MLP: A Rare Delicacy. Part 1

It was noon for the inhabitants of Equestria. All was incredibly quiet for the duration of the morning, and it was widely speculated by many that the afternoon would be greatly identical. However, while the rest of Equestria nurtured itself with relaxation, such could not be said for the halls of Canterlot, which found themselves under the corruption of a truly grim atmosphere. Ever since the events that occurred within the enchanted halls from the previous night, the regal, if rather obsessive, Princess Celestia had taken it upon herself to personally aid the dismayed Pinkie Pie in her pledge for peace.

As of today, Celestia had invited Pinkie Pie to return to Canterlot and visit her for a private session; all the while, Pinkie Pie herself had invited Applejack and Maud to accompany her. However, and rather coincidently, Twilight had returned to Canterlot an hour before the trio had arrived, hoping to meet Celestia about her own personal endeavors. By the time 2:00 had rolled by, Celestia had requested to see Pinkie Pie in private; thus, disappointing Twilight and forcing her to wait along with the others in the library.

"Just… please… don't read my mind again" Pinkie Pie requested in a rather meek manner. Celestia sighed in disapproval and assured "Don't worry, Miss Pie. I would never do that to you". Pinkie Pie sat on a prepared sofa and relaxed, allowing a sense of relief to finally spread through her agitated muscles. She breathed steadily as her eyes slowly closed shut, allowing for the first time she had properly relaxed in a long while.

Celestia cleared her throat in preparation and instructed in a hushed, nurturing tone "Now… I need you to stay still for this, Pinkie Pie"; Celestia finally focused her line of sight upon her client and added "…so you can fall asleep". Out of a sudden sense of curiosity, Pinkie Pie reopened her strained eyes and asked "Fall asleep? Why?"

"This is a spell that, I think, might help you. With it, your dreams will become entirely lucid for a time" Celestia explained, "And I need you to describe your dreams to me once you awaken". Reluctant, though relatively curious, Pinkie Pie leaned back in her seat and sighed in relaxation, allowing the spell to finally take place. As soon as she shut her eyes, she lost any and all physical connections to the rest of her body.

Upon reopening her eyes after a prolonged amount of time, Pinkie Pie found herself sitting in a small, white room. She remained motionless without any sign of movement, laying in complete silence. She shifted her gaze throughout the room, finding no windows, doors or any form of furniture in view, as well as the fact that the walls were coated in a strange, cautioning material. Pinkie Pie attempted to stand, but found that her front legs were constricted by a foreign force; and once she stared down, the source of this immobilization became clear.

She was bound in a straitjacket.

From the revelation, Pinkie Pie began to panic as she thrashed about in an attempt to pull her legs free of their bindings; unfortunately, this was to no avail. "Where am I?!" she cried out in despair, "Anypony! Can anypony here me?! HELP ME!" No answer from any form of outside world could be heard, concluding the mystery of her solitude indefinitely.

After a few minutes of silence, Pinkie Pie trembled in resignation as she shifted into the corner of the room. She stared downwards towards her restrained limbs as a single tear fell upon one of the multiple leather belts. By this time, she had practically forgotten about the spell and succumb to the bleak atmosphere of this conjured environment.

"Still a mess, isn't she? No surprise, really…" a voice echoed within the room, instantly catching Pinkie Pie's attention from her state of despair. She searched the room desperately in search of the source, soon turning to her left to find a familiar unicorn leaning against the wall beside her. However, when Pinkie Pie attempted to scream "Twilight!" with joy, she discovered that she couldn't hear her own voice, having found herself mute upon attempting to speak.

Twilight failed to notice Pinkie Pie beside her as she continued "She's still suffering from her split personality, and everypony wants to help; and yet, she still won't answer any questions. Her family, running away from home…" Soon, the mood became sour as Twilight then lectured "Never a kind word for my efforts! Don't I deserve some credit?! Without me, she and all of her friends would never have figured any of this out!"

Pinkie Pie refused to listen to this, as she began shaking her head violently to banish these thoughts. However, once she looked up again, she found that Twilight had disappeared from the room, only to be replaced with the figure of Maud Pie sitting to her left. Pinkie Pie reluctantly listened as Maud began "Me and Mom always knew it, Pinkie Pie! You were always such a miserable excuse for a sister; too content to pretend to have things that you couldn't actually get. As if you could ever be truly happy with creating a second world for yourself to enjoy, while the rest of us are left to slave away around you!"

Tears had begun to reemerge from Pinkie Pie's eyes from these accusations, and she looked away from Maud in disgust, only to find a less reputable figure to her right. None other than the nefarious horror Pinkamena leaned comfortably against the cushioning as she snidely remarked "Is everything truly clear for you, Pinkie Pie? Am I really just some villain for you and your friends to beat? Am I not to be honored and respected like Maud or Twilight?"

