As I continue the game, I find my character just waking up in the morning, ready as soon as he's out of bed to leave his room and meet the three ponies and one dinosaur for breakfast.

My character opens the door to his room just in time to startle Rainbow Dash, who looks at him and says, “Oh, Mormon. Nice to see you.”

I answer, “Nice to see you, too. Did you sleep well?”

The azure pegasa answers, “Fluttershy and I eventually got to sleep. I guess her focusing on me kept her from thinking about what you showed her yesterday. I don't know about her, but I found myself sleeping free of nightmares. Oh, and by the way, when I left Pinkie Pie, she ... gave me an invitation ... to return to that factory.”

As my character falls in behind her in the hallway, I say, “I really don't think it's a good idea for you to accept that invitation.”

Before Rainbow Dash can say anything, Fluttershy, behind me, says, “As much as I hate to admit it, I have to agree with Mormon. The Pinkie Pie I saw in that recorded event isn't the same pony that was our friend. Your life might be in danger.”

The fact of the matter is I know that if Rainbow Dash pays one more visit to Pinkie Pie, she won't be coming back, not unless Pinkie Pie can be stopped first. And, the way Rainbow Dash paused as she talked about the invitation, I wouldn't be surprised if she at least suspects the same thing as Fluttershy does, and that I know. I add, “Indeed. Pinkie Pie has already murdered a pony, and at least tried to make muffins out of her. If I can keep one more pony safe from her, that may be a good start toward me repairing the damage I've done already.”

Rainbow Dash, the first now in the kitchen, turns to me and says, “You shouldn't hold yourself responsible for everything that goes wrong in Ponyville, or anywhere else in Equestria for that matter.”

I answer, “I'm not holding myself responsible for everything going wrong in Equestria. Just for what's going wrong with Pinkie Pie, and the problems it's causing with her friends. If I had it to do over again, I'd do things very differently.” And, when I restart this game, I do plan on approaching things very differently. But, this play of the game is about failure, not success.

Rainbow Dash says, “Well, whatever. One thing I agree with, though, is that I shouldn't accept Pinkie Pie's invitation. She scared me the last time I met her, and I am afraid of what she might do to me if I meet her again. Besides, she's not just guilty of murdering Derpy. She also murdered Gilda.”

I don't say it, but I think, I know, she's right. Pinkie Pie has committed two murders already. And, in a way, my character has taken part in one of those murders. He ate a griffon meat cupcake. For that matter, in a way I've taken a larger part in both murders, even if they were of fictional characters. My character represents me, after all. But, I digress.

In response to what Rainbow Dash said, I state, “You're right. And, I don't think she should be guilty of any more.”

Rainbow Dash turns to look at me, and I can see the worried look on her face.

But, before she can ask her the question I want to ask, or say anything for that matter, we hear Pinkie Pie's voice from in the living room shouting, “Hey, Rainbow Dash, are you coming or not?”

I answer, “I don't think that matters right now. Just everyone stay put, and I'll take care of Pinkie Pie.” With that, my character proceeds to the living room.

As soon as Pinkie Pie sees my character, she growls, “Well, where's Dashy?”

As my character closes the door behind him, I state, “Alright, I know I don't have a front door right now." i then ask, "But, still, don't you think you should knock before you enter?”

Pinkie Pie growls, “Don't you give me that. I know she's here, and she will accept my invitation!”

As my character approaches the pink pony, I say, “I'm thinking some pony's just about earned herself a time-out.”

Pinkie Pie doesn't seem to notice me reaching for the clipboard and pen, at least not at first, as she screams, “Don't patronize me!” She then proceeds to sniff around the room like a dog as she continues, “I know she's around here somewhere. I just want her for a few minutes.” It seems to be just then that she notices my character writing a message on the parchment, as she asks, “Wait. What the buck are you doing?”

I answer, “I'm writing a letter to Princess Celestia. It's an urgent request for law enforcement. I'm letting her know you're threatening me and my home and guests.”

Presently, the pink pony glares at me and growls, “So, Rainbow Dash is here. Where is she?”

I answer, “That's not your concern right now. Your concern should be to make sure you escape before law enforcement gets here. Unless you want to get arrested, I suggest you leave right now.”

Pinkie Pie grunts in disbelief and asks, “And, just how do you plan to send it to her? Are Twilight Sparkle and Spike here as well?”

I answer, “No, but I do have a friend that can send letters to the Princesses just as easily as Spike can.” My character completes the letter, removes it from the clipboard, and rolls it up; as I say, “I'm giving you ten minutes before I hand this over to my friend, and she sends it to Princess Celestia. If you're not on your way back through the Everfree forest by the time law enforcement arrives, you will be arrested for the murder of Ataahua.”

Pinkie Pie's expression begins to morph into one of worry as she says, “You're k-kidding. W-we're friends, aren't we? Y-you wouldn't send police ponies to arrest m-me, would you?”

The pink pony starts backing toward the front doorway. I must admit, I'm surprised that she doesn't run into anything, really, as she makes her way backward out the door, across the porch, down the stairs, and onto the walkway. Then, she just stops.

Is it following, or leading, when one creature matches pace with another creature who's walking backward? Whichever it is, that's what I do to Pinkie Pie until she stops in the cement walkway just in front of the steps. There, I ask, “Oh, by the way, were you successful in making muffins from Ataahua's meat?”

The pink pony looks down as she answers, “No, I wasn't.” Then, it's all I can do to keep from laughing when she says, “Unless pony meat is that much different from fruit, I just don't know what went wrong.” Then she looks up again, growling and glaring, and roars out, “Rainbow Crash, you Pinkie promised me you'd come! And, you will meet me at the factory!” And, with that, she turns around and proceeds to march as loudly as she can out the door, down the porch, then to and through the gate and back through the Everfree forest.

My character watches her disappear past some trees, then heads back into the house and to the kitchen.

As my character enters, Rainbow Dash, who has taken a seat at the table, sobs as she says, “It was the only way she'd let me go, was if I Pinkie promised. I thought she was going to kill me if I didn't.”

As my character drops the rolled-up parchment on the counter next to the sink, I state, “If you go to that factory again, she just might kill you any way. Until the police ponies arrive, I suggest you stay here. Once they get here, you can lead some of them to the factory.”

That's when Weed Whacker steps forward and asks, “Should I send the letter?”

I answer the little dinosaur, “Not yet. Let's wait another minute or two, then you can send the letter.”

Then Fluttershy asks, “What did you write in that letter anyway, if you don't mind me asking?”

My character retrieves the letter from the counter and opens it up again, and I read:

“Attention Princess Celestia:

“Pinkie Pie, murderer of Derpy Hooves and Gilda the griffon, has come to my house, and is menacing me and my guests. Please send law enforcement as soon as possible.”

Both pegasae bow their heads in grief as they hear me read about Pinkie having murdered the two creatures. Somehow, I wouldn't be surprised to find that Derpy, or Ataahua, as I've been calling her, was a friend of both of them, as well as Pinkie Pie. But, for all intents and purposes, Pinkie Pie is another friend they've lost.

And, then there's Rainbow Dash, specifically. She'd already lost her friend, Gilda, before the griffon was killed and butchered and made into cupcakes by Pinkie Pie. I wouldn't be surprised if the griffon's remains were still in that basement. And, who knows what Pinkie Pie has done with the remains of Ataahua? If, as I suspect, she's gotten that room ready for Rainbow Dash, then Ataahua's remains are either in a new pile, or perhaps part of a new line of furniture.

As the rest of us look on, the azure pegasa sobs and pounds the table, shouting, “Why, Pinkie Pie, why did you call me by that name? What happened to you?”

Figuring it's been long enough, my character hands the scroll to Weed Whacker, who immediately bites down on it, at which point it disappears. Next, he proceeds toward Rainbow Dash and, once next to her, starts to stroke her mane.

The azure pegasa looks up at my character and says, “You are the first human I've known. If I ever meet another human, I hope he or she is as worthy of my respect, of my loyalty, as you are. Thank you, Mormon.” Then she looks down at her front hooves again and says, “But, the fact remains that I did make a promise to Pinkie Pie, a Pinkie promise. And, I don't know if she'll ever trust me again if I break that promise.”

I pause for a moment before answering, “It sounds to me like she doesn't trust you anyway. And, besides, I don't want her to have any more blood on her hooves than she already has. It's best for you to avoid Pinkie Pie from now on.”

The azure pony answers, “I know.” Then, she pushes me aside and falls off her chair, then proceeds back toward Weed Whacker's bedroom as she says, “I'm not hungry anymore. I'm goin' back to bed.”

Just then, I hear a male voice from the front door calling, “Is anypony there? We heard we were needed here!”

My character turns toward the door between the living room and the kitchen, then back to Rainbow Dash, and I have him hold up a hand to the azure pony, palm facing toward her, as I say, “Just a moment. It sounds like the police have arrived.” As Rainbow Dash pauses in place, my character goes through the door to see a pair of military-looking stallions at the front door. As my character approaches them, I say, “Welcome. Will you come in?”

One of the stallions, a pegasus, speaks evidently to other ponies, I can only guess to direct them to surround the house and/or search for Pinkie Pie. For some strange reason, I can't seem to hear him very well when he's facing away from my character. Then, that stallion turns to me again and says, “We've come here because of a report that Pinkie Pie was here, she'd murdered a pony and a griffon, and she was threatening you and your guests. Is that true?”

I answer, “It is. However, when I produced the clipboard and parchment and started writing a letter to Princess Celestia, she ran off. Still, I have a friend who can show you where she'll most likely be in the next half hour.” My character then opens the door between the living room and the kitchen and calls out, “Rainbow Dash, will you come here?”

In a matter of seconds, the azure pegasa shows up at the doorway and asks, “Yeah, what do you want?”

I ask in response, “Will you go with the police ponies to show them to the factory?”

Rainbow Dash says nothing, just nods.

As my character focuses on the police pony, I add, “Inside the factory, there's a trap door not too far from the entrance. Open that up, and it should lead to a staircase that should lead to the basement where Pinkie Pie killed Gilda and Derpy. You should also find their remains there, most likely made into furniture.” As my character turns back to Rainbow Dash, I say, “Now, remember, I don't want you in contact with Pinkie Pie, especially not alone. If you don't find Pinkie Pie, or the remains of either of your friends, just get out, along with the police ponies. Do you understand?”

The azure pony looks at my character and answers, “Yes.”

I add, “Right now, the best way for you to show your loyalty to Pinkie Pie is to get her into police custody, so she won't be able to harm another pony.”

Rainbow Dash says, “How I wish that wasn't so. But, I know you're right. If this is the only way I can help Pinkie Pie, then it's what I'll do.” And, with that, she makes her way to and out the front door.

The police pony, after watching the conversation between my character and Rainbow Dash, turns to my character and says, “I promise to bring Rainbow Dash back the way she was when she left with us.”

I answer, “Thank you for that. As long as she comes back alive, that's what I hope for. But, if you lose track of her and can't rescue her, I can show you her fate when you return.”

The police pony answers, “If I don't bring Miss Dash back alive, I would like to see how you can show me her fate.”

I agree, and my character watches as the police pony leaves, and he and Rainbow Dash fly off toward the factory. I seriously doubt Pinkie Pie will be there, at least not yet. They'll likely arrive ahead of Pinkie Pie by plenty of time to gather the remains of Ataahua and Gilda. And, hopefully they'll be patient enough to stay and capture the pink pony and detain her so she won't be able to murder any more ponies. On the other hand, if she turns around and comes back here, there should be enough police ponies to apprehend her before she can hurt anyone here. At least, that's what I'm hoping.

The fact of the matter is I expect something to go wrong, and for Rainbow Dash at least to be murdered, and, if I can't stop the pink pony, I expect she'll make her friend into cupcakes. If I'm wrong, and Rainbow Dash does return in one piece from the police investigation, while I'll be happy to see her again, I'm also certain that the matter with Pinkie Pie won't end there. Rainbow Dash testified that she'd Pinkie promised to meet with Pinkie Pie again, and, knowing Pinkie Pie, she won't let Rainbow Dash off the hook easily, if at all. But, I'll deal with that problem as, and if, it arises.

From behind me, I hear Lyra ask, “Are you sure it was a good idea to let Rainbow Dash go on her own?”

As my character turns to look at Lyra, I answer, “I'm hoping so, but, I must admit, somehow, I wouldn't be surprised if she doesn't come back, at least not the way she left.”

Through my character's eyes I see Lyra start to glare as she asks, “So, why did you tell her to go with the police ponies? If you expect her to … “

From behind Lyra I see Fluttershy looking up at me, sadness in her eyes, as she asks, “What if Pinkie Pie kills Rainbow Dash? You did order her to go with the police ponies, as Lyra pointed out. Could you live with Rainbow Dash's blood on your … hands?”

My character gestures to the two ponies to follow him as he makes his way into the living room, and they sit on one couch as my character sits in the other. As I look at the two through my character's eyes, I answer, “I admit, I'm taking a major risk. I don't know for sure if Rainbow Dash will be coming back alive. And, while I admit I'm having doubts on that, I have to hope that she will return just fine. I have to exercise faith, or at the very least hope, that she will be safe in the hooves of the police ponies. And, besides, even if they don't capture Pinkie Pie this time, they should at least be able to collect the remains of her victims thus far. And, another thing I'm hoping for is to let the police ponies know that I do intend to cooperate with them. After all, I'm the one that let Pinkie Pie escape.”

At this point, Lyra asks, “Yea, about that. Pinkie Pie has already committed two murders. If you don't expect her to change, and go back to being the Pinkie Pie we all know and love, why did you let her go?”

I pause for a moment, then answer, “Maybe I shouldn't, but I want to give Pinkie Pie one last chance to repent. If this last chance fails, and she kills Rainbow Dash, or any other pony for that matter, then I will take the first opportunity to catch Pinkie Pie myself and hand her over to the police ponies. I'm just hoping it doesn't come to that.”

This is when Fluttershy chimes in and says, “I know what you mean. I suppose, if I were in your place, though, I'd be giving Pinkie Pie more chances to turn her life around. But, after all, she is one of my friends.”

I answer, “And, I admit I hoped she'd be one of my friends as well. And, she wanted to be one of mine. I sensed that from her. But, somewhere along the way, something went wrong. And, while I hope she will turn away from her destructive course, I still can't ignore the crimes she's already committed. If Pinkie Pie doesn't take advantage of this last opportunity I'm giving her, if she throws the opportunity away, I'll have to take action.”

