Friendship is Magic: The Seventh Element

One beautiful day in Ponyville, Twilight Sparkle and Storm Shield were outside taking turns learning and refining a few of their magic tricks. For the moment, it was Spike’s turn to be target as he had some rocks and other items in his hands.

“Tuh! Nuh! Uh! Nyuh!” Twilight shouted.

She used her magic several times to change Spike into various outfits, eventually settling on a nice tuxedo. It was then Twilight and Storm noticed Spike seemed a little distracted.

“Eyes up front, Spike!” Storm called out.

“Uh, sorry!” Spike said.

Twilight proceeded to turn the twig he was holding into a fancy cane.

“For this to work,” Twilight spoke. “It’s crucial we keep our concentration totally on the—”

“OOH!” Pinkie exclaimed out of nowhere.

This cut off Twilight’s explanation, and her concentration, as the rock she turned into a top hat reverted back into a rock and clonked Spike on the head.

“NYUH!” Spike yelped, tumbling over.

“LITTLE BUDDY!!!” Storm called out.

Storm quickly raced over, helping the little guy back to his feet thought he was still rather woozy.

“Spike!” Twilight scolded. “This magic needs our full attention to make it happen. There’s no other way.”

“Perhaps you care a little more about the fact poor Spike ‘may’ have a concussion!” Storm scolded.

“I can’t help it!” Spike protested. “Look!”

Storm and Twilight finally noticed Pinkie darting about frantically with an umbrella hat on her head. She looked rather intimidated, nervous even.

“Huh… wonder what’s got her all wound up,” Storm pondered. “Haven’t seen her like that since she ate that whole tube of cake frosting. A whole thirty-pound bag! Come to think of it, I haven’t seen a pony that on edge since final exams last semester.”

“Oh hush you!” Twilight frowned.

It was clear she wasn’t willing to admit he’d been referring to ‘her’ as she watched the pink pony.

“Ugh, never mind her. She’s just being Pinkie Pie.”

“Super-extra Pinkie Pie today,” Spike remarked.

“Plus ‘super extra’ random,” Storm added. “I swear I’ll never understand that mare.”

It was then they heard some eerie music as Pinkie’s tail appeared to be… vibrating?

“Hmm… Twitchy, twitcha-twitcha, twitch,” Pinkie uttered aloud.

Storm just looked stunned before rolling his eyes.

“You know… I think maybe it’s high time I created that book on Pinkie language.”

To showcase how serious he was, he used his magic to conjure up a few scrolls of parchment and some quills. He then proceeded to conjure up a few of his clones, handing each of them some parchment and a quill.

“Gentlecolts, our mission today is to create an encyclopedia,” He announced. “This book will contain all the jumbled up, strange words of Pinkie Pie. I believe that an appropriate title for this project shall be… Project Pie Chart!”

“SIR, YES SIR!” The clones chanted.

That said, they all trotted off and got to work. Storm chuckled to himself before turning around and looked face-to-face toward Twilight, who merely looked rather confused.

“Trust me,” Storm said. “You’ll thank me later.”

Spike and Twilight rolled their eyes at him before they approached the pink pony.

“Pinkie Pie?” Twilight asked curiously. “What in the wide, wide world of Equestria are you up to?”

“Oh! It’s my tail! It’s my tail! It’s a-twitch a-twitchin’!” Pinkie answered. “And you know what that means?”

“Actually, Pinkie, I haven’t the slightest idea,” Twilight spoke.

“My best guess is some pony said you’d have bad luck today and you believed them,” Storm suggested. “OR… one of Fluttershy’s chickens is claiming the sky is falling.”

Twilight giggles lightly over the second answer.

“The twitchin’ means my Pinkie Sense is telling me that stuff’s gonna start falling!” Pinkie answered. “You two better duck and cover.”

“Oh, Pinkie, it’s not gonna rain,” Twilight replied.

As Twilight continued to speak, Storm began to search his surroundings just in case. Suddenly, he silently gasped and shielded his head with his fore hooves.

“Umm… Twilight…?”

“Why, there’s barely a cloud in the—UGH!”

Twilight was soon cut off by a frog smacked right on her nose. Twilight’s eyes were started, as she and the frog just stared at each other from close range. The frog simply croaked.

“He just said, ‘nice catch’ in Frog,” Pinkie told Twilight.

Poor Twilight was too shocked to answer as the Frog croaked in reply.

https://m.

Twilight Sparkle still hadn’t moved as the frog continued to hop about her head.

“Oh, I’m so, so sorry!”

A voice from above drew everyone to look up and spot Fluttershy, flying above carrying a large number of frogs in a giant wooden cart, her saddle bags, and even her fore hoofs.

“Hi Fluttershy!” Storm greeted.

“Hi Storm!” Fluttershy politely answered, facing Twilight. “You okay Twilight Sparkle? I just couldn’t stand to see the pond so over-populated, what with the frogs all hopping into each other and all, so I decided to fly as many as I can over to Froggy Bottom Bogg.”

“Of course you did,” Twilight sighed, in annoyance.

“Fluttershy, if you needed help moving the frogs, why didn’t you come ask me to help?” Storm asked curiously. “I have a few clones to spare, ‘very’ reliable… except for the ‘one’. Anyways, they’d be glad to help take them over to the bog or at least move them for you.”

“Oh… I… I didn’t want to intrude,” Fluttershy answered feebly. “You seemed pretty busy…”

“Nah, I’m never too busy to help an honorary sister. So, you need my help?”

“I’ll be fine,” Fluttershy smiled. “But thank you so much for asking. I think Twilight wants me to go. Bye-bye!”

Twilight’s goodbye was slightly muffed, as Fluttershy flew away with the long frog moving about her head.

“Um… Twilight?” Pinkie called out. “You gotta little somethin’ on your face there.”

“Oh, really?” Twilight remarked annoyingly. “Did you Pinkie Sense tell you that, too?”

“Nah, I could see it,” Pinkie replied.

Soon she began walking away, while singing ‘la-la-la-la-la…’, and it was then the frog finally hopped off Twilight’s face.

“Come on, Spike and Storm, let’s continue our practice session where there’s a little less commotion,” Twilight suggested.

“Wow! That was amazing!” Spike admired, climbing down Twilight’s back. “Pinkie Pie predicted something would fall, and it did!”

“You’re kidding me, right Spike?” Storm exclaimed, exasperated.

“Oh come on,” Twilight retorted. “She said that something would fall, and a frog just happened to fall right around the same time. A coincidence, nothing else to it.”

“Besides, Spike,” Storm added. “I saw Fluttershy fly above us when Pinkie said that, add to the fact she was overloaded with frogs. One falling was bound to happen.”

“If you say the frog about to fall, why didn’t you warn me?” Twilight asked.

“Twilight, you’re my best friend… and I care about you,” Storm said. “But I’ve learned by now that you never listen to me!”

