//------------------------------// // Virtual Laughter Part 2 // Story: Virtual Mischief, Augmented Darkness // by chaoticevl //------------------------------// Virtual Laughter part 2 Thomas falls backward landing on his rear at Pinkie’s sudden yelling. ”What the hell Pinkie?” Thomas exclaims to the still airborne mare. If she heard him she made no acknowledgement of it. She just continues to abuse gravity like it personally offended her. Her ears blow clouds of steam while she grinds her teeth at the scene before her. Her mane and tail are no longer poofy replaced with a bed of spikes pointing behind her. The girls look around in worry about the attention Pinkie had to be generating. To their surprise no pony is paying them any attention. “What in tarnation is going on in here. She made enough of a ruckus to wake all of Ponyville?” “I don't know,” says Twilight “it's like their all too engrossed in their games to care about anything else.” Thomas finally gets back to his feet and waves his hands in front of the still floating and fuming Pinkie to no avail. “Come on Pinkie snap out of it.” “Yeah snap out of it you pink menace!” Screwball yells from Thomas’ shoulder actually sounding worried. Waving her hoof at Thomas, Fluttershy has him lean down towards her. “I think it was something she saw that started this. Maybe you can block her sight or force her to look at something else?” “Ooh, good idea Flutters!” Thomas smiles at Fluttershy, which causes her to hide behind her mane with a small smile on her face. Standing in front of Pinkie again, Thomas concentrates for a moment and makes himself both physically and visually solid. He then reaches both arms around Pinkies head and pulls her to his stomach. “What the hay are you doing?” Asks Rainbow Dash in a confused but angry tone as she hadn't heard Fluttershy's suggestion as she was enthralled by games. “I'm trying to comfort her and keep her from seeing the rest of the room.” Pinkie’s body soon drops her hind legs hit the floor while her front legs wrap themselves around Thomas. “Thanks, Tomi.” She says while looking up at Thomas. The flames in her eyes had died down but they were still there, now mixing with tears as she looks like she is about to start bawling. “This place is wrong, so very, very wrong.” “What do you mean, it's wrong?” Asks Twilight. Taking a couple of breaths she Pinkie lets go of Thomas. She then jumps back away from him standing on her back legs. She throws her left hoof into the air and takes a deep breath. As soon as she does so the music starts. The music seems to come from the game room itself as the sounds of various games become the beat and melody. From the sounds of coins being stacked to balls being bounced, nothing is left out even the ponies in the room join in with hoof stomps, and chants about having to win. Before anyone can say anything about the melodic chaos around them Pinkie begins to sing and spin towards the game room. The words to the song didn’t matter to Thomas at the moment as Pinkie’s spinning had taken her into the throng of ponies trying to get between games. Making himself intangible again he takes off after her with the girls following after albeit at a slower pace as they couldn’t just run through the crowd. Pinkie stops spinning for a moment singing out “These games should be fun!” She points to a set of air hockey tables.  “These games should make ponies happy, but I don’t see anypony being merry, and that’s just scary!” As she finishes the line she pronks up to the top of a nearby pillar causing it to wobble. Seeing a possible accident waiting to happen Thomas rushes over to the pillar and grabs it trying to keep it stable and prevent Pinkie from getting hurt. She quickly jumps from the pillar down to the top of a whack-a-manticore and starts to dance across one arcade style game to another all the while continuing her song. Twilight finally catches up to Thomas and stabilizes the pillar enough for him to let go. “Thanks Twilight. If the rest of the girls catch up, spread them around the room. While I keep on her tail.” As soon as he finishes talking he starts running after Pinkie once again, not giving Twilight a chance to respond. Pinkie continues her dancing across the tops of some games with each new game beginning to tip, threatening to start a domino effect. Thomas thinking quickly starts slamming his hands down on the flattest parts of each game forcing them back onto the flat ground. Thomas didn’t notice nor care if anypony else noticed what he was doing all that mattered to him was keeping Pinkie from hurting herself. As she nears the end of the row she leaps from the last game and lands on a plate being held by a statue. The statue in question is made of clouds in the shape of a rearing stallion offering the plate to the heavens. Thomas couldn’t