Shattered Dreams and Broken Heartsby Princess TwilicorndogChaptersThe Beginning The Past Is The PastProgress... Or Setbacks?The Beginning The Beginning Pinkie Pie was bouncing along, going to find Dashie. They were going to race today, again! Today was going to be perfect, just Pinkie, Dashie, all alone... together... Yes, that was what almost every day was like for me, about two months ago. Perfect. Then this happened... Oh, silly me, didn't see you guys there, reading this. Better bring you up to date, huh? Well, first off, in case you didn't figure it out, I'm Pinkie Pie. Pinkamena Diane Pie. Then, the day after that race with Dashie, I... I woke up to find she was missing from Sugar Cube Corner, where she spent the night with me. I thought she had just gone home, but she didn't appear for the next several days. Then, rumors of missing ponies started floating around, and I knew Dashie was one of them. My friends tried to cheer me up... but, nothing worked, my hair was as flat as ever... And still is. When the rumors were confirmed true, Rarity and Fluttershy tried to flee to Canterlot. The day after they got there, they went missing. Then, fearfully, ponies started to blame me. I tried saying I was innocent, AJ and Twi standing up for me... but ponies still keep a distance. I have decided one thing. I will find the pony who's doing this. I will bring those ponies back home. I will save my friends... I will bring my Dashie back... Anyway... Right now I'm in Twi's library tree, discussing how to find this pony. I will be narrating this story for you guys in the third person from now on. "But Pinkie! If it's evaded even the Princesses for so long, how will you even stand a chance? I could only use that tracking spell if I had one of the pony's possessions, but I don't think it'll let us get that far..." Pinkie's eyes burned with a fierce light. "Don't tell me you've given up already, before we've even started!" Pinkie stomped her hoof. "I won't allow it! How would you feel if Princess Celestia, your adoptive mother, your mentor were taken and hurt because you did *nothing?!?*** Huh? What then?" Pinkie spun towards the door, not even looking back as she said, "Fine. You need something that the pony owns? I'll get you that something. I'm not coming back 'til I do." Pinkie stormed out of the door, then broke into a gallop towards Fluttershy's cottage, leaving a very shocked Twilight in her wake. When Pinkie reached Fluttershy's cottage, she stuck her hoof under the potted rose bush next to Fluttershy's window, retrieving a key. Pinkie put it in her mouth and unlocked the cottage door. Pinkie was unsure what she was doing here, but she felt like... she needed something here. Out of the corner of her eye, Pinkie saw a pony-shaped figure, but when she turned to look at it, it was gone. Pinkie started to feel some real fear. She needed to get out, but she still needed that... thing... whatever it was. "H-Hello? Anypony here?" Pinkie called out tentatively. There was a creaking noise, and Pinkie swore that she could here something metal dragging on the wood floor. It was then she noticed a red stain in the corner... one that looked like blood... Pinkie stifled a scream. She was frozen in absolute fear. Who's blood was it? Was it Fluttershy's? Was Fluttershy ok? Or was it even pony blood? The scarping got neared, and the mare felt a presence right next to her, breathing down her neck. Not daring to look, she raced out of the cottage, towards Ponyville again. Pinkie could hear hooves pounding behind her, and she ran as fast as she could, trying to get away. She didn't look back, and only let herself stop and get a breather once she was in Town Square, surrounded by other ponies. They kept a clear ten feet away, at least, but she was safe. Pinkie decided that she would go visit AJ, hoping that the sweet and honest farmpony could calm her fears, at least a little bit. As Pinkie slowly walked towards Sweet Apple Acres, the sight of the blood and the sound of metal on wood, the sound of being pursued kept running themselves through her mind, dominating all other thought. That didn't really help her situation. When Pinkie finally reached AJ's home, she found AJ herself bucking some apple trees nearby. "H-Hey AJ... Could you come here for a second?" She called out in a shaky voice. AJ stopped bucking and trotted