Twilight Sparkle looked rather indignant over that statement.

“I’m working on it…” She muttered, as Storm rolled his eyes.

It was just then Pinkie Pie suddenly returned.

“My Tail! My Tail!” Pinkie called out. “Twitch-a-twitch! Twitch-a-twitch! Somethin’ else is gonna fall!”

Spike tensed up and began to search around. Storm looked about as well, even extending an ear trying to detect something. Twilight just kept walking forward without a care in the world.

“Oh, Pinkie, please,” Twilight said. “Nothing is gonna fa-AAAH!!!”

Twilight hadn’t been watching where she was going and fell into an empty ditch. Storm barely stopped himself from falling but was too late to warn Twilight. Meanwhile, the pony herself laid on her back completely stunned.

“Oh no, Twilight fell!” Spike panicked. “Is it… safe to go help her?”

“Now I know you’re kidding!” Storm groaned.

The stallion wasted no time jumping down to help Twilight.

“Besides, even if something else fell, I’m not letting Twilight be in harm’s way.”

But Spike completely ignored Storm, and instead waited for Pinkie’s answer.

“It’s okay, my tail stopped twitching,” Pinkie confirmed. “La-la-la-la-la, la-la-la…”

And just like that, Pinkie walked merrily away leaving Storm to revive Twilight and help her upright. Soon enough, Applejack arrived onto the scene.

“Ha-ha! That was amazing!” Spike said.

“Uh, Twilight?” Applejack asked. “Why are you and Storm hanging out in a ditch?”

“Because Pinkie Pie predicted it!” Spike said excitedly.

Twilight and Storm merely rolled their eyes. Eventually Twilight poked her head out of the ditch, while Storm hopped out.

“Honestly Spike, she did not,” Twilight argued. “Two coincidences like this may be unlikely, but it’s still easier to believe than twitchy tails that predict the future.”

Storm reached out a hoof and helped Twilight out of the ditch when Applejack froze and gasped with fright.

“Twitchy tail? Pinkie Sense?” Applejack spluttered. “Whoa! Nyu-uh!”

Applejack nervously ducked under a table.

“Don’t worry, it’s safe,” Spike reassured. “Prediction already came true.”

Applejack breathed a sigh of relief as she crawled out from under the table.

“Oh, wait,” Twilight said. “Don’t tell me you believe in this stuff, too?”

“Oh great!” Storm muttered. “It’s the Zecora scenario all over again! Why am I not surprised?”

“I know it doesn’t make much sense,” Applejack replied. “But those of us who have been in Ponyville a while, have learned over time that, if Pinkie’s a twitchin’, you better listen.

“And you’re proof of this is…?” Storm asked skeptically.

“I know plenty of ponies who have seen the Pinkie Sense in action,” Applejack retorted. “It’s quirky, but accurate. So quit doubting my word before I turn you into the Ponyville Day balloon again!”

Storm glared before giving her a raspberry, which Applejack returned. Pinkie Pie then came back again.

“My ears are flopping! My ears are flopping!” Pinkie cried out.

“Nyuh! What does that mean?!” Spike asked nervously.

Pinkie turned toward Twilight and Storm.

“I’ll start a bath for you,” Pinkie answered.

“Huh?” Twilight chuckled. “A bath? This thing keeps getting more ridiculous by the minute!”

As Twilight spoke, Storm looked around to see what could cause them to need a bath. It was then he noticed a pony with a kart walked by quickly and a mud puddle right behind them.

“Heads up!” Storm called out.

He jumped high into the air as the mud came at them. Storm landed right before the mud, just as Twilight was about to get drenched. Twilight gasped as Storm fell to the ground completely covered in mud.

“Storm… I can’t believe you jumped in front of a mud puddle for me!” She said thankfully.

“Yeah… I’m starting to regret it at the moment,” Storm commented. “Pinkie, I’ll take that bath now.”

Storm grumbled before allowing Pinkie to escort him to Sugarcube Corner. Not only did Pinkie work there, but she lived there too. Storm just enjoyed the bubble bath while Twilight waited downstairs for them. Pinkie quickly popped out of nowhere next to the bathtub causing Storm to shriek like a girl and cover himself. Hearing this, Twilight burst in with her magic at the ready.

“I heard a scream!” She said. “What’s going on?”

“Doesn’t any pony knock anymore?” Storm asked annoyed.

Twilight quickly blushed in embarrassment, seeing Storm in the bath.

“Soo… basically it works like this,” Pinkie explained. “I get different, little, tingly feelings and they mean different things. Like, when my back is itchy, it means it’s my lucky day, and when my knee gets pinchy, that means something scary is about to happen.”

“Is your knee pinchy now?” Storm asked curiously.

“No, but my shoulder’s achy,” Pinkie said. “That means there’s an alligator in the tub.”

Pinkie ducked her head into the bath and pulled out a baby alligator from the water.

“AAAH!!!” Twilight and Storms screamed.

“How come your knee didn’t get pinchy?” Twilight asked. “That isn’t just scary, it’s downright dangerous!”

Pinkie only chuckled in amusement.

“No, it’s not, silly!” Pinkie answered. “This is my pet alligator, Gummy. He’s got no teeth. See? Ha-ha!”

Pinkie laughed as Gummy tried biting Pinkie’s mane and tail several times, but all that did was just tickle Pinkie.

“Okay, okay… I get it,” Twilight said annoyed. “Storm, are you finished with the bath?”

“Hmm… let me think,” Storm said sarcastically. “Pinkie just pulled an actual alligator out of here. Not only that but she actually dunked her head in ‘here’ when I’m still bathing! Yeah… I think I’m done.”

Twilight once again blushed bright red as Storm quickly snagged a towel to dry off. Once that was finished, they all made their way back downstairs to the shop to continue their conversation.

“Well, I still don’t believe in all this… ‘special power’ stuff,” Twilight remarked. ‘It’s just a bunch of mumbo jumbo.”

“What’s not to believe?” Pinkie asked, indignantly. “You do magic, Storm can conjure hundreds of copies of himself, what’s the difference?”

“You know Twi, even I have to admit it,” Storm spoke up. “This Pinkie Sense is starting to seem pretty legit.”

Pinkie smiled at him before she picked up her pace. They were racing right towards a cardboard crate along the way.

“To answer your question Pinkie, it’s huge!” Twilight answered. “For one thing, magic is something you study and practice. It only happens when you decide to do it, and it’s meant to make something specific you choose to happen, happen. With you, uh, it makes no sense at all!”

“True as that may be, it still seems odd,” Storm added. “I admit I can see how certain twitches and flicks signal different things. And I ‘do’ know certain ponies are born with that added sense that can detect danger. But… your Pinkie Sense is still too random for me. I’m just not ready to fully accept it… yet.”

