Rise of the Elements Episode 1: Pinkie's Little Problem

by Dream Volt

Rating: teen
Tags: Octavia, Comedy, Random, Pinkie Pie, DJ P0N-3, Slice of Life, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Alternate Universe, Other
Length: 19638

Science leads to a party as well as Pinkie's sisters. Also lots of strageness

Twilight is giving her Pinkie research another try. Pinkie is of course just happy to help. During a visit to her sisters with Twilight Pinkie decides to throw a science party to help Twilight with her research. However as the day goes on Pinkie notices some little wrong thing, but at first she can't figure out what it is. But then Twilight fixes everything even though she said she didn't do anything and it's all okay now. Right?

Published 2012-09-23 19:24:02 UTC
Last updated 2012-09-23 19:24:02 UTC

Twilight's Letter

Dear Princess Luna,

I would like to give you an update on my current project. More accurately Spike's paranoia about the results that has much to my chagrin spread to me as well. In truth the only one that is likely to be hurt by this experiment is myself. We've talked at some length about Pinkie's abilities, and even you can't give me the answers I desire. A colleague of mine named coincidentally enough Moonfire was a great help. Though her scathing commentary of my original method was cringe inducing, she also came up with several great ideas that eventually led to the creation of the current version of the experiment.

What we've come up with is fairly simple, though taking more time to consider, I've added an arcane-o-meter to the biorhythm and brain scanners. You and Moonfire have both reminded me that all ponies have magic. Also Rarity reminded me that magic can respond passively to desires, as it did when it led her to the gem filled rock the Sonic Rainboom shattered. As a side note Pinkie realized that the rock in question was most likely on the edge of her family's farm, just outside their property. Though I haven't any idea what desire her magic could be following, or have any idea how her magic could work. Also Rarity's description made it sound like a far further journey than that.

Moonfire pointed out my problem was in not assuming an observable phenomenon somehow works, but my certainty that it couldn't be real corrupted my experiment, and my patience. She also pointed out there is an obvious way that is likely to create reproducible results. I modified her initial idea with various safety precautions, but mostly I used it as is. I also felt quite foolish as it is an obvious and simple test. Spike drops various things on my head at random intervals as I study. Some like pillows are harmless, but some are heavier. An assistant then records any twitches downstairs where Pinkie will be. I must thank you for volunteering your guard, but only Firecracker and Trixie really have the speed writing skills necessary. I don't know which one will be available the day in question, but thank you all the same.

However all that aside I feel ready. Although the various objects might hurt, it is at best minor pain. We also included various disgusting things, like garbage, or just sticky or staining substances like paint, or some caramel that Pinkie herself donated. I'm not sure exactly what is wrong with it, but she said I should make sure not to eat it. It seems odd molten caramel could be bad, so I assume it's just taste, but I'm unreasonably curious about exactly what's wrong with it. Oh, I do have a spell to protect me from the heat of it of course. Hopefully several things will elicit a reaction. The recorded data could be invaluable. Of course you can tell Celestia that I still accept that somehow it works, and that I will not be too disappointed if I learn nothing.

I still feel great hope for this experiment. That what we learn today could change the world. At the very least knowing that magic is somehow involved would put my mind at ease, even if I never understand how it works.

Your faithful friend, Twilight Sparkle.

Research and Screwball

Sometimes ponies give me these looks like I've had too much sugar. Firecracker was about the only pony that never did. She was just so fun. She was teal and had wild red and yellow hair. It was like a big spiky explosion. Plus fireworks are just some of the most fun party favors ever. If it wasn't for Fluttershy not liking loud noises I'd use them way more often. Right now she looked all super serious though.

"Aww, turn that frown upside down. You're partying with Pinkie Pie."

"No, I'm monitoring you. Duty comes first, then fun." Then she smiled. "Though my specialty is blowing things up, and sometimes it's my duty to do so, and that's really fun."

"Ooo, that is hard. But most of the time when I blow something up or set it on fire it's a bad thing. It's so strange to think there are times it isn't."

She laughed. "So, anything?"

I pulled one hoof out of the restraints that were supposed to keep my front hooves secure and gave a salute. "No mam. All quiet on the southern front."

"And everywhere else too, right?"

"You can stop now Firecracker." Said Twilight at the top of the stairs. "I am done with the experiment. Dash convinced Spike to add a few things so…"

I gasped. Twilight looked awful. She was covered in bruises and had a black eye. There was probably more, but I didn't wait. I was across the room and hugging her tightly. I let go when she cringed.

"Sorry Pinkie, but that won't help right now."

"Wow, you look like you got caught in the blast. Never a good look, I know."

"Are you sure there's nothing I can do to help?" I asked

"I don't think so. Besides, there is something I've been meaning to try anyway."

Then Twilgiht's horn lit up. I clapped my hooves together and watched. It just go brighter and brighter, then there was a flash and Twilight looked all better. I smiled and clapped my hooves together. She then sorta wobbled on her hooves like she was about to fall down. I gasped.

"Oh, it meant it doesn't magically exhaust the caster, but it does…" Twilight yawned "Physically exhaust the patient. Good to…" she yawned again "…know."

"I can go over the data a little when you sleep. I mean you'll have to figure out what it means, but I can mark the readings whenever something actually happened."

"Sounds good." She yawned again. "I'm going to go to sleep now. Later Pinkie."

Twilight then walked up the stairs. Firecracker was halfway down the stairs before she turned back to look at me.

"Oh gosh, I forgot all about you Pinkie. You could stay but it will be really boring and I don't think I can talk and work at the same time this time."

"Awww."

"Isn't there anything else you can do right now?"

"Not really it's my day off and…" Then I gasped. "Ooo, I just remembered, Dash said she was trying a new trick today. I bet it's ready."

"What's ready?" asked Firecracker

"My flying machine. Blinkie said the new one would be done soon, and this one is totally Griffin proof." I then blinked. "Though I don't know how you Griffin proof something."

"You mean like a non pegasus powered one?"

I nodded. "Zuh huh. I don't know what it looks like yet but I bet it's super neat. My sister makes the best stuff."

Firecracker smiled. "You don't have to tell me that."

"Omigosh, you're right, but I do have to tell Twilight. I bet she'd love Blinkie. They could be all sciencey together and stuff."

"But she just went to sleep."

"Oh yea. Maybe I should do something else huh?"

I thought and thought, but I wasn't sure what to do for five whole seconds. Then I suddenly remembered something else super important about today. I waved to Firecracker and hopped up the stairs as fast as my little pinkie legs could carry me. I know it was harder to hop, but it was also way more fun. I tried to convince AJ to try hopping everywhere since she's an earth pony too, but she totally didn't want to try it. I mean how can you not like hopping.

"Bye Firecracker, I gotta see a joke pony about some stuff."

"Okay. Bye."

Screwball's eyes were all spiny. It looked so cool, and I was quickly across the store and grabbed the glasses and put them on myself. They looked neat from this side too but I couldn't see that well. I'd seen joke glasses with swirly patterns before, but these were the first that moved. I laughed.

"These are still neat, even if I can't see you anymore."

"Actually part of the spell should let you, but you have to put them on with your eyes closed or it doesn't work right."

"Oh."

I took them off, closed my eyes, then put them back on. I then looked at Screwball and could see her like normal. She was a pink mare with a purple mane almost as poofy as mine was. It had neat white streaks too. Like usual she was smiling. But why wouldn't she? I mean she owned ponyville's only joke shop and was surrounded by fun stuff all day, and ponies looking to buy fun stuff. If food wasn't so important for good parties I might have totally tried to have my own joke shop. I then noticed a big bag with swirly glasses on top of all the other stuff.

"Your usual package madam. There is as many new things as I could pack in there and a few old favorites. Remind Dash a new shipment has come in when you see her."

"Omigosh, Dashie. I totally forgot I have to…"

I was halfway out the door when I suddenly realized something and tripped over my own hooves. It was kinda fun ending up upside down. I then hopped back to my hooves, grabbed my bag, and went to the door. Screwball was really nice to make it so easy for me. I used to overspend but now I pay for everything ahead of time and she makes up a bag that contains just enough stuff to match how many bits I can afford. At least that's what she says, I think she puts in a little extra sometimes. I was almost out the door when I realized something else and skid to halt.

"Omigosh, I didn't give you back your glasses."

"I was wondering how long that would take you." She then laughed

I then trotted back over to the counter and stopped. "Wow, I'm like really forgetful today. I almost forgot I was going to introduce Twilight to my sisters. That would have been totally silly don't you think?"

"I guess so. I don't see them much but they seem like nice mares."

"They totally are." I then flipped the glasses off my head with a flip of my head and they landed on Screwball the other way round. "Perfect."

She laughed. "Yes, and impossible as always. Thanks for being my best customer. I guess I'll see you in a few days when you get your next paycheck?"

"Sure as sundaes, and I don't have to tell you how sure they are."

I then spun around, grabbed my bag again, and hopped out of the store as fast as I could. First drop the goodies off at home. Then I take Twilight, and anypony else around, to go see my sisters. This should be super fun.

Blinkie

I wasn't sure what AJ wanted, but she was coming along now too. I hope it wasn't too important, but if it was she should have just said. Twilight yawned again. It seemed like I gave her plenty of time to sleep but she still seemed tired and wasn't very happy at all when I woke her up. I then looked at the farm it looked as dull and grey as usual, even if Blinkie's shinny new metal barn was at least a little not dull.

"Hmmm, actually if something is shinny it's a lot not dull, isn't it?"

"Ah reckon so Pinkie. That barn is certainly something. Don't look too different from any of mine back at the acres, but it being made all out a well shined steel is a bit odd."

"Yes, the construction of such a thing intrigues me."

I then scoffed. "Man, I know I'm not really one to talk, but Inky and Blinkie have really let the farm go. I mean half the rocks are just rotting in the fields."

They gave me that "are you crazy" look I know so well. Ponies give it to me all the time. The strange thing is they almost never give me the look when I do something really crazy. Then Twilight shook her head and sighed.

"Sorry Pinkie, I know better, even though I still can't figure out how you could tell the difference, though rotting doesn't seem like the right term."

"Twi, what the hay are you talking about? You saying Pinkie's kin really do grow rocks?"

Twilight nodded. "I know it sounds odd but they really do. I assume at least one family must do some mining as well."

I nodded. "Oh yea, father was a really good miner. Well, I guess he still is, but now he's in Mane and I haven't seem him mine lately so he might not be half as good as he was, but he might be and Blinkie's machines are sorta better and…" AJ stuck a hoof in my mouth.

"Ah get it." She then pulled out her hoof. Why do ponies do that? "Ah still don't get this whole rocks going bad thing."

"Well, I mean not literally, duh." I rolled my eyes. "But if you don't move the rocks regularly they don't gain any mass at all, no matter where you leave them. I mean that's just plain laziness."

Twilgiht closed her eyes. "Just to be clear Pinkie, the rocks won't actually go bad if you just leave them alone, correct?"

I nodded.

"And using your logic here you could say all rocks that haven't been moved recently anywhere are rotting?"

"No silly filly." I shook my head. "They're only rotting if they're in a rock farm field, otherwise they're just normal rocks. Duh."

Both ponies sighed. We were right in front of the barn now, so I hopped in front of the eye tickler thing. Twilight looked at it really strangely, and AJ just looked confused.

"Look I know the pies are some sort of farmers but you can't be serious about them growing rocks?"

