Rarity let out a soft sigh of contentment as the steamy water cascaded down her form. A loofah was gripped tightly in her magic as she washed all the dust away, sending streams of dark water down the drain. She could hardly believe how quickly it had built up, though she imagined the previous dusty tomes she'd gone through likely had helped. She pulled over her bottle of shampoo and started washing her mane next.
She sighed and glanced towards the tub besides the showers. Its golden coat called to her, enticing her towards it. She had been working really hard lately, a three hour bath would be just what the doctor ordered. Why, she could probably even take a short nap, surrounded by hot, steaming water. The mere thought sent a chill of excitement down her spine.
Then she thought about the books, waiting under her bed. Knowledge lost for almost a hundred years. Questions answered that she had searched for so long. The temptation overwhelmed her desire for relaxation so she turned off the water. She took a towel and quickly dried herself off, not even waiting to brush her mane before trotting out of the bathroom.
She came face to face with her mother. Her blood turned cold as ice as she stared up at the mare, who just stared down with a look of indifference. “H-hello, mother.” Her mouth was suddenly very dry, making the words hard to say.
“Hello, daughter. Your sister tells me you've been working very hard on paperwork for the Earth Kingdom.” Those cold, dark eyes seemed to penetrate down to Rarity's soul and she briefly wondered if her mother could read minds.
“Y-yes,” Rarity said softly, her hooves trembling.
“Good. I want this signed and sent with your next batch of orders.” A small envelop flew down from the mare's mane and into Rarity's waiting hoof.
“I... what?” the young princess stared at it in confusion. It wasn't even sealed. “What is it? Why?”
“It's new orders for the Earth Kingdom. A skilled commander has departed for the kingdom, and I wish him to deal with some tasks.” A grin spread across her lips. It chilled the young princess to the bones. “As to why? Well, my daughter has begun showing how much I can depend on her.” A hoof reached up and stroked Rarity's face. “I believe it's time I reward that behavior. Don't you?” She then turned and walked away, briskly.
The young princess shivered, doubting even a boiling bath could warm away the chills her mother gave her. The moment the ruler of the nation was out of sight, she turned and walked the other way, pulling out the letter as she went.
“Why would she make Cherry Fizzy acting commander there? Isn't he retired?” she asked softly, reading over the words a second time. “Just what is it you're up to, mother?” She walked into her room and closed the door. She gave Spike's cage a look, moving close enough so she could see the dragon. He was sitting in the back, his arms crossed and pouting. His eyes met hers for a second, glaring until she looked away. She moved to her desk and sighed, pulling out the note and quickly began filling out a few orders.
She soon had a nice, neat stack of finished paperwork beside her, before pushing off from the desk and turning towards her bed. It was time. She gripped the first book, the diary, in her magic and pulled it out before sliding into her bed. She spent a few seconds wiping it off with one of her towels, before gently pulling it into her lap and opening it.
Dust sprang out, making her cough and once again coating her in a thin layer. She glared at the book. “You're lucky you're so valuable or I'd turn you into kindle.”
------
Pinkie giggled softly as she was led, blindfolded, around the building by Cheese. Occasionally she ducked or jumped, avoiding a flung pie. Her friends watched with cocked, confused eyes.
“Yah know, ah ain't been with her as long as the resta yah,” Applejack whispered, leaning close to Rainbow. “But this all ain't normal, is it?”
The pegasus shrugged. “I don't really know. I mean, normally I'd say no. But this is Pinkie. She... always has weird stuff happening.”
“She's getting led around by some weird stallion while ponies throw pies at her. I think we passed 'weird' a while ago.”
“Hey, you're the one who wanted us to get bits. At least we aren't--” Rainbow yelped and ducked down before a pie flew over her head. “Hey, watch it!”
“Sorry!” Pinkie yelled with a giggle before ducking down and catching another pie in her tail, only to fling it back at one of her 'attackers'. The pony was dropped, covered in key lime pie. The assault continued for a few more minutes as the pink mare slowly took down all of her 'attackers' with well placed catch and releases. Even juggling a few of the pies at times.
“Perfect!” Cheese said happily before ripping her blindfold off. “Your sense of dodging the pies is impeccable. Why, I don't think I could do better myself.” Pinkie ducked suddenly and a pie flew over her head, hitting the stallion in the face. The tin fell to the ground and he slowly reached a hoof up, wiping it off with a sigh. “Welp, I definitely couldn't do it better myself.” A grin spread on his lips as he rubbed his pie covered hooves together. “Marvelous! I believe it's time for your next lesson!”
Pinkie just giggled and looked up at him, a smirk on her face. “Ohhhh, what next?”
“Next... you learn to throw a party from half a mile away! Onward!” He galloped off, followed by the mare and a few of his assistants.
Rainbow just looked at Applejack and shook her head. “Are you sure we're still in the Water Nation?” she whispered. “Maybe we got sucked into the spirit realm somehow and this is all some weird hallucination?”
“Yah all would know better than ah would. Who the heck needs tah throw a party from half a mile away?”
Rainbow sighed and shook her head. “I don't know. But if Pinkie learns how, we may never be able to avoid going through a town again without setting one off.”
