Chapters Chapter 1
It's dark, dark and cold. She felt she didn’t need it but she noticed the lack of oxygen. Rainbow Dash was cramped, surrounded by rotten, wooden walls and no exits. There was a terrible smell that seemed familiar but she could not put her hoof on it. She was lying on her back with her front hooves crossed over her chest. Rainbow Dash was lost. She had no memory of being here or in this situation. Then it started to come back....
She remembered the pain from the knifes and tools, the rush from the drugs injected into her, refusing her body to succumb. She remembers the feeling of all her life and energy draining into complete darkness. She realized she was supposed to be dead. That this was her grave.
A million questions screamed through her mind, “Where am I? How am I alive? Where are my friends?” then she began to think of her friends and how they must be without her. “My friends... Twilight, Apple Jack, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkiep...... Pinkie Pie.” Her fear and confusion quickly turned into blind hatred.
She remembered everything now. What Pinkie had done to her, what she had done to all the ponies before her and what she may still be doing. And no one having a clue. She will pay for everything. Dashes heart began to fill with utter rage and hatred over someone she was convinced to be one of her best friends. To betray the element to loyalty, you will pay the ultimate price. As Rainbow Dash and countless other ponies have paid because of her.
She began to dig. Dig her way to freedom and revenge. She was going to stop pinkie pie and put an end to all this madness. She had no idea how she was alive, but she didn’t care. It was a gift she couldn’t afford to question. An opportunity to make things right. Her hooves smashed through the rotten wood with ease as pile of dirt began to flood her coffin. She ignored it and kept digging. All that mattered was revenge! Her hooves tore through dirt and stone as her teeth gnawed through roots until she finally begun to see a moon light.
When she finally broke free, she could feel a slight night time breeze brush against her face. The air was humid, it must have rained not to long ago. When she stood on her own feet for the first time in what felt like forever, she began to look around. She was not in a cemetery, but she knew exactly where she was. This place meant allot to all of her and all of her friends. A place they could all hang out and play. To work and have fun. She was in Applejack's back fields. More and more memories began to return to her and Rainbow began to feel weak.
She was not tired from digging, her new body doesn’t feel such trivial weaknesses anymore. She began to feel guilt. She realized what she was heading out to do. A few moments ago she was filled with hatred and a thought of revenge. But now her conscience stepped in. “Am I really doing this? What am I suppose to do? I cant see my friends like this. What if Pinkie was already caught? What am I suppose to do then?”
Dash continued to question her mission and heart. And began to think of all the fun she had with Pinkie Pie all the memories of pulling pranks, telling jokes, don’t even get started on the baking! Tears began to run down her cheeks. Could it really be her friend who did this to her? No, Dash did not accept this. Who ever did this to her was not her friend. Pinkie Pie was in as much pain and torment as Dash. Dash looked at her reflection in a newly formed puddle on the ground beneath her feet and she got a good look at her self.
Her hair had lost allot of its colour and was covered in dirt. Her face was pale and her fur was wagged. Her left eye was gray and emotionless and her entire body was covered in stitches. As if someone had to put her back together. Her wings and cutie marks were gone. Pinkie took them. The two things on her body she was most proud of. She was horrified to see her self for the first time, but that horror began to fade and replaced its self with despair.
She was alone. Everyone thought she was dead, and they may still be right somehow. She could never see her friends again. That would only cause them more pain and worry. She had to do this her self.
A fire began to lite in her eyes. She knew what she had to do. Who ever was doing this was not her friend. Another person inside her. An alter ego she could not control. Dash had to save her and every pony who was in danger. She had to free Pinkie from the pain and agony of watching her own body torture and kill her own friends. One way or another, she had to set her free!
As Rainbow Dash walked through the apple fields the sun was slowly rising. She wasn’t sure where she could go. She could not go home because she could no longer fly. She could not visit a friend for the obvious reasons. She could not travel during day light in fear of someone seeing her. There was only one pony she wanted to see her, Pinkie Pie.
The very thought still invoked bitter anger in her but she used every part of her will to keep her self calm. The last thing she needs is to be spotted throwing a tantrum in Applejack's field.
There was an old shed of Applejack's just ahead of her. She decided to see if she could find anything useful in there. She hated the thought of stealing from Applejack but it was inevitably necessary. Inside the shed she found quite an abundance of tools for any situation. For fixing, cutting, sawing, hacking. Any problem you could imagine, The solution was in here. Then a tool caught Rainbow's eye.
A long thin machete almost styled like a katana but also... not... It was all in all a nice knife, with a slightly curved blade and a wooden handle. The handle had a pretty design engraved on it, no particular picture or shapes carved in it. Just symmetrical flowing curves almost resembling wind or water with engraves from teeth partially covering it.
Rainbow Dash knew little of farm tools or purposes but she knew exactly what she needed this for. Dash continued to look around, and in the corner of the shed laid an old dusty saddlebag. It looked like it hadn’t been used in a long time. Surely no one would miss it.
She put the machete in the saddlebag and put it on. It was a bit of a tight fit but it will have to do. Must have been Applejack's when she was younger. It still had a slight aroma of apples, the same aroma Applejack always had. It was familiar and calming to her. She missed her friends and these little items were all she had left of them.
Lastly she found an old hooded robe. This could be very useful. With this she could travel in the day time and the worst accusations she would receive were being a thief or a bum. Instead of people thinking she were a zombie, witch would almost be correct.
She left the barn and Applejack's property to start her journey. She had all the tools she needed. She did not need food, she did not need sleep, she did not need answers. She had a goal. All she needed now was information. Where Pinkie was, and how to get there without being noticed. It will not be easy, for her mind or heart. But it had to be done. Dash let out her last tears. Her last moments of being a pony. She was beyond that now. To do what she had to do she has to become something else. To free her friend from her torment she had to let her heart go and let her mind and instincts take over. She has to become the monster she was brought back to be. She was given this chance to make a difference, and there is no turning back now!
Thanks for reading!
Please comment and give me advice. I'm new to writing and am totally open to tips and ideas!
I think I have a good idea coming and I am open to any “constructive criticisms” to help me off the ground! And if people like it ill work on the second chapter ASAP!
And by all means, visit http://askdeadrainbowdash.tumblr.com/
Chapter 2
Meet your Maker
"Dash wake up! it is time to see!
I implore you, please find me!
I have all the answers you seek!
Please come when the moon is at peek
Rainbow Dash awoke with a jolt as the message echoed in her ears. "Zecora?", Dash began to question if her mind had deteriorated in the ground. Dash would recognize that voice anywhere. And the rhyming always irritated her slightly. Somehow she contacted her through her dream, and most importantly, she knew Dash was alive! Dash looked up at the moon, it was about an hour from hitting its peak. And the Everfree Forest was about an hours walk. Coincidence? Dash was quite skeptical at this point but figured that anyone who not only knew she was alive but would contact her through magic had to know something!
So Rainbow Dash set off to the forest, mildly grumpy from having her nap disturbed. She did not require sleep but she still enjoyed the odd nap. Dreams are always kinder than reality. She dreamed of her friends. All of them, before these dark times. Before Pinkie Pie became consumed by Pinkamina and killed Rainbow Dash, before she awoke with nothing more than questions and an idea. But now maybe some of those questions will be answered.
Rainbow missed her wings. She had only been walking 10 minutes but it was the longest she had ever walked for as long as she could remember. Her wings were not just a part of her body, but her very heart and soul. She began to question if Pinkie took anything else from her. Organs? Bones? She did not feel like it but of course, nothing was really right with her lately.
She knew that it was going to be a very long depressing walk for her tonight.
After what might as well been months of walking, she arrived at Zecora's hut. Dash knocked on the door. "Please come in! And we will begin!"
The rhyme made Dash cringe, it reminded her of those stupid fillies books her parents used to read her, she never really liked them at all. She pushed open the door and saw Zecora's usual collection of strange objects. Everything from Tiki masks to old hollowed out animal bones. Zecora greeted her with another rhyme and told her to take a seat. being ever more irritated from her words but tried to be as polite as possible despite the fact she needed information. Zecora poured them tea, handed one to Dash and sat down in a chair across from her. "So Rainbow Dash you look good! Much more than you really should!"
Dash couldn’t take the annoying small talk anymore, she needed answers, and the questions for them all seemed to burst out of her mouth at once! "How did you know Im alive? How am i alive? What do you want from me?"
The zebra held up a hoof to silent the blabbering Pegasus, and only chuckled at her impatience. "I can see you need answers so i will make it straight and clear, for for my time too may be drawing near!" Rainbow Dash sat up in her chair waiting for the story she's been waiting for. "It is I who brought you back from the dead, the one who put you together, arms, legs and head."
Rainbow Dash was almost knocked back in shock by the sudden answer, but she did not dare interrupt Zecora's speech, she needed all the information she could get.
"I know about Pinkie Pie i have experienced it first hoof, when she killed my brother visiting under my roof. She tied me down and made me see, as she spilled his blood all over me." The zebra bean to tear as she continued her story, Dash wanted to comfort her but was afraid she would miss some of the story. "Then she grabbed my head, looked me in the eyes and said, no one will believe you, and when i done playing ill kill you too!"
Zecora was completely weeping now and Dash couldn’t hold it any longer. She dashed to her and hugged her, and Zecora returned it. after a moment of silence She was ready to continue her story.
"I told the police but no one believed me, I told the town but they only threw rocks at me. She was correct in saying no one would believe, Who would suspect Equestria's happiest pony to have something up her sleeve." Dash began to shake with anger. So she did get away with it! "Then a few days ago, she disappeared and now the laws suspicion grow. I needed help to find the killer, and put an end to this sick thriller!"
Rainbow Dash sat at the end of her chair, everything was beginning to fall together. "So why me?" she asked almost regretfully.
Zecora looked at the ground and sighed. "You are the only one to truly know Pinkie Pie now, both sides of her mind, every friendly secret and vow. You are the fastest there is, the only trouble you should have is turning her back into the Pinky we all miss."
Dash chuckled to her self, "I'm nothing without my wings, how am i supposed to do anything without them?" Dash began to shed another tear she quickly swiped away, there is no more time for tears.
Zecora stood up before Dash could react Zecora slit her throat!
Utter shock and fear took Rainbow Dash, but then her wound closed and healed as fast as it was cut. Rainbow Dash was speechless Zecora only chuckled to her self, stood up and walked towards a chest on a table. "Do you like? That is the spell of Black Ike!"
Dash looked up at her furious, "What the hell have you done to me!?"
The zebra looked at Rainbow Dash with a cold stare that made Dash shutter, "You are no longer living nor dead, all your wounds will heal before they have bled. This new body is best, for your up coming quest!" Zecora grabbed the chest and set it in front of Dash. "If you think i would send you out without proper tools, you are as smart as all the other ponyville fools.
Dash raised an eyebrow and opened the chest.
She could not believe her eyes, inside the chest her her very wings and cutie marks Pinkie had stolen from her! Dash looked up to Zecora with watering eyes, "How did you get these!?"
Zecora smiled and confessed, "I broke into Pinkies house after she left, i found them and committed theft. I knew you'd want them back, let me help you put them on your back!" The zebra grabbed the wing in Dash's and held it to her back, the skin reached out to each other and melded. as with the other wing and cutie marks. With ever piece she returned Dash began to feel more whole and her self. "Those stitches you carry they too will heal over time, soon it will all be like a bad memory, just another hill to climb."
Rainbow Dash turned around and hugged Zecora, Zecora could feel the warm tears trickle down her coat from Dash. She promised to her self she wouldn’t cry anymore, but she has never been more thankful to anyone for anything in her whole life. Zecora returned what she was so scared she had lost forever, the parts of her that were not just her body but her very soul and life. She was once again Rainbow Dash!
After a few heart felt moments she said her good byes to Zecora and took to the skies. With a fire in her eyes she was ready to take on the world once more!
Chapter 3
As Rainbow Dash flew from Zecora's she felt so alive again! She missed her wings more than her very life, and now she was never going to part with them again! Dash was on top of the world! And before long she had forgotten all her problems and began doing the daring, blood pumping stunts she missed.
But of course for every moment, there is always something to ruin it. Rainbow Dash heard a scream, it was Applejack! Dash changed direction and took off so fast it almost instantly shattered the sound barrier. No one was going to lay a hoof on her friends!
Applejack didn’t know what was going on. One moment she was doing chores in the barn with her little sister, the next she pulled out a knife and attacked her. Big Mac was in town and Applebloom had completely lost her mind! Fear gripped the trembling earth pony, she was driven into a corner. She was stabbed in the right, back leg and cut all over. She was in so much pain she could hardly do more than tremble in fear.
The crazed sister slowly approached her with a menacing grin. “Now now there big sis! Ah recon y’all hurt your self if you keep squirming!”
Applejack was trapped, about to be put down by her own sister. Her own flesh and blood wanted to kill her! “Why? Please, Applebloom!” She could hardly speak the tears were to strong.
“They always ask the same damn thing! Why, why, why?! Yall really wanna know why? Cause it's fun!” Applebloom screamed as she raised her knife for the final strike.
Applejack closed her eyes only to hear a loud “Smack!”
When she opened her eyes she saw her little sister on the floor face down a couple feet from her. And standing beside her unconscious body was the frail, faded colored body of a Pegasus she knew far to well.
“Rainbow Dash!” she screamed as she ran and hugged her long missed friend. Applejack had dozens of questions she tried to ask but she was still scared and trembling. “What's goin on? How'er y’all alive? Why did Applebloo...”
Dash lifted her hoof to silence the terrified earth pony. “Maybe you should sit down, there is allot to explain.” Rainbow went into the bathroom and grabbed bandages and wraps for her friend. The cuts were deep but were not dangerous. When she was finished patching up Applejack she was still trembling.
Dash sat beside her, “First of all I want you to tell me everything you know, and ill fill it it in. I have some questions for you too that need answers.”
Applejack looked up at her degraded friend with worry, but trusted and answered her savior. “Ah only know what everypony knows by now. Pinkie Pie lost her marbles and.... well, you know. Ah was the one who found y’all, but I musta been just a moment too late, cause all I saw was a figure jump out the window while y'all were still strapped!” Applejack started to cry, she tried to block out the images of her dismembered friend. Rainbow Dash only listened and hung on her every word.
“There were several other killin's all over ponyville! Diamond Tiara, Mr. Cake, even Zecora's brother! Coarse we all thought she lost her marbles too, when she said Pinkie Pie did it!” Dash let out a silent snort.
Applejack didn’t notice and continued her story, keeping as much detail as she could for Rainbow Dash. “But durin' your funeral there DNA tests came in and our worst fears were realized.” Applejack let out a sob, “It WAS Pinkie Pie!”
Applejack broke down and collapsed against Rainbow Dash. Dash didn’t know what to do, she just hugged her back and told her everything was going to be ok. To her surprise it slowly started to work and withing a minute or two, she was continuing her story. “By the time the police got to her house she had already high tailed it outa ponyville. An she still has yet to be found.”
Dash looked at the floor in thought and began to worry about her friends again. “How has everyone been? You know, without me?”
Applejack was shocked at the question but reluctantly answered, “Everyponies wrapped up tighter than a birds nest! Twi locked her self in her room, readin every damn book she's got! Rarity dedicated a whole dress line to you! An Fluttershy hasn’t even spoken since the funeral!”
Rainbow was hurt by the news but not necessary surprised. She would probably be no better if she were to trade places with somepony. Applejack was determined to get her answers now.
