This is the 10th chapter. Sorry, forgot to tell you that the word 'flea-bitten varmint' and 'idjit', it's a reference from a certain character that you're familiar from the series of Looney Tunes.
I don't own the series of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.
Gryphon the Brush-Off
Two weeks have passed since Applejack's birth to Apple Shine, she was able to fully recover and she back in for some bucking apple trees and any of the physical labor. Apple Shine was able to be of help for the Apple family, and getting the hang of her new strength while help taking care of the farm animal, like she did it in her old world. Even though, Apple Shine is still worried about her family in Texas and hoping they survive from the Tropical Storm Imelda. Applejack and Mario Star looked at the filly with sad look on their faces, noticed that Apple Shine is crying and it didn't take long to figure out what is she thinking about.
Apple Bloom gets along with Apple Shine very well, even though she can be rambunctious when it comes to finding a cutie mark. Apple Shine was curious about it, which Applejack explain about the cutie mark that represents someponys talent. Apple Shine noticed the cutie marks between the Apples, except Apple Bloom, that has different apple-like cutie marks, but she's not in a hurry for getting it. She also got along with Big Mac, which he's not much of a talker, but Apple Shine is okay with it. Granny Smith happens to be fond of Apple Shine, but she noticed the appearance of the filly that has a striking image of a mare named Pear Butter and the red streaks that resembles of Bright Mac which it got her misty eyed. Apple Shine was confused of why is Granny Smith crying a little, but shrugs it off since she got some chores at Sweet Apple Acres.
Now in one afternoon, Twilight Sparkle was sitting on a bench at the park, enjoying her book. Mario Star on the other hoof, practicing Toso Kune Do with Comet Stardust. Comet Stardust has been practicing martial arts and magic with him, Wild Heart, and his mother, while learning some new spells and coming up with a way of using magic for martial arts. Of course, he learned a new magic called spirit magic, a magic that allows him to summon animal spirits, which he was able to summon a deer, hawk, and fox. Wild Heart was impressed of his new magic and taught him how to use weaponry like: tomahawk, knife, warclub, and bow and arrow, but Comet isn't ready to learn how to use a gunstock warclub.
It was a peaceful day at the park, and they wanted to enjoy the moment together...at least, it was peaceful for a while. Recently, a certain Pinkie Pie had shown up and had been rambling about, talking endless over a certain Rainbow Dash.
"Hoof-biting action overload!" Pinkie Pie exclaims. "She was like a stunt superstar, flying higher and higher, and then Rainbow Dash swooped down-swoosh!-and right before she hit the ground-shoom!-she pulled up-vrrmmm!"
"Uh-huh." Twilight replied, continued reading.
"Sure." Mario added, sparring with Comet.
"I see." Comet added, sparring with Mario.
Though, that was pretty much all the three ponies had to say over Pinkie Pie's rambling, not that she seem too discouraged about it.
"And then she looped around and around like whoo-whoo-whoo-whoo-whoo-whoo-whoo!" Pinkie Pie continued.
"Uh-huh."
"Sure."
"I see."
It was then that Rainbow Dash flied high in the sky, over the four ponies. Pinkie Pie dashed after her.
"Phew!" Twilight sighed, turn the page.
"Finally!" Mario adds. "Thought she never leave."
Comet nods with an agreement.
Grateful for peace and quiet, Twilight continued reading while Mario and Comet continued to spar in martial arts.
In the meantime, Rainbow Dash was just keeping herself occupied with her flying when she heard a familiar shout.
"Rainbow Dash!"
Rainbow Dash looks down, seeing Pinkie Pie trot after her.
"Pinkie Pie?" Rainbow Dash grunted with annoyance. "Not again."
Apparently, Pinkie Pie had been following Rainbow Dash for the past couple of days and she was trying very hard to go about her business.
"Rainbow Dash!" Pinkie Pie called her again.
"Not now, Pinkie Pie!" Rainbow Dash shouts in annoyance.
"But, but Rainbow Dash-!"
"I'm in a middle of something."
"But-"
"I said not now-"
CRASH!
Unfortunately, Rainbow Dash was so busy trying to avoid Pinkie Pie, she wasn't paying attention to where she flew and smacked herself along the side of the mountain. She slowly slides down the slope, coming to a stop right in front of Pinkie Pie.
"I was gonna tell you to look out for that mountain." Pinkie Pie said innocently.
Rainbow Dash just grumbled herself, preferring not to get up as Pinkie Pie stood over her.
My Little Pony, My Little Pony
Ahhhh
My Little Pony
I use to wonder what friendship could be
My Little Pony
Until you all share this magic with me
Big adventure,
Tons of fun,
A beautiful heart,
Faithful and strong,
Sharing kindness
It's an easy feat
And magic makes it all complete
You all have my little ponies
Do you know all you're all my best friends?
The next day, Rainbow Dash lazily reclined on her own fluffy cloud high above Ponyville. But all the chatter from below wasn't helping her already sour mood. Growling with irritation, Rainbow Dash grabbed some bit of clouds and stuffed it in her ears. It was then Pinkie Pie arrived, humming to herself and approaching a group of ponies near a vendor.
"Hi, I'm looking for Rainbow Dash." Pinkie Pie said. "Have you seen her?"
She then approached another group of ponies.
"Hi there, have you seen Rainbow Dash? Okay, thanks anyway."
By now, Rainbow Dash desperately tried to bury herself in her cloud to hide from Pinkie Pie. Pinkie Pie then caught sight of Twilight Sparkle, Mario Star, and Comet Stardust, quickly approached them.
"Twilight, Mario, Comet, have you seen Rainbow Dash anywhere?" Pinkie Pie asked.
"Isn't she right up there?" Twilight replied, motioning towards a nearby cloud.
"If there's a single cloud floating around here, you'll find her." Mario adds, points up.
"Usually, Rainbow Dash is sleeping a cloud above us." Comet adds, points up as well.
Rainbow Dash had her head stuck in the cloud, but her rear-end sticks out like an ostrich. She secretly prayed that Pinkie Pie won't noticed her.
"Rainbow Dash!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed.
Rainbow Dash grunts before taking off at high speed, taking the cloud with her. Pinkie Pie just hopped after her, while Twilight, Mario, and Comet looked on.
"Good luck trying to lose her, Rainbow!" Mario called out. "Once Pinkie sets her target, it's impossible to shake off."
"I just hope Rainbow doesn't lose her temper over it." Twilight said. "It's always sad seeing Pinkie cry."
"Do I know that." Mario nods, looking at the ground.
Regrettably, Mario Star lost his temper with Pinkie Pie one day when she tracked him all over Equestria. Things had settled between the two since, he didn't like to be reminded of his own mistakes.
Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash flew as fast as she could toward Sweet Apple Acres, hiding herself behind the barn. Rainbow breathed heavily, as she peeked from behind the side of the barn wall.
"Phew!" Rainbow Dash sighed with relief. "That was close."
Rainbow Dash was safe...for about two seconds.
"Hi!" Pinkie Pie greeted.
Rainbow Dash did a fast 180, discovering Pinkie Pie right in front of her.
"Aah!" Rainbow Dash screamed.
Rainbow Dash took off as fast as her wings could carry her, while Pinkie casually hopped after her. Rainbow Dash did her best to change directions as often as she could, before ducking inside the branches of the Golden Oak Library. She quickly peeked over the top before settling into her new hiding place. She panted to regain her breath...when Pinkie Pie poked her head from underneath her.
"Hi again!"
"AAAAH!"
Rainbow Dash took off even faster, zipping awards toward the right, while Pinkie Pie casually bounces after her again. As Pinkie Pie hops her way down the hill, Rainbow Dash pops out of the cloud above, tip-toed away in the air, and zipped as fast as she could to shake off Pinkie Pie. She makes an exhausted landing toward the edge of a nearby pond when...Pinkie Pie...surfaced from the water, wearing a snorkel, water wings, goggles, and flippers.
