Chapter III
Unexpected Assistance
Shuddershy was sitting on the ground for hours. After a few minutes of sobbing, she broke down in tears. How could I... she kept asking herself, My poor Angel... I'm sorry...
Celestia was beginning to raise the sun when Shuddershy tried screaming again. Unfortunately, her Fluttershy voice was much to soft and weak for anypony to hear her. While Shuddershy hadn't been experiencing any menacing mood swings, the occasional tortuous thought kept occupying her mind. Thoughts like, You like Angel's fleshand You're a killer now.Shuddershy couldn't help but feel that all of her thoughts were really of her own mind.
"Is it safe for me to go out?" She asked herself. Her mind answered her own question.
"Of course, after all, you are still the pony you remember."
Believing that the thought was her own, she was comforted. She contemplated going out, maybe if she saw a nurse or a doctor, she could get help. No comforting thoughts. Shuddershy went to see her friends, still watching Rainbow Dash's performance.
"Is that...?" Rarity wondered, squinting her eyes and looking towards the horizon. Applejack looked too.
"Aww no..." She said as she saw a pink haired pegasus approach their group.
"Guys, lighten up, Fluttershy needs help, and it's our job to do that." Twilight reasoned.
"Exactly!" Dash added as she flew back down. "I'm sure with everyone together, both Pinkie and Fluttershy will be feeling better, right Pinkie?" No response. "Pinkie?" She had disappeared again, along with Spike.
"Hello, everypony." Shuddershy's voice shrank further than it usually sounded.
Distracting themselves from Pinkie and Spike, they looked at Shuddershy. She seemed normal enough.
"Are you going to be nice, Fluttershy?" Twilight asked.
"Of course, I'm always nice, to everypony."
"Wait, how do we know you're reeeeaaaally going to be nice?"
"Um..."
"Works fer me!" Applejack interjected.
Shuddershy didn't tell her friends what had happened. She was unsure of herself as it was, and with her secret, it made living life with her friends a challenge. However, Shuddershy noticed that something wasn't right with her, like something was slowly melting away.
Some weeks passed, Shuddershy spent less and less time with her friends, her sanity sowly slipping away. The gang was now at Canterlot. Pinkie was on trial for the possible murder of dozens of ponies. Celestia was to give judgement.
"Pinkamina Diane Pie, you have been accused of homicide of 7 ponies, 6 stallions, and 2 fillies. How do you plead?" Celestia asked, in a booming royal voice.
"I don't plead, I party." Pinkie responded without a hint of expression.
Shuddershy hadn't displayed much emotion since she massacred her own rabbit, but she looked amused to see Pinkie at the stand.
"Miss Pie," Celestia stated, "answer the question."
"No."
Celestia glanced at her sister. Luna stood up, "Pinkamina Diane Pie, for refusal to cooperate in court, you have been sentenced to confinement within the Canterlot prison for 5 days. Within such time, if you fail to plead, and court cannot resume, you are to be banished from Equestria. Is that clear?"
"No, could you explain it in cupcake format?" Still no emotion.
"Take her away." Celestia ordered. Four guards instantly responded and removed Pinkie from the court.
"Everypony," Luna said, returning to her throne, "you are dismissed. Those who wish to see Pinkamina's final trial will return after 5 days and 4 nights.
"Miss Pinkamin-" Luna began, but was interrupted.
"Yes, yes. Pleading and all the nonsense. I killed them, what more do you want? Cupcakes?"
Luna and Celestia looked at each other. They had many different guards ponies repeatedly interrogate Pinkie to get her to at least plead, but until now, she said nothing. Celestia spoke, as Luna was unable to continue.
"Very well, Miss Pie, you have plead guilty to the crimes you have been accused of. As punishment, you will be sent to the kingdom of the changelings. There, they will do with you what they wish."
"Poor poor changelings." Pinkie said as she was escorted out. Shuddershy was in deep thought. Pinkamina only showed emotion when her eyes were directed at Shuddershy, and the only emotion to be seen was anger. Shuddershy knew, that just by being herself, she had gotten her revenge on Pinkie before she even wanted it. Unfortunately, since Shuddershy was the cause of Pinkie's insanity, she too, would be charged. There was only 1 pony who knew what really happened.
"I will personally escort Miss Pinkamina to her sentence. Until such time as I return to Equestria, all midnight duties are to be postponed. If it is urgent, you are welcome to ask Celestia to send for me." Luna said. Using her magic to lift the Earth pony with her, Luna flew off towards the south.
Shuddershy knew that if she was to be left alone, a certain pony would have to be disposed of, but first, she had to know how she could do it quietly, so she took off behind Princess Luna and Pinkie Pie.
Three nights had passed Since Luna and Pinkie -along with Shuddershy- took off for the kingdom of the changelings. Pinkie Pie's insanity was slowly leaking into Luna.
"Well I think you should take all those nasty ponies who sleep at night, and just throw them in a pit." Pinkie would say, "Maybe you can have eternal night like you've always wished."
"Well, maybe. Nono, I serve the ponies of the land, ruling Equestria at night. Then again, none of them seem to respect me. No, I won't give in... maybe..." Luna was always skeptical, but slowly, Pinkie was getting a hold of the the moon princess. Shuddershy had also been gone 3 nights, and the ponies might be suspicious, so she headed back. It's not like Pinkamina was going to help me anyways.She thought to herself as the quiet pegasus flew back to Ponyville.
She had been flying for what seemed like 2 days. The moon was still up though, so she thought it was only her imagination. That is, until she reached Ponyville under the same moonlight where she departed from Pinkie and Luna. Shuddershy knew what had happened. Without day, my garden will die. What? I still have the pathetic thoughts? No matter, I'll just deal with- No! I must not hurt Twilight. I'm not hurting her though, yet. Right now, I'm going for Spike. Hmm, but I wonder how I will take-Shuddershy's thought was cut short, as a rather creepily dressed Luna flew into ponyville.
"I have returned," She said, "and now, everyone will enjoy the night for ETERNITY!"
All the ponies, Derpy, Octavia, Scootaloo, and everyone else were outdoors, watching the Nightmare Moon's appearance.. Including Twilight... and Spike.
Seizing her opportunity, Shuddershy swooped down behind Twilight Sparkle, and took Spike. Before he could say anything, Shudder hit him against the ground and knocked him out cold. She then flew away, Twilight completely unaware of what took place just inches behind her.
I guess Pinkamina really did help after all. Her, and Nightmare Moon that is.
Oh, they're both such nice ponies.
