"Crap, crap, crap!" Pinkie Pie shouted, pacing back and forth through the charred debris of the building, trying to calm herself down. Her heart was racing a mile a minute and she could feel her body twitching as it tried to work off the rest of the drug.

"Ooooh! Really gotta stop taking that stuff. There has to be some bad side effects to using it too often," Pinkie reasoned with herself, combing a shivering hand through her poofed up mane. "Never had a rush quite like that one though," she told herself before shaking her head in frustration.

"Focus Pinkie! Gotta find the others! Figure out what the plan is from there, cause I've got no fucking clue what we do at this point," Pinkie thought out loud, as she started picking her way through large chunks of charred and collapsed wall.

Occasionally, Pinkie would start getting worked up again and she'd have to stop for a minute to calm herself to a more manageable rush. After several minutes, Pinkie felt her heart slow down and the charred lumber she was trying to lift became to heavy.

Pinkie let the support beam fall across the ceiling it no longer supported and flopped down onto the barest patch of burnt floor she could find. Pinkie started to notice how cold the night air was and stuck her hands in the pockets of her coat, her left hand finding a small cylindrical object.

Pinkie pulled a syringe out of her pocket and saw that it was still half full of the blue liquid it contained. Just looking at the substance brought angry tears to Pinkie's eyes. Sure it had been helpful tonight, but it wasn't worth the hell it had put her through. Pinkie raised her arm preparing to throw the needle over a pile of debris, but she couldn't do it. Instead she just lowered her hand and looked at the liquid inside.

"I am such a fucking mess," she told herself, sniffing back a few of her tears as she stood up and continued on her way.

///////2 Years Earlier///////

"Pinkie wake up! It's almost noon!" an annoyed voice shouted, waking the young mare from her heavy slumber.

Pinkie rubbed the sleep from her eyes as her foster father, Carrot Cake started banging on the door. "Yeah, yeah, I'm up!" Pinkie shouted, grumbling as she lifted her body from the bed, noticing she was still wearing the faded jeans and a T-shirt from an obscure punk band she had been wearing the previous night.

"Crazy night," Pinkie mumbled to herself, hearing footsteps receding down the hallway. Pinkie climbed out of her sheets as she recalled what had actually happened last night. The last thing she remembered was meeting her best friend, Vinyl Scratch, to go to a party, but the rest was a blur of neon colored lights and loud music, which gave her headache just thinking about it.

Pinkie sat on the edge of her bed and looked around at her room as she rubbed her temple. The pink walls covered with posters of oddly named bands and crooked pictures of her and her friends at parties, held up to the walls with scotch tape. Pinkie quickly spotted a few pictures she didn't recognize above her bed. She and Vinyl were in most of them and anyone who saw the pictures would be able to tell they’d been drinking, among other things. Pinkie chuckled when she saw herself kissing a stallion she didn't know in a darker corner of the building they were in.

“Ain't a party until I’m making out with a stranger,” Pinkie laughed as she turned to her dresser and started changing her clothes. Her foster parents didn't like her wearing her band shirts in front of their children, mostly because a majority of the shirts just showed the band in question sitting in a smoke filled room with a glazed look in their eyes. The Cakes thought it was a bad influence.

Pinkie had been taken in by Carrot and Cup Cake almost ten years ago when her own family had died in a house fire. The Cakes had always treated her like one of their own, but Pinkie never felt like she belonged in the house. The Cakes had made it clear she was welcome in their home, but they had a tendency to treat her more like a tenant than a teenager. She had started therapy a few years ago in order to help her cope with the tragedy from her childhood and had been given medications to help her through depression, but Pinkie had become addicted to her anti-depressants and, in an effort to get more, met her best friend Vinyl Scratch. Vinyl was a local drug dealer and gave Pinkie discounts. Pinkie had been able to keep most of this a secret from her foster parents, but they wound up finding out about the alcohol after Pinkie got arrested and put on probation a few months ago. Since then it had been harder for Pinkie to go to parties with her friends, but she still managed to sneak out every so often.

Pinkie rubbed her forehead as she walked to the bathroom on the other side of her room and took off her shirt so she could start getting ready for the day.

//////////////////////////////////////

Braeburn Apple stepped out of a black SUV outside of an apartment building in Ponyville, grumbling about bad luck as he rubbed his forehead with a gloved hand. As he stepped away from the vehicle he was followed by Rarity Belle looking just as annoyed, but for different reasons.

“Why do you need me here?” Rarity asked scathingly as she started scanning the rest of the street and some other nearby buildings. Most of the buildings looked worn down, but it wasn't hard to tell they were being lived in.

“Cuz ya put ponies at ease. Everypony who works fer us knows me and they know to be afraid a me,” Braeburn explained as he walked up the steps to the building with Rarity close behind. “That and yer the best killer we got, aside from mahself,” he continued.

Rarity glared at the stallion, but knew better than to retaliate. “Fine. So who are we here for?” she asked as they entered the building and started up the stairs.

“Not sure yet,” Braeburn replied. “We got some experimental drug that got intah the wrong hands and we need to git it back before the cops here git their hands on it. That detective, Armor I think, transferred here a couple weeks ago,” Braeburn explained in an annoyed tone.

