Not the same, Ponyville was. It had been only a few days since Pinkie Pie disappeared, and life could only be happy no longer. Fear, greed and sorrow laid the small town to waist; though still functional, only grey coats matched the clouds.

For one pony in particular, he had enough. Fighting depression all his life, he moved to Ponyville to keep happy. Then once he arrived, the catalyst of joy vanishes! Having spent all of his savings to the move, which included yet not limited to: A house, cart, food, furnishings, and for all benefit-- a connection to the local aqueduct. There was nothing he could do, that poor stallion. So in all he was, he made his way; not to move again, but to walk until he could walk no more.

The streets were still filled with ponies, our sad Stallion saw. Ponies that were gray, with not a single smile around. In the homes of each resident, there came no laughter, no crying, no sound. Only the wind whistled down the streets, and time became irrelevant to each equine. Despite the wish he had with this one town, it was not hard to leave it behind.

Yet, when this young brave stallion found his way to the forest side, he could not bring himself to walk in. No amount of depression was strong enough to lure anypony into the grasp of a place so terrifying. It was however, not fear that caused him to enter, no, it was a cry for help. “Help” it called, “Help me, why am I so light and cold? Oh please help me” If there was one power strong enough to bring somepony in, it was that endless will to help. With a huff of air escaping his lungs, just to be refueled by the last bit of fresh air, he pushed his way into the darkness, the abyss of wisdom. It was all that life could afford to allow this stallion to keep going, and nothing could stop him in his tracks.

The cry for help however would not ever come closer, no even as he ran towards the unknown source, it only then was farther away. Yet he kept on running, no pony knew why he did not stop, to turn flee back to his home, was it because he had no more will for his own self, or was it because he was possessed. It was a question that would never be answered.

Running, galloping, his stride never slowing. Even when he realized that the cry for help had stopped, he kept his pace.

Stopping, stopping.

It was then that the pony could no longer remember if he were colt or stallion. Was it true that his life to this point had been an illusion? had he been truly long dead? That he was never in fact alive? No, it just could not be true, nothing connected, nothing at all. Why were thoughts like this rushing into his mind?

That was when he saw it, shining in the darkness like a beacon of hope in the night. Brighter the Luna’s moon. What layed on the ground? It was all but a simple, flat and colorful lollipop. Much more it held then hope, it was survival, it was color. In a world full of gray, color was reborn. How to utilize it though? That was the question. How could a simple pony use this gift to bring joy to others? If there was hope, then it was time to go home.

~~+~~

Five days of joy, oh what a wondrous treat. We all knew how to fight the bland state of reality, but having that lollipop in his home had brought him joy. It was soon that he was smiling to all around him, just simply ignoring the glares of hate from the ponies around. Yet in his head, he could hear the whispers. “Sweets, candy, seeds, we want to live, let us feed. Sweets, candy seeds, we want to live, let us feed. Sweets, candy, seeds, we want to live, let us feed,” they said in a voice so soft, nopony could recognize it. Though only one pony could hear it, it called, steadily getting louder.

Our pony would yet still live his days ignoring the call, the plead for freedom. He wanted the candy stick for himself, it was after all the only source of color, and joy. Yet as he looked out the window, he finally came to his senses to the danger he was in. The ponies of Ponyville did not want to be happy, they wanted nothing to do with joy, and to them even the slight bit of enthusiasm and hope was a threat.

It happened quickly that day, being driven out of his home, there was no hope to stay. True, a minor defeat for the lollipop was still in his possession, and nothing could stand in his way for peace. Yet the cry still called, “Sweets, candy, seeds, we want to live, let us feed.” It was now loud enough to him to hear, and now joy was being sucked out of him. It was never clear to how he lost his joy, but the love for color was soon lost. Picking up the stick of sugar he stuffed it into his pack, so to be forgotten.

~~+~~

Following days hence, we found the young pony in a new town, founded for those who had hope. It was like food, and something that could be shared. Yet joy was lacking, and was only desirable. He no longer knew what to do, so being bored he moved his way to his old pack and opened it. He found pots and pans, old snacks that were now too stale to enjoy. Old coats that he no longer needed, not in that time of year.

His eyes widened as he found his prize that he had recently forgotten about. There at the bottom of his bag he found the lollipop, shining out calling to him saying. “Sweets, candy, seeds, we want to live, let us feed” The saying that he had come to ignore so well, until he found his treasure again.

