Dead Space: Purpose

by Dragonman461

Chapter 24: Sense of Doom

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Isaac stared at the massive case of sand as Celestia breathed deeply. As he recollected his thoughts, his hand came up.

"This... is counting... to the end of your world?" He managed.

Celestia nodded briskly.

"Yes."

Isaac opened and closed his mouth a few times, trying to find the words that would fit the situation. As he stammered, Celestia faced the hourglass and spoke.

"Isaac, I believe that you should learn what I have. The truth behind this contraption. You see, over a thousand years ago, there was a unicorn with great magic potential, named Star Swirl the Bearded, that researched into the ancient times of the Three Pony Tribes before they founded Equestria. As he and his younger sibling researched, they stumbled upon dark secrets about the tribes. As it turned out, ponies were not as non-violent as we are now. In fact, when Star Swirl went to ancient temples of each tribe, they found skeletons that were broken and mutilated to the point where it would have been impossible to call them 'pony'. I looked into this alongside both him and his brother as they researched, and came across something... unique. Something you need to see."

Celestia leveled her horn with a hole in the space next to the massive hourglass and slid it in slowly. When she connected the tip with the back of the entrance, she poured her magic in with a massive strain. Isaac stepped back as he watched the alicorn's horn burn brightly with a yellow light, then flash about with a massive collection of random colors and shapes, and finally, gaped when her eyes poured out purple mist as a dark energy spiked through the small hole. With a massive groan, Celestia pulled her horn out of the hole as her hair began to loose some of its color, fading into a solitary pink as she stood on shaking limbs. Isaac moved in to help her, but Celestia raised a hoof.

"I... I'm fine." She panted.

As they stood there, the hourglass and its respective base began to rise into the air, revealing a secretive staircase that lead into a dark abyss.

"Come. You have to see this."

Isaac nodded and activated a flashlight component that illuminated the path before them. As they continued down, Celestia held back the urge to lash violently at everything in her way as memories that were once repressed resurfaced and brought her to the brink of her already crippling sanity.

\\\//////

Fluttershy continued to hold Scootaloo close as the train bounced them up in their bench every now and then. Thankfully, the filly had went to sleep before Rainbow Dash came to get them. The two had spent their time in the isolated car to talk about what the cyan pegasus had been shown by the Engineer.

"And... I guess that whatever it was that Isaac mentioned, Celestia wanted to talk to him about it, so here we are." Rainbow Dash finished, sighing as she slumped into the seat opposite Fluttershy.

Fluttershy merely stared down at the young pegasus in her lap as she processed her feelings for the situation that they were in. She felt scared for her friends that this was what they were facing. She felt sympathy for the filly, knowing what it was like to be a terrible flier while loosing your parents. She felt her heart go to Isaac, who had to keep dealing with this, even here in Equestria. Most of all, however, through all of this, she felt something else that was stronger than her timid nature. Something stronger than her fear for most everything. Stronger than even her desire to help her friends.

Hatred. Pure, unadulterated, unhinged, rage. All of it directed at one cause, one entity, one certain object that cursed her mind and had abused someone who didn't deserve it.

"The Marker." She muttered, feeling her muscles tense in rage.

"What is that, anyways?" Rainbow Dash asked. "And why does Isaac think it has something to do with this?"

"Because he's fought them before." Fluttershy started to explain, never taking her eyes off the filly. "He's seen the horrors that they can inflict on the innocent, and he's already been tortured by it enough to know how to fight back. He knows what somepony looks like when they're under its power, and I don't doubt that he knows that only he can stop them."

Rainbow Dash scoffed as she placed her forehooves behind her head.

"Geez, you make it sound like you know what they are."

Fluttershy narrowed her eyes as she looked out the window, remembering her encounter with Ellie, the conversation they shared about the Marker and Isaac, and how she tied in to all of this. Only now, however, was some of it making sense.

"Rainbow Dash," Fluttershy began, "you remember when I first went to Flight School?"

The cyan pegasus waved a hoof in the air.