Rarity quirked an eyebrow at the stallion’s attitude. “What does the drug do that has you so worked up?” she asked curiously.

Braeburn stopped in front of a door on the third floor. “Ah have no idea. That’s why Ah’m so worked up,” he answered as he knocked on the door.

Rarity smiled as she realized what the problem was. “How odd. I thought the Apples didn’t keep secrets from family,” she said smugly.

Braeburn glared at her as the door opened, catching his attention. “Who the hell is it?” an angry middle aged stallion asked wearing a messy white shirt and sweat pants. His eyes widened in fear as he spotted Braeburn. “Oh shit, uh… I mean, how can I help you Mr. Apple?” he asked, his fearful stammering earning a chuckle from Braeburn.

“Ya got a syringe ya weren't s’posed tah git. Blue liquid. Where is it?” Braeburn asked, menacing the stallion as he shoved into the apartment and started looking around the messy living area, scanning the dining room table for the object he was looking for. The stallion started stammering a reply, until Rarity put a hand on his shoulder.

“Calm down. Just tell us when you last saw it,” Rarity told him, trying to calm the stallion’s panicked mind.

The stallion looked back and forth from Rarity to Braeburn, unsure if he should be calm or afraid. “I gave it to one of our middle guys, Neon. Good kid. He spends most of his time at Berry’s Bar near Town Square. Told him you was tryin somethin new. That’s what the chick who gave it tah me said,” the stallion answered in a hurry.

Braeburn froze at the answer. “Chick?” he asked, earning a nod from the stallion. “What’d she look like?” he asked angrily.

The stallion looked at Rarity who nodded for him to continue. “Uh… she was young, a kinda lightish blue color, rainbow mane,” the stallion answered.

Braeburn's face contorted into a look of murderous rage as he turned away from the stallion. He was silent for a moment and then grabbed the edge of the table and flipped it, throwing pieces of paper and a few dishes crashing to the floor.

The action surprised Rarity as much as the stallion who had gone pale at the display. Braeburn turned towards the pair and approached them. He stopped in front of the stallion and held out his hand. “Sorry bout the mess,” he said, his tone betraying his anger.

The stallion took Braeburn’s hand and shook it briefly. Braeburn then walked past him and out of the room with Rarity close behind, leaving the stallion in shocked silence.

“What the hell was that all about?” Rarity asked, incredulous as they made their way down stairs and out of the building.

“Some stupid ass mare been messin with us fer the last few months. I don’t know who she is, but that is the third time I've heard that description,” Braeburn explained as he pulled out the keys to their SUV.

Rarity shook her head in bewilderment. “Why would she steal your product and then give it to your dealers?” she asked, questioning the mares sanity.

Braeburn sighed in frustration. “Cause if that drug starts killin ponies it makes us look bad and we start losin business. On top of that, the cops’ll have somethin new on us and while we’re busy throwin them off, that bitch’ll be workin us over somewhere else,” he growled, jumping into the driver’s seat while Rarity got in on the other side. “No more questions. Let’s just find the damn syringe.”

///////////////////////////////////////

After a quick shower, Pinkie changed into a bright pink shirt and a pair of jean shorts that were a little too tight. She gave herself a once over in the mirror and smiled. “That’ll do nicely,” she told herself as she put her pink sneakers and socks on, exited her room and made her way into the bakery downstairs.

“I’ll be back later,” she called out as she walked through the dining area in the bakery.

Cup Cake was standing behind the counter and waved to her foster daughter. “Don’t forget, you have an appointment,” she informed as she set few pastries in the display container.

Pinkie stopped at the door. “Probation or doctor?” she asked, hoping it was the latter. She always tried to get out of her probation meetings anyway so it only mattered if she had to go to the hospital.

“Both actually, the hospital visit isn't until this afternoon though,” Cup Cake answered. “Officer Armor is disappointed you missed your last meeting,” she continued, looking at Pinkie Pie with concern.

“Yeah, alright. I’ll head over there and then I’m gonna meet Vinyl.” Pinkie lied, having no intention to go anyway. She was planning on meeting Vinyl for lunch and probably another party later that evening. “You need me to pick anything up while I’m out?” Pinkie asked as she stood in the doorway.

“Would you remember what it was if I told you?” she asked, giving Pinkie a knowing smile.

Pinkie chuckled as she left the bakery. “You know me too well,” she called back as she walked out into the sidewalk outside the bakery and noticed a well dressed purple mare leaning against a very plain looking black sedan. Pinkie’s smile faded as she approached the mare. “Something I can help you with Detective Armor?” Pinkie asked, faking a smile.

The purple mare gave her an unimpressed look. “Get in. I’m here to make sure you don’t miss your meeting with Cadence,” the Detective said with an air of authority.

“Oh you don’t gotta do that. I was just on my way there right now,” Pinkie lied, hoping she could get away from the officer. Detective Armor looked nonplussed and simply opened the backdoor to the sedan. Pinkie sighed in defeat. “Can I at least ride in the front?” she asked.

“No,” the Detective answered in a flat tone. Pinkie rolled her eyes as she climbed into the car and pulled her phone out of her pocket. She sent Vinyl a text telling her she was going to be late to lunch and prepared herself for another lecture from the Detective.

