She was surrounded by nothing.

Absolutely nothing.

Everywhere she looked, there was merely white. Just…

White.

“Hello? HellOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!” Pinkie cried out. An ever-so-faint echo greeted her in response, doing absolutely nothing to calm her concerns.

No floor (though she seemed to be standing on something solid), no sky, no buildings or horizon or sun or moon or cupcakes or parties or pineapples or, well, ANYTHING!

She reached into her mane for something that could liven the place up and make it seem even a little less creepy, but even THAT was empty. How the heck did that even HAPPEN!?
It was so…quiet.

Too quiet…

“Da na…”

Gah! What was that!? Pinkie thought, turning around quickly…only to find nothing. Did I imagine tha—

“Da na…”

EEP! Nope! Didn’t imagine it, DIDN’T IMAGINE IT! Pinkie jumped as the noise sounded right in her ear, but when she turned around and around, trying to figure out where it was coming from, she still saw nothing.

“Da na…”

There it was again! Coming from everywhere and nowhere all at once.

“Da na, da na da na da na da na da na da na da na da da da da da…”

Pinkie could feel a small sliver of terror slowly build inside her chest. She stood perfectly still and quiet, hoping she would go unnoticed by whatever was making the sounds.

This is the EXACT music I could image playing if three stallions were on a boat and a GIANT shark was coming to EAT THEM!!! Pinkie thought frantically, struggling not to move.

And it was getting louder, and louder, and louder still!

“Danadanadanadanadanadanadan!”

Just as suddenly as it started, the song stopped, and it was too quiet once again. Hyperventilating now, Pinkie began to spin, searching for the source of the dramatic build-up music—

“BOOP!”

“AAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!” Pinkie screamed as something soft and fluffy poked her nose. She leapt ten feet into the air, flying backwards in shock and falling flat on her back. Her legs stuck up perfectly straight as her body froze like that of a fainting goat.

“Pffffffffffffff hehehehahahahaha, I-I’m so-oory-y-y hahahahahah!” a warm, cheerful voice laughed, causing Pinkie to blink in still-nearly-frozen confusion. “I-I just couldn’t h-help myself! Your face was p-priceless, hahahahahah!”

Pinkie looked forward between her legs to get a good look at her prankster. Said prankster was a very light blue pegasus mare with a swirling pink, blue, and golden mane and tail that were just as poofy as Pinkie’s. The mare was currently lying back in midair, laughing her head off.

Yet despite the terrifying prank, Pinkie couldn’t stop herself from snorting, and then joining the pegasus in her laughter. She did have to admit this pegasus, whoever she was, had gotten her GOOD!

I wonder if I could do the same prank to Rainbow Dash. I still owe her for replacing my sugar with salt.

“O-Okehehehe, ok, you got me,” Pinkie said a minute or so later when they started to calm down. Laughing did certainly make her feel a bit better. It even managed to make this strange void feel less overwhelming. “But mayyyyyybe wait to do that again until we find a way out of here? Also, where is ‘here,’ exactly? And who are you? Why are you here with me? How did you do that without me seeing you?”

The pegasus wiped the joyful tears from her eyes. “Why, that’s simple, silly. We’re INSIDE YOUR BRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIN!!!!” she exclaimed in a dramatically silly voice as she waved her hooves at Pinkie. “OOoooooOOOOOOooooooOOOOOOOOooooo.”

“Pffffffff,” Pinkie snorted, trying not to lose control again.

No, focus, Pinkie. I’m pretty sure this can’t be your brain. After all, if it was, then where is all the frosting and party cannons?

“This is a littttttle too empty to be my brain. And what does that make you? My imagination gone wild?” Pinkie asked, winking and earning a giggle from the flying mare—

Wait. Why aren’t her wings flapping? She’s not FLYING, she’s FLOATING! IN MIDAIR! How is she just floating there? IS this actually my brain and is she really my imagination gone wild? Are there invisible strings holding her up somewhere?

“Not quiiiiiiite!” the mare giggled. There was a small flash of light and—

Pinkie’s eyes widened in shock. The blue mare now had a cutie mark, but…that wasn’t an ordinary cutie mark. It wasn’t a still picture. It was a moving image of a blue six-sided gemstone, slowly spinning in place and emitting a soft, calming glow.

Pinkie recognized that gemstone…

It was the Element of Laughter.

The very same element that had just crashed into her right before she woke up in this strange place!

“YOU’RE THE ELEMENT OF LAUGHTER!?!?!” Pinkie cried in shock just as a miniature explosion occurred a few dozen feet behind the floating pegasus. Either the Element of Laughter was going for a dramatic reveal, or Pinkie was so surprised by Laughter’s identity that something in her brain had literally exploded in dramatic fashion from the pure shock of who she was talking to!

“YEPARONI!!!” Laughter cried. She landed on the invisible floor with a small thump and started bouncing around excitedly.

Why is the Element of Laughter a pegasus!?!? And why is she IN MY BRAIN!?

As if reading her mind, Laughter came to a bouncing stop before Pinkie with a massive smile. “Because I wanted to be a pegasus, and because your brain is FUN! Usually. I made it like this temporarily so we wouldn’t get distracted too much. Now I know you have questions, but first I need to tell you EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!”

Pinkie winced at the squeal, which was so high-pitched she was pretty sure it was outside even HER range.

Then, without warning, Laughter POUNCED!

Pinkie had no time to react as the blue mare wrapped all four of legs around her in a bone-bending hug and took to the air, squealing as she began spinning and bobbing through the air faster and faster above the blank landscape.

“OH, THIS IS SO EXCITING! You would not BELIEVE how long I have been waiting to meet you! It’s been FOREVER and a DAY since I had a new Bearer and you are just so PERFECT! You’re happy and bubbly and you beat Obsidian and you make SO MUCH FOOD and throw such supercalafragalistikexpialodocious parties andandand EEEEEEEE! Oh we are going to BESTIES I just know it! I finally found you and now that I have I’ll NEVER LET YOU GO EEEEEEEE!!!”

“Gggggglllllaaaaddddd yyyooouuuuu’rrrrreee hhhhaaapppppppppppyyyyy,” Pinkie said woozily, trying to gain a handle on her surroundings as Laughter just continued to spin and spin and SPIN!

Uuuuuggggggg. I love hugs, but all the spinning is a bit much! Is it possible for me to get sick in my own brain? And if so, who’s going to clean that up?

“Don’t worry, you’ll be fiiiiiiine,” Laughter giggled, tossing Pinkie into the sky. The pink mare flipped end over end in midair before landing back in Laughter’s grip for another massive hug.

“Ok—Wait. Can you READ MY MIND!? What am I thinking of right now?”

“Tacos!” Laughter exclaimed the moment Pinkie thought of the food best eaten on Tuesdays. She winked as she came down for a gentle landing, still refusing to let go of the pink mare.

Wow, she’s good.

And ahhhh, I feel better now.

“A little magical help. Sorry if I was a bit much,” Laugher apologized, sticking her head under Pinkie’s chin and nuzzling her giddily. “But I’m just so HAPPY to finally meet you! I’ve been alone for so long that finally have another Bearer is just—it’s the best feeling ever! Like…having all your birthday parties in a single day, or being able to eat ALLLLLLLL the cake EVER all at once! Or being given ALL the presents EVER! It’s just…just…”

Laughter’s voice trailed off and she buried her face in Pinkie’s chest.

It took Pinkie only three seconds to realize that she could feel two small wet spots on her fur, right where Laughter’s eyes were.

Something was wrong. She could feel it. She could FEEL it. An ocean of sadness buried beneath all her joy.

They weren’t Pinkie’s emotions, but she felt them almost like they were.

I can feel what SHE feels!

Laughter WAS happy, so much so, but she was also sad and terrified. Her tears were a mixture of both happiness at no longer being alone and sadness from the pain she had endured for centuries on end and the fear of being alone again, all of it coming back to the surface of her mind at once. It was almost overwhelming.

That mind link thingy, does it work for me too!? Pinkie thought before gasping in her mind as a wave of surprise came flowing through her, but not from her! It was from Joy!!! That’s it! I can’t hear Joy’s thoughts, but I can understand her emotions! That link is like a road! It goes both ways, even if the wagons going down it are completely different!
No, focus, Pinkie. Focus on the sad pony/magic gemstone in front of you. She’s sad and hurt, just like you used to be, and you must refuse to let this sadness continue.
“I-I’m ok,” Laughter said, moving to try step away, likely picking up on Pinkie’s thoughts again, but the pink mare refused to let her leave and counter-hugged her, pulling Laughter back to her chest. The pegasus let out a squeak of surprise.

“Nope. You need hugs, and that’s what I’m gonna give you,” Pinkie said, giving Laughter another big squeeze. She could feel that the element really wanted to stay with her, but that she was also still reluctant for some reason. Maybe she didn’t want to impose her pain on Pinkie, given how she had just overcome a lot of her own pain?

Lucky for her, since I DID overcome that pain, it just means I can help take away some of hers now. After all, ‘you gotta share, you gotta care…’

Pinkie hummed in her mind, earning a giggle-snort from Laughter.

“You don’t n-need to take my pain for me, Pinkie,” Laughter said, trying not to giggle as Pinkie continued with her silly little song.

“I know. But I want to,” Pinkie said, nuzzling the top of Laughter’s head. “Plus, who says you can’t answer my questions while I hug the frowns away? No pony, that’s who, because no pony can say no to HUGS!” She tightened her hold on Laughter so hard that Laughter’s eyes actually bugged out for a second. But she didn’t seem to mind in the slightest.

“True,” Laughter said, trying to get her breath back before returning Pinkie’s hug with one just as strong.

SQUEAK!

“Hehhehehe,” Laughter giggled lightly as Pinkie literally squeaked from the force of the hug. But Pinkie didn’t mind. So long as Laughter was happy—

“Wait a second,” Pinkie said, humming in thought. “I haven’t even asked your name yet!”

“It’s just Laughter, silly.”

“But what about Magic? SHE had a different name, Magi!”

Laughter snorted, and then full-out chuckled, much to Pinkie’s confusion.

Why is she laughing at Magi’s other name?

“She didn’t have another name. She just made up the name ‘Magi’ to try and sound all ‘ancient and majestic and wise’!” Laughter said, smirking and putting on a fake accent that made Pinkie giggle. “She started that nearly ten Bearers ago, and she still does it! Her REAL name is ‘Magicae Est Lux Modo,’ which is the birth name our mother gave her! She’s just embarrassed by it.”

“Why would she be embarrassed? That’s an AWESOME name. OHOHOH! What’s yours, what’s yours!?” Pinkie squealed, bounding in place and dragging Laughter along for the ride.

I bet it’s really cool! Or really beautiful! Or cool AND beautiful! Beacolaful? Coutiful? Hmmmm…

“Ok, ok,” Laughter giggled, wiggling in Pinkie’s grip. “My full name is ‘Omne Gaudium Risus.’”

“Omno…Gaud—you know what, I can’t say that, so I’m just going to call you Joy!”

Laughter blinked. Then blinked again.

“Joy?” she whispered, her uncertainty and confusion clearly on display both through their magic link and on her face. “Why—”

“Because that’s what you bring to others, and just calling you ‘Laughter’ refers more to you as an Element instead of a pony. This way, people can still get to know you and won’t think you’re just a magic talking rock! It gives you…an identity!”

Pinkie beamed as the pegasus’ eyes started to grow wide with comprehension “Or at least a name ponies can say,” she continued. “Oh, and dragons. I mean, I LOVE your name and it IS both cool AND beautiful AND soothing but I can barely say it and this—OOOFFFFF!”

Laughter interrupted her rambling by somehow managed to tackle her despite the fact that Pinkie had never let her go.

“I-I LOVE IT!” Joy cried, pure, untainted happiness flowing through their link as she laughed. More tears flowed out of her eyes, but Pinkie could feel that these were tears of delight. “No Bearer has EVER given me my own new name before! I just, I always though my name was enough, and I never asked of another one, but being given one by my bearer without asking is just—I can’t believe it’s never happened before! It’s amazingly stupendous and and and just THANK YOU!”

She buried her face in Pinkie’s chest, sniffling. “Thank you so much.”

Pinkie smiled calmly and gently rubbed her back.

Another mission of smiles completed…Cheesy would be so proud…

After giving the newly dubbed ‘Joy’ a few minutes to calm down (or at least what Pinkie THOUGHT was a few minutes, given how hard it was to tell time in here), Pinkie realized she still had a few major questions to be asked.

“Hey Joy, why do you keep calling me a ‘Bearer’?” She could have sworn she knew what it meant, but between everything that happened with Obsidian and now Joy, she was having trouble remembering.

“Because that’s what you are, silly,” Joy said, wiping away the rest of her happy tears. “Well, nearly…”

“Nearly? And you still haven’t told me WHAT it is yet.” Pinkie said with a fake pout, which caused Joy to giggle up at her.

“You silly pony you. Bearers are ponies or other creatures that have the right personality, morals, and soul to perfectly represent one of the Element of Harmony. And just like how Twilight is Magic—sorry, ‘Magi’s’ Bearer,” she added, making silly air quotes and speaking in a goofy accent to make Pinkie snort, “YOU, Pinkie Pie, are MY Bearer!”

