CHAPTER ONE: A PHANTOM PAIN
Phantom pain (definition): Sensations described as perception an individual experiences relating to a limb or an organ that is no longer physically a part of the body.
A grey pony awoken to the sight of a barren, hollow white cave. She was lying under the light from the ceiling above. The ground was cool, but not freezing. The light was warm, but not comforting. Looking to her surroundings, the grey mare was lost and confused. Who was she? What was she doing here?
“Hello!” She shouted, echoing throughout the cave.
Getting up from the ground on all four legs, she quickly travelled around, looking for somewhere to go. It didn’t matter where. She walked for an hour, moving through the dimly lit tunnels and chambers. Isolation. Emptiness. Nothingness.
Before she was about to stop and rest, she saw a figure in the distance. A shock of panic erupted.
“Who are you!” She yelled back.
Cuffing her mouth with her hooves, the grey pony was scared and frightened. Far away, the stranger approached her slowly. Fear of this stranger made her panic. Where could she go? What if it followed her?
I have no mouth and I have to scream. The grey pony thought.
She closed her eyes, hoping that the stranger far away would disappear. Whimpering and shaking, she covered her closed eyes with her hooves laying down on the ground.
The cadence of the strangers footsteps grew louder in sound, which could only mean it was getting closer. A cold sweat rolled down her goosebumps, chattering teeth rattled in her mouth. Why did she have to call it over?
Poke.
“AAAHHH!” She screamed for dear life. Her voice crackling into frequencies only dogs could hear. A roaring boom exploded inside the stranger’s eardrums, they almost bled from the trauma. It cover her mouth.
“SHH! Calm down! I’m not going to hurt you.” He said.
A colt’s voice. She didn’t know him, but travelling alone inside the caves for an hour, she felt safer. As her eyes opened, the image of a Tungsten grey colt appeared.
Blinkie Pie? She thought.
“Might I ask your name, young mare?” he asked.
The question interrupted her thought. Blinkie Pie? Who was that?
“Uh…my name?” She asked.
“Yes your name. I need to confirm who you are.” He said.
The grey pony thought long and hard about the question. It was a simple answer. Nothing to it, just state your name. But for the life of whoever she was, she just couldn’t find anything to reply with.
“I don’t know.” she said.
“I thought so. This is very bad news.” He said.
The dark grey colt was stoic. His expression was the most blank face possible. There was no emotion, no life to his demeanour. If she didn’t know any better, she would have thought he was a lifeless, plastic mannequin. But make no mistake, there was sentience behind those eyes. He was self-aware, looking straight into the young mare’s eyes.
What he said finally clicked, “What? What do you mean bad news?”
“I’m afraid the process has begun to take effect on you.” He explained, “You don’t remember who you are do you? Or how you came to be in this cave?”
Slowly shaking her head no he sighed, chest and shoulder caving slightly.
“This is bad news because you may very well begin to die.” He said.
This caught her immediate attention, panic resurfacing on her face.
“What? Die?”
“Yes. You see you don’t belong here. Your an original, not a place for some pony like you to be inside the Mirror’s pocket dimension. The magic of the Mirror will try to claim you as itself. Like a water drop into a pond, you will lose all individuality. You have to leave this pond immediately!” He said.
“But how? I’m been walking through these caves for an hour, and your the first pony I’ve meet. Besides, I didn’t see any exits,” she said.
“Not good. It means Mirage has starting taking a liking to you.”
“Mirage? Like an imaginary image?” she asked.
“Mirage is another pony like me, but she is more vicious than Amnesia, who apparently stole your memories. We need to find her.” He said.
Mirage? Amnesia? What funny names for ponies. She thought.
“Who are we looking for? Mirage or Amnesia?” she asked.
“We are looking for Amnesia, the Memory Thief.” He said.
The two ponies wondering deeper and deeper into the caves of the Mirror Pond. The grey mare was not sure who she was looking for, or what Amnesia looked like. A few minutes into the search, some pony caught her attention in the corner of her vision.
Inkie Pie? She thought. Is that you?
“Look, who’s that over there?” she asked.
The dark grey colt turned around, looking into the direction she was pointing at. Nothing. No pony.
“It’s a trick. It’s Mirage playing tricks on you.” He said.
“What do you mean?” she asked.
“Amnesia must have shared a personal memory of yours with Mirage. Now they’re playing mind games with you to slowly start deluding you next. You need to be careful. Mirage is a dangerous mare.” He said.
The grey mare stopped. She had enough.
“Who are you? What am I doing here? Who am I?” she asked, “Or what do those two ponies want with me?”
