Dark Laughter

Chapters

Act I: Secrets Revealed
Act I: Bloody Dreams
Act I: Temptation
Act I: Fugitives
Act I: Rising Sun
Act II: Cold Hard Truth
Act II: Eternal Sorrow
Act II: Thank You (Good Ending)
Act II: Numbers (Bad Ending)
Act II: The End

Act I: Secrets Revealed

The chilly night air made Pinkie Pie shiver as she walked to Fluttershy's house. The moon was but a sliver, the stars non-existent. Any other pony would've felt something ominous in the air, but Pinkie Pie, as always, was oblivious as she went to meet her friend. Fluttershy had said that she had something really important to tell Pinkie. The excitable earth pony didn't enjoy serious stuff, but she would gladly sit through boring talk if it was helping her best friend.

As Pinkie approached Fluttershy's cottage, she rubbed her ears, unable to hear a thing. Fluttershy kept tons of animals in her house, and even at nighttime, there was always the hoot of an owl or the sound of crickets chirping.

"Maybe the animals are just being really quiet tonight!" Pinkie theorized to herself with a giggle, refusing to feel nervous. Laugh at your fears, that was her personal philosophy.

But as she walked up the pathway and was about to knock on the door, Pinkie could faintly hear a sound. It was a gasping, sniffling sound. It sounded like Fluttershy...crying! Pinkie gulped and considered not going in. She knew she had been pretty...what was the word...insensitive! Yeah, she had been pretty insensitive to Fluttershy lately. That was what her other bestest friends, Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity told her. Was that what Fluttershy wanted to talk to Pinkie about? Was that why she was crying?

Pinkie grimaced, deciding to go in anyway. "Fluttershy wanted me to see her. I have to help her with whatever she's struggling with...even if what she's struggling with is me." She took a deep breath, and knocked on the door lightly.

The crying immediately stopped. "Come in, Pinkie," Fluttershy's voice could be heard.

"Alrighty!" Pinkie said, trying to sound upbeat as she swung open the door.

There were no lights on, and everything was pitch-black in Fluttershy's cottage. Pinkie stepped inside, and as her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she could make out Fluttershy's frail form lying on the floor.

"Thank you for coming," Fluttershy said, sounding quieter than usual. And that was saying something!

"Oh, it's no biggie," Pinkie said with a huge smile, then realizing that Fluttershy couldn't see her smiling in the darkness. "How about I turn on a light?" Pinkie suggested, walking over to where she knew a lamp was.

"No!" Before Pinkie knew it, Fluttershy was blocking her way. "I mean, it's okay," the yellow pegasus whimpered.

"If you say so," Pinkie shrugged. "So, uh, what was the really important thing you wanted to tell me?"

"I'll tell you soon, Pinkie...but I need to ask you a question first."

"Okie-dokie-lokie! What do you want to know? Do you want to know how to bake razzleberry cupcakes? Or how to make balloon animals? Or how to--" Pinkie was silenced as Fluttershy covered her mouth.

"This is serious, Pinkie. I need to ask you..." Fluttershy's voice lowered to a whisper as she continued her question. "Do y-you...love me?"

Pinkie froze up, not sure how to answer this question. "Um...do you mean love as in a friend, or...the other way?"

"Either way. I just n-need to know that you'll stick beside me, that you'll understand me...no matter what I do."

"Obviously!" Pinkie squealed, trying to give Fluttershy a big hug, which she fended off. "Fluttershy, you're my best friend! Of course I'll always love you!"

"Do you p-promise?"

"Pinkie Promise! Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!"

"Then I guess it's t-time for you to see," Fluttershy said shakily, turning around and flipping on the lamp. The bright light stunned Pinkie, and she fell on her stomach, squinting her eyes shut against the light. And when Pinkie opened her eyes, she was lying on the rug, looking at the dead body of Angel Bunny.

It took a few seconds for Pinkie to even understand what she was seeing. And when she did, she began to scream at the top of her lungs.

"Pinkie, please stop!" Fluttershy cried. Pinkie shoved her hoof in her mouth obediently and rolled onto her back to look at Fluttershy. Fluttershy had changed. Her fur was a darker color, her mane was a mess, her eyes were red, and her wings were bat wings.

The hoof came out of Pinkie's mouth. "FLUTTERBAT!" she shrieked. Despite her "laugh at your fears" principle, Pinkie was terrified by bats.

"Please, Pinkie," the bat-pony wailed, her eyes wet. "Please stop. You're going to wake up everypony in town, and then they'll come over here, and then..." Fluttershy crumpled in a heap on the floor next to Angel's corpse, sobbing.

Now, Pinkie Pie was almost always oblivious to what was going on around her, but she wasn't an idiot. She could tell that Fluttershy still seemed like her normal self, despite her scary appearance. When she became Flutterbat, as a mistake on a spell casted by Twilight, she lost all her former personality. This time was different.

"Fluttershy, what happened? Why are you a bat-pony again? Why is Angel...dead?" Pinkie asked, trying to stay calm and collected.

"I've been hiding it for so long," Fluttershy sobbed. "Twilight's spell to change me back...it didn't work entirely. I've been fighting the urges to be a bat since it happened. I can't anymore."

"Don't worry!" Pinkie comforted her friend. "C'mon, we'll get you to Twilight's, and she'll fix you right up!"

"She c-can't," Fluttershy stated. "Once I felt the urges coming back, I did some research in the library. It's really complicated, and Pinkie, you probably won't understand..."

"I'll try my best!"

"O-okay. Magic has limitations. You can't do anything with it. For example, the spell Twilight used to make the vampire fruit bats stop eating Applejack's apples, the one that got transferred to me. You can only use spells to change urges, you can't change who someone is. The urge to be a vampire fruit bat consumed me, and I became a bat-pony. But when Twilight removed the spell from me, she could only remove the urge to be a fruit bat, to eat apples. She couldn't remove the bat part, because that that had become a part of me. She made me look normal, but that would only last for so long."

"So we'll just have Twilight put up the spell again!"

"Sure, she could do that. But Pinkie, I need you to listen closely, and whatever you do, don't scream."

"Okie-dokie-lokie," Pinkie said, frowning.

"Remember how we removed the apple craves of the vampire fruit bats? I always wondered how they survived without eating apples. Well, the vampire fruit bats can also drink blood to survive, if they have to. So when Twilight took away the apple-eating urges from me, that left...the blood-sucking urges."

Don't scream, don't scream, don't scream, DON'T SCREAM PINKIE PIE YOU HORRIBLE PONY! Pinkie's mind commanded her. And by some miracle, Pinkie pursed her lips and nodded her head slowly.

"That's what happened to Angel," Fluttershy sniffled, tears streaming out of her eyes. "Once I realized what I was becoming, I made all the animals get away. But Angel refused to go. He loved me that much. And then...and then I got so thirsty I couldn't take it anymore. I just, I just pounced on him. And before I knew it, I had s-sucked all his b-blood!" Fluttershy broke down crying again. "A-and now, I'm feeling so th-thirsty again. Angel's b-blood wasn't enough. It's taking all my will not to attack you."

"There, there." Pinkie said. "We'll find a way to fix this." Pinkie put her hoof on Fluttershy's back. And then, like lightning, Fluttershy whipped her head around and sunk her long fangs into Pinkie's foreleg.

Fluttershy's eyes widened and a new round of tears burst from them, but she didn't let go. She couldn't let go. Pinkie could see it in her tear-reddened, crazed eyes. Fluttershy needed blood if she was going to live.

"D-drink up," the words tumbled out of Pinkie's mouth. "I know you need it."

Fluttershy's eyes bore intense relief and gratefulness, and she bit harder. Pinkie forced herself not to wince; Fluttershy would stop if she thought she was hurting her friend. But as the bat-pony began to suck her blood, Pinkie could feel the pain of Fluttershy's fangs ebbing away, the world fading into blackness...

Act I: Bloody Dreams

In Pinkie Pie's dreams, she was frolicking through a field of red flowers, feeling happier than she had in a long time. Pinkie bent down and nibbled on the crimson petal of a daffodil, and was surprised that it didn't taste or smell floral and sweet, instead it was salty and tangy, like a rusty penny (don't ask she knew what that tasted like). Pinkie started giggling at the funny taste, and was soon laughing hysterically.

"Salty flowers! That's just...hahaha!" Pinkie squeaked, laughing so hard tears came out of her eyes as she took another bite of the red daisy.

Pinkie looked up as she heard the sound of hoofsteps. There, on the other side of the red meadow, was Fluttershy, facing the other way, wearing a crown of red daisies. Pinkie galloped up to meet her friend, beaming.

"Fluttershy! These flowers are salty! Isn't that just the funniest thing you've ever seen?"

Fluttershy turned around, and Pinkie gasped as she turned back into Flutterbat. "Pinkie Pie, don't you know what these flowers are?"

"Besides hilarious?" Pinkie quipped.

"They're blood."

"What?" Pinkie screamed as all the petals on the flowers melted, turning into hot red liquid. The liquid kept rising, and rising. Up to Pinkie's stomach, her back, her neck, her chin, threatening to drown her.

"Fluttershy, help me!" Pinkie yowled to the bat-pony, who was flying above the blood torrent.

"Pinkie Pie..." Fluttershy whispered, sounding far away.

