Gilda the Brush Off
Pony's log number 105: While it is always good to keep your old friends and make new ones, true friends never make you chose one over the other...
One afternoon, Twilight was sitting on a park bench enjoying her book while Mario just sat on the ground enjoying the sun rays with some black shades. Why was he sitting on the ground and not on the bench with Twilight? Twilight was claiming the entire bench for herself, but he didn't seem to mind. It was pretty peaceful...until a certain cotton candy pink pony showed up and started rambling about what was on her mind.
"Hoof-biting action overload!" Pinkie continued as she seemed to talk endlessly about Rainbow Dash, "She was like a stunt superstar, flying higher and higher, and then Rainbow Dash swooped down-swoosh-and right before she hit the ground-shoom-she pulled up-vrrrmmm!"
"Uh-huh," Twilight replied, continuing her reading.
"I see," Mario added. In fact, that was all the two ponies would say to Pinkie's rambles, but the pink pony didn't seem discouraged about it and continued.
"And then she looped around and around like whoo-whoo-whoo-whoo-whoo-whoo-whoo!" Pinkie continued.
"Uh-huh"
"I see"
It was just then a certain Pegasus appeared flying high in the sky. Pinkie took after her.
"Phew" Mario and Twilight replied, grateful for the peace and quiet again, as Twilight turned the page of her book. Rainbow was just keeping to herself as Pinkie dashed after her.
"Rainbow Dash!" Pinkie called out.
"Pinkie Pie?" Rainbow grunted, "Not again." Apparently the pink pony had been following her for the past couple of days.
"Rainbow Dash!" Pinkie shouted again.
"Not now, Pinkie Pie," said Rainbow annoyingly.
"But, but Rainbow Dash-"
"I'm in the middle of something."
"But-"
"I said not now-" CRASH
Poor Rainbow didn't pay attention to where she was flying and she ended up smacking herself into the side of a mountain. She slowly slid down the side and came to stop right in front of Pinkie.
"I was gonna tell you to look out for that mountain," said Pinkie innocently. Rainbow just grumbled to herself as she stayed low to the ground.
(Theme Song)
The next day, Rainbow was just lazily reclining on her own little fluffy cloud above the town of Ponyville. But all the chatter down below was not helping her already sour mood. She growled with irritation as she grabbed some cloud fluff and stuffed it into her ears. Then a familiar pink pony arrived, humming to herself.
"Hi, I'm looking for Rainbow Dash," said Pinkie to a group of ponies near a vender, "Have you seen her?" She then went to another group of ponies. "Hi there, have you seen Rainbow Dash? Okay, thanks anyway." By now Rainbow was trying to bury herself into her cloud to try and hide. Then Pinkie saw Twilight and Mario.
"Twilight, Mario, have you seen Rainbow Dash anywhere?" she asked the two.
"Isn't she right up there?" Twilight replied as she looked upward towards a nearby could.
"Usually if you see a single cloud floating about, you'll find Rainbow," said Mario as he looked up as well. Rainbow was secretly praying Pinkie wouldn't notice her.
"Rainbow Dash" she exclaimed. Rainbow grunted before taking off at high speed with the cloud with her. Pinkie just hopped after her.
"Good luck trying to lose her Rainbow," said Mario, "Once Pinkie sets her target, it's impossible to shake her off."
"I just hope Rainbow doesn't lose her temper over it," said Twilight, "it's sad seeing Pinkie cry." Mario blushed sheepishly and looked at the ground quietly. He had lost his temper with Pinkie for tracking him all over Equestria once. While things had been settled, he didn't like to be reminded of his own mistakes.
Meanwhile, Rainbow flew as fast as she could to Sweet Apple Acres and hid herself behind the barn. Rainbow just breathed a bit heavily as she peeked from behind the side of the wall of the barn
"Phew," she sighed in relief, "That was close." Rainbow was safe...for about two seconds.
"Hi!" said Pinkie. Rainbow did a fast 180 to find the pink pony was right behind her.
"Aah!" Rainbow screamed and took off as fast as her wings could carry her. Pinkie just casually hopped after her. Rainbow did her best to change directions as often as she could and then ducked inside the branches of the Great Oak Library. She quickly peeked on top before settling into her new hiding place. She panted a bit to regain her breath...when she found the pink pony poke out from underneath her.
"Hi again!"
"AAH!" Rainbow screamed and took off even faster. Pinkie just casually bounced after her once again. Rainbow zipped away towards the right and Pinkie followed. As Pinkie made her way down a hill, Rainbow popped out of the cloud above, tip-toed away in the air to shake Pinkie off her tail, and zipped as fast as she could to a nearby pond. Rainbow made an exhausted landing near the edge when...guess who...surfaced from the water wearing a snorkel.
"Pfeh," Pinkie muttered as she spit out some water from her mouth and got right to the point, "I need a favor, Rainbow Dash."
"Waaa!" Rainbow jumped and prepared to take off again, but just landed back on the ground on her stomach in defeat, "-Oh, forget it."
"I totally promise it'll be totally fun," said Pinkie from the water. Rainbow just looked exhausted.
"Okay," she replied with a sigh.
A little later Rainbow was holding a small cloud just outside the Town Hall. Pinkie was apparently telling Rainbow where to place it.
"Over to the right," Pinkie remarked, "No, no, a little to the left. Oh wait, back to the right. Now a little leftish while staying rightly. Stop. Hmm. Maybe a few inches to the south. Now a couple of centimeters north. Okay. One more smidgimeter to the..." Rainbow was losing her patience.
"Pinkie Pie!" she shouted.
"Uh, I mean, perfect," Pinkie answered, "Now wait for my signal." Rainbow just looked annoyed as she waited. That was when Spike came out carrying a large number of scrolls in his arms, humming a little tune. Pinkie gave a gesture and Rainbow kicked the cloud, causing it to give out a clash of thunder.
