Chapters The stars flickered and danced to the music that poured from the upper windows of Sugarcube Corner. Drum beats and trumpet blasts echoed through the night an maximum volume, much to the disgruntlement of the neighbours who all lay awake, their eyes bloodshot with lack of sleep.
But the partying ponies didn't notice, any cries of protest were lost to the music.
The party, like every single one before it, was a special occasion. It was to celebrate the birth of the foal of Applejack's fourth cousin three times removed. It was also to celebrate the discovery that she had a fourth cousin three times removed.
And so Pinkie had thought it was worth celebrating, and who were they to argue?
Numerous cakes towered around the room, each topped with more icing than a parasprite could eat, not that Pinkie wasn't having a good go at it.
She lay flat on her back, a rainbow of different icings around her mouth. With a heave she guzzled down another slice of Victoria sponge, much to her friends amazement.
"Alright Pinkie" warned Twilight "Don't you think you've had enough?"
"Enough?" mumbled Pinkie through a mouthful of cake "Are you crazy? I've still got six more to go!"
She looked around at the selection left, her eyes falling greedily on a large chocolate gateau nearby.
With speed defying her swollen belly she zoomed across the room, scooping the cake up with her tongue and swallowing it whole with a hearty gulp.
"How does she do that?" whispered Applejack to Rarity "It ain't natural."
"I'm not sure dear" replied Rarity, taking a sip of her punch after making sure Gummy was a good distance from the punch bowl.
"I really think you should stop Pinkie, your going to be sick!" said Twilight
"Don't be silly!" said Pinkie "I haven't even hit the sugar rush yet!"
Her friends looked at her sceptically.
"You mean she's not normally on a sugar rush?" Rainbow asked quietly, Fluttershy simply shrugged in response.
"Still" said Twilight "That much sugar is dangerous, even for you"
"Oh calm down Twilight" said Pinkie dismissively "What the worst that can happen?"
She raised another slice of cake to her mouth. Then stopped.
Her joyous expression slowly fell to one of confusion, then fear, her eyes opening wide.
The cake fell to the floor with a splat! as Pinkie clutched at her now heaving chest. Her breathing became rapid and pain seared through her heart.
"Twi! What's wrong with her?" cried Applejack, running over to try and comfort Pinkie.
"She must be having a heart attack!" replied Twilight "Rainbow! Go and get Nurse Redheart!"
Rainbow Dash nodded and zoomed out the open window into the night.
Pinkie began to cry as her vision turned grey, the sounds of her friend's distress becoming fainter.
Her friends looked down at her as she faded.
And with a final sigh, Pinkie died.
Pinkie woke with a start.
To anypony else waking up after dying would have raised some questions.
But not Pinkie Pie. The fact she had died sailed right over her head.
She was standing in a long tunnel. The walls were the darkest black, running in both directions. To her right the tunnel emerged into bright, white light, it's purity was overwhelming, beckoning her onward. On her left the tunnel led to a room. It was blurred and distorted but still recognisable as her own. Smudges of colour ran around as her friends tried to revive her limp body.
She jolted as the floor began to move, her spirit being hauled from her friends towards the bright light.
But Pinkie didn't want to go. She still had parties to throw, cake to eat.
She began running towards her friends, her legs moving as fast as they could manage.
But no matter how fast she ran the light got closer and closer.
She cried out as her friends started to fade from view, her room shrinking at the other end of the tunnel.
Pinkie, not willing to go without a fight, reached out and flicked the large switch that was on the wall.
She juddered to a halt, the ethereal conveyor belt to the other side temporarily stopped.
Why no one ever used that switch she would never know.
With her progression to the great beyond halted she began to stroll back lazily towards the land of the living, she was in no rush.
Now that she was dead.
She had all the time in the world.
Her room was empty when she popped into existence, her slightly transparent form glowing in the dark. Her friends were probably still at the hospital, crying over her dead body.
But life was old news. Pinkie wasn't worried. She trotted over to the door and placed a hoof on the handle, only for it to pass through the door.
Frowning, she tried again. And again. Each time she phased through.
Shrugging she decided to just walk through, coming out on the landing.
She began to bounce down the stairs, stopping mid air when she realised she wasn't on the stairs but above them.
Gently she tested her new plane of movement, floating slowly down to the staircase.
She could walk through things and float, what other spooky powers had she obtained?
Thinking of as many ghost stories as she could, she floated down to the bottom floor.
"Telekinesis! " she thought excitedly.
She looked around and spotted a broom in the corner. With all her might she focused on the wooden handle, willing it to move.
