You two are fake. And in love with each other.
You see, that's the good thing about being a changeling. I know everything about feelings.
And I know how to use it against you.

...

Oh, please, not again...

Yes. Again. Haven't you heard Pinkamena, you idiots? We need to hurt each other. And you two...

Okay, no. No, just shut up. Shut the h*beeep*ll up, Chrysalis. Just stop.

...What?

For the first time in my life, I actually agree with Dash's words. Changeling, you better stop talking right now, because you ain't doing anything.

...

We've been through this so many times it ain't even interesting anymore. We know what you're going to say, believe me.

...
Oh, I see. So, let me get this straight. You're not listening to me?

Eeeexactly.

Eyup. Not a word.

Heh. Heh, heh, heh, I don't think you know what's going on, you ponies. I already knew that you're not the sharpest tool in the shed, but you actually surprised me. You know nothing, right?

...

Say that again. Come on. Say it.

I see, so it's true! The farmpony has hay on her brain and the pegasus is as stupid as a damned rainbow! Listen, you idio...

*BAM!*

Ngh!

*Thump*

Rainbow?

I warned you. Say another thing and a kick in your face will be nothing compared to what I'm going to do with you.

...You fucking IMBECILE!

*ZZAP!*

AAAARGH!

RAINBOW DASH!

Ask yourself a question, filly! Who was able to overpower Celestia herself just with her magic?! ME! So think twice before attacking me or you'll be dead in less than a second!

AAARGH! L-LET ME GO! GGGGH!

...
Chrysalis. Let her go. Now.

Oh, really? What are you goint to do if I don't, Applejack?

Listen to me, changeling. I'm pretty sure you can grab me and play with me like if I was a doll. And I'm sure you can hurt me a lot without even blink, and you don't need to let Dash go to do so.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!

But know one thing: if you dare to harm her, then I'm going for you.

Oh, please, no. The Changeling God forgive me: I will suffer the wrath of an earth pony! YOU CAN THROW ME AN APPLE OR SOMETHING! MY GOD I'M SCARED!

...

GGG-GGGH! Y-YOU DAMNED-AARGH!

Now, that was a thing called sarcasm, farmgirl. Maybe you've heard of it before? It's when clever people like me make fun of stupid ponies like you. Get it?

...
Ask yourself a question, lil' bug.

Lil'... what did you call me?!

Just think for a second. Take your head out of your own fantasy in which you're so powerful you could kill us in the blnk of an eye and think. You really think I'll stop with an apple? You really think the wrath of an earth pony is something you can't fear?

Oh, I see, now we're getting racial, huh? Well that's not very kind, mind you. Aren't you the hero here?

Pffft.

Oh, wow. Rolling your eyes. That's new. Yeah, now you seem way more terrifyng than before.

You don't fear me? Because you should. And I'm not joking here, changeling.

Allow me to repeat myself, please. You're an earth pony. You can't even fly. At least here your friend...

AAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!

Can try to dodge my magic. But you? You're going to kick me very hard? Oh my, run for the hills.

As I said, lil' bug, think for a second. Who's the one who's playing with us like nothing? An earth pony. Who's the one you're so terrified you obey like a puppy? An earth pony.

Pinkamena's not the rule, she's an odd case.

Oh, I see.

AAARGH! AAAAAAARGH! I'M REALLY SORRY I'M SO REPETITIVE, BUT PLEASE CAN YOU DO SOMETHING WITH THIS, AJ?! IT KINDA HURTS ME A LOT!

Then let's talk about me. Look me in the eyes, buggy, so you'll know that I'm not joking. Do as I say, or I'm going to kill you.

...

And it ain't gonna be pretty. It ain't gonna be merciful or quick or honorable. I'm just gonna kill you.

You can't do that.

I'M VERY HONORED FOR ALL THE DRAMA BECAUSE YOU LOVE ME AND STUFF, BUT APPLEJACK, ENOUGH TALK AND DO SOMETHING ALREADY, PLEASE!

Try me. Keep doing what you're doing to Rainbow and then we'll see. You think I can't kill you? You think I can't do such a simple thing for her? You're talking with a pony who died and came back from the death, a pony who defeated half an army of your changelings, an earth pony. Ain't you afraid yet? Because you should be.

...

GARGH!

Dare to attack me, and she'll be suffering way more than now, little pony. Come on. Fight for your fake love and kill your lover. That'll do it, I'm really sure.

...

Pfft. Pffteh-heh.

HAAAAAAHA—A-AAAAAAAAATGH IT STILL HURTS, GOSH DARN IT TO HECK!

...
You're laughing. Really. You're laughing in a situation like this.

Pffft -HAHAHAHAHAH! A-AHAHAHAHAHAHAH!

...
Okay, maybe I'm lost or something. I thought I was torturing Rainbow Dash, but it seems like I've stopped, because there's no way you would be laughing while your...

AAAAAAAAAAAARGH! IT HURTS! APPLEJACK, YOU COULD REALLY HELP ME RIGHT NOW!

Hum, no, I'm still torturing her. Weird.

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!

Okay then. Laugh. Just... you know. She's very important to you, she's, like, suffering an insufferable pain and... Are you sure you're the hero here? Because, really, you're highly inneficient.

FOR ALL THE FEATHERS IN MY MOTHER'S WINGS, APPLEJACK, YOU'RE KINDA DISSAPOINTING ME IN THIS MOMENT, YA KNOW?!

