Episode 26:

28 Pranks Later

One night Luna’s moon was at it’s fullest in the Pride Lands, during that night fog settled in certain areas with the buffalo’s home and grazing grounds being one of the said areas. The kind of night that Fluttershy wouldn’t normally be out and about on, at least not on her own. Although she didn't fear the darkness as much as before and wasn't much of a scaredy cat anymore, she would rather be safe at home than braving the night by herself if she had the choice. But in this case, she was here to help out the buffalo with the big problem with a few of her animal friends for company, including Harry the Bear and Angel Bunny.

“Thank you so much, for being so willing to join us at this time of the day.” The buffalo leader thanked. “I know this is a little out of your comfort zone but we do appreciate you taking the time to come down here, Fluttershy.”

“Oh, it’s all right.” Fluttershy replied not bothered at all. “As long as I have some company with me it’s not all bad.” She turned to her animal friends who smiled and nodded encouragingly at her before turning back to Vuraga Vuraga with said reason. “Now, it is to my understanding that you all have been having quite a scare every month is that right?”

“Yes, for a whole year in counting.” Vuraga Vuraga shifted her eyes around looking for said source of nightmarish fears. “Every time whenever there is a full moon out and about we’ve had buffalo eating creatures lurking around in the shadows seeking to eat us.”

“Gosh, That sure is quite a startling thing to endure.”

“It is.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. But there really is nothing to be afraid of here...aside from Scar himself.” She briefly shuddered before collecting herself. “Anyways...the Pride Lands at night is the same as the Pride Lands during the day.”

“If only was as easy as it sounds.”

“Did you by any chance get a good look or make of what the creature was?”

“No, not really. But someway somehow it sounded familiar. Like I’ve heard it before…”

“Who?”

While this was going on a faint sound was heard. Fluttershy's ears picked it up. It sounded like the rustling of leaves, as though someone or something was not far behind. But when Fluttershy spun around to look, she saw nothing. "Hello? I-is somebody there?" She called out, trying to keep her teeth from chattering. The only answer came in the form of a gust of wind.

Fluttershy continued to try to stand her ground towards whatever is haunting them. “Um, I don’t mean to be rude, but it is considered rude to constantly haunt others one too many times. With still no words of voices, she continued looking around, before finally getting something that suddenly sped right by them without warning. “Like I said, nothing to worry about. No reason to…”

Indeed there was something nearby, two figures, both big and alive. Peering out from behind the nearby bush, the figure's pink and green eyes glowed, as it eyed its unsuspecting victims.

Again without warning they both emerged from their hiding spots, locking eyes with their unsuspecting prey. If looks could kill everyone watching them would be dead on the spot. And upon seeing those deadly eyes of their’s. Fluttershy screamed. “Run!”

Fluttershy bolted along with the buffalo herd, all desperately racing and trying to get away from the overnight predators haunting them. They ran fast and hard away from where they last saw them and thankfully the creatures were never seen again. Upon seeing they have managed to escape them had everyone breathing heavily and sighing in relief yet still with their hearts pumping and racing as if they saw death before them.

"Phew! That was a close one!" Fluttershy was the express to express said relief.

"You can say that again!" Vuruga Vuraga said in agreement. "Now that just leaves the question of who were those predators that were haunting us?"

"I wish I knew."

Said two figures in question both kept running only they were both out of everyone’s sight. And once they were sure they were alone they quickly retreated to the Pride Lands portal before anyone spotted them. Said figures emerging into the moonlight in Ponyville, happened to be both Rainbow Dash and Fuli who are both breathing heavily and both looking on very relieved and guilty with what had just happened.

“Okay. I think this goes without saying it but...that was way too close.” Fuli said first.

“No kidding!” Rainbow was quick to agree. “Had we known that Fluttershy was going to be there tonight, we wouldn’t have done it.”

“Well at least we know for sure that Fluttershy won’t be around to want to find out who’s been pranking them, that’s for sure. But we are NOT doing that again.”

“Agreed.”

“Now…let’s go back and make sure she’s okay. But going forward we are going to act like we weren’t there and nothing happened. Understand?”

“You don’t have to tell me twice.”

“Good. And we know what’s to come afterwards, right?”

“Absolutely! A day where practical jokes comes to shine and where one gets to wear the crown of honor.”

“Yep.”

The two shared a knowing, friendly, and competitive smirk with one another before returning back to the Pride Lands, to help tend to their friend in order to make sure Fluttershy didn’t suffer a heart attack back there. With a big day to look forward, there are big surprises to look forward and in ways where one doesn’t expect it to given the very nature of pranks.

The next day a meeting between the Lion and Pony Guard was held at the castle. They were all there to discuss the incident that Fluttershy had suffered in the Pride Lands. To both Fuli and Rainbow’s relief, Fluttershy didn’t suspect them in any shape or way whatsoever, so they both opted to chose their choice words very carefully to avoid slipping up the truth to them.

“So it has been brought to our attention that someone has been scaring the buffalo once every full moon.” Twilight began while walking around the table while reading through her notes before facing the others. “Apparently it has been that way every full moon for three years now.”

“In addition…” Kion added. “...Fluttershy just happened to be nearly scared to death from the latest incident.” Fluttershy herself appeared just fine, still a little shaken up by what happened but not without Beshte and Rarity by her side for comfort. “So, anybody or anypony have any idea why this is happening?”

“I guess that depends on exactly when this all started?” Applejack commented first.

“If I remember right, it was said to have started after getting spooked that one night when the elephants were stampeding across the Pride Lands that one time.” Ono recalled before eyeing both Fuli and Rainbow Dash. “You two wouldn’t happen to recall what happened that day, do you?”

“Huh?”

“What?”

The two returned acting confused before properly replying to that question.

“I mean we were there when they ran off.” Fuli then began. “But we didn’t do anything like posing as buffalo hunting predators to do so.”

“Yeah!” Rainbow then added. “I mean it might be just as a simple confusion and misunderstanding is what happened.”

“That is possible.” Beshte said willing to give it a benefit of the doubt.

“And considering the fact the cover of darkness can lead to a mistaken identity much like what nearly happened with the aardvarks. It can chalked up to anyone or anything else.” Rarity said while adding her input as well.”

“Absolutely true!” Pinkie leaped up and proceeded to turn off the lights while posing the shape of various ponies in the room around her to prove that point. She then smiled while turning the lights back on feeling she proved her point there.

“Uh-huh.” Ono returned not completely convinced at the same time Twilight looks aside feeling the same way.

