The Most Special Party by Chaos_AzerothChaptersPrologue (The Party and Pinkie Pie)Chapter 1 (Sweets Can Be Bad For Your Health)Chapter 2(Because 1 Pinkie Pie isn't Enough)Chapter 3(All Pinkie Pie Needs is Smiles)Chapter 4(Barren)Chapter 5(The Final Straw)(End)Prologue (The Party and Pinkie Pie)You're invited to a super special sleepover party. Please don't tell the other ponies, I don't want to hurt any of my other friends, but I want just my most super-specialest friends to come. I need a special ingredient from the Everfree Forest. It's on the slip of paper inside your invitation. Hope you'll come! :) Love, Pinkie Pie P.S. That means Spike too, silly. Twilight Sparkle read her invitation 3 times. She was sure she knew the other ponies who had gotten the super-secret invitations. She was worried Applejack might not be able to keep it a secret, but quickly brushed that thought aside. 'As long as no one asks her, it's not really lying. It'll be okay. Especially if I know Pinkie Pie. There will be no reason for anyone to.' And as she got ready, the others got ready as well. She was bringing a book, one about baking. Pinkie Pie couldn't have this one, it was the rarest recipe book in all of Equestria! Spike, of course, was bringing nothing. And riding on Twilight's back too boot. 'Spike really can be a pain sometimes, but I really do like him anyway. I'll just say this is from both of us.' Pinkie Pie couldn't wait for all of her friends to come. She had realized the world was just too dangerous! Monsters everywhere, and worse. Bad influences like Gilda and Iron Will. Pinkie Pie, despite all her friends and laughter, was secretly sad and lonely. And the worst part was, no one knew. Not her friends, not herself...Especially not herself. Every night while she slept, she cried. Except there was a small part of her that did know why, a part if her shoved so far back it was amazing she felt the loneliness and sadness at all anymore. It had started when she was little. Rock farming was tedious, boring, thankless, and worst of all, friendless work. Sun up to sun down, all they did was work. If it wasn't the rock farming itself, it was some other chore. She loved her family, but she just wished she could get to meet more ponies. She wanted to bake good things. Most of all, she wanted to be happy. Pinkie Pie had always been a little strange, talking to her 'friends', her random laughing, sometimes even talking to herself. But it wasn't that big a deal, it didn't hurt anyone and she got the work done. Then it happened. Pinkie Pie began to lose it. It started with the party story. She would talk about what a great party she had thrown, and how glad she was that everyone had loved it. But the truth was, she had spent all of their hard earned money on stuff for a party, and now everyone was hungry. They hadn't exactly gotten mad at Pinkie Pie. What was the use? It would only hurt her feelings, and before you knew it she'd likely do it again. But the sat in silence the entire time, too afraid to eat anything yet, and trying to figure out how to make what was there last until they could get more. Then, there was the fact that she had stopped working altogether, planning parties for her 'friends'. Her family worried about her, and themselves. They thought that maybe she would get better if she could go out and make some real friends. They scrimped and saved to be able to move, just in case the plan didn't fully work out right. Then, one night Pinkie Pie's mother crept into Pinkie Pie's room, careful not to wake her. 'Pinkamena sweetie,' she whispered softly into Pinkie Pie's ear. 'Can you hear me?' 'Yes mommy...' She muttered it softly. 'Pinkamena, you need to go out and make friends. Do what you love. Do you understand?' 'Yes mommy.' 'And most important, you can't come back. You'll always simply be too busy. Don't ask why dear, you'll be the most popular pony of course. And the parties!' 'Ok mommy...' Disappointment crept into her voice. 'Good.' Pinkie Pie's mother sat by Pinkie Pie's bed, repeating that all night long. She prayed it would work. The next day, Pinkie Pie announced she would be setting off to Ponyville to make the ponies smile. As many as she could, and she was very sure she could get every pony in Ponyville to smile. Her party was great after all, she could bake lots of good things. She would be fine. And even though they were sending her off, her family was actually a little sad. Granny Pie didn't move, and the rest of the family came to visit, randomly but often. Which was good, because they happened to come the day Granny Pie died. She just simply didn't have the strength to get up even. She died of a broken heart, having had a special fond spot for Pinkie Pie. Crazy or not, she loved Pinkie Pie with all her heart. And somehow, the hidden part of Pinkie Pie knew that Granny Pie was dead, just like it knew the truth about all of it. And that had been what had pushed Pinkie Pie into full-blown insanity. 'I have to make sure the party is ready!' Pinkie Pie, who had once been Pinkamena Diane Pie, exclaimed. it has to be the very best for my friends!' And for a while, and not for the first time, she forgot what she was planning. It was just a super-special sleepover to her too. Meanwhile, Applejack had been bothered all day. She didn't like the secrecy of it. It wasn't quite lying, as long as nopony asked, but it was close enough to bother her. She couldn't even tell her family, that was the worst part. She just hoped they had all been invited. It would be even worse if any of them, including Spike, had been left out. 'Don't be a silly pony,' she chided herself. 'Of course we all got invited. But why just us? Pinkie loves big parties, she loves to make as many ponies happy as possible.' She felt silly, even a little ashamed, for thinking the last part. Surely it was alright to want to have a small party, especially if it was a sleepover. And it had to be really awesome, if Pinkie Pie was worried about hurting the other ponies feelings. She got some apples, as a gift for her friend. She knew Pinkie Pie would love them, and thinking about that helped her feel better about all of it as she went to get what Pinkie Pie needed from the Everfree Forest. It was worse for Fluttershy. She was worried about her animals, but she couldn't tell them or ask anyone to take care of them. She had to do something she knew Applejack wouldn't approve of. 'Okay...uhm...I have to go to the...' She gulped. 'Everfree Forest. It's for something special. So I want you all to behave, and I'll be back....uhm...as soon as I can..Take care..of each other...Okay?' She wasn't the greatest at baking, but she had worked hard on a treat for Pinkie Pie. She knew that Pinkie Pie would be delighted, and that was what was giving her the extra needed courage to go to the Everfree Forest. She just hoped she could find what was needed quickly. She still didn't quite like roaming around in there. Rarity had asked a pony to watch over her shop, Opal and Sweetybell included, because she had some things that simply had to be done. She would be back tomorrow afternoon, and not to worry. She had worked secretly, rushed and almost to the point of breaking down, on a dress for Pinkie Pie. 'It's my best dress ever! Oh how she'll adore it. I know I do.' That was the thought with her as she went to the Everfree Forest. Rainbow Dash was already at the Everfree Forest before any of them. She had decided to give Pinkie Pie one of her many pairs of flight goggles, an exact replica of the ones used by the Wonder Bolts. 'Sure she can't fly, but with these she'll look at least 20% cooler when she does all of the things she can do. Thinking of that, I hope there's lots of food, I'm starved!' Chapter 1 (Sweets Can Be Bad For Your Health)After a while, Applejack ran into Twilight Sparkle and Spike. ‘Howdy y’all. Are you out here for the same reason I am?’ Hope filled her, but she felt a twinge of panic. What if they weren’t. They’d surely ask what she meant then. She gulped. ‘You’re out here to be bored?’ Spike threw out there, still laying on Twilight Sparkle’s back. She shot him a look, then turned back to Applejack. She had noticed the gulp, and she started to laugh. ‘It’s okay Applejack. We both got invited too. Seriously, why else would we just be wandering around the Everfree Forest?’ ‘Twilight, something’s botherin’ me about this. T’aint right. It’s not quite lying, but it’s close. But I don’t want to let down Pinkie….’ Applejack sighed. ‘T’AIN’T FAIR!’ Twilight Sparkle gave her friend a soft, understanding look. And Applejack continued. ‘If I know our friends, they told some lie. Because Pinkie is our friend. I know…I know…I just don’t like it.’ Twilight Sparkle understood, but had no idea what to say. There was the fact that Pinkie Pie was her friend, and she wanted it secret. But there was the fact that Applejack was her friend, and she hated to lie. And she understood both ponies. Her heart started to pound. ‘You don’t have to say anything,’ Applejack said, as if she could read her friend’s mind. ‘Just thanks for listenin’. Let’s go.’ Rarity saw Fluttershy scuttling around nervously. ‘Whatever is the matter, Fluttershy?’ Fluttershy jumped and let out a squeek. She turned to see Rarity. ‘Oh my, I didn’t know it was you Rarity.’ She blushed a little, embarrassed her friend had startled her so. ‘It’s just…having to wander around the…’ She gulped. ‘Everfree Forest. And I don’t know where what I’m looking for is.’ Without missing a beat, Rarity said, ‘let me see your slip, darling.’ ‘My…my slip…’ ‘Your slip of paper with the ingredient. Surely that’s what you’re looking for.’ Fluttershy nervously handed Rarity the slip. ‘Oh my! Pinkie really is expecting quite a bit from you isn’t she? I happened to hear Twilight talking about this once. It’s rather far in. Actually, mine is too. Would you like me to help you, darling? After all, it simple wouldn’t do to be too late. We’d barely have any time to have fun.’ ‘Uhm…Rarity? You were…I mean…You’re…’ ‘Of course I was invited, darling. She did say her best friends, after all. I wonder if that means Spike too, or if Twilight had to come up with something. It probably did.’ Which, for a split second, made Rarity jealous. She hadn’t been able to bring anyone, after all. And it was going to be so awkward with Spike to boot. Rarity thought. It wasn’t that she didn’t like Spike, she just simply didn’t have time to even think about whether or not she liked anypony like that. She was going to work on her career first, romance second if ever. Rainbow Dash was waiting at Pinkie Pie’s house for them. She almost wanted to go in without them. ‘It’s not my fault they’re so slow,’ he mind whined at her. ‘Pinkie will be so happy to see you, and you can eat while you wait.’ Her stomach growled, almost as if it agreed with this. She saw some flowers, and looked around guiltily. ‘Nopony will notice. And besides, Pinkie would understand. I’m starving.’ She began to eat the flowers, and waited for the others. She knew it was the right thing to do. Going in, after all, would be about the most disloyal thing a pony could do. Her hunger had been the only problem with her, and she still wouldn’t have given in, in the end. The others came up, first Rairty and Fluttershy. Twilight Sparkle, Spike on her back, and Applejack followed soon after. ‘Oh..I didn’t notice you…’ Fluttershy said when she saw the three coming up close behind. ‘Actually,’ Twilight Sparkle said, ‘we just caught up to you. You were acting like something was trying to eat you!’ ‘Eep!’ ‘Way to go Twilight.’ It was Spike. ‘Scare poor Fluttershy like that.’ Twilight Sparkle gently bumped him off of her back. ‘Oh now Spike, darling,’ Rarity began, ‘that is simply no way to talk to one of your friends. Especially not before one of the best parties ever. We do not need bad feelings lingering around while we are trying to have fun.’ Spike started at Rarity, his heart pounding. ‘Sorry Twilight, I was just joking around.’ ‘Did I hear joke?!?’ Pinkie Pie burst out of her house. ‘Who told a joke? Was it funny? Why aren’t you all laughing?’ Rarity shot Spike a look. ‘It was me,’ he said, a bit ashamed sounding. ‘And it wasn’t very funny.’ ‘Oh that’s okay, Spike. Not every joke can be funny all the time. Or can it? You know what would be great? Cake! Come on you guys. I can’t start the party without you, sillies!’ She bounded inside, and the others followed. It was just like Pinkie Pie to be so excited about her party. Inside Pinkie Pie’s house was oddly undecorated. All of them couldn’t help but notice there was nothing that looked like any sort of party, let alone an extra special one. Rainbow Dash whined, in spite of herself. ‘Pinkie, please tell me this wasn’t a prank. Because it wouldn’t be very funny at all.’ ‘Oh no prank Dashie!’ Pinkie Pie exclaimed, a bit of offence creeping into her voice. ‘It’s just all set up in the basement.’ Twilight Sparkle made a puzzled face. ‘Pinkie, you don’t have a basement.’ ‘Oh yes I do. See, I was thinking. What if I wanted to have a super special party for just us? I mean, if I had it in here somepony might notice. A balloon might get away, or they might stop by, or who knows what else. So I worked really hard, and made a basement.’ She saw the looks on her friends faces. ‘Oh don’t worry, I did a great job! It’s safe as…well as a safe! Nothing bad.’ She moved a rug, and no one saw the door until Pinkie Pie knocked in the typical ‘shave-and-a-haircut’ fashion. She started going down the stairs, and they followed. The door, eerily, closed behind them. The basement was well lit, despite the noticeable lack of windows. It was full of streamers, balloons, and baked goods. On the wall was a banner that proudly proclaimed, ‘Welcome To The All Around Bestest Sleep-Over Ever!!!’. Spike ran over to the sweets, and began to gobble them down. ‘Spike stop that,’ Twilight Sparkle chided. ‘I swear, sweets are going to be the death of you one of these days.’ ‘You probably should listen to Twilight,’ Pinkie Pie added. ‘You don’t want to get a big bellyache.’ Which was weird, and Twilight Sparkle paused for a moment. Something was…wrong with Pinkie Pie saying something like that. But before she could think any more, Pinkie Pie started talking to her. ‘Come on Twilight, time to eat!’ Twilight Sparkle slowly went to eat, unsure what might be wrong. After they all ate, they decided to give Pinkie Pie her gifts. First Twilight went. ‘Wow this is amazing!’ Pinkie Pie flipped through it. ‘There are recipes I’ve never even heard of! Thanks buddy!’ She hugged Twilight Sparkle, and Fluttershy gulped. She was afraid her gift wasn’t good enough. Rarity went next. The dress was pink, with tastefully done streamers. ‘I adore it! I’ll put it on right now.’ Suddenly remembering what Rarity had said before, she added, ’Spike, cover your eyes okay? Rarity said we shouldn’t get dressed in front of a boy.’ Which made Rarity beam with pride. Spike covered his eyes, and Pinkie Pie got dressed. She gave Rarity a big hug and exclaimed, ‘it fits great…Hopefully I don’t eat too much cake!’ Everyone laughed, and Spike uncovered his eyes. Fluttershy was feeling even more afraid. Rainbow Dash proudly presented her gift, and Pinkie Pie squealed. ‘Are you sure Dashie? Are you really sure? These are so cool. Should I wear them? Really?’ ‘That is the point, Pinkie. You’ll be the coolest non-flying pony ever.’ ‘Okay Dashie!’ She put them on, which with the dress was more than a little funny. But that was just pinkie Pie. She hugged Rainbow Dash, and turned to Fluttershy. ‘It’s not that good,’ Fluttershy said, softly even for her. ‘I’m sure it is! Come on! What is it?’ Fluttershy presented the cupcake, which was all the colors of them. Pinkie Pie ate it in one bite. ‘That’s the best cupcake ever Fluttershy, and I know cupcakes!’ Fluttershy blushed, and tried to talk but couldn’t. Pinkie Pie hugged her. ‘I’m so glad we’ll be best friends forever!’ Twilight looked over at Spike, and noticed he was laying on the floor. ‘Spike? Spike!’ She started to feel dizzy, everything was getting fuzzy. As each of the ponies fainted, the last thing they heard was Pinkie Pie. ‘Forever…’ Chapter 2(Because 1 Pinkie Pie isn't Enough)'He's dead, Pinkamena. And you're not even a doctor! What do you think you're doing?!?' 'Oh no he's just sick, Dashie. And I can fix it, it's just a tummy ache after all.' Pinkie Pie giggled. 'I'm not Rainbow Dash. I'm you. And he's not sick. He's dead. It wasn't fully your fault, you didn't try to kill him. But he died, and your friends might be next.' 'Silly Twilight. He's just fine. And I don't need to be a doctor.' Pinkie Pie would have been elbow deep in blood, if the ponies technically had elbows, shoving gauze into him and becoming mildly disturbed at the blood. 'You need to stop bleeding Spike, or Fluttershy will be right and you will die.' Then she giggled. 'Nah, you're doing just fine. And you're safe here!' 'If it's just a tummy ache, why did you cut him open?' 'Well duh! He was so stuffed he was going to burst. I had to take it out. And boy was there a lot.' She gestured to a pile. It was Spike's organs. 'Ewww that's so gross! I'm going to have to burn it!' She shoved more gauze into Spike. 'And the stuff you put in him?' The voice was becoming weary. 'Medicine and anesthesia, silly. After all, I couldn't do it without it.' Yet anther giggle. 'Time to sew him up. Good as new. Or maybe even better! He was soooooo stuffed.' Pinkie Pie sewed Spike up carefully, making sure none of the stitches would show. It would be embarrassing if her friends saw she had performed a surgery over a simple stomach ache. But she hadn't known what else to do. She took the organs out back carefully, as she didn't want to carry the 'gross stuff' out in her mouth. She burned it, then kicked the ashes everywhere. She went back in, and cleaned up the mess. Carefully she carried Spike down into her basement. She put him next to Twilight Sparkle. All of her friends were still out. 'What sleepy-heads', she thought, amused. 'How can we have fun if all they want to do is sleep? Oh well, maybe they'll want to stay longer. After all, we didn't have any fun!' She injected each friend with a strange liquid. The voice spoke up again. 'What's that then?' 'Vitamins silly,' was the reply. 'They must be coming down sick, to sleep so much. So I'm going to help them get better. They need to feel good, and if there's one thing I know about it's making ponies feel good!They'll be so happy they'll never want to leave. We'll be best friends forever.' She went back upstairs. 'This has all been such hard work. Now I'm feeling like a sleepy-head. Well since they're asleep, a nap won't hurt.' Pinkie Pie drifted off. She dreamed about her confrontation with Gilda. She had been so brave. Once Gilda had left, Pinkie Pie had gone after her and told her she better never come back. Gilda had scoffed, and asked her or what. And Pinkie Pie had summoned up all her courage and replied, 'it will be the last thing you do.' Of course, she wouldn't actually hurt Gilda, but she was hoping to scare her. And it had worked. Gilda had never tried to come back or contact anypony again. At least that was what Pinkie Pie dreamed.... Twilight started to wake up. She felt awful. She tried to clear her head and think. The other ponies were waking up as well. She tried to use her magic, and was horrified to find that she couldn't. She felt weak, drained. And she suddenly became even more afraid as she realized their best friend Pinkie Pie had done this, and she wasn't hearing Spike complain. Fluttershy's shriek broke Twilight Sparkle's thoughts. 