Court Jester

Chapter 2: last call

“I’ve never found the answer to any problems at the bottom of bottle!”

“well I’ve never found one in a fortune cookie. You so quick to judge do you know me? Do you know the things I’ve seen, the things I’ve done. I expect people like you to find comfort in your friends and family now tell me: What happens when their all dead?”

He calmly got up and left the bar the man sat for a long time before putting a fifty dollar bill on the bar, “keep the change.”

Twilight’s friends had started to get worried Twilight had been gone for almost 2 hours. “I told you something was wrong!” Rarity finally broke the silence.

“Ya, I... I think we should look for her,” Fluttershy quietly agreed. “She has been gone for a long time.”

“I’m not worried,” Rainbow tried and failed to sound detached. “But, uh... if you really want me to I’ll go look for her. For you of course.”

“I’m sure she’s just... getting ready,” Pinkie tried to calm everyone down. This would have worked if her hair had not visibly reduced in puff and gotten considerably less pink.

“Yaw, shoot I’ll bet she’s right ‘round the corner,” Applejack’s words very different from her voice. “I’m sure she’s right ‘round here somewhere. But, uh... I'll go with Rainbow jus’ cuz I... need... some... air!” She never did get better at lying especially to her friends.

“Well if your both going I’d like to go,” Fluttershy mumbled, “I... uh.... really need the... fresh air.”

Pinkie spoke still a little deflated, “um, and I need to go make sure the shop is alright.”

“I suppose if everypony is going I could go with Pinkie.” Rarity rolled her eyes very unbelievably.

The groups set out Fluttershy, Rainbow, and Applejack headed south. Rarity and Pinkie headed north both groups quite as they walked. “I’m going to head toward the book shop, Fluttershy you go towards the forest, and AJ you head to the farm meet back at the library in a half hour ok?” Rainbow gave the orders sounding awfully like a drill pony.

“Sounds good.” Applejack headed off.

“Um, okay that's... uh fine... Rainbow.” She gave Rainbow one last look that said ‘don’t do what I think you’re going to do.’ She was the only one who knew, Rainbow’s oldest friend the one that she had known since Cloudsdale. The only response she could muster from the guilt was a simple nod. She did however; fly towards the book store for awhile. She struggled for as long as she could but there was no way around it she had been empty for a long time now. She made absolutely sure Fluttershy was not around before she headed toward Sugar Cube Corner.

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Pinkie and Rarity headed toward Sugar Cube Corner they were supposes to search for Twilight but, had less ground to cover so they decided to get something to eat first. They both had nothing more than a cookie even though they both could stand to eat much more. They simply sat quietly and ate even Pinkie seemed to have nothing to say. “Delightful pasties.”

“What are we doing!? Rarity we need to look for Twilight!” Pinkie jumped up and ran out the door she was headed east. Rarity sighed she left the bakery and watch pinkie run not bound away she was truly concerned for her friend. After Pinkie rounded a corner and ran out of view Rarity headed west. She had a feeling this was going to be a long night.

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Rainbow looked down at Sugar Cube Corner though she felt guilty she could disperse her demons. She had given in to that terrible memory again and she lived it again and again. She wandered into the bar wanting nothing more than to forget what it meant to be living.

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Fluttershy wandered across the sky searching for her friend she wondering where she could be. The Everfree Forest was approaching faster and faster and she would soon run out of time and have to turn around and head back to the library.

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Applejack searched through the fields headed to her barn and home. She wanted to lay down and sleep after all this had been taken care of. She had other problems right now though and had to track her friend down and bring her home.

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Pinkie wondered the streets and was deeply concerned for her friend “Oh, Twilight where are you?” She had to find her and bring her back safely she didn’t know what she would do if she couldn’t find Twilight she had grown fond of the pony after all.

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Rarity wandered the streets and hoped her instincts were wrong. They were telling her that her friend was in trouble and needed her help but, no matter what she did nothing was going to work. “Twilight!” she called every now and again, “where are you my dear,” she wondered.