She twisted and turned, waved her hooves and shouted strange incantations but nothing worked. The broom sat defiantly in the corner, silently mocking her.
"Ok, so no telekinesis, How about invisibility?! "
Again she focused, willing her form to fade, squeezing her eyes shut with the effort.
After half a minute had passed she opened her eyes again and raised a hoof to her face.
Except there was not hoof there.
"Yes!" she cried loudly. Her eyes widened as she clamped a see-through hoof over her mouth and listened intently.
There! She heard hoofsteps from upstairs and a light flicked on, casting a warm glow on the landing.
Slowly a very groggy Mr Cake made his way down the stairs, peering into the dark.
Looking straight through Pinkie he sighed.
"That sounded like..." he shook his head "Just hearing things" A single tear rolled down his cheek as he made his way back up stairs.
Pinkie blew a quiet sigh of relief and grinned.
Being dead was amazing! With these powers she could create pranks on a whole new level.
She rubbed her hooves together and her smile grew even wider.
And she knew exactly who was first on her list.
Rainbow Dash lay sobbing on her bed, tears soaking the bed sheets. It's never easy loosing somepony close to you.
But Pinkie was gone. Snatched away in a sugar coated grasp.
Or so she thought.
A cold breeze blew through the room making her shiver. She brought the covers around her tighter.
Then she froze.
Had she really heard it?
There is was again. A hoof on her staircase. The faint sound of someone trying to sneak around.
Rainbow rubbed tears from her eyes.
Who...Who's there?" she called.
The sound stopped. Silence rang in the dark. Then with a BANG! that shook the walls, the door to her room flew open, slamming into the wall. Standing in the door frame was a white sheet, its billowing folds faintly outlining a mare about her own size.
"Go away Applejack" sighed Rainbow "This isn't the time for pranks."
Rainbow frowned. Applejack couldn't walk on the clouds that made up her home.
So who could it be?
The figure had moved nearer.
"Twilight?" said Rainbow. A single glance at the figure showed no protruding horn below the sheet.
"Fluttershy?" stuttered Rainbow, running out of ideas for who the mystery prankster was.
The shape didn't respond. It just glided forwards, getting closer.
"Who ever you are, quit it!" cried Rainbow.
It didn't listen. Just getting closer.
"I said QUIT IT!" screamed Rainbow Dash, swinging a hoof at the sheet.
She expected a collision. But none came. Her hoof sailed right through the sheet which lost all form as soon as she touched it.
There was nopony there.
"Alright, very good, Ha ha" stammered Rainbow "You can come out now"
No reply, just another gust of howling wind.
Rainbow backed up, once again bringing the covers round herself, more than a little spooked.
She turned on her side, trying to ignore the wind.
And came face to face with Pinkie Pie.
"Boo!" said Pinkie
Rainbow Dash screamed in horror, jumping up into the air and zooming out the window.
Pinkie faded and hopped out of the bed, waiting for Rainbow to return.
A few moments later Rainbow alighted on the window ledge, peering into her room. She jumped down to the floor, cautiously creeping along the floor.
Pinkie floated past her and, with as much force as she could, slammed the window shut.
Dash screamed again. Pinkie giggled loudly and glided through the wall into the night, leaving Rainbow Dash quivering in her wake.
Applejack sat at the kitchen table, a nearly empty bottle of cider in her hoof. With a sigh she lifted it to her lips and chugged down the last of the grief-numbing amber.
She heard hoofsteps behind her.
"Probably Big Mac " she thought, not even bothering to turn round "Checkin' on me again. "
"I need 'nother cider" she slurred, holding up her empty bottle.
She heard the refrigerator open and close, the hiss of an opening bottle. Somepony sat beside her and a new bottle of cider slid into view.
"Thanks" she mumbled.
The two ponies sat in silence for a moment.
"What do ya think the others are doin'?" she asked, trying to break the silence.
No reply.
"Yeah, probably tha' same as me" she muttered "Why did she have ta go?"
She started to sob more and more.
"She was so full o' life!" she cried "It's not fair!"
A pink hoof offered a handkerchief.
"Thanks" she sobbed, dabbing her eyes.
"You welcome" beamed Pinkie.
"I mean, she never had a problem before!" continued Applejack "It just came outta the blue!"
She raised the bottle and drank deeply.
Suddenly her eyes widened and cider sprayed from her lips.
She looked slowly to her left. Pinkie smiled back.
Applejack just stared for a full minute. Then her eyes rolled back in her skull and she fell off the bench, landing with a thud!
Pinkie sat there and giggled at her unconscious friend. Her face! Priceless!
She bounced across the room and through the wall, laughing all the way.
