MLP: And So Say All of Us. Part 2

The clock chimed 12:00, the tune of the clock itself echoing faintly through the hallway and into the nearby rooms. It went unnoticed by any, predictably, and remained uncredited for its routine business. However, this chime was not the only sound to echo throughout the construct.

Pinkie Pie found herself in the basement of her home, having just entered through the only entrance, and by extension, the only exit. She stumbled her way through the darkness before stopping to concentrate, listening for any trace of inhabitancy within this secluded storage room. She smiled to herself as the sound of muffled grunts and muted screams caught her attention, beckoning her to investigate the source further.

She stepped to the nearby wall and blindly searched for a specific tool, her smile widening as a hanging cord brushed against her arm, and gently tugged against it. Instantly, the room lit up with fluorescently golden light, granting Pinkie Pie her momentarily hindered sense of sight, along with a diverting sight to behold for good measure. Rainbow Dash lay at the end of the room, against the wall opposite to the exit; though she herself was in a more substantial predicament the Pinkie Pie found herself in.

Rainbow Dash was strapped tightly to wall-mounted operation table, bound by all four of her legs from the table's surrounding leather belts. She tugged against these restraints with all her strength, and possibly had been for an unknown length of time. Her mouth was gagged, the gag taking responsibility for her muted cries and pleas for freedom. However, this muffled wails soon died as soon as she saw her captor approaching.

Pinkie Pie's hair was hanging downwards over her shoulders, the left of her fringe covering the left half of her face. Her skin was somewhat paler than it's more natural healthy glow. But her face was the most diverting aspect of her features. Her eyes were wide open and her pupils had shrunken to disturbing measures. Her grin covered a majority of her cheeks, showing a large, white smile.

Pinkamena stared at Rainbow Dash before the latter returned to her previous tactic of crying at the top of her lungs for someone to save her. Though admirable, Pinkamena found herself intoxicated by these pained screams and smiled to herself malevolently. "Finally…" she muttered to herself, Rainbow Dash stopped to nervously listen; "You can finally get what coming to you".

Pinkamena stepped toward her captive and leaned over her waist, whispering into her ear "Don't bother squealing for help. Its midnight and everypony's asleep, where in an underground basement, and you're gagged. Nopony's going to save you from me". "RHAT ARE MA RAMMA RO?" Rainbow Dash screamed in horror, intending to ask 'what are you gonna do'. Pinkamena's grin grew as wide as ever as she replied "We're finally gonna make our…" before pausing to lean into Rainbow Dash's ear again.

"Cupcakes".

Pinkamena then turned away from her prisoner and stepped towards a nearby table, glaring upon the abundance of tools and crafts and remaining undecided on which to choose. Eventually, though, her decisions we're made, and the crazed captor took her chosen instruments and returned to Rainbow Dash's side for her to observe. A handsaw, a mallet, a pair of jumper cables, a cleaver, and the most ominous of all, a butcher's knife.

Rainbow Dash began to panic and pulled painfully against the bindings in the vain hope of escape. She knew exactly where this was going and dreaded it immensely, "This cannot be happening" repeating over and over in her mind.

Pinkamena rolled her eyes and grimaced, sarcastically joking "Oh, c'mon Rainbow. It's not gonna hurt that much! And besides, I know what I'm doing; I've done this before". Rainbow Dash's mind was spinning out of control, unable to comprehend the situation. She had done this before? Done what?! To who?! Too how many?! How many times before?! Pinkamena then stood before her ingredients and smiled, the knife equipped in her left hoof; "I guess there is one good thing about you phonies… You are perfect ingredients".

"Gergh… No! No- do-don't! NOO! AAAUUUUUUUUUAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!"

Pinkie Pie found herself free falling at a rapid rate, before abruptly impacting against an unforeseen platform. She struggled to pull herself to a sitting position and adjusted her vision for clarity of her surroundings. She looked around to find herself within her bedroom, though no relief was gained from this revelation.

She couldn't help but ponder the events of this latest nightmare, which could be easily classified as the worst nightmare she has had thus far. Her house didn't even have a basement, for one inaccuracy to reality; though there was no substantial evidence that the house in question was Sugarcube Corner in the first place. But the events that unfolded; no less than utterly traumatizing to witness.

She began sweating nervously as she considered the words of her alternate personality. Would she actually do something like that? Would she want to? Would she actually enjoy it? 'Done it before'? Done it to who? Far too many questions for her mind to comprehend, resulting in her remaining motionless beside her bed for the rest of the night.

