Earlier that day, Cup Cake was happily humming as she made her way around the kitchen, her ample blue posterior bouncing to the song within her own head. While the bakery was closed for the day she couldn't rest just yet. Her loving husband Carrot had taken the twins to visit his mother in Trottingham, while normally she would have gone along with him, they were too far behind on their orders, and somepony had to stay behind and keep the business going. She didn't mind of course, she had Pinkie to keep her company. The energetic apprentice to the Cakes was always good for a laugh or a bit of comfort, especially on a lonely night. The pudgy blue baker smiled at that thought, the couple's promiscuity was known to a lot of ponies of both genders in the town, but none more than their favorite tenant. While some of the ponies in town judged them or tried to take advantage of her over it, believing that it meant her loveable Carrot wasn't man enough, Pinkie never once did either. Besides, the mares open minded enough to share their bed knew the truth, her Carrot was second in size and stamina only to Big Macintosh, but they learned early in their marriage sometimes that stamina was a curse, with Carrot still going when she was sore in every hole. That's not to say becoming swingers was all his idea, while her husband was as straight as can be, she enjoyed variety in her partners. Her absolute favorite, other than her husband, was a pegasus the couple met once that had both parts and wound up wearing out even Carrot. However some seemed to think they didn't take precautions, that Pound and Pumpkin were born to somepony other than her husband, though in reality the mare was heavily on birth control herbs anytime she spent time with a stallion other than him to make completely sure any children she had were his. Those were the rumors that actually had an effect on the pink maned mare, angering her to no end, however she didn't have time to think about that today, there was too much baking to be done. “Mrs. Cake!” or, as a loud hyperactive voice yelling out her name would suggest, some other activity. In a pink blur the young mare she was just thinking about appeared in the kitchen, her earrings rattling as she was pounced to the floor, “There's a contest in town! They have tents and probably balloons inside the tents. Maybe it's a circus announcing it'll be in town soon! We should go, the sign ups are over in like, an hour!”

Cup Cake smiled weakly up to Pinkie and gently pushed her off, “Um, well that's nice Pinkie but I really have a lot of work to catch up on. You go enjoy yourself though.”

The poofy pink party pony pouted, “Come on Mrs. Cake, we have all of tomorrow to do it, and I'll even be here to help you then. Let's just go have some fun for today, me and you.” she bumped her flank against Cup Cake's and winked, “I'm even going to go see Big Macintosh afterward, and you know he can handle both of us.”

Cup Cake blushed, she had to admit the offer was tempting, “Oh... well fine you've convinced me Pinkie. Let me just go freshen up a bit.”

Pinkie grinned, “Great! I'm gonna go tell more ponies about this! Meet ya there!” and with that she was out of the kitchen before Cup could even respond. Of course the shapely mare merely smiled, used to her bubbly attitude by this point. She'd finish this batch of fudge up then go clean herself up. Deep down she knew of course that between Pinkie and Big Macintosh she'd be spending tomorrow resting rather than baking, but it'd be worth it.

Meanwhile a brown cloaked mare wandered through the Everfree Forest, her fur, both light and dark gray, hidden by the heavy garment, though glittering gold bangles around her neck and left foreleg occasionally gleamed in the light. The being made no effort to silence her steady steps, soon enough finding the attention she sought. Within the thick brush a manticore stalked the pony, intent on making her it's new meal. Despite the creature's large frame, his catlike body kept his moves quiet and predatory. For him the matter of keeping up with the pony was trivial and before long he slipped from the bush, ready to pounce on his prey. Of course his dinner had other plans as she turned to him, a pair of glowing deep yellow eyes paralyzing him on the spot. The gaze seemed to go on forever into an endless pool, and without realizing it the mighty beast of the Everfree lowered it's haunches, unable to control his body. The glow gave way to a pair of turquoise irises, as the mare lowered her hood, a thick accent escaping her mouth, “Not bad, hunter most shrewd. But I have no interest in becoming your food. However it seems that you are in luck.” the mohawk maned zebra mare chuckled as she pushed the animal backward, it's body aiding her until he came to rest against a tree, “For you found a mare, in the mood to buck.” The zebra licked her lips as she eyed the creature's sheathe, the two heavy orbs that hung from it half the size of her head, and the treasure it hid that would likely reach into her abdomen. Of course this would be incredibly dangerous if not lethal for most ponies, Zecora, however was not most ponies. The local alchemist of the town knew her way around potions, not the least of which being pain dulling concoctions with the side effect of 'elasticity'. She had always been this way growing up, creatures larger than herself fascinated her and made up half the reason she preferred the forest to Ponyville. While the other half was the plant life, she had also wished to study these strange beasts most ponies flee from, and it didn't take long for her to realize she had a certain attraction to the ferocious creatures. The zebra mare nuzzled her cheek into the hefty sack of the manticore before her, “You've reason to brag! For you may cause me to gag. But please, do not hate my powers to bewitch. For today, I am your bi...”

