The Demons Within Her

"So, who wants to go first?"  Twilight Sparkle asked as she glanced at all five of her friends in the room. All six ponies were huddled around a small candle in the middle of Twilight's bedroom, its flame barely illuminating their gleeful faces. Applejack waved an enthusiastic hoof in front of her.

"Oh, me! I'll go first." She whispered, before clearing her throat. "My best fillyhood memory was when me and Big Macintosh climbed all the way to the top of Mount Applezest. Not many ponies can say they've done the whole thing."

The six of them laughed softly, then it was Rarity's turn.

"When I was a filly, me and my schoolfriends used to race to find gems for our prom dresses." She giggled and gave a cheesy grin.

Pinkie Pie was still thinking about what she would say when it was her turn; she couldn't remember much of her childhood at all. She remembered getting her her cutie mark at her old silo home, and the song Nana Pinkie sang to her to help overcome her fears, but other than that she didn't really have much for reminiscing. She felt so frustrated at not being able to remember the past very well. She had always lived life in the fast lane, never allowing herself any time for reflection.

After a few minutes of ponies sharing stories and Pinkie Pie trying to come up with a story, Twilight's voice snapped her out of her train of thought.

"Pinkie?"

Pinkie blinked in bewilderment. "Huh?" She uttered.

Twilight smiled sweetly at her and tilted her head. "It's your turn now, Pinkie."

Pinkie Pie frowned and rubbed her forehead with her hoof. "I... can't think of anything."

Rainbow Dash gave her a concerned frown. "Seriously? You throw the hardest parties in Equestria! There's gotta be something you can think of."

"No...I-I can't remember anything." Pinkie whispered, becoing anxious at her lack of memory.

"Come on, darling," said Rarity, "You agreed to come to Twilight's slumber party, so you have to play the game."

Pinkie Pie glanced around the room at each of her friends, all of them grinning at her excitedly. Being unable to play a game with her friends properly made her panic more than anything else.

All five ponies' eyes were fixed on her. She was starting to hyperventilate.

Applejack's smile dropped, and she put a hoof on Pinkies shoulder. "Whoa, sugarcube. calm down there, girl!" She whispered reassuringly, but Pinkie didn't seem to hear her.

Rainbow Dash hovered in front of the pink pony. "Pinkie! Get a grip on yourself..." Dash's voice trailed off as she realised she wouldn't get through to her. Pinkie's breathing was spiralling out of control, growing into loud panting and she began to shake uncontrollably.

Fluttershy squealed as she retreated to the corner of the room, terrified by Pinkie's sudden panic attack.

Rainbow Dash turned to the purple unicorn, who simply stared at Pinkie, astonished. "Twilight! Do something!"

Twilight stood up and lowered her head, aiming her horn straight at Pinkie. Sweat trickled down the purple unicorn's face as her horn began to spark and glow as she focused her energy into it. "Everpony, stand back!"

The other four ponies in the room stared shocked at Pinkie as her panic attack continued to escalate into an emotional frenzy. Her pink mane twitched violently, shifting in a quantum state between frizzy and straight, and blood began to pour profusely from her nose.

A blast of energy emitted from Twilight's horn, deafening everypony in the room, a flash illuminating the entire house.

Twilight glanced up at her friends, breathing a sigh of relief. She had hit her target.

Pinkie lay unconscious on the floor, her nose and mouth coated in blood, mucus and saliva from her nosebleed and panic frenzy. The other five ponies stared silently at the pink party mare slumped on the purple carpet.

"Twilight, what did y'all just do to her?" asked Applejack, worried.

"Sleeping spell," gasped Twilight, trying to get her breath back, "I...had to...sedate her before...somepony got hurt."

Applejack was about to protest, but was reassured by Pinkie's sudden loud snoring. Fluttershy re-emerged,whimpering and trembling as tears rolled down her face. Rarity and Rainbow Dash stared speechless in bewilderment at the now unconscious Pinkie, mouths agape with shock.

"Come on, girls," said Twilight, levitating Pinkie towards the bed, "let's just call it a night and get some sleep." She laid Pinkie on the bed, slid the blankets over her, and her horn glowed once again as the red stains vanished from the pink mare's face.

Twilight then took four blankets from the cubpoard above her window, and gave one to each of her friends, who all settled down on the floor by the candle. Twilight lay down on the floor beside the bed, and stared up at Pinkie, and smiled as the pink pony giggled quietly to herself and twitched gently, enjoying a pleasant dream.

Before long, Twilight's eyes grew heavy and she drifted off into the darkness.