Pumpkin's Struggle (Part 4): The Darkest Hour

Back outside of Ponyville, everyone was fighting the demon spirit together to the best of their abilities; and luckily for them it was holding back. Every time one of them went at it, they would either miss or knock back down by it. But none of them was planning to back down knowing they would not be safe from it whether or not they decided to fight; they were going to take this demon down for Pumpkin’s death, or die trying.

This went on for a while and the demon was starting to get irritated after currently knocking Acer back down with its horn. He had drops of blood all over his coat and wounds on his body, but he still stood back up looking around at everyone who was injured as well.

“C-c-c-can everyp-pony… still s-s-stand?” he hesitantly asked out loud.

Just about everyone there, including Pumpkin’s main friends and family stood back up despite their major or minor injuries and they all nodded to each other in agreement.

“Y-yeah, I thought so. Let’s go again!”

They all suddenly went at the demon at once one more time in a attempt to take it down; but as they drew closer, the demon’s rage-filled power began to ignite brighter as it had enough with all of their constant resistance… just like Pumpkin was.

“You… you are all… so ANNOYING!!!”

Its horn glowed immensely as it slammed its front hooves down on the ground that caused a huge dark magical shockwave that burst out all around it. Acer and the others were not prepared as they were all knocked back everywhere in the area on the ground. They were all still groaning from the painful impact, but the only difference this time was that no one was getting back up.

“None of you just won’t give up, will you?” the demon protested while slightly huffing and puffing, “I had fun toying with you all, but now… you’re all just being a nuisance. I think I’ll start killing you now…” It then sported a menacing grin as it looked over at a badly injured Pinkie Pie who was too tired to do anything, “And I think I’ll start with you!”

It used its magic to drag her over to it with little resistance and placed her flat on her back.

“Pinkie Pie, no,” her friends shouted; but neither of them could get up completely.

“Let her go!” shouted Pound as he was trying to use his wings to get up, but he was too exhausted to do anything.

Pinkie looked up at the demon that was holding her and she was smiling nervously  while showing a bit of fear in her eyes saying, “Heh heh… um, a-a-any chance you could… you know,  n-not kill me? I-I-I could do something for y-you… anything… to make you s-s-smile maybe?”

The spirit held its grip on Pinkie even tighter against the ground while lightly growling at her murderous eyes, “Sorry to disappoint you, but… I don’t give a damn about smiling.” It then suddenly smirked down at her showing its sharp teeth, “However, there might be something that will make me smile; having you relive that nightmare when Pumpkin was just a little foal. You remember that, don’t you?”

Pinkie was shaking remembering that traumatic moment that she always tried her hardest to forget. “Heh heh, I-I-I-I kinda wish I didn’t.”

Then much to her trauma, Pinkie suddenly saw four steak knives materialize over the demon and pointing straight at her. The demon chuckled evilly as it responded, “Well then… perhaps I should remind you.”

Pinkie then immediately felt pain as two of the knives sunk into her fore hooves and held them on the ground. Pinkie didn’t scream, but she grunted loudly in a high-pitched tone and her eyes were wide and filling up with tears signifying her pain.

“Pinkie!!!” shouted Mr. and Mrs. Cake.

Pinkie was trying to struggle herself out of her situation, but just the slightest tug against the knives caused pain to jolt through her body; causing her to not being able to escape.

“I’m afraid that’s not going to work,” said the demon with a menacing smile.

It then made a little mark on Pinkie’s chest in which it planned to plunge another knife into her and cause her to suffer a long, agonizing demise. Pinkie was terrorized about re-living her past near-death experience; only since no one around her would be able to stop this demon, it seemed to her that she was really going to die this time… followed by everyone else in Ponyville.

“Stop it; stop!” Pound wailed as he tried to get up with his present wounds, “D-don’t you dare d-do it!”

“Finally,” shouted the demon in a cynical tone, “after all of these damn years being hindered in a mortal body twice, victory… SHALL FINALLY BE MINE!”

