Full Friendship's Magic #3 (The Inner monster)by ReykatanChaptersModesty Chapter 13: The flaw before the priceModesty Chapter 14: The interventionModesty Chapter 15: Inner Monster part 1Modesty Chapter 16: Inner Monster part 2Modesty Chapter 17: Lack of HarmonyModesty Chapter 18: Sneek AttackModesty Chapter 18.5: Smooze bombModesty Chapter 19: The SunstrikeModesty Chapter 13.5: A voice in her headModesty Chapter 13: The flaw before the price⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✶✶✶ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ The next day. ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✶✶✶ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ The ponies gathered together at the park for a picnic, eager to reconcile with the Pie cousins. They brought their pets, along with an array of food and drinks. As they laid out the picnic blanket, Pinkie Pie arrived first, bouncing toward them with Gummy latched onto her tail. "Hi, girls! Ooh, the food looks yummy!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed, swiping a few muffins from Applejack’s basket and stuffing them into her mouth. "Mmm, they’re crunchier than the ones me and Maud had!" "Uh, thanks, Pinkie Pie. . ." Applejack hesitated, eyeing her half-eaten muffins. "I made them extra crunchy for you and your cousin. It’s the least we could do to, ya know, smooth things over." "What thing?" Pinkie asked, her face scrunched in confusion. "You know, the thing with your cousin suddenly being a unicorn?" Rainbow Dash interjected. "That’s why we’re having this picnic to show her we’re not suspicious of her anymore." "Oooh, that thing!" Pinkie giggled, waving it off. "Don’t worry, Rainbow, it didn’t bother her at all." "That’s a relief," Twilight Sparkle chimed in as she magically set the plates in place. "I’m glad everything between you and Pizza Pie is back to normal." "And just in time too," Rarity added, pulling out her sketchbook. "I have some fabulous designs ready for our next project at the boutique!" "Yeah, but first let’s focus on making sure Pizza Pie enjoys herself," Applejack suggested, glancing around. "Speaking of which, where is she? We figured you two would come here together." "Oh, Cousin said she needed to wash up and told me to go ahead," Pinkie explained. "I just want to thank her again for letting me look after Colours," Fluttershy murmured, as Colours, Pizza Pie’s peculiar pet, shifted hues to match the color of Fluttershy’s mane. "She’s been a joy to take care of." "Of course!" Pinkie grinned. "Colours loves hanging out with friends other than Gummy, right Colours?" Colours blinked, her eyes moving in opposite directions before settling back. Fluttershy smiled gently. "I’m so glad to hear it. You can come visit again anytime, Colours." Suddenly, a burst of bright magic filled the air, accompanied by a loud pop. Thick smoke swirled around the picnic area, causing Fluttershy to squeal and hide behind Pinkie, using her tail as a shield. The smoke cleared to reveal Pizza Pie, her tail flicking through the air as if she were dismissing the spectacle she had just created. ". . . ." Pizza Pie paused, surveying the group with an unreadable expression. "Heh," she smirked, brushing a hoof through her mane. "Sorry I’m late, girls." "Cousin!" Pinkie Pie bounced toward her and wrapped her in a big hug. "We were just talking about you!" "Talking? About what? How I’m supposedly better now that I’ve become a unicorn?" Pizza Pie’s voice had an edge to it, causing a brief awkward silence. "Uh, no silly!" Pinkie giggled, trying to lighten the mood. "But you are getting really good at magic. Oh, and Twilight! Guess what? Pizza read all the spell books you lent her, and she mastered them in just one night!" "Wait, really?" Twilight's eyes widened, clearly surprised. "I thought you said basic teleportation was still giving you trouble-" "Not anymore," Pizza Pie interrupted, her voice cool and confident. "I perfected it last night. Those books? Honestly, they were too easy." Twilight blinked, her surprise quickly giving way to mild unease. "Well, uh . . . Some of those spells took me a lot longer to figure out-" Applejack cut in, sensing the rising tension. "Why don’t we all sit down and enjoy the food? Granny Smith made some apple-spiced muffins and apple pie for dessert." "Great, more apple snacks." Pizza Pie muttered under her breath, her eyes rolling slightly. "Beg your pardon?" Applejack turned, her brow furrowed. "Nothing. What else is there?" Pizza Pie deflected, disinterest dripping from her voice. "Ah, well!" Rarity piped up, offering Pizza a cup of tea. "I brought some exquisite Canterlot green tea, darling. It’s a one-of-a-kind blend. You simply must try it." ". . . . ." Pizza Pie took a cautious sip, her expression unchanging. "Tastes like hot leaf water. Just like any other tea." Rarity's enthusiasm faltered. "Oh, well, um . . . You’re not entirely wrong, I suppose." Fluttershy, always sensitive to the group's mood, tentatively approached Pizza Pie, Colours resting on her back. "I-I brought Colours back to you. Thank you again for letting me look after her. She had a great time playing with the other animals." "I’m sure she did," Pizza Pie replied flatly. "Actually, why don’t you keep her for a few more days? I still need some time for myself." Fluttershy blinked, taken aback. "Oh, I thought you’d be excited to have your pet back-" "You take care of animals, right? Just keep her for now. I’ll get her when I needed her back." Rainbow Dash, noticing Fluttershy’s discomfort, quickly intervened. "Hey!" she snapped, snatching Colours from Fluttershy and thrusting her toward Pizza Pie. "Fluttershy’s not your personal babysitter! Show some gratitude." "I’ll thank her when she gives me my pet back," Pizza Pie retorted coolly, shoving Colours back to Rainbow Dash. "What’s your deal?!" Rainbow Dash bristled, wings flaring. "Alright, that’s enough, y’all," Applejack interjected, stepping between them. "The day’s just started. Let’s all grab a bite and settle down." "Agreed," Twilight added, her voice calm but with a hint of urgency. "After we eat, we’ve got some fun activities planned to help Pizza Pie feel at home. How does that sound?" "Whatever, Twilight. It better be interesting. I’m only here because Pinkie insisted." Twilight chuckled nervously, trying to break the tension. "Well, then, everypony, let’s dig in!" The ponies exchanged confused glances, perplexed by Pizza Pie's sudden spiteful attitude. As they ate, they observed the Pie cousins. Pinkie Pie was happily munching down dozens of muffins, but Pizza Pie hadn’t taken a single bite. She caught them staring at her, causing the ponies to quickly look away, resuming their meal under the weight of her icy glare. After about an hour, they decided to follow through with the plan, taking turns spending time with Pizza Pie as a way of getting to know her better. Rarity volunteered to go first, excited to share her latest designs. She brought along her sewing kit, fabrics, and a few jewelry pieces to show off. “Now, darling, I already made some draft samples that I’m sure will make you look simply fabulous! We’ll start with this one.” Rarity pointed at one of the sketches in her design pad. “Now, if you wouldn’t mind holding still for a moment while I take your measurements-” Before Rarity could finish, Pizza Pie casually snatched the sketch pad with her magic and examined it closely. “So, you want to make me this one?” she asked, her tone neutral. “Why yes, dear! That one took quite a bit of time to design. I hoped it would suit your gorgeous appearance.” “*Hmmmm . . . *” Pizza Pie stared at the draft intently. Rarity’s confidence faltered. “I-Is there something wrong, darling? If you don’t like the design, we can always—” Before Rarity could finish her sentence, the fabrics and sewing tools floated into the air, passing over her head and swirling around Pizza Pie. Her horn glowed as she swiftly scanned through the design, piecing the fabric together in mere seconds. Within a minute, she had completed the dress. Rarity stood frozen, her mouth agape in astonishment. “I-I don’t believe it,” she gasped, inspecting the newly crafted dress. It was flawless, each stitch perfectly aligned. “It’s so perfect! GASP! You even did a raised stem stitch. That took me months to perfect! How did you-” “I just followed what it said in your draft,” Pizza Pie replied, shrugging. “Y-Yes, but I was supposed to make it for you,” Rarity stammered. “Well, if you did, it would’ve taken us months to finish,” Pizza Pie said flatly. Rarity blinked, taken aback. “That’s a bit harsh, darling. But seeing as you’ve already made it—” Pizza Pie slipped into the dress and summoned a mirror, barely glancing at her reflection. “Yeah, it’s nice. Can we move on now? I’m supposed to meet with Fluttershy next, right?” “Ah, yes, of course, dear. You know, we could always do this again sometime—” “Great!” Pizza Pie grinned sharply. “I’ll catch you later. Bye!” With a flash of magic, Pizza Pie teleported away, leaving the dress she had made behind. Rarity picked it up, feeling a mix of mockery and confusion. Next up was Fluttershy. The two ponies walked quietly through the woods, the peaceful environment helping to ease the awkwardness between them. Along the way, they encountered various animals, all of whom were familiar to Fluttershy. “And this is my favorite part of the forest. You can see all the cute animals living right behind the sanctuary I helped build,” Fluttershy explained cheerfully. “I see. Well, I heard from the others that you can talk to animals directly,” Pizza Pie said, her tone carrying a note of curiosity. “Oh, no, not really,” Fluttershy giggled softly. “I don’t talk to them exactly. I just understand how they feel. It’s my way of connecting with them.” Pizza Pie raised an eyebrow. “So, in short, you’re just guessing?” Fluttershy hesitated, unsure how to answer. “Well, um . . .” Before she could continue, a blue jay fluttered down and landed on her mane, chirping happily. “Oh! Hello there, Mr. Blue Jay! How are you today?” Fluttershy greeted the bird warmly. Pizza Pie watched closely. “Say, Fluttershy—” “Oh, do you want to say hello too?” Fluttershy asked, offering the bird to Pizza Pie. “Uh, sure. But I want to try something,” Pizza Pie said with a faint smile. “Try something?” Fluttershy replied, puzzled. Gently, Fluttershy placed the blue jay onto Pizza Pie’s hoof. The bird chirped, its head tilting as it looked up at her. Pizza Pie stared back into the bird’s eyes, and the atmosphere shifted. The forest around them seemed to fade, the air growing heavy and still. The bird, entranced by her gaze, began to tremble. In its mind, it saw a dark, endless abyss, and from the shadows, two enormous red eyes appeared, glaring at it with a predatory intensity. Terrified, the bird squawked and flew away in a frantic burst of energy. “Huh? Mr. Blue Jay? Come back!” Fluttershy called out, trying to follow it with her eyes. She turned to Pizza Pie, confused. “Wha-What happened?” Pizza Pie shrugged nonchalantly. “I guess I scared it off.” Fluttershy looked at her, baffled. “What did you do? All Mr. Blue Jay did was look at you.” “Uh-huh. And I looked back,” Pizza Pie replied, sounding completely unconcerned. Fluttershy shook her head, not understanding. “I-I don’t get it, Pizza Pie. What does that mean?” “Who knows? Maybe it sensed danger,” Pizza Pie said, glancing away dismissively. Fluttershy looked around, confused. “Danger? I don’t see any danger.” She turned back to Pizza Pie, who was calmly cleaning her hoof, appearing uninterested in the entire encounter. Fluttershy scratched her head, unsure what to make of it. “S-Shall we move along then?” “Yes, please,” Pizza Pie sighed. “All these pests watching us are starting to annoy me.” As the two ponies continued walking through the forest, Fluttershy glanced back and noticed that the animals were acting strangely almost as if they were afraid of Pizza Pie. She also saw Pizza’s cutie mark glowing faintly, but she didn’t think much of it and kept moving forward. A few minutes later, it was Twilight’s turn to spend time with Pizza Pie. They sat together under a tree as Twilight eagerly showed her cousin some old books from Canterlot. “You know, Pizza Pie, I used to sit under a tree just like this when I first started reading this,” Twilight said, handing Pizza Pie one of her special books. “Little did I know, this book would change my life. Through it, I met my best friends, and together we’ve faced many challenges. And before I knew it, I became the Princess of Friendship, spreading my teachings across Equestria all thanks to this book right here.” “Wow, that’s amazing. So this book gave you your destiny, huh?” Pizza Pie replied, sounding intrigued. “I guess you could say that. If you look here,” Twilight flipped to a specific page, pointing to the images of the Elements of Harmony. “These are the Elements of Harmony. Each of us represents a part of these elements. Applejack represents Honesty, Rainbow Dash represents Loyalty, Rarity is Generosity, Fluttershy is Kindness, your cousin Pinkie Pie is Laughter, and as for me, I represent the Spirit of Magic.” Pizza Pie stared closely at the page, her eyes locking onto the symbols of the Elements. “So each of you, including Pinkie Pie, are these Elements . . . That makes sense now,” she muttered, her voice becoming quieter. Her eyes narrowed, and her tone grew darker as she mumbled something to herself. “So that’s what becomes of it. . . I should’ve known.” “Uh, what becomes of what?” Twilight asked, confused by Pizza Pie’s cryptic words. Pizza Pie didn’t seem to hear her. Instead, she continued muttering, her voice shifting to an eerie, unfamiliar tone. “[Αυτοί οι ξένοι δεν μαθαίνουν ποτέ. Αφήνοντας ένα υπόστεγο ψεύτικης ελπίδας, μόνο για να καθυστερήσει τον θάνατο όλων των πλασμάτων. (These alicorns never learn. Leaving a shed of false hope, only to delay the demise of all creatures.)" “Pizza Pie . . . ?” Twilight’s concern deepened as she felt a heavy presence emanating from her cousin. She cautiously reached out, placing a hoof on Pizza Pie’s shoulder. “Are you okay?-” Suddenly, Pizza Pie grabbed Twilight’s hoof. Her eerie muttering stopped abruptly, and she turned to face Twilight, her expression now one of confusion. The dark presence vanished as quickly as it had appeared. “Am I okay what?” Pizza Pie asked, her voice back to normal. “Uh . . . I-” Twilight stammered, unsure of what to say. “What’s wrong?” Pizza Pie tilted her head, giving Twilight a curious look. “It’s like you’ve seen a ghost or something.” Twilight laughed nervously, trying to shake off her unease. “Who, me? No, no! I just thought, for a second there, you sounded . . . different, that’s all. Haha.” “Sounded different? What do you mean?” Pizza Pie asked, raising an eyebrow. “I, uh . . .” Twilight hesitated. “Never mind, it’s nothing. So, what do you think of the book?” “It’s nice, but honestly, it kind of puts me to sleep just reading it.” Pizza Pie yawned and handed the book back to Twilight. “Are there any more books you want to show me? I think it’s Applejack’s turn next, right?” Twilight quickly hid the other books behind her, forcing a smile. “Uh . . . no, that’s actually it! HA HA! And yes, I believe Applejack’s waiting for you at Sweet Apple Acres. Thanks for spending time with me, by the way.” “Yeah, yeah, sure. Which way is that apple farm of hers again?” Pizza Pie asked casually. “I wasn’t finished! Anyway, it means a lot to me that I could share these books-” Twilight began. “Never mind, I see it. Later!” Pizza Pie teleported away before Twilight could finish. “You’re welcome . . . Ughhh!!” Twilight groaned, laying back in frustration. She picked up the book and flipped to the page Pizza Pie had been reading. “(It used to be just three?) Twilight murmured, scratching her head. “Three . . . elements?” ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✶✶✶ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ~ To be continued Author's Note Pizza pie's change slowly bothers her new friends, from her attitude to her newly discovered feats. She becomes different by the day, a shell of her formerself. Modesty Chapter 14: The intervention⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ The next day ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ Another friendship conference was set, focusing on the events from yesterday's picnic. Like their previous meeting, the Pie cousins weren't present, giving the ponies time to discuss Pizza Pie's unusual behaviors and the incredible feats she had shown. “We should tell Pinkie Pie right now! I can't stand keeping it zipped!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, her impatience palpable. “We know, Rainbow Dash,” said Twilight, scanning their notes. “Pizza Pie’s actions yesterday weren’t what we’d call normal. Her unexplained magic, strength, and knowledge all of it points to the fact that she isn’t herself. It’s like she’s a completely different pony.” “Could it be she doesn’t want us around Pinkie?” Fluttershy suggested, her voice wavering. “I mean, she seems so much more normal when she’s with her.” “No kiddin, Fluttershy,” Applejack replied, shaking her head. “And the way she talked to us? It feels like she’s tryin’ to keep us out of the picture.” “Indeed,” Rarity added, filing her hoof thoughtfully. “Deep down, Pizza Pie seems scared of hurting her cousin’s feelings. But the way she treated us? That hurts even more.” “You still hung up about that dress?” Applejack raised an eyebrow, exasperated. “Which brings us back to the main topic: her new horn,” Twilight continued, her tone turning serious. “We all promised to never ask about it for the sake of their sibling relationship. But as the Princess of Friendship, safety and clarity come first.” “Finally!” Rainbow Dash jumped onto the Friendship table, excitement bubbling over. “So we’re all in agreement, Twilight? No backing down now?” “Yup.” Applejack nodded firmly. “Absolutely.” Rarity chimed in. “Y-Yes. . .” Fluttershy hesitated but managed to affirm. “Then it's settled! First, we need to talk to Pinkie about what happened yesterday. After that, the six of us can approach Pizza Pie about these issues, so it doesn’t sound like we’re telling on her-” “Telling on what?” The Pie cousins suddenly arrived sooner than the ponies expected, their faces petrified as they quickly looked away and zipped their lips. Pinkie Pie bounced toward them, her energy infectious, while Pizza Pie followed behind, glaring at each pony who dared to meet her gaze. “Whoa, awkward silence. . . . Sooooo, what are you girls talking about?” Pinkie Pie asked, her eyes wide with curiosity. “Uh. . . we were talking about uhh. . . um. . .” Twilight stammered. “A-About just how awesome our day was yesterday, yeah, that’s right!” Rainbow Dash interjected, shuffling in front of Fluttershy. “Yes, what Rainbow Dash said,” Rarity said, shuffling in front of Rainbow Dash. “We had such a delightful time with your cousin, dear Pinkie.” She forced a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Yup, that's right!” Applejack added, shuffling in front of Rarity, her smile strained. “Like you said, Sugarcube, she’s one fun pony to be with.” “Like they said, we all enjoyed our time with Pizza Pie,” Twilight affirmed, trying to sound cheerful. “Oh, I’m glad to hear that!” Pinkie Pie smiled brightly. “Cousin told me everything!” “She did?” Everyone asked in unison. “Yup!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed, pulling her cousin next to her. “She told me you showed her how to make a dress, talk to birds, throw rocks, buck apples, and learn about our Elements! There’s so much I missed out on! I wish I could’ve been there to enjoy it with you, right, cousin?” “Yeah, I wish you were. . .” Pizza Pie replied sarcastically, turning her glare on the ponies. A warm but eerie tension filled the room as the ponies fell silent, the weight of Pizza Pie’s stare bearing down on them. “Oh, by the way, Pinkie,” Pizza Pie said, breaking the silence. “What is it, cousin?” Pinkie replied, her enthusiasm still bright. “I forgot to bring my special muffins to share with our friends. You wouldn’t mind picking them up from Sugarcube Corner?” “GASP! How could I not?! I’ll go get them right now!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed, speeding out of the room. She paused at the door, looking back over her shoulder. “I’ll be back to pick up Pizza’s special muffins. Just hang tight!” As soon as the doors closed behind Pinkie, her smile vanished. Pizza Pie’s expression darkened, her polite facade dropping as she turned back to the remaining ponies, her gaze fierce and unrelenting. The tension in the room escalated as they realized they were now alone with her. "I knew you'd all been talking about me behind my back," Pizza Pie's voice cut through the silence, low and accusing. The ponies exchanged uneasy glances but stayed quiet. "You think I don't notice? The way you all acted when I showed up that day, the looks on your faces when you saw this horn, the way you keep asking where I got it." The room fell silent, each pony unsure of what to say. "Can't stand not knowing, can you?" Her eyes flashed. "The silence says it all. I should’ve known that Cousin Pinkie would have such nosy friends." "Hey! Don’t act like it’s our fault!” Rainbow Dash flared her wings and zipped up to Pizza Pie. "You're the one who keeps showing off all these weird tricks! How are we Not supposed to talk about that?" "Rainbow, stop!" Twilight pulled Rainbow Dash back gently. "Pizza Pie, we're only worried about you. Ever since you got that horn, you've changed. . . .Look, I know we promised Pinkie we wouldn't pry, but with the way things are going, it's best if we know-" "And what?" Pizza Pie sneered. "So you can get rid of it? Just like you got rid of your enemies?” “Wh-What? That’s not what we're-” “Now hold on there, Pizza,” Applejack said firmly, stepping between them. “Twilight here’s tryin’ to help you, Sugarcube. Whatever you got going on with that horn, it doesn’t seem natural, and we’ve seen a lot of unnatural things around here.” “Oh, I’m sure you know about 'unnatural' things.” Pizza Pie glared. “You let Discord roam free, but if it’s me, it’s suddenly a big deal?” “Of course it’s a big deal!” Rainbow Dash surged forward again, her frustration clear. “You’ve been acting strange, and it’s got us all worked up!” “Rainbow Dash, I said stop-" Twilight tried to hold her back, but Rainbow kept going. “You lifted, what, a hundred apple trees in mid-air? Tossed a boulder with your tail like a frisbee? Made a bird go absolutely paranoid-” “Don’t forget her advanced stitching skills.” Rarity added with a touch of sarcasm, standing by Applejack. Rainbow Dash facehoofed. “Yes, Rarity, we get it.” She turned back to Pizza Pie, eyes narrowed. “Don’t act like it’s not weird! You were glowing red the whole time! Don’t you think that’s a little. . . disturbing?” Pizza Pie looked down, her eyes shadowed, saying nothing. Applejack put a comforting hoof on her shoulder. “Listen, Sugarcube, we’re not here to say we’re against you changin’. But we’re worried. If Pinkie finds out about these powers, it could cause a rift between you two. We just don’t want to see that happen.” "Applejack’s right," Twilight said softly, moving closer. “We just want to help, but we can’t if you won’t let us.” “Help?” Pizza Pie’s voice turned cold. “So once you know everything, you’ll try to change me back, right?” The ponies shared a tense look, and then Twilight met Pizza’s gaze. “If that’s what’s hurting you. . . yes, we don’t have much of a choice.” "I knew it. You’re all the same. . . my dad, Maud, Discord. . ." Pizza Pie’s voice cracked. “And now you six... Every time I try to change, it slips away, but not this time. I like my new look, and you're not taking this from me!" Twilight reached out a hoof. “N-No, we’re not here to take anything away! We’re just here to help-” Pizza Pie slapped Twilight’s hoof aside. "Cut the excuses! You can’t stand that I’m powerful now, that I have magic like yours. What’s wrong did Discord tell you I was a fake? Did he plan to expose me that night? Are the voices I keep hearing his doing?” Her anger flared as she grabbed Twilight by the shoulders, her grip tightening. “Tell me what you know!” “Discord? Voices? I-I don’t know what you’re talking about-” Twilight gasped as Pizza’s grip dug into her shoulders. “P-Pizza Pie you’re hurting me. . .” “Hey! Let go of her!” Rainbow Dash yelled, rushing in and pulling Pizza Pie away from Twilight. The other ponies quickly gathered around Twilight, their faces filled with worry. “T-Twilight, are you okay?” Fluttershy asked, her eyes wide with concern. “You ain’t hurt, right?” Applejack brushed Twilight’s shoulders, inspecting her for any injuries. Twilight took a breath and gave a reassuring smile. “I’m fine, girls. Really, don’t worry-” "Discord didn't tell us anything!” Rainbow Dash said, eyes blazing as she glared at Pizza Pie. “You’re just being paranoid! And if you ever hurt Twilight like that again, I-" “You’ll what?” Pizza Pie interrupted with a mocking sneer. “Use your crummy elements against me? Like that’s gonna solve anything.” “What did you say?” Rainbow’s voice rose, but Twilight gently held her back. Pizza Pie turned her gaze to Twilight, a dark smirk playing on her lips. “You heard me. Your precious elements are just a shadow of a stronger magic one that doesn’t need six ponies to work. You really think that makes you special? You’re just. . . replacements.” With that, she turned coldly and started walking toward the exit. Rainbow Dash’s anger boiled over. “Alright, that’s it! I’m done with you being such a know-it-all!” She darted after Pizza Pie, her wings carrying her forward in a blur. “Get back here!” “Wait, Rainbow!” Twilight called, but Rainbow had already caught up to Pizza Pie, grabbing her by the hoof. “We tried talking you through this, but if you won’t listen, we’ll handle this the hard way-” Before she could finish, Pizza Pie’s unexpected strength pushed Rainbow’s grip away. In one swift motion, she hurled Rainbow across the room. Rainbow crashed into the far wall with a loud thud, a crater forming around her before she slid down slowly like a leaf falling from a tree. Her friends rushed over, horrified. “A-are you okay, Rainbow?” Fluttershy gently helped her up. “Y-Yeah. . . just a little shaken. . .” Rainbow groaned, rubbing her head as she steadied herself. As the others tended to Rainbow, Pizza Pie turned to leave. Twilight, her worry now tinged with fear, quickly followed her down the hall, flying past her and landing in front to block her path. “Pizza Pie, this has gone far enough!” Twilight’s voice was firm. “You’re clearly not well, and you hurt Rainbow Dash-” “Move. . .” Pizza Pie said quietly, her mane casting a shadow over her face. She lifted her head, revealing narrowed eyes that glowed with a blood-red hue. An ominous aura formed around her, taking the shape of a towering, shadowy figure that loomed over Twilight. “I said. . . move.” Twilight’s heart raced, and, unable to mask her fear, she took a small step aside, letting Pizza Pie pass. The shadow faded as Pizza walked towards the castle’s entrance. Just as she neared the door, Spike entered, holding the door open. “Uh, hey, Pizza Pie-” Spike started, noticing the intense, almost scorching heat radiating from her. As she passed, her aura melted the solid crystal door effortlessly, leaving a smoldering outline where she’d walked through. Spike stared in shock as she exited the castle. “D-Did Pizza Pie just. . . just melt the door by walking through it?” Applejack stammered, watching in disbelief. “Uh-huh. . .” Fluttershy replied, her voice trembling. “We just saw that too, dear. . .” Rarity added, eyes wide. Twilight looked at the still-steaming door and sighed, her expression heavy. “This is far worse than we thought.” “Wh-Whoa. . . What the hay just happened?!” Spike shook his head, still processing the scene. “How did she do that? Twilight, what’s going on?” “We don’t fully know yet, Spike. But whatever it is, it has something to do with that horn she’s got.” “Yeah, we kinda figured.” Rainbow Dash, now steady on her hooves, landed beside Twilight. “So. . . what’s the plan?” “The plan is to find her and stop this before it gets any worse.” Twilight said firmly. “But what about Pinkie Pie?” Rarity asked, worry etched on her face. “What will we tell her?” “We’ll tell her the truth,” Applejack replied with a determined nod. “Shoulda told her from the beginnin’.” “Truth about what?” Pinkie Pie’s voice piped up unexpectedly from behind them, making them all jump. She was holding a box of fresh muffins, a wide smile on her face. “I didn’t see any special muffins around, so I thought maybe I’d eaten them this morning and forgot! So, I baked new ones instead!” “P-Pinkie, we need to tell you some-” “Good thing I know the secret ingredient for her special muffins!” Pinkie grinned, glancing around to make sure no one else was listening. She leaned in and whispered, “It’s chocolate. . .” She giggled before her eyes drifted to the castle door. “Uh. . . what’s with the hole? And where’s my cousin?” The friends exchanged worried glances, unsure of how to begin. Twilight finally stepped forward, placing a gentle hoof on Pinkie’s shoulder. She took a deep breath, steadying herself. “Pinkie, there’s something you need to know. . .” Meanwhile, outside, a furious Pizza Pie stormed through Ponyville, her steps echoing in the otherwise quiet marketplace. Red energy pulsed around her, and her sharp gaze darted across the ponies who looked her way. As she walked, the familiar mocking voices from before began to echo in her mind, louder and harsher than ever. “(Look, isn’t that Pizza Pie?)” “(You mean Pinkie Pie’s cousin from that party?)” “Oh yeah! She’s the one who slipped at the punch bowl!” “Didn’t she get exposed for not having a cutie mark?” “Look, she’s got a new cutie mark now. . .Wonder if it’s real. . ” The voices grew louder, merging into laughter that twisted and taunted, making Pizza Pie’s vision blur. Her head spun, and the ponies around her seemed to shift, their eyes glowing red like the shadowy figure from before. The dark silhouette stretched, engulfing her, until she couldn’t take it anymore. “Stop it. . . stop it. . . STOP IT!” Her scream shattered the air, making everypony in the vicinity stop in their tracks. They gathered around, whispering in confusion and alarm. “. . . You think I’m trying too hard?” Pizza Pie whispered, her voice shaking with anger. “Trying to be like Pinkie. . .?” A cold silence fell. “I’M NOT!” she screamed. “I am done with that! I’m my own pony! You hear me? I’M DIFFERENT NOW!” Her chest heaved with each breath, and she collapsed onto the ground, exhausted. A pony from the crowd cautiously approached her, speaking in a calming voice. “I’m sorry. . . but we don’t know what you’re talking about. If you’re having trouble, Princess Twilight-” “Of course, you don’t understand,” Pizza Pie interrupted, her voice chillingly calm. “And your princess can’t help me.” Her eyes narrowed, glowing once more, sending the pony stumbling back in fear. “Maybe it’s time I show you just how different I am.” Back at the castle, Twilight finished explaining everything to Pinkie, her voice filled with quiet hope. “. . . and that’s what happened, Pinkie.” Pinkie’s eyes were wide, trying to process it all. “Wait, wait. . . So you’re telling me my cousin, Pizza Pie, lifted an entire forest of apple trees, mind-controlled a bird, finished a dress in seconds, and hurled a boulder across the fields?” “I know it sounds wild, Pinkie,” Twilight replied, “but we saw it all happen.” Pinkie’s eyes lit up with excitement. “That’s. . . SUPER AMAZING! I didn’t know she could do all that! And you kept it a secret from me? Why?” Twilight placed a gentle hoof on Pinkie’s shoulder. “We were worried. . . that you’d be upset with how much she’s changed, and that she’s not acting like herself anymore.” “‘Acting strange’? That’s silly! Pizza Pie’s still Pizza Pie! So she’s got some new powers? Big deal! Oh! Maybe she can help me throw parties now! With her horn, set-up would be a breez-” “Pinkie!” Rainbow Dash cut in, her voice sharp. “This isn’t a joke it’s serious!” Rarity nodded, her eyes earnest. “Yes, darling, we’re worried. Your cousin might be in trouble.” Pinkie’s enthusiasm faded, replaced by confusion. “Trouble? W-What kind of trouble?” “Pizza Pie isn’t herself when she’s using those powers,” Twilight said. “She seems. . . possessed, somehow.” “She’s right, Sugarcube,” Applejack added. “We gotta stop her before she does somethin’ none of us can fix.” Pinkie shook her head. “No. . . Cousin Pizza would never hurt anypony!” Rainbow Dash huffed, dragging Pinkie to the throne room and pointing at the massive crater in the wall. “Does This look like nothing? She threw me into that wall, Pinkie! And don’t think it was an accident she’s mad because she thinks we’re judging her for acting all. . . well, crazy!” Pinkie’s expression crumpled, her voice shaking. “No. . . I-I don’t believe you. . .” “Pinkie, dear, we’re so sorry,” Rarity said gently, “but Pizza Pie. . . she’s changed.” “No. . .” Pinkie’s eyes filled with tears. “You’re wrong!” “Pinkie, I know it’s hard to believe, but-” “HOW WOULD YOU KNOW?” Pinkie yelled, pulling away. “You’ve only known her a month! The Pizza Pie I know is kind, caring. . . She’s been through a lot, and all she wanted was for you to see her for who she is!” “Pinkie, I-” “Don’t you see? She’s been trying so hard to fit in, and I was finally going to be there for her! But all you care about is what she Can do, not how she feels!” As her voice echoed through the castle, a loud explosion boomed in the distance. The group turned their heads to see a thick column of black smoke rising over Ponyville. “What in tarnation was that?!” Applejack shouted. “I don’t know,” Twilight replied, her voice heavy with dread. “But I hope it’s not what we think it is.” “It’d better not be,” Rainbow Dash said, flying out the window. “I’ll go check the damage!” “What about Pinkie?” Fluttershy asked softly. Rarity put a hoof on Pinkie’s shoulder, her voice calm but firm. “We’ll have to leave her here, Fluttershy. This is too much for her to process all at once.” Twilight nodded. “She needs time. Let’s go.” The group left the castle and hurried toward Ponyville. As they neared, the air grew thick with smoke, casting an eerie yellow glow over the town. When they reached the marketplace, they froze. A massive crater stretched across half the square, with ponies running for cover. Others lay injured, dazed from the explosion. Twilight’s heart sank. “We’re too late. . . .” “Whoa . . . what happened here?” Rainbow Dash gasped, soaring above the marketplace, taking in the destruction below. The rest of the ponies arrived at the scene, shocked at the devastation. Panicked ponies were fleeing while others lay injured amid shattered stands and debris. Twilight and her friends sprang into action, helping those trapped. “O-Oh my goodness . . . the marketplace . . . it’s . . . it’s gone,” Fluttershy murmured, gliding through the wreckage. Her eyes widened as she spotted a familiar pony buried under a pile of wooden planks. “Ca-Carrot Top!” The others noticed Fluttershy landing and rushed to her side. Without hesitation, they began removing the planks to free the injured pony. “Sugarcube, you alright?” Applejack asked as she gently helped Carrot Top to her hooves. “Carrot Top, what happened here?” Twilight questioned, her voice tinged with concern. “Princess Twilight!” Carrot Top breathed in relief. “I-I don’t know . . . There was this huge explosion out of nowhere. It blew up most of the stands, and before we knew it, everypony was screaming and running!” “Got any ideas who did this?” Rainbow Dash asked, hovering nearby. “Just so we're all on the same page here.” “Enough with your snarky comments, Rainbow,” Applejack chided, giving her a stern look. “There’s injured ponies we need to worry about.” “Hey, I’m just saying,” Rainbow huffed. “We already know who did this.” “That’s enough, you two,” Twilight interrupted. “Gather the wounded and take them to safety. I’ll check the crater for anypony else who might be nearby.” “RIGHT!” Meanwhile, Pinkie Pie was hurrying toward Ponyville, determination in her eyes. She wanted to find her cousin before Twilight and the others did. As she approached the edge of town, her breath caught at the sight of injured ponies, many covered in dust and bruises, gathering in a somber crowd. Horrified, Pinkie called out to them. “What happened to everypony?” she asked, her voice trembling. “Who did this to you?” A pony stepped forward, eyes narrowed as he looked at her. “Why don’t you ask your cousin?” “She did this . . . to all of us.” “We were just minding our business,” another pony said bitterly, “until she start shouting in public.” “Yeah,” another chimed in. “Then this red aura surrounded her, and the next thing we knew, our stands were blown apart. Most of us barely made it out in one piece!” The crowd’s voices rose, their anger turning toward Pinkie. She stood there, her eyes welling up with tears, absorbing their accusations in silence, unable to defend her cousin. “Okay, that’s enough, everypony,” a familiar voice said firmly. Spike emerged from the crowd, his small frame standing tall. “This isn’t the time to argue there’s a crisis here, and Princess Twilight’s already helping. Now, let’s follow her orders and get to safety. Pinkie here is going to join her friends to help, alright?” The crowd exchanged looks, grudgingly nodding as they moved past Pinkie, following Spike’s words. Spike turned to her and smiled reassuringly. “Go on, Pinkie, it’s okay,” he said gently. “I’ll take it from here. Go help Twilight.” Pinkie wiped her tears, giving him a grateful smile. “Thank you, Spike. I will!” With her spirits lifted, she galloped toward Ponyville to join her friends. Twilight was now hovering over the massive crater in the marketplace, searching for any sign of life. She was about to turn back when she noticed an ominous red and yellow glow radiating from the center. Standing at the crater’s heart was a shadowy figure, motionless and menacing. Twilight felt the temperature spike as the ground trembled beneath her. Her friends arrived and froze at the sight of the figure below. “Wha-What is that, Twilight?” Rarity stammered, her eyes widening. “If it’s who we think it is,” Twilight said cautiously, “we need to keep our distance. This could be dangerous.” “There are still ponies down there!” Applejack exclaimed, pointing into the crater. Her face paled as she recognized the trio. “It’s the Cutie Mark Crusaders! What in tarnation are they doin’ down there?!” “Aaaaaahhh!! Sweetie Belle! Dear sister!” Rarity cried, grabbing Applejack and shaking her in panic. “APPLEJACK, you have to do something!” “I-I can’t reach them; they’re too far down!” Applejack replied, her voice tight with worry. “I’ll get them!” Rainbow Dash shouted from above. She dove down, reaching the three fillies in seconds. “Everypony hold tight, I’m getting you girls out of-” “Look out!” Apple Bloom yelled, pointing behind Rainbow. Rainbow turned, but before she could react, the figure swung its tail, sending her hurtling through the air. She crashed into a nearby building, sprawling in a dazed heap. The three fillies gasped, their last hope of escape fading. The figure turned its attention back to them, advancing with a terrifying aura. Suddenly, a spark of magic enveloped the fillies, whisking them away to Twilight’s side. Their older sisters hugged them tightly, relieved. “Apple Bloom, are you alright?” Applejack asked, holding her close. “I’m fine, big sis,” Apple Bloom replied shakily. “Just what were you three doing down there, Sweetie Belle?” Rarity asked, still in shock. “We were trying to help, Rarity,” Sweetie Belle murmured. “Like Princess Twilight said. But it didn’t go the way we thought. . .” Twilight gave the fillies a stern but gentle look. “It was brave of you, but very irresponsible. We’ll take it from here now, get somewhere safe.” “But what about Rainbow Dash?” Scootaloo asked, glancing toward where her hero had landed. “We’ll go get her, don’t you worry,” Fluttershy assured her. The fillies nodded and hurried to safety. Suddenly, from the crater, a clawed limb stretched up, gripping the edge. The ponies froze, hoping the creature wouldn’t notice them. “Don’t . . . move a muscle,” Twilight whispered. “I-I can’t, Twilight,” Fluttershy whimpered, shaking with fear. “What . . . what is that, Twilight?” Rarity asked, slowly stepping back toward her friends. Another clawed limb appeared, gripping the opposite side. The creature hoisted itself upward, the ground rumbling as it emerged. The ponies braced themselves, their breaths shallow, watching as the figure finally rose into full view. They stared in shock as they realized what or who they were facing. The creature had the form of a mare, but twisted by a dark red and yellow aura, her eyes glowing menacingly. Two massive tails, thick and powerful, swayed ominously behind her, blocking out the sunlight. Twilight steeled herself, her voice low but determined. “Girls, stay ready. Whatever happens, don’t engage. We’re dealing with something far more powerful than we’ve ever faced.” Applejack swallowed hard, recognizing the shape and the familiar colors. “Twilight, is that?” "What we’re dealing with," Twilight said, her voice filled with both sorrow and determination, "is our best friend’s cousin." ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ~ End of chapter 14 Author's Note When the beast awakens within, fear its power as it smites in grim. The Pizza is gone and the beast shall take her place. Now it’s ponyville’s turn to suffer the same. The ponies of harmony try to save the day but the question remains: would one relative get in the other's way? Modesty Chapter 15: Inner Monster part 1⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ The ponies now stood face-to-face with an unexpected, unsettling threat. Pizza Pie—the cousin they once welcomed with open hooves had transformed, her mysterious power leaving Ponyville in ruins. Twilight and her friends held their ground, careful not to provoke her, as Pizza Pie’s fiery aura pulsed menacingly above them. "Psst. . . got a plan, Twilight?" Applejack whispered, her voice tense. "Not yet. We need to stay calm and still," Twilight muttered. "Let’s hope she calms down first." "That’s assuming she even can," Rarity replied, nervously eyeing the towering figure. "I-I’m scared, Twilight. . ." Fluttershy whimpered. "Fluttershy, please try to stop trembling," Twilight said quietly, her eyes darting around, searching for an escape route. Finally, she spotted a narrow alley behind a nearby house. "Girls, on my signal, we’ll move. Stick close to me so we can get out of her sight." The others nodded, bracing themselves as Twilight prepared to count. "One. . . two. . ." Before Twilight could give the final signal, Pinkie Pie appeared, racing into Ponyville with a look of horror as she took in the shattered marketplace. Desperately scanning for her friends, she spotted them standing frozen near two enormous, clawed appendages. "C-Cousin. . . Cousin! Stop!" Pinkie called out, her voice trembling. Hearing Pinkie’s shout, the ponies turned, their hearts sinking. Pinkie was running straight into danger, oblivious to the risks. "Pinkie?! No, stay back!" Twilight shouted, alarmed. "It’s too dangerous!" Pizza Pie’s head swiveled, her fiery gaze settling on Pinkie Pie below. She shifted her attention from Twilight and the others, focusing solely on Pinkie. Slowly, she lowered one of her massive tails, bringing herself closer to her cousin. "Pi-Pizza. . . Cousin. . . whatever you’re trying to prove, please stop," Pinkie pleaded, her voice breaking. Tears began to well up in her eyes. "You don’t have to do this. You’re hurting everypony our friends, yourself. . ." "Pinkie, please get out of there!" Twilight yelled, but Pinkie didn’t seem to hear. "But you’re not like this, Cousin," Pinkie continued, her tone soft yet insistent. "I know you’re still in there, somewhere. So please, just. . . stop." Despite the tension, Pinkie took a trembling step forward and extended her hoof toward Pizza Pie, a tearful smile on her face. Pizza Pie paused, her gaze softening as she looked down at her cousin’s outstretched hoof. For a moment, she seemed to hesitate. She slowly raised her own hoof, reaching out to meet Pinkie’s gesture. Just then, a streak of rainbow-colored light shot across the sky as Rainbow Dash emerged from the city ruins, disoriented but regaining her balance. She shook her head, blinking to clear her vision. "Aww. . . that one kinda hurt-” Rainbow Dash muttered, rubbing her head. “Wh-what in Equestria?!” She gasped as she spotted her friends huddled beneath a towering, transformed Pizza Pie. "Is that. . . Pinkie Pie and Pizza?!" Without a second thought, Rainbow Dash zoomed toward the scene. "Pinkie! What are you doing?! Get away from her!" "R-Rainbow Dash? N-No, wait-" Pinkie tried to warn her. But it was too late. Pizza Pie’s gaze snapped toward the approaching Rainbow, her aura flaring as she leaped onto a burning rooftop and swiped at Rainbow Dash with her enormous, clawed tail. "Rainbow, look out!" the ponies shouted in unison. "HUH?!" Rainbow swerved just in time, narrowly dodging the first attack. "Whoa! That was close!" Another tail swiped at her, but she twisted mid-air and evaded it again. "Hah! It'll take more than that to catch me!" Pizza Pie, undeterred, continued to chase after Rainbow Dash, her strikes getting faster and more furious. Meanwhile, the others took advantage of the distraction and quickly pulled Pinkie Pie to safety behind City Hall. "Pinkie! Snap out of it!" Applejack waved a hoof in front of Pinkie’s face. "We gotta get you outta here, Sugarcube!" "B-but my cousin-" Pinkie stammered, looking over her shoulder in distress. "I’m sorry, Pinkie," Twilight said gently, "but we have to stop her before she causes more destruction." Pinkie struggled against Applejack’s grip, her voice rising in desperation. "No! Pizza Pie wouldn’t do this! She’s not like that!" "That out there," Applejack said somberly, "ain’t your cousin anymore, Pinkie." From behind the building, they watched as Pizza Pie continued to chase Rainbow Dash, demolishing homes with each bound. Twilight’s eyes widened, her mind racing. "This is getting out of hoof," she murmured, pacing. "She’s destroying Ponyville without even knowing it." "This ain’t the first time a unicorn’s gone and wrecked Ponyville," Applejack commented, sneaking a glance at the destruction. "But she’s doin' as much damage as Tirek did." "Goodness, she’s lost her senses completely," Rarity observed, her voice trembling. "Even I wouldn’t dream of turning Ponyville into my own personal playground!" "The power she’s using is unlike anything we’ve seen," Twilight added. "But we have to act fast." "Got all the townsfolk to safety, Twilight," came a soft voice. Fluttershy flew in beside them, with Spike perched on her back. "Good timing, Fluttershy," Twilight said with relief. "Spike, can you write to Princess Celestia? We need reinforcements to help the injured ponies." "On it!" Spike’s expression darkened as he glanced at the chaotic scene. "Whoa. . . did Pizza Pie do all this?" Pinkie looked away, guilt heavy on her face. Twilight nodded, passing Spike a quill and scroll. "Yes, Spike. We’re handling it carefully." "Carefully?" Spike raised an eyebrow as he sent the letter. "And what if ‘carefully’ doesn’t work?" Twilight exchanged a worried look with her friends. "Then we may have to use the Elements. But we need all six of us." "B-but what about Pinkie Pie?" Fluttershy’s voice wavered. "She’s. . . not herself right now." The group looked over to Pinkie, who had been silent, eyes filled with worry. "Fluttershy’s got a point, Twilight," Applejack said. "Pinkie’s not ready to face her cousin." "Maybe Starlight could help," Rarity suggested. "She’s studied spells that could restrain her, right?" "She’s on a magic tour with Trixie and Discord," Twilight sighed. "Which means we have to handle this ourselves." She turned to Applejack. "Applejack, go tell Rainbow to keep her busy for as long as she can." "On it, Sugarcube," Applejack replied, darting off to find Rainbow Dash. "Rarity and I will build a barrier to keep Pizza Pie contained," Twilight announced. "I’m with you, darling," Rarity said confidently. "Fluttershy," Twilight continued, "take Pinkie somewhere safe. Once the barrier’s up, I’ll teleport you both back. Spike, stay with the other ponies and wait for the princess’s response." "Are you sure the Elements are a good idea?" Fluttershy asked, fidgeting nervously. "What if they… turn her to stone?" Twilight hesitated. "It’s our best chance of holding her in place, just long enough to figure out what’s happened to her." Pinkie’s voice broke through, laced with desperation. "But… what if they don’t change her back? What if my cousin… stays like this?" Twilight placed a steady hoof on Pinkie’s shoulder. "Pinkie, right now, Ponyville needs us. But we’ll do everything we can to help her too. We need your help, Pinkie." Rarity spoke gently. "We’re not treating her like some villain. She’s your cousin, and we all care about her." Fluttershy squeezed Pinkie’s hoof. "We believe in you, Pinkie. We believe she’s still the cousin you know." Pinkie looked around at her friends, finding a flicker of hope in their eyes. She wiped away her tears, nodding. "Alright… let’s do this, everypony!" The group tightened their resolve, prepared to face Pizza Pie and bring their friend back. "Okay, girls. Here’s what we’re going to do." ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ Meanwhile, at Canterlot Castle, the royal sisters, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, are hosting a meeting with the mayors from all the neighboring towns across Equestria. The crisis involving the three villains left the kingdom in disarray, and the aim of this gathering is to coordinate the reconstruction efforts and distribute resources effectively. As the meeting begins, Princess Celestia stands, greeting the assembled leaders with a gracious smile. "Let me be the first to say," she begins, "it is with gratitude that we convene here today with Equestria's finest mayors Manehattan, Cloudsdale, Appaloosa, Tall Tale, Fillydelphia, and Ponyville. Thank you all for coming." The mayors rise, bow respectfully to the princesses, then take their seats. "We are here," Celestia continues, "to renew our terms for the reconstruction of our capital city. Let us start by discussing the distribution of this month’s supplies. Does anypony wish to propose an adjustment to the terms?" After a pause, the Mayor of Cloudsdale, Mayor Lightning, raises his hoof. "Your Highness, may I speak?" Princess Celestia nods. "Of course, Mayor Lightning. The floor is yours." Mayor Lightning stands and addresses the room. "Princesses and fellow mayors, my townsfolk have worked diligently to keep Equestria’s weather on track, ensuring each season arrives smoothly. But since the crisis of the three villains, our output has slowed. With many of our pegasi assisting in reconstruction and taking on overtime in the factory, I propose a slight fee increase to support our ongoing weather production." Mayor Sakura of Manehattan interjects, "I must object! Charging other cities for stable weather is unreasonable. Seasonal creation is mandatory, and the volunteers from Cloudsdale chose to aid in the capital's reconstruction." Mayor Idea of Tall Tale joins in. "I agree. It isn’t fair to impose extra costs, especially when we’re all contributing workers for the reconstruction. I, too, object." Mayor Lightning paces, visibly frustrated. "Of course, the 'wealthiest' cities would easily dismiss a fair proposal. Cloudsdale has limited resources, and our factory is aging. Our processes haven't changed in ages, and yet, we are expected to carry the same burden." Mayor Colada of Fillydelphia responds, "There are other ways to request help, and charging bits should not be one of them. Fillydelphia is far from wealthy, but we don’t impose extra fees for essential goods." Idea nods in agreement. "In Tall Tale, we even have pegasi willing to help with weather-making. We would gladly offer them to assist Cloudsdale." Sakura adds, "In Manehattan as well, we have pegasi ready to lend a hoof without any strings attached. Despite your dismissive tone, Mayor Lightning, our cities are here to support Equestria." Incensed, Mayor Lightning flies over the table. "I don't need your pegasi's help to fulfill Cloudsdale’s duty! All I asked for was a reasonable fee to keep things on schedule, without compromising the safety of Equestria’s seasonal cycles." Mayor Polar of Appaloosa intervenes, flying up to meet him. "The seasonal weather distribution is a fundamental rule passed down by our ancestors. It states, 'All weather must be shared fairly across Equestria, not used for profit.' So, Mayor Lightning, if you value tradition, consider the other mayors' assistance." Princess Luna rises, her tone firm but diplomatic. "Enough, all of you. Let us remind you, noble mayors, that our call for volunteers is a temporary request to rebuild what was lost. Mayor Lightning, if Cloudsdale is struggling to meet the weather needs due to this redistribution, please address it directly with us. We will find a solution that maintains fairness." Mayor Mare of Ponyville chimes in, "This is a solvable issue if we work together. Cloudsdale does so much to keep Equestria’s seasons in harmony. We should all show some appreciation for their hard work." Celestia smiles, ready to wrap up the debate. "Let us reach an agreement, then. Each city’s pegasi can volunteer to support Cloudsdale’s weather production, while those assisting in Canterlot will continue their work. The sooner we work together, the sooner we can restore Equestria’s harmony." She turns to Mayor Lightning. "Mayor Lightning, will this be acceptable?" Mayor Lightning considers the princess’s words and glances around the room. "Perhaps my terms were too much. Since the crisis, I was focused solely on Cloudsdale’s needs. For that, I apologize." Mayor Idea pats him on the back reassuringly. "We’ve all been affected by this crisis, Mayor Lightning. None of us blames you for doing what you thought was best." Mayor Polar agrees. "We must stick together and support each other for the good of Equestria and all our citizens." Mayor Lightning smiles and accepts their words of encouragement. "Thank you, everypony. I appreciate your understanding and offer of help." The mayors smile and shake hooves, a newfound unity evident among them. The royal sisters look on, relieved and proud of the mayors’ cooperation. "Well done, Luna," Celestia says warmly. "You handled that beautifully." "They needed guidance to move from argument to agreement," Luna replies with a smile. "And they’ve shown they’re committed to doing what’s best for Equestria." Celestia nods. "Exactly, sister. This meeting is now-" Suddenly, a distant explosion shakes the castle, sending a shockwave through the hall. Startled, Celestia and Luna rush to the balcony. Plumes of smoke rise ominously from the direction of Ponyville, and just then, a royal guard flies up, his expression grave. A royal guard flew urgently toward the royal sisters, who stood on the balcony, overlooking the distant town. “Your Highnesses, we have an emergency in Ponyville!” “Ponyville?” Princess Celestia murmured as a wisp of magical smoke floated toward her, quickly forming into a scroll. “A letter from Princess Twilight?” She unfurled it and began reading, her expression becoming more serious with each line. “What does it say, sister?” Luna asks, turning to the guard. The guard looked anxious. “There’s a rampage underway by an orange unicorn with a strange red aura surrounding her. We don’t know who she is or what powers she wields.” “An orange unicorn?” Celestia whispered. “Yes, Your Highness. She’s exhibiting destructive abilities we’ve never encountered. What are your orders?” Luna’s expression darkened as she murmured to herself, “(It couldn’t be. . . Her transformation was minimal; it shouldn't have any flaws.)” Celestia, finishing the letter, glanced at her sister’s concerned face, then turned to the guard. “Follow the route given in this scroll and bring assistance with you.” She gestured to another guard. “Prepare my armor.” "Sister, you’re going alone?” Luna asks, a touch of concern in her voice. “Yes. I’ll assist Princess Twilight in Ponyville. Luna, you must contact the Pillars and bring them to join us as soon as possible.” Luna watched her elder sister stride from the room with purpose, her guards escorting the mayors away to safety. The mayors exchanged worried glances, but Mayor Mare spoke up, her voice trembling. “What’s happening in Ponyville? Who’s attacking it?” “Remain calm, Mayor,” a guard assured her. “Princess Twilight has ordered an evacuation. It’s best for you to stay here for now.” “Stay here? My townsfolk need me!” Mayor Mare insist. Luna places a comforting hoof on her shoulder. “Fear not, Mayor. I will join my sister to assist Princess Twilight. And I’ve dispatched guards to gather the Pillars; they’ll soon be at our side.” With that, Luna leaves the room, hurrying after Celestia, hoping the situation is not as dire as it seems. ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✶✶✶ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ~ End of chapter 15 Author's Note The rampaging unicorn terrorizes their hometown and their only solution is once again use their elements. Something their one friend refuses to do. I like to thank the winners of the OC's chapter appearance audition (2017). I have a had fun playing out the role of mayors of each towns for this chapter. I was the first time I've plan such an small event for this story and hoping to come up with more in the future. Modesty Chapter 16: Inner Monster part 2⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ Back in Ponyville, Rainbow Dash darted through the town, deftly keeping the rampaging unicorn Pizza Pie occupied. She glanced back to see Applejack trailing a few yards behind and signaled to her. Rainbow pivoted, shooting past Pizza Pie to reach Applejack, grabbing her friend and pulling them behind a rundown house, out of sight. “What’re you doing, Applejack? I had her distracted!” Applejack ignored her frustration, looking dead serious. “Forget that! Twilight’s got a plan.” Meanwhile, Pizza Pie paused, scanning the area for the two mares. Her eyes glowed red as she shifted her vision to thermal, and she immediately located them. She began closing in silently. “Oh, great,” Rainbow Dash said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Lemme guess. It’s that same old ‘Teamwork Beats the Big Bad’ trick?” Applejack rolled her eyes. “Yes, but we’ve got to keep her busy while Twilight prepares. Here, take this rope.” Rainbow grinned, catching on. “You mean rodeo-style?” “Exactly,” Applejack said, gripping her end of the rope. “We’ll tie her down and buy Twilight some time.” “Just saying, AJ tying up a super-powered Pinkie Pie isn’t exactly a foolproof plan.” Before they could make their move, twin clawed tendrils extended from behind, trapping the mares in a deadly grip. They jumped back just in time as the claws closed around empty air, crushing the dilapidated house behind them. Pizza Pie leaped forward, her aura flaring dangerously as she advanced on them. “SPREAD OUT!” Applejack shouted. “Already on it!” Rainbow shot into the air, quickly darting back to slam a hoof into Pizza Pie’s face. “Hey, Pizza Pie! Over here!” she taunted, darting away before the unicorn could retaliate. Furious, Pizza Pie locked her gaze on the pegasus, her teeth gritting as the aura around her intensified. With a snarl, she launched forward in hot pursuit, red energy crackling around her. “That’s right, follow the pretty pony. Pretty pony wants to play tag and you're it.” Rainbow Dash taunted, zipping away to lead Pizza Pie on a chase. “(Twilight, you’d better be right about this . . .)” Applejack muttered under her breath as she picked up the rope and quietly moved into position. Across the way, Twilight and Rarity appeared atop a rooftop, watching the chaotic scene unfold below. They exchanged a determined glance, and Twilight whispered, “Are you ready, Rarity?” “Always, darling.” “Alright, just as we planned. Here we go!” From a distance, Spike and the townsfolk watched anxiously from the safety of the forest's edge. The Cutie Mark Crusaders noticed Spike pacing with worry etched on his face. “Don’t fret, Spike,” Apple Bloom said, patting his back. “They’ve got this! They always do.” “Yeah, but this time feels. . . different,” Spike said, glancing at the rumbling horizon. "Yeah" Scootaloo agreed. “I mean Pinkies' cousin seems pretty dangerous on her own.” Sweetie Belle, trying to stay optimistic, added, “But our sisters and friends are stronger. Besides, it’s just one unicorn! How much effort do they really need-” Before she could finish, the ground beneath them trembled as the sounds of the escalating battle reached their ears. Meanwhile, on the rooftop, Twilight and Rarity focused intently on gathering their magic, synchronizing their powers as Rainbow Dash continued to evade Pizza Pie’s wild attacks. "How much longer dear? . . . ." Rarity asks, straining with the magical energy. Twilight’s voice is steady but tense. ". . . Just a little more Rarity . . . we almost got it . . ." The ground rumbles and splits open, revealing a massive crystal structure rising beneath Ponyville. As it grows, the crystal wall stretches skyward, arching over the village until its ends meet, forming an enormous barrier around the town. On the distant hill, ponies watch in awe at Twilight and Rarity's stunning feat, with Spike guiding them to their designated safe zones. "We did it, Twilight!" Rarity exclaims, her voice triumphant. "But. . . will that be enough?" Twilight, her gaze locked on the chaos below, nodded with resolve. "Let’s hope so, Rarity. Now, let's get closer and help Rainbow Dash." Rainbow zooms up to the shimmering crystal wall, her eyes wide with excitement. “WHOA. . . This is so awesome!” Applejack glances at Rainbow, but her focus quickly shifts back as she notices Pizza Pie leaping close, her tail whipping toward Rainbow with frightening speed. "Rainbow! LOOK OUT!" Applejack yells, twirling her rope expertly and throwing it around Pizza Pie's tail. With all her strength, she tugs hard, swinging the unicorn and slamming her into the ground. "That was awesome, Applejack!" Rainbow says, catching her breath. "Not the time for thanks just yet! Get over here and help tie her up-WHOA!" Applejack is yanked off her hooves, suspended in mid-air as Pizza Pie lifts her with her powerful tail. "Applejack, hang on!" Rainbow dives to her friend’s aid. "Hey, Pizza Pie!" "No! Rainbow-WHOA!" Pizza Pie’s tail swings in a wide arc, and Applejack is sent flying, hurtling toward Rainbow Dash. "Gotcha!" Rainbow catches her just in time. "You alright, AJ?" Applejack nods, though slightly dazed. "Yeah, thanks . . .” Suddenly, the ground shakes as Pizza Pie slams her tail into it, causing a nearby house to rise. She catches the building in her hooves, lifting it over her head and hurling it at the two ponies with surprising ease. Hearing the ominous whistle, Rainbow and Applejack look up just in time to see the flying house barreling toward them. "Oh, C'MON!" Rainbow ducks just in time, the house narrowly missing them as it crashes down behind them. She wastes no time, darting away with Applejack in tow. "We gotta keep Pizza Pie distracted!” Rainbow shouts. "Yeah, but how long can we keep this up? We can’t just-WHOA!” Applejack clings to Rainbow as Pizza Pie hurls another house in their direction. Rainbow weaves through the air, dodging the buildings with every ounce of speed she can muster. From a safe distance, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie watch, worry etched across their faces. Fluttershy turns to Pinkie, who stares at the chaos in a stunned silence. "Oh, dear. . . Rainbow Dash and Applejack are in trouble," Fluttershy whispers. "I wish we can help but-" Pinkie remains motionless, her gaze fixed on her cousin, who is tearing through Ponyville and attacking her friends. Her usually vibrant eyes are filled with a rare sadness. "D-Don’t worry, Pinkie," Fluttershy says gently, placing a comforting hoof on her shoulder. "Twilight has a plan. We just need to have faith that we can bring your cousin back.” "Let’s hope so," Pinkie whispers, her voice barely audible. Steeling themselves, Fluttershy and Pinkie edge closer to their friends. Meanwhile, Rainbow continues to weave and dodge, carrying Applejack. She glances over her shoulder and realizes that their fiery unicorn pursuer has vanished. "Hey, where did she go?" Rainbow asks, alarmed. Applejack looks around, catching her breath. "I-I think we lost her, Rainbow.” Just then, with a crackle of dark energy, Pizza Pie teleports directly in front of them, mere feet away. With a fierce growl, she grabs a nearby wagon and hurls it straight at Rainbow and Applejack. The wagon hurtles through the air, closing in fast. “Rainbow, RAINBOW! WATCH OUT!” “Look out for wha-Oof!” The wagon smashed into them, sending both mares skidding across the ground. Applejack scrambled up first, helping her friend stand. “R-Rainbow, you okay?” Rainbow shook off the dirt, taking Applejack’s hoof. “I’m fine. . . but that sneaky snake totally pulled a fast one on us!” Seeing them get up, Pizza Pie snarled, her horn glowing red before she launched another beam of magic. Just before it could reach them, a wall of crystal sprang from the earth, blocking the blast. Twilight and Rarity teleported in beside them. “You girls alright?” Twilight asked as she lifted Applejack to her hooves. Applejack nodded, brushing herself off. “Barely. If it weren’t for y’all, we’d be toast.” “Awesome timing, Twilight!” Rainbow said, impressed. “So, what’s the plan now? Lock us in with Miss Rage-a-lot here?” “Next step is to hold her down so we can use the Elements.” Twilight pointed towards the others. “Go with Rarity to meet Fluttershy and Pinkie. I’ll teleport you all in once it’s time.” Applejack looked at Twilight, uncertain. “What’re you plannin’ to do, Sugarcube?” Twilight stood tall, her aura glowing with determination. “I’ll handle it from here.” Rarity frowned. “Are you sure, dear?” “I’m the Princess of Friendship,” Twilight said firmly. “It’s my duty to protect Ponyville.” Rainbow Dash stepped forward. “No way you’re doing this alone, Twilight. I’ve got your back.” “Rainbow, you’ve done enough. Just go with the others-” “And let you have all the fun? Not a chance. I’m with you.” Twilight sighed, seeing there was no changing her friend’s mind. “Alright, let’s go. But be ready, Rainbow.” “You got it! Pizza Pie, here comes trouble!” Rainbow smirked. As Twilight and Rainbow took off, Rarity used her magic to lift Applejack and teleport to safety. Pizza Pie’s horn flared as she aimed a barrage of magic blasts at the two. Twilight returned fire, evading the attacks as Rainbow swooped forward, snatching a rope from under the unicorn and yanking it to trip her. Seeing an opening, Twilight prepared a freezing spell, but Pizza Pie sensed it just in time and teleported out of sight. “What? Where did she-” Before Twilight could react, Pizza Pie reappeared above, snaring Twilight with her tail. “KYAAAAHHH!” “Twilight, hang on!” Rainbow shot up, circling Pizza Pie and wrapping her in rope to pull her away from Twilight. She strained as Pizza Pie resisted, but managed to give Twilight the opening to break free. Meanwhile, Rarity and Applejack reappeared near Fluttershy and Pinkie, who rushed over to help lift Applejack. “Pinkie, Fluttershy, stay with Applejack,” Rarity instructed. “I’ll be right back.” Applejack narrowed her eyes. “Now where do ya think you’re goin’, Rarity?” “Lending them a hoof, of course,” Rarity replied. “You don’t expect me to just stand here while they’re fighting for all of us, do you?” “But Twilight said to wait-” “I know, but they need all the help they can get right now.” Applejack sighed, but didn’t argue further. Instead, Pinkie looked up at Rarity, eyes wide with worry. “Is. . . is my cousin okay?” Rarity offered a reassuring smile. “She’s. . . keeping up with them, not to worry, darling. We’ll do everything we can to help her, I promise.” She hugged Pinkie tightly, giving her one last comforting glance before teleporting back to the fight. Fluttershy looked up at Applejack, trembling. “D-Do you think they can stop her?” Applejack put a steady hoof on Fluttershy’s shoulder. “I don’t just think so, Fluttershy. . . I know so.” "Pizza Pie, I know you’re still in there!" Twilight called out, voice strong but pleading. "Don’t give in to the rage! We’re your friends; let us help you. . ." Pizza Pie continued her assault, firing relentlessly until her magic was deflected by a shield Twilight conjured. The repeated blasts made the shield crack and tremble, pushing Twilight back. "Whatever magic is controlling you," Twilight continued, bracing against the pressure, "you need to fight it!" She glanced upward at Rainbow, signaling with a flick of her wings. Seeing the cue, Rainbow Dash steeled herself. "Alright, here goes nothing!" She took a deep breath and dove down, accelerating to incredible speed. A blazing rainbow trail followed her, streaking across the sky for all to see. Below, Pizza Pie sensed the oncoming threat and looked up, smirking as she charged a massive magic beam and fired it upward at Rainbow. "Uh-oh," Rainbow muttered, narrowly dodging the beam as it roared past her. "Is that all you got?!" she taunted, hoping to draw Pizza’s focus. But Pizza Pie just smirked, her eyes glinting with a dark energy. "What are you smiling at? Huh?!" Rainbow called, but before she could react, the magic beam behind her exploded, scattering into countless smaller blasts that rained down around her. "Oh, great!" she groaned, weaving between the magical projectiles. "Uh…a little help, Twilight?" "Hang on, I’ve got you!" Twilight shouted back. She countered the oncoming blasts with her own magic, creating a large protective barrier that shielded the ground from Pizza Pie’s attacks. "Alright, Twilight!" Rainbow cheered. "Rainbow, now’s your chance! Do it!" Twilight commanded, her voice brimming with urgency. Rainbow Dash gathered even more speed, pushing herself to the brink of her abilities. "Here I come!" she roared, diving so fast a mach cone began to form around her, and she closed in on the unicorn below. Seeing this, Pizza Pie extended her tail, trying to snatch Rainbow from mid-air. But Rainbow’s sheer speed deflected the grab, and Pizza Pie fired several more shots of magic in desperation. Twilight took advantage, using her own magic to shake the ground beneath Pizza, throwing off her aim. Rainbow tore through the sound barrier, triggering a Sonic Rainboom that exploded right over Pizza Pie with a shockwave so intense it shattered windows and toppled nearby structures. In the same moment, Twilight teleported Rainbow back to her side, leaving her unscathed from the collision. "Did we get her?" Rainbow panted. But then the ground rumbled, and Pizza Pie emerged from the debris, seemingly unscathed and brimming with even greater fury. "Are you serious? That didn’t work?" Rainbow exclaimed. "That wasn’t our final move," Twilight replied, eyes narrowing. Suddenly, a massive crystal plate erupted from the ground beneath Pizza Pie. Crystal shards shot up, wrapping around her hooves and slowly creeping upward, restraining her. Pizza Pie fought back, swinging her tail to break free, but two large crystal shards crashed down on her tail, pinning it. Rarity appeared in a flash of light beside Twilight and Rainbow. "Was that good enough, darling?" Rarity asked with a smirk. "Right on time, Rarity. Fantastic job!" Twilight praised. "Rarity, you were awesome!" Rainbow added. Rarity beamed. "Not as awesome as you, dear," she replied, casting a sympathetic glance at the struggling Pizza Pie. "I’m sorry about this, darling, but we need you to stay still if that’s alright." Twilight turned to Rarity, Rainbow, and the others she had summoned. "Everypony in position?" "We’re ready, sugarcube," Applejack affirmed, rubbing her head with a grin. "Just next time, give us a heads-up, will ya?" "Sorry, Applejack, there wasn’t time," Twilight replied. Suddenly, Pinkie Pie zipped close to Twilight’s face, looking frantic. "Where’s my cousin? Is she okay?!" But just as she asked, the crystal bindings around Pizza Pie began to splinter. With one powerful swing, Pizza Pie shattered one of the shards, her tail smashing through the others until she was nearly free. "Does that answer your question, Pinkie?" Rainbow remarked with a smirk. "Everypony, no distractions!" Twilight called urgently. "This is our last chance. Get close and stay focused!" The six ponies joined together in a circle, calling on their elements. As their combined magic activated, they began to lift off the ground, their manes lengthening and glowing as their colors brightened, creating a brilliant aura around them. Pizza Pie, now fully unbound, watched in awe and defiance, her own magic flaring as she prepared to unleash a final, massive blast. "Twilight, that’s one big magic beam coming right at us!" Rainbow warned. "Stay focused," Twilight said firmly. "We’re almost there!" At that moment, the power of the Elements of Harmony fully ignited, and they fired a colossal rainbow beam straight at Pizza Pie’s oncoming magic. The two forces collided in an explosion of light and color, each side pushing with all its strength. With every ounce of willpower, Twilight and her friends fought to overpower Pizza Pie. "Hold on, girls," Twilight urged. "We can do this. . . for Pizza Pie!" Finally, their combined power overwhelmed her. The rainbow magic shattered through Pizza Pie’s barrier, and her dark magic disintegrated. The Elements' power struck her directly, engulfing her in a radiant explosion. The shockwave sent shards of crystal scattering, and Twilight shielded her friends from the debris. As the dust settled, they looked down to see only a massive crater where Pizza Pie had stood. "THAT. . .WAS . . AWESOME!!!" Rainbow Dash exclaims, backflipping in mid-air, thrilled by their success. "That was mighty close," Applejack said, catching her breath. "I thought for sure we were done for." "I thought so too, Applejack," Twilight agreed. "But great job, everypony. Now, we just need to bring Pizza Pie back-" "COUSIN!!" Pinkie Pie suddenly shoved past her friends, sprinting toward the crater, desperately searching for any sign of her cousin. Rainbow Dash darted in front of her, blocking her way. "Whoa, Pinkie, hold up-" Pinkie Pie dodged, shuffling to the side in a panic. "Out of the way, Rainbow! Cousin! Pizza Pie!" "Pinkie, calm down," Twilight called out, attempting to steady her friend. "It’s still too dangerous to get close-" Pinkie Pie smacked Twilight’s hoof away. "This is all your fault! You said the Elements would fix Pizza Pie! You said we could save her!" "But Pinkie, darling," Rarity interjected gently, "we didn’t have any other choice. She was too powerful." "Rarity’s right," Twilight added, her voice heavy. "None of our other plans worked. The Elements of Harmony were our only hope." "Yeah, Pinkie," Rainbow Dash chimed in. "We’ve used the Elements loads of times, and nopony’s been hurt by it." She glanced back at the crater, her bravado slipping a little. "Even if… it does look like we might’ve sent her all the way to the next region." The other ponies glared at her, while Pinkie stood trembling with worry and frustration. But then, a low rumbling sound echoed from the crater. Pinkie’s ears perked up, and without a second thought, she dashed forward, leaving her friends scrambling to catch up. "Pinkie, wait!" Twilight shouted. "It’s still too dangerous! Come back!" As Pinkie got closer, the ground beneath them started to shake more violently. Rainbow quickly flew after her, grabbing her just in time to pull her back from the crater’s edge. "Let me go! Let me go!" Pinkie cried, struggling in Rainbow's grip. "My cousin needs me! I have to see if she’s okay!" "Quit squirming, Pinkie! I might drop you!" Rainbow grunted, tightening her hold. "For the last time, Pizza Pie is—" Suddenly, the crater exploded in a blinding flash. Rocks and debris flew in every direction, forcing the ponies to shield themselves from the blast. When the dust finally settled, an eerie figure emerged, levitating from the rubble. The familiar form of Pizza Pie floated before them, her body surrounded by a shimmering rainbow aura of their own Elemental magic swirling around her like a storm. Pizza Pie touched down, looking even more powerful, her eyes fixed coldly on each of them. The friends exchanged wide-eyed glances, disbelief and dread painted on their faces. "The Elements of Harmony. . ." Twilight whispered, her voice trailing off. "It. . .didn’t. . .work?!" ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✶✶✶ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ~ End of chapter 16 Modesty Chapter 17: Lack of Harmony⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ Somewhere along the winding road home, two unicorns and one Draconequus rode along, their wagon filled with bouquets, gifts, and trails of confetti from their magic tour in Manehattan. With smiles on their faces, it was clear their latest performance had been a success. "That was our best show so far!" Starlight said proudly. "I think we outdid ourselves!" Trixie tilted her hat with a smirk. "Of course, Trixie knew you'd love it. Only a grand genius like me could plan a performance so spectacular!" "I’ll give you that," Starlight chuckled. "Who knew the 'leap into a glass of water' trick would wow the audience so much? It’s a classic." Discord slithered into the conversation, a mischievous grin on his face. "Ah, but with a touch of chaos, I made sure you actually fit in that glass and without shattering it in your face." "My hooves are still numb from the impact," Trixie huffed, rubbing them. "Next time, warn me about your… ‘creative enhancements,’ Discord." "Oh, I’m sorry," Discord drawled, rolling his eyes. "I thought you enjoyed my ‘delusional tricks’? You seem to perform your fair share of illusions." "I am a magician! A magician!" Trixie retorted, puffing herself up. Starlight chuckled, trying to keep the peace. "Alright, alright, settle down, you two. We pulled off a great show together. Maybe a thank-you is in order, Trixie?" Trixie sighed, looking reluctantly at Discord. "Fiiiine. . .I suppose it’s only fair," she muttered, turning to him with an annoyed look. "Thank you. . ." Discord chuckled, cleaning his ear with one of Trixie’s wands. "I’m sorry, dear, could you repeat that?" "Thank. . .you." Trixie repeated through gritted teeth. "Oh, you’re very welcome, Trixie," Discord grinned, pinching her cheeks. "Anything for my friends!" Trixie slapped his claws away. "Don’t get used to it. Trixie rarely gives compliments." "Come on, Trixie, lighten up," Starlight teased. "You two make a great team. Imagine the shows we could pull off if you two got along." "Oh, I completely agree," Discord chimed in. "Why, I'd even say I enjoy these little road trips together. Of course, nothing compares to my time with dear Fluttershy." "See, Trixie? You two should cooperate more. Think of all the magical possibilities!" Discord extended his claw with a smile. "Partners?" After glancing at Discord’s claw, then at Starlight’s encouraging smile, Trixie gave in with a dramatic sigh. "Fiiine. . .partners," she muttered, giving his claw a reluctant shake. "Oh, excellent!" Discord cheered. She yanked him close. "But only with my permission. No improvising unless I say so." "Why, of course," Discord replied smoothly. "I would never upstage you." He phased through her grip, adding under his breath, "That would be far too easy." "What was that?" Trixie glared. "Nothing," Discord replied with a halo over his head. "Great," Starlight said, rolling her eyes with a smile. "Now let’s head back to Ponyville and tell Twilight all about-" Suddenly, an explosion echoed in the distance, startling them. A flock of birds shot across the sky as a thick column of smoke rose from the mountains ahead. "What in Equestria was that?" Trixie gasped, stepping out of the wagon to get a better look. "I don’t know," Starlight replied, squinting toward the smoke. "But it’s coming from the direction of Ponyville. I hope it’s not as bad as it looks. . ." "Ponyville?! Fluttershy might be in trouble!" Discord snapped his fingers, conjuring a chariot hitched to seven rainbow-colored jelly bean bears. He grabbed Starlight and Trixie, setting them in the back. "Seat belts, everypony! We’re off to save Fluttershy!" "Uh. . .wouldn’t it be faster to just teleport?" Starlight asked, buckling in while Trixie fumbled with her belt. "Teleport?" Discord scoffed. "And risk announcing ourselves to whatever danger’s there? Oh no, we’ll do this stealthily just like our last little adventure." "Stealthy?" Trixie grumbled, finally buckling in. "You whined the entire way through the changeling hive." "He’s right, Trixie," Starlight reasoned. "It’s best to be careful. Who knows what’s attacking Ponyville?" "Whatever it is, I’m sure Twilight and the others have it handled," Trixie said, waving a hoof. "They’re pros at friendship magic." "It's called the Elements of Harmony," Starlight corrected. "And they’ve saved Equestria plenty of times." "True," Discord said with a smirk. "Though I nearly turned them against each other once-" Trixie and Starlight turned, eyeing him with raised eyebrows. "What?" Discord shrugged innocently. "I’m reformed now. Besides, they’re used to my tricks by now." "Riiight. . ." Starlight said slowly. "Well, let’s head back and see what they’re up against." "To Fluttershy and beyond!" Discord bellowed, snapping the reins dramatically. The chariot lurched forward as Discord continued, "And so, our brave heroes, led by the devilishly handsome Discord, charge forth to-" "Would you stop monologuing?" Trixie interrupted, rolling her eyes. "And what’s with the ‘plus one’ bit?" "Oh, lighten up," Discord teased. "It’s no wonder you’ve only got Starlight as a friend." "Excuse me," Trixie huffed, "I have plenty of friends, thank you very much." Starlight sighed, facehoofing as she zipped Trixie’s mouth shut with her magic. "Can we just focus on getting there quietly, please?" she muttered. As the chariot sped toward Ponyville, tension filled the air back in the town, where Twilight and her friends regrouped after unleashing their full magic on Pizza Pie. To their shock, she now stood unfazed, her aura of dark energy stronger than ever. "What now, Twilight? Twilight?" Applejack waved her hoof in front of Twilight’s frozen face, worry creasing her brow. "Uh. . . Sugarcube? You do have a backup plan, right?" Twilight knelt, trembling as she stared at the menacing form of Pizza Pie in front of her. "I. . . I. . . I don’t-" she stammered, her voice faltering. "C'mon, Twilight!" Rainbow Dash tried to shake her friend out of her stupor. "Think of something. We can't give up now!" "We. . . uh. . . we. . ." Twilight’s voice quivered as her thoughts raced, but the fear in her heart made her hooves tremble. "Darling, what should we do?" Rarity asked, her voice soft yet filled with concern. "We can’t do anything without you." Twilight tried to think of a plan, but her thoughts felt tangled, weighed down by the sight of their friend turned enemy. Her gaze dropped as she felt their magical connection the Elements fading as their energy was absorbed into Pizza Pie, now shrouded in a dark, eerie glow. Meanwhile, Pizza Pie took a slow, deliberate step toward them, her flail-like tail rising and morphing into a massive weapon, towering ominously above the ponies. She seemed almost mechanical, as if under the influence of some otherworldly force, her usually lively eyes now cold and distant. From a distance, Spike observed the terrifying scene through a telescope, his heart pounding as he watched his friends stand frozen before Pizza Pie. "Don’t just stand there, Twilight! Get out of there!" he muttered, his voice barely containing his panic. "She’s. . . she’s getting closer. . ." Fluttershy squeaked, pulling Rainbow Dash close in a tight, protective embrace. "Fluttershy, you’re crushing my lungs!" Rainbow Dash managed to say, trying to push her friend off. Then, her voice raised as she looked toward Twilight. "Hey, Twilight! Are you listening? We need a plan!" Nearby, Applejack tried to drag Pinkie Pie to safety. "C'mon, Pinkie! We gotta stay together. It ain’t safe here yet, Sugarcube-" "No! I want to talk to my cousin!" Pinkie Pie shouted, digging her hooves stubbornly into the ground. "Let go! I said, let GO!" A thunderous stomp from Pizza Pie's hoof silenced them all, drawing their attention as her dark shadow loomed over them. The tail-flail blocked out the sun, casting an ominous shadow, and without hesitation, Pizza Pie swung it down with a menacing force. Rainbow Dash leaped forward, wings spread wide as she faced the oncoming flail. "Bring it, Pizza!" she yelled defiantly. "I’m not scared! Whatever you’ve got, I can take it-" In a moment of panic, Twilight's horn flared as she enveloped her friends in a magical aura, pulling them close. With a flash, they disappeared just as the flail crashed down, splintering the ground into a deep crater where they’d been standing a second before. The sheer force blew chunks of earth into the air, dust clouding the battlefield. When Pizza Pie raised her tail and surveyed the scene, she found nothing but empty ground. From his vantage point, Spike exhaled shakily, watching the dust settle. His claws gripped the edge of his lookout as he glanced nervously at the ponies gathered nearby, who had only heard the echo of the terrifying impact. "What was that?" a pony in the crowd murmured, anxiety creeping into their voice. "Did something happen?" Bon Bon, who had been standing close by, tapped Spike’s shoulder. "Spike?" she asked, her voice filled with concern. "Huh?! What? Oh-" Spike jumped, nearly dropping his telescope as he looked at Bon Bon. "Phew... Don’t startle me like that, Bon Bon!" "Never mind that. What’s happening down there?" Bon Bon’s voice was insistent. "How are Princess Twilight and the others holding up?" Spike swallowed hard, glancing nervously at the crowd. "Don’t worry," he assured, trying to keep his voice steady. "They’re doing everything they can to handle it." But Spoiled Rich stepped forward, her expression as sour as ever. "‘Handling it’ he says," she scoffed, her eyes narrowing. "We’ve been standing here, listening to all this destruction, waiting for so-called ‘help.’ The Princess of Friendship should have dealt with this monstrous unicorn by now." Murmurs of agreement spread through the crowd, ponies casting uneasy glances toward the smoky horizon. Spike held up his claws, trying to calm them. "Everypony, please," he said, voice pleading. "Twilight and the others are doing their best-" "Their best?" Spoiled Rich interrupted with a cold chuckle. She stepped closer, casting a disparaging look at Spike. "Her ‘best’ seems to involve wrecking half of Ponyville in the process. And who invited this foreign pony in the first place? Bringing with her some strange magic, and now look what’s happened." Spike remained silent, holding his breath as her words weighed heavily on the crowd. "It’s quite clear," Spoiled Rich continued, "that our Princess Celestia made a hasty choice in handing leadership to a pony who relies on magical gimmicks over a real plan. This town needs a leader, not a hero." Diamond Tiara stepped forward, tugging at her mother’s tail. "That’s enough, Mother," she said, her voice wavering but determined. "Princess Twilight and her friends have always protected us, and here you are, criticizing them for it-" Spoiled Rich yanked her tail from her daughter’s grip, her face twisted in disdain. "How dare you speak to me like that! Disregard my teachings if you will, but you will not defy my authority as your mother!" "Stop it! Just. . . stop it!" Spike stepped between them, his voice firm. "This isn’t the time to lecture your daughter or insult Twilight. The Princess of Friendship and soon, maybe all of Equestria is out there risking her life for us. So maybe show some respect." A tense silence settled over the crowd as Spoiled Rich huffed, then turned on her heels, storming off. But not before throwing a glance over her shoulder. "When this is over, Diamond Tiara, we’ll be having a very long talk." Diamond Tiara watched her mother walk away, eyes filled with a mix of shame and defiance. The Cutie Mark Crusaders gathered around her. "Don’t let her words get to ya, Diamond," Apple Bloom said encouragingly. "She doesn’t know what she’s saying." "Yeah," Scootaloo agreed, nodding. "Princess Twilight and her friends always try their best to save the day, like they’re doing now." Diamond Tiara managed a small, grateful smile. "Thanks, I’m fine," she said, her voice wavering slightly. "That was brave, standing up to her like that," Spike added, giving her an approving nod. "I think these three taught you well." A loud explosion echoed from Ponyville, and everypony turned, watching smoke rise. Spike squared his shoulders, looking at the crowd. "Alright, everypony. Let’s keep moving we’ll meet help halfway down the road." Diamond Tiara, the Crusaders, and the rest followed Spike, casting one last glance back toward their village. And in the thick of it all, hidden away, Twilight and her friends prepared for their next move, hoping to find a way to reach the real Pizza Pie within the dark magic's grasp. "What the hay was that? I could’ve distracted her back there!" Rainbow Dash yelled, frustration clear in her voice. Applejack placed a steadying hoof on her friend’s shoulder. "Hold on, Rainbow Dash. Take it easy now. This ain’t the perfect time to show off-" "Sh-show off?!" Rainbow pulled her shoulder away, turning to Applejack with a glare. "Oh no, this is far from showing off. Our town is turning into a dump, and our only shot at stopping it just tanked! How was that even possible, huh? Twilight?" "I. . ." Twilight looked away from her friends, gazing out the window at the smoke rising from the destruction outside. "I don’t know what happened. Why. . . why didn’t our elements work? I. . . I don’t understand." "So you're telling me she was right? That we’re just a replacement for some stronger magic?" Rainbow Dash shot back, frustration boiling over. "You’ve got all the books, how can you not see-" "Darling, that’s enough," Rarity stepped forward, her tone firm. "Twilight did everything she could, even saving you from your own reckless act of a Sonic Rainboom. You should be a bit more supportive." "I am, Rarity," Rainbow insisted, though her tone softened. "But with everything that’s been happening, we don’t even know who to blame." "Stop your whining already," Pinkie Pie’s voice came from across the room, unusually sharp. She sat with her back to her friends, her expression hidden. "Don’t pretend you’ve got no one to blame when it’s written all over your face." Rainbow turned on her heel, marching up to Pinkie. "Oh really, Pinkie? You’re calling me out for whining when your cousin’s out there wrecking the place-" Pinkie Pie jumped up, pressing her hoof against Rainbow’s chest. "SEE? You do blame my cousin for this! You’ve been worked up ever since she changed. No, you’ve been worked up ever since Pizza Pie moved here!" "Now, girls, don’t escalate this any further—" Applejack tried to intervene, but Rainbow kept pushing. "Why shouldn’t I?" Rainbow slapped Pinkie’s hoof away. "She copies your look, she lied about your promise, and she’s keeping secrets. If anything, you should be more worked up about it!" "Well, I don’t," Pinkie shot back, standing firm. "And I felt bad when I did. So you’ve got no right blaming my relatives for being different from me!" "All your relatives are the complete opposite of you! You just don’t get it you only care about making us all get along—" "No, you just don’t get it because you don’t have relatives of your own!" The room fell silent. Shock registered on every pony’s face. Rainbow took a step back, eyes wide, then turned away from Pinkie and headed for the door. "I’m out of here," she said coldly. Applejack quickly followed, gesturing for the others to stay. "Y'all stay here; I’ll go after her," she said, leaving the others in stunned silence. "Oh my goodness, I can’t believe Pinkie Pie said that. . ." Fluttershy whispered, still processing the scene. "Pinkie Pie, how could you-" Twilight started, but Pinkie interrupted with a glare as she brushed past her. "What? You gonna say something too?" she challenged before walking to the corner of the room and sitting down, facing the wall. "You still promised to bring my cousin back, so you’d better think of something." "We will, Pinkie," Twilight said, sighing. "As soon as Applejack brings Rainbow Dash back, you’ll need to apologize." Meanwhile, Applejack followed Rainbow Dash down the hall as Rainbow stormed through Pinkie’s party cave door and down the slide. Applejack slid after her, landing to find Rainbow frantically tossing aside balloons and decorations. "Rainbow, listen," Applejack said, trying to calm her friend. "Pinkie didn’t mean what she said. You went a bit over the line back there, too-" "So what if I did? That doesn’t change anything," Rainbow snapped, shoving more decorations aside. "And I don’t care that I have no siblings or relatives my age. Less competition for attention." Applejack sighed. "C’mon now, you don’t mean that." "Why’d you even follow me down here, Applejack? Twilight needs your help to stop Pinkie’s deranged cousin," Rainbow muttered. "She needs all of us, Sugarcube," Applejack replied, her tone gentle but firm. "I don’t know what’s going on, but we can’t give up yet. Pizza Pie needs our help. Rainbow, you know how much Pinkie cares about her cousin. You should understand that." ". . . ." "For Pinkie’s sake, let’s go back," Applejack said, smiling softly. ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ~ End of chapter 17 Author's Note The stunning realization shook the minds as their relevant solution of stopping the Pizza mare had failed and forcing the six ponies to a corner. Questioning their element's capabilities and themselves. Modesty Chapter 18: Sneek Attack⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✶✶✶ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ Seeing her friends’ sincere looks, Rainbow Dash let out a deep sigh and nodded. Meanwhile, back on the ground floor, Twilight paced back and forth, deep in thought, while Rarity and Fluttershy patiently waited for their other friends to return. Fluttershy glanced around the room and noticed something was off. “Pinkie Pie is missing. . .” she murmured, concern creeping into her voice. Quietly, she slipped away from the group to search for the pink mare. Fluttershy ascended the stairs and noticed Pinkie Pie’s door slightly ajar. Peeking inside, she froze. Pinkie Pie was climbing over the windowsill, clearly intent on sneaking out. “Pi-Pinkie! Where are you going?” Fluttershy gasped, rushing inside. “I’m going out there to talk to Pizza Pie,” Pinkie Pie declared resolutely, her mane slightly deflated from worry. Fluttershy darted forward and grabbed Pinkie’s tail. “B-But Twilight said to stay here until she comes up with a plan-” “I’m tired of waiting for Twilight’s plan!” Pinkie interrupted, struggling to pull her tail free. “It didn’t work the first time, and Cousin isn’t going to stop unless I talk to her. So let go!” “No!” Fluttershy’s voice, though trembling, held firm. “It’s too dangerous, Pinkie Pie, especially by yourself. We all agreed that we’re going to bring your cousin back together.” “I said let go, Fluttershy!” Pinkie snapped, pulling harder. “What happened to ‘friends for life’?” Fluttershy’s voice cracked, tears welling in her eyes. “What you’re doing is reckless. You don’t care what happens to you. . . Do you?” Pinkie froze, taken aback by Fluttershy’s rare boldness. “Rainbow Dash was right,” Fluttershy continued, her tears now flowing freely. “You just want things to go your way. You only care about your own happiness!” Pinkie Pie’s anger faltered, and she turned slowly to face her friend. Fluttershy’s tears struck her like a blow, and Pinkie’s shoulders slumped. She climbed back inside, collapsing onto the floor. “How could I let this happen, Fluttershy?” Fluttershy gently placed a hoof on her shoulder. “You didn’t do anything wrong, Pinkie. . . Sometimes, things just happen.” Pinkie stared at the floor, tears pooling in her eyes. “I know, but why did I let it happen? How could I?” She turned to the window, staring out at the horizon. “She isn’t the type of pony to mess with magic. . . You girls warned me about it, but I didn’t listen. . .” “No,” Fluttershy insisted, shaking her head. “You were just trying to support your cousin’s change. We can’t blame you for that. Besides, it’s our fault for doubting her too.” Tears spilled onto Pinkie’s hooves as she sobbed. “I’m sorry, Fluttershy. . . I’m so sorry for everything...” The sound of galloping hooves echoed from the stairs as the rest of their friends rushed into the room. They found Pinkie Pie in tears, with Fluttershy comforting her. The group exchanged worried glances before stepping forward to join the pink mare. “There, there, Pinkie,” Rarity said softly, patting her back. “We won’t give up on dear Pizza Pie. She’s our friend, and she needs our help.” “I agree,” Twilight added, her voice steady. “We’ve already made a promise to bring her back, no matter what it takes.” “Girls. . .” Pinkie whispered, her voice trembling. “You said it, Twilight,” Applejack said as she entered with Rainbow Dash. “And it’s gonna take all of us to do just that, right, Rainbow?” Rainbow Dash hesitated, glancing at Pinkie Pie. Her guilt was written all over her face. “I. . . I want to say something. . .” She scratched her head nervously. “About earlier. . . what I said. . . I didn’t mean any of it—” Before she could finish, Pinkie Pie threw her hooves around her in a tight hug. “I know. And I’m sorry for what I said too.” Rainbow gave a sheepish smile. “Hey, don’t sweat it, okay? I told Applejack it didn’t bother mE.” Pinkie giggled, wiping her tears. “But are you sure, Rainbow?” “Yeah, I’m sure.” Rainbow grinned. “And again, I’m sorry for everything I said. So. . . are we cool?-Oof!” Pinkie hugged her tighter. “Cool as an ice cream sundae.” The others smiled as the two patched things up. They gathered for a group hug, but a loud stomping noise from outside shattered the moment. Rainbow Dash pulled back. “Now that’s out of the way. . . Do we have a plan to stop Pizza Pie yet?” “Not yet,” Twilight admitted, pacing again. “Magic won’t work against her. She can absorb it at least, that’s what I suspect. . .” “So what now? We go without magic?” Applejack asked, peering out the window. “That won’t be enough,” Rarity said, shaking her head. “Oh, Twilight, what about those changeling shards from your brother’s competition?” Twilight’s eyes lit up, then dimmed as she facehoofed. “They were confiscated by the princesses in Canterlot... Even if we had them, we wouldn’t be able to use our magic.” “What can we use?” Rainbow asked, growing impatient. “I know!” Fluttershy piped up. “What about the Smooze?” “The Smooze?” Rarity grimaced. “Please tell me you don’t mean the one from the Gala...” “I do,” Fluttershy admitted, blushing. “Discord left some of it at my cottage, and he never came to pick it up.” Twilight’s eyes widened. “The Smooze! Of course! It blocks magic and can immobilize anything it touches. Fluttershy, you’re brilliant!” Fluttershy blushed. “Oh... Thank you. But how will we get it close to her?” “With this!” Pinkie declared, rolling in her party cannon. “We can load it in here and fire it at her, like a surprise slime prank!” “Great thinking, Pinkie,” Twilight said, nodding. “But we need to hit her from multiple angles. Can you bake the Smooze into cakes to trick her?” “You can count on me!” Pinkie saluted. “A dozen Smooze pies, coming right up!” “I’ll help her bake,” Applejack offered. “It’ll go faster if we work together.” “Perfect!” Twilight said. “Me, Fluttershy, and Rainbow will fetch the Smooze. Rarity and Applejack, help Pinkie bake. Let’s move!” ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✶✶✶ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ Starlight, Trixie, and Discord approached Ponyville, the trio growing uneasy as the sky shifted to a strange hue. Their unease deepened when a massive crystal wall loomed before them, stretching out of sight and cutting off the village from view. Discord stopped his conjured chariot, snapping it out of existence with a puff of smoke. Trixie stepped forward, tapping the crystalline barrier with a hoof. “This wasn’t here when we left.” “You don’t say?” Discord quipped, rolling his eyes. Starlight studied the structure, her brow furrowed. “This seems new. . . but why would someone put this here?” Trixie huffed and turned to Discord. “Well, whatever it’s for, Trixie cannot stand this eyesore. You! Use your chaos magic to get rid of it.” Discord scoffed, folding his arms. “Excuse me? I am the spirit of chaos, not your personal servant. Whatever happened to being partners, hmm?” “As your partner, Trixie demands you remove this wall.” “Demanding, are we? Perhaps this is why you didn’t get that job at Princess Twilight’s School of Friendship.” Trixie gasped. “I thought we agreed never to speak of-” “Enough! Knock it off, you two,” Starlight interjected, her voice sharp. She glanced around warily. “Did you hear that?” The bickering ceased, and the trio fell silent. A deep, rhythmic stomping echoed from the other side of the wall. Starlight nodded toward Discord, who cracked his knuckles dramatically. With a theatrical flourish, he conjured a door into the wall. “After you,” Discord said, bowing as he opened the door. The two mares stepped through cautiously, with Discord following behind. Ponyville lay in ruins. Broken houses and uprooted trees were scattered across the desolate streets. Craters marred the ground, and not a single sign of life stirred. The air felt heavy, charged with an unnatural stillness. Starlight took the lead, her eyes darting around. “What happened here?” Discord floated lazily above, his expression uncharacteristically grim. “I remember Ponyville being a bit more. . . colorful. This is peculiar.” Trixie trailed behind, her voice trembling. “W-What do you think happened, Starlight? And. . . c-could you slow down?” Starlight silenced her with a firm hoof. “I don’t know, but it looks like something drove everypony out of town. We should be cautious.” “So. . . does that mean it’s just us and. . . whatever caused this?” Trixie stammered. “Most likely,” Starlight replied, her voice steady despite the ominous surroundings. She turned to Discord. “Can you scout ahead? See if you spot anyone?” Discord saluted. “Aye, aye, Captain Starlight.” He plucked out his own eye, which morphed into a telescope. Peering through it, he surveyed the ruins. “Hmm. . . rubble, rubble. . . more rubble. . . and oh, what a waste of cinnamon nuts.” “Do you think it could be an Ursa Major?” Trixie asked, her voice tinged with fear. Starlight glanced at her. “Ursa Major? You mean the one you. . . faced during your first visit to Ponyville?” “Uh. . . yeah. Intense times, heh-heh. . .” Trixie gave a nervous smile. “About that story. . .” “What about it?” While the two unicorns were preoccupied, the Draconequus caught sight of something in the distance. His eyes narrowed, and he zoomed in for a closer look. "(Hmmmm. . . Wait. . . Is that who I think it is. . . ?)" "Wa-Wait. So you're telling me that the story about you facing an Ursa Major was just a lie?" "Technically, it was just an Ursa Minor that Twilight fended off. . . but-" Starlight facehoofed in embarrassment. "No wonder Twilight laughed at me when I told them that story. You lied to me about the whole thing! And Twilight knew about it? Why didn't she tell me?" “Ladies, ladies,” Discord interrupted, waving a claw dismissively. “As much as I’d love to hear more about Trixie’s factual inaccuracies, I think I’ve found our culprit.” He detached his telescope eye and handed it to Starlight. “Take a look.” Starlight peered through the telescope, her breath catching. “A pony? Wait… I recognize that mane. Isn’t that…?” “Let me see!” Trixie grabbed the telescope and squinted through it. “Hey, isn’t that the pony who slipped on the punch bowl?” “Pinkie Pie’s cousin,” Starlight murmured. Her voice wavered. “But… what happened to her?” Discord’s tone turned sardonic. “Of all the ponies to start another crisis, it had to be one of Pinkie Pie’s relatives. Really, these girls can’t catch a break.” “That’s strange,” Trixie said, tilting her head. “She wasn’t a unicorn before.” “Unicorn?” Starlight and Discord exclaimed simultaneously. Discord reclaimed the telescope, reattaching it to his face. His expression grew more serious as he studied the pony in question. “Since when does that bootleg Pinkie Pie have a horn? Surely she didn’t gain it with a simple spell…” “What are you muttering about?” Starlight pressed. Discord blinked and shrugged. “I can’t confirm anything from here. We’ll need to get closer to figure this out.” “Hey! Trixie saw what Trixie saw,” the sapphire unicorn snapped. “It was a horn. You’d have to be blind not to see it.” “Alright, that’s enough,” Starlight said firmly. “We’ll investigate, but we keep our distance. Understood?” The trio nodded. With a flash of Starlight’s magic, they teleported closer to the scene. As they moved cautiously toward the center of town, the distant figure of Pizza Pie, now radiating a menacing red aura, turned her attention toward Sugarcube Corner. Inside the bakery, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, and Rarity worked tirelessly, half-finished cakes and trays of dough filling the space. Their other friends had just returned, carrying a large vat of leftover Smooze. Unaware of the approaching danger, they continued their frantic efforts, the sweet aroma of baked goods masking the tension looming outside. “We got the stuff, Applejack,” said Rainbow Dash, pushing the gallon of Smooze toward her. “Bout time too. We’re almost done with the third batch,” replied Applejack, pointing at the growing pile of dough. “Hope this is enough, Twilight.” “It’s more than enough.” Twilight nodded. “Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, help Applejack mix the Smooze with the dough. I’ll assist Rarity with the baking, and Pinkie, you-wait, Pinkie?” Twilight glanced around, realizing the pink mare was missing. “Where's Pinkie Pie?” “Um. . . she was here a minute ago. . .” Fluttershy murmured, looking uncertain. “I’m here!” Pinkie Pie’s voice rang out as she bounded into the room, dragging her party cannon and a bulging sack behind her. “I brought extra balloon packs we can mix with the Smooze!” She upended the sack onto the floor, the unused balloons spilling everywhere. “It’ll be like waterballoons, but stickier!” “Great thinking,” Twilight smiled approvingly. “Set them all up Pinkie Pie, and as for the rest of us let’s start baking.” The ponies split up, each taking a chunk of the Smooze to their stations, putting their ambitious plan into motion. ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✶✶✶ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ Outside, behind the ruins of a collapsed house, Discord, Starlight Glimmer, and Trixie observed the chaos. Starlight peeked cautiously around the wall, her eyes narrowing as she spotted the figure in the distance. The massive, raging form of Pizza Pie radiated red-tinged magic, a far cry from the cheerful pony they once knew. “That’s Pizza Pie, all right,” Starlight confirmed grimly. “But she’s completely changed—like she’s a unicorn now.” “See!” Trixie declared, pointing triumphantly at Discord. “The Great and Perceptive Trixie is always right!” “Yes, yes,” Discord said dismissively, crossing his arms. “No need to gloat. (But that magic. . . it feels familiar, far too familiar. . .),” he muttered under his breath. Starlight glanced at Discord, noting his sudden shift in demeanor. Her suspicions piqued, she asked carefully, “Discord, do you know what caused this? What turned Pizza Pie into. . . this?” “Unfortunately, I have no idea,” Discord replied with a theatrical shrug. “But if I had to guess? It might be some cliché magic spell gone horribly wrong.” “Cliché’ doesn’t explain how she flipped this entire town upside down,” Trixie said, gesturing toward the wreckage. “Though Trixie would be mad too if she were humiliated at a gathering.” “What kind of spell could transform a pony into a unicorn? And one this destructive?” Starlight pressed. “It could be anything.” Discord rubbed his chin, a flicker of unease in his eyes. “(But if I’m correct . . how? How could that resurface after all these centuries? I gave up searching, it was lost, no trace- unless. . .)” “Discord? Hey!-” Trixie waved her hat in front of his face. “Equestria to Discord! Are you still with us?” “Wha-Huh?” Discord blinked and looked down. “Oh, it’s you.” “Of course, it’s me! How long are you going to stand there like an idiot?” Trixie snapped. “You've been acting weird since we got here.” "Well, excuse me for having my suspicions," Discord replied, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Clearly, you don't see the gravity of the situation if you're going to act so spiteful." "Trixie is not being spiteful!" Trixie said, fuming with anger. Starlight stepped between them, cutting off their bickering. “Trixie, you’re not helping.” “I agree with Starlight.” Discord smirked. “But honestly, you’ve been nothing but ungrateful for my assistance. Maybe I should have pulled a prank or two-” “Aha!” Trixie interrupted, pointing an accusatory hoof. “Trixie knew it! You can’t resist causing chaos!” “Shh! Guys, keep it down!” Starlight hissed. "Ah, I was planning to, but then I decided to help instead. For Starlight’s sake. Besides, your acts wouldn’t make much of an impact with any of our help anyway." "Guys, stop-" "Well, excuse me! If Trixie’s not a power-crazed, mismatched, chaotic jerk with magic big enough to match your ego! Ugh… Trixie is still baffled how Fluttershy puts up with your attitude. She must be spineless to even think about saying no to you-" Discord angrily yanked Trixie by the cape and pulled her face-to-face with him. "Say another word about Fluttershy, and I’ll throw you into the shadows realm-" With her friends ignoring her and arguing, the lilac pony lost her composure and shouted, "I said… QUIET!" Starlight’s voice echoed across the area, carelessly exposing their location. The raging Pizza Pie froze, her glowing eyes snapping toward their direction. Panicking, they quickly hid behind the wall. ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✶✶✶ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ The ponies from Sugarcube Corner heard the commotion, and one of their friends peered out the window to investigate. "What was that?" Twilight asked, her brow furrowed. "Fluttershy, do you see anypony outside?" "Um. . . no, Twilight. I don’t see anypony except Pizza Pie walking away." "She’s probably trying to figure out where that scream came from, whoever it was. . ." Applejack mused. "Are you done over there, Rarity?" "Patience, dear." Rarity and Rainbow Dash pushed a wagon full of freshly baked Smoozed cakes out of the kitchen. "The cakes are all done, Twilight." "And so are the Smooze balloons!" Pinkie Pie chimed in, pushing another wagon filled with balloons. Twilight inspected the wagons, nodding in approval. "That’s plenty. Now gather around, girls." She projected a visual image on the table. "The plan is just like last time. We each carry a saddle of balloons with us, then we split up and attack her from different angles. Aim at her hooves, tail, and horn until she’s completely immobilized. Once we have her, Pinkie Pie can finish by firing the cakes from her party cannon until Pizza Pie is completely covered. Lastly, Rarity and I will encase her in crystal, locking her in place along with the Smooze inside. . . So, is everypony ready?" The ponies nodded enthusiastically and shouted, "Ready!" They placed their hooves in the center, stacking them one atop the other, with Twilight being the last to join in. "Now, I don’t know if this plan will work, or if it’s even the right thing to do. But remember, she’s still the Pizza Pie we met, and our friends’ long-time cousin." They turned to Pinkie Pie, who smiled despite the tears running down her face, feeling the full support of her friends. Her two friends patted her back as she wiped her face, hyping herself up for their plan. "So, for the sake of Ponyville, let’s give it our all and do whatever it takes to bring her back." Then, Pinkie Pie suddenly broke the tension with her usual humor. "Oh my gosh, I just realized... Her birthday is next week!" ". . ." "Seriously?! Right after that speech-" Twilight cut off Rainbow Dash, her tone firm. "Alright, let’s go." ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✶✶✶ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ Just outside, the two unicorns and the Draconequus remained hidden behind the wall, listening as hoofsteps drew closer. Trixie nervously peeked out and gasped, her eyes meeting two glowing red ones locking onto her. She quickly ducked back behind the wall. "She definitely saw us! What do we do, Starlight? What do we do?!" she shrieked, shaking the lilac pony in a panic. Starlight pushed Trixie away, staggering slightly as she regained her balance. "Will you stop?! I told you two to be quiet, and now she’s on to us!" "Hmph! Like that even matters," Discord interjected, cracking his fingers confidently. "You ladies stay here while I take care of this. (This way, I can confirm if my assumptions are true.)" "This isn’t a good time to show off, Discord," Starlight snapped, stepping in front of him. "We need to analyze this situation before engaging." Discord rolled his eyes dramatically. "Ugh. . . now you sound just like Princess Twilight. But if you insist, very well. Let’s analyze her magic—up close, shall we?" His grin turned menacing. "Hey, what about me?" Trixie cut in. "Trixie, it’s too dangerous! We don’t even know what Pizza Pie is capable of—" "Nonsense, Starlight," Trixie interrupted, puffing out her chest. "Trixie is more than capable of facing any danger. Well, except for that Ursa Minor incident but still, the three of us can handle one power-crazed pony." Discord hesitated before sighing. "Fine, I guess you can help. But you’re the sidekick this time." "Si-si-sidekick?!" Trixie sputtered, her pride clearly wounded. Before their argument could continue, a magic beam blasted through the wall between them, sending dust and debris flying. They froze as the smoke cleared, revealing the raging Pizza Pie standing menacingly close. Her fiery glare bore into them as the three teleported to safety, reappearing outside the wall to face the threat head-on. "Stay together," Starlight instructed, her voice steady despite the tension. "It’s three of us against just her. Let’s be cautious and handle this carefu-" A sudden, shrill battle cry cut through the air, catching them off guard. They glanced around but saw no one until, with a flash of light, Twilight and her friends teleported into the fray. Armed with balloons and cakes, they descended from above, diving straight toward the raging Pizza Pie, ready to face her for a second time. "Twilight?! . . . Everypony?! . . . What the hay is going on?!" Starlight shouted in bewilderment. ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✶✶✶ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ~ To be continued Modesty Chapter 18.5: Smooze bomb⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ Twilight and her friends dive toward the enraged unicorn, Pizza Pie, each armed with balloons filled with magic-blocking Smooze. Leading the charge, Twilight calls out, "Fire wave one!" Applejack and Rainbow Dash unleash the first volley, hitting Pizza Pie squarely. The balloons burst on impact, coating her in Smooze that oozes over her hooves and tail, sticking her to the ground. "Now, fire wave two!" Twilight commands. Twilight and Rarity hurl more balloons with their magic. Pizza Pie tries to counter, popping some balloons mid-air, but bits of Smooze still splatter onto her face, covering her horn and cutting off her magic completely. "Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy get ready," Twilight says, teleporting her two friends a few meters away from Pizza Pie. Pinkie Pie pulls her party cannon from her mane and aims it at her cousin. "Alright, Fluttershy you bring in the cakes, and I'll bring in the pain!" "Um, Pinkie. . . . are you sure you know what you’re doing?" Fluttershy asks, uncertain. "Of course I do!" Pinkie replies, confidently pulling the string on her party cannon. A cake flies out and smacks Pizza Pie directly, though she’s still struggling to move. "Quick, before she gets up, reload me with another Smooze cake!" "O-okay. . ." Fluttershy stammers, retrieving another cake from the wagon and reloading. "How many cakes do we need to-" "As many as we can!" Pinkie replies, firing another cake. Watching her cousin’s struggle, she whispers, "Cousin, stop fighting back. We're trying to help you. I'm trying to help you. Snap out of it!" For a brief moment, Pinkie Pie’s voice seems to reach Pizza Pie. "P-Pinkie?" she murmurs, almost breaking free from her rage. But the moment fades as Rainbow Dash soars above her, hurling another barrage of Smooze balloons that land on her back, pulling her back into her frenzied state. "Keep it up, Pinkie we almost got her!" Rainbow calls, looping back to throw more Smooze-filled balloons. Twilight watches her friends, satisfied that the plan is going smoothly. "Great job, girls. Just give me enough time to recast my spell-" "Twilight! Down here!" She looks down to see Starlight, Trixie, and Discord waving at her. Twilight quickly flies down to them. "I’m so glad you're finally here! We need your-" "What’s going on? Starlight interrupts. "How did Pinkie’s cousin get a unicorn horn?" "It’s not an ordinary horn," Twilight replies. "Something strange happened, and now our Elements don’t work on her." "The Elements. . . don’t work?" Discord’s eyes widen. "Wait, how is that possible?" Starlight asks, bewildered. "The Elements are supposed to be the strongest magic you all have!" "Look, we don’t have time to discuss this. Our Elements couldn’t stop her, so we’re trying to trap her with the Smooze-" Twilight explains urgently. Discord’s expression shifts as a memory surfaces, his claw trembling slightly. "No. . . it can’t be. . ." "Can’t be what?" Twilight asks, noticing his reaction. Discord quickly looks away, feigning ignorance. "I mean, how could that be? Doesn’t make sense, even to me!" Twilight eyes him suspiciously. "Well, can you help us stop Pizza Pie?" "Is the Princess of Friendship asking for our help?" Trixie asks smugly. "The Great and Powerful Trixie never thought she’d see the day." Discord clears his throat. "She meant me and Starlight the real experts in magic. No offense, dear." "Don’t start with me, Discord," Twilight says sharply, holding back her irritation. "Enough!" Twilight snaps. "Going head-to-head with her isn’t an option. We’ve tried it twice and failed." "Oh, please," Trixie scoffs. "You’re talking to two ponies who outsmarted you and the Spirit of Chaos. We can handle one rogue unicorn faster than you can say-" "Duck!" Twilight shouts. Pizza Pie’s tail lashes out, breaking free from the Smooze, and swings dangerously close to them, smashing the wagon and Pinkie Pie’s party cannon. The Smooze covering her starts to boil off and rapidly evaporates until it’s completely gone. "My cakes! My party cannon!" Pinkie runs to the rubble, distressed. The group steels themselves as Pizza Pie advances, her eyes wild and unyielding. "Wh-what are we going to do now?" Fluttershy asks, trembling behind her friends. Rainbow Dash steps forward, determined. "I’ll buy us some time. You all regroup with Twilight." "Now hold on there, Rainbow," Applejack says, grabbing her tail. "Twilight said to stick together." "Applejack, we can’t let Pizza Pie keep tearing up Ponyville. Luring her out of town is the only way we can go all out," Rainbow insists. "But-" "Rainbow Dash is right, darling," Rarity adds. "We need to limit the damage. Let’s lure her out while Twilight comes up with a new plan." "Look, look!" Pinkie grabs Rarity’s face and points. "It’s Discord, Starlight, and Trixie with Twilight!" She waves frantically. "Hey! Over here!" "Finally, some backup," says Rainbow Dash. "I’ll go ahead and start luring Pizzazilla out of here. You all meet up with the others." “Rainbow, wait!” But Rainbow Dash was already airborne, flying straight toward Pizza Pie and then whizzing past her at incredible speed. Enraged, Pizza Pie turned and charged after her, leaving the other ponies behind to regroup with Twilight. “Girls!” Twilight called, flying over to her friends. “What happened? Where’s all the Smooze?” “It didn’t work, Twilight. . .” Applejack panted, catching her breath. “Yes, darling,” Rarity chimed in, frustrated. “She just boiled it right off herself and destroyed the rest of our stash.” Pinkie Pie stepped forward. “But Rainbow Dash said she’d buy us some time to come up with another plan!” "What? Is she crazy?!" Twilight exclaims. "She’s already at her limit." “B-But she’s doing her best to distract her,” Fluttershy said softly. “She trusts us to think of another way.” “Trixie agrees with Fluttershy!” Trixie added with a boastful smile. “And now that we’re here, it’s time for us to handle the situation.” “Not so fast, Trixie,” Starlight interrupted. “Twilight said their Elements don’t work on her. Using raw magic up front won’t be effective.” “Excellent point, Starlight,” Discord nodded, casting a wary glance at Pizza Pie’s distant form. “We need to be cautious. (Given how much magic she’s been exposed to, who knows what she’s already learned?) If we rush in blindly, we’ll just give away our advantage, and we don’t want that, do we?” “Cautious?” Starlight eyed Discord suspiciously. “(He’s been acting strangely since we got back. . .) But can’t you just overpower her like you did with King Sombra” “No. She’d just counter I-I mean. . .” Discord stammered, quickly recovering. “As you said, raw magic won’t do. We’ll need a powerful spell and a clever strategy.” Trixie pulls Starlight to her side with a dramatic flair. “Luckily, Starlight knows many strong spells and Trixie here is quite the strategist.” “I was referring to myself, but fine,” Discord replied, rolling his eyes. “Then it’s settled,” Twilight declared. “It’s up to you three. My friends and I will have your backs.” The others nodded, agreeing with the plan. With quick thinking, Discord and Twilight used their magic to teleport ahead to meet Rainbow Dash just outside the village. Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash was still on the run, Pizza Pie hot on her tail. She reached the edge of town, heading straight toward the towering crystal wall. With a burst of speed, she flew straight up the crystal structure. Pizza Pie halted below, watching, before beginning to climb effortlessly with claw-like extensions from her tail. Rainbow looked down and saw her gaining. “Man, does she ever get tired?!” she muttered. Elsewhere, Princess Celestia was swiftly approaching Ponyville with a platoon of guards at her side. Ahead, she spotted a crowd of ponies, led by Spike, all gathered just beyond the edge of the forest. She landed, and the little dragon hurried over, relief on his face. "Princess Celestia! Thank goodness you’re here," he says with relief. "Twilight ordered everypony to evacuate to Canterlot." “So I’ve heard,” Celestia said, glancing at the frightened ponies around her. “I’m relieved you’re all safe. Spike, can you explain what happened?” "Well, Princess. . . you wouldn’t believe it," Spike begins, glancing anxiously at the gathered ponies. Unnoticed, Princess Luna had followed her sister, listening closely from the shadows behind the trees. “Pinkie Pie’s cousin is. . . a unicorn?” Celestia asked, stunned. “Yes, I was surprised too,” Spike replied. “It’s been a week since it happened, and everypony was asking where she got her powers, but it just made her angry. She’s been on a rampage since then. Twilight and her friends are trying to stop her-” “Wait, Spike. . .” Celestia rubbed her forehead, trying to process. “This Pizza Pie. . . what kind of magic does she possess?” “I’m not sure, Princess. But it’s nothing like regular unicorn magic; it’s far stronger and more destructive. . .” Hidden among the trees, Luna’s eyes widened as she whispered to herself, “Pizza Pie?” Troubled, she covered her mouth. “(This can’t be… she showed no signs of flaws during her transformation. If there were, why didn’t she reach out to me? Something must have happened. . .)” At that moment, one of the villagers stepped forward, his voice filled with anger. “It’s true, Princess. That mare demolished our homes, ruined our harvest, and hurt innocent ponies!” Other ponies began voicing their grievances, turning their frustration toward Celestia and Spike. The guards formed a line between the crowd and the Princess to calm the tension. Spike tried to pacify the crowd as Celestia’s ears caught a rustling sound behind her. “(This is getting out of hoof. . . I need to stop it myself.)” Luna began to slip away, accidentally stepping on a branch. She flinched, then continued, but Celestia’s gaze had already locked onto her. “Luna?” Celestia approached, her voice firm. “What are you doing here? I thought I asked you to stay with the mayor.” “I-I know, but. . .” Luna stammered, avoiding her sister’s gaze. “Mayor Mare was just worried about the townsponies, so I thought I’d check on you too.” “Everypony is fine, Luna. You didn’t need to come all this way-” “Yes, you’re right. You’ve clearly got things under control. I’ll return to the castle and inform Mayor Mare of the situation,” Luna replied, turning to leave. Celestia watched her go, suspicion growing. “Wait, Luna.” Luna stopped, her face tensing as Celestia floated over to her. “Is this the vision you’ve been having? The one that’s kept you up the past few nights?” "M-my vision?" Luna stammers, glancing away nervously. “Yes. You’ve been acting oddly ever since the social gathering. And, oddly enough, you went missing just as Twilight and her friends began searching for this Pizza Pie pony.” Luna’s eyes darted away, and she broke into a nervous sweat. “S-Sister, let’s not waste time on such trivial questions. . . I must report back to the mayor-” "Luna, please," Celestia says, her voice gentle. "If you’re hiding something, you can tell me." “. . .” “Don’t you trust your sister? Whatever it is, I’ll try to understand-” “That’s just it, sister,” Luna replied, guilt in her eyes as she looked away. “You wouldn’t understand. . .” “But, Luna-” “Not without knowing what happened that night. . .” She hesitated, her voice barely a whisper. “The night we lost our good friend.” Back in the conflict zone, Twilight and the others reappeared a mile outside Ponyville, readying themselves to intercept their Pegasus friend and the raging unicorn pursuing her. They braced as they spotted Rainbow Dash and Pizza Pie in the distance, with Rainbow desperately evading her cousin’s furious attacks. "Alright, we're counting on your plan," Twilight said firmly, looking around at her friends. "Whatever it takes, don’t hesitate to try." "My, my, Princess," Discord replied cheekily, though a hint of concern flickered in his eyes. "I haven't seen you this desperate it’s not like you… and all the more reason to be cautious." "This is serious, Discord. We need to try every option we have." Starlight stood next to Twilight, determination in her gaze. "If it comes down to it, I’ll use my old spell on her. I can try to remove Pizza Pie's cutie mark, and if that’s the source of her strange magic, it should stop her." "Great idea, Sugarcube," said Applejack, nodding approvingly. "Haven't seen you pull that trick out since… well, you know. You reckon you need that fancy stick for it to work?" "Oh, that?" Starlight chuckled, though her nerves showed. "That was mostly for show. I can do it without the stick, but I’ll need you all to keep Pizza Pie completely still while I cast it." Pinkie Pie bit her lip, looking at her cousin with concern. "Are you sure that won’t hurt her, Starlight?" Starlight hesitated before replying. "I don’t think it will hurt, Pinkie… I hope not." "It won’t," Twilight said reassuringly. "And don’t worry, Starlight. We’ll back you up so you can focus on casting that spell." She turned to Discord. "Can you set a trap for Pizza Pie? Something that’ll hold her in place?" Discord grinned, donning an exterminator’s outfit in a flash. "You’re talking to the right draconequus for the job." "The Great and Powerful Trixie will help too!" Trixie stepped forward, pulling a set of smoke bombs from her hat. "It takes a little misdirection to make a good trap work. I’ll provide cover while you ponies set the plan in motion." "Nice thinking, Trixie," said Starlight, nudging her friend. "Even Rarity’s impressed!" Rarity nodded approvingly. "Brilliant idea, darling! It’ll keep Pizza Pie from catching on to what we’re up to." At that moment, the ground began to tremble with a rapid thundering of hooves. They spotted Rainbow Dash flying toward them at breakneck speed, with Pizza Pie sprinting behind, her horn glowing as she fired off bolts of magic in the pegasus's direction. Twilight raised a hoof. "Everypony, get ready. Here they come." The group held their breath, watching as Rainbow approached, her wings beating furiously. At the last second, Twilight teleported Rainbow out of Pizza Pie's line of sight, bringing her back to the group. Rainbow reappeared in mid-flight, still charging forward, only to realize she was now with her friends. She stopped, bewildered but relieved. "Now!" Twilight shouts. In a swift motion, Trixie threw her smoke bombs to the ground, creating a thick cloud that obscured the area. Pizza Pie halted, her vision blocked. She rushed forward, extending her tail like tendrils, but suddenly felt them caught in something firm. The smoke cleared to reveal her tails shackled to the ground with enchanted chains. As she struggled, four canes shot out from the smoke, binding each of her hooves. Each cane was held by one of the ponies, straining to keep her pinned. "Gotcha, cousin!" Pinkie Pie called, holding one cane tight with a worried expression. "I’m sorry, but this is for your own good." Pizza Pie’s fierce eyes locked onto Pinkie’s, her anger mingling with a flash of sorrow. Discord snapped his claws, and more chains emerged, securing her hooves in place. A cage formed around her, with iron bars rising up to enclose her fully. With a flick of his wrist, Discord added an extra layer of magic to keep the cage bound tight. "There we are," Discord said, brushing off his hands. "That wasn’t so difficult, was it?" "Don’t get too cocky now," Applejack replied, stomping a hoof on the cage. "We can’t let our guard down. Who knows what else she’s capable of?" Twilight strengthened the bindings with her own magic, layering them with glowing chains of energy. "Starlight, are you ready with that spell?" Starlight nodded, approaching the cage with a steady but tense step. She began to channel her magic, her horn glowing brightly as she concentrated. "Here goes. . ." The others watched in anticipation as Starlight’s spell enveloped Pizza Pie, who struggled within the cage. Slowly, a shimmer appeared around her cutie mark as it began to peel away. "It’s working!" Twilight said, her face brightening. "Keep going, Starlight!" Pizza Pie, visibly weakening, continued to fight against her bonds, her eyes narrowing with desperate fury. She let out a growl, her body twisting as she strained to break free. Starlight shut her eyes, pouring more magic into the spell. But suddenly, she felt a pull, as though her consciousness was being dragged elsewhere. Opening her eyes, she found herself in an endless black void. "Where am I? Twilight? Discord? Everypony?" she called out, panic rising. She looked around, but there was no sign of her friends. "Cousin. . . help. . ." Starlight whipped her head toward the faint, desperate voice. "Pizza Pie? Is that you? Where are you?" She ran toward the sound, but an overwhelming weight pressed against her hooves, slowing her down. She glanced down, realizing she was walking through a pool of dark liquid. Up ahead, she saw Pizza Pie lying on the ground, her form barely visible. "I’m here, Pizza Pie! Hold on, I’ll get you out." As she reached out, Pizza Pie slowly tilted her head, a haunting grin spreading across her face. "There is no escape." Her form began to melt, slipping through Starlight’s hooves and merging with the darkness around them. "Pizza Pie?!" Starlight gasped, taking a step back. "[Κανένα ον δεν έχει έρθει τόσο κοντά στον οικοδεσπότη μου.]" A deep, unnatural voice echoed in the void, and a monstrous figure loomed overhead, its eyes glowing with a cold, red light. "[Και θα είσαι ο τελευταίος.]" The creature’s mouth opened wide, descending toward her. Starlight screamed, mustering enough magic to break free. She jolted back to reality, her spell shattering, and stumbled back, unconscious from the shock. "STARLIGHT!" Trixie exclaimed in shock. ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ~ End of chapter 18 Author's Note As more ponies are involved in the conflict all the more dangerous it gets. The unstable magic grows unpreditable over time and it's origin will resurface by one alcorns confession. Modesty Chapter 19: The Sunstrike⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ "STARLIGHT!" Trixie rushed to her, desperately shaking her friend. Meanwhile, the cage around Pizza Pie shook violently as her dark magic broke through the restraints. Twilight tried to hold it steady, but one of Pizza Pie’s tails lashed out, breaking free. Discord, reacting swiftly, conjured a massive net and swept his friends up, pulling them out of harm’s way. With a final surge, he flung the cage away, sending it hurtling several feet. “T-Thank you, Discord,” whispered Fluttershy, her voice trembling. “You saved us. . .” “Not at all, my dear,” Discord replied with a comforting smile, but there was a hint of unease in his eyes as he looked back at the chaos. The rest of the ponies rushed to Trixie, who was cradling Starlight’s unconscious form. Twilight knelt beside them, gently stroking Starlight's mane and inspecting her for injuries. “She’s fine, Trixie. I don’t see any serious injuries,” Twilight assured her. Trixie hugged her friend tightly, then turned to Twilight, her voice sharp with fear and anger. “This is too much! That thing almost killed Starlight!” “She’s not a thing!” Pinkie Pie protested, pushing her friends aside. “She’s my cousin, and we’re doing everything we can to save her! If you’re just going to complain like you always do, then maybe you should just-” “That’s enough,” Applejack said, pulling Pinkie Pie away. “We’ve got to keep our cool, now. We almost had her back there-” “Almost isn’t good enough!” Trixie shot back, glaring at Pinkie. “This whole mess wouldn’t have happened if you-” “Trixie, stop,” Starlight’s weak voice broke through the tension as she regained consciousness. “Don’t blame Pinkie Pie. I was caught off guard, that’s all.” She paused, a haunted look crossing her face. “That. . . thing I saw. Was it controlling Pizza Pie?” “But Starlight, you’re hurt!” Trixie protested, her face filled with worry. “I’m fine,” Starlight insisted, trying to sit up. “We’ll have to try again.” Twilight’s face showed a mixture of concern and determination. “Are you sure, Starlight? We barely managed to hold her off. . .” “Yes, I just need a bit more time to pull it off,” Starlight replied, steeling herself. Suddenly, without warning, Pizza Pie’s tail shot forward toward the group, snaking through the air in search of a target. The ponies quickly scattered, trying to keep out of reach as the tail smashed and whipped around, crushing anything it touched. “Don’t let it grab anypony!” Twilight shouted as she and Rarity aimed their magic at the tail, pushing it back with bursts of force. But the tail retaliated, lunging forward again and managing to snatch one of their friends. “Fluttershy!” the group cried out in horror as Pizza Pie's tail dragged the screaming pegasus toward her. Discord sprang into action, rushing after the tail with a fierce determination. With a quick snap of his claws, he replaced Fluttershy with a stuffed plushie just as Pizza Pie’s tail retracted. Confused, Pizza Pie stared down at the toy now in her grasp, only to hear a faint hissing sound. The plushie’s fuse burned down and exploded with a loud pop, sending a cloud of smoke into Pizza Pie’s face. Fluttershy, safe in Discord’s arms, watched the explosion with wide eyes. “Well, well,” Discord smirked, holding Fluttershy close. “Looks like she got a ‘surprising reward’ from that claw machine.” The ponies were silent, momentarily stunned by Discord’s dry humor. Pinkie Pie sighed, half-smiling through her concern. “I’d give you a drumroll for that joke, Discord. . . if it didn’t involve blowing up my cousin.” Discord chuckled. “Oh, please, Pinkie Pie. After all we’ve thrown at her, a little plush explosion hardly seems out of line.” As if to punctuate his words, the top of the shattered cage flew toward them. Twilight and Starlight raised a protective barrier just in time, deflecting the projectile before it could reach them. “Seems we only managed to make her angrier,” Starlight said through gritted teeth. “Can’t you just use your magic to lock her up somewhere, Discord?” Discord looked away, his expression uncharacteristically serious. “That... that would be unwise, Starlight. My magic might make things worse.” “Discord?” Starlight frowned, noticing his hesitation. “What aren’t you telling us? Do you. . . know something about what’s controlling Pizza Pie?” "Heads up!" Applejack interrupted, pointing skyward as a roar of thunder shook the ground. From the clouds above, Rainbow Dash appeared, a rainbow shock cone forming around her as she dove down at an incredible speed. "Look out, Pizza Pie! Here comes Sonic Rainboom, round two!" "Rainbow, wait!" Twilight shouted, but the pegasus was already hurtling toward her target. Rainbow Dash bellowed as she burst through Pizza Pie’s dark magic attacks, hitting her head-on. "Eat Rainbow Dust!" A massive explosion shook the ground, and a cloud of rainbow-colored smoke billowed out, blocking their view. The ponies stood in horrified silence, unable to see through the shimmering mist. ⏪︎ From the clouds above, Rainbow Dash appeared, a rainbow shock cone forming around her as she dove down at an incredible speed. "Look out Pizza pie here comes Sonic Rainboom round tw- W-Wait didn’t I just say tha-" The raging unicorn extended her tail, claws wide open, and grabbed the rainbow-colored pegasus mid-air. Rainbow Dash struggled, but Pizza Pie pulled her closer, her grip tightening painfully, slowly crushing the pegasus. “Rainbow Dash!” Twilight shouted, taking off in a desperate sprint toward her friend trapped in Pizza Pie’s grasp. “Twilight, wait!” Starlight called, running after the alicorn. “Twilight!” Their friends watched in shock, still processing the strange, fiery aura radiating from Pizza Pie. The intense heat pulsed around her, making it hard for anypony to approach. “L-Let go of me, you knock-off-AHHH!” Rainbow Dash screamed as Pizza Pie’s grip tightened, the temperature around them intensifying until it felt like the very air was aflame. “Hang on, Rainbow!” Twilight shouted, conjuring a protective barrier around herself and moving closer, with Starlight following right behind. But as they advanced, the heat only grew more oppressive, forcing Twilight’s magic to flicker. “Twilight, can’t you just teleport her out of there?” Starlight asked, her voice strained as they struggled against the waves of heat. Twilight gritted her teeth, trying to focus. “I. . . I can’t! This heat is interfering with my magic.” Starlight attempted a spell of her own but quickly faltered, beads of sweat forming on her brow. “I can’t either... it’s too much!” “Oh no, Rainbow Dash! Cousin, stop!” Pinkie Pie cried out, attempting to rush toward the chaotic scene. But Rarity grabbed her tail, pulling her back. “No, darling!” Rarity said firmly. “It’s far too dangerous! We need to stay back for now.” Fluttershy’s eyes filled with worry as she turned to Discord. “Discord, can’t you do something? Twilight and Starlight can’t get close enough to help her.” Discord glanced at Fluttershy, a mix of worry and resolve in his gaze. “Fluttershy. . . (If I try to counter her, it might only make things worse, but. . .)” He hesitated, looking around at the fearful expressions on his friends' faces. Finally, he sighed, setting his jaw. “Alright, I’ll see what I can do.” Pinkie Pie, still tense and on edge, narrowed her eyes at Discord. “Discord, I’m warning you don’t hurt Pizza Pie.” Discord put a hand to his heart with a wry smile. “Well. . .” “Don’t worry, Sugarcube,” Applejack interrupted, her gaze piercing. “He knows what he’s doing. . . don’t you, Discord?” “Yes, yes, I won’t hurt her,” Discord replied, his tone reassuring. Cracking his knuckles, he took a step forward, focusing on the chaotic scene in front of him. His gaze softened momentarily as he looked at Rainbow Dash, still struggling against Pizza Pie’s crushing grip. With a deep breath, he raised his claw. “Sorry to do this to you, dear, but you’ve caused enough trouble already-” Just as he prepared to snap his fingers, a sudden, blinding beam of sunlight shot down from the sky, striking Pizza Pie with a force that sent shockwaves through the ground. The impact released Rainbow Dash from the unicorn’s grasp, sending her hurtling through the air. Acting quickly, Twilight and Starlight caught Rainbow Dash with their combined magic, gently lowering her to the ground. The echo of the explosion rippled out, audible even as far as Canterlot, leaving everypony in stunned silence. “Rainbow Dash, are you alright?” Twilight asked, her voice thick with relief. Rainbow Dash grinned, despite her bruises. “That. . . was. . . awesome!” She laughed breathlessly. “Now that’s the kind of magic I’m talking about, Twilight! I had no idea you were holding back on us like that.” Twilight’s eyes widened, shaking her head. “That wasn’t me, Rainbow.” Rainbow blinked, glancing over at Starlight, who looked equally baffled. “W-Wait, it wasn’t?” Starlight stammered. “Then. . . where did it come from?” Before they could process further, Pinkie Pie’s voice cut through the air, louder and angrier than they had ever heard. “YOU BIG DUMB MEANIE!” Pinkie’s voice echoed as she stormed up behind them, her gaze locked onto Discord with fury. “I TOLD YOU NOT TO HURT HER!” She began to smack him repeatedly, punctuating each word with another hit. “I. TOLD. YOU. BUT. YOU. DIDN’T. LISTEN!” “Pinkie Pie, calm down!” Applejack stepped forward, grabbing her enraged friend and gently pulling her back from Discord. “Let me go, Applejack!” Pinkie Pie wriggled furiously in Applejack’s grasp. “He pulverized my cousin!” “Pinkie, he didn’t mean to,” Applejack said, trying to calm her down. “Discord did what he had to do.” “Yeah, on purpose!” Pinkie shouted, elbowing Applejack’s grip loose. She snatched up a rock and hurled it at the draconequus. “Don’t just stand there playing dumb, Discord! Look at me—I said, LOOK AT ME!” The rest of the group held Pinkie back as Discord stood unmoving, his eyes fixed on the smoke-filled space where Pizza Pie had been. Fluttershy flew up, hovering directly in front of him, waving a hoof. “Discord?” she said, her voice gentle but firm. “Discord?” She tried again, but he didn’t respond, his gaze vacant. Growing concerned, Fluttershy took a breath and gave him a sharp slap. “WAKE UP!” Discord blinked, a bit stunned, his cheek stinging. “Ouch! F-Fluttershy, what was that for?” Fluttershy’s eyes brimmed with hurt as she pointed at the cloud of smoke. “You know exactly what you did, Discord. How could you do that to Pizza Pie?” “I-It wasn’t me, Fluttershy h-honest!” Discord protested, looking around helplessly. “You’re full of baloney!” Pinkie shouted, still struggling against her friends. “You did it on purpose! My cousin was never like this until you showed up!” “Pinkie dear, control yourself,” Rarity whispered, but Pinkie was far too upset to hear her. “She was fine just the way she was, looking like me I didn’t mind it at all until you messed with her!” Pinkie’s voice cracked. “Because of you, Ponyville’s in ruins, our friendships are shaken, and my bond with her. . . it’s broken!” “Trixie thinks you’ve said enough,” Trixie interjected, but Pinkie’s anger couldn’t be restrained. “I thought you were done with chaos, Discord!” Pinkie’s voice was softer now, bitterly disappointed. “But you couldn’t resist, could you? You just had to play with her mind, twist her up, and give her that THAT stupid horn!” Discord snapped, a dangerous edge in his eyes. With a sudden wave of his claw, he pulled the very ground toward him, drawing the others closer. He reached out, lifting Pinkie by the chest, holding her at arm’s length but firm enough that she couldn’t struggle away. “Do you think I wanted her to end up like this?” His voice was low, each word dripping with intensity. “Do you think it’s because of me that she mimics you?” He leaned in closer, his voice barely a whisper but weighted with anger. “You’re far from the truth.” “W-What do you mean?” Pinkie stammered, her defiance flickering under Discord’s sudden seriousness. Discord’s gaze softened, though his words still carried a harsh edge. “I met your cousin long after your little trip to Mitaly. When I found her, she was lost no cutie mark, no sense of purpose.” He sighed. “She was already a complete wreck. And what she is now? There’s no going back from that. She took something dangerous, something powerful, thinking it would solve everything.” The group fell silent as Discord’s words hung in the air, each one cutting deep. “She’s done all this, made all these choices. . . because of a promise. A childish promise!” Pinkie’s eyes filled with tears. “Y-You’re wrong. . .” Discord raised a brow. “Oh?” Pinkie swallowed hard, her voice barely above a whisper. “It’s not a childish promise. . .” She took a shaky breath. “It’s our Pinkie Promise... the most important promise of all. And whatever changes she’s made, I still accept her.” Her voice grew stronger, her gaze meeting Discord’s. “Just like we accepted you. Secrets, mistakes, chaos-” she paused, voice trembling, “we still accepted you.” Discord’s grip on her loosened, and his friends nodded, each one standing firmly beside Pinkie’s words. He gently lowered her, dusting off her mane, his expression unreadable. “I. . . I do accept your cousin,” Discord murmured finally, casting a somber glance at the fading smoke. “But it wasn’t me who did this to her. Its-” “Discord!” A voice echoed from above, cutting through the tension like a blade. All eyes turned skyward as a blinding ray of sunlight parted the clouds, bathing the ground in light. Descending slowly from the sky, a radiant figure emerged a white alicorn, adorned in glimmering armor, her eyes piercing as they met Discord’s. “We need to talk.” Celestia’s voice was firm, her gaze unyielding as she looked down upon the draconequus and his friends. ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ~ End of chapter 19 Author's Note As more ponies are involved in the conflict all the more dangerous it gets. The unstable magic grows unpreditable over time and it's origin will resurface by one alcorns confession. Modesty Chapter 13.5: A voice in her head⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✶✶✶ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ After her time with Twilight, Pizza Pie made her way to Sweet Apple Acres, expecting to enjoy some fun activities. She entered the barn, but there was no sign of Applejack. Puzzled, she wandered around the farm, searching for her. Eventually, she spotted Applejack in the distance, pulling a wagon loaded with empty baskets and setting them beneath the apple trees. Pizza Pie descended the hill to meet up with Applejack. "Hey, Applejack," Pizza Pie called. "Howdy, Pizza Pie! You're early. How’d your time with Twilight go?" Applejack asked, smiling. "Eh, it could be worse. She talks about her books nonstop. Seriously, she bores me to tears," Pizza Pie muttered, rolling her eyes. Applejack chuckled knowingly. "Guessin' you ain't the readin' type." "Obviously not. I still can't believe somepony like her gets to be a princess," Pizza Pie grumbled. "Well, Sugar Cube, that’s the funny thing about destiny. You just can’t always tell what you’re meant to be someday." "Right, destiny . . ." Pizza Pie muttered thoughtfully, almost to herself. After a moment of silence, Applejack gave her a friendly nudge. "Say, since you’re here, mind lendin' a hoof bunkin' these apples?" Pizza Pie looked over her shoulder and saw the sprawling orchard, with rows of apple trees brimming with ripe fruit, ready to be harvested. "That’s a lot of apples. You really want me to help pick all these?" Applejack shrugged, laughing. "Well, I was plannin' on bunkin' a good bunch while you were still with Twilight, but now that you’re here, how about we tackle it together? And afterward, we’ll get some of Granny Smith’s famous apple cider." Pizza Pie's eyes gleamed with sudden interest. "Apple cider, you say?" She licked her lips. "I mean, I’m definitely thirsty after all that ‘reading.’ I’ll give it a shot–" "Whoa there!" Applejack chuckled, waving her off. "We haven’t started yet! Those ciders are for after we finish the work." Grinning mischievously, Pizza Pie teleported closer to the apple trees, surveying the orchard with a determined gleam in her eyes. Applejack, catching up to her side and slightly winded, watched in alarm. "Hold on there, Sugarcube," Applejack warned. "These apples take the better part of a day to bunk, especially since I usually work with Big Mac." "Oh, why do that when we can bunk ‘em all right now? After all, I have magic," Pizza Pie boasted, puffing out her chest proudly. Applejack raised an eyebrow. "Well, I'm all for enthusiasm, but it took me and my friends just to get through half in a day." "Well, I’ve got news for you: I’m not your friends," Pizza Pie retorted with a confident smirk. Pizza Pie stepped forward, planting her hooves firmly into the ground as she began to channel her magic. The earth trembled beneath her as she focused, and Applejack stumbled back in surprise. The rows of apple trees shook as a magical glow surrounded them, lifting them slightly above the ground. Applejack’s jaw dropped as the impossible happened before her eyes. "I-I don't believe it. . ." Applejack stammered. "Might wanna step back, Applejack," Pizza Pie warned. "Oh, right. . ." Applejack backed away, wide-eyed, until she was safely beside Pizza Pie. "What exactly are you plannin' to do–WHOA!" With a final surge of concentration, Pizza Pie levitated baskets under the trees. She then released her spell, and the trees dropped neatly back into place, their apples falling perfectly into the waiting baskets and filling each one to the brim. "See? All done," Pizza Pie said triumphantly. Applejack scratched her head, her voice filled with awe. "Well now. . . I don’t know how you did it, but I sure ain’t complainin'." "Yup, just like you doubted," Pizza Pie replied with a grin. "Didn’t mean to sound doubtful at first, but seein' as you proved me wrong, I guess I owe you an apology," Applejack admitted. "You should be. I did all that just to show you that when you’ve got magic, you get the job done," Pizza Pie said, a little smugly. Applejack shook her head, laughing. "Well, if you recall, I’m not the one who magically made herself a unicorn." "Pfft," Pizza Pie scoffed, stretching her legs and leaning against the wagon. "Whatever. So, what about that apple cider you mentioned?" "Alright, alright. I guess a deal’s a deal," Applejack said, leading her toward the barn. "I’d say you earned it." "Bet it tastes better than Rarity’s fancy leaf juice," Pizza Pie quipped. The two made their way back to the barn, with Pizza Pie levitating all the baskets along, much to Applejack’s mild exasperation. As they walked, she noticed Pizza Pie’s cutie mark glowing, sparking a bit of suspicion in her mind. Pizza Pie set off to meet Rainbow Dash by the riverside. As she approached, she saw Rainbow Dash tossing boulders across the river with ease, each splash echoing along the shore. Pizza Pie trotted up to her, wondering what kind of activity she had plan. "Hey, RD. What's with all these rocks?" "Pizza! You're just in time." Rainbow Dash flew atop a boulder, grinning. "I was just working on my rock-tossing skills." "Rock. . . tossing?" "Yep! My first plan was just chilling all day, but then I saw these boulders lying around and thought, why not a contest?" "You mean, like, seeing who can throw one the farthest?" "Not quite," Rainbow Dash said, smirking. "It’s who can toss it the farthest and make the deepest crater." "Oh. . ." Pizza Pie replied, raising an eyebrow. "Come on, it’ll be awesome!" Rainbow Dash’s enthusiasm was palpable. "Each of us will take turns tossing a boulder across the river and making a crater. The winner gets to sit on the ‘cool lawn chair’ over there." "The cool lawn chair?" "Oh yeah!" Rainbow Dash gestured to a well-placed lawn chair beneath a large oak tree. "It’s got perfect shade from the tree, just enough space for snacks on that flat stump, and it faces the best sunset view ever. So, it’s not just a cool chair it’s the Perfect cool lawn chair." "I guess that does sound. . . pretty cool," Pizza Pie mused. "Pretty cool? Try pretty awesome! And only one of us gets to sit there, so… I challenge you, Pizza Pie! Whoever wins claims it till sunset." "Hmmm. . ." Pizza Pie rubbed her chin thoughtfully before grinning. "Alright, Rainbow Dash, you’re on!" They shook hooves and took positions by two separate piles of boulders. Rainbow Dash stretched her limbs, glancing at Pizza Pie, who was limbering up as well. "I’ll go first and show you how it’s done," Rainbow Dash said, grabbing the lightest boulder from her stack and heaving it over her shoulders. "And just to keep it fair no magic, alright? Just willpower and strength." "Fine," Pizza Pie replied, sounding slightly annoyed. Rainbow Dash prepared herself, then gave a mighty yell, "Eeeeee- RAAAAAAHHHHGGG!!!" She hurled the boulder with full force, watching it soar across the river and land just shy of the opposite shore, sending up a cloud of dust. Turning back to Pizza Pie with a confident smirk, Rainbow Dash panted, "Nailed it. Try to beat that!" "Ok, I will," Pizza Pie said, clapping her hooves before choosing a similar-sized boulder from her pile. She was about to use her magic when Rainbow Dash’s reminder stopped her short. "Remember, Pizza Pie: no magic," Rainbow Dash warned. "I heard you the first time," Pizza Pie grumbled. She strained to lift the boulder but struggled to even budge it, her frustration building with each failed attempt. After several tries, she managed only to flip it over with a loud grunt. "Ugh! This is impossible!" "Aw, that’s too bad," Rainbow Dash teased. "I didn’t say we had to toss the same size boulder. You could try a smaller one." "You set me up!" Pizza Pie accused, glaring at Rainbow. "Hey, nopony likes a sore loser, Pizza. Just pick a lighter one for the next round-" "Let me try again!" Pizza Pie snapped, her voice unexpectedly harsh. She took a deep breath and steadied herself, attempting once more. As she strained, Rainbow Dash noticed a strange red vapor rising from Pizza Pie, and the air around them grew hotter. Nervous, Rainbow Dash stepped back slightly. "Uhh, Pizza Pie? It’s just a game-no need to push yourself so hard-" "Zip it!" Pizza Pie’s gaze sharpened, and she gritted her teeth. "I don't need magic to win." Her tail lengthened, splitting into five claw-like appendages that wrapped around the boulder. In one swift motion, she lifted it effortlessly, then hurled it across the river, where it crashed into the forest with an explosive impact, scattering birds into the sky. Rainbow Dash’s jaw dropped. "Wha- ho-how did you do that?!" "How’s that for no magic?" Pizza Pie replied smugly. "I didn’t even know you could do that!" Rainbow Dash stammered, still in shock. "Nopony likes a sore loser, Dashie." With a sly smile, Pizza Pie teleported over to the lawn chair, reclining comfortably. "Just admit I beat you." "Y-You just caught me by surprise!" Rainbow Dash spluttered. "And did you just call me a loser?!" "From that look on your face? Definitely a look of defeat," Pizza Pie said, summoning a can of soda with a smirk. "Sad to see." Rainbow Dash shook her head, frustration rising. "What’s with you today, Pizza? You’re acting. . . different. You weren't like this before you got that-" "Before I got what?" Pizza Pie interrupted, teleporting right in Rainbow Dash’s face, her eyes glowing red. "This?" She pointed to her horn. "This changes everything. The old Pizza Pie is gone. I’m more than just some Pinkie look-alike now. I’m better." "Better at what? What are you even talking about?!" "Forget it," Pizza Pie muttered. "Here I am, wasting my time with Pinkie’s friends, and none of you even understand what I’ve been through." Rainbow Dash stepped back, her face a mix of confusion and frustration. "Pinkie already told us what you went through! You’re just ranting out of nowhere-" "I AM NOT RANTING!" Pizza Pie snapped, then took a deep breath, calming herself. "Look, I agreed to spend time with each of you, so let’s keep this simple. I won’t bother any of you if you promise not to mention anything I did today to Pinkie. Deal?" Rainbow Dash crossed her hooves, looking away. "Fine. But we’re only doing this for Pinkie anyway." "Aw, thanks, Dash. That’s really sweet," Pizza Pie sneered. "Anyway, it’s getting late, so I’ll be going." "Yeah, yeah. . ." "Oh, one more thing, Rainbow Dash." "What now?" "Your ‘cool lawn chair’ is trash. Might as well call it the ‘trash chair.’ Later!" She teleported away, her mocking laughter echoing through the trees. "WHY THAT LITTLE-!" Rainbow Dash fumed. Later, the ponies gather at the park, all exhausted. They exchanged weary glances, and it was clear from their expressions that none of them seemed to have enjoyed their day with Pizza Pie. Twilight held up her scroll, looking at her friends with a mix of concern and curiosity. “Alright, girls. How was your day with Pizza Pie?” Rarity stepped forward, fanning herself in distress. "Well, Twilight, we did manage to make a dress together… but she looked at my draft for a split second and then. . . then she made it perfect!" She held up a stunningly crafted dress for all to see, her friends exchanging bewildered looks. Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "So what?" "So what? So what?!" Rarity pulled Rainbow Dash closer, brandishing the dress as if it were a trophy. "You see these stitches? They took me years of practice to perfect, and she. . .she made them flawless in mere seconds!" "Seconds?" Applejack’s eyes widened in surprise. "She just learned to sew like that?" Rarity nodded dramatically. "Yes! It’s an insult to skilled tailors everywhere! To think a beginner could master such techniques instantly!" She dramatically produced a fainting couch from nowhere and collapsed onto it with a sigh. Applejack shook her head. "Well, that's nothing. She levitated every apple tree in the field and dropped ’em like it was no big deal! Twilight, I’ve been buckin’ apples my whole life, and what she did? It wasn’t the earth pony way. I’m tellin’ y’all, that magic ain’t natural." Rainbow Dash scoffed. "Magic? Please. You should’ve seen her toss a boulder clear over the woods!" Twilight blinked in shock. "A boulder?" "Yeah! We were having a boulder-tossing contest, and I told her no magic. But all of a sudden, her tail just. . . stretched out like an extra limb, grabbed a boulder, and she chucked it clear past mine, all the way to the woods!" Applejack’s eyes widened. "Wait, that was her? So that explains the ten-foot crater in the cornfield earlier! And you’re tellin’ me she tossed it from the river?" Rainbow Dash nodded, looking sheepish. "Uh. . . yeah. If you don’t believe me, just ask the birds that were there." Fluttershy stepped forward, her voice trembling. "Speaking of birds. . . when we were walking in the woods, Pizza Pie did something. . . unsettling." The others turned to her. "What happened, Fluttershy?" Twilight asked gently. Fluttershy shivered, taking a deep breath. "Mr. Blue Jay flew over to say hello, and Pizza Pie just. . . stared at him. But then he told me. . . everything around him faded to darkness, like he was alone in some sort of a void. All he saw were these huge red eyes closing in on him." Fluttershy shuddered. "The poor thing was so scared, he flew away immediately." An uneasy silence fell over them as they absorbed this. Twilight reached out, giving Fluttershy a reassuring pat. "It’s alright, Fluttershy. That sounds terrifying." Applejack paced back and forth. "So let’s add it up: she learns fast, she’s super strong, has powerful magic. . . and she’s scarin’ animals? Is there anything we missed?" Twilight cleared her throat, pulling out a book Pizza Pie had looked at earlier, showing a page with the Elements of Harmony. "There’s one more thing. I showed her this book, and she kept staring at the Elements. She mentioned they used to be three, and now there are six." Rainbow Dash peered over Twilight’s shoulder. "So she’s a know-it-all too? Great." Applejack interrupted with a raised hoof. "Hold on, Rainbow. What happened next, Twilight?" Twilight looked troubled. "She started speaking in a different language. It sounded oddly familiar, but I can’t place it." Rainbow Dash threw her hooves up. "So after all this, no one knows what’s up with her?" The group exchanged uneasy glances. Rarity sighed, breaking the silence. "Pinkie Pie probably hasn’t noticed her cousin’s odd behavior yet." “Yeah. . . Say, where is Pinkie anyway?” Rainbow looked around. “Haven’t seen her all day.” Applejack tapped her chin thoughtfully. “I saw her after spendin' some time with Pizza Pie, She mentioned that Mr. and Mrs. Cake needed her for a big order at the bakery.” She glanced back at Twilight. “So, should we tell Pinkie about what happen?” Twilight hesitated, glancing at the faces of her concerned friends. “We promised we’d give Pizza Pie a fair chance without being suspicious, but now. . .I don’t know.” She trailed off, visibly conflicted. After a long, confusing day, the ponies went their separate ways, still troubled by Pizza Pie’s bizarre actions. In the shadows nearby, hidden in the bushes, a figure watched as the ponies gathered and talked. After listening intently, it turned and slipped quietly back into the forest. Meanwhile, in a secluded alley, a steady banging echoed off the walls, making passersby glance around nervously. Deeper in the shadows, Pizza Pie repeatedly slammed her head against the wall, a twisted look of frustration on her face. Her voice was a harsh, guttural whisper that escalated into a desperate scream. "GET. . . OUT. . . OF. . . MY. . . HEEEEEAAAAD!!!" ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✶✶✶ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ~ End of chapter 13