“Really!?” Pinkie said, her eyes widening.

“OF COURSE, YOU SILLY PONY!” Joy exclaimed, grabbing Pinkie’s face in her hooves and squishing her cheeks excitedly. “Who BETTER than a pony like you that makes it their mission to spread smiles everywhere!? And before you ask, because I know you’re thinking it, yes, Cheese Sandwich WAS a very close contender, but given how you INSPIRED him with your own happiness, who better than you?!”

You know, that actually makes a LOT of sense now that I think about it. How did I not realize this before!?

“Maybe because I was a shameless distraction?” Joy offered, floating away from Pinkie. She pointed her fore-hooves in opposite directions, crossed her eyes, and stuck her tongue out at a random angle.

“Hey, hehehehehe, that’s my, hehehe, line!” Pinkie cried, struggling to get the words out between laughs. Joy just winked playfully.

After a few deep breaths, Pinkie recovered enough to speak again. “But what did you mean when you said ‘nearly’?”

Joy let out a small sigh, her smile becoming more reserved as she descended back to the ground. “Because you’re not ready juuuuuuuust yet. You are really really really really REALLY close, but…you still need to pass my final test.”

“But I didn’t even bring a number two quill!” Pinkie cried in mock horror, prompting another burst of laughter between the two ponies.

“Nonono,” Joy gasped as they finally quieted down. “Not like that. In fact, it’s WAY simpler, in technical terms at least. No multiple parts, no long instructions about what to do, no math or reading sections…I just need to ask you a question, and if you can figure out the right answer, well, you’ll prove yourself ready to wield my power and become the Bearer of the Element of Laugher.

“In truth, I REALLY just want to go with you RIGHT NOW! But there are some rules even I can’t break, and there is still one final lesson I need to make sure you have learned. Are you ready?”

Pinkie gave a confident nod. “Ready,” she said, her eyes narrowing dramatically as she prepared herself for the ULTIMATE QUESTION!

“What is Laughter?”

Pinkie blinked. Then tilted her head in confusion. “That’s it?”

“Yep,” Joy said with a nod. “That’s it. Answer correctly, and you’ll become my Bearer. No time limit, no penalty for guessing. You just need to get there in the end.”

“Well, that’s easy,” Pinkie said happily. “Scientifically speaking, it's the removal of air caused by your epiglottis constricting your larynx causing irregular air intake and respiratory upset!”

…

…

…

“Pinkie, using Sandy’s explanation from SpongeBob doesn’t count,” Joy deadpanned, though it was clear she was trying desperately not to smile as she gave the pink mare a boop on the nose. “Plus, that’s not what I was looking for anyway. It’s not actually about PHYSICAL laughter, but more my element and what it means. Though I’m guessing you know that and just wanted to make a fourth-wall joke?”

“Heheheh, sorry, I couldn’t resist,” Pinkie said, giggling to herself. “But yeah, I know what laughter is. Laugher is that feeling when you are so full of happiness that you just can’t help but spread it to others, like when I first saw my first Rainboom.”

What a good memory. The world lighting up with color, the rush of emotions I had never felt before, the thought that everything would be ok…
“Are you sure?”

Joy’s voice was suddenly very bland, the warm connection of their link now completely empty. Before Pinkie could question it, an image appeared above Joy’s head as though on a flat screen. On it, Pinkie could see and hear an alicorn Lady laughing.
It was the exact opposite of what she had said.

She was laughing as ponies worked and worked to pull a large tree into a lumber mill, all of them struggling with what could have been easily levitated by the lady in question. Who it was, Pinkie didn’t know, but she could FEEL the dark emotions behind her laughter.

Another screen appeared to their left, of a group of Butlers laughing at a wing-less Rainbow Dash in her cell.

On the right, another lady was laughing as ponies made fools of themselves for her entertainment.

Another to the left, a young alicorn filly laughing as she used her Butlers as living dolls, making them fight each other with her magic until they were bruised and battered.

Another…

And another…

On and on the screens appeared, playing new torments and new clips of cruel laughter that wormed its way to Pinkie’s core. Pinkie tried to block it out, to think of better memories, to think at ALL, but the horrors just kept coming.

There was even an image of her, working under the effects of that TORTUROUS red flower while Obsidian laughed at her plight. Even with her newfound confidence and freedom, the memory still hurt, and combined with the others surrounding them, it was almost too much for her to bear as tears began to flow from her eyes.

Both for her own pain and those across the generations of abuse.

Is this what I am? Joy’s voice sounded in her head, loud and clear despite the horrible laughter echoing all around Pinkie. Even as she tried to cover her ears to block it out, Joy’s voice continued unabated. You say laughter is the spreading of joy, yet for centuries it has been a weapon of pain. Spreading fear and sorrow as those beneath the alicorns have worked away for all their lives. Few ever even learn how to escape the pain this laughter brings them.
Laughter can be used for good, you are proof of that, but there is so much evidence that it can also be a force for evil as well. So tell me, why is it that your laughter represents what I am, while all of this—" she gestured to the evil laughter around her “—does not?”

The cruel laughs continued, growing in volume as more and more images continued to manifest, growing louder by the second, the pain and sorry of so many laid bare before Pinkie’s eyes, even as she clenched them shut.

They wouldn’t stop.

So long as Equestria remained a broken and barren wasteland, so long as fear and hatred ruled the emotions of the world, the horrifying laughter would NEVER STOP!

“BECAUSE THAT’S NOT REAL LAUGHTER!” Pinkie screamed, her voice echoing throughout the empty space.

For a few seconds, her voice reverberated through the empty space, slowly fading into nothing. It was only when the echo vanished completely that Pinkie realized that everything was once again silent. Cracking her eyes open, she saw that every image had stilled, the sorrow or cruel happiness frozen in time.

“Why not?” Joy whispered, her face and eyes betraying no emotion.

Pinkie opened her mouth to respond, but then closed it. She KNEW laughter was good and not evil. It WAS! But why? What separated all that laughter she had seen from her own…

Her own…

As if responding to her thought, a new screen appeared to her left, one of Pinkie laughing as the massive burst of rainbow filled the sky.

The sound that of pure happiness gave her the answer.

“Because laughter, real laughter, isn’t meant to just give happiness to one pony, or one creature of any kind,” Pinkie said, her voice quiet but confident as she wiped her tears away. A few more screens appeared, each depicting the laughter she had generated back home in the Everfree Village. Whether it was some random knock-knock jokes to new families, a puppet show for the foals, or even giving Rainbow Dash a raspberry on her stomach when she least expected it, all of their laughter slowly made itself known.

These were her memories, her own knowledge of laughter as she had lived it. Yet she needed more.

“Laugher is a means to SHARE happiness. To spread it to others and give them hope.” Pinkie could feel her own laughter call out into the white void, and soon, more laughter answered the call. More images appeared, laughter being shared between ponies as a means of healing the pain they had endured. Some Pinkie recognized, others she had never met. And the real laughter continued to grow.

“It’s what keeps us going, what lets us normal ponies carry on even under such cruel tyranny.” More images, more laughs, more happiness spreading and shattering the cruel images that surrounded them. Nurses making their patients smile after a work injury. Wall Flower treating her ponies to a massive feast to celebrate the defeat of The Cloud. Pinkie’s own efforts to spread joy before her flight from Obsidian’s property.

“It’s true that the alicorns laugh, and many at our pain, but that doesn’t make laughter bad or evil. Those alicorns, they’re corrupted, cruel, and so is their laughter, but that just makes our own laughter all the more important. We can fight cruel laughs with REAL laughs, and ours will always win.

“Because the more we laugh, the more we show them that we ARE free. That we are not alone and that we stand together. That no matter what they do to us, we can get back up and keep on going. That they can’t control us, that they can’t break or steal our happiness from us, and that no matter what they say, we are strong! Every laugh shared spreads our strength to others, inspires them that things CAN get better, connects us to those close to our hearts or even strangers in need of help, and that no matter how much fake laughter their is, REAL laughter will always win in the end!”

By now the room was filled with laughter, REAL laughter! From her friends, from Cheese and her down in the secret cave, to ponies she had never met or seen, all of them sharing their laughter and spreading smiles, no matter how small or temporary.

CRACK!

Suddenly, a massive blue crack appeared directly behind Joy, the cruel laughter being pushed back more and more by the real laughter overwhelming it.

CRACK CRACK CRACK!

“You…are correct!” Joy said with a giddy smile, her bland mask shattering as more cracks appeared, fracturing the endless white expanse. “You truly do understand what my element means! What REAL laughter is all about!!! Congratulations…Bearer of Laughter.”

CRACK!!!!

The white void, along with the fake laughter, exploded.

EEEP!

Pinkie winced and closed her eyes, but there was no pain, no flash of light. Instead, all she could feel was gentle breeze blow through her fur and into her very core, obliterating some unseen barrier deep within her heart. She couldn't explain it, but from that moment on things were different, even if she still felt physically the same as she did only a few minutes before.

Opening her left eye slowly, she gasped at what she saw.

The white space had been completely replaced. She now stood on a pathway made almost completely out of stars, twinkling against a gentle blue mist that slowly spun and twirled around her. As it rose, it became fainter, until it disappeared, leaving the sky a perfect black that twinkled with more stars than Pinkie could even count.

It was beautiful, serene, and the perfect wide open space for a party the likes of which the world had never seen.

But what would I hang my streamers from? Or my decorations? Are there tables here I could use to hold my balloons? Hmmmmm…
“Welcome to the Astral Realm,” Joy’s soft voice spoke from behind Pinkie, making her spin so fast she nearly fell over. The blue mare giggled. “You did it Pinkie! You really did it. I’m sorry the test was so…overwhelming, but it had to be that way. It always does, just to be sure that you are truly ready to stand up and defend Laughter no matter what! And you were! Congratulations on passing the test!”

Oh, right, I passed! WOHOOOOOO! NEW BEFF (Best Elemental Friend Forever!)!

“It's ok, Joy, I understand,” Pinkie said, bounding over and giving Joy a quick hug. “It's easy to defend something when everypony agrees with you. Not so much when things get tough, so I see why the test was necessary, and I forgive you,” she said, giving Joy a quick squeeze before letting go. Joy just smiled and nodded as relief filled their link.

Now I really need to find a way to have a party in here! And a way to invite my friends too! I can’t wait to introduce them to Joy—wait a minute. Pinkie thought, releasing Joy and squinting at her in observation.

Joy looked, well, TECHNICALLY the same, yet there was something more…alive about her now. Some…cloud that had been lifted, allowing her to appear brighter and clearer than before. Yet Pinkie still couldn’t place her hoof on why she looked different yet the same.

“Maybe this will help?” Joy tittered softly, turning to show off her cutie mark.

NO WAY!!!

Gone was the simple blue gemstone spinning endlessly on Joy’s flank. Instead, there was now a light blue crystal balloon spinning in its place. A single ribbon of light blue light twirled around it, constantly dancing and moving around the gem at all different speeds and angles.

And Pinkie could swear that there was occasionally a flash of rainbow that traveled down the ribbon of light, but anytime she tried to look at it, it vanished from sight.

“That’s…just like my cutie mark,” Pinkie said, looking back at her own mark. It, too, was now pulsing slightly with its own light, and looked…clearer than before. It looked different to Pinkie, somehow, but she couldn’t really find a way to put it into words.

“A sign that we are now linked,” Joy said, approaching Pinkie in a calm manner that greatly contrasted with the incredible excited smile expanding across her face. Pinkie wanted to ask what Joy meant, given how they had already appeared to be linked, but the moment she touched Pinkie’s chest with her hoof, Pinkie understood.

Joy was happy.

So happy that she almost couldn’t process the wealth of emotions she was feeling, so many of them just crashing into each other all at once until all that was left was the calm feeling of being whole once again.

It’s like being complete again after so many years of missing that one piece of yourself that made you…you!

While the old link was a small dirt road for two wagons to travel down, this new one was like a fancy street in a city made of gold. Functionally, it was the same, but there was so much more to it than before. A vast ocean of magic washed over Pinkie, magic she knew would come to her aid should she ever be in trouble.

“We are partners now. So long as you live and hold true to your ideals, I will be with you. Helping you spread laughter, helping you learn from your mistakes, helping you when times are tough. I will always be here for you so long as you continue to be there for me and continue to work in the pursuit of laughter. NOW ARE YOU READY TO PARTY!?” Joy asked, her voice rising in excitement as stars around began to glow brighter. Her magic was surging down their new link, and Pinkie was waiting to meet it.

“You bet I am!” Pinkie exclaimed, grabbing Joy’s hoof in her own as Joy’s magic reached its crescendo. She could feel the power, the pure laughter filling her every cell and fiber of her being as two souls became linked for the rest of time, the world once again dissolving into light blue light.

At the same moment…

Twilight barely saw the Element of Laughter move before she was blinded by a massive blast of light. Yelping in shock, she squeezed her eyes shut and instinctively lifted a wing to try and block the blue blinding light.

Then, almost as quickly as it had begun, it stopped.

What the heck was THAT!?

You’ll see.

