//------------------------------// // Chapter XXXVIII: Pinkiescape // Story: A Princess and Her Queen // by kildeez //------------------------------// Pinkie sighed as she crawled out of her flour-sack hideout. The machine was pretty much ready, but that she might have to use it against Bait made her stomach turn. She thought she’d grow more used to the idea as she stole occasional bits of work time here and there, but if anything it had only gotten harder to think about. She shook her head, tying the apron tight around her body again. “Cinnamon rolls,” she said aloud with a little smile. “That’ll make it better, some nice cinnamon rolls.” She readied the dough, kneading it under her hooves, working it back and forth and certainly not thinking about standing over Bait, drinking in the betrayed look in his eyes. She certainly did not think about him reaching meekly up to her with a hoof as she coldly pulled the trigger. She didn’t think about him falling back, the last memories in his mind being of an incredible betrayal. She hammered a hoof into the dough. Why was this so hard!? She’d kicked tons of flank back in Canterlot! This should have been easy! Then she sighed, her shoulders relaxing. “No it’s not. I should really stop pretending it will be.” The fact was, she felt something for Bait. Friendship, at the very least, maybe even the potential for more. Canterlot had been easy because those were nameless, faceless changelings, barely visible but for the brief moments before they were engulfed in a cloud of confetti and streamers. Even that one changeling she’d convinced to mimic her had been visible for all of ten seconds before getting a taste of her Twigun. Bait was far and above all those losers. And she was going to have to stop him. The magic stone glued to the back of her neck left her no other choice. She sighed, shook her head. A tear trailed down her muzzle and dripped into the dough, ruining it with her sads. That was alright. She didn’t feel much like baking anymore, anyway. She started throwing the dough away, scraping it out of the bowl and into the garbage, when her ear perked. She swiveled around, facing the door. “Baity?” She asked. Something thudded along the corridor. She might have heard a magical explosion. She bit her lip, her eyes darting to the flour sacks. Did she have time to go for it? No, best not play that card until she was certain. She whipped out a rolling pin, heading for the door and priming it over her shoulder like a baseball bat. At the very least, that would give her time to spring for her little project if she needed it. Another series of magic shots sounded, followed by squeals and the sound of galloping hooves getting closer to her door. Her grip tightened. Her breath evened out in her chest. She licked her lips, her mind reviewing the technique for slipping into Fort FlourPink as quickly as she could. The door opened. She swung. “Pinkie we’re here to…” Rainbow Dash managed before taking a faceful of rolling pin. She fell back, eyes rolling. “Dashie!?” Pinkie gasped, gazing down at the pegasus. “Pinkie?” Twilight said, galloping in right behind Dash. “Twilight!” Pinkie gasped, dropping the rolling pin. “Pinkie!” Rarity added, trotting in after Twilight. “Rarity!” “Sugarcube?” Applejack shot in, then took one look at her blue friend on the ground and gasped. “Rainbow Dash!” “Applejack!” “Pinkie!?” “Rarity!” “Twilight!” “Applejack!” “Pinkie!” “Mommy?” Rainbow Dash interrupted the friends as she sat up, eyes spinning. “Oopsies…” Pinkie said with a sheepish smile. “Sorry, Rainbow.” Shaking her head and pressing a hoof to her temple, Rainbow sighed. “S’alright. Jeez, you ever think about trying out for the Ponyville Sluggers? I think they could use a hitter like you.” “I tried, but they don’t appreciate it when mares run on the field to steal a field goal with a slapshot.” She snorted, shaking her head. “Buncha racists.” “How is that…wouldn’t that be…field goal?” Rainbow sighed, suddenly feeling even dizzier. This only brought a smile to her face. “Gosh, we missed you.” “I missed you girls too,” Pinkie said, smiling to the mares gathered around her. She brought them in for a hug. “I really did.” “No need for any of that now, dearie.” Rarity said, smiling at her friend while wrapping her hooves around Pinkie’s waist. “This dreadful nightmare is over.” “Actually, it hasn’t been so bad,” Pinkie said. “Whazzat?” Applejack asked, backing up. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m super-duper glad you guys’re here, but if I’m being honest…” she played with her mane, a melancholy smile spreading across her face as thoughts of the night she spent with a special certain somechangeling played in her head. And on top of that was Bait in the kitchen on his first day, working to exhaustion. Bait on discovering he was a natural wisk. Bait taking a full load of her happy party fun time blast to the face. “…it was kinda nice at some parts.” “Oh no…not you too…” Twilight sighed, shaking her head. Pinkie tilted her head. “What’s that?” “Nothing, Pinkie,” Twilight said, even as she mouthed “Stocksholm Syndrome” to the others. Pinkie frowned, wondering if Twilight seriously thought she couldn’t see something so long as she didn’t say it aloud, but before she could ask, there was a loud bang and hissing from the other side of the door. “What was that?” “Ohhh…we may have garnered some unwanted attention on our way in,” Twilight sighed as Rainbow and Applejack hurried to barricade the door. “Alright Twi,” Applejack said as she threw a shelf full of spices in the way. “Looks like we’re gonna have some company on the way back, ya’ll think yer up fer a fight?” “As long as we can get to the tunnel, we’re safe. I can teleport everypony out from there.” She sighed. “It’s getting there that’s the problem.” “Wait, cantcha just teleport us all the way?” Pinkie pointed out. “The goop around the palace is blocking anything that complicated,” Twilight said, shaking her head. “I can use some basic silencing magic and some attack spells, but anything more will have to wait until we’re back in the tunnel and clear of the palace.” Pinkie whistled. “You guys tunneled in here? Cool!” “Too bad we didn’t bring any heavy artillery for support, huh?” Rainbow smirked as she threw her weight against the door, prepping to brace herself against it. Eyes widening, Pinkie glanced back at the pile of flour sacks that made up Mt. EverPink. “Girls? I think I might actually be able to help out there.” Bait sighed as he trotted his way back to the kitchen. He’d taken a quick trip to the dungeons to check on the changelings that had assaulted him the other night, and when it was established that they had kept their muzzles shut through all sorts of tortures, he realized all he could do was wait. He had no other leads other than the fact that they were all Praetorians, apparently, and while shocking, it was easy to chalk up to coincidence. Bunch of stallions that familiar with eachother? Of course they would be the only ones they’d trust enough to get involved with this sort of crime ring. Of course they’d come from the same unit. At least, that’s what the Praetorian guarding their cell had said. He shook his head. The only lead he had to go on in the first opportunity he’d ever had to prove one of his “crazy conspiracies” true, and it was him sitting around, waiting for someone else to do their job. Great. Now he got to lie around, wondering when the call would come down that’d tell him to move, and he’d have to drop whatever he was doing for it, so there was no sense in doing anything important until then. Well, at least he might come up with someone to take Switch’s place at his side…or…he could crank out some cookies in the meantime. He smiled. After news like he’d just gotten, some cookies with Pinkie sounded pretty great right now. He could see himself dabbing a bit of frosting off her cute, pink button nose, then have her sneeze confetti on him like she always did. That always cheered him up. Didn’t know why, but maybe— A changeling in full armor nearly bowled him over as he trotted along. “Woah there,” Bait said as he stumbled to the side. “Where’s the fire, soldier?” “Kitchen!” The guard howled over his shoulder. Bait stopped in his tracks. His eyes widened. Pictures of showing up in the daycare with Fluttershy curled up in a little ball while two stallions stood nearby, all ready to do all sorts of nastiness to her, flashed through his head. “Pinkie…oh Bait, you idiot!” He took off in a full gallop, running right for the kitchen, catching up to the guard. “I left her alone!” He gasped. “Why’d I do that!? After what happened with Switch…how could I be so stupid!?” “Sir?” The guard asked, turning to cock an eyebrow at