//////////////////////////////////////////////

Vinyl Scratch was waiting on her usual street corner waiting for her supplier to give her the days products when she felt her phone buzzing in her pocket. She grabbed the small object from her pocket and looked at the text from Pinkie.

Det. Armor grabbed me at home. Going to probation thing. Pick me up from the hospital in like an hour.

Vinyl groaned at her friends misfortune. Great. That buzzkill is always sticking her nose where it doesn't belong, Vinyl thought as an old beat up looking compact car came around the corner. Vinyl stashed her phone in her pocket as she stepped up to the curb and waved at the stallion driving.

“Hey Neon. What do we got today?” Vinyl asked as the passenger window rolled down, revealing a blue stallion inside wearing a worn jacket, jeans and a pair of sunglasses.

“Mostly the usual Vi,” Neon said as he tossed a brown paper bag onto the seat next to him.

“Mostly?” Vinyl asked as she grabbed the bag, scanning the street through the car’s windshield to make sure no one was watching them before reaching into her jacket and pulling out an almost identical, but heavier bag. There didn’t seem to be anyone else on the street except them and a homeless stallion sitting on a bench further down the street

Neon rubbed his forehead like he was tired. “Yeah, the guy I get this stuff from says he wanted me to test something new,” Neon explained as he took the second bag from Vinyl and dropped it in the passenger’s seat. “They wanna know what it can do before they start mass producing.”

Vinyl looked in the bag she was given and noticed a syringe with a blue liquid inside. “So you want me to give this to some random customer and tell ya what happens to them?” she asked, irritated. “If it kills one of my customers I could get arrested for a lot more than selling,” she said, angry, keeping her voice down out of habit.

Neon rolled his eyes. “Well I’m not testing it on myself. Just find somepony stupid enough to try anything and let them have it,” he suggested, not seeming to care what was in the syringe.

Vinyl huffed as she closed the top of the bag again. “Fine I’ll figure something out. Probably give it to somepony at Surprise’s party tonight. Just try not to spring shit like this on me at the last minute okay?” she requested as she stepped away from the car.

“Fine, sorry,” Neon apologized, shaking his head in aggravation as he rolled up the window and started driving away.

“Asshole,” Vinyl grumbled as she walked away from the street corner, sticking the bag in her jacket.

/////////////////////////////////////////

Pinkie sat in the dimly lit waiting area of the Ponyville Court House. The metal chair was uncomfortable and the linoleum floor looked like it needed to be cleaned, the wax having long ago turned a yellowish color. Detective Armor was sitting at a desk, talking with a yellow mare with a yellow and red mane, but Pinkie knew she was still being watched, by the observant officer.

“Pinkie, how nice of you to join us today,” a cheerful voice spoke up, catching Pinkie’s attention. A pink mare with a multi hued mane approached her, wearing a white blouse and black dress pants.

“Hey Cadence,” Pinkie said halfheartedly.

Cadence smiled at the younger mare. “Well, follow me and we’ll have you out of here in no time,” Cadence replied as she started walking back to her office, Pinkie standing up and following after her. The pair entered an office across the hall and Cadence sat down behind her desk while Pinkie took the seat in front of it.

Cadence grabbed a notepad out of a drawer and a pen from a cup on the desk. “So how have you been doing? Any luck finding a job yet?” she asked smiling at Pinkie.

Pinkie pretended to think for a minute. “Are you asking how I’m doing or how the cancer is going?” she replied with a grin.

Cadence frowned at the joke as she wrote on the notepad. “Still job hunting then. How are your friends? I assume you’re still hanging out with Vinyl?” she asked, pursing her lips and betraying her misgivings in Pinkie’s choice of friends.

“Oh Vinyl’s doing awesome,” Pinkie replied. “Just last week she taught me the right way to roll up a body in a carpet,” Pinkie explained pretending to be excited about the pretend lesson.

Cadence sighed and let the pen fall out of her hand. “Pinkie, I know this isn't fun for you, but we need to get through these meetings,” she informed, sounding a little hurt. “I can’t help if you won’t let me.”

Pinkie rolled her eyes. “I don’t need help silly. I’m doing fine, really. I haven’t done anything illegal. Doctor said I was doing better last time I was at the hospital. I’m fine. Why do I have to keep going to these meetings?” Pinkie asked, sounding less okay then she meant to.

Cadence gave her a sad look. “We just need to make sure you’re not doing anything that would violate your probation. I don’t want to see you hauled off to jail,” she answered sincerely, deflating Pinkie’s happy attitude with the thought of being separated from the Cake’s. After a short pause Cadence looked at the paper she was supposed to be writing on. “If you don’t have anything to tell me that’s fine. I guess we’re done here. Fair warning though, you’re getting a drug test next week,” Cadence warned as she stood up and approached the door. “See you then?” she asked hopefully opening the door.

Pinkie looked at the ground in thought for a moment, the image of herself behind bars stuck in her head. “Fine I’ll be there,” she promised as she stood up. “See you next week,” Pinkie said as she left the office.

/////////////////////////////////////////////////

Braeburn and Rarity sat in their SUV outside of Berry’s bar waiting for Neon to show up. They’d already talked to a few patron’s and had been given a picture from the bartender who asked them to get Neon to pay his tab.

