Chapter 3: The Gift of Maud Pie
It was lovely day as a train chugged down the track. But the train ride was anything but peaceful.
"We're going to Manehattan," Pinkie sang as she appeared between two random ponies and then bounced down the aisle, "we're going to Manehattan, we're going to Manehattan...!"
Pinkie then leaned back so she could look at Rarity and Chase with a big smile on her face. They were accompanying her on the train and were sitting together as the former was using a horseshoe file on her fore-hoof while the latter was wiping down one of his katana swords.
"Yes, yes, Manehattan, the height of sophistication, elegance, culture..." said Rarity in a nonplussed tone, "Since our boutique in Canterlot has been doing so nicely, it only makes sense for us to open one there as well."
"Yeah, and it's a good thing the ponies will experience the true definition of fine couture, from you Rarity." Chase said with a smile as Rarity chuckled. It was then Pinkie squealed with excitement.
"We're almost there!" said Pinkie excitedly, "Why doesn't your face look like this?! Eee..." Pinkie then stretched her cheek to make her smile even bigger.
"Pinkie, you know you gotta take it easy with your sugar habits, right?" Chase remarked as he put his katana sword away. "If you keep doing that, you won't know what will happen."
"I've tried already, okay?!" Pinkie said indignantly as Rarity and Chase chuckled.
"Oh, Pinkie, dear, this is just a business trip for me." Rarity said casually as Pinkie's face just looked more dreadful as she kept speaking, "I need to scour the city for the most perfect location for my store and Chase is going to help me find it as well. And while it's lovely how excited you are, there's absolutely no chance of me or Chase getting swept up into the-"
"Uh, Rarity. I hate to break the conversation, but we just made it." Chase said with a smirk, making Rarity look out the same window beside him with a huge grin on her face.
"...Energy, the beauty, the majesty of the greatest city in all of Equestria!" Rarity finished. It wasn't long before their train pulled into the station.
She then opened the doors to exit the train station.
"This city's simply a-ma-zing!" Rarity said with a sigh, "It's just...everything, ever!"
Pinkie and Chase walked up to them from the background.
"And it's about to get everything ever-er!" said Pinkie, "Because guess who I see!"
Rarity and Chase looked and there at the bottom of the stairs waiting was a familiar greyish-blue pony in her blue dress.
"Hey, it's..." said Chase but was interrupted when Pinkie jumped in front of him.
"M-A-U-D!" Pinkie sing sang as she bounced down the steps to her big sister and got into her face, "You know what that spells?"
"It spells Maud," said the bluish-grey pony in her usual deadpan tone.
Pinkie then gave her a hug and squeed. She then grabbed her party cannon and fired confetti in the air.
"Maud, Maud, Maud! Yay!" Pinkie cheered as Rarity smiled nearby nervously while Chase stood beside her with a look of bluntness.
"What did we get ourselves into?" Chase asked discreetly. Rarity didn't bother to answer.
*Main theme*
It wasn't long before the four ponies were walking down the street together as Pinkie filled Chase and Rarity in about why Maud was with them.
"Oh, you Pie sisters have just about the sweetest family traditions!" said Rarity, "Every year, you set aside a special day to spend with each of your sisters?"
"Yep!" said Pinkie as colt roller-skated across the foreground to show the group walking past Bridleway , "I do separate trips with each one, and we make it super fun by picking a different location every year! We see the sights all day and then swap gifts at sunset! And since Maud's getting her rocktorate nearby, we figured this would be the perfect spot for PSSSD!"
Maud then stopped walking as the other three ponies continued moving forward.
"Okay, what's the secret?" Rarity asked in a hushed tone.
"Yeah, what's it all about?" Chase asked.
"Huh?" Pinkie asked puzzled.
"You just said "pssst"," Rarity remarked.
"No, silly, not pssst," Pinkie corrected, "PSSSD! P-S-S-S-D! Pie Sisters' Surprise Swap Day!"
She then put a fore-hoof around the shoulder of a colt that look like a brown colored variant of Bulk Biceps. The stallion snorted at her. Pinkie giggled nervously and let go of him. Rarity and Chase then looked back to realize Maud wasn't with them.
"Maud!" Rarity called out.
"Is something up?" Chase asked.
"Boulder promised his cousin a postcard," said Maud as she held Boulder in her fore-hoof so he could "look" at the postcards.
"Is this the sedimentary one or the igneous one?" Chase asked.
"Neither, the pompous one," Maud replied, "he and Boulder like to go swimming. Even if Boulder isn't a good swimmer."
Chase and Rarity looked at each other with funny looks on their faces.
"This is just getting a little too much for me." Chase said with a look of concern.
"Well, Chase and I'll just leave you two to your PSSSD. And now, we are off to scout possible locations for my new boutique!" Rarity said with a calm smile.
"Before you both go," said Pinkie, "can I ask you two a quick question?"
"Oh, of course," said Rarity.
"What's up, Pinkie?" Chase replied.
"Will you please help me?!" Pinkie pleaded loudly as she grabbed Rarity's fore-leg and lay on her stomach before them.
"Only if you let go of my leg and stand up..." Rarity said nervously.
"Ponies are staring at us!" Chase said angrily through his teeth as he saw a small crowd gathering around them. Pinkie quickly let go of Rarity's leg, got up, and recovered, which made the crowd go back to their business.
"Every year, Maud's PSSSD gift always blows mine away!" Pinkie explained, "But this year is going to be different! For the first time, I'm finally getting her a gift that's as good as the one she always get me!" Pinkie then pulled out a sheet of paper from her mane, "There's a specialty store here in Manehattan that sells nothing but rock pouches! A rock pouch would be perfect for Boulder, and I know Maud will love it!"
"Why, Pinkie, that really is the perfect gift for Maud!" said Rarity.
"Well, I guess Maud will love having a pouch to carry Boulder in," Chase added as Pinkie tucked the paper back into her mane.
"I know, right?" Pinkie replied, "Problem is, I still need to buy one, and the store is downtown."
