The Muffins Familyby PaintedNovel455ChaptersHurricane ClydeMaking PieA Dazzling DiamondRecovering and RevengeMuffins Family Side Story: Hearts Strong As Crystals UnlockedHurricane ClydeIt was a chilly winter day and three young fillies laid cuddled together. The first had pretty red hair, short bangs covering her eyebrows. Her hide was a grey mist and her eyes a fiery orange. The second had a matte grey hide with violet hair and deep green eyes. And the last one had a light lavender coat and blue hair with golden eyes. The first was Garnet Pie, the second was Jasper Pie, and the last was Amethyst Pie. They called each other by nicknames, Garnet being “Clyde”, Jasper being “Sweetie, and Amethyst being “Amy.” Clyde was very fun to be around, and looked out for her sisters. Jasper was very sweet and often put herself before her sisters. Jasper would share food with them or, take the blame for a something they did wrong. Amy was shy but very smart and many times was able to prove her parents wrong. Clyde spoke, “i-it’s s-so cold.” Sweetie sniffled, having caught a cold this season. “I know, this blanket isn’t big enough for all *sneeze* of us.” Amy rolled her eyes, “if you hadn’t dropped the Sapphire, then they could of bought us a better blanket.” “It’s not my fault, *cough, cough* I’m sick and they don’t feed us enough.” Sweetie said, her eyes had dark circles around them. “But guys! Inkie and Blinkie are coming over!” Clyde cheered. “Really!” The two sister asked. “Papa said-” Clyde began. “Papa is a big fat liar! He said he was going into town to buy me some medicine but, he just brought back for tools for Gem Digging.” Sweetie said, they had despised their parents after Pinkamena showed all the kids in the village how to smile. “We have more pickaxes than food these days.”Amy said, turning her back on her sisters. “Now go to sleep.” Her sisters listened, each closing their eyes and dozing off to sleep in their small bed… Amy awoke in the morning to find her sister's gone, she rolled out of bed and fell to her hooves. Slowly she made her way into the kitchen, she grabbed a shiny green apple and wiped it on her chest briefly before biting into it. Amy quickly finished her apple and went into the front yard. There Clyde and Sweetie were working near a river by the house, however the river was blocked by a thin row of trees. Sweetie was using a shallow pan to sift through dirt and rocks, while Clyde was using a shovel to dig a the edge of the river. Amy trotted over to them, “hey, how come you didn’t wake me up.” Sweetie rubbed her eyes and yawned, “we didn’t want to wake up…” “I hear Blinkie Pie got her cutie mark.” Clyde said, digging the tip into the dirt. “Really? When!” Sweetie asked, dropping the pan into the river. “She got a gold nugget cutie mark, and I think last week.” Clyde explained. “How come Mama never told us, they're our cousins!” Sweetie asked, reaching her hoof over to grab the pan and failing. “Hey, you know how long it takes for News to reach all of Rock Country.” Clyde said, her eyes wandering to the pan in the river, which was now floating away. “Sweetie! Get the pan, Mama’s gonna kill us.” Soon all three of them were grabbing for the pan but it had sailed down the river and to the revines. Sweetie began to cry. “Why am I so careless?” Sweetie said wiping her tears. “I’m going after it.” Clyde said. “Are you crazy it’s just a pan.” “I’m not letting you guys get hurt.” Clyde said and stood in the shallow part of the river. “I’m comin-*cough* -g too.” Sweetie said. “No, we have to cover for Clyde.” Amy said, who had been listening to everything. Sweetie didn’t ponder it long, she nodded as Clyde swam into the deeper parts of the river. Finding small rocks to stand on. Clyde felt the water wrap itself around her and pull her under. Clyde’s arms worked overtime as she churned through the water. A wave smashed into her, making her cough. Water rushed into her nose and she panicked, Clyde failed about uselessly. M-maybe, I could go back. Clyde struggled at the river, she saw something glint in the sun. Her heart raced more because of the strain on her lungs then the excitement of the pan. She smiled at the pan only a few feet away. Clyde felt adrenaline surge through her, rocketing to her heart and bolting her through the water. She never reached the pan, the pan reached her. It smashed in her forehead along with a wave. The crash was like slamming the brakes on a runaway train. Clyde couldn't swim anymore, she didn’t even struggle. She turned to face her sister’s at the river's edge. Her heart sank, it was to far to swim and to far for her sisters to reach her. Another wave came and she was pulled under water, her eyes refused to close. Closing meant defeat. She still tried to pull up to the surface, clutching the pan in her mouth. She saw something else glint in the light. She turned herself to face it, a ruby perhaps? A Dragon Clan lived in the mountains around Rock Country. Pretty much the only reason so many gems were found here. Clyde swam over to it, she picked it up. It was larger than rubies, so it had to be garnet. She beamed, it had to be faith. Faith that she was named after the same gem, she found on her deathbed. Clyde swam over to it, running out of breathe. She didn’t care, she let go off the pan and gripped the garnet close against her chest. Clyde gasped as a blinding flash lit up the water for a second. It was enough to reveal her tail, caught under a rock. Clyde held the gem in one hoof and her tail in another. She pulled at her tail before feeling her whole body float to the surface. “Ahh!” Clyde inhaled and swam to shore. Clyde trotted with the garnet in her hoof. Sweetie wrapped herself around her sister. “We were so worried, when you went underwater-” Amy interrupted her shouting, “YOUR FLANK, LOOK AT YOUR FLANK!” Clyde’s gaze followed Amy and Sweetie’s gaze to her flank. A single garnet gemstone adorned her flank. Clyde squealed ‘I got my cutie mark!’ “Where’s the pan?” Amy asked. “Forget the pan! Let’s go!” Clyde stated and started for the house. They found their parents in the kitchen making dinner. Papa looked at Clyde in disgust, he gasped as he noticed the image on her flank. “Look Mama, Papa Cly- I mean Garnet got her cutie mark!” Sweetie said. Mama turned to face them, her hair was pulled back in a bun, and glasses sat on the tip of her nose. “Where did you get that?” Clyde sighed and told her parents the story of how she went swimming in the river and almost drowned. “You went into the river? We told you fillies never to enter the river.” Mama took some steps toward Clyde. “WAIT!” Sweetie said, “I forced her to go. She didn’t want to but, I forced her…” Clyde’s eyes widened, oh no she’s trying to stand up for me. “No.” Clyde said, “we lost the pan I went to get it, reciving my cutie mark..was just, a bonus.” “You.” Papa said, tapping Clyde’s chest so hard that she coughed. “Jasper Pie and Amethyst Pie to your rooms.” “But what about Gar-” “Don’t talk back, go to your room.” Mama insisted before watching her other children leave. Sweetie cried for her sister as she sat on the rug in Amy’s lap. “Clyde’s tough, she won’t cry.” Amy said, stroking Sweetie’s mane. Sweetie didn’t realize she fell asleep and only woke up when the door swung open. Clyde stood there, not a single tear on her face... Author's Note I'm changing all the titles so they are more creative... Making PieIt was a bright blue day in Rock Country. Small wispy clouds floated gently across the skies and the river sparkled with gems waiting to be found. Sweetie -Jasper- trotted over to the river. If her sister got her cutie mark in the river then her cutie mark must be somewhere else. Sweetie walked around the farm until Mama called her in for lunch. There were Limestone and Marblestone Pie, her cousins, sitting on the rug. “Blinkie, Inkie!” Sweetie said running up to meet them. “Hello Jasper!” Inkie Pie said hugging her cousin back. “Call me Sweetie. We made nicknames for ourselves like Pinkamena did.” Sweetie explained. “Hmm.” Blinkie stated, rubbing her chin. Clyde entered the room and stood in the middle of the circle, “I got my cutie mark!” “We got our cutie mark months ago.” Blinkie said with a sneer. Amy furrowed her brow, “..okay.” “We started baking with Pinkamena, we brought some Pineapple Turnover.” Blinkie said with a wide smile. “Thanks, we barely get anything sweet to eat!” Amy added. “We barely get anything to eat at all…” Sweetie said, staring at her flank which was void of a cutie mark. Inkie bit her lip and followed them to the kitchen, a fake silver tray sat on the counter, on it sat a square cake with rings of pineapple on it and cherries in the middle of those rings. Sweetie grabbed a small knife and cut slices for everyone. The fillies then went outside to eat. “Mmm, this is delicious, what’s in it?” Clyde asked, tasting her slice. Blinkie Pie pursed her lips. “You know, flour...stuff.” Inkie Pie added. “Well, it is delicious.” Sweetie added… Sweetie awoke the next morning and couldn’t find Clyde. “Amy where’s Clyde?” “I don’t know, let’s look.” Amy said trotting out the house. “CLYDE!” Sweetie called out every now and again. “Maybe she went back home with Inkie and Blinkie.” Amy said. “Okay let’s check…” Sweetie said, when they reached The Pie’s house they found their parents in the back working. “Have you’ve seen Cly- Garnet.” Amy asked. “We don’t not know where they are, they say to have gone into town.” Cloudy said. “Ugh.” Amy said, “let’s go…” “Hurry, Inkie!” Blinkie said dragging an unconscious filly to their cave. They kidnapped and tortured fillies and made them into cupcakes, which is why they were so good! “I’m trying, Clyde got a lot heavier.” “And Sweetie and Amy are gonna look for her.” Blinkie said, the cave being up a mountain. “They will never think to check here…” Inkie stated. “Clyde!” Sweetie said, running through town. “Sweetie.” Amy said, walking over to her broken sister. “Clyde…” Sweetie said crying heavily. “We’ll find her!” Amy assured her. “Let’s check the Pie’s House again.” Sweetie sniffed as she wiped her tears, “alright.” “We told you they are not here, do you not understand that?” Cloudy said. “We understand, but my sister is missing and I’ll find her.” Sweetie said, pushing herself past Cloudy Quartz Amy following behind. Sweetie seemed determined as the jumped up the mountain. “Uh...hey! She’s not up there!” Amy said, following her up the mountain. Sweetie was still climbing the mountain, “she swam a raging river and brought back her cutie mark and also a gemstone.” “Yeah… but, still be carefull.” Amy said, refusing to leave Sweetie alone. Inkie and Blinkie had finally got to the cave and were beginning to strap Clyde to the table. “What should we make?” “The usual cupcakes.” Inkie stated and buckled don Clyde’s legs in a Starfish form. “Okay…” Blinkie agreed, tying Clyde’s arms down. Sweetie stopped to breathe and stared at the sky. She saw a small opening that might be a cave, “let’s go there, into the cave!” “Are you crazy dragons could be there!?” Amy yelled. “We have to try!” Sweetie said. Amy bit her lip, “okay…” Blinkie got a set of knives ready on the table a few feet in front the captured Clyde. Sweetie pulled her forelegs onto the edge of the opening and climbed inside the cave. What met her there sent an icy blast through her spine. Amy pulled herself into the cave and was equally as shocked. Blinkie grabbed a dull knife and when she heard hoofsteps she spun around. To face her shocked cousins. Inkie Pie turned around and pursed her lips, sweat dripped from her brow. “WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!” Sweetie suddenly yelled, filled with more rage than she had ever felt in her life. Her love