⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯

“Oh dear. . .” Fluttershy spotted Pinkie Pie in the crowd and immediately flew over to her. “P-Pinkie Pie, it’s not what you think. This was just an accident-”

But Pinkie Pie, her eyes locked on her cousin, gently moved Fluttershy aside. Her attention was fully on Pizza Pie now, her disbelief clear as she stepped forward. Pizza's washed-off cutie mark revealed the harsh truth. Pinkie’s heart sank, her once proud cousin now reduced to a vivid illusion. The smile she forced couldn’t hide the hurt building up inside her. She struggled to hold back her tears. “I-I can’t believe this. . .”

“C-Cousin, please, I can explain-” Pizza Pie stammered, her voice trembling.

“You lied?. . .” Pinkie’s voice cracked slightly.

“Cousin, I wanted to tell you, I was going to-”

“But you never lie. . . I-I didn’t think you could.” Pinkie shook her head, her eyes wide in disbelief.

“This isn’t a lie, it’s more like-”

“A what? A surprise? A surprise knowing that my only cousin came all the way here, looking exactly like me? Same mane, same cutie mark? Fooling my friends, fooling me into thinking we’re alike!?”

“P-Please. . . just hear me ou-”

“I’m surprised, alright,” Pinkie cut her off, her voice hardening. “Surprised you couldn’t find a cutie mark of your own. So instead, you wasted all this time just to- just to cheat on our promise?”

“I-" Pizza Pie's voice faltered.

“We talked about this when we were fillies. . .” Pinkie’s eyes glossed with unshed tears. “I told you to do what makes you happy. But instead, you couldn’t. You couldn’t bear the fact that you hadn’t found a cutie mark you were happy with, so you just p-painted one on? And you thought I wouldn’t mind?”

“C-Cousin. . .”

“Heh, sounds familiar?” Pinkie’s word sharpens, her tone biting.

“. . .”

“This is how you sounded when you told me you didn’t have time for fun. . . And now, I get it. Happiness isn’t fun for you because you don’t have time for it. But you do have time to lie to me, to all of my friends and to yourself. . .”

“ . . . . ”

“You’re terrible. . .” Pinkie Pie turned her back on Pizza, her voice cold as ice, and began to walk away.

Pizza Pie felt her heart shatter, every painful word slicing through her. “P-Pinkie, I- W-Wait, please!” She rushed forward, grabbing her cousin’s shoulder, her desperation clear. “Cousin, I… I’m so sorry-”

But Pinkie slapped Pizza Pie’s hoof away. “Just stop. . . You’ve embarrassed me enough.”

The final blow landed. Pizza Pie’s attempt at redeeming herself had failed, and the weight of Pinkie’s words crushed her spirit. The crowd had witnessed everything, their sibling bond torn apart in front of their eyes. Realizing she had nothing left but shame, Pizza Pie stormed out of the ballroom, tears streaming down her face. She ran out of the castle, disappearing into the night, away from everyone.

Their friends, who had been watching in stunned silence, were left shocked by the Pie cousins’ confrontation. Twilight and the others immediately went to Pinkie, trying to make sense of what had just happened.

“Pinkie Pie, are you okay?” Twilight asked softly, her voice full of concern.

“I’m fine, Twilight.” Pinkie muttered, not meeting her friend’s eyes.

“No, you’re not, Pinkie.” Rainbow Dash landed beside her, her tone firm but caring. “What happened?”

“Nothing. . . just an accident.”

“It wasn’t just an accident, Pinkie.” Rainbow insisted.

“Yeah, Pinkie,” added Applejack, “every creature here saw what happened with your cousin’s cutie mark-”

“A fake! Yeah, they all saw that,” Pinkie snapped, cutting her off. “What do you want? A cookie?!”

“Pinkie, darling,” Rarity chimed in, “it’s more than that. Your cousin is hurt-”

“But it’s true!” Pinkie interrupted again. “Her cutie mark is a fake, and that makes her a fake too, a fraud even.”

“P-Pinkie, calm down,” Fluttershy said softly, trying to soothe her friend. “You don’t know the whole story. There might be a reason behind it. Maybe you should consider talking to her. . .”

“No! She lied to me, Fluttershy!” Pinkie’s voice cracked, her frustration bubbling over. “She lied to all of us! And it’s not just some little white lie. It’s a lie that lasts a lifetime!”

The group fell silent for a moment, the weight of Pinkie’s words sinking in.

“Funny,” Pinkie said, her voice quieter now, almost to herself. “I used to dream about the day we’d reunite, and we’d spread happiness together, just like when we were fillies. . . But now that she’s here, it’s the opposite.”

“Pinkie Pie, you don’t mean that,” Twilight said gently, stepping closer. “I know this was a shock for all of us, finding out your cousin had kept this secret. But you can’t stay mad at her. There’s got to be an explanation for all this. If you give her a chance, I’m sure she’ll open up to us.”

“Yeah, Twilight’s right,” Rainbow Dash chimed in. “What do you say we find her and patch things up together?”

“No.”

“No? What do you mean ‘no’? She’s your cousin!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, bewildered.

“Sugarcube, being stubborn ain’t gonna fix this.” Applejack added gently.

“I said NO! I don’t want to see her. . . not looking like that.”

“But… she could be anywhere by now, Pinkie,” Fluttershy whispered. “What if she packs her things and leaves Ponyville?”

“Then that’s her call,” Pinkie said coldly.

“. . . .”

“I’m sorry, girls. . . but I’m going home. I lost my party mood.”

Without another word, Pinkie Pie walked past her friends and exited the ballroom. Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Applejack, and Rarity stood there, helpless, watching their friend leave. Spike, sensing the tension in the room, tried to redirect the guests' attention and resume the party, but the air was heavy with the weight of what had just transpired.

“What kind of reaction was that?! Doesn’t she care about Pizza Pie?” Rainbow Dash whispered harshly.

“That incident earlier with Pizza Pie was too personal it’s a lot for her to take in,” Twilight said, her voice softer. “Let’s just give her some space to think. . .”

“Indeed,” Rarity agreed, brushing Fluttershy’s mane to calm her. “That kind of drama can take a toll on anypony.”

“So. . . uh, what now, Twilight? Should we go after Pizza Pie?” Applejack asked, looking to Twilight for direction.

“We should,” Twilight nodded. “She’s not familiar with Ponyville yet, and she could get lost. C’mon, girls.”

“Wait!” Starlight Glimmer suddenly teleported in front of them, stopping Twilight and the others. “You’re leaving? What about the guests?”

“You and Spike stay here and keep the party going. We’ll be right back with Pizza Pie,” Twilight instructed, already moving toward the exit.

“Well. . . okay, Twilight. Just hurry back before Trixie decides to start one of her 'unplanned' performances again,” Starlight said with a small sigh.

“As long as she entertains every creature, that’s fine. Let’s go, girls.” Twilight and the others trotted out of the ballroom, leaving Starlight behind.

As Starlight watched them leave, she noticed Spike busy cleaning up the punch table. The guests gradually returned to the festivities as if nothing had happened. Starlight moved to help Spike but suddenly felt an odd sensation, as if someone was watching her. She scanned the crowd but saw nothing unusual until a hoof landed on her shoulder.

“Starlight,” Trixie grinned, dragging along her heavy magic trunk. “I saw Princess Twilight and her friends leave the castle. . .”

“Trixie! Don’t sneak up on me like that!” Starlight yelped, startled.

“What are you talking about? You were just standing here. Anyway, I think this is my perfect chance to perform at the gathering!” Trixie’s eyes lit up with excitement.

“Gee- I don’t know, Trixie. Maybe we should just enjoy the evening-”

“And miss the opportunity to dazzle every creature with my spectacular talents? Not a chance!” Trixie leaned in close and whispered with a wink, “Besides, I heard Twilight say yes.”

Starlight groaned. “Ugh! Fine. Just don’t do anything too wild that I’ll have to bail you out of.”

“I, THE GREAT AND POWERFUL TRIXIE, MADE NO SUCH PROMISE! For the sake of the audience, they deserve nothing but the best of Trixie’s magic!” Trixie declared dramatically.

Starlight sighed, resigned. “Well, so much for toning it down. Let’s just get this over with. . .”

“That’s the spirit!” Trixie grinned, following Starlight toward the stage, still struggling with her magic trunk. “Uh. . . a little help?”

Rolling her eyes, Starlight used her magic to levitate Trixie’s trunk. “Let’s go. . .”

As the two friends headed toward the stage, a shadowy figure in the crowd observed them quietly. From the other side of the ballroom, Discord had been watching everything unfold, a look of mild surprise on his face. Standing beside him, Princess Luna shared his confusion.

“Well, I’d say I didn’t see it coming, but it was quite predictable even for me,” Discord remarked with a shrug. “Don’t you think so, Your Highness?”

“What did you do?!” Luna demanded, her voice sharp with suspicion.

“Me? Oh, Princess Luna, don’t be absurd. I didn’t do anything,” Discord replied, feigning innocence.

“Don’t lie to me. How could that pony’s cutie mark just. . . melt away like that?” Luna pressed.

“Didn’t you hear what Pinkie Pie said to her cousin? She painted that cutie mark on. She even dyed her mane to look the same.” Discord explained nonchalantly.

“Painted? Ridiculous! How can a mare of her age not have her cutie mark?” Luna shook her head, incredulous.

“That’s a good question. . .” Discord’s expression darkened for a moment. "(I was right. . .)" he thought to himself. "(She was that uptight mare from Mitaly. . . I never thought I’d see her again. Small world, indeed.)"

“Discord?” Luna’s voice cut through his thoughts. “Discord? Discord!”

“Oh, forgive me. What is it, Your Highness?” Discord said, snapping back to attention.

“What were you thinking just now?” Luna narrowed her eyes at him.

“Oh, nothing. Just pondering how embarrassing that whole scene was. . . especially for poor Pinkie Pie.” Discord said with a sly grin.

“I agree, but still, it’s unusual for a mare of Pizza Pie’s age not to have her cutie mark. It’s. . . it’s unheard of!” Luna’s voice trembled slightly, as if the idea unsettled her.

“Agreed,” Discord nodded thoughtfully. “It does make you wonder. . . How does one live without a cutie mark?”

“I can’t imagine,” Luna mused. “But perhaps. . . some ponies take longer to find their destiny.”

“Hmm. . . Could be. . .” Discord said with a knowing glint in his eye. “Or. . .”

“Or what? Speak.”

“Or she has other plans in mind.” Discord said, his voice low, his tone cryptic.

“Plans? What plans? What are you hiding, Discord?” Luna’s eyes narrowed suspiciously.

“Oh, fine. . . I suppose there’s no reason to keep it a secret anymore,” Discord sighed dramatically. “Very well. . .”

“Tell me everything, Discord. What do you know?”

Discord exhaled deeply before speaking. “I only met her once… during my little ‘magic raid’ with that traitorous Tirek. We reached Mitaly, rounding up all the ponies hiding there. Tirek drained every bit of magic from them. No pony was spared. . . except for one.”

⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯

Three years ago.

⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯

"Oh, Tirek . . ."

"What?! What is it?! Can’t you see I’m still feeding on some leftover magic here?" Tirek snarled, eyes glowing with power.

"Yes, yes, I know," Discord replied, floating lazily beside him. "But we simply must head to Canterlot. The Royal Princesses are waiting for their little 'payback.'"

Tirek growled, still consuming magic from the air around him. "Grrr! Wait until I’m done eating! Then, we’ll move on."

Discord rolled his eyes. "There’s no pony left here to steal magic from."

Tirek paused, his sharp grin widening as he sensed something. "No. . . there’s still one more."

Behind a towering statue of Alicorns, a mare with a swirly mane, hidden under a cloak, overheard their conversation. Fear gripped her as she carefully backed away, hoping to escape unnoticed. But just as she turned to flee, the statue was ripped from its foundation, hurled into the air by Tirek’s magic, exposing her.

The mare gasped and sprinted down the street. Her heart raced as she ducked behind a wall, desperate to catch her breath. She peered around the corner, thinking she had escaped. But before she could react, Tirek and Discord materialized before her, blocking her path. Tirek’s magic seized her, lifting her effortlessly into the air. She struggled, but Tirek’s grip was unbreakable.

"What is your name, mare?" Tirek demanded, his voice dripping with malice.

"P-Pizzaniac Peach Pie," she stammered. "Please, don’t hurt me!"

"A Pie pony?" Discord mused, his eyes narrowing. "Ask her if she’s related to Pinkie Pie."

Tirek scoffed. "Who is this ‘Pinkie Pie’? One of your little friends, Discord?"

"Well," Discord floated closer, inspecting the mare. "I wouldn’t exactly call them friends, but. . . temporary acquaintances."

Pizzaniac’s eyes widened in shock. "Wait-you know my cousin? Cousin Pinkie is your friend?"

"Your cousin?" Discord blinked in mock surprise. "Pinkie Pie has a cousin in Mitaly? What a small world! Though, I’ll admit, this isn’t exactly the best first impression for a family reunion."

Tirek, unimpressed, cut in. "Enough with the pleasantries, Discord." He sneered down at the mare. "You say you’re a Pie, but no cousin of yours will stop what’s coming. The Royal Sisters of Equestria are powerless to stand against me!"

Pizzaniac shook her head. "Y-You won’t get away with this! The Princesses will-"

"Silence!" Tirek boomed, raising his hand toward her. "Once I devour all the magic in Equestria, not even your precious Princesses will stand in my way!"

He began to drain her magic, expecting the familiar rush of power but nothing came. Confusion clouded his features as he tried again, but still, nothing. He glared at the mare, frustration boiling over.

"What is this?!" Tirek growled, trying once more. "Why can’t I feel her magic?"

Discord, smirking, floated closer, lifting the edge of the mare’s cloak with a flick of his claw. "Oh, I see the problem." He chuckled darkly. "Tirek, you wouldn’t believe this, but this mare doesn’t have a cutie mark."

Tirek’s eyes widened, and with a snarl, he tore the cloak off completely. There, on Pizzaniac’s flank, was nothing but a blank space.

"You’re right!" Tirek sneered. "A grown mare with no cutie mark. Pathetic!"

He dropped her, letting her crumple to the ground. Laughter rumbled from deep in his chest as he raised his massive hoof, preparing to stomp down on her. "You’re not worth my time, but I’ll end you here, just for wasting it."

Pizzaniac was frozen with terror, unable to move as Tirek’s shadow loomed over her. She closed her eyes, bracing for the end. But just as Tirek's hoof was about to come down, Discord stepped between them.

"Hold on, Tirek."

Tirek lowered his hoof slightly, glaring at Discord. "Now what?!"

"As much as I’d love to see you squash this 'tasteless' pony," Discord said with a smirk, "we have bigger fish to fry. If we don’t head to Canterlot soon, the Princesses might slip away, and we don’t have time for that."

Tirek considered this, his frustration simmering. "You’re right. Come, Discord. We’ve wasted enough time here."

With one last glare at Pizzaniac, Tirek turned and stormed off. Discord lingered for a moment, glancing back at the trembling mare. His expression softened, if only for a moment.

"Consider this my mercy to you." he said, his tone oddly gentle.

Pizzaniac said nothing, her body still shaking as she fought back tears. Discord crouched down, tilting his head. "Who would’ve thought I’d meet a mare who still hasn’t found her cutie mark? I don’t know what’s taken you so long, but... whatever you’re doing, it’s not worth wasting your life on it."

The words cut deep, and Pizzaniac felt the sting of shame welling up inside her.

Discord, sensing her despair, sighed and conjured a tissue, wiping away her tears. "Oh, don’t cry, dearie. You’ll find your mark someday. Just make sure he," He pointed over his shoulder at the retreating Tirek "isn’t around to take it. Besides, you wouldn’t want your cousin to know about this, now would we?"

Pizzaniac’s voice trembled. "Y-You wouldn’t. . ."

"Of course not. It’ll be our little secret." Discord winked before turning to follow Tirek. "Oh, and you're welcome, by the way. Ta-ta!"

Pizzaniac watched as the two monsters left her village in ruins. Her tears fell freely now, knowing she had been spared not out of kindness, but pity. Around her, the village lay in silence, her fellow ponies drained of their magic.

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"And that was the last time I saw her," Discord finished, rubbing the back of his neck. "Honestly, I didn’t expect to ever meet her again. But now, seeing her here looking like Pinkie Pie, cutie mark and all it all makes sense. She’s been living a lie. She’s given up on finding her own destiny and decided to take on her cousin’s instead."

Princess Luna’s eyes narrowed. "And you’ve kept this from everypony all this time?"

Discord waved a paw dismissively. "Why should I have told them? It’s not exactly my finest moment. Besides, getting involved in this kind of drama is beneath me."

Luna sighed. "Perhaps you’re right. It wasn’t your place to interfere."

"Wait, I am?" Discord blinked in surprise.

"Yes," Luna said, rising to her hooves. "But a lie like hers cannot be hidden forever. Nor can mine."

"And where are you going?" Discord called after her, already reaching for another slice of cake.

Luna glanced back over her shoulder. "I have to find her."

Discord shrugged. "Good luck with that. I’m not getting involved. I’d only make it worse."

Luna gave him a final nod before slipping out of the ballroom. Discord turned back to his plate, muttering to himself.

"No point in me getting tangled up in more pony problems. . ."

Just as he was about to take a bite, a familiar voice cut through the air.

“Discord, is everything alright?”

“Wha? Oh, Celestia. I didn’t see you there. Yes, everything’s fine. Nothing out of the ordinary.”

Celestia gave him a curious look. “Hmm. . . I heard from some ponies that there was an accident in the ballroom. Care to tell me what happened?”

“Oh, somepony just slipped at the punch table. Nothing major. I suspect the cross-eyed one did it.” Discord and Celestia glanced over at Derpy, who was happily devouring a pile of muffins on the other side of the room.

“I see. . . So where is my sister?”

“Princess Luna? Oh, she’s around here somewhere. She must be with another group of ponies.”

“Oh, you mean her new friends? Splendid. It’s nice that she’s making friends. I should go meet them-”

“Tell you what, Celestia. Why don’t you enjoy the party, and I’ll go find Luna and her new pony friends for you.”

“Are you sure? I don’t want to trouble you. . .”

“Trouble? It’ll be an honor for me to help. Now, have a fun night.”

“Well, thank you, Discord.”

As Princess Celestia walked away to mingle with the other guests, Discord sighed and set down Luna’s slice of cake on the table. His expression darkened as he leaned against the window, gazing up at the full moon. His playful mask slipping, he muttered under his breath.

"(You never think about the consequences you’ve caused. . . If you hadn’t been so selfish, all those terrible things wouldn’t have happened.)"

“I. . . I suppose I should feel bad for what I’ve done. . .”

⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯

~ End of chapter 10

Author's Note

Pizza pie's promise is not what it seems, Pinkie pie finds out the truth of their similarities. What was once a warming promise between cousins, became a cold and heartbreaking disappointment. Blinded by her admiration of her Pink relative, she didn't focus on improving herself. This existential crisis led one Pie made her lose the trust of her only happiness.

Discord met the black flank mare at Mitaly during his cutie mark raid with Tirek. Spare by humility, Pizza pies past encounter with Discord haunts her. At the point it triggered her anxiety and fear of him.