MLP: The Spirit of Secession. Part 1
It was currently midnight for Ponyville, and all sources of light to be found within the town were long since doused, blanketing the environment in darkness. The hospital, contrary to Ponyville, had remained active and bustled with activity, handling injured or ill patients in a rapid fashion. Among the patients was the typically excitable Pinkie Pie, who was left to rest in an unconscious state.
She had suffered greatly at the hooves of Twilight from an electric spell, cast upon her to prevent the ensuing mayhem by her alternate personality Pinkamena.
Meanwhile, her visiting elder sister Maud Pie and her friends had returned to the local Library, deciding to seek refuge for the rest of the night. As Applejack and Rainbow Dash sought to recover from Pinkamena's vicious attack, Twilight herself had excluded herself from the group and sat at a nearby desk.
She was lost in thought from considering her actions and they're consequences, overwhelmed with guilt from using her magic for what was potentially an unnecessarily violent purpose, especially against her own friend.
As she brooded to herself in the corner of the library, Applejack and Rainbow Dash had begun explaining the basic outline of Pinkie Pie's dilemma to her sister, who had every intent to listen ever since witnessing her sibling's destructive capabilities for the first time.
"So she can become Pinkamena at any time at all?" Maud questioned curiously, her voice remaining a soft whisper. Rainbow winced as she turned to face Maud, answering "She used to only appear when Pinkie Pie was upset, but nothing happened today that could've possibly triggered that" Rainbow explained as she stroked her injured wings.
"And sometimes… she takes over my sister's mind completely?" Maud asked in disbelief, her breaths growing heavier from panic. "Stay calm, Maud. Pinkamena doesn't always win, y'know" Applejack intervened as she held her forehead, "When she loses, Pinkamena disappears for long periods of time".
Maud nodded from to this in agreement, as Rainbow added "Not to mention, Pinkamena and Pinkie Pie were apparently 'friends' when she was a filly, weren't they?" before Maud nodded a second time. Rainbow Dash's wings tucked away as she admitted "Then I find it weird how Pinkamena would usually attack others, but she always claims that she does it to protect Pinkie Pie".
"So Pinkamena's delusional?!" Maud question, only for Rainbow Dash to grimace "Well… we have done some things that… would give her that impression". Applejack intervened and she said "Pinkamena and Pinkie are always talkin' all friendly like, so it's a good thing that she doesn't wanna hurt Pinkie Pie".
As she said this, Applejack instantly imagined a truly morbid scenario. The whole of Ponyville was in shambles, windows bellowing with smoke and fire, all while Pinkamena staggered through the carnage with a satisfied grin. Applejack shivered nervously, concluding "All the same, it doesn't make a big difference".
Rainbow Dash attempted to leave the couch, only to wince in pain and fall back against it and grunt from the pain she felt as a result. "It's crazy" Rainbow grimaced, "She really showed a reason for us to be afraid of her". The pegasus made a second attempt to stand, and finally succeeded before approaching Applejack, "The both of us against her, and she beat us both without a sweat!"
Applejack nodded in agreement, "Well, that's what happens when somepony is pushed passed their limits. You can't tell how dangerous they can truly be".
"It took almost obliterating her to stop her".
All eyes immediately grew wide with astonishment as they focused on the unicorn, who continued to brood in the corner. She held her neck and acknowledged the injury, groaning "We really have a problem… If I have to electrocute her to keep her docile". She left her desk as she offered "I'll need to find another way to stop Pinkamena without hurting her" before she closed her eyes and sighed in dismay.
"Hey, Twilight! If it weren't for ya, none of us would've stopped her" Applejack reminded the unicorn, "And it's like we said before, It can only get better from here". Twilight turned face the southerner and yelled "Are you kidding!? Our friend being in the hospital is not something to be thankful for!"
"Stop getting angry, Maud. It's not like we can fix it now" Rainbow Dash explained, though Twilight found no wisdom to be gained from this statement and returned to the corner of the room. "It's just strange…" Applejack began, "We never knew about Pinkamena until only about five months ago".
"Five months?!" Maud suddenly questioned with a curious tone, "So she never mentioned Pinkamena before then?" Rainbow Dash and Applejack turned to eachother before shaking their heads, "No. She's never had any kind of mental problems before now. She was always was just a giddy pony that enjoyed making ponies happy".
"I should have guessed so… But Pinkamena…" Maud muttered before sighing, "When she was a filly, I found her somewhere away from the rock farm, talking to herself and she seemed to be really happy". Rainbow Dash and Applejack began listened closely as Maud continued "I always thought it was an act… that she was just having fun… The rock farm was such a horrible place, after all" Maud began sobbing to herself as she continued.
