Chapter 17: The One Where Pinkie Pie Knows
One day, Sokka was spending his day with Pinkie, helping her watch Pound Cake and other things. While many could debate it, Pound Cake seemed to take a liking to Sokka. It would sound cliche to say it was because they were both Pegasi, but Pound seemed to have more fun playing with a pony who could fly with him. He also seemed to behave more with Sokka too, but the Pegasus stallion would never admit that to a certain pink pony. She was currently at work with some cupcakes doing what she did best: Decorating them! Not eating them.
"Five hundred and sixty-six, five hundred and sixty-seven, five hundred and sixty-eight," Pinkie counted aloud, "Phew! Look at that, Pound Cake and Sokka! I am so close to breaking my personal cupcake-icing record!" Pinkie then slid down her ladder, showing that she was covered in cake batter.
"What's the prize if you win?" Sokka asked as Pound Cake flew off of his back and went to sit on Gummy for a ride.
"Just bragging rights," said Pinkie, "I've noticed little Pound Cake seems to like you." Sokka smiled as he extended a fore-hoof and little Pound returned it for a hoof-bump and chuckled to himself.
"I honestly don't see why Sunray had such a hard time with him, especially when he lost his temper." said Sokka, "Pound seems to listen to me..." He then snickered as he added, "...And I didn't need to dump flour on myself either."
"You had to go there didn't you?" Pinkie remarked indignantly. It was then Mrs. Cake walked in with Pumpkin riding her back as she was reading a note.
"My goodness!" said Mrs. Cake, "I can't believe what I'm seeing here!"
"Pretty impressive if I do say so myself," said Pinkie smugly, only earning an eye roll from the blue Earth pony.
"I think she's referring to something else, Pinks," said Sokka as he walked up to the two mares.
"Pinkie, would you mind watching the counter while I pop to the supply room?" Mrs. Cake asked, "We've just received a very special order, and the ingredients need to be perfect."
"Okie-dokie-lokie," said Pinkie.
"Anything I can do to help?" Sokka offered as Pumpkin gave a happy squeal on Mrs. Cake's back.
"I've been meaning to sweep the floor...if you wouldn't mind, dear," Mrs. Cake offered.
"I'm on it," said Sokka, giving her a salute and hovered over to where the broom closet was.
"Thanks dears!" said Mrs. Cake and then zoomed away, making Pinkie spin about and she face planted on top of the note. Pinkie then read the note, her eyes quickly bugging out onto the paper. Her eyes eventually punctured the paper itself.
"A baby?!" Pinkie exclaimed as she pulled the paper away with a big smile on her face, "Shining Armor and Princess Cadance are having a baby?!"
Pinkie squealed excitedly. Sokka stopped sweeping when he saw Pound, who now had his pacifier in his mouth, stick the pacifier into Gummy's. Sokka just chuckled at both Pound's silliness and then smirked at the news.
"The ol' Captain is finally gonna settle down and become a father huh?" said Sokka, "Lucky stallion. Just like Chase is with Nyx." Pinkie then appeared a hug him, Pound, and Gummy at once.
"This is the best news ever!" said Pinkie happily, "I can't wait to tell Twilight and Chase!" Sokka smiled in agreement when Mrs. Cake peeked out of the supply room.
"Oh, em, Pinkie, Sokka, uh..." Mrs. Cake stuttered before whispering, "it's a top secret surprise." She and Pumpkin both made prolonged shushing sounds to emphasize their point.
"No problem!" said Sokka as Mrs. Cake slowly backed into the room, "Right Pinkie?"
Pinkie didn't answer but just stared into space as she let go of Gummy and gulped.
"A top secret surprise?!" Pinkie remarked dreadfully, "That means I have to keep the exciting news...to myself!"
Pinkie began to panic as Sokka just sighed and rolled his eyes.
"Well this just can't get any worse," Sokka remarked.
*Main theme*
A few minutes later, Sokka finished sweeping and Mrs. Cake took over babysitting the twins. Pinkie and Sokka took a walk around the town area. The former, however, was still on edge about the secret as Gummy rode her tail sucking on the pacifier in his mouth.
"Even though I didn't technically make a Pinkie Promise to Mrs. Cake," Pinkie told Sokka, "I can't tell Twilight, Chase, or anypony the big news! That would make me a...a...a big old surprise ruiner!"
"But Pinkie," said Sokka, "Chase says that you're pretty good at keeping a secret. This shouldn't be any different!"
"Sokka, those secrets are about private information secrets," said Pinkie, "This is along the lines of "getting your cutie mark" or "life-changing happy news" secrets! I'm not very good at keeping those! I can't tell you how many times I've ruined my own surprise parties because my mouth moves faster than my train of thought! Gummy can testify to it! Right, Gummy?" That was when she noticed Gummy sucking on the pacifier.
"Did you take that from Pound again?" Pinkie asked slyly, "Don't you know it's wrong to steal from a baby?"
Sokka just rolled her eyes. As much as he wanted to tell Pinkie that Pound had put the pacifier into his mouth, he has given up trying to comprehend how Pinkie communicated with Gummy. Thus he kept his mouth shut.
"What's all this about a baby?" said Rarity as she approached the two ponies.
"What? Who? What?" Pinkie stuttered, "Who said something about a baby?!" Pinkie just gave the marshmallow pony an innocent smile, but Rarity wasn't going to back down.
"You did, Ms. Pie, just now," Rarity answered, "What were you talking about?"
Pinkie's eyes shifted about nervously before grabbing the pacifier and putting it into her mouth, sucking on it as she shrugged her shoulders and walked off. Sokka just shook his head and rolled his eyes, trying to follow her when Rarity stopped him.
"What was that all about darling?" Rarity asked the Pegasus stallion as gave the pink pony a puzzled look.
"Pinkie caught Gummy sucking Pound's pacifier," said Sokka, "She thinks Gummy stole it from him."
"I see," said Rarity, "Pinkie could've just said so instead of acting so jumpy."
"She's just having a moment of anxiety," said Sokka simply, "You know like how Twilight gets panic attacks from time to time while Chase tries to calm her down?"
"I see..." said Rarity, "...hope she'll be alright."
"She will, she will," said Sokka reassuringly, waiting for Rarity to walk away, before muttering worriedly, "I hope..."
(Scene changes)
Later that day, the Mane twelve and Spike had gathered in the throne room for an meeting. Rarity had just arrived to see that Pinkie still looked rather on edge. She gave the pink pony a worried look as she took a seat on her throne. It was then Chase arrived to sit in his throne. Next to him was a smaller throne about the same size as Spike's as Nyx sat beside him. Chase had built one for her so she wouldn't feel left out.
"Great! Everypony's here," said Twilight as Spike handed the purple alicorn a note, "Now I don't have to wait any longer to tell you all the wonderful news! Somepony special is coming to visit Ponyville, and my husband, daughter, and I need your help getting everything ready!" The others ponies began chattering with each other excitedly.
"It's..." Twilight continued.
"...Shining Armor and Princess Cadance!" said Twilight and Pinkie at the same time.
Twilight was just left stunned as Pinkie just gave a huge toothy grin. Sokka groaned inwardly as Chase and Nyx shared puzzled looks with each other.
"Yes," said Twilight, "and their coming-"
"-Tomorrow!" said Pinkie and Twilight together.
Twilight was left stunned once more as Pinkie continued smiling awkwardly. Even Rarity gave Pinkie an awkward look. Sokka just shook his head and gave the pink pony the stink eye.
"Yes," Twilight tried to continue again, "on the-"
"-Friendship Express rather than the Crystal Empire train so as not to cause too much of a scene when they skip town to come visit?" Pinkie finished and gave a squee, sweat dripping from her forehead, especially since Sokka was literally giving her a death glare at this point.
"Yes," said Twilight uneasily.
"Annnnd?" Pinkie asked as she got into the alicorn's space.