“Yah think we otta stop her then?”
The pegasus hummed for a second, but before she could speak Fluttershy spoke up. “I ummm... I think we should let her do it.”
“Huh?” the two asked, turning back to face her.
“I... I mean... Pinkie seems really happy doing this and she's always trying to ummm, k-keep us happy.” She timidly shuffled her hooves and kept her eyes lowered. “Even if we, ummm, we've been having a lot of hard times lately, she still tries. She should, ummm, get to be happy for once...”
Rainbow sighed. “I guess...”
“Well, as long as we're getting' paid an' ain't nopony gettin' hurt, ah don't see the harm in lettin' her learn some weird party thingies,” Applejack said with a shrug. A moment later Cheese rolled by on a giant cheese wheel while Pinkie followed on a giant beach ball while juggling cupcakes. “Some very weird party thingies.”
Rainbow watched, before catching a tossed cupcake in her mouth. “Ehhh, ah guess i't cag 'urt,” she said around the cupcake before swallowing.
“Better than stealin' food an' supplies,” Applejack mumbled before going back to putting the strings in noise poppers. “Ah just hope Twilight's doing okay.”
------
“H-hey now, Angel bunny,” Twilight said nervously, her eyes wide and frightened as she stared up. “I-I think this might be a little much. I-I mean, I only did it that one time and... gulp...” The blind fold rested at her hooves and she was standing at the bottom of a large rounded cave.
At the top of it stood Angel, surrounded by rocks and boulders, which were barely supported by a well placed stick. The bunny shook his head and motioned to the ground.
“Come on. I think it might be a little bit early for--” A stone bounced off her head, silencing her. She let out a soft whimper before gripping the blind fold and sliding it on. A few moments later she felt the ground rumble and heard the stones as they surged down the hill at her.
------
Rarity flipped through the diary, her eyes watering as she read each page. Many of the older pages were hard to read, but as time transpired they grew more and more clear and the hoofwriting got progressively better. Starlight had been tasked with keeping a diary by her father, a tradition all the previous rulers had supposedly performed so their knowledge could be past down through the generations. The ancient ruler had been born an only child, future ruler of the Water Nation. Though there had been a few skirmishes between her nation and the others, there was never anything serious. However, the mare's admiration for the avatars was plain to see.
She and Starswirl had been friends as children, as he was a member of one of the many noble families. He was also apparently quite handsome. Alicorns apparently fascinated the mare and, when she discovered her childhood friend would become one, her hoofwriting became so excited it was hard to read. Despite the fact she was a member of the royal family, she was granted leave to travel with him on his training, under the guise of meeting the other rulers of the nations and gathering valuable information, as well as creating diplomatic relations.
She went to all the capitals, starting with Cloudsdale. She fell, unsurprisingly, only to be saved by the Wonderbolts at the last second. She'd sworn to create her own branch of such amazing fliers, a group capable of the awe and grandness of them. She also affectionately nicknamed Starswirl Pidgeonwings. In Fillydelphia she saw the great wall. She doubted the stars themselves could break such an impressive monument. Finally they went to Manehatten. She hated it there, it was so hot and steamy. However, the dragons were the most impressive thing she'd ever seen and she even traveled to their birthing place.
The two made many friends on their trips, from all the nations. To her, it looked as if there would be years of peace ahead. Even when they returned home there were many feasts and talk of alliances between all the nations.
Starlight had even formed a relationship with a young firebender, one of their friends who she called the 'Element of laughter'. It had taken her a while, but Rarity had figured out the elements, at least judging by how the princess spoke of them, were more than just characteristics their friends had. It was near the end of their training when Starlight mentioned she had become one of the elements, generosity, and a few of their friends were as well. However, there was very little information on what they were. It didn't help that the other elements of fire, wind, water and earth seemed to be different from them.
Rarity wiped a few tears from her eyes and leaned back. She'd heard stories of the first Nightmare Moon, the terror she inspired. The wanton destruction and death of thousands and enslavement of the fire benders. Reading this diary, it was almost impossible to believe this girl would one day become that. She seemed so happy and full of life, talking about their friends. She could almost imagine the mare, pulling out a quill some nights and writing a few small notes in candlelight. Writing about all she'd learned.
Sometimes the entries would come weeks, even months apart, though they always had things the girl at least found interesting. Rarity was a little over halfway through when the diary took a much darker turn. Starlight began speaking of entire towns changing overnight, rulers who went from benevolent to cruel. Honest ponies who started to cheat and steal. Ponies changing in every way possible, while their friends and family stared in disbelief. At first she thought it was just ponies changing, but soon she and her friends(including the avatar) began to suspect something foul ahoof.
And when they found the source, what a dark and treacherous thing it was. Discord. Their battle was long and hard, requiring them to go across all the countries and purify each region, one by one as they chased the wicked spirit. Finally, they were forced to face him in the spirit realm, where he was at his strongest. There was no writing about the fight, instead the diary ended on one last paragraph.
We banished Discord with the Elements of Harmony. All of us. Why does Starswirl get all the glory? He's an alicorn, isn't that enough? Must he steal our just desserts as well?
