Thrive

Ch 1. Welcome To Sugarcube Corner

　　In the town of Ponyville, an atmosphere of peace and quietness filled the air. Of course, the town did not have that much activity going on during Sundays. So this was a time where you could relax and enjoy nature as is.

The sky only had a few clouds in the sky. Most of them were kicked by the Cloudsdale Weather Pegasi, insuring that their forecast of mostly sunny, would stay true to word.

This is a normal, quiet day in the town of Ponyville. However, it was not always this quiet.

A few years ago, the town was always alive and bustling with activity. There was never a dull moment.

But as time went on, things changed. They changed in a way that would determine the outcome of what is now known as the present in this current world.

We live in a world where we have control on its outcome.

We manipulate it,

Enhance it,

Corrupt it,

Destroy it.

But once there is nothing more we can do to sustain such a world thrown into chaos,

We look for the next world to colonize, manipulate, enhance, corrupt, and destroy.

It is a never ending cycle of fate.

Few individuals however, dare to seek a world to not corrupt, but embrace and thrive in. Those individuals, are the pioneers of the continuing voyage to a new world.

A new world that only the innocent can see.

It was the evening. The last few faint rays of Celestia's sun beamed across the horizon in colors of pink and orange before disappearing completely. Moments later, the moon began rising above the same horizon that the sun had set.

In the North central section of Ponyville, a pink colored earth pony was trotting down one of the avenues. The trotting soon went to a more fast-paced rate, as if she was in a hurry to get home as night time was setting in. Her flattened mane and tail blew back in the form of waves as she bears her path towards her home at Sugarcube Corner. Walking across from Sugarcube Corner, a tan colored earth pony seemed to be out on a night walk, enjoying the comfortable ambiance that comes around Ponyville during the nights.

It wasn't long before both ponies cross paths and bumped into each other.

Obviously neither were paying attention at the moment.

The tan colored earth pony immediately gets up and apologizes.

"Oh my bad! I was-..."

She cuts herself off mid-sentence. Finally realizes the pony in front of her, she covers her mouth in awe, as kneels down in a bowing manner, as if showing respect for royalty.

"I'm so, so sorry Miss Pinkamena! I didn't mean any disrespect! Honest!"

Pinkamena, gets up as well and noticing the pony bowing down to her. She tilts her head to the side and raises an eyebrow in confusion.

"Um...what are you doing? And why are you uh...bowing?"

The tan earth pony looks up and rises, putting her front hooves on Pinkamena's shoulders and looking into her face with an expression of awe.

"You're even prettier in person!”, she exclaims. "And I REEEEEEALLY like your mane!"

Letting the awkward moment run its course, Pinkamena pushes her back.

"Whoa whoa whoa....heh heh...”, she dusts herself off.

"I don't know who you...are you.....a friend of Twilight's?”.

The other realizes her approach toward Pinkamena and apologizes.

"Crap! I’m sorry, Miss Pinkamena! My name is Cupcake Slash and it may sound odd but I’d like to become your assistant, please! I'm technically not Twilight's friend, but I have seen her around before! Your other friends as well!"

Too confused to intake the blast of information, she takes a step back, displaying that she is still uncomfortable about what is going on right now.

Re-verifying the information Cupcake said earlier, she begs the question,

"Assistant? For what exactly..?"

Cupcake responds. "Cupcakes, of course! You know the whole-”.

She begins speaking in a different voice, almost matching Pinkamena’s own.

"I'm gonna bake you into Cupcakes, Dashie!!"

Pinkamena's eyes widen.

Nothing could properly explain what was going on at that time she mentioned the word, "Dashie!”. For it is that nick-name alone, that changed what was used to be known as, "The Town Of Friendship" , into a town of normality and predictability. Nothing excited ever happened within the town, with the exception of the parties that would be thrown for events and birthdays. And then for 48 hours, including the post-party period, the town would be filled with happiness and love. Pinkamena is the reason why the town goes into small spurts of joy and happiness due to celebrations, holidays, birthdays, etc.