for her sisters was just too great. “I-” “YOU SICK TWISTED, BASTARDS, DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT YOU’RE DOING!!” Sweetie added. Blinkie was truly shocked making her drop the knife she was holding. Sweetie took that chance to run up and buck Blinkie across the face with her front hooves. Sweetie grabbed the knife in her hoof and cut her sister free. Clyde hit the floor and that’s when she woke up. Clyde’s vision was blurred but when it cleared she saw Sweetie and Inkie fighting for a knife, Blinkie passed out cold on the floor, and Amy standing there with wide eyes and her hooves clasped over her mouth. Clyde stood to her hooves, the ringing in her ears subsiding. Clyde could her Sweetie yelling, “you were gonna bake Clyde into what? APPLE PIE-” The room lit up in a bright flash and everypony gasped. Blinkie recovered from her daze and slowly woke up. Sweetie looked around from the source of the flash, that seemed to happened behind her. Sweetie spun around until she saw a single pie on her flank. Sweetie smiled but, it quickly fell as Inkie leaped over and tackled her. Inkie punched Sweetie across the face before Amy leaped over and knocked Inkie off her. Blinkie jumped onto Amy and bit down on some pony's back hoof. “Ahh!” Sweetie screamed feeling something prick her ankle. “EVERYPONY STOP!” Clyde screamed, but drew her ears back when she had everyone’s attention. “What’s going on!” Clyde said, “we can’t keep fighting forever.” Inkie sighed and explained the process of how Blinkie, Pinkie, and herself would kidnap, torture, and bake ponies in pastries. She then explained how they were gonna kill Clyde. “I got my cutie mark by saving my sister from serial killers?” Sweetie asked, “how am I ever gonna explain this to the village!” Inkie’s face changed color, “no...d-don’t do that.” “You’re killing ponies! Over what, some pastries?” Sweetie said. “It makes them tasty.” Blinkie said, smiling nervously. Amy burst out laughing. “So you really can’t bake at all, your ‘pastries’ suck so bad you need to kill ponies so they taste decent? HA!” “How dare you insult Pinkamena!?” Inkie yelled. “Calm down!” Clyde stated. Blinkie hung her head, “let’s go home…” Nothing more was said on the matter and they all descended the mountain… “How did you get your cutie mark.” Sweetie’s Mom asked during dinner with the Pie’s. Blinkie bite her lip and Inkie seemed to be praying to Celestia that Sweetie wouldn’t tell them about their ‘baking.’ “Me and the Pie’s...baked a pie…” Sweetie lied and Blinkie sighed. It was late at night and the Pie sisters were staying over. “Thanks for not telling…” Inkie said after minutes of silence. “Just stop, I can’t believe you guys are murders…” Sweetie said. “You can join us if you like…” Blinkie said and Amy turned to face her like she had 3 heads. “Are you kidding me, killing is a sin. Not to mention crazy!” Clyde stated. “You can get revenge on the people who hurt you…” Blinkie said. “No thanks but, when I die I would like to be at peace, and not stuck in a agonizing limbo with everyone who ever hurt me.” Sweetie said but then glanced at her flank. It would be a constant reminder that her own cousins tried to kill her sister. “What does your cutie mark even mean.” Inkie asked. “The PIE sisters tried to kill me, and turn me into a PIE.” Clyde scoffed. “I have you know we were planning on making cupcakes…” Inkie added. “THAT’S NOT THE ISSUE HERE!” Amy yelled. “Then what is!” Blinkie asked. “YOU GUYS KI-” Sweetie began before Amy the closest one to her slapped her hoof over her mouth. They quickly shut their eyes and pretended to sleep when Igneous Rock came in to check on them. When he left, Amy was the first to speak again, “just promise us this.” “Don’t kill us…” There was a silence. “Okay…” Inkie said tossing a knife across the room. “What?” A Dazzling DiamondAmy trudged along, kicking every rock in her path. Today was Sunday, which means Bible study. Sweetie hated this long trek as much as her other sisters. At least she could show off her cutie mark. Finally they reached the church, the sisters hurrying along to seat down and rest their sore hooves. The pastor, Holy Mackerel began. “Please rise,” Holy stated firmly. “Aww,” Amy groaned silently, rising to her sore hooves. Holy Mackerel levitated the Bible onto a podium, “today we will continue our read through of the Old Testament. We left off on?” He asked. “Genesis, 26,” a mare said, readjusting her reading glasses. “Correct,” her husband confirmed, pulling a black bookmark out his bible. The sisters Mom pulled three bibles out her saddlebag, handing one to the fillies. Together they read the entire chapter, it was gurling to many of the foals. Now, church was over. Amy, Sweetie, and Clyde were outside the church with the other foals playing. They looked under rocks, climbed trees, and drank from the river. Some even dared to ‘baptise’ themselves. Amy felt left out, she drew in the dirt with her hoof. Before she had Sweetie and Clyde but now, they were playing with all the other foals with their cutie marks. A pink earth filly sat next to her, a shiny diamond on her flank. “Hello,” the filly said. “I’m Dazzy Diamond!” Amy wiped the heart made in the ground, “I’m Amy.” “Why aren’t you playing?” “I don’t have a cutie mark.” “You can play with me!” Dazzy rose to her hooves, “Com’on!” Amy sighed and rose to her hooves too, sprinting after Dazzy. “Look,” Dazzy said, tearing into a river. Amy carefully stepped into the river after her. It was pretty sallow. Dazzy dived under the water and pulled out a wool bag. She handed it to Amy, who opened. Amy gasped, “oh my Celestia!” The bag was with around 50 small diamonds. “Where did you get this!” “I found a cave, and mined it up! See my cutie mark,” Dazzy said, pointing to her flank. “Cool.” “Keep it, I found many more!” Dazzy smiled. “Thank you, so much” Amy said. “Wanna look for gems?” “Sure!” Dazzy squealed. “How?” “Go under water and dig,” Amy explained before diving under the surface. Dazzy dived under to, pushing away gravel and the bottom. She found a thin slice of silver. They popped back onto the surface. “I did good, right?” Dazzy asked. “Ha, you did great but, that’s not worth a bag of eggs.” “Bag?” “I’m joking. That’s a great start.” Amy explained and inhaled sharply and dived back under. She dug a few feet under and grabbed a teeny tiny amethyst. “Why are there so much gemstone here?” “Dragons like to fly, in and out through these lands. I guess they drop their ‘lunch’ all over the place.” Amy explained. “Wow, I farm rocks. My cutie mark is a diamond because of the cave.” “We always want what we can’t have, “ Amy groaned, exiting the river. “So what now?” Dazzy asked. “We should dry off, they would make us sit outside if we’re wet.” “Yeah.” So they dried off and soon church started again. This time, they had planned a prayer and church was over. Amy lied awake at night, thinking. They said thinking was bad, ‘foals shouldn’t think so much.’ Mama said. ‘Fills their heads with foolish ideas.’ Amy scooted off bed, which was hard since she was in the middle. She headed outside, and over into town. She found Dazzy’s house by looking at the decorations. She went there once for a prayer session. She snuck into the back and knocked on Dazzy window. Dazzy came over and opened it. “What are you doing here,” Dazzy whispered. “I’m bored.” “We can’t go outside now.” “Please!” Amy begged. “Alright…” Dazzy groaned, letting her in. “I have some cards.” “Yeah!” Amy said. There was a loud thump, as Amy fell to the floor. “So… Why did you come?” Dazzy asked, putting down a queen. “Can’t sleep,” Amy put it simply. “Hmmm” Dazzy said. “Have you heard of the disappearance of a teen colt. Star Bucks, I think.” “Yeah, they ignored it. I heard he was playing devil's music.” Amy said, placing down a Club. Dazzy raised her eyebrow, “I thought he ran off?” “Pffft, yeah like--” Amy cut herself off. Remembering her cousins obsession with foal napping ponies. “What?” “Nothing…” After a game of cards Amy snuck back home, in the morning they did their chores then hunted for gems. They found nothing… Amy headed over to Dazzy’s house to play with her. But only her mom came to the door. “She went with the Pie sisters,” the mom said. This worried Amy. And the Pie sisters mom said the same thing, “they went over to the Diamond’s house.” Amy filled with fury, as she stormed off. Heading up the mountain, and into the infamous cave. Little did she know, the Pie’s had planned it all out. And they were hiding with Dazzy in a bush. Amy went home and played with her sisters. It was at dinnertime when she had figured out what the Pie’s figured out. They knew someone would come after them after one of the disappearances. But why did they do this?! So what if your pastries aren’t that good. No need to spill innocent blood. Amy ran outside, so suddenly. That they all flinched. Amy screamed “DAZZY!” “Amethyst Amy Gem, you get your flank back in this house!” Amy didn’t listen instead kept running. She marched up to the cave and just as she feared. Dazzy was strapped down to the table, screaming and one of her cutie marks were removed. Amy put a hoof to her mouth and shushed her. For she was about to call out Amy’s name. Inkie Pie and Blinkie Pie were facing the other way. Amy ducked into a bush and thought of a plan. But her father found where she was and rushed into the cave. “What in God’s name is going on in here!” Her Father yelled, easily restraining Inkie. But Blinkie came and made him pass out. Amy held back a gasp, and stormed out of there. Bucking Blinkie Pie across the face, she had a black eye from last time, blacking out from shock. Inkie ran forward sliced Amy’s flank, she recoiled as Inkie tried to push her off the short cliff. Amy hit the ground and her head stung and her vision blurred. She took off, followed by Inkie. “GET BACK HERE!” Inkie screamed. With a burst of adrenaline Inkie caught up with her. Her scalpel replaced with a syringe. Inkie pressed her hoof against Amy’s throat and slowly brought the needle to her neck. Amy felt the needle prick her skin, when Inkie was tackled. All she saw was a grey blur and then she passed out... Recovering and RevengeAmy was laid on a hospital bed. Recovering from a wound on her flank and neck, the needle sliced her neck in a horizontal line. Amy woke up with a splitting headache, and pain everywhere. The fall, the cuts, the memory. But she was alive. She moved but a needle sifted in her arm. A jolt of pain shook her awake. Is she safe? Or is the IV giving her poison, is the hospital a ploy set up by her cousins? She ripped the needle out and held back a cry of pain. Amy passing out moments later… A bandage covering her wound now and Dazzy was there. She sat on a wheelchair her flank stitched up and thick bandages wrapped around it. “Amy, you’re awake!” “Where’s my family?” “Visiting hours are up. They came but you were asleep, and you cut yourself. Are… you alright?” “Yeah. I thought the Pie sisters got to me, where are they?” “Their under investigation but otherwise, free.” “FREE! They killed countless ponies, and attempted to kill Clyde and you!” Amy shouted very angry. “I know but, that’s how the system works.” Amy sighed and looked around it was clean white. “I don’t remember Rock Country Hospital being this clean.” “We’re in Canterlot, Amy you’re a hero! You stop some serial killers!” Dazzy stated. “So Princess Celestia is gonna pay for the bill,” Amy asked. “I’m not sure, I just listen to them talking when they think we’re asleep.” “That’s *yawn* good. I need some rest,” Amy sighed. Dazzy climbed into bed and closed the privacy screen, “bye.” It was late at night and Amy was having a nightmare. She drank a cup of water and