"I am. Do you remember how Luna opened the sealed vault containing her past works as the Princess Luna memorial library."

"Only because you bring it up at least once every time we talk."

Twilight blushed. "Oh. Anyway, one of her books talks about rock farming. It's really quite fascinating. You see the magical matrices of…"

"Booooring. You roll the rocks around then you leave them alone so they can grow, and then you move them some more when they stop. It's not complicated."

"But how the hay does that work."

"Earth pony magic. Actually according to Luna while earth ponies do have a strong connection to nature, their true element is right in the name."

"So you're saying ah could be growing rocks too?"

"Not if you want to grow anything else. I mean if we could grow anything else around here don't you think we would." I rolled my eyes again

"What does that mean?"

"Rock farming has a detrimental effect on any living things in the area, and the land itself to an extent. It saps all the magic in the area in the process. Essentially rock farming kills off everything else, even some small animals if they don't have the sense to leave."

"Yea, it's why we couldn't have small pets, and we couldn't have anything larger because if we were going to feed anything larger it had to work."

"Winona does plenty of work, you know that. Why didn't your folks…" Then applejack blinked. "There ain't any work for dogs on a rock farm, is there."

"Yeppers, none at all."

"Ah got one more thing to ask. Ya see last time I saw Blinkie she seemed a little off. Clearly we weren't ever the best of friends but our farms always got along well enough."

"Oh yea, she's totally crazy, but don't worry Blinkie's really smart and the things she doesn't intend to explode only rarely do."

"Are you sure you're trying to be comforting with that statement?" asked Twilight

I wasn't sure what she meant by that, so I just put my eye in front of the black box with a shinny black hole I put my eye near. Then there was that light that tickled my eye. It felt so funny. Blinkie makes the best stuff. I am so totally tempted to ask her for more, but she's already so busy I hate to bother her unless I really have to. The doors then slid back into the sides of the metal barn. Inside was a bunch of cool stuff, including something covered by a big brown tarp. The floor was white, and there was some more stuff in a loft on the second level, but mostly the room was pretty boring.

"Wow." Said Twilight. "This is impressive, and I thought the inside would be more colorful. I mean it's nothing but silver, white, black and shades of grey."

I rolled my eyes. "I know, Blinkie gave me such an awesome flying machine like I asked but it was so boring. I had to waste a whole ten minutes to Pinkieize it. I mean she has tons of fun making stuff, and I know she would have more if she bothered to…"

"You don't really know that." Said Twilight

"I do to. I mean I said I know because I know, ya know. She totally had like uber fun when I convinced her she had to make that rolly thing of hers way more colorful, cause otherwise it would be even more boring to watch when ponies drive it around in circles over and over again."

"Pinkie, thar are times where I understand every word ya say, but it still makes not a lick of sense."

I giggled.

"Wait, do you even know what you were just talking about?" asked Twilgiht

"I would guess she has no clue, like always." Said Blinkie

I then grabbed Blinkie and Inky in a great big hug. I then smiled even brighter realizing I was hugging both of them. Inky didn't really change at all since we were young other than a small hairpin clip in her hair that was topped with a flat pink gem shaped like a heart. Well and the hair that partially blocked her eye now blocked it completely. She also had a cutie mark of course, with a great big pink gem with little waves surrounding it.

Blinkie changed more. She still looked the same as last week but different from when we were younger. She was still purple with a grey mane, but now she was always wearing these neat goggles with all these little lenses that could be flipped down or flipped back up. Of course the big difference was her back leg was all machiney. It looked really cool all coppery and stuff. You could see all the pistons and the glowing crystals that made it work. There was a ring of white ones at the top of the metal leg, and some purple gems a few other places, including all around her silver hoof. Her cutie mark was two stone gears with round purple stones in the middle. Both my sisters had big smiles on their faces, but Inky was turning a little purple in the face, and Blinkie more pink. I realized I should let them go.

"That leg is amazing." Said Twilight a huge grin on her face and her eyes all bright and shinny like when it's new book day. "It's magi-tech like that strange mechanism on the door isn't it?"

Blinkie nodded. "Oh yes. Even though most of the ponies in town like to avoid me, the unicorns will help me with most of what I need, and I can send away for the rarer components. I still try to do as much as possible with pure technology."

"Fascinating. It's too bad you have to use such a leg though."

"Well at least this saves me the trouble of explain'in." said AJ

I giggled, but it was like way harder than normal. This isn't really funny. "Yea."

"What do you mean by too bad?" asked Blinke

"I mean the accident that cost you your leg. Though a regeneration spell still seems more practical in my opinion, even if it isn't by any means easy."

"Most see to agree, that is why I had to prove my point somehow. I removed my back left leg as a proof of concept." Then a buzzer sounded. "Oopsie, nearly forgot about that, be right back in a flash."

Twilight looked upset. She just stared as Blinke trotted off toward the thingie beeping in the distance. AJ sighed.

"Ya, this is what Pinkie meant. She seems normal enough most of the time, but every so often just does something that don't make a lick of sense."

"I told you she was crazy." I said

Inky nodded. "She's not dangerous, I mean if she hurts somepony she gets really upset even if it's just an accident. But she is just really weird about some things."

Twilight looked at me. "That sounds sorta familiar."

"Pfftt." I rolled my eyes. "Don't be silly Twilight. Just because I don't always know what I'm doing or why doesn't make me crazy."

Twilight looked like she was going to say something, then sighed and hung her head. I think she also muttered something under her breath but I wasn't sure. Twilight can just be so silly sometimes. The beeping stopped and Blinkie was now coming back over. I then turned to Inky.

"Inky, are you doing all the rock farming yourself now? It looks like Blinkie is really focusing on all her science stuff."

Inky nodded. "Mostly. She helps sometimes, but on the other hoof her inventions turn a much bigger profit than the farm alone ever did. Father would not be pleased of course."

I nodded. "Yea, I mean I thought it was bad enough I didn't know about parties, but then I found out about all the other cool things I was missing."

"I don't think I ever would have got my cutie mark if you didn't bring back that broken record player."

"And I never would have gotten mine if I didn't have to fix it." Added Blinkie

"Oooo, do you still have the secret lab out by the mine?" I hopped up and down "It is so neato, and the three of us made it like super huge."

"It started out very small." Added Inky

Blinkie nodded, smiling. "Oh yes, it's still there. However I mostly use this barn now, and some of the old mined out tunnels I converted for the more dangerous work."

Then I suddenly spun toward the tarp, and hopped even faster. "Ooo, the flying machine is under the tarp isn't it?"

Blinkie nodded. "Yes, but it's a surprise. You can't see it yet.

"Awww."

"Hello. I'm happy to meet you Blinkie." Said Twilight with a smile

"It is mighty good to see you again. Since yer folks left for that community in Mane haven't seen hide nor hair of either of ya."

"So you've always known Pinkie?" said Twilight

"Course. Ponyville ain't that big and the Pies were some of the first settlers in Ponyville after the Smiths. Our families always been friends. Things got a bit stressed when Pinkie's folks took over, but we never turned them away."

I giggled. "It was totally her granny's broken record player."

"Ah always thought granny was a bit against modern technology, but it's nothing like Pinkie's folks. Course I always thought you really grew potatoes or something, so maybe I don't quite got everything lined up as good as I thought."

"Nah, I think you got it." I said

"However I was certain father and mother knew what I was doing in the end, and one reason they decided to leave the care of the farm to Inky and myself."

"Omigosh, is that a…" Twilight began, but then cut herself off. "It is, and that's really the newest model, and I don't even know what that is but it's fascinating."

Twilight had been walking along excited, but now she had stopped. She was looking at a sparkly looking thing in Blinkie's lab near the wall. It looked really familiar. It was a tall pillar with a bunch of flashing lights that kept changing colors. It had a clear ball with a little spark that shot out little bits of electricty at the sides. I ran over to it and pressed my nose to it. All the electricty flipped toward my nose. I love these things so much. I giggled. Then I gasped.

"Oh wow, this is just like the one in your lab Twilight."

"Not quite. It's bigger for one. Almost like…" She then turned to Blinkie. "Wait, is this a full featured industrial arcanometer?"

Blinkie nodded.

"Omigosh, this would be so helpful. We could get several base readings at once."

"Uh didn't you already say something like that. Or was that lace beadings?"

"Lace beadings? What would that even…" Twilight took a deep breath. "I did but when Dash and Spike brought them back from Canterlot I quickly realized that the sample was somewhat useless as it was of course all unicorns. If this sort of research has been conducted before it isn't in Canterlot."

"Hmm, uppity Caterlot unicorns wouldn't know good sense if it smacked em in the snout." Then Applejack went wide eyed, and hung her head. "Mighty sorry about that Twi. But you know how most of them are."

"I suppose. Spike complained enough but honestly I never noticed either way. Though I think mostly that was because I was so focused on my studies I rarely went outside, and when I did never gave anypony else much attention."

Now Twilight and Applejack were all frowny. Can't have that. Twilight doesn't seem mad so maybe if I just cheer her up AJ will cheer up too. Then suddenly I had an idea. I know it was a good idea because it's always a good idea.

"OOO. Oooo. I know. We should throw a party."

"Pinkie, I'm pretty sure that won't solve this here problem." Applejack then blinked. "Er, but maybe I'm wrong?"

"No I don't think a party would help." Said Twilgiht "It would get all the ponies in one place but one scanner could still only get a fairly small number of ponies."

"I do have dozens more." Said Blinkie "They are also built to be able to be linked in an array to scan a large area."

"That could actually work." Twilight got a big smile on her face. Yay. "In fact with a large enough space we could scan all of Ponyville while parting as long as they remained in range long enough."

"So does that mean we can have a party?" I smiled as big as I could

"Yes Pinkie, we just need a venue."

"I can supply that as well. My old secret lab is currently acting as storage space, but it would not be too difficult to clear out."

I stopped suddenly. "Ooo, I just got a great idea. Maybe we can leave some stuff in and make it a theme party. That would be so much fun. Maybe even make it a costume party. I have this really cool…"

"Pinkie." Said Twilgiht. I instantly stopped "That isn't a good idea."

"Any enchanted item might interfere with the scan if too close to a pony."

"Ohh. Hmmm, well the tech thing is a good idea. But the lab is really big. I bet I could get more than just Ponyville in there."

I was trying to figure out the square footage, but it had been so long I wasn't sure. I guess I'd have to go visit it to make sure. Though it was really empty that would mean the big platform in the middle wouldn't have anything on it. Then I gasped. It would be totally perfect for a band, which could be a very big draw.

"Omigosh I just got a great idea."

"That was an interesting face." Said Twilight

AJ laughed. "That was her party planning face. I guess you ain't been around to see it that often. Though most times it don't stick around fer long neither."

"It's just so, serious, and contemplative."

I bounced up real close to Twilight and raised an eyebrow. "And why exactly do you think it shouldn't be huh? Parties are serious business. So Pinkie makes a serious face."

"Oh, uh, yes. I guess so."

I smiled. "Okay, now that that's settled I gotta go look at the lab and…" Then I froze, and even better idea forming. "OOO, I know just the band to invite, and I know she'll totally come. Ooo, and I can get Vinyl to fill the rest of the party. And best of all since it's like right here I can do it all with my sisters helping me."

