Prickle didn't ask to become so strong, but it just happened. Now, as a growing foal, she's mightier than many grown stallions. What's an earth-filly to do? She tries her best to move forward and not draw attention to her supernatural strength.
Prickle didn't ask to become so strong, but it just happened. Now, as a growing foal, she's mightier than many grown stallions. What's an earth-filly to do? She tries her best to move forward and not draw attention to her supernatural strength.
Junebug, a pony with chartreuse fur and two-toned mane, gently brushed her daughter's mane. "All set?"
Prickle bobbed her head. "Yes, mom." She pointed back at a saddlebag that hung from her sides. "Lunch is packed, homework is done!"
June smiled. "I'll be at work, but you know how to find me."
Prickle brushed her mother's hoof away, or tried. The light contact sent June's hoof flying and her mother spun with the force. Prickle went a bright red. "I'm sorry!"
June set her hoof down and shook the dizziness from herself. "It's... alright. Just... be careful. You don't want the other foals to say unkind things."
They kissed and hugged, carefully, before they both took off to their daily tasks.
Prickle trotted along energetically until she saw a filly that made her nervous. She cringed and shied away, even if the filly had been nominally forgiven for her past misdeeds.
"Well look who we have here," came Diamond's voice. "The strongest filly in all of Ponyville."
Prickle felt heat growing in her cheeks. Was Diamond making fun of her again? "H-hello, Diamond."
Her constant companion, Silver Spoon, was there. "Don't look so down, Prickle. I hear there's an event today that you should do really well in."
Diamond bobbed her head in agreement. "The colts are having a pee wee weight lifting contest. I bet you'll win without even trying."
Prickle couldn't exactly tell if Diamond was goading her or not. "I'm not a colt," she decided to reply with.
Silver Spoon was on her, brushing on her side. "You have the strength of one--"
"Make that ten," corrected Diamond, coming from the other side. "You could beat them all, combined."
Prickle shook her head quickly, hopping away from the two. "I don' wanna! I'm happy being a regular filly."
Diamond pointed at her. "But... you're not."
Prickle bit her bottom lip before she ran away, fighting the tears she didn't want to be seen shedding.
Diamond shrugged softly. "It's true, isn't it?"
Silver Spoon shrugged in kind. "If I was that strong, I'd show it off to the whole world!"
Diamond laughed softly. "That isn't happening. Come on, let's get to class." The two trotted off together, comfortable with their lots in life.
Prickle bumped right into a pony, not watching where she was going. The poor pony she crashed into was sent right off their hooves and slid on the ground. "Sorry!" she squeaked, rushing to make sure they were alright.
Apple Bloom sat up, head spinning. "S'alright!" Her eyes focused and she smiled. "Oh, hey Prickle. Where'r ya off to in sucha rush? Are we late for class?"
Prickle smiled with relief, both to see Apple was alright, and didn't seem to hold their collision against her at all. "Not yet." She glanced away and back. "Is it true, are they doing a weight-lifting contest?"
"Yeah!" Apple Bloom bounced to her hooves, a bright smile on her face. "Cheerilee's gonna get all the foals together. There'll be a filly and a colt division. Ah'm gonna try mah best. Apples are known for bein' tough!" She flexed a foreleg, showing off her impressive lack of obvious muscles. "Ah'm gonna buck me some apples someday, ya know?"
Prickle perked an ear up. "Oh, it's not just for colts?"
"Who said that?" Apple Bloom cocked a brow. "Nah, just two divisions t' keep it fair. Yer gonna enter, right? Yer sure to win!"
Prickle felt heat gathering quickly. "I'm not sure I want to..."
"Hey!" Scootaloo was rapidly approaching the two. "Morning, Apple Bloom, Prickle Berry. What's up?"
Apple Bloom thrust a hoof at Prickle. "She ain't sure she wants t' do the weight lifting."
Scootaloo blinked softly. "Are you strong?"
"Is she strong?!" Apple Bloom laughed at the very question. "She just sent me flying and she wasn't even tryin'."
Scootaloo grinned. "Then you should totally try! You owe it to yourself to always try your best. If you have a talent, you should put it to work."
Apple Bloom blinked softly. "That was poignant."
Sweetie Belle suddenly popped up out of a bush and hopped free. "Have you been reading my dictionary again?"
It was too much for Prickle. "I'll see you all at school." She gave a quick smile and dashed off towards the relative safety of the classroom.
Cheerilee was there, greeting the students as they came in. She sat behind her desk, organizing some papers. "Good morning, Prickle Berry."
"Good Morning, Miss Cheerilee," she replied, giving the teacher a genuine smile. She liked Cheerilee and her class. She rarely had to be shamed for her strength while she was learning.
Leaving her saddlebags in the proper place, she moved for her desk and carefully slid into place. Soon the class was filled with many foals and colts, and Cheerilee launched into the day's lesson.
As fit her usual teaching style, she was going over the activity they were about to do. She gave advice and tips on how to lift things without straining one's back, how to get a good grip, and, "Most importantly, know your limit. If you can't pick something up, don't force it. It's alright to go to a lighter weight. Today, we'll be having a guest instructor."
"YEAH!" exclaimed the beefy pony as he burst through the door. "We're gonna practice our other brain!"
Cheerilee rolled her eyes. "I think they'll still be using the same brain, Bulk. Say hello to Bulk Biceps, children. He'll be helping you all have a good time."
"Hello Bulk Biceps," said the classroom together, even as Prickle glanced around nervously.
The class began to rise and follow the enthusiastic stallion, but Prickles detoured to Cheerilee's side. "Could I be excused, please?"
Cheerilee blinked down at her. "Are you feeling bad?" She reached a hoof to place on Prickle's forehead. "You don't feel warm..." Honed from years of practice, Cheerilee was not swift to accept casual claims of illness. "What's wrong?"
Prickle swallowed audibly. She knew her secret was safe from Cheerilee, so far. "I..." She had to think fast, and racked her brain for an answer. "I have to go help my mother!"
Cheerilee was less than impressed with the answer. "Your mother didn't tell me to excuse you for that, Prickle Berry. Please join the other students." She pointed out to the yard, then lightly swatted Prickle on the bottom. She walked along, letting Prickle go just a little ahead of her to keep an eye on the filly. "There's nothing to be scared of. This isn't a contest, promise."
Outside, there were all manners of weights, from the tiniest weighted ball to a full bench with a bar that had a collection of massive weights laying beside it. Bulk was cheering on Pipsqueak as he struggled to lift a weight that had '2 lb' written on it. When the colt finally hefted it over his head, the others clopped and cheered for him. Pipsqueak looked quite happy, until he tipped over with it and thumped to the ground.
"Yeah! You did good." Bulk gave him a pat on the back, then pointed to Snails. "Next!"
Cheerilee gathered up the fillies. "I'll be leading the rest of the class. We'll show those colts we mares can pull our weight, hmm?" She was smiling gently at the lot of them. "Let's start with the smaller weights." She pointed to the small barbells.
The Ponies grabbed them up with hoof and mouth and began playing with them. Prickle approached the smallest little ball that Pipsqueak had struggled with and make a great grunt of effort. She was faking, of course, and made all manner of heaving noises as she got it a few inches up. "Phew, that's hard," she declared, letting it come back to the ground.
A sudden crash brought all eyes to the bench, where Sweetie was flailing. The weight bar was down on her neck, and it was loaded with more weights than any pony should have even contemplated. Left as it was, it could hurt Sweetie terribly. It was a miracle that it hadn't already.
Prickle felt a wave of tingles go down her spine in utter dread. Someone had to rescue her, and Bulk Biceps was across the yard, helping Snips struggle with their own weights. Every second counted. Prickle didn't think, she ran. She galloped with all her might to the desperately wheezing unicorn.
She thrust out a hoof and scooped up the impressively weighted bar. Prickle lifted it up high over her head as if it were nothing. "Are you alright?!"
Sweetie fell off the bench, choking for air, crying, but breathing.
The other ponies in the area were too busy staring at Prickle and the titanic weight she bore without effort.
The adrenaline wore off and Prickle realized where she was, what she was doing, and why everypony was gaping at her. She dropped the weight like it was on fire. It crashed into the ground with such force that the weights sank into the earth on either side, only stopping when the bar itself hit the ground.
Her face was on fire. Her heart was beating violently in her chest. She was being stared at. She was a freak. Everypony hated her!
She burst into fresh tears and ran away, deaf to the shouts and cries of those behind her.
She kept running until she didn't hear anyone anymore. She ducked behind a building, curled in a ball, and wept. Her secret that she thought would be ruined by Diamond Tiara some day was instead ruined all by herself. She had messed it all up! She'd never be welcomed at school again!
"Prickle?" It was Scootaloo. "Prickle?" She turned the corner and found Prickle there. "Prickle! There you are!"
Prickle sat up quickly and wiped her eyes. "Here to c-chase me away?"
Scootaloo blinked dumbly. "What? No! I'm here to say thanks. You saved Sweetie! I mean, she shouldn't have taken that bet, but you saved her! You're a hero!"
A hero? "What?" Prickle flopped backwards, confused. "You're not... scared?"
"Scared?" Scootaloo tilted her head, confusion written on her face. "That was almost the awesomest thing I ever saw! I mean, you were no Rainbow Dash, but who can be besides her?" She flashed a big grin, excitement overtaking other emotions. "How'dja do that?!"
Prickle ventured the smallest smile. "I'm just... weird..."
"Weird in an awesome way!" gushed Scootaloo.
"Prickle!" came a distant calling voice.
"She's over here!" replied Scootaloo in a shout. "That's Apple Bloom, she wants to say thanks too. Sweetie's our best friend ever. We couldn't be the Cutie Mark Crusaders without her."
"Ya found her?" Apple Bloom galloped up to join the meeting. "Hey Prickle! Why'dja run off like that?"
There was no time to address her directly, as other ponies began to gather, including Cheerilee.
The teacher pushed past the others and reached out a hoof to Prickle. "Prickle Berry, please don't do that again. Are you alright?"
Prickle felt the tears building in her eyes again. They were all there, whispering about her freakish nature. "I'm sorry..."
"It's alright. Let's get back to school, alright?"
Prickle felt a moment of confusion. Did Cheerilee not know about what happened? "Is Sweetie Belle alright?"
Cheerilee nodded. "I'm told you're to thank for that. What weights was she playing with? The only bar in the area had far too many weights for any foal to lift."
She hadn't heard! Prickle jumped for the chance. "I threw the bar away. I'm sorry!"
Cheerilee smiled gently. "We'll gather all the equipment up, but please, be careful. You could hurt somepony if you throw things.
The teacher led all the foals away. As they returned to the schoolyard, Scootaloo moved in close to Prickle. "You fibbed."
Prickle had, but there was one excuse available. "If she heard how many weights Sweetie Belle was playing with, she'd get in big trouble."
Apple Bloom's eyes widened. "Good thinkin'! Thanks again."
Prickle tried to hurry home as soon as Cheerilee allowed them to go, but there was a smiling Apple Bloom to stop her. "Hey! Are ya busy?"
Prickle glanced left and right. "I should make sure my mom knows where I am..."
Sweetie popped up beside Prickle. "Scootaloo's already going to tell her you're with us."
Prickle blinked softly. They were the Cutie Mark Crusaders. When they got their eye on something, it was practically impossible to shake them. She pointed at her saddlebag before she moved towards it. "Let me get my things." They didn't stop her as she got it on. "Where are we going?"
Apple Bloom grinned just a little too wide. "That there's a secret, but ya'll find out when ya come wit' us. It'll be fun, promise!"
"Yeah!" gushed Sweetie Belle, clopping her white hooves before the two of them started trotting away.
Prickle followed after them, a little resigned. "Are you gonna make fun of me?" That would be something the old Diamond Tiara would have done without hesitation.
Sweetie looked over her shoulder. "What? No! That'd be just... incorrigible!" She slowed down to let Prickle catch up and threw a leg over her neck. It was quite surprising that when she tried to pull Prickle closer, she was the one that ended up being pulled right off her hooves and hanging there as Prickle walked along, entirely unfazed by the weight.
Apple Bloom quickly noticed her friend being carried along with a shocked expression on her face and giggled at the sight. "Yer amazin', Prickle. Why would anypony make fun of ya fer that?"
Prickle's ears dipped a moment. She wasn't used to ponies being so friendly. Sweetie was even hanging off of her. Were they trying to be... nice? "Aren't you... disgusted? I'm a big terrible freak!" She shouted the words far louder than she intended and went red in the face as she came to a stop.
Taking advantage of the stop, Sweetie let go and flopped to the ground before rolling back upright. "You're a hero!"
"A super hero," added Apple Bloom, her brows waggling suggestively. "Just like in tha comics!"
Prickle had not read many comics, and puzzlement was written clear on her face. "So... you don't think it's icky?"
Apple Bloom waved the way forward. "C'mon! We got lots t'talk about."
Soon they approached the Apple Farm, and the clubhouse of the Crusaders. Prickle looked up at it with a concerned expression. "I'm allowed inside?"
Sweetie Belle threw her hooves wide, sitting on her haunches. "You saved me! Of course you're allowed inside."
Prickle moved for the stairs and put a hoof on it. She pressed down to test it and her hoof burst right through the wood as if it were wet paper, wood splinters flying in a light spray around her. "Sorry..."
Scootaloo peeked over the edge from the top of the stairs. "What was that? Oh, hey girls! Hey Prickle! Come on up!"
Apple Bloom gave an encouraging smile. "Let's try that again, gently this time, please."
Prickle took a slow breath that she held in, her chest bulging with air as she set her hoof back down as gently as she could. Step by tortuous step she ascended the ramp, trembling with the abject terror that she might cause more harm. Only when she brought up the last hoof to the platform above did she let it out with a loud sigh. "Made it."
The others came up behind her much more swiftly. Sweetie was glancing down at the neat hoof-shaped hole that had been made in their ramp. "You really are strong. I mean, not that I doubted you." She raised a hoof to her neck where she had felt the immense weight Prickle had so effortlessly hefted. "We had a question for you."
Prickle winced. She tried to prepare herself for the moment when they'd tell her just how much of a freak she was.
Scootaloo pointed at Prickle's flanks. "What does your cutie mark mean?"
All three of them were looking at Prickle, making her squirm self-consciously. She glanced back at the hedgehog that graced her pelt. Why would anypony ask that question, out of the blue? Then she remembered that she was dealing with the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Of course they would ask, if anyone would. "I... got it saving a little hedgehog." She smiled at the memory. "He was trapped under a huge log. That was a very scary day."
"Go on," encouraged Apple Bloom, ushering all the fillies into the club house and arranging a pillow for Prickle to sit on. "We wanna hear all about it!"
So Prickle told them.
I was out walking in the forest. Not the Everfree! Mother taught me better than that. It was nice and sunny where the sun could get through all the leaves and there was a nice little breeze. I was having fun exploring.
I should have been paying more attention where I was going, because I wandered right off the usual path to a dark part of the forest. There were trees knocked over here and there, but not enough to let the sun in. I stepped carefully around and over them and then I heard him.
He was squeaking and crying, and I rushed towards the sound. The noises were coming from under a log, so I just... picked it up. It wasn't that heavy, not for me, but there was a little hedgehog underneath. He had been pinned between the log and the boulder underneath. He squeaked. I couldn't speak hedgehog, but he seemed very happy to not be being squeezed by that log.
The wood must have been old, since as I held it up, it broke in half and the two pieces fell on either side of me with a crash, but I heard something else.
The hedgehog curled into a little ball. He was scared, and so was I, but I wasn't gonna let someone else hurt my new little friend. I turned in place, looking for the source of the faint scratching sounds, and then I found it!
This great big monster rushed at me right out of the dark! I screamed, I was so scared! I turned away and bucked out a hoof, bam! I hit it right between the eyes.
It fell over, its tongue hanging out, knocked dizzy. I felt a little tingle and there it was. That hedgehog was right there on my flank. I wished him, the real one, good luck, and we left each other.
Scootaloo shook her head slowly. "You just... kicked it?"
Prickle bobbed her head. "As hard as I could!"
Sweetie paled a little at the thought. "Wow..."
Apple Bloom was all smiles. "See! That proves it. You're a super hero." She pointed to the hedgehog mark. "Your mark. You got it for your first rescue. That goes an' proves th' whole thin'."
Prickle rubbed a cheek with a hoof. "I'm no hero..."
Sweetie burst into giggles. "Lots of heroes say that."
"Those are the best ones," agreed Scootaloo. "You saved Sweetie Belle, so it's our job to help you out."
"I need help?" Prickle tilted her head faintly.
"Sure ya do." Apple Bloom nodded slowly. "Ya have to realize yer potential, and we're here to make that happen!" She thrust a hoof out and was quickly met by the other two. She looked to Prickle, smiling and waiting.
Prickle was slow on the uptake before she started. "Oh!" She thrust forward her hoof with a terrific clop as they all collided. The other three fillies were sent sprawling. "Sorry..."
Sweetie clambered up to her hooves again. "It's alright." An idea leaped into her head. "Let other people do the touching."
"What?"
"Put out your hoof."
Prickle looked at her right forehoof before she extended it forward.
Sweetie quickly put out her hoof to meet it with a gentle clop. "See? You just let other ponies do the moving and no problem."
Apple Bloom and Scootaloo were quick to join in the safer meeting of hooves. Scootaloo smiled at their newest friend. "There're so many things we have to do!"
"Like what?" Prickle pulled back her hoof and set it down. "I mean, thank you, all of you." She dipped her head a little. "I've never been part of a club before."
Apple Bloom tilted her head. "Yer not technically in the Crusaders. Yer a client, and one we're lookin' forward ta helpin'. Yer also a friend, I hope?"
Prickle's smile grew just a little. "I'd like that." She glanced back towards the door. "You're really not mad... about the hole?"
Apple Bloom thumped her chest. "Ya just leave that t'me. Ah'll have it fixed in no time. Jus' haveta get some wood."
Scootaloo bobbed her head. "She's great at fixing things, and making potions too. We all have our talents, and we're not going to give up until you're doing yours and having a good time at it."
Sweetie Belle pointed past Prickle before she moved past and threw open the door. "There are tons of ponies out there that could use a strong hoof just like yours. They desperately need your help, but they don't know it, yet."
Scootaloo seemed to get an idea suddenly. "Hey, now that we're official, have you tried showing what you can do to Bulk Biceps? He'd probably pass out."
Prickle paled faintly. That sounded like just about the worst thing. "No! I... Can we keep this a secret? I don't want to scare ponies."
A sudden huge grin spread over Sweetie's face. "I know precisely what you need. For today, you should head home and relax. We'll call you back when we're ready."
The other two were clearly unsure what idea had come to Sweetie Belle, but they supported her in wishing Prickle a great day and promising to see her the next, at school.
Prickle decided not to take the stairs, scared of hurting them again. She went down just enough to get to the edge, then casually tipped right over and flopped to the ground with a resounding thud from the impact. She was unharmed and soon back on her hooves. "See you all tomorrow!" They all shared waves, and she began her hike home.
She had friends. Those weren't her first friends, no, but they knew she was strong, and didn't seem to mind. She was still a freak, but... "It's alright," she said to herself as she trotted. She would just have to be extra careful not to hurt her new friends, especially since they seemed quite intent on making her act strong.
Prickle hoped it wouldn't be anywhere public. "Regular ponies just aren't this strong..." She had plenty to compare against. Even Bulk Biceps, the pony who's very destiny it was to pick up heavy things... At least he looked like he should be strong, but she had seen him struggling later in the day moving the same bar she had wrenched off of Sweetie Belle.
It was the start of something, maybe something amazing. It was definitely a little scary.
The next day, after school, Prickle moved to trot on her way only for Sweetie Belle to be there in front of her. Prickle blinked. "Hello." She wasn't sad to see Sweetie. They were friends, after all. Still, it confused her a little. "What's going on?"
Sweetie clopped her forehooves loudly. "Our surprise is ready!" She leaned in close. "My sister went all out. You're going to be so amazed!"
Sweetie's sister? Prickle frowned faintly with thought. "The clothes maker?" What on Equestria could Sweetie have that Rarity, famous fashion designer, could have made? She colored faintly. "Did you get me a dress?"
"Close, but no. This way!" She waved eagerly and trotted to the door. "C'mon!" And out she bounced, eager to show Prickle forward.
Prickle trotted after the white unicorn, ears pricked with curiosity. "Is it clothing?"
"You're getting warmer," sang out Sweetie Belle in a musical tone. "This way." She led on unerringly to Rarity's boutique. "Rarity's really proud of it, so we'll show her it after you try it."
She was going to model? The very idea made her shiver softly in renewed dread. "I'm not that pretty."
"You're going to be even better than pretty." Sweetie opened the door with her magic and circled around Prickle. She tried to nudge Prickle in, but no force Sweetie could muster had a chance of moving Prickle against her will. "Don't be scared. You'll like it, I absolutely promise."
"You're sure?" Prickle looked over her shoulder at Sweetie before venturing forward, stepping into the boutique carefully. Her eyes gravitated to the displays of fake ponies wearing very real dresses. "They look nice." She smiled a little. "None of them would fit me though. They're made for mares and we're just fillies."
"Oh don't be ridiculous," came a new voice as a larger white unicorn approached, Rarity. "I make delightful coverings to bring out the springtime charms of foals all the time. Well, maybe not quite as often as grown ponies, but you're far from the first."
Prickle gave a nervous smile. Her mother had taught her to always be polite around grownups and she didn't plan to be a bad filly. "Hello, Miss Rarity." She dipped her head a little before bobbing back up. "Sweetie Belle said you made something for me? You didn't have to, but thank you very much."
Rarity tittered gently. "It's no trouble at all. Once Sweetie Belle told me what it was, I was consumed with the need to see it through to reality. Imagine... It could become its own line, and then I would owe you, dear."
Sweetie bounced past Prickle. "This way!" She led the way to a small changing booth and waved them in. Once Prickle was inside, Sweetie followed her in with a piece of cloth floating beside her. "This will only require a moment." The cloth suddenly folded around Prickle's head, blinding her. "Mustn't ruin the surprise."
Prickle squeaked in surprise and looked around ineffectively.
"No peeking," admonished Sweetie. "Now just relax and we'll have you properly attired in no time."
Prickle could feel her hooves being lifted up one by one. She could feel something being slipped over her. Whatever it was, it clung tight to her fur and felt very smooth. Of course, if she wanted to resist, she probably could. She could use her freakish strength and ruin the whole thing! She didn't want to do that though and tried to be as limp as possible as magic moved her around and did whatever it was doing.
She felt her hooves touch the ground and raised a hoof towards her eyes. "All done?" She felt that smooth material there besides the cloth that was blinding her.
Rarity's voice came confidently. "Oh, yes, behold! I'm sure you'll love it." With a tug of magic, the cloth was whisked away.
Prickle was facing a mirror, but the pony in it she didn't recognize as easily. They were wearing clingy spandex-like material from their ears down to their tail, where it became a shroud of sorts. She could see none of her usual colors besides her eyes that stared back at her with shock.
Her outfit was brown with reddish-orange lines that ran across it, seemingly outlining where her muscles were beneath it. She took a slow step away from the mirror, blinking her masked eyes. "W-what is this?!"
Sweetie clopped her hooves animatedly. "It's your super hero costume! Now you can save ponies without them even knowing who you are. You'll have a secret identity."
Rarity gave a light nod. "Do enjoy yourself, dear." She leaned in as Sweetie was bouncing around with excitement. "Don't get into any real trouble, darling. This is just for pretend, right?"
Prickle quickly nodded. She was not a super hero, and she was quite certain of that. "Thank you... Miss Rarity." She wasn't sure how thankful she felt, glancing at herself in the many mirrors available in the boutique.
"We have to show the others!" gushed Sweetie. "They're gonna love it!" She suddenly hopped and landed right on Prickle's back. "How do you like it?"
Prickle could bear Sweetie's weight easily, but not so much the pressure she felt in her chest. She glanced towards Rarity, then started to walk for the door without replying to Sweetie. She just carried the smaller unicorn along as if she were nothing at all until they made it outside.
Once outside, Prickle burst into a gallop. Sweetie cried in alarm and fell down. She barely had time to grab Prickle around the neck to avoid sliding off the fleeing filly. "Hold on! Stop!" Prickle ignored the words and kept on running until they were at the edge of town.
Sweetie thumped to the ground once they were stopped, panting for breath. "We have to stop doing that... Why'd you run off?" She rolled up to her haunches. "Is something wrong?"
Prickle trembled with a combination of fury and confusion. "This... You... I look like even more of a freak!" The last word was a frantic shout. She covered her eyes with her hooves. "You even made my super weird parts stand out more!"
Sweetie blinked vacantly, lost a moment. "But... you're not weird. You're super... amazing. You're extra special, in a good way." She gave a faint smile. "Don't you wanna try, even a little? If you don't like it, you can put it away and we'll stop bothering you, promise. But! You have to try, honestly try."
Prickle pushed Sweetie. She had meant for it to be a nudge, but Sweetie was knocked flat on her back, breath knocked clear of her. Prickle was too upset to really notice. "What do you want me to try?! Show off to the world how freaky and disgusting I am?" She took a loud step forward, her hoof thudding on the ground. "I'm not a hero, I'm a monster!"
Sweetie felt tears in her eyes, both from the sudden blow and the urge to agree with those equally painful words. "Y-you're not a monster!" She rolled up to her hooves, facing Prickle. "You're not!"
Prickle glared at Sweetie a moment in fury before it all blew out of her. She sank to the ground, sniffling. "I don't want to be, but I am!" She pointed at Sweetie. "Look, I bruised you and I wasn't even trying. I'm no hero."
Sweetie resisted glancing at the sore spot on her chest. "It's alright, Prickle. I'm not mad. We just have to take this one step at a time." She gave a hopeful smile. "While you're in that suit, you don't have to be Prickle. You can be a hero." She sat down slowly on her haunches. "No one has to know who did it, but you can do good things, I promise."
Prickle closed her blue eyes and took a slow breath. The breakdown was passing, slowly. "You're crazy."
Sweetie cracked a queer smile. "I get told that more often than you think. Still, I believe this. I believe in you, Prickle." She approached the powerful filly and put a leg over her. It was quiet, but no more words were needed that moment as the hug was given and received.
Prickle sat up and opened her eyes. "Thanks... Do you... really think this... even has a chance?" She looked down at her smoothly-clad form. "If I'm not Prickle Berry, who am I?"
Sweetie flashed a bright grin. "You need a superhero name!"
"They have names?"
"Of course!" Sweetie hopped up to her hooves. "The Dark Prick!"
Prickle waved that suggestion away where it belonged. "That sounds terrible."
"Titan Filly!"
Prickle shook her head.
"The Masked Smasher!"
Prickle was getting the general idea. "The Irresistible Force."
Sweetie's expression brightened. "Nice! Oh, what about One Kick Mare? Like when you beat up that monster."
Prickle frowned a little. "That feels... taken."
Sweetie tapped her chin. "Miss Buck."
Prickle giggled at that. "That sounds funny."
Sweetie nodded quickly. "There's nothing wrong with that. Do you like it?"
Prickle considered deeply over what name would be the last part of her mask. Her hopes were low, but she still had some. Perhaps things would pick up...
Tiny Titan surveyed the town she called home. Ponyville. A land of good ponies, mostly. But was any place truly safe from the evil of the world?
Prickle glanced to the right where Scootaloo was playing the narrator. "Do you have to say all that? I'm just looking around." She took a little breath and frowned. "I can't see much of the town from here."
Sweetie bounced up and down. "You're super strong, right?"
"Yeah?" said Prickle nervously. "Why?"
Sweetie tapped a hoof on the ground. "Ever try jumping really high?"
Prickle gave a slow blink. "No?"
Apple Bloom rolled her eyes even as she grinned. "Well, now sounds like a mighty time t'do that. Go on!"
Prickle looked down at each of her costumed hooves a moment before she hunkered down. "Alright... Here goes!" She pressed against the world, and it moved. She was suddenly in the air, soaring, and screaming. She could see buildings rushing past her as the wind roared in her ears. The world and sky seemed to be spinning madly and completely out of control, or was it she that was spinning? She couldn't tell. She could only scream and flail, hoping the ride would end soon.
Her shrill wail echoed through the town as she hurtled across it. She came down with a terrific splash as she impacted on the water of the fountain. Her last scream became a gurgling choking of water as she bobbed to the surface, drenched, coughing, but intact.
The crusaders galloped like crazy to catch up with their heroic friend. Scootaloo was cheering wildly. "Woohoo! Look at you! Now that's some superheroics!"
Prickle pulled herself from the water, coughing up some water. "I don't feel heroic..." With the help of her friends, she flopped out of the water and began shaking herself dry. Despite the setback, she gave a nervous smile. "I have to practice."
Apple Bloom poked her in the side. "Now that's some winnin' spirit! Glad t'hear ya ain't givin' up so quick. That was downright amazin' what you just did!"
There were other ponies watching, staring more like.
One of them was very familiar to Prickle. Her mother, Junebug, approached. "Little filly, you really shouldn't do... whatever you just did. What did you just do?"
Prickle tensed a moment, horrified. Her eyes darted wildly until a friendly voice spoke.
"She's practicing to be a superhero," said Sweetie Belle in her place.
"Well her mother must be worried about her," chastised Junebug. "You shouldn't be playing pretend like that."
Prickle spoke, lowering her voice a little to mask it. "My name's... Tiny Titan, and I'm here to help protect Ponyville."
Junebug shook her head a little. "Well... Tiny Titan..." It was clear she didn't believe that was Prickle's true name, doubt dripping from every syllable. "You be careful. You're still a filly, after all, superhero or not." She turned away then, seeming to not see through Prickle's disguise. "Foals these days." She ambled off with a final roll of her eyes, likely glad that she had raised a sensible filly that would never do such a thing.
Prickle watched her go with wide eyes, trembling faintly. Once her mother was out of sight, she spun on the crusaders. "She didn't know who I was!"
Sweetie grinned broadly. "See, just like I told you. Your disguise is... kind of like armor. You're protected."
Prickle gave the most genuine smile of the day. "Like armor..." Her tail wagging, she turned in place. "What's next?" She pointed up a hoof to the top of the city hall. "I bet I could see everything from up there."
Apple Bloom peered up at the tall perch. "Bet it would, but we can't follow ya up there."
Prickle looked from the target back to her friends. "That's true... How am I supposed to, um, superhero and still be with you?"
Apple Bloom threw a leg over Prickle's neck. "Take it from me. Ah had to learn this the hard way. Ya can follow yer dreams without leavin' yer friends. We're still with ya, promise. Ya do you, and we can meet up later to hear all about it."
Scootaloo thrust a hoof at Prickle. "And that's not optional! I want to hear every exciting moment." She bounced into the air, her wings fluttering madly to keep her afloat a moment before she came back down.
Sweetie nodded in agreement with her friends. "Good luck."
With the encouragement of all three behind her, and the water dried in the afternoon sun, Prickle, no, Tiny Titan felt ready to try. "I'll do my best." She turned to face the City Hall and hunkered down. She tried to imagine the hall wasn't so far away, to make the jump like any other.
With a more controlled leap, she left the ground behind and was whistling through the air. She was aimed for the town hall, but her caution made her land on a roof long before she got to the hall. She wobbled where she landed, almost sliding off before she could catch herself with a loud huff of air. "I can do this..." she muttered to herself before she leaped forward.
She just didn't have the bravery to make the long jump to the hall, but small leaps that spanned from rooftop to rooftop, even skipping a house along the way seemed doable, and she bounded across the town with speed that left her giggling with joy. She was doing something amazing, and not a soul around was appalled by it, and even if they were, too bad! She was Tiny Titan, not Prickle Berry. She could be all the weird she wanted!
Wait... She came to an awkward halt just before the city hall. Did she want to be strange? No... But... "I can be a hero..." She licked over her lips and trembled softly, undecided a moment.
Suddenly she was shoved aside. If she had been paying attention, she surely could have resisted, but she hadn't been and just flopped as a pony rushed into the town hall, hollering and shouting. Several ponies emerged from within, looking frantic. Mayor Mare was there, looking nervous, but in charge. "Get the fire brigade mobilized," she commanded, pointing.
Prickle turned to see where she was pointing and saw a house with smoke coming out of it. She gasped and bounced up to her hooves. "Is there a fire?!"
The mayor blinked down at the small voice as if just noticing the vigilante. "Oh, hello there. Don't worry, filly, we have this under control. You just stay away from there." She nodded firmly, then began barking orders at the others.
Now, as far as Prickle saw it, old Prickle would have just agreed and walked away. But she wasn't Prickle. She was Tiny Titan! Superhero! She gritted her teeth and made a terrific bound towards the smoking building. Her aim still wasn't that good. She bounced a few times before realizing her last jump was too strong and she wouldn't land in front of the house. Smoke consumed her entirely before she felt a hidden window try to stop her. She smashed through it with the tinkling of breaking glass and splintering wood. She was inside the burning house! It was hot, she couldn't breathe, and she couldn't see anything!
That had perhaps been a poor idea.
"Help..."
Prickle perked her ears at the tiny voice. "Hello?"
"Help!" The voice was a little louder, perhaps encouraged by the sound of Prickle's voice.
Prickle couldn't see where it came from, but she could hear it over the crackle and roar of the flames that were consuming the building around her. She dashed towards it as quickly as she could, dancing around where she felt intense heat trying to cook her. "I'm coming!"
"Help!"
Prickle bumped into a door her snout and began feeling over it with her hooves. She found the knob and yanked her hoof back. It was hot!
What did Cheerilee say about hot doorknobs? Oh right! That meant there was fire on the other side... But she heard that voice... With frantic determination, Prickle spun around and lashed out her hooves with all the force she had.
The door lifted up out of its hinges and flew away violently, putting a new hole in the side of the burning building. A figure that had been leaning on it toppled backwards and let out a weak little cough.
Prickle rushed for the pony and grabbed the scruff of their neck. She couldn't make out much of the details of the pony, but she needed help, and Prickle was there to do it. She rushed for the hole she had just made and jumped over licking flames, leaving the heat behind for the relative cool of the afternoon. She came down hard, dirt flying from her impact site. The filly she was holding fell from her teeth and flopped to the ground, unmoving.
"She's over here!" came the shout of a pony, then many others came rushing towards them. Nurse Redheart was there and began giving CPR to the limp filly.
Prickle stared at the whole thing, trembling. Had she failed? Had she hit the pony with the door and finished the job the fire started herself? Was she a hero, or... a monster?! She couldn't bare to be there one moment longer. They were asking her questions, but she didn't hear them. She turned away and wished the world would go away.
With a mighty jump, it obliged. She sailed away, reeking of smoke and stinging in countless places that the fire and heat had made tender. She didn't care. Prickle did what never seemed to result in pain. She fled until she could find a quiet place to be alone, where her freakish nature could bring no more harm to the world.
Elsewhere, the crusaders were enjoying a break at Sugarcube Corner when a pony rushed in. "There was a fire!" Everypony turned at the news as he went on the details. "Silver Spoon was caught inside. Her parents made it out before the fire got too bad."
All three gasped dramatically before Scootaloo suddenly grinned. "Was she rescued?"
"What?" The pony looked confused. "Y-yes, actually. They don't know who it was, some little foal in a silly outfit."
Sweetie grumped. "It isn't silly," she muttered hotly.
Scootaloo stepped forward. "What she means is that she was saved by Tiny Titan! Ponyville's newest superhero!"
He gave a slow blink. "Tiny Titan huh? Well, they are a hero, but nopony knows where she went off to. She left before anypony could even ask her name."
The crusaders shared a look before they excused themselves and slipped out onto the street.
Apple Bloom had a little frown. "D'ya figure that meant it went well, or..."
Sweetie shook her head quickly. "We should check and be sure. Worst case is we get to celebrate how great she did!"
Scootaloo's wings fluttered. "I want to hear what happened straight from the horse's mouth. Let's go!"
United, they took off to find their super-heroic friend.
Prickle sniffled softly in the darkness of the alley, laying beside her outfit that she had peeled herself free of. The thought that she had... hurt... maybe worse...
She sat up, shivering. What if it had been so much worse than hurting. What if...
A whimpering noise came from her without her even knowing she was making it before it had already come out.
"Prickle?" An older female stepped into view, her outline visible against the light of the street. "Did something happen?" It was her mother, approaching at a slow pace. "Prickle, come here." She sounded concerned.
Prickle lashed out a hoof, knocking her discarded outfit away in a pile of trash that made quite the racket. "I-I'm here." She stood up, quivering.
Junebug smiled as she closed the distance. "My poor filly, what happened? Was somepony mean to you about... that?"
Prickle winced visibly. "N-n..." She stopped. How could she explain what had really happened? "Yes..."
"It's alright." Junebug put a leg over her daughter and pulled her close, squeezing. "It's alright..."
Prickle felt the comfort of her mother, but it seemed... empty. Did she deserve that comfort if she'd hurt that pony? She really was every bit the horror that Diamond Tiara had drilled into her that she was. She gave a little cry that mixed with a cough and pushed Junebug away.
The act sent Junebug crashing against the far wall, Prickle far from a controlled state of mind. Prickle watched with mounting horror as Junebug slid to the ground, dazed. "I..." She couldn't stay. She fled. She didn't even dare jump. She just ran and ran.
She found herself in a new safe place with fresh things to cry about, which is exactly what she set herself to doing.
"Prickle?"
Prickle didn't hear who it was, and didn't care. "Stay away!" she shouted in a mixture of terror and anger. "Stay away..."
Scootaloo emerged into sight around the corner. "Huh? Everything alright, Prickle? Where's your suit?"
Prickle looked down at herself, teeth clenching. "I don't... I don't need it anymore."
Scootaloo wasn't the swiftest pony in the city when it came to emotions, but even she could see Prickle was a mess. "What's wrong?"
"What's right?!" Prickle bounced to her trembling hooves. "I-- hurt a filly, and my mom, and I'm terrible."
Scootaloo perked an ear. "Hurt? The way I hear it, you saved her from a burning building! If you weren't there, she would be..." She rolled a hoof. "You know, a lot worse than a little hurt. You saved Silver Spoon."
Prickle blinked, sinking to her haunches in shock. "It was Silver Spoon?"
"Yeah? Weren't you there?" Scootaloo came closer. "She's alright, thanks to you."
Prickle gave a distressed laugh. "After all those years... I save her." She looked up at Scootaloo. "She's safe?"
"Uh huh." Scootaloo smiled. "You did it. You really did it, as a hero."
Prickle glanced left and right. "Where... are the others?"
Scootaloo pointed out of the alley. "Looking for you, I bet. Let's go find them."
Prickle lifted a hoof. "N-not so fast. I..." She licked her lips. "I have to find my mom."
"Huh? What for?" Scootaloo sat on her haunches, wings fluttering a moment. "Coming out about the whole super hero thing?"
Prickle winced drastically. "No! I... hurt her. I was a stupid mean monster and shoved her!"
Scootaloo blinked at it. "You were clumsy, but not mean." She smiled and stood back up. "Let's find your mom and apologize. I bet she'll be glad to see you."
"Have you?"
"Huh, have I what?" Scootaloo peered at her new friend with obvious confusion.
"Have you ever hurt your mom, even on accident?"
Scootaloo grinned a lopsided grin. "This one time, I was so sure I could fly if I just started higher... so I climbed up on the roof and ran for the edge and jumped! Wind whistling in my ears, I realized pretty quick I had messed up. My dad caught me, said I came in like a little pony rocket. He had to go to the doctor... I was so sorry! But... he's still my dad. He forgave me, and I promised to not do that again." She left out the many other things she had done with the CMC after that. "That's what family is for."
Prickle winced in time with the impact in the story, but a little smile began to emerge after that. "Let's... go say sorry. I didn't mean to hurt her."
"Of course not! I mean, even Diamond Tiara would never hurt her mom on purpose. C'mon!" She waved to the exit of the alley and they got to walking towards Prickle's house.
On the way, they ran into the other crusaders. Sweetie rushed up beside Prickle. "So what's it like t'be a super hero?!"
Scootaloo thrust out a hoof. "Ix-nay on the uperhero-say."
Sweetie blinked dumbly. "What?"
Prickle shook her head as she walked. "We can... talk about that later. I have to talk to my mother first."
The group quieted as they arrived at Prickle's little comfy house.
Prickle clopped on the door lightly, as timid as Fluttershy might. "Mom?"
The door swung open quickly, revealing Junebug. "Prickle! I thought you... Are you alright?!"
Prickle took half a step back. "You're not mad?"
Junebug reached for Prickle and slowly brought her closer. "You need to be more careful, my little hedgehog, but no, I'm not mad at you. You'll never stop being my daughter."
The hug became a mutual thing, even if Prickle had to be careful about her side of the hug. Junebug gently raised Prickle's chin. "Now who are these little fillies you've brought home?" It seemed unlikely that she, or any pony in Ponyville, didn't know the CMC, but she was being polite.
Apple Bloom waved. "Hey there! M'name's Apple Bloom. This here's Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo." Each pony dipped their head as they were called. "Mighty fine t'meet ya."
Junebug nodded in kind. "The pleasure's mine. It's good to see Prickle's gotten some new friends. Come inside, I'll make some sandwiches for everyone." She turned and headed inside, and soon all were seated at the table.
Sweetie looked around curiously a moment before her eyes fixated on something. "Hey..."
Junebug looked up at the noise and followed Sweetie's eyes. "I had... planned to ask about this later." She pulled Prickle's outfit clear of the cupboard it had been hastily stuffed into. "Is there something you want to tell me about, Prickle Berry?"
Prickle locked right up. "It's not what you think!"
Junebug sniffed at it lightly. "Why does it smell like it was on fire?"
Scootaloo thrust up a hoof. "I can answer that! If it's alright?"
Junebug raised a brow.
"She saved Silver Spoon!" gushed Scootaloo.
Junebug paled. "S-saved?" She sniffed again. "From a fire?!" She spun on Prickle. "My little hedgehog! You... you could... Do you have any idea how dangerous that was?!" There were tears building in her eyes. "I don't even know what I'd do... Prickle..."
Prickle hopped down from her chair. "No."
Junebug blinked at the bluntness. "No what?"
Prickle thrust a hoof out the door. "I had to! If... If... I didn't... Silver Spoon would be dead! Dead!" Her voice had turned into a scream as she got towards the end. "I saved her..."
Junebug's mouth worked silently as she tried to find a good response for that specifically. "Some other pony could have--"
"No!" Prickle hopped forward. "They were trying, but by the time they got there..." She looked up at Junebug with wide eyes. "If... I can do something good... shouldn't I?"
The CMC were silent, watching the two debate and not daring to slide in a word edgewise.
Junebug took a slow breath before she laid down on her belly. "Prickle, come here." Prickle did so, defiant, but not so much as to ignore that order. Junebug pulled her closer and half-curled around her. "My precious little Prickle... I just don't want you to be hurt. I love you."
Prickle gave a little smile. "I love you too, mom, but you... you told me. Ponies that can... do good things... should." She nuzzled into her mother's chest, getting tears into the fur. "I'll be careful..."
Junebug suddenly gave the CMC an intense look. "You'll be careful." Her words were in reply to Prickle, but she was looking directly at the other fillies.
Apple Bloom swallowed audibly. "W-we'll try our best, honest!"
Sweetie Belle bobbed her head. "It was my sister's idea to make that suit fire resistant."
Junebug winced. "I'm... glad she thought of that." The horror of imagining her beloved filly in a raging inferno was still terrible. "Prickle." Prickle looked up at her. "I want you to think about this, long and hard. Make sure it's... what you really want to do." She slid up to her hooves and got back to making their snacks. "If it's what you... really want to do, then I will support you, as your mother. Just don't forget how sad I'll be if you get hurt, so please... be careful."
Sandwiches were soon served, filled with delicious flowers that were eagerly chomped up by the crusaders. Prickle ate sedately at first before her body reminded her how much work it had done and insisted with a loud rumble that she get to feeding it. She blushed a little and picked up her pace, abating the hunger that all that labor had produced.
"Now go on and play with your friends," insisted Junebug. "And think about what I asked you to."
"Yes mom..." Prickle stepped outside with the others and the door closed gently behind them.
Sweetie Belle tilted her head. "That could have been worse."
Apple Bloom nodded in agreement. "Ya have permission t'be a super hero now!"
Scootaloo thrust a hoof into the air. "Now you can tell us what happened?! C'mon, please? I've been waiting all day!" She bounced up and down in place. "What was it like?"
Prickle cracked a little smile at Scootaloo's energy. "Well, so I arrived at the town hall." The more she went into the story, the more their eyes were sparkling with awe, the good kind. She felt better with every sentence and began even adding little embellishments that got gasps and cries of joy out of the crusaders. By the end, she was doing a crazy daredevil run through a maze of fire before she escaped just in the nick of time with the limp Silver Spoon. "And that's how I saved the day."
All three of them thunderously stomped their hooves on the ground. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom cheered aloud at the exploit.
She stood in silent vigil, her keen eyes sweeping over the vista of her beloved town. Bad things happened in Equestria, but while she was around, her community was safe. No matter how huge and vicious the monster--
Prickle perked a costumed ear towards Scootaloo. "I have to fight monsters too?"
Scootaloo nodded in a wise fashion. "Of course. It's no big deal." She flopped on her belly, smiling at her friend. "You already fought one, remember?" She was pointing at Prickle's flank, covered as it was.
"That's true..." It didn't sound like she was eager to fight monsters. "I hope they don't show up at all."
Scootaloo rolled her eyes. "Are you kidding? This is Ponyville. I'm sure one will be around in a moment or three."
Prickle clenched her teeth a little. It was true, monsters did like to roam through once in a while, but usually ponies just ran and hid until they were gone. If it was really bad... "Won't the princess save us from the big ones?"
"Who, Twilight?" Scootaloo rolled onto her side on the roof. "I mean, sure, she'll try, but she's not always here. You're our defender, one who actually lives here full time!" She spread her forehooves wide. "And you have the strength to do it!"
Prickle sank to her haunches. "I'll do my best... What if it's like a cockatrice and being strong won't be enough? You can't kick being turned into a statue."
Scootaloo offered a meek shrug. "That happens."
Prickle raised a brow. "That's all the advice you have for that?"
Scootaloo sat up on her haunches and smiled at her heroic friend. "Being a hero means sometimes you run into things you can't handle directly, so you have to be clever." She tapped a hoof on her head. "Just remember that this is a super weapon too."
Prickle looked up as if she could see her own mind, but that was not to be. "I'll try to remember that." She hopped up to her hooves and approached Scootaloo. "Come on, we should get back to school."
"Race ya there?"
And so they went, one bounding from roof to roof while the other zoomed along on her scooter, both smiling in the shared joy of friendship and athleticism, a joy one of them was only just starting to embrace the concept of existing.
Prickle folded up her outfit and crammed it carefully into her saddlebags for later. She wouldn't need them at school. Besides... "I'm Prickle here. Only Tiny Titan wears this." She gave a little smile and began to trot up towards the school. She shared hoofbumps with her friends on the way inside and took her seat.
"Now, class, as I'm sure many of you are aware," said Cheerilee with a serious tone of voice. "Silver Spoon was injured in a house fire. She's alright, but she won't be joining us for a little while. I think this is a fine time to go over fire safety, including how to avoid having one in the first place, and what to do if one does start. This could save your lives, even if you think you're invincible right now." She rolled her eyes as she turned towards the chalkboard. "It's alright, we all do."
She began giving the lesson, describing different kinds of fires and how they started and could be smothered. Prickle was paying attention, but only half. She looked out the window and hoped Silver Spoon would be alright. She may have bullied Prickle a lot before, but she was a pony, and she had said sorry... Nopony deserved to be roasted up like a cookie.
"Prickle Berry?"
Prickle jumped in place and smiled at Cheerilee. "Sorry!"
She brought her attention back to her teacher, which is where foals in school should have it.
Prickle bounded from roof to roof, an activity she was gaining increasing comfort with doing. Sure, she still only skipped one roof at a time when she was trying to be fast, but she didn't feel like she was going to go flying off each roof each time she landed.
"Hey!"
She glanced back behind her to see a pony waving a hoof at her angrily. "Sorry!" She shouted back. Most ponies didn't care about her bouncing on their houses, but once in a while... She tried to remember which place to avoid in the future.
Prickle saw a crowd ahead, a dazzling mix of bright colors of ponies. They looked concerned, so Prickle bounded down to street level and went to investigate, trotting up at a more sedate pace.
Mayor Mare was there. "I understand Princess Twilight and her friends handled it last time, but they're not here."
"So what are you gonna do?!" Demanded a stallion in the crowd.
Mayor Mare looked around nervously before her eyes fell squarely on Prickle. "Ask and the answer arrives."
The entire crowd turned at once to look where the mayor was looking. Confusion raised. Carrot Top pointed at Prickle. "A costumed filly? How is she going to help?"
Prickle took half a step back with discomfort from being stared at so intensely. "W-what seems to... be the problem, Mayor?" She tried to flash a winning smile, but it may have shown more fear than confidence.
"I'm glad you asked." Mayor Mare pulled down a tab that revealed a big picture of a strange mixture of bear and bee. "A bugbear is coming to Ponyville, and this time the Elements of Harmony aren't here to stop it. They were called away on other business. I was going to go over emergency plans, but if you are the hero you claim to be, perhaps you can stop it?"
Prickle trembled faintly, and it was noticed.
Another pony spoke out, "You can't be serious. She's a little foal!"
Mayor Mare's eyes remained solidly on Prickle. "It is up to you."
Prickle swallowed softly before she stood up tall. "R-rest at ease, ponies of Ponyville! I, Tiny Titan, will batt... batt... I will fight the bugbear and make him go away!"
Carrot Top approached close enough to put a hoof on Prickle's head. "Little filly, you don't have to do this. What are you going to d--"
Prickle picked her up. She held the startled mare over her head as she reared up onto her hind legs. The mare blinked, eyes wide with confusion as the little filly held her as if it were nothing. "I will fight the bugbear!"
"O-okay, can you put me down please?"
"Oh, sorry." Prickle gently placed Carrot Top down and gave a sheepish smile.
Another pony stepped forward. "Who are you?" Her eyes sparkled with fear and curiosity. "Can you really do it?"
Mayor Mare suddenly cleared her throat. "Our young hero here has already served the community. It was she that rescued Silver Spoon from the raging inferno that destroyed her home."
Murmurs of astonishment rippled through the crowd.
"And with no request for compensation. She fled before we could even get her name, though now she has given it. Ponyville, I present Tiny Titan." She waved a hoof at Prickle dramatically. "With incredible strength and speed, she should be able to handle things."
Prickle felt nervous, but she was already invested. She tried to rise to the challenge. She stepped towards the mayor. "When is that mean bugbear supposed to get here?"
Mayor Mare nodded as she looked over the crowd. "It's estimated the creature will arrive within two days. Tiny Titan, you have our full support."
Prickle quirked a nervous smile. "Does that include help?"
Never before had Prickle seen the town square empty of all equine life so quickly. She was alone, mostly. Mayor Mare was still there and waved Prickle closer. "I'm afraid most of the citizens are not eager to... deal with these things directly. They will hide and hope it passes them by. Most often, it does."
Prickle reared up and pulled herself up onto the stage with the mayor. "Do you really think I can do it?"
Mayor Mare let out a little sigh. "You know better than I... Are you really a filly, or just a small pony? If you are a filly, then... I can't in good con--"
"I'm Tiny Titan," piped Prickle, bristling as she detected the usual 'you're too young' spiel coming. "I'll... do my best."
"That's all we can ask." Mayor Mare nodded and turned to walk away. "Celestia watch over you."
The ringing of a bell drew Prickle's eyes quickly. Oh no! Class was starting and she was late. She pushed off the stage with a thunderous boom, splintering the wood behind her as she propelled herself towards the school far more quickly than she was comfortable with. She may have screamed, just a little, before she hit the ground with a skid and a great plume of dust.
She hurriedly scrambled into the nearest cubbyhole and emerged as Prickle, the school filly. She hurried off to class, pretending she hadn't just volunteered to fight her first monster.
Cheerilee saw her as she scampered in. "There you are. Class, if you didn't hear, there's a bit of an emergency on the way. The bugbear is coming back and our usual defenders won't be here to fight it off. I'm suspending school until this blows over. I don't want any of you little ponies being hurt by it, so stay inside until you're told it's safe."
There was a chorus of noises, but it was far from in sync. Some ponies looked happy to have class canceled while others trembled in fear. A few pouted at class being canceled at all.
The CMC, on the other hoof, made their way to Prickle.
Scootaloo nudged her with a hoof. "You're gonna beat it up, right?"
Apple Bloom rolled her eyes. "Let's not talk about that right here." She gestured with her head at the rest of the class.
Diamond Tiara approached with a frown "What are you all whispering about?" Her eyes settled on Prickle. "Are you going to use your freakish strength on the bugbear?"
"No!" Prickle squeaked, taking a step back in fear of being found out.
Diamond Tiara blinked softly. "Hmmph, fine." She returned her gaze to the crusaders. "Well, go on. We're supposed to go home until that icky bugbear goes away."
Sweetie tilted her head at Diamond. "What about you? Oh! How's Silver doing?"
Diamond's scowl deepened. "She's fine... She'll be safe from any stupid bugbears at the hospital." She kicked a dropped pencil across the room. "If that stupid costumed pony's so great, why aren't they beating up that bugbear?"
Scootaloo puffed up proudly. "Tiny Titan'll take care of it!"
"Is that their name?" Diamond raised a brow, then returned her attention to Prickle. "See, at least they know how to put their creepy super strength to good use." She huffed and turned away, trotting for the door.
Prickle rubbed her cheek a moment. "Does she... Is she..."
Apple Bloom nudged against Prickle gently. "She's tryin' t' be good, honest. Ah don't even thin' she's tryin' t' mess wit' ya."
Sweetie shrugged at that. "Sometimes it's hard to tell. I don't think she really considers you creepy."
Scootaloo hopped over a desk towards the door. "Who cares what she thinks! Tiny Titan's gonna kick some flank and take some names!"
Prickle gave an unsure smile at that, but followed the rest as they filtered out of the classroom and onto the lawn.
Cheerillee waved the way onward. "Be safe, my students. Go directly home, no detours!"
Prickle let the others go ahead a bit, then ducked to the side. There were many things for her to do. No, things for Tiny Titan to do! She was soon up on the roofs, doing a circuit around the city and considering angles it might approach from and how she could fight it.
She had a dozen ideas. Unfortunately they all boiled down to hit it really hard and hope it would not like it and go away without making a big mess.
Her belly grumbled softly. It had been a few hours of roaming the town, and her body's needs would not remain silent no matter how nervous she was.
She landed lightly in front of her favorite candy shop and trotted inside, or tried. The door was closed and locked. She peeked at the sign. It read 'Open', so she frowned. She gave the door the gentlest knock so as to not harm it. "Hello?"
"Go away," came Bon Bon's voice.
There was some muttering inside, a whispered exchange. Lyra spoke up, "Who is it?"
Prickle almost said her own name, but caught herself. "Tiny Titan! I was hoping to get some candy please."
The door opened so suddenly made Prickle leap back in shock.
Lyra was there with a big smile. "Oh wow, it is you! You're so cute!" She hopped forward at Prickle and grabbed her up in a fierce hug. "Ponyville's littlest defender! Bon Bon! Come take a look!"
A head peeked out of the gloom, barely visible. "Come inside and close the door, Lyra. We've been over this."
"Well fine! But I'm taking her with me." She trotted inside, Prickle levitated along in her magic. The door closed, putting them back in moody dim lighting. "There." Lyra tapped the ground and Prickle landed. "Now what can we do for you?"
Bon Bon raised a brow. "So, you're the one they hope will beat the bugbear?"
Prickle started at the question. "Yes, ma'am. I was looking around and got hungry. Can I get some candy?"
Bon Bon gave a wry smile at that. "Candy is not exactly ideal fighting food."
"What is?" Prickle had no clue, ultimately. "I'll take whatever you have, please. I'm starving."
Bon Bon rose to her hooves and trotted towards the kitchen. "Some town, not even feeding its defenders. You stay here with Lyra..."
Lyra bobbed her head, still grinning. "Hey there, Tiny Titan. That's a great name. It's your super hero name, right? What's your real name? Oh wait, you won't tell me that, duh, nevermind. Nice to meet you though. I'm Lyra Heartstrings! Also, here." A bit of wrapped candy floated out of her pelt and over to Prickle. "I always save some for an emergency."
Prickle eagerly accepted the treat and had it in her snout. She let out a happy sigh as she chewed it up into dust.
Lyra blinked slowly. "You do know that was hard candy, right?"
"What?"
Lyra rolled a hoof. "You're supposed to suck on it, not chew it." She suddenly started clopping her hooves. "You really are strong! I woulda broke my teeth trying that and you didn't even notice!"
"O-oh, sorry."
"Don't be sorry!" Lyra bounced up and glanced around. "Here." She handed Prickle a fire poker she found long unused. "Bend it into a shape. Please!"
Prickle peered at it, and its owner, and back at it. "Really?" Lyra kept nodding. "All...right." She brought her hooves together and the bar bent like cooked pasta under her will. She curled it into a knot even as it began to glow with heat from being so roughly handled. She couldn't quite finish the knot as it became too hot to hold comfortably and she dropped it with a yelp.
"Amazing!" Lyra's magic grabbed it and tossed it right into the sink of water beside Bon Bon where it made a loud fwoosh of steam. "I'm so going to keep that forever!"
Lyra glared in the direction the order has come in. "Fine..." She waved ahead. "Go on in. Miss prissy pants wants to chat with you alone." She leaned in and put up a hoof to block the noise as she harshly whispered, "We'll meet later, okay?" She gave a comically dramatic wink to finish it off.
Prickle nodded at Lyra and gave a nervous smile. "Thank you, Miss Heartstrings." She trotted past into the kitchen.
"Close the door."
Prickle jumped and turned in place until she found the door and swung it closed. With a loud thunk, unseen tumblers fell into place.
"There, we have some privacy... Prickle Berry."
Prickle started and turned back to Bon Bon. "How--"
"I'm not as daft as some others." Bon Bon sat down and smiled knowingly. "But I'm on your side, Prickle. The bugbear, do you really intend to fight it?"
"Y-yes ma'am!" Prickle lashed out a hoof at the air. "I'll kick it until it goes away."
"Is that your entire plan?"
Prickle blinked slowly. "Yes?"
Bon Bon let out a deep sigh and covered her face with a fetlock. "You need more than that. One sting and you'll swell up like a balloon, and that's just the start. Don't let its stinger anywhere near you."
"Okay..." She made thrusts and jabs with her hooves as if pretending one were a stinger and the other was dodging away. "No stings."
"Not even one." Bon Bon nodded gravely. "It's a bear. It has powerful arms that can grab and squeeze. It has huge sharp teeth that can rend and tear."
Prickle was looking less and less confident by the moment.
Bon Bon slammed down a hoof beside Prickle's distracted head. "Now is the time to turn around and go home little filly."
Prickle squeaked in surprise and looked at the larger mare, quivering a little. "No."
Bon Bon raised a brow. "Scared of me? What're you going to do when the bugbear is here."
"Kick him."
"Yeah? Alright, show me."
"What?"
"Kick me." Bon Bon turned and displayed her flank. "Go on, show me."
Prickle looked down at her right forehoof, then up at Bon Bon. "I don't want to hurt you."
"You won't, go on." She sounded so confident.
It annoyed Prickle. "Stop it! I don't want to kick you!"
"Prove you can fight at all." Bon Bon suddenly lashed out and tipped the confused Prickle over.
Prickle rolled with it though and came up to her hooves. She had had enough. She charged at Bon Bon with a mighty war cry. Bon Bon gave a smirk, hunkering down to receive the charge, but that smirk faded away to shock as the filly barreled into her with the force of a runaway train. Bon Bon slammed down her hind hooves and pivoted in place, directing that momentum even as she wheezed for air.
From Prickle's point of view, the room spun wildly a moment, then she was upside down on the floor, confused, but unharmed. "What happened?"
Bon Bon sat beside the filly, struggling to hide her recovering breath. Prickle was far stronger than Bon Bon had given credit for. "You've got the talent, but none of the skill, filly."
Prickle slowly rolled up to her haunches, blinking softly. "Can you show me how to do that?"
"Sure, in a few months." Her expression softened as she saw Prickle's shatter. "Look, it takes time to teach this, and to learn it... Prickle... go home."
"No!" Prickle stomped the floor, shattering the tile she struck. "Somepony has to defend Ponyville."
"Somepony... You're a foal." Bon Bon rose to her full height. "Leave this to the adults."
Prickle turned and began walking for the door. "If you won't help, then I'll just." Something struck the back of her head and she spun around with a glare, just for a sandwich to flop to the ground, falling from her. She blinked at it with confusion.
"I did say I'd make you some food," noted Bon Bon with a faint smile. "Look, if you..." She sighed loudly. "I'll tell your mom."
"She already knows." Prickle picked up the sandwich and gave it a sniff before chomping into it. "S'good..."
"Thank you, but she does?" She raised a brow. "You're not lying to me, are you?"
"Nuh uh." Prickle went quiet as she crammed the food down her gullet with glee. "Mmm. Can I have another?"
Bon Bon shook her head with some disbelief. "Are you sure you want it from a meanie like me?"
Prickle thrust a hoof at Bon Bon. "You're worried for me."
Bon Bon's eyes half closed, giving Prickle a deadpan glare. "You're a foal getting ready to take on a beast the whole of the Elements barely controlled."
"It will be hard," agreed Prickle. "But I have to. Who else is gonna do it?" Her eyes fixated on slices of bread and her expression brightened.
Bon Bon saw what she was looking at and rolled her eyes. "I'll make another," she sighed out, coming closer to get to doing that. "Your mother really knows?"
"Uh huh. She's a smart pony and figured it out fast."
"And you didn't think I was smart?" Bon Bon gave a little snort as she prepared then handed over a fresh snack to Prickle. "Look, I don't want you getting hurt."
Prickle took the second and was slower in devouring it, the hard edge of her hunger blunted. "But I have to try. Can you help me? If I can't protect my friends, what good is being a freak?"
"A freak?" Bon Bon's squint returned, but only for a moment. It melted into a concerned look as she reached for the foal and drew her closer. "You're not going to stop no matter how loud or often I say to, I get it. I was your age once too, you know." Prickle gave a doubting look. "I know, I know, I'm not that young anymore." She pat Prickle on the head. "But you are brave. Brave ponies can do great things, or die young." Prickle winced. "So let's avoid one of those, hmm. You done eating?"
Prickle reared up and washed her hooves under the water of the sink before she flopped back to the ground. "All done. Thank you very much, Miss Bon Bon."
"It's not time for thanks." Bon Bon cracked a little smile. "You're not fighting that monster." Prickle immediately puffed up for a fight. "--Alone," Bon Bon addended quickly. "It's probably here for me, and I won't hide this time, not while some filly's out risking herself... I couldn't sleep at night." She focused on Prickle intensely. "Are you ready to train?"
Prickle blinked owlishly. "Train what?"
"You know how I put you on the ground, despite how powerful you were? You need to learn how to do that, and how to avoid having it done to you." Bon Bon rubbed at a sore rib. "You really are strong, but so's that bugbear. You have to be a better fighter if you want a chance."
Prickle brightened. "You'll show me?" She clopped her forehooves with excitement. "Please! I want to be better at not being a clumsy pony."
Bon Bon raised a brow. "If you're half as strong as I think you are, you're anything but clumsy for not bringing this building down already. How much can you lift."
Prickle had no idea, and said as much.
"What's the heaviest thing you ever lifted?"
Prickle frowned a moment, then bobbed her head. "The schoolhouse. That was kind of heavy."
Bon Bon blinked dumbly. "Do you mean a doll house for your toy fillies and colts?"
"What? No." Prickle stuck out her tongue. "The school house." She pointed towards school. "The one Miss Cheerilee teaches."
Bon Bon sank to her haunches. "You picked up the whole thing?" She muttered something under her breath, though it wasn't as quiet as she thought, "I'm lucky she didn't kill me."
Prickle paled, hearing. "I-I'm not a bad pony!"
Bon Bon shook her head quickly. "It would have been entirely my fault. We all make mistakes, asking you to come charging at me was mine." She flashed a smile. "My bruise is a reminder to not repeat it. You may get some of those yourself. Are you ready to learn some lessons?"
"Yes, teacher!" Prickle had snapped to attention and gave a sharp salute before relaxing. "What do I have to do?"
"Are you two done in there?" came Lyra's plaintive voice. "I wanna be part of the cool stuff too..."
Bon Bon rolled her eyes before she smiled. "If we don't let her watch at least, she'll be a constant distraction." She turned to the door and waved. "Come on in."
A muted cheer was heard before the door unlocked with a glow of magic and Lyra stepped inside. "I don't know why you bother locking me out. You know I can undo it whenever I want."
Bon Bon pointed at Lyra. "And I know you won't, because you love and respect me."
Lyra went red in the cheeks. "I... Well, yes. Devious earth pony, using my love against me." She stuck out her tongue a little. "So what's the deal?"
Bon Bon pointed at Lyra. "Subdue her, without hurting her."
"Wait, what?" was all Lyra got out before Prickle was on her.