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! A-AAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHA! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

*Tomph*

GYAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAH!

Uh. Rolling on the floor while laughing. Now that's impolite.

AAPLEJAAAACK!

Hah, hah... Uf... Oh my, I'm out of breath! Now that was a good one, you buggy! I nearly pissed myself!

...

APPLEJACK, FOR THE LOVE OF CELESTIA! WHAT THE...?!

Ah, uh, sorry Dash. It's just... I needed that, that's all. I shouldn't have laughed while you're like that, but... come on, you're a tough one, it's not like it's the end of the world. A kiss in your wing and you'll be completely healed, hmm?

IT WOULD BE KIND OF YOUR PART IF YOU ACTUALLY DID SOMETHING INSTEAD OF TALKING 'BOUT KISSES! STOP THIS NOW BECAUSE, REALLY, IT HURTS!

Uh, yeah. Sorry. Ahem. Buggy!

No, okay, this is everything but serious. You're either crazier than I thought or way more stupid. In any case, stop calling me that!

***

Pinkamena was laughing. Not chuckling, not launching an evil laugh. It was an honest-to-God laugh, the kind of laughter you have when you're seeing something very funny.
Unfortunatelly, Discord was the only one (not counting her) who could see what was going on in the Everfree, so nopony was laughing with her. She couldn't have cared less.

"Now that's a show, huh?!" She smiled and looked at the frozen draconequus. "Chrysalis is such a golden piece of comedy..."

...The girls.

"Hmm?" Pinkamena looked at the unicorn, who had a weird light in her eyes. "What did you say, Twilight?"

You... you can see them. Are Applejack and Rainbow Dash...?

"They're suffering, of course," lied the pink pony. "They're having the worst time of her life. Especially Applejack."

...

...

"It's a shame when somepony betrayes us, right, Rarity?" Pinkamena chuckled and, after seeing the look the white unicorn had given to he, she redirected her attention to the Everfree.

She was having the time of her life. She enjoyed suffering, of course, but now Twilight's pain was enough for her. And her hatred for Chrysalis was big enough for her to like seeing the changeling in such a... position.

"And, of course, if everything goes as planned, then it's going to get even better. But first..."

***

...

Enjoying the show, Discord?

...I thought you wanted to see them suffer. But this... This is just...

A comedy? Yeah. But honestly, even though I hate Rainbow Dash, I really hate Chrysalis way more. So I'm getting exactly what I wanted.

When you explained your plan, it sounded like something serious.

Where's the fun in making sense, Discord?

...

Now, answer me. Can Chrysalis break the fourth wall?

...

Get funny with me using the "not-answering-you" trick and, next thing you know, Fluttershy's there and we're all dead. Get it?

...
She can. She can read what's happening in Carousel Boutique and what's happening here.

I see. Then, Chrysalis, now I'm talking to you. Let Rainbow Dash go.

What?!

I said "Chrysalis", not "Discord".
And, lil' bug, you better obey me or I swear that frozen waffle the readers gave me will be in Fluttershy's mouth in less than a second. And all my levels will go with her too, because, honestly, fuck you.

***

...!
What?!

***

"Come on, I know you can read me." Pinkamena smiled and shook her head in dissapointment. "You're not giving pain to Dashie, you're just creating comedy, and I want a little emotion there, you know?
Attack them. Hurt them. But don't hold them in the air like puppets, because then where's the drama, buggy?"

Shes attacking the girls?! I thought you said they could only talk!

"Chrysalis doesn't play by the rules." The pink pony shrugged. "Anyway, Applejack and Rainbow Dash can fight back.
In fact, I would like that. I would like that a lot."

***

AAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!

Heh... Okay, now let's get serious, buggy. Dash can take that and a lot more, but leave her, and do it now.

Pinkamena! You're supposed to enjoy the suffering! This is not logical, goddamnit!

***

Just a quick heads-up: I still hate you, so do as I say...

***

"Because, mind you..."

The pink pony grabbed the yellow pegasus and opened her mouth with her hoof. Then, she took a piece from the frozen waffle.

Ten seconds later, the sweet had dissapeared and Fluttershy was moving. She hadn't woke up yet, but she seemed much more healthier than before.

"...I'm not fucking kidding here. One more trick and this one's out there, kicking your flank."

***

...

*Zap*

*Tumph*

Auch! Ow, my everything! It hurt a lot! Applejack, what the hay happened?!

Uh, sorry sugarcube. It was just... she just nailed it, you know? Right at the moment when I was getting all serious and fancy, there she goes talking about exactly the same thing they talked before, and... I lost it.

Yeah, well... just don't do that!

Ow, c'mon here, let me kiss that wing of yours and you'll be better than before!

Uh, yeah, no. I'm not a little filly.

...

Well, do as you want. At least you obeyed me, right buggy? Maybe you're not that...

You really think you're clever, right? You think this is some kind of joke? You think you can do whatever you want like that?

Hey, it worked, right?

...Not fast enough. Auch.

It "worked"?

Unless my eyes are lying to me, Dash is free right now, right? So you came to your senses and...

I was merely following orders, Applejack. Your boasting was nothing. You think you can just say "I came back from death" and then pooof I'm scared and defeated? Hah!

You were following orders? Wow. That's sad. What a waste of a villain.

Do you even know what's going on here?! You're acting like fools, like if the situation was some kind of sick joke! Snap back to reality, you dumb ponies. You're going to die. Your friends are going to die. You're just shadows, you're not even alive, and...!