Suddenly, as if Ponyvile’s prayers were answered, a huge aura beam came out of nowhere and blasted the demon far away from Pinkie and crashed into the surrounding forest. Afterwards, everything got quiet and the knives in Pinkie’s front hooves disappeared allowing her to get up and have a slight feeling of relief.

“Wha… what just… happened?” questioned Pound whom was trying to figure out why Pinkie was still alive.

Pinkie was looking around and stared at her blood soaked hooves and was feeling confused, “Am I… dead yet?”

Everyone else was confused too. Just seconds ago, Pinkie was at that dreaded demon’s mercy; and the demon was stopped just that fast and Pinkie was life was spared once again.

“Where did that beam come from?” questioned Acer, “It sent that demon flying!”

Suddenly, Minty looked in a certain direction and gasped as she said hesitantly, “Um… g-guys; look.”

As Minty pointed, everyone looked; and what they saw shocked them beyond belief.

“What the…” Acer shuddered.

“N-no… way,” said Pound.

A certain familiar figure was standing back up with a residue of smoke floating of from its horn.

“Am I… hallucinating, honey?” said Mrs. Cake as tears were flowing from her eyes.

“If that were the case…” said Mr. Cake look onward in shock, “then we would all be hallucinating.”

Much to Ponyville’s surprise, the figure standing on its own two hooves again, was Pumpkin Cake. They all saw with their own eyes that she was dead, and Pound witnessed her death personally; but now, she was back up, her impale wound completely gone, and was literally breathing constantly from releasing that spell on the demon.

“… Pumpkin?” said Acer wondering if it was really her or not.

Pumpkin suddenly looked around her and saw everyone there staring at her in pure shock. She responded with a smile she said lightly, “H-hey… everypony.”

“SHE’S ALIVE!” shouted Pinkie suddenly waving her hooves despite her injuries, “PUMPKIN IS ALIVE!!!”

Everyone couldn’t believe their eyes, but Pinkie was right. Pumpkin was now very much alive. Envy, along with her daughter, Ruby, were nearby and saw it themselves. Envy was left bewildered and completely lost.

“What kind of unknown miracle is this? That child was struck through the heart; how can she still be alive?”

Pound was overjoyed as he found the strength to at least stand on his hooves and began running towards his sister, “Pumpkin!”

Pumpkin turned towards Pound’s direction and she was happy herself to see him still alive, “P-Pound?”

When Pound almost reached her, his wounds caused him to stumble and ram into her. They both fell on the ground, and then Pound proceeded to hug Pumpkin tight which caught her off guard. When he let go, he looked at his sister with tears in his eyes; but he couldn’t decide whether to be happy or angry at her.

“Do you know… how much you made all of us grieve over you?! Don’t you ever… ever do something that stupid ever again! Okay?”

Pumpkin looked at him with a little amusement; then she lightly nodded her head as she responded, “Um… okay, I promise.”

As they hugged again, everyone was enjoying the sweet, emotional moment between the Cake twins, almost forgetting about what was about to happen a few moments ago.

“This defies unexplainable logic,” said Envy suddenly as everyone’s attention turned to her; including the Cake twins, “Everypony here saw you lying lifeless on the ground before fighting against that demon to avenge your sacrifice. How in Equestria did you survive?!”

“Well…” said Pumpkin, “it might sound weird, but… Blackberry saved me; Blackberry the 3rd that is. I had a good conversation with him and we got to understand each other. He’s a pretty nice pony… like me.”

A lot of the ponies there didn’t quite believe her story at first of talking to a pony who was dead for more than 100 years ago. But then again, why would she make up something like that in their present situation.

“You… you actually… met Blackberry?!” Envy exclaimed, “How is that possible?!”

Before Pumpkin knew it, she suddenly saw Acer approaching her slowly with his left wing and the mid-section of his body bandaged up. Pumpkin couldn’t believe that Acer was still here for her after everything that happened. He just came over to her and calmly hugged her without any warning while holding her close and constantly tearing; it was the best feeling Pumpkin had ever felt.

