//------------------------------// // Chapter 10 // Story: Equestria's Hammiest Villain // by Dirty Bit //------------------------------// Chapter 10 Rasher Decisions Chuckles wiped the sweat from his brow after an hour of dancing. He hadn't realized how much energy the ponies had compared to him, including Twilight, despite how poorly she demonstrated her moves on the dance floor. After he had caught a small glance of the glistening disco ball above him, he had remembered how crucial it was for him to acquire it. He couldn't exactly steal it, or even send Spike to do it, knowing that they're practically the same size. Moreso, Pinkie would probably have it stashed somewhere out of his reach once the party draws to a close. Noticing how much his possible ideas for acquiring the disco ball are dwindling, Chuckles was left with only one hopeful solution to his problem. Asking to borrow it nonchalantly. The dark lord held a semblance of confidence in his plan, knowing how crazy Pinkie was and how kind and trusting all the ponies in Ponyville are, but it was overshadowed by the mere absurdity of his request. Would Pinkie actually let Chuckles 'borrow' a giant disco ball? There was only one way for him to find out. As the party was settling near its conclusion, with the partygoers either relaxing from the dance session or deciding to leave the party early for varying reasons, Chuckles scoped out Pinkie in hopes of putting his plan of politely asking for her ball in motion, albeit reluctantly. "Where is she? She usually sticks out like a sore thumb. And that's saying something, considering how pink she is! She's pinker than me, for Pete's sake!" Chuckles said to himself while peering into the crowd. He recalled Pinkie being next to him when they started dancing, but as Chuckles had noticed earlier, everypony on the dance floor had a tendency to shift around in their rhythmic euphoria. "Hiya, Chucky!" A familiar voice chirped from behind Chuckles, coaxing him to jump forward with a yelp. He looked back to see the grinning visage of Pinkie Pie standing behind him. "Sheesh, we need to put a bell on you." He paused before looking angry "And I told you to stop calling me that!" "Sorry." Pinkie giggled innocently before smiling down at Chuckles "So, you wanted to see me?" Chuckles withheld any and all hasty replies that would detract from his plan before donning a fixed smile. "Yes, actually. I would like to-...erm-..." The dark lord cleared his throat before he continued with a wide grin on his face "I would like to borrow your disco ball for a couple of days, if you don't mind." There was a pause between the two, and Chuckles began to sweat from the possible tension he had created from his request. Pinkie continued to stare before a chilling answer was given... "Okay!" "Wait, really?" Chuckles said incredulously "Y-You don't mind?" "Of course not, silly! Anything for a new friend!" She said happily "I never met a pony - or pig, in your case - who would actually appreciate a disco ball, let alone have a use for it!" She pointed up at the ball in question "I'll get it down for you when the party's over and roll it back to Twilght's with you!" Chuckles stood dumbfounded at how easy it was to merely ask for something rather than take it by force or steal it while they weren't looking. Were these ponies that trusting? Shaking off any further shock and awe at how naive his new army was, he only smiled back at Pinkie Pie as he clapped his hooves together. "Oh great~! Thanks a bunch, Pinkie~!" He replied in a blithe tone, trying to hide his glee at the thought of his plan almost reaching fruition and not failing for once. He decidedly celebrated with another chocolate doughnut as he bided his time for tonight, when everypony is tucked in their beds. _____ Later that evening, as the party drew to a close, the ponies that remained all dispersed from Sugarcube Corner, leaving only Twilight, her friends, and Chuckles standing outside the door. Pinkie's disco ball sat next Chuckles as he stared up at it while containing mirthful giggles. Twilight cast a befuddled glance at his current mood before smiling warmly at Pinkie. "The party was good as always, Pinkie, but now I gotta get these two back to the castle. Although..." She looked up at the disco ball with an arched eyebrow "Do you honestly think it's a good idea for