Chapters The Wild Laughter of Stone
Chapter 2: Enigmas and Conundrums
As Mrs. Cake reached for the distraught pink pony, she saw the ghostly apparition of Celestia reaching to drag her to the bowels of hell. “Why? I’m a good pony. I make others laugh. I help my friends and everypony…” she thought feverously, as she started screaming again, and furiously trying to back herself impossibly further back into her corner. “I’m a good pony. I’ve never hurt anyone…” her screaming stopped almost instantly as half remembered, half forgotten images blurred across her minds eye. Wild flames, a blue haired doll, a flying bird, a staff with the moon on it, and a tornado flying from her foreleg. Something happened, something really bad, and standing there was… Celestia?… with… she gasped and went limp, letting the apparition do with her as it would. She was a bad pony, a very, very bad pony.
Mrs. Cake hesitated when Pinkie began screaming again, only to become really worried when she stopped screaming and started crying again. As she pulled Pinkie into a comforting embrace, she heard the distraught girl mumbling. “I’m a bad pony, I’m a very, very bad pony.” She would repeat this over and over as the Cake tried desperately to consult the young pony. Then, as she tried to reassure the pony in her forelegs that she was in fact a good pony, she said a single line that froze Mrs. Cake completely in her tracks.
Pinkie, in a dazed trance, whispered a single line. A line she wasn’t even aware she said. A line that Mrs. Cake nearly missed, but would haunt her for days to come. “I had to kill him, I had to kill him…” she began rocking back and froth.
Shock and fear raged across Mrs. Cake’s face as she stared at the pink pony in her forelegs in stunned silence barely able to whisper a single word, “why?”
This was unnoticed by Pinkie as she continued to mumble, “I had to…, I had to…” before breaking down completely, “I don’t want to be a bad pony, I don’t…” She began openly crying.
Mrs. Cake just held her, trying to reassure her and having no clue what to due with the supposed murderer in her arms.
“If I hadn’t killed him, she would have died…,” her sobbing became incoherent. Every once in a while her voice would hick and Mrs. Cake could make out her saying, “if I hadn’t…”
Dreading finding out what happened but needing to make sure her family was safe Mrs. Cake asked her tenant the only question she could think to ask, “who?”
“Saffron,” she absently whispered without noticing she hadn’t said, ‘Celestia.’
Mrs. Cake went rigid. The world faded away as a single thought repeatedly raced itself over and over again in her head, “it can’t be. It just can’t be.”
A few minutes later Mr. Cake open the door to their guest room to see his still wife holding a quietly weeping Pinkie.
A few minutes later, after the town settled down…
Pinkie and the Cakes found themselves in the crystal castle. While Pinkie was being taken care of by her friends, Mrs. Cake was having a quiet confrontation with her husband.
“You weren’t there, she said ‘Saffron,’ I’m telling you that’s her I’m sure of it,” Mrs. Cake vehemently declared.
Sighing Mr. Cake looked at the broken form of the pony they thought they knew, “maybe you’re right, we should discuss this with Zecora.”
“Oh, my!” Mr. Cake glared at Mrs. Cake, who completely ignored him. “Applebloom!” his glare turned to shock, “we need to keep her away from Pinkie.”
Sighing once more, Mr. Cake looked at Pinkie then said, “I’ll warn Granny Smith tonight. Would you mind covering for me.”
As he left someone walked over to Mrs. Cake.
“Where’s Mr. Cake going?” asked a curious Spike, Twilight’s assistance and brother. Spike was a dragon with purple scales, lime-green underbelly, and emerald green spikes and irises.
“Seeing as we’re going to be a while, he went to check up on the twins and their sitter. Since he’s going out I asked him to tell the Apples that Applejack might be home late tomorrow.”
“Spike, I need you to send a letter to Princess Celestia,” called Twilight.
A few moments earlier with the mares…
“Do you think what Mrs. Cake told us was accurate,” asked Applejack, an earth pony mare with an orange coat, green eyes, a cutie mark with three red apples, and a blonde mane and tail.
“I don’t think she would lie about something like that,” replied Twilight, a violet coated alicorn mare with a mane and tail of violet shades that had a stripe of magenta, a cutie mark of a starburst surrounded by five white stars, and violet eyes.
“That’s not what I meant, …that Pinkie could have,” she left the rest unsaid, as she glanced at the pink pony, Twilight had put in a dreamless sleep. “…even to save somepony’s life.”
“Yeah! This is Pinkie we’re talking about,” chimed in Rainbow Dash, a cerulean pegasus mare with magneta eyes, a rainbow lighting cutie mark, and a rainbow colored mane and tail.
“I know she can be eccentric,” began Rarity, an unicorn mare with an alabaster coat, azure eyes, a cutie mark of three diamonds, and a indigo mane and tail. “But, have you ever known her to do something so, so… barbaric.”
Rainbow Dash looked a little nervous, “well there was that one time with her birthday party.” They looked at her with an impression that screamed, ‘Really.’ “Well, it’s true,” they sighed.
“I guess there is nothing to it, but to ask for help,” Twilight stated. “Spike, I need you to send a letter to Princess Celestia,” she called.
“Sure thing, Twilight,” he answered. A few moments later, “ready.”
“Dear Princess Celesetia,
I sorry to disturb you at this late hour but a matter of great importance has come up.
Earlier tonight the Element of Laughter, my friend Pinkie Pie, suffered a terrible nightmare. Now I know this would be more of a problem for your sister, but it seems to have awaken certain memories. Memories that imply that while saving somepony, who’s name she has yet to remember, she may have taken the life of the aggressor, a pony named ‘Saffron.’
We as her friends and the other Elements of Harmony would like to get to the bottom of this. As such, we would appreciate all records on Pinkamena Diane Pie, as well as any ponies by the name of ‘Saffron’ that you have available. Not to mention, if your sister could lend us a hoof and maybe unscramble these memories that are causing Pinkie such torment.
