Rise of Ruinous

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic: RISE OF RUINOUS

Chapter 28 - The Great Prank-Off

The time: One month after the defeat of Styngee.

Rarity's dress sales flew through the roof in the wake of her battle with the Bearer of Darkness of Selfishness.  In fact, the unicorn was almost over-whelmed with the orders from all the clients she picked up!

Rarity: This is AMAZING!  I'm even getting orders from Ponyis! (Paris!) This is incredible!

As she worked, the earth pony formerly known as Styngee entered the boutique.  She looked around the shop before slamming her front hooves on the ground, instantly finishing ALL of Rarity's dresses to the exact specifications asked for!  The fashionista gasped as the pony smiled, then walked out.

Rarity: What the.....

She shrugs and clears her throat, packing the dresses for shipping.

*INTRO SEQUENCE*

That afternoon, ponies were gathered at Suger Cube Corner when in comes Rainbow Dash.  Already there are Trixie and Zecora.

R.Dash: Heya, girls.

Trixie: Hello, Rainbow.

Zecora: Best be careful when on the ground,

Many zany things are all around.

R.Dash: Huh?  Is it the Day of Discord already?

Trixie: A "Day of Discord".  It's time for.....

P.Pie: *bursts out of nowhere!*  THE GREAT PRANK-OFF!!!

Pinkie Pie's sudden appearance sends the trio flying in different directions.  All three land hard on the floor, Zecora on her side, Trixie on her back and Rainbow Dash on her stomach, the pegasus almost ending up outside!  The trio look at Pinkie Pie.

Trixie: The Great and Powerful Trixie MUST impose the question: What's "The Great Prank-Off"?

P.Pie: You-REALLY-need-to-get-out-more.....  The Great Prank-Off is a prank contest of the greatest practical jokers in ALL of Equestria.  I ALWAYS wanted to win it!

Zecora: Where is it?

P.Pie: It's at the same Canterlot grounds where Princess Cadence and Shining Armor celebrated their anniversary.  There's gonna be games and jokes and prizes and treats and candy..... *shudder* oh-oh-oh-OH-OH-OH!! I GOTTA GO PRACTICE!!

Pinkie Pie dashes out of the bakery.  All day, she was playing pranks on everypony, Rarity, Applejack, even the princesses and Nightmare Moon!  The Mare in the Moon smirks a bit as she - and Princess Morphina - had fallen for the "telescope black eye" trick while scanning for Hatetrol.

P.Morphina: *head shake* Bit of a prankster, eh?

N.Moon: *nod* It's her schtick.  She spreads laughter wherever she goes.

P.Morphina: *smile* It works.

The two laugh as Princess Celestia comes out.

P.Celestia: Pinkie Pie?  *Nightmare Moon and Princess Morphina nod* *laugh* Figures.

P.Morphina: She reminds me of OUR "Pinkie Pie", Trickstar.  He was our jester, always made me, Prince Shiftshape and Mother laugh until..... *She shakes it off* N-no, it's nothing. *Princess Celestia and Nightmare Moon exchange skeptical looks*  Let's-just..... look-for-Hatetrol.....

The changeling keeps her eye on the sky, oblivious to the concern on the faces of the alicorn pair.  Meanwhile, Pinkie Pie's prank-a-thon continues, the party pony in prime condition for the competition to come.  The day of the contest, everypony is in attendance, Pinkie Pie more than her usual hyper self with antsiness over the possibility of not being picked.....

R.Dash: WHOA!  This is the jitteriest I ever saw you, Pinkie Pie!

P.Pie: I-know-Rainbow-Dash!  I-REALLY-want-to-win-this-contest!!

Applejack: Just remember, it's better to lose with integrity than win without it.

P.Pie: *nod* Right-o, Applejack.  I have the rules memorized by heart: 1. The joke MUST be funny, 2. The joke MUST be harmless, and 3. The joke MUST involve a theme announced by the organizer.

Fluttershy: You HAVE been watching this competition!

P.Pie: Are ya KIDDING, Fluttershy?!  This is MY "Grand Galloping Gala"!

Rarity: More like a Grand GUFFAWING Gala.

That got everypony laughing as Nightmare Moon flies in.

N.Moon: *laugh* What's so funny?

P.Pie: *giggle* You'll see.

N.Moon: I got a feeling!