---

The next morning, Maud awoke from her undisturbed slumber and contently sauntered her way towards the stairs. However, upon passing by her sister's personal boudoir, she felt tempted to investigate her sister's current status, both of her location and her emotion. She listened closely through the door for any indication of Pinkie Pie's presence.

Suddenly, the door flung open and Pinkie Pie stumbled clumsily out into the hall, neglecting her sister, and down the stairs. To Pinkie Pie's surprise, a knock on the door prompted her to greet her unknown morning guest; or in this case, 'guests'. Upon opening the door, she was astonished to find Twilight, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and Rarity awaiting permission to enter.

"Hey, Pinkie Pie!" Twilight smiled, though Pinkie Pie recognised the smile as a mere masquerade. Pinkie Pie hung her head in misery, before muttering "Hey, girls" and stepping aside to allow them access. The group of unexpected visitors were forced to acknowledge to true nature of this meeting and entered the abode simultaneously. They entered the living room to find Maud awaiting them on the sofa, beckoning the group to do the same.

While the visitors politely obliged and joined her, Pinkie Pie excused herself from the equation and muttered "Sorry, I'll be right back. I need to… to…" Without another word, and without any consideration of the protests her friends made, she stepped out of the living room. But unbeknownst to the others, she had merely hidden in the corridor to eavesdrop on their conversation.

"What's the matter with Pinkie Pie? I can't believe she wouldn't even stay to chat with us" Rarity admitted. Maud then intervened and explained "Don't worry about Pinkie Pie. She's been going through a lot for a while now; but don't tell her I said that". "Too late" Pinkie Pie thought to herself, before listening closer.

Her friends had apparently started whispering amongst eachother, but Pinkie Pie could clearly understand what was discussed. "But what should we do about her Birthday Party?" Maud questioned. "That's right!" Pinkie Pie gasped in sudden realisation, "It is my Birthday today!" However, instead of finding any hint of pleasure in this discovery, she didn't feel anything. No emotion was felt from this discovery, and Pinkie Pie felt disappointed in herself for this fact.

Her memory swept her back to last year's birthday party, and she shuddered from the events that occurred during it. It was the first time she had unleashed the hidden emotions she had bottled up inside her ever since arriving in Ponyville, as well as the first time her sanity truly began to crumble, resulting in her belief of abandonment by her companions.

She truly did lose her mind that day, and forced herself to fashion new friends out of inanimate objects. If Rainbow Dash hadn't visited her to question her wellbeing, what may have happened to her since then was unfathomable. And if that's what became of her during that birthday, she dreaded what would unfold during this one.

She continued to listen and found that they had moved on to a new topic; yesterday's embarrassing incident at the café. "She was so upset, she wouldn't even open her eyes. I never thought that she would take it that seriously" Rainbow Dash admitted guiltily. "But, yeah… Now everypony in town knows about it. And they're all actually really worried about her". Twilight added "Yeah, everypony knows something's wrong and really want to help. Some of the staff in the café told me that they felt so sorry for her".

Pinkie Pie bit her lip and tensed at just how wrong that last sentence sounded to her, as she felt that she shouldn't require any sympathy for her actions. Despite this, she was astounded that so many of her associates, a majority being little more than strangers, were so concerned for her. She smiled weakly as a single tear escaped her eye, before she hesitantly wiped her eyes clean and refocused her attention.

The conversation had apparently ended, as she could hear the living room's occupants leave their seats and make their way towards the door. Before they could pass through, however, Pinkie Pie stepped before them and blocked their path, surprising them by her sudden appearance. She looked upon them and confessed "I… need to tell… you girls something". They didn't reply and simply awaited her announcement, this generous attention only making it more painful for her to speak.

"I don't… want a birthday party".

This confession was so unexpected, it practically grinded time itself to a screeching halt. "WHAT!?" her friends screamed in unison, Pinkie Pie bowing her head guiltily for her comment. "Yes. I know" Pinkie Pie explained, before adding "It's just… It won't be worth it". Rainbow Dash stepped forward and shouted "How can you say something like that!? You're our friend, Pinkie Pie! It'll always be worth it!" Pinkie Pie gritted her teeth in frustration and answered "No. It won't".

This was going nowhere; and upon this realisation, Pinkie Pie simply turned away from her friends and staggered her way upstairs to her bedroom. Her friends were astounded by her abrupt exit, only to be surprised even further by her final words on the matter; "Tell everypony the truth about me. They deserve to know". Maud Pie's jaw hung open and Pinkie Pie continued to her bedroom and locked herself inside, entrapping herself from the rest of the world.

