Her eyes concentrated so much on that little zipping ball, she furrowed her forehead. She cursed as she accidentally tilted a little too much, causing her flippers to lock. She had to play a new ball, and stopped to get her eye sight back. The constant flashing of the lights, the giant Discords head smiling his toothy grin. The machine was very complicated for being a medium sized machine. It had multiple levels, five main bumpers all with an element of harmony on it. There were several hanging railways, and the weirdest mechanical ball trap. It would shoot out the little silver ball in random places around the machine. It's almost magical that this machine even works like it does, and sure enough Pinkie was glued to it. She had a stack of copper bits, sitting on the counter next to her and a styrofoam cup usually filled with soda.
Her ball had reset, and was resting in the launch neatly tucked away, ready to blast out of it's chamber. Pinkie looked over the machine, it's main color yellow reflecting off her eyes. She shut her eyes and squeezed them tight. She had been playign for a good hour or so, trying to keep up and beat the high score. Pinkie is rather competitive at times, especially at things she was good at. She gave a little laugh, and grabbed her cup. She shook the ice around in it, empty.
She trotted up the the main counter, and a pony with sunglasses and really shaggy everything gave her a smile. He had his mane tangled and long, his coat didn't have a real sheen to it, and he had a beard to match it all. Plus, he was smoking half a cigarette. His name, was Dude.
"Hey Dude! Can I get a refresher on some suds down here?" She stated rather loudly , putting her styrofoam cup down.
"No problem Pinks! Man you've been tearing up that pinball machine. Since you frequent here so often, consider this on the house." The Dude smiled at her as he smoked his cigarette. He grabbed the cup and filled it up with Dr. Palomino.
"Gee, thanks Dude!" The corner store was pretty empty, all but Dude and Pinkie. She had become friends with Dude a while back, after wandering around Ponyville looking for something to do. The store had recently opened up, and Dude owned it. Pinkie walked in to greet him like usual, but instead she found the amazing and addictive little silver ball.
"Here ya go Pinks, now get back to it girl." He high hoofed Pinkie, who started making her way back to the Pinball Machine. Noting that her score was higher than previous attempts. She didn't want to let this one go, she was so close to the High Score, set at ninety nine million, two hundred sixty two thousand, four hundred ninety one. She was about ten thousand short, and about ready to beat it. Suddenly there was a slamming of doors, and in walked Discord. He didn't look to happy. He walked right up to Pinkie and stared her down.
"Pinkie, what a surprise, are you having fun playing my game?" He grinned evilly. Pinkie stared at him, confused.
"This is your game?" Discord laughed at the pink mare.
"Indeed this is my game. A relic from my old days, did you not see the title? 'Disocrds Chaos,' this is my machine, and you are about to beat my high score set about a year ago, when I returned. Well, when I was accepted to return that is. I came back, and conjured this machine up. Being non-chaotic is very boring at times, and I can't tell you how long it took me to even get the thing to work properly. I see you cleaned it up, the old dusty thing has hardly been played, thanks for showing up."
"Really?" Pinkie set her cup down on the counter next to her. The machine was awaiting Pinkie to launch the ball. It's gizmos flashed with Discords face set in the middle, smiling back at Pinkie. She couldn't help but giggle at her ignorance, she had spent all this time playing and didn't even notice that it was a machine about Discord.
"Sorry Dissy, I didn't even notice that this was your machine." Her giggling turned into a chuckle. Discord was unimpressed.
"Well little Pinkie, beat my score. I dare you." Pinkie gave Discord a look of challenge, with a smile and serious look on her face.
"It's on Dissy, I only need ten thousand more points to go!" She quickly took position behind the launcher, and pulled it back. She had acquired an odd habit of taking a deep breath before letting go of the launcher, she exhaled, then held her breath, and she let it go, still holding her breath until she could first make contact with her flipper. The lights lit up, as it hung at the top, the sound of the metal ball hitting the other metal inside the machine, following it's usual launch pattern of going around the top of the field, stopping dead,and falling straight into the flippers.
She hit the button making the machine clunk. The ball ricocheted off the flipper and straight into a bumper. Causing it to light up red. Pinkie took her breath, and started to slow her game down, trying to just keep a pretty fare pace. However she could get an instant five thousand points if she could shoot it into Discords mouth. She focused on her target, trying to get the ball to hit just right. It didn't, instead it hit her flipper and it bounced off the side of the inanimate Discord's mouth. The ball rocketed back down heading straight for the dead zone, Pinkie quickly bumped the table with her hips forcing the ball to shift left, and she rocketed the ball back straight into Discord's mouth.