Pinkie Pie clenched her teeth and shut her eyes tightly, but Pinkamena continued "For me, t's only a few moments to be around before I'm lost in limbo again. I have desires, intentions, and my own intellect; and yet, I'm still just pushed aside as a mere delusion". By this time, Pinkie Pie had succumbed to this torture and would willingly listen to these disturbing statements, before she suddenly noticed a strange feeling course through her body. The world around her soon began glowing evermore bright, before finally blurring into a single color.

Pinkie Pie laid her hoof upon the left side of her forehead and grunted in pain; "Pinkamena! Not that! Please!" Celestia's eyes widened in surprise as she exclaimed "That's not right! That's not meant to happen! What's she doing there?!" Pinkie Pie began panicking as she tossed fitfully on the couch, eventually enough for her to roll off the side.

With a loud 'Thump!', she fell upon the floor, shivering and twitching into unnatural positions. Celestia quickly arose from her seat and her horn ceased glowing, thus breaking the enchantment and freeing her patient from this inescapable nightmare. Pinkie Pie's eyes shot open as the spell was broken, before falling to the floor and sighing in despair. As Pinkie Pie gasped for air, she turned to face the Princess, her eyes pooling with terror.

"Don't do that to me again, please!"

---

Celestia sat beside the shuddering Pinkie Pie, who sat against the sofa with her arms wrapped around her legs, before she lay her hoof under Pinkie Pie's chin and lifted her head to meet her gaze. "I never thought that this could be so awful for you, my dear" the alicorn admitted grimly, "I want to do everything I can to help". As this happened, the door suddenly burst open, revealing a terrified trio of ponies stumbling hastily into the room. "PINKIE PIE!" Maud called out in fright, before running to her stricken sister and hugging her tightly.

Without questioning the fact that the trio had been eavesdropping against her instructions, Celestia joined the trio's gathering and explained "Don't worry, Maud. Pinkie Pie is just fine". As this was said, Pinkie Pie has stood up and groaned "Ugh… My head…" After the chaos had eventually subsided, Celestia then decided to let Pinkie Pie spend the rest of the day at home, allowing her to recuperate from her ordeal.

As Maud, Pinkie Pie and Twilight continued their journey to Ponyville, Applejack disbanded from the traveling company and made her way to her own residence, having taken two hours to do so before finally finding herself outside the front door. "I'm home!" she called into the quiet expanse of the living room, neither expecting nor hearing an answer. Despite her apparent solitude, however, she soon found that all of the lights were turned on, and her sister was currently lounging lazily on the living room couch.

"Hey, what're ya up to?" she smirked at the sibling, who simply stared back at her. "Nothing. Just boring stuff" Applebloom sighed indifferently, encouraging Applejack to do the same. "Wait! Actually, I need to tell you something!" Her sister suddenly called as Applejack prepared to leave for bed, "I made a new friend!"

Applejack instantly halted to a stop, her attention to this revelation having been seized. "A new friend? Who?" Applejack asked curiously, never having considered Applebloom's companionships during the time she had been her sister. "Well, I… can't remember her name, but she's pretty cool" Applebloom replied enthusiastically, "She told me that she knew you as well!"

Applejack was slightly taken aback by this statement, pondering who she would know that Applebloom wouldn't also have known. "What did she look like?" Applejack questioned, beginning to grow somewhat concerned for the culprit of this acquaintanceship. "Well, she's about your age" Applebloom stated, before adding "Actually, she kinda looks like that friend of yours. Um… Pinkie Pie, I think?"

A cold chill suddenly filled the room as Applejack's eyes slowly widened in terror, afraid of the possibility that a certain dangerous figure had acquainted herself with her younger sister. Applejack quickly asked "Was there anything… else about her?" Applebloom thought for a second, all the while rubbing the bottom of her chin with her hoof before answering "Well… she had long, lank hair… and a pretty soothing voice, but also a bit… spooky".

This had all but confirmed Applejacks suspicions, as well as almost caused her to scream in horror. The friend that Applebloom had met must've been none other than Pinkamena. Pinkamena had been resurfacing more often in the past few months, with a vengeance against both those she hunted and any others within her vicinity, which had almost cost Pinkie Pie of her own existence. Applejack's mind was sent into a frenzy of reeling questions and horrific thoughts of this discovery and what it could entail.

"Hey sis, you okay?" Applebloom asked nervously, slowly becoming worried by Applejack's sudden expressed anxiety. "When… did ya meet her?" Applejack stuttered, stumbling backwards awkwardly before bumping against the couch and unfocusedly sitting down. Applebloom stared at Applejack before replying "Just today… at the café. We were just talking; that's all". "Okay" Applejack muttered before simply laying back against the couch, sighing almost as lifelessly as the cold air that had begun to engulf the living room. "Why? Do you know her, Applejack?" Applebloom asked curiously.

"Stay far away from that girl, Applebloom! She's really bad, and she's gonna hurt ya!"

