//------------------------------// // Party's over // Story: Purity // by maxxxxxx //------------------------------// “Sweetie Belle please! Why would you want to attend Twilight's party?” The white unicorn said in exasperation to the excitedly bouncing filly following her. “Because she's a princess!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed, having expected her sister of all ponies to have understood. “Sweetie, you never had an interest in Twilight's parties before, and insisting on going simply to meet royalty is unfair to Twilight.” She scolded her younger sister, knowing full well that the exact thing she was being chastised for was something that she was herself guilty of. 'She has to learn these things lest she end up with a character like Prince Blueblood.' She thought to herself with a shudder remembering the night of the grand galloping gala. “But Rarity.” Sweetie Belle plead before her sister cut her off. “No buts!” She said finally. She looked over to Sweetie to give her a stern look to quell any furthur arguing but instead found herself subject to Sweetie Belle's own “Stare”. Her Large green eyes pierced Rarity's attempt at sternness, she felt her resolve melt as the fillies began to glisten with forced tears and her lips quivered. With a sigh, Rarity gave in. “Oh very well!” “Yay!” She leapt with excitement “But!” The sudden break in her excitement left her hovering in mid air as Rarity finished. “You must ask Twilight first.” Sweetie landed as she finished explaining the condition. “Okay! I'll go ask her!” Sweetie Belle took off to the library before her sister could stop her, leaving her there shaking her head. 'How does that filly have so much energy in this heat?' With that thought she turned back towards Sugar cube corner. However, as she lifted her hoof to take a step she stopped as only an inch or so away a pink and yellow blur sped past then came to an abrupt stop. The pegasus looked around frantically as she panted. “Rarity! have you seen Pinkie?!” Fluttershy said between heavy breaths, her eyes darting back and forth. “I simply cannot understand how everypony has so much energy in this dreadful heat, and no, I'm on my way to Sugar cube corner to help with the party. I would assume she is there as well.” Fluttershy's strange behavior worried Rarity as in response to her answer she looked over the unicorn as if she were hiding the pony in question. “Thanks Rarity, sorry to bother you. I have to get going, sorry.” With that Fluttershy began running in the direction of her home. When suddenly a gust of air rushed by her accompanied by hoof beats then a bright pink flash. The blur very quickly got in front of Fluttershy, causing the startled pony to scream. “Found you!” Pinkie pie smiled excitedly despite the look of near horror her friend wore. “Your not very good at hiding are you? I even gave you a head start this time!” “Pinkie Pie please, I need to get home. Those poor animals are scared! They need me!” Tears of frustration pooled in Fluttershy's eyes and she beseeched. Eliciting a frown from Pinkie who stood over her. Rarity had seen enough. “Pinkie Pie! What do you think you're doing to poor Fluttershy!” Rarity said angrily as she trotted over to the two. She stood beside Fluttershy, who looked at her in much the same way Sweetie Belle had done moments ago, though this time the look was very much more real. “We're just playing hide and go-stop-Fluttershy-from-reaching-her-cabin go seek!” She responded trying to sound as cheerful as possible when faced with two unhappy friends. “I'm winning.” She added proudly. “Oh Rarity it's awful! There was something wrong with all the animals, then Rainbow Dash grabbed me and flew me by force to all the way to the center of town and then told Pinkie Pie to keep me from getting home to them!” Tears rolled down her muzzle as she explained. Rarity's jaw dropped at the story. This was going way too far for a prank, and on poor Fluttershy! “Pinkie Pie, I demand that you let her go at once! I expected better of you and Rainbow dash than to pull such an extreme and hurtful prank on a pony like her!” Rarity rarely lost her temper, it was unladylike, but seeing how absolutely distressed Fluttershy was, she couldn’t help but feel protective. “No way Jose! I Pinkie promised Dashie that I would keep Fluttershy safe and that's just what I'm going to do!” Pinkie Pie folded her forelegs in front of her and her face took on a determined look. It was clear she would not move easily. Rarity raised an eyebrow. “Keep her safe? From what?” Pinkie Pie's eyes widened as she realized her slip. She began to sweat as she tried to think of a response. Her mouth opened but was cut off as she felt the ground begin to shake. She looked up to her friends and it was clear from the way they were both looking at the ground they were feeling it as well. Rarity squinted at the horizon. a cloud of dust was fast approaching along with a thunderous roar. She could make out a fast moving trail of rainbow in front. “Stampede!” A random pony screamed causing the other bystanders to run in panic into they're homes, quickly followed by the sounds of doors locking and curtains being drawn. Leaving the three standing in the middle of the now seemingly vacant town. ******************************************************************************************* “Dash! You fly in front and try to startle the lead cow away from Ponyville!” Twilight shouted over the roar of hundreds of hooves. Dash brought her hoof to her forehead in salute before speeding off to the front of the herd. Twilight banked, gliding down to Apple Jack, who was atop one of the rampaging cattle. “AJ! I see a small valley not far from here! If you can get them to stampede there I can conjure a fence to corral them in!” Applejack grinned. “You got it partner!” She unfurled her lasso as she acrobatically hopped from one cow to the other. She expertly landed her rope around the lead and tugged the rope with all her might in the direction of the field. Dash darted back and forth, hoping that the fast moving rainbow blur would scare the cattle into turning, but to no avail. She shrugged and flew higher into the air, doing a loop to gain speed she flung herself at the cow in front by which time her friend had already lassoed. She rammed it, the speed of her impact nearly knocking the cow off balance, but it seemed to work as it changed it's course, followed by the rest of the herd. Winona, Applejack's faithful work dog, made sure to put any stragglers back on course. The whole herd began running in a circle in the field, Twilight's horn light up as she began the spell. Wood beams and wire encircled the cattle, and an iron gate formed in front. She sighed, as her glow faded, the intensive spell now complete. They had managed to stop