"And that's it," Chase replied.
"Oh," said Pinkie, not hiding the disappointment.
"Uh, how did you know all that?" Rainbow asked as Sokka winced discreetly.
"Uh...Pinkie Sense?" Pinkie replied with a nervous laugh.
Pinkie just smiled with embarrassment as she stretched her body and went back to her throne.
"So, what can we do?" Sunray asked his sister-in-law with a smile.
"Yeah, you said you need our help with something?" Rainbow asked. Twilight and Chase exchanged smiles with each other.
"Follow me," said Twilight as she flew off. Rainbow soon followed as well as Chase and Nyx.
(Scene changes)
It wasn't long before Twilight and Chase led the group into a spare room in the castle that was filled with toys, books, ant farm, and more.
"Whoa," said Nyx, "I had no idea uncle Shining Armor was a big kid at heart."
"Well, when you find all of the good memories, honey, they always come back." Chase said with a smile.
"He told us that he has been missing his stuff so much." Jade added as Sunray nodded in agreement.
"It's almost like when we used to miss out on our stuff more often." Sunray said.
Rainbow then hovered about the room.
"Sweet posters!" said Rainbow, "Is that Smash Fortune?"
"It sure is!" said Twilight. "When Shining Armor said he wanted to come to the castle and visit, Chase and I started collecting things he liked when he was a colt as a surprise!"
"Surprise?!" Pinkie exclaimed as she popped out of a chest with an old guard's helmet on her head. Rainbow hovered over to the pink pony and gave her a skeptical look. Pinkie just laughed nervously before turning the helmet around to hide her face. Sokka just glared at the pink pony and Clay noticed.
"Sokka," said Clay in a hushed tone, "Is there somethin' we need to..."
"It's between me and Pinkie," said Sokka directly in the same tone.
"Alrighty then," said Clay slowly.
"I've been so excited that it's been hard to keep it to myself," Twilight continued as Fluttershy walked about the room.
"I have no idea what that's like!" Pinkie remarked in a muffled tone as Rainbow landed and gave her a funny look.
"Aww, look at the cute little ant farm!" said Fluttershy she peeked inside and saw a small ant carrying a leaf. The ant saw Fluttershy's eye, shrieked, and ran off.
"And check out all these old comic books!" Spike remarked as he picked up one still in its packaging.
"Be careful!" said Twilight, "They're mint-in-bag!"
"Plus it took me forever to even find them too," said Chase, "and cost me quite a few bits too!"
"And be careful not to burn them!" Sunray added.
Spike just went to blow off some dust when he ended up spitting a flame and burnt the comic book into ashes. He quickly put the ashes into the packaging slip and whistled nervously to avoid getting caught. He had only taken two steps when he found by Chase, Sunray, and Jade giving him death glares.
"Does everything I tell you just go in one side of your head and out the other?" Sunray asked in a low and stern tone.
"Heh...oops?" Spike replied.
"What's this?" Pinkie asked as she pulled out an old doll.
"This is Brutus Force. Shining Armor used to carry him around like his baby!" Twilight said with a smile.
Pinkie then winced and nearly dropped the doll, but after some juggling managed to regain her grip on it.
"Yeah! Really cute!" said Pinkie, laughing nervously as she spoke. Twilight just shared a look on concern at her still jumpy friend.
"Guess that teddy bear I saw him with all those years ago was just a cover up," said Chase, "I never knew about Brute."
"I'm surprised you didn't," said Twilight, "even I knew about him." Chase just shrugged his shoulders.
"It is a bit juvenile for castle decor," said Rarity, "But it is very sweet of you both."
"I'm sure Shining Armor will love it," said Fluttershy as Nyx nodded in agreement.
"So do we," said Twilight as Chase nodded in agreement, "but there's a few more things I'd like to add before he gets here, and I could really use a hoof collecting them."
"Whatever you need, sugarcube," said Applejack as she walked up to Twilight and gave her a wink, "we'll help you get it." Everypony else gave general comments of agreement.
"We get to help to. Right, Chase?" Jade asked her older brother with a sweet smile.
"Sure. Wouldn't want you guys to miss out on our fun." Chase said as he brought his younger brother and sister together.
"Thanks, everypony," said Twilight, "my husband and I can't wait til they walk in and see everything!"
"Totally understandable," said Rainbow, "Watching somepony else be surprised with is almost better than being the one who's getting the surprise!"
Pinkie now looked worried.
"But...eh...what if the surprise is something so incredibly exciting that a pony can't keep it in any longer," Pinkie whined as she backstroked along the floor, "and she has to tell the pony standing next to her what it is or she might explode?!"
Pinkie then grabbed Fluttershy tightly, making the yellow Pegasus lost her breath for a moment.
"Pinkie, you're cutting off my wife's air!" Sokka said sternly as he went to pull her off.
"S-s-s-sorry," said Pinkie as she loosened her grip, "I just need an answer to my question!"
"I would say...no," said Fluttershy, giving the pink pony a concerned look.
"The pony who ruins a surprise for somepony else has to live with that guilt forever!" said Rarity dramatically as she stuck her nose into Pinkie's face.
"Sounds like a big deal." Sunray whistled to himself.
Pinkie just laughed nervously.
"Gotta bounce!" Pinkie interjected as curled up into a ball started ricocheting about, making pinball noises, when she crashed through several walls and right out of the castle.
"What was all that about?" Clay asked in confusion.
"So, I know the bar is set pretty high," said Rainbow, "but does anypony else think Pinkie Pie was acting weirder than usual?"
"Dad, do you think she's getting a little too crazy?" Nyx asked Chase with a concerned look.
Chase pondered to himself.
"I don't know, honey." Chase said. "Maybe we should go find her and see what's up." Sokka winced before he zipped up to them.
"No!" Sokka exclaimed, startling the two ponies, "I...uh...I mean...I'll go see what's up. I mean...you're always saying I should try and connect with everypony. And...I'm not very close to Pinkie just yet. I think I can help her."
Chase stared at him for a moment and then smiled.
"Alright, Sokka," said Chase, "I hope for the best." Sokka nodded as he hovered out of the room.
(Scene changes)
Back at Sugarcube corner, Pinkie raced toward the back entrance of Sugarcube Corner, slammed the door shut and panted heavily.
"Phew, that was close!" said Pinkie, "Too close."
KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK
"Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!" Pinkie screamed.
"Pinkie, chill out! It's me!" Sokka said from outside the door, "Now let me...WAH!" Sokka was then pulled inside and pressed against the wall by the pink pony.
"Did anypony follow you?" Pinkie asked darkly.
"No!" Sokka retort, "I told everypony..."
"You told! You told! YOU TOLD THEM!" Pinkie shrieked when Sokka shoved a fore-hoof in her mouth.
"I told our friends something was bothering you and I was here to help," said Sokka slowly, "The secret is still safe. They're not going to bother you because I said I would help you. You're my friend and I love you. I want to help you keep this secret. Okay?"
Sokka then pulled his fore-hoof out of her mouth and then found a nearby napkin to wipe it. Pinkie just exhaled loudly before she hugged Sokka...gently this time around.
"Thanks, Sokka," said Pinkie, "But that was still way too close...I almost spilled the beans. Beans that would be really hard to clean up!"
"Do you really have no control over your own excitement?" Sokka asked.
"I have limits, Sokka!" Pinkie snapped, "It's an ongoing problem for me! Chase knows that and always has to smack me upside the head every time! IT'S NOT PRETTY!"
"Alright, alright," said Sokka, "Just calm down and we'll figure out a way you can relax."
"For starters, I obviously can't be around my friends right now," said Pinkie as she walked forward a bit, "Or anypony for that matter...except you Sokka...since you already know the secret. Hmm...that's it!"
"What's it?" Sokka asked curiously.