The announcer takes his place and begins calling up participants.

Announcer: From Baltimare..... CHUCKLES!!

Chuckles, a red pony with candy-cane hair and a smiling face as a cutie mark, trots up.

Announcer: From Trottingham..... SIR LAUGHIE!

Sir Laughie, a pony dressed in armor, also trots up.

Announcer: From Ponyville..... *Pinkie Pie puts on her best "PLEASE CALL ME!" face* .....PINKIE PIE!

The excited baker pony gasps out, then hugs all of her friends, all four princesses, Shining Armor and Prince Shiftshape before taking her spot.

S.Laughie: *smirk* Thou hast quite the support group, Young Madam Pie.  Too bad it shall not be enough, for this day *camera pans to Nightmare Moon as she looks skeptically at the armored pony* I will emerge victorious in this contest of mirth.

N.Moon: *blink* Amateur.....

The action in the contest was fast, furious and funny as the pranksters perform their funniest.  Soon, it was the finals, with Pinkie Pie versus Sir Laughie.

Announcer: And now, the final funny fight between Pinkie Pie and Sir Laughie.  The time has come to reveal the theme for this battle of the bozos, and it is..... *looks around for inspiration, then spots the changeling royals, Prince Shiftshape giving him a curious look*  .....*points at Prince Shiftshape* THEM!

Ponies are shocked as it turns out their new Transformian friends are the subject of the final prank-off!

Announcer: This round will be ALL about things that look like one thing, but hide or are another thing totally different.  Each prankster will have 10 minutes to get in all the misdirectional mirth they can.  The one who makes the audience laugh harder wins the championship.  Pranksters, ARE YOU READY?!

S.Laughie: Thy future champion is ready!

Nightmare Moon continues glaring skeptically at Sir Laughie.

P.Pie: Ready!

Announcer: GO!!

The two finalists rush off, trying to make all the ponies laugh at their pranks.  Every time Pinkie Pie got the crowd rolling in the aisles, Sir Laughie also got the crowd going.  Pinkie Pie's friends were fidgetty as they watched the baker and the loony knight fight prank-for-prank for the title.

Applejack: Real heavyweight fight goin' on out there?

P.Shiftshape: Yeah.  I never knew it would be THIS much work to be funny!

T.Sparkle: They're trying to be better than the other.  It's like how you felt that one year you raced Rainbow Dash during the Running of the Leaves, Applejack.

Applejack nods, remembering how she challenged her Wonderbolt friend.  Meanwhile, the time was almost up and Pinkie Pie was a little bit ahead.  Sir Laughie, feeling the desperation, tripped Pinkie Pie just before the clock ran out!  Nightmare Moon growled low, then cast a spell on the trophy as Sir Laughie ran up to steal it!  The trophy turned into a snake, lashing out at the now-petrified knight!  Sir Laughie jumped back, almost landing in the front row - right by Nightmare Moon!  Just as the announcer blinked and was about to ask what happened.....

N.Moon: Rule 2, knightboy.  Pranks must not hurt, remember?

S.Laughie: *girlish screaming* MONSTER!!!

Sir Laughie ran faster than Rainbow Dash could fly in her dreams out of the contest area, glared at by Nightmare Moon.

N.Moon: I KNEW there was something amiss about that pony.

Nightmare Moon blinks as she looks in the eyes of Princess Celestia.  The sun goddess smiles at the Mare in the Moon.

P.Celestia: Guess you CAN work days.

Both alicorns laugh as Pinkie Pie smiles, slowly getting back up.  The announcer huddles with the judging panel on a decision.

Announcer: Fillies and gentlecolts, we have reached a verdict.  Since Sir Laughie broke the rule about no harm must be done, he is disqualified.  Therefore, the winner of this year's Great Prank-Off is PINKIE PIE!!!

Everypony cheers as Pinkie Pie goes nuts with delight.  Nightmare Moon smiles as she sees Pinkie Pie happily accept the trophy for Equestria's best prankster.

P.Pie: Thanks so much, everypony!  *She smiles at Nightmare Moon*  I would like to dedicate this victory to one of my best new friends, Nightmare Moon.

Nightmare Moon blushes as every pony applauds.  That night, Pinkie Pie held a special celebration party, inviting Nightmare Moon as the guest of honor.

TO BE CONTINUED