But even with reason to doubt, Twilight still pressed forward as if it is nothing worth pursing at the moment. “Well in any case, if they do show up again, Princess Luna herself will inform us if anything pops up since she has just agreed to have her and her guards scout the Pride Lands every night before the former goes to perform her dream duties.” Fuli and Rainbow both look on feeling they made the right call while trying not to let their nerves show to give themselves away to their friends.

“Sounds like a great idea, Twilight.” Kyoga voiced her support for it. “If anybody or anypony can see through the shadows at night it’s her.”

“That’s true. No doubt about that.” Kion himself agreed before moving towards his seat. “And that should definitely put the matter behind us for now and…” But what Kion wanted to say next was cut off, for as she sat down in her chair there came an audible fart sound. No one said a word, but Bunga barely managed to keep himself from chuckling.

Starlight quickly came over, and used her magic to remove a deflated whoopie cushion. "A whoopie cushion? Really?" She returned to the obvious culprit.

Bunga couldn’t resist laughing his butt off. “Aw, come on! That’s a classic! And you got to admit! That was funny!”

Kion simply tossed aside the whoopie cushion with his magic after briefly holding it for a bit. “Maybe if it wasn’t frequently overused.”

Hearing that statement left the honey badger baffled into shock. “What?!”

Kion quickly explained to clarify what he meant by what he just said. “I mean there’s nothing wrong with a whoopie cushion every now and then. But point being the joke itself whether it’s from that or somewhere else has pretty much run it’s course.”

Still Bunga crossed his arms while pouting and feeling put out by that remark. “Oh, okay.”

Rarity then moved to try to console and advice her friend upon seeing this. “Now Bunga, I’m sure you are more than capable of pulling off a funny joke every now and then. I just think you need to put forward a little more effort in your practical jokes to make them work. You know what I mean.”

“Aside from something trying to pull off something stinky and somewhat lazy.” Applejack added.

“Lazy?!” Bunga returned feeling even more offended. “Okay. Fine.” He accepted it without anymore fuss for now. “I suppose I can do that. No doubt about that.” With that he took his leave from the room leaving Pinkie, Rainbow, and Fuli to go after him.

“We’re going to make sure he’s okay. And you know, not doing anything he’ll regret.” Fuli said on behalf the group before taking her leave as well.

“Okay.” Kion accepted it. “Let him know I’m sorry I upset him.”

“Will do.”

After that Kion could only sigh. “That could have gone better.” All while hoping he doesn’t take it personally.

At Ponyville, the clock on the tall tower strikes noon. When that happened it attracted the nearby ears that drew attention as they knew what it means. Specifically, Rainbow Dash, Bunga, Fuli, and Pinkie Pie who all made their way to the Castle of Friendship as fast as their paws, hooves, and wings could carry them. And once they all gathered inside, they all moved to have their conversation to the castle throne room.

Upon getting settled in, they all took their seats with Rainbow Dash the first to speak what’s on their mind. “Fellow ponies and Pride Landers, our Day of Pranks is upon us.” As she spoke she briefly put on a highly decorated crown that looks similar to Twilight’s. “And as last year’s victor I must allow you all to challenge me for the crown.”

“You mean me?!” Fuli challenged before swiping the crown off of her head and briefly placed on her head. “Seems to me you already forgot who really won the crown last year back when you decided to have our final match on Nightmare Night. Again.”

“Only because you had help from Princess Luna.” Rainbow retorted with crossed arms before trying to swipe the crown back. “And that was three years ago. Not only that and it was just between the two us when I was trying to get back at you when you started to get the hang and skill for pranks.”

“Hey!” Fuli quickly evaded Rainbow’s attempts before pulling out a large rule book that conveniently and opened it up to a specific page. “According the rules, the Princess amendment, pranksters can call upon aid from other princesses along with other royalty in Equestria and the Pride Lands because they have the power and magic to do anything. And besides, even still I was last year’s victor courtesy of catching you off guard when that day just so happened to be Pie Day that Princess Celestia herself was hosting. Not to mention the princess amendment allows me to get in touch with her through other means.”

She then thought about how she managed to trick Spike into sending multiple scrolls to the sun princess herself in order to distract her for when the pie cart set up for said prank strolled right by the throne room when the doors were left open.

Rainbow growled in response before reluctantly backing down. “We’ll see about that this time. For you will find your reward does not come easily. This I tell you as if getting everyone in the Crystal Empire to believe in ghosts is something to go on about two years ago.”

He recalls managing to spook everypony there including Shining Armor and Cadance into thinking that with nothing more than invisible ink combined with wailing and moaning sounds to accompany them. All while everyone at one point screams "GHOSTS!" expect for one pony who said "Toast.". On top of that a handful of Pride Landers who happened to be visiting that day found themselves nearly trampled and run off over everyone panicking and screaming due to the ghostly situation including Simba, Nala, Kiara, Badili, Rafiki, Discord, along with Timon and Pumbaa,

“Speaking of Pie Day…” Pinkie spoke up while placing the crown on her head. “...I believe that crown is ours, since I helped Fuli that day so…the crown’s mine for now.”

Fuli sighed before letting her have it. “Okay, I suppose that’s fair.”

Bunga happily sighed before pounding his fists together ready for a rematch. “It seemed like only yesterday when we made that.”

“Bunga, it was actually three years ago.” Fuli reminded.

“I know. And I can’t wait to get started on this competition so I can finally have a turn at wearing that crown this year. I mean we saw Fuli, Pinkie Pie, and you Rainbow Dash all win it, whether it’s karmic lighting bolts on Nightmare Night, or lured into a Pie Assault, or left knocked off of our feet before finding ourselves spinning into a nearby pool.”

“Bunga…” Fuli spoke up once more. “You did win. Remember, when you and Rainbow worked together in unleashing that Stink Bomb of yours all over Ponyville three years ago when we expanded this competition between the four of us so that they would get a fair chance at what we all started together.”

“Oh, yeah!” Bunga remembered along with the recent time he did it. “I can’t believe I all ready forgot about that.”

“Even the time you did on the Flim Flam Brothers?”

“Hey! They had it coming! And who am I to dwell on the past?”

“That’s true. Hakuna Matata!” Pinkie cheerfully said before focusing on the rule book created before flipping it to the first page. “Enough said, the rules are simple. If ye is pranked, than ye is out, and the last pony or Pride Lander to go unpranked becomes Lord High King or Queen and wins the crown.”

Just then the crown is magically levitated on over towards the Princess of Friendship herself with the Prince of Friendship for company.

“You mean my crown?” Twilight said rather annoyed. “And you’re all really having this meeting, here, in my castle?!”

“Hey!” Bunga defended. “We plan this every year and per tradition it usually starts at high noon. And what better way to commence a royal pranking competition than by doing it in a castle?”