over to Pinkie. "What'ca need, Pinkie? Ah'm kinda busy right now." "A-A-AJ... I went over to Fluttershy's cottage and saw a bloodstain in the corner of her living room and I heard metal scraping on wood and then I ran but somepony chased me and I was so scared and..." Pinkie rambled on, nearly in tears from what she saw and what had happened. AJ realized that her friend was traumatized, and pulled her into a tight hug. "It'll be ok, Sugar cube. We'll find whoever was in 'Shy's house, and... We'll Ah'm not sure what we'd do, be we'd make sure that that pony could never hurt anypony else, ok, Sugar cube?" Pinkie nodded weakly, and had her head buried in AJ's chest. AJ felt a wetness on her chest fur and realized that Pinkie was crying. "W-What if the blood... What if it was Fluttershy's? What if Fluttershy is... is..." AJ stroked Pinkie's mane. "Now, Fluttershy is alright, ya hear? When we find that bad pony who's done all this, we'll find Fluttershy, Rarity, Rainbow, and all the other missing ponies, alright?" Pinkie just sobbed louder at the mention of Dashie... Pinkie had tried to push thoughts of Dashie aside so she wouldn't be a sobbing mess all the time, but AJ brought all the memories, all the despair, all the... all the... feelings back. "AJ... I... I'm never going to smile." This was Pinkie's announcement, after she didn't have anymore tears to cry. AJ stumbled backwards in surprise. "WHAT??? Pinkie Pie, never smile? B-But yar the Element of Laughter!..." Before AJ could continue, Pinkie broke in. "I won't smile... until I find our friends. If it kills me, I will find our friends. I... I have to go now... I'll... I'll see you later AJ." Pinkie turned tail and ran to Twilight's, leaving AJ confused as to why Pinkie was off in such a hurry. At the speed she went, Pinkie reached Twi's library in twelve minutes. Pinkie burst into the tree, jumping on and hugging a surprised Twilight Sparkle. "Twi... I'm really sorry about earlier... But... I need to tell you some.. things..." Pinkie launched into the story, wincing when she had to retell the part about Fluttershy's cottage,as Twilight sat wide-eyed, soaking it all in. To Twi, it sounded like a story in a book, something that couldn't be real... including the disappearances. But she knew this wasn't one of Pinkie's fantasies, especially not if AJ believed it, her being the Element of Honesty. "So... seeing as Applejack already reassured you, why did you... come?" "I wanted to ask... If there was a way we could communicate together, like telepathically. Is there?" Twilight nodded. "It's not a very hard or complex spell. Do.. Do you want me to cast it on us? If so, why?" "Well... I'm still going to find one of this pony-napper's things, but I don't really wanna repeat Fluttershy's cottage... If we could communicate without me coming back here all the time,then you could help me more efficiently, and if I were in trouble you could teleport me out of where ever I was!" Twilight nodded slowly, her horn glowing. Pinkie felt like her brain was splitting in half, and she sank to the floor. Just when she couldn't handle it anymore, when she just wanted to die, it stopped. Pinkie, can you hear me? It's me, Twilight Sparkle. "Why of course I can hear you, silly fil-" Pinkie stopped when she realized that Twi had spoken in her mind. To talk back to me, imagine you're speaking something, but don't actually speak it. Pinkie nodded. Hello, Twilight. Cupcakes taste yummy. I miss Dashie. My bath soap tastes like cotton candy. Am I doing it? Twilight chuckled, then spoke, "Pinkie, I think you may be a little too open in your thoughts. Pinkie sighed. "Well, I'm going to head home Twi. It is getting pretty late. See you tomorrow." Pinkie buried her head in her soaked pillows, just willing herself to sleep. She began to sing a little lullaby to herself, just trying to sleep. It didn't work. Pinkie threw off the covers and jumped off the bed. She looked out of her window, just staring at the stars. The beautiful stars, like tiny pieces of ice in the sky... The Past Is The Past Pinkie Pie awoke on the floor next to her window, covered in her dull, straight, pink hair. Hmmm... That's strange. She thought. I don't remember falling asleep... The pink mare sighed and walked over to her bathroom, surveying the damage done to her mane by sleeping on it. Hmm... Just the usual tangles. Pinkie grabbed a brush in her mouth and proceeded to slowly brush out the tangles, making herself presentable. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a blue stuffed monkey. The earth pony choked a little and felt tears streaming down her cheeks. Pinkie had a little flashback... Once again, the Cakes had trusted Pinkie with Pound Cake and Pumpkin Cake. The poofy-maned babysitter smiled hugely as she jumped around the corner and surprised the foals. They were mostly unimpressed, so she grabbed a bag of flour as she had her first time babysitting, electing loud laughs from the babies. "Be right back, you wittle itty bitty cuties! It's lunch time!" She had said cheerfully. She had gotten the foal's milk and heated it up, but when the pink-maned pony had returned to the nursery, Pound Cake and Pumpkin Cake were nowhere to be found, but the window was open. "Oh no! Id better find them!" Pinkie yelled as she herself jumped out of the window and followed the set of tiny hoofprints... That were leading straight to the Everfree forest. Pinkie gulped and ran harder than she had ever ran. Still, it felt like she was crawling along at a snail's pace. In way too long, she reached the forest. "Pound Cake? Pumpkin Cake? C-Come out, come out w-where ever you a-are?" She had called out tentatively. She got an answer. A roar and two ear-piercing shrieks. "POUND CAKE!!! PUMPKIN CAKE!!! I'M COMING!" She had screamed, fearfully running towards the noise. But... But when she got there... She was too late. All that was there was a Manticore, rubbing his belly and licking his chops. "You... YOU ATE FOALS! YOU ARE THE MEANEST CREATURE IN EQUESTRIA!" Pinkie screamed, tears making small rivers on her face. She stood her ground, screaming insults, until the Manticore started towards her. The pink pony ran from the sight, sobbing, lest the Manticore eat her to. When the Cakes had come home to their foal missing... Pinkie just couldn't accept it... If she told them the truth, it would all be real. It wouldn't be a nightmare she could wake up from anymore. So, she did what her brain told her. She made up a story. She had tried to put cupcakes into their milk, but didn't mash them fully, and the foals had choked. But where were the bodies, is what the Cakes asked, obviously in denial, thinking is was all a sick, twisted joke. The pink mare, her mane falling over her eyes, said "I buried them... I'm sorry you couldn't see them... I just couldn't wait..." Indeed, there were two headstones in the backyard of the building, one for Pound Cake, one for Pumpkin Cake. But inside the coffins, there were no bodies. There would never be. After ponies heard the fake story, they stayed away from Pinkie, knowing she would never do it on purpose, but thinking that she, well, had murdered two foals! Her friends understood, or they think they did... But nopony knew the true story besides Pinkamena Diane Pie and the Manticore that had eaten the foals. Pinkie had been surprised that the Cakes let her stay... By the time she finished her flashback, she lay sobbing on the cold, hard floor. There was a knock at the door. "Pinkie, dearie, are you ok? It's well past noon and you haven't been out yet!" Mrs. Cake's voice said through the door. The pink mare gave a start at it already being afternoon, but she didn't move. She had planned to try and find that pony-napper again today... But it looked as if she was in no shape for that today. She really couldn't see Mrs. Cake in the state she was in, so she tried to telepathically ask Twilight to teleport her to the library. Twi? Twi, can you hear me? I'm so sorry Pound Cake, Pumpkin Cake... Please teleport me to the library... Please... Just stop crying... What's done is done... Soon, Pinkie heard a reply. Of course I will, Pinkie... Are you thinking about... that again? You need to stop, or the grief won't subside... Ever... A few dizzying minutes later, Pinkie found herself in Twilight's library, face meeting the floor. "... Ow..." The mare uttered. "So... Why did you want to come here, Pinkie?" The earth pony almost burst right back into tears right then and there. She pulled Twilight into a tight embrace. "I... I just need somepony... Somepony who understands right now..." Twilight smiled softly as she returned the hug. "Of course, Pinkie. I'll be here for you. I'll