Several minutes later Applejack came around, her eyes blurred.
She had just had the worst nightmare. Pinkie had been there. She had been see-through.
Applejack looked down at herself.
She didn't bother to stifle the scream. It hadn't been a nightmare.
Tied to her tail was a single pink balloon.
Pinkie heard Rarity crying before she entered the Boutique. It echoed down the street and bounced off the houses.
She floated upwards and emerged through the floor of Rarity's bedroom. The grand four poster bed shook as Rarity sobbed uncontrollably, squeezing a pillow to her chest.
Pinkie gazed around looking for some inspiration. She spotted a line of Rarity's dresses and an evil smile crept across her face.
A draft covered Rarity as her covers were ripped off of her. Her sobbing subsided as she looked around, expecting to see Sweetie Belle.
Instead she saw nopony. The only things in her room were her and her mannequins.
The mannequins that were now moving.
It was subtle at first. They rocked back and forth gently, their trims waving with the motion.
Rarity began to tremble as their shaking grew more violent, their stands banging on the floor.
It stopped as suddenly as it had begun. The dresses returning to their inanimate positions.
Rarity held her breath, not daring to move.
She screamed as the curtains on one side of the bed slide shut. Then another. Soon all the curtains were waving crazily.
Rarity jumped out of bed, scrambling from the possessed curtains.
And once again it stopped without warning.
Rarity breathed heavily, hoping the terror would end.
The room filled with colour as rolls of fabric flew off their shelves, landing with loud thuds!
She sat stock still as the storm raged around her, eventually settling like a new carpet, one that even in the midst of terror she knew would clash horribly.
With a creak Rarity's wardrobe door opened, it's dark interior looming.
Rarity waited, not daring to breath.
A dark shape glided out of the closet, one of her many dresses, its dark fabric rippling. It rose into the air, twirling and spinning. Rarity watched, entranced by the spectacle.
Then it began to dive, heading straight for Rarity.
Pinkie Pie appeared the dress, the fabric flowing around her. She giggled loudly as Rarity closed her eyes.
A chill passed through her as the cloth hit her softly. She kicked it away, her eyes wide it fright.
When she was sure no more spectres would haunt her this night she lay down and cried.
Pinkie laughed as Rarity screamed and ran. With a last look at her shaking friend she disappeared into the approaching dawn.
With the sun poking over the horizon Twilight stood in the library, her red eyes looking down on the three anxious ponies in front of her.
"I'm tellin' ya Twi! It was her!" cried Applejack.
"It was absolutely terrifying dear!" agreed Rarity
"Why wont you believe us?!" asked Rainbow
Twilight looked at the three ponies, their bloodshot eyes wide.
"Its hit us all hard" Twilight said grimly "None of you have slept and one of you" she looked at Applejack "has been drinking, it's just the grief and the insomnia"
"But Twi-" started Applejack but Twilight cut her off.
"No Applejack, just go home, I'm not in the mood for it." and with that she trotted back up the stairs.
"What are we going to do?" asked Rarity
"Well, Pinkie has already visited us three" replied Applejack, watching Twilight retreat upstairs "It's just a matter of time before Twilight gets a visit. Then she'll see"
The sun had broken over the horizon an hour ago.
Pinkie sat in her room, she couldn't pull a decent prank in the daylight, she needed the cover of darkness on her side.
She looked at the glass cups on the table, her powers had been growing. Earlier in the night she had learned how to manipulate her solidity so she could interact with objects.
She focused once again, willing the cup to move.
And it did.
She smiled as the cup rose into the air. Then another. And another. Soon a storm of teacups circled above her.
So she plotted for her next night of jokes, they would be bigger, better.
Ponyville was safe.
For now.
Nightmare Night came early
The dark couldn't come quickly enough for Pinkie Pie. She grew anxious, her new powers just itching to be used.
When Luna's moon finally rose into the sky and the sun was far below the horizon Pinkie emerged, ready to prank.
And it would be good.
Fluttershy was first on her list. Pinkie would never normally pull a prank on Flutters but she was in need of some cheering up.
The first thing Pinkie noticed when she floated through the wooden door was Discord. He was sitting next to Fluttershy, his arm round the heavily sobbing pony.
"Why Discord? Why!?" gasped Fluttershy between sobs. Her eyes were red from crying and a minefield of discarded tissues lay around the sofa.
"There, there dear" cooed Discord, he lifted his head and looked directly at Pinkie Pie.
"I'm sure she's just fine." he said with a knowing smile.