Fluttershy sniffles, then looks down and rubs her nose with a forelimb, then looks up at my character again and says, “I hope Rainbow Dash comes back.”

I answer, “So do I.” Then, as my character stands up, I say, “Well, I don't know about the rest of you, but I haven't had anything to eat yet. And, after that, I have a door to repair.” And, with that, my character makes his way out the doorway toward the orchard.

I don't really get a chance to find out if Lyra and Fluttershy have decided to join me in harvesting a meal for themselves, as I find my character running into Princess Celestia once again.

As my character looks up at the white alicorn, she says, “I know you waited before sending me that letter. You realize you're putting Rainbow Dash in jeopardy.”

I answer, “I'm just hoping Pinkie Pie will repent.”

Princess Celestia asks, “And, what if she doesn't? What if she kills Rainbow Dash, or another pony?”

I answer, “I'll capture her myself, and hand her over to the authorities.”

Princess Celestia bows her head, and I can't tell for sure if her nose is running or if a tear has run down to that nostril and dripped off. Whichever it is, she says, “So, I see you've given up on Pinkie Pie?”

I answer, “Not entirely. If I had, I would've sent the letter as soon as I'd written it. For that matter, I would've delayed Pinkie Pie long enough for her to be detained by the police ponies.” Then, after a momentary pause, I ask, “On that subject, has your student mentioned getting a replacement for Pinkie Pie?”

The white princess answers, “In her last letter, she did ask if Pinkie Pie's element could be passed to another pony. She also asked if there was another pony to receive the element of laughter now that Pinkie Pie couldn't hold it.” After a brief pause, she continues, “There is another pony that could take over representing laughter, but she hasn't received her cutie mark yet. While she could still hold the element of laughter, she'll need strict and careful training.”

After thinking for a moment, I ask, “Is this pony one of three foals that don't have their cutie marks yet, that may not get them for quite some time?”

Princess Celestia answers, “She is, and she's the little sister of one that already holds an element of harmony.”

Knowing what I know about those three, I can figure it can either be Sweetie Belle or Applebloom. But, it's enough for me to know there's a candidate to represent laughter since Pinkie Pie is no longer worthy. I say, “So, I guess it is possible to pass the elements to other ponies then.”

The white alicorn nods, then looks up and says, “So, I see that Lyra's doing well.”

My character turns toward the house, and I see through his eyes the pale-green unicorn approaching across the lawn. As he turns back to the white princess, I answer, “I think she's learned more from me than I have from her. As fascinated by humans as she is, I don't know. Perhaps I'm seeing her too much as an equine. Should I be looking more at her human qualities? I see earth ponies as having the most potential for human-level good, but should I be looking for that same potential in Lyra as well?”

Princess Celestia answers, “Far too often have humans considered themselves above other creatures, and been unwilling to humble themselves and see other creatures equal to them. If a non-human wants to learn about humans, why should a human not want to learn about them? And, if a non-human seeks to see in a human something of him- or herself, why should a human not see in a non-human something of him- or herself?”

I know what she's talking about. When a human looks into a dog's eyes, and the dog takes it as a challenge and fights back, is the dog not canimorphizing the human? When a cat brings a dead mouse to his or her human, thinking he or she is incapable of obtaining his or her own meat, is the cat not felimorphizing the human? And, I'm sure there are ways horses equimorphize their human owners. So, if these creatures see no shame in finding ways to equate humans to their own kind, should we humans be ashamed to anthropomorphize them?

Of course, in this video game environment that I've made, that should be especially easy. Then again, I've been focused on Pinkie Pie. I haven't given myself time to really learn that much about Lyra. While I'm sure I've shown Lyra some part of how good a human can be, I could show her other ways of how good, how goodly, humans can be as well. And, perhaps I should look for ways that Lyra can show me how good, how goodly, a unicorn can be. While I doubt it'll change my mind about what type of pony I'd prefer to be if I had to become a pony, still it might just give me something especially good to occupy my free time. The question is, do I want to start now, strictly with Lyra, in this game, or do I want to wait until the next game when I'll actually be working toward making Pinkie Pie the best pony, the best creature, she can be?

It seems that my being thus lost in thought has given Lyra, Fluttershy, and Weed Whacker the time they've needed to meet me in talking to Princess Celestia.

Lyra, as soon as she's close enough, says, “Princess Celestia, it's an honor to meet you here. So, you've been talking with Mormon?”

The white alicorn answers, “I've just come for an update on his progress with Pinkie Pie. I have the information I need, so I'll be heading back to Canterlot now. In the mean time, I've given Mormon something to think about as well. So, farewell.” And, with that, she disappears.

The pale-green unicorn says, “I wonder if the Princesses are taking as much of an interest in humans as I have.”

Fluttershy says, “I must admit, as much as I wasn't expecting it, I'm finding humans interesting as well, or, at least Mormon. They are definitely not dragons. Mormon, at least, is a creature I can see as a friend.”

I don't know if my character is smiling, but I know I am. I answer, “I appreciate that. Thank you, Fluttershy.” As my character turns to look at the yellow pegasa, I continue, “It seems my assignment, as part of taking care of Lyra, is to learn about unicorns from her. Perhaps I can learn more about pegasi from you as well.”

The yellow pegasa looks away from me and says, “Oh, I don't know about that. I'm probably not the best to represent all pegasi.”

I answer, “Maybe not. And, maybe Lyra isn't the best to represent all unicorns. But, neither am I the best to represent all humans. I don't know about ponies, but I have to wonder if there is such a thing as a typical human.”

Fluttershy looks at me again, smiles and squees, then says, “Well, I don't know if you've noticed, but ponies come in a wide variety of colors; even our manes and tails are often differently colored from our body fur. And then, there's our cutie marks. And, our personalities also differ from one pony to another. Then, there are earth ponies, pegasi, and unicorns, even a few alicorns. If there is no such thing as a typical human, then neither is there such a thing as a typical pony.”

I hadn't really thought about it that way, but Fluttershy is right. And, one more distinguishing feature she didn't mention, which I choose not to mention aloud either, is, either among humans or ponies, a wide variety of disabilities. I've observed, at least watching the My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic series, as well as fan works, that ponies are just as capable of being born with a missing eye, for instance, as humans are. And, perhaps there is at least one pony in this world with an extra visible organ, such as an extra leg or ear or eye. And, what's to say that there aren't ponies in Equestria with more than one talent? I know that such a thing happens among humans; I know I have all sorts of different talents. And, once again, I'm getting lost in my thoughts.

The one to pull me out of my thoughts is Lyra, who asks me, “Didn't you say you were hungry, or something like that?”

I say something about Lyra being right, and my character joins in as each member of the group gathers food for themselves.

It isn't until we get back to the house before the police ponies that had gone to the factory return, and without Rainbow Dash.

Before I can ask, the pony who'd promised me to keep the rainbow-haired pony safe approaches my character, looking worried, and says, “None of us knows when it happened, we just know that Rainbow Dash disappeared. We know she was with us when we were gathering the remains of Derpy Hooves and Gilda, but we only noticed she was missing just as we were flying over the Everfree forest.”

I ask, “Did no one notice whether or not Rainbow Dash had taken off with the rest of you?”

Pointing his nose at my character's shoes, the pony talking to my character answers, “Honestly, we all thought she had taken off with us. W-we … we're … assuming the worst.” It's clear to me that the stallion was getting the words out as fast as possible, before being overcome by emotion.

Considering she's one of the Mane Six, it makes sense that Rainbow Dash would be seen as a heroine by other ponies. And, even the possibility of her dying would generate strong emotions for these ponies. It makes sense that they'd grieve for her, even if she's only missing, and could be recovered and return.

On the other hand, I had ordered Rainbow Dash to go with the police ponies, hoping she'd come back with them. I'd allowed Pinkie Pie to escape, hoping she'd take the opportunity to repent. If Pinkie Pie is squandering her last chance, if she'd caught Rainbow Dash and is preparing to butcher her, I have to know.

My character produces the tablet, turns it on, and pushes areas on the small screen, causing the image of the inside of the basement to appear once again. Right now, I see, through my character's eyes, the cement bed on the wall empty, and no evidence of activity. I ask the police stallion, “You said you got the remains of Derpy and Gilda, right? If that's the case, I'm wondering why I'm seeing a furniture set made of bones off to the side.”

My character turns to the police pony to see him, eyes closed, tapping his forehead between his eyes with a front hoof. He puts the hoof down, opens his eyes, turns to my character, and answers, “Honestly, we didn't know that. We did see the furniture made from bones, but we didn't think about that.”

I sigh and state, “I thought I'd mentioned something about it before you left.” Then, as my character turns to look at the tablet again, I notice activity in the room, at least what seem to be moving shadows. I say, “Well, there's no time to go back now to look. I think Pinkie Pie's back there.”

The police pony follows my character into the house as he chooses to sit on the couch closest to the front door.

The police pony, in the mean time, chooses a position behind my character, peering over one of his shoulders as Lyra and Weed Whacker peer over the other one.

There's silence in the front room as Pinkie Pie appears in the scene, and all watching see that she's dragging Rainbow Dash by the mane of her forehead.

As I watch through my character's eyes the pink pony fasten her rainbow-haired friend to the cement bed, I call out, “Pinkie Pie, no!”

It's just then that I realize how many ponies I alarmed with my outburst.

Lyra growls my name while Fluttershy starts sobbing.

The police pony stumbles and falls away from my character.

But, even more disconcerting is what Pinkie does next. Leaving Rainbow Dash hanging by a front hoof and a rear hoof, both on the same side of her body, the pink earth pony turns and seems to focus on the camera. She must've bathed in a nearby stream or something, as her front is free from any visible blood. She even appears to be well-groomed. But, there is still that look on her face: the glare in her eyes, that unnaturally broad smile. In a surprisingly human gesture, she stands up on her hind legs, then points in between her eyes with a front hoof. From that perspective, it looks as though each clef is pointing to an eye. Then, she stretches out that forelimb and points … at me.

As she returns to fastening her friend to the cement bed, I have no doubt that she was pointing at me. So, she must know the location of the camera. But, the one question on my mind right now is this: Did Pinkamena Pie just challenge me?

If other ponies are saying anything, either to each other or to my character, I can't hear it. If they're doing anything to my character, there's no evidence of it. My character is completely focused on the screen, and the drama unfolding on it.

Once the pink pony is finished fastening her friend to the cement bed, she slaps her once, twice, each time calling out her name. I can't say how it's happening, but once again I can hear what Pinkie Pie is saying.

As Rainbow Dash stirs and wakes up, I can hear her say, “Huh? What is it?” Then, as she blinks open her eyes and focuses on the pink earth pony, she exclaims, “Pinkie Pie! Let me go! I don't want to be here!”

Now, before I continue with the story, let me clarify something. I know it's Pinkamena because her mane and tail are curly. If the mane and tail were straight, and the mane were on one side of her neck, I'd say it was Diane who was doing these things to Rainbow Dash. Then again, knowing Diane Pie's character as I do, I know she wouldn't do to Rainbow Dash what the curly pony is doing to her. And, for all I know, it may be Diane who's somehow allowing me to hear what Pinkamena and Rainbow Dash are saying to each other.

Now, back to the story, as Pinkamena turns away from Rainbow Dash, she says, “Now, Dashie, don't be like that. After all, I'm gonna make you cupcakes.”

The rainbow-maned pegasa chuckles weakly and says, “Well, if you wanna make cupcakes for me, you don't have to tie me down. Heh heh, you know I always like your cupcakes.”

Pinkie Pie laughs evilly and says, “No, Dashie, I don't think you understand. I'm not gonna make cupcakes for you. I'm gonna make you cupcakes.”

Now, once again, it's almost as though I'm in the basement with the two ponies as I watch Rainbow Dash swallow, evidently with extreme difficulty, sniffle, then say, “Pinkie Pie, my friend, please. You've got to stop this. I know you killed Gilda and Derpy. Do you really want to add murdering me to your crimes?”

I feel like cheering for the trapped pegasa. But, unfortunately, it seems that her plea has fallen on deaf ears.

Pinkie Pie, producing a surgical knife from a nearby table, turns to Rainbow Dash and starts walking toward her saying, “You really think I'm gonna murder you? You're my best friend. And, you're gonna be cupcakes. Just think about it.” At this point, she's made it back to Rainbow Dash's side. I watch as the pink pony climbs not unlike a spider up the wall to the azure pegasa's ear, then whispers into it, “Now, everypony's gonna taste the rainbow.” Presently, she climbs back down the wall, stands in front her friend, then stabs the knife into Rainbow Dash's closest flank, making sure to miss her cutie mark.

As the pink earth pony carves a circle around the picture of a white cumulus cloud emitting a rainbow-colored lightning bolt, the azure pegasa screams in pain. And, whether it's because of what Pinkie Pie whispered in her ear, or whether it's because of the pain and shock of getting the knife stabbed into her leg, or perhaps both, the azure pegasa urinates, staining her rainbow-colored tail.

Pinkie Pie, hearing the sound of liquid flowing, twists to see the yellow fall, then, indignant, growls, “Rainbow Dash, couldn't you have done that before you came here? Gilda, at least, had the foresight to empty her bladder and bowels before I brought her down here, and she had nothing in her stomach when I did to her what I'm doing to you. Even Derpy warned me when she needed to pee and poop. But you? Oh, no. You just had to go and wet yourself.” Then, after thinking for a moment, she, more calmly, says, “Well, then again, I didn't give you a chance to pee before I brought you down here. So, I guess it's my fault.” Then, she returns to carving the circle around the picture.

As Pinkie Pie makes the final cuts to remove the mark from her friend's leg, Rainbow Dash cries, “You don't have to do this, Pinkie Pie. Didn't Mormon tell you the debt between the two of you was over? Why keep doing this when you don't have to?”

As Pinkie Pie circles around to start work on the other leg, she starts talking. But, her voice fades out as another voice, one familiar to both Rainbow Dash and me, replaces it. Before we know it, it's Gilda saying, “Why am I doing this? You have the gumption to ask why I'm doing this? You rubbed poop in my feathers! Why would you do that to me? I thought we were friends! Now's my chance for revenge, and you wonder why I'm doing this?”