Just as Braeburn’s patience started to wear thin a car pulled into the lot and parked a few spaces away from them. Braeburn saw the stallion inside before he got out and looked at the picture he had. “That’s him,” he said as he jumped out of his car and approached the stallion.

“Dammit,” Rarity cursed as she followed after Braeburn, hoping he didn’t just attack the stallion.

“Hey, Neon!” Braeburn shouted as he pulled a gun out of his jacket. Neon turned and saw the gun, flying into a panic.

“Whoa, shit. I’m sorry! Whatever I did I am so sorry!” the scared stallion babbled holding his hands up over his head.

Braeburn rolled his eyes as he stopped in front of the stallion. “Syringe. Blue shit in it. Where is it?” he asked aggressively as he grabbed Neon by the front of his shirt and shoved him into his car, shoving the gun in his face.

Neon started stuttering, baffled at what was happening. “Braeburn, put the gun down!” Rarity shouted as she pulled Braeburn off of the smaller stallion. Braeburn looked at Rarity for a minute before lowering the weapon. Once everyone had calmed down Rarity turned to Neon, who was shaking. “Sorry about him. He isn’t the most diplomatic and he’s under a bit of stress, I’m sure you understand,” Rarity explained in a relaxed tone.

Neon nodded his head, still watching Braeburn. “Th-the s-syringe,” Neon started, catching Braeburn’s attention. “I w-was told it needed to b-be tested, so I gave it to our best dealer,” Neon explained, growing more confident the more he spoke.

“Who has it?” Rarity asked calmly, making sure she was between Braeburn and Neon.

“Her name’s Vinyl. She said she’s gonna try to sell it at a party tonight. Surprise’s party. It’s supposed to be in a warehouse on the edge of town,” Neon informed them, more relaxed than before.

“When’s it gonna start?” Braeburn asked, fighting to remain calm.

Neon shrugged. “I dunno. Probably won’t start until like midnight or something like that,” he answered. Braeburn groaned as he stormed back to their vehicle.

Rarity smiled at Neon. “Thank you for your cooperation,” she said gratefully before leaving to join Braeburn.

Rarity got back in the car and looked at Braeburn as the stallion tried to quell his rage, his face contorted and his hands balling into fists on the steering wheel. “What has gotten into you?” Rarity questioned, confused at the enraged Braeburn before her. He was the exact opposite of the calm and collected stallion that had threatened her in her own home a year ago.

Braeburn shot Rarity a murderous look as he opened his mouth. “Ah have seen her somewhere,” he said running a hand through his mane.

Rarity shook her head in bewilderment. “You've seen who before?” she asked, questioning Braeburn’s sanity.

“That! Rainbow! Bitch!” Braeburn shouted, punctuating each word by punching the dashboard. “Every time she’s described tah me Ah see her face and Ah have no idea where Ah've seen her before,” he seethed, leaning back in his seat, trying to calm himself.

Rarity had no idea how to reply to that, but decided they should get back on task. “Forget about her for now. Let’s just get that syringe back and leave. No mess, No hassle,” Rarity suggested, calmly.

Braeburn shook his head. “Hell no,” he replied, reaching into his pocket and retrieving his phone. “That bitch has put me through too much trouble and I need to let off some steam,” he said as he hit a few buttons and waited for an answer.

”Yeah boss?” a stallion replied after a few seconds.

“Git a crew together. Seven guys and bring guns. Big ones. We’ll be waiting in the old warehouse district in Ponyville tonight. eleven o'clock. Do not be late,” Braeburn ordered, hanging up before a reply was given.

Rarity stared at Braeburn horrified. “What the hell do you intend to do?” she asked, fearing she already knew the answer.

Braeburn started the car. “First we grab a bite tah eat. Then we’re gittin that damn syringe.”

//////////////////////////////////////////////

Pinkie sat in the waiting room of Ponyville General’s Cancer ward, staring at the clock and willing it’s hands to move faster. “Ms. Pie?” a nurse asked from the door on the other side of the room. Pinkie jumped out of her seat and bounced over to the nurse.

“So, what’s the word?” she asked happily as the nurse lead her to an office down the hall.

“Dr. Horse wanted to talk to you about the results of your MRI scan from last week,” the nurse told her as she stopped at a door and opened it for her. “Doctor, your next appointment is here,” the nurse said as Pinkie stepped through the door, greeted by the sight of a Brown stallion sitting at an organized desk. Dr. Horse looked up at Pinkie and smiled at her, but not in the usual warm way Pinkie was used to.

“Hey doc, what’s going on?” Pinkie asked as she plopped down into one of the chairs on the opposite side of the desk.

Dr. Horse sighed as he retrieved a file from a drawer in his desk. “We got the results back from your test last week,” he replied as he opened the file and showed Pinkie the charts inside.

Pinkie glanced down at what looked like a black and white picture of her brain with several orange splotches dotted throughout. “Umm… doc, I think something went wrong with your printer,” Pinkie said pointing at the orange spots.

Dr. Horse breathed a heavy sigh before he spoke. “Pinkie… I’m afraid that’s the cancer,” he said.

