It was a bright sunny spring morning in Canterlot, stands were lined up along the streets selling freshly flowers or fruits, smells wafted across from the streets, the bakeries, the fashion stores had rolled out their new spring fashions. The buzz amongst the various shop owners was about the criminal gang that operated out of South Canterlot.

They had been around for several years and were little more than a menace to the poorer districts and slums that existed on the south and west sides of the city. Their typical M-O had been intimidating the owners of the run down shops for protection, extorting the dingy pawn shops that ran as fronts for fencing operations, muscling in on gangs of petty thieves. They would mug tourists or uptowners who strayed too far from the beaten path, but deaths were rare and unless an influential member of the Canterlotian was attacked, the Royal Guards rarely got involved, leaving the local police precincts to deal with the bands of thugs.

That had changed summer of last year, the gang had grown bolder, launching attacks against rival gangs in open street warfare, soaking the gutters in blood. Rumors abounded that a pair of fast talking unicorns had involved themselves with the gang and had taken control, bribing, blackmailing or outright killing any pony that had tried to oppose them. The gang had changed their name from the South Streets Runners to the Foundry Family, they had changed their attire from red bandannas and blue jackets to black suits with grey pinstripes and black bowlers. Any rival gangs that didn't capitulate, surrendering their territory immediately, were dealt with in a swift and bloody manner, leaving the local police precincts to gather corpses from dumpsters or dredge up from the river.

After four months of bloody gang warfare taking control of the majority of the slums in South and Western Canterlot, the gang changed tactics intimidating a hooffull of merchants on the edges of Midtown and Uptown Canterlot, staying well far away from the Royal Palace. The merchants that had resisted found their businesses vandalized, merchandise smashed or stolen, their employees bullied into quitting or running off. The ongoing investigations ran into a wall of silence as terrified ponies living in the Midtown, Uptown and slums neighborhoods had refused to talk, the few that had talked had recanted a few days later or simply disappeared. All searches of all outgoing trains, wagons, carriages, packages of every size, crates, boxes and every city, town, village or hamlet across Equestria had proven fruitless in finding the few witnesses that had talked of any pony that had matched their description.

A terrified ragamuffin street urchin approached a Palace Guard at the gate carrying a small box wrapped in simple brown paper with a tag that read "for Shining Armor". Taking the package, the guard chuckled as the little ragamuffin ran off. The guard chuckled as he knew his commanding officer was a bit of a celebrity, even amongst the poorer citizens of Equestria, hoofing the package off to a passing servant.

Captain Shining Armor was sitting at his desk filing out personnel paperwork and going over the actions of the Foundry Family. The stress had given him terrible heartburn and it didn't help matters that his sister was coming to town in a week. He chewed on several antacids from a nearby roll from his fiance, Cadence had given him. She rested her hooves on his shoulders, massaging his tense muscles.

"I know you're stressed trying to take this gang down and Twilight coming next week has added to your stress, but Shiny you're going to give yourself an ulcer if you keep up like this.", Cadence said with a concerted tone in her voice, "I know you have several weeks of leave saved up. How about after she visits her old potions instructor's new alchemy lab and shop, all three of us go somewhere on vacation. Somewhere tropical, with lots of sun, sand and ocean. Maybe I can get a new bathing suit?"

Shining smiled at the thought of his fiance in some skimpy little two-piece. "I could use some time off.", he said resting his head on a hoof, "It would do Twily to get out of that stuffy old library and do something other than reading all day or sending friendship reports. I could ask Celestia to order her to go dancing at a club or get a couple of drinks at a bar or even find a stallion or mare to kiss." They both shared a laugh at the last statement.

There was a gentle knocking at the door and a servant walked in with a package in hoof. "Captain Shining Armor, a parcel for you.", the servant said with a stiff upper lip.
"Thank you.", Shining Armor said, levitating the package to his desk.

The servant bowed and left, quietly closing the door behind him.

"A package from a secret admirer. Should I be jealous?", Cadence teased.

Shining smiled as he unwrapped the paper and opened the box. His smile was replaced by an expression of anger and shock. It contained several photos of Twilight around Ponyville, the last photo showed her reading the invitation, in the bottom of the box there was a hastily scrawled note that said, "BACK OFF!" Shining Armor gritted his teeth so hard they began to creak, his rage boiling over.

Cadence inhaled sharply in anger seeing the contents of the box.

As the door to his office opened, Shining Armor picked up the box and its contents with his hooves and hurled them with all his strength. "FUUUUUUUUUUCK!", he bellowed in rage.

As Celestia entered into Shining Armor's office, she hastily threw up a shield as the box and its contents came flying in her direction. "CAPTAIN SHINING ARMOR! What is the cause of this out-" She froze in momentary shock seeing the photographs of Twilight and the two word threatening note. Closing the door behind her, she locked it and levitated the contents of the box in front of her. "Fuck me!", she exclaimed softly as her eyes became hard.