One might think Rainbow Dash would be bawling right now, due to the burning pain she'd be feeling in one of her legs because of that hole in it. But, she's quiet. She isn't crying, but, due to the pain, she can't keep tears from escaping. After a few seconds of silence, she says, “So, you're angry with me. That's fine. But, that doesn't explain why you'd kill Derpy. She had nothing to do with it. Why not kill Mormon? He's the one who let me know that you made that poop in the first place.”

At this point, Pinkie Pie thrusts the knife into Rainbow Dash's other thigh, causing her to cry out in pain again. As she carves a circle around that other cutie mark, it's Pinkie Pie who says, “I did try to do to him what I'm doing to you. But, he broke free of his restraints. If I could've kept him secured, I would've done this to him.” Once she finishes carving the circle, this time Pinkie Pie grabs the contained cutie mark, twists it ninety degrees, and rips it free of it's position.

It could be because of the pain. It could be because of the surprise. It could be because of both. Or, it could be for an entirely different reason. Whichever it is, Rainbow Dash screams louder and longer. But the cry triggers something else.

Indicated by a high-pitched zipper sound effect, it seems that Rainbow Dash's bowels have started moving.

The illusion of being there is evidently restricted to sight and sound, as I cannot sense the stench that's clearly and presently troubling Pinkie Pie. It's as though I'm watching the event on a screen. But then, I realize I am.

I find myself still able to hear the conversation between the earth pony and the pegasa as though I'm there, but I'm no longer able to picture, beyond what I can see on the small screen, what the two are doing.

I realize I was too focused on Rainbow Dash to notice that Pinkie Pie had put the first part of her friend's thigh on the table with some other cutting utensils. But, now that I can see from the perspective of the camera, I notice the pink pony placing the piece of Rainbow Dash's other thigh next to the first one, cutie-mark-side up, like the first one. But, I also notice something else: Just as I'd seen when Pinkie Pie had removed the cutie marks from Derpy Hooves, Rainbow Dash's cutie mark has started disappearing from her pieces of thigh. Evidently, much like a flower plucked from it's base, a cutie mark cannot remain for long after being separated from it's living owner. As the owner, or the piece of the owner, dies, the cutie mark disappears. And, that's exactly what's happening to the mark on the other separated piece of Rainbow Dash.

Then I hear Pinkie Pie's angry voice roar out, “Rainbow Dash!” My focus shifts from the pieces of Rainbow Dash to Pinkie Pie, and I hear her shout, “You weren't satisfied with wetting yourself, now you're gonna mess yourself too?” Then, as she moves to one side, I see something chocolate-brown sprouting downward between the azure pegasa's legs. From the top edge of my periphery, I can see her azure face starting to turn red.

Poor Rainbow Dash. She can't hide her bowels moving, and she's feeling ashamed for it.

In the mean time, Pinkie Pie is saying, “The only difference between you and Derpy Hooves is at least she warned me when she needed to do that, too. And, trust me, I made sure she didn't wet or mess herself.” Then, as she watches the slow expulsion, she sighs and asks, “So, should I cover it with your tail, you know, give you some privacy?”

Then, before either can respond, a piece breaks off and falls to the floor, splashing the puddle of urine it lands in.

Pinkie Pie adds, “Or, maybe I should rub it in your mane.”

Rainbow Dash, crying as much now from the disgrace as from the pain, pleads, “Pinkie Pie, please, either let me go or kill me now!”

For a moment, I try to remember the video of Ataahua's murder. As I remember, I realize the gray pegasa's crotch was hidden from view by the pink earth pony, leaving an audience unable to see what exactly Pinkie Pie had done to keep Ataahua from messing herself, that is until she went for a knife or something like that. If I remember correctly, Pinkie Pie did move aside to show, at least after cutting the urinary tube, that she'd allowed it to empty out on its own, that severed end pointed away from Ataahua. One watching the video or hearing Pinkie Pie talk about it would have to take her word for it.

The pink pony's voice snaps me from my thoughts. She says, “Now, Rainbow Dash, what fun would that be? I'm not finished yet. I haven't even started harvesting your organs. You've gotta stick around for that.”

Watching as the earth pony walks back to the table for another cutting utensil, Rainbow Dash cries, “If you're really my friend, Pinkie Pie, you'll put an end to this right now.”

Pinkie Pie says nothing, just tosses the surgical knife back on the table, ready to grab the butcher knife, when she notices the two pieces of the pegasa's thigh next to it.

Even I can see that the cutie marks are all but gone. Not only that, but, as Pinkie Pie takes notice, I can see half her glare as she stares at the faded marks.

She growls at the pieces until there's another splash from under Rainbow Dash, at which point the pink pony grabs the pieces of thigh, keeping the blue side facing away from her, marches over to Rainbow Dash, and shoves the pieces into the azure mare's face, snarling, “Well, at least you and Derpy have one thing in common. Neither of you would let me have your cutie marks.” Then, she looks at the now solid blue sides of the pieces of thigh, then tosses them behind her. After that, she marches back to the table and grabs the butcher knife, then marches back to Rainbow Dash's closest wing, raises the knife, and brings it down with as much force as she can muster. And, she misses.

Rainbow Dash had twitched her wing just enough to avoid getting it chopped off.

Pinkie Pie, through clenched teeth, snarls, “Rainbow Dash!” Shifting the knife to the other hoof, she uses the hoof that originally held the knife to hold down the pegasa's wing, then again holds the blade back, then thrusts it forward with all her strength.

Unlike the original version of this story, Pinkie Pie actually succeeds with her first attempt at severing the wing. Pinning the appendage down made all the difference.

Again the pegasa cries out.

Pinkie pie moves away, releases the wing, allows it to fall on it's own to the ground. She shifts the knife to the hoof that had originally held it as she walks toward the other wing. This time, she pins the wing down with her free front hoof before making the attempt to chop it off. And, as with the first wing, she succeeds.

As the earth pony allows the azure wing to fall to the ground, the now wingless pegasa screams, “Were you ever my friend?”

The pink pony stares into the eyes of the trapped Rainbow Dash, holds the stare for a few seconds, then says, “Were you ever my friend?” The voice is a mixture of Pinkie Pie and Gilda, as though the two were saying the same thing at the same time.

As the earth pony turns away, Rainbow Dash's abdomen suddenly convulses. The first time, Rainbow Dash just belches. The second time, her cheeks bulge as she tries to keep her mouth closed. The third time, her mouth opens involuntarily, releasing a spray of vomit. The fourth and fifth times, she tries to point her face downward, trying to get some of her vomit on her front. But, she finds herself unable to point her head that far downward, at least not while vomiting.

Her attention is grabbed by Pinkie Pie saying, “Dashie, if you really weren't feeling well, you should've said something.” The pink pony approaches the pegasa, touches her forehead with a front hoof, sniffs her mouth, then backs away and says, “Oh well, there's nothing to worry about. If you're sick, I can fix that easily enough.” And, with that, Pinkie Pie approaches the brick box, opens the top, produces a pair of tongs, and grabs a metal stake with it.

Her voice now hoarse, Rainbow Dash asks, “Pinkie Pie, what're you doing?”

Pinkie Pie turns the tongs in her hoof, getting a good look at the metal stake from as many angles as possible, and says, “Ah, nothing like an electrical shock to get rid of germs.”

Rainbow Dash, confused, grunts, “Huh?”

The pink earth pony produces a hammer from no where and approaches the azure pony, saying, “No need to worry, Dashie. I'll have you fixed up in no time.”

Rainbow Dash, seeing the glowing red piece of metal, and watching Pinkie Pie approaching her with it, in a panic says, “Pinkie, no. Pinkie Pie, I'm fine, really. You don't have to do this. Please, Pinkie, don't do it!” Then somehow she manages to scream once again as the hot metal touches one of her lower legs and Pinkie Pie starts pounding the spike in.

Once.

Twice.

Three times, and finally Pinkie Pie backs off.

Rainbow Dash, no longer able to form words, just bawls.

As Pinkie Pie goes for another stake, she says, “Honestly, Rainbow Dash, I didn't expect you to be such a cry baby. I mean, not even Derpy made so much noise. Then again, I didn't have to heal her of … whatever it is you have.”

To make a long story short, it's just different motives for the same actions. Pinkie Pie hammers in a spike to Rainbow Dash's opposite lower leg, one in each of her forelimbs, then attaches wires to the spikes, then produces a battery from some unknown origin, and attaches the wires to the battery.

Either because she can no longer scream or because my character refuses to hear it, Rainbow Dash opens her mouth and no sound comes out.

As with an animation I saw bringing the story to life, the electricity running through the wingless pegasa causes her skin, muscle, and internal organs to intermittently disappear, so that all I can see for a split second each time is her skeleton. This happens for a few seconds, with the only sound I can hear being the crackling of electricity.

Finally, as Pinkie Pie disconnects the wires from the battery, there is silence, except for the sound of sizzling.

As the pink pony disconnects the wires from the spikes in Rainbow Dash's limbs, the pegasa turns to Pinkie Pie and whispers, “Alright, you've cured me. I'm fine now. You can let me go home.”

Pinkie Pie leaves the wires on the ground in the mess of Rainbow Dash's expulsions, but walks to the table and grabs the surgical knife again, then returns to the suspended pegasa and says, “But, Dashie, it's time for the harvest. You can't expect me to skip that. Why else do you think I killed all those germs that were hurting you? Now, just relax, and I'll get right to it.” With that, the pink pony places the sharp edge on Rainbow Dash's skin, just above her left leg.

The pegasa's defensive instincts take over, and she recoils from the blade.

Presently, Pinkie Pie pulls back. Hitting her forehead with her front hoof, she says, “What was I thinking? I can't have your organs fall on the floor, not after the mess you made. That'd defeat the purpose of killing all those germs in the first place. Just give me a minute, and I'll get the bucket.”

The activity takes less than a minute, and the pink pony is back with the bucket, ready to make the cuts she needs.

The first is just above Rainbow Dash's crotch, the second just below her chest. The third forms the shape of an I or an H, depending on how someone would choose to look at it. A few more cuts along the first three lines, and, like double doors, the flaps of skin holding in Rainbow Dash's internal abdominal organs separate, revealing intestines, stomach, liver, and other organs.

Pinkie Pie names each organ as she fishes it out: stomach, liver, pancreas, heart, and so forth. As she names and removes the large intestines, she sniffs the end connected to the small intestines. An expression of hatred and/or disgust flashes on her face, and she groans, “Eww, Rainbow Dash, what did you eat before you came here? It stinks.” When she gets no answer, she looks up to see the azure pegasa's head hanging limply. As she drops the bowels into the bucket, she reaches up and nudges the pegasa's chin. Not getting a response, without thinking she puts her head against Rainbow Dash's chest to listen for a heartbeat. Then, as she looks into the bucket, she remembers and says, “Oh, that's right. I removed it already.” She retrieves the syringe from the table and injects its contents into the azure pegasa's chest, then pulls it out again. When the pegasa refuses to respond to the injection, Pinkie Pie, through clenched teeth, growls, “Rainbow Dash.” After a few seconds, she sighs and says, “Very well, then. Have it your way. You've given me more than enough already for cupcakes. If I need more, I know where to get it.”

That's when I'm finally awoken from my trance, as my character responds to a nudge from behind him. As he turns away from the screen in his hands, I notice that the tablet's been recording the event. Not knowing when the recording began, and not really caring either, I say, “I think it's time for us to get back there.”

Lyra, from the side of me opposite the officer pony, says, “What about Fluttershy? She's in no condition to go anywhere.”

My character turns to look at the yellow pegasa, and I can see the only movement she makes is breathing. The way she's sitting, looking straight ahead, she looks like an equine sphinx.

As my character turns back to Lyra, I say, “You're right. Will you stay here with her while the rest of us go get Pinkie Pie?”

The herbivorous dinosaur, clearly shaken, says, “A-are you s-sure you want m-me to g-go with y-you?”

My character turns to Weed Whacker, and I say, “Very well. You don't have to go if you don't want to. But, I have to go.”

Joined by the police ponies, my character heads to and out the front doorway. As I enter the chariot, I'm sure I hear Fluttershy start to cry out the names of Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie. It's going to be painful, but the pink pony has left me with no other choice. I leave with the police ponies to apprehend Pinkie Pie.

Not surprisingly, it takes, I suppose, not even ten minutes to reach the factory. As we land and my character dismounts the chariot, he turns to one police pony, and I ask, “Does any pony have a rope I could use?”

The police pony produces a rope and hands it to my character, then asks, “So, what do you need the rope for?”

I answer, “If I'm gonna apprehend Pinkie Pie, I need something to make sure she doesn't escape. And, what better way to do that than to tie her hooves with a rope?”

The police pony raises a hoof and opens his mouth to ask a question, then partly lowers the hoof, then finally puts it down completely and says, “Whatever you do, get it done as soon as possible before she can get away.”

My character salutes the police pony, then heads into the factory and proceeds to the trap door to open it and enter the basement. At the lower door, I hear a male voice behind me saying, “I'm here for backup.” My character turns to see the police pony that'd promised to keep Rainbow Dash safe.

I couldn't blame the police pony for wanting to support my character now, after having failed to bring back Rainbow Dash before. Still, I say, “If you've watched what was happening on my tablet, you'll know what to expect. Not only was Rainbow Dash butchered, she also urinated, defecated, and vomited. Whatever mixture of smells is in there, there's no reason why it'd be pleasant.”

The police pony says, “Just open the door. Whatever's in there, I'll deal with it.”

My character shrugs, or so I assume, and I say, “Have it your way.” Then, he opens the door.

The police pony shows evidence of the scent hitting him, as he backs as fast as he can out of the tight hallway, turns around, and proceeds to gag and retch the contents of his stomach all over the floor.

I think to my self, 'Yeah, that's how I thought you'd deal with it.' As my character turns to the door and enters, I see Pinkie Pie reaching into the bucket, evidently fishing out some organ to prepare it for cupcakes. As my character closes, no, slams the door behind him, I say, “Pinkie Pie, I think we need to talk.”

The pink pony turns to look at my character, then says, “So, you've finally come for more cupcakes?”

In a few steps my character reaches Pinkie Pie, grabs her by her mane, and pulls her to the ground where he can trap her under one knee on her back. He grabs her front hooves and wraps them twice in the rope, then grabs the hind hooves and pulls them to the front hooves, wrapping all four in four more tight loops. Finally, he loops the remaining rope around the loops and between Pinkie Pie's hind then front hooves, tying both ends together to keep the rope secured. As my character finally backs away, I say, “Think again.”

