Into the Cupcake Cellarby RactrinChaptersSection 1: Remembering the Rainbow FactorySection 2: A Report to Princess LunaSection 3: Into the Cupcake CellarPrologue: CupcakesSection 1: Remembering the Rainbow FactoryPrincess Luna stood on the balcony that looked over Equestria from atop Canterlot Castle. Her vision danced across the calm and soothing plains lit by her moon’s light. “It is a beautiful night tonight, sister.” Celestia said stepping out onto the balcony. “Thank you, Tia. I tried hard this night. It’s been ten years since the Rainbow Factory was destroyed.” Luna said, looking up at her sister who was now standing next to her. Celestia’s gaze wondered to Cloudsdale. The city had grown some in the last few years, especially with the Rainbow Factory’s tyrannical rule over the city lifted. “Has it been so long?” Celestia sighed. “It has.” Luna looked back out across the nation. “Have you spoken with him any?” Without looking at her sister, Celestia let a small frown don her lips. “I have not. He has been…busy.” Celestia looked away, causing Luna to look at her curiously. “Are you alright ‘Tia?” Luna asked, putting a hoof on her sister’s shoulder. “You haven’t been the same these past few years.” Celestia looked at her younger sibling, tears rolling down her cheeks. “I still mourn the ones lost in Cloudsdale, Luna. I feel as if there was something I should have been able to do!” Luna reached around her older sister and embraced her caringly. “It was not your fault, or mine. We were unaware of-” “It was all because I sent you to the moon, Lulu.” Celestia began to weep, sadness and despair running down her snout and onto her sister’s dark blue coat. “It was a necessary deed, Celestia.” Luna tightened her embrace, attempting to increase the comfort of her hug. “I was not myself. It was the only way to keep these lands safe from me, just like when we had to stop Discord.” “Luna, those thousand years were the most lonely years I have ever experienced. I’m so glad you’re here. I do not think I could have handled that travesty a decade ago by myself.” the two sisters separated and looked at each other lovingly. “Everything will be fine now, Tia. The factory is long gone, Discord no longer poses a threat, and I am no longer wrongfully angry at our subjects’ night time slumber.” Luna smiled as she hovered a small towel over to herself and dried her shoulder. “Unfortunately there is but another matter, one of which I’ve withheld from you, Luna.” Celestia looked away, her vision caressing the grassy plains of Equestria as if searching for hope. The mare of the night hovered the towel over to her sister’s cheeks and dried them as well. “And what matter is this?” Luna asked as she made sure to put the cloth on a nearby table for a maid to collect later. Celestia’s ocular orbs, glowing in the moon’s ambient light, looked upon the nearby village in the valley. “Ponies in Ponyville are going missing.” Celestia said, her emotion unchanging. Luna looked at the nearby town with great concern. “Thus far none have been a Bearer, but I can only fear that it isn’t long before one is targeted.” “Is there any idea who is behind any of this?” Luna asked. “No. I’ve had my guards patrol the town sparingly. I hope to not scare away whoever might be doing this.” Luna’s ears flopped down as she looked upon the city. “Is Equestria ever to experience peace?” she asked to no one in particular. “It would seem there is always somepony in search of disrupting our tranquility.” Celestia responded. “I must rest, dear sister.” a disheartened sigh came from Celestia’s lips. “Of course, Tia. I will continue to guard the night.” “Good night.” Celestia said as she walked back into the tower. “Good night.” Luna responded. She looked up at her bright moon, sadness caressing her soul. Who could be doing this? Why are they doing this? She hoped to know soon. Rainbow Dash flew high above Ponyville, passing through clouds with vigorous punches. She wasn’t clearing the weather for work today, she was trying to keep in shape. Her forty year old body was beginning to show signs of age, and she was trying to beat it. She pushed her wings as hard as she could with her fore-hooves pushed out in front of her. She pushed through a couple of clouds and then headed outside of Ponyville as fast as she could. She narrowed her eyes as her momentum increased. She had to do it again; she had to make sure she could still do it at all. A cone began to curve in around her. It’s gray crust almost fully engulfing her as she pushed as hard as she could. Her wings strained, her body ached, but she ignored it. The barrier broke and a rush of relief flew over Rainbow Dash as a Sonic Rain-boom erupted from the point in which she had torn through. She circled around to look at the rings of rainbows expanding outwards. With a smile she flew over to a nearby cloud and landed, her breathing heavy. A low poof was heard behind her and she looked over her shoulder. An orange pegasus with a purple mane and tail had landed there. She was dressed in a Wonderbolt outfit that Rainbow Dash was used to seeing on Spitfire. “So you did become captain after all huh?” Rainbow Dash asked. “Yeah I did.” Scootaloo said as she walked over and sat next to her adopted sister. “I’m surprised you came and found me.” Rainbow’s eyes didn’t look at her sister at all, instead she chose to watch the last moments of her Sonic Rain-boom fade into nothing. “It wasn’t hard Rainbow Dash. You always do your monthly Sonic Rain-boom here.” “I’m getting older squirt, gotta stay limber.” Rainbow couldn’t take it anymore, she looked over at the scarred mare. A scar on her cheek, one across her eye brow, another on her snout. They were all Rainbow Dash’s fault. “Why did you come here?” “I wanted to see you. Today’s the ten yea-” Scootaloo was cut off by Rainbow holding up a hoof in her direction. “I KNOW what day it is Scootaloo, and I DON’T want to talk about it.” Rainbow Dash said, attempting to hold back tears. “I just wanted to tell you, I forgave you for all of that a long time ago.” Scootaloo watched as the strong, stable mare she held up on a pedestal, fell and broke on the cloud they sat on. Rainbow Dash fell face first and became that of a child, weeping on the puffy surface. “It’s been five years since we last talked to one another, Rainbow. Please stop crying.” Scootaloo’s Wonderbolt training had hardened her, and if she was sympathetic any at all for Rainbow Dash; she didn’t show it. “Your right, I’m sorry.” Rainbow said sitting up a little and wiping her face with the backs of her hooves. “I…I just still feel so guilty for what I did to you.” she looked up at the hardened orange mare. “As I said, I forgave you-” “STOP ACTING LIKE THAT!” Rainbow shouted, sitting up abruptly. Her shout took Scootaloo of guard. “Like what?” “Like Spitfire. She’s the reason why I never fully joined the Wonderbolts.” Scootaloo’s rigid stance softened and she allowed a smile to don her face. Rainbow smiled as well and the two came together in a hug. Scootaloo’s smile had let Rainbow know that her little filly sister was still in there. “I missed you, Scootaloo. You were at the Wonderbolt academy forever. Did you have fun? Were you a wing pony? Was Lightning Dust there? Why’d they make you captain so fast?” she asked as she sat back and messed with the awards pinned to Scootaloo’s collared shirt. “I know it’s hard for you, Rainbow, but slow down so I can answer.” Scootaloo said through a giggle. “Of course I had fun. I was actually made a lead pony, unlike you.” Scootaloo beamed with pride as Rainbow huffed. “Lighting Dust actually oversees the obstacle course, and I was made captain because Spitfire retired.” “Wait…what!?” Rainbow’s jaw hit the cloud. “Yeah, she’s almost fifty five, her mane is totally gray. She decided to take a job with the Canterlot Military.” Scootaloo smiled as Rainbow shook her head. “Wow, time really has flown by hasn’t it?” She asked, looking away from Scootaloo. “Yeah it has. I’m in my thirties.” “Kid, you’re getting old.” Rainbow said as she reached over and gave her younger sister a rough rub on the head. With a childish laugh Scootaloo pushed her sister away and straightened her mane. “Least my hair’s still purple. I can see plenty of places where your hair’s lost its color.” Rainbow just glared at the smiling Scootaloo. A little later that day after the two had many conversations, they sat looking over Ponyville, remembering. “What are you doing today?” Scootaloo finally asked. “Well, after a little party over at Pinkie Pie’s I’m going with Twilight to A.K. Yearling’s release of her last Daring-Do book.” “Her last?” Scootaloo asked, looking at Rainbow Dash a little concerned. “Yeah, looks like I’m gonna havta find something else to read.” Rainbow sighed. “I’m sure Twilight will find something.” “I guess so.” “So the party at Pinkie Pie’s…who’s all gonna be there?” Scootaloo asked, her vision resuming its stare across the plains of Equestria. “Just me