The main 7 and Spike walked up to Sugar Cube Corner, 10 minutes before 3:00 pm.
"Here we are everypony. Right where the ministry wants us to be." Twilight stated.
Everypony turned to Pinkie Pie, who was looking uncharacteristically nervous, but not too nervous.
"Are you ready Pinkie?" Starlight asked.
Pinkie nodded.
"Good luck sugar cube. Show them no mercy." Applejack encouraged.
Pinkie nodded once more.
"Um…if you could, please bring Discord home." Fluttershy asked.
Pinkie smiled, and hugged her friend.
"Okie dokie lokie, Fluttershy. I'll do my best!" She stated proudly.
She saluted her friends, and marched inside.
Just then, the school bell started to ring, with a deeper more sinister tone. Pink clouds stated to swirl in the sky, raining down chocolate milk. The remaining ponies and spike looked up at the phenomenon.
"They're here." Rainbow Dash said.
Indeed they were. Just then, 4 figures suddenly appeared out of thin air, disguised in black robes, hoods covering their faces. But, you could tell that the figures were a unicorn, a griffin, and two dragons.
"Greetings, my little ponies." Ringling said, lifting the hood from his head, revealing his face.
"The ministry of chaos. At last we meet." Twilight said, with a stern tone in her voice.
"Now, now princess. No need for the hostility. We're just here for negotiations."
Ringling put his black top hat on his head.
"Do you have your negotiatior present?" He asked.
"She's inside. Waiting for you." Rarity said.
"Excellent. I look forward to meeting her."
He looked over at Fluttershy.
"Hello there, Miss Shy. A pleasure to see you again." He said, tipping his hat.
Fluttershy glared at him.
"How dare you tell me that! Where's Discord?!" She snapped, with Applejack and Rainbow Dash holding her back.
"My my! A feisty little one, she is!" Enmity and Animus said simultaneously.
"I do suppose you received my letter then? Discord is still alive. We have him in a safe place. You mustn't worry about him." Ringling said.
"Don't get stingy on the soy sauce, Debra!" Sqwab said.
"That is correct. Thank you Sqwab." Ringling thanked.
"Uh…what did that mean?" Rainbow Dash asked, confused.
"My associate here was reminding me about the prophecy. It has been foretold that the former Lord of chaos would fall, and in his place, a new Lord will emerge. We are the followers of the prophecy, and it is our solemn duty to see it fulfilled." Ringling explained.
"So that's why you call yourselves "the ministry of chaos."" Starlight reasoned.
Ringling smiled.
"Precisely, my dear."
Suddenly, the bells began to ring again, signaling that 3:00 pm had arrived.
"Well well, look at the time. It's time for our appointment." Ringling said, smiling sinisterly.
Ringling faced the ministry.
"Stay out here, and guard the door." He ordered.
The ministry pounded their chests.
"Also, keep an eye on them. Make sure they don't do anything foolish." He stated, pointing at the ponies and Spike.
"Oh, we'll keep an eye on them, alright!" Enmity stated.
"Aye, especially the little one. Look at the wee baby!" Animus said, pointing to Spike.
"One could pinch his cheeks!" Enmity cooed.
Spike gulped and hid behind Twilight.
Ringling went inside Sugar Cube Corner. Inside was completely empty, not a single soul to be seen. Once in, he sat down at a booth in the corner.
"Waitress! A menu, if you please?" Ringling commanded.
Pinkie Pie rushed up with a menu and a smile.
"Welcome to Sugar Cube Corner! I'm Pinkie Pie, and I'll be your server today!" She said enthusiastically.
Ringling sneered mildly.
"Wonderful. I'll have a cup of tea to start with, if you please."
"Alrighty! One cup of boring tea, coming up!" Pinkie said, bouncing off.
"Boring? The very nerve." Ringling said to himself. "Where is that negotiator?"
"You must be the leader of the ministry of chaos." Said a voice suddenly next to him.
Ringling jumped at the voice, noticing Pinkie Pie next to him.
"Ah! Wait, aren't you…"
"I'm Pinkie Pie, the negotiator for Ponyville. You wished to speak with me, remember?" Pinkie said, staring into Ringling's lavender eyes.
"Yes, but…nevermind. There are several demands that the ministry of chaos wishes for Equestria to…"
"You didn't tell me your name yet." Pinkie interrupted.
"…what? My…"
"Yes! I told you my name, now tell me yours! Manners matter, you know?" Pinkie said.
Ringling took a deep breath.
"My name is Ringling."
Pinkie smirked.
"What? Does something amuse you about my name?" Ringling asked.
"Ringling! Ringling! Ringalinglingling!" Pinkie bounced up and down, giggling at the fun sounding name.
"Yes, that is my name." Ringling said, annoyed.
"I love it! What a great name! Ringling! Ringling! Ringalingadingdong!" Pinkie continued to bounce, giggling.
Ringling was stunned.
"Wait, you like my name?"