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Rainbow had her third drink, then decided that was enough it numbed the pain but it was not enough to get her drunk. She decided to leave the bar with what was in her head now silenced she was under control. She left to continue the search from her friend she pushed the door open and took a step outside. She smelled the cool night air and watched Luna’s beautiful moon for about 5 minutes before taking off. “One who puts on the brave face for everyone can be seen through by those who are loyal to you. But, when loyalty is challenged by fear friends can turn... Hehehe.” Rainbow looked around but found no one anywhere everypony seemed to have disappeared.

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Fluttershy was nearly there only about 100 yards till she reached the Everfree Forest she didn’t like getting so close. ‘This is for Twilight’ she kept telling herself as she got closer and closer to `the forest. She hated that place she never liked going there and she avoided it at all cost. “She wouldn’t have gone into the Everfree Forest,” she kept telling herself. She did finally reach the edge of the unnatural place. “Living in fear is no way to live, life is what you make of it. Kindness is a trait not a consumption... Hehehe.” Just then she saw what looked like Angel Bunny go into the forest, she didn’t like it, but she followed him in no matter where the voice came from.

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Applejack was almost home just around the corner and she would be there it was almost in her grasp. She was so close no much further she loved the sweet night air mixed with apples. She lived for the moments like this there was nothing better in all of Equestria. ”One more turn then ah’ll see mah home,” she thought aloud. She took one long breath of night air in and, she smelt it... fire not a small one either it couldn’t be far. She ran now fast as her legs could carry her nothing else mattered she needed to help her family. “Honesty run deep and lies even deeper. There is a difference between what we need and what we get... Hehehe.” Applejack didn’t have time to care as she rounded the corner her fear confirmed the barn was burning.

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Pinkie desperately wanted to find her friend if for nothing else then to get on with the party. She no longer bounced down the street instead she ran she wanted to party but, she wanted to find her friend more. She knew how to party but she also knew when a friend was in trouble. Well, she didn’t actually know Twilight was in trouble but she was pretty sure. Just then she had three ear flops in a row. She ran faster searching for her friend, that was the Pinkie Sense for a friend it trouble. She ran and ran her endless energy supply was starting to become depleted she felt empty. She was forced to slow down, “What happened? This has never happened before.”

“One who never slows down never sees what life has to hold for them. They never slow down for those who need her... Hehehe.” Pinkie then saw somepony round the corner up ahead she chased after it she was happy to just see anypony.

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Rarity walked through the streets she was concerned for her friend but she knew she would be alright so there was no need to get sweaty for the whole occasion. She tried to think like Twilight where would I go or hide? She went to check out the quill and scroll shop and no one was there. She checked a few other shops that she thought Twilight might go into all closed. She wondered where the pony might be at this time of night. Everything was closed, absolutely everything and nopony was anywhere to be seen. She was confused about this but she still needed to find her friend. “She who needs everything correct will be disappointed when she fails. The difference is she must be able to pick herself back up... Hehehe.” Rarity was caught off guard but could have sworn she saw a white and purple pony run around the corner.

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Rainbow searched the whole town nopony was anywhere she was searching for her friend any of them really and found none. “Twilight, Fluttershy, Pinkie, Rarity, Applejack!” Nopony could hear her nopony was even around to hear her she started to grow desperate. She searched everywhere every shop, house, gathering place, everywhere. No one was around, “where did everyone go? Did I miss something?” Rainbow flew over the town and found nopony anywhere.

“What does loyalty do when no one is left to be loyal to?” A course voice spoke in her head and she wondered where it had come from. “Listen Rainbow you are now a part of the test. You must not drink any alcohol no matter what happens that is the only rule. If you do not pass then you will relive the memory for the rest of your life every minute of every day. Think of this as a challenge Rainbow you love to compete. If not think of this as rehab with great challenges and a lot of pain. That is the last I can tell to you goodbye Rainbow and good luck.” As soon as the voice left she had the memory forced into her mind she watched it play like a move.

