Since last week, Applejack had gotten her rest and some humility beaten into her, and Team Twilight was put back into a semblance of functional order. Pinkie Pie for whatever reason sought to disrupt that.
Twilight found that out when Applejack meandered into class. Pinkie Pie was sitting bolt upright, and gave no sign anything was different today, when Applejack slumped into her seat and a massive ripping roar emanated from her posterior. At that point Pinkie gave up the act, and clutched her side bursting into a stream of musical giggles.
Applejack was red-faced as ever face turned to her and Pinkie Pie, while Twilight and Rarity were unamused. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy however, who were on time for once, found it amusing on at least some level if their grins were evidence of anything.
“You think this is funny!?” Applejack yelled, towering over Pinkie Pie still in a fit of giggles.
“Hilarious!” She stated, not ceasing her laughter whatsoever. “Payback for the baked bads last week!”
“Baked… what?” Applejack mumbled.
“Yeah, you deserve some of that and more.” Rainbow Dash made sure to say.
Applejack stood there for a while longer before the teacher tried to bring things in order. Applejack took her seat, making sure to cover her face with her hat and tried to live down the brief order of shame.
***
Classes were over, and most of the team received decent marks. They went their separate ways, through the halls, and towards their homes.
Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy as ever, were side by side. “I hope we get home early to help with the shelter.” Fluttershy said to her constant companion. “There’s still that mess from last week to sort out, and the weather will probably be changing soon.”
“Gotcha.” Rainbow Dash said, not looking too forward to more work. They continued on through the hallway until they reached the warm air outside. Their enjoyment of it was destroyed when Rainbow Dash was soaked through her clothes, and heard a very familiar set of giggles.
“Pinkie Pie!” She cried. “What! Was! That!”
“You looked like- you could- ‘cool off’!” She giggled from her perch above the doorway, clutching an empty pail.
Even Fluttershy could help but try to suppress a grin at Rainbow Dash’s misery. “Lets. Go.” Rainbow Dash said tersely, grabbing Fluttershy by the hand, and dragging her away.
“Hey! Wait!’ Pinkie Pie said, suddenly materializing in front of the pair. “I hope you aren’t mad.”
“MAD?!” She yelled. “Of course I’m mad! Why would you do something like that!?”
“I thought you could use a laugh.” She supplied.
“A LAUGH!?”
“Yeah.”
“Um, Rainbow Dash…” Fluttershy muttered.
“Why would you think that would be funny!?” Rainbow Dash yelled, hopping on the tips of her toes.
“The bucket of water trick is always funny!” Pinkie Pie told her. “And I don’t mean to be rude but, Applejack took her joke a lot better.”
“…Lets go Fluttershy.”
“Um, but!” Fluttershy wasn’t given a choice as Rainbow Dash kept a firm grip on her wrist, and started springing off into the distance.
“Wait! I have to make it up to you! Wait!”
***
Pinkie Pie followed them begging for a second chance until they got to the Shelter and the door was closed on her. The following morning when they got up for classes she was there. She followed them back to school continuing to pester her inbetween each of her classes when the Professors or Twilight weren’t telling her to keep it down. The moment the school-day ended she shadowed them still pleading.
“Please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please,-“
“FINE!” Rainbod Dash yelled at last.
“Yay!” Pinkie Pie said with a hop. She immediately pulled Rainbow Dash into an embrace. “Okay, tell you what, since my prank with you didn’t go so well, how about you help me with the others?”
“Others?” Rainbow Dash asked, afraid of where this new venture was heading.
“Yeah, see, I planned to prank everyone this week, after that whole drama last week. I’ve already gotten you, Applejack, and next is…” She slowly turned her gaze to Fluttershy who leapt with fright at the eye-contact.
“No, no, no!” Rainbow Dash said. “I don’t care what you’re roping me into, but you are not pulling anything on Fluttershy!”
“Fine, fine, I guess you’re right.” Pinkie Pie relented. “She is a scaredy-cat after all.”
“Hey um-“ Fluttershy mumbled. Pinkie Pie quickly invaded her personal space before she could blink.
“BOO!” She yelled, causing her to give a muffled scream and fall into Rainbow Dash’s arms.
“Hey, I-“ Rainbow Dash began.
“Come on, let’s get started!” Pinkie Pie grabbed Rainbow Dash leading her far away from the campus.
“Um! Um!” Fluttershy was left on the pavement by herself not sure what to do.
***
“Okay, so here’s what I’ve got in store next!” Pinkie Pie told her teammate from their perch atop a rooftop. “I’ve made what I call a noisemaker!” She said grabbing a grenade round from her bag after a little bit of ferreting. “Completely safe of course.”
“Of course.” Rainbow Dash noted.
“So, today’s target: Twilight!” Pinkie Pie said dragging her to the edge where Twilight and her little brother were walking down the street together.
“…How did you know where she’d be today?” Rainbow Dash asked, impatiently tapping her foot.
“Twilight is staying at the old Library, and this is the quickest route.” Pinkie Pie informed her, as she prepared her Party Canon.
“That girl lives in a library?”
“Yep!”
“That… makes too much sense… why do you need me here?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“Wanna take first shot?” She asked presenting her weapon. Rainbow Dash was intrigued. She took her weapon, a little unused to the rifle grip, but aimed it down the street all the same.
“And this is completely safe?”
“Yeppers!” Pinkie Pie said, propping up the sights for her.
Meanwhile on the ground, our unsuspecting victims lay in wait.
“All I’m saying is that if you keep your nose in that book all day, you’re probably going to miss something important. Walk into something.” Spike muttered, adjusting his backpack.
“Hush you.” She responded. “I’m doing just fine.”
Then at that moment, a dull thunk could be heard from the rooftops and at their feet was heard the sound like a god slamming
his hand on their eardrums. Both of the siblings dropped what they were holding, leaping out of their skins before returning to the ground.
“What was that!?” Twilight yelled.
“I don’t *hic* know.” Spike said. “Hey, *hic*, what-“ He turned to see his sister who in her fright had let her magic run wild, her long hair was now pointing straight out, knocking her hat off her head, and holding onto it like a pincushion. “Hahaha*hic*haha!” He began laughing.
“Hey! What’s so funny!” Twilight demanded red-faced.
“Your *hic*, your *hic*, your *hic*” Spike could barely let out two words. Seeing him struggle with his newfound condition gradually wore on Twiilights nerve, until she two was smiling and laughing with him. The two were reduced into a pair of laughing idiots in the middle of the streets.
Meanwhile about two or three stories above them were another pair of girls laughing over the events.
“Oh man, I gotta say Pinkie Pie, that was actually pretty fun.” Rainbow Dash stated, having to lean on the side of the building for support. “We should do this again sometime.”
“Really!” Pinke Pie asked, roused from her raucous laughter.
“Yeah, sure!”
***
After her classes and work next day, during which no-one had quite caught on to the pranking campaign she was on, Pinkie Pie found herself at the animal shelter. She easily located the thatch cottage where Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy were staying and rapped on the door.
The demure pinkette Fluttershy opened the door for her and was silent. However it was impossible to tell if this was because Fluttershy was such a quiet person to begin with, or it was from shock at her teammates appearance.
“Hey Fluttershy!” Pinkie Pie cried from beneath a combination of a clowns nose, moustache, and swirly glasses. “It’s me Pinkie Pie! Rainbow Dash here? We need to continue our reign of terror!”
“Oh, um…” She stuttered, but she gave a short bow, and welcomed her in, and led her towards the kitchen.
The inside of the cottage was just as cozy and homey as the outside was. Most of the furniture was old and worn, the walls had flowers on them, and everything was kept neat and tidy. Inside the kitchen by an old wooden table was Rainbow Dash, leaning back on an equally old and equally wooden chair. Next to her was a girl that Pinkie Pie didn’t recognize. The most striking thing about her were her hair and hands, of which she had neither.
On her head was a crown of white feathers with magenta tips, spiking out in several directions around her face, and in place of her hands were claws at the tip of each scaly bird-like hand that extended beneath her sleeves. Also of note was a furry tail that poked out from her seat that ended in a grouping of feathers that matched her hair, and a pair of cruel golden eyes that were settled on her.
The girl was taller than Rainbow Dash, but that wasn’t saying much, she seemed to be happy medium between her and Fluttershy in fact, in terms of height, build, curves, and her olive complexion.
She wore a blank white tank-top, and a brown leather flight jacket, a pair of dark pants that noticeably had a number of tears on them, and some thick studded leather boots.
“Oh hey there!” Pinkie Pie said taking off her getup. “Rainbow Dash who’s your friend?”
Rainbow Dash slumped a little at Pinkie Pie’s appearance, but answered her anyway. “Gilda this is Pinkie Pie, she’s on the same team with me and Fluttershy. Pinkie Pie, this is my good old buddy Gilda from Junior Flight Camp way back when.”
“Ooh! Whatcha doing in Ponyville?” Pinkie Pie asked, grabbing a chair for herself.
