//------------------------------//
// Consolation Prize 
// Story: A Study In Nonsense 
// by Professor Piggy 
//------------------------------//

The two ponies stood glaring at each other from across the rooftop, covered in caramel and feathers with narrowed eyes and matching grins on their faces. Rainbow Dash took a step closer, wings fluttering anxiously, and Pinkie pounced. She sailed through the air, fully prepared to tackle Dashie off her hooves and declare herself bestest caramel-balloon-pillow-fighter in Ponyville, only to realise too late that she had already lost. Dashie’s grin grew wider and then, with one flick of her perfect hooves, she sprung her trap – the last balloon, hidden away a moment before behind the chimney, rose up to meet her. Pinkie’s heart stopped, for just a moment, as the perilous projectile slammed into her face and exploded all around her.

Pinkie Pie tasted defeat. Defeat and caramel. It was a bitter taste, but also kinda sweet and delicious but not as delicious as it usually would be because of the defeat making it not as nice and also maybe because she’d had a whole lot of caramel today but it didn’t matter - she wasn’t about to let anything as silly as the fact she’d lost get in the way of her winning. As she picked herself up off the tiles, Dash was smirking – her expression turned to horror as Pinkie charged towards her with a battle cry and a giggle.

The moment before the pink pony grabbed her Dash let out a quiet squeak, and then they were tumbling – falling through the air and headed straight towards the ground. As Dash struggled against Pinkie’s sticky embrace she let out a panicked cry of “Pinkie, let go! We’re gonna die!”

Pinkie just giggled and shook her head, “Nope! Trust me, Dashie - We’ll be okie dokie lokie!”

“Are you crazy!? We’re gonna – “ The Pegasus cut herself short with a frustrated cry and then, with a frustrated sigh, slammed her lips against Pinkie’s own. For a moment the party pony’s eyes were wide and shocked, and then she began to kiss back. Time seemed to stand still, their fall coming to a standstill as they kissed.

Part of that, Pinkie realised a moment later as a soft ‘ahem’ cut through the best moment of her whole life, was because their fall really HAD come to an abrupt halt. They floated there, suspended in an aura of light blue just as she’d known they would be, for the briefest of moments – still kissing, because really Pinkie had no intention of ever letting the kissing stop if she could help it – before being unceremoniously dropped to the ground.

Rarity stood over them, a tiny smile on her face. “It’s about time the two of you got that sorted out. I’m very happy for you.” And then the smile was gone, replaced with a glare the likes of which they had never seen from the unicorn, “But if I ever catch you playing this…whatever this disgusting game you’re playing is…on the roof of my boutique again, I am going to make you suffe – stop that!”

Pinkie wasn’t listening – she was much too busy kissing Dashie. It was only fair, after all – the Pegasus has already kissed her, and she had to repay the favour.