//------------------------------//
// Laughter 
// Story: The Creation of Harmony 
// by Time Ponies are cool 
//------------------------------//

 Chapter XXVIII: Laughter
"WHEEEEE!" Pinkie Pie screamed in delight as she flew about in a sandstorm. Derpy, Rainbow Dash, Rarity and Starswirl the Bearded were flying around her as they were high in the air zooming at extreme speeds. After a few minutes, the panic stopped and they redirected their energy into trying to survive the flight.  Suddenly, something hit Pinkie in the head, a big mass of purple fur, mane and flailing hooves. She was dazed for a moment, but quickly collected herself and identified what hit her. "Twilight!"
"Pinkie?" the mass of purple replied. The mass turned and revealed a familiar face. "Pinkie! Am I glad to see you!"
"Oh, brilliant! You're all still alive!" The Doctor called out from behind them as he, Fluttershy and Applejack held on to each other. Rainbow Sword smoothly flew by and used his wings to guide his flight and avoiding crashing into the others. Rarity held on to Rainbow Dash's tail as Dash tried to gain control of her flight. Starswirl recited an incantation and created a bubble around himself to gain some control over his flight. Derpy was at the head of the storm-carried group and calmly looked at her friends with her right eye and at the direction the storm was going with her other eye. 
Derpy saw the Doctor in her right eye and waved at him and called out, "Hi, Doctor! We got the seed!" He called something out in reply, but she could not hear him over the sound of the wind. Just as she was about to reply, she saw a faint shape begin to appear in her left eye. It appeared to be a pair great towers standing alone in the middle of the desert. The storm rapidly drew closer and closer, and Derpy turned to look at the sight with both eyes. She then saw that they were two huge rocky outcroppings, towing high above the desert. 
"Hey, everypony!" Pinkie called out, "Look! Two upside down towers!" Pinkie was flying upside down as she caught sight of the rocky outcroppings. "Maybe there's friendly ponies living there! I bet they have lots of-" She was abruptly stopped as she was caught in an enormous net. Shortly after, the winds stopped and the grains of the sandstorm floated suspended in the air. Upon closer investigation, Pinkie saw that each of the grains had a yellow glow around them. The glow then disappeared and all the sand dropped. Pinkie looked around and saw that she and her friends were caught in a huge net spanning at least half a mile wide and held up by the two rocky towers. She tried to move, but found herself tangled in the ropes. "Hey! What gives?!"
"Well, this is inconvenient," the Doctor said, his head poking out from a ball of rope that held him, Fluttershy and Applejack together, "It looks like we're about to be enslaved."
"How long do we have to be up here?!" Rarity shouted from a part of the net a good distance away, where she was in a rope tangle with Dash. "The Sun is right at my face!"
"At least your face isn't between anypony's legs!" Dash said from her position in the tangle, where her head was trapped between Rarity's legs and her face was hidden behind Rarity's tail. "OW!" Dash cried out when she felt a sudden sting on her flank. She could not move her head so she called, "What was that?! Did anybody see what it was!?"
"Don't worry!" the Doctor answered, "It's just your basic sedative. Ow!" He too was stung, this time on his belly. "Their darts must have gotten bigger since the last time..."
"Darts?" Applejack asked, "Ow!"
"How humiliating," Sword complained, "Captured by camels and sold as a slave. I will not stand for this." He then felt the sting on his neck and shouted out to the camels far below on the ground. "Ha! You shall need more than that to subdue me! You have no power over me!" The camels responded by sending four more darts his way. Upon hitting their target, the darts made Sword immediately fall asleep. 
The others were then hit by the tranquilizer darts and started feeling drowsy. The Doctor advised them, "Don't worry. I can get us out of this. Just don't resist. Let the... the tranquilizer take effect... Like this..." The Doctor slowly fell asleep, and soon enough the other's followed. 
Upon waking, the ponies found themselves on a corner of a large wicker tent. They all had their hooves tied up. Dash, Sword, Fluttershy and Derpy also had their wings tied up, and Twilight, Rarity and Starswirl had strangle black crystals attached to their horns. The sand below them was fairly cool and the tent provided relieving shade, for which they were all grateful. A variety of boxes, barrels, chests, sacks, rolled up carpets and other odds and ends filled the tent. Nearby, a pair of camels unrolled a carpet and spoke to each other in Dromedary. Some distance away, the ponies' saddlebags, the Doctor's clocks and screwdriver, and Sword's sword were piled together on top of a box. Dash and Applejack began to struggle to free themselves, while Twilight, Rarity and Starswirl attempted to use their magic to untie the ropes. The unicorns then realized that the crystals on their horns was blocking their magic.