"D-aah!" Spike jumped in fright, dropping the scrolls on the ground.
(hiccup) (hiccup)
Pinkie started laughing.
"Oh Rainbow Dash, we startled Spike into getting the hiccups!" Pinkie continued to laugh and Rainbow found herself chuckling. Spike chuckled himself
"Good one Pinkie (hiccup) Pie," he replied, being a good sport, "You're always pulling a fast one (hiccup) on me. (hiccup) Nnaa-" As Spike tried to pick up another scroll, his hiccup caused it to burn up instead...and sent directly to Princess Celestia.
"Oh no, you're not hurt are you?" Pinkie asked as she and Rainbow gave him a concerned look.
"Ne-(hiccup)-eh, don't be (hiccup) silly," Spike replied, "dragons are (hiccup) fireproof."
"Oh, okay good," said Pinkie as she and Rainbow exchanged looks. Then they fell onto their backs in laughter. Spike kept trying to pick up the dropped scrolls, but every time he tried, he'd hiccup and burn up the scroll.
"I wish the same thing (hiccup) were true with scrolls," he remarked, still not realizing that all those burnt up scrolls were heading to Princess Celestia. She was soon bombarded with tons of scroll as once. Spike continued to hiccup and burn the scrolls and Pinkie and Rainbow were left in stitches.
"Have you ever seen anything more hilarious?" Pinkie laughed.
"I can think of one thing," Rainbow said slyly as she gave the cloud another kick, causing it to thunder again.
"Aah!" Pinkie screamed and now she, too, had the hiccups. Realizing she had been pranked, she just continued to laugh and hiccup at herself. Rainbow laughed as well as she flew back down.
"You know Pinkie Pie," said Rainbow, "you're not as annoying as I thought." Pinkie only replied was a smile and a hiccup.
"You wanna hang out?" Rainbow offered.
"(hiccup) That'd be (hiccup) I'd really (hiccup)When do (hiccup) I mean (hiccup) when would you (hiccup)..." Pinkie's hiccups were causing her to bounce about uncontrollably. Rainbow grew annoyed until Pinkie bounced straight for her and caught the bouncy pony with her hoof.
"A simple nod would do," Rainbow replied holding her by the mouth and nose.
"Mmm-hmm," Pinkie nodded with puffed up cheeks.
Soon they made their way out of Ponyville's very own joke shop, with buckets loaded with pranks and jokes galore. They were both eager to get started as they headed towards the Carousel Boutique. They quickly rang her door bell before ducking behind some bushes.
"Is she even home?" Rainbow asked.
"I don't know," said Pinkie, "This is going to be gold."
"There she is," said Rainbow as they both snickered behind some bushes. Rarity just opened the door to find a vase loaded with beautiful flowers.
"Ooo," Rarity replied and gave the flowers a nice long sniff, but then she pulled her head back up as some sort of powder was stuck on her nose, causing her to sneeze. Rarity then heard snickering a few yards away and saw that Rainbow and Pinkie had put sneezing powder in the flowers. Rainbow took her leave as Pinkie continued laugh. Then she dropped the powder and a huge dust cloud of the stuff came out.
"Aaa-choo!" Pinkie sneezed, so hard that she was sent flying away from Rarity and in the direction of Rainbow. Rarity just smirked as the two disappeared.
At the Grand Oak Library, Twilight was busy coming up with a new potion and had a sheet of paper to take notes. She put two mixtures together and quickly jotted down her notes. She then went to add another mixture when she found that her paper was blank.
"Hmm?" she mumbled puzzled. Not understanding why the notes she had written were gone. Soon her mixture exploded behind her and she heard snickering. She looked outside her window and saw Rainbow and Pinkie laughing outside. The former was holding a jar of...disappearing ink. Twilight just glared as she went to clean up her failed experiment. The other two ponies just continued to laugh in the branches.
At Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack had just exited her family's barn when she froze in place.
"Land Sakes!" she gasped. Several of the apples on the trees were now in multiple colors and designs. Then she turned her head to find Rainbow Dash and Pinkie wearing berets and holding some artist palettes and paint brushes. They snickered to each other until Applejack began tossing painted apples at them. The two ponies took off as one apple landed inside of a barrel filled with water. Applejack was angry until she looked at the apple inside the barrel. She saw that the paint had washed clean off and was still unharmed. Applejack just chuckled to herself in relief.
Back in town, Mario was busy pulling his own freight cars down the streets of town. He had offered to deliver some inventory goods to Filthy Rich's warehouse. Since Mario was far ahead of schedule, he decided to run at a more leisurely pace, waving hello to nearby ponies as he and his train went by. Then he had to come to stop at a crossing where some venders from the market were moving their produce carts across the street. Nearby was a bush containing Pinkie and Rainbow. Rainbow had gotten hold of special microphone. The two snickered to each other as they chatted inside the bush.
"So Twilight," said Pinkie casually, "what do you think about Mario?" Rainbow snickered before using the mike.
"Well...he's...actually quite cute and very handsome," Rainbow answered, the mic making her voice sound just like Twilight's. That got Mario's attention and a wide smile spread across his face.
"Would you say you like him?" Pinkie asked.
"I totally like him," Rainbow/Twilight answered, "Why the next time I find him, I'm gonna walk up to him and give him a big kiss!" Mario's cheeks blushed and one could see hearts rising from his head. The guy was well past lovesick. Rainbow fought hard to stay calm and even Pinkie was covering her mouth. Then they went for the whammy.
"There he is!" Rainbow/Twilight exclaimed, Mario turned his head.
"Twilight?" he exclaimed excitedly when...
SPLAT!