“Oh, sorry for interrupting something you all could have had somewhere else along with taking back my crown to which for the record apparently misplaced with the one you actually made?!” Twilight presented the other identical crown right in front of them.

“Oops.” Bunga laughed when given said crown. “Must have mixed up the crowns when I sneezed earlier.” Turning back to the annoyed alicorn. “But in all fairness, your crown does look a lot shinier and more fitting for a champion, wouldn’t you agree, Twilight?”

“Bunga…” Kion spoke up with his turn to have a say in the matter. “...what she means it would be more appreciated that if you and the others didn’t turn her home or our home…?” He briefly turned to Twilight who nodded in response. “…into your playhouse whenever you want to get together for your own little competition get together.” Then another thought occurred to him. “I mean understand you, Pinkie, and Rainbow are all into pranks and doing something like this...but you Fuli?”

“Hey! They started it when they dared pouring water on me as a prank and ever since I played their game there was no backing out of it. Once you’re in the game you’re in. There’s no way out.” Fuli defended. “And you know…” She then brought up. “...we can make this something where you both can join in on the fun. That it wouldn’t seem out of place that of us coming over here for these annual get together’s.”

“Yeah!” Pinkie also brought up. “Why don’t you both join us and partake in Ye Day of Pranks!”

“You, You, and each of us, one on one on one on one on one one, six ways, in an epic prank battle.”

“If you either or both of you can handle it.” Rainbow added with crossed arms as if she is daring them to give it a go.

Both Twilight and Kion looked at each other before facing the others who are both giving them tempting looks and smirks. In return they gave looks to show they will entertain them this time around.

“Very well.”

“You’re on.”

“Great!” Pinkie cheered with party streamers, balloons, and confetti launched into the air to commemorate this moment.

Rainbow proceeded to hand the two the rule book. “Here’s everything you need to know about how our prank war goes. All of the rules, amendments, regulations, clauses, and all of that good stuff that bookworms like you love.”

“Don’t you know it.”

“Pranks commence in two hours, and once the clock strikes two, expect pranks to come your way.”

“If you can win great! If not well your loss!” Bunga added with a shrug.

“We’ll expect that.”

“Then you better think fast and on your hooves and paws because you never what will come your way.” Fuli added.

“Wouldn’t expect anything less from any of you.”

The six all locked eyes with one another all ready to bring it when the time comes.

After their little meeting, the four visitors exited the castle now, leaving both Twilight and Kion alone with their thoughts and how they are tackling this prank battle themselves.

“So...we actually just said yes to this?” Kion asked first.

“Yep.” Twilight nodded. “We did.”

“Even after what happened the last time you were involved in a prank.”

“Oh, yeah.”

“Then why are you…”

Twilight moved to explain why. “Because it’s pretty clear they aren’t taking no for an answer. And if we did, they’ll never let us forget it. Well, Rainbow and Bunga will make sure of that.” She then clarified.

“True.” Kion nodded accepting that reason.

“And this could be an opportunity to prove them a point. That we whether it’s just you or me can have just as much fun with them along with being just as good as pulling pranks at them.”

“Okay.” Kion nodded but still felt unsure of how and where she is going with this. “But that doesn’t explain how are we going to outprank the pranksters. I mean compared to a few jokes here and there, they have had years of experience of pulling jokes on everyone around them.”

“True. But…” Twilight then pointed out. “...you can master the game itself, if you know how to play it. And if you know how your opponents are going to react, then you can use that to your advantage so they play right into your paws and hoofs.”

“Right, of course…” Kion acknowledged before pointing out. “...you sure you’re okay? Do I need to call the other princesses for another therapy session?”

“That wouldn’t be necessary.” Twilight assured with a chuckle. “...and do you know why? Because I have a plan.”

“Like what?” Kion nervously asked when Twilight adopted a devious grin.

“You’ll find out…” Twilight simply said still smiling.

Shortly after the meeting at Twilight's castle was adjourned, Rarity returned to Carousel Boutique with Ono for company. Sweetie Belle was already there, waiting for her. And Rarity led her little sister up to her workshop, as she said. "I know you're excited about the Filly Guide Cookie Drive, but I still have to do a few finishing touches on your uniform."

"Okay." Sweetie Belle replied, before she and Rarity both laid eyes on Sweetie Belle's Filly Guide uniform, which rested atop a massive cake.

Rarity growled a little, but Sweetie simply opted to munch of some the cake. "Hmm. Not bad," She commented. "But where did it come from?"

"Good question, Sweetie Belle, Where did it come from indeed." Rarity responded, and then eyed a small note that rested near the cake. "What's this? 'To Rarity and Ono: You asked for it.'"

"What does it mean?" Sweetie asked Rarity.

"It means that this is Bunga's idea of a prank.” Ono answered while examining the cake itself.

“No doubt he's rigged some kind of bobby trap of some sort to your Filly Guide uniform up there the second I try to use my magic to trigger it." Rarity also deduced.

"So then, how do we get it down?" Sweetie inquired.

"We don't.” Rarity replied. “If Bunga actually thinks I'm going to fall for something so obvious, he's got another thing coming. There's more uniforms where that one came from! After all, I am always prepared for these kinds of emergencies!" Trotting over to her sewing machine, she got to work on trying to make a new uniform for her little sister. However, when Rarity went to her sewing machine and prepared to turn it on, it collapsed with a splat! "Huh?! What the-?!"

Sweetie Belle rushed over, quickly discovering that the sewing machine had been replaced with a well made cake replica. And like with the actual cake, the filly couldn't resist taking a bite. "Hmm. The sewing machine cake is actually better than the cake cake." She commented.

Rarity then angrily growled. "Bunga!"

“You called?” Said honey badger appeared from behind before eyeing the cakes in front of the two unicorns. “Wow!” He couldn’t resist laughing. “Man! Somebody got you good, Rarity! You too, Ono”

"Very funny, Bunga," Ono remarked with a groan. "I guess we should have saw that coming.”

“No question about that!” Bunga commented with another laugh before munching on the giant cake itself all while climbing up it so he can retrieve the uniform. “Anyways, got’s to go.” He then said before taking his leave all while Rarity can only frown at him in his direction.

At the same time, Bunga had tipped the cake over so that it would fall on top of Ono who can only squak before it toppled all over him.

That night, at Sweet Apple Acres, Apple Bloom was surprised to find her sister's bedroom completely covered with pans and bells, which clanged and jingled when moved. Curious and a bit worried, Apple Bloom asked her big sister. "What's all this, Applejack? I thought you were gonna help me get ready for the Filly Guide Cookie Drive."