'Spike!' Fluttershy shouted, absolute horror and pain in her voice. 'What did she do to Spike?' Twilight Sparkle turned and saw Spike. He was stiff, his eyes were open and unblinking, but it got even worse. He had the biggest smile Twilight Sparkle had ever seen. Bigger even than when Rarity showed him favor in some way. She felt sick. Suddenly, Rarity wailed. 'Oh Spikey-wikey dear. Now it's too late. Now I can't figure out how I feel about you. And you were always so nice to me.' She began to sob. 'You...you always...treated me like...like...like...a princess...' 'I told you Spike. Eating so many sweets would...' Twilight Sparkle started weakly, but she couldn't finish. Rainbow Dash cut in. 'This is crazy, even for Pinkie. And to think I gave her my autographed goggles. So basically Spike's dead and stuffed, and we're next.' 'Now wait just a minute.' It was Applejack. 'We might not die. But we are stuck.' She was trying to stand. She barely managed. 'She's right. It had to be something in the sweets. Spike ate too much.' Twilight Sparkle had finally found the strength to talk to the others. 'It's Pinkie Pie. Gone crazy or not, I don't think she'd want to kill us. I think she's trying to keep us. That's why she had us go to the Everfree Forest. So when we disappeared, everypony would think something happened to us. That's why she didn't want us to tell anyone.' 'Well what do you reckon we do now?' Applejack asked. Twilight Sparkle could only shrug. 'I don't know.' She cuddled into Spike and sobbed. Pinkie Pie woke up and looked at her clock. 'Okie-dokie-loki, they should be up by now!' She stood up and stretched. boy I slept way too long. They must be soooooo bored.' She started to think about all the fun they had before, and all the fun they would have. She started bouncing and singing as she prepared some cupcakes. 'Cupcakes so sweet and tasty!...'She carried the prepared cupcakes to the basement, to her friends. Boy, they were going to love these! 'Pinkie why?!?' Chapter 3(All Pinkie Pie Needs is Smiles)'Pinkie why?!?' It was Twilight Sparkle. Pinkie Pie was genuinely confused. He friend's tone told her that she was upset about something. 'What's wrong Twilight?' Pinkie Pie asked, clearly concerned. 'Are you already tired of cupcakes?' 'Pinkie,' Twilight Sparkle began, trying to regain some calm and somewhat succeeding, 'Spike is dead and stuffed. Why would you do that?' 'No he's not silly,' Pinkie Pie replied, and giggled. 'He was stuffed. He's much better now!' 'Yeah Twilight, duh. I'm much better now. I really need to be more careful from now on how much I eat.' Pinkie Pie heard in Spike's voice. 'Oh it's okay Spike. You just like to eat. I'm glad you loved the super-special food I made.' Pinkie Pie smiled at Twilight Sparkle. 'You should listen to Spike. Even he says he's feeling better. And he's smiling. How could you think something so horrible? I'm so glad he's so happy! I love to make everypony smile!' All of Pinkie Pie's friends started to feel sick. 'Come on now sugarcube.' It was Applejack. 'You can't possibly believe this.' 'Can she? I mean, we all knew Pinkie was a little different, but...' Her thoughts were interrupted. 'Anyway I brought you these!' Pinkie Pie exclaimed with glee. She sat the cupcakes down. 'And no fighting. 'I'm going to pass them out this time.' She went around and sat a cupcake in front of each of her friends, including Spike, the colors of which matched the pony. They all looked sickly at Spike. 'Thanks Pinkie Pie. I love it, even though it doesn't have gems.' 'You're welcome Spike,' Pinkie Pie said, looking right at Spike. 'I'm so glad you love it.' She looked around. 'Come on, everypony, eat up.' 'No way!' Rainbow Dash exclaimed. 'You're just going to poison us like you did to Spike!' 'Oh Dashie,' Pinkie Pie giggled. 'Spike is doing fine. And they aren't poisoned. Look.' She looked at Spike. 'May I have a bite?' 'Of course Pinkie Pie. Just a little one though, don't eat it all.' Laughing, happy, and most importantly alive. At least to Pinkie Pie. 'Thanks Spikey old pal.' She took a small bite from Spike's cupcake. see so good. Mmmm. Now I need to make one for me. I totally forgot to, wanting to make cupcakes for all of you! Oh well, what do you want to do?' 'See my animal friends,' Futtershy said. 'See my family.' Applejack. 'Do my research and have Spike back.' Twilight Sparkle. 'Go home and design more fashion.' Rarity. 'Fly and get away from you.' Rainbow Dash. 'Well I can go get some of your books, Twilight,' Pinkie Pie said. 'And some of your materials, Rarity. But sorry, I'm not bringing anyone else here sillies. And you can fly in here, silly Dashie!' Rainbow Dash flapped her wings weakly. 'Pinkie I can't fly right now. You should know that.' But Pinkie Pie had already run out. Pinkie Pie went to get her friends stuff, but stopped right before she got to Twilight Sparkle's house. 'If you do this, you'll be caught for sure.' It was inner Pinkie Pie. 'Get caught doing what?' Nevertheless she was still careful as she got the things for her friends. Rarity's request was difficult, but Pinkie Pie managed with only a close call. Meanwhile, her friends had been anxiously debating on whether or not to eat their cupcakes. They finally did, but the strain of even knowing whether to not to even eat was getting to them. 'I'm getting out of here!' Applejack exclaimed. She began to kick the wall weakly, but as hard as she could muster. The others just looked at her, shocked. Finally Twilight Sparkle spoke. 'No Applejack, don't! You might...' SNAP 'My leg! I think my leg is broke. It twisted and it just...' Applejack began to sob. 'Applejack!' Out of reaction, Rainbow Dash began to flap her wings trying to fly. And slowly crawled over to her friend, not thinking about it. 'Let me see it you big dummy.' Rainbow Dash gasped. The leg had clearly twisted and then broken. Applejack had kicked just wrong, and a small bit of bone was sticking out. Rainbow Dash felt sick to her stomach, but she couldn't turn away. She began to chew on her tail. 'Uhm...What are..you doing?' Fluttershy asked but had her eyes closed tightly. She had done it as soon as she had heard the snap. Rainbow Dash didn't stop until she chewed through her tail. 'Bandaging Applejack's wound. It's not like Pinkie left us with so much to work with. She suddenly yanked Applejack's leg straight and began binding it as well as she could. Applejack began to whine and try to move. 'Stop I'm just trying to fix it.' Rainbow Dash looked sadly at Applejack. 'Sorry it was all I could do.' 'It's alright,' Applejack said through her tears. 'Thanks Rainbow Dash.' 'Well she has to let us go now right?' Rarity asked. Twilight was the only one who would reply. She turned to Spike and said, 'I wouldn't count on it.' Pinkie Pie walked into her house, sitting the things down by her chair. She wanted to give them to her friends, but she was so tired. 'A tiny nap won't hurt,' she thought.'Just for five minutes...' She was out before she knew it. She dreamed her friends were in trouble. Applejack had broken her leg applebucking, Rainbow Dash had lost her wings, Fluttershy was trapped somewhere, Twilight Sparkle couldn't do her magic and her and Spike were going to be eaten by Gilda, and Rarity had lost her front hooves. Pinkie Pie tossed and turned, unable to escape the feeling something was wrong with her friends. She startled awake, and yelled, 'Pinkie sense is telling me my friends are in danger.' She quickly grabbed their things, opened the basement, and rushed in. 'NOPONY HURTS MY FRIENDS! YOU BETTER STOP IT RIGHT NOW!' Chapter 4(Barren)All of Pinkie Pie's friends could only stare at her, dumbfounded, as she charged in yelling. 'Darling,' Rarity said with considerable effort. 'She got hurt because we're stuck here, and Spikey-wikey is...' She stopped. She still couldn't fully accept that Spike was dead. 'I'm what, Rarity? I'm your...can it be? I'm your boyfriend?' 'Maybe Spike,' Pinkie Pie said. 'It sure seems that way.' Rarity began to stare blankly at Pinkie Pie, unable to do anything else. Twilight Sparkle spoke up. 'Applejack's leg is broken, Pinkie. She needs a doctor.' 'Yeah it's really bad,' Rainbow Dash added, uncharacteristically softly. 'There's some bone sticking out.' Pinkie Pie turned to Rainbow Dash and gasped. 'What happened to your tail?!?' Pinkie Pie was clearly confused and horrified at her friend's 'new look'. The tail really couldn't even be called a tail anymore. It was a tiny, ragged thing. On top of that, Rainbow Dash, in her panic, had pulled out some of it as she had tried to chew through it. There was some blood, just a little, dried in it. 'I chewed it off so Applejack wouldn't bleed too much and to try to set her bone the best I could. Weren't you listening Pinkie?' 'Don't like your parties...Don't want to be your friends anymore...Want to leave you, Pinkamina...' 'Stop it,' Pinkie Pie whispered. 'No, you listen!' Rainbow Dash exclaimed, more like herself. 'You can't do this! Spike is dead and Applejack is really hurt because of you!' 'Pinkamina let them go...Maybe they'll like you again if you....' 'I said STOP IT! JUST SHUT UP!' 'No Pinkie, this has gone too far,' Fluttershy interjected, much to everyone's surprise. Even her own. 