"That's so cool oh my goodness you have no idea just how excited you made me can you believe it because I sure can't!" Pinkie bounced up and down, her voice shaking and eyes racing.
"Calm down, it's just for a week or two," Twilight placed a hoof onto Pinkie's head, stopping her from bouncing. How much sugar has she had today?
"Not much. Juuuuust three pieces of birthday cake, four scoops of ice cream with tons and tons of super-yummy sprinkles, a glass of chocolate milk, and a cotton candy cloud that Discord gave me! He can be a real sweetie, y'know. Wait, sweet? Ooh! I could really go for something sweet right now!" Pinkie jabbered, her tongue moving at the speed of light. She giggled and started shaking under Twilight's hoof.
"How did you--?"
"Your face totally gives you away, Twily. I don't even need to be psychic to know what you're thinking, silly billy."
Twilight shrugged it off, beginning to walk again. "Anyway, as I was saying before somepony interrupted me, I'll need you to watch over Owlowiscious and Spike," she mentioned gingerly. If she'd spoken too casually, it could possibly over excite a certain pink one, as Twilight knew.
Pinkie scowled, bouncing alongside Twilight. "But Twi- wouldn't this- usually be- a job for- Flutters?" Her voice cut in and out as bounced.
"Well, on any other occasion, yes. But the Society of Rare Creatures just got a new group of Breezies in and they need Fluttershy to aid them in their travels. Apparently, another portal opened in Trottingham."
"But wait, didn't you leave Spike home alone when we went to the Crystal Empire? Why do you need somepony to watch over him?" Pinkie's endless flow of questions never stopped, much to Twilight's dismay. She let out an exasperated sigh, then perked up with a cheesy grin.
"Well, Applebloom ended up accidentally telling me about their 'little trip' to the Crystal Empire without my knowledge. I can't leave him alone again with Owlowiscious...he's broken my trust. Bedsides, you learned your lesson with babysitting the Cake twins, so I don't see why you shouldn't be perfectly capable of watching both of them."
Pinkie bounced faster and faster, her grin stretching her whole face into an ear-to-ear tooth display. "Thankyouthankyouthankyou!" Pinkie sprung up and wrapped her forehooves around Twilight's neck ever-so-tightly. Twilight's lavender face turned an even deeper purple as Pinkie cut off her esophagus, thus stopping the air flow. "IpromiseI'lltakeextraspecialcareofthemboth!" Pinkie began jabbering so fast Twilight couldn't even understand half of the words coming out of her mouth. Twilight cracked a small smile.
"Um, you're...welcome. And thank you, Pinkie. Goodbye," she called as she took flight, soaring past her homely library.
"You're sure?"
"Yes."
"One hundred percent positive?"
"Yes."
"Really?"
"Yes!"
"Okay, then prove it."
"I'd be happy to."
Lightning Dust marched in a straight line, not hesitating to bang in the wooden door presented in front of her. She turned around, giving Trixie a smug look as she heard hoofsteps coming down the stairs. Trixie rolled her eyes, set on Lightning being absolutely wrong. This tree was definitely not where Twilight lived. As the door opened, Trixie's eyes lit up, a smirk creeping its way onto her face while the one on Lightning's face dropped quicker than a 10 ton weight being dropped from an airplane. They didn't see a purple, top notch magic using alicorn, no. They saw a pink partier in a off-white apron with her hair shoved messily into a bun. A few splashes of brown batter had found their way onto the apron, suggesting she had been baking.
"I'm so so so sorry it took so lo-" Pinkie stopped herself from apologizing once her eyes fully opened, her face turning sour at the sight of the Pegasus. "Oh. It's you," she said flatly. Trixie burst out in laughter behind Lightning as the Pegasus stood there, dumbfounded. Pinkie tapped her hoof impatiently, nervously glancing back and forth between the library and the two mares.
"Well?" Pinkie exploded, racing up and destroying Lightning's personal space. "What do you need? I have...um...things I have to do!" Trixie finally withheld her laughter, shoving Lightning out of Pinkie's grasp. She flipped her hair to the side, wiping a few tears out if the corners of her eyes. She cleared her throat rather loudly, puffing out her chest as she did.
"Ah, Pinkamena. Long time no see," she proclaimed sarcastically. "Trixie sees you finally decided to move from that shabby old sweet shop." Pinkie let her anxiety drop for a minute, returning to her bitter attitude.
"Hey!" She squeaked. "I'm only doing a favor." She whipped her tail, an audible smack as it hit the library's floor. A slight crash sounded in the background, causing Pinkie to wince. Trixie scowled and tried to peer into the tree. Pinkie moved her head along with Trixie's, a nervous smile creeping up on her face. She giggled slightly, waving her hoof and Trixie's face away from the noise. "N-Nevermind that. What are you even doing here?"