The efforts to take down the unicorn were a bit meek, afraid of hurting Lyra, and Prickle was snatched in glowing magic, lifted into the air where her strength meant little at all. "Easy there, kiddo."
Bon Bon smiled as she trotted closer. "As you can see, if you have no leverage, your strength means nothing." She reached out and tapped Prickle on the snout. "How do you plan on escaping this predicament?"
Prickle gave the mightiest pout, her eyes glistening with new tears. Lyra took half a step back. "Bonnie, she's found my weakness! I can't stand seeing a filly cry! No no no no, stop that! It'll be alright!"
Bon Bon rolled her eyes. "Don't be a foal. Just hold her steady."
"But... look at her." Lyra's composure broke into pieces as she released Prickle and grabbed for the filly. "I'm sorry!"
Prickle nuzzled into the hug a moment before she grabbed for Lyra's hooves, snapping them together and she held them tight. Lyra let out a squeak as she fell over.
Bon Bon applied her hoof to her forehead. "I have to give that point to Pr... Tiny Titan. Lyra, really?"
Bon Bon was not kind to Prickle, not at all. She flipped her, tossed her, dodged her, and chastised her.
So why was Prickle having such a good time? She had a smile that only seemed to grow with every challenge given. She could be as strong as she wanted and it seemed the candy maker could handle it, dodging and rolling with her motions with uncanny skill. Prickle had no idea why Bon Bon was so amazing, but she was, and Prickle couldn't help but love it.
Lyra, on the other hoof, was kinder and smiled more often, but Prickle had to be careful with the unicorn. One good shove and Lyra would just fall over. She still hadn't managed to get Bon Bon to do that, even when challenged to do just that.
Prickle felt the tug of magic pulling her from the ground and quickly spun in place, becoming a difficult target for unicorn magic. With a powerful kick, she threw off her balance as well and fell free of Lyra's failing grip. She bounced towards Bon Bon with a ready cry and leaped up and forward, hoof coming to give her quite the punch. Then she was poked, right in the ribs.
"Sting," reported Bon Bon. "You're toast."
Prickle flopped to the ground, her momentum gone. "Aw... I'm getting better, right?"
Bon Bon gave a little smile. "You are... I just don't want this to be your first and last rodeo, right? From the top..."
Lyra stuck out her tongue at the two of them. "You're both a bit too fast for me."
Bon Bon put a hoof under Lyra's chin, gazing into her eyes in that sappy way that Prickle found both adorable and a little sickening at once. Kissy stuff. "Thanks for helping."
Lyra glowed at the praise and leaned in to touch snoots before she looked to Prickle. "Alright, ready for more?"
"Yes ma'am!" cried Prickle, bouncing to her hooves and leaping right back into the fray.
Later, as Celestia tucked the sun in for bed, Prickle staggered from the shop. She was tired, but in a good way. "Thanks!" She cried as the door closed, then launched herself into the dimming sky. The beast hadn't come yet, and that was alright. She was ready for dinner, and bed.
"Prickle Berry," came the stern voice of her mother when she arrived home. "Where have you been?!" She quickly closed the distance and hugged her foal tight. "Were you looking for that monster?"
"Yes, mom," admitted Prickle. "But I did something even better."
"Better?" Junebug released her daughter. "Tell me about it while you eat. You must be starving." She quickly set the table and sat across from Prickle. "I'm guessing you didn't run into any horrifying bugbears?"
"No, Mom," assured Prickle before she practically dunked her snout in the food, eating voraciously. The conversation was sedate until she was finished and leaned back, some food still on her muzzle.
Junebug shook her head and grabbed a napkin in her mouth to get to cleaning Prickle off. "You really were starving."
"Not anymore," cheerfully replied Prickle. "I found a super nice pony that was teaching me how to use my strength better."
Junebug started at that, cloth dropping to the floor. "Bulk Biceps?"
Prickle shook her head. "Not him. They're a mare."
"What's her name?"
Prickle held up a hoof in front of her lips. "That's a secret, mom. I wouldn't want anypony to tell who I am."
Junebug gave a little smile. "My daughter, already making super secret friends." She pulled Prickle in for a gentle hug. "Just be safe, alright? I won't be sad if you decide not to fight that monster."
"I have to..." Prickle pouted up at her mother. "Who else is going to make it go away?"
"An--" She cut herself off and took a slow breath. "I understand. I don't like it... but I won't stop you." She kissed Prickle's nose. "Just know you can always run home."
Prickle bobbed her head and bounced up to her hooves. She peeled herself free of her suit and tossed it aside in the laundry before she went off to bed. The next day promised more patrolling and practice. Maybe the bugbear would even show up! She wasn't entirely sure how excited or scared she was.
While she slept, Junebug washed her suit and had it dried and pressed by the time Prickle awoke for breakfast. "Good morning, my brave warrior." She kissed the top of Prickle's head. "Breakfast is ready. Eat up, and be safe."
"Love you mom!" She gave a careful hug and got right to eating, then dressing, and she was off.
The air was crisp and clean, but the town was quiet, so very quiet. Everypony was hiding, hoping the bugbear would pass them by. It had worked for many other monsters before. Just stay low, never go by a window, and wait for the all clear.
"Aw yeah!" came a cry.
Prickle looked towards the source and saw Rainbow Dash grinning like a fool at Mayor Mare. "I'll kick that thing's flank right back to Tartarus, again!"
Prickle landed right beside the element with a powerful jump. "Rainbow Dash, you're back?"
Mayor Mare nodded at Prickle. "Oh, yes. Isn't it wonderful? She came back ahead of the other girls and I've appraised her of the situation. You won't have to fight it after all."
Rainbow blinked softly as she looked between Mayor Mare and the costumed filly. "Are you serious? She was gonna go fight it?" She reached out and poked Prickle. "No offense, but aren't you a little young for this?"
Prickle puffed up. "Says who?"
"Says me," replied Rainbow Dash as if it were obvious. "Go home."
"Stop telling me to go home!" Prickle slammed a hoof down, cracking the cement of the step they were standing on. "I am Tiny Titan, and I plan to fight that bugbear."
"Tiny Titan, huh?" Her eyes wandered down over the broken ground. "So, what, you some kinda superhero, like the Power Ponies?" She leaned in, wings keeping her in the air easily. "Ya know, I was a Power Pony once."
Prickle blinked. "You were?"
"But it was just magic and pretend." Rainbow shrugged.
"Well I'm for real." Prickle thumped her own chest lightly. She glanced for Mayor Mare, but it seemed the official had fled quickly. "I'm going to fight that bugbear."
"Not alone you aren't." Rainbow rolled her eyes. "You're a foal, you shouldn't be fighting it at all."
"Too bad," declared Prickle with certainty. "I'm fighting. Are you with me?"
Rainbow blinked before laughter peeled from her. "This is too good. I'm being bossed around by a foal that thinks she's hot stuff. Alright, let's give you a chance. This way." She gave a toss of her head and streaked away in a flash of rainbows.
Was that a test? Prickle decided to assume it was and jumped into the air faster than she normally would be comfortable with. In the air, she could see Rainbow retreating into the distance, headed towards Sweet Apple Acres. Prickle landed on the dirt road and pushed even harder. Dirt and dust flew in all directions, but mostly behind her as she was sent soaring through the air like a bullet that she had fired herself. With the wind roaring in her ears, she could see she was approaching Rainbow, who had pulled over a barrel.
She landed with a soft grunt and shook herself out. "What's the barrel for?"
"Huh, you're faster than I thought." Rainbow nodded appreciatively. "But let's see if you're half as strong as you claim to be." She slammed a foreleg down on the barrel. "Time for hoof wrastlin'!"
Prickle blinked as she approached. The barrel was tall. Too tall for her to easily match Rainbow's pose. "Do you have a shorter one?"
Rainbow snickered softly. "Already beat? Fine." She knocked the barrel over and got her leg down on its side. "Here we go."
That was much easier to get to and Prickle locked hooves with Rainbow. "How hard should I push?"
Rainbow blinked. "How hard? As hard as you can."
"Really?"
"Of course, duh. How do you plan to beat me? On the count of three. One... Two... Three!"
Rainbow pushed against Prickle with all her might, but Prickle was not moving. She was holding her leg perfectly still. She wanted to win, but she didn't want to hurt Rainbow. "Am I winning?"
"No!" blurted Rainbow, her face red with effort and a bit of shame. "Not until you pin my leg against the barrel!"
"Like this?" Slowly she began tilting Rainbow's leg towards the barrel.
Rainbow began sweating buckets. The foal really was powerful! She clenched her teeth hard and pushed with all her might, but she was still being pushed without delay towards defeat. Desperate, she put her other hoof in to help pull against Prickle, but nothing stopped the march towards the wood.
With a ragged sigh, Rainbow's hooves, both of them, touched the wood. "How..."
Prickle withdrew her hoof. "Are you hurt?"
Rainbow went quiet a moment, then laughed. "You just schooled me, and you ask if I'm hurt." She suddenly tossed a leg over Prickle. "Yer alright, kid. Seriously, how'd you do that? Some kinda crazy magic spell?"
Prickle shook her head quickly. "I eat what my mother gives me and not too many sweets."
Rainbow laughed all the more, but it was a friendly laugh. "I wish it was that easy. C'mon, serious though... You're still a foal."
Prickle thrust a hoof out and knocked Rainbow over with a squawk. "So?"
Rainbow picked herself up off the ground and shook out. "Alright, I get the idea..." She put a hoof against her head. "I was not planning on having a sidekick, but alright, fine, we'll beat the tar out of that bugbear, together."
Prickle's expression lightened into joy. Two days in a row she'd found an amazing adult mare willing to work with her. "I'll patrol the west side."
"Then I got the east," finished Rainbow. "Either of us see that lousy bear, we give a shout and we'll pummel him into paste for messing with Ponyville!"
Elsewhere, Bon Bon peeked out a window and saw Rainbow Dash streak overhead. "Huh, looks like we're gonna be alright."
"Yea?" Lyra nudged her head in to peek, but Rainbow was long since past. "Why?"
"The Elements are back, from the look of it." Bon Bon let out a sigh of relief. "Good thing too. I didn't want that foal getting hurt."
"Tiny Titan?"
"That's the one." Bon Bon nodded. "She has talent, but we need months, not a day."
"Good thing they're back then. She won't have to fight at all."
Prickle came down on one of the taller houses around and considered it a moment. It was Diamond Tiara's house, and her family was rich enough that, of course, they'd have one of the bigger houses, unless you counted Twilight's, which no one did.
She heard a window being opened and turned in time to see Diamond shoving her head out through one at about her height. The haughty filly flipped her hair lightly. "What are you doing on my roof?"
Prickle cringed faintly. She'd almost made peace with facing the bugbear, but she hadn't prepared for Diamond... "I'm..." That's when she realized she wasn't Prickle Berry. She was Tiny Titan, defender of Ponyville! She rose up to her full height. "I'm here to defend Ponyville from the bugbear!"
Diamond cocked a brow at the costumed hero. "Well, good luck with that..." Just as Prickle was about to leap away, Diamond thrust out a hoof. "Wait! Uh..." Diamond glanced away nervously. "Look... Thanks." She raised a hoof to rub behind her head. "For saving Silver Spoon, that is. Thanks."
Prickle felt a smile spreading on her face. To be thanked by her longtime tormentor felt much better than it had any right to. "I would do the same for any pony that was in danger."
"Even me?"
Prickle blinked softly. "Of course. You're a pony. If you were in danger, I would try to help you."
Diamond cocked her head faintly. "Huh... You really are a goodie." She flashed a bright smile. "Well, better go catch that bugbear, right?"
"Right!"
Diamond slipped back inside and closed the window as Prickle bounded off to continue her patrol, feeling lighter than before.
Thinking about Diamond made Prickle think about Silver Spoon. The two took up basically the same mental real estate in her mind. Was she alright? Prickle spotted the hospital and came down just in front of it, kicking up dirt from her landing. "I'm getting better at this," she said to herself with a little smile. Jumping didn't feel like barely-controlled falling so much as it had at first, and she really did enjoy using it to get around.
"Shh," said Nurse Redheart, peeking out the door. Her eyes widened as she saw who it was. "You! You ran away before I could talk to you."
Oops. Prickle put a hoof behind her head. "I wasn't trying to be rude."
"Rude? You saved her." Redheart smiled, warmth behind the expression as she opened the door the rest of the way and trot closer. "Are you here to visit? She was hoping you would."
She was? Prickle took half a step back in surprise before she bobbed her head. "Y-yes, please. If that's alright?"
Redheart turned back to the hospital. "Of course, this way. What are you doing outside, by the way? The bugbear's lurking around, I hear."
Prickle tensed. "Oh! Right... I should be looking for it... Can you tell Silver Spoon I came by, and that I'll stop in once the bugbear's taken care of?"
Redheart looked over her shoulder. "You..." She had an argument ready to go, but it died a quiet death. "I'll tell her. Please, be careful. I don't want to see you in here except to visit other ponies."
"I'll be careful." She dipped her head, then launched herself away.
Sailing through the air in a lazy arc, she could see the rainbow streaks of her partner on the other side of town. Ponyville was safe with the two of them on duty.
She heard a shriek, loud and piercing. Prickle staggered in surprise, looking around in a moment of panic before she saw the wall of a building burst from the inside. There it was! Striped, claws, fanged, and all the other deadly parts to a predator one could find. In one of its terrible claws, it held Carrot Top, and was shaking the poor farmer around mercilessly as it roared and snarled at the world in general.
Prickles licked her lips. It was even more terrible than she had heard, but she wasn't going to run away, no. But she could get help! She bounded towards Rainbow as quickly as she could, shouting, "Rainbow! It's here!"
It didn't take long to get her attention, and she saw the rainbow streak heading towards her, but Carrot was still held, and that bear looked like it may go for a snack. With dread filling her heart, Prickle knew she had to act or there wouldn't be a pony to save.
She hit the ground, her hooves absorbing the impact, legs bending just so as to redirect that power. She pushed the world away, and it moved. She was sent hurtling directly at the great insect-beast as it lifted its hostage towards its great mouth.
Prickle was screaming, not in fear, but in desperation. She was the only one close enough to have a hope of saving Carrot Top, and she reached out with her hooves as she flew towards them. "Stoooooo--"
It did stop. It stopped and brought a paw across as she came into range, swatting her right out of the air like some insect. The paw collided with her and sent her flying off to the side abruptly, crashing through a wall to land on somepony's couch, dizzy and hurting. "Ow..."
An instant later, she was hit by a hurled Carrot Top, thrown by the beast through the same hole she had just made. Prickle wheezed and wriggled, confused and disoriented from the situation.
The pony whose house it was screamed and ran down the stairs and out the door, galloping in a wild panic.
Carrot moaned. It wasn't a happy sound, but it meant she was still there. Prickle carefully twisted, bringing Carrot with her and setting her on the ground. "You stay here." Not that she expected the mare to suddenly show more motion. Prickle hopped down to the ground and saw the bear was swatting at the air. Rainbow was just a bit faster than it could swing and was keeping it off balance, but not much damage was being done to it.
Neither of them, alone, had a chance. "Good thing we're not alone," she said with a smile, trotting up to the edge of the building and leaping out of the hole. Could the bugbear speak? She didn't dare risk it, so she just crept in quietly.
"Take that!" shouted Rainbow as she delivered a kick on its head, then rebounded away to avoid the swing of claws and gnashing of teeth. "You're gonna have to be way faster than that!"
Prickle bound up to a roof not far from the action. Rainbow saw her and Prickle was fast to bring up a hoof in a 'shhh' motion. Rainbow nodded and darted around the bear to keep it facing as far away from Prickle as possible. "Come on, can't you even hit me once?"
Slower than Rainbow did not mean slow. It got lucky, or perhaps it was learning her patterns, but as she came to deliver a quick blow, its teeth clamped down one one of her legs and with a toss of its head, send her flying to the ground to crash with a painful thud against the dirt. Even as she groaned and moved blearily to stand, it was diving down on top of her.
It was time to act. Prickle lined up the shot, then threw the best weapon she had, herself. Wind roared in her ears for just a moment before she crashed into the bear like a bullet. It roared in pain and defiance and swiped at her side with claws that were even sharper than they looked. They tore right through her suit, leaving jagged marks. Pain exploded through her, but she was not giving up.
She raised a hoof. "Go--" She brought it down with all the strength she had. "Away!"
Suddenly she was falling. The blow had sent the bear crashing into the ground beside Rainbow Dash with a titanic crash, dirt exploding from the impact site. Rainbow Dash had scrambled out of the way just in time. "Oh yeah, now that's the stuff!" She darted up and caught Prickle from the air, snatching her from gravity's grip. "That was awesome!"
The bugbear had a differing opinion and rose with a snarl. It was wobbling though and its wings didn't flap quite in sync. The crushing blow clearly had an effect on it, but it wasn't willing to quit yet.
"Throw me."
Rainbow perked an ear at her friend. "Ya sure? I got a better idea." She could toss Prickle, possibly, or... She flew directly at the bear, streaking at it. "You know what to do," she said through clenched teeth, the air growing thick around them as they accelerate towards a limit.
It took Prickle an instant to realize what was going on, but then she knew, and she was ready. She brought her hoof back as things grew more and more tense.
Even the bear seemed to know something was up. Instead of coming to fight them, it was fleeing as fast as it could, which was nowhere near fast enough to get away from Rainbow Dash.
Everything became colors. Colors and noise. Prickle heard screaming. Was it hers? Was it Rainbows? It could even have been the bear's, she didn't know. What she did know it when the rainbows faded, there was a new deep and long trench leading away from them. At the end of it laid the bugbear, unmoving.
Rainbow was cheering and celebrating, dancing in air while holding Prickle up. "Ya shoulda seen it! Wait, you did see it, you were there. We were so awesome!" She tossed Prickle up and caught her, but stopped when Prickle made a yelp of genuine pain. "What?" That's when she saw the ripped suit and the wounds she had suffered. "O-oh! Hang in there little buddy!"
Prickle wanted to hang in there, but she couldn't. She'd done her part. She needed to sleep. Everything went dark in the embrace of Rainbow Dash.
Prickle opened her eyes with a soft groan, only to start up as she realized she was not in her usual bed, or anywhere she normally would visit.
She was in the hospital. What had put her there filtered through her mind and her eyes snapped down to where she had met the bugbear's claws. There were bandages covering the spot, but her suit was still on, despite all the odds in her head telling her it shouldn't be.
What was going on?
She started to rise from the bed, only to hear a soft gasp from the next bed over. Its curtain wrenched to the side, revealing her roommate to be Silver Spoon. "You're awake!"
Prickle toppled over with surprise, flopping onto the soft bedding. Pain ran through her. She was still hurt. Not terribly, she decided, but hurt enough to not want to go flopping around. "Hello..."
Silver Spoon smiled from her bed, a gentle smile. "Nurse Redheart said you'd come... after you beat up that nasty bugbear. Did you do it?"
Prickle sat up on her haunches, facing Silver Spoon. She gave a single firm nod. "Me and Rainbow Dash, I mean, Rainbow Dash and I did. She was amazing!"
Silver spoon leaned forward, or tried, but it seemed she was still hurt as well. She had bandages along her barrel, but, like Prickle, seemed far from critically put down. "You were more amazing... Like... I'm glad you're here."
Prickle felt confused heat build in her cheeks. Hearing kind words from one half of the terrible duo that once had tormented her was a disorienting achievement. "I... just did what I thought I had to do..."
Silver Spoon nodded softly. "That's what makes you... a real hero." She patted her bed lightly. "Can you come closer?"
Prickle tilted her head a little before she looked around. She didn't see any adults to chastise her, so she hopped down carefully and made a slow walk to Silver's side. "Are you alright?"
"Yes... thanks to you." Once Prickle was close enough, Silver darted in despite the obvious pain such an action brought her and planted a kiss right on the end of Prickle's snout. "I owe you everything. I thought I was... gone. There was fire everywhere. I couldn't even see anymore. I kept calling for help... Then... Then..." Tears were welling in her eyes as she told the story. "I laid down. I was ready to just die..."
Prickle cringed at the image of it. "Nopony deserves to be... cooked."
"Deserve it or not, like... I was going to." A smile touched her lips. "Then you came, my angel through the flames. You didn't let anything stand in your way. I heard wood exploding all around me, then the heat went away... Then I was here, in the hospital." She reached a hoof to Prickle's cheek and slowly felt across it. "I owe you everything..."
Prickle felt her insides growing warm. "N-no you don't."
Silver just giggles, more of a titter really. "I knew you'd say that. You're a hero, a real hero." She let out a little sigh. "If I could get up, I would give you the biggest hug. They said your name was Tiny Titan?"
Prickle started. Silver Spoon didn't know her real name?!
"You remind me of somepony." Silver gazed at Prickle through half-closed eyes. "You have her eyes. She's a nice pony too, but she'd never have the courage to do what you did."
Prickle's tension only grew worse. Was Silver Spoon talking about her, to her? "Oh, um... Well she's probably doing the best she can..."
"Yeah... We used to make fun of her, for being different." She reached out a hoof again and rested it right on the bridge of Prickle's snout. "Sometimes difference can be amazing..."
Prickle was flailing internally. There were a thousand things she wanted to say, but none of them wanted to form an orderly line to get out of her. "Are you... alright?"
"Thanks to you." Silver sat up a precious inch, though her face showed the pain of the motion. "They actually said I should be alright in about a week. How do you feel, my angel of the flames?"
Prickle's ears went down and back. That title was just a bit too much. "T-Tiny Titan will do," she assured with a nervous smile. "I'm glad you're alright... For... I... I thought I hurt you, when I was trying to help you."
Silver frowned a little. "If you didn't help me, I wouldn't be here to hurt." She seemed to think back to that time. "The door flew past me when you kicked it... I think it might have bonked me on the way past. I felt even more dizzy, but here I am. I'm alright." She bopped Prickle on the nose. "You saved me. That's, like, the bottom line."
A soft knock came from the door just an instant before a nurse poked her nose in. Redheart smiled as she came closer. "I see you two found each other. I hope you're getting along?" There wasn't much actual question or doubt there. "Tiny Titan?"
Prickle snapped to attention, which hurt and she winced. "Y-yes?"
"Take it easy. You're still hurt. Thankfully not too badly. You two should get out around the same time." She moved over Prickle and reached, snatching up the filly by her costumed scruff and carrying her to her bed without too much effort. She was still a filly. Without resisting, she was not that heavy to move around. "We're going to have to give you a bath later, and launder your suit, but, until then, your secret's safe with us." She put up a hoof in a 'shh' motion once Prickle was set down. "And I don't want to hear anypony is pressuring our patients."
Prickle felt a tension drifting away. They did know. They were just being kind about it. She gave a warm smile to Redheart. "Thank you."
"Thank us?" Redheart ran a hoof gently across the top of Prickle's head. "Little hero, we heard all about your daring deeds from Rainbow Dash. She was quite insistent on going over the blow by blow with us. That was very brave, and foolish, as brave things often are. Ponyville owes you a debt of thanks."
Silver tittered softly. "Guess I owe you two thanks."
Prickle suddenly remembered something. "Is Carrot Top alright?" She asked with wide eyes. "That mean bugbear was attacking her."
"She was more shocked than hurt." Redheart gave a gentle nod. "She's already home, cleaning up the mess the bugbear left behind, thanks to you." The smile turned to a frown. "That came out wrong. Thanks to you she can go home. You didn't make that monster make a mess." She pulled up the cover over Prickle to her head. "If you're feeling up for it, I'm going to get you both some food." Neither filly denied the idea, and off she went at a leisurely trot.
When the door closed behind Redheart, Silver Spoon looked to Prickle. "So, are you going to tell me?" She smiled, full of hope. "I'm your biggest fan. I can keep a secret, promise. Like, forever and ever!"
Prickle's left ear twitched back. The more ponies knew, the less secret it was. What good was a secret identity that half the town knew? Besides... It was Silver Spoon... If she knew, there was no way Diamond Tiara wouldn't learn, and then... And then... Prickle took a shuddering breath. "Tiny Titan is my name."
Silver sighed softly. "Well... You're not tiny, not in my book." She reached out to point at Prickle. "You're anything but small."
Redheart returned, pushing a tray, handle in her mouth. "Here we are. An extra hearty meal for an extra hearty hero."
Rather than being jealous, Silver giggled and looked delighted as a larger plate was set out for Prickle. She accepted her own plate with a demure nod.
Prickle took it less gracefully, smiling nervously and sitting up to pull the plate closer and give it all a sniff. It wasn't as good at her mother's cooking, but what could be? It smelled nice enough, and her belly reminded her that she was quite hungry. She was soon gobbling up the food just about as quickly as she could get it into her snout.
Silver watched the somewhat messy devouring with wide eyes. "You really are... hearty." She nudged her own plate a little. "I want to go home..."
Prickle paused her meal to look at Silver, food dripping from her snout. "O-oh, me too. Oh..." She cringed. "Oh no..."
"What's wrong?" Silver tilted her head at Prickle.
"My mother doesn't even know where I am! She's going to be so upset, then mad, then upset again." Prickle clopped her hooves to either side of her head. "I'm the worst daughter ever!" Then it struck her. If her mother came, her identity would be plain to all. It wasn't like her mother had any other foals she could be.
Acting, rather than thinking, Prickle pushed her plate away, then slid out of bed, aches and pains be darned. "Gotta go!"
"Wait!"
Silver's cry went unheard as Prickle shoved a window open, backed up a step, then leaped right through the avenue to freedom.
That's when Prickle discovered she was on the second floor of the hospital. She squealed as she fell the unexpected distance, but managed to get her legs in proper position to cushion most of the fall in a dynamic, and painful, thud. Ponies turned to the sounds she had made.
"Isn't that the filly that fought the bugbear?" asked one.
"It's Tiny Titan!" proclaimed another.
A crowd was rapidly forming to greet the community's newest hero, but Prickle was in no mood for adoration of any kind. "I have to go!" She squeaked, then she left it all behind with a powerful bound. She didn't dare go straight home. Somepony could spy which way she was going. She went across town and landed in an alley where she peeled off her suit as quickly as she could, balled it up and let out a sigh of relief. She was Prickle Berry again. Tiny Titan could just relax.
She walked home from there, at least until she ran into a familiar mare who gave a dramatic gasp. "Darling! Whatever happened to you?"
It was Rarity. Prickle smiled up at her. "You're back?"
"I am, and I must say it's just in time." Her horn glowed and snatched the balled up outfit from Prickle. "You simply must be more careful, dear." Her eyes wandered past the outfit to Prickle's bandages. "What did happen? Were you getting into trouble, little filly?"
"She was busy kicking flank!" proclaimed a suddenly-present Rainbow Dash.
Prickle went red. That was another pony that knew. She was terrible at being a superhero. "Don't tell ponies!"
"Yeah yeah." Rainbow rolled a hoof. "She already knows. She's holding your costume."
Rarity nodded uncertainly, then paused. "Wait, is this the filly that you mentioned was fighting that horrible bugbear?!" She put a hoof to her snout. A couch slid in from clear across town, then she fainted onto it. "She's such a small and innocent thing! I had no idea I would be encouraging quite this level of drama."
Rainbow rolled her eyes. "Yeah, drama. You wouldn't know a thing about that, huh Rarity?"
Rarity shot her a dirty look, then sat up. "Well, I'm going to fix this outfit right up. You--" She pointed at Prickle. "--should go home and let your mother know you're alright. Honestly, she's probably a nervous wreck."
Rainbow flew at Prickle suddenly, plucking her up and flying off with her. "I figure you deserve one ride at least," she explained as they went. "Good job, kid. That finishing move, oh wow. We gotta do that again! It was super awesome!"
Prickle gingerly hopped free of Rainbow once they were back on the ground. "Thank you for the ride, but, please, remember... I'm Prickle Berry unless I have the suit on."
"Right." Rainbow snapped a sharp salute. "Then I'll just have to look forward to spotting the up and coming Tiny Titan on her patrols, huh?" She snickered as she rose to fly off. "Spike is gonna be soooo jealous."
Prickle turned away from Rainbow and faced her house, and the mother within. With a deep breath, she approached the door.
Prickle glanced left and right as she went before reaching up for the handle and slowly pulling the door open. "Mom?"
She didn't get to do much more than that before a shape emerged from the shadows of the house and tackled her to the ground in a mess of tears and a joyful squeal. When she cried out in pain, her mother recoiled like she had just touched something hot. "What happened?" Her eyes traveled to Prickle's bandages before she picked Prickle up, carefully, and took her inside while standing on her hind legs awkwardly.
"It's alright, mom," assured Prickle as she was carried. "I won..."
"I know you did." Junebug placed a little kiss on Prickle's forehead. "Everpony was talking about it. They're all gasping and gushing about Tiny Titan." She carefully crouched and let Prickle half-slide from her forelegs onto her bed before she began tucking her in and pulling up the comforter over her. It was, as its name demanded, comforting.
Prickle felt guilt simmering. "I'm sorry I kept you waiting."
Junebug sat beside the bed. "Forget that, for now. Tell me what happened, exactly. I want...I'm your mother, but I'm also your #1 fan." She gave a gentle smile, haunted as it was a little. "Tell me everything."
So Prickle did, explaining how the bugbear arrived. "There was this huge crash, and it had Carrot Top!" She went on through how she and Rainbow Dash fought against it. "She was keeping it busy while I snuck up on it, then bang!" And it all came to a head with rainbows. "I never thought it was so bright and colorful, but it's different from seeing it on the ground. I threw a punch just as it started and I felt the bugbear, but just for a moment. I felt it then it was gone. It made a huge ditch in the ground, and we won."
Junebug leaned in and kissed each cheek. "You are a very brave filly." She smiled a little. "Then what?"
Prickle blinked. "Huh? I won."
Junebug rolled a hoof. "The bugbear didn't give you those bandages. Then what?"
Prickle tried to sit up, but her mother gently pressed down on her. It wasn't as if Prickle couldn't just get up anyway, but she didn't defy her mother and settled back on her bed. "Rainbow, um, Miss Dash took me to the hospital. They were very nice there. Once I thought of you, I came running to let you know I was alright."
Junebug raised a brow. "I don't imagine that was their idea."
Prickle warmed in her cheeks. "N-no mom..."
"I'll go tell them what happened."
Prickle paled. "B-but, the secret!"
Junebug rested a hoof on Prickle's lips. "I will be discreet. I'll just talk to your nurse. Which was it?"
"R-redheart," mumbled out Prickle. "She really was nice..."
Junebug smiled. "Then I'll be sure to thank her. I'm not angry at anypony that helped take care of my precious Prickle." She rose to her hooves. "Now you just relax here. Do you want a drink before I go?"
"Yes please..."
All too soon, Junebug had left for the hospital, and Prickle sat up with her glass of water, considering her life. Was her mother really alright, or was she... Prickle didn't know. "I don't deserve you," she sighed to herself with a smile. She had the best mom ever, she decided. She would have to get the biggest besterest mother's day card...
A knocking came from a window and Prickle's eyes darted to see Scootaloo peeking in through it with a huge grin.
Prickle felt the urge to smile in return. "Come in!"
Permission given, Scootaloo dropped from the window and soon the door opened to admit all three of the crusaders.
Sweetie was the first to Prickle's bedside, but only because Apple Bloom was holding Scootaloo back. "That was quite the engagement if I heard correctly. Are you alright?"
Scootaloo burst free of Apple Bloom's embrace. "Is she alright?! She got to kick flank with Rainbow Dash! I'm so jealous right now I could explode!" She jumped right on Prickle, hugging her.
It would have been a nice thing, if not for Prickle's injuries singing out in a symphony of pain. Her own throat raised to join the chorus before Apple Bloom pulled Scootaloo free. "Sorry 'bout that. Ya hurt bad?"
Prickle shook her head. "It just hurts. The nurse said it should be fine in a week." She put a hoof behind her head. "Sorry to bother, but could you bring home my work from school for me while I'm stuck in bed?"
Sweetie gave a firm nod. "I'll be sure to do that. I'm glad you're alright though. Was it scary?"
"Yes," admitted Prickle. "I was sure it was gonna get me a few times..." She reached out a hoof. "But I did what I had to, and I think it's all of your fault... Thank you."
Her outstretched hoof was met by three others in a communal hoofbump.
Apple Bloom, smiling radiantly, nodded. "Well, yer officially a hero now. Are ya gonna keep it a secret still?"
Prickle's eyes went wide. "I have to!"
Apple Bloom rolled a hoof. "Not that we're arguin' any, but ah'm curious, why?"
Scootaloo rolled her eyes. "Because superheros do that, and she's super, and a hero."
Sweetie Belle tapped her hooves together. "We all know. Rarity knows, Rainbow knows." She tilted her head at Prickle. "Do the nurses and doctors know?"
Prickle's ears fell. "Yes..." They snapped back up. "But Diamond Tiara doesn't know, and neither does Silver Spoon." Her eyes shone with hope. "They can't know!"
Apple Bloom squinted one eye shut. "Lemme get this straight. Yer hidin' from jus' those two?" Prickle bobbed her head. "Why?"
Sweetie Belle threw her hooves wide. "They're not that bad. They've become much nicer since the whole election thing when we got our marks."
Prickle's lips peeled back in a display of fear. "They still think I'm a creepy freak with weird strength."
Scootaloo prodded Prickle carefully. "Yeah, sure, but you're our creepy freak with awesome strength! You're a hero, Prickle."
Apple Bloom nodded. "Now, we ain't here ta force ya, right girls?" She gave Scootaloo a pointed look. "So ya can make yer own decisions. We're behind ya, 110%!"
"Is that possible?" Sweetie Belle looked uncertain. "For now, you should rest and get better. I'll bring you your work every day." Her horn began to glow and a notebook was produced from in her fur. "I have yesterday's notes!"
Scootaloo blinked. "We didn't even have class yesterday..."
Sweetie stuck out her tongue. "That doesn't mean all of us did nothing."
Apple Bloom pricked an ear. "If we don't get movin', girls, we're not gonna get any notes fer today either. C'mon. We'll see ya later, Prickle."
They fled with a chorus of bye, leaving Prickle alone, with Sweetie's notebook.
She reached for it and flipped it open. Inside were dense notes from the start of the year going forward through it. But there was more than that. It was also her diary! There were musings and thoughts about her life in general. It was as if Sweetie Belle just wrote things out in one unending stream of thought, whether it was about a school project or what she thought of that colt in the third row.
Prickle's cheeks went a bright red and she tossed it away onto her belly as if it were on fire. She shouldn't read that!
But then time passed, and she had nothing to do... She timidly reached for the notebook/journal. If she focused on the schoolwork part of things, that shouldn't cause any problems, right?
She flipped through quickly, trying to not read any more than she had to to get an idea of where she was in the year's lessons.
Then she found it.
They picked on her again today. I don't know what Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon have against Prickle Berry. She's a very nice filly, so far as I can tell. I don't even know what they think is so strange about her, and they won't say. They just have some secret they hold over her and they laugh and poke fun and even threaten her. I can't stand it! I wish I could do something about it...
Prickle didn't know tears had escaped her until one splattered on the page. She squeaked and quickly brushed it away before she flopped back on her pillow, taking a break from trying to find those notes.
The front door opened while prickle lay there. It was her mother. Junebug smiled at her daughter. "What's that?" She was looking at the notebook. "Are you studying, my clever little porcupine?"
That seemed a fine excuse. Besides, that had been her goal. "Sweetie Belle dropped off her notes before school."
"That was very kind of her." Junebug set her saddlebaskets aside. "Redheart was relieved to hear you were alright. She mentioned something about leaping out of a second story window..." Prickle wilted with shame. "She's just glad to know that didn't hurt you, but she was quite insistent you rest up until it stops hurting completely." She moved over to kiss Prickle's forehead. "I love you."
Prickle smiled at that, relief flooding her. "I love you too, mom. They, the crusaders that is, promised to drop off my work after school each day so I don't fall behind. Being a superhero doesn't get me out of school."
"I'm glad you see it that way." She ran a hoof slowly through Prickle's mane. "Some ponies, once they start on their career, abandon school entirely. I don't want you to. This... This is obviously what you want, and need on some level, but I hope there's more ahead of you than risking yourself for other ponies."
Prickle sat up a little. "What... else would I do?"
Junebug tilted her head at her daughter. "Whatever you wanted. You have a sharp little brain in that head of yours. You could do all sorts of things. I don't want you to feel you have to do this... I mean, even if you did want to use your strength, there are plenty of jobs where you could do that without being a fighter."
"Like?"
Junebug paused a moment before it came to her. "You could work in construction. A mare as strong as you? You'd be highly valued and save a lot of time and effort compared to how they'd do it without you. You're fast enough that you could be a courier. A mailmare is a perfectly acceptable position." She leaned down and pressed her forehead to Prickle's. "You can be so many things. I'm not telling you to stop. I just want you to keep your eyes open."
She trotted away and Prickle watched her quietly. It was clear to her that her mother would rather she put down her shiny suit and find another job, any other job... "Why aren't you telling me to stop?"
Junebug froze like a statue a moment before she turned back to Prickle. "Stop what, dear?"
Prickle smiled a little. "You know what. You don't want me to be Tiny Titan."
"I..." She raised a hoof to her chin. "I... want you to be happy, Prickle. I want to be a good mother. If being... this... is what you are, then I won't... stop you. That doesn't mean I have to... like it specifically, but I love you and I will be a good mother."
Prickle did as her mother told her, and performed well on the work she was given by Sweetie every day. Each time the unicorn came around, Prickle would swap notebooks with her answers and homework in it with what Sweetie had from the day before.
At last, she was well again and could return to school. Things seemed to be normal enough.
"The heroine walked with renewed vigor. She had shaken off her injuries with the determination that made her who she was. Tiny Titan would stalk the streets of Ponyville, and bad guys had better watch out!"
Prickle smiled over at Scootaloo. "You're very silly when you're doing the narrating thing."
"You know you like it," assured Scootaloo with a returned grin. The other girls giggled at her antics.
Apple Bloom threw a leg over her powerful friend. "Ah'm mighty happy ta see ya up n' around again. It'll be a treat ta be at school wit ya insteada jus' bringin' home notes fer ya."
Sweetie bobbed her head as they approached the class. "Not that I minded taking notes for you, Prickle. It's the least I could do!"
They exchanged a communal hoofbump before they split up for their seats.
Cheerilee gave her a sympathetic look when Prickle first entered the classroom. "Prickle Berry, it's so good to have you back." She let out a worried sigh. "To think, you were caught by that terrible Bugbear while trying to get your mother her groceries, really. She should have known better than to send you out at a time like that."
Prickle froze a moment and glanced off to see the crusaders were bobbing their heads at her. That was the excuse they had given for her. "O-oh, yeah, ha... That was a bit silly, but I'm alright." She smiled brightly at her teacher. "I'll be extra careful in the future."
She found her way to her desk and settled in. There were murmurs of consolation, but it seemed ponies were happy that she was alright, which was nice.
Until she heard a voice. "Hello, Prickle." She glanced to the right to see Silver Spoon standing there with a broad smile. "Nice to see you today."
What was she aiming at? "Uh, hello, um, Silver Spoon."
"Silver will do," she assured with a flutter of her lashes. "We really need to talk more."
"Settle down class," came Cheerilee's commanding voice. Silver trotted away without any further words and settled beside Diamond Tiara.
Prickle let out a near-silent sigh of relief that Silver Spoon had been banished, but glances showed that Silver was giving furtive looks right back at her. She was in that prissy filly's sights and there was nothing Prickle could think of to shake it.
Unless... She raised a hoof into the air. "Miss Cheerilee?"
Cheerilee paused her lesson, focusing on Prickle. "What is it, Prickle? Is everything alright?"
"I'm really sorry but it hurts a little. Can I go get a drink?"
Asking to take a break to get a drink was normally something a foal would have to wait for lunch for, but Prickle hoped, and was rewarded. "Of course you can. Go on. Now class--"
Prickle slid from her chair and trot from the room, giddy with freedom once she turned the corner and slipped out of the schoolhouse. The water fountain was outside, beside the playground. As she walked towards it, she looked towards the sky, as bright blue as it was. Part of her wanted to run away, but she couldn't do that... "Why not?" she asked herself out loud.
She dipped her snout in the way of the water and stepped on the pedal to get it to start flowing. As she drank, she thought of why not. For one, she was at school. Running away would get her in trouble. For another, she wasn't just Prickle Berry anymore. She was Tiny Titan. Heroes didn't run, and she was one of those, right?
"Hello."
Prickle jumped and swallowed the water wrong, sending herself into a coughing fit. A hoof came down and gently pat her back until the coughing subsided. Silver Spoon smiled gently. "Are you alright?"
Prickle looked around wildly, but there was no way to escape other than outright fleeing, again... "H-hello Silver Spoon. What are you doing here?"
"I was worried." She pulled a cloth from her fur and held it in her snout as she leaned in and rubbed it against Prickle's face, nuzzling her as she cleaned away the spilled water. "I volunteered to make sure you were alright."
Prickle blinked with dumbfounded confusion mixing with the blush of the other filly's invasion of her personal space. "Wait, Miss Cheerilee wouldn't let a pony out for that."
Silver suddenly looked guilty. "N-no, I guess not... I said I was thirsty too." Her smile returned. "We're both hurt, remember. But only one of us got hurt fighting that big terrible bugbear." She tucked her cloth away. "Can we talk?"
Prickle gestured at the schoolhouse with a flick of her head. "Cheerilee will be mad at us if we--"
Silver put a hoof to Prickle's snout. "Just a moment, please... I swear."
Prickle shivered faintly before she nodded. "Alright..." She glanced away and back. "You're..." She was almost certain Silver Spoon knew. "You're here to make fun of me, aren't you?"
Silver recoiled. "I said sorry!"
"So what!" Prickle suddenly shouted before going red. She hadn't meant to shout like that. "I..."
Silver had wilted under the sudden scream. "I'm... sorry to bother you." She spun in place and galloped back for the schoolhouse, leaving Prickle behind.
She hung her head with newfound guilt. Had Silver been trying to be nice to her? Was it right for her to shove Silver away like that? There wasn't much she could do about it right that moment, so she walked back to class and tried to pay attention to the lesson being given.
During lunch, Prickle was happily sitting by herself and chewing the sandwich her mother had prepared for her. It was her favorite kind and each bite reminded her of how lucky she was to have a perfect mom.
A sudden lashing hoof knocked it free of her grip and sent it to the dirty ground. Diamond Tiara was there with a huge scowl. "Where do you get off talking to Silver Spoon that way!" She leaned in, her hind legs lifting off the ground in the motion. "Nopony treats Silver Spoon like that! Nopony!"
"W-what? I didn't--"
Diamond moved in all the further, shoving Prickle back. It wasn't that she couldn't resist, just that she wasn't.
The fact that she wasn't, and Diamond's scathing tongue rubbed the wrong way through the heroic filly. Wold Tiny Titan accept this? She didn't have to be bullied anymore! But if she showed her strength, she might blow everything...
"I heard it from inside the classroom. You shouted at her and she came back ready..." Diamond Tiara cut herself out with a low seething growl. "Nopony treats my friend that way!" She gave Prickle a terrific shove that sent her tumbling over her back to land on her belly with an oof. "You mutant freak! You don't belong in this school! You don't belong in this town! Go away and never come back!"
It was too much. Prickle was beyond thinking. She had to defend herself. Never had the bullying become so physical before, had she been so directly attacked. She scrambled up to her trembling hooves, her entire body shaking like a leaf in a strong wind. "Stop. Stop right now. You leave--"
"Go away!" shrilly cried Diamond Tiara, rushing with a raised hoof. She swung in a mighty punch, but Prickle did not allow it. The hoof landed, a deep thud heard, but Prickle's snout did not move a millimeter. It was as if she were made of stone.
The noise of the conflict had started drawing eyes, but Prickle was not paying attention to them. Her eyes were on Diamond, who was heaving and pushing, trying to get her hoof to move Prickle, which wasn't happening, not even a little. "Stop," she repeated. "Last warning."
A third party suddenly threw herself between them. Silver Spoon hugged Diamond Tiara tight and pulled her away. "Stop! Please stop!"
"Silver!" Diamond backed up in a sudden recoiling. "I was just..." She looked around nervously. "She..." Her voice lowered to a whisper, "She made you cry! I'm defending you, you big dummy. Let me handle this."
Silver Spoon leaned forward and kissed Diamond Tiara on the nose. "Parsnip."
Prickle blinked. What did parsnips have to do with anything? Despite her confusion, Diamond sat on her haunches like a well-trained dog.
Tiara gave a slow blink. "Are you... sure?"
"Yes." Silver Spoon nodded. "I'll explain later, I promise."
Diamond looked to Prickle, frown returning swiftly. "You're off the hook, this time. You better watch yourself!" She thrust a hoof at Prickle. "I'm watching you!" With a mighty huff, she stormed away.
Cheerilee approached with a concerned expression. "Is everything alright over here? I heard some sh--Prickle!" She reached down and turned Prickle's head gently to reveal the swelling bruise that Diamond Tiara's hoof had left. She was powerful enough to resist moving at all, but she could bruise as well as anypony else. "What happened?! Who did this? Tell me right now."
Silver Spoon looked stricken, and Prickle hesitated. She wanted to get Diamond in trouble, but... "I fell. That's what all the noise was about..."
Cheerilee tilted her head a little. "It's... Are you sure?" Prickle nodded. "Alright... Come with me. You really must be careful while you're healing."
The teacher took Prickle away to get a new bandage and her face gently dabbed off. "Now, you know, if somepony is picking on you, you should tell me," she said as she worked. "I know you're probably scared, but it won't be better for you to be quiet about it. It will be between you and me."
Prickle knew that wasn't true. Other ponies had told on Diamond before, and it rarely worked out for the better for them in the long run. Sure, Diamond Tiara would be punished in the short term, but in the long run... "I just fell," she repeated. "Thank you."
"You run along and play, but, please, don't hesitate to talk to me." Cheerilee gave a smile she hoped was reassuring. "I'm always here."
Prickle gave one final nod and rushed out back outside. Her sandwich was right where she left it, all dirty and mildly trampled on. Her mother's love, ruined. Another thing to add to the tally-sheet of Diamond Tiara's wrongdoings. With a muted grunt, Prickle slammed the ground, making a little crater. She was so angry right at that moment, at herself for failing to stand up for herself, and Diamond for being a bully.
Prickle tried to pay attention for the rest of the day even as her thoughts kept looping back around to how the new injury she had, and the pony that had caused it. Just as pressing, and perhaps more confusing, was her friend. Silver was not acting like her usual self. She defended Prickle, to start, and was nice to her.
Prickle tried to set the pieces down in her mind to examine rationally. If Silver was acting that way, there had to be a reason.
She knew.
She had to know. If she didn't know, there was no good reason for her to not suddenly do a 180. But then, what about Diamond? If Silver knew, surely Diamond had to, right?
"Prickle Berry." Cheerilee was looking at her with some concern. "Please focus on what I'm saying." She had admonished foals much more sternly than she was at that moment. Her tone was more caring than angry.
Prickle sat up a little, nodding. "Sorry!"
School passed without much more dramatics involved, and Prickle slid from her seat thankfully.
"Hey Prickle," came Apple Bloom's cheerful voice. "Ah heard ya done got picked on. Sorry we weren't there ta stop it."
Scootaloo nodded with a frown. "If I was there, I woulda--"
"Done mostly nothing," finished Sweetie Belle, nudging Scootaloo. "But maybe we could have calmed her down. Sorry."
Prickle sat on her haunches and spread her hooves wide. "I'm not angry at you three." And she wasn't. They were her friends, and had done nothing wrong.
They came in for her and she wrapped them up in a hug, squeezing them carefully. It was nice to have friends, especially ones that understood who she was. "I'm going to head home and do my own homework that I took with my own lips for a chance."
Sweetie Belle was giggling as she slipped free of the embrace. "You give great hugs."
Apple Bloom snorted at that. "She ain't wrong, but that there's a funny compliment ta be givin' a pony."
The three trotted off to their various duties and calls. School was over, so there was no reason to stay there.
Prickle walked sedately towards her own home, thinking about the day.
"Hey." Silver Spoon was beside her. When had she even gotten there? "We really need to talk, please... Nopony else is around."
Prickle's eyes darted as she made sure that statement was true. They were on a quiet road and there wasn't anypony else in view, just Silver Spoon... who almost certainly knew all about her. "H-hello, Silver Spoon."
She gave a half smile. "We've all... done things we're not proud of, at one point or another." She pointed a hoof at Prickle. "What will it take to convince you I'm sorry?"
Prickle felt a wave of heat flow through her. A small, angry, part of her insisted that being sorry wasn't good enough. But then she remembered herself and looked at Silver with a more neutral expression. "You're happy that I saved you."
"Yes?" Silver tilted her head a little. "Thank you--"
"I didn't know who you were," spat out Prickle with a bit more venom than she realized.
Silver Spoon took half a step back, her careful demeanor fracturing. "Would... you have left me?"
Prickle felt an icy chill grip her heart. "No! No no no!" She shook her head violent. "Celestia, no..."
Silver Spoon brushed a small rock aside. "Maybe I would have deserved it... I'm really sorry. We... Look, that... There isn't a good way to say this." She sat down on her haunches. "What do I have to do? Do you... want to hit me?"
Prickle's insides clenched all the harder. If she struck Silver Spoon, she couldn't even be sure she wouldn't send the filly right back to the hospital... or worse. "Your friend did enough hitting."
Silver cringed at that. "She was trying to protect... me... She's a good friend, most of the time. She... saw how... Look, this is between us." She waved a hoof between herself and Prickle. "I'll do anything, please... I'm not the pony who made fun of you."
Prickle felt her jaw clench before she let out a thunderous snort. "I... don't know." She didn't, and admitted it as her head hung a little. "I really don't know..."
"Do you hate me?"
Prickle went quiet a moment. "I don't know..." She sat down on her haunches, regarding her former tormentor. "Do you hate me?"
"No!" Silver had little doubt. "You're a hero! By, like, every definition I can think of. You're my hero." She tapped her own chest. "You're Ponyville's hero."
Prickle looked away at the mention of the town. "They like Tiny Titan. Prickle the mutant is still creepy and scary."
While Prickle was looking crestfallen and had her eyes away, Silver approached and slid a leg over her, making Prickle jump in surprise. She drew Prickle against herself. "You are not creepy..."
"You're... just saying that because I helped you."
"Get away from her!" Diamond Tiara was rushing towards them. "You leave Silver Spoon alone!" She easily knocked Silver Spoon back and put herself between the two fillies. "Didn't I warn you before? Miss Cheerilee's not here to protect you this time!"
"Stop it!" shouted Silver as she picked herself off the ground. "Leave her alone."
"When she leaves you alone." Diamond thrust a hoof at Silver. "I read about this. You have stockenhome sickness. I'm here to protect you, Silver, just stay back."
Prickles hopped up to all fours, glaring at Diamond. Was she in on it? Who wasn't? It felt like everypony knew... Her attempt to hide was going poorly, as an understatement. "Silver Spoon wanted to talk to me."
"I bet she did." Diamond turned her full attention on Prickle. "Did you threaten her?" Prickle shook her head quickly. "Then why would she want to talk to a freak like you?"
Silver's leg slid in front of Diamond as she came around to face her friend. "I did, Diamond. Please... Can we just talk?"
Diamond flashed her teeth in a seething growl, but settled slowly to her haunches. "Fine, we're talking. Here we are." She glared at Prickle. "Freaks and all."
Silver sat down to the side between Diamond and Prickle. "I know we've had a very... problematic... past."
Prickle blinked at that. "That's saying it mildly."
Diamond rolled her eyes. "Get to the point, Silver."
Silver pointed at Prickle, then at Diamond. "You are both my friends."
Diamond recoiled like she was burned. "F-friends, with her?! What does she have on you? You know I have your back, Silver. Just tell me and I'll take care of it."
Silver looked directly at Prickle. "I actually have something on her, but I don't plan to ever, like, take advantage of that."
Diamond's furious mask seemed to break, ebbing into a calculating one. "Ohhhh... Now I see." She smiled at Prickle, tail swishing left and right. "You better watch out. Silver Spoon may look like a creampuff, but when she has a pony, she has a grip that's even stronger than yours." A laugh escaped her. "Oh, now I feel silly. You're the one pulling the strings, Silver." She went over and hugged her friend eagerly.
Prickle looked between the two, her confusion mounting. Still, Diamond Tiara had calmed down. That was good, right? "I'll be careful." She rose to her hooves. "I should get going home, alright?"
Silver nodded. "I'll see you tomorrow, kay?"
Diamond nodded in support. "You better do what Silver asks, or you'll answer to me instead."
Prickle had no idea what was really going on anymore. "Tomorrow." She almost super jumped away, but caught herself at the last second and instead trotted away from the dynamic duo.
She felt some of the tension flow out of her once both were out of sight. She still wasn't sure what exactly was going on. Still... "She doesn't know..." She couldn't know. If Diamond Tiara knew she saved Silver, half the things she said wouldn't make any sense. Silver Spoon had kept that secret, for some reason.
Prickle opened the door to her house and was greeted with a warm hug and questions about her day. She was home, and she was with her mother. Everything was alr--
"What happened?" Junebug gently gave Prickle's bruise a light nudge, feeling over it. "Did you get into a fight?"
Prickle flinched back, both in pain and otherwise. "I didn't fight anypony."
Junebug took a slow breath. "I suppose... that's probably true." She wasn't daft enough to think she could fight any of the other foals and it not be over very quickly. "But did somepony fight you? What happened?" She leaned in close. "It's like you have a hoofprint right on your pretty little face, poor dear."
"I just... fell..."
Junebug cocked a brow. "Right onto a horseshoe?"
"Y-yeah!"
"You know I don't believe that... My little porcupine, I love you very much, but I don't appreciate lies. Whatever happened, tell me honestly. I've forgiven you for worse things than a black eye." Junebug reached out and Prickle didn't resist as her mother pulled her right in for a firm hug. "You're safe here."
Prickle nuzzled into the warm comfort of her mother a quiet moment. She just wanted to be safe and secure, and she was getting just that. Her mother didn't pry further as the moments ticked by with one another cuddling in the silence.
She looked up and backed away an inch. "A filly thought I hurt her friend."
Junebug tilted her head at Prickle. "Did you?"
"Sorta..." Prickle squirmed in place. "I said maybe not nice things. I was confused and... I... I really didn't mean to... But..."
"Shh." Junebug ran a hoof through Prickle's mane gently. "Did you apologize, to the filly you hurt, not that one that hurt you?"
Had she? Prickle ran back through her memories of the day. "Sort of... we talked a little... She wants to talk again tomorrow... I guess she's not too hurt." A little smile came to her snout.
Junebug echoed the smile and nuzzled her filly. "And the filly that hurt you?"
"She, uh, didn't apologize... but I think she's alright." Visions of Diamond Tiara apologizing ran through her head. They were so obviously fantasy that she tossed them aside. "She knows I'm not hurting her friend."
"This is good then. Prickle, I'm proud you didn't hurt her. I know you could have. It takes a big pony to stand your ground and not just hit things that bother you." She rose and trotted away. "Now go ahead and start your homework. Dinner will be ready at the usual time. If you need any help, you call me."
The next day, after school had let out, Prickle went to fetch her things and spotted something new tucked in beside the container she held her lunch in. It was a card. A soft sweet scent came from it that only roused her curiosity higher. She flipped it open to reveal an invitation.
Dear Prickle Berry,
You are cordially invited to a meeting of like-minded admirers. Please come to the following address at your earliest convenience.
Signed, An Admirer
Prickle tilted her head at the letter. The address pointed to the small well-to-do portion of town. What would she be wanted for... there... She dropped the letter. Was it Diamond, or Silver? Maybe both?
She crashed to her haunches.
"What's wrong?" asked Scootaloo as she trotted up beside Prickle. "It's time to go, or Miss Cheerilee'll get mad at us."
Ah ha! An out, sort of. "Scootaloo!"
"Yeah?"
"Can you come with me?" She snatched the letter off the ground in her teeth and held it up for Scootaloo to see.
Scootaloo blinked at it as she leaned in. "Huh, sure? Anything for a friend, right?"
Prickle felt relief surge through her. She wouldn't be going alone. Whatever was planned, it wouldn't be nearly as bad with a friend, and one who already knew her secret. "Let's go."
Scootaloo's wings buzzed on her back. "To adventure!"
Together, they made their way quickly across town to the address. Scootaloo recognized it easily. "Silver Spoon's place. Huh, never actually been inside before."
Prickle's ears fell. She didn't know how it would turn out, for the better or worse. "Thank you for being here." She walked up and pressed the button by the gate, just to have it swing open a moment later quietly.
"Guess we go in?" Scootaloo gestured inside, then began to walk easily. "Nice place."
Prickle rushed to catch up. "Y-yeah, I guess."
On reaching the door, it swung open as if by magic, but the source of the locomotion became clear quickly. Silver Spoon was standing there. "This way, please." Her eyes darted to Scootaloo, but didn't question her. With a spin, she walked away at a sedate pace. "I'm glad you could make it. This couldn't happen without you here."
None of those words made Prickle feel better, but she pressed on, taking comfort in the fact that she had Scootaloo at least to help. "What couldn't happen?" she dared to ask. "Oh, um... Scootaloo knows."
"Oh, I know," sang Silver Spoon. "If she didn't, she wouldn't be here." She arrived by a fancy double door and waved at it. "Please, enter."
Prickle glanced to Scootaloo who grinned and waved at the same doors. "Go on."
They were in it together?! She was alone... Prickle hung her head low a moment before she walked up to the door and took its handle in her mouth. With a little twist, she pulled it open to reveal a room full of ponies.
"Surprise," they yelled in concert.
Apple Bloom was there at the front, hooves spread wide. "Welcome to the first meeting of the Tiny Titan fanclub!"
Prickle blinked dumbly.
Rarity emerged from the crowd, floating over a repaired costume. "As promised, a mighty costume for a mighty hero." The crowd clopped and stomped with appreciation as she floated it over to Prickle. "One she rightly deserves."
Bon Bon stepped out, glancing around. "We, uh, have to talk later. Good job on that bugbear. Such a little filly like you, doing all that... It's remarkable."
"Remarkable nothing." Rainbow Dash landed in front of Prickle. "It was downright amazing, and she made my moves even more awesome!" She paused a moment, thinking of a synonym. "We were fantastic together." She threw a leg over Prickle and hugged her close. "You're welcome to monster bashing any time, little squirt."
Redheart gave a soft cough. "Which I hope will not result in another hospital visit, and if it does, you will stay put long enough to properly heal. We don't want you being hurt."
Silver Spoon bumped into Prickle, side to side. "We're all here to celebrate you, Prickle Berry, Tiny Titan. You're an amazing filly that's made our lives better."
Prickle made a sudden observation, looking at who was present and not. "Didn't bring Lyra?"
"She's not in the secret," promised Bon Bon. "I left her at home."
Sweetie Belle suddenly popped free of the crowd, hovering two cups, one of which she brought over to Prickle. "Try some, it's really nice."
Prickle accepted it with a trembling hoof. Were all those ponies that happy about her? Part of her struggled to accept the idea. "Silver Spoon, how did you know all these ponies knew who I was?"
Silver fluttered her lashes. "I have my ways, and a proper mare never reveals her secrets. Please, enjoy yourself. Today is your day." She approached and planted a smooch on Prickle's cheek. "My hero," she breathed on the paralyzed filly's cheek and walked away into the crowd.
So Prickle learned that she had fans, good fans. They were all happy to be there, and talk to her. Most of them seemed to care about her wellbeing, especially the more mature adults. Redheart tried to gently caution her away from superheroing, but let it drop in favor of advice and tips to keep safe. "I don't mind seeing you, Tiny Titan, but let's avoid doing it on a, shall we say it, professional level, too often."
As the party was winding down, Prickle was nibbling on some cake when the world suddenly darted away. She was in a small, cramped, dark place.
"Shh," hissed Bon Bon. "I wanted to talk to you privately." They were in a crowded closet, buried under jackets and other things. "I'm really sorry I wasn't there, for the bugbear. That was entirely my fault." Prickle opened her mouth to object but Bon Bon put a hoof over Prickle's snouts. "I know what you're going to say, save it. Starting Tomorrow we're doing weekly lessons. You come to the shop, as Tiny Titan, and I'll make you sweat." She moved to shove Prickle back into the main room.
Prickle was not a pony that could be shoved when she didn't want to be. She did not move an inch. "You have a secret identity, right?"
Bon Bon raised a brow. "Who said that?"
Prickle grinned lopsidedly. "Takes one to know one. Candy makers don't fight like that."
Bon Bon frowned. "You'll have to earn that. Show up tomorrow, and be ready to work."
Prickle reached up and hugged Bon Bon firmly. "Thank you. I will, promise."
Bon Bon's stern expression melted in the hug and she sighed. She put one leg around Prickle, returning the embrace. "Please, be careful."
Prickle slipped back into the room to come face-to-face with the host. Silver Spoon's tail was swaying behind her as she smiled. "Did you enjoy yourself, Tiny Titan?"
Prickle's ears fell a moment. "Are..."
Silver put her hoof to Prickle's lips, a habit of ponies that day it seemed. "Your secret is safe with me. You're my hero, and I mean that."
Prickle's eyes wandered. "Where's Diamond Tiara?"
Silver shrugged. "I told her my parents needed me to do boring housework. I don't have to tell her every little thing, now do I? This is our secret." She reached out with that same hoof to rest it on Prickle's chest, then brought it back to her own. "Maybe I can't ever say enough sorries, but I mean it. You are not a freak, Prickle Berry. You're a miracle."
Prickle felt a new wave of numbness sweep over her. "A miracle?" she barely breathed out.
"You are," confirmed Silver. "Now... the sneaky stuff." Her smile deepened. "In front of Diamond Tiara, I own you. I have something on you so salacious--"
"What?"
Silver giggled softly. "Something so dirty and horrible that you'll do anything to keep me quiet. Just act like that and there's no reason for me to not come and speak to you once in a while, right at school." She leaned in closer. "I am your tormentor, but... this time it's just pretend. Understand?"
She didn't not entirely, but some parts were clear. "You really want to be my friend?"
"I do." Silver gave a firm nod. "May I?"
Prickle squirmed fitfully, unsure what to say. "I don't know you." It was true. She only knew Silver Spoon as Diamond Tiara's +1 of bullying.
"We can fix that," promised Silver in her gentle tones. "I want to know you better too. I'm sorry I did that before, but we can fix it. Prickle Berry, will you be my friend?"
The blunt question sent Prickle down lightly to her haunches. "I... we... can try?" The urge to say no outright wasn't there. She was lost and confused. "So... what do you... like to do?"
Silver frowned faintly. "I like being with my friends and doing what they like to do."
That made almost too much sense to Prickle. The next question felt obvious. "Who are your friends, besides Diamond Tiara?"
Silver opened her mouth to reply, but it slowly closed for an awkward moment before she ruffled up. "All the foals at school! Except maybe Snips and Snails!"
Prickle reached out and echoed Silver's motion, placing her hoof on the rich filly's chest. "Your secret is safe with me."
Silver blinked, at first with confusion, then it turned to anger, face turning red and trembling, just for it to break. Big tears welled in her eyes. "Will you be my friend? A for real friend?"
Her former tormentor reduced to tears, laid naked and bare before her, Prickle saw a filly that was so very alone, even when surrounded by ponies that looked up to her. Prickle spread her hooves wide and Silver stepped forward. With the utmost of care, she embraced the rich filly. "I'm ready to try."
"Aw, that's the sweetest thing I've seen all day and that's saying something seeing as--"
Both fillies turned with confused and shocked expressions. There was Pinkie Pie, rambling away. "This calls for a party! Wait, we just had one of those..."
Prickle twitched an ear at the pink pony, then at her new silver friend. "Did you invite her?"
Silver sat back with a little laugh. "Invite her? She's the one that helped put it all together."
Pinkie bobbed her head. "A-huh. I'm Ponyville's #1 party planner, so it shouldn't be a surprise she'd come to me to help plan things." She leaned in towards both fillies. "How was it? Ya both had a really good great time?"
Prickle felt a chill down her spine. "Does that mean she knows?"
"Know what?" Pinkie tilted her head. "That you're Tiny Titan, Ponyville's newest, smallest, hero?! Of course, silly. This is your party! Well, I guess it's technically Silver Spoon's party, but she threw it for you."
Silver began to look increasingly guilty. "But you knew that ahead of time, right?"
"I figured it out," said Pinkie with a nod. "I'm good at that. So, how was it?!"
In the end, Pinkie made one of her oaths to keep Prickle's identity to herself, and she giddily joined the fan club as a result. "It's really nice what you did while we were away. It's kind of a relief, knowing Ponyville isn't all alone out here."
Prickle moved to head home. She had a mother to greet and homework to do. Before she went, she stopped by Silver Spoon. "Thank you."
Silver smiled. "You enjoyed the function?"
Prickle nodded. "And I'm... glad we worked it out. I'll see you in school, alright?"
Silver looked guilty then. "Maybe a little, but we have to pretend, remember?"
"Yeah..." Prickle didn't like it, but she was not ready to face Diamond yet, queen matriarch of her suffering. "Why does she have to be so mean?"