Pinkie Pie spits the water and the snorkel before getting straight to the point.
"I need a favor, Rainbow Dash."
"Waaa~!"
Rainbow Dash jumped and prepared to take off again, but landed belly-flat to the ground.
"...oh, forget it!" Rainbow Dash sighed, defeated.
"I totally promise it'll be totally fun!" Pinkie Pie assured from the water.
"Okay." Rainbow Dash sighed, exhausted.
A short while later, Rainbow Dash clutched a small cloud just outside the Town Hall. Apparently, Pinkie Pie was instructing Rainbow Dash where to position it.
"Over to the right." Pinkie Pie remarked. "No, no, a little to the left. Oh wait, back to the right. Now a little leftish while staying rightly. Stop. Hmm...maybe a few inches to the south. Now a couple centimeters north. Okay. One more smidgimeter to the..."
Rainbow Dash was losing her patience pretty quick over Pinkie Pie's indecisiveness.
"PINKIE PIE!"
"Uh, I mean, perfect." Pinkie Pie answered. "Now, wait for my signal."
Annoyed, but Rainbow Dash nevertheless, waited. It was then Spike came out carrying a large number of scrolls in his arms, humming a merry tune. Pinkie Pie makes a gesture and Rainbow Dash kicks the cloud, causing it to give out a clash of thunder.
"D-aah!" Spike jumped frightfully, dropping the scrolls.
(HICCUP) (HICCUP)
Once the hiccups began to come out, Pinkie Pie started laughing.
"Oh Rainbow Dash, we startled Spike into getting the hiccups!"
As Pinkie Pie continues to laugh, Rainbow Dash founds herself chuckling. Even Spike chuckled to himself.
"Good one Pinkie (HICCUP) Pie." Spike replied, being a good sport. "You're always pulling a fast one (HICCUP) one me. (HICCUP) Nnaa-"
As Spike reached for another scroll, his hiccup burned it up instead...sending it directly towards Princess Celestia. In the meantime, a look of concern crossed the ponies faces.
"Oh no, you're not hurt, are you?" Pinkie Pie asks, worried.
"Ne-(HICCUP)-eh, don't be (HICCUP) silly." Spike replied. "Dragons are (HICCUP) fireproof."
"Oh, okay good."
Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash exchanged looks, before falling on their backs laughing. Spike kept trying to pick up the dropped scrolls, but every time he tried, he hiccups and burn up a scroll.
"I wish the same thing (HICCUP) true with scrolls." Spike remarked.
Little did he know, all the burnt-up scrolls headed straight toward Princess Celestia. Soon Princess Celestia was bombarded with tons of scrolls at once.
Back in Ponyville, as Spike continued to hiccup and burn all the scrolls, Pinie Pie and Rainbow Dash were left in stitches.
"Have you ever seen anything more hilarious?" Pinkie Pie laughed.
"I can think of one thing." Rainbow Dash said slyly.
Rainbow Dash gave the cloud another kick, causing it to thunder again.
"Aah!" Pinkie Pie screamed, now having the hiccups.
Realizing she had been pranked, Pinkie Pie laughed and hiccups to herself. Rainbow Dash laughed as well, as she flew back down.
"I didn't take you for a prankster, Pinkie Pie." Rainbow Dash admitted.
"Are you (HICCUP) kidding?" Pinkie Pie replied, between hiccups. "(HICCUP) I love to pull pranks. It's all (HICCUP) in good fun, and Pinkie Pie lo-(HICCUP)-oves to have (HICCUP) fun! (HICCUP)"
"You know Pinkie Pie, you're not as annoying as I thought."
Pinkie Pie merely replied with a smile...and a hiccup.
"You wanna hangout?" Rainbow Dash offered.
"(HICCUP) That'd be (HICCUP) I'd really (HICCUP) When do (HICCUP) I mean (HICCUP) When would you (HICCUP)..."
Pinkie Pie's hiccups caused her to bounce about uncontrollably. Rainbow Dash grew annoyed until Pinkie Pie bounced straight for her and Rainbow Dash caught her with her hoof clutched to her mouth and nose.
"A simple nod will do." Rainbow Dash replied.
"Mm-hmm." Pinkie Pie nodded with puffed-up cheeks.
Soon they made their way out of Ponyville's own joke shop, carrying buckets loaded with pranks and jokes galore. They were both eager to get started as they headed towards the Carousel Boutique. They quickly rang the doorbell, before ducking behind some bushes.
"Is she even home?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"I don't know." Pinkie Pie said. "This is going to be gold."
"There she is!" Rainbow Dash pointed.
They both snickered behind the bushes as Rarity opens the door and discovered a vase loaded with flowers.
"Ooo..." Rarity replied.
She gives the flowers a nice long sniff, but reels back as some powder was stuck on her nose...causing her to sneeze. Rarity heard snickering a few yards away, spotting Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie with a sneeze powder vial. It didn't take long for her to realize they put a 'sneezing powder' in the flowers. Rainbow Dash took her leave as Pinkie Pie kept laughing, when she the powder and a huge powder cloud came out.
"Aaa-choo!"
Pinkie Pie sneeze so hard, she flew away from Rarity towards Rainbow Dash's direction. Rarity just smirked as the two disappeared.
At the Golden Oak Library, Twilight Sparkle busily prepared a new potion with a sheet of paper to take notes. Comet walked into the library after playing with Apple Bloom and Apple Shine. He even got to meet Twist, who was a friend of Apple Bloom. She even got to know Comet and Apple Shine as much as Apple Bloom did. But, Apple Bloom and Apple Shine had to go back to Sweet Apple Acres for their chores, and Twist has been calling home. So, Comet Stardust had to go back to the library. When he went inside, he saw Twilight working on some potions.
"Hi Mom." Comet greets his mother.
"Hi Comet." Twilight greets her son. "Right now, I need to focus on this potion."
She then quickly writes it down on a piece of parchment, but when she quickly turns away, the writing somehow disappeared. Twilight was busy pouring the green potion into a blue potion, until it turned into purple. Twilight then went back to the parchment, but it got her surprised that there was nothing written on it.
"Hmm?" Twilight mumbled puzzled.
She began to wonder what was going on until the potion behind explodes. She then looked over at Comet.
"Comet? Did you..."
"No. The stuff you wrote down just vanished." Comet shook his head, then thought about it. "Like...Disappearing ink."
"Disappearing ink?!" Twilight exclaims surprisingly. "I don't have any..."
She was then interrupted by the laughter of the two of Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie. She looked outside and saw Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie laughing. Rainbow Dash was holding up a container of disappearing ink. Twilight smiled at their prank and walked away from the window.
"That make sense." Twilight said.
"That's still classic, even back at my old world." Comet said, looking out the window.
"Yeah, it's classic here as well." Twilight said. "But, I chose not to have fun. I didn't want friends and Mario and I were in a rift. Until...well..."
Twilight was hesitant about telling Comet about Nightmare Moon.
"Until Princess Luna came back as Nightmare Moon?" Comet asked.
"Yeah, I know." Twilight said with a sigh.
"I also read that book." Comet told his mother. "I even read about how Princess Luna, who controls the night became Nightmare Moon, banished to the moon by the Elements of Harmony, and then I remembered how you and your friends stopped her. It did happen, right?"
"I guess." Twilight answered, looked away. "But now, I gotta retry my experiment."
Comet responds with a nod and about to meet up with Mario since he's about to carry the supplies. He was stopped when Spike came through, along with the hiccups.
"Whoa, Spike, are you okay?" Comet asks when Spike kept laughing along with the hiccup.
"Oh, I'm (HICCUP) alright." Spike assures the colt. "I just need (HICCUP) some water. Hopefully this (HICCUP) will go away soon. (HICCUP)."
"Was it Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie?" Comet asked.
"Yep." Spike answered, before letting out one last hiccup.
Comet then snuck behind Spike without letting him see him. Twilight looked towards her son, knew what he's up to as she giggled a little. Spike was still hiccupping, but then from behind, Comet jumped and roared at him.