She is the premier party pony of the town after all.

But soon as word got out that Rainbow Dash had decided to further pursue her dreams of becoming a Wonderbolt, and has not been seen ever since the letter she had wrote to her friends, things became more slower paced. Ponies grew up. As far as what is observed, Rainbow Dash is the only pony out of the mane 6, who is currently out of town. The rest of them are still in Ponyville, continuing putting their own their talents to work in helping the community full circle. Just because one element has moved on, doesn't mean the nation of Equestria is left vulnerable to outside forces. Not only is the Royal Guard stationed in almost every city in Equestria, but The Tree of Harmony keeps half of the "unknown forces" away from Equestria, inside and out. The mane 6 are forever known as the bearers of the elements of harmony, and are still praised for saving Equestria numerous times back then.

However, Rainbow Dash moving on to join the Wonderbolts is only what the mane 6 have been told.

The letter than was written to the mane 6, explaining her intentions for her decision... was forged.

Only one pony in Equestria knows that Rainbow Dash never left Ponyville. The events of Gummy's 1st Birthday party came swimming into Pinkamena's memory.

She hesitates.

"H-how did you know...? That's not your business!"

Pinkamena begins to look at her very suspicious. She circles around Cupcake, eyes scanning her down. She comes into view in front of Cupcake's face and eyes her.

"That is actually nopony's business to know, now go away."

Pinkamena trots past her, heading to Sugarcube Corner ahead. Cupcake on the other hoof refuses Pinkamena's denial and trots up beside her.

"Wait! I can be a BIG help, it’ll be fun!"

Pinkamena stops in her tracks mid-way and reels around to face Cupcake, looking slightly annoyed.

She narrows her eyes at her as she addresses her with a warning.

"Look! This is not some sort of game. This is something I have developed through pain, sorrow, and the demon that lies within me. When it's awake, I must satisfy it to keep my own amount of sanity left. It brings me pleasure in a way that the average pony will ever understand. You do not want to be in my world, I can already tell you’re just a fan-girl who enjoys viewing from a 2nd person view. However, when you're the one holding the knife to a pony's throat, it's something totally different, now go home."

She eyes her, to see if she confirmed her remark. Cupcake responds with a plea,

"B-But..I respect you, and I can help!"

Thinking that this is some sort of prank, Pinkamena grabs Cupcake, and brings her to her face.

"I. Work. Alone.”

Pinkamena drops Cupcake on the ground roughly and proceeds to trot off.

Cupcake sits there in disappointment.

"B-But I..”

Her eyes narrow, a look on determination on her face. She yells to Pinkamena, standing back up and rushing to her side once more.

"Wait! I really can help! I promise I'll do well!"

Pinkamena laughs as she continues to try to get away from her.

"Ha! In what, taking the lives of innocent ponies for pleasure?! You are weak and only become attracted to what is presented to you from somepony else! You cannot sustain and handle the real thing!"

Cupcake stops in her tracks. Desperate to try and prove her wrong on the current impression Pinkamena has of her, she yells back in response.

"I want to help! I want to assure you that you no longer have to feel isolated anymore, I want to make you happy, but if you don’t want to be bothered, I’ll respect that...”

Cupcake's shout turns into a soft sentence as she realizes that she has failed to convince Pinkamena. She sits on her haunches, looking at Pinkamena trailing off in sadness and disappointment.

Pinkamena continues trotting away, but for some reason, deep inside her soul, she did not want to be alone.

In fact, this was the first time somepony ever talked to her besides her main friends, who she even avoids herself.

Finally losing to the overwhelming curiosity of the offer itself, Pinkamena gives out a grunt of defeat and frustration; she turns around and makes her way back to where Cupcake was sitting. Hearing the sound of hooves approaching her, Cupcake lifts her head up.  She sees Pinkamena walking towards her.

