Pumpkin Cake skimmed over a couple of the pages in her textbook, a pencil held in her magic that was prepared to write things down. Her eyes darted back and forth, searching for the sections she needed. Her schooling moved along at the same pace as her brother's, which Pumpkin thought didn't make much sense. She was homeschooled, she should be able to move at a faster pace than her public-schooled brother.
But the extra time she was forced to take for each different section did help increase her knowledge on the areas. Sometimes her brother's classes would take days to finish one assignment, while Pumpkin Cake had it done in a couple hours and could move onto something else.
Unfortunately, her studies of the crystal ponies weren't enough to distract her from the heat that warned of the oncoming summer. Pumpkin had her window propped open and had a fan going. but the breeze they provided just wasn't enough. The young mare wiped her forehead, which was soaked with sweat. Not even pulling her hair back into a ponytail had worked.
The rooms upstairs didn't have air conditioning like the shop did. It took a lot of money to keep the entire downstairs cool for their customers, and Pumpkin's parents didn't have the money to do the same upstairs. Pumpkin Cake and Pound Cake often acted like they didn't mind in order take some of the stress off of their parents, despite the heat that made them damp with sweat every day.
She tried working for a few more minutes before she eventually groaned. Pumpkin grasped her work and book in her magic. She carried it with her as she trotted out of her room and down the stairs. Her parents weren't home; they had a lot of deliveries to do, and Pinkie had spent a lot of time gone recently. Pumpkin found it odd. She was used to Pinkie needing to take days off from helping her, it was only a couple times a month and she made it up to Pumpkin by whipping her up a batch of cupcakes as soon as she got back. Pumpkin never told her parents; everypony needed time off sometimes, even the super happy and bouncy Pinkie Pie. But now she was gone for at least three days every week, sometimes even four. She never explained why, claiming that she simply just had some work to do.
Pumpkin Cake walked down the stairs, letting out a breath of relief as the cool air began to hit her. She picked up her pace until she hopped off the final step. The air conditioning was a really nice change from the heat.
As she scanned the room, Pumpkin noticed that a door that was usually locked was propped open a little. Pumpkin wrinkled her nose. Pinkie Pie had always told her and her brother that they were never allowed in there. Their parents didn't even know what she did down there. All they could ever say is that it was a basement where they used to put spare storage. It was odd, to say the least, but Pumpkin simply respected Pinkie's space and never pressed the matter.
Pumpkin Cake made her way over to one of the emptier tables. She sat her stuff down, laying it out so she could see everything, then pulled out the stool. She let out a yelp of startled surprise when she found a green lump curled up on it, peacefully sleeping. Pumpkin pressed a hoof to her chest as her heartrate began to slow, then nudged the alligator.
"Morning, Gummy," she said softly with a smile. She picked up Pinkie's pet and held him in one arm. "I hate to wake you, but I need this spot."
Gummy blinked one eye at a time at her. Pumpkin's smile widened, and she nuzzled his head with her muzzle. She brought him away from the table and to the main counter where her parents checked out their customers.
"You can wait here for Pinkie to return," Pumpkin offered, setting him down. He flicked his tongue, and Pumpkin Cake patted his head.
"I'm sure she'll be back so-" she began, only to be cut off when something caught her eye. A large book was sitting on the counter. The cover was brown and blank on both sides. Pumpkin had seen this book laying around an awful lot lately, especially in places where she spent most of her time. Only a few days ago she had found it in her room.
She opened the cover just to double check, and she wasn't shocked to find out that it indeed was the book.
Printed on the front page in large, pink colors were the words:
Property of Pinkie Pie, if found, please return!!!!! :DDD
Pumpkin sighed and closed the book. It was like Pinkie wanted her to find it.
And honestly, she probably did.
The book contained the names of everypony in Ponyville, and each pony was numbered. Pumpkin Cake wasn't good at being among other ponies. Pinkie Pie was the only pony she could really call a friend. She knew her parents wanted her to make friends, and Pinkie Pie knew everypony. She was the most well-known pony in Ponyville, even before she wielded the element of laughter and became one of Equestria's saviors. This was probably a plan put together by her parents to encourage Pumpkin to make friends.
Pumpkin grabbed the book in her magic and approached the top of the basement stairs, knocking on the inside of the door to announce her arrival. “Pinkie? Are you down there?”
There was silence, then the clang of metal against metal. Somepony let out a hiss of frustration and pain. Pumpkin winced. She hadn’t meant to startle poor Pinkie.