and her.” Rainbow responded flatly as she poked at a portion of the cloud they were on with her hoof. “Oh? That’s kind of weird that she’d only throw a party for you and her.” Rainbow Dash sat up and walked to the edge of the cloud. She gazed down into Ponyville and looked at Sugar Cube Corner. “I know, but she said that it was a celebration for me being resurrected ten years ago. She knows that I hate talking about that day, so she wanted to keep it down low and between just us.” Rainbow said. “Do you want me to come?” Scootaloo asked, looking at her sister. “Nah. She only wanted me to go so I don’t want to upset her by bringing anypony else. Thanks though squirt.” Rainbow Dash spoke dismissively. “I gotta go though, the book release is in two or three hours and I don’t know how long Pinkie’s party is going to last.” “Okay.” Scootaloo said as she stood up. “It was good to see you again, sis.” “You too.” Rainbow Dash turned and hugged Scootaloo. “See yah later kiddo.” Rainbow took off from the cloud in a back flip, leaving the orange mare sitting there shaking her head. Rainbow spun around to where she was upright and flew down into Ponyville. She flew low, but not so low that she would either hit a pony with her hooves or accidentally fly into one of the shops’ signs. Carefully she glided onto Sugar Cube corner’s street and looked at the cake-like building. Its welcoming decorations of ice cream and cake frosting almost made Rainbow hungry on the spot. She licked her lips in anticipation for what Pinkie had in store for her. Without any further hesitation she skipped up the steps and went inside the shop. Mr. and Mrs. Cake were just closing up the shop. They were leaving early to visit Pumpkin Cake in Canterlot. “Oh, Rainbow Dash.” Mrs. Cake said, seeing Rainbow at the door. “Pinkie Pie is in the kitchen finishing up your cupcakes. She told me to make sure you stay in here until they’re ready. If you like, you can have a seat at one of the tables.” “Thanks Mrs. Cake.” Rainbow said as she sat next to one of the tables strewn about the store. She put one of her fore-hooves on the table and clopped it impatiently. She hated waiting, but she knew that if Pinkie was making a cupcake, and it was taking a while, it was going to be great! A couple of minutes passed and the Cakes waved goodbye to Rainbow as they left. She returned the wave lazily as she continued to watch the clock on the wall. A subtle smell of baked goods could be sensed emitting from the kitchen. Rainbow’s ears perked up as a soft whistle seemed to approach the kitchen door. With a soft thud Pinkie Pie pushed through the swinging door and smiled at the rainbow colored mare. “Hey Rainbow Dash.” Pinkie said as she walked out of the kitchen, a batch of freshly baked cupcakes on a stainless steel tray balanced on her back. She trotted up to the counter and slid the steaming pastries onto it. Rainbow had already perked up from hearing her name, but smelling the still warm dough made her dash up to the counter, her tongue hanging out and drooling. “Pinkie Pie, these cupcakes smell amazing!” Rainbow Dash complimented as she looked each one of the cyan frosted cupcakes over with great desire. “Well I made them just for you Dashie.” Pinkie said with a cute smile on her face as she watched Rainbow’s draw to the dessert with great love. “I know how much you love my cupcakes and to celebrate today I made them with extra life. Cause, y’know...you were resurrected today, ten years ago.” “Thanks Pinkie. Sometimes I think you care about me too much.” The cyan mare lifted one of the cupcakes in front of her face and smiled at it. She let the aroma of the frosting and sugar enter her nostrils and it made her crave the pastry on her hoof even more. She couldn’t hold back any more. With one swift bite she devoured the whole thing; it’s warm sugary taste enveloping her senses. She smiled wide and licked her lips. “Pinkie Pie, I’ll havta say. These are some…of….the….my head feels funny…” Suddenly the world began to spin and Rainbow stepped away from the counter, stumbling as each hoof step became harder and harder to make. “Wha-….what’s….going…on?” suddenly the world went black and Pinkie smiled as a hollow thump was heard. Rainbow Dash now laid sprawled haphazardly on Sugar Cube Corner’s floor, unconscious. “And now Rainbow Dash, I can have you all to myself.” Pinkie said as her mane deflated into a flat style. She stepped out past the counter and looked upon the pegasus. “We’re going to have so much fun Dashie, I can’t wait!” Section 2: A Report to Princess LunaTwilight watched the horizon looking for Rainbow Dash. The sun was setting and A.K. Yearling was just about to close up her book sale. Twilight knew how much this meant to Rainbow Dash, and Rainbow Dash is never late for anything. She bit her lower lip, and rubbed her arm nervously as a few of the book store’s customers walked by. They waved at her, and waited for her to acknowledge their presence. “Princess Twilight?” One of them said. This caused Twilight to snap out of her sky gazing and look at the three ponies standing before her. She looked down at them and smiled nervously. “I’m sorry, hello.” she said as calmly as she could muster. “Is there something I can do for you?” “Hello, my name is Sleek Dusk and I was wondering if I could get you to sign my Daring Do book too.” A young dark blue pegasus said as he held out the latest Daring Do novel in his mouth. “Well, Sleek Dusk, I‘d be happy to.” Twilight responded as she took the book with her magic. She hovered it over to her as well as a pen from her nearby bag. As the book hovered in front of her, she opened it to the first page and saw A.K. Yearlings signature there. Underneath it she signed “Princess Twilight Sparkle” and hovered the book back over to the excited pegasus. “Thank you so much princess! No one’s gonna believe this!” he exclaimed as him and his friends ran off. She chuckled and looked into the book store. Daring Do sat at a table in the middle of the foyer, donning glasses and a maroon cape to try and hide her identity. “Still no Rainbow Dash.” Twilight thought to herself. “If I had missed her while signing that book she’d definitely be in there talking to Daring…” She turned and walked into the store. A few of the patrons bowed as she passed, Twilight returning them with a nod. Daring Do did the same when she approached her table. “That’s not necessary Yearling.” Twilight said with a smile. “If you say so Princess.” she said as she sat back and signed another book that was presented to her. “Have you seen Rainbow Dash today?” Twilight asked. “No I haven’t. Only you standing out front for hours taking some of my spotlight.” “Oh… I didn’t mean to… I’ve been waiting on Rainbow Dash all day. She said she’d meet me here so that she could be at your last book’s release.” “Well, I know Rainbow Dash is one of my biggest fans… here…” Daring reached behind her and pulled out a copy of her book and put it on the desk. She opened the it to the front page and signed it and then subsequently closed it and held the book out on one of her hooves. “For her, since she couldn’t be here.” “Wow, thank you Yearling, this will mean a lot to her.” Twilight said taking the book and placing it in one of her bags. “Not a problem. After all, you and your ‘Court of Friendship’ have been helpful on a few of my journeys. It’s the least I can do. Do you have one for me to sign as well?” Twilight looked over at the line of ponies that were still waiting for their books to be signed. “N-not right now… you still have a bunch of other ponies waiting-” Daring Do held up her hoof. “They can wait for you Princess.” she said with a wry smile. “Okay.” Twilight pulled her copy of the book and hovered it over to Daring. She signed it and Twilight took it back. “Thank you.” “No, thank you Princess. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a few more books I need to sign before the store closes.” “Of course.” Twilight did a slight bow and left the store. As she stepped back out into Canterlot’s streets she stared up at the sky thinking, “Where are you Rainbow Dash?” Rainbow Dash awoke to her head pounding and her mouth dry. She went to move her hoof to her head in order to stop the throbbing but she couldn’t move her arms. She looked over at her left hoof and noticed it was strapped down to whatever she was laying on. Rainbow looked over to her other hoof and saw the same thing. She tried to move her hind legs but they were strapped down as well. She flipped her tail, it was still free but that wouldn’t do her any good. She tried to flap a wing but found them to be immobilized as well. A quick look around proved useless as a bright light was above her and it prevented her from being able to see the rest of the dark and cold area. “Hello?” Rainbow asked with a sense of fear in her voice. “Pinkie?” she called out again. The table that she was laying on jerked and she began to tilt vertically, the table coming to a stop with her at a seventy degree angle or so. The light above her was somewhat behind her head now so as her eyes adjusted she was beginning to be able to see the dark musty room. As soon as her eyes adjusted properly her jaw dropped and a loud gasp escaped her throat. Twilight flew over to Rainbow Dash’s home and landed on her cloud porch. She knocked on the door and waited for a moment. The silence that emanated from Rainbow’s house was sickening. It was never this quiet, least never when Twilight was over. And she was only over when Rainbow was here. “Rainbow Dash!?” Twilight yelled up at the open window. Nothing inside the house stirred. She flew up to the windows that lead to Rainbow’s bedroom and saw that it was as messy as usual. The bed wasn’t made neat and some of her work-out clothes laid around on the floor. Twilight rolled her eyes as she flew in and looked around. “Rainbow Dash! I brought you a book signed by Daring do!” she called out again as she walked out into the living room. As she looked around she noticed that nothing was unusual. Everything indicated that Rainbow had left home expecting to return. She sat the book on the living room table and left out Rainbow’s bedroom window again. As she flew she could only think of one other place she’d be, Sugar Cube Corner. Rainbow had told Twilight that she was visiting Pinkie Pie for a personal party just before she came to the book signing. So maybe Pinkie Pie would know where Rainbow was. Twilight cupped her wings as she softly landed in front of the store. Night had fallen so the store’s porch light barely illuminated the closed sign. She peered through the door and could see Pinkie moving around the store, cleaning the floor. Twilight gently tapped on the glass to get her attention. With a jolt, Pinkie looked at the door and waved happily. She opened the door and in her usual chipper way said, “Hi twilight, what are you doing here so late?” “I’m looking for Rainbow Dash. She didn’t show up for Daring Do’s last book release and she had said this is where she was going before that. Have you seen her?” Twilight responded. Pinkie Pie shrugged. “She left here a few hours ago, saying she really wanted to make it to the book party thingy. Which doesn’t surprise me, since the party we had was kind of sad.” “Sad? Why?” Twilight asked, cocking her head in confusion. “The party was for her tenth year anniversary of being resurrected… but don’t tell her I told you.” Pinkie said, covering a side of her mouth with her hoof. “Ressurec-? oh yeah, the Rainbow Factory… She never talks about that…” Twilight said as her ears flopped down “I know, that’s why it’s a secret.” Pinkie said smiling. “Well, if you see her, please let me know. I’m going to go back to Canterlot and see if maybe she visited Princess Celestia or Luna for some reason.” “Okay, have fun.” Pinkie said as she waved. Twilight turned and flew away. “Gah, I thought that bitch would never leave.” Pinkie said as she turned back into the store. “Now to have fun with my new toy, I bet she’s awake by now.” Twilight Sparkle landed on the balcony outside the throne room and yawned. It was nearly midnight and she hadn’t slept any. Her wings were sore from flying back and forth between Canterlot and Ponyville. She rubbed one of her wing’s elbows against her ribs to try and massage it. Careful to not make to much noise, she opened the doors to the throne room and walked in, hoping to find Princess Luna inside. Once inside she found her hopes correct, Luna sat on her throne, flipping through papers from the previous day. Twilight slowly galloped up to her throne and bowed. “Princess Luna.” she said. “Princess Twilight, what are you doing here at this hour?” Luna asked, setting the papers aside. “I’ve been looking for Rainbow Dash all evening. She didn’t happen to come here for anything did she?” Twilight said, looking up at the nighttime ruler. “No of course not. What makes you believe she came here?” Luna asked slightly confused. “Well, She’s not at home, she’s not at Sugar Cube Corner, and she didn’t show up at the book store. So… I have no idea where she is…” Twilight said with a slightly worried shrug. Luna stood up, remembering what Celestia had told her the night before about disappearances. In fact, the papers she had just sat aside were missing pony reports from the Ponyville Guard. The thought of Rainbow Dash possibly being the next disappearance caused a lump to form in Luna’s throat. However, she did not show her concern and let a smile cross her face. “Dear Princess Twilight, do not worry yourself over this. Rainbow Dash performed her usual Sonic Rain-boom this afternoon, mayhap she fell asleep on a cloud on the way to the store. I’ll search for anypony dreaming. Now go and rest in your room here in the castle. You seem very tired dear one.” Luna gestured to the doors leading deeper into the castle. Twilight looked over her shoulder at the doors in question and looked back at Luna with very heavy eyes. “Thank you, Luna. I am tiered… please… if you find her, let me know.” Twilight said as she walked towards the exit. “Sleep well young one. And worry not of Rainbow Dash, I will find her.” Luna said as she watched Twilight leave. Once the doors were shut, she turned to the balcony and walked out to it. She closed her eyes and her horn lit. Her eyes opened up, glowing bright white. “Where are you Rainbow?” Luna whispered under her breath as she began sending out her dream-walker spell upon Ponyville and Canterlot. Section 3: Into the Cupcake CellarRainbow Dash’s breathing was erratic. All she could see was crimson in every direction. One wall “Life’s a Party” was written out in coagulated blood that seemed to have been there for months. A table sat nearby that had odd looking party hats on it. The closer Rainbow looked at them, the less she had as she realized they were severed unicorn horns with intestines as the string to hold the hat to one’s head. Her stomach gurgled as the stench of rotting flesh entered her nostrils. Then, she saw it, pony skulls lining the wall across from her. Blood still dripped from some of them as maggots crawled on a the older looking ones. Rainbow blinked… nothing changed. she squinted her eyes, pressing them really hard and then opened them, nothing changed. Gore and death weighed on her like dirt in a grave. “Oh goodie, you ARE awake.” Pinkie said as she trotted into the room, humming a chipper toon. She walked over to a cart near the door and started pushing it over to Rainbow Dash. “P-Pinkie, what’s going on… I can’t move…” Rainbow Dash stuttered, her eyes watching the rolling cart. “Of course not silly, you’re tied down.” Pinkie responded as she smiled up at Rainbow. Dash looked Pinkie Pie in the eyes and gulped. “Heh, Pinkie… this isn‘t the kind of party I was wanting... You know I‘m not gay right.” Rainbow tried to smile, but her nervousness was hardly hidden. Her statement cause Pinkie to raise an eyebrow. “Of course I know you’re not gay, this has nothing to do with sex… sheesh, such a dirty mind Dashie.” she flipped the cover off of the cart, exposing various knives and saws, all of which appeared recently cleaned. “Then what… what’s going on?” Rainbow’s heart felt like it was going to pound out of her chest. She wasn’t a physician, but the tools on Pinkie’s cart looked like ones used in surgery. Pinkie took one of the knives in her hoof and ran her other hoof across the blade. As she did so, her hair began to deflate into a sickly straight style. A grin grew across her face as she looked at Rainbow Dash, her eyes glowing red. “We’re making cupcakes.” she said, as chipper as she always did, despite her appearance. “Cupcakes?” Rainbow asked, her breathing heavy and her heart pounding. “But you already made cupcakes for me.” she swallowed hard, her mouth becoming very dry. Pinkie’s eyes returned to normal as she leaned in close to Rainbow’s stomach. She ran her hoof through Rainbow’s fur and smiled. “Of course I did. I wanted you to enjoy something just from me.” she pushed off and looked Rainbow Dash over. “However, Dashie, I need a special ingredient for these cupcakes I want to make.” “You… do? What? Please don’t tell me it’s like… my shit or something…” Rainbow Dash’s already churning stomach didn’t react well to that thought. “Of course not, silly. I always find other uses for the intestines, always made everything taste funny.” Pinkie seemed to still be sizing Rainbow Dash up, her hoof was under her chin as she seemed to be analyzing her. “Oh that’s goo- wait what!? Then what’s this special ingredient!?” Just as Rainbow Dash had just started to relax, her nervousness returned. “It’s you of course. ALL of you, except your nasty intestines.” With that Pinkie sliced the knife right into Rainbow’s hip. She screamed, and tears began to run down her face. “Pinkie! Stop! That hu- aaaaaAAHAAHHHHH!” Pinkie began to slide the blade in a circle around Rainbow’s cutie mark. She got almost all the way around and stopped. Rainbow