"'Course I do, Shy. You were a nervous wreck. I had to keep those numb-skulls back while you tried to get through the practice areas. Not that I didn't like being able to talk down three colts at once without raising a feather. Why?"

"When I first signed up, my mother told me about how great it was that I was fulfilling my purpose. Do you remember what happened after that first Hearth's Warming Eve? When we came back?"

Rainbow Dash dropped her smile and sat upright as she gazed at her friend with concern.

"I... yeah... I remember that your mom..."

Fluttershy merely nodded, refusing to let a tear fall out for the sake of the situation.

"Yes. When she died, though, I thought that my life ended with her. I was so caught up in loosing her, I almost lost myself. And only a few months later, I fell through those clouds and landed in that small area, where I got my Cutie Mark. Do you know what I did after that?"

Before Dash could respond, Fluttershy turned her gaze towards her and spoke.

"I forgot about her. I forgot about loosing my mother and just moved on. I didn't even do so much as to ask myself why, or to even look at the stars and say, 'I did it mom, I wanted to make you proud, and I got my Cutie Mark,' none of that. I just forgot and moved on. And you know what else? I never realized that I did that until just now. I didn't start thinking like that until a certain someone, showed up."

Rainbow blinked for a few seconds as her jaw dropped slowly.

"You mean... Isaac?"

"And since when did I act the way I did when I found him? A large metal thing falls from the sky and crawls out of a crater before looking at me and laying there in a smoking pile of rubble. I didn't run away, I didn't call for help, I didn't even tell you or the girls about him! I was terrified of even being in that forest, seconds before he came down to Equestria. Does that sound like how I would act?"

Rainbow merely stared at the pegasus as she breathed deeply.

"Rainbow Dash, something big is going on here, and it is bigger than all of us. And only now do I realize something. Something that should have been obvious from the start, when all this change started to happen."

As she continued, the train entered a tunnel that blocked out the light from outside. When the darkness came, Fluttershy saw a figure in the reflection of the window behind Rainbow Dash. A figure that resembled the monster from her first encounter with Ellie. The monster that was once her mother.

"It all started with Isaac, and whatever it is, it'll end with Isaac."

\\\//////

Isaac found footing once more as the stairs ended at the solid floor beneath him. When he stepped on it, however, he noticed that it wasn't marble or stone like the rest of the castle he was in. Celestia walked out before him and went along a small path of her own as a dull light shone from her horn, showing that her blue tone had returned before the other two colors of her mane. She stopped for a moment when a stalagmite blocked her path. Instead of moving around it, however, she placed a leg onto its surface and when she pushed it, the object began to collapse into the floor. The space around the two began to rumble as another, far larger stalagmite, rose from the ground a few meters in front of them. Once it stopped, the rumbling ceased, and the side closest to Isaac opened to reveal a faint blue glow.

"This, Isaac," Celestia started as she approached it, "is a relic recovered by Star Swirl and his brother. When we first examined it, we had no idea what it was, or even if it was a natural stone."

She stopped before it and merely stared at the rock as it continued to glow a dying light.

"When we did try to tap into it, however, we noticed that it had more than enough energy to completely wipe us out. Star Swirl and I kept cautious about it, but when his little brother got close enough, he triggered the true purpose of it." She turned to face Isaac. "He triggered the message that was kept within it. A warning about something truly terrifying. Something that even Gods would be given nightmares from. A warning about the Marker."

Isaac felt his jaw gape at the revelation before he shook his head and approached the Princess.

"You found a warning like this, over a thousand YEARS ago!?" He shouted. "And you waited until NOW to put it to use!?"

"I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO!" Celestia screamed back, her mane igniting somewhat as the cave lit up. "I WAS GIVEN THIS WARNING AND WAS TOO AFRAID TO LET ANYPONY ELSE KNOW ABOUT IT! AND DON'T THINK I JUST WAITED UNTIL NOW, BECAUSE I DIDN'T EVEN REMEMBER IT EXISTED UNTIL A FEW MINUTES AGO!!!"

