S1, E5 everypony! Boast Busters later!
Malibu had managed to recover after their incident that time ago and Applejack had even helped him to walk again. Rainbow also offered to help stretch his wings, which he was most thankful for. It was great to soar in the clouds again with his best friend who had taken him to the clinic before.
"Hey, Mal, watch this!" Rainbow called, doing a flip in mid air. Malibu grinned until Pinkie's voice came. She wouldn't leave Rainbow alone half the time.
"Rainbow Dash!" Pinkie called, looking up and following the duo. Malibu glanced at Rainbow who had a look of annoyance. "Ugh, Pinkie Pie? Not again!" She moaned, zipping away. Malibu raced after her.
"Why not amuse her for a bit, Rainbow?" He asked, but she shook her head no. "Uh, uh, she'll just keep berating me if I do!" She snapped, not looking where she was flying.
"Rainbow Dash!" Pinkie yelled again. Malibu kept to himself this time when Rainbow replied back. "Not now, Pinkie Pie!"
"But Rainbow Dash!"
"We're in the middle of something!" Rainbow shouted back, flying faster. Pinkie ran. "But Rain-!"
"I said, not now!" Malibu suddenly yelped when a mountain came out of nowhere. "Incoming!" He screamed, colliding into his friend and the two rammed into the side, sliding down to the ground, dizzy. Pinkie finally caught up with them.
"I was gonna tell you guys to look out for that mountain," she revealed. Rainbow and Malibu both glanced at each other before Rainbow let a little moan out, Malibu giving her a knowing look.
….
Fortunately the two only had light bruising, and Malibu found himself back in town, strolling along, sightseeing. Pinkie suddenly appeared in front of him.
"Gah! Pinkie, you scared me!" Gasped Malibu, jumping a foot in the air. "Sorry, just asking if you'd seen Rainbow Dash anywhere? I asked about everypony, even Twilight!"
Malibu spotted her lying on a cloud. "I… think she's up there," he stated, Pinkie smiling and calling for her. Rainbow Dash jerked up, seeing it was Malibu who told Pinkie. She gave him a look and he shrugged apologetically. She then flew very fast away, Pinkie casually hopping after her.
Rainbow tried to find the best hiding spots but Pinkie always seemed to be one step ahead of her, until she landed near the water to catch her breath. Malibu had followed her there, too, a somewhat disapproved look on his face.
"What?" Rainbow asked. Malibu shook his head. "No pony should ignore their friends, Rainbow Dash," he said. Dash moaned. "I know but it is Pinkie Pie, she won't leave me alone!"
Pinkie suddenly appeared out of the water. "I have a favor, Rainbow Dash!" Rainbow tried running but Malibu got her tail, pulling her back. "Ugh, fine…" she mumbled, resting her head on her hoof.
"I totally promise it will be totally fun!" The pink earth pony promised enthusiastically. Malibu smirked at her. "Yeah, it could be fun." She covered her eyes. "Ok…"
….
What Pinkie had in mind was something Malibu never heard of before, not even from his mother called Pranks. Pinkie was surprised when he looked confused. "You don't know what a prank is? It is only the funniest thing ever! Well, to the pony doing it anyway. Just follow my lead and you'll see!" Malibu felt a bit unsure but Rainbow gave him a nudge. She got excited when Pinkie mentioned having fun with pranks.
They decided to test Malibu's reaction to pranks on Spike. He was coming out of the hall carrying some scrolls, humming. Pinkie had Rainbow Dash move a cloud in the correct spot at the entrance before he came out. Pinkie then signaled Malibu to hide. Malibu hid with Pinkie as Rainbow Dash kicked the cloud, a thunder boom startling Spike. He yelped, then began to hiccup non stop. Malibu felt a smile come. It was pretty funny.
"Oh, guys! We startled Spike into getting the hiccups!" Pinkie giggled uproariously. Malibu too was snickering a bit. Spike thankfully took it well, laughing with them. "Good one Pi-hic!-nkie Pie! You're always pulling a fa-hic!-ast one on me!"
He spurted fire when hiccuping again, sending off one of the scrolls, yelping from it. Malibu was worried. "Are you hurt? Did you burn yourself?" Spike shook his head. "Nu-hic!-uh. Don't be silly. Dragons are-hic!-fireproof! Hic!"