"Fine?! She's dead! How can she be fine?!" cried Fluttershy
"Why don't you think about that? I'm just going to pop outside for some fresh air." said Discord, gesturing with his head at Pinkie.
She backed up through the door and waited.
Soon after Discord appeared in a flash and looked disapprovingly at Pinkie.
"I thought better of you Pinkie" said Discord mockingly "Pulling a prank on poor old Fluttershy! The nerve!"
"Wha..?! I wasn't!" said Pinkie
"Oh come off it!" said Discord "I've heard of your little jokes last night. Nice one with the balloon by the way."
"What have the others said?" Pinkie asked
"Well Twilight is in denial. Will not believe a word the others say!" he scoffed "She'll be quite the challenge to scare. Maybe something with her precious book would do the trick."
Pinkie smiled as she reworked her scare for Twilight.
"If you leave poor Fluttershy alone I'll keep your little 'visits' quiet for now. Deal?"
Pinkie nodded and with a wave at Discord she floated off into the dark.
Discord sighed and fake tears fell from his eyes.
"They grow up so fast"
Twilight lay awake, her book flickering in the candlelight. Books always distracted her. She couldn't feel grief when her mind was lost in study.
Twilight didn't believe the other three. They were out of their minds with sorrow. She was the same, she just coped better.
Bump!
Twilight didn't notice, her eyes glued to the words of her book.
Bump!
Slightly louder this time. Twilight chose to ignore it. Probably just Owlicious leaving for his nightly flight.
Bump!
She looked up. Spike was still fast asleep. Just a shutter in the wind.
BANG!
Twilight jumped. That was no shutter.
She slipped off her bed and crept towards the stairs, looking down. She could see a light, its warm glow shivering on the walls.
Slowly she made her way down, each step creaking as she descended.
The light came from a single lantern that sat on the floor, its weak flame flickering. How it got there she didn't know.
She looked around, trying to locate the source of the noises. It didn't take long. Four books lay on the floor around the room, their pages open.
She made her way over to the nearest one, placing it back on the shelf. When all four books were returned she spun around.
To find five more books scattered across the floor.
She frowned but once again returned all the books.
She heard a whoosh! behind her. She turned around to find a single book off its shelf.
Hovering in mid-air.
She looked at it worriedly. There was no magical aura around it, what ever this was she had never met this type of magic before.
Another whoosh! and two more books flew out. Five more after that. Soon books were flying off every shelf, congregating in the centre of the room.
It wasn't long before the shelves were bare. Twilight watched in terror as every book in the library shifted and moved in the ball before her.
The orb began to take shape, book covers and pages formed teeth and tentacles. The monster towered over Twilight, brushing the ceiling with paper.
With a roar the creature dived for Twilight who screamed in response. It's teeth were inches from her face when it lost it's shape, dissolving into a mass of paper that poured over Twilight.
She sat, too stunned to speak. Slowly she got up and with trembling legs, began to make her way upstairs, hoping it was just a bad dream.
But Pinkie wasn't finished.
The books shifted again, a long tentacle reaching out and grabbing Twilight round the barrel and pulling once again to a gaping maw of books.
It let go and she fell.
Falling.
Falling.
Bed.
She bounced slight onto the covers of her bed. Her breathing was ragged and sweat poured from her forehead.
Shakily she got off the bed and made her way to the stairs, peering down into the library.
All was normal. No lights. No book monsters. Nothing.
She sighed. Just a dream.
A single book fell off it's shelf.
Pinkie's giggles mixed with Twilight's screams.
Fun fun fun! Pinkie had never laughed so much!
But now she was all out of friends to prank. She need a new target.
She scanned the streets below as she glided overhead lazily in the moonlight.
Below she saw Doughnut Joe, leaving his store for another night.
She grinned wickedly and began to descend.
Doughnut Joe was no stranger to walking home after dark. Be it from work or the tavern he never felt frightened.
As usual he took a shortcut through a small alleyway. No streetlamps shone here and the alley was enveloped in darkness.
But being the strong stallion he was he didn't care and strode care free into the gloom.
He whistled as he strolled down the alley. A cold breeze blew, ruffling his mane.
He stopped suddenly. A faint shadow had just darted across the end of the alley.
In no mood to be mugged by some ruffian he turned around started back, his pace quickening.
Another shadow ran in front of him. He was trapped! Caught between them.
He looked both ways, waiting for them to approach their prize.
But they didn't. Confused at his pursuers behavior he pelted towards the exit onto the street.
He put on a burst of speed and broke for his home.
Hoofbeats came from behind accompanied by a laugh that he thought he recognised...
His front door came into view. He raced forward, slamming the door shut behind him.
