Aragón…

The human, still vomiting sugar, couldn’t hear the pony. However, the sudden silence behind him was enough for him to know that something important was happening.

*Slaps Aragón with a red correction pen*

*PLAC!*

“Hng!” The human fell on his knees at the hit and continued throwing up. His cheek now had a red mark, and a red correction pen appeared on the floor.

*Places unbreakable pencil next to Aragón*

*Plic*

Aragón felt something inside his hand. With a gasp, the human stopped vomiting and breathed heavily, trying to recover from the experience. His throat was burning with the sweet flavor.
The author took the jug of water and started to drink. When he finished, still feeling sick, he turned to Pinkie.
“What’s…? What’s up, Pinkie?”

…Peewee.

“Peewee?”

Greentalk has Peewee –the Invisible Underlined Alicorn, that’s it. And Spike. Look… it’s all written here.

Aragón frowned and looked at the book Pinkie was pointing. It was a new one that he hadn’t seen before… but he recognized it.
“Oh, my.” Strangely, once the pain in his throat disappeared, he didn’t feel sick anymore. However, he didn’t notice it. His mind was completely concentrated on the new book. The title was very familiar. “That’s our story, right? Our fanfic… The one I started to write.”

That’s what I think, yes. And… Invisible Underlined Alicorn and Spike are…

“Yes?”

They are in danger!

Aragón frowned. “Huh. And you know that because…”

Because that’s what the book says!

The author sighed and approached the pink pony. “Where did you get that book?”

The… the readers sent it to me.

“The readers?”

Yes… sometimes, they throw things to us, and we can use it. They can also do things, like when they slapped you.

“Wait. They were the ones who slapped me?”

Yes…

Aragón sighed. “My God… Ok, forget it. Let me see that thing.” The human took the book and looked at the cover, and then he noticed he had something in his hand. “Ah? Hey, look, I have something too. A… pencil?”

You have something on your face too.

“Yeah. Somebody slapped me with a red connection pen.”

***

WHAT THE HELL IS THAT THING?!

I DON’T KNOW, BUT I THINK IT’S HUNGRY!

*Spider-like cat noise*

OH CELESTIA IT TALKED AGAIN! TWILIGHT, DO SOMETHING!

HEY, IT’S YOUR PET, THE READERS GIVE IT TO YOU! YOU’RE THE ONE WHO SHOULD DO SOMETHING!

*Spider-like cat noise, but this time angrier*

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!

*Puts Twilight in a maid outfit*

*Pling!*

AAAAAAARGH!

AAAAAAAA –Oh, nice dress! I’m not a fan of such outfits, but I must say that black goes with purple. Pretty charming. Hmmm… maybe you should change that ribbon, let me…

RARITY! DO YOU HONESTLY THINK THAT NOW IT’S THE TIME FOR THIS?!

I’m a fashionista, Twilight. Excuse me if I like to see my friends wearing a dress properly.

*Spider-like cat noise*

Oh, right. The abomination. Ejem.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!

***

Aragón sighed again. With a frown, the author closed the book which contained his adventures with the ponies.

…

The human looked at Pinkie. His once called co-author had tears in her eyes, her hair completely flat. She didn’t look like Pinkie-who-doesn’t-in-pink because her fur was still bright, but even a blind could have seen that the pony was extremely sad.

Greentalk is…

“Greentalk is f*beeep*ing with us”, interrupted Aragón. Oh! Let’s write a fanfic, let’s write a fanfic! I’ll call it “thesuperfantasticalstory” was a huge book, but neither Pinkie nor the human had read it completely. They had stopped after reading a chapter named Intemedio – Each word is important.
“We can’t be sure if this is real, Pinkie. Maybe Invisible Underlined Alicorn, or Peewee, or whoever he is is right and…”

I know that this is from the readers! I saw it! It had starly-like things and the words were all blackey and obscure, and…!

“If Greentalk is able to stop us like he did in the hospital, then he’s able to fake a book.” Aragón closed his eyes. “He… It is powerful enough. Maybe it wants us to believe that Peewee is being tortured, and…”

Then he’s powerful enough to be torturing Peewee for real! Our friend is suffering! I-I don’t know what Greentalk did to him, but he was screaming in pain and maybe now he’s dead and I don’t want him dead and…!

“Pinkie…”

And we don’t know where are Twilight and the others and maybe they’re being tortured too and we don’t know where is Spike AND I’M SCARED BECAUSE I DON’T WANT THEM TO SUFFER AND I DON’T KNOW WHERE ARE THEY AND I DON’T WANT TO READ THIS BOOK ANYMORE BECAUSEMAYBEITSAYSTHATMYFRIENDSARESUFFERINGMOREAND…!

“PINKIE!” screamed Aragón. “Calm down!”

BUT…!

“I know!” The author felt tears in his eyes. “I know that you’re right! I’m scared too!” Moving faster than ever, Aragón hugged Pinkie, who started to sob against his chest. “It’s true that the Invisible Underlined Alicorn is not my best friend, but I don’t want him to be tortured either! And I can understand that you’re frightened, but we need to believe that our friends are all right!”

But what if they aren’t?! W-what if Greentalk…?