Dash’s screams faded to whimpers as blood poured down her leg. Them just as Rainbow was hoping she was done, she put the blade on its side against her leg, and then in one quick swipe cut the rest of it off. Rainbow screamed so loud it reverberated through the room. “Ow Dashie, you don’t have to scream so loud.” Pinkie said as she held up the piece of Rainbow’s hide she had just severed from her hip. “I only wanted this so I could add it to my collection.” As pinkie turned to walk away Rainbow saw that she was wearing a dress. “Why Pinkie? Why the fuck are you doing this? I thought we were friends.” “Oh but we are. Which is why it makes me so happy you’ll be spending your last moments with me.” Pinkie set the circular flesh on the table, making a sickening splat and then turned back to Rainbow. She bounced over, humming another tune, and stopped right next to her other hip. “Pinkie… no… please… no-AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!” Rainbow screamed as Pinkie slid the blade into her flesh once more. Again she made a circle, ripping through muscle and tendons. She sat the blade flat, and made another quick swipe. Rainbow’s agonizing screams melted down into sobbing and whimpering as blood dripped off of her rear hooves onto the floor. With the new flesh in hoof, she walked over to the other piece and held them both up triumphantly. “All dooooone” she said happily. Rainbow’s body shook and quivered as pain was fully enveloping her consciousness. Tears streamed down her cheeks and dripped onto her chest. “What… the fuck Pinkie…” Rainbow managed to mutter. “Now now Dashie, if you keep using language like that I’ll havta cut out your tongue.” she said as she set aside the two cutie mark circles. “You like my dress? I saw you looking at it earlier. Made it myself. Recognize any of the cutie marks? Prolly not… you’re always moving to fast to notice anypony else right?” she picked up another knife and started twisting it on her hoof. “Is this what all of this is about? My selfishness?” Rainbow Asked, picking her head up just enough to beable to look at Pinkie’s dress. On it resided the cutie marks of what Rainbow could only assume were her previous victims. “I promise I’ll be more considerate if you please just stop Pinkie!” “Begging already?” Pinkie asked, looking up at Rainbow unimpressed. “I woulda imagined the best flyer in ALL of Equestria woulda been better than this.” “What? Pinkie… stop hurting me… please…” A clock’s chiming sound echoed through the room, causing Pinkie the roll her eyes. “Okay… since you said please… I’ll leave you alone for the rest of the night.” she let out a yawn and took her dress off, hanging it on a hook next to the exit of the room. Rainbow relaxed as Pinkie Pie left , closing the door with a sickening thud. She felt the clamps around her arms tighten as she felt herself slide down some as she had been holding herself up with her hind legs. Her stomach gurgled, sloshed and then jumped as bile and other stomach contents erupted from her mouth and down her chest. Rainbow’s feeling of pain, mixed with disgust caused her to think about her life up to this point. She thought she had always been one of Pinkie Pie’s best friends. Why was she doing this? Was she still mad about the Rainbow Factory? Celestia had already said that because she had been killed her punishment was served. Did Pinkie think she was supposed to suffer for her actions in that damned factory? She grimaced as she felt excrement escape from her bowels. The rank that surrounded her almost made her puke again. “I guess I really do deserve this.” Rainbow said to herself as she began to sob. “I was just as evil in the factory… I should be dismembered… again…” Rainbow Closed her eyes and cried herself to sleep. Luna’s head turned this way and that as she searched through the dreams of those who were asleep. She has already gone through all of Canterlot’s and was starting on her second time through Ponyville when she came across a very familiar dream. She stepped into the dream and onto clouds that were zipping through the air. “Oh Rainbow Dash, losing to the clouds again are we?” she mumbled amused. She looked across the clouds looking for the cyan pegasus trying to catch up to the white puffs. “NO NO NO! Get the fuck back here you damned clouds!” Luna heard Rainbow yell. She rolled her eyes and began bouncing across them, heading to the back of the mass of clouds where she knew she would find Rainbow. Rainbow Dash waved her hooves frantically at the nearest cloud to her, her wings flapping as fast as they could go. She reached and reached and reached but the cloud just kept staying just out of reach. Luna knew this kind of dream usually occurred when Rainbow Dash was scared or nervous. That thought suddenly made her realize the gravity of this dream. “Rainbow, where are you?” Luna asked. “Huh?” Rainbow asked looking up at her. “Whudd’yah mean where am I? I’m right here… trying to catch this fucking cloud.” “No no, where are you in the real world?” Luna always knew the consequences of this question. Asking a pony where they were in the real world had tendencies of making the pony aware that they’re dreaming and subsequently allow them to control the dream. Needless to say there’s been a few close calls with some sick minded ponies. To Rainbow Dash, this did two things, one kind of expected, and the other not so much so. She raised an eyebrow in confusion at Luna’s question, but her hips began to bleed and she began puking endlessly. She didn’t even seem aware of the fact that either event was taking place as she went back to trying to catch the cloud nearest to her. The gore presented to Luna made her ears drop as she began to realize that Rainbow’s life was most likely in danger. She opened her wings and flew next to Rainbow Dash. “Rainbow Listen to me, you have to tell me where you are… and why are you bleeding?” she pointed at Rainbow’s hips. The pegasus looked at her sides and her eyes shot wide. She looked straight at Luna, her eyes full fear. “Oh shit! She’s going to turn me into cupcakes! Luna you havta help me! She’s going to cut me up and make me into cupcakes!” Rainbow Dash suddenly stopped flying, as blood began to pour out of her eyes and mouth. “Luna help!” “Who Rainbow? Who is going to kill you?” Luna asked desperately as the dream started fading. She felt herself being pulled away from Rainbow who was looking around frantically. “Who Rainbow Dash!? WHO!?” Rainbow looked up at Luna and pointed her hoof at Ponyville below. Luna desperately searched the city as it continued to fade but she couldn’t see anything in particular. “WHO DAMMIT!?” Luna exclaimed, hopelessness beginning to fill her as she felt the dream coming to an end. Rainbow got one final word out as Luna was tossed back onto the balcony. Prologue: Cupcakes“Look at those numbers over their heads!” chuckled Pinkie Pie as she bounced through Ponyville. “I can’t wait to get to hers.” she thought to herself as she bounced past Vinyl Scratch. “But today is special. Today’s number is for a very special pony. I can’t wait! She’ll be so excited to come with me I know she will! This’ll be just as fun for her as it will me hehehehehe.” She left Ponyville and started heading out to the nearby cloud house owned by Rainbow Dash. She bounced up to the mailbox under the house and looked up at it, a large grin on her face. “OH RAINBOW DASH!” she yelled in a cheerful manner. The cyan pegasus poked her head out of a window and waved at the pink pony. “I’ll be right down!” Rainbow yelled as she zipped back into her house. A few moments passed and Rainbow was seen gliding down from her porch. She landed next to Pinkie Pie with a soft clop. “What’s up Pinks?” “Weeeell, it’s been ten years since you were magically resurrectededed by the Princesses. I was wondering if you wanted to come over tomorrow and have some cupcakes I baked especially for you?” Pinkie Pie smiled really big as Rainbow put a hoof to her chin in thought. “I dunno…Twilight was looking forward to us visiting Dar- uh I mean A.K. Yearling’s release party for her new book tomorrow evening.” “That’s fine, this party’s just between you and me anyway. I’m sure it wouldn’t last toooo long.” Pinkie grinned in anticipation. “A party just for you and me?” Rainbow raised an eyebrow. “Yeah, silly filly, I know you don’t like talking about the Rainbow Factory very much so I figured we’d celebrate between just us. You know…keep it quiet.” she reached around Rainbow as she spoke and whispered the last words in her ear. “Yeah, I appreciate that Pinkie Pie. I guess I can swing by tomorrow after my morning flight. You know me, I always gotta keep my wings limber. We’re not the teenage mares we once were.” Rainbow flexed her right wing, making the muscles in it bulge as she did so. Pinkie watched them enthusiastically. “Awesome. I know you’ll love tomorrow’s party. It’ll be to die for.” she said cheerfully as she turned to leave. “I’ll see you tomorrow Dashie.” “Later Pinks.” they waved goodbye and Pinkie hopped away cheerfully humming.