exited her room, at the end of the hall were Inkie and Blinkie. They came running down the hall, and Amy found herself tied to a table. She struggled but couldn’t break free. Amy felt the knife prick her stitched flank and red hot pain shot through her like this dream was real. Half of her feared that it was. Inkie and Blinkie were laughing as they sliced off her cutie mark. The pain became overwhelming and she passed out… “AHHHHH!” Amy yelled as she shot upward. Her chest heaved and her heart pumped. She saw a figure in front her bed and her Fight or Flight response kicked in. Fight, she launched at the figure and heard a “oof” similar to Sweetie’s voice. Sweetie flicked the lights on. “What are you doing here,” Amy asked. “It’s pretty easy to sneak into a hospital,” Sweetie sighed. Amy groaned, “I’m scared. The Pie sisters are free!” “Yeah and we don’t have any REAL proof. But we should get some…” “What do you mean? Going after the killers alone? ARE YOU MAD!?” “Me and Clyde we’re saying, we can capture them and make them THINK that we’ll torture them. We can pump them for information.” “Seems pretty far-fetched.” “It will work.” “I’m don’t wanna be part of your plan,” Amy said. “Fine! Me and Clyde can do it ourselves.” Sweetie said, she climbed onto a bookshelf and into a vent. Amy collapsed to the floor… In bed Amy woke up, “a dream within a dream.” Amy bit her hoof, it didn’t hurt. Was she dreaming? She drew a line on the wall to mark the dreamworld and the real world. She opened the window and outside was Rock Country which she knew shouldn’t be there. She jumped and before she hit the ground she woke up, the marking was gone and when she bit her hoof it hurt. But it was daytime, Amy got up and her family was there. “Mama, Papa” Amy said hugging her parents. Sweetie winked at her. And Amy’s eye widened, “what’s wrong?” Her Mother asked. Amy shook her head, “nothing.” “You can leave the hospital today, if you feel ready.” “I’m ready,” Amy said. “Can Dazzy come?” “Of course,” Clyde said smiling sweetly. Later that day they hoped on a carriage and headed back to Rock Country. Then they foalnapped Inkie Pie and Blinkie Pie, the pieces were falling in place. It was time to act. Inkie’s violet eyes slowly opened she moved but she was tied down. Blinkie was too, “what’s going on!” “Hi…” Clyde said, slowly. “How does it feel to be on the other end of the stick?” “Don’t worry Blinkie, they don’t have the guts.” Inkie stated. “We don’t have to hurt you, just explain. Why are you murdering ponies, how did you start?” “Really? We heard those tricks before.” “Please, tell us.” Amy said stepping out. “Alright,” Inkie said. “Pinkamena started it, why she started it? I don’t know. And when we found out we jumped into the fun. “FUN!?” Dazzy asked, gritting her teeth. “Yes. We killed so many ponies! And we love it, we’re coming after you next!” “That’s not something you should be saying to your captors,” Sweetie said. “I was a fool to let your carry on with your ways. I thought you would of stopped but, then this! You're going to hell, I wanna send you there -not before a slow and painful death-. But, honestly, it’s not your time.” “Don’t have the guts,” Blinkie repeated, in a sing-song voice. “Did you and Pinkamena kill other ponies!?” Clyde asked. “Yes,” they said together. “Louder.” “Yes!” “I said, louder!” “YES!” They screamed. “We killed them, we killed them!” Clyde revealed a tape that was recording the conversation, “thanks.” They looked like they seen a ghost, they shared worried looks. “‘Seen those tricks before,’ my hoof” Dazzy exclaimed. She was getting a kick out of this. “Please! Destroy the tape, destroy it!” Inkie begged. “I bet countless times ponies begged you to spare their lives, you have no room to talk” Sweetie said. “Okay but you said to free us, so please do it. We have nothing else to lose,” Blinkie said, but she had a plan. “Alright,” Clyde and the others had a plan to. They just needed to get the tape out of the cave and to Canterlot. Then, they’ll be safe. Clyde handed it to Dazzy who was at the front of the cave. Then Sweetie untied the two fillies, at the same time they ran into Sweetie. She was kicked and punched. But then Dazzy was running down the cave, Amy and Clyde were buying time. “Hey, where’s Dazzy’s?!” Blinkie asked, “GET THE TAPE! GET THE F***ING TAPE!” They all tore down the mountain and pink foal stumbling down ahead of them. Inkie was so close to her but Sweetie rocketed herself and the serial killer. Blinkie passed them and Amy grabbed her tail. Blinkie bucked Amy’s face, pain shooting through her nose. Dazzy could see the Pie’s house. “HEL--” Dazzy was cut off by Blinkie tackling her and ripping the tape from her hoof. Clyde jumped up and grabbed the tape back and ran. Amy jumped on Blinkie’s back and pulled on her ears. Blinkie yelped, tears forming in her eyes. Clyde screamed, “MISS CLOUD AND MISTER ROCK!!!” Which were Inkie and Blinkie’s parents. Cloudy ran out, “dear god!” The foals caught up and Inkie tried to snatch the tape recorder but failed. Cloudy snatched the tape, “how dare you have this. No material possessions, we must--” Amy shoved Cloudy aside and took the recorder back, she took off. It took the others awhile to catch on but, soon they were running. “Limestone and Marblestone get back here!” But they continued to run. Amy made it to her house and locked the door, leaving her sisters outside. But they planned that too, there was a secret entrance from their closet to a tree. Clyde snuck away to get inside, she managed to get inside and met Amy. “What now! Mama’s gonna open the door!” “Remember the knife Inkie through down here, the first day we found out about their baking?” “Yeah! You kept it, that could help” Clyde said. The bedroom door was locked but they heard the house door open. “We gotta hide the tape, I have a loose floorboard.” Amy stashed the tape under the board and the Pie’s knocked on the door. Amy looked out the window, their parents safely by the river farming gems. She closed the curtain and Clyde held the knife in front of herself. The door unlocked and swung open the Pie’s ran in. “Get out! I don’t want to hurt you, you hurt enough people…” Clyde said. “You must understand--” “No you understand this, you caused great pain to so many people. You pastries were good and we have sinned since we ate your treats. But it is not our fault, it’s yours. You pastries are nasty, and generic. To kill ponies to make them---” Amy began to rant but, was cut off by Inkie punching her across the face. Blinkie taking the knife and pointing it at Amy. “Give us the tape, we tortured before we aren’t afraid to do it again” Blinkie explained. Clyde didn’t have a plan for this, it had spiraled out of control. But Dazzy appeared in the doorway and black eye on her face, and a wide smile on her face. A cop came behind her, a gun pointed at the armed foal. The Pie’s were arrested and the tape severed as enough evidence to bring Pinkamena down with them. But an evil secret brewed in the family. For a little filly was locked in a cellar, when she was found she would have an amazing story to tell and an amazing story to hear. Author's Note Only one more main story, now the side stories. Muffins Family Side Story: Hearts Strong As Crystals Muffins Family Side Story: Hearts Strong As Crystals It was a lovely day outside, small wispy white clouds floated through the air. The sun was hot and the breeze was cold, it was a perfect day outside. Dragons tore through the air, and fishes leaped through vast currents of crystal blue waters. Amy and Dazzy stepped behind Dazzy’s house, there was a row of rocks and dead grass. Dazzy pushed past it revealing a hole. “Are you sure about this,” Amy asked, feeling nervous. “Of course, I go here everytime.” Dazzy pulled the rope from around her waist and place one end down the hole and the other was wrapped around a rock and more rocks were piled on top of it. “Come on,” Dazzy said and climbed down the rope. Amy pushed her head through the hole, she could barely see her hoof in front her face, her fear of tight spaces kicked in, but she ignored it. She reached and wrapped her hooves around the rope, Amy turned herself around so that her hooves dangled inside the hole and lowered herself down. After a while Amy’s hooves felt ground underneath them. Suddenly, a beam of light cut through the darkness. The light caused the crystals to glow a light blue. It was a beautiful sight, Amy was so amazed all she could do is gape at it in amazement. Dazzy pulled out two hoof-held pickaxes from her saddlebag, she passed one to the lavender filly. “What is this for,” Amy asked. Her eyes still locked on the glowing crystals. “We’re gonna mine them! And then we’ll make them into pretty necklaces,” Dazzy explained. She trotted over a sharp crystal that protruded from the ground. She raised the pickaxe over her head and then brought it down with all her might, the crystal shattered into shards. Some sliced at Dazzy’s skin, the cuts weren’t serious, and Dazzy didn’t even flinch. “I-I-I’m scared,” Amy admitted with a pout. “It’s fine,” Dazzy said, picking up the shards of crystal with her mouth. Amy stepped over to a crystal that too came from the ground, the tip was dulled over and rounded. Amy swung at it from the side, leaving a small dent in it. She swung again, hitting in the same spot, cracks spread from the hit but it did not break. At this point Amy was panting, her arms sore. Amy attempted to left her pickaxe again but it slipped through her sweaty hooves. Dazzy walked over, “let me help you.” Dazzy struck the crystal with her pickaxe and it exploded and rained crystal down on the foals. Amy winced as a few crystals sliced at her fur, Amy stood to her hooves and picked Dazzy up. Dazzy had gotten more cuts, so it was harder to stand. “You alright?” Amy said. “Yea-Yeah,” Dazzy said. She let her saddlebag fall from her back, she flipped a pack open and pulled out a canteen. She gave it a shake to test if it was full, Dazzy smiled as she heard water slosh around in there. Dazzy pulled the cap off and took a swig from it, she then passed it to Amy, who took a swig as well. Amy rooted around in the bag for band-aids. She placed them on the more...serious cuts on her hooves and arms before putting it back in. “Come on let’s head deeper,” Dazzy said, tying her saddlebag around her back. Dazzy lead Amy to a tight crawl space, Dazzy only took her flashlight and left everything else behind. The crawl space was dusty and dirty, and suffocating. But to Amy’s surprise the crawl space wasn’t that long, only a about ten inches. Amy stood to her hooves, she looked around the ground was covered in various crystals, the small patches of ground were brown and hard. There was a thin path cutting through all of it, Amy hesitated before following behind Dazzy. “Where are we going,” Amy asked. “I have a very special crystal that I want to find for you,” Dazzy said. “It’s in the shape of heart, it’s hot pink, and tales say that if you look in it then it shows the one you love the most!” “Oooooo,” Amy cooed, picturing this crystal. They carefully maneuvered around the crystals and rocks. Dazzy pulled out a long piece of rope at the end was a four sharp knives that stuck out in different directions. She took aim and threw it, it gripped into the rock above and she climbed on it. Dazzy ushered Amy up the rope, who looked unsure. “Come on Amy!” Dazzy begged. Amy stood on her hind legs using the rope for stability. Amy pulled her up on the rope, she then used her hind hooves to sit on the rope and used her front hooves to push herself up again. Her hooves came in contact with the rock and she pulled herself up. Dazzy took Amy’s hooves and helped to pull