"It's so weird. On paper, split personalities sound completely ridiculous. But…" her voice cracked suddenly, before she continued "But now… I've seen it! It's in my sister, and I've seen what it can do. It's absolutely terrifying!"
Maud then sniffed to herself as a single tear fell from her cheek and onto the carpeted floor, "How did I not notice it?" she grimaced. "My sister was losing her mind while none of her family were paying any attention. She was so desperate for a friend, she befriended herself" she cringed.
Unable to restrain her pain any longer, she wailed in pity "HOW COULD I BE SO STUPID!?" As she sulked, Rainbow Dash sat beside her and wrapped her arm around Maud's shoulder, prompting Maud to lean against her and cry against her chest.
Twilight finally left her desk as she yawned wearily, watching over this display of anguish and blaming naught but herself for it. "I think you girls should stay here for the night" Twilight advised, before adding "We can figure something out with Pinkie Pie tomorrow".
Without another word, Twilight made her way upstairs to her private retreat before diving under her covers, though it was difficult to find rest from the pain that beckoned from within her neck. "Twilight's been beating herself up for a lot of her mistakes" Applejack considered. Maud Pie then replied "Well, can you blame her? She's just electrocuted my sister!"
Meanwhile, in the nearby streets, lay the local hospital of Ponyville. A depressing sight to behold for a foreign eye, particularly for the sights to witness inside; but was unfortunately the abode of Pinkie Pie for an unforeseen amount of time yet to come.
As of this moment, Pinkie Pie resided in one of the many wards of this dismal establishment, recuperating from her injuries inflicted during this evening's events, which unfortunately ended in her electrocution and comatose condition. She constantly tossed and twitched uncomfortably in her bed, though whether from her current state of health or from the lack of comfort provided from the bed she slept in was unknown.
However, as the clock chimed 12:00, Pinkie Pie slowly stirred into consciousness and sat up in the bed, slouching forward and sighing wearily. Pinkie's eyes slowly opened to revealing a bloodshot, soul-piercing gaze, while her mouth twisted into a large grin.
She stepped out of the bed before grunting from the uncomfortable pain in her back. "Ugh! First their robes are always too small; and now their beds are so stiff, that they may as well be filled with sand. And they call this a hospital?" she sneered before staggering her way from the ward room into the main hall.
However, as she meandered through the following corridor, a doctor spotted her and recognized her as a patient, prompting him to quickly run to her and ask "Miss, where are you going?" Pinkamena turned to face him and replied "Anywhere that I wanna!" before turning to continue towards the main entrance.
Suddenly, the doctor stopped her in her tracks and stated "Miss Pie, you must return to the ward room". "Get away from me, freak!" she howled madly before pushing the doctor over and rushing passed him towards the main entrance of the building.
She pushed the doors open recklessly and shouted "FREEDOM! WAHAHAHAAAAH!" before running off into the streets. She soon spotted a nearby alleyway and bolted for it, diving into the narrow passageway and stopping to catch her breath, until she exclaimed "Well, I dunno about you, cherub; but I couldn't stand another second in that place".
She peeked out of the alleyway to find multiple staff members of the hospital, clearly searching for a crazed runaway patient of her specific stature. "What do you say we head home, Pinkie Pie? Y'know, grab something to eat, and have a little rest and relaxation?" There was no answer, not that she was expecting one, and she soon made her way back to her alter ego's home to revitalize herself.
Once finally at her house, Pinkamena burst through the door and breathed in the surrounding air, savouring the fresh scent of sanctuary. "Haahhhh… I love this place. Very quiet, and the neighbours respect your privacy here. Saves dealing with prying eyes. Eh Hehehehe…" she boasted before staggering into the kitchen for a meal.
As she shifted through the contents in Pinkie Pie's fridge, she soon came across a tray carrying a certain collection of petite pastries. "Cupcakes!" she screamed with delight before pulling the innutritious treats from the fridge and eyeing them with insurmountable desire.
"Oh… These take me back!" she grinned before grabbing one and greedily stuffing it into her mouth, sighing in bliss from the delectable taste. Her eyes shut lazily as she muttered "These are so good… I knew Pinkie Pie was a good cook, but she's really outdone herself with these".
She soon gazed up to the roof and called "If you can hear me, Pinkie Pie, I love your cupcakes and I always have!" before a dumb, content grin spread across her cheeks. However, much like earlier, there was an ominous absence of a response; however, unlike then, Pinkamena had taken notice of it by this time.
"Pinkie Pie? Are you there?" she questioned into the cold night air, before listening carefully for a reply.