Her rhyme was cut off by a familiar voice shouting her name, the yellow filly of the Apple family and her apprentice in the alchemical arts. She sighed and turned once more the the monster, “I apologize, truly I do. For you piercing my flank, would be a spectacular view. But no, I must attend to mundane things.” Her eyes began to glow yellow once again, “For now, sleep until the night air stings.” The manticore's eyes grew heavy at her words and before long it was sound asleep against the tree. She gave one last look to it's massive sheathe, lamenting what Apple Bloom had interrupted before she went to find the filly.

"Where in the Sam Hoof is she?" the Apple Familys signature southern drawl cut through the dead silence of the clearing surrounding Zecora's tree. She'd spent the last five minutes calling for her, and while she loved taking any opportunity she could to run off into the Everfree, it did get kind of creepy to be answered by snapping twigs and the occasional glowing eyes from the trees. Apple Bloom had wanted to invite Zecora along to some carnival that showed up in Ponyville, or at least Pinkie Pie said it was like a carnival. She had practically dragged Applejack and Big Mac off to the town square when she showed up to tell them. The filly took in another deep breath to call for Zecora again, just before a shadowy figure behind her spoke.

"We have talked about this, little foal." Zecora kindly waited for Apple Bloom to stop screaming and flailing to continue, "You must be careful on an Everfree stroll. This forest is dangerous; that I don't jest. Make too much noise, you may be a beast's dinner guest."

"Zecora! You scared the hay outta me!" Apple Bloom glared at her, while the zebra mare smirked playfully in response.

“I apologize, Apple Bloom. Now, you were looking for me, I assume? So do tell me, and hurry please, what brings you into the Everfrees trees?”

Elsewhere, a pair of pony musicians walked down the main avenue of Ponyville. Vinyl Scratch peered at Octavia, who was adjusting her bow tie for the sixth time, "Will you chill, 'Tavi? This guy's cool." The raven-maned mare shot Vinyl a glare, cleared her throat and resumed her brisk trot down the street. "I can't believe I let you talk me into this, Vinyl. This gentlecolt set you up in a filthy warehouse on the Manehattan pier! I'm sure it was a just what you had in mind, but I have standards! Showrooms! The plaza! Concert halls!" Vinyl rolled her eyes. Despite Octavia's high opinion of herself, she could sense the ragged edge of nervousness in the mare's voice.

"Look, I wouldn't even considered bringing you down here if I didn't think Neon could help you out. He knows every big name in the Equestrian music scene on a first name basis for Celestia's sake!" she looked over at her friend once again before slapping her hoof off of her bow, "And your tie looks fine, cut it out! Seriously, him and me are tight. He'll set ya up."

Octavia couldn't help but roll her eyes, “Yes I'm sure he finds you very tight, Vinyl.” she was aware of her friend's propensity toward sex, something she didn't share quite as openly. “I just hope he doesn't expect me to 'seal the deal' as it were.”

Vinyl laughed, “Nah, 'Tavi. Me and him bucking has nothin' to do with me getting my place. He's all professional and crap when it comes to the business.”

“Well I can't work my magic just by sleeping with cute mares, V.” The pair turned to see a dull mint pony in a black dress shirt and white tie, his eyes blocked by dark shades and mane gelled and styled. He smiled at the pair, “I take it you're Ocatvia, saw you at the Gala last year. You were pretty good.”

