Beauty and the Beast: Part One
Princess Twilight Sparkle was focusing on a tedious experiment in her laboratory which was in one of the lower levels of the Library. Only she was allowed in these chambers, so she knew she wouldn't be bothered. Whenever she was down here, she had Spike take place as the Librarian in case anypony came in looking for books.
"No...no...no, no, no, no! Ugh!" The young alicorn groaned in frustration. "This is getting me nowhere!"
She was working on different substances that would supposedly enhance one's magical power. It was a theory Starswirl the Bearded had mentioned in one of his books, and the princess was determined to test it out. She set the two vials back down using her magic and went back to the book she was using as a reference. Twilight had been working on this for hours, trying to find out each response every substance made whenever in contact with a chemical reactor. She wasn't getting the answers she wanted.
The hours of stress had begun to take its toll on Twilight Sparkle. Strands of her hair were now out of place, and dark circles were beginning to appear under her eyes. She wasn't exactly sure what time it was, not having been upstairs since noon when Spike convinced her to come out for lunch. Twilight swallowed, realizing her throat was dry. She wished she had some water. Spike had come down a while ago offering her some, but she hadn't answered since she was so in focus. Twilight wished she had taken the offer. She sighed and tried to focus again on the book in front of her. Then she heard the door at the top of the staircase open.
"Twilight!" a bubbly voice spoke. "Hey Twilight!"
Twilight groaned, recognizing the voice as Pinkie Pie's. She was sure she had told Spike not to let anyone bother her. Then again, it was Pinkie Pie, and she didn't exactly listen all the time. She turned as the pink party pony bounced down the stairs.
"Pinkie Pie, I'm sorry but I'm a little busy right now. Didn't Spike tell you I didn't want to be bothered?"
Pinkie Pie paused and appeared to be thinking for a moment. Then she shook her head and said, "Nope! Actually, he said you could use some company. I thought that was a good idea. Besides, it's no fun working alone in a dusty cellar like this."
Twilight sighed and looked at Pinkie Pie as she started getting a little distracted and looking around at all the vials and test tubes. "Fine...just don't touch anything, okay?"
"Okie dokie loki!" said Pinkie Pie with a smile.
Twilight smiled gratefully and turned back to her work. The party pony watched Twilight for a few minutes until she got bored. She went to Twilight's side and looked at the book she was reading.
"Whatcha reading?" she said suddenly.
"Magical Theory: An Analysis written by Starswirl the Bearded," said Twilight, not looking away from the book.
"Oh okay..." Pinkie Pie had no clue who that was, but she nodded and pretended that she did.
A few more minutes passed and Twilight realized Pinkie Pie had become unusually silent. She frowned, a little bit worried now. She turned around and saw the pink pony curled up under one of the tables. That table happened to have an entire set of bubbling chemicals on it. It was risky to be underneath the table.
"Um Pinkie Pie?" Twilight said gently, trying not to startle her friend.
Pinkie Pie's ear twitched and she opened her eyes. Clearly she hadn't been completely asleep. She lifted her head and looked at Twilight.
"Do you mind not sleeping under there?" Twilight asked politely.
"Hmm? Oh sure, Twilight."
Pinkie Pie got up on her hooves and crawled out from under the table. Unfortunately she was a little careless right before she was completely out and her tail waved over the table, accidently knocking over one of the vials. Twilight's eyes widened as the vial rolled off the table and hit the floor, the glass breaking into a million pieces. Pinkie Pie's tail had gotten covered in some of the liquid, and now something appeared to be happening to the party pony.
Pinke's body started twitching. It was almost like when she was getting one of her Pinkie senses, only with the added effect of pain. This wasn't anything she had expected before, and her pupils dilated in panic.
"Twilight! What's happening?" the party pony asked, her voice now high pitched.
"P-Pinkie Pie?!" Twilight was alarmed. She went to her friend's side, using her magic to envelop the glass in a pink aura and lifting it up. She set it on the table and looked at her friend. "Pinkie Pie, hold still, I'll be right back!"
Pinkie Pie couldn't speak. Twilight was starting to panic now, and she rushed up the stairs to grab a towel and a bucket of water. In the mean time, Pinkie Pie's coat was becoming more of a bloodshot red. There came a great pain in her side and a lump started to form. The lump sharpened and a single claw poked out, then Pinkie screamed as it came out completely connected to a bat's wing. Her body started to elongate, her face becoming contorted as her muzzle stretched outward, and her mane and tail began to solidify. By the time Twilight came back, Pinkie Pie's left foreleg was becoming sort of a lion's claw. Twilight's eyes widened, Pinkie Pie was becoming a young draconequus. Horns came out of her head, and a low guttural growl came out of her throat. It turned into a roar, and Pinkie Pie's eyes flashed yellow, much like another Draconequus they knew.
"Pinkie-" Twilight began.
Pinkie Pie didn't listen. She didn't seem to notice Twilight's presence anymore. She looked around wildly, looking confused. Pinkie Pie darted forward and ran past Twilight Sparkle. The princess of magic turned towards her but Pinkie was already going through the door. Twilight shook her head, recovering from her initial shock. She had to go after Pinkie Pie before anything bad happened.
Twilight Sparkle raced up the stairs and through the door after her. She saw Spike cowering in a corner, not sure what he just saw. A flash of sympathy appeared in Twilight's eyes, but vanished as soon as she returned her focus to pursuing her charge. Twilight ran out of the Library and saw a red shape running further away. Twilight Sparkle dashed after her, ponies around them running away in fear of what was happening. She chased Pinkie Pie all the way to the Everfree Forest and skidded to a halt when Pinkie Pie vanished into the trees.
"Pinkie Pie, come back!" she shouted, her heart racing.