Modesty Chapter 13: The flaw before the price⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✶✶✶ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ The next day. ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✶✶✶ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ The ponies gathered together at the park for a picnic, eager to reconcile with the Pie cousins. They brought their pets, along with an array of food and drinks. As they laid out the picnic blanket, Pinkie Pie arrived first, bouncing toward them with Gummy latched onto her tail. "Hi, girls! Ooh, the food looks yummy!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed, swiping a few muffins from Applejack’s basket and stuffing them into her mouth. "Mmm, they’re crunchier than the ones me and Maud had!" "Uh, thanks, Pinkie Pie. . ." Applejack hesitated, eyeing her half-eaten muffins. "I made them extra crunchy for you and your cousin. It’s the least we could do to, ya know, smooth things over." "What thing?" Pinkie asked, her face scrunched in confusion. "You know, the thing with your cousin suddenly being a unicorn?" Rainbow Dash interjected. "That’s why we’re having this picnic to show her we’re not suspicious of her anymore." "Oooh, that thing!" Pinkie giggled, waving it off. "Don’t worry, Rainbow, it didn’t bother her at all." "That’s a relief," Twilight Sparkle chimed in as she magically set the plates in place. "I’m glad everything between you and Pizza Pie is back to normal." "And just in time too," Rarity added, pulling out her sketchbook. "I have some fabulous designs ready for our next project at the boutique!" "Yeah, but first let’s focus on making sure Pizza Pie enjoys herself," Applejack suggested, glancing around. "Speaking of which, where is she? We figured you two would come here together." "Oh, Cousin said she needed to wash up and told me to go ahead," Pinkie explained. "I just want to thank her again for letting me look after Colours," Fluttershy murmured, as Colours, Pizza Pie’s peculiar pet, shifted hues to match the color of Fluttershy’s mane. "She’s been a joy to take care of." "Of course!" Pinkie grinned. "Colours loves hanging out with friends other than Gummy, right Colours?" Colours blinked, her eyes moving in opposite directions before settling back. Fluttershy smiled gently. "I’m so glad to hear it. You can come visit again anytime, Colours." Suddenly, a burst of bright magic filled the air, accompanied by a loud pop. Thick smoke swirled around the picnic area, causing Fluttershy to squeal and hide behind Pinkie, using her tail as a shield. The smoke cleared to reveal Pizza Pie, her tail flicking through the air as if she were dismissing the spectacle she had just created. ". . . ." Pizza Pie paused, surveying the group with an unreadable expression. "Heh," she smirked, brushing a hoof through her mane. "Sorry I’m late, girls." "Cousin!" Pinkie Pie bounced toward her and wrapped her in a big hug. "We were just talking about you!" "Talking? About what? How I’m supposedly better now that I’ve become a unicorn?" Pizza Pie’s voice had an edge to it, causing a brief awkward silence. "Uh, no silly!" Pinkie giggled, trying to lighten the mood. "But you are getting really good at magic. Oh, and Twilight! Guess what? Pizza read all the spell books you lent her, and she mastered them in just one night!" "Wait, really?" Twilight's eyes widened, clearly surprised. "I thought you said basic teleportation was still giving you trouble-" "Not anymore," Pizza Pie interrupted, her voice cool and confident. "I perfected it last night. Those books? Honestly, they were too easy." Twilight blinked, her surprise quickly giving way to mild unease. "Well, uh . . . Some of those spells took me a lot longer to figure out-" Applejack cut in, sensing the rising tension. "Why don’t we all sit down and enjoy the food? Granny Smith made some apple-spiced muffins and apple pie for dessert." "Great, more apple snacks." Pizza Pie muttered under her breath, her eyes rolling slightly. "Beg your pardon?" Applejack turned, her brow furrowed. "Nothing. What else is there?" Pizza Pie deflected, disinterest dripping from her voice. "Ah, well!" Rarity piped up, offering Pizza a cup of tea. "I brought some exquisite Canterlot green tea, darling. It’s a one-of-a-kind blend. You simply must try it." ". . . . ." Pizza Pie took a cautious sip, her expression unchanging. "Tastes like hot leaf water. Just like any other tea." Rarity's enthusiasm faltered. "Oh, well, um . . . You’re not entirely wrong, I suppose." Fluttershy, always sensitive to the group's mood, tentatively approached Pizza Pie, Colours resting on her back. "I-I brought Colours back to you. Thank you again for letting me look after her. She had a great time playing with the other animals." "I’m sure she did," Pizza Pie replied flatly. "Actually, why don’t you keep her for a few more days? I still need some time for myself." Fluttershy blinked, taken aback. "Oh, I thought you’d be excited to have your pet back-" "You take care of animals, right? Just keep her for now. I’ll get her when I needed her back." Rainbow Dash, noticing Fluttershy’s discomfort, quickly intervened. "Hey!" she snapped, snatching Colours from Fluttershy and thrusting her toward Pizza Pie. "Fluttershy’s not your personal babysitter! Show some gratitude." "I’ll thank her when she gives me my pet back," Pizza Pie retorted coolly, shoving Colours back to Rainbow Dash. "What’s your deal?!" Rainbow Dash bristled, wings flaring. "Alright, that’s enough, y’all," Applejack interjected, stepping between them. "The day’s just started. Let’s all grab a bite and settle down." "Agreed," Twilight added, her voice calm but with a hint of urgency. "After we eat, we’ve got some fun activities planned to help Pizza Pie feel at home. How does that sound?" "Whatever, Twilight. It better be interesting. I’m only here because Pinkie insisted." Twilight chuckled nervously, trying to break the tension. "Well, then, everypony, let’s dig in!" The ponies exchanged confused glances, perplexed by Pizza Pie's sudden spiteful attitude. As they ate, they observed the Pie cousins. Pinkie Pie was happily munching down dozens of muffins, but Pizza Pie hadn’t taken a single bite. She caught them staring at her, causing the ponies to quickly look away, resuming their meal under the weight of her icy glare. After about an hour, they decided to follow through with the plan, taking turns spending time with Pizza Pie as a way of getting to know her better. Rarity volunteered to go first, excited to share her latest designs. She brought along her sewing kit, fabrics, and a few jewelry pieces to show off. “Now, darling, I already made some draft samples that I’m sure will make you look simply fabulous! We’ll start with this one.” Rarity pointed at one of the sketches in her design pad. “Now, if you wouldn’t mind holding still for a moment while I take your measurements-” Before Rarity could finish, Pizza Pie casually snatched the sketch pad with her magic and examined it closely. “So, you want to make me this one?” she asked, her tone neutral. “Why yes, dear! That one took quite a bit of time to design. I hoped it would suit your gorgeous appearance.” “*Hmmmm . . . *” Pizza Pie stared at the draft intently. Rarity’s confidence faltered. “I-Is there something wrong, darling? If you don’t like the design, we can always—” Before Rarity could finish her sentence, the fabrics and sewing tools floated into the air, passing over her head and swirling around Pizza Pie. Her horn glowed as she swiftly scanned through the design, piecing the fabric together in mere seconds. Within a minute, she had completed the dress. Rarity stood frozen, her mouth agape in astonishment. “I-I don’t believe it,” she gasped, inspecting the newly crafted dress. It was flawless, each stitch perfectly aligned. “It’s so perfect! GASP! You even did a raised stem stitch. That took me months to perfect! How did you-” “I just followed what it said in your draft,” Pizza Pie replied, shrugging. “Y-Yes, but I was supposed to make it for you,” Rarity stammered. “Well, if you did, it would’ve taken us months to finish,” Pizza Pie said flatly. Rarity blinked, taken aback. “That’s a bit harsh, darling. But seeing as you’ve already made it—” Pizza Pie slipped into the dress and summoned a mirror, barely glancing at her reflection. “Yeah, it’s nice. Can we move on now? I’m supposed to meet with Fluttershy next, right?” “Ah, yes, of course, dear. You know, we could always do this again sometime—” “Great!” Pizza Pie grinned sharply. “I’ll catch you later. Bye!” With a flash of magic, Pizza Pie teleported away, leaving the dress she had made behind. Rarity picked it up, feeling a mix of mockery and confusion. Next up was Fluttershy. The two ponies walked quietly through the woods, the peaceful environment helping to ease the awkwardness between them. Along the way, they encountered various animals, all of whom were familiar to Fluttershy. “And this is my favorite part of the forest. You can see all the cute animals living right behind the sanctuary I helped build,” Fluttershy explained cheerfully. “I see. Well, I heard from the others that you can talk to animals directly,” Pizza Pie said, her tone carrying a note of curiosity. “Oh, no, not really,” Fluttershy giggled softly. “I don’t talk to them exactly. I just understand how they feel. It’s my way of connecting with them.” Pizza Pie raised an eyebrow. “So, in short, you’re just guessing?” Fluttershy hesitated, unsure how to answer. “Well, um . . .” Before she could continue, a blue jay fluttered down and landed on her mane, chirping happily. “Oh! Hello there, Mr. Blue Jay! How are you today?” Fluttershy greeted the bird warmly. Pizza Pie watched closely. “Say, Fluttershy—” “Oh, do you want to say hello too?” Fluttershy asked, offering the bird to Pizza Pie. “Uh, sure. But I want to try something,” Pizza Pie said with a faint smile. “Try something?” Fluttershy replied, puzzled. Gently, Fluttershy placed the blue jay onto Pizza Pie’s hoof. The bird chirped, its head tilting as it looked up at her. Pizza Pie stared back into the bird’s eyes, and the atmosphere shifted. The forest around them seemed to fade, the air growing heavy and still. The bird, entranced by her gaze, began to tremble. In its mind, it saw a dark, endless abyss, and from the shadows, two enormous red eyes appeared, glaring at it with a predatory intensity. Terrified, the bird squawked and flew away in a frantic burst of energy. “Huh? Mr. Blue Jay? Come back!” Fluttershy called out, trying to follow it with her eyes. She turned to Pizza Pie, confused. “Wha-What happened?” Pizza Pie shrugged nonchalantly. “I guess I scared it off.” Fluttershy looked at her, baffled. “What did you do? All Mr. Blue Jay did was look at you.” “Uh-huh. And I looked back,” Pizza Pie replied, sounding completely unconcerned. Fluttershy shook her head, not understanding. “I-I don’t get it, Pizza Pie. What does that mean?” “Who knows? Maybe it sensed danger,” Pizza Pie said, glancing away dismissively. Fluttershy looked around, confused. “Danger? I don’t see any danger.” She turned back to Pizza Pie, who was calmly cleaning her hoof, appearing uninterested in the entire encounter. Fluttershy scratched her head, unsure what to make of it. “S-Shall we move along then?” “Yes, please,” Pizza Pie sighed. “All these pests watching us are starting to annoy me.” As the two ponies continued walking through the forest, Fluttershy glanced back and noticed that the animals were acting strangely almost as if they were afraid of Pizza Pie. She also saw Pizza’s cutie mark glowing faintly, but she didn’t think much of it and kept moving forward. A few minutes later, it was Twilight’s turn to spend time with Pizza Pie. They sat together under a tree as Twilight eagerly showed her cousin some old books from Canterlot. “You know, Pizza Pie, I used to sit under a tree just like this when I first started reading this,” Twilight said, handing Pizza Pie one of her special books. “Little did I know, this book would change my life. Through it, I met my best friends, and together we’ve faced many challenges. And before I knew it, I became the Princess of Friendship, spreading my teachings across Equestria all thanks to this book right here.” “Wow, that’s amazing. So this book gave you your destiny, huh?” Pizza Pie replied, sounding intrigued. “I guess you could say that. If you look here,” Twilight flipped to a specific page, pointing to the images of the Elements of Harmony. “These are the Elements of Harmony. Each of us represents a part of these elements. Applejack represents Honesty, Rainbow Dash represents Loyalty, Rarity is Generosity, Fluttershy is Kindness, your cousin Pinkie Pie is Laughter, and as for me, I represent the Spirit of Magic.” Pizza Pie stared closely at the page, her eyes locking onto the symbols of the Elements. “So each of you, including Pinkie Pie, are these Elements . . . That makes sense now,” she muttered, her voice becoming quieter. Her eyes narrowed, and her tone grew darker as she mumbled something to herself. “So that’s what becomes of it. . . I should’ve known.” “Uh, what becomes of what?” Twilight asked, confused by Pizza Pie’s cryptic words. Pizza Pie didn’t seem to hear her. Instead, she continued muttering, her voice shifting to an eerie, unfamiliar tone. “[Αυτοί οι ξένοι δεν μαθαίνουν ποτέ. Αφήνοντας ένα υπόστεγο ψεύτικης ελπίδας, μόνο για να καθυστερήσει τον θάνατο όλων των πλασμάτων. (These alicorns never learn. Leaving a shed of false hope, only to delay the demise of all creatures.)" “Pizza Pie . . . ?” Twilight’s concern deepened as she felt a heavy presence emanating from her cousin. She cautiously reached out, placing a hoof on Pizza Pie’s shoulder. “Are you okay?-” Suddenly, Pizza Pie grabbed Twilight’s hoof. Her eerie muttering stopped abruptly, and she turned to face Twilight, her expression now one of confusion. The dark presence vanished as quickly as it had appeared. “Am I okay what?” Pizza Pie asked, her voice back to normal. “Uh . . . I-” Twilight stammered, unsure of what to say. “What’s wrong?” Pizza Pie tilted her head, giving Twilight a curious look. “It’s like you’ve seen a ghost or something.” Twilight laughed nervously, trying to shake off her unease. “Who, me? No, no! I just thought, for a second there, you sounded . . . different, that’s all. Haha.” “Sounded different? What do you mean?” Pizza Pie asked, raising an eyebrow. “I, uh . . .” Twilight hesitated. “Never mind, it’s nothing. So, what do you think of the book?” “It’s nice, but honestly, it kind of puts me to sleep just reading it.” Pizza Pie yawned and handed the book back to Twilight. “Are there any more books you want to show me? I think it’s Applejack’s turn next, right?” Twilight quickly hid the other books behind her, forcing a smile. “Uh . . . no, that’s actually it! HA HA! And yes, I believe Applejack’s waiting for you at Sweet Apple Acres. Thanks for spending time with me, by the way.” “Yeah, yeah, sure. Which way is that apple farm of hers again?” Pizza Pie asked casually. “I wasn’t finished! Anyway, it means a lot to me that I could share these books-” Twilight began. “Never mind, I see it. Later!” Pizza Pie teleported away before Twilight could finish. “You’re welcome . . . Ughhh!!” Twilight groaned, laying back in frustration. She picked up the book and flipped to the page Pizza Pie had been reading. “(It used to be just three?) Twilight murmured, scratching her head. “Three . . . elements?” ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✶✶✶ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ~ To be continued Author's Note Pizza pie's change slowly bothers her new friends, from her attitude to her newly discovered feats. She becomes different by the day, a shell of her formerself.
Modesty Chapter 14: The intervention⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ The next day ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ Another friendship conference was set, focusing on the events from yesterday's picnic. Like their previous meeting, the Pie cousins weren't present, giving the ponies time to discuss Pizza Pie's unusual behaviors and the incredible feats she had shown. “We should tell Pinkie Pie right now! I can't stand keeping it zipped!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, her impatience palpable. “We know, Rainbow Dash,” said Twilight, scanning their notes. “Pizza Pie’s actions yesterday weren’t what we’d call normal. Her unexplained magic, strength, and knowledge all of it points to the fact that she isn’t herself. It’s like she’s a completely different pony.” “Could it be she doesn’t want us around Pinkie?” Fluttershy suggested, her voice wavering. “I mean, she seems so much more normal when she’s with her.” “No kiddin, Fluttershy,” Applejack replied, shaking her head. “And the way she talked to us? It feels like she’s tryin’ to keep us out of the picture.” “Indeed,” Rarity added, filing her hoof thoughtfully. “Deep down, Pizza Pie seems scared of hurting her cousin’s feelings. But the way she treated us? That hurts even more.” “You still hung up about that dress?” Applejack raised an eyebrow, exasperated. “Which brings us back to the main topic: her new horn,” Twilight continued, her tone turning serious. “We all promised to never ask about it for the sake of their sibling relationship. But as the Princess of Friendship, safety and clarity come first.” “Finally!” Rainbow Dash jumped onto the Friendship table, excitement bubbling over. “So we’re all in agreement, Twilight? No backing down now?” “Yup.” Applejack nodded firmly. “Absolutely.” Rarity chimed in. “Y-Yes. . .” Fluttershy hesitated but managed to affirm. “Then it's settled! First, we need to talk to Pinkie about what happened yesterday. After that, the six of us can approach Pizza Pie about these issues, so it doesn’t sound like we’re telling on her-” “Telling on what?” The Pie cousins suddenly arrived sooner than the ponies expected, their faces petrified as they quickly looked away and zipped their lips. Pinkie Pie bounced toward them, her energy infectious, while Pizza Pie followed behind, glaring at each pony who dared to meet her gaze. “Whoa, awkward silence. . . . Sooooo, what are you girls talking about?” Pinkie Pie asked, her eyes wide with curiosity. “Uh. . . we were talking about uhh. . . um. . .” Twilight stammered. “A-About just how awesome our day was yesterday, yeah, that’s right!” Rainbow Dash interjected, shuffling in front of Fluttershy. “Yes, what Rainbow Dash said,” Rarity said, shuffling in front of Rainbow Dash. “We had such a delightful time with your cousin, dear Pinkie.” She forced a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Yup, that's right!” Applejack added, shuffling in front of Rarity, her smile strained. “Like you said, Sugarcube, she’s one fun pony to be with.” “Like they said, we all enjoyed our time with Pizza Pie,” Twilight affirmed, trying to sound cheerful. “Oh, I’m glad to hear that!” Pinkie Pie smiled brightly. “Cousin told me everything!” “She did?” Everyone asked in unison. “Yup!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed, pulling her cousin next to her. “She told me you showed her how to make a dress, talk to birds, throw rocks, buck apples, and learn about our Elements! There’s so much I missed out on! I wish I could’ve been there to enjoy it with you, right, cousin?” “Yeah, I wish you were. . .” Pizza Pie replied sarcastically, turning her glare on the ponies. A warm but eerie tension filled the room as the ponies fell silent, the weight of Pizza Pie’s stare bearing down on them. “Oh, by the way, Pinkie,” Pizza Pie said, breaking the silence. “What is it, cousin?” Pinkie replied, her enthusiasm still bright. “I forgot to bring my special muffins to share with our friends. You wouldn’t mind picking them up from Sugarcube Corner?” “GASP! How could I not?! I’ll go get them right now!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed, speeding out of the room. She paused at the door, looking back over her shoulder. “I’ll be back to pick up Pizza’s special muffins. Just hang tight!” As soon as the doors closed behind Pinkie, her smile vanished. Pizza Pie’s expression darkened, her polite facade dropping as she turned back to the remaining ponies, her gaze fierce and unrelenting. The tension in the room escalated as they realized they were now alone with her. "I knew you'd all been talking about me behind my back," Pizza Pie's voice cut through the silence, low and accusing. The ponies exchanged uneasy glances but stayed quiet. "You think I don't notice? The way you all acted when I showed up that day, the looks on your faces when you saw this horn, the way you keep asking where I got it." The room fell silent, each pony unsure of what to say. "Can't stand not knowing, can you?" Her eyes flashed. "The silence says it all. I should’ve known that Cousin Pinkie would have such nosy friends." "Hey! Don’t act like it’s our fault!” Rainbow Dash flared her wings and zipped up to Pizza Pie. "You're the one who keeps showing off all these weird tricks! How are we Not supposed to talk about that?" "Rainbow, stop!" Twilight pulled Rainbow Dash back gently. "Pizza Pie, we're only worried about you. Ever since you got that horn, you've changed. . . .Look, I know we promised Pinkie we wouldn't pry, but with the way things are going, it's best if we know-" "And what?" Pizza Pie sneered. "So you can get rid of it? Just like you got rid of your enemies?” “Wh-What? That’s not what we're-” “Now hold on there, Pizza,” Applejack said firmly, stepping between them. “Twilight here’s tryin’ to help you, Sugarcube. Whatever you got going on with that horn, it doesn’t seem natural, and we’ve seen a lot of unnatural things around here.” “Oh, I’m sure you know about 'unnatural' things.” Pizza Pie glared. “You let Discord roam free, but if it’s me, it’s suddenly a big deal?” “Of course it’s a big deal!” Rainbow Dash surged forward again, her frustration clear. “You’ve been acting strange, and it’s got us all worked up!” “Rainbow Dash, I said stop-" Twilight tried to hold her back, but Rainbow kept going. “You lifted, what, a hundred apple trees in mid-air? Tossed a boulder with your tail like a frisbee? Made a bird go absolutely paranoid-” “Don’t forget her advanced stitching skills.” Rarity added with a touch of sarcasm, standing by Applejack. Rainbow Dash facehoofed. “Yes, Rarity, we get it.” She turned back to Pizza Pie, eyes narrowed. “Don’t act like it’s not weird! You were glowing red the whole time! Don’t you think that’s a little. . . disturbing?” Pizza Pie looked down, her eyes shadowed, saying nothing. Applejack put a comforting hoof on her shoulder. “Listen, Sugarcube, we’re not here to say we’re against you changin’. But we’re worried. If Pinkie finds out about these powers, it could cause a rift between you two. We just don’t want to see that happen.” "Applejack’s right," Twilight said softly, moving closer. “We just want to help, but we can’t if you won’t let us.” “Help?” Pizza Pie’s voice turned cold. “So once you know everything, you’ll try to change me back, right?” The ponies shared a tense look, and then Twilight met Pizza’s gaze. “If that’s what’s hurting you. . . yes, we don’t have much of a choice.” "I knew it. You’re all the same. . . my dad, Maud, Discord. . ." Pizza Pie’s voice cracked. “And now you six... Every time I try to change, it slips away, but not this time. I like my new look, and you're not taking this from me!" Twilight reached out a hoof. “N-No, we’re not here to take anything away! We’re just here to help-” Pizza Pie slapped Twilight’s hoof aside. "Cut the excuses! You can’t stand that I’m powerful now, that I have magic like yours. What’s wrong did Discord tell you I was a fake? Did he plan to expose me that night? Are the voices I keep hearing his doing?” Her anger flared as she grabbed Twilight by the shoulders, her grip tightening. “Tell me what you know!” “Discord? Voices? I-I don’t know what you’re talking about-” Twilight gasped as Pizza’s grip dug into her shoulders. “P-Pizza Pie you’re hurting me. . .” “Hey! Let go of her!” Rainbow Dash yelled, rushing in and pulling Pizza Pie away from Twilight. The other ponies quickly gathered around Twilight, their faces filled with worry. “T-Twilight, are you okay?” Fluttershy asked, her eyes wide with concern. “You ain’t hurt, right?” Applejack brushed Twilight’s shoulders, inspecting her for any injuries. Twilight took a breath and gave a reassuring smile. “I’m fine, girls. Really, don’t worry-” "Discord didn't tell us anything!” Rainbow Dash said, eyes blazing as she glared at Pizza Pie. “You’re just being paranoid! And if you ever hurt Twilight like that again, I-" “You’ll what?” Pizza Pie interrupted with a mocking sneer. “Use your crummy elements against me? Like that’s gonna solve anything.” “What did you say?” Rainbow’s voice rose, but Twilight gently held her back. Pizza Pie turned her gaze to Twilight, a dark smirk playing on her lips. “You heard me. Your precious elements are just a shadow of a stronger magic one that doesn’t need six ponies to work. You really think that makes you special? You’re just. . . replacements.” With that, she turned coldly and started walking toward the exit. Rainbow Dash’s anger boiled over. “Alright, that’s it! I’m done with you being such a know-it-all!” She darted after Pizza Pie, her wings carrying her forward in a blur. “Get back here!” “Wait, Rainbow!” Twilight called, but Rainbow had already caught up to Pizza Pie, grabbing her by the hoof. “We tried talking you through this, but if you won’t listen, we’ll handle this the hard way-” Before she could finish, Pizza Pie’s unexpected strength pushed Rainbow’s grip away. In one swift motion, she hurled Rainbow across the room. Rainbow crashed into the far wall with a loud thud, a crater forming around her before she slid down slowly like a leaf falling from a tree. Her friends rushed over, horrified. “A-are you okay, Rainbow?” Fluttershy gently helped her up. “Y-Yeah. . . just a little shaken. . .” Rainbow groaned, rubbing her head as she steadied herself. As the others tended to Rainbow, Pizza Pie turned to leave. Twilight, her worry now tinged with fear, quickly followed her down the hall, flying past her and landing in front to block her path. “Pizza Pie, this has gone far enough!” Twilight’s voice was firm. “You’re clearly not well, and you hurt Rainbow Dash-” “Move. . .” Pizza Pie said quietly, her mane casting a shadow over her face. She lifted her head, revealing narrowed eyes that glowed with a blood-red hue. An ominous aura formed around her, taking the shape of a towering, shadowy figure that loomed over Twilight. “I said. . . move.” Twilight’s heart raced, and, unable to mask her fear, she took a small step aside, letting Pizza Pie pass. The shadow faded as Pizza walked towards the castle’s entrance. Just as she neared the door, Spike entered, holding the door open. “Uh, hey, Pizza Pie-” Spike started, noticing the intense, almost scorching heat radiating from her. As she passed, her aura melted the solid crystal door effortlessly, leaving a smoldering outline where she’d walked through. Spike stared in shock as she exited the castle. “D-Did Pizza Pie just. . . just melt the door by walking through it?” Applejack stammered, watching in disbelief. “Uh-huh. . .” Fluttershy replied, her voice trembling. “We just saw that too, dear. . .” Rarity added, eyes wide. Twilight looked at the still-steaming door and sighed, her expression heavy. “This is far worse than we thought.” “Wh-Whoa. . . What the hay just happened?!” Spike shook his head, still processing the scene. “How did she do that? Twilight, what’s going on?” “We don’t fully know yet, Spike. But whatever it is, it has something to do with that horn she’s got.” “Yeah, we kinda figured.” Rainbow Dash, now steady on her hooves, landed beside Twilight. “So. . . what’s the plan?” “The plan is to find her and stop this before it gets any worse.” Twilight said firmly. “But what about Pinkie Pie?” Rarity asked, worry etched on her face. “What will we tell her?” “We’ll tell her the truth,” Applejack replied with a determined nod. “Shoulda told her from the beginnin’.” “Truth about what?” Pinkie Pie’s voice piped up unexpectedly from behind them, making them all jump. She was holding a box of fresh muffins, a wide smile on her face. “I didn’t see any special muffins around, so I thought maybe I’d eaten them this morning and forgot! So, I baked new ones instead!” “P-Pinkie, we need to tell you some-” “Good thing I know the secret ingredient for her special muffins!” Pinkie grinned, glancing around to make sure no one else was listening. She leaned in and whispered, “It’s chocolate. . .” She giggled before her eyes drifted to the castle door. “Uh. . . what’s with the hole? And where’s my cousin?” The friends exchanged worried glances, unsure of how to begin. Twilight finally stepped forward, placing a gentle hoof on Pinkie’s shoulder. She took a deep breath, steadying herself. “Pinkie, there’s something you need to know. . .” Meanwhile, outside, a furious Pizza Pie stormed through Ponyville, her steps echoing in the otherwise quiet marketplace. Red energy pulsed around her, and her sharp gaze darted across the ponies who looked her way. As she walked, the familiar mocking voices from before began to echo in her mind, louder and harsher than ever. “(Look, isn’t that Pizza Pie?)” “(You mean Pinkie Pie’s cousin from that party?)” “Oh yeah! She’s the one who slipped at the punch bowl!” “Didn’t she get exposed for not having a cutie mark?” “Look, she’s got a new cutie mark now. . .Wonder if it’s real. . ” The voices grew louder, merging into laughter that twisted and taunted, making Pizza Pie’s vision blur. Her head spun, and the ponies around her seemed to shift, their eyes glowing red like the shadowy figure from before. The dark silhouette stretched, engulfing her, until she couldn’t take it anymore. “Stop it. . . stop it. . . STOP IT!” Her scream shattered the air, making everypony in the vicinity stop in their tracks. They gathered around, whispering in confusion and alarm. “. . . You think I’m trying too hard?” Pizza Pie whispered, her voice shaking with anger. “Trying to be like Pinkie. . .?” A cold silence fell. “I’M NOT!” she screamed. “I am done with that! I’m my own pony! You hear me? I’M DIFFERENT NOW!” Her chest heaved with each breath, and she collapsed onto the ground, exhausted. A pony from the crowd cautiously approached her, speaking in a calming voice. “I’m sorry. . . but we don’t know what you’re talking about. If you’re having trouble, Princess Twilight-” “Of course, you don’t understand,” Pizza Pie interrupted, her voice chillingly calm. “And your princess can’t help me.” Her eyes narrowed, glowing once more, sending the pony stumbling back in fear. “Maybe it’s time I show you just how different I am.” Back at the castle, Twilight finished explaining everything to Pinkie, her voice filled with quiet hope. “. . . and that’s what happened, Pinkie.” Pinkie’s eyes were wide, trying to process it all. “Wait, wait. . . So you’re telling me my cousin, Pizza Pie, lifted an entire forest of apple trees, mind-controlled a bird, finished a dress in seconds, and hurled a boulder across the fields?” “I know it sounds wild, Pinkie,” Twilight replied, “but we saw it all happen.” Pinkie’s eyes lit up with excitement. “That’s. . . SUPER AMAZING! I didn’t know she could do all that! And you kept it a secret from me? Why?” Twilight placed a gentle hoof on Pinkie’s shoulder. “We were worried. . . that you’d be upset with how much she’s changed, and that she’s not acting like herself anymore.” “‘Acting strange’? That’s silly! Pizza Pie’s still Pizza Pie! So she’s got some new powers? Big deal! Oh! Maybe she can help me throw parties now! With her horn, set-up would be a breez-” “Pinkie!” Rainbow Dash cut in, her voice sharp. “This isn’t a joke it’s serious!” Rarity nodded, her eyes earnest. “Yes, darling, we’re worried. Your cousin might be in trouble.” Pinkie’s enthusiasm faded, replaced by confusion. “Trouble? W-What kind of trouble?” “Pizza Pie isn’t herself when she’s using those powers,” Twilight said. “She seems. . . possessed, somehow.” “She’s right, Sugarcube,” Applejack added. “We gotta stop her before she does somethin’ none of us can fix.” Pinkie shook her head. “No. . . Cousin Pizza would never hurt anypony!” Rainbow Dash huffed, dragging Pinkie to the throne room and pointing at the massive crater in the wall. “Does This look like nothing? She threw me into that wall, Pinkie! And don’t think it was an accident she’s mad because she thinks we’re judging her for acting all. . . well, crazy!” Pinkie’s expression crumpled, her voice shaking. “No. . . I-I don’t believe you. . .” “Pinkie, dear, we’re so sorry,” Rarity said gently, “but Pizza Pie. . . she’s changed.” “No. . .” Pinkie’s eyes filled with tears. “You’re wrong!” “Pinkie, I know it’s hard to believe, but-” “HOW WOULD YOU KNOW?” Pinkie yelled, pulling away. “You’ve only known her a month! The Pizza Pie I know is kind, caring. . . She’s been through a lot, and all she wanted was for you to see her for who she is!” “Pinkie, I-” “Don’t you see? She’s been trying so hard to fit in, and I was finally going to be there for her! But all you care about is what she Can do, not how she feels!” As her voice echoed through the castle, a loud explosion boomed in the distance. The group turned their heads to see a thick column of black smoke rising over Ponyville. “What in tarnation was that?!” Applejack shouted. “I don’t know,” Twilight replied, her voice heavy with dread. “But I hope it’s not what we think it is.” “It’d better not be,” Rainbow Dash said, flying out the window. “I’ll go check the damage!” “What about Pinkie?” Fluttershy asked softly. Rarity put a hoof on Pinkie’s shoulder, her voice calm but firm. “We’ll have to leave her here, Fluttershy. This is too much for her to process all at once.” Twilight nodded. “She needs time. Let’s go.” The group left the castle and hurried toward Ponyville. As they neared, the air grew thick with smoke, casting an eerie yellow glow over the town. When they reached the marketplace, they froze. A massive crater stretched across half the square, with ponies running for cover. Others lay injured, dazed from the explosion. Twilight’s heart sank. “We’re too late. . . .” “Whoa . . . what happened here?” Rainbow Dash gasped, soaring above the marketplace, taking in the destruction below. The rest of the ponies arrived at the scene, shocked at the devastation. Panicked ponies were fleeing while others lay injured amid shattered stands and debris. Twilight and her friends sprang into action, helping those trapped. “O-Oh my goodness . . . the marketplace . . . it’s . . . it’s gone,” Fluttershy murmured, gliding through the wreckage. Her eyes widened as she spotted a familiar pony buried under a pile of wooden planks. “Ca-Carrot Top!” The others noticed Fluttershy landing and rushed to her side. Without hesitation, they began removing the planks to free the injured pony. “Sugarcube, you alright?” Applejack asked as she gently helped Carrot Top to her hooves. “Carrot Top, what happened here?” Twilight questioned, her voice tinged with concern. “Princess Twilight!” Carrot Top breathed in relief. “I-I don’t know . . . There was this huge explosion out of nowhere. It blew up most of the stands, and before we knew it, everypony was screaming and running!” “Got any ideas who did this?” Rainbow Dash asked, hovering nearby. “Just so we're all on the same page here.” “Enough with your snarky comments, Rainbow,” Applejack chided, giving her a stern look. “There’s injured ponies we need to worry about.” “Hey, I’m just saying,” Rainbow huffed. “We already know who did this.” “That’s enough, you two,” Twilight interrupted. “Gather the wounded and take them to safety. I’ll check the crater for anypony else who might be nearby.” “RIGHT!” Meanwhile, Pinkie Pie was hurrying toward Ponyville, determination in her eyes. She wanted to find her cousin before Twilight and the others did. As she approached the edge of town, her breath caught at the sight of injured ponies, many covered in dust and bruises, gathering in a somber crowd. Horrified, Pinkie called out to them. “What happened to everypony?” she asked, her voice trembling. “Who did this to you?” A pony stepped forward, eyes narrowed as he looked at her. “Why don’t you ask your cousin?” “She did this . . . to all of us.” “We were just minding our business,” another pony said bitterly, “until she start shouting in public.” “Yeah,” another chimed in. “Then this red aura surrounded her, and the next thing we knew, our stands were blown apart. Most of us barely made it out in one piece!” The crowd’s voices rose, their anger turning toward Pinkie. She stood there, her eyes welling up with tears, absorbing their accusations in silence, unable to defend her cousin. “Okay, that’s enough, everypony,” a familiar voice said firmly. Spike emerged from the crowd, his small frame standing tall. “This isn’t the time to argue there’s a crisis here, and Princess Twilight’s already helping. Now, let’s follow her orders and get to safety. Pinkie here is going to join her friends to help, alright?” The crowd exchanged looks, grudgingly nodding as they moved past Pinkie, following Spike’s words. Spike turned to her and smiled reassuringly. “Go on, Pinkie, it’s okay,” he said gently. “I’ll take it from here. Go help Twilight.” Pinkie wiped her tears, giving him a grateful smile. “Thank you, Spike. I will!” With her spirits lifted, she galloped toward Ponyville to join her friends. Twilight was now hovering over the massive crater in the marketplace, searching for any sign of life. She was about to turn back when she noticed an ominous red and yellow glow radiating from the center. Standing at the crater’s heart was a shadowy figure, motionless and menacing. Twilight felt the temperature spike as the ground trembled beneath her. Her friends arrived and froze at the sight of the figure below. “Wha-What is that, Twilight?” Rarity stammered, her eyes widening. “If it’s who we think it is,” Twilight said cautiously, “we need to keep our distance. This could be dangerous.” “There are still ponies down there!” Applejack exclaimed, pointing into the crater. Her face paled as she recognized the trio. “It’s the Cutie Mark Crusaders! What in tarnation are they doin’ down there?!” “Aaaaaahhh!! Sweetie Belle! Dear sister!” Rarity cried, grabbing Applejack and shaking her in panic. “APPLEJACK, you have to do something!” “I-I can’t reach them; they’re too far down!” Applejack replied, her voice tight with worry. “I’ll get them!” Rainbow Dash shouted from above. She dove down, reaching the three fillies in seconds. “Everypony hold tight, I’m getting you girls out of-” “Look out!” Apple Bloom yelled, pointing behind Rainbow. Rainbow turned, but before she could react, the figure swung its tail, sending her hurtling through the air. She crashed into a nearby building, sprawling in a dazed heap. The three fillies gasped, their last hope of escape fading. The figure turned its attention back to them, advancing with a terrifying aura. Suddenly, a spark of magic enveloped the fillies, whisking them away to Twilight’s side. Their older sisters hugged them tightly, relieved. “Apple Bloom, are you alright?” Applejack asked, holding her close. “I’m fine, big sis,” Apple Bloom replied shakily. “Just what were you three doing down there, Sweetie Belle?” Rarity asked, still in shock. “We were trying to help, Rarity,” Sweetie Belle murmured. “Like Princess Twilight said. But it didn’t go the way we thought. . .” Twilight gave the fillies a stern but gentle look. “It was brave of you, but very irresponsible. We’ll take it from here now, get somewhere safe.” “But what about Rainbow Dash?” Scootaloo asked, glancing toward where her hero had landed. “We’ll go get her, don’t you worry,” Fluttershy assured her. The fillies nodded and hurried to safety. Suddenly, from the crater, a clawed limb stretched up, gripping the edge. The ponies froze, hoping the creature wouldn’t notice them. “Don’t . . . move a muscle,” Twilight whispered. “I-I can’t, Twilight,” Fluttershy whimpered, shaking with fear. “What . . . what is that, Twilight?” Rarity asked, slowly stepping back toward her friends. Another clawed limb appeared, gripping the opposite side. The creature hoisted itself upward, the ground rumbling as it emerged. The ponies braced themselves, their breaths shallow, watching as the figure finally rose into full view. They stared in shock as they realized what or who they were facing. The creature had the form of a mare, but twisted by a dark red and yellow aura, her eyes glowing menacingly. Two massive tails, thick and powerful, swayed ominously behind her, blocking out the sunlight. Twilight steeled herself, her voice low but determined. “Girls, stay ready. Whatever happens, don’t engage. We’re dealing with something far more powerful than we’ve ever faced.” Applejack swallowed hard, recognizing the shape and the familiar colors. “Twilight, is that?” "What we’re dealing with," Twilight said, her voice filled with both sorrow and determination, "is our best friend’s cousin." ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ~ End of chapter 14 Author's Note When the beast awakens within, fear its power as it smites in grim. The Pizza is gone and the beast shall take her place. Now it’s ponyville’s turn to suffer the same. The ponies of harmony try to save the day but the question remains: would one relative get in the other's way?