Silver blinked. "She's not trying to be, honest."
"Easy for you to say, being her best friend." Prickle turned away. "I'll see you tomorrow."
Silver waved as Prickle walked away, then settled on her haunches. "That went better than it could have gone..." She shook her head a little and turned back to the used room. There was a mess to clean.
Prickle walked home under the evening sun. It was growing dim as she went, but it was Ponyville. Outside of huge angry monsters, one was usually pretty safe in its streets. It was home, and just about everypony knew everypony else, or Pinkie would fix it. She whistled as she went to break the silence.
It was quite surprising to have a whistle returned to her. She darted her head around, looking for the source when it came to her. A pony dropped from the sky in a dynamic pose. "Little girl!"
Prickle squeaked and fell back, eyes wide. "H-hello?" The pony was dressed much like she was as Tiny Titan, though they had bright blues and reds.
"Be at ease. I am the Manehatten Mauler, protector of Manehatten, and I hear Ponyville's gotten a new hero. It's important that I find them. Tell me." She, it sounded like a she, leaned towards Prickle. "Do you know where I can find one Tiny Titan?"
Prickle shook her head violently. She didn't know that pony! And what a name, a mauler?! Were they a hero or a villain? "N-nope, sorry."
"That is quite the pity..." Mauler tapped her chin. "The search continues." She launched into the air. Unlike Prickle, there was no jump, she simply ignored gravity and soared away with a glow. Prickle focused on that glow and realized Mauler was a unicorn. How had she missed that detail? She had been more surprised than at first she realized.
Prickle hastened to a trot to get home. It seemed her exploits had drawn attention, and she wan't sure if it was the good kind or the bad kind. "Maybe Bon Bon knows," she said to herself hopefully as she reached her comfy house and the embrace of her mother.
She would find out the next day, she decided to herself. It was time for homework.
Prickle slammed face-first into the earthen wall, making a dent in it. Not because she was hurled so violently, but because it was soft. She pulled herself free and shook herself out. "Lucky."
Bon Bon smirked at her pupil. "You really think so?"
"No..." Prickle looked sheepish a moment before she bounced in place. "I'll get you this time."
She hurled herself at Bon Bon eagerly. The training sessions were hard, and hurt sometimes, but they were a time she could cut loose and be what she was without reservation. She didn't have to hold her punches or walk on eggshells. Bon Bon knew how to fight her and handle her and Prickle adored every moment of it.
They had arrived in that little dug out bunker and Bon Bon had declared it to be their training grounds. "It's out of the way, the walls and ground are relatively soft packed. The biggest threat we have is being buried alive, and I have a feeling you wouldn't be stuck for long if that did happen."
She was a harsh teacher, but always attentive. She told Prickle exactly how she foiled each attack. Sure, being told was not the same as learning, but Prickle felt she was getting closer to success with every attack.
"One thing," Bon Bon said as she circled Prickle. "In a real fight, there are no rules. You win, or the other guy does, and the one that wants to win, will find a way. The same goes between us. There are no rules. Beat me."
"No rules..." Prickle glanced around for something to give her an edge just before a hoof came at her and slapped her across the snout.
"Think faster," Bon Bon cautioned. "Your enemy won't give you time to size up the field in the middle of a fight."
Prickle smiled, confidence blooming. "Alright, no more thinking." She jumped powerfully over the next swing at her and slammed her right forehoof into the ceiling above. "Catch!" She came down across the room as the roof began to collapse with a roar of falling earth.
Bon Bon said something quite unfitting for the presence of a young mare as she tried to scramble out of the way of the collapse, only to have it catch her at the hips and knock her down.
Prickle trotted up and put a hoof on Bon Bon's momentarily stunned head. "I win."
Bon Bon looked mighty sore a moment before it melted away into gales of laughter. "You did. Oh, you did." She pulled herself free of the dirt and began to shake herself free of the debris. "Now you get to help me fix our training area, but good job."
Their work was long and hard, until a soft knocking came from above.
Bon Bon squinted at the hatch that led to freedom. Her voice changed completely as she called, "who is it?"
"O-oh," came the muffled reply. "I thought my little porcupine was here? I brought lunch."
Bon Bon swatted Prickle. "You told your mom?" Prickle looked sheepish. Bon Bon sighed and put a hoof between her eyes. "Go on, you earned lunch."
With a renewed smile, Prickle shot up the ladder and vanished above-ground. Junebug was waiting there with a smile. "There you are." She reached out and began brushing dust and dirt off Prickle. "Having fun?"
"Yes, mom." Prickle bobbed her head quickly. "What did you make?" Her nose danced, but she mostly smelled dirt and earth instead of any food that had been brought for her. Whatever it was, she was sure it'd be good.
"I asked around for food that was good for growing foals and weightlifters and that mister Biceps pointed me on the right path." She produced a small wrapped package. "Enjoy."
Prickle wasn't sure she liked the sound of that. It obviously wasn't going to be one of her favorites. She did accept the package though, to not be rude. "Thanks!" She wasn't sure how thankful she was. "I'll see you later, alright."
Junebug leaned in and kissed Prickle between her dirty ears. "When you're done, come home and get a good shower in. You'll need it."
Prickle gave her mother a careful hug as she promised to do just that, then scurried back underground where Bon Bon was seated and eating her own snack.
"What's that?" Prickle asked, pointing as she held her mother's gift in her teeth.
Bon Bon gave a soft hmm. "This? Just a sandwich Lyra made before I left." She sank her teeth into it. "Nothing fancy, but Lyra doesn't do fancy food. Still nice."
Prickle nodded slowly. "Yeah..." She liked her mother's sandwiches. So what did she get instead? She put the package down and quickly unwrapped its bright red and white checkerboard fabric to reveal a thermos and a little ceramic container that held something that smelled of cheese and herbs. It wasn't bad smelling, just new.
Bon Bon seemed to notice the hesitation. "Not the usual?" Prickle shook her head. "Your mother really cares about you. It's nice... I wish I could tell mine about what I do."
"What do you do?" Prickle nibbled at her chewy food and quickly decided it was in fact not only not bad, but actually kinda good.
Bon Bon smirked at that and gave Prickle a prod on the shoulder. "You haven't earned that, my student. Thank you, by the way."
Prickle blinked at her. "For what?" She undid the top of the thermos and sniffed at it. Ugh, it was like... she didn't know. It smelled odd.
Bon Bon reached out and took the thermos away to sniff it herself. "Oh, wow, a real muscle builder drink." She set it to the side. "I don't think you need that. Just keep eating well, and keep them in use, and you'll be fine. Most of the 'bulking' stuff is only good if you want to look like Biceps, exactly like him. All muscle, no grace. That's not your look."
Prickle was in no hurry to try what was in the thermos anyway, and happily polished that casserole-like dish, leaving the container sparkling clean by the time she was done. "What are you thankful for?"
Bon Bon lifted her shoulders. "If you had come and got me while Rainbow was there, that would have been... awkward. I'm glad you didn't."
Prickle went warm and red quickly. "I... forgot."
Bon Bon tapped her on the nose lightly. "Wisdom is knowing when to accept thanks as given."
"Sorry!" squeaked the young hero as she got to putting her things away to take home later. "Rainbow Dash doesn't know?"
"She doesn't." Bon Bon pat Prickle on the shoulder. "You're already closer than she might ever be. Let's let the food settle before we resume. In the meanwhile, we can go over some of the things we've learned."
"One thing." Prickle bounced to her hooves. "Lyra knows, right?"
Bon Bon let out a long and low sigh as a smile spread over her snout. "If you pressure her, then we're officially not friends, ever."
Prickle went pale. "No! I wouldn't ever! I was just curious, honest."
"Curiosity is a two-edged sword, be careful with it." Bon Bon rose to her own hooves and stretched out. "I had to tell her, the last time the Bugbear came through the town. She's been very responsible about it since. You'll make her very sad if you make her break her promises, and I know you could, if you wanted."
Prickle backed up, bumping into the wall tail-first. "I wouldn't! Lyra's a good pony. I would never hurt her."
"Good, keep that in mind." Bon Bon gestured to the center of the room. "Now let's get back to work. Next time, there might be another hero there to back you up."
"Another?"
"Rainbow Dash? If she doesn't qualify, I'm not sure how many other ponies do." Bon Bon walked to where she wanted to resume. "Equestria is kept safe by a number of such heroes. Most of them act locally, but some, like Miss Dash, cover a wider area. Ponies are so used to it, we don't even bat an eye these days. How often do you see a news article about what Princess Twilight and her friends have saved us from recently?"
Prickle didn't read the newspaper often, and said as much as she rubbed her cheek sheepishly. "Should I?"
"Yes," replied Bon Bon without hesitation. "Your new profession requires it. You need to know what's going on. If a monster is seen coming, you should be one of the first to know about it. If some villain busted out of jail or Tartarus or anywhere else, you should be ready." She lashed out a hoof at Prickle.
Prickle squeaked in surprise, but brought up a hoof just in time to throw it to the side. Her strength was such that she deflected all of Bon Bon, sending her into a spin before she could right herself.
Bon Bon laughed it off and the training resumed.
By the time Bon Bon called it, Prickle was sore in countless places, panting and ragged, but there was a smile on her face. The ache was a good ache. Her body felt... used, in all the right ways. "Thank you, Bon Bon. Thank you so much for teaching me." She dipped her head low, ears spread to the sides. "See you next week?"
"Next week," agreed Bon Bon with a smile. "That doesn't mean you get to spend the time between just sitting around. You keep training. Just remember most other ponies aren't ready for this kind of roughhousing, so be careful around your other friends." She reached out and gently ruffled the top of Prickle's head. "By the way, you may want to look into getting that suit armored."
"Wha?" Prickle looked quite perplexed.
Bon Bon shrugged. "Rarity knows her way around clothing options. Ask her to work in something tougher between the layers of fabric. I know it's more than one thick, and I know she can do it if she wants to. It'll slow you down a little, but I think you need some durability. You have all this strength, but your body's just as delicate as anypony else."
Prickle felt ready to argue that. She got hurt, sure, but she wasn't a wimp! Still, if her teacher said so... "I'll ask Miss Rarity next time I see her."
"Great. Take care of yourself." Bon Bon ascended the ladder and was gone.
Prickle clambered up and out to find Bon Bon had managed to scurry away without a trace. There were still things to learn... She began trotting for home.
As she went, her mind buzzed with what she had learned. Her thoughts drifted back to that other hero that had come looking for her. She would have to face them, eventually. But it was not that day.
Prickle sat obediently in her chair, eyes on the chalkboard as Miss Cheerilee gave a lesson on math. Prickle was alright at math. Far from the top, far from the bottom. She was average. That was, in some strange way, comforting to her. She was average at something, and that was perfectly fine.
When Cheerilee let them out for lunch, Prickle grabbed her package out of her bag. She could smell the delightful aromas coming from within. Her mother had not let her down! With a smile, she trotted outside. She saw the crusaders were at a table, gabbing among one another. Sweetie Belle spotted her coming out and waved her over.
Prickle accepted the invitation and soon hopped up beside Scootaloo and set her lunch down. "Hello!" She started unwrapping her food. "How are you all doing?"
Apple Bloom pricked an ear. "Huh, being, uh, you know, it's workin' for ya."
Scootaloo clopped her forehooves together. "Of course it is. So, hey, how do you get, you know, hero powers?" She grinned hopefully.
Sweetie Belle rolled her eyes. "I don't think she did anything specific."
Prickle nodded quickly. "It just happened. I didn't ask for it."
"Figures." Scootaloo stuck out her tongue. "But if you ever find anything that does that, you'll let me know, right?"
Prickle considered her lame friend. Not lame as in, uh, lame. Scootaloo was amazing! But she couldn't fly. She was literally lame, as far as pegasi went. She was painfully below par for what she was, and there Prickle was, being stupendously above the mark. Prickle felt a wince coming on. "You're not... angry, are you? I mean..."
Scootaloo blinked and shook her head quickly. "No way! Maybe a little jealous a little... But we're the ones that got you where you were." She threw a leg over Prickle and hugged her close. "You're a friend!" That got the other two giving a little cheer of agreement.
With that aside, Prickle got to chowing down on the delightful repast her mother had prepared. There was some of that muscle-building juice also in there, which she put aside and proceeded to ignore.
Sweetie's horn began to glow as she lifted the forgotten thermos over, unscrewed the top, and gave a sniff before her face scrunched right up. "Uck! What is this?"
"Lemme see!" demanded Apple Bloom before it was passed to her for her to get a whiff. "Whooee! Smells right powerful whatever it is."
Scootaloo wanted her turn and reached across the table to snag it. "Wow! What is this stuff, Prickle?"
Prickle flushed lightly in her cheeks. "Mom made it for me. She's trying to help, but I don't need muscle juice like Mister Biceps uses."
Scootaloo blinked softly. "Huh..." She sniffed it again as if seriously considering it.
Apple Bloom knocked it out of Scoot's hooves, splashing on the floor. "Don't even think about it."
"Aw..."
Two fillies approached the table, both familiar. Silver Spoon smiled lightly. "Hello, girls. Prickle, nice to see you."
Diamond Tiara glanced aside at her companion. "Afternoon, girls." Her eyes focused back on Prickle. "So, she one of you now?"
Scootaloo shook her head. "If you mean a crusader, nah. She had her cutie mark before we got there."
Sweetie smiled sweetly. "But she's still our friend."
Apple Bloom's brow creased. "Which means ya shouldn' mess wit' her."
Diamond waved it off. "I'm not here to cause trouble. Besides, we're friends, right?"
Prickle pointed at herself, uncertain.
"Not you, the others." Diamond rolled her eyes. "Silver wanted to talk to you though."
Silver stepped closer with a nod. "I was thinking..." Silver fidgeted a little on her hooves. "Due to our previous arrangement, maybe..."
Diamond nudged her friend lightly. "Go on. Be assertive." She seemed to enjoy encouraging Silver.
Silver nodded firmly. "Right. Prickle Berry, you will meet with me after school, alone." She pointed to a hill outside of town. "There."
Prickle looked off towards the lonely hill and back. Silver was a friend, right? No harm in meeting with a friend, in... theory? "Al--"
"--Don't you go bossin' her around like that!" chastised Apple Bloom.
"Yeah!" chorused the other two.
Prickle sat up straight. "N-no, it's alright..."
Sweetie Belle blinked with renewed confusion. "Are you certain?"
"Yes." Prickle bobbed her head, then looked to Silver Spoon. "I'll be there."
Diamond pointed at Prickle. "You'd better! C'mon." She walked away with Silver, saying something quiet and laughing as she went.
Prickle started when she felt a hoof come down on one of hers lightly. Sweetie was reaching across the table, looking at her pointedly. "It's probably nothing." Her voice lowered, "I mean, she is in your fan club."
Scootaloo blinked. "Oh yeah. I forgot that a moment there."
Prickle put her other hoof on Sweetie's. "I think she's a friend. It's probably nothing at all."
With lunch time over, everyone gathered their things and headed back inside to finish the day. When it was over, Prickle trotted out and turned to the hill. What had Silver wanted from her so badly? There was only one way to know for certain, so she got to hiking up there. It was half an hour out of the way, but compared to sparring with Bon Bon, it was an easy task.
When she got there, Silver Spoon was already there, panting and wheezing. Prickle hurried towards her. "Are you alright?"
"I'm... fine..." she assured before she stood up with an explosive sigh. "Sorry. I didn't think this hill was that tall." She smiled at Prickle warmly. "Sorry if Diamond bothered you."
Prickle shook her head resolutely. "No! It's alright. What's wrong?" She looked left and right, trying to spot anything besides Silver Spoon. "Something's wrong, right? Why are we here?"
Unseen by either of them, the crusaders were gathered in a bush, watching the two intently.
Apple Bloom had binoculars out and was peering through them. "They're just talkin' so far."
Scootaloo grabbed them, yanking Apple Bloom with the strap, not that she paid much attention to that and took her turn to stare. "What do you think they're talking about?"
Sweetie Belle had a one-hoofed spyglass she clearly borrowed from her sister, floating in her magic as she watched with one eye closed. "They don't look upset, so I guess it's alright..."
Across from them, all the way on the other side of the clearing, sat Diamond Tiara in her own bush. "If that Prickle so much as touches a hair on her..." she grumbled to herself, glaring at the two from her hiding place. "Don't worry, Silver. I have your back!"
Silver ran a hoof through her mane, gently undoing some of the frayed edges from her gallop. "Thank you for coming. It's about that other pony that's looking for, you know, you. The Mauler."
Prickle went tense a moment. "Is she a good or bad pony?"
Silver produced an envelope from within her fur and held it out towards Prickle. "I did some digging around. She's a good pony, works out of Manehatten."
Apple Bloom wrenched her binoculars back from Scootaloo and blinked through them. "What's in that envelope?!"
Sweetie Belle leaned forward. "Whatever it is, Prickle seems interested in it."
In her own bush, Diamond snickered softly. "Oh, that's bold, Silver. Is that what you have on her? Very bold. Don't-- Dang it!" She swore as the envelope was clearly snatched away by Prickle, at least in her eyes. "Rookie mistake, Silver..." Then she sat back. "Unless that's just a copy, just to prove to her what you have... Yes! You are better at this than I gave you credit for."
Prickle took the envelope and curiously pulled the tab open in her lips. "Thank you. You didn't have to."
"But I did." Silver smiled gently. "That's what friends do for each other, and fans..." She glanced away and back. "Please don't be angry at Diamond."
Prickle was distracted from opening. "Huh?"
"I know you're super angry at her, and, like, you have every right to be, really..." Silver Spoon rubbed one foreleg with the other. "She's really trying to change, really... I'm trying to help, can you... Can you help too? She's a good pony, really she is."
Sweetie blinked and withdrew her spyglass a moment. "I know I'm no scholar on the matter, but the way Silver is acting..."
Apple Bloom leaned forward with her binoculars, only to have them snatched away by an eager Scootaloo.
Scootaloo gasped dramatically. "Are they about to kiss?! Can fillies do that?" She let go of the binoculars and looked to her friends. Both shrugged.
"Don't see why not," admitted Apple Bloom. She shrugged before she pulled her binoculars back into place. "That's quite a way to go from where they were, let's not assume nothin'."
Prickle reached and placed a hoof on Silver's shoulder. "I'm not trying to fight with her."
Silver reached up, putting a hoof on Prickle's. "I know that. You're too... You're nice. You wouldn't fight her." She took off her glasses and polished them with a clean fabric. "But it's more than that. She needs friends... Real friends, not ponies who are scared of her. You aren't scared of her."
Not scared of her?! Prickle cringed visibly.
Diamond snickered softly, watching Prickle cringe and fall back a step. "Oh what I wouldn't give to hear what she just said... Go on, Silver, you can do it!"
Sweetie tilted her head faintly, watching the exchange. "Whatever she just said, Prickle looks upset."
Silver's expression faltered. "Are you?"
Prickle danced from hoof to hoof, struggling to find the right words. "She... terrifies me," she finally got out in barely a whisper. "When she looks at me, I feel all weak and helpless."
Silver gave Prickle a skeptical look. "You could pound her without even trying. She's... loud... but she isn't strong, like, not even close to where you are."
All of those words made perfect sense, in her head, but the rest of her wasn't so eager to agree. Prickle sank to her haunches. "What do you want me to do?"
Diamond rubbed her forehooves together, watching Prickle sag to the ground with that defeated expression. Clearly Silver had proven victorious, just like her friend should. "I was silly to even worry about you. You got this in the bag, girl."
Sweetie shook her head. "Whatever they're talking about, they both look consumed."
Apple Bloom wobbled a hoof, the other holding up her binoculars. "Whatever ya call it, somethin's clearly up!"
Prickle approached the duo that had formed so much of her school life up to that point. One of them, she had forgiven, the other...
She took a slow breath, trying to calm herself down. She wasn't just Prickle Berry, no! She was Tiny Titan! And was Tiny Titan scared of some little bully?
Maybe a little...
Prickle sagged in place a little before gathering herself back up and trotting forward, towards destiny. "H-hello, Diamond, Silver."
Silver looked up with a smile.
Diamond's expression was far less cordial. "Hello, Prickle... What do you want?"
Prickle felt dread run through her as if somepony had replaced her blood with icy water. "N-nothing. I just... came to say hello."
"Hello," she repeated. "Now?"
"Now... How's your day?"
Diamond rose from where she had been sitting. "I don't know what you're--"
Silver put a hoof on Diamond's shoulder. "Why don't you answer?"
Diamond blinked softly. "Did you ask her to be here?" She flashed a big smile. "Of course you did." She turned to Prickle. "I'm just fine, thanks for asking." She stepped towards the stunned Prickle. "She must really have you over a barrel. Oh, what I wouldn't give to know that secret."
Prickle thought she was already at maximum tension, but she was proven wrong as worry about Diamond learning her secret identity made her head throb a little with a forming headache. "I... just wanted to be friendly."
"Why?" Diamond looked back at Silver. "I don't get it. Why is she here?"
Silver flashed the most brilliant smile. "I know a secret."
Diamond threw up her forehooves, crashing down on her haunches. "I know that! You've been parading around the fact, and I'm happy for you, Silver, but you're not sharing so it's getting a little annoying."
Silver leaned forward. "Do you want me to share it?"
Prickle felt like she was sweating buckets. Was Silver about to give away her secret? Was their friendship really one big cruel joke?!
Diamond glanced at Prickle, but her attention was mostly on Silver. "Is that an offer? Go on, do share. You know I want to know."
Silver gave a firm nod. "Very well, since you ask... Prickle is--"
Prickle trembled from her ears to her tail. She had to stop Silver, but how?! Attacking her would be wrong, even for that. She screamed internally so loudly, she could barely hear what Silver said.
"--in love with you."
Wait what?
"What?" asked Diamond Tiara out loud.
"It's true. She confessed it all to me yesterday." Silver pointed at Prickle. "She admires your strength and determination, but you scare her. Like a moth attracted to a fire, she can't help herself but dancing closer, but she fears it all the same."
Prickle's mouth moved, but no words came out. She couldn't even parse what had just been said.
Diamond looked almost as shocked. "You... she..." She turned back to Prickle and stepped towards her. "You should hate me!"
That woke Prickle up, blinking. "I don't... hate you." She didn't. She was terrified of Diamond, but she didn't hate her. Hay, she didn't even want bad things to happen to her, just...
"You should!" Diamond thrust a hoof forward, thudding it painfully into Prickle's chest. "We've been enemies forever! Why don't you hate me?!"
Prickle staggered back a step before she inclined an ear towards Diamond. "Do you want me to hate you?"
"I..." That caught Diamond off guard a little. "I mean... no?" She sank back down to her haunches. "Why don't you hate me?" Her eyes looked a little misty. She really was confused.
Silver had the sense to be entirely quiet, watching the two but speaking not a word.
Prickle felt that was a vital moment, a pivotal one. One wrong move could undo whatever little progress had been made. "Diamond Tiara, I do not hate you." She spoke in slow and clear words, trying her best to get it right, "do you hate me?"
Diamond was quiet. Everything was quiet. Prickle could hear nothing but her own heart, thumping wildly in her chest as she waited for a reply. Then it came. "No." Diamond glared at her. "You're... still a freak... But... no... No I don't! Happy?"
Prickle felt some of that painful tension leave and she sagged in place a little. "A little," she said with a smile. "I'm not a freak."
Diamond blinked at that bit of defiance."You're the strongest pony I know."
"And that's a good thing," countered Prickle, sitting up tall. "A freak is a bad thing. Please stop calling me that. Please..." The last bit wavered. She was still a filly. She was still facing her tormentor. That last little word came out trembling and begging.
Diamond suddenly stood up. "I'll think about it. Silver, let's go." She marched off without looking back.
Silver made an apologetic shrug before she chased after her friend.
Prickle was left alone, sinking to her belly. Had that gone well? She honestly wasn't sure if it had or not.
"Why the long face?"
Prickle looked up. It was Lyra. She sat up to face the adult mare. "Nothing," she lied. "Nice to see you."
"Nice to see you too." She flipped over a candy with her magic. "You staying out of trouble?"
"I'm trying," Prickle said more honestly before she unwrapped the candy and popped it into her mouth. It was a little sour, but sweet too. She liked it. "How's Bon Bon?"
"You know her. She's all great and secretive." Lyra grinned at Prickle. "Like another mare I know, huh? Guess I'm lucky, being surrounded by amazing ponies. You know, I was friends with Twilight long before she became a princess."
Prickle did not know that and blinked with awe. "You knew her when she came to the town?"
"Before that!" declared Lyra with confidence. "When we both lived up in Canterlot. Oh boy was she a hot mess of a filly, but we loved her anyway. One day, pfft, off she goes, moving out of Canterlot without a word." She leaned in close. "Guess when you get the call to save the world, goodbyes aren't always #1 priority, ya know? I'm not even mad at her."
Prickle felt a smile coming on her. "You're a very special pony."
Lyra looked confused at that. "Who, me? I just play a lyre. That's not that special." She waved it off.
"It's true! You're right at the center of so many ponies. You're super special and you don't even know it."
Lyra crouched down a little and put a hoof on Prickle's head, mussing up her mane a little. "You're the sweetest thing outside of one of Bon Bon's candies. You just keep being you." With a magical pop, Lyra's lyre appeared beside her and began to play a jaunty little tune. "I'll be cheering you on from the background, alright?"
The pain and confusion she had felt before felt banished beside Lyra's friendly presence, and her music wasn't bad either. "I'm glad to have you, Lyra, as a friend."
"That's Miss Heartstrings," corrected Lyra before she burst into laughter, unable to hold up the ruse for longer than a moment. "The feeling goes both way, little porcupine."
Prickle felt her cheeks warm. "Only my mother calls me that."
Lyra blinked in surprise. "Oh! Well, it's a good name. Will she be mad if I borrow it?"
Prickle shook her head, and Lyra gave a happy nod before she trotted off, playing her joyful song as she went.
The school bell began to ring loudly, reminding Prickle that she was late. She scurried off with all due haste and slid onto her chair just before Cheerillee got to calling out pony's names. She didn't always do that. She knew all the filly and colts. It was a subtle lesson. If Prickle was any later, she would be in big trouble! She quietly let out a sigh of relief that she had avoided that fate.
In the middle of class, something lightly bounced off her head. Prickle jumped a little in surprise and looked over to spot a crumpled bit of paper. She reached down and plucked it up to find a letter written on the creased paper.
Hello, Muscle-Bound Filly,
Don't look, but I'm watching you. If this is some kind of crazy scheme to get me to lower my guard, I won't be.
Do you really love me? [ ] Yes [ ] No
Please check one and throw it back, DT
Prickle felt a shiver run through her, not for the first time that day. Silver's lie was catching up with her. What was the right answer?
A sudden grin spread on her face. She had an out. A sneaky way out.
She checked yes, crumpled the paper up, then hurled it. She hurled it with all her might.
The paper did not survive. It caught on fire almost instantly. A second later a faint field of dust and ash blew past a surprised Diamond Tiara's face. She was left blinking in shock. She would not be getting that answer, at least that day.
"Prickle Berry!"
Prickle jumped and turned her head back to a very angry Cheerilee. "We have a very strict rule about fireworks in the schoolhouse." She thrust a hoof into the corner. "Half an hour. What has gotten into you..."
She hopped down from her chair, her ears sagging. She couldn't think of any good excuses that wouldn't ultimately make it worse. She had been a naughty filly, so she went to the time out stool, sat on it, and slumped when the cone of shame was placed on her head between her fuzzy ears.
She had avoided answering, but not trouble in general.
During lunch, she hurried to join the CMC, but another figure stepped in her way. It was Diamond, smiling. "Interesting trick, Prickle." She stepped towards Prickle on confident hooves. "If you didn't want to answer, you could have just, you know, not answered." She reached up and put a hoof on Prickle's shaking snout. "It's alright. I'm not even angry. You'll tell me when you want to." Then she just walked away.
Prickle almost fell forward. She was off the hook?! Diamond wasn't going to yell at her?
Then it hit her. Did Diamond think she was a lovesick little filly having a hard time admitting her feelings? With a muted little yelp, she hurried over to the crusaders and hopped up beside Sweetie Belle. "Help!"
Sweetie turned her head at Prickle. "What's wrong?"
Apple Bloom set her hooves down on the table. "We're here for ya, Prickle. Ya know that."
Scootaloo clopped her hooves together. "Is Diamond picking on you?!"
They had laughed. Sure, it was lighthearted and they were quick to express comfort and solidarity, but they assured Prickle that it would blow over if they just let it lie.
Prickle did not feel nearly as certain as they were.
When school was over, she grabbed her saddlebags and got to trotting. She wasn't aiming to go any specific place, she just wanted to move her legs and think. The trotting helped calm her. Was it really that awful? She just had to be a good pony, and things would work out on their own, right?
A shriek interrupted her thoughts. Ponies ran past her in a wild gallop. One helpfully shouted as he ran, "Timber wolf!"
Prickle had heard about those, but she had never seen one before. She knew what she had to do and ducked in a hurry between two buildings, just to emerge out the other end, garbed as the town's defender. "Don't worry, everypony!" She shouted, springing into the air. "Tiny Titan is here to protect you!"
From her vantage point in the sky, she could see the beast. It was made of wood, just like she had heard. It was all jagged parts and sharp teeth and claws and it was chasing Berry Punch. The worst part was that Berry wasn't running very well. Was she sick? The poor mare was staggering wildly as the wolf stalked her.
Prickle came down just long enough to push off towards the scene of the future crime, watching the world spin beneath her rapidly as she closed in. She spun herself in mid air, bringing a hind hoof to bear, ready to kick as she came in. "You leave her alone!" she roared.
It proved to be a good thing she did. The beast was just about to snap at the swaying pony when it heard her and looked up with confusion.
Prickle landed, hoof first directly into the thing's wooden face. Timber splintered and shattered as Prickle let out a mighty war cry. She didn't even slow as she powered through it hoof first, emerging through the other end in a shower of splinters and dust.
The wolf turned back to her, wobbled, and collapsed to countless twigs and logs.
"Wow!" said Berry Punch as she threw a leg over Prickle. "You really took care of that thing." She sounded off. Maybe it was shock? She slurred her words. "Thanks a lot, foal."
"Thanks to--" she suddenly hiccuped. "--you. All that runnin' made me thirsty somethin' fierce. Wanna come with?"
Prickle jumped as another hoof tapped her on the shoulder. Pinkie Pie was standing on her other side. "Hi there! Nice job, but big mean timber wolves need more than that to make them go away."
"What?"
Even as Prickle asked, the wood began to reform, producing two, smaller, timber wolves. Pinkie pointed at the wooden terrors. "See? I'll lead one out of town, you get the other one." She waggled her rump at one, tail swaying. When the wolf bit at her, she jumped away and got to pronking as if it was a fun day. "Meet you by the Everfree!" she called out as she went.
Prickle blinked slowly at the retreating pink pony, almost missing when the other wolf lunged for her. She brought up a hoof in a sharp uppercut, knocking its head clear off its body. The rest of it simply stopped a moment, then fell apart. She had won, again, but it would reform.
She looked around quickly and grabbed the tarp off a stand. "I'll bring this back, promise," she said to nopony in particular. She gathered up the bits of wolf as quickly as she could onto the tarp, folded it up, and launched into the air with a mighty jump. She could see Pinkie and bounced after her. With three mighty leaps, she arrived at the edge of the Everfree.
Her passenger was just gathering itself together and Prickle squeaked, giving the tarp a mighty heave that send the newly-forged timber creature flying off into the forest.
"Huh, nice idea. I shoulda thought of that," complimented Pinkie as she danced around the other wolf. "Can ya take care of this one? You seem good at this."
Prickle nodded quickly and rushed for it. The movement got its attention and it turned to snarl at her. It thrust its head forward and Prickle gave a small leap just to come down on its back and drive powerfully through its body, reducing it to new splinters.
Pinkie pronked in with a broom and dustpan she hadn't had before and cleaned up the mess before tossing it all into the forest to join its friend. "Great job! Hey, you're Tiny Titan, right?" She winked at Prickle dramatically. "Nice to see you again."
Prickle smiled. Pinkie already knew who she was, so she could relax a little. "Hello Pinkie. Thanks for the help. I'll know how to handle them better next time."
"You sure will, but you don't have to do it alone." She tapped her own chest with a hoof. "We're a big family! That's what a community is after all. We can work together to keep things safe."
"What if you're not around?" asked Prickle with an uncertain voice.
Pinkie shrugged. "You already know how to handle that, but when we are around, expect one of us girls to give a hoof if we can."
"About that..." Prickle peered at the pink party planner suspiciously. "Did you talk to your friends about me?"
"Uh huh."
Prickle slumped. "I appreciate your honesty, but why?!"
"How couldn't I?" Pinkie shrugged. "Rainbow Dash and Rarity won't be quiet about it. Twilight super curious about how you work. Applejack keeps teasing Rainbow about her losing that hoof wrestling contest. I think Fluttershy's the only one not directly involved." She leaned in close to Prickle. "She says it sounds dangerous for a foal."
Prickle had not seen the princess around, so... "Does Twilight know who I am?"
"I didn't tell her! I swore I wouldn't."
Prickle pointed back into town. "What about Rarity or Rainbow Dash?"
Pinkie made a non-committal noise. "Dunno, maybe? She never said your name when I was around. Your mom's alright with this, right?" Prickle quickly nodded. "That's good. This would fall in the 'better to say' category and I'd have to tell her, but since she knows, I'm in the clear. Your secret's safe with me."
Prickle let out a long sigh of relief. "We should get back to town."
Pinkie poked Prickle. "You might want to change out of your costume. See you later!" She began pronking back to town with her usual smile.
She reached to start pulling off her suit when a soft thud stopped her. Another pony had arrived, the Mauler.
"Tiny Titan, I presume?" asked the costumed unicorn mare.
Prickle swallowed thickly, but did not retreat. "That's my name. D-did you need something?"
The Mauler nodded. "I wanted to test my mettle against Ponyville's newest, youngest, hero. Do you accept my challenge?"
"W-what?!" Prickle took a step back. "I don't even know you!"
"We will fix that." The mauler leaned her head in. "On the field of battle. The goal will be to prove supremacy, not hurt one another. The first to pin the other wins, simple at that. I'm told you have exceptional physical strength."
Prickle shook her head quickly. "I can't, not today!"
"When?"
Shoot. Prickle frowned with thought. "How about tomorrow? Just when the sun touches the horizon."
"Dramatic." The Mauler stood tall. "I like it. You have good style, Titan. Tomorrow, come with your fire for battle!" She rose into the air, horn glowing. "I look forward to getting to know you better. We will meet there." She pointed to the tall hill Prickle had met Silver Spoon on. "Are there any questions?"
"One, please." Prickle dared show her teeth in an awkward smile. "Can't we just talk, like normal ponies? We both want to help ponies out by beating up monsters and rescuing things, right?"
"A pacifist?" asked the Mauler. "I wouldn't think anyone brave enough to don a suit and battle the horrors would be at all a stranger to conflict." She clopped her forehooves together. She slowly settled back on the ground. "Are you that new?"
"Um... yes?" Prickle admitted. "I've fought two monsters." She raised a hoof. "A bugbear." She set the hoof down. "And a timber wolf."
"Such an innocent mask." She reached out a hoof to Prickle, running it along her clothed snout. "This fight will be good for you. Be prepared for it. Win or lose, you will learn. If I am lucky, you will have a lesson for me as well. Until then..." With a bright flash, she was gone.
Prickle let out a weary sigh before she slipped free of her suit and tucked it away. She got to trotting back into town, happy to be back to just plain Prickle Berry.
There was somepony waiting for her. Silver adjusted her glasses a little as Prickle came closer, then stood up tall. "I watched the whole thing, like, from the start."
Prickle blinked. "I didn't see you."
"I have a telescope." Silver waved the idea off. "You were so strong and brave! Thank you, Prickle."
Prickle's cheeks warmed. "They weren't that big of a deal. Pinkie knew how to take care of them."
"I don't care about Pinkie," stated Silver bluntly. "Like, you're the amazing one. Besides, she's an adult and she's fought dozens of monsters. You're an amazing foal!" Without a pause, Silver hugged Prickle tightly a moment. "Thank you."
Prickle gave an unsure smile. "I'm glad to help. I mean, if I wasn't... I just wouldn't do it. Did you see Berry Punch? Is she alright?"
"That lush? She's fine, last I saw." Silver turned to face the town and started walking with Prickle. "I'll walk you home!"
"Lush?" Prickle hadn't heard that word before.
Silver seemed amused by Prickle's ignorance. "Don't worry about it, TT." She saw Prickle's concerned look. "Just a nickname, like, I'll stick with Prickle if you prefer." She smiled brightly. "So... What's your absolute favorite candy?"
Prickle blinked. That was a sudden topic shift. "Bon Bon makes some really good ones. I haven't had one of hers that I didn't like."
"Bon Bon's, got it." Silver looked satisfied. "Now, I know Diamond is being a bit... odd."
"A bit?!" Prickle felt her fur fluffing up at the idea. "Is she... in love with me now?!"
"Oh no," assured Silver. "She's hoping you are though."
Prickle paled a little. "This is your fault, you did it! What do I do now?!"
Silver put a hoof on Prickle's nose. "You could go with it. Diamond Tiara would forgive everything and you'd be friends."
"No," stated Prickle firmly, clopping a hoof on the ground. "If you're trying to help, you aren't. We have enough lies."
Silver gave a soft 'hmm'. "Are you going to tell her the truth then? Tell her about being a superhero?"
"N-no." Prickle shrank back a little. "But I can be honest about the rest of it. We can be... friends."
Silver sat on her haunches. "That's very brave of you, just like I'd expect from my hero." She rose a hoof to adjust her glasses. "Like, if there's anything I can do, you just have to let me know."
Prickle wasn't sure what to do with Silver Spoon. Silver was a confusing pony that made her feel confused in return. It was a bit of a mess. "I have to take responsibility myself." She tapped her own chest with a hoof. "Now I should go, I have a fight to be ready for."
"A fight?!" Silver squeaked. "Is another monster coming?"
"No." Prickle glanced back at the Everfree. "Another hero wants to test me."
Silver's eyes widened. "We'll be there!"
Prickle blinked rapidly. "Who'll be there?"
"Your fan-club, of course, to like, cheer you on." Silver bounced to her hooves. "Don't you worry." And off she went, trotting purposefully.
Prickle applied her hoof to her face a moment before she got to her own trotting. She had homework to do, and a fight to prepare for.
The work of a superhero wasn't easy.
She didn't even get home before running into one of those fans. Scootaloo was bouncing up and down, wings fluttering. "Who's challenging you?!"
Prickle recoiled a little, glancing around to make sure that question wasn't overheard. "Silver told you already?"
"Nah, Sweetie Belle, but I bet she heard from Silver Spoon." Scootaloo shrugged. "Small town. So who're ya fighting?"
Prickle sighed with a little sag. "The Manehattan Mauler."
"Huh, with a name like that, I bet they love grabbing ponies. You better watch out for that."
"They're a unicorn," pointed out Prickle. "Does that change things?"
Scootaloo reached up to tap her own head where a horn was not. "That means she likes grabbing ponies with her magic, probably. Have you seen her use it so far?"
"She can fly, with her horn." Prickle bobbed her head. "She must like using that."
Scootaloo flashed a grin. "So there's your target. Don't, you know, hurt her bad. It's a spar, right?"
Prickle gave a slower nod. "I think so? Why does she want to fight other heroes?"
"To test herself, or practice, or a bunch of other reasons." Scootaloo shrugged. "It's kinda cool! I'll be there, promise. We'll be cheering you on." She made an energetic pump with a foreleg. "You'll show that out of town hero what Ponyville's like."
Prickle began to color faintly. She hadn't thought she would be representing the town like that. "I'm still new at this..."
Scootaloo pat Prickle on the shoulder. "We know that. Relax. You do what you can do and we'll be cheering either way. And if she acts mean about it, well, we'll just have to gang up on her." She stuck out her tongue a little. "Like Ponyville's full of helpless ponies."
Prickle blinked at that. "But it kinda is...?"
Scootaloo waved it away. "We'll handle it! You just focus on being you, Prickle. Leave the fangirling to the fangirls." She tapped at Prickle's hoof until it raised just high enough for Scootaloo to clop her hoof against it. "We have your back."
Prickle smiled at that, feeling better about the whole spar. "Thanks, Scootaloo. I'll see you all tomorrow." She pointed up at the hill where it would happen. "Just when the sun's about to go down."
Scootaloo looked where directed. "Alright! I'll be sure everypony else know when and where to be. You better rest up and be ready." She trotted off, making a few fake swats at the air with martial-arts noises as she went.
When Prickle arrived at home, her mother greeted her with a warm hug. "You're a bit late. Did something happen?"
Prickle flicked an ear back. "A timberwolf almost ate Berry Punch."
"Oh dear." Junebug put a hoof at her mouth. "You stopped that from happening, I imagine?"
"Uh huh. Pinkie helped." Prickle moved to start her homework. "Then another hero showed up and challenged me to a pretend fight."
"What?!" Junebug moved to sit beside her daughter. "It's bad enough you have to deal with monsters, now other ponies are trying to hurt my little porcupine?"
Prickle went warm and red. It was at once both comforting and embarrassing to have such a loving mother. "It's just... for fun." She hoped. "Like a hoof wrestling contest... with super powers."
Junebug shook her head slowly before she perked up towards the stove and hurried towards it. "Dinner's about ready. You just be careful, and finish your homework."
Prickle might have been a superhero, but she was still a filly. She did her homework, enjoyed dinner with her mom, and got some sleep. There would be plenty to deal with, but that was tomorrow's problem.
In the shadows, the Manehattan Mauler landed lightly. "She doesn't suspect a thing."
The other form already in the shade nodded. "Good, now we can test her properly. You know exactly what I want you to do, right?"
The Mauler rolled her eyes. "We've been over this enough times, yes."
"It never hurts to be sure." An ornate scroll came free of the obscured figure. "I have a list if you'd like to refer--"
"No, thanks. I have this. You just watch us and get all the information you've been dying to get."
The Mauler lifted to the air, shimmering with her own magic. "I have this entirely under control."
She zipped off, leaving the other figure there in the dark.
"Exactly why are we meeting in an alleyway?" asked a third, male, voice. "We could just do this at home, ya know."
"Oh shush." The female turned to the male, regarding him. "We don't want ponies knowing what we're doing."
"Why, exactly?"
"Prickle is very sensitive about her privacy and knowing I'm poking around about her would make her upset. It's for her sake, really."
"Yeah..." He didn't sound very convinced. "Can we go home now?"
"Sure thing." They began to walk off together. "This is going to be so exciting!"
All the other foals were very supportive, at least the ones that knew what was coming up. Even Diamond pat Prickle on the back. "I heard you're doing something today. Silver refused to say what, exactly."
Prickle's ears went back, then sprung back up. "Diamond, we need to talk."
"We are," she pointed out with a roll of her eyes. "What's up?"
Prickle pointed at Diamond, then herself. "I don't love you, but!" Her heart was starting to race. "I would... like to be closer. Friend closer?"
Diamond frowned sharply at Prickle. "You don't like me, do you?"
Well... "N-no, but I don't know you." She gave an uncertain smile. "We can fix that, maybe?" She could see a thousand ways it could all go wrong, explode in an angry berating and leave her sad and destroyed, but better that than trying to live a lie, or so she decided.
Diamond stared at her evenly an uncomfortably long moment before the littlest smirk touched her lips. "After all that, you finally grow a spine. The way I see it, you have me at a disadvantage now. Don't think I don't see how you've gotten Silver Spoon's attention. If I say no, well..." She rolled a hoof a little lamely. "At a disadvantage," she repeated, sounding upset, but curiously not angry. "Is this your game?"
Prickle was quick to shake her head. "I'm not trying to hurt you."
"As if you could!" She spat, but then went quiet and sank to her haunches. With a hoof she gently nudged a rock. "Guess I was a bit silly..."
"Huh?"
Diamond smiled. "Thinking somepony might... think that way about me. Sure, I was confused it was you of all ponies... but it... It was a little nice. I thought..." She was going red and having difficulty getting the words out.
Prickle took the step forward and hugged her tormentor. She hugged her tight, but not too tight. "How can ponies love you if you don't let them?"
"Let them?!" She squawked, frowning. "What do you mean by that?" She pushed at Prickle, though she had no hope of forcing Prickle to let go. Fortunately, Prickle did not mean to hold Diamond captive and released Diamond to scramble just out of reach. "I give ponies plenty of chance. I'm always where they can see me, and I'm super important. What do you mean 'let them'?"
Prickle pointed up, far up, to the city on the mountain, Canterlot. "You know Princess Celestia, right?"
"Duh." Her brows furrowed. "What about her?"
"She's always in public, and super important. I bet she doesn't have a coltfriend at all."
Diamond's frown eased away. She went from angry to confused to pondering to confused again. "What would you know?" she spat defensively. "You don't have one either."
"I do have friends," said Prickle with a smile. "Good friend who care about me."
"I..." Diamond trembled. She really only had one friend. "Are you making fun of me?!"
"No!" Squeaked out Prickle. "You have friends too." Diamond stared. "You do! Besides Silver Spoon, the crusaders are ready to forgive too."
"Forgive what, exactly?"
Prickle felt ice wash down her back. "For... picking on them?"
"I told them they don't have cutie marks, and it was through that, through us." She made an odd gesture, pointing at something that wasn't there and herself. "I got them their marks. I made them. Why should they be angry at me?"
Was that how Silver Spoon saw it? Prickle tilted her head a little. "And me?"
Diamond sat up tall. "You're not very scared anymore. You were when I first met you. Good job."
Prickle's head swam. Diamond saw herself as a dispenser of the toughest love? "Why?"
"Why?"
Prickle nodded. "It's not nice, making ponies sad."
"Don't get carried away." Diamond shoved at Prickle, though it only made her sway a little before she caught herself. "Don't question my destiny." She pointed back at her cutie mark. "Somepony has to take charge around here, and that somepony is me. I may not have become the... whatever, that was for foals anyway. I'll still be in charge. I have to be!"
"Why?" Prickle asked. "Why you?"
Diamond stomped her forehooves on the ground. "Because that's what I was raised to do!" she almost screamed.
Heads turned as other foals got curious about the yelling.
Diamond quieted. "We'll... talk later." She rose up to her hooves and walked away, nose turned up.
Prickle was quietly glad to escape the conversation. Still... She had stuck to her guns and no longer had to deal with the idea of somepony thinking she was in love with them. The only pony she had love for was her mother, as daughters should. Then again, there were different kinds of love. "I love Ponyville," she said to herself just before a pony tackled her. It was Apple Bloom.
Prickle rolled with the tackle and sent Apple Bloom soaring, but she never let go and set the launched filly on the ground as if that were the plan the entire time.
Apple Bloom blinked softly. "What jus' happened?"
Sweetie Belle approached at a less hazaroud walk. "I think she just used one of her moves on you. It was quite spectacular."
Apple Bloom nodded. "It was kinda fun, now that I'm not s' dizzy 'bout it. Can ya show me how to do that?"
Prickle smiled at that. "It's more about technique than strength. My, uh, teacher." She had promised to never say who that was. "She told me how you move is way more important than how strong you are, though being strong helps."
"That's mighty swell! Ah'll look forward to a lesson or three, after ya finish with that other pony. We'll be there, promise."
Sweetie Belle bobbed her head in agreement. "We'll be there," she echoed. "Are you prepared?"
Prickle lifted her shoulders. "I hope so. I'll do my best."
"All anypony kin ask fer," assured Apple Bloom. "We trust in ya."
The rest of the school day passed without too much fuss. "Now class," spoke Cheerilee at the end of the day, "Please be careful. There's been a timberwolf sighting in the town. Hopefully that was a one time thing, but I don't want my students being harmed."
Apple Bloom thrust up a hoof. "Even if there were a dumb timberwolf, we have a super hero to beat them into splinters."
Cheerilee shook her head. "Be that as it may, having a masked vigilante is no excuse to forget how to be careful and take care of ourselves. That's how trouble starts in the first place. Let's be our own heroes, alright? And that means not getting into trouble in the first place." She waved out the door. "You're dismissed. I'll see you all tomorrow."
Most foals dispersed to their homes, but not all. The crusaders were quick to find Prickle and crowd around her. "We can walk with you up to the hill," declared Scootaloo, excitement easily heard in her voice.
Prickle wasn't sure that was a good idea. "This is going to look a bit odd, besides, I have to get dressed before I show up. We don't need to show her who I am when I'm not Tiny Titan."
Sweetie nodded with a sage look about her. "She's right. We shouldn't be going together. Prickle, we'll see you there."
Apple Bloom nodded. "The whole club'll be there."
Off they galloped, excitedly gabbing about something Prickle couldn't make out. That was alright. She went to change, pulling on her lightly-armored suit. It felt a bit odd, with little sheets of stiff protective something between the fabric, but if it meant she wouldn't be chomped as easily, it was a good thing. She'd have to work harder with Bon Bon to make sure she could do moves properly with it.
Donned for action, Prickle, AKA Tiny Titan, gave a powerful jump into the air. Out of habit, she scanned for anything out of place, but the town looked peaceful enough. She saw lots of ponies just walking here and there. They looked happy and peaceful. She landed on a roof and bounced off towards the hill.
Alone and bounding, she could eat up the distance swiftly. She saw the crusaders below and gave them a little wave before she hit the ground again. She wasn't sure if they had seen her bouncing back them, but there wasn't time for that. She had to focus. Jumping was a lot harder than it looked. If you let yourself get distracted, you could slip and fall instead of bouncing. Prickle didn't want that, but she was getting better at it.
She landed at the very top of the hill with a soft thud, dust wafting out in all directions.
With a mighty shower of sparks, the Mauler appears from out of nowhere. "You're early," she noted. "Are we to begin now?"
"Wait!" came the shrill cry of a filly. Silver Spoon was hurrying towards them. "That's not the real Manehatten Mauler!"
Prickle blinked dumbly before it turned into a scowl at the suddenly nervous costumed mare. "Who are you?!"
The Mauler thrust a hoof at Prickle. "No matter who I am, nothing has changed. We have a spar to do." She clopped her hooves together roughly. "Or are you giving up before we even begin?"
Silver Spoon got in easier speaking distance, panting and heaving from the panicked gallop. "The... real... Mauler isn't a unicorn!"
"Go away, little filly. I have business with Tiny Titan."
Prickle moved between the two. "Don't talk that way to Silver. She's a good filly, and my friend."
"If she's your friend, tell her to go. Fillies should not be in the way while we're fighting."
Prickle sighed as she turned to Silver. "I'm still going to fight them. Thank you for telling me, but please get back. I don't want you to be hurt."
Silver smiled, her lashes fluttering. "Of course, my hero. Good luck." She blew a kiss and walked away back towards where other ponies had started gathering.
Prickle's fanclub had assembled and already had begun to cheer and stomp for her. Prickle felt a blush coming on, though it wasn't visible under her outfit. "I-I'm ready," she declared, turning back to the not-Mauler. "What should I call you?"
She shrugged softly. "IF you win, you can ask that. Until then, may as well stick to Mauler." She hovered in the air a few inches, glowing softly with unicorn magic. "Shall we begin?"
She conjured a flyswatter of sparkling energy and tried to get rid of Prickle like an insect. Prickle dove out of the way as dust and debris was kicked up from where it landed and bounced up into the sky. The swatter followed after her unerringly, its wielder smiling confidently. "You're like a flea, Tiny Titan. Trying to hop away from danger?"
Prickle spun in mid-air and brought her hooves down just as the swatter came for her. Magic exploded brilliantly and she was sent flying, but the swatter was gone, and the Mauler looked stunned a moment, eyes wide with shock. "You... think that... will stop me?" She said as she recovered.
Prickle had to recover herself, coming to her senses as she flew through the air. She got her hooves into position and smashed into the ground roughly before she launched herself back at her enemy. It was time to attack.
The Mauler picked herself up from where she had staggered and darted up away from the ground, glowing brightly as she came to meet Prickle directly. Great gripping hands came from the ether at her sides, reaching forward to grab her opponent.
Prickle could see them. She saw them and she smiled. As the first hand reached for her, she dove around it, just the lash out with her powerful hind legs. The hand spasmed in a shower of sparks, but the Mauler wasn't as surprised. She let go of the control of it, avoiding the shock and bringing the other in quickly to snatch Prickle right out of the air.
Even as the first faded away in a shower of magic, the Mauler brought the pinned Prickle close. "Not so tough now, are we?"
Prickle scowled at her enemy. "You didn't win yet."
"I didn't?" asked the Mauler. "You sure look pinned to me."
"Nope," said Prickle with a smile. "You brought me too close." She thrust all four of her hooves out in different directions violently. The hand unfurled from her, falling apart as if it were made of torn cloth. Even as gravity begin to pull her down, she threw a quick punch at her enemy.
The Mauler's eyes went wide as a shield was brought to bear against the incoming hoof. They impacted with a thunderous bang and a blinding flash that had the onlookers gasping with amazement.
Prickle fell to the ground, hooves ready to absorb the impact. The Mauler soared away and down, blown clear by the impact and clearly knocked dizzy a moment.
She recovered before she could strike the earth and the glow returned to her, slowing her descent and putting her upright just before she landed. If one hadn't seen how she had been sent there, they might have thought she had intended the landing. "You're tougher than you look." She shook herself out. "But I will not be bested by some little filly!"
Bon Bon stood up from the crowd of watchers. "She's no 'little filly!'" she called in yet a new voice. "She's Tiny Titan, and she's gonna clean your clock!"
Prickle giggled a little at what sounded like a funny threat to her. Deciding against her power bounces, she instead focused on pushing the world away to the side instead of down. She ran for the Mauler speedily enough to hear the wind rushing by her.
The Mauler abandoned her original idea of simply grabbing her small opponent. She lowered her horn and began firing a barrage of magical bolts as if she were an emplaced machine gun, spraying the entire area around Prickle.
Prickle only had to be hit by one to learn she didn't want to be hit by any others. Even as she hissed in pain, she began to swat at them. She reared up and kept running on her hind legs as her forelegs beat at each bolt that came close to her. With a strike of a powerful hoof, they were destroyed, turning to so much magic ash.
As Prickle drew uncomfortably close, the Mauler's teeth were exposed in a grimace of fear that turned cocky at the last moment. Prickle's mighty punch impacted nothing but air as the Mauler blinked out of existence and appeared behind the charging little hero.
Prickle tried to catch herself, her momentum all wrong with the lack of her target. The Mauler didn't let her. Even as the crowd booed wildly, she shoved Prickle from behind and sent her crashing to the ground in a plume of dust. "Nice try, but simple brute force isn't going to work on me, Titan."
Prickle rolled onto her belly and bounced up to her hooves almost instantly, glaring at the Mauler. "That's cheating!"
"Cheating?" The Mauler lifted into the air a few inches. "In a fight, there is no such thing. You win or you lose, and the winner gets to decide if they 'cheated' or not."
Prickle trembled with fury. "So if I just break that horn of yours off, that's fair."
All the unicorns that watched winced at once at the very idea of it.
The Mauler wasn't confident enough to not join them. "This is a spar, Tiny Titan. No need to dismember each other."
"Oh... right." Prickle went red under her suit. She had gotten carried away. She sat down, peering at her foe. "So how am I supposed to stop you from doing that?"
The Mauler blinked at Prickle. "Are you asking me?"
"Yes?"
She laughed. "You are a funny one. Well, since you ask so nicely, you could try to tire me out, but I'm doing the same to you. It would be an endurance match."
Endurance? Maybe. Prickle approached, trotting lightly. "Or I could just punch you."
"If you think you can," taunted the Mauler confidently. "Show me what you have."
Prickle made a swing, but she had no confidence it would land. It didn't, but she slammed that hoof down and bucked out her hind legs. That didn't hit either. She looked around a moment before a hoof reached down and tapped her on the head. "Looking for me?"
Prickle scurried out from underneath the Mauler.
"Clever, but not clever enough," she taunted.
Prickle scowled at her tricky enemy. "You give up on fighting back?"
"I wouldn't say that..." She lowered her horn at Prickle. "Say cheese!" She let loose a new bolt of magic. It looked different, not that Prickle cared what it was exactly. She bounced to the side, bounced off the ground where she landed and came soaring at the Mauler with an angry cry.
But the Mauler wasn't there. She came down on Prickle's back, driving her into the ground with a yelp of surprise and pain. "Is that better?"
Prickle twisted quickly, too quickly. A flying hoof caught the Mauler and knocked her to the earth roughly. Prickle bounced up to her hooves, huffing angrily. "Stay still!" she shouted as if she could command the Mauler.
The Mauler was back on her own footing. "Nice, but you haven't even come close, and I won't let you." She stood tall. "No more close quarters dancing for you, Tiny Titan."
"You're still touching me." Prickle raised a hoof high then slammed it down into the ground. The earth bulged dangerously and flowed away from her in all directions in a mighty shockwave. The Mauler was not expecting that and got out little more than a surprised yelp before she was tossed right back to the ground in a rough heap.
Before she could rise, Prickle was on her, slamming a hoof down beside her head. "You lose!"
The Mauler vanished. She called out from a good distance above. "Lose? We've barely begun!" She laughed as she hovered there. "I can see you coming from up here, Tiny Titan. Give up. You tried."
Prickle would not have it. If it worked in the ground, why not the air? She sat on her haunches, brought up her forehooves and drove them together with all her might. Her own bones protested the act when they crashed, but it was the world itself that screamed in pain. A tremendous bang exploded outwards from the impact site.
The onlookers barely had time to duck behind trees and rocks as it washed over them.
The Mauler had no such time. She was too close. It came too fast. Her magic winked out as she was forced to ride with the wave, being torn apart by the powerful wave of sound and force.
She came crashing to the ground several yards away, smoke rising from her battered form. Prickle stood up and winced. Her legs hurt, but not too much to hobble closer to her downed enemy. "I... win..." She put a hoof on the Mauler's barrel. "Are you alright?"
The mauler's suit had been damaged in the violent wave, revealing a pink snout. That snout was laughing painfully. "You... you got me." She climbed to her hooves slowly, in clear discomfort. "You win..."
Prickle couldn't feel her aches for a moment, a huge smile overtaking her features. "You were tough," she complimented.
The onlookers came rushing on them. Among them, Nurse Redheart had a small first-aid kit on hoof. "Are either of you hurt?"
The others were busy cheering and stomping wildly. Prickle flopped onto her haunches. "My legs hurt, but I think they're alright."
The Mauler sat up the same way, barrel heaving to regain her breath. "My ego took the biggest beating today."
Bon Bon pointed at the Mauler. "Alright, who are you?"
She winced. "Professional etiquette!" She blinked away, hovering back in the air. "Don't be rude. I said Prickle could ask, but we'll save that for later." With one more pop, she was gone.
Prickle was in a happy place. Her fans cheered and hugged her tired form. If she had been more coherent, she would have been more embarrassed about the attention, but she was tired and achey and the hugs actually seemed kind of nice. At least until the kiss.
Her attention went into sharp focus when she felt it, lips to lips. She was being smooched!
Silver drew back with a smile. "My hero..."
Prickle went red enough to be faintly seen through her suit. "Silver!" she blurted in almost a spit. "No! Stop! No!"
"No?" Silver looked baffled at the idea.
"No kisses." Prickle tapped a hoof on the ground and winced, any pressure on her forelegs was cause for pain. "We're friends, not friend friends. Only mom gets to give me kisses like that."
Sweetie Belle whispered to her friends, "They really were kissing!"
Scootaloo shrugged. "She just shot her down. Guess they're not special someponies."
Redheart was more focused on Prickle. "You should come with me. Let's have a good look inside those legs and make sure everything's alright. If it's just a bruise, I'll send you home with a note."
Bon Bon nodded. "This isn't something you should just assume is alright. Redheart will take care of you. Good job though."
Prickle was being carried, by Redheart, if one wanted to be specific. She was laying along the nurse's back as the town went by at a sedate pace.
Redheart kept a smooth walk as to not jostle her rider. "Hopefully we'll find nothing at all and you can go on home, but better safe than sorry," she assured with a caring smile.
Walking alongside them through the darkening streets were the crusaders. Scootaloo whispered conspiratorially, "What if she did break something?"
Apple Bloom shrugged. "Then ah guess we'll have ta find a doctor, like at the place we're goin'?"
Scootaloo looked a little sheepish. "Oh yeah." In a louder voice she called up to Prickle. "Don't worry! We're with ya every step!"
"Not every step," corrected Redheart. "You girls should head home once we reach the hospital. We don't let friends and family in during treatment. She's in good hooves, I promise."
Prickle put on a brave face. She really hoped nothing was too wrong with her, but how could she know. "I'll be fine," she lied, not feeling certain of the fact. "You all have homework and parents waiting for you."
Apple Bloom thrust a hoof at Prickle as she went. "Ah don't think Applejack'd get mad if I told her the truth, that ah was being loyal to a good friend who got hurt."
Sweetie looked pensive, but broke her silence. "How did the Mauler know Tiny Titan's real name?"
The other girls looked over. Scootaloo blinked. "I didn't even notice that with everything going on. She did say it, didn't she..."
Prickle considered the fur she had seen. It was pink. Not Pinkie Pie pink, off... She didn't recognize it. If it had been Pinkie, that would have been a thousand new questions without answers. Pinkie was known for being odd at times, but flying around and using full on unicorn magic? No...
"Here we are." They had arrived at the hospital. Redheart turned to the girls that had followed with them. "Now go on home. You don't have to stay."
Scootaloo thumped a hoof on the ground. "What kind of fan would I be if I left before we knew for sure?"
Apple Bloom thumped her chest. "What kind of friend would ah be?"
Sweetie smiled wide. "I'm afraid they're not going to be dissuaded."
Redheart let out a long sigh. "And you?" she was looking at Sweetie.
"I... actually should go." Her ears fell. "I'm with Rarity right now and she's probably already nervous that I didn't check in. You two remain here and keep an eye on things, alright?"
Apple Bloom gave a soft laugh as she threw a leg over Sweetie and pulled her tight. "We don't want Rarity blowin' something. Ya go on ahead. If she lets ya, come on back, but it's all good, promise."
Those remaining trotted inside as Sweetie took off in a hurried gallop towards home. Redheart strode past the front desk. "We have a possible deep-tissue bruise, maybe worse, maybe less. What doctor is available for a clear picture of the situation?"
The other nurse, a pinkish mare that Prickle knew as Nurse Sweetheart, pulled over a clipboard and scanned it quickly. "Doctor Horse is in his office."
"Keep these two occupied." Redheart was pointing at the remaining crusaders.
Apple Bloom perked an ear. "What? We ain't no foals. We kin wait." She trotted with Scootaloo at her side and both hopped up into chairs to do just that. "Good luck, P--Titan!"
Redheart strode down the hallway to some stairs and began to ascend them carefully. "Now don't be nervous. Doctor Horse is good at what he does, and he'll have you back in one piece in no time at all. If luck's on our side, you already are and don't need anything more than taking it easy for a day or two."
A silly question came to Prickle as she went. "I never noticed before, but all the nurses have heart in their name."
Redheart swiveled an ear back at Prickle. "That's intentional."
"Did you have another name before you knew you were going to be a nurse."
"I did," she said in a patient tone, still walking. "That's private, I'm afraid, even to amazing little heroes like you."
Prickle mused over what the name could be, and soon they were at a particular door that Redheart clopped a hoof against.
"Doctor? I have a patient in need of examination."
"This is highly irregular." The door swung open and the light brown doctor frowned at the both of them before realizing who Prickle was. "You! The maniac that fled before completing her last treatment."
Redheart frowned in kind. "This is Tiny Titan. She was injured in a fight, in her forelegs. Can you have a look, please?"
Prickle grimaced a little. "I'm sorry if I made you angry."
"Angry?" The doctor backed away to let Redheart come in. "You made the nurses far more upset than I. They thought something might have happened to you until your mother arrived to assure them you were alright. Me? I think you're crazy, and I doubt this is the last time we'll meet if you continue doing what you're doing."
Prickle wasn't sure what she felt as the doctor's horn glowed as a screen floated over. She was a hero, which meant that, yeah... she'd probably get hurt again, but... "It's better I get hurt a little, if it means a lot of other ponies aren't."
The doctor paused. "That's a noble outlook," he finally decided. "If it doesn't get you killed, of course." She held the screen up against Prickle's left foreleg and with a sudden flash, Prickle's bones were visible, and so were Redheart's behind them, as she was still on her back.
The doctor smiled. "Well, no broken bones that I can see, we can rule that out. Let's have a look at the other side." He trot around Redheart and with a bright flash, confirmed that no bones appeared to be broken. He set the screen aside and sat beside Redheart. "This may hurt a little." The glow of his magic wrapped around Prickle's right foreleg and began to gently touch and feel at the area. She winced as he worked and he seemed to take notice of when she winced or made little noises of pain.
"You definitely have some bruising. I would put you in a bed to rest, but I doubt you'd stay there." Prickle opened her mouth to object, only to have the doctor's hoof casually inserted, silencing her. "It's alright. This isn't too serious. Just take it easy. I'd like to put you on a cart, if you're willing?"
A cart?! Prickle blinked at the very idea of it. "What would that look like?"