“I can’t believe that you’re alive again,” Acer sobbed to her, “Y-y-you were literally dead in my hooves; I heard no heartbeat! I… I-I thought I lost you.”

Pumpkin pulled herself apart from Acer so she could see his face. She was tearing a bit herself and was giving him a sweet smile feeling a huge sense of calm coming over her, “You can’t lose me that easily.”

She then gave Acer a little kiss on his lips that made him blush a little. The whole crowd smiled and said, “Aw!” and it caused both ponies feeling a little embarrassed.

Suddenly, there was huge explosion of dark energy from the area that the demon was blasted to and startled everyone there. They all backed away while Pumpkin was still in her same position watching as the demon was slowly coming from the background with its eyes fully glowing red.

“You… ungrateful brat… I can’t believe I allowed you to do that to me. How the hell are you still alive?!”

All Pumpkin did was smirk at the angered demon as it was coming closer, “What’s the matter, demon? Upset because so many of your victims have escaped their deaths? I thought you wanted me alive anyway; you know, to torment me for the rest of my life.”

“Um… Pumpkin,” said Pinkie hesitantly, “why are you egging on that demon like that for?”

The demon was constantly growling at Pumpkin while staring at her intensely wanting to do horrible things to her. Pound and the others, however, were wondering why Pumpkin was suddenly being so gutsy against her evil incarnate.

“Well… like it or not, I have come back, and I won’t allow you to hurt any of them anymore!”

“Augh, I’ve had just about enough of your resistance!” shouted the demon in rage while storing up power in its horn, “Once I’m done with you, you’re going to wish that you stayed dead!”

The demon then unlashed a deadly beam at Pumpkin in an attempt to completely annihilate her. Since Acer and Pound were near her, Pumpkin used her magic to push them to the side and took the blow herself. Pound saw an explosion of light where his sister stood, and he was already assuming the worst thought.

“No no no no, not again!”

Acer felt the same way thinking that the demon once again bested her. But then, Pinkie pointed out and shouted, “Wait, everypony, look!”

They all looked closer and noticed that Pumpkin was okay. The demon’s power was halted and was suddenly all absorbed into Pumpkin’s horn. Everyone’s jaw dropped upon seeing what happened; something they didn’t think was possible.

“What?” said Pound.

“Did… d-did that just happen?!” Mr. Cake stuttered, “Sh-sh-she just survived that demon’s attack!”

Mrs. Cake was just as surprised with him.

The demon just stood there totally shocked but still very angry of the proud smile that was still seen on Pumpkin’s face, “What’s going on here? How was that even possible?!”

“I’m afraid your usual tactic isn’t going to work on me anymore,” said Pumpkin surely, “When I was partially in the afterlife, I ran into your older host. And thanks to him… I now know exactly of how to destroy you… permanently.”

“Destroy that demon permanently?” Envy wondered, “Is that… even possible?”

“I guess we’ll soon see, Mother,” said Ruby who was just as astonished herself.

The demon just smiled and began laughing uncontrollably not believing a word she said, “Ha, don’t make me laugh! There hasn’t been a single being that has been able to destroy me completely; and you’re no exception!”

“I’m afraid that I am,” said Pumpkin still smiling, “No pony has been able to realize the key to your downfall, and Blackberry didn’t realize it until after he died; and then he told me, and I’m still here. So face it, you’re done.”

“No you’re the one that’s done!”

The demon was getting tired of being lectured by Pumpkin and fired a fast-moving orb blast towards her. But all Pumpkin did was easily deflect it to the side with her horn. Everyone gasped again seeing how Pumpkin was once again unscathed and unmoved by the demon’s power.

“Even as we speak,” said Pumpkin smirking and swishing her tail, “you’re getting weaker and weaker. Why; well… maybe I shouldn’t tell you.”