"Hmm, and you want to get a pouch for Maud without ruining the surprise..." Rarity pondered.
"Hmm..." Chase pondered as he began to think of an idea on how they could help the pink pony. "As long as we have a map with us to help navigate through the city, I'm sure we can do it."
"Well, luckily for you, I know exactly what you should do!" said Rarity, "Why not sight-see on a path that leads right to the pouch store? That way Maud won't get suspicious! We'll come with you to distract Maud, so..."
"...I can sneak away to pick out a rock pouch!" Pinkie gasped, "And if you two are coming with us, you can look at boutique locations along the way! It's the perfect plan!"
Her yelling was startling and annoying several ponies nearby.
"Y-yes, yes, yes, let's not get too excited until you actually get a pouch for Maud," said Rarity.
"Good point, Rarity," said Chase and looked at Pinkie, "You gotta stay cool, calm, and collected."
"Of course," said Pinkie calmly, "Got it. Absolutely." It was then Maud approached them.
"Nothing moved him," said Maud.
"Bummer," said Chase, "Well, there are other post card stands in town..."
"Maud! I'm giving you the greatest PSSSD gift in the history of ever!" Pinkie exclaimed excitedly as she hugged Maud and zoomed off.
"Why do I even bother telling Pinkie to keep calm?" Chase remarked as he and Rarity rolled their eyes.
"Because you're her friend, dear," said Rarity with a sigh, "and she understands you and your situation."
"True," Chase remarked when he was taken by surprise when Maud gave him a hug.
"Pinkie told me how you've been feeling lately after your battle with Zhao," said Maud, "I understand what it feels like being turned into that monster with no way to get out. You have good friends that will help you escape, including me."
Rarity was then stunned when Maud gave Chase a small smile. Chase was touched and smiled back. It was then Pinkie came back with her party cannon.
POP WHISTLE!
And fired more confetti into the air. Rarity used the distraction to lean into Chase's ear.
"You are amazing, you know that," said Rarity, "I thought Pinkie was the only pony who could make Maud smile."
Chase just chuckled to himself.
(Scene changes)
With the map being shown of the big city, a red line showed the groups first destination was the ponified version of the statue of liberty. Maud, Chase, and Rarity were standing inside the part of the statue where the crown was located to view the city.
"Oh, what a spectacular view!" said Rarity, "You really can see everything from here!" Rarity then smiled.
"Especially the glaciation of the sloping strata," Maud added, "It's breathtaking." Rarity just smiled sheepishly.
"Don't forget all the tall buildings and structures made out of mineral aggregates of gravel, sand, iron ore, and even water," Chase added, "the last factor is rather impressive considering water usually tends to break down or decompose most rock minerals and elements."
"Indeed," said Maud, "They are also just as breathtaking." Rarity just kept smiling, but deep down she was feeling rather jealous that Chase had such an easy time carrying a conversation with Maud.
"But not as half as breathtaking as the gift I'm giving you!" Pinkie called out in the fore-ground as she floated upward using some balloons. Then her party cannon hovered up from below her.
POP WHISTLE!
And fired more confetti as Chase rolled his eyes in annoyance.
"I'm always beginning to wonder why she does that every year." Chase said to himself.
(Scene changes)
The map then showed them heading to another spot on the map that was marked with Rarity's head on it. They had found their first empty storefront. While the decor was nice and place was clean and in good condition, the storefront space was very...tight.
"I-It certainly is-cozy," grunted Rarity as she, Chase, Maud, and Pinkie were squeezed together inside with very little...knee space, "but this simply won't do! Working in a space this small would make me lose my mind!"
"Calm down, Rarity." Chase grunted. "Let's just try to remain cool and nothing will go wrong."
"Just like Maud's gonna lose her mind and go nuts when she sees the gift I'm giving her," said Pinkie as she managed to pull out he party cannon above the three ponies. Rarity and Chase cringed before the alicorn stallion glared at Pinkie.
"Pinkie..." Chase warned angrily, "I'm warning you..."
POP WHISTLE!
Pinkie fired her party cannon, stunning all the ponies walking past the super narrow storefront.
"PINKIE!" Chase shouted angrily as they were now covered in confetti.
"Oopsy," said Pinkie sheepishly.
(Scene changes)
The map then reappeared as it showed that the four ponies were now heading to the skating rink. Rarity was now wearing a glittery purple body suit with a dark pink over dress, mane put up in a bun that was tied with a glittery scrunchie, and had on a pair of pale pink ice skates.
Maud was also on the ice wearing some white skates and her usual blue dress. She and Rarity skated up to each other. Rarity was about to speak up when Pinkie skated up to them wearing her light blue winter outfit. Pinkie's braking also made a ton of shaved ice smack Rarity in the face.
Chase was watching them from the benches.
"Whatever you were about to say isn't nearly as good as the gift I'm giving Maud!" Pinkie said excitedly as her party cannon slid up to her.
POP WHISTLE!
Then fired confetti again, but the kickback also sent the party cannon sliding away in the opposite direction.
"You'll be pleased with yours too," said Maud as Rarity shook the shaved ice off her face and glared at Pinkie as Maud began to skate rather gracefully.
Rarity and Pinkie were rather impressed as Chase had the same impressed look on his face.
"Despite being emotionless, she is pretty good at skating gracefully." Chase said to himself.
(Scene changes)
After they had finished ice skating, they soon arrived at a high end restaurant for lunch. The map showed them heading to the location in purple crayon.
"Pinkie, put down that crayon!" Rarity chastised as she saw the pink pony holding the said object in her mouth, "The Cantering Cook isn't that kind of restaurant!"
Pinkie just replied by spiting her crayon out of her mouth...right into another stallion's bowl of soup, who just eyeballed the crayon dumbly.
"As long as we are getting lunch, that's all that matters, girls." Chase said with a smile.
"Indeed," said Rarity, "Oh...A pony could get used to eating at places like this!"