Pinkie Pie looks at the job done on her legs, then looks up at my character again, rolling on her side toward my character, then says, “You hog-tied me. My ancestors' pneumonia-ridden remains, you buckin' hog-tied me!”

I answer, “More like pony-tied. Either way, you're not goin' anywhere without help.”

As my character grabs the rope to drag the pink pony out, she nickers and says, “You just wait 'til I get free. When I'm finished with you, you'll make Derpy's remains look beautiful!” But, that's all she says, only snorting menacingly as my character opens the door, then carries her out of the basement.

Once the two are out of the factory, my character places the restrained pink pony on the ground near the police ponies, and I say, “Take her away.”

Some of the ponies look at her in surprise and disbelief, others in grief, others in disgust.

As she once again rolls onto her side, Pinkie Pie, looking at the ponies staring at her, sarcastically asks, “What's the matter? You've never seen a hog-tied pony before? Well, just come and untie me, and I'll give you something to really stare at!”

The police pony that'd been vomiting not long ago stumbles toward the other ponies and says, “You heard him. Get her out of here.” Then, as the other police ponies proceed to move Pinkie Pie into the chariot, he turns to my character.

I say, “You may want to let that basement air out before going back inside. When you do find it tolerable to go in there, you'll find Rainbow Dash's remains where Derpy's were hanging. And, you should find Gilda's remains made into furniture close to the doorway, assuming Pinkie Pie didn't move them.”

The police pony nods, then says, “You're dismissed. You've done well. Now, you can go back home.”

My character salutes the police pony, then proceeds on a course away from the factory and back to his house by way of Ponyville.

Once at his house, he meets up with Twilight Sparkle, who asks, “So, how is Pinkie Pie?”

I answer, “She's in custody.”

The curiosity on the purple unicorn's face melts into horror and grief. She stammers, “A-and, w-what about R-rainbow D-dash?”

As my character kneels in front of Twilight Sparkle, I answer, “If her remains aren't already in transit to the morgue, or wherever they'll be kept, they'll be on their way shortly.”

I watch as Twilight Sparkle's lips twitch to try to form words. But, it's clear that she has no voice to even stammer. After a few seconds, my character holds out his arms and grabs the purple unicorn in an embrace, which finally allows her to release her emotions in sobs and sniffles.

How many friends has she lost now? Two? Three? And, one of those isn't dead, at least not yet. The fact of the matter is Pinkie Pie may be in a condition worse than death right now. And then, what about the remaining Mane Six? How many of them considered Ataahua a friend?

Fluttershy will most certainly take the loss of Rainbow Dash hard, if she isn't taking it that way already.

But, what of Rarity? She's been known to use the term “the worst possible thing” on things such as missing jewelry or something similar. But, those were trivial things, especially compared to this. Would she, could she, bring herself to use that term so appropriately on this event?

And, what about Applejack? I'd expect her to turn on me, on my character, for failing to help Pinkie Pie when I had the chance. And, if a pony were to inform her that one of her friends is dead, and another is in police custody for killing the first friend; she'd likely turn on the messenger for bringing her such news. Not logical, but natural.

And then there's me. I'm as much of a friend of Pinkie Pie as any of the Mane Six. And, while I know this is just a video game, and it was my intention to fail this first playthrough, that doesn't mean it makes my strange success any easier. But, there's one more thing.

Whereas Sergeant Sprinkles' fan fiction ended with the death of Rainbow Dash, this volume will end with the death of Pinkie Pie. While I may not have demonstrated it in the best possible way, Pinkie Pie murdering Rainbow Dash is what leads to her, that is Pinkie Pie's, death. But, she needs to go on trial first, and prove she will not repent.

These are the thoughts that run through my mind as my character holds the grieving unicorn in his arms. Then, as Twilight Sparkle regains her composure, she pulls away from him and says, “I need, no, we need, to tell the others about what happened.”

I state, “Fluttershy already knows about Rainbow Dash's death. She just needs to be informed about Pinkie Pie.”

Twilight Sparkle cocks her head in curiosity and asks, “How does she know?”

I answer, “It's kind a long story. Suffice it to say I have the event recorded.”

The purple unicorn, her head still tilted with curiosity, restates, “So, she knows about Rainbow Dash, but she doesn't know about Pinkie Pie?”

My character nods as I say, “That's right. I've just come back to inform her, as well as Lyra and Weed Whacker.” And, no longer holding, or needing to hold, Twilight Sparkle, my character proceeds to stand up, then head for his house.

Just then, the purple unicorn appears in my character's path, causing him to stop, and asks, “Wait, Fluttershy is at your house?”

I answer, “That's right. When you left, I came by to see how she was doing, and caught her trying to kill herself.” After letting the news sink in for a second, I continue, “I brought her to my house, and we've been taking care of her ever since. Right now, Lyra and Weed Whacker are taking care of her. If you want to visit her, you're welcome to come in with me.”

Twilight Sparkle puts a front hoof to her mouth, then I hear her say, “Fluttershy.”

Again my character kneels next to the purple unicorn, then props her chin upward, forcing her to look into his eyes, and allowing me to see into hers, as I say, “I don't blame you for leaving her alone, and I don't think she does either. How can I blame someone, some pony, for not knowing something I didn't know? If I had known, I would've brought her with me then and there.” My character lets go of Twilight's chin now, and I continue, “When I left her, she was still alive. I have no reason to think that has changed between then and now. I'm sure we'd all be honored to accept a visit from you.”

Twilight nods slowly and says, “Alright, if for no other reason than to say I'm sorry for not being there for her when she needed me last night.” Then, as the purple unicorn and my character head side-by-side up the stairs and to the doorway, she asks, “So, what happened to your front door?”

I answer, “In a few words, that was Rainbow Dash's doing. She was rather eager for what turned out to be her second-last meeting with Pinkie Pie.”

As my character pauses to let her enter first, Twilight says, “That's Rainbow Dash for ya. Once she got an idea in her head, there was really nothing to stop her.”

Once both are inside, Lyra, positioned between the unicorn and the pegasa, turns to me and says, “Mormon, I think she's getting worse. She hasn't moved at all since you left, and I think she's getting stiff.”

The unicorns move aside quickly as my character runs as many as three steps to the stagnant pegasa's side. As he puts an ear over where her heart must be, I can hear a definite heart beat. After confirming that, my character picks up the pegasa, and indeed she moves nothing noticeable, as though she was a statue.

A panicked “No” from Twilight Sparkle indicates that she's thinking the worst.

My character turns to her as I say, “She's still alive. She's just frozen right now. I'll talk to her, see if I can get her attention.” Then, not waiting for a response from the purple unicorn, my character turns back to the yellow pegasa and places her back on the couch as I say, “I'm right here, Fluttershy. I'm sorry about scaring you with my outburst earlier. I brought you here to help you feel better, but it seems I've just made things worse for you. I couldn't help Pinkie Pie, so I had to apprehend her. But, I hope I'm not too late to help you.”

As my character looks into the pegasa's eyes, I see no evidence of intelligence.

I continue, “Ever since my first visit to Ponyville, it seems I've been responsible for all sorts of messes that ponies have made, even one mess made by a griffon. But, I've been able to clean up almost all of them. All except the most important mess, the most dangerous one. And, even now that I've been able to keep that mess from getting any messier, there's still the cleanup. And, where better to start than with you?”

Another look into the pegasa's eyes shows that tears are streaming from them, the first evidence of intelligence I've seen in them since I got back.

As my character strokes her cheek, I continue, “You still have three friends, and they need your kindness more than ever. However long it takes for Ponyville to recover from this, it'll no doubt require your kindness, Rarity's generosity, Applejack's honesty, and the friendship of Twilight Sparkle's magic. The Mane Six are down two, but that doesn't mean such a team as this can't function with just four, and can't recover. Laughter and loyalty need new representatives, and they will need your help, not just yours, Fluttershy, but that of the rest of the Mane Six as well, in order to fit in. Will you be there to help the new team members?”

Finally, the yellow pegasa statue melts. Her neck straightens, but her head curls into her front hooves, and she begins to moan, long and surprisingly loud.

At this point, I'm sure I can hear Ataahua's voice say, “Mormon, please relay this message to Fluttershy from me.”

Then, as I hear the words, almost instinctively I recite them: “Life is difficult for everypony. If it weren't, it really wouldn't be fair. Things go wrong, and more often than not we don't know what or how. But, that doesn't mean we are to blame. Sometimes, they just happen.”

At that statement, Fluttershy looks up at my character. Gasping, she says, “Derpy. That was Derpy.”

I answer, “She wanted to deliver that message to you, and I was just the best way to deliver it.”

Just then, I hear another familiar voice say, “Mormon, I have a message for Fluttershy, too.”

I add, “Now Rainbow Dash has a message for you.”

The yellow pegasa sits up more rapidly than I expect, although my character manages to avoid getting hurt by her sudden rising. She says, “I'm ready.”

I can't help smiling. As I hear the words, again instinctively I recite them: “We only get as much as we can handle. You are stronger than you realize. You've had trials in the past few days greater than you've ever had before, but you've survived them. Remember that. I'm grateful, I'm proud, to call you a friend.”

I begin to wonder to myself if that last statement wasn't as much for me as it was for Fluttershy.

A bit shaky, the yellow pegasa, like a human soldier, looks at my character, raises a front hoof to that eye almost as though blocking light from above that eye, and, with a look of serious determination, says, “Reporting for duty.”

My character then turns to Twilight Sparkle and gestures for her to approach Fluttershy.

As the purple unicorn approaches, she turns to my character and says, “You know what, you've done something for Fluttershy that I couldn't have done. With my magic, I can't do miracles. That requires something greater than magic.” Not waiting for me to thank her, she approaches Fluttershy, who puts down her hoof, and says, “I'm sorry for abandoning you last night. Mormon informed me that you tried to kill yourself. Is that true?”

The yellow pegasa turns to my character, and I can see in her eyes that she wants him to move out of the way. As he does so, she jumps off the couch and, head bowed, says to her purple unicorn friend,, “Oh, Twilight, I don't blame you. I told you I was alright. I lied.” She takes a moment to sigh, then continues, “I knew you had much to do at the library, and I didn't want to hold you back from that. And, I thought I'd be just fine on my own. I should've realized that time alone meant time with my depression. I don't blame you for leaving. I blame myself for lying to you. I represent kindness, not honesty. But, that doesn't mean I shouldn't be honest with my friends.” Looking into Twilight Sparkle's eyes, she asks, “Do you forgive me?”

The purple unicorn stares into the eyes of her yellow pegasa friend. After a few seconds, she points to herself with a front hoof as she says, “All this time, I thought I'd done something to cause you to distrust me.” Now, she points to Fluttershy as she continues, “It hadn't crossed my mind that you'd done something to lose my trust.” Leaning toward my character, she continues, “Thank the goddesses Mormon was there to stop you from killing yourself. And, now he lets me see him bring you back to life. Both of us, all of us, owe him a great debt of gratitude.” Sitting straight up again, she concludes, “I suppose if you had succeeded in killing yourself, I would've held it against you. But, you approach me with this confession. I've never lost trust in you, but I do forgive you. Like Mormon said, we all need you more than ever.” And, with that, Twilight hugs Fluttershy, and Fluttershy hugs Twilight back.

After perhaps a minute, the two separate, and Twilight Sparkle says, “Well, if you're ready, Mormon, shall we be going?”

Before I can answer, Lyra steps toward Twilight and says, “I wish to go with. If it means learning more about humans, or at least about Mormon, I want to come with, to observe him.”

I notice that Twilight's still focused on me. I answer, “Well, if Lyra wants to come with, I think it's a good idea if Fluttershy comes with as well. And, for that matter, I think Weed Whacker should also join us.”

At my last statement, Weed Whacker steps out from behind my character and says, “Oh, I'm not sure that's such a good idea. You'll be delivering bad news, right? I think I've seen enough of ponies crying. If it's alright with you, I'd rather stay here. I have work to do here anyway.”

My character focuses on the little herbivorous dinosaur, then turns to Lyra, then to Fluttershy, then finally to Twilight Sparkle.

Again before I can say anything, Fluttershy, leaning toward Weed Whacker, says, “Weed Whacker's sounding like me.” Then, dividing her attention between my character and Twilight Sparkle, she adds, “I know we'll be confronting our remaining friends with bad news, but they're still our friends. Mormon, as you pointed out, they need me, my kindness, more than ever. If there's anything I can do to help, I'll do it.” Then, turning back to Weed Whacker, she asks, “Are you sure you want to stay here?”

My character turns his attention to Fluttershy, and I notice, while she's given the herbivorous dinosaur her full attention, she isn't staring at him. He then turns to Weed Whacker, and I can see she's not so sure about her previous answer. I say, “It is still your choice. But, who knows? You could prove helpful.”

Weed Whacker looks up at my character, then at Fluttershy, then back to me. Finally, she says, “I only wanted to stay behind because I was sure Fluttershy was going to refuse and stay here. If she's not staying, then there's no reason for me to. Sure, I'll go.”

Twilight, seeing the matter settled, says, “Well, I guess that's it then. If we're ready to go, then let's go.” With that, she turns and heads toward the door, two ponies, a dinosaur, and a human following close behind her. As she exits the door, she asks, “So when are you gonna get your door fixed?”

I answer, “Hopefully it'll be part of the cleanup. I keep on meaning to get the job done, then things keep coming up, occupying my time so I never get to it.”

Twilight Sparkle sighs and says, “I know what that's like. At the library, I start getting the books in order, then one of my friends, like Rainbow Dash, … “ She doesn't exactly trail off, she just stops before she can finish her thought. Her ears stand straight up, then she lowers her head and her ears droop again. Her voice starts to shake as she says, “That is, if she hadn't been … “

As the purple unicorn sniffles, Fluttershy gallops toward her and, slowing to a stop next to her, asks, “Twilight, are you alright?”

Twilight Sparkle rubs her nose with a front hoof, then stomps with it as she says, “I won't be alright for a long time.” Then, looking up at the sky, she shouts, “Pinkie Pie, how could you do that to your friends?”

In the mean time, my character has made his way ahead of the group and opened the gate. He turns to the three ponies and the dinosaur, but I decide not to say anything.

Twilight Sparkle shakes herself out, rubs just below her eye with the top of the hoof she used to rub her nose, then, forcing a chuckle and a smile, answers, “You're right. Let's get going.”

As the group heads along the path, Weed Whacker asks, “So, where are we going first?”

