The Cupcake Killer, Chapter 3

The Cupcake Killer
A 'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic' Fanfiction
by milesprower06, in collaboration with Ace2401

Chapter 3
Loyal To The End And Beyond

CENTRAL PONYVILLE
5 MINUTES LATER

Rainbow's curiosity had been piqued, absolutely. Who wanted her at Sugarcube Corner, and why?

She hadn't been there since...

Rarity led the way, with her and Fluttershy in tow, and they came to the now-infamous sweet shop, which had miraculously managed to stay in business, despite the horrors that had transpired in the basement. The trio entered the shop, and were greeted by Mrs. Cake and Twilight at the front counter.

"Twilight, what are you doing here?" Rainbow asked, surprised.

"Well, Rainbow." Rarity began, "When you finished telling me your idea, I went to find Twilight. Spike was the only one at the library, and pointed me to Sugarcube Corner. When I got here, she told me to go get you, and the first place I checked was Fluttershy's."

"So, what exactly is this about?" Rainbow inquired.

"When Rarity got here, she told me about your idea, and I was already here because I knew you were being bothered inside by what Pinkie had done, so I thought it would be a good idea for you to come and talk to somepony who was just as close to her as you were." Twilight said, turning to Mrs. Cake.

"Well, if everypony would please follow me. Honey, be a dearie and watch the store while I tend to our guests." Mrs. Cake called to her husband before taking everyone through the kitchen upstairs to the second floor. At the top of the stairs, there was a door with a heart-shaped window. She slowly opened it, and led everyone into Pinkie's old bedroom. Rainbow, greeted with recent memories of trying to convince her friend to get some help, seemed uneasy.

"I thought this would be the most appropriate place to discuss this, Rainbow."

"Discuss what?" Rainbow said, her patience being tested just by being in this room.

"Rainbow, I support your idea of a memorial. But it has to be for the victims, sweetheart. To include the killer would be-"

"She wasn't a killer! That...pony that committed those murders down in the basement...it may have been the same body, but not the same mind. Not the Pinkie I knew. She was cheerful, joyful, a high-on-life party pony. She could have never done this, deep in my heart I know that."

"Rainbow, you're right, and your heart is in the right place, truly it is. But there are a lot of ponies in town that feel differently. Ponies who have lost loved ones because of what she did. It wouldn't be right, but I think I know what you're looking to do."

Rainbow said nothing, and waited for Mrs. Cake to continue.

"Pinkie was like a daughter to me, and if you, just like me, are looking to honor her memory, who she used to be, I think I know the perfect way for you to do that."

Mrs. Cake made a brief exit to across the hall to her bedroom, and came back with a small box on her back, with holes lining the sides and lid, and presented it to Rainbow.

Rainbow took it, and a little green scaly nose poked up out of the lid for a moment before darting back under.

Gummy.

All these feelings that had been slowly stirring inside the past few days finally came to a head, and erupted. Rainbow fell on her back haunches, collapsing against the wall, and she broke into an uncontrollable sob, nearly dropping the box, managing to set it on the floor next to her before burying her head in her hooves. Her friends came in and held her tight as she wept. These mixed feelings deep inside were now straight in line.

She brought her face up out of her arms and looked at each of her friends, her shoulders heaving, and tears streaming out of her eyes.

"I...I..." Rainbow began, trying her best to get a hold of herself.

"I...d-don't care. I don't care what she did. I don't care that she hurt me, that she brought me within an inch of my life, or what she did to anypony else. I just...just...I miss my friend! Alright? Okay? Is that so wrong???"

"Of course it isn't wrong, Rainbow. After all, you represent the Element of Loyalty. So it only makes sense that you'd care about your friends and stand by them, no matter what they do. That says so much about you, Rainbow Dash, that through thick and thin; through the worst of circumstances, you will never let that love die." Twilight said.

Rainbow sniffled, and wiped the tears from her eyes, and gently opened the lid of the box, and those big purple eyes stared up at her. She picked up the toothless baby alligator, and held him close.

"I figured he'd be happier with you on the farm, is all." Mrs. Cake chimed in.

"Yeah," Rainbow looked at him with a smile, then at Mrs. Cake.

"Yeah, I think he will."

SWEET APPLE ACRES
THAT NIGHT

Rainbow walked through the front gates of Sweet Apple Acres as the sun began to dip below the horizon, and Luna began to bring out the stars and moon. She had saddlebags on her back, and Gummy rode contently on top of them.

The day had improved immensely after her visit to Sugarcube Corner. Together with her three friends, they had approached the Mayor with Rainbow's idea for the fountain memorial, and she was ecstatic. She said she'd be delighted if work began on it as early as tomorrow. After everything had been set in motion, Rainbow had made her way back to the farm.

As she approached the farmhouse, Applejack came out and greeted her on the porch.

"Hey there, Sugarcube. Have a good day?"

She was quite surprised when Gummy poked his head around Rainbow's neck. Rainbow looked at him with a smile.

"Yeah. Yeah I did."

Applejack's reaction wasn't immediate.

"Uh, sugarcube, why in Celestia's name is he with you?"

"Oh, you mean Gummy? I, uhh, didn't want the poor little guy to go lonely"

"But doesn't he remind you a bit much of her?" AJ responded.

"You mean Pinkie? Well, yeah. But I don't want to forget our friendship."

"Sugar, she hurt a lot of innocent ponies. She hurt you."

"I know, I just...I just can't dwell on that anymore. I want to remember her for who she used to be."

"I know it's easy for you to forgive Dash, but for me... not so much. It just hurts me to see what she did to you."

"I'm not talking about forgiveness, AJ. I'm talking about separating the Pinkie we all knew and loved from that monster that carried out the horrors in Sugarcube Corner's basement.

"That's just what I mean Dash, it's not as easy for everypony else to make that separation."

"I know. That's why I decided to take Gummy. So I can leave everypony else out of it and honor Pinkie my way."

"Well, if that's what you have to do Dash, I suppose I can support that."

"Thanks, AJ. That means a lot to me."