Sanguine Joy

Chapter 2: Party of One

It had been a bad day for her. The worst one since that incident ten years ago. Pinkie sat silently in her room, supporting her forehead with her hooves. She stared down on the wooden desk of her table, but watched nothing in particular, replaying the day in her head.

My friends are all lying to me and avoiding me, because they don’t like my parties and they don’t want to be my friends anymore!

She had been shedding tears ever since coming to this conclusion and still couldn’t stop, yet it was also the only explanation she could think of. Why else would all her friends avoid her and make bad excuses? It hurt so much more because everything had been going so well yesterday – they celebrated Gummy’s birthday and everyone kept praising her.

If they liked it yesterday, why don’t they want to come today? Is it something I said? Is it something I did? Or maybe they found out something. Something that would make them avoid me.

Pinkie stood up from the table and started pacing around the room. She could feel her pointy teeth sliding in and out again; they did it every time she was nervous.

But I was so careful! I eat sugar to diminish my hunger for blood, so I don’t have to feed on the Cakes so often. When was the last time I fed? A month? More? I can’t remember...

Tears ceased falling and her pacing turned into stomping as she delved into this new trail of thought. It all made sense now, every piece of puzzle falling into its place.

They must have figured it out! Why else would they suddenly do everything they could to get rid of me? The secrecy! They must have some kind of vampony killing weapon in that box of theirs!

As soon as the thought appeared, it was discarded. Pinkie frowned when the metaphorical cogs in her head started to turn.

No, no, no... This doesn’t make any sense. There is no way they could have found out. Do they even know what a vampony is? They probably know only the myths and think that a vampony turns into a pile of dust in daylight. Hah! Twilight might know more about them though...

Why take the risk? They are the only ones who know, since everyone else acts normally around you. Get rid of them and you can continue like nothing happened.

Pinkie froze and stared silently in front of her, as if she was afraid to move. She knew this voice inside her head. She hadn’t heard it for ten years, but remembered it well. It consisted of thoughts that pushed their way in the front of her mind and stayed there. The worst thing about it was that she knew these thoughts were her own.

The voice was, however, clear as a summer day and left no space for doubt. After comprehending what the voice just said, Pinkie continued to move, but this time more fiercely, her hooves hitting hard the wooden floor.

Nothing happened? Nothing happened?! They are my bestest friends! I’d rather have them know everything than to harm them!

Oh, so you are going to let them kill you? You did nothing wrong. Nopony cares about one stupid rabbit and the Cakes are just fine, except for a few headaches they get once a month. Do you think you deserve death?

N–no. I did nothing wrong. It wasn’t my fault...

Exactly.

But neither do they! I’m sure they won’t harm me if I explain everything to them.

You can’t! There is still the chance that they only suspect you, but don’t know for sure. Why take the risk?

I don’t care what you say! I’m going!

Pinkie walked towards the door, but stumbled after only a few steps as a stabbing pain flashed through her head. It wasn’t so bad at first, but the closer she got to the door, the stronger the pain got. She collapsed when she touched the handle and felt something trying to push her mind into background.

I won’t let you kill ourselves!

———

Pinkie stared vacantly at the nearest wall. She was surrounded by various makeshift dolls, such as Mr. Turnip or Sir Lintsalot, which she vaguely remembered setting up. She didn’t remember how the first two came to be, since she was pushed from her own mind for roughly fifteen minutes after collapsing.

It was almost like she was sleeping, but not quite – she couldn’t see, feel or hear anything, but was kept aware. Pinkie was constantly trying to break out of her inner prison by focusing on a part of her body and by trying to move it. She had had, however, only a limited amount of success.

While she knew that her ‘attacks’ weakened the invader, because she could feel that part of her body more and more every time, it wasn’t her who broke through. In the end, she regained her consciousness simply because she was allowed to, for her ‘evil thoughts’ weren’t strong enough to command her body any longer.

When that happened, she was still in her room, but half the dolls were already there. Pinkie then continued to make more, since even these imaginary friends helped to put her mind at ease and cope with losing her friends.
“Of course you can have some more punch, Mr. Turnip,” Pinkie said, as she continued an imaginary conversation with her ‘friends’.

They are not reeeeeal.

Shut up.

Little crazy Pinkie, talking to a pile of dust...