always be here for you." Progress... Or Setbacks? Pinkie was staring out of Twilight's library window, in the guest bed. It was almost midnight, the moon nearly overhead, full. She needed to stay with a friend, so Twilight had informed the Cakes that she would be staying with her. Pinkie sighed, and was about to turn over to try and get some sleep, if not when it was exactly midnight, the moon flashed. Half-asleep already, she thought Oh... Wow, the moon is pretty flashing... Closing her eyes for a second, she then gave a start and spoke her thoughts aloud. "Wait- the moon flashing?? I'd better check this out! It must be the ponynapper!" The earth pony jumped out of bed and raced out of the library, slamming the door shut behind her. "P-Pinkie? Where are you going... W-Wait..." Twilight began, but was promptly hit on the head with a pan, knocked unconscious. "Hehehehe... Nopony is spoiling my master plan... NOPONY! Hehehe..." After this, the pony-shaped thing the voice belonged to melted into the shadows. "Yes, you are my biggest threat Pinkamena. Fall right into my little trap... Hehehehe..." Pinkie saw a path revealed with each flash of the moon. Weird... Maybe I should follow it! This was decided for her when there was a scream heard very far down the path... Dashie's scream. The pink mare, any former sleepiness shaken off, galloped along that path with speeds that could have preformed a sonic Rainboom. Or Pinkboom. She thought, almost giggling, if not for the task she faced. Faster and faster she went, eventually entering the Everfree once again. Soon, far to soon she was in miles deep. She skidded to a halt when she came to a humongous oak tree. Bound to it was Dashie... Who's hopeful face split into a venom-spitting scowl as soon as she saw Pinkie. If it was even possible, the earth pony's mane became even flatter and her coat color became even darker. "D-D-D-D-Dashie? Is it r-really you?" "Why the buck would you care, you whore. Yeah, that's right. I know you hate me. Just bucking leave. I'd rather die then have you free me." This was said as calmly as possible, yet all the while with the force of emotion pressing on each word. Pinkie outright started sobbing right then and there. "D-D-D-D-Dashie... H-How could you think such a thing? I could never hate you... I... I... I... LOVE YOU! OK?? I SAID IT! I SAID WHAT WE'VE BEEN AFRAID TO SAY... EVER SINCE... EVER-" Before Pinkie could finish this, a sorrowful face came over the pegasus and she almost cried there, also. "Pinkie... I... Could... Hug?" Dash stammered. Pinkie almost smiled, but remembered her promise to Applejack. The recently-poofy-maned pony raced to her Dashie to give her a huge hug... To fall through the hologram and into the tree. Twisting and screaming, her mane flat again, Pinkie fell through the seemly-bottomless pit in the tree.... If it even was a tree. Then, suddenly, she remembered her connection with Twilight. TWILIGHT! TWILIGHT WAKE UP! HELP ME! FALLING! HELP! DEATH! OH CELESTIA PLEASE! But... Twilight didn't answer. With her only hopes dashed, Pinkie just curled up into a little ball, knowing she would die... Only hoping her Dashie was dead also, so they could spend their afterlives together. With a sudden stop, the little furry ball of a pony felt cold tile floor underneath her. A mocking voice surrounded her. "Well well well! That's no way to be thinking, darling Pinkamena. Why, I wouldn't just kill you, not just like that! Noooooooo, I get to play with you!" Pinkie gulped. This must be the ponynapper! But... Where had she heard this voice before? No matter! She has to find Dashie and her other friends and escape! "Better watch your thoughts, missy. I can hear them... Like your link with you friend Twilight Sparkle." Pinkie gasped, her eyes widening in horror as she imagined what this pony had done to Twilight. "Don't worry, at most she'll have a concussion." The former party pony glared at the wall where the noise seemed to be originating from. She sat up, scanning the room. It was a blank, square room, with nothing but white tile. "Hmmmm... Better keep your strength up! Nighty-night!" The voice called in a mocking, sing-song voice. Suddenly, the room was completely dark, and Pinkie felt herself forcefully being put to sleep... No.... Must... Stay... Awake... But resistance was no use. Too soon, the mare slipped into unconsciousness, her body tensed on the cold, tile floor.
