Author's Note

Sorry, this is late. I've been sick with this cough and chest congestion. Nasty stuff.

"...Don't Forget Extra Sprinkles..."

[Sweet Apple Acres - Apple Homestead - Applejack's POV.]

"Hehe, girls. What are you doing here?" The pink demon said. I couldn't make out her features. It looked and sounded like Pinkie, but it wasn't. Her body is without color, like one of those information films on the telly. Pointy little digits stuck out of her hooves. I reckon it's for holding all the knives in the gaps. Then, there's her mane and tail. It's red instead of pink, and it constantly keeps oozing blood. But it's her eyes and muzzle that got me shaking the most. Her teeth look sharper than a manicore's, with bits of cupcakes and fleshy bits stuck between them. Her eyes are sunken inside her skull, glowing a bright, eerie blue. The thing looks at us and then back to Rainbow before it giggles. "Oh, I get it. You girls are part crashers."

"P-Pinkie Pie?" Twilight said. "What are you doing to Rainbow?!!"

"Y-Yall get away from here, ya hear!"

"...H-Help me..." I could hardly bear to see RD like this. How was she even alive with her belly slit open?!

"Why would I do that? It's a party! And even though she is the guest of honor..." The pink demon reaches into Rd, making her groan in pain before pulling out a butcher knife. "...A party is only fun with many guests!!!

The pink demon swung the knife, and I woke up with a start. "NOOO!!!" I groaned while shifting around on my bed like an earthworm on hot sand. Running a hoof through my mane, I am sweating worse than the hogs at high noon. It took a minute to breathe before I got off my bed. As I got to my mirror, my hoof clattered against empty bottles of hard apple cider on the floor. "Hehe, look at you, sugarcube. You're a right mess. Granny would have a fit." Another look at my bloodshot eyes and messy mane made me chuckle. "...Not that you give a hoot these days..." I fished out a bottle of hard cider from my dresser and left my room.

On my way to the kitchen, I passed Applebloom's room. I could hear her whimpering something awful: more nightmares, no doubt, and no Princess Luna to shew them away. I knew the cause, of course. It's the same reason for hitting the cider so often now. I reach out to her door but pull my hoof back. I doubt a few comforting words will take away Applebloom's guilt. I figure Mac will be up soon, and he'll handle things. I finally got to the table, and Granny was already preparing breakfast. I took a swig of cider. I tell you, I was doing my best to keep quiet, but Granny's ears haven't failed her yet as she comes strolling into the room with two glasses and a stern look.

"Here ya go." Granny flatly said.

"What's this?"

"Sweet surprise."

I eyeballed the drink before looking at Granny's smiling face. I drank down Sweet Surprise and regretted that decision real quick. When that liquid hit my stomach, I almost blew chunks right before Granny. I had to slap my muzzle when the bile started to rise. I heard something slide from underneath the table and saw Granny pushing a bucket to me. The message is loud and clear as I upchucked into the bucket for hours. When I finally came back up, I shot Granny a confused look. "What the hay, Granny?!"

"Uhmm-hmm, just as I thought. Somepiny's been hitting a stash of hard cider. Good old Sweet Surprise is the best hangover cure; you can't be sick if you have nothing in your gullet."

"That doesn't excuse nearly poisoning me!"

"But are you free to clean us out before cider season?" I buttoned up my trap as Granny continued. "Applejack, you've never been one for heavy drinking or poor hygiene. Look at you. It's like you want five rounds with a pack of manticores."

"...It's not that bad..." Granny arches a brow at me. "Okay, it's pretty bad, and I'm sorry for sneaking the cider. It's just..."

"Pinkie Pie." I never heard Granny say a name with so much venom. "She's lucky the guard hauled her off while I was out of town. Imagine involving Applebloom with that savagery. They would've had to toss me in the clink 'cause she wouldn't make it to trial!!!"

I slammed my hooves on the table while white-hot anger flashed through me. "Granny, she's my friend!!!"

"She was your friend and mind how you speak, little filly!" I slump back on my chair in shame. Now, I'm raising my voice at Granny. What's happening here? Now, I am not one for openly crying, but darn it, I couldn't stop the tears from flowing. Granny comes to my side and hugs me. "I'm sorry to say that, hon. It's hard for me to swallow as well. Pinkie was a sweet filly. Nopony saw any of this foulness coming. But, as bad as you feel, your sister is up there thinking she's been doing the killing. She's done all terrible things to ponies. You got to help set her straight. But you can't do that by drinking yourself silly. Do you remember our family motto, right?"

"Apples ain't quitters." I nod my head.

"Good, now let's go see your sister. I'm sure Big Mac's already got a head start on us."

The trot is short to Applebloom's room as, sure enough, Big Mac is there cradling our sister as she cries her heart out. It broke my heart to look at her like this. Granny and I move to surround her as Applebloom speaks through her sobbing. "I-It's my fault! I-I hurt those ponies! I helped kill them!!!"

"Hey, there, Sugacube. You know that's a bunch of nonsense. You didn't touch a single hide or mane on any of those ponies." I said tenderly.

"Yes, I did. I gave Pinkie the portions to knock them out and make the ponies forget. I mixed the bowls full of smashed-up ponies and baked them! I did it. I did all of it!!!"

I looked between Big Mac and Granny, who urged me on as I spoke softly. "Applebloom, look at me." My gentle prodding caused her to do as I asked. Her eyes were somehow more bloodshot than mine. "Heh, look at that; we match." Despite my drinking, Applebloom is looking worse off than I am. "You did not know why Pinkie needed their potions. You did not lure ponies into that basement. You did not do all those horrible things to those ponies. That was all Pinkie Pie."

Applebloom shifts in Big Mac's forehooves while responding. "But why? Why did Pinkie do any of this?"

"...I wish I knew, sugarcube. Better minds than me will be able to figure this out. But that's not what's important. What is important is that you know that we are here for you. We're here for each other like any good apple in a bunch should be, and don't you ever forget it."

"Darn tooting." Granny smiles.

"Eeyup." Big Mac smiles as well.

As Applebloom prompted a big hug from the family, a part of me hoped that what was happening to Pinkie wasn't done with her knowing. Maybe a pony with a better mind has got this mess sorted. Perhaps it's time I visit Twilight.