Be silent! These are my friends and you will not insult them!

What about the friends who drove you to this?

What? These are my only friends and I certainly don’t know any backstabbing, ungrateful excuses for friends that you are talking about.

The more inquisitive the voice was, the more Pinkie talked to her creations.

“You know what? I’m not gonna speak to them ever again. And I’m not gonna invite them to another party as long as I live! They don’t deserve to be invited to my parties. Not after the way they’ve been acting.“

There was a knock on the door.

“Who could that be?”

“Hi there, Pinkie.” Rainbow Dash said, and that was the last thing Pinkie remembered before acute pain plucked her out of her body and threw her back into the endless abyss.

———

She hadn’t killed Rainbow Dash. Considering the lengthy periods where she wasn’t in control of her body, this was nothing short of a miracle. Maybe it was because she focused with all her will on the image of her friend, maybe it wasn’t.

Just as before, the dangerous part of her couldn’t maintain its control for more than a few minutes, so Pinkie found herself being dragged on a dirt road with no idea how she got there. All the little stones, pebbles and twigs seemed to dig into her body and bruise her belly.

Rainbow must be really angry, I wonder what– ouch! That hurts!

“Let me go!”

“Not happening, Pinkie.”

She’s dragging you into a trap! You are stronger than her! Kill her!

No! She wouldn’t do that! Would she...?

Of course she would! Kill her, or I will take control again.

I won’t let you.

This time, there was a battle, since it was so soon after Pinkie broke out of her mental prison. It consisted of focusing on one part of her body which seemed to behave strangely and making it stop.

As a result of these conflicting orders, her body stayed limp, since one part screamed at it to bite into the cyan pegasus’s throat, while the other said that it should just walk where the pegasus led her. This lasted until they reached their goal.

“We’re here.” Rainbow Dash said as she motioned towards the large barn door.

The door creaked open and Pinkie could see four figures standing in the darkness of the barn, only their silhouettes visible.

They are really going to kill me, aren’t they?

Not unless you let them. Remember, you are much stronger than they are. Just avoid Twilight’s and Rarity’s magic.

I don’t have to kill them, right? Knocking them out will be enough.

Fine! As long as you don’t get yourself killed, anything goes.

Pinkie prepared herself. The plan was simple: slam Rainbows head against the barn door, leap onto the roof and take them down one by one as they come after her.

“SURPRISE!”

The lights went on – there were balloons and streamers everywhere, her friends had party hats and she could even see a cake on a nearby table.

Pinkie stared at them with a venomous scowl. Rainbow Dash had to push her forward, otherwise she wouldn’t even come close to her friends.

They aren’t going to kill me; they don’t have it in them. They’ll just throw me out of Ponyville, giving me my last party.

“I really thought she’d be more excited.” Fluttershy whispered to Twilight.

This worked like a detonator on Pinkie.

“Excited? Excited?! Why would I be excited to attend my own farewell party?!”

“Farewell party?” Twilight asked.

“Yes! You don’t like me anymore, so you decided to kick me out and threw a great big party to celebrate! A farewell to Pinkie Pie party!”

Pinkie hung down her head, tears forming in her eyes.

It’s not their fault, they meant well... I just don’t want to leave.

“Why in the world would you think we didn’t like you anymore, sugarcube?” Applejack said.

This sentence reignited the fire inside Pinkie, making her accuse her friends with renewed ferocity.

“Why? Why?! Why?! Because you’ve been lying to me and avoiding me all day! That’s why!”

“Uhh, yeah! Because we wanted your party to be a surprise,” Rainbow Dash said.

“We’ve been planning this party for such a long time, we had to make excuses for why we couldn’t attend Gummy’s party, to get everything prepared for yours,” Rarity said.

Planning for a long time? How long do they know? Or maybe they don’t and this is a different party? But what could they be celebrating if not my banishment?

“If this is a farewell party, why does the cake I picked up from Sugarcube corner say ‘Happy Birthday Pinkie Pie’?” Twilight asked.

Pinkie’s face lit up when she saw the icing on the cake. Her eyes pupils widened like the day she first saw the sonic rainboom, her hair went from the uniform straightness and limpness back into the chaotic fluffiness Pinkie was known for. Even her coat seemed to have a lighter shade of pink now.

