The Pros and Cons of Being Famous

After a few hours of hanging around Canterlot, the Mane Six, Spike, and Lily Note made their way back to the castle, as ponies continued to whisper and shamelessly point at the little filly. None of the mares or Spike noticed, and happily told Lily of their past adventures.

"...and THAT'S how we made chocolate chip cookies!!!" Pinkie bounced excitedly ahead of the group, leaving six very confused mares behind her.

Rainbow Dash face-hoofed. "Pinkie, why do ALL of your stories have to end with sentences that have nothing to do with the story you're telling?" The other girls nodded, and Twilight began lecturing Pinkie on the importance of sticking to the main idea of the story, Rainbow turning back to Lily. "Anyways, that's how we kicked some serious dragon butt and made him leave that mountain! OH YEAH!!!" She puffed out her chest proudly, and flew loop-de-loops above their heads.

Fluttershy frowned. "Um..., it was actually me who did that. He didn't listen to you girls, and I used the Stare on him." Rarity nodded.

"And it was ME who took care of Fluttershy's animals," Spike added. He shivered, saying, "Angel is one mean bunny."

Rainbow rubbed the back of her neck. "Yeah, I guess so. But it was ME who saved Rarity over here from plummeting to her certain death, along with three Wonderbolts!" Rarity blushed and facehoofed, while AJ snickered and Fluttershy cringed at the memory.

Lily's eyes widened. "Really??? Pllllleeeeeeeeeeeaaassseeee tell me!!" She grinned widely, with a small squee. Rainbow Dash ruffled her rainbow mane.

"Heh, I guess I could tell ya as we go back! So, I was competing in the Cloudsdale Young Fliers' competition, and Flutters and I were..."

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Celestia grinned evilly as she set up an elaborate tripwire in the hallway, near to Luna's private observatory. She already knew that Luna had a small case of OCD about her schedule, and prank war or not, she WOULD go back to the observatory at 9:30 pm, after she had eaten dinner. However, instead of opening the door and finding the familiar comfort of her special room, Luna would be greeted by several pies in the face! Tia snickered just at the thought of Luna's body covered in pie filling and crust.

She glanced at the grandfather clock in the observatory: 5:30 pm. It would be a long four hours, but it was so worth it. Tia did not worry about Luna finding the trap, because she had cast spells so that it would only reveal itself after somepony tripped the trap. The execution took roughly five seconds for the pies to be fired, and Celestia planned to cast an invisibility spell upon herself to watch.

"Excuse me? Princess?"

Tia jumped at the sudden intrusion of a voice. She quickly whipped around, almost expecting Luna. Instead, she was greeted by Twilight Sparkle, looking in confusedly.

"Princess, just what are you--what the??"

Celestia screamed slightly as Twilight's hoof caught on the wire, starting up the trap. With a look of horror on her face, she realized that she had just loaded the small cannon, and she was right in front of it. Tia had not set the spell that would only start up the cannon if Luna tripped it, so it did not care who stepped on the tripwire.

Twilight's eyes widened in shock, as her friends and Lily poked their heads in to see what was happening. Nopony noticed a certain dark alicorn behind them - not even Celestia - and they all looked on, helpless.

SPLAT!

There was complete silence as the Mane Six, Spike, Lily, and Luna watched Princess Celestia, Her Royal Highness, Co-Ruler of Equestria, and Raiser of the Sun was assualted by pies, of all tastes and kinds. Mercifully, the machine stopped, and there was some more awkward silence, until--

"HAHAHAAhahahaaaa!!!!!!!" Luna fell on the floor, tears flying out of her eyes. She giggled and snorted like a little filly, and the others looked at her surprised, as she laughed in a most undignified manner. Celestia's eyes became narrower and narrower, as she gained a look of abject misery and anger. Her situation became worse as Spike, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Lily cracked and also burst into hysterical laughs. Applejack soon joined in with her giggling snorts, and Rarity let out the tiniest, ladylike giggle. Fluttershy looked on with worry, but she was having a hard time not to smile. Twilight was in full freak-out mode, apologizing endlessly to Celestia, and asking if she could get help.

"Aw, lighten up, Twi," Rainbow said between her giggles. She pointed a shaking hoof over to Tia, who had also gave way to laughter, in light of her predicament.

"But it's all my fault that she's covered in pie!!!" Twilight stamped a hoof in frustration.

Luna suddenly stopped, looking incredulously at Twilight. She then glanced at Tia, who had also stopped. Soon, the laughter died away as an awkward silence filled the room.

"Aaaawwwwwww, way to kill the mood, Twilight," Pinkie sadly said.

Celestia got up, and walked over to her pupil. "Twilight, you needn't be so uptight about my cleanliness. Do you not remember that spell I taught you?" She raised Twilight's face with a hoof, and lit up her horn. A golden ring went up Tia's body, taking the mess of pies with it. Tia dumped the pies in Luna's trash can, and looked back at the mares.

Twilight was far from assured, however. "Oooohhhhh, I'm so sorry that I forgot, Princess!!"

Everypony except Luna and Lily facehoofed, the former loudly saying, "Tia, just what were you teaching her all of these years? How to Stress Over Everything 101?" Her remark was greeted by giggling, mostly from Celestia. Twilight looked aghast, and Celestia bent down.

"Twilight, you do not need to stress over every mistake you make in life. You did not know that I had set up a tripwire, and you certainly did not know that it was hooked up to a pie cannon--"

"Oh, so that's where my pie cannon went!!!" Everypony turned to Pinkie, who looked very relieved. "I was afraid that some thief in the night stole it to make delicious pie parties!"

Celestia turned back to Twilight. "Twilight, nopony is perfect, so do not stress yourself so much over a small miscalculation. And enough with this 'Princess' calling. I am your mentor and close friend, so you may call me 'Celestia.'" Twilight nodded, and hugged Tia, who returned the embrace. Tia then turned to Luna. "Just what were you doing outside your observatory? I was told you were near my chambers."

Luna looked up from the pie cannon, where she had secretly stealing bits of pie. "Well... I WAS, but then a guard mentioned you were near there, so..."

Celestia sighed, mentally noting that she would have a little talk with the guards later. "Come now," she said. "All of this pie business has left me hungry! Let us go down to the dining hall. A feast for friendship!" Spike, Pinkie, Rainbow, Lily, and Luna all cheered, as they raced off. Celestia, Twilight, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Applejack set off at a slower pace, talking excitedly about their day.