“All right now it's your turn! Beginning to end! What the hey is goin on!?” Rainbow Dash hung her head and sighed. She wasn’t sure how Applejack would react to what she was about to hear. But for everything she's told her, she earned the truth.
“I woke up in the grave and dug my way out. When I realized what I was and remembered what happened, I knew what I had to do.” Applejack cocked her head in question of her sudden “duty.”
“An what might that be Dashie?” Rainbow Dash smiled. It felt like forever since she was called that. She kind of missed it. But she went right back on track and answered her question.
“I'm the one who knows Pinkie Pie best, I'm the one who experienced her evil and can still do something about it. I’m the only one who has seen her other half and can stop it.!” Rainbow Dash hung her head again, she knew what Applejack was going to ask next.
“An how'er y'all gunna stop her?” She asked not thinking of the horrible answer that awaited her.
Rainbow Dash looked up at Applejack with a tear in her eyes. “Well, hopefully I can help her beat this “demon” in her. But.....” Dash was having trouble finishing her sentence, she began a cold sweat and grew a lump in her throat. She swallowed her pain and tried again to continue. “But if I can't bring her back ill have to...” Dash couldn’t finish. She couldn’t say it, especially not in front of someone who Pinkie meant as much to. All she did, was reach in her saddlebag and pull out her knife.
Applejack's jaw dropped. Suddenly it all clicked together. “Oh Celestia no...” Applejack stepped back in fear, “Aint no way y'all can be serious right!”
Rainbow Dash kept her head down and spoke in a dull, pained tone. “Applejack, Right now Pinkie Pie's in pain. Even more pain than we are. She's forced to torture and kill her friends, family, and everyone else! While she was torturing me, Pinkie Pie came out for a split second and gave me a mercy shot. If it weren’t for that I would have been in pain allot longer. Pinkamina would have made sure of that. If all else fails, ill repay her mercy shot.
Applejack wanted so badly to protest but deep in her heart she knew, Dash was right. Pinkie was suffering, more than any of them combined. It I better to die than to kill. Applejack had nothing more to say, she simply put her head down and cried. Rainbow Dash stood up and walked to the door.
“Where y'all goin now!?” the pained pony exclaimed.
“Im going to set things right.” Dash opened the door.
“What about our friends!? What about Applebl..” Applejack froze. Applebloom was getting back up, chuckling to her self in the most disturbing manor any of them had witnessed.
“Y'all think you can stop her? Pinkamina's fun has only just begun!” she pause to laugh hysterically, making the two friends stomach turn. “Im the one who killed Diamond Tiara, under her aid of coarse! And my big sis over there was supposed to be next, but some flashy city pony had to get in the way!”
All Applejack could do was cry. “Why Applebloom? What the hey happened to you!?”
Applebloom looked to the floor and grinned. “I already answered that sis. But in case y'all don’t remember let me remind ya!” Applebloom dashed toward Applejack, knife I hand. “Because it's fun!”
Applejack closed her eyes again, and again heard a sound. But this time it wasn’t a slap, it was a blood curdling “Snap!” Rainbow Dash had kicked her in the head again just in time. But this time she kicked too hard. Rainbow Dash broke Applebloom's neck.
Applejack remained frozen, wide eyes fixed on the fresh corpse of her little sister. Everything else in the world didn’t exist. And Dash didn’t want to say anything. She too was horrified from what she had done. Applejack dragged her self towards her sisters body and put her ear to her chest, hoping to Celestia her ears were mistaken before. But no such luck, Applebloom was dead.
“Applejack, Applebloom. Im so sorry!” Dash could hardly stand. She felt like she was going to throw up. The first person she ever killed, was the little filly sister of one of her best friends. She collapsed to her knees and begged for Applejack's forgiveness. Applejack looked like she didn’t even notice her.
“Get out...” Dash almost jumped from the coldness of Applejack's voice. There was no emotion. Like she was banished from a robot. Dash hoped her ears were mistaken too. “Sorry.... What?”
“GET OUT!” Applejack screamed at the top of her lungs. Dash had no idea what to do, all she felt was fear. Rainbow Dash took off as fast as she could. In the distance she could hear Applejack scream her sister's name one last time.
“Im so sorry Applejack....”
Rainbow Dash just kept flying. She flew as fast and as far as she could until she crashed. Here eyes were full of tears and she busted through 3 trees ans smashed into the center of the Everfree Forest.
She couldn't care less. It wouldn't kill her, it couldn't kill her. She was in so much pain but that was only temporary. The only thing on her mind, the only thing she cared about was the Apple family.
What has she done? She killed Applebloom! She murdered her best friends little sister. She tried to tell her self it was the right thing. That it was ether Applebloom or Applejack. She saved Applejack's life. But the pain in Applejack's voice, was not something she could get over.
Dash just lied there the rest of the day, crying in the crater the had made. She had hoped that she could stop Pinkie and it would be like nothing ever happened. But she was dead wrong.
Even if she could somehow defeat Pinkamina and bring Pinkie Pie back for good, nothing will ever be the same. Too many people have been hurt, too many people have died. Zecora's Brother, Mr. Cake, Diamond Tiara, and now Applebloom.
There families will never be the same. And how will she ever be able to even look at Applejack again after what she had done? None of this had to happen. “None of this had to happen. It's not fair! It's all her fault!”
Rainbow Dash began to get up, her wet tears being defeated by fires of anger. “Pinkamina did this! Pinkamina killed all those people! Pinkamina turned Applebloom into...”
Dash could not hold it any more she became consumed by rage and utter hatred for Pinkamina. She ruined her life and so many others. Dash went on a rampage, beating down everything in her way. Trees, rocks. Nothing was in her way long. She snapped trees and crushed boulders until she started to calm down. Her hooves were cracked and bloody from kicking and the crater forest is used to be was suddenly a crater of smashed trees and shattered rocks.
Rainbow Dash collapsed of a pile of rubble and thought to her self. “I wonder if Pinkie converted more people. Will I have to kill them too?” Dash got up and looked around at what she had done. Then she looked at her hooves, they had already healed and she would have never known it was her that did this.
Rainbow dash looked out into the sun set and deeply thought about her duty. Now she knows the stakes. The longer she waits to stop Pinkie Pie not only will she kill ponies, But she will turn them. And then that means Dash will have to kill them.
“Pinkamina, you sick f....” Dash bit her lip and shook away another tear. She has had enough of this. Dash took to the skies. She did not know how she was going to find Pinkie, but she had to. For the sake of everyone she knows and loves, She has to. There was just one thing she had to do before she left Ponyville.
Applejack and Big Mac had just finished burying Applebloom. None of them said anything. They buried Applebloom right next to where Dash was berried. Big Mac took Applejack's chores for the night and let Applejack be with her sister alone.
When Applejack finally started heading back to her home, she noticed one of the trees on the way there. It was missing bark.
When she got up closer and could get a good look at it, she froze. Tears immediately ran down her cheeks and she hung her head down in shame of how she yelled at Rainbow Dash earlier. She saved her life, she did all she could. Her regret and pain was only amplified by what she saw. Carved into the tree was a message.
“Im Sorry Apple Family
Applejack fell to the ground, her hoof still on the tree. She looked up back to the message,
“Im sorry too Dashie.”
Thanks for all your helpful advice and great comments on the last chapters!
And I apologize for the manly tear I may have caused!
Ill get working of the next chapter ASAP as usual!
Chapter 4
As the faded cyan Pegasus flew through the air, she began to feel at piece again. However she could still never get past the pain she had caused Applejack, or the whole Apple family for that matter. She could only hope she at least saw her message.
Rainbow tried her best to be positive, so she started to think about how she still had much to be thankful for. It may have caused a terrible casualty but she did save her friend. And as Zecora said, he body was beginning to heal.
Her once faded Grey coat was now almost a clean cyan again. Some of her stitches had begun to fall out, and even her eye had begun to return to its beautiful purple.
However, for as much as she wanted to she could not ignore the facts. Applebloom was dead, twisted and converted into a ruthless killer by the despicable Pinkamina. And even through all the information she had received about her, she still had no leads as to where she may be.
Who else could she ask? Who else would know besides her best friends? Then it came to her, and she had to stop to smack her self for not thinking of it sooner. Rainbow Dash turned and headed for her new destination, Pinkie Pie's old rock farm.
“Why?”
It came out in a hoarse low tone, it was all the unicorn could open her mouth to say. Her strength was almost gone and she had lost the energy to scream from the pain. The great and powerful Trixie was now nothing more than an emotionless doll, Pinkamina's newest toy.
The giggling pink earth pony hopped back to her victim. “Ha ha ha! Isn’t this fun!?” Trixie didn’t even have the strength to look up at the insane mare. “What not enjoying the party? Well I can fix that!”
Pinkamina drove the needle of adrenaline into Trixie's chest and she instantly gasped as a powerful surge or energy coursed through her entire body.
“Now that's much better! See? This is fun! Remember that time you tied up my friend Applejack and how fun that was!?” As she excitedly spoke she carved the scalpel down Trixie's torso and continued her conversation, heedless of her victims screams.
“It's kinda like that!” before the crazed pony could make the next incision she was interrupted by a knock on the door. “Cummon in! The more the merrier!”
Two hooded figures stepped in, their size differed drasticly. One was very tall and wide as the other was smaller than Scootaloo.
“Ah, you two! Come in ,come in! What news do you have for me?” The excited Pinkamina put her scalpel down to grab another more appropriate for the next job and awaited word from her followers.
The smaller one was the first to talk, and he was as direct about it as anypony could, “Applebloom is dead.” Pinkamina paused for a moment from the sudden bad news, but continued carving.
“What a shame! She was a good little girl, really liked to play! How did she finally kick the bucket?” the cold earth pony asked. All her pawns were replaceable, nickels and dimes.
Now the bigger one answered, shaking from what he was about to say. “Sh-she was killed, by Rainbow Da-Dash!”
Pinkamina stopped her work in place. Trixie held her breath and tried to stay as quiet as possible, hoping that maybe she would forget about her. But she wasn’t so lucky, The pink earth pony sliced through the unicorn's throat as quickly and as easily as butter.
Trixie was shocked from the sudden pain in her neck, it almost tickled as her warm blood trickled down her chest. The room slowly began to do dark and the voices of her captors grew fuzzy. Her suffering was finally over, she had but one last thought, “Thank you Rainbow Dash.”
Pinkie turned and coldly looked at her followers, the two cloaked ponies shook, their very blood went cold from the look she gave. They could feel her very aura seep from her cold, emotionless stare. “I'm sorry, could you repeat that? I must not have heard you correctly over my new toy. But now we wont have to worry about that, please try again.”
The large hooded figure trembled and started to sweat, he prayed to Celestia to have mercy as he repeated him self. “Her neck was broken, from Rainbow Dash!”
The room was silent for what felt like hours for the two minions, until the quiet wall was shattered by Pinkie's evil, hysterical laugh!
“This is fantastic! For the longest time, I've been feeling so bad for not playing with her enough! The poor thing couldn't handle the fun for very long and I kinda over did it, but now she's back for more fun, oh boy I cant wait! Go Find her and bring her here!”
The minions deeply sighed and unwound them selves knowing their master was not angry. The smaller one replied to Pinkie confidently, “There's no need! She is on her way here!”
Pinkamina jumped for joy, “Excellent! You guys get in position and wait for my signal! I can't wait for Dashie's surprise!”
The two minions bowed and left the room. Pinkamina went to her desk and began sharpening her tools.
Rainbow Dash touched ground at Pinkie Pie's old home. It was exactly how Pinkie had described it, dark, depressing. It had that atmosphere that had no hope or happiness. Dash began to understand Pinkie Pie a little more now, Being cooped up here for half your life would drive anyone to insanity.
Rainbow Dash walked up to the house and knocked on the door, there was a short pause until an elder mare answered the door. Rainbow Dash had never met or seen her before but she could assume that this was Pinkie's mother.
“Why hello there! And you might be?” the older mare asked. She seemed like a kind lady, she wore a peaty gold necklace wrapped around her neck by a dark black sash and her glasses were gold and classy. She had a slight farm accent but not as defined as the Apple families.
Aside the shiny golden accessories she was a very colour deprived pony. Even her coat was a pale gray, similar to how Dash's was when she had first resurrected.
“Uh hi! My name's Rainbow Dash and I'm here to talk about your daughter Pinkie Pie.” Rainbow Dash was nervous about bringing up Pinkie Pie, she had no idea how they would react to how she has been lately.
Pinkie's mother gave her a confused look, but then seemed to clue in, “Ah! So you're Rainbow Dash! Pinkie pie has told us so much about you! Please, come in come in!”
“She has?” Rainbow wasn’t sure what to think about this. Dash didn’t even know Pinkie ever even saw her parents since she moved to Ponyville. She reluctantly walked in the door, scraped her hooves on the mat and followed the mare to the kitchen.
“Why not just go see her your self? She's in her room.” Pinkie's mother asked.
Dash was set back at what she said. Was Pinkie really there? Does her family even know what she has done? She tried to play it cool, if they really had no idea what was happening this could go allot easier than she had expected! “Uh, sure! Silly me! Where is her room?”
The pale mare smiled and said, “Her room is down stairs over there! Would you like me to show you?”
“Uh, no thanks! I can find it, thank you!” Dash turned and started walking towards the stairs. She past another pony on the way to there who must have been Pinkie's father.
He looked like a sophisticated gentleman, with a tie around his neck and an old fashioned hat. He was dressed about as colorful as his wife, but his fur was a light chocolate colour. He tipped his hat to her as they passed and Dash nodded back with a shy smile.
As Dash descended the wooden steps, a knot built up in her stomach. She wondered how Pinkie would react when she see's her. Dash remembered the last time she had seen her. Dashed called out for Pinkie at the bottom of the steps, but there was no reply.
She walked into the room. It was surprisingly empty and clean. The walls were all brick painted white, and the floors were solid concrete and nothing more.
Dash called for her friend again, “Pinkie?” But there was no answer. Suddenly she heard a feint snap behind her, she turned as fast as she could but it was too late. Dash felt a sharp pain in the back of her head for a split second and then darkness took her.
“Daassshhhhiieeee!
Rainbow Dash's eyes slowly opened. Her head was pounding and everything was blurry and distorted. Everything Pinkie said seemed to have a ringing echo that hurt her ears even more.
“Hurray! You're awake! Now we can start your surprise party! Do you like it!?” Pinkamina was up and bouncing like usual and dash was still having difficulty focusing on anything.
Dash was strapped in a position she was far to familiar with. Restrained on her back the same way that she hoped she would never be again. To her right was a table of equally familiar tools and even some new ones she hasn’t yet seen.
The walls that were once clean and white were covered in ribbons and signs reading “surprise” and other cheerful party quotes. There were balloons and streamers everywhere, it almost worsened Dash's headache just looking at all the bright colors.
“Those decorations are so tacky!” Dash sickeningly commented with a dazed smirk.
“Now now don't be so rude! I worked hard on this just for you, and this is the thanks I get!?” Pinkamina's hair began to fall. Dash couldn't die, she had nothing to lose. She was going to stay there and take the pain until Pinkie fought her way back. Dash has to use the one thing she has been absent of her entire life, patience.
“Well sorry to waist your time then.” Dash quickly replied to her captor. It was a mental game now, Rainbow Dash had to toy with Pinkamina as she toys with everyone else.
