Piston

The day was like any other; the skies were clear, the sun was bright, the birds were chirping, and every pony was busy with his or her daily routines. A small purple unicorn named Twilight Sparkle was at a small bakery known as Sugar Cube Corner. At this bakery, a happy, pink cotton-candy maned pony bounced all around the kitchen to fill the order. Even though Twilight Sparkle was ordering, she knew who the treats were destined to be eaten by, seeing as many ponies did not like the taste of gemstone.

"Here you go, Twilight; one big order of cupcakes! Can I ask what the occasion is?"  Pinkie Pie said, handing Twilight her order.

Twilight seemed embarrassed to answer, but she mustered up the courage and replied with, "Um… I accidentally did something to Spike and I’m making up for it.  You know all the crazy adventures we get into? Well, this time it was Spike's turn."

Pinkie Pie tilted her head, curiousity swimming in her eyes. "Really?" What happened? And where is Spike, anyway? That little dragon should be following you everywhere considering that you've agreed to give him these!"

Twilight Sparkle awkwardly kicked the ground. "Um... Promise you won’t tell any pony?"

"Of course, Twilight! After all, I invented the Pinkie Promise." With those reassuring words, Twilight called out to a friend standing nearby.

"Come on in, Rarity; it’s just the three of us and we can trust Pinkie." Rarity, who is normally white, stepped hesitantly through the door and was now pink with embarrassment. "I can’t believe this could’ve happened!" She exclaimed. "Don’t worry Spike; we'll make it up to you."

This confused Pinkie Pie even more, and she was now losing her patience. Spike's not even in the room, so why are they talking out loud as if he IS? Pinkie wondered, then said, "You ponies are silly! Where is Spike?" Rarity’s face changed from pink to bright red.

"Umm... He’s inside me," She mumbled, covering her eyes with her hooves.

Pinkie Pie's mouth just about dropped to the floor. "What did you just say?"

Twilight, seeing that Rarity was too embarrassed to talk, intervened and explained everything to Pinkie Pie. "I was practicing a new shrinking spell, and Spike somehow got hit by it. At the time, neither of us knew Spike was hit. While I continued practicing on a lamp, Spike left unnoticed to go give some chocolates to Rarity. When he knocked on Rarity's door, the spell took effect and shrank him. Then he fell into the box of chocolates something which would not have happened if he wasn’t sneaking a few for himself."

She heaved a sigh, then continued.

"Unfortunately for him, Rarity answered the door and figured Spike had just left them there for her. While Spike was stuffing his face with giant chocolates, Rarity decided to try a few. One of the few she sampled just so happened to have the hungry Spike attached to it.  Lucky rarity was under a lot of stress which prompted her not to chew her food."

Pinkie Pie, still shocked, gasped. "Is Spike okay?!"

As Pinkie Pie ducked her head down towards Rarity’s stomach, Twilight began explaining again.

"Yes, he’s fine. Dragons are used to lava pools and Sulfur, so Rarity's acidic stomach fluids are no problem for Spike." Rarity tilted her head down, then asked,  "How are you holding up, Spikey?"

Much to Pinkie Pie's surprise, Spike could manage a muffled response. "I’m fine; and for the millionth time, I’m not mad at you Rarity! You didn’t know, and if I had to be eaten by any pony, it'd be you."

At the end of the sentence, Pinkie Pie gave a loud "aaaaawwwwww!  ...  gross."

"So how are you going to let him out?"

  When Pinkie Pie asked this, both Twilight and Rarity flushed a light shade of magenta. This time, Rarity worked up the courage to speak. "We’ve tried everything. Our next plan is to remove him using magic which can undo the spell in place if not done right, but if that doesn’t work, we will have to…" Her voice trailed off for a moment. She cleared her throat, then finished. "Wait until he comes out on his own."

Spike's tiny voice sounded from inside Rarity's stomach. "Twilight, you better find a solution to this! I’d sooner stay in her stomach for the rest of my life than go out the back door!"

Twilight, sympathetic towards her assistant, said, "Don’t worry, Spike; I’ll fix this. Until then, preoccupy yourself with a cupcake." Before heading out the door, Twilight gave the box of cupcakes to Rarity.

Rarity grimaced as she picked up one of the cupcakes. "Okay, here goes nothing..." Shoving the cupcake in her mouth, she gulped the cupcake down without chewing, then cringed. "How revolting!" She cried.

Pinkie Pie cocked up an eyebrow. "Rarity, aren’t you worried the spell will wear off while he's still inside you?" Rarity’s glanced up for half a second at Pinkie Pie, then stared distractedly out the window. "Don’t worry, darling; Twilight said that the affect of the spell will only wear off if the unicorn that cast it makes it do so." She paused for a moment to smile at Pinkie. "Oh, and Pinkie Pie, I cannot thank you enough for being so modest about the issue. Unlike you, Rainbow Dash was astonishingly rude to us when we told her. For some reason, she seemed to find the matter humorous!"

Before Pinkie could respond, Spike called out to them from inside Rarity's stomach. "Rarity, I'm gonna need some milk down here! By the way, great cupcakes, Pinkie!" For a second, the two  mares only stared at eachother; but after a while, they burst into laughter. Spike didn't seem nearly as amused. "No, seriously; I'm thirsty. Get some milk down here."

As Pinkie stood there giggling, Rarity tilted her head uncomfortably. When Pinkie noticed this, she turned to Rarity and saw what was the matter. A tiny bulge in Rarity's neck was slowly making its way upwards. "Spike?" Pinkie tilted her head. A loud belch erupted from Rarity's mouth along with a plume of fire and a white envelope addressed to Spike and Twilight.