“SHUT THE HELL UP!!!”

The demon’s horn glowed and it began to charge at Pumpkin at full speed while she was just standing there. Once it was close enough, the demon kept lengthening its horn rapidly at the young filly; but she continued to smile as she was easily dodging the demon’s attack.

“Whoa, what the…” said Minty, “Look, Pumpkin is easily avoiding that demon’s strike with no sweat.”

“And her eyes…” said Pound feeling astonished, “they look different somehow… like they no longer hold any fear.”

The demon felt itself getting a bit tired from all the striking and then shot another beam at Pumpkin. But Pumpkin reflected the beam back at the demon and it gasped as it was knocked down on the ground by its own power.

“Yeah, kick its ass, Pumpkin!” Pinkie suddenly shouted out loud.

Her friends all looked at her weirdly and she just shrugged her shoulders and said, “What?”

“This unbelievable,” said the Mayor, “How is Pumpkin doing this? After all these years with no possible way to rid this curse, and Pumpkin now has it on the backboard.”

“Well… we did ask for a miracle,” said Cheerilee, “and now it looks like we’re getting our wish.”

The demon was slowly getting up and groaning in slight pain; something that it never thought it would feel alone, “H-h-how… is this p-possible? Star swirl couldn’t beat me, the rulers of Equestria couldn’t beat me, and not even the Elements of Harmony have the power to beat me. There’s… n-n-no way that this b-brat is stronger than me.  What kind of trickery… is she tr-trying to pull?!”

Pumpkin got closer to the demon showing no signs of faltering before its presence and said, “All my life… ever since I was only one, you made my life a living hell. I may not remember much from that time, but from what I heard from some of my friends, I knew that as a toddler I didn’t even know about you and I couldn’t control you; but you were also in a weaker state.”

“That moment of her life was its weaker state?” said Applejack to her friends sounding shocked.

“But as I got older, I became more aware of you… and your power got stronger. You overwhelmed me, making me doubt myself and making me feel afraid almost every day of my life.”

The demon looked up at her feeling a mix of anger, frustration, and slight fear. It never felt this before and was literally pissed off lowly growling at the lecturing filly.

“But now…  I know the answer. I now know that everything that I felt only made you stronger whether I was calm or not. I stand before you now… clear of mind, no longer doubting myself… and no longer afraid of you! As long as I stay this way, your power is nothing against me.”

Pumpkin’s horn shined with brilliance and then she made a huge collision head-butt against the demon that sent it flying and landed on the ground with harsh force. It got up groaning in pain feeling a gaping hole in its body. It was losing… it couldn’t believe that it had come to this.

“This… th-this can’t be h-h-happening…” it groaned, “Why is this happening?! Damn it!”

Everyone was suddenly cheering Pumpkin on as she was suddenly on the verge of victory.

“Finish it off, Pumpkin!” shouted Pound feeling psyched, “You got this.”

However, the demon wasn’t planning to go down yet if not ever. It glared at Pumpkin feeling every bit of anger it had for her in its body. “No… I… will not be… defeated by you; I won’t allow it!” Its horn began to glow brighter than Pumpkin ever saw it, and its eyes glowed a dark, crimson-red as its mane and tail stood on end.

Everyone became a little worried again as they all backed away from its presence, but Pumpkin still stood in place unmoved.

“Hear me, you ungrateful piece of s#@!; you will fall, and the blood of your loved ones will be scattered all across Equestria!”

With a single swift movement, the demon fired a massive beam at Pumpkin. Pumpkin just closed her eyes trying to calm her mind, “Show no fear, show no fear; show… no… fear!”

When she opened her eyes, she felt her magic go full throttle and countered the demon’s beam with one of her own. As they clashed, sparks flew illuminating the darkness around them. They shifted back and forth, both showing great strength; but in the end, Pumpkin finally overcame the demon and her beam broke through and struck the demon. A huge explosion was followed after the impact, and Pumpkin stood her ground while still staring in the demon’s direction.