Mario got a nice custard pie right in the face. His eyes just poked out of the whipped cream and custard as Rainbow and Pinkie laughed at him. Mario felt indignant as he wiped the goo from his face, removed the hardness that let him pull his train, and walked up to them. That was then he noticed the mic in Rainbow's hoof. The two ponies stopped laughing and just smiled at him.
"Rainbow," said Mario blankly.
"Mario," she replied innocently. Mario then smiled.
"I never knew you felt that way about me," Mario answered. Rainbow's eyes shrunk and her face became a pale shade of blue.
"Wuh?" she exclaimed as the mike fell out of her hooves. Mario gave her a sly smile.
"If you wanted to kiss me, you could have just told me," he replied. Rainbow was now feeling rather flustered, and her cheeks were light pink.
"I...I...I..." Rainbow stuttered as Mario walked up to her. Their faces were just a couple of inches apart when Mario said two words:
"Got ya."
Rainbow's eyes bugged out and her jaw dropped. Mario laughed as he backed up.
"You should see the look on your face," Mario continued to laugh, "that'll teach you to make fun of someone who has a crush on somepony." Rainbow was still too dumbstruck to say anything as Mario coupled himself to his freight cars. By how his path had cleared so he could be on his way.
"Later Dashie," Mario teased and continued laugh as he pulled his train away. Rainbow just stared before relaxing with a smirk on her face.
"Well played, Mario," she said quietly, "Well played." Pinkie just looked indignant.
"I wanted a kiss," she muttered.
"What?" Rainbow asked.
"Nothing!" Pinkie said sheepishly with both front hooves in front of her. Rainbow just rolled her eyes and went to search for their next victim.
It was late afternoon when they found Fluttershy busy tending to some animals at one end of the lake. Soon a squeaky toy floated slowly towards the yellow Pegasus in the water and being held in place by a long wire. On the other side was Rainbow and Pinkie. Pinkie was holding a squeeze trigger in her mouth as Rainbow watched Fluttershy from a distance using a telescope.
"Is someone over there?" Pinkie asked, her voice muffled by the squeezer in her mouth. She couldn't see who Rainbow was looking at, "Who're we gonna squirt? Who're we gonna squirt?"
"Fluttershy," Rainbow chuckled as she watched the yellow Pegasus from her telescope. Pinkie's eyes bugged out.
"WHAT!?" Pinkie snapped as she spat the squeezer out of her mouth, "Nononononono, we can't prank Fluttershy, I mean, she's so sensitive. It'll hurt her feelings, even our most harmless prank." Rainbow didn't need to think about it to know that she was right. Out of everypony, she knew Fluttershy's personality the best.
"Yeah, you're right," Rainbow replied as she pulled away from the telescope and gave a loud raspberry, "Huh. We need another victim whose made of tougher stuff. So, who's it gonna be?"
"Oh, I've got someone in mind," Pinkie answered and kept on chuckling, "the toughest around."
"Oh awesome. Who? Who?" Rainbow asked excitedly, "Do I know them?" Pinkie giggled.
"Oh, yes," said Pinkie as she kept giggling and pointed at the water, "You're very close." Rainbow then noticed that by putting her eye on the telescope that she had earned a black ring it.
"Good one, Pinkie Pie," Rainbow chuckled as they both shared a good laugh.
"Ridiculous," Rainbow added as she and Pinkie Pie continued to laugh. None of them noticed that Fluttershy had found the floating toy in the lake was just timidly poking at it as the sun began to set behind her. Fluttershy had actually thought the toy was a real animal.
The next morning, Pinkie was on the road out of the town that led to Rainbow's personal Cloudominium. Since Rainbow loved flying, it would make sense that her home would be in the clouds...so to speak.
"Rise and shine Rainbow," said Pinkie, wearing a comedy arrow on her head and blew a party hooter in her mouth, "It's a brand new day and we've got alot of...pranking...to...Ooh." Pinkie was caught off guard seeing some sort of feathered creature peaked out from the top of the clouds, giving her the eagle eye. Rainbow soon appeared right after from above the creature.
"Mornin', Pinks," said Rainbow and turned to the creature, "Gilda, this is my gal pal, Pinkie Pie."
"Hey, what's up?" Gilda responded in a tough persona.
"Pinkie, this is my griffon friend, Gilda," Rainbow concluded as they shared a secret handshake with each other.
"What's a griffon," Pinkie asked curiously as she removed her funny gear.
"She's half-eagle, half-lion," Rainbow explained as Gilda made her landing next to the Pegasus.
"And all awesome. Raa," said Gilda smugly, "Heh-haa. Yeah, that's right."
"Gilda's my best friend from my days at Junior Speedster flight camp," Rainbow added, "Hey, remember the chant?"
"Sha, they made us recite it every morning," Gild remarked, "I'll never get that lame thing out of my head."
"Soo..." Rainbow proposed with a smile on her face. Gilda just rolled her eyes.
"Ugh. Only for you, Dash," she replied reluctantly. They both flew up into the sky to do the chant. Rainbow put enthusiasm as she said it while Gilda just looked bored and irritated.
Junior Speedsters are our lives,
Sky-bound soars and daring dives
Junior Speedsters, it's our quest,
To someday be the very best!
Once they landed, Pinkie started laughing.
"Oh that was awesome," Pinkie replied once she had calmed down and put her funny gear back on, "And it gave me a great idea for a prank. Gilda are you game?"
"Huh. Well, I groove on a good prank as much as the next griffon," she replied, "but Dash, you promised me we'd get in a flying session in this morning."
"Yeah, uh, well," said Rainbow as Gilda flew off. Rainbow turned to the pink pony, "Pinkie Pie, you don't mind, do you? Gilda just got here. We'll catch up with you later."
