Five Nights at Pinkie's 2

Chapters

The Update
Night 1: The Visitor
Night 2: The Mangled Rainbow
Night 3: Balloon Dragon
Night 4: Something Borrowed
New Shift
Night 5: Something New
The Original Pinkie's Party Slasher
Moving Out
Epilogue
Night 6: Everything's Falling Together

The Update

I looked at the ad again, reading it over again to make sure this is something I’d want.

“Pinkie’s Party Palace!” It read. “A great place for kids and grown ups alike, where friendship and magic are the same! This place is a place for friends who are loyal, generous, honest, kind, and can always turn a friends frown upside down!”

This place was hiring for a night guard, and I need a job. I looked up at the building, seeing the great colors of the place and how much the children entering were filled with excitement.

The Party Palace was always deemed to be the most kid friendly restaurant in Equestria, and if not, then it’s pretty high up there.

I’ve been to the Party Palace a couple of times when I was a kid, it was amazing. Pinkie Pie and her friends could always turn someponies frown upside down.

But then there was an incident, and the restaurant was closed for a couple of days while a trial went on against the pony who murdered some kids and shoved them into the animatronic suits.

I just want to know why. Why would he or she do that? What would drive them to do that?

But that didn’t matter anyways, right now I need a job to support me and my wife. I previously had a job as a newspaper delivery pony, but quit when I found this job that payed more than paper delivery.

I already sent my resume, now I just needed to meet the manager and get the job.

The manager was apparently some different pony than when I was a kid. I always loved the old manager. His cheerful attitude, his positive attitude towards things, and his way to make kids smile. After he disappeared he was replaced with a young mare that was too shy to even speak to anypony. I always wondered what did happen to him.

I walked into the building and was greeted to an amazingly clean restaurant. It surprised me just how clean the current manager kept the place. I looked to the floor and saw my reflection. The walls were covered with drawings made by little colts and fillies, all of them depicting a happy pony family. One thing I noticed is that there was a lot of drawings made by some filly named ‘Apple Bloom.’ Whoever that is.

I walked down the entrance area and found the Stage, tons of little kids were all cheering as Pinkie and her friends sang their famous song, ‘Smile.’

I didn’t really know what to do when I got there. This was a different location than the last time I was here, and I was now in unfamiliar territory.

"Excuse me?” I heard a voice say.

I turned to my right to see two stallions standing there. One of them was a bald blue pegasus wearing a hockey mask. The other was a red earth pony with a black and white mane and sunglasses.

“Are you Shining Armor?” The earth pony said.

“Yes.” I said.

“You can find Fluttershy’s office down the main hall, which can be found that way.” The earth pony said.

“Alright, thanks.” I said.

“Don’t mention it.” The pegasus said through his mask.

I walked through the door I was directed to and found my way to a large hallway that seemed to go on forever.

I found a door at the end, as well as a large room with a desk, and entered the room through the door.

I entered the room, silence was all around. The only sound in the room was from the ceiling fan and the sound of the pen writing on papers.

I closed the door, making sure to keep it silent and the yellow mare looked up at me.

“Ah, hello.” She said. “Can I help you?”

“Uh, my name’s Shining Armor.” I said. “I’m here for the night guard job.”

“Ah yes, Shining Armor.” She said, reaching into a cabinet. “Please, have a seat.”

I sat down on the chair and she pulled out a piece of paper that I think is my resume.

She read it over, giving a couple of approving slow nods.

“Well, Mr. Shining.” She said. “I don’t see any reason why not to hire you.” I was pretty happy by this, if I failed this then I would be forced to go back to my Faust-awful old job. “Thank you Ms. Fluttershy.” I said.

“Well, I bet somepony will need to show you around the place so you can get acquainted with the place.” She said, getting up and walking to the door.

I got up and followed her as she showed me around the building. We got to the Stage area and Fluttershy took me to a big shed looking place in the Stage area. She opened the door and, judging by all of the stuffed animals, I knew this was the prize counter where kids trade in their tokens for prizes.

Fluttershy closed the door and wound up a music box that was starting to slow down.

“The last night guard wants me to keep this wound up whenever I’m in here.” She explained.

Why? Why does he or she want that?

“Well, this is the prize counter.” She said. “Any questions about the places you’ve seen so far?”

I shook my head and she took me out and down the long hallway again. She took me to the room at the end and told me this was where the night guards work.

“What’s this thing?” I said, poking a Pinkie Pie animatronic suit head above the chair.

Fluttershy just groaned to herself upon seeing it. “It was put there by the previous night guard. I don’t know why he does these things.” She started mumbling to herself, but loud enough that I could hear her. “First hating the new place, then the late night stress, then the hatred to the prize counter, then adding that. I swear.”

“I take it you don’t agree with some of the things he does?” I asked, it was pretty stupid since anypony would think it would be obvious.

“Yes. No. I don’t know.” She said.

“What does that mean?” I said.

“Ever since we moved to this new location he’s been acting strange. He seems almost, unhinged.” The last part lowering down to a whisper. “‘Unhinged?’” I said.

“He just seems to talk to himself. And he barely spends any time here other than when it’s his shift for work. And he added that head above the chair, he made the electrical team add lights to the vents. He also made them add a remote so he can turn on flashlights remotely.” She said. “I keep asking what’s wrong, but he never tells. He only says he’s doing it for me.”

I looked down at the floor.

‘What’s wrong with that guy?’ I wondered.

“I don’t know, but we’re working through it together.” She said, walking out the door. “You're shift starts at midnight.”

I looked back at the Pinkie Pie head and left, wondering what was going on with that guy.

I spent the rest of the day with my wife, watching our favorite movies.

When midnight hit I let her walk to bed and kissed her good night. I went to the Party Palace and the animatronics looked different. I couldn’t explain it, but they didn’t seem the same.

I ignored it, figuring it was because it was dark, and walked down the hall to the night guard office. The phone rang as soon as I sat down.

I picked up the phone and put it on speaker.

"Hello, hello hello? Uh, if you're hearing this, then you've made a very poor career choice my friend."

Night 1: The Visitor

"A what?” I thought. “Why would this be a poor career choice? The pay's okay, and I don’t see anything wrong with this job...”

“Um, sorry for saying that... it was just how I was welcomed to the job and thought it would help you, or something.” The stallion said. I looked around the office and saw there was really nothing worth noting about it: It had a poster of the new animatronics, vents that had buttons that turned on hidden lights in them, a remote that had ‘hallway flashlight’ and ‘music box’ taped on it, and it had the large desk I was sitting at.

I took a look at the poster, seeing the new animatronics. They all looked somewhat the same as their predecessors, with just a few minor differences: Pinkie had a top hat, a bow tie, and a microphone, Rarity just had a purse and a lute strapped to her back, and Applejack just had a banjo.

I decided to pay attention to the caller and see what he wanted.

“Uh, hey... I actually worked in that office before you. It was really pretty easy.” I heard a nervous chuckle. “What? Uh, just hang on. I’m still getting ready!”

What the hay was he doing?

“Listen, I’m not going to sugarcoat it for you. You're utterly screwed if you're not careful.”

What?

“Okay... first off, the company welcome... thing.” He cleared his throat and spoke in a disinterested tone.

“Welcome to Pinkie’s Party Palace, a magical place for kids and grown ups alike. A place for friends who are loyal, generous, honest, funny and magical! Blah, blah, blah... okay newbie, listen up. The animatronics? Watch them. Also, you see that remote on the desk? Push the ‘wind up’ button on it. It’ll save your life.”

I picked up the remote and pushed the button. I held it down for a bit, then set it back down. “Well, that was utterly pointless.” I said.

“Oh, yeah! Under your desk there should be a tablet. Take that and turn it on by pushing the button on the side.”

I looked under the desk and found the tablet thing he was talking about, then did as I was told. The tablet turned on, showing me a live feed of the Stage area. My heart nearly stopped when the camera turned and I saw that Applejack was missing.

“By now, one of them is probably gone. That’s expected. I have been talking a while. Now, the building can’t run out of power. Make sure you remember that. Unfortunately, your flashlight can. Please be careful when using it, or else you won’t be able to... use it, for lack of a better term.”

I was barely listening. All I could do was stare, slack-jawed, at the stage where Applejack was supposed to be, but wasn’t.

“Uh... in order to use the tablet you have to push the buttons... well, duh. They're located on the map at the side of the screen."

I began pushing buttons in a mad fury, desperate to find Applejack. I nearly dropped the tablet in shock when I found her. She was staring with her blank, lifeless eyes at the camera in the third party room.

“Now, the animatronics might get in your room, which will definitely put you in great danger. That, newbie, is why I installed your very own Pinkie Pie animatronic head! Yay!” He said.

I looked at the head above me. I poked it, which caused it to fall down on my head. My head was enveloped by the animatronic head, and I realized that this thing was clearly made for somepony taller.

“Just put that thing on and whatever comes in will just waltz its merry way back out.” He said.

I removed the head and looked at the camera. Applejack was still standing there, as if the camera were the most fascinating thing in existence. “What happens if they get in?” I asked.

“Uh... they’ll shove you into one of the suits.” He replied.

“What!?” I said.

“Look, newbie, just calm the hay down. You’ll do fine on your first day. I’ve been talking for maybe an hour, so you're fine. Now, I’ll talk to you later, okay?” He said.

“Okay.” I said as I hung up. There is no way in Tartarus that I am staying at this job.

I checked the Stage and my heart vapor-locked. Rarity was gone.

Another panic attack began. I started to frantically check rooms and again nearly dropped the tablet. She was staring at me in the Main Hall. She had removed her purse and her lute, leaving them on the floor.

I flipped to the third party room and found Applejack was gone. I nearly had another freak out before I found her standing next to a vent, staring right at me. I couldn't make out her face from the camera, but I swear she was making the biggest frigging slasher smile she could.

I flipped back to the Main Hall and discovered Rarity was gone. I started another go-round of the camera feeds, only to find a room that had something called a ‘wind up meter.’ I eventually put two and two together and realized that it indicated how wound-up the music box was, and wound it up. I flipped back to the vent, and was relieved to see that Applejack hadn't budged from her spot. I flipped back to the Main Hall, and was doubly relieved to see that Rarity had stayed put. I began flipping through the feeds in a hunt for any more missing animatronics.

I stumbled upon a little dragon... thing... in the game room. It would have been cute, maybe even cuddly, if it wasn’t for his empty, soulless, unblinking gaze. I know he’s an animatronic, but I can still feel that dragon's soulless eyes boring into my soul. You’d think that the designers would make him look a little better than... THIS.

I continued to flip through the camera feeds and... Oh, Faust. Inside of the room I stumbled upon laid the lifeless suits of the old animatronics. Seeing the machines... no, the friends that made my childhood a happy one like this... just shoved into a room and left to rot... it nearly broke my heart.

Applejack was missing the top part of her face, leaving a hollow spot where her face should be. The endoskelton's teeth were popping out of Rarity, making her look like a Xenomorph with it's inner mouth extended. Pinkie Pie... dear, sweet Pinkie Pie... there were holes all over her suit, making her look like Sonny Corneighone post-ambush. I hated seeing them in this state... after all those years of bringing smiles to children's faces, they were just cast aside like junk.

Okay, enough sorrow... onto the next camera!

I hoped they got the extended warranty on the tablet, because I nearly dropped it again as I heard... something... in the vent on the right. I turned to look and turned on the light, and was rewarded by the sight of Applejack's head right there, staring at me.

Oh, horse apples. I thought.

I fought through the panic attack to grab the animatronic head, and managed to get it on. The lights started to flicker as Applejack's face, still sporting that slasher smile, slid back into the vents.

Soon, the flickering stopped. I decided to err on the side of caution and wait a little longer before taking the head off. After a few moments, the head was off and I was checking the music box, winding it up as I did. I then heard the most wonderful sound in the world... the sound of the clock chiming the hour... I turned and looked at the clock. It was 6 A.M.

"Thank Celestia." I thought, as I sighed and fell back in my chair. It took me a while to get up, but when I did I ran. I ran past the stage. I ran out the doors. I ran as fast as I could all the way home, bursting through the door completely breathless. Cadence, my darling wife, was awake and watching a movie.

“Honey?” Cadence asked. “What’s wrong?”

I opened my mouth to begin my rant-slash-freak out over my hellish new job. I was going to rant about how I faced death that night, but I was interrupted by a knock on the door. I took several deep breaths instead until I was calmed down, then turned around and opened the door.

There was a male pegasus standing there, looking to the side and rubbing his head. From the side he had the mane cut of a famous DJ whose name currently escapes me, but when he turned I saw his spiky mane barely covered the right side of his face.

“Oh, hey!” He said. His voice continued to ring a few bells, but for the life of me, I just couldn’t place where I’d heard it before.

“Uh, hi?” I said. “Do I know you?”

“Uh, yes-er, no! No, you don’t know me. M-My name’s Jet Black.” He held out his hoof and I shook it.

“Have we met before? I swear to Faust I’ve heard your voice before.”

“Oh, uh... you might recognize me as the guy on the phone.” He said, making a nervous smile.

My eyes went wide. Him!? Oh, I had a lot of questions for him.

"Uh, honey? Could you excuse me for just a second? I'll be right back..." I said with a nervous chuckle. I closed the door and turned to the Pegasus, filled with anger. "I have questions for you, and by Celestia, you ARE going to answer them. You got it?"

He shook his head, and I noticed there wasn't a trace of fear. It seems to be a side effect of the night shift: anypony working there and surviving the horrors it had to offer would never feel fear again. It made Lord Tirek look like Little Mary Sunshine.

“Okay, first off... WHY THE BUCK DO THE ANIMATRONICS COME TO LIFE!?” I screamed, getting dirty looks from some of the neighbors.

“Uh... oh, yeah!" There was a nervous chuckle. "Yeah... that. That might actually be my fault." He said with another nervous chuckle.

"'Your fault?'" I asked. "How is it your fault?"

"Thats really not important right now." He said. "But, what IS important is you keeping all of this a secret."

"WHAT?! I yelled in disbelief. More dirty looks from the neighbors. "OH, DON'T LOOK AT ME LIKE THAT!"

"You know, a secret." He said. "As in 'confidential,' 'hush-hush,' don't tell any-"

I know what a bucking secret is!" I said, interrupting him.