The two camels heard the ponies' struggles and the taller one told the shorter to fetch tea.   The taller camel knelt down and spoke in Equinese. "Greetings and welcome, my little ponies. My name is Rajajat al-Falfal, daughter of Kuub al-Qahwa. I am the shiekh of the al-Qurmizey tribe." Rajajat was an exceptionally long-necked camel. She wore numerous decorations and pieces of jewelry, and her flank was graced by a cutie mark of sacks of spices. Around her head she wore a garland of azaleas. The centerpiece of this garland, at her forehead, was a hexagon-cut amethyst. "I hope that sandstorm was not too uncomfortable of a flight."
" Rajajat al-Falfal! Oh, how you've grown up," the Doctor exclaimed, "You were just a calf when I last saw you. Remember me? I'm the Doctor! I helped your father with that Dalek in the Barafu Mountains."
Rajajat cocked her head in confusion and replied, "I certainly remember the Doctor who helped my father, and you're not him. But anyway, how nice that you can speak Dromedary. That makes this much more convenient. I'm only conversant in Equinese." 
"Oh, right. I was in a different regeneration then. Sorry. I got a new face, you see. It's a thing that happens when I'm dying. But I'm still me. Still the same old Doctor. Come one, you've got to trust me and let us free and not sell us into slavery... Please."
"I'm not convinced."
"Alright then, I'm going to have to tell a unique memory. Let's see... when you were a calf, your tribe freed that Dalek from a mountain glacier and it starting attacking your encampment. Your mother brought you to a tent and hid you in a box of oregano. But you sneezed and the Dalek heard you. It was just about to get you when I took you out of the box and I said to you, 'Run'."
Rajajat raised her eyebrows in surprise as she realized that this pony truly was the Doctor that saved her tribe all those years ago. She stood and chuckled, "Well, then. What a twist of fate that we should meet once more, Doctor."
"So, if you don't mind. We'd appreciate it very much if you untie us. And to remove the amirite from their horns. Magic is kind of necessary for us. So, no amirite please. That is amirite, am I right?"
"Yorite."
"I'm right?"
"No, you're wrong."
"But you just said I'm right."
"No, I said 'Yorite.' Their magic is being blocked by yorite."
"Oh, you're right. It's yorite. Common mix-up. They're both the same color and density. But also not from Earth. Where did you get access to yorite?"
"It's not any of your business, Doctor. Sorry. And I shall have to say no to your request to be freed. I owe you no favors. You persuaded my father to make my cousin co-heir with me and thus made our tribe split in two. And I'm sure you'll understand when I say that I was not pleased about that."
"Just let us go!" Twilight interrupted, "We're on a mission to put the Sun back in its place."
"Yeah!" Dash joined, "And if we don't do it in time, it'll be your fault for keeping us!"
"Sorry, I'm not interested," Rajajat replied, "My tribe is quite fine under this Sun. My magic is perfectly capable of creating shade and cooling down the sand and summoning sandstorms." She gestured to the amethyst on her garland. 
Just then the other camel returned carrying a tray with a porcelain tea pot, a jar of sugar and ten tea cups on the saddle on his hump. Rajajat thanked him and levitated the tea down from his saddle. She then dismissed him and proceeded to pour cups of tea and mix in some sugar. Pinkie gasped at the sight.
"SUGAR! Oh my gosh! You have sugar! Please, can I have some? Please! Please! Please! I need that sugar!"
"What in Faust's name is sugar? And wherefore doth the Doctor's magic allow thee to understand their tongue, but not I?" Starswirl asked, though he was largely ignored.
"Wait, you're not supposed to have any sugar," Twilight said as she squirmed over to get a better view of the jar. "Nopony's supposed to have sugar around here until- well... um... nopony's supposed to have sugar around here." Twilight stopped before any knowledge of the future slipped from her mouth.
"How full of surprises you are. You even know what sugar is." Rajajat replied as she finished preparing the last cup. She then levitated all the cups simultaneously and brought them to each of the ponies' mouths so that the ponies could drink. "My cousin inherited my father's ships and trades across the Sea, to a very distant land, beyond where any pony, dragon or Hoofrican dares to go. It lies on the other side of the deepest part of the Uruhu Forest. On that side is  land flowing in spices, herbs, sugar and other riches. My cousin even told me that on that side of the forest, there grew the most amazing apples that bore the colors of the rainbow."