For the first time since the ‘dolls incident’, her mind felt clear. The small pressure she felt inside her head the whole day was finally gone.

“Because it’s my birthday!”

Of course! How could I have forgotten?! My friends don’t want to kill me or chase me away – this is the best party ever!

———

It was already dark and a full moon shone on the barn surrounded by apple trees. The huge double doors swung open and five figures walked through.

“Goodbye Applejack! And have a good night’s sleep!” Twilight said, while trying to straighten her ruffled mane.

“Goodnight folks. And if you see Big Mac, leave him asleep. Drank more than he could handle.”

The five friends trotted towards Ponyville, their breath forming into small clouds of steam as they walked from the warm barn into the cold autumn night. While the rest of the group chatted profusely, Pinkie was silent, gazing off into the distance.

To think I was scared all day! And of my friends, no less. I’m so forgetful sometimes. But these evil thoughts I had... I don’t like them. Maybe that machine Twilight has in her basement will help? I’ll ask her tomorrow.

Pinkie was almost at the door to the Sugarcube Corner, when she was stopped by a strong smell. Her lips quickly bent into a smile, as the divine aroma lured her towards its source. She walked into a nearby street; it was a very narrow, dirty street which she usually avoided, but today, for the first time, they didn’t look menacing to her.

All that could be heard were her hooves, clopping on the stony road, and wind that whistled though a few broken windows and slammed the shutters against walls. While Pinkie saw the state in which the street was, she continued onwards, following the path made of the delightful smell. Soon, she stood in front of a large doorway.

“Hello?”

Pinkie slowly walked towards the door. She would have knocked, but the door wasn’t even closed, so she could see right inside.

In front of her was a corpse of a brown-maned stallion, his throat slashed, that laid in a large pool of drying blood.

What happened? Why is he– oh no... I know him. Poor Caramel, what had happened to you? Who did this to you?!

Pinkie’s eyes welled up with tears. It was then that she spotted two bite marks on the side of his neck.

B– but– how? I don’t remember doing anything like this. But... I don’t remember that time in the morning when I was all crazy – did I really do all this? Why would I even do that?! I wanted– I mean my evil side wanted to kill my close friends, not him! Unless... Unless it wanted to make me stronger, so I could take all five of them at once.

“Is that it?! Is that why you did it?!” she shouted, but got no response.

Oh Caramel... What will I say to your parents? What will Sassaflash think? They’ll be destroyed, and with how hot-tempered Sassa is, I will be too, but literally!

Maybe I deserve it...

Pinkie slumped, tears falling from her eyes on the bloodied floor, but then her head lifted and her features hardened.

“No. You won’t drive me to suicide, you hear me?! It is you who has to be gotten rid of, not me!”

And it will not be me who tells the news. I’m sorry, Caramel, but your burial will have to wait. People would start looking after a vampony and I just can’t allow that.

Pinkie grabbed his legs, but the sweet scent of blood was still filling her nose.

Maybe I should drink? It’s not like he’d mind. No! While I might not have known him as much as my other friends, he was still one!

But that doesn’t mean a little sip would hurt...

Sooner than she could even finish her thought, her teeth sank into his neck. She began to suck the already half-empty body dry.

It’s not enough!

Tossing the body aside, she lowered to the ground and started licking. She did that for tens of minutes, making sure that not even a single drop escaped her. In the end, all that remained was a large crimson smudge.
She gave out a satisfied sigh and a smile appeared on her face. That soon vanished, though, as she spotted the broken body in the corner of her eyes.

Caramel... I’m so, so sorry.

She then grabbed him by the legs again and dragged him out of the building.

Pinkie knew precisely where to hide him. The Everfree forest was the obvious choice after all. She threw his hoof over her neck and supported the rest of his body, so it looked like she accompanied a drunk to his home. Luckily, she met no one and dumped his body safely.

Timberwolves should do the rest.

Pinkie washed herself in a nearby stream and went home. When she arrived to her room, she just fell on her bed and cried.

Is this what I’ve become? A monster that kills everyone around it? Will I kill another one of my friends the next time I go all crazy? What if I decide to target the Cakes next time? Or what if I decide to pay my family a visit? Or what if...

At around three in the morning, Pinkie finally fell asleep.