I then pulled them both in a really big hug, and this time made sure I wasn't hugging them too tight, so they didn't change colors at all. I could see it now. Those cool sparky coils, the big boxes with all the flashing lights, all the other neat stuff Blinkie has, and even the arcawatzits to do the scanning looked cool.

"It will be the best party ever."

Twilight laughed. "Until you outdo yourself the next week."

"I better get started right away. To Canterlot."

Then I hopped off. This was going to be a lot of work, but I still had plenty of hours until tonight. I better hop to it double time. I don't want to make Twilight wait more than she has to and have the party tomorrow.

Something was wrong

I frowned. Something was wrong. The Party was coming together great. Vinyl was happy to help me and couldn't wait for tonight. I totally got Shadow Crash to come and invited Luna and all her friends personally. I ordered a little extra food since I knew I couldn't cook all the food I would need on such short notice. But I know all the good places so it was easy. Something was still wrong though, I was sure of it.

"What is it, what is it. I haven't forgotten anything. I mean I haven't started cooking anything yet, but I know I haven't and have time. It's something else."

"WE ARE CONFUSED." Said Luna "Why are you still in my room and how did thee gain entry in the first place."

Luna was just staring at me. I don't think I had anything in my mane, I could even see most of myself in the mirror behind Luna. I wonder why she's doing that. Hmm, though I guess I don't know her that well. Maybe I could work on that. I then smacked myself in the side of the head.

"Oh, don't be a silly filly Pinkie, you have a party to prepare. I'll have to do that tomorrow. Ooo, or tonight at the party. Best party ever."

"It was almost like you…" Luna then gasped. "Oh dear, it was exactly like that. I need to find that book right away."

Then she teleported away. That was rude. Or I thought it was rude. Unicorns have a bunch of rules for all sorts of proper behavior, so there is probably some sort of proper etiquette for teleporting too, but I totally don't know anything about that. I then decided even though I know something was wrong I couldn't figure out so I turned around and hopped out of Luna's room and into the kitchen of sugar cube corner.

"What the? Where the hay did ya come from Pinkie." Said Applebloom

"Well you were right about her showing up soon." Said Scootaloo

"Are you sure this is a good idea?"

I spun around to see the three foals. Sweetie Belle looked really worried for some reason. That was just silly, kitchen's are tons of fun and if you remember the fire safety rules it's really unlikely anything will explode or catch fire. I smiled.

"So what are you three here for?"

"Well I figure that maybe I could give cooking another try, and maybe the crusaders will do better as a group."

"Better? I know you didn't get your cutie mark, but those Cajun muffins were great. I mean maybe cooking isn't your talent, but you're plenty good. I mean it's not really my talent either ya know, but then I said to myself. Pinkie, how can you be the perfect party pony if you can't make food. Every party needs food. So then I went to France."

"Huh?" all three crusaders said

"So, you wanna learn to cook? I have a lot of work to do, but I would love to have three little helpers. That sound like fun?"

"Cutie mark crusaders bakers."

I smiled brightly. It was so cute how they yelled so loudly. It wasn't as loud as Inky could yell, but it was still loud. They clapped their hooves together. Then they lined up in front of me, and saluted. Something seemed odd about that somehow, but I couldn’t quite put my hoof on it. Then I laughed. I was beeing silly, how badly could the crusaders mess things up really. This is going to be fun.

I couldn't figure out how to put out the water, so I just drank it with the fire. Fire swallowing comes in handy once again. Though the pony that taught me said I was doing it wrong, but I don't know what he's talking about. I swallowed the fire just like he did, how could that be wrong? I looked at the mess in the kitchen. I frowned a little. The crusaders ran off to get some help yelling apologies as they left. It wasn't that bad really, but I was way behind now. Then I smiled. If you have too much work for one pony, you get a friend to help. I then jumped into the kitchen's apple bin and pushed my way though the bottom until I came up in the one in Applejack's farm.

"OOO, I need to be extra special careful to make sure she's not tired though. One batch of baked bads was one too many."

"Ah know ah might not bother askin' you, but what you doing in my apples Pinkie?"

"I dunno. Sometimes I wonder why it works the way it does, but I still don't know so I just ignore it for now."

"Yep, that was a waste a breath alright. Okay, so why you here then?"

"Oh, I want your help making enough food for the party. I'm like way behind, and you're good and I know it isn't applebucking season so…"

"You figured I ain't gonna ruin no food this time?"

"Oh, well, yea, that too, but I was going to say I just figured you're not that busy."

"This is a farm and we're plenty busy year round, but I guess I have time. Seems like I been getting some stuff done a bit faster lately. There is this weird problem with the trees though. I guess it can wait but..."

"OOO, let me see. Let me see."

"Pinkie I doubt…"

"You doubt the powers of…"

I then pulled a detective hat out of my mane and flopped it on my head. It was all weird looking and floopy. It also had these little flaps that fell down on the side of my head. Which was so weird, I mean what are they supposed to cover down there? I then pulled out a magnifying glass.

"Detective Pinkie. Come AJ, the game is a hoof." Then I put a hoof to my chin. "Though I don't really know what game, or how a game can be a hoof."

"Uh, that mean you want me to show you the trees?"

"Oh, yea. I guess so."

I then followed AJ out of the barn, and to the closest tree. It looked a little off, like it was leaning or something. Also there was two odd round areas of bark disturbed on the side of the trunk. I rolled my eyes and turned around."

"Vhis if mo oblious I midn't emem meet ty lagmifyimg gleff."

"Pardon?"

I then threw up my magnifying glass and took a step forward so it landed in my mane. "I said it's so obvious I didn't even need my magnifying glass." I then glared at AJ though I didn't stop smiling. Then I turned up my nose. "In fact it's far beneath the skills of detective Pinkie."

"What you talking about you silly filly?"

"Obviously you're bucking them too hard. I mean duh."

"Pinkie, that don't make no sense. Ah been bucking these trees for years, and Ah know just how hard to hit them."

"But then what else would make two hoof marks on the bark like that."

"Pinkie, that's just plum loco. Ah mean maybe if ah bucked as hard as ah could ah could ah might damage the bark, but ah couldn't tilt the trees."

"Awww, really? But I was so sure I solved the case."

"Ah guess ah gotta get Twilight out here one of these days. She is mighty busy helping that weird sister of yours setting up that party though."

"Yea, I'll have to make sure the decorations look right, but I'm sure they can make it look sciencey enough by themselves."

"Ah reckon so. The apples been friendly like with the Pies for long as they been in this neck of the woods, but ah still worry 'bout that sister o yours sometimes.

I rolled my eyes. "She isn't going to murder anyone in their sleep silly. I'm the one that watches horror movies. So you don't have to worry about that at all."

"Yea, uh, sure."

Then I blinked, narrowing my eyes. "Hey, this isn't a maneonite thing, is it? I mean the whole forsaking technology always seemed silly to me, along with some other stuff but I still follow the old ways, well, mostly, kinda, sorta, well, at least a little."

"That sure ain't it. Nah, it's just the whole quiet and bleakness of them folks. Grandma said her momma remembered the Pie farm as a happy place, which don't sound right."

"Well rock farming sorta kills everything alive. I mean it wasn't always that bleak I'm sure. It was much better once father let us talk, but…"

Then I looked down. In the end it all worked out okay. I even started visiting father and mother fairly often before they gave the farm to Blinkie and Inky and left. They never really understood why Inky and I had to leave, and never understood or knew what Blinkie was doing, but they accepted it. They accepted that we couldn't be happy with things as they were, even if they were happy.

"So really, it's okay. I don't see them much anymore, but we're all happy."

"Uh, yea. That's great sugar cube. Still seems strange as all get out that rock farming is a real thing. Still don't quite get how that could work."

I rolled my eyes. "What's to get. Roll rocks to collect mana, let sit, repeat. Simple."

"Mana?"

"Yea, I mean dad called it earth essence, but it's, ya know, magic. Magic is in everything and earth ponies can gather it up and make it so a little rock of gold ore sucks up some dirt once it's ready and become a big rock of gold ore."

Applejack went wide eyed. "That's what you're doing?"

"Duh, I mean why would we bother making run of the mill rocks bigger. I mean it's not just gold and gems, but it's always something somehow special."

"Ah think ah really get it now. Yea, that makes a might bit ah sense."

I looked at Applejack. She was shaking a little. It almost looked like she was afraid. What would AJ be afraid of? She's like toughest pony ever. Then she stopped shaking and laughed.

"AJ, you okay?"

"Yea sugarcube, just you making that much sense don't sit right with me. Also ah know all ponies have magic, but ah never really thought we can do anything with it."

"But there are the apples. So many apples."

"That's just good ol tender loving care. Nothin' more."

I squinted my left eye a little and looked right at her. "Are you sure?"

"Er, I guess not Pinkie. So how about we get to working on these treats of yours. Not that ah'm thinking your right but there ain't no use to be harvesting right now, and Twilight should get some free time any day now."

"Okie doki loki. You wanna come to sugar cube corner, or use your kitchen?"

"Ah think we'll start here, make some apple dishes, then move to sugar cube corner for some more of your sugary things."

"Whooo!"

I then hopped off in the direction of AJ's house. I always love baking with Applejack. It's so fun. Just like it's fun playing pranks with Rainbow Dash, and trying to help Twilight doing her sciencey things to me, and with Rarity I have the tea parties. I then gasped.

"Omigosh, I don't have a thing with Fluttershy."

"I can't say I'm too surprised you ain't the choosy type, but is that really a surprise that shy girl would be a bit terrified of that sort of thing, even with a stallion?"

"Huh?"

"Oh, that ain't what you meant, is it? What did you mean by that?"

I rolled my eyes. "Duh, isn't it obvious? I mean unlike all my other friends I don't have some thing both Fluttershy and I do together. Ya know, like with you its' baking."

"What in the hay could you and Rarity do. I'm sorry but it just seems like that overly properly mare and you…"

"Oh, party training. Right now it's just tea but soon we might move on to even more boring stuff."

AJ blinked. "And you want to do this?"

"Sorta." I then sighed. "I mean yea it's really boring, but a tea party or fancy party is still a party, and I vowed to be the master of all parties, even the boring ones."

"Well I can see you might need a bit of practice for that. This is cause of the gala right?"

I nodded so hard I fell forward. "Ooops." I then stood up again. "I mean it wasn't until days later that Rarity told me the gala was supposed to be boring."

"I doubt that royal in all but fact mare said that."

"Ooo, probably not, but I remember lots of things wrong all the time. Like I bet that speech she gave me about the gophers didn't happen at all."

"Ah reckon so."

I laughed. AJ had such a funny look on her face. Her mouth was opened wide, but her eyes were wider. She looked so silly.

Wrong again

Sugar Cube Corner was filled with the smell of countless baked goods. There were a bunch more in a cart headed for the Pie family farm. AJ seemed really worried that I let the crusaders take it while she was looking for Big Mac, but I'm sure they'll do fine. I then looked around, trying to find counter space for the tray of muffins I had in my mouth. I looked again.

"Yea, sorry sugar cube, but I think there ain't anywhere left to put it down in here. I think we overdid it a bit. I still can't figure how you can get so much done even with all these ovens to use. It just don't seem possible." AJ then laughed "Oh yea."

"Muh?" I then opened my mouth wide enough the tray dropped to the ground. "I don't get it. What's funny."

"Never mind none Pinkie."

