Feeling horrible, I became desperate to find some prey. That, however, was impossible: I must have stayed unrecognised and unsuspicious. This is really hard to achieve, is it not?

My capacity to endure hunger was stretching its limits. There was nearly no poison left... That was the part, where generating the required transmission was almost impossible without some help! Who knows, what might have become of me... if Pinkie Pie hadn't had a job...

Of course her having a job was not nutritional for me -- not in any way! -- but she just so happened to be a baker... It is not her only occupation: her life is dedicated to arranging parties. It is her talent to bring smile upon ponies' faces, and she does so many ways: she plans parties, talks a lot, cheers ponies up, does silly things... funny faces... stand-ups. When not trying to tell a joke, she's a clown, and when she's not -- she enacts a role. A comical one. She makes ponies laugh.

I may have stirred you to have thought she practises tickling, have I not? But that's wrong: although she does love laughter and smiles, tickling is not what she lives on. Nopony likes being tickled. Although... it seems, the thought of forced laughter fascinates her as well... So it may be easy to operate as her -- but she is not known to ponies as a tickler... So it would be suspicious, if I, disguised as her, started attacking...

But she's a job as a baker, and she works in a bakery. That bakery so happens to be owned by a married couple, and that couple has twins. How is Pinkie Pie connected to any of this? She's held in high regard by the bakery owners, so much so, that she's even allowed in their family life. So it would in no way be suspicious, if I entertained myself with those twins...

All of this intelligence was discovered by me by pure accident. Pinkie Pie felt my hunger for laughs and shared her recollections. The plan came spontaneously.

I asked Pinkie Pie to show me the way to the bakery. She gave me the directions.

Hopping vigorously, I made my way to the twins. Everypony upon seeing me smiled and waved at me -- and I felt no dread! No! Cheerfulness was radiated from everywhere! The world seemed happy! Simple and unsophisticated! I smiled back and waved in response. Their spirits were up, and it gave me positivity. Unfortunately, it was not sufficient, but at the very least I should not die, as long as I received it.

If Pinkie Pie were a Hunter, I have no doubt she should be a strong Hunter: it is by her initiative, that everypony smiles and feels anything toward her. It is not as if everypony were willing to treat Pinkie Pie the way they do -- no! Even the most grumpy would smile at her, would they not!

When the bakery had emerged, I was astounded! I don't know, how it is possible for me to be astounded... The bakery was made to look to be some confection... I wondered, if it was so indeed.

"No, silly, -- told Pinkie Pie me then, -- "Sugar cube corner" is not actually edible! Do you think I'd have resisted devouring it, if it were?!"

It is amazing: unlike many other guides she seemed not to be trapped! As if her mind was not subjugated at all! Her personality was unsuppressible!

But it all didn't matter to me: it seems, her cheerful immaturity intoxicated me. As I said, I don't practise getting inebriated... But, well, the experience is most unforgettable!

I asked the bakery owners, Carrot and Cup Cakes, if I had anything to do, but they assured me I had nothing. It was splendid!

I was hit with a pillow. The twins were going wild inside. Removing the pillow from my face, I looked around.

The kids were having a blast. I felt them having what I hadn't and wanted to join them badly. But, grinning as widely, as my mouth could allow me, I suppressed the urge to join their fun and approached them. They noticed me and exclaimed: "Pinkie!" -- for what their still undeveloped tongues could allow of course -- and broke into galloping toward me. Feeling joy and smiling as wide, as a mile, I prepared to grasp them in a hug. They tackled me, so I fell. They were crawling all over me...

It was as I've said: kids... Always brimming with energy. As well, as with the Energy...

They were jumping on top of me, while I was trying to wrestle with them... but they wouldn't let me get up.

...Have I said, that kids are selfish? Naive, innocent -- and selfish. It must always be their way, and not someone else's. They just can't see themselves equal to their peers...

Now? Now I can only remember, as they had responded to my touch... my eyes all but were covered up with a veil: I could not see clearly. It was as if I'd plummeted into an abyss of positivity, as my poison was flowing into them in a form of an assault upon their sensitivity. My desire to receive a squeal of laughter... It was finally met...

I did not want to hurt them -- but I wanted them to feel under my control. I wanted to have them to myself and to inflict fuzziness!..

Ah-h-h!.. Have I said, that it feels great to feed? If you are not a Hunter, then you can't probably tell that!