Pinkie's mouth fell open and the joyful mare lost her smile. “But you told me I was getting better,” she told him, still in shock.

Dr. Horse looked at the ground. “There was a filing error after your last scan,” he admitted, shamefully. Pinkie slumped over in her seat, trying to understand what she was being told.

“So, what’s the next step? What can we do from here?” Pinkie asked, praying that Dr. Horse wasn't going to say what she thought he was going to say.

The doctor gave Pinkie a tearful look. “I’m sorry. I’m afraid there’s nothing more we can do,” he told her in a defeated tone.

Pinkie’s mind froze. I’m going to die, she thought as she felt tears starting to well up in her eyes. “D-do you… know how long I have?” she asked, sniffing back tears.

“With the right treatment, we can give you another year,” Dr. Horse told her sympathetically. Pinkie wasn't mad at him. He hadn't made the mistake.

“And without any treatment?” she asked. Dr. Horse gave her a quizzical look. “My guardians have put a lot of money into this as is. If I’m not gonna make it,” Pinkie started, choking up as she realized what she was saying. “I just don’t want them to go bankrupt because of me.”

Dr. Horse nodded in understanding. “Without treatment, I’d say maybe six months,” he replied.

Pinkie thought for a moment before shaking her head. “Okay. If you don’t mind though, I’d prefer if you you didn’t tell my family. I’ll handle it,” she said as she stood up.

“Pinkie, again, I am so sorry. You’re a good kid. You deserve better,” Dr. Horse said as Pinkie walked to the door.

Pinkie gave him one last look over her shoulder. “Thanks for everything doc,” she said, unable to hold back the tears as she left the stallion’s office. She stopped outside his door and took a moment to collect herself. What am I gonna do? she asked herself.

Pinkie jumped when she felt her phone vibrating in her pocket. She pulled it out and saw a text from Carrot Cake.

Just checking in. How are things at the doctor’s? Do you need a ride home?

Pinkie stared at the text, unable to think of a proper reply. How do I even tell them I’m dying? Pinkie thought. Before she could put much thought into her answer, Pinkie felt her phone vibrate again. A new message had appeared, this one from Vinyl.

You gonna need a ride to the party?

Pinkie gaped at the text. She had completely forgotten about the party. She was about to tell Vinyl she wasn't going, but stopped before she’d even typed her reply. Maybe this is what I need, she thought. Pinkie knew she wouldn't be able to tell her foster parents she was going to die in six months if she herself was in hysterics. Maybe she just needed some time to relax and get her head on straight. Making her decision Pinkie sent a quick reply.

Yes please! I’m at the hospital.

Pinkie dried her eyes as she started for the exit. I’ll just relax tonight and tell the Cake’s everything tomorrow, she decided as she walked back through the waiting area.

//////////////////////////////////

It was just a little before midnight when Pinkie and Vinyl pulled up to the warehouse Surprise was holding the party at. Even though the party wasn't supposed to officially start for another few minutes, Pinkie could tell the party was in full swing inside. The thought of being in the familiar environment of a party set Pinkie’s mind at ease. She hadn't completely forgotten her visit to the doctor, but the memory was pushed to the back of her mind.

“You okay?” Vinyl asked her smiling friend as they got out of her car and walked to the open doors. “You've been quiet all the way here. Kinda weird for you,” she said, looking at Pinkie as though she were an alien.

Pinkie smiled like nothing was wrong. “I’m feeling Pinkie keen. Cadence just gave me a little more to think about than usual,” Pinkie answered. “Come on, I don’t wanna miss the show,” she said as she started skipping to the door. Vinyl smiled as she followed her friend inside.

Upon entering the abandoned warehouse, the music inside hit the pair like an explosion. A cacophony of electronic sounds blending together as a crowd of ponies bounced to the beat. “Surprise is really setting the bar pretty high!” Pinkie shouted over the noise as she and Vinyl weaved their way through the mass of bodies and watched the lights flash several different colors from the D.J.’s booth.

Vinyl nodded in agreement as she pulled a paper bag out of her jacket. “Hey you mind if I disappear for a bit?! I gotta sell as much of this as I can before tomorrow!” Vinyl explained, pointing at the bag.

“Yeah sure, I’ll meet you up in the box when you’re done!” Pinkie shouted, pointing up at the office on the second floor of the warehouse. It was where ponies went when they needed a moment away from the abrasive noise and lights or if they just wanted a safer place to use whatever they bought from Vinyl.

Vinyl gave her a quick thumbs up and pushed her way back through the crowd. Pinkie turned back towards the D.J.’s booth and started moving to the beat like the rest of the crowd was. After a few minutes Pinkie spotted an attractive stallion a few yards to her left looking at her, clearly interested. Pinkie smiled at the stallion and winked. She then turned away from him and started walking towards the stairs that led up to the box, knowing he’d follow her. Pinkie took a quick look behind her as she reached the stairs, just to be sure and was happy to see the stallion not far behind her.

Another notch on the bed post, Pinkie thought to herself as she made her way up the stairs. Pinkie stopped near the top of the stairs, thinking about what she was planning. What if he gets attached? He’s just gonna get hurt when I… Pinkie froze, not even noticing when the stallion she had led this far was behind her.