Thank you for any assistance you and your sister can lend.
Your Former Student, Twilight Sparkle, Element of Magic and Princess of Friendship
About two hours later, in a flash as bright as the sun there was standing the diarchy of Equestria surrounding by a mountain of files.
“My former student and fellow Princess, we have a problem,” spoke Celestia.
“Princess, what’s wrong?” asked Rainbow Dash in concern.
“Around the same time as Pinkie’s nightmare, my sister detected a miasma spreading through the dream-scape. In her attempt to confront it she witnessed the same nightmare that gave birth to Nightmare Moon,” the other ponies in the room all gasped. “There may as well be a correlation between the two. But, there is another matter of concern. No records of Pinkamena Diane Pie exist before she was eight.”
The Wild Laughter of Stone
Chapter 3: Truth and Fears
“Um, your majesty I don’t mean to seem rude but I don’t see the importance of such a minor typographical error.” Rarity stated.
Twilight gasped. “The Census,” she exclaimed before hugging Pinkie tighter as if she would vanish on the spot. “That’s impossible.”
“Ah, hello!” Rainbow Dash commented. She then held up a book and opened it to a bookmarked page. There on the page next to a picture of Pinkie was the word ‘Impossible’ in bold print. The picture almost seemed to be moving on its own.
“Ah, sugercube where’d you get that dictionary from?” asked a worried Applejack.
Rainbow Dash blinked, as if only then realizing what she was holding. “I… don’t really know.”
“But… but,” Twilight began.
“Look Twi it’s Pinkie related, do you really want to go there?” Rainbow deadpanned.
Twilight’s eyes shrunk to pinpricks in terror. Realizing she was about to go where gods of chaos and madmares fear to tread. Shaking her head she decided to focus on something that won’t break her mind so easily, hopefully. She turned to her former mentor and fearfully asked, “how?”
“That is one of several mysteries we must solve.” Celestia stated in all seriousness. “Also, while I am not surprise that you know of The Census, I am a bit curious as to where you came across it.” commented Celestia with a fraction of the mirth she usually had while talking to her former student and her friends.
“Um, well,” Twilight nervously glanced over at Fluttershy, “before Discord’s reformation, I was worried he might escape again. So, I did some researched on his era of Equestrian history.” Twilight informed her mentor with her cheeks tingeing a little.
“Ah, I see. As The Census was created to keep track of the births and unfortunately the deaths of all sentient beings in the world.” Celestia stated in sorrow. “With reality itself jumping around, it becomes nearly impossible to keep track of such things. So a few of the more powerful beings decided to use the Ley-Lines, the only thing Discord would not or could not mess with, to make an artifact that would keep an accurate record.” She explained to Twilight’s friends.
“Besides The Census, I highly doubt that Lord Pie would allow such a grievous error against his family,” added Luna.
Pinkie, who had been awoken after the Royal Sisters’ arrival and quietly trembling in Twilight’s embrace, froze. Her eyes snapped open with a look of horror in them. “No, no, no, no, NO!” Pinkie screamed in her mind. “Not this, anything but this,” she stopped as an image of a gaping hole and a bloody hoof flashed across her mind. She wilted, “not anything, but please not this! They already know I‘m a bad pony, they don‘t need to find out I’m a bad friend!!!”
While Pinkie was having another panic attack of the night, her friends gasped, “LORD Pie!”
Luna looked confused, “yes. To be more accurate Grandmaster mason, Chief Ley-Line Architect, and Archduke Igneous Rock Pie. Did you not know?”
“I don’t mean to insult Pinkie or contradict you, your highness,” Rarity began. “But, Pinkie’s family are simple rock farmers and she works part time for the Cakes. That doesn’t sound very much like nobility.” Rarity blushed.
Luna simply tilted her head and blinked, not understanding were the confusion of the situation was coming from.
Celestia spoke up on her sister’s behalf. “Ah! I believe I see the problem. The Pie family is to rock farming as the Apples are to, well apples. And, you may be working on the assumption that rock farming only involves the more common rocks and stones such as those used in construction. However, they grow most of the rare and valuable, gems and crystal both magical and mundane in Equestria.” She stated simply before a smirk grew on her face. “I believe you have been to one of their quarries, an incident involving Diamond Dogs?”
"Oh my Celestia!” Rarity exclaimed before turning to Pinkie. “I’m so sorry I didn’t mean to steal from your family Pinkie. Can you ever forgive me.”
Celestia and Luna started chuckling lightly. “You misunderstand, Rarity.” Celestia stated. “These quarries are free for any to take from. As a means help the down trodden or those who want a few extra bits. But they believe in teaching a griffon to fish, instead of giving one a fish.”
Celestia let them absorb the info before continuing. “The Pies maintain the Ley-lines and grow their crop. The remaining magic is magnified and spread through the Ley-lines. Some of the wild ones can be of better quality but if you want a consistent hi standard of quality and quantity you go to the Pies.” Celestia smiled to herself. “Didn’t you mention a unicorn that managed to purchase a powerful artifact after working on a rock farm?”
“Ah, Yes!” Luna stated. “The records,” Luna indicated the pile of scrolls, folders, and stacks of papers with a hoof. “Did mention a Trixie, was it?” She tilted her head in thought, “I believe she worked on the Pie farm for about a week.”
“A week?” Twilight and Rarity exclaimed together, blinked and looked at each other.
“Yes and from the sounds of it they had redacted her pay several times for multiple tools she broke, room and board, and a small fire she started.”
“And she could still afford that amulet?” Twilight asked shocked.
“And, a year supply of food,” Luna added.