Rarity took a deep breath and closed the book, before closing her eyes as well. It made her feel nauseous, thinking of what she knew the mare would become. She was silently happy that there were no more entries after that, though she couldn't help but feel a little annoyed. There was very little in there to tell her what her aunt wanted her to see, though plenty about Discord. Nothing about the avatar she didn't already know. All she had were more questions. Like what happened to the rest of their friends? These 'Elements of Harmony'? What magic did they possess that was so important to the avatar?
A chill ran down her spine. Was it possible... that was what her aunt wanted her to find? She picked the journal up again, flipping through and looking for more information as she went. Finding the names of these 'elements' and quickly writing them down.
Harmony, laughter, kindness, honesty, loyalty and her ancestor's, generosity. Something in the princess' chest jumped and she gulped softly. Was this it? Was this what her aunt was trying to tell her about? Could these elements be the key to whatever it was her aunt wanted her to see? It wasn't much of a lead, but it was the first solid one she had. She closed the diary back up and scooted it under her bed, before pulling out the others. She then paused and looked to the cage. “Spike?”
The dragon hmphed. She got to her hooves and trotted to the cage, gently pushing the door open and pulling him closer with her magic. She wrapped her legs around him and cradled him close. “I'm sorry...” she whispered.
He didn't move, just laid there and snorted, ignoring her.
“Please, I need your help. Do you know anything about the elements?”
“Fire, wind, water and earth. Of course I do, I'm not stupid!” he snapped, his voice filled with bitterness at her betrayal.
“No. Not those. Elements of Harmony. I... believe they are connected with the Avatar. Perhaps you... Spike?”
He had frozen, his eyes wide and fearful. “W-what do you care about the elements? They're...” He shivered. “They hurt.”
Rarity tightened her hooves around him, holding her to his stomach. “Spike, what happened?”
“I... I...” He looked up at her, his body trembling. He didn't want to tell her, she was a traitor. A monster. One of the Water Nation. She had lied to him, pretended to be his friend, then she tried to kill the avatar. How could he trust her? But he had to tell someone. Memories flooded back in a wave, memories of the pain, the suffering, of all he had endured. All triggered by those few words. “T-Twilight... put one of the elements in me. Or, or she tried...” He held his stomach. “It hurt so much. It was burning me, from the inside. It felt like it was tearing through my scales and... cutting, burning, destroying...”
She held him ever tighter, gently humming into his ear as she tried to comfort the poor dear. “It's okay... Spike, it's okay. I'm here. I'm not going to let anything hurt you...”
“It... it hurt so much...” he whispered. “I... I thought the elements were s-supposed to be good. Then... then there was nothing.” He looked up. “I was... I was looking at you. The pain was all gone and I was looking at you.”
Rarity stared down at him, her hooves tightening around him as she gently rocked him back and forth. “There there Spike. It's okay. It's all going to be okay...” she whispered as her mind raced. She remembered touching him, feeling the way something in him entered her. How... everything had changed then. Lines connected to dots until her eyes widened. No. No no no. It was impossible. She felt her own trembling to match the dragon's. She looked down, wishing she could run off to read some more, but she couldn't abandon Spike now that he was opening up again. So instead, she kept rocking him back and forth, hoping he would fall asleep, and soon.
------
Pinkie stared at the next test, her eyes so wide and excited they could almost pop out of her head. Her mouth was frozen in a wide grin as she looked over the device. The curve of the metal. The adorable little string on the back to trigger it. The wide, metal wheels. Most importantly, the sheer joy it could bring.
A PPC. Portable party cannon. Able to send cakes, confetti, streamers and dinnerware traveling at break neck paces, allowing the user to create a party from OUTSIDE the party. She circled the master crafted piece of equipment, her eyes wide with excitement as she studied its frame. She leaned in super close, allowing her to see her face reflected in the steel. “Wow...” she whispered.
“Amazing, isn't it?” Cheese asked proudly, before motioning to it. “A portable edition is a requirement for any party master on the go. In fact, I even have a few grand master versions in storage, able to send all party necessities a mile!”
She gasped in shock, though across the target range, Rainbow face hoofed. “What would be the point of sending a party from a mile away?”
Applejack shrugged, before looking around at the crowd of gathered employees. “Ah don't rightly know. It's still a cannon though, ah'm sure it has tah be somewhat useful.” She took a step back as the other ponies started to shuffle back as well. “Everypony came out here tah watch so... maybe it won't be that bad?”
“It's a party cannon,” the pegasus said with a roll of her eyes. “That's probably the...” Her eyes went wide and her mouth hung open as a large ball of paper flew into the air. It exploded a moment later, filling the sky with fireworks. Sadly, the daylight made them hard to see, but it still drew oohs and ahhs from the crowd. “The most awesome cannon I've ever seen!”
Pinkie giggled gleefully as she moved around, throwing things into the cannon before setting it off. Eggs, flour, sugar, chocolate, glitter, fireworks, candy, streamers and everything else went into the cannon, only to be launched a few moments later in the form of cakes, cupcakes, dazzling light shows and confetti. Before long the gathered ponies were in paper pieces and sparkling from the glitter. Many also had cupcakes and frosting dripping from their manes.