She thought of what the voice was saying then headed to the bar. She wasn’t about to give in yet but, she might get some more answers there she didn’t know. She walked through the door to find her bar tender he looked... different. He had a huge grin on his face he never smiled never he had been in the war; seen things nopony could have ever wanted even on their worst enemy. “Welcome, Rainbow Dash,” now that was weird he spoke... warmly and welcoming. “ You are just on time. Here's the deal: you get to go back to that day. Every time you want to go back just ask me there’s a catch though, every time you go back you gain more of a need you’ll have to get rid of it. If you know what you mean.” He said with a wink, “same rules as before apply got it? Oh ya I’m allowed to answer a few questions as well.”

“Uh, okay, Shot,” Rainbow spoke very slowly at first. “What the hay, is going on?”

“You are currently part of ‘the test’.” He spoke coldly that was the only thing that was normal about him right now. This was weird just... strange she felt like she had been teleported to some strange new universe and everything had gone screw ball.

“What is the test?” Rainbow was confused and had about a million questions.

“It is a test designed to help you learn something I am not allowed to tell you what.”

“How do I ‘win’?”

“You must learn what you have been sent here to learn, once again I am not allowed to tell you what that is.”

“What happens if I lose?”

“Your friends will all leave, your memory will fester in your mind, you will become cold and uncaring, and you will become your own personal nightmare.” That made Rainbow stop in her tracks she had no idea it was this serious. This contest would make her or break her as a person.

“What can I expect when I get there?”

“You will relive that day as many times as it takes for you to either ‘win,’” he said it nearly sarcastically. “Or, you drink.”

Rainbow was done with the questions she had been over this in her head a million times she knew exactly what she had to do. “Do it.” Rainbow said determined to beat the game.

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Fluttershy was flying over the Everfree Forest searching for her dearly beloved pet. Angle Bunny was nowhere to be found no little cotton ball she loved that rabbit. “Where did she go?” Fluttershy didn’t know if she would even be able to go into the forest to help her friend. She was so terrified of the forest she would shriek even if a tree moved in the breeze. “Why am I such a scaredy pony,” she wondered to herself. She knew she would do just about anything for her friends but she was scared all the time.

“Kindness is a virtue many can lack.” Fluttershy nearly screamed, “listen Fluttershy, you are now a part of the test. You must learn to face your fears even if you don’t want to. Fears a weakness it can be exploited to hurt you or your friends. Your goal is to find your friend there you have one hour. The only rule is no flying you’re going to have to walk through the forest. I suggest you land now. If you fail your fear will engulf you it will consume you it will become you.”

“Wait! What’s going on here?” Fluttershy frantically asked. “What am I supposed to do? What do you want? What does consumed by fear mean?”

Her wings seemed to evaporate she fell toward the ground moving faster and faster screaming the whole way. She managed to crash into branches on her way down each felt like a whip. It stung and the pain was almost unbearable but it probably saved her life. She hit the ground with a dull thud and struggled to her feet, every part of her body ached. “I... I guess I’m supposed to find Angle,” she ran her gaze over everything searching for something to hurt her or harm her. She saw nothing and eventually set out on her way to find her small friend, “I hope Angle’s ok.”

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Applejack ran faster than she had during the Running of the Leaves she pushed herself beyond what she thought she was capable of. She had the fear of god running through her veins and it felt like fire. She could smell something big burning she didn’t want to admit what she thought it was as she pushed herself father. She was almost around the last corner she was almost there she could put it out it would be fine she kept telling herself.

“Honesty is as good to you as others.” Applejack was too upset to really notice, “Listen Applejack you are not a part of the test. Those who are truthful to other have to be more truthful to them. The hardest way to accept a bad truth is to hear it from yourself. You have to learn to stop lying to yourself AJ; or you’ll never be able to tell anypony the truth again not even yourself.”

