//------------------------------// // Chapter 13: The One Where Pinkie Pie Knows // Story: Light and Dark: Road to Redemption // by MXCDarkHorse2020 //------------------------------// Chapter 13: The One Where Pinkie Pie Knows In recent days, things have been going smooth for Twilight ever since she overcame her nightmares from Midnight Sparkle. She got to sightsee Manehattan and visit many of the places she has dreamed of seeing when she visited, and she also managed help Coco Pummel out in reviving the play she has always dreamed of seeing being one of the main attractions in Manehattan. When she got back from Manehattan, The Cutie Mark Crusaders have finally earned their cutie marks to which she, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna were very excited and proud of them for being able to find their true talents after multiple attempts of trying to find their purpose in life. Speaking of other princesses she had just got a letter from Princess Cadance that she and Shining Armor are coming over to visit tomorrow. A very special visit which should be interesting. Aside from the wedding and the Princess Summit, Twilight hasn’t seen them recently. Not to mention, she hasn’t visited the Crystal Empire ever since the Duke and Duchess’ visit. Even though knowing full well that the past is in the past and she is more than welcome to visit the Crystal Empire and her brother and sister-in-law whenever she feels like it and it’s convenient she hasn’t put any thought of doing so because it is also the site of where she committed her greatest and biggest sin as Midnight Sparkle, shattering the Crystal Heart leading to the grand fight against her brother, friends, and mentor, while carrying out a terrorist-like attack at the Equestrian Games. Because she had revealed her true villainous self to everypony there at the games and unleashed a winter storm that could have killed everypony, Twilight could never work up the courage to be able face the Crystal Ponies after backstabbing them and hurting them like that after saving the Crystal Empire from King Sombra a crisis that she too set up so she could set up her ultimatum in the first place. But with that in the past now, the letter from Shining Armor and Princess Cadance informs her that they are coming to visit tomorrow. They are planning to come in via the Friendship Express instead of the Crystal train in order to attract little attention when they skip town come to visit. And from the sounds of their voices she pictured in her head sounds like they have something special they plan on telling her when they get here. Twilight grinned in excitement hearing this and then calls the rest of her friends over to her castle so they can get started on the preparations for their upcoming visit. Once everypony was gathered inside the castle throne room and seated in their throne chairs Twilight spoke up as she made her announcement. "Great! Everybody's here." Twilight said looking especially happy today as Spike unfolded the scroll she received earlier as Twilight levitated it. "Now I don't have to wait any longer to tell you all the wonderful news! Somepony special is coming to visit Ponyville, and I need your help getting everything ready!" Her friends all cheered in excitement hearing this. "It's…" "Shining Armor and Princess Cadance!" both Pinkie Pie and Twilight said in unison, which surprised everypony else in the room. Twilight expressed confusion at Pinkie’s eager excitement but continued "Yes, and they're coming—" "Tomorrow!" the two said in unison again. Pinkie grinned wide-eyed leaving her friends registering confused looks at her for somehow knowing all this in advance. "Yes, on the—" Twilight then tried to speak as she rubbed her hoof on her chin. "Friendship Express rather than the Crystal Empire train so as not to cause too much of a scene when they skip town to come visit?" Pinkie correctly and rapidly said as she squeed in excitement. "Yes." Twilight responded, rather unsure and confused of how Pinkie Pie already knew all of this. Pinkie then got right up and into Twilight’s face hoping that there is more to it than that. "Annnnnd?" Pinkie asked in anticipation. "And that's it." Twilight simply answered. "Oh." Pinkie responded in disappointment. "Uh, how did you know all that?" Rainbow Dash asked her suspiciously with a raised eyebrow. "Uh… Pinkie Sense?" Pinkie laughed nervously as she sat back on her throne as Twilight eyes her suspiciously too in the same manner as Rainbow Dash. "So, you said you