“So, yah still think it's the most awesome cannon ever?” Applejack asked in annoyance as she picked frosting out of her mane and wiped cake batter off her face.
“It's... substantially less awesome,” Rainbow grumbled as she knocked frosting out of her ear. “Fluttershy, you...” She paused when her eyes fell on her friend. The mare didn't have a speck of glitter, frosting, cake or any sign of the mess on her. In fact, the grass around her hooves was as spotless as she was, the only pony in the group of watchers untouched. “How... did you...”
“Huh? Oh, ummm... I guess it's... k-kinda awesome? I guess?” she squeaked softly and looked down, moments before a pie flew over her head to land in some ponies face.
“Sorry, I thought your mouth was open!” Pinkie yelled.
Rainbow sighed and shook her head. “We should get back to work.”
------
Twilight screamed as she ran, her wings tied to her side. “Angel! Enougggggh! I give!”
The bunny ignored her cries as he kept running on the large, round boulder in pursuit of her.
------
Rarity slammed the book closed, moments before cringing. She glanced over to Spike in the cage and let out a soft sigh of relief. He was still asleep. She then turned back to glare at the book, her hooves shaking. “You're wrong,” she whispered. “That's just stupid!” She flung the book as angrily, but gently, as she could under her bed. “I killed the avatar, I can't be one of her... ugh. Just no!” She dropped onto the bed and shook her head. “No no no NO!”
“Huh?” Spike groaned, his eyes slowly popping open and staring up at her. “What's wrong?”
“Nothing. Go back to sleep,” she muttered before laying down on her bed. After a few moments the dragon dropped off again, his soft snores making her sigh. She glared at the roof, her hind hooves digging into the bed. It wasn't fair. It was all the avatars fault. Everything. It was her powers, her little 'elements' that were causing her trouble. She never wanted, never asked for any responsibility like that. The alicorn just takes and takes and takes. Would she not be happy until Rarity finally lost everything? Wasn't it bad enough she'd already lost most of her life chasing the alicorn, now she could lose all that she'd finally gained?
She looked down at the floor, imagining the books laying under her bed. No. Just... no. It was stupid and she would have no part in it. Even if that was what her aunt wanted her to find out, it didn't matter. She was her own mare and she would NOT turn to some magical mumbo jumbo. She and the avatar were enemies.
That was all they would ever be.
------
Pinkie giggled as she twirled and jumped from side to side, surrounded on all sides by ponies wearing thick padded clothing. She was blindfolded again and loud music filled the air, played by a small band surrounding Cheese. He held a rubber chicken in his hoof and waved it through the air as they played, directing them.
“Now begin!” Cheese yelled. “Feel the music through you and--”
There was a loud shriek as Pinkie flew backwards through the air, cartwheeling a few times on the ground before landing with wide, swirly eyes, the blindfold knocked off. The stallion who slammed into her looked pale. “I-I'm sorry, you said go an--”
“No!” Cheese yelled, waving his hoof. “Pinkie, put the blindfold on and begin again! Remember, you've got the music in you!”
The pink mare nodded and wobbly got to her hooves. She then slid the blind fold on and charged forward. Only to be sent flying a moment later with a shriek.
Rainbow growled. “Okay, this is ridiculous. He's just having her get beat up now!”
Applejack nodded, cringing as her friend crashed. “Somethin' like that. Ah don't--”
“Nothing!” the pegasus growled. “I'm going to put a stop to this. What is he even singing? 'Got the music in you'? I'll ram some music straight up his--”
“Rainbow!” Fluttershy interrupted with a gasp.
The colorful pegasus shook her head. “Just look. How can she possibly fight like that? I don't care how good or bad music is, you can't dodge an attack you can't see or hear. He's just using this as an excuse to beat her up. I'm putting a stop to this right now.” She spread out her wings and took to the air, before diving down at the ponies Pinkie was trying to avoid. Her hooves connected with the closest, sending the pony flying into a second. A moment later she was on the third, bouncing onto the pony's back and ramming him into the dirt. The music stopped.
“Hey, what do you think you're doing? You're ruining the training!” Cheese objected, stomping a hoof. “And breaking a few funny bones.”
Rainbow glared at him. “Listen here you two-bit clown.” She flew up and glared at him, face to face. “I don't care how many fancy cannons you've got or how great your parties are. No pony, and I mean NO PONY, beats up my friend. If you think I'm going to just stand idly by while you use a few lame songs to hurt her, you got another thing coming.” She dropped down on the ground and stepped forward, making him take a step back as she jammed her face closer to his. “I'll break a lot more than your funny bones. You got it?”
The stallion gulped. “I... I assure you. There is nothing wrong with dance fighting. Feeling the music flow through your hooves and--”
“How about YOU do it then?” Rainbow snapped, stomping her hoof down again. A wicked grin flashed on her lips. “Actually, yeah. How about you get blindfolded and fight me? If you're able to teach it, you'll be able to do it perfectly, right?” She smirked knowingly.
Cheese's face lit up. “A wonderfully splendid idea!”
“Uhhh... what?”
“Giving miss Pinkie a demonstration could be just what she needs!”