“Way to go, Pumpkin!” shouted Pinkie, “You totally nailed that demon!”

“You go, Pumpkin!” shouted Minty, “That’s my girl!”

While everyone cheering for Pumpkin, Pound just sighed with relief, “Thank Celestia that it’s finally over.”

“No…” said Pumpkin as she held out her hoof to signify them to stand back, “I’m afraid that it’s not over just yet.”

“Huh, what are you talking about?” wondered Pound, “How can it not be over?”

Suddenly, from the area of the explosion, a huge, dark cloud of energy launched up in the air and came floating back down. A pair of crimson-red eyes suddenly appeared and was staring down at everyone and everyone’s heart jumped wondering what was going on.

“Sweet mother of mercy,” said Envy, “is that what I think it is?”

“I don’t understand,” said Acer, “What’s going on now?!”

Pumpkin looked up at the entity intensely and slightly smirked as she said, “That… is the spirit’s true form.”

Everyone gasped; they were now witnessing the form of the demon from when it was first created.

“True form?!” said Pound, “You mean that’s how it originally looks; just a big, dark cloud of magic?!”

“You dare resort me back into my original form?!” the spirit shouted in loud, echo-like voice, “You’ve made a grave mistake! My power is at its very peak like this, so I should thank you. Just like the ancient ponies at the day of my birth, you shall all fall… BY MY WRATH!!!”

“This isn’t good,” said Twilight.

Pumpkin could sense its power and it was enormous; unlike anything she ever felt before. But she did her best to not look or feel afraid. “Forget it, demon; today will be the last day of your existence! You won’t harm anypony ever again!”

A huge surge of energy was forming inside of the demon, and it was rising and rising. And then, it unleashed all of its power at the standing filly. Pumpkin braced herself and countered the demon beam with her own again; but as they clash, Pumpkin could feel the demon’s power starting to pressure her down.

“S-s-s-s-so… st-st-strong!”

Everyone noticed this and began to worry. Perhaps this spirit’s power was too much for Pumpkin in this form.

“Oh no,” shouted Mrs. Cake, “Hang in there, Pumpkin! You can do it, sweetie!”

Nobody dared to get near because they didn’t want to get mixed up in that power struggle. But the more it went on, the more it seemed that Pumpkin was struggling against the demon and was losing again. The demon sensed her spirit wavering and too this opportunity to try and finish her off.

“Ha, look at you,” it retorted, “Where did all of your proud, stuck-up attitude go? Even after all of this, you’re still too weak. Die!!!”

Pumpkin didn’t want this to be the end; not after everything she went through to come back and save everyone. But suddenly, she heard someone shout out, “She’s not weak!”

She then felt someone hold onto her from behind. She tilted her head and said in shock, “P-Pound?”

“She’s not weak because she has me!”

The demon felt Pumpkin’s power slightly pressing more against it, “What?”

Then, she felt more of her friends holding onto her.

“And she has me!”

“Minty?”

“And me!”

“Acer?”

“And even me!”

“Ruby!”

They were all staring intensely at the demon showing no signs of fear standing by Pumpkin’s side. The demon began struggling against Pumpkin’s power again; it felt its own power wavering realizing that they were not being afraid anymore.

“Wah… what’s going on?! How are you doing this?! Don’t I frighten you?! Why do I not frighten you?!!!”

Pumpkin suddenly saw everyone there behind her standing with her. They weren’t going to let Pumpkin lose if it was the last thing they did. Pumpkin finally realize that it was all of their support for her and the fact that they were standing bravely against the demon with no fear that was making her power stronger; and maybe it was making the demon weaker.

Pumpkin smiled as a single tear came down her cheek and then look up at the demon and said, “Unfortunately for you, that’s the problem; none of us is afraid of you anymore. You no longer can instill fear in our hearts!”

“This can’t be happening!!!” the demon shouted as it felt its power shutting down.

“Good riddance.”