The Beginning The Beginning Pinkie Pie was bouncing along, going to find Dashie. They were going to race today, again! Today was going to be perfect, just Pinkie, Dashie, all alone... together... Yes, that was what almost every day was like for me, about two months ago. Perfect. Then this happened... Oh, silly me, didn't see you guys there, reading this. Better bring you up to date, huh? Well, first off, in case you didn't figure it out, I'm Pinkie Pie. Pinkamena Diane Pie. Then, the day after that race with Dashie, I... I woke up to find she was missing from Sugar Cube Corner, where she spent the night with me. I thought she had just gone home, but she didn't appear for the next several days. Then, rumors of missing ponies started floating around, and I knew Dashie was one of them. My friends tried to cheer me up... but, nothing worked, my hair was as flat as ever... And still is. When the rumors were confirmed true, Rarity and Fluttershy tried to flee to Canterlot. The day after they got there, they went missing. Then, fearfully, ponies started to blame me. I tried saying I was innocent, AJ and Twi standing up for me... but ponies still keep a distance. I have decided one thing. I will find the pony who's doing this. I will bring those ponies back home. I will save my friends... I will bring my Dashie back... Anyway... Right now I'm in Twi's library tree, discussing how to find this pony. I will be narrating this story for you guys in the third person from now on. "But Pinkie! If it's evaded even the Princesses for so long, how will you even stand a chance? I could only use that tracking spell if I had one of the pony's possessions, but I don't think it'll let us get that far..." Pinkie's eyes burned with a fierce light. "Don't tell me you've given up already, before we've even started!" Pinkie stomped her hoof. "I won't allow it! How would you feel if Princess Celestia, your adoptive mother, your mentor were taken and hurt because you did *nothing?!?*** Huh? What then?" Pinkie spun towards the door, not even looking back as she said, "Fine. You need something that the pony owns? I'll get you that something. I'm not coming back 'til I do." Pinkie stormed out of the door, then broke into a gallop towards Fluttershy's cottage, leaving a very shocked Twilight in her wake. When Pinkie reached Fluttershy's cottage, she stuck her hoof under the potted rose bush next to Fluttershy's window, retrieving a key. Pinkie put it in her mouth and unlocked the cottage door. Pinkie was unsure what she was doing here, but she felt like... she needed something here. Out of the corner of her eye, Pinkie saw a pony-shaped figure, but when she turned to look at it, it was gone. Pinkie started to feel some real fear. She needed to get out, but she still needed that... thing... whatever it was. "H-Hello? Anypony here?" Pinkie called out tentatively. There was a creaking noise, and Pinkie swore that she could here something metal dragging on the wood floor. It was then she noticed a red stain in the corner... one that looked like blood... Pinkie stifled a scream. She was frozen in absolute fear. Who's blood was it? Was it Fluttershy's? Was Fluttershy ok? Or was it even pony blood? The scarping got neared, and the mare felt a presence right next to her, breathing down her neck. Not daring to look, she raced out of the cottage, towards Ponyville again. Pinkie could hear hooves pounding behind her, and she ran as fast as she could, trying to get away. She didn't look back, and only let herself stop and get a breather once she was in Town Square, surrounded by other ponies. They kept a clear ten feet away, at least, but she was safe. Pinkie decided that she would go visit AJ, hoping that the sweet and honest farmpony could calm her fears, at least a little bit. As Pinkie slowly walked towards Sweet Apple Acres, the sight of the blood and the sound of metal on wood, the sound of being pursued kept running themselves through her mind, dominating all other thought. That didn't really help her situation. When Pinkie finally reached AJ's home, she found AJ herself bucking some apple trees nearby. "H-Hey AJ... Could you come here for a second?" She called out in a shaky voice. AJ stopped bucking and trotted over to Pinkie. "What'ca need, Pinkie? Ah'm kinda busy right