Pinkie looked relieved. "Oh, good." The trio glanced at each other once then started laughing boisterously once more, Spike accidentally sending off 20 scrolls. "I wish the same thing were true with scrolls." He and Malibu were unaware that Celestia had wound up receiving the scrolls unexpectedly, piling onto her head.
Malibu felt breathless from the laughing when they stopped. "Haven't you ever seen anything more hilarious?" Pinkie giggled. The clone gargoyle shook his head. "That was clever," he stated. But then Rainbow smirked. "I can think of another thing…" she kicked the cloud again. Pinkie yelped minus Malibu. Now Pinkie began to hiccup.
Rainbow was smiling all over. "I didn't take you for a prankster, Pinkie Pie!" Malibu nodded. "Yeah, at first I thought we were gonna make balloon animals or something." For it was true, he didn't expect pranking to be the first thing that came to the party pony.
"Are you k-hic!-idding me? It's all in good fun, and Pin-hic!-kie Pie lo-hic!-oves to have fun! Hic!" Pinkie exclaimed. Rainbow Dash helped her up. "You know, Pinkie Pie? You're not as bad as I thought! You want to hang out with me and Mal?" She asked. Malibu smiled, liking the idea. Pinkie tried replying but hiccuping kept her from it until Malibu stopped her with his magic and his hoof over her mouth.
"A simple nod would do," Malibu said. Pinkie nodded after that.
…
Next Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie introduced Malibu to the joke shop which was full of every prank imaginable. They picked up generic items such as sneezing powder, disappearing ink, joke paint, etc. Oh they were gonna have fun!
Their first target was Rarity; putting sneezing powder in some flowers and leaving it at her doorway. The trio snickered when hiding in some bushes after ringing her doorbell. Rarity looked to see the flowers, sniffing. But then she began to sneeze. Hearing laughter, she spied Rainbow Dash, Malibu, and Pinkie Pie running from the scene of the crime. The sneezing powder suddenly fell on the floor, getting onto Malibu who inhaled then let a big sneeze go. Pinkie grabbed him and took him with her, Rarity smiling at the scene.
Malibu recovered from the sneezing powder before trying their pranks on Twilight; sneaking the invisible ink into her study with his magic. She went to write down an ingredient from her potion making, the ink disappearing. She turned to read it but it was gone. She was shocked, the potion exploding behind her. Twilight frowned, seeing who had pulled one on her, then smiled at seeing Malibu having fun with Rainbow and Pinkie.
"Well, it won't bother me, as long as they're just playing," Twilight said to herself before cleaning up the mess.
After Twilight was Applejack; covering most of her apples in funny paint colors. But she didn't quite react well, throwing apples at the trio when she saw them in art outfits. It had taken a while but it was worth it!
But then Applejack saw the paint run off when an apple landed in a water barrel, making her giggle a little.
Now the threesome were spying on Fluttershy feeding her water animal friends, but didn't see the fake turtle nearby.
Pinkie held the squirting part in her mouth. Malibu wondered who they were pranking next.
"Is someone over there? Who are we gonna squirt? Who are we gonna squirt?" Pinkie asked in a muffled voice. Rainbow snickered. "Fluttershy!" Malibu felt his face fall. Anypony but Flutters!
"No, Rainbow. This is fun but I don't want to prank Fluttershy, you see how sensitive she is," he insisted to the rainbow pegasus. Rainbow then sighed, nodding. "Yeah, Mal, guess you're right. We need another pony who is made of tougher stuff." She glanced up, making Malibu chuckle, for around her right eye was a circle painted around it, courtesy of Pinkie. "So, who is it gonna be?"
Malibu shrugged. "You got me…" he stated playfully. Dash raised her brow while Pinkie Pie giggled. "We got someone in mind! The toughest around!" Rainbow Dash smiled. "Awesome! Who? Do I know them!"
"Take a look, wise guy," chuckled Malibu, pointing at the water. Rainbow glanced in, spotting the mark on her eye. The two wouldn't stop laughing. "Good one, Pinkie and Mal!" She chortled, going to hive hoof Pinkie but kept pulling it away. The trio then laughed again, hugging one another. Another fun day in Ponyville. On the other side of the river Fluttershy saw the fake duck, a confused look on her face.