"Oh. Um, well sure, no problem," said Pinkie Pie as Rainbow took to the sky to catch up with Gilda, "Have fun you guys, I'll, uhh, just catch up with you- later. She gave a sad sigh and half-heartedly blow of her party hooter as Rainbow and Gilda both flew away and left her alone.
A short time later, Rainbow and Gilda were speeding through the skies. Rainbow made a loop-de-loop as she flew by. Gilda copied her move before they continued on their way. Rainbow took the lead at first, but the Gilda caught up and passed her. Rainbow tired to catch up but the griffon was already on a cloud. Rainbow dove into it and they both laughed.
"Whoa, that was sweet," said Gilda, "Just like old times."
"Yeah, only faster," Rainbow added as they shared a quick hoof/fist bump, "So now what?"
"Hey there," said Pinkie as she popped her head in the middle of them.
"Huh" Gilda and Rainbow said as they noticed the hole in the cloud and Pinkie continuously poking her head out of it. She had apparently found herself a giant trampoline and was using it to reach the cloud the other two were standing on.
"It's later," she replied between bounces, "And I caught up." Rainbow just laughed.
"Pinkie Pie, you are so random," Rainbow remarked. Gilda's face looked rather irritated but she soon covered it up with a smirk.
"Hey Dash, think you got enough gas left to beat me to that cloud?" Gilda proposed.
"A race," said Rainbow, "You are so on."
"One, two three, go," Gilda called out, taking off as she said go and Rainbow took off, leaving Pinkie behind.
"Hey!" Pinkie called out. The two flyers didn't take long to reach other cloud.
"I win!" Rainbow called as they landed.
"As if, I won, dude," Gilda retorted.
"No way!"
"Yes way!"
"Oh, come on, I was way ahead of you."
"Uh, I don't think so."
"Oh Geez, dream on."
"Remember back in camp? I-"
"There is no way you beat me,"
"Whatever."
"Wow you guys," said a familiar voice. Pinkie had managed to collect and inflate a large number of balloons to float her way towards the cloud Rainbow and Gilda had landed on. The two flyer's eyes bugged out when they saw her floating nearby.
"That was really close," Pinkie added, "but I think Rainbow Dash beat you by a tweeny weeny itty bity hair, or a tweeny weeny itty bity feather."
"Hah, see?" said Rainbow as she pointed a hoof at the pink pony, "Good thing Pinkie Pie's here to keep you honest." Gilda just gritted her teeth and balled her fist for a second before regaining her composure.
"Okay..." she huffed, "Dash, last one to that cloud up there is a gnarly dragon egg. Go!" A huge cloud of dust (or fluff) appeared as they took off. But only Rainbow had taken off and Gilda had stayed behind.
"I think the high altitude is making you dizzy," she remarked at Pinkie before popping enough of her balloons to make her descend slowly to the ground.
"Wait, guys!" Pinkie called out as she began to float down while Gilda went to catch up with Rainbow. They had barely made their way up to the higher cloud when Pinkie reappeared in what looked like a pedal powered helicopter or equivalent of it.
"Oh, wow, you guys almost got away from me that time," Pinkie replied as she pedaled her way towards them. Rainbow just chuckled to herself while Gilda gave a quick death glare.
"So, Dash, got any new moves in your tricktionary, or are you 100% old school?" Gilda asked, keeping her irritation with Pinkie in check.
"New moves?" Rainbow replied cockily, "Heh, sit back G, this is gonna take a while." Rainbow just zoomed off into the sky as Pinkie just watched and pedaled at same time.
"Hey Pinkie, c'mere," said Gilda, using one of her fingers for Pinkie to scoot closer. Pinkie did and Gilda roughly grabbed her contraption by the pole.
"Don't you know how to take get lost for an answer?" Gilda sneered as she gave Pinkie an dirty look, "Dash doesn't need to hang with a dweeb like you now that I'm around. You're dorkin' up the skies, Stinkie Pie, so make like a bee and BUZZ OFF!" Gilda then grabbed the propeller, causing Pinkie to spin around instead.
"Whaaa-aaa-" she gasped as she was sent spinning back down the ground. Gilda just smirked in triumph as Rainbow arrived back on the cloud.
"Try matching that," said Rainbow when she noticed someone was missing, "Hey, where's Pinkie Pie and her crazy contraption?"
"Eh, she's left," Gilda remarked and with dismissing wave of her claw, "Something about being as busy as a bee." The griffon smirked when she said that, but Rainbow didn't notice. Back on the ground was Pinkie's now damaged helicopter. Pinkie wasn't hurt...at least not physically.
"Hmph!" was all the pink pony could say as she looked back up at the clouds. Instead of trying again, she made her way back to Twilight. Like before, Twilight was just reading a book as Pinkie ranted. Mario was reading as well, but was actually listening to Pinkie's ranting.
"So Pinkie Pie, are you sure that this friend of Rainbow Dash is really so mean?" Twilight asked.
"Um yeah," Pinkie retorted bitterly, "She keeps stealing Rainbow Dash away, pops my balloons, and she told me to buzz off! I've never met a griffon this mean. Well, actually, I've never met a griffon at all, but I bet if I had, she wouldn't have been as mean and grumpy as Gilda." Pinkie paced about the floor behind Twilight as she spoke. Mario had stopped reading and was listening more attentively once he heard what she had said, but hadn't turned his head.
"You know what I think, Pinkie Pie," said Twilight once Pinkie had finished.
"Hmm?" Pinkie asked.
"Well, I think...you're jealous," Twilight concluded. Pinkie was left stunned and even Mario was in a shock.
"Jealous?" Pinkie exclaimed.
"Green with envy," Spike added since he was sitting on the front step of the stairs reading his own book, "Well, in your case, pink with envy." Mario felt a bit irritated with Twilight's response but kept his back turned.