Aragón sighed. “Pinkie, the best thing for us is to think that they’re ok.” The human was not used to be in situations like that, so he didn’t know exactly what to say. The pony was trembling. She reminded Aragón of a little puppy he once had. “I mean… We can’t do anything right now, even if we know that they’re being tortured, we’re still useless…”

…

There is no use, thought the human. Pinkie was trembling even more.
Anything made sense. It was true that the events he had lived the last few hours had been pretty random, but…
Invisible Underlined Alicorn was Peewee? The bird was being tortured? Spike was a hostage? And to top it all, the fanfic that he had started to write now included him as a character. In fact, he was there since the very beginning.
Sure, he knew he was not real. But there was a difference between “knowing” and “seeing”. His thoughts, actions and emotions were written –and the worst part was that he was able to remember himself writing everything… even though he was sure that he hadn’t wrote anything. He had just lived it.
If Twilight had been there, she could have answered a few things. Being able to read everything again had been a weird experience. At the moment he hadn’t realized anything, but all of them had broken the fourth wall at least once. Then, how is that they didn’t know that they were fictional characters?
Why something so obvious had been so hard to understand? In the second chapter, Twilight had mentioned something about the “canon”, as if she knew already everything about the show. In fact, Aragón himself had been mentioning the show over and over again, and nopony had noticed it!

…

The pink pony hugged Aragón stronger. Her cry was silenced by the human’s chest. Slowly, he started to stroke her flat mane, like he used to do with his dog.
His mind, however, was submerged in the book he had read.
There was something strange there. In chapter five, everything was silly. In chapter six, everything was dramatic and no one knew that they were fake.
And then, that discovering had started everything. Now Aragón saw it clear as day. The drama, the suffering… everything started in the sixth chapter.
At the moment he hadn’t realized anything, but reading the book was easy to see that the ponies had been suffering.
The tears that his eyes were keeping escaped and flowed down his cheeks.
How could he be so stupid?
He hadn’t notice it.
He was at their side all the time, and he hadn’t notice it.
The ponies had been suffering. Now that he could read the conversations, now that he could read what did they say when he was not listening…
He was able to see it now.

…

The ponies had hit him.
Rainbow Dash and Rarity had sent him to the hospital.
Twilight had insulted him until he cried.
Pinkie-who-doesn’t-talk-in-pink had come to his room with a knife.
The ponies hated him.
That was undeniable.
And they had been suffering a lot since chapter six.
Greentalk had split them, and Spike, one of their friends, was hold as a hostage.

…

“I don’t care if they hate me,” muttered the human.

H-huh?

“I don’t care if they think I’m trash. I don’t care if they send me to the hospital or insult me until I cry. I don’t mind if they set my f*beeeeep*ing house on fire.”

A-Aragón?

The author was crying, but his eyes were fill with rage. He didn’t hear the pink pony, who was now looking at him.
“I don’t care what they think about me,” muttered. “They are still ponies.”

What are you…?

Aragón was a brony. That meant that he was a fan of a TV show named “My little Pony”. That meant that he liked the characters of the show.
That meant that he cared about the characters of the show.
And the ponies had been suffering.
He, as a fan, as a writer, as a brony, didn’t like that. He hated that.
And the ponies had started suffering when Greentalk appeared.

Aragón…

Greentalk was holding Spike as a hostage.
Greentalk was torturing Peewee, if the book was reliable.
Greentalk had split the party.

…

And worst of all…
Greentalk was making Pinkie cry.
Pinkie.
Pinkie Pie.
The only pony that liked him. The pony that drove him crazy. The only pony that was kind to him. The pony that allowed her friends to hit him with a baseball bat. The only pony that smiled at him. The pony that made alligators appear from his computer.
The only pony that considered him a friend.
And Greentalk was making her sad.
Pinkie Pie was suffering, was crying, because of Greentalk.
“I don’t care who Greentalk is.” Aragón was breathing heavily. “I don’t care if he has f*beeeep*ing superpowers. I don’t care if he can kill me.”

Aragón?

“I don’t care at all. Because nobody f*beep*cks with the ponies when I’m around.” Pinkie moved away from Aragón, who didn’t notice it. “Nobody!”
The human stood and looked at the sky rising a fist. “Can you hear me, Greentalk?! Nobody f*beeep*cks with the ponies when I’m around! Prepare yourself, stupid monster, whoever you are!! BECAUSE YOU’RE ABOUT TO SUFFER THE WRATH OF A SPANIARD!”

Aragón… Why are you screaming at the…?

“LISTEN TO ME, PINKIE!” Aragón frowned and looked at the pink mare with a wild smile. “WE’RE GOING TO SAVE PEEWEE AND YOUR FRIENDS, AND WE’RE GOING TO KICK GREENTALK’S ASS!”

B-but you said that we’re useless…!

“I DON’T CARE!” The author had heard the words ‘hot blooded’ before, but he hadn’t understand them until now. His whole body was on fire. The word ‘fury’ was not enough to describe the heat. “I DON’T CARE WHAT I SAID, PINKIE! BECAUSE YOU ARE A F*beep*CKING REALITY WARPER, AND I’M A MOTHERF*beep*CKING AUTHOR!”

…

“SO PREPARE YOURSELF, GREENTALK!”

…Yes!

“BECAUSE WE’RE GOING TO KICK YOUR ASS!”

Yes!

“AND WE’LL RESCUE PEEWEE!”

YES!

“AND WE’LL TEACH YOU TO F*beep*CK WITH US! NOBODY CAN MAKE PINKIE CRY AND THEN CONTINUE WITH HIS LIFE LIKE IF NOTHING HAPPENED!”

