Pink is a Nightmarish Color

Remy and I were the first to enter and we saw that the entire interior of the house was decorated with fake cobwebs, fake bats hanging from the ceiling, and there were a few fake spiders placed on different spots on said fake cobwebs. Jack-O Lantern buckets with various candies in them were lined up neatly on a long table against the wall. There was a large stool in the back with a cauldron filled with cider.

"Kind of reminds me of home" Remy said as he adjusted his cap. I was able to see his eyes very briefly before the brim covered them again. They were a mocha color and I also saw a tattoo of a bullet underneath both of his eyes.

"I usually go to Halloween parties instead of throwing one" I said. Just then, Pinkie Pie appeared out of nowhere.

"SURPRISE!" She exclaimed. I cried out and jumped into Remy's arms. Though I couldn't tell because of the brim, Remy rolled his eyes and just dropped me on the floor. I should remember that Remy doesn't get startled easily. Not even Pinkie Pie's sudden appearance can get him.

"Nice place you have set up" he commented.

"Thanks!" She exclaimed. Remy glanced at the door.

"Should I let everypony know that your party is ready?" He asked.

"Sure!" She answered, still excited. Remy nodded and tipped the brim of his cap.

"I'll be back" he said, before leaving the house and closing the door behind him. Pinkie Pie noticed the box I still had in my hands. I wondered why Remy didn't ask me about it. I forgot that Remy doesn't like asking people things they have in their hands for the sake of it being personal. Wow, I haven't seen my Horsemen brethren for awhile now. I wonder when the four of us will reunite.

"What's in there?" She asked. I glanced at the box and smiled.

"Toby gave it to me" I answered. "He felt bad about a prank he pulled on me so he gave me this as a sign of an apology."

"Are you going to open it?"

"I told him that I would open it during the party." I then noticed something. "Uh, where are the Cakes?" I asked.

"Oh, they are in Canterlot doing an errand. They even brought the twins with them, so basically, I have the whole place for myself!" Just then, Remy returned with his hands in his jacket pockets.

"They're here" he said. "Shall I allow them in?"

"Of course! Let's get this party started!" Pinkie Pie leaned close to my ear. "Between you and me, I actually went door-to-door and told them my party was about to start just before you and Remy arrived" she whispered. I really don't know how she does it, but she is Pinkie Pie after all. I turned my head and saw a few ponies entering the house, chatting excitedly. The second I saw Toby in the back with Fluttershy and Lightning Dust, I quickly unzipped my jacket, tucked the box in one of the inner pockets, and zipped the jacket back up again. Some of the ponies (especially the young ones) donned their costumes again. Fluttershy approached Pinkie Pie nervously.

"Um... Pinkie Pie?" She asked softly. "There's something I need to tell you."

"Hold that thought for one second, Fluttershy" Pinkie Pie said before bouncing over to some of her guests.

"Um... Ok" she said softly.

While I was helping myself with some cider, I felt a hoof tap my back. I turned around and found myself face-to-face with Flutterbat. "Happy After Nightmare Night" I said, raising the cup to her. She responded with a few soft hisses. It's funny because it sounded like she was trying to say: 'Happy After Nightmare Night to you too.' I brought the punch to my lips and started to gulp it down. The scent of the apple reached her nose, causing her pupils to dilate a little. I brought the now empty cup down on the table. "What?" I asked, unaware that I had droplets of cider running down my bottom lip. Flutterbat took a step forward and with her vampiric tongue, she licked the residue off my chin, and lips before taking a very quick bite to my neck, sucking my now apple flavored blood. She did it so fast, that nopony nor anyone knew it happened. After taking a few sips of my blood, she licked my neck clean. The bite marks were there, but it was so small, it is very unnoticeable. "Uh... Thanks?" I asked.

I knew she does this, but what confused me was why she did it now in the public. Normally she does this when the two of us are alone. She gave me a smile, showing off her fangs before walking away. I shrugged off that random scenario and refilled my cup for another serving of cider. Remy approached me from behind. Before he could say anything, I beat him to it with the first word. "Please tell me you left your guns at home" I said.

"Nope" he said. "Still keep them tucked in my sleeves."

"Toby is here and he hasn't seen a gun before" I whispered. "So I suggest you don't show them to him."

"I'm not stupid, Cale. I know kids shouldn't mess with guns. The last time I saw a guy present a gun to a kid..."

"Yeah, you told the kid to run home and while he did that, you shoved him in front of an incoming bus. You told me this before." A question struck me. "How did you get caught again?"

"I didn't." Before I could say anything, I saw Toby and Flutterehy approaching us.

"Drop the topic" I said hurriedly. Remy nodded.

"Oh this is terrible" Fluttershy said nervously. I approached her and wrapped an arm around her.

"Come on, tell me" I said in a kind voice. "What's wrong?" I asked as I led her to the side.

"Um... Remy, is it?" Toby asked.

"It is, kiddo" he answered.

"Where did you get the cap? I like it" he commented. Before he could answer, a voice cut him off.

"I'm sorry, I don't think we have met." Remy turned his head and saw Lightning Dust.

"Remy Brecht, at your service" he said as he took off his cap and bowed quickly as he brought his cap close to his chest. He put his cap back on before straightening back up. He clearly doesn't want anypony to see the tattoos under his eyes. "And you are?"

"Lightning Dust" she answered.