"I know," said Maud, "It's the only restaurant in the city with nepheline syenite in their bathroom tiles."
"...Well, isn't that something!" Rarity stuttered with a chuckle and noticed that Pinkie was still looking at her map.
"You know what, Pinkie Pie?" Rarity said deliberately, "Uh, maybe you could help me figure out what to order!"
Rarity then used her magic to set up a big and tall menu book so she and Pinkie could hide and talk with each other. Chase was confused until Pinkie peeked out from the menu.
"Keep her busy!" she whispered so loudly that Chase was surprised Maud acted like she didn't hear anything.
"Alright," Chase said annoyingly through his teeth when he noticed Maud just looking at him.
"A-heh-ehh...umm...so...what are you studying at the university if I might ask?" Chase asked.
"Rocks," said Maud. Chase just blinked and then sighed.
"Maud, I was referring to what kinds of rocks," said Chase bluntly.
"My bad," Maud replied but said nothing else.
Meanwhile, Pinkie and Rarity were talking behind the menu as quietly as they could.
"We're so close to the pouch store!" Pinkie told Rarity, "It's just a block away! I could practically smell it from here! If I knew what a pouch store smelled like."
There was a brief pause as Rarity peeked out from the top of the menu. She also noticed Chase looking at her as he gestured her to continue on with the plan. Rarity nodded before she ducked down behind the menu.
"Okay, remember the plan," Rarity told Pinkie., "Chase and I will stay here and distract Maud while you go get a pouch!"
"Gotcha!" said Pinkie and they finally put the menu down.
"Oh, why, thank you for the kind assistance, Pinkie Pie," said Rarity deliberately, eager to get back into the conversation, "And now I know exactly what to order."
"You are very welcome, Rarity!" said Pinkie in the same tone, "Now pardon me whilist I go wash my hooves!" Pinkie then went to zip away when she bumped into a waiter, making him drop the dish he was carrying.
"Sorry!" said Pinkie quickly before she zoomed away and smashed a cookie cutter hole though the door. Chase then scooted over to Rarity.
"Does she have enough bits for her present?" Chase asked quietly.
"I think so," Rarity replied.
(Scene changes)
The map was then shown once again as a red line showed Pinkie's path to the pouch store. When she got there, the ringing of a cash register was heard as she pasted her face to the display window.
"Look at that hand-stitched ten-thousand-thread-count velvet-lined rock pouch!" Pinkie gasped as she eye-balled a spotted rock pouch with gold twinkle stars on it with some velvet lacing, "Maud will love it! I need it!"
Pinkie then rushed to the front door, only to crash into it since the door was apparently locked.
"Ungh!" Pinkie grunted as she tried to open the door, "Huh, must be stuck!" It was then she saw a note pasted on door.
""Took a sudden vacation to Canterlot with my grandniece"," Pinkie read aloud, ""Back in a few moons". Oh, no-no-no-no-no-no-no! Well, maybe, just maybe, he's already back from vacation and just forgot to take the sign down!"
Pinkie had actually put her fore-hooves on the shoulders of a little filly, who looked rather disturbed as the mare that might be considered her mother pull her away from Pinkie protectively. Pinkie didn't notice and started banging on the door.
"Hello, Mr. Pouch Store Owner," Pinkie shouted, "I'd like to hear all about your sudden vacation in Canterlot with your grandniece while buying a pouch for my sister please!"
As Pinkie was shouting, the mother of the filly was reporting the pink pony to a nearby police mare, whose name was Deputy Copper. The police mare wasted no time approaching Pinkie.
"Miss, the store's clearly closed," said Deputy Copper.
"But it can't be," said Pinkie, shaking Deputy Copper by the shoulders, "It just can't be! If I can't get that pouch...then not only am I not getting my sister the greatest present in the history of PSSSD, but now I have no PSSSD present for my sister at all!"
Pinkie was now starting to panic and wasn't sure about what to do.
(Scene changes)
Back at the restaurant, the waiter that had dropped his dish had just arrived with a new plate in his magic grip. Maud was just finishing her story about meeting Boulder. Rarity clearly looked rather bored while Chase was reading a newspaper article with a bored look as well.
"...and Boulder's been by my side ever since," Maud finished.
"Wow," said Rarity in a deadpan tone, "What a surprisingly suspenseful and compelling story. I completely get what you see in him now."
"Yeah." Chase said as he lowered the newspaper and looked at Maud bluntly. "You two were always meant to be."
Rarity then saw that Pinkie had returned. Though Chase took notice that Pinkie didn't look as upbeat as she did when she had taken off.
"Pinkie Pie, you're back! Oh, your hooves must be sparkling clean!" Rarity said happily.
"Huh?" Pinkie replied cluelessly before she remembered the act, "Oh, right." Pinkie just sighed sadly as she put her fore-knees on the table.
"Pinkie, are you alright?" said Chase.
Pinkie turned to him and shook her head. Rarity put a fore-hoof to Chase's shoulder as she directed the alicorn master's attention to Maud, reminding him that she is still with them. Chase nodded to Rarity to let the marshmallow pony handle things.
"Garcon!" Rarity called out, "One super-deluxe two-mile-high hot fudge sundae, stat!" The waiter then quickly zipped away.
Chase was rather puzzled.
"What good would a-" Chase was then interrupted with a huge sundae that was a good four ponies high and as big as the table was set before them. Chase looked uncomfortable since he couldn't handle that much ice cream. "Okay, maybe I spoke too soon."
Rarity pulled Chase behind the massive sundae so they could talk to Pinkie.
"What happened?" Rarity asked eagerly, "Did you get a pouch for Maud? Tell me everything!" Chase gave Rarity a funny look, but it was unnoticed as Pinkie looked upset.
"Something tells me things didn't go as planned," said Chase, "Go on, Pinkie. Spill." Pinkie inhaled deeply.
"The door to the rock pouch store is locked because the owner's on a sudden vacation to Canterlot with his grandniece for a few moons," Pinkie explained in one breath, "and so there's no way I can get a perfect present for Maud, and now I don't have any present for her at all, so it'll be the worst Pie Sisters' Surprise Swap Day ever!"