Storm didn’t want to outright say he ‘rejected’ the Pinkie Sense. He just wanted to learn more about it. However, Pinkie still took their lack of acceptance personally.

“That’s so not true, Twilight and Storm!” Pinkie said. “Sometimes it’s a bunch of random things happening to my body at random times that supposedly predict the future. I call ‘em ‘combos’.”

“Combos?” Twilight asked.

“Okay, now that’s as believed as you and me getting married Pinkie,” Storm retorted, in annoyance.

“Uh-oh, I feel a combo coming on,” Pinkie replied. “Ear flop, eye flutter, knee twitch!”

*CRASH!*

Storm and Twilight were walking right in front of the door to the library when Spike roughly slammed the door open, smashing both of them into it. He was apparently carrying some heavy objects, making the sound of a beeping truck backing up as he walked away. The door then closed on its own. Twilight was still flattened against the door as Storm floated to the ground all flat as a pancake.

“All I’m missing is a blot of butter and maple syrup…” He groaned.

Twilight was soon able to unpeel herself from the door and landed right on top of him.

“Urgh… you said that combo means beautiful rainbow!” Twilight protested wearily.

“Oh-no-no-no-no-no,” Pinkie said. “You’re thinking of an ear flop, then knee twitch, then eyes flutter. That was an ear flop, then eye flutter, then knee twitch. That usually means ‘look out for opening doors’. You okay?”

“I don’t believe this,” Twilight groaned irritated.

She stood up, not even realizing she was still ‘standing’ on a flattened Storm Shield.

“You don’t believe because you don’t understand,” Pinkie Pie remarked, in Twilight’s face.

“Hmm…” Twilight pondered to herself.

A groan drew Twilight back to reality and she realized what she was standing on… or in this case, ‘who’.

“Oh! Sorry Storm!” Twilight said. “I didn’t see you there.”

“It’s alright,” Storm muttered.

He had revived on his own but managed to un-flatten himself as he lifted his head.

“I’m just the doormat after all…”

“Oh stop, Storm,” Twilight scolded. “You’re our friend!”

Storm stuck his hoof in his mouth and blew. He then started to puff up with air like a balloon until he eventually managed to unflatten himself.

<>

Afterwards, Storm Shield and Twilight Sparkle guided Pinkie Pie to an underground room of the library. It was here that Storm and Twilight conducted more technical, ‘potentially’ dangerous magic spells and experiments. It was fortunate to say neither of them suffered an accident in years. For the moment, a metallic dome shaped helmet was set on Pinkie’s head that had lights on it. She was also shackled into place as well by the fore-hoofs as Twilight got the machinery and a device that resembled a seismograph ready. Storm stood by to take notes and provide ‘assistance’. Twilight proceeded to hook up several wires to the machine.

“Okay,” Twilight said. “Now when you get another twitch, we’ll have all kinds of scientific information.”

“Okie-dokie-lokie!” Pinkie said.

Soon the machines began to steam and whistle about. Storm and Twilight waited impatiently for some results.

“Any twitches yet?” Twilight asked curiously.

“Nopey-dopey!” Pinkie smiled.

“Now? Anything?” Twilight asked, not long afterward.

“Wait! Hold!” Pinkie said anxiously, before looking neutral. “Uhh… no.”

“Are you kidding me?!” Twilight shouted, in frustration. “After a whole day on non-stop twitching, now that I’ve got you hooked up, you’re not getting a single one?”

“How ironic?” Storm muttered.

“I don’t control it,” Pinkie answered. “They just come and go.”

“Like some kind of instinct?” Storm asked curiously.

“Storm, we ponies don’t rely on instincts anymore!” Twilight replied. “We rely on facts, logic, and reasoning. Instincts? That makes no sense!”

“Sometimes you just have to believe in things,” Pinkie answered. “Even when you can’t figure them out.”

“Like Santa Hooves,” Storm replied.

To which Twilight gave him a dirty look as a reward.

“What? That’s a good example,” Storm defended. “We were never able to calculate how he manages to visit every pony around the world in just one night. Yet we have proof under our trees every year that he did it.”

“Oh brother!” Twilight groaned, rushing to Pinkie’s face. “I will not believe in anything I cannot explain.”

“Kind of being a little cynical, aren’t you?” Storm asked.

“Wait, hold on!” Pinkie interjected. “I’m feeling something…”

“Oh my gosh!” Twilight exclaimed excitedly. “What? What is it?!”

There was a short silence before a loud rumble from Pinkie’s stomach disturbed the peace.

“It’s my tummy!” Pinkie said. “That usually means I’m hungry. Let’s eat!”

“That’s done,” Storm declared, tossing the empty notebook aside.

“URGH!!!” Twilight grunted angrily.

The frustrated mare practically used her teeth to rip out the cables to Pinkie’s helment and shut the machines down.

“You know what? Just forget it. I don’t need to know if this is real or not! I don’t need to understand it! I don’t even care!”

“Okie-dokie-lokie!” Pinkie replied.

She easily pulled her fore-hooves out of the shackles and bounced past the frustrated Twilight and Storm up the stairs. Just then, Pinkie gasped.

“Uh-oh,” Pinkie said, with a second gasp. “Hu-bu-bu-bu-bu-buh!”

Pinkie twitched about, tumbling onto her back. Storm nearly rolled his eyes until he saw that she had done an ear flap, eye flutter, and knee twitch. He soon spotted Twilight nearing the door.

“Twilight, look out!” Storm called out.

Twilight looked back when…

*SMASH!*

Spike slammed the door on her.

“Pinkie? Have you seen Twilight?” Spike asked curiously.

“Uh-huh,” Pinkie replied casually.

As the pink mare bounced her way out of the room, the door closed on its own and Twilight was now pasted to the door.

“Twilight?” Spike asked. “What are you doing back there?”

“Are you okay, Twi?” Storm asked, concerned.

“Rrrrgh… did you two plan this?” Twilight asked annoyed.

“Plan what?” Spike asked.

His tone pretty much answered his own question as Twilight was peeled off the door and landed on the floor with a *PLOP!*… and onto Storm’s back again.

“I’m always the fall guy,” He muttered.

“Urgh! This is ridiculous!” Twilight said. “This can’t be happening. This makes no sense. I have to figure this out.”

“Couldn’t we just declare today just a bad day and give it a rest?” Storm asked, fearing the worst.

Twilight just smiled, but it wasn’t a cheerful smile. It was more of a ‘What do you think, Storm?’ kind of smile. Storm just groaned knowing where this was going.

<>

It wasn’t much longer before Storm Shield and Twilight Sparkle collected a nearby bush, camouflaging themselves as they heard frogs croaking in the background. They both wore tribal hats as they peeked out of the bush watching Pinkie bounce about in the park.

“Mmm…” Pinkie giggled.

As she sniffed a flower, Twilight jotted down some notes while Storm tapped the side of his hat, causing some metal goggles to appear over his eyes. Twilight was stunned when Storm made the goggles expand and contract.

