? And Gilda?"
"They're fine. Gilda has some cuts and bruises but nothing is broken."
"That's good." Pinkie noticed her mother was avoiding her gaze. Her own mother was ashamed of her.
"I'M HERE!" said the familiar voice of Doctor Whooves. He came galloping in.
"Good. So we can start. Deputy Search, close the door." A grey unicorn magicked the door close. Her cutie mark was an eye.
"So the recommended action is to ship her to the Equestrian Mental Institution in Fillydelphia. She could be there by morning," said Doctor Whooves. "I was thinking of visiting Derpy anyways."
"Who would pay for the treatment?"
"Usually the parents do."
All eyes turned to Mrs. Pie. Her face was torn between stern and disappointed.
"I- I dunno. Things are slow at the farm..."
"Mother, you have 500 workers per farm. You ship rocks worth 800,000 bits. I doubt you are having paying troubles."
"But..."
"I get it mother. You're ashamed of your messed up daughter. Well, I don't want your pity money if that's all it would be. I bet you don't even want me to get better. You'd rather just let me live in pain and confusion. It's what you've done these past 10 years anyways."
"Pinkadema Pie-"
"Don't pretend. I'll pay for it out of my savings. Not like it was saved for anything important, just presents for friends. And family. Won't need any for the latter.
"So go ahead. Ship me out to the loony bin. Take me away from this mare. Away from this town, my friends, my everything. Make me better."
"Uh- oh, alright I suppose." They took her to the train station, accompanied by Deputy Search and Doctor Whooves. The train arrived and her mother never said goodbye.
"Where are y'all gonna do in Fillydelphia?" said a cowpony. He munched on a stalk of wheat mindlessly as the train chugged along. In this car, there were 8 ponies. The cowpony Corny Field, a business man named Brief Case, a family of 3 with a filly, and the three ones heading to the Institution.
"Business trip, bargaining some stock and such," said Brief Case.
"We're visiting my mother-in-law," said the mother of the filly, Laura Seams.
"I'm selling some crops at a farmers market. Where you three goin'," asked Corny Field.
Pinkie opened her mouth to speak, but Deputy Search interrupted.
"Classified police work. She doesn't need to tell you if she doesn't want to." Pinkie knew that now everypony thought she was some sort of criminal. Laura smiled and scooted her filly closer to her.
"Visiting family," said Doctor Whooves.
"Attention passengers. We are about an hour away from Fillydelphia so just relax and enjoy the ride."
Deputy Search used her horn to pick up a book. She went to where the dog-eared page was. It was one of the Sherlock Hooves books.
"I remember reading those books," said Laura's husband, Hardy Seams. Deputy Search was so engrossed she just nodded slightly.
We sat in silence until the filly, Sue Seams, whined for her ball. Laura gave her the purple bouncy ball. The filly played around with it for a while. When she started bouncing it, something weird happened.
Pinkie found herself staring at the ball as it bounced.
Bounce.
Bounce.
Bounce.
Nothing else seemed to happened. Just that ball bounce up, float midair, then down. It'd sit for a millisecond that spread itself out like 100 times longer. She was in some sort of state.
"PINKIE! Yoo hoo," said Doctor Whooves as he waved a hoof in front of her face. She snapped back to reality. "What? Sorry," she said softly.
"Ah asked wher' y'all from," Corny Field said.
"Ponyville," she said.
"Ah. Nice lil' town. The Apple Buck Farm are ther', right?"
"Yeah, my... friend is in the family." She hesitated to say friend. She didn't know whether her friends even still liked her. Would they be scared? Would they back away? What will happen when she goes back or the visit?
...if she ever went back or they ever visited?
"Loveleigh ponays."
"Mmhm."
Silence.
Then Brief Case pulled out a portable computer.
"No way. Is that the latest model?" asked Hardy.
"Yes, it's called the laptop. You can take it anywhere."
"Sweet. From Keeves Corp?"
"Of course. That's who I work for."
"Oh, neat. My cousin works there."
Then the two stallions got into a discussion about electronics, cars, and football.
"Man, that son of Mark Keeves is cute isn't he? And young," said Laura.
"What's his name? Luke, isn't it?"
"He's ahbout yur age Miz Pinkie," said Corny Field.