Twilight Sparkle looks up and thinks aloud, “Well, let's see.”

Before the purple unicorn can complete her thought, Fluttershy says, “Well, once we get through the forest, Sweet Apple Acres is closest to my house. Shall we go there first?”

Twilight turns to Fluttershy and answers, “Sure. Let's go there first.”

After that, it takes more than an hour for the party of five to make it to Fluttershy's cottage. After that, foregoing a trip through Ponyville, they turn and follow the edge of the forest toward the orchard and the red barn that mark Sweet Apple Acres, a trip which takes perhaps another half an hour.

As the group passes under the wooden gateway over the dirt road, I hear Applejack's voice call out, “Twilight Sparkle, Fluttershy, it's mighty good seein' y'all! What brings ya here?”

My character turns to find the origin of the voice, at this point galloping, and sees the orange mare running toward him, but more directed toward Twilight and Fluttershy.

Just inches away from the two, she slides to a stop. Evidently noticing the expressions on the faces of her friends, she, worry melting her face, asks, “Twilight, Fluttershy, what's wrong?”

As my character approaches the orange earth pony, I'm aware of more galloping, and he looks toward the source to show me that Big MacIntosh is also approaching.

Twilight opens her mouth to speak, but can only stammer out, “I-I-I … “ Realizing her inability to say the words, the purple unicorn turns away.

Applejack, even more worried now, asks, “Twilight?”

Before Fluttershy can make an attempt, I have my character kneel near Applejack, and I say, “There's some bad news.”

Now becoming angry, Applejack stomps and says, “Well, somepony spit it out.”

I state, “Rainbow Dash is dead.”

Applejack, evidently thinking the news was about Twilight Sparkle, sighs with relief. Then, as the news about Rainbow Dash starts to sink in, she perks up in surprise and says, “Wait a minute. Rainbow Dash? Is dead? When did this happen? How? What happened to her?”

I add, “Pinkie Pie killed her. She's in custody for it.”

The surprise on the orange earth pony's face morphs into fear, and she backs away as she says, “No, that can't be. Pinkie Pie wouldn't … “ She swallows, then shakes her head wildly, then says, “No, you're lyin'. There's no way Pinkie Pie'd do something like that. She's the element of laughter.”

I'm not blind to what Applejack is about to do, but neither is Fluttershy.

Before the orange pony can begin her run, the yellow pegasa flies into her path and says, “Applejack, Mormon's not lying.”

The orange pony pushes her friend aside as she says, “Well, then, he must be mistaken. Ah know Pinkie Pie. She'd never kill Rainbow Dash, not deliberately. They're best friends. Ah've gotta put an end to this right now.” And, with that, she begins her charge toward me. But then, she begins to glow with a purple aura, and rises above the ground before she can reach me.

Next to me, I hear Twilight Sparkle say, “No, he's not mistaken. I can't say how, but he witnessed the murder himself. He's the one who apprehended Pinkie Pie.” Maintaining her magical hold on the struggling earth pony, she continues, “I'm sorry to have to give you this news, but Pinkie Pie also murdered Derpy.”

For another second or two the orange earth pony struggles, then suddenly stops. She looks at each of the messengers, then laughs and says, “Oh, Ah see what's goin' on here. This is a joke. Yeah, that's it. This's one of Rainbow Dash's shenanigans. Oh, she's pulled a good one on me this time. And, you're all in on it. Yeah, she must be havin' a good laugh, right? Ha ha! Rainbow Dash, you can come on out now! And, bring Derpy with ya. Pinkie Pie, you come out too.”

I'm aware that Twilight Sparkle won't be able to suspend Applejack above the ground forever, so I have my character stand up again and take the step toward the suspended orange pony and grab her out of the air. Then, as he turns to the purple unicorn, I say, “It's alright. I have her.”

I hear Twilight Sparkle say, “Thank you.”

Then, as my character turns his attention to Applejack, I say, “It's not a joke. I could show you the event if you want, but I've already seen the effect the moving picture has on other ponies, such as Fluttershy. If you really want to see it, I'll show it to you; but I must warn you, it's really violent, really graphic.”

Suddenly aware that it's human arms, not unicorn magic, that's keeping her above the ground, Applejack looks up at my character's face and asks, “How can you show me something from the past? You're not a time traveler, are ya?”

I answer, “No, I'm not. But, I can record events as they happen, then show them afterwards, and they'll appear as though they're happening right now, right where they happened.” At that moment, my character kneels down and prepares to set the orange earth pony on her hooves again. In the mean time, I say, “I'll have to put you down so I can get the device and show it to you. Is that alright?”

Sensing that I'm in the process of doing so, Applejack answers, “Alright. Ah reckon Ah won't have nothin' to fight over if'n you don't show me nothin'.”

Taking that as a cue, my character places the orange earth pony carefully on her hooves, then produces the tablet from a pocket in his clothes. He pushes a few areas on the screen, and the video file appears, ready to play.

I then ask, “Applejack, are you sure you want to see this?”

Applejack, more gently, says, “Well, not really.” Then, back to her normal tone, she continues, “But, Ah suppose Ah won't be able to believe it until Ah see it. Just show me the event before Ah change m'mind.”

My character pushes a spot on the screen, and the video begins to play.

At first, my interest is where the recording has started. It seems that whoever started the recording started it before Pinkie Pie had started restraining Rainbow Dash. Halfway through the restraining process, Pinkamena, the one with the curly mane and tail, turns to the screen and points between her eyes with a front hoof, then at the camera, at me, again. After that, my character's attention turns to the orange earth pony as she watches the event unfold before her.

As morose as this may sound, I must admit, I find myself respecting Applejack as she watches the event. She is clearly horrified by what she sees, but, whether it's because she can't turn away or because she's forcing herself, she keeps watching. And, either she's hiding her nausea amazingly well, or she isn't sickened by what she sees. That, or living around and cleaning the barnyard creatures has left her more or less immune to what she's watching. If she really isn't nauseated by what she sees, there are two other reasons I can think of for that: either she knows that what she sees cannot hurt her, or there's still a part of her that doesn't believe what she's seeing. If it's the latter, I can't blame her. It's difficult to believe that something like this is happening, has happened, even with this level of detail.

And then, there's her brother. Big MacIntosh, it seems, is unable to watch more than a minute without exhibiting signs of nausea. When Pinkie Pie chops off Rainbow Dash's wings, that seems too much for him. To his credit, he turns away from the screen and takes a few steps away from my character and his sister before emptying his stomach.

I'm not sure what exactly it is that finally convinces the orange earth pony of Rainbow Dash's death, or of Pinkie Pie's guilt. I can theorize that it's the pegasa's electrocution, the time it takes from the time that Pinkie Pie begins the organ harvesting until Rainbow Dash finally dies, the pegasa's expulsions, or perhaps Pinkie Pie's general behavior and attitude.

When the video is over, my character turns to the orange earth pony to show me that tears are streaming down her face.

She looks up at my character's face and, trembling, says, “Y-you humans m-made th-things like that a-all the time. H-h … h-h-how do Ah know … “ Applejack is unable to say more, as, like Rainbow Dash, she's suddenly seized by abdominal convulsions.

In the mean time, my character puts the tablet away, and manages to stand up before the orange earth pony gags, then retches on my character's closest shoe.

My character takes a step back as he kneels again, then proceeds to stroke Applejack's back as I say, “I'm sorry. If I could've prevented Rainbow Dash's death, I would've. And, as for Pinkie Pie, I'm sure you'll get a chance to talk to her in the near future.”

By now, Applejack's stomach is evidently empty. She is only able to stammer out the name Rainbow Dash, then Pinkie Pie, before melting into sobs.

At this point, Fluttershy approaches the grieving earth pony and extends a wing over her back.

As my character stands up again, I hear the now recovering Big MacIntosh saying from behind my character, “Ah reckon it's time for you to leave now, human.”

As my character turns to focus on the red stallion, I can see him glaring daggers at him. I answer, “I suppose you're right. I came here with Twilight Sparkle to deliver the news about Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie. Since I'm done, there is no reason for me to stay.” And, with that, my character proceeds toward the gate again.

Before he can go too much further, I hear Twilight Sparkle call out, “Mormon, wait!” Then, as he stops and turns around, the purple unicorn mare says, “Please don't leave yet.”

I then hear Lyra say, “You can't leave yet. None of us can leave just yet.”

The red stallion growls, “Just get outta here!” The masculine voice cracks as he says, “Pinkie P … Rainbow Da … “ then the red earth pony collapses and, like his sister, starts sobbing.

How can I, how can my character, leave these two ponies like this? Fluttershy is attending to Applejack. I suppose I, that is my character, could attend to her brother, Big MacIntosh. Indeed, already my character is approaching the fallen stallion, ready to help him up, or just comfort him.

As my character approaches Big MacIntosh, he starts kicking with his front legs, trying to get back up on his hooves. All he succeeds in doing, though, is spinning around, which reminds me of other characters I've seen doing that on various television shows. The only thing missing is a “Whoop whoop” sound effect.

But, now isn't the time to laugh at the display. As soon as my character is close enough, he kneels down, then reaches out and catches the spinning stallion, then proceeds to pick him up and place him on his feet, his hooves, again.

Big MacIntosh, evidently surprised to be on his hooves again, stops kicking and turns to me and asks, “Why did you do that?”

As my character stands up again, I answer, “You looked like you needed help standing up again. Are you alright?”

The red stallion sniffs at each of his sides, then turns to my character again and says, “Ah'm fine. Ah'm just surprised you'd do that for me.”

Just then, I hear Applejack say, through sobs, “Big Mac, you go back to the barn and tell Granny Smith and Applebloom what happened.” Then, inhaling and exhaling in a deep sigh, she concludes, “Ah've gotta go with Twilight, Fluttershy, and the others.”

That's when I hear Twilight Sparkle say, “That's right. We haven't told Rarity yet. She needs to know.”

My character turns to Applejack, and I ask, “Are you sure you're alright to go with us?”

The orange earth mare turns to me and says, “Thank you for carin'. Ah'll be fine. Besides, Rarity's one of my friends, too. Ah'm sorry for tryin' to attack ya'll. Ah'm sorry for throwin' up on yer shoe.”

As my character joins the now moving group of ponies and dinosaur, I answer, “As for attacking me, I kind of expected it. I was the messenger of bad news, after all. If someone had come to me with similar news, I probably would've lashed out in anger too. As for you getting sick on my shoe, well, considering what I showed you, again I can't blame you. It was really disgusting.”

As I hear Applejack sniffle and say “Yeah,” I can't help wondering what she thought I was calling disgusting, and, in turn, wondering what the orange pony is agreeing to. But, then I think better of it, and decide to let the matter rest.

As we head for Ponyville and Carousel Boutique, I notice that, as the orange mare gains control of her emotions, Fluttershy removes her wing and folds it to her side again. Once more, they're displaying very human behavior; but, that's to be expected. After all, these are fictional characters, based on real creatures, but still invented by humans. And, like any inventions, it only makes sense that they'd take on the qualities of their inventors.

Thus are my thoughts as I follow the group into town and to the boutique. The trip takes perhaps ten or twenty minutes.

Once inside, I hear the familiar British-accented female voice call out, “I'll be with you in a minute.” And, like clockwork, no more and no less than a minute passes before the white unicorn with purple mane and tail descends a staircase to greet us. Seeing me, she says, “Well, it's unusual to have a human as a customer. Still, I'm sure I can make you look fabulous.”

I have to cover the microphone to keep it from catching my laughter. The one thing I don't need right now is for the ponies to think I'm not taking the matter seriously.

It doesn't matter anyway. Rarity sees the somber expressions on the other ponies, and her attitude changes as she asks, “Is there something I should know about?”

I quickly gain control, remove my hand from my microphone, and say, “Rarity, we've come with bad news.”

I pause for a moment, just long enough for the white unicorn to say, “Well, don't keep me in the dark, darling.”

I speak the news directly, the only way I can think of: “Rainbow Dash has been killed.”

The white unicorn gasps, then asks, “Rainbow Dash? Are you sure?”

That's when Applejack steps toward her and answers, “Ah'm sorry, but it's true. She was killed by … by … “ The orange earth pony, perhaps still incredulous about the news, can't bring herself to say it.

Rarity says, “Yes? Killed by?”

I finish the orange earth pony's answer, “Pinkie Pie killed Rainbow Dash.”

The white unicorn relaxes as she says, “You must be joking. If Pinkie Pie did something like that, it would be the worst possible thing.”

I rip the headset from my head and toss it away as I start laughing uncontrollably. She actually said it. As appropriate as it was, it was too funny not to laugh at. But, what made it so funny was her tone of voice as she said it. There was no emotion attached to it. And, it was said relatively fast, as though she didn't believe it was that important.

It takes me at least a minute before I can regain my composure, and, in the mean time, the ponies and dinosaur seem frozen in time and place. I have to wonder if the game paused. But, when I can talk without laughing, I reclaim the headset and place it back on my head.

As I look at the screen again, I notice everything that should be animated is still not moving. Wondering if the program though I'd made a Maori promise, I say, “Continue.”

It seems as though the program had thought that, as immediately the animation resumes, indicated by Twilight saying, “Rarity, it is the worst possible thing.”

As the news finally starts to sink in, the white unicorn freezes in place for a moment. The irises in her eyes shrink until they're barely visible, and her ears rotate a hundred eighty degrees and fold. Her mouth hangs open. Then, she shakes her head slowly and says, “No, it can't be.”

Watching this, I almost feel ashamed for having laughed at Rarity's statement a few minutes ago.

Applejack paces toward Rarity, taps a forelimb of hers with her closest front hoof, and says, “Ah'm sorry, Sugar Cube. It's true.”

Now Rarity closes her mouth and swallows, then says, looking down while continuing to shake her head slowly, “Pinkie Pie. Rainbow Dash. Why would she do that?”

And, that's when Twilight's faithful assistant appears, asking, “Is there anything else I can help you with?” Then he sees Rarity and freezes. Seeing the rest of the group, he asks, “Rarity, what's going on?”

What really starts to alarm the little purple dragon is when Rarity, her face a mask of grief, asks, her voice shaking, “I-is th-there any e-evidence of this?”

I answer, “I could show it to you. But, as Applejack can attest, it's pretty gruesome.”

Spike, confused, demands, “What's gruesome? Will someone please tell me what's going on?”

Twilight Sparkle looks at my character, but I answer, “He trusts you more than me. It's best if he hears the news from you.”