"Help me! Please!" Pinkie pleaded. But all that came out was a gurgle; the red liquid was past her mouth, covering her eyes.

The last words Pinkie heard before she was sucked under were, "Pinkie, wake up!"

Pinkie jolted up in Fluttershy's bed, sweating and shaking. Wait...why was she in Fluttershy's bed? There was something super-duper big that had happened last night, something Pinkie couldn't put her hoof on.

"Good morning, Pinkie. I'm glad you're awake," A quiet voice said from off to Pinkie's left. Pinkie turned her head to the side, her fluffy mane bouncing, and saw Fluttershy...except she wasn't Fluttershy. She was Flutterbat! Pinkie was about to scream when memories of the night before came rushing back to her. Going to Fluttershy's house, learning that she was a blood-sucking bat-pony, letting Fluttershy drink her blood.

"Morning, Flutters!" Pinkie said, beaming, as the initial shock wore off.

"Are you...okay?" Fluttershy asked.

"Fine as a fiddle!" Pinkie replied happily, checking herself to see if she was hurt in any way. Her blue eyes focused on two little puncture marks on her left foreleg. That was where Fluttershy bit her. Pinkie was pretty sure she was imagining it, but some of her fur around the bite looked a bit darker.

"Thank Celestia," Fluttershy said. "It was so hard to stop d-drinking. I thought...I thought I was going to kill you!" A few tears pushed their way out of her eyes.

"Don't be sad! You didn't, and that's all that matters! Are YOU okay now?"

Fluttershy nodded. "Yes. I'm not...thirsty anymore."

A sweet aroma filled the air, and Pinkie's stomach growled. "Whoa! You might not be thirsty, but I'm hungry! What's for breakfast?"

"I made pancakes. With sweets added in, because I knew you'd like that. Besides, you're supposed to eat sweet things after you, er, donate blood." Fluttershy didn't mean this as a joke, but Pinkie guffawed anyway, making her smile. Pinkie never failed to do that.

Fluttershy helped Pinkie out of bed, as the party pony was still a bit woozy from blood loss, and led her into the kitchen, where Fluttershy served Pinkie a heaping plate of pancakes and a glass of orange juice.

"Mmm!" Pinkie squealed as she dug in. "These are de-lish! Are you gonna have some?"

"I don't think I can. I managed to eat normal food when I was still fighting the bat-pony urges...but just the thought of eating makes me sick now."

"More for me, then!"

Once Pinkie was finished with her breakfast, Fluttershy sat down across from her at the table. "Pinkie, we need to talk. I don't know what I'm going to do now."

"We're going to Twilight's to have her put up the spell again, remember, silly?" Pinkie prompted.

"Well, that would be great, but the spell would just w-wear off again after a while."

"We should still do it anyway!"

"I guess you're right. It's only a short-term solution, but it's all we've got right now," Fluttershy mused.

"Then let's go!" Pinkie stood up, seemingly better.

"Wait!" Fluttershy tried to shout as Pinkie began to rush out of her cottage. "I can't b-be seen like this in town."

"Hm, yeah," Pinkie agreed, zooming back in in an instant. "We'll have to be spies to sneak through town! But first we need some dark outfits..."

"Um, I was thinking of another way," Fluttershy breathed. Pinkie hardly heard her, but froze in her tracks as she ran to Fluttershy's room to look for dark clothing. Normally, Pinkie would've just ignored Fluttershy, but she knew her friend was on edge right now, and needed her attention.

"What's your idea?" Pinkie asked, trying to sound respective.

"Well, Twilight's library is at the edge of Ponyville, so I was thinking that we could go around Ponyville and come in from behind. That way nopony in Ponyville will see us."

"Wow, that's a much better idea! And we'll get to take a cool nature walk through the Everfree Forest while we're at it!"

"What?" Fluttershy whimpered.

"Well, the forest surrounds town," Pinkie reasoned. "We'll have to cross through it!"

"Actually, you know what, I'm liking y-your idea better now," Fluttershy chuckled nervously. "I'm pretty sure I have some spy outfits for the two of us..."

"C'mon, we've been through that forest so many times now! It's not scary at all!"

"To me it is!"

"Yeah, maybe if you were just some little pegasus," Pinkie said. "But look at you! You're a big, menacing, fanged, winged bat-pony! All those monsters'll be running for cover!

"You really think so?" Fluttershy looked at herself. She did look terror-inducing. "Okay, we'll do it," Fluttershy agreed. Pinkie cheered, and bounced outside, Fluttershy trailing behind. But just as Pinkie was about to leave Fluttershy's cottage, she fell to the ground, grasping at her mouth with her hooves. "Owowowow, my teeth!"

"Did I put too much sugar in the pancakes?" Fluttershy asked nervously.

"No way! There's no such thing as 'too much sugar' for Pinkie Pie!" But just as she said this, Pinkie let out a small yelp and fell unconscious. Fluttershy dashed forward and pried the zoned out Pinkie's hooves from her mouth. Fluttershy felt around with her own hoof in Pinkie's mouth, looking for rot or gum disease. What she found was much, much worse.

"Oh, no," Fluttershy cried. She looked at Pinkie's teeth and saw them elongate and sharpen to become fangs.

Act I: Temptation

It wasn't the itchiness of her fur turning darker that woke Pinkie up. Nor was it the weird feeling as her eyes turned red, her ears grew larger. It wasn't even the aching as bat wings emerged from her flanks. No, it was the burning. The inferno that was raging through her throat, a Casanova of unbearable pain.

As Pinkie's eyes opened, she saw that she was lying on the floor, Fluttershy standing above her. "Pinkie, I'm sorry...I'm so, so, sorry," Fluttershy cried, floodgates opening in her eyes once again.

Pinkie rubbed her throat with one hoof, trying to find the source of the burning pain. But she wasn't burnt anywhere; it was like the fire was inside of her. "What's wrong?" Pinkie asked, expecting her voice to come out as a croak. But she was able to talk normally.

Fluttershy ducked her head and flew away with a few light flaps of her bat-like wings. She returned with a small mirror.

"A mirror? What, is there a bit of pancake in my mane?" Pinkie asked, trying to lighten up the mood. She couldn't stand it when her friends were unhappy.

"Are you s-sure you want to s-see?" Fluttershy asked solemnly.

"Now I do!" Pinkie groaned. "Geez, you could just tell me where the crumbs are, and I can clean them."

"That's not it," Fluttershy whispered. And she held the mirror in front of Pinkie's face.

Error. Problem with system. Images making no sense. Brain shutting down. So Pinkie just sat there for a few minutes, completely unable to comprehend what she was seeing.

"Well, then." she said after quite some time.

"Y-you can scream if you want," Fluttershy said, unnerved by her friend's calmness. "This is all my fault..."

Finally, the gears in Pinkie's head started to turn again. So she was a bat-pony now. "Nah, I'm past screaming," Pinkie shrugged, trying to get used to the wings that sprouted from her back.

"B-but....aren't you angry at me? Pinkie, I'm so sorry! I didn't know!"

"It wasn't your fault," Pinkie said with a fanged smile. "You needed the blood. Oh, and speaking of needs, can I have some water? My throat is really hurting!"

Fluttershy gulped. "You don't need water, Pinkie...you need blood."

"Oh, right. Bat-pony. Where can we get some blood around here?" Pinkie wished she hadn't said that, as Fluttershy began to cry again, most likely thinking of Angel. The bunny's body wasn't there anymore...Fluttershy must have buried him. Pinkie couldn't help herself from tearing up, too. She could only imagine how terrible her friend was feeling.

"I hate this!" Fluttershy shrieked, sounding nothing like herself. "I can't destroy another living thing so I can prosper! It's just...wrong!"

"Calm down, Fluttershy!" Pinkie begged. "Let's just go to Twilight's and we--"

"Can get the spell put back up," Fluttershy finished cynically. "Sure, that would make us normal...for a couple weeks! I don't know why you aren't furious at me for changing you into a monster. I think you've matured since this has happened. But I do know one thing for sure: even if we get the spell put up, there's bound to be a little mistake! Ponies could DIE because of how I'm such a...such a MONSTER!"

Pinkie looked down at her darkened hooves. Quietly, she said, "Don't you remember that one time? When you got bad advice from that minotaur and started being mean to everypony? Well, you weren't a monster then. And you aren't one now."

"Let me repeat that for you, Pinkie: Ponies and animals alike could die, all because of me! Because I'm a horrible monster and I've already killed Angel, and I doomed you to the same fate as me! How could I not be a monster?!"

Pinkie looked up at Fluttershy, who was snorting in rage and sobbing in melancholy at the same time. Pinkie's purpose in life was to make her friends happy, to make them smile, smile, smile. She had to do just the right thing to cheer Fluttershy up. And then, it dawned on her.

"Last night, I Pinkie Promised that I would always stand by you, that I would always understand you. I understand how you feel. I know how torn apart you must feel on the inside, trying your best not to give in to the dark temptations that are trying to take over your head at this very moment. It's happening to me. I know I need blood, and if somepony crossed me, well, I wouldn't be able to resist. But we're not monsters. It was all an accident. We'll be fine if we stick together."

Fluttershy nodded slowly, wiping her face of tears.