her up. Then the two continued on, stopping briefly to collect rocks and discarded gems. It was fun. They laughed and chat, until they reached a fork in the path. “Where do we go?” Amy asked. Dazzy pointed the beam of light to the right, “there.” And they trotted down that path finding a large crystal, it was many feet off the ground. It was a heart alright, but a crude one at best. It looks like a heart that a foal would draw with a crayon. Dazzy squealed in delight and ran forward, it felt surreal to Amy. Like at any moment she would wake up from this amazing dream. Dazzy was already in front the crystal, however it was too high up to just simply grab. “Come here Amethyst,” Dazzy stated. Amy trotted over and allowed Dazzy to climb on her back. Even then they were just below it. Dazzy used her hoof to find something to grab and hold on to, when she found it she pulled herself up. “I’ll catch you,” Amy promised backing up to see what was happening. Dazzy moved one hoof over to the crystal embedded in the rock. She pulled it, feeling it come lose a bit. She tugged at it harder before her hoof slipped. She moved that hoff back to the ledge that she was holding on to. Her shoulders ached and her throat was dry. Dazzy pushed all thoughts away expecting getting the crystal for her friend. In truth Amy Gem was Dazzy’s first and only friend. She didn’t exactly get along with other ponies but for some reason Amy was different. Like they fit together like two puzzle pieces. And now that they were offical friends, she wanted to do anything to stay friends with her. Almost if Amy was a God that Dazzy bowed down to. In turn, Amy was kind and generous. But Dazzy just wasn’t strong enough. Dazzy’s hooves slipped and she fell to the ground. Amy rushed forward, she was able to catch Dazzy in time which softened her fall. Then Dazzy began to cry, it wasn’t because she was in pain… “What’s wrong Dazzy,” Amy asked. It wasn’t a question. “Uh...it’s okay. We don’t need that silly crystal.” “I wanted *sniff* to get it *sniff* for youuu,” Dazzy said still sobbing pathetically. “I don’t a crystal, as long as I have you.” Amy said, hugging Dazzy. Just then a flash illuminated the dim cave. It took awhile for Amy’s brain to process what had happened. Amy looked at her flank, then let out a loud squeal, causing bats to flutter away in fright. On her flank was a hot pink crystal in the shape of a heart, just like the one they had tried to mine. “AMYTHEST YOU GOT YOUR CUTIE MARK,” Dazzy squealed. “I KNOW! THIS IS AMAZING!” “YOU GOTTA SHOW YOUR SISTERS!” “I GOTTA SHOW MY SISTERS,” Amy sprung up and ran out the cave. “Hey! Wait up,” Dazzy shouted. ~*~ Amy was still ecstatic as she entered her home that evening. She found her Mother in kitchen, cooking soup. “Hey mama-.” “You! You and your sisters are in VERY deep trouble.” “Wha? But mama, I-” “Go to your room! NOW!” Amy’s Mom pointed in the direction of their bedroom. Amy hung her head and trotted out the kitchen. She pushed past the door to their bedroom, inside was her two sisters Sweetie and Clyde. And also a another filly... UnlockedAmy was dumbfounded, millions of questions raced through her mind, along with smart remarks. But all she could say was, “uh…” Sweetie lept forward and hugged Amy, “you got your cutie mark! Hooray!” Amy pushed her sister off, “forget my cutie mark. Who is SHE?” The filly had grey fur, and her midnight blue mane had begun to cover one of her eyes. She stared at the floor, her mane covering her face. “Well-” Sweetie began. “I’LL TELL IT!” Clyde shouted, “okay, okay. So me and Sweetie were playing by the river, telling stories. When Sweetie said, ‘what happened if there was a storm.’ I thought that was silly, but I said. ‘We can hide in the cellar.’ Then she was like: ‘I don’t think the Pie’s have one.’ And I was like, ‘sure they do, they probably hide it under some rocks or something.’ And then she was like: ‘I don’t think so.’ And I was like-” “Okay. I think she gets it,” Sweetie scoffed. “Anyway. We decided to go to the Pie’s house and a secret mission. We left no stone unturned, literally, until we found a pile of rocks. We pushed it aside to reveal a cellar. “See I told you, they hide it under some rocks,” I stated. We opened it and descended the stairs. “Mama?” Some voice said, “Stop it Clyde. Your not funny.” “I didn’t say that,” Clyde promised. Amy furrowed her brow, “so you mean. That filly over there lived in a cellar? Seems pretty messed up.” “Yeah. We were terrified! And then the Pie’s came, and scolded us. But Miss Cloudy looked like a foal getting caught doing something bad,” Clyde said, she fell back laughing. “We asked her why that foal was down there, she said: “girls don’t worry. She’s a bad pony...she wants to hurt you guys and me. We have to keep her down there, for your own protection.” “NO! YOU’RE EVIL,” the filly suddenly yelled. She covered her face with her hooves. “Aww poor Minkie,” Sweetie cooed, giving ‘Minkie’ a warm hug. “So. That’s why we’re in trouble?” Amy asked. “Yeah, than that bitch, told Mama that we locked a foal from the village down there, but she caught us ‘before it was too late.’” Clyde sneered. “But that’s a lie! Mama can’t just-” “Adults are so trusting! What if a foal told them that somepony was gonna kill them, then they wouldn’t listen. And they’d be dead,” Sweetie frowned. “But at least you got your cutie mark,” Minkie said quietly. They had a hard time hearing her. “How did you get your cutie mark,” Clyde asked incredulously. “Me and Dazzy went mining by one of the caves.” “That’s it,” Sweetie said. Amy gave a slight nod, “what are we gonna do with Minkie? Well...you know what I mean.” “We stole some food to give her,” Clyde pulled an old potato sack from under the bed. The contents of the bag began to roll out. “B-But that’s a lot of food!” Amy screamed. “Yeah but she could have been in there for years! She needs all the food she can get,” Clyde said. “Can ponies survive years without food,” Amy asked. “Maybe…” Sweetie trailed off, pondering it for a moment. “Anyway, Minkie Pie want something to eat?” Minkie nodded, a smile stretching across face. “Can I have those brown circles!?” “You mean the hash browns,” Clyde asked. Minkie nodded vigorously. “We ran out...we have one-” Clyde eyes fell on Sweetie, who was trying to stuff the last hash brown into her mouth and keep it hidden at the same time. They all rolled their eyes at Sweetie, Minkie still wearing the sly smile. “Jasper, Amethyst, Garnet!” Crystal Sapphire, their mother, shouted. “Come here.” The fillies slowly trotted toward their parent. Their father, Rough Stone, was also there, looking equally cross. “Yes Mother,” Clyde asked. “Cloudy Quartz told us that you locked her daughter in a cellar for many years now. That is sick, and you’ll likely go to Hell for that act!” Crystal explained. “You’re lucky that God is forgiving, otherwise he’d smite you down.” “Papa listen. We-,” Sweetie was cut off by a hard smack to the face. “Don’t take back to your father, you should be very ashamed.” Crystal stated. Rough Stone picked up a stick that was lying on a shelf. It was long and thin, made of wood and covered with leather so it would last longer. The stallion used this device to punish his daughters because it caused pain, but not permanent damage. Rough Stone raised the stick… It was midnight and Crystal Gem and Cloudy Quartz were sipping wine and chatting. They needed to relax over what has happened over the few months. Cloudy rubbed her temple, “my own daughters serial killers. How long would it have been before they came after me? How long would it have been before I noticed?” Her voice soft and solemn. Crystal put a hoof on her cousin’s shoulder. “We could not have known. Nopony could have known.” “B-But...when ponies disappeared, there was no investigation. Nopony looked into it, maybe if they did...so many ponies would be alive.” Crystal sighed, “they're with God now. God felt it was their time.” “But not to serial killers! God wouldn’t have wanted them to be tortured and made into pastries, and oh Celestia we all ate pony meat!” Cloudy felt sick, but she swallowed the vomit attempting to come up. “Just drink. It will help you forgot about what happened...for a moment at least.” And they did, drinking so much that they finished the bottle. Cloudy was a lightweight so by now she was unaware of her actions. However Crystal hadn’t drunk most of the bottle, so she was still coherent. “I beat my children…*sigh* I feel terrible,” Crystal said, swirling her last cup of wine. “*hic* have you seen that stallion at daaaaaaaa church. He *hic* cute.” Cloudy slurred randomly. “Cloudy!” Crystal laughed, “I don’t know what to do with my children. Stone and I are thinking about sending them to the nuns.” “I think you should, ahhh...lock them outside. And treat them like their locked in a cellar,” Cloudy said. “Hmm. How are we supposed to feed them?” “Give dem a slice of bread...dat’s wat I gave Minkie Pie,” Cloudy said without thinking. Crystal was puzzled, what I gave Minkie? “What?” Crystal stated. Cloudy began to laugh. “You locked Minkie Pie in that cellar.” “*hic* maybe,” Cloudy smiled. Crystal stood up quickly, thinking about her children, she felt sorry for them. She felt sorry for Minkie Pie. As fresh tears rolled down her cheeks, Crystal let the wine glasses shattered against the floor and exited. “Where ya going,” Cloudy asked following behind Crystal. Minkie had seen what happened to her ‘friends.’ They had been beaten by their parents, this enraged her. She had been hiding behind the couch, clutching a knife desperately. She heard the door swing open followed by drunken chatter. Minkie bite down on the knife handle and inched her way toward two dark figures. She waited until they reached their bedroom, assuming that they were the Mother and Father. Once they entered the room, Minkie slammed the door shut behind herself. Minkie raised the knife over her head, eyes locked on the cowering figures. Clyde awoke to bloodcurdling screams, Clyde groaned and slipped out of bed. Clyde saw blood running out the door to her parent’s room. Scared Clyde slowly pushed the door open, she saw Minkie Pie standing over her parents and Cloudy, a knife between her teeth and that unmistakable red staining her fur. Clyde screamed. Amy and Sweetie rushing to her aid, until to scream themselves. Minkie was shocked, “what?” “WHY DID YOU KILL THEM!?!” “They hurt you...I-I-” “YOU DON’T JUST KILL WHOEVER HURTS YOU! THAT’S NOT THE WAY!!” Minkie began to sob, collapsing in the pool of red. “We have to burry them…” Amy frowned. “Then...turn ourselves in.” “WHAT!?” Clyde said, “WHY US!? WE DIDN’T KILL HER!” Sweetie said, “yeah! Why us?” “Guys, we could have prevented this.” Amy whined. “How,” Clyde asked. “Maybe if we were more observant then we’d seen Minkie Pie leave.” Clyde sneered, “bullshi-” Suddenly, there was a blinding flash, allowing them to see every detail in the room for a second. Yep, their parents weren’t coming back. They all looked at Minkie’s flank, there was a black lock branded on her grey flank. Despite Minkie getting her cutie mark, Minkie didn’t perk up. Amy trotted over to her Mother and grabbed a limb. She pulled on it, dragging it across the carpet. Clyde cursed and went to help her sister. Instead of helped, Sweetie went to clean the blood. In an hour the whole room was clean, they left the bodies outside. Clyde, Amy, and Sweetie stood over the shallow graves of their parents and cousin. They were crying heavily. Minkie watched from inside the house, the fillies even put on their best black dress. Minkie wondered why they cared so much, she had killed the one’s who hurt them. They should be happy! Minkie looked at the bloodstained knife on the floor, then to her ‘friends.’ They cared for her. Was she really gonna do this?