"If Shining Armor and Cadance are coming tomorrow," said Pinkie, "then all I have to do is lock myself in my room away from everypony until they arrive! Then I won't ruin anything!"
"Well, you don't have to lock yourself up in your room," said Sokka, "but I agree that having some quiet time would be a good idea."
"You'll...keep me company for a bit right?" Pinkie asked.
"Sure," said Sokka as the two headed upstairs. Then Mr. Cake arrived.
"Oh, good, you're back!" said Mr. Cake, "Mrs. Cake needs my help, but these deliveries can't wait! I can't thank you enough for agreeing to be my backup delivery pony, Pinkie!"
Pinkie cringed.
"I...did?" said Pinkie as she tried to remember, which in turn, triggered a flashback.
Flashback
Mr. Caked was busy loading up some goods into his wagon.
"Maybe I should hire somepony to be my backup delivery pony," Mr. Cake pondered aloud.
"I'll do it!" said Pinkie as she sat on the front porch mixing some chocolate batter in a bowl.
"Really?" said Mr. Cake in surprise.
"Sure!" Pinkie answered, "There's no possible way that I could ever have anything that might interfere with doing that task, like a gigantic, emotionally exhausting surprise that would make it super hard to be around other ponies."
"Great!" said Mr. Cake before adding skeptically, "Uh, you're sure you won't change your mind?"
"No way!" said Pinkie as Gummy popped out of the chocolate cake batter, "Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!"
End Flashback
"Oh yeah," said Pinkie as she remembered, "I Pinkie Promised I'd do it. And I never break a Pinkie Promise! Never!"
"Well, thanks again!" said Mr. Cake, "You're a real cake-saver!" Mr. Cake headed back into the kitchen. Pinkie just looked worried as her mane deflated a bit and she sighed to herself.
"Why didn't you tell Mr. Cake..." Sokka tried to ask when Pinkie put a fore-hoof to his mouth.
"A pinkie promise is a pinkie promise and I must keep it," said Pinkie sadly, "Hm. Maybe it'll be a quiet day and I can just avoid everypony!"
"Uh, Pinkie," said Sokka, but it was too late. Pinkie looked outside and found that nearly everypony imaginable was walking and chatting about the town area. Pinkie was looked at the sight dreadfully.
"I was trying to warn you that everypony is pretty much out and about today," said Sokka. Pinkie groaned to herself.
(Scene changes)
It wasn't long before Pinkie and Sokka were now each wearing a pair of gaucho glasses as they hid both themselves and the Cake wagon behind a bush. Then they tip-hoofed together until Pinkie managed to hide herself, Sokka, and the wagon behind a very thin tree trunk. Then they were hidden behind a nearby building. Pinkie poked out to scan around but quickly retreated when she saw a Pegasus fly past.
"Is this really necessary?" Sokka asked.
"Are you gonna help me or not?" Pinkie snapped in a harsh whisper.
"Sorry! I'm not as good at following your randomness, but I'm trying!" Sokka snapped.
Pinkie just rolled her eyes and charged forward with Sokka hovering behind her. She began to cautiously continued forward.
"Hiya, Pinkie Pie! Hiya, Sokka!" shouted a voice. Pinkie looked to see the Cutie Mark Crusaders were now walking along side her.
"Hey, girls!" said Sokka, trying to direct the conversation so Pinkie didn't have to talk.
"Hi, big brother," said Sweetie Belle, "Heard any good gossip today?"
"Yeah, we're bored," said Scootaloo, "Please say you have some interesting news." Pinkie looked a little uneasy.
"Nope!" said Pinkie as she took off at high speed.
"Pinkie, wait up!" said Sokka as he flew off after her.
The three fillies were left stunned at seeing Pinkie take off like she did. Pinkie just kept running until she bumped into somepony.
"Ugh!" Pinkie groaned when she noticed that the impact had knocked her gaucho glasses on somepony's pink tail. Sokka recognized the tail immediately.
"Honey?!" Sokka exclaimed as he helped his wife to her fore-hooves.
"Fluttershy, what a surprise!" said Pinkie, making Fluttershy turn around before Sokka could remove the gaucho glasses still stuck on her tail, "I mean, not a surprise!" Pinkie gave a squeaky smile in response.
"You were in such a rush earlier," said Fluttershy, "Twilight and Chase wanted me to ask you if you would bring some snacks to the castle for Shining Armor and Cadance's visit. Sunray and Jade are helping them out as well."
"Definitely!" Pinkie answered quickly as she tried walking away, "Got it! Pinkie Promise! Yeah! Heh."
Sokka gestured behind Fluttershy to say no, but the yellow Pegasus turned around to look at him, which the Pegasus stallion just smiled innocently.
"You know, maybe some baby carrots..." Fluttershy suggested. Sokka coughed definitely and Pinkie laughed nervously.
"What did you say?!" Pinkie asked as she backed up.
"Baby carrots!" Fluttershy repeated, "They're Shining Armor's favorite!"
"Mine too!" Pinkie replied quickly, "Baby carrots are kinda like big carrots but smaller, kinda like how foals are tiny versions of their parents but smaller and cuter and-"
"Pinkie zip it!" Sokka snapped under his breath, making Fluttershy look at him funny. Sokka just gave his wife a squeaky smile of his own.
"Albino squirrel!" Pinkie shouted.
"Where?" Fluttershy asked as she turned around to look, "Is it Albert?"
Fluttershy then noticed that both Pinkie and Sokka were gone. An elderly stallion then walked by and greeted her tail. Fluttershy was stunned and still hadn't noticed the gaucho glasses stuck on her tail.
What are you up to Pinkie Pie? Fluttershy thought, And why do I get the impression my husband is involved?
Behind a house, Pinkie was leaning against a house while standing on her hind legs to keep hidden. Sokka was hovering beside her.
"That was way too close!" Sokka remarked, "My wife is gonna start asking me questions if you don't cool it!" Pinkie put on a face of determination as she got back on all fours.
"It's time to kick this operation into hyper-hoof and avoid all ponies by all means necessary!" said Pinkie as she put a helmet on her head.
"And how do you plan on doing that?" Sokka asked skeptically.
"Just go with the program and don't question it," Pinkie remarked plainly as she put a helmet on his head. Sokka rolled his eyes and but complied anyway.
Together Sokka and Pinkie rushed down an alleyway at high speed. Pinkie quickly knocked on the door to a pony's home. The pony opened the door only to find nopony was there but just her delivery package on the front porch. The pony just took her package and went inside. It wasn't until the pony shut the front door that Pinkie and Sokka were found on the roof with the wagon in tow. Afterward, Applejack was then walking about with her saddle bags loaded with fresh apples. Applejack tried to say hello, but Pinkie and Sokka rushed past without saying a word. Applejack was just left stunned at being ignored.
Their next delivery was to Rarity, who was busy working in her boutique on her own. It was then a rope shot through her window with a knot on it. The delivery was then sent down the rope and stayed at the knot. Pinkie and Sokka shared a high hoof with each other as the latter held a cross-bow in her fore-hooves. As they continued their journey, Rainbow was hovering up above, but like with Applejack, Pinkie and Sokka rushed past her without saying a single word.
The next delivery was at a swimming hole where somepony was hosting a party. A little colt was playing in the water when a boat floated up to him with a cake, which made him very happy. Pinkie and Sokka surfaced from the water a short distance away, each of them wearing a snorkel mask.
They quickly went under the water and headed toward the edge of the swimming hole before heading off once again. Along the way, Fluttershy and Rainbow were sitting at a bench chatting with each other. Nearby, Twilight and Applejack were sitting at a second bench and Chase and Clay were sitting at a third bench. Pinkie and Sokka both winced as they ran by. Twilight tried to wave hello, but was ignored. Leaving the six ponies worried.
"What are they up to?" Fluttershy wondered, "Sokka never avoids me like this! You don't think he's...moving on from me?" Fluttershy was ready to cry.