“Where’d you get those?” Twilight asked.

“Made ‘em myself,” Storm replied. “I’d make you a pair, but you wouldn’t let me borrow your hat.”

Twilight just groaned aloud, recalling she cut Storm off when he asked that question. His goggles did look far more effective than her binoculars.

“Twilight?”

“Ah!”

“Yipe!”

Storm and Twilight jumped when that saw Spike standing next to the bush.

“Whoa-oh-uh!” Spike yelped, as Twilight tugged him into the bush.

“Honestly, Spike!” Twilight snapped. “Don’t you know better than to sneak up on ponies?”

“Oh, sorry, but, um, well, isn’t that what you’re doing?” Spike asked, standing outside the bush.

Twilight then gasped when she suddenly pounced on Spike, knocking the young dragon to his back.

“No!” Twilight retorted quickly. “We’re doing scientific research. I’m observing Pinkie Pie, scientific name: Pinkius Pieicus, in its natural habitat.”

“Pinkius-whoicus? Huh!” Spike asked, standing between Twilight & Storm.

“Wouldn’t rosea mannulus be more accurate?” Storm asked.

That was the politically correct term for ‘pink pony’.

Twilight said nothing as she turned head to speak to Spike.

“There’s something fishy going on with the whole twitchy thing,” Twilight said. “And I’m getting to the bottom of it. So, shh!”

Storm just gestured that Pinkie was leaving the park.

“Come on,” Twilight urged the boys. “Pinkius Pieicus is on the move.”

Storm and Twilight each held the bush and went on their way. Spike offered to help, but since the two ponies held the bush so high up Spike literally walked on thin air as they carried the bush and followed Pinkie. It wasn’t much longer before Pinkie arrived at the school playground. Since the children were in class at the moment, Pinkie just rolled around the grass and enjoyed herself as she hummed. Then she stopped and started rubbing her nose a bit.

“Hmm… itchy nose…” Twilight said.

“That’s new,” Storm said. “At least for being a Pinkie twitch… if it is one.”

Pinkie gasped, then ducked nervously under a metal horseshoe.

“Hmm… interesting…” Storm replied.

“Aha!” Twilight told Spike. “That makes no sense. See? She’s hiding like something’s about to fall from the sky, but a twitchy tail means something’s gonna fall from the sky, not an itchy nose.”

Pinkie continued to stare at the sky nervously. Spike and Storm looked up as Twilight spoke. Then they heard some theremin music and the sound of a large swarm buzzing overhead. Twilight, however, was completely clueless about the swarm.

“This proves…” Twilight continued.

“Oh no!” Spike and Storm groaned.

“… perhaps conclusively, that—”

“GAH!” Spike yelped, running away.

“Spike! Where are you going?” Twilight called out. “I’m trying to teach you the value of scientific—HEY! Storm, let go of me! Get off!”

Storm grabbed her from behind, trying to pry her out of the bush.

“Twilight, we need to get out of—”

“I said get off!” Twilight yelled.

She used her magic to fling Storm off her and out of the bush. She proceeded to turn back toward Pinkie… only to be completely swarmed by bees.

“Ow! Ouch! Ow! Yeow! Ow! Ow! Ow!”

The swarm surrounded the bush for the attack, stinging Twilight to their heart’s content, making her whimper in pain. Both Storm and Spike stood along the sidelines, watching while shaking their heads.

“See what not listening to others gets her?” Spike asked Storm.

“Yep,” Storm nodded. “A flank full of bee stings.”

<>

A short while later, Storm and Twilight, the latter now covered in multiple bandages, were observing Pinkie as she walked about the open fields of Sweet Apple Acres. Spike too jotted down some notes in a notepad.

“What’s she doing now?” Spike asked curiously.

Storm zoomed in with his goggles for a better look. She was apparently…

“Smelling a flower,” Twilight and Storm answered plainly.

“Holy guacamole!” Spike exclaimed, dropping the notepad. “I wonder what that means?”

“Probably that the flower smells good,” Twilight answered.

“This is so boring…” Storm nodded in agreement.

Suddenly, they noticed that Pinkie Pie was twitching again.

“Wait, I’m getting something,” Twilight said. “Ear flop, eyes flutter, knee twitch.”

“Hold on… you told me that’s the combo that says, ‘Watch out for opening doors’?!” Spike exclaimed.

Frightened, the little dragon dashed away from the barn door and hid behind some haystacks.

“Oh-ho… you really, really believe this stuff, don’t you?” Twilight teased. “Here, let me show you there’s nothing to be afraid of.”

Twilight walked toward the barn door. And since the top half was already open, she was able to look inside to see if anyone could be coming that could smack them with the door if they opened it. No pony was even there.

“You see?” Twilight pointed out.

Just as she started walking away from the door, as if fate just had it in for her, a door opened from the ground and Storm gasped.

“I promise you,” Twilight continued. “There’s nothing to fear from that—Who-o-ah!”

Twilight fell through the opening, but Storm grabbed her tail by his teeth trying to pull her up.

“I got ya, I got ya… WAH!!!” Storm called out.

Unfortunately, Twilight’s momentum ended up pulling him down with her.

“OW! UGH! OW! OW!”

They both yelped as they tumbled down a set of stone stairs and landed hard at the bottom.

“Twilight! Storm! You came to visit my new apple cellar, how nice,” Applejack replied cheerfully. “Twi? Storm? Are you okay? Uh, Twi? Storm?”

“MEDIC!!!!” Storm shouted, before he and Twilight passed out.

<>

A short while later…

Both Storm Shield and Twilight Sparkle were back on the chase again. That last injury did a number on both of them. Twilight’s fore-hooves had been badly injured to the point they were bandaged. Twilight herself was now in a wheelchair for mobility. Storm was more fortunate, only injuring his back and the top of his head. While his back and head were also bandaged, he could still move without a wheelchair or any support. But concentrating made him more prone to bad headaches. Plus, he couldn’t run or move very quickly either. Twilight tried using her bandaged fore-hooves to lift her binoculars, but her injuries prevented her from doing so.

“Here, let me help you,” Spike offered.

Spike pulled a special pulley rope, which he created, to help Twilight lift her fore-hooves without injury until the binoculars reached her eyes.

“Okay, take this down,” Twilight instructed the boys. “Twitchy tail.”

“Twitchy tail?” Spike gasped frantically. “Twitchy tail!”

Spike released the rope, making Twilight’s fore-hooves painfully smack the top of a bench. A familiar theremin music could be heard as Storm looked toward the sky, now feeling very uneasy.

“Hush, Spike!” Twilight scolded sternly. “We can’t let Pinkie know we’re here, remember?!”

Then Storm gasped when he saw something above and tried to concentrate, but his head injury made focusing difficult.