Pinkie inhaled again before she faceplanted the side of the giant sundae and stared sobbing.
"Easy, Pinkie. Calm down." Chase said gently. "You know that actually happened to me once."
"Mmm-mmm?" Pinkie said, her voice muffled from her face being buried in chocolate ice cream.
"Yeah, when I was a colt, Twilight and I were walking home when her book bag fell apart," said Chase, "she was really upset about it since it was a special edition Daring Do book bag that Shining Armor had given her. So I went searching and found the exact book bag at a specialty store. But, like you, the storeowner was on long vacation and Twilight needed a book bag right now."
"Mmm...mmm, mm, mm?" Pinkie asked, which translated to "So...what happened?"
"I spent all night trying to find a book bag in one of the brochures and then I stumbled upon a yellow book bag with a purple quill on it." Chase said. "I went to the bag store in Canterlot to buy it there and I had enough bits to buy the bag. Jade, Sunray, Mom, and Dad made sure I couldn't hide what I made and gave it to Twilight anyway despite my protests. Twilight ended up loving it, because I had made for her myself. In fact, I even got a cheek kiss, which back then were pretty rare. So it all worked out."
"Mmm-mmm mmm!" Pinkie remarked, which translated to "lucky you" and clearly wasn't feeling better. Rarity then leaned away from the sundae to check on Maud, who was just sitting quietly at her seat. Rarity just gave her a nervous smile before joining Chase and the still crying Pinkie.
"Pinkie, my point is that everything will work out," said Mario, "You'll find Maud a present."
"Mm, mm-mmmmmmmm..." Pinkie moaned as she began sobbing once more.
"Oh, not to worry, dear!" said Rarity as she used her magic to pull Pinkie's face out of the sundae, "I'll just have to help you find a new present for Maud. We have plenty of time before your gift exchange at sunset and all of Manehattan to explore. We're bound to find something Maud would like. Maybe even more than a rock pouch!"
"Rarity's right," said Chase, "There's plenty of other gift ideas out there. We just gotta look around and we'll find one." Pinkie smiled and felt better, despite that her face and front of her mane were now covered in chocolate.
"You're right!" said Pinkie, "Thanks, Rarity and Chase!"
(Scene changes)
Once the group had lunch and the giant sundae had been consumed, with Pinkie eating nearly most of it herself and not getting a tummy ache, they headed to their next location, which was the Manehattan Toy Store. Inside, a stallion and little colt were using their hooves on a hoof piano to play the My Little Pony theme song.
That is until Pinkie knocked them over and did an upwards glissando as she slid across the keys from left to right. In the foreground, Rarity and Maud were looking at some giant sized plush toys. Rarity noticed that Maud was eyeballing a giant giraffe plushie.
"Maud, I can't help but notice you're staring at that marvelous giraffe," said Rarity, "I was just wondering if you could see yourself with it?"
"Only if I had a mirror," said Maud. Rarity just smiled sheepishly before she noticed somepony was missing.
"Oh! Now where did that stallion go running off too?" Rarity asked rather impatiently.
"Try that way," said Maud as she pointed to a section where Chase Young was surrounded by fillies and foals wanting his autographs as they chatted to him excitedly.
Chase was feeling slightly amused as he gave them his autographs as the fillies giggled excitedly once they and the other foals went to find their parents.
"You know, these kids are really persistent with me." Chase said to the two mares with a chuckle as Pinkie joined them.
Rarity and Pinkie giggled while Maud just smiled softly to him.
Then as some gems floated across the foreground, they were now at a jewelry store. Rarity had quick-changed into a black gown with a pair of black long sleeved fore-gloves, a double beaded pearl necklace with a cream colored gem pendent, and her mane in an updo with a cream colored maid style headband.
"Now, Maud," said Rarity, "I know you're a big fan of rocks, so get your camera ready, because these are some of the most spectacular rocks in all of Manehattan! Surely there must be something here that catches your eye." Pinkie then appeared nearby wearing gems in her mane, a stylish gold tiara, a couple of necklaces around her neck, and a gold gem-studded waist belt. Maud just lifted Boulder up to her ear.
"Boulder says they're all too...stuck-up," Maud said in a whisper. Pinkie just looked disappointed and Rarity just rolled her eyes. Chase just groaned.
"I'm gonna see if I can find my wife something before we go," Chase muttered.
It didn't take him long before he found some purple pearl stud earrings for Twilight and then found a sterling silver necklace with a gem-studded kite pendant for Starlight.
(Scene changes)
Then the group headed over to an open market place to find something there. Maud was just looking around when Rarity whistled to capture the bluish-gray pony's attention. As some western duel style music was heard, the screen narrowed to show that Rarity was trying to initiate a stare down. Chase was just standing nearby watching the stare down with a blunt look on his face.
"All right," said Rarity, "You and me, Maud, you and me. What do you think about...this? Or this? Or this? Or this? Or this? Or this? Or this? This? This? This? This? This?..."
As Rarity spoke, she showed Maud a football, a buckball, a wheel of cheese, a large vase pot, a scepter, a rubber shark, a stone book tablet with spikes on the front, and a smarty pants doll. Maud just watched all the items appear in front of her as Rarity's talking sped up to where it was almost gibberish. Chase shook his head since Rarity was soon speaking to fast that he was afraid she was knock herself out. Then Rarity just sat down once she had gone through a bunch of various items and piled them all in the background.
"I like...that," said Maud as she pointed at something.
"What is it?" Rarity asked anxiously, "You have to tell me! Was it the bike? This lamp? The grappling hook? What do you like?!"
Rarity then picked up the items she had suggested and then tossed them aside. Chase leaned away to avoid getting clocked by the discarded items.
"I like that fissure in the sidewalk," said Maud as she pointed to the very crack on the ground, "It's an elegant example of thermal expansion and soil settlement." Chase and Rarity's jaws hung open as Maud pulled out a camera to take a picture of the fissure.