"Hm."
Then a thought occured to Pinkie.
"Deputy, can you hold up a mirror for me?" Deputy Search looked at her weirdly. She dug around her pouch and held up an ornate silver mirror. Pinkie stared into the rippling oval reflection.
She didn't look normal.
Her hair was straight and her coat had lost its shellac. The dull color and limp hair made her look like some runaway. Her eyes were glazed over and darkened. She desperated needed to clean up. She looked like when she thought her friends had deserted her. But you never know, they actually might.
A blonde colt clopped by. Their eyes met for another drawn out millisecond. His warm brown eyes locked with my dull blue circles and... that's it.
I pushed the mirror down.
"Thanks."
"No problem."
Minutes later, we arrived at the station.
Here goes.
"Just so you know, I'm no criminal. I'm going to the Equestrian Mental Institution. So, enjoy your stay."
She walked out, Deputy Search and Doctor Whooves following her.
"Welcome to the Equestrian Mental Institution.You must be Pinkadema Diane Pie. I'm Soft Petal," said a pretty unicorn with a soft pink mane stuffed into a bun. Her light green coat was so light it didn't stick out. It only made her look nicer and softer. She took me and led me down the hall. I passed some loopy ponies and pegasi. In another room, a unicorn colt was walking on a treadmill. His legs were very shaky and the belt was moving very slowly. He didn't have a cutie mark yet.
"Some ponies need extra help to get back up after a tragedy. That filly and his mother fell of a cliff. His mother didn't survive. After being nursed back to health, we needed to coax him back into the world by helping him come to terms with what happened to his mother. He claims to see her in mirrors, even though he know she's not there." Pinkie nodded.They continued walked. The walls were bright white. It was blinding.
"Over there is the lunchroom and that door leads to the recreation room. When you get better, you'll be granted trips, and eventually it will become a regular thing." A nurse led a patient into the room. The patient was walking slowly and taking slow breaths.
"These rooms are the therapy rooms. There's specific ones for different things and plain ones for one-on-one treatment." She pointed a hoof toward a double-door on the right. We walked past doors just as a scream was heard. Soft Petal winced barely, but my hyperactively-calm emotions made my senses all Sherlock Hooves-type.
"The sleeping quarters are that way and that door," said Soft Petal, pointing to the door at the end of the linoleum hallway, "leads to the hospital in case of emergencies.
"You will have your own room and you will be monitored for your safety. We only wish the best for our patients so they can improve and function like any other citizen. We pledge our lives into helping people cope with the specialties they have. Some of us even were here before and we stayed on to help.
"We shall to everything in our power to protect you from your runaway feelings. Whenever you need help, press this button on your monitor device. Your room is number 116 and Halogen Valence will take you to your room. I'll see you at lunch after you get acquainted and the bell has rung. Welcome to the Institution!" She said with a perky smile, handed a key card to a stallion in a lab coat and walked off.
What a load of bullshit.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My room was the same bright white as the walls in the hall. The fluorescent smoothness of it screamed at me with a billion rays of radiation. It made me want to scream.
Halogen slipped the key card back into his coat pocket.
I stared at him.
"What's a scientist like you doing in a mental institution?"
"Excuse me?"
"Why are you here. You're obviously a scientist."
"How'd you guess?"
"Name. Cutie mark."
Halogen looked at the atom on his flank and sighed.
"I was on the brink of my breakthrough when they discovered my wife had been murdered. My way of coping.... not so good. After rehab, I was sent here. And I never left. Partly it was because of the attachment I had to this place, and I wanted to help develope their medicine and methods. But honestly, I'm mostly scared to show my face."
"I know the feeling. Right now, I don't think my friends like me at all. I bet Fluttershy is scared and Twilight is disappointed... Rainbow Dash probably took off speeding for a long vacation in the sky. Rarity will scoff at me and Applejakc will tell me to stay away from her and her family. I'll lose everyone and everything I care about."
"Time bomb."
"Excuse me?"
"No wonder you're so calm. You've gone into time bomb mode, your stray signals are storing into your brain until a tiny emotion sets everything off. After that ends, you'll collapse and be exhausted."
As much as Pinkie hates to admit it, he was right. And incredibly stupid.
Because what happened next was exactly what he was describing.