"Well, yes, jealous," Twilight in agreement with Spike, "Listen Pinkie, I don't want to upset you, but just because Rainbow Dash has another friend doesn't make Gilda a grump. I mean, perhaps it's you, Pinkie Pie, who needs to improve her attitude."
"Are you..." Mario felt his blood boil as he muttered to himself. He agreed with the idea that you can't keep your friends to yourself and all, but for Twilight to dismiss Pinkie for being the problem when this Gilda was being mean to the pink pony just didn't sit right in his stomach. Pinkie was offended as well.
"Improve my attitude?" Pinkie retorted indignantly, "But I...D...B...It's Gilda that...D...are you seri..." Pinkie screamed in frustration and stormed out of the library, slamming the door as she left. Twilight just sighed and went back to reading. Spike did the same. Mario shut his own book loudly before getting up to leave.
"Finished reading it already?" she asked surprised.
"I'm going out," Mario snapped and slammed the door as he left. Twilight just looked puzzled.
"What's his deal?" she asked to herself before reading in peace once more.
Few minutes later, Pinkie was just stomping about in the park, still feeling very angry and upset. Then she sighed to herself.
"Maybe Twilight is right," Pinkie said to herself, "Maybe Gilda isn't a big meanie grumpy mean-meanie-pants. Maybe I'm just a big jealous judgmental-jealousy-jealous pants." Pinkie just sighed to herself sadly.
"Maybe, but I feel like there's something bigger going on here," said a voice. Pinkie turned and found Mario a few feet away just giving her a soft smile.
"So...you don't think I'm a big jealous-jealousy pants?" she asked.
"Hmm, I can't really say for sure," said Mario, "All I know is that one of my best friends was mistreated and I don't like it at all."
"But Twilight said..."
"Twilight doesn't understand what it's like to have to deal with bullies all the time," Mario interrupted sternly, "I have and I know the trouble they are."
"But Gilda isn't a bully," Pinkie protested, "she was just...a meanie...at least to me." Mario nodded as he sat next to her.
"If I'm going to help you Pinkie, I need some more information from her," said Mario, "Looks like we're going need to do a little recon."
"Like you and me will go on a date and watch them from afar!" Pinkie said excitedly as she leaned into his shoulder.
"Pinkie..." Mario warned, but then was stopped when Pinkie gave him a smile with big eyes that had stars in them. He just sighed to himself.
"If we can do it as friends," said Mario and huffed, "Fine." Pinkie squealed with glee and hugged him tightly.
"It's a date handsome!" she exclaimed as she gave him squeeze. Mario groaned.
"I'm going to regret this," he muttered,
"Now come on," said Pinkie.
"WHOA!" Mario yelped as Pinkie literally carried him away.
Soon they were just sitting outside Sugarcube Corner. Mario and Pinkie were at a table with an umbrella on top of it. He had treated Pinkie to a milkshake. She had gotten strawberry while he got chocolate. Mario was a little surprised. He had expected Pinkie to talk both his ears off and drive him crazy, but instead she was rather quiet and just kept taking sips of her shake in peace. As much as Mario wanted to enjoy the peace and quiet, he couldn't handle Pinkie being so reserved. He found that he was actually missing her bubbly personality.
"Come on Pinkie cheer up," said Mario once he stopped sipping his milkshake, "we're on a date. You've been wanting this after all...and I got you your fav..." It was then they both heard some loud whooshing in the sky followed by some laughing. Pinkie was startled and nearly knocked her milkshake over. Mario managed to hold his in place as Pinkie stood behind him. Gilda and Rainbow soared about the sky and soon made a landing on the opposite side of the street.
"That was sweet," said Rainbow, "Ugh, I gotta take care of a few weather jobs around here. Shouldn't take long. Just, uh, hang out in town and I'll come find ya."
"That's cool, I guess," said Gilda, "I'm gonna go chow down."
"Later," said Rainbow and took off into the sky. Gilda just headed towards the stands and began to browse around. At one of these stands was Granny Smith, who was busy shopping when she saw Gilda's tail hovering in front of her face. She sniffed it before her eyes bugged out.
"Aaah! A rattler, a rattler!" she shouted, "Run for the hills! Everypony for yourselves!" Granny dashed off...or more like walked away with a frightened look on her face. Gilda just smirked as she lifted her head and felt a tomato with her tail.
"This stuff ain't fresh, dude," Gilda remarked and stomped away, leaving the vendor pony looking indignant.
"Aw poor Granny Smith," said Pinkie, "She didn't know it wasn't a joke. How mean..." Pinkie than just sighed, "...No, no, I can't misjudge her. It was kind of a funny prank I guess."
"I don't know about that, Pinkie," said Mario, "Gilda was pretty rude." Next, Gilda just walked about casually and grabbed an apple from another stand. She quickly shoved the whole thing in her mouth and walked away without a care. Pinkie gasped.
"I did misjudge her. She's not only a meanie mean-pants, but also a thief," Pinkie retorted, "Nonononono, she might give it back. It' just a joke."
"Pinkie, how can she? She ate the apple," said Mario, "Stealing isn't a..." It was just then that Fluttershy appeared. She was guiding some ducks across the street while walking backwards.
"All right little ones, this way, this way," she said sweetly, "Mama duck, you're free and clear." Mario then felt his heart sink. Gilda had purposely stood behind Fluttershy, causing her to bump into the griffon.
"Hey!" Gilda exclaimed.
"Please excuse me," said Fluttershy politely.
"I was walkin' here," Gilda pointed out rudely.
"Oh, um, I'm sorry," Fluttershy apologized, "I-I-I was just trying to..."
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Gilda repeating mocking Fluttershy's voice, "Why don't you just watch where you're going doofus?"