Shining Armor paced back and forth beside himself in rage. "Those no good motherfucking sons of cunt whores!", he ranted through gritted teeth. Grabbing his desk with his hooves, he flipped it and screamed, "AHHHHHHHHHHH! FFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCCCKKKKKKK!" He began repeatedly punching the wall with his hoof, "FUCK! FUCK! FUCK FUCK! FUCK!" He laid his head against the wall and began to sob, tears of anger and fear began running down his cheeks like twin rivers. "They've threatened my baby sister!", he whimpered between sobs, "If they harm a hair on her mane, I'll kill every last one of them myself!" He flopped down on his haunches, his body trembling with anger and fear, tears forcing their way down his cheeks.

Celestia ground her teeth. "I promise you Shining Armor that it won't come to this.", she said barely able to keep her anger in control, "If they do so, there won't be a hole deep enough for them to slither into that I won't burn them out of."

Outside the door a guard began pounding loudly. "Princess! Captain! Is everything alright?", he shouted through the door

Celestia gripped the lock in her magic, unlatching it, she snatched the door open causing the guard to take a step in surprise. "I assure you sergeant that things are not alright.", Celestia said sternly, showing the contents of the box to the guard.

His face was a mask of professional military discipline, only his eyes betrayed his feelings of anger.

"The Foundry Family have made a grim mistake on this day by threatening the sister of Captain Shining Armor, my faithful student, Twilight Sparkle.", Celestia said in a military tone, "Find out who delivered this package here. Put the guard on alert and order the reservists on standby. If they are foolish enough to make war against us, they shall taste our steel!" At this second she was not Princess Celestia, she was Supreme Commander Celestia, one of two.

"Princess,", Shining said rising to his feet, "I think we should alert Twilight and warn her to stay away for now."

"I think it to be unwise, commander."Celestia said calmly, "If their agents are able to get close enough to photograph her during her most private moments and get close up images to see what she's reading, that means their agents can surely reach out hooves to harm her. If they cannot harm her, then they can get to her through her friends or their families. I won't risk them intercepting any of our warnings and don't worry, I still have my ways of getting a message to her. You need to prepare a guard contingent for when she and her friends arrive in a week. This is now a time when the right hoof needs not know what the left hoof is doing. Get yourself cleaned up and your office in order, your underlings do not need to see you out of sorts at this time. Now if you will excuse me, I must go talk to Luna."

Shining Armor bowed and began cleaning up his office

Celestia reached Luna's door, knocked loudly and opened it.

Luna sat up from a dead sleep snorting. "Huh?! Whazzat?! Oh! It's you Tia. Is it time to raise the moon already?", Luna asked groggily, wiping the sleep from her eyes. Seeing the stern look on her sister's face Luna asked, "Is something the matter sister?"

Using her magic, Celestia tossed the photos and threatening note on Luna's bed. "I'll say there's something wrong Luna." Celestia said with a hard sting in her voice, "That gang that's been plaguing our city for months, the Foundry Family, has just sent Shining Armor these threatening Twilight."

"I can imagine that Shining Armor is probably ready to lead two full divisions of Royal Guards out and storm the city right now.", Luna said scowling at the photographs, "How are you fairing right now sister?"

"Right now, it's taking everything I have to keep from setting half this city on fire to flush them out.", Celestia sighed as she sat on Luna's bed, "I think we should activate some of the Shadow Guard. I believe that five will do for now, one to watch over Twilight and her friends and four to gather intel on the Foundry family."

Luna rose from her bed, twisting and stretching her body making her joints pop. She flapped her wings a couple of times to get the blood flowing in them. "Very well sister.", Luna said, "We should also contact him."

"No Luna,", Celestia responded flatly, "I won't go that far yet, not until I have no other options."

"But sister, are things not dire?", Luna retorted, "And I've been tracking his whereabouts as I know you have been too, we can confront him and make him swear a sacred oath. How many of our little ponies have already died at those cur’s hooves? We are not dealing with a typical band of brigands or outlaws."

"Luna, I won't call on him at this time.", Celestia said in a dour tone, "His methods are too unorthodox and violent for use at this time."

"But sister-"

"LUNA!", Celestia snapped, cutting her sister off, "I will not call upon a wanted vigilante. Especially considering that he put three police officers in the hospital last year."

"Fine sister, I'll drop it...for now.", Luna said bitterly, "But I wish to go on record saying that those constables were found out to be taking bribes from a local...what's the word ponies use today...pimp."

"Duly noted.", Celestia said rising from the bed.

The two sisters walked into the war room. In the center sat a large round table, covered in green felt. Walking over to a large gilded map of Equestria, they lit the magic in their horns and a small panel silently swung open. Hidden behind the panel was a wall safe. Keeping their magic lit they manipulated four locks, causing their tumblers to disengage. When the last lock had been unlatched, the safe swung open, revealing a medallion made of a grey metal. Levitating the medallion in their magic, it shimmered black for a few seconds before it lowered back into the safe.

