Author's Note

Hello, readers! Sorry for the delay between chapters. My editor has been sick so I have done my own editing for this chapter. Even if you find any errors I hope you enjoy and thank you for reading! Also, leave a comment and let me know how I'm doing with this story. Constructive criticism is always welcome :) Enjoy!

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Rain poured down from the deep black sky as the young rainbow-haired woman ran through the streets of Port Sunrise, watching for the town guard. Dash was able to avoid them as she moved swiftly from alley to alley. She took pride in her cunning, grinning as rain splashed against a pair of goggles she wore, almost blinding but making it more of a challenge in maneuvering, something she welcomed as she tested her skill against the guards. Her little game came to an end as she finally came to an old wooden door at the end of one of the alleyways. She knocked three times, whispering the word 'Cloudsdale'. For a moment nothing happened, leaving Dash in the soaking rain until the door finally swung open, three women waiting at the door, holding crossbows aimed at her. They lowered them when they saw Dash's face, nodded and letting her pass.

Dash shrugged off a thick coat she wore, hanging it on a hook to letting it drip. The house she had entered was filled with gruff and dirty looking pegasus, each chatting of the spoils they had “recovered”.

"Dash!" A slightly older woman shouted, running over and hugging the tiny Rainbow Dash. "Guess Dizty's done it again. I'm telling ya, that pegasus knows her way around those stockades better then the guards do." The woman laughed.

"Well besides dragging me into the sea, it was a pretty easy escape. Sorry it took me so long to get back. Had to lay low... Nice to see ya, Spitfire."

"And you my young little Wonderbolt. Where's Ditzy, anyway? Wasn't she with you?" Spitfire asked, walking along side Dash with her arm around her.

"Getting some intel on our next BIG target! I hear she's got something awesome for the Wonderbolts this time. Soon, we'll be the number one outpost in all Equestria!"

"That big, eh? Don’t get a head of yourself. Ditzy has been known to be a little... Ditzy." Spitfire laughed. "Either way, I'll be waiting on that report. For now I want you resting up. You did a great job laying low. Following the code to the letter. "

"Yeah, I'm pretty awesome like that." Dash bragged, making Spitfire laugh. "Hey, I'm gonna head up to my room."

"Sleepy all ready? I thought you'd at least have a few drinks; just got a new shipment in from some pirates who docked earlier. Or as they called themselves, 'delivery ships' for the guard’s ear."

"Not sleepy, just wanna hang out on my own for a bit." Dash said. "I might be asleep or... Something... So don’t bother me till morning!"

Dash ran upstairs, Spitfire watching with a curious look on her face...

XXXXXXXX

Dash stepped into her room, taking her clothes off until she was down to only undergarments. Sitting on her bed, she tried to move her wing but couldn't, the gunshot wound still hurting. "I hope she didn't notice..." Dash said, wincing in pain.

"Notice that you were lying to me?" Spitfire said, standing at the doorway. Dash turned quickly, wincing again at the pain.

"S...Spitfire!" Dash yelled.

Spitfire simply shook her head in disappointment. “So when were you going to tell?”

Dash turned her head, trying to hide her shame. "I was careless... It was like I failed at everything you taught me."

"Everyone slips up sometime, Dash, but do you think I would have sent Ditzy to get you if I didn't care about you? Or if I felt like you're a failure? In fact... I'll have you know that I didn't even get a chance to ask... Ditzy wanted to rescue you right when she heard the news of your capture. She loves you and I love you, Dash and I want you to open up to me. When are you going to understand? You're a Wonderbolt now. I know what your family did to you, Dash and why you're scared to show weakness. But you have to understand that WE are your family now. And we'll never hurt you."

"Spitfire..." Dash rubbed her eyes and smiled. "Geez your such a... a softy, Spitfire!" Dash laughed, trying to hide her tears.

"Okay, okay, Dashie. Why don't we save the jokes and let me have a look at that wing? It's going to get infected. I'll send for the Doc too. She'll patch you up after I examine this."

"Yeah..." Dash said softly.
Spitfire started looking over the wing, being as gentle as she could. Dash peek over her shoulder and looked toward Spitfire

"Hey, Sis..."