"Trixie came here under the pretense that Twilight Sparkle lives here, but apparently that is not- or is no longer -the case." Trixie responded. Pinkie glanced back, scanning the room behind her while Trixie talked. When she finished speaking, Trixie snapped at Pinkie. "Are you even listening to me?" She whined.
"Ahh, yes..." Pinkie responded absentmindedly, waving her hoof again. "Go on." Trixie grabbed Pinkie's head, forcing their yes to make contact. Pinkie giggled awkwardly and blushed, struggling to turn around and continue scanning the room. Trixie wouldn't let her, though. Working on the rock farm had given her much mor strength for a more, yet she could still be matched by many. Applejack, to name one. Pinkie sighed, giving up. "What?" She dropped her head, which proved hard with Trixie's hooves locked tightly around her head.
"Twilight. Sparkle. Where is she?" She stated firmly, jerking Pinkie's head back up. Her eyelids quivered and her lips trembled.
"Trixie, what was that for? I thought we were friends..." Pinkie responded, shuddering under Trixie's brutish hold. Trixie bit her lip. They were technically friends...but, no, Pinkie was standing in her way of exacting revenge on Twilight. Trixie reaffirmed her strength, forcing Pinkie down further. Her face had gone soft, though. She looked like any one thing could set her off.
Meanwhile, Lightning Dust had finally gotten over the bitter taste of defeat. She shook her head a few times, with a slap or two to force herself back into reality. One pep-talk later and she walked back up to the doorstep. Or she was, at least. Two mares blocked her way. It confused her to see Pinkie's head forcefully grabbed by a tearful, regret-filled Trixie. Lightning stared for a while, not sure to laugh or scream.
"Scuze me, but...What. The. HAY. Is going on?" Lightning chose neither in the end. She spoke slowly; with controlled, quiet-ish rage. "Trix, why are you...and why do you look like... Y'know what, just...never mind. I have a feeling I don't wanna know."
Trixie shook her head, staring down at the pink one under her hooves. She thought over their conversation, then awkwardly dropped Pinkke's head. Pinkie had been relying on Trixie's hooves for so long, she plummeted to the floor. "Wah!" She exclaimed. Trixie stared down at her, shaking her head.
"How pitiful," she remarked. Lightning rolled her eyes, punching Trixie on the fore-hoof. "Ouch..." She mumbled.
"You're one to talk, Trix. Like seriously, what was that? I zone out for not more than five minutes and you go all soft on me!" Lightning fumed. She was so mad you could see puffs of smoke rolling out of her ears. "Just-" she brought a hoof to her forehead "-Where is Twilight?" She said, quieter. Trixie shrugged. "Y-You don't know. Fabulous," Lightning grumbled. Pinkie had made a quick recovery. In no time, she was bouncing in place as usual.
"Ummm..." Pinkie began quietly. "Hello?" She tried to cut into the two mare's conversation, but nothing really worked. She jumped in between them, she waved her hooves frantically, but nothing seemed to work.
"HEY!" she screamed at the top her lungs. Trixie and Lightning jumped, with Lightning letting out a little squeak. Trixie snorted, gaining herself a punch from the squeaky one. "Who's the mare?" Pinkie asked. Lightning and Trixie exchanged some confused looks. Trixie shrugged again.
"Who are you talking about?" Lighting asked after a while. Pinkie dropped her eyelids in a flat expression. She sighed, then pointed behind them to the bushes. "I don't see anypony," Lightning said condescendingly. Pinkie grabbed both mares, dragging them over to the bushes.
"Her." Lightning and Trixie gasped, looking at Misty cowering in the bushes. "Who is she?" Lightning nudged Trixie a couple times. Trixie nudged her back, motioning towards Misty. Trixie sighed, then walked up to Misty.
"Misty..." Trixie sighed. "What...are you doing here? In the bushes, no less..." Misty stopped shaking for a minute, her face turning beet red in the blink of an eye. She rose to a sitting position, her back facing the trio. Trixie's face also turned beet red, but for a different reason than Misty's. "Misty. Answer me," she grumbled.
"I got lonely, so I followed you. I didn't want you to see me, so I hid in the bushes. Also because when you started doing that...thing...or whatever to the pink one, it startled me. I get scared like a little filly when ponies start screaming," she mumbled awkwardly. Pinkie pushed over Trixie, the showmare letting out a startled scream when she hit the dust. Lighting just sat back on her haunches, as of she was watching reality TV. Wait, what's a-
"Hi! I'm Pinkie Pie, and I'm so so so SO happy you're here! I love making new friends! Where are you from? Your name is Misty? I love that! It's such a pretty name. What's your cutie mark mean? Do you make explosions or something? Ooh, I should throw you a 'Welcome to Ponyville' party! You are moving here, right? Or, are you visiting? How do you know Trixie and Dustie? What about-" Pinkie's words flowed out of her mouth like a waterfall. Misty stood up, and laid a hoof on her shoulder, abruptly stopping her speech pattern. "What?" She asked perkily.