"A letter from the princess!" She exclaimed excitedly, picking up the letter. Pinkie Pie shoved her face against Rarity's stomach, and asked, "Hey, Spike, can we read it? Please?!"

"Go for it. It’s not like I can read it." Though the two ponies did not see this, Spike shrugged. Pinkie Pie gleefully opened the letter and began to read;

"Dear Twilight Sparkle and Spike,

I have a new assignment for both you and Spike. Recently, news of an aquaintance of yours has reached my ears. He will be moving to Ponyville. I understand there are some unpleasant rumors going around about this pony (which is causing some difficulties in his social life). Unfortunately, I know little about this pony since I have only seen him once as a very young foal. If you've heard the rumors, (which I'm sure you have) find out if they are true. He will need assistance adjusting to his new home. The pony in question goes by the name of "Piston." If any problems arise, let me know.

Your loving princess,

Celestia.  "

"Oh no." They heard Spike moan from inside Rarity. "Quick- you guys have to find Twilight and give her the letter!"

All the way on the other side of Ponyville on the edge of town, the new pony made his way to his new home. His appearance wasn't as nearly flattering nor even close to as colorful compared to the other ponies. His fur was crisp white and smeared with dirty, black oil in addition to the occasional burn mark. His hair had been haphazardly cut and then combed into a slipped-down cow lick.  As he walked along, an unpleasant plume of nasty, black smoke billowed out from his nostrils and his large cigar tip burned bright red with every deep inhale. There were not very many ponies in Equestria known to smoke. This was an awful habit that instantly labeled Piston in a detrimental way. He stank horribly from the constant smoke billowing from his breaths.

You know those ponies who seem to just have their own theme music as they walk by? Well, in Piston's case, this was actually true. A while back, a spell was placed upon him as a joke. This "joke spell" gave him his theme song; a song that was heard by every pony that he happened to cross. When Piston discovered the mysterious prank placed on him, he made no efforts to remove the spell as he quite enjoyed the distance it created between him and others.

As he walked into town, a few nearby ponies heard the song play within their minds.

When a cold wind blows it chills you,

Chills you to the bone.

But there’s nothing in nature that freezes your heart like years of being alone.

It pins you with indifference

like a lady pins with Roush.

And the worst of the worst,

the most hated and cursed

is the one that we call Shmooze.

Unkind as any

in the wrath of many;

This is Piston Allen Shmooze.

Hooooo, there goes Mr. Humbug…

there goes Mr. Graham.

If they gave the prize for being mean

the winner would be him.

Old Shmooze hates all ponies because he never learned to read.

He has no fear of changelings because upon what would they feed?

There goes Mr. Black sludge,

there goes Mr. Tar…

He feels his lungs so full of smoke

I bet the hospital’s not far.

He sits alone just working in the darkest of the houses.

No one dares disturbed him;

not even all the mouses.

He must be so lonely,

he must be so sad.

Then he goes to extremes to convince you he’s bad.

He’s really a victim of fear and of pride.

Look close, and you will see a kind Piston inside.

…Nope…

There goes Mr. Outrage,

there goes Mr. Sneer.

He has no time for friends or fun;

his anger makes that clear.

Don’t ask them for a favor because his nastiness increases.

Not in way, word, glance, or a friendly deed.

He’ll never say two pleases.

There goes Mr. Heartless,

there goes Mr. Cruel.

He never gives; he only takes.

He lets his hunger rule.

If being mean's a way of life you practice and rehearse,

then all that work is paying off;

because Shmooze is getting worse.

Each and everyday in every way

Shmooze is getting worse!

As Piston walked through town, Pinkie, Rarity and Spike manage to find Twilight in the library.  "Twilight!" Spike called out from Rarity. "Don’t worry, Spike. I’m still working as hard as I can;  but it looks like you’ll be in there for a while longer," Twilight said, closing a book then proceeding to open up another.

"No, Twilight; it’s not that," Spike began.

"It’s this," Rarity finished. Rarity held up the letter from the Princess to Twilight. Twilight opened the letter, then quickly scanned the content. "Oh, Piston's here in Ponyville now, is he? Well, we dealt with him once before, and  we'll do so again. You know the drill, Spike. Actually, I think I’m going to go see Piston right now. I think I’d like to own one of his clocks again. It would certainly improve the library's appearance."

Rarity and Pinkie Pie both were hopelessly lost. "Who is this 'Piston?'" Asked Rarity. "Why was Spike so freaked out by him before?"  Pinkie Pie added, tilting her head. Spike flatly answered the question before Twilight could respond.  "He’s a big, nasty, mean pony. He smells awful and hates everyone. I don’t think there’s a single pony in Canterlot who hasn’t heard of Piston.  And he’s absolutely impossible to deal with- even off duty guards don’t like messing with him."

"Spike!" Twilight scolded. "We don’t even know Piston that well! Maybe he’s come to Ponyville to, you know, start fresh. We should give him the benefit of the doubt." Though Spike could not be seen due to his condition, his disagreement was clearly visible.

"Benefit of the doubt? He doesn’t have his own background music for no reason, you know."

Finally, Rarity lost her patience with them. "Would somepony please just tell me who this Piston pony is?" Much to Twilight's disgust, Spike jumped the opportunity. "I’ll tell you who this 'Piston pony' is! He's-" however, before he could continue, he was interrupted by Twilight once more. "No, Spike. Why don't you all come with me while I buy a clock from Piston? It'll be a good opportunity for you to meet Piston. You two ponies should meet him for yourself and decide what you think about him.  Our feeling towards him shouldn’t affect the way you think about him."

As you can tell, Twilight is quite the forgive and forget pony.

"As soon as we get back, I'll tell you two the entire story; I promise. But for now, let’s just go meet the pony."

End of chapter one.