He stopped in his tracks. She had to find out sooner or later.
“My name is Phantom Pain. I am a phantom pony like Mirage and Amnesia. We are stewards of the Mirror Pond,” he turned to face her, “Your name is Pinkamena Diane Pie. You are not grey, but a bright pink pony with a fluffy mane. Silent Neutral has stolen both your colours and Cutie Mark and Amnesia has stolen your memories. All that’s left is your sanity. If that happens you’ll die of starvation or thirst.”
She look horrified at the mere mention of it.
“Why would they want to do that to me?” The grey mare named Pinkie Pie asked.
“It is because you are an original. You have real memories, real personality, real emotions. Unlike the Pushers who project, the Pullers extract from ponies their specific traits. Amnesia extracts memories from minds. Silent Neutral, he extracts emotions and passions. He steals your ambition and dreams.”
“You will become a revenant will no name, no self, and no thoughts forever and for all time,” Mirage said.
The grey Pinkie Pie and Phantom Pain turned around. It was a grey pony with a shiny silver mane. It was Mirage.
CHAPTER TWO: A BEAUTIFUL MIND
There was no where to run. They have apparent rule over the pocket dimension. There was no where to hide. The landscape was blank with empty white caves. There was no escaping their power as Pinkie Pie was helpless against their psychic attacks.
“You certainly are the most delicious pony we’ve had in decades.” Mirage said, “You used our Mirror Pond for clones irresponsibly . If you ask me, you got what you deserved.”
Phantom Pain grimaced, a sore expression written across his face. If Pinkie wasn’t paying attention, she’d be surprised by Phantom’s sudden burst of emotion. But she was too scared of Mirage staring at her.
“It’s been awhile since any of us had anything to eat. Most ponies taste dull and bland, but you…” A devious grin spread across Mirage's face, “You have such jovial and bubbly memories. And you certainly have such an upbeat, energetic personality. Amnesia and Silent Neutral loved feeding on you. Now it’s my turn!”
A horrified Pinkie Pie turned around and bolted as fast as she could in the opposite direction.
“Wait! Pinkie Pie! Don’t run! You’ll…” Phantom Pain’s voice disappeared as she got further and further away. She didn’t care, as long as she had lost Mirage that’s all that mattered.
Run, run, run as fast as you can. Pinkie Pie stopped. You can’t stop me. I’m the sanity stealer.
Mirage’s thoughts were telepathically projected into Pinkie Pie’s mind. She was literally hearing voices in her head.
“What do you want from me?” Pinkie Pie yelled, her voice echoing throughout silent tunnels.
I haven’t had a good meal in decades. I’m hungry, and I want your sanity so much. It’s so sweet and sugary. Mirage thought into Pinkie’s mind.
A loud roar erupted from within the caves. It sounded deep and thunderous. Reptilian in pitch.
What was that? Pinkie thought.
I believe that was a monster. I beat you can’t guess what it is? Mirage thought into her mind.
Ground shaking footsteps rumbled throughout the caves. Each footstep bounced Pinkie in the air. What ever if was, it was massive and coming her way.
Just be still, my dear. I promise it will be quick. I promise it’ll be over soon, so long as you stop resisting. Mirage thought into Pinkie’s mind.
A large silhouette of a beast draped the walls of the cave ahead. It was coming from around the corner. Pinkie Pie froze in terror. Her voice was whimpering like a puppy, her eyes were so wide they might have popped out of her head. Her pupils were tiny as needles. A reptilian purr, sounded from back of it’s throat, echoed inside the open chamber. A cold sweat rolled across her goosebumps.
No. It can’t be. Pinkie whispered in her mind. Please tell me that’s not…
But it is my dear. That is exactly what you fear it is. Mirage thought into Pinkie’s mind.
Emerging from the shadows was emerald green. Scales were sharp as razors with a metallic gloss to them. It’s black iron claws extended out of it’s fingers. In it’s jaw had sulphur yellow teeth with a forked tongue darting out of it’s mouth. It had wings that could spread across an entire field. Pinkie Pie trembled at the magnificent, stupendous sight of the beast in front of her. It’s slit pupils surrounded by rich amber eyes were glaring directly into her soul.
Tears swelled in her eyes as Pinkie quivered in absolute fear.
That my lovely dear—IS A DRAGON! Mirage screamed into her mind.