...Perhaps, the twins' squeals had alerted their parents, because after some time they all came up to see, if everything was alright. Upon seeing us playing they calmed down a bit. I remembered myself and brought it down somewhat, so it didn't seem as though I was tickling them relentlessly. It was unfortunate, but it must have been done: I didn't want the kids to complain to their parents about Auntie Pinkie being mean to them.

Still... I wasn't full yet. My original plan had been to find a source of the Energy, to feast, then to find a new guide and finally to leave for Canterlot. Now, however, I had found the guide, had half-found the source and hadn't yet feasted to its fullest extent! I might want to find a new one, but... Neither I, nor Pinkie Pie knew of one such...

For the rest of the day I have trodden almost every road in Poniville; have seen every face in the town; have greeted everypony; have chatted on a million topics...

I ask her that. She answers: "I don't know. It just happens to me naturally!" Her voice doesn't sound, as if she'd given much thought to it. Again, she's immature to the degree of being all childlike! And kids... We have to value them.

By the end of the day I have finally stumbled upon Twilight Sparkle... but she said to me, that she was busy. Damn! Although she did say, that she wanted to hang out with all of us later.

...This intrigued me, and I asked Pinkie Pie about her and Twilight Sparkle's mutual friends...

Pinkie Pie is invaluable as an information source! She knows almost everything about everypony! I... don't think I will let her go...

But as a spy I must work stealthily. Now I am Pinkie Pie, next -- I am somepony else. If I kept Pinkie Pie to myself... Who knows... Someone might notice her disappearance. And I must not leave any trail of my being there!

Twilight Sparkle and Pinkie Pie met, when Equestria was preparing to the Summer sun celebration. It was some time ago. No one would have thought Twilight Sparkle should play a key role in those events... It is interesting: I didn't know someone was threatening Sun... By the way, there is no "Sun" for the ponies: they say, it is an orb of heat controlled by the sun princess Celestia, the ruler of Equestria. How arrogant of them... Anyway, there was a threat to Sun, and Twilight Sparkle was most prepared for that. She knew to find the Elements Of Harmony, which would stop the threat that called itself "Nightmare Moon"...

There is a legend of two sisters: one Princess Celestia, and the other -- Princess Luna. Both ruled Equestria, one controlling the sun (note my referring to Sun as to the sun, using "the"), and the other -- the moon. The sun shone at daytime, while the moon did at night-time.

But Princess Luna decided, it was unfair, and so she tried to take over both the sun and the moon for the night to last forever. Of course Princess Celestia would not allow that, and so she got rid of her sister. She was merciful and valued family ties as much, as Hunters do, so she didn't kill her, but rather banished her, ironically, to the moon.

Her imprisonment, however, wouldn't last for long, for she had become Nightmare Moon, thus having gained some stings up her core... Wait, but she had no core, had she? She was not a Hunter, was she? Anyway. Nightmare Moon had escaped, and nopony was prepared for that, except for Twilight Sparkle. Of course she had outstood and was noticed by one Rainbow Dash -- and some other ponies as well. All of them had had something to do for the celebration, so they had been responsible for parts thereof. They had all been present, when Nightmare Moon had appeared. It also so happened, that Twilight Sparkle had made an acquaintance with each of them earlier.

Intrigued, they all followed her to a library, where a book was found that led to the Elements. The path had appeared to be very dangerous, but the six ponies stuck together and did find them. This brought them closer, and friendship was sparkled... And who would have guessed it was one of the Elements...

I mean, this is the part, where I can't follow it any more. They had nothing on themselves -- just six regular ponies, who should never become as powerful, as Princess Celestia -- and she is said to control the sun, so that must mean, her power may rival that of Sun himself! And Nightmare Moon was as powerful, as Princess Celestia! What force had the ponies to defeat her?

Pinkie Pie told me it was friendship. I, however... I don't get it. What is friendship worth?

Pinkie Pie could not explain that. Nor could she explain to me, how she had become Twilight Sparkle's friend. She told me everything about that fateful day she had encountered her. According to her words, it had been an exciting adventure for her. Fighting Nightmare Moon had proven to be not easy. She could not have done it all by herself. She had had her friends' help. As her friends they were honest with her, gave her kindness, were generous and loyal to her... And she? -- what was she to them? what did she give?

...Laughter. All she had given to them was laughter. This, gentleponies, is the most inexplicable moment of her story...