"GAAAAAAAHHHH!" Spike screamed, run towards the other side of the room while Twilight laughed.
Spike leaned towards the wall, putting his claw to his chest, and breathing fast.
"Why did you do that?!" Spike shouts, after recovered.
"From what I heard, one of the things to stop the hiccups is to scare them away." Comet said. "How do you feel?"
Spike checked himself, waited for a few moments.
"Hey, you're right." Spike said, smiled. "You scared the hiccups out of me."
Just then, Spike belched out some flames and a bunch of scrolls came out when Comet zipped away, and the scrolls buried the baby dragon. Spike then popped his head out of the pile of scrolls, and a sticky note was attached to his head. Spike grabbed the sticky note and read:
I believe you sent these by mistake.
Spike walked through the pile of scrolls and find a parchment to give Princess Celestia an explanation.
At Sweet Apple Acres, both Applejack and Apple Shine just left the barn when they froze in place. Several of the apples on the trees were now in multi-colored and designed.
"Land sakes!" Applejack gasped.
"How in a trail blazin' did this happen?!" Apple Shine exclaims in shock.
They turned their head and found Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie, wearing black berets, holding artist palettes, and paint brushes. They both snickered to each other until Applejack hurled the painted apples at them and Apple Shine charges after them. The two ponies took off as one apple landed inside of the water-filled barrel. Both Applejack and Apple Shine were angry until the former looked at the apple in the barrel, seeing the paint wash clean off and the apple still unharmed. Applejack chuckled to herself in relief.
"Get back here, ya troublemakin' varmints!" Apple Shine shouts angrily when Applejack grabs her tail, pulled the Texan filly.
"Simmer down, sugarcube." Applejack assures her, spitting the tail. "It's only a prank."
"What do you mean?" Apple Shine asks, confused.
"Look." Applejack said, showed the red apple. "The paint was washed clean, and that apple is unharmed."
Apple Shine now understands what Applejack is telling her, but she's now even more angry that they're gonna have to clean the rest of the apples on the trees. Applejack can tell that the Texan filly is about to lose her temper, assures her that it's a harmless prank and nopony got hurt.
Back in town, both Mario Star and Comet Stardust were walking through town to carry supplies through the streets. Earlier that day, Mario offered to deliver some inventory straight from Filthy Rich's warehouse and Comet is staying by his side. Since they're far ahead of schedule, they decided to run a more leisurely pace, waving 'hello' to the nearby ponies as they pass by. They came to stop at a crossing where the vendors from the market their produce carts across the street.
Nearby, there was bush containing Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash, the latter holding a special microphone. The two snickered to each other as they chat inside of the bush.
"So, Twilight." Pinkie Pie said casually. "Tell me again what do you think of Mario?"
Rainbow Dash snickered, before using the microphone.
"Well...he's...actually cute and handsome." Rainbow Dash answered.
Of course, the microphone she got made her voice resemble any pony she pleased, in this case Twilight Sparkle. It was enough to draw Mario and Comet's attention, but with a glare, he knew something was off. Just as Mario was about to uncouple his harness, it got his attention when he saw Comet pounces after the grasshopper which it got him chuckled a little.
"What are you doing, son?" Mario asks with a smile when Comet pounces again.
"Pouncing." Comet answered with a frown, looking at his hooves.
"Let an old pro show you how it's done." Mario said with a sly grin.
Mario then uncoupled his harness, he and Comet crept up behind the bush and Rainbow Dash's tail sticking out. This gives him an idea as a smirk grew on his face and Comet crouches down.
"Stay low to the ground." Mario whispered, lowered Comet's back.
"So...would you say you like him?" Pinkie Pie asked. "I mean 'like' like him?"
"Yeah, okay. Stay low to the ground, right!" Comet whispered, smirking.
"Oh yes, I totally like him." Rainbow Dash answered. "The next time I find him, I'll walk up to him and give him a big kiss!"
"Try not to make a sound." Mario whispered, after hushed the colt.
Comet crept up on Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie with a sly grin. They were too busy trying hard not to laugh when Mario casually sat down with a smirk, makes a gesture and then...
"AAAAAAhhhhh!"
Comet pounces onto Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie when they screamed and a custard pie got right in the two mares faces. Mario Star laughed in amusement as Comet had succeeded in pouncing on the two mares, walking towards the stallion.
"That's very good!" Mario praises the colt, laughing more. "Now, this time-"
"Hi, Mario. Hi, Comet." Pinkie Pie greeted with a nervous chuckle.
"Okay, that was funny." Mario said with a chuckle. "Sorry, girls. But I'm too smart for your cheap tricks."
"Cheap tricks?!" Rainbow Dash spluttered.
"I never knew you felt that way about me." Mario said with a smirk.
Rainbow Dash's eyes shrunk; her face became a pale shade of blue. The microphone in her hoof dropped down to the ground.
"Wuh?!" Rainbow Dashe exclaimed.
Mario Star merely gave her a sly smile, as he fixed the top of his mane.
"You know, if you wanted a kiss, all you have to do is ask." Mario replied.
Rainbow Dash was now flustered, her cheeks blushing a light pink.
"I...I...I..." Rainbow Dash stuttered as Mario approaches her.
Mario and Rainbow's faces were just inches apart, before Mario leans slowly and whispers two words into Rainbow's ear:
"Got ya!"
Rainbow Dash's eyes bugged out and her jaw dropped, as Mario Star and Comet Stardust laughed while backing away.
"You should see the look on your face!" Mario chuckled, reattaching the harness. "I hope you let that lesson be learned, never prank a pony in love, and never try to prank a martial artists. Because you'll know karma will come out and bite you."
Rainbow Dash was too dumbstruck to say anything, as Mario laughed out loud. Mario and Comet then walked away. Rainbow Dash stared toward them before relaxing with a smirk on her face.
"Well played, Mario." Rainbow Dash said quietly. "Well played..."
"I wanted a kiss." Pinkie Pie muttered, indignant.
"What?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Nothing!" Pinkie Pie said sheepishly with both front hooves in front of her.
Rainbow Dash just rolled her eyes and went to search for their next victim.
It was late afternoon when Fluttershy busily tended to the animals at one end of the lake. A squeaky toy floats slowly towards Fluttershy, held in placed by a long wire. On the other side, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie were hidden. Pinkie Pie held a squeeze trigger in her mouth while Rainbow Dash watched Fluttershy from a distance using a telescope. Because Rainbow Dash had the telescope, Pinkie Pie couldn't see who Rainbow Dash was spying on.
"Is someone over there?" Pinkie Pie asked when her voice muffled by the squeezer. "Who're we gonna squirt? Who're we gonna squirt?"
"Fluttershy." Rainbow Dash chuckled.
Suddenly, Pinkie Pie's eyes bugged out.
"WHAT?!" Pinkie Pie snapped, spitting out the squeezer. "Nononononono, we can't prank Fluttershy, I mean, she's so sensitive. It'll hurt her feelings, even our harmless prank."
Rainbow Dash didn't need to think twice to know Pinkie Pie was right. Out of every pony in town, she knew Fluttershy's personality best."
"Yeah, you're right." Rainbow Dash replied, pulled away from the telescope and releasing a raspberry. "Huh. We need another victim whose made of tougher stuff. So, who's it gonna be?"
Oh, I've got someone in mind." Pinkie Pie chuckled. "The toughest around."
"Oh, awesome! Who? Who?" Rainbow Dash asked excitedly. "Do I know them?"
"Oh, yes." Pinkie Pie giggled, pointing at the water. "You're very close."
It was then Rainbow Dash noticed that by putting her eye on the telescope, she had earned a black ring around it.
"Good one, Pinkie Pie." Rainbow Dash chuckled as she and Pinkie Pie shared a good laugh. "Ridiculous!"
