Chapter One: Broken ~...~ = Thoughts *Note- This takes place directly after the original version of Rocket to Insanity* Murder. She had committed murder. On one of her own friends. It was unheard of. Nopony had murdered another in hundreds of years. Voices within her mind clawed and whispered to her, the world spinning around her as time seemed to stand still for her, the last vestiges of her sanity being plucked apart, one by one...until that final thread finally snapped. Hooves grasped at her head, matting her rainbow-colored mane down with blood and ichor, the pegasus rocking back and forth in the blooded kitchen as a crazed grin spread across her muzzle, humming disjointedly to herself. “...g-giggle at the ghastly...heehee...s-snortle at the spooOOooky...haha...heheheeheeeehaha! HAHAH! AHAHAHAHA! HAAAAAAAAHAHAHA!” Dash threw her head back, curling legs against her chest as forelimbs wrapped around them, psychotic laughter issuing forth from the speedster pegasus as her world shattered around her, psyche and spirit broken and splintered. For five minuets she rocked back and forth, until the door to the bakery chimed aloud. Dash's head snapped forward, tears flying from her eyes along with an eerie grin on her face. "Learn to face your fears..." "You'll see that they...hee hee..." "Can't hurt you..." "Just laugh to make them..." Rainbow Dash said this as clear as the scene before her. Grabbing the knife she used against Pinkie Pie she began giggling uncontrolably as she went to the kitchen entrance. The voice from before whispered in her head once more. ~The ones that ate your cupcakes... they are COMING! They enjoyed your baked flesh and blood soaked self without a worry in the world... They must pay as well...~ "Disappear..." Dash whispered to herself, chuckling. She raised her hoof with the blade in the air, poised to strike at whoever came into the room. ************************************ "Apple Bloom! What's taking you so long?" The purple-mane Scootaloo shouted to her friend. Sweety Belle already made it inside with Scootaloo but Apple Bloom was a little fearful of the place. "I'm telling you, I thought I heard screams coming from in there!" Apple Bloom shouted back to her two friends. "Aww... There is no screams from here, and even if there were, you remember Pinkie Pie is here almost every day right?" Sweety Belle asked Apple Bloom. "Everypony knows Pinkie Pie is the loudest pony in Equestria. Hee hee." She added with a giggle. Apple Bloom sighed, seeing her good friend's point. "Ok. Ok. Maybe something scared Pinkie Pie or made her super happy is what ah heard." Apple Bloom said, admiting defeat as she enters. "She did invite us for some cupcakes earlier today, and to help cheer up Rainbow Dash too." "I do hope Rainbow Dash is here." Scootaloo said with a smile. "I know something that we could do to cheer her up-" There was a creak and a clatter coming from the kitchen. It scared the three fillies. "What was that?" Scootaloo asked the others. "Ah don't know, but as Cutie Mark Crusaders, we cannot let this go undiscovered!" Apple Bloom said, cheering along with Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. The three started towards the kitchen door together, Apple Bloom leading. Apple opened the door with a forward hoof, but when it closed it pushed out the other two by accident. "Hello? Anypony in... here...?!" Apple started to call out when she was stunned by what she saw. Blood splatters everywhere and to the right a fallen pink earth pony. "Pinkie...Pie...?" Apple alled out lightly to her friend, the door closing behind her, but she was so transfixed on the sight of Pinkie she didn't see Dash come from behind with a downward slash with the chef's Knife, aimed at the back of Apple's neck. The blade went down once, then pulled back. By the time Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle got into the room they saw Apple Bloom's bow on the ground with a big cut into it. Looking above it they see their filly friend, but blood was trailing down her mane a few drops dripping on the edge of the bow following some gurgling. "Apple Bloom... are you alright?" Sweetie Belle asked her. Apple Bloom tried to turn her head but she fell to the ground, half her mane flowing with her life force and pooling under her. The two young fillies screamed and backed away from the sight. As they did Rainbow Dash pushed her way through the door from the other side. Her eyes seem to have a crazed look to them as she was grinning to the two, her coat matted with dried blood and a little fresh blood from her recent attack. "Do... you... like my cupcakes... too?" Rainbow Dash asked the two slowly in an evil tone but they didn't answer as they took off towards the main door Dash laughing all the while. Dash threw the knife at the two but only slicing Scootaloo in the flank forcing her to fall to the ground. It buzzed past her and only left a large cut on her flank. Fearing what else might happen, Sweetie Belle helped her friend up and the two managed to get out of the pastry shop. "Help! Help! Somepony is attacking Apple Bloom!" Sweetie Belle shouted, hoping someone was nearby. Dash followed the two outside but froze. She put her hoofs to her head trying to stop herself from going after the last remaining Cutie Mark Crusaders, trying to force the evil thoughts from her mind but it was like pushing on a wall covered with honey, the more she tried the more it seemed to stay. She bolted to the skies leaving her rainbow trail behind in her wake. A couple of male ponies, one an earth type and another a pegasus type, heard the two fillies and rushed to their side. "Apple Bloom and another pony is hurt in there-ow!" Scootaloo said, favoring the cut across her flank and pointed to the Bakery. "Call the Nurse Ponies." The dark blue pegasus pony with a water drop Cutie Mark said to his friend, an orange one with a ladder Cutie Mark with a short cut mane. He ran off to get them while the water one stayed behind. "Berry Punch! Come here a moment!" He shouted to a violet colored pony with a cherry and grapes Cutie Mark. She ran over to the three. "What happened to them Waver??" Berry Punch asked her friend. "I don't know, but I'm going in to check-" "NO! DON'T!" Both Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle shouted at the same time. "That pony might be in there still..." Sweetie Belle said cautiously. "I'll be alright, I'm not a pushover pony after all." Waver said. "I'll be back in a shake of a tail." He said, running to the Bakery. Upon entering he could already smell the strong scent of blood in the air. Noticing red hoof-prints coming from the kitchen door he runs over to it and pushes the door open. Apple bloom was still laying on the ground, now in a pool of her own blood her leg twitching a little. Looking further in he saw Ponyvile's prime party pony, also lying on the ground covered in cuts. Waver runs over to her and checks her out. He could hear her saying something. Leaning down he heard her say... "Rain... bow... why...?" She was repeating it over and over again. What could that mean? Did Rainbow Dash have anything to do with this? A moment later the door opened again. Three Nurse Ponies had arrived, but almost left again from shock and surprise. "Hey! Get in here! This one's still alive!!" Waver shouted to the three. Two went to check on Pinkie Pie bringing a carrying a board with them while one looked over Apple Bloom. "There needs to be new Nurse Ponies I swear... one sight of blood and you guys cringe." Waver said mostly to himself. "Can you guys get both of these to the hospital as soon as possible at least?" He asked the three. The Nurse Ponies seemed annoyed with him, but they did comply, carefully placing Pinkie Pie and Apple Bloom onto the transport board, covering them and rushing out quickly to get them care. One of the Nurse Ponies, a female, stayed behind. "How come you're not affected by any of this?" She asked, looking at Waver with her own blue eyes. "No pony should be able to handle this." "Someone has to." Waver said, following the Nurse Ponies but stopping at the door for a second. Sadness took over his facial features. "Someone has to..." Waver continued on back outside, watching as the two injured ponies were taken away. The two fillies he left with Berry Punch were missing along with her. He sighed, then looked to the skies. He figured they were with the Nurse Ponies and least hoped they were. Taking flight he heads home to his place in Cloudsdale to get cleaned up a little.