Gilda glanced sideways at Rainbow Dash but still answered. “Eh, I’ve been making rounds through the country. I heard my old friend Dash here was in town, so I thought I’d stop by.”
“Cool! Hey, what are you guys drinking?”
“Energy Drinks.” Rainbow Dash said, taking a sip. “Part of my stash.”
“Can I have some?”
“Tea!” Fluttershy stated, blocking Pinkie Pie from grabbing one of their cans. “We’re um… out, so… tea.” She then headed over to the fridge to grab something.
“You guys don’t have much when it comes to snacks.” Gilda noted.
“So sue us, we don’t entertain much.” Rainbow Dash responded as Fluttershy returned with two glasses of iced tea.
“So are you a huntress in training like we are?” Pinkie Pie asked. “Also, do you have any sugar?”
Gilda raised her eyebrow, and Fluttershy shook her head vehemently. “Nah, I’m not a Huntress or anything.” Gilda answered. “I mean, I know how to fight, but I’m not much for institutions and stuff. I just go where I want, and make money when I can.”
“Cool!”
“So, Pinkie Pie-“ Rainbow Dash started. “Why are you here?”
“I need you.” Pinkie Pie said seriously.
“Um…”
“We still need to continue our pranking spree!” Pinkie Pie stated. “Rarity’s next on our list.”
“Oh yeah. Forgot about that.”
Gilda took a sip of her drink, and found Pinkie Pie’s eyes were unnervingly fixated on her.
“Yes?” She asked grumpily.
“I’ve never seen a Faunus before!” Pinkie Pie said, causing Fluttershy to almost choke on her tea, and Gilda puffed up to twice her size. “I mean, sometimes I see Faunus at Sugarcube Corners, but I haven’t really met one in person. You’re really awesome looking!”
“Um… well…” Gilda said, unsure how to even respond.
“She’s a Griffon Faunus. Half Eagle, Half Lion.” Rainbow Dash decided to tell her.
“You can do that?” Pinkie Pie asked.
“Of course you can!” Gilda yelled, getting short tempered.
“Okay!” Pinkie Pie declared. “It’s decided! I don’t want to interrupt your time with your old friend, so in that case we’ll all go together!”
“What?” Gilda asked before she was grabbed by Pinkie Pie, along with Rainbow Dash, and was sped out of the cottage, leaving Fluttershy all to her lonesome.
***
Gilda struggled, and she knew she was no wimp. However her current captor had a grip of iron. Quicker than she anticipated they were in the heart of the city among rows and rows of shops.
“Here we are!” Pinkie Pie declared when they reached their destination.
“Gah!” Gilda cried losing her footing.
“Where is here?” Rainbow Dash asked dryly.
“The Carousel Boutique!” Pinkie Pie answered. “Rarity works here!” She said indicating a round shop wedged between two others, it was quite an ornate place, brass poles lining the doors and windows, a quilted rain guard casting a cool shadow over it’s face, elegant and likely very expensive dresses were hung on primly posed mannequins by the window-frames.
“How do you know she works here?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“She mentioned it at lunch remember?” Pinkie Pie said.
“No?”
“44 Prance Way.” Pinkie Pie recited the address. “Now, I need you two to act as decoys! Go!”
“Hey, I’m not gonna-“ Gilda began to protest as they were dragged inside.
“Hello!” Pinkie Pie announced to the entire shoppe.
“Bienvenue- oh!” Rarity said from beneath a small pair of glasses, which she quickly pocketed. “I wasn’t expecting either of you two to show up here. Oh do come in though, come in, come in.”
“Hey.” Rainbow Dash said, as the walked through what was probably a haze of perfume, that she wondered if it was healthy to breathe. Gilda looked to her with an expression of seriously annoyed confusion.
Rainbow Dash sighed. “Gilda, this is another teammate of mine. Rarity. Rarity, this is Gilda, my best friend from Junior Flight Camp.”
Rarity gave a surprised “Oh! And I see you brought her straight into this shop of mine. How exquisite! I must fit you for a dress immedieately! This way, this way!” Rarity quickly led Gilda to a room towards the back and began stripping her down.
“Hey!” She protested.
“I’ll need to get your measurements first, I must confess, I’ve never made a dress for a Griffon Faunus before, please tell me if there’s anything to know.” Rarity said as Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash watched.
Gilda made a series of noises in protest, looking to Rainbow Dash for help. Rainbow Dash in turn simply grinned, enjoying Gilda’s embarrassment, and happy she wasn’t the one being stripped to her undies by the fussy one. Pinkie Pie for her part was full of giggles as always.
Rarity was quick, precise and ruthless in regards to Gilda. Within seconds her clothes were off her and neatly stacked on a nearby chair, leaving Gilda nude in her underwear, trying to save some of her dignity.
“Hey don’t try to hide! You have a smokin’ body!” Pinkie Pie stated with a thumbs up.
“Yeah… *snicker* what she said.” Rainbow Dash stated.
Gilda gave a guttural growl in response, but Pinkie Pie eyed her up and down, wishing to sate more of her curiosity. She could see there were a series of claws at the tip of her rather human feet, and could see where her lions’ tail emanated from the base of her spine. Her bird-claw hands she could see, were scaled almost up to the elbow where they gradually softened and became indistinguishable from her skin.
Rarity meanwhile gave way to no such indulgences, and quickly and mechanically measured every inch of her body, writing them down on a small notepad she kept in her sash.
“She’s right you know,-“ Rarity said. “-you’re quite the beauty if I say so myself, but I think you need a touch more effort to bring it out in the right places, I would suggest a lovely salon a few blocks from here, I think they could do wonders with your, ahem, feathers.”
“No. Thanks.” Gilda said, as Rarity started throwing fabrics on her. It was a showy and bewildering process, during which, the show now over in Pinkie Pie’s mind, she began rummaging through her bag, finding a nondescript can.
Meanwhile Rarity worked with a drive making indecipherable comments to herself, sticking pins and needles in uncomfortable places while her two teammates watched on. In a series of quick minutes, a semblance of a dress was completed, and Gilda was whirled to a full-size mirror to behold her own image.
It was a series of beiges and purples, waxing and waning into each-other as folds of fabric bunched up and flowed over each other. It was anchored on her left shoulder where it trailed into a sleeve, but showed plenty of skin on her upper half, her entire right arm was bare, and an eyeful of cleavage poked through at her chest. It was relatively snug down her body, with a hole cut in to accommodate her tail, giving her a surprising level of mobility, and it cut off just below her knees.
“Well! What do you think!” Rarity asked, proud of her creation, sparkles lay in her eyes as she looked Gilda’s reflection up and down.
“Smoking!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed, putting her can back in her bag. “Right Dashie!”
“Um… y-yeah…” Rainbow Dash said, blushing, almost looking like she was about to start drooling.
“It’s…. nice…” Gilda got out, clearly uncomfortable in the thing.
“Oh, stop!” Rarity said pleased as punch, grabbing her scroll to take a picture of Gilda’s reflection. “I’ll have to remember this for later! Of course it’ll take me a week to come up with something final, but please come in often to check on my progress, and I’ll be sure to come up with something truly fabulous!”
Gilda simply groaned waiting for her torment to be over. Pinkie Pie pulled her into an embrace, and took out her own scroll. “Selfie!” She cried.
Rarity meanwhile put her small spectacles back on to inspect the fine creases and details. “Please now Pinkie, don’t dis-distur- *a-tissue!* oh excuse me for that, but Pinkie please don’t disturb the dress, it’s still a- a- a- *a-tissue!* oh excuse me again! But anyway it’s still a work in progress, and- *a-tissue!*, oh I- *a-tissue! a-tissue! a-tissue!*”
And so began a sneezing fit for Rarity, while Pinkie Pie giggled maniacally. “I’m sorry Rartiy! I put sneezing powder on your glasses!”
“Why, you! *a-tissue!*” Rarity said, unable to control herself. Rainbow Dash soon joined in on the laughing unable to control herself.
“Wait a minute!” Gilda cried. “So all this was just so you could prank this girl!?”
“Yep!” Pinkie Pie said.
“…Sweet.” Gilda said.
***
The three were summarily kicked out, though at least not before Gilda recovered her clothing, and was dressed once more in a suitable fashion.
“And that’s everyone!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed. “Thanks Dash! Couldn’t have done that without you!”
‘She needed someone as bait.’ Rainbow Dash thought. “Welcome.” She said.
“Now that that’s over with-“ Gilda interrupted. “Can we head somewhere less… lame?”
“Oh I know! Let’s go to Sugarcube Corner!” Pinkie Pie suggested with a bounce.
“Sugarcube… Corner?” Gilda asked, almost barfing at the name.
“Yeah! I work there part-time! I can get you a discount on tea, coffee, soda, muffins, donuts, cupcakes, cake-cake, ice-cream, and like a whole bunch of other stuff!”
Gilda glanced at Rainbow Dash, who shrugged. “You’ve seen what we have at our place. All health foods. Besides, free discount.”
Gilda sighed. “Fine.”
