Twilight was horrified. No, take that back, beyond horrified. She looked at Applejack to hope she was seeing and hearing things, but Applejack, or "Jacklin's" face held firm as she still held onto Twilight's hand and led her to the back wall. Through the smoke and steam they came to a wooden door that had an engraved plate with Pinkie's full name.

Diane Pinkamena:
Worker Head and Overseer

Twilight gulped hard at the small sign on the door, like it was holding the name of her judge, jury, and executioner. She saw Applejack about to knock on the door, but stopped her from doing it.

"Why not, sugar cube?" She said her accent slipping through. Twilight put a finger to her lips and pressed her ear to the door.

"Lady Pinkamena, I--"

"Just Pinkie, silly!"

"Uh... Pinkie, I think that some workers are... reluctant to work for you."

"Oh, and why's that? I feed them, give them money for the cloths on their backs. Hell, I even give them PAID. VACATION. Fink, on the other hand, has his workers like slaves on the cotton mill." Pinkie said an irradiated tone in her voice. "Fink... him and his workers... I know he works for "Prophet" Comstock, but he's a nusence I plan to get rid of... just not yet... not yet..." She said softly.

Twilight pulled her ear from the door and gave thought about what she had said. Fink... could this Fink character be a rival, or somewhat of a... special person to her?

"I plan to take Fink and shove him into a bottle, like the those Vigors he sells!" Pinkie exclaimed from inside the room.

Scratch out special person, he is defiantly a rival. She nodded to Applejack, who nodded back and knock on the door. There was a silence before the door opened to the face of the sleep deprived-looking woman. She smiled, and waved them both into the room. The door closed with a soft click, and Pinkie walked back to her desk where the two Handymen stood, like her own personal guards. The cane, now having a closer look, was red in color with a sliver skull decorating the top. The first two minutes were completely silent, only the clicking and breath of the Handymen cracked the silence.

Finally Pinkie spoke. "Well Jacklin, what do you have for me? A new worker?" She said looking at Twilight with manic glee.

Applejack shook her head. "No, this from the pod a few hours ago." She said pointing at her. Pinkie looked up with wide eyes and her smile faded quickly.

"Leave us." She told the Handymen.

"But--"

"Leave!" She screeched as the two giant men looked at each other and walk out of the room. Pinkie looked at Twilight an got up from her chair, slowly circling her way to her. "Who are you?" She asked with a venomous hiss.

Twilight gulped, she had never seen Pinkie like this. "T-Twilight Sparkle, ma'am." She said as formerly as possible. Pinkie looked her, as though she were insulted... then smiled widely; her eyes sparkling with a malicious gleam.

"If you were really the Twilight I know, then what happened when I wanted to be everywhere at once?" She asked. Twilight knew the answer... but for whatever reason was hesitant.

"I... I know the answer... but first I want to ask a question." She said, and in response, Pinkie nodded her head. "What happened to the Pinkie that always partied around Ponyville?"

If looks could kill, Twilight would been all but a stain. Pinkie's look gave it all away. She knew it was Twilight, but that question she asked... it made her knuckles white. "The Pinkie you know is dead..." She said coldly. Twilight did not let her stare scare her at all, and instead stood up. It was then she realized that she was a full five inches taller than Pinkie.

They both stared at each other until Twilight blinked.

"Ha! I won!" Pinkie said her smile back on her face. Twilight was giggling a little seeing Pinkie back to her old self. "It's good to see you again Twilight!" She said hugging her form, her face straight in Twilight's bosom. With a small to almost unnoticeable blush, she hugged Pinkie back.

"Let me go! I want to speak with her!" A rough voice said from outside the door. The door suddenly flew open and the man launched himself inside. "You!" He said pointing at Pinkie, "You did this! You killed my brother!" He yelled, spittle flying from his mouth. He suddenly reached into his coat and pulled out a pistol. Applejack and Twilight both shot their hands up, but Pinkie stood in her spot and smiled.

"What a nice noise maker you have." She said putting her hand up to stop the Handymen from grabbing him. He turned and shook his gun at the men, and turned back to her waving the gun in her face, the barrel at least an inch from her face. Without him noticing, she gave the Handymen to go back to how they were. Twilight, from her position, saw Pinkie's skin on her right hand lift, and a small shock wave like aura coming from it. She clenched her fist and the aura grew stronger, until it suddenly whipped out causing him to float in the air.

"Wh-what? Put me down!" He yelled, shooting of his gun in random directions. Pinkie smiled as her hand suddenly burst into flames, and she clutched the skull of her cane causing it to open its jaw and its eye sockets turning a fiery red. She held the cane in front of herself and pointed it at the man.

"In the name of her Majesty... burn in hell..." Pinkie proclaimed and fire of the hottest degree shot out of the mouth of the skull and cooked the man until he was nothing but ashes. The gun, that was now floating without a master, suddenly fell onto Twilight's lap.

"Keep it sugar, you'll never know when you'll need it." Applejack said picking herself up from the chair. Twilight stared at the pistol and holstered it inside a pocket inside her dress. Pinkie grabbed a broom and dust pan and began sweeping up the ashes and pour them outside a window, let them scatter.

Twilight had a feeling and it was not a good one. She knew that this floating city... was going to become a living hell for her.

Author's Note

Here's the cane I was talking about.