EXACTLY! WE’RE COMING AT YOU, MEANIE-PANTS!

“BECAUSE IF YOU TRY TO F*beeep*CK WITH ME…”

THEN…!

“I’LL BE THE ONE WHO WILL FUCK YOU UNTILL YOU’RE FUCKING DEAD!!!!!

***

Hmmmm?
Oh, what a surprise. You’re able to jump between levels now? Congratulations, my little one. I’ve been waiting for you.
When you try to defend someone special, you jump to a higher level. Sadly, I think you haven’t noticed it… but our readers have, right? They can fix this for you and your companions.
Well, I think that now is a good time for me to do something. From now on, I’m not the “guy-who-hasn’t-appeared-yet” anymore. But since I don’t want you to know who I am, you can call me Louis.
You’ll be the first who will be blessed by me, Aragón. You were a tiny retarded seed… now grow and become a huge, wonderful and less retarded tree.
Go and save your friends. Be a hero.
I’ll be watching. You have the potential. And now… you have the guts.
Make me proud.

***

What the…? Pinkie, you can do that? You can color my words like nothing?

Well, that’s what I did! Aragón, hurry up! You’re running too slow!

“I’m a human, ok?!” The author was running as fast as he could… In other words, very slowly compared to the ponies. “I only have two legs! And I’m the one carrying the books and the computer, so…!”

But why the hell are we running? And why the hell did you paint my dialogue?!

Aragón shook his head, panting like a dog. “There is no time for -gah -us to explain anything, and you’ll –oh my GOD my chest hurts -see it when we arrive to Carousel Boutique!”

Uh… I can try to carry you, if you don’t mind…

“T-that would be awesome, yes…!”

Are you crazy?! Fluttershy, this human must weigh a ton or something! You can’t carry him!

Oh…

Now you can do exercise, Aragón! That’s a good thing, right?!

The human tried to answer, but he was unable to. Instead of talking, he simply shook his head and painted a little louder.

I’ll take that as a “yes”!

…
Pinkie, you mentioned something about “Canon-Twilight”. What did you mean?

Well, we’ve met another version of Twilight, and another version of me and you! So now we have me (Pinkie-who-talks-in-pink), you (Pinkie-who-talks-in-red) and Canon-Pinkie (who talks in a very funny way)!

Oh, my…

Another Pinkie Pie?! But how?! Did you create her too?!

I’ve created somepony before? That’s cool!

Pinki –I mean, Pinkamena… I don’t think you were created. Maybe Chrysalis was wrong…

Shy, you can’t deny the truth. I was created by Pinkie when she looked at my picture in Aragón’s computer…

The human raised his head at the sound of Pinkie-who-talks-in-red’s-voice. He tried to say something and failed. Seeing that all his energy was destined to the act of trying to run as fast as the ponies, the author resigned to listen as carefully as possible.

…And the fact that I’m on a higher level now doesn’t make any sense unless we accept that’s true.

Uh? I’ve created you?

You did it the same way you created Gummy when you saw his picture. I remember reading the comments and suddenly being crazy and trying to kill Aragón after discovering some of the fanfics. What did you do at that moment?

Oh… Well, I read the comments and then I saw an author who had written a very funny story about us! And then I read a lot of things, and then I baked a cake because I was hungry, and…!

So, that’s the moment when you created me… Or maybe you split in two after reading that Equestria was not real. One of us becomes the funny Pinkie Pie, and the other becomes the crazy one, and the cause is the things we read…

Then, I’m like your twin sister?!

I would say that you’re more like my mother, Pinkie. I was in a lower level than you, after all, so is not crazy to guess that you created me, or that you’re the “real one”. And of course, you’ve raised my level just by painting me with a red correction pen, so you being my creator makes a lot of sense. You’re not my author because you didn’t write anything about me and you can’t control me… but you still have some kind of power over me.

Then… “Creator” and “author” aren’t the same thing?

An author can be also your creator, and your creator can be your author, but they are not the same, right?

The very nature of the fanfic resides upon the idea of an author who is not your creator.

“…F-faust!”

Huh?

Aragón swallowed and tried to talk, even though it seemed impossible. Surprisingly, he was able to mutter a couple of words, but his voice sounded very scratchy because of the exercise. “F-faust… creator… Doesn’t… write… some episodes…. not an auth –gahh…”
He couldn’t say anything more. The human looked at his surroundings, but Ponyville was still far away. He sighed, or at least tried to.

Our creator is not our author?

The human nodded.

Oh.

See? So, as Pinkie colored my words, now I’m on a higher level…

Higher than me?

Well… I’m not very sure. In fact, I have a theory about it… And I can’t find any reason to think I’m wrong.
But now I can’t explain it to you. It’s… difficult. And I can’t concentrate if we’re running, specially if I don’t know where are we going! And you didn’t explain anything about the third Pinkie!

But if we don’t tell you anything, everything is funnier! And I read it in Aragón’s book: intrigue is very important! If the readers don’t know where are we going or why are we running, they are interested and that’s a good thing!

But…

And who cares a fuck about the readers?!

It’s funnier that way! Now, hurry! Ponyville is still very far away! We could use the star-like things to travel very super-duper fast as we did before, but then the intrigue would disappear, and that would be very not-funny! So hurry up!

Eh…

ARE YOU SAYING THAT WE’RE RUNNING BECAUSE YOU THINK THIS IS FUNNY?!

Yes!

AUTHOR! SAY SOMETHING!