Redheart moved for the examination table and carefully slid Prickle onto it. "You stay here and I'll get one. Foreleg, obviously?" The doctor nodded, and off she trotted.
Doctor Horse looked over Prickle's costumed form. "You know, it was her that forbade us from taking this off of you. That was against regulations, but she was adamant. Is your 'secret identity' more important than your health?"
Prickle sat up slowly. It hurt to push up on her forehooves, but not too badly to sit up. "Thank you, for letting me have my secret."
"You're very welcome, little filly, but if you're hurt too badly, we're going to have to peel you free of that. Your safety rates higher than your privacy."
The door swung open. Redheart was back, pushing an odd cart along with her. "Let's get you onto this. It will help you keep pressure off your legs."
Prickle didn't like the look of it, but hardly had time to voice that. She was plucked up by Doctor Horse's magic carefully and moved over to it. Her forelegs were strapped into place with big padded lashes that kept her secured.
Redheart nodded. "There you are. You can move with your hindlegs."
Prickle grimaced, unsure it would work well, but she was willing to try. She walked with her hindlegs and her body slid along. The cart wheeled along beneath her. It felt a little like she was scooting on her belly, without rubbing against her fur. Still, she was moving, and her legs weren't being hurt... "That other ponies are going to make fun of me..." She looked silly, or so she had decided.
Redheart gave a knowing smile. "Let's go see what your friends think. Thank you, Doctor." She dipped her head and escorted Prickle out into the hallway and out of the doctor's way. "The hardest part will be stairs. You should avoid them when possible." She led the way to the elevator. "Fortunately, we have this." She waved inside. "After you."
Prickle walked along in her new, awkward, way. Even the quiet murmur of the rolling wheel bothered her a little. Still... it was to make her better, right? "Oh, um... tell the doctor I said thank you."
"I will dear." She pushed the big button for the lobby.
Soon they were emerging.
Two fillies looked up at the ding of the elevator's arrival. They both bounced up as one and raced over.
Redheart smiled at that. She had a feeling her patient would be in good hooves. "Thank you both for being patient. Here she is, even better than before."
Prickle's nose scrunched. "I'm not sure about better... Hello." She took an uncertain step forward. "I'm... going to need some help."
Scootaloo snapped a sharp salute. "You can count on us!"
Apple Bloom bobbed. "Look, Ah know ya feel funny, but we done got hurt before. Heck, there was that time, around Hearth's Warming."
Scootaloo blushed bright. "Let's not go over that!"
Prickle was curious. "Can you tell me, please? I'd feel better."
Scootaloo huffed. "It's a long story, but we can skip to the worst part." She reached out and tapped the wagon. "I had one of these, and casts on my hindlegs to go with." She looked up at Redheart. "How long does she have to have it?"
"There's no permanent damage that we could see. She just needs to keep pressure off of them and she should be right as rain in no time. Maybe a week?"
Apple Bloom bobbed her head. "That ain't so bad. We done worse before." She tapped a wheel. "And that's what we're tellin' Cheerilee."
"Huh?"
"Well, we can't tell her you were having a superhero fight, now kin we?"
That made sense... "So we were doing something silly and stupid and got what fillies get when they're silly and stupid."
"That's about the size of it." Apple Bloom gave a firm nod. "Hay, I reckon we just say we challenged you to show off how strong ya were. Everyone knows that, no secrets there."
Prickle's ears went down. "T-they do?" She had tried so hard to be subtle! Wait... "Why weren't they scared of me, or making fun of me, if they knew how... weird I was?"
Scootaloo leaned in. "You're sharing a town with the fastest pegasus everywhere, and Pinkie Pie. You have competition for being amazing. You're a friend, why should anyone make fun of you?" She turned for the exit. "We'll help her get home. Thanks again, Nurse Redheart!"
Prickle walked along on her hindlegs, her forebody resting on the platform she was strapped to snugly. It felt odd, but she was moving well. Apple Bloom was on one side, Scootaloo was on the other. She looked back and forth between them as she went. "So... I have a question."
"Yeah?" Scootaloo glanced at her. "Sounds heavy, what's wrong?"
"Does... I mean..."
Apple Bloom suddenly stopped her, throwing a leg around her neck and pulling her close. "Ah think ah know what yer about t' ask and it don't matter not one bit."
Prickle backpedaled, and there was little Apple Bloom could do to stop her. "You say that! You're... not the freak."
Apple Bloom pointed at her as she sank to her haunches. "Neither are you. Ah mean, ya could say that, but it ain't the right word to use. Freaks are bad, ya ain't bad. Yer good, real good. Yer special in all the right ways."
Scootaloo gave a big grin. "You think anypony in town is unhappy when you're around? You don't even notice, but I do. Wherever you go, ponies are happy to have you around. They know you'll help them however you can. No big bad monster can bother them with you around. No criminal has a chance! I mean, sure, it's a little... odd... having that be a filly, but they're not complaining." Scootaloo extended a tiny wing. "Now you want to talk about freaks?!" Her voice hitched. "I'm a pegasus that can't even fly. How useless is that?!" Her voice was getting a little shrill. "There isn't anything good about that. That doesn't make a single pony smile."
Prickle could see Scootaloo was veering down a dark path and suddenly felt bad for her own troubles. She pressed forward on her cart towards Scoot. "Stop that! You're an amazing pony."
"Yeah," agreed Apple Bloom.
Scootaloo shook her head violently, coming out of the funk even as she sniffed loudly. "Funny thing... I can thank the same pony for reminding me of that. I mean, the bad part that is."
Prickle frowned. "Diamond picked on you?"
Scootaloo shrugged. "She did. I mean, we're alright now, but she did."
Prickle huffed indignantly. Diamond seemed to be the source of too much pain and misery. "I should... teach her a lesson." For herself she couldn't dream of facing Diamond Tiara, but for Scootaloo, who had been nothing but a friend, it seemed less impossible. "She's a real monster! I can take her down just like the bugbear."
Apple Bloom shook her forehooves wildly. "Don't even think about that! No hurting ponies, especially not some filly, no matter how much she annoys us."
Prickle turned her cart to Apple Bloom. "She's done a lot more than annoy Scootaloo!" Whatever slights she had suffered were forgotten for the moment. "I should... She should know what it feels like."
Scootaloo rest a hoof on the cart. "Hey, thanks. I mean it, but don't go hitting ponies for me. That isn't right, even for Diamond Tiara." She had her goofy grin back. "Now if you wanna play a prank on her..."
Prickle's ears perked right up. "Huh?"
Scootaloo's grin widened. "With your skills and our ingenuity, I bet we could come up with something satisfying, and doesn't involve punching a pony."
Apple Bloom burst into soft laughter. "Let's just make sure we don't break anything along the way." She hopped up to her hooves and started trotting towards Prickle's house. "Let's get you home. Everyone alright?"
"Yeah." Prickle smiled a little. Diamond Tiara or not, she had friends, good ones. Even confusing ones... She thought to Silver Spoon giving her an adult kiss. "Hey, why'd Silver do that?"
"Do what?" Scootaloo asked with an ear perked at Prickle. "Oh, the kiss? I thought you two might have been... special someponies, but you shot her down pretty hard."
Prickle paled faintly in her quivering nose. "I didn't mean to! Did I hurt her?"
Apple Bloom shook her head. "Ah think she was jus' tryin' ta be a damsel in distress. Ah think she likes being that, an' damsels in distress give their heroes big ole' smooches when they're done heroin' fer the day. Ah read it in Spike's comics. 'Course, sometimes the hero and the damsel are either or. Ah mean, a girl hero gets smooches from boy damsels. Girl heroes and girl damsels. Heck, ah saw boy heroes and boy damsels. Don't matter none. Smooches. Heroes get smooches."
Prickle's ears dances as she walked along under the dark sky. "Huh, so it doesn't mean anything? It's just... a thank you?"
Apple Bloom shrugged as she went. "That's what ah figure, but yer gonna have to go and ask Silver for yerself to be sure one way or the otha."
Scootaloo bumped into Apple Bloom from the side after dashing around to be on her side of the cart. "How do you know so much stuff?"
Apple Bloom looked mighty proud of herself. "Ah read, and pay attention. Gotta do that if ya want to do alchemy good, n' ah love doin' that. Don't be puttin' me up on any pedestals now. Yer awful good at mechanics more than I ever was."
Prickle felt suddenly awkward. "I can... I'm strong?"
Scootaloo snorted at that. "You can jump through the air faster than some pegasi can fly. You can fight it out better than I'd ever want to try. You aren't scared of any monster!" She suddenly jumped and came down on Prickle's wagon, her hooves on either side of Prickle. "You are 100% awesome!"
Apple Bloom pointed. "Here we are. You get some rest and we'll see you tomorrow at school, kay?"
Scootaloo quickly dismounted the pinned Prickle. "Good night!"
Prickle wanted to wave, but that was impossible. She settled for saying it, "Bye! Thanks for staying with me."
She headed inside, to explain what happened to her worried mother, get some dinner, and prepare for the next day.
Prickle sat down at her desk at school. She had healed up nicely from the incident with the duel, and had even gotten some delightful training with her mentor, even if some of it involved more boring work to avoid such injuries in the future.
Snails stepped up in front of the class. Why was he there? "Hello class," he said, but that was not his voice. That was Cheerilee's voice. "I'm sure you're a little surprised, but this is me." He... she? They pointed to the back of the class.
Prickle craned her neck to see Cheerilee crammed into a seat.
She waved at the class and squeaked with Snail's voice. "Hi..."
Snails... Cheerilee? cleared his/her voice. "We've been attacked, but it's not going to get in the way of our lesson today. Let's get started..."
Prickle sat up, but she was far from the only one. The entire class erupted into speculation and concern.
"Students!" demanded their diminutive teacher with her usual voice. "Calm down. Quiet, please!"
Snips was looking up at at his friend, who had become a fully grown mare. "Whoa..."
"It's not such a big deal," replied Snails in Cheerilee's body, shrugging a bit. "The chair fits awful though."
Apple Bloom clopped her hooves down on her desk. "Who did this to you, Miss Cheerilee?!"
Cheerilee let out a sigh before sinking to her coltish haunches. Continuing class seemed to be a fever dream at best. "If everypony would kindly settle down, I'll explain." She gave the best glare her colt face could manage and waited. Fortunately, the class did start to settle down, looking at her expectantly. "It was just this morning, on the way to school..."
Cheerilee trotted along with a smile on her face. She was ready to face a new day with no educational challenges. They'd be going over crop rotation and other related agricultural innovations. She reached and pulled out the little sapling she'd be using as a demonstration for part of the lesson.
"Is that lunch?" Cheerilee looked over to see Snails following alongside her with his usual placid expression. "Looks tasty."
"No, Snails." She gave a patient smile. "It's part of today's lesson. Are you ready to learn?"
"Um, no ma'am."
Cheerilee could appreciate his honesty at least. "Try your best, please. You have potential in you, but you have to reach for it."
Snails looked a bit befuddled at the idea. "Are you sure?"
Their conversation was interrupted as a brightly dressed figure jumped in front of them with hooves thrown wide. "You two look like you're having trouble!"
Cheerilee recoiled in surprise. "What? Who are you?"
"That's not important. You two." The stranger, a mare, pointed between them with a hoof. "Can't see the other's side of things. I'll fix that." She threw her hooves out as wide as they could go and a blinding flash overtook them.
When they could see again, she was gone, and they were changed.
Cheerilee looked up at... herself. "Snails?"
"Yeah, that's me," replied Cheerilee's body before they looked down at Snail's body. "Whoa, that's... me too. How can I be in two places at the same time?"
Cheerilee saw herself, or her body, waving a hoof energetically. "Yes, Snails?"
"I have to go to the little foal's room. Which one do I use?"
Cheerilee clopped a hoof to her face. "Pick the one you like, just be sure to lock it behind you."
"Alright." He wriggled free of the desk and walked off at his usual sedate pace, eyes half-lidded.
Cheerilee winced at seeing it all played out with her own body, but at least she felt safe in the laid back colt's grasp. "Now, are there any other questions?"
Prickle shook her head. "We have to get you back to normal!"
Cheerilee smiled at Prickle. "I appreciate your concern, but I've already told Princess Twilight. Hopefully they'll have it sorted out soon. Meanwhile, you're here to learn, so we should get to that." She reached for a pointer and found it floating up to her. "Oh right, unicorn..." Well, some small advantages at least... "Now let's begin..."
A paper bounced off of Prickle's head. She blinked before she saw it laying on her desk and unfolded it.
This is a case for Tiny Titan!
Prickle looked around, but none of the ponies were taking credit in any obvious way.
Still... was it? It was. That was what she was supposed to do! She raised a hoof.
Cheerilee looked up at Prickle. "Yes?"
Oh, right. She needed an excuse... "I... need to use the little foal's room too."
Cheerilee's eyes narrowed. She was not fooled. "Sit down, Prickle. The lessons begins now. Class..." She began giving her sermon despite her new body, doing her best to pretend nothing odd was happening at all.
Prickle softly huffed. She wanted to go find the bad mare that dared to mess with her teacher, but was being stopped... by her teacher. She bided her time and took notes about the plants and stuff as best she could. She guessed that Cheerilee would totally give a surprise quiz considering how distracted everyone was.
But when lunch came along, she raced out. It was time to go! She looked around for a good spot to dash off to and get changed when a hoof tapped her on the shoulder. She span in surprise to see Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon.
Diamond hiked a brow. "Where are you trying to get in such a hurry? Don't you normally eat lunch with them?" She pointed at the crusaders at their usual table.
"Um, not today." Prickle stepped back slowly. "I forgot my lunch at home. I have to go get it real fast." She smiled, so proud of her excuse.
Silver pulled a small box out. "I'll share mine with you, Prickle."
Oops. Prickle didn't want to shoot down Silver twice so soon. She may start thinking Prickle really didn't like her. "Oh, um... thanks." Her attempt to get away was thwarted as she walked over with the two over to another table and they began to eat.
Diamond rolled a hoof as she ate. "Can you believe this?!" She pointed at Snails, seated with Snips. Despite the colt currently being a mare, he ate his food sedately. "Look at him! I bet he's doing terrible things."
Prickle blinked at the sight and back to Diamond. "Are we talking about the same Snails?"
"The same Snails that is a colt in a mare's body." She snorted loudly. "I can only imagine the things he's done and plans to do."
Silver shrugged softly. "I'd be more worried if it was Snips. I doubt Snails is even thinking about it."
"I try not to," came Snail's voice suddenly. "Thinking, that is." He was standing near them. "Hey."
Prickles jumped. Snails could be real sneaky when he wanted to be. "Oh, hi Snails. So... are you alright?"
"I'm fine," he assured with a dopey smile. "I miss having my horn though." He sank a moment before he perked back up. "It's kinda nice being so tall though." He pointed a hoof at the table in general. "Hey, you better be doing your homework." He chuckled at his own joke.
Prickle took a little bite of the fancy food Silver was sharing with her. "Don't you want to go back to normal?"
"Uh huh," he placidly agreed. "But I don't know how. I bet Twilight'll figure it out. I should get going, eh. See you all later." He gave a parting wave before wandering away.
Diamond rolled her eyes. "Alright, maybe he is too stupid to think of anything." She snickered softly. "So, what do you think, Prickle?" She hiked a brow at her. "Did that description match any mare you know of?"
Prickle quickly shook her head. "Not anypony I know. That was mean of them! They can't just... do that."
Silver shrugged a little. "Some unicorns think they can. Us earth ponies have to stick together or they might, like, do other strange magic and think they can get away with it." She smiled at Prickle brightly. "Do you like it?"
"Huh?"
"The food." Silver nudged the box she was sharing. "Does it taste nice?"
It did, and Prickle had no issue saying as much. "What is it?" She took up another morsel and popped it into her snout. It really was tasty.
"What's sushi?" Prickle had never heard of the food before, tasty as it was.
Diamond suddenly laughed. "Raw fish, rice, seaweed, some other things too."
Prickle paled. Fish? Raw? "Is... that... even safe?" She eyed the box with sudden suspicion.
Silver nodded quickly. "Uh huh. I've had it, like, forever. You don't see me getting sick." She took another bundle and popped it into her snout. "S'good."
Part of her wailed at the idea. Another part gently nudged the first part and reminded her she's already had plenty, and liked it. "I guess it is..." She reached and took another morsel, then noticed a little plate of green stuff. "What's this?"
Diamond leaned in. "Dip the sushi in it, I dare you."
Silver quickly slapped a hoof over the box. "You don't have to!"
Prickle looked between the two. "What... is it?"
Diamond shrugged softly. "It's really spicy. Can you handle it?"
Silver nodded in agreement. "You really don't have to." She withdrew her hoof.
Prickle reached with her sushi. "I'll try a little tiny bit..." She didn't want to be scared off by Diamond Tiara. She touched the sushi to it and a dollop of green stuff came off onto it. She opened her snout wide and chomped down onto the mix. At first it was fine. Then, the heat came... Tears leapt up into her eyes, but she tried to keep a brave face as she ran her tongue across the top of her mouth, trying to bear it past the flames.
Silver offered her sippy box. "Here, it'll help."
Diamond looked thoroughly amused and reached over to pat Prickle on the back. "I didn't think you'd have the guts. You surprised me."
Prickle smiled. Despite the pain, she felt good. She had impressed Diamond. She took a deep draw of sweet goodness from Silver's box and the flames ebbed down to a bearable point. She let out a heavy sigh of relief. "Do you use that a lot?"
Silver shrugged. "Only once in a, like, while, but they always put it there."
Prickle had failed to go find the bad pony, but she had shared lunch with the two greatest menaces of her life, and it wasn't that bad.
Prickle had finally escaped school. With her suit guarding her identity, she felt ready to pound any pony that would do such a thing to her teacher. She landed from an athletic bound.
"Hey TT." It was Scootaloo, smiling. "Looking for the jerk that messed with Cheerilee?"
"Uh huh," she quickly replied as she looked around for any signs of bad ponies. "Have you seen them? 'Brightly dressed unicorn mare' only goes so far." Prickle sighed softly.
Scootaloo gave a helpless shrug, then smiled. "I'll help you look though, then I can see you show her what's what."
Prickle didn't like the idea, but Scootaloo looked so excited to come with her, she didn't have the heart to turn her down. "Alright. I'll go north." She pointed. "You go south. If you see her, shout." Scootaloo bobbed her head quickly and hopped up onto her scooted gracefully, taking off on her own patrol.
Prickle watched her go a moment before she sprang from the ground. A streak of rainbows zipped just in front of her nose, stopped, and came back. Rainbow was there, grinning. "Hey champ." She was following Prickle as she arced in her jump. "Are you looking for who I think you're looking for?"
Prickle waited until she touched down on a roof before replying, "The pony that switched Cheerilee and Snails. Are you looking for her too?"
"You bet! Twilight said we should look separately, so she can't switch us around. If there's only one pony coming to beat her up, then she's out of luck."
That made sense to Prickle and she bobbed her head. "We should split up then."
"If I find her first, I'll give her something for ya, promise." Rainbow grinned, then sped off into the distance.
Prickle peeked into alleys, searched rooftops and even a few bells, but there just didn't seem to be any sign of the scoundrel anywhere.
Until she saw two confused ponies, two familiar ones. She hopped down beside Lyra and Bon Bon. "What's wrong?"
"Everything," said one of Bon Bon's many voices from Lyra.
"This is awesome," reported Lyra from Bon Bon's body. "I always wondered what being Bon Bon was like. I'm gonna bake so hard!"
Bon Bon arched Lyra's brow. "And you expect me to start playing an instrument I never tried before?"
"And we'll both fail dramatically," said Lyra as if it were the best thing ever. "Then we can laugh and show each other how we messed up. It'll be great fun. C'mon!"
Prickle shook her head slowly at her mixed up friends. "Which way did she go?"
They both pointed, and Prickle took off in a gallop. When she wanted more speed and less upwards mobility, she could run faster than she could jump, though it took more out of her. She was determined to catch up with that criminal! First her teacher, than her fighting mentor? It was inexcusable.
A loud yelp caught her attention and Prickle veered a hard right, kicking up dirt before she took off in the new direction. As she emerged past a set of buildings, she saw the brightly-dressed mare leering at Scootaloo. "Poor little thing. I've heard so much about you. You're so sad, stuck in a body that doesn't work right."
Prickle surged without thought. That wasn't true, she was thinking a lot of things, mostly about not letting Scootaloo down. She had started screaming without noticing, rushing at the masked pony.
The pony turned towards her. "What perfect timing! You'll do nicely." She reared up and threw her forehooves wide. "Have a change of perspective!"
White light filled the square. Prickle's body gave a surprised yelp before flopping to the ground in a tumble.
Scootaloo's form jumped at the mare without a pause, swinging a hoof with a loud scream of battle. It bounced off the mare's chest with a light thud.
She laughed softly. "Nice try. You run along now." She made a dismissive wave, then she just trotted away as if nothing important had happened.
Prickle jumped after her, and didn't go anywhere important. Her new wings buzzed wildly, trying to get her further, but she accomplished little more than hovering in place a moment before she came back to the ground. The villain was getting away!
Scootaloo stood up. "I got her!" She made a super jump. Too super. Prickle winced as she watched it, following Scootaloo's scream until it passed far beyond sight.
Prickle sighed softly. "I remember doing that..."
"Hey squirt." It was Rainbow Dash, zipping in speedily. "You alright? You should be careful. There's a magic jerk around here and we don't want you getting zapped."
Prickle shrank in place. None of that went according to plan. "We have to stop her. She went that way." She thrust out a hoof.
"I'm on it!" Rainbow took off in a streak of light.
Prickle was left alone to take stock of the situation. She circled on herself, looking at her pegasus filly body as best she could. She tried spreading one wing, then the other before she bounced up and down a little. She had none of her strength, but that made sense. She was Scootaloo.
She let out a little nervous laugh. She got what she wanted, sorta. She wasn't a freak. Instead she was in her friend's body. That was... less than ideal.
"Everything alright?" asked Sweetie Belle. "I heard you from the boutique," she squeaked, voice hitching with worry.
Prickle gave a nervous smile. "Not really..."
"P-Prickle?" Sweetie blinked with wide eyes. "Oh no! This is terrible! Where's Scootaloo?"
Prickle pointed off in the direction Scootaloo had launched herself, but needn't have. A loud whooping laughter came from the same direction as Tiny Titan bounced back into view.
Sweetie sat beside Prickle. "She's... having fun, I think?"
Prickle applied her new hoof to her new face. "This can't end well."
Sweetie let out a little concerned noise. "Are you going to go to your house or her's?"
Prickle blinked at Sweetie. That was a big question, but... "We have to switch back!" She looked around. "We just have to find that unicorn and get her to flip us rightside up."
"I'm on the way!" echoed Scootaloo's voice. A bright flash erupted from elsewhere in the city.
Prickle sank right back to her haunches. "I think it just got more complicated."
Sweetie squinted in the direction of the flash. "Who do you think she was switched with this time?"
Prickle felt jaw tense. There weren't a lot of other ponies she could hope for and still come out of it reasonably.
A bright band of rainbows arced up over the town with the maddest of cackles. "Woooohoooo!"
Sweetie blinked softly. "Oh..."
"Oh," echoed Prickle, at once relieved and worried. Rainbow could be trusted with things, but...
Prickle, or her body, landed with a heavy crash beside them. "Did you see, uh, me?" she asked with Rainbow Dash's voice.
Prickle and Sweetie both pointed up into the sky where wild patterns were being drawn with rainbows.
Rainbow, the real one, let out a little chuckle. "I always knew she had it in her. She'd make a great flyer... But not in my body!" She pointed up to the berserk Scootaloo. "How do I get her down from there? You can't jump that high... Can you?"
Prickle hadn't ever tried quite that high. "Maybe, but landing is going to be rough if you can."
"Only one way to know for sure!" Rainbow wiggled her little filly rump in the air then pounced into the air with all the strength Prickle's body had to offer.
That was a lot of strength.
Rainbow Dash was gone from sight almost instantly, barely a speck in the sky. The ground she had been standing on was a sizable crater from the pressure, smoke rising lazily from the compression heat generated from the motion.
Sweetie squinted up in the sky, trying to see Rainbow, wherever she had gone. "I hope she's alright..."
"Me too," sighed out Prickle before turning her eyes to the much-more visible Scootaloo. She waved wildly at her. "Scootaloo!" Shouting at her seemed as valid a tactic as any.
To her surprise, it worked. Scootaloo turned in mid-air and came zooming towards them.
As eager as she was to fly, that didn't give her much grace. She crashed gracelessly about ten feet from them, laughing the entire time. "Oh wow, that was great!" she cried as she clambered back up to her hooves. "You have no idea how amazing this feels." She bounced from hoof to hoof, blind to any pain caused by the crash. "I'm strong, and fast, and look at these." She spread her wings as wide as they could go. "They're so big and perfect!"
Sweetie Belle gave an uncertain nod. "But they're not yours."
Prickle bobbed in agreement. "Rainbow needs them. How is she going to be in the Wonderbolts in my body?"
A trailing scream that grew in pitch as it approached drew all three of their heads upwards. There was Rainbow, descending like a meteor, flame trail included. She was blazing a path at a sharp angle. There was no way she'd land in Ponyville.
Prickle rose to her hooves. "We have to help her."
Scootaloo set a hoof on Prickle's shoulder. "Woah woah, hold on there. Let me handle this." She flapped her borrowed wings and lifted from the ground easily. "I'm a lot faster."
"It doesn't matter." Prickle stomped an impotent hoof. "She's all of our friend, and I didn't quit my job just because some bad mare hit me with some magic. I'm going to help her." She glanced around. "Where do you keep your scooters?"
"Huh? Oh yeah!" Scootaloo was gone, only to return a few instants later with the scooter in hoof. "Here you go." She set it down on the ground.
Sweetie clopped her hooves softly. "You can give Prickle a ride, just like you used to get from Rainbow."
"Oh yeah, great idea!" Scootaloo soon had herself tied to the front of the scooter. "I'll fly there, and you just have to hold on. Have you ever ridden a scooter before?"
"No..." admitted Prickle as she stepped aboard and clutched at the bars as best as her hooves could manage. "But we have to go."
"Well, alright then." Scootaloo took off in a streak towards her downed hero and Prickle found the world blurring past her. It was all she could do just holding on and hoping they wouldn't run into anything along the way.
Sweetie waved at the two as they took off. "Good luck... You're going to need it." Shaking her head, she returned home. She was quite sure she'd hear about how it went at school the next day.
Rainbow crossed her costumed legs across her face as a tree came zooming at her. It was far from the first time a tree had done so. What had she ever done to trees to make them so mad? Or maybe she was looking at it the wrong way. Maybe trees really liked her flying and wanted to help catch her when things went wrong? Yeah, that was a better view.
Neither perspective softened the landing as she crashed through branches and came to a halt in the embrace of the tree. She let out a pained groan, but nothing felt busted or bent out of place, just banged up. As the stars fled her vision, she slowly slid to her hooves on the heavy branch she had landed on and carefully balanced on her way to the trunk. "Prickle's way stronger than I thought," she said to herself. She slowly began to climb down as a very familiar sound reached her ears. She peeked up to see her body coming in fast with a squealing Scootaloo clinging to her scooter with her entire body.
"Uh, hey guys." Rainbow waved a costumed hoof.
Scootaloo pulled to a stop. Prickle zipped past her, but Rainbow caught her easily and brought her to a stop. "Woah there. Let me guess, you're not Scootaloo."
Prickle took a shaking step off the scooter. "You have my body."
"And I'm guessing I wasn't hearing things before, so that makes you..." Rainbow looked at her body, which was blushing and looking awkward. "Scoots?"
Scootaloo landed, flapping her wings perhaps more than required. "Rainbow, your body is amazing!"
Rainbow puffed out her little chest. "Well, duh. I work hard to make sure it stays that way. I hope you had fun, now give it back. Being a mighty bouncing super hero is not my style."
Prickle poked Rainbow in the flank. "I don't think she can just... give it back."
"Has she tried?" retorted Rainbow. "Until she does, it doesn't count."
Prickle flashed a bright smile. "You have my body, why don't you try giving that back first?"
"Well fine then!" Rainbow glared at Prickle before thinking how to do that act she requested. She approached Prickle in Prickle's body and gave Prickle in Scootaloo's body a big hug.
A painful hug. "Easy! Super strength!" squeaked out prickle as she was compressed.
Rainbow released Prickle. "Your body is tricky. I can't do anything without overdoing it. I'm used to dialing it to 110%!"
Prickle held her hooves close together. "I aim for maybe 1 to 5 percent?" She had paid attention in math and felt proud of herself. "
Rainbow shook her head. "You are scary, but in all the good ways, seeing as you're a hero."
Scootaloo, not being paid attention to, lifted into the air higher and higher. She did slow spins, looking around for trouble. With a thrust hoof, she pointed at a flash in the city. "Our troublemaker is busy making more trouble. If we don't do something, the whole town'll be swapped around."
Rainbow grunted. "If Twilight finds her, this'll be over fast. Magic is one thing she barely ever loses at."
"Except today," spoke... Big Mac? No, that voice was certainly Twilight's, walking towards them. "She took my magic away."
Rainbow let out a little cough, then fell over, hooves in the air and cycling as she laughed.
Twilight scowled with Big Mac's face. "That means you're not getting your wings back, Rainbow."
"Oh, right." Rainbow rolled upright, laughter dying ignobly. "So where's Big Mac if you're borrowing his body?"
Twilight pointed to where a smiling and distant figure that was herself flew through the air. "He's enjoying the experience. Our rogue wizard seems to get a real kick out of swaps that leaves at least one pony happy about it."
Prickle shrugged. "The first one I learned about was Cheerilee and Snails. Cheerilee was annoyed and Snails was busy being Snails and wasn't thinking about it."
Twilight nodded. "Right, but she thought he'd like being an adult, one he knew was in a position of authority. Simply, she made a mistake."
Rainbow rolled a hoof at Twilight. "Yeah yeah, that's fascinating and all, but how do we start fixing all of this?"
Twilight's eyes darted between Rainbow, Prickle, and Scootaloo. "Just so we're on the same page, can I get a roll call?"
All three stated their true name in a chorus.
"Right. I know I said to come at her seperately, but that clearly isn't working. There's always somepony around for her to work her magic with. I have a new proposal."
Scootaloo flew down to easier conversation level. "What's your idea, Twilight?"
She swung a red-furred hoof at each of them. "We go in pairs, preferably with ponies we're alright with switching back with, so that when she tries to zap us, we know where we're going. Also, sunglasses." She pulled out a bouquet of them, spread out in a fan. "We can't afford to let that flash disorient us."
"Good idea!" Rainbow snatched her glasses and popped them on. "Looking stylish too."
Prickle and Scootaloo took their own, and Twilight put on the last to cover her enlarged snout. "Alright, Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash, you two seem like a natural fit."
Prickle pouted at that. That didn't set her up to be in her right body at all. "Who am I with?"
Twilight perked her ears. "Are you sure you even want to be involved? We'll get everyone's body's back once this is over, and we find yours."
Prickle blinked with confusion. "Find it?"
Twilight got a smile on her face. "Are you saying it's nearby?"
Prickle realized what she was about to do and shut up about it. "I still want to help! This is my town too. She's a bad pony and needs to be taken care of."
Twilight reached and grabbed Prickle by the nape of the neck. With a toss of her bulked neck, she sent Prickle soaring to land on Twilight's back. "We'll go together then. Everyone ready?"
"Just one question," asked Scootaloo, hovering in place. "What's going on with the others? I mean, Rarity, Applejack, Fluttershy? You know."
Twilight heaved a sigh. "At a guess, they're just as mixed up as the rest of us, or are about to be. Stick to your partner, and let's play this smart."
They split up then. Twilight and Prickle in Big Mac and Scootaloo's body. Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo in Rainbow and Prickle's body.
As they went, Scootaloo came in real low to fly just beside Rainbow. "I bet you're real worried."
"I trust you," Rainbow replied with a smile. "My Scootaloo would do the right thing. It's part of what makes her awesome."
"Yeah..." Scootaloo grabbed Rainbow Dash from above and lifted her from the ground. "I'm not going to steal you away from you. That would be a pretty uncool thing to do. Still, you can't blame me for enjoying it while I have it."
Rainbow snickered from Scootaloo's grip. "I would too, so, no, no hard feelings or anything. We're still sisters, right?" She offered a hoof, and it was met with a solid clop. "Together forever."
Scootaloo bobbed her head. "Forever. Let's find that jerk and fix all of this." She ascended higher into the sky, carrying Rainbow along as she went.
Twilight trotted along into the town. "Ugh, this body feels so... heavy."
Prickle sat up on Twilight's back. "And no magic."
"That too." She looked over her shoulder. "What do you miss?"
Prickle opened her mouth to reply, then shut it, realizing almost everything she said would incriminate her. "It's kind of neat having wings." She fluttered the little limbs. "I never had those before."
A familiar mare stepped out in front of them. "I'm so glad you're enjoying it," she said, a happy smile on her face. "A little change of perspective is good for a pony. We get stuck in ruts too easily."
Prickle pointed at Twilight. "But you haven't tried it yet. You keep doing the same thing over and over and over again. You're in the deepest rut."
The mare's expression wavered. "W-what?! But... I'm freeing ponies from their habitual lives!"
Twilight was no dim bulb and caught on quick where Prickle was going. "Oh, she has a point. How can you tell us to do something if you aren't willing to try? Have you ever been an earth pony before?"
"Or a stallion?" posited Prickle. "I bet it would be entirely new."
"Oh, I see where you're going." She shook her head. "Being an earth pony, that's silly. I mean, no offense, but they have the least going for them. Nope. I think I'll try a pegasus instead." She threw her hooves wide.
Prickle was suddenly a mare, a unicorn mare. She fell to all fours, dazed.
The mare laughed wildly and flew away! Or at least, that was her plan, but Scoot's wings were not up to the task, and she just succeeded at falling off of Twilight with style. Twilight brought a hoof down on the filly's body. "You stay right there."
Prickle shook her head clear. "We did it!" She stepped towards the squirming foal. "Alright, time to start putting ponies back."
"I... can't." She pushed impotently at Twilight's massive stallion hoof. "You're the unicorn, you do it."
Prickle reached up and tapped at her new horn. She was a unicorn... She tried to make something happen. To her credit, she made her horn glow.
Twilight shook her head. "You don't have her talent... And she doesn't have her horn." She let out an exasperated sigh. "This is going to be complicated."
"I should have taken the larger body," grumbled the captured villain.
"Didja find her, huh huh huh," asked a very pink sounding Applejack as she pronked closer.
Twilight nodded. "Can you help tie her up? I have her pinned but I'm used to having a horn."
"Ya don't need a horn to tie ponies up, silly." Pinkie bounced in, pulled a rope out that Applejack likely always had and got right to work, securing the bad guy. "Why does she look like Scootaloo?"
The villain smiled. "I am Scootaloo. The bad guy switched with him!" She pointed with her snout at Twilight.
Prickle stomped a hoof. "That's Twilight! I'm Prickle Berry, and she is... What is your name?"
"I don't have to say..."
Prickle could argue, but it felt wrong somehow. "I'll call you Switcheroo for now."
The entire town gathered in a confused mob before the stage. On that stage were Twilight, who had Big Mac's body, Pinkie in Applejack, Rarity in Filthy Rich, Applejack in Octavia, Spike in Spike. "I still don't get why she skipped me." Rainbow Dash in Prickle, and Prickle as the villain. There was also the villain herself, currently appearing as Scootaloo.
Applejack glanced about with cultured eyes. "Where'd Fluttershy run offta?"
Twilight grunted as only a stallion could. "She refuses to be seen. Let's get this underway." She stepped up towards the microphone. "Citizens of Ponyville, I know you're all very confused and worried right now, but we have things under control. The perpetrator has been apprehended and we're working as hard as we can to get things put right."
Big Mac suddenly came down from the sky, landing just before the stage. "Ah'm an alicorn princess. Ah'll fix everything with magic!"
Twilight blinked at the sudden interruption. "If you think... you can?" She had no confidence that Big Mac suddenly knew enough magic to do much worth talking about. Then again, he was flying capably enough.
The crowd turned its eyes to the grinning form of their neighborhood princess, though few were fooled by the smooth deep notes that issued from... his... throat. "Ayup!" He closed his eyes and concentrated, his horn starting to glow, dim at first but quickly escalating. With a loud set of cries, Carrot Top and Junebug lifted into the air.
To Prickle's combination of relief and disappointment, that was not Junebug's yelp. She had heard that before.
Twilight began to get nervous. "Be careful, Big Mac. Magic isn't a toy."
"Nope."
With a sudden nova of power, Big Mac struck both of the mares. Sparkles danced and whorled, and both ponies were set down with flowers sprouting in every direction.
Junebug, or whoever had her body, blinked softly, confused but seemingly unharmed.
Twilight applied her larger hoof to her face. "Thank you for trying. I'm afraid to say this... but we're going to have to call in outside help. Spike, I'm glad you're still you. Would you come here? I need you to take a letter."
"Ahem. Dear Princess Celestia, Ponyville's hit a bit of a problem that requires your direct intervention. Magic has been used irresponsibly." She turned red, hard as it was to see through her red fur. "It wasn't me. I am unable to address this matter personally. Please come at your earliest convenience. Thank you, Princess Twilight Sparkle."
"So do we simply wait until then?" came Mayor Mare's voice from one of the secretary pony's snout.
Spike puffed on the paper he had drafted and the sparkles danced away towards the castle up on the mountain. "We can't force Celestia to go faster than she wants."
The crowd murmured dejectedly, but nopony was hysterical about it.
The changed mayor hopped up onto the stage. "I forward that we all just pretend we are who we really are. Everypony in town knows what's happened, so let's just pretend it's not happening, for now. Go to your usual homes, do your usual jobs as best you can, and hopefully this situation will be resolved soon."
Rainbow Dash raised a hoof and waved it wildly.
"Um, yes... Tiny Titan?"
"That's Rainbow Dash," she corrected. "How can I do any of my jobs without my awesome wings?"
Similar statements rippled through the crowd.
"Ah'll use magic ta farm!"
Applejack squinted down at her brother. "No ya won't! Ah'm gonna tell Granny what you just said."
That cowed him sheepishly.
Mayor Mare tapped the microphone lightly. "Ponies and gentlecolts, let's try to keep a level head. We'll work together to get through this as we have so many times before. Rainbow Dash, who has your body?"
"Me!" Scootaloo waved a hoof wildly. "I'll take over weather duty!" She sounded quite excited to do it. "I always wanted to try..."
Snails, er, Cheerilee gave Scootaloo a prod. "Only outside of school hours, young filly."
The conversation remained as loud, but was changing subtly. Ponies were swapping duties where required as best they could. It seemed some ponies would just have to oversee or take a day off.
"Time to make sweet sweet candy," sang out Lyra in Bon Bon's body. "You'll help me, right?"
Bon Bon rolled her eyes. "Of course I will, but I'm not playing the lyre, sorry."
The two wandered off, arguing about the merits of at least trying out the instrument.
Prickle put a hoof behind her head. She supposed that being a mare wouldn't really stop her from going to school, but... "Rainbow Dash, can we talk?"
"What's up?"
"Privately?"
They wandered away from the crowd, only to hear a familiar voice right behind them, "Going somewhere, darlings?"
There was Filthy Rich, er, Rarity. "If you want some privacy, you can visit the boutique. I'm heading back there now to do some good crying." She heaved a sigh. "I'm not going to get much seamstress work done like this. Working by mouth is such a chore and takes the fun out of it." She waved a hoof in a fashion Filthy Rich would never do. "I know I could use the machines, and I will! But it's not the same."
She walked alongside the others. "And don't even get me started on the whole stallion thing! Filthy, darling, you really need to update your fashion. You've been wearing this same suit for most of your life." She rambled as she went, and soon they arrived at her home.
Prickle used her newly-gifted magic to tug the door open, even if she only managed a precious half an inch. Rarity smiled at the effort and easily got it the rest of the way with a casual swing of a hoof. "Thank you dear. It's good to see these recent events haven't worn on your manners."
Once they were inside, Rainbow turned to face Prickle. "So, why are we here again?"
Prickle pointed at Rainbow. "You can't do the weather right now, but if there's other trouble, you're Tiny Titan."
Rainbow blinked softly and looked down at her little body. "Huh, guess I am. So ya want me to pound some monsters if they show their ugly mugs?"
Prickle bobbed her head. "Exactly."
"As if you needed to ask me." Rainbow took a proud stance. "I'll show them a thing or two!" She punched into the air, bouncing on her hind hooves a moment before she came back down. "Besides, I did that before. I'll just be doing it a little different now. Hey, since we're asking favors, keep an eye on Scoots for me, alright? You two are in school together and all."
That seemed a fair request and Prickle bobbed her head. "I'll do that."
"I'm glad you two are getting along." Rarity was smiling at the two of them. "But if you're done with the clandestine little meeting, I'd like to get to my crying now, thank you."
So they left Rarity to do her scheduled sobbing and split up. Rainbow headed towards Twilight's castle. "I can't reach my house, but I know Twi'll put me up until this gets straightened out."
Prickle waved goodbye and headed to her own house which was thankfully on the ground.
She opened the door to find a pony she had seen once or twice but didn't know the name of.
The unknown mare smiled at Prickle. "Prickle?"
Prickle knew that voice and hurried forward to hug her mom tightly, regardless of what she looked like at the moment. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine. Look at you, my little porcupine went and grew up overnight." She was smirking with obvious jest. "Dinner's already ready. Eat up. Did you finish your homework?"
Prickle rolled her eyes as she settled by the table. "Only you would ask that right this moment."
Her mother stuck out her tongue. "I haven't heard a thing about Cheerilee cancelling class, so I expect you to remain a model student." She trotted up and set a plate of food before Prickle. "Hopefully Princess Celestia comes and puts everything back to normal."
"Or Luna?" posited Prickle as she began to eat. "I guess any good magic-using pony would do."
"What are they doing with the pony that did this?" asked Junebug as she sat across from her at the table. "She's still a filly, right?"
"Scootaloo." Prickle bobbed her head. "I'm her right now." She pointed at herself.
Junebug raised a brow at that. "Why don't you take that mask off and we'll see who she is? Maybe it's somepony we know."
Prickle felt a chill run up her spine. "N-no! No... I won't take a pony's mask off..."
Junebug looked at Prickle quietly a moment before she nodded. "Very well, but you do need to take a bath, and you can't do that with that outfit on."
Prickle glanced around nervously. "You won't peek, right? I just won't look in any mirrors."
Junebug smiled gently. "I was raised better than to go peeping on ponies enjoying a shower. Finish your food for now. Her secret is safe with me."
Prickle devoured the food gratefully. Her mother's cooking has not been diminished her her bodyswap. She produced her homewor-- "Oh."
"What's wrong?"
Prickle pointed where Twilight's castle would be. "Rainbow has my homework."
Junebug applied a hoof to her face. "Get it back in the morning on the way to school, leave early. You'll just have to explain to Cheerilee what happened. Go on and take that shower."
Prickle let out a little sigh, mixed feelings of relief and annoyance showing. "Sorry," she mumbled as she got to her hooves and trotted off to the bathroom.
Her eyes moved to the mirror and she jumped at seeing not-her looking at her with equal surprise. She reached up and flipped the mirror over. She couldn't reach the mirror before. Being tall had perks. She closed the door behind herself, twisted the lock, and got to washing away the troubles of the day.
"Hey."
Prickle blinked out of her funk and looked towards the tiny bathroom window where the voice had come from. There was Rainb--Scootaloo, hovering in sight. "Prickle?"
Prickle blinked softly. "Scootaloo? Why are you spying on me taking a shower?" Were things getting more complicated?
"I brought your stuff. Can I open the window?"
Prickle broke into a smile. "Oh, thanks! But why not just go through the front door?"
"Oh yeah... I just liked flying so I'm kinda doing it all I can while it lasts and then I saw you in here and I thought I'd say hi, and here we are!"
Prickle reached up and could get to the window, another feat that was impossible as a filly. "There are perks to this," she said, shaking her mane a little.
"T... Trixie?" Scootaloo was staring at Prickle with wide eyes.
Prickle only then realized she wasn't disguised. She was a big fat hypocrite! "No! You didn't see anything!" She slapped the window shut, bonking Scootaloo on the nose. "No!"
When Prickle emerged from her bath, dressed and disguised, she saw her mother looking at her oddly. "Is something wrong?"
She shook her head. "Your friend came by. I was confused at first, but nopony is what they seem to be right now." She pointed. "Your books and homework are here. Do you have time to finish it before bed?"
Prickle brightened and hurried to the table. She grabbed her notebook in her mouth and had it flipped open an instant later. Quill in mouth, she got to writing industriously. Homework seemed like a welcome relief from anything else bothering her at the moment, and she threw herself at it.
Junebug shook her head a little. "That is a workable answer. Thank you, Prickle. Your teacher will be grateful as well. I can't imagine every colt and filly is going to be equally as industrious right now."
Prickle glanced up a moment before resuming her work. It was math, and not even especially hard math. Math was nice and predictable. It was much like her life had not been. Still, she didn't have a had time imagining some foals were busy being distracted by whatever new body they found themselves in.
She found herself daydreaming as she worked a little, wondering what other forms she could have ended up in. She could be an old wobbly pony, that would have been awkward. She coulda been a stallion! No thanks. She coulda been a pegasus and tried flying, though she lacked the practice even Scootaloo had and imagined it would involve a lot of crashing and false starts and not a lot of actual flight.
Instead, she was a unicorn.
Then it hit her and she smiled. She imagined the quill floating. It took a few tries, but she soon had the quill bobbing beside her snout instead of in it. With a little giggle, she imagined the words she wanted to write and the quill set itself to the task, sort of. The words were being written, but her mouth was far more trained than her mental grip. It was sloppy, though it was also working, and that was kind of exciting. She clopped her larger hooves as she watched the quill obey her will.
"Little Porcupine." Junebug was peering at her skeptically. "I know you're curious, but you're an earth pony." The expression turned to a warm smile. "You are... Everything an earth pony should be, come to think. You're incredibly strong, and willing to help others. Gentle giants, that's what an earth pony is." She rest a hoof on Prickle's head. "We'll get this sorted quickly, I hope."
Prickle tilted her head at her mom. What was she worried for? "I like... being me, but I'm not me right now." It was only after she said it that she realized what she had said and the quill flopped to the tabletop. "I like being me," she echoed breathlessly. She was certain that wasn't true just a few weeks prior. She hated being a freak and outcast, but... Everypony liked her... Everypony... wanted to see her. She was still strong, but everypony liked that too.
She sat up, squirming as she did so. "I like being me," she whispered.
Junebug sat down behind her and reached her forehooves forward. She hugged her oversized foal gently. They sat there in silence. Prickle wasn't sure when she had started, but a tear had fallen free of her snout, splashing on her homework.
They were quiet the rest of the evening, and Prickle eventually went to bed, barely fitting with her considerably larger mare body.
The next morning, Prickle trot to school. She had her homework and her supplies and she felt ready to tackle the day!
Then she arrived at the schoolhouse. She delayed in the doorway, pace slowing to a hesitant walk. Half the class were adults, squeezed uncomfortable into their desks. She could only imagine most of the rest were scrambled among themselves.
"Move it," came a familiar authoritative voice. Prickle spun around to see Diamond's butler peering at her. "You're not the only one here." It was clearly Diamond, and she walked past with her aged snout upturned.
"She's a little mad," came Silver Spoon's voice from the body of Diamond Tiara just after her. "Can you blame her?"
Prickle glanced at the old form Diamond had been given then quickly shook her head. "I'd be mad too."
Silver gave a friendly smile, which looked very out of place on Diamond's face. "You got a nice one, wait... Isn't that the pony that did this?"
Other foals looked towards Prickle with renewed interest.
It was exactly the sort of attention that Prickle didn't work and her jaw clenched a little.
She was saved by the arrival of Snails, er, Cheerilee. "Alright class, everyone into their seat." But then she noticed Prickle and winced a moment. "Which foal are you?"
"Prickle Berry," she quickly identified herself, then dashed to her desk to awkwardly cram herself into it. "Ready!"
Cheerilee nodded. "Very good. Now kindly pass your homework to the front of the class. I understand this is a very... trying time, but school must go on. I won't be counting today's homework against anypony that missed it, but those who did do it are getting extra credit."
Prickle beamed proudly even as she heard soft groans from ponies who had undoubtedly missed the chance for extra points. She accepted the papers passed from behind her and added hers to the pile.
Cheerilee began her lesson. "Today seems like a fine day to go over this, since some of you are undoubtedly confused and concerned." She pulled down a sheet of paper that had an anatomical drawing of a pony on it, two of them, mare and stallion. "Let's go over the difference between a mare and a stallion."
There were a few titters and chuckles through the room, but many were blushing and looking awkward. Prickle was a little curious, but had no vested interest. She thanked Destiny for that.
Cheerilee broke it all down for her class. She didn't get into how foals were made 'That's for later,' she had admonished. She had gone over basically everything else there was to know.
At lunch, Prickle spied Rainbow Dash as a clear hint of where the CMC were, and Silver and Diamond were not hard to spot. Sweetie Belle was there, just beside Scootaloo. Prickle became curious and trotted over. "Sweetie, are you still you?"
"Yep," she said with a grin. "I stayed inside like my sister told me and I didn't get zapped. I mean, beside that one moment when I came to see what the shouting was about, but the zapper wasn't around, lucky me." She pointed a hoof at Prickle. "You're all grown up."
Scootaloo put a hoof behind her head, clearly wanting to say something, but she didn't.
Featherweight shook his head. "Well, the way ah see it, the sooner this is fixed, the better." Oh, it was Apple Bloom. "Why's featherweight have to be so... small?"
Scootaloo shrugged her enlarged shoulders then looked to Prickle. "Hey, uh, your secret's safe with me."
That got Apple Bloom and Sweetie's attention, and confusion. Sweetie tilted her head one way and the other. "It's safe with all of us, isn't it?"
Apple Bloom nodded her coltish head. "What brings that up all of ah sudden?"
Prickle knew. She knew and she smiled. "Thank you." She hopped up to join them and got out her lunch pail.
Sweetie pointed up at Prickle's new horn. "Can you use it?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah." She opened the package that held her food easily, unveiling a large apple and a glass container of something her mother had prepared. "I think my horn's already big and strong, magicly, from its, you know, original owner. I'm clumsy, but it works."
Sweetie stuck out her tongue. "Do you have any idea how much I had to practice before I could do anything? Cheater!" She didn't sound as angry as her words implied, and she got back to smiling and eating.
Apple Bloom snorted. "You two got lucky. Ah can barely help around the farm at all like this." She pointed at Scootaloo in her rainbow-hinted body. "You got one of the top athletes in town." She pointed at Prickle. "And you got to try being a unicorn, even if ah think yer better off as an earth pony."
Sweetie cocked a brow at that. "What's wrong with being a unicorn?"
"Nuthin'," Apple Bloom quickly assured. "Nuthin' at all, but that ain't what Prickle is, now is it? Ya want to be strong again, right?"
Prickle didn't immediately reply. She was stuck facing her previous doubts. She would have been so grateful to be not-strong just a short time ago, but then everything changed. She clopped her hooves slowly, tapping them. "Do you like it when I'm strong?"
Scootaloo leaned forward. "Don't you? You're a literal super hero! It's awesome! Of course we like it, but we like you, super hero or not. I mean--" She suddenly cut herself off as another pony approached.
It was Diamond Tiara, who hopped up right beside Prickle. "You're Prickle, right?"
"Yeah?" Prickle felt a cold sweat form. She wasn't sure how to interpret Diamond's tone.
"Huh, so you're her. Let's see who she is." She reached up for Prickle's face. Prickle fell backwards in sudden panic, falling right off the bench to the ground in a mess of hooves. "What are you freaking out about? We know it isn't you. Let's just see who messed us all up." Diamond slid her old body down, walking around towards Prickle.
Apple Bloom raised a hoof and took on the look of a clever filly, er, colt. "Actually, we don't have no proof that was the pony that did done anything. They coulda switched tons of times, from unicorn ta unicorn 'till they were caught."
Diamond furrowed her wrinkly brow. "Huh... You have a point there... How will we know who she, or he, was in the first place?"
Sweetie shrugged softly. "Princess Celestia will figure it out, or at least help Twilight get back to normal, then she can figure it out. She's a very smart pony. I bet she'll have it all calculated in no time at all."
Prickle gathered herself back to her new hooves. "Even if it wasn't, um, her, I don't want to take away her secret for her. It's not mine to give away."
Diamond rolled her eyes. "What would you know about that anyway?" The table grew quiet. "What? Anyway, anypony get word about when they're fixing this? I don't want to be like this longer than I have to be."
Apple Bloom gave a bucked smile. "Ah'm sure they're workin' on it right now. 'fact ah wouldn't be surprised none if Celestia came ridin' down right now on her chariot."
All eyes turned towards Canterlot, but no such chariot greeted them.
It wouldn't be for another day that any help arrived, but it did. It was not in the form of Celestia. It was another unicorn that Twilight greeted with a big hug, which confused her.
"Um, do I know you?" asked Moondancer with a quirked shaggy brow.
"Oh, right." Twilight backed off and pointed at herself. "I'm Twilight Sparkle."
"Twilight?!" Moondancer shook her head quickly. "The Princess said there were scrambled ponies to handle, but didn't mention you were... this." She waved a hoof up and down at Twilight's big red form.
Twilight blushed, which showed despite her red fur. "Well let's put that aside for the moment. We have to start putting ponies back in their natural bodies."
"Can't argue that." Moondancer's horn glowed as she drew out a book. "Celestia authorized the use of this, with some caveats and warnings. Do you know where the pony is with your body?"
Twilight pointed out of the town. "Big Mac is probably at the farm, unless he's at the market."
"Let's check the market first then, that's closer, right?"
"Right."
They got to trotting, both set to fixing the mess, mostly. Moondancer's eyes kept darting at her scrambled friend. "It must be rough."
"Hmm?"
"Not having a horn, to start, being a stallion, for another. How are you even functional?"
Twilight thrust a hoof at a passing pony. "What were you a week ago?"
The pegasus blinked in surprise. "Earth pony."
Twilight pointed at another, a filly. "And you?"
The filly replied with a mature male voice, "I helped around the post office."
Moondancer shook her head. "I suppose misery really does love company. It's impressive that you're all sticking together through all this."
"Ponyville's seen worse," assured Twilight as she gestured broadly to the town as a whole. "But we are eager to get this sorted out. If you fix me, we can then get to fixing everypony else twice as fast."
"Precisely my thinking. Oh, there you are." She could see Twilight, not the red stallion beside her, but a purple princess offering apples in the market. She wore both her tiara and an apron in an interesting mix of fashions. "Is that the original? And did you let him... her? Them. Did you let them borrow your tiara?"
Twilight's eyes rolled. "He seems to like it, and I didn't see any point worrying about it until we had our bodies back."
They came close enough for Big Mac to notice them. "Howdy, Twilight. Who's yer friend?"
Twilight was caught by surprise. That was more verbiage than normal. Moondancer didn't know better and replied, "Moondancer, nice to meet you. Let's get you two back in your proper bodies." She drew out that magic book.
Big Mac winced, but his smile returned. "Done figured it was just a little while."
Twilight became curious. "You like being a mare?"
"Nope."
Twilight tapped her red chin softly. "You like being a unicorn?"
"Nope."
Twilight pointed at Big Mac. "Well, what is it then? We're friends. I'll keep it secret if you prefer."
Big Mac glanced between the unicorn that was studying her book and Twilight in his body. "Ah..." He leaned in close to Twilight, voice dropping to a whisper. "Ah like bein' important." He was a bright red, squirming. He went silent, as was his nature.
"I'm ready," announced Moondancer with confidence. "If you two would stand side by side? Perfect, just like that." Her horn began to glow brightly. "From my eyes to yours, our perspective is changed. Through our bright open doors, let our bodies be rearranged!" Bright motes of magic swept over the two.
Then it faded away. Moondancer adjusted her glasses as she looked from one to the other slowly. "Well?"
"I... think it worked," said Twilight from within her royal form.
"Yep," agreed Big Mac. He held out a hoof. It took Twilight a moment to realize what was being asked for and she surrendered the apron that was around her.
Twilight lifted from the ground, easily taking flight on her returned wings. "It's time to gather up everypony. Moondancer, head to town hall." She pointed the way. "I'll spread the word and we'll all meet you there to get this straightened out. Be sure to bring that book, I'll need it to lend a hoof."
As Twilight soared off to spread the word, Moondancer leveled her gaze on Big Mac as he got his apron back on. "I... am not an expert on these matters, but I bet you are important."
Big Mac blinked at Moondancer.
She gave an unsure smile. "I'm serious. You have friends, don't you?"
"Ayep?"
"You have family?"
"Yup."
"Both would be sad if you weren't there, so..." She trailed a hoof through the dirt. "You're important, to them."
Big Mac was quiet before he nodded a little. "Ah... jus' wish..." He fell to quiet again.
Moondancer put a hoof to her own chest. "Look, I'm... still learning what having friends is like... Treasure that. You are important."
Big Mac could see the courage and pain that came with Moondancer's admission. He reached out a hoof, and they hugged quietly a moment, sharing in their related but different aches. "Yep." His own feelings were not soothed by the platitude, but the effort meant something between the two awkward souls.
"We're getting fixed!" came the excited cry of a colt. The classroom became madness with chatting and rushing to grab one's things.
Cheerilly slapped the board with her pointer. "Class! Calm yourselves. We'll proceed in an orderly fashion." Her eyes settled on the colt that had come with the news. "Where do we need to be?"
"Twilight said to come to the square." He pointed off in the right direction, bouncing with eagerness.
"Then we'll do that, and I'm afraid I do need to report to your mother that you weren't in class."
The foal blinked. "I'm not in your class, Cheerilee."
Cheerliee clopped a hoof to her small face. "I am looking forward to this being fixed."
The class poured free of the schoolhouse and began marching towards salvation.
Silver Spoon in the body of her best friend came up alongside the larger form of Prickle. "Are you looking forward to being yourself again?"
"I... am," agreed Prickle with a little hesitation. "I'm surprised that I am, but I really am."
Diamond's voice joined, "tired of being a freak?"
Silver frowned a little. "She just said she wants to go back to her normal self."
"Oh." Diamond reached up to rub at one of her aged ears. "These don't work as well as they should. I hope you've been taking care of my body, Silver Spoon."
Silver cracked a smile. "I made sure to enjoy extra sweets."
Diamond jumped at her friend, and they went to the ground, wrestling, but Silver was laughing. Prickle smiled a little. It was kind of nice to see them being such good friends.
Rainbow Dash, er, Scootaloo landed beside Prickle. "Hey, so, going back huh?"
Prickle perked an ear at Scootaloo. "Nervous?"
"Yeah... but not that, not exactly."
Prickle bumped against her friend. "You're afraid this will be the last time."
Scootaloo winced. "Am I that obvious?"
"It's alright... I would be too. You're a good friend for giving her her body back."
"Yeah..." Scootaloo kicked a rock away as they walked. "The Rainbow I know would never do that... I couldn't just... be her, if I'd do that. Rainbow isn't like that..."
"You're not Rainbow," Prickle said with a smile. "You're even better. You're Scootaloo, who is my friend, and has helped me so much since I met her." She put a hoof at her own chest. "In fact, if I had to pick my favorite hero, I'd say it was definitely Scootaloo, who helped teach me that... I..."
Scootaloo suddenly grabbed Prickle, hugging her tightly. It became quiet, but volumes were said between them. Eventually they parted. Scootaloo pointed ahead. "We should get going."
"That was mighty sweet ah ya," complimented a coltish Apple Bloom, walking along Prickle. "Let's get this over wit'."
The crowd was growing at the square. Just about everypony that lived in Ponyville was there, which made it quite the gathering indeed.
Sweetie, with the few others who were in the body they started with, were off to one side, watching but not getting mixed up with the ponies that needed help. She glanced to the left and saw DJ-Pon3 beside her, watching everything with a slow bobbing of her head.
"She didn't get you?" asked Sweetie.
Vinyl gave a slow shake somehow in perfect time with her bobbing.
"What about... Octavia? That's her name right?"
Vinyl pointed out into the crowd.
"Oh, she'll be fixed soon, I hope."
In the crowd, Prickle sat and waited for things to get underway. She heard some ponies talking. Well, she heard a lot of ponies talking, but one conversation caught her attention. "I'm done trying to bake."
"I told you it was harder than it looked," came one of Bon Bon's many voices.
"Oh, I'm not worried about that. I just want to play my lyre and doing that with just hooves is extra hard. Not impossible, just... it's more fun with my horn!"
"About that..."
"You're good at it!" came Lyra's excited cry.
"I broke it."
"Well, yeah, but I'll get it fixed. I've broken the strings before, it happens."
"If I can have your attention," came Twilight's call from the stand. "As you can see, I am back in my usual self."
The crowd erupted into cheers and stomps.
"And now, with the assistance of Moondancer, we're going to fix the rest of the town. To make this process easier, find your original body and stay with them. To speed things along, we'll start with ponies who can be matched directly. Ponies who have been swapped more than once will be handled only after that."
"Darn it," came Rainbow's bitter reply, knowing that put her far from the front of the line.
She wasn't the only one. Prickle and some others grumbled a little, but there wasn't much to be done about it.
Ponies broke up into pairs wherever they could find their doppelganger, and those who only had to be in a group of two advanced to the front of the crowd.
"Pardon, but you appear to have been given a Great and Powerful body."
Prickle perked an ear at the new female voice and looked around before it fell down to a small unicorn. They were the size of a foal, but appeared to be an adult mare. "Hello?"
"Yes, hello," agreed the small adult. "You have Trixie's body in a terrible outfit. She would like it back kindly."
Twilight and Moondancer were quick about their work, swapping pony after pony and undoing the knot that had been formed with the identities of Ponyville. Happy ponies trotted back to their lives, restored to their original selves.
Rainbow trotted forward. Her name had been called and she clip-clopped her hooves with giddy anticipation. "I can't wait to get back in the air!" She had been swapped with Prickle already, from one alien form to another. "Now gimmie my body back!" She leveled a hoof at Scootaloo, rather, her body.
Twilight glanced aside at the villain they had bound and captured. "I had been saving her for last. Do we even have her original to swap with?"
Rainbow shrugged. "Dunno. Can I go back to normal now please?"
Twilight gave a soft snort. "Right right, hold your ponies. Scootaloo?"
Scootaloo, in Rainbow Dash's body, nodded. "Ready." She glanced aside at Rainbow in Prickle's body. "So, uh, I'll be getting... Tiny Titan's body?"
Twilight nodded quickly. "For now. We'll swap that one later, in private."
Prickle, nearby but not in the conversation, let out a little breath of releif.
With the invocation spoken and a bright explosion of magic, the two were swapped. Rainbow launched herself up into the air with an excited cry, her flight restored. She came back down after a moment, giggling joyfully. "Thanks for taking care of her."
Scootaloo blinked with some confusion. "Taking care of her?"
"My body." She tapped herself on her chest. "Feels like I haven't missed too much exercise, but I'll have to do double regimen for a little while to catch up, still, not nearly as bad as I was worried about. Once they have you back in the right place, I'll show you how thankful I am, alright?"
Scootaloo looked uncertain about what that might be, but agreed with a timid voice. "T-thanks, um, for letting me borrow it."
Rainbow snorted at that and started noting she didn't have much choice in the manner.
While they were talking Twilight went on the next tangled web and started swapping ponies. Spell by spell, the crowd diminished.
"Trixie is ready to get her body back."
Moondancer nodded at Trixie. "Alright." She looked around a moment. "I don't see it."
Trixie pointed up at her costumed body. "It's right there, dressed strangely."
"Ah. Excuse me?"
Prickle Berry looked over as she was spoken to.
"It's time to switch you two."
Prickle didn't want to be a little mini-unicorn, but her current larger unicorn form wasn't hers. She didn't have much a leg to stand on. "Alright."
Trixie stuck out her tongue as Prickle came over. "She has been watching you cast that spell. Trixie bets she could do it herself. Watch!"
Moondancer's horn lit up just as Trixie's did, but instead of casting a spell, she grabbed Trixie's horn in her magic and gave a sudden squeeze.
Trixie yelped in surprise, her spell fizzling harmlessly. "Why did you do that?! Do you doubt Trixie's amazing powers?"
Moondancer waved a hoof at Trixie. "This spell is harder to cast when the caster is one of the two being swapped. For your safety, please allow me to handle this."
Trixie rolled her eyes and huffed. "Fine..."
The two were swapped. Trixie immediately tore off her costume and tossed it aside with a disgusted look. "Trixie is going home to change." She trotted off without another word.
Eventually most of the ponies of the city were restored. All save a precious few. Twilight led those few away. "Let's get some privacy, shall we?"
Prickle was far from swift on some things, but this was becoming too hard to ignore. "You know, don't you?"
Twilight twitched an ear back at Prickle. "Know what? I know we have to get you back in your regular body."
Prickle swallowed. "But you know which body that is."
Twilight was silent as they marched for a time. She broke the silence with a soft sigh. "Your secrets are yours, Prickle Berry. I don't want to impose on you."