“Again, what?” Rainbow stared in disbelief. “You really plan to just... wear a blindfold and fight me? You do realize I'm going to kick your--”
“No no, don't worry about me. I'll be fine. Places everypony, clear the arena!”
The pegasus just stared in disbelief, her mouth hanging open as the stallion trotted down to Pinkie's side and took the blindfold, sliding it over his eyes. A second later he made a gesture and the band started while Pinkie and the armored ponies jumped out of the arena for them.
“You're kidding, right?” Rainbow asked, chuckling nervously. “You can't expect me to just beat up a handicapped pony, right?”
“Nonsense!” Cheese said with a shake of his head as his body swayed with the music, lightly moving from side to side with the beat. “Come at me, whenever you're ready.”
The pegasus gulped and looked to everypony watching, even Pinkie who was staring expectantly. “Well... fine. Don't say I didn't warn you!” She charged forward, hooves aimed at his head, intending to end this fast. However, as she came closer he swayed with the music, side stepping her attack and making her fly past. Her hooves jammed into the ground and she skidded to a halt, turning to glare at him. “Lucky dodge.”
Rainbow charged forward again, though she stopped as she came closer and twisted into a powerful sweeping kick. Right on queue the pony jumped into a spin, swirling over her hoof. He landed a second later and kept spinning around with the music, his head bobbing to the beat.
“That's not, you can't...” She ground a hoof into the ground before smirking. “Fine, I see how it is.” She slowly tip hoofed closer, making as little sound as possible as the stallion danced about. However, his movements were getting faster and more erratic as he went, spinning, sliding, jumping and weaving about with the tune. She turned and bucked when he was in range, but his movements carried him out of the way moments before she could touch him. She let out another frustrated growl and charged at him, swinging her hooves wildly, though his movements always carried him by them without a hint of distress.
Her eyes widened as a light went off in her head. A wide grin flashed on her head as she started mimicking his movements, swaying with him, watching closely the way he moved. As the music neared its crescendo she dashed forward and her hoof flew out, striking at him. His own hoof went out to meet hers, catching it with his own and pulling her in.
She let out a shriek as he started to dance WITH her, spinning her around and twirling them both, forcing her to mimic the same movements he did exactly, or fall flat on her face. He finally swung her around wildly, in a tight circle before releasing her, sending her hurtling through the air. Her wings spread out and she caught herself, stumbling a few moments as she tried to regain her senses. The music stopped and the stallion pulled off his blindfold and let out a chuckle. “My my, that was quite impressive, miss...?”
“Rainbow. Rainbow Dash,” the mare said as she lowered herself to the ground and shook her head. “I... guess there's a little something to what you're teaching her.” She paused for a moment. “But only a little. Pinkie!” She trotted over to her friend and leaned in, whispering in the mare's ear.
The pink pony's eyes lit up, before she burst into giggles. “Ohhhh! Now I get it. Hee hee, thanks Dashie.” She trotted to the stallion and held out her hoof. “Okay, I'm ready for my next try.”
“If you're sure. Okay, places everypony!” Cheese yelled before trotting back to join the band.
“What yah tell her?” Applejack asked when Rainbow rejoined them.
“Oh, just reminded her where I'd seen those movements before. He's pretty light on his hooves, but I think Pinkie can be even lighter.”
------
“I don't wanna die! I don't wanna die! I don't wanna die!” Twilight shrieked as she was chased around by Angel yet again, except this time he had upgraded. He now rode in a lightning cloud and occasionally sent bursts of lightning at her flank as she ran, forcing her to shriek and fly faster as she went. Her only hope was her cloud walking spell would wear out before her wings did.
------
Rarity drove her quill against the papers she was filling out, her teeth gritted into an angry frown. The quill dug into the paper so hard it actually tore through occasionally, making her start over.
It was all that avatars fault. If it wasn't for her, there likely wouldn't be any resistance groups she had to deal with. She tried to be as merciful as she could, but her mother expected, even required some form of brutality. She was at least able to limit it to sending key members of the resistances to the more brutal prisons.
Ponies were rallying around not just the avatar, but the idea of the avatar. There were entire groups running around, wearing fake horns and wings and calling themselves 'Twilight's Sunrise'. They were striking all throughout the Earth Kingdom, hitting resources and anything else they could get their hooves on. The copycats were even worse and, if her hunch was correct, the groups had spread all the way to the other countries as well. Her mother wasn't permitting her much information on them. It was all a big mess and she had no idea how to stop it.
No, that wasn't true. Stopping it was easy. They had more than enough hoofpower to control all four countries. Heck, they could do it with ponies to spare. It would, however, require them to compress every single captured pony into much larger, but less numerous, locations. Setting the moves up alone would be near impossible in the best of times, and would likely lead to so many ambushes that they'd lose hundreds, even thousands of ponies.
But if they could do it, they'd have a steel grip around everything. Sure, the rebellions would have plenty of land to move around, but the vast majority of the world's population would be under the control of the Water Nation. Under the control of Nightmare Moon. Her mother.