“Yay! Let’s go!” Pinkie Pie said skipping down the street.
“Dash, is it me or all your friends lame-o’s?” Gilda quietly asked Rainbow Dash.
“Yeah, pretty much everyone ‘cept me and Fluttershy.” Rainbow Dash answered. “Trust me, you haven’t even seen the bookworm, and the freakishly tall girl who thinks she’s a cowboy.” She glanced back at Pinkie Pie who skipped and hummed down the street. “But least they can hold their own. That girls a nutjob with explosives. Least I don’t have to worry about them bringing me down.”
“See Dash, this is why I stay out of the system, to avoid dweebs like these. You shoulda done the same after you flunked Flight School.” Gilda stated.
“Yeah-yeah, we’ve already been over this. Come-on, lets stuff our faces with some sugar!”
“Tada!” Pinkie Pie stated as they reached their destination, a little corner-café done up like gingerbread house. Pinkie Pie wasted no time in bursting in. “Heya Mr. Cake! Heya Mrs. Cake!”
“Pinkie Pie you’re late!” Stated a short round woman with her pink hair done up almost to double her height. She wrapped the younger girl in an apron, and rangled her behind the counter.
“I am? Oops silly me. Don’t worry guys, just take a seat, and I’ll get you something lickety-split!”
Gilda sighed and followed Rainbow Dash as she took a seat towards the middle of the café, close to a wall.
“What do they have?” Gilda asked, looking at the menu that had a series of glurge inducing names to them.
Next to them, having their own pleasant conversation, were two other Huntresses in training. Lyra and Bon-Bon.
“You know we should come here more often!” Lyra stated, sipping a smoothie she had been delivered. “What with the discount they give you here.”
“You saying my place doesn’t make enough sweets for you?” Bon-Bon accused her.
“I’m saying your place doesn’t sell triple-cherry crepes!” Lyra told her with a wild grin.
“Triple-Cherry Crepes coming right up!” Pinkie Pie said, passing them a hot plate of their order. She then quickly danced over to her teammates table. “What do you guys want?” She asked.
Both checked over the menu. “Carrot Cake sound good?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“Do you have anything with meat?” Gilda asked.
“Sorry, no.” Pinkie Pie said.
“Then I’ll have what Dash has.”
“And two soda’s!” Rainbow Dash added.
“Righty-O!” Pinkie Pie said, running off behind the counter.
“She didn’t even write our order down!” Gilda noted.
“Relax, it’s not like it was hard to remember.” Rainbow Dash told her.
Gilda grumbled but was content to sulk. Beside them Lyra and Bon-Bon were content to start their daily meal. Both hungrily bit into their crepes. Both immediately regretted it when their mouths were set on fire. Both cried out in agony as their eyes welled up with tears.
“Heya! You two need anything?” Pinkie Pie asked as she came to their table.
“Water…” the two weakly cried out.
“Here! Have milk! It’s better for spicy stuff!” Pinkie Pie said, giving them two tall glasses of cold milk which they quickly inhaled. “I’ll get you two another set of Triple-Cherry Crepes, free of charge!” She said, removing the contaminated plates, and turned to deliver Gilda and Rainbow Dash their order. “Tada!’
“You spiked their meal didn’t you.” Rainbow Dash accused her as she set down two slices of carrot-cake, and two fizzy cans of soda.
“Who, me?” Pinkie Pie asked, taking out a bottle of hot-sauce from her pocket. “Now why-ever do you think that I might have done something like that?”
“Heh, well at least you have a sense of humor.” Gilda said “So hey, the food here any good?” Gilda asked, as she took a bite of the Carrot Cake.
“Yeah, so long as you don’t get food poisoning. “ Rainbow Dash answered.
Gilda quickly spatup the bite she was chewing.
“Hey! Those Baked Bads were AJ’s fault!” Pinkie Pie said. “And I’m certainly not inviting her back.”
“Do I want to know?” Gilda asked between fits of coughing.
“I think someone said there were worms in their muffin?” Rainbow Dash said.
“Those rumors are unsubstantiated.” Pinkie Pie said. “Anyway, that ever happens, full refund! So, win-win, right?”
Gilda grabbed her can to wash down the half eaten carrot cake in her throat, and opening it. It soon exploded in a sticky fountain all over her face. Rainbow Dash immediately burst into laughter alongside Pinkie Pie. “Hey! You think this is funny!?”
“Hilarious!” Rainbow Dash stated, almost unable to stop laughing. “You should see the look on your face!” Rainbow Dash then opened her can and received the same fate. She quickly stopped laughing, though Pinkie Pie didn’t.
“Heh. You’re right. I should see it.” Gilda said beginning to chuckle. Pinkie Pie produced a set of napkins for them, and walked off.
“She must keep you on your toes.” Gilda said, wiping herself down.
“Actually we don’t hang out that much.” Rainbow Dash said as she did likewise. “I’m beginning to see why.”
That got a laugh out of Gilda. “So what you been up to Dash?”
“Not much. Moved in with Fluttershy, started classes here, half of them are a bore, half of them are kinda fun.” Rainbow Dash said, taking a bite of her cake. “I still think I have half a chance.”
“Still trying to get to the Wonderbolts Academy?” Gilda asked, making sure her feathers wouldn’t get sticky.
“Course.” Rainbow Dash answered. “Won’t be easy. But I can do it. I will do it.”
“Still a dreamer then huh Dash?”
Rainbow Dash scoffed, but didn’t reply. Not immediately. “Good to see you Gilda. Really.”
“Anytime Dash.” Gilda said with a chuckle. “Been awhile huh?”
“Yeah. Hey, I never thanked you for being there. You know, back when I flunked Flight School. And you know, every time since then.” Rainbow Dash said quietly.
“No need to get all sappy on me.” Gilda said with a smirk.
“I know.” Rainbow Dash said. “It’s just… nevermind. You planning on staying long?”
“Nah…” Gilda said. “Week at most. But hey, we can make the most of it right?”
“Right.” Rainbow Dash said.
The two finished their snack, joking around like old friends do, and Pinkie Pie was upon them prepared with the bill.
“How much?” Rainbow Dash said taking a look at the allotted amount. “Hmm, not much.”
“I’ll pay Dash.” Gilda said. “But after all this hassle, I expect a few favors.” She said producing her wallet. She rummaged in it and found a few Bits.
“It’s more than that.” Pinkie Pie said, showing her the bill.
“I coulda sworn I had more than this!” Gilda said, thoroughly inspecting her wallet.
“Don’t worry, I got this.” Rainbow Dash said. “But after this I expect a few favors.”
Gilda grumbled, but Pinkie Pie gasped as a bolt of inspiration hit her. “I know! Gilda if you need money I can get you some work here!”
“What!? No!” Gilda said, terrified of spending any more time than strictly necessary with the crazy girl.
“You sure they’ll hire her after the last person you brought to ‘help’ you?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“Yep! They’re that desperate! Aren’t you Mr. and Mrs. Cake?” She called from across the room. The storeowner couple looked to eachother and then to Pinkie distraught, but sighed and nodded anyway. “See?”
“Yeah, well- thanks for the offer, but I’m sure Rainbow Dash here can set me up with something, right Dash?” Gilda said.
“Nothing that pays.” She answered.
“What?”
“Me and Fluttershy get paid with a house, and enough health food to keep us living.” Rainbow Dash informed her. “I could get you some volunteer work, maybe pet some ducks, but it ain’t gonna help your money problems.”
“So what daya say?” Pinkie Pie asked, grin as wide as her mouth could stretch.
“Um yeah, sure whatever.” Gilda said, eager to leave.
“Great it’s settled then!” Pinkie Pie said.
***
Next day of classes were standard procedure. Twilight finished her assignments with lightning speed and precision, and spent the rest of the time nose-deep in a book. Rarity kept glaring at Pinkie Pie for her prank yesterday, something that Applejack found immensely hilarious, and Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy kept to themselves, while Pinkie Pie enjoyed the day socializing.
Pinkie Pie again wasted no time in catching up to Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy when the school-day ended.
“Hello Friends!” She stated as she skipped alongside them towards the shelter.
“Hello… Pinkie Pie.” Rainbow Dash said. “Is there… a reason you’re following us?”
“I gotta pick-up Gilda so we can work together at Sugarcube Corner, remember?” Pinkie Pie said.
“Oh, right…” Rainbow Dash thought to herself for a minute before responding. Nothing came to her by the time they got home and found Gilda passed out on the couch.
“Alright Gilda, time to wake up.” Rainbow Dash said, setting down her bag with her weapons in them. “Heavy Sleeper.”
“Don’t worry!” Pinkie Pie took out her own Party Canon, and loaded with a noisemaker and fired it before anyone could protest, causing all of the small animals outside to either pass-out, or look for their mothers.
It was very successful in rousing Gilda from her sleep however. “Who, what, where, why!?” She cried from her new perch on the floor. She looked up to see Pinkie Pie grinning at her like a demon. “You! You think this is funny!”