Now, I can understand, why she's considered everypony's friend: because she brings smile to their faces. They are willing to be her friend -- this is why she says she has lots of them.

However. I don't know, if she gets along with Applejack, the Element Of Honesty and one of her friends to hang out with Twilight Sparkle. She may consider her to be her friend -- but is seeing her friends smile more important to her, than being honest with them? This, actually, is more important: how honest is she with her friends?

Furthermore: is there one she's always loyal to -- regardless of circumstances? For -- what will one do to achieve smiles? Will one play a two-sided game? Like a spy. Will one? Maybe. Ponies forgive Pinkie Pie for that -- and how can they not? -- but I don't think they will to stay as loyal to her...

True, she may be generous... but only when it comes to arranging a party. And if one asked her not to "throw" one -- would she agree? I don't think she can sacrifice her interests for those of the others.

Finally there's kindness. Fluttershy is known by that. And I was the witness to how she behaved with Fluttershy. She can feel for others. She's not inconsiderate. Yet -- how easily she is distracted! It's unbelievable! They say to her, that it's OK and no feelings have been hurt -- and she loses any reason to feel for them. If it's OK, then why worry about it? Why think it's only a very polite way to say "I'm not to complain, but why don't you ask me, if I need for compassion to be shown toward me?" May I blame her, though? She's not a Hunter... and not a good friend, it seems.

Laughter... Yeah, sure. For I feed by making the prey laugh. She -- makes them laugh and feels well because of that. Lots of friends -- and yet how good of a friend is she?

Is she actually any better, than me? For I am a bad friend. Indeed: when one meets somepony new, it takes having known each other, trust, some support at the hard times, showing one cares about his friend; it takes unselfishness, self-sacrifice; and of course it takes loyalty to be considered a good friend. I, however?.. Well...

As a spy I can't stay loyal to anypony, for I am never attached to anyone; my promises are worth nothing, for they come not out of my heart, but out of my guise's mouth; whatever I say is only half truth, for I have things to hide, and I lie about being no more than just an ordinary pony -- for I am no pony -- I am the Spy! Forget self-sacrifice and compassion: these are not something a Hunter can offer, for, giving out, I don't gain anything, but only lose much...

So -- how has Pinkie Pie become their friends? I doubt she's got honesty, or loyalty, or unselfishness, or compassion...

I wonder, why Applejack has never told her about it. She's supposed to be Honesty -- and what friendship is there without honesty?

To put it bluntly: why is Laughter an Element Of Harmony? Does one really need laughter for friendship not to dissipate? True, fear can scare even the best of friends. But, unlike the other four Elements, does laughter assist in making friends? It does certainly make the others love the laughter-inducing one, but can laughter sparkle up friendship?

That's what the other four Elements do, anyway. If I had any of them as my trait, either Applejack, or Fluttershy, or Rarity, or Rainbow Dash might invoke a feeling of love toward my friend... I am numb to such invocations, but, if I were not, friendship might be ignited...

But laughter? Might Pinkie Pie invoke the kind of love friends feel each toward the other? What, if she hadn't gone with the rest of the six friends? What would've happened? Fear might blind them... So they needed the way to deal with it. Such a way was laughter -- but are there more? If I can't make myself laugh in my fears' face -- assuming I can be scared, -- then how do I deal with them?

"Tell me: if you couldn't bring yourself to laugh at what scared you, were there any way you could overcome it?"

This... strikes her with overwhelming confusion she gets lost in. She's miserable, feeling powerless to fight her fear...

"I... I-I d-don't k-know... What... w-what even is the world, where LAUGHTER doesn't exist?!"

If she were not inside the cloaking wristlet, she should burst with tears -- I can tell that.

"Oh... P... Pinkie? Is that you?.." -- I hear a voice I recognise as Fluttershy's.

...But no answer from Pinkie Pie comes. There's only an emotional response... of sorrow. And misery. And a cry of despair...

...Fluttershy is speaking to me. But I don't hear. I blink. It doesn't clear my vision. I sniff... against my will...

I don't know, what is happening to me, nor why. I'll just... postpone pondering it...

"Oh! Forget the session! -- she screams, albeit not too loud, unlike other ponies. -- How can you possibly think of it?! When you're so... distressed!"

Huh... Is Pinkie Pie distressed? Or does she only look like it? I don't sense any distraught...

"Oh! Don't you cry, poor thing! -- coos Fluttershy. -- You are the Element Of Laughter! You don't cry! You laugh! Oh, you need a friend, don't you? C-c-come... c-closer!.."