Just the thought of that sent a chill down her spine, and not one of excitement. She packed up the idea in her mind and shook her head, quickly going over the flaws. Too much land would be left empty, allowing rebels and escapees to form their own empires. They might be too concentrated and if any of them fell, they'd free who knew how many prisoners. Even if they tried to do such a thing, with her mother drawing so many of the unicorns to the city, their magical offenses were low, which meant one of their greatest weapons couldn't be used.
Worst of all, if their forces weren't spread so thin, the Water Nation would have entire units they could send out to find, and eliminate, the hidden fire benders and return the world to eternal night.
That thought made Rarity slam her hooves down and let out an annoyed growl. “No. I want that to happen. Stupid fire benders...” she grumbled. They should have all already been gone. No pony wanted them. They'd almost eliminated them back at Fillydelphia, too. It would have fixed so many problems. There would be no rebellions, the avatar's body would have likely been recovered, she... she...
More emotions surged within her, making her body quiver as she laid her legs on the table and rested her head against them. Tears were welling in her eyes, though she quickly wiped them away, trying to burn the grief under her fierce rage. She took a deep breath and glanced over the stack of papers.
The avatar was gone by now. She had to be. Dead. It served the alicorn right. All she ever did was cause problems. The books she'd found were wrong, they had to be. She could not, would not, be affiliated with that mare. She sent an assassin after Twilight, what more could she do to destroy their connection?
She started writing her orders again, the quill digging into and scraping against the paper as she worked. She didn't notice the small baby dragon watching her, his face contorted in worry.
------
“I did it!” Pinkie squealed with glee as she bounced up and down on the last heavily padded pony, the other two laying still with swirls in their eyes. She flung the blindfold off and giggled. “So, what's next? This is fun!”
The sun was dipping behind the hills, its glow quickly fading as the moon began its own incline into the sky, opposite it. Many of the ponies had already left, after getting their payments for the day. Only Pinkie's friends remained, who cheered her on through the training.
“That's it,” Cheese said with a shrug, before shaking his head. “I must say, you were quite impressive. I expected weeks of training you, but your skills are amazing. You'd already long mastered all the basics, and even the advanced techniques you've grown quite proficient at. The party cannon, rubber chicken fencing and dance fighting are all techniques that require years of practice to master, but I believe you now have all you need to begin your master hood.”
Pinkie giggled and trotted up to him, before giving him a great big hug. “Yayyy! I knew you'd be a great teacher-sama-sensei-tutor person, Cheese!”
The stallion chuckled and hugged her back. “There's only one thing that remains.”
Pinkie looked around, before grinning. “The big stunning reveal that I'm really from the air nomads, but you knew all along and were just testing me to see if I was as noble and honest as you suspected? Before we do this big epic fight where I demonstrate all the techniques you've taught me, before the others move in to try to stop them and you shake your heads and say you're too old to fight the Avatar?”
Everypony stopped and just stared at her. Applejack's, Rainbow's and Fluttershy's mouths nearly hit the floor as they stared at their friend, while Cheese just stared with wide eyed horror. “W-what? You're... you know the... y-you're friends with the Avatar?” he finally squeaked out.
“Pinkie!” Rainbow finally yelled.
Pinkie just smiled, but it slowly broke into a frown. “Wait... oh. You haven't met Twilight. That probably means... oh... oh dear... things changed and... oh.” She brought a hoof to her mouth and stared worriedly. “I ummm... can you just forget all that?”
The stallion kept staring, his mouth open. Finally, he shook his head and sighed. “I... I guess it's not that surprising. I mean, I'd heard... stories of the avatar's companions. I did wonder why an air bender had come all the way out here and was letting her friend train under me.” He glanced knowingly at Rainbow.
The pegasus' eyes bulged. “You... you knew? How? I didn't do any bending!”
“Of course not. You only fight exactly like an air bender when you decided to take me on.” He chuckled and glanced to Pinkie. “Then told her a few pointers. I don't blame you, however. Your guess was correct, dance fighting is very similar to air bender fighting. Many of the movements are the same between them. Though I'd like to think we have a bit more style in our movements.”
Rainbow ground a hoof into the ground. “Well... now you know.” She glared to Pinkie before turning back to him. “What are you going to do?”
The stallion chuckled and gave Pinkie a wide grin. “The same thing I was going to do to begin with. Miss Pinkie Pie, I believe it's time I give you your graduation gifts.” He then sighed. “Even though you passed in just a day... they grow up so fast these days. Come with me?” He motioned her back towards the workshop, before trotting away. The mare followed after him.
“Should... we all go too?” Applejack asked, finally managing to pull her mouth back up.
“Yes,” Rainbow said quickly. “I don't trust him. He's accepting far too fast of all this, he could be a spy for the Water Nation.”
“But we're in the Water Nation,” Fluttershy said softly.
“Well, maybe not a spy, but a loyalist! Who knows what he plans to do with her? He might try to trap her in like... a big cake or something!”
Rainbow's friends stared at her with cocked eyes. “Well, I don't know. Something big. Who knows what other stuff he has in that little fortress of his?”
“We should probably git goin' then,” Applejack said before motioning to the building. “They already went inside.”
The pegasus eeped and took off, her friends chasing closely behind her.