needed our help with something?" Rainbow asked as the alicorn leads the way. "Follow me." Twilight flapped her wings with Rainbow Dash doing the same and leads the group to her to an upstairs bedroom, which she had decorated with some unusual items. On the floor was a toy train set complete with railroad track, with an assortment of boy-themed toys such as action figures, toy armor and several comic books, an ant farm on the counter, and a few posters of action hero ponies. “Sweet posters! Is that Smash Fortune?” Rainbow Dash asked as she got a good look at one of the hanging posters. "It sure is! When Shining Armor said he wanted to come to the castle and visit, I started collecting things he liked when he was a colt as a surprise!" Twilight replied. "Surprise?!" Pinkie Pie's head popped out from the toy chest, wearing a warrior's helmet on her head. Once she saw Rainbow eying suspiciously again she laughed nervously before covering her face and mouth with the helmet by turning it around. “I’ve been so excited she just couldn't keep it to myself!" Twilight explained to her friends. "I have no idea what that's like!" Pinkie said with her voice muffled a bit because she is wearing the helmet in reverse. "Aww, look at the cute little ant farm!” Fluttershy admired the ants in said ant farm to which one of the ants got scared at the sight of Fluttershy’s buttoned up eyes. "And check out all these old comic books!" Spike said as he held up one of the old books, which were all in mint-conditioned bags. "Be careful, Spike!" Twilight quickly warned him. "They're mint-in-bag!" Spike blew off some of the dust from the cover…only to accidentally burn it with his fire. The dragon whistled nervously as he placed the burned remains into one of the plastic packages to which Twilight quickly levitated away from Spike’s claws. “I’ll just quickly dispose of this when I get the chance.” Twilight said as held it up with her magic before sternly eyeing Spike for not being careful enough. “And I think it is best that you just stay away from them before you burn the whole collection. I don’t need another repeat from when you attempted hide the book you accidentally burnt a while back.” “Of course.” Spike nervously grinned as he went off to do something else in the room. Even though Twilight has forgiven her for that, she hasn’t completely forgotten about the fact that instead of telling her the truth right away she lied to her about to which it took Owlowiscous finding it to force the truth out of him. "What's this?" Pinkie asked as she held a toy through rummaging the toy chest. "This is Brutus Force. Shining Armor used to carry him around like his baby!" Twilight answered. As soon as Pinkie heard that particular word she fumbled it around in her hooves. She nearly dropped the toy before placing it back into the chest. "Yeah! Really cute!" She laughed nervously as Twilight eyed at her friend with a suspicious look. "It is a bit juvenile for castle décor, but it is very sweet of you." Rarity said as she observed the room. "I'm sure Shining Armor will love it." Fluttershy said in agreement. "Me, too. But there's a few more things I'd like to add before he gets here, and I could really use a hoof collecting them." Twilight said in response. "Whatever you need, sugarcube, we'll help you get it." Applejack said as she placed a hoof on her chest as the other ponies vouched their immediate support. "Thanks, everypony!” Twilight thanked her friends. “I just can't wait 'til they walk in and see everything!" "Totally understandable." Rainbow Dash said. "Watching somebody else be surprised with something is almost better than being the one who's getting the surprise!" "But… eh…" Pinkie Pie stammered as she crawled out of the toy chest "What if the surprise is something so incredibly exciting that a pony can't keep it in any longer, and she has to tell the pony standing next to her what it is or she might explode?! She exclaimed frantically as she Fluttershy tight around the neck and nearly choked her friend into unconsciousness. "I would say... no." Fluttershy responded through the tight choke-hold. "The pony who ruins a surprise for somepony else has to live with that guilt forever!" Rarity said as she crept up towards Pinkie. Pinkie Pie laughed nervously at Rarity’s warning delivered right up to her face. "Gotta bounce!" Pinkie said as she literally did so by rolling herself into a ball and bounced around the room like a ping-pong ball before crashing into the wall of the castle and running