First overjoyed, she begins to call out to her. But she cuts herself off as she sees no smile on Pinkamena's face.

In fact, Pinkamena seemed to be approaching Cupcake very rapidly.

Cupcake takes a step back.

"I- I..."

"Come here!”, Pinkamena snaps at Cupcake.

"Yes ma'am!” Cupcake responds, not moving back any further.

Pinkamena grabs Cupcake once again and brings her to her face.

"You come with me... and you better swear by Celestia's sun, that you will not disclose any information you observe. I would've just left you, but being the fact that you are the only pony besides me, who knows what had happened to Rainbow Dash, I cannot afford you to be trotting so freely in society. How can I even trust you? How come you have not called the Royal Guards and had me executed?! You know what happened?! So who's stopping you?!"

Pinkamena widens her eyes at Cupcake, demanding an answer.

Cupcake closes her eyes and gives a warm smile to Pinkamena.

"Have you gone deaf, Miss Pinkamena? I had just told you that I want be of great assistance to you. I know what it feels like to be alone, but that explanation is for another time."

Not wanting Cupcake to repeat herself, she brings her closer to her face as she address her sternly.

"You do not share anything you're about to see. Hell, I'll even still give you the chance of turning back right now, and walk away like we never met. Because once you're in my domain, you think you've seen what hell looks like...."

Regardless of her warning, Cupcake responds just as sternly to Pinkamena. No fear whatsoever.

"I'm coming with you. And my mouth is sealed."

She waves a hoof over her mouth, as if zipping her mouth closed.

Pinkamena rolls her eyes and lets go of her.

"Follow me." She orders.

She turns around and proceeds to trot back in the direction of Sugarcube Corner. Cupcake follows behind her. They approach what seems to be a traditional life-sized gingerbread house. Pinkamena approaches the front doorstep to the bakery and opens the door.

She walks in and quickly gestures Cupcake over.

"Get in. Now."

Cupcake complies. "O-Of course!" She rushes inside the bakery.

Pinkamena slams the main front door behind them and locks it twice over. She goes to the windows and lets down the shades. The entire main room was now blocked from the outside world. She then turns around and walks across the bakery floor, not even bothering to turn the lights on. It is almost blinding dark in the room they're in. Only a couple night lights, illuminated 1/4 of the entire room. Pinkamena reaches an door next to the back of the cashier's counter.

Cupcake speaks up as she eyes the door.

"Does that lead to the basement?"

Pinkamena ‘face-hoofs’ in response.

Cupcake apologizes. "Sorry! I've never been inside Sugarcube Corner before!"

Pinkamena rolls her eyes and opens the door, walking down into the darkness of the basement floor, she addresses Cupcake.

"Close the door behind you."

Cupcake responds. "Okay."

She proceeds to walk into the basement entrance, and closes the door behind her. Pinkamena grabs a wire with her teeth and gives it a tug, turning the light on.

The room illuminates, showing a decent sized area space.....

....except for the fact that there were 3 stretchers lined up against the wall, perpendicular to her.

Pinkamena walks over to a desk and pulls out a blood stained knife. She grabs it with her teeth and walks over to Cupcake, who was just reaching the bottom of the stairs. Pinkamena stops and drops the knife in front of Cupcake. The knife lands with a cling that sounds through the quiet room.

She addresses to Cupcake.

"Take that knife....and slit your cutie mark.....three times over."

Cupcake stares at the knife, and then picks it up.

"But why-.....I-..."

She begins to look nervous and bits her lip, as she does not wish argue with Pinkamena.

She angles her torso for her cutie mark to be visible and looks at it, a cupcake with green frosting.

"I...”. She gulps.

Pinkamena pulls out her rolling chair and sits on her haunches. She folds her arms and waits patiently.

She gives a slight smirk to Cupcake, and then begins to define the practice being given.

