"Why do you do it?" May asked.
She was standing back in the cave while Pinkie was keeping a lookout for Twilight and the others.
"Do what?"
"You know." May said, sounding a little nervous asking. "Eat ponies."
Pinkie took another second to look out of the cave before turning and heading towards May. May took a step back, not knowing what Pinkie was going to do.
"Don't worry." said Pinkie, sounding like a mom calming her child.. "I'm not gonna eat you."
"Why not?"
"I already told you." said Pinkie. "I like your company.
"You... meant that?" May asked, feeling a little confused.
"Of course."
"Why?"
Pinkie paused before answering. "Everypony needs a friend."
"Yeah, but--" May started.
Pinkie held a hoof to May's mouth to shut her up. When May stopped talking, Pinkie ran to the mouth of the cave and peeked out. Twilight and the others were emerging from the forest. Pinkie backed into the cave.
"They're here." Pinkie said softly. Pinkie took off into the cave. "Come on." she whispered back.
May thought about what to do until she realized something; Pinkie really needs a friend right now. So she took off after Pinkie.
Twilight stepped into the cave and looked around.
"It's really dark in there." said Fluttershy from the back of the group.
"Not a problem." Twilight said, lighting up her horn. "Let's go."
The group entered the cave and Trixie also lit up her horn. As did Rarity. They arrived at a part of the tunnel that started to get smaller and smaller until the friends had to walk in a straight line.
"This is really tight." complained Rarity.
"I think I may be claustrophobic." Dawn said through rapid breaths.
"Just calm down, everypony." said Twilight. "This is the only path so far."
"So?" asked Trixie, squeezing passed a tight spot in the tunnel.
"May can't be far away." Twilight explained.
"Yeah." said Rainbow Dash with a sarcastic happy tone. "And that means Pinkie the cannibal is close by, too."
"You had to bring that up, didn't you?" asked Applejack, annoyed by Rainbow Dash's lack of caring for the current situation. "Get serious, RD."
"I am serious!" Rainbow Dash shot back.
"Girls!" yelled Twilight, stopping.
"What?!" Rainbow Dash and Applejack yelled together.
"Look." said Twilight.
Everyone looked around and noticed that they were in a large caver-like room. Rock formations stuck out of the ground, walls, and ceiling.
"Pinkie could be hiding anywhere in here." said Trixie, looking around at all the rock formations or, in this case, potential hiding spots.
"Be on your guard, everypony." Twilight ordered, taking a couple steps into the cavern.
The others split up and began searching the area. Trixie peered behind a rock formation ut saw nothing, She snuck up to another one and darted to the other side. Nothing. She then headed off for another one.
Pinkie peered out from behind a rock formation towards the back of the cavern. She could see the others slowly approaching from different directions
. Rainbow Dash was flying around near the ceiling looking down, surveying the area.
"This is bad." Pinkie whispered.
"Maybe you should just turn yourself in." May suggested. She was behind a rock formation a foot across from Pinkie's.
"That's a good idea." Pinkie said sarcastically. "If I want to die."
May peeked around her rock formation. "They're getting closer."
"Yeah." Pinkie agreed. "And without my metal tooth, there's no way I can kill them all."
"You still want to kill them?" May whispered.
"Of course. It's what I do." May backed away from her hiding spot. She was now in plain view of the others. "What are you doing?" Pinkie asked. "Get back."
May shook her head. "I'm sorry, Pinkie. I can't be your friend if all you care about is killing."
"May..." Pinkie whispered.
"Good-bye, Pinkie." said May, taking off for her friends.
Pinkie let out a low growl and chased after her.
"There she is!" yelled Rainbow Dash.
Twilight and Trixie saw her instantly.
"Run, May!" Trixie yelled. "She's gaining on you!"
Pinkie was a couple feet behind May when Applejack darted out from behind a rock formation and tackled May to the ground. She covered May with her body expecting Pinkie to attack. She didn't. Instead, she leaped over Applejack and May and darted through the narrow passageway.
"After her!" yelled Twilight, now in pursuit.
She fired an energy bolt down the tunnel. It shot passed Pinkie's head and shattered part of the wall. Pinkie jumped over the debris and kept on running. She was nearing the end of the small passageway when Twilight fired again. This bolt struck the ground behind Pinkie's hooves, knocking her forward. She stumbled but managed to keep her balance. Pinkie was now back in the area near the cave opening. Twilight took careful aim and fired again. This time it was a hit. The bolt struck Pinkie on the side, knocking her into the wall. She hit her head hard against the cave wall and fell to the ground. She looked up at Twilight. The others were still making their way through the tunnel.
"Stop this!" yelled Twilight.
Pinkie slowly got back up. Her head was bleeding and there was also a cut on her side where Twilight's attack hit. The blood was pouring over her eyes and mouth.
"THIS ISN'T OVER, TWILIGHT!" Pinkie yelled, her voice echoing off the stone surface. "YOU'RE ALL GONNA DIE!"
The others finally made it to where Twilight was but it was too late. Pinkie had already stumbled out of the cave. Trixie ran out after her but couldn't see her.
"NO!" she yelled. She turned to Twilight who was just exiting the cave. "She's escaped again."