Section 1: Remembering the Rainbow FactoryPrincess Luna stood on the balcony that looked over Equestria from atop Canterlot Castle. Her vision danced across the calm and soothing plains lit by her moon’s light. “It is a beautiful night tonight, sister.” Celestia said stepping out onto the balcony. “Thank you, Tia. I tried hard this night. It’s been ten years since the Rainbow Factory was destroyed.” Luna said, looking up at her sister who was now standing next to her. Celestia’s gaze wondered to Cloudsdale. The city had grown some in the last few years, especially with the Rainbow Factory’s tyrannical rule over the city lifted. “Has it been so long?” Celestia sighed. “It has.” Luna looked back out across the nation. “Have you spoken with him any?” Without looking at her sister, Celestia let a small frown don her lips. “I have not. He has been…busy.” Celestia looked away, causing Luna to look at her curiously. “Are you alright ‘Tia?” Luna asked, putting a hoof on her sister’s shoulder. “You haven’t been the same these past few years.” Celestia looked at her younger sibling, tears rolling down her cheeks. “I still mourn the ones lost in Cloudsdale, Luna. I feel as if there was something I should have been able to do!” Luna reached around her older sister and embraced her caringly. “It was not your fault, or mine. We were unaware of-” “It was all because I sent you to the moon, Lulu.” Celestia began to weep, sadness and despair running down her snout and onto her sister’s dark blue coat. “It was a necessary deed, Celestia.” Luna tightened her embrace, attempting to increase the comfort of her hug. “I was not myself. It was the only way to keep these lands safe from me, just like when we had to stop Discord.” “Luna, those thousand years were the most lonely years I have ever experienced. I’m so glad you’re here. I do not think I could have handled that travesty a decade ago by myself.” the two sisters separated and looked at each other lovingly. “Everything will be fine now, Tia. The factory is long gone, Discord no longer poses a threat, and I am no longer wrongfully angry at our subjects’ night time slumber.” Luna smiled as she hovered a small towel over to herself and dried her shoulder. “Unfortunately there is but another matter, one of which I’ve withheld from you, Luna.” Celestia looked away, her vision caressing the grassy plains of Equestria as if searching for hope. The mare of the night hovered the towel over to her sister’s cheeks and dried them as well. “And what matter is this?” Luna asked as she made sure to put the cloth on a nearby table for a maid to collect later. Celestia’s ocular orbs, glowing in the moon’s ambient light, looked upon the nearby village in the valley. “Ponies in Ponyville are going missing.” Celestia said, her emotion unchanging. Luna looked at the nearby town with great concern. “Thus far none have been a Bearer, but I can only fear that it isn’t long before one is targeted.” “Is there any idea who is behind any of this?” Luna asked. “No. I’ve had my guards patrol the town sparingly. I hope to not scare away whoever might be doing this.” Luna’s ears flopped down as she looked upon the city. “Is Equestria ever to experience peace?” she asked to no one in particular. “It would seem there is always somepony in search of disrupting our tranquility.” Celestia responded. “I must rest, dear sister.” a disheartened sigh came from Celestia’s lips. “Of course, Tia. I will continue to guard the night.” “Good night.” Celestia said as she walked back into the tower. “Good night.” Luna responded. She looked up at her bright moon, sadness caressing her soul. Who could be doing this? Why are they doing this? She hoped to know soon. Rainbow Dash flew high above Ponyville, passing through clouds with vigorous punches. She wasn’t clearing the weather for work today, she was trying to keep in shape. Her forty year old body was beginning to show signs of age, and she was trying to beat it. She pushed her wings as hard as she could with her fore-hooves pushed out in front of her. She pushed through a couple of clouds and then headed outside of Ponyville as fast as she could. She narrowed her eyes as her momentum increased. She had to do it again; she had to make sure she could still do it at all. A cone began to curve in around her. It’s gray crust almost fully engulfing her as she pushed as hard as she could. Her wings strained, her body ached, but she ignored it. The barrier broke and a rush of relief flew over Rainbow Dash as a Sonic Rain-boom erupted from the point in which she had torn through. She circled around to look at the rings of rainbows expanding outwards. With a smile she flew over to a nearby cloud and landed, her breathing heavy. A low poof was heard behind her and she looked over her shoulder. An orange pegasus with a purple mane and tail had landed there. She was dressed in a Wonderbolt outfit that Rainbow Dash was used to seeing on Spitfire. “So you did become captain after all huh?” Rainbow Dash asked. “Yeah I did.” Scootaloo said as she walked over and sat next to her adopted sister. “I’m surprised you came and found me.” Rainbow’s eyes didn’t look at her sister at all, instead she chose to watch the last moments of her Sonic Rain-boom fade into nothing. “It wasn’t hard Rainbow Dash. You always do your monthly Sonic Rain-boom here.” “I’m getting older squirt, gotta stay limber.” Rainbow couldn’t take it anymore, she looked over at the scarred mare. A scar on her cheek, one across her eye brow, another on her snout. They were all Rainbow Dash’s fault. “Why did you come here?” “I wanted to see you. Today’s the ten yea-” Scootaloo was cut off by Rainbow holding up a hoof in her direction. “I KNOW what day it is Scootaloo, and I DON’T want to talk about it.” Rainbow Dash said, attempting to hold back tears. “I just wanted to tell you, I forgave you for all of that a long time ago.” Scootaloo watched as the strong, stable mare she held up on a pedestal, fell and broke on the cloud they sat on. Rainbow Dash fell face first and became that of a child, weeping on the puffy surface. “It’s been five years since we last talked to one another, Rainbow. Please stop crying.” Scootaloo’s Wonderbolt training had hardened her, and if she was sympathetic any at all for Rainbow Dash; she didn’t show it. “Your right, I’m sorry.” Rainbow said sitting up a little and wiping her face with the backs of her hooves. “I…I just still feel so guilty for what I did to you.” she looked up at the hardened orange mare. “As I said, I forgave you-” “STOP ACTING LIKE THAT!” Rainbow shouted, sitting up abruptly. Her shout took Scootaloo of guard. “Like what?” “Like Spitfire. She’s the reason why I never fully joined the Wonderbolts.” Scootaloo’s rigid stance softened and she allowed a smile to don her face. Rainbow smiled as well and the two came together in a hug. Scootaloo’s smile had let Rainbow know that her little filly sister was still in there. “I missed you, Scootaloo. You were at the Wonderbolt academy forever. Did you have fun? Were you a wing pony? Was Lightning Dust there? Why’d they make you captain so fast?” she asked as she sat back and messed with the awards pinned to Scootaloo’s collared shirt. “I know it’s hard for you, Rainbow, but slow down so I can answer.” Scootaloo said through a giggle. “Of course I had fun. I was actually made a lead pony, unlike you.” Scootaloo beamed with pride as Rainbow huffed. “Lighting Dust actually oversees the obstacle course, and I was made captain because Spitfire retired.” “Wait…what!?” Rainbow’s jaw hit the cloud. “Yeah, she’s almost fifty five, her mane is totally gray. She decided to take a job with the Canterlot Military.” Scootaloo smiled as Rainbow shook her head. “Wow, time really has flown by hasn’t it?” She asked, looking away from Scootaloo. “Yeah it has. I’m in my thirties.” “Kid, you’re getting old.” Rainbow said as she reached over and gave her younger sister a rough rub on the head. With a childish laugh Scootaloo pushed her sister away and straightened her mane. “Least my hair’s still purple. I can see plenty of places where your hair’s lost its color.” Rainbow just glared at the smiling Scootaloo. A little later that day after the two had many conversations, they sat looking over Ponyville, remembering. “What are you doing today?” Scootaloo finally asked. “Well, after a little party over at Pinkie Pie’s I’m going with Twilight to A.K. Yearling’s release of her last Daring-Do book.” “Her last?” Scootaloo asked, looking at Rainbow Dash a little concerned. “Yeah, looks like I’m gonna havta find something else to read.” Rainbow sighed. “I’m sure Twilight will find something.” “I guess so.” “So the party at Pinkie Pie’s…who’s all gonna be there?” Scootaloo asked, her vision resuming its stare across the plains of Equestria. “Just me and her.” Rainbow responded flatly as she poked at a portion of the cloud they were