------
Twilight whimpered and laid on her stomach, her body aching all over and pieces of her coat singed. “I-I give up...” she whined, letting out a sob. “Can't... can't b-bend any more... c-can't run... can't... can't do anything...” She just panted and groaned.
Angel hummed and put the rock down he was about to throw. He shook his head before hopping down and running to her side, finally hopping onto her back.
“N-no, please. I give up. I-I can't train any more... I...” She squeaked as he rubbed his paws into her back, gently kneading the muscles. A soft groan escaped her lips and she closed her eyes. “Mmmmm... has Fluttershy been teaching you how to do that?”
Angel merely made a soft squeak. He then rubbed his paws together, before digging them in deep, kneading the sore muscles.
Twilight let out another shriek of pain as the bunny went to work.
------
Pinkie sat in Cheese's office, watching him through the closet's window. He was once again talking to the shadowy rubber chicken, both their features cleverly hidden behind the fogged glass.
“Are you sure? It could be dangerous,” the stallion mumbled loudly. “I mean, you could break something. Well, I guess not that, but other things.” He slowly nodded. “True, you have been training him for years, he might be ready. Are you sure?” He sighed softly. “Fine. But you'd better be careful. I don't want to hear about you getting hurt.”
The closet door opened and Cheese stepped out, a big yellow rubber chicken on his back. He smiled at her. “Well, Pinkie, today is your lucky day.” He bumped his hips and sent the chicken flying into the air. It soared like a graceful water balloon, landing on the pink mare's back, sitting up. “Meet Boneless, my silent partner.”
“Silent partner?” Pinkie asked, seconds before the door slammed open.
“Pinkie!” Rainbow yelled, before tackling the chicken off her back. “Hah, gotcha! I knew you were up to something, trying to ambush Pinkie and... wait.” She stared down at the limp rubber chicken. “This... is a rubber chicken.”
“Sure took yah a bit tah notice, didn't it?” Applejack asked with a soft chuckle.
Rainbow frowned and looked up. “Okay, that's it. Spill, Cheese! What is it you're up to? Why are you... trying to bury Pinkie under rubber chickens and what is it you want with my friend?”
“I was not trying to bury her under anything,” Cheese objected. “Boneless requested to go with her, to help keep her safe. If you all are friends of the avatar, Boneless is just the kind of help you need. Besides, I still have his understudy, Boneless two.” He pulled out a second rubber chicken, identical to the first.
“O... kay,” Rainbow said, before pointing the chicken at him accusingly. “Fine then, why are you so okay with helping the avatar and us? You're a member of the Water Nation, aren't you?”
The stallion's face turned grim and dark. “Yes, I am.” He then motioned towards Pinkie. “But she is already well versed in the preparations of parties. The ability to celebrate doesn't belong to the Water Nation alone, after all. Despite what many ponies may believe.”
Rainbow hmphed and dug her hoof in the ground. “Well... fine then. But what about the avatar? You can't--”
“What avatar? I see no avatar,” the stallion grinned and shook his head. “As far as I know, she's dead, long gone. Who'd believe me even if I said so? 'Oh no, a couple of ponies came by and said they had the avatar with them, gather the nation's forces!'” He burst into laughter and shook his head. “Besides... even if you did have the avatar with you, I can imagine exactly where you're going. As a party planning pony, I imagine finally freeing the other nations could lead to quite the celebration. I'd have to be a fool to try to stop that.”
Rainbow stared for a few moments, her mouth falling open. “You're... you're a traitor? But--”
He shook his head again. “Traitor? No. Far from it. Come along, Pinkie.” He trotted from the room, the earth pony following behind. “I want only what's best for my nation.” He paused for a second. “Would you rather I call the guards from their outposts, screaming about how we're under attack?” Cheese tutted. “How rude. Do you have any idea what kind of damper that would put on the coming celebrations? All my hard work, planning and bits would have been wasted for naught!”
Rainbow stared for a few moments, before glancing to Applejack. “Do you think maybe he's nuts?”
“Probably. But ah think we can trust me. Ah don't think he's lyin'. Besides, Pinkie seems tah believe him.”
“Pinkie would trust anyone, though,” Rainbow said with a shake of her head. “She gave kazoos to an invasion fleet when they tried to attack our home village. I'm surprised she hasn't given him one.”
A loud toot filled the air, making her head whip around, before glaring at Cheese who had a kazoo dangling from his lips. He chuckled and put it away, before stopping in front of two wooden doors. “Pinkie. Prepare yourself for your final gift.” He leaned forward and kicked back, the doors slamming open. The ponies gasped, their eyes bulging at the sight.
“That's... so... awesome...” Rainbow whispered.
A huge warehouse stood before them, with a vertical lifting door opposite them that took up nearly the entire wall. The room was filled, from top to bottom, with party cannons.
Small cannons, big cannons, ones the size of wagons. Ones that looked as if they were MADE from wagons. One that looked more like a tank, a few small enough to fit in the hoof, some that strapped to a pony's back, a few that seemed to be attached to stoves. Pinkie squealed with delight. “Ohhhhh! Finalllllly!” She clapped her hooves together.