Modesty Chapter 15: Inner Monster part 1⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ The ponies now stood face-to-face with an unexpected, unsettling threat. Pizza Pie—the cousin they once welcomed with open hooves had transformed, her mysterious power leaving Ponyville in ruins. Twilight and her friends held their ground, careful not to provoke her, as Pizza Pie’s fiery aura pulsed menacingly above them. "Psst. . . got a plan, Twilight?" Applejack whispered, her voice tense. "Not yet. We need to stay calm and still," Twilight muttered. "Let’s hope she calms down first." "That’s assuming she even can," Rarity replied, nervously eyeing the towering figure. "I-I’m scared, Twilight. . ." Fluttershy whimpered. "Fluttershy, please try to stop trembling," Twilight said quietly, her eyes darting around, searching for an escape route. Finally, she spotted a narrow alley behind a nearby house. "Girls, on my signal, we’ll move. Stick close to me so we can get out of her sight." The others nodded, bracing themselves as Twilight prepared to count. "One. . . two. . ." Before Twilight could give the final signal, Pinkie Pie appeared, racing into Ponyville with a look of horror as she took in the shattered marketplace. Desperately scanning for her friends, she spotted them standing frozen near two enormous, clawed appendages. "C-Cousin. . . Cousin! Stop!" Pinkie called out, her voice trembling. Hearing Pinkie’s shout, the ponies turned, their hearts sinking. Pinkie was running straight into danger, oblivious to the risks. "Pinkie?! No, stay back!" Twilight shouted, alarmed. "It’s too dangerous!" Pizza Pie’s head swiveled, her fiery gaze settling on Pinkie Pie below. She shifted her attention from Twilight and the others, focusing solely on Pinkie. Slowly, she lowered one of her massive tails, bringing herself closer to her cousin. "Pi-Pizza. . . Cousin. . . whatever you’re trying to prove, please stop," Pinkie pleaded, her voice breaking. Tears began to well up in her eyes. "You don’t have to do this. You’re hurting everypony our friends, yourself. . ." "Pinkie, please get out of there!" Twilight yelled, but Pinkie didn’t seem to hear. "But you’re not like this, Cousin," Pinkie continued, her tone soft yet insistent. "I know you’re still in there, somewhere. So please, just. . . stop." Despite the tension, Pinkie took a trembling step forward and extended her hoof toward Pizza Pie, a tearful smile on her face. Pizza Pie paused, her gaze softening as she looked down at her cousin’s outstretched hoof. For a moment, she seemed to hesitate. She slowly raised her own hoof, reaching out to meet Pinkie’s gesture. Just then, a streak of rainbow-colored light shot across the sky as Rainbow Dash emerged from the city ruins, disoriented but regaining her balance. She shook her head, blinking to clear her vision. "Aww. . . that one kinda hurt-” Rainbow Dash muttered, rubbing her head. “Wh-what in Equestria?!” She gasped as she spotted her friends huddled beneath a towering, transformed Pizza Pie. "Is that. . . Pinkie Pie and Pizza?!" Without a second thought, Rainbow Dash zoomed toward the scene. "Pinkie! What are you doing?! Get away from her!" "R-Rainbow Dash? N-No, wait-" Pinkie tried to warn her. But it was too late. Pizza Pie’s gaze snapped toward the approaching Rainbow, her aura flaring as she leaped onto a burning rooftop and swiped at Rainbow Dash with her enormous, clawed tail. "Rainbow, look out!" the ponies shouted in unison. "HUH?!" Rainbow swerved just in time, narrowly dodging the first attack. "Whoa! That was close!" Another tail swiped at her, but she twisted mid-air and evaded it again. "Hah! It'll take more than that to catch me!" Pizza Pie, undeterred, continued to chase after Rainbow Dash, her strikes getting faster and more furious. Meanwhile, the others took advantage of the distraction and quickly pulled Pinkie Pie to safety behind City Hall. "Pinkie! Snap out of it!" Applejack waved a hoof in front of Pinkie’s face. "We gotta get you outta here, Sugarcube!" "B-but my cousin-" Pinkie stammered, looking over her shoulder in distress. "I’m sorry, Pinkie," Twilight said gently, "but we have to stop her before she causes more destruction." Pinkie struggled against Applejack’s grip, her voice rising in desperation. "No! Pizza Pie wouldn’t do this! She’s not like that!" "That out there," Applejack said somberly, "ain’t your cousin anymore, Pinkie." From behind the building, they watched as Pizza Pie continued to chase Rainbow Dash, demolishing homes with each bound. Twilight’s eyes widened, her mind racing. "This is getting out of hoof," she murmured, pacing. "She’s destroying Ponyville without even knowing it." "This ain’t the first time a unicorn’s gone and wrecked Ponyville," Applejack commented, sneaking a glance at the destruction. "But she’s doin' as much damage as Tirek did." "Goodness, she’s lost her senses completely," Rarity observed, her voice trembling. "Even I wouldn’t dream of turning Ponyville into my own personal playground!" "The power she’s using is unlike anything we’ve seen," Twilight added. "But we have to act fast." "Got all the townsfolk to safety, Twilight," came a soft voice. Fluttershy flew in beside them, with Spike perched on her back. "Good timing, Fluttershy," Twilight said with relief. "Spike, can you write to Princess Celestia? We need reinforcements to help the injured ponies." "On it!" Spike’s expression darkened as he glanced at the chaotic scene. "Whoa. . . did Pizza Pie do all this?" Pinkie looked away, guilt heavy on her face. Twilight nodded, passing Spike a quill and scroll. "Yes, Spike. We’re handling it carefully." "Carefully?" Spike raised an eyebrow as he sent the letter. "And what if ‘carefully’ doesn’t work?" Twilight exchanged a worried look with her friends. "Then we may have to use the Elements. But we need all six of us." "B-but what about Pinkie Pie?" Fluttershy’s voice wavered. "She’s. . . not herself right now." The group looked over to Pinkie, who had been silent, eyes filled with worry. "Fluttershy’s got a point, Twilight," Applejack said. "Pinkie’s not ready to face her cousin." "Maybe Starlight could help," Rarity suggested. "She’s studied spells that could restrain her, right?" "She’s on a magic tour with Trixie and Discord," Twilight sighed. "Which means we have to handle this ourselves." She turned to Applejack. "Applejack, go tell Rainbow to keep her busy for as long as she can." "On it, Sugarcube," Applejack replied, darting off to find Rainbow Dash. "Rarity and I will build a barrier to keep Pizza Pie contained," Twilight announced. "I’m with you, darling," Rarity said confidently. "Fluttershy," Twilight continued, "take Pinkie somewhere safe. Once the barrier’s up, I’ll teleport you both back. Spike, stay with the other ponies and wait for the princess’s response." "Are you sure the Elements are a good idea?" Fluttershy asked, fidgeting nervously. "What if they… turn her to stone?" Twilight hesitated. "It’s our best chance of holding her in place, just long enough to figure out what’s happened to her." Pinkie’s voice broke through, laced with desperation. "But… what if they don’t change her back? What if my cousin… stays like this?" Twilight placed a steady hoof on Pinkie’s shoulder. "Pinkie, right now, Ponyville needs us. But we’ll do everything we can to help her too. We need your help, Pinkie." Rarity spoke gently. "We’re not treating her like some villain. She’s your cousin, and we all care about her." Fluttershy squeezed Pinkie’s hoof. "We believe in you, Pinkie. We believe she’s still the cousin you know." Pinkie looked around at her friends, finding a flicker of hope in their eyes. She wiped away her tears, nodding. "Alright… let’s do this, everypony!" The group tightened their resolve, prepared to face Pizza Pie and bring their friend back. "Okay, girls. Here’s what we’re going to do." ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ Meanwhile, at Canterlot Castle, the royal sisters, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, are hosting a meeting with the mayors from all the neighboring towns across Equestria. The crisis involving the three villains left the kingdom in disarray, and the aim of this gathering is to coordinate the reconstruction efforts and distribute resources effectively. As the meeting begins, Princess Celestia stands, greeting the assembled leaders with a gracious smile. "Let me be the first to say," she begins, "it is with gratitude that we convene here today with Equestria's finest mayors Manehattan, Cloudsdale, Appaloosa, Tall Tale, Fillydelphia, and Ponyville. Thank you all for coming." The mayors rise, bow respectfully to the princesses, then take their seats. "We are here," Celestia continues, "to renew our terms for the reconstruction of our capital city. Let us start by discussing the distribution of this month’s supplies. Does anypony wish to propose an adjustment to the terms?" After a pause, the Mayor of Cloudsdale, Mayor Lightning, raises his hoof. "Your Highness, may I speak?" Princess Celestia nods. "Of course, Mayor Lightning. The floor is yours." Mayor Lightning stands and addresses the room. "Princesses and fellow mayors, my townsfolk have worked diligently to keep Equestria’s weather on track, ensuring each season arrives smoothly. But since the crisis of the three villains, our output has slowed. With many of our pegasi assisting in reconstruction and taking on overtime in the factory, I propose a slight fee increase to support our ongoing weather production." Mayor Sakura of Manehattan interjects, "I must object! Charging other cities for stable weather is unreasonable. Seasonal creation is mandatory, and the volunteers from Cloudsdale chose to aid in the capital's reconstruction." Mayor Idea of Tall Tale joins in. "I agree. It isn’t fair to impose extra costs, especially when we’re all contributing workers for the reconstruction. I, too, object." Mayor Lightning paces, visibly frustrated. "Of course, the 'wealthiest' cities would easily dismiss a fair proposal. Cloudsdale has limited resources, and our factory is aging. Our processes haven't changed in ages, and yet, we are expected to carry the same burden." Mayor Colada of Fillydelphia responds, "There are other ways to request help, and charging bits should not be one of them. Fillydelphia is far from wealthy, but we don’t impose extra fees for essential goods." Idea nods in agreement. "In Tall Tale, we even have pegasi willing to help with weather-making. We would gladly offer them to assist Cloudsdale." Sakura adds, "In Manehattan as well, we have pegasi ready to lend a hoof without any strings attached. Despite your dismissive tone, Mayor Lightning, our cities are here to support Equestria." Incensed, Mayor Lightning flies over the table. "I don't need your pegasi's help to fulfill Cloudsdale’s duty! All I asked for was a reasonable fee to keep things on schedule, without compromising the safety of Equestria’s seasonal cycles." Mayor Polar of Appaloosa intervenes, flying up to meet him. "The seasonal weather distribution is a fundamental rule passed down by our ancestors. It states, 'All weather must be shared fairly across Equestria, not used for profit.' So, Mayor Lightning, if you value tradition, consider the other mayors' assistance." Princess Luna rises, her tone firm but diplomatic. "Enough, all of you. Let us remind you, noble mayors, that our call for volunteers is a temporary request to rebuild what was lost. Mayor Lightning, if Cloudsdale is struggling to meet the weather needs due to this redistribution, please address it directly with us. We will find a solution that maintains fairness." Mayor Mare of Ponyville chimes in, "This is a solvable issue if we work together. Cloudsdale does so much to keep Equestria’s seasons in harmony. We should all show some appreciation for their hard work." Celestia smiles, ready to wrap up the debate. "Let us reach an agreement, then. Each city’s pegasi can volunteer to support Cloudsdale’s weather production, while those assisting in Canterlot will continue their work. The sooner we work together, the sooner we can restore Equestria’s harmony." She turns to Mayor Lightning. "Mayor Lightning, will this be acceptable?" Mayor Lightning considers the princess’s words and glances around the room. "Perhaps my terms were too much. Since the crisis, I was focused solely on Cloudsdale’s needs. For that, I apologize." Mayor Idea pats him on the back reassuringly. "We’ve all been affected by this crisis, Mayor Lightning. None of us blames you for doing what you thought was best." Mayor Polar agrees. "We must stick together and support each other for the good of Equestria and all our citizens." Mayor Lightning smiles and accepts their words of encouragement. "Thank you, everypony. I appreciate your understanding and offer of help." The mayors smile and shake hooves, a newfound unity evident among them. The royal sisters look on, relieved and proud of the mayors’ cooperation. "Well done, Luna," Celestia says warmly. "You handled that beautifully." "They needed guidance to move from argument to agreement," Luna replies with a smile. "And they’ve shown they’re committed to doing what’s best for Equestria." Celestia nods. "Exactly, sister. This meeting is now-" Suddenly, a distant explosion shakes the castle, sending a shockwave through the hall. Startled, Celestia and Luna rush to the balcony. Plumes of smoke rise ominously from the direction of Ponyville, and just then, a royal guard flies up, his expression grave. A royal guard flew urgently toward the royal sisters, who stood on the balcony, overlooking the distant town. “Your Highnesses, we have an emergency in Ponyville!” “Ponyville?” Princess Celestia murmured as a wisp of magical smoke floated toward her, quickly forming into a scroll. “A letter from Princess Twilight?” She unfurled it and began reading, her expression becoming more serious with each line. “What does it say, sister?” Luna asks, turning to the guard. The guard looked anxious. “There’s a rampage underway by an orange unicorn with a strange red aura surrounding her. We don’t know who she is or what powers she wields.” “An orange unicorn?” Celestia whispered. “Yes, Your Highness. She’s exhibiting destructive abilities we’ve never encountered. What are your orders?” Luna’s expression darkened as she murmured to herself, “(It couldn’t be. . . Her transformation was minimal; it shouldn't have any flaws.)” Celestia, finishing the letter, glanced at her sister’s concerned face, then turned to the guard. “Follow the route given in this scroll and bring assistance with you.” She gestured to another guard. “Prepare my armor.” "Sister, you’re going alone?” Luna asks, a touch of concern in her voice. “Yes. I’ll assist Princess Twilight in Ponyville. Luna, you must contact the Pillars and bring them to join us as soon as possible.” Luna watched her elder sister stride from the room with purpose, her guards escorting the mayors away to safety. The mayors exchanged worried glances, but Mayor Mare spoke up, her voice trembling. “What’s happening in Ponyville? Who’s attacking it?” “Remain calm, Mayor,” a guard assured her. “Princess Twilight has ordered an evacuation. It’s best for you to stay here for now.” “Stay here? My townsfolk need me!” Mayor Mare insist. Luna places a comforting hoof on her shoulder. “Fear not, Mayor. I will join my sister to assist Princess Twilight. And I’ve dispatched guards to gather the Pillars; they’ll soon be at our side.” With that, Luna leaves the room, hurrying after Celestia, hoping the situation is not as dire as it seems. ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✶✶✶ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ~ End of chapter 15 Author's Note The rampaging unicorn terrorizes their hometown and their only solution is once again use their elements. Something their one friend refuses to do. I like to thank the winners of the OC's chapter appearance audition (2017). I have a had fun playing out the role of mayors of each towns for this chapter. I was the first time I've plan such an small event for this story and hoping to come up with more in the future.
Modesty Chapter 16: Inner Monster part 2⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ Back in Ponyville, Rainbow Dash darted through the town, deftly keeping the rampaging unicorn Pizza Pie occupied. She glanced back to see Applejack trailing a few yards behind and signaled to her. Rainbow pivoted, shooting past Pizza Pie to reach Applejack, grabbing her friend and pulling them behind a rundown house, out of sight. “What’re you doing, Applejack? I had her distracted!” Applejack ignored her frustration, looking dead serious. “Forget that! Twilight’s got a plan.” Meanwhile, Pizza Pie paused, scanning the area for the two mares. Her eyes glowed red as she shifted her vision to thermal, and she immediately located them. She began closing in silently. “Oh, great,” Rainbow Dash said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Lemme guess. It’s that same old ‘Teamwork Beats the Big Bad’ trick?” Applejack rolled her eyes. “Yes, but we’ve got to keep her busy while Twilight prepares. Here, take this rope.” Rainbow grinned, catching on. “You mean rodeo-style?” “Exactly,” Applejack said, gripping her end of the rope. “We’ll tie her down and buy Twilight some time.” “Just saying, AJ tying up a super-powered Pinkie Pie isn’t exactly a foolproof plan.” Before they could make their move, twin clawed tendrils extended from behind, trapping the mares in a deadly grip. They jumped back just in time as the claws closed around empty air, crushing the dilapidated house behind them. Pizza Pie leaped forward, her aura flaring dangerously as she advanced on them. “SPREAD OUT!” Applejack shouted. “Already on it!” Rainbow shot into the air, quickly darting back to slam a hoof into Pizza Pie’s face. “Hey, Pizza Pie! Over here!” she taunted, darting away before the unicorn could retaliate. Furious, Pizza Pie locked her gaze on the pegasus, her teeth gritting as the aura around her intensified. With a snarl, she launched forward in hot pursuit, red energy crackling around her. “That’s right, follow the pretty pony. Pretty pony wants to play tag and you're it.” Rainbow Dash taunted, zipping away to lead Pizza Pie on a chase. “(Twilight, you’d better be right about this . . .)” Applejack muttered under her breath as she picked up the rope and quietly moved into position. Across the way, Twilight and Rarity appeared atop a rooftop, watching the chaotic scene unfold below. They exchanged a determined glance, and Twilight whispered, “Are you ready, Rarity?” “Always, darling.” “Alright, just as we planned. Here we go!” From a distance, Spike and the townsfolk watched anxiously from the safety of the forest's edge. The Cutie Mark Crusaders noticed Spike pacing with worry etched on his face. “Don’t fret, Spike,” Apple Bloom said, patting his back. “They’ve got this! They always do.” “Yeah, but this time feels. . . different,” Spike said, glancing at the rumbling horizon. "Yeah" Scootaloo agreed. “I mean Pinkies' cousin seems pretty dangerous on her own.” Sweetie Belle, trying to stay optimistic, added, “But our sisters and friends are stronger. Besides, it’s just one unicorn! How much effort do they really need-” Before she could finish, the ground beneath them trembled as the sounds of the escalating battle reached their ears. Meanwhile, on the rooftop, Twilight and Rarity focused intently on gathering their magic, synchronizing their powers as Rainbow Dash continued to evade Pizza Pie’s wild attacks. "How much longer dear? . . . ." Rarity asks, straining with the magical energy. Twilight’s voice is steady but tense. ". . . Just a little more Rarity . . . we almost got it . . ." The ground rumbles and splits open, revealing a massive crystal structure rising beneath Ponyville. As it grows, the crystal wall stretches skyward, arching over the village until its ends meet, forming an enormous barrier around the town. On the distant hill, ponies watch in awe at Twilight and Rarity's stunning feat, with Spike guiding them to their designated safe zones. "We did it, Twilight!" Rarity exclaims, her voice triumphant. "But. . . will that be enough?" Twilight, her gaze locked on the chaos below, nodded with resolve. "Let’s hope so, Rarity. Now, let's get closer and help Rainbow Dash." Rainbow zooms up to the shimmering crystal wall, her eyes wide with excitement. “WHOA. . . This is so awesome!” Applejack glances at Rainbow, but her focus quickly shifts back as she notices Pizza Pie leaping close, her tail whipping toward Rainbow with frightening speed. "Rainbow! LOOK OUT!" Applejack yells, twirling her rope expertly and throwing it around Pizza Pie's tail. With all her strength, she tugs hard, swinging the unicorn and slamming her into the ground. "That was awesome, Applejack!" Rainbow says, catching her breath. "Not the time for thanks just yet! Get over here and help tie her up-WHOA!" Applejack is yanked off her hooves, suspended in mid-air as Pizza Pie lifts her with her powerful tail. "Applejack, hang on!" Rainbow dives to her friend’s aid. "Hey, Pizza Pie!" "No! Rainbow-WHOA!" Pizza Pie’s tail swings in a wide arc, and Applejack is sent flying, hurtling toward Rainbow Dash. "Gotcha!" Rainbow catches her just in time. "You alright, AJ?" Applejack nods, though slightly dazed. "Yeah, thanks . . .” Suddenly, the ground shakes as Pizza Pie slams her tail into it, causing a nearby house to rise. She catches the building in her hooves, lifting it over her head and hurling it at the two ponies with surprising ease. Hearing the ominous whistle, Rainbow and Applejack look up just in time to see the flying house barreling toward them. "Oh, C'MON!" Rainbow ducks just in time, the house narrowly missing them as it crashes down behind them. She wastes no time, darting away with Applejack in tow. "We gotta keep Pizza Pie distracted!” Rainbow shouts. "Yeah, but how long can we keep this up? We can’t just-WHOA!” Applejack clings to Rainbow as Pizza Pie hurls another house in their direction. Rainbow weaves through the air, dodging the buildings with every ounce of speed she can muster. From a safe distance, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie watch, worry etched across their faces. Fluttershy turns to Pinkie, who stares at the chaos in a stunned silence. "Oh, dear. . . Rainbow Dash and Applejack are in trouble," Fluttershy whispers. "I wish we can help but-" Pinkie remains motionless, her gaze fixed on her cousin, who is tearing through Ponyville and attacking her friends. Her usually vibrant eyes are filled with a rare sadness. "D-Don’t worry, Pinkie," Fluttershy says gently, placing a comforting hoof on her shoulder. "Twilight has a plan. We just need to have faith that we can bring your cousin back.” "Let’s hope so," Pinkie whispers, her voice barely audible. Steeling themselves, Fluttershy and Pinkie edge closer to their friends. Meanwhile, Rainbow continues to weave and dodge, carrying Applejack. She glances over her shoulder and realizes that their fiery unicorn pursuer has vanished. "Hey, where did she go?" Rainbow asks, alarmed. Applejack looks around, catching her breath. "I-I think we lost her, Rainbow.” Just then, with a crackle of dark energy, Pizza Pie teleports directly in front of them, mere feet away. With a fierce growl, she grabs a nearby wagon and hurls it straight at Rainbow and Applejack. The wagon hurtles through the air, closing in fast. “Rainbow, RAINBOW! WATCH OUT!” “Look out for wha-Oof!” The wagon smashed into them, sending both mares skidding across the ground. Applejack scrambled up first, helping her friend stand. “R-Rainbow, you okay?” Rainbow shook off the dirt, taking Applejack’s hoof. “I’m fine. . . but that sneaky snake totally pulled a fast one on us!” Seeing them get up, Pizza Pie snarled, her horn glowing red before she launched another beam of magic. Just before it could reach them, a wall of crystal sprang from the earth, blocking the blast. Twilight and Rarity teleported in beside them. “You girls alright?” Twilight asked as she lifted Applejack to her hooves. Applejack nodded, brushing herself off. “Barely. If it weren’t for y’all, we’d be toast.” “Awesome timing, Twilight!” Rainbow said, impressed. “So, what’s the plan now? Lock us in with Miss Rage-a-lot here?” “Next step is to hold her down so we can use the Elements.” Twilight pointed towards the others. “Go with Rarity to meet Fluttershy and Pinkie. I’ll teleport you all in once it’s time.” Applejack looked at Twilight, uncertain. “What’re you plannin’ to do, Sugarcube?” Twilight stood tall, her aura glowing with determination. “I’ll handle it from here.” Rarity frowned. “Are you sure, dear?” “I’m the Princess of Friendship,” Twilight said firmly. “It’s my duty to protect Ponyville.” Rainbow Dash stepped forward. “No way you’re doing this alone, Twilight. I’ve got your back.” “Rainbow, you’ve done enough. Just go with the others-” “And let you have all the fun? Not a chance. I’m with you.” Twilight sighed, seeing there was no changing her friend’s mind. “Alright, let’s go. But be ready, Rainbow.” “You got it! Pizza Pie, here comes trouble!” Rainbow smirked. As Twilight and Rainbow took off, Rarity used her magic to lift Applejack and teleport to safety. Pizza Pie’s horn flared as she aimed a barrage of magic blasts at the two. Twilight returned fire, evading the attacks as Rainbow swooped forward, snatching a rope from under the unicorn and yanking it to trip her. Seeing an opening, Twilight prepared a freezing spell, but Pizza Pie sensed it just in time and teleported out of sight. “What? Where did she-” Before Twilight could react, Pizza Pie reappeared above, snaring Twilight with her tail. “KYAAAAHHH!” “Twilight, hang on!” Rainbow shot up, circling Pizza Pie and wrapping her in rope to pull her away from Twilight. She strained as Pizza Pie resisted, but managed to give Twilight the opening to break free. Meanwhile, Rarity and Applejack reappeared near Fluttershy and Pinkie, who rushed over to help lift Applejack. “Pinkie, Fluttershy, stay with Applejack,” Rarity instructed. “I’ll be right back.” Applejack narrowed her eyes. “Now where do ya think you’re goin’, Rarity?” “Lending them a hoof, of course,” Rarity replied. “You don’t expect me to just stand here while they’re fighting for all of us, do you?” “But Twilight said to wait-” “I know, but they need all the help they can get right now.” Applejack sighed, but didn’t argue further. Instead, Pinkie looked up at Rarity, eyes wide with worry. “Is. . . is my cousin okay?” Rarity offered a reassuring smile. “She’s. . . keeping up with them, not to worry, darling. We’ll do everything we can to help her, I promise.” She hugged Pinkie tightly, giving her one last comforting glance before teleporting back to the fight. Fluttershy looked up at Applejack, trembling. “D-Do you think they can stop her?” Applejack put a steady hoof on Fluttershy’s shoulder. “I don’t just think so, Fluttershy. . . I know so.” "Pizza Pie, I know you’re still in there!" Twilight called out, voice strong but pleading. "Don’t give in to the rage! We’re your friends; let us help you. . ." Pizza Pie continued her assault, firing relentlessly until her magic was deflected by a shield Twilight conjured. The repeated blasts made the shield crack and tremble, pushing Twilight back. "Whatever magic is controlling you," Twilight continued, bracing against the pressure, "you need to fight it!" She glanced upward at Rainbow, signaling with a flick of her wings. Seeing the cue, Rainbow Dash steeled herself. "Alright, here goes nothing!" She took a deep breath and dove down, accelerating to incredible speed. A blazing rainbow trail followed her, streaking across the sky for all to see. Below, Pizza Pie sensed the oncoming threat and looked up, smirking as she charged a massive magic beam and fired it upward at Rainbow. "Uh-oh," Rainbow muttered, narrowly dodging the beam as it roared past her. "Is that all you got?!" she taunted, hoping to draw Pizza’s focus. But Pizza Pie just smirked, her eyes glinting with a dark energy. "What are you smiling at? Huh?!" Rainbow called, but before she could react, the magic beam behind her exploded, scattering into countless smaller blasts that rained down around her. "Oh, great!" she groaned, weaving between the magical projectiles. "Uh…a little help, Twilight?" "Hang on, I’ve got you!" Twilight shouted back. She countered the oncoming blasts with her own magic, creating a large protective barrier that shielded the ground from Pizza Pie’s attacks. "Alright, Twilight!" Rainbow cheered. "Rainbow, now’s your chance! Do it!" Twilight commanded, her voice brimming with urgency. Rainbow Dash gathered even more speed, pushing herself to the brink of her abilities. "Here I come!" she roared, diving so fast a mach cone began to form around her, and she closed in on the unicorn below. Seeing this, Pizza Pie extended her tail, trying to snatch Rainbow from mid-air. But Rainbow’s sheer speed deflected the grab, and Pizza Pie fired several more shots of magic in desperation. Twilight took advantage, using her own magic to shake the ground beneath Pizza, throwing off her aim. Rainbow tore through the sound barrier, triggering a Sonic Rainboom that exploded right over Pizza Pie with a shockwave so intense it shattered windows and toppled nearby structures. In the same moment, Twilight teleported Rainbow back to her side, leaving her unscathed from the collision. "Did we get her?" Rainbow panted. But then the ground rumbled, and Pizza Pie emerged from the debris, seemingly unscathed and brimming with even greater fury. "Are you serious? That didn’t work?" Rainbow exclaimed. "That wasn’t our final move," Twilight replied, eyes narrowing. Suddenly, a massive crystal plate erupted from the ground beneath Pizza Pie. Crystal shards shot up, wrapping around her hooves and slowly creeping upward, restraining her. Pizza Pie fought back, swinging her tail to break free, but two large crystal shards crashed down on her tail, pinning it. Rarity appeared in a flash of light beside Twilight and Rainbow. "Was that good enough, darling?" Rarity asked with a smirk. "Right on time, Rarity. Fantastic job!" Twilight praised. "Rarity, you were awesome!" Rainbow added. Rarity beamed. "Not as awesome as you, dear," she replied, casting a sympathetic glance at the struggling Pizza Pie. "I’m sorry about this, darling, but we need you to stay still if that’s alright." Twilight turned to Rarity, Rainbow, and the others she had summoned. "Everypony in position?" "We’re ready, sugarcube," Applejack affirmed, rubbing her head with a grin. "Just next time, give us a heads-up, will ya?" "Sorry, Applejack, there wasn’t time," Twilight replied. Suddenly, Pinkie Pie zipped close to Twilight’s face, looking frantic. "Where’s my cousin? Is she okay?!" But just as she asked, the crystal bindings around Pizza Pie began to splinter. With one powerful swing, Pizza Pie shattered one of the shards, her tail smashing through the others until she was nearly free. "Does that answer your question, Pinkie?" Rainbow remarked with a smirk. "Everypony, no distractions!" Twilight called urgently. "This is our last chance. Get close and stay focused!" The six ponies joined together in a circle, calling on their elements. As their combined magic activated, they began to lift off the ground, their manes lengthening and glowing as their colors brightened, creating a brilliant aura around them. Pizza Pie, now fully unbound, watched in awe and defiance, her own magic flaring as she prepared to unleash a final, massive blast. "Twilight, that’s one big magic beam coming right at us!" Rainbow warned. "Stay focused," Twilight said firmly. "We’re almost there!" At that moment, the power of the Elements of Harmony fully ignited, and they fired a colossal rainbow beam straight at Pizza Pie’s oncoming magic. The two forces collided in an explosion of light and color, each side pushing with all its strength. With every ounce of willpower, Twilight and her friends fought to overpower Pizza Pie. "Hold on, girls," Twilight urged. "We can do this. . . for Pizza Pie!" Finally, their combined power overwhelmed her. The rainbow magic shattered through Pizza Pie’s barrier, and her dark magic disintegrated. The Elements' power struck her directly, engulfing her in a radiant explosion. The shockwave sent shards of crystal scattering, and Twilight shielded her friends from the debris. As the dust settled, they looked down to see only a massive crater where Pizza Pie had stood. "THAT. . .WAS . . AWESOME!!!" Rainbow Dash exclaims, backflipping in mid-air, thrilled by their success. "That was mighty close," Applejack said, catching her breath. "I thought for sure we were done for." "I thought so too, Applejack," Twilight agreed. "But great job, everypony. Now, we just need to bring Pizza Pie back-" "COUSIN!!" Pinkie Pie suddenly shoved past her friends, sprinting toward the crater, desperately searching for any sign of her cousin. Rainbow Dash darted in front of her, blocking her way. "Whoa, Pinkie, hold up-" Pinkie Pie dodged, shuffling to the side in a panic. "Out of the way, Rainbow! Cousin! Pizza Pie!" "Pinkie, calm down," Twilight called out, attempting to steady her friend. "It’s still too dangerous to get close-" Pinkie Pie smacked Twilight’s hoof away. "This is all your fault! You said the Elements would fix Pizza Pie! You said we could save her!" "But Pinkie, darling," Rarity interjected gently, "we didn’t have any other choice. She was too powerful." "Rarity’s right," Twilight added, her voice heavy. "None of our other plans worked. The Elements of Harmony were our only hope." "Yeah, Pinkie," Rainbow Dash chimed in. "We’ve used the Elements loads of times, and nopony’s been hurt by it." She glanced back at the crater, her bravado slipping a little. "Even if… it does look like we might’ve sent her all the way to the next region." The other ponies glared at her, while Pinkie stood trembling with worry and frustration. But then, a low rumbling sound echoed from the crater. Pinkie’s ears perked up, and without a second thought, she dashed forward, leaving her friends scrambling to catch up. "Pinkie, wait!" Twilight shouted. "It’s still too dangerous! Come back!" As Pinkie got closer, the ground beneath them started to shake more violently. Rainbow quickly flew after her, grabbing her just in time to pull her back from the crater’s edge. "Let me go! Let me go!" Pinkie cried, struggling in Rainbow's grip. "My cousin needs me! I have to see if she’s okay!" "Quit squirming, Pinkie! I might drop you!" Rainbow grunted, tightening her hold. "For the last time, Pizza Pie is—" Suddenly, the crater exploded in a blinding flash. Rocks and debris flew in every direction, forcing the ponies to shield themselves from the blast. When the dust finally settled, an eerie figure emerged, levitating from the rubble. The familiar form of Pizza Pie floated before them, her body surrounded by a shimmering rainbow aura of their own Elemental magic swirling around her like a storm. Pizza Pie touched down, looking even more powerful, her eyes fixed coldly on each of them. The friends exchanged wide-eyed glances, disbelief and dread painted on their faces. "The Elements of Harmony. . ." Twilight whispered, her voice trailing off. "It. . .didn’t. . .work?!" ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✶✶✶ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ~ End of chapter 16
Modesty Chapter 17: Lack of Harmony⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ Somewhere along the winding road home, two unicorns and one Draconequus rode along, their wagon filled with bouquets, gifts, and trails of confetti from their magic tour in Manehattan. With smiles on their faces, it was clear their latest performance had been a success. "That was our best show so far!" Starlight said proudly. "I think we outdid ourselves!" Trixie tilted her hat with a smirk. "Of course, Trixie knew you'd love it. Only a grand genius like me could plan a performance so spectacular!" "I’ll give you that," Starlight chuckled. "Who knew the 'leap into a glass of water' trick would wow the audience so much? It’s a classic." Discord slithered into the conversation, a mischievous grin on his face. "Ah, but with a touch of chaos, I made sure you actually fit in that glass and without shattering it in your face." "My hooves are still numb from the impact," Trixie huffed, rubbing them. "Next time, warn me about your… ‘creative enhancements,’ Discord." "Oh, I’m sorry," Discord drawled, rolling his eyes. "I thought you enjoyed my ‘delusional tricks’? You seem to perform your fair share of illusions." "I am a magician! A magician!" Trixie retorted, puffing herself up. Starlight chuckled, trying to keep the peace. "Alright, alright, settle down, you two. We pulled off a great show together. Maybe a thank-you is in order, Trixie?" Trixie sighed, looking reluctantly at Discord. "Fiiiine. . .I suppose it’s only fair," she muttered, turning to him with an annoyed look. "Thank you. . ." Discord chuckled, cleaning his ear with one of Trixie’s wands. "I’m sorry, dear, could you repeat that?" "Thank. . .you." Trixie repeated through gritted teeth. "Oh, you’re very welcome, Trixie," Discord grinned, pinching her cheeks. "Anything for my friends!" Trixie slapped his claws away. "Don’t get used to it. Trixie rarely gives compliments." "Come on, Trixie, lighten up," Starlight teased. "You two make a great team. Imagine the shows we could pull off if you two got along." "Oh, I completely agree," Discord chimed in. "Why, I'd even say I enjoy these little road trips together. Of course, nothing compares to my time with dear Fluttershy." "See, Trixie? You two should cooperate more. Think of all the magical possibilities!" Discord extended his claw with a smile. "Partners?" After glancing at Discord’s claw, then at Starlight’s encouraging smile, Trixie gave in with a dramatic sigh. "Fiiine. . .partners," she muttered, giving his claw a reluctant shake. "Oh, excellent!" Discord cheered. She yanked him close. "But only with my permission. No improvising unless I say so." "Why, of course," Discord replied smoothly. "I would never upstage you." He phased through her grip, adding under his breath, "That would be far too easy." "What was that?" Trixie glared. "Nothing," Discord replied with a halo over his head. "Great," Starlight said, rolling her eyes with a smile. "Now let’s head back to Ponyville and tell Twilight all about-" Suddenly, an explosion echoed in the distance, startling them. A flock of birds shot across the sky as a thick column of smoke rose from the mountains ahead. "What in Equestria was that?" Trixie gasped, stepping out of the wagon to get a better look. "I don’t know," Starlight replied, squinting toward the smoke. "But it’s coming from the direction of Ponyville. I hope it’s not as bad as it looks. . ." "Ponyville?! Fluttershy might be in trouble!" Discord snapped his fingers, conjuring a chariot hitched to seven rainbow-colored jelly bean bears. He grabbed Starlight and Trixie, setting them in the back. "Seat belts, everypony! We’re off to save Fluttershy!" "Uh. . .wouldn’t it be faster to just teleport?" Starlight asked, buckling in while Trixie fumbled with her belt. "Teleport?" Discord scoffed. "And risk announcing ourselves to whatever danger’s there? Oh no, we’ll do this stealthily just like our last little adventure." "Stealthy?" Trixie grumbled, finally buckling in. "You whined the entire way through the changeling hive." "He’s right, Trixie," Starlight reasoned. "It’s best to be careful. Who knows what’s attacking Ponyville?" "Whatever it is, I’m sure Twilight and the others have it handled," Trixie said, waving a hoof. "They’re pros at friendship magic." "It's called the Elements of Harmony," Starlight corrected. "And they’ve saved Equestria plenty of times." "True," Discord said with a smirk. "Though I nearly turned them against each other once-" Trixie and Starlight turned, eyeing him with raised eyebrows. "What?" Discord shrugged innocently. "I’m reformed now. Besides, they’re used to my tricks by now." "Riiight. . ." Starlight said slowly. "Well, let’s head back and see what they’re up against." "To Fluttershy and beyond!" Discord bellowed, snapping the reins dramatically. The chariot lurched forward as Discord continued, "And so, our brave heroes, led by the devilishly handsome Discord, charge forth to-" "Would you stop monologuing?" Trixie interrupted, rolling her eyes. "And what’s with the ‘plus one’ bit?" "Oh, lighten up," Discord teased. "It’s no wonder you’ve only got Starlight as a friend." "Excuse me," Trixie huffed, "I have plenty of friends, thank you very much." Starlight sighed, facehoofing as she zipped Trixie’s mouth shut with her magic. "Can we just focus on getting there quietly, please?" she muttered. As the chariot sped toward Ponyville, tension filled the air back in the town, where Twilight and her friends regrouped after unleashing their full magic on Pizza Pie. To their shock, she now stood unfazed, her aura of dark energy stronger than ever. "What now, Twilight? Twilight?" Applejack waved her hoof in front of Twilight’s frozen face, worry creasing her brow. "Uh. . . Sugarcube? You do have a backup plan, right?" Twilight knelt, trembling as she stared at the menacing form of Pizza Pie in front of her. "I. . . I. . . I don’t-" she stammered, her voice faltering. "C'mon, Twilight!" Rainbow Dash tried to shake her friend out of her stupor. "Think of something. We can't give up now!" "We. . . uh. . . we. . ." Twilight’s voice quivered as her thoughts raced, but the fear in her heart made her hooves tremble. "Darling, what should we do?" Rarity asked, her voice soft yet filled with concern. "We can’t do anything without you." Twilight tried to think of a plan, but her thoughts felt tangled, weighed down by the sight of their friend turned enemy. Her gaze dropped as she felt their magical connection the Elements fading as their energy was absorbed into Pizza Pie, now shrouded in a dark, eerie glow. Meanwhile, Pizza Pie took a slow, deliberate step toward them, her flail-like tail rising and morphing into a massive weapon, towering ominously above the ponies. She seemed almost mechanical, as if under the influence of some otherworldly force, her usually lively eyes now cold and distant. From a distance, Spike observed the terrifying scene through a telescope, his heart pounding as he watched his friends stand frozen before Pizza Pie. "Don’t just stand there, Twilight! Get out of there!" he muttered, his voice barely containing his panic. "She’s. . . she’s getting closer. . ." Fluttershy squeaked, pulling Rainbow Dash close in a tight, protective embrace. "Fluttershy, you’re crushing my lungs!" Rainbow Dash managed to say, trying to push her friend off. Then, her voice raised as she looked toward Twilight. "Hey, Twilight! Are you listening? We need a plan!" Nearby, Applejack tried to drag Pinkie Pie to safety. "C'mon, Pinkie! We gotta stay together. It ain’t safe here yet, Sugarcube-" "No! I want to talk to my cousin!" Pinkie Pie shouted, digging her hooves stubbornly into the ground. "Let go! I said, let GO!" A thunderous stomp from Pizza Pie's hoof silenced them all, drawing their attention as her dark shadow loomed over them. The tail-flail blocked out the sun, casting an ominous shadow, and without hesitation, Pizza Pie swung it down with a menacing force. Rainbow Dash leaped forward, wings spread wide as she faced the oncoming flail. "Bring it, Pizza!" she yelled defiantly. "I’m not scared! Whatever you’ve got, I can take it-" In a moment of panic, Twilight's horn flared as she enveloped her friends in a magical aura, pulling them close. With a flash, they disappeared just as the flail crashed down, splintering the ground into a deep crater where they’d been standing a second before. The sheer force blew chunks of earth into the air, dust clouding the battlefield. When Pizza Pie raised her tail and surveyed the scene, she found nothing but empty ground. From his vantage point, Spike exhaled shakily, watching the dust settle. His claws gripped the edge of his lookout as he glanced nervously at the ponies gathered nearby, who had only heard the echo of the terrifying impact. "What was that?" a pony in the crowd murmured, anxiety creeping into their voice. "Did something happen?" Bon Bon, who had been standing close by, tapped Spike’s shoulder. "Spike?" she asked, her voice filled with concern. "Huh?! What? Oh-" Spike jumped, nearly dropping his telescope as he looked at Bon Bon. "Phew... Don’t startle me like that, Bon Bon!" "Never mind that. What’s happening down there?" Bon Bon’s voice was insistent. "How are Princess Twilight and the others holding up?" Spike swallowed hard, glancing nervously at the crowd. "Don’t worry," he assured, trying to keep his voice steady. "They’re doing everything they can to handle it." But Spoiled Rich stepped forward, her expression as sour as ever. "‘Handling it’ he says," she scoffed, her eyes narrowing. "We’ve been standing here, listening to all this destruction, waiting for so-called ‘help.’ The Princess of Friendship should have dealt with this monstrous unicorn by now." Murmurs of agreement spread through the crowd, ponies casting uneasy glances toward the smoky horizon. Spike held up his claws, trying to calm them. "Everypony, please," he said, voice pleading. "Twilight and the others are doing their best-" "Their best?" Spoiled Rich interrupted with a cold chuckle. She stepped closer, casting a disparaging look at Spike. "Her ‘best’ seems to involve wrecking half of Ponyville in the process. And who invited this foreign pony in the first place? Bringing with her some strange magic, and now look what’s happened." Spike remained silent, holding his breath as her words weighed heavily on the crowd. "It’s quite clear," Spoiled Rich continued, "that our Princess Celestia made a hasty choice in handing leadership to a pony who relies on magical gimmicks over a real plan. This town needs a leader, not a hero." Diamond Tiara stepped forward, tugging at her mother’s tail. "That’s enough, Mother," she said, her voice wavering but determined. "Princess Twilight and her friends have always protected us, and here you are, criticizing them for it-" Spoiled Rich yanked her tail from her daughter’s grip, her face twisted in disdain. "How dare you speak to me like that! Disregard my teachings if you will, but you will not defy my authority as your mother!" "Stop it! Just. . . stop it!" Spike stepped between them, his voice firm. "This isn’t the time to lecture your daughter or insult Twilight. The Princess of Friendship and soon, maybe all of Equestria is out there risking her life for us. So maybe show some respect." A tense silence settled over the crowd as Spoiled Rich huffed, then turned on her heels, storming off. But not before throwing a glance over her shoulder. "When this is over, Diamond Tiara, we’ll be having a very long talk." Diamond Tiara watched her mother walk away, eyes filled with a mix of shame and defiance. The Cutie Mark Crusaders gathered around her. "Don’t let her words get to ya, Diamond," Apple Bloom said encouragingly. "She doesn’t know what she’s saying." "Yeah," Scootaloo agreed, nodding. "Princess Twilight and her friends always try their best to save the day, like they’re doing now." Diamond Tiara managed a small, grateful smile. "Thanks, I’m fine," she said, her voice wavering slightly. "That was brave, standing up to her like that," Spike added, giving her an approving nod. "I think these three taught you well." A loud explosion echoed from Ponyville, and everypony turned, watching smoke rise. Spike squared his shoulders, looking at the crowd. "Alright, everypony. Let’s keep moving we’ll meet help halfway down the road." Diamond Tiara, the Crusaders, and the rest followed Spike, casting one last glance back toward their village. And in the thick of it all, hidden away, Twilight and her friends prepared for their next move, hoping to find a way to reach the real Pizza Pie within the dark magic's grasp. "What the hay was that? I could’ve distracted her back there!" Rainbow Dash yelled, frustration clear in her voice. Applejack placed a steadying hoof on her friend’s shoulder. "Hold on, Rainbow Dash. Take it easy now. This ain’t the perfect time to show off-" "Sh-show off?!" Rainbow pulled her shoulder away, turning to Applejack with a glare. "Oh no, this is far from showing off. Our town is turning into a dump, and our only shot at stopping it just tanked! How was that even possible, huh? Twilight?" "I. . ." Twilight looked away from her friends, gazing out the window at the smoke rising from the destruction outside. "I don’t know what happened. Why. . . why didn’t our elements work? I. . . I don’t understand." "So you're telling me she was right? That we’re just a replacement for some stronger magic?" Rainbow Dash shot back, frustration boiling over. "You’ve got all the books, how can you not see-" "Darling, that’s enough," Rarity stepped forward, her tone firm. "Twilight did everything she could, even saving you from your own reckless act of a Sonic Rainboom. You should be a bit more supportive." "I am, Rarity," Rainbow insisted, though her tone softened. "But with everything that’s been happening, we don’t even know who to blame." "Stop your whining already," Pinkie Pie’s voice came from across the room, unusually sharp. She sat with her back to her friends, her expression hidden. "Don’t pretend you’ve got no one to blame when it’s written all over your face." Rainbow turned on her heel, marching up to Pinkie. "Oh really, Pinkie? You’re calling me out for whining when your cousin’s out there wrecking the place-" Pinkie Pie jumped up, pressing her hoof against Rainbow’s chest. "SEE? You do blame my cousin for this! You’ve been worked up ever since she changed. No, you’ve been worked up ever since Pizza Pie moved here!" "Now, girls, don’t escalate this any further—" Applejack tried to intervene, but Rainbow kept pushing. "Why shouldn’t I?" Rainbow slapped Pinkie’s hoof away. "She copies your look, she lied about your promise, and she’s keeping secrets. If anything, you should be more worked up about it!" "Well, I don’t," Pinkie shot back, standing firm. "And I felt bad when I did. So you’ve got no right blaming my relatives for being different from me!" "All your relatives are the complete opposite of you! You just don’t get it you only care about making us all get along—" "No, you just don’t get it because you don’t have relatives of your own!" The room fell silent. Shock registered on every pony’s face. Rainbow took a step back, eyes wide, then turned away from Pinkie and headed for the door. "I’m out of here," she said coldly. Applejack quickly followed, gesturing for the others to stay. "Y'all stay here; I’ll go after her," she said, leaving the others in stunned silence. "Oh my goodness, I can’t believe Pinkie Pie said that. . ." Fluttershy whispered, still processing the scene. "Pinkie Pie, how could you-" Twilight started, but Pinkie interrupted with a glare as she brushed past her. "What? You gonna say something too?" she challenged before walking to the corner of the room and sitting down, facing the wall. "You still promised to bring my cousin back, so you’d better think of something." "We will, Pinkie," Twilight said, sighing. "As soon as Applejack brings Rainbow Dash back, you’ll need to apologize." Meanwhile, Applejack followed Rainbow Dash down the hall as Rainbow stormed through Pinkie’s party cave door and down the slide. Applejack slid after her, landing to find Rainbow frantically tossing aside balloons and decorations. "Rainbow, listen," Applejack said, trying to calm her friend. "Pinkie didn’t mean what she said. You went a bit over the line back there, too-" "So what if I did? That doesn’t change anything," Rainbow snapped, shoving more decorations aside. "And I don’t care that I have no siblings or relatives my age. Less competition for attention." Applejack sighed. "C’mon now, you don’t mean that." "Why’d you even follow me down here, Applejack? Twilight needs your help to stop Pinkie’s deranged cousin," Rainbow muttered. "She needs all of us, Sugarcube," Applejack replied, her tone gentle but firm. "I don’t know what’s going on, but we can’t give up yet. Pizza Pie needs our help. Rainbow, you know how much Pinkie cares about her cousin. You should understand that." ". . . ." "For Pinkie’s sake, let’s go back," Applejack said, smiling softly. ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ~ End of chapter 17 Author's Note The stunning realization shook the minds as their relevant solution of stopping the Pizza mare had failed and forcing the six ponies to a corner. Questioning their element's capabilities and themselves.
