MLP: Technology is Magic

Sophia felt a headache developing.

The day started alright, though apparently Celestia decided to have brunch at Sugarcube Corner with Twilight, Starlight and their friends. Moondancer, Lyra, Minuette, Lemon Hearts and Twinkleshine were also in attendance so extra tables had to be used for the event.

However, Celestia didn’t seem to know how to turn off her regal aura and most of the attendants were filled with anxiety trying to impress the princess. The Cake couple who owned the shop were so eager to please that they accidentally overfilled Celestia’s teacup which was due to the princess messing with them a little.

The only ponies who actually did relax around the ruler were Pinkie and Starlight. The former didn’t seem to consider the idea of going out of her way to impress the princess, the latter was one of the few who saw through Celestia’s regality and though it irked Twilight that Starlight could be so casual around their teacher, Sophia approved of her behavior.

It was when Celestia introduced Fluttershy to her pet phoenix, Philomena, that the irritation began. The phoenix was in a sorry state but because Sophia knew about the legend of phoenixes from Earth mythology, the bunny knew that Philomena appeared to be nearing the rebirth period of her continuous life cycle.

However, Fluttershy had the idea to run off with the bird with the intention of trying to treat her “sickness” before returning her to the princess.

Sophia could tell that this was going to be troublesome so she followed the pegasus back to her cottage. She facepawed as the pony tried remedies that worked for normal birds but seemed to have no idea who she was trying to nurse.

“Fluttershy, just stop!” Sophia called out.

The mare stopped in her tracks and stared at the blue rabbit in shock. “Sophia? What are you doing here? I thought you were still at the party.”

“I’m here to save you the embarrassment of pointlessly treating a phoenix who is nearing the rebirth phase of her life cycle.”

Fluttershy glared at Sophia, appalled by what she called pointless. “How can you say that? Philomena is sick and needs treatment or she could–”

“Turn into a pile of ashes and emerge from them good as new,” Sophia interrupted. “I’m the one who should be surprised at you, Fluttershy. For all of your knowledge of caring for animals, you seem to be lacking knowledge of magical animals like phoenixes. What is happening to Philomena is a normal part of her life cycle. She will be back to normal once she rebirths.”

Philomena gave a series of hacks and coughs which sounded suspiciously like laughter at the mare’s expense. Though Sophia wasn’t having it. “And you! Quit leading her on like you are. Fluttershy is not somepony who can take a practical joke well. Rainbow and Pinkie both know to not involve her in such things. So please do us both a favor and rebirth so we can end this cruel joke.”

Philomena pouted before she burst into flames and turned into a pile of ashes. She then emerged a few moments later, looking vibrant and healthy. She then went back to pouting.

Sophia began to levitate the phoenix’s cage to bring it back to Celestia when she noticed a sad look on Fluttershy’s face. “What’s wrong?”

“Is it true? Rainbow and Pinkie don’t involve me in their fun because I can’t take a joke?”

”It’s more like your sense of humor is different than most ponies. Even when they are only trying to be funny you take them too seriously. Before you consider it, don’t. You don’t need to change who you are just to please other ponies. Spending more time with your friends individually can help you to understand them better and their sense of humor and perhaps Rainbow and Pinkie might find a way to prank you that you would find tasteful.”

“I…I suppose…”

“Try to be more proud of yourself, Fluttershy. How many other ponies would say they told off a creature they just saw beat up a fully-grown dragon? How many would say they faced a berserk alicorn without running away? You are the most courageous pony in your friendship circle because you are the most afraid but you don’t flee in the face of terror. You should be terrified of me, given how vicious I could be sometimes but we’re having a conversation.”

“Huh, I guess you’re right. Maybe I should give myself a little more credit.”

“Alright, I think today’s confidence lesson is over. Let’s get this prankster back to her owner.”

Philomena looked away from Sophia with a huff.

Later, Fluttershy borrowed a book on magical creatures so she could learn how to better take care of them in the future.

Weeks passed and the season changed as the leaves began to change color. It would soon be time for an event the Equestrians called the Running of the Leaves, an event where ponies raced around to shake the ground and knock the leaves out of the trees. It was a strange event, but it was their tradition.

Sophia continued to monitor the activities of Alan Schezar and his pirates. It didn’t take long for her to notice that he still had access to a means of controlling Zerg which was going to spell trouble for the ponies later. The pirates had established their base of operations on the zebra continent of Zebrica while their pet Zerg had set up a hive cluster on the moon. Chances were that Schezar probably knew she was here so he was being cautious but it was only a matter of time until he grew bold enough to establish a forward base in Equestria somewhere.

Sophia could only sigh sorrowfully as she knew that the ponies’ days of peace would soon be at an end.