After several minutes, a figure of a pony appeared in the door silhouetted. "We need you and four of your brothers.", Celestia said softly, "One of you is to go to Ponyville to keep an eye on Twilight sparkle and her four friends. The gang known as the Foundry Family have made a threat against her, if any of them make a move against her or her friends, you are to stop them at any cost. My sister or I will contact you with a message for Twilight at a later date."

"Four of your brothers are to go out into Canterlot to gather information on the Foundry Family gang.", Luna said softly, "Do whatever it takes to get that information, but do not reveal yourself. Once you have enough information on their operations and their leaders are, your to bring that information to Us and our Sister." The two sisters closed the safe.

The silhouetted figure silently bowed, exited the room and closed the door.

Luna yawned. "I am going to lie back down, sister. Come get me when it's time to raise the moon."

*Monochrome's Canterlot Log, day 243

I don't remember what day of the week it is currently. The days just seem to blend into each other. I haven't had a decent night's sleep since the war against the diamond dogs eight years ago. Every night it's the same images and sounds. The faces of my squadmates twisted up in terror as they're ripped apart by rusty picks and crude blades when a pack of diamond dogs leaps out of the dark at us. I can still hear the crunch of the diamond dog bones under my hooves. I woke up this morning or was it afternoon, in a cold sweat. The squealing of foals playing outside snapped me right back into the diamond dog warrens. It reminded the part of my mind that is still back in the war when we threw vials of alchemic fire into a diamond dog warren that was full of their expecting females and young. Their shrieks and screams still haunt me to this day. We did the same thing to the next fifteen warrens we came across. What justification did we give ourselves? We were soldiers following orders and it was war. It wasn't a war, it was one long massacre after another. The diamond dogs don't have a nation or even armies, just a loose alliance of tribes all fighting and scrabbling with each other over a few shiny baubles. And we marched to slaughter them by the droves. Why? Because a few ponies got kidnapped in the Everfree mountains. What we did was unforgivable. Outside of a few isolated pockets, the diamond dogs never really put up much of a fight. They only started putting up a fight once we started eradicating their most vulnerable and defenseless. Don't get me wrong journal, I ain't a filthy diamond dogs lover, in fact I still loathe them, but no pony can justify wholesale slaughter of the defenseless, not even Celestia(may she forever be cursed). Everything that used to be the pony known as Calligraphy Well died back in that Equestria-forsaken war, buried in those diamond dog warrens with his squad mates, all that's left is the pony who is called Monochrome and that pony swore that he would never kill again, no matter what.

Anyways I'm getting off track here, journal. When I woke up this morning. Afternoon? Today.(whatever day of the week it is) My contact in the palace had slid under the door to this crappy room I'm renting that the gang that likes to call itself the Foundry Family had a package sent to Captain Shining Armor containing a threat against his sister. Predictably he completely lost his shit. Apparently Celestia(may she be for cursed) and Luna(may her heart find true happiness) are upset about the threat made against the bearer of magic.(my contacts in Ponyville confirmed that for me some time ago) When I set out this evening(I was certain it was evening as I saw the sun heading towards the horizon), I found a member of the Foundry Family trying to stow away on the baggage car of the Manehattan train. I nabbed him before he could slip inside and hide. Don't worry journal, I made sure I had my old grey bandanna across my face and my cutie mark covered, I also cast a memory charm on him for a little extra assurance, we don't need another VanHoover incident. After I nabbed him, I teleported onto the second story fire escape of an old tenement building.
When I questioned him about his involvement in the threats against Twilight Sparkle, that's when he decided to go all tough pony on me, claiming he knew nothing and then took a swipe at me, so I dropped off the second fire escape onto his rear legs. Every creature regardless of what they are, their bones makes the hollow, wet crunching sound when dropped from a second story fire escape. I teleported down to him to see if having compound fractures of both hind legs had loosened his tongue any. Oh journal, I so wish you could have seen that scumbag try to stand and run with two completely useless hind legs. He wound up just flipping around like a fish suddenly finding themselves twenty leagues from water. He continued to flop around like a smothering fish until I dug a hoof into one of his ruined legs. Don't worry journal, I didn't do any further damage, just added a little pressure to make sure his lips were ample loose.
As I twisted my hoof, he screamed and cried and whimpered until I got answers out of him. He gave me the names of three ponies higher up the pecking order from him. I took my old service hoof crossbow out from the inside of my coat, placed it to his head and said if I found out I was lying, I'd embedded the bolt in his brain. His eyes went as wide as saucers. He begged me to not kill him, I know I swore I'd never kill again, but dear journal, he doesn't know that. I think I'll visit one of those scum suckers tonight and see how much information I can wring out of him.