Prickle shook her head quickly. "But... you already know."
Twilight nudged open the door to her castle with her magic. "Prickle... I think everypony might know."
Prickle flinched back at that. "Not everypony..."
Twilight pat the small unicorn on the head. "I won't tell a soul. Let's get you back to normal."
Scootaloo nodded quickly. "As cool as it is being a super hero, this is your destiny, not mine."
"What's stopping me from telling?" asked their prisoner suddenly.
Twilight cocked a brow. "A few royal guards and a princess that has questions for you, in Canterlot."
Stepping from seemingly nowhere came three golden-armored ponies. "We're here, Your Majesty."
Twilight smiled. "Very good. One moment, let's get everypony in their right body." There was nothing in the way, so she did just that, clasping the horn blocker on the little unicorn before putting the villain back there. Prickle and Scootaloo were restored. Everyone was looking at their true selves.
Even as the guards moved to escort the villain away, Twilight's horn glowed in a strange strobe that reached out and blasted the bad mare in the head, exploding in a puff of purple sparkles.
Prickle blinked at the display. "What did you just do?"
Twilight raised a hoof to her lips for silence until the guards and the switcher were gone. "I just did a little memory spell. Perhaps that was overkill for the situation, but she'll have a very hard time remembering the specifics of the last day, to safeguard your secret."
Prickle sank to her haunches. "How long? I mean, how long did you... know?"
A new voice called out as she descended the stairs, "She's known for quite a while." It was Starlight. "You really are a remarkable filly."
Prickle wasn't sure what to think. "You know too then?"
"Know?" Starlight quirked a smile. "We fought before. It was quite a show. I'm sorry you got hurt though. That was far from the plan. Forgive me?"
Twilight looked panicked at Starlight's confession, but Starlight just laughed it off. "I think we've had enough secrets. Prickle Berry, is it alright if we're honest?"
Prickle felt the world spinning. Was Diamond Tiara really the only pony in the town that didn't know her secret? "S-sure." She was confused and numb.
Starlight sat in front of Prickle with a smile. "Good! I'd love to do that again sometime, maybe without the theatrics, or the getting hurt part." Her eyes refocused on Scootaloo. "You know too, right?"
Scootaloo nodded. "I was there from the start."
Twilight snorted at that. "Somehow, that doesn't surprise me."
"What's even the point," sighed out Prickle, sinking to the ground.
Scootaloo hopped on her friend suddenly, hugging her. "You're not the first superhero with other people in the know. Spike!"
"Yeah?" He poked his head out of the kitchen. "What's up?"
"Tell her about some superheroes with public secret identities."
"Well, there's the Dash, and Steel Mare." With each name, he counted it on his claws, going down a list of exposed superheroes. "Some of them, everyone knows, but some just their family or community."
Prickle slowly sat up. Scootaloo slid off, unable to stop Prickle's motions. "And they were still heroes?"
Spike shrugged. "Being a hero has more to do with what you're actually doing, not how cool your secret identity is, uh... so are we not calling you Tiny Titan anymore? That name's pretty cool."
Prickle quirked a smile at that. "T-thanks. Um, yes... please. I still want to be Tiny Titan."
Twilight nodded. "Then Tiny Titan you will be. There's no law saying you can't have a stage name. Trixie is Great and Powerful and nopony is denying her that." Suddenly she clopped her hooves together. "Now that we're out in the open... I have a thousand questions for you!"
Prickle blinked softly at that. "You do?"
Starlight rolled her eyes. "She does. Who do you think put me up for testing you like that?" With a smirk, she hiked a hoof at Twilight. "This mare right here. She gets questions in her head and she wants answers."
Twilight pinkened faintly. "Earth ponies are known for their tremendous strength, but there are limits. These limits seem to have no say where you're concerned. I want to know exactly how strong are you. Have you ever tried to push or pick up something that was too heavy? Is self-control an issue or can you handle delicate objects without issue?"
Scootaloo laughed even as she provided part of the answer, "she's broken stuff on accident before. It's awesome!"
"Awesome?!" squeaked Prickle. "I don't want to break things..."
Scootaloo grinned. "Unless it's a timberwolf."
"That's different," demurred Prickle. "They were trying to hurt ponies."
Spike turned back to the kitchen, hurrying to the meal he had been preparing. "Dinner's on in ten!" he shouted as he vanished.
Twilight's quill and parchment appeared with a pop and began taking notes busily. "About the maximum strength?"
"What?"
Twilight frowned a little. "Have you ever tried to move something and it was too heavy?"
Prickle thought about that. She had lifted buildings, ponies, all kinds of things. She couldn't really think of one she had failed to move before. "Um..."
"It's alright," assured Twilight with a giddy smile. "It just means we have testing to do! I mean, surely you have some limit to your abilities!"
Starlight shook her head. "Just remember that she's still a filly, super powered or not, so be careful."
"Oh, of course." Twilight waved it off. "Proper care and cautions are an important part of scientific rigor. Also, studying Pinkie's earth pony magic taught me no few things about how bad it can get when you don't practice proper precautions."
Prickle was unsure how to handle any of it. "I'm still in school," she pointed out, clinging to one part of her life that seemed stable enough.
"I wouldn't dream of taking you away from a good education," assured Twilight. "You can stop by afterwards though, yes? Please?" She was grinning ever-so-hopefully. "I can pay you for your time. It would be a boon for all Equestria!"
Scootaloo looked uncertain at that. "She's already helping by being a hero." She spread her forehooves wide. "She beats up bad guys and protects Ponyville."
Twilight put a hoof on her chest. "So do I."
"Oh, yeah, guess you do." Scootaloo gave a quirk of a smile. "I should get home. Don't pick on Prickle." She gave the two adults a pointed glare each before she trotted back towards town.
Prickle bounced on her own hooves. "I'll walk her back, bye!" She fled even as Twilight reached for her, escaping the grasp of the curious princess, at least for the moment.
Tiny Titan stood tall and proud, victorious in her endeavors once again!
Prickle glanced to the left at Scootaloo. "You love doing that, don't you?"
Scootaloo shrugged, her hooves extended slightly to either side. "We all have our habits. Good job though."
Prickle ran a costumed sleeve over her nose. "It was just a cat..."
Scootaloo pointed at the relieved Rarity, hugging her cat close. "It's never 'just' a cat. It's never 'just' a pony."
Prickle sank to her haunches. "When you put it like that... Uh, Rarity?"
Rarity glanced over, aborting her feline worship for a moment. "Oh, yes dear? Thank you again for your timely assistance. I was beside myself with worry. Poor little Opal sometimes climbs up higher than she can get back down."
Opal rolled her eyes in disgust at the entire affair.
Prickle was smiling, happy at her work. "Everything's alright now?"
"Yes, darling. I won't let her escape again." Rarity turned back for her shop and got to trotting for it. "Thank you again."
Scootaloo clopped her hooves together. "What wrong are you going to make right now?"
Prickle pointed at Scootaloo. "I'm going to return the favor."
Scootaloo looked confused at the idea. "What?"
"You watch me do my thing all the time, always ready to support and cheer me on. It's time I did the same. What do you like to do? Let's do it!"
Scootaloo rubbed behind her head. "You don't have to... I like riding my scooter and doing crazy tricks! I also like fixing it up so it's a little better each time." The floodgates had been opened and Scootaloo began walking towards her home, rambling animatedly about scootering. "Have you tried before?"
Prickle hadn't, and admitted as much. "I've seen you do it though. You make it look so easy, but I know it isn't. You soar and flip and do all kinds of wild things."
"Yeah..." Scootaloo looked thoughtful a moment. "When I'm riding a really hard course... It's like I'm flying, for real, by myself." She leaned in, voice dropping to a whisper. "Even Rainbow can't pull off all the moves I've done."
Prickle's smile widened almost painfully. "I don't doubt it! It's your thing, and you're really good at it! Can you show me how to do some?" She had no intention of becoming an amazing scooterist, but had the idea that if she tried and looked silly, it would only bolster Scootaloo.
Scootaloo tilted her head. "You really wanna? The girls chickened out the moment I tried to teach them about it."
"We can start small, right?"
Scootaloo blinked. "Oh, yeah. Maybe I shoulda started... smaller." She was blushing sheepishly. "For today, I'll show you what I have! Then we can get to making you a scooter of your very own." She waggled a hoof in the air as she walked. "Now, remember, strength isn't going to help you. It's more about agility, nerves, and coordination."
Prickle was about to ask for specifics when both of them jumped back from a sudden thump. A figure had landed before them at a surprising speed. They were a pegasus clad in a suit much like Prickle's, but in bold purples. "Stop right there!"
Prickle tilted her head a little. "Did Twilight send you? I thought she wasn't going to do that again."
The costumed pony blinked softly. "What? No! I'm here to challenge you!"
Prickle's eyes half-closed. "Are you sure Twilight didn't send you?"
The unknown mare put a hoof to her chest. "I hear you have the strength to do anything, but you can't move me!"
Prickle looked over the pegasus slowly. "I don't see why I couldn't, but why would I?"
"Because I am the Immovable! It was destiny that we should clash, Tiny Titan!" She sounded quite eager about it, almost bouncing in place. "If you don't, I'll be forced to take out my displeasure on your little town."
Prickle threw out her forehooves wide. "How does that even make a little sense? Why would you hurt anyone, especially just to pick a fight?"
"Well, since you asked, you see..."
Scootaloo thrust a hoof in front of her friend. "Are you about to give us your life story?"
Immovable blinked. "She did just ask."
Prickle shrugged. "I kinda did. You were saying?"
"It all started..."
I never was the fastest pegasus around. All the other fillies and colts made fun of me for how slow I was.
After being picked on and bullied for years, I decided to do something about it! I sat down right in front of one of their stupid races, and I didn't move.
Scootaloo's voice echoed over the flashback, "So they flew around you?"
The racers were glaring at me, but they refused to fly around me. That would have been admitting I had won.
"Get out of the way!" shouted one of them.
"Yeah," said the other, sneering with anger. "Move or we'll make you!"
But I didn't move. I stared at them, challenging them silently to do something about it.
They tried. Oh how they tried. They shoved and pushed at first, but I didn't move. Then they tried more... extreme measures.
Prickle rolled a hoof in the air. "I don't mean to be rude, but how did this make you want to hurt random ponies? They didn't hurt you."
"They didn't help either!" spat out Immovable with a snarl. "Ponies were gathering around, watching them try to move me, some of them even cheering them on! Our teacher just laughed at the whole thing. Ponies are terrible." She frowned. "They deserve every misery they get, and I plan to deliver it to them, but first, we have a test."
Prickle put a hoof behind her head. "Did you study?"
"Not that kind of test!" She suddenly sat down, the ground quivering beneath her rump. "I'm not moving until you make me!"
Prickle glanced at Scootaloo, who just shrugged a little. "Well, uh..." Prickle slowly stepped forward. "If that's what you really want, but I'm not doing this to be mean, I just want that to be clear. I don't even know you."
Immovable winced. "But... I just told you my tragic backstory."
"It was kinda sad, and I empathize with you. Being bullied is no fun at all." She gave a firm nod. "But it doesn't excuse you bullying other ponies, no matter how bad you might feel."
"You wouldn't know," spat Immovable, looking to the side.
Prickle huffed. "Now that's where you're wrong! I've been picked on plenty! Now... this is because you asked for it, literally." She raised a hoof and rested it on Immovable's shoulder. "How hard should I push?"
"Push as hard as you want. I won't move! You'll be stuck here forever!"
"Couldn't we just walk around her?" asked Scootaloo, watching the drama unfold with confused eyes.
Prickle saw before her a pony that was feeling the same pains she felt. She couldn't just ignore Immovable. She'd be just as bad, in different ways. "Alright." She gave the tiniest little nudge, but Immovable was like stone, and nothing happened, not even a swaying. "Huh..."
"Is that the best you have? I expected more from you, Tiny Titan. Ponies talk about you as if you could move anything, but I could barely even feel that!"
Prickle's nose wrinkled. "I can push harder!" So she did, putting in the effort she'd use to pick up a pony.
Nothing happened.
Immovable hadn't so much as flinched against her will. Prickle blinked slowly. "You're good at this."
Scootaloo walked around Immovable and sat down on the other side. "She can't stop anypony, just get in their way. C'mon!"
Prickle shook her head quickly. "Nuh uh. I'm going to push harder." She set her hooves on the ground. "I'm going to really push."
"That's more like it!" cried Immovable with a sudden happy grin. "I'm glad you're finally taking me--this seriously!"
Prickle took a slow cleansing breath before she set both her forehooves on both of Immovable's shoulders. "Let me know if it hurts, alright?"
Immovable's right ear quirked to the side. "Why do you care so much?"
"I don't like hurting friends." Prickle gave a little smile, then leaned into the push. Scootaloo barely had time to dive out of the way as a tremendous shockwave of force ripped up the ground around and behind Immovable, but Immovable wasn't herself budged an inch. Where her body directly touched the ground was unharmed and she was unmoved.
"You'll have to try harder than that," mocked Immovable. "At least I can feel you trying now. Is that your best?"
Prickle grunted with mounting frustration. The idea that there was something she couldn't move rubbed her in all the wrong ways. She redoubled her efforts, the earth exploding out behind her as she dug in her hindhooves and pressed all the more firmly against Immovable, who was living up to her name quite well.
Suddenly, Prickle fell forward. The ground beneath her had given way completely and she flopped gracelessly against Immovable.
Immovable grabbed Prickle, holding her up from falling into the hole of her own making. "Nice try, TT, but even you can't move me."
Scootaloo rubbed behind her head. "Uh, alright, so... are we done now?"
Prickle gave a little nervous laugh. "Well, uh, you beat me?"
Immovable let Prickle drop, looking stunned. "You're not mad?"
Prickle picked herself up from the dirt and shook herself out. "Why should I be? Nopony was hurt." She hopped easily up to the lip of the crater she had made. "That was... fun in a way. I usually can't let go like that without hurting something."
Immovable finally moved. She stood up on the little column of earth that had survived due to her presence. "That's not how this is supposed to work! Your failure should gnaw on your psyche and you should be fuming and cursing the fates for not being strong enough!"
Scootaloo rolled a hoof lightly. "Actually, I planned to show her how to ride a scooter. Do you mind if we get back to that?"
"Silence!" Immovable thrust a hoof at Scootaloo. "Super ponies are talking right now."
Prickle frowned. "She is super! You shouldn't pick on her, or you're just as bad as your bullies."
Immovable flinched back in surprise. "Oh, there's a little anger. Very well then. I accept this victory of the battle, but the war has not yet ended! When the war is over, we will know what happens with an unstoppable force meets an unmovable object!" She spread her wings wide and took off into the air, flapping away while cackling wildly.
Scootaloo watched her go a moment. "She has earth pony blood."
"You think?"
"It's so obvious." She snorted softly, then waved for Prickle to follow her. They had scooters to ride.
She was everywhere. As Prickle, at least, Prickle was safe. She could see Immovable soaring overhead, likely looking for her, but she never recognized her without her costume. There were benefits to having a secret identity. It also implied to her that Immovable wasn't local.
"If she was, she'd probably know me," she explained to her friends at lunch.
Apple Bloom bobbed her head in agreement. "'Sides, yer the only super pony ah know of, 'least like that. Ah mean, mah sibs are way strong, but yer..." She was rolling a hoof, searching for a word.
Sweetie provided, "superior!" in a happy squeak, voice breaking as she did so. "Is she trying to hurt you?"
Silver Spoon suddenly leaned in. It seemed she and Diamond Tiara were also there. "Did she hurt you?!"
Scootaloo waved her hoofs side to side in a negative fashion. "I'm not sure she has any moves besides planting herself in place and not moving. It's like... an anti-move."
Diamond's brow hiked. "If that's all she can do, then why are we even worried about her? Unless she catches you in a doorway, you can just go around her as if she wasn't even there."
Prickle flinched faintly. "I know that... but..."
"--Besides," cut off Diamond. "Why would she know you, specifically, or hurt you? She's going after Tiny Titan, not you, Prickle."
There was an awkward silence around the table as everyone was reminded that, somehow, Diamond was still ignorant of the two strong ponies being the same pony.
"What?"
Prickle chomped down the last of her sandwich. "I should get doing."
As she went, Diamond shook her head. "What's up with her?"
The Cutie Mark Crusaders all found other places to look, whistling, muttering, and otherwise trying to not engage directly.
Silver Spoon was not so coy. "You have to ask her directly." She leaned in closer. "And nicely."
Diamond waved it off, "Maybe I will!" She hopped to the ground. "Grab my pail for me, thanks." She trotted off after Prickle.
Scootaloo looked mightily uncertain. "Was that a good idea?"
Silver gave an easy smile. "She has to learn eventually, but it should be Prickle that tells her, not us."
Diamond caught up with Prickle easily. "Hold on a moment there. You're hiding something from me."
Prickle went as rigid as a statue for a moment before she remembered to breathe. "W-what?"
"I wasn't born yesterday," said Diamond confidently. "Come on." She reached out and nudged Prickle lightly. "We're friends, aren't we?"
Prickle felt an unbidden smile creep across her face. It was still nice to hear that from her once-tormentor. "Y-yeah."
"So why are you so obsessed with this Immovable pony?" Her eyes suddenly widened. "Wait! I know! You must be a huge Tiny Titan fan!" She leaned in close. "Are you afraid your hero will get hurt? Gosh, it's just like Silver Spoon." She rolled her eyes, then paused. "Wait, are you in love with her too?"
Prickle felt her mouth go dry. "Um..." Well, technically... "Sorta?"
Diamond laughed and threw a leg over Prickle, pulling her in tight. "You're the same awkward filly I always knew." She gave a noogie to the top of Prickle's head. "It's too cute, but I think Tiny Titan's a little out of your league. She's a superhero after all, and you're... you."
Prickle spoke without thinking, "Says who?!"
"Well, I guess you could show off for her?" Diamond pulled her leg back as she shrugged. "Maybe she likes other strong fillies? Still, even you aren't as strong as she is."
Prickle realized an important thing had been said. "Wait! Silver Spoon is in love with Tiny Titan?"
"What, you didn't know?" Diamond rolled her eyes. "The poor mare's not very subtle about it. Are you jealous? She's pretty and refined. I don't mean this in a bad way, but she's a lot closer to getting Tiny Titan's eyes than you ever will be."
Prickle couldn't immediately decide if that was very true, or very false. She thanked Diamond for the advice and staggered back inside to finish the day of school.
After school, she trotted towards home, when a figure dropped from the sky in front of her.
"Stop right there!" ordered Immovable, sitting up on her haunches as commandingly as she could. "You! Filly! I need to talk to you."
Had she been found out?! "Oh, uh... yeah?"
"I've been scouring this city for her, but I can't find her. I get the feeling you and Tiny Titan are close." She thrust a hoof. "I heard you talking to that other filly."
"You were spying on me?!"
Immovable shrugged. "I landed on the school just as you two got to talking." She leaned in. "Does Tiny Titan know you like her--" She cocked a brow. "--Or should I be foalnapping that silver one?"
Prickle drew in a sudden breath. "You don't have to do this!"
"We disagree. Tiny Titan won't face me, so I'll draw her out." She pulled out a sack. "So you'll get in here like a good filly, right?"
Prickle considered her options. If she ran away, Silver Spoon would likely be the victim instead. "Yes, ma'am."
Immovable blinked. "Really? I mean! Of course! Who would dare defy Immovable!?" She let out an almost hysterical laugh as she threw the bag over Prickle and plucked it from the ground. "I won't hurt you, promise. This is just to get Tiny Titan to come out of hiding."
Prickle couldn't see where she was taken. She could hear wind through the bag and could feel the motions of being in flight. She could, of course, just punch Immovable, but that still felt wrong. She bided her time.
Immovable set the bag on the ground. "You can come out, just don't leave my sight."
Prickle poked her head out of the bag to see they were in a cave. It wasn't any cave she could immediately recognize. "Where are we?"
"My hideout! At least while I'm in Ponyville. I have a better one back home." She waved a hoof about. "It does what I need it to do for now."
Prickle pulled out her notebook and began to write. This confused Immovable who moved around to get a peek at it. "Are you writing a distress letter? Yes, that will help draw Tiny Titan out here faster!"
"I'm doing my homework," corrected Prickle as she scribbled with the pencil in her mouth. "I don't think Cheerilee will excuse me just because I was foalnapped."
Immovable plopped down on her haunches. "Oh... Can you write a teary-eyed letter of distress after that?"
Prickle twitched an ear at her captor. "Are you good at math?"
"Math?" Immovable frowned. "Infinity minus Infinity is zero." She clopped her hooves together. "That's why Tiny Titan has no chance against me!"
Prickle was not far enough in math to provide proofs to argue that idea. "Why's it so important?"
"What's what so important?" She stomped a hoof. "Me and Tiny Titan were meant to be!"
Prickle colored a little. Was this another mare that was chasing her? She had more than enough of those! "Meant to be?"
"It was destiny! The irresistible force, the immovable object. How could they not meet and clash in a struggle that would challenge the very fabric of the universe?!" She was grinning, a huge expression that split her face. "It's just the way it must be. She'll never move me."
"Do you want to be moved?" Prickle set her pencil down lightly and looked at her captor.
The question confused Immovable. "W-what?"
"Do you want to be moved?" repeated Prickle. "Do you want to win or lose?"
"Win, of course." She puffed out her chest. "That's a silly question."
"So if she did move you?"
"I..." Immovable deflated a little. "She won't..."
"But if she did?" Prickle rolled a hoof. "Theoretically."
"I... wouldn't... be Immovable." She sagged. "That would be terrible! What would I even... No! I won't go back to being worthless." She grunted as she sat up. "Tiny Titan must try, and fail. She will fail and fail and fail again! I am Immovable!"
Prickle considered the pony before her. Immovable felt more like a hurt pony than a villain, in her eyes. She saw the deep cracks that threatened to break, leaving Immovable to fall to pieces and cry. She was no psychiatrist, but it seemed too much like looking in a mirror. She had become a hero and found a purpose for her freakishness...
"Does... it bother you?"
"Does what bother me?"
Prickle smiled thinly. "Being different. Being a pegasus that stands still."
Immovable clenched her teeth, muscles in her snout bulging from the effort. "Are you about--"
Prickle held out a hoof. "I'm not making fun! I, uh... have different friends too."
"Like who?" challenged Immovable with a stomp. "Nobody as different as I am."
"What about... Tiny Titan?" She offered, pointing to where she thought the exit of the cave was. "She's a little filly that's stronger than the biggest stallion. I bet she feels wierd and freaky a lot of the time."
"That...." She went quiet a moment. "That is exactly why we must clash." She gave a firm nod. "We have to."
Prickle wasn't sure what to say. Immovable wasn't a bad pony. She was looking for a peer. Just... in the least proper way. "Have you tried asking her?"
"Asking her?"
"You know, for a match, for fun."
"This isn't about fun!" Immovable sprang to her hooves. "This is about destiny and completing our purposes!"
"Does it have to be?" Prickle smiled a little. "If she wanted to challenge you, for fun, would you say no?"
Immovable shook her head back and forth. "Why would she ever do that?! We are.... nemesises... nemesii? She's my nemesis! We are meant to clash."
"Where's it written you have to clash with people you don't like?" challenged Prickle. "My friends test me all the time in all kinds of ways that confuse me and make me grow. It's why we... should have friends."
"I don't think you get this whole nemesis thing." She leaned in close, her larger adult face in Prickle's smaller one. "You aren't friends with your nemesis."
Prickle struggled to find the words to say what she meant to say, but it was too late.
"Look, thanks. You're a good foal. Get back to your homework. I'll be waiting for Tiny Titan."
Prickle finished her homework as her abductor paced restlessly. Once she was done, she tucked everything away in her saddlebags, making sure her costume remained out of sight. "I'm going to go to sleep."
"Huh? Oh! You're really well-mannered." Immovable smiled. "For being foalnapped and everything, I expected more complaining."
"You're not going to hurt me, right?" Prickle laid down on the stone floor and set her head on her bag as a sort of pillow.
"Right," agreed Immovable. "I'm here to challenge Tiny Titan, not a random foal. Geeze, what kind of pony would that make me?"
Prickle went to sleep, or so she made the appearance of. She closed her eyes, but her ears strained to hear every movement, waiting for things to calm.
"You have to come," came Immovable's voice, almost sad in tone. Prickle could hear her settle down. "Have to..."
Things were quiet save for a distant occasional drip that sounded somewhere in the caves. Prickle cracked open an eye and looked around cautiously. Immovable was across the room, her chest slowly swelling and contracting in gentle rhythms of sleep.
Prickle figured she could just grab her things and flee, but that wouldn't solve the problem. She nosed open her backpack and got to wriggling into her costume as quietly as she could.
"Mmm?"
Prickle peeked towards her 'opponent' as she rolled over and let out a snort. Confident that sleep was still happening, Prickle finished donning her outfit and becoming Tiny Titan. She grabbed her bag in her teeth and trotted off, tucking it behind a rock out of sight before returning. She cleared her throat softly before announcing as formally as she could, "Immovable! I've come for you!"
Immovable jerked awake and scrambled to her hooves, wings spread in alarm. "What? Who?!" Her eyes came into focus on Prickle. "T-t-Tiny Titan?! You've come!?" Her wings started to fold back. "Of course you came. My cunning..." Her eyes darted around. "Where's..."
"She's safe." Prickle took a step forward. "This is between us."
"It is," agreed Immovable. "Our rivalry is meant to be!"
"Do you know what a rival is?"
Immovable blinked softly. "Eternal enemies, matched and enduring?"
Prickle shook her head. "I had time to think about it. That's not what rival means."
"Are you saying we aren't rivals?!" She looked furious, but also so very scared.
Prickle rose up onto two legs. "You are my rival! You just don't understand what that is."
Immovable tilted her head to the left slowly. "Well then, misses smarty pants, what is it? Are you trying to confuse me? It won't make me move!"
Prickle smiled softly. "I'll move you."
"You won't!"
Prickle raised a hoof to her smaller chest. "I will move you on the inside, which is more important. A rival is someone you compete with. It doesn't have to be someone you don't like."
Immovable's eyes gave the slowest blink. "Alright? But you don't like me."
"Do you not like me?" Prickle fell to all fours.
"I... you're my nemesis! My foil! You are everything I am not, and I am everything you can't oppose." She planted her bottom down squarely. "Your strength is meaningless!"
Prickle took a few steps towards her 'nemesis'. "May I try?"
"Of course," cried Immovable with a grin. "Try all you want. Try and fail!" She laughed the wild laugh of a pony that needed help.
Prickle stepped in closer and reached out with her forehooves. "I'm going to move you."
"Never!" Her face was a fierce mask of determination.
Prickle, on the other hoof, had a smile, a gentle one. She hopped up a little and grabbed Immovable around the neck. She hugged her.
"This is... a very interesting attack, but you can't pull me to the ground either, and you're barely trying. You'll have to do better than this, Tiny Titan."
Prickle pulled in closer and squeezed slowly harder and harder, being ever so careful. "You're not a bad pony."
"W-what?"
"You aren't." Prickle squeezed before dropping free. "We don't have to be enemies."
"Of course we do," cried Immovable in a hysterical shriek. "Even you're ready to throw me away!"
Prickle flinched. She hadn't expected that response. "I'm not throwing you away. I said we were rivals."
Immovable's ears twitched in a spastic movement. "If we're not enemies, but rivals, what are we?"
Prickle reached up a hoof and set it on Immovable's left foreleg. "Friendly competition. I'd... actually like someone I can practice on without worrying about hurting them." A thought came to her. "I'm sorry to bring this up, but did the ponies that picked on you try to punch you?"
Immovable's snout wrinkled. "They tried! I couldn't even feel their puny strikes. Why, are you waiting for your chance to hit me?"
By Celestia, that sounded so very wrong to Prickle. "Not... like that. Not to hurt you." She shook her head. "Immovable, I..." She faltered. She couldn't think of the right words. She cast her thoughts to comics. She was a superhero. What was the proper response? "Immovable... You are hereby my responsibility."
Immovable blinked softly. Her rock-solid stance broke. "What?"
"We won't fight against each other. We will fight... together!"
Immovable almost fell as if her bones were turned to butter. "I... what? I... I'm not a hero..."
"You could be," said Prickle with a little smile. "Do you want to be?"
"You'll... I'm... I'm your sidekick?" She let out a sudden laugh, hysterical, but hopeful. "Are you serious?!"
"If you want to be." Prickle set a hoof on her own chest. "We will be rivals, the good kind."
Immovable bounced to her hooves. "Is this a trick? You're trying to be sneaky!"
Prickle shook her head. "I'm not, but... even if I was, you wouldn't be moved by it."
"You got that right!" Immovable flashed a manic grin, but it faded almost as quickly into worry, eyes darting around. "Are you... really serious?"
Prickle turned slowly. She still had no idea which way led out. "I'll show you how to be a hero. Ponies will cheer when they see you, and even if they don't, it feels nice to do the right thing."
"But... we're... opposites."
Prickle poked her stalwart rival. "You have everything I want, as a super hero. You can't be hurt or moved if you don't want to be, and I'm as easy to hurt as anypony, I think. We're not... enemies, we're partners waiting to happen."
Immovable suddenly began to blush right through her costume. "I... never thought..." She suddenly dived for Prickle and plucked her up into a fierce hug. "I accept! I will be your sidekick forever and ever!"
It was just at that moment that Prickle realized she may have just agreed to more than she should have. As the damaged pony hugged her and professed her delight, Prickle wondered how she would handle it.
"There's somepony I need to introduce you to, but let me talk to them first."
Immovable set Prickle down carefully. "Nopony can move me, except you. I'll meet this pony when you tell me to. Until then, I'll be here."
Prickle glance around the dreary cave. This was a case that would not be solved with a swift kick, but it was not an enemy she would back away from. "You deserve better."
Immovable's confidence wavered. "Better?" She waved it off suddenly. "It's not the best, but I have... better... this was..."
Prickle pushed Immovable. She wasn't expecting it and wobbled from the force. "You're my sidekick, and I'm your mentor, so It's my responsibility to see you're alright."
Prickle sat up proudly. "One hundred percent! Don't try to stop me." She stuck out her tongue. "Even if you have fun doing that. I'm going to make things better."
Immovable leaned in on her smaller, younger, mentor. "I'm going to get in your way, it's my nature."
"You'll get in the way of bad ponies and protect good ponies from being hurt." Prickle nodded firmly. "I should go, for now... Uh... I've gotten turned around, which way is out again?"
Immovable moved to one of the tunnels, the plopped herself down solidly. "You'll have to get past me."
Prickle trotted around Immovable. "I have to go, but we'll play, soon, promise! There's so much to prepare. I've never had a sidekick before."
Immovable watched Pr-Tiny Titan trot away, her own chest tight with worry. "Did I just mess up?" She had her ultimate rival right where she wanted her, and let her go on the flimsy hope for more, later. What if Tiny Titan had said all that just to make her drop her guard?
She rose to her hooves with a heavy sigh. She would have to wait and find out. She didn't feel like sleeping anymore, so she paced and wandered the caves, trying to sort the chaos that raged in her mind and heart, which is when she tripped over an abandoned saddlebag. It belonged to that filly she had foalnapped. Oh no! "She'll get in trouble, and they'll think I'm a two-bit thief!"
Immovable grabbed the bag in her teeth. "I'll bring it to her before she even realizes. Silly Tiny Titan, you snatched up the filly and forgot to ask her if she had anything with her. That's sloppy work, rival."
At home, Prickle hugged her worried mother. "I'm sorry I was late. I was foalnapped."
Junebug blinked with wide eyes. "You were what?!"
"It's alright, really. I handled it." She put a hoof on her chest. "I am Tiny Titan after all."
"Well, Tiny Titan, go eat some food and prepare for bed. Did you do your homework while you were out?"
Prickle paled. She forgot her bag! It was back with Immovable. She was in so much trouble!
A brisk knock came from the door.
Junebug turned to face it. "Who's there?" she sang out in question as she approached.
The door swung open to reveal Immovable, in her costume still. "The filly forgot her bags. I wanted to get it back to her."
"Oh?" Junebug accepted the bags on the end of a hoof. "Thank you, miss?"
"Immovable. Have a nice night."
"You too."
Immovable trotted off, ignorant to how close she had come to her rival once more.
Junebug turned to her daughter, bags dangling from her hoof. "Was that the pony that foalnapped you?"
Prickle slammed down from the sky, her hooves striking the earth in an explosive shot of turf that went into the eyes and shook the angry manticore. The beast roared in fury and swiped at Prickle, but there was a pony in the way.
Immovable grinned at the beast, unharmed by its vicious assault. "Is that the best you have?"
Prickle darted ahead even as it bellowed in Immovable's face. She came up just under its chin, hoof-first. Its maw was forced shut instantly, fortunately missing its tongue. The beast's head snapped backwards, and the entire thing began to fall over backwards from the impact.
The manticore ended up on its back, unconcious. The battle had been won.
A chorus of cheers erupted as ponies began to emerge from their hiding places. They were faster to swarm their known hero, but many were curious about the other, the pegasus that had helped.
Silver Spoon thrust a hoof at Immovable. "Tiny Titan, like, who is this?"
Prickle waved a hoof dramatically at Immovable. "Say hello to my sidekick, Immovable! Nopony anywhere could hope to move her when she doesn't want to be, and she can't be hurt, I think."
Immovable swelled with pride. "I will be Tiny Titan's shield to her sword."
The crowd clopped the ground in approval of the duo.
Mayor Mare cleared her throat softly as she approached the front of the crowd. "Are you certain you don't have that backwards? Immovable looks to be at least twice your age."
Immovable turned her gaze on the mayor. "Experience does not always match age. I have much to learn from Tiny Titan, and I don't care how young she is."
Prickle was busy grinning widely. "Immovable's brand new to the hero business, but she's already shown such promise. We'll be working together to keep Ponyville safe!"
Age mismatch or not, the cheer returned. Ponies began to wander off. They had business to do, classes to attend, and businesses to run, which they could thanks to timely intervention.
Mayor Mare pointed at the knocked out manticore. "What do you plan to do with this?"
Prickle tilted her head at it. "Oh! I know just the pony." She hefted it up over her head with ease, though its bulk dropped down on either side. "Onwards!" With a sudden bound, she was gone.
Immovable snapped a salute at the mayor before she took off more conventionally with her wings.
Fluttershy accepted the poor bludgeoned manticore. "I'm sure there must be something wrong for her to wander into Ponyville like that."
Immovable tilted her head. "Her? It's a she-manticore?"
"Why, yes?" Fluttershy sounded confused. "How else are baby manticores made? Females don't usually act this way though. I'll take care of this. Thank you for bringing her to me."
Prickle dipped her head. "I knew you were the right pony for this job. Have a good day, Miss Fluttershy!"
Fluttershy smiled gently. "Fluttershy will do. Bye!" She waved as the two heroes took off into the sky.
Prickle dove to the side as the great jaws of the beast closed on where she had been moments ago. "Why is it even here?!" she called out.
Immovable had no idea why the hydra had wandered close to the town and could only give a bit of a shrug before she slapped one of the heads trying to chew on her fruitlessly. "You can't move me."
Prickle bore down and lashed out her hindlegs, catching a head as it came rushing at her. It was sent flying back against its own body and went limp. The other heads roared in collective fury at the blow. "You can't resist me," said Prickle with a silly smile. The irresistible force and the immovable object. It was growing on her.
She was too busy enjoying herself that she missed a head sneaking up on her. Suddenly she was in a very dark and wet place. Prickle squealed in surprise and no small amount of terror. She lashed out without thinking and fell free of the injured maw, The beast made muted whimpers, its jaw refusing to cooperate after the brutal lashing it had received.
Prickle didn't get to hit the ground. Immovable caught her on her back as she flew past. "Let's finish this," she said with determination, pointing at the hydra as she made a wide circle around it.
Prickle shook some of the slime that had gotten on her free. "Alright. Get me in close."
"I'm better at not moving," warned Immovable as she dove and jigged out of the way of hungry mouths. "I don't even like flying. I'm better on the ground."
Prickle tensed with readiness, then surged off the back of Immovable. Were it much anyone else, the force of her jump might have knocked them clear from the sky, but Immovable wasn't easy to move, even in the air. Prickle let out a mighty cry as she came in on the root of all the heads with a single hind leg extended in a kick. She collided with the wide of its scaly hide and the entire massive bulk began to slide and roll at once. By the time she hit the ground, the entire thing was on its side, the fight having been beaten from it. A massive furrow showed where it had slid along with the impact.
Immovable landed beside Prickle. "It never ceases to amaze me. Good job, boss!"
Prickle colored a little. Was she a boss? The idea felt new and strange to her. Was a boss like a mentor? In some ways, perhaps. "Let's stick with mentor. I'm not your boss. Good job, Immovable." She smiled up at the larger pegasus. "That would have been way harder without your help."
Bon Bon looked back and forth between the two so-called 'heroes'. "Now I have two of you..." She let out a long-suffering sigh. "Alright, you're 'Immovable', first seen in Fillydelphia as a petty criminal, reformed, now serving as Prickle's sidekick. Powers: Invulnerabilty and extreme stability. Do I have that right?"
Immovable rubbed at her warmed cheek. "I wasn't petty..."
Bon Bon's eyes fell to half-opened. "Your crimes included the blocking of walkways and interrupting the peace." She rolled a hoof lightly. "Pretty much what you did here in Ponyville until you ran into Tiny Titan here."
Immovable looked properly shamed, her head hanging.
Prickle moved in front of her. "Don't pick on her. She's my student and sidekick now."
Bon Bon's expression warmed a little. "I'm not picking on her. It's important to know where we've come from to know where we're going. I'm glad you've turned a new leaf. Now, tell me in one sentence, why you want to be a hero."
Immovable frowned at that, considering. "I..." The frown deepened. "I can think of a lot of reasons... but they all feel a little silly."
"Try me." Bon Bon rose and walked off towards some barbells. "It doesn't matter how silly it seems. Feelings are feelings."
"A-alright... I... was so sure I was meant to fight with Tiny Titan... She was the one that turned it around. I could fight with her, beside her... It feels good. She is the crushing force that cannot be stopped, and I am the anvil that cannot be broken. Together we are a pair that cannot be bested!"
Bon Bon cocked a brow. "You don't say?"
Prickle knew better and began to look around nervously. "You're going to prove her wrong, aren't you?"
Bon Bon flashed a smile. "Confidence is good, but too much of anything is bad. If you think you're unbeatable, you'll get lazy, then you'll lose." She picked up the barbell in her mouth. "Things can change in the blink of an eye." She suddenly threw it with all her strength at Prickle.
Prickle squeaked, but Immovable lashed out a wing to block it., letting it bounce from her immovable limb. "Is that the best you--"
Smoke exploded around her. While both were staring at the barbell, neither saw Bon Bon draw free a smoke bomb and hurl it at Immovable's hooves.
Immovable laughed. "You think some smoke is going to--" It reached her eyes and mouth and suddenly things began to hurt. Her eyes watered and she began to cough. She couldn't be moved, but it did little to protect her from the irritating gas.
She spread her wings and moved to flee, which is exactly when Bon Bon struck, suddenly tackling her and putting her in a leglock from above and behind. "Now imagine if I was a supervillain?"
Prickle let out a sudden exhale, blowing the smoke free of their training area in a massive woosh.
Both of the others blinked at her. Prickle put a hoof behind her head. "I guess that's a power I have?"
Immovable's surprise turned to delight. "You're powerful everywhere, even in your lungs."
Bon Bon lightly bopped Immovable on the head. "Pay attention." She slid off the invulnerable pegasus. "Never assume you have all angles covered. Life has a habit of finding just the one you didn't think of." She turned back around to face the two. "Now, I'm no super pony, but I do have a hint on what fighting super villians and monsters is like."
"How?" Immovable tilted her head left and right. "You're a candy maker."
"Shh," hissed out Prickle. "That's a secret."
Immovable pointed a hoof uncertaintly at Bon Bon. "Everypony knows she's a candy maker."
Bon Bon applied a hoof to her face. "That isn't the secret, or the point. We're here to talk about you two. You two are very extreme opposites." She cocked a brow. "I want you two to learn from each other." She pointed at Immovable. "You should work on being stronger and assertive." The hoof moved to Prickle. "You bruise too easily. You're both very good at your specialty, and I don't plan to stop addressing that, but shoring up your most obvious weaknesses is the next step." She clopped her hooves together. "I want you two to learn from each other, so we get something better than the two of you separately."
That made sense enough to Prickle, but... "How do I 'practice' not being bruised?"
"By becoming tougher." Bon Bon smiled confidently. "Your new friend here will help with that. I could make you tired with enough effort, but I couldn't give you a properly tough and immediately difficult workout. She's practically built for it. It will be her job to get in the way of your work, but not entirely. If she stops you from even starting, you learn nothing. She will make it harder, make you really stress those muscles and learn, mentally and physically, how to deal with adversity."
Her eyes moved onto Immovable squarely. "I see you grinning. Don't think you're not getting your turn. You're lazy. I can tell. You're used to just laying down and letting life try to do something about it." She rolled her eyes. "We're going to get to burning that right out of you. Just because you can be still doesn't mean that's what's needed at the time."
Prickle suddenly thrust a hoof in the air. "She caught me the other day when I was fighting."
Bon Bon nodded. "That's great to hear, exactly the sort of initiative I plan to encourage. Now, shall we begin?"
Prickle discovered a new dimension of difficulty. When she tried to lift weights, Immovable was there, wings extending over the bar and refusing to let her move them very quickly at all. When she did pushups, Immovable put a hoof on her back to slow the progress. Every bit of her regimen was turned into a challenge with Immovable's presence.
The strangest part to Prickle was that it looked like it was hard work for Immovable, at least as hard as it was for her, if not moreso. Immovable was breathing raggedly as she went about things and her face was strained and drawn even through her mask.
Prickle couldn't bare the curiosity, and with some concern for her friend, she paused the training. "One moment. You look a little rough."
"What?" Immovable wiped some sweat free. "I can keep up with training with a filly, no problem."
Prickle shook her head slowly. "What's wrong?"
"I'm fine." She looked away.
"Immovable, I'm your mentor. I want to help, please tell me. If you're embarrassed, I swear to not laugh." She made the motions of the sacred swear, poking her eye to complete it.
Immovable suddenly let out a giggle. Prickle blinked. "I just... C'mon!"
Immovable shook a hoof lightly. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean anything, but what was that? That looked very silly."
Prickle pointed off and away, but it was Bon Bon that cut in, "That was a Pinkie Promise, the highest swear in this town. It means she's serious." She walked past the two. "I'll be over here, you two have your private moment."
Immovable blushed through her mask. "Oh, sorry. I never saw that before." Her eyes darted restlessly. "You're sure?"
"Super sure." Prickle bobbed her head. "What's wrong?"
"It's just... Being perfectly still is easy." Immovable smiled. "That's what I do. Being half-still is a lot harder. Going slow instead of just not going. You know? Is this making any sense?" A hoof raised to her forehead. "I must sound like an idiot."
"No!" Prickle hopped on her hooves. "The same thing works for me. I can do any of the things you helped with easily, but you made it hard, really hard."
Bon Bon put a weight on the rack it belonged on. "That's why I paired you two together. You match each other so well, you make the workout much more intense." She approached the two at a casual walk. "You both need to learn how to move when it's not easy to move, or you won't get to the next level. Struggle is a large part of growing." Her eyes went to Immovable. "That includes not moving when it's hard too." She pointed a hoof at Immovable. "I knew it, you've never really been challenged."
Immovable tilted her head a little. "I had plenty of challenges!"
Bon Bon rolled her hoof. "Sure sure, emotional ones, but not physical ones. At least, not ones that took any real physical effort to deal with. You put your haunches on the ground, then stop. You're good at that, but you could be better."
The workout proceeded, ending with some one-on-one sparring. Bon Bon faced off with the newer student. "No standing still."
Immovable nodded stiffly before she came at Bon Bon in a wild rush that was easily turned aside, getting herself thrown into a dirt wall with a low grunt of annoyance. She wasn't hurt, moving or not, she was tough. Immovable pulled herself free of the dent she made and came back at Bon Bon with an angry scowl, only to have the agile earth pony swing under her, grab a leg, and send Immovable to the turf.
"Fights aren't fair." Bon Bon moved with practiced grace. "Make it fair. You have to move to attack me. I won't attack you. That doesn't mean you can't ever stop. Do it like you learned with Prickle, move slowly when I'm trying to make you go where you don't want to go."
Prickle sat on the side, watching the conflict with curious eyes. "You can do it, Immovable!" She called out, cheering her student on.
Bon Bon laughed at that. "You have a fan. Not fair, where's my support?" She reared up onto her hind legs. "C'mon, we don't have all day."
Immovable lunged forward, aiming to catch Bon Bon at her exposed and hopefully vulnerable belly. She felt her nose brush the soft fur as legs came down on her and tried to redirect her motion. She froze solid.
Bon Bon backed away easily from the petrified pegasus. "Closer, but you can't attack me standing still." She fell back to all fours. "You have to do what's hard, move slowly, but the way you want to move."
"Take her down!" Shouted Prickle, Forehooves waving in the air. "C'mon, Immovable, show your stuff!"
Immovable smiled with a blush at the encouraging words and took slow steps forward, sizing up Bon Bon. "For not being a super pony, you fight really well."
"Practice."
Immovable huffed softly. "I doubt it's just that."
Bon Bon raised a brow. "Learning to move well is more important than any crazy magic or super power. Now, are you ready to learn how to move better?"
With a frustrated battle cry, Immovable surged at her target, reaching to give Bon Bon a great big hug. Bon Bon was surprised by the attack. A bear hug was not what she expected from Immovable. She could get out of a bear hug easily, or so she assumed. She let it happen.
Then Immovable froze in a tight embrace.
Bon Bon wriggled and squirmed, but her motions only let Immovable tighten her grip. She would only hug more and more securely. Not a single millimeter was given towards her escape.
Prickle exploded in wild cheering, stomping the ground. Immovable had a huge grin. "I win."
Bon Bon huffed indignantly. "That was my fault, but a good move on your part. Remember it."
Immovable let Bon Bon go and she danced back a few steps.
"You can immobilize an opponent, and that's good, but it means you're all tied up doing it." Bon Bon shook a hoof. "If you're fighting more than one at a time, that might not be the best tactic."
The sparring continued until Immovable was worn down from her new slow movements. She laid on the floor, breathing thickly as her tongue poked free a bit in a pant.
Bon Bon tapped Prickle on the nose. "Your lucky day. Your student wore me out. Next time, we start with you. Nopony said training two super ponies was easy, but, Celestia damn it, I'm not giving up either." Despite claiming to be worn out, she was breathing smoothly and looked just as fresh as when she started.
Prickle raised a brow. "I don't get it. You don't look tired at all. What's your secret?"
Bon Bon gave a kind smile as she settled on her haunches. "No secret, just knowing my limits. That's why you don't get sparring today, or I'd end up just as tired as Immovable over there." She lightly gestured towards the fallen and tired pony. "Where did you find her?"
"Find her?" Prickle sat up, eyes darting to Immovable's prone form. "She found me. She wanted a..." She trailed off. "She needed to find me."
"It's complicated, huh? Does she know?"
"Know what?" Immovable was slowly sitting up.
Bon Bon shook her head. "Nevermind. I want you two to keep practicing like I showed you today. You both need practice, and that's not an insult." She rolled reach shoulder in turn. "I need it too, but you're providing some of that with these spars. When you get better, you'll give me a better workout, so let's get to that."
Prickle was nodding, but Immovable was not easy to move. "Know what?!"
Prickle set a hoof on Immovable's shoulder. "Some things are secrets. If you respect me, you'll let me have it."
Immovable lifted an ear at Prickle. "I'm trusting you with everything. What don't you trust me with?"
Prickle pointed up at Immovable's face. "Your secret identity is yours. Mine is mine. It doesn't mean we don't trust each other. It's a, uh, respect thing. You are Immovable. I am Tiny Titan."
Immovable tilted her head. "But that's my name... Is yours not Tiny Titan?"
Prickle blinked. She had not expected that... "That's my super hero name," she admitted.
"You have a superhero name!?" She reached for Prickle. "Should I get a superhero name?"
"I really though Immovable was one! It matches your powers so well."
Immovable tilted her head. "I guess it was destiny... Just like Miss Bon Bon was meant to make sweets. So, what's your real name?"
Prickle applied her right forehoof to her head. "That's the secret, Immovable."
"I can keep a secret!"
"If I say it, it's not a secret."
"But Bon Bon already knows it!" Immovable tapped her hooves together. "So it's already not a secret."
Prickle's ears began to burn as she thought of all the ponies that did already know her identity. It wasn't a very good secret... "It's still a secret."
"If you say so..." Immovable walked towards the ladder that led out of their training den. "I would keep that secret so hard though..." She began ascending the ladder. "If you trusted me."
"That's not what I mean!" Immovable slipped free of the hole and trotted away from Prickle. She sighed and frowned. It was her secret to keep! She didn't have to tell Immovable who she really was.
Her angry thoughts ended with a sighed grunt. She bounced up from the bottom of the stairs right out of the hole and looked around. Immovable wasn't in sight. "Did she fly away?" It felt likely to Prickle.
She headed home at a walk, vanishing when convenient to cease being Tiny Titan and just be little Prickle, the unusually strong school filly. She smiled a little as she went. She really didn't need Immovable watching her come and go from school. Their relationship worked just fine in the scope of her super hero life.
"Like, hello there, Prickle." It was Silver Spoon, smiling at her. "How's my favorite strongmare doing?"
Prickle glanced around nervously in case Immovable was in sight. "I'm doing alright, just finishing some training."
"Training?" Silver leaned forward, eyes sparkling. "Can I see, next time you go?"
Prickle shook her head quickly. "I would, but that would be telling on somepony else's secret, and I'm not allowed to do that."
Silver pouted, but didn't try to pry farther. They made some small talk as Prickle went. "My new sidekick is quite a challenge."
The cultured earth filly inclined her head a little. "Do you want her to go away?"
"No! No, she's cool, just learning the ropes, and I'm... happy to teach her. She's helping me grow too."
"That's good then." Silver nodded once before leaning in, shoulder's brushing. "I can meet her at least, right?"
Silver Spoon stood with a gavel held in her mouth. "I hereby call this meeting of the Tiny Titan fan club to order." She brought down the gavel with three quick and firm strikes.
Diamond gave a smirk, watching her friend. "You are such an adorable dork, Silver."
"That's adorable president to you." Silver stuck out her tongue at Diamond, and the gesture was returned before both broke into giggles.
Scootaloo raised a hoof. Silver nodded at her. "The floor recognizes Scootaloo."
"Uh, yeah. So... we're not super restrictive or anything, but when did Diamond Tiara become a Tiny Titan fan?" Scootaloo rubbed behind her head with a hoof as she talked, eyes wandering the room.
Diamond huffed at the question. "When did you stop being a Rainbow Dash fan?" She fixed a deadly glare at the pegasus filly that dared to question her presence.
Scootaloo paled at the idea, but Apple Bloom was faster to retort, "Ya can be a fan ah more than one thing at a time. It ain't no big deal."
Nurse Redheart coughed softly into a hoof. "I'd like to move on to important matters. I can't be the only one that's noticed Tiny Titan is being followed around by an adult easily twice her age."
Silver pointed the gavel at Redheart, swiveling it in her mouth. "That would be her new sidekick, Immovable."
Junebug shook her head. "I'm not sure I like the idea of my--" She trailed off, realizing that a pony present was not aware of Prickle's true identity. "I mean, of Tiny Titan being kow towed by a full grown mare like that."
Sweetie bobbed her head. "It does seem weird at first glance, but we've counseled more than a few adults about cutie mark related things." She gestured broadly to Scootaloo and Apple Bloom. "If Tiny Titan's specialty is heroing, and she feels confident in helping others do it too, what's wrong with that?"
Murmurs rippled through the room, some agreeing, others more doubting.
Lyra raised a hoof. "Does anypony know this Immovable mare? I mean, they're cute together and all, but where did they even come from?"
A lot of uncertain sounds ran through the room.
A pony moved for the door, making quiet noises of needing the little filly's room, but the door would not open. The mare glared at the stubborn wood and gave it a stronger shove. It did not move. "The door's stuck," she complained as she threw herself against it, only to slide to the ground with no visible effect.
Apple Boom dashed over and gave it a try, and it opened without resistance. Seated in the doorway was a familiar pegasus. Apple Bloom tilted her head. "Immovable?"
Immovable flashed a bright smile. "'Tis I, Tiny Titan's sidekick and #1 fan!" Her eyes followed the mare that wanted to escape briefly as she was dashed past. "May I join?"
Silver Spoon struck the gavel against her podium smartly. "Order, order! Immovable, do you know who Tiny Titan really is?"
Immovable stepped inside as she shook her head. "You mean her not-super hero name? Nope. I want to know though! I'd keep that secret better than anypony ever!"
Silver Spoon nodded. "Yeah, like, so would we." She struck the gavel again. "Let us welcome Immovable." Polite clopping sounded as ponies brought their hooves together. "Your timing is uncanny. We were just discussing you and, like, maybe you could help us with some questions."
Red Heart fixed Immovable with an appraising sweep of her eyes. "What is your interest in Tiny Titan, exactly?"
Immovable thrust a hoof up into the air. "I am her sidekick and she is my teacher and mentor. She's showing me how to use my powers for the good of ponykind." She put that same hoof behind her head. "It's a lot of hard work."
Lyra grinned impishly as she leaned closer. "I hear you've been arrested before."
Immovable went red right through her suit. "I did a few naughty things before... Tiny Titan showed me that being a super hero was way better than being a bad pony. Besides, I never went to jail."
Red Heart's eyes rolled as she sighed out. "I bet they couldn't actually get you into the jail."
Immovable's blush grew worse. "Maybe..."
Diamond suddenly fell backwards, legs pumping in the air as she rolled with laughter. "This is too perfect!"
While Immovable glared at the laughing filly, Silver coughed softly around the gavel she held. "Order, please. Immovable, redemption is, like, a right given to all ponies. Do you swear before us that you are sincerely sorry and will do your best to live in harmony?"
Immovable's attention snapped solidly on Silver Spoon. The gravity of the question did not escape her. Her tongue ran over her suddenly dry lips. "I'll... try my best... I want to make Tiny Titan proud."
Diamond's laughter only grew louder. Tears were escaping her eyes, the laughter reaching the point of physical pain.
The crusaders were more supportive, all three bobbing their heads.
Junebug's ears pricked up. "Aren't you the pony that brought..." she trailed off, losing track of which names to use where.
"Yeah," easily confessed Immovable. "I didn't want that little filly to lose her work. You have an amazing filly. Even foalnapped, she was more worried about getting her homework done than anything else." She only seemed to realize what she was saying after the fact. "Not that I make a habit of foalnapping!" She shrunk in place, wings curling in to protect her from suspicious looks.
Silver brought down her gavel. "You have sworn to turn a new leaf. Since you are serving as a superhero, like, I bet you'll get a chance to prove yourself sooner rather than later. I bet Prickle isn't even mad."
DIamond rolled over to her belly, trying to fight her laughter down. "She took Prickle?" Her struggle was a losing one, giggles escaping her despite her efforts.
Junebug nodded in agreement. "Prickle wasn't upset... and, um, thank you for returning her bag. She would have been very upset without it."
Immovable unveiled herself and smiled at Junebug. "A pleasure! I just wanted to meet Tiny Titan, not bother that little filly. Prickle? Tell Prickle I'm really sorry."
Junebug waved it off. "She isn't mad, really, but I'll tell her for you."
Immovable paled. "I foalnapped the filly of one of Tiny Titan's fans?!"
The exclamation brought whole new peals of laughter from Diamond. She tried to get herself upright, but could do little more than let the laughter roll free of herself. Red Heart approached the downed filly and grabbed her by the scruff of her neck. "For her own sake, I think she needs some fresh air."
The room was quiet, save for the paralyzed filly as she was carried away. When the laughter receded, Lyra raised a hoof.
"The floor recognizes Lyra Heartstrings." Silver pointed her gavel at Lyra.
Lyra lifted her shoulders. "That wasn't nice, foalnapping, but I'm glad nopony got hurt, you included."
Immovable blinked at the idea, rising to her hooves. "Why would I be hurt?"
Lyra flashed her bright teeth. "Tiny Titan lives up to her name. I bet, if she wanted to, she could have punched you into next tuesday!"
Immovable shookher head. "Nuh uh. Not even Tiny Titan can move me!" She set her haunches on the ground. "Once I'm stopped, nothing can move me if I don't want to be moved."
Apple Boom cocked a brow. "What about a train comin' straight fer ya?"
"I never tried that," confessed Immovable, looking pensive. "But I wouldn't be scared, not even by a train. Nopony can move Immovable. That's my name!"
Sweetie Belle waved her hooves excitedly. "What if Celestia tried to raise you like the sun?!"
Immovable looked less absolutely certain. "She... could try..."
Scootaloo hopped to her hooves. "Or! Or! What if Canterlot broke free of the mountain and came crashing down on you?"
Immovable tilted her head. "I would stop it... and maybe save a lot of ponies."
Silver Spoon blinked softly. "Wow. I almost want to see that." She caught herself and sat up straight. "Are there any other questions for our guest and new member, or shall we move on?"
The door swung open and a recovered Diamond staggered back in, Red Heart just behind her. "One thing." Diamond pointed at Immovable. "What did you even do, as a bad pony, besides foalnap Prickle?"
"I... got in the way of ponies?" Diamond began to snicker at Immovable's reply.
Immovable scowled, wings flaring. "I don't like you very much, little filly."
Diamond waved it off. "Too bad. You're the stranger here, not me. Mess with me and my daddy will show you what real power is."
Immovable approached with a low growl. "Real power is..." She hesitated a moment. "Tiny Titan has real power! She moved me when nopony else could!"
Apple Bloom raised a hoof. "Not ta interrupt, but ah thought ya said she couldn't move you?"
"She couldn't! I mean, not physically." She flopped to her haunches. "She moved me inside, and that mattered more..."
Lyra suddenly sat beside Immovable and threw a leg around her, hugging her. "She's moved us all. Welcome to the club."
Polite clopping sounded through the room as the fanclub gave warm welcome to their curious new member.
Diamond joined in the clopping. "You know I'm just messing with you, right?"
Immovable blinked. "Really?"
Diamond nodded. "I used to be a bad pony too."
Immovable swallowed her next statement. "It's a long road."
Diamond nodded in agreement. "Tell me about it. Ponies get mad at me over the silliest little things. I'm just telling them the truth."
Immovable's ears fell before pricking back up. "Do you have a power you could use to help ponykind?"
Diamond tilted her head. "I... Let's talk about that later."
Immovable gave a wink far too dramatic to be subtle. "Alright."
Silver cleared her throat. "I now put this matter to rest." She struck the gavel twice. "Next on the docket, Tiny Titan and Immovable's color coordination."
Immovable blinked with a lack of comprehension.
Lyra squeezed the confused mare. "Don't get us wrong. You two look fine, by yourselves, but if you're a team, you should have colors that complement, or specifically, you know, clash. Right now they just kinda... are."
The debate was on about what colors would look good on each part of the duo.
Diamond raised a hoof. When called on she sat up tall. "You're all arguing about the wrong thing. What they're wearing doesn't mean much." The room looked at her, the atmosphere tense. "What? They need a name, a group name. Super heroes get those, right?"
Silver brought a hoof to her face. "You're absolutely right! How silly of us. I move we begin debate on that topic immediately. Ayes?" The room was a chorus of agreement. "Motion passes."
Scootaloo waved a hoof frantically. "Start and Stop!"
Red Heart lifted a hoof less eagerly. "Supreme Forces"
Appreciative murmurs echoed at the thoughts of the names. Immovable was blushing. "I feel awkward voting on this.."
Lyra snorted. "You shouldn't. It's your name! If you don't like it, what's the point?"
Prickle marched up towards Twilight's castle. Beside her was her sidekick, the larger Immovable. Prickle glanced aside at her companion. "Be on your best behavior. Twilight is a princess."
Immovable waved it away. "She called us, not the other way around. We could be looking for bad guys to stop."
"Helping good ponies, like Twilight, is just as important." Prickle reached up and tapped on the door, barely making a noise before she tried again, harder. The door shook with the force. "I'm all out of sync since the new workout regimen."
"You're telling me?" Immovable smiled with a tongue extending. "Everything feels strange. We're using things we never used so much before. I love it!" She leaned in over Prickle. "After we find out what Twilight wants, how about we do some practice?"
Prickle tilted her head a little. "And to think Bon Bon called you lazy."
Immovable stuck out her tongue. "She wasn't wrong... exactly, but when I'm with you, it's different. I want to find new places to be, and you always provide that."
The door to the castle opened, Spike's head peeking out. "Who's-- Oh, hey Pr--Tiny Titan, and, uh, Immovable, right?"
Immovable struck a dramatic pose, sweeping her left forehoof in front of Prickle. "We are Opposing Forces!"
"We are?" Prickle brushed Immovable's hoof aside gently. "Hello, Spike. Princess Twilight called for us."
Spike waved the way inwards. "Yeah, she and the girls are waiting in the table room." On seeing the confused expression on their faces, he turned to lead the way. "You haven't seen it, huh? It's pretty cool. It has a map of all of Equestria on it."
Immovable and Prickle both spent much of the walk gawking at the furnishings of the castle that spoke of a pony far better off than either of them were.
"And here we are!" announced Spike with a final grand sweep towards a room that held Twilight and her friends around a magical glowing map of Equestria.
Twilight looked up at Prickle. "Ah, you're here. We're having a bit of a problem and we hope to handle it, but it will call us out of town, and things could... get dicey around here."
Rarity flipped her mane. "Dicey is a polite way of saying it. The brute we're going to fight may send hooligans to harass the citizens of Ponyville. Since we will be away--"
Rainbow Dash pointed at the two of them. "--While we're gone, you two are the guards of Ponyville. That's what you like to do anyway, right?"
Fluttershy looked the least sure. "It's alright if you don't want to. This isn't your official job or anything."
Immovable sat tall and defiant. "Good luck getting me to stop."
Prickle quirked a smile. "We're both happy to help protect Ponyville. That is our job."
Twilight pricked an ear at Prickle. "Then we really should get some paperwork done for you. You're performing a vital job and should be compensated. We'll handle that after we take care of this crisis."
Spike rolled his eyes. "I thought you were avoiding the c word?"
Applejack shook her head. "Ain't no reason to be shy around these two. They're facin' it just as dead on as we are. Ah reckon they deserve to know what ta expect."
Twilight nodded at the two of them. "Right. The problem is somewhat... international." She gestured over the table. "The Dragon Kingdom has had a sudden insurrection. They're handling it on their end, but some have come to Equestria. They blame us for their current leader's selection."
Spike sighed softly, slouching. "They're not entirely wrong, there."
Rarity waved a hoof. "Pish-posh. You won fair and square. They're just sore losers. We'll go and meet them head on, but there's no assurance they'll all stay together, and if they know where Spikey Wikey lives, they may come here, which is where you two come in."
Prickle hadn't fought a dragon before. "They breathe fire, right?"
"Oh, you bet." Spike was bobbing his head. "I can too, wanna see?"
Twilight lowered a hoof in front of Spike. "Thank you, that will not be required. Are you two still willing to take this job?"
Immovable rose a hoof in a salute. "Immovable, ready for duty!" She reached with the same hoof and pulled Prickle close. "With the two of us, Ponyville is safe."
Rainbow nodded. "See, told ya. Let's get going. The sooner we reach them, the less time they have to do something stupid."
Twilight lifted into the air. "Rainbow's right. The sooner we head out, the more damage we can prevent. P--Tiny Titan, here." She produced a key from her fur and floated it over to Prickle. "This is a key to the castle. Consider it part of your patrol until we return. We're counting on you two."
Prickle watched them go with a stunned expression. When they were gone, she turned to Immovable, still holding the key in a hoof.
Immovable, on the other hoof, was busy clopping her own together. "We're in the big leagues! The princess trusts us big time." She leaned in. "Thank you!"
Spike glanced between the two of them. "You know I'm still here, right?"
Prickle jumped at that. "What? Why aren't you going with them?"
Spike gave a great shrug. "Something about just making them more angry? Besides, they want to get me, so why give me to them?" He pointed a finger at each of them. "So you two get to guard me along with the castle and the town."
Immovable grabbed up Spike in a protective hug, while Prickle considered her new task carefully.
Prickle landed lightly on the roof of Sugarcube Corner, looking around in quick sweeps of the city. She didn't spot any obvious trouble, which was good.
With the sound of rustling feathers, Immovable landed beside her. "Looks clear so far. I thought this would be more exciting."
Prickle shook her head at her larger cohort. "We're doing it because it should be done, not for fun."
"Just because it has to be done, doesn't mean it can't be fun too." She stuck out her tongue lightly before she spread her wings wide. "Want to spar? That's way more fun."
With a dramatic rolling of her eyes, Prickle shot down the idea, "We can spar after we're sure the dragons aren't going to attack us. It won't be good if they come while we're tired." She pointed down at the ponies walking and trotting along. "Look at them. They're all happy and busy, but if we let them down, what can they do? What would, say, Misses Cake do in the face of an angry dragon?"