"This will verify to me that you will, "assist" me in anything I say or tell you to do. You will participate, you will learn, and you will not argue.

More importantly...”, she leans in closer to Cupcake.

"...You will NOT leave your duty., this is your new responsibility now. Anything you have done had planned on doing has now been scrapped.”

She grins at Cupcake.

"....You belong to me.”

Pinkamena leans back in her chair, eyes still focused on the mare before her.

"Now you have two choices. You have one more chance to leave right now, and never dare to return again, for I have yet to even show you the "culinary" creations I have made in the back door over there."

She points her hoof to the large metal door to her right.

"Or... You swear your servitude to me. You leave your family and friends. You stay with me, regardless of what I do to you. The choice is yours."

Pinkamena crosses her arms as she leans back in her chair. Half of her mane falls over her face as she eyes her, analyzing every emotion Cupcake might be feeling at the moment.

Cupcake looks at Pinkamena with determination and nods her head.

"I belong to you."

And with that statement, she reaches the knife towards her cutie mark, and began to press the sharp blade of the knife on her cutie mark. Blood immediately starts oozing from the slit she has made. She does not scream, as she is determined to prove herself worthy to Pinkamena. She repeats the step twice more. Her body trembles from the pain, but she stands proud.

Finishing the practice, she holds the blood dripping knife up between her eyes as she looks at Pinkamena with seriousness.

"And only you, I shall never leave you, I promise to forever be loyal."

Pinkamena responds in slight monotone,

"We'll see about that."

She hops out of the chair and lands on her hooves. She grabs the knife from Cupcake's hoof with her teeth. She turns around and spits it out, tossing it on her desk. Cupcake's blood from the knife, stains her stack of papers

.

Pinkamena then walks over to one of the stretchers, grabs it with her teeth, and uncovers it.

Revealing to be one of Rainbow Dash's friends,

Flitter.

Pinkamena then goes to a bag next to the unconscious Pegasus, and digs her hoof in, pulling out a large adrenaline needle. She tosses the needle over to Cupcake. The needle drops right before her. She addresses to her,

"Take that needle and stab it into the side of her neck. That'll wake her up."

She trots to a nearby cart. Cupcake obeys her command. "Yes, Miss Pinkamena."

She picks up the needle and walks over to the unconscious Flitter. She then jabs the needle into her and injects the liquid.

Flitter screams to life.

"AAAH!!!! ...wait...w-what...Who are you?! Where am I?!?”, she asks the pony next to her in panic.

Pinkamena's ears perk up at the sudden task being completed in such short notice. She then turns around and pushes the tray of sharp, bloodstained utensils over to where Cupcake and Flitter are.

Flitter goes into a full on panic.

"H-Hey! What are you doing with those there?!?! Why are yo-..."

Flitter takes a good look at the pink pony before her. She doesn't believe who she is seeing.

"P-Pinkie..?"

Pinkamena smiles softly. She pulls out a large, thin scalpel from behind her.

Flitter's eyes now connect to the presence of the surgical tool. She tries to move, but she is strapped down four times over to the stretcher.  Cupcake looks into Flitter's eyes, seeing her fear. She starts feeling a hint of excitement, but mostly nervousness.

Flitter cries out.

"Please! Please don't harm me!! I beg you!! I didn't mean to make fun of Fluttershy a couple months ago! It was Cloudchaser's fault! I swear!! I-...mmph!!"

Pinkamena presses a piece of duct tape to her mouth, silencing her temporarily. She is still able to hear Flitter’s muffled screams of panic. Pinkamena smiles and places the large scalpel at the base of her forehead.

She looks down at Flitter.

"You know...I didn't realize you had such pretty hair. Full volume too! That might go great with my new sweater I'm finishing up! Hope you don't mind me borrowing it!"

She turns to Cupcake. Her smile goes away in a quick flash.

"Sit and watch, assistant”.

As she commanded, Cupcake takes a seat to watch Pinkamena, and gives a slight smile.