"Uh, yeah, really sorry about that," Applejack apologized to Apple Bloom. "But the thing is, Bunga’s been on a prankin' spree lately and with him you can never be too careful."

"Do you really think Bunga is gonna try and prank you in your sleep?" Apple Bloom asked with concern. "I know Bunga can be kind of crazy like Pinkie Pie, but he’s not that crazy."

"I would like to hope that Bunga won’t be crazy to try anything on me tonight. But just in case he tries somethin', I'm gonna plan to be ready for him!" Applejack firmly vowed before clicking off the lamp and yawned a bit before she said to Apple Bloom. "See ya in the mornin', sugarcube."

Applejack fell asleep at once, certain she'd outfoxed Bunga and kept him at bay. But as she woke up the next morning, the first thing the farmpony heard, was the sound of a pig oinking along with a friend’s voice.

“Applejack? What’s going on?”

"Huh?!" Applejack exclaimed, as her eyes shot open! Sure enough, a pig was sleeping next to her in her bed with Beshte watching on looking equally confused. Just then, the rooster crowed. "Whoa!" Applejack exclaimed in shock before she stumbled out of bed, only to land with a splat in a thick puddle of mud in the middle of the pigpen. Only then did she hear the sound of pans clanking.

Bunga having happened to be nearby again, laughed at what he saw. “Wow! Somebody got you too! Wow! Whoever this guy is, he is good!”

"Bunga!" Applejack growled and shouted, as she slowly picked herself up. “How the hay did you do this?!”

“What?” Bunga looked on confused once more. “You think I did this? I mean come on, I may be crazy, but I’m not that crazy. Get your head out of the gutter.” He then moved to head on out but not without one more thing to say. “Oh, Beshte. You might want to watch your back because I thought I saw something back there.”

“Huh? What? Whoa!” Beshte turned and tried to see what he is talking about only to be suddenly nudged and pushed into the mud by one of the pigs who took amusement and pleasure in doing so. After Bunga had left, he turned to the farm pony next to her wondering. “What just happened?”

“Beats me.” Was all Applejack could say with a defeated sigh.

Later that same day, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie were both out and about going their separate ways scouting Ponyville. Both were on the alert as they heard that pranks were already pulled on Applejack, Rarity, Beshte, and Ono so far. And already both were starting to get concerned because ever since their little meeting at the castle, they haven’t seen nor heard a mention of Twilight nor Kion.

“This is so strange!” Rainbow thought to herself as she kept her eyes open all around her in flight. “It’s been twelve hours since this game started and neither she or Kion or Bunga have tried to take me out yet.”

“I know!” Pinkie’s mind magically thought herself at the same time despite being on the opposite side of Ponyville. “Do any of them know what kind of game we’re playing here? What’s the big prank that we should be expecting?!”

Just then, it happened that both of them came to a place were they went…

BUMP!

“OW! The two exclaimed while rubbing their heads in pains.

During their accidental stumble from the pain, they ended up tumbling into separate carts containing pies. And upon stumbling out of the pie carts, both had differing reactions.

“Ugh! Really?!” Rainbow groaned before emerging from her cart still convered with pie filling.

“Mmm! Tasty!” Pinkie happily exclaimed before licking herself clean and gulping every bit of pie filling around her inlcuding the filling on Rainbow’s coat.

“Happy?!”

“Yep.”

“Even after realizing we just got pranked? Which also means we’re out!”

“Yeah.” Pinkie still happily replied while shrugging the loss like it’s no big deal. “Though you have to admit whoever did it, got us pretty good.”

Rainbow could only now feel upset that she got eliminated from this prank war like this. “But...How...How did this happen?!”

As if to answer her, Bunga came whistling by while wheeling a cart of baking goods as if it was an ordinary day for him. “Hey, girls!” He happily greeted all while carrying on and into the Sugarcube Corner.

At that moment, Rainbow’s mind and gears grinded before deciding to pay their friend a visit. At the same time, the gears in the pink pony’s gears are still ticking like it doesn’t seem to be clicking for some reason. As if her Pinkie Sense isn’t sensing that is it.

By then, he had already decorated a box of cupcakes before preparing to take that box along for his next outing. For the next customer, no doubt. “Was this your idea for a prank, Bunga?! Huh?!”

“I wish it was.” Bunga replied before nearly tripping and dropping the box he was carrying. Luckily, he was able to perform a spinning move that allowed him to catch the cupcakes that had fallen out of the box. “Phew! That could have been messy. Just saved myself the trouble of extra baking.”

“It sure would have!” Pinkie happily thanked. “And to think that actually spilled all over the floor. Then that sure would have been a mess for the next pony to set foot through this door.”

Rainbow growled in response already fuming. “Are you serious just going to stand there and act all innocent with me?!”

“I’m not acting, geez!” Bunga returned still not understanding why his friend is already getting agitated with him. “Did you not get enough sleep or are you already acting like a sore loser? I told you I didn’t set up that prank you and Pinkie fell into.”

“Oh, really?” Rainbow returned still not convinced. “Then who else could have done it?” But then she gasped when she realized. “Fuli! Of course! She was running circles around us earlier in the Pride Lands before coming over here to turn that to our advantage. It makes perfect sense now! It’s just exactly how she managed to trick me last year.” Then she realized. “Oh, I really wish I can show her what’s up.”

“Too bad.” Bunga casually replied while properly wrapping up the cupcake box. “Once you’re out you’re done. Says so in the rules.” He briefly held up the book and selected page to show it. “Hopefully the wheels will turn on Fuli soon. It always does no matter long it takes.”

While acknowledging that statement, Rainbow still gave Bunga the stink eye from behind still certain that he is behind all of this.

Elsewhere, Fuli is out running around in the Pride Lands, all while checking her surroundings at every shade of cover. From every tree, to every rock, and every animal she can use to her advantage to stay hidden from whomever is trying to prank her. Given that she is trying really hard to avoid being pranked herself, it makes sense she would be quick whenever she moves around.

Then she spots the portal nearby while watching on from the nearby bushes. She then smiled and eyed it with confidence before making her move towards it. “I’m home free.”

Only… “Huh?”

...she found herself unable to move when she found herself stuck from where she stands. Thanks to rubber cement placed in that very spot, she was unable to move

“What the…?! I’m stuck! But how?!” She then spotted Bunga from a distance holding some kind of sticky substance in his possession in the form of a paint can and brush. He passed on ahead without noticing what was going on from nearby. Seeing this had Fuli look on with a growl of frustration. “Bunga!”

“Trouble, cheetah?” Bupu said from behind as he just so happened to be nearby taking pleasure at her plight.