Spots were floating in front of her eyes, and Twilight had to squint and blink several times before her eyes cleared enough for her to see what had happened.

Pinkie!? She’s—

The Bearer of Laughter. Not that surprising when you think about it though.

Twilight had to agree with her there.

Standing there exactly where she had been only a few seconds before was Pinkie Pie.

Her eyes were glowing with a bright blue light as an incredible amount of magic poured off of her, magic that made Twilight want to smile until the end of time. Everything had worked out, and they were one step closer to helping everypony—no, everyone in the entire world. They just needed to find four more Elements, then everything could be fixed.

Her smile widened.

Then maybe she could go back to helping at the library—or better yet, create her own library with all the knowledge from across the world. And she could get a pet owl to help Spike organize it and—

Twilight, focus. Pinkie’s giving off pure elemental energy and it’s making you so happy your imagination is running away with you.

Twilight blinked as she felt Magi help block some of the excess magic, then shook her head, still smiling slightly. Looking around, she saw that Magi was right. Pinkie had a large audience watching in awe, each of them smiling for no reason in particular. Even Applejack was smiling like a goofball at nothing in particular as she raised a hoof to her chest piece.

Should we be worried?

Only if this continued for more than a few minutes. This happens whenever a bearer is accepted by their element and should stop in a minute or two.

True enough, after a few more seconds, the magical output began to tapper off, and the magic pouring out of Pinkie’s eyes began to decrease.

Is that how I look when Magi takes over me? Twilight thought as Pinkie rapidly shook her head. Her eyes still glowed blue, but now Twilight was able to finish examining Pinkie in detail.

All the dust and rubble from the battle had been cleaned from her fur, leaving her looking like she had just had the deluxe spa treatment at the Shining Star property. However, the MAJOR difference with Pinkie was the now-balloon-shaped light blue gemstone that was currently sitting in a torc that now clung to the earth pony’s neck. The torc matched Twilight’s almost perfectly save for the dark pink color and the fact that it was slightly smaller to fit the neck of an earth pony…

Pinkie was still an earth pony?

I…was almost expecting her to become an alicorn.

A reasonable expectation, but slightly flawed. The magic of myself and my siblings was indeed used years ago to help our mother create alicorns, but only I have the ability to transform a pony into an alicorn in such a short span of time, just like I am the only one able to strip said gift away from ponies.

Plus, Pinkie will not need to be an alicorn to use my sister’s powers, as her magic is less intense than mine.

Ok, that makes sense.

Either way, Twilight couldn’t help but smile on her own. She had felt Laughter’s magic when she had first appeared from inside the party cannon, and it had felt…subdued, like the damage went far the below the gemstone’s surface. But now, attached to Pinkie’s torc and fully repaired, her magic felt far stronger, as well as more…alive, perhaps?

“Guys, what was that noise?” Cheese called out from inside the party cannon, his voice snapping a few ponies out of their shocked stupors.

“Pinkie’s wearing the Element of Laughter! She’s its new Bearer!” Spike cried excitedly.

“Really? AWESOME SAUSE!” Cheese said, wiggling a bit in the cannon’s barrel. “Uhhh…hold on, just give me a minute. I might possibly be stuck. Also, what’s a Bearer?”

The looks of bewilderment from the crowd told Twilight that he wasn’t the only one who was confused.

“It means she has been chosen by the Element of Laughter to wield her power, which not only will help us fight other cruel alicorns, but it also means that we are one step closer to healing the damage done to Equestria by The Cloud.” Twilight explained loudly for the crowd.

“That's awesome!" somepony called out.

“Can you go for Lady Prickly Pear next? She’s a b—”

“Honey Comb! Not in front of the foals!”

“What? She is!”

“Can you really fix Equestria?”

“What about the Queen? Can you stop her too?”

“How many more do you need?”

“Can we come with you? I can’t fight, but I can cook for you!”

“I know how to make clothes!”

“Can we finish the party first?”

More and more voices joined in offering assistance, each more excited than the last. Something told Twilight that Applejack just got quite a few new members for her resistance.

At this rate, the village is going to become a city!

“WOOOOOO!” Pinkie squealed, drawing all attention back to her as her eyes finally stopped glowing blue. Looking down at her new torc, she squealed happily and began poking it curiously. “Sparkly!”

“EEEP! Hey, cut it out, I’m ticklish!” a voice squeaked as Pinkie’s hoof poke the gem—

Wait, WHAT!?

“S-She just—” Twilight stammered.

“Spoke?” a new voice asked.

“GAH!” Twilight screamed, jumping in surprise and nearly tripping over her own legs, startling everypony near her. That was Magi’s voice! “YOU CAN TALK?!”

“I am assuming you mean without controlling your body?” Magi asked, and Twilight could just HEAR the element smirking coyly at her.

“YES!”

“Just checking. And yes, I can talk to you like this now. And before you ask—”

“It’s because of ME, Joy, the funny and huggable!” the Element of Laughter exclaimed, getting a few confused and nervous looks from the audience.

“Wat?” Twilight squawked, trying not to think about the fact that she had just been yelling at her torc in front of everyone.

“The more of us that have found our Bearers, the greater each of our individual power becomes,” Magi said. A few more excited whispers sounded from the crowd, possibly at the prospect of the powerful artifact that defeated Obsidian getting even more powerful. “Since Pinkie has now been accepted as Laughter’s Bearer, both her power and my power are stronger, allowing us to speak like this so long as we are close to one another. Though I am not sure why Laughter is calling herself Joy…”

“Oh, it was my idea!” Pinkie said, bouncing in place. “I thought she needed a name we could actually say, so I decided to call her Joy! Just like how you gave yourself the name Magi!”

“Oh b—”

“Wait, Magi ISN’T your name!?” Twilight exclaimed. “But you…no, wait. You just told me to call you Magi. You never actually said it was your name! Why did you tell me to call you that instead of your real name?!”

“Because I thought you would like it,” Magi grumbled. “And because my real name is impossible to say and very annoying.”

“But’s it’s such an awesome name!” Pinkie said, grinning.

“Oh, Joy, you did NOT tell her. PLEASE tell me you didn’t tell her.” Magi groaned.

“Ok, I won’t tell you,” Joy said, her tone implying she was sticking her tongue out at Magi teasingly.

“You did tell her. Great…”

“What is it?” Spike called out from Flash’s back.

“It’s—”

“No no no no no no NO! You are not telling them!” Magi scolded. “Also, I think Obsidian is waking up again.”

“Ugh…”

At that rough grunt, all eyes turned back towards the shattered house where Obsidian had been flung when Joy had been shot out of the party cannon. The former alicorn was currently stuck in the rubble, but had nearly managed to pull herself back out again. Her eyes were locked on Twilight and Pinkie with a murderous glare.

“She just doesn’t know how to stay down, does she?” Flash asked with a small eye-roll, walking to put himself in between Twilight and Obsidian. Twilight didn’t think Obsidian would be able to do anything right now, but she still smiled a bit at Flash still working to keep her safe.

Though she did levitate Spike off his back, just in case.

“Y-You insects!” Obsidian screamed, coughing roughly and nearly collapsing again as she finally pulled herself free. “You think this is over!?”

“Kinda, yeah,” Pinkie said.

“Definitely,” Flash said.

“Eeyep,” Big Mac called out from a short distance away.

“Probably!” Cheese called out from inside the party cannon, his legs now digging furrows in the ground as he tried to escape its party grasp.

“Looks like it,” Spike said.

“I’d say so,” said Twilight.

“You bet it is," Applejack growled.

“You fools! Do you really think this will go unnoticed!? I am Equestria’s second largest producer of gems! When the Queen realizes what you’ve done, she’ll come for all of you! And then I will be returned to my rightful place as your MASTER!”

“No, you won’t,” Pinkie said calmly, walking forward slowly. Obsidian staggered forward as well, screaming angrily as she tried to lash out at Pinkie with a hoof. Pinkie simple ponked backwards a step, causing Obsidian to fall on her face as she over-balanced. “You have no power now.”

Growling, Obsidian climbed back up and tried again.

But Pinkie merely caught her hoof, not even flinching from the weak strike. Obsidian tried to follow up with a headbutt, but Pinkie just blocked it with her mane, causing Obsidian to stumble back as she coughed on the pink fluff.

“You will never stop my parties, or haunt my nightmares, or torture innocent ponies who just want to have fun. You will never torment anypony ever again,” Pinkie said, smiling softly.

“Yeah!” Joy cheered, flashing excitedly. “And now we’re gonna throw the biggest party of the millennia to celebrate your defeat!”

“Good thing we still have all these decorations,” Pinkie agreed with a happy bounce.

Obsidian glared at Joy. “I’ll make sure to SMASH you when I get my powers back, you stupid ro—”

WooooOOOOOoooooOOOOOOoooooOOOO!!!

Everyone present looked at Pinkie in confusion as her tail suddenly began to twitch up and down sporadically. Pinkie’s eyes suddenly widened. Without a word, she suddenly lunged forward at Obsidian, tackling her out of the way just in time to avoid an anvil from the fight earlier that would have crushed Obsidian’s skull!

Everypony leapt back, gasping. Pinkie looked like she had seen a ghost.

“W-What—” Obsidian muttered, her face going pale as she looked back at what very well may have killed her.

WooooOOOOOoooooOOOOOOoooooOOOO!!!

“TWITCHY TAIL! STUFF IS FALLING STUFF FROM THE SKY!” Pinkie screamed, just as more junk came raining down from the heavens. That warning came just in time as a piece of stone smashed a nearby table, making the surrounding ponies scream and run for cover.

The resistance unicorns either threw up hasty shields or worked to divert the rubble from the panicking ponies. Thankfully, most of it was just small bits of rubble Maud had knocked into the sky, but there were a few bigger things that fell as well, including a chunk of rock almost as big as Obsidian had been before her trial. Thankfully, Pinkie’s warning was enough of an alert for Twilight to light her horn and catch anything larger than a pony from crashing into the ground.

In the end, only a single flowerpot made it through the shields, nailing Obsidian right in the head and knocking her unconscious for the third time. Thankfully, the junk storm was over in less than a minute, and Twilight quickly levitated all the rubble over to the ruined house, letting out a sigh of relief as she released her load.

That was heavier than expected. And jeez, how hard did Maud hit that stuff that it just started raining down NOW?! It must have been in the sky for at least ten minutes! she thought as she sank to a sitting position to rest. Looking around, she was happy to see that no pony else had been hurt.

“Twitchy tail.”

“Hmm?” Twilight hummed, looking back at Pinkie, who didn’t seem to even register Fluttershy pulling Obsidian away from her grip. Angel Bunny was carrying her medical bag on his back, so it looked like Fluttershy was going to treat Obsidian’s head injury before they restrained her.

That actually said a lot about Fluttershy’s kindness given how Obsidian clearly didn’t deserve her help in the first place.

No, focus Twilight. Something just happened, and it’s freaking Pinkie out.

“Pinkie, are you ok?” Twilight asked, trying to stand and move closer to Pinkie, only to sink back down as a wave of exhaustion washed over her.

I may have overdone it a bit.

Twilight winced as bubbly mare in front of her squealed loudly in pure excitement.

“Twitchy tail! TWITCHY TAIL! My Pinkie Sense, I-I-IT’S BACK!!!”

Pinkie was crying, tears streaming down her muzzle, but her laughter was so loud and contagious that Twilight couldn’t help but smile herself. Given how upset Pinkie had been when she had spoken about her broken Pinkie Sense, it was no wonder she was so happy now that it was fixed. Granted, Twilight didn’t know how a twitchy tail predicted an anvil, but if Pinkie was happy, it didn't really matter.

“Joy, did you do this!?!?” Pinkie asked, looking down at her torc as she bounced three times faster than should be physically possible.

“YEP! When you became my Bearer, you got a dose of Harmony magic, helping fix any problems you may have had, including the magical damage done to your Pinkie Sense! SURPRISE!!!!”

“EEEEEEEE!!! THANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOU!” Pinkie squealed, bending down to give Joy a quick kiss.

And Twilight could swear she saw the Element of Laughter blush.

How a rock could blush, she didn’t know, but if Joy was anything like Pinkie, she knew questioning it would get her nowhere.

“That’s awesome!” Cheese Sandwich called out with the upper half of his body still inside the party cannon. “Also, can somepony help me, I…yeah, I definitely think I’m stuck,” he added shyly, planting his two hind hooves on the sides of the cannon and pushing, only to remain firmly where he was. Twilight lit her horn to try and help, only to wince as the glow disappeared.

Owowowow. Ok, I definitely used a bit too much magic on that rubble, or cast too much over too short a time frame. It’s hard to tell which. I should probably wait a few minutes for my horn to recover before casting again. Twilight rubbed her temples to calm her headache just as Joy spoke again.

“Y-You’re welcome Pinkie,” Joy stuttered. “But now that that’s done, we still need to tell Twilight Magi’s real name—”

“Pinkie, don’t you have a party to throw? And now have another reason to throw one?” Magi asked hastily.

“Shameless distraction!” Joy yelled, but she was ignored as Pinkie gasped in delight.