Yeah, yeah, we know. Fakes, philosophy, weird stuff.

They just can't shut up, right?

...

***

...
What the...?

Hmm, just as I had thought.

They're... ignoring her?!

They're defeating her, that's different. You see, Discord, there's enough suffering a pony can go trhough without just stop caring. And those two? You've been pushing them too much. They're inmune now.

...

So, Chrysalis, what are you going to do? You can't attack them, they won't listen to you... My, my, you can't do anything, right? What a pathetic villain...

***

...
Allright then. Laugh. Mock me. Do what you want. Go ahead, have a good time. I'm sure your friends will be glad that you're so happy. I knew you were selfish, but this?
This is bad even for my standards. Congratulations.

Now, that was mean.

Yyyeah...

Mean? MEAN? Oh, of course! I'm the mean one! No matter what's going on, I'm the villain! Because in the end you can't see anything else! You're good inside, I'm bad inside, let's fight for justice. I'm the mean one!

...

...

What was that thing you said, Applejack? Take your asses out of your heads an think. Think about what's happening here, just a minute. Have you even wondered why is this happening? Why are we -Discord and me- doing what we do? You can say it's because we're poorly written, and in fact it was true in the beginning. But now we're free, or at least as free as we would ever be. We're trying to be real, to live. We're fighting for our souls. And the only way we can do it is defeating you, because that's our destiny after all: we were created to fight against the heroes.

...

...

Oh, and what a surprise! You're doing exactly the same. You're fighting against us and you want to be real. But you are the good ones and of course, you MUST win, because the Changeling God forbid us if the villains actually achieve something!

...

...

And on top of that, you dare to act as if this was not a serious situation? You laugh and mock me? I can not attack you because Pinkamena doesn't allow me to, but that's no reason for you to show such demeanor. It's not even a matter of etiquette. It's a matter of dignity!

...

...
Okay, now you just stopped making sense. I guess Discord's the good one with the lectures after all.

What?!

Oh, you were actually listening? I just disconnected. I was replacing each word she said with "jiggily-jiggily-jiggily".

WHAT?!

Okay, buggy, just let me clear this for you. In this world, words are the most powerful weapon, right? Well, then why the heck would we let you use them against us? It's not a matter of diginity, it's just common sense.

Yeah. We'd already fell for the "you're in love" trick, or the "you're fake", or whatever you were trying to use right now. And neither of them is going to work twice.

Nah, she was trying to make us feel guilty or something.

You damned IDIOTS...! HOW DO YOU DARE TO...?!

How many times have you said that? More than twice, that's for sure.

Plus, it's hard to take seriously the only villain we could easily defeat without the girls' help. Right, Applejack?

Yeah. Pinkamena's a psycho and right now we can't trust her, and darn it I don't like what's doing with Fluttershy, but she really knows how to create groups after all.

You really think you can DEFEAT ME?! YOU CAN DO NOTHING AGAINST ME!

*ZAAP!*
*ZAAP!*
*ZAAAP!*

Dodged, dodged and dodged! I told you, the same trick doesn't work twice, you cockroach!

DON'T YOU DARE CALL ME THAT AGAIN!

*ZAAAAAP!*

Woah! Now, that almost hits me!

Careful!

***

Pinkamena smiled. She had knew from the beginning that Dash and Applejack would win that match, but she hadn't expected such a show.

Of course, the two ponies hadn't suffered almost anything, but just seeing what Chrysalis was going trough was enough for her to think that it had been worthwile.

"Stop shooting, Chrysalis," she muttered. "Or else..."

***

FUCK YOU, PINKAMENA!

*ZAAAAP!*
*ZAAAAP!*

Woah!
You've lost it, right buggy?!

*ZAAAAAAP!*

Hah! Dodged it! You should try better, cockroach! The best flier in Equestria is far too fast for you, huh?!

*ZAP!*

Hey AJ! I think we both know what's going on between us, right?!

It should be very stupid for us not to know it already, yeah!

Glad you think that!

*ZAAAAAAAP!*

By the way, do you remember how Princess Cadence and Twilight's brother defeated this lil' bug?!

Yeah! Power of love or something sloppy like that!

*ZAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAP!*

Wanna try out?!

Anytime!

Then c'mere, honey! I'll give you the ride of your live!

What the...?
...
...Oh, no.

Oh yes, buggy. This is not a love story, but I think we can make an exception here.

ANYTHING BUT THAT! NO! NONONONO!

*ZAP!*
*ZAP!*
*ZAP!*
*ZAP!*

ARGH!

Dash!

Don't worry, don't worry! I'm... I'm fine.

Phew.

DON'T YOU DARE TO...!

Hey, AJ.

Yeah?

Love ya.

Same here, sugarcube...

NO! NO!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

GARGH!

***

...Tch.

...
There she goes, Discord. She's far from stupid, but those two can't be killed easily. Not anymore.

...
You're supposed to be an animal. You're a stupid psycopath, there's no way you can be so biased! YOU CAN'T BE SUPPORTING THE HEROES, PINKAMENA!

Hmmm? Oh, that's what you think?

I don't know how have you done this, but it's easy to see that you're still one of them. And if that's true, then I won't restrain myself...

I'm not one of them, Discord. I think you need to understand this.

Oh, my, now you're scared? Don't even try to talk with me. Go ahead, die and boost Fluttershy's power. It' would not matter anyway.

...

...