With a quick move the dragon’s mouth opened revealing a bright orange sun inside. Heat so intense, pebbles melted into glass before it’s breath. The dragon’s flamethrower erupted volcanically, a long and wide column of fire bursted towards her. Pinkie Pie snapped out of her trance as she dashed cross stream. She jumped right out of the column’s path just in time. Fires and flares danced madly across the smooth rock of the cave. It was boiling hot inside the tiny chamber.
Don’t fight it, Pinkamena. Just give in and it will all be over soon.
“AAAHHH!” Pinkie Pie’s glass shattering scream exploded from her tiny voice. High pitch crackling was immediately drowned by the dragon’s roar.
The dragon roared ferociously, it’s deep bass vibrated across the ground shaking Pinkie’s very bones. Looking directly at her as it’s methodically crawled towards her. The two maintained solid, unbreakable eye contact. The dragon’s boulder-sized amber orange eyes peered into Pinkie’s tiny, soft blue eyes. Her mind was about to shatter and fragment from such traumatizing fear. Somewhere anonymously hidden, Mirage licked her lips. One more act, just one more and she’d feast on Pinkie’s grasp on reality.
Madness is like gravity, all you need is a little push. Mirage thought into Pinkie’s mind one last time.
The dragon lunged at her, mouth wide open to swallow her whole. Spears for teeth to punctured her tiny body, with force of a mountain jaw to crush her into pink mist.
“Pinkie Pie! It’s not real!”
Phantom Pain? Pinkie Pie thought.
Just as the dragon was about to crunch on her tiny bones, a deafening scream of pain echoed throughout Pinkie’s mind. It was not her voice, it was Mirage’s. The dragon respond in sync with Mirage’s pain.
“What’s happening?” Pinkie Pie asked.
“The dragon! It’s not real! Pinkie, you have to see past your fear! Don’t give into Mirage!” Phantom Pain’s disembodied voice replied.
Where are you? What’s happening to Mirage? Pinkie Pie thought.
“See past your fear! The dragon isn’t real! Let your scared feelings go!”
That was vague, and not very helpful. Pinkie Pie was still shaken as she watched the dragon thrashing and crash around the cave. Pinkie was getting disturbed by Mirage’s telepathic screams. Her painful shrieks made her very uncomfortable. All she could do was watch and listen in horror.
It’s not real…it’s not real…it’s not real… Pinkie Pie thought.
The dragon’s seeming existence didn’t waver in the slightest. It was still very real to her. As Mirage’s voice silenced in her mind, the dragon stopped savagely thrashing. Regaining it’s composure, the dragon turned it’s head towards Pinkie Pie’s position. Amber orange eyes locking contact with a frightened Pinkie.
It’s not real…It’s…not real…It’s…not…real… Pinkie desperately thought.
Her mantra wasn’t working. The dragon wasn’t going anywhere. Phantom Pain and Mirage were nowhere to be found. Cornered against the back of the wall, the dragon resumed it’s approach to eat her.
I don’t think so! A colt’s voice echoed inside her mind. It wasn’t Mirage’s or Phantom Pain’s.
Suddenly, a burst of anger fumed inside Pinkie Pie’s chest. Muscles tightening like steel cables, an urge for savagery grow deeper and stronger inside of her.
What is happening to me? Pinkie Pie thought. Why am I so angry all of a sudden?
As wrath and malevolence replaced terror and panic, the dragon started to disappear. It was fading as Pinkie could now see through it. Slowly becoming transparent, a stronger feeling of anger was crushing her head. Whatever it was, she know it must be another phantom pony projecting it’s psychic power into her.
I’ve had enough of Mirage.The colt’s voice thought inside Pinkie Pie’s mind.
The emerald dragon finally disappeared completely from existence. And as it did, so did Pinkie Pie’s wrathful thoughts of murder. Now alone in a dark cave, Pinkie collapsed to the ground. She was exhausted and wiped out by these phantom ponies psychic attacks on her. Her mind was aching from the pain fear and anger caused her.
Phantom Pain, please help me! Pinkie Pie thought, hoping he too communicated telepathically.
Pinkie Pie closed her eyes. Just before she fell asleep, the sounds of hoof steps approached her. Too spend to worry or care, she fatally accepted her fate to the pony coming towards her. Pinkie’s last thought was of Phantom Pain.
Where are you? Then, Pinkie Pie lost consciousness again.
Pinkie Pie drearily awoke to a small fire in a middle of the cave. It was now cosier and comfortable. The smell of dirt, the feeling of moss and earth beneath her, Pinkie Pie was in a much smaller cave. It was no longer a flat, empty rock cave. Two Tungsten grey ponies laid down in the grass across from Pinkie Pie. They look almost identical to each other.
Inkie Pie? Blinkie? Is that you? She thought.