Malibu and Rainbow said good night to Pinkie Pie and Malibu walked with Rainbow Dash to her home. He looked at her, his cheeks feeling hot again. He had such a good time with her, wishing it would happen again. Rainbow Dash was going to fly to her front door when Malibu thought of something.
"Rainbow, wait, I-I really liked hanging with you today. Perhaps, we can get together again, for lunch or something?" She smiled. "That would be awesome, Mal! I'll look forward to it!" Malibu smiled shyly. "Ok, g-good night," he said, waving. Rainbow nodded when going indoors, and Malibu returned to his bed at Sweet Apple Acres, having dreams that night of flying with Rainbow Dash.
…
Malibu's eyes opened the next day, smiling, and getting up for breakfast. It was his next day with Rainbow Dash! Applejack saw his large smile, flipping pancakes. "You seem in good spirits, Malibu," she commented. He nodded. "Yeah, I get to spend more time with Dash today. But we won't color your apples anymore, promise!" He said to Applejack who gave him a raised brow. She nodded. "Alright, hope ya have fun!"
"I know I will!" Malibu said, eating breakfast quickly, downing his apple juice then leaving as fast as possible.
He met up with Pinkie Pie who wore a pretty ridiculous get up but smiled at seeing her. "Hey, Pinkie! We got some fun stuff planned today, huh?" Pinkie nodded. "For sure! Hope to do some more pranks! You?"
"Want to spend some socializing time with Rainbow again, but maybe we can squeeze in some more pranking. Had to admit, it was more fun than I expected," Malibu said. The two then went to Rainbow's house together, talking about which prank was the most funny yesterday.
They finally got there, Pinkie blowing the party instrument in her mouth. "Rainbow, hi, we're here! Look forward to- huh?" Malibu said, eyes widening a little at a strange creature at her house.
It appeared to look like an eagle, with a tough looking appearance about her. Rainbow finally showed, a smile on her face.
"Morning, guys! Gilda, these are my best pals: Pinkie Pie and Malibu," she introduced. The eagle creature landed, a smirk present. "Hey, what's up?"
Malibu now felt somewhat intimidated by the idea that Rainbow somehow had befriended such a tough looking creature. He had tons of questions. "Guys, this is my griffon friend, Gilda!" Gilda observed the two before her as though she were the tough one. "What's a griffon?" Pinkie asked. "She's half eagle, half lion!" This made Malibu swallow, something half those two predatory creatures sounded dangerous, but Gilda began hoof bumping Rainbow with her taloned fist.
"But-but, why hadn't you told me about her, Rainbow? And how did you two meet?" Rainbow had a bit of a guilty look but still smiled. Gilda's smirk didn't change. "Gilda was my best friend at Jr. Speedster's Flight Camp. Hey, remember the chant?" She asked, not answering Malibu's first question. Gilda huffed. "Cha. They made us recite it every morning. I'll never get that lame thing out of my head!"
Rainbow gave her puppy eyes. "So…?" The griffon moaned. "Only for you, Dash…"
The two of them began to sing their chant:
"Junior Speedsters are our lives,
Sky-bound soars and daring dives
Junior Speedsters, it's our quest,
To someday be the very best!"
Malibu was just silent through it all, but Pinkie just laughed, making Rainbow and Gilda brush off their child behavior in singing it and look cool again. "That was awesome! And it gave me a great idea for a prank! Gilda? You game?"
Gilda just shrugged and smirked. "Huh. Well, I groove on a good prank as much as the next griffon. But Dash, you promised me we'd get a flying session in this morning. But as for you, you're an alicorn, ain't ya?" Malibu nodded, swallowing a little from those fierce orange eagle eyes of hers. "Y-yes," he stuttered. "Cool, suppose. Later!" She took off pretty fast, leaving Malibu feeling upset, and Pinkie.
"Ok, sure no problem! I'll just- Malibu?" She saw Malibu slowly walking away, his ears flattened and a deep frown on his face. Pinkie sighed a little at how sad her friend was, and knew she had to do something to have Rainbow Dash to talk to him and to try and befriend Gilda for herself.
She tried many ways but Gilda kept on trying to lose her even popping her balloons that Pinkie used to fly with, until for a last resort Pinkie brought out her flying contraption. Rainbow smiled at the sight but Gilda had a trick up her sleeve, first convincing Rainbow Dash into performing some tricks, then glaring at Pinkie Pie.