“We gonna go in?” the stallion asked, startling Pinkie.

Pinkie racked her brain to come up with an escape plan. “Oh… uh… sorry, I was just coming up here to meet a friend,” she said, hoping the stallion didn’t try to get aggressive with her.

The stallion blushed as his face went blank. “Oh… crap. Really thought we were…” the stallion trailed off. “Never mind. No big deal,” he said as he started back down the stairs, still blushing and Pinkie even thought she saw him sweating. Pinkie felt kind of bad for the stallion, but she wasn't feeling like herself.

“I just need some quiet,” she said to herself as she opened the door to the box. The room inside was darkened and the windows overlooking the rest of the club were blacked out. The office it had previously been was soundproofed so the warehouse manager could get their work done with little distraction from the workers below. After the warehouse had been converted into an unofficial night club, the room had been redecorated with a few tables and a couch that wrapped around the room. A mare and a stallion were passed out on the couch near the door and Pinkie saw a crudely wrapped cigarette sitting in an ashtray on the coffee table next to a lighter.

“Well, I guess you two are done with this for now,” Pinkie said to the unconscious pair as she picked up the cigarette and the lighter and sat down a few feet away from the couple. Just as Pinkie lit the lighter, the door to the room opened and Vinyl stepped through with a very empty looking paper bag and looked at Pinkie and the cigarette in her hand.

“Where did you get that?” Vinyl asked, raising an eyebrow as she noticed the couch’s other occupants.

“From them,” Pinkie answered, giving Vinyl a sheepish smiling, knowing Vinyl disapproved of Pinkie getting drugs from an unknown source.

“Well, leave it alone. You have no idea what’s in that,” Vinyl told her plopping down on the couch next to Pinkie and taking the cigarette from her and putting it back in the ash tray. “I swear if I didn’t keep an eye on you, you’d have gotten killed by some nasty shit by now.”

“Oh, one cigarette isn't going to kill me,” Pinkie said, her smile faltering as her thoughts returned to her hospital visit earlier that day.

Vinyl looked at her friend, who was being unusually quiet, compared to the rambunctious party pony she knew. “You okay, Pinkie?” she asked, catching Pinkie’s attention. “You seem a little off.”

Pinkie shook her head and smiled. “I’m fine, just,” Pinkie racked her brain for an excuse. “Thinking about some stuff Cadence and me talked about at my probation meeting,” Pinkie said. “She’s still harping at me to get a job and I’m thinkin it might not be such a bad idea,” she explained. Vinyl nodded her head in agreement. “So,” Pinkie began in an effort to change the subject,” what do ya think of the D.J.?” she asked, knowing Vinyl loved to talk about music. Vinyl used to be a D.J. for a while before her debts to her own dealer piled up and she had to sell her set to pay him back.

“He’s okay, I guess. Relies way too much on the bass though. Needs more wubs,” Vinyl said as she thought about the music outside the room.

Pinkie smiled as she had an idea. “Why don’t you go show him a thing or two?” Pinkie suggested.

Vinyl laughed at the thought. “No way. I haven’t touched a set since like a year ago. Besides, it’d be rude to try and upstage the guy. He’s not bad, he’s just not amazing,” Vinyl argued. “Besides I don’t even have a mix to play.”

Pinkie blew a raspberry at Vinyl. “You don’t have to shove him off the stage, just ask him if you can take a crack at it,” Pinkie said smiling as Vinyl gave her a thoughtful look.

“I suppose it couldn’t hurt to ask,” Vinyl said, standing up. “Alright I’ll give it a shot. Mind looking after this for me?” she asked tossing Pinkie the nearly empty paper bag.

Pinkie caught the bag and grinned at her friend. “Sure thing, now go put on a show for those party ponies!” Pinkie cheered.

“I’ll do the best a I can,” Vinyl said as she opened the door and left.

Once the door was closed Pinkie leaned back in her seat and looked at the bag she was holding. It was light, but she could feel a small weight in it. “What do you have here Vinyl?” Pinkie asked herself as she opened the bag and saw a syringe full of a bright blue substance. “Oh, pretty color,” Pinkie said as she pulled the syringe out of the bag.

“Wonder what it does,” she mused as she set the syringe down on the table and started taking one of her shoes off. Pinkie then removed her sock and picked up the syringe. Pinkie placed the needle between her big toe and the one next to it and pushed the needle in. She hissed in discomfort as the needle dug into her flesh. Once she was sure it was in, she pushed down a little on the plunger and watched the liquid inside drain into her. Pinkie stopped about halfway through and removed the needle from her foot. She then set the syringe back on the table and relaxed back into her seat and waited for the substance to take effect.

At first, it seemed like nothing was happening, but after a few minutes Pinkie could hear a dull thumping. What is that noise? she thought as she sat forward and looked around the room. Pinkie concentrated on the sound and listened as it became more and more distinct until she recognized it as the music outside the room. “Thought this place was sound proofed,” Pinkie said to herself, perplexed.

“Oh come on, just one mix!” Vinyl’s voice complained as though she were standing in the room with Pinkie.

“No way! This is my show and I ain't sharing the spotlight, now beat it!” a stallion’s voice shouted over the music.