“Well, I guess it can't be helped! So Dashie! Your alive! Mind telling me how?” Pinkamina picked up a scalpel from the table and held it to Rainbow's throat. Dash didn't even flinch.
Dash let out a winded chuckle, “Like I'm about to tell you!”
The pink earth pony clenched her teeth, grabbed Dash's chest and pulled her eye to eye, “Aren't you scared!? I've already killed you once! What makes you think I wont do it again!?
The cyan Pegasus only laughed harder at Pinkamina's Anger and confusion, Dash was getting to her.
“SHUT UP!” Pinkamina screamed as she slashed the blade across Dash's face. Dash slowly turned her face back at her attacker and gave her a dark, victorious smile as her wound quickly healed.
Pinkamina took a step back. Now Rainbow Dash was in control. Pinkamina looked down on the floor and at her bloody scalpel in her hoof. “I see, so that's why you were so confident. You claim to be immortal or something.”
Pinkamina raised her head and gave Rainbow Dash a twisted, menacing glare that shattered Dash's confidence. “Let's test this gift of yours Dashie!” she screamed as she drove the scalpel deep into Rainbow's gut.
Dash choked and coughed out blood, witch gave Pinkamina a satisfied grin. “Is that all you got?” Dash looked up and glared mockingly at her new toy. It was Dash's turn to play!
Pinkamina was once again taken by rage and pulled out the scalpel and stabbed her captive again! And again! And again!
The blood splattered all over both of them as Pinkie relentlessly bombarded her victim. The blood soaked the walls and the decorations until Pinkamina paused. She dropped the scalpel and grabbed her forehead. Pinkie Pie was coming back!
Dash could hear her arguing to her self but it was all to muffled and shaky to make anything out. Pinkie knelt down and looked up at dash, “Please... Kill me.......”
Dash felt her heart sink. The pain she felt from the stabbings was nothing compared to the pain of hearing her friend say that. And as quickly as Pinkie Pie came she was pushed away.
“Uhg! Annoying bitch! She's interrupting my fun!” Pinkamina was back, and Dash was furious from the combination of hearing her friend's words of pain and then hearing her be insulted by this scum!
“Don't you DARE insult Pinkie Pie!” Rainbow Dash snapped.
“Shut up you obnoxious twerp!” Pinkamina slit Dash's throat, but as predicted it healed back. Pinkamina was enraged by her defeat, she just wouldn't die! Then she had an idea. Pinkie reached in a drawer and pulled out a bottle of pills. “You know, my grandma always told me. If you can't beat em, Make em join ya!”
Dash cocked her head at Pinkamina and gave her a suspicious glare. “What are those?”
Pinkie gave her a victorious glare, “It's amazing what one of these babies can do to a pony. It makes them one hundred percent obedient to the first person they see for forty eight hours! A special little thing I made my self! Wouldn't grandma be proud!”
Rainbow Dash gasped, it couldn't be true. What she did to Applebloom, that was only temporary!? It was just a pill!?
“By the look on your face I'm gunna go ahead and guess you've figured it out now?” Pinkamina started chuckling to her self.
“You don't mean...” dash couldn't finish her sentence. She couldn't have.... could she?
“That's right Dashie! You killed an innocent little pony!” Pinkamina had one the mental battle. Rainbow Dash had completely snapped.
“PINKAMINA!!! YOU SICK F...” Dash was interrupted by a loud smash coming from the stairs, and four ponies stormed in. Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Fluttershy, and Rarity.
Rainbow Dash was was still trembling with anger as the main six were reunited once again.
The four intruding ponies were horrified of the sight before them, but remained strong for their friends. Even Fluttershy looked tough and stern, glaring wildly as the panicking Pinkamina.
As the four friends closed in on her, Pinkamina only smiled and looked at Dash. “This isn’t over!”
Pinkamina slammed a button on the wall next to her and it opened up a trap door. She ran inside and three of the rescuers followed, Fluttershy quickly cut the straps off Rainbow Dash and she took of like a screaming bullet.
The now five pursuing friends split up in all directions of the tunnel. It was like an ant home, with what seemed like thousands of chambers going in every direction.
Rainbow Dash bolted through the tunnels, flying as fast as she could. She checked every turn and chamber she came across, refusing to let Pinkie get away! Finally after what felt like hours the five friends all met at the end of the tunnel, and there was no sign of Pinkie Pie.
Rainbow Dash Smashed her hoof into the wall beside her and let out a loud scream of frustration.
Pinkamina escaped.
Chapter 4
“Please... Kill me...”
Pinkie Pie's words of agony echoed through Rainbow Dash's head like the beat of a large drum. Everyone was silent, so quiet the five friends could almost hear each others hearts beating. Rainbow Dash was tired, her mind and heart had taken all it could.
Dash slowly lowered her body onto the cold dirt and lied there, her mind empty. Her last few friends were around her but she hardly noticed. Only one friend was on her mind. And her friend's captor, Pinkamina Diane Pie. Their words shot through her brain like an arrow, piercing her will and pride with every word.
“Please... Kill me...”
“Uhg! Annoying bitch!”
“SHUT UP!”
“That's right Dashie! You killed an innocent pony!”
As the tears flowed from Dash's eyes her friends felt her pain, as if they were all connected. They felt each others happiness and pride, pain and sorrow. They were all one, but there is a piece missing. And everyone could feel the void, but no one could fill it.
Pinkie Pie was gone, forever. Dash heard it with her own ears, and the rest of them felt it from her. They had no other choice, but it was to hard to even comprehend. Amongst the five friends, a voice stood out. One that no one expected to be the first to speak.
“I miss Pinkie Pie...” Fluttershy had her head down trying to hide her tears and pain from the friends. They were so shocked from her voice they nearly jumped. No one wanted to speak but someone had to, who would expect Fluttershy to do so.
Then they began to understand. Losing a friend, losing anyone you truly care for changes you. They were all changing, for better or worse. And when the tear filled eyes of the shy Pegasus met her friend's, She raised her voice in frustration.
“What ever happened to our simple happy life? When we had each other! I would give anything to have Discord, or Nightmare Moon back! The world would be ruined, but at least...” For what seemed like the first time ever, Fluttershy looked all her friends directly in the eyes. “At least we would have each other!”
The audience of Fluttershy's could not speak, but in their hearts they understood her completely. Even Dash gave Fluttershy her full attention. They would all hate to be in a world ruled by an evil goddess or a twisted deity, but they hate losing a friend more.
Fluttershy lost her words and courage and looked back to the floor, her tears still flowing into the puddle she formed beneath her. Still no one could speak, but Rainbow was the first to act.
Rainbow dash stood up and hugged Fluttershy, their tears soaking each others coats. The next to act was Twilight, then Applejack. And finally, when Rarity entered the group there was no holding back. They all lied there and wept for each other for the rest of the night. No one wanted to speak, no one needed to.
Applejack was the first of the four to awake, she first noticed her degraded cyan friend was no longer in the group. Rainbow Dash was just a few feet away looking into the sun rise. She never slept, she snuck out earlier so her deep thoughts would not wake her friends.
She wanted to leave, so she could finish this alone and not endanger the few ponies she had left. But she couldn't. She knew they would stop at nothing to find her again. She had no idea how they found her earlier, but she was grateful. If not for their timing, she would right now be nothing more than a mindless puppet. Another weapon of Pinkamina.
Applejack delicately moved over the hooves and tails of her sleeping allies to go join her awoken friend in solitude. When she patted Dash's shoulder Dash almost jumped at the sudden contact. Applejack spoke in a quiet soft tone, to nether wake her sleeping friends or again shock her awoken friend.
“What's on yer mind Sugarcube?” Dash looked back at her memories, it's been a long time since she was called that. She looked back into the eyes and warm smile of the orange coated earth pony.
“Why? Why does everything have to be so wrong?” Dash looked down to the floor in shame. She could still hardly look at Applejack. All the pain she had caused her. Even if somehow Applejack forgave her, Dash could still never forgive her self. Dash knew the truth, but didn't know if she should share it.
Applejack looked into the warm rising sun, “That's just what fate has fer us I guess...” She looked back at Dash trying to keep her warm smile but her Pegasus friend never looked back.
“Applejack... Im so sorry......” Rainbow Dash's eyes hurt from all the times she's had to cry recently. She felt as though her tears had run dry, but they flowed anyway.
“I know Dashie, I am too. I saw yer message and I gotta say, yer a darn good tree carver!” Applejack attempted to add humor into the conversation, but no such thing existed to Dash right now.
“Applejack, your sister... there's something you need to know.” Rainbow Dash hated what she had to say but her friend deserved the truth. Dash clenched her eyes and tensed her entire body, bracing for the reaction to what she was about to say.
“While I was captive, Pinkamina told me about your sister. Applebloom was drugged by Pinkamina, and if only....” Dash could not continue.
“If only you waited, it would have worn out an' you wouldn't have had to kill my sister.” Applejack finished Dash's sentence and Rainbow's eyes popped open and the tears nearly shot out of her eyes. Applejack raised her hoof and Dash clenched her entire body, trying to make her self as small and as tight as possible.
The earth pony's hoof wrapped around the Pegasus's shoulder and pulled her close to her chest. “Y'all didn't know Dash. If our roles were switched and you were the one in danger, ah probably woulda done the same! An' I kick allot harder than you Sugarcube.”
Dash just bawled, she could no longer restrain her self and the world was spinning to fast. She buried her face in Applejack's arm as if to hide.
“Yes ah miss my little sis' but, and as bad as it sounds to say this...” Applejack rested her head on Dash's. “It is better to have her die, than for her to kill countless others. My poor sis' spent Celestia knows how long, living behind her self as she killed others...”
Dash buried deeper and it almost began to hurt Applejack, but in spare for her friends feelings she said nothing. “She's in a better place now Dashie, think of that.”
The soaked face for the Pegasus finally looked up at Applejack and met her eyes. Still filled with guilt and pain, but it almost felt far away thanks to Applejack. Applejack meant the most to Dash, though she would never admit it. It was more than friendship, it was a companionship to her. Dash loved Applejack. Her friend, her rival, her everything.
For a long time she has wanted to tell Applejack about her feelings but was always afraid of Applejack's opinion, even now. The moment, the emotion, even the setting is perfect to admit such a thing. But fear still had a hold of her, something she may never surpass.
But for now she is content with what she has. Lying before a beautiful sunset, and being held by the mare she loves. Amongst all the pain and hardships before and ahead, this moment was the most important to her. She wanted every second of this to last.
The house was completely empty, baron of furniture and appliances. Just as a new home always is. Zecora's new home was her escape. To escape the memories of her brother and the clutches of his killer. Finally Zecora could breath a deep sigh of relief.
She no longer had to worry about Pinkamina returning to finish the job. Zecora was no longer in the Everfree Forest. Her new home and hiding place was in a barren land, hours away from Ponyville. Hours away from any civilization.
Zecora began to unload her towers of boxes into her new home and came across a small box. It was a box she had personally made to remember her brother. Inside the box we pictures of her and her brother, some were modern and others were back when she was a filly in Africa with him and her whole family.
Amongst all the photos were old letters her brother would mail her from Africa. She took some time off from her stacking and organizing to read her brother's notes to her.
A tear began to form in the zebra's eye. Zecora wiped the tear away and continued reading. As she finished the last letter her brother sent her, she noticed another piece of paper in the box she did not recognize.
She picked up the paper and opened it. The horrified zebra dropped the note and backed into a couch she had recently moved there the heart nearly burst out of her chest and she broke into a cold sweat. The Zebra began to shake with utter fear. The message on the paper was written in blood, “Wanna play hide and seek?”
Zecora felt she sharpness of a knife caress her neck, she was trapped. The Pink earth pony brought her face close to Zecora's and chuckled.
“Found ya!”
Rainbow Dash didn't remember falling asleep, and was disappointed when she noticed Applejack was no longer holding her. She was instead covered with a warm blanket. She presumed it was Rarity's, it just had that “style” to it Dash never cared for.
She looked over at her friends, they had started a camp fire and begun cooking breakfast. The first to notice her was Fluttershy, “Oh! Good morning Rainbow Dash, Twilight was just making breakfast. Are you hungry?”
Fluttershy seemed to be back to her old, shy self. It comforted Rainbow Dash knowing she was still the Fluttershy she knew.
“You should really eat darling! You look like you've just crawled out of a grave!” Rarity quickly realized what she had said and raised a hoof to her mouth, she looked back and forth between her friends hoping no one heard her. Fortunately for her, no one really did. Twilight was focusing on cooking the stew she was making, Fluttershy was worryingly focusing or Rainbow Dash, and Dash her self had noticed the pony she fell asleep on was no where to be seen.
“Wheres Applejack?” the worried Pegasus asked.
Fluttershy smiled and said, “She went to get fire wood. Don't worry, she's fine.” Dash cocked her head at Fluttershy's answer. Don't worry? What did she mean by that? Does she know something about earlier that morning? Do they all know?
Dash tried to pretend she didn't notice to hinder suspicion, “Oh, ok. So when's breakfast gunna be ready?” Dash wasn’t hungry but she mainly wanted to change the subject.
“Just a few more minutes!” Twilight replied.
Applejack returned with a pile of wood on her back and laid it next to the fire place. “Hey everypony! Y'all miss me?” Applejack sat next to Twilight, “Breakfast almost ready? Ah could eat a whole hay bale!”
Twilight replied with the same answer she gave Dash, Applejack nodded and looked at the newly awoke Pegasus. “Well well! Good mornin' there sleepy head!”
Dash nearly blushed at the sudden comical yet affectionate greeting, but she did her best to hide her reddening cheeks. She covered her emotions with a loud, fake yawn.
“Alright! Breakfast is ready!” Twilight eagerly spoke. Applejack almost knocked her over to get to the food, Rarity eagerly followed and then Fluttershy. Dash was the last to get food.
Rainbow looked at her bowl full of soup and stirred it with her hoof.
“Somthin on yer mind there Sugarcube?” Dash lazily looked up at Applejack and her other friends.
“Im just thinking about what we should do next.” Dash looked back at her bowl and took a small sip. To Dash's surprise, she was the first to think of this. And now it made the others deeply think. Who else could they talk to? Where else could they go? There seemed to be few few options left for their adventure.
As the others thought, Dash took out her knife from her saddle bag and looked at it. Her mind drifted away into the blade. She knew what she had to do, but could she? She had already killed, but it was an accident. Could she intentionally end the life of one of her best friends?
Twilight interrupted her brief thought, “We should go see Zecora!”
Dash raised an eyebrow, she didn't tell Applejack anything about Zecora. “How do you know about Zecora?”
Twilight looked around hoping someone else would answer, but no one would take her place. Twilight Sparkle sighed and began her story.
“Applejack gathered us all together and told us everything that happened. Once she had informed us of everything, Zecora just sorta... appeared!” Dash wasn't sure what to think about Zecora now.
Zecora filled us in on the rest, how she used her spell to... well..... you know...” Twilight didn't want to say it and Dash agreed, Dash waved her hoof signaling to skip it an move on with the story.
“Right! Well, after she told us your story, she told us to go find her when we catch up to you. Apparently, she forgot to show you something before you left.”
Rainbow Dash was very curious as to what else the zebra had in store for her. “Well that settles it! All in favor of visiting Zecora?”
Everypony gave a positive gesture and started packing. Dash got her greatest treasures back last time she was there. For the first time in a long time, Dash was excited to go to her next destination.