I picked up the tray again. I then zipped out front and put the muffins on the counter. I looked around for Derpy hiding in the rafters, but then remembered she was afraid of muffins right now thanks to AJ. At least it seemed like it. I mean why else would you be afraid of muffins besides the baked bads?

"How big you really planning this party being? Ah mean how big can a room be you made when you were a bunch of little fillies."

"It was already bigger than our house and we made it much bigger. You think I don't work hard just because I spend most of my time inside?"

"I admit I sometimes do, but not any days I see you bake. That endless energy can be used for lots of things I guess."

I smiled "The best thing is I get tired less. I mean I totally used to get wiped all the time, but now I make it though the whole day without a rest like all the time."

"Wait, wha?"

"Oooo, if we take this stuff over to the party we can bake even more."

"Pinkie what exactly do you mean by not getting tired?"

"Oh, I used to like crash all the time. The cakes called it a sugar crash, but I'm pretty sure I just like did way too much. I'd be fine after a little rest, and a snack, but now it like almost never happens. I mean that one time I was running around in the heat wearing all those costumes I like totally collapsed, but most of the time I'm not outside that much so I'm sure that's all it was."

"Sounds like this is somethin' you should be telling Twilight. Though ah been having a bit fewer rest breaks too ah guess. Ah mean that whole single handed applebucking business was proof of that sure enough. Ah did much better than normal."

"That didn't seem like better to me."

"Well it sure weren't ma best, but ah don't even remember goin' to sleep. Ah musta got a few hours here or there, but ah sure didn't get much, yet ah was more a danger to everyone else than maself. Ah was right as rain with a bit of rest too."

"Ooo, neat, so is this because of that whole being the elements thing Luna said?"

"Ah reckon, but we would really need to ask Twilight. Even if she might not know considering Luna was the one who figured it out, and she ain't sure neither."

"Okay, then some of this must be cool enough, lets box it up and get it the party."

"Sounds good sugarcube."

"Ooo, I know. Lets sing a song to make the work go faster." I then cleared my throat a little. "The packing is..."

I then suddenly had a hoof in my mouth. I then glared at AJ. She sighed removed her hoof. I briefly considered licking her hoof, but mother was really clear about when it is and isn't the right time to lick somepony. Those rules never made any sense to me, but when I do break them Ponies give me weird looks so maybe she was right. But sometimes it's just so hard to resist.

"What was that for?"

"Ain't nothing against your singing or your songs, but I wanted to talk about something else. Namely you and these tea parties. You really just sit around with that mare and do all that frou frou stuff."

I nodded. "It's training. Rarity said mostly I need patience, but she's also teaching me proper manners."

"You really doing it just because it's a party? I mean that's true enough, but it don't seem like that should be enough."

"Just because I don't understand it doesn’t mean they aren't having fun. I told you I vowed to…"

"Ah, that's your problem right there sugarcube." She then laughed. "Fancy parties like the gala ain't really for fun."

"What?"

I was walking back into the kitchen when I turned around to look at AJ. A party that isn't fun? If there's no fun, how can it be a party? I felt tears start to run down my face. Why was I crying?

"No, that can't be possible."

"Look, you said you know that fancy parties ain't just like normal parties but fancier clothes right?"

I nodded.

"Okay, so it's like this here. Now you can have some fun any time there are some friends about, we all learned that the hard way. Good company makes anythin' better."

I nodded again.

"But that type a party ain't really for fun. There is music, but it's classical, which is only really good for slow dances."

"Rarity explained that like super dooper well. That it's supposed to be all romantic and stuff. Ooo, ooo. And for like talking with other ponies."

"Yea, and what this really all comes down to is them high society parties aren't about fun, but making connections and showing off."

"Connections? Connections to what? I mean one time this squid was connected to my face but…"

"Like business connections and such. The royals and other political types are al there as well as famous ponies and…"

"Politics is no fun at all. Yea, every pony knows that."

"That is the real point of these sorts of parties, ya talk about nothing at all in a pleasant manner so you can try to get something out of them later. Plus you show off how rich and important you is."

"Wow AJ, you sure know a lot about this sorta thing."

"Yea, well auntie and uncle Orange tried to be right helpful teaching me everythin' a proper lady should know. Ah still remember a bit of it even though ah realized ah ain't never gonna be no proper lady."

I then put my hoof to my chin. AJ started boxing up stuff while I sat there. Between AJ and Rarity I think I understood now. I felt really silly when I first realized fancy parties were not just normal parties with fancy clothes and fancy music, but different somehow. But now I think I got it.

"They're not parties at all really, are they? They're just uh…"

"Don't bother yourself thinking about it sugar cube."

"Well, it doesn't matter. I want to be the partiest party pony I can be, which means I just have to figure out how to have fun at any party, even Rarity style."

"Uh, ah reckon that's a noble sort of goal. Ah think."

"Come on, we have a serious normal party to prepare, and party preparing Pinkie is serious Pinkie. Look how serious I am."

Applejack did turn to look at me, and then raised one eyebrow. Then she turned back to boxing up stuff. I was about to help her, but then I was next to her and suddenly the wrong thing from earlier was back. I still wasn't sure what it was, but it was bugging me. What could it be, and why did standing near AJ make me realize it again.

A Cameo

I blinked. I was lost again. I hated it when that happened. The forest looked normal enough, all bright and cheerful like forest is supposed to be but there didn't seem to be any towns nearby. There was some cloud city in the distance but it didn't look very pegasusy. I mean it was made of rainbows and clouds, but it was way more boring.

"Oh, it's you again."

I spun around. There was a purple raccoon thing. He sorta looked like a teddy bear, but not exactly and he was alive. His cutie mark was on his big belly for some reason. That's just silly. It was a yellow light bulb over a heart. I waved.

"Hiya mister light bulb."

"That isn't my name. Look, just go. The last time you were here ended badly enough, I can't imagine you getting less destructive with time."

"Ooo, but I totally have."

He sighed. "I just finished really getting my lab back in order. Can't you please just leave. Like now?"

I shook my head. "It doesn't work that way. I don't know how it works either, but I know how it does work, so I can't leave yet."

The cute little guy crossed his arms. "You don't actually listen to yourself, do you?"

"Not if I can help it. I really confuse myself when I do that. But I have a party to get to so I probably won't be lost too long." Then I put a hoof to my chin "Though sometimes that doesn't matter somehow. I wonder how that works sometimes."

Then he was giving me the "are you crazy look". It looked like ten times cuter on his little face, but it was still clearly the same look. Then I had a feeling about a hallow log nearby. It wasn't exactly a twitch, just a vague something that told me that it would work as a shortcut to get where I wanted to go. I then waved again.

"Bye bye mister Light bulb. I have to go now but I'll see you later."

"I hope not."

"What?"

"I said I'm very happy you're leaving, so please get on with it."

I laughed. Mister Light bulb was so silly. I then crawled though the log. I still don't why sometimes the shortcuts go so far out of the way sometimes, but I do always get there faster in the end. Even if I do end up all sorts of weird places.

Ha, ha. Little

Ha, ha. Little

Luna sent a lot of food from the palace chefs so we ran out of tables to put it on. I decided I could probably take at least a little break. Also I was a pony on a mission. I needed a thing with Fluttershy and would get it. AJ said she had to go back to the farm and check on things anyway. Fluttershy's cottage looked a little weird. It was always covered in green, but now it was like super covered. Plus there were a bunch of flowers and such like everywhere. I mean this one flower was almost as tall as my mouth.

"I wonder what it is?"

No one said anything, so I decided if it looked pretty, the blue flower might taste good too. So I ate it right off it's stem. It was really yummy, and I don't think I ever had one before either. I need to ask Twilight about that. I then spun to another of the overgrown plants around the cottage. Its leaves were like mega green, and it smelled like that special lettuce that one pony gave me. I still don't remember what happened next, but somehow I crossed the whole mountain range and I woke up dyed orange. But that plant was all spiky looking, this one has really round leaves.

"Uh, what are you doing? If you don't mind my asking, that is."

"Fluttershy."

I spun around and hugged the mare behind me before she could react. Her eyes went wide right before. Then she pulled out of my grip, and began messing with the white hat on her head, making sure it was just right. It reminded me of Rarity a little. She then let out a sigh of relief, and turned toward me with a big smile on her face. The hat was a wide brimmed fancy thing with a single feather in it. It was a big read feather that reminded me of something.

"Oooo, is that one of Moonfire's feathers?"

"Who?"

"Oh, uh, I dunno. Somehow that seemed the right thing to say, but now it doesn’t seem like it at all. I think I did hear that name somewhere though."

"Uh, why are you here Pinkie?"

"To find a thing with you. Why are you wearing a hat? I like hats. I have a neat umbrella hat." I gasped. "Ooo, maybe our thing can be hats."

"Uh…"

I frowned. "No, that's silly. Wearing hats isn't a thing." I smiled. "Don't you worry none, auntie Pinkie Pie will think of something."

"Pinkie how…" Then she stopped. "Sorry, I shouldn't have even thought something like that. I didn't mean it."

"It's okay, I really do forget you're older a whole bunch. It's because you're just so cute I can't help but think you're younger, ya know."

Fluttershy just stared at me. It went on for a really long time. I got bored so I decided to steal her hat so I could see if I like it. She immediately launched into the sky, both front hooves pulling down on her hat, like someone was trying to yank it off her head or something. She was shaking and was wide eyed. Then I laughed.

"Oh yea, I was trying to take it."

"Please don't."

"You must really like that hat. I mean like love it."

"Not really I just…" Then she went wide eyed again. "I mean, yes, I do. Rarity gave it to me and the feather is from Philomena, so it's precious to me for two reasons. In fact I never want to take it off again. Yes, hat wearer from now on."

Then Fluttershy gave me a smile followed by a little squeak. She makes such cute little noises. Still, something seemed off, and not the wrong thing with me, but something about Fluttershy. Then I gasped.

"You don't talk like that. That almost sounds like an excuse." I glared at her

"No really, it's not like that."

I blinked. "Wait, it's not my birthday again, is it?"

"No, and Dash got us all to promise never to throw you a surprise party again. I don't know why though. You looked a bit upset, but it worked out so well."

I turned away. I knew why. I felt like such a silly filly when I figured it out, but Dash saw things. Things I don't remember too well, but I know I didn't want her to see. Then I shook my head and did my best to get in Fluttershy's face. She recoiled, and since I was looking up and flew even higher when I did it didn't work that well.

"Hey, that isn't fair."

"I'm sorry. Look, really, it's nothing. I'm not hiding anything under my hat. I just like this hat and plan to wear if from now on. That's all."

"Oh, okie doki." I then paused for a moment. "I got it. You should try to think of a thing too. Then, three are two ponies trying to think of a thing instead of one. I'm sure we'll come up with something."

"Uh, okay."

She smiled brightly again, and landed. I guess I could help her garden. I helped AJ plant some trees and that was okay. I guess the reason I don't have a thing with Fluttershy is she's like the anti party pony. No Pierce is the anti party pony, how can he think popping balloons is fun. Fluttershy is like the anti Pinkie though. She doesn't like parties, and is all quiet, and keeps to herself.

"Or would the anti Pinkie be a supervillain that went around ruining parties everywhere."

"What?"

"Ooo, then I could be Party Mare, protector of good times everywhere. I could put on a mask to hide my identity. Double OOO, it could be one of those fun Mardi Grass masks. Now that is a town that knows how to party."

"Uh, what are you talking about? If you don't mind me asking that is?"