"Fluttershy, Sokka is more committed to you as Chase is with Twilight!" Rainbow retorted.
"I just hate that he's avoiding me," said Fluttershy sadly, "We never keep secrets from each other!"
"Well, if it is a secret, I'm sure he's got a good reason," said Chase, "even Twilight and I have our moments where we keep secrets from each other, but eventually reveal them to each other in good time. Just because Sokka might be keeping something secret doesn't mean he doesn't love you or trust you. He'll tell you when the time is right."
Fluttershy just smiled and felt better.
(Scene changes)
Meanwhile, Pinkie and Sokka had come to stop. Pinkie was feeling rather glum.
"It didn't feel good ignoring my friends like that..." Pinkie told the Pegasus stallion.
"I feel just as awful avoiding my wife," said Sokka, "I'm in for a big interrogation when I get home tonight."
"You can't tell her!" Pinkie warned.
"I won't," said Sokka, "I'm just gonna say it's something I can't explain right now and to just trust me. That work?"
"Y-y-yeah," said Pinkie, "Why didn't I think of that?"
"Because every time you speak, you nearly expose the secret?" Sokka remarked.
"That was a rhetorical question," Pinkie remarked as she looked inside a window and saw a mare drinking a cup of either tea or coffee, "Maybe I can tell just one little pony the surprise?"
"Pinkie..." Sokka warned. It was then Pinkie saw a reflection of Rarity in the window.
"The pony who ruins a surprise for somepony else has to live with that guilt forever!" said the Rarity reflection.
"You're right, spooky-reflection-of-Rarity-that-I-know-is-actually-my-imagination," said Pinkie to herself as Sokka gave her a funny look, "I can't tell anypony at all!" Pinkie sighed, "Then they would tell Twilight, and she wouldn't be surprised. And it would be all my fault."
Sokka pulled Pinkie in for a gentle hug.
"Let's just finish these deliveries and you can relax at home, okay," said Sokka. Pinkie gave him a sad smile in reply.
(Scene changes)
Once all the deliveries were finished, Pinkie and Sokka sneaked back to Sugarcube Corner from the back door. The two ponies wasted no time heading upstairs were Pinkie plopped into her bed and Sokka just let out a long breath as he reclined on her nearby sofa.
"Finally, I'm all aloney on my owney," said Pinkie with a sigh.
"I'm still here you know," said Sokka as a matter of fact.
"Sorry," said Pinkie when she noticed Gummy chewing on something, "Wow, great idea! I'm starving too!" Pinkie grabbed a green apple and gobbled it up.
"This apple is delicious!" Pinkie said with her mouth full before she swallowed, "What are you having, Gummy?" The note Gummy was chewing on unrolled itself and Pinkie realized the note was.
"Oh, no!" Pinkie exclaimed, "It's the list Twilight helped me make yesterday so I wouldn't forget all of my Pinkie Promises today! And I have three more things to do! Aw, four if you count bringing those snacks to Twilight's castle! I've been getting liberal with those Pinkie Promises lately! And if Chase finds out about this, he's gonna so ticked with me..."
Pinkie thought of an imagination bubble as she was facing an angry Chase before the bubble popped, leaving the party pony trembling with fear.
"More like you've been making them far too often recently, so that Chase would not notice." said Sokka, "My biggest concern is if you are going to be able to contain yourself while you fulfill all these promises."
"Don't have much of a choice, do I?" said Pinkie, "As impossible as it sounds, I'm just gonna have to quietly do what I need to do. The less I say, the better."
"Alright," said Sokka, "Do you still..."
"Of course I accept your help!" said Pinkie as she gave Sokka a tight squeeze. Sokka just sighed annoyingly.
(Scene changes)
Once Pinkie had finally let Sokka go, the pink pony was outside the Ponyville schoolhouse making balloon animals for the colts and fillies. The Cutie Mark Crusaders were also standing in line for their own animal balloon.
"Hi again, Big brother," said Sweetie Belle to Sokka before looking at Pinkie, "Ooh! I want a flamingo!"
Pinkie quickly shifted the balloons and made the marshmallow filly a very elaborate looking balloon flamingo. Sweetie Belle happily took her balloon and walked away. Apple Bloom walked up next.
"Hey Sokka!" said Apple Bloom and then turned to Pinkie, "I want a goldfish!"
"The snack that smiles back," Sokka sing-sang.
"I meant the fish, not the cracker silly," said Apple Bloom with a giggle as Pinkie made the yellow filly her goldfish balloon and walked away with it. Next up was Scootaloo.
"What's up, Sokka?" said Scootaloo and then spoke to Pinkie, "Surprise me!"
Pinkie then got to work moving her hooves faster than the eye when she was suddenly distracted by the sound of a baby crying. She looked to see a mare pushing a baby carriage and didn't pay attention to her fore-hooves before too late.
"Uh...Pinkie?" Sokka called out. Pinkie then looked at what she had ended up making with the balloons.
"Is that a...baby bottle?" Scootaloo asked curiously.
"AAAH!" Pinkie screamed before recomposing herself, "No! It's a...a...puppy! Ha ha, woof woof, ha ha! Eh..." Sokka face-hoofed himself again as Scootaloo gave Pinkie a skeptical look.
"Are you sure?" Scootaloo asked, "Because it looks like a-" Scootaloo couldn't finish as Pinkie stuck the bottle tip into the orange Pegasus's mouth.
"Next!" Pinkie shouted as Scootaloo pulled the bottle tip out of her mouth and walked away with it at her side. Featherweight was the next pony in line.
"Uh, a baby pony, please!" said Featherweight before adding smugly, "uh, unless of course that would be a royal pain..."
"Interesting choice of words, Featherweight," said Pinkie as she stared the Pegasus colt down, making him quickly feel uncomfortable.
"Was it?" he asked nervously.
"I don't know," said Pinkie before narrowing her eyes at him, "Was it?"
"Uh," Featherweight stuttered, "maybe you'd better just make me a giraffe." Pinkie just kept staring him down until Sokka pulled her back.
"Okay," said Sokka with a nervous chuckle, "I think you've done enough balloon animals. Let's get on with the next thing you need to do."
"Y-y-yeah," said Pinkie nervously, "Let's go!"
"WHOA!" Sokka yelped as Pinkie lifted Sokka above her head and zoomed away on her hind legs. Featherweight was left baffled and without his balloon animal.
(Scene changes)
It wasn't long before Pinkie and Sokka were in town hall. Pinkie appeared to be staring something down and then tossed some manila folders into some filing cabinets. Sokka just watched from a short distance away as the manila folders landed in the cabinet drawers and closed on their own, except for the last drawer. Pinkie closed that one herself.
"My, your friends weren't kidding when they said you had a great filing system, Pinkie!" said Mayor Mare, "You are Ponyville's best kept secret!" Pinkie winced.
"No, I'm not!" said Pinkie as she nervously walked to another side of the room to sort some papers. It was then Mayor Mare looked about the room discreetly before approaching the pink pony.
"Speaking of secrets," said Mayor Mare to Pinkie in a hushed tone, "have you ever known somepony else's secret?" Despite the soft tone, Sokka heard the remark.
"What is it about ponies talking about secrets and babies to-MMM?!" Sokka was then cut off when Pinkie stretched her arm all the way to the other side of the room and shoved a thick stack of papers in his mouth.
"Noooooo..." Pinkie replied after giving Sokka a stern glare.
"A surprise that was so big and exciting that it was all you could think about?" Mayor Mare pressed on.
"Nope!" Pinkie said quickly and zipped away.
Along the way out, she pulled Sokka so quickly that the paper he was trying to get out of his mouth came flying out and scattered all over the floor. Mayor Mare winced as she let out a strangled sigh.
"Me neither..." Mayor Mare remarked to herself.