“Something’s gonna fall, something’s gonna fall!” Spike shouted, in full panic. “Run for your lives! Ah-ha-ha!”

Spike took off, leaving the two ponies behind. Storm was still trying to activate a shield.

“Ugh, Spike honestly, you’re overreact—”

*CRACK!*

A flowerpot landed on Twilight’s head. Poor Storm tried harder to ignore his headache to raise the shield.

*CLANG!*

Twilight got an anvil on her head, just when Storm finally got the shield up.

“Got it!” Storm panted, ignoring the pain.

He turned and saw Twilight glaring at him, the anvil firmly on her head. Storm chuckled, smiling apologetically.

“Well… better late than…”

*SMASH!*

It was then a large wagon loaded with hay crashed on both of them. The impact was so strong that it destroyed Storm’s shield and Twilight’s wheelchair. And to add more insult to injury…

*CRASH!*

A piano dropped on top of them as well, breaking apart on top of them.

“Ugh…” Twilight groaned.

“Why???” Storm added, in the same tone.

<>

For anyone wondering why Storm didn’t just move the wheelchair out of the way, remember his back injury prevented him from moving quickly. Plus, he panicked when he saw the deliver ponies above that all he could think of was a shield. He ‘could’ have moved Twilight out of the way regardless, but… even Storm can’t think straight when he panics. And the headache he got trying to raise a shield didn’t help either.

Up in the sky, a colt Pegasus gave his employees, one a popular cross-eyed mare with bubbles for a cutie mark, a death glare. She was the first to smile apologetically and the other pegasi followed. They were the ones who accidentally dropped their deliveries on the two ponies below.

<>

Later…

Pinkie Pie was back to humming cheerfully in the park when Applejack arrived.

“Hey Applejack,” Pinkie said. “Whatcha doin’?”

“Takin’ more apples to my new apple cellar,” Applejack answered, showing a basket of apples. “How about you Pinkie Pie? Whatchu doin’?”

“Oh, letting Twilight and Storm secretly follow me all day without me knowing,” Pinkie answered simply.

“WHAT?!?!?!” Storm shouted.

“You mean you knew all along?!” Twilight demanded angrily.

Twilight Sparkle and Storm Shield emerged from hiding, giving her a death glare of their own. It had taken one of Storm’s magical potions to get the pair back on their hooves. While their physical injuries had recovered thanks to the potion, they still had their bandages on their manes, fur, and dark circles around one eye showing they’ve been through quite a day.

“Why didn’t you tell us in the first place?” Storm asked angrily.

“Silly,” Pinkie giggled. “That would have spoiled the secret.”

“Urgh!”

Twilight’s jaw opened and closed, one of her eyes twitched, and her body trembled with anger. Even Storm felt his anger surge, but soon as he noticed how unraveled Twilight was becoming he quickly pulled her into a hug.

“Easy, easy,” He said gently, settling Twilight down.

Meanwhile, Spike still seemed a bit on edge.

“Tail… still twitching?” Spike asked.

“All done,” Pinkie answered. “Clear skies from here on in, as far as I can tell—HU-BU-BU-BU-BU-BU!”

All of a sudden, Pinkie’s entire body began to twitch and shudder violently.

“Okay, ‘that’ makes even me feel very uneasy,” Storm observed.

“Oh no! What does that one mean?” Spike asked nervously.

“Dunno, never gotten any like it before,” Pinkie answered. “But whatever that shudder is about, it’s a doozy. Something you’d never expect to happen is gonna happen! Hu-bu-bu-bu-bu hu-bu-bu-bu-bu! And it’s gonna happen… at Froggy Bottom Bog!”

Spike looked rather nervous as Twilight just looked plain bored.

“Phew! That’s a relief,” Storm sighed.

To which every pony else just looked at him.

“Don’t tell me you believe in the Pinkie Sense now?” Twilight asked.

“Why not?” Storm replied, holding out the notepad. “I’ve been taking notes ‘all’ day. The proof of these ‘instinctive warnings’ is in the pudding. The Pinkie Sense has some legitimacy about it. Plus our… no, your ignorance of it landed us in the hospital… twice! This doozy could be anything! The end of the world! A pony apocalypse! Me realizing my soulmate is Rainbow Dash! All equally terrible, but also ‘possible’.”

Storm gave Twilight his own frantic look, to which Twilight looked rather passive to his concerns.

“Storm, I said something you’d never expect to happen,” Pinkie pointed out.

“Be quiet!” Storm said, indignantly.

Applejack just chuckled until she realized something and gasped.

“You mean it’s true?!” Storm asked frantically.

“No, not that,” Applejack answered honestly. “That’s where Fluttershy’s headed!”

“Oh no!” Spike remarked worriedly. “Is it about her?”

“Uh, I’m not sure,” Pinkie answered.

“We better go and make sure she’s okay,” Applejack replied.

“Calm down, every pony,” Twilight said. “All we know right now is that Pinkie Pie just got a case of the shivers. That’s all.”

Pinkie glared, and Storm did as well.

“It’s ‘shutters’ Twilight,” Storm corrected. “Big difference.”

<>

Soon enough, the group of ponies (And Spike) made their way towards the bog. Along the way, Twilight scooped Spike onto her back.

“Guh-Hey!” Spike yelped. “I thought you didn’t believe in this stuff?”

“I don’t,” Twilight retorted. “I just want to be there to see the look on Pinkie’s face when we find out nothing is wrong.”

“Okie-dokie!” Pinkie said.

“Twilight, stop!” Storm called, standing in front of her. “I’d rather you stay here and ‘not’ end up in the hospital… again.”

“Step aside Storm!” She demanded.

“No! I’ve had enough!” Storm stated sternly. “I’ve been putting up with your craziness all day, and this time I’m putting my hoof down!”

He proved a point by stomping his right hoof on the ground, while Twilight just glared at him… until she smiled.

“Storm… have I ever told you how much I like your mane?” Twilight asked sweetly. “It’s very cute.”

Spike made a face behind her. Storm meanwhile blinked twice, then blushed.

“Really? Well, heh… I… I never thought of it as anything special, but…”

Storm suddenly realized he’d been tricked, and Twilight was gone in a matter of seconds. He groaned angrily, gritting his teeth so hard sparks flew out.

“URRRRRRGH…. YOU’LL PAY FOR THAT TWILIGHT SPARKLE!!!” Storm shouted, to the world.

He quickly rushed after her, eventually catching up with Twilight along with the rest of the ponies as they were along the outer edges of the bog.

<>

For the moment, Fluttershy herself was just casually helping her frogs exit her cart and settle down in the bog while the rest of the ponies were slowly making their way towards her. Storm was about to give Twilight a piece of his mind when Pinkie started vibrating and shuttering again.

“Hu-bu-bu-bu-bu-bu!” Pinkie stuttered.

“Cold?” Twilight asked smugly. “Need a jacket or something?”