"Of course! You're so lucky to have a name like that!" Pinkie exclaimed.
"Who is this pony?" Ringling thought to himself, stunned.
"I'm sorry, I got carried away. What were your saying?" Pinkie said, sitting back down in the booth.
"Yes, anyway, the ministry and I have a list of…"
"Be right back!" Pinkie said, rushing off to the kitchen.
"Wait, I…" Ringling said, attempting to get Pinkie's attention.
"What a peculiar pony." He thought to himself.
"Here you are sir! One cup of BORING tea, as requested!" Pinkie presented.
"Boring? Now see here…" Ringing protested.
"That is, until you put chocolate syrup in it!" Pinkie interrupted, putting a bottle of chocolate syrup on the table.
"Chocolate…"
"If you're still looking at the menu, I'll return shortly to see if you made a decision!" Pinkie said, bouncing off to the kitchen.
Ringling looked at the cup of tea, and then at the chocolate syrup. Using his unicorn magic, he lifted the bottle and poured the syrup into the cup. He mixed it with a spoon, and placed the cup to his lips. His eyes widened.
"Absolutely delightful…" He said, in awe.
"I'm back!" Pinkie exclaimed, surprising Ringling.
"Augh! Miss Pie!" Ringling said, startled.
"Now, where were we?" Pinkie asked.
"If I remember correctly…" Ringling pondered.
"Ooooohhhhhh!" Pinkie slightly exclaimed.
"What is it?" Ringling asked.
"Can I see that?" She asked, pointing at Ringling's head.
"I don't understand…" Ringling admitted.
"That awesome hat of yours! I must try it on…" Pinkie reached towards it.
"NO!" Ringling exclaimed, holding on to his hat for dear life.
Pinkie recoiled her hoof, looking at Ringling surprised.
Ringling composed himself.
"I apologize for my outburst, but I must decline. This hat is of great importance to me." He said, sipping his tea.
Pinkie smiled and nodded.
"I'm sorry too."
Pinkie looked at Ringling.
"Is that hat where you keep your chaotic powers?" She asked.
Ringling chuckled slightly.
"No, it's just…sentimental value, if you will." Ringling explained.
Ringling just then caught a familiar scent in the air.
Pinkie noticed Ringling's concentrated sniffing.
"OOOooohhh…whatcha sniffing for?" She asked.
"It smells wonderful, like a cherished memory. It reminds me of my life a long time ago…" Ringing reminisced.
He followed his nose towards Pinkie Pie.
"What does it smell like?" Pinkie asked.
"It smells like, cotton candy." Ringling deduced.
"Cotton candy? Oh! You must be smelling my shampoo!" Pinkie exclaimed. She grabbed her mane and put it on Ringling's nose.
Ringling sniffed and smiled.
"Such wonderful memories. I haven't thought of them for a long time."
"I'll be back! Duty calls!" Pinkie declared, rushing off to the kitchen.
Ringling's stern look softened a bit.
"This pony is something else." He thought to himself.
Pinkie came back with a generous sized cupcake.
"Here you go! The house special! Enjoy!" Pinkie said, bouncing off.
Ringling looked at the cupcake.
"Are you going to share that? That looks SOOOOOO good!" Pinkie said, next to Ringling.
Ringling couldn't hold it in anymore. He began to chuckle, and this chuckles turned into laughing, and is laughing turned into guffaws. He fell on the floor, holding his stomach, tears falling down his face. Pinkie laughed with him.
After composing himself, he sat back down in the booth.
"Miss Pie, this has absolutely been a wonderful time. You are just so…wonderfully chaotic!"
"Aw, thank you Ringling! I'm glad to have met you too! Now I have another new friend!" She said, smiling from ear to ear.
Ringling stopped, and looked at Pinkie.
"New friend?" He asked.
"Of course! You're my new friend!" Pinkie declared, holding open her hooves for a hug.
Ringling's happy demeanor suddenly turned sour.
"No, I'm afraid not. Now I see what you've been up to." He said, standing up from the booth.
"Like what?" Pinkie asked.
"Attempting to distract me from my mission at hand. How dare you attempt to convert me with your "friendship"!" He said, pointing an accusing hoof at Pinkie. "Negotiations are off the table!"
Pinkie looked at him with a mixture of sadness and horror.
"No, wait! Let me try again!" Pinkie pleaded.
Ringling stopped at the door, and turned to face Pinkie.
"There is one more prophecy that is at hand, along with crowning a new lord of chaos."
"What's that?" Pinkie asked.
"One by one, Equestria will fall. Until there is only one." Ringing recited.
Pinkie looked at Ringling.
He smiled sinisterly.
"And then, she too, will be ours. And lead us into a grand future."
"Who's "she"?" Pinkie asked.
All of a sudden, he disappeared in a burst of magic.
"Ringling! Wait!" Pinking cried after him.
What he left behind was a piece of paper.
She picked it up and read the message that was on it.
"In three days, prepare yourselves.
Sincerely,
-the ministry of chaos."