Things had not been too eventful in Equestria lately. She found that Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo had not let her lesson sink in and were still trying to find a way to get their cutie marks even though their talents were practically screaming in their faces for them to notice them. They even went around to see Twilight and her friends who discussed the origins of their cutie marks and the event they all had in common.

She was still glad that Scootaloo was taking her training exercises seriously, at least.

Some time after that, Twilight had adopted a pet owl to help her with her nighttime studies while giving Spike more time to focus on his schoolwork. Sophia couldn’t help but giggle as Spike repeatedly fell for Owlowiscious’ routine of repeatedly hooting and annoying him as the dragon interpreted the hooting as the owl saying “Who?”

It was only a few days after Twilight got her new pet that a potentially dangerous situation occurred. It happened on the day after Pinkie invited her friends to attend her baby alligator’s birthday party. The party mare had the idea to throw an after-birthday party for her pet. Her friends refused her invitation and it made her suspicious of her friends.

As the day continued, Sophia noticed Pinkie’s mental state deteriorating as she began to draw wild conclusions. It was beginning to worry the bunny as she remembered a certain someone from her family who she was glad was not around right now.

Sophia’s thought turned to a vial of pitch black fluid in her backpack. Throughout her entire time on Equus, she always had the hope that she would never have to use the vial for any reason. “I will need to fix Pinkie’s mental state quickly. The last thing I need is ‘her’ showing up and preying on the poor pony.”

First, she did some investigating of Pinkie’s friends. It wasn’t hard to determine that they were planning a surprise birthday party for her. It would seem that Pinkie had forgotten that today was her birthday.

By the time Sophia found Pinkie, the mare’s mind was in a precarious position as she was throwing a party with a few inanimate objects and she had a deranged look in her eyes. Even worse was that she was voicing the objects in a disturbing way.

It was time to intervene before she had a full psychotic break. She entered the room and jumped on the table the mare was sitting at. “Hello, Pinkie.”

Seeing Pinkie, her mane had fully straightened out and her coat color had darkened. The mare had a dangerous look on her face.

“Sophia? What are you doing crashing my party?” Pinkie demanded.

“Right now, wondering why you’re behaving like a filly playing tea party with makeshift dolls as if your parents didn’t want you having real ones.”

“Well excuse me for not having friends for my parties anymore,” Pinkie growled.

“Or maybe you’re letting your imagination run too wild and settled on a worst case scenario which, surprisingly, seems against your nature to think given that you’re usually an optimist.”

“I wasn’t always like that. I grew up on a rock farm where things were always so dull but bearable because I had my family with me.”

“Honestly, if your family sold their rocks, specifically the gemstones, they could make a decent amount of bits once the market establishes itself since it’s recently been discovered that they could be refined into starship metal.”

Pinkie sighed, “Maybe, but that’s not who I am anymore. Limestone and Marble handle rocks better than I ever could and Maud is at Canterlot University studying rock science. Here I am doing my best to keep Ponyville happy every day, at least I thought ponies appreciated my efforts.”

“They do and I know your friends do as well.”

“Tch, yeah, sure. If they did then why didn’t they come to my party?”

“Have you given any thought as to what today is?”

“What do you mean? Today is…” Now that she thought about it, Pinkie had to wonder why today’s date felt familiar to her. It took her a couple of minutes before it finally dawned on her why today was so important. “Huh…I guess that would explain why they were avoiding me. I should have known that they were using standard surprise birthday party behavior. It was written all over their faces and I ignored that because I was so focused on Gummy’s after-birthday party.”

“So this is what you look like when you’re serious?” Sophia wondered.

“I have to stay optimistic to keep my friends happy. Twilight and Applejack tend to be a little too serious and they could bum ponies out with logic. Rarity gets uncomfortable when she’s outside Ponyville because most ponies are mean to her, Fluttershy needs somepony to give her that boost of confidence to interact with other ponies, Rainbow Dash is fun but her antics can’t seem to find that sweet spot between fun and irritating so somepony needs to run a distraction to save her from angry ponies. Starlight is a little more fun than Twilight but she worries about the future too much.”

Sophia seemed impressed at how mature Pinkie could be when it was needed. It seemed that the party pony’s mind was stabilizing again which meant that her work was done. “You seem to be okay now, so let’s get out of here. I think the others are ready for you now. I can sense Rainbow coming to get you.”

Pinkie smiled as her mane and coloring gradually returned to normal. “Thanks for clearing up the misunderstanding. And don’t worry, once the time comes those pirates and the other invaders will get a taste of my violent side.”

“Other invaders?” Sophia asked.

“Woopsie!” Pinkie giggled. Sophia chuckled and rolled her eyes.

Just then, Rainbow entered the room and spotted her friend. “Hey Pinkie! I see Sophia’s with you too. Can you two come with me to Applejack’s? She really needs us for something.”

Pinkie giggled, knowing what was going on now. “Okie dokie Dashie, lead the way.”