Fuli groaned in response before swallowing whatever pride she has before speaking. “Yes.”

“Would you like me to help free you?” He asked with a smug smirk.

“Yes, please.”

Bupu moved to work his antlers in digging up the dirt that has the cheeath glued on. With a big strong pull, he was able to pull on the glue that was sticking the cheetah stuck free. Even while finding herself flying for a bit she was then able to run and walk as she pleases. But before leaving she was take a little smug pleasure herself when in doing so, Bupu ended up getting his antlers stuck in the glue himself.

“Trouble, Bupu?”

“Yes.”

“Would you like me to help free you?”

“Yes. Just don’t mention this to anyone. I won’t speak of this if you don’t.”

“Gladly.” She proceeded to to help free the antelope leader by pulling him on the legs as opposed to sticking her paws in the glue again like he did. After nearly stumbling to avoid being accidentally trampled, she was able to free the antelope leader. And both were able to walk out of the situation unharmed.

After managing to make sure she got all of the glue off of her paws by using the dirt she came along the way to scrape it off, she then followed after Bunga to see where he is going.

He went on over back to Sugarcube Corner where he prepared to do some baking inside. Said baking seemed to consist of mixing together dough, sugar, milk, and decorative toppings one would put on cookies. Said cookies happen to contain a special ingredient to which consisted of a rainbow looking color to which Bunga slipped a quart of inside of it.

“Oh, this is going to be great! So colorful!” Bunga smiled with glee. “Not only with everyone love these but it will definitely rock the taste buds and socks off of both Twilight and Kion.” He proceeded to stir up the batter before preparing to place them on the baking sheet while they appeared as normal cookies. “One bite of these and others will go, “Huh? Did I just a taste of magic?”, No, you just got pranked!” Bunga laughed before placing them in the oven before proceeding to continue making the next batch for the many boxes of cookies that are set to be baked and delivered as part of the annual Filly Guide Cookie Drive.

At the same time, Fuli looked on with a silent glare before moving away from the bakery after already seeing what she needed to see.

The next morning, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo, along with their big sisters, were getting ready for the annual Filly Guide Cookie Drive. They'd already picked up the boxes of cookies the day before, and thanks to already planning out their sales strategy the week before, they knew which Ponyville residents wanted what cookies and how much of those cookies they'd order. The weather itself was perfect for this time of year. And with no word of any pranks in the air, it seemed like today was going to be a peaceful and quiet, uneventful day.

By then, Bunga had arrived along with Pinkie Pie with the multiple boxes of cookies baked, prepared, and gift wrapped as requested.

“All right, kids!” Bunga happily greeted the fillies in uniform. “Who’s ready to sell some cookies!”

“Me!” The Crusaders all happily replied ready to get started themselves.

Though Applejack was quick to have a stern word with the equally eager honey badger. “Look here, Bunga. I know you promised Scootaloo you'd help out, but I don't want none of your pranks ruinin' these fillies' night.”

“Especially when said night is very important to them.” Fuli also sternly added while standing by Scootaloo’s side in a protective manner, complete with an eye am watching you gesture.

“What?!” Bunga laughed the very thought off with a simple paw wave. “Who me?! Come on! You know I would never go that far for a prank.” He then added. “Look if it makes you feel any better, I’ll be with you all the whole day and night so you can keep an eye on me. Sound fair.”

“Fair enough.” Ono simply shrugged seeing that Bunga is being honest enough for their liking. “Though I do have to ask…” He then brought up. “...where is Pinkie Pie? Shouldn’t she be with us by now?”

Bunga sighed before answering the question. “Unfortunately Pinkie couldn’t join us today. She got sick overnight. So that said she won't be ordering any cookies. And to make sure it isn’t a joke, Kion himself is actually over at Sugarcube Corner checking up on her right now."

“What?! Why?!”

"Is she okay?!”

“Is it serious?!" Applejack, Beshte, and Rainbow all asked with concern.

"Or contagious?" Rarity added while cringing. "Because if it is, I certainly don't want to be anywhere near it."

“Me neither.” Ono stated while also cringing before asking. “How bad is it?”

“For what I last saw of her, it’s nothing life threatening but it is something that’ll keep her in bed for the whole day. And like I said keep her from ordering any cookies this year. So if there are others who are hoping to get the cookies Pinkie usually orders, it’s a window of opportunity to get them while they still can.”

“No question about that.” Apple Bloom commented in agreement while crossing Pinkie's name off the chart.

"Not only that we actually have some left overs because of it." Sweetie Belle added, and then she confessed. "Good thing I went ahead and ordered extra boxes. It just seems we barely get just enough to satisfy ever order every year."

“Well not to worry. For I made plenty of boxes big enough for the job.” Bunga assured everyone before displaying a great willingness to get down to business. “So, shall we get started?”

The Crusaders were all quick to agree with him.

“Yes! Let’s!”

“We've got a lot of ground to cover!”

“We wanna hit every house in Ponyville!”

“Well…” Bunga ushered for their protective older sibling figures to get moving. “Come on! You heard her! Every house in Ponyville!”

While everyone else is still puzzled and sure the honey badger is up to more tricks up his paws they none of the less followed after them with the high hopes of setting through a promising day of cookie sales and deliveries.

Throughout the day, the guardians all watched after the fillies as they went to the many doors and homes of ponies who ordered Filly Scout Cookies where many ponies managed to at least purchase one box of them Though Spike himself got six much to her adoptive mother’s slight charging. But still had plenty of bits to spare regardless. In addition and among the sales are the Cakes themselves got six for themselves with the promise to be able to share with Pinkie once she is feeling better, Big Mac got ten big enough to feed the entire family, Cheerlie got three boxes herself, Cranky and Matilda each got a box for themselves and to share together.

By the end of the day, the fillies managed to sell almost every box with the sole exception for the ones the chaperons themselves have requested to be set aside so they can purchase themselves with a huge bag of bits to show for their hard work.

“I think you three should be real proud. Y'all did a mighty impressive job for your first go-'round.” Applejack first complimented while affectionately patting his little sister on the head.

Rarity herself couldn’t have said it any better. “You took the words right out of my mouth, Applejack. Isn't that right, Bunga?” To her surprise, Bunga was still looking on feeling worried instead of feeling excited with full praise for the kids on the successful fundraiser event.

“Bunga?” Fuli called out once more trying to get his attention. “BUNGA!” Even that didn’t get him to budge.

“You okay, Little B?” Beshte asked gently.

“Yeah…” Bunga returned still not looking back.

“...expect…” Ono asked expecting a little more out of it.

“...Expect...I’m worried about Pinkie Pie. I’m wondering how she has been doing.”