Applejack didn’t have time to pay attention to silly voices in her head she had to get to the farm. “Faster Applejack faster!” She was yelling at herself she knew she needed to help them. She was there she rounded the corner and looked up expecting to see the barn engulfed in flames. She finally figured out what that crazy voice was talking about as she looked up to the same turn she had just taken. She stopped and started to turn around only to see the same thing in the other direction. She screamed in anger, “What duh ya think yer doin’!? Lemme help mah kin!” She ran toward the same turn and took it only to reveal the same mirror effect. “Lemme go!” She was furious more so than she had ever been in her entire life.

She ran and ran taking the turn over and over nothing seemed to change. She began to think how to go around this obstacle and came up with nothing. “Think Applejack, What would Twilight do?”

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Pinkie ran after her friend as fast as she could and was catching up. "Twilight!" Pinkie chased after her friend as quickly as possible. "Why is she running away? Does she think this is a game?" Pinkie was confused but needed to catch her friend. She was gaining on Twilight she would catch her soon. Around and around Twilight ran with no specific direction. Twilight took one corner especially hard and ran into the town hall building Pinkie seconds behind.

"Laughter is not always the best medicine." Pinkie froze with hoof on the door, "listen Pinkie you are now a part of the test. You seem to enjoy fun things because you have had a very hard life before Ponyville. Sometimes you have to be serious. Laughter can fill the cracks but you need to repair them." Pinkie was confused.

She looked around to who had said these things to her but found no pony. "What is that support to mean?" She wondered thinking back to her farm the good and bad times. She loved her parents and sisters very much. Her dad always pushed her to do better. Her mother taught her to be lady like. Her sisters had taught her to play pranks.

She always felt she had been close to her family though they always did was felt like the hardest work in Equestria. Her father always told her somepony had to do why not them. She snapped back to reality, "I need to find Twilight!"

She burst through the door and saw Twilight. She gave her a sickly smile and went into one of the side rooms. Pinkie had a bad feeling as she approached the door. She though back to what she had heard and that strange smile. She slowly opened the door and her mouth dropped open at what stood before her. "H-h-how?" She simply stared at what was behind that dreaded door.

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Rarity chased after her sister around the corner, “Sweetie belle!” She was concerned because she was supposed to be spending the night with Scootaloo. She was wondering what was going on as she chased her younger sister street to street. She rounded the corner to find Scootaloo now running from her. “What is happening?” She wondered as she ran to her sister’s friend who also turned and ran from her. They seemed to be playing a trick on her and she wondered what they were planning as she rounded the corner to see Applebloom. She was starting to get angry as she chased after the new pony.

“Generosity is not always as easy as it seems.” Rarity was too overly concerned with the three ponies but, still listened a bit. “Your selfishness led to a big mistake. That’s why you give so much to your friends and to your sister. You gave everything to the flame and have nothing left. You can’t just give everything away or you become hollow. You can feel it grow to consume you leaving nothing but ash left.”

Rarity stopped dead in her tracks. She knew what this voice was talking about something she had tried to keep from everypony. She had tried but one of the people in her life knew, and only one. She had tried to avoid it all this time-

“Your dumb big sister.” Sweetie belle had the strangest look on her face she had ever seen. It was like she had a smile that said: run, stay, and hide all at the same time. “What, sis? Is there a problem something you need to get off your chest?” Rarity opened her mouth to say something and Sweetybelle took off like a shot. “You’ll have to catch me first!”

Rarity charged after her sister tears streaming from her eyes. “What is happening?” echoed over and over in her mind like yelling in a glass box. It seemed to reverberate from every angle no matter what she tried to get it out of her mind.

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Rainbow’s head felt like it was going to explode every part of her body ached her mind seemed to have a fog thicker than cake batter. She was vaguely aware she wasn’t in Ponyville anymore. More like being thrown through air at about a million miles a minute. She shook her head and started to fly up her vision was still blurred. But she was back never the less she knew what was happening. Her stepfather had just tried to kill her.