“YOU’RE RIGHT! I almost forgot. Get ready everypony, because now WE REALLY NEED TO PARTY!

With a flying leap, she tackled the still-stuck Cheese Sandwich, causing both of them to disappear inside the party cannon with a panicked yelp, a loud POP, and the sound of a trombone.

Never mind. Look’s like Pinkie’s got it.

“I still want to know your name,” Twilight said, frowning at Magi as everypony else began to back up, the party cannon bulging and expanding until it was nearly ten times its normal size.

“Fine, but later.”

SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

The party cannon fired, sending a cheering Pinkie and a screaming-in-maybe-terror Cheese Sandwich skyward as party supplies rained down on the property that no longer belonged to Obsidian. There were cakes, streamers, bowls of punch, tablecloths carrying bowls of various party snacks. All of it rained down, covering every inch of the property and creating the biggest spread of food the ponies below had ever seen.

And above it all, a massive firework in the shape of the Element of Laughter exploded, showering the property below in a flurry of rainbow-colored-sparkles.

The battle had been won, and it was clear to Twilight that this would be Pinkie’s biggest party to date.

An hour later…

“Whew…I need a punch break,” Pinkie muttered to no one in particular as she collapsed into one of the empty chairs at the edge of town, a ways away from the center of the party. Ever since being fired from her party cannon and using Cheesy’s pogo stick to break their fall, she had been going non-stop to make sure this party was the best party in the history of Equestria!

Or at least the best party in the last three thousand years or so, before The Cloud appeared.

It had taken awhile, but at last the party had reached critical party-itude, which meant it would be self-sustaining for at least a good four hours. Pinkie was happy, Joy was ecstatic through their emotional link, and everyone else was partying like there was no tomorrow. Which meant she had plenty of time for—

“Punch, dear?” Rarity asked with a smile, causing Pinkie to blink in surprise. Last she had seen, Rarity had been dragged into the center of the party, which was basically just a large blob of ponies in the center of the property, and thrown head-first into a massive conga line currently wrapping its way around the property. So how did she get out and over to the tables near the road Pinkie had taken onto the property?

Maybe she's just that good at conga lines? Though, isn’t it currently on the other side of the property? Did Rarity learn to teleport while I was gone? Did Twilight teach her? Either way, it’s nice to have someone to recover with. Also, YAY, PUNCH!

“Ooooo, thanks Rarity!” Pinkie said, graciously accepting the large cup from her magic and quickly chugging the entire thing in a few gulps.

Is Rarity psychic? Is that how she knew I need some super-grape-sugar-punch as a pick-me-u—

BUUUUUUUUUUURP!

“Ahhhhh, I needed that,” Pinkie said happily, relaxing back into her chair and ignoring Rarity’s look of mild horror. Though Pinkie would be horrified too if someone had managed to out-burp her.

Don’t worry, Rarity. Just keep practicing and I’m sure you’ll be able to out-burp me one day.

“So, Pinkie, how are you feeling?” Rarity asked, shaking her head and moving to sit down next to the bubbly mare.

“Incredibly stupendously happy,” Pinkie said, bouncing in her seat slightly. “I mean, just look at all of this! We did it, Rarity! We really did it! We really beat Obsidian!” Her smile widened even more, even as a small tear fell down her cheek.

“And now you’re so happy you can’t help but cry?” Rarity asked gently, passing Pinkie a napkin. “Is it because you’re so happy that everyone else is happy, or because it’s finally over?”

“A bit of both, though…I guess it’s not totally over…” Pinkie said, her smile falling slightly as she looked over at one group of ponies in particular.

While most of the ponies on the property had immediately been swept up into the party, those who had been under the effects of the carvilious flowers had been far less energetic. Some hadn't even reacted to the party at all, just standing there with blank looks on their faces. Thankfully, despite the craziness, Pinkie had been able to find Twilight and pull her away for a few minutes while Cheese helped direct the affected ponies towards the edge of town.

Once there, it hadn’t been hard to convince Magi and Twilight to use most of Obsidian's reclaimed magic to try and help the affected ponies. She would have asked for them to use all of it, but she knew some ponies back at the village might still need it. Still, it was really cool to see the dozens of magical beams spill out from Magi and weave their way through the affected ponies, slowly wrapping around them and bringing happy emotions back to their faces.

Unfortunately, despite Twilight and Magi using so much magic, the ponies still had quite a bit of recovering to do. The magic had certainly accelerated the healing process, reducing the recovery time from years to months in the worst cases (according to Magi, at least), but it would take more time. All of them were at least now moving normally again rather than like zombies, smiling, laughing on occasion, eating, having fun, but Pinkie could tell that they were still struggling. Most were better, if still subdued, and a good hoof-full had fully recovered, but the worst affected were still showing almost no emotion, save for a few small smiles and passing chuckles.

Most of the affected ponies were also isolating themselves from the main party, but their families and friends had surrounded them and were treating them to a much calmer, smaller party at the very edge of the main celebration. Fluttershy was also there, currently talking with ponies and their families to help them adjust in whatever way she could. And it looked to be helping, if only slightly.

Still…

“They will be fine, Pinkie,” Rarity said reassuringly, her hoof coming to rest over Pinkie’s. “They just need time. And with you and Cheese Sandwich to keep their spirits up, I can promise you that they will get better.”

“I know.” Pinkie said, sighing as she let her worry flow away. “They won’t be like that forever. We just need to help them along the way…”

“Indeed. But I do have one question,” Rarity said, sounding slightly unsure.

“Yeah?”

Is Rarity worried about the injured ponies? I’m sure they wouldn’t mind if she went to help too.

“When that anvil was falling from the sky, right when your Pinkie Sense showed itself again, you tackled Obsidian out of the way,” Rarity said slowly, as if choosing her words carefully. “Now it happened so fast that I doubt you had any time to think, which means that you instinctively saved Obsidian despite everything she has done. Either way, it was very kind that you did so, but…I wanted to ask, do you regret saving her? Don’t get me wrong, I would NEVER wish death upon a pony, especially given how being depowered is likely a far more fitting punishment, but—”

"I understand Rarity. And no, I don’t regret it,” Pinkie said earnestly. “Even if I had the time to think about it, I still would have saved her.”

“Why?”

“Because of Twilight.”

“Twilight?”

“Mm-hmm. When we first defeated Thorn, she refused to let Applejack finish her off, saying that ‘killing her will just make us as bad as she is.’ I can’t forgive Obsidian for what she did, ever, but if I just let her die…” She shook her head. “Obsidian would have let me die if our places were reversed. But even with all she did to me, my family, Boulder, and everypony else, I wouldn’t just stand by and let her get crushed like that. It wouldn’t be right, no matter how much she deserved it.”

Rarity was silent for a little bit, and then she smiled. “I think everypony could learn a thing or two from you, Pinkie. That was a very thoughtful and deep answer, and quite the example for the rest of the Resistance.”

“Awwwwww, you’re just saying that,” Pinkie said happily, waving a foreleg at Rarity bashfully.

“Oh no, darling, I am being completely serious,” Rarity said. “Anypony that can face such adversity and pain from a truly horrible pony yet still instinctively save said pony without a second thought or regret should be praised. You did the right thing naturally and without a moment's hesitation. You set an example all ponies should follow, no matter the tribe. It’s no wonder Joy chose you.”

“She has a poooooooooooint,” Joy sing-songed, earning a laugh from the mares. They were quickly interrupted, however, by the loud grumble of Pinkie’s stomach.

Oh, right. I skipped breakfast this morning. Oops. Actually, when WAS the last time I ate? I remember snacking on a few bits of food while me and Cheesy were finishing the tank, but it wasn’t that much. Hmmm…

Thankfully, there was a solution right nearby! Her party cannon explosion earlier had launched quite a few pieces of pre-cut-cake all over the property for the truly STARVING ponies, and one such piece was sitting on the table! She had completely missed it.

How DID I miss that piece of super-strawberry cake? Am I so hungry that I’m missing obvious things right in front of me? What else have I been missing?! Stilly, YAY! CAKE!

Sure, it was about seventy-two percent covered in confetti, but still, CAKE!

“Ohhh!” Pinkie cheered, her tongue shooting out and scooping the cake, paper plate, and confetti into her mouth.

“Pinkie! Don’t eat that!” Rarity cried in horror.

“Why not? It’s just cake,” Pinkie said, swallowing the confetti-covered treat in one gulp. “Mmmmmmm, cake…ACHOO!”

She sneezed, sending a flurry of confetti out of her mouth and nose with a small squeeeeee, just like her party cannon.

Rarity’s eye twitched as the somehow-still-perfectly-clean confetti landed all over her.

“Oops, sorry,” Pinkie apologized, giggling sligh—

“Incoming stone!” Joy exclaimed just as something really strong tackled Pinkie from behind.

EEP!!!!!! I swear I have more Chex Mix if we ran out! Or cake! Or punch!

“You idiot! Didn’t you realize how much danger you were in by coming here!?” an angry yet very familiar voice yelled, causing Pinkie’s panic to evaporate and be replaced with shock. But before she could try and speak out or confirm her suspicions, her attacker squeezed her with all their might, causing Pinkie to let out an audible ‘SQUEAK’!

Ok, I am either caught in either a really loving hug, or an angry bear hug meant to try and crush my ribs. And if this IS who I think it is, then it could honestly be both—
OHHHHH! That’s what Joy meant!

“Mm-hmm!” another voice exclaimed as a second pony joined the impromptu pony-pile, though the voice was so soft that Pinkie almost didn’t hear it over the noise of the party.

“See? Even MARBLE thinks you were a reckless idiot! What would have happened if you were caught again!? HUH!? I-If Obsidian had made you eat that f-flower again! Just, just…”

Pinkie involuntarily squeaked again as the ponies hugging her tightened their hold. She was almost certain she knew who they were, but since they were still pinning her to the ground with her face in the dirt, it was hard to tell for sure.

“Pardon me,” Rarity called out, and the pressure on Pinkie’s body loosened and then vanished entirely.

"What the—HEY! PUT US DOWN!"

“EEP!”

“I will consider it, but first, might I ask who you are and why you are trying to crush poor Pinkie? I know Pinkie loves strong hugs, but shoving her face in the dirt is just plane rude,” Rarity said, giving Pinkie a chance to sit up, clean her face with a quick shake of her head, then see her attackers.

EEEEE! It is them!

“It’s ok, Rarity. I know them!” Pinkie squeaked excitedly, bouncing into the air and grabbing the two floating earth ponies in a loving headlock-hug. Both of them squirmed as Pinkie dragged them back to earth, and immediately returned to hugging/crushing her.

“Rarity, this is my oldest sister, Limestone Pie,” Pinkie said, gesturing with her mane to the mare on her left, a blueish-grey with lime green eyes, a flat grey mane, and a lime with two blocks of salt as a cutie mark. She was currently glaring daggers at both Pinkie and Rarity, just like always.

“And my youngest sister, Marble Pie,” Pinkie said, gesturing to the grey mare with the greenish-grey mane, purple eyes, and a cutie mark of three perfect marble spheres, each a light purple with dark purple stripes. Marble was currently trying to hide behind her mane, but offered a soft “mm-hmm" in greeting.

“Limestone is always mad at something, Marble is shy, and they’re both the best sisters a mare could ask for!”

“Quiet, you,” Limestone growled. She squeezed Pinkie tighter, but was unable to hide the tears forming in the corners of her eyes.

“Mm-hmm,” Marble muttered, nuzzling Pinkie and crying, though Pinkie couldn’t tell if it was from joy or worry.

“Ah, well then, it is a pleasure to meet the both of you,” Rarity said politely, though still looking at them warily. “Though again, why were you trying to crush poor Pinkie?”

“Because then maybe we can get the message across of how recklessly stupid she is!” Limestone snapped, even as she began to cry. “M-Maud risked her life to help this goofy pony escape from the torture Obsidian put her though! Helped her so she wouldn’t just become a-a mindless zombie like the others! So that her a-annoying, irritating, r-really kind a-and thoughtful habit of making us s-smile wouldn’t be s-s-stamped out like our g-grandma’s.”

Limestone tried to keep her voice fierce and angry, but despite that, it lowered with each word until it was little more than a sad grumble. “So she wouldn’t end up like G-Granny Pie…”

“Mm-hmm…” Marble agreed, reaching her head across Pinkie’s chest to give Limestone a comforting nuzzle.

Pinkie shivered. She remembered her grandma, how fun she had used to be. She also remembered that Granny Pie had received the same punishment she had. And unlike her, Granny Pie had never been given enough time to fully recover before being forced to take another dose.

Wait. Why didn’t I see Granny Pie yet? I know it’s taken Marble, Limestone, Mom, and Dad a while to show up because they were all still in the mines…actually, Mom and Dad might still be in the mines – they’re usually assigned to the deepest levels because of their expertise –but Granny Pie wouldn’t be working there with them. She’s too old! So where is she?! Please don’t tell me…

“Limey? Where is Granny?” Pinkie asked quietly.

“Traded,” Limestone replied sadly. “To some Lady named Golden Heart.”

