//------------------------------// // Chapter Three // Story: The Lost Laughter // by Pinkie Wannabe //------------------------------// Over the past few months, Maud has been throwing parties for every occasion she can. Every pony in Ponyville loved her parties. The Summer Sun Celebration was coming up, and she was already getting the town hall ready for the occasion. Soon, Maud found herself bouncing through the streets of Ponyville, looking for something exciting, when something caught her attention. A purple unicorn and a baby dragon? she thought. This I've gotta see! She bounced up to them while they were talking to each other. Then they both looked at her. Maud quickly looked them over. They weren't familiar to her. "Hi," the unicorn said, dubiously. Maud gasped loudly and bolted off into the opposite direction. "A pony I don't know?" she said as she ran. "She must be new! That might mean she's alone and doesn't have friends." Maud pouted. "Oh! I know what to do!" Maud had thrown a Welcome to Ponyville party for the purple unicorn, whose name was Twilight Sparkle. To Maud's surprise, Twilight didn't seem to appreciate it. Well, I'm sure the Summer Sun Celebration will lighten up the night, right? she thought. ...Right?! Turns out she wasn't right. A fiend by the name of Nightmare Moon had kidnapped Princess Celestia, and was going to make an eternal night. After Nightmare Moon dissapeared, Twilight ran away, back to her home. Rainbow Dash was the first to see it. "Girls! That Twilight girl's goin' somewhere!" "Should we follow her?" Rarity asked. "If she knows about that Nightmare gal, she might have something to do with it." Just like that, she zoomed after Twilight. "Rainbow!" Applejack called after her. "Gosh, that pony sometimes..." They all ran after Rainbow Dash, except for Maud, who stayed behind for a bit. After a moment or two, she follow the group. Twilight lived in the Golden Oak Library. Since it was public place, it wasn't hard to track her down. Rainbow found her rummaging through books. "How about you tell us how you know about Nightmare Moon!" Rainbow said as she let herself in along with the others. "Are you some kind of spy?" Applejack got between the two. "Now, now Sugarcube. I'm sure she ain't a spy. But I think she does know what's goin' on, don't ya, Twilight?" She turned to the purple unicorn. Every pony had their attention on her. Twilight sighed. "I've read about Nightmare Moon. And unless we can get the elements of harmony, we won't be able to defeat her." Maud scrunched her nose. "Elements of what-the?" "The elements of harmony. From what I can remember, they are honesty, kindness, laughter, generosity, and loyalty. There's also a sixth unknown element." Some of the ponies jolted a bit when the elements were called, one by one. Maud didn't budge, however. "All of the elements are in the Castle of the Two Sisters, which was built in the everfree." Everyone gulped at mention of the everfree. It was a forest close to the town, and no one dared to go in, because those who do, don't come out. "I-isn't there a d-different way of defeating N-Nightmare Moon?" Fluttershy stuttered. Twilight shook her head. "Sorry Fluttershy. It's the only way." "Don't worry, Flutters!" Maud exclaimed. "You're auntie Maud's gotcha covered!" "I'm a few months older than you." "C'mon, guys! It can't be that bad, right?" Rainbow said, cockily. "Nevermind," Rainbow gulped. "It's gonna be bad." All six ponies were on the road that led into the Everfree. They were just outside of the forest. All of them stared at it frightened. The one who looked the most determined was Twilight, being the first to take a step closer to the forest. "Now, what do ya think yer doin' Sugarcube?" Applejack exclaimed, stopping the Unicorn. "If you're goin' in there, so are we!" Applejack had put her hoof on Twilight's shoulder. Twilight took it off. "I don't want you guys to get involved in this. You guys will be safer in Ponyville." "Safe is boring!" Maud exclaimed. "Yeah!" Rainbow agreed. "Plus, we don't wanna leave you out for the manticores! If you die, you're taking us with you!" "D-die?" Fluttershy stuttered. Twilight opened her mouth to argue, but closed it immediately after. Even though she bearly knew about these ponies, she felt a strong bond with them. But, Maud's bond wasn't as strong. It was good, but not as good as the others. Twilight didn't question it. Twilight sighed. "Alright, but if something happens to any of you, don't blame it on me." As the six went into the forest, events occurred. Applejack helped Twilight when she was about to fall off the side of a cliff. Fluttershy calmed down a manticore, Rarity generously helped a Sea Serpent, and Rainbow Dash chose friends over fame when needed. Maud, however, didn't do anything. Aside from Twilight, all of her other friends had shown their element, but aside from her bubbly personality, she didn't show hers. Soon, they all got to the Castle of The Two Sisters, and Nightmare Moon seemed to have triumphed, until something happened. "Without the elements, the night will now be eternal!" Nightmare exclaimed with a cackle. Twilight, who was in the room with Nightmare smirked. "I don't need the elements. They're right here!" The other five ponies came into the room, triumphant looks on all of their faces. "Honesty!" Twilight pointed at Applejack. "Kindness!" She pointed at Fluttershy. "Laughter!" Maud. "Generosity!" Rarity. "Loyalty!" Rainbow Dash. "And most importantly..." Twilight pointed at her self. "Magic!" All of the ponies glowed brightly. "We are the elements of harmony!" Everything was going perfectly. Even Nightmare Moon knew, because she braced for impact. This is it, Twilight thought. We're going to defeat her! Then suddenly... "OOF!" Maud had stopped glowing and hit the ground, taking the others with her. Nightmare, whose eyes were closed, opened. When she saw the defeated looks on each of their faces, she smiled and cackled. "Wow! Such a anti climatic moment! You pathetic ponies must be so embarrassed." She remarked, mockingly. "B-but," Twilight stuttered. "How?!" "Turns out the elements really were destroyed!" Nightmare laughed. "I guess the night will be eternal after all! I can't wait to see my new subjects." Nightmare Moon teleported away, laughing maniacally. Once she dissapeared, Twilight stared in disbelief. "It can't be...everything was going perfectly! How did we mess up?" "I'll bet we didn't pose cooler enough!" Rainbow said, breaking the silence. "If we're gonna have a hero moment, we're gonna have to have a cool pose! They all stared at her shaking their heads. "What? It's gotta be true! If I don't do cool pose at my hero moments, it never turns out good!" "No, I don't think it's that." Twilight disagreed. "I think it has to do with Maud." Maud perked up. "Me?" she said innocently. "You were the only one aside from me who didn't show you're element when we were in the forest. Plus, I felt a bond with everyone, but yours wasn't that strong. Something tells me that you aren't the element of laughter." Everyone gasped except for Raindow Dash, who looked unimpressed. "Still think it's the poses." "Well, how?" Rarity asked. "Maud has been the most happy..." "Most funniest..." Applejack added. "Most excitable..." Fluttershy muttered. "Most kinda annoying..." Rainbow said. "Pony we've ever known!" The four said in unison. Maud thought for a moment. Happy, funny, excitable, maybe not annoying... All of those character traits took Maud to one pony. "I know who the real element of laughter may be!" Maud exclaimed. "My sister, Pinkamena! I sometimes call her Pinkie for short. She isn't always happy, but is happy about rocks! She can be funny sometimes, even when she isn't joking! She gets exited when rocks are involved! I wouldn't say she's annoying, but still!" "It sounds like she really likes rocks." Fluttershy said. "Let me guess, she has a pet rock?" Rainbow remarked jokingly. "Wow! How did you know?" "I-I was joking." "Where does Pinkamena live?" asked Twilight. Maud smiled. "On a rock farm!"