Hurricane ClydeIt was a chilly winter day and three young fillies laid cuddled together. The first had pretty red hair, short bangs covering her eyebrows. Her hide was a grey mist and her eyes a fiery orange. The second had a matte grey hide with violet hair and deep green eyes. And the last one had a light lavender coat and blue hair with golden eyes. The first was Garnet Pie, the second was Jasper Pie, and the last was Amethyst Pie. They called each other by nicknames, Garnet being “Clyde”, Jasper being “Sweetie, and Amethyst being “Amy.” Clyde was very fun to be around, and looked out for her sisters. Jasper was very sweet and often put herself before her sisters. Jasper would share food with them or, take the blame for a something they did wrong. Amy was shy but very smart and many times was able to prove her parents wrong. Clyde spoke, “i-it’s s-so cold.” Sweetie sniffled, having caught a cold this season. “I know, this blanket isn’t big enough for all *sneeze* of us.” Amy rolled her eyes, “if you hadn’t dropped the Sapphire, then they could of bought us a better blanket.” “It’s not my fault, *cough, cough* I’m sick and they don’t feed us enough.” Sweetie said, her eyes had dark circles around them. “But guys! Inkie and Blinkie are coming over!” Clyde cheered. “Really!” The two sister asked. “Papa said-” Clyde began. “Papa is a big fat liar! He said he was going into town to buy me some medicine but, he just brought back for tools for Gem Digging.” Sweetie said, they had despised their parents after Pinkamena showed all the kids in the village how to smile. “We have more pickaxes than food these days.”Amy said, turning her back on her sisters. “Now go to sleep.” Her sisters listened, each closing their eyes and dozing off to sleep in their small bed… Amy awoke in the morning to find her sister's gone, she rolled out of bed and fell to her hooves. Slowly she made her way into the kitchen, she grabbed a shiny green apple and wiped it on her chest briefly before biting into it. Amy quickly finished her apple and went into the front yard. There Clyde and Sweetie were working near a river by the house, however the river was blocked by a thin row of trees. Sweetie was using a shallow pan to sift through dirt and rocks, while Clyde was using a shovel to dig a the edge of the river. Amy trotted over to them, “hey, how come you didn’t wake me up.” Sweetie rubbed her eyes and yawned, “we didn’t want to wake up…” “I hear Blinkie Pie got her cutie mark.” Clyde said, digging the tip into the dirt. “Really? When!” Sweetie asked, dropping the pan into the river. “She got a gold nugget cutie mark, and I think last week.” Clyde explained. “How come Mama never told us, they're our cousins!” Sweetie asked, reaching her hoof over to grab the pan and failing. “Hey, you know how long it takes for News to reach all of Rock Country.” Clyde said, her eyes wandering to the pan in the river, which was now floating away. “Sweetie! Get the pan, Mama’s gonna kill us.” Soon all three of them were grabbing for the pan but it had sailed down the river and to the revines. Sweetie began to cry. “Why am I so careless?” Sweetie said wiping her tears. “I’m going after it.” Clyde said. “Are you crazy it’s just a pan.” “I’m not letting you guys get hurt.” Clyde said and stood in the shallow part of the river. “I’m comin-*cough* -g too.” Sweetie said. “No, we have to cover for Clyde.” Amy said, who had been listening to everything. Sweetie didn’t ponder it long, she nodded as Clyde swam into the deeper parts of the river. Finding small rocks to stand on. Clyde felt the water wrap itself around her and pull her under. Clyde’s arms worked overtime as she churned through the water. A wave smashed into her, making her cough. Water rushed into her nose and she panicked, Clyde failed about uselessly. M-maybe, I could go back. Clyde struggled at the river, she saw something glint in the sun. Her heart raced more because of the strain on her lungs then the excitement of the pan. She smiled at the pan only a few feet away. Clyde felt adrenaline surge through her, rocketing to her heart and bolting her through the water. She never reached the pan, the pan reached her. It smashed in her forehead along with a wave. The crash was like slamming the brakes on a runaway train. Clyde couldn't swim anymore, she didn’t even struggle. She turned to face her sister’s at the river's edge. Her heart sank, it was to far to swim and to far for her sisters to reach her. Another wave came and she was pulled under water, her eyes refused to close. Closing meant defeat. She still tried to pull up to the surface, clutching the pan in her mouth. She saw something else glint in the light. She turned herself to face it, a ruby perhaps? A Dragon Clan lived in the mountains around Rock Country. Pretty much the only reason so many gems were found here. Clyde swam over to it, she picked it up. It was larger than rubies, so it had to be garnet. She beamed, it had to be faith. Faith that she was named after the same gem, she found on her deathbed. Clyde swam over to it, running out of breathe. She didn’t care, she let go off the pan and gripped the garnet close against her chest. Clyde gasped as a blinding flash lit up the water for a second. It was enough to reveal her tail, caught under a rock. Clyde held the gem in one hoof and her tail in another. She pulled at her tail before feeling her whole body float to the surface. “Ahh!” Clyde inhaled and swam to shore. Clyde trotted with the garnet in her hoof. Sweetie wrapped herself around her sister. “We were so worried, when you went underwater-” Amy interrupted her shouting, “YOUR FLANK, LOOK AT YOUR FLANK!” Clyde’s gaze followed Amy and Sweetie’s gaze to her flank. A single garnet gemstone adorned her flank. Clyde squealed ‘I got my cutie mark!’ “Where’s the pan?” Amy asked. “Forget the pan! Let’s go!” Clyde stated and started for the house. They found their parents in the kitchen making dinner. Papa looked at Clyde in disgust, he gasped as he noticed the image on her flank. “Look Mama, Papa Cly- I mean Garnet got her cutie mark!” Sweetie said. Mama turned to face them, her hair was pulled back in a bun, and glasses sat on the tip of her nose. “Where did you get that?” Clyde sighed and told her parents the story of how she went swimming in the river and almost drowned. “You went into the river? We told you fillies never to enter the river.” Mama took some steps toward Clyde. “WAIT!” Sweetie said, “I forced her to go. She didn’t want to but, I forced her…” Clyde’s eyes widened, oh no she’s trying to stand up for me. “No.” Clyde said, “we lost the pan I went to get it, reciving my cutie mark..was just, a bonus.” “You.” Papa said, tapping Clyde’s chest so hard that she coughed. “Jasper Pie and Amethyst Pie to your rooms.” “But what about Gar-” “Don’t talk back, go to your room.” Mama insisted before watching her other children leave. Sweetie cried for her sister as she sat on the rug in Amy’s lap. “Clyde’s tough, she won’t cry.” Amy said, stroking Sweetie’s mane. Sweetie didn’t realize she fell asleep and only woke up when the door swung open. Clyde stood there, not a single tear on her face... Author's Note I'm changing all the titles so they are more creative...
Making PieIt was a bright blue day in Rock Country. Small wispy clouds floated gently across the skies and the river sparkled with gems waiting to be found. Sweetie -Jasper- trotted over to the river. If her sister got her cutie mark in the river then her cutie mark must be somewhere else. Sweetie walked around the farm until Mama called her in for lunch. There were Limestone and Marblestone Pie, her cousins, sitting on the rug. “Blinkie, Inkie!” Sweetie said running up to meet them. “Hello Jasper!” Inkie Pie said hugging her cousin back. “Call me Sweetie. We made nicknames for ourselves like Pinkamena did.” Sweetie explained. “Hmm.” Blinkie stated, rubbing her chin. Clyde entered the room and stood in the middle of the circle, “I got my cutie mark!” “We got our cutie mark months ago.” Blinkie said with a sneer. Amy furrowed her brow, “..okay.” “We started baking with Pinkamena, we brought some Pineapple Turnover.” Blinkie said with a wide smile. “Thanks, we barely get anything sweet to eat!” Amy added. “We barely get anything to eat at all…” Sweetie said, staring at her flank which was void of a cutie mark. Inkie bit her lip and followed them to the kitchen, a fake silver tray sat on the counter, on it sat a square cake with rings of pineapple on it and cherries in the middle of those rings. Sweetie grabbed a small knife and cut slices for everyone. The fillies then went outside to eat. “Mmm, this is delicious, what’s in it?” Clyde asked, tasting her slice. Blinkie Pie pursed her lips. “You know, flour...stuff.” Inkie Pie added. “Well, it is delicious.” Sweetie added… Sweetie awoke the next morning and couldn’t find Clyde. “Amy where’s Clyde?” “I don’t know, let’s look.” Amy said trotting out the house. “CLYDE!” Sweetie called out every now and again. “Maybe she went back home with Inkie and Blinkie.” Amy said. “Okay let’s check…” Sweetie said, when they reached The Pie’s house they found their parents in the back working. “Have you’ve seen Cly- Garnet.” Amy asked. “We don’t not know where they are, they say to have gone into town.” Cloudy said. “Ugh.” Amy said, “let’s go…” “Hurry, Inkie!” Blinkie said dragging an unconscious filly to their cave. They kidnapped and tortured fillies and made them into cupcakes, which is why they were so good! “I’m trying, Clyde got a lot heavier.” “And Sweetie and Amy are gonna look for her.” Blinkie said, the cave being up a mountain. “They will never think to check here…” Inkie stated. “Clyde!” Sweetie said, running through town. “Sweetie.” Amy said, walking over to her broken sister. “Clyde…” Sweetie said crying heavily. “We’ll find her!” Amy assured her. “Let’s check the Pie’s House again.” Sweetie sniffed as she wiped her tears, “alright.” “We told you they are not here, do you not understand that?” Cloudy said. “We understand, but my sister is missing and I’ll find her.” Sweetie said, pushing herself past Cloudy Quartz Amy following behind. Sweetie seemed determined as the jumped up the mountain. “Uh...hey! She’s not up there!” Amy said, following her up the mountain. Sweetie was still climbing the mountain, “she swam a raging river and brought back her cutie mark and also a gemstone.” “Yeah… but, still be carefull.” Amy said, refusing to leave Sweetie alone. Inkie and Blinkie had finally got to the cave and were beginning to strap Clyde to the table. “What should we make?” “The usual cupcakes.” Inkie stated and buckled don Clyde’s legs in a Starfish form. “Okay…” Blinkie agreed, tying Clyde’s arms down. Sweetie stopped to breathe and stared at the sky. She saw a small opening that might be a cave, “let’s go there, into the cave!” “Are you crazy dragons could be there!?” Amy yelled. “We have to try!” Sweetie said. Amy bit her lip, “okay…” Blinkie got a set of knives ready on the table a few feet in front the captured Clyde. Sweetie pulled her forelegs onto the edge of the opening and climbed inside the cave. What met her there sent an icy blast through her spine. Amy pulled herself into the cave and was equally as shocked. Blinkie grabbed a dull knife and when she heard hoofsteps she spun around. To face her shocked cousins. Inkie Pie turned around and pursed her lips, sweat dripped from her brow. “WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!” Sweetie suddenly yelled, filled with more rage than she had ever felt in her life. Her love for her sisters was just too great. “I-” “YOU SICK