see how it’s keeping Pinkie aloft, but it wouldn’t do it for long as it was already starting to sag under her constant movement. Rushing over Thomas stands under the plate and puts his hands under it to keep it from dropping out from under her. Seeing that Pinkie was staying in one place the girls converge on the pair. “Are you alright?” asks Twilight. “I’m fine. Pinkie isn’t all that heavy to me, but this statue doesn’t like her bouncing. Can one of you stop her or maybe keep this statue together?” “Oh no! We can’t stop her from singing. If we did that it would hurt her worse then if she fell from where she is.” Said Fluttershy looking concerned. “Fluttershy is right melody magic can cause massive backlash for all involved if it’s stopped abruptly by outside forces. And I don’t know any spells that would prevent that cloud statue from breaking apart, sorry.” “Sorry Twi, it’s not the clouds holding that up.” Says Rainbow Dash as she waves a hoof at part of the statue breaking off some of the clouds. “It’s a wire frame. Fairly thick wires that can take some weight but not the constant pounding on it.” “I guess I could try to strengthen…” Twilight begins “YOU!” was the last thing anyone heard when everything stopped. Pinkie had stopped singing, the ponies in the game room had stopped chanting, and everything had gone quiet, even the machines were silent. The shout had come from two sources. Pinkie still standing on the plate on her hind hooves was pointing at stallion that was high above them in a office overlooking the floor and said stallion was pointing back towards Pinkie. The stallion seeing that his choice was seen left the open window and disappeared back in to his office. The room quickly returns to its strange atmosphere. Hopping off the plate and landing next to the girls, she turns to face them. Her mane and tail have poofed back to their normal cotton candy look, and her eyes have lost their anger but replaced with a look of determination. “Well girls we have our bad guy!” “Pinkie, dear, you know we love you but we have no idea what your talking about.” Says Rarity with a pleading look on her face. “Didn’t you girls, and Tomi, hear the song?” “Of course we didn’t you pink…” Screwball quickly closes her mouth when she sees a withering glare from Thomas. “Sorry Pinkie, but I was too busy keeping you from hurting yourself or others as you bounced around the room.” Pinkie blushes, “Oops guess I was too caught up in the moment to pay attention to what I was doing. But shouldn’t you girls have known it instantly?” “Sorry Pinkie.” The girls say all looking sheepish. “We were too confused and worried about you that we didn’t get pulled into the song like everypony else.” Says Twilight. Pinkie’s eyebrows furrow in frustration and thought. “Okie dokie lokie, I guess I could summarize it.” Pinkie’s right foreleg waves towards the ponies in the game room. “At first glance those ponies look like their having great fun playing all those neat-o games. But, and it’s a big but.” Pinkie giggles at her own immature joke. “I, being a pony that enjoys making others happy, can easily see that none of those ponies are having fun.” “They all look like they’re just really focused on winning though.” Says Rainbow Dash incredulously. Pinkie looks a bit sad at that remark. “I can see why you think that, Dashie. Even at your most competitive and focused I can tell you’re having fun. These ponies look like their doing everything out of desperation, fear, or in some cases apathy. And it hurts knowing that some pony caused this, intentionally.” “How do you know somepony caused this Pinkie dear?” Asks Rarity. “As much as I hate to agree with her thinking,” Screwball says taking this moment to speak up startling Thomas from her sudden outcry, and interrupts Pinkie before she can say anything else. “In all likelihood the element is partially to blame for this, and maybe like last time it’s found a pony to use.” Pinkie taps a hoof to her nose and nods at what Screwball says. Tapping a hoof to her chin Twilight hums a bit to herself. “That sounds plausible, and I think we can make an educated guess, but I think we’re here for Pinkie’s element. While two instances aren’t usually enough to get an entire pattern it looks like the Element has some effect on its wielder in some fashion. Applejack figured something odd was going on pretty quickly, even if she didn’t have a name for it. If the next Element effects one of us in some fashion then I think we can guess whose it is a bit easier. But that does leave one question, Pinkie how do you know who’s causing the problem?” “Oh that’s pretty simple. The song did it. I called him out and he replied.” Replies Pinkie with a large grin on her face like it was the most obvious answer ever. Screwball face hoofs herself and groans. “I shouldn’t be