//------------------------------// // Tag team prank: On my mark! // Story: Prank War! // by Ashfur //------------------------------// “...So that's that plan.  Any questions from the peanut gallery?” “Yeah, what's that mean?” “Forget it.  So, can I count on you all to help out?” “You bet!  CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS and Nick PRANKSTERS!” “My ears…  they bleed…” Applejack was sitting at the kitchen table, enjoying a nice apple with a side of apples as well as a nice glass of apple juice with apple slices.  Suddenly, she heard a knock at the apple household front door. Groaning at the interruption of her red delicious apple lunch she appleoached the door and appleied force to it to create an appleture through which she could see the outside world.  Apples. Much to her surprise, Apple Bloom had been the one knocking.  “Hey there, sis!” She called out happley. “Ah'm doing a door-to-door questioning today! So, uh, can Ah ask you a few questions?” “Why, sure thang, little sis!  What's on yer mind, partner?” “Is our refrigerator runnin’?” Applejack tilted her head to one side, confused.  “Uh, AB, Ah don't know what a re-frig-er-ator is.” “That's what Ah said!  Hey mister Nick, what's a refrigerator?” A loud groan could be heard from the bushes.  Clearly someone was annoyed at the young pony's lack of knowledge of human technology.  “Try again, and say icebox instead!” “Okay, mister Nick!  Hey sis, is our icebox running?” “...No?  The magic crystal broke last night, Bloom.  You were there.” “Then you better go catch it!”  Apple bloom spun around to face the bushes.  “Did Ah do good, mister Nick?” Nick stood up from the bushes, with Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo sitting on his shoulders.  He picked up Apple Bloom and let her grip his head as though she was a hat. “Forget it, prank failed.  Let's try Rarity next.” “Is this what y'all wanted ta do when ya said you'd foal sit for me today, Nick?  Seriously?” “No.” “Oh, good, because-” “The original intent was to have you actually fall for the joke.  But, I guess some days you just can't win.” Nick and his team of tagalongs headed back to the CMC clubhouse to regroup and plot their next attempt. Rarity was working on a new dress when she heard a knock on the door.  Strange, she thought. The shop was open, so there wasn't really a reason to knock.  Still, she abandoned her work to answer the door. The sounds of hoof meeting wood persisted.  Swinging open the door, she was met with- “Sweetie Belle? What are you doing    ?” Sweetie Belle didn't respond, deciding instead to quickly turn tail and scamper away from the porch.  “Did that work, mister Nick? Did it?” Nick stepped out of his hiding spot, groaning.  “Sweetie, that is not how ding-dong ditch works.  And - aw, phooey. I tore my pant leg on the porch!” Rarity gasped.  “Darling, I can't let you go without fixing it for you, especially since you were so generous as to foal sit Sweetie for the day.  Come here, I will-” she stepped forward, out the door, and right into the spiderweb that Nick had sprayed on the door with Spike's borrowed Spider-Mane toy. Rarity screamed.  “AAAUUUGGGHHH! MY MANE!  MY FACE! THIS IS THE WORST. POSSIBLE. THING!”  She fell backwards with practiced ease, her couch appearing behind her to break her fall.  As soon as she impacted it though, Nick's old standby went off. Frrrrrrrt As Rarity laid in shock, processing what happened, Nick ran off with his charges laughing.  “Whoopie cushions! They never stop being funny!” The four ran to the edge of town, Nick stopping to catch his breath.  Scootaloo pointed up to a nearby cloud. “Hey, there's Rainbow! Should we get her, too?” “Ah dunno, Scoots,”  Apple bloom replied. “She's pretty high up there.  How are we gonna reach her?” “Simple,”  Nick replied.  “Although I may need that cutie mark crusader yell again.”  He whispered his plan to the three, then covered his ears. “Rainbow's gonna kill me for this… do it, girls!” “HEY RAINBOW DASH!  YOU JUST LOST THE GAME!  CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS and Nick PROVOKERS!” “My ears… again... But now, we run away! Fast!”