//------------------------------// // Episode Eleven: The Demon Baker of Eravil Part One // Story: Discovering Friendship // by Saro0fdemonz //------------------------------// "Twilight wake up!" Pinkie screamed in Twilights ear, causing the Magian to shriek and stumble out of her bed, taking Rainbow Dash with her. Pinkie blinked, staring at them for a moment before shaking her head. "We've got a bi-bi-big pr-problem!" Pinkie stuttered, her entire body vibrating and her eye twitching. "Ugh...Pinks this is a bad time to have a doozy..." Rainbow groaned. "Oh come on, you aren't still trying to convince me about this Pinkie sense thing are you?" Twilight deadpanned, untangling herself from Rainbow. "Something big is gonna happen! Right in the middle of Everfree! We gotta moooooove! HIC!" Pinkie hiccuped, stumbling out the window. "Pinkie!" Twilight gasped, blinking as she found the Gaian vibrating beside her. "Yea?" Pinkie beamed. Twilight shook her head, opening her mouth to question the vibrating bundle of sugar, though Rainbow slammed a hand over her mouth. "Pinks, lead the way." Rainbow said, glancing at Twilight. Pinkie gave a shaky salute and bounced her way out of the room. "Rainbow, what was that about?" "Look, if she's wrong then nothin' bad will happen. But what if she's right and someone needs our help?" Rainbow asked. Twilight fell silent, hanging her head. "I-I didn't even think about that..." "Its cool Twi, everyone new to Eravil goes through the same thing. You get use to it the longer you're here. You catch up to Pinkie, I'm gonna check on the kid and I'll meet you there. Alright?" Rainbow smiled. Twilight gave a gentle nod and chased after Pinkie Pie. "Might wanna change outta your jammies!" Rainbow called after her, the Magian blushing as she rushed back into her room. Rainbow grinned, making her way downstairs and peeking into Scootaloo's room, finding the girl still sound asleep. Twilight zipped past as she chased after Pinkie Pie, carrying a book in the crook of her arm. Rainbow chuckled, turning back to Scootaloo. "Hey squirt." Rainbow said softly, shaking her shoulder a bit. Scootaloo cracked an eye open, grumbling and hiding her head under the pillow. "Yea, that sounds like a good idea to me too. Look, me an Twi' gotta go check on somethin important. Try not to break anythin' while we're gone or she'll kill us both." Rainbow grinned, Scootaloo giving her a thumbs up before rolling over and trying to go back to sleep. Rainbow left the room quietly, waiting until the latch closed to kick her wings into full gear and chase after Twilight. She tore through town, kicking up dust devils and almost knocking over a fruit cart. Twilight didn't believe in the Pinkie Sense, but Rainbow had experienced it and knew that if Pinkie said something big was going down, then something big was going down. Twilight panted heavily as she ran after Pinkie Pie. She was well aware that her pink haired friend was a Gaian, but that still didn't account for her monstrous strength in her legs even without tapping into her powers. It was just barely enough for her to keep an eye on the pink blur as she ran through town with a reference book hooked under her arm. She gasped as the wind kicked up behind her, a blur snatching her up and pulling up beside Pinkie Pie. Twilight glanced down, seeing a grinning Rainbow Dash carrying her. "Sorry Twi', you gotta learn to keep up" she joked, though there was concern in her eyes. Was Twilight wrong? Was there some truth behind this Pinkie Sense? If so, Pinkie Pie would be able to predict danger before it even occurred. Such an ability warped her thoughts on several laws of science. She would need to conduct some tests. "What the hell is that?!" Rainbow yelled, flaring her wings and slamming her heels into the dirt, coming to a stop just outside the Everfree. Twilight glanced up, eyes wide for a moment before the colors were too much. She tore her gaze away, gasping in pain and covering her eyes. "Twilight! You okay?" Rainbow panicked. "I-I'm fine. There is a powerful magic source surrounding the forest. A-As a Magian I can SEE the mana flowing a-and its rather bright" she explained. Pinkie Pie snorted, tapping her arm and holding out a pair of purple shades. "Here! I thought these