“Oh THANK GOODNESS!” Pinkie cried, springing into the air and tossing her sisters into the sky. Both screamed in panic, but Pinkie caught them deftly and began to spin excitedly. “Don’t you worry about Granny Pie then. Lady Golden Heart is the best friend of Lady Celestia and Lady Luna, and they’re three of the nicest alicorns in Equestria!”

“Indeed,” Rarity said, smiling as well as she gently stopped Pinkie from spinning too much. “I have heard very good things about all of them, so I can assure you your grandmother is likely perfectly fine. And if you don’t believe us, our friend Twilight grew up knowing Golden Heart personally, so she would be able to confirm that your Grandma is in good hooves. She may have even recovered from that dreadful flower by now.”

Marble blinked for a moment, and then began to smile just as widely as Pinkie. Limestone stood there with a shocked expression, her mouth moving before she shook her head and scowled.

“That doesn’t change the fact that Pinkie nearly got herself caught again!” the blue-grey mare yelled as she fought her way out of her sister’s grip, thought even she couldn’t hide the small smile on her lips.

“I do agree that Pinkie was in danger,” Rarity said gently, laying a hoof on Limestone’s shoulder as Pinkie contented her self with bouncing in place with both forelegs around Marble. “But she WAS aware the risks, and was willing to put up with them in order to try and save you and the others from Obsidian. And because of her, not only is Obsidian depowered and no longer a threat, but the resistance now has the Element of Laughter, bringing us that much closer to stopping the alicorns for good.”

“She’s right, Limey,” Pinkie said, releasing Marble and hugging Limestone more gently. “I knew what I was getting myself into, and it was worth the risk. Plus, I just couldn’t bear the idea of you or Marble or Maud or Mom or Dad having to eat the flower either. So I couldn’t just leave you here. But I’m sorry I made you so worried.”

Limestone grumbled something unintelligible before returning the hug.

“Just don’t scare me like that again,” she muttered as she nuzzled Pinkie. “I can’t stand seeing my little sisters get hurt.”

“I will need to go into battle again, Limey, there is no way around that,” Pinkie said sadly, before smiling. “But I promise I’ll do all I can to stay safe, and to not get into trouble intentionally, ok? And if you’re so worried, I’m sure Fluttershy could teach you to become a medic.”

“I’ll think about it, if only to keep YOU out of trouble.” Limestone grumbled, before nodding.

“Good! Now where are Mom and Dad? I thought they would be with you. Are they still in the mines?”

“I don’t know, but if they’re not still in the mines, then they’re probably in the middle of THAT!” Limestone said, gesturing to the mass of ponies dancing in the center of the town. Which also just so happened to be between them and the mines. “And I have no idea how we can find them either way.”

“Well, that’s easy, silly. We wait for them to come out and join the party, and in the meantime, WE DANCE!” Pinkie cheered. She grabbed Marble, who let out a panicked squeak, tightened her hold on Limestone, who grunted, before dragging both of them back towards the mass of dancing ponies down the street.

“I don’t dance! Pinkie, let go! Rarity, help!” Limestone cried as she and Marble were hauled towards the mass of ponies.

“MM-HMM!” Marble squealed, trying to escape Pinkie’s grip to no avail.

Rarity sighed. “Oh, Pink—EEEP!” she squealed as Pinkie’s neck stretched an impossible distance back to Rarity, bit down on her tail, and dragged her backwards towards the dancing mob as well. “Pinkie! Stop! You’re ruining my tail!”

But her plea went unheeded as all four of them were consumed by the mass of partying ponies once again.

No pony can escape the party.

Half an hour later…

“Wow,” Spike muttered, not even bothering trying to hide his drool. Despite wanting to party like there was no tomorrow, Spike was already starting to feel tired. Being shorter than all but the foals meant he had a hard time keeping up with the rest of the party, regardless of all the punch and food he had been feasting on.

Thankfully, with Obsidian now depowered and locked in her own dungeon until they could figure out what to do with her, her mansion was now open to the public. Granted, many ponies were still wary of coming inside, but the entrance hall had been serving as a good place to rest for those who needed a break from the fun chaos outside.

In fact, a few other ponies had used their break from the party to begin examining the mansion to see what lay within.

Spike himself had become curious about what secrets or supplies the mansion held as well, and after taking a small break to recover his energy, he also began to explore the many rooms on his own. Most were boring or empty, and after twenty minutes he had nearly given up on finding anything interesting. But then he found a locked door sealed with a high-class magic lock.

Nothing a little dragon fire couldn’t melt…or a lot of dragon fire, really, but it had been worth it.

All because of THIS!

A gem-crafting workshop!

It made sense given the property’s specialization in gems, but given the quality of everything in here and the lock on the door, Spike could only assume this was Obsidian's personal gem workshop! And the best part, it was nearly OVERFLOWING with high quality gems!

Pony food was ok, but nothing could compare to gemstones! The cool refreshing taste of a sapphire, the spicy zest of a ruby, the sweet candy-like taste of a pearl, the minty flavor of an emerald, the hard crunchy bliss of a topaz…it was amazing. And the better the gem’s quality, the better the taste! Given how the nearest box was full of nearly perfect gemstones, he had nearly dived right into it less than a minute after entering the room.

But then he saw it. Something so rare, he never thought he would ever taste it again.

There, sitting in a special incubator box designed to help gemstones grow and age more quickly, sat a fire ruby. The largest fire ruby he had ever seen. It was bigger than his claws, and formed in the perfect shape of a heart…

Lifting a nearby gem-tuning fork, Spike gave the fire ruby a quick strike.

Tinnnnnnnnnnnnnggggggggggg…

Not quite ripe.

But it didn’t matter. Once it was ripe enough, nothing could ever compare to the taste. Heck, Spike nearly ate it the moment he saw it.

But he couldn’t, not yet. It had to be perfect! And in a month or two growing in that box, it would be.

Oh, he could barely wait!

Meanwhile…

"So this is where she kept it all,” Flash said, looking around with a worried frown. While the party was still in full swing, he, Twilight, Applejack, and a few other resistance ponies had been taking breaks to search Obsidian's house for supplies, valuables, weapons, etc. So far, they had found the kitchen and pantry, both fully stocked with food that would do well to resupply the village, an armory with plenty of weapons for their new recruits, and a bunch of empty rooms.

Their latest find, however, was out back of the house.

It was a large, two-story greenhouse, similar to the one Lady Celestia and Lady Luna had on their property. Given the barren landscape around them, it wasn’t really that surprising of a find. Or, at least, not until they realized that there were three magical locks on the door, their enchantments so powerful that even Twilight would have taken hours to break through them.

Thankfully, a dedicated twenty-minute search of Obsidian’s room had allowed them to find the keys, unlock the door…

And witness the horror inside.

The ONLY plant inside the greenhouse was an endless number of large red flowers filling every pot on every table and every hanging planter in the greenhouse. By Flash’s estimate, there were enough carvilious flowers to feed everypony on the property at least twice over, if not more.

I’ve never been so disturbed to see so much of a single plant in one place…Why the heck does she keep so much of this stuff just sitting around?! How long do these even keep?

“T-These are…” Twilight muttered behind him.

“Carvilious flowers,” Applejack growled, glaring around the room. “Just be careful not to get any in your mouth. They’re harmless unless ingested. You do ingest one, even just a single leaf, and your magic and will to fight will be gone faster than an apple in a vampire fruit bat infestation.”

Despite all his years of training, Flash couldn’t help but shiver slightly at that. He had spent years perfecting his skills, training his mind and body, creating plans, backup plans, and backup plans for his backup plans. The idea of all of that vanishing in an instant, of losing the will to even swing his wing blades or protect Twilight…

It was a terrifying thought, one that seemed like something straight out of a nightmare. One that made him shiver even more.

How would you even combat something like this?

Flash blinked as he felt something drape over his back. Turning, he saw that Twilight had walked over to him and gently placed a wing over his back, slowly brushing him with her feathers. It was…incredibly calming.

“Thanks,” he whispered.

"No problem,” Twilight said, smiling at him gently. “These things are rather unnerving, aren't they?”

“Yea…”

The calming moment was ruined when Applejack kicked over a nearby table in anger. “That bitch. Look at all this. Enough flowers here to torture every pony under her care, I reckon. No wonder not even her Butlers were willing to defend her!”

“‘Obey me or eat a flower that will take away your magic and turn you into a hopeless zombie,’” Flash said, carefully walking down the row of red flowers with Twilight by his side. It was hard to notice, but by the way Twilight was hugging his side, Flash knew that she was just as nervous as he had been. Yet she never removed her comforting wing. “Never thought obeying her might be the more reasonable option…”

“Well, what do we do with it all?” Twilight asked, gesturing to the mass of flowers with a free hoof.

“Burn it,” Applejack growled, glaring at the flowers as if trying to will them to catch fire through her stare alone. “We can’t risk any other alicorns finding it.”

Flash couldn't agree more, and yet something still gave him pause.

Didn’t Applejack say that you can dilute the plant to make medicine? And doesn’t this plant affect alicorns too? If so, and if we’re careful, maybe we can use some of it.

“Not so fast,” Flash said, putting a hoof to his chin in thought as he reached the end of the first set of table. “I agree we should burn MOST of it, but I think we should take at least a few planters’ worth back with us.”

Applejack raised an eyebrow, but remained silent. Twilight opened her mouth, frowning, but Flash held up a hoof to stop her before she could speak.

“I know it may seem like a crazy idea to keep something so dangerous around, but we might be able to use this to our advantage. You mentioned this flower can be a potent medical drug if mixed and diluted correctly, right Applejack?” The orange mare nodded. “Thought so. While we may have avoided serious injuries with the last three alicorns we’ve encountered, excluding Rainbow being thrown into that wall, that luck can’t last.

“Heck, Rarity was nearly dead when Twilight found her. If it wasn't for Magi, I’m not sure we would have had anything strong enough to treat her in time, even if we got her back to the village. Sooner or later somepony will get badly hurt, or we’ll find ponies badly hurt on a property we take over. As such, it’s better to have a supply of this stuff for when we will inevitably need it.”

“I can see the logic in that, but I ain’t had to mix medicine with this in years,” Applejack said, conceding the point. “And no pony else on the property knows how to mix it either…though, I suppose Second Sight might be able to figure it out. She’s really knowledgeable when it comes to plants and how to use them, so if we give her enough time she might be able to perfect a formula.”

“Exactly. And even if she can’t, I still want to experiment with it anyway.”

“Experiment?”

“I only have one plunder bomb left, which is basically the only thing I have that can combat an alicorn. Even my wing blades likely wouldn’t do much if they know how to fight well enough. Right now I’ve been trying to save it for when we inevitably need to fight the Queen, but that leaves me without an effective weapon for any future alicorns we need to take down. And if Twilight gets hurt, we could be at a serious disadvantage.

“While these flowers can’t help me make more plunder bombs, they might be able to help me come up with an alternate and less painful type of bomb. Pinkie said they stop magic from working temporarily, which is good if you need to use the medicine on a broken horn or wing. But if I can dilute them enough, and in the right way, I might be able to make a bomb that can block magic use without the painful side effects Pinkie experienced.”

“Which could help us fight other alicorns! Give us a way to take away their biggest advantage: their powerful magic!” Applejack agreed, her eyes widening as a devilish grin spread across her face.

“Exactly. And Fluttershy and Second Sight might even be able to come up with an antidote to these flowers using herbs from the Everfree Forest. Though this is all hypothetical right now, and I’m not sure if an antidote could help those ponies who have already been exposed to the undiluted flowers. But it would still be worth the time investigating and experimenting with.”

“Hypothetical or not, you do that, and we’ll have one heck of a surprise for the other alicorns. You get that to work, and you’ll give us a major leg up in this fight,” Applejack grinned dangerously.

Flash suppressed another shiver. He couldn’t put his hoof on it, but something about her look just felt…off. But Applejack didn’t seem to notice his unease. “Just tell the others how much you think we need to take. We’ll pack it up, bring some extra to replant in the Everfree, then burn the rest,” she continued.

“Agreed,” Flash said with a nod to clear his head. He could worry about Applejack later. Right now, he needed to figure out how much of this stuff he would need to take with him.

Two hours later…

“Whew, what a party,” Cheese said, collapsing into the nearest chair. He was all for parties, but never in his life had he dreamed he would be helping co-host one so BIG! It was amazing! Yet also really draining. It was amazing that he managed to get back to the mansion’s dining room at all.

Who know that conga lines could be so exhausting? I need some food before I pass out.

“Hey Cheesy Sandwichy! Need some cake?” Pinkie called out from atop the nearby chandelier, bouncing down and over to him with a plate of food balanced on her head. Cheese smiled. In the short span of time he had truly known Pinkie, she had done wonders to liven up his world just like she did all those years ago. And no matter how crazy this little adventure had gotten, Pinkie never ran out of energy or smiles. She was really living up to her new title as Bearer of Laughter.

I wonder if she is always this good at parties. I sure hope so! I still have a lot to learn.

“Yes, please!” Cheese said, nodding happily. Winking, Pinkie tossed the plate of food up and had it land perfectly on his lap. It was covered in one massive piece of three-layered red velvet cake, which in turn had three scoops of ice cream, ten sugar-coated pretzel sticks, and a healthy dose of hot fudge just to top it off.

