The Silver Pony Slippers
Chapter 8: Trouble
Pinkie Pie stared at her friends. She had hoped that they would make it to the party, but her thoughts were mixed. Although she was happy to see them, their sudden appearance had startled her. To top it off it seemed like there was something tense in the air. None of her friends were smiling. Rather they were frowning and looking suspiciously at each other, and at her, and each was holding a silver pony slipper.
“Oh, Hi girls…” Pinkie began, but she was immediately cut off by what seemed like an explosion.
“PINKIE!” yelled Rarity, “WHAT IN CELESTIA’S NAME DID YOU DO?!!!”
Pinkie was taken a-back. “Wha- What do you mean Rarity?”
“DON’T PLAY GAMES WITH ME PINKIE PIE!” screamed Rarity, “FIRST YOU TAKE MY FAVOIRITE DRESS WITHOUT ASKING, AND THEN YOU DESTROYED IT!! YOU BLEW IT UP!!!”
“But…but wait a minute Rarity,” said Pinkie defending herself, “You said I could take anything I wanted when I saw you earlier.” Pinkie then switched her mannerism from defense to offense. “And I did ask you if I could take this,” said Pinkie. “And you said, and I quote, “Sure go right ahead darling”, said Pinkie in her best imitation of Rarity’s voice.
A small bell rang in the back of Rarity’s mind. She remembered saying that, but even still that didn’t make this completely her fault.
“Don’t give me that, Pinkie Pie,” Rarity continued. “I meant that you could take anything you wanted but that dress. You didn’t show me what you were taking when you took it. You just up and left before I could see what we were talking about, and furthermore what kind of pony just jumps into a cannon wearing a perfectly spectacular dress? I’ll tell you who, AN OUT OF CONTROL PARTY ANIMAL LIKE YOU THAT’S WHO!”
“HEY!” responded Pinkie, “what kind of pony just shows up to a party and starts yelling for no good reason? A FANCY-SMANCY, FULL OF HERSLEF, SNOB THAT’S WHO!”
“Please stop”, said Fluttershy quietly. She had tip-hoofed up behind the ponies as they had been arguing, but they ignored her. Princess Twilight Sparkle joined Fluttershy. Like Fluttershy she couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
“Enough of this!” said Rarity. “First you destroy my dress, and then you insult me.”
“Well you apparently think it’s just OK to insult me.” Argued Pinkie.
“Pinkie!” said Rarity, “I don’t want to hear it. Now give me my slipper I’m going home.”
“No,” said Pinkie, “not if you ask like that, and last I checked you also gave me the slippers with the dress, so give me my slipper and then you can just leave!” Pinkie slid her hoof into the slipper she has been holding in defiance.
“Oh, your slippers?!” retorted Rarity. “Now this is ridiculous. They’re my slippers, and I can prove it. Isn’t that right Fluttershy? She asked suddenly brining Fluttershy into the discussion.
Fluttershy almost panicked. It was scaring her that her friends were acting this way, and now they wanted her to take part in an argument.
“Girls…” said Twilight but she was ignored.
“You tell her Fluttershy.” Said Rarity. I bought these from you earlier this afternoon.”
“Well I, um…oh…yes.” Said Fluttershy weakly.
“There that’s settled,” said Rarity pleased with herself, “Now I’ll just be taking my slippers back and leave.” She slid the slipper she had been holding on her hoof and started to walk toward Pinkie. As far as she knew she had won the argument, and if Pinkie wouldn’t willingly give her back her slipper she would force it from her with her magic. But then just as she was about to close the gap, Rainbow Dash suddenly jumped in front of her.
“No it’s not settled Rarity,” said Rainbow Dash, “Or should I call you ‘thief’. Now I know what happened to my shoes this morning, YOU STOLE THEM!” Rainbow reached out to grab the slipper Rarity was wearing, but she jumped back.
“Hold on Rainbow,” said Rarity confused. “What are you talking about I didn’t steal anything. Didn’t you hear what I said just a minute ago? I bought them from Fluttershy.”
“Girls…” said Twilight a little louder, but she was still ignored.
“Is that true,” said Rainbow as she zipped over Fluttershy and hovered above her. Her face only inches from Fluttershy’s. Fluttershy cowered down to the floor, her eye’s wide with fear.
“Y-y-yes.” Fluttershy stammered.
“So then you’re the thief that stole my shoes said Rainbow.”
“N-n-no. R-rainbow. I didn’t. I-I found them in the street.”
“A likely story.” Said Rainbow.
‘It’s true Rainbow,” said Fluttershy. “I’m telling the truth. Please don’t hurt me.”
“Wait a minute.” Said Applejack suddenly. “Are ya sayin you’re the thieven vermit who stole my apple-bucking slippers? I was wonder-in what happened to them. I know I was wearing them in the orchard, but when I got to the barn theys was gone. Which means they must have come off while I was crossing the road, and you stole them before I could retrieve them Fluttershy.
“Oh no, Applejack I couldn’t, I wouldn’t. I just found them in a mud puddle and I-I…” Fluttershy was near tears. Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack were all now glaring at her. She thought they were about to pounce on her, when suddenly they almost seemed to pounce on each other.
“A MUD PUDDLE!” Yelled Rarity to Applejack. Are you implying that you walked through a mud puddle wearing my slippers?”
“Girls…” said Twilight louder than before. Her patience was wearing thin, but she was still ignored.
“First of all they’re my apple bucking slippers, not yours,” said Applejack “and second, yeah, I kinda did by mistake.”
“What-dya mean your shoes” exclaimed Rainbow Dash. They’re my shoes. I got them from Zecora this morning. They just accidentally came off while I was flying. “Are you saying that you’re the real thief Applejack?”
“Now hold on partner,” said Applejack, “I ain’t no thief. I found them this morning on top of one of my haystacks.”
“Hey!” said Pinkie suddenly, “Would you all just give me back my slippers and take this outside already? Your ruining the party!”
“PINKIE!” said Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity in unison, and Fluttershy finally broke into tears.
Pinkie Pie did have a point thought. The ponies had completely forgotten that they were having their argument in the middle of a party, and for that matter they were all talking very loud. Everypony was looking at them. Mayor Mare walked cautiously over to try to help.
“Ladies, please,” said Mayor Mare, “I think you should…” but she was cut off.
“Would you stay out of this!?” said Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Applejack and Rarity in unison as they temporarily stopped arguing to look at the Mayor. Then they resumed their argument.
At this point, Twilight’s patience finally ran out. “EVERYPONY STOP!!!” she yelled as she spread a magic wave from her horn that swept over the arguing ponies and froze them in place. Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy instantly became silent and calm. They all felt the tension that had been building diminish and melt away. They all began to take in the reality of the situation as they looked around the room. Everypony was staring at them. They couldn’t help but feel embarrassed and look sheepishly at each other.
“Oh dear.” Sighed Fluttershy.
“I’m terribly sorry about this Mayor.” said Twilight. “I’ll take care of everything. Everything will be all right.”
“Thank you Princess,” said Mayor Mare relieved.
With that, Twilight used her magic to perform her teleportation spell. There was a brilliant light that consumed Twilight and her friends and in the next moment they had vanished. The guests at the mayor’s birthday celebration mumbled to each other for a minute or two, but soon the party was in full swing once again. After all, this wasn’t the first time Ponyville had witnessed a friendship problem.