“Okay... well, I just need you to keep this all a secret, okay?” He asked.

“Are you BUCKING KIDDING ME!?" I yelled. "We have to tell somepony about this! Anypony! And another nd another thing, why in the holy mother of Faust did you stay past your first shift!? You know, I don't even want to know, because I... BUCKING...QUIT!"

"No!" He said. "You can't tell anypony. If you do, then the place will be shut down. I can't let that happen... my dear Fluttershy... she loves that place more than anything."

"Are you high?" I asked, semi-serious.

"I can't let that place get shut down, it'll depress her." He said. "And I stayed because... well... I have to."

"What the hay does THAT mean?" I asked.

He just looked down, and I could tell from his teary eyes that he was on the verge of breaking down. He wiped his eyes and looked at me. "Just don't tell anybody, please?" He asked. "You shouldn't have even gotten my job..."

"What are you talking about?" I asked."What happened? And your job? Are you the new day guard?"

"Just don't. Tell. Anpony." He said as he started to fly away.

I stood there, watching him fly away. "Dont tell anypony?" Why? Why can't anypony know about this?

I walked back inside. I just wanted to sit next to my darling wife and watch TV. I didn't really pay attention to it. I was too preoccupied by the questions about the company swirling inside my brain. I planned on getting the answers tomorrow. Now, off to bed...

Night 2: The Mangled Rainbow

I made sure to wake myself up early, a decision that I would end up regretting immensely. I trotted downstairs, enticed by the pleasant aroma coming from the kitchen. Cadence was there making breakfast: pancakes with hay bacon.

A short time later, I had finished my breakfast and was walking to the door when…

“Honey?” She asked.

“Yeah?” I replied.

“Where are you going?” She said, finishing her bacon and plate.

"To work.” I said. “I have to talk to somepony.”

"Who?” She asked as she washed her plate. “And who were you talking to last night?”

“Some kid named Jet Black.” I said. “He was the former night guard. I just want to ask him something about the job, you know… tips from an old pro.”

“Well, all right.” She said, walking me to the hallway. “Remember to hurry back, and for the love of Celestia... be safe.” We kissed each other a few times, and soon I walked out the door and the several blocks to the Party Palace. As I entered, I saw Fluttershy at the Stage, watching the animatronics with a group of kids.

"Fluttershy!” I said.

She turned her head and saw me, pushing her pink bangs out of her eyes as she did so. “Hi, Shining! What’s up?”

“I have to talk to Jet.” I said. “Is he here?”

“You met him?” She said.

“Yeah. He came by my place last night. I was hoping we could talk.” I said.

“Well, he is the day guard, so he’s in the same office you were in last night.” She said, pointing to the hallway.

“Alright, thanks.” I said, walking to the hallway.

“But, Shining.” She said.

“Yeah?”

"Be careful about what you say to him.” She said. “He’s got a lot going on in his life right now.”

I nodded. She turned back to the animatronics as they performed a comedy skit for the kids, something involving Applejack, Pinkie, Rarity, a giant pie, and hay bacon strips, several of them.

I walked down the hall to the security office. Jet was at the security desk, his face buried in his hooves as he watched something on a tablet. I could only make out one sentence.

"Let someone else carry the curse. You’re free now. After all... a deal's a deal.” “Jet?” I said.

He didn’t look up, and only responded with a grunt.

"Um... I was just wondering if you could help me.” I said. “Could you answer a couple of questions I have?”

“Promise you aren’t going to quit.” He said. “And that you won’t tell anypony. Then I’ll help you.” He said, not bothering to look up.

“I promise Jet, don’t worry.” I said.

He sighed and turned the tablet off, pushing it to the side and giving me his full attention.

"What do you need?” He asked.

"I was just wondering... the animatronics... why are they doing this? HOW are they doing this?” I asked.

"I’m just going to say that... if you know about the incident of ‘86, then you know.”

“‘86? I think I remember that. Didn’t somepony kill a couple of kids that year in the old location?”

He just stared at me for a while. “Yes. It was some despicable pony that deserves punishment for their crimes.” He said, the last part slowly turning into a whisper.

"Do you have any tips?” I asked. “So I can have a better chance at surviving the night?”

"Keep an eye on the cameras, keep the music box wound, and use the mask when you need it.” He said, his voice tinged with a tone of ‘seen-it-all’ disinterest. He got out of his chair.

"Where are you going?” I asked.

“I’m going to go look for Flutters.” He said.

I decided to spend the rest of the day at home with Cadence. We were in the middle of talking about where our next vacation was going to be when she decided it was time for bed. An hour later… it was time to go back. I wasn’t ready for this. Not at all.

I walked into the Party Palace and found myself speed-trotting to the office, not wanting to be next to any of the mechanical monstrosities when they came to life.

I sat down at the desk and immediately picked up the tablet. When the phone rang, I nearly dropped the tablet, then wondered why there was no lanyard or something to keep me from dropping the bucker. I picked up the phone and put it on speaker.

"Hey! Hey, man… uh, well... you made it to night two!” Jet said. “Congrats! It feels good huh?”

“No.” I said. “This is the dumbest decision I’ve ever made in my life, next to entering that butter-eating contest at Canterlot U.”

“Look, I know you don’t agree with me, but you can’t tell anypony. It’s just as simple as that.” He said.

I just rolled my eyes and checked the stage. Everypony was in their proper place.

"So… by now, you’ve probably found the back room with the old animatronics, right?” He said.

I flipped the camera to the back room and saw the old animatronics. They were in their proper place as well. I flipped back to the stage and set the tablet down.

“Well, they weren’t originally going to be back there. They were going to be fixed and maybe upgraded with the latest tech, but the higher-ups just thought they were too ugly to use and just not that cost-effective to upgrade. It’s just the way they look too metallic and, sometimes, dead-eyed. ‘Who’d take their kids to see that?’ They asked themselves. So they just lay back there, now just a ready source for spare parts. I don’t really agree with that… but it’s too late now. Oh well, mistakes happen, I guess.” He said.

“What do you mean? Why don’t you agree with it?” I said.

"No reason... but it’s okay. They shouldn’t be able to move around during the night… but if they do, the Pinkie Pie head trick should work on them.” He chuckled nervously.

"Wait? What!? They move, too?” I asked in astonishment, checking the back room again.

"Uh… maybe?” He said, nervously. “But, it’s okay. Flutters and I really like the old models, did you know that? Yeah… Did you ever see Rainbow Dash?”

“Yeah. She was my favorite as a colt.” I said, watching Applejack in the party room, staring at me.

"Yeah…. Rainbow… oh, Faust… Rainbow Dash. Um… listen, that one was always a bit…. twitchy… to say the least. And, unfortunately, the whole Pinkie Pie head trick thing won’t work on her… believe me. I nearly had a heart attack the first time I tried it and she just kept charging ahead. So, if you see her, or any of the other old animatronics, just flash them with your flashlight. They’ll go into a little “reset mode”... thing... and leave you alone.”.

I decided it was time to wind up the music box again, and did so as he spoke.

"Oh, and make sure to wind up the music box while I’m talking, too.” He said.

"Don’t worry, I am.” I said, just as the wind-up meter hit full.

"All right. Make sure to keep on that. I never really liked that puppet thing… every time I see it, it’s face just looks like it’s thinking…maybe I’m paranoid, but it looks like it’s planning something.”

“Planning what?”

“I don’t know. I’m probably going crazy or something. But hey, good luck tonight. I’ve gotta go now. It’s date night and I’ve got to pick up Flutters soon. See ya.”

“See ya.” I said as I hung up the phone. “Another night in the trenches. Here we go.”

I flipped to the party room and saw Applejack was gone. Oh, Faust, where did she go? I flipped through until I found her next to a vent in another party room.

"Well, hi there, buckface.” I said. “Don’t even think about going through that vent.”

I flipped back to the Stage and saw that Rarity had decided stretch her legs and leave as well. I flipped to the main hall and saw her there, just staring at me. I wouldn’t have been scared if she were alone... but next to her I saw… what the buck was that? It looked like… Rainbow Dash?

This Rainbow Dash looked absolutely nightmarish. It had two heads. One head had an exoskeleton, but the jaw was hanging open, revealing the inner set of teeth. It only had one eye as well. The other head didn’t have an exoskeleton,and had the other eye attached. The creature didn’t have a body. It was just a pile of robotic parts and a Rainbow Dash head, along with three hooves. It looked like the creature in that movie… what was it… Kurt Muzzle was in it… “The Thing!” That’s it! It looked like a mechanical version of the Thing had been interrupted in the process of assimilating Rainbow Dash. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a flamethrower on hand.

I jumped several feet out of my chair when I heard the phone ring.

“Dude!” Jet said when I put it on speaker. “I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry. I forgot to tell you something.”

"What?” I asked.

“In Kid’s Cove, we have a Rainbow Dash. We were originally going to keep her there to keep fillies and colts occupied, but, you know kids… they can never keep their hands to themselves, you know? So, after several shifts of putting her back together, we just kept her in there as a ‘build it yourself’ thing. And you need to keep an eye on her, okay? You don’t want her to get out.”

"Jet?” I heard a soft voice in the background say. “Where are you?”

“Crap! Gotta go! Remember, don’t let Mangled Rainbow get out!” He said as he hung up.

I looked back at Rarity and… what I guess was called the ‘Mangled Rainbow,’ just staring at me, smiling slasher smiles.

I set the tablet down and checked the vents: clear on both counts. I checked the hallway flashlight, and found it wasn’t working.

"Horse apples.” I said, following that old saying “If it doesn’t work, try it eight more times and maybe it’ll work then.” I pushed it over and over again until it finally did work. When it did, I had a massive panic attack. Rainbow Dash was standing at the end of the hallway, in flight position and ready to pounce.

I put the head on, but soon remembered that Jet said it wouldn’t work on her. I started to flash her with the flashlight, praying to Celestia that she’d go away.

"Go away!” I said. “NOPONY LIKES YOU!!!!” I stopped flashing when I remembered… oh, horse apples... the music box. When I was winding it up, I heard… oh, Faust… it was very faint, but clear.

"Hello.”

I looked up from the tablet and looked around.

"No.” I said. “No, no, no, no, no, no, no, noooooooooooo.”

I heard it again and checked the vents, stopping at the left one as I saw that creepy little dragon animatronic there, smiling at me, his eyes boring into my tortured soul.

I flipped to the Game Area camera then back to the vent, repeating this in the hopes that he would go away. That is, I did until an orange, mechanical hoof wrenched the tablet out of my hooves.

I looked up, and there was the old Applejack standing there, her Terminator-style red eyes staring right into the part of my soul that the dragon had left untouched. That the top part of her head was missing was what really did it for me. Instinct soon took over, forcing me to raise my hooves up and pull the Pinkie Pie head onto me. The room’s lights began to flash, as if in a light-switch rave. When the lights finally stabilized, Applejack was gone, and I was alive. Thank Faust.

I stood there for a while, not daring to remove the head. After a while, my nerves finally calmed down enough for me to try lifting the head. Once I did so, I wound up the music box. I soon looked at the cameras and saw… horse apples, Toy Pinkie was off the stage and at the Game Area.

I put the tablet down and checked the hallway. Rainbow Dash was still standing there. She was ready to try again. I prepared the flashlight… and then I heard it.

6:00 AM had come. I had survived another night. I fell back into my chair, sighing in relief.

I got up and ran out the door, running the several blocks that led me home.

I slowed down and came to a stop. I couldn’t let Cadence know what was going on. I stood outside and took in deep breaths to control my breathing. Couldn’t look nervous.

I opened the door. Thankfully, Cadence was sleeping.

I walked to the bathroom and ran the sink, splashing water on my face. I wanted to stand there and think long and hard about my future at Pinkie’s Party Palace and what I’d like to do to Jet, but I was too wrapped up in thought that, thank Celestia, I was alive for at least one more day.

I walked back to bed and laid down next to my wife. I could tell she had just taken a shower: that was her Neighbelline shampoo I was smelling. She looked as gorgeous as ever. I planted a kiss on her forehead. It’s funny how nearly getting torn apart by murderous machines makes you appreciate the good things in life.

I rolled over and went to sleep. expecting to have the sweetest of sweet dreams, but instead, I was greeted with nightmares of the animatronics, that evil-looking dragon… and that… Mangled Rainbow….

Night 3: Balloon Dragon

I woke up early in a cold sweat, fighting to catch my breath. The nightmare was horrible. I looked around and saw Cadence… lovely, faithful, understanding Cadence. I considered waking her up, but I felt she needed her sleep. I got dressed and walked out the door, heading to the Party Palace.

I walked through the front door, and found Fluttershy and Jet in the Stage. They were in a heated argument. The sight alone of meek little Fluttershy raising her voice at Jet told me that getting involved was a bad idea.

They kept arguing for a while, and eventually Jet just stormed off, saying, “I do it for you and I do it for them!”

Jet shoved past me as I trotted over to Fluttershy, her head down. “What happened?” I asked.

Fluttershy’s head popped up. “Jet wants me to move you to the day shift and him back to the night shift.” She said, looking down.

“Why?” I asked.

“I don’t know.” She said, her voice a whisper. “Do you think you could talk to him?”

“I don’t know what I can do, but I’ll try.” I said.

I trotted to the game area. Jet was behind the prize counter, fuming. Getting behind the counter, I saw him next to the music box, staring at a bigger box at the end of the room.

“Jet? What’s going on?” I asked

“I still don’t trust you.” He said to the box. “You always have that look on your face… you always look like you're thinking. It’s because you’re not like the rest, are you?” He trotted to the box, and kicked it slightly with a forehoof. “Then what are you?”

“Jet? Who are you talking to?” I asked.

Jet flinched, snapping back to reality. “Uhh, nopony.” He said, trotting to the door. “Wind the music box if you’re going to be in here… It can still move during the day.”

I looked at the music box. Good advice. I thought, as I wound the box up.

I trotted out the door and saw Jet trotting to the security office. Fluttershy trotted up to me.

“Did you find out what’s wrong?” Fluttershy asked. I ignored her and trotted to the office. Jet was seated at the desk, reading a well-worn book. His front hoof covered the title, but the cover looked familiar. All I could make out were the words “Long ago, he made a deal to save someone he loved.”