(Scene changes)
Pinkie finally was on her last task as she inflated a fore-leg frailing tube unicorn balloon as Sokka had set up where the shopkeeper, whose name was Wooden Legs, wanted it.
"That's just what I wanted," Wooden Legs laughed, "Thanks, Pinkie!"
"You're welcome!" said Pinkie.
"Oh, by the way," said Wooden Legs, "can you help spread the word about the big crib sale I'm having?" Wooden Legs showed Pinkie the flyer. Now it was Sokka's turn to wince.
"Not again..." Sokka groaned irritably to himself.
""Treat your foal like...royalty"?!" Pinkie read aloud as she backed away and tumbled into her back. Wooden Legs laughed.
"Pretty good slogan, huh?" Wooden Legs remarked, "I came up with it all by myself!"
"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
Pinkie screamed as she mimicked the frailing fore-legs balloon before revving her hind legs and running off. Wooden Legs was left stunned as he looked at Sokka, who just smiled sheepishly before opening his wings and zooming off after the pink pony.
"Oh, I thought it was clever," said Wooden Legs. His only reply was the frailing fore-legs balloon deflated in front of him.
(Scene changes)
Back at the castle, the rest of the Mane thirteen, which included Spike, were busy getting the castle ready for Cadance and Shining Armor's visit. Pinkie walked into the room with Sokka as they were carrying various plates of cut veggies on silver platters. Twilight was the first to notice them.
"Those look yummy, Pinkie! Let me help you!" said Twilight as she used her magic to set the platters on the table in the center of the throne room. Pinkie and Sokka said nothing as Twilight put some metal domes on top of the plates.
"But we better cover them up so they don't get spoiled!" Twilight added.
"Why would they get spoiled?" Pinkie asked curiously, "We're all gonna eat them super soon!"
"Shining Armor and Princess Cadance are still coming this Friday aren't they?" Sokka asked with a hint of dread in his voice.
"Oh, didn't anypony tell you?" Applejack remarked as she walked up to the two ponies, "Shining Armor and Cadance are held up. They may not arrive 'til Saturday." Sokka looked dumbfounded.
"You've gotta be kidding me!" Sokka remarked with dread as Pinkie's face contorted multiple times.
"Nope! We just received a letter and we'll be holdin' back a bit." Clay confirmed.
"Whaaaaaaaaaat?!" Pinkie shrieked as she super jumped onto one of the branches of the room's chandelier and started hyperventilating.
"You...mean..." Pinkie said while trying to breathe, "I...have...to...wait...another whole day?! I don't know if I can!"
"Yes you can, Pinkie!" Sokka said sternly as he made eye contact with the pink pony, "Yes you can!"
"No I can't!" Pinkie croaked and nearly on the verge of tears.
"Sokka!" Chase shouted from below with Twilight and Nyx standing beside him, "You told me you were gonna help Pinkie!"
"I am helping her!" Sokka snapped, "Pinkie just got a little anxiety. She'll be fine!" Pinkie was still whimpering as Fluttershy hovered over to them.
"Sokka!" Fluttershy snapped, "As your wife, I demand to know what this is all about!" Sokka sighed.
"Flutters, I..." Sokka explained.
"Be quiet and go explode!" Pinkie screamed.
"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
CRASH!
Pinkie grabbed Sokka by the mouth and pushed him down so hard that he ended up nose diving head first into the floor below. Fluttershy gasped when she saw Sokka make impact as he lay on his back with his wing feathers all roughed up from the landing.
"Sokka! Are you okay?" Fluttershy asked worriedly as she hovered above him, "Oh please tell me you didn't explode!"
"I exploded?!" Sokka asked with wide eyes and a dorky tone, "but...where's the ka-boom? There's supposed to be an Earth shattering ka-boom?!"
Fluttershy blinked before she snorted and started giggling.
"Yeah, I'm pretty sure he's doing just fine and peachy." Chase said trying hard not to laugh as well as Twilight and Nyx giggled.
"Well, as much as we enjoy Sokka acting like a dork, We've still got a pink pony on the chandelier having a nervous breakdown above us!" Jade said.
Everypony else shared worried looks with each other. Sokka had just recovered when Fluttershy was about to ask her question again.
"Pinkie Pie, do you have something you need to say?" Twilight asked gently, "You seem like you've been keeping something in." Pinkie gasped dramatically and then put her fore-hooves over her mouth to silence herself.
"Pinkie, you can tell us anything," said Sunray, "we're your friends."
"Sunray's right, Pinks," said Clay, "You can tell us anythin'. We love you."
"We're here to listen," said Fluttershy as Pinkie vigorously shook her head.
"Guys, maybe you should just let her...mmmph?!" Sokka was cut off when Fluttershy covered his mouth.
"You had your chance to help her, dear," said Fluttershy firmly, "Now it's our turn."
"No! No! Don't!" Sokka protested, his voice muffed by Fluttershy's fore-hoof over his mouth.
"Well, go on then, sugarcube," said Applejack as she walked forward a bit.
"We're not going to judge you, darling," said Rarity.
"You'll feel so much better once you get it off your chest!" Spike added.
Pinkie was back to hyperventilating as she was breathing inside of a yellow balloon. Sokka tried to hover up to the pink pony, but Fluttershy held him back. Rainbow hovered over to Pinkie instead.
"Whatever it is, you can tell us!" said Rainbow, "We're best friends!" Rainbow looked into Pinkie's eyes, making Pinkie pop her yellow balloon. Pinkie then began to see Rainbow's head as a balloon.
"Friends! Friends! Friends!" Rainbow balloon chanted.
"Tell!" said Twilight balloon as he appeared beside the Rainbow balloon. Then a Chase, Jade, Sunray, Nyx, and Clay balloon appeared as well.
"Tell! Tell!" reverberated the seven balloons.
"Don't! Don't! Don't!" said a Sokka balloon as it floated in front of the other four. But then a Fluttershy and Applejack balloon appeared and popped the Sokka balloon.
"Friends! Friends! Friends!" the ten pony balloons chanted as a Spike balloon appear to chant as well in the foreground and floated away with wide-eyes, "Tell! Tell! Tell!" Pinkie began to tremble from all the mental peer pressure.
"Okay, okay, you win!" Pinkie shouted and inhaled deeply.
"Pinkie no!" Sokka shouted frantically, making everypony else give him curious looks.
"Shining Armor and Cadance are gonna have a-" Pinkie shouted when...
"-An awesome weekend with the best little sister and little brother in all of Equestria!" said a familiar voice that made Twilight smile excitedly as Chase smiled as well. There at the entrance to the throne room was Shining Armor and Cadance, who were surrounded by several pieces of luggage.
"Hi, everypony," said Cadance with a giggle. Pinkie just exhaled loudly and allowed herself to fall off the chandelier. Fluttershy looked worried.
"Shining Armor, Cadance! You're early!" said Twilight as she hopped up to them, "I thought something had come up and you weren't gonna make it until Saturday!"
"So did we," Cadance replied, "Turned out we weren't needed in Maretonia until next week. And the summit we were supposed to attend today had to be rescheduled, so...we got here even sooner than planned!"
"Surprise!" said Shining Armor as he pulled Twilight close as they exchanged smiles with each other. Pinkie just stood a short distance away biting on her fore-hoof.
"It's wonderful to see you all again!" said Cadance to the rest of the group.
"Not as much as me!" said Nyx as Cadance smiled at her niece.
"How's my favorite little niece doing?" Cadance said, picking Nyx up and hugged her lovingly with the alicorn filly returning the favor for her aunt.
"Doing good, auntie Cadance." Nyx said, happily.
They let go of the hug as Chase, Jade, and Sunray approached Cadance.
"Hey, Cadance." Chase greeted warmly as the four shared a loving hug. Then they broke it. "We missed you guys."
"We've missed you guys too." Cadance said, happily as she turned her attention to Chase. "So, Chase. Are you taking good care of everypony?"