Yours truly, Monochrome

P.S. Because I'll be working tonight I won't be able to enjoy her night, I hope Luna(may her heart find happiness) can forgive me for that.
**********************************************************************************

*A WEEK LATER*

Twilight Sparkle, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and Applejack arrived in Canterlot. Shining Armor met them at the train station with a contingent of twelve guards. Spike had stayed behind as he had the flu, Twilight had promised that she'd buy him a new power ponies comic.

He and Twilight hugged for several minutes. "I have a surprise to share with you when we meet the princesses at the restaurant.", Shining Armor said.

"Oooo! Can't you tell me now or at least give me a clue?", Twilight asked excitedly.

Shining grinned, held up his chin and shook his head no.

"Please BBBFF?", Twilight said in her best sad voice, staring at him with big round eyes.

Shining Armor had to look away from those big round eyes of fake sadness that was beginning to make him melt. "I'm sorry Twily, I can't.", he said avoiding eye contact, "I'm under orders to keep it a secret until we meet the princesses at the restaurant."

Twilight stuck her bottom lip. "Well poo!", she teased Shining.

The six friends gathered in the carriage that had been brought for them chatting excitedly. Shining armor sighed remembering the reports he had read that morning. A few dozen members of the Foundry Family had been arrested by the Royal Guard before sunrise in surprise raids. The raids were possible because of some rather peculiar anonymous tips. Anonymous tips that had some military code words sprinkled throughout. If Shining had been a betting pony, he'd have put hard earned bits on that Celestia or Luna had called up some members of the Equestrian army or Royal Guards to work deep cover.

As the carriage pulled up to the restaurant, two coach stallions opened the door and helped each of the element bearers out of the carriage, they then helped Shining out of the carriage. The carriage stallions climbed on a running board on the back as the driver pulled off to the parking lot.

As they entered the restaurant, Shining gave a slight nod. Two columns formed on each side of the eagerly chatting friends and escorted them into the restaurant.

"Ah, you must be the guests of Princess Celestia!", the concierge said in a bright tone, "She's waiting for you out on the veranda. Follow me!" He gestured with his hoof walking towards two beautiful glass Prench doors. Two guards standing by the doors opened them letting Twilight, Applejack, Pinkie, Rainbow, Rarity and Fluttershy onto the veranda. Princesses Celestia, Luna and Cadance were waiting on them.

One of the lead guards announced in a clear voice, "Announcing the element bearers Twilight Sparkle, Apple-"
Celestia held up a hoof interrupting, then gave an elegant gesture. The guards bowed and quickly moved out of sight.

Cadance and Twilight did their rhyme and dance before hugging joyously. "Oh Twilight, it's so good see you!"Cadence said, feeling she was going to burst, "Shiny and I have some news we want to tell you."

Twilight happily hugged Cadance back, "It's so good to see you too Cadance!" Breaking from the hug, she turned to Shining, "So BBBFF, what's the big secret you've got to tell me?"

Shining stood tall. "Cadence and I are going to Mareuba and we'd enjoy it if you'd join us.", he said before continuing nonchalantly, "And me and Cadence are getting married."

Twilight danced in place for a few minutes. "I've always wanted to visit Mare...wait you guys just..." Twilight's eye twitched as her brain tried to process the information laid before her. All she could do was stutter and mumble nonsense.

Inside Twilight's head Captain Kirk-light leaned forward in her chair as alarms blared and red lights flashed. "What, happened! Why, did, we, lose, power?" First Officer Spock-light turned from her scope, "It appears we have encountered an emotional and information overload." "Damage, report, Chekhov-light!" "Ve still haf life support and auxiliary komputor function, but he haf lost all forward propulsion and main komputor functions.", Chekhov-light replied. Kirk-light flipped on the intercom to hail engineering, it gave a whistle. "Scotty-light, we, need, to, restore, higher, functions, now!", Kirk-light said into the intercom. Scotty-light responded, "Ach cap'n, we are tryin' to restore it right now. We cannae restart higher brain functions like flipping a light switch. I need three minutes." "You've, got, thirty, seconds!" "Aye-aye cap'n!" Kirk-light flipped off the intercom.

Applejack gently poked Twilight on the shoulder. "Twi? Are you okay?", she asked.

Shining waved his hoof in front of Twilight's face, "Twily?"

Back in Twilight's head Uhura-light spun around in her chair pressing an earpiece with her hoof, "Captain, we are being hailed." "Does, the, view, screen, work?", Kirk-light asked. "Aye Kiptin!", Chekhov-light responded. "On, screen!", Kirk-light ordered. The view screen came on showing Applejack and Shining Armor talking to the U.S.S. Twilight-prise. "Oh myyyy!", Takei-light said in a deep, sexy voice looking at Shining Armor. Kirk-light turned on the intercom, "Scotty-light, I, need, the, main, functions, back, online, now!" "This is very delicate work cap'n. If I'm not careful, the whole thing could blow!", Scotty-light replied. "I need those, main, functions, back, online, now, Scotty-light!", Kirk-light ordered. "Captain, a thought.", Spock-light said, "What if we added a little bit of vulgarity into the fuel mixture for the main function generator, would that provide an ample volatility to get the main higher functions back online?" Kirk-light tapped her chin, "It, could, just, work! Like, using, starter, fluid, on, a, carburetor! Mr., Scott-light?" "Aye it could work, but if we get the mix wrong, she'll be spitting fucks like a sailor on leave in Gloucester.", Scotty-light replied. "Make, it, so, Scotty-light!", Kirk-light said, switching the intercom off.