"You mean zap apples?" Applejack interrupted.
"I beg your pardon?"
"Them rainbow-colored apples you're talking about. They're zap apples."
"Uh, ignore her, Rajajat," the Doctor stopped Applejack from continuing, "She's been in the desert for far too long and all that heat has addled her brain and loads of other nasty things."
As they spoke, Twilight began to wonder that perhaps the land Rajajat was talking about was Equestria from long before the ponies discovered it. Not wanting to miss a chance at learning some history from a primary source, she asked, "Did your cousin ever mention any indigenous residents of the land beyond the sea?"
"Oh, they're nothing more than barbarians," Rajajat answered, "My cousin keeps a record of the savages he encounters. There are 'griffins,' 'buffalo,' 'mules,' and occasionally uncivilized dragons. Also, there are filthy creatures who call themselves, 'diamond dogs,' whom my cousin does most of his trade with. They live underground and do nothing but hoard gems. Their greed and ignorance means great business for my cousin. With a few cheap gems he can fill a ship with all sorts of goods. Of course, that means he can sell his goods to me for a low price and that has made my business boom. But I'd very much prefer to be trading with them myself. My cousin has turned enormous profits from overseas trade, certainly larger than mine. I envy him."
Once the ponies finished drinking, Rajajat put the tea cups back on the tray and called for somecamel to take it away. She then turned and began to walk out of the tent, saying some last words to the ponies, "If you'll excuse, my customer is being disagreeable about the price to put on you. I must try to resolve things in my favor."
The shiekh exited the tent and a few moments later, the ponies heard her start yelling and a deep voice returned the yells. In the end they came to settle a price. Three-hundred gold for Applejack, Pinkie, Dash, the Doctor and Sword. Three-hundred silver for Twilight, Rarity, Fluttershy and Derpy. And a hundred silver for Starswirl. The sorcerer was deeply offended upon overhearing the price placed on him.
The ponies were taken out of the tent and brought into an enormous round yellow silk tent. Rajajat and her tribe left and the ten were now possessions of the mercenary dragon, Thorn. The walls were easily over twice the height of the camels' tent and the roof rose even higher. The sand beneath the tent was covered over with carpets of various color and majestic designs. Gold coins, jewelry, goblets and other trinkets were scattered about the floor here and there. The slaves, hailing from every species in the three kingdoms, busied themselves with keeping the tent tidy and preparing their master's afternoon cider, though none of the tent's residents had any sense of afternoon anymore.
The ponies were released from their ropes by a rhino, who was the slave supervisor. His position was indicated by a tattoo of a star on his neck. He was an average sized rhino with a short green horn covered in black yorite crystals. He had a number of piercings on both his ears, but he wore no earrings. His cutie mark was a rolled up scroll tied with a pink ribbon. He spoke in a deep voice to the new arrivals in Equinese. "Welcome. I'm your supervisor, Mr. Tongue-Twister. We're all happy to have you here and I'll assure you that serving our master, Thorn, is a great honor. Now, come along. Your tour of the tent will start immediately."
The ponies silently followed the rhino and were shown all the features, facilities and workplaces of the tent. For a mobile home, the tent was surprisingly well-equipped. It had a kitchen, two bedrooms, slave quarters, a sitting room, a dining room, three restrooms and a library. All of these could be easily taken down, packed and moved across the desert as necessary. Tongue-Twister then led the ponies through a bead curtain into a luxurious bedroom, with a hoard of gold at the center. On this hoard laid a large purple dragon. His white spines were long and stiff, and his tail ended in an arrowhead shape. He wore a variety of jewels and the most dazzling of them all was the golden cuff on his right wrist, which was adorned with a fang-shaped diamond. One thing he lacked was a pair of wings. Tongue-Twister approached the dragon and said, "Master, the new slaves. I managed a suitable price. Three-hundred gold, four-hundred silver."
"Thank you, Tongue-Twister. I shall handle things from here. You may go and attend to more pressing matters," Thorn, the dragon mercenary, said as he got off of his bed of gold. He ordered his new slaves to come closer and he circled around them, observing their features closely. He first pointed at Starswirl and said in Equinese, "You are to be an usher. I've not had a usher in a while and it's a nice convenience for when my clients visit." He then said to Sword and the Doctor, "You two have sharp eyes. You shall be watch guards. Two of my guards went blind from too much Sun." To Dash, he said, "Roof maintenance. How fortunate for you. You shall have your wings freed." To Applejack, he said, "Kitchen assistant. The cook has been requesting for another one for the past year." To Twilight, Fluttershy and Derpy, he paused to think before saying, "Packers and movers. But I shan't be moving for another few weeks, so for now you are maids." He looked at Rarity and admired her beauty. He asked her, "Are you skilled in the art of dance?" 