She climbed onto her bed and sat quietly to herself for the following hours. She suspected that her friends were preparing a party downstairs, but couldn't hear any indication of such actions from outside her bedroom. "Why would you say that?" repeated within her mind, though she had no answer; no excuse for her disconnected nature, and she understood this fact with clarity. "Why would you say that?" was heard one final time; though a specific, peculiar aspect of this question caught her attention.

It was Pinkamena that was asking.

Pinkie Pie had reawakened her alternate personality with her negative attitude; but surprisingly, this return of her uncompassionate shadow was exactly what she wanted. "I can't believe you don't want a birthday party!" Pinkamena echoed within her subconscious. "It's all your fault, you know. … My fault? How's this my fault? … Everypony's going to know about you now. … WHAT! How?! … My friends are going to tell everypony about us. I told them to!"

Pinkamena suddenly screamed "WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT!? I've always cared about you, Pinkie Pie; only because nopony else would! … You're wrong! They'll always care for me! … They never would care for you, and they never will! I hate them all for what they do to you! I'll never put you in any danger like they will! So why do you always ignore me when I'm trying to help you!?" Pinkamena roared furiously. After an unnerving period of silence, Pinkie Pie lay her head on the pillow and sighed, her face devoid of any emotion.

"I give up".

---

"You what?" Pinkamena questioned in confusion; "I'm done. … What does that mean? … I've had enough of this; having absolutely no choice but to lose control of myself and putting everypony in danger". Pinkamena furrowed her eyebrows in suspicion, curious of how this explanation would eventually conclude. She then asked "So… what are you going to do? ... … … Pinkie Pie?" Pinkamena clutched her head as her eyes widened, exclaiming "Pinkie Pie, what are you gonna do!? … Nothing".

Pinkamena sighed with relief to hear her voice after a periodic silence, but remained confused by her alternate persona's comment. "Nothing? … Nothing at all. You can do whatever you like" Pinkie Pie explained. Pinkamena could sense the lack of generosity in her offering, prompting her to question Pinkie Pie's intentions further. "I can? … You can take over whenever you want to now. We can go wherever, do whatever, and attack whoever you choose". Pinkie Pie gritted her teeth as she failed to hold back her tears.

"You can call the shots now, Pinkamena. You're the dominant personality now".

Pinkamena's heart dropped from these words, before she screamed "What!? Pinkie Pie, you can't say that! Don't say something like that! … I don't even care about what happens to anypony anymore. … Pinkie Pie, why are you doing this?! … You can do everything, and I'll be here to support you. … Pinkie Pie! Stop that!" Pinkamena leapt out of the bed and paced around the bedroom, trying her hardest to talk some sense into her alter ego.

"I don't want to be the dominant personality! Pinkie Pie, why are you doing this!? … What else can I possibly do? Either you take over, I take over, or we just be friends again. … But you don't actually want to be friends with me, do you? … I have no choice". Pinkamena gasped as she fell to her knees in despair, dumbfounded by these final words. "I have no choice", these words managed to squeeze a tear from Pinkamena's eye.

"What's happened to you, cherub? You're not the same cherub I knew before. … I know. I used to be really stupid. … And you really do want me… as the dominant mind? … It doesn't matter what I want. Not anymore, anyway. … Don't say that! … If you want us to be friends, then I'm fine with that. … But we're not friends! Not real friends! … I'll give you complete control of my body, Pinkamena; but I don't want to control it anymore. … PINKIE PIE, STOP! … If you give it back to me at any time, I'll just wait for you to take it again. … NO! DON'T DO THIS. PLEASE!"

Pinkamena was beginning to panic, scared for not only her original personality's sake, but also for their relationship from this moment onward. However, while considering these thoughts, after all this time and trouble she had caused for herself and others, Pinkamena had finally found clarity. She considered her friend's previous phrase for a second time; "I have no choice".

All this time, she truly did force Pinkie Pie to be friends with her again, though the latter constantly rejected it and attempted to supress her. Despite this constant rejection, she obliviously persisted in her own goal and attempted to antagonize Pinkie Pie's friends to gain her favor; and yet, it still wasn't enough to win Pinkie Pie's allegiance. In the end, Pinkie Pie really did have no choice over her own life ever since she came back; and as a result, she had practically destroyed Pinkie Pie and left her as nothing more than a broken, submissive ghost of her former self.