might come in handy, but I kinda sorta forgot to give them to you...sorry" Pinkie chuckled nervously. Twilight slipped the shades on, looking back at the forest. Even with the shades on she was forced to squint to even try and see. "Well, Pinkie was right about one thing. There is something big happening in Everfree." Twilight mumbled. Though, moments later, a figure came stumbling out of the forest. "Fluttershy?! Whoa, hey!" Rainbow caught her friend as she stumbled, crying and clinging to her Skyborn friend. "Shy, whats wrong?" Rainbow asked softly. Fluttershy shook her head. "R-Rarity came with me to help a family of bunnies get home a-and there was this flash of light and she collapsed and told me to run. I-I didn't know what to do s-so I ran..." she sobbed. Rainbow nodded as she grit her teeth. "You did all you could Shy. We'll save Rarity. You go get AJ an tell her to meet up with us." Rainbow ordered softly. Fluttershy sniffed and nodded, spreading her wings and taking off towards Sweet Apple acres. "Pinks, go with her. You'll get to AJ faster than she will." Rainbow ordered. Pinkie saluted and zoomed off. "Why send Fluttershy if Pinkie will get there faster?" Twilight asked. Rainbow shook her head as she sighed. "I just told Shy that to get her away from this. She's strong an all but...this kinda thing isn't her style. I just feel better with her being far away from danger." Rainbow mumbled. Twilight smiled as she put a hand on her shoulder. "You know her better than anyone else. She's your closest friend and she was more than that for a long time. I understand Rainbow." Twilight assured her. Sure, she felt just the tiniest bit of jealousy, but she knew Rainbow was only trying to protect her first and closest friend. At least thats what she kept telling herself. "Well, we better get goin'. Rarity's in trouble." Rainbow marched into the forest, shuddering as she passed through the sphere surrounding the forest. "Ugh, I feel sick..." she groaned, putting a hand against her head. She blinked as she heard a loud thud. Turning around she spotted Twilight gasping for air and digging her fingers into the dirt. "Twilight!" Rainbow cried, dropping to her knees beside her. Twilight curled up into a ball, sparks dancing across her entire body. "out...need...out..." Twilight rasped. Rainbow lifted her off the ground, carrying her outside of the sphere. The moment they left the forest Twilight sucked in a huge breath, coughing and leaning against her friend. "What the heck happened Twilight?" Rainbow demanded. Twilight shook her head, tears stinging her eyes. "That is an Anti-Magian Riot Control Sphere...its use was banned over 50 years ago after it killed several Magians. Any Magian who steps into that is drained of their magic and...and...oh gods Rarity is in there..." Twilight choked, burying her face in the hollow of Rainbows neck. Rainbow glanced over her shoulder at the sphere. "So what your sayin' is...any minute now that thing could kill Rarity?" Rainbow asked softly. Twilight tensed in her arms, which was answer enough for her. "Wait here Twi, I'm goin back in." "Y-You can't! You're part Magian Rainbow. Going in there would drain all of the mana thats holding back your illness. I-If you stay in there too long..." Twilight tried to argue, Rainbow silencing her with a kiss. "Hey, I'm the Element of Loyalty remember? Wouldn't be cool if I left my friend to die. Besides, I'm the fastest thing on the planet. I'll be in an out before you can blink." Rainbow grinned, setting her friend down on the ground. "I promise Twilight. I'll be back soon." Rainbow dove into the sphere, wings kicking into high gear before Twilight could stop her. She watched with bated breath as her figure sank into the darkness of the forest. Twilight shook as she blinked, half expecting to see her friend standing there with Rarity in her arms and that devilish smirk she always wore. But sure enough, Rainbow was still deep in the forest. Rainbow felt her stomach lurch as she dove through the sphere, her wings pumping as hard as they could. She grit her teeth as she dodged around trees and scanned the area for any sign of Rarity. She felt herself slow down, glancing over her shoulder and gasping as her wings began to shrink. Aw shit...Did not think