"B-b-b-but I...I..." Fluttershy stuttered, but before she could find her words. Gilda let a loud roar at Fluttershy.
"Bleat," she squeaked out in fear before she ran off sobbing and flew away.
"Ugh, please, all these lame ponies are drive me buggy," Gilda remarked open, getting plenty of glares, "I'm gonna bail." Gilda then took off without another word. Mario was furious and Pinkie was in no better condition.
"She's a grump, and a thief, and a bully," Pinkie retorted angrily, "The meanest kind of mean-meanie pants there is! I can take it, but no one treats Fluttershy like that. No. One. This calls for extreme measures, Pinkie Pie style! Right Mario? Mario?" Pinkie turned and found Mario was not at the table. Mario was walking quickly in the direction Gilda had taken off. Then Pinkie was in front of him.
"Excuse me, we're still on a date," she scolded.
"Step aside Pinkie," Mario said bluntly, not hiding the anger in his tone, "I'm going to have a word with a certain griffon over hurting Fluttershy."
"Don't!" said Pinkie stern, "Let me handle her."
"Pinkie, you were right about her," said Mario, "She's a mean-meanie...whatever it was you called her. I'm not going to sit on my flank and let her treat my friends like that. Now move!"
"I said no," said Pinkie, "I've got a plan to deal with Gilda and I need your help. Okay? Please?" Pinkie just gave him a pleading look. Mario groaned.
"How it is you always make me give into you?" he asked annoyed.
"Cause you love me," said Pinkie, batting her eyelashes. Mario just rolled his eyes and stuck out his tongue.
"As my best friend, yes," Mario replied, emphasizing the word "friend". Boys can you know and he is the element of love, "ugh...fine. We'll do it your way." Pinkie smiled and guided Mario back to Sugarcube Corner. He already figured out her plan the moment he saw the building.
You've all read enough to figure out what Pinkie has planned...
Shh...Don't tell anypony, let them...
Pinkie...I'm just about too. Read the script.
Oh...yeah...hee-hee...
Pinkie had set up a huge party.
"Welcome, welcome, welcome," said Pinkie as pony after pony started to arrive at the party. Mario might have felt annoyed that this was her plan, but was still excited to show off his baking skills. To say Pinkie was impressed was an understatement. She even offered him a job as her baking assistant. Mario didn't accept it just yet since he needed to rework his schedule at the Library for that, but more on that another time. Mario and Pinkie shared a fun time together getting things ready and now Mario was just busy greeting the rest the ponies as well as their friends while the ponies started mangling with each other.
"Who's this Gilda I've heard nothing about?" Applejack asked Rarity.
"I hear she's an old friend of Rainbow Dash," Rarity answered, "A griffon, so rare." They walked off as Twilight went to speak with Fluttershy, who was keeping to herself.
"You've met Gilda, right?" Twilight asked eagerly, "What's she like?"
"Oh, um, well, I'll tell you later, Twilight," Fluttershy said quietly. Fluttershy clearly didn't want to be there and Mario couldn't blame her one bit. Mario was surprised when she had shown up anyway. He made sure that she was okay, even giving her a brotherly hug to make her feel better. Then Fluttershy approached Pinkie as she finished greeting a few other ponies.
"Um, Pinkie Pie, about this party for Gilda," Fluttershy asked concerned, "Um...do you really think it's a good idea? I mean-" It could be assumed Pinkie had told Fluttershy her plan and it was possibly the reason why Fluttershy had even showed up in the first place.
"Don't you worry your pretty little head about mean old Gilda," said Pinkie, patting Fluttershy on the head, "Your auntie Pinkie Pie's got it all taken care of." Fluttershy was indignant as Pinkie bounced away.
"I'm one year older than you," Fluttershy remarked and then her jaw dropped when a certain griffon made her appearance.
"Gilda!" Pinkie said happily as the griffon made her way inside, "I'm so honored to throw you one of my signature Pinkie Pie parties, and I really, truly, sincerely, hope you feel welcome here amongst all us pony folk." Pinkie put out a hoof to shake her claw. Gilda went to return the gesture.
BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!
Gilda was given the shock of her life as she grunted and collapsed on the floor. Pinkie and the other ponies began to laugh.
"Oh Pinkie Pie, the old hoof-shake buzzer," Rainbow chuckled, "You are a scream."
"You can say that again," Mario muttered to himself as Gilda recomposed herself.
"Yeah," Gilda replied as she chuckled nervously, "uh, good one, Pinkie Pie."
"Come on G," said Rainbow once she calmed down, "I'll introduce you to some of my friends."
"Right behind you Dash," said Gilda before giving Pinkie an icy glare.
"I know what you're up to," Gilda warned.
"Great," Pinkie said with her usual smile. The fact Pinkie didn't cower back really made Gilda's blood boil.
"Rrrh, I know what you're planning," she warned again, hoping to get a reaction from the pink pony. Pinkie reacted to Gilda all right, but with giggles.
"Well I hope so," Pinkie replied, "This wasn't supposed to be a surprise party."
"I mean, I've got my eye on you," Gilda snarled as she shoved her beak into Pinkie's face.
"And I, got my eye on you," Pinkie replied, bulging her eyes into Gilda's before backing away to speak to the others, "Everyone, I'd like you to all to meet Gilda, a long time friend of Rainbow Dash. Let's honor her and welcome her to Ponyville." The ponies cheered for her as Gilda just gave them all a sheepish and awkward smile.
"Please help yourself," said Pinkie as she showed Gilda some of the party treats Mario had helped the pink pony create. Some yellow colored candies caught the griffon's eyes as she approached the table.
"Vanilla lemon drops," Gilda responded, "Don't mind if I do." She tossed one into her mouth, but then her face cringed and turned deep red as the sound of a hot kettle was heard.