Though, none of them noticed Fluttershy had found the floating toy at the lake. She just timidly poked at it, as the sun began to set behind her. Poor Fluttershy actually thought the toy was a real animal.
The next morning, Pinkie Pie was on the road out of town leading to Rainbow Dash's personal 'Cloudominium'. Since Rainbow Dash love flying, it would make sense that her home would be in the clouds. On this day, Pinkie Pie wore a comedy arrow on her head and a swirly glasses with red nose and a mustache, blowing a party hooter in her mouth.
"Rise and shine Rainbow Dash!" Pinkie Pie called out. "It's a brand new day and we've got a lot of pranking to-Ooh!"
Pinkie Pie was caught off-guard by the sight of a gryphon, giving her an eagle eye. Rainbow Dash soon appeared right after, from above the gryphon.
"Morning, Pinks!" Rainbow Dash greets her, turning to the gryphon. "Gilda, this is my gal pal, Pinkie Pie."
Pinkie Pie had a good look at Gilda. Gilda has the body in between an eagle and a lion. She had a white feathers on her head with pale light grayish heliotrope edges, moderate gamboge in between wings, feathers, and fur coat along with the lions tail, brilliant gold talons, and light brilliant amber eyes.
"Hey, what's up?" Gilda responded, gruffly.
"Pinkie, this is my gryphon friend, Gilda." Rainbow Dash introduced her.
"What's a gryphon?" Pinkie Pie asked curiously.
"She's half eagle, half lion-" Rainbow Dash explained when Gilda makes her landing between her friend.
"And all awesome. Raa!" Gilda said smugly.
Pinkie Pie removed her funny gear, as she watched Rainbow Dash and Gilda shared a secret handshake with each other.
"Heh-haa! Yeah, that's right." Gilda said.
"Gilda's my best friend from my days at Junior Speedster flight camp." Rainbow Dash added, turned to Gilda. "Hey, remember the chant?"
"Sha, they made us recite it every morning." Gilda remarked. "I'll never get that lame thing out of my head."
"Soo..." Rainbow Dash proposed with a smile.
Gilda only rolled her eyes.
"Ugh...Only for you, Dash." Gilda replied reluctantly.
They both flew up into the sky and perform the chant, with Rainbow Dash put enthusiasm into what she said while Gilda just looked bored and irritated.
Rainbow Dash & Gilda (Chants):
Junior Speedster are our lives,
Sky-bound soars and daring dives.
Junior Speedster, it's our quest,
To someday be the very best!
Once they landed, Pinkie Pie started laughing as the two tried to act cool. Once Pinkie Pie settled down, she trot straight towards the funny gear.
"Oh, that was awesome!" Pinkie Pie replied, puts her funny gear back on. "And it gave me a great idea for a prank. Gilda, you game?"
"Huh. Well, I groove on a good prank as much as the next gryphon." Gilda replied. "But Dash, you promised me we'd get in a flying session in this morning."
"Yeah, us, well." Rainbow Dash said as Gilda took off. "Pinkie Pie, you don't mind, do you? Gilda just got here. We'll catch up with you later."
"Oh. Um, well sure, no problem." Pinkie Pie said as Rainbow Dash took off. "Have fun you guys, I'll, uh, just catch up with you...later."
Pinkie Pie gave a sad sigh and a half-hearted blow of her party hooter as Rainbow Dash and Gilda flew away, leaving her all alone.
A short time later, Rainbow Dash and Gilda sped through the skies. Rainbow Dash made a loop-de-loop as she flew by while Gilda copied her maneuver. Along the way, Rainbow Dash had the lead before Gilda caught up and passed her. Rainbow Dash tried to catch up, but the gryphon was already on the cloud. Rainbow Dash dove on it and they laughed.
"Whoa, that was sweet!" Gilda said. "Just like old times."
"Yeah, only faster." Rainbow Dash adds when she and Gilda share a quick fist/hoof bump. "So, now what?"
"Hey there!" Pinkie Pie said, popping her head in the middle of them.
"Huh?"
Gilda and Rainbow Dash noticed the hole in the cloud as Pinkie Pie continuously poked her head out of it. Apparently, she found herself in a giant trampoline and used it to reach the cloud the other two stood on.
"It's later." Pinkie Pie replied between bouncing. "And I caught up!"
"Pinkie Pie, you are so random." Rainbow Dash remarked, chuckled a bit.
Irritation formed on Gilda's face, but she soon covered it up with a smirk.
"Hey Dash, think you got enough gas left to beat me to that cloud?" Gilda proposed with a challenge.
"A race?" Rainbow Dash smirked. "You are so on!"
"One, two, three, go!" Gilda called out.
The two quickly took off, leaving Pinkie Pie behind.
"Hey!" Pinkie Pie called out.
It didn't take long for the two flyers to reach the other cloud and land.
"I win!" Rainbow Dash called.
"As if, I won, dude!" Gilda retorted.
"No way!"
"Yes way!"
"Oh, come on, I was way ahead of you."
"Uh, I don't think so."
"Oh Geez, dream on."
"Remember back in camp? I-"
"There is no way you can beat me."
"Whatever."
"Wow, you guys! That was really close!" Pinkie Pie called out, drew their attention.
Pinkie Pie managed to collect and inflate the large number of balloons, floating her way towards Rainbow Dash and Gilda. The two flyers' eyes bugged out when they saw her floating nearby.
"But I think Rainbow Dash beat you a teeny-weeny itty-bitty hair or a teeny-weeny itty-bitty feather." Pinkie Pie added.
"Hah, see?" Rainbow Dash said, pointing at Pinkie Pie. "Good thing Pinkie Pie's here to keep you honest, G."
Gilda grits her teeth, balling her talons for a second, before regaining her composure.
"Okay...Dash!" Gilda huffed. "Last one to that cloud up there is a gnarly dragon egg. Go!"
A huge cloud of dust/fluff appeared as they took off. But only Rainbow Dash had taken off as Gilda stayed behind.
"I think the high altitude is making you dizzy." Gilda remarked.
Gilda proceeds to pop just enough balloons to make Pinkie Pie descend slowly to the ground.
"Wait, guys!" Pinkie Pie called out.
As Pinkie Pie began to float down, Gilda managed to catch up to Rainbow Dash. They barely made their way to the higher cloud when Pinkie Pie reappeared in what appeared to be a pedal-powered helicopter...
Or something like that.
"Oh, wow, you guys almost got away from me that time." Pinkie Pie replied, pedaled towards them.
Rainbow Dash chuckled to herself while Gilda gave a quick death glare. Still, she tried to keep her irritation with Pinkie Pie in check.
"So, Dash, got any new moves in your tricktionary, or are you 100% old school?" Gilda asked.
"New moves?" Rainbow Dash replied cockily. "Heh, sit back G, this is gonna take a while."
Rainbow Dash zoomed off in the sky as Pinkie Pie watched and pedaled at the same time.
"Hey, Pinkie." Gilda called her, using one of her talons. "C'mere."
"Yeah?"
Pinkie Pie scoots closer as Gilda roughly grabbed her contraption by the pole.
"Don't you know how to take get lost for an answer?" Gilda sneered with a dirty look. "Dash doesn't need to hang with a dweeb like you now that I'm around. You're dorkin' up the sky, Stinkie Pie, so make like a bee and BUZZ OFF!"
Gilda grabs the propeller, causing Pinkie Pie to spiral around, spinning back down to the ground.
"Whaaa-aaa-!" Pinkie Pie gasped.
Gilda smirks triumphantly just as Rainbow Dash arrived back on the cloud.
"Try matching that." Rainbow Dash said, but noticed somepony is missing. "Hey, where's Pinkie Pie and crazy contraption?"
"Eh, she left." Gilda remarked, dismissively. "Something about as busy as a bee."
Though Gilda smirked after saying that, but Rainbow Dash didn't notice the meaning.
Back on the ground, Pinkie Pie stood amongst the debris of her now damaged helicopter. Pinkie Pie wasn't hurt...not physically, as she looked back up toward the clouds.