When she finished screaming, her mane's fire died and flickered out as the cave shook a bit. A few calming breaths later, and she looked back at Isaac.

"Do you know what it's like to remember something like the Marker existing after a thousand years? To remember what it can do? To only now realize how absolutely DOOMED, we are?"

Isaac was at a loss for words. Thankfully, however, Celestia moved on with what she was talking about before the outburst.

"Like I was saying, when Star Swirl and I realized what we were dealing with, we started to formulate a way to combat its power. We worked weeks, months, even years on end without even a hint at progress. All the while, Star Swirl's brother became corrupted by the thought of that much power. He spent all the time Star Swirl and I were using to look for it. He and Star Swirl got into arguments about how we should handle the situation until finally, Altmare had had enough, and left us for good."

The Engineer had to interrupt at this mention.

"Wait, Altmare? As in, grey Earth Pony?"

Celestia's eyes went wide.

"Y-yes... w-how did you know?"

"I fought him in that weather factory."

Celestia merely shook her head.

"N-no, he's been dead for over a thousand years. You couldn't have."

"Either way, he's dead now. I made sure of it."

Celestia nodded briskly as she continued.

"After about 30 or so years of research, Star Swirl and I noticed a massive shift in how the Three Pony Tribes were behaving. Once, they were tolerate of each other, going so far as to barely make a gesture towards one another. When we saw what they were doing, however, we nearly died of shock then and there. They were butchering their young, mutilating the sick, and on the brink of war with one another. When we referred back to this relic, we were told that the Marker had already brought its hold onto us. As I watched the tribes degrade into massive bouts of violence and bloodshed, Star Swirl came up with a revelation. What the Marker was making them make."

"Dead bodies." Isaac stated. "The Marker needed bodies."

She nodded.

"Exactly. When he saw the tribes collecting the dead, he theorized that the Marker was going to use them all for something horrible. Something big. Was he wrong?"

"Not at all. I've seen what they make with the dead, and let me say, he must have been a genius to figure that out before it was too late."

"Yes, he was. Sadly, though, we couldn't risk communicating with them about discarding the bodies, or we might have run the risk of getting ourselves killed in the process, or accelerating whatever the Marker wanted done. Desperate and out of options, Star Swirl came up with a plan to stop the Marker from using our dead, as well as our hatred. During the peak of tension, just as war was about to break out between the tribes, Star Swirl and I created a powerful creature, known as the Windigos. When they sense conflict and hatred, their powers of ice became stronger, and when we unleashed the first one into the wilderness, it multiplied by the thousands in nearly an instant of being exposed to the Marker's power. In the course of a few days, the Windigos had frozen nearly half of the continent, causing villages to die out from hunger and exposure with ease."

"He was trying to keep the bodies frozen, too." Isaac stated. "I saw that on Tau Volantis, a giant machine that kept the planet frozen so the Markers couldn't use them."

"Right again, Isaac. I knew that we should have tried to find a solution that would have let everypony live, but when I spoke to Star Swirl once more, we realized that it'd be better for our entire race be buried with the Marker than allow its evil to reach outside. If we knew that there were already thousands, like you had said... I don't think we would have done it differently. Eventually, though, the Marker allowed them to retain some common sense, and had the leaders of the three tribes traverse the land in search of a new home, where they can continue their acts of violence without worry. When they did reach a new land, however, the three tribe leaders began to fight with each other, and in doing so, brought the Windigos to them. The leaders were frozen in ice as their hearts became colder than any storm, and left only their right-hoof associates as the last survivors of their quest."

Celestia paused for a moment as tears began to stream down her face.

"That, however was when the Marker had its own revelation. How it could become more powerful than ever. A way to bring followers to its name, and give it the edge to take over not only every body and mind, but also their spirits. The promise it made to Altmare, to those pegasi in the Rainbow Factory, and to everypony since that day over a thousand years ago. It learned that we find our greatest power when we work in harmony."