“Why wouldn’t you leave?” I asked. “The job’s making you crazy. Now I hear you want back on the night shift Why in the buck do you want it?”

“I just need it…. It’s my job now.” He said. He put the book away, but with the position of his hoof as he held it, I still couldn’t make out the title.

“I need to go find some things… I need to know why it hates us.”

“What? What’s the ‘it’?” I asked.

“The one pulling the strings… the puppet master.” He said. “I don’t know how it’s doing it or why it’s doing it… but, by Faust, I need to know.”

“You are one crazy, mysterious, bucked-up stallion, you know that?” I asked.

“No. I’m just some kid from Buckklyn.” He said as he trotted down the hallway.

Cadence decided that some fresh air would do the both of us good, so we went to Hayburgers for lunch. As we sat outside in the warm weather, Cadence was tucking into a Quarter Baler with Cheese, while I poked at my hay nuggets and horseshoe fries, trying to force Jet’s strange behavior from my mind.

“So, how’s work been so far?” She asked, taking a bite from her burger.

“It’s okay.” I said, biting into a nugget.

“Is it completely boring?” She asked.

“It keeps me on the edge of my seat.” I said.

She looked up at me with a face that just read ‘are you being serious right now?’ all over it.

“Yeah. It’s pretty exciting.” I said. She continued to give me a look, so I started laughing. This was apparently enough to defuse any suspicions, as she started laughing as well.

We finished lunch and trotted home, and I was temporarily at peace. Just being with my very special somepony was enough to drive away the horror, at least temporarily. I wanted to tell Cadence about my troubles… just wanted to tell her what was going on… but I knew she wouldn’t believe me at best, and have me committed at worst. Discretion was the better part of valor in this case, and I kept my muzzle shut.

A hour later, Cadence went to town to get some food, and I needed something to do. I looked through the bookshelf and picked up one I hadn’t read in a while: Funland. The irony hit as soon as I got to the second chapter: a book about a theme park terrorized by the mascots designed to entertain… Celesta, was everything in the universe out to remind me of what I had gotten myself into?

When I was done, I noticed it was time to get to work…. woo hoo…

I walked to work. As soon as I entered, I ran through like I had a jetpack implanted in my flank. I sped past the stage, and practically jumped down the hall to the office and leapt onto my chair.

I landed on the chair and grabbed the tablet. Thankfully, I noticed as I flipped through the feeds, none of them had decided to move yet. Key word: YET. The phone rang, and as usual, I put it on speaker..

“Hey... uh, hey, Shining.” Jet said. “I’m sorry for acting weird earlier.”

“It’s fine.” I said.

“Alright… well…. keep an eye on them while I’m talking.” He said. “Unfortunately I’m going to have to get off pretty soon.”

“Why?” I asked.

“Flutters is coming over for movie night, and…. I just don’t know anymore. A lot’s been going on... and I’m starting to think I’m going crazy or something.” He said. “I’m just afraid one day I’m gonna snap and....”

“Jet, it’s okay.” I said.

“It’s not, Shining. It’s really not.” He said, his voice cracking. “I mean, animatronic ponies are coming to life at night with a thirst for blood. That’s not okay.” I heard sniffling on the other end.

“True.” I said. Understatement of the decade. I thought.

“Well, anyways…” Jet started, as he managed to calm down, “You might want to keep an ear out tonight. Rainbow Dash, Mangled Rainbow, and Balloon Spike usually get really active this far into the week, so get the gum out of your ears and listen for them.” He said, before hanging up.

I picked up the tablet and started flipping through the feeds. I checked the game area first, and found the little dragon still standing there, still staring that terrifying stare and showing that horrifying smile… how I wished I could take a bat or a sledgehammer and wipe it off his face… how I wished I could smash it until there was nothing left. However, it would more or less make him angrier, and with what I had to currently handle...

I switched over to Kid’s Cove and found Mangled Rainbow lying on the floor, her whole body a mess of steel and wires. If she weren’t trying to kill me, she’d have my sympathy.

I flipped through the feeds at random, trying to find the old Rainbow Dash. You’d think a rainbow-maned pony would be easy to find, but no, I couldn’t find her anywhere. I decided to wind up the music box and check the Stage, and… this stallion has performed an illegal operation and must shut down.

Toy Applejack and Toy Rarity… they were both gone.

I started to flip frantically through the feeds, looking for any sign of them. I found Toy Applejack standing right in front of the camera in one of the party rooms, staring into my tattered soul, and Toy Rarity in the Main Hall, picking up Applejack’s slack in the “staring into my soul” department.

“Tag teaming? Well, you guys suck flank.” I said.

I checked the vents and the hallway. All clear on both. I picked up the tablet and checked the party room Toy Applejack was in- CRAPCRAPCRAP! I flipped through the feeds until I saw she was in front of the vent in another room.

“Nice try.” I said.

I checked the hallway and found Rainbow Dash ready to fly toward the security room..

“DENIED!” I shouted, flashing the flashlight at her.

I decided to be on the safe side and wind up the music box, just to be on the safe side. I was about to put the tablet down, it was instead wrenched out of my hooves by two white ones. It was Xenomorph Rarity, and she looked pissed.

I freaked for a bit during my struggle to grab the head, but eventually managed to get it on. The lights started to flicker, and I prayed to Faust, Celestia and Luna that I got it on fast enough for her to think I’m one of them.

The lights came back on. XenoRarity was gone. I didn’t move for a few moments, just to be safe. They could think, after all. As soon as I thought it was safe, I took the head off and wound up the music box.

“Hello.” I heard a little voice say.

“Yes, yes... hello. Please leave… NOW.” I said, checking the hallway. Rarity and Applejack were double-teaming tonight. They were down the hall, staring at me.

The light was flashed and they disappeared. I checked the vents: clear, but as soon as I grabbed the tablet, I heard a skittering in the vent. I had spoken too soon. I set it down and re-checked the vents. All clear on the right side, but the left…

There was Balloon Spike, staring into my soul, smiling his psychotic grin. I had a feeling he wanted to devour my soul.

I stared for a while before slowly putting the Pinkie head on. “Not tonight, flankhole.” I said as I lowered it over my face.

It was a while before I heard the little freak crawled back through the vent. Good riddance. I checked the flashlight power and realized that, shockingly, I had barely used it at all tonight. I guess that was good: it meant Dash decided not to come at me tonight. That’s always a good thing. I checked the hallway and… oh, Faust… I was keeping the flashlight on.

All the way at the end of the hallway, I could make out a transparent purple shape. I squinted, and saw it was a purple unicorn... looking... thing. The dead, empty eye sockets had wires trailing from them. Its mouth was hanging open, as if it saw the most shocking thing of all.

“Ohhh… I know what I’m asking Jet about first thing tomorrow!” I said as I stared at the shape.

I heard a ringing and… thank Celestia... the purple shape disappeared.

“Yeah. Jet’s got a lot to answer for.” I said.

I waited for a bit and walked out of the building, stopping at the door when I heard... something.

When I heard it I tore out like a fruit bat out of Tartarus.

I had clearly heard that voice.

It said...

“It’s me.”

Night 4: Something Borrowed

“It’s me.”

I could still hear it as I trotted home, the memory of the purple unicorn… thing... and that voice still fresh in my mind...

“It’s me.”

Come on, Shining, stop this. You’re gonna drive yourself nuts if you keep thinking about it. Then again, you come back to this job night after night so your sanity is already questionable at best…

I decided to just focus on getting home and sharing some sleep with Cadence. She had a way of making even the worst things seem trivial. Thank Faust I found her.

I locked the front door behind me and trotted my weary flank up the stairs. I could see Cadence in bed, asleep. She looked so peaceful, so serene. I planted a kiss on her forehead and climbed into bed. I hoped for a peaceful rest, but in my dreams, all I could see was that purple unicorn, and all I could hear was those two words…

“It’s me.”

“Well, thank you.”

I woke up to Cadence’s lovely voice. She wasn’t in bed, though. I stretched my weary legs and went to the front door to see what was going on, but the door had already shut and Cadence was walking back.

“Who was that?” I asked.

“Your friend.” She replied.

“Jet? What did he want?”

“He just wanted me to tell you that he’s going to be gone today, so he might not get the chance to call you. Between you and me, I don’t think he’s very stable.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know. He just seemed... out of it… like he was miles away.”

I went back upstairs and got dressed. Something was up, and I wanted to see if Fluttershy could fill me in.

I trotted into the Party Palace. It just seemed... different. I guess that’s what happens when you have the job I have... you just don’t see the place the same way again. Fluttershy was at the Stage. Her face showed happiness, but I could tell there was sadness and fear underneath: a classic Trotford Smile.

“Hey, Fluttershy.” I said.

“Oh, uh... hello Shining.” She said.

“What’s going on?” I asked.

“Uh… nothing.”

“Fluttershy, don’t lie to me. You may be my boss, but I’m also your friend. What’s going on?”

She paused. “It’s Jet.” She said quietly.

Oh, crap. I thought. “What did he do?” I asked.

“He’s just….” She started to tear up slightly as her voice became wistful. “He’s just not the same as he was a year ago. He’s different... he’s changed, and for the worse. Whatever it is, it’s starting to scare me.”

“What did he do, though?” I asked.

“He just… he just screamed.” She replied. “After the movie, we decided to go out and get some dinner. When we got to the restaurant… he just collapsed and he started screaming.”

“Did he say anything?”

“I don’t know.” She said. “He’s losing it, and he refuses to tell me what’s going on. He just says that he’s doing it for me and them. He’s scaring me, Shining… he’s just...” Fluttershy started to sob. I wrapped my forelegs around her and pulled her into a hug, letting her cry it out on my shoulder.

What’s wrong, Jet? I thought. Are you finally cracking?

Fluttershy stopped crying, and I released her from my hug. “Thanks, Shining.” She said, smiling.

“Like I said, you’re my friend.” I replied.

“Well, I hope you have a good day.” She said, trotting down the hall to the manager’s office.

I tried to, honestly, I tried to. I took Cadence out to lunch and a movie, but I just couldn’t enjoy myself. Not with Jet on the way to a permanent residence in the Casa De Cuckoo, and slowly growing more and more distant from reality with each passing second.

Midnight. Time for another night in the trenches.

I took a seat in my chair. I was worried about Jet, and was hoping he’d call anyway, just so I’d know he was okay. As I switched on the tablet and flipped through the feeds, I heard the phone ring.

Thank Faust, I thought as I quickly switched on the speakerphone.

“Shining?” It was Jet.

“Dude, where the hay are you?” I asked. “Do you know or even care about how much you’re scaring Fluttershy?”

“I’m… I’m…. I don’t know how to answer either right now.” He replied. “That’s not important right now. What is important is that you need to be super careful right now, okay? This is the fourth night, and they’re going to throw all they’ve got at you, so you better can the chatter, get the gum out of your ears, and focus. Remember: keep that music box wound, watch out for Rainbow and Mangled Rainbow, keep an ear out for Balloon Spike, and most importantly, watch out for Twilight. She’ll definitely be out now.” I was about to ask something important when I heard the sound of him hanging up the phone..

“Twilight?” I asked myself. “Who the buck is Twilight?”

No matter, let’s just get this over with. I started flipping through the feeds when I heard loud crashing and clanging in the vents. I checked the vent cameras… oh, horse apples…

Applejack and Toy Applejack were both coming at me. I checked the hallway and saw Rainbow Dash at the end of it in flight position, with the Mangled Rainbow crawling across the ceiling. The sight of all of them together would have been terrifying enough, if it wasn’t for the gigantic Pinkie Pie that was standing there, suit so full of holes that she looked like a victim of the Manehattan Mafia.

I will admit, I nearly voided my bowels then and there.

I checked the music box, and OHCRAP it was almost out, I began winding it back up, but a pair of pink hooves wrenched the tablet away, and I barely got the Pinkie head on in time.

I stared at her. That face of hers… ughhhh…. the years of disrepair had turned her once cheerful grin into an almost Troughgow smile. Why so serious? I thought.

When the lights stopped flickering, Pinkie and the two Applejacks had gone. Thank Faust. I took the head off, then checked the music box and wound it back up. Oh, horse apples! The Rainbows!

Rainbow was ready to fly down the hall, while Mangled Rainbow was ready to enter the office and, I guessed, assimilate me into that collection of metal and make me into a creature from that movie “Virus.” I quickly flashed the light.

I checked the vents. Toy Applejack was at the right vent, staring daggers at me. Put head on. Lights flicker. Applejack gone. I checked the hallway and, much to my joy, Rainbow had decided to take a hike.The music box was my next priority, but right as I started to wind it up the tablet was snatched away by Applejack. Even with no face, I could see she was pissed.

Put head on. Lights flickered. Applejack gone. Take head off. This was getting old fast. I got back to winding up the music box, finishing and then checking the hallway: clear. I checked the vents and saw… he was back… that creepy little dragon guy and his psychotic smirk.

I put the head on and waited for the little bastard to perform an about face and leave. I checked the hallway again, and Rainbow was preparing to fly at me.

“What’s that? ‘I’m gonna get yo-’ WRONG!!!!” I shouted as I flashed her with the light for a bit. I breathed a sigh of relief and went to wind up the music box, only for…

“Really?!?” The tablet was yanked away from me by Xenomorph Rarity. Put head on. Lights flickered. Rarity gone. I checked the vents and found Toy Applejack at the one on the right.

“Oh, come ON!” I shouted in utter frustration.

Put head on. Lights flicker. Toy Applejack gone. Wow. This got old.

I took the head off and decided to check the music box… Oh, Faust.

The wind-up meter was empty.

I turned on the flashlight in the game room, and I’m sorry, but I wet myself. There was a nightmarish creature emerging from the box. It was tall, slender, black and white. It’s face was white with black, soulless eyes that looked like they were crying purple lines. It’s cheeks were rosy red, as well as it’s chin, but the grin it sported was one of pure malice. It reminded me of those sock toys you’d see at a toy store, and that made it worse. Those buckers creeped me out.

My soul was torn apart by the abomination in front of me, and I quickly shut the light off. Okay. Maybe I was just seeing things. That’s all. Just seeing things. I switched the light back on, and I saw that a giant pony endoskeleton had taken it’s place.