Aragón tried to talk. He tried with all his willpower. But sadly, even though he was thinking exactly the same as Pinkie-who-talks-in-red, even though he opined that the situation would be a lot better if Fluttershy and the psychopath mare knew about everything, his body was not very used to any kind of exercise, so physically, it was impossible for him to say anything.

Oh, come on! This is serious!

I’ve had enough seriousness for today, Pinkie-who-talks-in-red!

Ah?! What do you mean?!

The situation is dangerous, and I’ve been crying a lot, so now I want to have fun! Because crying and being sad is too sad for Pinkie!

Pinkie… you…

…

So now run! Because when you’re running, you can’t think about sad things!

…
Sigh. Well, as you say, “mother”. I’ll let you do what you want this time. You won.

Really?! Yay! And what did I win?!

…Forget it.

…

And what’s up with you and that smile? Do you think I’m funny or something? I still have mud on my mane, or…?

Oh, no, no! It’s nothing like that! It’s just…
…
…Can’t you see it? You’re one of us!

Oh, please. Stop with that crap.

***

Oh, and remember: Your marefriend’s life is in my hooves now…

Dash closed her eyes. “You…”
And then, everything stopped.

Oh, let’s pause this for a moment, ok? I’m tired of talking with the pegasus. I want to see something orange, my dear.

…!

Oh, of course. I’ll allow you to talk, Applejack. Please, enlighten me with your beautiful voice.

…You MONSTER! HOW DO YOU DARE TO DO THAT?!

Oh, sorry. You don’t like my use of the word “marefriend”. And I thought you were so close…

STOP WITH YOUR MIND GAMES, FAKE-SPIKE! STOP LYING TO RAINBOW!

Oh. I’m lying to her? Then you’re not dead?

OF COURSE NOT! STOP TALKING TO HER AND LET HER SEE ME OR I’LL…!

Or you’ll what, exactly? What can you do? You’re paralyzed. You can’t do absolutely anything. It’s impossible for you to be free from my charm.

I SWEAR THAT I’LL BREAK FREE, AND THEN I’LL KILL YOU!

Oh, yes?

PROVE ME!

And your feeble pony mind can’t understand that I also have Rainbow Dash in my possession?

…!

I can kill her with a single thought. Her neck will be completely broken. Is that what you want? Come on!

Agh!

You’re free now! You can move, you can run, you can fight! If you try to hurt me, then the blue pegasus is leaving the land of the living in less than a second! You wanted me to prove you? Here you go!

…
You…

Come on. I see the rage in your eyes. You want to kill me. You can kill me. Look what form I’ve acquired. I’m a blue pegasus that looks like your dear Rainbow Dash. My bones are so fragile that you can break them with a single kick. I’m as fragile as a little bird, and you can kill me! Do it!

You… you COWARD! YOU ARE NOT BRAVE ENOUGH TO FIGHT WITHOUT A HOSTAGE?! LEAVE RAINBOW DASH ALONE!

Me? A coward? No. I’m just more clever than you, Applejack. I’m facing my death right now. I can see in your face that your greatest desire right now is seeing me as a corpse. And I’m not scared of you.

BECAUSE YOU’RE HOLDING RAINBOW DASH AS A SHIELD! I CAN’T DO ANYTHING IF SHE’S GOING TO BE HURT!

And that weakness of yours makes me a coward? I don’t think so.

YOU…!

Me. I’ve defeated you, and you can’t do anything. Now stop screaming or I’ll be mad at you.

MONST…!

Believe me: you don’t want me to be mad. Not when I can kill your marefriend so easily, right?

…

That’s better. Now answer me, please: What do you think about my plan? I give you to Rainbow Dash, and Rainbow Dash gives me her levels. She will become a puppet, but you’ll be free. It’s not a bad deal, huh?

Don’t you dare to do it…

Well, it’s not your decision. Dashie is the only one who has the power to do something here. Because I’m not lying, of course. Maybe I’ve exaggerated a bit the “Applejack is dead” thing, but the fact that I’ll leave you alone if the pegasus pleases me is entirely true.

Don’t try to use your fancy words on me! You’re a liar!

Oh, I’m a liar? Well then. From now on, I’ll say the truth always. Cross my heart and hope to fly…

I’m not believing you!

Ha! Do what you want, AJ. I’m not lying to Dashie anymore… but don’t worry, she’ll save you no matter what I do.

I don’t want her to sacrifice herself for me!

Well, it’s a shame. By the way, now you are the one who’s boring. So, if you don’t mind…

…!

Eeexactly. Quiet and still as a statue. Now let’s continue with the movie, ok? I love to see the loyalty of your friend. You’re a lucky mare, did you know?

***

Ah?!

SO BE PREPARED, YOU ASSHOLE BECAUSE I DECLARE THIS DAY YOU’LL FALL!!

Aragón! You’re talking in purple! And you’re underlined!

YEAH!

That’s awesome!

I KNOW!

How are you doing it?!

I HAVE NO IDEA!

…Well, that doesn’t matter! If you’re talking in purple, that means that you are in a higher level, right?! That means that now we are more able to rescue Peewee and Spike and the girls!

Yes! Well, I guess so!

Then, let’s go!

No! Wait! We need to plan something bef –wait a minute, talking like this is a pain in the ass. Hnnnnnnnnnng –gah!” Aragón smiled. “That’s better. Talking in purple is cool, but it’s better to be like this, at least for the moment.”