"Yeah, Dash?"

"...Thanks." Dash said softly.

Spitfire nodded and smiled, pressing hard against the wound by mistake, causing Dash to yelp.
"Sorry! Sorry!" Spitfire yelled, going back to examining the wound.

XXXXXXXX
Fluttershy lay in the guest room, her eyes searching every corner of the room. The last thing she wanted was to be alone in this dusty old, well decorated but poorly managed bed chamber. It wasn't the decor that worried her as much as the darkness in the corners, shadows dancing as her imagination ran wild. The lightning outside barely pieced it the darkness and the dark drape hanging down didn’t help eases her. It was the complete opposite of Pinkie's room and she wondered how they could ever be related. She began to take comfort in thoughts of her companion who was just next door. If she became too scared, Fluttershy knew that she could run to Pinkie. That thought helped the anxiety fade, allowing her to curl up under the thick red quilted sheets.

From outside her door, a soft creeping sound could be heard dragging across the floor on the other side. Not too long after, a soft, quiet knock came at the door.

"Pinkie?" She said softly. "You can come in, Pinkie. I'm not asleep yet."

The door did not open, only silence stood for a few moments. Soon, the dragging sound began to move away from the door after hearing her voice.

"P...Pinkie...?" she said softly. She got out of bed and head toward the door, grasping the door handle and pulling it slowly, opening the door... And stepping into the hall...

XXXXXXXX

Pinkie had not crawled into bed at all, instead looking into her aunt's large mirror. She remembered not being allowed to enter this room when he was a child, her aunt Sofia always very cautious of losing things. She opened the drawer of the dresser that held the mirror, finding an assortment of hair brushes. She picked one up and examined it closely, seeing an engraved picture of a woman on her knees, her face pressed into her hands as if she were weeping. She knew it right away; this brush was the design of Sofia who made a hobby out of crafting fancy brushes and she could remember seeing some of Sofia’s work as a child. Pinkie never quite understood the obsession. Though an eerie feeling came over her, Pinkie simply smiled, combing her hair with the brush. "Hope you don't mind, Auntie." She said to herself, feeling the gentle bristles against slide through her hair as she began to sing...

"She's an evil enchantress... And she does evil dances... And if you look into her eyes she'll put you in trances..."

Pinkie heard a small thump from the hallway, looking over at her door. She sat wondering for a moment. Soon she decided that it must be Uncle Horton wandering still up and about. She simply continued to sing.

"And what would she do? She'll mix up an evil brew..."

Pinkie looked over at the door again, hearing nothing yet feeling uneasy.

"Then she'll gobble you up in a big tasty stew...” Pinkie kept her eyes on the door...

"So... Watch... Out..." She muttered..."

"Might be kind o me to check on Fluttahshy..." She stood up and began to walk toward the door, stopping before she could make her way out. "But what if I just wake that poor little girl up? That would be rude! I best just let her sleep, I should." Pinkie walked over to her bed, laying down and blowing out a candle that sat on the nightstand by her bed.

XXXXXXXX

Rarity's eyes shifted around the pitch black room, so dark her eyes couldn't adjust. She was scared; her mind in dozens of different thoughts of what the man might do when he got back. The strong smell in the room made her sick but she held back vomiting as much as she could, scared she might choke if she did. Finally, an idea came. If she could find something sharp enough, she could use her magic to pick it up and cut herself free. She thought up a 'Light' spell, her alicorn illuminating the room. In the far corner of the room, dismembered and decaying bodies piled up, some looking fresh and others old and decayed to the bone, corpses of girls both young and old, some looking no older than eight years old. That set Rarity over the edge, putting out the light and turning her head, vomiting what little food was in her stomach onto the rope so that it seeped out the side of her cheek. Thankfully it wasn't a lot or she might have choked.

It wasn't long after she began to hear footsteps coming down stairs. With the click of a key, the door swung open, the man carrying a young, pink haired girl. He put her against the wall, tying her hands to some rope that hung there. His mouth salivated with hunger, his eyes wild and excited. He finished binding her to the wall, pressing his face into her neck and taking in her sweet aroma. He was intoxicated, but not with the kind of sexual impulse most would have but with something darker.