this one through Rainbow threw up her arms, grunting as she dropped like a rock and bounced several times across the ground. She panted slightly as she pushed to her feet on shaky legs. "Okay...note to self, no mana means no wings. Good to know." she wiped a bit of blood from her lip, stumbling through the forest on foot. "RARITY! CAN YOU HEAR ME?!" Rainbow called out, her vision starting to grow blurry. In the distance she saw a small light and a figure on the ground. ...there was this flash of light and she collapsed and told me to run... Fluttershy's voice played in her mind. If what she said was true, then that was the light and that figure had to be Rarity. Rainbow grit her teeth as she walked closer to the glowing orb and her friend. The closer she got, the weaker she felt, almost as if her entire body had turned to lead. She sank to her knees, crawling towards her friend and putting a hand on her shoulder, rolling her over. She panted heavily, resting two fingers against her friends neck, a smile on her face as she felt a weak pulse. "I'm...gonna...get you outta here....Rarity..." THUMP. Rainbow fell to the ground, struggling for each breath of air until the world went dark. Pinkie Pie blinked twice, a pain throbbing in her upper arm and her toes curling. Oh no! Dashie's in trouble too?! Pinkie panicked, her runes glowing brightly as she double timed it to Sweet Apple Acres. She zipped past Fluttershy, pausing in mid stride to flash her a smile before resuming the race to Applejack. She stopped instantly in front of the door to her friends home, knocking rapidly. "APPLEJACK!APPLEJACK!APPLEJACK!" she yelled, calming down the moment her friend opened the door. "What is it now Pinkie?" Applejack deadpanned. Pinkie opened her mouth to speak, pausing as she stared at her friend. Applejack was dressed in a snug fitting tuxedo, her hair combed out and draping down over her shoulders. "Are you getting married?" Pinkie asked, pointing to the outfit. "Huh? What?! N-No! Ah ain't gettin' married ya ninny. Me an Rares have a date at some fancy restaurant an ah ain't got no dresses so ah borrowed one o' Mac's old Tux's. Does it look alright?" Applejack chewed her lip, looking over herself. "You look great Applejack! I bet Rarity is gonna love it. Oh my gosh! Rarity! She's in trouble!" Pinkie gasped, remembering her reason for being there. "What? What do ya mean in trouble?" "She went into the forest with Fluttershy and there was this big white light flash thingy and Rarity fell over then Shy came running out and my Pinkie sense went crazy so I woke up Twilight and Rainbow, they were so cute in her bed, but then Twilight thought I was lying about my Pinkie sense and I fell out the window and Rainbow told me to go to the doozy I felt and Twilight came running and then Rainbow carried her all cute like an stuff and THEN Fluttershy ran out of the forest saying Rarity needed help and Dashie told her to come get you but then told me to come get you cause I'm faster and then I ran all the way here from the forest and felt another doozy that told me that DASHIE is in trouble too and then I passed Fluttershy and gave her a smile cause she seemed really sad and then I got here and knocked and you came out in your tux and I was like - Are you getting married? and you were like..." "PINKIE!" Applejack yelled. "Oh, right, sorry. Oh my gosh we gotta go!" Pinkie gasped, snatching Applejack by the arm. "Wait, Pinkie ah can't go in my..." Applejack blinked as she found herself standing outside of the Everfree forest next to Twilight and Pinkie Pie. "How th'..." Applejack began, Twilight jumping in surprise. "I found Applejack!" Pinkie beamed. Twilight stared for a moment, the Gaian letting out a sigh. "I was tryin' t' look nice fer my date with Rarity alright? Can we jus' drop it?" Applejack grumbled. Twilight swallowed and nodded. "R-Rainbow went in after Rarity but...s-she hasn't come back out..." "Thats because..." Pinkie grunted as Applejack punched the back of her head. "Now ain't the time to be ramblin' Pinkie!" Applejack said quickly. She didn't need Twilight panicking over Rainbow. She already looked a mess, no reason to make things worse. "Why are ya still out here though?" Applejack asked. "Theres a barrier around the