"Of course."

Raising her eyebrow at Cupcake's sultry response, she turns back to Flitter. Flitter is now in tears as she tries struggling to get loose, but it is no use. With that, Pinkamena places the scalpel to the top of her forehead.

And begins to dig in her scalp.

She begins to draw an incision right on the border of her hair line, all the way around to the back of her head, and back to the top of her forehead again. Flitter literally screams in high pitch from the discomfort. She has yet to feel more. Humming to herself, in battle to Flitter's muffled screams, she places the scalpel back down on the cart and turns to face Flitter.

"Hey Flitter~....” she coos to her.

Flitter stops screaming. Her rapid breathing is only heard through her nose.

"Head's up!"

Pinkamena grabs Flitter's hair with both hooves.

Forcefully but progressively, she begins pulling her entire scalp off, the sound is similar to one tearing fabric.

Flitter's muffled screams can be heard as if she was lit on fire. After ten long seconds of pulling, Flitter's entire scalp, along with her hair fully intact, rips completely off her skull. Flitter is squirming madly in her bondages as her raw muscle on her skull is exposed. She doesn't stop screaming, even though the process is over. Pinkamena places the scalp full of hair on the table next to her and faces Flitter. She rips the duct tape that was covering her mouth. Flitter continues screaming in agony. She has gone into shock.

Cupcake covers her ears from the loud piercing screams.

Pinkamena grabs a large kitchen knife from the table next to her and drops it into Cupcake's lap.

"Be a dear and stab her in the throat. I actually want to harvest her organs in peace for once. You can only enjoy so much screaming you know."

Pinkamena winks and moves the cart away to give Cupcake some space, for she knows of the usual result from stabbing somepony in the throat.

Cupcake picks up the kitchen knife and looks at herself in its clean reflection for a second, before walking up to Flitter. She can clearly see the damage Pinkamena has done. She ignores the tears from Flitter's eyes as she raises the knife to the Pegasus's throat.

Pinkamena raises her eyebrow in interest and watches her closely.

Flitter looks up at Cupcake. Blood streams freely from her torn scalp, shaking violently from shock. She gapes in horror as she sees the earth pony holding the knife to her throat.

Flitter whispers hoarsely through choked sobs of pain

.

"...p-please..*hic*....d-don't...*hic...i d-don't wanna die...."

She begins to break out in sobs again.

Pinkamena watches both of them from across the room. The dim lit lamp is visible on only them both. The rest of the room is dark, with Pinkamena's eyes watching them both from afar. Cupcake looks into Flitter's eyes.

A wide grin appears on her face.

"Too bad."

She then stabs the knife through Flitter's throat twice while giggling, piercing through her trachea. Cupcake never felt so much adrenaline course through her.

And she liked it.

She begins laughing, now maniacally.

"Hahaha..HAHAHAAAHAHAHAHAAHA!!"

Blood splatters wildly into Pinkamena's face, indicating that Cupcake had stabbed through Flitter's neck and into her jugular vein. Flitter suddenly stops moving as she gurgles up blood, choking. It isn't long until she stops breathing,

and passes away. Pinkamena, who was watching the entire time, walks over to Cupcake and turns her around. She scans her blood splattered body.

"Hmm...I like you this way.. Adds a little bit more...flare into you."

She smirks as she walks over to Flitter's body and pushes the stretcher into the room with the metal door. The room, which a massive refrigerator unit, was where Pinkamena stores her victim's bodies to preserve them for later work.

She closes the door and walks back over to Cupcake. She gives her one final look-down before putting her doubt and suspicion of her away.

"Not bad.” she says coolly as she trots past her and approaches the basement stairs.

"Come. You need to wash up."

Cupcake smiles, happy to have pleased Pinkamena. She felt like she had been born a new pony today and she couldn't be more proud of what she had done.

"Of course!”

She follows her upstairs.