Rainbow Dash took one last long look at her knife, then put it in her bag. The five friends set off to their next destination. Knowing little about what awaits for them.
“This is all your fault!”
Pinkamina drove the scalpel deep into Zecora's leg, the wounded zebra screamed in agony. She was strapped on her back to a table. Her once clean striped coat was now barely recognizable, she was covered in cuts a bruises made from Pinkamina.
The twisted pink earth pony paced around Zecora frustrated, “Your the one who turned Dash into this... this... Thing!!!” Pinkamina grabbed a large butcher knife from her table and held it to Zecora's throat. “And now your gunna tell me how to kill her!”
Zecora spat in the pony's face, “From me you will never learn a thing, Only failure and wasted time do you bring! Dash has no weakness, your skill will be beaten by her uniqueness!”
Pinkamina wiped the spit off her face, “Everything has a weakness!” Pinkamina drove the cleaver down on the zebra's hoof, cracking it in half. Zecora let out a wail of agony until the crazed earth pony showed her reflection in the shiny, blood splattered cleaver.
“In all my years of doing this I have never let a pony go, not once! But for you, my savior! If you give me the answers I need to kill Dashie, I won't kill you. And you will never hear from me again! How about I Pinkie promise on it!?”
Pinkamina was willing to offer Zecora salvation, she even Pinkie Promised! Zecora found it hard to believe she could be let go so easily but there was something in the back of her mind that said she could trust her. But Dash was her friend too, she could never betray her for freedom.
“The answer you seek does not exist, in the end you will be dismissed!” Pinkamina drove the cleaver down on Zecora's other hoof, cracking it even worse than the one previous. Zecora ground her teeth trying to hold in the screams.
“I am beginning to lose my patience with you, I don't like wasting these but you gotta do what ya gotta do!” Pinkamina grabbed a syringe filled with an odd purple liquid. “This my stripey friend, is a small concentration of a little experiment of mine! Its not as concentrated as the pill but it will last just long enough to get the answer I need!”
The crazed mare drove the needle into the zebra's thigh and Zecora almost instantly began to feel its effects. Her will to struggle was fading, he mind its self was going empty. All that seemed to matter, was Pinkamina's next order.
“Now Zecora, please tell me. How do I kill Rainbow Dash?” Pinkamina eagerly awaited her answer. Zecora fought against it as hard as she could but it was hopeless, she was nothing but a tool now.
“To kill what is already dead, you must carve out the heart and drain the red.” Pinkamina let out an evil giggle. She had finally gotten the information she needed.
“Alright a deal's a deal! Im not gunna kill you!” Pinkamina, bounced around victoriously. Zecora tried to think of the positive, at least she can escape and warn Dash of Pinkamina's discovery! But then all hope suddenly drained from her expression when the pink earth pony spoke her next words.
“Oh boys! Could you come clean this up for me!” Pinkamina called out for assistance. Two unicorns walked into the room, Flim and Flam. Each of them picked up a butcher knife of there own.
Zecora's began to panic, “But you promised...” Pinkie raised a hoof interrupting Zecora.
“I promised I wouldn't kill you, and I won't! They will!” Pinkamina gave Zecora a big smile, “Fooled you!” Zecora lied there helpless as the two unicorns surrounded her.
“Im sorry rainbow Dash, please don't be rash!”
The two brothers began aimlessly and savagely chopping Zecora's flailing body. As the pleased Pinkamina watched and listened to the zebra's screams become silenced, a dark grin spread across her face.
Thanks for reading! Sorry this ones a little short! I like leaving them at spots like these to keep you guessing!
Hope you enjoyed it!
Seeya next chapter!
Chapter 6
“Are we there yet!?” the impatient Rainbow Dash asked. Dash knew that time was not on their side, and she in general was never the patient type. It took all of her strength from just taking off aimlessly in hopes of reaching her goal faster.
“Just a few more minutes Dash! Zecora's hut is just on the other side of this hill!” Twilight replied in the happy educating tone she usually spoke. They were half way up a large hill, what seemed like the only hill in this barren wasteland. No civilization, and very few vegetation as far as the eye could see. This was Zecora's new home.
Rainbow Dash grunted in frustration, “But we've been walking for hours! You realize, if I knew where we were going I could have been there and back five times by now right!?” Rainbow gave Twilight an irritated look, but twilight just rolled her eyes and kept walking.
After what felt like more endless hours for Dash they finally reached the top of the hill. When they looked down from the large hill they could finally see Zecora's home. It was an old, yet sturdy looking house at the very bottom of the hill. It seemed to be freshly painted white with dark shingles. It had small windows and a fair sized chimney. All in all it was a fairly average house for such an environment.
Rainbow Dash felt hope upon finally seeing her destination and bolted for the house, the other four friends followed as fast as they could. The only pony who could keep up was Applejack, they were side by side.
“Hey there Sugarcube, I'll race ya!” Applejack gave Dash a cocky look and began to pick up speed.
“Alright game on!” Rainbow Dash took off and caught up to Applejack, they were tied nose to nose. Applejack gained even more speed and began to pass Dash, as a shocked face grew over her face.
The golden mare looked back and stuck her tongue out at her competitor, but her hoof fell through a small hole and she was suddenly sent cartwheeling down the hill. Applejack's spinning ponytail caught Dash's leg and soon they were a ball of chaos rolling down the hill kicking and screaming at each other. After a short moment, the two ponies smashed into the side of Zecora's hut.
The other three friends quickly caught up, through there pants and coughs of exhaustion they helped the two dazed rivals up.
The two dizzy and beat up friends looked at each other and begun to laugh. Dash had never expected to have fun at times like these, but thanks to Applejack she was actually laughing. It was amazing how Applejack could somehow make even the darkest times seem so much brighter for her.
Rainbow Dash began to blush but quickly covered it and lightly punched Applejack in the shoulder, “I'll have you a rematch on the way back! Just as long as you don't screw us up again!”
Applejack gave her a big smile, “Sure thing! But I ain't gunna make no promises! This place has got more holes than an ant farm!” The two laughed again for a short while and then dusted them selves off. Rarity knocked on the door but there was no answer.
“Hello? Zecora darling, are you home?” Rarity awaited an answer but there was no such thing, she opened the door and took a peek inside. The house was empty aside the boxes and few furniture. The five ponies stepped inside and looked around, each calling out for a friend that never answered.
“I gotta bad feelin about this!” Applejack shuddered but continued searching. Fluttershy looked around until her eyes met the very sight no pony ever wanted to see. The light yellow mare froze and began to cry.
“No...” was all that could be heard aside the sniffs and heavy breathing of panic and tears. The other four ponies gathered around and also froze, gazing at a small object in the corner of the room. Lying there alone on the floor was a cupcake, with black and white stripes.
Twilight did her best to restrain everything in her stomach from resurfacing while the others quikly backed away in pure horror. The five friends quickly snapped out of it and split up. They seached every room, every crack, every square inch of the house, high and low. But there was no sign of Zecora. All that was left to tell her story, was a small treat left by Pinkamina.
Twilight was the first to return to the first room, Then Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy, then finally Rarity. Rainbow Dash walked back to the small cupcake and hung her head.
“Dammit... Why!? What do I do now!?” Rainbow Dash smashed her hoof on the floor, the shock knocked the cupcake on its side. And when Dash noticed it her ears raised, she got her answer. On the bottom of the cupcake was a single word, all that needed to be written.
“Appleloosa....” Dash repeated to her self. The other three ponies looked at each other and cocked there heads at Rainbow Dash.
“Appleloosa? What?” Twilight asked.
Dash turned around and pointed her hoof at the message. “Appleloosa, that's where were going next!”
Rarity stepped forward in protest, “Appleloosa is days away from here! Even by train!”
Rainbow Dash gave Rarity a stern, irritated look. “I'm sorry, did you find any clues as to where to go next? Please share with us your idea Rarity!” Rarity sighed and stepped back, “That's what I thought!” Dash marched towards the door but noticed something was wrong.
Rainbow Dash spun around quickly and faced her friends with great concern, “Where's Applejack!?”
The other three ponies gasped and looked around desperately. “NO!” Dash took off and searched the entire house again looking for her lost friend, but she was in none of the rooms. Rainbow Dash rocketed out the door and took to the skies to get an aerial view. But Applejack was no where to be found.
Rainbow Dash crashed into the ground in anger, her last three friends circled around her. “No!” She repeated to her self over and over. The pony she cared about most in the whole world was gone, possibly miles away alone and scared. Or worse!
Rainbow Dash smashed her front two hooves into the ground and let out a wail of pure agony.
“APPLEJACK!”
Hours later the four friends were on the train on their way to Appleloosa. Rainbow Dash spoke little to anyone since the disappearance of Applejack, only Twilight even tried. Dash sat in her chair quietly the entire ride, sharpening her knife and staring argrily into nothingness.
Rainbow Dash had had enough. After bearing witness to so many of her friends dead bodies, and now the thought that the pony she cares for most in all of Equestria could be next. It was far too much for Dash to handle.
When the train finally stopped Dash did not hesitate in the slightest, she was the first to stand up and leave the train. Her last three friends did their best to keep up with her as she stormed through town. Rainbow Dash turned around and for the first time in hours, she looked at and talked to her friends.
“Ok, split up and ask around if anyone has seen Pinkie Pie or Applejack!” Rainbow Dash quickly said and then launched her self into the air to get a sky's view of the town.
The three ponies on the ground only nodded to each other and split in opposite directions. Twilight and Rarity began asking civilians about any suspicious activity, Fluttershy asked the same to the animals, and Rainbow Dash watched over the town like a hawk. Until one building caught Dash's attention. A small colorful object on the roof of one of the buildings.
Rainbow Dash descended onto the roof to get a better look at the object. Directly in the center of the roof, was a small rainbow cupcake. Rainbow Dash never even thought to get her friends, her anger and hatred for Pinkamina for kidnapping her love was too great.
Dash dove down to ground level and loudly knocked on the door, there was no answer. She cautiously opened the door and walked inside looking in all directions, making sure Pinkamina could not sneak up on her again.
In front of dash was an empty hallway and at the end of the hall way was an old wooden door. The building she was in reminded her of an old worndown factory. Rainbow Dash slowly made her way to the door and pressed her ear against it. Rainbow Dash could hear a faint, familiar giggle coming from the other side.
Rainbow Dash cringed at the sound, wound up and kicked the door with all her might. The door flew off its hinges and was sent rocketing through the room. As the old wooden door fell and skidded across the floor it stopped in place by the hoof of a pink earth pony.
The crazed earth pony was standing alone in a room with a moderate amount of lighting. To her side was an open room too dark for her to see into, but Dash knew something must be waiting for her in there.
“My my, what a temper you've got there Dashie! Where are the others? Surely you don't plan on facing me alone!” Pinkamina gave a menacing, evil look that pierced through Dash's soul and sent a shiver down her spine.
Dash shook it off and tried to keep strong for her sake, “It's better this way! They've gone through enough, they don’t need to watch me kill you!”
The twisted Pinkamina smiled at Rainbow Dash and decided to give her a hint of her trap for the sake of play. “Hey Rainbow Dash, my tail's twitching!”
Dash immediately understood her mocking hint and dove as far to the side as possible. Within milliseconds after her act a large concrete object smashed onto the ground behind her, blocking her escape.
The irritated Pegasus got up and gave the evil pony a sick glare. “Nice moves there Dashie! Suppose you came to play with my new toy huh!?”
The cyan Pegasus ignored Pinkamina and asked for the only thing presantly important to her, “Where's Applejack!?” Pinkamina only chucked and mocked her further.
“Oh she's not far at all!” Pinkamina began to giggle even harder. “Sorry Dashie I can't stay and chat today, I have important business to discuss, with even more important people! I'll leave you someone you can talk to though!” Pinkamina clapped her hooves together and a figure emerged from the dark room beside her.
A golden coated mare, with long blond hair and when the earth pony lifted her face you could see her cold, empty green eyes and white frecles once hidden from her old, worn cowgirl hat.
Rainbow Dash froze in fear and pain. She could not even breath, her chest felt like it was going to burst. Dash's lost love, was now nothing more than an empty puppet of Pinkamina's.
Ya I know I'm going to hell!
And also my apoligies this was a shorter chapter. I like leaving you guys guessing! It adds to the drama!
Still I have to thank you guys for all your support and I look forward to writing the next chapter for you all!
Thanks again!
Chapter 7
As she gazed upon her new opponent, Rainbow Dash's shock and pain began to shift into a wild fire of pure hatred and agony. “Applejack? What have you done to her!?” the enraged Pegasus screamed at the snickering pink earth pony.
“Oh, you know exactly what I did to her Dashie! And I think you also know exactly what I'm going to make her do to you, Enjoy!” Pinkamina turned and began walking towards the dark room.
Rainbow Dash didn't even think, she bolted towards Pinkamina like a screaming bullet hoping to finish her right here and now. Applejack quickly spun around and smashed her front hooves into the ground, bringing up her back hooves and sending them into the air and sent a devastating blow directly into Dash's chest.
Dash was sent back flying through the air until she smashed into the wall on the opposite side of the room. “Good! Now finish her Applejack!” Pinkamina said as she disappeared into the dark room.
The wounded Pegasus staggered to her feet, choking and wheezing. Applejack had completely caved in her lungs. As her organs quickly began to heal them selves, Dash felt true pain and sorrow. The very pony the loves more than anything, was trying to kill her. Rainbow Dash let out a tear, “Please Applejack I know your in there! You can fight it, please!”
The orange earth pony did not even acknowledge her words, her cold eyes shot even more pain through Dash's whole body. Applejack charged Rainbow Dash, she raised her hooves to her attacker, still trying to make her stop. “Applejack please stop!”
The earth pony spun in the air and dug her front hooves into the ground again, and shot her back hooves up into Dash's jaw. Rainbow Dash was sent up, cartwheeling through the air until her limp, ragged body slammed into the ceiling. Applejack leaped into the air and grabbed the stunned Pegasus, the earth pony spun and smashed Dash into the ground, digging all her weight into her spine.
As the pony she loved continued to savagely beat her, memories flowed through Dash's mind. Her favorite moments with Applejack. Running side by side with her after the “Running of the Leaves”, competing against her as rivals in the “Iron Pony Tournament.”
Every argument she has ever had with Applejack was just another sweet memory. What she was facing now, was nothing short of hell. Her body crumpled once again into the wall and she slid to the floor. Dash wasn't sure which pain was greater, the physical or emotional. She looked up at her attacker, standing on the other side of the room. Applejack still bared no expression, her eyes still cold as ice with no hesitation or remorse.
Rainbow Dash stood up once again, facing her love but with her eyes closed. Her legs were shaking, she was having difficulty standing up. Her vision was blurry and her entire body ached. Applejack began to charge her again.
When Rainbow Dash's memories finally halted she opened her eyes and looked into Applejack's with an expression looking even more in pain than her body. She opened her mouth to speak, to say the very words she should have told her a long time ago. “Applejack....”
Dash opened her arms and caught Applejack, hugging her and holding her as tight as she could. “I love you...”
Applejack completely froze. Her body was stiff as a rock, her very pulse almost seemed to have slowed. Rainbow Dash looked into her eyes and they almost began to show emotion again. Applejack's eyes looked down and met Dash's and she fell to the floor, clutching her head. Applejack began to ramble and moan in pain.