Within a few moments, Pinkie bounced into sight. She stopped at the bottom of the stairs and tilted her head. A smile spread across her face, one that almost looked satisfied and proud, like she’d accomplished something. “Pumpkin Cake?”
“I didn’t mean to startle you,” Pumpkin apologized. “I’m sorry. I just-“
“Oh, no, it’s fine, don’t worry about it!” Pinkie bounded up the stairs to where Pumpkin stood, smiling wide.
Pumpkin swallowed her unease and presented the book to the pink party pony. “I found your book.”
Pinkie took the book and Pumpkin released her magical grip.
“Thanks!” she chirped. “I’ve been looking for this.”
I’m sure you have, Pumpkin thought irritably.
There was a moment of silence as Pinkie put the book under her arm, then Pumpkin decided to speak again.
“You know, I don’t need help making friends,” she told Pinkie. “I know that you and your friends stand for the meaning and magic of friendship, but some ponies just work better on their own. I don’t need a big social group.”
Pinkie Pie looked a little confused, titling her head curiously. She eventually shrugged it off, though her smile didn’t return. “I know.”
Pumpkin blinked in confusion. “What?”
“I said I know,” Pinkie replied.
“But… the book,” Pumpkin stuttered. “You’ve been leaving it everywhere I go lately.”
“Pure coincidence,” Pinkie said, her smile returning. Despite this, Pumpkin could tell she was lying. This was being done intentionally.
“Is it?” she questioned. “Or do you want me to find it?”
Pinkie’s eyes lit up. “Well-“
She was cut off by a groan that came from downstairs. She jumped and whirled around. “I hate to cut this conversation short, but I gotta get back to work. You should get back to-“ Pinkie cut herself off, looking over her shoulder at Pumpkin. “Actually, why don’t you come help me today?”
Pumpkin almost instantly shook her head. “Oh, no, I can’t. I have to get a lot of work done today.”
“Oh, come on,” Pinkie chirped. “I know you’ve been wondering what I do down here.” She lowered her voice as she added, “And if you do, I’ll tell you about the book.”
Pumpkin hesitated. Obviously she wanted to know what the book situation was about, but was it worth the risk of getting in trouble with her parents over not finishing her school work? Her ears fell back against her skull and she sighed. “Alright, but only for a little bit. I have to get back to work as soon as possible.”
Pinkie beamed at her. “Thanks, Pumpkin! It won’t take too long, I promise.”
Pinkie Pie bounded down the stairs, Pumpkin following further behind. As she set her hoof on the fourth step, Pinkie called up to her. “Close the door! And don’t forget to lock it!”
Pumpkin wrinkled her nose uncertainly as she used her magic to close the door. “Lock it?”
“Nopony can know about the surprise down here except for us!” Pinkie called, disappearing around a corner. “Not yet, anyway!”
Pumpkin hesitated, her belly churning uneasily. Something wasn’t right.
However, she obeyed Pinkie’s orders and secured the lock on the door. She trotted down the stairs after Pinkie, the odd stench she’d smelled earlier growing almost unbearable. It was dark. Pumpkin lit up her horn for a bit of light, wandering blindly around the basement. “Pinkie? Where are you?”
“Right here!” Pinkie chirped, and suddenly the lights flickered on. Pumpkin instantly regretted coming down here, feeling ill. She knew what the stench was now, and she really wished she hadn’t found out.
The room was decorated with a typical but twisted Pinkie Pie flair. Colorful streamers of dried entrails fluttered around on the ceiling, brightly painted skulls of all sizes were attached to the walls, and organs done up in pastels filled with helium were tied to the backs of chairs. The tables and chairs were made of bones and the preserved flesh of past ponies. On the nearest table to Pumpkin, the heads of four foals, their eyes closed as if they were sleeping, were wearing party hats made from their own skin. A tray of cupcakes with bright rainbow frosting sat on the table as well. Pumpkin’s eyes darted back and forth and then fell upon a patchwork banner hanging from the rafters. Made from several tanned pony hides, the words "Life is a party" were scrawled on it in blood red. A medical table sat near one of the walls, propped upright. A pony was strapped to it, hooves held down by straps. She was an earth pony, her coat a pink-ish purple. Her mane was darker, and her cutie mark was a bundle of grapes and a single strawberry. Her eyes were closed as though she were in a peaceful sleep.
Pumpkin stumbled backwards, her head spinning. This had to be some kind of sick joke, right? Pinkie would never actually do this. Right?