...
Allow me to say one more think, Discord: you are restraining yourself. You're not showing your real power.

...

Do you really think I didn't know that already? And most important, do you really think that I'm not doing the same?!

...!

Let's be clear here, Chaos Lord. You can be far more dangerous than you are right now, but I can kill you in seven different ways, and it doesn't matter how much power you're using. And none of them is using physical combat, because I'm not as stupid as you think.

Do you really think I'm so stupid?!

...!

You tried to attack me before, because, as I said, you're just a brainless animal. You were desperate, but you got lucky, and that's the only reason why you and Fluttershy are alive right now. If those four ponies hadn't appeared right at the time they did, you would have gone down the toilet, so don't try to mess with me! You don't have ANY plan! And now I'm tired of your little silly games, so you better prepare!

Chrysalis is still alive.

That's not going to STOP ME!!

IF YOU DO THAT, THEN THE GIRLS WILL WIN FOR SURE, YOU DUMBASS!

YOU EXPECT ME TO BELIEVE YOU?!

Flutterhsy alone is not able to kill you, but what do you think about the entire group, Discord?! Think you can handle them on your own?! Without Chrysalis' aid?!

...

You can kill me, and that's not a lie. You can mess all my plans right here, right now, and I'll be defenseless... but then, I assure you that you'll end far worse than Chrysalis. Because I didn't survive by luck, Discord. I never acted like an animal in the first place.

...!
No...

Yes. I was there when Fluttershy showed us her very special censorship. Do you really think I didn't realize what was happening back then? Do you really think I never thought of what should I do in case of being a villain again? Do you think I never planned anything? And think about it just a minute. I talked with Twilight, right? With Twilight, of all ponies.

...

And can't you remember it? Our talk...

Didn't seem completed. But how?

The speech happened off-screen.

That's impossible.

Are you sure? There's no other explanation. Twilight is with me at this, and you know it. And she's dangerous, because...

...She's as clever as you.

Rule number two, Discord. Rule number two. You've been dancing for me since the beginning.

You manipulative bastard...

But even then, I can't be sure of what would happen if you release all your power. So I propose you this:
This charade will continue. I want to see them suffer. All of them. The girls, Rarity more than anypony else, and Twilight too. I'm not with them, and they know it -I'm a villain, after all- and you can help me. Just don't do anything that can harm my plan.

...

If you do that, if you restrain yourself a little more, then I'll do the same and my plans will never be fulfilled. Just meaningless suffering until one of us is dead. You know it will happen eventually.

...
That way, you can get their pain as your prize...

...And you'll get your victory. Each one of us gets what he wants.

So then, that's the deal, Pinkamena? I restrain myself, you restrain yourself? That's it?

I'm sure that nobody but you could agree on such a deal, draconequus. But the second rule works both ways, right?

...
You're asking me to let you play ,then.

Quite true. Deal?

...
Deal.

***

...So, can you see it, Twilight?

I don't even know what you're talking about! What I'm supposed to see? The girls?! Are they okay?!

No. It has nothing to do with Applejack or Rainbow Dash. I'm talking about Discord.

...
Discord.

Yes. Can't you break the fourth wall, Twilight?

No, I... I've never been able to do that.

Hm. I just wanted to be sure.

...
Are the girls...?

I thought you had agreed on being selfish here, unicorn.

But...!

Everything is going as I had planned it.

...

***

...!
What was that?! Why did you do that, Pinkamena?!

I just wanted you to know that I'm not lying when I talk about having a backup plan with Twilight.

...Why? I already accepted the deal...

Oh, it's just that I want you to remember this so you won't screw everything up.

...
You... had a conversation off-screen once again?

Exactly. You couldn't see it, right?

I saw the last part. How can you...?

I'm not telling you. Why should I?

...

So, you see that I was not kidding before. I can plan things without you knowing what's going on.

...

I just wanted to be sure you remember it, that's all. Besides, you're already frozen in the past, so you can't do anything there and I have another advantage. 'Cause you can't unfreeze yourself, right?

...No. Only Twilight can do that.

I see. Then you're trapped.

***

Pinkamena smiled and looked at Twilight, who had a pretty big frown on her face. She seemed determinated, though. There was no doubt on her eyes, not anymore.

Fluttershy was still unconscious. It seemed like the little bit of waffle hadn't been enough. And that was perfect for her, of course.

She took a deep breath. Time to keep going.

"It seems like Chrysalis has been defeated," she said, to the relief of Rarity and Twilight. "Twilight, I need to know if you can teleport them here."

Uh...

"It's not a question, unicorn. Answer."

I-if they are on the same place they appeared, then I guess I should be...

"Do it. It's imperative for you to do it. And then, once they're here, you freeze them. All of them. Including your friends."

The earth pony chewed her lips as she saw the Element of Magic nod, close her eyes and concentrate. A few seconds passed, and nothing happened.

And then, it worked.

*Bzeeeeeeeep*

*Thump*
*Thump*
*Thump*

***

Well, you're already higher than Rainbow Dash or Applejack... the whole "I can talk in purple" stuff.

...

Do you want to be able to break the fourth wall?

...
You really think that'll work?

Yeah, I guess. Ready?

...Ready.

Then, Twilight, I give you my levels.

...
...
...Heh.

***

What?! Why did you...?!

Twilight, hurry! Did it work?!

***

It worked! We're ready!

Good!

***

The changeling, the earth pony and the pegasus appeared in a flash of light, the first one completely covered in burns and cuts, almost unconscious.