“Perfect. Thanks, Pinkie,” Cheese said, immediately digging in. He could FEEL his energy returning as he ate the cake that he was positive had a two-to-one sugar-to-sugar ratio, though he wasn’t exactly sure how that was possible.

Eh, it’s Pinkie. Not making sense is part of what makes her so much fun!

“So Pinkie, how’s the rest of the party going?” Cheese asked, digging into the food.

“Great! I found my sisters Limestone and Marble, and together we danced our way through the party to find my parents! Oh, and Rarity was a great, if reluctant, back-up dancer.”

“That’s great! How are your parent’s doing?”

“Super duper, especially now that they won’t need to work so much! They were both really happy to see me, but they DID spend a few minutes scolding me for putting myself in so much danger. But then they hugged me and dragged me back into the dance so we could keep celebrating, and were smiling so widely I thought their grins might just fall off, so it’s all ok.

“Cool! Are they still out there?”

"I think so, but they may have headed back home to try and rest a bit. They had been working a LOT of shifts in the mine, so they were pretty tired. I even gave them two more sets of those earplugs you gave me for Obsidian so they could sleep without the rest of the party keeping them up!”

“Glad to be of service,” Cheese said, saluting happily before returning to his cake.

“By the way, Cheesy,” Pinkie said, bouncing around a bit as he ate, “You remember how Maud came charging in?”

“How could I forget?” Cheese laughed.

“Well, it turns out that before she came to see us, she broke into Obsidian’s old store house on the way back from the mine to save Boulder first. And while she was there, she found this.” She reached into her mane and pulling out a—

“BONELESS!” Cheese cried, tossing the last third of his cake onto the table as he tackled the rubber chicken. “You’re ok! How have you been, buddy? Did Obsidian hurt you?” He said, quickly inspecting the chicken from every angle before looking him dead in the goggly eyes. “Were you afraid? I’m so sorry I never had a chance to save you!”

Oh how he missed the rubbery, squeaky feel of he best friend in his legs, the satisfying squeak he gave as Cheese hugged him with all his might.

He never meant to take so long in rescuing him, and he had never forgotten the act of heroism that he had done to protect Cheese from Obsidian.

“Boneless?” Pinkie asked, pulling Cheese Sandwich out of his excited thoughts, only to realize that he had ended up sitting on Pinkie’s stomach after he grabbed the chicken.

Don’tblushdon’tblushdon’tblushdangitI’mblushing.

“Sorrysorrysorry,” Cheese babbled, trying to control his blush as he leapt off Pinkie. “I’m just so excited to see him and—”

“It’s fine, Cheesy,” Pinkie said, waving a hoof before giving him a quick hug.

Not helping with the blush! Please don’t let her notice or say anything!

“SOooooooo? Who is he?”

“O-Oh, right. Pinkie, this is Boneless,” Cheese said, internally sighing in relief as he proudly displayed his best friend for Pinkie. “He was my first ever partner-in-party. I found him when sneaking around the property one night. I think Obsidian got a wrong package or something a few days before, or maybe a prank package? All I know for sure is that she got a box of rubber chickens one day and got so mad at it that she threw it away in frustration, and by that, I mean she literally sent it flying across the sky.”

“How do you know that?"

“I eavesdropped on some Butlers who mentioned it out on the rock fields. Anyway, he must have fallen out, since he was just sitting there out in the open, so I took him home with me so the Butlers wouldn’t destroy him or something.

“He…was my best friend,” Cheese continued, smiling softly as the memories came flooding back. “Someone I could bounce new ideas off of, someone who could watch my back whenever I needed to infiltrate Obsidian’s mansion. Someone who could watch the food I was cooking if I was busy.” He leaned in and held up a hoof to whisper. “He’s a terrible cook, but don’t tell him that.”

Pinkie giggled and nodded and Cheese’s heart fluttered like a butterfly on a sugar rush. She had such a great laugh!

He swallowed and continued. “Anyway, one night, I was sneaking around the mansion, looking for new food or anything I could use for party supplies, but Obsidian was up late for some reason, and I had been trapped in a dead end. So Boneless…he sacrificed himself for me. Knocking over a vase in a different room than the one I was hiding in so I could escape.” He gently brushed a hoof against the rubber chicken, a few tears trickling down his cheeks. “I thought he was lost forever, or even destroyed. But now he’s come back!”

“WOOOOO!” Pinkie cheered with a small burst of confetti! “Best friends reunited! We should throw another party when we get back to the village!”

“Yeah…”

It’s all because of you that we were reunited, Cheese thought, and that we even met at all. He looked between his first best friend and the mare that had inspired them and helped unite them in their quest for parties. She had given him his spark for party and smile creation, which led him to meeting Boneless. And now, she had brought Boneless back to him, reuniting the ultimate party pair.

For some reason he couldn’t explain, Cheese knew what he needed to do. He didn’t know WHY he needed to do it, but something about it just felt…right.

Do me a favor, old friend, Cheese thought, looking down at his oldest friend with a sad smile. Please keep an eye on her when I can’t. Help her when no pony else can, just like when you helped me all those years ago.

“Actually, Pinkie,” Cheese said, making the pink mare halt mid-bounce. “I’d like you to keep him.”

“Huh? But, but you just got back together!” Pinkie explained, sounding uncertain.

“And it was because of you that we are back together,” Cheese said with a smile. “I know he’s safe now, and I have you to thank for that, and for all of this.” He gestured to the windows of the dining room, all of which showed the happiness and laughter outside.

“But—”

“Pinkie, I trust you,” Cheese said, holding Boneless out to her. “And you deserve to have someone as trustworthy as Boneless to watch your back when I can’t. I’ll be ok without him.”

“Are you sure?” Pinkie asked, taking the rubber chicken carefully.

“Positive. Think of it as a piece of me that will always be there to keep you smiling,” Cheese said with a smile of his own. Pinkie returned the gesture, nodded, and placed Boneless securely in her mane so he had a front row seat for the rest of the party.

Neither pony noticed the faint rainbow light that passed over the rubber chicken as they left to go rejoin the party…

Two hours later…

“Ugh…” Trixie groaned, smacking her lips together. Her mouth was dry, her body felt incredibly weak, and her horn felt like it was made of lead. None of which was helped by the amount of noise coming outside. Hay, she couldn’t even tell what the noise was. It sounded like either a loud, worked-up mob or a bunch of ponies that had broken into Lady Prickly Pear’s wine cellar again.

Wait…she wasn’t on Lady Prickly Pear’s property anymore.

She remembered that much, at least.

Trixie managed to pry her right eye open. The blurry image in front of her slowly consolidated to show her that she was…somewhere.

Honestly, she had no idea where she was, and the bland ceiling gave her no clues to help.

“Hi,” a voice said right next to her ear, prompting Trixie to let out a completely justified exclamation of surprise and a not-at-all-shrill squeal of terror as she leapt sideways, pressing her back directly against the nearby wall.

The mare that had spoken and that had definitely not nearly given her a heart attack was a grey mare with a smooth pale purple mane, and light blue eyes that sparkled like a gemstone. She was wearing a dark blue smock that covered her cutie mark, and had an expression of pure boredom on her face.

She also, for some unexplained reason, had a small rock sitting on top of her head. Though Trixie wasn’t even sure if she noticed it given how intently the strange mare was gazing at her.

“Who are you? Where is Trixie? If Lady Obsidian thinks she will get Trixie to talk then she has another thing coming!” Trixie proclaimed, trying to sound strong despite the fact that her body still felt like it was filled with crushed rocks.

“I’m Maud,” the mare said, blinking very slowly. “We’re in a house on Obsidian’s property, near the center of town. And Obsidian isn’t in charge anymore.”

“She’s not? Then we won?“

“Yes.”

“And Trixie MISSED IT!?”

“Yes.”

“Trixie missed the final battle!?”

“Actually, I punched Obsidian one thousand times. Then she got hit by a party cannon. Then she almost got hit by an anvil, before actually getting hit by a flowerpot.”

“One thousand!? Surely you’re exaggerating! Trixie hates alicorns as much as the next pony, but would that be a bit much? Also, what is a ‘party cannon’, and how in heck did she almost get hit by an anvil? Is it NORMAL for ponies to almost get hit by anvils around here?”

“It was one thousand. I counted. A party cannon is an invention my sister made to help create parties, and no, it doesn't normally rain anvils. It just got knocked into the sky during the fight.”

“Ok, Trixie guesses, but then WHY did you punch her one thousand times again?”

“She threatened my sister,” Maud said, her voice becoming ever-so-slightly angrier, though her expression didn’t change in the slightest. Well, no, that wasn't true. He mouth had pulled down the tiniest amount, her right ear we twitching a bit, and the muscles in her jaw were slightly clenched. Normally, Trixie might not be able to see such small changes, but for some odd reason they were as plain as day on Maud.

It is because Trixie had been practicing how to read her audience before she was sent here? Or can everypony see these changes just as well as Trixie can? Maybe Trixie can ask Maud’s sister if they can see the changes too.

“Your sister?” Trixie asked. Maybe if she could learn about this sister, she could learn more about Maud.

“Pinkie.”

“Pink—wait, you’re THAT Maud? But you’re nothing like Pinkie!”

Maud blinked slowly. “I get that a lot.”

This mare, who has got to be the calmest mare in Equestria, is related to Pinkie Pie, the mare who, as far as Trixie can tell from our brief interactions and the stories others have told Trixie about her, is the most hyper mare in all of Equestria?

How the heck does that even happen?

“Fine, fine, whatever,” Trixie said, shaking her head to clear it, but that only made the room spin and her vision blur so much she fell back onto the bed with a loud “uuuUUUgggGGGhhhhHHH.”

Why does Trixie feel so horrible? Trixie didn’t even have any alcohol this time…right? Trixie actually can’t remember.

“Here, Pinkie got this for you,” Maud’s voice called out, a point of calm in the spinning room of doom. Trixie felt a pair of hooves lift her back into a sitting position before she saw something get placed on the bed next to her, something round and flat like a plate. There was some soft shuffling before the hooves released her, allowing Trixie to flop back onto a mound of fluffiness that helped keep her propped up.

Or at least she THOUGHT it was helping prop her up. It was really hard to tell with the room still moving more than a foal on coffee.

“Also, Fluttershy made this medicine for you too. It’s supposed to help,” Maud’s voice said again before Trixie felt a glass press to her lips. Thankful for something to drink, she immediately took a sip—

BLEGH!!!!!

Whatever was in the glass was a crime against nature! It tasted worse than what Trixie imagined sewage might taste like! Trixie tried to pull away, but Maud held pressed her other hoof against Trixie’s head, holding her in place as she tipped the glass forward. Trixie tried to thrash and struggle, but Maud easily kept her head still. She was like a boulder that refused to be moved.

“I know it tastes bad, but you need it,” Maud said once Trixie had finished, gently rubbing her back as Trixie doubled over and groaned. “You burned out your magic out saving Pinkie. This will help. And the food will get rid of the taste. There’s more outside at the party. I also have some water here for you too,” Maud said as she lifted the plate from the bed next to her and held it out for Trixie.

“Trixie doesn't know if she should hate you or love you,” Trixie growled as she grabbed her stomach. She could FEEL the warm liquid enter her stomach, spreading outward and filling every cell of her being. The medicine was HORRIBLE, but already working.

Her body felt better by the second, the warm glow of the nasty concoction soothing her aches. Already her horn no longer felt like a ball of lead on her head. At this rate, she might even be able to cast again in an hour or two compared to a day or two.

And then, as her vision finally cleared, she caught sight of the food Maud had given her…oh, the FOOD!

Trixie couldn’t help but drool as she looked at it. A huge piece of cake covered in more frosting than she had ever seen in her life, a few small pretzels, quite a few sunflowers, a few small potatoes, and a cupcake.

This has got to be the best plate of food Trixie has ever seen…and she said there was more outside!

Wasting no more than ten seconds to admire it, Trixie grabbed the plate and dove in and began demolishing her plate of heaven. The cake was gone first, disappearing in a manner of seconds as Trixie moaned in bliss. The horrible taste of the medicine was gone in seconds, replaced by the heavenly glory that was frosting and sugar. Trixie NEVER got to eat so much sugar back home! Trixie was barely aware that she was making ‘om nom nom’ sounds as she ate, but she didn’t care enough about that to slow down. This food was going in her mouth, and no force on Equis was going to stop her from eating every last bite!

“Pinkie thought you would like it,” Maud said, pulling Trixie out of her blissful trance with a start. It definitely didn’t make Trixie blush like a young filly caught with her hoof in the cookie jar. And she definitely hadn’t forgotten that Maud was still sitting right there.

Nope. Not at all.

“Yes, well, Trixie will be sure to thank her when she sees her,” Trixie said, swallowing the last bite of cake. Maud blinked slowly, before reaching over and grabbing a large glass of water for Trixie. Trixie gulped the water down greedily before letting out a satisfied sigh. She still felt bad, but no longer 'I just pulled a triple shift and nearly have magical burnout’ bad.

