"'Cause Pinkie is a party pony…" hummed Pinkie Pie as she stirred up blueberry muffins for Rainbow Dash's party.

There was a knock. Twilight's face appeared in the window.

"It's unlocked," called Pinkie Pie. "It's not like I closed Sugarcube Corner…"

The door opened. In the doorframe stood…someone. And that someone had Twilight's pelt draped over them!

Pinkie's hair fell out of its usual messy heap. It draped over her shoulders, along the floor. She cowered in fright.

"Why, Rapunzel, you've let down your hair," growled the ebony-pelted character. Its eyes glowed a steady crimson, its smile was red with blood. It had splatters of something red in its fur, Pinkie wished it wasn't blood. Then again, it was bleeding from multiple places.

"Hah, Discord got your tongue?" it snickered, tossing the purple coat aside.

"Please don't hurt me…" cowered Pinkie.

"What? Your old friend wouldn't dare to hurt a hair on your coat."

"Please, I don't know you, I don't especially want to, and whatever you want I have dozens of baking ingredients and tools in the back…"

In three seconds flat, the thing had pinned Pinkie with rolling pins hammered through her hooves. She was frozen in fear, she dare not move or it would kill her. The creature sauntered around Pinkie, inspecting her. The thing was bony, its joints stuck out at odd angles and Pinkie could have counted its ribs from a mile away. As the thing circled, she saw the cutie mark, bright against the shadowy fur. A lightning bolt, colored red, yellow, and blue.

"Rainbow Dash? But… but I'm your best friend! And so was Twilight! Why…?"

"Ah, my sickeningly pink comrade, all good things must come to an end. For now…" Rainbow Dash walked to the door.

"For now, the name's Rainbine…You should really stick around…Ha!"

Pinkie stared in disbelief at the door for a minute after "Rainbine" hoofed it. Then, she went to work.

Pinkie had had a lot of mistakes with rolling pins, so escaping was pretty easy. Now what?

Pinkie looked out the window. There was no sight of Rainbine, so she snuck out quietly. Working fast, she dashed to Twilight's tree with makeshift grafts made out of some leftover dough on her hooves.

"SPIKE! SPIIIIIIIIIIIKE!" screamed Pinkie.

A groggy-looking Spike pushed the door open with effort. He rubbed his eyes. "Jeez, Pinkie, what is it, Early O'clock?" he growled.

Pinkie's voice cracked. "Twi-twilight…"

"Yeah, uh, where is she?" asked Spike. "Haven't seen her all morning…"

"She…is…gone…"

"G-gone?" asked Spike. Then he realized.

Tears silently rolled down his scaly cheek. Then, a surge ran through his body and he cried.

He fell to his knees, shaking. His eyes turned from vivid green to pale yellow. He stared up, a small slick of tears forming beneath him. "WHY!" yelled Spike, digging his talons deep into the ground. His voice had grown deep, lost its jubilant, innocent resonance. He then had a coughing fit, tears still flowing steadily from his miserable yellow eyes.

He hung his head again. When he raised it, his eyes were a deep red with rage. His teeth bared, he began roaring. A terribly formidable sound, it reverberated off the window panes, shattering the glass. The ground shook with the power of the scream.

Pinkie shrunk back, her muscles clenching with pain as the deep sound rattled her very bones.

"WHO. DID. THIS," rumbled Spike.

"R-r-r…"

"I'LL KILL HER! RARITY WILL DIE!" screamed Spike, launching forward.

Pinkie blocked him. "No, Rainbow D-dash w-w-as acting all psychopony, calling herself Rainbine and stuff and she killed Twi. She also nailed me to the floor with rolling pins," she indicated her makeshift bandages.

Spike stared at Pinkie's hooves for a second, then insisted she take off the dough.

Pinkie winced, bloody scabs tore excruciatingly from her hoof.

Spike huffed gently. The green mist enveloped her injured hoof.

Threads of pink keratin laced in a web around her injury. The hoof was healed within seconds.

He repeated it on the remaining three hooves, then spread his wings. "Come on, we need to find Rainbow Dash," said Spike, spitting the name like it was an overcooked cupcake. Pinkie climbed onto his back, amazed how Spike actually grew to accommodate her size. He then flew off.