\\\//////

Scootaloo felt her eyes flutter open as sound and motion poured into her mind. She brought up a hoof to wipe at her eyes as she yawned quietly, noting the lack of daylight. When she opened her eyes, she found Fluttershy in front of her, looking down with a sad expression.

"F-Fluttershy?" Scootaloo spoke.

"Scootaloo, I want you to stay calm, alright?" She spoke softly to her. "I know that you're confused and hurt, but I want to help you."

As she heard these familiar words, she sat herself up and looked around her. She found that she was inside a train car, and across from her seat, was a crying Rainbow Dash. Though she was still scared of the events that transpired merely hours ago, she felt a pang of sadness run through her when she saw the cyan pegasus fail to hold down a sob.

"Scoots..." She stated, reaching a hoof out to her.

Scootaloo's first instinct was to run away, but she found that Fluttershy had wrapped a wing around her, and was keeping her there.

"Scootaloo, please listen." She started. "I know you thought you saw her earlier, and that you were certain, without a doubt, that she was there, but please, just hear her out."

The filly shifted her gaze between the two older mares before setting her trembling stare on Rainbow Dash. The pegasus wiped at her eyes to remove some tears, and spoke.

"Scootaloo, I-I can't even begin to tell you how sorry I am. I know that you were taken, and I know that you saw me, but please, don't believe that. What you saw, what Isaac saw, wasn't me. He even knew that, when he tried to talk to you. I know that I shouldn't blame him for not saying anything. I should blame myself for making you think like that. I made it sound like flying was the most important thing, and that as long as you aimed to be like me, I'd be impressed. I shouldn't have said all of that to you for so long. It's my fault that you were so afraid of being a disappointment, and so scared of not being able to fly. I want you to know that you are what counts in your own life. I want you to know that above all else, I was never, and never will be, disappointed by anything that you do. And I want you to know that as long as you give it your all, it doesn't matter how high you can go, so long as I can be there for you."

Rainbow Dash got up from the seat and sat her haunches on the floor in the middle of the car, extending her forelegs towards the filly.

"I want you to know that I love you, and that I want to be there for you. Please."

Scootaloo felt fresh tears surface as she felt her mouth tremble from overload. With a burst of crying, the filly launched herself into the awaiting grasp of the pegasus, and cried out into her coat. Atop her head, she felt Dash do the same as they held each other close, crying together, and sharing with each other.

Fluttershy smiled as the two let their feelings out, starting the road to recovery for Scootaloo. As she looked to the window again, she saw a different figure in the reflection. The figure gave a gesture that signified a well-done job to her. She smiled warmly and nodded as the image of Isaac faded into darkness of the night sky, taking with it, a looming shadow that hung over the Element of Loyalty.

\\\//////

Luna walked about the private Royal Library with a brisk pace as she scanned each shelf in her path. Every time she thought she had seen the book, it had been nothing more than an illusion. A trick of the mind. She had to shake her head clear of these deceptions several times now, and found herself far more on edge than she was before. As she rounded one last corner, she found a pair of Solar Guards at the entrance to the Vault Wing, where the forbidden books lie in wait. She marched up to the two as they gave a crisp salute.

"Good evening, Princess Luna," The Guard on the left started, "what brings you back here?"

Luna blinked in confusion and tilted her head at the statement.

"What do you mean? I haven't been here yet."

The Guards looked at each other in confusion before turning back to her.

"But, milady," The Guard to the right started, "you came here almost an hour ago."

"I have done no such thing!" She proclaimed. "Who could have-"

She stopped herself when she heard whispers in her ears.

'Thought you were the only being of the Night, my dear sweet Luna?'

The Princess of the Night widened her eyes and teleported to her private chambers. When she arrived in a flash of light, she scowled at the mirror, or more specifically, the being held within it.

"I thought you were gone."

'One can never truly be rid of their nightmares, now can they?' Nightmare Moon asked coyly.

"But how can you have done anything!? You aren't even physical! You're just a shadow of my mind!"