The purple dragon growls, then roars out, “Someone tell me something!”

Twilight sighs, then turns to her assistant and says, “Spike, … Rainbow Dash … is dead. She … was … killed … by … Pinkie Pie.”

At this point, Rarity's battle with her emotions finally ends in her defeat. She whimpers, then inhales sharply, then her legs finally fail to support her weight, and, stretched out on the floor, she hides her face in the ground between her front hooves and starts sobbing.

The image of the white unicorn, normally known for her melodrama, now demonstrating such sincere grief, is emotionally painful to see. I admit, I'm feeling sorry for her.

Fortunately, Fluttershy is there. She flutters to the aid of her friend, settling down next to her and covering her back with a wing, resembling a mother hen with at least one of her chicks, or perhaps a companion, on one side.

And, wouldn't you know it, this is when Rarity's little sister, Sweetie Belle, appears from behind a door and asks, “What's going on in here?”

Then, Spike, trying to process the news, restates, “Wait, wait. Rainbow Dash is dead, and Pinkie Pie killed her?”

From the white unicorn foal's position, I hear, “What?” My character turns to the source of the voice to show her to me; and she, looking at her sister, asks, “Rarity, what's Spike talking about?”

That's when Weed Whacker takes action. She approaches the confused foal and says, “Why don't you show me your room? Your sister needs to talk with her friends.”

Sweetie Belle, eying the herbivorous dinosaur suspiciously, lowers her head and paws the ground as she says, “Get away from me. I want to know what's going on, now!” For emphasis, she stomps the hoof she's been using to paw the ground and quickly raises her head while saying the last word.

Weed Whacker whimpers in fear of the foal, then runs back to Lyra's side, trembling.

I'd laugh if the subject matter weren't so serious, so poignant. Evidently, from Weed Whacker's perspective, the little white unicorn foal was, is, an intimidating sight. From my point of view, though, not so much.

As my character focuses on Sweetie Belle, I ask, “What's your name?” Obviously I already know the answer, but there's no need to let the characters in the game know that.

Turning her attention to me, the white unicorn foal answers, “My name is Sweetie Belle. What's yours?”

I answer, “You may call me Mormon.”

The anger on the foal's face melts into confusion as she asks, “So, Mormon, do you have something to do with this?”

I pause for a moment, then answer, “I guess you could say that.”

Sweetie Belle cocks her head to one side and asks, “What do you mean?”

My character turns to look at Twilight Sparkle, but she appears to have no answers. He turns to look at Lyra, but she is also silent. He turns to look at Fluttershy, but she's too occupied comforting Rarity to notice me. Finally, he turns back to Sweetie Belle, and I make my decision. I begin, “I can't think of anywhere else to start, so I'll start from the beginning.” I find myself speaking to all the ponies and dragons, although my character's attention is directed at Sweetie Belle.

The white foal says, “Well, go ahead.”

I sigh, then say, “It all started when I first came to Ponyville. I met up with three stallions, who tried to drive me away. Suffice it to say I told them of an experience, and it stopped them from attacking me.”

Just then, Lyra approaches the foal and says to my character, “It'll be offensive to Sweetie Belle, but you're going to have to tell her the story you told the stallions. It's the only way she'll understand what happened.”

My character nods, and I say, “Alright, then.”

Before I can say more, the little white foal turns to Lyra and asks, “Why would his story be offensive to me?”

Settling down next to Sweetie Belle, Lyra answers, “He'll explain.”

As the two turn their attention to my character, I continue, “In an island country called New Zealand, I was a missionary for two years. During that time, in one area, I attended a meeting with other missionaries, after which, as is customary, or was at the time, we had a meal. Part of that meal was a chopped-up meat in a gravy. I guess we all assumed at the time that it was beef. I had a sample of it. It was stringy, but it had a pleasant flavor.”

I can see through my character's eyes that the foal is becoming upset, but I can't really tell what type of upset.

Rarity has gained some control of her emotions, and is also watching my character.

I continue, “The flavor was so good, in fact, that I went for seconds. When I got there, there was no more left. When I returned to where my companion was, I was informed that it'd been revealed that the meat in the gravy had come from a horse.”

Through my character's eyes, I can clearly see terror in the face of the little foal.

My character turns to Rarity for a moment to show me evidence of nausea in her face before turning his attention back to Sweetie Belle.

Before I can continue, I hear the foal's trembling voice ask, “Th-that's wh-what you m-meant by o-o-offensive, L-lyra?”

Lyra only nods.

I continue, “I admit to you, as I did to the stallions, that, knowing what it was, if I'd been able to have seconds of that meat, I still would have. I might not have tried the meat if I'd known beforehand what it was, but after having it, had I been informed before I went for seconds, it tasted so good to me that I still would've gone right ahead.”

Sweetie Belle starts bawling, while her older sister starts retching.

I continue, “I tried to inform the stallions that I wasn't there to make meals of them, or any of the other ponies here. My objective in coming here was only to make friends. It still is.

“At any rate, it wasn't until later that I found out that Pinkie Pie had heard the story I'd told the stallions. To make a long story short, she tried to avenge the stallions. I managed to escape from her, and later I proved my intention to make friends by providing a service to Fluttershy.”

That's when the yellow pegasa chimes in and says, “That's right. You helped me lead a family of ducks through Ponyville and back to my house. Thank you for that.”

Rarity, her stomach now empty, can do nothing more right now than pant.

Lyra seems to be doing a fine job of calming the crying foal. At least Sweetie Belle isn't crying so loudly anymore.

I'm sure I can hear Rainbow Dash say, “Mormon, aren't you forgetting a part of your story?”

I nod and continue, “Oh, and I also drove off a griffon. Let's just say I won a roaring contest against her. Anyway, I guess Pinkie Pie felt indebted to me for that, and has been trying to balance things between us ever since. At least, that was her original intention.

“I learned later that she'd killed the griffon I'd chased off, and made cupcakes out of her. I know because I … ate one of the cupcakes.”

All around me, I hear either horrified gasps, or angry shouts of “What?”

I continue, “Later on, in a conversation with her, I complimented her on the cupcakes; but, I also told her the holder of the element of laughter shouldn't be butchering other creatures and making cupcakes of them.”

That's when I hear snorting from Applejack's direction. As my character turns to her, she says, “You appealed to her by her element?”

I answer, “That's right.”

The orange earth pony's next sound is a mixture of sigh and groan. She then says, “That explains ever'thin'.”

I ask, “What do you mean?”

Applejack glares at me as she asks, “Did it ever occur to y'all to tell her ya love her?”

I pause for a moment, then answer, “I guess not.” I don't say it aloud, but, considering the number of encounters between us, it doesn't, it didn't, make a lot of sense to talk to her about loving her.

The next thing Applejack says surprises me: “It doesn't matter whether it makes sense to you or not.”

Did she just read my mind?

Before I can ask, the orange earth pony continues, “All you had to do was say somethin' 'bout lovin' her, and she'd be more willin' to listen to y'all.”

That's true. I had programmed Pinkie Pie that way. Aloud I say, “I guess you're right.” I continue, “When she killed Derpy, I—“

Before I can finish my sentence, Sweetie Belle cries, “Derpy's dead too?”

I continue, “I caught Pinkie Pie making muffins of her. I didn't eat any of them. I did try to protect Rainbow Dash, but she refused to cooperate. When Pinkie Pie came to my house and threatened me and my guests, including Rainbow Dash, I wrote a letter to Princess Celestia requesting police assistance. I let Pinkie Pie go before sending the letter to give her one more chance to change her ways. I ordered Rainbow Dash to go with the police ponies so she could lead them to the factory where she'd killed and processed the griffon and Derpy, and I gave the police specific directions on where to find the basement. The police ponies and Rainbow Dash left together, but only the police ponies returned.” My character turns to the orange earth pony as I continue, “Applejack has seen the recording of the event of Pinkie Pie killing Rainbow Dash, but I also have a recording of Pinkie Pie killing Derpy.” As my character turns back to a now quiet but still frightened Sweetie Belle, I conclude, “The last time I went to the factory and the basement, I personally apprehended Pinkie Pie. She's in police custody right now. I don't know what's going to happen to her, but I'm willing to accept responsibility for her becoming what she is now.”

At this point, I hear Twilight Sparkle say, “You can't accept full responsibility for what Pinkie Pie became. She did have the choice to make different decisions any time she wanted.”

Next, I hear Rarity say, “Thanks, Fluttershy. Thanks, Lyra. Human, Mormon, how could you do that to Pinkie Pie?”

I can't think of anything to say beyond what I've already said, but Lyra answers for me, “He's unfamiliar with how things work around here. He didn't know how to address Pinkie Pie's behavior. I'm sure if he'd been informed earlier about how to talk to Pinkie Pie, things would've turned out better.”

I don't say it aloud, but what Lyra said isn't exactly true. I do know how to talk to Pinkie Pie; I've known since I came up with the idea for this game. I chose this course of action, knowing how it'd end. When I start this game again, I'll make different decisions, including what Applejack suggested, about telling Pinkie Pie I love her. But, now's not the time. I want to play this game to its conclusion.

Rarity's voice shocks me out of my thoughts when I hear her say, “I guess your right, Lyra. Mormon, I'm sorry for my outburst.”

I answer, “That's alright.”

That's when I hear Twilight Sparkle once again, this time saying, “Spike, I want you to come with me. We need to leave Rarity and her little sister alone to talk. And, I need you back at the library.”

As my character turns his attention to the little purple dragon, I notice he seems to be fighting with his own emotions. He doesn't say anything, just nods as he wanders to Twilight's side.

The purple unicorn turns to Fluttershy, Lyra, Applejack, Weed Whacker, and my character, and says, “Let's go now.”

Each complies, and the group of five join Twilight on her way out of the boutique.

Once outside, I hear Spike sniffle and say, “Rainbow Dash is … , and Pinkie Pie is … “ then sniffle again and start whimpering.

Then I hear Rainbow Dash say, “Spike, I had no idea you felt that way about me.”

Knowing the azure pegasa is dead, I choose to say nothing. While Fluttershy and Lyra and, I suppose, Twilight know she and Derpy visited me to comfort Fluttershy, I'm not sure how Applejack would think of me hearing voices, even of a friend.

The group makes its way to the library, where Twilight Sparkle dismisses everyone else, except for Spike, to go back to where they live, or where they choose to go otherwise.

Applejack salutes the group goodbye and heads back to Sweet Apple Acres.

Fluttershy turns to my character and says, “Well, while I suppose I can go back to my own home, I think I should go with you instead.”

I ask, “What about your animals? We'll be passing by your cottage anyway. I could help you take care of your animals, if you want.”

The yellow pegasa covers her mouth with her front hooves and says, “The animals. I can't believe I forgot all about them. Oh, I hope they're alright.”

Watching the yellow pegasa start to whimper, I say, “We'll see when we get there. But, like I said, I'll be happy to help you take care of them. I'm sure they're just fine.” As I think about it, I wonder how my character must look, considering he's probably had only one meal in the past two or three days. For that matter, he hasn't showered either. I wonder if Lyra has had such a chance since she's been in my custody. But, those things seem immaterial considering I've volunteered to help Fluttershy with her animals.

Fluttershy, speaking of, continues to whimper, but nods her head in agreement.

Perhaps a half hour later the group is in front of the yellow pegasa's cottage.

As my character looks around Fluttershy's home turf, I see animals showing signs of life, most of which is evidently aimed at searching for the yellow pegasa that normally takes care of them.

A white rabbit, which I recognize as Angel, seeing Fluttershy, taps its foot a few times on the ground, then runs to the pegasa. Once a few inches away from her, the rabbit stops, looks up, and glares at her.

Fluttershy says, “I'm so sorry, Angel bunny. I've been busy. Is everything alright?”

The rabbit growls—to my surprise—then turns away from Fluttershy and sticks it's nose up in the air.

My character looks around slowly, and I can see that the creatures surrounding him seem healthy enough. At the same time, I wouldn't be surprised if some of those animals, particularly the caged ones, are hungry. As my character turns back to Fluttershy, I ask, “So, how can I help?”

She looks around for a moment, then says, “Go check on the chickens. See if they've got enough food.”

My character nods in agreement, then starts toward the chicken coop. Looking inside, I can see that the three chickens inside seem to be healthy. I can also see, as my character looks to what I can only guess is the food dish, that there seems to be a little food remaining, indicated by the bottom being visible, save for a few spots hidden by small piles of feed.

As my character pulls his head out of the small doorway and turns to where I'm sure the pegasa most likely is, I ask, “Where is the food for the chickens? They look like they need more.”

I don't hear the pegasa answer at first, and I decide to give her a few seconds before calling out again, “Fluttershy?”

From one side of the cottage, the pegasa's head appears, and she asks, “What did you want?”

I answer, “I think your chickens need more food.”

Fluttershy disappears for a few seconds, then reappears carrying a few dried cobs of corn in her mouth. She approaches, head bowed, resembling a frightened puppy, although perhaps from a larger breed, until she's right next to me, then drops the cobs at my character's knees. Looking up at him, she says, “Give them these, but clean off their dish first. Did you see if they needed water?”

Two things that I didn't mention aloud to Fluttershy. I never thought of cleaning a chickens' plate before giving them more, and I hadn't checked their water.

My character looks inside to search for whatever would serve as a watering container.

Nothing I see reminds me of something that I've seen used to provide water for chickens.

My character looks back to the pegasa, and I answer, “I don't see anything in there that looks like it'd be used for water.”

The yellow pegasa stares at my character for a moment, then, shooing him away with a hoof, says, “Move aside, please.”

My character obliges, allowing the pegasa to walk up the board and enter the chicken house. A minute or two later, she comes out with what looks like a dog's food dish in her mouth. It's not clear exactly what she's saying, but it is funny seeing the dish moving up and down in her mouth as she tries to talk. I think what she's saying, or trying to say, is, “This is it here, and it's empty.” Not sure she's making herself clear, she puts the dish on the ramp in front of her and repeats herself. As it turns out, I interpreted her muffled message correctly, except it was two separate sentences: “This is it here. It's empty.”

I ask, “Is there something I can use to fill it? For that matter, where was it?”

Fluttershy backs into the small red house and says, “It was right here.”

As my character puts his head through the doorway, I can see through his eyes where the yellow pegasa is pointing, a now empty spot next to the food dish.