The real Discord started coughing and choked up a little silver ball. "My how did that get in there." He smiled evilly. Pinkie turned around, about to yell at Discord when the pinball Discord shot the ball out directly into the dead zone.
"What!?" The ball hit the back of the machine, and the buzzer dinged, indicating that the game was over. Pinkie has lost. Tears began to fill her eyes, until she heard Discord laughing behind her. "Discord!" She was furious, unlike the normal Pinkie.
"What are you so angry about. I was just messing around you could have ignored me after all." He threw the fake silver ball in the air, and it floated there. He flicked it away as it broke something random.
"Awe come on man! That's not cool, it really matched the room too!" The Dude yelled from behind his counter. Discord simply ignored him.
"Besides, did you think I was going to let you beat my high score? I don't like getting beaten, especially at my own game."
"That's not fair Discord! I demand you give me another try, with my previous score!" Discord lost his look of amusement.
"I'm sorry my little pony, but you had your chance, you better play it fair then." Discord shot Pinkie and evil eye.
"Fine! Discord, I challenge you to a pinball duel." Discord's mouth grew into a big smile, and he began to laugh maniacally.
Meanwhile, The Dude Pony was the only other one still in the shop. His jaw dropped, as he ran outside into the street and yelled,"Everypony! There is a duel with Discord about to happen!" With that, a rush of ponies filled up the store, as they crowded around the corner, there was no escaping now.
"Alright Pinkie, but here are the rules. If I win, then you have to stop playing pinball." He smiled wickedly.
"Fine! If I win Discord, you have to change and make the pinball machine to be mine!" She smiled and put on her best challenger face. Discord stared straight back at her.
"This will be you last game Pinkie." he snapped his fingers, causing the place around him to morph. It morphed into a giant stadium, where the crowd was transported into seats, and a stage sat in the middle of it all with a giant screen up above, showing the pinball machines playing field. Discord was sitting in a chair, facing the machine, which had become like new. He went up to the machine and stood in front of his audience.
"Dear, ponies! I have been challenged to a game of Pinball by this foolish pony. Little does she know, I am the Pinball wizard, this is the only pinball machine in the land of Equestria. The rules are, whoever scores the highest, on three balls, wins this competition." There was a cheering in the crowd, signaling that the crowd was all revved up and awaiting for it to begin.
Discord turned back to Pinkie, who was more than ready to play. She knew that she could beat Discord, and she knew that Discord isn't as good as he says. The only reason she knew that, is because he hadn't played in a year apparently. Pinkie sat up, and she had a knot in her chest, and she knew there was going to be a lot of pressure put on her. However, even with her confidence and concerns, she maintained a poker face, all the while staring Discord down. She showed no emotion, and she was trying to get in his head. She didn't even smile.
"Alright then Pinkie, are you ready to play?" Pinkie nodded "Then I shall go first, my machine after all." He turned around, and Discord was ready to prove himself.
Pinkie quietly sat, as Discord launched his first ball. to Pinkie's amazement, Discord was excellent at the game. He was able to manipulate every one of his shots in the direction he needed. The ball was moving so fast Pinkie could only see a glimpse of the shiny silver ball when Discord would hit it off his flipper. It winded and corkscrewed around the rails, launched up ramps, shot out of the random holes, and all of this was being done without a single hitch from Discords end.
Pinkie really started to get nervous that she underestimated Discord. She felt a little bit of sweat begin to erupt off her forehead as she watched Discord's game off the giant T.V. She knew what she had to do, and set up a game plan to just play it cool, and play it smooth. She needed to pace herself, and get at least half his score on the first ball. Then there was a familiar laughing that came from the machine, Discord had tilted it too much. Causing the entire machine to lock up.
"Bah, blasted machine. I didn't even tilt you that much. I knew I made the balances too sensitive." He shot another ball, and resumed game play, that's when Pinkie got an idea. She grabbed an extra balloon she had from the emergency stash she had. She blew it up, tied the knot, and waited. Discord had shot it in a trap, and when it released, Pinkie popped the balloon behind Discord. Discord jumped forward, bumping the machine really hard. It tilted right away and locked up. Discord shot Pinkie an evil look.