“The Pies are very generous employers,” Celestia stated simply. “I believe that the agreement with the cakes is that Pinkie receives an allowance as well as room and board for her assistance when she isn’t throwing parties. In return the Cakes receive a monthly stipend and compensation for any damages. Not to mention a few connections via introductions here and there.”
“Wow!” Rainbow Dash stated impressed.
“But, isn’t she a grown mare?” asked Twilight sheepishly.
“Well, it was arranged when she first left the farm. As such since no one has had a problem with it and the Cakes see her as part of their own family, there has been no reason to end the arrangement.” Answered Celestia with a bit of mirth. “As for the thing about her not being nobility, well before an ancestor of hers married Rock Head she was Chancellor Pudding Pie.”
The mares just gaped. Luna and Celestia chuckled good naturally, “dear sister, you have been waiting for that from the start, haven’t you?”
“Maybe a little,” blushed Celestia.
The five mares and spike turned to Pinkie, “why didn’t you tell us?” asked Fluttershy before any of the others could.
“Pleasedon’thateme,Pleasedon’thateme.Itjustnevercomesupinconversations.ThenTwilightgottheticketstotheGrandGallopingGalaandIthoughtI’dsurpriseyougirlsbyinvitingtherest,whichisanotherreasonIwantedtheextraticket.Butthenshegoteveryoneaticket.HoweverRaritysaidshewantedtomeetPrinceBlueBloodandIdidn’tthinkitwasagoodideafromthelasttimeImethim,butponieschange.SoIwasgoingtohelpthemgettogether.Onlyhehadn’tchangedandwasstillthesamemeanypants.Andtherestoftherichponiesatthepartyweremean.ThenRaritywasavoidingusbecauseshemadefriendswiththoserichponiesthatmadeheractallmean.IknowbecauseIoncehadtohostsixdifferentpartiesatoncewhilebeingatthemall.We’vehadsomanybadexpreinceswithrichponiesIknowyoudon’twanttobemyfriendanymore,butpleasedon’thateme.Pleasedon’thateme…” Pinkie exclaimed in one breath. Her face turned toward the floor, her eyes finding it more interesting than her friends hate filled looks.
“Did anyone get that?” asked Rainbow Dash as she looked into the confused faces of their friends.
“Hold on a second. I prepared for just such an occasion.” Claimed Twilight triumphantly as her horn glowed. The words Pinkie just said were playing backwards at a high pitch frequency. Weirdly, it sounded like someone was singing ‘I use to wonder what friendship could be, until you all shared its magic with me.’
As she played it back slower it came out as a deeper and more sensual voice than their friends:
“Please don’t hate me, Please don’t hate me. It just never comes up in conversations. Then Twilight got the tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala and I thought I’d surprise you girls by inviting the rest, which is another reason I wanted the extra ticket. But then she got everyone a ticket. However Rarity said she wanted to meet Prince Blue Blood and I didn’t think it was a good idea from the last time I met him, but ponies change. So I was going to help them get together. Only he hadn’t changed and was still the same meany pants. And the rest of the rich ponies at the party were mean. Then Rarity was avoiding us because she made friends with those rich ponies that made her act all mean. I know because I once had to host six different parties at once while being at them all. We’ve had so many bad experiences with rich ponies I know you don’t want to be my friend anymore, but please don’t hate me. Please don’t hate me…”
A sniffle broke the stunned silenced. Before a second could come from the distraught pink pony, five mares and a baby dragon had tackled their friend in the mother of all group hugs. The two ancient rulers smiled as they watched the scene.
A polite cough from Celestia brought them back to reality. “I am sorry to interrupt this beautiful moment, however, there is still business we must discuss.”
“Oh, yes!” Twilight blinked. She turned to address Luna, “Princess could you please help Pinkie.” She indicated her pink friend with a hoof. “If you could just pull forth more of the memory we might be able to alleviate her from this nightmare, and possible get to the bottom of… the other matter.” She said tactfully avoiding mentioning the topic.
“I am sorry, but I can not.” Declared Luna.
“What?” asked Twilight and Rainbow Dash simultaneously.
“Pinkie really needs your help, and your just gonna…” Rainbow began her temper flaring, before her tail was wrapped in a magenta aura and she was yanked away from the princess.
“Dash! I’m sure the Princess has her reasons,” Twilight reassured.
“Quite! I said I can not, not that I would not.” Luna clarified.
“But why not?” asked Rainbow.
“Because, to do so would risk the return of Nightmare Moon.” Stated Celestia.
Twilight looked nervously at Luna. “But wasn’t Nightmare Moon formed from…” she nodded to Luna unable to finish her statement.
“Yes,” Luna tilted her head in shame. “However, it was helped along by a dream spreading despair across the Dreamscape.”
After a moments thought, a smile crossed Twilights face as it brightened. “That’s it!” she exclaimed, to the others’ surprise. “Don’t you see? If you use the spell that you used while fighting the Tantabus, it should work. That way you can bypass the Dreamscape and only touch the part of it that contains Pinkies mind.”
“But, what if I should succumb to the Nightmare again?” asked a worried Luna.
“Don’t worry, we’ll be prepared with an arcane disruption spell. It would have to be an extremely supercharged one, or two.” She looked over at Celestia who nodded. “So it might hurt a little from the discharge, but it should break the connection?” She looked at her former mentor again, who thought about it a moment before she nodded again. “Therefore keeping you safe and hopefully getting us some answers. What the worst that can happen?”
What followed next could be described as disastrous.
Author's Note
A. n. And now a cliffhanger for another six months.
The Wild Laughter of Stone
Luna found herself walking through an ocean of darkness. Going deeper and deeper towards what she could tell was Pinkie. As she drew near she could hear voices the words in distinguishable.