"Now, c'mon, let's get going to Twilight's library."

"No, Pinkie, you have to flap them both at the same time," Fluttershy explained, not the least bit frustrated.

"Blech," Pinkie spat, as she crashed into the soft ground of the Everfree Forest, getting a mouthful of dirt. "I think we should just walk. Or skip. Or bounce!" Pinkie jumped off, Fluttershy nervously trailing behind, jumping at the slightest sound.

Pinkie rubbed her sore throat again, wishing the pain would just go away as she and Fluttershy traveled through the forest. Pinkie didn't mind the wings, the fangs, or the red eyes, she just hated that mean-old throat pain.

Just then, Pinkie smelled the most wonderful smell through the trees and wild foliage of the Everfree. It smelled better than Fluttershy's pancakes, better than the rock candy she and her sister used to make, better than every other smell imaginable. Pinkie couldn't put her hoof on what the smell was, but she needed it! She needed to eat whatever that smell was!

Fluttershy sniffed the air tentatively. She could smell it, too. Fluttershy looked forward and saw Pinkie run ahead. "Stop!" Fluttershy shouted after Pinkie, but she had disappeared into the woods. Fluttershy recognized the smell. It was the smell of blood.

Pinkie was getting so close to that amazing smell, she could almost taste it! She was about to continue following it when she heard voices. But Pinkie couldn't see who was there, because a bunch of thick green plants blocked her vision.

"If you three don't find my tiara, stat, my daddy will sue all of your families!" One bratty-sounding voice whined.

"Sue us? Isn't that a bit over-the-top?" Another voice said. It sounded familiar. Somepony who's name started with a Scoot...oh, it didn't matter. Pinkie was still mesmerized by the fantastic smell coming from where the voices were.

"Yeah!" A squeaky voice agreed. "You're worse than Rarity! It's just a little tiara!"

"Are you kidding me?" The bratty voice snarled. "That tiara is made of like, real, diamonds! It's worth more bits than you guys will ever have! So SEARCH HARDER!"

The other two voices groaned, but a fourth popped in. "C'mon, y'all, maybe we can be CUTIE MARK CRUSADER TIARA FINDERS!"

"Totally!"

"Yeah!"

"Oh, give me a break," the bratty voice huffed. The other three ran away, making crunching noises as their hooves crushed leaves and twigs scattered across the forest floor. The smell also went away when they left, mostly. Pinkie realized that this was her chance to get to the smell. She smashed through the plants, ignorant to Fluttershy screaming behind her.

Pinkie bounded into the clearing where the smell was coming from. She couldn't see anything that looked delicious in there. The only thing that was in the clearing was an earth pony filly with a pink coat and purple mane with a white streak, staring at Pinkie in horror. As the filly screamed, Pinkie realized that the smell was coming from her. From inside her. But first, Pinkie had to break through the fur and skin, to get to whatever scrumptious thing was waiting inside.

Fluttershy flew into the clearing, roaring, "PINKIE, NO!" But she was too late.

Act I: Fugitives

"Pinkie Pie...oh, why, oh, why..." Fluttershy paced back and forth. "We can't...we just, can't..."

Pinkie didn't have anything to say as she stared breathlessly at the lifeless body of the filly. Diamond Tiara. She couldn't get the taste out of her mouth. Pinkie knew what it was, what she just did, but she didn't feel guilty. Just shocked beyond belief. At least the burning in her throat had stopped.

"I...I didn't realize...I just don't know what happened to me, Fluttershy. I couldn't help myself."

Fluttershy didn't even acknowledge Pinkie's words. "How can we even show our f-faces in Ponyville? First, Angel, then you, then this...I j-just wish I could kill myself and end it all!"

Pinkie gaped at her friend. "Fluttershy, how could you think that?! This was my fault! You can't think of s-suicide...don't you know what that would do to your friends...to me?"

"It's just...it's just..." Fluttershy began to shudder, keeping in tears. "How can I live with this, knowing what I've done? How can I even stay here, in Equestria? They'll never forgive us..."

Pinkie nodded. "Maybe we should just...leave." Fluttershy gaped.

"Hey, DT, we found your tiara!" Scootaloo shouted in triumph as the Cutie Mark Crusaders rushed into the clearing, stopping as they surveyed the area.

"Fluttershy? Pinkie Pie? DIAMOND TIARA?!" The Crusaders screamed as they put the pieces together.

"P-please, girls, it's not what it looks like!" Fluttershy pleaded, flying over to them. But this only let the fillies get a closer look at Fluttershy's bat wings, red eyes, and fangs, making them run away in terror.

"Wait! Please!" Fluttershy cried. Pinkie unfolded her wings and attempted to fly after the Crusaders, but she fell flat on her face...again.

As Pinkie picked herself up and prepared to run, Fluttershy stopped her with one hoof. "Pinkie...it's too late. They're going to tell the police...and they'll c-come after us..." Fluttershy cowered on the ground, covering her face with both wings. "They'll catch us...even if we r-run...and they'll give us the...d-d-death p-p-penalty..."

Pinkie's eyes widened. She didn't want to die! She wanted to keep living, to keep throwing parties, to keep making her friends smile, smile, smile... Then, something seemed to click inside Pinkie's mind. She couldn't do those things anymore. Everything was different now. There was no going back.

Pinkie's mane deflated. But this time, it wasn't because of deep sadness, like every other time. This, time, Pinkie Pie had realized that she couldn't be the excitable, party pony she used to be.

"We're not going to die, Fluttershy," Pinkie said calmly. "We have to find someone who can take us in. And then...we'll leave Equestria. My Granny Pie used to tell me that there were places beyond Equestria, places where ponies don't live. They could accept us there."

"Pinkie," Fluttershy looked up, seeing her best friend's deflated mane, "do you really think so? But what about our friends, our family?"

"It's our only choice. Fluttershy, even if they do forgive us, we'll never be safe near so many ponies."

"Then who should we go to?"

"I don't know," Pinkie sighed. "We need somepony--I mean, someone--who didn't know Diamond Tiara. Someone who lives away from civilization, someone who's been accused of terrible things, who'd understand us..."

"Zecora!" Fluttershy perked up. "She lives nearby. We should stay with her until we...leave."

"Okay. Lead the way, Fluttershy."

"Well, we're here," Pinkie said as they stood in front of Zecora's tree hut. "I guess we go in..."

"B-but what if she doesn't take us in?" Fluttershy panicked. "What if she reports us?"

"We'll just have to take that chance. Maybe Zecora knows where we should go once we leave. She used to live outside of Equestria, right?"

"She d-did."

"Then let's ask her," Pinkie said, knocking on the door.

"I'm busy brewing a potion, I fear," Zecora's mystical-sounding voice was heard faintly from inside. "Who's there?" The door opened, and Zecora got a good look at the two bat-ponies. "Oh, dear."

"Zecora, we n-need your h-help," Fluttershy explained. "You see..."

"Hm, your predicament is very bad," Zecora mused when the explanation was finished. "I'll help you two, don't be sad."

"That's great!" Fluttershy said, relieved.

"Can you tell us how to get out of Equestria?" Pinkie asked.

Zecora nodded. "After a long journey to the border of Equestria, there is a glowing line. Once you cross it, you will be fine. For Celestia's guards may not cross the border, of that they have been given harsh orders."

"Then that's where we'll go," Pinkie said decisively. "Zecora, can you spare us traveling equipment? We'll want to leave soon, before word of the murder reaches everypony."

"Of course--" Zecora was interrupted by a knock on the door. "Ma'am, please open your door. We need to talk to you about two ponies that have committed a murder crime."

Pinkie and Fluttershy looked at each other in horror. Zecora motioned them towards a trapdoor in the back of the tribal-style hut. "Hide in there, don't be scared."

The two of them rushed over to the trap door. Pinkie opened it with her teeth, and jumped in, pulling a hesitant Fluttershy along with her. They found themselves landing on a damp, musty wooden floor.

"This must be some sort of cellar," Pinkie theorized.

"Shh! The g-guards are c-coming in!"

"We're terribly sorry to bother you, Miss Zecora," one of the guards said, his voice muffled to the two bat-ponies hiding underground. "Earlier today, two monster-ponies, resembling the animal-caretaker Fluttershy and the party-planner Pinkie Pie were witnessed killing a filly named Diamond Tiara."

"It's just that we are aware that you know these fugitives," another guard continued. "And that your residence is near enough that two ponies could travel here within the time of the murder and now."

"Are you suggesting I am harboring criminals?" Zecora raged, sounding very sincere. "I can assure, the chance of that is minimal!"

"Oh, no, we aren't suggesting that you're harboring them. That would be illegal, after all."

Fluttershy squeaked in fear.

"But do you perhaps know the location of these two? When was the last time you saw them?"

"I'm afraid it's been a while since I've talked to Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie. I can't help you sirs, I apologize."

"That's quite alright. Well, we'd better ask other ponies." The door was slammed shut as the guards walked out.

The trapdoor opened slowly, and Zecora's striped head greeted the two fugitives. "The guards are gone, but come back they might. I suggest you two stay the night."

"Okay, we'll get an early start tomorrow," Pinkie said.

"Your agreement is very good. I'll give you two candles, water, and food." The items spoken of were lowered down into the cellar.