forest...any Magian inside there is at risk of dying..." Twilight stammered. Applejack grit her teeth, staring into the forest. "An ya'll are sayin Rarity is in there?" Applejack asked. Twilight chewed her lip as she nodded. "Y-yes. I'm not sure for how long. B-But...I-I'm sure the two of them are okay." Twilight answered. "Come on Pinks." Applejack held out her hand, Pinkie producing the farmers hat from behind her back. Applejack tucked the hat on snugly, bolting into the forest with her runes in full glow alongside her pink haired friend. Applejack grit her teeth as she pushed herself harder, Pinkie alongside her. In the distance she could see a faint light and two figures collapsed on the ground. "There! Thats gotta be them!" Applejack called out. She grunted as Pinkie tackled her into a bush. "Pinkie! whats th' big idea of..." Applejack stared with wide eyes as a cloaked figure landed where she had been standing just a moment ago, wielding a large scythe. "Shhhh" Pinkie silenced her, hopping out of the bush. "That wasn't very nice." she pouted. The figure twirled the scythe above their head before slashing at the baker. Pinkie hopped over the scythe, twirling in the air and landing behind the cloaked figure. "Missed me!" she teased, bending over backwards to dodge the next slash. The scythe twisted and twirled, Pinkie just out of reach of the deadly blade each time. Applejack crawled out of the bushes, making her way towards Rarity and Rainbow. "Jus' hang on. Ah'm gettin' ya outta here." Applejack promised. Rarity stared up at her weakly, reaching out a shaky hand. "L-look out!" she gasped hoarsely. The hair on the back of Applejack's neck stood up, her world moving in slow motion as she turned around, a second cloaked figure rushing at her with a sword. In an instant the figure vanished, Applejack shutting her eyes tight, expecting the blade to pierce her at any moment. When it hadn't, she opened her eyes, finding the tip of the blade in front of her face, coated in blood. Looking up she saw the smiling face of her friend Pinkie. The baker had thrown herself in front of the attack, smiling all the while. "I made it...in time..." she giggled, grunting as the blade was pulled free. "PINKIE NO!" Applejack screamed, catching her friend as she fell. "You Idiot! You weren't suppose to kill her!" the first figure scolded. Applejack grit her teeth, roaring as her runes began to glow. She kicked off the ground at rocket speeds, smashing her fist as hard as she could into the swordsman's face, sending him spiraling past the scythe user. She panted heavily as her armor appeared, marching towards the Scythe wielder. "You don't have time to play little apple, your friends are hanging on by a thread." she chuckled. Applejack froze, glancing over her shoulder. Rarity had rolled onto her side, her hair a complete mess, her nails were caked in dirt and her dress was ruined. Obvious signs that she was very much not okay. The struggle for air and the empty gaze were other clues as well. Rainbow Dash however was turning pale and getting paler by the second. Pinkie Pie... Where'd she go?! Applejack stared at the blood stain on the ground where she had left Pinkie, wondering where her friend had possibly gone. She was given an answer as the baker smashed her knee into the scythe users chin, sending her flying after her partner. Her hair lay flat against her head, the baker panting and clutching her wound. "That...really...hurt..." she whined, her armor appearing around her. Though it was a rather dull pink, her dual swords dressed with jagged teeth instead of the smooth edged blades Applejack had seen before. The two cloaked figures scrambled to their feet, rushing towards Pinkie Pie with weapons drawn. The baker danced between them, slicing just under the scythe blade, cutting clean through and sending the blade flying into a tree. Her second blade flipped in her hand, Pinkie burying the hilt of her blade hard into the swordsman's stomach, roaring as she chucked him through several trees, spinning and lifting her leg, kicking the scythe user clean across the face before spinning once more and bringing her knee into their gut, sending them flying after their partner. "Applejack...get Rarity and Rainbow..." Pinkie ordered coldly. Seeing