off. The others looked on in confusion and Rainbow Dash spoke up her concerns of Pinkie’s odd behavior. "So, I know the bar is set pretty high, but does anybody else think Pinkie Pie was acting weirder than usual?" She asked the others as Twilight placed a thinking hoof on her chin. "From the looks of it. It looked like she was hiding something." Twilight said as she observed Pinkie rush off somewhere. “And I think I might have an idea of what she is hiding from me.” She whispered to herself as she smirked to herself. The next day, The Mane Six worked at organizing the castle for Shining Armor and Princess Cadance’s visit. Applejack is currently sweeping up, Rainbow Dash was hanging up flowers in the castle room, Fluttershy is just finishing cleaning and shining up the table as Rarity puts a pot of flowers on the center of the table. Twilight is currently going over her checklist as Spike carries the sheets with Rarity carrying plates. Pinkie Pie then came inside the room with two trays of vegetables consisting of baby carrots, celery, broccoli, baby tomatoes, and cucumbers. "Those look yummy, Pinkie! Let me help you!" Twilight complimented the trays Pinkie brought over as she used her magic to levitate them onto the table. "But we better cover them up so they don't get spoiled." She told her before covering them with two lids. “Why would they get spoiled?" Pinkie asked wondering what she meant. "We're all gonna eat them super soon!" "Oh, didn't anyone tell you? Shining Armor and Cadance got held up so they won't be here 'til Saturday." Applejack explained to her who immediately sprung up into the air anxious. "Whaaaaaaaaaat?!" Pinkie Pie screamed as she landed onto the branches of the tree root chandelier of the castle and is now hyperventilating. "You mean…" Pinkie breathed in. "I have…" She breathed in again. "to wait…" and again. "another whole day?!” She screamed in terror. "I don't know if I can!" Pinkie cried out while holding onto the branch. "Pinkie Pie do you have something you need to say?" Twilight asked from below as she and the others watch her very concerned of what she is hiding from them. "You seem like you've been keeping something in." Pinkie yelled hysterically before covering her mouth. "It's okay. We're here to listen." Fluttershy sympathetically said to her as she flew up to her but Pinkie still shook her head refusing to speak. "Well, go on then, sugarcube." Applejack encouragingly said from down below. "We're not going to judge you, darlings." Rarity said in the same tone. "You'll feel so much better once you get it off your chest!" Spike pleaded with puppy-dog eyes. Pinkie Pie began blowing on a balloon as she was hyperventilating again and so hard that it popped. "Whatever it is, you can tell us. We're best friends." Rainbow Dash comfortably told her as she placed her hooves on Pinkie’s arms. Twilight watching this is looking rather amused at Pinkie’s panic with her amused smile turning into a sly smirk seeing that she is cornered. "Okay, okay, you win!" Pinkie yelled in defeat as she inhaled a deep breath to rapidly confess. "Shining Armor and Cadance are gonna have a—" "An awesome weekend with the best little sister in all of Equestria!" Shining Armor interrupted as he arrived with Cadance appearing at the doorway with luggage as he held a hoof around his wife, who giggled upon entering. "Hi, everypony." Cadance greeted them. Pinkie Pie exhaled in great relief, causing her to fall from the tree and hit the ground in a thud as she fainted. "Shining Armor, Cadance! You're early!” Twilight eagerly greeted the couple. “I thought something had come up and you weren't gonna make it until Saturday!" "So did we." Cadance explained, "Turned out we weren't needed in Maretonia until next week. And the summit we were supposed to attend today had to be rescheduled, so... we got here even sooner than planned!" "Surprise!" Shinning Armor said as she playfully ruffled his little sister's mane and hugged her tightly. "It's wonderful to see you all again!" Cadance said as the rest of the Mane Six gathered around happily to greet her. "I'm so glad you're here!" Twilight said to her brother as she trotted ahead to the redecorated room. "I have a big surprise for you!" "Oh, yeah?" Shinning Armor curiously grinned as the rest of the Mane Six and Cadance all join her as they walk down the hallway. Twilight smirked to herself seeing that everything went according to plan as she truthfully had lied to them that Shining Armor and Cadance weren’t coming