Modesty Chapter 18: Sneek Attack⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✶✶✶ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ Seeing her friends’ sincere looks, Rainbow Dash let out a deep sigh and nodded. Meanwhile, back on the ground floor, Twilight paced back and forth, deep in thought, while Rarity and Fluttershy patiently waited for their other friends to return. Fluttershy glanced around the room and noticed something was off. “Pinkie Pie is missing. . .” she murmured, concern creeping into her voice. Quietly, she slipped away from the group to search for the pink mare. Fluttershy ascended the stairs and noticed Pinkie Pie’s door slightly ajar. Peeking inside, she froze. Pinkie Pie was climbing over the windowsill, clearly intent on sneaking out. “Pi-Pinkie! Where are you going?” Fluttershy gasped, rushing inside. “I’m going out there to talk to Pizza Pie,” Pinkie Pie declared resolutely, her mane slightly deflated from worry. Fluttershy darted forward and grabbed Pinkie’s tail. “B-But Twilight said to stay here until she comes up with a plan-” “I’m tired of waiting for Twilight’s plan!” Pinkie interrupted, struggling to pull her tail free. “It didn’t work the first time, and Cousin isn’t going to stop unless I talk to her. So let go!” “No!” Fluttershy’s voice, though trembling, held firm. “It’s too dangerous, Pinkie Pie, especially by yourself. We all agreed that we’re going to bring your cousin back together.” “I said let go, Fluttershy!” Pinkie snapped, pulling harder. “What happened to ‘friends for life’?” Fluttershy’s voice cracked, tears welling in her eyes. “What you’re doing is reckless. You don’t care what happens to you. . . Do you?” Pinkie froze, taken aback by Fluttershy’s rare boldness. “Rainbow Dash was right,” Fluttershy continued, her tears now flowing freely. “You just want things to go your way. You only care about your own happiness!” Pinkie Pie’s anger faltered, and she turned slowly to face her friend. Fluttershy’s tears struck her like a blow, and Pinkie’s shoulders slumped. She climbed back inside, collapsing onto the floor. “How could I let this happen, Fluttershy?” Fluttershy gently placed a hoof on her shoulder. “You didn’t do anything wrong, Pinkie. . . Sometimes, things just happen.” Pinkie stared at the floor, tears pooling in her eyes. “I know, but why did I let it happen? How could I?” She turned to the window, staring out at the horizon. “She isn’t the type of pony to mess with magic. . . You girls warned me about it, but I didn’t listen. . .” “No,” Fluttershy insisted, shaking her head. “You were just trying to support your cousin’s change. We can’t blame you for that. Besides, it’s our fault for doubting her too.” Tears spilled onto Pinkie’s hooves as she sobbed. “I’m sorry, Fluttershy. . . I’m so sorry for everything...” The sound of galloping hooves echoed from the stairs as the rest of their friends rushed into the room. They found Pinkie Pie in tears, with Fluttershy comforting her. The group exchanged worried glances before stepping forward to join the pink mare. “There, there, Pinkie,” Rarity said softly, patting her back. “We won’t give up on dear Pizza Pie. She’s our friend, and she needs our help.” “I agree,” Twilight added, her voice steady. “We’ve already made a promise to bring her back, no matter what it takes.” “Girls. . .” Pinkie whispered, her voice trembling. “You said it, Twilight,” Applejack said as she entered with Rainbow Dash. “And it’s gonna take all of us to do just that, right, Rainbow?” Rainbow Dash hesitated, glancing at Pinkie Pie. Her guilt was written all over her face. “I. . . I want to say something. . .” She scratched her head nervously. “About earlier. . . what I said. . . I didn’t mean any of it—” Before she could finish, Pinkie Pie threw her hooves around her in a tight hug. “I know. And I’m sorry for what I said too.” Rainbow gave a sheepish smile. “Hey, don’t sweat it, okay? I told Applejack it didn’t bother mE.” Pinkie giggled, wiping her tears. “But are you sure, Rainbow?” “Yeah, I’m sure.” Rainbow grinned. “And again, I’m sorry for everything I said. So. . . are we cool?-Oof!” Pinkie hugged her tighter. “Cool as an ice cream sundae.” The others smiled as the two patched things up. They gathered for a group hug, but a loud stomping noise from outside shattered the moment. Rainbow Dash pulled back. “Now that’s out of the way. . . Do we have a plan to stop Pizza Pie yet?” “Not yet,” Twilight admitted, pacing again. “Magic won’t work against her. She can absorb it at least, that’s what I suspect. . .” “So what now? We go without magic?” Applejack asked, peering out the window. “That won’t be enough,” Rarity said, shaking her head. “Oh, Twilight, what about those changeling shards from your brother’s competition?” Twilight’s eyes lit up, then dimmed as she facehoofed. “They were confiscated by the princesses in Canterlot... Even if we had them, we wouldn’t be able to use our magic.” “What can we use?” Rainbow asked, growing impatient. “I know!” Fluttershy piped up. “What about the Smooze?” “The Smooze?” Rarity grimaced. “Please tell me you don’t mean the one from the Gala...” “I do,” Fluttershy admitted, blushing. “Discord left some of it at my cottage, and he never came to pick it up.” Twilight’s eyes widened. “The Smooze! Of course! It blocks magic and can immobilize anything it touches. Fluttershy, you’re brilliant!” Fluttershy blushed. “Oh... Thank you. But how will we get it close to her?” “With this!” Pinkie declared, rolling in her party cannon. “We can load it in here and fire it at her, like a surprise slime prank!” “Great thinking, Pinkie,” Twilight said, nodding. “But we need to hit her from multiple angles. Can you bake the Smooze into cakes to trick her?” “You can count on me!” Pinkie saluted. “A dozen Smooze pies, coming right up!” “I’ll help her bake,” Applejack offered. “It’ll go faster if we work together.” “Perfect!” Twilight said. “Me, Fluttershy, and Rainbow will fetch the Smooze. Rarity and Applejack, help Pinkie bake. Let’s move!” ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✶✶✶ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ Starlight, Trixie, and Discord approached Ponyville, the trio growing uneasy as the sky shifted to a strange hue. Their unease deepened when a massive crystal wall loomed before them, stretching out of sight and cutting off the village from view. Discord stopped his conjured chariot, snapping it out of existence with a puff of smoke. Trixie stepped forward, tapping the crystalline barrier with a hoof. “This wasn’t here when we left.” “You don’t say?” Discord quipped, rolling his eyes. Starlight studied the structure, her brow furrowed. “This seems new. . . but why would someone put this here?” Trixie huffed and turned to Discord. “Well, whatever it’s for, Trixie cannot stand this eyesore. You! Use your chaos magic to get rid of it.” Discord scoffed, folding his arms. “Excuse me? I am the spirit of chaos, not your personal servant. Whatever happened to being partners, hmm?” “As your partner, Trixie demands you remove this wall.” “Demanding, are we? Perhaps this is why you didn’t get that job at Princess Twilight’s School of Friendship.” Trixie gasped. “I thought we agreed never to speak of-” “Enough! Knock it off, you two,” Starlight interjected, her voice sharp. She glanced around warily. “Did you hear that?” The bickering ceased, and the trio fell silent. A deep, rhythmic stomping echoed from the other side of the wall. Starlight nodded toward Discord, who cracked his knuckles dramatically. With a theatrical flourish, he conjured a door into the wall. “After you,” Discord said, bowing as he opened the door. The two mares stepped through cautiously, with Discord following behind. Ponyville lay in ruins. Broken houses and uprooted trees were scattered across the desolate streets. Craters marred the ground, and not a single sign of life stirred. The air felt heavy, charged with an unnatural stillness. Starlight took the lead, her eyes darting around. “What happened here?” Discord floated lazily above, his expression uncharacteristically grim. “I remember Ponyville being a bit more. . . colorful. This is peculiar.” Trixie trailed behind, her voice trembling. “W-What do you think happened, Starlight? And. . . c-could you slow down?” Starlight silenced her with a firm hoof. “I don’t know, but it looks like something drove everypony out of town. We should be cautious.” “So. . . does that mean it’s just us and. . . whatever caused this?” Trixie stammered. “Most likely,” Starlight replied, her voice steady despite the ominous surroundings. She turned to Discord. “Can you scout ahead? See if you spot anyone?” Discord saluted. “Aye, aye, Captain Starlight.” He plucked out his own eye, which morphed into a telescope. Peering through it, he surveyed the ruins. “Hmm. . . rubble, rubble. . . more rubble. . . and oh, what a waste of cinnamon nuts.” “Do you think it could be an Ursa Major?” Trixie asked, her voice tinged with fear. Starlight glanced at her. “Ursa Major? You mean the one you. . . faced during your first visit to Ponyville?” “Uh. . . yeah. Intense times, heh-heh. . .” Trixie gave a nervous smile. “About that story. . .” “What about it?” While the two unicorns were preoccupied, the Draconequus caught sight of something in the distance. His eyes narrowed, and he zoomed in for a closer look. "(Hmmmm. . . Wait. . . Is that who I think it is. . . ?)" "Wa-Wait. So you're telling me that the story about you facing an Ursa Major was just a lie?" "Technically, it was just an Ursa Minor that Twilight fended off. . . but-" Starlight facehoofed in embarrassment. "No wonder Twilight laughed at me when I told them that story. You lied to me about the whole thing! And Twilight knew about it? Why didn't she tell me?" “Ladies, ladies,” Discord interrupted, waving a claw dismissively. “As much as I’d love to hear more about Trixie’s factual inaccuracies, I think I’ve found our culprit.” He detached his telescope eye and handed it to Starlight. “Take a look.” Starlight peered through the telescope, her breath catching. “A pony? Wait… I recognize that mane. Isn’t that…?” “Let me see!” Trixie grabbed the telescope and squinted through it. “Hey, isn’t that the pony who slipped on the punch bowl?” “Pinkie Pie’s cousin,” Starlight murmured. Her voice wavered. “But… what happened to her?” Discord’s tone turned sardonic. “Of all the ponies to start another crisis, it had to be one of Pinkie Pie’s relatives. Really, these girls can’t catch a break.” “That’s strange,” Trixie said, tilting her head. “She wasn’t a unicorn before.” “Unicorn?” Starlight and Discord exclaimed simultaneously. Discord reclaimed the telescope, reattaching it to his face. His expression grew more serious as he studied the pony in question. “Since when does that bootleg Pinkie Pie have a horn? Surely she didn’t gain it with a simple spell…” “What are you muttering about?” Starlight pressed. Discord blinked and shrugged. “I can’t confirm anything from here. We’ll need to get closer to figure this out.” “Hey! Trixie saw what Trixie saw,” the sapphire unicorn snapped. “It was a horn. You’d have to be blind not to see it.” “Alright, that’s enough,” Starlight said firmly. “We’ll investigate, but we keep our distance. Understood?” The trio nodded. With a flash of Starlight’s magic, they teleported closer to the scene. As they moved cautiously toward the center of town, the distant figure of Pizza Pie, now radiating a menacing red aura, turned her attention toward Sugarcube Corner. Inside the bakery, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, and Rarity worked tirelessly, half-finished cakes and trays of dough filling the space. Their other friends had just returned, carrying a large vat of leftover Smooze. Unaware of the approaching danger, they continued their frantic efforts, the sweet aroma of baked goods masking the tension looming outside. “We got the stuff, Applejack,” said Rainbow Dash, pushing the gallon of Smooze toward her. “Bout time too. We’re almost done with the third batch,” replied Applejack, pointing at the growing pile of dough. “Hope this is enough, Twilight.” “It’s more than enough.” Twilight nodded. “Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, help Applejack mix the Smooze with the dough. I’ll assist Rarity with the baking, and Pinkie, you-wait, Pinkie?” Twilight glanced around, realizing the pink mare was missing. “Where's Pinkie Pie?” “Um. . . she was here a minute ago. . .” Fluttershy murmured, looking uncertain. “I’m here!” Pinkie Pie’s voice rang out as she bounded into the room, dragging her party cannon and a bulging sack behind her. “I brought extra balloon packs we can mix with the Smooze!” She upended the sack onto the floor, the unused balloons spilling everywhere. “It’ll be like waterballoons, but stickier!” “Great thinking,” Twilight smiled approvingly. “Set them all up Pinkie Pie, and as for the rest of us let’s start baking.” The ponies split up, each taking a chunk of the Smooze to their stations, putting their ambitious plan into motion. ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✶✶✶ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ Outside, behind the ruins of a collapsed house, Discord, Starlight Glimmer, and Trixie observed the chaos. Starlight peeked cautiously around the wall, her eyes narrowing as she spotted the figure in the distance. The massive, raging form of Pizza Pie radiated red-tinged magic, a far cry from the cheerful pony they once knew. “That’s Pizza Pie, all right,” Starlight confirmed grimly. “But she’s completely changed—like she’s a unicorn now.” “See!” Trixie declared, pointing triumphantly at Discord. “The Great and Perceptive Trixie is always right!” “Yes, yes,” Discord said dismissively, crossing his arms. “No need to gloat. (But that magic. . . it feels familiar, far too familiar. . .),” he muttered under his breath. Starlight glanced at Discord, noting his sudden shift in demeanor. Her suspicions piqued, she asked carefully, “Discord, do you know what caused this? What turned Pizza Pie into. . . this?” “Unfortunately, I have no idea,” Discord replied with a theatrical shrug. “But if I had to guess? It might be some cliché magic spell gone horribly wrong.” “Cliché’ doesn’t explain how she flipped this entire town upside down,” Trixie said, gesturing toward the wreckage. “Though Trixie would be mad too if she were humiliated at a gathering.” “What kind of spell could transform a pony into a unicorn? And one this destructive?” Starlight pressed. “It could be anything.” Discord rubbed his chin, a flicker of unease in his eyes. “(But if I’m correct . . how? How could that resurface after all these centuries? I gave up searching, it was lost, no trace- unless. . .)” “Discord? Hey!-” Trixie waved her hat in front of his face. “Equestria to Discord! Are you still with us?” “Wha-Huh?” Discord blinked and looked down. “Oh, it’s you.” “Of course, it’s me! How long are you going to stand there like an idiot?” Trixie snapped. “You've been acting weird since we got here.” "Well, excuse me for having my suspicions," Discord replied, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Clearly, you don't see the gravity of the situation if you're going to act so spiteful." "Trixie is not being spiteful!" Trixie said, fuming with anger. Starlight stepped between them, cutting off their bickering. “Trixie, you’re not helping.” “I agree with Starlight.” Discord smirked. “But honestly, you’ve been nothing but ungrateful for my assistance. Maybe I should have pulled a prank or two-” “Aha!” Trixie interrupted, pointing an accusatory hoof. “Trixie knew it! You can’t resist causing chaos!” “Shh! Guys, keep it down!” Starlight hissed. "Ah, I was planning to, but then I decided to help instead. For Starlight’s sake. Besides, your acts wouldn’t make much of an impact with any of our help anyway." "Guys, stop-" "Well, excuse me! If Trixie’s not a power-crazed, mismatched, chaotic jerk with magic big enough to match your ego! Ugh… Trixie is still baffled how Fluttershy puts up with your attitude. She must be spineless to even think about saying no to you-" Discord angrily yanked Trixie by the cape and pulled her face-to-face with him. "Say another word about Fluttershy, and I’ll throw you into the shadows realm-" With her friends ignoring her and arguing, the lilac pony lost her composure and shouted, "I said… QUIET!" Starlight’s voice echoed across the area, carelessly exposing their location. The raging Pizza Pie froze, her glowing eyes snapping toward their direction. Panicking, they quickly hid behind the wall. ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✶✶✶ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ The ponies from Sugarcube Corner heard the commotion, and one of their friends peered out the window to investigate. "What was that?" Twilight asked, her brow furrowed. "Fluttershy, do you see anypony outside?" "Um. . . no, Twilight. I don’t see anypony except Pizza Pie walking away." "She’s probably trying to figure out where that scream came from, whoever it was. . ." Applejack mused. "Are you done over there, Rarity?" "Patience, dear." Rarity and Rainbow Dash pushed a wagon full of freshly baked Smoozed cakes out of the kitchen. "The cakes are all done, Twilight." "And so are the Smooze balloons!" Pinkie Pie chimed in, pushing another wagon filled with balloons. Twilight inspected the wagons, nodding in approval. "That’s plenty. Now gather around, girls." She projected a visual image on the table. "The plan is just like last time. We each carry a saddle of balloons with us, then we split up and attack her from different angles. Aim at her hooves, tail, and horn until she’s completely immobilized. Once we have her, Pinkie Pie can finish by firing the cakes from her party cannon until Pizza Pie is completely covered. Lastly, Rarity and I will encase her in crystal, locking her in place along with the Smooze inside. . . So, is everypony ready?" The ponies nodded enthusiastically and shouted, "Ready!" They placed their hooves in the center, stacking them one atop the other, with Twilight being the last to join in. "Now, I don’t know if this plan will work, or if it’s even the right thing to do. But remember, she’s still the Pizza Pie we met, and our friends’ long-time cousin." They turned to Pinkie Pie, who smiled despite the tears running down her face, feeling the full support of her friends. Her two friends patted her back as she wiped her face, hyping herself up for their plan. "So, for the sake of Ponyville, let’s give it our all and do whatever it takes to bring her back." Then, Pinkie Pie suddenly broke the tension with her usual humor. "Oh my gosh, I just realized... Her birthday is next week!" ". . ." "Seriously?! Right after that speech-" Twilight cut off Rainbow Dash, her tone firm. "Alright, let’s go." ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✶✶✶ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ Just outside, the two unicorns and the Draconequus remained hidden behind the wall, listening as hoofsteps drew closer. Trixie nervously peeked out and gasped, her eyes meeting two glowing red ones locking onto her. She quickly ducked back behind the wall. "She definitely saw us! What do we do, Starlight? What do we do?!" she shrieked, shaking the lilac pony in a panic. Starlight pushed Trixie away, staggering slightly as she regained her balance. "Will you stop?! I told you two to be quiet, and now she’s on to us!" "Hmph! Like that even matters," Discord interjected, cracking his fingers confidently. "You ladies stay here while I take care of this. (This way, I can confirm if my assumptions are true.)" "This isn’t a good time to show off, Discord," Starlight snapped, stepping in front of him. "We need to analyze this situation before engaging." Discord rolled his eyes dramatically. "Ugh. . . now you sound just like Princess Twilight. But if you insist, very well. Let’s analyze her magic—up close, shall we?" His grin turned menacing. "Hey, what about me?" Trixie cut in. "Trixie, it’s too dangerous! We don’t even know what Pizza Pie is capable of—" "Nonsense, Starlight," Trixie interrupted, puffing out her chest. "Trixie is more than capable of facing any danger. Well, except for that Ursa Minor incident but still, the three of us can handle one power-crazed pony." Discord hesitated before sighing. "Fine, I guess you can help. But you’re the sidekick this time." "Si-si-sidekick?!" Trixie sputtered, her pride clearly wounded. Before their argument could continue, a magic beam blasted through the wall between them, sending dust and debris flying. They froze as the smoke cleared, revealing the raging Pizza Pie standing menacingly close. Her fiery glare bore into them as the three teleported to safety, reappearing outside the wall to face the threat head-on. "Stay together," Starlight instructed, her voice steady despite the tension. "It’s three of us against just her. Let’s be cautious and handle this carefu-" A sudden, shrill battle cry cut through the air, catching them off guard. They glanced around but saw no one until, with a flash of light, Twilight and her friends teleported into the fray. Armed with balloons and cakes, they descended from above, diving straight toward the raging Pizza Pie, ready to face her for a second time. "Twilight?! . . . Everypony?! . . . What the hay is going on?!" Starlight shouted in bewilderment. ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✶✶✶ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ~ To be continued
Modesty Chapter 18.5: Smooze bomb⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ Twilight and her friends dive toward the enraged unicorn, Pizza Pie, each armed with balloons filled with magic-blocking Smooze. Leading the charge, Twilight calls out, "Fire wave one!" Applejack and Rainbow Dash unleash the first volley, hitting Pizza Pie squarely. The balloons burst on impact, coating her in Smooze that oozes over her hooves and tail, sticking her to the ground. "Now, fire wave two!" Twilight commands. Twilight and Rarity hurl more balloons with their magic. Pizza Pie tries to counter, popping some balloons mid-air, but bits of Smooze still splatter onto her face, covering her horn and cutting off her magic completely. "Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy get ready," Twilight says, teleporting her two friends a few meters away from Pizza Pie. Pinkie Pie pulls her party cannon from her mane and aims it at her cousin. "Alright, Fluttershy you bring in the cakes, and I'll bring in the pain!" "Um, Pinkie. . . . are you sure you know what you’re doing?" Fluttershy asks, uncertain. "Of course I do!" Pinkie replies, confidently pulling the string on her party cannon. A cake flies out and smacks Pizza Pie directly, though she’s still struggling to move. "Quick, before she gets up, reload me with another Smooze cake!" "O-okay. . ." Fluttershy stammers, retrieving another cake from the wagon and reloading. "How many cakes do we need to-" "As many as we can!" Pinkie replies, firing another cake. Watching her cousin’s struggle, she whispers, "Cousin, stop fighting back. We're trying to help you. I'm trying to help you. Snap out of it!" For a brief moment, Pinkie Pie’s voice seems to reach Pizza Pie. "P-Pinkie?" she murmurs, almost breaking free from her rage. But the moment fades as Rainbow Dash soars above her, hurling another barrage of Smooze balloons that land on her back, pulling her back into her frenzied state. "Keep it up, Pinkie we almost got her!" Rainbow calls, looping back to throw more Smooze-filled balloons. Twilight watches her friends, satisfied that the plan is going smoothly. "Great job, girls. Just give me enough time to recast my spell-" "Twilight! Down here!" She looks down to see Starlight, Trixie, and Discord waving at her. Twilight quickly flies down to them. "I’m so glad you're finally here! We need your-" "What’s going on? Starlight interrupts. "How did Pinkie’s cousin get a unicorn horn?" "It’s not an ordinary horn," Twilight replies. "Something strange happened, and now our Elements don’t work on her." "The Elements. . . don’t work?" Discord’s eyes widen. "Wait, how is that possible?" Starlight asks, bewildered. "The Elements are supposed to be the strongest magic you all have!" "Look, we don’t have time to discuss this. Our Elements couldn’t stop her, so we’re trying to trap her with the Smooze-" Twilight explains urgently. Discord’s expression shifts as a memory surfaces, his claw trembling slightly. "No. . . it can’t be. . ." "Can’t be what?" Twilight asks, noticing his reaction. Discord quickly looks away, feigning ignorance. "I mean, how could that be? Doesn’t make sense, even to me!" Twilight eyes him suspiciously. "Well, can you help us stop Pizza Pie?" "Is the Princess of Friendship asking for our help?" Trixie asks smugly. "The Great and Powerful Trixie never thought she’d see the day." Discord clears his throat. "She meant me and Starlight the real experts in magic. No offense, dear." "Don’t start with me, Discord," Twilight says sharply, holding back her irritation. "Enough!" Twilight snaps. "Going head-to-head with her isn’t an option. We’ve tried it twice and failed." "Oh, please," Trixie scoffs. "You’re talking to two ponies who outsmarted you and the Spirit of Chaos. We can handle one rogue unicorn faster than you can say-" "Duck!" Twilight shouts. Pizza Pie’s tail lashes out, breaking free from the Smooze, and swings dangerously close to them, smashing the wagon and Pinkie Pie’s party cannon. The Smooze covering her starts to boil off and rapidly evaporates until it’s completely gone. "My cakes! My party cannon!" Pinkie runs to the rubble, distressed. The group steels themselves as Pizza Pie advances, her eyes wild and unyielding. "Wh-what are we going to do now?" Fluttershy asks, trembling behind her friends. Rainbow Dash steps forward, determined. "I’ll buy us some time. You all regroup with Twilight." "Now hold on there, Rainbow," Applejack says, grabbing her tail. "Twilight said to stick together." "Applejack, we can’t let Pizza Pie keep tearing up Ponyville. Luring her out of town is the only way we can go all out," Rainbow insists. "But-" "Rainbow Dash is right, darling," Rarity adds. "We need to limit the damage. Let’s lure her out while Twilight comes up with a new plan." "Look, look!" Pinkie grabs Rarity’s face and points. "It’s Discord, Starlight, and Trixie with Twilight!" She waves frantically. "Hey! Over here!" "Finally, some backup," says Rainbow Dash. "I’ll go ahead and start luring Pizzazilla out of here. You all meet up with the others." “Rainbow, wait!” But Rainbow Dash was already airborne, flying straight toward Pizza Pie and then whizzing past her at incredible speed. Enraged, Pizza Pie turned and charged after her, leaving the other ponies behind to regroup with Twilight. “Girls!” Twilight called, flying over to her friends. “What happened? Where’s all the Smooze?” “It didn’t work, Twilight. . .” Applejack panted, catching her breath. “Yes, darling,” Rarity chimed in, frustrated. “She just boiled it right off herself and destroyed the rest of our stash.” Pinkie Pie stepped forward. “But Rainbow Dash said she’d buy us some time to come up with another plan!” "What? Is she crazy?!" Twilight exclaims. "She’s already at her limit." “B-But she’s doing her best to distract her,” Fluttershy said softly. “She trusts us to think of another way.” “Trixie agrees with Fluttershy!” Trixie added with a boastful smile. “And now that we’re here, it’s time for us to handle the situation.” “Not so fast, Trixie,” Starlight interrupted. “Twilight said their Elements don’t work on her. Using raw magic up front won’t be effective.” “Excellent point, Starlight,” Discord nodded, casting a wary glance at Pizza Pie’s distant form. “We need to be cautious. (Given how much magic she’s been exposed to, who knows what she’s already learned?) If we rush in blindly, we’ll just give away our advantage, and we don’t want that, do we?” “Cautious?” Starlight eyed Discord suspiciously. “(He’s been acting strangely since we got back. . .) But can’t you just overpower her like you did with King Sombra” “No. She’d just counter I-I mean. . .” Discord stammered, quickly recovering. “As you said, raw magic won’t do. We’ll need a powerful spell and a clever strategy.” Trixie pulls Starlight to her side with a dramatic flair. “Luckily, Starlight knows many strong spells and Trixie here is quite the strategist.” “I was referring to myself, but fine,” Discord replied, rolling his eyes. “Then it’s settled,” Twilight declared. “It’s up to you three. My friends and I will have your backs.” The others nodded, agreeing with the plan. With quick thinking, Discord and Twilight used their magic to teleport ahead to meet Rainbow Dash just outside the village. Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash was still on the run, Pizza Pie hot on her tail. She reached the edge of town, heading straight toward the towering crystal wall. With a burst of speed, she flew straight up the crystal structure. Pizza Pie halted below, watching, before beginning to climb effortlessly with claw-like extensions from her tail. Rainbow looked down and saw her gaining. “Man, does she ever get tired?!” she muttered. Elsewhere, Princess Celestia was swiftly approaching Ponyville with a platoon of guards at her side. Ahead, she spotted a crowd of ponies, led by Spike, all gathered just beyond the edge of the forest. She landed, and the little dragon hurried over, relief on his face. "Princess Celestia! Thank goodness you’re here," he says with relief. "Twilight ordered everypony to evacuate to Canterlot." “So I’ve heard,” Celestia said, glancing at the frightened ponies around her. “I’m relieved you’re all safe. Spike, can you explain what happened?” "Well, Princess. . . you wouldn’t believe it," Spike begins, glancing anxiously at the gathered ponies. Unnoticed, Princess Luna had followed her sister, listening closely from the shadows behind the trees. “Pinkie Pie’s cousin is. . . a unicorn?” Celestia asked, stunned. “Yes, I was surprised too,” Spike replied. “It’s been a week since it happened, and everypony was asking where she got her powers, but it just made her angry. She’s been on a rampage since then. Twilight and her friends are trying to stop her-” “Wait, Spike. . .” Celestia rubbed her forehead, trying to process. “This Pizza Pie. . . what kind of magic does she possess?” “I’m not sure, Princess. But it’s nothing like regular unicorn magic; it’s far stronger and more destructive. . .” Hidden among the trees, Luna’s eyes widened as she whispered to herself, “Pizza Pie?” Troubled, she covered her mouth. “(This can’t be… she showed no signs of flaws during her transformation. If there were, why didn’t she reach out to me? Something must have happened. . .)” At that moment, one of the villagers stepped forward, his voice filled with anger. “It’s true, Princess. That mare demolished our homes, ruined our harvest, and hurt innocent ponies!” Other ponies began voicing their grievances, turning their frustration toward Celestia and Spike. The guards formed a line between the crowd and the Princess to calm the tension. Spike tried to pacify the crowd as Celestia’s ears caught a rustling sound behind her. “(This is getting out of hoof. . . I need to stop it myself.)” Luna began to slip away, accidentally stepping on a branch. She flinched, then continued, but Celestia’s gaze had already locked onto her. “Luna?” Celestia approached, her voice firm. “What are you doing here? I thought I asked you to stay with the mayor.” “I-I know, but. . .” Luna stammered, avoiding her sister’s gaze. “Mayor Mare was just worried about the townsponies, so I thought I’d check on you too.” “Everypony is fine, Luna. You didn’t need to come all this way-” “Yes, you’re right. You’ve clearly got things under control. I’ll return to the castle and inform Mayor Mare of the situation,” Luna replied, turning to leave. Celestia watched her go, suspicion growing. “Wait, Luna.” Luna stopped, her face tensing as Celestia floated over to her. “Is this the vision you’ve been having? The one that’s kept you up the past few nights?” "M-my vision?" Luna stammers, glancing away nervously. “Yes. You’ve been acting oddly ever since the social gathering. And, oddly enough, you went missing just as Twilight and her friends began searching for this Pizza Pie pony.” Luna’s eyes darted away, and she broke into a nervous sweat. “S-Sister, let’s not waste time on such trivial questions. . . I must report back to the mayor-” "Luna, please," Celestia says, her voice gentle. "If you’re hiding something, you can tell me." “. . .” “Don’t you trust your sister? Whatever it is, I’ll try to understand-” “That’s just it, sister,” Luna replied, guilt in her eyes as she looked away. “You wouldn’t understand. . .” “But, Luna-” “Not without knowing what happened that night. . .” She hesitated, her voice barely a whisper. “The night we lost our good friend.” Back in the conflict zone, Twilight and the others reappeared a mile outside Ponyville, readying themselves to intercept their Pegasus friend and the raging unicorn pursuing her. They braced as they spotted Rainbow Dash and Pizza Pie in the distance, with Rainbow desperately evading her cousin’s furious attacks. "Alright, we're counting on your plan," Twilight said firmly, looking around at her friends. "Whatever it takes, don’t hesitate to try." "My, my, Princess," Discord replied cheekily, though a hint of concern flickered in his eyes. "I haven't seen you this desperate it’s not like you… and all the more reason to be cautious." "This is serious, Discord. We need to try every option we have." Starlight stood next to Twilight, determination in her gaze. "If it comes down to it, I’ll use my old spell on her. I can try to remove Pizza Pie's cutie mark, and if that’s the source of her strange magic, it should stop her." "Great idea, Sugarcube," said Applejack, nodding approvingly. "Haven't seen you pull that trick out since… well, you know. You reckon you need that fancy stick for it to work?" "Oh, that?" Starlight chuckled, though her nerves showed. "That was mostly for show. I can do it without the stick, but I’ll need you all to keep Pizza Pie completely still while I cast it." Pinkie Pie bit her lip, looking at her cousin with concern. "Are you sure that won’t hurt her, Starlight?" Starlight hesitated before replying. "I don’t think it will hurt, Pinkie… I hope not." "It won’t," Twilight said reassuringly. "And don’t worry, Starlight. We’ll back you up so you can focus on casting that spell." She turned to Discord. "Can you set a trap for Pizza Pie? Something that’ll hold her in place?" Discord grinned, donning an exterminator’s outfit in a flash. "You’re talking to the right draconequus for the job." "The Great and Powerful Trixie will help too!" Trixie stepped forward, pulling a set of smoke bombs from her hat. "It takes a little misdirection to make a good trap work. I’ll provide cover while you ponies set the plan in motion." "Nice thinking, Trixie," said Starlight, nudging her friend. "Even Rarity’s impressed!" Rarity nodded approvingly. "Brilliant idea, darling! It’ll keep Pizza Pie from catching on to what we’re up to." At that moment, the ground began to tremble with a rapid thundering of hooves. They spotted Rainbow Dash flying toward them at breakneck speed, with Pizza Pie sprinting behind, her horn glowing as she fired off bolts of magic in the pegasus's direction. Twilight raised a hoof. "Everypony, get ready. Here they come." The group held their breath, watching as Rainbow approached, her wings beating furiously. At the last second, Twilight teleported Rainbow out of Pizza Pie's line of sight, bringing her back to the group. Rainbow reappeared in mid-flight, still charging forward, only to realize she was now with her friends. She stopped, bewildered but relieved. "Now!" Twilight shouts. In a swift motion, Trixie threw her smoke bombs to the ground, creating a thick cloud that obscured the area. Pizza Pie halted, her vision blocked. She rushed forward, extending her tail like tendrils, but suddenly felt them caught in something firm. The smoke cleared to reveal her tails shackled to the ground with enchanted chains. As she struggled, four canes shot out from the smoke, binding each of her hooves. Each cane was held by one of the ponies, straining to keep her pinned. "Gotcha, cousin!" Pinkie Pie called, holding one cane tight with a worried expression. "I’m sorry, but this is for your own good." Pizza Pie’s fierce eyes locked onto Pinkie’s, her anger mingling with a flash of sorrow. Discord snapped his claws, and more chains emerged, securing her hooves in place. A cage formed around her, with iron bars rising up to enclose her fully. With a flick of his wrist, Discord added an extra layer of magic to keep the cage bound tight. "There we are," Discord said, brushing off his hands. "That wasn’t so difficult, was it?" "Don’t get too cocky now," Applejack replied, stomping a hoof on the cage. "We can’t let our guard down. Who knows what else she’s capable of?" Twilight strengthened the bindings with her own magic, layering them with glowing chains of energy. "Starlight, are you ready with that spell?" Starlight nodded, approaching the cage with a steady but tense step. She began to channel her magic, her horn glowing brightly as she concentrated. "Here goes. . ." The others watched in anticipation as Starlight’s spell enveloped Pizza Pie, who struggled within the cage. Slowly, a shimmer appeared around her cutie mark as it began to peel away. "It’s working!" Twilight said, her face brightening. "Keep going, Starlight!" Pizza Pie, visibly weakening, continued to fight against her bonds, her eyes narrowing with desperate fury. She let out a growl, her body twisting as she strained to break free. Starlight shut her eyes, pouring more magic into the spell. But suddenly, she felt a pull, as though her consciousness was being dragged elsewhere. Opening her eyes, she found herself in an endless black void. "Where am I? Twilight? Discord? Everypony?" she called out, panic rising. She looked around, but there was no sign of her friends. "Cousin. . . help. . ." Starlight whipped her head toward the faint, desperate voice. "Pizza Pie? Is that you? Where are you?" She ran toward the sound, but an overwhelming weight pressed against her hooves, slowing her down. She glanced down, realizing she was walking through a pool of dark liquid. Up ahead, she saw Pizza Pie lying on the ground, her form barely visible. "I’m here, Pizza Pie! Hold on, I’ll get you out." As she reached out, Pizza Pie slowly tilted her head, a haunting grin spreading across her face. "There is no escape." Her form began to melt, slipping through Starlight’s hooves and merging with the darkness around them. "Pizza Pie?!" Starlight gasped, taking a step back. "[Κανένα ον δεν έχει έρθει τόσο κοντά στον οικοδεσπότη μου.]" A deep, unnatural voice echoed in the void, and a monstrous figure loomed overhead, its eyes glowing with a cold, red light. "[Και θα είσαι ο τελευταίος.]" The creature’s mouth opened wide, descending toward her. Starlight screamed, mustering enough magic to break free. She jolted back to reality, her spell shattering, and stumbled back, unconscious from the shock. "STARLIGHT!" Trixie exclaimed in shock. ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ~ End of chapter 18 Author's Note As more ponies are involved in the conflict all the more dangerous it gets. The unstable magic grows unpreditable over time and it's origin will resurface by one alcorns confession.