on with her hoof. “Oh? That’s kind of weird that she’d only throw a party for you and her.” Rainbow Dash sat up and walked to the edge of the cloud. She gazed down into Ponyville and looked at Sugar Cube Corner. “I know, but she said that it was a celebration for me being resurrected ten years ago. She knows that I hate talking about that day, so she wanted to keep it down low and between just us.” Rainbow said. “Do you want me to come?” Scootaloo asked, looking at her sister. “Nah. She only wanted me to go so I don’t want to upset her by bringing anypony else. Thanks though squirt.” Rainbow Dash spoke dismissively. “I gotta go though, the book release is in two or three hours and I don’t know how long Pinkie’s party is going to last.” “Okay.” Scootaloo said as she stood up. “It was good to see you again, sis.” “You too.” Rainbow Dash turned and hugged Scootaloo. “See yah later kiddo.” Rainbow took off from the cloud in a back flip, leaving the orange mare sitting there shaking her head. Rainbow spun around to where she was upright and flew down into Ponyville. She flew low, but not so low that she would either hit a pony with her hooves or accidentally fly into one of the shops’ signs. Carefully she glided onto Sugar Cube corner’s street and looked at the cake-like building. Its welcoming decorations of ice cream and cake frosting almost made Rainbow hungry on the spot. She licked her lips in anticipation for what Pinkie had in store for her. Without any further hesitation she skipped up the steps and went inside the shop. Mr. and Mrs. Cake were just closing up the shop. They were leaving early to visit Pumpkin Cake in Canterlot. “Oh, Rainbow Dash.” Mrs. Cake said, seeing Rainbow at the door. “Pinkie Pie is in the kitchen finishing up your cupcakes. She told me to make sure you stay in here until they’re ready. If you like, you can have a seat at one of the tables.” “Thanks Mrs. Cake.” Rainbow said as she sat next to one of the tables strewn about the store. She put one of her fore-hooves on the table and clopped it impatiently. She hated waiting, but she knew that if Pinkie was making a cupcake, and it was taking a while, it was going to be great! A couple of minutes passed and the Cakes waved goodbye to Rainbow as they left. She returned the wave lazily as she continued to watch the clock on the wall. A subtle smell of baked goods could be sensed emitting from the kitchen. Rainbow’s ears perked up as a soft whistle seemed to approach the kitchen door. With a soft thud Pinkie Pie pushed through the swinging door and smiled at the rainbow colored mare. “Hey Rainbow Dash.” Pinkie said as she walked out of the kitchen, a batch of freshly baked cupcakes on a stainless steel tray balanced on her back. She trotted up to the counter and slid the steaming pastries onto it. Rainbow had already perked up from hearing her name, but smelling the still warm dough made her dash up to the counter, her tongue hanging out and drooling. “Pinkie Pie, these cupcakes smell amazing!” Rainbow Dash complimented as she looked each one of the cyan frosted cupcakes over with great desire. “Well I made them just for you Dashie.” Pinkie said with a cute smile on her face as she watched Rainbow’s draw to the dessert with great love. “I know how much you love my cupcakes and to celebrate today I made them with extra life. Cause, y’know...you were resurrected today, ten years ago.” “Thanks Pinkie. Sometimes I think you care about me too much.” The cyan mare lifted one of the cupcakes in front of her face and smiled at it. She let the aroma of the frosting and sugar enter her nostrils and it made her crave the pastry on her hoof even more. She couldn’t hold back any more. With one swift bite she devoured the whole thing; it’s warm sugary taste enveloping her senses. She smiled wide and licked her lips. “Pinkie Pie, I’ll havta say. These are some…of….the….my head feels funny…” Suddenly the world began to spin and Rainbow stepped away from the counter, stumbling as each hoof step became harder and harder to make. “Wha-….what’s….going…on?” suddenly the world went black and Pinkie smiled as a hollow thump was heard. Rainbow Dash now laid sprawled haphazardly on Sugar Cube Corner’s floor, unconscious. “And now Rainbow Dash, I can have you all to myself.” Pinkie said as her mane deflated into a flat style. She stepped out past the counter and looked upon the pegasus. “We’re going to have so much fun Dashie, I can’t wait!”
Section 2: A Report to Princess LunaTwilight watched the horizon looking for Rainbow Dash. The sun was setting and A.K. Yearling was just about to close up her book sale. Twilight knew how much this meant to Rainbow Dash, and Rainbow Dash is never late for anything. She bit her lower lip, and rubbed her arm nervously as a few of the book store’s customers walked by. They waved at her, and waited for her to acknowledge their presence. “Princess Twilight?” One of them said. This caused Twilight to snap out of her sky gazing and look at the three ponies standing before her. She looked down at them and smiled nervously. “I’m sorry, hello.” she said as calmly as she could muster. “Is there something I can do for you?” “Hello, my name is Sleek Dusk and I was wondering if I could get you to sign my Daring Do book too.” A young dark blue pegasus said as he held out the latest Daring Do novel in his mouth. “Well, Sleek Dusk, I‘d be happy to.” Twilight responded as she took the book with her magic. She hovered it over to her as well as a pen from her nearby bag. As the book hovered in front of her, she opened it to the first page and saw A.K. Yearlings signature there. Underneath it she signed “Princess Twilight Sparkle” and hovered the book back over to the excited pegasus. “Thank you so much princess! No one’s gonna believe this!” he exclaimed as him and his friends ran off. She chuckled and looked into the book store. Daring Do sat at a table in the middle of the foyer, donning glasses and a maroon cape to try and hide her identity. “Still no Rainbow Dash.” Twilight thought to herself. “If I had missed her while signing that book she’d definitely be in there talking to Daring…” She turned and walked into the store. A few of the patrons bowed as she passed, Twilight returning them with a nod. Daring Do did the same when she approached her table. “That’s not necessary Yearling.” Twilight said with a smile. “If you say so Princess.” she said as she sat back and signed another book that was presented to her. “Have you seen Rainbow Dash today?” Twilight asked. “No I haven’t. Only you standing out front for hours taking some of my spotlight.” “Oh… I didn’t mean to… I’ve been waiting on Rainbow Dash all day. She said she’d meet me here so that she could be at your last book’s release.” “Well, I know Rainbow Dash is one of my biggest fans… here…” Daring reached behind her and pulled out a copy of her book and put it on the desk. She opened the it to the front page and signed it and then subsequently closed it and held the book out on one of her hooves. “For her, since she couldn’t be here.” “Wow, thank you Yearling, this will mean a lot to her.” Twilight said taking the book and placing it in one of her bags. “Not a problem. After all, you and your ‘Court of Friendship’ have been helpful on a few of my journeys. It’s the least I can do. Do you have one for me to sign as well?” Twilight looked over at the line of ponies that were still waiting for their books to be signed. “N-not right now… you still have a bunch of other ponies waiting-” Daring Do held up her hoof. “They can wait for you Princess.” she said with a wry smile. “Okay.” Twilight pulled her copy of the book and hovered it over to Daring. She signed it and Twilight took it back. “Thank you.” “No, thank you Princess. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a few more books I need to sign before the store closes.” “Of course.” Twilight did a slight bow and left the store. As she stepped back out into Canterlot’s streets she stared up at the sky thinking, “Where are you Rainbow Dash?” Rainbow Dash awoke to her head pounding and her mouth dry. She went to move her hoof to her head in order to stop the throbbing but she couldn’t move her arms. She looked over at her left hoof and noticed it was strapped down to whatever she was laying on. Rainbow looked over to her other hoof and saw the same thing. She tried to move her hind legs but they were strapped down as well. She flipped her tail, it was still free but that wouldn’t do her any good. She tried to flap a wing but found them to be immobilized as well. A quick look around proved useless as a bright light was above her and it prevented her from being able to see the rest of the dark and cold area. “Hello?” Rainbow asked with a sense of fear in her voice. “Pinkie?” she called out again. The table that she was laying on jerked and she began to tilt vertically, the table coming to a stop with her at a seventy degree angle or so. The light above her was somewhat behind her head now so as her eyes adjusted she was beginning to be able to see the dark musty room. As soon as her eyes adjusted properly her jaw dropped and a loud gasp escaped her throat. Twilight flew over to Rainbow Dash’s home and landed on her cloud porch. She knocked on the door and waited for a moment. The silence that emanated from Rainbow’s house was sickening. It was never this quiet, least never when Twilight was over. And she was only over when Rainbow was here. “Rainbow Dash!?” Twilight yelled up at the open window. Nothing inside the house stirred. She flew up to the windows that lead to Rainbow’s bedroom and saw that it was as messy as usual. The bed wasn’t made neat and some of her work-out clothes laid around on the floor. Twilight rolled her eyes as she flew in and looked around. “Rainbow Dash! I brought you a book signed by Daring do!” she called out again as she walked out into the living room. As she looked around she noticed that nothing was unusual. Everything indicated that Rainbow had left home expecting to return. She sat the book on the living room table and left out Rainbow’s bedroom window again. As she flew she could only think of one other place she’d be, Sugar Cube Corner. Rainbow had told Twilight that she was visiting Pinkie Pie for a personal party just before she came to the book signing. So maybe Pinkie Pie would know where Rainbow was. Twilight cupped her wings as she softly landed in front of the store. Night had fallen so the store’s porch light barely illuminated the closed sign. She peered through the door and could see Pinkie moving around the store, cleaning the floor. Twilight gently tapped on the glass to get her attention. With a jolt, Pinkie looked at the door and waved happily. She opened the door and in her usual chipper way said, “Hi twilight, what are you doing here so late?” “I’m looking for Rainbow Dash. She didn’t show up for Daring Do’s last book release and she had said this is where she was going before that. Have you seen her?” Twilight responded. Pinkie Pie shrugged. “She left here a few hours ago, saying she really wanted to make it to the book party thingy. Which doesn’t surprise me, since the party we had was kind of sad.” “Sad? Why?” Twilight asked, cocking her head in confusion. “The party was for her tenth year anniversary of being resurrected… but don’t tell her I told you.” Pinkie said, covering a side of her mouth with her hoof. “Ressurec-? oh yeah, the Rainbow Factory… She never talks about that…” Twilight said as her ears flopped down “I know, that’s why it’s a secret.” Pinkie said smiling. “Well, if you see her, please let me know. I’m going to go back to Canterlot and see if maybe she visited Princess Celestia or Luna for some reason.” “Okay, have fun.” Pinkie said as she waved. Twilight turned and flew away. “Gah, I thought that bitch would never leave.” Pinkie said as she turned back into the store. “Now to have fun with my new toy, I bet she’s awake by now.” Twilight Sparkle landed on the balcony outside the throne room and yawned. It was nearly midnight and she hadn’t slept any. Her wings were sore from flying back and forth between Canterlot and Ponyville. She rubbed one of her wing’s elbows against her ribs to try and massage it. Careful to not make to much noise, she opened the doors to the throne room and walked in, hoping to find Princess Luna inside. Once inside she found her hopes correct, Luna sat on her throne, flipping through papers from the previous day. Twilight slowly galloped up to her throne and bowed. “Princess Luna.” she said. “Princess Twilight, what are you doing here at this hour?” Luna asked, setting the papers aside. “I’ve been looking for Rainbow Dash all evening. She didn’t happen to come here for anything did she?” Twilight said, looking up at the nighttime ruler. “No of course not. What makes you believe she came here?” Luna asked slightly confused. “Well, She’s not at home, she’s not at Sugar Cube Corner, and she didn’t show up at the book store. So… I have no idea where she is…” Twilight said with a slightly worried shrug. Luna stood up, remembering what Celestia had told her the night before about disappearances. In fact, the papers she had just sat aside were missing pony reports from the Ponyville Guard. The thought of Rainbow Dash possibly being the next disappearance caused a lump to form in Luna’s throat. However, she did not show her concern and let a smile cross her face. “Dear Princess Twilight, do not worry yourself over this. Rainbow Dash performed her usual Sonic Rain-boom this afternoon, mayhap she fell asleep on a cloud on the way to the store. I’ll search for anypony dreaming. Now go and rest in your room here in the castle. You seem very tired dear one.” Luna gestured to the doors leading deeper into the castle. Twilight looked over her shoulder at the doors in question and looked back at Luna with very heavy eyes. “Thank you, Luna. I am tiered… please… if you find her, let me know.” Twilight said as she walked towards the exit. “Sleep well young one. And worry not of Rainbow Dash, I will find her.” Luna said as she watched Twilight leave. Once the doors were shut, she turned to the balcony and walked out to it. She closed her eyes and her horn lit. Her eyes opened up, glowing bright white. “Where are you Rainbow?” Luna whispered under her breath as she began sending out her dream-walker spell upon Ponyville and Canterlot.
Section 3: Into the Cupcake CellarRainbow Dash’s breathing was erratic. All she could see was crimson in every direction. One wall “Life’s a Party” was written out in coagulated blood that seemed to have been there for months. A table sat nearby that had odd looking party hats on it. The closer Rainbow looked at them, the less she had as she realized they were severed unicorn horns with intestines as the string to hold the hat to one’s head. Her stomach gurgled as the stench of rotting flesh entered her nostrils. Then, she saw it, pony skulls lining the wall across from her. Blood still dripped from some of them as maggots crawled on a the older looking ones. Rainbow blinked… nothing changed. she squinted her eyes, pressing them really hard and then opened them, nothing changed. Gore and death weighed on her like dirt in a grave. “Oh goodie, you ARE awake.” Pinkie said as she trotted into the room, humming a chipper toon. She walked over to a cart near the door and started pushing it over to Rainbow Dash. “P-Pinkie, what’s going on… I can’t move…” Rainbow Dash stuttered, her eyes watching the rolling cart. “Of course not silly, you’re tied down.” Pinkie responded as she smiled up at Rainbow. Dash looked Pinkie Pie in the eyes and gulped. “Heh, Pinkie… this isn‘t the kind of party I was wanting... You know I‘m not gay right.” Rainbow tried to smile, but her nervousness was hardly hidden. Her statement cause Pinkie to raise an eyebrow. “Of course I know you’re not gay, this has nothing to do with sex… sheesh, such a dirty mind Dashie.” she flipped the cover off of the cart, exposing various knives and saws, all of which appeared recently cleaned. “Then what… what’s going on?” Rainbow’s heart felt like it was going to pound out of her chest. She wasn’t a physician, but the tools on Pinkie’s cart looked like ones used in surgery. Pinkie took one of the knives in her hoof and ran her other hoof across the blade. As she did so, her hair began to deflate into a sickly straight style. A grin grew across her face as she looked at Rainbow Dash, her eyes glowing red. “We’re making cupcakes.” she said, as chipper as she always did, despite her appearance. “Cupcakes?” Rainbow asked, her breathing heavy and her heart pounding. “But you already made cupcakes for me.” she swallowed hard, her mouth becoming very dry. Pinkie’s eyes returned to normal as she leaned in close to Rainbow’s stomach. She ran her hoof through Rainbow’s fur and smiled. “Of course I did. I wanted you to enjoy something just from me.” she pushed off and looked Rainbow Dash over. “However, Dashie, I need a special ingredient for these cupcakes I want to make.” “You… do? What? Please don’t tell me it’s like… my shit or something…” Rainbow Dash’s already churning stomach didn’t react well to that thought. “Of course not, silly. I always find other uses for the intestines, always made everything taste funny.” Pinkie seemed to still be sizing Rainbow Dash up, her hoof was under her chin as she seemed to be analyzing her. “Oh that’s goo- wait what!? Then what’s this special ingredient!?” Just as Rainbow Dash had just started to relax, her nervousness returned. “It’s you of course. ALL of you, except your nasty intestines.” With that Pinkie sliced the knife right into Rainbow’s hip. She screamed, and tears began to run down her face. “Pinkie! Stop! That hu- aaaaaAAHAAHHHHH!” Pinkie began to slide the blade in a circle around Rainbow’s cutie mark. She got almost all the way around and stopped. Rainbow Dash’s screams faded to whimpers as blood poured down her leg. Them just as Rainbow