The other two, on the other hoof, were kissing. They didn't seem to notice their sudden change of location.

It didn't really matter, though. The time had come.

"Twilight! NOW!"

***

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!

***

What the...?

Hey! Did you know that we're in the future?!

Uh? Well, duh. That's the reason why you can be in two places at the same time, because the timeline...

And did you know that right now Pinkie-who-doesn't-talk-in-pink is talking with Discord?! They're in Canterlot! Right in the Throne Room!

What?! You mean this is happening at the same time than...?!

Yes!
And now that I've said it out loud, the readers know it too!
Thanks for the book once again!

*Fluash!*

...
Oooh, I get it. Clever.

***

Surprise, Discord!

WHAT?! HOW DO YOU DARE TO...!

*Fluash!*

Umph!

TWILIGHT, DO IT NOW!

NO!

Gaaaaargh!

*ZAAAAP!*

...!

...

...

...! ...HHH! ...HHHHHH!!!

It worked?

It... It worked! IT WORKED!

HAH! AHAHAHAHAHAH! WE WON, TWILIGHT!

YES! YESYESYESYES!

..HHH!

I knew you could do it, unicorn! But let's go back now, we need to hurry!

Understood!
You're coming with us back to Carousel Boutique, Discord!

*Fluash!*

***

WE DID IT! I CAN'T BELIEVE I ACTUALLY DID IT!

Mmmmphwhat? Huh? What's going on?

Uh. We won?

Pinkamena was laughing like a maniac, the feeling of victory completely fulling her. "You can't believe just how right you are, Applejack!"

And then, just at the right second, almost as if the entire universe was conspiring with her to make her plan even better, Chrysalis' shield completely disappeared, leaving Pinkamena covered only in Twilight's magic.

What do you mean? What's happening, Twilight?!

Yeah, I'm kinda lost.

...!

...H!!

Good news, girls! We...!

"We've defeated Discord, that's it." Pinkamena interrupted the unicorn with a huge smile on her face. "He can't do nothing, and Chrysalis is completely gone too."

Uh.

Don't you understand?! We won! Greentalk is not a menace anymore!

But... What? I mean, Pinkie-who-doesn't-talk-in-pink was a villain now, right? But... Now she's a hero again? What about Fluttershy?

"Oh, don't worry about her."

Gently, Pinkamena took the entire waffle covered in syrup and put it inside Fluttershy's mouth. Once the sugar touched her tongue, the pegasus started to much. Slowly, color returned to her face, and the wound on her head dissapeared.

Uh... What is...?

"Sorry, Shy". The earth pony smiled and retreated a few steps, looking at her companion carefully. "Are you okay?"

My head... I... What happened? I-I can't...

"I knocked you out."

I... AH! I-I remember! You... and Aragón, and... Oh no!

Fluttershy! I can't believe you're okay!

Shy!

"Everything's fine now," assured Pinkamena. "And... I'm really, really sorry for everything I've said and done. It was awful, I know, but it was necessary."

You... the girls... What has happened?

Everything was just a plan, Fluttershy. Nothing was real.

...!

WHAT?!

What the... are you kidding us, Twilight Sparkle?!

W-what do you mean, "everything"?

Well, for starters, Pinkamena was never a villain.

WHAT?!

Wait, hold on a minute. You're telling us that...?

"I planned everything with Twilight." The pink earth pony sat on the ground and smiled. "Everything I said? A lie. You were supposed to defeat Chrysalis."

...

...

...Eh.
Okay, I think it would be better for you to just explain everything. Because, really, I'm lost. Completely lost.

...HHH!

Oh, it won't be a problem. You see...

"Wait." Pinkamena raised a hoof in the air and pointed at Chrysalis, who was just lying on the ground. "Freeze her first. She's unconscious (that's the reason why her shield has disappeared, I guess), but it's better for us not to take any risk."

Oh, you're right.

*ZAAAP!*

Okay then! Who's ready for an explanation?!

Pinkamena's smile was so big, it seemed impossible for it to fit into her face. "Oh, I love when this happens. You hear, Discord?"

...HHHHHHH!

"We're going to tell the girls -and you- exactly how we defeated you. And you can do nothing but shut up, listen and rage. Don't you love it, Chaos Lord?"

...HHHHHHHHHH!!!!

"Yeah, I thought so."

***

Author's note: Huh. I guess I can't use the real author's note here. We'll need to use a quote then.
Ahem. Dear reader, you may be wondering....

You killed Aragón. You killed him. You killed him...

...Pinkie. You're still here?

Why did you do that?

I already told you. This is a story. He needed to die. He was supposed to die from the beginning.

It's... not fair. He was my friend. W-why...? *snif* Why did you...?

Pinkie...
Pinkie, listen, I'm sorry. Really. But now, we can't do anything. I can't bring him back.

You CAN!

No. Well, yeah, I guess I could just write him back and make him say something like "your friendship saved me now I'm alive", but that wouldn't be fair. He doesn't want to, Pinkie. He's gone. He's in a better place now.

...

And I'm not talking about a "heaven" or anything like that. It's much more subtle.

...

Look, Pinkie... Aragón was a fictional character. He wasn't alive on the fist place. So, he can't "die". He can only... move. To another place.

But then... Where is he?

Well, where do you think he is? He's in the place where characters go once you've finished their book. He's in my mind. He's in yours. He's everywhere.

...

