It was Winter Wrap Up day in Ponyville once again. It was eerily silent, and the moon still hung in the dark night sky, surrounded by the gleaming stars. The snow’s blinding white was amplified by the moon’s dull glow. Nopony was awake.
Well, almost nopony.
Pinkie Pie had special plans for today. She’d gotten up extra early to make sure she could get a head start. She found her saddlebags, and placed something inside of them. The pink mare glanced up at her clock. 3:45AM. She’d have just under three hours before ponies would start to get up and get ready. She placed the saddlebags carefully onto her back, trotted out of her room at Sugarcube Corner as quietly as she could, and headed out the door. Nobody stirred. There were a few choice ponies she wanted to have an extra special day, and she was determined to make it happen.
Twilight had been planning this Winter Wrap Up since the start of the month. Her planning had made Pinkie’s plans even easier. Twilight had assigned one pony to each of the main jobs, and as she was every year, Pinkie was in charge of scoring the lake. Each pony which was put in charge was then told to pick a team, and unless the ponies in question had a huge objection, that was their job. Pinkie got her team list in first. She knew who she wanted.
Candy Mane, Cherry Fizzy, Goldengrape, Roma, Blossomforth, Dizzy Twister, Sparkler, Comet Tail and Lemon Hearts. And since she put her request in first, she got her dream team.
She walked down the street now, eyes darting all over. If anypony saw her now, it’d be suspicious, to say the least. But, Pinkie thought to herself, perhaps they’d be more lenient. This was Pinkie Pie after all. The most notoriously crazy pony in all of Ponyville. Probably in all of Equestria. She ignored the slight worry in her stomach, and continued to her destination.
The lake. Pinkie sat for a moment, and stared over the large patch of ice. She dumped her saddlebags onto the floor, and took out the one thing she’d taken with her. Her ice skates. She slipped all but one of them onto her hooves. The last skate, she picked up in her mouth, the blade facing outwards. She carefully made her way onto the ice. Head down, she started to carve away gently at the surface of the lake, getting deeper and deeper towards the centre. She continued carving for a while, revisiting patch after patch until the whole surface was smooth again. It looked un-touched. Perfect for her plan.
Pinkie wiped off the excess frost on the edges of her saddle-bags. They were damp from sitting in the snow, and now she had to carry them back. She squeaked as the cold, wet bags touched her fur. Now, she just had to get back home. Pinkie thought about the ponies she would be working with later that day on her way home.
Candy Mane, who had called her childish on more than one occasion. This would prove her wrong! Pinkie had been put in charge of scoring the lake again! That took responsibility! Cherry Fizzy, Golden Grape, and Roma, who on more than one occasion, had made her look foolish by over-charging her at the market. She’d show them her excellent skills as a leader! That would teach them to respect her! Blossomforth and Dizzy Twister who never once accepted Pinkie’s party invitations, and had never said why either. Pinkie always found out later that they weren't busy at all. She’d show them she was worth hanging out with! Sparkler and Comet Tail, who always ignored Pinkie when she said ‘Hi!’ to them. She’d have to listen now, and she’d prove it was worth doing. And last but not least, there was Lemon Hearts, who was as sour as her name implied. At least to Pinkie she was. This was her chance to prove she was good enough for Lemon’s respect.
Pinkie arrived back home and slipped back up-stairs as silently as she’d come down. Walking into her room again, she checked the clock. It was 4:30AM now. She could have a nice sleep for an hour, then be ready to go score up that lake. Pinkie threw her saddlebags into a corner, and climbed back into bed. She huddled up underneath the duvet. Nice and snug. She soon drifted off.
RRRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNGGG!
Pinkie leapt out of bed, almost smacking her head on the ceiling with the force of the jump. She snatched up her skates, threw them in her saddlebag, and tore down the stairs and out the door in a matter of seconds.
Twilight was standing nearby, reminding the more forgetful ponies of where they needed to go. “Derpy, just stick with Thunderlane, he knows where you’re both going.” She said as the grey mare flew off with him. She shook her head and giggled to herself. “Hi Pinkie Pie!” Twilight called to the pink streak that was tearing it’s way down the road.
“Hi Twilight!” yelled Pinkie. She was halfway down the street by now.
It took her about five minutes to get to the lake. Her team were all waiting around, ready to go. Candy Mane handed her a team vest. “We've been here forever.” she whined.
“Sorry everypony.” Pinkie addressed all of her team. “I’ll make it up to you, I promise. Hot chocolate for everypony later!” The ponies all cheered.
Pinkie Pie directed everyone to where she wanted them to go. She’d planned where she needed to be exactly. She waited for them to put on their skates as she took her place on the lake’s edge. “Okay everypony!” Her team got ready to move. “Three...Two...One...Go!” The other ponies shot forward instantly, but Pinkie waited for a split second. As the ponies got towards the centre of the ice, there was a slow crunch. Before they knew what was happening, the middle of the ice had split open, dragging almost everypony under the water. The weight of nine ponies of a piece of ice almost half as thin as the rest? Of course the ice would crack! Pinkie stood in faux-horror as the scene un-folded around her. The two pegasi on her team, Blossomforth and Dizzy Twister just managed to get out of the water, and were trying to pull the closest pony, Cherry Fizzy out, but as he scrambled against the ice, it split again, pulling the three back under.