“It’s a little bit funny.” Rainbow Dash said, who had, and was, preemptively covering Fluttershy’s ears.
“What do you want!?” Gilda asked, beginning to growl.
“To get you up so we can go to Sugarcube Corner!” Pinkie Pie answered, her grin impeccable.
Gilda’s head was a whirl, but she knew one thing, and that was that she did not want to spend another minute with this girl. She glanced at Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy who seemed quite frankly terrified, and calmed herself down.
She got up to glare at Pinkie Pie. “Sorry can’t. Conflicting schedule. Promised Dash we’d have a race. Right?”
Rainbow Dash screwed her face up a little, and decided she had indeed let Gilda be tormented enough. “Yeah, and we were just about to do that. Come on, let’s get our jetpacks.”
The two with some swiftness grabbed from their jet-packs, Gilda’s brown and intimidating from the coat-rack, and Rainbow Dashs sky-blue and sleek from her bag and were out the front door. They had them on in a flash, and double-checked that they were strapped in all the right places.
“Cool! Can I join?” Pinkie Pie asked, already outside wearing Fluttershy’s rather bulky pack, which confused the poor quiet girl, who was looking at her, and back inside several times, not becoming any wiser.
Pinkie Pie found the right button that extended the wings, twice as wide as her arm-span, and achieved thrust and take-off smacking right into a tree-branch and swiftly returned to earth. Fluttershy quickly went to help, and also to reclaim her jetpack.
“Only Wing-Type Semblances like me and Dash can use wing-packs dum-dum.” Gilda stated as she and Rainbow Dash’s wings propped out. Rainbow Dash’s mechanical wings were much smaller than Fluttershy’s, while again Gilda’s where between the two.
Without another word the two lifted high into the air. Rainbow Dash put on her goggles, while Gilda closed her secondary eyelids for flight. Both seemed at more ease in the air, flying close to the other, each of their moves influencing the other. They were gradually increasing speed, testing the others limits before making any big moves.
However their race was kept from reaching the next level by a screaming pink demon. She slammed straight into Gilda, and sent her back into an earthward trajectory. They landed with a few bumps, but in-tact.
Gilda wasted not time in getting up and screaming. “What is wrong with you!? How did you even get up that high!”
“Explosions!” Pinkie Pie stated brandishing her Party Canon, her hair slightly singed. “Sorry, about that, but I didn’t get a chance to tell you before I got to go. I made a promise!”
“A promise?” Gilda asked, as Rainbow Dash landed to check up on Gilda.
“A Pinkie Promise.” Pinkie Pie said, deadly serious.
“A pinkie promise.” Gilda said.
“I get it.” Rainbow Dash said. “Because of her name.”
“Look, sorry about your promise, but, I’m not too good at keeping those things.” Gilda told her.
‘Not to you! To the cakes!” Pinkie Pie explained. “See after you left, I made a Pinkie Promise to them that I’d get you to help out, and I’m afraid you don’t get a choice in the matter.”
“I-“ Gilda made a series of noises, before turning around, and having a quick conference with Rainbow Dash. “I’m going to kill her Dash.”
“Yeah, I get it.” Rainbow Dash said.
“Help me get out of this.” Rainbow Dash thought about it for awhile. “Come on! You just gonna let this nutcase tell me what to do?”
“I’m thinking about it.” Rainbow Dash stated. “Look, you don’t have a job, and frankly you’re a freeloader at the moment. Plus, I have to deal with her for however long I’m at this school for. You have to deal with it for a week at most.”
“Dash, right now you’re not sounding a like a good old buddy, you know that right?” Gilda said.
“Gee, remember that time we said we were going to take down the Junior Flight Camp, and sow it into the Camp Director’s undies, and how it was the greatest prank of all time? No? Maybe that was because when we got caught in the Directors office, I was left alone with the flag and a needle, no idea how to sew, and got punished for the whole thing, whereas you were nowhere to be found, and I got saddled with the whole thing.”
“Paback?” She asked.
“Totally.” Dash said. She turned to Pinkie Pie and called out. “She’s all yours!”
“Yay!” Pinkie Pie cheered. And with that, she grabbed Gilda by the collar, and started dragging Gilda all the way back to Sugarcube Corner, tears streaming down her face.
***
The two promptly arrived at Sugarcube Corner, too soon for Gilda’s liking. They were wrapped in aprons, and Pinkie Pie chattered on and on about how to go about her temporary assignment, none of which Gilda cared enough to really listen too, but the gist was pretty simple, and anything that required any actual work was handled by Pinkie Pie.
She did listen on the issue of payment however.
“I get a paycheck at the end of each week, but since you’ll be gone by then, I’ll just give you the money you’d receive each day, and I’ll pick up two paychecks at the end of the week!”
“Great.” Gilda said, bored out of her skull. Fair enough though, the work went quicker than she expected. She hated to admit it, so she didn’t, but it was better than doing nothing at Dash’s house. And there were plenty of snacks to partake in, though only the over or under cooked and damaged sweets, but it was still better than diet celery.
Though Gilda considered there were far too many downsides to justify it though. For one she was getting much more attention than she liked, more than a few customers stared. And for another thing, she had to deal with Pinkie Pie, who was a bit much even in short doses. And thirdly of all, she was working. Which was unpleasant at the best of times.
Gilda glanced at the clock each hour hoping to escape, but was denied a reprieve until the sun began to set, and the shop closed. It was then that Pinkie Pie banged on the register, busting it open, and taking out that day’s haul.
“See, each night we take the money and put in a safe in the back!” Pinkie Pie explained, leading the way for Gilda, who was there simply as an observer. “In case of thieves! Which is a little silly, because I could totally take out any thieves if they tried anything funny!”
The safe was in plain sight, but built into a wall, something not easy to take out. Pinkie Pie started the combination. “The Cakes use their anniversary for the combination so it’s easy to remember, isn’t that sweet?” The safe opened easily enough, and Pinkie Pie sorted the money into all it’s denominations inside the safe, before closing it. “Heh-heh, get it? Sweet? Because they sell cakes?”
“Yeah… can I take off now?” Gilda asked.
“Sure! We just need your apron!” No sooner did the words leave her mouth did an apron get thrown in her face, and Gilda headed straight for the door.
“I always found that a weird expression.” Pinkie Pie said, undeterred, following Gilda. “ ‘trying something funny’, because when you say, the person’s not actually being funny. I mean, what’s funny about being robbed?”
“WHY- are you following me!?” Gilda asked, as she burst into the cool night.
“Oh! I gotta make sure you get back to Dashie’s safe and sound! You’re my responsibility!” Pinkie Pie said in all seriousness.
Gilda was pretty sure what she was experiencing was karma for something. She just wasn’t sure what. She also found herself wishing that Rainbow Dash didn’t live so far from the city so that she’d have to do less walking. As it was, she still did have her wingpack, so she considered the possibility of just flying away. But then again the girl knew where she was staying.
Her musing, and Pinkie Pie’s current tangent were interrupted when she bumped into someone. He was a large man with a mean look. He growled when he got a good look at her. “Watch where you’re going you Filthy Faunus!” He barked.
He brushed past her on his way, and Gilda began growling herself, flicking her claws. But before she could react, Pinkie Pie had taken out her weapon, loaded with a noisemaker, up his jacket, and fired it off.
Gilda’s, and everyone else on the street’s really, had ringing banging from ear to ear. She could barely make out what Pinkie Pie loudly announced herself. “Nobody insults my friends!”
The person in question was too busy lying on the pavement drooling to really respond.
Pinkie Pie turned to Gilda with that same stupid smile on her face as always.
Gilda couldn’t help but laugh. “What was that about?” She asked.
“Well, your Rainbow Dash’s friend. And we’re on the same team. Besides you are still under my protection.” Pinkie Pie said.
Gilda continued to chuckle, and draped her arm over Pinkie Pie, continuing their journey. “You’ve surprised me. I guess you got some things going for you. Anyway, someone who sticks up for me like that deserves a drink, come on!”
***
It wasn’t hard to find a place for drinks in Ponyville. They sat outside of a place called Berryshine's. Pinkie Pie suggested the Cider, since it was a Ponyville favorite. They grabbed two, and sat down, Gilda said she would pay in thanks for earlier.
“Not bad.” Gilda said. “Surprised we could get some Cider without too much effort.”
“That’s because they make them here in Ponyville!” Pinkie Pie said, slurping hers down. “Also, they’re non-alcoholic.”
“Damn.” Gilda said somewhat disappointed.
“Hey, um, Gilda, does um… does um that happen often?” Pinkie Pie asked.
“What? Dweebs being jerks?” Gilda asked. “Eh, sometimes. I can handle myself don’t worry. But it’s nice that someone did something.”
“Thanks, I just… don’t like it when people are, well, jerks.” Pinkie Pie said.
They finished their drinks quickly enough, neither was eager to stay too long as the night was getting longer. They got up, and Pinkie Pie insisted on escorting Gilda the rest of the way though.
They were making swift progress out of the city when something occurred to Pinkie Pie.