“Hopefully she should be fine and well enough to live a long healthy life by tomorrow.” Ono tried to assure which still didn’t do much wonders in improving his mood.

Fuli then moved to say the right words to get him to budge in an upbeat manner. “But...since we’re just about wrapping up here, we can all go over to Sugarcube Corner and check up on her.”

“Good idea!” Beshte was the first to support it. “And maybe we can talk it over cookies and milk.”

“Sounds good to me.” Applejack also liked the idea. “Surely she has gotten over it by now if both Kion and Twilight are there looking after her.”

“Yeah!” Rarity also piped up in agreement. “And who knows maybe she was just in a brief cookie coma.” Upon seeing Bunga she added. “Oh, come on. It’ll be fine. I mean it’s not like you had anything to do with this, would you Bunga?”

“Of course.” Bunga quickly answered and assured before making their way on over to the bakery. “You're right. Let’s go check.”

"In the meantime girls…” Rarity then said to the equally concerned fillies. “... just sit tight with Fuli and Beshte, okay. Hopefully we'll be in and out before you can say a zombie apocalypse is on the rise.”

“Okay.”

“We’ll try.”

“No promises.”

All three fillies replied and responded honestly.

With that Rarity, Applejack, and Ono all moved to head on over to Sugarcube Corner. Twilight, Kion, Fluttershy, Starlight, and Spike were already there. There they were immediately greeted by Mrs. Cake.

“How is she?” Rarity asked first.

“Not so good, I’m afraid.” Mrs. Cake regretfully informed. “She’s still been sick in bed since this morning. I’m really started to get worried now.” She also expressed with great concern for the girl.

“Anything in particular that may of caused it?” Bunga asked while hoping it isn’t something he did.

“All I can say about that is it had something to do with whatever baking was done last night because she wasn’t like this before.” Mrs. Cake answered while still unable to put a hoof on what exactly is causing it. “But what?”

Bunga shifted his eyes trying really hard not to sweat nervously, along with avoiding the suspicious looks from the others. “There is no way, this is my fault, really!” The honey badger mentally said in his head.

“Well in any case, I’ll let you all take it from here while I go take care a few things in the store. Not that I don’t care for Pinkie but that I just need a little break from non-stop constantly taking care of her since this morning.”

“Don’t worry, we’ll manage mighty fine.” Applejack assured. “Even hard working family ponies need a break every now and then. It’s all part of a healthy family dynamic I can tell you right now.”

“Okay, then.” With that Mrs. Cake moved to reluctantly leave the friends of the family be.

Upon getting a good look at the patient in the room, it was indeed a very startling sight they locked eyes onto.

Pinkie Pie was still laying in bed, but the color seemed to have faded from her coat. She was still pink, but the luster seemed to have faded to deathly grey. Her mane and tail, though still poofy, looked deflated and disfigured in spots. There were a few bags under her eyes, indicating a lack of sleep the night before. And the most concerning thing being, is a smear of rainbow coloring across her lips. And beneath her bed rested an empty box of some kind.

Pinkie coughed, speaking in a sicky and raspy tone of voice as she looked at all her friends. "Oh, hey everypony, thanks for coming on by." She spoke, pausing as another cough came on. "Sorry you have to see me like this. I really haven’t been feeling well today. And what’s really strange is that I fine up til last night, then all of a sudden I started having this churning feeling in my stomach that wouldn't go away. The only thing that made me feel better, was this box of cookies. But every time I ate them, my mouth turned all rainbow for some reason."

"Obviously." Starlight commented, as she pulled out the box with her magic while glancing at Bunga who can only defensively shrug while desperately trying really hard to assert his innocence in the matter. "And I can take it the Filly Scout Cookies were something had last night?"

Pinkie nodded while coughing some more. "I came across them when I was looking for a late night snack. These were the first things I found in the kitchen. And since I was going to help myself to one of many soon to come I decided to help myself to a few samples.”

“By few you mean a whole box, don’t you?” Starlight asked blankly.

“Yep.” Pinkie weakly giggled before groaning.

“Should we get Rafiki and have him help take a look at you for whatever your mysterious ailment is?” Kion offered.

Pinkie weakly shook her head in response. "Actually, I don't think I can even stand up..." Then without warning she grabbed Kion and shouted. "Unless you've got more cookies!"

"Pinkie!" Twilight instinctively used her magic to yank Kion away from the pink pony’s grip. “What was that?!”

Pinkie quickly realized what she just did, as she fell back upon her bed and apologized. "Sorry, Kion. I don't know what got into me. It's just... I suddenly found myself having a crazy crazing of those cookies." She coughed again. "I think something really is wrong with me."

A sense of dread and even panic suddenly filled the room with everything seeing that this is much worse than they thought.

“Right…” Bunga nervously laughed while slowly stepping away. “…and since this is starting to turn into one of those pandemics that everyone would hate and die over, I think now would be a good time for me to...RUN!” With a sudden burst of wind backing him up while wheels form on his legs he quickly bolted through the door (leaving his body imprint on it along the way).

While running on all fours in a panic, he could only think and say to himself. “This is not my fault! This is not my fault!” He stated before trying rushing over to check up on the others starting with the various town ponies in Ponyville. But what he found was just an eerie quietness that intensified.

When he found nopony was around he quickly rushed over to the wagon holding the Filly Guide cookies, where the Crusaders along with a couple of his friends are. "Beshte, Fuli, Kids. You got to help me, something’s going on and I think it has something to do with these joke cookies.” But to his shock he came across them with their backs turned along with the sound of them munching, causing him to gasp all over again. "Oh no! OH NO!" He shouted, as he rushed towards the source of the munching. And indeed it was the sound of them all munching on the cookies out of an opened box. "Beshte! Girls! What happened?!" He cried out, his eyes widening in horror upon seeing his friends. And sure enough when they turned to look him in the eye, their coat’s, mouths, and eyes all told him what had already happened.

“What happened is we got hungry and decided to help ourselves to a snack." Sweetie Belle innocently replied, even as her lips were smeared with a rainbow coloring.

"Since we had some extra, we thought, “What’s the harm?”” Apple Bloom added, her lips also covered with the rainbow smear.

Scootaloo licked her lips, the rainbow smear remaining no matter how much she moved her tongue. "It's not like there is some secret ingredient that we should be aware of that keeps us from eating these some more."

“Yeah!” Fuli chimed in with her mouth now colored rainbow. “It’s not like there is anything you can do to stopping us from wanting more...COOKIES!”

“Yeah!” Beshte agreed with his mouth also colored rainbow. “And let me tell that these COOKIES are really POA!”