She then considered the heartbreaking anguish that Pinkie Pie would forevermore have to suffer because of her, simply because Pinkie Pie had no real choice but to accept her torment anyway. Being forced, whilst simultaneously forcing herself, to simply watch and grieve for her former friends as her dominant personality continued in her place. Was taking over Pinkie Pie's mind truly what Pinkie Pie actually wanted of Pinkamena? Was it worth it? Would it be worth it?

No it wouldn't.

"I'll leave you alone, Pinkie Pie" Pinkamena quietly stated. Pinkie Pie opened her eyes and stared upwards, asking "What was that?" "I said I'll leave you alone. That's really what you want, isn't it?" Pinkamena asked. Pinkie Pie barely pondered the question before she had her answer and responded "Y-yes it is" meekly. "Okay; then I'll go away" Pinkamena concluded before adding "I really did want us to be friends, y'know. But I think I would've been the worst friend ever".

Pinkie Pie arose from the floor as Pinkamena continued "I never let you decide anything, and now I see what I've been doing to you". By this time, Pinkie Pie's chest radiated warmly and her heartbeat increased, her energy returning at a rapid rate. "I'm not important to you, Pinkie Pie. I'm just an imaginary friend that you became too attached to". "Yes… you are" was all Pinkie Pie could say, the misery of this swiftly concluding battle beginning to take its effect.

"Then you really never needed me at all, and you still don't. I'm sorry about your friends, by the way; but I genuinely did believe that they were to blame for your problems". Pinkie Pie laid her back against the wall and panted exhaustedly, her increasing body temperature beginning to take its toll. "I'll stop taking over; ruining your life. You'll never have to deal with me again" Pinkamena informed in a soft, hurt tone.

Oddly, Pinkie Pie smiled warmly and admitted "For what it's worth, it was fun having you as my friend when I was a filly, Pinkamena", hoping to shed light on this dark atmosphere. "Thanks, cherub. It was good to be with you again, even if it was for the wrong reasons". Pinkie Pie smiled warmly as her mind felt less clouded, and her muscles less strained. Soon, all she could hear was Pinkamena's infamous cackle, which echoed softly through her mind before fading into silence.

It was finally all over.

Pinkie Pie fell forward and landed on her front hooves, exhaling a long, withdrawn sigh. A great weight had just been lifted, and she could practically feel it as it relieved her of its whim. Her unmistakable, uplifting smile had finally returned as she recollected the previous events, insurmountably pleased that her cheerful attitude had begun to remanifest as a result. She filled with delight as she considered these thoughts, feeling more alive than she had ever felt in the past year.

"I'm actually… happy again" she muttered before hugging herself with joy, "It feels so good to be myself again!" She stepped through her bedroom door and was prepared to strut her way down the stairs, only to find an obstacle impeding her progress; an obstacle in the form of her sister. "Pinkie Pie, what happened? Are you alright?" Maud asked with concern, before she noticed her sister's joyful facial expression. Suddenly, Pinkie Pie ensnared Maud in a hug, screaming "She's gone! SHE'S ACTUALLY GONE NOW!"

"What!? Who?" Maud gasped, before Pinkie Pie released her swiftly suffocating sister. "Pinkamena! She's gone! I got rid of her!" "What!?" came a cry from downstairs, followed by the loudening sound of hoofsteps approaching the siblings. Twilight was the first on the scene, shouting "Wait! Pinkamena's gone!? Gone for good?!" "Yep!" Pinkie Pie beamed proudly. "She's never coming back!" Applejack arrived next, questioning thoughtfully "You mean… never ever coming back?" Pinkie Pie giggled joyfully and held Applejack's cheeks; "Never ever again!"

Finally, the rest of the gang joined her on the stairs, Rainbow Dash stepping in front of the others and standing before her best friend. "Are you ready, Pinkie Pie?" she asked, a smug look on her face. Pinkie Pie tilted her head and raised an eyebrow quizzically, "Ready? What for?" the gang looked at eachother, the same smug grins spread across their cheeks.

Rainbow Dash held out a blindfold and answered "It's a surprise". Without another word, the blindfold was wrapped over Pinkie Pie's field of vision and tied in a knot behind her head, hindering Pinkie Pie's sense of direction by an extreme quantity. Thankfully, her friends were more than willing to make up for it with their guidance, leading her down the stairs and through the corridor.

Pinkie Pie's excitement grew with every passing second, her imagination running wild of what 'surprise' awaited her. She was finally stopped outside the lounge room, her excitement reaching its peak. The blindfold was slowly being lifted away. Here it comes.

"SURPRISE!"

The End.