Eh? Why?

“Because now Greentalk can’t know that I’m in a higher level just by listening to me.” The human frowned. The pink mare seemed a little less sad than before, but her mane was still flat. “Pinkie, we need to rescue your friends. But Greentalk is dangerous. We can’t go and try to fight it right now. We need to think a plan or something like that.”

Oh.
…
That makes sense! But… what kind of plan? I mean… where’s Peewee? Where are the girls? What should we do?

“Euh…” The author sighed. “I don’t know. In fact, that’s the point. We don’t know absolutely anything. Judging by the things we’ve read, Greentalk knows the rules of this world… so it has an advantage. I think we need to solve that.”

You’re right. But we do know a couple of things! Like… well, Greentalk is a meanie-peanie-pants, and Invisible Underlined Alicorn is Peewee! Also, we can jump between the levels of the cake because you just did it, and now you talk in purple! And… Hum… The readers can help us and they can throw things! And we’re made of sugar!

Aragón nodded. “But that information is too basic.” Slowly, the author sat on the ground. “We don’t kn –wait a moment. You said sugar?”

Yes!

“Eeh…” Aragón blinked twice and then sighed again. Pinkie was smiling, so he guessed that the pony was happy now. Being a party pony, cheering her up couldn’t be so difficult after all. “Oookay… I’ll ignore that.” The human rolled his eyes. “I think that we need more information, like… who is Greentalk? Or what is it?”

I don’t know. Maybe we can ask the readers!

“I think they don’t know anything either. By the way, they had threw a lot of things, right?”

Yes! We got… a red correction pen, a book, another book, a computer, a jug of water without water, and we had a hammer and a marshmallow but…

“Wait, we have a computer?” Aragón frowned. Then he noticed that he had been sitting right next to a notebook and his eyes opened wide. “Hey! How did I miss that? This and the book that contains our fanfic are very useful tools!”

Aragón almost jumped, his heart pounding so hard that it hurt. Screaming a little, the human turned back to see a lavender unicorn with a dark mane…

…and a pink-colored earth pony.
Aragón looked at the Pinkie Pie at his side. Then he looked at the other Pinkie. Her friend had a smile so big that the human was sure it hurt. And her mane was all poofed, like always…

TWILIGHT! PINKIE-WHO-DOESN’T-TALK-IN-PINK! You’re ok! Oh Celestia, I’m so relieved! I-I thought that…!

The author acted fast, so he was able to stop Pinkie before she jumped onto the two mares. He didn’t have any weapon, so he pointed the new companions with the pen he had in his hand. “Stop there,” said. “Explain right now who you are, and how can you talk in that way.”

ARAGÓN! What are you doing?! They are our friends! How can you…!

“Pinkie.” Aragón frowned. “Look at them. The Pinkie we had in front of us has the same fur color than you. Pinkie-who-doesn’t-talk-in-pink is darker. Her eyes are different: the pupils are bigger, and they are… warmer, somehow. She is not the pony that came to my room with a knive.”

But…!

“And she’s not our Twilight either.” Aragón sighed. “I’m really sorry, Pinkie. I also want to meet with your friends, but…” The sight of the pink mare becoming sadder and sadder each second was heartbreaking. Saying those words was difficult. “But this can be Greentalk’s trap, and I’m not falling on it.”

B-but how can you say that she is not…?!

“Pinkie, please.” The other Pinkie and the fake Twilight were looking at him without blinking. “If we know that the pink one who talks in a weird way is not our friends, it’s easy to guess that if Twilight talks exactly in the same way, she’s also fake.”

…

“Pinkie…”

…
…you are Greentalk, then?

Aragón blinked. “What do you mean?”

Spike’s friends? I’m also his friend! And…!

***

Rainbow Dash closed her eyes and sighed.
“You win,” she said. “I’ll… make you go higher. Just tell me what I have to do.”

…!!! …H!!

The thing in Applejack’s body shook her head, disappointed. Dash, Dash, Dash… How can you say that? said. You’re giving up? I was hoping you to fight a little! The fake mare smiled. You know, at least some kind of resistance, don’t you think?

Rainbow frowned. “What… are you talking about? You asked me…”

Oh, I know I asked you to give up. Fake-AJ raised an eyebrow. And of course, I’m glad you gave up so soon. But at the same time… It sighed. I’m… disappointed. I guess you weren’t so loyal after all…

“What are you saying?!” Dash stood tall and looked at Fake-Applejack’s eyes with anger. “I just want her to be safe! Of course I’m loyal, she’s one of my bests friends! Now stop fooling around, and…!”

How can you say that? interrupted the monster. You honestly think that you’re being kind to your friend or something? The orange mare laughed softly. Oh, my, Dashie… I didn’t know you were so selfish…

“SELFISH?! HOW CAN YOU…?!”

*Invisible hand slaps Rainbow Dash*

The pegasus didn’t see that coming. Without any kind of noise or warning, her cheek was hit by some kind of force. Her screams were interrupted as her head bounced to the left because of the impact. As she stood there, completely startled by the coup, the pain appeared. She felt blood on her mouth.
“W-what…” Dash raised a hoof and touched her cheek. It hurt. “Did you hit me?” Her eye twitched, as the fear disappeared. Forgetting Applejack for a second, her mind was filled with rage. “How DARE YOU TO…!”