All of a sudden, I heard… something... playing “Pop Goes the Weasel.” Oh, Faust. I failed. I was gonna die tonight. I’m sorry, Cadence, but it’s more than likely going to be a closed casket...

The song was about to end when that most wonderful sound blared, signifying the end of the night. I fell back in my chair and sighed, then tore out of there like a salt addict threatened with rehab. I still didn’t trust them. Not one bit.

I decided that tomorrow, no matter what, I would talk to Jet. I would try and see what the hell has been going on with him. And then I would tell him to take this job and shove it up his flank, promise or no promise.

I had reached the door and opened it when I heard...

“It’s me.”

New Shift

I was trotting furiously through the abandoned building. No matter what I did, no matter which way I turned, I couldn’t escape. The purple unicorn continued its pursuit, eager for my blood. Soon, I had reached the front door… BUCK! It was locked! I threw myself against it… nothing… I kicked it… nothing… then, I heard it…

“It’s me.”

The purple unicorn looked at me, a slasher grin on her face as her empty eye sockets glared into my tattered soul. She went in for the kill...

I woke up, enveloped in a sheet of cold sweat. I turned and found that Cadence was still sleeping. The fear vanished as I saw my wife sleep peacefully. Every morning was a reminder of how lucky I truly was. No matter how horrific things got, the sight of my lovely Cadence seemed to make them go away… but for how long? How long would it be before I became an emotional wreck like my predecessor?

I decided that today, I would finally do what I should have done at the beginning of the week: I would leave. I would quit and get out of the pastel-colored nightmare that made Tartarus look like a charming bed and breakfast. I planted a kiss on Cadence’s forehead and walked out the door, heading straight for Pinkie’s Party Palace.

I saw Fluttershy at the stage as I walked in, but her usual cheer was not there. The look on her face showed sadness... fear... barely any happiness at all.

“Fluttershy? What’s wrong?” I said.

“It’s Jet.” She replied, her voice barely a whisper. There was a tear forming in the corner of her dark blue eye.

Oh, Faust. “What did he do?” I asked.

“He’s just not the same as he was a year ago. He’s become… a lot more jaded, maybe crazy and scared. I don’t know what he’s scared of, but it terrifies him to no end.” She wiped her eyes, trying to clear the rapidly forming tears. “And every time I try to ask him what’s wrong he just says the same thing, ‘I’m doing it for you…. and them.’”

I gave her a comforting hug, which she returned. “Well…. where is he? Maybe I can talk to him, I have something to tell him anyway.” I said.

“He’s in the office, reading that same book he always reads.” She replied.

I saw a little yellow filly walk up to her and give her a hug, then lead her off to join her at the Stage to watch the animatronics. I watched for a moment as Fluttershy returned to her normal self, lost in the sight of her childhood heroes performing. The sight warmed my heart, despite my knowledge of their true nature.

I walked down the hallway and found Jet there, sure enough, reading that book.

“I. Bucking. Quit.” I said, in as stern a voice as could muster.

He didn’t respond. I don’t think he even heard me..

“I said-”

“I get it.” He said, cutting me off mid-resignation. “But you can’t. You can physically leave, but the scars are there. You’ve been here for four nights. That’s enough to give you the nightmares. Enough that you’ll get the voices, enough that you’ll become crazy…. just like me.”

“What’s wrong with you? You were crazy a year ago, weren’t you? To stay at this job this long, and want it back… it’s just utter madness!”

Jet chuckled. “Madness…. You see, Shining....” He set the book down, revealing eyes red-tinged from crying. “...no matter what anypony tells you… I’m not a monster…. I’m just ahead of the curve. I know what’s really going on when everypony else sees what they want.”

“What do you see?” I asked.

“I see five dead children. No matter what, I can’t make them go away. They’re here, in the back room.” He said.

“What?”

“It’s me, Shining… it’s me. The incident in ‘86? It’s me. I did it. I killed the children, I stuffed them into the animatronic suits, I made them this way, I caused Aura’s death, I am the sick, disgusting waste of life that deserves punishment for his crimes.”

“You? You?” I said. “You killed them? You’re the pony that was put away for five years?”

“Yes. I come back to this job… every. Single. Day. Because I need to, because I have to.”

He closed the book and slid it to me. It was the novelization of the Ghost Rider movie that came out a few years ago. Why was this so special to him? It was a crappy comic adaptation.

“In the end, Johnny Neighs has the chance to be free of his curse. But something the devil says makes him reconsider. ‘Let someone else carry this curse. You're free now. After all... a deal's a deal.’”

So that’s what he was watching on the tablet!

“He tells the devil to go buck himself. He’s gonna use that curse against him. He keeps his powers, even though it destroys any possibility of him having a normal life.” He said. “Why? You can say that he just wanted some cool, badass powers. Let’s be honest, it’d be awesome to ride around on a flaming motorcycle with your skull on fire and protect the innocent with fireballs and the penance stare. You’d get used to the burning sensation after a while. But I now understand why he really keeps them. It’s not because he wants to, but because he has to. He’s thinking of the other poor souls the devil would trick into taking the curse, like what happened with him when he tried to save his father. He made it his responsibility to make sure that no one else has to go through what he did. He took his curse, and he owned it.”

He took the book and put it in his desk drawer. “I stayed here, every. Single. Night. Because I’m thinking about others, like you, that’ll take this job and see the animatronics for what they really are.” He said. The dam burst. He started sobbing.

“...I’m sorry Jet.” I said, as I gave him a hug.. “I’m sorry for that.”

Jet continued to cry. “I still see them, you know?” He said. “The children. When I figured out what the animatronics really were, I couldn’t stop seeing them as the children I killed. I could no longer see them as the animatronics that put smiles on the faces of little children.”

“Does Fluttershy know?” I asked, as Jet broke the hug.

“She was at the trial…” He said, his voice a whisper, his head hung low.

“I’m truly sorry, Jet.” I said, from the bottom of my heart.

His head shot up. “Have you stayed here during the day? Have you seen them perform?”.

“No. I usually haul flank as soon as 6:00 rolls around.”

“Come on, I need to show you something.” He got out of the chair and started down the hallway. I followed him and he led me to the stage. He pointed to at the three animatronics coming out from behind the stage curtains.

“What are we doing?” I asked.

“Just watch them. You’ve been here for four nights… You should be able to see and hear it, too.” He said.

“Hear what?”

Jet just stared at the stage. I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt, so I turned my attention to it, too. Everything seemed normal… then Pinkie Pie started talking.

“H-H-H-H-Hi kids!” She said. “Is everypony h-h-h-h-help me-having a good time?”

I jumped back a bit. ‘Help me?’ What the buck did that mean?

“YES!!!!!” The kids said in unison. Pinkie chuckled.

“Of course you are-are-are! Everypony has a good time at Pinkie’s Party Pa-Pa-Pa-Palace!” She said.

I looked around the room. Strangely, nopony else was reacting to this.

“Jet, what’s going on?” I asked. “Why are they malfunctioning?”

“They’re not malfunctioning.” He replied. “But since you can see them acting like this, that means you left the music box alone for too long. You let that... thing... out.”

“I was pretty occupied with Rarity and Applejack.” I said. “They just wouldn’t leave me alone.”

“But it still got out. That’s why you can only see them like this. Begging for mercy and help that they’ll never get, begging for us to run because they don’t want us to suffer the same fate.”

“Well darling, while I do find enjoyment in a healthy salad, I must say that a slice of p-p-p-ponies-pizza doesn’t hurt anypony.” Rarity said.

“Ah prefer me some good ol apple pizza Pinkie P-P-please run-Pie.” Applejack said.

I turned to Jet. He was staring at the prize counter, talking to himself. He looked miles away at this point.

“What are you thinking about, you little bastard?” I heard him say.

“Jet!” The voice was that of a filly, one with a Southern drawl. I turned and, yep, saw a little yellow filly running towards us. She jumped up and hugged Jet.

“Hey, Applebloom.” He said, as he hugged her and spun her around. For the first time since I had met him, I heard genuine happiness in his voice.

“Who’s this?” I asked. “Your kid?”

“No.” He said. “An old friend’s.” He said, a giant smile on his face. He looked up and saw Fluttershy walking to us. her lovely smile restored.

“Come on Applebloom, your mother need to take you home.” She said.

“Awwww... can’t ah stay just a bit longer? I didn’t even get to see Jet!” The little filly said.

“I’m sorry, Applebloom, but your mother said they need you home now.”

“Hey. I’ll walk you to where your parents are, okay?” Jet asked..

Applebloom was ecstatic. “Yes! I can’t wait to tell yah all about the stuff me and mah friends found during school!” Applebloom said as she dragged Jet to the front door. I watched as the two walked away. Jet was actually calmer than usual… he was actually, genuinely happy. It was a relief to see him like this… normal. Not acting crazy. Not speaking in riddles. Just him, happy.

“I wonder why he’s not like that more often.” I heard Fluttershy say.

“It certainly is better than always seeing him crazy.” I said.

“He does have some moments where he’s really normal and sweet… but the depression and craziness always comes back. I worry about him, Shining, but sometimes I think he’s just too far gone.”

I looked at her. There were tears in her eyes.

“The worst part is that I don’t even know why he’s like this… he doesn’t tell anypony.”

Fluttershy followed after Jet and Applebloom. I was soon alone in the stage area... alone with the crazy, malfunctioning animatronics. I decided to not tempt fate and hauled flank out of there.

As I stepped out, I saw Jet and Fluttershy standing there, hugging.

“I just have to.” He said.

“You don’t have to. Please let him do it.” Fluttershy said.

“I have to do it this time, okay? Just this once, and then I’ll leave you alone about it.” Jet said. “You’ll never hear me beg for it again, okay?”

They pulled apart, and Fluttershy looked down.

“Okay…” She said, no louder than a whisper. “Only for tonight though, then you’re done asking me for it.”

“Okay.” Jet said. He pulled Fluttershy into a gentle kiss. I started looking around, feeling a bit embarrassed to be there. Soon, thirty seconds had gone by. I marveled at their lung capacity.

They soon pulled apart. Jet ran over to me with a giant grin on his face. “Good news, Shining.” He said. “I’m working night shift tonight. Congrats, you get the night off.”

“Wait, what?” I said.

Jet looked annoyed. “I’m working night shift, go back home to your wife and spend some quality time with her. Don’t worry about it. I’ll handle it.”

“Walk with me. Talk with me.” I said. He walked with me until we were out of anypony’s earshot.

“What the buck are you doing?” I asked.

“I need to do this, Shining.” He said.

“No. You don’t. What are you doing, man? You almost have it all! You have friends, a marefriend, a job with said marefriend, you have a little filly who thinks the world of you… what the hay else could you want?”

He looked right into my eyes. “Redemption.”

He turned and walked back to Fluttershy. As I watched, he hugged her as if it would be the last time they would ever see each other. It was kind of sweet, when I thought about it. I watched Jet and Fluttershy walk back into the Party Palace, leaving me alone on the sidewalk.

Cadence and I were eating dinner at home: her special hay salad. While she was chowing down, I was thinking over the events of the afternoon, poking lazily at a leaf drenched in thousand island dressing.

“What’s wrong honey?” Cadence said, as she noticed my behavior.

“This kid, Jet. He’s taking the night shift and… I don’t know what to make of him.” I said.

“Well, look on the bright side… at least you can stay home tonight.” She said, winking.

“Yeah. That is a plus.” I said.

“You know, we haven’t had a little… fun time… in a while.”

My ears perked up. “Lucky burglar tonight?”

“Oh, yes…”

I looked out the window and wondered how Jet was doing. It wasn't time for the night shift yet…. but I couldn’t help but wonder how he would be able to handle being thrown back into the pastel-colored nightmare after being the day guard for so long. As I thought about it, I knew he would do fine. After all, he was the one who installed all of the new countermeasures that Fluttershy didn’t when they moved to that new location. For Faust’s sake, I just hoped he wasn’t rusty.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Jet Black, you are certifiably insane. But you know what you have to do… I thought as I stood outside the Party Palace. It had been a while since my last night shift. Let’s hope I was still as good as I once was.

I walked inside, ready to take on my shift. I was quite surprised that Flutters relented and let me work the night shift, even if it was for one night.

I sat down at the office chair. Picking up the tablet, I turned it on and was greeted with the feed of the stage, Thankfully, I was here long enough to know none of them dared to move while I was walking in.

I looked down the hallway and felt something churn in my gut. I turned on the hallway light and saw Rainbow there. She didn’t look the way she used to though: her face was warped into a gigantic slasher smile, and her left eye had a white glowing dot in the middle of it. She looked very happy to see me.

“That’s right, you rainbow-maned son of a bitch… I’m back.” I said.

Night 5: Something New

“Okay, Rainbow. Thrill me.”

The staring contest between Rainbow and I continued for a while. I soon grew weary of it, and flashed her with the hall flashlight.

“Go. Shoo. Get. Get out of here. Don’t make me turn on the hose.” I said. Rainbow complied.

I checked the vents: clear. I then wound up the music box. I needed to make sure I kept that creepy abomination at bay. I flipped to the stage feed and noticed that Toy Applejack had decided to go for a little stroll.

I made a frantic search through the camera feeds and found her next to a vent, flashing me a creepy slasher smile.

“Go in that vent, and I will shove my hoof up your flank and break it off.” I said.

I flipped to Kid’s Cove, and determined from the big empty space in the room that Mangled Rainbow was already out and about. I missed my calling, I should have been a detective. I switched to the main hall… yep, there she was, next to Toy Rarity and both with slasher smiles.

I checked the time: 1 A.M. This was going to be a long night.

“Alright, you little plush demon, I’ve still got my skills. I’m not Shining. I’m not a greenhorn. I know what I’m doing. Your stuffed flank is staying put.” I said, winding up the music box.

I flipped to the game room and checked on Balloon Spike. Yep, the bastard offspring of Barney and Dudley the Dragon was gone.

“Where are you, you creepy little son of a-” was all I could say when an orange hoof kindly relieved me of the tablet. By kindly, I mean roughly, and by relieved, I mean wrenched.