"Maud!" said Chase irritably, "We were asking if any of the objects Rarity was showing you caught your interest?"
"Just the fissure and the soil," Maud replied.
"UGGH!" Chase groaned, face palming himself in huge annoyance when a sound of a kettle boiling came from Rarity as she bit her lower up.
"Fissure in thhhhhhhe soil...? What?!" Rarity spluttered, "But...! All of this...! And she likes a crack?!"
"And I thought shopping for presents for Fluttershy was a headache," said Mario as he pinched the bridge of his muzzle with an irritated look.
"We already spoke to her about being firm with what she would like and what she wouldn't, darling," said Rarity before adding in frustration, "But I can certainly see your point in this particular situation!"
Maud just walked away as Rarity fell onto her back in a mock faint. Chase just held one of her fore-hooves and patted it in a comforting manner. It was then Pinkie popped out from the pile of leftover items.
"Did she like anything?" Pinkie asked.
"That sister of yours is simply impossible to shop for!" Rarity retorted angrily in a hushed tone, "There's nothing she needs or wants."
"You're better off just chipping off a chuck of the sidewalk and giving it to her!" Chase added, "it's all she seems interested in!"
"Boulder. Boulder. Where'd you run off to?" Maud called out until she found the said rock sitting on a counter, "There you are. Sure wish I had something to carry you around in." Pinkie winced, Rarity leaned back, looking dumbfounded, and Chase just groaned.
"Oh for the love of..." Chase remarked as he face-hoofed himself again.
"A rock pouch was the perfect gift for Maud!" said Pinkie, "Aw, and I know she would have loved the one I saw in the window! had double stitching, a red drawstring..." As Pinkie was speaking, Rarity looked behind herself as a huge smile appeared in her face.
"...and ochre-flecked velvet lining with reinforced triple-crosshatched seams?" Rarity finished.
"Yep, that's the pouch," said Pinkie as she looked away sadly, but then blinked, "Wait, how'd you know?" Rarity pointed to a tan colored stallion with a double-toned grey mane and tail, wearing a red shirt, diamond stud earrings, and had the very rock pouch Pinkie was looking for. Pinkie now had a big smile on her face.
"Because, I'm looking at one just like it!" said Rarity, "Maybe if you can catch up with him, you could ask-"
ZOOOOM!
Pinkie was gone.
"Pinkie! Wait!" Chase called out.
"Just let her ask, darling," said Rarity, "The worst that can happen is that he'll say no."
"Maybe," said Chase, "but that guy doesn't look very...trustworthy."
"Oh, Chase," said Rarity, "you should never judge a pony by their cover. Besides, Pinkie Pie is a very smart pony. She won't let him swindle her. Now come on, let's walk around some more together. All the tension is making my joints stiff."
"Right, Rarity," said Chase as he followed alongside the marshmallow mare. Deep down, he was very worried. "But I still don't think I trust him."
(Scene changes)
Back with Pinkie, she wasted no time rushing right up to the stallion and startling him.
"Excuse me, sir!" Pinkie said, "I couldn't help but notice your nifty rock pouch! Is there any chance you'd be willing to part with it? I really need it. Like, really-really-really!" Pinkie was now pleading on her hind knees to him.
"So lemme get this straight," said the stallion, whose name was Street Rat, "You, uh, really-really need this pouch, huh?"
"I believe I said really-really-really," Pinkie replied, still on her hind knees begging.
"Well, you know," said Street Rat with a sly tone, "pouches like this are really hard to come by these days. But I might be able to part with it for the right price."
"So you'll sell it to me?" Pinkie said excitedly in one breath, "And I'll finally be able to give my sister the perfect Pie Sisters' Surprise Swap Day present? Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you!" Pinkie then pulled out her party cannon.
POP WHISTLE!
And fired it right into Street Rat's face.
"Hmm," said Street Rat, "that's one sweet party cannon you got there. Tell you what. I'd be more than happy to give you the pouch for the low, low price of...that cannon." Pinkie gasped dramatically.
"M-My...party cannon...?" Pinkie spluttered as she hugged her party cannon protectively.
"Well, if you really wanna give that sister of yours the perfect present," said Street Rat, "then you'll have to give up that party cannon. So, what do you say? The pouch for the cannon."
Pinkie bit her lip and began to panic. She wasn't sure about what to do.
(Scene changes)
Meanwhile, Chase and Rarity were with Maud, who was now examining the fissure again.
"Do you see the exposed chalcedony in the fissure?" Maud asked the two ponies.
"Probably?" Rarity said sheepishly.
"Is that the rock closest to the flora that managed to grow inside the fissure?" Mario asked.
"That is correct," said Maud, "Glad to see you read my rock classification book I sent you." Rarity glared at him jealously as Chase just smiled sheepishly.
"Thanks..." Chase replied modestly.
It was then Pinkie arrived.
"What you guys lookin' at?" Pinkie asked in a despondent tone.
"Oh, you're back!" said Rarity as she put a fore-hoof on Pinkie's shoulder and then turned to Maud, "Darling, I want to get one more picture of you with that astounding fissure in the sidewalk, and the inspiration just struck me for the perfect shot! Uh, be a dear and go stand behind it." Rarity then took the camera as Maud went to go stand on the other side of the fissure.
"Okay, now just, uh, back up a little bit!" said Rarity as Maud obeyed, "Little more! And now just a little...uh...twenty yards more!" Chase couldn't help but give Rarity a funny look as Maud actually obeyed so she was standing on the other end of the market.
"Perfect! Now hold that pose!" said Rarity as Chase just rolled his eyes behind her, "I think we found your new holiday card!"
"Good grief," Chase muttered to himself as he shook his head. He knew Maud wasn't that clueless and wondered why she hadn't blown the whistle about what was going on. Maud had to know what they were up too.
"So, how did it go?" Rarity asked anxiously to Pinkie in a hushed tone, "Tell me, tell me, tell me!" Pinkie just gave her a glum look.