With those words, Pumpkin’s magic burst through and overcame the demon. The magical surge pierced through the demon and it released a terrible howl, “NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!” And then using all of her strength, Pumpkin’s magic completely disintegrated the spirit completely to the point that no remains of it was seen.

“Whoohoo, she did; Pumpkin really did it!” shouted Pinkie hopping up and down despite her injuries.

“Actually, Pinkie,” said Twilight, “we all did; we all had a hand in this. And thanks to that, Pumpkin’s curse is finally over. That demon won’t be returning at all now if what she said is correct.”

Envy was surprisingly up on her hooves again overwhelmed of what just took place, “Incredible; I never thought this would be possible. I was pretty sure that all of Equestria was doomed.”

“Well that’s what happens when you doubt others, Miss Rose,” said the Mayor as she approached her, “This is exactly why we told you that Ponyville never gives up or surrenders to anything.”

“No matter how impossible the odds are,” said Cheerilee, “if we all work together, nothing is impossible. I always teach my students that, it’s an important subject.”

Envy smiled and chuckled a bit realizing that they were right after all, “I guess that I was relenting too much on the past that it didn’t seem possible to me. But even my daughter realized this; and if she can… then so can I.”

All of the ponies of Ponyville were hugging each other and cheering celebrating their survival and their victory over the one who wished to destroy all of Equestria.

“Man, I’m so happy right now,” shouted Minty as she suddenly hugged onto Pound, “I could just kiss somepony!”

She then gave Pound a huge kiss on his lips out of happiness. Once she was finished, Pound was all smitten with hearts floating over his head and sighed forgetting about his sister’s victory for a bit.

“Oops, too much?” asked Minty.

“Nope, just right.”

Meanwhile, Pumpkin was sitting on her flank heavily breathing from releasing a lot of her power out at once. Acer came up beside her and placed his hoof around her and said, “Are you okay, Pumpkin? You must feel ecstatic right now, your curse is over; you no longer have to live in fear anymore.”

“D-don’t worry about me, I’m fine,” Pumpkin responded.

She looked behind her and saw all of her friends and family cheering and celebrating. That sight alone made her smile and she couldn’t believe that it was all over.

“So… i-i-it really is all over?” she said to Acer, “I-I really am curse-free? I’m so relieved.”

“You’ve showed a lot of bravery and guts and took huge risks just to try and protect everypony here,” said Acer as he nuzzled the side of Pumpkin’s cheek, “And as for me… I couldn’t be any luckier to have such a dedicated pony for a fillyfriend.”

“Thanks a lot, Ac…”

Suddenly, Pumpkin bent downward and began coughing loudly holding her chest. Acer got startled and was wondering what was wrong, “Are you sure you’re okay; you don’t sound so hot.”

“I d-d-don’t know why,” Pumpkin groaned, “but… I f-feel…”

Then without warning, Pumpkin just fell forward and collapsed on the ground in front of Acer and laid still. Acer panicked; fearing for Pumpkin’s health.

“Pumpkin!”

The others heard Acer cry out and rushed over to them. When they got there, they all saw Pumpkin down on the ground, it was panic city all over again

“Pumpkin, wake up!”

“What’s going on?!” shouted Pound, “What’s wrong with Pumpkin?!”

“I don’t know; it seemed that she was breathing heavily from exhaustion, then she just… collapsed.”

Acer placed his head against Pumpkin and noticed her the levels of her breaths which were long and harsh-sounding, “Holy crap, she barely breathing!”

“What?!” everyone shouted.

“Oh no,” sobbed Mrs. Cake as she held on to her husband, “What’s wrong her?! Anypony?”

They were all there wondering how Pumpkin went from defeating a curse to suddenly collapsing and begin to barely breathe. Acer was over Pumpkin doing everything he could to try and wake her out of it but it was proving to be no use.

“Pumpkin, don’t do this to us… not again!” Tears flowed from Acer’s eyes as he cried out, “Call the medics; somepony, call the medics now!”