now." "A-A-AJ... I went over to Fluttershy's cottage and saw a bloodstain in the corner of her living room and I heard metal scraping on wood and then I ran but somepony chased me and I was so scared and..." Pinkie rambled on, nearly in tears from what she saw and what had happened. AJ realized that her friend was traumatized, and pulled her into a tight hug. "It'll be ok, Sugar cube. We'll find whoever was in 'Shy's house, and... We'll Ah'm not sure what we'd do, be we'd make sure that that pony could never hurt anypony else, ok, Sugar cube?" Pinkie nodded weakly, and had her head buried in AJ's chest. AJ felt a wetness on her chest fur and realized that Pinkie was crying. "W-What if the blood... What if it was Fluttershy's? What if Fluttershy is... is..." AJ stroked Pinkie's mane. "Now, Fluttershy is alright, ya hear? When we find that bad pony who's done all this, we'll find Fluttershy, Rarity, Rainbow, and all the other missing ponies, alright?" Pinkie just sobbed louder at the mention of Dashie... Pinkie had tried to push thoughts of Dashie aside so she wouldn't be a sobbing mess all the time, but AJ brought all the memories, all the despair, all the... all the... feelings back. "AJ... I... I'm never going to smile." This was Pinkie's announcement, after she didn't have anymore tears to cry. AJ stumbled backwards in surprise. "WHAT??? Pinkie Pie, never smile? B-But yar the Element of Laughter!..." Before AJ could continue, Pinkie broke in. "I won't smile... until I find our friends. If it kills me, I will find our friends. I... I have to go now... I'll... I'll see you later AJ." Pinkie turned tail and ran to Twilight's, leaving AJ confused as to why Pinkie was off in such a hurry. At the speed she went, Pinkie reached Twi's library in twelve minutes. Pinkie burst into the tree, jumping on and hugging a surprised Twilight Sparkle. "Twi... I'm really sorry about earlier... But... I need to tell you some.. things..." Pinkie launched into the story, wincing when she had to retell the part about Fluttershy's cottage,as Twilight sat wide-eyed, soaking it all in. To Twi, it sounded like a story in a book, something that couldn't be real... including the disappearances. But she knew this wasn't one of Pinkie's fantasies, especially not if AJ believed it, her being the Element of Honesty. "So... seeing as Applejack already reassured you, why did you... come?" "I wanted to ask... If there was a way we could communicate together, like telepathically. Is there?" Twilight nodded. "It's not a very hard or complex spell. Do.. Do you want me to cast it on us? If so, why?" "Well... I'm still going to find one of this pony-napper's things, but I don't really wanna repeat Fluttershy's cottage... If we could communicate without me coming back here all the time,then you could help me more efficiently, and if I were in trouble you could teleport me out of where ever I was!" Twilight nodded slowly, her horn glowing. Pinkie felt like her brain was splitting in half, and she sank to the floor. Just when she couldn't handle it anymore, when she just wanted to die, it stopped. Pinkie, can you hear me? It's me, Twilight Sparkle. "Why of course I can hear you, silly fil-" Pinkie stopped when she realized that Twi had spoken in her mind. To talk back to me, imagine you're speaking something, but don't actually speak it. Pinkie nodded. Hello, Twilight. Cupcakes taste yummy. I miss Dashie. My bath soap tastes like cotton candy. Am I doing it? Twilight chuckled, then spoke, "Pinkie, I think you may be a little too open in your thoughts. Pinkie sighed. "Well, I'm going to head home Twi. It is getting pretty late. See you tomorrow." Pinkie buried her head in her soaked pillows, just willing herself to sleep. She began to sing a little lullaby to herself, just trying to sleep. It didn't work. Pinkie threw off the covers and jumped off the bed. She looked out of her window, just staring at the stars. The beautiful stars, like tiny pieces of ice in the sky...