'You know that I'm so much more than that. Besides, once the time has come, and dear sweet Twilight has done what we need, the Marker will be able to finally bring about a new era of true unity. One mind, one body, one spirit, my Luna, darling. You should be welcoming fate. You can finally share your suffering of a thousand years of isolation with all of Ponykind. And when they feel it, they will welcome you with an eternity of happiness and wholesomeness. Doesn't that sound preferable as opposed to ridicule and disregard with their physical bodies?'

"You will never get away with this." Luna growled.

'Oh, I already have. Your world will end, and we will be together, for all of eternity. In perfection, in unity, we will be made whole.'

Nightmare Moon gave a mocking kiss gesture before vanishing from the mirror in a physical trail of smoke. As it rose above, Luna fought the urge to scream and panic as her mind replayed the conversation.

\\\//////

As the knocking came from the door, Twilight rounded the table at the center of the main entrance. When she came to door, she reached with her magic and opened it. On the other side was a mailstallion.

"Hello there, Miss Sparkle." The stallion stated, tipping his hat.

"Good evening. How can I help you?" She asked with a smile.

The grey stallion reached into a bag and pulled out a small package. Twilight picked the package out of his hoof and closed the door as she turned back towards the library. She read the label of the address and noted that it was from the Princesses. She opened the package and pulled out a book with odd symbols on the cover and a note, which she read aloud.

"'Dear Twilight Sparkle, the spell contained on the last page of this book is Star Swirl the Bearded's secret unfinished masterpiece'."

The unicorn gasped loudly as she 'oohed' the book. Once she finished ogling it, she continued to read the letter.

"'He was never able to get it right, and thus abandoned it. I believe that you are the only pony who can understand and rewrite it. Princess Celestia'."

With that, she flipped the book open and scouted out the last page in a flash of paper. Once she found the text, she began to read it aloud.

"'From one to another, another to one. A mark of one's destiny singled out alone, fulfilled'."

As the final word escaped her mouth, the Elements of Harmony began to shake violently within the case behind the unicorn as she complained about the spell's inadequacy to rhyme. The colors of the six jewels began to swap between each known, before the Elements of Loyalty, Magic, and Kindness had chosen random ones. The other three, however, continued to glow an eerie deep red as the influence behind the objects reached out towards the minds of those who have yet to face their darkest parts. While they were shuddering with red power, the Element of Kindness had toned down the main color, and had three horizontal light-blue lines shine across it, as it shone its light onto the closest Element, Laughter.

\\\//////

Isaac stood and stared at the stone's dying light as it spoke in hushed whispers that no one could make out any longer. As he did, Celestia paced about, recollecting the history of the Marker's influence.

"So," Isaac started, "the Marker got the idea of unity from your kind?" He asked.

"Yes. It did. It saw how we benefited from depending on each other as opposed to how we single ourselves out, and thus, it had created a limitless, voluntary supply of magic. In return for keeping it powered, it gave the Three Tribes reasons to live. It created Equestria. I remember how we used to have the Hearth's Warming Eve play, every year, and at the end, they'd place the Flag of Equestria together on top of the stage. Only, it has my sister and I on it. That is the current flag."

She ignited her horn and pulled a rag out from underneath the stone. With a thrust, she unfurled it before Isaac.

"In the wake of its power, the first Equestrian citizens created this flag. The real first Equestrian flag."

Isaac nearly ripped out his Plasma Cutter at the sight, but froze as he was told that this was the first flag of this peaceful land.

Celestia then proceeded to tear the flag in half and start small fires on each half. As she tossed them aside, she strolled up to Isaac while speaking.

"That was only the first time the Marker truly influenced us. Years after the founding of Equestria, Star Swirl had seen the ponies working in harmony, unknowingly powering an infinite devil machine. Though he was old, Star Swirl was not out of date. He had created several spells in order to view other worlds, trying to see what the Marker was reaching out to. When he did, he was driven nearly mad by the horrors of what it inflicted on others. With our help. After finding out how we were powering it with Harmony itself, he researched into how to disrupt it. He delved into Chaos, and decided he would make the ultimate sacrifice for the good of all living things. That was when Star Swirl had died, and brought forth the Chaotic spirit within him: Discord. The essence of Disharmony."