But she was still a little bit hungry. Swinging her legs over the side of the bed, Trixie made to see if she could find more heavenly foooooood. Ohhhh, she needed more of that food. The sunflowers especially. And hey, if her magic came back, maybe she could show these ponies what REAL entertainment was!

“I wouldn’t do that,” Maud said blankly, lifting a hoof to try and gently stop Trixie.

Trixie raised an eyebrow and pushed the hoof away. “And why noOOAAAAA—”

Her legs turned to jelly the moment her hooves touched the floor, but apparently Maud had incredible reflexes and super speed, because instead of falling dramatically to the ground, Trixie fell somewhat-less-dramatically into the grey mare’s forelegs.

“The medicine only does so much,” Maud said matter-of-factly. “It will still be an hour or two before you can walk.”

“And you didn’t tell Trixie this, why?” Trixie growled, her cheeks burning ever so slightly at needing to be supported by Maud. Even if her coat was surprisingly soft—

No, bad Trixie. Focus.

“Given how powerful your magic was when you saved Pinkie, I assumed you had magic burnout before and knew its effects. Like how I know the symptoms and treatments of mine dust overexposure after that time my sister Marble got sick.” Maud said, lowering her head under Trixie’s barrel and gently scooping her onto her back. She then gave a small buck, sending Trixie flying back into bed with a soft ‘poomf’ of fabric.

Should Trixie be surprised or angry that she just got flung across the room like a sack of potatoes, or impressed that Maud is that strong?

“Thanks…” Trixie said, rolling onto her back and groaned. “Fine. Fair enough. But let it be noted that Trixie has never had burnout before. Now, if Trixie can’t walk, then how is Trixie going to get more food!? And what is she supposed to do for the next few hours!?”

“I was hoping we could talk.”

Trixie blinked in confusion. “Talk? About what?”

“You.”

“Me?”

“Yes. You saved Pinkie. And Pinkie’s sapphire made her look like you. So I want to learn more about you,” Maud said calmly. Trixie raised an eyebrow. “And I can get you more food if you talk with me.”

“Deal,” Trixie said, and her stomach burbled as though it approved that plan. “Trixie will talk with you and you will get her food.”

“Ok,” Maud said, sitting down next to the bed. “First question. What is your full name?”

“Trixie Lulamoon, the greatest and most powerful magician on Lady Prickly Pear’s estate!” Trixie declared dramatically. Her horn gave off a small spark and felt a stinging pain shoot through her head.

OWowowwowowowowowwowowow! Curse Trixie’s habit of creating fireworks whenever she announces herself to the public! Trixie thought to herself. Looks like fireworks would still be off limits for a while.

“Neat,” Maud said in the same bland monotone voice. And that was it. No widening of her eyes, no gasp of excitement, nothing! Was she trying to taunt Trixie?

Trixie huffed as she glared at the gray mare. If there was one thing she hated, it was being mocked! “Do not mock Trixie!”

“I wasn’t.”

“Then why weren’t you awed by my proclamation?”

“I’ve never seen a magician, and you are still recovering. So I have no point of reference. Just like how I can’t judge what type a rock is if I’ve never seen it,” Maud said, blinking slowly.

“What type a rock is?” Trixie asked, her anger turning into sheer confusion. There were soooo many other things that could have acted as a less confusing analogy, such as having no idea if you like alcohol because you’ve never tried it, or having no idea how to react to a painting because you haven’t seen many other paintings. But rocks!?

Who cares what type of rock a rock is? A rock is a rock, that is all there is to it.

“I specialize in rocks. All rocks. They’re nice,” Maud said, smiling slightly. “Like Boulder. He’s really friendly.” She tilted her head forward slightly and the small rock slipped off, landing perfectly on her hoof. “And I think he likes you for saving Pinkie.”

“Ooooookkkkkk then.”

Who befriends rocks?

“Next question,” Maud said. “What did you do on Prickly Pear’s property?”

“Trixie told you, she was a magician!” Trixie said, rolling her eyes.

“But was that your job?”

“Of course!”

Maud only gave her a strangely intense blank stare in return.

“I mean, yeah, it was.”

The stare only seemed to intensify. Was Maud even blinking?

“Most of the time.”

Nope, no blinking. She was not blinking. Not even a flutter of the eyelids—

“OKOKOK enough with the stare!” Trixie shouted.

“Sorry,” Maud said. She blinked, finally, and her stare softened despite the fact that her expression didn’t changed. “But I could tell you were lying.”

"How?"

“I’ve had practice noticing lies with Pinkie. Your eyes were darting around nervously, you were sweating, and your nose twitched every time you lied. Normally I would get Pinkie to tell me what was bothering her, but you don’t need to tell me if you don’t want to.”

DOES Trixie want to? Trixie thought. She blinked. Wait, why would Trixie tell her? Trixie just met her! She doesn’t need to know all about Trixie’s life or her old crummy job! Though Trixie could tell her how she ended up here, maybe. It WAS Trixie’s biggest achievement that got her sent to Obsidian’s property…
She might like that story, especially given the revenge Trixie got on Lady Prickly Pear. And I doubt she would criticize me, given how much she punched Obsidian.

“I won’t judge you, it that’s what you’re thinking,” Maud said, as if reading her mind. “Butlers tended to judge me because I was quiet and liked rocks. But rocks never judge other rocks, so I don’t judge other ponies.”

Again with the rocks! Why rocks? Isn’t there something else—
Wait. This is a rock farm! Of course she would be into rocks. There’s nothing else here!

“You promise?” Trixie asked hesitantly. “Ponies always said that to Trixie back home, then judged her anyway. Even when Trixie wasn’t performing on stage.”

“I promise. Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick cupcake in my eye,” Maud said, her right hoof crossing her heart, then wiggling in the air as if to mimic a fly, before then moving to cover Maud’s right eye. Her voice was still flat, and yet somehow conveyed a sense of finality, despite the fact that what she just did looked downright RIDICULOUS.

“What was that?”

“A Pinkie Promise™.”

“A what?”

“A Pinkie Promise™. If I break it, Pinkie will know and will come yell at me and force me to apologize to you.”

Maud sounded completely unconcerned with the fact that her sister would apparently be able to know if she had broken this…promise despite not even being within earshot.

“But how does she—”

“Don’t question it.”

“But—”

“It’s just Pinkie being Pinkie,” Maud said blankly. “She does impossible things, and that’s normal for her.”

“Uh…ok then,” Trixie said hesitantly. She hadn’t had much time to interact with Pinkie Pie before the pink mare had been sent to infiltrate the property, and most of that time had been when she was sadly saying goodbye to everypony. She had talked to the other resistance members about Pinkie over the last few days to learn about her, but there hadn’t been much mention of her pulling off the impossible. Just that she was really random at times.

Then again, Maud was also kinda odd, not that it made her any less pleasant to be around, so maybe being that sort of weirdness ran in the family?

Fine, whatever. If she takes this promise so seriously, then Trixie can trust her not to judge me behind my back. And if she does, Trixie can send Pinkie Pie after her.

Trixie took a deep breath and began her tale. “While Trixie has always wanted to be a magician and showmare, Lady Prickly Pear…did not think so, primarily because Trixie did not want to follow the biggest rule of her property.”

“What rule?” Maud asked, causing Trixie to blink in surprise.

Did Trixie hear that right? He voice sounded far less blank that time. Is she, actually interested in my story? Such a thought filled the great and powerful Trixie with pride, encouraging her to give Maud the best story she had ever heard.

“Lady Prickly Pear insisted that all ponies in her care must have at least two children, no matter what. She even created a strict schedule you would need to sign up for to try and spread the pregnancies out across the year so that it doesn't disrupt the workflow too much. She also trained ponies to watch the kids once they could eat solid foods so that mothers can get back to work sooner. She hates anypony outside her property, and so insisted on keeping the numbers on her property consistent or growing with no outside help.”

"Wouldn't the babies technically be strangers to her?”

“You may think so, but Lady Prickly Pear just views them as potential citizens of her own crazy little empire that she can train however she pleases. She has other ponies on the property provide some basic schooling, enough to get most of the children into the same mindset as the adults on the property…most of the time. Once they’re in the right mind set, she determines where their talents may lie and has them begin working on the property by about age ten. Trixie never really bought into the whole ‘You must have kids because our Lady says so’ rule though.

“Anyway, if you don’t follow this rule, you get the worst jobs she has. It doesn’t matter if you don’t want to have kids, or you’re too old, or you can’t have kids because of something beyond your control, or just take too long. Your job is to find a mate and have kids. If you can’t, you’re expected to make yourself available to other single ponies of the opposite gender and help conceive a child.

“The ONLY good thing about this is that she never forces anyone to participate in making foals, and offers decent assistance to those who are single yet still help make children. And by assistance, I mean slightly larger meals for both you and your family, a bit more time off to be with your foals each day, easier jobs that require less work or are less dangerous, and more leniency should you fail at a task. All things designed to incentivize ponies to have foals even if their alone.

“But that is the ONLY good thing! If you don’t have kids, she does everything possible to make your life so miserable you will do anything to make it stop. You get less food, everyone is encouraged to look down upon you, and you get jobs like janitor, manure spreader on the farm, or…sewer cleaner…”

“That was you, wasn’t it?” Maud asked, her voice soft and understanding as she laid a hoof on Trixie’s.

“…Yes,” Trixie admitted, feeling a little better at Maud’s comforting touch. “Trixie did not want to be told to have kids, and she wasn’t about to let some stupid alicorn tell her she had to have them with some random stallion, so Lady Prickly Pear put Trixie in the sewer cleaner crew, despite her incredible and amazing potential for stage magic! Trixie had spent so long preparing and perfecting her skills from her father, Magic Hat, and then to be assigned to such a horrible job…

“Trixie couldn’t stand it. And Trixie couldn’t stand Lady Prickly Pear! Every month she would give these stupid speeches about how great she was, how the property continued to prosper under her guidance, how ponies willing to have kids would insure their future, blah blah blah Trixie and ponies like Trixie are lazy and aren't willing to do our part…

“So one day, Trixie got tired of this and her stupid job and the ridicule that came with it, so she decided to dump a barrel of sewage on Lady Prickly Pear right in the middle of one of her meetings!”

Maud’s eyes widened a bit and Trixie smiled at her.

“It was the best thing that ever happened to Trixie! It was so empowering! So exhilarating! Trixie didn’t even care that she got caught. Trixie knew it was worth it just to see the look on Lady Prickle Pear’s face and the faces of everypony else at the meeting. Trixie also heard stories of how Lady Prickly Pear spent twelve hours trying to get the smell out of her fur. It was the perfect payback, and it got Trixie off her property. So win-win all around.”

“That was very brave of you,” Maud said, giving a small smile.

“Of course it was,” Trixie boasted, smiling smugly. “Trixie was done being at the bottom of the ladder, and this was the perfect way to show that jerk that Trixie was done being pushed around just because she doesn’t like stallions—”

SMACK!

Trixie’s hooves immediately flew to her mouth as icy dread filled her veins.

WHY DID I JUST SAY THAT!?!?!?

“Trixie?” Maud asked, sounding concerned. But Trixie knew it couldn’t be real concern. She knew her secret! She was going to break her promise, just like everypony else on her property! She—

Was hugging Trixie?

“Trixie, rocks don’t judge other rocks,” Maud said, her voice back to be flat and oddly soothing. “Calm down. Hyperventilation isn’t healthy, even though there isn’t nearly as much corundum dust here as there is down in the mines.”

I’m hyperventilating?

Yes. Yes she was.

Her chest was heaving, her breaths were coming out is short panicked gasp, and she felt like she wasn’t getting enough air.

“B-B-But—”

“Rocks don’t judge rocks,” Maud said, firmly booping Trixie on the nose. “Was this a big deal back on Lady Prickle Pear’s property?”

“YES!” Trixie cried, anger or despair leaking into her voice. She couldn’t tell which it was. Maybe it was both. “At least everypony else had some form of excuse for other ponies to go easy on them, like their age! But Trixie just had to be the odd one out! She’s NOT lazy, or just doing it to spite that stupid alicorn! Trixie just doesn’t like stallions! She is NOT A FREAK, and is sick of people thinking she's weird!”

And she wasn’t crying either.

She just got some frosting in her eyes from the food.

“And if those idiots want to think otherwise, then screw them! Trixie is better than them! Smarter than them! Supmmmph—”

A firm hoof shoved its way into Trixie’s mouth, silencing her.

“Trixie, you’re not a freak.” Maud said, her voice firm as diamond.

Oh great, now I’M thinking of rocks.

“That’s what everypony says at first,” Trixie snarled, shoving Maud’s hoof away. “Then they wait until they think Trixie is out of earshot! Then they let theirmmph—”

Maud shoved her hoof back in Trixie’s mouth.

Stop doing that! Trixie is trying to rant here!

“Trixie, I don’t like stallions either.” Maud said.

Whatever Trixie was going to say next ground to a halt in her throat. She could swear she heard something in her mind break as the grey mare gently removed her hoof.

“What…?” Trixie muttered, certainly not letting her mouth hang open in flabbergasted shock.

“I never really liked stallions either,” Maud said with long blink and a small shrug. “They just never seem to interest me.”