...Of course. Of course... I'm crying. My eyes are brimming with tears, and some have flowed out and down my cheeks.

I tune in to Pinkie Pie's emotion: maybe, someone will tell me what it is, if I feel it and tell about what I'm feeling... No. I know.

...Sadness. I feel sadness. Overall. There's some more acquired taste. She feels... hurt. As if she were but a child. Sorrow... It stings... Burns...

"I-I've b-been... th... th-thin... -king... -- I weep. -- And... i-it's... got me... s-s-sad..."

It is very odd to feel... I share Pinkie Pie's emotions... And now I feel Fluttershy's kindness consoling her -- so I share that too. The balance is... fascinating! Emotions are flowing through me -- but I don't get hurt by negativity, nor does positivity saturate me! This... must be what it is like to be of prey!

"No, Pinkie, you are not! -- she says to me warmly. -- Y-you are a wonderful friend! -- tears enter her voice. There seems a bunch of emotions to be inside her... can't tell for certain each separately... forgive me... -- We... we... w-we love you, Pink... -kie!.."

She can't withhold her tears. Naturally: she's established a connection like a weak Hunter, but all she's receiving is my sadness. Of course it must hurt.

"I... am... L... Laughter... -- I squeak. -- N... no K... Kindness... No... L... -oyalty!.. I!.. bad... friend!.."

Tears are hot -- do you know that? And I... don't think I want to be of prey: my face is so distorted because of my weeping!.. Is it not great to have control over oneself? Over one's emotions? I am proud I have!

...Oh, but now I must play my role to the end. I am quivering of weeping, as convulsions have overtaken me. I see nothing... hear nothing...

But I do sense emotions. There are ponies around. Not many have stopped. Even fewer prefer to stay instead of proceeding to their affairs. And no one has come to console me...

Yet all of them, of those seeing me, feel sad because of me. It stings them. I am no sorrow striker -- otherwise I would have been full by now!

However my train of thought is interrupted, as Fluttershy leads me to somewhere. I don't see where to. My emotions are overtaking me still...

We must have arrived. But to where? I don't know: I have drowned in my sadness. Pinkie Pie hasn't been responding to me. I don't worry, because I can't be worried, as a Hunter, but, if I could, I would be... Nothing like this has happened before. She must be special, is she not?..

Some time has passed. I can't see a thing: for everything is a blur. However. The place is not deserted. I can sense Fluttershy's compassion and sympathy. They ease my sufferings. Another soul has entered. It radiates concern about my well-being. It eases my sufferings even more -- but doesn't stop them completely. Such are the ways of the prey.

More souls come in. One, two, three, four. All are resonating with my negativity. All feeling bad because of me.

I hear their voices. They all word their concern, their mutual worry. Words... They are universal in carrying the meaning. But who needs them? Hunters don't: emotions speak louder, than words. The prey, however, cannot do without words. Such are their ways...

They say, friendship is magic. I have had no friends -- spies can't -- but after all Pinkie Pie has told me about friendship, I think, I can understand.

Friends show the four traits: honesty, kindness, generosity and loyalty. All of these are combined in one feeling. The feeling I could not describe... The feeling is an emotional response, and all responses occur due to transmissions and the tendencies to reply to them. Being no scholar, I, nonetheless, dare say, there is a link between two friends, and a friend is inclined to do things for his friend, no matter his personal desires. He is, pardon the pun, bound to respond emotionally, and such response is what a friend feels for his friend. I dare call it love, but love is too abstract a term to be used here. The feeling is some kind of love... If I could tell which...

This feeling friends experience for their friends... It's filling me with determination! I feel myself set to persist, to survive, to build, to create, to explore -- and to do even more! I feel positivity, and I share it with Pinkie Pie. Sting after sting my happiness is restored -- and so is Pinkie Pie's! Sadness gives way to warmth, to love and to felicity!..

...Finally I feel Pinkie Pie coming alive, snapping out of her "stupor". It's as if she's just awoken.

I become aware of the outside world again. I blink several times. Then wipe the tears off.

Rarity, the Element Of Generosity. Rainbow Dash, the Element Of Loyalty. Applejack, the Element Of Honesty...

A pony I have never seen before is standing there as well. She can be identified neither as a pegasus, nor as an unicorn. She is both in fact. This strikes me as odd. I must have not interrogated my previous guides well enough...