My experience saved my life. Almost on instinct, I had the Pinkie head pulled down just as TerminApplejack pulled the tablet away from me. I watched her until the lights stopped flickering. I waited a few seconds, then removed the head and wound up the music box.

“Why did they try to ‘fix’ you guys?” I asked myself. “It just messed you up even more.”

I checked the vents. Toy Applejack was in the right vent, doing her best Dawn McMane.

“I’ll take it under advisement, cowgirl.” I said as I put the head on and waited for her to go by. I then decided to wind up the music box. As I did...

“Hello.”

“Hello.” I said. “Leave me alone before I find a large axe and give you a reprogramming you won’t forget.”

I checked the hallway and saw that Rainbow and Mangled Rainbow were double teaming tonight. “Go away you clinking, clattering cacophonies of collagenous cogs and camshafts.” I asked, flashing the light until they went away.

I flipped to the game room and started to wind up the music box until the tablet was pulled from me by Toy Rarity. I got the head on and the lights flickered. I prayed I got it on in time.

Soon, the fashionista was gone. Thank Faust. I lifted the head as the light switch rave came to an end, then proceeded to check the vents - both were clear - before winding up the music box. I put the tablet down and began to seriously ponder the wisdom of my decisions and behavior over the past few days.

“Let someone else carry this curse. You're free now. After all... a deal's a deal.”

“What am I doing? Newbie was right… I DO have it all. I have a good job as the day guard. I have a beautiful and charming marefriend, someone who makes me feel like I’m worth something… who forgave me enough for the monstrous thing I did to give me a shot. I have a surrogate little sister who thinks the world of me. I have a friend in Shining and everyone else at the Party Palace. Really… why am I doing this? Do I really think I can earn redemption by looking into the child disappearances here?”

I thought it over some more.

“No. I'm gonna own this curse... and I'm gonna use it against you. Whenever innocent blood is spilt, it'll be my father's blood... and you'll find me there. A spirit of vengeance... fighting fire with fire.”

I stared at the prize counter and turned on the light. I saw that box… the box with the cuddly abomination.

No. No, I wouldn’t stop. While I did have it all, it would be meaningless if some other poor soul inherited this curse... inherited the burden of the evil… and if he failed to keep it at bay until 6:00, there would be fresh blood on my hooves. I have more than enough. No more.

No, you little felt bastard. I’m gonna keep my curse. Johnny’s curse became his power. He wrecked his chances for a normal life, but he found a more noble ambition in the process: he thought of the other poor souls who would get this curse and fall victim to the devil’s machinations. I’ll fight you, whatever you are. I AM the spirit of vengeance… I am vengeance for the children whose lives were taken by whatever evil you are. I’m owning my curse. May Faust have mercy on you, because I won’t. That’s a bucking Pinkie Promise.

With renewed resolve, I wound up the music box and checked the hallway. There stood Pinkie, giving me the biggest slasher grin I’ve seen her make yet.

I checked the time, it was 3 A.M.

I can do this.

“I got good news and bad news, Pinkie.” I said as I flashed her with the light. “The good news is I’m here. The bad news… you’re not getting me tonight.”

I checked the vents before winding up the music box, making sure to get it as full as I could. I set the tablet down to take a breath… and I heard this weird sound. It sounded like… radio static?

Oh, horse apples.

I checked the vents. Mangled Rainbow’s head was poking out of the right vent. I stared at her for a while before slowly raising my hooves and putting the head on.

“Please leave.” I said as I put the head on. I was so terrified that I couldn’t even think of a witty comeback. I just wanted her out. “Just go away…”

I waited a while. When I heard her scramble back into the vent, I removed the head and immediately checked the other: clear. I checked the hallway: there stood Toy Applejack, all ready for the formal.

“Hello there.” I said. “Please go away. I already bought the Filly Scout cookies.”

I flashed the light at her. When she left, I started to wind the music box back up… and then the pink nightmare ripped the tablet from my hooves.

I put the head on and waited for Pinkie Pie to leave. When she did, I made another attempt to wind the box, only for TerminApplejack to make a move. I put the head on and tapped my hoof impatiently as I waited for the lights to stop flickering.

Once again, I made an attempt to wind, only to be interrupted again by XenoRarity.

“WHAT THE BUCK?!” I yelled. “Please lay off. I wish to keep Mr. Puppet in his little den for the night.”

I waited for her to leave and raised the head, and was finally able to wind the music box up all the way. I checked the vents: Toy Rarity to the left of me, Toy Applejack to the right. Here I was, stuck in the middle with them.

I checked the hallway: Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash were all huddled together in the hallway, as if posing for for the family photo from Tartarus.

“Oh… Oh great… This is just great!” I said. “Looks like the gang’s all here! Huh!? What the buck is this, the ten-year Canterlot High reunion?”

I stopped talking when I heard that familiar staticy noise… oh, no. I flashed the hallway light as I put the head on, praying they would all go away. “Just… go… away…” I pleaded in between deep breaths.

I waited until I heard them all climb back through the vents. Only then did I feel it safe to raise the head. As I wound up the music box, I put the tablet on the table and started thinking more about my choices. The determination I had earlier was beginning to waver.

“Why did I do this?” I asked myself. “Why can’t I just stop worrying about it all and just enjoy the life I have right now? Why do I feel that, if I look into these disappearances I’ll be redeemed for my past crime?”

“Let someone else carry this curse...”

I remembered why.

“...and you'll find me there. A spirit of vengeance... fighting fire with fire.”

I sat still for a while to take it all in, then looked at the time. It was 5 A.M. The light at the end of the tunnel was near, I just had to hold on. Brave heart, Jet. Brave heart.

I started thinking back to when I first got the job, and how naive I was for staying. I stayed for Flutters, but was that a good enough reason? No. I probably stayed because… because of them… because, somehow, I recognized the animatronics as the kids I murdered that day in ‘86...

"I'm sorry. I'm so, so, so sorry… I'm a monster. I'm not saying that I expect you all to forgive me, I'm just saying that I *need** to say that I'm sorry. It wasn't all me. I was put up to it. I didn't want to kill any of you, honest, but I was forced to. If I didn't then the man would kill me, Fluttershy, and everypony who meant the world to me. I'm a disgusting pony. What I did was a disgusting waste of pony life. It was a mistake that I wish I could take back. But I can't. Faust knows I should die. And now seems to be the appropriate time for it to happen."*

They had forgiven me. I never knew why, but they had forgiven me.

I started thinking back to the times when I had a “friendship” with the old animatronics. When they’d help me out of the building at 6:00 AM… how they’d keep me company in the night… the Thursday night poker games, Faust, Pinkie had a hell of a poker face… and now look at them. The maintenance guys tried to fix them up, tried make them more advanced than they were. But when the management put the cost of fixing them up against getting new ones, they just decided to use them for parts.

That just made my job worse. The old animatronics… my new friends... now had no idea who I was. They didn’t remember my first week… they didn’t remember the forgiveness they had shown me. All they now know is that I’m the stallion that murdered them in cold blood.

“Let someone else carry this curse...”

I guess the pressure of the job in this new location was just too much for me. Instead of five animatronics, now, as Princess Luna would say, the ‘fun’ had been doubled. Now there were eleven animatronics, once they had fixed Mangled Rainbow. I guess I nearly snapped from the pressure of this job.

But I had to know. The Puppet is hiding something, and I need to know what it is. My guess is the Puppet doesn’t want me to know anything that she knows. While she’s hiding in her little box, with the only way to keep her in there being the music box, she’s planning things. She’s always thinking…

“...and you'll find me there. A spirit of vengeance... fighting fire with fire.”

I started to wind up the music box and heard that old chestnut: the ringing. I looked at the clock: 6 A.M.

“Thank. Faust.” I said, sighing and falling back in my chair.

As the box was fully wound, I found myself dashing into the hall and running into Flutters’ office.

“Files, files, files, files.” I said to myself. “Aha!” I said, opening a drawer. I started flipping through the folder tabs. I didn’t need them all, I just needed to find what I needed.

“Let’s see here.” I said. “Where the hay is it?” As I flipped through, I read the names to myself.

“Fluttershy, Jet, H20, Van...”

I started to speed it up a bit. The Puppet could get out at any moment, and if it did... time for me to stick my head between my legs and kiss my flank goodbye.

“Come on, where are you?” I said. As if on cue, I spotted it.

“YES!”

I reached in and grabbed the file I needed. I was about to open it, but I heard something that made my heart jump. Outside the office I heard “Pop Goes the Weasel.”

Buck. Buck! BUCK! I TOOK TOO LONG!

I started to panic as I looked through the office, trying to find anything to help me escape… but there was nothing: Flutters’ office was completely void of windows. The only way out is through the door and THAT sure isn’t an option right now.

This was it. I was finally going to die, all because I wanted to look into the stupid child disappearances. “I’m so sorry, Flutters.” I said, lowering my head and letting the tears flow. “I’m sorry that I did this.”

So this is what death is like, I thought as I heard the end of the song slowly approaching.

I closed my eyes as it ended. I wanted the mental image of Fluttershy to be the last thing I saw before I died.

“I love you, Flutters. I’m sorry… I’m so sorry.”

Nothing happened.

I opened my eyes. I was still alive. I pinched myself. YES! I WAS STILL HERE!

I carefully trotted to the door and snuck a peek: the hall was empty. I decided not to tempt fate and haul flank out of there.

I ran out of the building. I ran all the way home. I didn’t stop until I opened the door to my house and slammed it shut.

I laid down on my couch and started hyperventilating. I did it. I survived the night. But more importantly, I got what I needed.

I looked at the file’s tab and read the name.

“Flash Sentry.” I said, opening the folder.

The Original Pinkie's Party Slasher

I slept like the dead. I felt great.

Last night was the best night I’d ever had. I didn’t feel like getting up at all. I just wanted to stay there, lying next to my darling Cadence.

I shifted around to see her. She was still sleeping. She looked so beautiful when she slept… even her bedhead was attractive. If I could just stay in this moment for all eternity, I would be a happy stallion…

...then reality brought me back down. I remembered Jet took the night shift last night.

Oh… Faust…

I planted a soft kiss on Cadence’s forehead and got out of bed, showering and brushing my teeth at a rapid pace. I ran out the door and trotted the few blocks to the Party Palace. I walked in and saw Fluttershy at the stage.

“Fluttershy!” I yelled. She turned to me, pushing her pink bangs out of her face.

“Shining!” She greeted. “What’s up?”

“I’m looking for Jet, have you seen him?”

“No. He did call me... he said he’s going to be home a bit late.”

“Where does he live? I need to talk to him.”

"1060 West Addison Street. What do you need to talk to him about?”

I didn’t answer her. I hauled flank and ran for West Addison.

1060 West Addison seemed to be a nice little place. It wasn’t a mansion, but it wasn’t a small little shack either. It looked like a comfortable, middle-class home. I walked up to the door, rapping on it with a hoof.

It took a moment for Jet to answer, but when he did... he looked just fine. I shouldn’t be surprised. Spending a year dealing with killer animatronics would make anypony jaded to danger, but damn... I still sensed something was wrong…

“What’s wrong, man?” I asked.

There was a pause. “I’m so sorry.” He said.

“For what?”

“You knew him well, didn’t you?” He asked, patting my back. “And that’s why he had plans to make her.”

What the buck?

“Dude? What the hay are you talking about?” I asked.

“Your sister. She was murdered, wasn’t she?”

My eyes went wide and my blood pressure rose. “How do you know about her?” I asked.

“I found a little something… you might want to take a look...” Jet held up a file. The tab read ‘Flash Sentry.’ “You never found her murderer, did you? Don’t you want to see what’s inside?”

I grabbed the file with telekinesis and opened it. I read it over… my heart broke. The tears started to flow along with anger and sorrow. I dropped the folder in shock, spilling its contents onto the street below. I stumbled back and fell flat on my flank. The sobs began in earnest. Jet grabbed a hoof and pulled me up, into a hug.

“I’m sorry, man.” He said.

“That… that…. that monster.” I said, fighting my tears and anger.

“They used to call me the Pinkie’s Party Slasher... some still do.” Jet said, still holding me. I stared at the ground, a thousand-yard stare on my face. “But I’m not the first. And I’m truly sorry.”

Jet released me, and I looked at him. To say I was sorely pissed was an understatement.

“Where is he!?” I demanded. “He’ll make a hay of a conversation piece when he’s STUFFED and hanging over my BUCKING PING-PONG TABLE!”

“First, it would be impossible to find a taxidermist who wouldn’t ask questions or alert the authorities.” Jet started. “Second, I wouldn’t worry about Flash. He held the night guard position previously. He told me everything I needed to know for surviving in the old location, and he’s dead now. They got him.”

I looked down at the ground, the fury still flowing through my veins.

“He killed her… the bastard killed my baby sister… You have no idea what that feels like!”

I looked up at Jet, the tears still flowing. He put a hoof on my shoulder.

“You’re right about that. I’m an only child.” He said. “But I do know what it feels like to lose somepony close to me… like an older brother… a mentor...” He looked down, wiped his eyes and tried to keep his composure.

“His name was Silver Screen, he was the founder of Pinkie’s Party Palace… though at the time, it was called Silver’s Ponyplex Theater.”

Silver Screen? Now there was a class act in a tacky Hawaiian shirt and glasses. He helped me out a lot: when I was a kid, I lost my mom in Cloud’s Cove. He comforted me and helped me find her. I never forgot him.

He was a good stallion.

He always had a smile and was always quick with a joke. He was crazy with his knowledge of movies, able to name off writers, directors, actors, and even composers at the drop of a hat. He never had children, but he always looked after the kids and treated them as his own flesh and blood. He kept a supply of movies to play for the kids on a giant television set while they ate pizza and played games. He’d play games, then pass his tickets onto the kids. He had promised that he would add something special to the place...

...and then he died. To me, a flame of hope and joy in the world had been extinguished. The funeral had a very large turnout. Silver would have been ecstatic to learn just how much he had meant to ponies everywhere.

“He was my best friend, my mentor… he was like the older brother I never had. I was fifteen, he was in his thirties. He got me my first job here… he always listened to my problems and tried to help where he could… he always played horror movies for the staff at Halloween… he lent a hoof when I tried to impress Flutters.” He said, chuckling a little.