"Hey, Pinkie, C'mere." Pinkie Pie smiled. "Yeah?" The griffon grabbed her contraption. "Don't you even know how to take get lost for an answer? Dash doesn't need a loser like you or that wimp of an alicorn now that I'm around! You're dorking up the sky, Stinkie Pie! So make like a bee, and buzz off!"
She spun the propellers out of control, sending Pinkie crash landing onto the dirt. The pink pony felt dizzy but huffed in anger, going to talk to Twilight about this new old friend of Rainbow Dash.
….
Meanwhile Malibu returned back to Sweet Apple Acres and collapsed onto his bed, staring off into nowhere. Applejack saw this, coming to talk to him.
"Malibu? Ah you alright?" She asked in worry. But Malibu just looked at her in sadness.
"I-I had gone to see Rainbow, to hang with her. But somebody beat me; an older friend she never told me about before. This-this strange and intimidating griffon named Gilda. Don't think that Gilda liked me…" Malibu sniffled. Applejack blinked. She herself never heard of Gilda, either, but put a gentle hood on his back.
"Don't let this other friend get to ya, Malibu. I'm sure you and Dash can still spend time together even with Gilda there. Maybe this is a chance to make a new friend," she suggested. Malibu wiped his eyes, a sudden realization coming. Yeah maybe.
"I suppose, I could try…" Malibu said softly. AJ grinned. "That's the spirit! Go and make a new friend!" Malibu nodded, getting off the bed and going back out once more, hoping he can succeed.
….
Malibu arrived in town, to wait and see if Rainbow and Gilda would show and he can represent himself. But instead he saw Pinkie Pie sipping a milkshake. He went over.
"Hey, Pink, what's happening?" He asked. Pinkie shrugged, sighing. "Nothing, Twilight lectured me into improving my attitude about being nice to Gilda, and I just can't understand that at all, she constantly steals away our friend!"
He sat down with her. "Applejack comforted me about it, saying that maybe we can try and reintroduce ourselves, and maybe give Gilda a warmer welcome." That was when they spotted the two in the sky and quickly hid under the umbrella.
"That was sweet! Ugh, I gotta take care of a few weather jobs around here. Shouldn't take long. Just, uh, hang out in town and I'll come find ya." Rainbow Dash said. Gilda nodded.
"That's cool, I guess. I'm gonna go chow down!" Gilda claimed with a supposedly sweet smile. Rainbow waved. "Later!"
Malibu smiled. This was his chance. As he was about to go see her Pinkie pulled him back. "Wait, maybe we can see what she does with the other ponies first?" She asked. Malibu stared at her in surprise but then nodded, watching Gilda smile mischeviously, eyeing Granny Smith at the tomato stand, sneaking up behind it; then moving her tail in the air to make it look like a snake.
Granny Smith shrieked. "Aaah! A rattler! A rattler! Run for the hills, everypony forsake yourselves!" She began to run rather slowly because of her bad hip. Gilda was about to laugh but the owner of the cart gave her a look. She poked a tomato with her tail, huffing. "This stuff ain't fresh, dude!"
Shock and pity filled Malibu, watching Granny still running slowly. Pinkie was angry. "Aw, poor Granny Smith! She didn't know it was a joke, how mean!" But Malibu decided and figured that it was just a harmless prank Gilda pulled. "Perhaps that was just a funny prank," he suggested to Pinkie, who shrugged. "I guess."
Next Gilda saw an apple cart, taking one and eating it without paying for the fruit. That disturbed Malibu now. He hated thievery, thanks to Maggie's wisdom about the evil of stealing from others. "I can't believe she would steal it!" He snapped. Pinkie this time defended Gilda. "She may give it back! It's just a joke!" Malibu shook his head. "Didn't you see her eat the apple? She had no intention of returning it!" Pinkie's ears fell at this, then the two saw Fluttershy hiding a duck family across the street.
Malibu smiled at the sight until Fluttershy bumped into Gilda. "Hey!" Fluttershy flinched, looking at her.
"Um, please excuse me…"
"I'm walkin' here!"
Fluttershy was scared, backing away. "I-I'm sorry… I just…"
Gilda rolled her eyes. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" She mocked in a rude way. "Why don't you just walk where you're going, doofus?!"