"Well, I got the rock pouch for Maud," Pinkie said plainly, "and...that's really the only thing that matters."
"Oh, I'm so glad to hear that!" said Rarity, "She's going to absolutely love it!"
"Yup," said Pinkie in the same tone. Chase and Rarity were both stunned.
""Yup"?" said Rarity, "You got your sister the greatest PSSSD present in the history of ever, and all you can say is "yup"?"
"Yup," Pinkie repeated as she leaned against a counter and batted some hanging necklaces with her fore-hoof. Now Chase was feeling very concerned.
"But...you're Pinkie Pie," Rarity spluttered before Chase could reply, "You're supposed to be all..." Rarity then made Chase 's jaw hit the floor as she imitated Pinkie's usual over the top behavior.
"Oh, I'm so excited I bought the rock pouch!" Rarity said quickly as she jumped up and down like Pinkie would do, "And I know I say excited a lot when I'm actually just kind of excited, but this time I'm really excited about how excited I am about being this excited over the rock pouch!"
As Rarity continued talking like Pinkie, she then started bouncing about, even doing a wrap around from one end of the screen to the next and even did a high leap into the air and shook all four of her legs like she had eaten too much sugar. She then went back to being normal once she finished her sentence.
"And then you fire off your party cannon," Rarity finished in a normal but blunt tone. Chase just blinked.
"I didn't know you could bounce about like Pinkie, Rarity," said Chase in surprise.
"Guess after all these years, her personality just rubs off on me from time to time," said Rarity.
"Right." Chase said suspiciously as he looked at Pinkie with a glare.
Pinkie, however, just remained glum and didn't bother to look back or even smile.
"Say, where is your party cannon?" Rarity asked and then gasped, "Did you lose it? Is your party cannon lost somewhere in the big city?!"
"Calm down, Rarity," said Chase, "In all the years I've known Pinkie, she's never managed to lose her party cannon. Well...there were a few occasions, but then she managed to find it in the most strangest of places."
"True," said Pinkie as she looked at the two ponies, "Well...I wouldn't say it's lost. I mean, I know where it is. It's just..." Pinkie just sighed as she turned away from them.
"Pinkie..." said Chase gently. "You know, this isn't like you at all."
"Chase's right about that," said Rarity, "We can clearly see that something's bothering you, and we want to help, but we can't help you unless you tell us what the problem is."
"Yeah, Pinks," said Chase, "You can tell us. What's got you so sad baby sister?"
"Oh, there's no problem," said Pinkie in her dreary tone, "It just turns out that the going rate for a rock pouch in Manehattan is one party cannon. Who knew?"
"WHAT?!" Chase exclaimed loudly in shock and anger.
"You gave away your cannon?!" Rarity exclaimed dramatically, "But, but that party cannon is your everything! You absolutely love that cannon! How could you possibly part with something that means so much to you?!" Rarity then put both her fore-hooves to Pinkie's cheeks as she looked the pink pony in the eye as she pointed a fore-hoof into the air.
"Well, I finally got Maud a gift that's just as good as the ones she always gets me," Pinkie said with a sad smile on her face, "and that's all that really matters."
"Well, I guess I understand...maybe," said Rarity with plenty of uncertainty in her tone.
"Isn't there anything you can give her?" Chase asked with concern.
"No. Maud's going to be so excited," said Pinkie, "I can't wait to see the look on her face when she sees the pouch!"
"I know," said Maud as she suddenly rejoined the group, "the camera loves Boulder."
"I'm surprised Boulder hasn't auditioned for National Geography Magazine," Chase remarked.
"He's not interested in being famous," said Maud as Rarity had a wearily smile on her face while Chase looked a little agitated.
(Scene changes)
Soon, the group headed to Manehattan park, where several ponies were walking about, playing games, and even riding some swam boats. The four ponies were now sitting on a checkered pattern blanket that Chase had brought. He and Rarity sat next to each other while Pinkie and Maud sat across from each other and faced one another.
"After the day we've had, I'm probably looking forward to the swap part of Pie Sisters' Surprise Swap Day even more than the two of you!" said Rarity with a giggle, "and I'm not even a Pie sister! I can't wait one more second to see the wonderful gifts you've gotten each other!"
"Well, you two are gonna have to," said Pinkie, "We don't just swap, silly. We always sing the Pie Sister' Surprise Swap Day Song first! Ready, Maud?"
"As I'll ever be," Maud replied. It was then Pinkie started singing and dancing behind her.
[Pinkie Pie]
It's the Pie Sister's Swap Day Soooooong!
[Maud]
Hey
Chase chuckled.
"I'd love to see how Limestone and Marble act when Pinkie does the song," Chase said to Rarity in whisper.
"What do you mean?" Rarity whispered back.
"Limestone can be rather grumpy," Chase explained, "and Marble never talks cause Pinkie doesn't let her. Clay told me about that."
"Can't imagine how that feels," Rarity remarked.
"I know right?" Chase replied as they both chuckled to each other.
"Okay, time to swap presents!" said Pinkie as she sat back down and pulled out a nicely wrapped package and set it down in front of her.
Maud then did the same with a tube like package that was wrapped in some brown paper wrapping. Then each sister grabbed their own present. Chase and Rarity watched anxiously as she saw Maud just shifting her present about and Pinkie used her tongue to lick her present. Rarity and Chase were getting more and more antsy by the second as their eyes shifted from one Pie sister to the next. Soon the suspense got to be too much for the two ponies.
"JUST OPEN THEM ALREADY!" Chase and Rarity both shouted. Maud went first, ripped the paper off and pulled the pouch out from the box.
"Thanks," said Maud in her usual tone.
"I know you'd love it!" said Pinkie with a teary smile on her face as Maud put Boulder into the pouch, "It was all worth it! Look how happy she is! And I couldn't have done it without you both. Thank you, Rarity and Chase." Pinkie then gave the two ponies a hug.