"Party based superheroes, duh."

Then I blinked. I think I was thinking of something important. I was almost sure I was. Party based superheroes are neat but not really important. I then laughed.

"Oh well, if it's really important I'll remember."

"Uh, okay."

I then hopped off. I really should check the decorations again. They seemed good but maybe I can make them better. I then suddenly had an idea. I turned to hop back to sugar cube corner. I needed some food coloring.

"Please?"

Twilight sighed. I don't think the eyes were really working. She then walked out of the room and down into her basement. I decided to stand up. She came back with a notebook hovering next to her. It looked like the one Firecracker was using earlier. She flipped thought the pages, then stopped. A measuring tape on the table then hovered next to me as well. It zipped around a few times, taking some measurements. Then her eyes went wide.

"You really are shrinking."

"Please Twilight, fix me."

"The eyes don't help Pinkie. You know if we hadn't measured you just this morning and you were anypony else I wouldn’t have even bothered to check. You are in fact five inches shorter. You really are shrinking."

"I told you. Now fix it. I don’t want to be a little filly again. I didn't like being a filly."

Twilight blinked, looking at me. I then realized I was crying, and my mane had gone flat. I hated it when it did that.

"I'm sure we can fix this Pinkie. If I can't I'll ask Luna, and even Celestia if need be. Now follow me and lets get some readings from downstairs."

"Okay."

"Now, when did this start?"

"I don't know exactly. I think I noticed it when I was with the cutie mark crusaders in the kitchen, but that might have just been, ginnnngivitus."

Twilight stopped. "Why did you say it like that."

"Like what?"

"Like…" She then shook her head and continued downstairs. "Nevermind."

I had already stopped crying. This was no big deal. Twilight can fix anything with her smarty smartness. I then zipped into the chair, my hair already feeling all poofy again. Maybe not full poofy, but much better. Twilight then turned on stuff and connected some wires, and then sat there looking at various read outs.

"So earlier today then?"

"Yea, something seemed wrong, but I couldn't figure it out till a little bit ago. I couldn't reach something, but then Inky could. We're all the same height, so I figured it out and then I came here…"

"Yelling, I'm shrinking, I'm shrinking. Okay, first oddity, you may be smaller, but you're not lighter. Second there is definitely something very strange going on with your aura."

"That's a magic thingie, right?"

"It's pretty much the magic, thingie. Interpreting auras is very complicated, and there is quite a bit of debate on the subject, but the wealth of information they contain is well accepted by all magic researchers."

"So mine is weird?"

"In countless ways really, but now it's even stranger. For one it's far more active, almost like a unicorn's in a way."

"So, I'm turning into a unicorn filly?"

"Don't be ridiculous. I may not know exactly what is going on, but I can assure you that is not what is going on here."

"Are you sure?"

Twilight turned to me and rolled her eyes. "Yes Pinkie, I'm sure. Though I think I need all the help I can get so I think I'll send a note for Luna to get here early so we can discuss this matter."

"Twichy…" I began and Twilight immediately cringed and looked up. "Ooo, no, it's a combo. I wonder what that is."

"What is?"

"Well some of my internal organs are twitching. Though I'm not sure what all of them are, so I'm not sure what's twitching. Also I've never felt this combo before."

"So is it a big one? Even though you didn't know what it was you were able to say that it was a doozy."

"Hmmm…"

I tried to figure it out. It was a new combo, so it wasn't simple, but it didn't feel like a doozy at all. One combo let me know Silent Sky was in Ponyville so I could throw her a party, but it wasn't really a doozy. Of course with internal organs sometimes I got confused. I mean the liver and spleen don't feel all that different.

"I mean come on, it totally wasn't my fault that rampaging ursa and sea serpent looking to buy mustache wax are so similar."

"What?"

"Oh, I dunno. It feels really odd, like it's both more and less of a doozy. It's all like flickity flickity, but it's also a little gurgly wurgly, and those so don't go together at all so it could mean just about anything."

"How can any of that mean anything." Twilight then sighed and looked down. "I'm sorry. I believe in your twitches, and accept they somehow work, but…"

"You still want to know." I then slid over and wrapped my arm around her. "It's okay Twi Twi. I know you can't help but want to know. I don't question anything I do, but I know not everypony can be like that."

"You don't ever doubt yourself at all?"

I blinked "I don't think that's what I said."

Then I felt dizzy. I laughed as I fell over. I love feeling dizzy, it's so fun. I stood up and suddenly everything was smaller. No, I was taller. I walked up to Twilight and pressed my nose against hers. She instantly recoiled. It wasn't that cold was it?

"Woo, thanks Twilight."

"I didn't do anything."

"No need to be modest. I know you're super amazing awesome with magic and I'm okay with it. Don't you remember that letter?"

"But Pinkie, I didn't do anything. It's almost like you fixed yourself somehow."

"Oh, but, I touched you and then I was fixed, so it must have been you."

"Pinkie that…" Twilight then stared. "Actually, that might make sense." Then her mouth dropped open. "You just made a logical conclusion."

I laughed. "Oh come on silly filly, just because I don't try to do that doesn't mean I ca-an't. It's just way more fun if I don't worry about that."

"You mean making sense?"

I nodded, then laughed. "Yep. Now, I have a cannon to find."

"For the party?" asked Twilight

"Maybe."

I then put a hoof on my chin. I wasn't sure why I needed that anymore. I think it was for the party, but maybe it was for something else. I know I needed a cannon for something. I then decided to just hop off anyway. If you need a cannon, you get a cannon, even if you don't know why. Besides, there are tons of things you can do with a cannon. It never hurts to have extra. And one day I would perfect my party cannon. It wasn't working right quite yet, but one day. One day.

The Party

I was giving Rarity my best innocent eyes, but she wasn't having it. The pout didn't help either. I then smiled briefly, then sighed and hung my head.

"I'm sorry Rarity. It's just cannons are so much fun, and the crusaders said they wanted one, and I had one, and it took me a while, but I eventually remembered where I put it, and then I brought it to them, but you were there, and you didn’t like it and then you were glaring at me, and then I gave you the eyes and…"

"That's enough darling. Now, I know responsibility and you have an understanding, but you are a grown mare and are capable of some responsible actions. You really should have known better than giving foals a cannon. Especially those three."

"Oh, you mean it's not because I forgot to give them a safety lecture? You're right that was totally irresponsible. I mean cannon safety is important."

"No, that is most certainly not it. For one I don't believe there really is such a thing as cannon safety."

I rolled my eyes. "Don't be a silly filly. Of course there is."

"I mean that no amount of additional safety will ever make a cannon safe for anything, especially not for those three."

"Ohhhhh." Then I put my hoof on my chin. "But if that's the case why did you let them run off with the cannon while you were yelling at me?"

Rarity went wide eyed, turned around, and seeing the crusaders were indeed gone began looking around frantically. I then spotted a speck in the distance. Blinkie did make the cannon really easy to move. I guess she was right when she said a filly even littler than I was back then could pull it easily. They sure got far. Rarity then took off in a gallop.

"Hmmm, maybe I should tell her I also forgot to give them any blasting powder for the cannon so they can't actually fire it."

"That is something you should have said, yea."

I then spun around and had a laughing Decibel in a hug. I hadn't seen the head mare of Shadow Crash for a while, and it was really good to see her again. Her full name was Doom Decibel, and most of her fans called her Doomy, which was cute, but she would always be Decibel to me. Her fur was the same color grey as Inky's, just like her eyes were the same purple, but her mane was jet black and right now all punk spiky. Even though Luna brought up the moon hours ago she was still wearing her sunglasses. She was so cool.

"Yea, your so cool ice thinks you're cold."

"Okay. So, Scratch is all set up and he'll be playing till we're ready. All the plugs in there make setting up a snap. That curtain you rigged up looks good too."

"Oh, do you know if Luna is here yet? I forgot to ask but I did sorta spread it around that she was coming."

"Why are you asking me Pinkie?"

"We are here."

I turned around and bowed to Luna. Then I hugged her. She liked hugs. She always broke out of them fairly quickly for some reason though. She was in that black unicorn form with silver hair, but it was still really obvious it was her. I mean she was still all Luna-y. I don't get how it fooled any pony. Silent Sky was next to her in her new silver armor. It looked really pretty on her black hide and her neon pink hair. Fluttershy's sister is neato, but mine are ever better.

"This isn't remotely secure, but thankfully I was able to mobilize the full guard, or near enough, so I think we can handle any threat."

"They aren't going to be all mopey and just sit there are they?"

"No. I'm in fact the only one in any armor at all. The rest will mingle with the other partygoers and be ready if needed. We should go Luna."

"Oh yes, we truly should. We do enjoy the stylings of DJ Pon3. He is the hips."

Sky sighed. "Good try Luna, but that wasn't even that close."

"OH PITEOUS NIGHT." She paused. "We shall simply strive to do better. Onward."

I giggled as they left. Luna was a really fun pony sometimes. She was all frowny way too often though. I understood she had a lot to frown about, but that just means you have to try harder to smile more. She walked in with Sky right behind her. Sky really liked her armor, but she probably should have taken her off since it kinda gives away Luna's disguise even more.

"You know we could follow them inside. You probably want to check the decorations again anyway, right?"

"Nah, I'm good. Five is like way more than normal really, but I want this to be a really perfect party. Ooo, but I could check the food."

"And by that you mean sample, right?" Decibel then laughed "You never change."

I then hopped into the cave, and through the open hidden doors at the back. When closed they looked like solid rock. The huge square room was so awesome. Not only were there tons of balloons and streamers, and normal party decorations, but there was also a bunch of science things lying about. There were tons of those neat coils, but behind glass so no one would touch them. There were also a bunch of boxes with blinking lights, and there were even some of Blinkie's robots. None of them really worked like robots on TV, but they still looked really cool and she could make them move around with a remote if she wanted.

"Ooo, I need to go find Blinkie."

"Why?"

"Because a party game with a robot would be awesome."

I then bounced off. I was so excited I almost bounced right past the tables with all the food on it. Luna brought a lot so if a whole big bunch of ponies didn't show up we would have a lot of left overs. I could wait to talk to Blinkie a few minutes. I mean she was still probably talking with Twilight. It all looked so good I didn't know what to check first. I then noticed some shinny orange leaves.

"Ooo, I've never seen something like that before."

Luna had appeared on stage when Decibel called out to the crowd asking if she was here tonight. I don't think she knew why I asked her to do that, and she was sure surprised when she ended up singing her most famous duet with Luna instead of that stallion with the funny eyebrows. The whole set had been so much fun they said they'd do another after a break. Scratch had all the attention on her now, even though she was off to the side of the room.

"Hey, now that I think of it Scratch might have dragged Octy along. Wouldn’t that be just the funniest thing ever?"

"What are you talking about? Why are you even talking to me?"

I turned to see Bon Bon. She sorta didn't like me. She had her awesome candy store and I bought stuff there all the time, but I bothered her for some reason.

"How can a mare that makes such sweet candy, be so sour." I then shook my head.

"Why am I still here?" Then she blinked and smiled. "Oh, uh, great party, I, just need to find Lyra so I'm going to leave. Nothing personal of course."

She moved away as quickly as she could. It was a fake smile. I frowned briefly, but then smiled again. She was enjoying my party even if she was avoiding me like usual. Lyra was always so much nicer. I then gasped.

"Omigosh, could she be jealous of how well I get along with Lyra?"