Octavia blushed, she didn't expect to be instantly recognized, after all the only reason she and her group were on stage that night was the 'unfortunate' fact the band who was supposed to perform got stuck in Fillydelphia, “Why, thank you. Yes I am Octavia, and you must be Mr. Lights?”

“Just call me Neon, and don't worry, probably about half of what V says about me is true.” this elicited a playful glare and shoulder punch from Vinyl before they continued on there way, “I know a great place we can stop at for lunch to talk over this, I have a friend up in Canterlot whose looking for a house band for his new place up near the palace. It's not much but it'll get you seen by some the big shots around the city.”

Octavia couldn't help but grin, “That- that would be perfect! I didn't expect anything so... grand from one of Vinyl's friends.”

“Hey!”

“She's got a point, Vinyl.” he smirked playfully at the female unicorn, “I'll have to convince him, but that shouldn't be too hard. Anyway another friend of mine in town told me about some contest going on in the square. Let's have some fun with that before we get down to business.”

“Get back, Discord!” Twilight glared at the Draconequus, the tent now illuminated from various spotlights along the top. Many of the mares were screaming in fear, trying to push their way out to no avail while the Crusaders huddled behind their respective heroes and siblings, quaking in fear at the monster that turned their world upside down the last time he appeared.

“Come, come, my dear Twilight Sparkle. I'm not here to hurt you. Au contraire, I'm here to add a little spice into your lives with a lovely little game.” the mishapen form of the maniacal being known as Discord hovered above the prey who stumbled into his trap, “And before you say anything, if you don't want to play then you're out, and believe me you do not want to be out.”

“Oh yeah!? Maybe we'll refuse just so we can send your flank back to Celestia's garden!” Rainbow, as couragously stupid as ever flew straight up to Discord, glaring at him eye to eye.

“Rainbow!” Twilight facehoofed at her friend, “Get back here before he hypnotizes you!”

Discord smirked and snapped his talons, Rainbow Dash appearing once more beside her friends, “Now, now, I'll make this somewhat fair for you. Unless you lose or give up, then things'll get very bad for you, and very fun for me.” he smirked, his snaggletooth sticking out of his upturned mouth like poisonous dagger, “Of course if you win the prize will be amazing.” The shrieking of the mares stopped, but not of their own volition, those who were trying to escape were teleported back and lined up below him with another snap of his claws, “And do stop the screaming, it's so annoying.”

Twilight looked at her friends, hoping they had some idea of what they could be done, “Ah dunno Twi, I don't trust him or his games. That prize can't be worth it.”

“As much as I agree with Applejack, I don't believe we have a choice.” Rarity looked at Sweetie Belle, as the filly still cowered behind her, “Regardless I am not letting Sweetie Belle in this alone.”

Applejack nodded in agreement and scooted Apple Bloom and Babs closer to her, while Scootaloo looked up at her heroine, “Rainbow Dash?”

Rainbow frowned, then followed it up with a cocky smirk, “Hey, I got your back, kiddo.” she lifted the orange filly up and placed her on her back, “Just stick with me and you'll be-” A sudden snap of Discords fingers filled the air as Scootaloo disappeared, “Oh you did not just- IT'S ON!” Luckily for Rainbow, Applejack got a mouth full of her tail before she could charge the Demi-God of Chaos once more.

“What'd ya do with Scoot!” Apple Bloom found herself with a sudden burst of courage as she confronted the being several times her size, the fear of what had happened to her friend igniting a fire within her.

“Spirited!” Discord taunted the yellow filly, “Your friend was hiding something from you. Let's just say that means she gets to be in the other half of the competition.” his smirk widen, “Lucky her. Of course if you quit now not only do you lose, you abandon her to her fate.”

“Fine.” Twilight scowled, now having no choice but to buy in to whatever the insane being's plan was “What kind of game is it going to be, Discord?”

Author's Note

Thanks for waiting patiently for this everyone. Between an unexpected injury, a new job, and Zecora's dialogue (I swear at some point she's going to wind up with a permanent ball gag) this took longer than I had expected.