The shy pegasus whimpered, cowering. "B-but I-I…"
The griffon then did a terrible thing; she reared her head, and roared into Fluttershy's face. The ducks were scared off. Tears fell, and Fluttershy ran away, crying. Gilda huffed. "Oh, please! These lame ponies are driving me buggy! I gotta bail!" She left after that.
Malibu's anger felt hot in his chest, hating to see Fluttershy teased and hurt in that way. Best friend of Rainbow Dash, his butt! If this was how she treated Dash's and his new friends then Gilda is no friend of his!
"She's a grump, a thief, and a bully! The meanest kind of mean meanie pants there is!" The teal alicorn nodded. "Yeah. If there is one thing I can't stand it is those picking on shy ponies. I had my fair share of it with Blueblood," he growled. Pinkie nodded. "This calls for extreme measures; Pinkie Pie style!"
Malibu blinked from this. "Uh, with what?" He asked. Pinkie had a smirk. "A party, of course!" The teal alicorn faced hoofed himself in the face. "Dunno if a party will help stand up to Gilda, Pinkie," he muttered. Pinkie petted him on the head.
"Now, don't you worry, I got it all figured out, just be at Sugarcube Corner at 1:30, that's the party hour!" She promised, bouncing away. Malibu was left mystified. "B-b- Pinkie?" He gaped. He shook his head, rubbing it and moaning. "I need another drink," he mumbled. Malibu had one more cup of punch before heading back home. Applejack had asked if he was successful but he just shrugged. "Didn't see Gilda this morning. But Pinkie has a party for later this afternoon," he said.
The orange pony grinned. "Party sounds great! I'll be there!" Malibu smiled weakly before going to rest.
….
All too soon it was party hour, and Pinkie Pie was greeting the guests. Malibu stood with Twilight and Fluttershy, nervous about seeing Gilda here now that he saw her true nature. Twilight looked at her two friends.
"You two met Gilda, right? What is she like?" Malibu flinched, looking away, and Fluttershy's ears fell. "Oh, uh, we'll tell you later, Twilight." Fluttershy said before going to see Pinkie.
"Uh, Pinkie Pie, this party for Gilda, you really think that this is a good idea?" Pinkie did the same thing she did to Malibu earlier to Fluttershy. "Don't worry your pretty little head about mean old Gilda. Your auntie Pinkie Pie's got it all taken care of."
The yellow pegasus narrowed her eyes. "I'm a year older than you," she said. Malibu came to her. "Are you really?" He asked softly. Fluttershy nodded shyly with a smile. Malibu smiled too, chuckling.
That was when Gilda came with Rainbow Dash. Malibu backed up slightly, whilst Pinkie Pie went right up to the griffon. "Gilda! I'm so honored to throw you one of my signature Pinkie Pie parties, and I really, truly, sincerely, hope you feel welcome here amongst all us pony folk."
Gilda, with a bland expression took Pinkie Pie's outstretched hoof, but was zapped. She moaned and fell to the floor. Pinkie and Rainbow laughed. Malibu had a shocked expression, but then couldn't help the little grin come. Despite not having spent any time with Rainbow like he hoped today he always enjoyed hearing her laugh. It made him smile.
Her friend wasn't amused though when Pinkie revealed the hoof buzzer which explained the prank.
"Oh, Pinkie Pie, the old hoof shake buzzer! You are a scream!" Dash giggled. Gilda pulled herself up, chuckling. "Yeah, ha ha. Good one, Pinkie Pie."
But then Rainbow saw Malibu, and her eyes were guilty again, looking down, but quickly changed. "Come on, G! I'll introduce you to some of my other friends," she called. Gilda smiled. "Right behind ya, Dash!"
Malibu approached Rainbow, a frown on his face. Rainbow held her other hoof with her right. "Dash, I really missed seeing you for most of today. Didn't Gilda let you come see me or Pinkie at all?" Rainbow couldn't look at him, heart flushing with guilt while Pinkie introduced Gilda. "I-I she had wanted to spend all day today. But I didn't expect her arrival, she just showed up this morning, and it was so awesome to see her again after so long, our get-together slipped my mind, I'm sorry," she said. The teal alicorn put a hoof on her shoulder. "It's ok, Rainbow. Maybe we can just do the party for today to make up for it."
Rainbow nodded, her smile back, as Gilda in the back found lemon drops. Pinkie grinned. "Please, help yourself!"
