The Pony Protection Agency

{Princess Twilight}

I felt bad when I found out that Alex couldn't laugh in front of people without feeling bad about it. Laughter is an element of harmony and is a source of joy for people. If Alex can't laugh, there's a good chance he doesn't have joy in his life. As the Princess of Friendship that doesn't sit well with me. So first thing in the morning I went and talked to Violet about it. I was surprised when Violet's jaw dropped when I told her what I wanted to do. "So what you're telling me is that you want to make Alex laugh in front of people and be okay with it?"

I nodded, "Why, yes! What self-respecting friend would I be if I left Alex when he's unable to laugh in front of anyone?"

"I think a lot of the problem lies with Alex's abusive bitch of a mother," Violet growled, "Just don't tell Alex that."

I tilted my head in confusion, "Why not?"

"Because the word bitch is an insult to a woman," Violet explained, "If a woman gets called that to their face, you might get the crap beat out of you, depending on what the word is used for."

Before I met humans for the first time, I had read a book that had a section in it that was titled cuss words. I didn't understand them but it did say those words could be used as insults too. The fact that humans do stuff like that is shocking to me. "I see, I wish Pinkie were here, she's an expert at getting people to laugh. She just had to go and break the rules! Elements of Harmony bearers are supposed to be setting a good example for other ponies as to what friendship is all about."

Violet stared up at the ceiling as if she were trying really hard to figure out how to get Alex to laugh in front of people. She shook her head and I'm going to assume that she came up with nothing. "I don't know princess, I've at least got him to smile lately. Although he's been smiling a lot more ever since you came along."

I paused, I was getting ready to say something about that but I chose not to.

Violet smiled and teased, "Fluttershy told me you seem to have taken a liking to Alex. I wonder if he's smiling because he feels the same way about you?"

I remembered that I had brought a couple of books with me that I checked out of the library in Canterlot. The books I had checked out were on how to make ponies laugh. I showed Violet that book and she cracked up at the title: How to Make a Pony Laugh Vol. 1.

"Before Pinkie left Equestria, I had been learning how to loosen up around ponies myself. Apparently, I was very uptight, probably because I take my job as Princess of Friendship wherever I go," I said, "I didn't know there were books like this until she showed me. She probably chose to use books to teach me this because that's how I learn, by reading books. Although, I'm not sure how Alex learns. Do you know?"

Violet nodded, "He learns mostly through life experience last time I checked. I don't know if it's going to be any different now that he's a seer."

"Hmm," I said. I opened up the book to the first chapter. I read the first part out loud. "It says here that babies laugh when adult ponies make funny faces at them. Huh, come to think of it I did that with Flurry Heart, she's an adult now so I'm not sure if it would work on her anymore. And I don't think that would work on Alex."

I used the skimming spell I use when I'm reading a book and trying to find the information I need quickly. "It's not here, it's not here, no not here either."

I heard Violet laughing as I turned the pages looking for the information I needed and I don't know why that was so funny. Finally, I found what I was looking for, "Ah-ha!"

I saw Violet jumped about a foot in the air because I guess I startled her. "What? What did you find?"

I read what I had found out loud, "It says here that adults respond to practical jokes or pranks. They also respond to certain situations that aren't supposed to be funny, but they find it funny anyway. Hmm, Alex did laugh the other day when I left his room. I wonder if it was because I was giving Discord the stink eye because I was worried about him doing anything to harm Alex?"

Violet snorted. "Did you really do that, Princess?"

"Well yeah, I was worried about Discord making Alex sick again," I responded, "I swear, if Discord does that again, I don't know what I'll do!"

"Aww, that's absolutely adorable!" Violet said.

I ignored what Violet was saying when I remembered a joke that Pinkie told me all the time. It always made me laugh when she told it. "I know what might work! It's a joke Pinkie told that would make me laugh every time she would tell it to me."

"Okay, shoot, show me what you got," Violet said.

"Okay," I said, "why did the chicken cross the road?"

It looked like Violet was going to laugh big time at this joke because she was trying so hard to keep a straight face. "Why princess? Why did the chicken cross the road?"

"To get to the other side!" I cheerfully. I smiled because Violet fell on her back on the bed next to her rolling on her stomach in laughter. "Huh, I guess that worked."

"In a way it did, but it wasn't the joke that was funny," said Violet, "it was the way you said the joke. I think you might want to try a whoopie cushion before he sits down or something like that instead?"

I thought about it and I got an idea. Maybe if I intensify the chance for laughter to occur it's bound to happen.

"Hmm, what if I tell the joke while putting a whoopie cushion underneath him?" I asked.

Violet snorted, "That might work, but there's no manual on this subject since everyone's different. Alex will be a tough nut to crack, so to speak."

This statement made me even more determined to make Alex laugh, "I'll get Alex to laugh in front of people and be okay with it! That's going to happen sooner or later if I have something to say about it. I'm not leaving his side until I do!"

Violet grinned, "Yeah, I'm going to wish you good luck on that. That's going to take you forever."

I didn't care if it would take forever to make Alex laugh, I'm now on a mission to make it happen.

* * *

{Hugo}

I was sitting on my throne doing my normal workday hearing requests and complaints from my subjects. One of my Royal Advisors, Lily, came running up to the throne. She bowed and I motioned for her to stand up.