the stampede only minutes away from town. Disaster averted the three mares regrouped just outside of the fence. “Thanks bunches for the help y’all. That was some mighty quick think'n there Twi.” “I'm just glad we managed to stop them in time.” She smiled as she looked over to the town. Dash chimed in, hovering next to her friends. “So what caused the stampede?” A strangely concerned tone made Applejack eye her friend curiously before answering. “Well, there were some timber wolves on our farm, thing is though, they didn't seem interested in us or the cattle. It actually seemed like they were running from something.” Dash and Twilight looked at each other, worry in they're eyes as they both came to the same conclusion. The worry was not lost on Applejack as she spoke up. “Do y'all know something I should know?” Her voice came out a bit irritated. “Yes, do tell. While you're at it apologize to Fluttershy for the cruel prank you put her through!” Rarity, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie all strode up. Rarity almost glaring at Rainbow Dash. All Dash did in response was give a sigh of relief. “Thanks Pinkie, I knew I could count on you. I owe you one.” Dash smiled at her pink friend, however before she could respond Fluttershy stomped over to Dash, startling the daredevil. “Rainbow Dash!” she began angrily, glaring directly into Dash's eyes. “How dare you keep me away from my animals when they need me! Then you get Pinkie to keep me from getting home! Then the first thing you do when you see me is thank her for giving me a hard time!” Fluttershy was really angry. Dash expected this, and she was about to retort when Twilight spoke up. “Fluttershy, Dash did the right thing.” Everypony looked at her startled, except for Applejack who just looked confused and Dash herself. “Your home isn't safe Shy, I went with Dash into the Everfree Forest. I don't know what's going on there but whatever it is it's not good.” “Will somepony tell me what the hay is going on!” Applejack blurted out with a tone of annoyance from being the pony most out of the loop. Twilight cleared her throat, her friends turning their attention towards her. Dash remained silent knowing Fluttershy would probably list to Twilight better than herself after what she did to her. “Something is going on in the Everfree Forest! You may have noticed that it's unusually hot and dry today! Some of you may have been close enough to the forest to feel the ground shaking.” At the mention of the ground shaking, Applejack's face light up in realization, followed quickly by a hint of worry. “There are two massive areas of dead trees expanding at an alarming rate, and giving off enough heat to feel throughout Ponyville. Given the signs I can say that it resembles a super volcano in terms of power and may pose a threat to all of Equestria!” Her declamation caused gained several gasps from her friends as well as an absolutely terrified look from Fluttershy. Without warning the ground began to shake violently, mush stronger than before, buildings all over Ponyville swayed and trembled with the quake. Rarity and Applejack instinctively crouched to the ground while The winged ponies hovered just feet off the ground looking around nervously hoping all the buildings would withstand the tremor. Then, just as suddenly as it began the quake subsided, leaving an eery silence in its wake. Twilight took a deep breath as she landed, turning toward the Everfree Forest. A large plume of smoke rose steadily from the center of the forest, strangely lightening flickered within the smoke. “Pinkie pie. I think your party is going to have to wait.” She said ominously “You knew about the party!” her face became pure shock as she looked at her friends. “Okay who told Twilight about the?” she was cut off by a massive booming sound. “Everypony get down!” Twilight ordered as her friends hit the ground behind her. Her horn erupted into light as a giant glowing, violet wall shot out in front of them and much of the town just a moment before an immense shock wave of wind slammed into it. Trees were flattened and large branches and other debris showered the force field, causing cracks to begin forming. The impact on her shield forced Twilight backwards as she grunted against the pain, desperately trying to keep her focus. In a few moments the shock wave ended. Twilight collapsed on the ground from exhaustion, her barrier crumbling away. Her friends gathered around her, making sure she was alright, and to their relief she opened her eyes staring at the site of what was once the Everfree Forest, her gazed in amazement as they followed her stare. Where once stood the Everfree Forest, was now a ghastly, pitch black serpent of haze, stretching kilometers into the sky. It gave an earsplitting shriek before flying off into the distance. The six ponies watched dumbfounded, none of them having any idea how to react at the moment. It was Applejack who broke the silence. “M-my family! I have to make sure they're all right!” Without another word she bolted for her home. Dash lifted herself off the ground. “I'm going with her! Twilight, make sure everypony else is okay!” She took off after her friend, as fast as AJ was running, Dash was the only one who could keep up. “Twilight, Sweetie Belle was going to your library before all this mess happened, I have to go make sure she's not hurt!” Rarity was absolutely frantic, and Twilight understood how she felt. Besides she needed to check on Spike. She nodded to Rarity. “Alright, I'm coming with! Fluttershy, please don't go back to your home without us okay. Please.” With that, The pair ran for the library, leaving Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie alone. Fluttershy turned and began walking. “Where are you going Fluttershy?” Pinkie called as she caught up, walking side by side with the pegasus. “I'm going home, And there is nothing you can do about it Pinkie!” She growled as she sped her pace. Pinkie Pie stopped and watched her walk away. “Of course there is something I can do!” She began as a look of anger spread across Fluttershy's face. “I can come with you silly.” She smiled as she bounced up to her friend who had stopped in her tracks upon hearing that. She turned around the anger completely gone from her face. “You really mean that?” She said feeling slightly guilty at how angry she was at her friend. “Well of course! I'm not going to let one of my best-est friends walk into danger alone!” Tears of happiness began to build up in Fluttershy's eyes. “Thanks Pinkie, that would mean allot to me.” She affectionately nuzzled her friend. “I'm sorry I was so upset at you.” “No problem, now let's hurry. I'm sure your animal friends are worried sick about you!” She said cheerfully. Fluttershy nodded as the two made they're way to her cottage.