“Hey, Gilda, I just realized, I never gave you your pay.” Pinkie Pie said, fishing in her pocket for some money.
“Heh, about time.” Gilda said, happy to receive her cash.
Pinkie Pie gave her the money for today’s work. “It’s just that- you said you didn’t have any money?”
“Yeah, well I do now.” Gilda said, counting what she was given, and unhappy it wasn’t more.
“How did you pay for the Cider?” Pinkie Pie asked.
Gilda had a neutral expression before taking out a leather wallet and flashing it at Pinkie Pie with a grin. “Swiped it off that jerk when he bumped into me.”
“Gilda! That’s stealing!” Pinkie Pie scolded.
“So what, the guy deserved it.” Gilda said, resuming her walk.
“It’s still stealing, and stealing is wrong!” Pinkie Pie stated, following her, not letting her out of a lecture.
“What do you want me to do? Track down the jerk, and give it back to him? He’ll just yell at me for stealing it.”
“But you did!” Pinkie Pie said.
“So what he was a jerk!”
“Maybe you could hand it to the police. Oh, but we should replace the money we spent for the Ciders.”
“Yeah, I’m not going to do any of that.”
“But Gilda! You stole! I mean, yeah, he was… a jerk, but that doesn’t mean you should steal from him.”
“Oh, why’s that?”
“Because stealing is wrong!” Pinkie Pie whined.
“Oh, just SHUT UP!!!” Gilda roared at her, successfully cowing the energetic girl. They continued their way back to the cottage in awkward silence. Gilda knocked on the door, and was greeted by Fluttershy.
***
“Hey.” Gilda said gruffly. “Where’s Dash.”
“S-sleeping.” Fluttershy said.
Gilda sighed at the day wasted. She turned to Pinkie Pie. “Later.” And with that, she entered and closed the door after her leaving Pinkie Pie not knowing what to do.
***
“Twilight!” It was the beginning of the day, and of course, Twilight was early to class, before most of the other students. Hearing her name being called out today was the first sign that today was not going to be a quiet day. The second sign was when Pinkie Pie turned her head for her, since Twilight wasn’t doing it fast enough for her. “I need your help!”
Twilight calmly took Pinkie Pie hands off her, and adjusted her glasses. “What?”
“Okay, so first Applejack and I made a bet that if she couldn’t beet me at the catapults last week she’d help me out at Sugarcube Corner, and she lost, but then she gave everyone food poisoning, because she was super-tired from trying to work on her farm, so I pranked her on Monday, and I decided I’d prank the rest of the team, but Rainbow Dash got upset, so I got her help to prank you and Rarity, but then she had an old friend from Junior Flight Camp come over, her name is Gilda, she’s a Griffon Faunus, which is really cool, so I thought we could all hang out together, and Gilda and I worked together at Sugarcube Corner, but when we headed back, there was this, well, Gilda called him a Jerk, which I thought was a little strong, but I used one of my Noisemakers, and Gilda and I had some Cider, non-alcoholic, and that’s when I remembered I hadn’t paid her yet, and she told me she took the guys wallet from earlier, and I told her that that was stealing, and stealing is wrong, and that she should probably give it to the police, but she got angry and yelled at me, and now I don’t know what to do, help!”
Twilight needed several seconds to process what it was that Pinkie Pie had said. “That was you!? You scared the willies out of me and Spike!”
“Ms. Twilight, please keep it down.” The Professor respectively told her.
“That’s what you got out of that? Twilight I’m being serious here!” Pinkie Pie told her.
“Just…. Give me a second.” Twilight told, having to replay what it was that Pinkie Pie told her. “Rainbow Dash has a friend, who stole something?”
“Uh-huh!” Pinkie Pie nodded.
“Then turn her in.” Twilight said, going back to her book. “It’s her fault she stole.”
“But…” Pinkie Pie became a little crestfallen. “She’s my friend. I wouldn’t want her to get in trouble.”
Twilight waited before giving another response. “You’re more worried about how she feels?”
“Well yeah, I mean… I’m also worried about the stealing…. But I don’t want her to be mad.”
“… I don’t know. If she’s mad then I don’t know.” Twilight confessed. “She probably won’t want to talk about it. And she’ll get angry if you do anything without telling her. Maybe you should make a peace offering? Something to settle tensions, where you can talk about it. After that… I don’t know, if she makes the wrong choices, you should let her suffer the consequences for it.”
That got Pinkie Pie thinking. So that’s what she did for most of her classes as her teammates filed in, and the lesson began. She spent the entire time working on her own problem until finally inspiration struck her.
“A party!” She cried leaping out of her seat.
“Ms. Pie!” The Professor yelled.
“Thanks Twilight!” Pinkie Pie said, giving her a bear hug that lifter her out of her seat, and the notes she was taking. She released her, and bolted out of the class before anyone could say a thing.
***
That was Friday. The next indicator that something was up was early next day was when a knock on the door, and a ringing of the doorbell came through the Cottage House where Gilda, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash where.
Gilda, who for whatever reason was up that morning opened the door to see a blonde mail-girl, with half her face hidden by her hat. “Package for you!” She stated.
Gilda shrugged, and signed her pad, and the girl gave her an envelope, and ran off. Gilda closed the door, and headed back inside. “Dash!” She called. “Letter for you! Who even writes these days?”
“Really?” Rainbow Dash said stretching in her sleeping clothes. She took the envelope from Gilda’s claws, and took a look at the front. “It’s addressed to you.” She said.
Gilda took it back from Rainbow Dash, and tore it open. It was a party invitation. That looked like it had been written by a six year old.
Gilda! It wrote.
I wanna say sorry for earlier, and to make up for it, I’m going to throw you a party!
Come to Sugarcube Corner at lunch! I’ll have everything set up by then! Cakes, games, friends! Make sure to come and we’ll have a super-duper good time!
From Pinkie Pie =- )
P.S. Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, you are totes invited too!
Gilda groaned.
“Is it me, or does she end every sentence with an exclamation mark?” Rainbow Dash asked, trying to decipher the letter. “What’d she do?” She asked, as Fluttershy came from the kitchen to see what was going on.
“She… was upset when…” Gilda shuffled around a little, and Rainbow Dash handed the letter to Fluttershy to catch up. “This… jerk, mouthed off at me, and, he was a customer, so she said I overreacted.”
Rainbow Dash nodded. “Yeah, wasn’t very smart of the guy, was it?” Rainbow Dash said.
“Heh, not really.” Gilda said.
“Yeah, well…” Rainbow Dash looked at the letter still in Fluttershy’s hands. “Eh, we weren’t doing anything today.”
“You wanna go?” Gilda asked, not nearly as eager.
“Yeah, why not?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“Uh, because she’s crazy?” Gilda said.
“Yeah, but hey, free cake, right?” Rainbow Dash said. “And we can always leave, right?”
Gilda wanted to respond, but couldn’t find anything to say.
***
They found Sugarcube Corner done up to the nines. Balloons were strapped to every possible area on the outside, along with streamers and banners that blew in the wind. Cacophonous music blasted from it, and around the street passer-byes tried to stay clear.
“You know-“ Gilda made sure to mention. “We can still turn back.”
Rainbow Dash, while intimidated, wasn’t the kind of person to back down from a bad decision. “Come on lets go.” She said, making sure to drag both her compatriots inside the establishment. “Hey! Party Time?”
“PARTY TIME!!!” Pinkie Pie yelled popping a party popper at them. Fluttershy was spooked, Gilda staid stoicly still as confetti landed on her feathers. “I’m so glad you come guys! Here, I got like so many snacks, and games, and things to do, It’s gonna be great!”
“Yay…” Fluttershy said half-heartedly.
“And I got all our friend too!” Pinkie Pie said, bringing them to the rest of their team. “This is Applejack, and Twilight Sparkle, you already met Rarity. Everyone, this is Rainbow Dash’s Griffin Faunus friend from Junior Flight Camp!”
“Hello there, I have almost finished that dress of yours if you’re interested.” Rarity told her. “In fact-“
“And we have plenty of games, and snacks, and oooh! We’re going to have so much fun!” Pinkie Pie said, looking like she might explode at any second.
‘To think I was worried about something…’ Gilda thought to herself.
It was hard to describe the series of events that went through the supposed welcome party. They had the café to themselves, so they were uninterrupted, though the Cakes occasionally stepped in to make sure Pinkie hadn’t burned down the place yet.
Gilda of course though was the guest of honor. Pinkie Pie made sure to give her the most elaborate party hat she could, it had glitter-glue, and macaroni on it. Everyone else wore their own party hats with varying degrees of irony.
Inbetween whatever activities Pinkie Pie was daining to have them do, they tried to make conversation with Gilda, which Gilda was not too happy to indulge them in. She was asked the routine set of questions, to which she gave the customary answers.
“So she’s been putting the funnies on all of us then?” Applejack asked.
“She thought we needed to laugh.” Rainbow Dash said as Pinkie Pie had Fluttershy and Rarity were half-heartedly playing pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey. Twilight meanwhile was still in her book.
