Author's Note

Well, I hope you guys like the first chapter. I would really appreciate criticism and any feedback, seeing as this is my first story. Sorry the first chapter is so short. The next will be longer.
All credit for this story goes to Ink Potts and their animatics!

Chapter One

Usually, this late at night, the Ponyville Hospital was seemingly silent, empty, save for the few fillies and ponies who were either sick or had broken legs or wings. But tonight, a certain pink mare was in one of the rooms, holding the hoof of her comatose sister, Maud Pie. She heard hoofsteps coming up behind her and she turned, seeing her friends Twilight Sparkle and Starlight Glimmer. Their faces were grim.

“Pinkie, you know your sister is as good as gone. She’s beyond help,” said Twilight solemnly. She put a hoof on the pink mare’s shoulder, but it was brushed off.

Pinkie shakes her head, refusing to believe that her sister was lost. “You don’t know that, Twilight. My formula is almost complete. Tomorrow I see the Board of Governors, and I just know they’re going to say yes.”

“The Board is not exactly the nicest set of ponies, believe me. I know from experience,” Starlight chimes in. She faced rejection of her ideas countless times “They might say no.”

“And if they do, I’ll just keep making formulas and potions until I get accepted! I’m not going to just sit here and let my sister be lost in the darkness forever!” she snapped. Seeing the hurt face of Starlight, Pinkie sighed. “I’m truly sorry. I just lost my head. I’ve been so stressed over Maud that I’ve shut out the world in hopes of finding a solution to this damned formula.”

Twilight gave a reassuring smile. “We understand, Pinkie. If you need us, we’ll be at my castle, alright? And of course, Starlight and I will be at the meeting tomorrow. We’ll leave you alone to rest until then..”

With that, the mares left Pinkie to her devices. The pink pony looks to Maud and smiles sadly, kissing her on the forehead. “Goodnight, my sister.”

Pinkie stood at the pedestal waiting for the Board of Governors. She was quite nervous, to say the least, but that certainly wasn't going to stop her from getting her formula passed. That is, if she could. The doors opened and in walked the Royal Sisters, Princess Cadence and Shining Armor, Starlight, and Twilight.

"The Board of Governors of the Ponyville Hospital is now in session, lead by Princess Celestia," said Twilight. She went to stand by Pinkie, giving her a quick hug.

Celestia clears her throat. "Doctor Pinkamena Pie, please explain to us your...curious request that you previously sent to us in writing."

"Thank you, Princess. Now, as you know, there are two natures to all of us. Good and evil, light and dark. It is ponykind's fault that these two natures are constantly struggling."

There is a slight murmuring among the group when Celestia put her hoof up. "Please, Pinkie. To the point, if you may."

"Now, it is clear to me that we can somehow separate these natures into its own components. And I have created a formula to do so. But I haven't tested it on someone-----"

"Then how do you know it works, Doctor Pinkie?" asked Luna, her eyebrows raised in suspicion.

"That's exactly why I came here. I need a pony to test my research on. Preferably one that is dead to the world---in a coma, perhaps. Or a volunteer."

"What? You want to poke and prod around in somepony's brain? Are you mad?!" Shining Armor asked in disbelief.

"Yes! I want to prove that my theory is correct. Think of how better off Equestria would be---ponykind, even!"

"So you want to take somepony from this hospital to...to perform surgery on their helpless mind?" Cadence was clearly appalled.

"It is not surgery, it is a drug taking the form of hypodermic injection!"

That mere sentence was enough to set the room off. Twilight and Starlight was defending Pinkie's theory, Cadence, Shining, and Luna were arguing against it, and Celestia was trying to control everypony. She used her horn to set off a burst of light and the room was silent. "Please! Refrain from these comments and let Doctor Pinkie continue!"

"One pony is all I need! One that's already on the brink of death! Think of how many lives I could save if this works!"

"What if it never does?" Luna asked.

"Then I will continue to improve my formula and keep coming back here until you agree to give me a subject to be tested upon!"

"This is a hospital, simply here to save lives! I can clearly speak for all of us when we say you will never be allowed to doom a pony to insanity!"

Pinkie was silent for a moment, then explodes. "Volunteer or not, I will prove my theory true! You are all fools to not allow my research to be proven! And when I accomplish my goal, you'll see that I was was right all along!"

All was still for what seemed like forever until Celestia spoke. "All those in favor say 'aye'."

"Aye!" Twilight shouted, glaring at the ponies who clearly are against Pinkie.

"All those opposed, "nay'."

Everpony stood up, except for Twilight and Celestia. Starlight, however, was silent.

"Nay, nay, nay, nay, nay! Positively, absolutely nay!" the Board collectively shouted.

Celestia looked to Starlight, waiting for her answer. "Starlight?"

"I...abstain."

"By one vote to three with one abstention, Doctor Pinkie's proposal is rejected. Thank you for your time, Doctor," said Celestia.

One by one, everypony left the room, except for Twilight and Starlight, who went up to Pinkie.

"I'm profoundly sorry, Pinkie. Maybe one day they'll see that you were right." Starlight left.

"Well, now they think you are utterly mad," said Twilight.

"They're complete hypocrites, Twilight! Every one of them!"

"Yes, but they are powerful hypocrites. Pinkie, you are obsessed by your sister's condition that you have turned a blind eye to all reason and logic!"

"No. I know my reasons, Twilight, and they are correct. Now please, leave me be. I need to be alone for quite sometime."

Twilight puts a hoof on her shoulder and leaves. Pinkie sighs, frustrated and tense.

"I'll show them. I'll show them all."