A Phantom Pain

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.