Rarity replied, "No, sorry. My skill lies in making dresses and making beauty in general."
Thorn was less impressed by her talent and focused on the fact that she just spoke to him in his native tongue. "Oh, you can speak Drakish. How nice. You will instead be the usher, then. The bearded one can be... hm... he can be a bus-colt."
"We all can speak Drakish, master," the Doctor said, "Except the bearded one and the eye-patch one." Thorn simply acknowledged his statement with a nod and moved on.
He lastly came to Pinkie, and he was stumped as to where to assign her. He asked, "Tell me, pink one. What is your special talent?"
"Oh! I'm good at parties!" Pinkie answered, "I get together all the decorations, I make lots of sweets, I invite all my friends and then I-"
"I have no use for parties in this tent, thank you," Thorn interrupted, "What else are you skilled at? Otherwise I shall have to place you among the packers and movers."
"I provide some great entertainment!"
Thorn raised an eyebrow and lowered his head to Pinkie's level. "Entertainment? Never have I had an entertainer in my possession. I've never considered it. This should be a nice change. Though, I must warn you that I've not laughed in two-hundred years."
"Challenge accepted!"
Thorn smiled and returned to his bed. He laid on his side, facing the ponies, and said, "So let us test you, pink one, to see if you are capable of carrying out the duties of an entertainer. If you can make me laugh, you shall be rewarded with this unique role. If not, you are a packer."
"Okay! Let's start with a joke: Why did the doctor's say that the egg was suffering from laughing gas? Because he was cracking up!"
Thorn kept a blank face that gave the impression that he was not amused. Pinkie tried again. "Twinkle Sprinkle was painting a forest on himself when he saw his friend Black Track pass by. Black Track just got a new set of silver horseshoes for his birthday and was showing it off around town. When Twinkle Sprinkle saw him, he went over, his face half-painted, and said, 'Wow, Black Track! Those are some cool shoes! I'm green with envy!'"
Still, Thorn was not amused. Pinkie decided to change tactics, as he clearly did not appreciate puns.
"A chicken, a pig and a pony go to a tavern and all three order a round of cider. The chicken says, 'You know, life as a chicken gets pretty boring. Being cooped up all my life, it gave me time to think. What's the point of it all? Why do I go through the effort of eating seeds, laying eggs, sleeping, waking and so on, when all I ever do is just stay in a farm doing nothing? I feel a lack of purpose. I want to go out and do things. Accomplish great feats and make me a chicken that every chicken should know.' The pig looks at the chicken and says, 'Hey, now, life ain't that bad. I think it's pretty darn sweet living on the farm. You ain't got a care in the world. All you got to do is relax and eat the food that's given to you. So, without worries, you can enjoy life and all its pleasures. You'll see how good life is, and living the good life is a purpose in itself.' The pony then turns to face both of them. She looks them square in the eye and takes a sip of her cider. She wipes the foam from her mouth and says, 'Why in tarnation do I even have you? I'm a vegetarian!'"
Nothing. Though Thorn did crack a little smirk. If anything, he was entertained by Pinkie's vain attempts at amusing him.  Applejack went to Pinkie and said, "Come on now, sugarcube. Looks like nothing's gonna make him laugh."
Pinkie disregarded Applejack and pushed her away. She then kept on trying, "The king of Ponytopia, the queen of Ponytopia and their butler are on a ship. There's only one lifeboat and it only has room for one passenger. The king said, 'I should get the boat. I raise and lower the Sun that brings light into the world. If I drown, the Sun would stop moving and order will collapse.' Then the queen said, 'I should get the boat. I'm responsible for the Moon that bring the beautiful  night into the world. If I drown, who then would cool the Earth after it has been warmed by the Sun?' And then the butler said, 'If it weren't for me, neither of Your Majesties could do your job! I polish your horns, clean your hooves, bring you your breakfasts, make your beds, prepare your clothes, bring you your mail, and organize your servants. If I were to drown, both night and day would fall apart and the world would go into chaos.' So which of them survived? Come on, guess!"