The Past Is The Past Pinkie Pie awoke on the floor next to her window, covered in her dull, straight, pink hair. Hmmm... That's strange. She thought. I don't remember falling asleep... The pink mare sighed and walked over to her bathroom, surveying the damage done to her mane by sleeping on it. Hmm... Just the usual tangles. Pinkie grabbed a brush in her mouth and proceeded to slowly brush out the tangles, making herself presentable. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a blue stuffed monkey. The earth pony choked a little and felt tears streaming down her cheeks. Pinkie had a little flashback... Once again, the Cakes had trusted Pinkie with Pound Cake and Pumpkin Cake. The poofy-maned babysitter smiled hugely as she jumped around the corner and surprised the foals. They were mostly unimpressed, so she grabbed a bag of flour as she had her first time babysitting, electing loud laughs from the babies. "Be right back, you wittle itty bitty cuties! It's lunch time!" She had said cheerfully. She had gotten the foal's milk and heated it up, but when the pink-maned pony had returned to the nursery, Pound Cake and Pumpkin Cake were nowhere to be found, but the window was open. "Oh no! Id better find them!" Pinkie yelled as she herself jumped out of the window and followed the set of tiny hoofprints... That were leading straight to the Everfree forest. Pinkie gulped and ran harder than she had ever ran. Still, it felt like she was crawling along at a snail's pace. In way too long, she reached the forest. "Pound Cake? Pumpkin Cake? C-Come out, come out w-where ever you a-are?" She had called out tentatively. She got an answer. A roar and two ear-piercing shrieks. "POUND CAKE!!! PUMPKIN CAKE!!! I'M COMING!" She had screamed, fearfully running towards the noise. But... But when she got there... She was too late. All that was there was a Manticore, rubbing his belly and licking his chops. "You... YOU ATE FOALS! YOU ARE THE MEANEST CREATURE IN EQUESTRIA!" Pinkie screamed, tears making small rivers on her face. She stood her ground, screaming insults, until the Manticore started towards her. The pink pony ran from the sight, sobbing, lest the Manticore eat her to. When the Cakes had come home to their foal missing... Pinkie just couldn't accept it... If she told them the truth, it would all be real. It wouldn't be a nightmare she could wake up from anymore. So, she did what her brain told her. She made up a story. She had tried to put cupcakes into their milk, but didn't mash them fully, and the foals had choked. But where were the bodies, is what the Cakes asked, obviously in denial, thinking is was all a sick, twisted joke. The pink mare, her mane falling over her eyes, said "I buried them... I'm sorry you couldn't see them... I just couldn't wait..." Indeed, there were two headstones in the backyard of the building, one for Pound Cake, one for Pumpkin Cake. But inside the coffins, there were no bodies. There would never be. After ponies heard the fake story, they stayed away from Pinkie, knowing she would never do it on purpose, but thinking that she, well, had murdered two foals! Her friends understood, or they think they did... But nopony knew the true story besides Pinkamena Diane Pie and the Manticore that had eaten the foals. Pinkie had been surprised that the Cakes let her stay... By the time she finished her flashback, she lay sobbing on the cold, hard floor. There was a knock at the door. "Pinkie, dearie, are you ok? It's well past noon and you haven't been out yet!" Mrs. Cake's voice said through the door. The pink mare gave a start at it already being afternoon, but she didn't move. She had planned to try and find that pony-napper again today... But it looked as if she was in no shape for that today. She really couldn't see Mrs. Cake in the state she was in, so she tried to telepathically ask Twilight to teleport her to the library. Twi? Twi, can you hear me? I'm so sorry Pound Cake, Pumpkin Cake... Please teleport me to the library... Please... Just stop crying... What's done is done... Soon, Pinkie heard a reply. Of course I will, Pinkie... Are you thinking about... that again? You need to stop, or the grief won't subside... Ever... A few dizzying minutes later, Pinkie found herself in Twilight's library, face meeting the floor. "... Ow..." The mare uttered. "So... Why did you want to come here, Pinkie?" The earth pony almost burst right back into tears right then and there. She pulled Twilight into a tight embrace. "I... I just need somepony... Somepony who understands right now..." Twilight smiled softly as she returned the hug. "Of course, Pinkie. I'll be here for you. I'll always be here for you."
