MLP: Conquering the Odds. Part 2

Applejack quickly raced throughout the halls and corridors of Canterlot, desperately searching for her misplaced companion's current location. As she searched, she happened across a servant and quickly called to him. "I'm sorry, but I'm lookin' for my friend. Pink hair, about my height, may or may not have been actin' crazy. Have ya seen her?" She asked directly.

"Oh. As a matter of fact, I have. She was in the dressing room, but she was stumbling and muttering to herself, in case that's what you meant by 'acting crazy'" The suitor informed, before instructing her the directions to the dressing room. When she got to the room itself, however, she could hear her colleague from behind the door, stuttering and screaming incoherently. Applejack was conflicted as to whether to enter the room or leave in search for Twilight's assistance, but was unable to find a suitable conclusion.

As she decided between her choices, she soon heard the very speech that she had feared hearing ever again. "No! Go away! I don't need you anymore! … You'll always need me! … No! Never! I never needed you, and I never will. … Oh yeah? Then why am I still here?! … SHUT UP! … If you really believed that, I would've been gone months ago. … GREAGH! AAEEEEEEAAAAAA!"

Suddenly, the sound of shattering glass echoed throughout the hallway, frightening Applejack to death and convincing her to finally enter the room. She quickly opened the door and stepped into the room to observe the situation, finding herself a witness to a horrific scene. Pinkie Pie staggered in circles through the room, grunting in fits of rage while emitting an occasional snicker. What was next to catch Applejack's attention was the room itself, which was installed with at least twelve different mirrors, one such mirror being spread across the floor in hundreds of shards.

"'You don't need me?' 'You have real friends?' They're just using you! … I hate you! … I don't believe that! … I hate you, I hate you, I HATE YOU! … Stop! … You are evil, you're cruel and selfish and you don't care about me at all! Only about yourself! … I'm selfish? I gave you everything you ever wanted! Everything! And how do you repay me?! … NO! ... You abandoned me! … NO! ... YOU LEFT ME TO ROT! … SHUT UP! STOP SCREAMING AT MEEEEEAAAAAAAAEEEE!"

Soon, the whole room fell silent, followed by the corridor, and the rest of the palace. Pinkie Pie fell upon her knees, beginning to cry in defeat; she had lost once again to her alter ego's wrath. "Pinkie Pie!" Applejack quickly rushed to her friend's side and lay her hoof on her shoulder, only for Pinkie Pie to tense in surprise from the sudden contact upon her arm.

"What in the name of all that's natural is going on in there!?"

Applejack heard a feminine voice call from the hallway as the sound of hoofsteps began echoing towards them. "Hey! Somepony! Help!" Applejack cried in desperation towards the doorway, and soon heard the hoofsteps increase in pace and volume; until finally, both Twilight and Celestia stood right outside the door. "Applejack? Why weren't you in the library? What are you do-" Twilight asked before gasping in horror. Twilight ran to the grounded duo and screamed in panic "Pinkie Pie?! Applejack, what happened?!"

As Celestia entered the room, she soon discovered the depressed damsel and asked in surprise "What's happened to her!?" Applejack remained silent, still tending to Pinkie Pie as she began recovering from her painful ordeal. "I… Sh..." Pinkie Pie wheezed breathlessly, before collapsing into Applejack's awaiting arms.

A confused and horrified Celestia questioned "Twilight, what is happening to her?!" before finally stopping in front of the trio and peering curiously at the incapacitated pony. "No… I'm… okay" Pinkie Pie winced weakly, failing to disguise the obvious strain in her voice. As Pinkie Pie attempted to sit up, however, Applejack quickly tugged her back down and objected "No, ya're not okay, gal. Now just lay still!"

Celestia soon became aggravated by the lack of an explanation for this phenomenon and soon impatiently yelled "Would somepony please explain to me what is going on?!" before turning to Twilight for an answer. Twilight sighed in resignation and answered "Pinkie Pie… is…" before pausing inopportunely, trying to find the best way to explain her dilemma. Celestia quickly calmed herself and prepared to ask her question again, before Pinkie Pie suddenly wailed "I'm losing my mind! That's what's going on!" before falling silent and sobbing pitifully.

Celestia remained speechless by this terrifying exclamation before an unusual buzzing noise had ceased her attention. She stared down at the defeated Pinkie Pie as her horn began glowing a deep shade of violet. Pinkie Pie lifted her head and stared into Celestia's alluring eyes, the latter continuing her gaze as if searching for an answer within them.

"You are nothing but a toy to them! You would be nothing but a feast for those sadistic creatures out there if not for me protecting you! How dare you treat me like I'm a… a… wait".

Searching within the subconscious of Pinkie Pie's mentality, Celestia happened across something which surprised her beyond anything she had ever discovered before. She listened to this strange voice that beckoned within Pinkie Pie's mind, while the depraved pony herself was possibly trying to ignore it to the best of her abilities. Pinkie Pie, who had been oblivious to Celestia's actions, fixed her tear-stained eyes upon the princess's; "Wh… What are you…" she croaked helplessly, drawing Twilight's attention to her educator's actions.