The scene she came upon troubled her greatly. There in the middle of a black void was Pinkie and pacing around her was a shadowy creature. Its features were like flames its form fluid and shifting, but feline in nature. Wrapped around its limb and torso was chain glowing a bright pink. The chains seemed to be emanating from Pinkie…
“HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!” laughed the dark creature.
“But, they are my friends,” exclaimed Pinkie.
“That’s just it. So were they.” Luna became aware of several presences appearing out of nowhere. She could not distinguish what their forms were and they were shrouded in darkness, but they were there. They were watching her, they were judging her, and they found her wanting.
It waved a limb at the forms. “Chrysalis showed more love to Shining Armor then all of them combined, and I don’t mean while she was pretending to be Cadenza.” Luna could practically feel their disappointment and disdain. It was as if she was the world lowest insect and she dared to show herself to these things. Luna idly wonder if this was how some of the common ponies felt while dealing with the nobility.
“They used and betrayed you. They hurt you.” The chains holding the creature dimmed and Pinkie shrank. “HAHAHA! It’s funny these chains,” it held up a limb to look at said chains, “took a millennia of madness to bind me and look how weak they’ve become after only a few minutes of truth.”
Realizing the monster was attempting to escape Pinkie’s hold on it Luna decided to make herself known. “Hold monster, leave her alone.” Luna yelled not noticing Pinkie wincing. The monster merely turned to face Luna, the smirk on it’s face sending a chill down her spine. “Ah! You’re just in time Princess !” The way it said her title making Luna feel dirty.
Luna’s cutting retort never came as she found herself unable to speak or even move. Her eyes narrowed as she glared at the monster.
“Ah, I see you’ve started to realize your situation.” It’s smirk turning into a mocking grin. “This isn’t your precious realm, or even the port to it, but the inner recess of the mind itself.” It gloated.
Luna’s eyes widened in horror as she realized just how deep she had gone to find Pinkie, and how much trouble she really was in. This wasn’t some dark beast trying to destroy Equestria and Pinkie trying to hold it a bay. This was Pinkie’s Ego restraining her feral fueled Id.
It had been millennia since Luna had seen an Id like this. An Id that wanted to lash out at everyone and everything. She shivered at what went into creating an Id like that.
“Leave her alone, she’s my friend,” Ego declared.
Id’s smirk grew more malevolent. “Yes she is. And, just like them,” she indicated the forms, “she has betrayed you.”
“What?” Shouted Ego and Luna at the same time. Or, Luna would have if she could.
“Oh, you don’t remember?” Id snidely replied. “When we were trapped. When we were surrounded by darkness. When we cried for someone, anyone to help us.” Id shouted the last part.
Luna’s eyes widened in shock as memory came to her. A memory lost, a memory forgotten, a memory buried. A filly hurt, alone, and scared. A kindred spirit calling out for help. Her head lowered in shame.
“And when we lent her some of our power to find us, to help us, what did she do?” Id snared. “What did she do?” Id demanded.
Ego could not answer. But, the pained look on her face was answer enough.
“She took it, and tried to bring forth eternal night. She tried to destroy the world and worse she tried to kill her own sister. HER OWN SISTER!!!” screamed Id pointing a limb at Luna accusingly. “She broke her promise, both of them.”
Ego shrank and the chains dimmed once more.
Luna remembered the rush of power and how she felt like she could do anything, take on anyone. Then the dark thoughts came and she was swept away. The next thing she truly remembers is her sister embracing her and forgiving her in the ruins of their castle.
“Oh but we were rescued weren’t we?” Id smirked. A pony with a Persian bluish gray coat and a grayish blue violet mane began to appear.
Ego grew a little and the chains glowed brightly.
“And, you learned to play the helpless damsel well, just like her!” A flash of blue streaked across one of the formless figures. “Being saved makes you feel wanted, doesn’t it.” Id’s smirk grew toothy. “And, you know how much saving someone makes you feel needed.”
Ego deflated and light from the chains darkened.
“How many times have you been saved? How many times did you need to be saved?” Id taunted. “That boulder, the one your ‘sister’ saved you from. Does she know you could break it with a single touch?”
Ego got smaller…
“Or when the changelings came. You knew there was something off with Cadence, but you let it play out. You could have taken every single one of those bugs in the city single hoofed, literally.” Id accused. “Even when Celestia fell you could have taken Chrysalis before she even knew what hit her, but you didn’t.”
The lights growing darker…
“When Tirek had the power of all of Equestria instead of putting him in his place, what did you do?” Id sneered. “You let him use you as a bargaining chip against your friend. You didn't need to rely on that chest.” Id spat.
And smaller…
“And then there was Discord. The fool. One little push more, just one and we would have shown him what true chaos is.” Id laughed. “The Lord of Chaos and Spirit of Disharmony, ha. He bends it to his will true. But, it is your will. You are its Goddess. It follows you around like a stray puppy looking for a treat. We didn’t need the Elements to deal with the fool of an usurper.”
And darker…
Until. “Now let me free and I’ll make sure none of them get the chance to hurt you again.” Id said cruelly.
“no…”
“What was that?” Id turned surprised.
“I said no,” Ego stated simply. “They are my friends and I will not allow you or anyone else to hurt them. EVER!” With her last statement Ego grew larger than Id and the light off the chains became blinding.
“If you‘re too much of a coward to face the truth, then,” the Id faced Luna. “She shall keep her promise and sever as the instrument of my release.”
“NOOO!” shouted Pinkie as she tried to tackle Luna to safety. Luna for her part had realized that she could not move or speak once more, and so was helpless when Pinkie’s Id attacked.
Back in Reality things took a turn for the worst…
It started with a spark of black lightning crackling across Luna’s horn. The event didn’t go unnoticed by the to alicorns, but before they could react a black ethereal chain launched out and rapped itself around Pinkie’s barrel. A moment later they were engulfed in a sphere of moonless midnight.
