//------------------------------// // 04 The End (Fini) // Story: Tom and Jerry: Everfree-For-All // by TheLegendaryBillCipher //------------------------------// Pinkie and Fluttershy arrived at the Ponyville Marketplace to find it already a mess. Stalls were collapsed or knocked over, and ponies were scattering from the source of all the chaos. Tom was chasing Jerry with a piece of firewood, swinging and smashing at the mouse, who nimbly and narrowly dodged his blows – stalls they ran past were less fortunate. Jerry, meanwhile, was carrying a piece of cheese he had pilfered from one of the stalls. Jerry knocked a barrel full of shovels over, scattering them in Tom’s path. Pinkie and Fluttershy winced as Tom stepped onto shovel after shovel, the blade driving the handle up to smack him in the face until he was dizzy. “You think this is the cat and mouse Applejack and Rarity mentioned?” Pinkie asked. “Only one way to find out,” Fluttershy said. She took a deep, steadying breath, let it out, and moved forward with a stern look on her face. As she approached the two, Tom finally managed to swoop in and snare Jerry in his paw, smirking malevolently as he brought the mouse up so they were face-to-face. He was just starting to raise the piece of firewood to smash him when— “Hey!” Tom and Jerry both looked at the source of the shout – Fluttershy, looking as sternly as she could muster between the two. Any ponies left knew that look in her eyes, and promptly made themselves scarce. Even Pinkie averted her eyes. “Stop it this instant!” Fluttershy demanded. Then her eyes widened, and her teal irises focused in on the two with an overwhelming intensity. Tom dropped Jerry out of shock, only for the little mouse to cling to his leg with a startled look on his face. Fluttershy dropped the Stare with a huff. “Thank you.” Pinkie walked over, looking Tom and Jerry up and down. “Fluttershy… I’ve never seen a cat and mouse like them before,” she stage whispered. Fluttershy blinked in surprise before getting a good look at the two. “You’re right, Pinkie. But we should move this somewhere… safer.” As a few more stalls collapsed around them, Pinkie nodded. “Good idea.” Jerry munched happily on a piece of cheese on Fluttershy’s couch while Tom lapped at a saucer of cream greedily. Pinkie and Fluttershy stood off to the side, watching the two cautiously lest more chaos break out. “How do you want to handle this? Good cop, bad cop?” Pinkie asked. “I’ve been working on my bad cop routine.” “I’ll try and talk to them,” Fluttershy said, flashing her friend a smile before approaching the couch. “Um, hello. My name is Fluttershy, and this is my Pinkie Pie.” She gestured to Pinkie, who waved at the two. “What are your names?” Tom and Jerry looked between each other, then to Fluttershy. The Pegasus frowned as she looked between them. “Um… I don’t think they can talk,” Fluttershy remarked. “I got you covered!” To Fluttershy’s surprise, Pinkie rolled over a chalkboard and produced a box of chalk sticks from her mane. “Where did you… never mind.” Fluttershy cleared her throat, turning back to Tom and Jerry. “Please, feel free to write your names on the chalkboard and tell us what happened today.” Pinkie gave Tom and Jerry a piece of chalk and she and Fluttershy sat down on the couch as the two got up and began to write. “So, Tom and Jerry wound up in the Everfree, went to Sweet Apple Acres, then Carousel Boutique, then the Marketplace, then here,” Pinkie said, tracking the two’s drawings and scribbles. “And they were each really mean to each other,” Fluttershy said, rubbing her chin. “I don’t get it… wait a minute. They both came from the Everfree Forest.” “And neither remembers how they got here,” Pinkie added with a nod. “I think I know.” Fluttershy huffed, walking out the door. Pinkie glanced at Tom and Jerry, who both shrugged at her and the three followed her outside. Fluttershy looked to the sky, inhaled, and shouted as loud as she could: “Discord!” There was a snap, and the draconequus himself appeared floating in the air, a television set floating in front of him. He glanced down at the group and huffed, snapping away the television. “Show’s over, I suppose,” he huffed. “Discord, did you bring Tom and Jerry here?” Fluttershy asked. Discord floated down to her height, looking past her to the cat and mouse who awkwardly waved. He smiled back down at Fluttershy. “Why yes, I did. Things were getting a little dull around here, and ponies aren’t exactly known for their slapstick.” “You brought them here for laughs?” Pinkie asked incredulously. “What am I, diced birthday cake?” “Please send them back to where they came from,” Fluttershy said firmly. “Oh… very well.” And with another snap of his fingers, Tom and Jerry vanished away. Pinkie and Fluttershy looked to their cutie marks… only for nothing to happen. “Wait, they weren’t the friendship problem?” Pinkie exclaimed. “Tom and Jerry? Why no, they’re quite close friends,” Discord said, reclining back with his hands behind his head. “But they were chasing each other, and mean to each other,” Fluttershy said with a frown. “That’s just how they are. They’re like… dragons, I suppose. Rough and tumble, but it’s all in good fun. In fact, I’d say one wouldn’t be themselves without the other.” Discord polished his nails on his chest and examined them. “Quite enjoyable to watch, too.” “So wait… do you know where the friendship problem is then?” Fluttershy asked. “I think I saw Bon Bon and Lyra arguing earlier,” Discord said. “Might want to look in on it.” “We’d better get there quick!” Pinkie exclaimed, running back towards town. Fluttershy shot Discord a frown before following after her. Discord chuckled, waving goodbye to them. “Happy hunting.”