'Yeah see even Fluttershy is speaking up,' Rainbow Dash said, her usual spirit in it, building up as she went. 'You used to be so cool. I was even jealous of you sometimes. But now...You're not even an okay friend anymore! IF YOU DON'T LET AT LEAST APPLEJACK GO I DON'T WANT TO EVER SEE YOU AGAIN!' 'Maybe you could still fix this, Pinkamina. Just let them go. Just tell them why you did it. If you do that, it should be okay.' 'But their safety! They'll understand. 'Pinkamina, give up... '...and we won't tell anypony. Please just let Applejack go to the hospital at least Pinkie. Please. And tell us why you've done this. What's wrong? This isn't like you at all.' It was Twilight Sparkle, who had been trying to speak to Pinkie Pie, reason with her as her inner turmoil grew and grew. But Pinkie Pie was somewhere else entirely. She was in a barren place, a place that was almost-but-not-quite her old home. A sad breeze drifted through, and all of her family had begun to crowd around her. 'Pinkamina, what are you doing?' 'Pinkamina, those are your friends!' 'Pinkamina, you're killing them!' All of the ponies voices slowly becoming one as they spoke. But Pinkie Pie noticed somepony was missing. She kept frantically looking, hope turning into panic. Where was her mother? As if summoned, her mother stepped forward, all of the others suddenly silencing and stepping out of her way. 'Oh, Pinkamina dear. This is what we were afraid of. This is why we...I...sent you away. I was hoping if you made some real friends it would be so...' She shook her head sadly. 'I was wrong. Maybe I didn't think enough about others. Maybe I never really thought it would be better. I...I just don't know anymore.' Pinkie Pie blinked. For some reason, her mother had suddenly become blurry. In shock, she realized she was crying. She bowed her head, as if deeply shamed. Then her head suddenly shot up as she screamed. 'YOU AREN'T REALLY MY MOTHER! YOU ALL AREN'T REALLY MY FAMILY! YOU LIE!' She began to buck at them, sure they were something evil. Something that wanted her to stop protecting her friends. Something that wanted them even. Pinkie Pie's friends could only watch in horror as things began to unfold. Pinkie Pie had just been staring off, and had suddenly began to cry. She had lowered her head, and the horror had begun to give way to hope. That was until she had quickly raised her head and shouted. 'YOU AREN'T REALLY MY MOTHER! YOU ALL AREN'T REALLY MY FAMILY! YOU LIE!' Pinkie Pie began to buck around, sadness and panic on her face. Her friends watched, not sure whether to be scared or to fell bad for Pinkie Pie. There was an air of sorrow, nevertheless. Each pony felt their hopes beginning to die. Each pony, in their own way and for their own reasons, were beginning to doubt that Pinkie Pie would ever be the same. The old, fun loving, happy,lovable Pinkie Pie. Fluttershy began to weep, Rarity had not stopped dumbfoundedly staring the entire time, Twilight Sparkle was deep in thought. She was trying to think of what to do, thinking frantically maybe they could help their, at least former, friend. Rainbow Dash was sitting by Applejack, feeling both contempt and just a little pity for Pinkie Pie. And Applejack... Applejack began to dry heave from pain and shock. 'Hey Pinkie Pie...It's okay. I just want Applejack to be okay. Hey Pinkie.' Rainbow Dash said, as she tried to figure out how to get Pinkie Pie to stop. hey Pinkie, stop.'Come on now, this isn't helping. Applejack needs you, she needs you to be a good friend. She needs you to do the right thing. She needs help. At least get her some medicine, be the good friend we know you to be.Pinkie Pie, you're going to hurt yourself or one of us. Pinkie Pie stop!' THUD 'Pi..pi..Pinkie Pie...' Came a small, timid voice, even softer than usual. A shout rang out from the others, in shock and despair. 'Pinkie Pie!' Chapter 5(The Final Straw)(End)'Pi..pi..Pinkie Pie...' Pinkie Pie had just kicked Fluttershy in the head, who had rushed to defend Rainbow Dash. She just couldn't let her friend get hurt. And as she crumpled to the ground, she thought. 'At least Rainbow Dash is okay...I did it, I was brave....' 'Pinkie Pie! This has gone too far. Spike was an accident and he even kind of played a part himself,' Twilight Sparkle was positively livid. But Rainbow Dash cut her off. 'Exactly. But you just tried to assault me! You just tried to hurt someone! You killed..Gah!' Rainbow Dash fought the drugs, and it had been a few hours now since Pinkie Pie had given them any. Time gone by, and her anger helped her charge the pink pony. 'Omph,' went Pinkie Pie, as all the air was knocked out of her lungs. She went back, hitting the wall. She made a sickening thud as she hit. She saw a bright light, temporarily. Everything started going hazy, and she had to fight passing out. 'I'm going to kill you!' 'Da..Dashie...no...I never wanted to hurt anypony. You're all my friends...I...I love my friends...Don't you see?' She was crying, tears streaming down her face. 'I...I'm sorry....So sorry.....' Sorrow, desperation, and pain danced across Pinkie Pie's features. 'I don't care anymore! You're...' Only rage in Rainbow Dash's voice, and on her face. Pure, beyond her control rage. 'Stop....' Softly. 'Can it be? It can't be...' Rainbow Dash thought, and quickly brushed it off. 'going to pay...' 'Stop it...' A little louder. 'Could it be? Can I....Am I...' Rainbow Dash wondered, becoming more and more alarmed. She pushed the thoughts aside, violently, with her rage. She was losing control more and more as time went on. She was losing herself, just like Pinkie Pie had. 'and if you don't die, you'll be lucky.' Rainbow Dash reared up, ready to stomp Pinkie Pie. 'STOP IT RAINBOW DASH!' Rainbow Dash stopped so suddenly, she fell over. It had been Fluttershy. Was she going insane too, just like Pinkie Pie? She got up and turned to see Fluttershy trying desperately to stand, her head bleeding freely. 'I'm not dead...Yet.' She looked at Pinkie Pie, pleading in her eyes and words. 'Please.....please...' 'Pinkie Pie, tell the truth...' The old voice. 'No, their safety...Think of them.' A new voice, saying what Pinkie Pie had made herself believe. Pinkie Pie, as she truly was. Pinkamina Diane Pie, the darker insanity of Pinkie Pie, once her original self, become dark and twisted from Pinkie Pie's quest to have friends, the manipulation of her mother, and the forgetting. She had to choose:Who would she be? She only took a moment in time, but in herself it was a lifetime. 'I'm sorry Dashie! We don't have much time, Applejack is hurt and Fluttershy could bleed to death! Pinkamia tricked me into...I tricked myself into believing I was saving you and everything was okay...' Pinkie Pie, finally and truly Pinkie Pie for the first time in years if ever, sobbed. 'Pinkamina? But you're...' Rainbow Dash said confused. 'No time,' Twilight Sparkle exclaimed. 'Pinkie calm down. Let us out. Well take them to the hospital. We'll get you some help if you want.' 'Oh...okay.' _____________________ 'Pinkie Pie, how are you doing?' It was Twilight Sparkle. 'Better, thanks. How's Spike?' 'Alright. We got lucky. The Princess said...' Twilight Sparkle stopped. She wasn't supposed to talk about it. 'Good. Is he...coping good?' 'Better than you might think...' Silence. There was so much each pony wanted to say, but it was so hard. Twilight Sparkle, after what felt like an eternity to both if them, began to speak again. 'Applejack actually has a 50-50 chance of applebucking again. Fluttershy has even kept a little of her bravery, though she does have some problems with her memory...' 'I'm sorry...I...wasn't myself...' 'We know, we know. But what what was it you had wanted to say?' 'Just that a part of me, it always knew. It had to, it plotted and planned all of this. But I forgot that. I really started to believe it was just a sleep over. It was all okay. No one died, no one got hurt, no one was even...trapped. And when I planned it, I finally remembered. Or I did sometimes, even then, I don't know anymore....Anyway, when I planned it I did it to save you all. So we could be friends forever.' 'Really Pinkie? Sometimes you are just something else.' A grin, pure, true, and happy. For the first time since all of this happened. ___________________ What of Spike? How was he okay? Let's take a look, see if it's true. ____________________ 'Twi...light...' A voice from Twilight Sparkle's room. 'Twi..light...I miss you. Why do you gotta go visit everyone for so long? Why can't I go out? Why do I have to stay in your room?' It was Spike, but something was off about him. His colors were slightly grey, and the stitches were clearly there. He moved, slowly and sadly across the room. He figured he might as well read to pass some time. That plan lasted about two minutes. Then he decided to write a letter. Dear Princess Celestia, I'm so lost and confused. Why do I have to wait alone now? I did learn something about friendship lately. But I can't remember most of what happened. Only that Pinkie tried to trap us. Not how we got out. So maybe I forgot some of the lesson. But here it is: Sometimes you think you're being a great friend, but you're really not. Ponies should think about what it means to be a friend if you really want to be one. Spike He sent the letter, and a reply came surprisingly quickly. Dear Spike, What you said is true. I hope others have learned the same lesson. As for your question: Please, just don't ask. And whatever you do, DON'T TRY TO REMEMBER! I cannot stress this enough. Maybe one day you will be able to, but not yet. Trust your friends. In this case, they truly are being your friends. Sincerely, Celestia ____________________ Well, Spike, for once you're right. Yes, Spike yes, it's zombies. Or at least you are now.