"He's been a big sweetie to us all!" said Fluttershy.
"Especially his daughter!" Applejack and Clay added together.
"It's still wonderful to see you all again!" said Cadance to the rest of the others as Fluttershy, Rainbow, and Rarity started chatting excitedly.
"Well, the pleasure's all ours, Princess," said Applejack as Sokka and Clay approached and gave Shining Armor a salute.
"Captain," said Sokka and Clay formally.
"At ease," said Shining Armor before the three smiled and shared a hug, "So how's married life treating you guys lately?"
"It's amazing," said Sokka, "Fluttershy is everything I ever wanted in a mare!" Fluttershy blushed deep red.
"So is Applejack for me!" Clay added as he gave his wife a loving nuzzle, making her return the favor.
Twilight then looked at Chase with a cute smile on her face.
"Am I everything you ever wanted in a mare?" Twilight asked, batting her eyelashes at him.
Chase smiled as he wrapped a foreleg around his wife and they gazed at each other lovingly.
"Hey. The way I see it, everything about you is in a mare I ever wanted for my whole life." Chase said with a smile as Twilight smiled with a placing a hoof to her heart. "You're still as beautiful as the day I met you, honey."
That made Twilight shed a few tears of joy and happiness as the royal couple shared a loving nuzzle with each other.
Soon they broke it as they turned their attention to Shining Armor.
"I'm so glad you're here!" said Twilight, "Chase and I have a big surprise for you! And of course, Nyx helped out as well." The little alicorn filly blushed at being credited for their surprise. Shining Armor smirked.
"Oh, yeah?" he asked curiously. By now, Pinkie was sweating and looking very nervous as her eyes rapidly shifted about.
(Scene changes)
A little later, they were making their way down the hallway. Cadance was in the lead with Twilight, Chase, Jade, Sunray, and Nyx alongside her. The rest of the girls were also around Cadance, except for Pinkie who was with Shining Armor and Sokka a few feet behind the others. Spike was also behind them carrying all the bags by choice since Chase, Jade, and Sunray had offered to carry them instead. Even Nyx had offered, with a little pushing from Chase, Jade, and Sunray, but Spike refused as usual. Shining Armor took notice that Sokka looked uneasy and that Pinkie was avoiding any eye contact with him.
"Lucky we came when we did, huh?" said Shining Armor, "I'm guessing you saw the scroll we sent to Mr. and Mrs. Cake?" Pinkie blushed. Shining Armor looked at Sokka.
"I take it she told you and then you've been trying to help her keep quiet?" Shining Armor asked Sokka.
"Actually, I was there when she read the scroll," said Sokka, "It wasn't until afterward we were told to keep it a secret."
"I see," said Shining Armor, "So you actually haven't told anypony since you told Sokka before learning it was a secret?" Pinkie nodded sheepishly.
"Hey, I'm impressed you've been able to keep our secret this long!" said Shining Armor before turning to Sokka, "I'm surprised your wife hasn't said anything."
"She has asked me what's been going on since Pinkie has been anything but subtle about the fact she's hiding something," Sokka remarked, getting a glare from the pink pony, "but before I could come up with a cover story, Pinkie tossed me down so I landed on my head."
"I was afraid you were going to spill the beans," said Pinkie. Shining Armor chuckled.
"Anyway," said Pinkie before getting into Shining Armor's face and pleaded, "So you're gonna tell Twilight and Chase now?!"
HONK!
Shining Armor quickly shoved a fore-hoof into her mouth. Then looked to see if anypony had heard. Fortunately, Chase, Sunray, Clay, and the rest of the girls were busy chatting away and hadn't heard a thing.
"You're gonna have to wait just a little bit longer," said Shining Armor in a hushed tone. Sokka groaned as well.
"And I'm counting on you to keep her from spilling the beans again," said Shining Armor to his former second in command before turning to Pinkie, "Sokka will be here to help you, just let him do the talking if you're feeling like speaking is gonna make you spoil the surprise okay. No more dropping him on his head."
"Fine," said Pinkie bluntly.
"Yes, sir," said Sokka in more upbeat tone.
"Don't worry," said Shining Armor, "We have something special planned. It'll be worth it, I promise."
Shining Armor walked away to catch up with the others. Pinkie just glared at him.
"It'd better be," said Pinkie bitterly.
"Hey, what's with the attitude?" Sokka asked. Pinkie just said nothing and went to catch up with the others. Sokka just sighed before doing the same.
(Scene changes)
Once the group had left the castle, Pinkie was holding her breath and sweating nervously. Sokka let the pink pony hold his fore-leg for some security, but it only helped a little bit. It was then Fluttershy approached.
"Sokka, I'm a very, very patient Pegasus," Fluttershy said calmly, "but poor Pinkie's been anxious all day and I feel like I have a right to know what's going on!" Sokka just took a deep breath.
"I can't explain right now," said Sokka calmly, "but when I'm ready. I'll gladly tell you what's going on with Pinkie. Please just trust me, honey. I can take care of Pinkie, even if it seems otherwise." Fluttershy just stared but then sighed as she gave her husband a soft smile.
"Alright, I trust you," said Fluttershy before she hovered over to Twilight and Chase. Sokka then sighed and gave Pinkie a wink. Pinkie released a loud breath to feel better, but she was still feeling anxious.
"So, do you think Shining Armor liked his surprise?" Applejack asked.
"Was he too plum happy to see it?" Clay asked as well.
"Didn't you see him?" said Twilight, "He couldn't stop raving about it."
A flashback of a few minutes ago was seen of Twilight and Chase showing Shining Armor the special room. Shining Armor shrieked with glee as he hoof-tapped the ant farm, snuggled his favorite doll with a wide smile at his face. He then screamed at seeing the burnt up comic book as Twilight looked shocked while Chase face-hoofed himself for forgetting to get rid of it. Then Shining Armor stood on his hind legs as he held both Twilight and Chase under a fore-leg each as he spun about like he was their own personal merry-go-round.
"Well, I was glad he was really enjoying the moment he saw the room with all of his old stuff we collected for him." Chase said with a chuckle.
"By the way, where's Nyx?" said Twilight, "She was welcome to stick around. My girl always loves to stay close to me."
"She's with Cadance," said Chase, "She said she wanted to spend time with her niece. I'm cool with that. Cadance was a big mentor to me growing up and she can certainly do the same for our daughter."
Rainbow just groaned irritably.
"What's gotten into you, Rainbow?" Sunray asked her.
"Nothing." Rainbow said. "Where did Shining Armor and Cadance say they'd meet us? I'm starving!" Rainbow's stomach growled to emphasize her point.
"In the town square," said Twilight, "I wish they'd waited to walk over with us, but they said they had something to take care of first!"
"They're gonna have a lot more to take care of soon," Pinkie muttered through gritted teeth when Sokka gave her a disapproving head shake.
"What?" Twilight asked.
"Nothiiiiiiiiiing!" Pinkie replied and zoomed ahead of the group.
Sokka then hovered over to her as Twilight just looked at Fluttershy, who simply shrugged. Twilight and Chase just exchanged looks and shrugged as well. They figured Sokka would handle the pink pony for the moment. They looked around to see that Shining Armor and Cadance were nowhere to be found.
"That's odd," said Twilight as she looked around and Pinkie leaned against the statue fountain nearby, "Usually they're quite punctual."
"That is true," said Chase.
Rainbow just groaned loudly.
"Ughhh! I need a hayburger in my belly right now!" Rainbow whined as she tapped the statue several times.
"Seesh, and you complain that Rarity is a whiner?" Jade remarked, making Rainbow blush, as she and Rarity shared a hoof-bump. It was then Twilight noticed something inside the statue's mouth.
"What's this?" Twilight asked as she used her magic to grab what appeared to be a scroll. Twilight opened it and gasped once she read it.