"G, the punch!" Rainbow called out with a smile on her face. Gilda rushed to grab one of the glasses to take a drink. But when she went she did, the liquid dripped out of middle of the cup and she got nothing into her mouth. Everyone laughed.
"Well, whaddya know," said Pinkie, "pepper in the vanilla lemon drops, and the punch served in a dribble glass."
"Ha. Priceless. Priceless," Rainbow laughed.
"I didn't put any pepper when I made those," Mario remarked scratching his head. He couldn't figure out how somepony could have sneaked that in when he was on guard of the mixture the entire time. He didn't worry about it too much as Gilda ran across the room to some other punch cups and gulped it down and exhaled loudly.
"Yeah, hilarious," she muttered out loud.
"Hey G, look, presents," Rainbow pointed out to the huge collection of wrapped boxes. Gilda smiled excitedly as she looked at all the packages. She then grabbed a cyclical shaped box and went to open the top. Then dozens of stretchy toy snakes popped out of the box, along with some confetti. Gilda was left stunned and even her feathers had puffed out from the surprise. Everyone laughed.
"Spittin' snakes," said Applejack, "Hah, somepony pulled that prank on me last month."
"Ha, ha," Gilda muttered bitterly, "I bet I know who that was."
"You do?" Pinkie asked innocently.
"Do enlighten us, Gilda?" Mario added with a smirk on his face. He was enjoying seeing Gilda get the receiving end of all those pranks. Soon things seem to settle a bit and Fluttershy began having her bird sing while everyone else just chatted with each other. Then Pinkie and Mario rolled in a rather large cake with candles on top.
"Cake time everypony," said Pinkie, "Hope you like it cause Mario helped me make it." The other ponies gathered around excitedly and Mario felt a little shy, hoping the cake would taste alright.
"Hey, can I blow out the candles?" Spike asked as he noticed them on the top.
"Why don't we let Gilda blow out the candles, Spike?" Twilight suggested, "She is the guest of honor after all."
"Ugh!" Spike grunted as Gilda body-checked him out of the way.
"Exactly," she agreed as she went to blow out all the candle in one try. Once she did, she gave a big smile...before the candles lit back up. Gilda blew them out again, smiling once more, when the candles lit back up...again! This sent the ponies laughing again. Gilda grunted before trying to blow them out and failing every time. This only made the ponies laugh even harder as Gilda ran out of breath.
"Re-lighting birthday candles," Spike pointed out as he laughed, "I love that prank."
"Now, I wonder who could've done that," Pinkie asked in an innocent tone, Mario giggled since he actually knew who was behind this particular prank.
"Yeah, I wonder," said Gilda, burning her eyes into the pink pony.
"Mmm, who cares," said Spike as he entered the cake from the side and burrowed his way to the top, "This cake is amazing."
"Spike" Twilight scolded.
"What? It's great, try some," he replied. Mario chuckled.
"Glad you like it Spike," said Mario, "First time baking for a party you know." Gilda just stood there with an agitated face as Rainbow approached.
"Hey G," she asked, "You're not upset about some silly candles are you?" The look on Gilda face pretty much answered that question, but she managed to recompose herself.
"No way, Dash," she fibbed, "Like I said, I'm down with a good prank."
"Come on then, let's have some cake," said Rainbow, "I curious to see how Mario's cake measures up to Pinkie's cakes."
"No fair, Rainbow," Mario protested, "She's an expert and I'm an amateur." Gilda then took the time to grab Pinkie by the neck and pulled her behind the cake and out of sight from most of the ponies. I said most because Mario had seen her grab Pinkie and went to see if she needed rescuing.
"Hey, I'm watching you," Gilda threatened as she made direct eye contact with the pink pony, "Like a hawk."
"Why? Can't you watch me like a griffon?" Pinkie asked. Mario just rolled his eyes at her and groaned.
"Hey y'all!" Applejack called out as Gilda just smiled innocently and let go of Pinkie and they both pulled away from behind the cake, "It's pin the tail on the pony." Mario glared at Pinkie.
"Are you even aware she was threatening you just now?" Mario whispered angrily.
"Yeah, but I don't let it bother me," said Pinkie and just smiled, "You shouldn't let mean words bother you Mario. You'll be happier if you do." Mario was stunned, but deep down he was rather impressed.
"I see," he said quietly, "can you teach me how to do that?"
"If I do, will you be my coltfriend?" Pinkie asked excitedly.
"Forget it," he answered with an annoyed look on his face as he looked away from her.
"Aww, cupcakes," Pinkie remarked, making the same face, but not for long.
"Let's play!" Applejack replied as the poster was set up.
"Oh my favorite game," said Rarity, "Can I go first? Can I have a purple tail?"
"Well, I am the guest of honor," Gilda replied as she rudely grabbed the purple tail from Rarity, "and I'll have the purple tail."
"Yeah, Gilda should definitely go first," Pinkie replied, "Let's get you blindfolded."
"Hey what-ugh-what are you doing?" Gilda asked as a pony tied a blindfold over her eyes and spin her around very fast.
"Rrrah!" the griffon cried out.
"We're spinning you around and around and then you can pin the tail on the pony," Pinkie explained, "Now just walk straight ahead and pin the tail."
"Now just walk straight ahead and pin the tail," Gilda repeated in a mock tone, "Hmph, yeah right. This is another prank isn't it? I'm going this way." Gilda moved in the opposite direction.
"Wait," Pinkie called out, "The poster is this-" It was too late. Since Gilda was blindfolded she couldn't see a leftover blob of spilled frosting and stepped on it.