Prologue (The Party and Pinkie Pie)You're invited to a super special sleepover party. Please don't tell the other ponies, I don't want to hurt any of my other friends, but I want just my most super-specialest friends to come. I need a special ingredient from the Everfree Forest. It's on the slip of paper inside your invitation. Hope you'll come! :) Love, Pinkie Pie P.S. That means Spike too, silly. Twilight Sparkle read her invitation 3 times. She was sure she knew the other ponies who had gotten the super-secret invitations. She was worried Applejack might not be able to keep it a secret, but quickly brushed that thought aside. 'As long as no one asks her, it's not really lying. It'll be okay. Especially if I know Pinkie Pie. There will be no reason for anyone to.' And as she got ready, the others got ready as well. She was bringing a book, one about baking. Pinkie Pie couldn't have this one, it was the rarest recipe book in all of Equestria! Spike, of course, was bringing nothing. And riding on Twilight's back too boot. 'Spike really can be a pain sometimes, but I really do like him anyway. I'll just say this is from both of us.' Pinkie Pie couldn't wait for all of her friends to come. She had realized the world was just too dangerous! Monsters everywhere, and worse. Bad influences like Gilda and Iron Will. Pinkie Pie, despite all her friends and laughter, was secretly sad and lonely. And the worst part was, no one knew. Not her friends, not herself...Especially not herself. Every night while she slept, she cried. Except there was a small part of her that did know why, a part if her shoved so far back it was amazing she felt the loneliness and sadness at all anymore. It had started when she was little. Rock farming was tedious, boring, thankless, and worst of all, friendless work. Sun up to sun down, all they did was work. If it wasn't the rock farming itself, it was some other chore. She loved her family, but she just wished she could get to meet more ponies. She wanted to bake good things. Most of all, she wanted to be happy. Pinkie Pie had always been a little strange, talking to her 'friends', her random laughing, sometimes even talking to herself. But it wasn't that big a deal, it didn't hurt anyone and she got the work done. Then it happened. Pinkie Pie began to lose it. It started with the party story. She would talk about what a great party she had thrown, and how glad she was that everyone had loved it. But the truth was, she had spent all of their hard earned money on stuff for a party, and now everyone was hungry. They hadn't exactly gotten mad at Pinkie Pie. What was the use? It would only hurt her feelings, and before you knew it she'd likely do it again. But the sat in silence the entire time, too afraid to eat anything yet, and trying to figure out how to make what was there last until they could get more. Then, there was the fact that she had stopped working altogether, planning parties for her 'friends'. Her family worried about her, and themselves. They thought that maybe she would get better if she could go out and make some real friends. They scrimped and saved to be able to move, just in case the plan didn't fully work out right. Then, one night Pinkie Pie's mother crept into Pinkie Pie's room, careful not to wake her. 'Pinkamena sweetie,' she whispered softly into Pinkie Pie's ear. 'Can you hear me?' 'Yes mommy...' She muttered it softly. 'Pinkamena, you need to go out and make friends. Do what you love. Do you understand?' 'Yes mommy.' 'And most important, you can't come back. You'll always simply be too busy. Don't ask why dear, you'll be the most popular pony of course. And the parties!' 'Ok mommy...' Disappointment crept into her voice. 'Good.' Pinkie Pie's mother sat by Pinkie Pie's bed, repeating that all night long. She prayed it would work. The next day, Pinkie Pie announced she would be setting off to Ponyville to make the ponies smile. As many as she could, and she was very sure she could get every pony in Ponyville to smile. Her party was great after all, she could bake lots of good things. She would be fine. And even though they were sending her off, her family was actually a little sad. Granny Pie didn't move, and the rest of the family came to visit, randomly but often. Which was good, because they happened to come the day Granny Pie died. She just simply didn't have the strength to get up even. She died of a broken heart, having had a special fond spot for Pinkie Pie. Crazy or not, she loved Pinkie Pie with all her heart. And somehow, the hidden part of Pinkie Pie knew that Granny Pie was dead, just like it knew the truth about all of it. And that had been what had pushed Pinkie Pie into full-blown insanity. 'I have to make sure the party is ready!' Pinkie Pie, who had once been Pinkamena Diane Pie, exclaimed. it has to be the very best for my friends!' And for a while, and not for the first time, she forgot what she was planning. It was just a super-special sleepover to her too. Meanwhile, Applejack had been bothered all day. She didn't like the secrecy of it. It wasn't quite lying, as long as nopony asked, but it was close enough to bother her. She couldn't even tell her family, that was the worst part. She just hoped they had all been invited. It would be even worse if any of them, including Spike, had been left out. 'Don't be a silly pony,' she chided herself. 'Of course we all got invited. But why just us? Pinkie loves big parties, she loves to make as many ponies happy as possible.' She felt silly, even a little ashamed, for thinking the last part. Surely it was alright to want to have a small party, especially if it was a sleepover. And it had to be really awesome, if Pinkie Pie was worried about hurting the other ponies feelings. She got some apples, as a gift for her friend. She knew Pinkie Pie would love them, and thinking about that helped her feel better about all of it as she went to get what Pinkie Pie needed from the Everfree Forest. It was worse for Fluttershy. She was worried about her animals, but she couldn't tell them or ask anyone to take care of them. She had to do something she knew Applejack wouldn't approve of. 'Okay...uhm...I have to go to the...' She gulped. 'Everfree Forest. It's for something special. So I want you all to behave, and I'll be back....uhm...as soon as I can..Take care..of each other...Okay?' She wasn't the greatest at baking, but she had worked hard on a treat for Pinkie Pie. She knew that Pinkie Pie would be delighted, and that was what was giving her the extra needed courage to go to the Everfree Forest. She just hoped she could find what was needed quickly. She still didn't quite like roaming around in there. Rarity had asked a pony to watch over her shop, Opal and Sweetybell included, because she had some things that simply had to be done. She would be back tomorrow afternoon, and not to worry. She had worked secretly, rushed and almost to the point of breaking down, on a dress for Pinkie Pie. 'It's my best dress ever! Oh how she'll adore it. I know I do.' That was the thought with her as she went to the Everfree Forest. Rainbow Dash was already at the Everfree Forest before any of them. She had decided to give Pinkie Pie one of her many pairs of flight goggles, an exact replica of the ones used by the Wonder Bolts. 'Sure she can't fly, but with these she'll look at least 20% cooler when she does all of the things she can do. Thinking of that, I hope there's lots of food, I'm starved!'
Chapter 1 (Sweets Can Be Bad For Your Health)After a while, Applejack ran into Twilight Sparkle and Spike. ‘Howdy y’all. Are you out here for the same reason I am?’ Hope filled her, but she felt a twinge of panic. What if they weren’t. They’d surely ask what she meant then. She gulped. ‘You’re out here to be bored?’ Spike threw out there, still laying on Twilight Sparkle’s back. She shot him a look, then turned back to Applejack. She had noticed the gulp, and she started to laugh. ‘It’s okay Applejack. We both got invited too. Seriously, why else would we just be wandering around the Everfree Forest?’ ‘Twilight, something’s botherin’ me about this. T’aint right. It’s not quite lying, but it’s close. But I don’t want to let down Pinkie….’ Applejack sighed. ‘T’AIN’T FAIR!’ Twilight Sparkle gave her friend a soft, understanding look. And Applejack continued. ‘If I know our friends, they told some lie. Because Pinkie is our friend. I know…I know…I just don’t like it.’ Twilight Sparkle understood, but had no idea what to say. There was the fact that Pinkie Pie was her friend, and she wanted it secret. But there was the fact that Applejack was her friend, and she hated to lie. And she understood both ponies. Her heart started to pound. ‘You don’t have to say anything,’ Applejack said, as if she could read her friend’s mind. ‘Just thanks for listenin’. Let’s go.’ Rarity saw Fluttershy scuttling around nervously. ‘Whatever is the matter, Fluttershy?’ Fluttershy jumped and let out a squeek. She turned to see Rarity. ‘Oh my, I didn’t know it was you Rarity.’ She blushed a little, embarrassed her friend had startled her so. ‘It’s just…having to wander around the…’ She gulped. ‘Everfree Forest. And I don’t know where what I’m looking for is.’ Without missing a beat, Rarity said, ‘let me see your slip, darling.’ ‘My…my slip…’ ‘Your slip of paper with the ingredient. Surely that’s what you’re looking for.’ Fluttershy nervously handed Rarity the slip. ‘Oh my! Pinkie really is expecting quite a bit from you isn’t she? I happened to hear Twilight talking about this once. It’s rather far in. Actually, mine is too. Would you like me to help you, darling? After all, it simple wouldn’t do to be too late. We’d barely have any time to have fun.’ ‘Uhm…Rarity? You were…I mean…You’re…’ ‘Of course I was invited, darling. She did say her best friends, after all. I wonder if that means Spike too, or if Twilight had to come up with something. It probably did.’ Which, for a split second, made Rarity jealous. She hadn’t been able to bring anyone, after all. And it was going to be so awkward with Spike to boot. Rarity thought. It wasn’t that she didn’t like Spike, she just simply didn’t have time to even think about whether or not she liked anypony like that. She was going to work on her career first, romance second if ever. Rainbow Dash was waiting at Pinkie Pie’s house for them. She almost wanted to go in without them. ‘It’s not my fault they’re so slow,’ he mind whined at her. ‘Pinkie will be so happy to see you, and you can eat while you wait.’ Her stomach growled, almost as if it agreed with this. She saw some flowers, and looked around guiltily. ‘Nopony will notice. And besides, Pinkie would understand. I’m starving.’ She began to eat the flowers, and waited for the others. She knew it was the right thing to do. Going in, after all, would be about the most disloyal thing a pony could do. Her hunger had been the only problem with her, and she still wouldn’t have given in, in the end. The others came up, first Rairty and Fluttershy. Twilight Sparkle, Spike on her back, and Applejack followed soon after. ‘Oh..I didn’t notice you…’ Fluttershy said when she saw the three coming up close behind. ‘Actually,’ Twilight Sparkle said, ‘we just caught up to you. You were acting like something was trying to eat you!’ ‘Eep!’ ‘Way to go Twilight.’ It was Spike. ‘Scare poor Fluttershy like that.’ Twilight Sparkle gently bumped him off of her back. ‘Oh now Spike, darling,’ Rarity began, ‘that is simply no way to talk to one of your friends. Especially not before one of the best parties ever. We do not need bad feelings lingering around while we are trying to have fun.’ Spike started at Rarity, his heart pounding. ‘Sorry Twilight, I was just joking around.’ ‘Did I hear joke?!?’ Pinkie Pie burst out of her house. ‘Who told a joke? Was it funny? Why aren’t you all laughing?’ Rarity shot Spike a look. ‘It was me,’ he said, a bit ashamed sounding. ‘And it wasn’t very funny.’ ‘Oh that’s okay, Spike. Not every joke can be funny all the time. Or can it? You know what would be great? Cake! Come on you guys. I can’t start the party without you, sillies!’ She bounded inside, and the others followed. It was just like Pinkie Pie to be so excited about her party. Inside Pinkie Pie’s house was oddly undecorated. All of them couldn’t help but notice there was nothing that looked like any sort of party, let alone an extra special one. Rainbow Dash whined, in spite of herself. ‘Pinkie, please tell me this wasn’t a prank. Because it wouldn’t be very funny at all.’ ‘Oh no prank Dashie!’ Pinkie Pie exclaimed, a bit of offence creeping into her voice. ‘It’s just all set up in the basement.’ Twilight Sparkle made a puzzled face. ‘Pinkie, you don’t have a basement.’ ‘Oh yes I do. See, I was thinking. What if I wanted to have a super special party for just us? I mean, if I had it in here somepony might notice. A balloon might get away, or they might stop by, or who knows what else. So I worked really hard, and made a basement.’ She saw the looks on her friends faces. ‘Oh don’t worry, I did a great job! It’s safe as…well as a safe! Nothing bad.’ She moved a rug, and no one saw the door until Pinkie Pie knocked in the typical ‘shave-and-a-haircut’ fashion. She started going down the stairs, and they followed. The door, eerily, closed behind them. The basement was well lit, despite the noticeable lack of windows. It was full of streamers, balloons, and baked goods. On the wall was a banner that proudly proclaimed, ‘Welcome To The All Around Bestest Sleep-Over Ever!!!’. Spike ran over to the sweets, and began to gobble them down. ‘Spike stop that,’ Twilight Sparkle chided. ‘I swear, sweets are going to be the death of you one of these days.’ ‘You probably should listen to Twilight,’ Pinkie Pie added. ‘You don’t want to get a big bellyache.’ Which was weird, and Twilight Sparkle paused for a moment. Something was…wrong with Pinkie Pie saying something like that. But before she could think any more, Pinkie Pie started talking to her. ‘Come on Twilight, time to eat!’ Twilight Sparkle slowly went to eat, unsure what might be wrong. After they all ate, they decided to give Pinkie Pie her gifts. First Twilight went. ‘Wow this is amazing!’ Pinkie Pie flipped through it. ‘There are recipes I’ve never even heard of! Thanks buddy!’ She hugged Twilight Sparkle, and Fluttershy gulped. She was afraid her gift wasn’t good enough. Rarity went next. The dress was pink, with tastefully done streamers. ‘I adore it! I’ll put it on right now.’ Suddenly remembering what Rarity had said before, she added, ’Spike, cover your eyes okay? Rarity said we shouldn’t get dressed in front of a boy.’ Which made Rarity beam with pride. Spike covered his eyes, and Pinkie Pie got dressed. She gave Rarity a big hug and exclaimed, ‘it fits great…Hopefully I don’t eat too much cake!’ Everyone laughed, and Spike uncovered his eyes. Fluttershy was feeling even more afraid. Rainbow Dash proudly presented her gift, and Pinkie Pie squealed. ‘Are you sure Dashie? Are you really sure? These are so cool. Should I wear them? Really?’ ‘That is the point, Pinkie. You’ll be the coolest non-flying pony ever.’ ‘Okay Dashie!’ She put them on, which with the dress was more than a little funny. But that was just pinkie Pie. She hugged Rainbow Dash, and turned to Fluttershy. ‘It’s not that good,’ Fluttershy said, softly even for her. ‘I’m sure it is! Come on! What is it?’ Fluttershy presented the cupcake, which was all the colors of them. Pinkie Pie ate it in one bite. ‘That’s the best cupcake ever Fluttershy, and I know cupcakes!’ Fluttershy blushed, and tried to talk but couldn’t. Pinkie Pie hugged her. ‘I’m so glad we’ll be best friends forever!’ Twilight looked over at Spike, and noticed he was laying on the floor. ‘Spike? Spike!’ She started to feel dizzy, everything was getting fuzzy. As each of the ponies fainted, the last thing they heard was Pinkie Pie. ‘Forever…’
Chapter 2(Because 1 Pinkie Pie isn't Enough)'He's dead, Pinkamena. And you're not even a doctor! What do you think you're doing?!?' 'Oh no he's just sick, Dashie. And I can fix it, it's just a tummy ache after all.' Pinkie Pie giggled. 'I'm not Rainbow Dash. I'm you. And he's not sick. He's dead. It wasn't fully your fault, you didn't try to kill him. But he died, and your friends might be next.' 'Silly Twilight. He's just fine. And I don't need to be a doctor.' Pinkie Pie would have been elbow deep in blood, if the ponies technically had elbows, shoving gauze into him and becoming mildly disturbed at the blood. 'You need to stop bleeding Spike, or Fluttershy will be right and you will die.' Then she giggled. 'Nah, you're doing just fine. And you're safe here!' 'If it's just a tummy ache, why did you cut him open?' 'Well duh! He was so stuffed he was going to burst. I had to take it out. And boy was there a lot.' She gestured to a pile. It was Spike's organs. 'Ewww that's so gross! I'm going to have to burn it!' She shoved more gauze into Spike. 'And the stuff you put in him?' The voice was becoming weary. 'Medicine and anesthesia, silly. After all, I couldn't do it without it.' Yet anther giggle. 'Time to sew him up. Good as new. Or maybe even better! He was soooooo stuffed.' Pinkie Pie sewed Spike up carefully, making sure none of the stitches would show. It would be embarrassing if her friends saw she had performed a surgery over a simple stomach ache. But she hadn't known what else to do. She took the organs out back carefully, as she didn't want to carry the 'gross stuff' out in her mouth. She burned it, then kicked the ashes everywhere. She went back in, and cleaned up the mess. Carefully she carried Spike down into her basement. She put him next to Twilight Sparkle. All of her friends were still out. 'What sleepy-heads', she thought, amused. 'How can we have fun if all they want to do is sleep? Oh well, maybe they'll want to stay longer. After all, we didn't have any fun!' She injected each friend with a strange liquid. The voice spoke up again. 'What's that then?' 'Vitamins silly,' was the reply. 'They must be coming down sick, to sleep so much. So I'm going to help them get better. They need to feel good, and if there's one thing I know about it's making ponies feel good!They'll be so happy they'll never want to leave. We'll be best friends forever.' She went back upstairs. 'This has all been such hard work. Now I'm feeling like a sleepy-head. Well since they're asleep, a nap won't hurt.' Pinkie Pie drifted off. She dreamed about her confrontation with Gilda. She had been so brave. Once Gilda had left, Pinkie Pie had gone after her and told her she better never come back. Gilda had scoffed, and asked her or what. And Pinkie Pie had summoned up all her courage and replied, 'it will be the last thing you do.' Of course, she wouldn't actually hurt Gilda, but she was hoping to scare her. And it had worked. Gilda had never tried to come back or contact anypony again. At least that was what Pinkie Pie dreamed.... Twilight started to wake up. She felt awful. She tried to clear her head and think. The other ponies were waking up as well. She tried to use her magic, and was horrified to find that she couldn't. She felt weak, drained. And she suddenly became even more afraid as she realized their best friend Pinkie Pie had done this, and she wasn't hearing Spike complain. Fluttershy's shriek broke Twilight Sparkle's thoughts. 