"Fuck me running!", Twilight exclaimed, "You're getting married!" She shook her head, feeling like she had tiny sci-fi versions of herself walking around inside it.

Pinkie ran over and hugged her, "Twilight, I'm glad you're okay and your thought process didn't become an old fifty year old TV program!"

Her friends, the princesses, Shining Armor, the concierge and several guards look at Pinkie oddly for a moment.

After the group had finished eating a late lunch at the restaurant, Celestia and Luna had to return to the castle. Cadance managed to convince Shining Armor to stay at the restaurant with her for a little bit longer. Twilight and her friends loaded up in the carriage, with a group of guards following in another carriage.

"So this Professor Bubbling Beaker was one of yer instructors when yuh attended Princess Celestia's academy?", Applejack asked.

"Yeah, Professor Beaker was my potions instructor back at the academy, he's a very brilliant pony.", Twilight replied.

"I hope you aren't going to talk about egghead stuff the whole time.", Rainbow said, propping her head on a hoof bored.

"Rainbow Dash! Don't be rude.", Rarity scolded, "Professor Beaker helped design new dyes that have already changed the world of fashion."

Rainbow huffed in boredom.

"Don't be like that Dashie!", Pinkie said pulling a copy of pranks and gags monthly from her mane, "It says in this article that Professor Beaker developed a new synthetic rubber that makes rubber chickens stretchier and whoopee cushions go pppbbbbbth longer. He is working on a new filler for stink bombs that is supposed to be at three times smellier than current stink bombs."

"Really?!"Rainbow said, leaning up reading the article with Pinkie, "I guess he's not such a big egghead after all."

Twilight chuckled. "Yeah, he was quite the trickster. His patents have allowed him to not only expand the field of pranks, but all aspects of life here in Equestria. His alchemical advancements have helped create new fertilizers, new liners for flight suits and ways to make it easier for ponies to work metal."

After several minutes they pulled up to Boiling Beakers new alchemy lab and shop. After the six friends had gotten out of the carriage and the guards had taken up their positions, Twilight knocked on the front door of the shop.

The door quickly opens, a tall light green unicorn with light grey mane and tail stood inside. "Tvilight Shparkle! You vere alvays such an astute shtudent, but you're three years late on your last assignment und zat vill reflect on your final grade!", Bubbling Beaker said trying to act serious. He wrapped a forelimb around Twilight, hugging her, "How haf you been Tvilight? Und are zese your friends und fellow element hearers?" He looked around for a moment. "Vere ish Mashter Shpike?"

"Spike's back home in Ponyville sick with the flu.", Twilight said, "Yes these are my good friends." She gestured to each of them, "This is Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie."

After introductions, they were brought back to the massive alchemy laboratory. "Zis ish the heart of ze whole operation.", Professor Beaker said gesturing widely with his hoof, "Ven zis laboratory ish fully operational, ve vill supply a full third of all ze alchemical products for all of Equestria."

An assistant with a concerned look on her face came up and whispered in Professor Beaker's ear.

"Excush me for jusht a shecond.", Professor Beaker said turning to his assistant. They began arguing in hushed tones. After a moment he turned back to Twilight and her friends. "Many apologiesh. Jusht a few problemsh vith new employeesh. Anvays, back to ze tour."

After several minutes of touring the floor of the alchemy laboratory, Pinkie stopped and looked up. "Professor? What's that?"

Bubbling Beaker stopped looking up. "Ah good eye Ms. Pie. Zat's ze collector ve vill use ven ve buy the excess weather from Cloudshdale."

"No professor, not that, that." Pinkie said pointing her hoof.

Professor Beaker walked over and looked to where Pinkie was pointing. It was a small red blinking light on a ceiling beam where a gantry support crossed it. "You know I don't know Ms. Pie, I vill shend shomepony to shee vat it ish." A second later there was a bright flash and a deafening boom. Chunks of ceiling support rained down on the laboratory floor. Bubbling Beaker shoved Pinkie out of the way as a section of the gantry swung downwards, part of the suspension arm impaled him through the ribs and pinned him to the side of a tank. Bright red blood began to pour out of his mouth as his legs kicked in panic trying to get away.

Pinkie rose to her feet trying to run to her friends when there was another bright flash and loud boom followed by a wave of heat as a fireball erupted on the floor. Pinkie was thrown tumbling across the floor and a section of gantry fell on top of her, pinning in place. Soon fire erupted across the lab.

