All My Friends Are Heathens

~Obsidian Frost’s P.O.V.~

Another week, another playmate was chosen from the drawing. And this week, it was my turn to play. I was cheerfully humming Pinkie’s ‘Smile’ song to myself, as I made my way through the streets of Ponyville to Sugar Cube Corner. I trotted past the café, into the kitchen and opened the sugar pink door, descending the stairs to the dark basement. Pinkie Pie was already in the cellar, setting up tools and essentials needed for today's playdate.

Today’s playmate was a young Pegasus stallion strapped to the table, unconscious. His coat was a greyish lavender color with a dark grey mane and tail. His Cutie Mark was of a tri-colored rainbow. Yellow, orange and purple. I trotted over to Pinkie Pie, my hooves clapping upon the concrete.

"Ready, Frostie?" Pinkie asked me. I nodded with an excited smile, "I've got to go see Applejack, but I'll be back by the time you're done. You can handle this, right?"

"I’ll be fine.” I answered, waving my hoof, “You go ahead and have fun, Pinkie.”

With a smile, Pinkie waved and bounced up the stairs, out of the basement. I was feeling confident about this one. I’ve watched Pinkie and Ditzy enough times to know what to do. This isn’t my first playmate either.

I pulled off my legwarmers and set them on the table with the painted pony skulls. Then I started pacing in front of my playmate patiently, waiting for her to wake up.

It was nearly twenty minutes before the stallion regained consciousness. I skipped in front of him, smiling. The Pegasus stallion opened his cyan blue eyes and gasped lightly, looking confused.

"Where am I?" He asked weakly, then looked at me, "Who are you?"

"You don't remember me, Spectrum?" I asked calmly, still smiling. Spectrum stared at me, looking into my hazel eyes.

"I... I do know you… You were that monkey that ran away from Canterlot..." She replied, "You were Sunset Shimmer study partner..."

"Is that all you remember...?" I asked, lightly tilting my head.

Spectrum said nothing. My smile disappeared and I shot away from the Pegasus stallion, my light blue hooves clapping against the concrete floor.

"Maybe this will jog your memory..." I turned to Spectrum and clapped my hooves onto the concrete.

I closed my eyes as a spiritual blue aura enveloped my body and a ghostly image of a younger, human version of myself, with other fillies and colts pointing at the younger me and laughing…

"Monkey Face! Monkey Face! Eleanor’s a Monkey Face!"

Then the image switched to a present time me enjoying a book under a tree, in the Ponyville Park, until a lavender hoof kicked the book and stomped it into a puddle of mud.

“What do you think you’re doing, Mud Pony? These books are for Unicorns only!”

The image vanished into a mist. Spectrum's pupils contracted and he began to struggle against his bindings.

"E-Eleanor!" He exclaimed, "Uh... It's... Nice to see you again..."

I glared at the Pegasus stallion before me, "Spare me your pleasant greetings. I now know what it means to be a ‘Monkey Face’ and a ‘Mud Pony’." I whispered, my heart burning with anger, "Just because I’m an Earth Pony studying with Unicorns doesn’t mean I’m in a lower rank! I'm a Pony just like the rest of you! I even have a Cutie Mark!" I showed my Cutie Mark of a patch of night sky, purple wisps and a crescent moon.

"Okay, okay! I'm sorry I teased you!" Spectrum cried.

"No one is truly sorry.” I whispered, and then my voice grew in anger, “You laughed at me because you thought I couldn’t understand magic. Talking behind my back! You knew Sunset Shimmer was gone and Twilight wouldn’t stick up for me..."

In one swift motion, I grabbed a scalpel and held it up in front of Spectrum's face, the blade about an inch from his nose. Beads of sweat started forming on his forehead as he stared at the weapon. With my back hoof, I grabbed one of my legwarmers from the table.

"See these legwarmers?” I asked, “They’re made of Cutie Marks from Ponies I've made baked goods into. But they’re a bit tight, so I need more..."

I balanced the legwarmers back onto the table again, and began moving my scalpel away from Spectrum's face and toward his right flank.

"No! Ellie, no! Please!" He pleaded.

I rubbed my chin in thought, then shook my head, "No, I don’t think I will stop."

With the scalpel, I carved very slowly around the tri-colored rainbow, as the Pegasus stallion howled in pain. Blood dribbled from the cut and down his leg, staining his coat. Once I was done with the circle, I slowly and carefully peeled the hide away from the muscle. Spectrum was actually shedding tears at this point. I turned to his other flank and did the same thing.

Once I was finished, I wiggled the two Cutie Marks in front of Spectrum's face, "Blank Flank, Blank Flank! Spectrum is a Blank Flank!" I sang.

"Ellie, let me go!" Spectrum sobbed, his body trembling from the pain, "Just... Just let me go and I'll... I'll move far away from Ponyville and won't ever bother you again!"

"I’m afraid I can’t do that, Spectrum.” I answered in a low tone, setting the Cutie Marks on the table. "Your number was drawn, so there’s no going back now.” Then I smirked, “As an ancient proverb says, an eye for an eye.”