As he backs away from the structure, Fluttershy peers out of the opening and says, “As for a place to fill it, there's a spring nearby. I clean it out and then fill it again with water from there.” She then makes her way out of the structure, nudging the watering bowl so it slides down the ramp, then, following close behind it, says, “I'll take care of the chickens' water, and you can take care of their food.” Then, without waiting for an answer, she grabs the watering bowl and follows the stream against its flow, evidently intending to take care of the water for the chickens.

My character goes to work, re-entering the chicken house, grabbing the food dish, pulling it out, emptying and cleaning it, putting it back in place, and finally placing in it the cobs of corn Fluttershy had given him to give to the chickens.

Whether it's because of fear and uncertainty about me, or because of thirst, the chickens seem uninterested in the cobs of corn.

That's when Fluttershy comes back with the water bowl, nearly filled with water. She enters the red structure and, a minute or two later, I hear the pegasa's voice say, “Alright, ladies. Come and get it, if you don't mind.” Then, through my character's eyes, I watch the pegasa back out of the chicken house as I hear the sound of activity from inside. She then turns to me and says, “You did a great job cleaning out their food dish. I'm sure, once they've gotten their fill of water, they'll enjoy the corn. I had expected you to separate the corn from the cobs, though.”

I offer, “I could go in now and separate the corn, if you want.”

Fluttershy answers, “I wouldn't suggest it. They've already claimed those cobs of corn, and they won't want somepony trying to get them back. Sorry.”

I answer, “That's alright. If that's how it's going to be, who am I to change it?”

Fluttershy looks toward her cottage and says, “I have Lyra taking care of the seals and other water creatures, and Weed Whacker taking care of the birds. I should go check on them, to see how they're doing.”

I don't say it aloud, but I had hoped she'd find something for them to help out with as well. What I do say is, “I should go with you. I'd like to see how they're doing, as well.”

The yellow pegasa nods, and my character follows her to the back of her house, where I see the herbivorous dinosaur attending to various waterfowl in a pond. I see a family of wild ducks, the adult male of which quacks a few times when he sees me.

Fluttershy says, “He recognizes you. He's thanking you for helping his family and me get back to safety.”

I answer, “I was happy to do so.”

Weed Whacker, hearing the two of us, turns to my character and says, “So, those are the ducks you helped, along with Fluttershy.”

I answer, “That's right. And, I must admit, it was fun helping them.”

Just then, Lyra appears and, evidently exhausted, says, “I'm finished feeding your carnivores.”

Before the yellow pegasa can check Lyra's work, I, no we, hear a scream from further up the trail, and a familiar voice calls out, “Lyra, where are you? Somepony help me!” It's Bon-Bon's voice.

Lyra and my character look at each other, and Fluttershy asks, “What's Bon-Bon doing in the forest? Doesn't she know it's dangerous to go in there alone?”

Lyra whimpers, “She knows, alright. She'd only go in there if she thought I was in there.”

My character is already on his way to the trail and heading toward his house as I call, “Fluttershy, stay with Weed Whacker! I'll go with Lyra to see how Bon-Bon's doing!”

In a matter of minutes, my character and Lyra find Bon-Bon cowering, and what appears to be a dog or wolf composed of wood approaching her.

My character slows to a stop, and I can only assume Lyra does the same, as I hear her say, “A timber wolf.”

I find myself having to fight back the urge to laugh. In reality, timber wolves exist; but as wolves that live in the forest. I have to wonder to myself, who originally envisioned timber wolves as dogs completely composed of wood? But, once again, now isn't the time for mirth. A pony, Lyra's friend, is in trouble. And, one, or both, of us has to do something about it.

Before I can react, a large rock sails past my character and into the wooden canid's backside.

The creature yelps and whimpers in pain and surprise, then turns to get a look at it's attacker.

As my character prepares to defend himself from an eminent attack, I hear Lyra say, “Get away from my friend.”

I'm unable to see what happens next, as my character's defensive posture means that his arms hide from my view anything that might be coming. I hear sounds of things colliding with other things, sounds of pain coming from dog and pony, and sounds of things flying past my character's head.

When everything is quiet, I hear Lyra say, “Mormon, you can stop cowering now.”

That's when my character finally moves his arms away, allowing me to see through his eyes twigs and small branches everywhere, and Lyra herself has sustained a few injuries, mostly scrapes and bruises.

Bon-Bon has a bite mark on one hind leg of hers that I can see, just below her cutie mark, and she's lying down, stretching the injured leg at her side.

Lyra approaches her and asks, “Are you alright?”

I watch the yellow earth pony try to stand up, then yelp in pain and fall to the ground again. As she looks up at Lyra, I see a tear in her eye. She answers, “I don't think so.”

My character rises, then moves to the injured earth pony, circles around her, then picks her up from underneath, letting the legs dangle under her.

Bon-Bon struggles until she moves her injured leg, then grimaces and stops struggling.

I say, “I'm thinking it'd be a good idea if I carry you to my house.”

Lyra says, “Before we head there, I think we should go to Fluttershy's cottage so Bon-Bon can get properly cared for.”

My thought was to take care of her at my character's house, but Lyra may be right. Then, there's also Lyra herself. I voice agreement, and Lyra leads the way back to Fluttershy's cottage.

By the time we get there, the yellow pegasa is leading a happy-looking Weed Whacker while evidently studying Lyra's handy work. When she sees us, she asks, “Lyra, what happened?”

Lyra answers, “Bon-Bon was attacked by a timber wolf. I fought it off.”

Fluttershy flies toward my character and sniffs the injury on Bon-Bon's leg, then backs off and, turning around, says, “Follow me,” then leads my character and Lyra into her cottage. She nods to the couch and says, “Mormon, put Bon-Bon on the couch.”

My character circles around the couch and carefully places the injured yellow earth pony down so she's lying on her side, her injured leg on top.

Through my character's eyes, I see the knife that'd been left on the floor rise, glowing with a light-green aura. I hear Lyra ask, a moment later, “Is everything alright?”

Not waiting for Fluttershy to answer, I say, “It is now. If you'll give that to me, I'll put it away.”

In response, the knife floats toward my character who, when it's close enough, grabs it by the handle, then, as the aura disappears, walks it to the sink in the kitchen and sets it in the deepest basin.

In the mean time, I hear Fluttershy say, “Thanks, Mormon.”

Again I'm not sure if she's referring to me putting the knife away, or if she's referring to how I placed Bon-Bon on the couch. Whichever the case is, I vocally welcome her gratitude. When my character returns to the front room, I see the yellow pegasa with a first aid kit, attending to Lyra's wounds. As soon as she sees me, she says, “I'm taking care of Lyra. You take care of Bon-Bon, if you don't mind.”

As my character approaches the yellow earth pony, I answer, “I'd be honored.” My character stops at Bon-Bon's leg, grabs something that looks like gauze from the first aid kit, then a bottle that reads “Hydrogen Peroxide” on it, opens the bottle, places the gauze on it, then quickly turns the bottle upside-down and right-side-up again. As he turns back to Bon-Bon, I say, “Now, this is probably gonna hurt. So, brace yourself.” At that point, my character applies the gauze to the outermost tooth hole.

The yellow earth pony grimaces and gasps at first, then calms down again and says, “I was expecting it to hurt, but it doesn't. Actually, it feels … kinda good.”

My character taps the gauze on the mark, until it starts bubbling, then turns the gauze over and taps the next mark. Once that one starts bubbling, he turns to Fluttershy, and I ask, “Where can I throw this away?”

The yellow pegasa turns to me and, seeing the gauze, turns to one wall and says, “You can put the used gauze in the garbage over there.”

As my character turns to where the pegasa is still pointing, I see a small metal bucket near the door to the kitchen. My character throws the piece of gauze, and, to my surprise and delight, the gauze lands in the middle of the bucket. My character then grabs another piece of gauze and soaks it with more of the hydrogen peroxide.

As my character applies the gauze to another mark, I hear Fluttershy say, “I didn't think you'd actually throw it. From now on, get up and go to the container and drop the dirty gauze in there, if that's alright with you.”

In the mean time, I watch as the third bite mark bubbles, then my character turns the gauze over and applies it to the next mark.

Only four more to go after this one.

I answer Fluttershy, “I didn't mean to frighten you. I'm sorry.”

Fluttershy, focused on more of Lyra's injuries, answers, “It's not that. You got it in the container this time. I'm just worried that you won't next time. I don't want to clean up any messes.”

The fourth mark is bubbling now.

My character stands up and walks over to the bucket. As he drops the gauze in, I say, “Maybe I should bring the container closer to where I'm working. That way I won't have to walk across the room.”

Sounds of activity from Fluttershy stop, and she says, “I should've thought of that. I'm sorry.”

I answer, “That's alright. I'll bring it over now.” My character then proceeds to pick up the bucket and return to where he was working on Bon-Bon's injuries. He grabs another piece of gauze and soaks it in more of the hydrogen peroxide.

After a total of four pieces of gauze have been used, my character covers the bite in a large gauze bandage, then wraps it in some cloth that appears to be designed for wrapping injuries.

Bon-Bon looks back at the leg, studying the bandage, then tries flexing the leg. Immediately, she straightens it out again and, straightening her neck out, cries out in pain.

As my character puts a hand over the wrapped injury, I say, “Yeah, you're probably not gonna want to walk on that for a while. I don't think there are any broken bones, so I think you should give it at least an hour before trying to move it again.”

The yellow earth pony turns to look at me again and says, “You're probably right about that.”

That's when Lyra chimes in, asking, “What in all Equestria were you doing, wandering in the Everfree forest like that?”

Bon-Bon's ears curl back, and she glares back at the pale-green unicorn and says, “I was looking for you. I knew you'd gone to Canterlot Castle, but I couldn't find you there. It was as though you'd disappeared.” Her expression goes from anger to sadness as she continues, “I had no idea what happened to you, but I'd heard a human was taking care of you. I heard he lived on the other side of the forest, so I was trying to find where he lives. I followed the path through the forest, but I didn't see anything that looked like a house. So, I headed back.”

Lyra, sighing, concludes, “And then, you went and got yourself in trouble with a timber wolf.”

The yellow earth pony says, “You make it sound like I picked a fight with it.”

Lyra growls, then says, “What were you thinking, prying into my business like that?”

Bon-Bon retorts, “What were you thinking, making me worry like that?”

I can understand that the two friends need to vent, but this is looking like it could lead to something more serious. As my character puts his arms up in front of the arguing ponies, showing each one the palm of the closest hand, I say, “Alright, that'll be enough out of both of you. Any more arguing, and I'll muzzle both of you.”

Presently, the two resume their argument, but they talk so fast I can't understand what they're saying. Not only that, but they're talking at the same time.

After a few seconds, my character leans toward Bon-Bon and grabs her muzzle, squeezing it closed. He then leans back toward Lyra and grabs her muzzle, similarly silencing her.

Once I have the effect I'm looking for and the two ponies are quiet, or at least quieter than they were, I say, “I said muzzle, not nuzzle.” When the two are no longer even mumbling through their closed mouths, I continue, “Now that I have your attention, you'll notice I'm holding your muzzles closed. I could get this same effect by wrapping a piece of cloth around each of your mouths. This is muzzling.”

Now, my character looks at each of the ponies.

Lyra's expression suggests sadness, but her face is turning a different, perhaps truer(?), shade of green.

Bon-Bon has a similar expression to Lyra's, and her face is also turning green.

Still focused on Bon-Bon, I conclude, “I'm going to release you now. But, if I hear anymore arguing from you, I'm gonna look for pieces of cloth. Do you understand?”

As my character looks at each of them, I can see that they're both nodding.

So, my character releases their muzzles at the same time.

Immediately, Bon-Bon grabs the bucket, pulls it to her, buries her nose in it, and starts retching.

Lyra, in the mean time, groans and says, “When did you last wash your hands? They smell like … “ But, she can say no more, as she starts gagging.

Presently, reading signs from the pale-green unicorn's abdomen, Fluttershy rises, helps Lyra keep her mouth closed, and guides her to the bathroom, or so I assume.

My character sniffs his hands, and the message at the bottom of the screen reads, “The smell of rotting meat is all over your hands.” No wonder the two ponies are sick. I have to wonder to myself, though, when my character touched rotting meat with his hands. I know he didn't touch that dead bear cub. Or, did he?

My character turns toward Bon-Bon, but before I can say anything, I hear Fluttershy say, “I hope you're happy now. I was able to keep Lyra's mouth closed just long enough to get her into the bathroom and over the toilet.”

Well, I was right about the bathroom thing. As my character turns to the yellow pegasa, I say, “I really need to apologize. I honestly didn't know my hands smelled like that. Could I wash my hands in your sink?”

Fluttershy sniffs one of my hands, backs away quickly and groans and holds her nose, then says, “Go ahead. But, I think you'll need more than water to wash that off.”

Taking that as his cue, my character heads to the kitchen sink and, once there, proceeds to wash his hands. After that, he returns to the front room where, through his eyes, I can see Bon-Bon collapsed on the couch over, but just beyond, the bucket, now occupied by the blood-and-hydrogen-peroxide-soaked gauze and what was previously the contents of her stomach. As he turns to Fluttershy, I ask, “Do you have anything I can use to dry off my hands?”

As she U-turns, the yellow pegasa answers, “Just give me a moment.” She then proceeds to the stairs and heads up.

In the mean time, Lyra stumbles back into the front room, saying, “Ugh, I hope I don't have to do that again.”

As my character turns to the pale-green unicorn, I say, “I really am sorry about that. I had no idea my hands smelled like that. I've washed them, so you shouldn't need to worry about it anymore.”

Lyra looks at me and asks, “Do humans … throw up?”

I answer, “Only when we're sick. And then, it has to be a problem with the stomach. For me, that's very rarely.”

Lyra looks at her friend, collapsed on the couch, then back at me, and says, “Well, intentional or not, you found an effective way of keeping us from arguing.”

Hearing that from Lyra, I start laughing.

Lyra also starts laughing; whether it's because I'm laughing or because she understands what I'm laughing at, I can't say for sure.

And, that's when Fluttershy shows up, descending her staircase, a towel on her back between her wings. Looking at Lyra, then my character, she asks, “What's so funny?”

I answer, “Just something Lyra said.”

Once at the bottom of the staircase, the yellow pegasa approaches my character, offering him the towel. Once he accepts it and starts drying his hands, Fluttershy says, “Well, it's nice to hear you doing something besides arguing.”