TWISTED, BASTARDS, DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT YOU’RE DOING!!” Sweetie added. Blinkie was truly shocked making her drop the knife she was holding. Sweetie took that chance to run up and buck Blinkie across the face with her front hooves. Sweetie grabbed the knife in her hoof and cut her sister free. Clyde hit the floor and that’s when she woke up. Clyde’s vision was blurred but when it cleared she saw Sweetie and Inkie fighting for a knife, Blinkie passed out cold on the floor, and Amy standing there with wide eyes and her hooves clasped over her mouth. Clyde stood to her hooves, the ringing in her ears subsiding. Clyde could her Sweetie yelling, “you were gonna bake Clyde into what? APPLE PIE-” The room lit up in a bright flash and everypony gasped. Blinkie recovered from her daze and slowly woke up. Sweetie looked around from the source of the flash, that seemed to happened behind her. Sweetie spun around until she saw a single pie on her flank. Sweetie smiled but, it quickly fell as Inkie leaped over and tackled her. Inkie punched Sweetie across the face before Amy leaped over and knocked Inkie off her. Blinkie jumped onto Amy and bit down on some pony's back hoof. “Ahh!” Sweetie screamed feeling something prick her ankle. “EVERYPONY STOP!” Clyde screamed, but drew her ears back when she had everyone’s attention. “What’s going on!” Clyde said, “we can’t keep fighting forever.” Inkie sighed and explained the process of how Blinkie, Pinkie, and herself would kidnap, torture, and bake ponies in pastries. She then explained how they were gonna kill Clyde. “I got my cutie mark by saving my sister from serial killers?” Sweetie asked, “how am I ever gonna explain this to the village!” Inkie’s face changed color, “no...d-don’t do that.” “You’re killing ponies! Over what, some pastries?” Sweetie said. “It makes them tasty.” Blinkie said, smiling nervously. Amy burst out laughing. “So you really can’t bake at all, your ‘pastries’ suck so bad you need to kill ponies so they taste decent? HA!” “How dare you insult Pinkamena!?” Inkie yelled. “Calm down!” Clyde stated. Blinkie hung her head, “let’s go home…” Nothing more was said on the matter and they all descended the mountain… “How did you get your cutie mark.” Sweetie’s Mom asked during dinner with the Pie’s. Blinkie bite her lip and Inkie seemed to be praying to Celestia that Sweetie wouldn’t tell them about their ‘baking.’ “Me and the Pie’s...baked a pie…” Sweetie lied and Blinkie sighed. It was late at night and the Pie sisters were staying over. “Thanks for not telling…” Inkie said after minutes of silence. “Just stop, I can’t believe you guys are murders…” Sweetie said. “You can join us if you like…” Blinkie said and Amy turned to face her like she had 3 heads. “Are you kidding me, killing is a sin. Not to mention crazy!” Clyde stated. “You can get revenge on the people who hurt you…” Blinkie said. “No thanks but, when I die I would like to be at peace, and not stuck in a agonizing limbo with everyone who ever hurt me.” Sweetie said but then glanced at her flank. It would be a constant reminder that her own cousins tried to kill her sister. “What does your cutie mark even mean.” Inkie asked. “The PIE sisters tried to kill me, and turn me into a PIE.” Clyde scoffed. “I have you know we were planning on making cupcakes…” Inkie added. “THAT’S NOT THE ISSUE HERE!” Amy yelled. “Then what is!” Blinkie asked. “YOU GUYS KI-” Sweetie began before Amy the closest one to her slapped her hoof over her mouth. They quickly shut their eyes and pretended to sleep when Igneous Rock came in to check on them. When he left, Amy was the first to speak again, “just promise us this.” “Don’t kill us…” There was a silence. “Okay…” Inkie said tossing a knife across the room. “What?”
A Dazzling DiamondAmy trudged along, kicking every rock in her path. Today was Sunday, which means Bible study. Sweetie hated this long trek as much as her other sisters. At least she could show off her cutie mark. Finally they reached the church, the sisters hurrying along to seat down and rest their sore hooves. The pastor, Holy Mackerel began. “Please rise,” Holy stated firmly. “Aww,” Amy groaned silently, rising to her sore hooves. Holy Mackerel levitated the Bible onto a podium, “today we will continue our read through of the Old Testament. We left off on?” He asked. “Genesis, 26,” a mare said, readjusting her reading glasses. “Correct,” her husband confirmed, pulling a black bookmark out his bible. The sisters Mom pulled three bibles out her saddlebag, handing one to the fillies. Together they read the entire chapter, it was gurling to many of the foals. Now, church was over. Amy, Sweetie, and Clyde were outside the church with the other foals playing. They looked under rocks, climbed trees, and drank from the river. Some even dared to ‘baptise’ themselves. Amy felt left out, she drew in the dirt with her hoof. Before she had Sweetie and Clyde but now, they were playing with all the other foals with their cutie marks. A pink earth filly sat next to her, a shiny diamond on her flank. “Hello,” the filly said. “I’m Dazzy Diamond!” Amy wiped the heart made in the ground, “I’m Amy.” “Why aren’t you playing?” “I don’t have a cutie mark.” “You can play with me!” Dazzy rose to her hooves, “Com’on!” Amy sighed and rose to her hooves too, sprinting after Dazzy. “Look,” Dazzy said, tearing into a river. Amy carefully stepped into the river after her. It was pretty sallow. Dazzy dived under the water and pulled out a wool bag. She handed it to Amy, who opened. Amy gasped, “oh my Celestia!” The bag was with around 50 small diamonds. “Where did you get this!” “I found a cave, and mined it up! See my cutie mark,” Dazzy said, pointing to her flank. “Cool.” “Keep it, I found many more!” Dazzy smiled. “Thank you, so much” Amy said. “Wanna look for gems?” “Sure!” Dazzy squealed. “How?” “Go under water and dig,” Amy explained before diving under the surface. Dazzy dived under to, pushing away gravel and the bottom. She found a thin slice of silver. They popped back onto the surface. “I did good, right?” Dazzy asked. “Ha, you did great but, that’s not worth a bag of eggs.” “Bag?” “I’m joking. That’s a great start.” Amy explained and inhaled sharply and dived back under. She dug a few feet under and grabbed a teeny tiny amethyst. “Why are there so much gemstone here?” “Dragons like to fly, in and out through these lands. I guess they drop their ‘lunch’ all over the place.” Amy explained. “Wow, I farm rocks. My cutie mark is a diamond because of the cave.” “We always want what we can’t have, “ Amy groaned, exiting the river. “So what now?” Dazzy asked. “We should dry off, they would make us sit outside if we’re wet.” “Yeah.” So they dried off and soon church started again. This time, they had planned a prayer and church was over. Amy lied awake at night, thinking. They said thinking was bad, ‘foals shouldn’t think so much.’ Mama said. ‘Fills their heads with foolish ideas.’ Amy scooted off bed, which was hard since she was in the middle. She headed outside, and over into town. She found Dazzy’s house by looking at the decorations. She went there once for a prayer session. She snuck into the back and knocked on Dazzy window. Dazzy came over and opened it. “What are you doing here,” Dazzy whispered. “I’m bored.” “We can’t go outside now.” “Please!” Amy begged. “Alright…” Dazzy groaned, letting her in. “I have some cards.” “Yeah!” Amy said. There was a loud thump, as Amy fell to the floor. “So… Why did you come?” Dazzy asked, putting down a queen. “Can’t sleep,” Amy put it simply. “Hmmm” Dazzy said. “Have you heard of the disappearance of a teen colt. Star Bucks, I think.” “Yeah, they ignored it. I heard he was playing devil's music.” Amy said, placing down a Club. Dazzy raised her eyebrow, “I thought he ran off?” “Pffft, yeah like--” Amy cut herself off. Remembering her cousins obsession with foal napping ponies. “What?” “Nothing…” After a game of cards Amy snuck back home, in the morning they did their chores then hunted for gems. They found nothing… Amy headed over to Dazzy’s house to play with her. But only her mom came to the door. “She went with the Pie sisters,” the mom said. This worried Amy. And the Pie sisters mom said the same thing, “they went over to the Diamond’s house.” Amy filled with fury, as she stormed off. Heading up the mountain, and into the infamous cave. Little did she know, the Pie’s had planned it all out. And they were hiding with Dazzy in a bush. Amy went home and played with her sisters. It was at dinnertime when she had figured out what the Pie’s figured out. They knew someone would come after them after one of the disappearances. But why did they do this?! So what if your pastries aren’t that good. No need to spill innocent blood. Amy ran outside, so suddenly. That they all flinched. Amy screamed “DAZZY!” “Amethyst Amy Gem, you get your flank back in this house!” Amy didn’t listen instead kept running. She marched up to the cave and just as she feared. Dazzy was strapped down to the table, screaming and one of her cutie marks were removed. Amy put a hoof to her mouth and shushed her. For she was about to call out Amy’s name. Inkie Pie and Blinkie Pie were facing the other way. Amy ducked into a bush and thought of a plan. But her father found where she was and rushed into the cave. “What in God’s name is going on in here!” Her Father yelled, easily restraining Inkie. But Blinkie came and made him pass out. Amy held back a gasp, and stormed out of there. Bucking Blinkie Pie across the face, she had a black eye from last time, blacking out from shock. Inkie ran forward sliced Amy’s flank, she recoiled as Inkie tried to push her off the short cliff. Amy hit the ground and her head stung and her vision blurred. She took off, followed by Inkie. “GET BACK HERE!” Inkie screamed. With a burst of adrenaline Inkie caught up with her. Her scalpel replaced with a syringe. Inkie pressed her hoof against Amy’s throat and slowly brought the needle to her neck. Amy felt the needle prick her skin, when Inkie was tackled. All she saw was a grey blur and then she passed out...
