Our Inner Ponies 2: A Race Against Time

I don't know where I got the rubber ball that was settled in my hand, but I was bouncing it against the wall anyway. What was also bouncing against the wall was Rainbow Dash. I'm guessing she was trying to break through the midnight black walls, but after ten minutes, I was starting to think she'd just bruise her shoulder blades and earn nothing in return.

"I cannot believe that Twilight and Fluttershy are working for Discord!" Rarity exclaimed. "How could they?"

"They were under Discord's control, duh," I replied, rolling the rubbery ball in my hands. No seriously, where'd it come from?

"Well how do we get those two back on our side?" Zaria asked, sitting down beside Rarity and Spike. "There's gotta be some way."

"There is!" Rainbow declared, banging against the wall the twenty-ninth time. Yeah, I counted. "We've just gotta get out of here first!" BANG!

"I don't think what you're doing is working Rainbow," Spike muttered.

"A wall like this won't be able to withstand the powerful force from an athlete like me!" Rainbow said, slamming the wall harder than ever. She ended up on her back on the floor.

I rolled my eyes and dropped the rubber ball into the bag of Elements. It clanged against a necklace, and when I looked down to see if the ball had done some damage, I noticed that the circular toy was near Zaria's Element. I sighed as I dangled it from my index finger, wondering why we couldn't have just used the Elements.

"What'cha doin'?" a voice asked. I looked over my shoulder.

"Oh, here." I adjusted the apple necklace around Zaria's neck.

"Oh cool! Wearin' this feels so awesome!" Zaria hissed. I chuckled.

"I know, right?" I said, gesturing toward my own. "I'd love to be Pinkie permanently..." My voice trailed off as I stared into space. I kept thinking about how we'd all stop Discord, and how Twilight and Fluttershy were able to come to our world as well. Were they this sneaky, or were they secretly spies working for the princess? Whatever the reason, they sure impressed me.

"Okay, I can't stand these small spaces anymore," Rarity spoke up. "We need a new plan! Now!"

"And we'll have one," Rainbow assured her friend, standing up. "As soon as we break out of here!" Bang! I rolled my eyes.

"Can't Maya just go berserk again?" I heard Spike say. "Maybe her insanity will bust us out." I smiled at him.

"One more word out of you results in a loss of a certain dragon's tail, alright?" I said sweetly. "No way am I going Pinkamena on my hometown."

"Pink-a-what?" Spike stared at me, confusion written all over his face.

"Never mind. You know too much about the dangers," I replied, making sure my hair wasn't turning straight.

"Actually, going insane isn't a bad idea," Rarity stated. "I'm already showing the signs of it!" She slammed her head on the floor, producing a high-pitched screech. I laughed into my hand. Rarity was always at her best when she was losin' it. Though now that I thought about it, Spike's plan wasn't a bad idea after all. I mean, how hard would it be to go insane and snap out of it in record time?

"Okay, girls?" I announced, "we're...bustin' out of here. But you have to Pinkie Promise me something."

"What?" Everyone's response came instantly and automatically. I gave them a sad look. I wanted to rethink this whole plan, but my mouth was already spitting out words.

"You'll have to stop me when we're all free," I finished. I reached inside and handed Rainbow and Rarity their Elements. I got nervous when they put it on without hesitation.

"What are ya doin'?" Zaria whispered to me.

"Saving our butts," I answered softly, turning to face the wall. Sorry about this Pinkie, I thought.

I squeezed my eyes shut and began thinking about...uh, something from a certain film that I had nearly parodied earlier in Ponyville. I thought how rough I had acted, how straight my hair had gone, how angry I felt at that Pegasus for not believing me...! My eyes popped open when I stopped breathing. I felt both my hair and dress deflate when I turned to face everyone else.

"You okay?" Zaria whispered, putting her arm on me. I slapped it off.

"Don't act all sweet to me," I snapped. "Sweetness is just poison." I glanced up Rainbow Dash, Spike, and Rarity.

"What're you all staring at?" I growled. Spike backed away.

"Whoa, that actually worked?" he asked, surprised. I glared at him.

"Look, all I want to do is defeat Discord," I stated angrily, clutching my necklace. "OW!" I immediately let go when it burned me. I gazed down at it and saw that it was glowing incredibly bright.

"Whoa, mine's glowin', too," Zaria said, poking her Element.

"Ours too," Rarity added. Our of the corner of my eye, I saw that the walls were peeling to reveal a white surrounding. That white surrounding suddenly thrust out of sight and another place materialized before us. Dark sky, a burning scent in the air, crying people—

"Yes, we're out!" Rainbow cried, jumping in the air for joy. Everyone practically squeezed the breath out of me when they attacked me with hugs. When they all departed, Rainbow was still holding on to me.