"Honey! Jade! Sunray! Look!" said Twilight excitedly as Chase, Jade, and Sunray walked up and looked at the scroll themselves.
"Oh that is so cool!" said Chase happily.
"No way!" Sunray added excitedly
"Awesome!" Jade added as well.
"What does it say?" Rarity asked.
"A scavenger hunt!" said Twilight, "Shining Armor used to set these up for me when I was a filly! He did the others for Chase, Jade, and Sunray! He even did some for both me and Chase too!"
"Those were lots of fun!" said Chase. "We even wore safari caps a few times too." Twilight giggled.
"True," said Twilight, "At the end, there was always a big prize, like a new book, or several new books, or-"
"We get the picture!" Pinkie snapped and used the scroll to smack Twilight on the head, "You like books!"
"Wasn't always just books," said Chase, "Sometimes there was a new toy or a new magazines for us."
"So what's the first clue?" Applejack asked, getting back to the subject.
"I hope it's something about eating lunch!" said Rainbow.
Chase, Jade, and Sunray rolled their eyes in reply. Pinkie then took the scroll to read it herself.
""You've got a scroll, you're on a roll"," Pinkie read quickly, ""why don't you take a peek where young ones spend their week? A piece of paper will continue this caper"!" Twilight and Chase pondered when a light-bulb appeared above their heads and quickly lit up.
"I've got it!" said Twilight, ""Where the young ones spend their week"?"
"I'm not quite followin'," said Applejack.
"Me neither." Clay added.
"It will once we get there," said Chase, "C'mon everypony! Let's go!"
(Scene changes)
It wasn't long before the rest of the Mane twelve had arrived at a familiar red building as the school bell began to ring.
"It's the Ponyville Schoolhouse!" said Twilight.
"Good enough for me!" said Pinkie as she appeared in the background, "Now where's the next clue?" Pinkie began to pant like a puppy as she sniffed the ground. She then stuck her face into a bush, getting a leaf on her nose and sneezed. Pinkie then used her hind leg to scratch her head as everypony else gave her a funny look.
"You know, Pinkie, sometimes you are just too random," Chase remarked as Jade, Sunray, and Clay nodded in agreement.
"Oh okay," said Sokka, "I thought I was the only pony who was feeling like that at the moment." The others just rolled their eyes in reply.
"Extra, extra! Get your Ponyville news!" said Featherweight, wearing a newspaper boys outfit, "Read it in the paper! Extra, extra!" Chase stared at the colt for a moment and then realized something.
"Honey, what was that clue again?" Chase asked.
""A piece of paper will continue this caper"," said Twilight and then gasped, "It's in the Foal Free Press!"
Chase handed Twilight a bit so she could rush over and purchase a copy of the newspaper. She then brought the newspaper over to the group as they all tried to read it together.
"Ooh, look at that dress Mayor Mare is wearing in the social report!" said Rarity, "Why, it's stunning!"
"Uh, that's probably because it looks familiar." Chase said bluntly as everypony else had a blunt look on their faces, agreeing with him.
"Yeah, didn't you make that, Rarity?" Applejack asked bluntly.
"Yes, what is your point?" Rarity asked as she flicked her mane, only for Chase to smack her behind the head as she yelped. The others just gave her unamused looks.
"Focus, everypony!" Pinkie snapped as she punctured the middle of the newspaper and scanned it sternly on her own.
"You know, there's really no time limit on these scavenger hunts, Pinkie," said Twilight.
"The whole point of a scavenger hunt is having fun," Chase added, "Isn't that what you do best?"
Only when Pinkie isn't steaming fit to burst Sokka thought wearily to himself.
"Aha! There!" said Pinkie with a determined smile on her face as she pointed a fore-hoof to one article. Twilight and Chase leaned in to see the article.
"Hey, Pinkie is right!" said Chase, "That's the next clue!"
""Though this hall is rather small, in it you'll find files of all kinds"," Twilight read aloud, ""Take a look at the back of the birth certificate of Applejack"." Applejack blinked in surprise as everypony else stared at her.
"I don't like where this is goin'," Applejack said wearily.
"Why?" said Clay, "You and Apple Bloom were the cute babies of your family I've ever seen."
Applejack smiled modestly at her husband before she blinked.
"Wait a doggone minute!" Applejack said sternly as she looked at Clay. "Did Big Mac show you?!"
"Maybe." Clay said innocently.
That made Applejack shake her head with an eye roll.
"Let's go!" Pinkie shouted as she shoved everypony forward at high speed.
(Scene changes)
With Pinkie's speed, it didn't take too long for the rest of the Mane twelve to reach the Town Hall. Mayor Mare was waiting for them and nervously pacing about outside. She then saw Pinkie zoom up to the entrance and headed inside in a hurry. Mayor Mare gave them a huge smile to welcome them and danced about excitedly as the rest of the rest of the Mane thirteen walked inside at a casual pace.
"Baby!" Mayor Mare muttered quietly, "A royal ba-!"
"A-hem?" Pinkie said with a glare as she closed the Mayor's mouth.
"Does anypony know where the birth certificates are kept?" Twilight asked from inside. Pinkie zoomed in.
"Ooh! I do, I do!" said Pinkie, "Go down that hall, then you take a left, then a right, then another right, then a slight left, and it's a third door from the right!"
"Wow, Pinkie," said Fluttershy, "I never knew you knew so much about town hall."
"There's a lot of things I know!" Pinkie replied, "That you don't know I know!"
Pinkie then held her breath and zipped down a hallway. She then rushed over to a file cabinet and scanned the folders.
"All you had to say was that you helped Mayor Mare organize her file cabinets," said Sokka in a hushed tone as he stood behind her.
"I can't think straight when I'm nervous so back off!" Pinkie snapped angrily. Sokka snorted before pushing his nose against hers.
"You need to calm down, now," Sokka said sternly. Pinkie snorted as she pulled out a folder and went to grab Applejack's birth certificate.
She handed it to Twilight as she looked at Applejack's birth certificate while holding it with her magic. Chase could tell this was getting out of hand between Sokka and Pinkie as he sighed, having enough of this.
"Pinkie, I've tried every other way to help you be calm! Can't you just listen to me for once in your life?!" Sokka exclaimed furiously.
"I will not calm down right now! I just want to get this-" Pinkie was cut off when.
BONK!
"Doieeeeee..." Pinkie babbled, with her eyes crossed as she stuck out her tongue in probably the most silliest expression anypony had ever seen.
The girls, Sunray, and Clay's jaws all comically dropped, their eyes replaced wide white disks in shock. And as for Sokka, in that one moment, all of the fury and pent up anger he tried to contain really pushed his limits as his left eye twitched.
"OH, THAT IS IT!" Sokka exclaimed, practically fuming, raising a hoof in the air to strike the pink Earth Pony.
"WAIT! My fault!" Chase cried, jumping in front of Pinkie while holding one of his katana in his hoof. "I accidently slapped her on the back of the head with the handle of my katana!"
Everypony stepped back as Pinkie slumped forward onto the floor, the back of her head stinging badly as Chase seethed his sword back in his slot.
"And... may have also stopped her heart." Chase added with a smirk, poking at Pinkie's twitching cheek.
The others were stunned at the sight before they, minus Sokka as he looked at Pinkie with a glare, laughed uncontrollably and hystericaly at the funniest scene they have ever seen in their lives until they managed to settle down. Twilight, Fluttershy, and Applejack looked at the farm pony's birth certificate.
"Oh, you're so cute," said Fluttershy as she, Twilight, and Jade looked at her baby picture and giggled to each other. Applejack just blushed before she turned the certificate around and there was the next clue.
""The next place is where you can buy a table or a cart"," said Twilight, ""or some comfy beds to rest little heads"?"
"Huh?" said Sunray, feeling rather as stunned. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"I don't know. Sounds a little familiar." Chase said to his brother with a look of confusion.