Recovering and RevengeAmy was laid on a hospital bed. Recovering from a wound on her flank and neck, the needle sliced her neck in a horizontal line. Amy woke up with a splitting headache, and pain everywhere. The fall, the cuts, the memory. But she was alive. She moved but a needle sifted in her arm. A jolt of pain shook her awake. Is she safe? Or is the IV giving her poison, is the hospital a ploy set up by her cousins? She ripped the needle out and held back a cry of pain. Amy passing out moments later… A bandage covering her wound now and Dazzy was there. She sat on a wheelchair her flank stitched up and thick bandages wrapped around it. “Amy, you’re awake!” “Where’s my family?” “Visiting hours are up. They came but you were asleep, and you cut yourself. Are… you alright?” “Yeah. I thought the Pie sisters got to me, where are they?” “Their under investigation but otherwise, free.” “FREE! They killed countless ponies, and attempted to kill Clyde and you!” Amy shouted very angry. “I know but, that’s how the system works.” Amy sighed and looked around it was clean white. “I don’t remember Rock Country Hospital being this clean.” “We’re in Canterlot, Amy you’re a hero! You stop some serial killers!” Dazzy stated. “So Princess Celestia is gonna pay for the bill,” Amy asked. “I’m not sure, I just listen to them talking when they think we’re asleep.” “That’s *yawn* good. I need some rest,” Amy sighed. Dazzy climbed into bed and closed the privacy screen, “bye.” It was late at night and Amy was having a nightmare. She drank a cup of water and exited her room, at the end of the hall were Inkie and Blinkie. They came running down the hall, and Amy found herself tied to a table. She struggled but couldn’t break free. Amy felt the knife prick her stitched flank and red hot pain shot through her like this dream was real. Half of her feared that it was. Inkie and Blinkie were laughing as they sliced off her cutie mark. The pain became overwhelming and she passed out… “AHHHHH!” Amy yelled as she shot upward. Her chest heaved and her heart pumped. She saw a figure in front her bed and her Fight or Flight response kicked in. Fight, she launched at the figure and heard a “oof” similar to Sweetie’s voice. Sweetie flicked the lights on. “What are you doing here,” Amy asked. “It’s pretty easy to sneak into a hospital,” Sweetie sighed. Amy groaned, “I’m scared. The Pie sisters are free!” “Yeah and we don’t have any REAL proof. But we should get some…” “What do you mean? Going after the killers alone? ARE YOU MAD!?” “Me and Clyde we’re saying, we can capture them and make them THINK that we’ll torture them. We can pump them for information.” “Seems pretty far-fetched.” “It will work.” “I’m don’t wanna be part of your plan,” Amy said. “Fine! Me and Clyde can do it ourselves.” Sweetie said, she climbed onto a bookshelf and into a vent. Amy collapsed to the floor… In bed Amy woke up, “a dream within a dream.” Amy bit her hoof, it didn’t hurt. Was she dreaming? She drew a line on the wall to mark the dreamworld and the real world. She opened the window and outside was Rock Country which she knew shouldn’t be there. She jumped and before she hit the ground she woke up, the marking was gone and when she bit her hoof it hurt. But it was daytime, Amy got up and her family was there. “Mama, Papa” Amy said hugging her parents. Sweetie winked at her. And Amy’s eye widened, “what’s wrong?” Her Mother asked. Amy shook her head, “nothing.” “You can leave the hospital today, if you feel ready.” “I’m ready,” Amy said. “Can Dazzy come?” “Of course,” Clyde said smiling sweetly. Later that day they hoped on a carriage and headed back to Rock Country. Then they foalnapped Inkie Pie and Blinkie Pie, the pieces were falling in place. It was time to act. Inkie’s violet eyes slowly opened she moved but she was tied down. Blinkie was too, “what’s going on!” “Hi…” Clyde said, slowly. “How does it feel to be on the other end of the stick?” “Don’t worry Blinkie, they don’t have the guts.” Inkie stated. “We don’t have to hurt you, just explain. Why are you murdering ponies, how did you start?” “Really? We heard those tricks before.” “Please, tell us.” Amy said stepping out. “Alright,” Inkie said. “Pinkamena started it, why she started it? I don’t know. And when we found out we jumped into the fun. “FUN!?” Dazzy asked, gritting her teeth. “Yes. We killed so many ponies! And we love it, we’re coming after you next!” “That’s not something you should be saying to your captors,” Sweetie said. “I was a fool to let your carry on with your ways. I thought you would of stopped but, then this! You're going to hell, I wanna send you there -not before a slow and painful death-. But, honestly, it’s not your time.” “Don’t have the guts,” Blinkie repeated, in a sing-song voice. “Did you and Pinkamena kill other ponies!?” Clyde asked. “Yes,” they said together. “Louder.” “Yes!” “I said, louder!” “YES!” They screamed. “We killed them, we killed them!” Clyde revealed a tape that was recording the conversation, “thanks.” They looked like they seen a ghost, they shared worried looks. “‘Seen those tricks before,’ my hoof” Dazzy exclaimed. She was getting a kick out of this. “Please! Destroy the tape, destroy it!” Inkie begged. “I bet countless times ponies begged you to spare their lives, you have no room to talk” Sweetie said. “Okay but you said to free us, so please do it. We have nothing else to lose,” Blinkie said, but she had a plan. “Alright,” Clyde and the others had a plan to. They just needed to get the tape out of the cave and to Canterlot. Then, they’ll be safe. Clyde handed it to Dazzy who was at the front of the cave. Then Sweetie untied the two fillies, at the same time they ran into Sweetie. She was kicked and punched. But then Dazzy was running down the cave, Amy and Clyde were buying time. “Hey, where’s Dazzy’s?!” Blinkie asked, “GET THE TAPE! GET THE F***ING TAPE!” They all tore down the mountain and pink foal stumbling down ahead of them. Inkie was so close to her but Sweetie rocketed herself and the serial killer. Blinkie passed them and Amy grabbed her tail. Blinkie bucked Amy’s face, pain shooting through her nose. Dazzy could see the Pie’s house. “HEL--” Dazzy was cut off by Blinkie tackling her and ripping the tape from her hoof. Clyde jumped up and grabbed the tape back and ran. Amy jumped on Blinkie’s back and pulled on her ears. Blinkie yelped, tears forming in her eyes. Clyde screamed, “MISS CLOUD AND MISTER ROCK!!!” Which were Inkie and Blinkie’s parents. Cloudy ran out, “dear god!” The foals caught up and Inkie tried to snatch the tape recorder but failed. Cloudy snatched the tape, “how dare you have this. No material possessions, we must--” Amy shoved Cloudy aside and took the recorder back, she took off. It took the others awhile to catch on but, soon they were running. “Limestone and Marblestone get back here!” But they continued to run. Amy made it to her house and locked the door, leaving her sisters outside. But they planned that too, there was a secret entrance from their closet to a tree. Clyde snuck away to get inside, she managed to get inside and met Amy. “What now! Mama’s gonna open the door!” “Remember the knife Inkie through down here, the first day we found out about their baking?” “Yeah! You kept it, that could help” Clyde said. The bedroom door was locked but they heard the house door open. “We gotta hide the tape, I have a loose floorboard.” Amy stashed the tape under the board and the Pie’s knocked on the door. Amy looked out the window, their parents safely by the river farming gems. She closed the curtain and Clyde held the knife in front of herself. The door unlocked and swung open the Pie’s ran in. “Get out! I don’t want to hurt you, you hurt enough people…” Clyde said. “You must understand--” “No you understand this, you caused great pain to so many people. You pastries were good and we have sinned since we ate your treats. But it is not our fault, it’s yours. You pastries are nasty, and generic. To kill ponies to make them---” Amy began to rant but, was cut off by Inkie punching her across the face. Blinkie taking the knife and pointing it at Amy. “Give us the tape, we tortured before we aren’t afraid to do it again” Blinkie explained. Clyde didn’t have a plan for this, it had spiraled out of control. But Dazzy appeared in the doorway and black eye on her face, and a wide smile on her face. A cop came behind her, a gun pointed at the armed foal. The Pie’s were arrested and the tape severed as enough evidence to bring Pinkamena down with them. But an evil secret brewed in the family. For a little filly was locked in a cellar, when she was found she would have an amazing story to tell and an amazing story to hear. Author's Note Only one more main story, now the side stories.
Muffins Family Side Story: Hearts Strong As Crystals Muffins Family Side Story: Hearts Strong As Crystals It was a lovely day outside, small wispy white clouds floated through the air. The sun was hot and the breeze was cold, it was a perfect day outside. Dragons tore through the air, and fishes leaped through vast currents of crystal blue waters. Amy and Dazzy stepped behind Dazzy’s house, there was a row of rocks and dead grass. Dazzy pushed past it revealing a hole. “Are you sure about this,” Amy asked, feeling nervous. “Of course, I go here everytime.” Dazzy pulled the rope from around her waist and place one end down the hole and the other was wrapped around a rock and more rocks were piled on top of it. “Come on,” Dazzy said and climbed down the rope. Amy pushed her head through the hole, she could barely see her hoof in front her face, her fear of tight spaces kicked in, but she ignored it. She reached and wrapped her hooves around the rope, Amy turned herself around so that her hooves dangled inside the hole and lowered herself down. After a while Amy’s hooves felt ground underneath them. Suddenly, a beam of light cut through the darkness. The light caused the crystals to glow a light blue. It was a beautiful sight, Amy was so amazed all she could do is gape at it in amazement. Dazzy pulled out two hoof-held pickaxes from her saddlebag, she passed one to the lavender filly. “What is this for,” Amy asked. Her eyes still locked on the glowing crystals. “We’re gonna mine them! And then we’ll make them into pretty necklaces,” Dazzy explained. She trotted over a sharp crystal that protruded from the ground. She raised the pickaxe over her head and then brought it down with all her might, the crystal shattered into shards. Some sliced at Dazzy’s skin, the cuts weren’t serious, and Dazzy didn’t even flinch. “I-I-I’m scared,” Amy admitted with a pout. “It’s fine,” Dazzy said, picking up the shards of crystal with her mouth. Amy stepped over to a crystal that too came from the ground, the tip was dulled over and rounded. Amy swung at it from the side, leaving a small dent in it. She swung again, hitting in the same spot, cracks spread from the hit but it did not break. At this point Amy was panting, her arms sore. Amy attempted to left her pickaxe again but it slipped through her sweaty hooves. Dazzy walked over, “let me help you.” Dazzy struck the crystal with her pickaxe and it exploded and rained crystal down on the foals. Amy winced as a few crystals sliced at her fur, Amy stood to her hooves and picked Dazzy up. Dazzy had gotten more cuts, so it was harder to stand. “You alright?” Amy said. “Yea-Yeah,” Dazzy said. She let her saddlebag fall from her back, she flipped a pack open and pulled out a canteen. She gave it a shake to test if it was full, Dazzy smiled as she heard water slosh around in there. Dazzy pulled the cap off and took a swig from it, she then passed it to Amy, who took a swig as well. Amy rooted around in the bag for band-aids. She placed them on the more...serious cuts on her hooves and arms before putting it back in. “Come on let’s head deeper,” Dazzy said, tying her saddlebag around her back. Dazzy lead Amy to a tight crawl space, Dazzy only took her flashlight and left everything else behind. The crawl space was dusty and dirty, and suffocating. But to Amy’s surprise the crawl space wasn’t that long, only a about ten inches. Amy stood to her hooves, she looked around the ground was covered in various crystals, the small patches of ground were brown and hard. There was a thin path cutting through all of it, Amy hesitated before following behind Dazzy. “Where are we going,” Amy asked. “I have a very special crystal that I want to find for you,” Dazzy said. “It’s in the shape of heart, it’s hot pink, and tales say that if you look in it then it shows the one you love the most!” “Oooooo,” Amy cooed, picturing this crystal. They carefully maneuvered around the crystals and rocks. Dazzy pulled out a long piece of rope at the end was a four sharp knives that stuck out in different directions. She took aim and threw it, it gripped into the rock above and she climbed on it. Dazzy ushered Amy up the rope, who looked unsure. “Come on Amy!” Dazzy begged. Amy stood on her hind legs using the rope for stability. Amy pulled her up on the rope, she then used her hind hooves to sit on the rope and used her front hooves to push herself up again. Her hooves came in contact with the rock and she pulled herself up. Dazzy took Amy’s hooves and helped to pull her up. Then the two continued on, stopping briefly to collect rocks and discarded