"Hey Pinks, hows it going?"

I smiled, moving to hug Rainbow Dash, but stopped myself. She wasn't that fond of hugs, or at least didn't want to be. I think she liked them but didn't want to like them. Rainbow Dash then took a good long look at me. Then she walked over to me, and held up one wing next to me. She blinked.

"Okay, this is going to sound weird, but I swear you're shorter."

I grumbled. "Not again." Then I smiled "Ooo, I don't have to worry this time, I know Twilight can fix me, so everything will be hunky dory."

"Wait, you really shrunk, and for the second time?"

I nodded. "Uh huh. Then Twilight fixed me. She said she didn't be she totally did."

"What? Pinkie this sounds really strange, even for you."

"Ooo, maybe I should wait longer this time. So I can a teeny tiny Pinkie Pie. Now that I know I'm not going to be a foal I can have some fun with it."

"I'm pretty sure this sounds like something you should talk to Twilight about now. In fact I think I'm going to…"

Then Dash just stopped talking. I turned around and there was a blue stallion and an orange mare standing next to a bunch of other pegasai. Something about them looked really familiar. Also I thought they should be bluer somehow.

"Dashie." I waved a hoof in front of her face. "You still in there? This one time I totally wasn't, and was in this weird room with a bunch of screens that had pictures of us on them. I mean I wasn't there, there, but I also was. I mean I could see everything, and there were also these really weird pinkish things but not pink like me, sorta more peachy, oh, but one of them were chocolate, and one might have been almond and…"

"Wonderbolts."

"Huh?"

"Those ponies. They're the Wonderbolts." Dash then hugged me. "Pinkie, you threw a party so awesome the Wonderbolts came."

Then she was gone. I smiled brightly. Maybe she did just ditch me, but she liked my party so much she actually hugged me. That was so worth it. Besides, there are plenty of other ponies and so much more fun to spread. I bounced off, looking for anyone that needed a bit more Pinkie in their party.

What.

I woke up to see my ceiling in Sugarcube Corner. This wouldn't have been that odd but I didn't remember going to sleep. Ooo, maybe I really did party till I dropped. That's always the best, so much party, then right to sleep. Then I tried to get up, but fell to the floor, the sheets spinning around me. Something felt really wrong. I then bounced out of the sheets, and it was immediately clear what. Everything got giant.

"Oh no, the world got bigger."

I then blinked. Oh, I bet I shrunk. It could be the world that got bigger, but I'm pretty sure I shrunk. I also felt odd. Oh no, Twilight was wrong, I really did become a little foal again. I didn't waste any time and dove into my bookcase. It was mostly just cookbooks but there were a few books on parties and some neat stories. I then came out in Twilight's library and jumped at her. I didn't really mean to bowl her over, but I did. Then I gave her my best pathetic eyes.

"Please Twilight, you've gotta fix me again. I don't want to be stuck like this."

"Uh, who are you and how did you get in here?"

I rolled my eyes. "Duh, who do you think I am silly, now fix me."

She then leaned down and looked at my cutie mark, then looked at me for a good long while, eventually staring at my forehead.

"No."

"Huh?"

"I refuse to believe you're Pinkie Pie. I don't care if you have the same cutie mark, you can't be her. You just can't."

"Why not?"

"First of all, your mane and tail are blue."

"Ooo, they are?"

I then looked back. My tail was fluffy as ever, but now it was sky blue. Now it looked like blue cotton candy. I probably should still not try to eat it though. That hurt. I then turned back to Twilight. She was staring.

"Okay, that was good." She laughed. "Really good." She laughed again. It wasn't a good laugh. "Yes, very Pinkie like, but no, she's not a foal. Just because she really did seem to briefly shrink doesn't mean…" Then her eye twitched.

"Uh, Twilight, are you okay."

"Yes, you still can't be her, because even if by some power you did change your hair color, though I can't imagine how."

"But Luna does it like all the time."

"Oh, yes, that does make sense." Then her eye twitched again. "But no, you can't be because most of all, you are clearly not an earth pony."

I laughed. "I don't have wings silly."

"I mean your horn. I mean you have a horn you crazy Pinkie impersonating little foal that can't possibly be…" Then Twilgiht laughed again. "Except the Pinkie rule says otherwise doesn't it." Her eye twitched again, a few times in row.

"Huh, I don't know the Pinkie rule, and I'm Pinkie."

She laughed, eye twitching madly. "Of course you are, because that makes no sense. That's the rule. With Pinkie, the less sense it makes the more likely it is to be true."

"Oh, so I do have a horn then?"

I then crossed my eyes to look at it. I think Twilight made a funny face, and I know she made a funny sound, it was something between a drawn out rasberry and a laugh. I really did have a little pink horn. I could also see a little of my blue mane hanging down, the same color as my tail.

"Ooo, that's neat."

"So you're a unicorn and little foal now. Of course, you, are. It makes no sense, but that's why it makes sense. Yes, so much senseless sense." Then her tail twitched.

"I thought only I got a twitchy tail."

"It's all becoming clear."

"Ooo, I wonder if I can do stuff."

I then focused on trying to lift a book. Nothing happened but my horn did light up. I kept trying until I heard a funny noise from Twilight again. It was a sort of "glurk" and when I turned she started shuddering. Then she fell over.

"Oh no, I broke Twilight."

Twilight was much better when she got up, but way less funny. Nurse Redheart said she'd be fine, she just got a really bad shock. When I heard that I was glad I was a sneaky Pinkie and told her my name was Balloony when she asked. I didn't want to break another pony, even if just for a little bit. I was behind a curtain hanging on a string tied to the tops of bookcases. I couldn’t see Twilight right now, and was patiently waiting behind the curtain. I wasn't sure how this was better, but Twilight is super smart so I'm sure it will be somehow.

"Sugarcube, where the hey did you get that hat and cape."

"Actually darling it's a cloak, not a cape."

"What's the difference? It reminds me a little much of that showmare's getup."

"Personally that getup as you call it, I once considered her one redeeming feature. She really isn't any worse than Dash once you get to know her."

"Hay."

"I did not mean that as an insult. However Twilight, I know I didn't make it, and I'm curious. Did you…"

"I found it in the tree. It's very nice don't you think?"

"Oh darling it's wonderful, the stars seem to literally glow and…"

"Oh come on." Said Dash "Can we please just get on with this. I can't believe AJ started a discussion about fashion. I mean you don't hear me talking about Fluttershy's new hat."

"It is not a new hat, but one I made her some time ago. In fact…"

"Ugh. I don't care. Please Twilight, save me."

"Dash is being a might rude, but ah gotta agree sugarcube. Ah'm mighty curious what this is all about."

"Then the friendly and well read Twilight shall reveal her latest wonder. Behold."

Then the curtain parted. They didn't really react. Then I smiled. Twilight was right about one thing for sure. This little prank would be a lot of fun. She was wearing a dark blue wizard hat and a long cloak that covered her flank and came down in the front to fall near her feet. In the dark it might look quite spooky. Both were covered in sparkling little stars of gold and silver.

"Hi everypony. Don't I look neat with a horn."

"No way." said Dash

"What the hay?" said AJ

"Oh my." Rarity then fainted.

"P-p-p-pinkie?"

"Yep. The one and only."

"So, I must ask, were you amazed?"

Twilight then got a huge grin on her face. Dash was the one who stepped forward, taking a look at me, then glared at Twilight.

"How did you do it? Why did you do it?"

"Aren't you curious what actually was done?"

"Huh? What does that mean? It's obvious. Somehow you made Pinkie a unicorn. And you know what, never mind why, I already know. Because you're crazy."

"That is very wrong on several counts. I actually brought you all here to explain what's going on with Pinkie since I can't yet reverse it."

Dash then took a step back. "Oh no, you don't know what did this. That means it could happen again to any of us. I don't want to lose my wings, and I sure don't want to be a little foal again."

"So that's really you Pinkie?" asked AJ

"Yeppers. It's really me."

Fluttershy then helped Rarity to her hooves. Rarity stared at me for good long time, just blinking. Then she turned to Twilight.

"Twilight. Explanation. Now."

"That was the plan. I've run numerous tests, which not only prove this is indeed Pinkie, but a few other things. Some of which have long been suspected, but never proven as no subject could be found. Well actually there was entire study but it was locked away in a vault and…"

"The Luna Library again. We get it sugarcube. Move on.

"You see, Pinkie is most certainly not a unicorn."

"Oh come on." Dash threw out her hooves "That's just dumb."

"I have a feeling I should not agree with Rainbow in this case, but I cannot help but think that it is as plain as the horn on her face that…"

Twilight raised a hoof. "Ah, but that's just it. She may have a horn, but is that what really makes a unicorn a unicorn?"

"Uh, no?" asked Fluttershy

"Exactly. It is not just the horn, but certain mental features that are unique to unicorns."

"Are you saying pegasai and earth ponies are too stupid to use magic?" said Dash, glaring at Twilgiht.

"It sure sounds like it, and them's fighting words." Said AJ "I think you better take that back or explain right quick what you be meaning."

"It's nothing like that. Pegasai brains also have features unique to their brain that most likely have to do with flight. Though oddly both earth ponies and pegasai have some sections that are traditionally thought to correspond to magic."

"Uh, wha?" said AJ

"Oh, I get it." Said Dash "It's more like we're just magic stupid, just like everyone else is flying stupid. I guess that just sorta makes sense."

"That is a very crude way of putting it Rainbow. I mean really." Rarity then turned up her nose and made that funny huffing noise she makes sometimes.

"I wouldn't say it that way either, but you get the idea. There is also the matter of your magical essence. Essentially this is simply that earth pony magic is not unicorn magic, and pegasai magic is also different in character."

"So darling, what does this mean?"

"It means that Pinkie can do exactly one thing with her horn."

I then took my cue and made it light up. Dash looked around nervous. Fluttershy didn't look nervous at all, which is odd. Almost everything makes her nervous. AJ and Rarity just stood there. Rarity then smiled.

"That's all she can do isn't it, make it light up?"

"Exactly Rarity. So to assuage your fears Dash she can't do any unicorn magic at all."

"That's a load off my mind too sugarcube."

"Why did you specify unicorn magic?" asked Rarity

"Yes, well that's why I put on this little show, so you'd be a bit confused when I came to reveal the real secret. You see while she hasn't gained unicorn magic, though unicorns can cast spells more in tune with other ponies at times…"

Dash gasped. "You're saying she gained some magic aren't you? That there is something else Pinkie can suddenly do you know we aren't going to like and…"

"Well that's debatable but…"

"What is it? What can she…" Then Dash paled and took a step back. "No, that can't be it. She can't be able to get wings."

"OOO, wings. I wish I had wings. You said that might be possible, right Twilight?"

"Well maybe but Pinkie…"

Then I walked forward and touched her cloak with one hoof. I was instantly back to being a full sized Pinkie again. I still had the horn though, and I felt something on my back. I turned around. I then gasped. Not only did I have wings, but they were big and pretty. I then pulled a crown out of my mane, which was pink again, and tossed it on my head. I smiled.

"Look it me, I'm a princess."

Dash then flew out of the room screaming. Fluttershy dove to the ground and began whimpering, her hooves hiding her face. Applejack was shaking gently, and had her eyes wide, but didn't budge. Rarity was wide eyed too, but then she calmed down suddenly. Twilight then sighed.

