Whoever said there was nothing to fear but fear itself...clearly had never been running like hell from a deranged killer, as the six girls could attest. The three pairs of them arrived at Fluttershy's at about the same moment, ran inside, dove down into the small room under the house, and slid all four bolts into place. They then turned to take a look at each other.

"Dash, Twilight, you're hurt!" Fluttershy squeaked, before rushing to a small cabinet and pulling out a box. She carried it over and glanced at Sunset. "Will you help me?"

Sunset came to her side, ready to do whatever was needed. Fluttershy gave her iodine and a bandage.

"Um, take care of Dash." She said, before turning her attention to Twilight. She dabbed iodine on the cut on her neck, making her wince a little. "Its not very deep. It should heal in a couple of days."

"Oh sure, if we freaking live that long!!" Dash said sarcastically, then yelped as Sunset poured iodine over her arm. "Ow!"

"Sorry."Sunset said, finishing up with a bandage.

"So what happened with ya'll?" Applejack asked.

The girls began recounting their stories of near death.

"Dang." Dash said when they were all done. "This girl is completely off her sane grid!"

"Somehow, we have to stop her." Sunset said softly. All eyes went to her.

"Stop her? How?" Rarity asked nervously. "Every time we have interacted with her today, we have barely escaped with our lives."

"I don't know, Rarity." Sunset sank into a chair. "I don't know. All I know is that our best friend is...well...gone."

"But...but that's Pinkie..." Fluttershy whimpered.

"No, its not." Twilight looked around. "Its not. That's Pinkamena. She took our friend from us. I don't think we can get her back."

"But, what if we try?" Fluttershy asked quietly, then gasped in shock at her own words.

"And how would we do that??" Dash demanded. "In case you forgot, Shy, she is busy trying to kill us!"

Fluttershy whimpered and cowered against Rarity at Dash's sharp tone. Rarity hugged her and glared at the athlete.

"This is such a nightmare..." groaned Dash.

"The only thing being that we can't wake up." Twilight said softly, running her finger over the light bandage on her throat, unable to shake the memory of being so near death so many times, and managing to live to tell about it.

"I wish we could find out why." Sunset spoke with firm conviction. "Why is she doing this? Why is she a crazy killer? If we could just draw out a little of the real Pinkie, maybe we can save her."

"Again, how?" Dash said darkly. "Am I the only one in here that even remotely remembers that she's trying to kill us?!"

"We all know that, darling." Rarity said softly. "But Sunset is right. If we can save Pinkie Pie from her evil side..."

"I think we should try." Twilight said, looking to Sunset.

"Ah do, too." Applejack agreed.

"Ok." Fluttershy whispered.

"Ugh!" Dash groaned. "Fine!!"

"Now how?" Rarity asked.

Sunset sat there silently, thinking of all the possible options and plans. Finally, she spoke.

"Its time to plan a meeting with her."

"Are you nuts??!" Dash said in disbelief. "You...you wanna just walk up and say 'hey, how are ya? Oh, and by the way, please don't kill me until I say what I want to say to you'. You're just crazy!"

Sunset sighed deeply. She kind of agreed with that. But still, if there was a way...

"We have to do something." She finally stated, eyes locking into Dash's. "And its not like I'll be all alone, right? Six against one is a good number."

"Barely." Dash said. "The six of us almost didn't make it out of Pinkie's alive."

"We'll be right with ya." Applejack promised Sunset.

At that moment there was a pounding on the door, and the voice they had come to hate and fear sang through it merrily.

"Yoohoo...giiiirrrls...I'm heeere!"

"Oh crap, she found us!" Dash said, as they all jumped up.

"Don't worry, the door will keep her out." Sunset said.

As if fate wanted to prove her wrong, there was a mighty crash as said door was knocked inward, and there stood Pinkamena, a cross between glee and rage on her face.

"You were saying?" Dash muttered to Sunset.

"You got away again." Pinkamena said, pouting, while her eyes flashed. "I'm beginning to think you don't like my game."

"Maybe because we don't!" Dash snapped, voice quivering a little.

Pinkamena's eyes widened a little, her face contorting from a pout to a dangerously deadly scowl.

"You don't like my game?" She snarled, taking a step closer as she drew her trusty knife. "Just for that, you only get five minutes knocked off our playtime instead of ten. And that twenty five minutes will be the worst of your life." She grinned wickedly.

"Pinkie, you don't have to do this!" Sunset spoke up quickly. "This isn't you!"

"I am PINKAMENA!!!!" screamed the murderer in rage, and lunged into their midst.

Screaming, they split apart, barely managing to avoid her knife. Dash grabbed Fluttershy and made a daring and successful dive out the door. Rarity dove out next, screaming as Pinkamena's knife managed to slash one of her legs. She ran, staggering, after the other two. Sunset, Applejack, and Twilight were cornered, Pinkamena advancing on them with murder in her eyes, a gleeful grin on her face. At the last possible second, Applejack moved, sending her fist shooting into the girl's jaw. The blow dropped Pinkamena to the floor, and her three cornered victims leaped over her and ran for their lives after the others. They met up outside and ran down the street.

"C..cave..." gasped Dash.

They headed for Dash's. Bursting into the yard, they raced for her shed, dove inside, and ran up to the attic, where Dash had built a "tomboy cave".

As they collapsed and desperately tried to get their breath, they looked at each other. Dash got up and got some bandages for Rarity, then sat back down. At long last, Sunset spoke.

"Its time for more drastic plans." She sounded sad. With all eyes on her, she sighed, and spoke again. "I have only plan now..."

As she outlined it, tears filled everyone's eyes, and by the time she finished, they were all sobbing.

"L...lets do it, then." Dash choked out. "If its the only way..."

Sunset sniffled. "It...it...I don't know what else to do."

The others nodded their heads, their hearts breaking as they considered the plan and the fact that it was their only chance of surviving, and hopefully saving Pinkie's good side.

If only it wasn't such a heart breaking plan...

Their thoughts were cut short by a slam below them, followed by the voice that would haunt them forever.

"Oh giiirrrls....I know you're here! Time to plaaaayyy!"

And Pinkamena bounded up the stairs and stood grinning broadly at the teary eyed and shaking group.

Author's Note

Oh gosh. I am crying so hard right now. This is so hard to write...

Sweet Celestia...why am I even writing this story at all...