"Run?" Immovable's shoulders lifted a little before a sigh rolled out. "Alright, alright. I'll get back to patrolling." She leveled a hoof at Prickle's smaller snout. "You sure are bossy for a filly."
Prickle swatted the hoof aside lightly. "That's why you're my sidekick. C'mon, we have to do this right." Visions of what could go wrong if they didn't danced in Prickle's mind. "Ponyville's counting on us."
They parted ways, bounding and flying to patrol the town they had been charged with.
"Wonder what they're up to." Silver Spoon peered up at the two heroes and back to her friends, which included Diamond Tiara and Sweetie Belle.
Sweetie shrugged. "Rarity said I should try to not be outside while she was gone."
Diamond smirked. "Which you followed very well."
Sweetie returned with a smile. "I got bored, sue me. I could be helping ponies, or hanging out, or doing anything, but not while I'm stuck inside."
Silver pointed up at the bounding figure of Prickle. "You helped her nicely."
DT perked an ear. "The crusaders helped Tiny Titan? When did that happen?!"
Sweetie internally groaned. She was tempted to just tell Diamond and be done with it. "Even superheroes have issues."
Diamond huffed softly. "What even is her cutie mark? I bet it's... a pony holding up a planet or something."
Silver Spoon fixed her friend with a wry smile across her face. "Oh, it isn't that."
"You know? Tell me!" demanded Diamond, sitting up and staring at Silver.
Silver was unaffected by the stern command, enjoying the advantage she has. "It's a secret." She stuck out her tongue at Diamond. "Sorry."
"You aren't even a little sorry." Diamond crossed her forelegs with a pout before her eyes wandered to Sweetie's amused expression. "What? Do you know too?! What kind of secret is this?" She hopped up to all fours. "Her cutie mark can't be that big of a deal."
Sweetie waved it away. "If you knew her cutie mark, then you'd figure out who she was, and that's a secret." She got up herself and started to walk back towards the boutique. "It was nice hanging out with you two, but I should get going."
Diamond watched her go a moment before turning all her attention on Silver. "Alright, enough's enough! She just admitted it. You two know who she is." She leaned in close, face to face. "Out with it."
"Nope," sang out Silver Spoon. "You have to figure it out on your own."
"That's not how it works!" Diamond grabbed Silver at her shoulders and began to shake her giggling friend. "We're BFFs! Tell me!"
Silver brushed off one of the hooves and held her head high and haughtily. "If you don't know, you weren't supposed to. I'm sorry, Diamond."
Diamond crashed down onto her haunches. Being shot down so bluntly was not something she faced often, outside of her mother. "I... but... Oh Come on! You can give a hint, right?"
Silver's brow raised smoothly as she considered. "She certainly is strong."
Diamond threw up her hooves. "That's not a hint!"
Silver's eyes fell to half-lidded. "It's the best hint I can think of. Just promise you won't be mad when you figure it out."
Diamond thumped a hoof on the ground in obvious frustration. "Does she even go to school here? She should teach Prickle how to be confident, you know, instead of... that."
Silver's cheeks puffed out as she struggled to hold in her reaction. "Yeah..." she barely managed to get out.
Applejack twirled a lasso above her, rope clenched in her teeth. "Stop right there!"
Rainbow came down in a streak in front of the draconic invader. "Yeah, you ain't getting nowhere."
The bulky dragon just shrugged. "Alright."
Twilight tilted her head a little. "Alright?"
He nodded at her. "Uh huh."
Applejack's lasso fell from the sky to flop by her hooves. "Well, that was easy."
Rarity looked left and right. "I don't mean to bring up unpleasantries, but weren't there supposed to be many more than one dragon on the way?"
Rainbow darted in, face to face with the one dragon they had. "Alright, 'pal', where are your buddies hiding?!"
"Oh, um, they said..." He rubbed at his chin. "Where was it, uh... Oh yeah, Baltimare, ha, that's a funny name."
Fluttershy advanced on the dragon. "I'm taking you home. No more invading pony lands, alright?"
"Um, alright."
The two went off, leaving the others to consider their next move. Applejack wobbled a hoof in the air. "That was straight forward n' all, but that leaves us a bunch of others t' deal with headin' right fer a city."
Twilight shook her head slowly. "I don't like this, not one bit."
Rarity nodded in agreement. "That dragon didn't seem to have his mind on the prize, as it were. The poor brute was left here on purpose."
Rainbow clopped her forehooves together. "So what do we do about it?"
Twilight drew in a soft breath before releasing it as she turned towards Baltimare. "There isn't a lot of choice. This is our only lead. He may be right or wrong, but we have to investigate and be sure."
"And if he's wrong?" asked Applejack as she moved beside Twilight. "What then?"
"Then they're likely going for Ponyville, and it'll be up to 'Opposing Forces' to handle it."
Rainbow flew in over Twilight upside down. "Hey, you know I like Tiny Titan, but I'm not sure she's ready to handle a whole, uh, whatever a group of dragons is called."
Rarity offered a hoof. "Thunder."
Twilight tilted her head. "I heard it was a Weyr."
"Pride." Pinkie bobbed her head. "Whatever you call it, we should get to the party before it's already over!"
With a communal rallying cry, minus one, the group set forth, ready to repel the dragons.
Scootaloo soared, wind whistling past her face as she cheered. It had taken weeks to finish assembling the new course, but with every hard turn, loop, and jump, she knew all the more that the effort had been worth the time. Her scooter was part of herself, her wings that let her fly in patterns that even Rainbow Dash would be jealous of, if it were actual, you know, flying instead of rolling.
Scootaloo banished the thought. She was flying. She was soaring. She hit a lip and lifted into the air. She twirled her scooter beneath her and buzzed her wings to get some extra distance as she arced through the sky. She was really flying.
Just as she reached the apex of her jump, movement drew her attention. Something else was flying. Several somethings. They were far away, but she could spy them from her new height just briefly before she came back to the earth, slamming down in the track and resuming the course. She wondered what it was she had seen. They seemed too large to be weather pegasi or mail mares. Scootaloo hopped free of her wings, er, scooter when she reached the end of the track and popped it up into her waiting hooves.
"Woo hoo!" called out Apple Bloom, who had watched Scootaloo ride her track. "That was some mighty impressive rodeo, Scoots. How'd ya like it?"
"It was great," said Scootaloo distractedly. "Hey, uh, I saw a bunch of somethings coming this way."
Apple Bloom blinked at that. "What kinda somethings?"
Scootaloo put her hooves apart. "Big somethings. They were far away, I think, but..."
Apple Bloom half-turned and pointed at the smaller forms of the two heroes buzzing around the city. "Maybe we should tell 'em?"
"Good idea!" Scootaloo dropped her scooter and hopped on. "C'mon!" Apple Bloom hurried to get on behind her friend and they were soon zipping off back into the town proper.
"Titan!" came a distant holler from beneath them. Prickle turned in mid-air to face it, but couldn't change her trajectory. Immovable had no such limitation and swooped in to pluck Prickle up in her hooves and descend towards the shout.
Below them was Scootaloo and Apple Bloom, both waving frantically at them.
Immovable dropped Prickle to the ground and landed beside her. "What's wrong?"
Prickle bobbed her head. "Is somepony in trouble?!"
Scootaloo pointed in the direction she had seen something. "I saw something."
Both heroes peeked in the direction of the hoof's indication, but saw little from their angle. Immovable tilted her head. "What did you see?"
Apple Bloom threw her hooves wide. "Somethings big!"
Scootaloo bobbed her head in agreement. "And heading for Ponyville."
Prickle tensed. One dragon would be trouble enough. "More than one?"
Scootaloo gave a firm nod. "For sure. They were far away, but yeah, they're coming."
Immovable suddenly let out an excited whoop of joy. "Alright! Now we get to fight something worth our time." She grabbed the stunned Prickle and squeezed her close. "This is going to be so much fun!"
Scootaloo blinked softly before a grin split her face. "You like being a hero, huh?"
Immovable was quick to bob her head at Scootaloo. "Especially as a part of this team. Now, uh, how did it go..."
Prickle recovered and squirmed her way free. "You two should get indoors and stay there. Tell anypony else you see to do the same. This is not a drill."
"Oh yeah." Immovable nodded lightly, agreeing with Prickle's words. "That's what I was going for."
Apple Bloom pointed off towards the farm. "Ah'll head home, but you two be careful, alright? I don't wanta hear either of ya got hurt."
Scootaloo glanced aside at Apple Bloom. "So, heading home?"
"Nope," replied Apple Bloom with a wry smile. "You?"
"Nah." Scootaloo ducked behind a building with her friend beside her. "As if we'd miss this!"
Prickle took a slow breath. Sure, there was a flight of dragons coming. Sure, they'd be the toughest, meanest, most organized group she ever faced. Sure, she might get clawed to shreds, chewed up, or set on fire, maybe all three.
Sure! Sure sure sure.
"You alright?" Immovable was watching Prickle with some concern. "You look stressed."
"I'm fine!" squeaked out Prickle in a high-pitched squeak that assured no one. She swallowed the panic and took another slow breath. "I'm fine," she said, control returning. "We have to stop them."
"Stopping things is my specialty," assured Immovable, spreading her wings wide. "Let's see 'em try to get past me!" One of her wings lowered. "Want a lift?"
Prickle took the offer, clambering up on Immovable and sitting up on her back, like a knight to their valiant steed. "Let's get to them before they get in the town."
"Right, don't want any houses getting torched." Immovable took to the skies, wings easily lifting them towards the dragons in the distance. "So, hey, do you think my toughness works on fire?"
"We never tried," confessed Prickle. "Did you ever get burned before?"
"Not that I remember." Immovable shrugged softly as she went, hooves dangling beneath her. "Hope that means I'm cool."
"I know I don't want to be set on fire," assured Prickle nervously.
"If they breathe fire at you, punch it."
Prickle's face fell. "You're kidding."
"Nope." Immovable giggled softly. "It's your thing, use it. Just kick. You're the irresistible force."
Prickle shook her head a little, clearly uncertain of how that would turn out. Her attention came to the dragons and the more immediate needs. There were six of them. Alright, it could have been worse. One of them was significantly larger than the others. The boss? "Let's try to talk to that one." She pointed the way.
Immovable banked in a wide arc, coming towards the great beast. He was a dragon's dragon. He had red scales, an orange underbelly and lighter red fins along the back of his neck. He was large enough to snap up a pony and swallow them without chewing, though that might have posed a choking hazard. That was little comfort.
She came to a stop right in front of him, freezing in mid-air.
The dragon came to a halt with an irritated snort. "Is this little pony one of them?"
"Nah," reported a much smaller dragon of similar color, though he had orange fins. "Never saw this one before. Whatever, let's just eat, hey wait, is that one pony or two?"
Prickle thrust a hoof out at them. "Stop right there!"
Immovable spread her wings as wide as they could go, somehow floating without flapping. "That's my line. Oh oh! You shall not pass! That's a good one, I think."
The larger dragon raised a leathery brow at them. "I plan to make a very particular dragon pay for what he did to my son." He flapped his wings, wind rushing around the two ponies as he took flight over them.
"My one weakness!" cried out Immovable.
Prickle scrambled up and launched off the stable platform that Immovable provided. She soared through the air, one hoof extended, and crashed into the large dragon's side. The dragon let out a smokey groaning wheeze as air was forced from its lungs and both started to crash to the ground together.
"Hey, Garble, what do we do?" asked one of the other smaller dragons.
Garble slapped his claws together, eyeing Immovable menacingly. "Dad can take care of that other one, let's teach this little pony what happens when ponies mess with dragons."
"See if you can," taunted Immovable. "No one can move me." Under her breath she added, "Except Tiny Titan."
"Move you?" Who said anything about that." He flexed his claws. "C'mon, guys, let's show her what dragons are made of."
They were falling, fast. Prickle's hooves scrambled against the dragon as she raced to get on top of it and use it as a cushion as best she could. That's when she remembered she could bounce. She glanced down around the dragon as she ground hurried at them and made a tremendous bounce, propelling the dragon down a little faster as she soa--
The dragon caught her in a sudden motion of its claws, snatching her from the air as its wings unfurled enough to slow its descent. "The last time a pony dared hit me, I was talked out of doing anything about it. This time..."
Prickle shrieked in horror before she got a hold of herself. She didn't want to be chomped by a dragon. She threw her limbs wide, forcing the dragon's grip loose enough for her to fall free, and her with it. She was in free flight, with nothing to push off of. Still, better than being devoured by an angry dragon, or so she reasoned with herself as gravity pulled her towards a painful end.
She could remember Immovable's words shortly before, 'Just punch it.' Would that work? Could she kick the air? It was something to try. She lashed out her hind legs as powerfully as she could, air sent in a shock wave ahead of her and a momentarily deafening crack like thunder. She slowed, just a little.
Frantically hopeful, she lashed out, battering the air as swiftly and strongly as she could. Far away, ponies looked up, expecting to see a thunderstorm incoming out of schedule, but they could see no clouds go with the violent thunder that rolled over them.
The dragon suddenly grabbed her. She had slowed enough for him to catch up with her. "You're loud," he said, frowning in obvious displeasure. "Hopefully you make a better snack than a wind chime."
Garble and his friends moved in on Immovable. He grabbed a wing and tugged as if to pull it free, but Immovable just laughed. "Are you tickling me? You're not even a tenth as strong as Tiny Titan, now she knows how to move."
A heavyset dragon twirled in the air, bashing her with his mace-like tail, but it just slid along her clothes with no apparent harm. Immovable couldn't help but keep laughing. "Is that the best you can do? Some dragons you are! I guess this little pony is going to get to say a whole set of dragons just wasn't a match for her."
Garble went red, well, redder. "That's it!" He lunged for Immovable, and she didn't move. He grabbed one of her wings in his powerful jaws, but he couldn't move them, even enough to get his teeth past the feathers. The best he could do was move a few feathers around a few degrees.
The thinner, purple, dragon scratched at his mane, which was odd for a dragon to have. "I don't think it's working."
Immovable was having the time of her life, laughing and jeering at Garble's attempts to harm her.
Garble floated away a few inches. "Alright, fine. If we can't tear you apart, how about we just cook you? On the count of three!" All the dragons drew in a breath at once.
Immovable laughing came to an awkward end.
Prickle gave an awkward smile at the big dragon. "Maybe we can talk about this?"
"Maybe we shouldn't hit people we want to talk to." He landed lightly and gave Prickle a shake in his hand. "You ponies are so rude. A pity you are also delicious."
Prickle's head swayed, dizzy from the rattling. "We... can't let you attack the town. They're trusting us to defend it."
He leaned in, massive eye close to Prickle. "You are the pony's guardians? Laughable." Smoke trailed from his snout as a soft chuckle shook his chest.
"We are! And we won't let you."
"As if you have a choice. He suddenly lifted her up as his mouth opened wide. With a casual toss, he dropped her onto his tongue and snapped his mouth shut.
Everything was dark and wet. His tongue was trying to nudge her towards the back of his throat. She was going to be eaten! With a shriek of dismay, she grabbed the tongue tightly. It writhed and squirmed, trying to dislodge her or grind her against his deadly teeth.
Prickle lashed out a hoof and shattered the tooth. Suddenly she was free, spat out by the dragon in a fit of pain. He roared and thrashed, clawhands at his injured mouth. She got to her hooves, wobbling. "Now we're even."
"Even?!" He raised one of his massive hind claws and made to stomp Prickle where she stood. "I'll show you even!"
Prickle sat and thrust up her forehooves to catch the titanic claw. Her muscles strained a little, but she was holding up the dragon. She gave a powerful heft and the entire dragon listed to the side, crashing to the ground with a great rumble, dirt flying as it dug a new furrow from the impact.
Scootaloo let out a wild cheer, peering through her half of the binoculars. Apple Bloom had her cheek pressed up to hers, peering through the other half of the lone pair they had to share. They turned their view skywards.
"Do you think she'll be alright?" asked Apple Bloom. "Ah reckon even she don't like being cooked none."
"I hope so, but we'll find out in a moment." Both fillies pressed in tight to get a good view through their shared viewing tool as the battle unfolded.
Immovable was moving. She had broken her stalwart stance and was frantically soaring out of the reach of the tongues of flames that licked at her scorched tail. "Stop it! Stop it!" she cried as she darted and bobbed, silently grateful for the lessons that forced her to move instead of relying on sitting still for the extent of her portfolio. "Stop!"
It was Garble's turn to laugh, leading the chase with his friends. "She ain't so tough now, is she? Light her up, boys!"
She reached into her cowl as she flew desperately in erratic patterns. She pulled out the one weakness she had, besides being moved around. That was just plain rude, really. She got out the can of irritant, a little picture of a cloud touching an eye that was crying painted on it. "Last warning!"
"Or what?" demanded Garble as he flew in close, ready to torch Immovable.
"Or this!" She spun around in the air and squeezed the bottle between her forehooves, activating it and sending out an angry hiss of chemicals at Garble.
Garble exhaled. His flames met the incoming stream and ignited it instantly. The trajectory of the stuff wasn't much changed, becoming more of a cloud and less of a stream. Garble fell into a coughing fit as it got into his mouth and eyes, nose running and pain exploding. His flames dying out almost instantly in favor of coughing and writhing in the air.
Immovable's victory was short-lived indeed. She could see the fire was still coming at her, traveling along the chemical spray. She panicked and hurled the canister away.
The other dragons barely knew what happened before it exploded brilliantly among them, spreading the noxious fumes. The entire flight began to cough, wheeze and cry under the chemical attack.
Prickle scrambled around the prone dragon. “We don’t have to fight,” she called out as she sprang into the air.
The massive beast rose sinuously, dirt raining down from its scaled form. “You are welcome to surrender at any time, trying pony.”
“That’s Tiny Titan.” She landed on his chest lightly. “And I won’t give up. I can’t! My town’s counting on me.”
The dragon curled on himself, head coming within an inch of Prickle’s costumed form. “I won’t give up,” he echoed. “The honor of my child has been besmirched. We are both bound by duty.”
“Tell me what happened?” Prickle smiled uncertainly. “Maybe we can work it out?”
“Twice...” He let out a weary sigh, flame licking around his lips and smoke escaping his nostrils. “Once by force of personality, the second by strength of arms. That the strength of your people is used only to remain in soft peace is baffling.”
Prickle dared allow her smile to widen a little. “Does that mean we can talk?”
The trickle of smoke became a brief blast of flames. “Yes! Yes... Get off of me.” He brushed her free and she bounced off his sides to a smooth landing below as he rolled over, belly down, to address her.
Garble wiped the last of the tears from his face and looked down to see his father talking with one of the ponies, the other half of the duo they were fighting. “What the...” He flew down, forgetting Immovable for the moment. “Hey, pops, what’re ya doing?! Go ahead and eat her already.”
The larger dragon glared at his son. “Haven’t you shamed me enough for one century? The adults are speaking.”
Prickle developed a savage blush, words driven from her. She was just called an adult by a dragon! She tried to speak, but the words were caught in her throat.
Immovable suffered no such difficulty. Landing beside Prickle, wings wide, she stuck out her tongue at Garble. “Yeah, you heard him, let the grownups talk.”
The father dragon turned his withering gaze on Immovable. “That goes for you equally as well.” His massive eyes fixed on Prickle. “Now then, where were we... Ah, yes... It started closely from their first introduction to one another. The one named Spike succeeded in obtaining a phoenix while Garble was left for injured. Hmph, I hope the egg made a satisfying crunch when it was destroyed...”
“That wasn’t what happened at all!” cried Spike, approaching at an energetic jog.
The father reared up, then snarled. “This is fortunate. I can exact my revenge without troubling your domain, little warrior.”
Spike skidded to a halt. “Oh, uh...”
Immovable slid into place in front of him. “No hurting Spike! We were specifically told to keep him safe.”
The father looked back at Prickle. “Is this true?”
“Well, yes.” Prickle nodded as she watched the other small dragons descend from the sky, eyes and noses running with liquids. She wondered what had happened up there, but she was busy enough with her own dragon to see. “Can we continue with the story? I mean, if we know what happened, we can act... responsibly.”
The large dragon rumbled, shaking the air as smoke trailed with smoldering fury. “Very... well. When you know the full measure of his crimes, then his punishment can be given. When next they met, it was at the behest of the last dragon lord. He wished to bequeath his reign to the younger generation, or I would have easily competed and seized the prize for myself.” He chuckled softly in thought of it. “Ah yes... But that was not to be. Instead he--” He leveled a claw at Spike accusingly. “--cheated, stole the title, then humiliated my son in royal decree with the very same title he did not deserve.”
He snarled, teeth displayed like the great swords they were. “The entire thing was a farce. The old dragon lord laid a cunning trap to ensure his own daughter would take the prize, in the end. Even with Spike’s cheating, he was powerless before his machinations. When they returned from the testing site, it was she that held the scepter and the title. I was scarcely surprised.”
Prickle raised a hoof at the tremendous dragon. “So, hold on. What did Spike actually do? I mean, to--”
Garble darkened, voice raising in a screech, “I don’t wanna talk about it!”
The father crossed his forelegs. “You will. The full measure of his crimes will be known, then we will have our revenge.”
Garble fidgeted mid-air, glancing around nervously. “But it’s embarrassing... Oh, and I’m not allowed to. Spike said not to.”
“That’s true,” mentioned Spike quietly enough that only Immovable heard him.
The father was incensed. “He is not dragon lord and never should have been! You will speak, now!” Flame erupted from his shouting mouth, washing over several dragons to no harm, but suitable measure of his rising fury.
“Alright... sheesh...” Garble descended to the ground, landing lightly on his legs, his arms not yet grown into forelegs as the older dragons seemed to have. “That jerk said I had to go up to every dragon I saw on the way home and get all friendly without telling them why.”
His ‘friends’ broke into fits of guffaws and laughter at the lamentable fate. His father, on the other claw, trembled with renewed rage. “Is such the depths of his honor, that he would request my son debase himself in such a manner?”
Spike put his claws on his hips. “I just told him to hug a few people. It isn’t that big of a deal.”
The father blinked with confusion. “Is this true?”
“Uh... yeah?”
“That is... not as bad as I had feared. Still a shameful task, but... not as bad as I had thought...”
Immovable turned to Spike. “So why’d you tell him to do that anyway?”
The father nodded. “That is a question I would like answered.”
“He was a big fat jerk.” Spike shook his head. “All through the contest he was getting in my way and insulting me and I got a little payback.”
The father nodded a little. “That much is true.”
“Dad!” Garble sputtered a little. “You--”
“The adults are speaking,” roared the dragon at his son.
Garble grumbled to himself, but did not dare to speak up at that time.
Prickle gave a little smile. “So, about that first time.” She looked to Spike. “What happened with that phoenix egg?”
“Oh, yeah, that’s why I came. I didn’t break any phoenix eggs. Garble wanted to smash it and I saved it instead and ran away with my friends.”
The father arched a brow. “I don’t understand. It is a tradition that dragons, especially young and energetic, attack phoenix nests. We are traditional foes.”
Spike raised a claw. “But I’m not a traditional dragon.”
The father nodded. “Also true... Did the phoenix attack you once able?”
“No... he grew up... and I let him go...” Spike gave a sad smile, a tear threatening to break free. “I couldn’t give a phoenix what it needed, so off he went.”
The father inclined his head slowly. “I... see. A curious game. You are foolish if you think your one act of kindness will undo millennia of strife between us, but you are welcome to try.”
Garble stomped a foot on the ground. “So when do we get to the part where we show him a lesson?”
“Not today.” His powerful wings beat, blowing dirt and grass away as he lifted into the sky. “Spike is a curious, weak, dragon, but he is a dragon, and did not act with shame.”
“But... he...”
“You brought it on yourself. Come on, before little miss dragon lord blows something looking for us.” The other dragons made idle talk of agreement and they began to lift off to return to the dragon lands.
Garble stomped up towards Spike, pointing at him behind Immovable. “This isn’t over, runt. You’re going to slip up, and I’ll be there, ready to help you fall!”
Spike flashed a bright grin. “So you’re ready to lose to a bunch of ponies again?”
With an infuriated growl, Garble took off to join the others.
Prickle looked after the departed flight of dragons before she shook her head and joined Immovable and Spike. “That was really dangerous. Shouldn’t you have waited in the castle?”
“Yeah.... probably.” He shrugged softly. “But I kept thinking about you two risking everything just for me.” He put a claw on his chest. “It didn’t feel right. They were here for me. I had to do something.”
Immovable wrapped a wing around Spike suddenly. “You are too adorable. Thanks for the help!”
Prickle nodded less certainly. “It worked out in the end, I guess... You are alright, Spike?”
“Oh yea.” He bobbed his head. “Immovable didn’t let them lay a claw on me.”
“That’s my job,” she crooned happily, still hugging Spike tight in her wings. “Hey! That means we did it, our biggest job ever!”
Prickle broke into a quirked smile. “We’re lucky he was willing to talk after fighting a little... I don’t know how much I wanted to keep that up.”
“What are you talking about?!” Immovable shook her head. “You were great! I barely kept away from them, but you were tossing him around! Boom, crash! You hoofwrestled with a dragon and won!”
Two pairs of hoofsteps came from the town as Apple Bloom and Scootaloo rushed to join them. Scootaloo was waving wildly as she went. “That was amazing! It was like every comic I ever read, but better, because it was right there, in front of me, and I knew the hero and...”
Apple Bloom snickered softly. “Calm down, Scoots. TT, Immovable, you two alright?”
Immovable released Spike. “As if anything could hurt me.” She fluffed out her fur and feathers.
Apple Bloom pointed behind Immovable at her still scorched tail. “Reckon ya ain’t totally fireproof.”
Spike gave an emphatic thumbs up. “You were both great. Thanks for keeping me in one piece.” He turned to the town. “And not a single damaged house. That’s better than some times Twilight went to save the day.”
Scootaloo burst into laughter. “That’s a low blow, Spike. You know they do their best.”
“I’m just joking around.” He gestured up to the castle. “Want a celebratory lunch? I’ll cook.”
Apple Bloom put a hoof to her chin. “Ah ain’t one to look a gift horse in the mouth none, but this is more of an outdoors celebration time. Reckon maybe we can have ice cream?”
Prickle licked her lips at the thought. “That sounds really nice... and not on fire.”
“Yeah, I’ve had enough fire for one day,” agreed Immovable. “Where’s the ice cream?”
As the group began to move in quest of frozen treats, Prickle moved in beside Apple Bloom. “I thought you were heading home?”
Apple Bloom had the dignity to blush at being caught. “And miss that fight? Nothin’ doin’! Ah couldn’t not watch that.”
Scootaloo’s wings fluttered in a rapid buzzing. “As if we wouldn’t watch that? You two were super amazing! Hey, Immovable, what’d you throw at the dragons that went kasploosh like that?”
“That was a gift from a teacher.” She nodded as she went in time with her hoofsteps. “She said I had to be ready to have it used on me, so I kept it around. Then it... you know, seemed like a good time to use it. I bet they hadn’t been sprayed before.”
Scootaloo tilted her head. “You can get sprayed with that junk now?”
Immovable tensed. “Uh....”
Prickle slipped in between them. “Immovable is still practicing.”
They arrived at the store and were greeted as heroes. When Prickle tried to fish out a few bits to pay, she was gently refused. The stallion behind the bar shook his head. “I saw you two fighting off a whole mess of dragons out there. Today, it’s on the house.” After a pause, he seemed to rethink that. “One each.”
"Here you are." Twilight presented, with a light wave of a hoof and a satisfied smile, a rolled up scroll. "This makes it all official."
Prickle accepted the letter hesitantly, holding it between her forehooves. "Just like that?"
Twilight lifted her shoulders. "Well, normally you'd have to prove your sincerity and ability, but then you went and stopped a flight of dragons for us while we were away. There's not a pony around that doubts you've earned this."
While her cheeks darkened through her mask, Immovable was busy clopping the ground. "Yeah! Of course you deserve it. Why wouldn't you? You're the best superhero around, maybe anywhere!"
Twilight looked to Immovable with a perked ear. "Speaking of which, there's you. I don't have all of your pertinents to file the paperwork properly."
Spike waved broadly in the general direction of Applejack's farm. "If superheroing is worth a stipend, why aren't the girls all getting a check?"
Twilight looked dumbfounded. "To start, what makes you think they're not? None of them are hurting for bits. To follow, this is specifically for cutie mark fulfillment in a productive manner. They're peacekeepers, as a profession. Guards, without the specific strata and order." She waggled a hoof towards Immovable. "I haven't seen your cutie mark yet, speaking of which."
Immovable glanced back at her garbed flank, her cloak concealing her mark from view.
She reached with a wing and brushed up the side of her cloak, revealing her mark for all to see. "I wasn't even thinking about it. Unlike Tiny Titan, I'm not even trying to be secret." The picture was that of a gust of wind crashing against a tall and lonely mountain peak.
Prickle tilted her head at it. "That... makes sense, but we're changing it."
Immovable jumped back, her cloak falling back into place. "Changing it?! But I like being me!"
Prickle suddenly smiled. "We already changed it a little."
"What? But..." It seemed to dawn on her slowly, a gasp coming from her quietly. "You... did... I guess..." She suddenly broke into laughter and grabbed Prickle, rubbing her masked head. "That's my mentor, teaching me all kinds of things!"
Twilight tapped her quill against a parchment that wasn't there before, finishing her crude rendition of Immovable's mark. "Excellent, now I don't suppose you'd be willing to--"
The doors to the castle burst open with a rain of confetti. "There she is!" came Pinkie's excited cry as she cartwheeled into view. "I've got a super special party lined up for you two." She came down, sliding on her knees with a forehoof directed at either super pony. "The mayor gave the alright for a whole parade!"
Twilight started at that. "They never threw a parade when we saved the town."
Spike looked more amused than surprised. "That's because you're not superheroes."
Pinkie shook her head. "Actually there are at least two great reasons other than that." She leveled a hoof at Twilight as she got up on her other three. "You're the best organizer pony in the town. Are you gonna plan your own parade? That would be awkward! But wait, there's a great party planner right here." She redirected the pointing hoof at herself. "But I'm with you almost every time you save the town, so then I would be planning my own party, and that's kinda funny too. I mean, I love a party as much as the next pony, but I like planning other pony's parties and seeing the big smiles on their faces during the special days." She reared up and hugged herself with both arms tightly. "Makes me all warm and fuzzy inside."
Immovable watched Pinkie monologue before she shook her head. "Just like the outside."
"Exactly!" Pinkie bounced onto Immovable's back, hugging her instead. "Hey, so, you're Immovable, right?"
Immovable swayed under Pinkie, not expecting to be suddenly mounted. "Um, yeah?"
"Nice to meetcha!" Pinkie sprang from Immovable's back. "I heard you two have a super dynamic super name for a super duo."
Prickle shook her head. It was all too much. "We don't need any parades, please."
Immovable sat up tall. "We are Opposing Forces!"
"Ooo, nice one." Pinkie took a quick note with a quill that wasn't in her mouth a moment ago. "I'll be sure to--"
"We really don't need any parades..."
Pinkie tilted her head at Prickle. "You don't need one, who does, but it'll be so much fun!"
Prickle saw her words were not penetrating and grit her teeth. "I don't... want a parade."
Immovable swiveled an ear at her mentor. "Why wouldn't you want one? You earned it! We earned it! She grabbed Prickle at her shoulders, putting a hoof on either side. "Ponies are happy to see me, and they want to celebrate. Don't take this from me!"
Prickle's ears flipped back. "You... can keep it, but I don't want it." Her voice was small and strained. "Please..."
Twilight's magic quietly wrapped around Pinkie, pulling her closer even as she was about to speak. "Pinkie."
"What? She's totally gonna have a great time once we get started. She's just nervous, like you were when you first came to Ponyville." She lifted her shoulders. "You didn't want any party, but we did one anyway and you--"
"--Hated it." Twilight's eyes half-lid. "I learned to like you all, later, but I didn't need that right then and she doesn't need that right now."
Immovable suddenly popped up between them. "But I can still have it?"
Pinkie squealed with joy. The parade was still on. She grabbed Immovable and they went off to discuss their plans.
Spike gave Prickle a light pat. "It's cool. Twilight's got you off the hook."
Prickle gave an unsure smile at that. "Thanks... I don't mean to sound ungrateful, but the idea of... everyone just... I don't..." Her head hung a little. "I just want to do what I can..."
Twilight set a hoof on the opposite side of Spike's claw. "It's alright. I've been there myself. In the heat of the moment, you're just doing what you can to protect the people that matter to you, not trying to get famous, or cheers."
"It's... yeah... but more than that." Prickle sat herself up, facing Twilight. "I'm still weird... I mean... I get it, being weird isn't... bad... And I like... I... I don't want to be weak, not when my friends need me to be strong for them. I like being able to protect them... but it's... still weird..."
Twilight looked into Prickle's evasive eyes. "You don't need to justify yourself. Not to me. I'm sorry I didn't see this coming ahead of time. Your sidekick seems perfectly happy to take your place."
Prickle glanced over at where Immovable was chatting with Pinkie. Both looked so excited and eager. "We don't deserve that..."
Spike crossed his arms. "That's not how it works. A parade isn't just for the pony being paraded about."
Prickle blinked. "It isn't?"
Twilight seemed to grasp where Spike was going swiftly. "Right. When they put Princess Celestia on a chariot and roll her through town, it's not because she wants to see Canterlot that way. She'd rather just walk and talk to ponies if she could. It's for the ponies that get to see her and cheer and be happy. A parade is as much for the people seeing the parade as it is for anyone in the parade."
Prickle went quiet a moment. "So..." Her eyes lifted to Spike. "You'd be happier if I was in the parade?"
Spike lifted his shoulders. "I'm kind of a bad example. I mean, knowing you're uncomfortable, no... But there are a lot of ponies that just want to cheer at their hero and will never know any better."
Twilight spread her wings wide. "When I got these and had to go through the formal ceremony to be crowned and paraded, I thought I might die of embarrassment, but I smiled and waved and smiled some more. I got through it and everyone was so happy. I know what you're feeling right now--"
"--No you don't!" hissed out Prickle in an angry rush before her blush got worse. "Sorry... But... being a princess is a good thing. Everyone wants to be a princess. Not everyone wants this. Most ponies don't. Fighting super villains? Who... wants that?"
"Me!" Immovable plopped her head on top of Prickle's from behind. "I mean, if we don't, who will? And we can look good while we're doing it."
Twilight gave a soft snort. "Is it a pegasus thing?"
"Wha?"
Twilight waved a hoof. "You need to talk with Rainbow Dash, you two are very similar in your outlook on heroism."
Immovable's wings sprung wide. "Can I meet her?! Oh, she's the faste..." Her excitement suddenly deflated. "Nevermind..."
Spike leaned to the side, seeing Pinkie had left. "All done planning the parade?"
"Yeah..." said Immovable, her exuberance suddenly absent.
Prickle shook her head, making Immovable's bounce about. "What's wrong? We don't need two sad heroes and I got here first."
Immovable stepped to the side with a snicker. "You're the boss."
Prickle's own dissatisfaction was forgotten in favor of Immovable's. "Alright, out with it. Why the long face?"
"I'm a pony?"
Spike applied a claw to his face.
"Okay okay... It's just... Rainbow Dash..." She reached out her left wing towards the sky. "She's... almost everything you could want to be, as a pegasus. She's fast, daring, agile, athletic, a great weather pony... She's fast! I'm... best at not moving. I'm a lousy pegasus... She wouldn't want to talk with me."
Twilight shook her head. "From what I heard about your clash with the dragons? I imagine she would very much like to talk to you. In fact, if she wasn't busy catching up on the weather duties she claims were out of date since she wasn't here to help, she would tell you herself."
Spike bobbed his head in easy agreement. "I was there, I saw it! You were great, all fwoosh zoom." He moved his claws in pantomime of the aerial conflict. "I thought you were gonna get scorched a few times, but you were one step ahead of them."
Immovable let out a strained laugh. "I guess I can be a little fast when I think I'm about to be set on fire..."
Prickle smiled at her older sidekick. "I wasn't watching you, but you were taking on all the rest of the dragons while I just had one."
"The biggest one!" countered Immovable. "I just had, what..." She wobbled a hoof as if trying to count on it. "Like a half dozen teenagers."
Prickle stuck out her tongue. "And you think half a dozen dragon teens is a small task? You can tell me that's not true."
"Well, yea...." Immovable looked back to Twilight. "Would Rainbow really... be interested?"
"Without a shadow of a doubt."
"Would she... watch my parade?" Immovable's wings gave a little hopeful flutter.
Twilight snickered softly. "She's going to be so jealous. She hasn't gotten a proper parade either."
"Oh Celestia! I... I can't get a parade before Rainbow Dash..."
Prickle perked up an ear. "I didn't know you liked Rainbow... Last time you saw her, you didn't say anything."
"I was nervous..." Immovable fidgeted in place. "And she was so focused on finding the dragons. I didn't... want to be in her way."
Prickle burst into laughter. "But that's your talent."
Immovable gave a slow blink, owlish and confused before it clicked. "Oh yeah, it is, isn't it?" She joined the laughter, hers a little strained. "Okay okay... um... wait, if TT doesn't want to be there... I have an idea." She flashed a big smile. "It's time we hatched two birds with one egg!" Her wings came down in a powerful flap, carrying her away without another word but the determination shining in her eyes.
Prickle watched her go a moment before looking back to Twilight and Spike. "Any idea what she's doing?" Both shrugged.
Immovable rose higher and higher into the sky, doing slow circles to get a view of things. She might not have been an ideal pegasus, but a pegasus she remained. Getting a bird's eye view came naturally enough. Another pony came flying past her and Immovable waved a hoof frantically. Despite not being in their way, she managed to stop them. She still had it.
The faintly pink mare turned back to Immovable, green and cerise striped mane bobbing with the motions of her hovering. "Hey, uh... Who are you again?"
"Oh yeah!" She smiled brightly. "Nice to meetcha." She extended a wing, the other apparently able to keep her aloft long enough for a shake. "I'm Blossomforth. What's up?"
"I'm looking for Rainbow Dash, have you seen her?" Immovable's head panned around. Blossomforth's hooves came in from either side and redirected Immovable's head to look towards a cloud. There were pegasi coming and going all around it.
She let go of Immovable's head and nodded. "Rogue cloud from the Everfree. Rainbow and the others are working on getting rid of it. If you're not helping, you should probably stay out of their way. I should get going though. Have a good one!"
As Blossomforth dashed away in a zip of wings, Immovable deflated a little. She would just be in the way of weather ponying...
She heard a voice echoing from her memory. It was soft laughter, Tiny Titan's. "But that's your talent."
Immovable drew a slow breath before giving a firm nod. "That is my talent." She flew towards the cloud. If anypony was going to be in the way, at least it'd be an expert!
Shouts echoed across the cloud as it rumbled ominously. A dark flash streaked across its interior as it darkened, looking more like a stormcloud by the moment instead of just another cloud. The weather ponies were set on the task of making sure it didn't get to damage Ponyville, working together as a harmonious team to defend their town as a well-oiled machine of meteorological power.
Then Immovable showed up, flapping about aimlessly in her search for Rainbow Dash. She lived up to her talent by being in the way of a dark grey pegasus with bright cyan mane. "Oops, sorry," she said as she turned to face him.
He looked confused at the interruption. "You're not on the weather team, right?"
"Well, no, but..."
Cloud Chaser thrust a wing downwards. "You should get out of here before you get hurt."
"But I have to find Rainbow Dash!" Immovable spread her forehooves wide. "Have you seen her?"
Cloud pointed upwards, but the hoof quickly moved to the side, then down, and back up again. "She's busy."
Immovable looked where he was pointed at the moment and saw a hint of rainbow tail, just streaking out of view. There she was! "Thanks!" She flew away from Cloud and after the snatch of vision she'd been gifted with.
She didn't get far before she felt somepony tapping her on the back. She twisted around to see Rainbow Dash right there, looking at her like something was wrong. She looked... annoyed. "Um... hi?"
"Yeah, hi. Look, we're kind of in an emergency here." She waved to the side dramatically. "We can talk once I'm off-duty, or at least there isn't a huge class seven baring down on the town."
Immovable looked at the angry cloud, moving towards Ponyville. "I just want to--"
"--No time. If we don't stop this thing and get it back where it came from, a lot of ponies are going to end up in trouble." Rainbow Dash thrust a hoof back towards town. "Go wait and we can chat later."
Immovable was downcrest a moment, but then it came on her, revealed in a slow smile that became wider by the moment. "You need the cloud to stop, right?"
"Yeah?" Rainbow blinked at Immovable. "What's cooking up there?" She reached out and bonked Immovable twice on the head.
"It's my talent," she replied, moving to fly between the cloud and Ponyville. "Nothing can get past me, even stupid big storm clouds!" She spread her wings wide. "You stop right there! I am Immovable, and unless your name is Tiny Titan, you don't have a chance!" The cloud was unimpressed by her declaration, and advanced towards her. She strained her wings out wider, trying to stay aloft and somehow catch all of the cloud. "Stop..."
The cloud was starting to pass through her, flowing around her without care. She wasn't stopping it. But she had to! "Stop!" She shrieked as she backed up enough to be in its way again. She drew in a powerful breath, curling her wings in before throwing them out. "Stop!" Her shout seemed to echo through the cloud, and it crashed into her once more... but did not pass. She could feel it pushing, all of it. The entire cloud was surprisingly heavy when it was focused on her front, but it wasn't as hard a shove as Tiny Titan could deliver.
Immovable laughed. It started softly, but became a joyous, almost hysteric cackling as she stood her 'ground'(air?) against the cloud and kept it from advancing. "Yeah that's right! You ain't going nowhere until I say so!" She shouted at the unfeeling weather pattern.
Rainbow shook her head slowly. "Well, alright then. She's going to make this easy for us." She pointed and directed the other weather ponies and they attacked the pinned cloud. They got a great net over it and with the entire flight of pegasi attached, began the drag it towards the Everfree it had come from, away from any ponies it might harm with its unplanned lightning and storming.
Once the cloud started to withdraw from her, Immovable sagged. A new sharp pain flared at the joints of her wings. She had never stopped something so huge before, and it took it out of her. She squeaked in surprised dismay. Pain was not a thing she experienced very often, and it scared her to encounter it. She flew straight for the ground, half-crashing into the earth so she could curl her throbbing wings into view and hug them as if in apology, but more to make the aching stop.
Rainbow came to a land a few feet from Immovable. "Hey, great stuff up there. You shaved a few hours and maybe some damage off of the whole thing." She walked up towards the curled pegasus. "Tired? Is it hard stopping things?" She perked an ear. "I can't say I 'get' how that stuff works, but it did, so, hey, thanks." It was then she noticed Immovable wasn't responding to her words. "You alright?"
"It hurts," squeaked out Immovable, holding her wings as best she could.
Rainbow tilted her head. "Did you get hit with a lightning bolt? I hate when that happens."
Immovable shook her head quickly, then extended her left wing, carefully, towards Rainbow. "Inside."
"I ain't a doctor, but lemme see." She put a hoof to Immovable's wings and started patting them down as she moved in behind Immovable. "I've managed to bust my own no few times, so don't think I have no idea what it's like..." She touched a part that made Immovable squeal. "Ah yeah, that ain't right. But I've seen it before. Do you trust me?"
Immovable gave the barest nod. She wouldn't be a coward in front of Rainbow Dash, of all ponies. "G-go ahead."
"This will hurt, a lot," warned Rainbow just before she slammed a hoof down. Immovable blinked.
The pain just... stopped. "Wow, can you do that with the other ones?"
Rainbow tilted her head with confusion. "Last time I had someone pop a joint back into place, even I had to give a shout. That didn't hurt?"
Immovable shook her head. "It just stopped hurting when you did that. It was great! Please fix the other ones."
Rainbow gave a soft shrug. "Well alright, here we go." She went to each place the wing wasn't quite put together right and popped it back into place, banishing each point of agony one by one, until Immovable let out a sigh of sublime relief, her wings back to feeling normal. "There you go. Feel alright now?"
"Like new." Immovable spread her wings and gave them a few flaps, raising a few inches from the ground. "Thank you!" She pounced on Rainbow and hugged her tightly.
Rainbow laughed, returning the hug before pushing Immovable back. "That's enough of that. What did you want to talk about so bad you were looking for me in the middle of a rogue storm for?"
Immovable's ears perked up as she remembered her mission. "Oh right! They're throwing me a parade later."
"I heard something about that... very nice for you... getting a parade." Rainbow was trying her best to not sound jealous. She was not overly successful.
Immovable poked Rainbow in the chest. "I want you with me. You deserve a parade at least as much as I do, and Tiny Titan doesn't want one anyway. Will you be my wingmare?"
Rainbow gave a slow blink at that. "Hey, uh, thanks, but they're going to want to see the 'saviors of ponyville', which I am not, despite saving it like a bajillion times." Her eyes rolled dramatically. "They'll probably think I'm just butting in, and who likes that?"
Immovable wagged her forehooves about. "No! I want you there, please! You're a part of the team, the team that helps protect Ponyville. You've worked with Tiny Titan before, right?"
"Yeah?"
"And we just worked together to save it from a nasty cloud." She pointed where the cloud had been. "Come on! You're part of the team, really!" She leveled a hoof at Rainbow Dash's snout. "I hereby officially welcome you to Opposing Forces!"
Rainbow gave a slow blink before laughter rolled free of her. "You're too nice, really, but doesn't Pr--Tiny Titan get a vote in this? She's half the team."
Immovable jumped from left to right, hooves dancing. "I don't care. She said you could have the parade, she doesn't want it. Please!"
"As awesome as the offer is... why?" She sat up tall. "I mean, sure, anypony would be happy to have the Dash at their side, but you seem really worked up about it. What's going on?"
Immovable's dancing become nervous fidgeting almost instantly. "It's just... I mean..."
"Yeah?"
Immovable took a slow breath, barrel expanding before she let it out explosively. "Alright. Rainbow Dash, tell me straight. Am I a good pegasus?"
Rainbow's head cocked to the side. "Huh?" She reached out with a wing but stopped before touching Immovable. "What kinda question is that? You've been fighting monsters and bad guys already, right? How are you not good?"
"Not that kinda good!" Squeaked out Immovable before she cleared her throat. "I meant, as a pegasus, am I a... good example of a pegasus?"
Rainbow pointed a hoof at herself. "Well if you're comparing yourself to me, stop it. There's only one Rainbow Dash, and I got that position filled." Her cocky smile became a softer one. "But, failing that, yeah, you're just fine. You can fly, you helped manage the weather just now, and all of that? Doesn't even matter."
Immovable blinked at the words. "Doesn't matter?"
"Nope, not even one bit, and do you know why?"
Immovable shrank a little. "Because I'm slow?"
"Pfft, no." Rainbow leaned forward. "You have the best parts of being a pegasus. You go where you want to go, say what you want to say, and tackle life straight on. One of my favorite Pegasi, Scootaloo, can't even fly at all, but she has that, the important part." She beat her chest with a hoof. "Pegasus spirit. You got that. When life tells you to take a hike, you kick it in its dumb face."
A smile began to emerge from within Immovable. "You mean it?"
Rainbow rolled her eyes. "I'd be a terrible example of 'saying what you want' if I was just spouting things I didn't actually mean. Yeah, kid, you're alright. Nice job with the cloud too. So... a parade." Her wings fluttered. "If I'm joining, we better tell Pinkie. I expect some nice big rainbow-themed decorations."
Immovable giggled with expectant joy. She had a lot to celebrate.
Prickle was on her way home from school. She was getting good grades, and that made her and her mother happy. "Even if I'm a super pony, that's no excuse to not study," she said to herself, almost singing it as she trotted with a smile.
"Mail!" came the excited cry of a mailmare as Muffins landed in front of Prickle. She looked Prickle over. "Yup, it's for you." She reached into her saddlebag with her snout, rooting around before plucking free a large envelope. "Here you go!"
"Thanks," noted Prickle with some surprise. She didn't get mail often and she sat on her haunches to turn the envelope around in her hooves carefully. It wasn't addressed to her, exactly. Right there in big bold letters it said 'Tiny Titan'. She squeaked and hid it away. "Hey!"
Muffins tilted her head a moment before it seemed to click. "As a mailmare, it is my duty to know the address and identity of all the ponies in Ponyville." A smile split her wall-eyed face. "That letter belongs to you. Have a nice day!" She rose into the air on her wings and fluttered away on her route.
Prickle let out a sigh as she resumed her walk. It was becoming easier to name the ponies in town that didn't know her 'secret' than those that did. As if conjured by her thoughts, a pony that was one of the few unaware came trotting towards her.
"Hey, Prickle," called out Diamond as she approached. "I'm onto you."
Prickle blinked and flinched away. Not her, anypony but her!
Diamond flashed a wicked smile. "You're going to teach them a lesson."
Prickle deflated as confusion took the wind out of her sails. "Teach who what?"
"I figured it out, why you're not just using that freakish strength of yours." She sat on her haunches and pointed back at school. "You're studying because you want to show that earth ponies can do whatever they want, and I respect that." She cuffed Prickle on the shoulder roughly. "That takes real guts. I mean, you could just be using that freaky strength to get by, but noooo, here you are, trying to show you're more than that. That earth ponies are more than brute help." Her nose wrinkled. "I'll admit it, I was wrong about you."
Prickle's mouth worked without sound a moment. Part of her rejoiced to hear acceptance coming from Diamond's snout, but... But...
"Don't look that way." She rose to her hooves. "Look, we're in this together, as earth ponies. The world doesn't expect a lot from us, as a tribe, but we're both going to show them they are so very wrong." She gave a firm nod. "We're not gonna be lame farmers or builders." She waved towards Sweet Apple Acres as she mentioned the art of farming. "I'll be the brains of the outfit, but maybe I won't be alone. You keep on studying."
"Y-yeah," agreed Prickle without force or conviction, her eyes darting about. "I... want to be able to be whatever I want."
"Exactly!" roared Diamond. "I knew I got a bead on this." She laughed, almost hysterical as she shut her eyes and enjoyed her victory. "Silver Spoon'll lose that stupid look on her face when she sees I've figured it out." Suddenly, she trotted away, likely to confront Silver Spoon.
Prickle wobbled in place a moment before a little laugh forced its way free. She imagined Diamond proudly reporting her 'discovery' to Silver. The reaction... "Poor Diamond..." She blinked as she said it. Was she feeling sorry for Diamond Tiara? She put the thought out of her head and got herself home.
"Hello, my little hedgehog." Junebug put a hoof on Prickle's head, mussing her mane lightly. "Princess Twilight came by and dropped off a few things." She pointed to a basket on the table. "Seems there are some things to talk about, but I'll let you get comfortable before pouncing you about that. You should read it yourself first."
Prickle gave her mother a careful hug before sitting at the table to peer at the basket. Two bits of mail in one day? She was becoming popular... She pulled out the big envelope and set it beside the basket as if to compare the two a moment before she undid the clasp of the envelope, or tried. Clasps were not the easiest thing for hooves to get at. She got tired of wrestling with it and grabbed a corner in her teeth. With a wrench, the poor envelope tore in half, spilling its contents to the table.
"What's that?" asked Junebug as she sat beside her daughter.
"I don't know." Prickle let the emptied envelope fall to the table before starting to sift through what had fallen, sorting it out to three sheets of paper, two pins, and a smaller envelope. The pins showed what looked like almost painfully stereotypical superponies. One was an alicorn and had a subtitle of 'Leader' and the other was a pegasus and it said 'Sidekick'. "That's... odd. I don't think I need these..."
Junebug reached for one of the pins, turning it over in her hooves. "They're nicely made, but what are they for?"
Prickle shrugged and looked to the papers, hoping they would give a hint. They seemed to be an application, though most of it had already been filled out, there were plenty of spaces waiting for her to put information. The top claimed 'Super Pony Conference' and had a stylized icon much like the leader pin.
Junebug reared back a little. "I think you're being invited to... a sort of professional meeting. It seems your exploits have been noticed in the wider world."
There was only one final place for answers. Prickle tore open the smaller envelope and pulled out the letter, reading hungrily.
Esteemed Tiny Titan,
News of your impressive start of duty has reached our ears. We would like to formally invite you, and your sidekick, to our next conference. As you likely already know, knowledge of this is to be kept confidential. While some super ponies work under their public identity, many do not, so we must operate under the assumption that everyone's identity is safe here.
You may be wondering why you should come, so let us go over some of the benefits. At the conference, you'll get to meet established super ponies and exchange tips, methods, and stories. We'll have a host of panels about how to fight crime in an ever-evolving society and how to avoid backlash from the citizenry that may become intimidated by our presence.
We'll also have contests and games to practice your abilities and show off in a safe environment with other super ponies. No one will be scared of you here. This is a safe place. You'll also get a chance to meet some of the great non-super but super-servicing partners we've rounded up! Need to get a secret lair fast? Need a suit made for your unique branding and safety requirements? We have dozens of vendors eager to help heroes.
You may be worried about fees. Your first conference is entirely free, a gift from the super pony society to welcome an up and coming hero to our ranks. The pins you've received double as badges that will allow you entry into the event. They change yearly, so feel free to collect them as you continue fighting the good fight. Your sidekick, as mentioned, is entirely welcome to accompany you, but should not be told when or where the conference is before arriving. She will need to pass a few tests before she can be trusted with this information in future years.
Looking Forward to Meeting You, Crimson Streak
Junebug had been reading over Prickle's shoulder. "Who's Crimson Streak?" She asked quizzically. "Do you plan to go?" She pointed then at the back of the paper. "It's in Baltimare. That's quite a distance away."
Prickle turned the paper over to see the address, and the date listed. "There's a few weeks... I'll think about it."
Junebug suddenly hugged Prickle from behind. "If you want to go... I'll go with you."
Prickle warmed in her cheeks at her mother's kindness. "Thanks mom, but you're not a super pony."
Junebug raised a hoof. "I'll stay in the hotel and make myself busy around Baltimare while you enjoy the conference."
Prickle shook her head. "That's really nice, but if you're there, that'll make it really obvious who I am." She hopped up to plant a smooch on Junebug's cheek. "You're the best mom ever though!"
Junebug let out a little sigh even as she smiled. "And you're a wonderful daughter... If you go, be careful. And watch out for your friend. I know she's older than you, but you're the more mature pony. I don't want either of you getting into trouble."
Prickle bobbed her head, but her eyes were on the basket. She had one more bit of mail to take care of. As she reached for it, a hoof intercepted the motion.
"Do your homework first. You've had enough distractions today."
Prickle stuck out her tongue a little. She wanted to see what was waiting for her! Still, she capitulated to her mother's request and got out her homework, scribbling away busily. Her eyes darted to the basket over and over as she worked. The maddening urge to know what it contained built with every passing minute. When she finally slapped her notebook shut, she lunged for the basket with a triumphant cry. "All done!"
She buried her snout into the basket, rooting around. The first thing she noticed was bits. It had them! She pulled her head free, blinking. Curiosity building, she reached for the handle of the basket and tipped it over. Bits spilled out across the table, more than she had ever seen in one place before. "What is this?!"
Junebug pointed at the basket. "You should read the letter."
Another letter? Prickle reached up inside the basket and found the letter, pulling it free. It was more of a scroll than a letter, and she unfurled it to reveal crisp writing.
Salutations, Prickle Berry
Congratulations! I've submitted the forms for your pay as being a public servant and for fulfilling your cutie mark. Your line of work includes hazard pay, considering its dangerous nature. Due to your age, you are encouraged to finish your schooling, should you desire, and it will not diminish your scheduled payments. Once you are an adult, time taken away from your work will count against your stipend, so enjoy this opportunity and expand your mind.
Signed, Princess Twilight Sparkle
PS: This is Spike. I'm writing this for Twilight. I know she likes reading and everything, but nopony will be upset with you for taking a break once in awhile.
Prickle set the letter down and smiled. "Twilight is a nice princess."
Junebug nodded in agreement. "To think, she arrived a neurotic mess not that long ago. She's grown quite a bit since then, and so have you, little hedgehog." She kissed Prickle's cheek gently. "This comes with many... responsibilities and privileges."
Prickle pointed at the mass of bits. "Besides having money?"
"Well, there is that to start." She put a hoof on the pile. "I hope you trust me enough to play banker with this, to start. We'll get you an account at the real bank and start going over how to handle an income. It isn't as easy as I may make it look. A public servant... That's an honor in itself."
"Or is it?" Prickle smiled brightly. "I can't really tell anypony about it."
Junebug looked confused a moment before it struck her. "Oh! Yes... I suppose that's true... But there are many ponies right here in town who already know about you, and Tiny Titan. There's nothing stopping me from gushing about you with them. Besides, if you ask nicely, maybe they'll give you a 'public' title to use?"
That was a thought. Prickle wondered what that title would be, if she was given one. What would her fake job be? She flashed back to what Diamond was saying. If she pretended to be involved in construction, that would be a very easy story to swallow, but...
Immovable giggled as she hovered in the air, clopping her forehooves. "We get to go to a hero con?!" she exclaimed with a big smile on her face. "Oh wow, you're the best mentor ever." She landed lightly, wings folding. "I went from a supervillain to this? I can't even process this." She grabbed Prickle, hugging the costumed hero tightly. "You're the best!"
Prickle easily pushed her sidekick back a little. "I think they know what you used to be, so you're on a kind of probation." She shook her head. "But you're going to mind your manners and they'll see how good of a pony you've become."
Immovable tilted her head at that. "What makes you say that?"
Prickle tapped one hoof on the other as if counting. "Well, for one, they don't want me to tell you when or where it is, so you're going to have to just trust me."
"That's easy." She bobbed her head. "Is there a two?"
"Well, your application had some... questions."
"Like?"
Prickle gave a little laugh. "Let's put that aside. We should get to patrolling."
Immovable stuck out her tongue in defiance. "Oh fine, keep it a secret. What's with you and secrets? You won't even tell me who you are, I mean, besides Tiny Titan, and we're partners!" She spread her hooves wide. "Don't you trust me?!"
Prickle's ears pinned back. "Let's not make it about that. If I didn't believe in you, we wouldn't... Please."
Immovable took a long breath before she nodded. "Yeah, I get it. I guess I deserve that." Her sour expression brightened. "Maybe we'll find some bad pony in need of a lesson. Let's get to looking."
That Prickle could agree with, and their patrol began.
Prickle sat on her haunches in front of a skeptical Cheerilee. "An urgent family affair?" she asked, brow rising as she said it.
Nervously, Prickle rubbed one arm with a hoof. "I'm really sorry. If you give me the schoolwork, I'll do my best to keep up."
Cheerilee shook her head with the smallest sigh. "I would rather you were honest with me. If you feel you have to go, you should just say that... I'll have your work prepared for you, just be careful, mmm. Baltimare's a big city for such a small filly."
Prickle bobbed her head quickly. "I will! And I'll do my work, promise!" She bounced to her hooves. "You're the best teacher ever!"
Cheerilee leaned in with a knowing smile. "I'm the only teacher you've had."
"Still the best," argued Prickle.
"Oh, this reminds me." Cheerilee raised a hoof to her chin. "I'm glad to see you and Diamond have mended your fences. It's really nice to see my little ponies getting along and talking out their differences so maturely. I'm proud of both of you."
Prickle's cheeks warmed as the fished for a good response. "I... think... we're moving past... our past."
Cheerilee nodded. "And that's fantastic to see. Look, I know she can be a hoofull, but we are ponies. We need each other. It... just took her a while to really notice. So, if she says something thoughtless... give her a chance to make it up, is all I'm asking." She moved for her desk, walking lightly. "Have a good trip, whatever it is you're really doing over there."
Prickle, as Tiny Titan, and Immovable trotted up towards Twilight's castle. With a firm knock, the door swung inwards to reveal Spike.
"Hey, the superponies of Ponyville," he greeted with a smile. "How are ya doing?"
Prickle pointed past Spike. "We just wanted to make sure everyone knew we would be out of town for a little while."
Spike gave an emphatic thumbs up on both his claws. "Gotcha. You covered them, now it's their turn. Don't worry, nothing's on their radar, so everything should be fine, well..." He suddenly sighed, looking just a litttle downcast. "Except Rarity, that is. She got called away on some fashion show somewhere."
With a bright burst of light, Twilight appeared. "Tiny, Immovable, nice to see you both. What's this I hear?"
Immovable waved excitedly at the princess. "Hello Twilight! We're going to a--"
Prickle shoved a hoof in Immovable's snout. "We just have to go a few days. We'll be back."
Twilight's brow raised. "Is it educational?"
Prickle bobbed her head in easy agreement. "It sure will be! I'm really looking forward to that part, actually."
All tension faded from Twilight. "Then I hope you both have a great time. Oh, Immovable, I'm still working on your paperwork. You haven't had as many opportunities as Tiny Titan here to show your stuff, but that will change with time."
Immovable gave a huff at that, wings fidgeting. "I'm Tiny Titan's sidekick, and I do it well, right?" She looked to Titan for confirmation.
Prickle gave a little laugh. "Of course she does, that's why she's coming with me. Maybe we can both learn some things."
Spike snickered softly. "You two are a good team. Have fun!" He waved and Twilight soon joined them.
With partings out of the way, they got to trotting towards the train.
The sound of a wheels, small wheels, was the only hint of what was coming before Scootaloo skidded to a halt right in front of them. "Hey! Where are you two off to? Some super villain in need of a walloping? Can I watch?"
Immovable put a hoof to her chest. "Even better, we're--" She ducked under Prickle's incoming hoof. "Going to a superpony con!"
Prickle let out a groan, but Scootaloo looked far more interested. Her eyes went wide. "Wow... they really have those? Can I come? Can I come!" She bounced up and down off of her scooter, it falling to the side. "I'll be good, promise! Oh please!"
Giving her sidekick a glare, she noted, "This is why they didn't trust you. You can't keep a secret."
Immovable flinched back. "But... she's one of our biggest fans..."
Scootaloo zipped up into Prickle's face, snout to snout. "Please! I'll be so quiet you won't even know I'm there!"
Prickle took a few uneasy steps back. "I'm not... trying to say no, but they only gave me two pins, two, and you make three, and it's supposed to be a secret! I don't want to get kicked out before I even get in the door..." She could see Scootaloo's expression falling with a trembling lip and tears forming. "Oh please don't cry..."
"N-no, it's cool." Scootaloo wiped her face with an arm. "I understand..."
Prickle was far from the most observant pony ever, but even she had a good idea. "It's not cool." She frowned. "Scootaloo... You are my friend, one of my best... I don't want to leave you behind, really..."
Scootaloo waved it away. "Yeah yeah, I get it... it's not like you made up the rules. So, uh..." She glanced left and right and back at Prickle. "You'll tell me all about it, the not secret parts, right? And check if you can get me in next year!" She bounced back up, looking more chipper. "They haveta have something for #1 fans, right? Ask!" She gave a sudden giggle. "Rainbow's gotten me into a few secret places that way, seen the Wonderbolts practice for shows and stuff. Just ask, that's all I'm saying. If they say no, at least you tried."
Prickle nodded firmly at that. "I will! For sure. I owe you at least that much, if not more. You and the girls have helped me so much." She put out a hoof. Scootaloo got the prompt and stepped in and the two gave a warm hug to one another.
Immovable gave a loud 'aww' of an appraisal of the scene. "You two are just so nice together." She wrapped her forehooves around herself. "I hope I get a #1 fan like that..."
Scootaloo grinned up at Immovable. "You keep being awesome and you will. I mean, I'm a fan. Not a #1 fan, but a fan." She stepped back from Prickle. "I hope you two have a great time, alright? Go show those other super ponies how amazing you are!"
Immovable offered a hoof towards Scootaloo. "Keep an eye on me. I'll show my stuff."
The hoof was met with a loud clop. "You already are. Keep it up!" Scootaloo hopped back onto her scooter. "You two have fun!" With buzzing wings, she propelled away.
With no further interruptions, they resumed their journey. Immovable moved in close to Prickle. "Hey, uh, sorry."
Prickle looked up at her larger sidekick. "Mm?"
"For blurting out where we were going." Immovable glanced about as she went. "I shouldn't have done that."
"It's alr--"
"It isn't." Immovable moved around in front of Prickle and planted her mighty bottom on the ground. Her wings unfolded in her blocking stance. "I was wrong, and I need to accept that. I want you... everyone to trust me, so I should earn that."
Prickle tilted her head to the left, then the right, trying to see around Immovable, but the way was nicely blocked. "You still have it."
Immovable grinned. "Stopping ponies is my specialty, but I'm serious!"
Prickle offered a hoof out towards her sidekick. "Let's put this behind and focus on making this the best few days ever."
Immovable grinned hard enough that her cheeks squeaked from the pressure. "Let's, and if I... do anything stupid, you'll stop me, right?"
"What are mentors for?" Their hooves met with a clop and they strode side by side.
When they arrived at the ticket counter, the mare behind looked to Immovable expectantly. Immovable shook her head and reached down, plucking up Prickle to be in easier view.
Prickle gave a smile, cheeks warming. "Hello. Two to Baltimare please."
The mare tapped at her cheek lightly. "Oh... that's a distance away. Does your--"
Another pony that had been waiting behind the two gave out a sudden groan. "That's Tiny Titan and Immovable. They're a team, just give them the tickets already."