"All of them. The king and queen could just fly."
"Well, uh, the king and queen broke their wings. But they all did survive. Because the ship wasn't sinking!"
Thorn yawned. He smiled and gave Pinkie a look that said, "Give up yet?"
Pinkie smiled back. She sensed that her plan was working. Fluttershy then timidly walked up to her and quietly said, "Pinkie, maybe it's not worth it. We should probably just, um, move on. And I want to leave the room. His teeth are scary," Fluttershy's voice then began to rise as she grew more and more anxious. "We have to get out of here. I gotta get out of here! I can't take this anymore! I can't work for this dragon! Pinkie! Don't give up! Let's make a bet with the dragon. Excuse me, mister. We'd like to make a bet with you."
The other's watched with concern as Fluttershy approached Thorn and spoke so boldly to him. "What is she doing?" Sword asked, "I'm going to stop her before she angers him."
"No, wait, hold on," the Doctor said, "I think she just might find us a way out..."
Thorn lowered his head from his high spot on the hoard of gold and looked down on Fluttershy. The little pegasus squeaked in fear at such a close-up sight of the fearsome dragon,  but she had gone too far to back away. She fearfully  stared at him quietly. Thorn then said, "Well? What would you like to bet on? That if the pink one succeeds in making me laugh, I must reward you?"
"Um, y-y-yes. If it works, you'll let us free. A-a-also to give us back our things. I, um, I noticed the camels sold you those as well. Well, that is, if you don't mind..." The camels indeed sold the ponies' saddlebags, clocks, sonic screwdriver and sword, and they were added to Thorn's hoard of riches.
"What then would I receive if she should fail? You're already my slaves. You can't deny any of my orders."
"That's not entirely true!" the Doctor joined, "The Dragon Code does place limits on what you can do to your slaves without their consent. According to the code you cannot force, um, ahem, you-know-what, if you know what I mean, on a slave."
"Ah, yes, you're right. I know what you mean... So if the pink one fails, I shall have the consent to do um... you-know-what to a pony of my choice?"
"Is it a fair bet?" the Doctor replied.
Thorn was tempted. He never had "you-know-what" with a pony. He had a unicorn slave who knew a size-changing spell that would allow him to be small enough to do it. He then set his sights on the beautiful Rarity. He was certain Pinkie would fail, and all he had to give was some time to watch her fail He decided that the opportunity was worthwhile. He gave his answer. "I accept. If the pink one should succeed in making me laugh, you shall be given back your possessions and freed. If she should fail, I shall have the white one for, um... you-know-what."
Rarity was all a bit confused at what was going on and by the time she realized what the you-know-what was, Thorn and the Doctor had already sealed the deal. It was too late to protest. So she looked at Pinkie with her petrified eyes and mouthed out to her, "Don't fail."
Pinkie nodded to her and made the gestures of the pinkie promise. Thorn put his head back up and rested it on his hoard as he gave Pinkie his attention. She walked up defiantly and, from out of nowhere, she took out a black bowler hat, a white cane, and a moustache. She put on the hat and moustache, held out the cane in one hoof, and began to softly sing.
"The desert is hot.
Boils like a tea pot.
I'd love to see it meet with some showers.
It is quite a bore.
Always the same as before.
All that changes is the shapes of the dunes.
But wait! What's this?
Could it bring you some bliss?
A pony to lift up your damp and weary spirit.
Oooooohhh, yes!
It's she!
It's Pinkie Pie!"
As she sang she gave a grand crescendo and broke into dance. She did tricks with her cane and hat, spun, leaped, tap-danced and did other feats of acrobatics and choreography, all the while singing.
"Oh come on now, dear master, crack a smile.
You'll be so glad to see it stretch a mile.
The sparrow and the lark,
The good old bats in the dark,
Little bunny and big shark,
All the dogs who love to bark.
Here they come shout out, Hark!
We have a show to show!"
Some of the other slaves peeked into the room to see what all the commotion was. They had never heard the sound of such cheerful music resonate through the tent.

"Let me tell an old story,
Of a camel's long lost glory.
Rajajat Al-Fal-Fool!
She met a nameless Doctor,
A fearless monster-buster,
When she was just a calf.
The Doctor saved the day.
The camels cried, 'Hooray!'
But not Miss Al-Fal-Fool.
For she met a funny end,
Unlike the usual trend,
'Cus she was once the heir.
The Doctor told her father,
Something that was a bother,
Involving her auntie's son.