She had not liked him since day one her used to beat Rainbow’s mother. She remembered that day the first day he seemed like he was nice nothing out of the ordinary.

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“Rainbow!” The voice of a pony who had found a light in a dark tunnel. That tunnel was their life she had been running out of time on the mortgage and she was struggling to keep food on the table. Rainbow couldn’t afford most of the school supplies needed most ponies wouldn’t even look at her. Thank god for Fluttershy or she would have been out of school. “I have somepony I want you to meet!” Her mother broke through the hate and loathing that was in her head at that moment.

Rainbow trotted down the stairs head hung low and not wanting to comply with her mother’s demands. The light was brighter than she would have liked. It clashed with her currently black mane and grey coat. “Rainbow I told you not to dye your mane again.” Helena, her mother, sighed but continued, “I want you to meet Jack.” A stallion gave her a bright smile. He wasn’t even a pegasus he was a unicorn they had started to become more and more popular up here. His eyes seemed endless and void they were a dark blue that seemed to have little beyond except for thought. His coat was dull grey like concrete and his mane was a jet black cut very short. He didn’t even have a mark which Rainbow thought was weird. His grin looked like it had been cut out of a magazine it seemed to shine brighter than light.

“Hey,” Rainbow was distant Couldsdale may have been her home but she was not dumb enough to trust everypony. She didn’t recognize this one though he seemed... off like he didn’t belong. He was the piece of the puzzle that didn’t quite fit it may have been close but it never actually did. Something was definitely different from this pony he seemed like her understood things normal ponies would not.

“Hello, it’s great to meet you.” His grin holding strong and his voice powerful and commanding. “Your mother has told me a lot about you.”

“Cool,” Rainbow was not one for small talk. She didn’t like talk of any kind for that matter she didn’t like people. She had one friend Fluttershy other than that Cloudsdale was nothing to her. Nothing was anything to her. Her life was just a hole as far as she was concerned everything could go to hell. There wasn’t a point for anything so who cared life was so endless nothing meant anything to anypony.

“So Rainbow...” Her voice trailed off and Rainbow could take a guess at what was coming next. “He’s going to be... moving in at least for the time being.” Not abnormal her mother had many cultfriends since her dad. She really didn’t mind having them around she simply knew not to get attached because they usually left shortly after.

“I just know we are going to get along just great Rainbow.” Something felt off again but Rainbow shrugged it off as she headed back up stairs.

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The wedding was a small one nothing too fancy just a few ponies friends of her mother. Rainbow’s only friend didn’t like social gatherings. Jack didn’t seem to have too many friends he had moved from a country mostly in anarchy at this point. The wedding went off without a hitch no big disasters. Rainbow was somewhat disappointed about that part she loved to pull a good prank. Her mother had spent what seemed like an eternity last night begging not to pull any pranks and she finally agreed if for no more reason than to sleep.

They all sat around at the ceremony, then ate cake and danced, and then left. Nothing special, nothing big it was just a run of the mill low budget wedding. Rainbow was half expecting the whole thing to just blow over when she woke up the next morning. That however would seem to not be the case and it seemed that they would be ‘together forever’ in her mother’s words. Rainbow could careless she was almost done with school and could leave forever.

Then everything changed he seemed more distant even more than usual. He and his mother had a long fight it was more of a yelling contest. Then she heard it a single slapping noise it seemed to echo over everything. Her mother fell silent she simply was simply defeated something in her had snapped she didn’t care anymore she knew right then how dangerous Jack was. She took it for two years for Rainbow she had failed in her step-father so now all she could do was try to keep her safe. It worked for two years Jack never even seemed to look at Rainbow he simply beat on her mother. Rainbow was more than usually locked in her room during the whole time even if she tried to break the door down it was enchanted.