Pinkie, who had just recovered, was just bouncing up and down like a soda can being shaken. But then lost patience once she saw everypony was in deep thought and zipped away. Then she came back.
"Ugh, really? None of you?" Pinkie complained.
"Well...I had an idea where to go," said Chase , "But that last part threw me off...the place doesn't sell beds to "rest little heads", does it?"
Pinkie groaned loudly and shoved everypony at high speed to the location Chase had been thinking of since Pinkie had thought the same thing.
"It's obviously the furniture store!" Pinkie retorted once they arrived outside the shop and bounced about, "Go in! Go in!"
"I don't know..." said Twilight uneasily.
"Pinkie, this is not gonna work if you keep acting this way." Chase said with a firm look.
"Daagh, fine!" Pinkie snapped before charging into the store, causing some rumbling and commotion inside before she popped back outside sitting inside a crib. She sternly pointed at a note pasted on the back of it.
"Wow, you're scary good at this, Pinkie Pie," said Rainbow, clearly impressed.
""It seems we've save the best for last"," Chase read, ""We hope that you've had a blast. Now it's time to take a break where you can get a slice of cake"."
"Sugarcube Corner!" The other ten ponies shouted at once. Pinkie just scoffed.
"That was an easy one," said Pinkie, waving a fore-hoof dismissively.
(Scene changes)
It didn't take long for the rest of the Mane twelve to arrived at Sugarcube Corner and walk inside. Nyx, Cadance, and Shining Armor shared smiles with each other as the latter approached the group.
"Surprise!" said Shining Armor, "Twily, Chase, did you both like the scavenger hunt? Nyx was quite helpful is getting it all set up."
Nyx smiled to herself and blushed deeply hearing her uncle say that.
"It was perfect!" said Twilight, "Just like old times, except even better because this time we got to share it with our best friends and Chase's siblings!"
"Yeah, it was fun!" Jade said with a smile as Sunray nodded in agreement with a happy grin.
"And yes, Sokka and Clay, you're now best friend status with all us," said Chase.
Sokka and Clay smiled happily as a small tear left each of their eyes and the others gave them smiles on agreement. Now they truly felt like part of the group. Then Pinkie appeared and shoved herself between Applejack and Rarity, ruining the moment and getting glares from the two mares.
"There's just one thing missing, isn't there?" Twilight asked in a not-so-innocent tone.
"What's that?" Shining Armor asked in an innocent tone of his own.
"Mmmm, the book prize at the end!" said Twilight.
Shining Armor laughed as he put a fore-hoof on his little sister's shoulder.
"There's still a prize for the both of you," said Shining Armor as he backed up to stand beside Cadance, "but it's a little different this time."
"Huh! A mystery prize?" said Chase as he looked at his wife.
"Oh, I don't understand," said Twilight. Pinkie just giggled quietly to each other as Sokka put a fore-hoof to his mouth for the pink pony to keep quiet.
"All the places we sent you today had something in common," said Cadance.
"Those are your clues to the grand prize," Nyx added with a knowing smile in her face. Chase sat in place and pondered as Twilight paced about.
"First we went to the schoolhouse," said Twilight as Pinkie began to tremble violently, leaving Applejack and Clay worried. Sokka hugged Pinkie to make her stop, but was then trembling with her, leaving him dizzy once he let her go.
"And then we read the Foal Free Press..." Twilight continued, "After that we found Applejack's birth certificate…"
"...And then the last clue was under a crib," said Chase. Pinkie giggled maniacally as she held the cake twins.
"Hmm...School...foal...birth certificate...and crib," Twilight repeated and Chase hummed.
"All the pieces to the puzzle, but we just gotta put them together." Chase pondered aloud.
The two suddenly shared a thought bubble with images of the four clues on puzzle pieces. Pinkie looked ready to explode as the pupils of her eyes went all swirly. It was then the four puzzled pieces came together to show an image of a newborn foal. Chase and Twilight gasped as the cloud bubble burst.
"No way!" Chase exclaimed as he looked at his wife.
"Can it be?" Twilight added, "Are you two...?!"
The alicorn couple looked at Shining Armor, Cadance, and Nyx. The adults and filly alicorn split up to show Chase and Twilight a large cake decorated in baby colors and other baby related objects.
"We're having a baby!" Shining Armor and Cadance announced together. Pinkie made several exaggerated faces before jumping into the air.
"A baby, Twilight and Chase!" said Pinkie, "It's a baby! Woo-hoo!"
Pinkie then bounced around the area like crazy. Twilight and Chase just stood in place with their jaws hanging out.
"You mean…" said Twilight as she slapped a fore-hoof to her head. "I'm going to be an aunt?!
"And I'm gonna be an uncle?!" Chase asked.
Cadance and Shining Armor show the couple the cake again.
"Yeah! And I'm gonna be a cousin!" Nyx added with a happy smile.
"This is the best prize ever!" Chase and Twilight said excitedly as they opened their wings and smiled happily.
Cadance and Shining Armor laughed. Chase hugged Cadance as she hugged back in reply.
"I'm so happy for you and Shining Armor, Cadance." Chase said with a smile. "I love you guys so much!"
Shining Armor gave his little brother-in-law a hug as well. Twilight then went to hug them next.
"Oh, I love you guys, too!" said Twilight, "And we can't wait to meet your little foal!"
"Neither can we," said Shining Armor.
The rest of the Mane thirteen minus Pinkie went to give their congrats, except for Fluttershy and Sokka.
"Is this what you two were hiding?" Fluttershy asked. Sokka nodded as Fluttershy kissed his cheek.
"I'm glad I decided to trust you," said Fluttershy as they shared a nose nuzzle and went to congratulate the expecting couple as well.
The Cake family had also come out to give their congrats as well. Meanwhile, Pinkie was still bouncing about.
"I did it, I did it, I did it!" said Pinkie when she suddenly froze in mid-air, squeed, and then her body fell apart like building bricks, "Go, Pinkie."
Sokka approached Pinkie with a smile on his face, showing he has forgiven Pinkie.
"That'll do, Pinkie." Sokka said, gently smiling as he walked away to join the others. "That'll do."
"Thanks, Sokka." Pinkie said with a smile
As Pinkie was being reassembled, the congratulations party had begun. Shining Armor and Mr. Cake share a hoof bump with each other. Fluttershy, Sokka, and Rarity were chatting with each other. Jade, Sunray, Twilight, Chase, Clay, Nyx, and Applejack were doing the same. Cadance then decided to walk up to the seven ponies.
"So… since we're on the subject of babies, looks like you two won't be the only parents in the family, Twilight and Chase." Cadance said.
Chase and Twilight smiled with Nyx as the royal alicorn couple hugged their adoptive daughter lovingly.
"Well, seems as though you were wishing to have a baby. You sure you weren't feeling jealous of me and Twilight having Nyx as our daughter?" Chase said with a smile.
Applejack, Clay, and Cadance chuckled.
"Chase, I may have been a little jealous of you and Twilight having Nyx as your daughter. But I'm ready to have a baby and so is Shining Armor." Cadance said with a smirk.
"I can't believe we're gonna have two nieces!" Jade said with excitment. "This is really the best time of my life!"
"I just hope your baby will behave just like Nyx, Cadance." Sunray said with a smirk as Cadance rolled her eyes playfully with a smile.
The pink alicorn walked away holding a piece of cake with her magic. She headed over to Pinkie, who was now fully re-assembled, sitting at a table fixing her mane.
"You did it, Pinkie Pie!" Cadance giggled as she put the cake slice on the table and gave her a hug, "you kept it a surprise! Thank you! Was it much trouble?"
"Piece of cake!" said Pinkie with a squee, but as the iris out came to end the scene. Pinkie looked at the audience and mouthed "No" while shaking her head as the iris out finished.