So it came to be,
That the sole heir was not she.
She had to share with her cousin,
That Rajajat Aaaaal-Faaaaal-Foooooo-WOAH!"
Just as Pinkie was belting out her final note while balancing on one hoof on her cane, she fell and hit her head on the floor. She sat up and rubbed her head. She had a disappointed expression on her face. Her poofy mane then deflated and became came down as straight hair. She stood up, looked at Rarity, who had a horrified expression on her face, and winked. She turned, tears welling up in her eyes, and depressingly said to Thorn, "I'm sorry I wasted your time..." She then fell on her back, flailed her hooves and began to sob at her failure.
Thorn chuckled. "What a fool you've made of yourself. And how you've humiliatingly failed your friend. Ha! I should be embarrassed to even be seen in your company."
Suddenly Pinkie jumped up high into the air and landed on Thorn's snout. She looked him in the eye and exclaimed, "AHA! YOU LAUGHED!"
The ponies gasped. The slaves gasped. Thorn gasped. The great dragon's jaw was dropped as he stared at the little pony before his eyes. He mumbled, "Impossible..."
Pinkie replied, "Not impossible. Just highly improbable."
"Wh-Who... who are you?"
"I am Laughter," Pinkie dramatically replied. Then her hair poofed up again and she said, "But you can just call me Pinkie Pie."
Thorn was speechless. He had experienced a sensation he had not felt in two centuries. He did not even remember what happened when he last laughed. He got off his bed and lowered his head so that Pinkie could safely hop off. He sat on the floor and just stared at the ponies, clueless as to what to say. Eventually, he found the right words. He smiled and said, "Thank you."
The ponies smiled back. Pinkie then said, "So. How about that freedom?"
"Of course. Just as I promised." Thorn reared his head and gathered green fire in his throat. The ponies gasped in horror and braced themselves for their imminent fiery doom. Thorn breathed and engulfed them in green fire. A moment later, the ponies found themselves perfectly fine, and the yorite crystals were removed from the unicorn's horns. "Do you not know that green fire can heal and cleanse?" Thorn then turned his head and called out to one of the slaves, "Indigo, cut the ropes on their wings." A skinny purple gazelle galloped over and carried out his orders. In the meantime, the dragon looked through his hoard to gather up the ponies' possessions.
Rarity's attention was caught by the name, Indigo. She walked up to the gazelle, who was busy freeing Dash's wings. "Excuse me. Are you Dr. Indigo? From Gazellandria?"
The gazelle was surprised to hear that somepony in the tent knew of him. He finished cutting Dash's rope and said, "Yes, I am. You've heard of me?"
Rarity smiled at him. "We met your wife, Cottontail, while traveling through the desert."
Indigo's eyes widened and he quickly asked, "Really?! How was she?"
"She and your son are alive and well. They're probably back in Hoofrica by now."
Indigo was overcome with joy and his eyes watered. He covered his mouth with his hoof and fell to his knees. He looked up, closed his eyes and said, "Praise be to the Gods." He wiped his eyes and said, "Sorry. I don't mean to fall apart in front of you like this. It's just... it's just such great news to hear. Thank you."
"Indigo! Have you finished cutting their ropes?" Thorn called out as he approached with the ponies' possession in one claw. Indigo quickly gave a farewell nod to Rarity and moved on to cut the ropes restraining Derpy's wings. 
Thorn set down the saddlebags, clocks, screwdriver and sword, and then he reached for the golden cuff on his right wrist. He pulled out the fang-shaped diamond and held it out to Pinkie. "I met a zebra living in the Mushroom Rocks a few years ago, and she told me that an oracle told her that someday I would meet one who would make me laugh, and when I did, I should give her this. I never believed the loony old zebra, but now the prophecy has come true. I'd best follow that oracle's instructions then."
Pinkie took the diamond, though with great difficulty as it was very large and heavy. The ponies gathered around and admired the brilliant jewel.
"This is much more than a diamond," Thorn explained, "It is a fang of the White Dragon. I am descended from the White Dragon and the Green Dragon. This fang was passed down through the generations since the White Dragon's death and came to me. It is my most prized possession, so please be careful with it."
Pinkie gratefully accepted the fang and shook Thorn's claw. The great purple mercenary dragon then personally escorted the ten ponies out of the tent, provided them some food and water, and bade them good luck with their journey through the Great Northern Desert.
As the ponies walked under the merciless Sun, the Doctor had only one thought occupying his mind: "Who is the oracle?"