'Spike!' Fluttershy shouted, absolute horror and pain in her voice. 'What did she do to Spike?' Twilight Sparkle turned and saw Spike. He was stiff, his eyes were open and unblinking, but it got even worse. He had the biggest smile Twilight Sparkle had ever seen. Bigger even than when Rarity showed him favor in some way. She felt sick. Suddenly, Rarity wailed. 'Oh Spikey-wikey dear. Now it's too late. Now I can't figure out how I feel about you. And you were always so nice to me.' She began to sob. 'You...you always...treated me like...like...like...a princess...' 'I told you Spike. Eating so many sweets would...' Twilight Sparkle started weakly, but she couldn't finish. Rainbow Dash cut in. 'This is crazy, even for Pinkie. And to think I gave her my autographed goggles. So basically Spike's dead and stuffed, and we're next.' 'Now wait just a minute.' It was Applejack. 'We might not die. But we are stuck.' She was trying to stand. She barely managed. 'She's right. It had to be something in the sweets. Spike ate too much.' Twilight Sparkle had finally found the strength to talk to the others. 'It's Pinkie Pie. Gone crazy or not, I don't think she'd want to kill us. I think she's trying to keep us. That's why she had us go to the Everfree Forest. So when we disappeared, everypony would think something happened to us. That's why she didn't want us to tell anyone.' 'Well what do you reckon we do now?' Applejack asked. Twilight Sparkle could only shrug. 'I don't know.' She cuddled into Spike and sobbed. Pinkie Pie woke up and looked at her clock. 'Okie-dokie-loki, they should be up by now!' She stood up and stretched. boy I slept way too long. They must be soooooo bored.' She started to think about all the fun they had before, and all the fun they would have. She started bouncing and singing as she prepared some cupcakes. 'Cupcakes so sweet and tasty!...'She carried the prepared cupcakes to the basement, to her friends. Boy, they were going to love these! 'Pinkie why?!?'
Chapter 3(All Pinkie Pie Needs is Smiles)'Pinkie why?!?' It was Twilight Sparkle. Pinkie Pie was genuinely confused. He friend's tone told her that she was upset about something. 'What's wrong Twilight?' Pinkie Pie asked, clearly concerned. 'Are you already tired of cupcakes?' 'Pinkie,' Twilight Sparkle began, trying to regain some calm and somewhat succeeding, 'Spike is dead and stuffed. Why would you do that?' 'No he's not silly,' Pinkie Pie replied, and giggled. 'He was stuffed. He's much better now!' 'Yeah Twilight, duh. I'm much better now. I really need to be more careful from now on how much I eat.' Pinkie Pie heard in Spike's voice. 'Oh it's okay Spike. You just like to eat. I'm glad you loved the super-special food I made.' Pinkie Pie smiled at Twilight Sparkle. 'You should listen to Spike. Even he says he's feeling better. And he's smiling. How could you think something so horrible? I'm so glad he's so happy! I love to make everypony smile!' All of Pinkie Pie's friends started to feel sick. 'Come on now sugarcube.' It was Applejack. 'You can't possibly believe this.' 'Can she? I mean, we all knew Pinkie was a little different, but...' Her thoughts were interrupted. 'Anyway I brought you these!' Pinkie Pie exclaimed with glee. She sat the cupcakes down. 'And no fighting. 'I'm going to pass them out this time.' She went around and sat a cupcake in front of each of her friends, including Spike, the colors of which matched the pony. They all looked sickly at Spike. 'Thanks Pinkie Pie. I love it, even though it doesn't have gems.' 'You're welcome Spike,' Pinkie Pie said, looking right at Spike. 'I'm so glad you love it.' She looked around. 'Come on, everypony, eat up.' 'No way!' Rainbow Dash exclaimed. 'You're just going to poison us like you did to Spike!' 'Oh Dashie,' Pinkie Pie giggled. 'Spike is doing fine. And they aren't poisoned. Look.' She looked at Spike. 'May I have a bite?' 'Of course Pinkie Pie. Just a little one though, don't eat it all.' Laughing, happy, and most importantly alive. At least to Pinkie Pie. 'Thanks Spikey old pal.' She took a small bite from Spike's cupcake. see so good. Mmmm. Now I need to make one for me. I totally forgot to, wanting to make cupcakes for all of you! Oh well, what do you want to do?' 'See my animal friends,' Futtershy said. 'See my family.' Applejack. 'Do my research and have Spike back.' Twilight Sparkle. 'Go home and design more fashion.' Rarity. 'Fly and get away from you.' Rainbow Dash. 'Well I can go get some of your books, Twilight,' Pinkie Pie said. 'And some of your materials, Rarity. But sorry, I'm not bringing anyone else here sillies. And you can fly in here, silly Dashie!' Rainbow Dash flapped her wings weakly. 'Pinkie I can't fly right now. You should know that.' But Pinkie Pie had already run out. Pinkie Pie went to get her friends stuff, but stopped right before she got to Twilight Sparkle's house. 'If you do this, you'll be caught for sure.' It was inner Pinkie Pie. 'Get caught doing what?' Nevertheless she was still careful as she got the things for her friends. Rarity's request was difficult, but Pinkie Pie managed with only a close call. Meanwhile, her friends had been anxiously debating on whether or not to eat their cupcakes. They finally did, but the strain of even knowing whether to not to even eat was getting to them. 'I'm getting out of here!' Applejack exclaimed. She began to kick the wall weakly, but as hard as she could muster. The others just looked at her, shocked. Finally Twilight Sparkle spoke. 'No Applejack, don't! You might...' SNAP 'My leg! I think my leg is broke. It twisted and it just...' Applejack began to sob. 'Applejack!' Out of reaction, Rainbow Dash began to flap her wings trying to fly. And slowly crawled over to her friend, not thinking about it. 'Let me see it you big dummy.' Rainbow Dash gasped. The leg had clearly twisted and then broken. Applejack had kicked just wrong, and a small bit of bone was sticking out. Rainbow Dash felt sick to her stomach, but she couldn't turn away. She began to chew on her tail. 'Uhm...What are..you doing?' Fluttershy asked but had her eyes closed tightly. She had done it as soon as she had heard the snap. Rainbow Dash didn't stop until she chewed through her tail. 'Bandaging Applejack's wound. It's not like Pinkie left us with so much to work with. She suddenly yanked Applejack's leg straight and began binding it as well as she could. Applejack began to whine and try to move. 'Stop I'm just trying to fix it.' Rainbow Dash looked sadly at Applejack. 'Sorry it was all I could do.' 'It's alright,' Applejack said through her tears. 'Thanks Rainbow Dash.' 'Well she has to let us go now right?' Rarity asked. Twilight was the only one who would reply. She turned to Spike and said, 'I wouldn't count on it.' Pinkie Pie walked into her house, sitting the things down by her chair. She wanted to give them to her friends, but she was so tired. 'A tiny nap won't hurt,' she thought.'Just for five minutes...' She was out before she knew it. She dreamed her friends were in trouble. Applejack had broken her leg applebucking, Rainbow Dash had lost her wings, Fluttershy was trapped somewhere, Twilight Sparkle couldn't do her magic and her and Spike were going to be eaten by Gilda, and Rarity had lost her front hooves. Pinkie Pie tossed and turned, unable to escape the feeling something was wrong with her friends. She startled awake, and yelled, 'Pinkie sense is telling me my friends are in danger.' She quickly grabbed their things, opened the basement, and rushed in. 'NOPONY HURTS MY FRIENDS! YOU BETTER STOP IT RIGHT NOW!'
Chapter 4(Barren)All of Pinkie Pie's friends could only stare at her, dumbfounded, as she charged in yelling. 'Darling,' Rarity said with considerable effort. 'She got hurt because we're stuck here, and Spikey-wikey is...' She stopped. She still couldn't fully accept that Spike was dead. 'I'm what, Rarity? I'm your...can it be? I'm your boyfriend?' 'Maybe Spike,' Pinkie Pie said. 'It sure seems that way.' Rarity began to stare blankly at Pinkie Pie, unable to do anything else. Twilight Sparkle spoke up. 'Applejack's leg is broken, Pinkie. She needs a doctor.' 'Yeah it's really bad,' Rainbow Dash added, uncharacteristically softly. 'There's some bone sticking out.' Pinkie Pie turned to Rainbow Dash and gasped. 'What happened to your tail?!?' Pinkie Pie was clearly confused and horrified at her friend's 'new look'. The tail really couldn't even be called a tail anymore. It was a tiny, ragged thing. On top of that, Rainbow Dash, in her panic, had pulled out some of it as she had tried to chew through it. There was some blood, just a little, dried in it. 'I chewed it off so Applejack wouldn't bleed too much and to try to set her bone the best I could. Weren't you listening Pinkie?' 'Don't like your parties...Don't want to be your friends anymore...Want to leave you, Pinkamina...' 'Stop it,' Pinkie Pie whispered. 'No, you listen!' Rainbow Dash exclaimed, more like herself. 'You can't do this! Spike is dead and Applejack is really hurt because of you!' 'Pinkamina let them go...Maybe they'll like you again if you....' 'I said STOP IT! JUST SHUT UP!' 'No Pinkie, this has gone too far,' Fluttershy interjected, much to everyone's surprise. Even her own. 'Yeah see even Fluttershy is speaking up,' Rainbow Dash said, her usual spirit in it, building up as she went. 