Progress... Or Setbacks? Pinkie was staring out of Twilight's library window, in the guest bed. It was almost midnight, the moon nearly overhead, full. She needed to stay with a friend, so Twilight had informed the Cakes that she would be staying with her. Pinkie sighed, and was about to turn over to try and get some sleep, if not when it was exactly midnight, the moon flashed. Half-asleep already, she thought Oh... Wow, the moon is pretty flashing... Closing her eyes for a second, she then gave a start and spoke her thoughts aloud. "Wait- the moon flashing?? I'd better check this out! It must be the ponynapper!" The earth pony jumped out of bed and raced out of the library, slamming the door shut behind her. "P-Pinkie? Where are you going... W-Wait..." Twilight began, but was promptly hit on the head with a pan, knocked unconscious. "Hehehehe... Nopony is spoiling my master plan... NOPONY! Hehehe..." After this, the pony-shaped thing the voice belonged to melted into the shadows. "Yes, you are my biggest threat Pinkamena. Fall right into my little trap... Hehehehe..." Pinkie saw a path revealed with each flash of the moon. Weird... Maybe I should follow it! This was decided for her when there was a scream heard very far down the path... Dashie's scream. The pink mare, any former sleepiness shaken off, galloped along that path with speeds that could have preformed a sonic Rainboom. Or Pinkboom. She thought, almost giggling, if not for the task she faced. Faster and faster she went, eventually entering the Everfree once again. Soon, far to soon she was in miles deep. She skidded to a halt when she came to a humongous oak tree. Bound to it was Dashie... Who's hopeful face split into a venom-spitting scowl as soon as she saw Pinkie. If it was even possible, the earth pony's mane became even flatter and her coat color became even darker. "D-D-D-D-Dashie? Is it r-really you?" "Why the buck would you care, you whore. Yeah, that's right. I know you hate me. Just bucking leave. I'd rather die then have you free me." This was said as calmly as possible, yet all the while with the force of emotion pressing on each word. Pinkie outright started sobbing right then and there. "D-D-D-D-Dashie... H-How could you think such a thing? I could never hate you... I... I... I... LOVE YOU! OK?? I SAID IT! I SAID WHAT WE'VE BEEN AFRAID TO SAY... EVER SINCE... EVER-" Before Pinkie could finish this, a sorrowful face came over the pegasus and she almost cried there, also. "Pinkie... I... Could... Hug?" Dash stammered. Pinkie almost smiled, but remembered her promise to Applejack. The recently-poofy-maned pony raced to her Dashie to give her a huge hug... To fall through the hologram and into the tree. Twisting and screaming, her mane flat again, Pinkie fell through the seemly-bottomless pit in the tree.... If it even was a tree. Then, suddenly, she remembered her connection with Twilight. TWILIGHT! TWILIGHT WAKE UP! HELP ME! FALLING! HELP! DEATH! OH CELESTIA PLEASE! But... Twilight didn't answer. With her only hopes dashed, Pinkie just curled up into a little ball, knowing she would die... Only hoping her Dashie was dead also, so they could spend their afterlives together. With a sudden stop, the little furry ball of a pony felt cold tile floor underneath her. A mocking voice surrounded her. "Well well well! That's no way to be thinking, darling Pinkamena. Why, I wouldn't just kill you, not just like that! Noooooooo, I get to play with you!" Pinkie gulped. This must be the ponynapper! But... Where had she heard this voice before? No matter! She has to find Dashie and her other friends and escape! "Better watch your thoughts, missy. I can hear them... Like your link with you friend Twilight Sparkle." Pinkie gasped, her eyes widening in horror as she imagined what this pony had done to Twilight. "Don't worry, at most she'll have a concussion." The former party pony glared at the wall where the noise seemed to be originating from. She sat up, scanning the room. It was a blank, square room, with nothing but white tile. "Hmmmm... Better keep your strength up! Nighty-night!" The voice called in a mocking, sing-song voice. Suddenly, the room was completely dark, and Pinkie felt herself forcefully being put to sleep... No.... Must... Stay... Awake... But resistance was no use. Too soon, the mare slipped into unconsciousness, her body tensed on the cold, tile floor.
