Shards in the Water

(3 Weeks after the incident)

“So, I gathered us here.” Wrench said as she placed a metal hoof onto the table at Sugarcube Corner. Three other mares were at the table: An excited Pinkie Pie, a seemingly disinterested Maud Pie (though she always looked like that), and a curious Diamond Ore.

“Yes. You did. Mind if I ask why?” Diamond asked.

“You may.” Wrench replied.

A short silence. Wrench found it oddly soothing.

“Why are we here?” Diamond asked.

“Why are any of us here? Does fate have something for store in all of us, or do we exist in a void where our actions have no consequence in the long run? We were born into this world without purpose, and live our lives with the pretense that the one thing we can do well is what we are meant to do with our lives. But what if that's not true? What if we're getting ourselves worked up about nothing?”

Another short silence. Why did the silence seem so strange?

“I meant why are we here at the Corner, sitting around a table?” Diamond asked.

“Because I called you here.” Wrench answered.

“Why did you call us here?” Diamond asked, now getting frustrated.

“I want to do something to alleviate some of the awkwardness and social stigma most homosexual ponies face even today.” Wrench replied as she sipped on her milkshake. “Why is this a strawberry shake? I ordered a chocolate one. I hate strawberry.”

“Actually, you ordered a vanilla shake.” Pinkie corrected.

“Oh.” Wrench said as she took another sip. “Nevermind then.”

“You're both insane.” Diamond said with a roll of her eyes.

Wrench slammed her metal hoof on the table, leaving a dent. “I'm not insane!” She yelled angrily.

Yet another short silence, with the other ponies staring at her.

“Ugh, sorry.” Wrench said, looking away for the moment.

“What was that about a social stigma?” Pinkie asked.

“Well, I figure that if ponies saw that gay ponies are really no different than anypony else, it should at least help those ponies be more open and to fit in better.” Wrench explained. “The question is how to do this.”

“A party?” Pinkie asked.

“It's a start.” Wrench said. “Though I'm not convinced that it'll have the exposure I want. After all, most straight and asexual ponies probably wouldn't show up.”

“Asexual? What's that?” Pinkie asked.

“It's when a pony doesn't fancy mares nor stallions.” Wrench replied.

“Then what do they fancy?”

“Nopony, usually.” Wrench replied. “At least, I don't.”

“Ah, that explains why I've never seen you on a date with anypony.” Diamond said.

“That, and I don't have the time. Too many experiments, too little time.” Wrench said with a smile.

“Oh, like Twilight!” Pinkie said. “Though I haven't seen her in a while...”

“Aren't you one of her friends? On that council of something-or-rather?” Wrench asked.

“Yeah, but she hasn't come out of her palace-crystal-tree thing in over a week!” Pinkie said with a frown.

“Hm. Well, back on topic...” Wrench said as she started to think.

“A parade!” Pinkie nearly shouted.

“A what?” Wrench asked.

“You know, a parade! They're like parties, but outside and constantly moving!” Pinkie said, bouncing up and down.

“Hm... Actually, that's a good idea.” Wrench said. “Yeah, a parade! Provides the exposure I'm looking for, and the fun atmosphere will put ponies at ease.”

“What if it comes off as a little aggressive?” Diamond asked.

“I don't think it'll really be that aggressive, though we will probably have some haters.” Wrench said as she shrugged. “Nothing we can do about that, except threaten to love and tolerate them.”

“Sounds like a good idea.” Pinkie said with a nod.

“Pinkie... You have been a lot more calm than you used to be.” Maud said.

“So she does speak.” Wrench said under her breath.

“Well...” Pinkie said with a frown, “I like trying to be friends with everypony, but some ponies are put off by how friendly I am!"

“Or how annoying you get." Wrench muttered.

“Oh no, you silly goose! I'm not annoying!" Pinkie said with a giggle. "I'm happy!"

"Right." Wrench replied. She rolled her eye.

There was another silence. Wrench finally realized what it was that was missing: The psychotic voice in her head hadn't said anything.

Oh thank Discord, the voice went away on it's own.

The second she finished that thought, a loud, horrible noise filled her mind. It blocked out all other sounds, and caused Wrench to grimace. The other mares looked at her confused and concerned, and asked her something. Wrench couldn't hear them over the screaming.

A large migraine started to pound away at her brain as she fell from her chair and writhed in agony. Her body went cold, her eyes went wide, sweat poured from every pore, and she couldn't breathe.

The screaming intensified.

Wrench screamed in agony.

The screaming intensified even more.

Wrench broke. Everything went dark.