"Whoa whaa whaa waah waaaah!" As soon as Gilda stepped on it, she slid about the floor and right into the kitchen with a large crash. She groaned as she came back out. The blindfold now gone, but her feathers coated in cake batter and frosting. The purple tail was now hanging on her beak.
"Uh, Gilda?" Pinkie pointed out, "you pinned the tail on the wrong end." Gilda then noticed the tail as the ponies laughed. This time however...Gilda had had enough.
"ROOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAR!" she screamed loudly, knocking both the tail, and the mess on her feathers clean off.
"This is your idea of a good time?" Gilda barked angrily, "I've never met such a lamer bunch of dweebs in all my life. And Pinkie pie, you!" She pointed a finger at her. "You are the queen lame-o with your weak little party pranks! Did you really think you could make me lose my cool?"
"You mean this is your mellow side?" Mario muttered sarcastically, not believing the griffon at all. Gilda just wrapped a wing over Rainbow. As Gilda spoke, Rainbow's face changed from shocked to angry.
"Well, Dash and I have ten times as much cool as the rest of you put together," Gilda snarled, "Come on Dash, we're bailing on this pathetic scene. Come on, Rainbow Dash. I said, we're leaving." Mario was disgusted. It was bad enough she insulted everyone, but to go so far as to try and boss around Rainbow Dash was pretty low. He could tell Rainbow agreed with him.
"You know Gilda," Rainbow responded with a stern look, "I was the one who set up those weak pranks at this party."
"What?" Gilda gasped.
"Ooh," said Pinkie quietly in surprise.
"Plot twist," Mario added.
"So I guess I'm queen lame-o," Rainbow finished, standing in front of Pinkie. Gilda was still in disbelief.
"Come on, Dash, you're joshing me," said Gilda.
"They weren't all meant for you specifically," Rainbow explained, "it was just dumb luck that you set them all off."
"I shoulda known," said Pinkie, "that dribble cup had Rainbow Dash written all over it."
"Pinkie Pie," Mario retorted as he rolled his eyes at her, "We saw her put those candles on the cake."
"No way," Gilda protested, still not wanting to believe it, "it was Pinkie Pie. And her little boyfriend!"
"I'm not her boyfriend!" Mario snapped.
"Yes he-mmph!" Pinkie was shushed as Mario shoved a entire piece of cake into her mouth and gave her a dirty look.
"She set up this party to trip me up," Gilda accused, "to make a fool out of me!"
"No way," said Pinkie once she had swallowed the cake, "I threw this party to improve your attitude. I thought a good party would turn that frown upside down." Pinkie rotated her head from upright to upside down to prove her point.
"Either you would put away that bad attitude of yours," put in Mario, "or you would reveal just what a mean-meanie-mean pants you really are." Mario's eyes widened.
"I can't believe I just said that," Mario remarked, using a hoof to cover his face.
"And you sure didn't need any help making a fool of yourself," Rainbow continued with Mario nodded in agreement, "you know, this is not how I thought my old friends would treat my new friends. If being cool is all you care about, then maybe you should go find some new cool friends someplace else." Gilda was left speechless for a moment or two.
"Rrgh, Yeah? Well you, you, you are such a, a flip-flop: cool one minute and lame the next," Gilda retorted, point a finger at Rainbow. The blue Pegasus looked stunned at the insult, "When you decide not to be lame anymore, gimme a call." With that, Gilda left Sugarcube Corner and look off into the air with a bird of prey shriek. Rainbow just looked indignant.
"Not cool," said Rainbow, emphasizing more than just the insult. The other ponies were left stunned.
"Wow, talk about a party pooper," said Spike.
"What was that about?" Twilight asked.
"Um, what just happened?" a pony named Merry May put in.
"Really awkward, "said another unnamed pony. The other ponies began to talk to one another as Rainbow looked rather sad.
"I'm sorry everypony," Rainbow said sadly, "for bringing Gilda here. I didn't know how rude she was. And Pinkie Pie and Mario, I'm really sorry she ruined that awesome party you two put on for her.
"Hey, if you want to hang out with party poopers, that's your business," said Pinkie and Mario chuckled in agreement.
"I'd rather hang out with you," said Rainbow and extended a hoof, "No hard feelings."
"No hard feelings," said Pinkie and went to return the shake.
BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZT!
Apparently, they had tried to prank each other with the hoof-zapper. They revealed them to each other and just laughed. The other ponies laughed as well.
"Hey Pinkie," said Twilight as she came up to them, "Sorry I accused you of misjudging Gilda. Looks like I'm the one who misjudged you."
"It's okay Twilight," said Pinkie as she wrapped a hoof around her, "even you can't be a super smart smarty smart pants all the time. Come on everypony, there's still a whole lotta party to finish." Pinkie bounced up and down excitedly. Twilight just smiled as everypony cheered and went back having fun.
"Dear Princess Celestia," Twilight recited from a letter she wrote later that day,
"Today, we learned that it's hard to accept when somepony you like wants to spend time with somepony who's not so nice. Though it's impossible to control who your friends hang out with, it is possible to control your own behavior. Just continue to be a good friend. In the end, the difference between a false friend and one who's true will surely come to light."
Your faithful students,
Twilight Sparkle and Mario Star
Later that evening, Princess Celestia was relaxing in her bedroom as she read the letter and went to make a reply.
"Dear Twilight Sparkle and Mario Star," she began, "My most faithful students..." Then what she was writing disappeared. She then noticed that someone had put on a fake label on her ink jar. She had used the disappearing ink by mistake.
"Heh, wrong ink," she said to herself with a chuckle and found the correct ink.
How Celestia had gotten pranked was anypony's guess. Just be glad this princess has a sense of humor.
I'm really trying to give Mario and Pinkie that Linus and Sally dynamic. Let me know if I'm nailing it.
Peace Pony Fans.