Somehow, over our resumed laughter, I hear Bon-Bon groan and ask slowly, “What's so funny?”

Evidently, we've awakened the sleeping earth pony. As my character turns to her, I answer, “Nothing to worry about. Lyra just said something funny.”

Lyra regains her composure and says, “Well, since Bon-Bon is awake now, I think we have a decision to make: whether to stay here, or to go to Mormon's house.”

Fluttershy looks out her window and says, “Well, it's getting late. I think we should stay here for the night.”

My character glances out the window, and I regain my composure and say, “I don't know about that. It looks to me like there's plenty of sunlight out there. I think we should have no trouble making it to my house before dark.”

Bon-Bon turns to my character and asks, “Is there a particular reason why you want us at your house tonight?”

I answer, “When Princess Celestia last visited us, she suggested I should do something to learn more about unicorns. I have something in mind, sharing a book that's come to mean a lot to me over the years. I have copies of that book at my house, so we can all read it together.”

That's when Weed Whacker, who up until now has been silent, speaks up and asks, “You mean together, as in at the same time?”

I answer, “Not at the same time. I mean each of us could read a paragraph from the book, until we finish reading a chapter.”

Lyra chimes in with, “That does make more sense.” Pausing for a moment, she then says, “Well, if it's that important to you, I suppose I could go with you to your house.”

Fluttershy says, “Well, I still think we should stay here for the night. Bon-Bon needs to recover, and I still have my animals to take care of.”

Bon-Bon, looking at my character, says, “You were able to place me on the couch by getting behind it. How are you going to pick me up again?”

I pause for a moment as my character turns to the yellow earth pony, then say, “I suppose I could hoist you over my shoulder. Then, I'd have a set of eyes looking behind me.”

From the ponies and dinosaur I hear gasps and worried moans.

I then say, “Then again, I suppose I could just go behind the couch and try to pick you up again. Or, I could just pick you up from the front of the couch.”

Bon-Bon tries to move her bandaged leg again, and succeeds at pulling it a little closer before wincing in pain again. She says, “Personally, I'd prefer to stay here and recover some more. But, if you insist on going back to your house, whichever way you decide to carry me, please be careful of my leg.”

I open my mouth to agree, but then we suddenly hear growling and scraping at the front door. It can only be that timber wolf again.

As the ponies and dinosaur are frozen in their places, my character gets up and heads to the door. He opens the door to see the wooden canid's head enter the house and start looking around. Seemingly by instinct, he pounds the creature's head with his available hand, causing the head to explode into twigs on the ground. As he turns to the alarmed ponies and dinosaur, I say, “I don't think there's much of an argument now. It's definitely not safe here. We'd better head to my house as soon as possible.” And, with that, my character heads to Bon-Bon on the couch, pushes his arms underneath her, and picks her up with apparent ease.

Fluttershy, Lyra, and Weed Whacker, in the mean time, seeing the twigs start to glow again, run for the door, with my character carrying Bon-Bon close behind them.

Once the group is outside, Lyra uses her magic to close the door, trapping some of the timber wolf's twigs inside the house.

I wonder to myself, if a timber wolf needs all it's branches and twigs to consider itself complete, then Lyra's plan could very likely work. Especially if the door keeps the twigs inside the cottage separate from the main body of the timber wolf. On the other hand, if it fails to distract or slow down the wolf, well, who knows what could happen to us? Right now, it doesn't matter. We're all running to my character's house on the opposite side of the forest.

We maintain such a pace that we reach my character's house in perhaps ten or twenty minutes.

As my character looks behind us, it seems as though closing the timber wolf's twig components in Fluttershy's cottage was a good idea after all. As far as I can tell, there's no evidence that the creature has followed us.

Once we're all inside, my character sets Bon-Bon on the couch facing away from the door, on top of the bedding that hadn't been removed since Lyra had her first sleepover at his house.

In the mean time, Lyra uses her magic to place a pale-green force barrier in the doorway.

The yellow earth pony looks at my character, staring at him for a few seconds, then turns to Lyra and says, “It seems that not only does your human exit, but, like you said, he is a nice, friendly one. I owe you an apology.”

My character turns to the pale-green unicorn, and I can see her eyes vibrating. After a moment, she says, “Thanks.”

As my character stands up again, I say, “Well, now for that book I was talking about.” My character then turns to a nearby closet and opens it up to reveal stacks of books, all with dark-blue covers, all with the same label, all in new condition. My character grabs five copies of the book, one for him, one for each of the ponies, and one for the dinosaur, then backs away from the closet and closes the door, then hands out books until he's holding only one, then sits down on the couch on the opposite side of the coffee table from Bon-Bon. He opens his copy of the book, and the ponies and dinosaur circle around the table, Weed Whacker and Lyra on the couch where he's sitting, and Fluttershy next to Bon-Bon, not sitting on the couch, but sitting up next to her just off the arm where Bon-Bon is resting.

My character opens his copy of the book, and the ponies and dinosaur follow suit. At this point, I ask, “So, where shall we start?”

Lyra, using her magic to turn pages while supporting the volume in her lap, says, “Start wherever you want. Do you plan on reading first?”

Fluttershy hasn't opened her copy yet.

Bon-Bon is holding her copy between her front hooves, using her nose to flip through the pages.

Weed Whacker, having hands like mine, is having no problems manipulating the pages.

Neither the ponies nor the herbivorous dinosaur seem willing to begin reading.

Seeing, through my character's eyes, their unwillingness to volunteer, I say, “Very well, then. Let's begin at First Nephi, chapter one. You may read the introduction and testimonies on your own time.”

Bon-Bon, looking at me, nods first, followed by Lyra, then Weed Whacker, ending with Fluttershy saying, as she turns pages frantically, “Just let me find the page first.”

I wait as the yellow pegasa manages to find the page, then my character looks down to see the first verse, and I begin, “I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents, therefore I was taught somewhat in all the learning of my father; and having seen many afflictions in the course of my days, nevertheless, having been highly favored of the Lord in all my days; yea, having had a great knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of God, therefore I make a record of my proceedings in my days.” My character looks up, and, as I'm about to ask for a volunteer, I see Fluttershy's eyes quivering, and she appears to be tearing up. I ask, “Fluttershy, are you alright?”

The yellow pegasa, hearing her name, jerks her head up to look at my character, then looks down at the book again, and I can see a tear escape from her eye and make it's way down her cheek. She sniffles, then swallows hard, then says, “I'm just wishing I had good parents like Nephi had.” She then snifflees again and starts whimpering.

Both Lyra and Weed Whacker jump off the couch and approach her and try to comfort her, Lyra nuzzling her chin, and Weed Whacker stroking her neck with her available hand.

I turn to Bon-Bon and ask, “Would you like to read the next verse?”

Bon-Bon nods in agreement and reads the second verse, after which Lyra reads the third verse, followed by Weed Whacker reading the fourth.

By the time Weed Whacker has finished reading, Fluttershy is sufficiently composed that she reads the fifth verse, and I read the sixth.

After four rounds total this way, the five of us have read the entire first chapter.

After Fluttershy finishes reading, I look up and ask, “Shall we continue on to the second chapter, or do you want to call it a night?”

At this point, I hear the sound of a stomach growling, and suddenly Bon-Bon has the attention of two other ponies, one dinosaur, and one human. Blushing, she says, “Well, I haven't had anything to eat all day. If you don't mind stopping now, I'd appreciate having something to eat.” She then looks at her bandaged leg and starts flexing it inward.

As far as I can tell, all of us are pleased to see the earth pony able to fold her leg under her without any hint of pain.

Looking at each of us, the yellow earth pony squees and says, “If that's any indication, I think I may be able to walk now.”

My character closes his copy of the Book of Mormon, sets it on the coffee table, then walks around the table next to Bon-Bon, ready to help her up, as I say, “Just in case you need help.”

Bon Bon nods, then proceeds to stretch the bandaged leg out and back in again, then attempts to prop herself up on her front legs on the couch. Succeeding at that, she begins to push her behind up with her hind legs. Then, she yelps in pain as her bandaged leg buckles under her.

My character manages to catch her before she can fall off the couch.

Bon-Bon tries to stretch out her bandaged leg so it can support half the weight of her behind, but finds it impossible without another jolt of pain. Finally, she cries, “Help me down, help me down, help me down!”

Even Lyra helps with her magic as my character manages to set the yellow earth pony back down on the couch. As he looks at the bandage on the leg, I can see that some red spots are beginning to show through the bandage.

Safely reclining on the couch again, the bandaged leg once more stretched out, Bon-Bon says, “Well, I guess I'm not ready to walk again just yet.”

After a pause, Lyra says, “I'll stay here with Bon-Bon, and the rest of you can go gather food for yourselves and for us.”

I can see that's the best plan. My character nods and proceeds to stand up and walk toward the doorway, followed by Fluttershy and Weed Whacker. My character only pauses at the front door to wait for Lyra to turn off her force shield, after which the three proceed outside.

It seems my character is unable to reach the orchard without running into Princess Celestia first.

The white alicorn looks toward my character's house, then back at him, and asks, “So, how is Bon-Bon?”

I must admit I'm surprised to hear the white princess ask about a guest that's just arrived. I answer, “I'm sure she'll be alright. She had a run in with a timber wolf and got bitten, but I'm sure she'll recover.”

Princess Celestia answers, “That's good to hear. It's also good to hear that she made it to your house after all.”

Presently, I say, “Oh, it might interest you to know that the five of us read a chapter from a book I thought would interest them.”

The white alicorn asks, “What book would that be?”

I answer, “The Book of Mormon.”

Princess Celestia smiles and asks, “Your autobiography?”

I laugh and answer, “No. It's actually the religious history of a family that left their home in Jerusalem six hundred years before the birth of the Christ because their God ordered it. They arrived in what is known as South America a few decades later, where they separated into two groups, the Lamanites and the Nephites. From there, the story follows the Nephites through their generations of history, during times when they're at their best, times when they're at their worst, and times in between.

“The visit of the Christ among these peoples, which serves as the climax of their history, is also recorded, as well as the ultimate destruction of the Nephites, some four centuries afterward.

“There's also the record of another people that moved to and lived in what's known as North America some two millennia before the family I mentioned would arrive in South America.”

The white alicorn, after hearing my description, says, “I do not believe I have heard of such a book. I should like to have a copy so I can read it for myself.”

I answer, “I have to gather food for me and my four friends. I have two others helping, and when we're finished, you can come in with me, and I'll get you a copy of the book, if you want.”

Princess Celestia squees and answers, “I would appreciate that very much. Go ahead and gather what food you and your friends will need. I'll then follow you into your house, and you can retrieve a copy of this Book of Mormon for me.”

My character nods in agreement, then proceeds into the orchard to pick a few apples.

As he's studying one apple before picking it, Princess Celestia asks, “So, did the reading of this Book of Mormon help you learn anything new about unicorns?”

I answer, “Well, I now know Lyra's a really good reader. Beyond that, I don't think so. I suppose I'll have to see as we continue reading.”

The white alicorn says, “I think you'll find that most ponies, if not all of them, are really good at reading.”

I answer, “I guess I'll find out for myself at some point. I know that Fluttershy and Bon-Bon are also good readers.” I then add, “One more thing, after I read the first verse, Fluttershy said something that suggested that she had a troubled child-, uh, foal-hood? Did something happen to her?”

Princess Celestia points her nose at the ground. After a moment, she answers, “If she chooses to tell you about it, that's her choice. But, I will leave it up to her whether she lets you know or not.”

By this point, my character has collected five apples, and returned to the white alicorn's side.

While the possibility of a dark chapter of Fluttershy's personal history hasn't been affirmed, it hasn't been denied either. Perhaps I'll have to ask her about it some time.

In the mean time, guided by the white alicorn, my character returns to the house, where Lyra's force shield is back in place.

When Lyra sees me, she lowers the shield and allows me and Princess Celestia to enter.

Seeing their daytime Princess at the front door, Lyra bows, and Bon-Bon does her best to do the same, which means only looking down and closing her eyes.

As my character deposits the apples on the unoccupied couch, then heads to the closet to retrieve a copy of the Book of Mormon, the yellow earth pony says, “Please forgive me, Princess. I've hurt my leg, so I can't bow more than this.”

Princess Celestia answers, “That's alright. Mormon explained what happened.”

It's only a matter of seconds after opening the door before my character has obtained a copy of the Book of Mormon, then another few seconds after that he returns to the white alicorn's presence to hand the book to her.

Princess Celestia graciously accepts the book, then disappears, no doubt teleporting herself and the copy of the book my character gave her back to Canterlot Castle.

In a few more minutes, Fluttershy and Weed Whacker return, Weed Whacker holding vegetables, and Fluttershy holding berries and grains.

After that, it's a matter of minutes before the items are prepared, and the five congregate in the front room around the coffee table to eat. After all have eaten, Lyra decides to stay with Bon-Bon in the front room to make sure she's alright, while Fluttershy and Weed Whacker occupy bedrooms at the end of the hallway past my character's bedroom.

While this has undoubtedly been one of the busiest days, this is not quite the end of the story. In the morning, my character needs to visit Pinkie Pie in prison, and her friends will visit her as well. She'll be facing a trial where she'll prove whether her freedom would mean she would continue her crimes or she would choose a different course. If she decides to repent and choose a better course, she'll win her freedom, which will most likely mean I'll be taking care of her. Otherwise, she'll be executed.

As I save and close the game, there's one more problem I need to address: that glitch that caused my character to freeze in defensive mode.

Author's Notes:

For those who've read the Cupcakes fanfic, the least surprising in this chapter is the death of Rainbow Dash at the hooves of Pinkie Pie. But, as is mentioned in the chapter, the end of Rainbow Dash's life is not the end of this story. It'll end when Pinkie Pie's life ends. But, that won't be for a couple more chapters.

In the mean time, it's also evident that just because Derpy Hooves and Rainbow Dash are dead, that doesn't mean we've seen or heard the last of them, definitely not Rainbow Dash.

In the next chapter, Now that Pinkie Pie is in custody, she'll be going on trial for her three murders. But, first are visits from the rest of the Mane Six that are still alive, as well as a special guest appearance. And, after the trial, there will be a reading of chapters two, three, and four from the First Book of Nephi in the Book of Mormon. And, I welcome comments on my approach to the reading of the first chapter of the First Book of Nephi in this chapter.

So, I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter, and will stay tuned for the next one, Party Pony on Trial.