He lent against the door frame, his breathing slowing.
His blood froze in his veins. There was somepony next to him.
He looked to his right and came face to face with the pink pony standing on the ceiling.
"Gotcha!" she said, bopping him on the muzzle.
Several houses nearby woke to the sound of screaming.
Ha ha! She was just too good at this!
When he saw her shadow! And dangling from the roof?! Brilliant!
Tears of laughter fell down Pinkie's face as she once again floated under the stars.
Looking down she saw a grey mare walking through the streets, making her way home.
It was time to get back to work.
Derpy Hooves wasn't as simple as her eyes lead someponies to believe. Beneath her wall-eyed exterior was a hard-working mother, muffins just happened to be a favourite past time of hers.
She was making her way back from the late shift at work when she saw it. It's glorious golden colour shining in the dark.
The majestic muffin was just sat there. Abandoned.
What sort of mare would she be to leave it here? Alone and defenceless?
She approached it carefully, trying not to spook it.
It twitched, sensing her presence. She held out a hoof, beckoning it forwards.
It backed up, crumbs falling from its top. With a jump it scurried away.
Derpy gave chase, following down a side road. It darted round a corner, it's warm aroma tickling her nose.
Nearly..got...it...
SMACK!
Both the muffin and it's unfortunate follower hit the stone wall, bouncing off.
Derpy looked around dazed until she spotted the slightly dented muffin in front of her.
Lifting her prize aloft she began to trot home, her face purple and bruised but smiling all the same.
Pinkie cracked up. She had felt bad at getting the grey mare hurt but she hadn't seemed to care.
Just too good!
She could do this forever.
She stopped. She could do this forever. You can't die once your dead.
A smile spread across her face at the thought of the pranks she could do.
Pinkie had an eternity of jokes to make.
She had better get started.
Pinkie Pie Takes Ponyville
Mayor Mare hated paper work. Nopony really appreciates how much work it take to keep a town running. Especially one as prone to destruction as Ponyville.
She sighed and looked at the clock. It was getting late. She began to busy her self with packing away her things, shuffling her papers.
She frowned, She could have sworn her quill had been here a second ago.
A breeze blew, ruffling the papers on her desk. There were no windows open in the office, Where was that draft coming from?
A knock on her door drew her attention. Who could be calling at her office at this time of night? Surely everypony had gone home?
The knock came again as Mayor Mare made her way over. Placing a hoof on the door handle she opened it wide.
There was nopony there. Slightly spooked, she closed the door and turned back to her office.
Her mouth dropped open in shock.
Her papers were no longer on her desk. Instead every inch of her office was plastered in white paper, floor to ceiling. Bank cheques and order forms filled the room.
Mayor Mare screamed as something flew from the corner of the room, slamming the door open and fleeing down the stairwell, leaving a flurry of papers in its wake.
The door slowly closed. There was something stuck in the back of the door, trembling in the wood.
At least she had found her quill.
Pinkie sat on top of the Hayburger, watching the late night patrons leaving with their meals.
She spotted a mare nearby, her blue and pink mane bouncing as she made her way over to a bench, ready to eat her food.
Pinkie smiled and moved in to intercept.
Bon-Bon's stomach complained loudly. It had been waiting all day for this. She wasn't going to let any noisy restaurant ruin it.
She sat down heavily on the bench and unwrapped her meal. She licked her lips and closed her eyes, moving in to bite.
Her teeth came down, expecting to hit soft, warm bread. Instead they hit each other.
She flinched as her teeth jarred and gazed up,wandering who had snatched the treat from her.
But there was nopony.
Just the burger in the air.
She stared, not sure what to make of the hovering fast food. Was this Lyra's doing? A joke wasn't beyond her.
Slowly she reached out, trying to reclaim her dinner. It twitched away, like it was shy. Then it leaned into her hoof.
And chomped down hard.
Granted lettuce and tomato aren't amazing at inflicting pain but it still gave Bon-Bon quite the shock. She snatched her hoof back. It tilted sideways in an imitation of cocking its head. It jumped forward, attempting another bite.
Bon-Bon scrambled off the bench, backing away from the oncoming burger, tomato sauce leaking from it's 'jaw'.
With another hop it snapped at her again and again, getting closer and closer.
Having no desire to fight with dinner she turned tail and ran, the greasy grub not far behind.
She sprinted back past the Hayburger, drawing the attention of the other patrons. Seeing the fleeing mare and her pursuing burger many of them dropped their food, wary of any other aggressive suppers they may have been served.
Bon-Bon continued to run. She could hear the burger snapping its jaws hungrily. The irony of the situation was not lost upon her.