"Miss Celestia? Are you…" Twilight asked before trailing off, having decided instead to simply watch as her teacher continued to concentrate. Pinkie Pie stared upwards toward Celestia once again; and as she did, she thought "Is she reading my mind?" Soon, Pinkie Pie's attention was drawn to a new voice in her mind, whispering "Yes. I can hear you, but I also hear… a second voice".

---

"That's… That's not fair!" Pinkamena roared furiously, clearly offended by her exposure to another against her own will, "What else can she read in our mind!?" "Our mind!? I've never seen anything like this before!" Celestia confessed in surprise. Twilight then reluctantly explained "I'm sorry, Celestia. I didn't want to tell you, but Pinkie Pie has…" before holding her tongue once again, "S-she has a… a split personality". Celestia's eyes widened as this was stated, but then lectured "Twilight, you should've told me this before! I could've helped her much earlier".

"NO! SHE CAN'T!"

Pinkie Pie's eyes shot open suddenly as she leapt to her hooves and began backing into a nearby corner, "No! Please, don't read my mind anymore! Please stop!" she shouted in a newly revived sense of anxiety. Celestia could hear the Pinkamena personality screaming and yelling unintelligibly from within Pinkie Pie's head, resulting in the latter herself clutching her head in discomfort and collapsing to the floor once again. "Please, don't read my mind. It's not worth the trouble…" She winced miserably, as tears had begun streaming from her eyes for a second time.

Celestia carefully stepped towards Pinkie Pie, who lay on the floor without any sign of acknowledgement. "Please, Miss Pie…" Celestia began, drawing Pinkie Pie's attention as she had fixed a single, open eye on Celestia, "May I read your mind again? With your permission, of course". Pinkie Pie had sensed the sincerity in her tone and was willing to trust her, but remained afraid of what possibilities this would result in. "I… can't. I don't…" Pinkie Pie struggled to find the proper wording of her statement, "I have… secrets".

"I promise, your secrets will be safe with me".

Finally, after pondering this choice for a lengthy amount of time, Pinkie Pie nodded in confirmation; thus allowing Celestia to delve into the deep corners of her psyche. Celestia's horn began glowing once again as she stared deeply into Pinkie Pie's eyes, while Pinkie Pie herself became transfixed by hers. Twilight and Applejack sat behind Celestia, watching intensely as this exploration of a disturbed mind was carried out. "Do ya think this is a good idea?"

Applejack whispered, clearly just as concerned about the outcome of this action as Pinkie Pie previously was. "Shhh… Let her concentrate. But yeah, I'm sure Pinkie Pie will be just fine" Twilight reassured, despite being fairly unsure herself of what outcome was in store. As soon as they both turned to face Pinkie Pie again, they noticed that her pupils had begun shrinking, just as a wide smile began emerging on her face; "Go ahead… if you really want to know so badly".

Twilight quickly realized that Pinkamena had taken control once again, and that she was expecting, and possibly wanted, this to happen. While Celestia remained oblivious to this fact, having been too focused in searching through Pinkie Pie's thoughts, Twilight and Applejack grew increasingly scared. Just what exactly was Pinkamena planning to do?

"What are you looking for?" Pinkie Pie thought, believing that Celestia would hear and respond to her question. "I am searching your memories for any cause of this split personality you have" Celestia replied telepathically, "Now, let me see". Celestia continued swimming through a vast ocean of memoirs, until happening upon a sufficient one to examine. "I can see your fillyhood…" Celestia informed, before she frowned as she continued viewing the memories, "…You… seem so sad…" "I hated that rock farm… it was so bleak and… lifeless. I couldn't stand it" Pinkie Pie cringed meekly.

"You hated your family?" Celestia exclaimed in surprise, having now viewed her bleak outlook on her family and their lifestyle. "Not her. Me!" a new voice could be heard within Pinkie Pie's head, belonging to the dreaded spawn of her depraved psyche. "Pinkamena, I presume?" Celestia greeted respectfully, only to hear "So you wanna better understand what me and her have gone through, do you?" ringing within some unexplored depth of Pinkie Pie's mentality, "In that case, I know exactly what you want to see".

Pinkie Pie tensed nervously upon hearing this and provoked her ego's command, "No, don't listen to her! … Listen to me, Celestia. … Pinkamena, stop it! … Shut up, Pinkie Pie. I'll show her what she's looking for, so we can get this over with". Ever since her previous dilemma involving Pinkie Pie's periodic dormancy, Pinkamena's outlook towards the other ponies became increasingly conflicted as she remained undecided towards trusting them. Nevertheless, her spiteful and ruthless nature persuaded her to continue in her goals, specifically to manipulate her other personality's allegiance.

