It was the middle of summer and Pinkie Pie and Sunset shimmer had gotten together for the day. The carnival was in town and both girls couldn’t wait to start playing games. “So how much money you bring with you Pinkie?”
Pinkie was skipping along next to Sunset as happy as ever. “I have enough for the whole day plus some.” Pinkie jumped into the air and spun around in a circle. The carnival had everything and Pinkie couldn’t wait to share the moment with Sunset. There were games, treats, and even a circus. Every time the carnival came around, Pinkie and the others always went, even before they were friends, but this had been the first time in ten years that the carnival came in. The last time was right before her freshman year of high school and the time before that was a year earlier. She didn’t know why the carnival stopped coming but at least Sunset got the chance to see it. “You know, it’s funny, the others and I always somehow ran into each other there. The girls and I always went together, by accident of course but it still happened. The one time we actually went as friends was before we met you our freshman year.” Sunset turned to Pinkie and raised a suspicious eyebrow. “Ok, so we weren’t actually friends yet but we may as well have been that year. Anyway, I’m glad that you get to go this year with me. Too bad everyone else is busy working.”
“Yeah it is but at least I won’t have to worry about Rarity “complaining” about the food there. I’m sure there wouldn’t be anything there Rarity wouldn’t have something to “complain” about.” Sunset wrapped her arm around Pinkie’s shoulder and shared a laugh with her.
“Yeah, I remember the first year it came to town, I saw Rarity with Sweetie Belle. Rarity was trying to tell her baby sister that the food here was bad and would make her fat. Sweetie Belle got a hold of her parents’ nachos and threw it at Rarity. I’ve never heard Rarity scream so loud over having a ruined dress.” Pinkie shook her head. “I couldn’t help but laugh.”
“I kinda wish I would have seen that.” Sunset looked in her wallet. “So how much is it to buy treats and play games?” Sunset had a few hundred with her but she didn’t plan to spend it all.
“I wish I could say; prices may have gone up in ten years. The food was pretty cheap though and so were the games. With how many people that show up, nothing needed to cost much.” Pinkie smiled when the carnival came into view. “Race you.” Pinkie took off with Sunset right behind her. They came to the front where the carnival sign sat in an archway in big letters. The place had a few people but it was still early. The Carnival had just opened up so it was to be expected that only a few people would be there. The two rushed inside and ran over to the first Carnival game.
“Step right up and hit the pyramid of bottles over with a ball.”
“Oh yeah, good old classic.” Pinkie ran over and looked at the price. It was strange, there wasn’t a price. “Um sir, how much for a try?”
The man behind the stand shook his head. “Listen closely, this is our last year to do this and so the boss decided to make it free. Our boss wanted to make sure that everyone got an equal chance to play all the games. Everything will be free and good riddance too. Now you want to throw it or not?”
“Sure, thanks.” Pinkie took the ball and threw it directly into the bottles. The bottles crashed down to the ground. Pinkie looked around for a prize but there wasn’t one.
Pinkie wanted to ask where the prizes were but the man cut her off. “There are none, they’re gone and I would suggest you do the same.” The man closed up the game.
“So that was weird, let’s move on shall we?” Sunset suggested and Pinkie took her up on the advice. Sunset didn’t like it, something was wrong, maybe. She looked around and not one of the games had prizes and nothing had a price. The further into the carnival they got, the creepier it became. They assumed people were still getting themselves ready. Sunset and Pinkie decided to go to the circus to see if any of the clowns were there. When they walked in, it was empty except for the clowns; they were the only ones in the audience. Sunset’s stomach really began turning when one of the clowns almost crashed into them. “You ok?”
The clown was a large man with an upside down horseshoe on his jacket. He wasn’t as happy as he led the two women to believe. “My names Troubleshoes, enjoying the show?” Despite the eeriness of it all, the clowns had been doing a good job and Pinkie and Sunset actually were starting to enjoy themselves. “Good, now get out of this place, no more games got it.” Troubleshoes went back into the center of the arena.
Pinkie and Sunset looked at each other and nodded. They were creeped out and wanted nothing more than to get home now. They rushed out of the tent and ran as fast as they could. They made it to the exit but hit an invisible wall. “Force field, how is that even possible?” Sunset looked at Pinkie and nodded. The two began pounding on the force field when the man from the bottle game walked over to them.
“You should have left, now you have to stay.” The man said.
“Let us out of here you freak. What’s going on?” Sunset asked but was quickly knocked unconscious. When Sunset woke up, she found herself surrounded by fog. “Pinkie, you there?” Sunset asked looking around. The fog was as thick as butter, it was hard to see anything. “Pinkie!” Sunset yelled out and got a response from Pinkie. “Where are you?” Sunset asked.
“I don’t know but I want to leave.” Pinkie said whimpering a bit. She was terrified but she tried to stay strong. “I’m sorry Sunset, I got us into this.” Despite her efforts, she was starting to crumble.
“Hey, don’t say that. This isn’t your fault, now let’s try to find each other.” Sunset slowly moved around trying to find her way through when she ran into another force field or so it appeared. “Pinkie, follow the sound of my banging.”
“Yeah.” Pinkie stuttered, her body was starting to freeze.
Sunset banged on the force field until Pinkie came into view two feet in front of her. “Pinkie, you all right?” Pinkie shrugged. “We’re going to get out of here ok, listen to me. You and I are going to get out of here and make it back home.” Sunset ran her hand along the force field until she came to a corner and then followed that until she got back to where she started. “Pinkie, are you in a box?” Pinkie shrugged. “Come on Pinkie, talk to me.” Pinkie shrunk to the floor and began crying. “Pinkie, we’ll get out but I need you. Please Pinkie.” Sunset tried but Pinkie wouldn’t respond and then a voice was heard.
“You should have left, you shouldn’t have come but it’s too late now. Soon, you’ll be just like us.”
“Let us out of here!” Sunset turned from Pinkie to find the source of the voice but it was no use. When Sunset turned around, Pinkie was dressed in a clown suit but she was still sad and above her was a sign that said sad clown in big bold letters. Sunset backed up and into someone. She flipped around and found Troubleshoes. “Who do you think you are treating us like this?”
TroubleShoes shook his head, disappeared, and someone else took his place. She had blue eyes and purple hair with aquamarine highlights. She was a light heliotrope woman with a light turquoise jacket and blue jeans. “Hello, this is my carnival and now you’re a part of it.” The woman walked off laughing.
“Get back here!” Sunset tried to move but found herself chained to the ground and dressed up in a strait jacket. “Hey, what’s going on, get back here!” Sunset yelled.
“Welcome to my Carnival where I rule and you follow my orders. Don’t worry, you’ll have plenty of friends you wouldn’t have otherwise.”
Sunset struggled against the chains and then fell backward. Above her was a sign that read “The Psychopath.” Sunset tried to speak but it was no use, her words were muffled. She stood up and ran forward into another force field. The fog was clearing and she could only watch as her home disappeared. She slammed herself against the field but was quickly knocked out. The last thing she saw was the woman with a smile on her face and heard one last thing before she blacked out. “Don’t worry, you’ve already been forgotten by the world. Sleep tight my pet.” Sunset’s eyes finally closed.