“Oh, fudge!” Bunga whimpered before taking off and heading for the nearby building to climb on to avoid the cheetah already pursing her. But to his surprise, he finds that his friend is actually keeping right on his tail no matter what evasive maneuver he tried to use to his advantage. “This cat has been doing a lot of practicing with this lately!” After wearing himself off with a lengthy chase, he proceeded to maneuver himself through the nearby windows thus breaking another Bunga shaped hole inside of it to give himself sizable breathing room to escape.

After making his escape, he found that the chase is far from other as he came across and found multiple ponies have all eaten the cookies and are all behaving and acting like cookie craving zombies themselves. From Lyra and Bon-Bon, to Cheerlie and Mayor Mare, the Cakes as a whole, and even to his friends. Fluttershy along with her animal friends, along with the rest of the Apple Family (sans Applejack).

With no other option he opted to turn to his remaining friends who have all retreated to the Castle of Friendship after the Cakes had managed to prove more than they could handle. And once he had regrouped with them, they were quick to want answers from him.

“All right, partner. What did you do this time?!” Applejack sternly questioned the honey badger first.

“I swear I didn’t do anything! All I did was add some rainbow colored icing into the mix to give it a little filling!” Bunga defensively explained.

“Well then how does it explain why our little sisters are now trotting around town as cookie craving monsters?!” Rarity demanded just as a big silly blue furred monster appeared.

“Did some say cookies?”

Everyone especially Starlight looked on baffled with what they saw. “What the…?! Get out of here!” Starlight exclaimed while pointing towards the door.

“Okay.” The cookie monster took his leave without a further fuss and without question.

“Anyways…” Ono then said resuming their focus on the crisis at hoof. “...what do we do now?! And where’s Twilight?!”

“I don’t know.” Starlight replied feeling nervous herself. “Last I saw she was with Kion trying to figure out a way on how to stop this mess.”

“Then what are we waiting for?!” Bunga exclaimed before rushing on over to their rooms in order to find out said answers and fast. He then shoved the doors open before running his mouth desperately seeking their help. “Kion! Twilight! Did you find anything that’ll help us...OH NO!” He screamed upon seeing both Kion and Spike now having rainbow mouths with no trace of Twilight herself.

“Cookies…!”

“Cookies…!”

“RUN!” Bunga screamed while running at top speed like a super fast race car while bolting his body through the front door itself with the remaining members of the Guard following suit.

“We need somewhere to hide!” Bunga exclaimed to the others just when they managed to catch up to him. “Whoa! Excuse me, granny!” He apologized while narrowly evaded Granny Smith who happened to appear along the path.

Fortunately, Applejack seemed to know where they can retreat to. “This way!”

Said place is none other than Sweet Apple Acres, where they all barricaded themselves inside for good measure.

“Did we lose them?” Bunga asked hopeful that’s the case.

“I hope so, for your sake.” Starlight expressed while panting herself. “Just what exactly did you put in those cookies that’s gotten everyone acting so out of sorts and feeling dead inside?!”

“I really don’t know, okay!” Bunga again asserted in a panic. Just then some of the ponies started breaking the windows and doors open in an effort to reach those who haven’t become rainbow mouth colored zombies yet. “Yikes!” With the others help they managed to quickly barricade the windows and doors before any of them can get in. After that near close call he then added frantically. “I swear I didn’t do anything to allow things to go this far! Honest!” Upon seeing the confused looks and frowns, he added. “Look we can talk about how and why this happened more later. Right now we just need to stay safely locked in here until this whole thing blows over. Sound good?”

“That's lovely, darling…” Rarity agreed. “...except for one thing...” She turned her head back towards her friend revealing her face to him that is all too sudden and alike with the others. “We've already eaten theeeeeeeeeemmmmm…”

Sure enough, Applejack, Ono, along with Starlight have all fallen victim to the cookies themselves.

“Looks like your prank up and backfiiiirrrrreeeeed…”

“Unquestionably so given our inexplicably great desire for COOKIES…”

Instantly, the barricades all fell apart allowing everypony to barge inside and corner the frightened honey badger with only an empty cookie box to use as a shield. “No, no! Stay away! They're making you sick! You don't want these!”

“But we dooooooo…” Starlight then said speaking like a zombie himself. “We want cookiiiiiiiieeeeeeees...!”

“No! Please! Stop!” Bunga screamed, pleaded, and begged. “Okay, yes. I intended this to be a prank but I never planned for things to go this far. For someone who got an earful for pranking Fluttershy, I would never even dream of doing something like this. Really! It was supposed to be a harmless prank! It was supposed to be funny! But this isn't funny at all!”

“Exactly!” Pinkie's voice happily stated before she and everyone else stopped what they were doing before smirking at the now confused honey badger.

"Wait? What? What's happening?!"

"Just delighting in pranking the prankster." Rarity replied while combing her mane back into place.

Applejack chuckled as she added. "Yeah. How does it feel to get some of your own medicine?"

"So... you're... not sick? None of you are?" Bunga then said still in shock.

"Of course not, silly!" Pinkie happily returned acting like Bunga is a silly filly himself.

"Gotcha!" Everyone all stated together.

"This... was all... a prank?!" Bunga asked once the shock had completely worn off.

"Yep!" Fuli nodded. "And you can thank Pinkie Pie. After you told her about your plan to prank the whole town, she got everyone and everypony together and came up with a way to turn the tables on you."

Said pony simply shrugged in response like she is having humble pie. "Aw, shucks, it was nothing! Just a little something I threw together."

"Wow! You should see your face!" Scootaloo then laughed.

"Yeah!" Shakku agreed. "If only you saw that coming!"

"But..." Bunga stammered. "...I didn't. I truly didn't."

Apple Bloom herself also laughed. "Talk about funny!"

Bunga still felt the need to speak to say otherwise. "Well, I don't think it's very funny! And I'm the one that got pranked! I was really scared! I thought I made everyone and everypony sick! You can't just go around—"

"...pranking whoever you feel like?" Fuli then said next while in the midst of her friend's stammering.

"Without thinking about how it might make them feel?" Fluttershy added.

"Or if they'd even enjoy it?" Kion also added.

"Or think it's funny?" Ono also said next.

"But I didn't!" Bunga assertively protested raising his hands up in surrender while holding up a glass jar of rainbow colored icing to prove it. “All I did was fill the cookies up with this icing. I said it before and I’ll say it again, I didn’t do anything else to them!”

“Oh, really?!” Ono raised an eyebrow in response. “Well then, who actually put in the secret ingredient that had us acting like this?”

“Good question, Ono.” Twilight’s voice answered before appearing from above while smirking which led to everyone's smiles fading upon hearing her along with her sudden appearance. “A very good question, indeed. And to answer your question it’s just a little something that only a little magic could accomplish.”