Pumpkin took a moment to calm her racing heart before letting out a nervous laugh. “Wow, you put all of this together?”
Pinkie danced excitedly in place, bouncing from hoof to hoof. “I did! What do you think?”
Pumpkin scanned the room again, trying to not feel too nauseous. “It’s neat,” she said slowly. “It must‘ve taken a lot of work. And how did you get her to help? Is she a friend?”
Pumpkin pointed to the table, and Pinkie followed with her eyes. She looked confused. “Help? Help with what?”
Pumpkin put her hoof down and tilted her head. “With the joke.”
Pinkie sighed and plopped down onto the floor in exasperation. “No! Why do I always have to explain this to everypony?”
Pumpkin swallowed. “What do you mean?”
Pinkie opened her mouth to say something, then shook her head and bounced up from the floor as the pony groaned again. “I’ll show you.”
Pinkie trotted over to a cart Pumpkin hadn’t noticed before and ripped off the white cloth covering. Once the cloth was gone, a tray of several different sharp, dangerous tools could be seen. Each of them glittered menacingly in the light, making Pumpkin shudder. There were five needles, three containing the same liquid and two others that contained the same liquid as each other, but different from the first three. Pinkie grabbed one of the first three and stabbed in into the pony’s chest. The pony stirred a little, opening her eyes slightly. Pinkie ignored this and sent a shot into the pony’s bloodstream.
The pony instantly snapped her eyes opened, her body jerking upward as she came back to consciousness. She was panting, her eyes darting back and forth wildly. Her eyes eventually fell on Pinkie, widening.
“Pinkie Pie?” she squeaked. “W-what’s going on?”
Pinkie grinned at the pony, then turned to Pumpkin Cake. “This is Berryshine, our guest for today!” She turned back to the mare that was trapped and beamed. “Welcome! I’m glad you’re finally awake.”
Berryshine looked at Pumpkin quizzically, then back at Pinkie. “What’s going on?” she whimpered again.
“Don’t you remember?” Pinkie asked, her tone betraying her annoyance. “I told you when I first invited you. We’re making cupcakes, Berryshine! Sweet Celestia, you’re only a little older than me and losing your memory. I sure hope I don’t wind up like that when I’m your age.”
Berryshine writhed, pulling on her hooves and attempting to free herself. “Then why am I tied down?” she asked fearfully. “I don’t- I don’t understand.”
Pinkie Pie began pacing back and forth in front of Berryshine happily. “My cupcakes have a special ingredient, which I’ve recently begun to run low on. I’m known as the best baker in Ponyville. I can’t ruin that reputation, now can I? I have to get the special ingredient, and you’re going to help me!”
“Special ingredient?” Pumpkin Cake blurted. “What do you mean?”
“Every single one of my cupcakes has it,” Pinkie replied, patting Berryshine’s shoulder. “And today, we’re getting it from her!”
“What could I possibly have for your cupcakes?” Berryshine pressed, her voice shaky.
“Oh, silly,” Pinkie giggled. “Don’t you understand? You’re the special ingredient!”
Pumpkin Cake’s stomach twisted, and she felt her heart sink down to her hooves. Every. Single. Cupcake. Including the ones that Pinkie had made her. The ones that she had eaten. She had eaten ponies, and she thought it was delicious, that Pinkie was the best baker in all of Equestria. Berryshine’s eyes widened in fear, tears beginning to form. “Please tell you’re joking,” Berryshine choked out. “Please, Pinkie. Please.”
Pinkie giggled and clapped her hooves eagerly. “Oh, don’t cry. Today is a special day! You should feel honored to have been chosen today.”
“Honored?” Berryshine wailed, raising her voice angrily. “Honored about what? The fact that I’m going to be baked into a pastry?”
Pinkie shook her head and giggled. “No, silly. I’m getting old, nopony lives forever after all, you’re about to figure this out the hard way. Somepony will need to take over after me. So this is Pumpkin’s first day in her new workplace!”
Before Pumpkin Cake could protest or ask anything, Pinkie pulled a scalpel off the metal cart and held it in front of Pumpkin’s face. “You’re officially my new apprentice!”
Pumpkin stumbled backward, her eyes fixed on the scalpel. The glistening blade seemed to be taunting her, teasing her. Her head began to swim, her thoughts dancing in an unorganized fashion. This couldn’t be real, it just couldn’t.
But as Pumpkin went through with the procedure she always went through when she had bad dreams, she realized that this was all too real, the furthest thing from fake.