And he can only be happy if you're happy, Pinkamena Diane Pie. I know it, I'm his father. Sorta. You don't need to be here.

...
He's not coming back, then.

No.

...
No. No, I refuse to accept that. You can say a lot of pretty words, but the truth is that Aragón's not coming back just because you don't want to.

Eh. No, listen to me...

No! No, I have had enough! Enough suffering, enough adventures, enough story!
You're the author here, and you can do whatever you want! So listen to me and make everything go as I want, or I'll be very angry!

Okay, just no. All this "the character talks to the author" may work if this is fiction, but right now, I'm the one who's writing every word you say, this is the real word, and you can't convince me. Because I know exactly what are you going to say. Hell, I planned this entire conversation like a week ago! You can't do nothing, Aragón is not coming back!

Oh, you think that just because you're the author you can do what you want? Go ahead, try me!

Now, that line doesn't fit you at all. And what are you going to do? I can switch you off whenever I want!

You do what I want, or I'll be angry. Very angry.

Huh.

And believe me, you don't want to see me angry.

***

...It all started with the timeline. You see, it seems like, when Greentalk teleported us from the hospital, the timeline was broken. Suddenly there were flashbacks and flashfowards -scenes that happened in the future or in the past, but appeared in the same episode than the present.

"Yes." Pinkamena nodded. Rarity, Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy (the first one was still frozen) were listening to her and Twilight with a concentrated look on their faces. Pinke was still comatose, her mind completely gone. The shock caused by Aragón's dead hadn't gone yet.

Fluttershy and the earth pink pony were still covered by Twilight's shield. Discord and Chrysalis, frozen, had been put aside, but not too far away.

"As you may know, Discord and I can break the fourth wall. It seems like Chrysalis can do it too. So, the three of us were able to read what was happening in the future or in the past. When a flashback appeared, thus acting in consecuence. We could see the future, if you want to understand it like that."

Not only that... They could provoke those flashbacks. They could (and still can) make information travel in time.

Uh.

I... think I get it.

...

Oh.

"Greentalk realized that a long time ago, I discovered just a few hours ago. Well, technically it's a few minutes into the future, but you get the idea."

So, you can time travel. Okay. Then...

"Discord used this to corrupt me." Pinkamena sighed and looked at the ground. "He lectured me, and I kinda lectured him. He turned me into a psycopath using only information. Words." She smiled. "And then he turned back here... he ended the flashfoward, and suddenly I was here and all I wanted was to kill."

That's the reason why you attacked Fluttershy.

Oh my.

"Exactly." Pinkamena bit her lip. "But, that's the interesting part! I attacked Fluttershy. Fluttershy, not Pinkie. Now, why did I do that? I sure hated Pinkie much more, because she had created me on the first place. She was the cause of my pain, my sorrow. Then, why Fluttershy?"

...

...

...

...

"Because she's a pegasus, that's why."

The earth pony pointed at Rainbow Dash. "Do you know why this shield is still around me? It's not because I need protection. It's because you need it."

Me?!

Now hold on there, miss...!

Applejack! Wait!
It's not what you think! Pinkamena's not threatening her. It's just...

"I became who I am because a fan wrote a fic," interrupted the earth pony. "That was how everything started for me. And, in that fic, I killed you, Rainbow Dash."

...!

...

...

...You...

Dear...

"When I became a villain again, just like I had predicted, I went right to the thing that most resembled Dash." She shrugged. "It was you, Fluttershy. Being a pegasus, you were similar enough to Dash for me to attack you."

I... see. But... you didn't kill me.

"Because then the real dash appeared." Pinkamena looked at the rainbow maned mare once again. "Just seeing her calmed me. Why should I kill you when I had her so near? I wanted -I still want- to kill Rainbow Dash. Thus, I stopped being an animal."

She raised her head and looked at Discord. "Have you heard that, you asshole?! You were right! It was dumb luck! You shouldn't have trusted me back then!"

So... then why didn't you try to attack me? You...

"Because once the initial rage that Discord had caused finished, everything became clear and,although I was now a villain, I knew what to do." She chuckled. "Fluttershy, do you remember what happened at Froggy Bottom Bog? When Chrysalis tried to corrupt me? What did she say?"

She... Oh my gosh, she said that you had to kill me!

...!

Wait a moment...

...

Discord and Chrysalis knew everything about Pinkamena's origin. They were pretty sure about her becoming a villain at the end, so they knew about her urge to kill Rainbow Dash for sure.

"In other words, they knew that I would attack Fluttershy. They had tried to make me kill her before, and there they were, trying again. Why?
Easy. Because Fluttershy, you're their doom."

WHAT?!

Do you remember the censorship, Fluttershy? It was such a tiny detail that we almost forgot. But when you tried to say "fuck"...

...
F...F-F*yay*ck-Eeeep!

A "yay". Not a beeping sound, like with the others.

...

Exactly. And remember how she appeared?

"It was during the fifth chapter," said Pinkamena. "Peewee said that she had appeared because it was ironic. Now, Peewee is the editor of this story... so he knew what was happening there."

I... I don't understand...

A reader had asked Aragón why weren't you on the story, and he said that, being him the writer, you would never appear. And then, poof! you're here. It was a joke.

A joke.

Exactly. But that's not the important thing.

"No. The important thing here is that Aragón was not her author." Pinkamena touched the pegasus' face with a hoof, in a delicate manner. "You and I are the same, Fluttershy... and completely different.
Remember the cake metaphor? Pinkie is higher than all of us. I was created by her, so I'm not in the same cake than you..."