“No thanks, I’m fine,” Pinkie said, then shuttered again. “Hu-bu-bu-bu-bu-bu!”

“So… whadda’ya think happened to Fluttershy?” Spike asked worriedly.

“I hope nothin’,” Applejack said.

No question the Earth pony tried to keep her face from showing any worry or concern… not an easy feat for the ‘Element of Honesty’.

“I know, but… whadda’ya ‘think’ happened?” Spike asked further.

“I’m tryin’ not to think about it,” Applejack answered bluntly.

“Me too…” Spike spoke bravely, then pondered. “But I’m thinkin’ about it anyway. Like, what if she exploded?”

“Just exploded?” Applejack asked puzzled. “For no reason?”

“Yeah, like boom!” Spike answered.

“Whoa!” Pinkie exclaimed.

“I know,” Spike replied, in agreement.

“What if… what if she exploded, and then… and then exploded again?” Pinkie suggested.

“Can you do that?” Spike asked fearfully. “Can you explode twice?”

“Of course not,” Applejack said.

“You’ve never been with Twilight when she does potions,” Storm replied.

To which he earned himself a glare from the purple pony, but Storm merely stuck his tongue at her.

“But what if she exploded, and exploded again, and then… ugh!”

Spike was cut off the moment Twilight stepped on his tail… not too hard to hurt him, but enough to bend it out of shape.

“Will you two stop?!” Twilight retorted. “She’s fine, I’m sure of it.”

“I hope you’re right, for Fluttershy’s sake,” Applejack said.

To which Storm nodded in agreement, as he walked alongside the orange pony as they forged ahead.

“Look!” Applejack pointed. “There’s Froggy Bottom Bog.”

They heard the buzzing of a dragonfly before they found who they were looking for. The yellow Pegasus just in the distance, right before their very eyes.

“Fluttershy?” Applejack asked.

“Fluttershy?” Pinkie gasped.

“Fluttershy!” Spike called out.

He hopped onto Fluttershy’s back and hugged her, much to the Pegasus’s surprise.

“You’re okay!”

“Of course,” Fluttershy answered calmly.

“Phew! What a relief,” Applejack sighed with relief.

“I’ll say,” Storm added.

“Sorry, I know it’s not nice to gloat, but…” Twilight began.

“You’re going to anyway…” Spike remarked, with an eyeroll.

Applejack and Pinkie glared as well.

“… AHA!” Twilight declared proudly. “I told you there was nothing to worry about, and I was right. Pinkie said whatever she was shuddering about was a *Cough* doozy, and *Cough* the only *Cough* doozy here is how right I am.”

While Twilight was bragging, some fog mist began to rise from the swamp, making breathing a bit difficult and then something rose behind Twilight. Storm and the others gasped in shock.

“Um… Twilight?” Applejack spoke fearfully.

“Pinkie’s made a lot of predictions today but *Cough* ugh, what’s that smell?”

It was then Twilight recognized all the dust and sudden stench in the air, but still she kept talking.

“But we’ve shown here is that there’s no point in believing *Cough* in anything you can’t see for yourself.”

The rising creature turned out to be a hydra, which was a creature with four heads on its body. Every pony (And Spike) quivered fearfully at the sight.

“W-Well t-then, s-see what’s b-b-behind you,” Spike said fearfully.

That was when the hydra growled, as Twilight slowly turned around.

“I see it…” Twilight spoke, in shock. “But I don’t believe it!”

The hydra gave a loud roar.

“What more proof do you need?!” Storm called out. “Visiting the inside of its stomach?!”

“Is that a hydra?” Pinkie asked, in shock.

“Who cares? RUN!!!” Applejack called out.

All the ponies (And Spike) screamed, racing for their lives except for Pinkie. The poor mare was so frightened she couldn’t laugh her fear away or even move. All she could do was whimper.

“Pinkie! Come on!” Twilight called out.

She grabbed her tail and pulled her away just in time as a hydra head tried snatching her… and barely missed.

“OMPH!” Pinkie panted.

She soon went airborne from the pull, as everyone else made a run for it. Fluttershy then noticed a frog running for its life as well.

“Oh, I’m so sorry,” Fluttershy apologized to the frog.

Three of the four heads lunged for the attack.

“AH!” Fluttershy screamed, as a hydra head missed.

The two others tried to attack Pinkie and Applejack, but they missed too. The single hydra head hadn’t attacked, merely laughed at the other three as they continued the chase. Soon the ponies reached a steep ledge only Storm could successfully jump to, and they quickly looked around for another escape route.

“Every pony up that hill!” Twilight commended.

They were about to leave when…

“HE-E-ELP!!!”

Poor Spike had gotten caught in some swamp muck and was trapped as the hydra inched closer to him.

“Spike!” Storm called out.

The stallion was just about to go get him, but Twilight had already taken off.

“Coming Spike!” Twilight called out. “Hang on!”

She grabbed Spike in the nick of time, as the hydra attack. The ponies then made their way up the hill when Storm noticed the hydra tried to follow but had gotten a foot stuck in the muck. Storm just growled on sight.

“Girls, Spike, get up the hill, and find a safe place!” Storm instructed. “I’ll try to stall that beast!”

“Storm, NO!” Twilight called out.

But Storm Shield already rushed down the hill. The hydra just freed its foot when it noticed Storm charging towards it.

“You’re not going to be having any of my friends for dinner,” Storm said angrily. “If you want something worthwhile, try and catch me!”

Storm stood on his hind legs and gave the Hydra a smirk. He gave a loud shrill whistle, which was accompanied by the sound of screeching. Storm looked up and saw Blaze soaring through the air as the Hydra roared and one head tried to attack. Thankfully, Blaze noticed the incoming attack and took a swipe with his talons at one head’s eye. The Hydra head howled in pain as it shot back, clenching its eye. The second and third heads attacked, but Storm either quick-stepped or cartwheeled out of the way. One of the Hydra heads, the one Blaze attacked, followed the Phoenix around as he flew about. Storm then ran around at high speed as the Hydra continued its attack. Then he came to a stop when the fourth head tried to lunge. Storm used his match to make the ground launch him upward, causing him to twirl in the air a bit out of the fourth head’s way. Storm gave another whistle and Blaze snatched him in his talons gently. The two flew up to one head and spun jumped into it, knocking it senseless. The other hydra heads growled before Storm pulled the same move to them. Everyone else was watching from the distance.

“Wow, Storm’s gotten way better at his attacks!” Spike observed impressed.

“I had no idea Storm was that athletic,” Applejack admired. “I thought fer sure he was only a runner.”

Fluttershy nodded in agreement, then yelped as the hydra heads came at Storm all at once. Storm surprised every pony when Blaze let go and Storm flipped several times to get himself out of reach before landing on all four of his hooves.

“Let’s see if you can take the heat!” Storm cried out.