surprised at this but it’s her so of course this is how it works.” Thomas begins to laugh and ruffles Pinkie’s mane. “Good job Pinkie I think you made this easy.” Pinkie giggles at her mane being played with, but quickly gets a serious look on her face. “It may be quicker, but I’m not sure it’s going to be easier.” Before Thomas could ask what Pinkie meant by that a fanfare begins to play on the opposite side of the game room. Ponies around the room immediately stop what they were doing and turn towards a litter being carried by four pegasi floating above the game room. Standing atop the litter was a stocky earth pony stallion his coat was a grayish persian blue with a silver and grey streaked mane. He’s wearing a navy blue suit with sequin trim and a blue green sequin cape. Around his neck was a gold chain and hanging off the chain was a black orb, that seemed to have a slight pink tinge to it. He smiles and waves to the crowd as he passes. The litter comes to a stop in front of the girls and the pegasi land. “Salutations, I am Gladmane the proprietor of this fine establishment.” He sweeps a foreleg towards the room. “And you my pretty pink provocateur have been chosen to play a game against me.” As soon as the words leave his muzzle the room erupts in angry shouts. “She hasn’t played any games!” Yells one random pony. “She’s not on any of the high score tables!” Screams another. Gladmane clears his throat and a microphone descends from the roof. “My dear ponies, I told you when I started this contest, that I would decided who gets chosen and why. Your right most of my choices have been those that tend to play quite a bit or are really good at their chosen games, but those were never what drew me to chose them. So if you want me to continue this game you will cease this complaining and abide by my choices.” The crowd didn't look happy but they quiet down and some even went back to their games. “Now as I was saying, you my dear have been chosen. So if you can beat me in a game of your choosing I'll have you set for life!” Gladmane announces with a smile on his face, but the smile doesn't seem to go any farther than that. His eyes are focused entirely on Pinkie Pie, but there is no joy in them just a coldness that stands in direct opposition to Pinkies normal warmth. Rainbow Dash flies up to the litter and tries to get into Gladmane’s face “So what happens if she were to lose this game? Not that she's going to.”  Before Gladmane can reply two pegasus guards fly up and place a couple of spears between Rainbow and Gladmane angled with the sharp ends pointing at Rainbow. “Whoa, what in tartarus are you doing?” She exclaims as she flaps her wings hard, back pedaling away. “Gentle stallions, please, there’s no need for the weapons. She meant no harm.” Gladmane says as he waves away the guards. They quickly pull back their spears and disappear as quickly as they came. Gladmane turns his gaze towards Rainbow Dash. “Well that depends on what she’s willing to bet. Now a lot of the ponies that end up playing against me seem to be willing to bet well everything. So should they lose I take them under my employ. They get free room and board but all their possessions belong to me.” “That sounds like indentured servitude?!” Twilight exclaims. “But that’s not right, no pony should own another! The Princess would never allow that!” “Indentured servitude is a bit harsh miss. It suggests I treat my employee’s as though their beneath me, and with the way things seem to be going I don’t think our dear Princess is around to say anything about how I run by business. Plus I treat my employee’s quite well you can ask any of them.” The girls and Thomas looked around and noticed quite a few toga wearing employee’s smiling and nodding their heads. Pinkie’s eyes narrow as not a single one of those smiles appear real to her. “I'll challenge you, but i don't want your bits. I want the orb around your neck!” The fire was creeping back into Pinkie's eyes once again as she states her intent. Gladmane looks down at the orb than back to Pinkie. “I'm sorry, but that's not an option. It's one of a kind I couldn’t bear to part with it.” Pinkie stomps her hoof onto the ground. “What would it take for you to give that bauble up?” Gladmane chuckles, “I really don't think you have anything I'd want enough to risk it.” “Then how about if i throw my friends into the mix?” “Pinkie!” The girls shout. “I'm sorry girls, but it's the only way if we don't get it the worlds done for anyway.” Pinkie pleads with her friends. Thomas could see the girls didn't like this one bit but they resigned themselves to it. “Are you sure this has to be done Pinkie? I'm sure we could come up with another way to get it from him.” Pinkie doesn't say anything but looks at Thomas and shakes her head slightly. “Oh and what makes