//------------------------------// // The Deal // Story: The Noteworthy of the Bon-Bon // by Duke of Canterlot //------------------------------// Sugarcube Corner seemed very different than it did an hour ago. Previously, it was bustling and loud with hundreds of ponies inside. Now, it was just Bon-Bon and Pinkie Pie at the bakery. Pinkie wasn't smiling at all. The two mares arrived at Pinkie's apartment. There was Gummy standing silently at the corner. "You are a nosy mare, aren't you", said Pinkie with that unusually calm voice, "has any pony ever told you that you ask too many questions?" Bon-Bon could only nod. She was beginning to grow afraid of the out-of-character pink pony. "Relax", said Pinkie, "I don't want to hurt you." "Who are you trying to hurt then? It is just.. these past few days.. you have been acting so strange." "I would say that I am acting quite like myself actually. I have plans. You could say that they are plans which could change Ponyville forever." "What in Celestia's name is the matter", asked Bon-Bon, "I may not be part of that element of harmony gang but we have known each other for so long. We used to be best friends." "Don't try to emotionally manipulate me with the past", said Pinkie, "since I will let you know that I have no true recollection of the past beyond those few days." "Huh?" "Come on", said Pinkie slapping Bon-Bon on the back, "you're a smart mare. Figure out what even Twilight Sparkle hasn't figured out yet. Well, the difference between you two is that Twilight thinks I am an utter moron but you... you see me in a different light." Bon-Bon worked on putting the pieces of together of what Pinkie said. She looked into the pink mare's eyes. It was almost like the real Pinkie Pie wasn't there.. That's it! "You are not Pinkie Pie", responded Bon-Bon. "Yippee, you are super duper smart", said 'Pinkie' with a grin, "when I first arrived at Ponyville, I knew that I would rather be friends with you and Lyra than the Mane Six." "You're no friend of mine", growled Bon-Bon, "where the hell is Pinkie Pie?" "Ponyville will perhaps be more amazed by that story than anything else", said 'Pinkie', "but first, I shall show you my true form." Light burst out of 'Pinkie Pie' and in her place was a Changeling, a black large bug-like creature with a horn and wings. "Pleased to finally meet you in my true form", said the Changeling, "I am Plot Convenience." Bon-Bon stared at the Changeling. Things finally made sense. It was Plot Convenience. "I have been around Ponyville for a long time now", said Plot with a slight smile, "I used to hang around Canterlot but I managed to sneak my way onto a hot air balloon Ms. Twilight Sparkle was travelling in to Ponyville. I have been taking on forms of ponies here since I arrived. I have taken on your form a few times actually. Remember the second to last Winter Wrap Up?" "Yes, ponies were confused about my whereabouts even though I was working on the same field the whole time." "Double the Bon-Bon, double the fun. I have also taken on Lyra's form more than once. The first time I screwed up though and made her an earth pony rather than a unicorn. Some idiots were asking me, "Lyra, where's your horn?", and I was like, "Fuck off, I'm not Lyra LOL!!". I also took on Applejack's form half the time during Season Two. She was acting like a background pony anyway." "You're sounding like a nutcase", Bon-Bon was terrified inside but was determined not to show that to the Changeling. "The fun has just begun", said Plot, "I have now become Pinkie Pie. The true story, whether you believe me or not, is that Pinkie Pie wanted to get away from Ponyville and travel the world. Cheese Sandwich had inspired her in that regard. Hell, I think the two of them are going to sleep together and Pinkie will come back with a child or something like that. Pinkie is the only pony to have known about my existence and she actually sought out my services. She didn't want to disappoint her friends by leaving so I took her form." "Admittedly, that story does make sense to me. It is a Pinkie Pie thing to do. But you're a clever little bitch and you could have just made up a perfectly plausible story about Pinkie's whereabouts and have her locked up somewhere." "Why would I do that? I am just a sweet little changeling that doesn't want to harm any pony." "Why are you making Pinkie so obnoxious, so shrill, so callous, and such a bitch?" "It is all part of the plan", said Plot, "I do hate the status quo right now in Ponyville. A pony like Pinkie Pie earns a lot of respect because she smiles and bounces and throws some parties?!?! I am here to completely destroy Pinkie's character. I think I am beginning to create the drift between myself and the five elements of harmony. Applejack can't help herself but be brutally honest about my personality flaws being magnified to an extreme. Rainbow Dash has become more of a bully to me and openly mocks my intelligence/judgment. Rarity is haughty with me for making Fluttershy cry three times over the course of two days. Fluttershy just smiles and says, "It's okay, I forgive you", anytime I hurt her. She's hilarious. I can do anything to her and she will still be nice to me. Twilight is kind of like you.. trying to get me to talk about my problems with her so she can help, what a perfect Mary Sue she is, huh. I'm surprised that Twilight hasn't figured me out yet. Unlike you, she has some magic spell which can detect changelings if she chooses to activate it. I know Twilight hasn't done it yet. A Changeling always knows when that is happening." "Twilight trusts you", said Bon-Bon, "that's why she hasn't figured it out yet. She also hasn't known you as long as I have known you." "Twilight thinks the real Pinkie Pie is an idiot", said Plot, "that is perhaps my greatest advantage. All of these little slip-ups in my character seem in-character to her." "Even if Twilight hasn't figured it out yet", said Bon-Bon, "how can you be certain that her other friends haven't yet?" "They don't have special magic which can detect changelings and I have no plans to tell any of them.. hey.. I am a changeling." "What's going to stop me from telling them who you really are?" "Those things I blabbed out about Noteworthy and Lyra are half-true." "Half-true?" "Yes", said Plot, "it is clear to me that Noteworthy is head-over-heels in love with Lyra. He is actively trying to sleep with Lyra. I haven't seen any outright reciprocation from Lyra yet, but she hasn't rejected him either." "Lyra is kind of naïve", responded Bon-Bon, "she legitimately thinks that Noteworthy just wants to be her friend." "That is my assessment as well, but Noteworthy has been trying to think of ways to get Lyra away from you. I even overheard him talking with his friends about wanting to find some dirt on you which would make it seem like that you are cheating on Lyra thus getting Lyra to go to him. There is one thing I ask of you, let me do what I need to do", said Plot Convenience, "and I will ensure that Noteworthy is not bothering Lyra anymore. I, as Plot Convenience, only wish to see you and Lyra happy and together." Bon-Bon needed a minute to think about how she should respond. She didn't trust the changeling, but what if the changeling could get Noteworthy to go away? Was that worth it? Chances were good that Pinkie was happily off in some distant land with Cheese Sandwich anyway.