It was getting closer, each bite louder than the last.
SPLAT!
Bon-Bon skidded to a halt and spun around.
Behind her a blue door had opened through which a brown stallion was staring at the mixture of bread and lettuce running down his window.
"What was that?!" he asked her incredulously.
Bon-Bon just shrugged.
"Sometimes my food just doesn't agree with me."
Pinkie lay on the roof of a nearby house, chuckling at Bon-Bon's reaction. Never had she seen someone so freaked out! Well except maybe for Twilight but really who could top that?!
She looked around, wiping tears from her eyes. The sun wasn't far off, she had maybe enough time for two more pranks.
She kicked off and began to glide silently, looking down at the streets below.
Ah ha! There! A big, red apple, ripe for the picking!
Big Macintosh wandered through the streets. He was in no rush to get home. Applejack had been understandably upset the past two day and her depression was like an aura, smothering the house.
So he continued on his way, meandering up the main street.
He couldn't keep up with the chores on his own, the apples were nearly ready for harvest.
He frowned. Why did he feel lighter all of a sudden?
He looked down and gasped as he saw the ground shrinking away. Windows past him on both sides.
Soon he had cleared the roofs of the houses and was floating up towards the stars.
In a fit of panic Big Mac began breast-stroking, trying to swim back down.
But it was no use. He just kept rising. He could see most of Ponyville by now. Lights twinkled below.
His ascension slowed. Had he stopped rising? Yes, he had. He shivered in the cold as he stood suspended high in the air.
Then he fell. Wind streamed past his face as the cobbled streets got nearer and nearer. A giggle nearby sent more shivers down his spine. His heart was in his throat as he plummeted.
Tears leaked from his eyes, the end drawing close.
But it didn't. He opened one eye and looked down. The ground was three inches below him. He sighed in relief.
Then he hit the ground. Hard.
Shakily he got to his hooves. Looking around he saw nopony.
With speed that would give Rainbow Dash a run for her money he began legging it back home, silently making a deal with himself to never speak of this again.
Big Mac was a tough pony. To scare him was quite the achievement.
So who to frighten next?
Mrs Cake sniffled. She had been stricken with grief much like the rest of Ponyville, she had barely said a word for two days.
Only now had she managed to pry herself from her bed and leave the house. She just needed to get away for a few hours.
So she had been walking for ages, just enjoying the dark, the calm.
As she walked past a nearby flower garden a breeze ran around her, rustling the petals.
A single pink petal detached from its flower head and drifted lazily in front of her eyes.
The wind blew with more ferocity, causing more petals the swirl into the air. Mrs Cake stopped and watched as they came together, piece by piece building up the shape of a mare.
Mrs Cake would recognise that mane anywhere.
"P...P..Pinkie?" she stammered at the vague figure.
The petal mare threw its head back and laughed, the high pitched cackle coming from all directions.
Mrs Cake backed away. Whatever this thing was, it wasn't Pinkie.
The shape turned back to the cowering baker. Then with a rustle of its colourful flank, charged at her.
Mrs Cake screamed as it approached, raising her hooves to protect her self.
After a moment she dared to look back at the place it had been. There was no charging ghost mare. Just the street.
Gasping she turned around and ran the other way, not daring to look back.
The door of Sugarcube Corner opened with a BANG! as she entered, startling her husband who was sitting by the fire.
"What's wrong honey?" asked the concerned Mr Cake
He walked over to her.
"And why are you covered in petals?"
Mrs Cake looked down at herself. Every inch of her body was coated with a variety of coloured petals.
The twin foals upstairs began screaming with their mother.
Applejack and Rarity watched as the large crowd milled outside The Golden Oak Library. They were knocking furiously on the door, begging Twilight to help them to which they got no response.
"Ya think Pinkie visited Twi last night?" asked Applejack
"I think so" replied Rarity, pointing up at the great tree.
One of the windows higher up had its curtains draw slightly, through which a distraught princess was peering through.
"We gotta get in there." said Applejack.
She approached the crowd and with a little shoving began to push through towards the door.
The gathering of ponies were shouting for Twilight. Many were in tears, their eyes red and bloodshot, trembling.
The chorus of shouts occasionally allowed for a sliver of sense to pass through.
"It came out of nowhere!"
"The giggling! It was horrible!"
"The horror! The horror!"
"Pink. Pink everywhere"
Once the two of them reached the door they began knocking.
"Twilight dear! Let us in!" cried Rarity
After a moment the door opened enough for them to fit through. The two ponies ran into the library, helping Twilight close the door on the anxious ponies outside.