Twilight being the first to act fired the dispelling magic. The sphere acting as if it had a will of its own reflected the arcane energies back at Twilight throwing her into a nearby bookshelf.
Celestia stood there, jaw firm and a deep sorrow in her eyes. The horror of the fact that, without the Elements of Harmony and the failure of the magic to dispel the connection, she would have to kill her own sister to save everyone else. Her fears were confirmed as the sphere dissipated to reveal Nightmare Moon.
However, before any actions could be taken, Pinkie merely swiped her hoof. The Nightmare shroud was shredded as Luna was flung bodily into another bookcase. All eyes turned to Pinkie as the remnants of the shadow encircled and consumed her taking on an almost flame like quality. As her eyes flared white with power, the black flames took on a semi-feline shape. In the eyes, a predator like gleam shown despite being pupil-less.
Twilight, who had been disorientated from the rebounding of her own spell and had seen the effects of Pinkie’s last swipe, looked up to see a raised hoof aimed at her, but still could not think straight. She turned her head with eyes shut and, awaited the inevitable. But, the strike did not come.
Looking at the hoof again she saw that it was wrapped in the same ethereal chains from earlier, but a familiar pink color.
“Release me!” screamed the flames in a distorted roar. “I must destroy them before they can betray us!”
In the confusion Twilight had glanced around the room. Her mentor seemed as conflicted and confused as she was. Fluttershy half curled in on herself, half prepared to jump in to save her friend. Rarity and Applejack were both having to restrain Rainbow Dash, who thou conflicted on what was going on was ready to stop it one way or another. Applejack seemed to be holding herself back as well. Spike was helping Rarity and Applejack, but occasionally wringing his claws and looking over at Twilight. And, Luna was unconscious and possibly injured.
Just as her assessment of the room was finishing a second chain, in the same pink as the one that saved her, rapped around Pinkie’s barrel. Seeming to be yanked both outward and inward at the same time the flames disappeared with an audible pop like a balloon. Pinkie fell lifelessly to the floor.
Panic gripped Twilight’s heart, only to be replaced with worry, as she noticed Pinkie shed silent tears.
The Wild Laughter of Stone
Chapter 5: Cakes and Lies
Twilight, despite the pounding in her head, ran over to her once more pink friend and once again held her tightly. As she struggled to piece together what just happened, she recalled the memory that has guided her most of her life. (Princess Celestia stared at her and said, “List can save lives, but don’t forget to focus.”)
As Fluttershy was tending Luna, occasionally glancing over at her purple and pink friends. Celestia approached, her face blank and emotionless, “Lulu, are you alright?” She hesitated a moment, “and, did you learn anything?”
“First there was a loud noise that woke Ponyville…”
“Yes sister,” relieve flooded the… “but, it is worse than we thought.”
“… then the Cakes brought a distraught Pinkie over…”
“What? Why?” Demanded Rainbow. “We just gotta beat whatever that was in Pinkie and then…”
“…afterward the Princesses revealed Pinkie wasn’t in the census…”
“It is not that simple,” Luna began. “The enemy is not in but from within,” she explained cryptically.
“…finally we did something incredibly stupid… WAIT!”
After a moment of thought, Celestia’s eyes took on a sharp glint, “you don’t mean?”
“I’m missing something.”
“Yes!”
“But, what could it be?”
“But, how?”
“Think, think, think! What’s… missing…”
“I know not how it manifested itself, but it was most definitely…”
“WHERE ARE THE CAKES?” Everyone turned to Twilight after her outburst. Celestia and Luna looked at each other
Spike was the first to react. “Twilight, calm down,” he began. “The Cakes…”
“Calm down,” Twilight snapped. “Calm down , how can I ‘calm down.’ One of my best friends is hurt, the laws of nature says she shouldn’t even exist, we just did something incredibly stupid, almost getting us all killed, and now two of our friends are missing.” Twilight wilted, “if anything happened to them Pinkie will blame herself.” She continued in a whisper, “And it’s all my fault.”
“Twilight,” Celestia said gentle, using a feather to lift Twilight’s chin. “This is not you fault, in hindsight it may have been a mistake. However none of us,” she indicated the rest of them with her other wing, “could have known what was to happen.”
“And,” Luna added, “it may have given us important information.”
The fleeting grimace on Celestia muzzle made Twilight wary of the other horseshoe falling. But, before she voiced her concerns Rainbow Dash interrupted. “Besides, since when has Pinkie been more than passing friends with the Laws of Nature,” she joked. “Then again, she's best friends with everyone so maybe that’s it.”
Everyone gave a weak chuckle. “Um, actually,” Spike began nervously, while wringing his claws. The laughter stopped as all the ponies gave him their undivided attention. Swallowing his nerves he continued, “I know what happened to the Cakes…”
Before he could finish he was dog piled and barraged with questions by five ponies as the sisters watched patiently. One question stopped the rest, “Are they safe?” Twilight almost whispered.
Spike began chuckling nervously, “They weren’t, actually here.”
“WHAT!!”
Spike sudden found his feet to be very interesting, “Mr. Cake left to inform the Apples and the Crusaders that you might be a while, and after Princess Luna said she couldn’t help Mrs. Cake thought to ask Zecora for help.”
Twilight face hoofed. “I hope she remembered to bring one of the guards from the outpost.”
“Twilight, she's a grown mare, I doubt she’d be foolish enough to stick her hoof in a rattlers den.” Applejack joked.
The Ponyville guard outpost one of the most needed outposts, situated between the town, peacefully scenic Whitetail Woods, and the wildly chaotic Everfree Forest. With the constant threat of monster and the bi-weekly near to full destruction of the town, it should be the most used outpost in the history of Equestria. However, it was practically ignored and forgotten. The only thing these guards did was escort a group of foals to the statue of Nightmare Moon on Nightmare Night, and that job had fallen to the zebra Zecora. Once the townsfolk got over her unusual appearance.