"You're actually going to kill me and bake me into pastries?!" Spectrum shouted, not wanting to believe his ears.

"Mm-hmm!" I answered, nodding my head, as I set my scalpel on the metal side table. I took Pinkie Pie's favorite hacksaw and waved it in the air, "Tell me, Spectrum… Are you a good flyer?"

"Y-y-yes..." He whispered.

"Think fast!" I shouted, as I used the hacksaw to saw off his wings. Spectrum screamed like he'd never screamed before, struggling with the pain and clenching his teeth.

I giggled and clapped my hooves. I walked over to the hacksaw and pulled it out of the table, "I wonder what I'll do with your wings. I have no use for them and Ditzy has her own… Maybe Apple Bloom will have some use for them…"

"E…Ellie..." Spectrum gasped, her face soaked in tears.

"My name’s not Eleanor anymore. My name is Obsidian Frostfire Quartz Pie." I replied, examining the table of implements, debating on what to do next.

Spectrum let out a soft, defeated wail, hanging his head. I turned to my right and noticed the hot coals Pinkie had set up, and then nodded with delight.

That’s a good idea!

I took a long, thin, metal rod and set it in the coals to heat up. I rubbed my chin in thought, and then looked around. I needed something to protect my hooves from the hot rod.

I wandered around the basement, looking for something to protect myself from getting burnt. I didn’t notice that Spectrum has lifted his head, watching me. I smiled and grabbed an old dirty cloth from the table. It may be old and dirty, but it’ll do for now.

I returned to the table and set the cloth down, grabbing two metal objects. They were bent at each end so they looked like giant, dull staples. I forced Spectrum's mouth open, and as he tried to wriggle out of my grasp, I shoved the metal objects on either side of the stallion’s mouth, forcing it to stay open. I softly giggled, grabbed a pair of pliers in one hoof, the cloth in the other, and finally retrieved the rod from the hot coals.

Spectrum started whimpering as I grabbed his tongue tightly with the pliers, pulling it out as far as it can go. Then I slowly, with great suspense, brought the hot rod closer and closer...

The Pegasus stallion let out a high pitched scream as the white hot metal came in contact with his tongue, sizzling as it burned the flesh. This made me laugh maniacally, pressing the rod against Spectrum’s tongue as firmly as I could. When I felt it cool down, I threw the rod away and jerked on the pliers hard. With another blood curdling scream, Spectrum had his entire tongue was ripped out. He sobbed, blood flowing from his open mouth.

"You want your mouth shut now?" I asked soothingly.

Spectrum didn't answer, just continued to sob. I gave him a kind smile, taking the metal objects out of his mouth. As I watched Spectrum, I started to feel sorry for the young Pegasus. Spectrum looked up and his eyes met mine, spitting out blood.

Maybe I’m taking this a bit too far. Without her tongue, Spectrum can’t alert the authorities. Maybe I should let her go…. NAH! This is way too much fun!

With a shriek of laughter, I turned and bucked the pot of hot coals at Spectrum. He screamed as each rock collided with his body, leaving scorches in his fur and skin.

I hopped up and down, clapping her hooves with joy, "Great show! Do it again! Do it again!"

I picked up a coal with her teeth, and shoved it into Spectrum’s mouth instead. I blushed, giggling as Spectrum spat the coal out. His entire mouth was practically blackened by the burns. With another giggle, I trotted around the room to let off some excitement, singing the ‘Smile’ song,

‘Cause I love to make you smile, smile, smile.
Yes, I do!
It fills my heart with sunshine all the while.
Yes, it does!
Cause all I really need's a smile, smile, smile.
From these happy friends of mine!’

"Come on, Spectrum! Smile!" I cheered, grinning at my playmate.

Spectrum's puffy eyes started to close very slowly.

"Oh no!" I gasped.

I quickly took a syringe filled with adrenaline and injected it into Spectrum’s side. His eyes burst open, and he gasped, coughing as he inhaled a lot of blood.

I smiled in relief, "There we go! You don't wanna miss the party!"

I trotted to the little table, scanning it over and trying to decide what to use. I frowned at the tools, feeling a little bored of them. I looked around the room, brow furrowed, and ears pulled back. Then I walked over to a large tool box, which Pinkie Pie kept in the basement, and started going through drawers to find something new. Suddenly, I gasped and screamed with a smile, picking something up with my teeth. I ran back to Spectrum with a spool of silver thread.

I set the spool on the table and giggled, as I started unraveling the spool. The thread sparkled in the dim light. This thread was stiffer and shinier than any other thread I’ve seen. That’s right. This isn’t thread. It was twine.

I hummed Pinkie's ‘Smile’ song to myself as I cut four long pieces of twine and laid them carefully on the floor. Once the twine was in place, I explored the vast basement again and managed to find a dusty old yoke in the corner, which I pulled back into my working area.

I began carefully tying all four sections of twine to the yoke. I smiled wide at Spectrum, who watched me with wide eyes an open mouth.