"We can't thank you enough for this, Zecora," Fluttershy sniffled.

"You are very welcome, Fluttershy. I have to go now, to not attract suspicion nearby. You two must sit tight. I'll be back in the morning to help you take flight." And with that, Zecora shut the trapdoor and left her house, leaving Fluttershy and Pinkie in pitch-black darkness.

"Oh...I'm scared of the dark," Fluttershy tittered through the inky blackness.

"Don't be. Zecora gave us candles, remember?" Pinkie felt around for a candle and a match. Soon, she found them, and lit a candle. The soft orange light cast shadows on Fluttershy's face, but Pinkie could still see that she was frightened and...annoyed? "Fluttershy, what's wrong?"

"Well, um...normally, you would tell me that I have to laugh in the face of my f-fears. And tell me to smile."

"That was the old Pinkie. Things have changed."

"You sound just like I did when I got too assertive!"

"What?! No, I don't!"

"I know that's not the real you, Pinkie Pie. The real you would try to make me smile, no matter what happened. You're just acting so serious now. It's not like you."

"Fluttershy, why does this matter to you?" Pinkie rolled her eyes. "Once we escape Equestria, then we can worry about personality issues."

"It matters to me...because...b-because...you're my best friend, Pinkie Pie. My best friend in the whole world."

"What?" Pinkie's jaw hung open. "You mean, the very best?"

"Th-that's what I thought for such a long time. To be completely honest, you were always my favorite out of all our friends."

"Me? Really? Even after all those times where I was insensitive to you?"

"Everypony has their flaws, Pinkie. Have you ever wondered why I decided on you of all ponies to reveal my secret to?"

Pinkie frowned. She hadn't thought about that at all. "Why?"

"Because you never fail to bring smiles to everypony's faces. I knew that you would be the one pony who could truly help me see the bright side of things. Twilight just would've gotten stressed out trying to find a magic solution, Applejack is so traditional, she'd never accept me like this, Rainbow Dash would crack under pressure, and Rarity would just keep making remarks on how 'horrid' I looked. But you, Pinkie, I knew you could cheer me up. You might be a bit eccentric and loud, but you never want anything except your friend's happiness." Fluttershy wiped a couple tears from her red eyes. "That's the Pinkie I want to see. That's the Pinkie I've loved all these years."

"Fluttershy...I..." Pinkie said, speechless. "I'm sorry. For being such a downer." With a happy sound like a balloon inflating, Pinkie's mane returned to its fluffy, bouncy state. "But you'll forgive me, right?'

"Of course I will!" Fluttershy exclaimed, happy that Pinkie was back to normal.

"I thought so! After all, we're officially best friends now!"

"Best friends forever," Fluttershy agreed. The two mares hugged each other by the candlelight. It didn't matter that--although they didn't know this--the Equestrian court had put bounties on their heads to bring them back, dead, that their friends and family would never forgive them, that they were permanently creatures of darkness, forced to feed off of and kill others.

All that mattered was that they had each other.

Act I: Rising Sun

"Pinkie, you're doing great!"

"Really?" Pinkie grinned as she struggled to stay airborne above the thick trees of the Everfree Forest, her wings flapping frantically. It was so early in the morning, the sun had yet to spread tendrils of light across the horizon, and the land was still blanketed in darkness. Pinkie felt much more comfortable being awake during the night; it must have been a bat-pony thing.

"Really!" Fluttershy nodded excitedly. "It took Twilight two weeks just to get off the ground!" Fluttershy's face fell at the thought of their friends, whom she and Pinkie might never see again.

A couple hours ago, Zecora woke them and gave them each saddlebags stuffed with food, water, camping supplies, and even a couple jars of blood she snitched from the hospital in Ponyville. Pinkie and Fluttershy both agreed to save the blood until they absolutely needed. They found they could stomach food and water, and though it satisfied them, it didn't soothe their burning throats. Pinkie was just happy she could still eat cupcakes and other sweets. After many good-byes and thank-yous were shared with Zecora, the two of them went on their way to the border.

Fluttershy shook the thoughts of her friends out of her head. "Now, Pinkie, try moving forward."

"How?"

"Angle your wings forward. You don't need to flap them so fast," she suggested.

"Okey-dokey!" Pinkie replied, tilting her bat wings forward. But then, she forgot to flap, and plummeted in a nosedive through the trees and toward the ground.

"Pinkie!" Fluttershy gasped, flying down to help her friend. But she didn't need to. Pinkie spread her wings and recovered at the last second, spiraling high into the air. She righted herself and flew straight at great speeds, brushing the treetops. Flying was the most wonder-tastic thing Pinkie had ever experienced. Her mane streaming out, her wings flapping in perfect rhythm, her eyes tearing from the wind. She felt as if she could reach out and touch the stars.

"WOO-HOO!" Pinkie shouted as she did a quick loop-de-loop, her stomach dropping as she went upside-down.

"Pinkie, you're a natural!" Fluttershy laughed, struggling to keep up. The sun was starting to rise, streaking the sky with beams of pink and cream light. The two bat-ponies flew into the dawn together.

It took days. Days of flying until their wings were so sore they couldn't move, days of adjusting to their new sleep schedules, sleeping in the day and traveling in the night, days of sneaking into towns to check on their publicity, where they found their fates if they returned to civilization. Days of taking tiny sips of the bottles of blood, barely quenching the infernos in their lungs. Days of telling stories of their early years, before they met, days of promising to stay together. Days of barely avoiding guards and police stallions, ordered to kill them on sight. Days of joy, days of grief. Until one night.

"There it is," Fluttershy and Pinkie whispered at the same time, unable to believe what they were seeing. Slicing across the desert wasteland they were flying over. A thin, glowing line. The border.

They landed several hundred yards from the line. This was it. They were leaving Equestria, for good. Obviously, it was best to drag on this moment as they walked slowly towards the border, to ponder everything that had transpired and what would transpire.

Pinkie was nervous-cited. That was the only way to describe her anticipation, regret, hope, and anxiousness. She didn't want to leave Equestria, to venture out into territory inhabited by no ponies whatsoever. Pinkie conceded that she wasn't exactly a pony anymore, yet it felt so scary to cross the line. She would, she did, miss her old friends. Pinkie had thought the word, "old," without even considering its implications. Old meant that she hadn't seen them for the longest time, that she wasn't friends with them anymore. Pinkie missed her old friends incredibly. There would be no more helping Twilight practice magic. No more baking with her probably-cousin Applejack. No more modeling dresses for Rarity. No more hanging by the water hole with Rainbow Dash. There would be no more parties. Pinkie wondered if Cheese Sandwich would take over the party-business in Ponyville. If she had a will, that would be what Pinkie wanted. Did she have a will? Pinkie never remembered writing one. Then again, she wasn't dead, but she was probably as good as dead if she was truly leaving Equestria. Nopony ever left Equestria. Would her friends grieve over her and Fluttershy, or just force themselves to forget them? Just the thought of that broke Pinkie's heart. She decided, that if there was ever a way, she would go back to Equestria and visit her friends. But it would have to be years until that could happen.

Fluttershy, unlike Pinkie, was relieved that they were almost away from Equestria. She would miss her old life. That was a given. But she was nearly giddy wondering what her new life, alone with Pinkie, would entail. Fluttershy realized that Pinkie was going to have a hard time adjusting, being a pony who always needed many others for company, but Fluttershy didn't need all that. Being alone with one pony, just one pony, felt perfect to anti-social Fluttershy. Although she was terrified at the prospect of what laid beyond the border. Equestria was a safe, happy place. The princesses' magic kept most of the horrible monsters that lurked outside at bay. Fluttershy suppressed her fear at the thought of these monsters, remembering what Pinkie had told her when she was scared to go into the Everfree Forest. The two of them were bat-ponies. They could fly, suck blood, and over the days, they had learned that they had enhanced physical abilities, like increased stamina, healing rate, and galloping speed. There was no reason to be scared. If there were any huge, hostile, carnivorous monsters...Fluttershy and Pinkie could take them. The thought of kicking monster butt gave Fluttershy a shiver of giddiness, which seemed she realized was very unlike her. Maybe...maybe becoming a bat-pony was giving her more violent thoughts and desires. She wondered if the same thing was happening to Pinkie. But either way, Fluttershy swore to herself then that she wouldn't hurt anypony ever again. Any pony. She knew she needed blood...maybe she just wouldn't drink pony blood. That wouldn't be too hard, anyway, because where she was going, there wouldn't be any ponies to hurt. That made Fluttershy feel much happier. She hated herself for changing Pinkie, in turn causing the death of Diamond Tiara. That would never happen again. Fluttershy wasn't going to hurt another pony, as long as she lived.

As both Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy pondered their deep thoughts, they neared the Equestrian border.

"Are you ready?" Fluttershy asked quietly.

"Ready as I'll ever be," Pinkie replied with a weak smile.

In five steps, they would pass the border. Four steps...three steps...two steps...one step...

But as Pinkie and Fluttershy's hooves were about to cross over, they were reflected off of some magical forcefield. They looked at each other in horror. What was going on?

"THERE THEY ARE! SHOOT THEM!"