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Then, that day came that terrible day when everything about this strange pony had become clear. He came home a little later than usual it was almost two years on the dot a little over by about a month. He was furious he had just lost his job because he had an early beat down session on Helena. He of course blamed her for the whole ordeal he was so furious he forgot to even enchant Rainbow’s door almost a big mistake. He hit her harder than usual only twice before he was hit in the back of the head. He fell to the floor head spinning and even more enraged. He turned to face Rainbow her courage immediately gone. A single hard hoof print was left on her face as her head hit the cabinet she was knocked into. The next thing she knew she was falling.

She screeched toward her house. The mistake she had made the first time around was that she had tried to get her head in order. She knew she had to just get back and everything would be fine she could save her mother and they would both flee to Ponyville. Everything was fine and even if she had to fight that son of a bitch she would.

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Fluttershy practically jumped from tree to tree. Every move seemed to be eons away from the next. Hiding behind each one she was so deathly terrified she shook violently. Each breath a gasp but still the forest didn’t make a noise. Her teeth were chattering so badly they could probably be heard from nearly ten hooves away. She didn’t want to keep going but she knew she had to. Angle though he was tough but he was just a bunny he would need help to get out of here. She felt like just collapsing and waiting for all this to go away but she knew she had to keep going.

“Boo!” Fluttershy jumped higher faster than even Rainbow Dash could take off. She was running she didn’t care what she was running from she was just running. She ran farther and farther into the forest until she couldn’t run anymore she collapsed deeper in the forest than anypony had ever gone before. She found a cake that was just big enough to hide in and she did she couldn’t run anymore even if whatever it was that had scared her was right on top of her. “You sure can run!”

She used the last of her strength to slowly turn herself expecting death or certain doom. She saw nopony there who was it that was talking then? She looked all around but found nothing out of the order. “W-w-w... who’s th-there?” Fluttershy was praying she didn’t hear a response.

“I’m your mind... well more like your subconscious... sort of. I wasn't told what part of your mind I am I was told I just need to... enlighten you?” The voice sounded like her own but it was a little bit duller like when she had been changed by Discord.

“O-oh okay, so what are you... enlightening me on?”

“Your very kind Fluttershy but- I’m not allowed to tell you... sorry! I just want you to know that I exist and I’m going to try to hurt you.” The voice simply sounded... happy about this.

“W-what?” Fluttershy was startled hearing this from her own head. Why would she want to hurt herself and then not tell her why?

“Well more like I’m going to try to get you to hurt yourself and your friends.” The voice seemed completely unfazed by what it was saying. “It’s for the best... apparently.”

“Why?!” Fluttershy screamed at the top of her lungs.

“Well... I’m... not... allowed... to... tell.” It definitely seemed to be getting orders from somewhere. “I am sorry I have to lie to you or is it me?”

“O-oh well that’s okay I guess.” Fluttershy felt like she had just had all her sense slapped out of her. She didn’t know what to make of this whole thing. She simply sat for a moment thinking to herself. “So how does this work?” She asked after about three minutes of thinking.

“Okay here are the rules: I can’t tell what you’re thinking, you can’t tell what I’m thinking, and I’m going to try to control you. The deal is that I am going to do everything in my power to hurt you and your little bunny friend.” The mean part of her was nearly laughing. “Oh yeah, and I know where the bunny is you have to to convince me not to harm the bunny by the time we get there or you fail ‘the test’.”

Fluttershy thought of what this meant for about a minute. “What is ‘the test?’”

“It’s a test to... I’m not supposed to tell you. And your next question will be who is holding this test am I correct?” Fluttershy simply nodded. “And I’m not allowed to tell you that either.” She kept Fluttershy was being kept in the dark for a reason though she didn’t know why. Nothing made sense anymore the whole world had been turned upside down. She didn’t know what to say or how to begin.

“Shall we begin? If you have no more questions that is.” The other part of her seemed to start getting annoyed a little.

