The Trotting Dead

"Oh, hello, Twilight." Pinkie said quietly, her left eye giving a twitch as she said the name, as if she wasn't believing it herself. "Did you come to see the twins? Don't worry, they're just fine. Everything's fine."

"Pinkie...?" Twilight asked worriedly as she took a step closer.

Pinkie Pie screamed bloody murder and produced a knife, to which she pointed at Twilight's snout. "Don't you come any closer! You'll try to hurt them just like all the rest! Well my name is Pinkamena Responsibility Pie and CELESTIA DAMN IT I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE TWO!"

Twilight took a step back in fear before using her magic to grip the knife and toss it away from Pinkie.

"Pinkie, what happened to your mane?! Why are you screaming and WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?!" Twilight whispered in horror as she noticed the twins.

Every sane thought in Twilight's mind quickly stepped out for a smoke break as she noticed the two little foals, Pumpkin Cake and Pound Cake, trying to dig their gums into Pinkie Pie's chest.

She started to back away slowly as Pinkie Pie reached for the knife again, sobbing softly and ignoring Twilight. "I...I'm so sorry...I'm responsible...I swear...I'll make this all better..."

With a flick of her hoof, Pinkie Pie decapitated the undead foal and let Pumpkin Cake's head fall onto the wooden floor with a thump.

Twilight hurried to get out of the room but soon found Carrot Top slowly climbing the staircase.

With Pinkie behind her lopping off the head of the other foal and crying softly, and Carrot Top slowly shambling towards the pair, Twilight simply froze in place.

She had no idea where to go or what to do.

And then suddenly, a realization hit her.

Use your horn, you filly! You're special talent is MAGIC for Celestia's sake! Twilight ordered herself and her horn began glowing.

Just as she was about to let out a stun spell, Pinkie Pie charged out towards Carrot Top from behind Twilight; tackling the creature to the ground and screaming louder and louder as she plunged the knife into the exposed part of her head.

Twilight shook in fear as she fought back tears, watching one of her friends murder another pony after doing the same to two innocent fillies.

When the deed was done, Pinkie Pie perked her ears up and lost all of her crazy demeanor; instead taking on a more serious, grim attitude. "We have to go, come on, Twilight."

"Are you crazy?! I'm not going anywhere with you, you...You MURDERER!" Twilight shot back, still cowering on the floor.

Pinkie Pie glared and took a few steps towards Twilight with the knife still in her mouth.

Twilight did nothing to move as Pinkie suddenly pressed her snout very close to Twilight's. "If you want to live you'll shut the buck up and follow me, got it?"

Twilight shivered and nodded, her mind quickly darting to the memory of the fillies.

Without warning, Pinkie Pie dashed through the hall and down the stairs, leaving Twilight to noisily scamper after the terrifying pink pony.

As she saw Pinkie Pie's tail disappear out the door and to the right, Twilight realized that several black specks in the distance were quickly growing bigger and closer.

It would be a race for her life.

The sun had set a while ago, which brought relief to Twilight's face since it signaled that at least one alicorn still lived.

Twilight had followed her friend out of town and a bit of a way into the Everfree Forest for what seemed like hours now, and the ominous blade in her friends' mouth after she had just killed three ponies didn't ease Twilight's mind.

"Pinkie, where are we going?"

"Don't call me that! My name is Pinkamena." Pinkamena growled without stopping or turning back.

"We're almost there..." she added with a huff.

As Pinkamena parted the low branches in their path, Twilight was gifted with a view of a ruined castle; the same castle she and her friends had beaten Nightmare Moon and saved Princess Luna...What, had it been two years already?

"Olly, olly oxen free!" Pinkamena shouted as she and Twilight crossed the rickety bridge once more.

Twilight was tempted to ask her many questions: Why were they here? Where were the others? What had happened to Ponyville? What had happened to Pinkie Pie? But Twilight could tell that since Pinkamena's pace did not falter that they still had quite a bit of walking to do.

It was few more minutes as they made their way through the ruins and up a flight of stairs or two until they came to two large wooden doors. Pinkamena pushed them open with a grunt and stepped inside, beckoning Twilight to follow.

"Okay, Pinkie Pie, I want answers. Where are we? What happened to Ponyville, Wh-" Twilight began, only to be interrupted by a few gasps and a soft voice stuttering a name.

"I told you not to call me that." Pinkamena growled as she slowly trotted over to the group.

"T-Twilight...?" Rarity asked in bewilderment.

"Rarity? Rainbow Dash? Fluttershy?" Twilight Sparkle asked in disbelief before the four of them all rushed together to meet in a hug; a loving embrace that Pinkamena decided not to share.

"Oh, Pinkamena, dear! Where ever did you find her?" Rarity inquired, clearly overjoyed at the return of her friend.

"Sugarcube Corner while I was...While I was taking care of something..." Pinkamena mumbled, her voice betraying her sadness but her eyes locked into their stern glare.

"Twilight, where the hay have you been?!"

"Oh, Twilight, I'm so glad you're okay!"

"Indeed! Oh, this is simply magnificent; to have you back, darling!"

The love Twilight could feel ebbing off of her friends would have been enough to kill a changeling, but she simply bore through it and embraced the three of her friends tightly before perking her ears curiously.

"Girls?" she started. "Where's Applejack?"