'You used to be so cool. I was even jealous of you sometimes. But now...You're not even an okay friend anymore! IF YOU DON'T LET AT LEAST APPLEJACK GO I DON'T WANT TO EVER SEE YOU AGAIN!' 'Maybe you could still fix this, Pinkamina. Just let them go. Just tell them why you did it. If you do that, it should be okay.' 'But their safety! They'll understand. 'Pinkamina, give up... '...and we won't tell anypony. Please just let Applejack go to the hospital at least Pinkie. Please. And tell us why you've done this. What's wrong? This isn't like you at all.' It was Twilight Sparkle, who had been trying to speak to Pinkie Pie, reason with her as her inner turmoil grew and grew. But Pinkie Pie was somewhere else entirely. She was in a barren place, a place that was almost-but-not-quite her old home. A sad breeze drifted through, and all of her family had begun to crowd around her. 'Pinkamina, what are you doing?' 'Pinkamina, those are your friends!' 'Pinkamina, you're killing them!' All of the ponies voices slowly becoming one as they spoke. But Pinkie Pie noticed somepony was missing. She kept frantically looking, hope turning into panic. Where was her mother? As if summoned, her mother stepped forward, all of the others suddenly silencing and stepping out of her way. 'Oh, Pinkamina dear. This is what we were afraid of. This is why we...I...sent you away. I was hoping if you made some real friends it would be so...' She shook her head sadly. 'I was wrong. Maybe I didn't think enough about others. Maybe I never really thought it would be better. I...I just don't know anymore.' Pinkie Pie blinked. For some reason, her mother had suddenly become blurry. In shock, she realized she was crying. She bowed her head, as if deeply shamed. Then her head suddenly shot up as she screamed. 'YOU AREN'T REALLY MY MOTHER! YOU ALL AREN'T REALLY MY FAMILY! YOU LIE!' She began to buck at them, sure they were something evil. Something that wanted her to stop protecting her friends. Something that wanted them even. Pinkie Pie's friends could only watch in horror as things began to unfold. Pinkie Pie had just been staring off, and had suddenly began to cry. She had lowered her head, and the horror had begun to give way to hope. That was until she had quickly raised her head and shouted. 'YOU AREN'T REALLY MY MOTHER! YOU ALL AREN'T REALLY MY FAMILY! YOU LIE!' Pinkie Pie began to buck around, sadness and panic on her face. Her friends watched, not sure whether to be scared or to fell bad for Pinkie Pie. There was an air of sorrow, nevertheless. Each pony felt their hopes beginning to die. Each pony, in their own way and for their own reasons, were beginning to doubt that Pinkie Pie would ever be the same. The old, fun loving, happy,lovable Pinkie Pie. Fluttershy began to weep, Rarity had not stopped dumbfoundedly staring the entire time, Twilight Sparkle was deep in thought. She was trying to think of what to do, thinking frantically maybe they could help their, at least former, friend. Rainbow Dash was sitting by Applejack, feeling both contempt and just a little pity for Pinkie Pie. And Applejack... Applejack began to dry heave from pain and shock. 'Hey Pinkie Pie...It's okay. I just want Applejack to be okay. Hey Pinkie.' Rainbow Dash said, as she tried to figure out how to get Pinkie Pie to stop. hey Pinkie, stop.'Come on now, this isn't helping. Applejack needs you, she needs you to be a good friend. She needs you to do the right thing. She needs help. At least get her some medicine, be the good friend we know you to be.Pinkie Pie, you're going to hurt yourself or one of us. Pinkie Pie stop!' THUD 'Pi..pi..Pinkie Pie...' Came a small, timid voice, even softer than usual. A shout rang out from the others, in shock and despair. 'Pinkie Pie!'
Chapter 5(The Final Straw)(End)'Pi..pi..Pinkie Pie...' Pinkie Pie had just kicked Fluttershy in the head, who had rushed to defend Rainbow Dash. She just couldn't let her friend get hurt. And as she crumpled to the ground, she thought. 'At least Rainbow Dash is okay...I did it, I was brave....' 'Pinkie Pie! This has gone too far. Spike was an accident and he even kind of played a part himself,' Twilight Sparkle was positively livid. But Rainbow Dash cut her off. 'Exactly. But you just tried to assault me! You just tried to hurt someone! You killed..Gah!' Rainbow Dash fought the drugs, and it had been a few hours now since Pinkie Pie had given them any. Time gone by, and her anger helped her charge the pink pony. 'Omph,' went Pinkie Pie, as all the air was knocked out of her lungs. She went back, hitting the wall. She made a sickening thud as she hit. She saw a bright light, temporarily. Everything started going hazy, and she had to fight passing out. 'I'm going to kill you!' 'Da..Dashie...no...I never wanted to hurt anypony. You're all my friends...I...I love my friends...Don't you see?' She was crying, tears streaming down her face. 'I...I'm sorry....So sorry.....' Sorrow, desperation, and pain danced across Pinkie Pie's features. 'I don't care anymore! You're...' Only rage in Rainbow Dash's voice, and on her face. Pure, beyond her control rage. 'Stop....' Softly. 'Can it be? It can't be...' Rainbow Dash thought, and quickly brushed it off. 'going to pay...' 'Stop it...' A little louder. 'Could it be? Can I....Am I...' Rainbow Dash wondered, becoming more and more alarmed. She pushed the thoughts aside, violently, with her rage. She was losing control more and more as time went on. She was losing herself, just like Pinkie Pie had. 'and if you don't die, you'll be lucky.' Rainbow Dash reared up, ready to stomp Pinkie Pie. 'STOP IT RAINBOW DASH!' Rainbow Dash stopped so suddenly, she fell over. It had been Fluttershy. Was she going insane too, just like Pinkie Pie? She got up and turned to see Fluttershy trying desperately to stand, her head bleeding freely. 'I'm not dead...Yet.' She looked at Pinkie Pie, pleading in her eyes and words. 'Please.....please...' 'Pinkie Pie, tell the truth...' The old voice. 'No, their safety...Think of them.' A new voice, saying what Pinkie Pie had made herself believe. Pinkie Pie, as she truly was. Pinkamina Diane Pie, the darker insanity of Pinkie Pie, once her original self, become dark and twisted from Pinkie Pie's quest to have friends, the manipulation of her mother, and the forgetting. She had to choose:Who would she be? She only took a moment in time, but in herself it was a lifetime. 'I'm sorry Dashie! We don't have much time, Applejack is hurt and Fluttershy could bleed to death! Pinkamia tricked me into...I tricked myself into believing I was saving you and everything was okay...' Pinkie Pie, finally and truly Pinkie Pie for the first time in years if ever, sobbed. 'Pinkamina? But you're...' Rainbow Dash said confused. 'No time,' Twilight Sparkle exclaimed. 'Pinkie calm down. Let us out. Well take them to the hospital. We'll get you some help if you want.' 'Oh...okay.' _____________________ 'Pinkie Pie, how are you doing?' It was Twilight Sparkle. 'Better, thanks. How's Spike?' 'Alright. We got lucky. The Princess said...' Twilight Sparkle stopped. She wasn't supposed to talk about it. 'Good. Is he...coping good?' 'Better than you might think...' Silence. There was so much each pony wanted to say, but it was so hard. Twilight Sparkle, after what felt like an eternity to both if them, began to speak again. 'Applejack actually has a 50-50 chance of applebucking again. Fluttershy has even kept a little of her bravery, though she does have some problems with her memory...' 'I'm sorry...I...wasn't myself...' 'We know, we know. But what what was it you had wanted to say?' 'Just that a part of me, it always knew. It had to, it plotted and planned all of this. But I forgot that. I really started to believe it was just a sleep over. It was all okay. No one died, no one got hurt, no one was even...trapped. And when I planned it, I finally remembered. Or I did sometimes, even then, I don't know anymore....Anyway, when I planned it I did it to save you all. So we could be friends forever.' 'Really Pinkie? Sometimes you are just something else.' A grin, pure, true, and happy. For the first time since all of this happened. ___________________ What of Spike? How was he okay? Let's take a look, see if it's true. ____________________ 'Twi...light...' A voice from Twilight Sparkle's room. 'Twi..light...I miss you. Why do you gotta go visit everyone for so long? Why can't I go out? Why do I have to stay in your room?' It was Spike, but something was off about him. His colors were slightly grey, and the stitches were clearly there. He moved, slowly and sadly across the room. He figured he might as well read to pass some time. That plan lasted about two minutes. Then he decided to write a letter. Dear Princess Celestia, I'm so lost and confused. Why do I have to wait alone now? I did learn something about friendship lately. But I can't remember most of what happened. Only that Pinkie tried to trap us. Not how we got out. So maybe I forgot some of the lesson. But here it is: Sometimes you think you're being a great friend, but you're really not. Ponies should think about what it means to be a friend if you really want to be one. Spike He sent the letter, and a reply came surprisingly quickly. Dear Spike, What you said is true. I hope others have learned the same lesson. As for your question: Please, just don't ask. And whatever you do, DON'T TRY TO REMEMBER! I cannot stress this enough. Maybe one day you will be able to, but not yet. Trust your friends. In this case, they truly are being your friends. Sincerely, Celestia ____________________ Well, Spike, for once you're right. Yes, Spike yes, it's zombies. Or at least you are now.