“You...that…stallions…can’t…duh…”

Trixie’s brain took quite a bit of time to understand what she had said and it certainly was not going into meltdown mode as she struggled to comprehend the fact that she wasn’t alone.

Never in her life had she met another pony who didn’t like the other sex. And while her parents had always told her it was unusual but not impossible, meeting somepony like her was still a shock. After spending her entire life on Lady Prickly Pear’s property, Trixie wasn’t entirely sure she wasn’t dreamin—

EEEP!

Maud broke her out of her spiraling thoughts by leaning closer and gently nuzzling Trixie’s face.

“Thank you again for saving Pinkie,” Maud said as she released the hug. She smiled softly and stood up. “I’ll go get you some more food.”

And with that, she turned around and walked towards the door, leaving a heavily blushing and partly-tear-stained Trixie in her wake.

Please tell me that wasn’t a dream…was Trixie’s last thought as she proceeded to gracefully fall back into slumber and not at all pass out from sheer exhaustion and emotional relief.

Later that night…

Applejack couldn’t help but let a growl escape her lips as she paced in one of the many bedrooms located in Obsidians old mansion.

Twelve hours.

It had been nearly twelve hours since the party started and it STILL hadn’t calmed down, lasting well after the sun had set. Even inside, she could still hear it through the walls, despite the fact that she was in the furthest possible room from the party.

It was driving her crazy!

Now Applejack didn’t think there was much chance of the party being discovered, unlike Pinkie’s loud parties in the forest. They were in the middle of nowhere, a place that was even more barren than the rest of Equestria, and there were no other alicorn properties anywhere nearby. It would likely take three days just to walk here from the nearest alicorn property anyway if their maps were right, by which point they would HOPEFULLY be long gone.

What’s more, they were out of sight of Canterlot, which was more than could be said for their home in the Everfree Forest.

However, that did not mean that they wanted to stay here longer than needed. Safe or not, they were at least two days away from the Everfree Forest. And if somepony DID discover them, they would likely cut off their retreat back home. So now that their mission was complete, it was time look around, grab what they could, pack up, and leave.

The problem was that there had been almost no preparations for their departure! Despite Applejack’s instance and her detailed instructions on what needed to be packed and brought with them and what needed to be left behind, so far the only thing they had managed to accomplish was to create a bunch of organized piles of things in the main entrance hall of the mansion.

Heck, they were only organized because Twilight had been thoughtful enough to rearrange everything into neat and orderly piles whenever she came into the mansion to escape the party outside! Sure, she would always go back out, but she was doing more work than the rest of those lazy bones outside.

Besides her and Flash helping with the organization of the piles, there had been ten other ponies who had been assisting her in searching the mansion, gathering materials and resources they found, and bringing it into the main hall so they wouldn’t forget it. They had brought at least a hundred village ponies here with them, yet despite that fact AND her direct orders for more of them to get in here and help, she had only been losing ponies as the hours went on.

She COULD have tried to ask the ponies on the property for help, or demanded it, given how Twilight had depowered Obsidian, but that just didn’t feel right. They deserved some time off from their work, and to celebrate the defeat of the tyrant who had worked them to the bone for years on end.

Harmony knows how excited Applejack would be if HER lady finally got what she deserved.

Yet what if the party WAS noticed? The Queen HAD been sending her guards out in every direction, scouring the land to try and find the other Elements of Harmony. What if an Equestrian solder came to investigate the commotion Pinkie was currently causing outside? Worse yes, even if it was just a lone pegasus flying overhead, they could likely see what was going on and report back without anypony in the resistance finding out! Applejack wasn’t even sure if anypony was keeping watch across the surrounding wasteland right now!

Heck, the party could have already been seen and she would have no idea!

Applejack snorted and shook her head. Now she was just being paranoid. Even if they were seen, they still had time, even if many of the ponies outside were currently wasting it. She came to a halt in front of a desk covered in scrolls she had been working on.

Eventually, she had to call off any more searching and was now trying to work out the logistics of how to transport everything they had found so far, something made infinitely harder by the fact that she didn’t know how many wagons they could use, how many ponies would need to ride in the wagons either due to age or disability, what supplies they would actually end up bringing, how many ponies from Obsidian would be willing to help pull the carts, etc., etc., etc.…

There is such a thing as too much partying, Pinkie. And I think you’ve crossed that threshold four hours ago!

Creak…

Applejack growled angrily as she heard the door open, not bothering to look up from the desk.

“I ain’t coming out, Pinkie,” she said angrily. “I told you, SOME of us need to actually worry out how we’re gonna get home. So either help me, or leave me in peace!”

“Then maybe some tea might help you work?” a soft voice asked, prompting Applejack to blink and turn around.

Standing there was not Pinkie coming to bug her for the twenty-third time to come join the party, but instead Fluttershy, holding a fancy kettle and a teacup on a tray.

“Fluttershy! Sorry, I just…thank you,” Applejack said quietly, lowering her head in apology. No matter the situation, no matter how irritated she might be at any given time, Applejack could never really be mad at Fluttershy. Kind mare just seemed to drain the tension out of her.

“It’s ok, I don’t mind,” Fluttershy said softly, gently placing the tray down on a nearby table. “I didn’t see you at the party all day, and Pinkie said that she saw you up here, so I came to see how you were doing.”

“As well as can be, given how little help I’ve had in preparing for our departure,” Applejack growled before blinking in confusion. “Wait, you didn’t see me at the party? Were YOU at the party?” If that had been the case, she almost wished she had gone out to see that.

“Oh no, well, mostly not,” Fluttershy said, hiding a bit behind her mane. “After Maud and I took Trixie to one of the houses near the center of town and I treated Obsidian’s concussion before she was taken to the dungeon, Maud offered to watch over Trixie for me. I’ve been back there every hour or two to check up on them, and Trixie seems to have recovered perfectly fine. Otherwise, I’ve just stayed near the side of the party and worked on helping the other ponies that live here, especially those that were forced to eat the flower.”

“Anything serious besides the flower victims?”

“Thankfully not. Mostly just scrapes or cracked hooves. One mine worker had a broken leg that hadn’t been properly set in a splint, but he’ll be ok so long as he gives it time to heal. I’m sorry I wasn’t here to help you…”

“Fluttershy, helping the hurt ponies DOES help me. It means we know who won’t be able to walk with the rest of the caravan, and that hopefully some of the sick ponies will feel better and will require less care once we get moving. Trust me, you’re doing just fine. But if you were doing that all day, then how did you see enough of the party to know I wasn’t there?”

“I had to fly over it a few times to get to another part of the property. I didn’t want to interrupt everypony else just so they could let me through,” Fluttershy said, looking away shyly.

Applejack chuckled. Fluttershy, you are just too shy sometimes. But that’s what makes you unique too. Don’t ever change.
“And every time I flew up, I never saw you,” Fluttershy continued. “So when I asked around, er, well, around the border of the party anyway, nopony had seen you. It wasn’t until I found Pinkie outside the mansion that I learned where you had been all day. Are you ok, Applejack?”

“Ok?” Applejack said, her brow furrowing in confusion. “Course I’m ok. Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Because you’ve been working all day,” Fluttershy said matter-of-factly. “You never took a break, and you’ve never even stopped outside to celebrate the defeat of Obsidian. You’re throwing yourself into resistance work again, even though you should be able to take it easy right now, at least for a little while.”

“I’m fine,” Applejack replied curtly. “There’s work to be done, so I’m doing it.”

THAT got her a glare from Fluttershy, one that immediately made Applejack wince and squirm uncomfortably.

She could take glares from almost anypony, but NOT from Fluttershy.

“Applejack, the last time you said those exact words, you worked for nearly three days straight and ended up yelling at Applebloom when she damaged a training sword,” Fluttershy said in a quiet, forceful voice, and Applejack was immediately filled with guilt. “You are not ‘fine’ if that’s where you’re headed again.”

“I-I'm not,” Applejack muttered weakly, and she lowered her head as that particularly shameful moment worked its way to the front of her mind. She had been badly sleep deprived and stressed that she had exploded at Applebloom for no real reason. Training swords and such got damaged all the time and were easy to fix, but it had still set Applejack off.

Suffice to say, Second Sight had let her have it, and Fluttershy had given her a second scolding after Applejack had apologized to her sister. Of all the ponies in the village, only those two had ever successfully scolded her. Just the way they spoke to her that day reminded her of—

Don’t go there, Applejack…

“You might be if you don’t take some time to relax,” Fluttershy said, gently this time, reaching out and patting Applejack’s shoulder. “You don’t need to do this all now, all by yourself.”

“But we NEED to leave as soon as we can, and we’ve barely begun to prepare!”

“And tomorrow you’ll have more than enough help once everyone recovers from the party. Twilight will undoubtedly be helping to organize everything and everypony else will be focused on helping you,” Fluttershy countered.

“But we could have gotten it all done already if it weren't for the party. And then we wouldn’t need to do it tomorrow!” Applejack protested, gesturing towards the still annoying noise coming from the other side of the mansion, perfectly aware that her argument had merits despite the lack of danger at the moment.

The more time they wasted, the more ponies would get hurt.

“Is it so wrong to celebrate being free from the rule of an alicorn like Obsidian? Even if they might be overdoing it a bit?” Fluttershy asked sweetly, and Applejack had no response. Harmony knows what SHE would be doing if HER old Lady had been taken down.

But some part of her kept insisting they move on and find a new alicorn to take down.

“Everything will be ok Applejack,” Fluttershy continued, as she hugged the silent mare. “I know it’s late, and that you want to keep working, but please consider coming out to enjoy the party. Or at least take a break and enjoy the tea.”

“I think I’ll just stick to the tea,” Applejack said quietly, “But…thank you anyway.”

“You’re welcome. Just don’t forget to sleep tonight,” Fluttershy said, giving Applejack another hug before turning around and heading out the door. “Good night.”

“Good night, Fluttershy,” Applejack said, giving a small smile and a nod as the door closed only for it to drop the moment it clicked shut.

You could go enjoy the party, a small voice in her head said. It could only be for a few minutes, and you’re pretty much at a dead end anyway until you get more information.

Applejack snorted and shook her head, banishing the thoughts as she poured some tea and downed it in two gulps. There was a time and place for morale-boosting parties, and even those shouldn’t last for twelve freaking hours. A few hours of party would have been fine, but THIS was too much. Going out now would only encourage future distractions like this one, which could be dangerous if performed at other less-isolated properties. Parties were for when this whole thing was over and they were safely back home, not after every little battle and on every stolen property.

They had beaten ONE alicorn today, which still left a good hundred or more to go. Not to mention SHE was still out there. Until she was brought low and taken care of, none of this would be over.

But it’s just one night…And maybe if I just told Fluttershy about her—
CRASH!

The teacup shattered as Applejack hissed, clutching her head as a deep growl escaped her throat. The noise of the party slipped away as Applejack’s thoughts ran rampant.

What the hay am I thinking? I can’t tell anyone about her-HER! They’ll never understand what-what she did!Why I need to END HER!
How she broke me…
It’s MY job to finish what I started. Not theirs!
Mine, not theirs…they can’t know, otherwise they’ll be complicit in my crime. I could never ask them to sully their hooves for me. Not Dash, not Pinkie, not Rarity, not Fluttershy, not even Twilight.

This is my burden to bear…

Meanwhile…

The Astral Realm was calm. Peaceful. Quiet.

The only disturbance was a singular image, projected on a floating screen, that showed Applejack in real time.

Had anypony else been present, they would have noticed a startling transformation.

For a few brief seconds, her coat suddenly turned far darker, and her mane went almost entirely black. Her cutie mark distorted and warped while her teeth became razor sharp blades. Dark magic began to flow from between her clenched eyelids as an angry un-pony-like growl escaped her lips and black lightning ran across her hooves.

Then, just as suddenly as it started, it all vanished, leaving nothing but a frustrated, sad Applejack in its wake. She opened her eyes, and moved on as if nothing had happened, completely unaware of the transformation that had just occurred.

Yet despite how quickly it occurred, it did not escape the notice of the Element of Honesty, who was currently watching her from within his place in the Atrial Realm.

Honestly let out a hum of worried frustration.

It’s even worse than I thought…

Author's Note

DA NA NA NAAAAAA! YOU GOT A CHAPTER! Set it to X, Y, or Z, and then press said button to ready.

SO SORRY IT TOOK SO LOOOOOOONG! It's my fault, I just couldn't make a short chapter and kept adding more and more and MORE! But I think it was work the effort. Also, before I forget, a few quick notes:

1. Never put Pinkie, Joy, Discord, and Deadpool in the same room together. You will literally destroy the universe.
   
2. I had the idea involving Maud and Trixie's conversation in mind well before they ever gave Maud a cannon coltfriend, so I'm sticking with my head cannon for this story (and there is no way I writing a character that starts literally every sentence with the word 'technically').
   
3. At long last I can begin Applejack's arc, which, without spoiling much, I can safely say will run throughout the entirety of this act. But I will not be saying anything more, as that would be spoilers!

As always, a huge thanks to my lovely editor/fiancee for all her hard work! Where would I be without you my dear

Let me know what you think, and I hope I made this Monday just a little bit better for you all