Pinkie raised a brow, then came closer to Pumpkin, holding the scalpel out further so it was closer to her.
“No,” Pumpkin breathed. “No, no, I can’t.”
Suddenly, her legs were moving. Pumpkin darted past Pinkie, racing toward the stairs. Berryshine screamed for help as Pumpkin ran, but it soon changed to screams of warning. These didn’t process in Pumpkin’s head, her only focus on escaping. She didn’t even notice the thundering hoofsteps that raced after her. She was so close to the stairs when she felt somepony pull on her tail and yank her backwards. She yelped and collapsed to the ground at the roughness of the pull. She hit the stone floor hard, wincing in pain. It was only a quick sensation, it had faded within a few moments.
Pinkie stepped in front of Pumpkin, who cowered on the floor. She looked furious, and the look in her eyes was a look that made Pumpkin’s blood run cold.
“You’re not going anywhere!” Pinkie Pie spat. “No, I’ve given you a job and you’re going to do it.”
“I can’t,” Pumpkin wailed, her cheeks growing slick with tears.
“Oh, you can,” Pinkie snarled, lowering her head until her nose was touching Pumpkin’s. “And you will. Because if you don’t, or if you tell anypony at all, I will not hesitate to bring your family down here next. And you’ll be down here, too, watching them die slowly and painfully. Not even your pathetic magic will be able to help you out of this.”
Pumpkin stared at her with wide eyes. Everything suddenly began to make sense. The book, leaving the door open, Pinkie had wanted her to know about this. She’d been planning this.
“Please don’t make me do this,” Pumpkin pleaded.
Pinkie backed away from Pumpkin and held out the scalpel. It was clear what Pinkie was saying.
The choice is yours.
Pumpkin stared at the scalpel, feeling ill. She had a choice; run and get help, or save her brother and her parents, the only ponies she had other than Pinkie.
Pumpkin slowly reached out her shaky hoof and took the scalpel from Pinkie. The pink mare smiled and bounced excitedly. “Oh, I’m so excited to have you on my team!”
Pumpkin shakily got to her hooves and followed Pinkie back over to Berryshine. The pony didn’t look afraid anymore, she looked furious. Her narrow gaze was fixed on Pinkie.
“Doing this to a young filly,” Berryshine spat. “You’re sick.”
Pinkie wrapped a hoof around Pumpkin’s shoulder, and Pumpkin fought the urge to pull away. “Oh, please, Pumpkin will love this! Maybe it’ll even help her get her cutie mark!”
Pumpkin felt even more ill at this idea. Getting her cutie mark from this, of all things? She would’ve hated almost nothing more.
“You’re fucking insane,” Berryshine snarled.
Pinkie tsked and shook her head. “Well, I was hoping to show Pumpkin how to do things in order today, but clearly we must rearrange some things. We can’t have you distracting poor Pumpkin, now can we? Or using such foul language?” Pinkie turned to Pumpkin Cake. “This is your first task, Pumpkin. Cut off her tongue. If that scalpel isn’t enough, let me know and I’ll give you something easier to use.”
Pumpkin locked eyes with Berryshine, then began to slowly approach her. She sniffled as she got closer, tears dripping down to her chin. She stopped in front of Berryshine and lifted the scalpel.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
Berryshine’s gaze was soft, showing no signs of anger. She offered a gentle smile. “It’s okay,” Berryshine said quietly. “You’ve already been forgiven. But before you do anything, promise me you’ll listen to me, okay?”
Pumpkin instantly nodded. Berryshine blinked, and her smile vanished.
“None of this can be blamed on you,” she murmured. “Not even if you don’t tell anypony. Always remember that.”
Pumpkin smiled. “Thank you, Berryshine.”
Before Pinkie could scold her for taking too long, Pumpkin pulled out Berryshine’s tongue and dug the scalpel into it. Berryshine let out a cry of agony as Pumpkin began to saw at it with the blade. Blood stained the silver blade and some splattered onto Pumpkin’s yellow fur. Berryshine writhed, rocking her head back and forth to try and avoid the blade. All of it was purely instinct, Pumpkin could tell. However, it was only making things worse for her. Pumpkin unwillingly continued to saw at Berryshine’s tongue until it fell to the ground, making a pathetic plopping sound. Her face was covered in tears. Blood dripped from her mouth and stained her fur, dripping down to her chest and some reaching her belly.
Pumpkin Cake stepped away as Pinkie laughed. “Berryshine is about to have a berry tragic day,” the party pony mocked. “Good thing it’ll be her last!”
