Chapter Three: Serious Prankster Party Pony

It was almost eleven when the coach pulled to its stop next to Ponyville's now-infamous town hall. Lost Star had enjoyed her nap, and the forested landscape was beautiful, but she was restless and ready to get moving. When the conductor opened the door for her, the black unicorn leapt out wearing showy purple-rimmed sunglasses and a bit of glitter in her coat.

"HelloOOOO, PONYVILLE!" Lost's shout was greeted with a few stares, while the conductor sighed and shook his head. "Let's get this summer rolling!" She shook out her black mane, streaked with various colors, and helped unload her bags.

"Thank you, sir. I guess I'll see you in a couple of months, huh?" He shrugged at that, accepted a couple of bits as a tip, and assisted the day's pickups into their seats.

And with that, Lost Star was left on her own in the middle of town. Fortunately, she'd made extra-sure where the hotel was: up in the courtyard area north of the marketplace, in sight of the schoolhouse. With a flick of magic, she lifted her luggage, fitted her panniers, and was ready for a brisk walk to claim her room.

Once everything was stowed, Lost pulled out a map of town she'd copied, and made small marks at the places she intended to visit. There was a joke shop, a bakery, a spa, at least one cafe... she'd have to go 'round the whole town soon enough, but for today she wanted to focus on prank supplies and snacks.

(Music: "Stamp on the Ground", by the ItaloBrothers)

At the jester's cap, Lost bought a few interesting objects and powder packets, including her favorite: sour dust, sugar crystals with pure sour flavor in them. At the market, she discovered bananas for sale, and bought one of those as well.

Then she went on a spree, planting surprises into any number of ponies' lives.

At the flower stall, she set a squirting flower in a pot on the ground, facing away from the crowd. When one of the sisters went to pick it up, it soaked her face. She recoiled in surprise, while the other two investigated, but the street was busy and Lost had been properly sneaky putting it there.

At the apple stall, one pony was complaining about the lack of flavor in apples today. Lost held up a shiny red apple, then gave it to the complainer, saying, "Here, you don't like these apples, have one of mine!" The grumpy pony went on her way, but Lost found herself facing an angry farmer until she explained the joke: it was a hollow plaster apple. "She'll really learn what a lack of flavor is when she tries to eat that one!" They shared a laugh, then Lost bought a real apple for herself.

At the bakery, she bought a sack of muffins for later. Later at the park, she left a muffin sitting on a bench. After a few minutes, one pony leapt on it and devoured the muffin - to her immense regret. The sour dust Lost had sprinkled on top caused the grey pegasus to gag and turn several bright colors, her eyes spinning wildly and wings flailing.

Lost heard laughter that wasn't hers, and looked around, but didn't see anypony. Then her ears perked, and her horn pulled upward. She looked up to see a bit of rainbow flopping around on the edge of a cloud. Then a blue pony pulled herself up and grinned down at the unicorn, revealing her rainbow-colored mane, and the tail that Lost had seen bouncing as she laughed.

"Hey, you like pranks, too, huh? What's your name?"

"I'm Lost Star! Who are you?"

"Rainbow Dash! The best flier in Equestria, and perpetrator of the greatest pranks ever!"

"Oh? Care to show me a few?"

"Hah! How about a competition?"

Lost grinned. Then she used her magic to pull the banana out of her left pannier and set it on her head. "Sorry, I can't do a prank war. There seems to be a banana on my head!"

Rainbow Dash stared as Lost practically pranced away. "Oh, it's gonna be like that, huh? I wasn't gonna declare war, but Now. It's. On! Banana-Head just earned herself a prank war!"

Lost grinned as she overheard the declaration. Now she was sure she'd have an interesting summer!