Chuckles to borrow this? I know my castle's big, but what use could he possibly have for it?" "Beats me. Why not ask him?" Pinkie responded, instantly breaking Chuckle's joy as he shifted his eyes at the ponies surrounding him. "Yeah, what is it gonna be used for?" Rainbow Dash asked "I know you like dancing and stuff, but that thing's probably gonna cost you a lotta room space if you take it back with you." "Um-...Uhhhh, it's, erm..." Chuckles stumbled and staggered in a quest for a believable lie until he perked up "Let's just say that what I have planned for this big bad ball next to me will leave you shellshocked!" Pinkie cocked her head to the side and went to speak, only to be cut off "And before you say anything, I know you ponies don't have shells." "I wasn't thinking that." Pinkie replied instantly. "Yes, you were." Chuckles shot back in deadpan. "Well, whatever you got planned, Ah'm sure it'll be somethin' good." Applejack piped up. "It'll take some time, though, so you all will have to be patient." He paused before pointing at Spike "Like Spike over there!" "Beep boop." "Um...Spike's really scaring me with how he's acting." Fluttershy murmured as she inched away from the mindless dragon. "I must agree with Fluttershy in that I'm rather off-put of Spike and his current behavior." She then huffed "But after knowing that it is but a condition to a loss between him and Chuckles that will last until tomorrow, I'll look it over." She then smirked down at Spike "Good luck, by the way. I believe in you, Spikey-Wikey." Chuckles surpressed his urge to retch at how cheesy the nickname sounded. "Well, if all's said and done, We'll be on our way now." Twilight said before turning around as her horn began to glow. The disco ball was then surrounded by a magical light that was similar to what was emitted from Twilight's horn. Chuckles stared up at it dumbfounded. "How are you doing that? I mean, the thing's gotta be heavy!" The dark lord blurted out. Twilight giggled at his shock. "Well, it would've been strenuous a couple of years ago, but this is actually rather easy for me now. Perks of my ascension to alicornhood, I suppose." She explained briefly. Meanwhile, Chuckles found himself lucky to have added the fact about the disco ball's weight to his question, as he was too focused on the fact that unicorn - or in Twilight's case, alicorn - horns can be used for magical spells. 'They're gonna be my best army EVER!' Chuckles thought before regaining his composure "Wow! That's pretty neat!" He then looked back at the other ponies and hastily waved "Bye, everybody...pony!" "See you all tomorrow, girls!" Twilight added as she trotted away with the disco ball in tow "C'mon, Spike." She called to the dragon standing stock still behind her. "Yeah, Spike! Let's go!" Chuckles quickly said, making sure that his order would get through to him. "Beep boop." Spike piped up before slowly turning around and following Twilight and Chuckles, making the other girls, save Pinkie Pie, wince at him leaving. "Spike's really committed to this loss from that wager of his..." Rarity muttered. "Tell me about it." Rainbow Dash chimed in "I wonder what it was they decided to bet around." "Certainly no gem-eatin' contest. Spike would've had Chuckles beat there." Applejack said, earning a chuckle from the other girls. Little did they know that Chuckles was even closer to his universal domination. Could the royal family of Udrogoth manage to reach Equestria and save them from a possible reckoning? _____ Meanwhile, at Chuckles' Lair Dave and the others merely sat around outside of Chuckles' evil lair, where they were bored out of there minds as they waited patiently for the army that they were promised in the dark lord's ominous and foreboding message. "I get the feeling we've been stood up." Candy broke the silence as she crossed her arms. "Yeah, or maybe just pranked. I wanna go inside and wreck things!" Fang shouted angrily. "I know it doesn't seem bad, but we should at least take solace in the fact that nothing bad's happened yet." Dave said reassuringly. "But that's the stupid part! What you just said usually prompts the action we're missing out on!" Fang complained. "At least I did the smart thing and packed food for the trip." Uncle Oswidge said smugly as he enjoyed a slice of pizza from one of many boxes. End of Chapter 10