Rarity could see the girl from the candle the man held. She looked to be out cold, unaware of the perverted and deadly things he wanted.

"Stop it... Stop it, Horton..." He said, talking to himself. "Have to wait until she's awake... Have to wait... Can't be selfish... Have to share this with her. I can't rob her of this, no I can't. Have to wait... She will wake up soon..? Oh, please open your eyes for me, goddess. Open your eyes so I can dig my knife into them. I want to bleed your every emotion."

With almost inhuman speed, his head turned to face Rarity. "But perhaps... Perhaps I can... I can treat myself to this one..." He said, his voice quivering. Rarity held her eyes closed, pretending to be asleep. A normal, more stable mind would have seen past the ruse but the man was far gone, still excited about Fluttershy. He ran his hand over Rarity's face, Rarity taking in the smell of rusty metal.

"Sleep... You will sleep forever with me." He grabbed the candle and made for the door, shutting it behind him and locking it.

“I have to stay my hand for now... Pinkie will know. I can’t stand it. Pinkie will have to be dealt with.”

Rarity opened her eyes to the pitch blackness, tears running down her face when she thought of the sight she had seen, what horrors lay silent in the corner of the room but now her life was not the only one on the line. She had to be brave. She lit her alicorn up again, searching the room for any sharp objects.

XXXXXXX

Pinkie slowly crept out of her room, looking down both ends of the hall. Everything was dark, letting her only see what little light came from the windows. With caution she made her way next door to the guest room where Fluttershy was.
"Fluttahshy...?" she whispered as she knocked gently on the door. "Fluttahshy, you awake?"

No answer came, leaving Pinkie to assume she was simply asleep. Still, Pinkie cracked the door open, looking inside. The sheets of the bed were disturbed and Fluttershy was nowhere to be found. Pinkie entered the room, looking at every corner. "Fluttahshy!" Pinkie yelled. "Oh no... Where could she..." Pinkie turned to the door which was now blocked by Horton who stood there as still as a statue. Pinkie's heart jumped, almost falling backward in surprise.

"Uncle! Fluttahshy... Have you seen..."

Horton smiled. "She is fine, my dear niece. She is only sleeping." He said, revealing a bone saw in hand. "I didn't want you to get involved. I was hoping you would never know. Most would not be so excepting... My dear, dear, girl. I cannot let you leave with that young woman. I must have her with me forever. Just as the others are with me forever, engraved into my skin."
"Others...?" Pinkie asked. "Uncle, what blabbery are ya talkin about? Where's my friend?"

"The Asylum... The Asylum calls for them. It calls for me... And it calls for you too." He reached his hand out. "Let’s go to the Asylum together."

"No!" Pinkie yelled. "Uncle, have you lost your marbles!? This isn't you, it ain't! Snap out of it!"
He shook his head. "After my dear Sofia passed on I found myself alone. No one came for me after the wake. After her body sunk into the earth. I am scared, Fiona. I am scared to be alone. So I made sure my guests never left. They are here... In the Asylum... The Asylum can never be taken away. Can never be torn from me. I missed my chance to save Sofia... But I can save you."

He began to laugh, Pinkie stepping backward. She was not sure if she was happy or sad that she left her pistol in her room. Either way she was unarmed.

"CAN YOU HEAR THEM!?" He yelled. "THEY CHEER ME ON! EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM! THEY ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO MEETING YOU, FIONA!" He raised his hands into the air slowly. "THEY CHEER MY NAME! THEY LOVE ME! THEY LOVE ME, FIONA!" And with that he charged at her, swinging the saw hard enough to cut one of the bed posts in half as Pinkie dodged the attack, running out of the door behind him. She didn't look back but she could hear him in close pursue, trampling along the dirty red carpet.

"Uncle, stop!! Stop this!!" She screamed, hearing him close behind. He caught up and grabbed her puffy pink hair, pulling it hard. She reacted quick, elbowing him in the stomach, causing him to let go. She ran toward the stairs, tripping and rolling to the bottom. She could feel her arm dislocate but she did not stop to indulge the pain. Horton was already standing at the top of the steps. She ran into the dining room, hearing him yell out again.