"Don't mention it!" Chase said before he flew into the air and landed on all fours as Pinkie shoved Rarity away.
"Okay!" said Pinkie excitedly, "Time to open your present to me!" Pinkie then opened her package and looked inside of it.
"Oh! You did it again!" said Pinkie happily, "You got me the best present in the history of PSSSD! This is perfect! This is amazing! This is incredible! I love it, love it, love it!" Pinkie then blinked.
"What is it?" Pinkie asked, now looking puzzled.
"It's little pieces of cupcake-scented paper," said Maud, "you know, confetti. For your cannon." Chase winced discreetly as Pinkie just got choked up.
"Maud..." Pinkie sniffled and gave her older sister a hug, "You know me so well. You really are the most thoughtful gift-giver in the world. I'm gonna love it five-ever! That's even longer then for-ever."
Pinkie then just sighed happily as she held her sister. Chase and Rarity just exchanged smiles with each other as Chase put a fore-leg around the marshmallow mare's shoulder.
(Scene changes)
Later, Maud, Rarity, and Chase walked up to a giant rock that was just resting in the park.
"You're right, that is impressive," said Rarity, "But it's no fissure on the sidewalk."
"True," said Chase, "but you gotta wonder how it got here considering ponies had to build the park around it."
"That is a good question," said Rarity. Maud said nothing as she set Boulder in front of it.
"Play nice," Maud told the rock.
"Oh, I'm so relieved to see that you like the pouch," said Rarity, "Especially considering what Pinkie Pie had to give up for it."
"Rarity!" Chase hissed.
"Oh!" Rarity gasped as she covered her mouth with a fore-hoof.
"What?" Maud asked.
"I mean...forget I said that!" said Rarity as Chase smiled nervously, "I'm, I-I-I'm glad to see that you like the pouch. You can remember that part. Just forget the second part. You know, the second part where I said that Pinkie Pie had to give something up-"
"Rarity!" Chase snapped as he smacked Rarity by the back of her head, making her shriek.
"Perhaps I should just stop talking now," said Rarity, "Nothing!"
"You should've stopped talking right after you said "forget I said that"," Chase retorted thought his teeth. Rarity just glared back at him until they saw Pinkie a short distance away.
"Hee-hee, yay!" Pinkie cheered as she tossed about her new confetti, "I love my sister and my new confetti!"
"Why isn't she using per party cannon?" Maud asked Rarity and Chase.
"Gahhh..." Rarity stuttered.
"Well..." Chase said with an unsure look as well until Rarity stamped her hoof into some dirt, getting it dirty.
"Ooh! Wow, look how filthy my hooves are!" Rarity said, "I really should go wash them!"
Chase covered his face with both his hooves.
"We're doomed." Chase groaned agitatedly.
Rarity was about to turn to leave when Maud suddenly appeared in their way after they had only taken two steps away from her!
"Where's her cannon?" Maud asked and then stared at the two ponies. Rarity began to panic as Maud gave her own version of "The Stare".
"No, no, stop, stop giving me that look!" Rarity pleaded as she took a few steps back and hugged Chase fearfully as the alicorn stallion looked annoyed.
"I can't take it! Nnnnn..." Rarity retorted trying to resist, but it was losing battle.
Chase sighed as he shook his head.
"Rarity, just tell her," Chase pleaded irritably as Rarity saw Chase was going to be more angry.
"Pinkie Pie feels bad that the gifts that she always gives you are never as good as the ones that you give her!" Rarity said quickly.
"What?" said Maud.
"That's why she was willing to give up the party cannon for the pouch!" Rarity finished.
"She gave up her party cannon?" Maud said blankly as she saw Pinkie put some of the confetti on her fore-hoof and blew it away.
"Pinkie Pie!" Rarity called out, "You might want to come over here for a second!"
"We need to talk to you about something," Chase added, angrily. "like now!"
"I think I know what this is about," said Pinkie with a sly smirk on her face, "You guys wanna ride the swans. Well, there are swan boats, but there are real swans here we can ri-" Pinkie was then cut off Maud shoved her nose into Pinkie's.
"You gave away your party cannon?" Maud asked. Pinkie leaned to the side to look at Rarity and Chase. Rarity inhaled while Chase remained silent with his stoic expression.
"She broke us." Rarity said sadly.
Pinkie then noticed that Maud hadn't backed down.
"Nnngh, it's just...it's just..." Pinkie stuttered, "You always give better presents than me! That's why I had to get you the perfect gift!" There was brief silence where Maud finally backed down, said nothing, and then just walked away. Pinkie, Rarity, and Chase all looked very concerned.
"Are your hooves dirty?" Pinkie called out, "Where're you going?"
"To get your cannon back," said Maud as she looked back at the three ponies and then kept walking away. Pinkie, Rarity, and Chase all shared worried looks with each other before they went after the bluish-grey pony.
(Scene changes)
The sun was already setting as they continued to follow Maud without saying a single word to her or each other. Then Maud suddenly stopped walking.
"There," said Maud as she pointed a fore-hoof across the street. There was Street Rat, smirking as he was busy polishing Pinkie's party cannon.
"Yep!" said Pinkie, "That sure is the pony I got the pouch from!"
"That's amazing!" said Rarity impressively, "How did you know where he'd be?"
"Maud Sense," said Maud, which made Rarity and Mario blink.
"Runs in the family!" said Pinkie proudly.
"And don't try to question it either," Chase advised to Rarity, "You're medical expenses will thank you later."
"I still can't believe you let Twilight drag you into trying to figure out the Pinkie Sense and never got yourself injured so much from the research," said Rarity, "Why did you let her do that to you?" Chase smiled sheepishly and sighed.
"Because back then I thought if I said anything, she wouldn't want to be my friend anymore, even when I gotten over my crush on her since we were kids." said Chase. "Remember, that was long ago before she kissed me on the lips after the Gala ended. I wasn't ready to say I loved her before I gave her that scavenger hunt."