in until Saturday but really informed her in the morning that they’d be coming in today. Just so she can corner Pinkie into nearly confessing what she is hiding from her only to be saved by their timely arrival. The group walked down the hallways, the girls all giggling while catching up with one another while Pinkie Pie and Shining Armor were catching up with Shining Armor several steps behind them while Spike carried the luggage. “Shining Armor.” Twilight called out to her brother as she approached the door to the redecorated room. “Yes, Twily?” Shining Armor asked with an eager grin. “You ready for the surprise?” Twilight asked with an arched eyebrow ready to surprise him as she is ready to open the door. “What is it, Twily?” Shining Armor wondered with an arched eyebrow. “The surprise in question is right in this room.” Twilight answered as she opened the door and entered the room with Shining Armor following her a few seconds later. “Okay, so what’s the surprise Twily…?” Shining Armor wondered as he entered the room only to stop mid-sentence as he looks in surprise just as he was halfway into the room. He then gasped in amazement at seeing the room Twilight has prepared for him. He tapped happily on the ant farm, he used to love when he was a foal, he hugged Brutus Horse, and happily spun himself and his little sister spun around like he used to do to her when she was young. He was such a happy pony of having his past memories and items from his childhood brought back to the surface of the present day. “Thank you so much, Twilight!” Shining Armor told his little sister as he put her down. “I love the surprise!” “Speaking of surprises…” Twilight brought up. “So what’s the surprise you have in mind for me.” She asked with an intrigued eyebrow. “The surprise in question is something that’s in the town square.” Shining Armor grinned as he explained. “Really?” Twilight eagerly said with a grin just as excited as Shining Armor when he got his surprise. “You girls go on ahead.” Shining Armor told her as he walked back to his wife. “We got something we need to take care of first. But I promise you the surprise will be well worth the wait.” He added with a wink. “All right.” Twilight while hoping he’d tell her the surprise respectfully obliges to his wishes as she trots outside of the room and towards the entrance. “Come on girls!” Twilight called out to her friends as they all follow after her. After the royal couple got settled into the castle, The Mane Six make their way walking towards the town square where they said they would meet their guests as Shining Armor said he had something planned for them, which really got Twilight's interest. Knowing her brother, he wanted to make something special just for her. "So, do you think Shining Armor liked his surprise?" Applejack asked Twilight. "Didn't you see him? He couldn't stop raving about it!" Twilight giggled at the memory of her brother going absolutely insane with all of the wonderful toys from his childhood. "Where did Shining Armor and Cadance say they'd meet us?" Rainbow groaned as her stomach rumbled. "I'm starving!" "In the town square." Twilight replied as they crossed the nearby bridge. "I wish they'd waited to walk over with us, but they said they had something to take care of first!" "They're gonna have a lot more to take care of soon…" Pinkie said to herself through gritted teeth. "What?" Twilight asked her wondering what exactly she said. "Nothiiiiiiing!" Pinkie Pie immediately sped away from the others before anything else slipped out of her mouth. The others simply shrugged while Twilight looked on the speeding pink pony with narrowed eyes not fooled her one second. The Mane Six arrived at the fountain that had a statue of a pony but that was it. The prince and princess weren’t anywhere around like they said. "That's odd." Twilight said looking around surprised by this sighting. "Usually they're quite punctual." Rainbow Dash groaned while gripping her stomach and hitting the head of the statue impatiently. “Ughhh! I need a hayburger in my belly right now!" He tapped the statue on each of the last two words her spoke. "What's this?" Twilight asked as she levitated the scroll that was in the statue’s mouth to her eye level and opened it up.” She read it and then gasped in excitement once she read the contents of it. "What does it say?" Rarity asked her curiously. "A scavenger hunt! Shining Armor used to set these up for me when I was a filly!" Twilight answered as she approached her quickly and then