"Don’t worry, Spectrum…” I assured calmly, “We won't have trouble playing with this!"

Once I was done tying the twine to the yoke, I started tying the other ends to Spectrum's limbs. Spectrum groaned in fear, unable to speak clearly without his tongue, and tried to evade my advances. But it was no use. Soon the twine was tied to his upper arms and both his thighs.

Once I was finished tying the twine, I slid the yoke onto my neck and started slowly walking toward the farthest wall from Spectrum. I looked over my shoulder to see him wincing and struggling. I gave a small smile and a sharp tug. There was a shriek of pain from the stallion, which made me giggle.

With a piercing scream of a laugh, I started running as fast as I could. I could feel the twine being pulled taut as a result. Spectrum's blood curdling wails could barely be heard over my laughter as I continued running. The table that Spectrum lay on was firmly bolted to the stone floor, so it stayed perfectly in place.

I felt the twine begin to cut into Spectrum's flesh, blood seeping out at a surprisingly fast rate. He was yelling in pain.
I turned to face Spectrum and began walking in reverse. Once I felt the wall with my tail, I lifted my forelegs and stomped the concrete ground. The twine whipped and slashed through Spectrum’s skin.

Spectrum's screams became hoarse as his throat burned in pain. Then he suddenly threw up onto his chest. It was mostly blood and bile. He shut his eyes tight, panting and writhing as he heard cracking sounds...

Finally, with one last powerful stomp from me, Spectrum's limbs broke off. I lost my balance and fell into the wall; however I hit my head against the wall and I fell back onto the cold floor, trying to regain my composure. After a minute of being on the floor, I recovered and got back to her hooves. I turned to Spectrum and saw his arms and legs lying on the floor in a puddle of blood. I skipped and bounced with joy, leaping back over to the mute stallion.

I lifted myself to my hind legs and leaned against the table. Spectrum looked at me with tears in his eyes. I closed my eyes and pressed my lips against his burnt lips. Spectrum had no energy to fight back, or scream.

I released the kiss, returned to all-fours and I grabbed a syringe of paralyzing serum.

"This is paralyzing serum, Spectrum." I explained, "It's so you don't feel you don’t feel any pain when I cut you open. Then we can still play while I harvest!"

More tears poured out of Spectrum's eyes, but he had no energy left for screaming or struggling.

I delivered a shot of the paralyzing serum into Spectrum’s right side, and then patiently waited for a few minutes. After about five minutes, I poked Spectrum’s wound, “Does that hurt?” Spectrum shook his head. I smiled and grabbed the scalpel.

I turned and noticed Spectrum’s vomit on his chest. I frowned, put the scalpel on the tray and took a rag to clean up the vomit on Spectrum's chest. Once the area was clear, I took the scalpel once again and sliced him open and began pulling out organs.

"Ditzy usually told stories and Pinkie used to tell jokes." I explained, "I was thinking about doing the same, but I just thought of a song I can sing for you." Spectrum watched as his own innards were pulled from his torso. I started humming and began to sing,

'Here in the garden,
Let's play a game.
I'll show you how it's done.
Here in the garden,
Stand very still.
This'll be so much fun.

And then she smiled,
That's what I'm after.
A smile in her eyes,
The sound of her laughter.
Happy to listen,
Happy to play.
Happily watching her drift away.

Happily waiting,
All on my own.
Under the endless sky,
Counting the seconds,
Standing alone.
As years and years go by.

Happily wondering,
Night after night.
Is this how it works?
Am I doing it right?
Happy to listen,
Happy to stay,
Happily watching you drift away.

You keep on turning pages for people who don't care,
People who don't care about you,
And still, it takes you ages to see that no one's there.
See that no one's there,
See that no one's there,
Everyone's gone on without you.

Finally something,
Finally news.
About how the story ends.
She doesn't exist now,
Survived by a demon,
And all of her brand new friends.
Isn't that lovely?
Isn't that cool?
And isn't that cruel,
And aren't I a fool to have,
Happily listened.
Happy to stay.
Happily watching her drift....
Drift....
Drift away….'

With the last organ to be thrown into the bucket happened to be Spectrum's heart, which stopped beating in a matter of seconds. Spectrum's eyes remained open, but they were blank and listless, staring into nothing.

I giggled, picking up the bucket, "Thank you, Spectrum. I had fun with you today.”

With that, I carried the bloody bucket up to the kitchen, where Pinkie Pie was waiting. I turned the ‘open/closed’ sign to ‘closed’ and began cutting up the organs in the kitchen, while Pinkie went down into the basement to skin and cut up Spectrum's remains. When she returned to the shop with the meat, she smiled at me.

"Wow!" She exclaimed, "You did a great job, Frostie!"

"Thanks!" I smiled, "I wanted to make it extra special for him because I knew he had a crush on me back in Unicorn school. I owed him a favor..."

I gave Pinkie my creepy Cheshire grin, and Pinkie Pie returned it with a terrifying smile of her own. We started laughing as we used the meat and organs to create baked goods, celebrating a job well done.