"Vanilla lemon drops! Don't mind if I do!" Gilda said, popping one into her mouth. But her face winced, and comical fire burst from her beak. Malibu had jumped at that; the drops must've been spicy for some reason. Gilda panted. "HOT!" She shrieked.
Rainbow was standing at the punch table. "G! The punch!" Gilda obliged, taking a cup and trying to drink but it didn't go into her mouth, a hole in the glass. This made Pinkie and Rainbow laugh. Malibu felt like laughing too from these pranks but wondered who had set them up. Pinkie maybe?
"Well, whaddya know, pepper in the vanilla lemon drops, and the punch served in a dribble glass!" Pinkie giggled.
"Ha! Priceless! Priceless!" Rainbow snickered. Gilda just glared, taking a normal glass and drinking it down. "Yeah, hilarious!" She grumbled. Malibu then decided now could be a good time to talk, despite his anger towards her earlier.
"Uh, Gilda, hi. It's me again. Maybe, we can try saying hello properly again?" The griffon gave him a raised brow, then gave a slight incline of her head. "Fine, whatever," she said. Malibu breathed slowly. Well, first start, I guess, he thought, as they went to the presents. Gilda looked excited when getting one.
She opened it and two fake snakes shot out. This startled Malibu into laughing again, not expecting that, and it was funny! But Gilda had a not amused look.
"Spittin' snakes! Somepony pulled that prank on me last month!" Applejack chortled. Malibu grinned, wishing to have seen that. "Ha ha… I bet I knew who that was!" Mumbled Gilda. Pinkie smiled. "You do?"
Malibu carefully approached. "Hey, it was just some silly fake snakes, Gilda, that's all. Come, let's open the others." This time there weren't any jokes in them.
The rest of the party fared well. Malibu and Gilda thankfully were able to see eye to eye until it was cake time. And about time, too, Malibu was hungry. It was a big cake. Gilda grinned when seeing those candles. Spike jumped up and down.
"Can I blow out the candles?" He begged. Twilight shook her head. "Why don't we let Gilda blow them out first, Spike? She is the guest of honor, after all." Gilda nudged Spike out of the way. Malibu narrowed his eyes but struggled to keep calm. "Exactly!" She blew on the candles. But they relit. Gilda blew on the candles many more times, still not going out, everypony laughing, even Malibu, a hoof over his mouth. Maggie had told him about the relighting candles when talking about parties, which he thought funny.
Spike laughed. "Relighting birthday candles, I love that trick! What a classic!" He proclaimed. Gilda looked ready to explode on the spot. Pinkie grinned. "Now I wonder who could've done that?"
"Yeah, I wonder…" Gilda hissed. Spike suddenly ate his way into the cake. "Mm, who cares? This cake is amazing!" He burst from the top. Malibu stared. "Spike, not sure that's sanitary…" he said. "What? It's great, try some! Just not where I went," he said. Malibu took a piece for himself, enjoying the vanilla cake, unaware of Gilda threatening Pinkie Pie behind it.
"Hey, y'all! It's Pin the Tail On the Pony! Let's play!" Applejack suddenly announced. Malibu's ears pricked up, seeing the poster and the purple tail you use in the game. He remembered playing it his first party in Ponyville, it was fun. Rarity stepped up. "Oh, my favorite game! Can I go first? Can I have the purple tail?" She went to take it but Gilda took it instead.
"Well, I am the guest of honor, and I'll have the purple tail!" Gilda huffed in a cocky tone. Malibu's smile faded at her rudeness at Rarity now. She seemed to accept him better than before but was still rude to the others. Pinkie kept smiling. "Yeah, Gilda should definitely go first! Let's get you blind folded!"
Gilda grunted when having the fold over her eyes. "Hey, what are you doing?" She grunted, being spun around. "We're spinning you around and around and then you can pin the tail on the pony. Now just walk straight ahead and pin the tail."
The griffon rolled her covered eyes. "Now just walk straight ahead and pin the tail! Yeah right! This is another prank, isn't it? I'm going this way!" And with that she walked the wrong direction. Malibu tried to stop her.
"Wait, Gilda, the poster is behind you!" He tried but too late; Gilda slipped, crashing into the kitchen. She came out, a mess, and furious. Pinkie grinned nervously. "Uh, Gilda? You pinned the tail on the wrong end…" she said, with everypony laughing. Malibu winced, bracing for the coming storm.