It wasn’t me. The soft, calmed voice of the monster was strange enough for Dash to stop screaming. Its face had a strange smile, and for some reason, the pegasus knew it wasn’t lying. I didn’t do it. You received that slap from one of the readers.

The blue mare blinked. “What are you…? The readers?! What are you talking about?!”

Oh, please. I knew you were the stupider of all your friends, but I can’t believe you don’t understand this. Fake-Applejack raised a hoof and pointed at the sky. We’re not real. You’re not real. We’re in a story. So, some people are reading what we do. But, as the fourth wall is broken, the readers are able to do things. The monster’s eyes narrowed. And of course, they’re in the heroes’ side. That means they’re with you…
Or so I thought. Now, I don’t think the same.

Rainbow Dash spread her wings and spitted a mix of blood and saliva. “So, now there are some ponies who can help me?” She smiled. “Then… Hey! Readers! Do your job and help me with this guy! Free Applejack, and then…!”

Why would them?

Dash blinked, confused. “What?”

I don’t see the reason why they would help you. Fake-Applejack shook her head and started to walk in circles around Rainbow. They will only help the heroes. And now, even though some people won’t consider you a villain, you’re not a hero…

“That’s not true!” Rainbow Dash frowned. “I’m in the goods’ side!”

Oh, yes?The mare was now right behind the pegasus, who turned to the right to see her. Then, why did you betray Applejack just a few minutes ago?

The pegasus jumped and started to fly without noticing, still standing on the same spot. “What?” I didn’t betray anypony! In fact, I want to sacrifice myself to save Applejack!”

Ah. Fake-Applejack smiled again and approached Dash, their faces almost touching. And what does that mean? Do you honestly think that your marefriend will be happy if she finds that her lover killed herself just for her safety? You know Applejack. If you do that, if you accept my offer… she’ll be devastated.

Dash looked away. The thing was right… sorta. “But… I’m doing this for her…”

No. You’re doing this just for you. Fake-Applejack moved her head, so the pegasus couldn’t look at anything but its eyes. You can’t live with the idea of a dead AJ, right? You need your marefriend. You’re giving up, you’re killing yourself because you’re too weak to fight…

“That’s not true!” Dash showed her teeth and returned the angry look to the monster in AJ’s body. “I’m doing it for her! Because she has a family! She has friends! And I love her, so…!”

That’s exactly what I’m saying! The monster smirked, its voice sounding louder each second. You said that she has a family, but that’s not true! You’re not real, and this Applejack doesn’t have anypony! In this world, neither Applebloom nor Big Macintosh exist! You said she has friends, but you have too! If you’re dead, then Twilight, Pinkie, Fluttershy and Rarity will be as sad as can be!

“But Applejack…!”

It doesn’t matter! The monster laughed like a psychopath. Can’t you see it?! If Applejack dies, they’ll be sad. If you die, they’ll be sad! You’re NOT doing this for them, and you know it!

Dash shook her head. “I’m doing this for…!”

If you sacrifice yourself, Applejack is going to suffer an unimaginable pain! If AJ dies, then you’re the one who is going to be living in hell! Fake Applejack pointed at her own chest, at her face. You can’t live without seeing this. Without touching this. Now, Applejack is in peace. she’s in heaven. She can’t feel anything. If you sacrifice yourself… Another laugh, another smirk. Then you’re forcing her to feel pain.

The mare shook her head again and again. Fake-Applejack’s words were nailed in her mind like burning needles.
“It’s not true. I’m doing this for her,” she said. “You’re lying! YOU’RE LYING!”

If I’m lying, why are you crying?

Rainbow gasped and touched her cheek, the one that didn’t hurt. There were tears on int.

You know I’m telling the truth. The orange mare raised an eyebrow. You may think you didn’t know it, but you did. You just don’t care. I asked you: What’s more important? What do you prefer? Your suffering, or your lover’s pain? Applejack’s face had a weird expression. It was trying to fake sadness, but a wild fun lied on its eyes. And you chose to die. You want peace. Who cares about AJ? It’s Dashie we’re talking about!

“No…”

Dashie, the pegasus. The best flier of all Equestria. The selfish, fool, egoist, boastful Rainbow Dash!

“No…!”

The one who always talks about her abilities, the one who can do such amazing feats! The one who only thinks in one pony: herself! And you dare to think that you’re loyal?! You dare to think that you deserve friends, or fame, or fans? You’re a joke!

“No!”

You’re a shameless, stupid foal who can’t fight, who can’t embrace suffering, who can’t think about nothing but herself! You look at AJ and what do you see? An earth pony. A mare with no wings. Somepony inferior. Fake-Applejack was screaming now, its voice deep as a dragon’s. But she’s attractive, so let’s hook on her! But at the same time, let’s remind her as much as we can that she’s not a pegasus! That she can’t fly! Because you know that she’s better than you, and you can’t bear that! You can’t face the truth, because you’re a sad, pathetic pony…!

“SHUT UP!” Rainbow Dash raised a hoof and hit fake-Applejack in the face, throwing the orange mare a few feet and causing her to fall to the ground. “SHUT UP, SHUT UP, SHUT UP!”
The blue mare launched herself onto the monster and started to hit her. Her eyes were closed, her cheeks were filled with tears. “SHUT UP, SHUT UP, SHUT…!”

*Invisible hand slaps Rainbow Dash*

Another hit out of nowhere stopped Rainbow. Fake-Applejack took advantage of the pause and pushed her away.

