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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."

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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.

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~ 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.