“She got me a whoppie cushion, bucket o’ water on you,” Applejack listed. “Sneezing powder fer Ms. Fussybritches, a noisemaker for Egghead, what about you?”
“Me?” Gilda asked. “I guess the fizzy soda. Got my feathers all sticky.”
“Doesn’t count.” Rainbow Dash mentioned. “She got both of us with that.”
“That better count.” Gilda said. “You know, I wouldn’t put it past her to use this whole setup as a way to get back at me.”
“Don’t get your feathers ruffled.” Applejack said. “Just a joke. Sure you might blush, but I don’t think the kook has it in her to hurt someone.” She turned to see how the game was going. “What about the mute, she hit her yet?”
“She promised she wouldn’t.” Rainbow Dash noted. “And I really hope she wasn’t lying.”
“Wouldn’t put it past her either.” Gilda grumbled.
“I don’t know, she seemed pretty intent on keeping that promise earlier.”
“What promise?” Applejack asked.
“The one where she knocked Gilda out of the sky in order to drag her to work here.”
“You too?” Applejack asked.
“Yeah. Complete snore. Got some money out of it though.”
“Heh, least you got paid.” Applejack said. “I didn’t even get that courtesy when she dragged me here.”
“Yeah, well maybe that was because you sent half the customers to the hospital.” Rainbow Dash noted, to which Applejack didn’t really have a response for.
“Come on guys!” Pinkie Pie said coming back into the scene. “Don’t just mope around! This is a party! Hang on!” With that she disappeared behind the counter, and up a set of stairs, and was back within five seconds. “I got ribbons for everyone! First goes to Fluttershy for winning the pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey!” She grabbed a big blue glittery ribbon and smacked it on Fluttershy’s sweater.
“Yes, well, I would have won if you hadn’t spun me around so hard.” Rarity pouted.
“And next we have…” Pinkie Pie paused for a moment to check her schedule. “Twister! Come on Twilight!”
“Wait, what?” Twilight cried still in the middle of her book.
“You too Gilda!”
“What no!”
Their protests fell on deaf ears as she dragged them to a section of the floor where the mat had been laid out. “Rainbow Dash you have the spinner!”
With that they got started. Each of the participants, save Pinkie Pie, moved rather reluctantly, but as was the point of the game, they were soon entrapped between each-other as awkwardly as they could.
Still though, the game went on strong, the participants were refusing to budge, and it could have been anyones game, if not for one thing.
It was Gilda’s turn, and she was having a tricky time maneuvering between Pinkie Pie and Twilight, slowly she moved, getting herself into a rather awkward position in regards to her audience. But her concentration was destroyed when an enormous ripping noise sounded out as she got into position.
Pinkie Pie was instantly reduced into a fit of giggles, yet still managing to keep from falling. Gilda meanwhile was blushing as hard as she could. “Hey! That wasn’t me! It wasn’t!” She was furiously attempting to salvage some dignity, when she lost her footing, so to speak, and the three girls were collapsed on each-other.
This earned a few more smirks from the audience. Gilda emerged from the pile, Pinkie Pie still giggling, and Twilight thoroughly not enjoying herself. She was redfaced a she stomped back to the table. “What was that about!?” She demanded.
“Hey I thought it was funny.” Rainbow Dash said. “Almost as funny as when it happened to you.” She said to Applejack, who immediately stopped laughing.
“Hey don’t be angry!” Pinkie Pie said, turning over Twilight. “Here I’ll get you some punch!” She zipped off to the punch bowl, poured some cups, and came back to the table.
Gilda grumpily took hers, and gulped it down, only to immediately regret her decision, when it felt like her mouth was set ablaze.
“Hot… hot! Hot, hot, hot! HOT!” She started complaining, fanning her mouth, tears coming from her eyes.
“Oops!” Pinkie Pie eyed one of the glasses. “Looks like someone spiked the punch with some hotsauce. Oopsie!” Everyone else made sure to push their drinks away from them, or eye Pinkie Pie. “Don’t worry, I’ll get some milk!” She said, grabbing another cup, and rushed to the kitchen, returning with a glassful of milk. “Here you go!”
Gilda didn’t bother to ask any questions, and took the glass from her trying to down it. She succeeded in getting some of the milk in her mouth, but the rest it spilled through a hole in the glass down her jacket.
“Huh, looks like I picked up a dribble glass by mistake.” Pinkie Pie said. “Gee, I wonder how that got there?”
Gilda simply growled as Fluttershy handed her some napkins to clean herself off.
“Don’t worry! I’ll get something to make you feel better!” She left and came back with an armful of presents in wrapping paper tied up in bows. She dumped them on the table with a flourish. “Tada! I got you some gifts to commemorate your time in Ponyville with all of us!”
Gilda tried to contain herself, dabbing herself down with the napkins. She enjoyed the thought of free things.
“Okay, so first, I got you-“ Pinkie Pie grabbed what looked like a wrapped bottle, and handed it to Gilda. “Go on! Open it!”
Gilda did so, her claws making short work of the paper, and found it was a bottle of Cider. She was disappointed to find it was still the non-alcoholic stuff.
“Cider! From before remember? It’s the good stuff.”
“Thanks, I gue-“
“More presents!” She cheered, grabbing the next box. “Hmm…. I don’t remember wrapping this one. Here Gilda, open it and see what it it!”
Gilda took the box, and sliced open the top. Opening it, a cloud of flour exploded into her face, making her appear a ghost. Some of the girls began laughing.
“Hey, how did that get in there?” Pinkie Pie asked.
“I can tell you how it got in there!” Gilda said standing up.
“Okay, maybe that one wasn’t quite as funny.” Rainbow Dash said, trying to calm Gilda down. “Maybe we should save the rest of the presents for later.”
“Alright, if you say so.” Pinkie Pie said, going back to her schedule. “Umm… how about… I know snacks! Be a second!” Pinkie Pie once more dashed behind the counter.
“I swear I’m going to kill her Dash.” Said Gilda who was distressingly sharpening her claws on each-other.
“Relax.” Rainbow Dash said. “Actually, I should probably tell you-“
“Cake!” Pinkie Pie announced coming in with a cake embedded with sparklers. She put it on the table showing it had been inscribed with icing ‘Welcome to Ponyville Gilda’. “Tada!”
“Gee, thanks.” Gilda said sarcastically.
“Come on, take the first slice!” Pinkie Pie encouraged her.
“I’m not touching that until I know what you’ve done to it.” Gilda told her.
“Done what? I mean, I did put in the sprinklers, and lots of sprinkles too, and lots and lots of sugar, and-“
“I’ll take the first slice.” Rainbow Dash volunteered, grabbing a knife and carving up a portion for her. She then took a fork, and speared a chunk to put in her mouth. Once her mouth closed her face screwed up.
“See!” Gilda accused. “I knew you did something.”
“No, it’s not that!” Rainbow Dash said, trying to finish off the contents of her mouth. “It’s just really, really sweet! She wasn’t lying about the sugar. Fluttershy, you try.”
She handed her plate over to Fluttershy who delicately took a portion for herself, and ate it. Her face screwed up like Rainbow Dash’s, but she nodded in agreement.
Gilda, still wary, took some cake for herself, and cautiously nibbled. It wasn’t great by any stretch of the means, but it was entirely edible.
With Gilda’s apparent assent, the rest of the girls began to dig in, finding themselves with similar sentiments. The cake was finished with a minimum of fuss or chitchat, and Gilda found she was just counting the seconds until she left.
“Okay, so um, want to open the rest of your presents?” Pinkie Pie said feebly.
Gilda, not seeing much else to do, consented, though with each new present she was evermore cautious. There were a lot of sweets and edibles. A tour guide, and quite a few tourist knickknacks. And a framed picture of the two of them in selfie she took in Rarity’s boutique, which was made sure to be passed around and gawked at by the others.
“Oh, I should have brought that dress here as a going away present myself.” Rarity mused, as Applejack chuckled at the frame.
“Yeah, fine, thanks.” Gilda said, taking it back, and putting it with the rest of her stuff. “Well then, I’m leaving.”
“Wait!” Pinkie Pie said, making sure to stand between them and the door. “You can’t go yet, we still have a ton of games to play!”
“Yeah, sorry if my idea of a fun-time isn’t you embarrassing me in front of all your friends.” Gilda stated.
“Oh come on, they’re not that embarrassing, I promise!”
“No! You’ve been trying your hardest to get back at me this entire time I’ve been here, and I’ve had enough! I don’t deserve this!” Gilda yelled.
“Gilda!” Rainbow Dash tried to say.
“I don’t know… what you’re…” Pinkie Pie tried feebly.
“Don’t give me that, you think I’m some kind of stupid? I don’t care what you think, I’m outta here!” She tore off her hat, and began storming out.
“Gilda!” Rainbow Dash said, pulling her down to her level. “It was me!”
“What?”
“All the pranks! The fart noise, the hot-sauce, the exploding present that was me!”
“…What?”