Pinkie grabbed a scalpel for herself off the cart and trotted over to stand by Pumpkin Cake.
“Now normally, the first step is to remove the cutie mark,” Pinkie announced. “I like to keep them, my own little trophies.” Pinkie erupted into laughter and covered her snout with her hoof. “Okay, that’s a lie. You wanna know the truth?” She leaned over to Pumpkin and held up a hoof like she was telling a secret, even lowering her voice to a whisper. “I use them to make clothes.”
Pumpkin bit her lip. It took everything to not react, to not scream or whimper.
Pinkie giggled and pulled away. “I know it’s a little out there, but I think it’s fun! And they make me look pretty! I’ll have to show you my dress sometime. But that’s enough talking, we got a job to do!”
Pinkie bounded over to Berryshine’s right flank. She placed the scalpel right above the mare’s cutie mark, simply resting the tip on her body.
“Come watch how to do this,” Pinkie instructed, signaling for Pumpkin to come closer. Pumpkin begrudgingly did as she was told. Pinkie tapped the scalpel blade on Berryshine’s flank while the mare simply watched in terror. “For your first couple of times, it doesn’t hurt to trace a small line of where you want to cut.”
Pinkie demonstrated this by lightly pushing the blade in Berryshine’s skin. Berryshine let out a cry of pain, unable to do much else with her missing tongue. The cut Pinkie made was barely more than a cat scratch, but Pumpkin knew that even that was enough to cause some pain for a couple of minutes. Light trickles of blood ran down Berryshine’s leg. Any that began to trickle from the top of the cutie mark Pinkie wiped away quickly, clearly not wanting her little “trophy” to be stained.
“It’s a starter’s tip,” Pinkie told Pumpkin with a wink. “And then you can take off the mark.”
Pinkie suddenly dug the blade deep into Berryshine’s skin. Berryshine screeched in agony, writhing and struggling against her binds. Pinkie carved a neat patch of skin around the cutie mark, then grasped it in her teeth and yanked it away. Berryshine’s screams pierced harshly into Pumpkin’s heart. She wanted to plead with Pinkie and beg her to stop, but she knew it would do nothing. Pinkie took Berryshine’s cutie mark and set it on the table by the foal heads. Her mouth was dripping with blood when she turned back to Pumpkin. “Now it’s your turn!”
Pumpkin looked at Berryshine, then at the scalpel. The blood on her hoof from earlier made her feel lightheaded, reminding her of the horrible thing she’d done and the things she was yet to do. After a moment, Pumpkin took the scalpel in her magic and moved over to Berryshine’s left flank. She crouched down to get a better view of what she was doing. Tears blurred her vision a little. She looked up at Berryshine, who was panting now. She looked at Pumpkin in horror. Pumpkin frowned apologetically.
“I’ll try to make it as quick as possible,” she whispered.
After the words left her mouth, she looked at her cutie mark and traced where she would be cutting like Pinkie Pie had taught her. Berryshine whimpered, making Pumpkin falter slightly. Oh, what she’d give to not do this.
But she couldn’t give her family, not to Pinkie Pie, not to anypony. No, Pound Cake and her parents meant more to Pumpkin than anypony. She’d rather murder a thousand ponies in cold blood than lose her family.
Pumpkin continued her job, sobbing as she did. Once she finished tracing, Pumpkin dug the blade into Berryshine’s skin. The tortured pony let out a high-pitched shriek. Pumpkin bit her lip and went on. She was only halfway through when the sobbing hiccups coming from Berryshine became too much. She let out a wail and let go of the scalpel. It fell to the ground with a clink. Pumpkin dropped her head into her hooves, unable to control her sobs.
“I can’t do it!” she cried. “I can’t!”
The room was filled with the sounds of Pumpkin’s and Berryshine’s cries and sniffles, each struggling to breathe from the intensity of their crying. Pumpkin Cake was unaware of Pinkie slowly walking to stand beside her, her eye twitching.
“Remember what’s on the line,” Pinkie warned Pumpkin menacingly.
“Please,” Pumpkin cried, looking up at Pinkie Pie. “I’ll do anything else, just don’t make me do this.”
Pinkie glared at Pumpkin, her expression dark. “Let me ask you something, Pumpkin. Do you love your family?”
Pumpkin nodded.
“Do you want them to be the next batch of cupcakes you’re eating?”
Pumpkin shook her head.
Pinkie snatched the scalpel off the floor and held it in front of Pumpkin again.