I was only half-listening. I was still reeling.

I sat down on the stoop and started thinking… thinking about how excited I was when I saw my little sister after she was born in the hospital. When she saw me for the first time, she smiled and gave me a hoof bump. My heart melted.

I remember how excited I was when she came home… Her name was Midnight Glow… She was a purple unico-

Wait…

My head shot up. I stared at Jet in utter shock..

“I guess it took you longer than I expected to remember Twilight.” He said.

I was pissed. “Why is my sister an animatronic?” I asked. “WHY!?”

“After we finished the first animatronic, Fluttershy and I suggested making another animatronic, but this one would be your sister, forever immortalized to make children happy.” He said. “But after Silver died we just decided to scrap the idea. We put her in a closet in the kitchen.”

“What? What are you talking about?”

“We may not have put an endoskeleton in her, but she still wanders around sometimes. You never really know when she’s going to come on out to play.”

At this point, Jet seemed to just be talking to himself.

“Sometimes, when I was the night guard, I would wonder if she would kill me that night… Sometimes I would find myself half-hoping she would… but she didn’t. I’m still here.”

“Jet?” I said. “You’re kind of rambling.”

Jet snapped back to reality. “Right.” He said, shaking his head. “Sorry…. So, uh, come on in.”

I got up and trotted inside. Jet had a pretty okay looking home. There was a nice couch at the far side of the door and a loveseat, a coffee table in front of it, in front of the TV, probably for his and Fluttershy’s movie nights. There were framed pictures all over the walls: him alone, Fluttershy alone, Applebloom alone, or all of them together.

I noticed that many were of Fluttershy, mostly pictures of them together on what I guessed would be their dates through the time they’ve been together. I saw him, a smile on his face. He looked so happy in these pictures, his foreleg around Fluttershy, the both of them smiling. I wondered what could have happened between them.

I turned to see Jet was sitting on the loveseat, pouring Applejack Daniels into two glasses set on the coffee table. I sat down on the other side and he slid one of the glasses to me.

“Tell me Shining, did you ever have any enemies?” Jet asked.

“Yeah.” I said.

“Whatever happened to them?”

“We just grew up, we matured, we went on with our lives. Why?”

“I had an enemy once.” He said.

“So… what happened to him?” I asked.

“I was in this job a year when I found him... He was the one who forced me to kill the five children, you know.”

He took a drink from his glass and filled it back up. “But that’s not the fun part. The fun part’s what happened next.”

I had to ask. “What happened next?”

“Guess.” He said.

“The police found him?”

“Close. I found him. It wasn’t what you would call any… public service of turning in criminals either.”

“What would you call it?”

“Revenge.” He said, his voice shaking a bit. “You see, I tracked him during my off hours. I found him in a bar.”

“And you confronted him alone?” I asked.

“No. I took my desire for revenge with me.” He said. “And when I found him, I decided to give him a job… as the new night guard.” He took a drink from the glass and filled it back up. “Shining, guess what happened next.”

“Should you be telling me this, Jet?” I asked, noticing his face blink between anger, frustration, impatience, sadness, and fury.

“Close.” He said. “I let the animatronics get him.”

I decided that it was time to haul flank before he snapped. “That's all real exciting and everything but… I have to go see Cadence or she’ll be wondering where I’ve been-”

“They shoved him into one of the suits.” He said, cutting me off. “They hid the body… right underneath the old location.”

“Now, look, Jet... I don’t want to be rude or anything… but other than just kinda wanting to confess to being an accessory in a murder, is there a point to this story?”

“Shining…..” He said, looking lost. “That’s exactly what I’m trying to figure out.”

“Okay!” I said, getting up. “Um... I have to get back to Cadence, or else she’ll freak out and wonder where I am. You might want to get back to Fluttershy, or else she’ll freak out too.”

“I know Shining…. I know.” He said, taking another drink.

Moving Out

I stood at the curb as I watched the workmen wheel Rarity and Toy Rarity into the truck bound for the police impound. Both of them were turned off, but I swear they were still awake… still watching… still waiting.

A shiver went up my spine as I watched them. It had been a couple of days since the sighting of the Puppet at the mall and the murder of Star Crystal. When the coroner matched up the marks on his neck with the hands of the Puppet, it was obvious to them what had happened. Another malfunction. The police decided that enough was enough. Rookie officer Copper Shield was more than happy to let my friends know.

“It’s her fault!” He had said to Jet and Fluttershy, who were at the doorway to the building. “Ever since she took over from Silver Screen, Faust rest his soul, there’s been nothing but trouble. Murders, the bite, and the disappearances… the sooner this stupid mare is out of business, the better.”

If he wasn’t a policeman, I would have bucked him right in his smug little face.

The events of the past few days had taken their toll on poor Fluttershy. She had her head in her hooves, sobbing away, while an angry Jet glared at Shield, a comforting wing around Fluttershy.

“It’s not her fault!” Jet shouted. Shield cut him off.

“First, a little foal goes missing. Next, five children die, then the Bite of ‘86 happens, and now one of your animatronics is found at the mall, next to the corpse of an employee of this fine establishment, who seems to have been murdered by it! What, do you think it just walked there?” Shield shouted back. He wasn’t finished. He got right in Jet’s face.

“Her last mistake was hiring a monster like you back.” Shield had said. “How you got just five years for what you did is anyone’s guess. If I had my way, you’d still be locked up… you’d be some stallion’s little mare… ponies like you don’t deserve to be free.”

Judging by Jet’s glare, he was about to play show and tell with Shield’s vital organs, Thankfully for Shield and Jet, Shield’s veteran partner, a mint colored Pegasus stallion, got between the pair before anything happened.

“SHIELD!” The other officer shouted. “You are out of line! First off, innocent until proven guilty. Second, Jet here paid his debt to society. As much as I disagree with the brevity of his sentence and what he did, he served his time. Third, your conduct with Fluttershy was beyond reprehensible. If you apologize for your actions right now, I will leave your little outburst out of the report and spare you the trouble of having to explain to the captain why you treated them this way. Am I clear?”

“Crash…” Shield started.

“NOW!” Crash shouted.

Shield scowled at his partner. He opened his muzzle…

“And sound like you mean it, too.”

Shield shot his partner a death glare, then turned back to Jet and Fluttershy. As he apologized, I took a look at his face. If you squinted hard enough, it almost looked like he meant it. Jet and Fluttershy sounded their forgiveness once he finished.

“Shield, wait in the car. I’ll talk to you further when I’m done here.” Crash said. Shield shot Jet and Fluttershy an angry glare and stormed off. Crash ran his hooves through his swirly blue and red mane, sighing.

“I’m sorry about him.” Crash said.

“It’s all right.” Jet said. “Why did you stick up for us like that?”

“With you, I was in the crowd at the trial. You looked utterly haunted by what you did. You didn’t look like a psycho. Oh, I still think you got off lightly, but I honestly think you’re trying to turn your life around. As for her, I don’t think anypony as sweet and kind as Fluttershy here deserves abuse like that. And third… I had my twelfth birthday here. It was one of the happiest moments of my life.”

Crash looked wistful for a moment before he returned to reality.

“Do you know of anypony that would have wanted to steal the Puppet, or anyone that would have wanted to see Star Crystal dead?” He said.

“No.” Jet said flatly. “As far as we know, Star Crystal didn’t have an enemy in the world.”

“I see.” Crash replied. He thought for a moment, then seemingly gave up. “Thank you both for your time.”

He took one last look around. “I’m sorry for what’s happened to you guys.” Crash said, a little sorrow in his voice. “This was an amazing place.”

As Crash walked back to the police car, Jet looked at Fluttershy. He took out a small hoofkerchief and wiped her eyes, shushing her small sobs, then pulled her into a soft kiss. They then joined me at the curb.

“I just can’t believe this.” Fluttershy said. “After all these years...”

Jet embraced Fluttershy, using both his forelegs and his wings. “It’s okay Flutters.” Jet said. “We’ll always have our memories.” Fluttershy nodded.

“Jet? Fluttershy?” A southern drawl uttered. “What’s going on?”

Applebloom had joined us at the back of the truck, staring in confusion at the Party Gang. We all had “oh, crap” looks on our faces. Fluttershy and Jet looked at each other, resigned.

“I should tell her.” She said. Jet nodded. Fluttershy led Applebloom away. “Applebloom, I have some sad news…”

Jet and I looked back into the truck. Applejack, Toy Applejack, Rarity, Toy Rarity, Twilight, and the newly boarded Rainbow Dash and Mangled Rainbow stared back.

“Where are they going?” I asked Jet, right as a workman loaded Balloon Spike onto the truck.

“I first thought they were going to be destroyed...” He started. “...but then I realized the police wouldn’t allow it. I mean, evidence in an investigation, after all.”

Toy Pinkie Pie was put inside of the truck.

“Sadly, they’re going to the police impound.”

Pinkie Pie was put inside next.

“They’re just going to be locked up. The nightmare isn’t over, not by a long shot. ”

The Puppet was put in last, it’s black eyes staring into the distance. Jet was right, it did look like it was thinking… looking like it was planning something.

“You won’t let them get away, will you?” I asked. Jet kept silent for a while, before finally answering.

“No. The evil must be destroyed.”

The workmen slammed the back doors of the truck. Within a few minutes, the truck was speeding off toward the impound. Then I heard… it...

It couldn’t have been my imagination, since Jet reacted to it with a slight jump, but... I could swear I heard Pinkie Pie laughing just before the doors closed.

Jet and I stood there, watching the truck drive into the distance, the animatronics from Tartarus on board. I heard Jet whispering under his breath.

“You think you’ve won… you think you’re gonna be free to cause more trouble? You’re wrong. I know where you’re going. I know where you’ll be. If you hurt anypony else, I’ll hunt you down. I’ll destroy you, even if I have to die to do it. I'm a spirit of vengeance, fighting fire with fire. That’s a bucking Pinkie Promise.”

We both snapped back to reality when we heard…

“But why?”

I turned to see Fluttershy and Applebloom talking in the space the truck had obscured. “Why are they closing you guys down?” Applebloom continued.

“It’ll be okay, Applebloom.” Fluttershy said. “We had a good run. All good things must end someday.”

She was saying one thing, but her eyes and body language gave the lie away. Fluttershy was utterly heartbroken by the events of the past couple days.

“Shining.” Jet said, turning to me. “I guess this is where we say goodbye.” He raised his left hoof.

“We can’t talk anymore?” I asked.

“I think it would be better if you just forgot all about me, the Party Palace, and the animatronics. You should just forget about everything that you’ve seen here, actually.” Jet chuckled.

I shook his extended hoof. “Goodbye, Jet Black.” I said.

“So long, Shining Armor.” He said. “May you forget all about what’s happened here at Pinkie’s Party Palace. For your wife’s sake.”

I stared at him. “I hope so, too.”

“Shining?”

I turned. Cadence was walking up the street. “Hey! What’s going on?” She asked. “Oh, hello, Jet!”

“Hi, Mrs. Armor!” He said, turning his attention to Fluttershy and Applebloom.

“Honey, we should get going.” Cadence said.

“All right. Just give me a moment to say my goodbyes.” I said.

I turned and saw Jet and Fluttershy hugging, Apple Bloom was gone. I guess she must have gone home.

“Well, see you later, guys.” I said.

“So long, Shining.” Fluttershy said.

“Good luck finding another job.” Fluttershy and Jet said in unison. When they realized it, they chuckled a bit.

“But seriously... good luck man.” Jet said.

“Alright. Thanks man.” I said. “And I hope you’ll stop being a nutjob.”

We all shared a much-needed laugh. Cadence and I walked away. We turned back briefly to the sight of Jet and Fluttershy hugging. I was almost tearing up. I just made these new friends… and I wouldn’t see them again. How can I forget about the Party Palace when it means forgetting my two new friends?

They waved at us. We waved back.

Cadence decided a movie night was in order. After dinner, we watched one of her movies: The Dusk Saga: Breaking Luna, Part 1. I didn’t really watch it, I just stared off at the screen, hoping she would take it out and put in something different: a romantic comedy, a snuff film, ninety minutes of a pony spooning mayonnaise into a toaster… ANYTHING other than this. However, the lack of interest in the film led to my mind wandering. I turned and looked out the window, staring at Luna’s night sky, wondering what Jet and Fluttershy were going to do.

“Faust, please let them be safe.” I mentally prayed.

July 7, 1978

Black. All I saw was black.

I searched through the darkness, hoping for even the smallest hint of light. There was none.

I felt a rustling around me. I closed my eyes tight as the bag was taken off my head. I found myself staring into the blue eyes of the orange stallion in front of me.

He ran his hoof through his blue mane and walked to the side, hitting me in the face with his wing as he moved.

“Well, look who’s awake! I guess that right now you’re wondering where you are, aren’t you?” He asked.

“No.” I said. “I’m wondering who you are.”

He turned to me, a baseball bat in between his teeth. He dropped it to answer my question.

“The moniker’s Flash Sentry.” He picked the bat up with his mouth again and tried to communicate as best he could.

“I want you to help me with something.” He said. “I need to get revenge on somepony.”

“Who?” I asked.

“A pony… a pony who needs to feel pain for what he did.” He said, putting the bat on a table next to me. “He must be punished… SEVERELY…”

He hung over the table for a bit, as if in thought. I took the moment to get my bearings. The only light I could see was from the light from the lamp above me. I couldn’t see anything other than the two tables next to me and the stallion.

I looked at the stallion and noticed... he was talking... to himself.

“He can help us.” He whispered to himself. “But what if he doesn’t? What if he just gets the police like the others?”

“Excuse me?” I asked. His head shot up and his eyes stared straight into the darkness. “Who are you talking to?”

“Nopony.” He said. “Look... Silver Screen...” He grabbed me by the front of my Hawaiian shirt and pulled me close, my face right up against his.

“You’re going to help me. And if you tell anypony… I have creative ways of making you regret it...”

Epilogue

“Silver? Silver?! SILVER SCREEN!”

My eyes shot open as those words were spoken, the shock nearly sending me off my chair and to the floor.

“What the hay?!” I shouted as I looked around, trying to find the source of the voice. As my synapses slowly began to fire, I saw a familiar red-and-black pegasus stallion. It was my employee and surrogate little brother Jet Black standing there.

