//------------------------------//
// Serious Pinkie 
// Story: Rarity vs. The Hat: RotE Episode 4 
// by Dream Volt 
//------------------------------//

	It wasn't quite ready, so Pinkie and I were outside waiting.  As I looked over the desolate landscape I couldn't help but think it was the sort of place that evil hat would like.  Pinkie looked a little less happy than normal, her mane even slightly more flat and listless than usual.  Clearly this conflict with the hat has taken its toll on everypony.

"I can't imagine you of all ponies growing up in a place like this."

"It wasn't very fun, no."  Then she smiled.  "But it got better once mother and father let us talk and we tried to have what fun we could.  It wasn't perfect, but it was much better, and love doesn't have to be fun.  It should be, but it doesn't have to be."

"Still, surely there is some way to spruce this place up."

"Well none of us are really good with design really.  I mean I could try making it more fun, but painting the ground totally doesn't work.  I tried."

"It will be over soon.  Soon the hat will be no more and…"

"Uh, yea, about that."

I turned to Pinkie.  She almost sounded like Fluttershy for moment there.  Not quite, that would just be ridiculous, but certainly far less boisterous.  She smiled broadly and then she looked nearly normal again.

"Lets just forget all about that silly old hat and have a party instead.  I mean it's not like it's really doing any harm."

"What, how can you say that?  Don't you understand?  Don't you see?  You've seen the hat's actions, the same as I.  It must be stopped."

"Oh.  Uh, gee."  Then Pinkie yet again suddenly laughed, then turned back to me.  "That's not going to workie work at all, is it?"

"Pinkie, what exactly do you…"

Then we were interrupted by a loud thunderous rumbling noise.  I wasn't sure what it could possibly be, but then it trotted up to us.  It was full of vents letting off steam, seemingly at random, and countless moving gears.  Some were partially covered by metal plates, but despite that the nature of the giant clockwork pony was all too clear.  It was nearly as big as the ursa minor.  A panel in the chest then opened, and Blinkie popped out.  She smiled.  I laughed.

"Oh, perfect, perfect.  That hat doesn't stand a chance."

"Awww, but I hate being the serious one." said Pinkie suddenly

"What do you mean dear?"

Pinkie was then very suddenly in front of me.  She had a terribly serious expression on her face I had seen only rarely.  She looked me right in the eyes.

"Listen really closely.  Something is really wrongy wongy, but I didn't want to say anything because I don't do that, but I got the serious conversation combo, so I have to."

"You have a twitch that denotes you to have a serious conversation?"

She rolled her eyes.  "Duh, that is what I just said.  So, now I have to say stuff unless I want an even worse twitch, which I don't, so we talk."

"About what exactly?"

She blinked.  "Uh, something?"  She scratched her head.  "Hey Blinke, do you think you know.  I forgot."

"Does it involve my giant robot perhaps?"

"Uh, maybe."

Pinkie then looked at the giant robot for a good while, then back at me, then back at the giant robot pony.  Then she laughed.

"Oh yea, I totally remember now.  You've gone all crazy pants, so you can't have the robot, and I can't help you anymore.  It was so fun too."

Then Pinkie frowned.  I blinked, barely understanding what I was hearing.  Then I heard a creak and looked up to see Blinkie closing the hatch.

"Are you leaving just like that?"

"Pinkie is never wrong when she says it's serious."

"Can't we discuss this?"

"No."

Then she closed the panel entirely and the machine that was to be my salvation walked off with a ruckus of clanks, clangs, and dull thumps as the steel feet impacted the ground.  I then glared at Pinkie.

"So just like that, you're abandoning me?"

"No, You need to talk to, uh, somepony.  Somepony is better than no pony.  But the wrong one could be as bad as the right one if…"

"Enough.  I see how it is.  It got to you."  Then I gasped.  "It got to all of you, Dash was first, then Twilight, and…"  I took a step back.  "But not Applejack.  It couldn't effect her, so it just removed her from the equation.  I'm alone."

"Wow, that is some A grade crazy, and trust me, I know crazy."

"I'm not crazy, you are.  Don't you see, it's trying to drive us apart."

"I meant my sister, duh."  She the looked back and forth before leaning in.  "I don't know if you noticed, but she's completely bonkers."

"It's too late, isn't it?  No, there is only one way to stop this.  I have to end this myself.  I have to stop that hat.  That vile fashion don't won't get away with this."

"Rarity wait don't…"

I stepped back.  "No, I'll not listen to you any longer."

"Hey, is that a twitch in my…"  Pinke then shuddered a little.  "Wait, has that ever been in a combo before?" 

I turned, not listening anymore.  It's trying to take all of them from me, not just Fluttershy.  How could I be so blind?  How could I let it?

"And now I'm upside down.  Wow, that is one doozy of a doozy.  But it almost seems familiar in a way.  What could it mean?"

I was once again in a full gallop.  I still had some small hope I could do this without hurting Fluttershy at all, but the hat had to go.  A few bruises here and there would heal, and it would be worth it.