"What's going on, Lily?" I asked.

Lily took a deep breath to try and calm herself down because she looked frantic. I barely made out what she said because she said it so fast, "Your brother's outside requesting an audience with you!"

I gave Lily a look of disbelief, "Come again?"

"I'm not joking your highness!" Lily croaked, "Your brother's outside, requesting an audience with you!"

I gasped, "What? Why Zane has some nerve showing up here on a workday! Showing up on my days off is bad enough, but here of all places? For the love of god!" I chuckled when I said that, "Well, maybe I should say for the love of myself, you know because I am god. Please tell me you're joking."

Lily shook her head, "I wish I could say I am, but I'm not. Should I turn him away?"

I sighed, "No, let him in. I'm curious to see what my lazy brother wants from me."

When Lily let Zane in he surprised me by bowing to me.

"You've got some nerve showing up here on a workday!" I scolded, "As you can see I'm in the middle of doing, um what's it called? Oh yeah! A job! So what do you want this time?"

"Well, um your highness," Zane stammered, "I'm not trying to pull anything, honest I'm not. I was wondering… Well, this isn't easy to ask. I was thinking, maybe it's time for me to be more serious about life? No, I don't want the job as ruler over something. Could I just… Um… Wow, this is hard… I want a job, can you help me with that?"

My jaw dropped. I was truly stunned by what Zane had just said. "Wait, wait, wait! Back up here! Are you saying you no longer want to be lazy?"

Zane gulped and nodded. "Y-y-yes."

I pinched myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming or anything. Since I could feel the pain from it, I wasn't. "Well now, this is a surprising change of events, Jason, Lily?"

Jason and Lily exchanged a look, "Yes, your highness?"

I chuckled at the fact that Jason and Lily could say a sentence at the same time. It is cute to me. "Since Zanie boy wants a job, starting today he's your assistant. Start him out on doing the paperwork on the souls that come to the Underground for judgment. Now if you'll excuse me, I think I'm going to go turn in for the night."

I saw Jason and Lily leave with Zane and I laughed from the shocked looks on their faces.

* * *

{Alex}

I sat down on the couch at the cottage talking to Violet and Princess Twilight about our game plan on going back out to catch Pinkie Pie. I tell by the look on Princess Twilight's face that she was eager to go catch Pinkie Pie and bring her to justice.

I shook my head, "I know you want to know where to go next to catch Pinkie Pie but I haven't had any visions again. My exploding star crystal didn't confirm anything for me yet either."

Violet raised an eyebrow, "Exploding star crystal?"

I took the crystal Discord gave me out of my pants pocket and showed it to them.

"Wow!" Violet and Princess Twilight said.

"Apparently, it's to help a seer confirm a vision. It also keeps them from passing out when the vision changes," I explained.

"Awesome!" Violet said.

Princess Twilight nodded. I put the crystal back into my pants pocket.

"Hmm, the last place we saw Pinkie Pie was at AE Corp. I doubt she'll be there, knowing that agents of the PPA are after her," Violet said.

I nodded, "I know, I say we go back to HQ so I can run my badge and we can get a ping on her next location."

"Oh yeah, that's right!" Violet said, "I forgot we could do that."

I rolled my eyes and teased, "Of course you did, why am I not surprised? You've been way too busy teasing me and Princess Twilight that you forgot how to do your job."

"Hey!" Violet protested.

I smiled when I saw Princess Twilight looked like she was having a field day with my teasing Violet.

"That's not funny, princess!" Violet growled.

"Anyway," I said, "we should probably head back to HQ."

* * *

When we got back to PPA HQ, I went and ran my badge through the machine that would give us Pinkie Pie's next location. The machine spits out a file of where Pinkie Pie might possibly be next. I took my badge and the file and went back to Violet and Princess Twilight.

"Well? What did you find?" Violet asked.

I nodded, "Yeah, it says on the papers that she's possibly at this address and it says specifically in the basement."

"Basement?" Violet asked, "Now why would she be in the basement?"

I looked over to see that Princess Twilight suddenly had a look of horror on her face. I tilted my head, "What?"

Princess Twilight swallowed, "Well you see, when Pinkie Pie would explore something, she doesn't observe things the way I do."

"What does she do?" I asked.

Princess Twilight gave a nervous laugh, "Well… She tortures her subjects and then kills them."

"What?" Violet and I gasped.

"Even though I've seen her do that plenty of times, I can't prove it," Princess Twilight said, "Every time I went back to the crime scene, the evidence would be destroyed! And since no one had seen it but me, it's just hearsay even if I am a princess!"

"But why didn't you do anything to stop her?" I asked.

"Because Pinkie Pie found these weird magic restraints that would block my magic," Princess Twilight said, "She would tie me up with them and gag me for good measure. I've tried to get out of them several times before, but it was of no use. Now I know how to get out of them with practice and effort. The fact that she might be doing that to humans now, makes my blood boil! I don't understand why her element of harmony still works. The only thing I can figure is she laughs at everything. Even when things aren't funny."

I was stunned by this information. "Okay, that settles it! That crazy pony is going back to Equestria."

Princess Twilight nodded. "And I'll make sure she's brought to justice! Because nopony is above the law, not even an element of harmony bearer."

I smiled and once again, I couldn't get over how cute Princess Twilight is with everything she's done so far.