Dash sat by her, holding her. Rainbow Dash encouraged her to keep fighting and Applejack fought, she fought harder than she had ever fought anything before. Applejack's body felt like it was on fire, every muscle began to spasm and she ground her teeth to contain the pain until she couldn't any more.
Applejack began to scream in agony, until she abruptly fell quiet and limp. Dash grabbed her and shook her, “Applejack! Wake up! Please! Applejack!” Applejack's eyes slowly opened and she looked weakly into Dash's eyes.
“Good mornin Sugarcube.... Didja miss me?” Applejack raised a small smirk and let out a weak chuckle. Rainbow Dash threw her hooves around Applejack and held her weak body. Applejack pushed Dash's tear covered face back up to look at Applejack.
“It's about time you came outa the closet there Dashie.... I've been waiting a long time...” Applejack raised her hoof a stroked Rainbow's cheek. “I love you too Sugarcube...”
The cyan Pegasus couldn't hold it any longer, she gripped Applejack tight and buried her face in Applejack's coat. The sound of moving rocks barely grabbed their attention. Twilight cleared the doorway once blocked by Pinkie's trap and the three friends emerged from the debris.
“Applejack your alright!” Twilight eagerly spoke. Applejack tried to stand up but was still weak and stumbled back to the ground. Dash tried to help her but Applejack pushed her away.
“Y'all gotta go stop her Sugarcube.....” Dash stepped back shocked. “I'll be fine, and I'll fill in the others about what happened... But you gotta stop Pinkie Pie!” Applejack gave Dash's a warm encouraging look that breathed life back into Dash.
“Alright! Twilight, take Applejack and the others outside and watch out for traps. I'll go find Pinkie Pie!” Twilight nodded and helped Applejack to her feet.
“Just be careful Rainbow Dash!” Twilight worriedly said to Dash. Dash only returned a confident nod and took off to the door Pinkamina escaped through.
Dash quickly flew through the dark endless chambers of the building. She began to hear Pinkie's horrid giggling and she locked on like a missile, rocketing towards Pinkamina.
She found her in a dark room with two other ponies that she payed little attention to, Dash had only one objective. The cyan Pegasus headed full speed at the pink earth pony's back.
Pinkamina began to feel a slight shutter and her ear twitched, she quickly dove to the side as the rocketing Rainbow Dash flew past her and crashed into the wall in front of her. Dash had forgotten about her “Pinkie Sense,” as she got up she examined the other ponies.
One was a Unicorn and the other was an earth pony. They were both dressed like average businessmen but the earth pony was carrying a briefcase. Pinkamina looked back at her guests, “Don't worry boys ill get right back to you!”
Dash got up, pulled out her knife and began charging Pinkamina. Rainbow Dash slashed and stabbed at Pinkamina, but she easily deflected and dodged her attacks. It was no use, Pinkamina could predict her every move with her “Pinkie Sense.”
Pinkamina quickly smacked the knife out of Dash's hand and threw her to the floor. She was pinned down and couldn't move, “Sorry boys, now where were we?”
The two Businessmen looked at each other oddly, but shrugged their shoulders and continued. “Well as we were saying, your plans should flow quite smoothly! The serum is already ready to be released into the water supply we are just awaiting your arrival!”
Pinkamina made a large grin, still tightly holding Rainbow Dash captive, “Great! I'll be there tomorrow! I just gotta grab a few things and rest up for the big day!” Dash still struggling to release her self from Pinkies grip, lifted her head and glared at Pinkamina.
“What are you planning now!?” The pink earth pony let out a light chuckle and confessed.
“Well ya see! Me and my friends over there are gunna put some of my special juice in the water supply of a special little place I know!” Pinkamina gave the two colts a wink as Dash gasped.
“What the hell are you thinking!? You could infect all of Ponyville like that!” Dash grit her teeth and Pinkamina only laughed harder at the poor Pegasus.
“Oh such small ideas, just as you would think Dashie! I've got bigger plans! I don't want to infect Ponyville, I'm after Canterlot!” Pinkamina began to laugh hysterically as Dash began to panic.
“You can't be serious! All the citizens, the princess, what are you going to make them do!?” Pinkamina stopped laughing but kept her wild grin. She leaned forward and dash felt her bones snap. She screamed from the pain and Pinkamina got up, but Dash couldn't move.
“Silly! I'm gunna paint Canterlot! All of the ponies, Pegasi, and Unicorns in Canterlot are gunna kill each other! I will only have control over the town for a couple days. But in that time, everypony will be dead! Neighbors killed by neighbors, friends killed by friends, family killed by family! It will be so beautiful don’t you think!?” Dash was horrified. She tried everything to get up, to stop Pinkie before it was too late. But no matter what she did she couldn't move.
Pinkamina let out another evil, hysterical laugh. “Oh that's cute Dashie! Don't bother, you wont be able to move until I'm long gone from here!” She walked towards the two ponies and turned to look at Dash one last time. “It's been fun Dash, but I gotta run! Lotsa packing to do!” And in a flash of light they were gone. The Unicorn had teleported them far away, and Dash was left there to wallow in her failure.
“Darling are you alright!?” Rarity and the other ran to their fallen friend and tried to help her up. Dash was still in to much pain to stand, her bones had not fully healed yet.
“Hey Sugarcube, you alright?” Applejack asked. It seemed her strength had returned, but Rainbow Dash could not find the words to describe what Pinkamina was planning. There was no way to sugar coat it, so she just let it out.
“We have to save Canterlot! Pinkie's gunna put her serum in the water supply and infect the whole town!” The other four gasped. None of them could comprehend what they had just heard.
Twilight spoke quickly, “There's no way she can be serious! All the innocent ponies, Princess Celestia!” Dash looked back up to her with sad eyes.
“They don't mean anything to her, Twilight. If we don't get there in time, she's gunna make the whole city kill each other...” All of them froze. They had no idea what to do, where to even begin.
“Then we'd better skedaddle! Twilight, you got some kinda fancy spell that can teleport us there or sumthin!?” Applejack quickly turned and looked at Twilight. The purple unicorn searched her memories.
“No, there's no such spell that I know of that can take us that far. We'll have to get there by foot. And Canterlot is a good two days walking distance from here!” Twilight hung her head.
“Then were running!” Rainbow Dash could finally stand. “We can't let her get away with this! We have to stop her at all costs!” The other for friends nodded and turned towards the exit.
They ran out of the building and began running straight to Canterlot as fast as they could. Dash's frustration slowly grew, she couldn't screw up this time. She has to find a way to get around Pinkamina's psychic abilities.
Rainbow Dash grit her teeth and Applejack looked up at her enraged loved one in worry. She quickened her pace to catch up to Rainbow Dash and gave her a light peck on the cheek. Dash looked back, shocked at Applejack's sudden loving contact.
“Ah just wanted to say thanks, for saving me back there Dashie! If it weren't for you, Celestia only knows what Pinkie woulda made me do!” Applejack sighed and hung her head. “Ah remember everything Sugarcube... Im sorry...”
Dash snapped her head forward. “It's ok Applejack, it wasn't you.”
“Ah know that but...” Rainbow Dash snapped her head back and gave Applejack a sour look and interrupted Applejack.
“Hey! Shut up back there!” Dash looked down and chuckled lightly. “I love you...”
Applejack's eyes sparkled and she covered her tear with her hat. The five friends ran off towards their next destination. Each with a fire in their eyes and determination in their hearts.
“I love you too Sugarcube...”
Hope you guys like it! Hope my grammar is getting better! I'm looking forward to writing the next chapter already!
I'll get started pronto! See ya then!
Chapter 8
When the five friends arrived in Canterlot everypony was living their usual lives. Twilight gave a sigh of relief that Pinkie's serum hadn’t broken out yet. She stepped forward and immediately took charge and gave orders in her usual organized, and well planned manner.
“Ok, here's how were gunna do this! I'll go warn Princess Celestia. Rainbow Dash, you find Pinkie.” Rainbow Dash nodded with integrity, hovering just above the others.
Twilight continued her demands, “And the rest of you, split up and look for any suspicious activity. Look for shifty characters, check water pipes, anything that could leak into the water supply!”
The five friends all together replied “Got it!” and split up in all directions, double checking everything. They had to prevent the outbreak at all costs, countless lives depended on it.
The Princess walked along side her two most faithful Unicorn guards, but she was not as comfortable with her guards as usual. They were acting different and she could not put her hoof on it.
She used her magic to open a heavy door in front of them and at that moment one of the guards gave the other a nod. The guard rushed towards the Princess and pulled out a knife.
A door slammed open behind them and a split second later he was sent flying through the air with an immense pain in his side. Twilight had burst into the room at the perfect time and rammed the treacherous Unicorn, stabbing her horn into his ribs. The other guard attempted to use his magic to attack Twilight but was stuck by a beam of light from Celestia and knocked unconscious.
“Twilight Sparkle? Just what is going on here!?” Celestia demanded. Twilight was panting and gasping, exhausted from running and searching for the Princess, but replied as fast as lightning.
“I'll explain along the way, but please follow me! You have to warn everyone!” Twilight exclaimed, and the Princess galloped towards her pupil. They both began to make their way to the top of the tower. But before they could make it very far, Princess Celestia was struck by a magical blow to the back of the head and knocked unconscious.
Twilight immediately spun around and shot her own magic and the two beams of light collided, causing a small but very loud explosion. When the smoke began to clear the figure began to step forward. The Unicorn's polished silver armor shined in the sunlight and his white coat and soft blue mane seemed to glisten also. But his pale, empty blue eyes shot straight through Twilight.
Before her stood her very brother, now corrupted by Pinkamina's serum. Tears ran down her cheeks as Shining Armor shot another beam of light at his sister. Twilight deflected with another bolt of magic and raised her head, looking upon her beloved brother.
“Pinkamina.... Have you no mercy?”
The golden earth pony ran as fast as she could through the large water system of Canterlot. Galloping through the tunnels reminded her of back when they were all chasing Pinkamina through the tunnels under her house. She quickly shook away the painful memories and continued searching.
In the corner of her eye she saw a large clear container. Inside it was a purple liquid, she slid to a screeching stop and ran towards the purple liquid and got a closer look. “This must be that serum Dashie was talkin about! But what do ah do with it?”
Applejack looked carefully around the container, trying to think of a way she could safely dispose of it. Applejack's ear twitched as she heard the sound of movement behind her and immediately leaped out of the way of a cleaver flying towards her head.
The large blade chopped into the wooden pillar behind her and she looked back at her two opponents in shock. “You!?” Applejack's eyes widened and jaw dropped.
The two Unicorn brothers emerged from the tunnel exchanging parts of sentences directed to Applejack as they usually did as twins. “Well well Flam look who we have here!” Flim said giving the earth pony a menacing grin.
“You don't say Flim, isn't this a pleasure!?” the twins stopped and pointed their horns at the terrified pony, and spoke in unison.
“Long time, no see Applejack!”
Rainbow Dash soared through the air, looking for the tiniest hint of Pinkie's location. Then she finally found exactly what she needed, a small round object on the roof of a building. Rainbow Dash glided towards it and exactly to her expectations, it was a small cupcake.
Dash knew this had to be a trap just like last time. But she had no choice, or time to plan. The Pegasus flew around to the door and quietly entered. It was dark, on the wall to her left was a switch and she flicked it upwards.
Only a small light in the center of the room lit, showing a table with another cupcake in the center. Dash cautiously walked towards the table and on the table was another large, red button. The observed her surroundings but it didn’t seem like anything could immediately harm her by pressing it.
She slowly pushed the button until she heard a small click. The door behind her slammed shut as the room was suddenly completely lit with bright ceiling lights and spot lights, revealing every inch of the room.
Rainbow Dash looked around her in horror, looking upon the countless bodies of ponies scattered all over the room. Dash could only recognize some of the special features a few victims had.
The Great and Powerful Trixie's hat was soaking in a bucket of blood and organs in the left corner of the wall. Behind the Pegasus were the large wings and claws of Gilda the Griffin hanging on the wall by a small colorful thread.
The head of Mr. Cake was sitting on a table facing Rainbow Dash, the mouth was hung open and the eyes were piercing through Dash like an arrow. Beside the severed head was a small blood splattered tiara hanging by a lock of purple hair. The tiara dripped blood on a pile of shiny, golden African jewelry below it.
Countless severed cutie marks were nailed all over the walls next to decorations reading “Welcome back!” and “We missed you!” The cyan Pegasus felt her stomach wrench and she covered her mouth. Rainbow Dash heard a quiet chuckle and she quickly turned and faced the twisted pink earth pony.
“It seemed you didn't like my decorations very much last time, so I really went all out this time. So tell me Dash...” Pinkamina flicked her front hooves into the air and gave Dash a maniacal look. “What do ya think!?”
The Pegasus didn't reply she only pulled out her knife and prepared her self. “Really were doing this again? You never learn do you Dashie!?” Pinkamina charged Dash as the cyan Pegasus jumped to slash at Pinkies face, but the pink earth pony spun out of the way and delivered a kick straight into Dash's face and the knife fell from her teeth on to the blood stained floor.
Pinkie followed with a flurry of rapid kicks, stunning Rainbow Dash and knocking her backward into a wall. When Pinkamina stopped, Dash saw her opportunity and threw a hoof at the earth pony. Pinkie quickly deflected it and snapped a clip of razor wire over it, binding her to the wall. She did the same with every limb until The Pegasus could no longer move.
The razor wire scratched and tore skin for every hint of struggle. Dash was caught again, “SHIT!” Dash cursed Pinkamina, baring her teeth at the pain.
Pinkamina pulled a knife and pointed it at Dash's face, “Now now watch your mouth!” Pinkamina wasted no time, she drove the blade directly into the Pegasus's chest and began sawing around Dash's heart.
Dash screamed in pain but managed to let our two words among the gasps and screams. “Wh-What in Equestria are you doing!?”
Pinkamina paused for a short moment to explain. “Well well! She really didn't tell you!? Turns out you really can die Dashie! All I gotta do is cut your pretty little heart out and drain it! To think it's actually pretty simple!” Dash sucked in a painful gasp and coughed up blood.
“H-How did you!?...” Dash could hardly speak. She was losing more and more strength the more Pinkie cut.
“How did I figure it out? Oh, Zecora told me! I just gave her a little shot of my special juice and she told me, easy as pie!” Pinkamina was finished cutting and removed the circular shape of skin and bone from Dash's chest revealing her beating heart. Dash couldn't move, she just stood there gazing terrified at her rapidly beating heart.
Pinkamina pulled the heart out of Dash's chest and wrapped a cord around it suspended from the ceiling. Dash was trapped, She was held in place by razor wire, forced to watch her own heart slowly drain onto the floor. Only a thin vein connected her to her heart.
“There now we just gotta wait! I imagine it's pretty boring for you to just stand there and watch you heart so I have some entertainment for your last few minutes!” Pinkamina whistled and two twin Unicorns walked into the room, they were rolling a table with a golden earth pony strapped to it, it was Applejack.
The two brothers bowed and left the room as Pinkamina picked up a scalpel. Applejack look into Rainbow Dash's eyes, tears running down her face. “Ah'm sorry Sugarcube... ah couldn't stop it.....” Applejack was badly beaten and bruised and Dash did her best not to cry at the sight of her captive love.