"Well, now you know that you can stand up for yourself and you're friends won't leave you or love you less," said Pinkie and Rarity nodded in agreement. Chase smiled. By now, Maud had already made her way across the street and tapped Street Rat on his back.
"I'd like to return this pouch for my sister's party cannon, please," Maud told the stallion.
"Sorry, missy," said Street Rat as he started walking away with the party cannon, "All sales are final." He was then stunned to see Maud had instantly reappeared in front of him.
"I'd like to return this pouch for my sister's party cannon, please," Maud repeated but in a more forceful tone. Rarity and Chase then approached the stallion.
"Ooh, I've never seen her like this!" said Rarity, "Look at the fire in her eyes! You'd better do what she says!"
"Rarity is right," said Chase stoically, "when the fire appears in that mare's eyes, it will burn into your soul and torment you for all of eternity!"
Maud just stared at the stallion in the same way she had with Rarity. The stallion just looked rather puzzled.
"Fire in her eyes?" Street Rat remarked in confusion, "burning my soul?!"
"Oh! Did she just clench her jaw?!" Rarity said fearfully as she stuck her face into Street Rat's as Chase was watching this in amusement, "I think she clenched her jaw!" Street Rat began to sweat a little, feeling rather frazzled and confused.
"I didn't see," said Street Rat timidly.
"Oh, no!" Rarity gasped dramatically as Chase chuckled silently to himself. "When she clenches your jaw...you know what that means?!"
"What?" Street Rat asked, now starting to panic, "What's it mean?"
"Trust me, you do not want to know!" Rarity told him sternly.
"In other words, you're doomed," Chase said, smirking darkly.
"I'd like to return this pouch," said Maud as she continued her stare. In less than two seconds, Street Rat cracked.
"Here! Take it, take it, please!" Street Rat whimpered as he squatted down and cowered in fear, "Just relax that jaw of yours and turn down that fire in your eyes! I don't want my soul burning for eternity!"
He then whimpered again as Maud gave him back the pouch and pushed the cannon toward her. Pinkie, Rarity and Chase smirked to each other. Of course Chase and Rarity couldn't help but share a hoof-bump with each other. Their little trick had worked.
Later, Maud was just walking down the street when Pinkie rolled up to her while riding her party cannon.
"Maud!" said Pinkie as she hugged her cannon, "I'm so happy you got me my party cannon back! Yay!"
POP WHISTLE!
Pinkie fired the cannon happily and then jumped into the air. But then her moment of joy was stopped when she realized something.
"Uh-oh," said Pinkie as she came back down, "I just realized something. 'Cause you gave back the pouch for the cannon, this is now the second gift you've gotten me today! And it's something I really, really wanted! You did it again! You gifts are always better than mine! Next year, I'm gonna have to really step it up and-" Pinkie was cut off when Maud put a fore-hoof over the pink pony's mouth.
"Pinkie, gift giving isn't a competition," Maud told her, "it's an expression of love, and you always make sure to give your gifts lots of love. That's why I'll always love them, and you, five-ever! That's even longer than for-ever." Maud give Pinkie a very rare smile.
"Awww!" Pinkie cooed as the two sisters shared a hug together. It was then Rarity and Chase arrived.
"There you two are!" said Pinkie, "You've sure been washing your hooves for a long time! We've got a train to catch here!"
"We know, but there is one more sight you two simply must see before we leave," said Rarity.
"Well, come on, girls." Chase said with a smile. "I think we've had enough of an adventure for one day."
Pinkie and Rarity giggled in agreement.
(Scene changes)
The map then showed the group heading to another location where Rarity stood by what was currently an empty but rather spacious storefront.
"Voila!" said Rarity, "Welcome to the future home of "Rarity for You"!"
Pinkie, Chase, and Maud were just staring at the building. Their silence made Rarity nervous.
"What do you think of the place?" Rarity asked anxiously, "Is this the right location? Did we pick a good spot?"
"No," said Maud, leaving the two ponies shocked, "You picked the perfect spot." Rarity smiled, relieved that her three friends did like the location.
"You know, I think this might be my favorite PSSSD ever!" said Pinkie, "But I can't wait 'til next year's PSSS-D-W-R-C!"
"Wait...PSSS-D-W-R-C?" Rarity asked, making faces as she tried to say the acronym.
"It's a new tradition that Maud and I came up with!" Pinkie told the two ponies, "Pie Sisters' Surprise Swap Day..."
"...With Rarity and Chase," Maud and Chase finished. Rarity felt tears prick her eyes as she smiled.
"Oh! Ohh! Why, that's the sweetest..." Rarity said with gratitude before a realization hit her, "Oh, no. Oh, no-no-no-no-no-no. I know how good you are two are at giving gifts! I'm going to have to get you both something amazing, and I only have a year to do it!"
Chase chuckled in amusement.
"It won't be that bad, Rarity." Chase said with a smile.
"Oh, Rarity!" said Pinkie, "It doesn't matter what you get us! As long as you give your gift with love, it'll be perfect!" She then gave the marshmallow pony a hug as she gave Maud a wink. Maud winked back at her sister in a very sluggish manner.
"Why, thank you, Pinkie," said Rarity as the pink pony let go and turned to Chase.
"And I'll have you by my side to help me out with it too, Chase." Pinkie said as Chase smiled at her in return.
"I didn't hear a word," said Chase, giving the pink pony a wink.
"Buuut now that you mention it..." said Pinkie as she grabbed her party cannon, "I could use more confetti for my party cannon. You wouldn't believe how much of that stuff I go through in a day!"
POP WHISTLE!
Pinkie than fired more confetti into the air. Chase smiled.
"Well, that's Pinkie Pie for you." Chase said with a smirk.
Author's note: Hey, guys. Sorry for the long wait. I've been really busy with work and I've just moved into my new yet temporarily apartment out of college. Since my summer job is over and I'll be working at school, my schedule is gonna be real busy. I promise to keep writing some more, but I'll still be busy. Hope you enjoy this chapter.
Peace out!