him. “Whatcha talking about?” “Nothing of importance!” Bait panted. “Just get your ass to the kitchen, fast!” “That’s what I’m trying to do, sir!” The guard gasped, even as he fell behind Bait’s gallop. Bait outpaced him the rest of the way, only screeching to a stop when he nearly charged into the flank of another armored guard. His heart leapt into his throat, seeing a whole host of guards gathered around the closed door, spears leveled. A host of dark scenarios played through his head, from a Manticore invasion to Sombra rising from the depths of their flour stocks to possess Pinkie’s poor, pink mind. “Wha-what’s goin’ on?” He gasped between pants. Without looking back from the door, the guard in front of him answered: “You know the Element Bearers? The ones we didn’t catch came back for their friends.” Bait’s eyes widened, his jaw dropping. Her friends… Twilight Sparkle, one of the most powerful magic-users ever born. Rainbow Dash, the fastest creature in Equestria and capable of pulling off the fabled Sonic Rainboom. Applejack, a mare whose bucks and sheer strength were the stuff of legend, ridiculous even by Earth pony standards. Rarity, the fashionista whose elegance and ability on the runway were only matched by her wit, charm, and kung-fu skills. Then again, Pinkie Pie had been the mare of a thousand devastating party cannons to him before all of this, so maybe there was a way to get around this? One that didn’t end in bloodshed? And maybe they could all come out because Pinkie had explained how nice he was and they would all surrender and he’d make sure they’d all be able to be together even as prisoners and they would even wave goodbye as he retreated to the Hive? … Yeah, and maybe Chrysalis would take the moon for a lover. “Step aside!” Bait growled, advancing beyond the line of spears. “Hold up, what the hell’re you doing!?” Another one of the guards asked. Bait surveyed the group around him. Obviously, none of them were of any significant rank. He frowned, turning on the changeling that had spoken up. “I’m the stallion whose job it is to keep that insane pile of joy contained,” he replied. “Now, why the hell haven’t any of you even tried the door!?” Silence greeted him. Most of the changelings averted eye contact. He rolled his eyes: that was answer enough for him. “Chrysalis help us,” he shouted, surveying each. “They’re just ponies! They’re not omnipotent beings! They’re just mares!” Wonderful, cute, sexy, vibrant mares, but they didn’t need to know that. “You’re all being ridiculous! Watch! I’m going to touch the damn door, you all can handle that, right!?” “Sir—“one changeling gasped, a hoof leaving his spear to reach out for him. Bait sneered, whipped around, reached for the knob. And that was when the world exploded. The ceiling was the floor. The floor was ceiling. He was phone. The wall was hard. His skull felt way too soft against it. The world reeled. Thoughts disconnected. Shots distant. Explosions. Magic. A battle? Who was fighting? Was he supposed to be fighting? Usually, that was the case. He tried to stand, focus. Blink. The hallway was a warzone. Magic flew everywhere, the sound of hooves smashing into faces accompanying it. Streaks of purple, white, blue, and orange annihilated the ranks of a dozen black blobs, with the support of… He blinked again. He jaw dropped as his muzzle scrunched up. What was he…even seeing? It looked like a giant, bipedal being made from pulleys and scrap wood barrels wheeling its arms around wildly. He watched a couple of guards charge it, only to be swept away by an arm with a massive barrel protruding from its end, painted with… His heart stopped. Three little balloons. Oh no. Any further doubts were shoved from his mind when the being turned its back to him, revealing the words “PARTY CANNON Mk.II – ALPHA VER” painted onto its back. “Oh no,” he moaned aloud as one of his comrades was blasted away by an explosion of streamers and confetti from the construction’s arm cannon. Unfortunately, his moaning got its attention. The machine turned on him. He could see the little slat meant for a set of eyes to gaze through. He thought he could even see the shimmer of gorgeous baby-blues in there. And his heart twisted as the machine leveled its cannon-arm on him. “BAITY!?” A magically-enhanced voice shouted from inside. “OH...I WAS REALLY HOPING YOU WOULDN’T COME