“It's ok Applejack, just hang in there!” Rainbow Dash looked up at Pinkamina full of rage, “Don't you dare lay one hoof on her!” Dash bared her teeth and gave the pink earth pony the worst look of sickened hatred.
Pinkamina only shrugged he shoulders and gave Dash a grin. “What are you gunna do Dash? What are you gunna do when I cut up your beloved Applejack!? What are you gunna do when she starts to scream as her blood stains he coat!? Nothing!”
Pinkamina pointed her scalpel at Applejack and gave her a menacing look. “Im gunna take my time and enjoy this Dashie! Cause the only thing I enjoy more than causing you physical pain...” Pinkamina slashed across The golden earth pony's chest that made her scream and wreath in pain. The cyan Pegasus wrenched forward causing the razor wire to cut her deeper, she winced in pain and back off. Pinkamina looked back at the helpless eyes of Rainbow Dash.
“The only thing I enjoy more than causing you physical pain...
Lets see how many guns are pointed at me now! Hope you guys enjoyed it and are looking forward to the next chapter!
Also hope you guys enjoy the new cover art! See you next chapter!
Chapter 9
Fluttershy and Rarity both witnessed the explosion coming from the large building began running there as fast as they could. Inside the building, Twilight was defending the Princess with all her might. But her brother effortlessly deflected her magical blows.
Shining Armor charged his horn as it emitted a green aura, then an instant later he shot it as a wave of green energy. Twilight grabbed the Princess and teleported out of the way, behind Shining Armor and countered with a purple light that shot like an arrow at her brother's back.
The white Unicorn flicked his head and absorbed the blow, sucking its energy into his horn. Twilight was panting and gasping for air, she was losing her energy but had to continue.
The purple Unicorn heard galloping at the stair way and when she turned her head she saw her friends. Rarity ran up to Twilight's side, ready to fight side by side with her. While Fluttershy stayed back and looked after the Princess.
The three Unicorns were at a face off, until the silence was broken by Shining Armor. He charged up his horn with a red aura and shot it at the two friends as a large beam. Twilight and Rarity immediately launched colorful beams of their own that violently collided with Shining Armor's.
The three beams center of energy slowly shifted back and forth. Each of them pushing harder every time it got closer to them. Twilight and Rarity pushed with everything that they had, and slowly the beam began to move closer to Shining Armor.
Twilight's brother pushed as hard as he could, but the beam continued to slowly inch closer and closer. Until the collision touched the tip of his horn.
A white flash of light filled the room followed by a large explosion witch shook the entire castle. Twilight and Rarity ran into the smoke to find Shining Armor struggling to get up. Rarity rammed him to the floor and held him down.
Twilight charged her horn and gently touched her brother's forehead, and he was knocked unconscious. Twilight and Rarity ran back to Fluttershy and the Princess, panting and wheezing in exhaustion.
“Is she alright!?” Twilight asked worriedly.
“Yes she'll be fine, but we need to wake her up somehow. And quickly, if you don’t mind me rushing.” Fluttershy looked back at Celestia trying to think of a way to wake her up without it being rude.
Twilight just grabbed the Princess and tapped her forehead with her glowing horn. Celestia's eyes slowly opened as the stumbled to her hooves.
“What happened?” Celestia was still dizzy and her feet were wobbly. Twilight quickly answered, no more time could be wasted.
“You need to warn the whole city! Pinkie Pie is here with a drug that makes people kill each other, and she's threatening to put it in the water supply! You have to tell them not to drink it!” Celestia gasped and immediately began to run to the top of the tower.
When the four of them witnessed the city from the top of the tower. All they could do was shed more tears. Pinkie's serum was loose.
Pinkamina's horrible laughter filled the room as Applejack screamed in agony, “Oh I couldn't ask for this to have turned out better! My special juice is out tearing apart Canterlot while Im in here tearing up you two! Could this be any better!?”
Applejack looked back into Dash's eyes and continued to apologize. “Ah'm so sorry.... the twins..... the got me just when I found it..... Ah'm sorry!”
Rainbow Dash didn't even cry anymore. Her very mind was broken, every hint of sadness was replaced by a bitter hatred of Pinkamina. “I...” The Pegasus lifted her head and gave Pinkamina a cold, but burning look.
Pinkamina stepped towards her and looked her closely in the eyes, their noses almost touching. “Sorry what was that? Couldn't make that out!”
“I'VE HAD IT WITH YOU!” Rainbow Dash leaned forward with all her might and smashed her forehead into Pinkie's nose, causing her throat to slit wide open, and Pinkamina to stumble backwards holding her nose as blood ran from it.
Pinkamina looked back at her horrified as Dash pulled with all her strength, heedless of the pain. Dash was getting out of here and stopping this, no matter what.
Rainbow Dash pulled violently on her back right hoof until the razor wire had completely torn through her leg and her torn hoof lied there severed on the ground. As she did with her back left hoof.
The determined Pegasus ignored the immense pain and began to push with all her weight on her upper body. Pinkamina sat there against the table frozen in fear, until Rainbow Dash broke free.
Her body propelled forward landing directly on her severed heart and pulled it down with her. Her severed head and hooves feel to the floor, joining the pile of Pegasus pieces lying there in a bloody pile on the floor.
Pinkamina finally found the strength to move and got up, she ran out side the building as fast as she could leaving Applejack there. The golden earth pony lied there shaking and crying in fear.
The pile of body parts began to slowly move and combine. The hooves connected to the wrists and the veins first connected. The shattered bone slowly pieced them selves together as muscle and skin wrapped around them.
When the pieces stopped moving Rainbow Dash was completely one Pegasus again. Rainbow Dash slowly stumbled up and staggered her way to Applejack. “A-Applejack?”
Applejack's tears ran down he cheeks as she looked up to her savior. She couldn't let out a word, she could hardly comprehend what she had just saw.
Rainbow Dash ran back for her knife and cut the earth pony loose “Sorry you had to see that.” she said as she began sawing at the leather straps binding Applejack.
When Applejack's front hooves were free she sprang up and hugged Dash with all her strength, knocking the wind out of the Pegasus. “Please.... Promise you'll never do that again!”
Rainbow Dash smiled and gently hugged her back “Sorry.... I can't make any promises yet...” After she cut the last two straps the helped Applejack up.
The Pegasus led Applejack to a small room. “Ok get inside and lock the door. Don't open or answer the door for anyone! Understood?” Applejack nodded and began to walk inside. She turned and faced Rainbow Dash with teary, fearful eyes.
“What about you?” Applejack's eyes seemed to grow and it made Rainbow Dash's heart wrench at the thought of leaving her. But she knew what she had to do.
“I have one last idea... Please just wait here for me or the others to get you. Don't trust anyone else!” she began to turn around to walk out but Applejack grabbed her face and pulled her into a kiss.
Their lips locked and Dash's face turned every colour of the rainbow. She closed her eyes and gave into the moment, she finally got what she's always dreamed of. A kiss from Applejack, a sign that she loves her back. A bolt of electricity shot through her spine and Applejack slowly pulled away and opened her eyes.
Dash looked back at the earth pony with a dumbfounded expression. Applejack winked back at her, “Now go save the day Dash! Ill be waitin!”
A fire burned in Dash's eyes for the first time in what felt like forever. The confidence to end all wars, the burning will to put the very sun to shame. Dash gave Applejack a confident nod and cracked her neck.
Rainbow Dash took off the a bullet and crashed out the doors of the building. The flew as high up as she could and turn to inspect the city. Amongst all the terror upon the streets and blood flying through the air, one pony stood out.
Pinkamina was making her escape, But Dash would not allow it. She stuck her blade in her mouth and descended from the Heavens like an asteroid, faster than she had ever flown before. A mach cone began to form around her and her eyes began to water.
The Pegasus clenched her knife between her teeth as the cone became thinner and thinner. She could feel her skin and fur coat stretch as her blood pumped through her veins rapidly.
She was locked on her target, if Pinkamina could read her moves... Then she had to be faster!
And now the real gamble begins as the story begins to reach its epic climax! You guys excited!? See you guys next chapter!
Chapter 10
The sight the Princess and the three friends saw were nothing short of a nightmare. Blood and flesh flew through the air as parents attacked their children, children attacked, neighbors, neighbors attacked pets, and pets attacked owners.
All the four could do was watch in horror as Canterlot tore its self apart. Twilight was the only one who had the strength to speak, “We gotta get down there and save as many ponies as we can! Some of them might not be infected yet!”
The other three shook them selves out of their trance and silently agreed. Twilight teleported them all to the ground and they began tearing ponies off others while Twilight used her magic to knock out the attacking ponies and the Princess used hers to heal the victims as best as she could.
The four plowed through the piles of corrupted citizens, but not everyone could be saved. They passed countless torn and ravaged bodies. Some had their intestines hanging out, others had their eyes clawed out so facing you were bloody dark pits. There was only so many they could save.
They followed a colt chasing a small filly into a building, Twilight rammed him over and knocked him unconscious. The girl curled in a small, shivering ball in the corner. Fluttershy approached her and tried to calm her down.
“It's ok little one, your safe now! Just wait here and we'll take care of everything!” The filly started to calm down. But the group was startled when they heard rustling in the room next to them.
They all backed off and prepared them selves. What emerged from the doorway was a golden earth pony with long blond hair. “Fluttershy? Is that you?”
Applejack got out of the room and ran towards her friends. Rarity spoke up and greeted Applejack. “Darling Applejack your alive! But are you feeling alright? You look terrible!”
Applejack gave Rarity an irritated look, “Ah'm fine thank you very much! Hey Twilight, just what the hay is goin on? Have you guys seen Dash!?”
Twilight spoke quickly, “No we haven't and we've been running around Canterlot tearing ponies off each other, we need your help, it's utter chaos out there!” Applejack agreed and the five ponies ran out of the building leaving the filly in Applejack's safe room.
When they were back on the streets, all the fighting and madness had stopped. All that remained were the dozens of corpses and wounded ponies scattered all over the city. Celestia and Twilight did their best to tend to the wounded while Fluttershy and Rarity closed the eyes of the deceased.
Applejack just stood there, horrified and struck with guild. “None a this had to happen.... It's all mah fault...” Applejack tipped her head down, hiding her tears behind her hat.
Celestia approached Applejack, “What do you mean, your fault?” Celestia towered over Applejack, making her feel even more uncomfortable. She bowed her head lower.
“Ah'm so sorry... Ah could have stopped this.... Ah was right there.... but the Flim Flam brother caught me.....” the other three ponies began to crowd Applejack and understand her guilt.
“Is that why you were stuck in that closet?” Twilight asked.
“Nah... Dashie saved me an told me to wait there for ether her or you guys.” Applejack kicked the dirt beneath her in frustration.
Fluttershy bowed her head and walked up beside Applejack and threw her hoof around her, pulling her in for a hug. “It's not your fault Applejack, you did all you could.”
Applejack began to weep as the others joined their pile of sorrow. Even the Princess joined in and cried for her fallen city and citizens, many she knew and respected. Now they lye on the ground, cold and covered in crimson.
Rarity heard hoof steps in the distance and turned her head, the other turned and also looked. Running in the opposite direction was a pink earth pony.
“Pinkie Pie!!!” Twilight screamed as she and the others began to charge after her. Pinkamina stopped and looked at her followers, and a small grin grew across her face.
When the five arrived before Pinkamina she was laughing hysterically. “Isn’t it beautiful!? Im so glad my friends got to see it with me! What did ya think!?”
None of them spoke. Only Princess Celestia stepped forward and flapped her wings, lifting her up into the air menacingly as she charged a great beam of light from her horn that lit up the whole city.
The Princess, now more like a Goddess spoke to Pinkie in her Traditional Royal Canterlot Voice, witched seem to shake the ground beneath them, “You should be ashamed of your self Pinkamina Diane Pie, do you have any idea what you have done!?”
Celestia's eyes glowed fiercely, piercing through Pinkamina, but the twisted earth pony only giggled quietly. “I know exactly what I have done Princess... and what are you gunna do about it!?”
Celestia grit her teeth and shot out a beam of light at Pinkie, but she easily dodged it and charged Celestia. Celestia aimed her horn for another blast but Pinkamina already delivered a hoof to her jaw.
The Princess fell backward unconscious, and the other four ponies just stood there dumbfounded. Pinkamina turned to face her once best friends, “Well, who's next?”
The four friends all attacked at the same time, Twilight and Rarity shot bolts of magic at Pinkamina, while Applejack tried to grab her with her rope. Even Fluttershy had had enough and was in the air, trying to swoop down and grab her.
Pinkamina easily danced around avoiding everyone's attacks. She hopped in between Twilight and Rarity and ducked just as they shot, the two Unicorns spells struck each other and they were both knocked unconscious.
Just as Fluttershy swopped down to grab her she flipped up and kicked Fluttershy directly in the temple also knocking her out. Just as she hit the ground Pinkie found a knife and picked it up.
Applejack attempted to lasso her but the pink earth pony grabbed the rope and pulled Applejack directly into the knife. The blade sliced across Applejack's belly and she fell to the ground, holding it as tight as she could trying to prevent her guts from spilling.
Pinkamina just stood there looking down on her pray. A bolt of pain shot through Pinkie's brain and she dropped the knife and clutched her head. Applejack looked up to see Pinkie Pie once again struggling over her body.
The Pinkie Pie they all knew and loved managed to free her self for a small moment. “Im so sorry everyone!” Tears ran down her face like a steep river.
She looked down to Applejack, the only friend conscious friend she had there. “Applejack... Please...... Stop me.... I don't want to kill anymore....”
The words from her old friend made Applejack's heart wrench and tears of her own began to flow. Pinkie Pie felt another surge of pain through her head and she was once again lost.
Pinkamina cracked her neck to the side and looked back down on Applejack. “Now where were we!?”
Applejack bared her teeth in frustration, “Dammit Pinkamina! Just let her go! Let us all go! Why're you doing this!?” Applejack's tears continued to flow, this moment reminded her of her sister. When she was also a puppet of Pinkamina, because of her she had to bury her sister.
Pinkamina cocked her head and gave Applejack a sickening grin. “I believe someone you know has already answered that question Applejack...”
Pinkamina pinked up the knife she dropped and approached Applejack, raising her knife. “Because it's fun!”
Just before Pinkamina could drop the knife down on Applejack's throat a loud explosion echoed through the air. The pink earth pony felt her tail twitch and instantly turned towards rainbow Dash, now rocketing towards her with full intent to finish everything here and now.
Pinkamina prepared her knife for the right time to counter. Suddenly the pink earth pony felt a rope wrap around her hoof and pull the knife from her hand, leaving her body wide open.
Pinkamina was trapped, Applejack gripped the lasso hard and didn't let up for a second. Applejack let out her last words to Pinkamina,
“This is for Pinkie Pie!”
It's almost over folks! What's gunna happen next?
Well see next chapter! See ya then!
Chapter 11
It was almost in slow motion to Pinkamina, as Rainbow Dash descended upon her rapidly. The pink earth pony had no time to think, she instead relied on instinct. She quickly pulled as hard as she could on Applejack's lasso, pulling her in. Only one thing went through Pinkie's twisted mind, “If I'm going to die, I'm making sure you suffer Dash!”
And like a bolt of lightning, Dash was past them. Despite her speed approaching the ground, she landed gracefully. When the Pegasus turned to Pinkie she saw blood fly through the air, but it was not Pinkamina's blood.
Applejack fell to the ground, a crimson pool forming around her. Pinkamina stepped back chuckling, as Rainbow Dash stumbled to her fallen love.