The two pegasi flew out again, but it was more difficult this time. Their wings were soaked, and heavier to flap. Pinkie called out to them, as she ran over to her horrific scene.
“Go and get help!”
Blossomforth left with lightning speed. Pinkie didn't mind one pony being left out of the final result. Pinkie attempted to get ponies out of the water, but she kept dropping the ponies, right before they were safe. A sort of cruel farewell. Sparkler and Comet Tail slipped back under the water. A stream of bubbles surrounded the surviving ponies. Two down, seven to go.
The ponies still in the water were flailing around more now, trying to get to the surface. Several of them kept hitting into one another, cutting into their legs with the sharp blades of their skates. The water turned a dull red from the sliced legs of the ponies. Cherry Fizzy and Roma went under. They didn't come back up. Pinkie and Dizzy Twister tried to pull out the ponies, but one by one the ponies were going under. Pinkie wasn't even trying anymore - Her plan had come together perfectly. Pinkie wondered if she could get Dizzy back into the water.
She grabbed hold of Candy Mane’s hoof, and started to pull her out, when Pinkie tripped herself up. Her legs slipped from underneath her, kicking Dizzy back into the tiny pool. Only Candy, Dizzy and Goldengrape remained in the water now. Blossomforth was calling out. She was returning, and it sounded like she had a good few ponies with her. Five or ten perhaps. Enough to save the final three. Pinkie continued her charade, attempting to pull out the ponies, but by the time Blossomforth’s rescue team had arrived, Candy had been forced underwater by Dizzy and Goldengrape’s relentless thrashing around.
The pegasus couldn't fly out anymore, she was too tired, and the cold of the water was slowly killing her. She was soon dragged out, followed by Goldengrape. Everypony was standing around in shock. Pinkie knew what she was doing. She stood, speechless, until a stallion, Grape Crush, finally spoke to her. “What happened?” Everypony was watching her. Waiting for her answer.
“I...I...I don’t know...” Pinkie began shakily. “Everyone was scoring the ice, and they got the centre and it just... Caved in...” The pink mare gave a few tears for good measure. Dizzy Twister and Goldengrape were being taken away, presumably to the hospital. Well, she had nine ponies on her team. Now she just had three. Not too bad for a mornings work, Pinkie thought to herself.
Suddenly Twilight ran in. “Pinkie Pie! Oh my Celestia, thank goodness you’re alright!” she said, embracing her friend. Everypony was leaving now.
“Princess Twilight! Get off the ice! It’s not safe!”
Twilight and Pinkie got off of the lake safely, and Twilight gestured for Pinkie to follow her.
The two ponies sat in the library, quietly. Spike had been told to stay put in his basket. Twilight didn't think he should hear this kind of thing.
“So,” Twilight began, breaking the silence. “What happened Pinkie? I need you to tell me everything. Even if it doesn't seem important, because we need to make sure this doesn't happen again.”
Pinkie nodded solemnly. “Well, you saw me when I came down the street, and after that it took me about five minutes to get to the lake.” Twilight listened intently. “After that I told everypony to get into place, and they did, and then everypony put on their skates. Then I did the countdown, so everyone knew when to go.”
“Okay.” Twilight said, nodding.
Pinkie sniffed, as though she was about to start crying again. “Then, I said ‘Go!’ and everypony went, and when they got to the centre, the ice just cracked underneath them. Dizzy and Blossom got out because they flew out, but the rest of the ponies were pushing each other the water when they tried to get out...” Pinkie trailed off. She forced out some tears.
Twilight waited for a minute before she asked her friend to continue.
“...Pinkie?”
“Sorry Twilight.” Pinkie sniffed. “I told Blossom to go get help, so me and Dizzy were trying to get everypony out... But we weren't strong enough...” Pinkie broke down completely now. The pink pony wondered why it was so easy for her to fake this sadness. She wasn't sad at all. Not happy either, but definitely not sad.
Twilight placed a hoof around Pinkie, who continued her farce. “Pinkie...” Twilight began. Pinkie sniffed and turned to face her friend. “Yeah Twilight?” she replied quietly.
“Nopony should ever have to see half of what you saw today. And I just want you to know, I think you’re being very brave about it. I want you to go back to Sugarcube Corner. Mr and Mrs Cake will be there, and if they ask you why you’re back, just tell them to come and see me, okay? I’ll sort all of this out.”
“Thanks Twilight.” Pinkie said, smiling somewhat, so she would appear genuine. She got up, left the library and headed slowly back to Sugarcube Corner. Her plan was finally complete.
Yesterday, a freak accident at a lake in Ponyville, caused the death of six ponies, whose bodies have yet to be found. Two other ponies, Goldengrape and Dizzy Twister, escaped the incident with only a few minor injuries. The pony in charge, Miss Pinkemina Diane Pie has been questioned, but is believed to be innocent.
The lake had frozen over and was being scored so it would melt, as part of a traditional Ponyville celebration. Investigators believe that the ice had been melted more towards the centre, making it a weak point.