"I don't know," she said simply. Pinkie giggled, with an occasional snort now and then. Her eyes watered, and she collapsed on her back. She laughed so hard she might be hyperventilating. Nopony did anything, though. They just stood or sat, watching Pinkke with blank expressions on their face. "What's so funny about that?" Misty whispered to Trixie.
"D-Dustie...?" Lightning muttered to herself, yet it was loud enough to interrupt the two unicorns for a minute. Trixie shot her a look, but it did nothing. The Pegasus had lost herself in her own little world.
"Nothing. It's almost like when you burst into laughter at Trixie and Lightning Dust in their...punch...battle," Trixie whispered after a pause.
Is she really comparing me to that maniac? Misty sighed. Come to think of it...what did they mouth? She's...she's... "Oh well," she mused aloud. "I can see where they're coming from, at least." Lighting stood up, cracking her back and yawning. Trixie shot another glare at her.
"You're still tired?" She said flatly. Lightning rolled her eyes, wiping her mouth with her hoof. She cocked her eyebrows at Trixie. Trixie clicked her tongue. "Whatever," she muttered.
"It's still morning, is it not?" Lighting mocked Trixie's tone. "Lighting thought she told Trixie that she hates mornings already." Lighting smirked. Trixie ignored her, focusing back on Misty. Pinkie still laughed. She showed no signs of stopping, either.
"Misty, would you rather stay with Pinkie than Trixie and Lightning Dust?" Trixie inquired, coming off more sincere than she'd intended. Sure, it was no lie that Trixie had grown an attachment to Misty, but even then it was surprising to see her in a softer light. Even more surprising was how hard it seemed to keep her facade up, even when she was in front of others. It took a lot to break down this barrier, and for somepony she just met to do so...
It was unheard of.
Misty jolted back. Why in the wide, wide world of Equestria would she rather stay with a maniac than two sane ponies? The answer seemed obvious to her. "Well, you two, of course." Misty rose to her hooves, cracking her back much like Lightning had not a few minutes ago. Pinkie's jaw dropped.
"Well, we're still going to be best friends, right?" Pinkie asked. She leaned forward in anticipation. She's gotta say yes. I've only come across one other pony who said no, and he wasn't even a pony! Plus he said yes in the end. Oh, but does Twilight count? No, she said yes as well. No matter, nopony can resist the amazing charm of-
"I-I don't know..." Misty hesitated. As soon as the words left her mouth, Pinkie went into an instant frenzy. "You don't seem to like Trixie and Lightning much, do you?" Pinkie had to stop herself mid-checklist, even though she'd already found what she had missed. She stared at Misty blankly, her eye beginning to twitch.
"Eh..?" She mumbled. "You'd really chose those...those...those...m-meanies over me? Just because I don't seem to like them? Hah! Trixie and I are great friends, right, Trix?" Pinkie proclaimed proudly. Trixie hung her head. She whistled out a low breath. Was Pinkie really this oblivious to reality? And had she really forgotten about Lightning Dust? Lightning rubbed the back of her neck, letting out another small yawn.
"Well, if you guys have nothing better to do, I'm going back to the hotel for a nap. Don't wake me up when you get back," she called as she took flight.
"Now, hold on-!" Trixie yelled as she ran after Lightning. Pinkie walked up to Misty, examining her. Misty flinched, a bead of sweat trickling down her forehead. True, she could see some similarities between herself and this pink pony. She couldn't remember much, but that fit of laughter she had earlier definitely wasn't her first. And yet, she had taken a quick disliking to this bouncy mare.
"Hmm..." Pinkie rubbed her chin. "Well, one thing's for sure, you're not a donkey in disguise." Misty stared at her. She was far more than oblivious. She was...on her own wave link. Misty awkwardly tried to leave, but Pinkie grabbed her before she made her getaway.
"C-Can I just go back to my hotel now?" She squeaked. Pinkie shook her head, a fiery passion in her eyes. She kept dragging Misty, despite the unicorn digging her heels into the ground, grabbing at tree branches with her magic, and straight up bucking her hind legs. Eventually, she gave up. "Where are we going, anyway?" She asked, defeated. Pinkie's face went dark, a determinated spark in her eyes. It frightened Misty to no end.
"We're going to become best friends, if it's the last thing I do," Pinkie replied darkly. Never in all her years [that she couldn't remember] did Misty not want to become friends with somepony.