"Lightning Dust" Remy repeated with a smile. "That's a nice name. Judging by your Cutie Mark, I can tell you have the flight speed equivalent to Rainbow Dash."

"I'm flattered" she said. Remy just grinned. I returned with a saddened Fluttershy. In my hand was a rolled up scroll.

"Oh, this isn't good" I said.

"What's wrong, momma?" Toby asked. Fluttershy was too sad to answer him.

"Long story short, a lot of ponies Pinkie Pie invited couldn't make it to the party and she worked so hard on sending this one invitation to an anonymous guest."

"What happened?" Remy asked.

"Before arriving, Fluttershy received a response from the guest saying that they couldn't make it."

"Who's the guest?" Lightning Dust asked.

"It's anonymous" I answered. "Pinkie Pie knows who the guest is, but she wouldn't reveal who it is."

"And this anonymous guest isn't coming?" Remy asked.

"Yes" Fluttershy answered sadly.

"I'm getting another mystery friend?" Toby asked, not understanding that there's a dilemma right now.

"So the anonymous guest couldn't make it, I'm sure there is an explanation" Remy said.

"I'm sure there is, but I don't know how Pinkie Pie will take it" I said.

"What do you mean?" Lightning Dust asked.

"Let me put it this way... You'll probably want to avoid Pinkie Pie for awhile once her mane deflates." I shuddered. "The last time I saw her like that..." I shuddered again. Remy turned to the pink party pony mingling with her guests.

"What, her?" He asked. "What's so scary about her?"

"Ok, you haven't been spending that much time in Ponyville" I said. "Trust me, I know what I saw."

"Saw what?!" Pinkie Pie asked excitedly, appearing out of nowhere." This time, I didn't react. I wasn't so sure whether to tell her now and ruin the party she has set up, or wait until after the party when all the guests have left. This is a really tough call. Before I could say something, Fluttershy approached Pinkie Pie with a sorrowful look on her face.

"Uh... Pinkie Pie?" She asked softly. "There's something I really got to tell you... The--" before she could continue, a bell rang from upstairs, causing Pinkie Pie to smile.

"It's time!" She said excitedly as she hurried up the stairs. Remy approached me and placed a hand on my shoulder.

"Cale, I think you're overreacting a little bit. Pinkie Pie is known for being comedic and very random which is why she's fun to be around. There's nothing scary about her." I just stared at him. Not wanting Toby to hear, I grabbed Remy by the collar of his jacket and led him out of the house. I dragged off to the side and let go of him. The Fall air got a little colder, but I didn't care. Remy sighed.

"Ok Cale, why are you so nervous? You're not scared of Pinkie Pie, are you?"

"Look, I'm not scared of Pinkie Pie. I love being around. She always lightens my mood, even when I'm having those feelings like I want to fucking die. But have you ever broken a Pinkie Promise? Have you avoided her to the point where she thinks you don't want to be friends with her? You haven't seen Pinkamena Diane Pie's... Other Side." Remy chuckled.

"Look, if you're trying to scare me, Cale... This really isn't working. Come on, we got a party to finish, and I think Pinkie Pie's bringing out some games." I just shrugged, not giving a shit anymore. "Cale, come on, relax, the fun is just beginning. There's no reason to be afraid of Pinkie Pie." He retreated back into the house.

"Don't say I didn't warn you, Remy" I whispered, following him inside.

Pinkie Pie in fact brought games. She set the clock to a specific time to let herself know when to bring out the games. So silly. The first game is actually Pin the Tail on the Donkey. "Ok, who wants to go first?" Pinkie Pie asked.

"I will" I volunteered quickly. I decided to follow Remy's advice and get my mind off Pinkie's Other Self. I took the tail and stood in the center of the room.

"First we blindfold you" Pinkie Pie said as she tied a blue cloth around my eyes. "Then we spin you around..." She placed her forehooves on my shoulders and spun me. She placed her forehooves on me again, stopping the spin. "And now you can begin!" She said cheerfully. Now I could either be facing the wall where the donkey was set up, or I could be facing at something different.

"Come on Cale, you can do it!" The room filled with cheers of encouragement. As I decided which way to go, an image of the other side of Pinkie Pie flashed in my mind from when I last encountered her. Her bright pink color was now dull and almost grayish looking, her mane and tail were completely down. Her eyes were wide with insanity and don't get me fucking started on the smile. I lost my balance, fell to my knees, and started gagging.

"Cale, are you ok?" Toby asked. I couldn't help it anymore. I gagged and threw up the cider I had earlier, though it wasn't much. I pulled the blindfold off and started gagging and coughing.

"I think you spun him way too fast" Fluttershy said as she rubbed my back comfortingly. I continued to cough and gag, trying to take deep breaths. But no matter how much I tried to breathe, that image of Pinkie Pie still lingered in my mind, causing me to throw up a little more cider. Fluttershy helped me up. "Come on Cale, let's get you water" she said as she led me to the kitchen. If Remy claims he isn't scared of her, he'll definitely be scared if he sees her. But that's not my concern.

My real concern is the other human. The youngest of us all. Toby. What will happen if he sees her? That's what I'm more concerned about. He's only a kid and something like this would surely frighten him. I hope that he won't see Pinkie Pie's other side... If he does... Oh God, I don't want to think about what will happen if the two encounter each other.