Blaze screeched, making the Hydra look up as the Phoenix came down rapidly. Just before he hit the ground, he quickly altered his flight to where he was only soaring about an inch off the ground. His tail feathers then suddenly burst into flames causing a line of fire to trail behind him as he circled the Hydra. Soon the Hydra was surrounded by a giant ring of fire. That’s when Storm went on the attack with bolts of magic from his horn. While he could only target two heads at once, he had no trouble switching targets to prevent the hydra from attacking. Then his body sparkled, as he was able to target all four at once with a wave of larger spurts of magic. The hydra was quickly overwhelmed as the sparks exploded, leaving it dazed as Storm charged up an even bigger surge before…

*BOOM!*

Storm sent one of the biggest magical blasts he ever created into the Hydra stomach, sending it backwards and knocking it out cold. The other ponies cheered as Storm made a huge backwards somersault that landed him halfway up the hill. Storm breathed a sigh of relief, as Blaze calmly floated down and landed on his back. Storm glanced at his faithful companion, nuzzling his head against Blaze.

“Thanks for the assist old buddy,” He said thankfully.

Blaze chittered in appreciation.

“That was amazing!” Spike cheered, as the others smiled.

“Well, thanks I… WAIT!!!”

Storm froze, with his eyes widen.

“You guys were supposed to find a safe place to escape while I distracted it!!!”

The ponies just looked at each other before chuckling sheepishly. They had been so busy watching Storm fight they forgot about trying to escape somewhere safe. Storm face-hoofed himself until he heard a roar. Apparently, this Hydra was very durable because it had already recovered and lunged in pursuit once again.

“LET’S GET OUT OF HERE!!!” Storm called out.

They made their way back up the rest of the hill, running as fast as they could.

“I think we’re gonna make it!” Twilight said, reaching the top.

“But Pinkie’s still shuddering!” Spike pointed out.

Pinkie’s shudders made it very difficult for the pink pony to climb up the hill, but then the shudders stopped.

“Oh, lookie there, it stopped.”

Suddenly Pinkie shuddered again…

“O-h-h-h, t-h-e-r-e i-t i-s a-g-a-i-n!”

Despie her shudders, Spike helped Pinkie up the hill. They reached the top only to find it was a dead end. They all gasped when they realized that the only way across was a series of platforms that crossed over some bubbly bog water far below them. They hydra was gaining ground quickly.

“What will we do? What’ll we do?” Storm asked frantically. “What ARE we going to do?!”

“Ugh, he’ll be up here in no time!” Twilight told every pony. “Quick, one at a time, cross!”

“Nyu-uh!” Spoke protested, then faced Twilight. “Do you know any spells for turning a hydra into a mouse?”

“No…”

“How about a squirrel?”

“No!”

“How ‘about—”

“No small rodents of any kind!” Twilight snapped.

“That’s too bad,” Spike said.

“And even if we did,” Storm pointed out. “You think I’d have fought the hydra a minute ago?”

Spike just smiled sheepishly before rubbing his head nervously. Fluttershy just looked nervously at the platforms.

“A hop, skip, and a… jump!” Fluttershy called out.

Soon as she made her way across, Twilight grabbed Spike by the tail and tossed him.

“WHOA-HO!”

The little dragon bounced across the platforms to the other sides.

“Whoa-oa-oa-oa-oa!”

Pinkie vibrated, nearly fall off the cliff as Applejack pulled her back by the tail with a grunt.

“He’s too close,” Twilight said. “I’ll distract him. You three go, now!”

Storm was agape as Applejack obeyed and pulled Pinkie across, but Storm didn’t leave. Not even while the hydra was getting closer.

“Go!” Twilight told Storm.

“I’m not leaving you to fight that thing!” Storm yelled. “You go! I’ll deal with it!”

“I… said… GO!!!” Twilight yelled.

She pushed Storm near the cliff edge, got behind him, and turned toward Blaze.

“Get him to safety!”

The Phoenix just gave a small nod, grabbing hold of Storm a bit more strongly and carried him to safety. While Blaze managed to get Storm to the other side with the others, Storm looked back as Storm stood her ground.

“Why do I put up with her?” Storm asked himself.

Meanwhile, the hydra got closer to Twilight, making him feel very nervous. She was starting to regret telling Storm to let her deal with it alone.

“Oh… what would a brave pony like Rainbow Dash do?” Twilight asked herself.

The hydra got closer until Twilight just ran towards it.

“CHAAARGE!!!” She shouted instinctively.

Twilight quickly ducked under its short legs. All four heads tried to follow her, but it ended up toppling over.

“T-T-T-Twilight!” Pinkie Pie cried out.

Twilight made a charge towards the platforms, but the hydra had already recovered and went to attack her. Twilight just barely dodged out of the way. Unfortunately, the hydra’s attack slammed into the platforms, causing several of them (Minus two on the other side) to crumble into the boggy abyss. Twilight was stranded. The hydra head whimpered over a lump it had gotten on its head before roaring angrily. The other ponies looked worriedly.

“T-T-T-Twilight!” Pinkie shouted. “You have to jump!”

“I’ll never make it!” Twilight shouted back.

“You’ll be fine!”

“I will not!” Twilight protested.

The hydra roared behind her, drawing closer to her.

“It’s your only ho-o-oope!” Pinkie told her, while the shutters hit her. “You need to take a leap of faith!”

Twilight gulped as she looked towards the platforms before backing and making a charge to take a jump. The hydra attacked again. While it missed, it caused the piece of the ledge Twilight stood on to crumble. Storm quickly hopped onto the second platform, extending a fore hoof trying to catch her as she made her leap.

“Y-ugh!” Twilight grunted, making the jump.

Even with the crumbling ledge getting her a bit closer, she tried to reach out for Storm’s fore-hoof, but she didn’t quite make it.

“No! Oh no! NOOO!”

Twilight went falling down into the bog below, closing her eyes tight as she anticipated herself crashing to the ground. So imagine how surprised she was when she slowly opened an eye seeing she floated off the ground.

“Huh?”

She looked up and saw none other than Blaze holding her in his talons, slowly lifting her back to the top. Blaze then dropped her down and Storm caught her. Twilight was rather dazed, while the ponies cheered as Storm set her down and hugged her.

“Storm, you can let go now,” Twilight giggled.

Storm did so, but not without looking embarrassed.

“S-S-Sorry,” Storm said. “It’s just… when you fell… and I couldn’t reach you…”

Twilight could see just how frazzled Storm looked, smiling at him.

“I’m okay,” Twilight spoke gently.

Storm nodded as he recomposed himself. It was then Blaze landed on Twilight’s back, rubbing his feathered head against her cheek. Twilight smiled as she nuzzled him back with a giggle.

“Thank you for saving me Blaze,” She thanked.

The phoenix gave a squawk which could only be translated as ‘You’re welcome’.