Rainbow and AJ tried to rush over to Pinkie when the guards grabbed the five of them, rushing them out the door. Two guards rushed to help Pinkie. Another explosion rocked the building and a ceiling beam collapsed on the two of them. Fire was now raging on the laboratory floor. Vats and tanks of alchemical materials began to rupture from the heat or debris collapsing onto them. A toxic and flammable mix of alchemical substances began lapping closer. The smoke and fumes began stinging her eyes while burning her lungs. Pinkie looked over at the two guards under the beam, seeing they were dead, she struggled to free herself one last time. Unable to escape, she closed her eyes preparing for death. That's when she heard somepony laughing. Pinkie snapped her eyes open. "Is somepony there?! If you are, help me get out!", she called out, choking in the toxic fumes. A nearby vat ruptured dousing her in a hot alchemical substance. She shrieked in pain.

Staring at her forelimbs, she saw where patches of fur had been scalded off, the remaining fur and underlying skin had been blanched white. For some reason she thought it was funny that in two week it would be All Foal's Day, she began to chuckle to herself soon rising into manic laughter.

Princesses Celestia and Luna teleported in with a company of guards. Twilight ran up to them shouting, "Princesses, Pinkie's still trapped in there!"

Celestia began taking off her regalia. "GET BACK EVERYPONY! THE BUILDING COULD EXPLODE AT ANY MOMENT!", Celestia shouted in the royal Canterlot voice. She turned to Luna, "Luna, sister, get the element bearers back to the castle, I'm going in for Pinkie." The shriek of pain from inside made her hurry faster as Luna herded and in Rainbow's case, dragged them back to the castle. Celestia kicked the door off the frame and began to crane her head around looking for signs of any survivors. "Pinkie!", she called out over the roar of the flames, "Anypony! Call out to me my little ponies so I can save you!" For a quick moment Celestia thought she heard somepony laughing. Before she could call out again, a series of fiery explosions began rocking the building, Celestia hastily threw up a shield around herself as a massive fireball tore through the building. Flaming debris sailed through the air, much of it landed on the nearby river as a massive multi-colored fireball climbed higher and higher into the sky.

"SISTER!", Luna shrieked as she took flight back towards the alchemy lab.

Twilight, Rarity, Fluttershy Rainbow and Applejack stared in shock as tears poured down their faces.

Luna landed at the remains of the alchemy lab. She stared in shock as tears swelled in her eyes. Nearby a section of wall collapsed revealing Celestia laying on her stomach, the shield still around her had kept her safe. Luna ran to her tears pouring down her face. "Oh sister, I thought I had lost you!"

Celestia rose to her feet, tears streaming down her face, lowered the shield and fell into Luna's hooves. "Luna! I couldn't save anypony.", she said between sobs, "I wasn't fast enough." The two sisters held each other crying, tears staining their coats.

That evening after the sun had been lowered and the moon risen, Celestia, Luna, Cadance and Shining Armor were pacing the throne room awaiting any news and the number of dead from the resulting fire and explosion. A group of five royal guards came in, one was carrying a scroll in his mouth. They bowed and hoofed over the scroll. "Princesses and sir, we found remains of at least eight ponies. The number will only go up as more extensive searches of the rubble and surrounding areas goes up.", the lead guard said, "We also found two devices and the remains of at least five more."

"What sort of devices?", Luna asked.

As the guards rose, the lead guard gestured and two of the guards left, returning a moment later pushing a wooden cart with a box-shaped device on it. "Don't worry majesties, it's been deactivated."

"What is it?"Cadence asked, extending a hoof to it, "Ow!"

Shining smacked Cadences hoof with his. "It's a bomb and from the looks of it, it was made by somepony with explosive skill."

A Canterlot police boat patrolling the river found the body of an unconscious pony. "We got a live one here!", the police pony shouted as he started dragging the body from the water. Two other police ponies helped him drag the body from the river. Laying the body on the deck of the boat, the police ponies began checking the pony over. It was a mare, she was unconscious, able to breathe unassisted, had a several burns all across her her body, her fur and underlying skin was bright white, mane and tail a bright green, face showed signs of severe trauma, the strangest of all was she had no cutie mark to speak of. "Get an ambulance, we got a mare, unknown age, with several burns."
As the boat made its way to shore, the mare snapped her eyes open, sat straight up, gave a manic shrieking laugh, then passed out again. "Great, we got a loony case on our hooves. The sooner we get her to an ambulance, the sooner she's not our problem.", one of the police ponies said. The police ponies helped load the mare into the ambulance.

After a week, Pinkie was still among the seven ponies still unaccounted for and was presumed dead. Cadance and Shining Armor had cancelled their vacation. Twilight and her four remaining friends went back to Ponyville to wait for any new news. The royal guard had spread out through the city fervently rooting out any and all members of the Foundry Family they can find. Other than a couple dozen members, they found several escape tunnels leading out the city dug into basements and cellars.