walked off. "At the end, there was always a big prize, like a new book, or several new books, or—" "We get the picture! You like books!" Pinkie rudely interrupted and yelled in her face with accidental spit. “Rude!” Twilight somewhat irritably told her as she slapped the paper on her face. "So what's the first clue?" Applejack asked. "I hope it's something about eating lunch!" Rainbow whined with crossed arms. "You've got a scroll, you're on a roll, why don't you take a peek where young ones spend their week? A piece of paper will continue this caper." Pinkie read from the scroll. Twilight placed a hoof on her chin as she thought about the riddle before smiling as she figured it out. “I've got it! "Where the young ones spend their week."” She told her friends who eye her in confusion. “I’m not quite followin'.” Applejack replied still confused. “You’ll see.” Twilight assured her as she trotted off somewhere. “Follow me!” After walking through town they made their way to the Schoolhouse where the school bell is currently ringing. “It’s the Ponyville Schoolhouse.” She answered as soon as they arrived. “Good enough for me! Now where's the next clue?” Pinkie asked before she began panting and sniffing the ground like a dog. Pinkie Pie then dug her nose into a bush as she searched before sneezing. She then scratched her ear with her back leg like a dog earning some confusion form Twilight and Fluttershy. "Extra, extra! Get your Ponyville news! Read it in the paper!" Featherweight the young newsboy called out as he walked by while carrying stacks of newspapers. "A piece of paper will continue this caper." She said to herself out loud before repeated before gasping in realization "It's in the Foal Free Press!" Twilight galloped happily as she asked Featherweight for a paper to which he happily gave her and waved goodbye as he walked forward. She opened the article and the rest walked in on her reading up so they could help find the next clue. "Ooh, look at that dress Mayor Mare is wearing in the social report! Why, it's stunning!" Rarity commented as she pointed her hoof to one story in the paper as both Twilight and Applejack both register deadpan looks at Rarity getting off-track here. "Uh, didn't you make that, Rarity?" Applejack asked the unicorn. "Yes, what is your point?" Rarity answered as she flipped her mane. "Focus, everybody!" Pinkie Pie's head popped right through the paper, surprising everybody, before she continued searching for the clue herself. “You know, there's really no time limit on these scavenger hunts, Pinkie." Twilight told her while somewhat amused at seeing Pinkie go crazy in the head. She would think to herself with an aside glance and smile to herself. “This is sure working out nicely for me.” "Aha! There!" Pinkie exclaimed as she pointed her hoof and tapped on the paper once she found the next clue. "Though this hall is rather small, in it you'll find files of all kinds. Take a look on the back of the birth certificate of Applejack." Twilight read leaving her friends confused by this. "I don't like where this is goin'." Applejack said unsure about the idea of her personal information being looked at. Nevertheless, the Mane Six made their way to City Hall where Mayor Mare is pacing just outside waiting for them. She waved and smiled upon their arrival as Pinkie Pie the first to arrive raced inside while the others took their sweet time as they make their way inside. The Mayor was galloping in place like she was excited about something as she gestures them to come inside. It seems pretty clear to Twilight that she too knew about the secret judging from her excited expression. Once they were in, Twilight briefly heard the Mayor voice out. "Baby! A royal ba—!" As she was silenced when Pinkie Pie covered her mouth. "A-hem?" Pinkie sternly warned the Mayor who could only grin nervously as she just barely able to contain her excitement. “Could it be true?” Twilight wondered to herself having clearly heard that before turning her attention back towards her friends. "Does anypony know where the birth certificates are kept?" Twilight asked. "Ooh! I do, I do!" Pinkie replied as she rushed back in to show the others the way. "Go down that hall, then you take a left, then a right, then another right, then a slight left, and it's the third door from the right!" "Wow, Pinkie. I never knew you knew so much about town hall." Fluttershy complimented impressed that she somehow knows all that. Pinkie's eyes widened in realization of what she had just