“THEN DO AS YOU’RE FUCKING TOLD!” she screamed.
Pumpkin hiccuped as she took the scalpel in her magic again. She turned back to the cutie mark, trying not to vomit as she thought of the task she was yet to finish.
“I’m sorry,” she sobbed before jabbing the scalpel into Berryshine’s flank again and cutting the cutie mark off. Berryshine wailed.
Pumpkin dropped the scalpel and took the cutie mark in her magic, refusing to touch it with her hooves. She turned away as she shoved it toward Pinkie. “Here, there’s the cutie mark.”
Pinkie Pie took the cutie mark from Pumpkin and set it beside the other one. “I normally like to play a little longer,” Pinkie began. “But it’s your first day, so it’ll take some time before we get to that part. Let’s cut things off early today.”
Pinkie grabbed a needle off the cart with a separate liquid in it from the first. She flicked it with her hoof and smiled, then turned back to Pumpkin.
“We’re going to inject this into her chest, and then she’ll be numb from there down. That way she won’t die from shock or anything when we begin the harvest.”
Pumpkin felt a hint of relief. This was probably the kindest thing that Pinkie had done since she’d gotten down here. Pumpkin held out her hoof, hoping that relieving Berryshine of the pain she would otherwise be in would be enough to make up for what she had done.
“I don’t mind doing it,” Pumpkin said.
Pinkie grinned and gave the shot to Pumpkin. As Pumpkin placed the needle into Berryshine’s chest and made sure it was sturdy, Pinkie Pie went on. “I like telling jokes or stories to keep our guests entertained while I harvest. You can have the honor of doing it today, Pumpkin!”
Pumpkin injected the shot into Berryshine’s bloodstream. “Yeah, I don’t mind doing that,” she murmured.
“I’m going to get everything ready while we wait for the numbing to kick in,” Pinkie said, bouncing across the basement.
Pumpkin sat down on the floor beside Berryshine’s table and thought, trying to think of a nice story to tell the mare. The last story she’d probably ever hear.
“Have you ever heard the story of the first eclipse in Equestria?” Pumpkin asked as Pinkie bounced back with a bucket. “My parents always used to tell it to me.”
Berryshine smiled, cracking some of the blood that was beginning to dry on her lips. She shook her head.
Pumpkin smiled at Berryshine. “Alright, I’ll tell it to you,” she announced as Pinkie threw things together behind her. The pink mare bounded over and grabbed a blade off the cart.
“Okay, time to begin!” she chirped, slicing a line from Berryshine’s chest to between her legs. Berryshine showed no reaction, keeping her eyes fixed on Pumpkin as Pinkie opened the flaps and dug her hooves inside, beginning to take out her organs.
“Many many moons ago,” Pumpkin began, “long before any of us, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna had a dispute. They couldn’t agree on whether the sun should be raised or the moon. It was a time when the sun would normally be out, but since the cold season was approaching Luna wanted the moon to take over early. Princess Celestia wanted the sun to remain in the sky until the right time. So Luna rose the moon anyway. Celestia kept the sun in the sky, and both sisters refused to back down. The moon aligned with the sun, covering it. The rims of the sun were still visible, creating a beautiful scene. Equestria was covered in a sudden darkness, but when they looked into the sky they were in awe. When Celestia and Luna finished arguing, they noticed the spectacle they had created. Luna finally lowered the moon, and the sisters agreed that once every couple of years, they would recreate what they had accidentally created. Together, they named it an eclipse. And that is how eclipses came to Equestria.”
Pumpkin finished her story, and, thankfully, Pinkie was almost done. Berryshine smiled at Pumpkin, then closed her eyes and dropped her head. She was still alive, just clearly trying to ignore what was going on as her insides were taken out. The poor mare was covered in blood.
“This is it, Berryshine,” Pinkie cooed, reaching into her belly one last time. “Thanks for the cupcakes!”
With that, Pinkie ripped out Berryshine’s heart. It beat one final time, then stopped, along with Berryshine’s life. Pinkie dropped the heart into the bucket with all of Berryshine’s other organs. Pinkie wiped her hooves together and let out a breath.
“Good job today, Pumpkin. You’ll be a great addition.”
Pinkie Pie began to unstrap Berryshine’s hooves and pull her down from the table. “You should go get back to work, I have to clean up. And then after, you can help me make the cupcakes!”
Pumpkin watched Pinkie for a moment, then raced toward the stairs. She was eager to clean the blood off her hooves.