gems. It was fun. They laughed and chat, until they reached a fork in the path. “Where do we go?” Amy asked. Dazzy pointed the beam of light to the right, “there.” And they trotted down that path finding a large crystal, it was many feet off the ground. It was a heart alright, but a crude one at best. It looks like a heart that a foal would draw with a crayon. Dazzy squealed in delight and ran forward, it felt surreal to Amy. Like at any moment she would wake up from this amazing dream. Dazzy was already in front the crystal, however it was too high up to just simply grab. “Come here Amethyst,” Dazzy stated. Amy trotted over and allowed Dazzy to climb on her back. Even then they were just below it. Dazzy used her hoof to find something to grab and hold on to, when she found it she pulled herself up. “I’ll catch you,” Amy promised backing up to see what was happening. Dazzy moved one hoof over to the crystal embedded in the rock. She pulled it, feeling it come lose a bit. She tugged at it harder before her hoof slipped. She moved that hoff back to the ledge that she was holding on to. Her shoulders ached and her throat was dry. Dazzy pushed all thoughts away expecting getting the crystal for her friend. In truth Amy Gem was Dazzy’s first and only friend. She didn’t exactly get along with other ponies but for some reason Amy was different. Like they fit together like two puzzle pieces. And now that they were offical friends, she wanted to do anything to stay friends with her. Almost if Amy was a God that Dazzy bowed down to. In turn, Amy was kind and generous. But Dazzy just wasn’t strong enough. Dazzy’s hooves slipped and she fell to the ground. Amy rushed forward, she was able to catch Dazzy in time which softened her fall. Then Dazzy began to cry, it wasn’t because she was in pain… “What’s wrong Dazzy,” Amy asked. It wasn’t a question. “Uh...it’s okay. We don’t need that silly crystal.” “I wanted *sniff* to get it *sniff* for youuu,” Dazzy said still sobbing pathetically. “I don’t a crystal, as long as I have you.” Amy said, hugging Dazzy. Just then a flash illuminated the dim cave. It took awhile for Amy’s brain to process what had happened. Amy looked at her flank, then let out a loud squeal, causing bats to flutter away in fright. On her flank was a hot pink crystal in the shape of a heart, just like the one they had tried to mine. “AMYTHEST YOU GOT YOUR CUTIE MARK,” Dazzy squealed. “I KNOW! THIS IS AMAZING!” “YOU GOTTA SHOW YOUR SISTERS!” “I GOTTA SHOW MY SISTERS,” Amy sprung up and ran out the cave. “Hey! Wait up,” Dazzy shouted. ~*~ Amy was still ecstatic as she entered her home that evening. She found her Mother in kitchen, cooking soup. “Hey mama-.” “You! You and your sisters are in VERY deep trouble.” “Wha? But mama, I-” “Go to your room! NOW!” Amy’s Mom pointed in the direction of their bedroom. Amy hung her head and trotted out the kitchen. She pushed past the door to their bedroom, inside was her two sisters Sweetie and Clyde. And also a another filly...
UnlockedAmy was dumbfounded, millions of questions raced through her mind, along with smart remarks. But all she could say was, “uh…” Sweetie lept forward and hugged Amy, “you got your cutie mark! Hooray!” Amy pushed her sister off, “forget my cutie mark. Who is SHE?” The filly had grey fur, and her midnight blue mane had begun to cover one of her eyes. She stared at the floor, her mane covering her face. “Well-” Sweetie began. “I’LL TELL IT!” Clyde shouted, “okay, okay. So me and Sweetie were playing by the river, telling stories. When Sweetie said, ‘what happened if there was a storm.’ I thought that was silly, but I said. ‘We can hide in the cellar.’ Then she was like: ‘I don’t think the Pie’s have one.’ And I was like, ‘sure they do, they probably hide it under some rocks or something.’ And then she was like: ‘I don’t think so.’ And I was like-” “Okay. I think she gets it,” Sweetie scoffed. “Anyway. We decided to go to the Pie’s house and a secret mission. We left no stone unturned, literally, until we found a pile of rocks. We pushed it aside to reveal a cellar. “See I told you, they hide it under some rocks,” I stated. We opened it and descended the stairs. “Mama?” Some voice said, “Stop it Clyde. Your not funny.” “I didn’t say that,” Clyde promised. Amy furrowed her brow, “so you mean. That filly over there lived in a cellar? Seems pretty messed up.” “Yeah. We were terrified! And then the Pie’s came, and scolded us. But Miss Cloudy looked like a foal getting caught doing something bad,” Clyde said, she fell back laughing. “We asked her why that foal was down there, she said: “girls don’t worry. She’s a bad pony...she wants to hurt you guys and me. We have to keep her down there, for your own protection.” “NO! YOU’RE EVIL,” the filly suddenly yelled. She covered her face with her hooves. “Aww poor Minkie,” Sweetie cooed, giving ‘Minkie’ a warm hug. “So. That’s why we’re in trouble?” Amy asked. “Yeah, than that bitch, told Mama that we locked a foal from the village down there, but she caught us ‘before it was too late.’” Clyde sneered. “But that’s a lie! Mama can’t just-” “Adults are so trusting! What if a foal told them that somepony was gonna kill them, then they wouldn’t listen. And they’d be dead,” Sweetie frowned. “But at least you got your cutie mark,” Minkie said quietly. They had a hard time hearing her. “How did you get your cutie mark,” Clyde asked incredulously. “Me and Dazzy went mining by one of the caves.” “That’s it,” Sweetie said. Amy gave a slight nod, “what are we gonna do with Minkie? Well...you know what I mean.” “We stole some food to give her,” Clyde pulled an old potato sack from under the bed. The contents of the bag began to roll out. “B-But that’s a lot of food!” Amy screamed. “Yeah but she could have been in there for years! She needs all the food she can get,” Clyde said. “Can ponies survive years without food,” Amy asked. “Maybe…” Sweetie trailed off, pondering it for a moment. “Anyway, Minkie Pie want something to eat?” Minkie nodded, a smile stretching across face. “Can I have those brown circles!?” “You mean the hash browns,” Clyde asked. Minkie nodded vigorously. “We ran out...we have one-” Clyde eyes fell on Sweetie, who was trying to stuff the last hash brown into her mouth and keep it hidden at the same time. They all rolled their eyes at Sweetie, Minkie still wearing the sly smile. “Jasper, Amethyst, Garnet!” Crystal Sapphire, their mother, shouted. “Come here.” The fillies slowly trotted toward their parent. Their father, Rough Stone, was also there, looking equally cross. “Yes Mother,” Clyde asked. “Cloudy Quartz told us that you locked her daughter in a cellar for many years now. That is sick, and you’ll likely go to Hell for that act!” Crystal explained. “You’re lucky that God is forgiving, otherwise he’d smite you down.” “Papa listen. We-,” Sweetie was cut off by a hard smack to the face. “Don’t take back to your father, you should be very ashamed.” Crystal stated. Rough Stone picked up a stick that was lying on a shelf. It was long and thin, made of wood and covered with leather so it would last longer. The stallion used this device to punish his daughters because it caused pain, but not permanent damage. Rough Stone raised the stick… It was midnight and Crystal Gem and Cloudy Quartz were sipping wine and chatting. They needed to relax over what has happened over the few months. Cloudy rubbed her temple, “my own daughters serial killers. How long would it have been before they came after me? How long would it have been before I noticed?” Her voice soft and solemn. Crystal put a hoof on her cousin’s shoulder. “We could not have known. Nopony could have known.” “B-But...when ponies disappeared, there was no investigation. Nopony looked into it, maybe if they did...so many ponies would be alive.” Crystal sighed, “they're with God now. God felt it was their time.” “But not to serial killers! God wouldn’t have wanted them to be tortured and made into pastries, and oh Celestia we all ate pony meat!” Cloudy felt sick, but she swallowed the vomit attempting to come up. “Just drink. It will help you forgot about what happened...for a moment at least.” And they did, drinking so much that they finished the bottle. Cloudy was a lightweight so by now she was unaware of her actions. However Crystal hadn’t drunk most of the bottle, so she was still coherent. “I beat my children…*sigh* I feel terrible,” Crystal said, swirling her last cup of wine. “*hic* have you seen that stallion at daaaaaaaa church. He *hic* cute.” Cloudy slurred randomly. “Cloudy!” Crystal laughed, “I don’t know what to do with my children. Stone and I are thinking about sending them to the nuns.” “I think you should, ahhh...lock them outside. And treat them like their locked in a cellar,” Cloudy said. “Hmm. How are we supposed to feed them?” “Give dem a slice of bread...dat’s wat I gave Minkie Pie,” Cloudy said without thinking. Crystal was puzzled, what I gave Minkie? “What?” Crystal stated. Cloudy began to laugh. “You locked Minkie Pie in that cellar.” “*hic* maybe,” Cloudy smiled. Crystal stood up quickly, thinking about her children, she felt sorry for them. She felt sorry for Minkie Pie. As fresh tears rolled down her cheeks, Crystal let the wine glasses shattered against the floor and exited. “Where ya going,” Cloudy asked following behind Crystal. Minkie had seen what happened to her ‘friends.’ They had been beaten by their parents, this enraged her. She had been hiding behind the couch, clutching a knife desperately. She heard the door swing open followed by drunken chatter. Minkie bite down on the knife handle and inched her way toward two dark figures. She waited until they reached their bedroom, assuming that they were the Mother and Father. Once they entered the room, Minkie slammed the door shut behind herself. Minkie raised the knife over her head, eyes locked on the cowering figures. Clyde awoke to bloodcurdling screams, Clyde groaned and slipped out of bed. Clyde saw blood running out the door to her parent’s room. Scared Clyde slowly pushed the door open, she saw Minkie Pie standing over her parents and Cloudy, a knife between her teeth and that unmistakable red staining her fur. Clyde screamed. Amy and Sweetie rushing to her aid, until to scream themselves. Minkie was shocked, “what?” “WHY DID YOU KILL THEM!?!” “They hurt you...I-I-” “YOU DON’T JUST KILL WHOEVER HURTS YOU! THAT’S NOT THE WAY!!” Minkie began to sob, collapsing in the pool of red. “We have to burry them…” Amy frowned. “Then...turn ourselves in.” “WHAT!?” Clyde said, “WHY US!? WE DIDN’T KILL HER!” Sweetie said, “yeah! Why us?” “Guys, we could have prevented this.” Amy whined. “How,” Clyde asked. “Maybe if we were more observant then we’d seen Minkie Pie leave.” Clyde sneered, “bullshi-” Suddenly, there was a blinding flash, allowing them to see every detail in the room for a second. Yep, their parents weren’t coming back. They all looked at Minkie’s flank, there was a black lock branded on her grey flank. Despite Minkie getting her cutie mark, Minkie didn’t perk up. Amy trotted over to her Mother and grabbed a limb. She pulled on it, dragging it across the carpet. Clyde cursed and went to help her sister. Instead of helped, Sweetie went to clean the blood. In an hour the whole room was clean, they left the bodies outside. Clyde, Amy, and Sweetie stood over the shallow graves of their parents and cousin. They were crying heavily. Minkie watched from inside the house, the fillies even put on their best black dress. Minkie wondered why they cared so much, she had killed the one’s who hurt them. They should be happy! Minkie looked at the bloodstained knife on the floor, then to her ‘friends.’ They cared for her. Was she really gonna do this?