said. "There's a lot of things I know! That you don't know I know!” Pinkie quickly explained as she sucked in her lips and rushed off to the room where the next clue is to avoid being questioned and found out. “And it’s pretty clear to me that Pinkie Pie knows it as well.” Twilight thought to herself as she sports a devious smirk as they make their way to the room Pinkie is in. “I wonder how much longer I can keep this going." The rest of the Mane Six walked towards the room where Pinkie is and once they arrived Pinkie pulled out the folder which had Applejack's birth certificate and depicted a beautiful image of her when she was a newborn to which Twilight held up with her magic. "Awwwww!" Twilight and the others couldn't help but gush over how adorable Applejack used to be when she was a baby. Applejack herself blushed at their reactions and just turned the paper over to which they found the fourth clue just so they could get on with the scavenger hunt. Once she saw the next clue Twilight read the words out loud. "This next place is where you can buy a table or chair, or some comfy beds to rest little heads?" Pinkie clearly knowing what the answer is immediately rushes off ahead as Twilight ponders of what the next clue meant clearly trying to stall her. "Ugh, really? None of you?“ Pinkie said in exasperation as she shoved the group towards their destination. "It's obviously the furniture store!" "Go in, go in, go in!" Pinkie hopped up and down wanting Twilight to hurry up and search for the next clue. "I don't know…" Twilight still pondered in another attempt to stall her. "Daagh, fine!" Pinkie frustratingly responded as she went in and caused a rumbling commotion from inside the store. Once she came back outside she presented a baby crib as she stood on it. Pinkie Pie then pointed to the piece of paper tapped onto the crib with a clearly annoyed expression on her face. "Wow, you guys scary good at this." Rainbow commented very impressed while Twilight just looks at Pinkie amused seeing that she is struggling to keep herself from spilling the beans. Pinkie Pie looked down at the clue and read it quickly. "It seems we've saved the best for last. We hope that you have had a blast. Now it's time to take a break where you can get a slice of cake!" "Sugarcube Corner!" Everypony expect Pinkie all said in unison. "That was an easy one." Pinkie replied with an unimpressed scoff. The group then made their way to the bakery, to where they are greeted by the sight of the place decorated with party decorations. "Surprise!" Shinning Armor said to the Mane Six standing in the center of the room as they walked in with Cadance by his side both sporting eager grins. "Twily, did you like the scavenger hunt?" She asked his little sister as he ruffled her mane. "It was perfect! Just like old times, except even better because this time I got to share it with my best friends!" Twilight replied with a smile as she looked at her smiling friends as Pinkie entered the room with a very eager smile as she rudely pushed Applejack and Rarity aside much to their annoyance. "There's just one thing missing, isn't there?" Twilight brought up as she looked around the room. "What's that?" Shining Armor asked. "Mmmm, the book prize at the end!" Twilight prodded as she placed her head on his chest. Shining Armor laughed as he placed a hoof on Twilight’s back as he gently backed her up a little before he began to continue his explanation. "There's still a prize, but it's a little different this time." "Oh. I don't understand." Twilight asked in confusion. "All the places we sent you today had something in common." Cadance answered as she walked up to her husband. Twilight began thinking over all the clues they had uncovered so far from their fun little adventure trying to piece together and find a bigger clue in what happened during the scavenger hunt. "First we went to the schoolhouse…" Twilight began. "And then we read the Foal Free Press...” She continued as she felt Pinkie’s presence and struggle to hold it in behind her. “After that we found Applejack's birth certificate... And then the last clue was under a crib." Twilight clearly sensed that Pinkie was about to explode as she briefly held the cake twins behind her back and decided to draw it out just a little longer as she processed all of the clues. "Hmmm… School... foal... birth certificate... and crib…" She thought to herself until she then gasped realizing what she thought she heard was true. "Can it be? Are you two…?!" She asked Cadance and