"She is an alicorn, -- I hear Pinkie Pie's voice in my head. -- This makes her a princess. The Princess Of Friendship, actually. Allow me to introduce: Her Royal Highness Princess Of Friendship Twilight Sparkle!"

So this is Twilight Sparkle I've been looking for, huh?.. Wait, have I not seen her this day already? I remember stumbling upon her... Of course! How can I have forgotten having seen her! Weird, huh...

Finally. Finally we've met! A perfect, rare opportunity -- I think to myself. A sapling of a plan is being formed in my head: with her knowledge I may infiltrate the government... now she won't be busy: as a friend she's got to help her friend in need! Even better! -- I think. If I suck her in, she'll involuntarily help me to reach my goal!

Oh. I am going to use her trust to my advantage, aren't I? I am a bad friend, aren't I? I admit it: I am the Spy, and the Spy is a bad friend.

All of my friends are standing around me, concern painted on their faces. I manage to smile weakly:

"You... all of you... are wonderful friends... -- I whisper. -- Each of you has got a trait of a true friend... Each of you... except for me..."

I invoke sadness in myself, careful not to infect Pinkie Pie with it. Sadness may kill her: she can't take it.

Everypony present sounds her protest: no, I am a wonderful friend too, am I not, Pinkie?

I give them my reasoning about laughter not being necessary to sparkle friendship up. How they protest! Their life would never be the same without me!

But I say to them: if I hadn't gone with them, when we fought Nightmare Moon, would it have mattered?

And so I ask them, what they consider another way to deal with fears... There... has got to be a way, except for laughter, is it not?..

And we converse. We discuss what it takes to be a good friend. Twilight Sparkle seems acceptant of the fact, that laughter is not required -- but she shares her knowledge about the subject immediately.

The Elements are not actually the Elements of friendship -- but of Harmony. While it is true, that the four Elements are required to sparkle friendship up, they are not enough to sparkle it. Some magic is required -- the magic of friendship... Why do they go on about friendship being magic?? I just... can't understand it! I... just... can't understand... And neither can Pinkie Pie, it appears...

And even then without laughter the Elements should not be the Elements Of Harmony. Take laughter away -- and... you've witnessed, what happened to Pinkie Pie. Sadness... is... depressing. Some die of it...

I realise suddenly, that sadness is opposed to joy. The first one is negativity, the second one is positivity! Where energy exists, it never goes away. Come positivity -- negativity appears in another place. Their sum is equivalent to the amount of Energy there was before the transformation. So... Where laughter does not exist...

"Sadness... -- I utter. All are startled, when I've spoken. -- If there were no sadness... there should be no laughter, isn't it so? Girls?"

"Why?.. What's wrong with you, Pinkie? -- they all ask. -- You have never been so depressed before!"

"Is it because we haven't hung out?" -- asks Rainbow Dash, appalled.

"Or because we've given little thought to each of us?" -- exclaims Rarity, a bit too dramatically, yet bringing up a good point.

"We must've not been speakin' a lot, nay? -- speaks up Applejack. -- Let's face it: it's been a whah-ile since we've experienced some good tah-ime togetha, ain't we?"

"But won't you think about it? Laughter is to chase away sadness! Magic is to bring forth unfathomable power! Twilight! Haven't you ever thought about it before? Why, you think, did the Elements appear?"

"They must have formed, because somewhere had formed the Elements Of Disharmony! It is only natural: nothing disappears or appears out of nowhere! Energy, Twilight. Duh-uh!"

She catches on:

"It... is a valid point... Why have I never thought about it this way before?"

"Pinkie, -- interrupts Applejack rather rudely, -- you think too much". Blunt, is she not? "You're way betta, when you don't".

"Applejack!" -- Rarity is shocked again.

"A serious Pinkie, -- she goes on, -- is most definitely... -- she approaches me, gives me a hug and nuzzles me affectionately -- ...a ba-a-ad Pinkie!"

I smile out of no volition. "This is why you're a good friend!" -- I speak; and tears, of happiness this time, swell in my eyes. I stretch my fore arms (unbelievably long, be it noted!) and bring all of them closer in a hug: "All of you! Good friends!"

We share a moment together.

