Author's Note

So, this is basically the "why is this even happening!?" chapter. Sorry it's so short...the song was a bit more difficult to work with than the other two. I hope you enjoy it nevertheless

-TheLadyTwilight

This Is How I Disappear

The Black Parade

Written By TheLadyTwilight

Chapter 2: This Is How I Disappear

*music link*

Pinkie laughed quietly as darkness started to invade her wavering sight, a few stray tears falling down her pale face. Her laughter grew a bit louder, and louder still, until only a few objects were visible. This was how it was: the usual routine. Pinkie would have been surprised that the floor hadn't given way after the many times she'd fallen on it. Getting out of bed, putting her clothes on, going to bed, passing out. Yes, she would have been surprised if the latter hadn't just happened, for the 17th time in three weeks. But at this point, she was already in the Dreamscape, although it wouldn't be for long due to her vivid and constant night terrors. Those terrors were the sole reason for all of this, and she relived it every time she closed her eyes. Every time, for six months. In the Dreamscape, to the Nightmare Quadrant, four hours. And she still screamed herself awake.

Pinkie Pie found herself on the Pie Family Rock Farm, the place where she discovered her true talents, had loving family: this was where all her fondest memories came from. Home sweet home. Pinkie slowly walked up to the old, weathered door, hot gravel crunching beneath her feet. Her fist hovered above the worm wood, and tears once again pooled in her eyes. She didn't need to knock, though: the door creaked open all on its own. Inside was a simple house: a couch, coffee table, rug, and hearth in the living room, a staircase at the back, a ticking grandfather clock, and a tiny kitchen with a back door. The entire house was painted grey, to symbolize the rocks they farmed now, just like their ancestors did many years ago. Through the back door came a little old lady carrying a pail of water, her bubblegum-colored hair almost entirely white. Her wrinkled face was stricken with fear, and she hurriedly walked into the living room, where 6 other people were gathered.

There were 3 women, all of which looked to be in their early to mid-twenties. The first one, Maud, was tall and muscular, with shoulder-length purple hair and bright blue eyes, who wore a blue coat and grey jeans. The second, Gemini, was a bit shorter and had long, dark grey hair and amethyst eyes, and wore a simple grey dress. The third, Pinkamena, was the shortest, with wild pink hair, ice blue eyes, and was clad in light pink skinny jeans, a white t-shirt, and a light blue sweater. There was an older woman, Limestone, probably in her mid-fifties, and an older man, Igneous, who was about the same age. The old lady, Granny Pie, joined them, and looked down at the girl on the couch, Bellamina. She looked to be in her late teens. She had chin-length, pale grey hair, gold eyes, wore a grey tank top and blue shorts, and looked very, very ill.

Granny Pie got a cup and filled it with water, and offered it to the Bellamina, who gladly took a sip, and started coughing almost instantly. Maud placed a wet washcloth on her forehead. Bellamina tried to thank her in between coughs, and ended up coughing blood onto her shirt. Pinkamena looked over at Granny Pie with fear in her eyes.

"Granny, is Bella going to be okay?"

"I......Pinkie...Bella's going to be alright."

"Is there anything I can do for her?"

"Well...I think it may be a good idea to check her temperature again. Maud, will you go get the thermometer please?" asked Granny Pie. Maud nodded and ran off, then came back about 10 seconds later with the thermometer, and handed it to Pinkamena.

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"Done, Granny. It's...not good."

"Hand it over here, Pinkie." said Granny Pie. Pinkamena handed the small glass thermometer over to her, frowning and shifting anxiously. "Oh, my..."

"W-What...what is it..?" wheezed Bellamina, lifting her head up. No one said anything: Pinkamema and Granny Pie just stared at each other. After what seemed like an eternity, Pinkamena whispered something in Bellamina's ear. The girl's eyes widened in shock, and she stared in utter disbelief at her older sister.

"B-but...but that shouldn't be possi-" Bellamina was cut off by a sudden coughing fit, and it only stopped when she started to choke.

"Bella! Granny, what's happening to her!?" shouted Pinkamena, tears pooling in her eyes. Maud put an arm around Pinkamena's shoulder, and Gemini brushed a few strands of hair out of Bella's face. Granny Pie said nothing and looked down: she couldn't bear to look Pinkie in the eyes.
"Do something! Can't you see she's suffering!? Quit standing there and help her!" shouted Pinkamena. She pushed Gemini out of the way and leaned over her little sister, who was still coughing and choking. "Bella, look at me. You're gonna be fine, okay? Just stay with me. Come on, Bella, stay with me, you'll be okay..." Bellamina's struggling ceased, and blood started to trickle from the corner of her mouth.
"Bella, Bella come on...stop, it's not funny..." said Pinkamena, her pained voice bearing a hopeful edge. Tears started to run down her cheeks, and everyone fell silent. The only thing that managed to break the deathly quiet was a long, loud wail from Pinkamena. The pink-haired girl leaned forward and hugged Bellamina tightly, body shuddering with each hiccuping sob.

Still standing in the doorway, the straight-haired, black-dressed Pinkie blinked the mist from her eyes, and when she tried to turn her head away, found herself unable to move in any way, somehow frozen in place. She was forced to continue watching the agonizing scene in front of her, and only when Granny Pie up and left and Pinkamena stood and began to scream and lash out at her family was Pinkie allowed to wake up.

The first thing that Pinkie noticed when she woke up was her damp face and blurry vision. She looked around at the mess that used to be her bedroom, with the broken mirror, rickety furniture, and clothes all over the floor, then ever so slowly sat up. Between her now worse headache, the reoccurring nightmare of her sister's death, the stench of vomit, and the sound of the front door slamming shut, all Pinkie wanted to do was leave. She pulled herself up and walked to the door, rubbing her eyes and twisting the doorknob. All she had to do was walk outside and she was home free, but the plump figure of Mrs. Cake blocked her exit. And she did not look amused.

"Pinkamena Diane Pie, what did I say to you this morning?"

"Um...clean up, right?"

"Yes. And did you do that?"

"Ye-"

"No, you didn't! You haven't done a single thing I've asked for two weeks! I'm done with you, Pinkie. You're fired. Now get out of my house." said Mrs. Cake, thrusting a suitcase into Pinkie Pie's arms. She staggered backwards, dumbfounded.

"F-fired? Leave?"

"Yes. I expect you out of here by tomorrow morning." she growled. With that, Mrs. Cake turned and slammed the door shut behind her, then started ranting as she trudged to her room. Pinkie stood motionless, still trying to absorb all of what was just said to her. After it set in, Pinkie began to pack her things. A few hours later, Pinkie Pie was standing outside Sugarcube Corner in the pouring rain, the setting sunlight struggling to push through the dark grey wall of clouds that cloaked Ponyville. An idea popped up in Pinkie's head of who might take her in, but the probability that she would accept was virtually nothing. But, before she went begging for help at her friend's door, she had a bar to go to.