"Hmph!"
Rather than trying again, Pinkie Pie made her way back to the Golden Oak Library. Like before, Twilight Sparkle was just reading a book while Pinkie Pie ranted. Mario Star was listening to what she's telling them. Spike was also reading his own book while sitting at the foot of the stairs. Comet Stardust was reading as well, but listens to Pinkie Pie ranting.
"So, Pinkie Pie, are you sure that this friend of Rainbow Dash is really so mean?" Twilight asked.
"Um, yeah." Pinkie Pie retorted bitterly. "She keeps stealing Rainbow Dash away, she pops my balloons, and told me to buzz off! I've never met a gryphon this mean. Well, actually, I've never met a gryphon at all, but I bet if I had, she wouldn't have been as mean and grumpy as Gilda."
Pinkie Pie paced around the floor behind Twilight as she spoke. By the point, both Comet and Mario paused their activity and listened more attentively once they heard Pinkie's description, but didn't turn their heads.
"You know what I think, Pinkie Pie." Twilight spoke once Pinkie Pie finished ranting.
"Hmm?" Pinkie Pie asked.
"Well, I think...you're jealous." Twilight concluded.
Pinkie was left visibly stunned, even Mario felt shocked over Twilight's answer.
"Jealous?!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed.
"Green with envy." Spike added. "Well, in your case, pink with envy."
Though Mario felt irritated over Twilight's response, he kept his back turned.
"Well, yes, jealous." Twilight agreed. "Listen Pinkie, I don't want to upset you, but just because Rainbow Dash has another friend doesn't make Gilda a grump. I mean, perhaps it's you, Pinkie Pie, who needs to improve her attitude."
Mario Star felt his blood boiled, as if his pressure were spiking. At first, he agrees that no pony should keep their friends to themselves, but that's not the point. The way Twilight dismissed Pinkie Pie for being the problem when Gilda was the one being mean to one of her friends just didn't sit well for him. Comet was even offended of his mother, for dismissed Pinkie Pie which the little colt had his fair share of being bullied and ostracized. Pinkie Pie however, is beyond offended.
"Improve my attitude?!" Pinkie Pie retorted indignantly. "But I...D...B...It's Gilda that...D...Are you seri..."
Screaming in frustration, Pinkie Pie stormed out of the library and slammed the door as she left. Twilight just sighed as she and Spike resumed the reading. Mario and Comet however, made their way to the door.
"Where are you and Comet going, Mario?" Twilight asked surprisingly.
"We're going out." Mario answered without looking at her with a glare as he closed the door behind them.
Twilight just looked towards the door, puzzled.
"What's their deal?" Twilight asked herself.
Few minutes later, Pinkie Pie stomped about in the park, feeling very angry and upset.
"Maybe Twilight is right." Pinkie Pie sighed to herself. "Maybe Gilda isn't a big mean grumpy mean-meanie-pants. Maybe I'm just a big jealous judgmental jealous-jealousy-pants."
"Maybe, but I feel like there's something bigger going on here." The voice of Mario said.
Pinkie Pie turned and found both Mario and Comet a few feet away, given her a soft smile.
"So...you don't think I'm a big jealous-jealousy-pants?" Pinkie Pie asked.
"Hard to say, but I know that one of my friends was dismissed unfairly and I didn't like it one bit." Mario told her.
"But Twilight said..."
"Twilight thinks she knows everything, and we can't deny she's well-read." Mario interrupts. "But the fact is: Twilight Sparkle is still new as this whole 'friendship' process and she's just as clueless as everypony else. Growing up in Canterlot, I've had my fair share of bullies over the years and I know what trouble they are."
"Just like me, growing up in Brooklyn, I've had a fair share of bullies, too." Comet adds, walk towards her. "But the question is, are you feeling alright?"
"Not so much." Pinkie Pie answered with a sigh. "Gilda isn't a bully, she's just a meanie...at least to me."
Both Mario and Comet can understand as they sat next to her. Comet then give her godmother a hug, as Pinkie Pie hugged the little colt with a soft smile.
"Pinkie, if I'm going to help you, we need to know more about her." Mario said sternly. "We're gonna have to do a recon."
"Like all of us on a secret-spy mission?!" Pinkie Pie asked excitedly.
"That's right." Mario smiled.
Pinkie Pie squealed gleefully as she hugged them tightly, causing their eyes bulging out.
"Now come on!" Pinkie Pie said.
"WHOA!" Mario and Comet yelped as Pinkie Pie carried them away.
Outside of the Sugarcube Corner, Mario Star, Comet Stardust, and Pinkie Pie sat at the table with an umbrella on top of it. Like a gentlecolt, Mario treated Pinkie Pie and Comet to a milkshake. Pinkie Pie got the strawberry while Mario got the chocolate and Comet got the banana. Surprisingly, Mario was expecting Pinkie Pie to talk his ears off, maybe even drive him crazy. Pinkie Pie was usually fond of Comet when he helped her bake and given her the recipes of the Italian sweets, even hugged him. But instead, Pinkie Pie just sat quietly and took tiny sips of her shake peacefully. As much as Mario and Comet enjoyed some peace and quiet, they're not used to Pinkie Pie being so reserved. They found out that they're missing her bubbly and goofy personality.
"Come on, Pinkie, cheer up." Mario said, pushing his milkshake aside. "You keep making that frowny face, it'll be stuck forever."
It was then they heard a loud whooshing in the sky, followed by some laughter. Startled, Pinkie Pie nearly knocked her milkshake out. Comet managed to hold his place while Mario does the same as Pinkie Pie stood behind him. Gilda and Rainbow Dash soared about the sky, making their landing on the opposite side of the street.
"That was sweet!" Rainbow Dash laughed. "Ugh, I gotta take care of a few weather jobs around here. Shouldn't take long. Just, uh, hand out in town and I'll come find ya."
"That's cool, I guess." Gilda said. "I'm gonna chow down."
"Later!" Rainbow Dash said as she takes off into the sky.
Mario, Comet, and Pinkie Pie silently watch as Gilda headed towards the stands to browse around. At one of these stands she spotted Granny Smith, who was busy shopping. Suddenly, Gilda's tail hovers in front of her face, she sniffed it and her eyes bugged out.
"Aaaah! A rattler, a rattler!" Granny Smith shouted. "Run for the hills! Everybody forsake yourselves!"
Granny Smith dashed off...well, more likely walked away with a frightened look on her face. Gilda smirked as she lifted her head, feeling the tomato with her tail and turned to the vendor pony.
"This stuff ain't fresh, dude." Gilda rudely remarked.
Mario, Comet, and Pinkie Pie watched as Gilda walked away, leaving the vendor pony looking indignant.
"Aw, poor Granny Smith." Pinkie Pie said. "She didn't know it was a joke!"
"That...was...so mean!" Comet said.
"Not it was mean, but it was about downright rude." Mario observed.
"...No, no, I can't misjudge her." Pinkie Pie sighed. "It was kind of a funny prank, I guess."
"I wouldn't count on it." Mario said.
As they watch, Gilda strolled casually and grabbed an apple from another stand. She quickly shoves the whole thing in her mouth and walked away without care.
"I did misjudge her!" Pinkie Pie gasped. "She's not only a meanie-mean pants..."
"She's also a thief!" Mario finished her sentence before he got up and about to fight her. "I've gotta do something about this!"
"Nonononono, she might give it back. It's just a joke." Pinkie Pie said.
"That's not possible to return an apple that's already been eaten, Pinkie." Comet told her.
"He's got a point. She just ate an apple without paying!" Mario adds. "Stealing isn't..."
Just before Mario could finish his sentence, Fluttershy suddenly appeared. She was guiding some ducks across the street while walking backwards.
"All right little ones, this way, this way." Fluttershy said sweetly. "Mama duck, you're free and clear."
Mario then felt his heart sink as Gila purposely stood behind Fluttershy, causing her to bump into the gryphon.
"She better not..." Mario growled.