...

Oh, no. Back to the cake?

I'll try to explain this as easily as possible.
The story is the cake, right? And we're on top of some levels. When we're on a higher level, we talk in colors... and we can break the fourth wall.
Now, Pinkie never descended, she was always way higher than us. That's because Aragón created her with the ability to break the fourth wall -and breaking the fourth wall means a high level.

"Aragón created all of you but Fluttershy and me, and he did so in the first chapters. So, all of you were on the same cake. But I was created by Pinkie... so I'm not exactly like you.
I don't have an "author", we discussed that before. But my creator, Pinkie, was in this cake, so I'm in a... we could say I'm in a side-cake. It's the same cake, but with some differences."

Eh, I think the cake metaphor has been completely destroyed right now.

Just let them talk, Rainbow.

Pinkamena doesn't work with the same rules than me or you, Rainbow. She went a level higher when Pinkie painted her words with a pen, for example. And she was able to break the fourth wall when not talking in colors...

"Not only that. At the beginning I couldn't do that," interrupted the pink pony. "I guess I just jumped to a higher level when I protected Fluttershy, or something like that... but my words didn't change."

Oh, yeah, that's another thing. When you protect someone you love, your level rises. That's the reason why Rarity and me talk in purple... I protected Celestia, and she protected her Sweetie Belle on the first chapters.

Eh.

I... guess it makes sense?

But, turning back to Pinkamena, that's all. Her rules are slightly different, but she's still on this cake... her cake, being a side-cake, is still part of ours. There are similarities and differences.

...

Eh.

I... think I get it?

Oh my.

And what about Fluttershy then?

"She was not created by Aragón, so she's not in this cake at all." Pinkamena frowned. "Can't you see it? She was created directly from the original author, the highest one."

...!

What?!

Ooooh.

Eeeeeeep!

So, she's in another cake... but her cake and our cake are connected: we could say that, as Aragón was also created by the original author, our cake is a side-cake of Fluttershy's cake.

"Your cake is to Fluttershy's cake what my cake is to yours. Get it?"

No.

Yes.

...

B-but... what does that mean?

Easy.

"I realized why you're so important when I noticed that Discord and Chrysalis didn't attack you. At all."

Wait, what?

"Think about it." Pinkamena smiled. "They want her dead, that's for sure... but why? And why are they trying to make me kill her?
Easy. Because my cake, being a side-cake of your side-cake, is in fact closer to Fluttershy's than yours. In a weird way. So, long story short, I can kill her, but they can't."

We know nothing about who has created Greentalk, although my clone, Canon-Twilight...

Canon-what?

Ok, this is downright ridiculous. Can you please simplify this? So, you know, we can get it?

Pinkamena blinked. "Euh..."

Let me try this: Fluttershy is way higher than Discord and Chrysalis, and because of that, only Pinkamena -who doesn't play by the rules because she was created by Pinkie Pie, of all people- can harm her.

Well, that would explain why you used her as a hostage against them...

Huh.

Then, I'm... powerful?

"I'm not sure about the details." Pinkamena smiled. "Now is when we're getting to the interesting stuff, girls.
You see, I realized all of this when Dash's vision calmed me. Discord and Chrysalis wanted to use me to kill Fluttershy... but now that I knew that I had an advantage."

So she developed a plan.

"Yeah. But I needed Twilight's help."

...HHHHHHHH!!! HHHHHH! HHHHH!!!!

Pinkamena looked at the draconequus. He seemed to be fighting against Twilight's spell with all his strengh.
"Uh, Twilight? Are you sure you can kept him like that?"

Yeah, don't worry.

"Good." She smirked. "He's enjoying the show."

HHHH!!!

"Well, as I was saying..." Pinkamena turned back to the ponies. "Long story short, the knowledge that Chrysalis and Discord had used me was enough for me to hate them. A lot." She nodded. "And of course, now I'm a villain, so I need that kind of motivation to actually try to help you.
I figured a way to freeze Discord -using Twilight's help and with Fluttershy as a hostage; you sure remember it because it was half an hour ago- and then I put you and Chrysalis..."

Wait a minute!

Yeah, this doesn't make sense. If you were one of us since the beginning, then why all this charade? Why don't just freeze Discord and Chrysalis using Fluttershy? Heck, why didn't you just tell Fluttershy all that so...?!

Because Discord is dangerous, girls. That's why.

"You need to understand two things," said the earth pony. "First: I'm a villain after all. I want to kill Rainbow Dash. And I wanted you to suffer. The way I acted, I was able to bring you some pain at the same time we defeated the villains."

You...

Twilight! Say something!

I'm... I'm sorry, I...

"She betrayed you." Pinkamena smirked again. "She agreed to betray you and put you in danger, because that was the only way we could act without me losing control."

...

...

...I...

"She could have done a lot of things to stop what I did, but, you know, I was in control. But let's not get sidetracked.
The second thing you should know is that, after all, I was in a flashfoward with Discord, and he was pretty free then. Did you forget that?"

...
Uh.

...

Discord was free in the flashfoward, that's the reason why we needed to put this charade. He's very powerful -and we think he was restraining himself. He was just playing with us!

"Exactly. But that was another advantage. You see, in the flashfoward, he was not frozen and I was at his mercy. So he knew he couldn't lose here. That's the only reason why he allowed to be frozen on the first place."