you think your friends would add enough to your worth that i would risk my bauble as you called it?” Turning to face her friends Pinkie looks each one of them in the eye and they each nod giving an unspoken go ahead. Pointing to Rainbow Dash who starts posing, “Rainbow Dash is the fastest pegasus in all of Equestria. Imagine the audiences she could bring in with a daredevil show.” Next she points to Fluttershy who does her best not to hide. “ Fluttershy here may look meek and her name is quite well deserved but she can tame even the fiercest of beasts.” Moving on to Applejack who tips her hat at the acknowledgement, “Applejack is part of the famous Apple family and owns one of Equestria's best apple farms.” Rarity anticipating her turn pulls out a small red cloth from her saddle bag and some needle and thread. Working quickly she turns the small bit of cloth into an intricate rose. “As you can see Rarity is a seamstress…” “Fashion designer!” Rarity gruffly interjects. “Fashion designer,” Pinkie corrects. “With quite a lot of skill. Imagine the costumes she could come up with.” Finally pointing to Twilight who just stands there not quite sure what to do. “And last but not least is Twilight Sparkle, the personal student to Princess Celestia herself. And if you know anything about our princess you know she only takes the most magically gifted or intelligent as personal students!” “Oh, and what makes you so special to be among such paragons of their chosen fields?” Asks Gladmane looking approvingly at the other girls. “I hate to waste this on somepony like you, but here.” Pinkies left fore hoof reaches into her mane and rummages around in it for a moment and then pulls out a chocolate cupcake. She quickly tosses it to Gladmane where it lands on his outstretched hoof like she had placed it there personally. He looks down at it in surprise. “Don't worry about it and just eat it.” Shrugging at the inexplicable he decides to ignore the how and do as she says and eats it. A smile starts to form on his face immediately and for the first time since he introduced himself actual joy shows in his eyes. “That is by far the best cupcake I've ever had the pleasure to consume! You have yourself a deal. I'll wager my orb and you wager you and your friends.” Focusing back on Pinkie the coldness returns to his eyes. “Well my pretty little baker,” Pinkie shivers at this comment. “While you did change the stakes, I'll still allow you to chose the game on the condition i get to choose how many rounds we have to play.” “I accept!” Pinkie shouts with determination in her voice. “And the game we shall be playing is battle clouds!” With the horse shoe thrown the crowd that had been watching the whole exchange begin to cheer and chant “game time.” Gladmane just smiles. “Perfect, the game will start in ten min on the central platform. So don't get cold hooves now.” With that said the four pegasi holding the litter take off towards the central platform. Rushing up to Pinkie, Rainbow Dash puts both forelegs on Pinkie's shoulders. “Pinkie have you gone mad!? You're terrible at battle clouds. We've played hundreds of times and you've never once beaten me!” Pinkie just giggles. “Silly Dashie, I'm not terrible i just enjoy seeing you so happy when you win. I don't mind losing if it makes my friend happy!” Rainbow Dash looks completely stunned at the revelation as Pinkie continues to laugh at her. “Buh, buh what?” Rainbow sputters. “Come on girls I got a game to win” Pinkie says as she turns and walks toward the central platform. The girls share a look laced with apprehension mixed with a little bit of confusion and a smidgen of hope. “Can she really do this?” Asks Twilight. “Its Pinkie, she may not be the most serious pony around but you saw the the look in her eyes. She won't let us down.” Says Applejack as she gets up and starts after Pinkie, with the girls quickly following suit except for Rainbow Dash. Thomas seeing her just float there pokes her in the head “Equestria to Dash. They’re leaving without you. And i think Pinkie will need your support in this.” She blinks a few times and focuses on Thomas. “Right, right I need to get over there.” She says with a worried look on her face. And in the blink of an eye she's already reached the group leaving Thomas and Screwball to play catch up. “Screwball, I'm not sure how much they actually need us?” “It doesn't really matter how much as long as you help them as you can. Even though you need them more than they need you.” Says Screwball with the last bit lower than the rest. Thomas looks over at Screwball, “What was that last bit?” “Hmm, it was nothing. Come on we need to catch up and make sure no cheating occurs. Or maybe do a little cheating ourselves.” With that Screwball flies off laughing after the other girls forcing Thomas to run after her.