no reason to argue, she rushed back to their friends, scooping Rarity onto her back while hooking Rainbow under her arm. "Go, I'll cover you." Pinkie ordered, her armor starting to crack and flicker. "Pinks...ah..." "GO APPLEJACK!" she yelled, hopping backwards out of the Swordsman's attack path, his fist leaving a crater in the ground where Pinkie had been. So he's a Gaian like us...that explains how he took those hits like nothin'. But what 'bout th' other one? Applejack wondered. Though she didn't have time to dwell on such things. Every second she was here was another second Rarity and Rainbow didn't have. Applejack gasped as the Scythe user leapt at her only to have Pinkie Pie grab hold of the swordsman and chuck him into her, the two cloaked figures tumbling across the ground in a mess of limbs and cloth. "We need to retreat!" the scythe user yelled, the two leaping to their feet and vanishing into the forest. Pinkie Pie rushed up beside Applejack, gripping her swords tightly as the two ran for the forests edge. Pinkie Pie grit her teeth, managing to keep her eyes open long enough to tumble out of the forest before passing out in front of a panicking Twilight. Applejack skid to a stop, panting heavily. "Call...help..." she gasped. Twilight's eyes began to glow, surrounding them in her magic. Aw crud, not another teleport... Applejack slammed her eyes closed as the world flipped inside out, the Gaian stumbling as she was pieced back together inside of Eravil General Hospital. "We need help!" "How could this happen?" Twilight sighed, holding Rainbow's hand. Her friend was strapped to several machines to monitor her health. Rarity sat in a nearby bed, fussing at Applejack. "You ruined a perfectly good Tuxedo and its all my fault. You HAVE to let me make you a new one." "Rarity, ah ain't worried 'bout th' dang suit. Ya nearly died in that damn forest. Ah almost lost ya..." Applejack argued. Twilight allowed herself a small smile, happy to see Rarity healthy enough to worry about things like clothing. Pinkie Pie had been taken into intensive care and the Doctors refused to tell them anything. Rainbow had yet to wake up, but the color had returned to her skin and she had stopped coughing. "Ugh...where the hell am I?" Rainbow groaned. "Rainbow! Oh thank goodness you're awake..." Twilight cried. Rainbow glanced over at her, squinting a bit. "Whoa...an angel...am I in heaven?" she joked, Twilight glaring at her. "I'm in trouble aren't I?" Rainbow mumbled. "What were you thinking?! What if Applejack and Pinkie hadn't gotten to you in time?!" Twilight yelled, Rarity and Applejack falling silent. "Oh, right, cause I'm the only person with stupid ideas. I was tryin' to save Rarity!" "By getting yourself killed?!" Twilight screamed "HEY! Don't even talk! You killed off ten years for Scootaloo!" Rainbow yelled back. "HEY! NO FIGHTING! Cute couples don't fight like this!" Pinkie yelled, standing between them. There was a moment of complete silence as the two stared at their friend, Twilight gasping and hugging her friend "Pinkie! You're okay!" she cried "OW! Hugs should never hurt this bad." the baker whined. "Whoa, wait, what happened?" Rainbow asked. Pinkie chuckled nervously as she slipped out of Twilights grip, sitting on the edge of the bed. "I uh...gotta tell you girls something..." She chewed her lip for a moment, her poofy hair drooping slightly. "I'm..." "Miss Pie! There you are. You had all of us worried. We still need to finish our tests and make sure you are alright." Doctor Stable sighed from the doorway. "N-No. I'm really alright! It was just a little scratch and I forgot about my low blood sugar!" Pinkie argued. "Pinks, ah saw that bastard shove a sword as thick as my arm through ya. How anybody can be okay after that is a miracle. An then ya'll went all stir crazy on em, ah was damn near scared fer my own life when ya pulled out them swords." Applejack spoke up. Pinkie chewed her lip, glancing around the room. "H-He uh...didn't stab me?" Pinkie looked around the room, hoping they would buy it. She sighed, tucking her hands under her shirt and hefting it up over her head, a nurse covering Doctor Stable's eyes. Pinkie ran a hand over her stomach, where a large scar sat. "I'm okay, cause...I'm already dead."