Pinkie and Fluttershy turned around, and saw an army of about twenty Equestrian soldiers, lead by.,.Shining Armor, who's horn glowed purple as he cast a shield spell, keeping Pinkie and Fluttershy trapped inside. His eyes were filled with guilt and sadness. He was the one who gave the command.

Pinkie screamed as she turned back to Fluttershy and saw arrows, shot by the soldiers, protruding from her neck, legs, chest. Fluttershy was wearing a mirrored expression of horror, and Pinkie knew what it meant even before she looked at herself. Numerous arrows were shot into her, as well.

Fluttershy and Pinkie looked at each other. There was nothing to be said. Celestia's sun was beginning to rise once again. They were so close.

But they failed.

Act II: Cold Hard Truth

Pain. The pain of the arrows that were stuck inside of her being pulled out. She wouldn't scream, though. She'd never give them that satisfaction.

Solitude. Darkness as she was blindfolded, tied up in thick steel cords, her large bat-pony ears plugged with some substance so she couldn't hear a thing. Gagged, blinded, motionless as she was carried by the guards to Celestia knows where. Or...Celestia did know where, probably.

Fear. Eating away at her thoughts. Where were the guards taking her and her best friend? Were they going to be publicly executed for their crimes, or tortured with no mercy? If she could shudder through her unbreakable restraints, she would.

The bad feelings mixed inside of her, making her want to explode. She just couldn't take it anymore. Why wasn't she dead?

There was a pinch at her flank, a cold feeling in her veins, and then, relief. She could feel her already dark world fading into a hazy, distorted reality.

It took Pinkie a long time to figure out that they were injecting her with some sort of drug. A drug created with magic in special Canterlot laboratories, meant to trap ponies in a hazy, hallucinating, unconscious state. The first few hallucinations were mostly just her reliving early scenes of her life on the rock farm. Nudging rocks, breaking rocks, kicking rocks...it was enough to make Pinkie practically die of boredom. How in the world did she ever survive without fun?

Then, there was blackness. Perpetual blackness. Pinkie couldn't move or even think straight. Her mind was a jumble, and her thoughts were slow and incoherent.

After eternities, Pinkie felt as if she could move her muscles again. She didn't hesitate to open her eyes, but when she took in the scene around her, she gasped. This had to be another hallucination. No...this wasn't a hallucination. This was a dream. A normal dream.

Pinkie was standing in the meadow of red flowers once again. The blood flowers.

"Well, I'm a bat-pony, so eating the blood is okay," Pinkie chuckled to herself, taking a bite of a flower. The tangy flavor of blood soothed her stinging throat, and she moaned in pleasure.

"Pinkie Pie?" a soft voice called out.

Pinkie's head jolted up. "Fluttershy!" she squealed. Fluttershy was standing a few yards away from her, a pegasus for some reason, her mane and tail embroidered with blue flowers. Wait...why was Fluttershy a pegasus but Pinkie still a bat-pony? And why was she wearing blue flowers, when there were only red ones in the meadow? Oh, it didn't matter! Pinkie was just so happy to see her best friend again. "Fluttershy, I'm so glad to see you! I was so worried...that you got...killed." Pinkie hid her head, a couple tears dropping out of her eyes.

Fluttershy flitted forward and gave Pinkie a hug. For some reason, her touch was hard to feel, as if she wasn't entirely there. "Don't worry, Pinkie, I'm fine now," she said with one of her signature tiny, sweet smiles. "I'm just glad you...escaped, too."

"Escaped?" Pinkie repeated.

Fluttershy frowned. "Pinkie, you did find the way out, didn't you?"

"The way out of what?"

Fluttershy's teal eyes widened. "Oh, Pinkie...you're still being kept by them, aren't you."

"Fluttershy, I don't understand what you're talking about," Pinkie said with a giggle.

Several tears streamed out of Fluttershy's eyes. "Pinkie, this is serious. You're being held prisoner in a hospital by the Equestrian government. They're keeping you from escaping by giving you magic drugs so you won't realize what's going on."

Pinkie was speechless. Why were they doing this to her? It didn't make sense. "How...how did you escape?" Pinkie asked quietly. "How do I escape?"

Fluttershy didn't meet Pinkie's eyes. "There's only one way to get away from them, Pinkie. I took it."

"I'm sorry, Fluttershy...I just don't understand what you mean."

"Pinkie Pie, wake up!" A voice emanated through the meadow, and the dreamland became distorted and hazy. The dream was ending; Pinkie could tell.

"Pinkie, the way to get out is...you have to..." The land started to ripple and tear apart, fading away entirely.

"C'mon, Pinkie, open your eyes!"

"What do I have to do?!" Pinkie screamed as she woke up.

Pinkie was staring into the faces of Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Applejack. Normally, she would've been ecstatic at the sight of her friends, but instead, she just felt irritated and suspicious. The huge smiles on their faces seemed plastered on. Pinkie just didn't trust them, not after everything that had happened. Especially because she was in restraints on a hospital bed.

"Oh, Pinkie, we're glad you're finally awake!" Twilight said giddily. "We missed you so much."

"Really," Pinkie replied bitterly, refusing to meet Twilight's eyes. The four ponies exchanged worried glances, probably wondering what happened to the cheerful, happy Pinkie Pie they knew.

After an awkward silence, Rarity spoke up. "Honestly, I have no idea what you were thinking, trying to leave Equestria."

Pinkie gave Rarity an intense glare. "Hm. Maybe you didn't think that we would get KILLED if we stayed?"

"Oh, yeah!" Rainbow Dash grinned. "We forgot to say: Princess Celestia interfered with the court and got you an innocent sentence! Isn't that awesome?"

"I guess," Pinkie said with a slight smile. "But what am I gonna do now? I can't live with other ponies if well, you know..."

"That's why you're here," Twilight said. "The other princesses and I have been working on a magic spell that will eliminate the bat-pony urges. It's already working, see?" Twilight levitated a mirror in front of Pinkie's face. Pinkie didn't notice at first but when she looked a little closer, she could see that her huge ears had shrunk a bit, and her eyes were more of a violet than bright red.

"Aren't you happy, sugar cube?" Applejack said tentatively. "In a week or so, you'll be back to normal!"

Pinkie hesitated, then slowly broke out into a grin, making her friends sigh in relief. But the grin vanished when Pinkie noticed that they weren't telling her something. Although they seemed to be in a good mood, their eyes were red and puffy, as if they had just been crying, and the way they stood seemed hunched and defeated. Pinkie knew immediately what they were hiding from her.

"Where's Fluttershy?"

As soon as Pinkie said this, her friends looked at each other nervously.

"She's, er...fine," Twilight said.

"Can I see her?" Pinkie asked excitably. The four ponies didn't meet her eyes. Rarity turned around and stepped away, but that wasn't before Pinkie saw the tears streaming out of her eyes.

"Tell me the truth." Pinkie said firmly. "I...I know she's not fine. You're lying."

"We...we seriously thought she was gonna be fine," Rainbow Dash winced. "The doctors here are really good with healing magic. The arrow cuts would be nothing for them to fix."

"But then," Applejack continued, silent sobs racking her strong body, "it was as if she stopped fightin'. She started resistin' the treatment, nopony knows why. It was like...like she gave up the will to live."

Pinkie froze, remembering the dream. There's only one way to get out...

"Pinkie Pie..." Twilight breathed. "Fluttershy is...dead."

Act II: Eternal Sorrow

As soon as the words left Twilight Sparkle's muzzle, the world flashed white and disappeared. Pain. All that was left was pain. Excruciating, mind-numbing pain. But not the physical kind; Pinkie was used to that by now. It was the kind of pain that left her heart aching and broken, forcing liquid out of her eyes and throbbing in her veins. Pinkie Pie couldn't see, speak, or hear. She could only feel the pain.

What the four ponies around her saw was Pinkie's body going limp, her hybrid violet eyes glazing over and streaming salty tears.

"Pinkie..." Applejack whispered. "Ah don't think she'll ever be the same again."

"None of us will." Rarity stated, inciting murmurs of agreement from everypony else.

"Hello? Earth to Pinkie Pie?" Rainbow Dash said, getting in the unmoving pony's face.

"Don't do that, Rainbow Dash," Twilight huffed, levitating her away from Pinkie's bed. "Come on, girls, Pinkie needs some space to grieve. We'd better get going." With that, the four ponies exited out the sterile white hospital room door.

Pinkie Pie lay there for the longest time, unable to move. There was nothing but her breaking heart to comfort her. She could sense her friends, her family, the doctors and nurses trying to talk to her, to elicit a response, but the other ponies were as insignificant as a buzzing fly in the distance. Fluttershy was...dead. The words just felt wrong in her brain. How could her best friend be gone? After all they'd been through together?

Pinkie could remember it clearly. They had just ran up to attack that scary manticore, but Fluttershy stopped them. She moseyed on up to the horrible beast and nuzzled it's paw, causing it to show her a huge splinter stuck in it. As soon as she pulled it out, the manticore was embracing her and licking her affectionately. Kindness was her Element, and for a darn good reason. She was so sweet to everypony.

And then, when everypony was knocked out by that dragon, it was Fluttershy who stood up for her friends, and showed that dragon who was boss! But she did it with kindness and mercy, just proving how much of an amazing pony Fluttershy was.

