Chapter 24 – Combat in the Round
Twilight found herself in a dim, circular room. Ponies stood all around, staring at her. Octavia and Vinyl, Lyra and Bon Bon, the flower trio, and even the Cake twins all watched her silently.
Right in front of her loomed a huge wooden desk. A big, high-backed chair was behind it, turned away from her so she couldn't see who sat in it. She didn't need to, though. She knew who would be there: the Kingpin.
Blinking to help her eyes adjust, Twilight stood up straight. “Hello, Pinkie.”
The chair swiveled around, revealing Pinkie Pie, sans investigator's hat and with the most deliciously shocked look on her face. “What! How did you know?” She threw her hooves in the air. “You ruined my big reveal!”
Twilight smirked. “It really was pretty obvious all along, in retrospect. Why else would you interfere so much? Who else would choose the Cake twins as leaders?”
Pinkie's hooves fell to the desk, and she glared daggers, spears, needles, and all sorts of pointy, unpleasant objects at Twilight.
“Oh, and the 'investigator's assistant' cap sitting on the table sort of gives it away.” Twilight giggled.
Pinkie's mouth dropped open. Her eyes shot over to the offending hat, but her head didn't move. In one smooth motion, she swiped it into a drawer and spun back around. “Okay, start over!”
“I still know it's you, Pinkie.”
“What?” Pinkie spun back around to face Twilight. “How did you know this time?”
Twilight raised an eyebrow. “Because I still remember from last time?”
“Augh!” Pinkie slammed her face down on the desk. “This is never going to work!” She shook her head. “Whatever. Let's just get on to the next part.”
“Yes, let's do that.” Twilight grinned and called up her magic. Now that she knew everything she needed, she could leave and take it to the authorities. With a flash, she teleported away.
With another flash, she reappeared in the same spot again.
Pinkie cackled ominously. “No no no no no. The next part isn't where you teleport away. This tower is deadlock sealed. The next part is where you join my little organization... or else.”
“Pinkie, there's no possible way I'll ever–”
“You'll take your orders directly from my lieutenants, Pound Cake, and Pumpkin Cake.” Pinkie grinned wide. “We'll be ready for the big time now that we have a princess!”
The other ponies in the tower cheered.
“I'll still never... wait.” Twilight sat back down. If she was the only princess they had, then what was–
A trap door in the floor behind her burst open, sending pieces of wood flying everywhere. Applejack shot up out of the hole, already pulling an apple back in her sling. She let fly.
The fruit streaked across the room faster than sight, catching Daisy in the face. She flew back from the impact, taking the other two flower ponies with her.
Octavia and Vinyl leapt over Twilight, taking a running dive toward the intruder. Each of them kicked back and spun in the air as two more apples found their marks.
Applejack dove to the side, dodging Bon Bon's hoof. She shot another apple as she rolled away, taking down another assailant.
The Cake twins rushed for Twilight, grabbing onto her before she could react.
Applejack stretched her slingshot backward, pointing the apple behind her in the brief moment of silence.
Twilight wondered what her rescuer was doing... until Lyra teleported into place behind Applejack.
Without even looking, Applejack released. The apple flung behind her, and Lyra went down.
“Stop!” Pinkie shouted. She pointed to Twilight. “Put down the slingshot, or my lieutenants are gonna take it out on Twilight!”
Before Applejack could react, Twilight held both twins up in her telekinesis. “These lieutenants? Don't make me laugh.”
The twins giggled, enjoying their ride.
“Aw.” Pinkie sagged down onto the desk. “But I love making ponies laugh!”
Twilight marched up to the desk, still holding up the twins. “The tables have turned, Pinkie. It's time for you to give up and disband this mafia.”
Pinkie looked down at the desk. “Turned? It hasn't moved at all.”
With an extra burst of magic, Twilight spun the desk around. “There. Table turned.”
Pinkie hung her head low. “Aw... okay.” She looked up at her minions, who were just beginning to recover from Applejack's onslaught. “Sorry, guys, but due to new management priorities, we're going to have to make some layoffs and personnel changes around here. Don't worry – your pension plans will remain in effect.”
“Good.” Twilight lowered the two foals to the ground.
“So, Twilight–” Pinkie hopped up over the desk “–what game should we play next?”
“Pinkie, I've had just about enough of your–”
The wall of the tower exploded in dark blue light, and Princess Luna flew in, flanked by two of her bat pony guards. “Aha! The justice has been doubled!” She glanced around the room, then paused and took a longer look.
“Sorry, Princess Luna,” Twilight said, “we've already handled this one.”
Luna fell down to the floor and crossed her hooves in front of her chest. “Fie upon it! I had been investigating this for weeks!” Her expression grew pained. “Why does Twilight Sparkle always get to be the one who saves the day?”
“So...” Pinkie glanced around. “How about a 'time for Luna to get a chance' party?”
Vinyl Scratch groaned and picked herself up off the floor. “I'll bring the wubs!”
The End