“Yeah, Pinkie blabbed to me that you pick-pocketed some jerkhole, she got yelled at, and wanted to make it up to you.” Rainbow Dash told with a slightly displeased look. “So me and Fluttershy helped set up. I thought we could use a little payback after what she’s been doing though, so I set up some pranks that were meant to get her and everyone else that you managed to get in the way.”
“… what now?”
“She was the one supposed to get embarrassed during the Twister, and I figured with the way she eats, she’d hit the punch and go through the glasses first. And with the present I snuck in, I figure she’d try to open it first.”
“… oh.”
“I’m sorry Gilda.” Pinkie Pie said, looking quite contrite. “I was just trying to make sure you had a good time here. I didn’t want you to be mad at me. Sorry that I made things worse.”
That took a lot of the wind out of Gilda’s sails. “Well um…”
“Look, just kiss and make up.” Rainbow Dash stated.
“Huh!?” Gilda cried.
“Not literally!” Rainbow Dash clarified. “Look you two! I’m not an expert on this, but why don’t you two just say sorry, shake hands, and forget anything happened. Kay?”
“Okie-Doki-Loki!” Pinkie Pie beamed.
“…fine.” Gilda relented. She extended her claw, which Pinkie Pie shook vigorously.
“Say sorry.” Rainbow Dash lectured.
“I’m sorry that I got you mad Gilda.” Pinkie Pie said genuinely.
“I’m… sorry that I blew my lid on you.” Gilda said forcefully.
“Great.” Rainbow Dash surmised. “Now we’re all friends, and we can live happily ever after!”
The party continued after that. A lot more fun was had this time around as Rainbow Dash was forced to disarm any Pranks she still had left, though now everyone was overly cautious. But drink, food, and merriment was had, and there were now a lot more smiles than before.
***
Sugarcube Corner, and all of Sugar Street was silent that night. The hooded figure easily entered with a spare key, and closed the door before they could be sighted. The café bore no signs of the festivities it had contained earlier, having been dutifully been swept away.
The hooded figure quickly and quietly leapt over the counter and into the back. Past the kitchen, they found the hidden safe, removing its cover. Within a few short tries, she found the combination, and the safe unlocked. The door slowly swung open, and there was a lockbox inside. The thief carefully lifted the box, appreciating it’s weight, and began placing it into her bag.
She froze as a light-switch turned on, and they were bathed in harsh light.
A girl in a white top, and balloon adorned bottoms with a mane of frizzy pink hair meandered through the room on her way to the fridge, half-asleep.
“Chocolate milk… chocolate milk..” She moaned. The Thief kept silent and still as the girl found the fridge, and located a jug of chocolately goodness.
Pinkie Pie with a practiced motion found a glass, unscrewed the top of the jug, poured her glass, placed the jug back in the fridge, closed the door, and chugged the contents of the glass, all without opening her eyes. She then slowly past the thief in the direction of the stairs. “Hey Gilda…” She yawned. She got up about halfway up the stairs before stopping. “Gilda? Gilda!” She ran back down stairs to see the thief had vanished.
Gilda had burst through the front door, and making sure her prize was secure, unfolded her wing pack, and took to the skies.
Pinkie Pie meanwhile, prepared herself, putting on some fuzzy slippers, she grabbed her bag, and her party canon, and followed outside.
In the chill air, she could make out Gilda’s silhouette against the stars. She unfolded her sights, placed a slippered on them, and fired launching herself with a mighty explosion straight up. She landed on the rooftop, and with Gilda still in view, she loaded a flashbang round and fired straight at her.
The sight and sound of the flashbang going off right next to her was disorienting, but she stayed in flight, away from Pinkie Pie.
Pinkie Pie continued to follow, using her Party Canon as an explosive Pogo Stick, she bounced from rooftop to rooftop, until she was at the right angle to launch herself straight into Gilda. She didn’t hesitate, the two collided in midair, and both landed on another rooftop in the older part of town.
“Gilda! Why are you doing this!?” Pinkie Pie cried.
Gilda remained silent and stoic, checking her wingpack was still functioning. Knowing that she couldn’t get away unless Pinkie Pie was dealt with, she brandished her claws.
Pinkie Pie warily kept her Party Canon ready to defend herself. “Gilda, I can’t let you do this. Stealing is wrong! The Cakes need that money!”
Gilda charged with inhuman strength, claws bared, she swept at Pinkie Pie, but she competently blocked most of her strikes with the side of her Party Canon, even going so far of striking her back, catching her midsection, and sending her sprawling back.
“Please Gilda! Just give back the money!” Pinkie Pie pleaded.
Gilda got back on her feet wary. She could see that just as Rainbow Dash had said, the girl could handle herself. Deciding not to draw out the fight any longer than it had to, she drew out her weapon from her bag, a thick broadsword with several grenades placed into the blade.
Not knowing what else to say, Pinkie Pie readied herself for a fight.
***
Noise outside was rousing Spike from his precious sleep. He tossed and turned in his own bed, trying to block out the sound with his pillows. It proved no use, and he got up to see what the fuss was.
“Do you hear that?” He asked his sister, also trying to sleep.
“It’s probably nothing. Go back to bed.” She muttered.
Spike got up, and went to the window, opening it, and sticking his head out. It sounded like a series of thumps in the distance. Like fireworks. He couldn’t see much in the darkness, what with a plethora of leaves blocking his view. But he could make out the explosions in the distance.
“Hey um, Twilight?”
“Go back to bed.” She muttered a little more harshly.
Spike quickly got out of the way when he saw something heading towards the window. The explosion was a simple Noisemaker, waking every living thing within three blocks, but the effect it had on Twilight, who’s magic went wild at the shock of waking to such a thunderous sound, wrecked nearly every thing in the room.
“What! Was that!” She said, wide-eyed, awake, her heart trying to smash it’s way out of her chest.
“I think-“ Spike said from under his bed. “Maybe we should check it out.
***
Gilda hooked another bomb into her broadsword, and flung it at Pinkie Pie, who expertly swung her Party Canon, and knocking it back at Gilda, who had to dodge the resulting explosion. Pinkie then switched modes on her Party Canon to it’s Grenade Launcher setting, firing Flashbangs and Noisemakers in an attempt to stop Gilda, but in the aftermath she appeared unphased, leaping to attack with her broadsword, it became a duel between them.
Gilda had height, reach, and weight on Pinkie Pie, who did her best to hold her own ground against Gilda, lest she be knocked over the edge, but try as she might, in these close quarters it was a losing battle against Gilda’s relentless assault.
Gilda raised her broadsword high as Pinkie stood on the edge. Rescue came in the form of a magical bolt, striking Gilda back with some force evening the playing field. Pinkie Pie turned back to see Twilight on another rooftop, still in her purple pajamas, with her staff in hand.
“Twilight!” Pinkie Pie cheered. Twiligh made a bridge of hard-light to cross over. “I knew I could count on my best friend!”
“What did you do!?” Twilight cried.
“What did I do? Gilda stole!”
“I know! That’s why you had the whole stupid party thing! What did you do no?” Twilight asked.
“No! Gilda stole again! This time from Sugarcube Corner! All the Cakes Money is in the lockbox in her bag!”
Twilight turned to see Gilda, her weapon still in hand. “Is this true?” Twilight asked.
Gilda didn’t say a word.
Twilight wasn’t quite sure what to do in this situation. She didn’t have all the knowledge to make a sound judgement. But Pinkie Pie was on her team. That was supposed to mean something. So she chose to help her.
“Gilda, if you don’t say anything, I’ll be forced to believe Pinkie Pie.” Twilight warned her, brandishing her staff. “And if you did steal from her, I’ll be forced to turn you in.”
Gilda responded by fitting a bomb in her broadsword, and tossing it her way. It exploded at their feet, but Twilights conjured a magical shield that protected them. When the smoke cleared, Gilda was off flying again. Twilight’s mind soon went to work.
“I’ll keep her close to the ground, you try to knock her out!” She yelled.
“Roger!”
Twilight casted a meteor shower from her staff, a bolt of magic launched from her staff high into the air above Gilda, and broke into dozens of starlets that struck back down to the earth. Gilda had to spend a lot of concentration dodging the attack and was not helped as Pinkie Pie launched herself to a nearby rooftop, where her perch allowed her to launch multiple explosions in her path.
Gilda used her broadsword to block or swat Pinkie Pie’s projectiles, but still needed to dodge Twilights’ meteor storm. It didn’t help as she was catching up with her she interspersed her casting of a meteor shower, with her own bolts of magic trailing after her. Pinkie Pie changing tact by switching modes on her launcher, and loading a missile. Through the glass sight she kept an eye on Gilda as she was tossing her own explosives at her to keep her on her toes.
As soon as she was locked on, she fired. Gilda heard the missile coming with her sharp leonine ears. She flew down quickly, the missile following her, into the streets, she tried tossing a cluster grenade to disrupt it, but the Missile staid true, with both Pinkie Pie and Twilight following, each trying to shoot her down.