And when she had stage fright of singing in front of a crowd, Pinkie remembered how she managed to conquer her fears, even if it was baby-steps. Her voice was so beautiful, clear and bright like a warm summer day. And Fluttershy even forgave Pinkie after she was so mean to her that day, making her cry several times with her antics. Pinkie regretted not being able to change herself, to become a more serious pony so she would never hurt Fluttershy like that anymore.

These thoughts about Fluttershy gave a speck of warmth in Pinkie's heart, dispelling some of the pain. But the she remembered.

Fluttershy was gone forever. She wasn't coming back. Never. She was dead.

Why did she go? Pinkie thought as the pain returned. Why did she leave me out here on my own? Doesn't she know that her animals need her, that Ponyville needs her? Doesn't she know that I need her? Best friends...best friends never abandon each other! Pinkie tried to hold back the sobs. But her attempts were fruitless, and she wailed in sorrow. She could feel her mane starting to go flat and lose its bright color.

Stop it, mane! Pinkie commanded herself. No way I'm getting all serious and mopey! Fluttershy told me to be happy...that's what she wanted... Although her mane remained bright and curly, Pinkie cried once again, the restraints on her hospital bed stopping her body from convulsing in grief. She fell into a fitful, dreamless sleep.

When Pinkie Pie awoke, she could feel an odd sense of clarity in her mind. The grief of losing her best friend still sliced through her thoughts like a butcher's knife, but she didn't feel the need to cry or lie unmoving anymore. Pinkie tested once hoof, and was shocked to find out that her restraints had been taken off. That was great...but weren't the staff afraid that she was going to suck their blood and murder them? But as Pinkie slowly sat up, she gasped when she realized something.

Her throat wasn't burning anymore.

Pinkie got out of bed and wobbled around on her hooves. It had been a while since she last walked, seemingly. How long was she in that sterilized bed? She remembered Twilight explaining that she had a cure for the bat-pony urges, and that they were using it on her. What did she look like? Was she a normal earth pony again? Pinkie somehow felt upset at the thought of this. But why? Shouldn't she be happy if she wasn't a danger to everypony else? It had to be the flying. Flying was the most wonderful thing Pinkie ever experienced, and she didn't want to give it up.

She found a small mirror on the nightstand and held it up to her face. Pinkie Pie was relieved to see that she hadn't changed too much. Her ears were smaller, fur a bit brighter, and by the looks of it, her wings had shrunk a bit. But thankfully, she still was able to get into the air with ease. Pinkie flew around in tight circles, regaining the strength in her muscles.

"Ah, Pinkie Pie!" A voice said. Nurse Redheart, a white pony with a pink mane and hospital uniform trotted into the room and spotted Pinkie flying a few feet above her bed. "It's great to see you active again. We were so worried about you."

"If I got a bit for every time I heard that," Pinkie cracked under her breath.

"Well, I understand you must be very hungry. I brought you some breakfast," Nurse Redheart said, presenting a tray of delicious looking pancakes. Just the sight of the warm, golden-brown delicacies made Pinkie's heart hurt as she remembered Fluttershy making her pancakes, just a couple weeks ago...it felt like years.

Pinkie gulped. "Er, I'm sorry, Nurse...but I sort of have to drink...you know, blood."

Nurse Redheart shook her head, smiling, and that's when Pinkie understood. Her throat wasn't burning. She didn't need blood anymore. She didn't need blood anymore! She wasn't a monster anymore! She wasn't a danger to other ponies! That must've been why they took her restraints off. She was free!

Mustering a smile, Pinkie flopped back down on her bed obediently and was about to dig in, when Redheart stopped her.

"Hold on, Pinkie. You don't mind if I put the serum in the pancakes to make things go faster?" She took out a vial of florescent, purple liquid.

"Serum?" Pinkie repeated.

"Oh, your friends didn't tell you!" Nurse Redheart assumed. I bet they did...I just wasn't listening, Pinkie thought guiltily.

"You should really thank Twilight the next time you see her," the nurse explained. "She developed this magic serum to erase the bat-pony parts. It's very simple; you just consume it and all the bad stuff goes away!"

"ALL the bad stuff?" Pinkie asked suspiciously. "I thought that my recovery was gonna take time."

"Oh, that was when we were unsure about the stability of your health. We were only giving you a tiny bit of the serum each day, just to make sure it didn't react negatively with your unstable condition. But now, if you take this whole vial, you'll be all better in no time at all!"

Pinkie stared at the serum as the nurse walked over. "Um...does it taste bad?" Pinkie pressed, trying to find a reason not to turn back to normal. She liked being able to fly, and have better strength and stamina. Why did she have to give up all those benefits and be a boring old earth pony?

"It might," Nurse Redheart admitted. "I haven't tried it, of course."

Pinkie wrinkled her nose as the nurse leaned over and poured the liquid all over her pancakes. She just didn't want to change. It was that simple.

"I don't wanna take it."

Nurse Redheart sighed. "Pinkie, please, don't do this. You're a grown mare, just grin and bear it."

"No."

"Yes," the nurse said, narrowing her eyes.

"No."

"Yes."

"No!"

"Yes!"

"NO!"

"YES!"

"YES!" Pinkie screamed, using the trick she always used to outsmart ponies.

"NO!" Nurse Redheart countered, unaware at what she was saying.

"YES!"

"NO!"

"Okie dokie lokie! I won't take it," Pinkie said triumphantly.

Nurse Redheart tugged at her disheveled bun, growling in frustration. "Pinkamena Diane Pie, take that serum RIGHT NOW. Or else we'll have to do this the hard way."

"What's the hard way?"

"Injecting you with drugs to make you immobile, and giving you the serum drop by drop. Just like we did before."

Pinkie's eyes widened. She didn't want to go through all the hallucinations, the hazy blackness again. She couldn't bear it.

"Now, Pinkie, are we going to do this the easy way or the hard way?"

"The hard way," Pinkie answered without thinking.

"Fine," the nurse sighed, walking over to her cart. She pulled out several syringes filled with magical drugs. She went back to Pinkie and prepared to inject her, but Pinkie opened her wings and darted to the side, dodging the needle.

"Pinkie Pie!" Nurse Redheart roared.

"Can't catch me!" Pinkie taunted, zipping around the room as the nurse chased her with the syringes. It looked like a scene from a horror movie, where the psycho pursues the victim relentlessly.

Pinkie flew outside into the hall and quickly used the nurse's cart to block the door. Nurse Redheart's shrieks of obscenities could be heard from inside. Pinkie chuckled. "You can't beat the Pink...ie Pie!"

After a while, the screams died down. Feeling just a bit sheepish, Pinkie removed the cart and opened the door a crack. Nurse Redheart was facing away, taking deep breaths to calm herself, unaware that the door was open. Pinkie grinned maliciously. This was the perfect time to do a sneak attack and bust out of this place!

Without even thinking, Pinkie shoved the door open and leaped forward, fangs bared. The nurse turned around and screamed in terror; Pinkie must have looked terrifying.

These doctors and nurses, the ponies who captured them and imprisoned them here were the reason Fluttershy died. She didn't want to live in a world where she wasn't free. She lost the will to live because of them.

And they were going to pay.

Before Pinkie Pie knew it, she was standing in front of the mangled corpse of Nurse Redheart.

And Pinkie didn't feel guilty at all. She was beginning to feel relieved. She was going to avenge Fluttershy, and everything would be made right.

But then again, nothing would be right, ever again now. What a funny thought. So, Pinkie Pie began to laugh. But it wasn't her usual, joyful giggle. It was dark laughter.

Act II: Thank You (Good Ending)

The air rushed passed her as she fell, her wings folded tight against her side. Her struggles would soon be over. Pinkie Pie closed her eyes as the ground approached her, at peace at last. Falling, falling, falling...and it stopped. It was over.

Pinkie felt the oddest sensation, as if she was floating, being cradled by clouds and light. She sighed, content with the world around her.

"Pinkie Pie..." A familiar, quiet voice breathed.

Fluttershy...

"Pinkie Pie...please don't end your life. I want you to know that I'm happy now, and that I'll be watching over you, protecting you until we meet again. You have so much to live for, Pinkie. Your parties, your baking, your friends... Pinkie, don't end your life. It's my wish. My dying wish..."

But Fluttershy...I'm already dead.

"Open your eyes, Pinkie Pie. Open your eyes and be happy."

Pinkie Pie opened her eyes and saw the gravel of a street in Ponyville a couple feet below her, through a fuchsia glow that covered her whole body.

"Pinkie Pie, how could you try to kill yourself?" Twilight Sparkle exclaimed. Pinkie felt Twilight's magic right her body and stand her down on her four hooves.

"Yeah, Pinkie, that was NOT COOL," Rainbow Dash growled, tears worming their way out of her magenta eyes despite her tough persona.

They were all there. Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and Rarity.

"Pinkie Pie, is this because of...Fluttershy?" Rarity asked. Pinkie nodded and bowed her head.

"Sugarcube, the loss has been just as hard for us as it has been for you," Applejack sighed. "But ya can't just try an' take your life like that. It aint fair to us."

"I-I understand," Pinkie whispered. "I'm sorry."

"It's alright," Twilight smiled weakly. "It's a good thing you fell from so far up, otherwise we wouldn't have saved you in time."

"How ever did you manage to fall from so high?" Rarity questioned.