Modesty Chapter 19: The Sunstrike⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ "STARLIGHT!" Trixie rushed to her, desperately shaking her friend. Meanwhile, the cage around Pizza Pie shook violently as her dark magic broke through the restraints. Twilight tried to hold it steady, but one of Pizza Pie’s tails lashed out, breaking free. Discord, reacting swiftly, conjured a massive net and swept his friends up, pulling them out of harm’s way. With a final surge, he flung the cage away, sending it hurtling several feet. “T-Thank you, Discord,” whispered Fluttershy, her voice trembling. “You saved us. . .” “Not at all, my dear,” Discord replied with a comforting smile, but there was a hint of unease in his eyes as he looked back at the chaos. The rest of the ponies rushed to Trixie, who was cradling Starlight’s unconscious form. Twilight knelt beside them, gently stroking Starlight's mane and inspecting her for injuries. “She’s fine, Trixie. I don’t see any serious injuries,” Twilight assured her. Trixie hugged her friend tightly, then turned to Twilight, her voice sharp with fear and anger. “This is too much! That thing almost killed Starlight!” “She’s not a thing!” Pinkie Pie protested, pushing her friends aside. “She’s my cousin, and we’re doing everything we can to save her! If you’re just going to complain like you always do, then maybe you should just-” “That’s enough,” Applejack said, pulling Pinkie Pie away. “We’ve got to keep our cool, now. We almost had her back there-” “Almost isn’t good enough!” Trixie shot back, glaring at Pinkie. “This whole mess wouldn’t have happened if you-” “Trixie, stop,” Starlight’s weak voice broke through the tension as she regained consciousness. “Don’t blame Pinkie Pie. I was caught off guard, that’s all.” She paused, a haunted look crossing her face. “That. . . thing I saw. Was it controlling Pizza Pie?” “But Starlight, you’re hurt!” Trixie protested, her face filled with worry. “I’m fine,” Starlight insisted, trying to sit up. “We’ll have to try again.” Twilight’s face showed a mixture of concern and determination. “Are you sure, Starlight? We barely managed to hold her off. . .” “Yes, I just need a bit more time to pull it off,” Starlight replied, steeling herself. Suddenly, without warning, Pizza Pie’s tail shot forward toward the group, snaking through the air in search of a target. The ponies quickly scattered, trying to keep out of reach as the tail smashed and whipped around, crushing anything it touched. “Don’t let it grab anypony!” Twilight shouted as she and Rarity aimed their magic at the tail, pushing it back with bursts of force. But the tail retaliated, lunging forward again and managing to snatch one of their friends. “Fluttershy!” the group cried out in horror as Pizza Pie's tail dragged the screaming pegasus toward her. Discord sprang into action, rushing after the tail with a fierce determination. With a quick snap of his claws, he replaced Fluttershy with a stuffed plushie just as Pizza Pie’s tail retracted. Confused, Pizza Pie stared down at the toy now in her grasp, only to hear a faint hissing sound. The plushie’s fuse burned down and exploded with a loud pop, sending a cloud of smoke into Pizza Pie’s face. Fluttershy, safe in Discord’s arms, watched the explosion with wide eyes. “Well, well,” Discord smirked, holding Fluttershy close. “Looks like she got a ‘surprising reward’ from that claw machine.” The ponies were silent, momentarily stunned by Discord’s dry humor. Pinkie Pie sighed, half-smiling through her concern. “I’d give you a drumroll for that joke, Discord. . . if it didn’t involve blowing up my cousin.” Discord chuckled. “Oh, please, Pinkie Pie. After all we’ve thrown at her, a little plush explosion hardly seems out of line.” As if to punctuate his words, the top of the shattered cage flew toward them. Twilight and Starlight raised a protective barrier just in time, deflecting the projectile before it could reach them. “Seems we only managed to make her angrier,” Starlight said through gritted teeth. “Can’t you just use your magic to lock her up somewhere, Discord?” Discord looked away, his expression uncharacteristically serious. “That... that would be unwise, Starlight. My magic might make things worse.” “Discord?” Starlight frowned, noticing his hesitation. “What aren’t you telling us? Do you. . . know something about what’s controlling Pizza Pie?” "Heads up!" Applejack interrupted, pointing skyward as a roar of thunder shook the ground. From the clouds above, Rainbow Dash appeared, a rainbow shock cone forming around her as she dove down at an incredible speed. "Look out, Pizza Pie! Here comes Sonic Rainboom, round two!" "Rainbow, wait!" Twilight shouted, but the pegasus was already hurtling toward her target. Rainbow Dash bellowed as she burst through Pizza Pie’s dark magic attacks, hitting her head-on. "Eat Rainbow Dust!" A massive explosion shook the ground, and a cloud of rainbow-colored smoke billowed out, blocking their view. The ponies stood in horrified silence, unable to see through the shimmering mist. ⏪︎ From the clouds above, Rainbow Dash appeared, a rainbow shock cone forming around her as she dove down at an incredible speed. "Look out Pizza pie here comes Sonic Rainboom round tw- W-Wait didn’t I just say tha-" The raging unicorn extended her tail, claws wide open, and grabbed the rainbow-colored pegasus mid-air. Rainbow Dash struggled, but Pizza Pie pulled her closer, her grip tightening painfully, slowly crushing the pegasus. “Rainbow Dash!” Twilight shouted, taking off in a desperate sprint toward her friend trapped in Pizza Pie’s grasp. “Twilight, wait!” Starlight called, running after the alicorn. “Twilight!” Their friends watched in shock, still processing the strange, fiery aura radiating from Pizza Pie. The intense heat pulsed around her, making it hard for anypony to approach. “L-Let go of me, you knock-off-AHHH!” Rainbow Dash screamed as Pizza Pie’s grip tightened, the temperature around them intensifying until it felt like the very air was aflame. “Hang on, Rainbow!” Twilight shouted, conjuring a protective barrier around herself and moving closer, with Starlight following right behind. But as they advanced, the heat only grew more oppressive, forcing Twilight’s magic to flicker. “Twilight, can’t you just teleport her out of there?” Starlight asked, her voice strained as they struggled against the waves of heat. Twilight gritted her teeth, trying to focus. “I. . . I can’t! This heat is interfering with my magic.” Starlight attempted a spell of her own but quickly faltered, beads of sweat forming on her brow. “I can’t either... it’s too much!” “Oh no, Rainbow Dash! Cousin, stop!” Pinkie Pie cried out, attempting to rush toward the chaotic scene. But Rarity grabbed her tail, pulling her back. “No, darling!” Rarity said firmly. “It’s far too dangerous! We need to stay back for now.” Fluttershy’s eyes filled with worry as she turned to Discord. “Discord, can’t you do something? Twilight and Starlight can’t get close enough to help her.” Discord glanced at Fluttershy, a mix of worry and resolve in his gaze. “Fluttershy. . . (If I try to counter her, it might only make things worse, but. . .)” He hesitated, looking around at the fearful expressions on his friends' faces. Finally, he sighed, setting his jaw. “Alright, I’ll see what I can do.” Pinkie Pie, still tense and on edge, narrowed her eyes at Discord. “Discord, I’m warning you don’t hurt Pizza Pie.” Discord put a hand to his heart with a wry smile. “Well. . .” “Don’t worry, Sugarcube,” Applejack interrupted, her gaze piercing. “He knows what he’s doing. . . don’t you, Discord?” “Yes, yes, I won’t hurt her,” Discord replied, his tone reassuring. Cracking his knuckles, he took a step forward, focusing on the chaotic scene in front of him. His gaze softened momentarily as he looked at Rainbow Dash, still struggling against Pizza Pie’s crushing grip. With a deep breath, he raised his claw. “Sorry to do this to you, dear, but you’ve caused enough trouble already-” Just as he prepared to snap his fingers, a sudden, blinding beam of sunlight shot down from the sky, striking Pizza Pie with a force that sent shockwaves through the ground. The impact released Rainbow Dash from the unicorn’s grasp, sending her hurtling through the air. Acting quickly, Twilight and Starlight caught Rainbow Dash with their combined magic, gently lowering her to the ground. The echo of the explosion rippled out, audible even as far as Canterlot, leaving everypony in stunned silence. “Rainbow Dash, are you alright?” Twilight asked, her voice thick with relief. Rainbow Dash grinned, despite her bruises. “That. . . was. . . awesome!” She laughed breathlessly. “Now that’s the kind of magic I’m talking about, Twilight! I had no idea you were holding back on us like that.” Twilight’s eyes widened, shaking her head. “That wasn’t me, Rainbow.” Rainbow blinked, glancing over at Starlight, who looked equally baffled. “W-Wait, it wasn’t?” Starlight stammered. “Then. . . where did it come from?” Before they could process further, Pinkie Pie’s voice cut through the air, louder and angrier than they had ever heard. “YOU BIG DUMB MEANIE!” Pinkie’s voice echoed as she stormed up behind them, her gaze locked onto Discord with fury. “I TOLD YOU NOT TO HURT HER!” She began to smack him repeatedly, punctuating each word with another hit. “I. TOLD. YOU. BUT. YOU. DIDN’T. LISTEN!” “Pinkie Pie, calm down!” Applejack stepped forward, grabbing her enraged friend and gently pulling her back from Discord. “Let me go, Applejack!” Pinkie Pie wriggled furiously in Applejack’s grasp. “He pulverized my cousin!” “Pinkie, he didn’t mean to,” Applejack said, trying to calm her down. “Discord did what he had to do.” “Yeah, on purpose!” Pinkie shouted, elbowing Applejack’s grip loose. She snatched up a rock and hurled it at the draconequus. “Don’t just stand there playing dumb, Discord! Look at me—I said, LOOK AT ME!” The rest of the group held Pinkie back as Discord stood unmoving, his eyes fixed on the smoke-filled space where Pizza Pie had been. Fluttershy flew up, hovering directly in front of him, waving a hoof. “Discord?” she said, her voice gentle but firm. “Discord?” She tried again, but he didn’t respond, his gaze vacant. Growing concerned, Fluttershy took a breath and gave him a sharp slap. “WAKE UP!” Discord blinked, a bit stunned, his cheek stinging. “Ouch! F-Fluttershy, what was that for?” Fluttershy’s eyes brimmed with hurt as she pointed at the cloud of smoke. “You know exactly what you did, Discord. How could you do that to Pizza Pie?” “I-It wasn’t me, Fluttershy h-honest!” Discord protested, looking around helplessly. “You’re full of baloney!” Pinkie shouted, still struggling against her friends. “You did it on purpose! My cousin was never like this until you showed up!” “Pinkie dear, control yourself,” Rarity whispered, but Pinkie was far too upset to hear her. “She was fine just the way she was, looking like me I didn’t mind it at all until you messed with her!” Pinkie’s voice cracked. “Because of you, Ponyville’s in ruins, our friendships are shaken, and my bond with her. . . it’s broken!” “Trixie thinks you’ve said enough,” Trixie interjected, but Pinkie’s anger couldn’t be restrained. “I thought you were done with chaos, Discord!” Pinkie’s voice was softer now, bitterly disappointed. “But you couldn’t resist, could you? You just had to play with her mind, twist her up, and give her that THAT stupid horn!” Discord snapped, a dangerous edge in his eyes. With a sudden wave of his claw, he pulled the very ground toward him, drawing the others closer. He reached out, lifting Pinkie by the chest, holding her at arm’s length but firm enough that she couldn’t struggle away. “Do you think I wanted her to end up like this?” His voice was low, each word dripping with intensity. “Do you think it’s because of me that she mimics you?” He leaned in closer, his voice barely a whisper but weighted with anger. “You’re far from the truth.” “W-What do you mean?” Pinkie stammered, her defiance flickering under Discord’s sudden seriousness. Discord’s gaze softened, though his words still carried a harsh edge. “I met your cousin long after your little trip to Mitaly. When I found her, she was lost no cutie mark, no sense of purpose.” He sighed. “She was already a complete wreck. And what she is now? There’s no going back from that. She took something dangerous, something powerful, thinking it would solve everything.” The group fell silent as Discord’s words hung in the air, each one cutting deep. “She’s done all this, made all these choices. . . because of a promise. A childish promise!” Pinkie’s eyes filled with tears. “Y-You’re wrong. . .” Discord raised a brow. “Oh?” Pinkie swallowed hard, her voice barely above a whisper. “It’s not a childish promise. . .” She took a shaky breath. “It’s our Pinkie Promise... the most important promise of all. And whatever changes she’s made, I still accept her.” Her voice grew stronger, her gaze meeting Discord’s. “Just like we accepted you. Secrets, mistakes, chaos-” she paused, voice trembling, “we still accepted you.” Discord’s grip on her loosened, and his friends nodded, each one standing firmly beside Pinkie’s words. He gently lowered her, dusting off her mane, his expression unreadable. “I. . . I do accept your cousin,” Discord murmured finally, casting a somber glance at the fading smoke. “But it wasn’t me who did this to her. Its-” “Discord!” A voice echoed from above, cutting through the tension like a blade. All eyes turned skyward as a blinding ray of sunlight parted the clouds, bathing the ground in light. Descending slowly from the sky, a radiant figure emerged a white alicorn, adorned in glimmering armor, her eyes piercing as they met Discord’s. “We need to talk.” Celestia’s voice was firm, her gaze unyielding as she looked down upon the draconequus and his friends. ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ~ End of chapter 19 Author's Note As more ponies are involved in the conflict all the more dangerous it gets. The unstable magic grows unpreditable over time and it's origin will resurface by one alcorns confession.
Modesty Chapter 13.5: A voice in her head⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✶✶✶ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ After her time with Twilight, Pizza Pie made her way to Sweet Apple Acres, expecting to enjoy some fun activities. She entered the barn, but there was no sign of Applejack. Puzzled, she wandered around the farm, searching for her. Eventually, she spotted Applejack in the distance, pulling a wagon loaded with empty baskets and setting them beneath the apple trees. Pizza Pie descended the hill to meet up with Applejack. "Hey, Applejack," Pizza Pie called. "Howdy, Pizza Pie! You're early. How’d your time with Twilight go?" Applejack asked, smiling. "Eh, it could be worse. She talks about her books nonstop. Seriously, she bores me to tears," Pizza Pie muttered, rolling her eyes. Applejack chuckled knowingly. "Guessin' you ain't the readin' type." "Obviously not. I still can't believe somepony like her gets to be a princess," Pizza Pie grumbled. "Well, Sugar Cube, that’s the funny thing about destiny. You just can’t always tell what you’re meant to be someday." "Right, destiny . . ." Pizza Pie muttered thoughtfully, almost to herself. After a moment of silence, Applejack gave her a friendly nudge. "Say, since you’re here, mind lendin' a hoof bunkin' these apples?" Pizza Pie looked over her shoulder and saw the sprawling orchard, with rows of apple trees brimming with ripe fruit, ready to be harvested. "That’s a lot of apples. You really want me to help pick all these?" Applejack shrugged, laughing. "Well, I was plannin' on bunkin' a good bunch while you were still with Twilight, but now that you’re here, how about we tackle it together? And afterward, we’ll get some of Granny Smith’s famous apple cider." Pizza Pie's eyes gleamed with sudden interest. "Apple cider, you say?" She licked her lips. "I mean, I’m definitely thirsty after all that ‘reading.’ I’ll give it a shot–" "Whoa there!" Applejack chuckled, waving her off. "We haven’t started yet! Those ciders are for after we finish the work." Grinning mischievously, Pizza Pie teleported closer to the apple trees, surveying the orchard with a determined gleam in her eyes. Applejack, catching up to her side and slightly winded, watched in alarm. "Hold on there, Sugarcube," Applejack warned. "These apples take the better part of a day to bunk, especially since I usually work with Big Mac." "Oh, why do that when we can bunk ‘em all right now? After all, I have magic," Pizza Pie boasted, puffing out her chest proudly. Applejack raised an eyebrow. "Well, I'm all for enthusiasm, but it took me and my friends just to get through half in a day." "Well, I’ve got news for you: I’m not your friends," Pizza Pie retorted with a confident smirk. Pizza Pie stepped forward, planting her hooves firmly into the ground as she began to channel her magic. The earth trembled beneath her as she focused, and Applejack stumbled back in surprise. The rows of apple trees shook as a magical glow surrounded them, lifting them slightly above the ground. Applejack’s jaw dropped as the impossible happened before her eyes. "I-I don't believe it. . ." Applejack stammered. "Might wanna step back, Applejack," Pizza Pie warned. "Oh, right. . ." Applejack backed away, wide-eyed, until she was safely beside Pizza Pie. "What exactly are you plannin' to do–WHOA!" With a final surge of concentration, Pizza Pie levitated baskets under the trees. She then released her spell, and the trees dropped neatly back into place, their apples falling perfectly into the waiting baskets and filling each one to the brim. "See? All done," Pizza Pie said triumphantly. Applejack scratched her head, her voice filled with awe. "Well now. . . I don’t know how you did it, but I sure ain’t complainin'." "Yup, just like you doubted," Pizza Pie replied with a grin. "Didn’t mean to sound doubtful at first, but seein' as you proved me wrong, I guess I owe you an apology," Applejack admitted. "You should be. I did all that just to show you that when you’ve got magic, you get the job done," Pizza Pie said, a little smugly. Applejack shook her head, laughing. "Well, if you recall, I’m not the one who magically made herself a unicorn." "Pfft," Pizza Pie scoffed, stretching her legs and leaning against the wagon. "Whatever. So, what about that apple cider you mentioned?" "Alright, alright. I guess a deal’s a deal," Applejack said, leading her toward the barn. "I’d say you earned it." "Bet it tastes better than Rarity’s fancy leaf juice," Pizza Pie quipped. The two made their way back to the barn, with Pizza Pie levitating all the baskets along, much to Applejack’s mild exasperation. As they walked, she noticed Pizza Pie’s cutie mark glowing, sparking a bit of suspicion in her mind. Pizza Pie set off to meet Rainbow Dash by the riverside. As she approached, she saw Rainbow Dash tossing boulders across the river with ease, each splash echoing along the shore. Pizza Pie trotted up to her, wondering what kind of activity she had plan. "Hey, RD. What's with all these rocks?" "Pizza! You're just in time." Rainbow Dash flew atop a boulder, grinning. "I was just working on my rock-tossing skills." "Rock. . . tossing?" "Yep! My first plan was just chilling all day, but then I saw these boulders lying around and thought, why not a contest?" "You mean, like, seeing who can throw one the farthest?" "Not quite," Rainbow Dash said, smirking. "It’s who can toss it the farthest and make the deepest crater." "Oh. . ." Pizza Pie replied, raising an eyebrow. "Come on, it’ll be awesome!" Rainbow Dash’s enthusiasm was palpable. "Each of us will take turns tossing a boulder across the river and making a crater. The winner gets to sit on the ‘cool lawn chair’ over there." "The cool lawn chair?" "Oh yeah!" Rainbow Dash gestured to a well-placed lawn chair beneath a large oak tree. "It’s got perfect shade from the tree, just enough space for snacks on that flat stump, and it faces the best sunset view ever. So, it’s not just a cool chair it’s the Perfect cool lawn chair." "I guess that does sound. . . pretty cool," Pizza Pie mused. "Pretty cool? Try pretty awesome! And only one of us gets to sit there, so… I challenge you, Pizza Pie! Whoever wins claims it till sunset." "Hmmm. . ." Pizza Pie rubbed her chin thoughtfully before grinning. "Alright, Rainbow Dash, you’re on!" They shook hooves and took positions by two separate piles of boulders. Rainbow Dash stretched her limbs, glancing at Pizza Pie, who was limbering up as well. "I’ll go first and show you how it’s done," Rainbow Dash said, grabbing the lightest boulder from her stack and heaving it over her shoulders. "And just to keep it fair no magic, alright? Just willpower and strength." "Fine," Pizza Pie replied, sounding slightly annoyed. Rainbow Dash prepared herself, then gave a mighty yell, "Eeeeee- RAAAAAAHHHHGGG!!!" She hurled the boulder with full force, watching it soar across the river and land just shy of the opposite shore, sending up a cloud of dust. Turning back to Pizza Pie with a confident smirk, Rainbow Dash panted, "Nailed it. Try to beat that!" "Ok, I will," Pizza Pie said, clapping her hooves before choosing a similar-sized boulder from her pile. She was about to use her magic when Rainbow Dash’s reminder stopped her short. "Remember, Pizza Pie: no magic," Rainbow Dash warned. "I heard you the first time," Pizza Pie grumbled. She strained to lift the boulder but struggled to even budge it, her frustration building with each failed attempt. After several tries, she managed only to flip it over with a loud grunt. "Ugh! This is impossible!" "Aw, that’s too bad," Rainbow Dash teased. "I didn’t say we had to toss the same size boulder. You could try a smaller one." "You set me up!" Pizza Pie accused, glaring at Rainbow. "Hey, nopony likes a sore loser, Pizza. Just pick a lighter one for the next round-" "Let me try again!" Pizza Pie snapped, her voice unexpectedly harsh. She took a deep breath and steadied herself, attempting once more. As she strained, Rainbow Dash noticed a strange red vapor rising from Pizza Pie, and the air around them grew hotter. Nervous, Rainbow Dash stepped back slightly. "Uhh, Pizza Pie? It’s just a game-no need to push yourself so hard-" "Zip it!" Pizza Pie’s gaze sharpened, and she gritted her teeth. "I don't need magic to win." Her tail lengthened, splitting into five claw-like appendages that wrapped around the boulder. In one swift motion, she lifted it effortlessly, then hurled it across the river, where it crashed into the forest with an explosive impact, scattering birds into the sky. Rainbow Dash’s jaw dropped. "Wha- ho-how did you do that?!" "How’s that for no magic?" Pizza Pie replied smugly. "I didn’t even know you could do that!" Rainbow Dash stammered, still in shock. "Nopony likes a sore loser, Dashie." With a sly smile, Pizza Pie teleported over to the lawn chair, reclining comfortably. "Just admit I beat you." "Y-You just caught me by surprise!" Rainbow Dash spluttered. "And did you just call me a loser?!" "From that look on your face? Definitely a look of defeat," Pizza Pie said, summoning a can of soda with a smirk. "Sad to see." Rainbow Dash shook her head, frustration rising. "What’s with you today, Pizza? You’re acting. . . different. You weren't like this before you got that-" "Before I got what?" Pizza Pie interrupted, teleporting right in Rainbow Dash’s face, her eyes glowing red. "This?" She pointed to her horn. "This changes everything. The old Pizza Pie is gone. I’m more than just some Pinkie look-alike now. I’m better." "Better at what? What are you even talking about?!" "Forget it," Pizza Pie muttered. "Here I am, wasting my time with Pinkie’s friends, and none of you even understand what I’ve been through." Rainbow Dash stepped back, her face a mix of confusion and frustration. "Pinkie already told us what you went through! You’re just ranting out of nowhere-" "I AM NOT RANTING!" Pizza Pie snapped, then took a deep breath, calming herself. "Look, I agreed to spend time with each of you, so let’s keep this simple. I won’t bother any of you if you promise not to mention anything I did today to Pinkie. Deal?" Rainbow Dash crossed her hooves, looking away. "Fine. But we’re only doing this for Pinkie anyway." "Aw, thanks, Dash. That’s really sweet," Pizza Pie sneered. "Anyway, it’s getting late, so I’ll be going." "Yeah, yeah. . ." "Oh, one more thing, Rainbow Dash." "What now?" "Your ‘cool lawn chair’ is trash. Might as well call it the ‘trash chair.’ Later!" She teleported away, her mocking laughter echoing through the trees. "WHY THAT LITTLE-!" Rainbow Dash fumed. Later, the ponies gather at the park, all exhausted. They exchanged weary glances, and it was clear from their expressions that none of them seemed to have enjoyed their day with Pizza Pie. Twilight held up her scroll, looking at her friends with a mix of concern and curiosity. “Alright, girls. How was your day with Pizza Pie?” Rarity stepped forward, fanning herself in distress. "Well, Twilight, we did manage to make a dress together… but she looked at my draft for a split second and then. . . then she made it perfect!" She held up a stunningly crafted dress for all to see, her friends exchanging bewildered looks. Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "So what?" "So what? So what?!" Rarity pulled Rainbow Dash closer, brandishing the dress as if it were a trophy. "You see these stitches? They took me years of practice to perfect, and she. . .she made them flawless in mere seconds!" "Seconds?" Applejack’s eyes widened in surprise. "She just learned to sew like that?" Rarity nodded dramatically. "Yes! It’s an insult to skilled tailors everywhere! To think a beginner could master such techniques instantly!" She dramatically produced a fainting couch from nowhere and collapsed onto it with a sigh. Applejack shook her head. "Well, that's nothing. She levitated every apple tree in the field and dropped ’em like it was no big deal! Twilight, I’ve been buckin’ apples my whole life, and what she did? It wasn’t the earth pony way. I’m tellin’ y’all, that magic ain’t natural." Rainbow Dash scoffed. "Magic? Please. You should’ve seen her toss a boulder clear over the woods!" Twilight blinked in shock. "A boulder?" "Yeah! We were having a boulder-tossing contest, and I told her no magic. But all of a sudden, her tail just. . . stretched out like an extra limb, grabbed a boulder, and she chucked it clear past mine, all the way to the woods!" Applejack’s eyes widened. "Wait, that was her? So that explains the ten-foot crater in the cornfield earlier! And you’re tellin’ me she tossed it from the river?" Rainbow Dash nodded, looking sheepish. "Uh. . . yeah. If you don’t believe me, just ask the birds that were there." Fluttershy stepped forward, her voice trembling. "Speaking of birds. . . when we were walking in the woods, Pizza Pie did something. . . unsettling." The others turned to her. "What happened, Fluttershy?" Twilight asked gently. Fluttershy shivered, taking a deep breath. "Mr. Blue Jay flew over to say hello, and Pizza Pie just. . . stared at him. But then he told me. . . everything around him faded to darkness, like he was alone in some sort of a void. All he saw were these huge red eyes closing in on him." Fluttershy shuddered. "The poor thing was so scared, he flew away immediately." An uneasy silence fell over them as they absorbed this. Twilight reached out, giving Fluttershy a reassuring pat. "It’s alright, Fluttershy. That sounds terrifying." Applejack paced back and forth. "So let’s add it up: she learns fast, she’s super strong, has powerful magic. . . and she’s scarin’ animals? Is there anything we missed?" Twilight cleared her throat, pulling out a book Pizza Pie had looked at earlier, showing a page with the Elements of Harmony. "There’s one more thing. I showed her this book, and she kept staring at the Elements. She mentioned they used to be three, and now there are six." Rainbow Dash peered over Twilight’s shoulder. "So she’s a know-it-all too? Great." Applejack interrupted with a raised hoof. "Hold on, Rainbow. What happened next, Twilight?" Twilight looked troubled. "She started speaking in a different language. It sounded oddly familiar, but I can’t place it." Rainbow Dash threw her hooves up. "So after all this, no one knows what’s up with her?" The group exchanged uneasy glances. Rarity sighed, breaking the silence. "Pinkie Pie probably hasn’t noticed her cousin’s odd behavior yet." “Yeah. . . Say, where is Pinkie anyway?” Rainbow looked around. “Haven’t seen her all day.” Applejack tapped her chin thoughtfully. “I saw her after spendin' some time with Pizza Pie, She mentioned that Mr. and Mrs. Cake needed her for a big order at the bakery.” She glanced back at Twilight. “So, should we tell Pinkie about what happen?” Twilight hesitated, glancing at the faces of her concerned friends. “We promised we’d give Pizza Pie a fair chance without being suspicious, but now. . .I don’t know.” She trailed off, visibly conflicted. After a long, confusing day, the ponies went their separate ways, still troubled by Pizza Pie’s bizarre actions. In the shadows nearby, hidden in the bushes, a figure watched as the ponies gathered and talked. After listening intently, it turned and slipped quietly back into the forest. Meanwhile, in a secluded alley, a steady banging echoed off the walls, making passersby glance around nervously. Deeper in the shadows, Pizza Pie repeatedly slammed her head against the wall, a twisted look of frustration on her face. Her voice was a harsh, guttural whisper that escalated into a desperate scream. "GET. . . OUT. . . OF. . . MY. . . HEEEEEAAAAD!!!" ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✶✶✶ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✶✶✶⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ~ End of chapter 13