In the hospital a Jane Doe mare wakes up from a seven day long coma. The nurse walks in finding her running her forehooves across the bandages on her body, forelimbs and face. "Don't mess up your bandages, you came in a week ago unconscious, covered in what looked like alchemical burns and the bones of your face were broken, you had to undergo reconstructive surgery.", the nurse says, "Do you know where you are?"

The mare looks around, then shakes her head no.

"I'll go get your doctor and be right back, don't mess with your bandages.", the nurse said. She hurried down the hall.

A few minutes later the doctor came into the room, pulled up a nearby chair, and sat down holding a chart. "Good afternoon miss. Do you know where you are?", the doctor asked.

The mare shapes her head no.

The doctor writes on the chart. "Can you tell me your name?"

The mare shakes her head no.

"Can you write your name?", the doctor asks.

The mare shakes her head no again.

"Are you able to talk?"

"Yes.", the mare says in a gravely tone nodding her head yes.

"Do you know your name?", the doctor asks.

"No.", the mare answers.

The doctor writes on the chart again. "Okay miss, You're in the Midtown Canterlot hospital. You were brought in a week ago with alchemical burns and serious trauma to the face that required surgery to fix.", he said. He checked her bandages, lifting a few to look under them. "It appears you're healing well and your bandages will be coming off in a few days. One last thing I want to ask you, given that your burns were alchemic in nature, do you remember if you were in any kind of fire recently?"

The mare remembered a fire, she remembered a scalding liquid pouring across her, she remembered laughing. "I don't remember." After the doctor left and closed the door, the mare noticed her green mane drooped over her face, it was silky and smooth.

She began hoarsely chuckling in her throat which became a soft jagged laugh, "Heeheehee-hahahah-hoohoohoo!"

Three days later Pinkie was officially declared dead. It was assumed that any part of her body was completely burned up in the fire, so a memorial service was held at Sugarcube Corner. Out of her friends Rainbow took it the hardest. "I never even got a chance to tell her I loved her. I thought I had all the time in the world.", Rainbow said, curled up on Pinkie’s favorite hill as her friends helped her grieve.

In the Midtown Canterlot hospital, a nurse was helping the Jane Doe mare come out of her bandages. She helps with her face last. After unwrapping her face, the nurse passes her a hoof mirror.

The mare looks at the mirror seeing her stark white fur, her bright green mane, her small pointed chin, her gaunt and hollow cheeks. She gives a small wince and then grunts in pain slightly as the muscles of her face begin to contract uncontrollably.

The nurse hears the Jane Doe grunt in pain and looks up to ask her if she's okay. The nurse freezes in horror as she sees the unnaturally wide smile spreading across the mare's face. "I'll go get the doctor!" The nurse runs out of the room.

The mare watches in gleeful amazement as the unnatural and massive grin begins spreading across her face. Her green mane become poofy and wicked glee enters her eyes. She begins manically laughing.

The doctor rushes into the room and sees the mare laughing uncontrollably at the hand mirror. He catches her reflection and feels sick to his stomach. "I'm so sorry miss, I didn't know there would be a complication this severe."

The mare turned to face the doctor. "HahahahahHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAhahahhahahahaHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA!" she laughed maniacally. She stood from the bed and began doing a little dancing trot around the room. "I don't know why you're sorry doctor, now I have a smile big enough for all the laughter I want to share. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAhahahahahahhahaHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAhahahahahahahahaHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Her mane became straight as her smile became smaller, but still unnaturally wide, her eyes were no longer manic, but hateful. Her voice became hoarse, "Heeheehee-hahaha-hoohoohoo! I agree this is definitely funny."

The doctor slowly backed out of the room and ordered an orderly to watch it. Fetching the mare's chart he opens it and below where he wrote "amnesia", he also wrote "severe psychological trauma, possible delusions of grandeur and possible multiple personality disorder."

That night the mare sneaks out of her room. Slipping a pair of scrubs on her body, a mask over her face and a nurses cap on her head she wanders around the hospital until she finds the surgery wing. Finding several surgical tools laid out on a tray, she picks up a scalpel and hides it under her mane. All Foal's Day was in four days and she had an idea for a funny joke. "Heeheehee-hahaha-hoohoohoo!", she laughs in a hoarse tone. Discarding her nurse disguise in a nearby trash can, she massages her cheeks so she can grimace, she even convincingly fake cries and walks around acting like she's confused, scared and lost. A night nurse finds her and guides her back to her room.

On All Foal's Day a nurse enters the mare's room and sees her sleeping on the bed. The doctor had ordered her to a group home to get her some help and maybe help her recover her memories. The nurse hears her stirring. "Are you awake, dearie?", the nurse asks turning back to the mare, " Good news, the doctor is-urk!", the nurse is cut off by a sharp pain blossoming in her throat, the mare is staring her in the face with her unnaturally wide smile, a hateful gleam in her eyes, holding a bloody object in her hoof. The nurse tries to scream but only gurgles, soon darkness overtakes her.