In the end it had caught up to her heels, and she was heading straight towards a building. She knew she couldn’t outfly the missile, so she braked, landed her feet on the face of the building, turned to see the missile following her, and with her broadsword split it into two.
For a second she appeared the victor, until both halves of the missile collided with the wall she was standing on, and resultingly exploded, knocking her off her perch, and to the street below.
Twilight and Pinkie Pie soon landed beside here.
“Are you okay?” Pinkie Pie asked while Twilight brandished her staff, having it pointed directly at Gilda.
“It’s no use running away.” Twilight told her. “The police are on their way right now. Just sit there and… think about what you’ve done.”
Gilda considered her odds. She still had her broadsword in hand, but she didn’t know how her wingpack was working. She gripped her broadsword in her claws, and leapt up to attack.
Pinkie blocked with her canon, and Gilda then turned to slash and Twilight who likewise redirected the strike with her staff, with a push of a button, she inserted a dust cartridge she had been holding onto, in her staff, and struck back at Gilda, lightning wracking her body until finally she stayed down.
The fight over the two girls relaxed, panting, tired. They waited for the police.
“I was right.” Pinkie Pie said more to herself. “This isn’t funny. Not at all.”
***
The police came in due time, putting Gilda in cuffs. Pinkie Pie told them what occurred, probably in more words than were necessary, and upon examining the contents of Gilda’s bag, they took them all to the local police station.
The three girls were looked at to make sure there were no major injuries, and Gilda was put in a cell. When she came to, she didn’t offer a word to anyone. The proper calls were made, the Cakes came to reclaim their money and Pinkie Pie, Twilight was escorted back to the Library were she tried to make good on her sleep.
Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy were called regarding Gilda. They both came, hastily dressed to see what the commotion was about. Pinkie Pie and Twilight had both related their parts of the tales. Fluttershy was quiet as always, whereas Rainbow Dash was furious. The entire time she looked like she wanted to punch something, or someone.
It was explained to them, since Gilda hadn’t any known family, she would have to carry out her sentence for theft, and property damage that had ensued in the resulting fight, on top of any other charges she may have accrued elsewhere. They offered the two of them a chance to speak with her, but they refused.
Pinkie Pie mostly kept to herself not knowing what to do. She stayed quiet as she left.
***
It was getting close to dawn when Gilda heard a rattling by her window. The guards had finally left her alone, so she wasn’t too keen on having her rest interrupted. She got up on her bed to see outside the window was Rainbow Dash, her hood over her Rainbow mane.
The two stared at eachother for a while, the only sound being passing cars and chirping crickets.
“Why’d you do it?” Rainbow Dash asked finally. “I thought we were… good.”
“We are.” Gilda said.
“Then why’d you do it? Pickpocketing a jerk is one thing, but stealing from Sugarcube Corner?”
“Listen Dash, it’s not like that. I… got into some trouble a while back. I need to make ends meet. I have to make money where I can. It’s not my fault that girl gave me a perfect in.”
“It is your fault Gilda.” Rainbow Dash said. “You wouldn’t be here if not for the choices you made.”
“Don’t act all high and mighty on me Dash. I still remember the things we used to do.” Gilda told her.
“Yeah, I know we did a lot of stupid things together Gilda, but nothing this stupid!”
“Nothing that we got caught for.” Gilda dismissed.
Rainbow Dash sighed, not knowing what else to say.
“What do you even care? You used to never care for the rules! Are you really going to choose you’re new ‘friends’ over me?”
“They’re not my friends!” Rainbow Dash said harshly. “But they are my team. Maybe you don’t understand Gilda, but that means I have to have their back, and they have to have mine.”
“Yeah, you and that ‘pet’ of yours.” Gilda said venomously.
“Look Gilda!” Rainbow Dash said harshly. “I don’t care about any of that, but what you did was just plain stupid, and on top of that- it was mean.” Rainbow Dash sighed again as a dull silence fell. She fished into her pocket, and took out a set of keys. She tossed them up to Gilda, who caught them. “I swiped them in the station. Get out. I don’t want to see you in Ponyville, got that?” With that, she turned to leave.
“Hey!” Gilda said. Rainbow Dash turned to look. Gilda wanted to say something. Before it was too late. Something that would fix everything, and make it better. She wanted to say sorry. But she couldn’t So she settled for something else. “Thanks.”
Rainbow Dash turned and left.
***
The cakes had a task ahead of them. They had made orders to beef up their security, and changed the combination to their safe, and decided to write up a list of requirements for any employees, part-time or otherwise.
But for all their financial worries, they had something worse ahead of them.
“What time is it?” Mr. Cake, Carrot, asked his wife.
“It’s almost four.” Mrs. Cake, Pound, answered.
“Alright, I’m going in to check on her.” Mr. Cake said.
“Are you sure we shouldn’t just leave her be?” Mrs. Cake asked.
“I’d let her, but I promised her father I’d keep an eye on her.” Mr. Cake said “She’s been couped up in her room all night and day. It’s unlike her.”
“Alrighty then.” Mrs. Cake said. “I’ll… just be down here.
Mr. Cake took off his apron, and headed up the stairs to where Pinkie Pie was staying. The door was plain enough, yet still managed to stay intimidating. He knocked.
“Pinkie? It’s me. Can I come in?”
Mr. Cake heard a noise that sounded like assent, so gathering his courage, he opened the door.
Entering into the room of a teenage girl was scary enough as it was. Entering the room of a teenage girl named Pinkie Pie was more so. The place was done up in near every girly color imaginable, still with all the decorations of Birthday Party hung up. It was actually a rather small room, with a dresser, a table, a bed, and on that bed, a girl in pajamas holding onto a toothless Camen.
“Mind if I sit down?” Mr. Cake asked.
Pinkie Pie made an imperceptible nod, so Mr. Cake did just that. He rubbed her shoulder gently. “Hey there Pinkie. You feeling better?”
She rather slightly shook her head, her hair getting in her eyes.
Mr. Cake sighed, not knowing what else to do. “Do you think you’ll feel better?”
She nodded slightly, which was a relief to Mr. Cake.
“Good, that’s good.” Mr. Cake said. “Well, um, don’t worry about needing to work, or doing any chores. You can just rest here until you feel better. And if you ever need something, you know just were to get us.”
“I’m sorry…” She mumbled into her pillow.
“What for?” Mr. Cake asked.
“Everything.” She said. “I’m just a bother. I’ve been useless ever since I got here.”
“Don’t say that!”
“It’s true. I scare off customers… I got everyone food poisoning… I almost got the place robbed… I’ll probably end up setting the place on fire next week.”
Mr. Cake wanted to say no harm no foul, but couldn’t really. “Pinkie, you can’t think like that.”
“It’s true. I’m probably the reason Gilda decided to rob us.”
“No you’re not.” Mr. Cake said harshly. “Do NOT blame yourself for the actions of others Pinkie Pie. What Gilda did, it was her own choice. And now she’s suffering the consequences of that choice. You shouldn’t suffer because of what she did.”
“Still though… it would be better if I wasn’t here. I still told her what the combination to the safe was.” Pinkie Pie said.
Being a little stumped, Mr. Cake decided for a little truth. “Pinkie Pie, you wouldn’t be here if I didn’t want you to.”
“I’m here because you owed daddy a favor. And you’re nice.”
“No! Well, I mean yes, that too, but Pinkie Pie, you’re a joy to be around! You’re a brilliant cook, a diligent worker, and a downright fantastic person.”
“I annoy people.” Pinkie Pie said.
“Well… that you do. But I think it’s worth it to be around you.” Mr. Cake said. “And I’m sure your friends think so too.”
Pinkie Pie kept silent for a bit. “Thank you Mr. Cake. I’ll be better tomorrow.”
“Okay Pinkie Pie.” Mr. Cake said, rubbing her just a little bit more before leaving. “And remember, you can count on us if you ever need something.” And with that, he left Pinkie Pie.
***
Dear Headmaster Celestia-
Something has happened this weekend that I’m sure you will end up reading about in the newsblogs.
A member of my team, Rainbow Dash, had a friend, named Gilda stay over. Another member of my team, Pinkie Pie, attempted to get close to her. This resulted in a party the entire team was invited to. Throughout a series of mishaps, a streak of antagonism was revealed in Gilda.
While temporarily soothed, later that night I was awoken from my bed by a series of explosions, that had resulted between Pinkie Pie and Gilda. I learned that Gilda had in fact robbed the café where Pinkie Pie works. Together we apprehended her, and she is currently within the Ponyville Jail.
As far as conclusions on Friendship, I am unsure as to what is to be learned here. Perhaps the lesson should be that sometimes friends make choices, or commit actions that you cannot follow. Not everyone can, or should be your friend.
-Sincerely, your faithful student, Twilight.
Postscript: Headmaster Celestia, I know that these letters aren’t the place for such things, but there is a matter that I have come across during my studies that I find most interesting and disturbing, a matter I believe I should bring to your attention. I would deeply appreciate it if you could find time during your schedule for the two of us to meet in person.