“Little magic? What do you mean by that…” Then he realized upon realizing what had really happened. "Wait a minute. This is all your doing, you're the only who tipped Pinkie off and convinced them and everyone here to act like zombies?!”

“Not just that. And I didn't tip anyone off. You did that yourself and Pinkie took care of the rest from there.” Everyone tilted their heads in confusion. “But I did pretty much everything else that has happened since this little competition started.”

“Including with what happened with the buffalo and with Fluttershy?!” Rainbow exclaimed equally shocked as Bunga before clasping her hooves to her face when she realized what she just blurted.

“No! But do know now what was really going on back then and there.” Rainbow could only groan while finding herself glared at by Fuli for her mistake. “Anyways, Bunga…” She then continued turning back to him while floating around him. “...you have been wondering why a lot of eyes were targeting you all day and night. And little did you know along with everyone else, I was there making sure you were around at the exact and right time. Each and every prank pulled when it happened. All while none of you were the wiser to what was really going on…”

As soon as those words were spoken, everyone from the Lion and Pony Guard had their eyes bulge out in shock when they flashback to each of the pranks that they thought Bunga had pulled when really it was Twilight who did them all. All without even noticing her due her quick teleportation and swift maneuvering around while invisible.

“...and the best part about it, it all aligned perfectly from the moment you felt challenged back at our meeting in the castle to the point no one would expect other magic at works through it all.”

“So all this time you tricked us into thinking Bunga was behind all of these pranks?”

“When it was really you?”

“Along with convincing us to put forward the whole zombie prank targeted at Bunga?”

Applejack, Rarity, and Rainbow all asked in disbelief when the pieces were all put together.

Twilight didn’t even deny it. “All of the above are true. And that said, that means I win our little competition. Also….GOTCHA!” She laughed and performed a victorious loop-de-loop flight maneuver before flying on ahead and out of the barn. “See ya next year!”

Everyone watching on could only look on feeling very fooled themselves with just how well they were manipulated into thinking what they just thought even Kion who was vaguely clued in on her plan had no idea of what she was actually going to do about it. To think that Bunga was behind all of these pranksters moments.

“I can’t believe this!” Rainbow was the first to exclaim as the sudden shock wore off. “Twilight of all ponies pranked all of us with a completely complicated plan!”

“I can’t believe she actually managed to do all of this!” Applejack also expressed equally baffled. “How did she even manage to get me and my bed all outside even with all of the defenses I set up in advance?”

“I wish I knew, Applejack.” Kion expressed equally unsure and at a loss for words. “That along with how she managed pull off this big doozy of events.”

“I don’t know either but she really got us this year.” Pinkie spoke up still surprised yet amazed with what she just did. “And all of this sure was a really big doozy.”

“No kidding.” Fuli returned before moving to ask the prince a question on her mind. “That said you wouldn’t have happened to know of what she was doing before it all started did you?”

“No!” Kion assertively and innocently responded. “All she did was told me she had a plan and she needed my help. But she didn’t say what she was going to do and what exactly she was planning.”

“Right.” Fuli shook her head as she figured it out from there. “So she had you doing what she wanted you to do. Checking up on us along with Pinkie to throw off any suspicion towards her.”

“I guess that’s right.” Kion said with nothing else he can say on the matter. “And come to think of it, I should have seen that coming.”

“Yep.”

“No question about that.”

“Can’t say it any better myself, darling.”

Applejack, Rainbow, and Rarity all replied bluntly unable to sugarcoat it themselves.

“Aw, come on everypony!” Pinkie tried to assure them in an upbeat manner. “Sure Twilight tricked us big time. But it doesn’t mean it’s the end of the world. There’s always next year, and the year after that, and the year after that. And…” She is quickly stopped when Applejack quickly plugged her mouth shut.

“Pinkie! We get the point!” Once she nodded the other earth pony removed her hooves from her mouth.

“That’s true!” Bunga also pointed out before leading everyone outside all while everyone tries to wipe off the rainbow icing from their faces. “I mean she can’t do anything worse than what she has already done, right?”

“Yeah! I mean what else can she do to us tonight. Other than leaving us with these stains on our lips.” Ono tried licked and wiping the stuff off to no avail. “And why wouldn’t they come off?!”

“I don’t know.” Fluttershy expressed trying to figure that out herself. “This is really strange icing that was put in these cookies.”

“No kidding.” Beshte commented. “Don’t suppose there was another ingredient and purpose behind this?”

All eyes were directed at Kion along with Bunga.

“What?! No!”

“Of course! Even I don’t what is really happening!”

Sure enough a bright white, round light shines on The Pony and Lion Guard where the scene pans out to show a crowd of ponies and Pride Landers not involved with the prank.

“Fillies and gentlecolts!” Mufusa’s voice spoke up. “Creatures of all ages! The Pride Lands proudly presents... live rainbow-mouthed pranksters!” He is shown shining the light on them from the heavens above. “Starring the Ponyville Zombies!”

Among the audience, Badili, Rafiki, Discord, Timon & Pumbaa, Shining Armor, Cadence, and Flurry Heart are all shown in attendance and cheering. The gang scream in fear as they realize they have set up, pranked once more, all while desperately covering their mouths in shock. Mufasa laughs teasingly. Twilight who is also waving from above with the same teasing and devious smirk whistled at them before taking a picture of them while her sister-in-law floats alongside her for a good aerial view of the scene. Simba and Nala laugh with their daughter, Kiara, and the Royal Princesses.

“Guys! Girls!” Kion screamed to the others.

The Pony and Lion Guard all asked in unison, sans Twilight. “Yeah?”

Scene cuts to the outskirts of Ponyville as Kion lets out a crying yell. “I’m sorry I didn’t stop it when I had the chance!”

Author's Note

Here in this episode after some thoughts of how to rewrite this and rework the canon elements managed to put together what I believe is a more fitting retelling of this episode. For this episode I have also decided to combine some elements from a couple pranking episodes from previous shows to make it a pranking competition. Four now six competitors, one champion.

I will have to admit that I've had some fun with this one, being one for a good pranking episode, and if any of you do this can be the beginning of more pranking episodes to come in the show's future.

Next up back on the more serious matter is a trip to the Crystal Empire where this time around there are mysterious intruders siding with the enemy lurking around so be on the lookout for that next week. Oh and Happy Halloween!

Note: * As of 12/25/2024, the part of the endgame prank I edited out the hypnosis bit and rewritten it as a whole gambit to convince the townsfolk into coming up with the cookie zombie prank themselves in light of negative criticism when initially published and written.