"You did it M! I knew you could!" she continued happily. Hm. Well this was awkward.

"Are you alright dear?" Rarity asked me carefully.

"You're not gonna attack Rainbow again like last time, are ya?" Spike added, sounding a bit hopeful. Boys and their wrestling. Jesus!

Rainbow released me. "Maya?"

"What?" I grouched, already remembering she was the reason I had gone psycho.

"You're not gonna...attack me, are you? Because I'm really sorry I didn't believe you today." I blinked at the question and the apology. Judging by the fact that she had stayed hugging me and the excitement of her voice when we escaped, I could tell she was really grateful for my little sacrifice.

"Maya?" Rainbow went on. "Are you mad at me?" I noticed my vision was darkening until the so called brightness of my surroundings looked a dark gray. She apologized, cut her some slack, a voice snapped at me. I knew Rainbow could be stubborn when it came to apologizing, and she had suffered enough from my beatings.

"Of course not, Dashie!" I cried, hugging her tightly. I felt my hair poof back to its curliness. I quickly pulled away. "But I'm not letting you off so easily, alright? Just be glad I didn't pull your hair out." Rainbow grinned at my reply and hugged me softly.

"Alright, enough of this Huggin' Festival," Zaria said. "Now that we're out, we need another plan."

"Oh, that won't be necessary," an evil voice said. Of course it was Discord. And, oh look! He brought Twilight and Fluttershy with him. How nice.

"I have a feeling I'll be ruling this town for quite a while," Discord continued. "And who knows? Maybe I'll have an extra minion plotting by my side." He poked my head sharply, and I could've slapped him.

"Enough's enough Discord!" Dashie snapped. "What else do you want from us?"

"Don't ask him that!" Zaria cried. "We can still beat him!"

"Oh, you mean with these?" Discord asked, holding up his hand. My jaw dropped.

"Where'd you get those?" I screamed, trying to grab the two leftover Elements.

"Oh, in a little bag somepony left behind," Discord answered. Ugh! Crap!

"You couldn't of had the bag in you hand?" Spike groaned, giving me a look. I hardly heard him, because I felt something forming in my hand. I squeezed my eyes shut and groaned. It was the same rubbery ball I had played with. Maya, I know you can defeat him! Pinkie's voice screamed in my head. You're lucky I have a spare ball! I grinned to myself. Thanks Pinkie, I thought back.

"What are you smiling for?" Discord snapped.

"Hee hee! Oh, nothing," I sang, smiling wider. "Just having a ball of a time!" At the word ball, I threw the toy at Discord, nailing his left eye. When he flinched and stumbled backward, I was able to grab the tiara and the last necklace.

"Rainbow, Rarity, Spike! Distract Discord," I ordered quickly. "Zaria, put this necklace on Fluttershy! Don't be afraid to use some karate!" Thank the lord Zaria took a karate class.

We all sprang into action after my demands were said. Dashie, Rarity and Spike were surrounding Discord (Rainbow didn't hesitate holding Discord down), Zaria was fidgeting with Fluttershy, and I was—well, I was terrified! Twilight sure was fast for a pony who lived in a library and who was under the influence of a chaotic demon!

"Get back here!" I screamed, running after Twilight. After pointless minutes of running, a little snap of my senses alerted me that something was wrong when Twilight vanished from my sight. If it weren't for her wrestling me to the ground, I would've never guessed she had been chasing after me.

"It's over," I heard her say. Oh not it's not! Pinkie's voice declared in my mind.

My body suddenly shifted around and Twilight collapsed right next to me. I immediately pinned her down and shoved the tiara on her head. She tried to wriggle out of my grasp, but I held her down extremely tight. The pink star implanted on the tiara created a sudden spark, and this ghostly white fog slithered out of Twilight's chest.

"W-what?!" she cried, blinking. She looked up at me. "W-who are you?!"

"Maya, I think it worked!" Zaria called. I looked over my shoulder and saw the exact same white fog escape from Fluttershy's chest. I had to laugh when I saw that Zaria had to sit upon Fluttershy in order to prevent her from escaping. I gave her a thumbs up and helped Twilight to her feet. She would've busted her head open if I weren't there to balance her.

"What in Equestria is going on?" Twilight continued to scream. "Who, no, what are you? And why are you wearing one of the Elements of Harmony?"

"Look, I'll explain everything later!" I promised, rushing over to Zaria. When I was next to her, I felt the earth beneath me tremble.

Bits of rock were dancing away from me. Lightning flashed, and I heard this deep demon scream. Either this story wasn't gonna end just yet, or Satan was visiting my world to team up with Discord.