A Demon's Deal

The flowers in the meadow around Pinkie filled her heart with joy and happiness. She bounced around the fields of assorted flowers and hummed happily to her own tune. Birds chirped in the distance keeping tune with Pinkie. She stopped and held her gentle hoof out to the fluttering birds. She had never held a bird in hoof before. The ones that Fluttershy would try to hand her always flew timidly away. This bird was much different. It seemed to have a glow about it and when Pinkie held out her hoof the little bird landed with a smile.

“Hi there. Whats your name friend? I haven't ever held a little birdie before.” Pinkie gave the bird a wide loving smile.

The bird looked at her and hopped side to side twitching its head every which way. It soon spread its wings and took off toward a newly forming sunset on the horizon. The happy pink pony watched as her new friend left. I hope I get to see you again little friend. Maybe I could hold you again and show Fluttershy that I am not always moving, I could sit still if I tried. With a little giggle Pinkie saw a distant tree with a simple rope and board swing connected to a low hanging branch. With leaping bounds of excitement Pinkie skipped to the new attraction.

The swing was old but seemed to be in a working condition so Pinkie hopped on. She starting swinging and smiled as the leaves on the branch rustled as she moved. She stared at the sunset as it moved up and down in accordance with her.

She was in full swing when she all the birds in the tree darted out the tree in great distress, squawking uncontrollably as she went. She looked up to find that the bird she had been holding onto had stayed with her. “Sorry about your friends little guy. I didn't think I would scare them all away with my swinging. At least you know I wouldn't hurt you.” Pinkie flashed a smile at the small, feathered animal.

The bird watched Pinkie go back and forth, back and forth, up and down, up and down, to and fro, to and fro. It skipped closer and closer to the rope that held the swing on the branch. The rope was old and worn. It was frayed and had stripped the tree of its bark long ago. It seemed like it was very unstable but well enough that without any outside assistance Pinkie would be fine. The bird watched the rope swing with Pinkie and started to peck at the rope.

Pinkie watched as the bird pecked the rope. From her end the rope looked healthy and virtually untouched. It looked solid and well build. Never in a million years would a small bird take out such a rope. “Bird, silly, the rope isn't food.” Pinkie said as she gained momentum. “Try the ground little guy. That’s were worms and other food would be.” But the bird kept pecking. To Pinkie a silly game, but the bird had a different view.

The bid saw that only a few strands of rope remained and made just a few last pecks before, snap, the rope had broken. Pinkie was at full speed ahead and went flying off the stable branch and tumbled down a hill just in front of the swing. She tried to stop herself from rolling down any further but nothing she could do helped. As the world spun out of control around her she saw the bird flying lowly behind her. She reached the bottom dizzy and bruised, but well enough. She saw the sun set completely and the sky became almost instantly black.

Pinkie looked up and the bird was hovering above her, its eyes glowing a ghostly white. “Why did you do that?” Pinkie asked shakily. The bird said nothing and continued to flap its wings above her.

Pinkie sat up and rubbed her sore head. “Why did you do that little guy?”

The bird stopped flapping its wings but did not sink to the ground. Floating in mid air the bird tilted its head sideways. “I am a girl.” The bird said with a gentle tone.

“Oh no. I am so sorry. Can you forgive me?” The frizzled pink pony quickly apologized. The bird slowly sank to the ground and stood there silently, intensely staring at the ground. “He..hello?”

The bird slowly looked up. Pinkie jumped back in horror. Instead of the beak and feathers she expected she had laid eyes upon her own face. The animal quickly grew into an exact mirror of Pinkie striking the exact same pose of complete horror as Pinkie.

Pinkie slowly lowed her defenses and gave the clone a look up and down. The clone copied. It was just like Pinkie, down to the last detail, hair curl, and movement. Pinkie stood up and held out a hoof. The clone copied. The two ponies hoofs met each other.

The clone threw Pinkie to the ground and pinned her beneath. “So, you still are pretending I am just a figment of your overactive imagination?” The clones mane and tail went flat and pressed itself against its increasingly slender body. The clone was soon nothing but skin and bone. Every little rib showing every little, ugly bone. Its eyes grew bloodshot, as if it had not been getting proper rest.

Pinkie's eyes were wide with fear. She tried to flee but her body would not listen, it wouldn't budge. The bones, sticking out and beyond noticeable, dug into Pinkie causing her great discomfort and pain. “I am here, and moving on my own free will. Causing you pain, making you squirm and question.” The clone continued. “You will bow to me. I will take control and” A spear drove itself through the clones chest, spraying blood across Pinkies stunned face.

“Pinkie!? Pinkie get up Pinkie.” The southern accented pony yelled at Pinkie. Sweat was dripping down the pony as she sat up in bed. Applejack was sitting right next to her with a concerned look. “Pinkie y'all was yelling in your sleep. Y'all okay?”

Pinkie stared at Applejack, making sure she wasn't still dreaming. “Umm... yeah, I am fine.” Pinkie laid back down. “Just go back to bed. I will see you in the morning AJ.”

The orange pony looked at her friend for a few more moments before standing up and heading to the door. “Hollar iffin ya need me, alright.” Pinkie didn't reply and let herself slowly drift back into sleep.