“Hi, Jet. Now that you’ve got my attention, what’s up?” I asked.

“It’s nine. We’re open.” He replied. “Just wanted to let you know.”

“Ah.” I said as I started to rub the sleep out of my eyes. “Alright.”

As I got to my hooves and stretched, Jet gave me a concerned look.

“Are you okay?” Jet asked. “You don’t really look all that awake.”

“Yes Jet, I’m fine.” I replied, trying to smooth out the wrinkles in my favorite Hawaiian shirt. “I was just up all night working on something.”

“What is it?”

I smiled as I took out a paper from my desk and unrolled it. I had decided to show Jet the blueprints for what I called my masterpiece. Jet examined it for a bit before asking what it was.

“It’s the future of the restaurant, Jet.” I said.

Jet stared at it some more. “What the buck is it? Is it supposed to be a mare or a stallion?”

My face fell. “You can’t tell it’s a mare? Really?” I asked. Jet shook his head.

“No, I don’t see it.” He said. “It looks more metallic and creepy than anything.”

I sighed. “Eh, it’s a work in progress. This is the third piece of the puzzle that will put this restaurant on the map. We’ve got the first two, we just need to get this one done.” I said.

“Can I see the other two?” He asked, intrigued.

“Sorry Jet, but no.” I put the blueprints away and turned to him.

“What’d you come in fo- Oh yeah! Time for Silver to make his rounds.”

I trotted to the door and opened it. I reveled in the ensuing sight.

The main room of the restaurant was crawling with little colts and fillies wandering about. They all had in their hooves either pizza, a drink, or a little toy from home. They were either wandering around laughing and giggling playing the games set up around the place, or they were sitting in front of the large television set, enjoying a nice movie.

This sight… the sight of kids happily spending time at Silver Screen’s Ponyplex Theater… it always warmed my heart. I watched Jet trot off to either take care of his duties or try and fail to flirt with Fluttershy, whichever came first. I took a stroll around the main room, asking everypony how they were doing, catching up with them, asking if they needed anything, and making sure the kids picked up after themselves.

“Uh… Silver?” I heard Jet ask.

“What’s going on Jet, my bro... my man?” I replied, trying to sound hip. The awkward look he gave me told me that I had failed. I rubbed the back of my head, nervously chuckling as I realize how weird that must have been for him.

“Uh… What’s going on Jet?” I asked.

“Silver, are you feeling okay?” He asked back.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Why do you ask?”

“I don’t know. I just thought that with… you know… you’d be pretty messed up or something.”

“Jet, the accident... It’s been almost two years. I’m completely fine now.”

“Alright, I’m just making sure my older bro’s okay.” He sighed. “I feel bad for that poor stallion… losing his sister like that… and no chance for her to survive…”

“Jet.” I said. “Please… drop it.”

I remembered what happened like it was yesterday…

It was a chilly night, chillier than usual. My trenchcoat flapped in the breeze as I trotted home, the restaurant safely locked up for the night. I was whistling a random tune.

BOOOOOMMM!!!!!!

I ran towards the direction of the noise, and found a house on fire. After running to a nearby payphone and calling the fire department, I stood by and waited. Then…

“HELP! HELP US, PLEASE!”

I looked up to see a colt, about seventeen, at the window on the second floor. His orange coat and blue mane were singed, and he started coughing like a chain smoker. I knew he wouldn’t last long, and the fire department was a ways away… I had to do something. I ran up to the door and rammed it as hard as I could. The door flew off the hinges, more due to being weakened by the fire than any strength on my part. Taking a few breaths, I then ran inside.

I didn’t believe what I was doing at the time, knowing that I could have died, but I just had to try.

I dashed up the steps to the second floor, breathing in smoke and coughing. As flames danced around me, I made my way to the door at the end of the hallway. I checked the door with the back of a hoof, then opened it. The colt turned to face me.

“Forget about me!” He shouted. “My sister… she’s down the hall… get her out first!”

“Come with me!” I shouted. “Come on!”

“Get her out! Please…” was all the colt could get out before he fell to the floor, passed out. I managed to get him onto my back and then headed for the stairs.

“Help!” I heard a girl’s voice shout.

“I’ll come back for you, sweetheart!” I shouted. “I promise!”

Getting the colt down the stairs was tricky, as I had to go slow to keep him from falling off my back. After a few moments, we were down the stairs and out the door. I set him down on the front lawn, the air rich with the sounds of fire truck sirens. I turned around to go back in... and that’s when I saw the most heart wrenching sight of my life…

The building, having taken all the punishment the fire could dish out, had taken too much. As I watched in horror, the house collapsed.

“That filly.” I said to myself. “She was… oh, Celestia…”

I fell to the ground, sobbing. I had broken my promise… I felt worthless… I couldn’t save her...

It was at that point that the paramedics led me away so the fireponies could do their work. It was then that I heard…

“WHY DIDN’T YOU SAVE HER?!?!”

The colt was up and headed toward me, followed by the paramedics. He was pissed.

“I was going to go back in…” I started.

“YOU SHOULD HAVE HELPED HER!” The colt shouted. He turned to the flaming wreckage and fell to the ground. He then raised his head up high and unleashed an ear-splitting wail of sorrow and grief. My heart broke further. After a few moments, he shakily got to his hooves, then turned to me, his eyes filled with rage.

“YOU MOTHERBUCKER! YOU KILLED HER!!! YOU BUCKING KILLED MY SISTER!!!! YOU’RE A MONSTER!!! I SWEAR TO FAUST THAT SOMEDAY, SOMEDAY YOU’LL PAY FOR THIS!!! THERE’S OTHER JUSTICES IN THIS WORLD BESIDES THE LAW!!!”

Had a firepony not gotten in the way, the colt would have bucked me into next week.

Not a day goes by that I don’t remember what happened… that I don’t remember my failure… that I don’t hear the words of that colt… but, I had to soldier on. My children needed me, after all, and I wasn’t going to let them down like I did that filly.

“Oh… I’m sorry, man..” Jet said.

“It’s fine, Jet.” I replied. “I’m gonna be alright… it’s just going to take time.”

“I’ll be here to make sure my big bro’s okay.”

“And I’ll be here to help my little bro any way that I can.”

Jet and I hoofbumped, after which he looked out towards the main room. He must have spotted Fluttershy, because he bolted away from me faster than Derpy toward a pile of free muffins. I chuckled to myself. They’d be wed someday, I could feel it.

The rest of the day went on like it normally did: the children watched the movies I played for them in awe, I put on a short little puppet show with help from Jet, Jet tried to flirt with Fluttershy, and then at eight at night, we closed up and headed for home. For a while, I debated whether we should have a night guard… but I figured that the only thing worth stealing would be my movie collection, so I dropped the idea.

As I trotted home, I could swear I heard hoofsteps behind me. I turned around… nothing.

Still jumpy after two years… I thought. I kept walking. I got a few more feet… and I swear I heard hoofsteps again… I turned around… nothing.

I started to pick up the pace, slightly panicked. I heard the hoofsteps again. I went to turn around again… and I felt a dull thwack to the back of my skull. I fell to the ground in a daze, As the darkness overtook me, I saw an orange shape holding… something… in its mouth.

“Come on…. Wake up….” I heard a voice call out that sounded both near and far. “Don’t you dare be dead you motherbucker….” I felt something slap my face. “WAKE UP!!!!”

Black. All I saw was black.

I searched through the darkness, hoping for even the smallest hint of light. There was none.

I felt a rustling around me. I closed my eyes tight as the bag was taken off my head. I found myself staring into the blue eyes of the orange stallion in front of me.

He ran his hoof through his blue mane and walked to the side, hitting me in the face with his wing as he moved.

“Well, look who’s awake! I guess that you’re wondering where you are, aren’t you?” He asked.

“No.” I said. “I’m wondering who you are.”

He turned to me, a baseball bat in between his teeth. He dropped it to answer my question.

“The moniker’s Flash Sentry.” He picked the bat up with his mouth again and tried to communicate as best he could.

“I want you to help me with something.” He said. “I need to get revenge on somepony.”

“Who?” I asked.

“A pony… a pony who needs to feel pain for what he did.” He said, putting the bat on a table next to me. “He must be punished… SEVERELY…”

I looked at the stallion and noticed... he was talking... to himself.

“He can help us.” He whispered to himself. “But what if he doesn’t? What if he just gets the police like the others?”

“Excuse me?” I asked. His head shot up and his eyes stared straight into the darkness. “Who are you talking to?”

“Nopony.” He said. “Look... Silver Screen...” He grabbed me by the front of my Hawaiian shirt and pulled me close, my face right up against his.

“You’re going to help me. And if you tell anypony… I have creative ways of making you regret it...”

I gulped in agreement.

He let me go and nodded. “Good. Now, you start tomorrow.”

“What do you want me to do?” I asked.

“I want you to find some poor, innocent, adorable little foal… And slaughter it.”

“What!?” I asked, my eyes bulging from their sockets.

“You heard me. I need you to kill some foal. And it’s going to be a girl... kill it.” He said. “Oh… and you’re not going home tonight to possibly try something cute. You’ll tell somepony about this meeting, won’t you? But if you stay here... then I can keep an eye on you.” He grabbed the bat and put it down next to him, a sadistic grin on his face. “And I’ll be with you every second of every minute of every hour until I see you slaughter the foal. I’m gonna be your bucking shadow.”

I gulped as my brain locked up. He wanted me to kill somepony… that would have been bad enough, but he wanted me to kill a foal… Oh Faust, help me.

We wound up engaging in a staring contest. Since I couldn’t fall asleep, it became a question of who would fall asleep first. If he dozed off, maybe I could get away and get to the police… get this crazy bucker put behind bars…

It was hopeless… he was fueled by pure insanity. He didn’t need sleep… but I did…

My eyelids grew heavier… heavier… heavier…

I was woken up by a slap.

“Wake the buck up. It’s time.” He said, with a grin that made every hair on my neck stand up.

The bag was shoved onto my head. He then route marched me up a flight of stairs and through wherever we were until I felt a cool breeze. As the bag was wrenched away, the sudden light burned my eyes and I squeezed them shut. I took a moment to adjust to the light before opening them again to see… my front porch. The bastard knew where I lived...

“I needed to make sure I could do this.” He said as he trotted out my front door, a bag strapped to his side. “Now come on… it’s time to go to work.”

The walk over to the Ponyplex was the longest walk I’d ever had. Flash was behind me, prodding me forward with a hoof. I was praying that something would happen… a storm, a tornado, an invasion of hungry aliens from the planet Zizzabottawaddawaddaboinkboink-3… anything that would keep me from going to the restaurant… unfortunately, it was a bright and cheery day. Oh, goody...

As we reached the restaurant, Flash whispered in my ear “Not a word… or else.” I gulped. I stopped at the doors and opened them, as Flash walked in ahead of me and turned, giving me the biggest, scariest slasher smile he could muster. As I followed, he whispered in my ear.

“I brought the knife. It’s in my bag. All you have to do is find some poor foal, and if you don’t... then maybe I’ll go after some ponies closer to you before I actually get to you.”

“What ponies?” I asked.

“Oh… these two…” He whispered as he forced a couple Polaroids into my hoof. I looked down… my heart sank… the pictures were of Jet outside his house, Fluttershy outside her cottage, and the three of us together… Oh, Faust. I couldn’t let him hurt them, but at the same time I couldn’t hurt a poor, innocent foal.

“You wouldn’t.” I hissed.

“Try me.” He replied. “Get going, meatsack! CHOOSE!” I felt a hoof fly into my back and I looked at him fearfully. He just groaned and looked out to the crowd, soon pointing his hoof to a small purple unicorn foal running around and giggling happily.

“Her.” He said, his voice tinged with bloodlust.

“Flash... “ I said.

“Her.” He said firmly. “Now, Silver. Now!”

I lowered my head and walked to the little foal. “H-Hey… There…. Uh…. H-How are you?” I asked.

“I’m good!” She replied as if she was the happiest being in Equestria. “I’m here for my big brother’s birthday! I’ve been so excited to come here I felt like I was about to burst!” She jumped up in excitement, her horn sparking.

I gulped and looked back to Flash. He just gave me a menacing slasher smile and nodded. “W-Well how about you follow me and….” I looked back to Flash. “Hi. I’m Silver Screen, I own this place and I think that you’d like to see something a-a-awesome.”

“I know who you are, and what is it Mr. Silver Screen?” She asked.

“..... Sadly, the future of the company……” I said.

“Don’t you like it?” She asked.

“No, but I thought I’d get a child’s perspective on it. I’m hoping that children would like it.” I said.

“Really? And you want me to check it out!? Yes!” She jumped up and circled around me.

“Y-Yeah…” I said, lamenting what was to come.

Flash and I walked her to the back room, which was only accessible with my skeleton key. I knew Flash was going to kill me… he knew I’d tell the police if I were to get away. But I was racking my brain, trying to find some way that I could get out of this predicament without him killing me and the foal himself right now… and I had nothing. It was like my brain had locked up from the stress.

I closed and locked the door, shuddering. I turned on the light and saw the foal staring in awe at the animatronics that would have made the company big… that would have put us ahead technologically compared to others… that would have made us a bigger name across all Equestria. I would never be able to have the pleasure of kicking Colt Whinny’s dead ass in the area of children’s entertainment.

The foal stared in awe at my creations, especially at the yellow one. She looked over to the black and white one and shuddered slightly at the sight. She turned to the one without an exoskeleton and cocked her head to the side slightly. “What’s this one?” She asked.

“That’s one that we’re still making the outer suit for… well we have it...” I looked over at the purple suit nearby, a featureless lump that barely resembled a pony and really needed to be redesigned. “We just need to redesign it because… well… it just ain’t working...”

“Alright, Silver. Cut the crap.” Flash whispered. I turned as a knife was pressed into my hooves. “You know what to do.” In his mouth, he held a bat. Crap. He knew I’d use the knife against him…

I looked at the knife before hesitantly taking it from his hooves. I turned and saw the foal staring back at the animatronics. I slowly made my way over to her before feeling the bat prod me forward, causing me to move right behind her.

I looked down at her, my hooves shaking.