Gilda let loose a huge griffon roar. "This is your idea of a good time?! I never met a lamer bunch of dweebs in all my life! You, alicorn wimp, are the top exception! You honestly thought I was gonna be your friend? Ha, how lame and pathetic can you be? And Pinkie Pie, you! You are queen lame-o with your weak little party pranks! Did you really think you could make me lose my cool? Well, Dash and I have ten times as much cool as the rest of you put together! Come on Dash, we're bailing on this pathetic scene!"
She went to leave. Malibu was feeling hurt from Gilda's insult at his attempt to befriend her. Rainbow saw his sad expression, her eyes narrowing at now seeing how hurt her best friend was.
"Come on, Rainbow Dash! I said, we're leaving!" Gilda hissed. Rainbow stayed put. "You know what, Gilda? I was the one who set up all those weak pranks at this party!" Malibu couldn't believe it, but a smile now showed. That sneaky Rainbow Dash. He couldn't even feel mad.
"What?!" Gilda gaped in shock. Pinkie ooed at this. Rainbow Dash kept glaring. "So I guess I'm queen lame-o."
"C'mon, Dash, you're joshing me!" Gilda denied. "They weren't all meant for you specifically, it was just dumb luck you set them all off!"
Pinkie nudged Malibu. "We should have known! That dribble cup had Rainbow Dash written all over it!" Malibu chuckled. "Yeah, even I couldn't have come up with that one!"
Gilda stuttered. "N-no way! I-it was Pinkie Pie! She set this party up! To make a fool of me!"
Malibu looked at Pinkie. "Me? I threw this party to improve your attitude. I thought a good party might turn that frown upside down."
So that explained it, Malibu concluded silently, smiling again. He thought Pinkie wanted revenge but she still attempted to make this grumpy griffon smile. That's how sweet she was.
Rainbow thrusted her face near Gilda. "And you sure didn't need any help making a fool of yourself. You know what? This is not how I thought my old friend would treat my new friends, and no pony calls Malibu pathetic, it's a low insult. If being cool is all you care about, maybe you should go find some new cool friends someplace else!"
Gilda's eyes flashed. "Yeah? Well you, you... you are such a, a flip-flop! Cool one minute and lame the next. When you decide not to be lame anymore, gimme a call." With that she slammed the door, taking off.
Rainbow Dash glared after her. "Not cool."
"Wow, talk about a party pooper!" Spike exclaimed, with everypony else talking awkwardly.
Rainbow looked down again. "I'm sorry everypony, for bringing Gilda here. I didn't know how rude she was. And Pinkie Pie, I'm really sorry she ruined that awesome party you put on for her. And for insulting you like that, Mal. No Pony insults my best pals," she said, a hoof on his shoulder. Malibu grinned.
"Hey, if you want to hang out with party poopers, that's your business!" Pinkie said, making the two chuckle. "I'd rather hang with you guys. No hard feelings?" Malibu shook his head.
"No hard feelings!" He and Pinkie said together. Pinkie shook hooves with Rainbow, ending up shocking each other with their own hoof buzzers. Malibu began to laugh, his spirits higher now that he knew his friendship with Rainbow was still in tact. Twilight approached.
"Hey Pinkie. Sorry I accused you of misjudging Gilda. Looks like I'm the one who misjudged you." She apologized. Pinkie shrugged. "It's okay Twilight, even you can't be a super smart smarty smart-pants all the time. Come on everypony, there's still a whole lotta party to finish!"
Everypony cheered, and Rainbow and Malibu shared a wing hug between one another, both smiling softly.
…
Celestia back in Canterlot opened a letter to Twilight, reading inside:
"Dearest Princess Celestia,
Today I learned that it's hard to accept when somepony you like wants to spend time with somepony who's not so nice. Though it's impossible to control who your friends hang out with, it is possible to control your own behavior. Just continue to be a good friend. In the end, the difference between a false friend and one who's true will surely come to light.
Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle."
She folded the letter up again, pulling out the ink and began writing, only for the ink to disappear; courtesy of Malibu who wanted to try a prank on his mother.
"Oh! Wrong ink!" She giggled, pulling out the right one in the end.
Reviews and likes are appreciated for any pony fans out there!