The countermare blinked. "Oh, I heard of you two, but I never saw you before." She took their bits and gave over two big tickets. "Have a nice trip."
The train arrived a short while later and they stepped up onto it. The journey was long enough that they had been assigned a cabin with cots to sleep on. Immovable gestured to the higher of the two bunks. "You can have the top one."
Prickle shook her head. "You can get up there easier. I'll take the bottom one. Not that we're sleeping now. I'm going to get something to drink." She turned towards the dining car, but paused. Immovable was looking hopeful about something. "What's wrong?"
"Um... how are you... affording a drink?"
Prickle blinked at that. "I have some bits?"
"Oh... I don't..."
Prickle smiled gently and waved forward. "Then we'll go together. No sidekick of mine is going to go thirsty while I can do something about it."
Immovable hopped forward, grabbing Prickle by the nape of her neck and hauling her off the ground in a spinning toss that ended with Prickle coming down on Immovable's back. "Onwards!" cried the excited pegasus and she got to trotting through the train. "Where'd you get bits from, anyway? Aren't you still in school?"
"Oh, yeah..." Prickle gave a sheepish smile. "But Twilight signed me up as an official guardian of Equestria, and that comes with some bits."
Immovable's ears swiveled back towards Prickle. "Wow... I hope they finish my paperwork soon. Is... Do they give a lot for that kind of thing."
Prickle hadn't actually counted all her bits. Her mother had made them vanish into a bank account and given her some for her trip. "Um... Enough, I think..."
"You have enough to cover us both?"
Prickle smiled from on top of Immovable. She pointed towards the bar. "So long as you let me pick what we get."
Arriving in Baltimare, they stepped from the crowded and bustling train station to find themselves among towering buildings on all sides, blotting out much of the sky. Prickle's eyes danced and her body was a little lower to the ground.
Immovable threw a leg over her smaller mentor. "First time in a real city? Don't let it intimidate you." A pony bumped into her, but she didn't move. The intruder in her personal space seemed to come out of their own thoughts with some confusion.
"Look where you're going, hon," spat out the mare as she realized she had not run into a pole, but a pegasus instead. "Some of us are walking." She moved past with a huff.
Immovable barely registered the event. "Ponies are always in a hurry in these places, but I learned to just go at my own pace. Forget 'em!"
Prickle reached up and poked her sidekick in the nose. "That is way easier for you to do. Nopony can move you no matter what they do. I don't want to be crashed into."
Immovable raised a hoof to her own chest, the other forehoof still on the other side of Prickle. "Well, it's a good thing you brought me along. It would be my distinct honor to be your shield."
Prickle felt a little smile coming along. "You know, that really does make me feel better." She hopped to her hooves and scampered around, then up, scaling Immovable to mount her as a proud winged steed. "Onwards! I have a hotel reservation for us... It should be... there'ish?" She pointed down the road.
Immovable rose and began walking along the sidewalk. "Roger! Do you have an address? What hotel is it?"
Prickle had not brought the address, and warmed in her cheeks as she thought how silly that mistake was. "It's the Lady Baltimare Hotel," she directed. She remembered that. It sounded like a nice place, and it wasn't too far from where the convention would be, which she still wasn't allowed to tell Immovable yet. "Maybe we should ask around?"
"Nah." Immovable trotted across the street. "That sounds boring. How about we cheat?"
"Cheat?"
Immovable's wings snapped out, catching a pony on either side and drawing dark glances. "Ta da!" With a flap, she ascended over most of the traffic and began to soar gently down the street. "Lady Baltimare..."
Prickle thrust out a hoof to the right, ahead of them. "I think I see it!"
It had a strip of lights running along a cement overhang, and golden doors. Golden doors? Prickle tilted her head a little. "How did I afford this?"
"With bits?" suggested Immovable as she banked to come in for a landing in front of the hotel. "How else?"
"I mentioned the 'secret discount code' and it was really affordable..." Prickle put a hoof to her cheek. "I didn't think it would be this nice looking."
"So they have gold doors, big deal." Immovable began walking towards them. "I bet the inside's boring. They're just putting on airs."
The interior looked old, the refined kind of old. Chandeliers hung above with tinkling crystal. Brass and solid metal were used for wall decorations. It was not, in the end, a palace of gold. Prickle let out a breath of relief, but Immovable just laughed. "How much do you want to bet those are just painted?"
Prickle blinked at the idea. "Oh... Yeah, I guess that's more likely..." She hopped down from Immovable. There were far less people inside the hotel than the traffic of the sidewalks. With purpose, she strode towards the front desk, but wavered as she came close to it. It wasn't golden encrusted everything, but it wasn't Ponyville either...
The stallion seated behind the counter smiled down at her. "Hello, little filly. Are you here with your mother?" His eyes lifted towards Immovable a moment. "No reason to be shy."
Prickle felt the hairs on her back lifting. "N-no! I mean..." A blush came on fierce. "She's my friend, not my mother. We have a reservation... please." Why had she said please? She felt silly.
The stallion's ears remained relaxed. An easy smile spread on his snout. "It's alright. My apologies for assuming. Please, welcome to the Lady Baltimare Hotel. We'll do our best to make your stay a comfortable one. Under what name is the reservation?"
Prickle went stiff as a board. She had put it under her own name, her normal one, and there she was, in her outfit, with Immovable. She had fouled the entire thing up! But... "Immovable, I'm thirsty. Can you get me a drink?" She pointed at a water pitcher across the lobby.
Immovable lifted her shoulders. "Sure. Get our key." She ambled towards the water, seeming more annoyed at the delay than anything else.
Prickle hopped up and grabbed the edge of the counter, dangling off. In a harsh whisper, she practically hissed at the stallion, "Look, I put it under the wrong name. It's under 'Prickle Berry', but change it to 'Tiny Titan' please! Quick!"
The stallion took it in stride. He pulled out a large reservation book and flipped through it before, with a glow of his horn, he casually removed the old name and placed in the new one. "Room 406, a fine suite." He floated a key over to rest on the countertop. "Would you like a second, for your companion?"
Prickle fell to the smooth stone floor. Was it that easy? "Oh, yes, please? If that isn't too much trouble."
"Of course, Lady Titan." Another key joined the first. "There is a matter of the deposit."
"Right." Prickle got to fishing out her bits when a wing tickled her cheek. She squeaked and looked up to see Immovable holding out a glass of water in the same wing. "Thanks!" She sagged a bit, the tension fading. She took the glass and set it down before counting out the deposit, with a few extra. "For your fantastic service."
The stallion slipped the bits away. "Thank you, ma'am. Enjoy your stay! Your room includes a free breakfast in the morning. It's quite good, don't miss it."
Immovable licked her lips. "That sounds great, but how about dinner?" She leaned in closer to Prickle. "And weren't you thirsty?"
Prickle grabbed the glass in her hooves fast enough that some water sloshed free. "I am!" she said perhaps a bit defensively before she chugged it down in hungry gulps. "Excuse me, sir, where do you suggest we go for dinner?"
The stallion gestured to the side. "We have a fully staffed, five star, dining hall right here. You don't ever have to leave the hotel for comfort and relaxation. Also included in your room, we have a training room, a pool, and a hot tub." He plucked up a small pamphlet and offered it towards them. "Here you are."
Immovable snatched the pamphlet with a wing. "Alright. Let's get some of that food."
They went to get some food. A waitress showed them to a table immediately and was very chipper and kind. It seemed like a fine place, until Prickle unfolded the menu and tilted her head to the left slowly. "Why are the menu items out of order?"
The waitress looked equally puzzled. "Out of order?"
"Yeah, see, you have ten, then six, and then twelve?" She turned the menu around for the waitress to see.
"Those are the prices," explained the mare with a bright smile.
"Oh..." Prickle set down the menu slowly. "Oh."
"So whatcha getting?" asked Immovable. "It all looks so good!"
Prickle stood up from her chair. "Thank you." She dipped her head at the waitress, hopped down, and began walking towards the door, her steps stiff and wobbling all at once.
Immovable came scrambling after her. "Hey, what's wrong? Didn't see anything you like?"
"Yeah, we'll go with that." She walked for the front door. "Let's eat like the locals."
"Oh, that sounds fun." Immovable followed after her mentor. "Now that's my irresistible force, going for something adventurous."
In the end, they found a small and humble local eatery to give their bits to. Bellies were filled and wallets were spared. As it turned, seafood was a big thing in Baltimare, and they got to try some of it.
Food eaten, their trip complete, both felt ready to crash. Immovable extended a wing. "Hop up, let's get to our room. Tomorrow's the big day!"
"Actually..." Prickle glanced around. "It isn't."
Immovable blinked softly. "Why are we here if it isn't starting?"
Prickle tapped her forehooves softly together. "They said to not tell you when it was, and if we arrived right when it started..."
Immovable's eyes made a mighty roll. "Alright, so tomorrow's just a big day off. We can--"
"If it involves spending money, no," Prickle crossed her arms and gave a firm nod.
"Or... we can..." Her eyes darted around, then she sagged. "Twilight needs to hurry up and get me on the books. I hate being poor..."
Prickle bounced up onto Immovable's back in a powerful leap and hugged her sidekick from above. "It's alright. We have each other."
"Yeah..." Immovable stood up and started walking with her passenger back to the hotel. "Yeah. This isn't so bad. I get a day of relaxing with my favorite mare." She perked an ear at an odd noise and realized Prickle had fallen asleep on her. With a near-silent giggle, Immovable made her way to their room. It was nice and spacious. It had two beds, so Immovable carefully set Prickle down on one of them.
That's when she considered Prickle's super outfit. "Does she sleep in that? Should I take it off?" She frowned softly. She wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed, but she was pretty sure stripping one's friends while they were sleeping would be considered rude in most places. "Better not blame me." She pulled up the covers over Prickle and tucked her in.
She walked over to the window/balcony of the suite and looked out over the dark street outside. Ponies were still on the sidewalk, but less than during the day. She had come from a city, but it wasn't her city. It was a new place. She could be a rock in the stream, letting it go past her. She had to... She pulled open the balcony door and slipped outside, closing it behind herself.
The wind running across her fur made her smile. She spread her wings a little to feel it more and try to forget her worries. "They'll trust me..." She let out a heavy sigh. "Eventually..." Why had she started a super villain? It seemed like a such a good idea at the time. She would be the immovable rock, unable to be moved or budged, standing in the way of progress and demanding to be noticed...
But they didn't notice her. They barely cared. They were annoyed, sure, but most eventually moved around her. Like... Like that rock in the stream. The water wasn't stopped, it just moved around. No matter how hard that rock tried to stop the water, it couldn't. It would go around...
A little quirk of a smile touched her face as she thought about helping Rainbow. She had stopped an entire cloud. She had... for that one lovely moment, stopped the river. Her wings flapped softly in the night air. "I can do it..." Her wings sagged a little. "I hope...
She shook her head and turned back to the hotel room. She slipped in past the door and closed it behind, sealing herself in the dark room. She could hear Prickle's soft breaths and smiled. She had Tiny Titan. She knew Tiny Titan cared for her, even if that trust wasn't quite there yet. She just had to earn that, by being an awesome sidekick, and a friend... How hard could that be?
Immovable slipped up onto the free bed and snuggled into the covers. The pillows were much softer than the rocks she typically used, and she faded from thought shortly afterwards.
Prickle and Immovable stood before a building. It was an unremarkable building. Red bricked and without any sign, except a street number, eluded most guesses at what it could be. Immovable reached over and tapped Prickle on her withers. "Are we in the right place?"
"This is the address," confirmed Prickle as she fished out their pins and held out Immovable's.
Immovable lifted it on a wing for a closer look. "Huh wow, it has a picture of me. That's nice of them. What's yours look like?" She leaned over to see the alicorn Prickle was affixing on her chest. "You're not a princess... Are there gonna be princesses here?"
"I don't know." Prickle shook herself out. "Let's find out." She approached the door and gave a feather-light tap.
"Um, a little harder than that?" suggested Immovable.
"I was being extra careful." She repeated, loud enough to be heard, but nothing came of it.
"Harder..."
Prickle huffed before bringing in her hoof with a loud bang that shook the door and rattled the area around them. The door swung open almost instantly, revealing a duo of ponies in outfits similar to their own.
"You won't break your way in here!" declared one of them, earth-pony mare.
"Not again," continued the stallion at her side, his horn glowing fiercely before it guttered out. "Hey, wait, isn't that Tiny Titan?"
"You know me?" Prickle sat on her haunches and put a hoof behind her head, cheeks warming. "I didn't think I was that popular."
Immovable's wings spread out. "Of course they know about Opposing Forces!" She struck a dramatic pose.
The mare tilted her head. "Opposing forces? Well, you have pins, so you're allowed in."
Prickle saw her partner deflate and stepped forward. "You heard something about my sidekick, right?"
The stallion pointed at Immovable. "You're on the probation list. Play nice."
Prickle winced, that was far from the recovery she had hoped for. "She's my sidekick! She's a good pony."
Immovable gave a little smile. "At least one pony thinks so. C'mon, let's see what's inside."
"Welcome!" both spoke in unison, moving out of the way for the two as they walked past.
Stairs led the way down shortly after entering, and then everything changed. It expanded out into a huge complex and the noise of many ponies talking greeted their ears. The floor shook faintly with the distant sounds of energetic explosions. As they descended, they could see all sorts of displays, super ponies showing off, and they knew they had arrived.
Immovable forgot the event above, peering over the railing as they descended. "It's... amazing."
Prickle wasn't sure yet which kind of amazing it was. "It's impressive." That much she could say easily. "Let's try to stay--" Immovable had vanished, taking off into the crowd as they hit the bottom. "--together..." Prickle sighed softly, then forced a smile. "Maybe she'll make some friends."
She decided to start exploring, roaming the busy hall of the convention.
"Hey, shortstuff!" came a loud female voice.
Prickle looked over to see another super mare that was as small as she was. "Always nice to see another pint-sized hero!" She clapped Prickle on the shoulder. "The name's Small Package. Get it, big things, small packages?" She laughed at her own joke. "What's your handle?"
"Tiny Titan," gave Prickle with an uncertain expression. "I'm not... short. I'm still growing."
Small blinked. "Oh, wait, how young are you?" Prickle gave her age. "Oh wow! You're fresh! Have you bested a significant villain yet? How'd you get in here without an adult?"
Prickle bristled a little. "I've taken on an entire dragon wing!" she hotly defended. "And a body switching unicorn, a manticore, some timber wolves, and a hydra!"
Small Packages held up her hooves. "Woah woah, sorry. There I go, complaining people judge me too fast and I shove a hoof right in my mouth. Nice job. Hydras can be tricky, but I want to hear about how you managed a bunch of dragons at the same time." She pointed towards a concession stand. "Tell me over a soda, my treat for being a jerk?"
Prickle felt a genuine smile emerging. "That sounds nice. So, you come to these a lot?"
"Fourth year," proclaimed Small with some pride, leading the way.
Perhaps it wouldn't be a bad visit.
Immovable saw exactly what she wanted. A great big booth advertised 'Can you handle it?' with pictures of ponies being comically squashed, zapped, and otherwise inconvenienced. There was a short line before it, which she skipped to go to one of the ponies that seemed to be operating the stand. "What is this?"
The slender earth-pony nodded at her. "Hello there. Oh, a sidekick? This may be too intense for you."
Immovable's nose wrinkled. "Tell me what it is first."
"Alrighty." He pointed to a stand where another pony already stood. "It's a contest, to see who can stand the punishment we deal out. Depending on how long and hard you last, you get a pin for it, like the one that got you in here."
Immovable clopped her hooves excitedly. "Sign me up!" Here was a contest she was sure she could handle. "Nothing can move me, it's in the name."
"What name might that be?" asked the worker as everything became light a moment. The pony behind them had just been zapped something awful, and flopped over. "Oops, looks like they're done. Give me a second." He trotted over to haul the downed hero away. "Next!" Up came a little unicorn mare with a big smile.
Immovable waited until the guard came back. "I'm Immovable, sidekick of Tiny Titan."
"Not from around here, I gather? No offense but I haven't heard of either of you."
Immovable pouted a little, but it was somehow better to be unknown with company. "We're from Ponyville. I mean, she is, but I work there now, uh, so can I try?"
He directed to the short line, which seemed to have grown shorter after the savage zapping of the last contestant. "Oh, I didn't mention, but the most stalwart hero gets an extra prize."
She had been sold on it already, but with the knowledge that there was a prize above and beyond an official 'I am tough' badge, Immovable took her place, grinning ear to ear.
Small nodded. "Secret identities can be tricky. I don't want ponies around me to get into trouble because of me, ya know?"
Prickle tilted her head a little. "That can happen?"
"What, why else would we have 'em? Super villains love going after your weak spot, and what's weaker than your not-so-heroic friends and family?" Small sipped from her cup through a straw in a loud slurp. "So it's better if they don't know who we are under the mask."
Prickle's mind danced with the visions of a pony that was little more than the outline of a pony, twirling their moustache, their only visible feature. They were busy tying her mother to some train tracks. She squeaked in horror at the mental image. "Oh no! I've... been really bad about my secret identity!"
Small rested the hoof that wasn't holding her drink on Prickle's closer shoulder. "We all make mistakes. Any villains know about you already?"
"No?" ventured Prickle in an uncertain voice. "But... lots of ponies around town... Hay, the mailmare delivered the invite to this place to me when I wasn't even disguised."
"Oh, that ain't too bad." Small set her cup aside, drained. "You got what's known as a 'public secret'."
Prickle's mouth moved a moment before words caught up. "If it's public, how is it secret?"
Small flashed a bright smile. "That's easy, because only people that like you know. It means you got a tight community. If someone did try to start trouble with them, they'd take action. Bad guys can't hide so easy. If you aren't going to go full secret, this is the next best thing. I mean, they do all like you, right?" Prickle nodded. "Then it's alright. Where'ya from?"
"Ponyville," squeaked out Prickle. "Why?"
"Ponyville? The Ponyville? Home of the newest princess that isn't still wearing a diaper? You don't have a problem." Small stood up. "You've got a perfect storm on your side. You're surrounded by heroes in a low-villain area. Any villain big enough to be a real issue is going to get all their attentions. Any villain that doesn't, you can probably handle. Now, see, some of us don't have that luxury. It's us against the bad guy on our own. Everyone else is too busy with their own fights to lend a hoof half the time. Now Ah ain't saying that makes you less or anything, just lucky. Enjoy it."
Prickle wondered about that a moment, but Small Packages was already rising to venture off with a wave. She returned the parting and looked around. There was so much to see.
Immovable sat down on the smooth panel. It felt like it was made of metal. She set herself securely. She could feel the world moving around her, but she was not moving. Nothing could move her. "Hit me with your best shot."
Pop! A ball of rubber came flying and bounced off the back of her head. "Was that the best you have? I barely felt it."
"Everyone has to work up to it," advised the worker. "We'll see how tough you are."
A thin blade protruded from her side. It reached out slowly and gave her a poke, but she was unimpressed. It was forced to slide along her rather than causing any harm, though it did cut her poor clothes in a little line. "Hey..."
"Costume repair is just over there." He pointed the way. "It may get worse before you're done."
The blade drew back, then swung in a wide arc. It broke on contact with her unyielding flesh, the freed tip flying and bouncing off an unseen field of force. Immovable made an overdone yawn. "Can we skip a few steps?"
"You qualify for a first degree rock, but let's see how you do against energy assaults."
Immovable tensed with worry. Bon Bon's words echoed in her thoughts.
She had been scowling at her. "Look, I'm not trying to inflate your ego, but you are, basically, invulnerable. Nothing can move you."
"Nothing can move me!" That much Immovable agreed with.
"And that includes little things. A fire is just a lot of little things trying to move you. Don't let them, and you won't be hurt."
"But fire doesn't push you..."
Bon Bon put a hoof to her face. "That's the problem. It makes just little bits of you move way too fast, and you get burnt. It's complicated, but you don't need to worry about that part. It wants to move you. Don't let it. Be still. That's what you do, right?"
"Don't let them," she whispered to herself as a mantra, repeating it as she saw a flame thrower raise from below. She swallowed thickly and forced a brave smile. "Yer... gonna need... a bigger one... than that..."
The workerpony shook his head. "We have to warm that up, it isn't the first. We start with lasers."
"Las--" Pew! A unicorn was pointing her horn at Immovable and a thin beam of magic jolted her on the side. That stung! "Ow! Hey, cut that out."
"Giving up?" asked the worker. "You can at any time. Passing out or stepping off the platform will also end the test."
Was the laser like fire? Immovable set her rump down on the ground and tried to become one with the world. She could not be moved. She would not be moved.
The laser came, and it stung, but it stung a little less than the first time. She hadn't moved.
"Each time will get stronger," advised the worker.
It was meant to be intimidating, but it made Immovable start grinning. That was stronger, but she had felt it less. She could do it. She would do it.
Prickle perked up, ears swiveling towards the sudden dull but deep thump that shook the floor. She wasn't the only one to look, but the sound that came after it had her moving through the crowd as quickly as she could. It had been Immovable's laughing, and it wasn't stopping. It only grew louder the closer Prickle managed to wriggle her way towards it through the dense crowd. She popped free just in time to see a massive metal piston come down and crush the still cackling sidekick flat, slapping against the metal base of the platform with a low clang.
With wide eyes, Prickle jumped forward, sailing over the dividing rope and a few ponies to land beside the piston. She could barely see. All she could focus on was that piston, and her crushed friend. "Immovable!" she squeaked out, her own voice sounding alien to herself in her deep panic. She grabbed the piston so hard her hooves sank into it on either side and she wrenched it upwards. It didn't move. She clenched her teeth. Someone was saying something, but she couldn't hear it over the pounding in her own ears.
She put more strength into it and it buckled, but seemed stuck. With a fiery grunt of determination, she planted her hind legs on the ground and gave it her everything. The machine broke. It was sent flying upwards, along with the arm that once held it, to crash against the roof above them.
Immovable was sitting right where she had been when it came down, entirely unharmed, and still laughing, through her noise faded when she saw Prickle. "TT! What's... wrong?"
Prickle fell back on her haunches. "But... you were squished!"
Immovable waved it away. "It tried. I made a nice Immovable shaped hole in it. Nothing can move me!"
What went up tended to come down, and the broken machinery was no exception. It fell right back down towards Prickle and Immovable. Immovable extended a wing over her mentor just before it struck. Everything went dark.
The worker of the stand let out a weary sigh. "Well... that concludes that contest. Someone give me a hoof getting them out of there?" Fortunately, he happened to be at a collecting place of ponies capable and willing to do just that. Several super ponies stepped up and began tossing aside debris, working their way down to the pinned ponies underneath.
A slender unicorn grabbed the main body of the piston in her magic and it vanished, reappearing to the side where it wouldn't directly trouble anyone. She smiled, seeing Immovable and Prickle. Both seemed intact, with Immovable shielding Prickle. "An explosive performance," she said in a complimenting tone. "However, there are rules about trashing the displays."
Prickle had the decency to look properly shamed, eyes going downcast. "I'm sorry... It's just... my sidekick..."
The worker of the stand approached with a smile. "--already trashed things by not being trashed. She is the undisputed winner!" He pulled out a trophy that had what looked like a big weight on top. Arrows, shurikens magic bolts pounded against the weight, but it was unharmed. "Congratulations! You are hereby confirmed to be a Class S invulnerable."
The crowd erupted into clops of congratulations, even as some whispers spread rapidly, wondering who Immovable was.
Immovable accepted the trophy with shaking wings. "I... thank you... What does that mean? You know, the Class S thing." She pulled the trophy in close, cradling it like her foal. "I never won a trophy before..."
Prickle looked over to the stand worker. "So... you're not mad?"
He shrugged softly. "It wouldn't be the first year... I'll be reporting it to the boss and she'll go wild trying to make that not happen again. Oh, right, I did promise a pin." Out came a pin that looked quite similar to the top of the trophy. 'Class S' it read along the bottom.
Immovable giggled with joy as she took it and quickly had it next to her sidekick pin.
Prickle shook her head. "Can you get Rank S without also winning?"
"It's happened before, but not this year." He pointed to the destroyed piston. "If they can make it up to that but opt out of being smooshed, they get the pin. Mighty intimidating. I've seen heroes wimp out at the last moment as it got closer and closer." His eyes fell on Immovable. "Not you though. Do you just not get scared?"
"What?" Immovable's nose wrinkled. "I get scared plenty, but not here. You kept trying to move me, and nothing makes me move unless I let it, or they're Tiny Titan. She can move me any time."
A chorus of 'awws' emerged from the still present crowd, though it was starting to break up.
Prickle rubbed one of her warm cheeks. "Congratulations. Let's... check out the vendor hall."
Immovable's ears perked right up. "I thought we had that whole budget thing?"
Prickle smiled, eyes closing. "Of course. I budgeted for the dealer room."
Immovable clopped her hooves. "You are the best!" She tucked away her beloved trophy and stood up. "Lead the way." As they left, she nodded at the worker. "Thanks for everything!"
Together, they weaved through the crowd and emerged into the dealer den. Ponies were in thick abundance. There was less boisterous showing off than there had been in the display hall, and more ponies peddling their wares.
"What a fabulous outfit you have there, darling," came a familiar voice.
Prickle turned quickly to see a costumed unicorn mare smiling at her. Immovable suddenly stepped forward. "Oh wow, Radiance! I thought you were, you know, just a comic book character."
Radiance waved a hoof at the very idea. "Oh please, darling. That's just to keep the bad people off their guard." She flipped her bejeweled mane gently and fluttered her long lashes. "Just the way that a tastefully produced outfit can do in the thick of battle. I see your mentor has already enjoyed my services, but what about you?"
It all came together nicely for Prickle. She almost said it out loud, but swallowed it down at the last moment. "R-Radiance, yes, so glad to see you again." She forced a smile. "I... have so many questions."
Radiance pat Prickle on the head lightly. "They will have to wait, cherished client. Your sidekick is criminally underdressed." She looked Immovable up and down. "I mean, really, what look are you going for? It doesn't speak to me."
Immovable shuffled on her hooves nervously. "I like how I look..."
Radiance reached out and flipped a shredded portion of Immovable's outfit, then traced a burnt patch. "It's seen better days, dear. You need an outfit that's as tough as you are!" She leaned in close to Immovable, whispering to her, "Keep some bits saved and we'll update that outfit of yours." Her eyes snapped to Prickle. "How are you enjoying the show?"
"It's great, and a little overwhelming." Prickle smiled nervously. "I thought we'd check this..." She did a slow turn around the room. "There's so much to look at everywhere."
"Speaking of that." Radiance's horn glowed as a schedule book appeared. "There's a panel starting in about an hour you two will want to see." The book flipped open and the targeted panel glowed softly. "Just for newcomers to the heroism field."
Prickle tilted her head at it. "So you wanna catch a bad pony... But I have caught a bad pony before..."
Radiance waved away the objection. "Pffaw, don't get too worked up about the name. It's for ponies who are not veterans, which you are not, darling, as lovely as you are."
Immovable tapped at Prickle's shoulder. "I'm still new. Maybe they'll show me something good? Oh! Anything about teamwork? I wanna be the best sidekick ever!"
Prickle smiled at Immovable's eagerness. "We'll go. But before that, let's finish having a look around."
Radiance waved as they parted.
The lights went out with a low clang. Immovable suddenly grabbed Prickle close in the darkness. There were voices of concern, but nobody seemed to be panicked about it.
A voice emerged, seeming to have no single source, "Supposed guardians of Equestria! You have sought to consolidate your misbegotten--"
"--Not again," sighed out an unseen stallion.
"--and this time will be different!"
A new voice spoke up a female on an intercom. "You know the drill, ponies. Let's kick this annoyance to the curb."
Several ponies banished the dark with glowing horns, revealing spectres reaching with clawed talons. One of the heroes burst into flames, another jumped into the air as bits of armor flew in to clad them entirely in a technological shell. The fight was on.
Immovable kept her wings around Prickle. "Are we supposed to be part of this?" she asked over the sounds of battle. "Does not moving even work on ghosts?!"
Prickle winced as a ball of electricity lit the room a moment. "I think we... should, if we can avoid being in the way. Besides." She smiled at her sidekick. "Here's your chance to prove yourself."
Immovable's wings snapped back. "That's right!" She noticed she had dropped Prickle and squeaked. "Sorry, boss! C'mon, let's show them who's really in charge around here!"
Prickle picked herself up from the ground and bounced up, landing on Immovable's back. "I'm ready!"
Immovable launched herself into the air, just for a spectre to phase in from nothing directly in front of her. "Foolish pony," it rasped as if dead and dry for centuries.
Prickle reached over Immovable and swung at the incoming talon with a hoof with all her might. It was like punching a cloud and she passed right through it. Where the talon touched her hoof and arm went cold and stung terribly. "Ow!" she declared inarticulately.
Immovable swerved away from the cold beast. "What happened? Why didn't you wallop it?"
"I tried!" sweaked Prickle. "It's like a really cold cloud."
A cloud? "Punch it anyway! Punch it with... Punch it like it hurt your mom!"
Prickle cringed at the idea of her precious mother being stalked by one of those spectres.
"They will," reminded Immovable. "They'll chase all your friends and hurt them if we don't show them what's up first."
That was not something Prickle wanted, not at all. "Let's try again... I have to hit it..."
"Have to," agreed Immovable with a grin. "And you will." She came in for a dive at a spectre that was harassing Radiance. "There's one now, bothering a friend."
Prickle could see that Radiance, despite being a superhero (?) was mostly running in panicked circles, trying to not be touched. She couldn't let Sweetie's sister be hurt. She just couldn't! She jumped right off of Immovable. She came in at the spectre like a meteor, screaming the entire way. Despite her volume, the furious din of the battle-engulfed convention did well to hide her approach.
She clasped her hooves together and brought them down in a haymaker, still screaming. She had to! She collided with the spectre and fell through it, making a great crater where she landed and feeling cold everywhere, cold as death itself.
The spectre laughed at her feeble attempt. "Pathetic. You will join us." It reached out for Prickle with purposeful slowness, laughing as the small filly's ears pinned back on her head. "It won't hurt... It's too cold for that."
Immovable came swooping in. Clutched in her hooves was a large tarp. She dropped it over the spectre and both of them fell to the ground in front of Prickle. "Huh, that actually worked. One Flim Flam Extra Dimensional net! Hit it!"
Hit it? Oh! Prickle suddenly smiled as she stalked towards the thrashing lump under the tarp. "This is what you get!" She drove down a hoof against the lump. The entire tarp rippled as the lump vanished.
Radiance approached with a loud sigh. "I think you got it. Very nice, darling." She waved up at Immovable. "Take this net and help the others!"
In the end, the only ones that made a profit were Flim and Flam. They were smiling ear to ear, vindicated. "And they thought they were fakes." Flim gave a cackle.
Flam joined in. "Fortune conspired with us today!"
"Our one hundred percent--"
"--Maximally effective--"
"--One of a kind product saved the day."
Flam nodded. "Now there's just a little matter of payment."
A super pony, large and with muscles on their muscles, snorted softly at the both of them. "We just saved you."
Both shrugged in unison. "No returns," they spoke in unison.
A mare adjusting her glasses trotted towards them. On her chest was a pin that identified her as convention staff.
Prickle held out a hoof and Immovable's clopped against it. "Nice job. If you didn't get those, we mighta been in trouble."
Immovable beamed proudly. "I saw it across the way before everything went dark. I thought it was kinda funny. I mean, 'ghost blankets'? But bam, suddenly useful!"
Prickle shook herself free of the chills that tried to haunt her. "Glad you did. Now, about shopping..."
Immovable bounced in place. "Can we? Please!"
With peace restored, ponies were returning to their stalls and shopping was resuming all over. It seemed a little bad pony activity wasn't going to stop the heroes for long.
As they browsed the wares, Prickle's eyes never rested on any one thing for long. "Being strong isn't the end of the problem..."
Immovable tilted her head at that. "That's why we're a team. Sitting still isn't the end of the problem either."
Another pony put a hoof to the strange visor on their head. "Energy beams don't solve everything."
Immovable pointed at them. "See, none of us can fix it all."
Prickle nodded a little. "Yeah... I guess that's true. Hay, do you see anything you like?"
"Everything!" Immovable stepped up and put a hoof on a strange fuzzy ball. "What's this do?"
The young stallion behind the stall smiled at Immovable. "Well, hello there! That's a stress ball, designed to be tough enough for a superpony's unique demands. Squeeze it, burn it, freeze it, it'll bounce back for more!"
Immovable picked it up slowly, looking at the stallion. He nodded and she plucked it up the rest of the way. She tossed it from hoof to hoof, then wing to wing. "It feels great. Check this out." She thrust a wing and the fuzzy object towards Prickle. "See if it really measures up."
Prickle accepted it with an uncertain hoof. "I don't want to break it."
"Oh don't worry about that," said the stallion confidently, standing as tall as he could. "Give it your best shot."
Prickle paused a moment before she nodded. "If you insist." She let it roll around on a hoof. It did feel nice. She brought in her other hoof and gave it a timid squeeze, but it barely compressed.
"You'll have to squeeze harder than that, you're holding back. How are you going to work out your stress?" argued the businesspony with a smile.
She pressed a little harder, then a little more. She slowly brought her hooves closer and closer together. She was straining, not from the effort of squeezing, but from holding herself back right in the middle. It wasn't giving in.
Immovable slapped her on the back with a wing. "Stop holding back. He said give it your all!"
Prickle's hooves slapped together with a clop that was met almost instantly with a momentarily deafening bang. Bits of the stress ball rained down across all three as the businesspony's face fell.
"But..." was all the shocked businesspony could get out.
She dropped what little she was still holding, ears dropped to either side. "I'm so sorry! You said..."
"It's... alright..." He sank to his haunches. "I guess I still have work to do... Have you signed up for the Atlas competition? You'd be a shoe-in."
That caught Immovable's attention. She saw a pony walking past with a convention schedule. "Can I borrow that?" Secured, she flipped through it quickly in her wings. "Here it is. Atlas. It's in just an hour, what timing! A strength competition. You'll smash everyone!"
That was exactly what Prickle did not want to do. She gave a little laugh. "I'll think about it."
Immovable passed the schedule back with a wing as she frowned at Prickle. "You're being a big fibber! Why not?"
"Hey, look at these," said Prickle, already on the next stand.
Immovable stepped over to peer at the staggering collection of pins. "They're nice, but not as cool as a strength competition. C'mon! I proved I was good at not moving, why won't you show your awesome power?" She put a hoof to her chest where her own pin of invulnerability was proudly displayed. "Don't you want to show the world?!"
"No!" burst out Prickle in a strangled shout. Her ears dropped and she shrank, looking around to see who noticed her outburst.
A soft wing draped over Prickle as Immovable moved in closer. "Hey, relax... I won't force you. Besides, you're the boss... I just think it's a waste... Besides, bet they have really cool prizes."
That reminded Prickle. "Did you win something, besides the pin?"
"Oh yeah!" Immovable reached into a pocket and drew out a slip of paper. "I can't use it here, but I did win it."
Prickle leaned in closer and saw it was a gift certificate for the Ponyville Day Spa. "How... did you get that? Were they from Ponyville?"
"Nope! They asked me where I lived though and made it up on the spot. They said 'Since you obviously only move when you want to, have a day where professionals give you exactly what you want.'" Immovable clapped her hooves together. "I never went to a spa before, but look." She deftly flicked the paper, revealing there were two of them. "You're coming with me!"
Prickle's tension ebbed away. "That sounds nice. It's something to look forward to when we get back home."
"Sure, but there's still a contest waiting for us." She thrust a wing at a nearby clock. "C'mon... please? What's the worst that could happen?"
"Everypony stares..." Prickle shuffled on her hooves. "I know you like that... but I don't..."
Immovable lifted Prickle from the ground. "I'll be there, rooting you on. You're a tough little filly. This is just another monster, and what do we do with monsters?"
"Kick them in the face?" offered Prickle with uncertainty, an ear lifting.
"Exactly!" Immovable set Prickle back down. "Let's go kick that monster in the face."
Prickle let out a little laugh at that. "I'm not sure they'd appreciate that..." Glancing left and right and back at Immovable. "I'll... try. I bet I'm not even that strong anyway..."
Immovable reached for a dangling bit of stress ball and plucked it off Prickle. "You keep telling yourself that if it gets you moving. You're Tiny Titan. Show off a little. Nopony will be mad at you, promise."
"Promise?" asked Prickle in a small voice."
Immovable squeezed her close with a wing. "Ultra mega promise! Now let's get you signed up."
Together they left the vendor hall and trotted towards the 'Olympus Room' where the event was scheduled. On approaching it, they saw a line already formed. Prickle looked left and right along it. "Do we have to wait to sign up?"
One of those standing in the line looked over at Prickle. "That depends. Are you watching or participating? This is for watching. I have a partner participating."
Immovable folded a wing across her front. "I have a partner participating too! Here she is." Those wings came in to lift Prickle, but Prickle danced away. "Where do we have to go to sign up?"
"Titan!" came an enthusiastic voice. It was Small Package, trotting towards them. "Are you joining? This is great! I want to see what you have."
Prickle's ears pinned against her head. "Oh, uh, I guess?"
"Great, C'mon!" She had to hop up to get a leg over Prickle, being even shorter than the filly. "Win or lose, it'll be nice to compete against someone closer to my field of view. Not that I plan to lose."
Immovable watched them walk off and looked over at the other sidekick. She knew they were one, as they were wearing a sidekick pin just like the one she wore. "So, your boss is in the competition?"
"It's a sidekick's life," she said good naturedly, and let Immovable slip in with her on the line.
Prickle found herself in front of a pony she knew. It was Bulk Biceps. "You're a super pony?"
"I wear many hats!" he declared proudly. "I'm just assisting." He thrust a clipboard towards Prickle. "Please fill this out."
Prickle looked it over as she turned away from Bulk Biceps, glad that he didn't recognize her, or maybe he just didn't say anything? She couldn't be sure. The form wasn't asking a lot about her. It was mostly a disclaimer. "Is this dangerous?"
Small Package snorted. "Only if you're bad at it. You'll be fine! This is just to cover their rumps. I mean, we are super ponies, things happen."
"I guess..." Prickle took the provided pen in her mouth and scribbled her name in the few places that called for it. "Here you go."
Bulk accepted the clipboard back. "Yeah! Your name will be called when it's your turn."
Small nudged Prickle along. "Let's meet the competition. All of them are big brutes that think size is everything. We'll show 'em wrong, right?"
"Right..." Prickle stepped forward with less confidence as they slipped behind some curtains.
There appeared to be about a dozen ponies ready to enter the competition. They were all adults and most were larger than average. A mare looked up when they entered and she gasped. "Awww, look at this adorable little one." She hurried up to Prickle. "You must be lost. This is where the strong ponies go. We don't want you getting hurt."
There was no malice in her voice, which made Prickle all the more annoyed. "I'm here to compete," she muttered, barely audible.
Small thrust a hoof up at the mare. "Quit yer motherin', even if it comes natural to you, Big Momma. This here is Tiny Titan, and she'll clean all your clocks but good!"
A stallion with a green laurel on his head laughed at the idea, laurel bouncing with each deep noise his lungs made. "Her? It's bad enough you think you can match us, Small Package. At least you're.... full grown." He snorted as he said it.
"Finished growing at least," amended another mare beside him. "Run your mouth all you want. You'll be squashed flat in the second round at the latest, maybe the first, if they don't put you against the newbie."
Big Momma spun on them. "You stop picking on them! I will not tolerate bullying, especially not here! We're super heroes, for Celestia's sake, let's act like it." She clopped the ground and turned up her nose.
They muttered something of an apology in the withering gaze of the powerful mare.
A scrawnier stallion approached. "Hello, Tiny Titan. It's always nice to meet a peer." He held out a hoof towards her. "I'm Fulcrum Shift. I may not... look very strong either, so I know how you feel, but it's about how you exert your strength, not how much you have that will matter in the end."
Prickle brought in a hoof to meet it but slowed at the last moment and barely tapped him, afraid to cause harm. "Nice to meet you, Fulcrum." He struck her as a nice pony, just as she amended Big Momma to be alright, if mothering, as was her schtick. "I look forward to seeing how you do. Let's have fun."
Big Momma's smile returned brightly. "See, she has the right idea. Let's enjoy ourselves and show what we can do. If we want to be aggressive, there are plenty of bad ponies out there waiting for us."
"Big Momma!" came Bulk's voice in a shout from around a corner.
Momma rose up to her feet. "It's time to show them the power of motherhood." Confident, she strode from the room.
On the live stage, she nodded to the cheering crowd. "Have no fear, Big Momma is here to take care of things."
A mare already stood there on the stage, a tall and thin mare, Fleur dis Lee. Around her was a strange looking obstacle course. "And here's Big Momma! Sure to be a treat. Let's see how she makes it. You know the rules, mom?" She giggled softly as if amused at her own words. "Oh, look at me. Let's get right to explaining, since it is different from last year, I'm told. This is my first, so do forgive."
Big Momma stepped up with broad steps. "Have no fear. We're all here in good spirits. Tell me how this will proceed."
In the crowd, Immovable stuck out her tongue. "When are they gonna get to the good stuff?"
"Good stuff?" asked a stallion beside her. "That's Big Momma! She wins most of these. Kinda surprised they have her going first."
"She that good?" Immovable squinted at the large mare. "She doesn't look so bad. Tiny Titan'll show her!"
"Who?"
Prickle sat beside Small, tapping her hooves together quietly as her eyes roamed the large waiting room. "So..."
The pony with the laurel sat up. "Nervous? Don't blame you, little filly. How old are you anyway?"
Small bounced up to her hooves. "Old enough to teach you a thing or two!" Her hackles were up and she gave a little growl at the much larger stallion.
Prickle put a hoof behind her head as the other went to the ground. "I don't even know your name."
"Oh, right." He nodded. "The name's Rolling Thunder." He rose up to two hooves and crashed his hooves together with the sound of a striking lightning bolt. "Villains don't even stand a chance when I get serious."
Prickle sat up, all her hooves on the ground. "Oh, hello Rolling. I'm Tiny Titan." She raised one and offered it towards him. "Let's have a good time?"
He snorted at that and took several large steps to devour the distance between them. He thrust his hoof forward hard enough to knock her arm back. "Yeah, let's. You sure you're cut out for this, filly?"
Prickle took a slow breath, trying to calm herself with limited success. "Want to try the other way around?"
He held out a hoof. "Oh sure," he said, not a hint of worry in his voice.
Prickle gave him a hoofbump. She did not hold back. With a an uncanny ease, she thrust her hoof forward to meet his, and he stopped being there. He was suddenly flying backwards, hurtling in flips mid-air before he came to a crashing rest against the far wall. The wall crumbled under the impact, leaving him buried in a pile of rubble from the hole that quickly formed.
Even as he worked on getting his senses back, Small burst into bouts of laughter. "Oh, oh wow! That was... Dang filly!" She threw a leg over Prickle's withers. "Are you gonna steal the show? Shoot, that was fantastic! They quadruple reinforced the walls for the con, you know."
Prickle's ears flattened. "I don't want to mess things up."
"Pfft, you messed him up. Good, he deserved it, show off." Small rolled her eyes. "As for the show, you go on and steal everything. Show the world smaller can be better. If I have to lose, losing to someone about my size I can deal with."
Rolling got to his hooves, rebuking the help of the others and snorting with a deep scowl. "You did that on purpose!"
Prickle rubbed the sore spot from the unexpectedly strong hoofbump she had received first. "I just returned the favor. I... assume fighting is against the rules?"
Small bobbed her head. "It is, so cut it out. You both had your fun, save it for the contest."
Big Momma strode off the stage to excited cheering. Fleur looked to a clipboard she was hovering. "It seems the next contestant is a new one. Tiny Titan, hero of Ponyville!"
The cheering was more subdued than it had been for Big Momma, but an applause of clopping hooves and stomps on the ground it remained. Prickle strode out into it, her face burning. She was busy wondering why she had agreed to the contest, to being at the focal point of all those strangers staring at her, judging. Her steps were awkward and shaking as she went.
Fleur reached out a hoof. "Nothing to be afraid of. This is a contest of strength, not durability. The first part is the simplest." She gestured to what appeared to be a simple barbell. "Lift it as many times as you can. Each time you get it over your head and down, it will get heavier. You get more points for how many times you can do it. If you have to drop it, drop it, but that will be the last lift counted."
Prickle smiled a little. Lifting a barbell didn't seem that intimidating. "Alright." She sat beside the barbell, looking it over a moment before she reached out and slipped a hoof under its bar and lifted it. It was very light. Maybe a pillow? She snorted softly and easily raised her hoof up and down before touching it to the ground and immediately lifting it again. It still felt light, so she did it again, and again, and again. "Is it working?"
Her hoof could move up and down without a problem. She could feel some resistance, but it wasn't that bad. "I don't want to cheat if it's broken."
Fleur perked an ear and her horn began to glow as did the barbell. She tried to pull it from Prickle's hoof and her eyes went wide immediately as she failed to budge it. "Dear, darling... That feels as heavy as a house."
"Oh." Prickle's blush came back fiercely.
Immovable bounced up from her seat. "That's my irresistible force! They'll have to get two of those things for you!" she shouted eagerly across the crowd.
Prickle gave a nervous laugh as she kept pumping her hoof.
Fleur tilted her head. "It doubles every time you do that... You don't feel it at all?"
"I do now..." It was a weight she could at least consider. It was on the level of the schoolhouse on the next pump, then it scaled higher, and higher. It reached the level she had felt when she had tossed the entire dragon aside, and kept scaling.
Fleur put a shaking hoof on Prickle's shoulder even as she kept lifting and lifting. "Please, stop... We don't want the floor to give out under you."
It was only at that point that Prickle noticed she was sinking into the cement under the weight of the barbell she was so casually pumping. "But, I could..."
"You'll get the maximum points for this part, promise." She gently tapped Prickle on the shoulder. "Set it down, gently."
The crowd erupted into confused cheering. That had not happened before. All eyes were on Prickle as she slowly set it down and it began to sink into the floor before whatever magic it used faded away when Prickle stopped touching it.
Fleur nodded. "Very good, Tiny, very good indeed. Absolutely perfect for this step, but that was only the first. The next involves a little dexterity." She strode on her long legs to the start of the course Prickle had seen but ignored before. "In each part of the course, you have to move the weight to the end." She pointed to a large target. "Get it right in the center, then move on. If you damage the weight or anything else, you lose points. What use is strength if you have no finesse?"
Prickle stepped up to the starting line. "Do I start now?"
"When I fire this." She held aloft a gun. "Ready?" Prickle nodded. The gun went off with a pop, a small bit of confetti spilling out as Prickle surged forward.
The first weight was a large metal crate. Prickle plucked it up and held it with one hoof as the other three pumped to get her forward. She hopped over a few stands easily in energetic bounces and came down on the target. She put the crate down right in the center and dashed forward to the next. The next 'weight' was no weight at all! It was a fragile little egg.
Prickle blinked at it.
Fleur pointed at a clock. "Time is ticking, Titan. Get it to the target and don't damage it."
Prickle snatched it up and tucked it into the braids of her mane, letting it rest there like a nest. While the weight was no trouble, the course itself had huge swinging bits of metal that looked like they were meant to knock a foolish hero right off their hooves and dash the egg in the process. She scooted past the first one just as it went past, ducked under the second, but found the third was coming straight for her, larger than the other two.
She squeaked and punched at it with a hoof. The pendulum quickly stopped its approach and flew across the stunned crowd. Fleur shook her head. "That'll be points off."
Prickle clenched her teeth. Smashing the obstacles wouldn't help, but... She stepped forward and caught the next swinging weight, pressing hard enough to arrest its movement but not hurt it. She arrived at the end and gently set the egg down, letting out a little breath.
Each puzzle became trickier in how she had to exert her strength to make it through. She walked narrow beams as the walls on either side of her tried to shove her free and she had to shove them back, but not too hard. She dangled by a rope by her teeth and controlled her motion with the wriggling of her body to direct herself to the target. By the time that step of the contest was over, she was heaving for breath. "Is that... all of it?"
Fleur waved the idea away. "Heaven forfend. There are many kinds of strength. Though the course allowed us to measure several at once, there are still others waiting to be measured. And don't get yourself too tired, endurance comes last. It's time to measure explosive strength." Other ponies wheeled out what looked like a big padded target on wheels. "All you have to do is hit it as hard as you can, and we'll measure how hard you did so."
Prickle tilted her head left and right. That seemed straight forward... "Do I lose points if I hurt it?"
Fleur flipped through the papers on her clipboard as if checking. "No, but this is the toughest we could manage. It should stand up to a single kick. Big Momma already gave it a proper wallop."
Prickle imagined the big maternal mare smashing it. If she could do it, maybe Prickle could let loose? She spun around, aiming her rump at it. "Ready!"
"Go ahead dear."
The crowd had fallen into a hush, all eyes on Prickle. Her back legs snapped out as she lifted up onto her forelegs, driving her legs into the machine. Her legs never slowed. She stood balancing a moment before she came back to all fours. Had she missed? She looked over her shoulder to see the machine had sheared off cleanly where she had hit it, simply breaking in two, the upper portion then resting on the ground, broken and destroyed.
Fleur blinked softly. "That will be difficult to measure... What was this machine rated for?" She wandered towards the edge of the stage to talk with some engineers about it.
The crowd stared with confusion for several quiet moments, only the murmuring of Fleur and the technicians heard before Immovable started stomping the ground. "Tiny Titan, Tiny Titan, Tiny Titan!" She called in a chant. The crowd was shaken free from its stupor and began falling in line, soon all of them were joining the chant.
Fleur addressed the crowd with an uneasy smile. "While we get another machine from storage, a review of the event shows no hint of malfeasance." Her eyes fell to Tiny Titan. "That is... a worrying amount of strength, Titan. How do you even walk down the street without breaking the world?"
Prickle sank as her heart pounded in her ears. It was just about the definition of the worst-case scenario. Even among super ponies, she was a freak. Her mouth worked without words as she struggled, trying to find any that would do just to discard them as she found them and rush for another.
"Have no fear, the contest will proceed," spoke Fleur. She was oblivious to Prickle's torment. "Now... I'm not sure we can administer the last test properly. It was meant to be a double test, of restraint and endurance." She thrust a hoof out at the dumbbell that had started things out. "You were to lift that at the setting you left it and hold it for as long as you could, but you never hit your limit, just the limit of the stage... How do we properly measure your endurance?"
Immovable called out from across the crowd, "She's obviously the strongest! Come on!"
Prickle rose unsteadily to her hooves and approached the dumbbell. "Well... What if I held it out instead of up?" She reached for the dumbbell, balancing it on the end of her hoof and holding it out. "Is it on?"
Fleur's horn glowed as she checked. "Very... much so, which is exactly the problem. I'm afraid, dear, you are a step beyond us. Head into the back and we'll let the next competitor get their chance."
With a heavy heart, Prickle let the dumbbell fall to the ground where it smashed into the concrete with a loud crunch. Her head hung and she fled away from all those eyes. She emerged into the waiting room, tears stinging at her eyes.
Rolling Thunder snorted at her appearance. "What, didn't do so well? It's alright, you're just a filly."
Big Momma rolled her eyes as she approached Prickle. "Ignore him. What's wrong, little one. You can talk to Big Momma about your problems."
Prickle looked up at the huge amazon of a mare. She was built of muscles. She was big, powerful, maternal. She was... weaker than Prickle. Prickle trailed a hoof on the floor, trying to figure out a way to express herself, the fact that she was a freak among freaks. The tears refused to stop.
"Poor thing..." Big Momma picked up the quivering Prickle from the floor and held her close, arms wrapped tightly and rocking Prickle back and forth slowly. "You go ahead and cry. Everyone needs one of those once in awhile. Go ahead..."
"Fulcrum Shift!" came Bulk's holler. The named pony rose up smoothly and bowed to the others before moving up towards the stage.
Small was seated beside Big Momma, her eyes on Prickle. "So, what happened? It sounded like the crowd was pretty stoked from here. Did you get hurt?"
Prickle was unleashing her tears onto Momma's outfit, providing no good answers to the query.
Small wasn't having it. She bounced up onto Momma, scaling her like a flea before she gave Prickle a sudden bop on the head with a hoof. "Hey, Titan! You're bigger than that and I know it."
Prickle blinked at the sudden hit, focusing on Small Packages. "O-oh, sorry, really. I..." She wiped a foreleg over her eyes. "Sorry..."
"Yeah yeah, forgiven, now what happ--" Her words were cut off as teeth closed on the nape of her neck. Big Momma had caught her and set her back on the ground. "Hey! C'mon, she needed it."
Big gently pat Prickle with a hoof. "What she needs is some space and love. You don't have to say anything at all, Titan, not until you want to."
Prickle's mouth turned in a little smile as she decided that Momma was a good pony for sure. "Thank you, really. I'm just being... immature." She sat up on Momma's arm. "I'm... alright now." She wasn't, not really, but she felt in control enough to start talking instead of making a mess any more than she already had.
Small waved her hooves wildly from the floor. "So what happened! Stop keeping us in suspense."
Prickle considered telling, but it seemed unfair to do before they had a chance to perform without knowing she, freak that she was, had stomped the competition flat. "I did alright..." she said tepidly. "I'm... just not used to so many ponies watching me."
A muted, if excited, cheer came from the front.
Rolling lifted an ear at it. "Sounds like Fulcrum is wowing them with the strange way he works. He carries planks with him wherever he goes, had to get permission to use them in the contest. He can make wood move things you wouldn't think possible. Sounds like a poor excuse for real strength in the end. What if you don't have time to play with sticks?"
Big Momma gave him a scowl. "Do you not have a nice thing to say about anyone?"
"Hey hey, just calling it like I see it." He pulled the mare beside him that had yet to identify herself closer. "I prefer my muscles be on the inside, not in some tools I have to dig out and set up before doing something."
Small raised a hoof. "At least this one thing I can agree with. I like the power being in me." The hoof went out to point at Rolling. "And it's ready to show how small you are in all the ways that count."
The mare beside Rolling tittered at the implication, which got Rolling's cheeks to redden. "You wouldn't even know about that... We'll let the judges decide who's the best in the end, then I will take home the trophy."
On the stage, Fulcrum was muttering to himself softly as he moved his hooves, calculating the distances and trajectories involved before he snapped down a hoof on a bit of wood. The wood snapped up, lifting and hurling a metal crate. It soared between the swinging pendulums and came down to rest right on the center of the target. The crowd cheered as he walked towards the next part of the obstacle course.
"You had a rough start with the lifts, but you're acing the course, Fulcrum." Fleur followed alongside him. "You're well on the way for winning this part of the competition."
"That would be logical." Fulcrum lifted the egg that was to be the next weight. "This course is all about the strength of intelligence, which so many other strong heroes neglect. It's about careful application of strength in just... the right way." He let the egg start to roll off his hoof and it began to run the course without him. The deadly traps kept striking just inches from the egg, knocking it in a new direction, and it kept rolling. "When you make the right move, it can be the last move." It came to a slow stop on the end target, unharmed for the journey.
The crowd cheered at the mighty cerebral strength of Fulcrum. He was in his element.
Prickle hopped down to the ground lightly, recovered enough to be embarrassed at being held by the caring maternal hero. "T-thank you." She dipped her head at Big Momma. "You're a real hero."
Big Momma's cheeks darkened and she began to giggle in deep tones. "Oh, I love it when people say that for something besides being a mountain of muscle. You're very welcome, Tiny Titan. If you ever need a shoulder to cry on, mine is available."
Small nudged her peer in size. "So, was it stage fright? I mean, it's cool if it was. You're new in the super hero gig, right?"
"Yeah..." Titan tilted her head at Small. "I... put on this... I put on the mask so people aren't... staring at me... Me me... you know? I... It's..."
Small set a hoof on Titan's shoulder. "It's cool. We all have our reasons to put on our mask." She moved the hoof to her own masked face. "I put mine on to strike fear in my enemies and protect my friends.
Prickle couldn't help the smallest giggle from escaping. Small Packages was not an imposing form, even to her, and she imagined to larger ponies the effect would be smaller still.
Small gave Titan's closest shoulder a light biff. "Hey! Don't laugh. C'mon... I thought we were friends."
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Prickle held up her hooves. "I'm still a little shook up. I didn't mean anything bad, I swear." She almost said good luck, but it died in her throat. She crushed it... She smooshed the entire thing under her freakish strength. Small had no chance of winning.
"Hey, you alright?" Small was watching Prickle start to break down again. "It's alright, I'm not really mad, promise."
Immovable glanced to the right when she felt a nudge. "Yeah?"
"Was that your partner?" asked a pony done up in a full robe that covered their every feature. That would have been far more suspicious, had it not been a very popular fashion choice for incognito sorts, which the convention had in plenty.
"The last one? Yeah. Tiny Titan's awesome, isn't she?!"
"She is," agreed the soft feminine voice. "Can you deliver this to her?" A card floated down in front of Immovable. "It is very important."
Immovable snatched up the card, but there was nothing on it. "Are you sure you..." She looked up and there was no pony there to ask questions of. "Huh..." She pocketed the card with a shrug.
Fulcrum trotted back into the waiting room, panting a little, but looking pleased. "A fair performance in the first act, but a smashing route in the second and a fair showing in the third and fourth."
Prickle felt a smile coming on. She hadn't smashed the second one. At least one other hero wouldn't be crushed under her absurd strength.
"Rolling Thunder," came Bulk's call.
The named hero bounced to his hooves, his mare accessory flopping over at his sudden departure. "Time to show everypony what's the true meaning of strength!" He strode out as if he owned the world.
Prickle watched him go, a frown returning. If there was one pony she was quite fine crushing the hopes of, at least she'd get to see his stupid face crumble into dismay at the end.
Fulcrum sat in the same spot he had before he had risen before. "Tiny Titan, if you are willing to share, how did your performance go? I am curious to know how many lifts you managed. Please indulge me."
Prickle felt the heat rising in her. "I... wasn't really counting." That much was truth.
"Hrm, I imagine they'll post the counts at the end of the competition... How did you do in the second act?"
Prickle's tension ebbed a little as she smiled at the brainy pony. "I lost points here and there. I'm not used to that kind of thing, but it was good practice... How did you do?"
"Oh, my best one." He flashed a big grin. "I do hope to take the prize home for that one if nothing else."
Big Momma suddenly reached for the two and hugged them all together. "It is so nice seeing you two talk about this like friends instead of bitter rivals! Where is, there she is." She reached out a hoof for Small, but Small nimbly dodged out of the way of the grasping amazon. "Aw, come closer. We good-hearted ponies need to stick together."
Small stuck out her tongue. "I'll stick together from over here. Seriously though, good job, Fulcrum. Sounds like you had a blast. I can't wait for my turn!" She clopped her forehooves together. "I'm gonna break some records, I bet!"
Prickle felt ice flow through her. She doubted Small would be breaking any records, not any she left behind.
Rolling Thunder returned to the back, heaving but grinning. "Nothing like a good workout to get the blood moving! I've crushed all your attempts."
Big Momma crossed her forelegs. "They haven't told any of us that. You'll have to wait for the announcements with the rest of us."
"Small Packages!"
Small bounced in place, soaring over Prickle easily and bounding towards the stage. "My turn, finally! Wish me luck, not that I'll need it, Titan."
Fulcrum raised a hoof before twirling it in a circle. "So, how did you actually do?"
"Fifteen," was all his reply as if that was enough. Rolling settled beside his mare accessory and gave her a peck on the cheek.
Big inclined her head. "Lifts? Lost points? Seconds on the fortitude? Fifteen is not helpful, colt. Stop sassing us." Her eyes fell to Prickle. "Now you, young one. I imagine you might not have done so well in the fortitude contest, and that's alright. Growing muscles can often fail there. You will improve."
Prickle let out a strained laugh. "Oh, yeah... I didn't last any time at all..." Knowing they had opted to not even administer the test on her, that much was true. "I'll... get better..." She wasn't sure how much better she wanted to be right that moment.
She gave a kindly smile. "Young heroes often push too hard, and they played a dirty trick. If you went for the ultimate lift, it cost you in fortitude. Was that it, went as hard as you could in the first?"
"O-oh, yeah... actually, yeah..." Prickle rubbed her hooves together in a fidget. "It messed up the fortitude."
"We learn from our mistakes," she assured. "Now let's wait for Miss Packages to finish and we'll see what will come of our competition."
Prickle tried to calm herself, listening to the crowd cheering and calling for Small Packages. Maybe they would just disqualify her. Would that be better, or worse? She fidgeted all the more, awaiting her sentence.
Small returned, panting like a little dog, but with a triumphant beaming smile. "Ha ha! Let's see if any of you topped that!"
Big Momma gestured to the stage. "I imagine they're figuring that out right now. Aside from the lifts, most of the others require some judging from the panel to determine how well we did."
Rolling gave a snort, sitting up. "They better not give extra points for being cute."
Small stuck out her tongue. "If they do, Titan here automatically wins."
Big tapped Small on the noggin. "But they do not. Let's try to be calm a moment."
Prickle's cheeks warmed. "I think Momma's cuter..."
Big Momma burst into merry laughter. "You've just made my day, win or lose." She rose up to stand, sides quaking with her mirth. "It was a grand time, no matter what the results say."
"Everyone!" came Bulk's holler.
All the contestants made for the stage, some more eagerly than others. Prickle let the others go in front of her, taking small hesitant steps.
The crowd cheered as each hero stepped into view, but the volume clearly rose as Prickle stepped into view. Her cheeks burned and her eyes remained glued to the stage, unwilling to look up at all.
Small nudged her peer in size. "Hey, listen to that. They sure seem to think ya did fine."
Fleur was already on the stage, smiling and holding a scroll in her magic beside her head. "It seems the judges have made a unique decision. Well, perhaps unique is a strong word, it's happened once before, I'm told." She tapped at the scroll. "One of the contestants must be removed from the roster. Titan, come here please."
Titan's world shrank. Darkness clouded her vision. She took tiny steps towards Fleur, everything shaking as she did so. Her panic built to such a level that the act of walking proved too much and she tripped and collapsed a short distance ahead of Fleur.
The elegant unicorn tilted her head and her horn shone, pulling Titan the rest of the way across the smooth floor. "There we are. Tiny Titan, you have won a very special medal." From the center of the roll came a pin. "Awarded only once before. This is the Atlas Avatar pin. You are no weight lifter. The world is on your shoulders, and you can lift it." She lowered the pin of a pony with a lovingly rendered globe of Equestria held on its withers between outreached arms and affixed it beside Titan's entry pin.
The crowd went wild with cheering and stomping, shaking the room with the force of it. Fleur smiled at the dishevelled Prickle. "Now let's see here, ah..." She was reading directly from the scroll. "We would like to encourage great care be practiced with such immense power. As the pin shows, the world is in your hooves, treat it with love."
Rolling thumped his chest. "That's all fine and whatever, but what did I win?"
Fleur gently nudged Prickle aside to approach the other competitors. "Winner of the lifts, Rolling Thunder!" She gestured at the laureled stallion. "Master of the course, Fulcrum Shift! Queen of Endurance and mistress of explosive power, Big Momma!" She did not include Prickle's performances at all. She was simply not in the counting. "And, winner of best overall showing, she may not have won any of the single events, but she scored the most cumulative points, Small Packages!" To each victor came a pin for each category they won. Big Momma scoring two such pins. "You were all fantastic, let's hear a round of applause for our terrific competition!"
The crowd was happy to deliver that, stomping on the ground, clopping their hooves together and calling out in wild cheers.
Prickle sat, watching everyone else stand together. She was not part of them. She was a freak. She was alone. On quivering legs she stood and burst away in a sudden gallop, fleeing the stage.
Immovable's eyes never left Prickle. She saw her dash off and tilted her head. "They're not done--" she spoke to herself as she stepped, started weaving through the crowd. "Wait up!"
She did not find Prickle in the back. She did not find Prickle out in the main hall. "Where are you..."
"Hey," came Small Package's voice as she emerged from the crowd. "Did you see where Tiny Titan went?"
"That's who I'm looking for!" Immovable snorted softly. "She just ran off. Did you see which way she went?"
Small shook her head. "'Fraid not. She ran off while we were being pinned and I didn't get a chance to see much but her tail as she dashed off stage. You're her sidekick, what's got her so down? She won the biggest prize they have!"
Prickle's issues were not Immovable's, and she lifted her shoulders. "I'd be pretty happy about it. I mean, look." She put a hoof to her invulnerable pin. "I won this and like almost no one wins this! I'm super pumped!"
Small leaned in to get a look at it. "Wow, good going girl. S Class, that isn't a joke... But really, we should find Tiny. Shoot, I just wanted to tell her I ain't even mad about her winning the whole thing."
Immovable beamed at that. "I have the best mentor! You shoulda seen her. She was so strong they didn't even know what to do."
Small burst into laughter. "I hope they recorded that. I want to see what she did."
Immovable's grin spread wider. "She just kept lifting! Lift, lift, liiift! She wasn't even slowing down. They had to stop her! She coulda kept going maybe forever."
Small sank to her haunches. "How... many did she do before they stopped her?"
Immovable bobbed her head in time with her internal counting. "She was just pumping it, not even knowing how amazing she was being. Mmm... I lost track..."