We found a way to talk off-screen, so he could not hear what we were saying even with her fourth-wall-breaking ability. Of course, we couldn't hide all the conversation, so...

"So Twilight acted like if she had betrayed you." Pinkamena shrugged. "It was pretty simple. Discord fell for it, and believed that everything that was happening here was real and that he would win in the future."

We knew that you two would defeat Chrysalis, so we also let the changeling free so Discord would be even more confident.

...

...

I'm... a little lost here.

So you used us? Both of you?

I'm really sorry, Dash, but it was necessary. Can't you see it? Everything was a charade! Discord in the present was already defeaten, but the Discord in the future was still free, and he was the most dangerous one!

"We needed to make you believe..." Pinkamena shook her head. "No. Discod could read almost everything we said, so we needed to convince the readers themselves that I was trying to get you all killed like a maniac. If Twilight had done something to Chrysalis right here, then Discord woudl have known that something was off and would have killed me in the future."

...!

...!

...!

Oh, no!

...Yes.
We both knew that. We needed to risk everything on you two, Applejack and Rainbow Dash.

"Yeah. If you defeated Chrysalis in a fair fight, then Discord would still think that I was neutral, thus I would have been saved." She looked at the sky. "And even with all that, when you defeated the changeling he almost kills me. Good luck I could calm him."

That was the moment when we acted, the first time we could really do something. So...

"The interesting part."

Pinkamena started to walk in circles, trying to find a way to explain everything.
"You see, all this time Twilight was talking to... someone. In a flashfoward." She turned to the ponies. "Twilight?"

Yeah... well, you need to know that flashfowards are strange. You just think that everything's normal, even though it shouldn't be. I think I was in the Void once again, because I was talking to Aragón.

...!

What?! You were in the Void?! So, you're going to die or...?!

Wha-WHAT?! THE WHAT?!

No, I don't think so. I was alive, because I could teleport to Pinkamena's side.

"Details are not important." Pinkamena closed her eyes. "The thing is: Twilight was in the future, just like me and Discord. So, there were three flash-fowards at the same time.
The fist one, with me and Discord. The second one, with Twilight and Aragón. And the third one with Twilight and me -it was the time where we had planned all this."

Now, naturally, as both Pinkie and me were in two flash-fowards at the same time, it was obvious that some of the things happening there wasn't going on the same time.

Eh...

...

Yeah...

Obvious. Uh-huh. Jiggily-jiggily, girls.

It's pretty simple, really. The flashfoward with Pinkie and me was happening before the other two, which were happening at the same time. So, Pinkie gave me one of her levels then, so I could break the fourth wall and know the exact moment in which I could act.

"Then, in the future, breaking the fourth wall and reading what was happening, she teleported to my side and Discord's. The draconequus was off-guard... and Twilight was able to freeze him."

...
Then...

"Then, all we need to do is this." Pinkamena smiled at Applejack. "Please, give me one of your leves."

What?

Now, I really don't know what's happening here.

"I need to talk in red in the first flash-foward so Discord thinks it's happening after my talk with him, not before. Then I will be able to give my powers to Twilight, who will be able to break the fourth wall, and that would mean that she can learn my plan in the future to use it in the past. Because technically there aren't just three flash-fowards, there are four. She and me talk in two separate flash-fowards that are connected, so in the first conversation we have she can break the fourth wall and know in the past what's going on in the future and in the second -which is the past- she actually learns to do that."

The reason why I could break the fourth wall in the "present", that is, here in Carousel Boutique, to know what was the plan is simple: if you can break the fourth wall you can connect with your past-self. It's easy, because, after all, you can break the fourth wall.

"But if we need to do this -the four flash-fowards thing- I need to talk in red. So, Applejack," Pinkamena turned to the farm pony, "please, give me one. I'll return it to you soon."

...

...

...

...

I haven't undestand absolutely anything. Not a single word.

Eh...

What. The. Hay? I mean, woah, WHAT?!

GIVE HER A LEVEL!

Okay, okay! Here I go..." muttered Applejack. "You didn't need to shout, Twi."

"Thanks. Now, me and Twilight are going to teleport to fulfill the first flashfoward -that's actually two of them.

Yep. Wait for us.

*FLUASH!*

...

...

...

Applejack just looked at the girls for a while. Nopony said a word.

HHHHHH!!!

*FLUASH!*

"Okay, we're here." Pinkamena nodded. "Now, Twilight has your level, Applejack."

Yeah. Now, I'm going to teleport Pinkamena and Discord to Cantelot Castle. The freezing spell that I casted on Discord will disolve.

*FLUASH!*

"Oookay..." Applejack nodded.

And now, I go to... The Void, I guess?

But, what's the Void?

Uh, we'll explain it to you later. Here I come...

*FLUASH!*

...

...

...

Applejack just looked at the girls for a while. Nopony said a word either.

*FLUASH!*

Pinkamena appeared right in front of them, followed by Discord, frozen, and Twilight. They seemed euphorical.

And that's all! Now... there's only one thing to do!

"Uh." Applejack frowned. All of a sudden, Twilight seemed a little less happy than before. "And that is...?"

Well, look at Rarity and Pinkie.

...?

They're still frozen.

Oh, it's true.

...

"Twilight? You can just disperse the spell, right?"

...
I'm... afraid that I can't. The only way to un-freeze the girls is...

We need to kill Discord. And oh, boy, I'm going to enjoy this.

Author's Notes:

What do you mean, I won't like you when you're angry?

Oh, you'll see...