BACK.” “It’s my duty to, Pinkie,” he said, taking a step forward. “I was ordered to guard you. Not only to shield you from outside threats, but also to keep you imprisoned.” “I KNOW THAT.” The cannon didn’t waver. “DON’T MAKE ME DO THIS. PLEASE.” He shook his head slowly, sadly. “You know I don’t have a choice. I have a duty to uphold.” “BUT…I SAID THE MAGIC WORD! PLEASE?” He chuckled, again shaking his head. “Nice to know you didn’t let building a giant mech right under my nose go to your head.” “PLEASE…” she replied. “WHEN THIS IS ALL OVER, I CAN…CAN GO TO THE BADLANDS. AND YOU CAN FIND ME. AND WE’LL HAVE DINNER SOMEWHERE ON THE PRENCH RIVIERA AND MY BUTLER WILL BE THERE AND HE’LL KNOW I’VE MOVED ON FROM…” “That’s not a plan, Pinkie! That’s just a disappointing ending!” “Oh yeah…BUT STILL! WE’LL…WE CAN FIGURE IT OUT! JUST…JUST…” His horn glowed. He lowered his body into a battle stance, the wound in his shoulder voicing its complaint. “Don’t make me do this.” He said at the same time she did. No more words were exchanged. He could see her massive blue eyes shimmering in the little slat, but he could also see that the gun hadn’t wavered in the slightest. His magic didn’t dissipate either. He knew he could set it off faster than she could let off a round from that cannon, and he just had to stop her. If she incapacitated him at the same time he shot, so what? Reinforcements would cart him off to the nearest hospital. But if he activated that stone on her back, she was paralyzed. She’d be stuck here and dragged off to captivity where…she would…not see her friends again, after coming so close to freedom. They hesitated, staring into one another’s eyes. Then suddenly, there were two of her. Bait’s heart leapt into his throat, thinking this might be some new kind of magic, but then there were five of her, then six, then she was all blurry. He only realized he was crying when he felt the warm tears burning along the chitin on his cheek. He remained in battle stance, but he let the tears fall. “Pinkie…” he choked out, trying not to let the sobs enter his voice and failing miserably. “I may not get to say this again, so I need to say it now: I’m sorry!” There was a long pause, and then: “WHAT!?” “I’m sorry!” He gasped. “I’m sorry you were—“ And then the world exploded. Again. Cripes, twice in one day? He should have probably gone in to get checked for a concussion. Pinkie gasped, watching Rainbow Dash carry out a supersonic tornado kick to Bait’s jaw. “RAINBOW!” “Got ‘im!” She laughed, turning to Pinkie with a smile on her face. “No worries, Pink! I got the little bug!” “RAINBOW, YOU DIDN’T…YOU SHOULDN’T…” Pinkie looked over to Bait’s unconscious body. A hoof went to her mouth. A moment later, she slipped from the PC-MK.II’s hatch and galloped to him. “Bait…” The smaller changeling lay in her hooves. She cuddled him close to her body, her eyes brimming with tears, looking over the growing bruise on his jaw. “You didn’t have to do that…” she whispered. “Pinkie…” Pinkie looked up, at Twilight and Applejack and Rarity and Rainbow Dash walking towards her, all with their brows hunched in concern. She should have been happy about that. Happy to see her friends again, right? …No. No, not if it meant another friend got hurt. She let out a quivering sigh and finally, leaned down to plant a long kiss on Bait’s lips. Gasps of shock surrounded her, she didn’t care. She just kept making out with Bait’s limp form until her air ran out and she broke it off with a pop. “Pinkie…what?” Twilight gasped, shaking her head side to side while her eyes remained on the strange pair. “It’s a long story, Twi, I’ll tell ya later.” Pinkie insisted, setting Bait down gently as she climbed to her hooves. “Right now, we gotta get back to that tunnel before reinforcements arrive, right?” Twilight stared with wide eyes for a long while, then she finally blinked. “Y-yes, we need to get back to the tunnel. Now.” She turned to the others. “Girls, get ready for a fight. I don’t think the changelings have had time to gather themselves, but I’m not taking any chances.” Pinkie nodded, saluted, and climbed back up into her pilot’s seat. Elevated as she was, she was the first of the group to notice the wavering of heat gathering near the ceiling. “Alright girls!” Twilight insisted. “Are we ready!?” “JUST ONE SECOND,” Pinkie said. “DOES ANYPONY ELSE SMELL SMOKE?”