"Um...I flew," Pinkie said. Wasn't that obvious?

"What the hay are you talking about?" Rainbow Dash snorted. "Pinkie, I know you can bounce super-high, but you can't fly. You don't have wings."

"Yes I--" Pinkie looked at her flank and gasped. Her wings were gone. Her fur was back to it's normal, bright pink color. When she felt around her mouth with her tongue, she found that her fangs were gone, as well. She imagined that her eyes were back to their normal, light blue color, as well. She wasn't a bat-pony anymore. But how?

"What the...did you use the serum on me?" Pinkie said accusingly.

"What serum?" They said in confusion.

"I'm...not a bat-pony," Pinkie tried to explain.

"Of course you're not," Twilight said. "Why in the world would you be a bat-pony?"

"You don't remember..."

"Don't remember what?"

Something occurred to Pinkie. "Am I going to be punished? For what I did to Diamond Tiara, and Nurse Redheart, and that one doctor?"

"Excuse me?" Rarity cocked her head. "Darling, those ponies are fine, as far as we know. Is there anything wrong?"

Pinkie gaped. "You mean they're not dead?"

"Of course not!" Twilight cried.

"Ah think Pinkie's a bit woozy from the shock," Applejack chuckled. "She needs some rest. C'mon, y'all, let's get her to bed."

Pinkie allowed her friends to carry her to Sugarcube Corner and tuck her into her bed. As they left, she pondered what they had said. Were they lying to her? No, they sounded very sincere. If they had been lying, Pinkie probably would've been able to tell. Were their memories tampered with?

A few minutes later, Pinkie heard hoofsteps as Mr. and Mrs. Cake trotted into her room.

"Oh, Pinkie, you're awake," Cup Cake said, mildly surprised.

"We heard what happened earlier," Carrot Cake stated, a frown etched on his muzzle. "Are you okay?"

"Fine and dandy," Pinkie lied.

"That's great," Cup Cake said half-heartedly. "Well, um, we were thinking that maybe you should take a break from work for a couple days."

"What? Why?"

"We think that we haven't been giving you enough time to...grieve," Carrot Cake clarified. "Losing somepony dear to you can take a long time to adjust to."

"O-okay," Pinkie stammered. "Thank you."

The Cakes nodded and left. Pinkie Pie got out of her bed and walked over to her bedroom window, which she could see most of Ponyville through. She scanned the bustling masses below, searching for three particular ponies.

Yes, there was Diamond Tiara! She was with her friend, Silver Spoon, browsing through expensive jewelry in the Ponyville market.

And there were Nurse Redheart and the doctor! They were strolling through town, no doubt discussing some sort of medical topic...or romantic topic. Pinkie couldn't help but notice the way they were longingly gazing into each others eyes.

How could this be?! How was Pinkie back to normal, and those three ponies alive?! It was almost as if...almost as if it never happened. As if it never happened at all. But that couldn't be...Fluttershy was still gone; everypony had made that clear. If something caused everything to reverse itself, why couldn't Fluttershy be brought back to life, too?

Feeling a wave of tears about to pour out, Pinkie went into the bathroom to get some tissues. As she was about to leave the small, tiled room, Pinkie looked at herself in the mirror. Yes, she was entirely an earth pony again. Normal mouth, normal ears, normal fur, normal--

Pinkie stuck her hoof in her mouth to keep from screaming. Her eyes weren't their normal aquamarine color.

They were blue-ish green. Teal.

They were the same color as Fluttershy's eyes. What was going on?! Why did she have Fluttershy's eyes?! What had happened?!

With a jolt, Pinkie realized why.

"You did this, didn't you...Fluttershy?" Pinkie said, looking up. "You made everything back to the way it was...so I could be happy." Pinkie rubbed her teal eyes, having no problem whatsoever with the change. "My eyes...this means...this means that you're watching over me, doesn't it."

A smile spreading across her face, Pinkie bounded into her room and leaned out the window once again. She stared at the perfect blue sky, and could almost imagine Fluttershy up above, in wherever good ponies go when they die, watching over Pinkie with a sweet little smile like the one she always wore.

"Thank you, Fluttershy," Pinkie said, tears running down her face. Tears of joy. "Thank you."

FIN

Act II: Numbers (Bad Ending)

"Pinkie Pie..." A familiar, quiet voice breathed.

Fluttershy...

"Pinkie Pie." Fluttershy's sweet voice said. "This is the last time I can visit you. The divine forces have decided your fate. For murdering all those ponies...the afterlife won't be pretty for you."

No...

"Pinkamena Diane Pie. This is the last time you'll see or hear me. Goodbye."

Pinkie opened her eyes, but instead of the flames of hell, she saw the gravel of a street in Ponyville a few feet below her through a fuchsia glow. She wasn't dead.

"Pinkie Pie...how could you." A voice said accusingly. Pinkie looked up and saw Twilight Sparkle, her horn glowing as she kept Pinkie suspended upside-down in midair. They were all there. Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Applejack.

"Yeah, Pinkie, that was NOT COOL," Rainbow Dash agreed, teeth bared in a snarl.

Rarity averted her eyes, tears making streaks down her face as they smudged her mascara. "I can't believe that you would just try and kill yourself to escape your fate."

"Ya kill a bunch o' ponies an' ya think you can just kill yourself and escape your guilt?" Applejack growled, looking ready to attack.

Pinkie Pie said nothing.

"It's a good thing Princess Celestia pleaded insanity for you," Twilight Sparkle snorted. "You've been sentenced to only five years of prison. And it's my duty to do this." As Twilight held Pinkie captive in her magic, she took out a syringe of fluorescent, purple liquid. The serum that would turn Pinkie back to normal.

"I'm sorry I have to do this, Pinkie," Twilight sighed, and she stabbed the syringe into Pinkie's flank. Pinkie screamed in pain as the searing liquid spread through her veins; her whole body felt like it was on fire. Pinkie's wings erupted in pain as the fragile bones in them shattered to dust and disappeared, her skin burned as her fur changed back to its normal pink, the cartilage in her ears ached as they shrunk, and her eyes stung as they changed to their normal aquamarine color.

"We have to take you into custody," Twilight said. "We also put a sleeping drug in that syringe. I'm sorry, Pinkie," were the last words Pinkie heard before her world rippled and faded into nothing.

Five years later...

Pinkie Pie didn't smile in the slightest bit as her name on the paperwork partaking in her release from prison was stamped, "REHABILITATED." Those past five years were the worst in her life. Solitary confinement in the Canterlot dungeons, only allowed to talk to her family and friends through bars and glass screens. Five years of stale bread and apples; no sweets whatsoever. Five years of sitting in the corner of her small prison room, contemplating her life and what she had done. All that time...but she couldn't feel any regret.

As soon as Pinkie left the prison, her five friends were right there to greet her. They threw a huge party for her at Sugarcube Corner. Everyone in Ponyville was invited. They had all her favorite party games, decorations, and candies, pies, and cupcakes. But Pinkie just couldn't enjoy herself at the party. Everything seemed juvenile and bland, especially the sweets.

As her friends left Sugarcube Corner, Pinkie couldn't shake this feeling from her mind. She felt heavy, cynical, and mainly just pessimistic. Pinkie found herself wandering into the big, empty kitchen. Mr. and Mrs. Cake were out on a huge business trip, catering for some sort of celebrity figure Pinkie just didn't give a flying feather about.

Pinkie Pie decided she would bake something, maybe getting back into the things she used to do would dispel her depression. She found herself baking the one thing that would always bring her up when she felt down: Cupcakes.

"All you have to do is take a cup of flour, add it to the mix..." she mused. "Now just take a little something sweet, not sour...a bit of salt, just a pinch..." Pinkie rummaged through the kitchen drawers, looking for a spoon to mix the cupcake batter. The Cakes had re-organized the kitchen while she was gone, and everything was in a different place than she remembered.

Pinkie sampled the batter, and frowned when it tasted boring and bland, just like the food at the party. She was sure she used plenty of sugar...maybe her taste buds had just gotten so used to prison food that she lost her sense of taste? Pinkie was saddened at this thought, but decided to continue baking the cupcakes. Her friends would probably enjoy them.

"Aha!" Pinkie said triumphantly as she located the silverware drawer. She found a spoon and held it in between her hooves. Pinkie took the spoon out of the drawer, but her left foreleg scraped against a big, sharp knife, cutting through her fur and leaving a thin red line that a few drops of blood poured their way out of.

Pinkie stared at the cut, not even noticing the stinging pain. She hadn't seen blood since...since that night five years ago. Tentatively, Pinkie dropped the spoon, leaned forward, and licked drops of red. Pinkie pondered the salty, tangy liquid in her mouth, savoring the taste. Hm...perhaps this was what she needed to make her cupcakes taste splend-errific! Excited, Pinkie squeezed the small cut, but no more blood poured out. She just needed to make the cut bigger, that was all.

Pinkie Pie went back into the drawer and took the knife that her foreleg scraped against. She didn't hesitate to bring it down right above her hoof, making a long, red gash. Blood spilled out, and Pinkie happily took a measuring cup and poured the thick, crimson stuff into the batter. After mixing it in, Pinkie took another taste.