“Applejack!” She called, but the golden earth pony never answered. The Pegasus held Applejack in her hooves, holding back her tears. She felt her friend slowly go cold.
Dash's heart pounded wildly and her breaths fell short, until her tears finally slipped from her grasp. Rainbow Dash buried her face into Applejack's chest, sobbing uncontrollably.
Celestia approached the pair, now conscious after her blow to the jaw. The Princes bowed her head to mourn the loss of not only a prized soldier of harmony, but a friend. Until the silence was broken by the bitter chuckling of Pinkamina.
Rainbow Dash slowly looked back at Pinkamina, her eyes blazing with fury behind her tears. Pinkamina spoke in a calm, taunting voice. “It's all your fault Dashie.... How does it feel to cut down the one person you love more than anything?”
Rainbow Dash put her head back down and quietly spoke to Celestia, showing her growing fury as a cold bitterness. “Bring her back....” The Princess recoiled in shock of the order Dash had given her.
She spoke back to the Pegasus in a harsh scolding manner. “Rainbow Dash, you must realize what you are asking of me! I cannot simply revive what is already de...”
Rainbow Dash looked up sharply at the Princess, interrupting her but still keeping her quiet, cold tone. “You... are the Princess of the sun... The Goddess we look up to... The leader we serve.... If you can't do what is needed for harmony.... Your worthless.....”
The Princess didn't move, Dash's words struck her harder than anything ever had. Celestia bowed her head and approached the fallen earth pony. “I.... I do know one spell. But it's forbi...”
Rainbow Dash interrupted her again, what ever could bring Applejack back to her. She didn't care. “Then do it!” Rainbow Dash's eyes shot through Celestia like lighting.
Celestia lowered her head and rested her horn on Applejack's forehead. “This will take some time.” The Princess's horn glowed a light yellow.
“You have time... I'll be busy....” Rainbow Dash stood up and faced Pinkamina, the earth pony's grin still menacing and ear to ear. But Rainbow Dash felt nothing, she thought nothing. She was completely focused on her goal. She had time to worry about everything else later.
Pinkamina cocked her head, still keeping her grin. “Well that's a new face! Did I hit you a little too hard that time? Do you think were playing a little too rough!?” Pinkamina threw her head back laughing.
Pinkamina felt a smashing pain in her gut and she coughed up blood. Rainbow Dash was already flew in and kicked her with her front right hoof. Rainbow Dash never raised her head, “I don't know, you tell me...”
Pinkamina attempted to strike back but Dash grabbed her attacking leg and snapped it. The pink earth pony wailed in pain as Rainbow Dash rapidly assaulted her, striking with her hooves and breaking the remaining three limbs.
Pinkamina couldn't read her movements, Dash was relying on instinct and adrenaline. The earth pony silently cursed and fell to the ground, her teeth grit sucking in the pain.
Pinkamina started to giggle again, mocking Rainbow Dash. “How does it feel Rainbow Dash!? The thrill of beating, the rush of killing! You aren't that far from me now! Tremble in fear, soon you'll just be another Cupcake killer!”
The Pegasus never even flinched, “No... I'm not like you at all. Pinkie Pie is my friend, these are my friends.... You are my enemy. And until Pinkie Pie's back...” Rainbow Dash picked up Pinkamina and threw the earth pony over her shoulder. “I will teach you fear!”
Rainbow Dash rocketed off into the sky. As she pierced clouds rain began to fall from the sky. The Pegasus carried Pinkamina higher than she had ever flown before. Pinkamina looked into Rainbow Dash's eyes, her evil smile never left. “Killing me won't change anything! Pinkie Pie, Canterlot's citizens. Applejack... They're still gunna be dead when we touch ground!”
Rainbow Dash lazily looked back into Pinkamina's eyes and sighed. “No..... But it's a start!”
The Pegasus began to plummet back down, still carrying Pinkie but now holding her out front so she would take the impact. Rainbow Dash began to spin. Slowly at first but soon her spinning built up so mush speed it caused a tornado. The base of the tornado covered Rainbow Dash and Pinkamina as the top reached past the Heavens.
A mach cone began to form around the two ponies. As it slowly began to close the two began to feel squished and stretched. By this time Rainbow Dash had created a storm, Lighting and heavy rain fell from the sky at the tornado slowly descended to the ground.
Twilight, Fluttershy, and Rarity had also awakened and were watching the chaotic sky as Celestia continued to pour her energy into Applejack. As Rainbow Dash neared the impact the mach cone had reached its limit. The tornado exploded and a massive rainbow shock wave emerged from the shards of spinning wind.
The colorful shock wave engulfed Rainbow Dash's storm and cleansed the air. As the large rainbow passed over the city it shook houses and shattered every remaining window.
Rainbow Dash's speed instantaneously doubled and she immediately hit the ground, crashing both her self and Pinkamina into the ground. The earth cracked open and beams of rainbow light shot from the enormous spits in the earth.
When the city finally stopped shaking and the beams of light reseeded back into the earth, only a wall of dust and smoke covered the damages to the city. When the dust cleared a cyan hoof grabbed onto the ledge and pulled her self up onto the unscathed ground, still carrying Pinkie Pie. Dash lied the pink earth pony into the ground and ran to her friends.
She immediately ran to Applejack's body and held her. Celestia backed away with her head down, Rainbow Dash watched the Princess back away and felt her heart sink. Until she felt movement in her hooves.
Applejack slowly adjusted to a more comfortable angle and opened her eyes. She spoke in a weak, pained tone “Hey Sugarcube.....”
Rainbow Dash looked up to the Princess with wide teary eyes and an open smile. The Princess bowed and weakly smiled back. The Pegasus hugged Applejack, everything felt complete again.
The sobbing was interrupted by a weak giggle coming from the crater Rainbow Dash made. All of them got up and ran to the hole to find Pinkie Pie lying there, smiling up at them. “Th-thank you...”
Her body was broken and weak she couldn't move and her breaths were scratchy. Dash flew down and held Pinkie Pie's head up as she coughed up blood. Pinkie Pie looked around at her friends surrounding her and smiled. “Everyone.... I'm so happy to have met all of you....”
The dying earth pony looked at Rarity weakly but kindly. “Rarity... Keep making those beautiful dresses... Try to make them look for fun though...” Pinkie Pie chuckled a little but a violent cough interrupted her. Rarity could only nod and smile, her tears restrained her from saying anything eligible.
Pinkie looked at Fluttershy next, “Fluttershy.... Take care of your animals and look after gummy for me... Don't forget to stand up for your self.... Your a beautiful and kind pony and deserve the best...”
Fluttershy's tears flowed uncontrollably and she answered between hyperventilating gasps. “I will... Thank you....”
Pinkie Pie looked over to Twilight next, “Twilight Sparkle.... You have a wonderful gift..... Never let anyone tell you otherwise.... You are the most talented Unicorn in all of Equestria....”
Twilight covered her eyes with her hooves and weakly replied, “Thank you....”
Pinkie looked over to Applejack next and gave her a wink, “Don't let Rainbow Dash wreck your orchard with her stunts....” Applejack giggled and tipped her hat down, hiding her tears. Pinkie Pie sighed and continued her speech.
“Take care of Rainbow Dash.... She's not allowed to do anything else stupid....” Applejack giggled a little harder as Rainbow Dash attempted to protest, but Dash didn't follow through and let her friend continue.
Pinkie Pie looked up at Rainbow Dash with tears in her eyes, “Rainbow Dash.... Thank you..... You really are the fastest.... Your too good for the Wonder Bolts....” Dash blushed and gave a small smile, but she couldn't reply. All her energy was focusing of sucking her tears back.
The dying earth pony looked up at Princess Celestia, “Take care of them...”
Celestia bowed as a tear fell from her cheek onto the ground, “With my last breath Pinkie Pie.”
Pinkie let out another spasm of violent coughs that startled the group, but she fell silent and calm again. “Oh... and one more thing....” She back up to Applejack and Rainbow Dash, “You two look really cute together...”
Pinkie gave them both her biggest smile, and Applejack and Rainbow Dash looked back at each other blushing. When their eyes returned to Pinkie Pie the twinkle in her eyes went out, and her body went limp. Pinkie Diane Pie, Element of laughter, and the most cheerful pony in Equestria, was dead.
Rainbow Dash closed Pinkie's eyes and laid her down on the ground. Rainbow Dash carried her to Celestia's tower as the other five gathered all the survivors and started cleaning up the town.
Rainbow Dash laid her fallen friend down on the bed and looked tiredly at Pinkie Pie. “Pinkie Pie.... You were a good friend.... always happy... always cheering us up when we were sad.... or making us feel strong when we were weak... Were gunna miss you....”
Rainbow Dash gave her a respectful kiss on the forehead and left to help the others clean up the city. When she arrived out side the work was already almost done. With all the Unicorns with magic in Canterlot the work was allot easier.
Rainbow Dash found her friends and joined them in a mourning circle. She spoke up among the others and reminded them of what was good. “It'll be ok guys... She's in a better place now... I miss her too... But now she can be happy again!”
The other four friends gave Dash a small smile and they all grouped together for a hug and they all spoke together, saying their goodbyes to their lost friend.
“Good bye Pinkie... Your smile will be with us forever...”
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No it's not over yet, ill have one more chapter to close things. That's right, your tears have only just begun!!!
Sorry Pinkiespegator... couldn't think of anything practical to save her! If I think of anything ill write a sequel or alternate ending for you, how does that sound?
Chapter 12
Ponyville was dead quiet. Nearly two weeks after the identity of the Cupcake Killer had been revealed, ponies could still not believe who it was. Nether could they believe who's funeral was tomorrow.
Even after several funerals in Ponyville in the past few weeks, no one was prepared for this. Who could expect the happiest pony in town to become a murderer? Who could expect her to die?
By this time Rainbow Dash's body had been completely healed. Her faded coat had returned to shine in the sun light, her Grey left eye had turned back into its shining purple and all of her stitches had fallen out. Though everypony still walked cautiously by her fearing what was supposed to be dead, she was thankful to at least return to Ponyville not looking like a monster.
She spent the day before alone, resting at home in the clouds. She gave her self allot of time to think to her self. Think about what she had done, what she was to say at Pinkie's funeral, how to approach her friends. After a long night of little sleep, she was finally ready to face her friends.
The first friend she went to see was Fluttershy, the pony who she had known the longest. When she knocked on the door a quiet, shy voice answered. “Come in....”
Rainbow Dash opened the door and stepped inside. Fluttershy was sitting on the floor, looking out the window. She turned to face her visitor and game a shy smile upon discovering who it was. “Oh! Rainbow Dash, it's good to see you. We've all been so worried.”
Fluttershy approached the cyan Pegasus and gave her a welcoming hug. “You look much better Dash. I'm glad your all healed up.” Rainbow Dash looked in the mirror beside her.
“Ya, It's good look normal again!” Rainbow Dash looked back at Fluttershy, she wanted to say something else but she couldn't think of anything more to say. Fluttershy too felt the awkward silence and began scoping her mind for a conversation to begin.
But the only thing that both of them thought of, nether wanted to talk about. Dash finally pulled her self together and braved her next sentence. “So... Your gunna be at Pinkie's funeral tomorrow right?”
Fluttershy sunk in her stance and replied, “Of... Of coarse... Why wouldn't I?” Fluttershy's eyes wandered the room, fearing Dash's gaze.
“I don't know... just figured I'd make sure...”Rainbow Dash scratched the back of her head, she felt a little ashamed of her self. She had brought up Pinkie Pie too abruptly. She lowered her head and began silently lecturing her self.
Out of the corner of her eye, Dash saw Gummy waddle around the corner and approach Fluttershy. The baby alligator tugged on Fluttershy's tail and she quickly turned around, startled by Gummy's sudden crave for attention. “Oh! I had almost forgotten about you!”
The yellow Pegasus turned back to Rainbow Dash, “Sorry Dash, I had almost forgotten I was about to take Gummy for a walk. Would you like to join us?” As much as Rainbow Dash would enjoy hanging out with Fluttershy longer she knew she still had to visit three more ponies.
“Thanks but no thanks, I still gotta check on Twilight, Applejack and Rarity. Maybe next time though!” Rainbow Dash gave Fluttershy a strained smile and Fluttershy tried to do the same.
“Oh... Ok, I understand. Tell the others I said hi, if it isn't to much trouble.” Rainbow Dash opened up the door behind her and started off to her next destination, replying to her friend just before she flew away.
“Don't worry! I will!”
Rainbow Dash landed just in front of Rarity's house and knocked on the door. Her second and most generous friend opened the door with a bright smile and gave Rainbow Dash a hug. “Rainbow Dash, darling! It's so good to see you, you look much better!”
Rainbow Dash chuckled to her self and answered her friends abrupt welcome, “Thanks, it's good to see you too!” Rarity motioned Rainbow Dash to come in and took off to the kitchen to pour her guest some tea.
“Take a seat darling, I'll have tea ready in just a moment!” Rainbow Dash sat down at the coffee table and witnessed her surroundings. Rarity had been busy, there were several new dresses she had never seen before and, about three more being made that she could see.
Rainbow Dash studied the dresses and noticed they all followed a familiar theme. They consisted of bright colors and funny shapes, yet still being superbly organized and beautiful.
When Rainbow Dash looked closer she noticed they all bared the same style logo somewhere on its exterior. It was of three balloons, the two on the outside were a light blue colour and the balloon in the middle was a bright yellow. The Pegasus immediately recognized the symbol and bowed her head in respect, it was Pinkie Pie's cutie mark.
“Do you like them?” Rainbow Dash nearly flew out of her chair, startled by Rarity who was now sitting on the opposite side of the table sipping tea. She looked down and noticed there was a small tea cup on her side of the table also and filled the cup from the kettle in the center of the table.
“Ya... Actually, there beautiful as always...” Rainbow Dash was hesitant, scared to go too in depth about Pinkie Pie. She didn't want this to end the same as her visit with Fluttershy. Rarity sensed Dash's caution but figured it was best to carry the conversation.
“Do you think she'd be proud?” Rainbow Dash looked up at Rarity shocked. It seemed that Rarity was more comfortable with the conversation. Rainbow Dash looked back at the dresses and smiled lightly.
“Yeah... I bet she would...” Rarity also gave a smile admiring her dresses. She looked Back at the Pegasus friend and continued conversation.
“So how are you feeling?” Rainbow Dash's eyes fell, she had hoped no one would ask her that. She turned and set the chin on the table, staring blankly at her tea cup.
“I'm not so sure yet.... I kinda feel guilty.......” Rarity sighed and took a sip of her tea.
“Now why would you feel that Dash?” Rarity took another sip and and rested her head on the back of her chair. Rainbow Dash never moved .
“I know there was no other way... I know it had to be done... I know she's happier and in a better place now.... but....” Tears began to run from Dash's eyes.
Rarity stood up and crouched next to Dash, she threw a hoof around her and pulled her close. “Go on darling...” Rainbow Dash felt a sharp pain through her heart and the tears flowed even harder.
“But I still....” Rainbow Dash sucked in a large breath of air and continued, “I still killed her!!” Rainbow Dash shouted in frustration and banged her head onto the table. Rarity kept her hold on Dash and continued comforting her.
“Shh shh shhh.... It's not you fault Dash....” Rainbow Dash grit her teeth and replied.