Cheese smiled and nodded. “Yes, as my gift to you, my well versed student. Choose any one you wish, and it is yours. Just remember...” A grim frown formed on his face and he closed his eyes before taking a deep breath. “This is a weapon of mass party creation. You must never, ever use it for evil! The headaches, sugar highs and late nights you could create could destroy entire towns! Are you ready for this responsibility?” He opened his eyes. “Are you... Pinkie?” The mare was already gone, leaving him confused and looking around. “Where did she go? Pinkie!”
Rainbow shook her head, then pointed behind him. “She's... examining the cannons. Hey, can I have one? That tank one looks--”
“No.”
“Awwwww...”
Pinkie jumped from cannon to cannon, a frown crossing her face as she examined each one. “Where is it...” she muttered, picking up the smaller ones and looking under them. Finally, she started jumping into the barrels of the largest ones. “Hellllllooooooooo?” But still, she received no response. She jumped onto the ground and tapped her hoof. “Where is it?”
“Where's what?” Cheese asked. “Do none of them suit you?”
“Oh, they're fine. But... that's it. They're just fine. There should be one. The perfect one for me...” Pinkie's eyes looked over the lines of them. “The one that calls out to me. The one that... that...” Her mouth fell open as her eyes finally fell on it. It had a big white flower covering the majority of its red and brown wheels. The metal was tinted a light blue. The little pull string was cleverly disguised so it looked like a fuse. She peered inside and squealed with delight. “Here it is! This one is mine!” She gave it a tight hug.
“Ohhhh, you have a good eye,” Cheese said as he trotted over. “That's one of the magical ones. Great for travels, can shrink down to the size of--” The cannon disappeared. “Well... I guess you already figured that out. Heh. You really do learn fast, don't you?”
Pinkie gigged and waved her hoof dismissively. “Oh, it's just a bit familiar.”
Rainbow cocked an eye. “Uh huh...” She stared up at the biggest cannon of them all, as large as a cottage. “Are you sure I can't have this one?”
“Where'd yah put it, sugarcube?” Applejack asked with a chuckle. “Or are yah volunteerin' tah haul it from town tah town?”
“I could! I bet it has a shrinking spell on it. Right?” The pegasus asked, staring at the stallion with big, hope filled eyes.
“Nnnope. Sorry.” He shook his head before turning to Pinkie. “Well Pinkie, you're the best, and definitely fastest, student I've ever had. I wish you the best and the safest life possible.” He reached out and put his hooves on her shoulders. “I know, between you and Boneless, you'll have no trouble attaining your goals. When you've finally finished your mission, make sure to come back and give your good friend Cheese Sandwich a visit, okay? We'll throw an awesome, amazing party the countries have never seen! With so much pizza that even turtles would be satisfied!”
Pinkie blinked, then looked into his eyes, letting out a gasp. He winked, drawing a squeal from her. Rainbow just looked to Applejack, a confused look on her face. “Turtles? Is that an earth pony thing?”
“Ah don't rightly know. Maybe it's some kinda party thing? Fluttershy, do yah get it?”
Fluttershy merely shook her head, before Rainbow sighed. “Probably just another Pinkie... Cheesy being Cheesy.” She watched her friend, nervously glancing towards the stallion as well. “So Pinkie, do you really think we can trust him?”
“Uh huh!” the pink mare hopped happily as she went. “I will come back, Cheesy! After we're done saving everything. Now come on, we'd best go make sure Twilight's okay. Who knows what we missed while we were away.”
Rainbow snorted. “She's been all by herself with a baby bunny. I'll bet she spent the whole day lazing about in the sun, watching the clouds drift by.” She turned to walk away, before pausing and face hoofing. “We almost forgot to get paid...”
------
Twilight whimpered, laying out on the cave floor, her hooves spread out and nearly every part of her in pain. Even her mane hurt, she didn't know that was possible. She gave a frightened glance to the bunny, who was sleeping soundly against the cave wall.
The sound of talking ponies finally got her attention, causing her ears to twitch. She tried to stand up, but pain shot through her body and she collapsed with a low moan. She squeaked and looked back. Her blood ran cold at the sight of the bunny's eyes opening, the pupils appearing in the darkness. He darted off, out of the cave and disappeared into the night.
The voices came closer and, to her relief, she recognized Pinkie's. “Then I'll use the confetti to set off the weight trap and boom! Fireworks go off so everypony is illuminated and can see and they'll realize there's a giant flying-- hey Angel!”
“Angel!” Fluttershy's voice came next, filled with excitement. “Oh my darling little bunny. Did Twilight take good care of you?”
“Twilight's probably just been slacking all day,” Rainbow said with a chuckle. “I hope she's ready for tomorrow, she'll have to actually get back to her real training then.” The four stopped in front of the cave and looked around, trying to pierce the vale of darkness that enshrouded it. “Twilight, you in there?”
“Guhhhhh...” the alicorn groaned.
“Spend the whole day sleeping? Give us a little light, won't you?”
Twilight sighed and the tip of her horn came alight, allowing them to see. They stared in shock at the exhausted, dirt and sweat covered alicorn. She let out a soft whimper. “Please... never leave my training to that bunny again. I... I don't think I'll survive.”