"Twi, the only reason I'm not joining Dash is because ah gotta mighty hope this ain't as bad as it looks."

"Geesh, why is everyone so freaked about me having power." I frowned a little

"Simple Pinkie." Said Rarity "Twilight is capable of stopping an Ursa, and if not more, and has only destroyed a significant portion of the town once in an attempt to save our food. How many times have you done the same?"

"27." I said

Rarity blinked. "I'm, not really sure how accurate that is but you see my point."

"Most of those weren't that bad really." I said, then looked down.

"Wait, Pinkie has destroyed the town as bad as the parasprites 27 times?" Asked Twilight

"More probably."

"It was only really her fault that one time." said Fluttershy

"It is never entirely her fault of course…" said Rarity smiling "…though she always gets the ball rolling. Well Derpy does the same at times as well, but that's a separate and more complicated issue. In your case Twilight you only made a bad situation worse, and were never the cause."

"She really don't mean it, and most of the time if the Everfree weren't right there it wouldn’t ah even mattered, but a few ponies still blame her."

"Yea, I'm a public menace." I then laughed. "But mostly that was when I was a little filly. I haven't blown anything up by accident for a long time."

"That's true enough."

"Yes darling, you are much better. In fact since Twilight came you haven't endangered the town once."

"Other than that business with Dash, but I don't feel that rightly counts, as it was all Dash's fault things went haywire."

"It was also only one building." Added Fluttershy

"This happened recently?" asked Twilight

"Yes, while you were visiting your parents in Canterlot." Added Rarity

"Now getting back to the matter, Twi, this means nothing right?" said AJ

"Yes. As I said, the essence of a pony is more important than form. Just as Luna is no less an alicorn when her wings or horn is missing, Pinkie is no more one with both."

"Twilight, does it mean something that Luna…" Rarity began

"Yes. Shapeshifting is water magic. It's odd that Pinkie has it, but not impossible."

"But why does she have it?"

I raised my hoof. "Oooo, ooo, ask me. I know. I know."

Twilight sighed. "This isn't a classroom Pinkie. Just go ahead."

"I bet it's because grandma pie was a Mermare."

Everypony was staring at me again. Wait, was I wrong? It didn't seem like it. I mean water means shape shifting, and granny pie could do the same thing, but maybe I'm confused. Twilight then shook her head and sighed. She did that a lot today.

"And you never mentioned this before because?"

"You never asked."

"A real Mermare? Amazing."

"Something right out a storybook was a relative. That's mighty strange, though I guess with you it sorta makes sense."

"Uh, you know…" Began Fluttershy, then looked down. "Nevermind."

Twilight looked over at Fluttershy. "Please tell me you were about to say you know that there are a significant portion number of Hippocampi living among us, albeit in secret, all over Equestria."

"Uh, I was, but then, well. I remembered it was a state secret, and I wasn't really supposed to tell anypony, even my friends."

Then Twilight face hoofed. I then frowned. Granny pie told me never to tell anypony too didn't she? Then I smiled. I'm sure my friends don't count, and she didn't even ask me to Pinkie promise. Then Twilight looked back to Fluttershy.

"Wait, then how do you know?"

"Uh, my dad told me. He's a really important pony. Just like my sister. That's why I didn't faint when Celestia appeared right in front of us, because I met her before. I didn't say anything, but I met her."

"Oh, I didn't know that. Uh, I guess we shouldn’t tell anyone else. It's part of some treaty with their nation that their abilities are kept quiet. Though I don't think I really understood the scope of those abilities until this morning."

"Could you be a dear and explain it to us as well? I mean we already know some so I'm sure that a bit more wouldn’t hurt."

"Yes, I'm sure you're right Rarity. Celestia only told me because I noticed unicorns that didn't feel right magically to me. She eventually explained about them, and the secrecy but I think of it so rarely I forgot that part."

"So these sea ponies are all over Equestria pretending to unicorns?" asked AJ

"Earth ponies are more common according to Celestia, but Canterlot is mostly full of unicorns and clearly they want to blend so…"

"I get ya Twi. Hmm, they have cutie marks just like us right?"

Twilight nodded.

"And they don't just use their weird magic to mess with other ponies like in stories, but do some real work and help Equesria prosper?"

"Celestia said so."

"Then they sound like good folk. And well after Zecora…"

The room got all quiet, but for some reason AJ never finished her sentence. I was just about to say something since it was getting all boring, but then AJ shook her head.

"Well I learned my lesson." Then AJ laughed "Heck, sounds like I might know a few. I bet at least one of them farmers at that big convention was one. Weird to think about somethin' like that though."

"Yes. Still, although their presence in this country is a secret of sorts, their existence isn't. I mean they are no more a legend than unicorns."

"Ooo, but everything but earth ponies used to be." I said

"I suppose Pinkie. Now, I think that explains everything, though you really should have told me about the mermare ancestor earlier Pinkie."

"Sorry."

"So Pinkie can just be changing whenever she wants now into who knows what. I reckon that will make avoiding her pranks even harder."

I tried to go back to normal. I then tried touching Twilight. It didn't work at all this time. I then tried again, and again, and again. Nothing happened.

"Awww."

"She did just gain this ability, so it will take some time to develop it. Oh, and Fluttershy you may want to mention to Dash that most likely Pinkie won't be able to fly either."

"Says you. I have wings now, I will fly."

I then started running around the room, wings stretched out making whooshing noises. I didn't feel all that light, so maybe Twilight was right, but a Pinkie does not give up easily. I smiled brightly. Even if I couldn't this was going to be so much fun.

"Wait, Twi, you thinking Dash actually figured out what you'd be getting at but was just scared of Pinkie flying?" said AJ

"Really? But she doesn't try to ditch me all the time anymore."

"Ah was actually just thinking how you flying though the air is a crash waitin' ta happen."

"Oooo. Yea, I mean I have trouble crashing into stuff on the ground."

"Actually having the whole to sky to fly though would increase the chance of missing other objects. Now, I think that's everything, so I should get back to work."

"With what darling?"

"Finding a way to return Pinkie to normal. Ideally she would do it by herself but I think it's best that…"

I didn't hear the rest of what Twilight said because I realized I was totally late for work so was already leaving. I thought about trying to fly, but figured that would probably take a lot of time to learn. So I just hopped outside and toward Sugarcube Corner. For some reason I heard a lot of ponies gasp around me.

Poor logic

The cakes were looking at me strangely for some reason. But then I realized I forgot something important and ran up to my room. I had been so rushed I totally forgot there were other ponies in my bed. Or did I not know that this morning? It's confusing when that sort of thing happens. But I was right and my tangled blanket was at the foot of the bed but some ponies were taking up most of the rest of the bed. Vinyl woke up first, and pushed the sheets away from the two mares to either side of her. Decibel was to her right and Octavia her left. Both were hugging her like a stuffed crocodile. I then hopped over to uncover the last pony and it was indeed Inky. Cool, they were not only all at the same party but all ended up together. I couldn't help but giggle.

"Wow, I got really lucky last night. I can't move but staring into Octy's…" Then Vinyl blinked, and turned to his right to look at Octy. "Wiat…"

"Oh dear. This isn't good." Said Inky

Decibel then sat up. "Oh come, this just proves my point."

"It does not you volume obsessed oaf."

"Why are there three Octys?"

Of course it was pretty obvious they were all identical. At least when decibel wasn't wearing her glasses and her mane wasn't so full of gel. Octavia looked way too serious like normal but you could still tell she looked like Inky. Well I mean her fur was a little different shade and her hair darker just like Decibel, but they still looked totally the same otherwise. Vinyl then got a great big smile on her face.

"Oh, I remember this dream now." Then Vinyl blinked. "Except I don't think it's been quite like this and I have a hangover."

"It is unfortunately quite real."

"Oh come on, Vinyl is awesome, just admit your feelings already." Said Decibel

Vinyl smiled. "I gotta go with black hair on this one. Come on Octy, give in."

"We didn't actually do anything." Said Inky "We just dragged Vinyl and you here."

"Pity." Said Decibel

Inky blushed.

Octavia stood and stomped out of bed really messing up the sheets. "I can't believe you sometimes. You're as bad as she is."

"And that's why you love her so much."

Then Decibel kissed Vinyl. It probably would have gone on longer but Octavia smacked Vinyl in the head with gummy. I then laughed as Vinyl ran around the room with Gummy hanging off one ear. Decibel followed Vinyl doing the same thing even though she didn't have a crocodile on her ear. Inky tried to hide her smile and giggled, but I saw her. Octavia just kept glaring at Vinyl the whole time. Eventually he got bored and stopped though, even though Gummy didn't let go.

"Wow, so what's going on here, I thought you said you only had two sisters Pinks, and sure didn't say nothing about three identical twins."

"I don't duh, that would just be silly see…" Then I stopped. "Oh, but I can't tell you, because then I would be breaking a Pinkie promise."

"See. She knows." Said Decibel, stomping

"She does not." Said Octavia

"Pinkie, do you know about the three of us being the same pony?" asked Inky

I rolled my eyes. "Well duh, I mean I'd have to be super oblivious to not to notice my sister became two ponies, and then split again later to become three."

Vinyl laughed. "Oh man, so Octy of all ponies really is your sister?"

"Then why didn't you say anything?" Octavia nearly growled

"I promised, remember. You made me say, or Inky did, I'm never really sure on who you are before a split because you were really more like all three, but not quite any of them, and you're all sort of each other and…" Octavia put a hoof in my mouth

"I really can't believe this." Then she pulled her hoof out. "Explain. Be precise and swift, and absolutely do not veer off on any tangents

"Tangents? What do you mean Tangents, when have I ever done that?"

Then everypony face hoofed. I don't get it. I mean it's not like I just start talking about random things all the time or anything. Octavia then gave me a slight glare.

"Wow, I think you've gotten even grumpier with time. Anyway, I promised Inky when she was still just Inky that I would never tell anyone about sneaking off to listen to music, or anything that might reveal it."

"What, but how does…" Began Octavia

"Oh, I get it." Said Inky

Decibel laughed. "The first time we were torn about making a decision was whether to take that mare up on her scholarship offer. Since we weren't even supposed to be there at all telling anypony might reveal it."

"Even us?" said Octavia

I rolled my eyes. "Duh, I mean you said nopony and you're a pony, so obviously you didn't want to risk anypony overhearing anything, which seems a little silly, but I made a promise and I keep my promises."

"Told ya." Said Decibel

"Hey, you really are Doom Decibel, aren't you. You look different without the makeup or costume." Vinyl then laughed. "Like Octy obviously."

She nodded. "Oh yes. I still don't understand how she thinks she's strait. I mean my barn door swings both ways, and I know you know what I mean."

Scratch giggled. "It is so odd to hear somepony that looks like Octy say that."

"And Inky is probably the same, and sure as heck a full on missy mare."

Inky blushed brightly. "She is right but I really don't like to talk about that sort of thing."

Vinyl got a great big grin on her face. I have always liked Vinyl it's really easy to make her smile and she makes other ponies smile a lot too. Vinyl then scooted up to Octavia and just looked in her eyes.

"I knew you wanted me."

"I do not."

"She does." Added Decibel.

"I'm not really so sure that…" Began Inky

"I knew it. Come on Octy, you're resisted far too long and we can have a three way with…" Vinyl paused. "Uh, what are you two exactly?"