“Um... I guess so...” Fluttershy was trying to brace for whatever came next she had no Idea what was going to happen. She was terrified that she would do something she would later regret and would never forgive herself for.

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Applejack ran turn after turn after turn there was no way out of this mess. The hills of both side were too steep to climb. That was strange as well they were not normally that tall either. There was something going on here and she was determined to figure out what after she saved the barn. She just had to keep running faster and faster. She was pushing herself more than the Falling of the Leaves but, she knew she couldn’t keep it up for long and she would start to slow down soon. She gasped for air each step felt like she was moving a mountain.

“You seem to need some help.” Applejack was focused and hardly noticed the voice that was now speaking to her. “Applejack you’d better think smarter not harder.” It sounded like Big Macintosh but he wasn’t fast enough to keep with her at this speed. She finally stopped and looked around but no pony was there.

“What the hay?” Applejack was confused and was about to start running again.

“Listen Applejack you have to work smarter not harder.” It was definitely Big Macintosh but he was nowhere to be seen. “I’m not allowed to tell you a lot but, your workin’ harder than ya need tah.”

“And what the hay is that supposed to mean?” Applejack was confused and was getting angry. “What am I supposed to do?” She was getting more and more upset. She was tired, confused, determined, and afraid.

“Remember what the first guy said I can’t tell you more and I have to go... I’m sorry AJ. Get out safe.” And just like that Big Macintosh was gone.

“Great... just great... now what am I supposed to do?” She tried to remember what the voice had said. Her head was turned upside down the world seemed to be crumbling beneath her. She was trying to cling to the last shred of anything that made sense. “What is happening?” She wondered what she had to do. She was lost in her own head searching for answers.

She searched her memory and remembered what, for the most part, the voice had said. “How the hay is that supposed to help me?” She tried to think but everything made it nearly impossible. A combination of: the smoke, the worry, the anger, and the fear made thought nearly impossible. She took a few deep breaths trying desperately to clear her head. She eventually sat down and kept breathing deeply nothing seemed to work. She decided to try and think through the problems around her.

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Pinkie was staring into the thing that rocked her to her very core. She had so many emotions flood her at once; the biggest being dread. She was staring at the one thing she had never expected to see again: her parents. She had learned to smile on the rock farm but, she had left after he parents had passed. They were only about a years apart they just... got old. Her father had died in his sleep very peacefully. Her mother’s heart had given out when Pinkie was out getting ready for her birthday party that was just a week away.

They didn’t have any other relatives and only a few friends so the funeral was small her sisters stayed to run the farm. About three months later Pinkie felt that it was her time to move on. She wasn’t much for grieving and she had become nearly completely gray. She had hair flatter than a table top. Nothing seemed to bring her joy anymore she was just going to walk she decided. Just walk and walk till she couldn’t walk anymore that was the plan. She had given up and at least her sisters wouldn’t have to mourn for her as well.

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She had never actually expected to find a new home she expected to just walk forever. Pinkie was never any good with grieving she had just started to get over her dad when her mom passed. She had that guilt hanging on to her forever never expecting to get rid of it. Her parents would have been so disappointed.

She finally collapsed after about three days of walking. She managed to roll onto her back and stare at the sky it was so beautiful. The clouds were like cotton balls and the blue was so clear to her left. To her right the moon was about to sprout and the sky was a wonderful orange and red. If she squinted it seemed like the atmosphere was on fire. She started to fade into the void that was nothingness she was about to see her parents she could hear them calling her. It was all so peaceful her vision started to fade black. She felt numb but at the same time at peace was so surreal. The last thing she saw before blacking out was a ruffled and messy main, a pair of wings, she also vaguely remembered yelling.

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Rainbow had saved her life she had been flying from Cloudsdale to find a home and ponyville was the only place around that had a hospital it made sense.  “Pinkie Diane Pie,” her mother was first to speak it seemed weaker than it had in life. “It’s been so long since we have seen you, how have you been?”