“I prefer the eyes, but you can also stab directly into the brain if you want.” Flash whispered to me. “But make sure she doesn’t make a bucking sound. Or else.”

I gulped and closed my eyes. I raised the knife…

Celestia forgive me…

I brought the knife down...

I sat in a corner, huddled up in a ball as Flash shoved her body inside of the purple animatronic suit. “Come on… Get in there you little…” He let out a sigh as he finally shoved her inside. “There… Now that that’s done.” He put the head back on and walked to me, the knife gripped in his hooves.

He looked down at me and shook his head. “SIlver… You look so pathetic huddled up on the floor…. Weak, traumatized, horrified, terrified. But you know what? You had this coming.”

I didn’t pay him any attention, I just stayed there and felt the tears flow as my emotional dam burst.

“You were in an accident about two years ago, right?” He said. I looked at him one last time, as best as one could through tears… and it finally clicked. I remembered him. The stallion… I remembered him...

“My sister is gone now.” He continued. “But she stayed… up here…” He pointed to his head. “And we’ve been planning on some way to make you pay.” He gripped the knife tighter. “We would kill this precious company of yours… then we would kill you.”

He had me cornered. I didn’t care. I had betrayed everything I stood for. I had murdered a child. Sure, I was coerced into it, but it still stood… I took an innocent life… He stood above me.

“Just make it quick.” I said.

The last sound I heard was the bat caving in my skull.

“Hey, Fluttershy… You seen Silver anywhere?” I asked.

“No, Jet. I haven’t.” She replied.

“I haven’t seen him all day. I’m worried.”

“I’m sure he’s here somewhere, Jet. I mean, the place is open.”

“I know… but where is he? He’s usually mingled with the kids by now.”

“Maybe he’s sick and he went home early. Poor thing… I hope he’s okay…”

Shoving Silver’s lifeless body into the black and white suit was not easy whatsoever. It took a lot of sweat and effort. Should have laid off the pizza, you bucking tub, However, it will be worth it to see this place crumble. I took his key out of the pocket of his ridiculous shirt and left the room, making sure nopony saw me. I locked the door behind me and turned to leave.

I left the Ponyplex Theater with a smile on my face. A smile wider than any smile I could have ever had. I was just happy... I had finally gotten my revenge on him, the stallion who murdered my sister.

And today was the day that everything changed. Today is the day when the entire foundations of Silver Screen’s Ponyplex Theater would crumble down to the ground.

I woke up early, kissing Fluttershy on the forehead before I left my house. I always did this when I left home to look for them… the animatronics.

I spent every night hunting them down. If they hurt or killed another innocent pony, it would be more blood on my hands. I couldn’t let any more innocent blood be spilled.

I had been searching since last year, when they disappeared from the police impound. Shining didn’t know... in fact, we barely kept in touch these days. I don’t know what he’s doing, but I would be pretty safe in assuming that he’s making plans to move as far away from this city as he possibly can.

But I wouldn’t… I can’t. Fluttershy often asked if I’d like to move somewhere else, start over... but I always shot it down.

I couldn’t leave.

This city was my home.

The animatronic demons were my curse to bear.

Let someone else carry this curse. You're free now. After all... a deal's a deal.

And I wouldn’t stop until I found them.

No. I'm gonna own this curse... and I'm gonna use it against you. Whenever innocent blood is spilt, it'll be my father's blood... and you'll find me there. A spirit of vengeance... fighting fire with fire.

Did I find them? Oh, yes, I found them. But… what I found was the animatronics and something else. The other thing I found… was the truth… and to be honest… I kind of wished I had taken Fluttershy’s offer to move back home to Manehattan when I had the chance...

Night 6: Everything's Falling Together

I woke up from a peaceful sleep, stretching my aching limbs. After my visit with Jet, I returned to the Party Palace, and Fluttershy had some bad news.

Before I get into anything… Jet and I only work Monday-Friday. Since the switch to the new location, there’s two other guys who work the weekends: Star Crystal, who works the days, and Golden Slumbers, who works the nights. Slumbers had resigned earlier in the day, and they needed someone to cover his shift. I didn’t want to come in, but I couldn’t resist a lady in distress. Besides, Faust help us all if the demon machines got loose without someone to mind them. So, here I was, waking up from an afternoon nap and getting ready for another night in the trenches.

“Where are you going?” Cadence asked as I walked to the door.

“I’m going to work.” I replied.

“But it’s Saturday.”

“I know, but Fluttershy asked if I could cover a shift until they find a new weekend night guard.” I said. “Besides, it’s extra bits.”

“Can’t argue with that.” Cadence replied.

I didn’t really want to do this, but I had to. I wanted to stay home with my wife and relax, away from the pastel-colored nightmare that was Pinkie’s Party Palace, but Fluttershy needed me. I couldn’t let my boss and friend down. Not only that, but if nobody keeps an eye on the animatronics… I shuddered at the thought of what would happen if they got loose. I kissed Cadence like it was the last time I would see her and walked out into the evening air, heading to the Party Palace.

I ran past the Stage and toward the security room at a speed normally reserved for someone in dire need of a bathroom. I flipped the tablet on and made a quick check of the area: thankfully, none of the mechanical bastards had moved.

The phone rang, and I nearly jumped through the ceiling. After the shock had passed, I put it on speakerphone.

“Hey, Jet.” I said.

“Uh... hey, man…. Uh, what in Equestria are you doing there?” He said.

“Working overtime.” I said, as I flipped the feed to the Party room to check on Toy Applejack.

“Shining, didn’t you get the memo? Dude, the place has been closed down, at least for a while.”

“Wait, what!?”

“Yeah, there, uh…. It all happened today. A whole bunch of kids… they just up and dis… well, there’s a huge investigation going on. The Ponyville Police is trying to find them… Some ponies think it’s me… I think it might be the P-”

There was a long pause. I looked at the tablet. Toy Applejack wasn’t there. Oh, buck...

“That little son of a- HEY! Just… just try to finish your shift, okay? It’s a lot safer than trying to leave now. You’ll die for sure. Uh, don’t worry about winding up the music box, I’m going to go out in town and try to find it.” He said.

“Wait, Jet…” I started. “If we’re closed, and I’m not supposed to be here… why did you call here?”

“I stopped by to talk to you. Cadence told me you left for work a little while ago.”

There was another pause. I grew worried.

“Jet? What is it?” I asked. “What are you thinking about?”

“Nothing you need to worry about.” He replied. “Just focus on surviving. Okay, pal? Oh... man, what am I going to tell Flutters?”

“What the hay are you talking about, man? Talk to me!” I said. I finally found Toy Applejack, outside of a vent, staring into my soul.

“Fluttershy came over for date night… and now I have to go out and find it. Oh... man, this is going to be fun...” With that, Jet hung up.

I put the tablet down and checked the vents: the right one was clear, but Toy Rarity stared at me in the left one. I put the head on and waited for her to climb back through the vent, something I had grown way too used to doing. As I removed the head, I wondered whether or not I should wind up the music box. Jet did say that I didn’t have to worry about it, but after four nights of utter madness, I decided that I would rather play it safe than sorry. The music box was wound.

I tried to focus. “Get a grip, Shining. Calm down… stay calm…”

I got out my wallet. There, next to my Equestrian Express card, was a picture of Cadence. Sweet, loving Cadence. Looking at her made the nightmares go away. I felt my heart rate return to normal and the fear disappear. I set the photo on my desk. I’d need it.

I took a deep breath and checked the hallway. Pinkie and Rainbow were there, smiling the biggest slasher smiles possible.

“I’m not in the mood tonight, girls. Please leave me alone.”

I flashed the light until they were gone and checked the vents: clear on both. I flipped to the prize counter and saw that the wind-up meter was nearly empty. As I started to wind up the music box, Toy Pinkie’s giant hoof wrenched the tablet away. I screamed as my hooves flew up and brought the head down. I watched Toy Pinkie and waited for the light switch rave to stop.

When Pinkie was gone, I took off the head and wound the music box. Rainbow took the time to position herself at the end of the hall. A couples of flashes from the flashlight stopped that. I put the tablet down and started thinking about what Jet told me earlier today.

“Flash Sentry… so he’s the sick bastard who mur… mur… murdered my sister…”

As I processed this, I felt the grief and anguish well up. The tears began to flow. I wiped them away as I realized I needed to keep calm if I was to get through the night. If I didn’t, I faced the threat of a cruel death and never seeing my lovely Cadence again.

“Okay, Shining Armor… welcome to the party, pal…”

I went to wind up the music box again, but stopped when I saw the meter was completely empty. Normally, I would freak out, but I remembered Jet’s words… he’d been right about everything so far. Okay, Jet. I won’t worry. I put the tablet down and checked the hallway. Rainbow was there, having finished her pre-flight checklist and started to prep for takeoff.

“Sorry, Rainbow, flight’s cancelled.” The flashlight made her scarce. I kept my ears out, listening for the telltale sound of “Pop Goes the Weasel.” Nothing.

I checked the prize counter again and turned on the flashlight. Where the puppet once was, there was a naked endoskeleton standing there, staring at me. I stood there, staring at it. The impromptu staring contest stopped when I turned the tablet off and turned on the light. Mangled Rainbow was there, staring at me in her deformed, patchwork glory. Due to the noticeable lack of a flamethrower, I flashed her with the light until she made herself scarce.

I checked the vents. the right one was clear. I checked the left vent and CRAPCRAPCRAPCRAP.

There was the endoskeleton from the prize counter, staring at me with its red eyes, looking very much like the Terminator without skin. I put the head on and prayed to every deity that I knew of that the Pinkie head trick would work on it. As the seizure-inducing light show ended, I heard something crawling through the vent. I looked: the endoskeleton was gone.

I sighed in relief as I lifted the head, doing a pre-emptive light flash in the hallways and a check of the vents. All clear. I picked up the tablet and started flipping through the feeds. The animatronics had been busy, scattering themselves throughout the building. I put the tablet down and checked the hallway. The Rainbows had decided to double team me. I discouraged them with a flash of the flashlight.

Flipping through the feeds again, I found Toy Rarity staring at the camera in the main hall and Toy Pinkie hanging around the game corner. I wouldn’t have let that bother me... if she wasn’t alone. Balloon Spike was nowhere to be found. Horse apples.

I soon heard something skittering in the vents. I checked the left vent and there he was, the bastard son of Barney, staring daggers into my soul. I put the head on and waited for him to leave, lifting the head when he did so and making a check of the cameras. That’s when I heard it.

Oh, crap. It’s radio static…

I put the tablet down and looked around, there was nothing… but I still heard the static… I looked up and my heart stopped: hanging from the ceiling like a giant, misshapen, cybernetic spider… was Mangled Rainbow.

I pulled the tablet up as fast as I can. Out of sight, out of mind... after a moment, I set the tablet down and… she was still there, now accompanied by long peals of creepy laughter.

I looked down and saw Balloon Spike. The demon dragon was standing there, laughing at me. He was soon joined by the hole-ridden Pinkie Pie. I tried bringing the tablet up in a feeble defense. I would have… if Pinkie hadn’t decided to wrench it from my hooves.

On instinct, my hooves shot up to bring the head down, but my hooves slipped and…

CRACK…

The head broke off the chair.

“Oh, Faust.” I said as the lights flickered. I was stuck. Mangled Rainbow, Balloon Spike and Pinkie Pie were now in the room with me. None of them were moving, just watching me. Then they started laughing. They let out long peals of demonic laughter. The flapping jaws of the animatronics, the mocking laughter… it was too much. The laughter entered my soul, ripping what was left of it and my sanity to pieces.

Soon, another laugh joined the cacophony: mine. I laughed long and loud… the laugh of a stallion who knew he was doomed. I matched their laughter volume for volume, peal for peal.

I laughed as I held my head up high, shutting my eyes as tight as I could. I braced myself, trying to prepare myself for my fate as an animatronic. I waited for them to pounce… and then heard the sound of fluttering wings coming from the end of the hallway.

Rainbow Dash was coming for me. We have liftoff...

I shut my eyes tighter and waited for Rainbow to finish it…

I’m sorry, Cadence. I’m sorry. Don’t cry for me. I love you… *I flashed back to our first date, wanting her smiling face to be the last thing I saw…*

Then I heard it…

The sweet, beautiful, amazing sound of the clock ringing.

It was 6 A.M. I had won. I fell back into my chair, sighing.

I opened my eyes. The animatronics were gone.

I hauled flank out of Pinkie’s Party Palace and all the way home, flying through the door, leaping toward Cadence, kissing her passionately and giving her the biggest hug I could muster.

“Shining?” She asked, understandably rattled. “What’s going on? Why are you here?”

“I couldn’t take it anymore, Cadence. I quit! I love you so, so much, honey...” I kissed her again as if it were the first time.

Don’t worry Jet. The secret is safe with me.

“I mean, why aren’t you at the mall?”

I stopped, confused. “Hon… why would I be at the mall?” I asked, breaking the hug.

“I don’t know. Your boss… Fluttershy, I think it was... said that somepony stole one of the animatronics. They found it at the mall.” She said.

“What?”

I kissed her and ran out, heading straight for the mall.

The Ponyville Mall was a simply designed place with four levels of stores and the only elegant thing about it the ornate fountain in the center of the first level. I soon realized that my search wouldn’t take as long as I thought when I saw a crowd of ponies circling… something.

I pushed through the crowd to find Jet and Fluttershy talking to a couple of cops. It wouldn’t have truly been bad... if the Puppet wasn’t standing with them.

“Shining!” Jet said.

“Jet? What’s going on?” That’s when I saw the body. I did a double take. Oh, Faust. It was Star Crystal. He was slumped against the fountain. His head was bent at an odd angle, his neck obviously broken.

“What the hay happened, Jet?” I whispered.

“The Puppet happened. Don’t tell anypony. Let me handle this.” He replied.

I looked up at the Puppet. It’s dark, black, dead eyes stared straight forward. I couldn’t tell, but I think it’s face was one of joy. It was happy.

I looked at Jet and Fluttershy. I couldn’t make out much of the conversation with the police, but I could tell it wasn’t good. Fluttershy and Jet were hugging, Fluttershy gently sobbing into Jet’s shoulder while Jet gave the Puppet an angry look.

The Puppet didn’t care. It looked happy.