Shining Armor who both stepped aside in order to reveal a large cake, decorated with a baby bottle with pink bows, a baby rattle, and a crib-toy ornament at the top. "We're having a baby!" They announced as they revealed the cake. "A baby, Twilight! It's a baby! Woo-hoo!" Pinkie exclaimed as she cheered in excitement for her friend and she longer has to hold it in seeing that the secret is finally out as she happily bounced all around the room like a pingpong ball, cheering happily at the news. Twilight had her jaw dropped shocked at hearing this even though she managed to figure on her own. "You mean... I'm going to be an aunt?!" Twilight spoke as the revelation sunk into her mind. Her brother is going to become a father, and she was going to be the aunt of a new beautiful little foal coming into the family soon. She is now seeing her family was growing much better than before and the royal couple did all of this because they knew it would be a much better gift than any book she could ever dream of. "This is the best prize ever!" Twilight exclaimed with joy as she spread her wings. Both Shining Armor and Cadance laughed as Twilight hugged her siblings. "Oh, I love you guys! And I can't wait to meet your little foal!" "Neither can we." said Shinning Armor. “And we want you to be around and take part at her first Crystalling just after when she is born.” “What really?” Twilight asked in further surprise. “Are you sure they are ready to see me again?” “Definitely, Twilight!” Cadance kindly replied with a nod. “You have definitely earned this!” Twilight couldn’t believe what she is hearing. She is learning she is becoming an aunt with a newborn baby coming soon and that she’ll be returning to the Crystal Empire when the royal couple shortly after they have their new baby. “I just hope by then the crystal ponies will just as happy to see again.” Twilight replied as she sees how her day is getter better and better. “It has been awhile since I’ve last been there.” “I’m certain they will.” Cadance assured her with a wink. “After all you did save the Crystal Empire early on from King Sombra and later all of Equestria from Tirek.” Twilight looked aside with a blush but still smiling as she thought nothing of it. The rest of the Mane Five and the Cakes all gathered around them as they congratulate Twilight's brother and sister-in-law. “I did it, I did it, I did it, I did it!” Pinkie cheerfully exclaimed at her own success before she literally fell apart. ”Go, Pinkie.” She said to herself briefly raising her hoof. The Cakes congratulated the couple as the celebration party commenced. Shining Armor and Mr. Cake were both chatting with each other, while Rarity and Fluttershy chatted with each other at a table, Rainbow Dash and Twilight were both enjoying cake as Princess Cadance hold up another slice. She gives the slice to Pinkie Pie who sitting by herself at another table. “You did it, Pinkie Pie! You kept it a surprise! Thank you!” Princess Cadance congratulated her with a hug. “Was it much trouble? She asked her as she placed the cake slice on the table for her to enjoy. “Piece of cake!” Pinkie replied with an intended pun. “Really?” Twilight mischievously smiled as she walked by. “Even after all I put you through once I put the pieces together already?” "Wait, WHAT?!” Pinkie exclaimed in realization of what Twilight had just said to her as she rushed up to her. "You figured it out already?!" "Yep!" Twilight simply replied as she turned back to Pinkie as Princess Cadance is also surprised at what she is hearing. "Consider that something so that you'll think twice before forcing me to keep a secret that could easily solve a friendship problem going forward." She added as she took another bite out of her cake. "Nothing sweeter than giving somepony their just desserts." As Pinkie had her jaw dropped in shock at the revelation that Twilight had deliberately invoked karma onto her as both Twilight and Cadance both laughed finding the former's pun funny. For Twilight, things are now getting better and better as soon she will become an aunt to a new addition to the family and be soon returning to the Crystal Empire where she will be welcomed back in open hoofs. While everypony in Sugarcube Corner was celebrating, the mist of dark magic is currently and secretly spying on everypony celebrating the wonderful news before flying off into the distance to unknown parts of Equestria as the Crystal Heart back in the Crystal Empire glows neon purple in the void room where it's held.