*Invisible hand slaps Rainbow Dash*

This time, the hit was harder than before. Dash fell on her knees, her mouth now filled with blood, and spitted two teeth. Then. Fake-Applejack approached her and hit her one more time, causing the pegasus to fell completely on the ground.

Well, well, well… Even though Dash was bleeding from the four hits, the orange mare seemed perfectly unharmed, not a simple wound on her body. Don’t you see it? Even the readers think that you’re pathetic. They root for me, and I’m the villain.

The pegasus sobbed.

You’re selfish, and you know it. You don’t care about Applejack, you only care about yourself. The orange mare looked at Dash with hate. You’re a monster.

Dash was crying. Embracing herself, the blue pegasus trembled on the ground, her eyes closed.

Just looking at you makes me sick. Fake-Applejack said. Now, sacrifice yourself and end this. You’re not funny anymore. You’re just… pathetic.

***

Tch. At least, you could tell us what did you find, or…

No! But you can tell us what did you do! What happened here? Who was that white pony?

Oh, she was…

She wasn’t a pony. She was Chrysalis, who tried to fool me.

Chrysalis?

Aragón raised a hand in an attempt to repeat the pink pony’s question.

Long story short, we take care of her with some help. Right, Fluttershy?

Y-yes! Well, no! You did all the job! You saved me, Pinkamena!

Uuuuuuh!

Tch. That’s not true. I was lucky, that’s all. A reader threw a hammer tied to a rock, and the monster was knocked out, or killed. I don’t know exactly…

***

…

*Puts Chrysalis in a dominatrix outfit*

Pling!

…

***

…Who cares, she’s not a menace anymore.

Well, I’m glad to hear that!

…

…
Fluttershy…

Oh, yes? What do you want?

I’m not forgetting what I said you before. One day, you’ll need to do… that.

…

It’s for your own sake, Shy. I just want to protect you.

But…

Please, Fluttershy. You owe me one. I saved you before… now I want you to save me.
Pinkie promise.

…

…

…Sigh.
Cross my heart and hope to fly…

Heh. Thanks, Shy…

I Pinkie Pie Promise that I’ll protect you, and I’ll never harm you in any way!

WHAT?!

You saved my life, Pinkamena, and I’ll protect you!

But, can’t you understand it?! I’m a villain! I’ll hurt you! I’ll…!

STOP SAYING THAT!

Even Aragón, who had zero energy at that moment, jumped out for the surprise. Fluttershy’s scream was one of the loudest he had ever heard.

S-shy…

You’re not a villain! You’re a hero! You saved my life, and fought against Chrysalis! And you don’t want to kill anypony! You’re a good pony, Pinkamena!

…

…

…Sigh.
You’re wrong, Fluttershy. I’m no hero. I just…

*Let a single ray of light from the sun shine through the rain to illuminate Pinkamena*

*Shows Pinkamena the letter*
The human watched as the clouds moved away, and a single ray of light illuminated Pinkamena’s face, at the same time that a paper fell down from the sky right in front of the flat maned pony.

Dear Pinkamena:
Listen here, missy. Listen closely. I know you can break the fourth wall and read my comment! Beggings and sad Fluttershy smiles aside, I'm offering you reason and cold logic: there's no reason for you to kill Fluttershy. Think this over! The whole reasoning of Greentalk is based upon the fact that you are both villains. The catch here? It's you who decides whether to be a villain or a hero! Just because in a thousand other fanfics Pinkamena murdered others, this doesn't necessary means that you have to step on the same path and call yourself a villain. Let me quote Greentalk itself:
"You'll be used in another fanfics, of course… but that one won't be you. She… it will be a clone, a mere copy. Because the real one, the real Pinkamena, you, will be in this story forever."
This means, if you think about it, that it doesn't matter what other Pinkamenas do in other fics, because they are only "clones, mere copies!" If you decide to be a protagonist, you could win by allying yourself with the heroes, and not by taking a risky plan about murdering Fluttershy! By the way, why would you do that? Just because Greentalk, somepony who did nothing but harm to you and to your friends, somepony you don't even know told you? Why would killing an innocent stop the killing of other innocents? Greentalk didn't offer you logic, (s)he's just playing with your feelings to make you do the dirty work for him/her.

Yours truly:

A reader.

PS: I don’t know who the real author is, but I’m sure he is a very handsome guy.

Even the author could see Pinkamena’s smile.

…I just knew that out there, there was somepony trying to help me.

***

Aragón shook his head. The words that the two mares had said were still in the air.
“What? Twilight, explain yourself, or…!”

“I was created, I’m not real.” Aragón nodded. “Yes, I know. Are you trying to tell me that Spike is my author?”

The human raised a hand. “Please, just tell me the important stuff. I’m sure you have a wonderful story, but right now I’m not in the mood for this, so…”

But if Spike is our author, then there is another level!

Aragón sighed. “Greentalk…”

Ah!
It is! It’s a combo! Aragón, that Pinkie is using my Pinkie Sense!

The human looked at the other Pinkie, the one who was bouncing so hard that it seemed painful. Her tail, legs and hears were dancing like a drunk driver. “Well…”

I’m sure that she’s not faking it! Nopony knows my combos but me!

Aragón scratched his forehead. “Hmm…” muttered. “Well, I guess you’re right. The things they’re saying seem possible. We can trust them… I hope so.”

“Yeah, yeah. Sure.” The human shook his head. “Now, pardon me if I’m wrong, but I think you said something about this book, right?”