"Now you know how it feels" Pinkie gave him an angry smile, and he just huffed at her.
"Fine, but no more, I'll play fair if you do." He held out his hand to give her his word.
"Pinkie Pie Promise?" She asked in an extension on 'promise.'
"Fine! Cross my heart and hope to fly" Discord was following all the motions that go with it. "Stick a cupcake in my eye!" He finished by poking himself in his eyelid. Pinkie then nodded her head, and accepted the promise.
The score was already up to four million and some change. Discord took a moment to catch his breath, and the crowd was cheering the entire time. The ball sat motionless in the launch, and Discord began to get a nervous look on his face. Pinkie had iced him over with that little trick, causing him to lose his focus.
"Are ya gonna play or what?" Pinkie was mocking Discord, trying to get him even further off his game.
"Oh hush, your distracting me darn it." He grabbed to launcher and pulled it back. He released it, and the ball was back to zipping around the machine. This time though, it had slowed a little, giving Pinkie a little bit more hope. His shots weren't as accurate, and it seemed like his score was at least going to be obtainable.
"Oh Frizzle!" He had bumped the machine a little too much again, and it froze, again. Pinkie grinned ear to ear, as his score only reached seven million, two hundred two thousand, seven hundred sixteen. It was a lot more manageable than the nine million she was trying to beat in the store. In fact she could probably beat the score in two balls.
Discord turned to Pinkie, furious, he started to yell at her, but Pinkie cut him off before he could.
"Discord, don't be mad, think of it as fair play, I mean after all I was going to beat your high score anyways." She giggled at his expense, and he just went and sat down with a grumpy look on his face.
Pinkie took a deep breath as she looked over the machine. It was flashing bright, reflecting colors off of pinkie adding different hues to her coat. She inserted her one bit and out released her first ball. There was an intense stiffness in the air, she felt as if the entire world was putting pressure on her. Pulling the plunger seemed to make the entire world take a breath. She could only hear her heart beat, and the flashing lights were haunting her mind as they seemed menacing. She let go of the plunger and played her normal game of slow ball, taking her time to bring herself up to pace, bumping the table here and there. The silver ball zipping every which way.
She was on a roll, and she could have easily picked up her pace, but decided to keep herself slow for the moment. Un aware that she was really close to Discord's score when she accidentally tilted. A fit of rage came over her, but she still ahd two balls. She wanted to beat him on ball to really add insult to injury.
Pinkie was about to continue, when she caught glimpse of Discord, who seemed distraught. He was tapping his fingers in a rhythm as he looked anxious and nervous all at once. He didn't want Pinkie to beat him obviously. Pinkie then looked back down at the machine when she gave out a sigh. She looked around the stadium while she had her front hooves leaned against the machine. She got down on all four of her hooves again, and turned to Discord who just looked at her. There was a small silencing of the crowd.
"You win Dissy." Discord sat there, with a confused look on his face.
"Wait Pinkie, what did you say?" Discord sat up, to listen a little more closely
"You win, I don't wanna play anymore."
Discord's jaw dropped. "Wha- why do I win?"
Pinkie smiled, "Simple, I forfeit." Pinkie looked back at the machine, "Ya know, it was fun and all, but to be honest, this is just way too serious for me, and just not that much fun anymore."
Shocked Discord just kind of looked at Pinkie. The ponies in the audience were all still silent, when there was a small clap that started, followed by many more, and then the crowd began an uproar shouting 'Pinkie, Pinkie, Pinkie!'
Discord was lost with words but instead he just stood up and walked up to Pinkie. The entire stadium loud, the machine still flashing, and with a big smile Discord extended his hand.
"Well played Pinkie" Discord felt relived as he was absolutely sure he was going to lose to this mare. "Don't worry all bets are off now" Pinkie smiled and accepted being second best to a god of chaos was good in her book. Discord snapped his fingers, the stadium disappeared and the world had turned back to normal. In the corner sat the pinball machine, Discord's Chaos, collecting dust like it normally does.
Not much would change for the machine for the next few weeks, not many ponies even dared to try and play it after all that happened. Pinkie came back in occasionally to say 'hi' to The Dude, but she never stopped to play a game. The machine eventually died, and on that day, Discord came in to clean up his mess. Only to replace the machine with something called 'Pac-Pony' and it to be played by the same pink mare.