//------------------------------// // 15~The Prank (PT. 1) // Story: Youngblood // by Centurion Pike-Wall //------------------------------// October 3, 3095 Imperial Calender (1522 AD) Outskirts of Ponyville "Alright, you ready to do this?" "Just... one quick question." "Shoot." "Why did you talk me into this?", Flurry Heart asked. Both the Crystal Princess and Pound Cake sat in a cluster of bushes, just outside of Sweet Apple Acres. Across the road sat Depressi, who was sitting beneath one of the apple trees reading. Next to the two of them was a big burlap bag full of sugar. "Because you like doing this as much as I do", Pound reminded her. "Plus, you and I used to do this to everyone. Why not Depressi?" "Because we haven't done anything like this since before you got that stupid mullet", Flurry deadpanned, before her eyebrow perked up. "Is this about Danger Zone?" "Danger Zone?", Pound asked, annoyance in his voice. "What would this have to do with her?" "Because Pegasi have a thing for trying to impress mates by doing something flashy", Flurry said. "It's documented fact." "Really?", Pound asked. Flurry nodded. "You won't believe the stuff you can find in the Crystal Archives. Now, back to this idea being essentially a big show-off for someone you have a hard-on for." "I don't have a hard-on for her", he hissed. "I... I... Ok, this is partially just to impress her. But I do want to start doing these again. It was fun." "I'm not saying that", Flurry said. "I'm just saying that you should be honest. It's important to being a good friend; or some junk like that. You know, it was in that book my Aunt wrote and everything." "Yeah, yeah", Pound said. Flurry nodded, then asked, "So, what's the plan?" "See the bag?", Pound said, flicking a wing over to it. "Kinda hard to miss the bag", Flurry said, smirking. "Hardy har", Pound replied. "Anyway, he has a thing of salted peanuts with him. Well", he opened the bag, revealing it to be full of small nuts with lighter brown flakes all over them. "These are sugar-covered peanuts." "Ah", Flurry said. "I get it." "Right. Now, can you teleport them in there from here, or do we need to be closer?", he asked. "I can maybe do it from here", Flurry said. "Just, shut up for a few seconds." Flurry pulled a few nuts out of the bag, placing them in her hoof. She lit her horn, focusing on the tin next to Depressi. Soon, an aura surrounded the sugar-covered peanuts, and they disappeared in a flash. After a millisecond, another set of nuts appeared in her hoof. Experimentally, she tossed one in her mouth, and grinned at the taste. "Salty." "Good, good", Pound said. "Now shhh." The two sat and peaked out of the bush, eyes glued to Depressi like a good play. The Pryhan flipped the page of his book with a wing, before reaching into the small tin for a nut. He popped one in his mouth, before instantly spitting it out. He looked at the tin in utter confusion, before turning to the bushes. Or, rather, at the uproarious laughter that was coming from them. "Ok, what is going on?", Depressi called, standing up. Flurry and Pound stood up, grinning and laughing like Hyenas. Both trotted up to him, Flurry holding the salted nuts in her magic. "Looking for these?", she said, before devolving into a fit of laughing. Depressi's agitated look faded, replaced by a certain calm. He said, "I take it this was your idea of a prank?" "Yep! And it was glorious!", Pound exclaimed, grinning like a madpony. "You gotta admit, it was pretty good, right?" Depressi nodded, a slight smile gracing his lips. "Indeed. It was pretty good." "Anyway, that was kinda the only reason we were out here", Flurry said. "So, we're gonna go head into town. The others are gonna be at Sugarcube Corner." "Wanna come?", Pound asked, beckoning him with a wing. "I'll make sure you don't get anything sweet." "No no", Depressi said, holding up his own wing. "It's fine. I'll see you both later." ++++~++++ Back at Sugarcube Corner, the two of them entered. As if waiting for them, Pinkie Pie was instantly in front of them, her usual wide grin splitting her face. "Hi, you two! You seem in good spirits!" "Yep!", Pound said. "We just broke out the old pranking horseshoes." "Oooooo", Pinkie said. "That's great! You two were great at it! Remember the one with Shining Armor and the Shaving Cream?" "How could I forget?", Flurry said, before sighing. "That was probably the best day of my life." "So, who was the target?", Pinkie asked. "Big Mac? Blueblood? Sparkler? Doc Whooves? Cheesie or Cheers? I mean, I'm sure the last two wouldn't mind, but you should still tell me. You know, just in case." "No, none of them", Pound said. Pinkie cocked her head. "Then who?" Before either of them could answer, an accented voice called, "Y'all gonna just stand there and yap, or are ya gonna let us in on the conversation?" Looking over, the trio spotted the rest of Pound and Flurry's friends, including Southern Rose, who had called them over. The three of them trotted (Or bounced, in Pinkies case) over to the booth. They all had milkshakes in front of them, except for DJ, who just had a glass of water. Danger Zone was there as well, her own milkshake in front of her as she leaned back in the soft faux-leather of the seats. Maraschino asked, "So, whose hair gel did you guys replace with slime this time?" "We did that one time!", Pound protested. "Doesn't disprove my point", Maraschino muttered. Soundboard just chuckled, slapping Marschino's shoulder. "Aw, come on. It wasn't that bad." "I'm, I'm sorry. I feel like I'm missing something", Danger Zone said. "What's goin' on?" "Back in the day, my brother and Flurry here used to be notorious pranksters", Pumpkin explained. "like, as bad as Pinkie and Praetor Rainbow were back in the day, if some of the older residents are to be believed." "Oh yeah!", Pinkie said. "Those were good times." "Anyway", Soundboard said, propping her foreleg joints on the counter. "Who was the target?" "Depressi", Pound said. "We pranked Depressi." That single word from Pound Cake sparked several reactions. Southern Rose just shook her head. Maraschino winced in sympathy. Pumpkin rolled her eyes, annoyed a bit by her brother and oldest friend's antics on their newest friend. Soundboard and Pinkie both asked for details, grinning widely or laughing. But the starkest reaction, and the one that drew all of the other's attention, was from DJ and Danger Zone. Both were in the middle of taking sips from their drinks. Danger Zone choked on the milkshake, sending a small trail of it oozing out her mouth and a smaller one out her nose as she went into a coughing fit. DJ did a full-on spit take on the table. Both then locked eyes with Flurry and Pound Cake, looks of horror in their eyes. Both of them exclaimed, in perfect unison: "YOU DID WHAT!?"