“You did good buddy,” Storm praised. “Why don’t you head on back to the library and take a rest? I’ll come back later with an extra special treat for you.”

Blaze screeched in appreciation before zipping up into the air, taking flight back to Ponyville. Twilight then exchanged an embrace with Pinkie.

“I knew you could do it, Twilight!” Pinkie told her happily.

“I don’t know how it happened, coincidence, dumb luck, or what,” Twilight told her. “But you said there’d be a doozy here at Froggy Bottom Bog, and I’d say we just had ourselves one heck of a doozy. I mean that hydra…”

Storm merely nodded in agreement. Suddenly, Pinkie began to shutter again.

“Pinkie?” Twilight asked worried.

Pinkie’s shuttering had become more intense.

“That wasn’t it,” Pinkie said plainly.

Twilight and Storm looked rather stunned.

“Huh?” They asked.

“What wasn’t what?” Spike asked curiously.

“What are you talking about, Pinkie?” Applejack asked as well.

“The hydra wasn’t the doozy,” Pinkie remarked.

This earned herself a raspberry by the same creature, as it walked away indignantly.

“I’m still getting the shudders,” Pinkie continued. “Oo-o-oh, oo-o-oh. You see? There it is again. Whatever the doozy was at Froggy Bottom Bog, my Pinkie Sense says it still hasn’t happened.”

Storm just groaned, while Twilight’s eye twitched.

“Huh? But I—WHAT?!” Twilight snapped. “The hydra wasn’t the doozy?! How could it not be the doozy? What could be more doozier than that?!”

“Dunno, but it just wasn’t it,” Pinkie answered simply.

Twilight could feel her temperature rising. The sound of a kettle whistled loudly as she gritted her teeth like a powder keg ready to blow. Storm panicked before he pulled the steaming purple pony close for another hug.

“Just let it go!” Storm pleaded. “Come on… let’s go home… read a nice book…”

“RRRGH!!!”

Twilight growled and leapt into the air; her entire body lit up in flames.

“WOO-HA-HOO! WOW-WHOA!!!” Storm yelped.

He clutched his back end, which caught on fire from the flame, and quickly bounced about before finally putting the flame out. Fortunately, Twilight’s anger fizzled out and only her mane and tail were slightly charred.

“Ooh… I give up…” Twilight conceded.

She plopped onto the ground with her hind legs resting against a nearby rock. Despite the circumstances, Storm couldn’t help but feel his heart break. It was extremely rare to ever hear the purple pony say those three words aloud.

“Give what up, Twi?” Spike asked.

“The fight…” Twilight spoke, in exasperation. “I can’t fight it anymore. I don’t know how, why, or what, but the Pinkie Sense somehow… make sense. I don’t see how it does, but it just does. Just because I don’t understand doesn’t mean it’s not true.”

“Y-Y-Y-You m-m-mean you b-b-b-believe?” Pinkie asked, vibrating increasingly.

“Eeyup, I guess I do,” Twilight spoke quietly, worn out.

Pinkie’s vibrating and shuttering grew even more intensely.

“She’s going to blow!” Storm cried out fearfully.

He created a front shiedl, but only Twilight, Storm, and Spike stood behind it.

“Oo-woo-oo-oo-oo, woo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oh, woo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-ooh. Ooh!”

Pinkie’s body contorted into various shapes before finally settling down.

“That was it!” She gasped. “That’s the doozy.”

Twilight, Storm, and Spike looked stunned.

“Bbrrbbrrbbrr…” Spike remarked, shaking his head wildly.

“What? What is?” Twilight asked puzzled.

“You believing,” Pinkie said. “I never expected that to happen. That was a doozy, oh and, oh what a doozy of a doozy it was! La-la-la-la-la…”

The other’s just watched stunned, as Pinkie just walked away without a care in the world. Storm just rubbed his head.

“That pony gives me such a headache…” Storm groaned.

*SMOOCH!*

And Twilight kissed his cheek! Storm just looked stunned, as his cheeks turned bright red.

“Don’t ask, I just felt like it,” Twilight spoke simply. “Besides, after what I put you through today, I just wanted to say I appreciate you being such a good friend.”

Twilight then walked away, leaving Storm to endure the snickers of Applejack, Fluttershy, and Spike as a dazed smile appeared on his face.

<>

Later that week, Spike rushed to return back to the library. Giggling could be heard from outside as he walked inside.

“Oh good, Spike, you’re here,” Twilight said. “Take a letter.”

“With pleasure, Twilight,” Spike said, grabbing paper and quill.

Dear Princess Celestia,
I’m very happy to report that—

Twilight realized Spike look distracted.

“Spike, what have I been saying about focus?”

“I know, but I… well…” Spike stuttered.

He was surprised to see Twilight and Storm each wearing an umbrella hat on their heads. Pinkie was there too, wearing her own hat.

“What’s wrong Spike?” Twilight asked. “Never thought you’d see me with an umbrella hat on?”

“Not really, no,” Spike answered.

“Pinkie’s tail’s a-twitchin’,” Twilight pointed out. “What else could we do?”

“Personally, I’ve had enough trips to the hospital this week,” Storm added.

Every pony laughed as Spike recomposed himself so Twilight could finish the letter.

--We are happy to report that we now realize there are wonderful things in this world you just can’t explain, but that doesn’t necessarily make them any less true. It just means that you have to choose to believe in them and sometimes it takes a friend to show you the way.

Twilight walked over to Pinkie and Storm as she finished talking.

“Honk!” Pinkie poked Twilight’s nose.

She’d been poking Storm’s nose beforehand, and the colt was glad it wasn’t him… again.

“Honk!” Spike chuckled.

Always your faithful students,
Twilight Sparkle and Storm Shield

With the letter concluded, Twilight, Pinkie, and Storm made their way out of the library as Pinkie’s tail twitched again.

“There it goes again,” Pinkie said.

“I wonder what’s gonna drop outta the sky this time?” Twilight wondered, as she and Storm looked up.

“You never know,” Pinkie said, looking up.

“I just hope our umbrellas can protect us,” Storm hoped.

“If not, we can always swap you as the crashing target,” Pinkie suggested.

“True,” Twilight added. “You are supposed to protect us girls.”

The two girls giggled to each other as Storm looked annoyed.

“Remind me to buy some life insurance,” He informed them.

Pinkie and Twilight laughed as the three ponies continued their way. Back at the library, Spike opened a window on the second floor to breathe fire on the letter to send it. He was then interrupted when he heard the sound of a jet engine and Princess Celestia crashed down on the tree branch.

“Twitchy tail?” Spike remarked.

Celestia took the letter and flew off without another word.

“Holy guacamole!” Spike said afterward.

The little dragon watched as the Princess flew away into the sky. Did this truly mean Celestia believed in the Pinkie Sense this whole time? Equestria may never know…