"Please, don't listen to her. Just find what you want and…" Pinkie Pie pleaded, before her eyes began glistening with misery, "…before she gets me in any more trouble". Celestia considered this reaction to her persistence and began questioning her own intentions. She wondered whether she was being too inconsiderate, too curious, and too selfish. Was this worth it? Is this only damaging her mind further? What was she even looking for? Had she done enough?

"Is this what you're looking for?"

---

Suddenly, Celestia found herself a witness to a specific memory; this memory occurring while she was preparing the party for her family. She concentrated on viewing this memory, witnessing the young filly preparing the food and tying the streamers. Celestia became both surprised and confused that Pinkie Pie had her split personality during such an early time in her fillyhood.

"Pinkie Pie? … Yes? … Are you sure this is going to work? … What? Pinkamena, I would give anything for a party and to have fun. Why shouldn't they? … Well, it's not because I find them boring, which they are; but they just seem so… distant. … Distant? … They don't really seem to care about… anything, really. Not even us". The young filly continued to converse with herself in her high-pitched filly voice. "I love my family! … Your family sucks! … What are you talking about?! … These are the worst folks anypony could ever have! … Well, we can make them better!" Pinkie Pie smiled proudly.

Just then, the door was unlocked and slowly opened. Pinkie Pie stared intensely as the door creaked opened, revealing an elder pony couple and her siblings, Quartz and Limestone. Upon examining the room, the relatives stopped and stared in surprise at the current state of their house, all while the constructor waited anxiously for some form of approval. Her dad then fixed her eyes upon her asked "What is all of this, then?" in a rather stern tone. "While you were out, I set up a party for when you came back! Do you like it?" She squealed with joy, truly proud of her labors.

"My blankets!"

All attention was quickly focused upon the mother, who held onto a streamer; "You ripped up our blankets to make streamers!?" A shocked Pinkie replied "J-just the ones you d-don't use" in an attempt to defend her honor. "Look at all of this food! How are we gonna eat it all?! It's all gonna go bad now!" shrieked Limestone, as she threw her arms in the air for emphasis on the severity of her question.

Her father hung his head and grunted in disapproval, scaring the onlooking Pinkie Pie into backing away. "Pinkie Pie, go to your room; now!" he growled maliciously, resulting in his daughter's eyes to begin welling with tears. She quivered in fear before wailing "Dad, please! It's not that bad! Just try the-". "GO TO YOUR ROOM NOW!" The father yelled loud enough for his fury to echo throughout the room. Pinkie Pie ran to her father and held him by his leg, pleading "Dad! I made all of this for you! For once, have some fun!" before slapping her mouth shut.

Unfortunately, it was too late; what'd been said had been said, and her father boiled with overwhelming rage from this unintentional insult. Pinkie Pie cowered before her father as his temper slowly dwindled; until finally, only irrational thinking dwelled within his mentality. The last sound that Pinkie Pie could remember was a loud 'WHACK!'

"Oh my- I can't stand watching this anymore!"

Celestia snapped away from her trance and stumbled backwards, before falling ungraciously upon the floor. She stared in utter disbelief of what she had just witnessed, breathing heavily in order quell her racing heart. "That was the most awful thing I've ever seen!" she exclaimed, lacking any of her natural regality to make place for an unnatural state of fear. Pinkie Pie, for her part, hung her head in dismay and distraughtly whimpered "I told you that you wouldn't like seeing it!" before losing herself completely.

Celestia remained speechless from viewing these events of her past, finding herself only capable of muttering "You… poor girl". Twilight came to Celestia with intent to help her up from the floor, only to be discouraged by Celestia shaking her head in self-loathing. "Miss Pie, I am so sorry! I should've listened to you!" she huffed. "What? Why? What happened?!" Twilight asked in utter shock. Celestia was prepared to explain, but remembered the promise she made to Pinkie Pie and kept it to herself, simply stating "I made a promise, Twilight. I must keep it a secret".

Twilight did not question this, simply nodding in respect to her educator and choosing not to inquire any further. Unwilling to cause more trouble than necessary, Celestia then stated "Well, it's getting late; so you three should be getting home now". Applejack came to Pinkie Pie's side and lifted her trembling figure for support, until Pinkie Pie could properly stand by herself. "Will… that be all, your ladyship?" Twilight asked as to finally end this awful situation. Celestia cleared her throat and responded "Yes… Miss Sparkle. Good evening".

Soon, after finding an escort for the trio, they soon took their leave of Canterlot and headed for each of their homes. As they parted ways and proceeded towards their separate residences, Celestia observed them from the window of her tower, considering the events of tonight and their possible consequences. "I can't believe that this would happen. Not under my roof" she sighed in disappointment. She watched as Pinkie Pie began staggering in her pace, before realizing the tears pouring from her eyes. Celestia turned away from the window and groaned in defeat.

"I'm gonna help that poor girl, if it's the last thing I do!"

The End?