"Hey!" Gilda exclaimed.
"Please excuse me." Fluttershy said politely.
"I'm walking here!" Gilda pointed out rudely.
"Oh, um, I'm sorry." Fluttershy apologized. "I-I-I was just trying to..."
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry." Gilda repeated mockingly. "Why don't you just watch where you going, doofus?!"
"B-b-b-but I...I..."
Before Fluttershy could find her words, Gilda unleashed a loud roar right in Fluttershy's face. Fluttershy squeaked in fear before running off, sobbing and fly away.
"Ugh, please, all these lame ponies are driving me buggy!" Gilda remarked openly. "I gotta bail!"
Gilda took off without another word, to sea of glares from all the other ponies. Mario and Comet were furious while Pinkie Pie was in no better condition.
"That...That gryphon is such a jerk!" Comet said with anger. "How could she do that to Fluttershy?!"
"I know, right?! She's a grump, and a thief, and a bully!" Pinkie Pie retorted angrily. "The meanest kind of mean-meanie pants there is! I can take it, but no one treats Fluttershy like that. No. One. This calls for extreme measures, Pinkie Pie style! Right Mario? Mario?"
Pinkie Pie turned around and found Mario Star was no longer at the table as Comet directed his godmother's attention to where the stallion was going. She turns the other way and gasp as Mario walked quickly toward Gilda's direction. The pure anger was implanted on Mario's face, his eyes burned in rage, his aura surrounded him in golden yellow, and his horn started flaring up with sparks. He didn't go very far when Pinkie Pie and Comet Stardust quickly ran in front of him.
"Mario, wait!" Pinkie Pie said. "Where are you going?"
"Stand aside!" Mario said bluntly, not hiding his anger. "I'm going to find that gryphon who hurt Fluttershy and fight her!"
"Don't!" Pinkie Pie said sternly. "Let me handle her."
"Pinkie, you saw how the way she acts!" Mario retorted. "And I'm not sitting on my flank and let that over-size chicken get away with this! Now get out of my way!"
"I said no!" Pinkie Pie stomped her hoof. "Look, I've got a plan to deal with Gilda...and I need your help. Please?"
Pinkie Pie gave him a pleading look as Mario kept his raging eyes, looking down at her. But somehow, that pleading expression somehow managed to calm him down.
"How is it you always make me give in to you?" Mario asked with annoyance.
"Because you love me." Pinkie Pie answered, batting her eyelashes.
"That's true." Mario said, rolled his eyes with a smile.
Pinkie Pie merely smiled as she guided Mario back to the Sugarcube Corner while Comet head back to the Golden Oak Library to give his mother an explanation. But the moment he saw the building, the plan was already coming together before she even told him. Pinkie Pie had set up a huge party.
"Welcome, welcome, welcome!" Pinkie Pie greeted to every pony.
All of the ponies in town gathered together for an impromptu party. Mario Star was annoyed that this was the plan, but still he was more than excited to show off his baking skills. To say Pinkie Pie was impressed was an understatement, she even offered him a job as her baking assistant which he only didn't accept because he was too busy doing his chores in Sweet Apple Acres and that would take up too much time.
For now, Mario and Pinkie shared a fun time together making sure everything was ready. Now Mario Star was busily greeting all the rest of the ponies, including his close friends and his godson, as they began to mingle with each other.
"Who's this Gilda I've heard nothin' about?" Applejack asked.
"I hear she's an old friend of Rainbow Dash." Rarity answered. "A gryphon, so rare."
They walked off as Twilight Sparkle spoke with Fluttershy, who was keeping to herself. Comet was there to comfort her as he and she formed a bond with each other.
"You're met Gilda, right?" Twilight asked eagerly. "What's she like?"
"Oh, um, well..." Fluttershy mumbled quietly. "I'll tell you later, Twilight."
Fluttershy clearly didn't want to be there and Mario and Comet couldn't blame her one bit. It surprised them though that she'd even show up. Mario assumed Pinkie Pie had told Fluttershy about their plan and 'possibly' that was the reason why Fluttershy even showed up in the first place. Still, he made sure she was okay, offering a hug just to make her feel better. Soon Fluttershy approaches Pinkie Pie just as she finished greeting all the guests.
"Um, Pinkie Pie, about this party for Gilda." Fluttershy spoke with concern. "Um...do you really think it's a good idea? I mean-"
"Don't you worry your pretty little head about mean old Gilda." Pinkie Pie replied, patting her head. "Your auntie Pinkie Pie's got it all taken care of."
Fluttershy was indignant as Pinkie Pie bounces away.
"I'm a year older than you." Fluttershy remarked.
"Gilda!" Pinkie Pie cried happily.
Fluttershy's jaw dropped when the gryphon in question made her way inside.
"I'm so honored to throw you one of my signature Pinkie Pie gestures." Pinkie Pie continued. "And I really, truly, sincerely hope you feel welcome here amongst all us pony folk."
Pinkie Pie stuck out a hoof to shake her talon. Gilda went to return the gesture...
BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!
Gilda was given the shock of her life as she grunted and collapsed onto the floor. Pinkie Pie and the others laughed.
"Oh Pinkie Pie, the old hoof-shake buzzer." Rainbow Dash chuckled. "You are a scream."
"You can say that again." Mario muttered with an agreement.
"Yeah." Gilda replied, recomposing herself. "Uh, good one, Pinkie Pie."
"Come on G." Rainbow Dash said once Gilda calms down. "I'll introduce you to some of my friends and my godson."
"Right behind you, Dash!" Gilda said, but got confused. "Wait, 'godson'?"
Before Gilda asks, Rainbow Dash was far away, Gilda turned to Pinkie Pie with an icy glare.
"I know what you're up to." Gilda warned her.
"Great." Pinkie Pie said.
The fact Pinkie Pie didn't even cower really made Gilda's blood boil.
"Rrrh...I know what you're planning!" Gilda warned again.
If Gilda hoped to get a reaction from Pinkie Pie, all she gave Gilda were giggles.
"Well, I hope so. This wasn't supposed to be a surprise party."
"I mean, I've got my eye on you." Gilda snarled, shoving her beak into Pinkie Pie's face.
"And I, got my eye on you." Pinkie Pie replied, bulging her eyes into Gilda's.
Before Gilda could respond, Pinkie Pie backed away to speak to the others.
"Everyone, I'd like you all to meet Gilda, a long-time, dear friend of Rainbow Dash. Let's honor her and welcome her to Ponyville."
The ponies cheered for Gilda, who just gave a sheepish, awkward smile.
"Please help yourself." Pinkie Pie said, offered some treats.
As far as Mario's baking skills, he helped Pinkie Pie create treats and he snickered himself as he waited for what was about to happen. Some yellow-colored candies caught Gilda's eyes as she approached the table.
"Vanilla lemon drops." Gilda responded. "Don't mind if I do."
Just as she tossed one into her mouth, her face cringed and turns fiery hot red as the whistle of a hot kettle was heard.
"G, the punch!" Rainbow Dash called out with a smile.
Gilda rushed to grab one of the glasses for a drink, but when she poured, all of the liquid dripped from the middle of the cup and instead of her mouth it spilt all over her feathered chest, causing every pony to laugh.
"Well, whaddya know." Pinkie Pie observed. "Pepper in the vanilla drops, and the punch served in a dribble glass"
"Ha!" Rainbow Dash laughed. "Priceless, priceless!"
"Strange...I don't seem to remember putting peppers in the vanilla lemon drops." Mario remarked, placing his hoof under his chin as he turns to Comet. "Hmm, maybe Comet has something to do with this."
If Mario Star had been expecting something to happen, this certainly wasn't the idea he was aware of. He couldn't figure out how some pony managed to sneak in while guarding the mixture the entire time. But he didn't have time to worry too much as Gilda rushed across the rush, grabbed another cup of punch, and gulped it down exhaling loudly.
"Yeah, hilarious." Gilda muttered aloud.