The following silence had begun to concern her, tempting her to ask once again "Cherub? Can you hear me?" Unfortunately, the lack of an answer had confirmed her suspicion. Despite this, Pinkamena shrugged and muttered "She must be still asleep" to herself. "Maybe... I should sleep now too. She might come back tomorrow" she assumed before stumbling from the living room to the upstairs bedroom.
As soon as she entered the bedroom, Pinkamena slowly turned her head in various positions to relieve the welling strain as she lay herself in the bed, mumbling to herself "I hope Pinkie Pie comes back by tomorrow. It feels… heheheheh… kinda lonely" before shutting her eyes and drifting off to sleep.
The next morning, Pinkie Pie remained in bed even after 8:00 chimed from the wall-mounted clock. Soon though, she eventually stirred into consciousness and sat up from the bed, yawning lazily and rubbing her eyes of the excess sleep. Once she had a sense of her position, however, she realized that something was wrong about her current situation.
She was still Pinkamena.
She tugged on her lank hair in shock and shouted "What the- Why am I still here?!" She soon stumbled out of the bed in a panic as a flood of questions assaulted her at once. "Pinkie Pie!? Cherub!? Are you there?! Say something!" An uncomfortable silence followed, and Pinkamena screamed "PLEASE, TALK TO MAAAAEEEEEEEEEE!"
Pinkamena held the sides of her head as beads of sweat poured from her temple. Too many unanswered questions. Why was she still in control? Why hadn't Pinkie Pie come back yet? Was she still there anymore? What if she wasn't?
"NOOO!" Pinkamena screamed in horror, "She can't be gone! SHE CAN'T BE GONE!"
Pinkamena continued to panic as a knock on the door interrupted her hysterical fit, followed by "Hey, Pinkie Pie! Are you there?" Pinkamena quickly recognized the voice as Pinkie Pie's sister, who was possibly visiting Pinkie about leaving the hospital. "Ack! It's her sister! She can't see me!" she muttered to herself nervously, before plotting a way to hide herself.
Eventually, she decided to disguise herself as her alter ego, reminiscent of her ploy with Pinkie Pie's friends in the café less than 5 months ago, before Maud Pie slowly entered the house without any permission. Pinkamena desperately wanted to call her out on this intrusive action, but believed that Pinkie wouldn't be bothered about such petty concerns, and abandoned the desire. She rustled her hair until it resembled its alternate appearance and strutted into the hallway to greet the visitor.
"Hey Sis, how's it going?" she greeted with a fake expression of glee, only to be answered "Pinkie Pie, what are you doing here? I thought you were in the hospital!" Pinkamena raised an eyebrow and asked "Well, what are you doing looking for me here instead of there?" until realizing that she may have endangered her cover from this statement. "I was just there, and the doctors are looking for you because you ran away!" Maud informed, leaving Pinkamena in a trap of her own making.
"Well, that's not what I remember. I woke up here" Pinkamena replied, now relying on her split personality to cover her track. She wanted to portray that Pinkamena ran away from the hospital and Pinkie Pie had woken up in her house, instead of her being Pinkamena on both occasions. This explanation was so complicated to type that the writer spent an hour searching for the appropriate way to explain it. "But, oh well. How are Twilight and the others? I hope I- no, she… wait, no- I didn't hurt them" Pinkamena stuttered nervously.
"They're more worried about what happened to you. Ever since Twilight shocked you with lightning, she's-" Maud explained before Pinkamena suddenly shouted "SHE DID WHAT!?" Maud then fell into a state of panic and attempted to explain "Well, she needed to stop… um… Pinkamena. So she… shocked you with lightning and knocked you out. She's been stressing herself over it for the entire morning".
"Please go".
Maud tilted her head in confusion and asked "What? No! We need to take you back to the hospital. For all we know, you-" Before she could conclude her exclamation, Pinkamena suddenly slammed the door shut and locked it in one swift motion. Ignoring the calls and pleads of her alternate personality's sister, she leaned against the door, rasping heavily to herself from overwhelming shock.
"No! Pinkie Pie, please!" she whimpered weakly, truly unbefitting of her reputation, before wrapping her arms around her legs and curling up against the door.
Maud peered through the window that lead to the kitchen and noticed this act, growing steadily more worried for her sibling's health. Despite her emotional desires, she decided against conversing with Pinkie Pie during this current episode and chose to return to Twilight's library, intending to allow Pinkie a chance to regain her composure.
However, upon turning away from the window and taking her leave, Maud failed to notice Pinkamena slowly rise from the floor and shakily stumble her way up the staircase and towards her bedroom door. She stepped into her bedroom and locked the door, before crawling onto her bed and simply laying unmoving against the backrest. She shut her eyes and shook her head slowly.
"Pinkie Pie… don't leave me here by myself".
To be continued…