The rookie guard on watch duty saw the approach of the most dangerous of creatures, a denizen of Ponyville. As he turned to warn his fellows on duty and disturb their poker game, when he was suddenly hit with the sense it would be rather rude disturb them. It wasn’t like it was a creature from the Everfree and if she need help she’d stop. After all, she wasn’t The Three , a shiver ran down his spine.
The mare just walked right past the post and entered the forest.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
Mr. Cake knocked on the door of the farmhouse. He was greeted by a living wall of red fur. “Greetings Big Mac. Is Granny in?”
“Eeyup,” the big stallion answered as his emerald greens stared intently at the other stallion.
“May I talk to her,” the Cake asked when nothing else was said.
Mac’s blonde hair swished as he tilted his head. Contemplation the hour, “eeyup.” He turned and called, “Granny.”
When they found the elder she was rocking in her chair. “What can I do for you, sonny?” she asked kindly, a smile dawning her wrinkled green muzzle.
“Is Applebloom here?” Mr. Cake asked.
Granny’s eyes cracked open enough to see her golden irises before she turned to Big Mac, “why don’t ya go check up on them in their clubhouse?”
“Eeyup,” was all the big stallion replied as he got up and left.
“Mrs. Smith, does he know?”
Granny’s eyes narrowed with a sharp glint. “We were waiting to tell Applejack. Now why don’t you tell me what’s wrong?”
“What makes you think anything’s wrong?” Cake asked nervously.
“For one thing ya’re jumpier than a rattler, another ya haven’t called me ‘Mrs. Smith’ in years, and finally ya’re playing with your glasses.” Granny pointed out.
Mr. Cake’s hoof froze inches above muzzle as he attempted to readjust glasses he no longer needed or wore. Swallowing hard, he put his hoof down, and faced the Apple matriarch. “HE is here.”
The glare Granny Smith gave the young pony before could have an entire pack of timberwolves sit and beg for mercy. “When my dear Butter brought that little bundle of joy home, I vowed I’d move heaven and earth for her to be healthy and happy. I don’t care who he is and what he’s done. HE. CAN‘T. HAVE. HER! ” Her voice never rose above conversational, but a shiver ran down Mr. Cake’s spine.
“Um,” Mr. Cake gulped, “it’s not like that.”
“Explain,” the Apple commanded.
“It’s complicated…”
Knock! Knock! Knock!
Zecora the zebra, brushed a hoof through her striped mohawk, as she answered her door. Her blue eyes widened as they fell on the mare in front of her. “You coming I should’ve known, for the serenity in the forest you have sown.”
“I’m sorry I haven’t been able to visit more often since Applebloom became your apprentice.” Mrs. Cake began, “I’m sure she would love how the rhymes have in increased the charm of your craft, but…” She couldn’t help but hesitate, “she is here.”
The zebra froze. All her muscles becoming taut and her eyes darting to the shadows as if she was expecting an attack. Her voice was a whisper, “no.” She turned on the other mare, “NO! I have built a good life here. A good life. I have friends and people who respect me. Not fear me, but actually respect me,” tears were forming in her eyes. “I don’t want to lose everything. Not again,” she pleaded. “Who cares about honor. They’ve already convened… already judged,” her pleas turning to despair. “Why did he have to come?”
“Um…” the Cake began, “She was already here.”
“Explain,” the Zebra begged.
“It’s complicated…”
Author's Note
A. n. the plot thickens
A. n. Lists can be real live savers, especially on hectic days but don’t obsess on completing them, and forget to have fun. Maybe, focus on making some good friends. - Celestia
A. n. (removed line when i remembered twilight didn't have a concussion) Did anyone get the number of that Cthulhu tap-dancing on my brain because the cheese wasn’t completely hopscotch in the Winnebago.
Oh no, not the Winnebago
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The Wild Laughter of Stone
Chapter 6: The Little One and The Moon Princess (part 1)
Luna was furious as she walked down the halls of the corridors of Canterlot castle. Her face didn’t show it but, the shadows bending, almost eerily reaching for her, and the light dimming around her screamed of her inner turmoil. The maids’, servants’, and guards’ flinching at her pasting just added to her fury, oh, their faces remained stoic to the unobservant eye but she could tell.
“That… that stupid, arrogant, pig of a prince, he…, he…” her thoughts trailed off as she remembered the incident.
“What is the meaning of this?” came the smooth but angry stallion’s voice. “What are thou playing at?” It demanded.
Luna turned nonchalantly with a half lidded glare, “what dost thou mean?” She asked the white coated unicorn, in her most innocent voice. “Have We not addressed thy concerns already?” Her glare focusing on his golden irises even as a few strands of his blonde hair fell over his eyes, his mane’s state a testimony to his annoyance.
“How dare you meddle in affairs beyond yourself,” his condensing sneer barely kept from his muzzle. “When THE Princess finds out how you have wronged HER ponies…”
“First and foremost,” interrupted Luna. “I AM A PRINCESS of Equestria and YOU should keep that in mind. Secondly, my sister would be no more accommodating to your proposal.”
“My apologizes, your Highness, I merely meant you are the WRONG princess, as this is a matter for the Day Court which is your sister’s domain.” It took all of Luna’s self-control to stop her from grinding her teeth. For centuries the two sisters would help with matters left at the end of their respective courts. Then, one day a noble, who disagreed with her ruling, claimed she had no authority within the Day Court. The rest didn’t hesitate to jump on the bandwagon. She would flog the foal who thought up that loophole if she could.
“As for my Proposal, I am certain your sister has the RIGHT to make her own decisions.” The shadows sharpened and the lights dimmed as Luna understood what this thing was implying. He flinched but kept his smirk. “Now I think I hear a boogiemare attacking a foal. You better run off to save them.” His smirk becoming a smug grin as he turns and leaves.