"Hey G, look! Presents!" Rainbow Dash said as Comet held one of them.
A huge collection of wrapped boxes drew Gila's attention, the gryphon smiled excitedly. Gilda snatched the cyclical box from him and opens the top, causing Twilight and Rainbow Dash to scowl at the gryphon. Just then, dozens of stretchy toy snakes popped out of the box, along with some confetti. Gilda was left stunned, even her feathers puffed out while all the guests laughed.
"Spittin' snakes." Applejack said. "Hah, some pony pulled that prank on me last month."
"Ha, ha." Gilda muttered bitterly. "I bet I know who that was."
"You do?" Pinkie Pie asks innocently.
"Oh, do tell, Gilda?" Mario asks with a smirk.
Whether or not Mario Star had a hoof with the pranks, he enjoyed seeing Gilda get the receiving end of all those pranks.
Apple Shine was the only pony who wasn't having a good time, she's still feeling worried of her family back in Houston as she left the Sugarcube Corner to have some time alone. Applejack noticed the Texan filly left, feeling worried as she followed her.
"Apple Shine." Applejack called her, earned her attention. "Ya alright, sugarcube?"
"Ah wish..." Apple Shine answered sadly, looked away.
"Apple Shine, look at me." Applejack said as Apple Shine looked at her. "What's wrong?"
"Ah haven't heard anythin' from my family and...it's been weeks and Ah don't know what was happenin' to them." Apple Shine told her.
"Yer still worried about yer family?" Applejack asks, earned a nod from her. "It's okay, sugarcube. Ah understand yer worried about yer old family, cuz' you love them very much. Yer old family would understand. They probably would've wanted what's best for you instead of gettin' yourself in danger from the storm. Ah'm sure they would want you to be happy."
Applejack then leaned her head and kissed Apple Shine on the forehead.
"I'll make sure of that." Applejack said.
Apple Shine then nods before she looked down, feeling lost.
"Feeling lost, aren't ya?" Applejack asks, earned a nod from the Texan filly. "Ah'll tell ya what, Ah'll ask Twilight to send a letter to Princess Celestia and see if yer old family is still alive."
"You would do that?" Apple Shine asks, earned a nod from Applejack.
"Everything's goin' to be okay, Apple Shine." Applejack assures her, pulled her in for a hug. "Ah know you missed yer folks. And Ah can promise ya that Ah'll make sure you'll have a good life. And if there's somepony troubling you, make sure ya have good friends with ya to help you out. Both Comet and Apple Bloom really cared about you."
Apple Shine nods, embraced the hug as she wrapped her forelegs around Applejack's chest.
The Mane 5, Mario, and Comet were watching them from inside of the Sugarcube Corner, smiled at the heartwarming sight. Twilight then decided to send a letter to Princess Celestia.
"Spike, I want you to take a letter to Princess Celestia." Twilight said as Spike bring out the paper and quill as he beings to write everything what she said.
Dear Princess Celestia,
For the past few weeks, things have been going fine with Apple Shine. Like Comet, the ponies of Ponyville have accepted Apple Shine as a filly resembles Applejack and have been getting to know her better, especially the Apple family since she helped them in Sweet Apple Acres. And all things considerate, Apple Shine has been a wonderful guest, even if she has a fiery temper.
However, Apple Shine is grown worried about her old family from another world. She was worried if the Tropical Storm Imelda have hit her home called Houston, Texas and if her family was able to survive from the storm. She wanted to know if they're alright. I'll await for your respond.
Your faithful student,
Twilight Sparkle
And with that Spike then blow his green flame on the scroll, sending it to Princess Celestia.
Soon after everything was settled down, Fluttershy had her birds sing as every pony chatted each other. Soon, Pinkie Pie and Chase roll out a rather large cake decked with candles.
"Cake time every pony." Pinkie Pie said. "Hope you like it, cause Mario helped me bake it."
The other ponies gathered excitedly around Mario Star, who felt a surge of pride for his baking abilities. He could only hope the cake tasted alright.
"Hey, can I blow out the candles?" Spike asked, pointing at the top.
"Why don't we let Gilda blow out the candles, Spike?" Twilight suggests. "She is the guest of honor after all."
Gilda body-checked Spike out of the way as the baby dragon grunts from the landing.
"Exactly!" Gilda agreed.
Gilda proceeds to blow out the candles in one try. A big smile formed on her face...before the candles lit them back up. Gilda blew them out again, smiling once more, when the candles lit back up...again. This sent the ponies on a laughing fit, as Gilda grunted trying to blow them out only to fail every time. Seeing Gilda run out of breath made all the ponies laugh even harder.
"Re-lighting birthday candles!" Spike points out, laughing. "I love that prank! What a classic."
"Totally!" Comet and Apple Shine agrees as they made a hoof bump, laughing.
"Now, I wonder who could've done that?" Pinkie Pie asked innocently.
Mario Star chuckled since he knew exactly who was behind this prank.
"Yeah, I wonder." Gilda said with her eyes burning.
"Mmm, who cares?" Spike asked, burrowed into the cake. "This cake is amazing."
"Spike." Twilight scolded.
"What? It's great, try some." Spike said when Comet uses his magic to get him out of the cake.
"Glad you like it, Spike." Mario chuckled. "First time baking for a party."
Gilda just stood there, very agitated, when Rainbow Dash approaches her.
"Hey G, you're not upset about some silly candles, are you?" Rainbow Dash asked.
The look on Gilda's face answered that question, but she managed to recompose herself.
"No way, Dash." Gilda lied. "Like I said, I'm down with a good prank."
"Come on then, let's have some cake." Rainbow Dash beckoned. "I'm curious to see how Mario's cake measures up to Pinkie's."
It got Mario rolled his eyes with annoyance when Comet and Apple Shine tried the cake.
"Hey, it is good." Comet said, eating some cake.
"Sure is." Apple Shine agrees.
"Apple Shine!" Applejack scolded.
"Comet, not you too." Twilight adds.
"Want some?" Comet asked, offered clean pieces of cake with his mother, godmothers, and godfather.
"Aww, Comet, you're so sweet. Thank you." Twilight thanked her son as she and her friends took the slices of cake and ate them.
During the time, Gilda grabbed Pinkie Pie by the neck pulling her behind the cake and out of sight from most ponies. Mario had seen her grab Pinkie Pie, and checked to see if she needed help.
"Hey, I'm watching you." Gilda threatened, making direct eye contact with Pinkie Pie. "Like a hawk."
"Why? Can't you watch me like a gryphon?" Pinkie Pie asked.
Mario groaned and rolled his eyes hearing that.
"Hey y'all!" Applejack called out. "It's 'Pin the Tail on the Pony'!"
Quickly, Gilda released Pinkie Pie and smiled innocently as they pulled away the cake. As Applejack set the poster up and while Gilda was distracted, Mario steps sideways toward Pinkie Pie, turning to her with a glare.
"You are aware she just threatened you, right?" Mario whispered angrily.
"Yeah, but I don't let it bother me." Pinkie Pie smiled. "You really shouldn't let mean words bother you, Mario. You'll be happier that way."
Mario Star was stunned, yet deep down he was impressed.
"Let's play!" Applejack replied.
"Oh, my favorite game." Rarity said. "Can I go first? Can I have the purple tail?"
But Gilda rudely grabbed the purple tail before Rarity could even take it.
"Well, I am the guest of honor, and I'll have the purple tail." Gilda said.
"Yeah, Gilda should definitely go first." Pinkie Pie agreed. "Let's get you blindfold."
"Hey what-ugh-what are you doing?" Gilda asked as Spike tied a blindfold over her eyes.
Before Gilda could react, she was spun around rapidly as she cried out.
"We're spinning you around and around and then you can pin the tail on the pony." Pinkie Pie explains. "Now just walk straight ahead and pin the tail."
"Now just walk straight ahead and pin the tail." Gilda repeated, mockingly. "Hmph, yeah right. This is another prank, isn't it? I'm going this way."