“I know that! But I still...” Rarity raised her voice a little, grabbing her friends attention.
“What else could you have done!?” Rainbow Dash's eyes snapped open and her tears stopped. Rarity continued, “You did the right thing Dash! You set Pinkie Pie free, and saved the lives of countless ponies...” Rarity brushed Dash's hair and wiped away Dash's tears with a napkin. “You did the right thing!”
Rainbow Dash hugged Rarity, “Thank you....” Rarity returned the hug and let out a small sigh of relief.
“Any time Dash.” After a few cups of tea and moments of small talk, it was time to Rainbow Dash to leave and visit the others. Rarity gave her a little doggy bag of small chocolate chip cookies for the road and sent her on her way.
As Rainbow Dash took to the sky but quickly returned and said one last thing. “I almost forgot! Fluttershy says hi!” As the Pegasus rocketed to her next destination, Rarity closed the door giggling to her self over her friends forgetfulness. She finished her last cup of tea and continued to work on the dresses.
Her next stop was Twilight's house. Spike answered the door and let her in. Spike was unusually quiet but Dash just assumed that children handled death differently, and she didn't think too heavily on it. Twilight galloped down the stairs and borderline tackled Rainbow Dash with a hug.
“Rainbow Dash! How are you!?” Twilight acted lively and awake, but the bags under the Unicorns eyes and the large pile of books next to her bed told Dash otherwise.
“I'm fine, thanks. Have you been up all night reading again?” Rainbow Dash replied raising an eye brow. Twilight's eyes darted side to side nervously, she was almost as bad a liar as Applejack.
“Me!? Of coarse not! A pony needs lots of sleep and...”Rainbow Dash kept her eye brow raised and watched Twilight's smile slowly fall until she finally dropped her head.
Twilight sighed and looked back up at Dash weakly, “Fine... You got me... I've been up all night reading books about coping with loss of a loved one.”
“And have they been working?” Rainbow Dash kept her stern took locked on Twilight until the Unicorn's head sunk even lower.
“Not really...” Twilight looked back up into Dash's eyes, holding back a few tears. Rainbow Dash finally broke her stare and hugged Twilight again.
“No book can help with this Twilight.... Only a friend can...” Twilight let out a single tear and returned a hug. After a moment they detached and sat on the rug in the center of the room.
“So how have you been? Would you like me to get Spike to make us some tea?” Spike snorted, slightly irritated dusting off book shelves as Twilight gave the hint. Rainbow Dash chuckled and then answered.
“No thanks, I already had lots at Rarity's.” Spike gave a sigh of relief making Twilight and Dash giggle amongst them selves again. Dash continued her answer. “I'm going around and visiting the gang today! I already met up with Fluttershy and Rarity, after this I'm going to go see Applejack!”
“Really? How are they? I haven't gotten to talk to anyone yet.” Twilight spoke out in a slightly worried interest. Dash thought back in her memories and answered.
“Well Fluttershy's still a little choked up about it, but no one should really expect more from her. Rarity on the other hand is doing really good! She's designing dresses devoted to Pinkie Pie and I must say, they're pretty awesome!” Dash continued to think making sure she didn't miss anything.
Twilight's eyes sparkled a little, “Really? Good for her, I'm glad she's ok. As for Fluttershy, we can all talk to her tomorrow at Pinkie's... uh.... ya...” A long silence followed, the subject was still very delicate.
Finally, Spike broke the silence. “Uh Twilight?” The two mares jolted up to face Spike, startled by the broken silence. “Can I run to the store quick? We need more cleaning supplies.”
Twilight and Rainbow Dash sat back down, Twilight sighed and dismissed the baby dragon, “Sure, just don't be gone long. We have to meet up with the Princess later remember?”
Spike opened the door and cocked his head at Twilight, “Ya I remember, it will only be a few minutes! See ya!” The door slammed behind Spike and Rainbow Dash turned back to Twilight confused.
“Meeting the Princess?” Twilight sunk a little then replied to the confused Pegasus.
“Ya, Princess Celestia is helping me plan the funeral tomorrow.” Twilight gave Dash a weak look as the cyan Pegasus grew even more curious. Dash had knew Twilight volunteered to plan Pinkie's funeral, but why was the Princess her self involved for?
“The Princess? What would she want to do with it?” Dash asked. Twilight stared blankly at the floor and spoke in a quiet tone.
“Celestia not only respected Pinkie Pie as a warrior of harmony, but she also loved her as a friend. She's probably not as close to her as we were but... Try and name one pony who's life Pinkie didn't touch...” Twilight remained still and silent.
Twilight was right, everyone loved Pinkie Pie. Pinkie Pie was the one pony who could make anyone smile no matter how horrible the situation. The turned anger into fun, she turned fear into laughter. No one could ever replace Pinkie Pie, and Dash was the one who took her away.
Guilt stuck Rainbow Dash like a hammer and she sunk to the floor. Twilight looked up and saw her friend lost in her painful thoughts, “You ok?” Twilight asked.
Rainbow Dash got up and started heading for the door, “Ya I'll be ok, I suppose I should head out now and let you get ready for the Princess's arrival. I still have one more pony I gotta see before it gets late anyway!” Rainbow Dash opened the door and flexed her wings, “I'll see you tomorrow!”
And just like that, the Pegasus took to the sky leaving Twilight dumbfounded. Spike ran in with a bag of supplies concerned, “Is she ok? She took off pretty fast!”
Twilight just patted him on the back and headed for her book shelf. “She'll be ok, she's tough! Now lets focus on preparing for Celestia!”
As the cool air whistled through her rainbow mane, Dash still felt the pain of guilt at the loss of what seemed to be everyone's best friend. She soared over Applejack's farm and saw the golden earth pony working in the field. When Dash went in a little closer to get a good look she saw what Applejack was doing.
She was removing Dash's old grave. When the Pegasus touched ground it startled Applejack, causing her to loudly drop her shovel. “Geez Dashie, you scared the hey outa me!”
Rainbow Dash trotted up to Applejack and gave her a big smile, “So cleaning up are we?” Applejack smirked at Rainbow Dash and looked down at the freshly filled hole and chuckled.
“Ya, Ah reckon we won't be needin it no more!” Applejack looked up and Gave Dash an endearing smile. “So what are y'all up to anyway?” Applejack sat down and rested under a tree and Rainbow Dash sat next to her and joined her.
“I'm just goin around town checking up on everyone. I Visited Fluttershy, Rarity, then Twilight. Now it's your turn!” Applejack chuckled to her self and gave Dash a smug look.
“So ya left best for last didja?” Rainbow Dash laughed loudly and returned with another smug look.
“Ya, you keep telling your self that!” The two mares laughed until tears began to run. Finally Applejack wiped away a tear and continued conversation.
“So how are the others doin then?” Rainbow Dash searched her memories again, finding the answer she had already been asked before. She just needed to add the status of one more friend.
“Well, Fluttershy could be better. But as I told Twilight we can't expect much more from her. We can all talk to her and cheer her up when we meet up tomorrow. Twilight could be doing better too, she stayed up all night reading about how to cope. I'm kinda worried about her too, but she's probably with the Princess right now making arrangements for tomorrow. As for Rarity, she seems pretty good. She's designing some pretty awesome dresses dedicated to Pinkie Pie!”
After Dash's long reply Applejack took a moment to think about her friends. “Well that's cool! I'm glad to hear that Rarity's makin the best of things! As for Twilight and Fluttershy.... As you said, we'll just hafta work with that tomorrow!” Applejack turned to Rainbow Dash in concern, “So what about you?”
Rainbow Dash sank again, feeling the weight of Ponyville on her shoulders. “I'm fine...” Applejack cocked her head at Dash and gave her a nudge on the shoulder.
“Y'all don't look fine to me Sugarcube. Y'all know you can talk to me about what ever's puttin you down!” As rainbow Dash looked up to Applejack, the earth pony gave her a confident smile. Dash turned back and stared at the ground.
“It's just.... I feel guilty about all this.... Everyone's sorrow at the loos of Pinkie Pie... It's my fault...” Rainbow Dash sank even lower and shut her eyes. “Rarity already told me about how it wasn't my fault, that I saved so many lives, that I saved Pinkie... But does that?...”
Rainbow Dash gulped down the lump in her throat and continued, “Does that really make killing her right!? I look around at the sad, colorless town... Without sompony to make them smile, without sompony to make them laugh.... She's gone...” Rainbow Dash bursted into tears and covered her face with her hooves, “And I'm the one who took her away!”
Applejack lowered her head. She looked weakly at the crying Pegasus and sighed. Applejack wrapped her hoof around Dash, pulled her close, and gave Rainbow Dash a small kiss on the forehead. As Rainbow Dash froze from the sudden loving contact Applejack rested her head on Dash's and did her best to comfort her.
“Y'all ain't a bad pony Rainbow Dash... They may be sad now... But if it weren't for you Dashie, they might not even be alive... Pinkie Pie wouldn't want you to feel guilty for her death... In her dyin words she thanked you Sugarcube.... You really are the hero even the Wonderbolts hardly deserve!”
Rainbow Dash turned and hugged Applejack, nearly suffocating her. Among the sniffing and sobbing Dash could let out two words, “Thank you...” Applejack smiled and brushed Dash's hair.
“Any time Sugarcube...”
As Rainbow Dash awoken, she felt the soft sheets surrounding her. The Pegasus jolted up in fear she had missed the funeral. “Y'all can relax, it doesn’t start for a while yet.” Applejack was lying beside her smiling with one eye lazily open. Rainbow Dash tiredly nodded and nestled in. It had been a long time since Dash could relax and enjoy her self, so she wanted to spend every moment she could just like this.
The two mares awoke feeling more relaxed and at piece than they had felt in a long time. After a few moments of morning conversation Rainbow Dash went home to clean her self up and prepare for the funeral. When she got home she had a quick shower, brushed her teeth and fixed her mane.
She left home with a single rose for her fallen friend. She held the flower firmly in her mouth as she descended from the heavens back to Ponyville. When she arrived at the funeral it was already packed. It seemed that every pony from Ponyville was there. There were even a few ponies that she had never seen before.
Rainbow Dash looked around for her friends and saw them all standing in a circle outside the massive group of ponies. All of her friends carried a different flower for Pinkie Pie. Fluttershy carried a Daffodil in her mouth while Rarity had Lady Slipper. The Slipper was placed behind Rarity's ear, holding her hair up. Twilight had a curved branch of Lilacs wrapped around her neck and Applejack also had a branch of small Apple bud flowers around her neck.
Dash gently landed and met up with her friends. They all gave her a tired and weak smile, they all welcomed her but the setting was restraining allot of enthusiasm. An old colt walked up on the stage and signaled everyone to take a seat. Beside him was a casket, no one could see inside it but everyone knew its contents. Rainbow Dash took a seat at the end of the first row, Applejack followed and sat next to her. Rarity followed, then Fluttershy and Twilight.
The Pony that sat next to Twilight Sparkle were the Princess's them selves. It was odd how Celestia and Luna both acted like normal civilians at Pinkie's funeral. How well they both blended in showed how much respect they had for her, Rainbow Dash admired this and gave them both a welcoming smile witch they returned to Dash.
The elder colt on stage cleared his throat and began his speech, “We are gathered here today to honor the life of Pinkamina Diane Pie.” As Rainbow Dash heard her name she shuttered. She wished that the preacher would call her Pinkie, the same way everyone else did. No one wanted to remember her as Pinkamina.
Rainbow Dash calmed her self down as listened to the rest of the colt's speech, “Many of you know Pinkie not only as a friend, but the very light that shined over Ponyville. When Celestia's sun was blocked by clouds, Pinkie shined bright and brought us all happiness and joy. Now that light is out, and it is our duty to shine for her! I will now ask any relatives or friends of Pinkie Pie, to come forward and say a few words on her behalf.”
The colt walked off stage and Pinkie's parents and siblings all walked up on stage together for their speech. As Pinkie Pie's mother spoke, the others bowed their heads in respect. “Pinkie Pie was the most joyful spark in our family. There was never a moment she wasn’t ether making us laugh or dance. The moment she was born I knew she was different, she turned our colorless little rock farm into the happiest place on earth!”
She paused to hold in a tear and her husband gave her a light, encouraging pat on the back. As she continued a small tear slipped from her gasp, “Pinkie Pie will always be the happiest pony in Equestria, and we will never forget her...” the four family members turned and faced the open casket. They each said their last words and walked off the stage.
The preacher asked for any others who wished to speak, but no one stepped forward. No one could speak. Rainbow Dash knew she had to speak for Pinkie Pie and alone stood up and began making her way to the stage. The Pegasus had no speech planned, but she still felt the guilt of being the one to take Pinkie away. This was the least she could do to repay Ponyville.
When she took the stage he knees began to shake, the spot lights were so bright she couldn't see her audience. In a way this helped her relax. She cleared her throat and let out what ever came to mind. “Hey everyone... As you can probably see, I don't really have a speech planned but.... This was also kind of a last minute idea too so...”
Rainbow Dash could not see the crown but could feel their growing impatience as the Pegasus scrambled to find her words. A discriminating mumble grew in her audience. Finally she calmed down, and said what came from her heart. “I've known Pinkie Pie for a long time and she was not only a great friend but a great mentor. As aloof as she seemed to be, she taught us so much about happiness and friendship.
The Pegasus had began to regain her courage and had an epiphany of her own, witch she shared with all of Ponyville. “And I'm sure there are allot of you thinking that that spark is gone. But your wrong! Every moment we shared with her, everything she taught us, it lives on inside us! Because laughter never dies, nor will her love for Ponyville and everyone in it!”
Rainbow Dash couldn't hear the skeptical mumbling anymore and fully regained her courage. She lost her self in the moment as she poured her heart into every word, “Her laugh will always be there to cheer us up, her smile will always be there to light our way! Pinkie Pie's memory will live on forever, and for that...”
Rainbow Dash turned to Pinkie's casket and peered down to her fallen friend, she bend down and kissed her on the forehead and said out load so everypony could hear it. “Thank you Pinkie Pie, for everything...”
At that moment everypony stood up in respect and admiration of Dash's speech. The Pegasus looked around shocked at the silhouettes now standing and a light satisfied smile grew on her face. “Thank you.” she said, and she went down and took her seat. Applejack kissed her on the cheek and the audience took their seat.
After the final ceremony they all laid their flowers of Pinkie's grave. Few words were spoken until the preacher finally dismissed everyone. The group reunited and each gave Rainbow Dash a hug for her gallant words. Fluttershy quietly spoke, “So... What do we do now? I mean... without Pinkie Pie, how are we suppose to..”
Rainbow Dash interrupted her with a rough pat on the head, “Hey haven't you heard a word I said? Pinkie Pie never left...” The group slowly grew admiring smiles and let Rainbow continue. “Pinkie's still here, in our hearts. She is still laughter and she is still our friend, we will never forget her and she will never forget us!”
They all had a group hug and walked together, no one spoke but each of the fires in their hearts burned brighter than ever! Each of them remembering Pinkie's last words to them and taking them to heart. They all repeated in their heads Rainbow Dash's last words of her speech.
“Thank you Pinkie Pie... For everything...”
Well it's finally over guys, I hope you guys enjoyed the story! For a novice I think I did a pretty good job!
And sorry it took so long for this one... Funerals are NOT my forte and it took allot of thinking and rewriting. Thank you for your patience! And I'll see you all in my next story!