The shadows stretching toward him making him hasten his pace.
As Luna approached her room, her personal guard thestrals made the same almost unperceivable flinch of the Day Guard. But unlike their day counterparts, theirs was not of fear but concern. They knew the withering shadows were a reflection of their mistress’s inner distress. Luna had a little smile at the care of her friends. The slight nod of her head a wordless thanks, as the shadows settled.
When Luna opened her doors she saw heaven in its lunar motif. The thought of Night Court in a few short hours just caused her head to hurt. She use to love helping her people, but lately the ones who truly seek her aid have been fewer and fewer this last decade or so. The rest either came because they thought she was the weaker princess or to ‘help’ her with the other nobles.
As she closed her eyes, she pulled up the stars. The true stars, the inner lights of all sentient beings. Some would call them souls, others minds, but to her they were a beauty she could only ever share as a pale imitation. Counting them always brought her peace, even though they were beyond her ability to count and yet she knew all of them on a fundamental level.
A small smile graced her muzzle.
As she chose a random star to begin, her head immediately snapped to a point of blank space. Her smile grew into one only mothers and teachers could repeat. For from the shadows, a new light emerged, as a dreamer dreamed their first dream. “And, a daydreamer, too!”
All of a sudden she was positively giddy, all but laughing as if she just thought of a hilarious joke she couldn’t quite remember the words to.
That feeling soon turned sour as she noticed the star’s light which should be a bright light, instead was a dark shade that almost blended into the surrounding shadows. Without hesitation Luna enter the corona of the star, as no one’s first dream should be a nightmare.
Luna found herself in an enclave of the shore of an underground pond. The hole in the ceiling allowing the noon day sun to shine through and illuminating the crystal clear pond. The grass, and the treetops just visible over the rim of the crevice she was in, implying that this pond was in the middle of a meadow.
Wondering how such beautiful scenery could be a nightmare, she turned around to look for her host, and her heart froze in her chest. There instead of stone wall was nothing, not shadow nor darkness, but the void of the dream realm. But what sent a chill down Luna’s spine was the lack of stars. Every star in a dream represented a true star that the dreamer was connected to.
Her morbid thoughts at the implication were interrupted by an undistinguishable voice.
“Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me, happy birthday dear…, dear… I, happy birthday to me,” sang the voice devoid of emotion.
“Oh, and how old are you, little one?” Luna gently asked the assumed child.
She felt the dreamer take notice of her, as a formless shadow appeared
As she watched the shadow, Luna idly noticed the void in front of her and out of the corner of her eye she spotted sunlight from the meadow above the pool behind her.
“How old are you, little one?” Luna repeated.
The shadow did not shift, but Luna could’ve sworn the child was tilting its head inquisitively.
“Five,” her host said with a hint of uncertainty.
Luna noticed a slight flickering of movement near what would be the child’s head. But, before she could question it, there was a spike of worry from her host’s mind which blossomed into full on panic.
“What if they’re not the same, I could be younger or older, oh no I forgot leap years!” The dreamer going off in their own little world, literally.
Luna couldn’t help a smile of nostalgia, “ah, the worries of youth.” She cleared her throat to brake her host out of her ramblings. “Worry not, little one. My sister and I have not changed the years length since we took stewardship of the Sun and Moon. Nor has any other changed it in several millenniums time,” Luna said with mirth. “It is still 365 days and nights. One for every degree in a circumference plus five for each of the original children of Gaia.” Luna’s smile grew fondly it had been decades since anyone asked why the year was as long as it was.
“I’m not little,” the child protested, and even though the shadow did not change Luna could feel the pout.
Luna merely smiled kindly, “But tell me, what of these leap years?” Curiosity over the strange phrase tinting her voice.
She got the sense that the shadow was staring at her blankly even as there was another flicker of movement near the head area, “a leap year is when you have an extra day to make up for the missing time.”
Luna busted out laughing, she couldn’t help it, “that’s just brilliant! Can you imagine the looks on the faces of those pesky noble fools.” A smirk dawning her muzzle, “a day popping out of nowhere and throwing their precious schedules off, it would be just marvelous.”
“What’s a noble?” Asked the dreamer, as curiosity came from her host.
A chill ran down Luna’s spine, “have you never met one?” Though she felt foolish as many did not meet nobles.
“Nope! No one ever comes.” the child stated sadly.
Luna tried to swallow the growing lump forming in her subconscious throat. “What do you mean? where is your mother or father?”
There was a spark of something Luna couldn’t quite put her hoof on at the mention of the child’s parents, but it quickly faded. “I’m not really sure. I don’t remember much before waking here. There was an intense pain, a bright flash of blue light, and then this was all there was to see. Only the stars come visit.” At those words the scene changed, the area darkening until the first lights of Luna’s old friends dotted the sky and the pool reflecting it.
The happy feelings Luna was getting from her host were muted as they only severed to emphasized the growing horror in her, as she realized this paradise was a prison for her host. And, one for a child no less.
There it was again that peculiar feeling of something being conveyed while the shadow remained unchanged, as if the child didn’t know how to express itself visibly. But Luna couldn’t even begin to decipher what it was, or what it meant, her head was too busy spinning with the ramifications of her most recent realization..
As anger slowly replaced horror, Luna was caught off guard by her host’s next words. “You’re pretty nice for a voice in my head. I hope we can talk again.” the world began to dissolve as Luna could’ve sworn she heard, “so much better than…”
“Wait, wait, wait…” Rarity interrupted the recounting. “You’re telling me Blueblood has been around since before your fall!” Rarity looked like she was on the verge of fainting.
“That’s what you’re focusing on,” snapped Rainbow and Applejack at the same time.
“Actually that was probably Blueblood the… hm,” Celestia pondered. “the thirteenth, I believe.”