...Then I unhug them and frown again:

"So... I don't get it: you love me... And I?.. I... must confess..." They all fall silent and listen in in worry... Friendship is beautiful, true... But why is it magic?.. "So, -- I start. -- Honesty... Kindness... Generosity... And loyalty..." As I name each trait, I notice each of them changing their pose or look on their faces. "Each one of them, -- I continue, -- is something that makes up a good friend..." Incomprehensible sounds are made in agreement. "Laughter, however... -- I heave a sigh, -- ...is not on the list..."

"But, Pinkie! -- interrupts Twilight Sparkle, -- we have discussed this! Laughter is not the Element Of Friendship, it is the Element Of Harmony! You must not fret!.."

"I do not understand... -- it's me again. -- If I represent none of the four... How is it possible for me to experience this... feeling you all experience for me?.."

"Pinkie, -- Applejack speaks again, -- you don't need to be an Element to be friends! Just think of about any Ponivillian!"

"I don't think I'm a good friend to them", -- I sniff.

"Pinkie, -- exclaims Rainbow Dash, -- you're fun! That's what's important, isn't it?"

"But am I loyal? -- I press. -- Am I unselfish? Or compassionate? Or... honest?.."

Tears are about to blur my vision again. I feel someone touch me. Someone has approached.

"Pinkie". Twilight Sparkle. "You are not an Element Of Friendship..."

"I know", -- I protest...

"...and neither am I", -- she finishes simply.

I find no counterargument.

"But I, -- she proceeds, -- do love my friends, as they do me. They ignite their Elements in me, and that's why I love them!"

I feel everypony melt to these words.

"Everypony can ignite those feelings. You may not represent any one of the four -- but you have a heart, Pinkie!" She hugs me. "And having a heart means, you can feel! You can reciprocate! You can..."

"Respond", -- I say.

It has come out as an indifferent remark. But it is true. The prey has a heart. It can feel, and feeling means responding to transmissions.

"Respond?" -- Twilight Sparkle is confused.

"Why, yeah, -- I answer before thinking. -- You know, like everypony does. Unless they feed on emotions".

"Exactly, -- she beams at me. -- So? How about throwing a party?"

Everypony gazes at her, stunned.

"Erm-m-m... -- utters Rainbow Dash. -- Twilight... Are you sure you are OK?"

"What? Mayn't I have some fun?" -- she assumes a cross look.

Rainbow Dash commences sniggering and snarking about how Twilight Sparkle is a bookworm pony.

We must have a party! There I may leave Pinkie Pie... and disguise as the princess.

"Pinkie Pie is a wonderful pony", -- I announce, feeling of longing in my voice, as if I had already parted with her.

"Um... Y... yes?.. She... is?.." -- she speaks unsurely, but then can't help herself giggling: "Hee-hee, Pinkie, are you alright? You may be so sensitive at times! You know: it's lovely actually. But all of your worries, I assure you, are not worth it, Pinkie! We, as friends, are always there for you!"

She's supportive, as always... I can't reciprocate. I... don't practise reciprocating. As a Hunter I lack what the prey has. It is not to worry about: I have great power, so I am in no right to complain...

...I realise suddenly I have had a slip of tongue: I have referred to Pinkie Pie as to herself, not as to myself!

"Fluttershy..." -- I start.

"Yes?" -- she replies, all intent to listen.

"Tell me: how has your day gone?"

"Oh... Well... The market not withstanding... -- she shivers. -- Everything has gone... fine?.. Oh! I had a talk with that pony you had brought to me!"

I'm listening.

"His name is Roach Coach".

I hardly suppress a snicker. Not only because of Pinkie Pie in my head, but because I know, who he is, as well. His folks are all bug-like. Of course he'd be named after a bug. Does he actually coach 'roaches?

"I know! He told me he had a knack for cockroaches".

Ee-yep. Figures.

"So we got along really fast!.. Although... I am slightly... afraid of cockroaches... -- she blushes lightly, while I don't bat an eye. -- But... I... can appreciate them. So... y-yeah. We had a talk... Talked about cockroaches... bugs... insects..."

Oh my Sun, he would not shut up about insects, would he!

"Well... After that he told me he'd actually felt well after hanging out with me... A-a-and... that was it".

"So he's not hungry any more? -- I inquire. -- Not hungry for love?"

"Oh! No. I think, he'd felt really better after we'd chatted, compared to what he'd felt before!"

"And?! Did he say anything about me??!"

She smiles sweetly:

"No, Pinkie. Why?.."

"Because I'd told him before that, that I knew a mare, who'd help him!"

"Oh... -- she looks bashful. -- H-how... very... s-s-sweet of you, P-Pinkie..."