The alicorn sighed.

"It was short-lived. The Marker sensed the pure chaos that Discord was creating. After a few years of his rule, the Marker had grown a large structure, concentrating the very power of Harmony into it. And with it, came the Elements of Harmony. They were supposed to be our greatest defense. It turns out that I realize, only now, that they've been the tools of our ultimate destruction. My sister and I wielded the Elements in order to stop him. The Marker had influenced us enough to convince us that we needed them to survive. We thought that we had done some good, by stopping him. Turns out that I learn now, of course, that we've just doomed ourselves from the get-go."

"Wait, wait, wait." Isaac stated, waving his hands.

"What?"

"How can this have happened a thousand years ago? How long has the Marker actually been here?"

"Isaac that relic is proof, that we are not the first inhabitants of this world. It is proof that we don't have a chance against it."

"Don't say that!" Isaac shouted. "You've got one thing you didn't have before."

Celestia scoffed.

"Really? What, after over a thousand years of digging, praying, and failure, do we have now that can stop it? What's any different than all of the other times we've tried? Discord was a GOD, and HE couldn't stop it! What makes you think we can stop it!?"

"Me. I've taken down the one on Aegis VII, I built and destroyed another one, and blew up an entire planet that was practically MADE of Markers. AND a giant fucking living Moon that eats God-damn mountains!"

"He's right."

The two turned around to see a face that was only familiar to one of them.

"Hammond?"

The Security Officer waved at the Engineer as he merely stood by the blue stone, which was glowing brighter than before.

"Been a long time, hasn't it Isaac? I've been watching, ever since I died aboard the Ishimura. You've done damn good. Better than I ever could have, that's for sure." He added with a chuckle. Hammond turned to face Celestia as he continued. "Ma'am, if there's anyone that you could trust to take on a Marker, it's him. And I know I'm not the only one that knows that fact."

"Wait a second," Isaac started, "why are you, of all people here? I mean, no offense, but still, why?"

"Because your other associates are busy at the moment. Sorry if I'm not enough."

Hammond turned towards the glowing stone when Isaac called out to him.

"Wait! What's really happening? How come you and the others can just come in here and take off whenever you want? Why can you do all of this now?"

Without turning to face him, Hammond answered.

"It'll make sense in time, Isaac. Just make sure that you're back in town for when it happens, though."

Before Isaac could respond, Hammond disappeared in a flash, leaving the stone to finally die out. Celestia looked between the stone and Isaac before speaking.

"Isaac, you have to go back to Ponyville. Get your things from Twilight's house, and go find Fluttershy. Tell her to assemble the rest of the Bearers. They are to not leave your sight, do you understand?"

Isaac nodded.

"Good. I'm sorry to drag you into this, but if you really are as good as you say, and I pray that you are, then we can finally end this nightmare, once and for all. Are you ready to go."

"Ready as I'll ever be." He stated, triggering the helmet to assemble.

"Goodbye Isaac. Keep them safe."

After speaking, Celestia poured her magic into her horn and focused it on Isaac. The Engineer was engulfed in a shroud of light and vanished in a flash. Celestia sighed deeply as she teleported herself out of the chamber as well. When she arrived at the top, she closed the entrance and the hourglass at once. A peak at the sand showed her how much time Equestria had left. One week. One week until the end of everything. Before she could voice her frustrations, however, the doors behind her bolted open. Celestia turned around to find Luna panting.

"Luna, what's wrong!?" Celestia jumped.

"Sister... Star Swirl's... book on the... Harmony and destiny... Twilight has..."

The Princess of the Sun shot her eyes wide and gaped her jaw at the news.

"W-what!? How!?"

"Nightmare... Moon... physical... mailed it to her..."