As the discussion continued, Luna laid next to Pinkie, her tail curled around the unconscious pink pony protectively. “I’m sorry Little One, can you ever forgive me?” Luna asked as she nuzzled Pinkies cheek.
Author's Note
A.n. sorry this took so long, live.
A.n. I'd like your opinions on the fluff/slice of life it's not my strong point. mainly my mind sees it then i kinda of skip over it.
A.n. was going to post all of the parts but this seemed like a good place to break.
The Wild Laughter of Stone
Chapter 1: Flames and Tears
Pinkie was sitting around the family table with her friends and family as they were celebrating her birthday. Everypony was laughing and singing, as she looked around she caught a glimpse of a pearly face and auburn hair. She looks back between her ma and pa but the face is gone. As the laughter continues the sky outside goes from early night to mid afternoon. The walls fell away but instead of the rock and dust covered on the plain of the rock farm they were on a mountain, both familiar and unknown to her, overlooking a valley. From her location, she could just barely make out a few pools with bamboo stocks sticking out of them. A shiver running down her spine at the sight was unnoticed as the mountain itself screamed danger. She tried to laugh, as sweat started forming on her brow she kept trying to laugh the fear away, but the fear just kept building, kept telling her something really bad was about to happen. When Maud had started walking over Pinkie couldn’t help but smile despite her growing concerns. As she reached her hooves out to take her sister in a hug, a glint of light caught her attention. She turned and to her horror saw her family engulfed in flame. As she watch them burn, their laughter growing eerie and strained, their faces stretched and merged with the flames. Terrified she turned to Maud only to watch helplessly as she fell into the flames. Pinkie immediately reached a hoof into the flame only to feel something wet and cold. As she pulled back her hoof, there in her hand was a heart. Horrified she looked up just as the full moon washed the flames away to see Celestia there with moonlight flowing through the hole in her chest.
Ponyville was quit and peace. Not a creature was stirring not even Twilight’s pet owl. When all through the town with the silence set there, lit only by the glow of the beautiful full moon. Arose such a scream that air did vibrate. Windows shattered, dogs hollered, everypony awoke, and the source they did strife to find.
Mrs. Cake, a sky blue earth pony mare with brilliant rose eyes, a striped pink mane and tail styled like frosting, and a three cupcake cutie mark. After checking on their twins, both of which were awake and crying at the top of their lungs, Mrs. Cake sent her husband to help find what caused the noise, as she calmed them down. Then, after they were back a sleep, she headed to the guest room. By the time she reached the door the sound had been quiet for a while but still she had to check on Pinkie just to make sure she hadn’t slept through that noise. As she opened the door she noticed the bed was empty and the room appeared to be void of anypony else. Figuring that Pinkie may have went to check on the noise like everypony else she turned to leave when she heard it.
A slow quiet sob.
Upon closer examination she found something pink and crying in a corner. Mrs. Cake was surprised there in that corner was the usually over enthusiastic and happy pink pony. She was curled into a ball, her usual brilliant pink fur was dull and grayish, her cotton candy hair was flat and straight, and the sobs as she held herself were heart-wrenching. Over and over again, she whispered the same sentence.
“I’m a good pony.”
As Mrs. Cake reached out to hug the distraught pony, Pinkie looked up and saw the ghostly apparition of Celestia from her dreams once more reaching out to drag her to the bowels of hell. The scream that followed confirmed where the earlier scream had come from.
In a castle, hanging impossibly on the side of a mountain, in a room decorated in a solar motif laid an white alicorn princess. As her rainbow ethereal hair flowed, she dreamed of cakes and deserts. Her former student and fellow princess was there with all her friends. Her sister and niece were there and the problems of the world were but a distant memory. There was only one word for how she felt right here and now…
Bliss. Pure bliss.
The only thing that could ruin this beautiful, wonderful moment would be the end of the world. So naturally…
It started with a rumble in the distance and the ground shaking apart. The ponies around her remained oblivious as the rumbling and the fissures widened. All of a sudden there was a loud blast and all Celestia could see was white…
Celestia awoke with a start as an explosion tore through her room sending into the far wall. As she regained her composure she bore witness to the manifestation of one of her worst nightmares for the second time in her long life. The ethereal cloud of a moonless night slowly formed into long ebony horn illuminated by a glowing cyan aura. From within the cloud, Celestia could make out the silted turquoise eyes of…
“Nightmare Moon.”
As she reared to attack, Celestia closed her eyes and prepared for the assault. With her eyes closed she missed the cloud’s eyes snap from the predatorily slits to the soft and confused eyes of the navy blue alicorn with the ethereal mane and tail of a spring night littered with stars. Looking around the confused pony was wondering why her sister room was destroyed and how she got here. “Sister, what is going on?”
Hope filled Celestia’s heart as she looked up and saw her sister. “Lulu,” she called as dived into Luna giving her a fierce hug.
“Um, I’m happy to see you to but what is going on,” asked an even more confused Luna.
Sometime and a very embarrassing and disorientating explanation later…
“I don’t know what happened. All I was doing was watching the dream realm, when…” Luna had gone silent.
“What is it?” asked Celestia.
“It was a dream,” she paused letting it sink in. “The realm was normal, when a miasma spread from a single dream engulfing the entire realm. I tried to seal and contain it. However, I saw the image of something wielding the sun incinerating innocent ponies and them laughing and smiling as they were consumed. I…” another pause as she was deep in thought, “it’s… the same deep from a thousand years ago,” she ended in a whisper.
“I fear, that until this is resolved you can’t watch the dreams of our little ponies. For your own protection, as well as theirs,” Celestia said with remorse. “I’ll see if Twilight and her friends can…”
She was interrupted by green dragon smoke swirling in and materializing into a letter. “Speaking of which…”