"What!?" Applebloom shouted in surprise from her sister's sudden outburst. After catching her breath from her sporadic breakdown and regaining her composure, Applejack explained "Her name is Pinkamena. She's… she's… she's just bad". Applejack had trouble finding a way to explain Pinkamena to Applebloom, as Applejack believed that explaining Pinkie Pie's split personality would only succeed in confusing her further; not to mention, both of Pinkie Pie's personalities would frown upon being exposed to others.

Applebloom remained confused, but nonetheless respected her sister's plea to avoid this girl, and was willing to believe the danger that she may find herself in from further association. "Well, anyway… we should get to bed. We'll talk about it tomorrow" Applejack soon announced before both her and Applebloom left the living room. However, as Applebloom had already shut her bedroom door behind her and resigned herself for the night, Applejack grew increasingly afraid about this turn of events, and was forced to suffer these morbid thoughts throughout her futile pledge for sleep.

Tomorrow, she'd pay Pinkie Pie a visit.

---

The next day, within the town bakery, Pinkie Pie leapt from her bed in a fit of impulse and stumbled her way down the stairs into the kitchen, intent to find something to eat. "Gergh… I hate the smell of orchids" she groaned to herself as the scent of the outside world filled her nose, result of opening the kitchen window from mere instinct.

Once finally in her kitchen, she yawned sleepily as she pulled the fridge door open. However, to Pinkie Pie's surprise and confusion, every morsel of her stored pastries had apparently gone missing. She furrowed her eyebrows and asked "What the- Where'd all my food go?", before a loud rattling sound drew her attention to the pantry. A chill coursed throughout Pinkie Pie's body as she nervously staggered to the larder, shutting her eyes tensely and opening the door.

Suddenly, the door flung open of its own accord as a flood of blackness spilled from the multiple shelves, sending Pinkie Pie stumbling back in a panic before she could possibly comprehend what had just happened. Upon rubbing her eyes hastily and fixing her gaze for closer inspection, the blackness was soon discovered to be an overwhelming wave of scattering cockroaches. Pinkie Pie screamed at the top of her lungs and leaped away from the unexpected onslaught and ran into the living room. She jumped onto the couch and turned to face the entrance of the kitchen, watching as the entire kitchen became engulfed in a thick, scuttling infestation.

But soon, she stopped to consider the rather coincidental circumstances of this situation. Pinkie Pie shook her head violently and whispered through clenched teeth "No! Not again! It's not real. It's not real!" As Pinkie Pie repeated this phrase, she reopened her eyes to find that all of the roaches had suddenly disappeared without a trace; all but confirming Pinkie Pie's suspicion of their true severity.

Pinkie Pie hung her head in disappointment and tensed with rage of this revelation, enraged by this clear reemergence of her terrifying delusions. She gritted her teeth in rage as her face turned to a darkening shade of red. As she began sweating from her forehead, however, she quickly realized her actions and attempted to calm herself from this sudden overwhelming fury. "It's all in your head… It's all in your head… It's all in your head…" she repeatedly stammered, leaning back against the couch in defeat.

Meanwhile, in the town's café, Rainbow Dash had come to buy something to drink before setting about her day of work. "Here's your drink, ma'am" the bartender stated before handing a… something or other… to Rainbow Dash. Upon receiving it, she strolled around the café in search for a free table, only for a surprising coincidence to come and greet her instead.

Twilight, Applejack, Fluttershy and Rarity were all chatting with eachother at the same table, before Applejack noticed the idle pegasus and waved her over. As she made her way towards the table, she soon understood the true nature of their conversation. "…know how or when she did, but I told her to stay away from her" Applejack replied to Rarity's question, "She told me that she met her here, though". "Who met here?" Rainbow Dash asked curiously, to which Twilight turned to face her and explained "Applejack's sister said that she met Pinkamena here!"

"What!? Applebloom too!?" Rainbow Dash questioned in shock, "Scootaloo told me that he met Pinkamena here too!" All who sat at the table were left speechless from this statement, eventually concluded by Twilight's next question; "What did they talk about, then?" "Me? How should I know?" Applejack replied in confusion, resulting in Twilight quickly answering "Nevermind".

"I-is it possible that it wasn't Pinkamena to begin with?" Fluttershy asked anxiously, clearly lacking confidence in her question. Despite its abrupt nature, however, this question brought all members of the table into deep thought, each considering the chances of this possibility. "Well… I don't know" Twilight began, "It is possible… but we can't be sure yet". For once in a long while, Fluttershy felt somewhat proud that she had thrown two cents into a conversation, especially since her statement seemed completely contradictory to the matter at hand.

"Where is Maud Pie?" Rainbow Dash asked curiously, only to be met with puzzled expressions on five different faces. "I dunno… but I'm guessing that Maud lives with Pinkie Pie now" Applejack answered. Rainbow Dash then finished what remained of her drink and stood up from the table, explaining "Well, I'm gonna head over to see if anything's happening. Anypony wanna come?"

Applejack stood up and replied "I'll come with ya!" As the duo left the table and made their way to the main entrance, the remaining members looked at eachother; each deciding whether to follow after the pair, or to tend to their own private affairs.

To be continued…