Instead of going ahead, Gilda turned the opposite direction.
"Wait!" Pinkie Pie called out. "The poster is this-"
But it's too late. With Gilda blindfolded, she couldn't see the leftover frosting and stepped on it.
"Whoa whaa waah waah waaaaah!"
Gilda slid about the floor and right into the kitchen with a loud crash, groaning as she came out. The blindfold was now gone, but her feathers were coated in cake batter and frosting. The purple tail now hung around her beak.
"Uh, Gilda?" Pinkie Pie pointed out. "You pinned the tail on the wrong end."
Gilda noticed the purple tail as the ponies laughed. This time however...Gilda have had enough.
ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR!
She let out an enraged scream, knocking both the purple tail and the mess on her feathers cleaned off.
"This is your idea of a good time?!" Gilda barked angrily. "I've never met a lamer bunch of dweebs in all of my life! And Pinkie Pie, you!"
Gilda pointed her talon accusingly toward Pinkie Pie, who smiled innocently.
"You are queen lame-o with our weak little party pranks!" Gilda continued. "Did you really think you could make me lose my cool?!"
"If this is her mellow side, she does have a funny way of showing it." Mario muttered sarcastically.
While Mario didn't believe a word the gryphon said, Gilda wrapped a wing around Rainbow Dash. He could see as Gilda spoke, Rainbow Dash's face changed from shocked to angry. He couldn't blame her, especially considering Gilda was supposed to be one of her best friends.
"Well, Dash and I have ten times as much cool as the rest of you put together." Gilda snarled. "Come on Dash, we're bailing on this pathetic scene. Come on, Rainbow Dash. I said, we're leaving."
Mario was beyond disgusted. It's bad enough that a gryphon insults every pony, but boss Rainbow Dash around...this is low, even for her. One look from Rainbow Dash's eyes toward Mario's, the two ponies finally agreed on something.
"You know Gilda." Rainbow Dash sternly. "I was the one who set up all those weak pranks at this party."
"What?!" Gilda gasped.
"Ooh!" Pinkie Pie gasped quietly.
"What?!" Mario added. "That explains the peppers in the lemon drops."
"So I guess I'm queen lame-o." Rainbow Dash finished.
Gilda stood in disbelief as her friend stood right before Pinkie Pie.
"Come on Dash, you're joshing me." Gilda insisted.
"They weren't all meant for you specifically." Rainbow Dash explains. "It was just dumb luck that you set them all off."
"Plus, you were being mean to all of us." Comet adds with a glare.
"I shoulda known." Pinkie Pie said. "That dribble cup had Rainbow Dash written all over it."
"Pinkie Pie." Mario retorted, rolling his eyes. "We saw her put those candles on the cake."
"Oh yeah..."
"Not to mention those spittin' snakes were next to those presents." Apple Shine adds. "Rainbow Dash just put them there."
"No way!" Gilda protested, refuse to believe it. "I-It was Pinkie Pie! And her little friend over there!"
"You think?" Mario asks sarcastically.
"She set up a party to trip me up, to make a fool of me!" Gilda finished.
"Me?! I threw this party to improve your attitude. I thought a good party might turn that frown upside down." Pinkie Pie told her, prove her point by rotating her head from upright to upside down.
"And we knew how this party end with your bad attitude." Mario added.
"And you sure didn't need any help making a fool of yourself." Rainbow Dash continued as Mario nods with an agreement. "You know, this is not how I thought my old friends would treat my new friends and my godson. If being cool is all you care about, then maybe you should go find some new cool friends someplace else."
Gilda was left speechless for a moment or two.
"Rrgh...yeah? Well, you, you...you are such a flip-flop, cool one minute and lame the next!" Gilda retorted, pointing a talon at Rainbow Dash. "When you decided not to be lame anymore, gimme a call."
"And what gives you the right to insult her?!" Comet shouts with anger. "Rainbow Dash wouldn't be joshing you or anypony because she's the loyal pony we ever meet! And she's way cool than you, you oversized feather-duster!?"
That got the ponies gasped, even Rainbow Dash, Mario Star, and Twilight Sparkle were stunned but impressed that Comet stood up for her, Gilda was now even more angry for being insulted.
"What did you call me, you little twerp?!" Gilda growled, about to use her talon.
"Don't you dare!" Rainbow Dash snarled when she, Mario, and Twilight stood in front of her, protecting Comet. "Don't you even think about laying a claw onto my godson!"
Gilda was then speechless when she met the angry mother, an angry godfather, and an angry godmother.
"I'm warning you Gilda! If you lay one claw on my son, I'll make you regret it!" Twilight warned her with anger.
"And you can forget about being cool because it'll be a biggest regret you'll never forget! Do you understand me, Gilda?!" Rainbow Dash said angrily.
Gilda can tell Rainbow Dash isn't joking, but scoffs it off and then leaves the Sugarcube Corner, took off into the air with a bird of prey shriek. Rainbow Dash then turns to Comet, walks to him.
"You okay, little buddy?" Rainbow Dash asks, earned a nod from him as she rubs his mane. "Thanks for standing up for me."
Comet nods, embracing Rainbow Dash as she hugs him. All the other ponies were just stunned by the gryphon's bad temper and Comet stood up for Rainbow Dash.
"Wow! Talk about a party pooper." Spike said.
"More like a bad egg." Apple Shine states, as Applejack nods with an agreement.
As the ponies began to talk to one another, Rainbow Dash turned to them rather sad.
"I'm sorry, every pony for bringing Gilda here." Rainbow Dash apologizes sadly. "I didn't know how rude she was. And Pinkie Pie and Mario, I'm really sorry she ruined that awesome party you two put on for her."
"Hey, if you want to hang out with party poopers, that's your business." Pinkie Pie said.
"Even if it means we don't go to war with the gryphons." Mario muttered.
"You know, I'd rather hang out with you." Rainbow Dash said, extending her hoof. "No hard feelings?"
"No hard feelings." Pinkie Pie said, returning the shake.
BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!
Apparently, they had tried to prank each other with the hoof-zapper. They revealed then to each other and laughed, as all the other ponies joined in. Twilight Sparkle soon approached them.
"Hey Pinkie." Twilight said. "Sorry I accused you of misjudging Gilda. Looks like I'm the one who misjudged you."
"It's okay, Twilight." Pinkie Pie replied, wrapping a hoof around her. "Even you can't be a super smart smarty smart-pants all the time."
"And Comet." Twilight said to her son. "I'm sorry I doubted you about Gilda, you were right about her. And I'm proud of you for standing up for Rainbow Dash."
Comet nods, accepting her apology as Twilight pulls the colt for a hug, embraced the hug as he wrapped his forelegs around Twilight's chest.
"Well come on, everypony!" Mario called out. "Let's get this party finished, Ponyville style!"
Pinkie Pie bounced up and down excitedly, as Mario Star rejoined the other ponies. Twilight Sparkle just looked on, smiling as every pony cheered and went back to just having fun. Already a letter came to mind of which she and Mario would share for Princess Celestia.
Dear Princess Celestia,
Today, we learned that it's hard to accept when some pony you like wants to spend time with some pony who's not so nice. Though it's impossible to control who your friends hand out with, it is impossible to control your own behavior. Just continue to be a good friend. In the end, the difference between false friend and one who's true will surely come to light.
Your faithful students,
Twilight Sparkle and Mario Star
Later that evening, Princess Celestia was relaxing in her bedroom as she read the letter. As soon as she got to the end, she immediately went to work on a reply.
Dear Twilight Sparkle and Mario Star,
My most faithful students...
Just then, she even noticed her writing disappeared. She turned and realized some pony had placed a fake label on the ink jar. The whole time, she'd been using the disappearing ink by mistake.
"Oh! Heh, wrong ink!" Princess Celestia sighed with a chuckle.
Finding the correct ink, Princess Celestia began to redo the letter to her students.
That's it for the 10th chapter.