"It's perfect!" she squealed. Pinkie spread the red-ish batter into cupcake tins, and shoved it into the oven. Now she just needed frosting! Pinkie held the knife in her mouth and was about to cut herself again, but she began to feel dizzy and sick from blood loss.

"Uh oh, I don't feel so good," she groaned. "Maybe I shouldn't take any more. But I need blood for the frosting, or else the cupcakes won't taste good! What do I do?!" Pinkie freaked out.

Then, she thought of the best idea ever! "I can take blood from other ponies!" Pinkie shouted with glee. "But I don't want anypony to feel jealous because I'm using somepony else to bake...so I'll pick a random number!" she clapped her hooves together. "Omigosh, this is perfect! And when I take their blood for the cupcakes, I can use the rest of them for something else! Fluttershy was always into recycling." Pinkie looked around the room. "Hm, this place looks pretty boring. Maybe I can make some decorations! Like streamers made of intestines, or bones lining the wall, or...you know what? Maybe I can make myself a dress! Oh, Rarity would love that! And it can have a ton of cutie marks stitched together, and I'll have wings, and a necklace made of horns!" Pinkie frowned as she realized something. "Wait...Cup Cake and Carrot Cake might not like it if I redecorate their house without their permission. Huh...wait, I've got it! I'll just do all my work in the basement! Nopony ever goes down there! I'll need to get some tools, like saws, knives, needles, an operating table, but I can save up for them with the money I'll make from selling my DELICIOUS blood-cupcakes! THIS IS THE BEST IDEA EVER!" Pinkie screamed at the top oh her lungs. "I'll need to get started right away!"

Pinkie disappeared into the basement, her mane flattening as she went insane. Rehabilitated, my flank, Pinkie giggled to herself, her pupils shrinking and eyes crossing. It's much more fun to be CRAZY!

But maybe there was more to her descent into insanity than making yummy cupcakes. Maybe since she knew she was going to hell, she figured that she could do anything she wanted. Or maybe this was a way of proverbially flipping off Fluttershy, who had told her to be herself. Maybe this was her true self.

And so Pinkamena Diane Pie laughed dark laughter as she sold her blood-cupcakes to the populace of Ponyville. They didn't know what was in the cupcakes, of course. They thought her cupcakes were scrumptious.

So she laughed dark laughter as she drugged ponies and brought them into her basement.

She laughed dark laughter as she brutally murdered them. She made their deaths slow and painful, being sure to collect every part of the pony she could use. The bones, the fur, the organs, the hooves...everything had its place.

She laughed dark laughter, because nopony could find her out. If they did, she would harvest their materials as well.

She laughed dark laughter because she could do anything she wanted, now that Fluttershy wasn't watching her.

Pinkamena laughed dark laughter, because everypony's number would come.

FIN

Act II: The End

"Serves you right for trying to change Pinkie Pie," Pinkie snarled at the late Nurse Redheart. The nurse's throat and flanks were ripped apart, red liquid staining the white, tiled floor. Pinkie leaned over and lapped up the blood with her tongue. She didn't need it anymore, but sweet Celestia, the taste of pony blood was amazing. Yes...sweet Celestia. Pinkie wondered what Celestia's blood would taste like. And what Twilight's blood would taste like, and Applejack, and Rarity, and Rainbow Dash...Pinkie licked her lips in anticipation.

"Is everything alright here? I heard some screams..." a male voice echoed through the hallways. Pinkie's pupils shrunk as she heard the hoofsteps of a doctor entering the room.

"Redheart? Sweet Celestia, Redheart!" The doctor shrieked like a filly, rushing to the side of his dead partner. He shook her, trying to wake her up, but it was to no avail.

"She was delicious," Pinkie giggled, advancing on the doctor while baring her bloody fangs. "You'll be joining her soon!"

"NO!" the doctor screamed as Pinkie pounced on him, her fangs tearing into his flesh. Pinkie shredded his flank and legs, sucking up all the crimson blood that poured. Still alive, the doctor moaned in pain. It sounded like he was pleading for Pinkie to end his torture.

"Not yet, friend," Pinkie chuckled, her sharp teeth grazing his throat. "You made my best friend Fluttershy suffer...now you'll suffer, too!" Pinkie tore off his ears with audible rips as the flesh frayed and finally split. Then, she ignored his pitiful wails as she ripped his eyes out of their sockets. "You won't want to see or hear what pony hell is like, so I'm doing you a favor!" Finally, to finish him off, Pinkie sunk her fangs deep into his neck, piercing arteries that gushed warm blood straight down her esophagus. The doctor's body went cold and limp as the life bled out of him.

"Aw, that's no fun," Pinkie pouted at the corpse. "All the blood's cold now!" She licked up more of the quickly-enlarging puddles on the floor, her tongue making long, red streaks. Once her belly was full, Pinkie used her bloodied hooves to open the window in the room, and she catapulted herself into the evening sky. Gone without a sound. Except for the reverberating screams as the hospital staff found their dead peers.

Pinkie Pie flew through the night. She did flips, dives, and spins, her bat wings flapping in perfect rhythm. The wind whistled through her mane, making it even more disheveled than usual. As the warm morning sun rose above the hills, Pinkie grew tired. Good. She was still on a bat-pony's sleeping schedule. Yawning, Pinkie landed in a tree, rustling the branch and hearing tiny screeches as a bunch of puny, dark figures swooped around her head. Vampire fruit bats, Pinkie realized. She sniffed the air, and with her improved sense of smell, she caught a huge whiff of apples. She was at the vampire fruit bat reserve at Sweet Apple Acres!

"Hello, little bats!" Pinkie giggled. "Guess I'm a lot like you now, huh?"

The vampire fruit bats stopped swooping around Pinkie's head. They flew closer and tentatively sniffed her. Sure enough, she smelled like a vampire fruit bat...but what was that strong smell coming off of her breath? And why was her fur stained red?

Realizing that she was covered in blood, and had consumed large amounts of it, the vampire fruit bats squeaked in fear and flitted farther away.

Pinkie frowned. "What's wrong, little bats? F-Fluttershy told me that you sucked blood."

The bats glanced at each other, unsure. One large, old grey bat flew forward and let out a series of shrill squeaks. Pinkie was pleased to see that she could almost understand what he was saying. She could speak bat language!

"Suck blood, yes, but for hungry times," the old bat said.

All the other bats murmured in agreement, "Hungry times, hungry times..."

The old bat spoke up again. "We not enjoy blood. We not drink it for..." he searched for the right word, "pleasure."

"Oh," Pinkie averted her eyes from the piercing gazes of the vampire fruit bats' amber eyes. "Um, well, I can't really stay with the ponies anymore, so can I...you know, join you guys?"

"Why no stay with ponies?" One little bat asked.

Pinkie shuffled her wings in embarrassment. "Well, I kinda sorta...murdered three ponies."

The bats gasped and screamed. "Drink p-pony blood?!" the old bat exclaimed.

"Yeah..."

"Forbidden! Forbidden!" The bats chanted.

"I-I'm sorry!" Pinkie cried. "I didn't know!"

"Drinking pony blood is highest crime," the old bat reprimanded. "If hungry, we drink small animal blood. Punishment for drinking pony blood is banishment."

"B-banishment?" Pinkie repeated.

"Banish her! Banish her!" the bats chorused.

"I'm sorry!" Pinkie sniffled. "I didn't know! Please don't banish me!"

"Leave now," the old bat snarled. "You may not join us. Never return."

"Leave now! Never return!"

Holding back tears, Pinkie opened her wings and flew away. She soared over the apple trees, her teardrops splashing the ground below. She didn't belong anywhere, with ponies or with bats.

What had she done?

In her grief, Pinkie hadn't been paying attention to where she was flying. She was now soaring high above Ponyville, high enough so that ponies wouldn't recognize her from the ground. It was a beautiful, sunny day. Not a cloud in the sky. Anypony waking up now would look outside, and think, Today is going to be a great day! They didn't know of the bat-pony who flew up above in the clear blue sky. Her sky was black and gloomy. Pinkamena Diane Pie. Bat-pony. Mutant. Outcast.

Murderer.

The ponies were already looking for her, Pinkie was sure. When they found her, she would get the death penalty. There was no denying it this time. But unlike before, Pinkie didn't even care. She had killed ponies. Her best friend was gone.

Her life wasn't worth living anymore.

Pinkie Pie found herself flying higher and higher, up to where the air was thin and it was hard to breathe. Pinkie hovered in midair, her wings flapping constantly. She could do it. She could fold her wings, plummet to the ground below and take her own life. She could end it all. She could be with Fluttershy again.

But would Fluttershy even accept her in the afterlife? After all she had done? Pinkie remembered how Fluttershy thought that she was monster. No, Fluttershy, I'm the monster, Pinkie thought with melancholy. I want to be with you again...but I know it's too late for you to forgive me. I can only hope that you'll find it in your heart to come to me again when I'm no longer alive...

"Goodbye, everypony. Goodbye Mom, Dad, Maud and Marble and Limestone. Goodbye Twilight, goodbye Applejack, goodbye Rarity, goodbye Dashie. Goodbye...Fluttershy. Goodbye to everypony whom I ever brought a smile to their face, goodbye to everypony who considered me their friend. Goodbye, world. This is the end."

Pinkie folded her wings.