“Whatever,” Vinyl mumbled.

Pinkie’s scanned the room, trying to figure out where she was hearing Vinyl from. “This is a weird high,” she said to herself as she heard a soft thunking noise getting closer. Pinkie looked at the door a moment before Vinyl reentered the room, looking annoyed and let down.

“So that was a bust,” Vinyl said, her voice sounding as though she were shouting.

“Whoa!” Pinkie yelled clamping her hands over her ears. “Keep it down, those two are trying to sleep,” Pinkie told Vinyl tipping her head at the couple still sitting asleep on the couch.

Vinyl looked bewildered at Pinkie. “I wasn't yelling,” she said, her volume dying down as she spoke. “You sure you’re feeling okay?” Vinyl asked as she stepped towards Pinkie and stopped, her jaw hanging open as she stared at the table in front of Pinkie.

Pinkie looked at what Vinyl saw and gulped. She had forgotten to put the syringe back in the bag. “Oh. probably should have put that back,” she said, a guilty smile on her lips.

“You shouldn't have messed with it in the first place! Do you even know what that was?!” Vinyl shouted. Pinkie looked at the ground, knowing she could have cost her friend a small fortune depending on what the drug was.

“Sorry if it was expensive. I was just bored and it was there,” Pinkie apologized. She then started to notice a faint clicking sound, like someone was messing with a gun. The sound faded as Pinkie drew her attention back to Vinyl. “So what was it anyway?” Pinkie asked, wondering what the drug was supposed to do.

Vinyl sat next to Pinkie and put her face in her hands. “I don’t even know,” she admitted. “It’s some new shit the Apples are trying to market and I was supposed to give it to somepony to test,” she explained.

Pinkie smiled at her friend. “Well, guess I’m the guinea pig. So any idea what it’s supposed to do?” she asked.

Vinyl shrugged. “Not really. Do you feel any different?” Vinyl asked, more concerned than curious.

Pinkie thought for a moment, recalling how loud everything had been a moment ago. “Well I could hear everything going on in the warehouse a minute ago, but the noise has died down since then,” Pinkie said as she closed her eyes and concentrated on the faint sound of the music outside the room.

Vinyl arched an eyebrow. “So it just improved your hearing? Weird. I kinda thought it’d be something more like what I usually sell, but more hardcore,” Vinyl said as she leaned back on the couch.

Pinkie was about to make a joke when she heard the same clicking noise as before. “What is that?” she asked out loud, trying to pinpoint where the noise was coming from.

“What’s what?” Vinyl asked as Pinkie stood up and walked to the door. Curious, Vinyl followed her.

The noise seemed to be coming from the direction of the entrance to the warehouse. Pinkie opened the door and looked towards the entrance. Just as she peeked out the large bay doors opened wide enough for three or four ponies to fit through and eight stallions dressed in black walked in a few at a time, carrying the biggest guns Pinkie had ever seen.

“Who the hell are they?” Vinyl asked in shock, looking over Pinkie’s shoulder. Pinkie stared in shock as the lead stallion aimed his weapon at the oblivious crowd in front of him.

“No survivors,” Pinkie heard him say as he opened fire. His gun sprayed bullets into the crowd and his companions soon joined in. The sound of gunfire drowned out the music and the ponies in the crowd started panicking as they tried to get away from the stallions. Unfortunately, there wasn’t any place to hide on the dance floor.

Pinkie and Vinyl watched in horror as the lead stallion smiled as he killed the party goers. “Pinkie we gotta get outta here,” Vinyl hissed into Pinkie’s ear.

Pinkie still couldn't move though. The shock of what she was seeing kept her rooted in place. She stared at the gleeful stallion as he scanned the rest of the warehouse, stopping when he was looking right at Pinkie and Vinyl in the doorway. The stallion chuckled as he pointed his gun at them and pulled the trigger.

Pinkie watched the flash of the gun and the world around her seemed to slow down. Pinkie pushed on the door frame, launching herself and Vinyl backwards as the bullets got closer. Pinkie shoved the door closed and everything seemed to be moving normally again. “That was close. Okay, yeah let’s get outta here,” Pinkie said turning to Vinyl, who was holding her hand over her stomach.

“Pinkie… I don’t… I don’t feel so good,” Vinyl said as she slumped to the floor. Pinkie caught her mid fall and held her by her waist. As soon as Pinkie’s hand touched the spot Vinyl had been holding she felt something wet and held her hand up to see what she had touched.

Pinkie stared at her blood covered hand and then at Vinyl’s stomach where she could see a red spot growing larger on her shirt. “Oh shit,” Pinkie gasped as Vinyl stumbled. Pinkie sat her down on the couch and started looking for something to put pressure on the wound when she heard a metallic thunking noise. Pinkie looked at the door recognizing the sound as someone coming up the stairs.

“Not too many places tah hide up there,” a voice mumbled as the footsteps continued towards the door.

Pinkie started to panic as she tried to figure out what she should do. After what seemed like a minute Pinkie picked up Vinyl and put the woozy mare on her back and finding her friend surprisingly light. Pinkie then walked over to the door and waited. The footsteps outside stopped at the door and Pinkie watched the knob turn.