It was sugar, the sucker was in fact made of sugar. He could not remember when the last time was when he ate something. All he knew now was that he did need to eat something. Struggling not to divorce his only link to joy, it was all he could do as his mouth went down to the gambit of the floor. The muscles in his neck quivered as he tried to fight the temptation, but no more. As soon as his buds sensed the sweet strawberry punch flavor, he could no longer fight his wishes. In an instant he picked up the sucker and began to morsel out the size. His body delighted to have something so sweet as nectar enter into his system, and It was all to joyous to be free from the call. Upon the very thought, his heart stopped as he realized that the call had ended. No more sweets, no for candy, he was feeding, and he was living! Oh, what a fool he had been to ignore the call so long, and to think that all it took as a bit of selfishness.

His tongue wrapped around the tasty morsel, savoring the liquified sweets, mixing into his saliva. Could candy really have been this scarce since Pinkie Pie disappeared? Is this why the world had become a dark gray? It was then when the decision was made. The decision to go and recreate candy. His taste buds remembered the flavor, and sugar was still around, it had to be. Oh how great was this! Our stallion was going to save Equestria and bring back color. Yet, his self proclaimed goal, was never his mission designed by fate. Even as he finished the scrumptious treat, did he walk out of his home to share the news.

At first, nopony listened to him, not interested in making candy when there were much more pressing matters at hoof. It was enough to push all to Celestia's sun of madness.

A cult soon arouse, being lead by our stallion, his determination could not be deterred by such insolence. Without end, he proclaimed his cause, gathering followers, even until the last pony decided to join. This is the miracle that I shall share, and this is the miracle that shall be remembered as the rebirth. Not of all, but of one.

Even as all the ponies in the colony gathered round to witness the backing of the first ever cupcake since the disappearance, for that is what the event was called. Our stallion stood in front of his mixing bowl waiting to strike his genius! His hooves holding the bag of sugar, ready to recreate the joy that was so long lost. His hoofs tilting ever so slightly as sugar began to pour from the bag. It poured and poured, the sugar did. Not one pony noticed the pain our stallion was in, for his eyes dilated as he felt his stomach expand, It was his time to fulfill his destiny, a destiny that would save all of Equestria from miserable depression.

Yes it was him who started it, but all who were there were also destined for this, each nameless to keep their records sacred. In the end none would know what truly happened but I, and that is all that matters.

His eyes were dilated, and his stomach hurting as if spikes were going to erupt forth. Of course in a splatter of iron crimson, spikes did erupt forth, then began to engulf him, mesmerizing his crowd to the glory it truly beheld. Like pink and dripping red candy canes, did the spikes wrap around him fusing into a round thick ball, trapping him into his own sweet cocoon.

The ponies sat there stunned, not one moving to flee from the unknown. There was too much hope to fear, too much hope to see that they were in danger. I was thankful for that, for I don’t think my consciousness could handle such a travesty.

It was only seconds before the next stage started, for the giant ball before them started to quiver. Muffled screaming could be heard from inside, but what held the ponies attention was the massive spikes that began to grow from the smooth edges. Sharp Enough to impale through any rock and crevasse. Songs of joy ringing out as the ball started to move, going down the stage as it crushed the stove meant for the new cupcakes.

Fear then began to spark in the ponies hearts as they witness the first few get the heads impaled, dragging the empty shells across the room. Death was what rung in the town as the ball chased and killed all that were near. Those who were foolish enough to watch, saw the bodies sink into the pink mass, being absorbed into the anomaly, just before they themselves were stabbed and crushed from existence.

If one were to listen they could her the birds cry in the distance, what they did not know was that the cries of nature where in fact the deaths of many ponies as they got absorbed into the once brave stallion. Yet nopony would listen, for the world was too dark to care about such tragedies.

Massive ball soon rolled its way from the now dead and empty town, making its way to the west, towards Ponyville. Even as it rolled though time slowed down, pieces of the mass began to melt of, bit by bit. No blood was found, no bones or flesh. Just crystallized sugar fell from the ball. Only one was aware of what was going on, for I had been aware from the beginning. From the moment I heard the stallion cry in agony, wishing for friends, wishing for Equestria to be joyous once more.

Even then as I arrived at Ponyville my hopes arise, as the last bit of candy fell from me to the floor. The cost had been high, but the reward had been worth it. Equestria was saved, even as I shouted out cheerfully….

"Hiya Everypony, I want to see you smile!"

Author's Note

Mr. Flare: So I had this Idea for a long time, but writing it out was next to impossible. Then one day my mind was like, "I know how you should write it, so do it" and I was like...."ok" So here you go and I hope you enjoy.

Punctured Lollipops
Concept by: Cromegas_Flare
Written by: Cromegas_Flare
Edited by: Cromegas_Flare
Pre-read by IceboxFroggie and The Notebook