"Eh, -- I answer casually. -- He needed that".

Fluttershy doesn't answer me, even more bashful, than before.

"Although, maybe, I should have left him there..." -- I note in contemplation, even more casually.

And her eyes bulge in shock:

"W... what??!"

"Well, would you not, if you knew, who he was?"

She looks (and is in fact) lost. I don't let her say anything and, leaning closer to her, whisper:

"He's not who he seems, Fluttershy! Not. Who. He. Seems!" She's only staring at me in confusion, still shocked. I go on: "He is not actually a pony! But -- sh-h-h! -- I shush at her, a hoof close to my lips. -- He knows my secret, so, if his secret is not safe with you, mine isn't too".

She blinks. "Um... W... what... secret... Pinkie?.."

"Well... How do I know I should trust you?"

The words have stabbed her like nothing I've known. She looks about to cry.

"Think about it, -- I continue. -- Have you never noticed anything suspicious about your day? Not even... a voice in your head?" But she answers me nothing. Only her lip is quivering. "Heh. That's splendid, actually! But know, -- and I look her in her eyes, dead serious and calm, -- there are spies amongst us. So..." -- and I shrug.

"B... b-but... I-I-I am n-no spy!" -- she cries out.

I put a hoof on her lips:

"Are you sure? Because, -- I inch my face so it fills all of her vision, -- one of the ponies here is".

Letting her not say anything more, I just leave her and hop toward my other friends nonchalantly.

Pinkie Pie, you affect me badly. I keep letting certain things slip; I don't think I will keep you inside... Yes, I know, I will miss you -- a feat done never before! -- but... good bye, Pinkie Pie!..

I embrace all of them -- I do even manage to reach out for poor Fluttershy, -- start counting... stab Twilight Sparkle with my "backstabber"... rip off my cloaking wristlet, losing my disguise in the process, and snap it on Twilight Sparkle's hoof...

Everypony is stunned temporarily -- not because I have stunned them, but because I have revealed myself so suddenly.

They shall remember neither my true self, nor even my "backstabbing" Twilight Sparkle.

Surprisingly, the latter is copied rather fast... I manage to suck her in and to release Pinkie Pie, to reput the wristlet back on and to disguise as the princess...

Pinkie Pie's head is cleared... But some of my memories reside in there still: I leave her a sweet memory of knowing a guy, who knew not emotions... but who got the taste of them and enjoyed them inexpressibly!.. Who regarded her with amazement!...

...I have to perform some more eye flashes, before Pinkie Pie comes to her senses...

But finally she's alright. She snaps out and sees herself in my warm embrace. The other ponies come to as well. The time has not passed for them. At all.

...I feel myself choking and push Pinkie Pie away... Sun, does she hug strongly!

...Despite no joy filling me up to my brim I break into a smile... There's warmth in my chest...

Now, Twilight Sparkle, Princess Of Friendship, an alicorn... What do we make of this?

"First, -- she answers me, -- let us write a letter to Princess Celestia about the invaluable lesson we've all learnt today. Then... Let us have a vegetable-related party!"

"What?" -- asks me Pinkie Pie, elated.

"Just... a stupid pun", -- I try not to smile.

"Ooh! -- she ooh-s. -- Have you come up with it yourself?!"

"I?.. N... No. Actually, it's yours", -- I reply.

"It is?" -- she raises her eyebrow.

""Lettuce" instead of "let us"", -- I give her a quick reminder.

She blinks.

...But then oh-s and snorts a stream of chuckles:

"Oh, y-yeah-ha-ha! Th-tha-hat, hee-hee, one!.."

Rainbow Dash cackles as well. The others are bemused.

I transmit to her: "Pinkie is silly, you know? Be not hurt: she may be inconsiderate at times, but there is no pony like her! So value your friend! She can get hurt too, you know?"

This reminds her of Pinkie Pie's terrible sadness, and compassion overwhelms her. She finds it in herself to forgive the silly mare.

Heh, I have got some of her kindness, haven't I? Must I be so thoughtful, though?..

May I have a wild guess, that Pinkie Pie has decorated it, while I haven't been watching?

...Wait, I have still got to find a source of Energy, and then to head for Canterlot...

I can't have joy, so let the ponies have it! I'll just watch from inside Princess Twilight Sparkle... as well, as interrogate her about the government...

The tale of the Spy

by Andy Ray

Stuck with friends