"How... did... Look, that's not important." Small waved a hoof. "We should find her. I don't know what's eating her, but we won't find out here."
"Right." Immovable spread her wings. "Want to get a bird's eye view?"
Small bounced up onto Immovable and soon they were above the hall, gazing down on it. "Dang pegasi, cheating!"
"Don't be jealous." Immovable stuck out her tongue as she banked to the left. "You did good too."
"I didn't get one of the elite pins! Shoot. I ain't afraid to admit I'm a little jealous..." She squeezed Immovable from above. "And a team! Two elites in a team?! There should be a law against that..."
"We are Opposing Forces," spoke Immovable with swelling pride. "Of course we're an equal match, or it wouldn't work. My Tiny Titan can move anything, but with me she has to get clever. I can take anything... but Tiny Titan can move me." She glanced over her shoulder at Small. "I hope she's alright..."
"We'll find her, promise." Small had nothing to validate her claim but a willingness to keep looking. "We're heroes, right? Let's get to saving a pony."
Immovable came for a landing on a tall roof, all the ponies far below seemed like little more than ants, but none of them were the ant she wanted to see. "She's nowhere..."
Small slid off Immovable's back. "She's really good at hiding is what she is, or maybe she left?"
Immovable's ears perked up. "Maybe she went straight home, and we're big silly heads for thinking she's even still in the city."
Small lightly biffed Immovable's shoulder. "Exactly! Maybe we're worrying over nothing at all."
"But..." Immovable put a hoof behind her head before she flopped over backwards, facing the blue sky above. "But she left me... I don't have any money."
Small gave the slowest blink. "I thought you were the adult?"
Immovable flinched. "Maybe, but she's the one that had the bits... She picked the hotel. She picked where to eat. She decided what we could buy... I'm a sidekick, that's normal, right?"
Small's shoulders lifted. "I admit, I've never had one of those before, but it's obvious you love the pants off her, so we need to get you two back together. You might be out of bits, but I'm not." She patted down her unseen pockets and pulled out a small bag of bits. "You're from Ponyville, right? Let's get to the train and we'll get going."
Immovable rolled over onto her belly before pouncing on the smaller Small, hugging her tightly. "You are the best! Wait, we?"
Small wriggled free from the grip loosened with confusion. "Of course 'we'. I'm not leaving until you two are reunited. There'd better be dramatic music and somepony running in slow motion towards the other one or I'll be upset." She smiled as she let out a little chuckle. She hopped up onto the rim of the roof they were on. "Whenever you're ready, but sooner is better, I imagine."
Prickle slumped against the wall, rough bricks against her fur. She didn't have her suit on anymore. It was across her back where it hung limply, much like the rest of her. She drew in a breath that didn't get far before she shuddered and sank towards the ground, hoof dragging along the wall. "Why am I such a freak...? My mom's normal... I never... never heard a strange thing about my dad..." She curled against the wall. She felt the urge to press into it, to try to bury herself in that corner, but she didn't.
She might break it, the whole building...
She grabbed for her suit and turned it about wildly until that hated pin came into view. She glared at the pony holding the world. There could only be one pony holding the world at once, that's just how that worked... "You're alone," she breathed out in a hiss at the pin. "Nopony else can share this with you."
She considered hurling the suit aside, but managed to lower her hoof to the ground instead. She would hurt it, or the next building over, with her freakish strength. Quite possible both would regret her action.
A female voice, soft and caring, intruded on Prickle's misery. "This isn't where I planned to meet you."
Prickle sat up sharply and tucked her suit behind herself as she looked over the huge pony that had somehow snuck up on her. They were massive! They were also dressed as a hero, with bold reds and oranges, the red running in a stripe along the center around their great form. Their massive horn marked them as a unicorn. Prickle did not know who they were. Intense light-magenta eyes were taking Prickle in. "Planned to meet me?"
"Oh yes, of course. I am the one that invited you, after all." Crimson sank to her belly across from Prickle. "Your sudden departure made quite a stir. Were you not enjoying the convention?"
Prickle felt heat rush into her cheeks. Crimson Streak, she put together, but... "You know who I am already?"
She gave a little nod. "There is a reason you were admitted without being on watch despite it being your first. I know much about you, but that's not important right now. What's wrong? Do you want to talk about it?"
Prickle swallowed thickly. No! No she did not want to talk about it. "Mmm," was all that escaped her as she squirmed in place.
"It's alright. Just tell me how you feel."
Crimson's words were so soft... Prickle suddenly shook her head. "Are you a mom?"
The larger pony gave a gentle smile. "Guilty as charged, though my foal is unconventional. Did you meet Big Momma?"
"Y-yeah..." Prickle felt her ears sagging at the thought of it. "She was so big and strong and... I'm still stronger."
"I understand that feeling." Crimson gave a single little nod. "It can be intimidating to be at the top, to know that no one else can be your superior, to turn to when you encounter something you can't handle."
"I don't want to be the top!" choked out Prickle. "I just want to be... normal, not a freak."
Crimson's horn glowed white as Prickle lifted gently from the ground and floated towards her. "You are no freak, Prickle Berry. You are surrounded by ponies that love you, admire you. You are a miracle, not a curse, even if it feels like the latter at times."
Prickle tensed when she was placed on Crimson's back, but the tension faded quickly as her hooves felt around. Her seat was... lumpy? What did Crimson have on her back between her flesh and the outfit? Curiosity overrode her misery for a moment.
"Ah ah," sang Crimson, lifting her right back up and setting her down beside herself. "My mistake. Prickle Berry, do you mind that I call you that?"
"What's your name?" Prickle pointed at the huge pony. "It's not fair that you know mine without giving yours."
Crimson's jaw set a moment. "It's not that simple... Dear Prickle, I mean no harm or insult, but that must remain a secret."
"R-right..." All the other heroes that wanted a secret name could actually keep it... She rose to her hooves. "Did anyone ever call you mean things?"
"Such as?"
Prickle looked the massive pony over. "Um, 'How's the weather up there?'" She cracked a faint smile that quickly dissolved. "I don't like making fun of ponies..."
"As well you shouldn't." Crimson reached a hoof for Prickle, tapping her on the nose. "I do have one friend who would say such things. He is quite the troublemaker, but I've learned to accept that aspect of him and it does not trouble me too much these days. Now that we are friends, worked through it... he doesn't say the hateful things very often, and even when he does, it is with kindness, not malice, and that makes a difference. Is there a pony you feel this way about?"
Prickle tilted her head faintly. "Y-yeah... She... isn't picking on me so much." Not that she understood Diamond Tiara... "Look, um, thank you, but I don't mean to take you away from your event."
She rose to her hooves, her long legs putting distance between her and the ground. "I made this as a place for special ponies, like you, to have a safe space. Barring the occasional naughty pony attack that the heroes seem to enjoy as much as not, it seems to do the job. They are fine." She raised a hoof up under Prickle's smaller chin. "Are you?"
Prickle felt a chill run along her spine. She was, again, the only one. Even in misery she was alone. "Were... you the other pony?"
"Mmm?"
"Did you get that pin?" When she didn't seem to immediately get it, Prickle dashed over to the dropped suit and fished up the Atlas pin to show it to Crimson. "This."
"I'm afraid I did not. I heard something about you making a good show at the Atlas competition..."
"Did... you ever try it?"
"I try not to compete at the show." She gave the softest smile. "As the organizer, it never felt fair to partake."
"Oh..." Prickle had hoped that maybe the large pony was the other Atlas pin holder... "Do you know who the other winner is?"
"That was some time ago, if I recall..." Crimson's eyes went off into the distance a moment.
"W-wait, how long?"
Crimson took a step towards the mouth of the alleyway. "You are loved, Prickle. If you want to rejoin us, please, do."
Prickle sank to her haunches as Crimson left. She felt no urge to go back to the con. She thumped a hoof on the pavement, leaving a divot in her moment of lack of control. "Oops..." She gathered her things and scurried free of the alley. She needed to figure things out.
Immovable squirmed on her seat. It wasn't an uncomfortable seat, but that didn't bring much relief. "I hope she's there... Even if she is, she's good at hiding there."
Small tilted her head. "You don't know where she lives?"
"Nope!" Immovable shook her head quickly. "She's real protective of her 'secret' identity. She never even told me her real name, can you believe it?"
Small pointed at herself. "I haven't either, don't forget."
"Oh, yeah... Well I have!"
"You have?" Small peered at Immovable. "I don't remember any names besides Immovable."
"That's because thatis my name!" She clapped both hooves on her own chest. "I am Immovable! I have no secret names or anything."
Small reached out and ran a small hoof along Immovable's cape. "Why the fancy suit if you're not trying to hide who you normally are?"
"Aren't super ponies supposed to dress like this?" Immovable reached for the same cloak, lifting it and looking it over. "Is it badly done?"
"No no no! It's fine. The purple really works for you." Small leaned over Immovable to peer out the window on the far side of them. "Ponyville's coming up soon, then we'll find your erstwhile mentor and wrap up this case." She clopped her hooves together with a smile. "I never handled a case outside the city before, this is kind of exciting in a way."
Immovable grabbed her small partner and squeezed her close. "Congratulations," she cried. "At least one of us is doing something cool, I like that. Say... once we find Tiny Titan, I'll show you around. The ponies are nice, and there are fun places to be."
"See? You're already paying me back." Small gave a hearty laugh as she hopped free of Immovable's grip. "That's what friends do, I mean, I guess real friends always owe each other, but there aren't any hard feelings, both are ready to keep on paying."
Immovable blinked at that. "I never looked at it like that... I'd... I'd pay anything for Titan to be here... Be here and happy." She smiled a little. "Do you think she'd do the same for me?"
"Of course!" said Small with no real knowledge one way or the other. "You two are friends, right?"
"Right!" Immovable bobbed her head. "She's just upset about... something. We have to figure it out and cheer her up and then we can get back to bopping bad ponies and monsters and teaching them all lessons."
"That's the spirit." Small bobbed her head in agreement.
"So..." Immovable's eyes wandered a little before settling back on Small. She leaned in closer to her small companion. "Does that make us friends?"
Small gave Immovable a light thwack on the snout. "Yes. We're heroes to start, that gives us a little bond right there. You know how to respect someone smaller than you, so that's a couple of points right there, besides, you're a nice pony. Maybe a little self-important, but eh, welcome to superponies, right? Celestia knows I'm not innocent of that."
Immovable tilted her head left and right. "Celestia knows? Is she angry?"
Small burst into laughter even as a pony hollered that they were stopping at Ponyville. She hopped up onto Immovable's back. "You are too funny, Immovable. Come on, let's find that friend of yours."
Immovable stepped off the train and took a deep breath. "I've only lived here a little while, but it's starting to feel like home."
"Yeah?" Small looked left and right over the platform. "The buildings here seem a lot smaller than back at home. I can transport myself if you point the way."
Immovable raised into the air with a powerful flap. "Alright! Wait, where are we going?"
"To find your friend?" Small raised a brow. "Where is she usually?"
Immovable sank back to the platform. "She usually just... hops up and says hi as I'm flying around and we go on patrol..."
"So... you really don't know much about her, huh?" Small sucked in through her teeth in a light hiss. "She told me it's practically a public secret who she was. I thought you'd have more than that..."
"Public secret?" Immovable looked baffled at the very concept. "Isn't one not the other?"
Small wobbled a hoof. "Let's not get distracted. Follow me." With a powerful leap, she launched herself and got her first real look at Ponyville. Compared to the city she had come from, it seemed small and squat. Even the town hall, which seemed the largest in the city, was nothing compared to most of the buildings she navigated on a daily basis. "How do they even fit ponies in there?" She saw her target though.
She landed right in the middle of what was apparently a farmer's market. Carrots were being sold on one side, apples on the other, and another was offering up strawberries with a smile. They all looked at her curiously, conversations fading away.
Immovable landed beside her. "Heya everypony!"
Their reaction to her was warmer, waving and calling out in greeting. The apple salespony tipped her hat. "Did ya go and pick up a new superpony friend?"
Immovable put a hoof right on Small's head. "Yep! This is Small Packages. She packs a full hero into half the size and makes it look good while she's at it."
Small's cheeks warmed. "H-hey... I mean, that's not wrong..." She shook her head. "I'm not used to other folk speaking up for me. So, uh, you two know each other?"
Immovable pointed at the apple farmer and moved on to the carrot salespony and the strawberry seller. "That's Applejack, Carrot Top, Strawberry Sunrise. We've all talked at least once."
Strawberry's eyes rolled. "She's Ponyville's second superpony, and P--Tiny Titan's sidekick. Still a bit odd if you ask me, an adult being a filly's sidekick."
Applejack waved away the statement. "Don't pay her no mind. So how can we help? Ya came food shoppin'?"
Small shook her head quickly. "If I heard right, I have picked correctly. Tiny Titan went missing and we're hoping she came home. Catch, we don't know where her home is, so we can't go check on her. Any help?"
All three mares were looking at Small with a new intensity. Applejack frowned a little. "How do ya mean 'went missin''?"
Immovable put a hoof behind her head. "She... kinda ran off after winning a contest."
Carrot Top did little to conceal her bafflement. "If she won a contest, why would she run away?"
Strawberry leaned forward on her stand. "Well, she is shy. I could see her running away if she got all flustered."
Applejack pushed her hat back. "That's all well n' good. Where was this contest?"
"Baltimare," echoed both superponies.
Applejack's jaw dropped. "If she's all the way there, why are you two back here?!"
Prickle wandered the streets. She had not returned to the convention. It wasn't... for her. She was just a girl, for the moment. She didn't want to be a super anything. She could just be another filly, nothing more or less, if she tried hard enough to fake it. She walked past a city playground and paused to look in at it.
There were fillies and colts running around, playing tag. Their parents weren't far off, keeping an eye on them, but mostly letting them be foals. Two fillies were off by themselves, dolling themselves up with a makeup kit they seemed quite proud to have. They were a bit young for full makeup, but that didn't stop them from trying to assume glamour, and the adults weren't reacting poorly.
It was all quite nice really. Prickle raised a hoof, considering trying to join, but that same hoof came down. If she reached out to tag someone and got a little excited, she could knock a foal across the playground. She could try to play with the makeup fillies... That seemed safe. She dared approach them with an uncertain smile. "Hey..."
They looked up at her, surprise worn before it became caution just as quickly. The larger of the two clapped the kit shut and shoved it behind herself. "Like, hey... who are you?"
"Oh, me?" She pointed at herself. "I'm Prickle Berry, nice to meet you."
The smaller reached out a hoof. "Hello, Prickle. Um, your... it's streaking a little..."
The larger blinked and leaned in. "Oh yeah, look at that. Want us to fix that for you?"
Prickle had no idea what they were referring to. "What's wrong?"
The kit came back out and the filly grinned. "Your streaking a little. Did you get wet? That'll do it every time!"
The smaller one popped the kit back open and got out a puffball that she strapped onto the end of one of her hooves. "You were smart to come to us. We'll fix you up in just a moment."
Prickle didn't fight them. Hay, that was what she came for. She tried to be still as they began powdering her face, then brushing it. As they worked, she realized what they had seen. Her tears had left lines in her fur, and they were cleaning that away. She wouldn't look like a distressed filly at least. She smiled a little as they fussed over her. It was kind of nice. "You two are good at this."
The larger one gave a little chuckle. "We've been practicing." She leaned back a little. "Just a little..."
"Yeah," whispered out the smaller, agreeing without many words being shared." She dipped her puffball in some color and gently touched it to Prickle, applying cosmetics to her carefully. "We'll make you shine!"
Prickle wasn't sure she wanted to shine, but she did want the company, and to just be... not strong... for the moment. She was happy to just sit there and let them use her as a canvas.
The larger one and the smaller one met eyes and they nodded at one another. She pulled out a small mirror and held it up for Prickle to see.
She was transformed. She had eye shadow and mascara on her eyes and a subtle blush of color worked into her cheeks. She really was dolled up. Prickle smiled at her reflection. No one looking at that would think they were anything more than an adorable filly, not some super-strong freak... "T-thank you... It's... It's really nice."
The two let out a shared gasp and jumped up as if their bottoms had been pinched. They looked at one another and their eyes quickly slid down to one another's rump, where new marks were found. One looked like an eye with a brush going through the lashes, the other was a big cosmetic puffball. They burst into delighted giggles.
They would be cosmetologists, and they couldn't look happier about it.
As they dashed away, likely to show off their new cutie mark to their parents or friends, Prickle stood up and got to walking for the exit. She had gotten her own mark some time ago, and its meaning was far less happy. She was a hedgehog. No matter how much a hedgehog may want to be friendly, it would always be dangerous. It couldn't help it, it was just its nature. She was that, and it was branded for all the world to see right on her sides as a clear warning to all that approached her.
She looked back at the symbol of her destiny, thinking of when she got it, saving a little hedgehog from a much larger and deadlier creature. In a contest of danger, a hedgehog could not compete with her, and the monster had even less of a chance. Her quills...
She thought back to the contest. She could lift the world. She could break it, break it all. She could destroy everything everyone loved. She sank on the sidewalk, barely aware of ponies and carts rolling past her.
Prickle squeaked as a pony bumped right into her. "H-hey!" She had been sitting down. How did someone run into her? The stallion muttered something, but was quickly leaving.
That's when Prickle noticed her pockets felt emptier. "Hey!" She repeated, far louder as she bounced up to her hooves. She didn't normally go around with many bits, so having them vanish was not something she could ignore. "Give those back!" The stallion burst into a run through the crowd, shoving other ponies aside. He was making good time, and Prickle could see far too many places he could duck into.
She brought down a hoof in a sudden bang. "Stop!" As if the call itself had force, it traveled out in a wave. Ponies and carts upended as the floor rippled beneath them. The stallion peeked back in time for his eyes to go wide. The shock wave threw him up a few inches and he came down on his side, joining the groaning mass of ponies on the sidewalk.
She bounded, closing the distance to the downed stallion in one sure hop. "Give me back my bits!" She was furious, shaking with sudden anger. "Give it back right now, or I'll..."
"Here! Here!" The stallion began to drop everything he had, her bag of bits included. "Just don't hurt me!"
Prickle's anger fizzled at the expression of horror on the bandit's face. The sound of moaning reached her ears and she realized just how many innocent ponies she had knocked down, carts she had casually flung aside, and other damage she had inflicted in her moment of hasty thinking.
With a trembling hoof, she snatched up her bag of bits. "T-thank you." She turned tail and galloped away as quickly as she could, putting the whole scene behind her. She ran. She was good at running. She had been running away from the things that scared her since she was a little foal. Run, hide, and wait for it to pass over. That was the safest way. No one would be hurt if she did that...
Prickle slumped against a brick wall, heaving for breath. The whole thing was far behind her, but it never really would be. She would always be... a hedgehog.
Small lifted her shoulders. "I was hoping she just went home, so we came to check."
Applejack put a hoof to her head. "Right right. Let's..." She trailed off a moment. "Tell ya what, how about ya two head up to Twilight's and Ah'll check in with her mother." She pointed up at the large purple tower. "She's right neighborly, just tell her Applejack sent ya. She already knows one of ya."
Immovable bobbed her head at that. "Uh huh. This way." She turned to lead the way towards the very large building they could all already see without help. "Let us know what she says."
Small trotted alongside Immovable. "You're not even going to try?"
"Try what?" Immovable's tone carried her confusion. "We just have to wait."
"Finding out who Tiny Titan's mom is, who she is?" Small wobbled a hoof as if trying to encompass everything.
Immovable shook her head. "I'm her sidekick, and her friend... When she wants me to know, then she'll tell me. I won't... I won't force it." She suddenly burst into giggles. "Besides, it's more fun when she forces me."
Small's eyes rolled. "You have no idea how weird that sounded," she snorted out as she walked, tail flicking.
Immovable stuck out her tongue. "I will sit and wait patiently. That's basically my super power, and I'm darn good at it."
Twilight looked between the two heroes. "You're welcome as long as you like, of course." She tapped her chin with a hoof. "You're... Small Packages? I had to research fairly heavily into the topic while getting... Tiny Titan registered."
Small's eyes fell. "Oh sweet Celestia! This really is a public secret. I thought she was inflating the situation a little bit."
Immovable tilted her head. "What is?"
"You're like the only pony in this town that doesn't know!" Small put a hoof over her face. "It's alright. When we get her back, nice and safe, I'll just ask like an adult."
Twilight cleared her throat softly. "I presume you're talking about the identity of our lost filly?"
"Who else would I be talking about?" Small's tongue poked free. "Why are we still here, actually? If she's not here in Ponyville, we're in the wrong place. I promised to find her and I plan to do it."
Immovable's eyes widened a little. "You know who she is?!" She thrust a hoof at Twilight.
"What? N-no..." Twilight backed up a step.
Spike, who had been quiet until then, gave a little chuckle. "Really?"
"Oh..." Immovable sagged, then wheeled on Small. "Why'd you get my hopes up?!"
Spike joined her in a sudden sagging. "Really?"
Small put a hoof over Immovable's nose and lips. "You are just adorable. No wonder she feels safe around you." She turned to Spike. "Hey, so is there any other pony in this town that doesn't know?"
Spike let out a little strained laugh at that. "Well, uh... I suppose just about... I mean, there are some ponies."
Twilight let out a breath. "Mostly the ones that aren't paying attention, at this point. I heard one of her little friends is one of them, somehow. I leave that up to them. Let's put aside our mutual friend's desire for secrecy." She trotted towards the door. "It's more important we find her and bring her back home."
Prickle took a shortcut through an alleyway. "I should go home..." As sad as she felt, she didn't want to worry her mother anymore than she might have already.
A hoof came down on her withers and she was pulled into the darkness. "What have we here?" It sounded like a male. "A little lost filly?"
Prickle blinked in bafflement. "I'm not lost. Let go of me, please." She felt no physical fear. Physical fears worked differently for her. Was grabbing ponies a city thing? Cities were strange.
"You'll fetch a few bits, I'm sure." The male presence pulled her closer as it sat up in the darkness.
Prickle frowned and gave the unseen stallion a light shove. The stallion practically bounced off the wall behind him, trash sent flying in different directions from the rough impact. "You picked the wrong filly." She stuck out her tongue at where she assumed the stallion had landed and trotted past.
She emerged into the light and looked around. "This city has problems..." Her small tongue flicked over her lips. "Maybe I can help?" She was a superhero, right? She clopped her forehooves together lightly. "I should... act like one." Her eyes darted back to her saddlebag where her outfit resided, resolve folding quickly. "But then I'll just hurt something..." She turned back towards the alleyway she had emerged from. "Is... he alright?" Even creepy stallions didn't deserve to be smooshed flat, or so she thought to herself with a growing frown.
She turned around and went right back into the alleyway. "Are you still here? Everything alright?" Her calls had no immediate reply and she pressed on until a sound did reach her ears. It was muffled crying. Her own ears pinned back as she approached. "Are you okay?" She hadn't shoved him that hard, had she?
Slowly feeling around the darkness as she went, her hoof ran into the form of a quivering mass. It was a pony. "Here you are. I'm sorry for hurting you."
The mass unfolded as the stallion sat up, barely visible in the dim light. "You're sorry?"
Prickle quickly bobbed her head. "You shouldn't grab fillies like that. It's not nice."
"I..." He shook his head. "I guess not... Does it hurt like that?"
Prickle tilted her head a little. "I... guess if I was another filly, I would have been... scared, I guess?" She was not scared. She was the monster in that alleyway. Ponies should be scared of her, not the other way around. "It's not nice... It wasn't nice that I hurt you either, and I'm sorry."
He reached out a hoof, flinched, but then reached further, brushing her cheek. "Should I say sorry too?"
"If you hurt someone." Prickle put a hoof on his arm and ever so carefully pushed it to the side. "Did you hurt ponies?"
"Yeah... I guess I did." He let out a tired sounding sigh. "Never really thought about it before. I... just need the bits, so... You know?"
Prickle didn't know. She really didn't know. But she did know she wanted to help the stallion. She gave a little smile. "Well, my trip's spoiled, so I won't be using my planned bits... Do you want some?"
He laughed. It was a strange sound, echoing from a broken heart. "I could have just asked? I... I never tried that before." He came forward into the light a little, his snout patchy and worn. Prickle's ears danced at the sight of him. What did he eat? Did he eat? "You're a nice little filly."
Prickle's heart ached. There was a hurting pony, but one that would not be saved with a swift punch. She forced a little smile. "Do you have any friends? Family?"
He slumped. "I... have a few ponies I talk to... sometimes... I wouldn't call them friends or nothing... I... Let's not talk about that. What about you? Do you have friends, little filly?"
Prickle's mind went to the CMC, all smiles, all cheering for her. She thought of her fan club, ready to celebrate her and give her all the hugs she could ever want. Prickle sank to her haunches. She had so many friends... And there she was, feeling bad for herself in the same world that the poor stallion in front of her had none. "I do..." She was letting them down, all of them! "I do!" She bounced back to her hooves. "I do and I need to see them."
The stallion gave a big smile, missing a few teeth though he was. "That's real nice. Little fillies should have friends..."
Prickle's burst of enthusiasm quelled. Rushing to her friends would wait, just a little. "You have a friend."
"I do?" He looked quite perplexed at the notion of it. "Who?"
Prickle pointed at herself. "Let's get you some help." She pointed up. "You ever fly before?"
He blinked softly. "Can't say I have. I don't have wings." He stood up slowly. "Why?"
"I'm going to take you for a fly. It'll be a little scary and kinda bouncy, but I won't let you get hurt, promise." She held out a hoof to him, but approached no further. It was his choice to make.
Soon, Prickle realized that she was exactly where it had begun. The stallion was hugging her possessively, but she had asked for it, instead of an unwelcome grasping from the dark. It made a difference. With a powerful spring, she launched from the alleyway with the stallion clutching desperately to her. She aimed for height, springing high above the city to get a good look at the surroundings. "Now where is it... where..." She came back down, having not spotted it, and bounced right back into the air.
"Where are we going?" asked the stallion attached to her. "Are you taking me to jail?"
Prickle's ears swiveled back to him. Taking him to jail would be well within her rights. He was a creepy stallion that had foalnapped before. Many would say he deserved jail, maybe forever. That was not what Prickle's heart felt at the moment. "Somewhere safe." She came down and bounced again. "It's just... hiding... There!" She thrust a hoof towards the building she wanted. The big pink cross with hearts on it.
She bounced, bouncing off roofs, carts, and awnings as she traversed the city with a speed only matched by ponies that actually had wings. Smooth athletic motions carried them both safely, avoiding the traffic of ponies and carts entirely. She landed right in front of the hospital and turned to the shaking stallion. "Alright, no more bouncing, promise. We're here. They'll take care of you." In the light, she could see the stallion was even worse than she had thought. "When's the last time you had a good dinner, a really good one?"
He looked confused at that. "I had a good one last night. Mmm, somepony done left behind something real tasty..."
Prickle decided to just not even ask further into the specifics of that. "This way." She waved into the building and got to trotting away. The inside of the hospital was clean, mildly busy, and exactly what she had hoped for. She waved at the first pony she saw with hearts on their rump. "Excuse me!"
The stallion nurse looked down at her. "Hello there, little filly, are you lost? Hurt?" He sounded very concerned.
Prickle pointed back at the vagrant. "He needs help, not me. Good food, and a checkup. Can you help him?"
He flinched at the sight of him and leaned in towards Prickle. "Little filly, is he... related?"
Prickle shook her head. "He's just a pony I met, who deserves help."
"That's a very noble sentiment." The nurse nodded his head. "Sir?" He was looking at the disheveled pony. "If you'll come with me?"
He didn't move. His jaw worked without sound. "You're not throwing me out?"
"No, sir. You obviously need to be here. Please, this way."
The vagrant moved to follow, a few teardrops hitting the panels as he went. Was a little kindness that strange a concept? Prickle sank to the ground, considering that. As... sad as she was, she had so much more than that pony might ever. She had friends, and family. Visions of her mother haunted her. Was she worrying her? Was she making the lives of everyone that cared about her sadder? She rose up to her hooves. "It's time to do my part."
"Where is my daughter!?" An incensed Junebug stomped a hoof, barring the way for the others to proceed.
Immovable had wings, she could fly above or around Junebug, but she nodded lightly. She appreciated Junebug's blocking technique. It would just be uncouth to cheat around it.
Junebug's attention was mostly on Immovable. "She was with you! I know I expected her to be watching you, but you're the adult, for Celestia's sake! Where is your responsibility?!"
Twilight cleared her throat from behind Immovable. "Junebug, we're working on that right--"
"--I want to know what happened, now." She thrust a hoof at Immovable, jabbing her in the chest, not that it succeeded at hurting the planted pegasus. "What. Happened?"
"Oh, well there was this strength contest." Immovable flexed her arms in a demonstration. "Tiny Titan was kicking rumps! She did so great they gave her a super special award at the end!"
Junebug's frown eased a little. "That sounds... nice. So why isn't she here? Why aren't you with her?"
"I wish I knew!" Immovable huffed indignantly as her wings fidgeted. "Instead of being happy she got the best award they had, she looked like someone kicked her puppy, and she ran off."
Junebug set a hoof on both of Immovable's shoulders. "I know this isn't natural for you, but I'm going to need you to tell me exactly what happened, from the start, without skipping any of it."
"Well, I was born ab--"
"--Not that far back." She rolled her eyes. "Let's start at that contest."
"Well, I wasn't in the back. I just saw her go off and didn't see her again until she came out to start kicking those rumps." Immovable nodded at Junebug.
Small popped up between the two, her small stature helping her get between the irate mother and the target of her displeasure. "I was there. I can take this part of the story."
"Please." Junebug sat back. "Go on."
"She was nervous, I could tell that, so I tried to be by her side the whole time." Small thumped her chest. "We're both strong small ponies, so I felt a bit of a kinship right off the bat, you know? This big jerk, Rolling Thunder, makes fun of how small she is, but I defended her." She clopped her hooves together. "Oh right, best part! He came over and gave her a mean hoofbump, knocked her arm aside, so she gave him one back that sent him through the wall. Ha! Shoulda seen the look on his face. It was classic." Small smiled at the memory. "Anyway, she went out for her bit, but when she came back, she looked really nervous about it. I couldn't put my hoof on why though. She was acting like she messed up, but she ended up with the biggest prize!"
Junebug's eyes darted from Small back to Immovable. "You were watching the stage, what happened while my hedgehog was on it?"
Immovable sat up when called, jerking to attention. "Oh! Right, so she came out, all bashful, but she started her routine right up! She took the barbell they had and she just kept lifting it like it wasn't even on, oh, it was magic. She kept going and going and going. She was doing it so hard she started to sink into the floor! They had to stop her from going. Who knows would have happened if she just kept going... Maybe she woulda drilled through the world... That would have been pretty cool..."
Small blinked at Immovable. "Get out! She did not!"
"She did too!" Immovable stuck out her tongue at Small. "I was there, I saw it. They made her stop and had her put down the weight super slowly, then it was on to the obstacle course. She didn't do perfectly there. She made a few mistakes, but she didn't do too badly, compared to the others I saw." She wobbled a hoof in the air. "I'd give her a B if I had to grade her. Fulcrum deserves that pin. Wow, that stallion! Every move, pow, right where it needed to be. He's strong up here." She tapped at her own head.
Junebug lightly bonked Immovable on the head. "Focus, please. So, what then?"
"Oh, right, the 'explosive strength' contest!" Immovable clopped her hooves. "They brought out this big padded target, and they punched or kicked it. Simple as that. Well, it shoulda been, but not for my Titan! She kicked it and it just snapped right in half like it was made of little sticks. It fell over before she even came back to the ground. You shoulda heard the crowd. They were so amazed! So, yeah, she won that! The last one was supposed to be endurance, but they couldn't give that to her."
Twilight tilted her head at that. "Why not?"
"Well." Immovable lifted her shoulders. "They needed her to be near or at her limit to test that, but she never even got close to her limit, so how can they test it? So they just sent her back."
Junebug put a hoof to her face. "My poor little hedgehog..."
Small made a little face. "I'm starting to get a better picture of what happened."
Immovable blinked softly. "What? I don't get it. She showed everyone up! She should be happy."
Twilight set a hoof on Immovable's shoulder. "Not everyone likes to stand out. P--Tiny Titan, well, she became a hero to..."
"--Hide," completed Junebug. "She hid behind her mask, because how strong she was made her uncomfortable." She rubbed her forehooves together. "And it's my fault... I am the worst mother ever..."
Small cleared her throat loudly. "This won't get us Tiny Titan any faster! Let's go get us a filly and bring her home."
Junebug shook her head as she rose to her hooves. "You're right, of course... We need to find her. She... is probably somewhere dark and out of the way. She... liked to burrow... just like a little hedgehog." She smiled a little, a few tears struggling to escape. "She would hide until she was sure the bad things had gone past, or until I found her..." She jerked with a new thought. "Oh! What happens if something bad happens to her? The city has more dangerous dark places."
Small raised a brow at Junebug. "We are talking about Tiny Titan here. If it can be punched, then she has nothing to fear from it. Shoot, with how upset she is, I feel more sorry for anyone trying to mess with her right now. Pow, right out of the city!" She clapped one hoof on the other, then hopped up to all fours. "Let's go save the city's criminals from a peeved little superhero."
Prickle walked along the sidewalks. Could she have been bouncing? Sure, but she didn't feel like being Tiny Titan, and she was already chastising herself for the things she'd already done without the costume. "I hope he turn out alright..." She thought back to the homeless foalnapper. Had helping him been the right thing to do? He could just go back out, healthier and fitter, and grab more foals. Had she done the right thing?
She shook her head with a frown. He was a pony in pain. She did what she could. If ponies had... done that before, maybe he wouldn't have gotten into the foalnapping business to begin with." She brought down a hoof but stopped it just before the cement. "Watch it," she whispered to herself, setting down the hoof ever so carefully.
"There you are."
Prickle looked up in surprise to see a white unicorn with purple mane smiling at her. "Oh, hello Miss Rarity!" She glanced left and right before leaning in. "Convention over already?"
"No, but some little new and upcoming hero bolted out in the middle of things." She reached out a hoof towards the guilty-looking Prickle and drew the youngone closer. "And I got worried. Are you, no, nevermind that. If you were alright, you wouldn't be here. Care to share? We can discuss it over something sweet, my treat."
Prickle took an uncertain step back, not that Rarity could hope to stop her. "But... your booth! I--"
"--Handled." Rarity held up a hoof. "You think I didn't have backup?" She gave a gentle little titter. "Oh dear, no. One of my lovely assistants took my place. She's dressed up as the Maneiac and it seems to get some giggles from the customers, so that works. You should have seen our mock battles." Rarity reared up into a faux-fighting pose. "Stop right there, you bad excuse for a perm!"
Prickle giggled at the sight of Rarity and the imagined theatrics of it. "I'm glad I'm not... hurting you."
"Hurt me?" Rarity came back to all fours. "Darling, you are the one that's clearly hurt about something. Now, what sort of treat do you prefer? Are you an ice cream filly? Don't be shy, you're my little sister's favorite superhero. She would never forgive me if I didn't do my best to help."
Prickle looked around the city. There were so many options even in the small slice she could see. She pointed at a small and cozy looking restaurant. "We can go there... but I'll pay for myself."
Rarity nudged her. "That's very noble of you dear, but you're still a filly."
Prickle frowned at that. "I have bits... I'm not going back to the... you know, so... they're extra."
"We'll see about that." She trotted towards the eatery, making sure Prickle was coming with her. "But put away your bitpurse, you're my guest right now, so stop refusing me."
They were soon seated inside. Prickle felt better right away, not being on the street with what felt like thousands of eyes. She sank into the seat and gave an easy smile.
"You already look better." Rarity's horn glowed as she fussed over Prickle, straightening her mane and suddenly pausing. "Dear, when did you start using cosmetics? You did... a fine job." She turned Prickle's face left and right in her magic hold. "Very nice. You'll make the poor little colts faint from how enchanting you are."
Prickle's cheeks darkened through the subtle blush that had been applied to her. "Some little fillies did it... They earned their cutie marks."
Rarity tilted her head. "What a charming little talent to have. I wish them the best in their endeavors, but we're here for you, darling, not them." She waved down a waiter. "We'll take one of the biggest, sweetest, most decadent thing you have."
Prickle raised a hoof to object, but the waiter was already cantering off to get it. "Well, um... it's... better than mine?"
"Better than yours?" Rarity shook her head slowly. "I'm having a hard time imagining that. What's wrong with your talent?"
Prickle tapped her hooves together lightly. "Well... they get to make things, pretty things. They get to make ponies feel good, maybe help them find their special somepony... That's nice, really nice... What is my talent? I can hit things..."
Rarity raised a hoof. "Did you already forget how you became a hero?"
"I was trying to hide?"
"No no dear, besides that. Your very first time! I remember it, it's hard to forget, really. You saved that Silver Spoon filly, whisked her out of her burning home. Why, she still looks at you in that special way. You saved her, and she knows it. Did you 'hit things', or did you save a pony? Trick question, dear, since I know which it was."
Prickle stuck out her tongue at that. "I did both, actually... But... I did rescue her..." Her thoughts came to a halt as a huge platter was set between herself and Rarity. It was piled high with more ice cream than ever she had seen in one place before. It was done up like a volcano, with running 'magma' of caramel, pools of chocolate, and even candy trees and other things that would be victim of the oncoming blast. "Wow..."
"Don't just stare at it, as lovely as it is, eat up." She leaned in and took a bite right out of the side, a napkin sweeping in to clean the mess she had made without even thinking about it. "It's here for us to enjoy. Mmm, delightful. Nothing like visiting a new city and trying its decadences."
Prickle reached out and paused. She leaned in, and paused again. Every time she made a move, she didn't finish it.
"Darling, if even I can get my face in there, you can too." She chomped a candy tree and crunched it loudly a moment. "This is a time to let loose and enjoy the moment. If you don't tell, I won't either. Two things help a mare get past things, a good cry, and some good sweets. I bet you've already had the first."
Prickle darkened a moment. "Y-yeah..." She set her hoof down, nodded to herself, and lunged for the sweet mountain, burying several inches of her snout. The caramel ran over her nose as she chomped and licked at the sweet explosion that detonated in her mouth. It was lovely, and messy.
"That's the spirit!" Rarity stood up on her chair to take a bite from the very top of the volcano. "You know, ponies are talking about you, in a good way." Prickle was eating quietly, so she continued, "They admire you, look up to you, well not literally, but you know what I mean, dear. Ponies like you, me to start." She reached over and patted Prickle's shoulder. "You're a bedazzling jewel, to be treasured and loved."
Prickle sat back at that. "Isn't that just a nicer way of saying freak?"
Rarity tilted her head. "Freak is such a harsh word. Why, I'd say I'm 'freakishly' charming." She batted her lashes at Prickle. "But I wouldn't use those words. It's an ugly word, and neither of us are that. Why, my name means 'freak', if you think about it, but no, I am not a freak, and neither are you, dear. We are both rarities." She gave a firm nod at that. "And proud of it!"
"What's... the difference?" She pointed at Rarity. "You're not a freak."
"And neither are you." Rarity brought a napkin over with her magic and dabbed at Prickle's messy snout. "The difference is in how you use it. If you used your strength for bad things, well, that wouldn't do at all. As a hero, you are no freak. Ponies could call me that if I started using my overwhelming mare charms to make bad things happen and tempt good ponies towards the dark." She wriggled her hooves. "Like some sort of comic villain. Wouldn't that be a thing, oh my. No, I'm quite happy being on the good side. Why, I get the best company." She rested a hoof on Prickle's back.
With their tremendous meal of sweets residing, at least partially, in wanting bellies, Rarity stood up. "Shall we head back?"
Prickle shrank at that. "To the conference?"
"Not if you don't want to, darling." She reached out and gave the smaller pony a pat on the head. "But you aren't going to wander the city. That's just not proper, dear. Where are you staying? We should get you checked out and we can have you on your way back home. Where is that confused friend of yours? The one that doesn't move if she can help it."
Prickle suddenly winced. She had abandoned Immovable! "O-oh, oh no... She doesn't have any bits at all and I just... left her..." She started dancing in place, bouncing from one hoof to the next. "What's she gonna do? She'll be lost in the city!"
Rarity pressed down gently on the dancing filly. "Calm down, dear. She lived in a city before she even met you, if I recall properly. She knows her way around. Besides, she's a pegasus. They have ways. Why, I bet she'll beat you home and probably just be a little irate about your hasty departure."
"But we're so far away..." Prickle slowly sank to her haunches. "How can you be so sure?"
Rarity smiled as she touched noses with Prickle. "I happen to have two, very dear, pegasi friends. Neither would tolerate being lost for long. They know how to get home, and her home, is Ponyville. She's likely wondering where her little mentor went running off to, worrying herself into a tizzy much like you are, darling. There's only one solution, really." Rarity gestured her snout towards the door. "You know what you need to do."
The train rumbled softly beneath them as the entire party waited impatiently to arrive.
Small sat beside Junebug. "So... you're her mom, right?" Junebug did not answer. "I get it, I'm not 'in the circle' and stuff, but c'mon... I mean, good job." She smiled at the larger mare. "She's a good filly. A little confused right now, sure, but--"
"--Thank you," cut off Junebug.
Small let it die for an awkward moment or two before glancing over at Immovable two seats ahead. "So, how has she not figured this out by now?"
Junebug let out a sudden sigh. "I know you're trying to be friendly, and I appreciate the help you've given already, but, please... I just want her back."
Small gave a single nod and hopped down. "We'll get her." She left the stricken mother and considered her targets before hopping up next to Twilight. "Hey."
"Hello." Twilight looked Small up and down. "I remembered your name, but not your, what is it, specialty? From what I gathered, most ponies in your profession have very particular specialties."
Small perked up. Talking about her job sounded far more interesting than moping around. "I'm a bit of a generalist, I admit. It showed in the contest. I didn't beat anyone at any specific thing, but I got best in show." She clopped her hooves together. "I'm strong, reasonably agile, and tough enough. Some of the others say I'm the 'boring' kind of super, just a little super at everything, instead of really super at one thing, you know?"
Twilight gave a thoughtful hmm. "I see. That sounds dynamic to me. You can adapt as the situation calls for it."
Immovable had, at some point, moved to the seat just in front of them and was up against the back of her seat, peeking at the two of them with a sudden grin. "But can you take an explosion, boom!?"
Twilight's snout wrinkled. "I would hope to avoid that, but I presume you can?"
"Sure can." Immovable bobbed her head.
Small pointed at Immovable. "But if a wagon was on top of a pony, could you get it off of them?"
Immovable's confidence broke. "Oh, uh... I'd get Tiny Titan to do that. That's why we're a team."
Twilight murmured softly. "I see... Small, I gather you could weather that explosion better than I could?"
"Well, I don't want to compare myself to a princess..." Small gave a nervous little laugh. "But I can take some punishment, sure."
"It's a classic conundrum." Twilight looked pleased. "Is it better to specialize? I confess, I am guilty of some specialization. It seems to come naturally to ponies, perhaps in part due to our cutie marks. We realize what we're good at and continue to seek to hone that specific thing." Her eyes lowered to Small, and her clothed rump. "If you don't mind, what is your mark?"
Small suddenly looked quite sheepish. "Oh, well, it's... nothing special..."
Immovable gave a huge grin. "Mine's a big set of spread wings, to block everything!"
Twilight raised a hoof. "Or like a shield, to protect those you love."
Immovable's grin faltered a little. "Wow... that was... deep." The smile returned fiercely. "I love it!"
Small gave a small clip-clop of her hooves. "That's very nice."
"So, about yours?" Twilight pointed at Small's left rump.
Small shrank a little. "I... rather not go into that?"
Immovable suddenly jumped over the back of the seat she had been perched on, pouncing Small. "Aw, c'mon! We're all friends here, let us see!"
Small easily shoved the non-planted Immovable off her chair, snorting and fur raised in objection. "We only just met, I'll remind. A girl can keep a few secrets."
Immovable quickly sat up on the floor. "You're already keeping your name a secret. How many secrets do you need?"
Small stuck out her tongue. "I can keep as many as I want, thank you."
Twilight waved a hoof lightly. "It's alright. If you don't want to say, I won't force you. I'm just curious how your mark led you to a generalist outlook on things."
Small's shoulders lifted. "Look, see... I found out the hard way. Ponies needed me, and, you know, I took action... Then I knew I could take action... so I couldn't stop, so I didn't... I didn't try to specialize or not, I just kept... doing what I could... It was a while before I met anypony else that knew what I was doing."
Twilight lifted a hoof to her chin. "A lack of educational emphasis... Maybe this is a systemic issue instead of a biological one." She leaned back in her seat. "Fascinating. Tiny Titan has a mentor."
"I have a mentor!" Immovable lifted from the floor on her wings, hovering to be equal with Twilight. "And she's awesome."
Twilight smiled at the eager Immovable. "That she is, but you visit her mentor as well, do you not?"
Immovable suddenly realized something. "Wait, isn't she another secret?"
Twilight rolled a hoof. "Keeping an eye on our local hero is a task I've given to some friends of mine. It's hard not to notice who she trains with. An unusual choice, I admit... I never would have figured she had any fighting ability, but she's done a remarkable job so far."
Small raised a hoof, lowered it, then slowly raised it again. "So... another hero?"
Twilight shook her head quickly. "Oh, no. I checked the registry for Ponyville, and she's not there. I did think of that though." She nodded at Small. "Good thinking. She's a candy maker, actually, and a good one at that."
Immovable licked her lips. "You're telling me? She gives me some when I get a lesson right, makes it worth it every time!"
Small's brows lowered in unison. "She's training you like a dog."
"Woof." Immovable let her tongue loll out a moment. "I'll roll over if it means I get more of what she has."
Small burst into laughter. "You are a master of saying things the wrong way."
Twilight seemed to not catch it. "What did she say?" Her head turned towards the window she sat by. "Looks like we're almost there."
The train slid smoothly into the station, prompting a flood of ponies coming and going. The group departed onto the platform together. Junebug looked left and right. "This is... a big place." Her eyes moved from one tall building to the next. "How do ponies find anything here? Oh, my poor little hedgehog..."
Twilight's eyes swept over the crowd and spied a familiar shade of berry-colored fur and an even more familiar white shade with purple highlights. "Rarity?" She trotted to meet her friend.
"Twilight, darling!" Rarity closed the distance and embraced Twilight. "Good to see you. What on Equestria brings you here?"
"I could ask the same." She smiled down at Prickle. "And you seem to have found someone."
Junebug suddenly rushed past Twilight, grabbing Prickle up and squeezing her tight. She said nothing.
Prickle squirmed faintly in the grip. "I'm... sorry?"
Rarity cleared her throat softly. "Yes, well, I found our little filly looking lost and took her under my wing, metaphorically speaking. Everyone is safe and sound."
Immovable moved in opposite of Junebug and hugged Prickle from the other side, joining the mostly-quiet embrace.
Twilight shook her head at the display. "This looks like a happy ending to me. Thanks for the help, Rarity. I was afraid we'd have to scour the city to find her."
Rarity waved it off. "As if I could do any less. Twilight, dear, you've come all this way. We can't just send you home now. You've barely arrived. Baltimare may not have the same charms of Manehatten, but it has many sights worth seeing. Come now, darling, we're not going to let this trip go to waste." She threw a hoof over Twilight's withers. "It's time to paint the city red!"
Small put a hoof behind her head. "Well, uh, good to see everyone is where they need to be... guess I'll just, you know, get going." She took a few steps away before a pegasus landed in front of her, wings spread wide to stop her. "Immovable, what's the deal?"
"You can't just go!" Immovable snorted in annoyance. "You went through all that trouble to find Tiny Titan and you're not even going to say hello?"
Prickle had been let go to the ground, but her mother hovered over her, hugging gently from behind. She was blushing softly from the attention, but she looked to Small. "T-thank you. You... didn't have to."
Small let out a little laugh as she struck a pose. "What are heroes for, if not helping find lost fillies?" She stuck out her tongue at Prickle. "Not that you're a normal filly. You're even better, so it was even better finding you. Everything alright?"
"No." Prickle backed up into her mother's embrace. "But that's alright..."
Small went still and quiet a moment before she nodded. "I know that feeling. Look, so... don't be a stranger, right?"
Immovable suddenly pounced Small from behind. "Ask already!"
"Ask what!" Small threw Immovable clear of herself. "There's nothing to ask."
Immovable rolled with the impact and came up onto her hooves. "That's a lie and you know it. You want to be part of the team. You totally do! You practically told me so."
"Oh, now you can notice things." Small frowned at Immovable. "You don't even see the obvious right in front of your eyes but you can see this?"
Immovable pointed at Prickle. "She doesn't want me to know, so I don't. When she wants me to call her Prickle, I will, not before then. Before then, I don't know who she is, because she doesn't want me to know, and that's her choice! I respect her. I respect her and I won't make her move before she's ready..."
Prickle's jaw dropped. "Y-you knew?"
Immovable squeaked and fell over, realizing what she had just done. "What? No! I don't know anything!" She gave a hysterical little laugh. "What are you talking about, Tiny Titan?"
Junebug looked off to see Twilight being hauled away by her friend, then back at her daughter and her friends. "Small Packages."
Small went into attention. "Yes, ma'am?"
"You've been... so helpful, would you care to visit for a little while?
Prickle adjusted her saddlebag as she looked in the mirror. She smiled as she called out to her mother, "I'm headed for school!"
"Have a good day, sweetie." Her mother was wielding a basket in her snout, hardly a rare sight. "I'll see you afterwards. Do come straight home."
Prickle lifted an ear. That tone held promise in it. She trotted from home, wondering what her mother had in mind for later.
"Good morning," came a voice from above where Small Packages had parked herself on the roof above the door. "Where ya headed off ta?"
"School. I don't want to be late." Prickle spared a friendly wave at their guest. "Are you having fun?"
"Well, sure, when we're all together, doing stuff. Idling isn't my style." She shrugged softly. "Small town life is something else." She waved Prickle towards school. "You better get going. I don't want Junebug thinking I'm making a delinquent out of ya."
Prickle waved for a final time before setting off towards school at a spirited trot.
On the way, she spotted some familiar faces and veered off to intercept Scootaloo. "Good morning!"
"Prickle!" She quickly threw a leg over Prickle in a fierce, if brief, hug before resuming her walk. "Nice to see ya. Hey, uh, so what's up with the little pony?"
Prickle tensed. She was lousy at her own secrets. She dared not even come close to someone else's. "You should talk to her. She's nice."
"Huh, is she? I just might. I mean, she's dressed like a superpony and all, figured you two must've known each other." She bumped into Prickle from the side as they went side-by-side. "She a new colleague you met at the big hero shebang?"
Prickle's eyes darted around. "You shouldn't talk about that right in public!"
"Relax. I'll save it for after school." She pointed ahead at the schoolhouse they were closing in on. "See you during lunch." She trotted ahead and joined her other friends, chatting animatedly with the rest of the CMC.
"Prickle."
She turned a little stiffly to behold Diamond Tiara looking at her quite pointedly. "Yes, Diamond Tiara?"
Diamond leaned closer, her expression hard to read immediately. "Good to see you. I've figured you out."
Prickle went rigid from front to back. She could feel a cold sweat forming. "Y-yeah?"
"Oh yeah." She lifted a hoof up, curling her arm so it pointed upwards. "You vanishing for a few days was a dead giveaway, though I'm not sure how you managed it. You went off to slave after your idol."
Prickle blinked softly,
"Don't look so bashful." She rolled her eyes and laughed in a half-snort. "Silver Spoon's about the same way. You went chasing after Tiny Titan, didn't you?"
Prickle clenched her teeth a moment. 'D-diamond..."
"No need for being embarrassed. Seems just about everyone likes that super filly."
"Tiara..."
"Yeah?" Diamond lifted her shoulders. "You look like you're about to cry. It's not a good look on you."
"You going to make fun of that?"
Diamond put a hoof on Prickle's shoulder. "I'm asking because I care, duh. You can't see that?"
Prickle felt around her dry mouth with her small tongue. "I have a secret."
"Don't we all?" Diamond rolled her eyes in that way she had well practiced. "Did you get some juicy pictures of TT?"
"N-no." Prickle wondered what sort of picture that would be. "It's worse."
"Well, tell me at lunch, we have to get to class. C'mon!" She nudged Prickle forward and they both vanished into the schoolhouse.
Cheerilee smiled brightly at Prickle. "So good to see you back. Did you learn anything interesting during your trip?" She tapped at her desk. "You can put your homework here."
Prickle walked up and set a mouthful of papers down to be graded. "I did. I really did."
"Would you like to share with the class?"
Prickle squirmed in place a moment before she took a soft breath and stood up tall. "I learned I am surrounded by wonderful ponies that care for me very much, and that I care about them just as strongly. I learned that I am not alone, and I learned that I am not a freak."
Cheerilee's ears perked up. "That's... a very important lesson. Not... exactly what I expected, but very nice regardless. Thank you. Please have a seat."
Prickle parked herself back in her seat and focused on the lessons of the day until a piece of paper bounced off her paper.
I care about you too!
There was a picture of Silver Spoon sketched on it.
Prickle smiled and folded it up in time for another wad to bop her on the noggin.
Ponyville's #1 superfilly! You're my second hero!
That one had a sketch of Scootaloo on it.
Another paper came, gently bumping against Prickle's snout before lowering to the desk under familiar magic.
You've shown remarkable growth. It is a pleasure to count myself as one of your friends.
A smiling Sweetie Belle face accompanied it.
Prickle learned little of pure academia. By the time the lunch bell rang, tears were ruining her attempts to read the encouraging letters. One letter in particular she clutched close to her chest as she walked out on her other three legs.
The Cutie Mark Crusaders were at one table. Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were just joining them. Prickle moved to follow the motion, smiling despite the shed moisture. "Hello everyone."
Silver Spoon pouted just slightly at the sight of her. "Prickle, what's wrong?"
"Nothing, everything!" She clutched the paper she held to her chest more tightly. "Diamond... do you mean it?"
"I usually say what I mean." She snorted softly before a smile spread on her face. "I know we had our differences and stuff, but, c'mon, we're already mostly there."
Prickle slowly let the letter fall to the ground. "T-then... I can't..."
Diamond's face darkened with sudden anger. "What?! You don't want to be friends?"
"No No!" Prickle waves her forehooves wildly in the air. "I can't... keep a secret... This... You deserve to know... this."
Silver Spoon and the girls were entirely silent, looking back and forth between Prickle and Diamond Tiara, barely daring to breathe but not much else.
Diamond Tiara sat up and waved a hoof in a single motion of finality. "I don't need to know. Friends can keep secrets."
Prickle sagged. "But... really, I... want to."
Diamond perked up her left ear, fur dancing mildly in the breeze. "If you want to tell me, I'm listening. I'm just letting you know you don't have to, ya know?"
"Right." Prickle drew a slow breath. "I am... not... I mean..."
Diamond booped Prickle right on the end of her snout. "Whatever it is, it can't be that big of a deal. Relax."
"Relax, right." Prickle drew a hoof slowly down her front. "Diamond Tiara, I am and always have been Tiny Titan." Her words were spoken with the steady rhythm of a metronome, as if any deviance would break her. "I hope we can still be friends."
As Diamond's jaw slowly fell open, a few bits were exchanged between Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, the latter looking triumphant while Apple Bloom muttered something under her breath.
"You..." Diamond took a strong sudden step towards Prickle. "You... Thank... you..."
Prickle blinked. Of all the words, she did not expect those. "What for?"
"For saving Silver Spoon, dummy." She punched Prickle in the shoulder with a sudden swat of her right hoof. "For, you know... the heroing stuff. By Celestia, why were you hiding something that cool from me?" She suddenly twitched. "Wait! You were talking to me... about you! With me!"
Prickle shrank back. Despite all her power, Diamond Tiara still terrified her. "I wasn't trying to fool you, honest! I was just, you know, protecting my secret identity."
"Yeah?" Diamond strutted up to Prickle, towering over the cowering filly. "So what did you really do when you vanished for a few days? Did some super bad pony foalnap you?"
Prickle smiled despite herself. "The last bad guy to succeed at foalnapping me became a good friend."
"You were foalnapped?!" Diamond raised a brow high. "And now you're friends? Prickle, you are a freak." She pat Prickle's sagging shoulder. "My favorite freak."
Prickle jerked up. "What?"
"Did I stutter? You're an amazing freak." She waved a hoof wildly. "I'm not blind. I saw how many papers you were buried under. I bet everypony saw that. I bet the teacher saw that, and she didn't complain or anything. You've gone and made being a freak fashionable." She suddenly smiled. "You were listening."
"Listening?"
Diamond bumped her shoulder against Prickle's as she went past. "I told you to be like a super hero, did you forget? I totally said you should be doing it."
Prickle thought back to it. Wasn't that after Tiny Titan had come out? She considered it, but correcting Diamond on that didn't seem a wise course. "You were completely right. Thank you, Diamond... I... like being a hero, and saving ponies."
"As if I'd steer you wrong." She thwapped Prickle lightly. "So, what's with the secret name thing anyway?"
No answer came as their friends descended on them, hugging and congratulating them both. The secret of Ponyville was defeated, at least among Ponyvillians.
Prickle trotted with a reserved little smile. It had been a good day, arguably a fantastic day. She was a strange little pony, but she was a loved strange little pony. She was starting to feel just a little peace with that fact.
With a thump, Immovable landed in front of her, wings wide in an obvious blocking stance.
Prickle stopped, tilted her head, then raised a hoof. "Hello."
"Hello, small filly." Immovable's wings retracted. "Have you seen Tiny Titan?"
Prickle's nose wrinkled. "You can stop that."
"Stop what?"
"I know you know." She reached up for her larger sidekick's nose and bopped it gently. "Thank you."
"Thank me?" Immovable shook her head. "I mean... is it... alright?"
"It is." Prickle flashed a big grin that only lasted a moment. "Immovable, I am Tiny Titan, hero of Ponyville, Atlas Avatar."
Immovable's wings gave a powerful flutter. "I am Immovable, Tiny Titan's proud partner and sidekick." She reached for her mentor and plucked her off the ground into a hug. "Invulnerable to most anything except the littlest word from her. You have no idea how much I hoped you'd tell me."
Prickle nuzzled into her friend and partner before wriggling free. "If you knew, why didn't you just... say so? Every other pony didn't hide it when they found out."
"Because you were blocking." Immovable tilted her head. "If you were blocking, you must have had a reason to block. If you had a reason to block, I, as a friend, would wait until you were ready."
Prickle tilted her head at her larger sidekick. "Are you blocking?"
Immovable looked distinctly uncomfortable a moment. "We all have... our things to block."
"Then I will wait, and be here." Prickle stood up and resumed her trot towards home. "When you're ready, you can talk to me. You're my sidekick, after all."
Immovable sat there staring after Prickle a moment before she rushed to catch up. "You're not going to force me?"
"You waited for me."
"But people walk around me, or fly over me." Immovable stomped a frustrated hoof. "They don't wait for me."
"Too bad. I am."
Immovable's jaw clenched a moment before she circled around Prickle in an an angry stomping and plopped herself down in front of the filly. "I'm in your way."
"You are," agreed Prickle, but she sat down and did not try to push past Immovable. "We can talk now, if you'd rather."
Immovable's wings spread wide. "We may have to wait until it's dark!"
"My mother will get worried, but I will wait." Prickle remained calm with a little smile. "We will wait until you're ready."
"What if I never move?!"
"Then we won't move." Prickle reached into her backpack and pulled out her notebook. "It's alright if I start on my homework, right?"
"Y-yeah..." Immovable watched as Prickle got comfortable and began scribbling with a pencil held in her snout. "You'll wait, even after that's done?"
Prickle released the pencil to speak, "Of course. Forever, if we have to."
"Forever?"
"Forever and ever."
Immovable squirmed in place. "Darn you, Tiny Titan..."
"Mmm?"
"You're so good at making me move." She rose up and pounced the filly, hugging her tight.
Prickle hugged in return and felt moisture drop on her shoulder. Immovable was shedding her tears quietly in the hug. "What's wrong?"
"Nopony ever just... waited for me. It was... always 'Hurry up.', 'Get out of our way.', or 'You're too slow!'" She lowered her head to be on Prickle's level. "Nopony wanted to wait for me, the slowest pegasus."
Prickle winced softly. "Then why did you keep getting in ponies ways, on purpose? Didn't that hurt more?"
"Every time they walked past me was... awful." She sagged in place. "Every time they flew over my head and said nasty things... Only one pony would wait for me." She quirked a little smile. "Only one pony wouldn't walk around me... Prickle Berry, will you marry me?"
Prickle's eyes widened even as her pupils contracted. "Woah woah woah! Slow that right down!" Her voice had become a shrill cry but she stopped herself and took a slow breath. "I'm not ready for that. I'm not even a mare yet!"
"Then I'll wait." Immovable nodded. "I'm good at that." She glanced away and back. "I want us... to be partners, forever."
Prickle slumped a moment before she rose, starting to gather her dropped pencil and notebook. "For now, we're partners, mentor and sidekick. That's plenty."
"I'm happy being your sidekick." Immovable hopped straight up, bouncing in place. "Oh, what about Small?"
Prickle tilted her head. "She's nice, but doesn't she want to go home?"
"Well, she isn't either of our sidekicks... but superpony teams aren't always just those anyway. I bet if we asked, she might say yes."
"She might not."
"We won't know if we don't ask."
Prickle pointed towards her home. "Then we'll ask, but no pressure. If she wants to go home, we let her. It's alright to just be friends. If we invite every hero we find to be a team, that'll get silly really fast."
Side-by-side, the two made their way home. "Say." Immovable glanced aside at Prickle. "Should I get a superpony name?"
Prickle giggled softly. "You already have one. You'd need a normal pony name, and a normal pony identity."
Immovable's movement slowed. "Would you... help with that? Can you help me be a normal pony?"
Prickle could feel hurt there, and it was a hurt she had felt herself all too many times. "I... would be honored..." A quirk of a smile appeared. "But you'll never be normal, and that's alright. We're both rarities, and that's okay."
"We're both tailors?"
Prickle prodded her invulnerable ally in the side. "You are too silly sometimes."
As they reached home, Small hopped down from the roof. "Hey! Good to see you back, Prickle."
"Hello Small." Prickle dipped her head. "We had a question."
"Yeah?"
"Did you want to join our team, opposing forces?" She waved between herself and Immovable.
Small chuckled softly. "And if I did, how would I fit the theme? You two are the opposing forces."
Immovable suddenly looked so very smug and proud. "You would be the fulcrum, the balance." She pointed at Small. "You're stronger than me. You're tougher than her. You're weaker than her and squishier than me. You are the balance."
Prickle perked an ear at Immovable. "When did you learn that word?"
Immovable sat up tall. "I looked it up. I wanted to say just the right thing. So, gonna join?! We could kick bad ponies and monsters right in the rump and protect Ponyville!" She gave a powerful flap as her hooves rubbed against one another. "Say yes!"
Prickle held up a hoof. "Calm down. Small, it is entirely your decision to make, so no hard feelings either way."
Small shook her head. "Tempting, but nah. Ponyville's too small for me, which is funny just saying. I need a big city. I need action. You two have this place covered just fine." She spread her forelegs, balancing on her hind. "But that don't mean I don't want us being real friends! So you two better come visit once in awhile, right?"
They closed in and all three shared a firm embrace.
Small stepped back. "I'm going to head back to Baltimare. Somepony has to keep an eye on the place, and I don't trust the bigger heroes to do it right, ya know? You two wouldn't be up to joining me there? I might say yes then."
Prickle gave a slow shake of her head. "You know I can't do that..."
"Yeah, was pretty sure." She grinned at Prickle. "Stay in school, finish becoming a mare that they'll be writing legends about in the future. I'll be sure to pick up your comic when it comes out."
Immovable blinked with surprise. "They'll make a comic about us?!"
"I'd be shocked if they didn't." Small turned away. "So keep doing what you're doing, and I'll be glad to read about the adventures of my friends." With a powerful leap, she vanished, bounding off into the distance and to her own home.
Prickle watched her go before she advanced on her door. "I'm home!"
"Hello, little hedgehog." Junebug greeted her daughter with a hug and a kiss. "How was school?"
"School was... great, and... so is everything else." Prickle set her homework down on the table to get to shortly. "Oh! Immovable knows, and is allowed to know."
Junebug quirked a funny smile at Immovable. "I'm glad that awkwardness is behind us. Immovable, would you like to join us for dinner?"
Immovable tilted her head. "That sounds funny. Prickle, what's my not-super name?"
Prickle frowned in thought a moment. "You can be... Storm Stopper, a weather pegasus that specializes in stopping bad weather."
Immovable suddenly burst into joyful giggles. "Do you think they'd take me?! That would be fun!"
Prickle smiled gently at her friend. "I bet they would, especially with that name and specialty. We just have to get you some normal clothes, or you could just take off your super suit."
"Oh yeah." Immovable quickly shed her clothes, becoming a normal pegasus. "Ta da! Storm Stopper, ready for duty!"
Junebug gave a soft clop of applause. "Nice to meet you, Storm Stopper. Now have a seat and I'll get us something to eat."
So they ate together. They became a family. A curious family, to be sure, but one with love and support, and none of the three had complaints on the arrangement.