was hoping she was done, she put the blade on its side against her leg, and then in one quick swipe cut the rest of it off. Rainbow screamed so loud it reverberated through the room. “Ow Dashie, you don’t have to scream so loud.” Pinkie said as she held up the piece of Rainbow’s hide she had just severed from her hip. “I only wanted this so I could add it to my collection.” As pinkie turned to walk away Rainbow saw that she was wearing a dress. “Why Pinkie? Why the fuck are you doing this? I thought we were friends.” “Oh but we are. Which is why it makes me so happy you’ll be spending your last moments with me.” Pinkie set the circular flesh on the table, making a sickening splat and then turned back to Rainbow. She bounced over, humming another tune, and stopped right next to her other hip. “Pinkie… no… please… no-AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!” Rainbow screamed as Pinkie slid the blade into her flesh once more. Again she made a circle, ripping through muscle and tendons. She sat the blade flat, and made another quick swipe. Rainbow’s agonizing screams melted down into sobbing and whimpering as blood dripped off of her rear hooves onto the floor. With the new flesh in hoof, she walked over to the other piece and held them both up triumphantly. “All dooooone” she said happily. Rainbow’s body shook and quivered as pain was fully enveloping her consciousness. Tears streamed down her cheeks and dripped onto her chest. “What… the fuck Pinkie…” Rainbow managed to mutter. “Now now Dashie, if you keep using language like that I’ll havta cut out your tongue.” she said as she set aside the two cutie mark circles. “You like my dress? I saw you looking at it earlier. Made it myself. Recognize any of the cutie marks? Prolly not… you’re always moving to fast to notice anypony else right?” she picked up another knife and started twisting it on her hoof. “Is this what all of this is about? My selfishness?” Rainbow Asked, picking her head up just enough to beable to look at Pinkie’s dress. On it resided the cutie marks of what Rainbow could only assume were her previous victims. “I promise I’ll be more considerate if you please just stop Pinkie!” “Begging already?” Pinkie asked, looking up at Rainbow unimpressed. “I woulda imagined the best flyer in ALL of Equestria woulda been better than this.” “What? Pinkie… stop hurting me… please…” A clock’s chiming sound echoed through the room, causing Pinkie the roll her eyes. “Okay… since you said please… I’ll leave you alone for the rest of the night.” she let out a yawn and took her dress off, hanging it on a hook next to the exit of the room. Rainbow relaxed as Pinkie Pie left , closing the door with a sickening thud. She felt the clamps around her arms tighten as she felt herself slide down some as she had been holding herself up with her hind legs. Her stomach gurgled, sloshed and then jumped as bile and other stomach contents erupted from her mouth and down her chest. Rainbow’s feeling of pain, mixed with disgust caused her to think about her life up to this point. She thought she had always been one of Pinkie Pie’s best friends. Why was she doing this? Was she still mad about the Rainbow Factory? Celestia had already said that because she had been killed her punishment was served. Did Pinkie think she was supposed to suffer for her actions in that damned factory? She grimaced as she felt excrement escape from her bowels. The rank that surrounded her almost made her puke again. “I guess I really do deserve this.” Rainbow said to herself as she began to sob. “I was just as evil in the factory… I should be dismembered… again…” Rainbow Closed her eyes and cried herself to sleep. Luna’s head turned this way and that as she searched through the dreams of those who were asleep. She has already gone through all of Canterlot’s and was starting on her second time through Ponyville when she came across a very familiar dream. She stepped into the dream and onto clouds that were zipping through the air. “Oh Rainbow Dash, losing to the clouds again are we?” she mumbled amused. She looked across the clouds looking for the cyan pegasus trying to catch up to the white puffs. “NO NO NO! Get the fuck back here you damned clouds!” Luna heard Rainbow yell. She rolled her eyes and began bouncing across them, heading to the back of the mass of clouds where she knew she would find Rainbow. Rainbow Dash waved her hooves frantically at the nearest cloud to her, her wings flapping as fast as they could go. She reached and reached and reached but the cloud just kept staying just out of reach. Luna knew this kind of dream usually occurred when Rainbow Dash was scared or nervous. That thought suddenly made her realize the gravity of this dream. “Rainbow, where are you?” Luna asked. “Huh?” Rainbow asked looking up at her. “Whudd’yah mean where am I? I’m right here… trying to catch this fucking cloud.” “No no, where are you in the real world?” Luna always knew the consequences of this question. Asking a pony where they were in the real world had tendencies of making the pony aware that they’re dreaming and subsequently allow them to control the dream. Needless to say there’s been a few close calls with some sick minded ponies. To Rainbow Dash, this did two things, one kind of expected, and the other not so much so. She raised an eyebrow in confusion at Luna’s question, but her hips began to bleed and she began puking endlessly. She didn’t even seem aware of the fact that either event was taking place as she went back to trying to catch the cloud nearest to her. The gore presented to Luna made her ears drop as she began to realize that Rainbow’s life was most likely in danger. She opened her wings and flew next to Rainbow Dash. “Rainbow Listen to me, you have to tell me where you are… and why are you bleeding?” she pointed at Rainbow’s hips. The pegasus looked at her sides and her eyes shot wide. She looked straight at Luna, her eyes full fear. “Oh shit! She’s going to turn me into cupcakes! Luna you havta help me! She’s going to cut me up and make me into cupcakes!” Rainbow Dash suddenly stopped flying, as blood began to pour out of her eyes and mouth. “Luna help!” “Who Rainbow? Who is going to kill you?” Luna asked desperately as the dream started fading. She felt herself being pulled away from Rainbow who was looking around frantically. “Who Rainbow Dash!? WHO!?” Rainbow looked up at Luna and pointed her hoof at Ponyville below. Luna desperately searched the city as it continued to fade but she couldn’t see anything in particular. “WHO DAMMIT!?” Luna exclaimed, hopelessness beginning to fill her as she felt the dream coming to an end. Rainbow got one final word out as Luna was tossed back onto the balcony.
Prologue: Cupcakes“Look at those numbers over their heads!” chuckled Pinkie Pie as she bounced through Ponyville. “I can’t wait to get to hers.” she thought to herself as she bounced past Vinyl Scratch. “But today is special. Today’s number is for a very special pony. I can’t wait! She’ll be so excited to come with me I know she will! This’ll be just as fun for her as it will me hehehehehe.” She left Ponyville and started heading out to the nearby cloud house owned by Rainbow Dash. She bounced up to the mailbox under the house and looked up at it, a large grin on her face. “OH RAINBOW DASH!” she yelled in a cheerful manner. The cyan pegasus poked her head out of a window and waved at the pink pony. “I’ll be right down!” Rainbow yelled as she zipped back into her house. A few moments passed and Rainbow was seen gliding down from her porch. She landed next to Pinkie Pie with a soft clop. “What’s up Pinks?” “Weeeell, it’s been ten years since you were magically resurrectededed by the Princesses. I was wondering if you wanted to come over tomorrow and have some cupcakes I baked especially for you?” Pinkie Pie smiled really big as Rainbow put a hoof to her chin in thought. “I dunno…Twilight was looking forward to us visiting Dar- uh I mean A.K. Yearling’s release party for her new book tomorrow evening.” “That’s fine, this party’s just between you and me anyway. I’m sure it wouldn’t last toooo long.” Pinkie grinned in anticipation. “A party just for you and me?” Rainbow raised an eyebrow. “Yeah, silly filly, I know you don’t like talking about the Rainbow Factory very much so I figured we’d celebrate between just us. You know…keep it quiet.” she reached around Rainbow as she spoke and whispered the last words in her ear. “Yeah, I appreciate that Pinkie Pie. I guess I can swing by tomorrow after my morning flight. You know me, I always gotta keep my wings limber. We’re not the teenage mares we once were.” Rainbow flexed her right wing, making the muscles in it bulge as she did so. Pinkie watched them enthusiastically. “Awesome. I know you’ll love tomorrow’s party. It’ll be to die for.” she said cheerfully as she turned to leave. “I’ll see you tomorrow Dashie.” “Later Pinks.” they waved goodbye and Pinkie hopped away cheerfully humming.