Celestia looked out over towards the window of the library and watched as the stars ticked by.

"Isaac... Please, protect them." She pleaded to the void.

\\\//////

When Isaac opened his eyes again, he found himself on the outskirts of Ponyville. 5 feet off the ground. And upside down. The Engineer hit the dirt with a solid thud as he groaned while trying to get up. When he looked to his left, he saw a familiar yellow and pink shape standing by him. With a thought, Isaac returned the helmet to standby mode and spoke to the pegasus.

"Hey Fluttershy."

The pegasus bolted from her spot on the ground and tackled Isaac with enough speed to make her nearly disappear. When she impacted him, the two fell to the ground as she held onto his neck tightly.

"ISAAC!" She cried.

Isaac raised his hands towards her form, and settled them on her back as they simply held on. As they held on to what little they had now, Isaac began to think about the Equestrians, and the Marker.

'They don't deserve that. No one does. All they want is peace, and I won't let the Marker take it from them.'

He looked down to see the top of Fluttershy's head, and saw part of her face as tears rolled onto his suit.

'They deserve a chance. And if I have to, I'll die to give it to them. Already worked three times.'

Isaac held her closely as he allowed her to vent in his arms, safe from the terrors in the shadows.

\\\//////

Pinkie was humming a jolly tune as she opened the fridge in the Cake's kitchen to look for a midnight snack. When she found what she was looking for, she had balanced the plate on her nose while closing the door with a hind leg.

"Oh, boy! I can't wait for some mid-night cupcakes!" She added with a wiggle of the tail.

The party mare turned around to go to the stairs, but bumped into something solid. She dropped the plate and the cupcakes, causing glass and frosting to splatter everywhere.

"Owie zowie..." she moaned, rubbing a hoof to her nose.

She looked up to find out what she had run into, and gasped in delight.

"Jeepers peepers! I must have a really, really, really, REALLY good fun-house mirror collection, because I didn't even remember getting this one!"

She beamed as she closely examined her 'reflection'.

"Wow, you really look like me! Except your pink's a liiiiiiittle off. Oh, and your mane's not poofy! It's like you ironed it!"

The second Pinkie casually ran a dark pink hoof through her flat mane as she responded.

"Oh, I know. I thought it'd look better this way. Once we're done here."

"Ooh, ooh, are we gonna have a there's-two-Pinkies Party!?" Pinkie stated, jumping in place.

"Nothing like that, no." The second Pinkie said with a smile.

"Oh." Pinkie sat on her haunches. "Then, what are we gonna do?"

"We're gonna make a Pinkamena Promise."

"Oh boy! What are we promising?"

Pinkamena reached into her mane and pulled out a long, sharp object as she spun it in her right hoof.

"To DIE!" She exclaimed before charging Pinkie.

Pinkie barely registered the statement as Pinkamena thrust at her with the small spear. The party mare ducked to the left, hearing the piece of metal swish by her ear. However, the dodge was short-lived as Pinkamena lifted a left hoof to Pinkie's gut, sending her sprawling across the floor of the kitchen. Pinkie slowly opened her eyes and panicked when she saw her doppelganger jump at her with the needle. She lifted her forehooves in defense, but faltered when Pinkamena nearly impaled her neck with the tip of the object. With some effort, Pinkie managed to keep the needle at bay, but the other her just powered around her defense, bringing the needle towards her face.

"Say it with me now, Pinkie~!" She sang eerily.

The needle hovered Pinkie's right eye as it began to lower, Pinkie only able to watch in horror as her strength faded.

"Cross my heart and hope to die~!"

The tip of the needle began to make contact with the cornea of the party mare as she screamed out in pain, unable to close her eyes in fear of bringing her death faster.

"STICK A NEEDLE IN YOUR-"

THWACK

The sensation of the needle was ripped away from Pinkie as the darker version of herself was thrown across the small kitchen. Pinkie looked up and gasped at the sight of the armored being before her.

"Sorry I'm late to the party."

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