Aragón frowned. “Wait a minute. You’re searching for us? Twilight, Fluttershy and the others?”

She said the truth! That’s the meaning of the combo, Aragón!

“Ok, ok, I get it.” The human took the notebook and the two books and looked at them. “Judging by this thing, right now it’s 5:23 p.m. You said that we have no time. Let’s rescue the girls and we’ll talk later.”

Yes! Let’s rescue them, let’s rescue them! Now we have a plan, or something that seems a plan, so…!

“Wait, you need to…!”
It was too late. Canon-Pinkie and Canon-Twilight were gone. Both mares had disappeared in less than two seconds, showing their amazing speed. Being a quadruped had some advantages. Aragón lowed his hand and crossed his arms. “Well,” said. “I guess we can show them later.”

Show what?

Aragón smiled and pointed at Oh! Let’s write a fanfic, let’s write a fanfic! I’ll call it “thesuperfantasticalstory”! with his head. “This. Sure, we can use it to find where are the girls, but this book has another bit of useful information…”

…

“Because we want to know who is the real author, right?”

Ah! Of course! We can read his name!

“Exactly.” The author opened the book and started to read the first pages. “It must be here… Damn, it should be on the front page, but…”

Ah! Here!

The human opened his eyes wide and looked at the place Pinkie was pointing. Right under the title, in the third page, there was a name…

…

Aragón sighed. So, the book only contained his name. “Well, that didn’t solve anything. Now, let’s go. I think we have to…”

We need to hurry! Come on, come on! We can save our friends and Spike and Peewee and everypony! Come on!

The human blinked, surprised by the sudden energy of the pony. “Eh…”

HURRY!

“Ok, ok! I’m going with you! You lead me, because I don’t know where Froggy Bottom Bog is…”

Oh, silly, we don’t need to run! I know a faster way to go there!

Aragón frowned. Something in Pinkie’s voice… “Eh… what do you mean?”

***

…Using the star-like things, of course!

“Ah!” Aragón couldn’t hold a little scream. “For Celestia’s sake, could you please warn me before doing something like this?!”

Pinkie-who-talks-in-pink! Aragón!

***

AAAAAAAAAAARGH!

DO SOMETHING! THAT THING IS…!!

*Spider-like cat noise*

*ZZZAP!*

AH!

YOU!

Me.

*Bzap*

*Spider-like cat noise*
*Spider-like cat noise*
*Spider-like cat noise*

***

Now stop crying, and do what you want. You aren’t going to brace suffering, so…

Dash didn’t move. The pony was crying, and she didn’t know why. Why those words had such an effect? Usually, the pegasus would have laughed at Fake-Applejack, that was her style. But now…
Maybe… Maybe it was right. Maybe Dash was just a pathetic foal who didn’t know anything. Maybe she was lying to herself…
Did the readers think that? Did they hate her because of her weakness? Did they think that AJ was better than her?

*Gives Rainbow Dash Applejack’s hat*

The sudden weight on her head was enough for her to know what had happened.
She was not a hero. That’s what the readers thought. She was just…

Fake-Applejack kicked her. Your final choice. Now.

“I…” Dash looked away, at the ground. “I…
I give up.”

Fake-Applejack started to laugh.

…! ….H!!

Oh, my. You seem angry.

…!!!

Well, I didn’t lie. You see? Everything I said was true… from a certain point of view. Oh, you can talk now.

You MONSTER! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE! DASH IS…!

Dash is willing to kill herself –or at least she’s willing to do something as bad as that –just for you.

STOP THAT! DON’T TOUCH HER!

Oh, that’s what you want?

I’VE SAID…!

Well, you’re so desperate that I can’t say “no” to you. You can save Dashie.

…
What do you want?

Clever girl! You’re just like your marefriend, aren’t you? Well, the answer is simple. I asked Rainbow Dash for something… but you can give it to me too.

…

It’s exactly the same situation. If you go down, I’ll go up. And Dash will be safe. What do you say?

You…
You planned all this, right? You wanted me to see all this, just because then I won’t say no to anything…

Who knows? I’m just asking you, Applejack. “Yes” or “no”? The choice is yours, my little pony.

…
You won. Just… don’t harm Dash.

Hah! Well, it’s a deal, my little pony! Now you’re going lower and lower… and I’m going up! Congratulations, little filly! You just killed yourself!

Hnnng… I-I’m feeling a little…” The world was turning around in circles. Applejack felt sick, her head was burning, her hooves felt like jelly…

Oh, but now you can talk to your marefriend… right?

The world was banishing. Dash’s head was burning, her hooves felt like jelly. Fake-Applejack was laughing louder and louder…

And then everything disappeared.
Applejack couldn’t see anything. Her eyes closed at the same time that her body turned grey. The monster’s voice came from very, very far…
Something was wrong… Rainbow… She could feel it: Rainbow was not there…
The pegasus she had been looking at… it had been an illusion…

Oh, no. It seems like you did this a little too late. You see…
I’m afraid that I had this conversation with Dashie a couple hours ago…

***

…

…

…
There is… nothing… here.

Aragón fell on the ground, completely exhausted. With his last forces, he opened the notebook.
The clock showed four numbers.

08:34 p.m.

Just a few minutes ago, it was 5:00 p.m or so.
“We… have…” His breath was not enough for him to finish the phrase, but the thought remained in his head.
They had travelled in time.