"Don't do this, Fiona! Don't run! This is the best for you! For us!"

Horton came running in, seeing that Pinkie was nowhere to be found. He carefully searched the room, quietly walking around the long dining room table that stood at the center of room. He saw the tall pantry closet at the end, large enough to fit someone Pinkie's size. He slowly came over and opened the door, seeing that it was empty as it had been for years. He stalked along the table, slowly passing up the chairs. He quickly looked under the table, finding nothing but carpet and dust. He slowly stood back up, looking at the table itself. Something was wrong... One of the candles was missing.

As lightning flashed, a silhouette could be seen behind the thin drapes of the window behind him. With a loud cry, Pinkie came out and hit Horton as hard as she could, knocking him out over the table. She stood there for a moment, his hat tumbling along the table. His head was bleeding but she couldn't tell if he survived the blow or not. Right now it didn't matter; she had to find Fluttershy and fast.

She searched the hallway at the bottom floor, looking through the closets and guest rooms, no luck in finding her friend. She finally found a door that lead down a dusty staircase that lead to a door. She tried to open the door only to find it locked.

"Fluttahshy! You in there?!" She yelled, banging on the door. She put her ear to the door and could hear someone from the otherside.

"Help me! Please, whoever you are let me out!"

"Hold on there! Who the heck are you?" Pinkie asked.

"M...My name is Rarity! I was brought here by some horrid man! I managed to cut myself free but the door is locked. That man, he had a key! You must find the key!"

"Right!" Pinkie yelled. "Is there another girl in there? One with pink hair? Kinda looks like lilies?"

"Yes, she was just brought in not too long ago. She is not hurt but she is uncurious. I will keep her safe... Just please, let us out!"

"I'm gonna get that key!”

Pinkie ran upstairs, moving into the dining room. Horton was gone. She looked around franticly until hearing a creaking sound coming from upstairs. The last thing she wanted to do was confront her uncle but she knew she had no choice. Slowly she made her way upstairs, the candlestick close in hand.

There was a sound coming from his room that sat at the end of the top floor hallway. Stepping into the room, she found it was empty. The only room he could be in was the bathroom attached to the room. She made her way in that direction, seeing the door half open. She pressed her hand onto the door, letting it swing open. It was empty.

From behind, Horton grabbed Pinkie, causing her to struggle. She slipped and fell on her back, Horton getting atop of her with bone saw in hand, inching slowly toward her face. She struggled to keep it away, trying to force him back. It was no use, he was too strong.

"I love you, Fiona. I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you." He said in a gentler voice than usual. Her eyes dimmed, forcing against him more.

"I told you..." She said, suddenly kneeing him to the stomach. "Call me Pinkie!" She kicked him off, running toward of the door. Horton grabbed her foot as she tried to get away, causing her to trip. Pinkie go up enough to grab the door handle, shutting it on his arm and causing him to cry in pain. He pulled himself toward her, Pinkie slamming the door again, this time on his head, causing him to bleed. She repeated over and over, slamming the door on his head until his body began to twitch. She finally stopped as she saw blood pour out all over, crawling away backward...

She looked at her uncle, sure he was dead now. She didn't want to touch him, realizing that her beloved uncle Horton was now dead by her own hands. It took her a while to process. Finally she regained herself, remembering that she had two people stuck in the basement. Thunder crashed in the sky as she reached into Horton's bloodstained coat pocket and found a set of keys. She made her way to the basement again...

XXXXXXXXX

Morning came and Fluttershy woke up in comfortable bed with Pinkie sitting up next to her. Fluttershy blinked her eyes, seeing the sun coming in through the window and realizing she was no longer in the dark residence.

"Pinkie...? I had such a strange dream..."

Fluttershy looked over Pinkie's face, seeing sadness in her eyes. Her hair hung straight rather than her usual puffy hairdo. She fiddled with a brush in her hand, holding it tightly.

“Yeah...” Pinkie finally said, looking out the window over the port... And toward Horton’s estate.