Pinkie didn’t know how to respond at first. “U-u-u-uh h-hi mom and dad,” her father gave her a nod that wasn’t cold he just never seemed to talk.

“We need to talk Pinkie.”

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“Sweetie belle!” Rarity ran and ran as fast as she could after her sister no longer concerned for Twilight or for herself for that matter. The guilt seemed to be pouring out of her. She remembered how she was never there for her sister when she really needed her. When her parents left on their very first trip and how Sweetie belle had been so sad she was younger than she had even been now. She wanted to help with everything and Rarity had just shoved her aside.

For a whole month after Sweetie belle said nothing to anypony. She just sat in her room and did nothing. She had been crushed she barely ate it was like she had given up. Rarity had done nothing to help either she had been so busy that month she hadn’t even noticed. Her parents informed her about a week after she had started to eat and speak again. She had felt horrible about it she had crushed a little filly and didn’t know how to make it up.

She was now chasing the same Filly who was running the opposite direction and had no idea how she was going to even start to apologize. She was just going to have to try; Sweetie belle really looked up to Rarity because their parents were gone so much of the year. They were always gone because of work or for recreation. She had never been much of a sister or a role model for anypony especially her sister.

Sweetie belle was important to her though she didn’t act like it she was very proud of her sister she was ambitious and she was determined. She was like herself at that age though she didn’t seem to understand design too well even though Rarity did. She seemed more like a singer just a little too shy. She was determined to make it up to her sister even if she didn’t know how she would figure something out.

They went around and around and around the town up ever street at least twice and they were then headed out of Ponyville. Rarity hardly noticed all she could even concern herself with was catching up with the smaller unicorn, and she was doing just that. She would be able to catch her sister using magic soon and then they would talk whether or not she liked it. She was about to be in range in about thirty seconds. Sweetie belle glanced over her shoulder and gave her sister that same sickly grin.

Rarity was determined and she knew whatever was happening for whatever reason Sweetie belle was not going to make this easy on her. She was finally able to cast a levitation spell o her sister cursing at herself for not practicing this spell from father distances. She didn’t want to hurt her after all. As gently as she could, she lifted her sister off her feet. “Now then Sweetie belle I have something I need to apologize to you for.”

“I don’t think so,” Sweetie belle said. Her horn flared a pink color and the levitation field was broken. Rarity was baffled she couldn’t cast magic yet! She was too young she would have just gotten a small sputter of sparks out of her horn. Rarity was now confused on top of everything. “Surprised, sis?” Sweetie belle said with a mocking tone. “You’re not going to get away that easy.” she said as she dashed off again. This was going to be an all night ordeal Rarity could tel but she knew what she had to do and she couldn’t give up.

The whole world seemed to be turning against Rarity as she ran after her sister yet again. She had a bad feeling about this whole thing. She remembered the voice and was getting upset there was going to be bigger problems tonight than catching her sister. Her life was like a piece of fabric she had frayed or slit and this was going to be one of the hardest test she would ever have to take in her entire life.

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“So what is your whole plan?”

“If I told you that would be no fun at all.” His grin spread teeth showing, “you don’t want to ruin the surprise do you? I’ll just let you sit back and relax for now.”

“You said you would tell me EVERYTHING!” He took another shot, “don’t you think you have had enough for one night? I don’t even know how you are still able to even sit up right!”

“Enough? I haven’t even started. This whole ordeal is like... a match. Just a single match in the middle of the match factory. This whole place will be up in flames and then a little more when I’m done with it.” His grin spread, “figuratively speaking of course.”

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Authors note: Well there’s chapter 2 hope you liked it. This is nothing though I have some big plans for this whole story and I imagine it will be interesting. I don’t want to give any spoilers I hope you all liked it. I think this knew character is going to be pretty cool though I don’t think anyone will be able to guess at this point what he does. I will tell you this new character is very important to the plot though keep an eye on him. Most characters and places belong to Hasbro aka: The greatest company ever.