The mare laid in bed faking being asleep. It was All Foal's Day and she was going to share a wonderful joke with the first pony she could. She watched through the tiny slits in her eyes as a nurse walked in and began tidying up the room. Her mane went straight as she slowly reached under her pillow and grabbed the scalpel, hatred was burning in her eyes as a wide smile began spreading across her face. She crept across the room quietly until she was on top of the nurse before making her presence known. When the nurse turned around, the mare slashed her throat. The mare locked the door as she didn't need any disturbances while she put up her All Foal's Day decorations. "Heeheehee-hahaha-hoohoohoo!", he mare hoarsely cackled as she began carving the body of the nurse up. Looking at her handy work, the mare was pleased, picking up the nearby chair she threw it through the window. Leaping through the window, she began laughing maniacally as she ran down the street, "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAhahahahahahahahahaHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

The sound of shattering glass drew the attention of a passing nurse. When she went to open the door, she found it was locked. Calling for an orderly, they unlocked the door and opened it. Seeing the grisly scene, the nurse screamed and fainted. The nurse that had been sent to help the Jane Doe mare get ready was laying on the floor dead, her throat had been cut, her cheeks had been split open forming a twisted smile, she had been disemboweled, her intestines had been pulled out and formed into a speech bubble, inside the speech bubble had been written "Happy All Fools Day!" in blood, on the walls of the room the word "Ha!" had been written over and over again in blood.

*Monochrome's Journal, All Foal's Day

Dear journal,

I am sorry I haven't written to you in the past two weeks. After the element bearer of laughter was killed in the bombing at an alchemy lab in uptown Canterlot, I haven't felt like writing. After the bombing most of the Foundry Family disappeared from town. The reason I'm writing today is because of a grisly murder I'm investigating that happened at the Midtown Canterlot hospital. Some deranged maniac carved up some poor nurse and smashed out a window to escape. When I talked to an orderly about the murderer, he told me that it was an earth pony mare with white fur and bright green mane, the only thing he told me that was out of the ordinary was that despite being an adult, this mare had no cutie mark, most unusual. The orderly also told me that the mare first showed signs of being completely unhinged four days ago when an unforeseen complication to facial surgery caused her face to twist into an unnaturally wide smile, that's when she went completely coo-coo bananas and started laughing like a crazy pony. I ask you dear journal journal, was it the complication from the surgery that drove this mare crazy or was the mare already on the train to nutters town and this was the last push.

I tracked the coo-coo mare to South Canterlot where I caught sight of her in the crowd, staring in an old party supplies shop. She must have felt me watching because I caught her staring back at me in the reflection of the shop window. The look in her eye made my blood turn cold. Journal is it possible for insanity to have a child with hatred? Because if it is, then that mare is definitely the offspring of such an unholy union. When I followed her, she turned the corner and completely disappeared. I could occasionally feel her watching me, but I couldn't spot her again. How the fuck does an earth pony just completely vanish without a trace in broad daylight. The next time I see her, I'll have to ask Celestia(may she be eternally cursed) if there are any earth ponies who can vanish from sight.
Yours truly,
Monochrome

P.S. I thought about my father today, Journal. For the first time in five years he crossed my mind. I wonder if he's still upset about me going into the military. I wonder about the element bearers freeing Luna(may her heart find peace) from Nightmare Moon?*
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*Two week later*

In Ponyville, the headstone for Pinkie's grave had been erected a couple of days ago. Her friends had gathered several of her favorite things in a small box and had it buried in her plot. They held a small memorial to commemorate the event. In town, Pinkie's sisters had made a statue of her and placed it outside of Sugarcube Corner.

A white pony with green mane and an unnaturally wide smile stood on a hill overlooking the town. She laughed maniacally, "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAhahahahahahahaHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! We're going to have some fun!" She took a moment to look around and saw a stallion pulling a wagon wearing a brown shirt and cap. Her hair went straight as she began to laugh hoarsely, "Heeheehee-hahaha-hoohoohoo! But first." She laid an ambush for the pony, dragging his body off into the nearby Everfree forest, coming back out to the road wearing his brown shirt and cap. The mare went through several of the packages finding a sheet of stickers. She peeled off two smiley face stickers and stuck them to her rump where ponies usually have their cutie mark. She massaged her cheeks to make her smile into something closer to what most ponies have and began making her way into town.

Author's Note

Edit note;
I want to thank The_Darker_Fonts]The_Darker_Fonts for the edit to this chapter. Go to his page and show him some mmfmlpl (much motherfuckin my litte pont love)

The_Darker_Fonts

Please note that this chapter was edited after it was completed and some of the comments may seem odd.

I want to thank you all for reading and hope you all enjoy

As always I will try and take all criticisms as constructive