As soon as the door swung open Pinkie launched herself at the stallion standing on the other side, surprising him and knocking him against the wall with a grunt. Without stopping Pinkie started running down the stairs. However the other armed stallions quickly saw her and aimed their weapons at her.

As they squeezed their triggers the world slowed down around Pinkie and she could see the bullets as they traveled through the air. Pinkie didn’t understand what was happening, but she pushed it to the back of her mind as she weaved through the bullets and ran to the open bay doors. She heard the stallions shouting at each other as she left the warehouse and ran outside into the cover of darkness.

As she ran Pinkie noticed a white mare leaning against a black SUV, looking at her like she had two heads. Pinkie ignored the confused by stander and continued running. Pinkie had no idea where she should go until she saw a ditch just off the side of the road near the warehouse. Pinkie ran to the edge and slid on her knees to the bottom, hoping they wouldn't be found.

Taking a moment to breath Pinkie lowered Vinyl onto the ground, careful not to hurt her friend, and gasped when she saw how pale her friend was. Pinkie could feel that her own shirt was blood soaked with blood where Vinyl’s wound had been and she pressed down on the wound hoping to stop the bleeding.

“Pinkie, you gettin tired. I am,” Vinyl said her words slurring like she’d had too much to drink.

Pinkie felt tears in her eyes as she tried to help Vinyl. “You gotta stay awake Vinyl. We can’t sleep right now. Keep your eyes open,” Pinkie said, choking back a sob as Vinyl’s breathing became shallow and her eyes slowly closed.

“You can stay up,” Vinyl said, her breaths becoming more labored as she spoke. “But I got stuff to do tomorrah,” Vinyl said as her eyes finally shut.

Pinkie’s brain stopped as she tried to understand what had happened. “Vinyl?” Pinkie asked, patting her friends face, trying to wake her up. “Vinyl, wake up,” Pinkie said tears streaming down her face. “Vinyl!” Pinkie shouted shaking the mare on the ground.

When nothing happened Pinkie held her shaking hands to her face and cried, completely ignoring the sound of footsteps behind her.

“I’m so sorry,” a mare’s voice said as Pinkie felt a sharp pain in the back of her head and the world faded to black.

////////////////////////////////

Rarity stared at the young mare lying unconscious in the ditch as Braeburn and his men arrived. “They dead?” Braeburn asked, joining Rarity at the bottom of the ditch while the others waited above.

“The unicorn is,” Rarity said, her eyes not leaving the mare she had just knocked out. I can’t let them kill her. She’s been through so much. She doesn't deserve this, Rarity thought as Braeburn squatted next to the pink mare.

“Well tha's jus fine with me,” he said as he pulled a pistol out of his jacket.

“Wait!” Rarity shouted. Braeburn looked at her shocked. Rarity looked at the mare, hoping an idea would come to her. “How did she get passed you?” she asked, stalling for time.

Braeburn looked at the mare on the ground, looking at her curiously. “She just ran right by us. We couldn't hit her,” he said, holstering his gun.

Rarity was shocked at the answer, but decided to use it to her advantage. “That’s a bit strange don’t you think?” she inquired.

Braeburn was silent for a moment, before he reached into his jacket pocket. “Yes it is. Specially since Ah found this where they were hidin,” he said, showing Rarity the half full syringe.

Rarity stared at the object for a moment. “Well that must be what it does then. It makes the user faster,” Rarity said, hardly believing herself.

Braeburn looked less sure. “Could be. Either way, Granny’ll wanna know about this,” he said, putting the syringe back in his pocket. Braeburn started walking back up to the top of the ditch. “Load the one that’s alive into mah truck,” he said to one of his men.

“What about the warehouse sir?” one of the stallion’s asked.

Braeburn looked at the building for a moment. “Burn it down. Make sure ya git the unicorn in there before ya do,” he said nonchalantly.

Rarity tried her hardest not to think about what was in the building the stallions were about to destroy and instead concentrated on the young mare she had just saved. As two of the stallions came down into the ditch and picked the mare up, Rarity simply looked at the unicorn still lying there. Another stallion picked the unicorn up around the waist and carried her back to the warehouse.

“I’m so sorry,” Rarity said to herself as a tear rolled down her cheek.

Author's Note

So it's only been, what, Half a year since I last updated this story? Hurrah for Progress! Am I right?

Yeah so sorry for the long wait, but I think it'll be worth it for those few of you reading this one.

Just gonna say now the bit with Pinkie actually taking the drug was difficult to write. I don't like needles. That's just a fear of mine. Don't mistake this as me being Anti Vaccine though. I'm all for Vaccines, but I'd just prefer to get mine from a spray or whatever rather than letting a stranger stab me.

Also the drug itself is a Captain America and Breaking Bad reference rolled into one. You ask me, that's how references like this should be done. Subtlety is the key.

Really don't have much else to say, so I'll go ahead and wrap this up.

Round of applause please for Spideremblembrony for proofreading and helping me adjust the story where it was necessary. Also shame on him fr adding to the needle scene in a way that made me cringe. If you guys haven't already, go check out his stories and also his story reviews. The guy really knows his stuff, ya might learn something.

Thanks for reading and as always, Stay Tuned.