"Parts of a whole." Said Decibel

"It might not be obvious, but my cutie mark is a resonating crystal." Said Inky "It's not clear why our separate personalities become separate ponies, but they do. Thanks to Pinkie I actually think the breaks being caused by not making decisions about music is weirder than the splitting thing."

"Oh, wait, the second one was classical or rock and you chose both?" Vinyl then laughed. "Oh mare, that is so cool. Okay, so I can have a threesome with a single pony. Awesome beyond all measure so what say we…"

Vinyl then stumbled backwards when Octavia was standing on two hooves a bow in one hand. She had it pointed at Vinyl. It had a really shinny hair on it that glimmered in the sunlight. Before anypony could say or do anything else Twilight appeared in the room and glared at me. She had even gone all mane burny. I knew it was bad whenever it happened. Sometimes she was just upset in general, but I was pretty sure she was mad this time. I wasn't sure why though.

"Pinkie do you have any idea what you've done?"

"Uh, finally told my sister I know she's three ponies."

Twilight's mane went out. "What? What does that even…"

Then she spun around. For a little while she was quiet, just looking over everything and everypony. Then she spun around at me again, this time her hair wasn't normal fire, but dark blue just like her hair. I couldn't see any streaks of purple and pink, but it was pretty bright.

"Pinkie, what have you done now."

"Miss Sparkle, please calm yourself, we are supposed to be like this." Said Octavia

"Yea, you're probably not gonna like it, but it's true." Added Decibel

"All of mother and father's daughters are…" Inky paused, then gave a little forced laugh. "Special. I have multiple poninality disorder, except they get bodies."

"Though that most likely complicates things." Said Octavia

Twilight spun around. "So it's just a coincidence you have one of Celestia's hairs in your possession?"

"You can recognize that by sight alone?" asked Octavia, raising an eyebrow

Decibel and I both rolled our eyes at the same time.

"Ah yes, I forgot for a moment there. In this case yes. Which reminds me." She then swung the bow at Vinyl's head cutting a few hairs.

"Come on Octy, not the god bow. I mean that thing can cut through solid steel."

"It can?" Twilight was then non burny again. "I suppose it makes sense one of Celestia's hairs might be invulnerable but logically…"

"The wood of the bow has been strengthened itself somehow. It was a very fine wood but it now seems to have gained the durability of the hair itself."

"And you doubted me."

"Yes, as it turns out you were right, but while it never damages anything I do not wish it too, even something as fragile as a few taught strings, brief moments of godhood are in fact far more trouble then they are worth on stage."

"It really helps with the inspiration sometimes though." Said Decibel

Inky just nodded.

"Wait, so the bow can…" began Twilight

"When playing my instrument, for a period of about 3 seconds at a time. It is rather enjoyable, but ultimately disruptive."

"Wait so…"

"Miss Sparkle. While I would be happy to discuss this at a later time, I believe you came here with some sort of pressing business."

"By the way, has anypony ever told you you're hot when you're angry?"

Everyone else but me and Vinyl groaned. I laughed. I don't get why someponies didn't think Vinyl was funny. Twilight then turned back to me.

"You're absolutely right and…" Twilight's right eye twitched. "Wait, none of you even noticed? This whole town really is crazy."

"Ya mean the alicorn thing?" said Vinyl

"I noticed obviously." Said Octavia

"It's Pinkie though." Said Decibel, smiling

"I just figured she finally got shape shifting down like Granny Pie. I mean we were always saying it seemed inevitable."

"Ah yes, I didn't even think of that actually." Said Octavia

Decibel laughed "Neither did I."

"I still don't know what's going on, but I figured, ya know, it's Pinkie. So wait, does this mean she can turn into like anything now?"

"Not yet, but…" I was smiling

"Pinkie." Twilight glared at me. "Don't you understand what you did?"

I rolled my eyes. "Twilight, stop being all silly and asking the same question over and over. I already told you that..."

"Pinkie."

Twilight was so loud she broke Sugarcube corner. Then I blinked and realized she didn't break it we were both just somewhere else now. There were a bunch of guards in really shinny armor and we were in the palace. The guards were glaring at me I think. I then got a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach, but it wasn't a twitch. I think I did something bad.

Good or Bad

We were in the throne room of the day palace and Luna and Celestia were glaring at me now long with Twilight and the guards behind us. Well Luna was glaring, Celestia was frowning. I hung my head.

"I'm sorry I disappointed you. I didn't mean to. I don't quite know what I did but…"

Luna suddenly laughed. "Oh of course. What was I thinking? It all makes perfect sense. I guess that research was a complete waste of time. She's not really a cosmic horror here to destroy us all, she's just one of those. How silly of me."

"Despite it not being on purpose it is still a problem my little pony. You need to think carefully about your actions in the future."

"But that's hard, and not very fun."

"Pinkie." Said Twilight

"Oh I know. Okay I promise to not go running around Ponyville if I look all weird. I didn't even think that…"

"It's too late for that. In the future though, please think about if there are ways to break a promise, beyond merely stating it."

I gasped. "I broke a promise?"

I immediately felt my hair go flat. Now it made sense. How could I be so stupid? Stupid Pinkie is stupid. Oh no, now the princesses and Twilight won't want to be my friends anymore. Oh, and once the others hear, they won't want to either. And Blinkie and all of Inky will hate me. Then Celestia smiled at me and suddenly I knew it would all be okay.

"Really? I want it to be but…"

"Luna and I are upset, but Queen Aqua has been toying with the idea of removing that provision of the Atollantis treaty for some time. I've decided Luna is right."

Luna sighed. "You mean you just changed your mind and…" Then she sat down and crossed her hooves "Oh fine. I was right to begin with anyway."

"I agree. This does prove one of your arguments you know."

"Oh, I suppose it does. I didn't mean like this per say, but I suppose it is a show of water magic, just not one any hippocampus would make."

"So it was bad."

"It wasn't good Pinkie, but apparently not. So you're really going to change the treaty?"

"Yes, Luna always got along with Aqua well, and the world needs to see her again, so she'll be handling the renegotiations."

Luna blinked, then turned to her sister. "I will? Don't I get a say in this?"

"Oh, I'm sorry dear sister." She got a big grin oh her face. "I thought you said you wanted to resume your royal responsibilities?"

Luna stomped a hoof. "Oh come on Sunny. I know you're just…" She sighed. "You know what, never mind. I do like Aqua, and I bet she's eager to change things by now."

"Wait, what?" Celestia pulled back, blinking

Luna smiled. "Didn't think I'd give in that easy." Luna then laughed. "So do you think we even need to punish Pinkie at all?"

"Hmm, in some way. How about this." Celestia then turned to me with a very stern look on her face, but then she winked. "You Pinkamena Diane Pie, are hereby sentenced to stay in that form for a week, but explain nothing about how or why to anypony."

I smiled. "Okie doki."

"However, no matter how tempted, you aren't to even attempt to fly."

Twilight let out a breath. It sounded like she had been carrying something really heavy, but now she put it down. My hair poofed back to normal, and I pulled Celestia and Luna in great big hug.

"You're the bestest rulers ever."

"Pinkie." Yelled Twilight

I then let them both go. "Oops."

"That was most inappropriate, even if the throne room is sealed." Said Luna

"I thought you're the one always talking about hating all the pomp and…"

"This is more simple respect for public officials. I'm sure you don't go around randomly hugging your mayor."

Twilight sighed. "Yes she does. She will hug just about anypony in the right situation."

Then everyone else laughed. I didn't get it. I started laughing because everyone else was, but how were hugs funny? I mean I knew they could make you happy enough to laugh, but they weren't really funny. I then bounced in place suddenly realizing something neat.

"Oooo, this means after a week I can use my wings, right?"

"Of course." Said Celestia

"Also I'll try to teach you some control over your abilities. If you can't get back to this form on your own I may revert you, though just leaving the horn or wings would be enough I imagine."

"It might reduce the panic attacks. Mayor Mare was in the infirmary with a panic attack after she saw Pinkie."

"Awww, really?"

"She'll be fine Pinkie. She just, well, panicked."

"Also while I didn't want to say anything, the rumors of a third princess could be very disruptive, most especially to Ponyville."

"Third?" said Twilight "But…"

"Well she is currently away, and most ponies pay less attention to foreign affairs than ideal. Regardless, the idea is the same regardless of actual number."

"In other words you really forgot I was back for a second again." Luna sighed. "I guess we should start now." She yawned. "I did not want to be up this early, but I doubt I'll get back to sleep anyway."

Then with a flash we were back in the Ponyville Library. Rainbow Dash was sitting there, and her eyes widened, then closed.

"Uh, what Rarity told me is right, right? That you're just shape changing and your wings probably won't even work."

"Yea, but I'm gonna make em work."

Dash shuddered a little. I wonder why? "Ooo, maybe we can go flying together some day. Wouldn't that be fun? I bet we can come up with some really awesome pranks to pull if both of us could fly."

"Uh, yea, I guess so. I just wanted to say sorry I over reacted."

"Roger and ten-four good buddy."

"Huh?"

Luna then cleared her throat. "We should probably get started sooner rather than later. I'm not sure how much you can learn from this Twilight, but you can watch as well."

"Uh, can I watch too?" asked Dash

"Yes, but we can't imagine you getting anything out of it."

"I never did do that good with transformation spells, but transmuting inanimate objects I'm much better at." Said Twilight

"Ah, then even if you can't master the spells themselves, you may still learn something. That's most excellent." Luna smiled. "So is there any reason not to practice here?"

"Not that I know of."

"This is going to be so much fun."

I smiled broadly. I got this super keen new power, and now Luna was going to teach me how to use it. I then gasped having the best idea ever.

"Ooo, can you teach me how to turn into a rock?"

"What?" the other three echoed.

I blinked. They didn't see the awesomeness of this, did they? I'm really surprised Dash didn't, she's the awesomest pony ever. Or is the she radicalest, I get those confused sometimes. If I can change shape then I can be like anything. If I can be anything, then I can pull off the best pranks ever. I couldn't help but start giggling like mad.

Friendship Report

Dear Princess Celestia,

I learned some very important things from Pinkie this week. It all started with a mare I've become a sort of pen pal with. She's a colleague and very intelligent, but needlessly harsh. She has good traits as well but the main point is she convinced me to rethink my former experiment with Pinkie and try again. Luna has the specific details if you're interested.

What I found is while I am no closer to explaining how it can work I did prove one thing. It is magic. Passive magic has never been studied properly before as far as I can tell and it's a fascinating subject. I still have a few ideas about how Pinkie might be able to predict the future with a reasonable enough accuracy, and once again Luna has the details, but my current guess is we will never know for certain. However something else Moonfire said is also right. A researcher should always diligently seek answers because even if they don't learn the answer to the question asked, they can still learn something.

But most important is not what I learned from studying her abilities, but simply being her friend. I don't think I'll ever understand Pinkie, and now I understand how great a thing that is. You once told me nopony, not even you, can understand everything. But with friends I don't have to. Not only that, but sometimes all it takes to understand things far better is to get a little different perspective. Or a lot different.

Pinkie figured out something for Applejack, though she still wants a second opinion and I can't blame her. It's very clear sometimes Pinkie's perspective is anything but helpful. But other times it can result in a party that allowed me to take readings on countless ponies magical auras, or as I said helping AJ. But it is not just Pinkie, but everypony I know that can help, most especially my friends. And that something so simple as a view on reality skewed just bit off from your own can allow you to discover something amazing.

Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle.