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A week had passed since the social gathering, and life in Ponyville had returned to its usual rhythm. The sun was shining, birds chirped merrily, and fillies played in the streets. It was another fine day in the peaceful town.

Suddenly, the sound of galloping hooves echoed through the streets. Starlight Glimmer was rushing toward Twilight's castle, her mane blowing wildly in the breeze. She skidded to a halt at the entrance of the Tree Castle, where Twilight had called a meeting with her friends. Without hesitation, Starlight burst into the room, panting heavily.

"I heard. . . from Fluttershy. . . everything. . . Is it true that Pizza Pie just became a unicorn?!"

The group turned to Fluttershy, who shrank under their gaze, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. She gave an awkward smile.

"Was it supposed to be a secret? I-I’m sorry. . ."

Twilight sighed, closing the door with her magic. "No, no, it’s okay, Fluttershy. If it’s only Starlight, it’s fine."

Rainbow Dash folded her hooves, giving Fluttershy a playful scowl. "We said we should keep it just between us six."

"I didn’t know, Rainbow," Fluttershy squeaked. "Starlight was asking where we were the day after the gathering, and I. . . I told her everything."

Rarity waved a hoof dismissively. "Well, darling, there’s no need to make a fuss. It wasn’t really a secret to begin with."

Applejack nodded in agreement, leaning back in her seat. "I reckon everypony’s bound to notice by now. It’s been a few days since it happened, after all."

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A week ago

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With Pinkie and Pizza Pie having reconciled, Twilight and the rest of their friends felt relieved, yet there was still a lingering confusion about Pizza Pie’s new form as a unicorn.

"So. . . you’re okay with me looking like this?" Pizza Pie asked hesitantly.

"Yeah, of course! You’re still you no matter what," Pinkie Pie answered, bouncing slightly in her usual cheerful way.

"Even with. . . this?" Pizza Pie pointed at the horn on her forehead. "This horn I got?"

Pinkie paused for a moment, inspecting Pizza Pie's horn closely. She narrowed her eyes, as though considering it carefully, then smiled wide. "Nah, I don't mind at all."

"W-what?!" Pizza Pie stammered, taken aback.

Their friends exchanged surprised glances. They were baffled by Pinkie’s nonchalant reaction.

"C-Cousin, don’t you find this. . . unusual?" Pizza Pie asked, clearly still processing her own transformation.

"Unusual? Pfft, nah! I knew you had that thing the whole time," Pinkie replied with a shrug, as if it were the most normal thing in the world.

". . . ."

"ARE YOU FOR REAL, PINKIE?!" Rainbow Dash nearly shouted, but was quickly silenced when Applejack shoved a slice of pie into her mouth, muffling her protest.

"But, cousin, at least let me explain how-"

Before she could finish, Pinkie grabbed her hoof and gently smiled. "I don’t want to hear it. You don’t need to explain anything to me. Let’s just be happy again, like we used to."

Pizza Pie paused, glancing at their friends, who all gave her reassuring smiles, despite the confusion swirling in their minds. "Okay, let's do that. . ." she replied softly, a sense of peace settling over her.

"Good!" Pinkie let go of her cousin’s hoof. "Now that you’re back, I’m going to throw a Welcome Back Party for my new and improved cousin!"

"You don’t have to do that, you know. . ." Pizza Pie began to protest.

"Oh, don’t be silly, cousin! This is my way of making it up to you!" Pinkie declared, pulling her party cannon from her mane. With one mighty blast, she filled the room with confetti, streamers, and decorations, instantly transforming the bakery into a vibrant party scene. "Now, come on, everypony! Let’s celebrate my same-ol new cousin!"

The rest of the group exchanged amused glances, deciding to go along with it for the sake of the Pie cousins. Pinkie handed out slices of cake to each of them, her energy contagious.

As they gathered, Twilight observed Pizza Pie more closely. Something about her new cutie mark caught her attention a faint reddish glow flickered from it, almost as if it was alive. She rubbed her eyes, staring more intently, but the glow vanished before she could be certain.

Before Twilight could dwell on it, Pinkie suddenly popped up in front of her, blocking her view. "Something wrong, Twilight? Here’s your cake!" she said, offering a generous slice with a smile.

"Uh, nothing’s wrong," Twilight replied, taking the slice from her. "T-thanks, Pinkie."

Twilight took a bite of the cake, but her mind remained distracted, quietly turning over what she’d seen. For now, she chose not to say anything but the mystery of Pizza Pie’s new appearance still lingered in her thoughts.

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“So none of you asked Pizza Pie how she got that unicorn horn?”

“No, dear,” Rarity said, flicking her mane back. “We felt it wasn't the right time, now that those two cousins have made up.”

“I agree with Rarity,” Twilight chimed in, her horn glowing as she levitated a stack of books onto the map table. “Plus, I'm doing some research on it.” She glanced at the titles before continuing, “The books I’ve found are close to the subject, but none of them mention anything about gaining a unicorn horn.”

“Yeah, even if we tried to ask Pizza Pie, she'd probably just dodge the question,” Rainbow Dash said, added with a shrug.

“So, Rainbow,” Applejack interjected, “you’re thinkin' she might be hidin' somethin’?”

“Uh, obviously, Applejack,” Rainbow retorted. “It’s something out of the ordinary, and we don’t expect her to just admit it.”

“And when you said Pinkie Pie is fine with it,” Starlight spoke up, “wouldn't that mean she knew about this?”

“I don’t think so, Starlight,” Fluttershy said quietly. “Pinkie Pie was devastated when we got to Sugarcube Corner.”

“That’s right, Fluttershy,” Twilight agreed, flipping through another book. “Pinkie might just be covering for her cousin.”

“But why would she do that?” Starlight asked.

“Maybe to keep Pizza Pie from getting judged,” Twilight replied thoughtfully, her hoof tapping her chin.

“Well, if that’s the case,” Rainbow Dash said, “we should just ask Discord already. He’s pretty odd himself, and it wouldn’t surprise me if he’s behind this.”

“We can’t, Rainbow!” Twilight exclaimed, slamming her book shut. “I’m trying not to jump to conclusions and blame Discord for things.”

“Seriously, Twilight?” Rainbow raised an eyebrow. “Then who else is wicked enough to pull this off?”

“Same here,” Starlight agreed, rummaging through Twilight’s stack of books. “Discord’s the only one who could make sense of all this. These books aren't going to give us a clear answer. We can't just chalk this up to another one of those odd days in Equestria, can we?”

“To us, darling,” Rarity sighed, “they’re always odd days.”

“If it ain’t Discord who turned Pizza Pie into a unicorn, then who did?” Applejack asked.

“So far, I have no clue, Applejack,” Twilight admitted. “But we need to keep this between us. We can’t let our suspicions ruin Pinkie and Pizza Pie’s bond.”

“Yeah, great idea, Twilight,” Rainbow Dash muttered, rolling her eyes. “Keep it a secret from Pinkie Pie. She’d never suspect a thing. By the way, anypony remember the last time we tried keeping a secret from her? Anypony?”

“Yes, yes, we remember,” Rarity said dryly. “She went a little. . . overboard.”

“She talked to herself for days,” Rainbow continued, ignoring Rarity’s tone. “It was super weird.”

“Well, okay, no need to relive that,” Starlight said, glancing between them. “By the way, where are the cousins now?”

“Oh, I told Pinkie to take Pizza Pie for a stroll,” Twilight said, closing her book. “They’ll be here in a hour-”

“We're here!”

“Or not. . .” Twilight muttered.

Pinkie Pie and Pizza Pie bounced into the room, a large steaming box balanced on Pizza Pie’s back. “Lookie, lookie! Cousin made us all her homemade pizza!” Pinkie beamed, shoving aside the books on the table to make room for the box.

Excitement filled the air as Pinkie opened the box, revealing a freshly baked pizza. Its warm, cheesy aroma wafted through the room, instantly catching the attention of everypony present. Their mouths watered as they gazed at the melted cheese, golden crust, and perfectly arranged toppings.

“Guess what? She baked it using her new unicorn magic! You girls have to try it!” Pinkie added, practically bouncing in place.

Without hesitation, they each grabbed a slice. As they inhaled its delicious, cheesy scent, their mouths watered even more. One bite later, and their eyes widened in delight.

“It’s nothing special,” Pizza Pie said with a modest smile. “I just mixed up what I could find in the kitchen.”

“Hmmmm. . . My goodness, this is amazing!” Rarity exclaimed, savoring another bite. “The flavor is exquisite! Pizza, darling, I had no idea you could bake something this delicious!”

“Got that right, Rarity!” Applejack chimed in. “Whoo whee! It's mighty cheesy and chewy. You sure know how to mix up the flavors well, Sugarcube. Right, Rainbow?”

“Totally! This is the best pizza I’ve ever tasted in my whole life!” Rainbow Dash declared. “Well, technically, this is the second pizza I've had the first one was at my birthaversary but this one takes the cake!”

“It’s wonderful!” Fluttershy added, her voice soft but sincere. “The flavors are unlike anything I’ve ever tasted. It’s like a whole new cheesy experience.”

“I agree with Fluttershy,” Twilight said, nodding as she took another bite. “This is practically the best pizza I’ve ever had. My compliments to the chef.”

“Thanks, Twilight, and thanks, everyone,” Pizza Pie replied, her cheeks flushing with pride. “I’m glad you all like it. If I had some ingredients from back home, I might’ve whipped up one of my papa’s special recipes those are even better.”

As the ponies continued to enjoy their pizza, Starlight Glimmer’s attention shifted to Pizza Pie’s new cutie mark. The unusual design, coupled with the recent mystery of her sudden transformation into a unicorn, piqued her curiosity. Putting down her plate, she walked over to Pizza Pie.

“Hey, Pizza Pie,” Starlight called.

“Yes, Starlight?” Pizza Pie responded cheerfully. “Want another slice? Let me get-”

“No, it’s okay,” Starlight interrupted, smiling. “They’re delicious, by the way.”

“Thanks, Starlight! Maybe next time, I can get some fresh ingredients sent from home and make some Mitalian dishes.”

“Oh, you should write a letter now, cousin!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed, bouncing in place. “I can’t wait to taste them all!”

Pizza Pie chuckled and patted her cousin’s head affectionately. “Maybe some other time, Pinkie.”

As the Pie cousins shared a warm hug, Starlight hesitated for a moment before speaking again. “So, uh. . . Pizza Pie, do you mind if I ask where you got your unicorn horn?”

The room fell silent. Everypony froze mid-bite, almost choking as Starlight’s question lingered in the air. Behind the Pie cousins, the rest of the group waved frantically, signaling Starlight to retract the question.

“On second thought, never mind!” Starlight quickly backpedaled, offering an awkward smile. “You must be tired from all that baking.”

“Heh, yeah, that’s right,” Pizza Pie sighed, her relief evident. “It was a lot of work making this pizza. I think I should head back and rest.”

“Aww, but cousin!” Pinkie Pie pouted, pulling a long scroll from her mane. “I had plans for all of us this afternoon!” She unfurled the list, which rolled out of the room and into the hallway. “Let’s see. . . first, we’ll go to the park, then we’ll play some made-up games, watch the sunset together, and finish by making s'mores and shooting fireworks!”

“That sounds nice, Pinkie,” Pizza Pie said, her smile wavering. “But maybe some other time-”

“Αυτό το Ροζ με βαράει. (This Pink one bores me.)”

Suddenly, Pizza Pie’s hooves wobbled, and she stumbled, nearly losing her balance. Pinkie reacted quickly, catching her cousin just in time.

“(Huh? What was that?)” Pizza Pie muttered to herself. “(I feel weak all of a sudden. . .)”

“Cousin, are you okay?” Pinkie asked, her voice laced with concern.

“Yeah, I’m fine, Pinkie,” Pizza Pie replied, shaking her head as if to clear it. “Just a little dizzy. I must’ve lost my balance for a second.”

“Oh. . .” Pinkie Pie’s ears drooped as she helped her cousin stand. “We can save all the fun for another day. There’s some medicine from Mrs. Cake-”

“I’ll go ask her for it when I get home,” Pizza Pie reassured her with a weak smile.

“Maybe I should go with you,” Pinkie offered. “Just to make sure-”

“No, it’s okay, cousin,” Pizza Pie interrupted gently. “You stay here and have fun with everypony. I’ll be fine.”

“B-But. . . okay, cousin,” Pinkie Pie finally relented, her voice small. “you est up, okay?”

“I will, Pinkie, see you all later everypony.”

As Pizza Pie left the room, Pinkie Pie waved after her, her face clouded with worry. Her usual cheerful demeanor faltered, and her friends noticed. Applejack approached her, placing a comforting hoof on her shoulder.

“You alright, Sugar Cube?” Applejack asked gently, placing a hoof on Pinkie Pie’s shoulder.

Pinkie Pie stepped away from her friend's touch and walked over to the castle map. “I know what you girls are thinking.”

Rainbow Dash flew up, landing on the map table in front of her. “Uh, how can we not? She’s a unicorn now. It’s not like a pimple that nopony would notice.”

“Darling, we’re not judging Pizza Pie,” Rarity added kindly. “As a unicorn myself, I find it rather marvelous. But we are curious about where she got it from. Don’t you want to know?”

Pinkie Pie looked down at the photograph she pulled from her mane. It was a picture of her, Pizza Pie, and the rest of their friends on her cousin’s first day in Ponyville. The smile on Pizza Pie’s face back then was so different from the forced one she wore now.

“I didn't ask her, and I don’t want to.” Pinkie said quietly.

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes, hovering above the table again. “Yeah, because you’re scared.”

Twilight used her magic to tug Rainbow Dash back down to her seat. Rainbow huffed, crossing her hooves.

“I’m not scared!” Pinkie snapped, her voice shaking. “I just. . . I just don’t want to bring it up, okay?”

“But Pinkie, how do we know where she got it is safe?” Starlight pressed gently.

“It’s safe to me, Starlight!” Pinkie turned, her eyes glistening. “As long as she’s still my cousin, that’s all that matters.”

The others looked at each other, guilt washing over them. They’d let their curiosity cloud their concern for Pinkie’s feelings. Slowly, they gathered around her, offering her quiet comfort.

“We understand how you feel, and we’re sorry.” Twilight said softly.

“Uh-huh,” Applejack nodded, placing a hoof back on Pinkie’s shoulder. “For now on, we won’t ask Pizza Pie anymore, promise.”

Rarity gave a supportive smile. “Indeed, darling. It’s up to her if she ever wishes to share.”

“And if she does, we’ll be here for her.” Fluttershy added with a soft nod.

Rainbow Dash sighed. “Yeah, yeah. As long as it all makes sense, I’m good.”

The group then turned to Starlight, waiting for her response.

Starlight smiled sheepishly. “Alright. I’m sorry for being so pushy earlier.”

Pinkie Pie’s expression softened. She walked over to Starlight and handed her the last slice of pizza. “Here, you can have this.”

Starlight blinked, then smiled warmly. “Thanks, Pinkie.”

With that, Rainbow Dash stretched and jumped out of her chair, flapping her wings lazily. “Welp, I’m off to take a nap. Good talk, everypony!” She zipped out the window, disappearing into the clouds.

Twilight smiled as she closed her books. “Looks like we all need a break. This conference is over. Enjoy your day, everypony.” With Spike by her side, she exited the room.

One by one, the others left too, until Starlight was the only one still lingering. She remained confused, her mind stuck on Pizza Pie’s strange behavior earlier.

Meanwhile, outside the castle, Pizza Pie walked through the neighborhood, folding her mane over her new horn as she hurried past groups of ponies. She could feel their stares, hear their whispers, though she did her best to ignore them. She quickened her pace, her heart racing. She hated the attention, hated the way they talked about her. Up ahead, she spotted a quiet shortcut and ducked into it, escaping the prying eyes of the crowd.

“That. . . was close. . .” Pizza Pie muttered, leaning against the alley wall. She tapped her new horn furiously. “Ugh! This stupid thing! I could’ve just teleported home and avoided everypony, but it. . . won’t. . . work. . . when I need it!”

Frustration surged through her, and she slumped to the ground, her head hanging low. “Why am I even hiding this? Everypony’s going to find out sooner or later. . . and then they’ll start judging me again. What should I do? How can I tell them without getting Princess Luna in trouble?”

“Θα έπρεπε να είσαι υπέροχος."

The eerie whisper slithered into her ear. Pizza Pie jolted upright, her heart racing. She looked around the empty alley. “That voice again. . .” Her eyes darted back and forth, but the alley remained deserted. No one was there. “If this is some prank, it’s not funny!”

The voice grew louder, seeping into her mind: "Η αγαπημένη σου πριγκίπισσα δεν έχει ιδέα τι σου χάρισε. Ανησυχείς για τόσο μικρά πράγματα και όμως δεν συνειδητοποιείς ότι είσαι περισσότερο από ό,τι φαντάζεσαι."

The words echoed louder and louder, reverberating inside her skull. She clapped her hooves over her ears, but it did nothing to block the sound. The walls of the alley seemed to close in, warping her vision until everything felt like it was spiraling out of control.

Panicking, she bolted from the alley without looking back, her hooves pounding the cobblestone streets as she ran.

Across town, Starlight Glimmer strolled through the marketplace, lost in thought. “How does somepony just. . . turn into a unicorn overnight? And why didn’t anypony else ask the Pie cousins about it?”

Her stomach growled, drawing attention from nearby ponies. She grinned sheepishly and continued on her way. “Right after lunch, I’m getting to the bottom of this. Oh speak of the pie!”

Up ahead, she spotted Pizza Pie rushing through the crowd, her mane disheveled and eyes wide with panic.

“Pizza Pie?” Starlight called, waving to get her attention. “I thought you were at Sugarcube Corner-”

But Pizza Pie dashed past her without a second glance, causing the surrounding ponies to murmur curiously.

Starlight frowned, suspicion prickling the back of her mind. “Huh. . . something is definitely off about her.”

Back at Sugarcube Corner, Pizza Pie burst through the front door and raced up to her room. She slammed it shut behind her, locking it as she leaned against the wood, panting heavily. Her body trembled with exhaustion and fear, her heart still pounding from the run.

She scanned the room, half-expecting the voice to follow her here. “It’s getting worse by the day. . . I can’t take it anymore! Tomorrow, I’ll go to Princess Luna. Maybe she can fix this.”

Her mane brushed against her face, knocking loose bits of dirt and dust. “Ugh. . . I should clean myself up first.”

In the bathroom, she splashed her face with cold water, hoping to calm the racing thoughts in her head. Grabbing a towel with her magic, she dried off. She recalled Pinkie’s suggestion about medicine in the cabinet and opened it, staring at her reflection for a moment.

“At least I don’t look too much like cousin Pinkie Pie anymore,” she muttered. But when she shut the cabinet, her reflection didn’t look back at her.

Her breath caught in her throat. The figure in the mirror had its head lowered, mane covering its face. Slowly, it began to move on its own, lifting its head until its disfigured features stared directly into Pizza Pie’s eyes.

Terrified, Pizza Pie stumbled back. “Wh-What’s happening?”

“Για περισσότερα από χιλιάδες χρόνια, είμαι επιτέλους ελεύθερος! Δωρεάν να επεκταθώ, δωρεάν να γίνω ισχυρός! Εσύ μικρό μου πόνυ, θα είσαι το νέο μου σκάφος καθώς περπατώ ξανά σε αυτόν τον κόσμο!"

“No. . . No-”

Red magic flared from her horn and cutie mark, filling the room with a blinding light. She struggled to move, to escape, but her body was slowly being consumed by the dark force within her.

“C-Cousin. . . help. . .” she gasped, reaching weakly toward the door.

As the magic engulfed her completely, the room glowed bright orange, just like the night before. The light shone through the window, then slowly faded, leaving the house eerily quiet.

Pinkie Pie had just returned home, carrying bags full of baking ingredients. “Cousin? I know we just baked this morning, but I was super excited when you said we’d make your papa’s homemade pizza tonight!”

She entered the kitchen, spotting Mrs. Cake cleaning. “Mrs. Cake, have you seen cousin Pizza Pie?”

“Oh, she’s upstairs, dear,” Mrs. Cake replied. “She seemed to be in a bit of a hurry, though.”

“Probably just taking some medicine for her dizziness,” Pinkie said. “I’ll go check on her.”

Leaving her groceries behind, Pinkie bounced up the stairs. As she approached the hallway, she noticed a strange glow coming from the bathroom. Curious, she pushed the door open just as the glow faded away. There, on the bathroom floor, was Pizza Pie, slowly standing up.

“There you are, cousin!” Pinkie beamed, approaching her. “Did you take the medicine I told you about?”

Pizza Pie didn’t respond.

“Cousin?” Pinkie asked, her smile faltering slightly.

Still no response.

“Cousin?” Pinkie placed a hoof on Pizza Pie’s shoulder, gently turning her around. “Are you-”

Pizza Pie’s face slowly twisted into an eerie, unsettling smile. Her eyes widened, gleaming with an unnatural intensity. But as she looked at Pinkie Pie, her expression vanished, and her face returned normal.

“Never better.”

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~ End of chapter 12

Author's Note

A chance to change always comes with a price. Whether it's small or big, it makes a difference. Pizza pies change was not for the better, but better for the worse.

So up comes the exchange of change.