"Whew" said Applejack "What ya thinks got them so worked up?"
"Um, Applejack dear" said Rarity, pointing at Twilight.
In all the time Applejack had know Twilight, never had she seen her so disheveled.
Her mane was frayed and messy, framing her wide, bloodshot eyes. Her entire body was trembling as she sat wearily on the floor.
"What's the matter Twi?"
"B...Books" stuttered Twilight "Monster..."
"Was it Pinkie Pie dear?" asked Rarity
Twilight shrugged weakly in response.
"What 'bout them lot out there?" asked Applejack, nodding towards the door.
"Complaints about ...hauntings"
"I'm tellin' ya! It Pinkie Pie!"
"But it can't be" replied Twilight weakly.
"All of us, and from the sounds of it, half of Ponyville, have had a visit from our new spectre" said Rarity
"What about Fluttershy?" asked Twilight "Has anypony seen her?"
The other shook their heads, neither had seen Fluttershy since the party.
"We better check on her" said Rarity "Who knows what one of Pinkie's pranks would do to her?"
"Well first we need to get through them lot" said Applejack.
"They want answers. Answers that we don't have" said Twilight
"But we do have answers!" cried Applejack "It's gotta be her!"
"Till I see her with my own eyes I will not believe that Pinkie has somehow broken the veil of death, It just doesn't happen!"
Applejack sighed.
"Ok then, what do ya propose we do?"
The three ponies emerged onto Twilight's balcony, overlooking the rowdy scene below. Her horn lit up brightly and a loud trumpet blast rang through the morning, causing all the ponies to look up at her.
"Citizens of Ponyville" she began "I know of your fear, I too have been visited by this poltergeist."
The ponies below muttered. What powerful spirit dare attack the princess?
"I know all of you are scared, so am I" continued Twilight "But we do not know what we are dealing with here, some of us have suspicions" she looked back at Applejack.
"So go back to your homes, the dark night has passed, believe that we will try our best."
The anxious ponies, thankful that something was being done to ease their fear, began to disperse, chatting away about their individual encounters with the ghoul.
"Nicely done Twi" smiled Applejack
"Like a real princess" said Rarity
"Thanks girls" Twilight said "Now, to Fluttershy's"
Discord answered the door when the three ponies knocked, his face beaming when he saw who was there.
"Why if it isn't our very own princess!" he exclaimed, stooping into a ridiculously low bow.
"Not now Discord" huffed Twilight "We need to talk to Fluttershy"
"Hmmm, that may be a problem, she's a bit...occupied" he opened the door to reveal to still sobbing Fluttershy, her sofa an island among the tissues on the floor.
"I didn't know a pony could cry for so long" he said, closing the door quietly "Perhaps I can be of assistance?"
"Has anyone else visited Fluttershy's cottage in the past two days?" asked Twilight
He raised a paw and began stroking his goatee in thought.
"Not that I remember" he replied "Nopony living anyway"
"What?!" exclaimed Twilight
"Well, a certain pink pony decided to come and 'cheer up' Fluttershy" he said "Being the good friend I am I knew Fluttershy was in no such mood for those antics. So I suggested she visit the Library instead"
He grinned at Twilight who glared at him.
"How did you sleep last night princess ?" he said mockingly.
"You knew Pinkie Pie was running around and you didn't tell us?!"
"But of course! Who am I to ruin her fun? And anyway, you could all loosen up a bit, have a laugh!" He clicked his fingers, reappearing in a overly colourful clowns outfit, he squeezed the large yellow flower in his lapel, spraying the three ponies with chocolate milk.
All four of them stopped as Fluttershy's crying went up another few decibels. Discord sighed, throwing away his outfit.
"On second thought, Please get that pony back, I don't know how many more tissues and mugs of hot chocolate I can bare to conjure."
And with a flash he disappeared back inside the cottage.
The three of them made their way back down the path,brainstorming as they went.
"So it's definitely Pinkie Pie" sighed Twilight "I don't know how but it is."
"What can we do Twilight?" asked Rarity
"We have to confront her, convince her to stop" said Twilight
"But we don't know where she is! She could be anywhere in Ponyville!" said Rarity
"She could be, but she wont. She'll be where she feels most comfortable"
"Where?" asked Applejack
"Home"
The door creaked as Twilight opened it, peering into the gloom. The curtains were drawn and the remains of the party still stood in the shadows.
One by one the ponies entered. Applejack and Rainbow Dash came last, a stretcher between them, its occupant covered by a white sheet. Carefully they laid it in the centre of the room. As they did a pink hoof fell from beneath the sheet.
Twilight looked around at the others, their faces etched with worry. They all looked back and nodded.
"Pinkie Pie!" she shouted
The room remained silent. No reply came.
"Pinkie! We know your there!"
A faint breeze blew through the room, ruffling the sheet on the stretcher. A faint giggle echoed from every corner.
"Come out Pinkie! We just want to talk to you!"
"You don't have to shout Twilight! I'm right here!"
The five ponies looked up. Pinkie Pie was standing on the roof, her ghostly form looking down upon them.
"H...Hi Pinkie" said Twilight nervously as Pinkie drifted to the ground "How...uh... have you been?"
"Oh absolutely superduperriffic!" cried Pinkie as she bounced around the room "I've never had so much fun!"
"That great..." said Twilight "But don't you think you ought to stop?"
"Stop?!" said Pinkie, coming to a halt in mid air "Why would I what to stop?"
"Well...Ponies haven't exactly been enjoying you pranks as much as you..." said Twilight, choosing her words carefully.
Twilight horn flared as she began charging a spell, all she had to do was link Pinkie's soul to her body and...
Pinkie frowned as the spell charged. Realising what Twilight was doing she gasped.
"No! I don't want to go back!"
Looking around frantically she spotted one of the left over cakes. With a heave of her telekinetic powers she lifted into the air, dropping it squarely of Twilight head.
The tower of sponge completely engulfed her. With a splash of icing she emerged from the top of the cake, her mane smothered with icing.
"Oh lighten up Twilight!" replied Pinkie "We were just having some fun!"
"No Pinkie, you were having some fun" replied Twilight, not messing around anymore.
The other four ponies scampered over to help Twilight, only to be intercepted by some very aggressive teacups that flew around the room like missiles, blocking the path to Twilight.
"What do you mean?" said Pinkie "Everyone was laughing! I swear!"
"They weren't laughing!" cried Twilight over the sound of shattering china and the ever-increasing wind that blew "They were screaming!"
"Screaming with delight?!" asked Pinkie, her face struggling to hold its joyous smile.
"Screaming with fear! You haven't been spreading laughter but terror!" screamed Twilight over the now gale force winds.
"No!" screamed Pinkie, trying to deny it.
"Look at what you did!"
"Stop it!" cried Pinkie
"To your town!"
"I said stop!" she screamed, she pelted Twilight with various things from the room, streamers and balloons bouncing off her face.
"To you neighbours!"
"NO!"
Tears streamed down Pinkie's face, the cruelty of what she had been doing consuming her.
"To your friends"
Pinkie looked at the ponies surrounding her, her eyes leaking profusely. And one by one they smiled at her. She stared. What had she become? Had she gone too far?
Slowly the wind died. The room filled with the sound of breaking china as teacups rained from above.
Pinkie Pie just sat in the centre of the room, the pale form laying across her own still body. She shuddered as sobs rocked her and tears streamed from her face.
The others stood around her, watching as she wailed.
Twilight approached her and placed a hoof on her shoulder. Or she would have had it not passed straight through.
Pinkie looked up at her friends.
"I'm so...sorry..." she sobbed "I'm a terrible pony!"
"No your not!" said Twilight quickly "You just got carried away"
"B..B...But I hurt ponies! I don't deserve to go back"
"Look sugarcube" said Applejack, hugging Pinkie tight "We don't care whatcha did, that don't matter"
"We just what our friend back dear" said Rarity, joining in.
"Pranks and all!" chipped in Rainbow Dash, wrapping her hooves around them.
"Yay!" whispered Fluttershy as she also snuggled into the group
Pinkie looked at her friends. Even after all she'd done they still wanted her back?
Pinkie's mouth slowly raised into a smile.
"Thanks girls" she said, squeezing them tight.
Twilight's horn once again blazing into life, enveloping Pinkie's ghostly shape and her still body in a purple aura. And with a flash she was gone.
The body under the sheet jerked, kicking its legs as it owner reclaimed it.
The others pulled the sheet off. Pinkie's eyes were open and staring.
"Uh, Pinkie?"
"Woohoo!" she cried as she bounced into the air, taking a deep breath. She stretched her legs and yawned.
"Nice to have ya back Pinkie" said Applejack
"You know what this needs?" she said excitedly.
"We can guess" said Twilight as they all rolled their eyes.
"A 'coming back to life' party!" she cried.
Looking round her room, she picked up a plate, its contents of sponge some how unharmed.
"Cake anyone?" asked Pinkie innocently.
Five voiced chorused "NO!"
Pinkie just giggled.
Author's Note
Thanks for reading! If you have and constructive criticism please feel free to leave a comment!