“That’s good news to hear. A distant memory is still inside your mind,” one of the ponies said.
“Maybe you will be able to summon total recall soon,” the other pony said.
“Phantom Pain?” Pinkie Pie asked.
“I’m here, Pinkie Pie.” the pony on the right said, “I’m so glad Spectre Fury interrupted Mirage’s feeding.”
Spectre Fury? What a stupid name? Who comes up with this? Pinkie Pie thought.
“I’m offended. My name isn’t stupid, Pinkie Pie. I don’t say bad things about your name.” Spectre Fury said.
Pinkie gasped. You can read my mind?
“Of course we can. All Pushers have the same telepathic powers to communicate through our thoughts. Didn’t Phantom Pain tell you?” Spectre Fury replied.
Pinkie Pie shook her head.
“Well, we don’t have enough time to explain things now. It’s complicated.” Spectre Fury said.
“I don’t think I want to know. I’m still scared about what happened. I still don’t know what just happened, who I am, or where I am.” Pinkie Pie said.
The two colt exchanged looks.
“Well, we’re going to be in major trouble if the Pullers get a hold of you.” Phantom Pain said.
“The Pullers?” Pinkie Pie asked.
“Earth ponies with the psychic abilities to extract something from another ponies’ mind.” Spectre Fury replied.
“Huh, I think Phantom said something about that.” she said.
Pinkie Pie’s stomach started to growled. She didn’t remember the last time she ate.
“Oh dear. This might be a problem.” Spectre Fury said.
A worried look was on Phantom Pain’s face.
“I’m hungry,” Pinkie Pie said.
“I’m afraid there is no food in the Mirror Pond. Phantom ponies don’t eat, don’t drink, nor do we sleep.” Phantom Pain said, “I’m afraid we are running out of time. Hunger sets in faster than you think.”
The two grey colts stood up on their hooves.
“It’s time to go!” They both said.
I'm real...I'm real...I'm real...
PROLOGUE: "I'm real...I'm real...I'm real..."
I’m real…I’m real…I’m real…
Pinkie Pie was slowly sinking deeper and deeper in the water. She was banished by her own beloved friend, Twilight Sparkles. How could she betray her like that? How could she not know her own best friend from the copies?
I’m real…I’m real…I’m real…
One thought, a lingering idea kept repeating over and over again as if to fight off oblivion from disappearing her into non-existence. Erasing her very soul, cast off like a forgotten dream. It was a gentle war inside Pinkie, like fighting off sleep.
I’m real…I’m real…I’m real…
Her normally fluffy hair was dancing in the waves like seaweed, unknown to her her Cutie Mark is losing all colour. Soon to disappear all together. Her eyes are heavy, slowly closing like the sunset. Her vision is blurring and greying out, peripherals closing into a narrow tunnel. Pinkie is slowly losing air, bubbles sporadically blowing out from her lungs as they rushed to the surface.
I'm real...I'm real...I'm real...
Pinkie only wanted to be with her friends. She only used the Mirror Pond to be in two places at once. To never miss a moment, and to always be a part of her friends lives without having to choose between them. She didn't feel comfortable judging who's more important to spend time with. Pinkie loved all her friends unconditionally. What she would give to be with them again.
I'm...I'm...what...am...I?
Pinkie tried to hold onto the names and faces of her friends. Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Twilight Sparkles, Fluttershy, Apple...Apple...what's her name? Pinkie's flank was now blank. Her coat was grey shade of her sister...sister? Pinkie tried very hard to hold onto one thing from her giving up: her memories!
I...I...I...am...am...am...
Pinkie thought to herself.
I...have...a...sister...don't...I? What...is...her...name?
The Mirror Pond was claiming Pinkie Pie like any discarded clone. Like a water drop merging into a pond, she was losing her individuality. Slowly her identity was threatened. Her body was free of colour, a monochrome coat and mane throughout. Her flank was blank, no longer her Cutie Mark existed. Now, her memories were slowly dissolving from her mind like melting snow. Pinkie tried to remember who was her sister. Who was her purple maned friend. Who was her purple unicorn friend. Who was...who was...who was she?
who...am...I?
The grey pony gave into the Mirror Pond. It's fatal lullaby of non-existence, an elegy of nothingness soothed her heart. Just sleep. No thoughts, no worries. Her eyes closed finally; she lost consciousness. She let herself go, fading into the Mirror Pond like any other flow of water. As she touched the bottom of the pool, Pinkie Pie was no more. An empty shell now lay at the bottom of a forgotten pond inside a sealed off cave.
