Feeling Pinkie Keen

Pony's Log Number 115: There are just some things in life that cannot be explained. And then there's a pony named Pinkie Pie who cannot be explained either...

One day, Twilight and Mario were outside taking turns learning and refining some of their magic tricks. For the moment, it was Spike's turn to be the target as he had some rocks and other items in his hands.

"Tuh! Nuh! Uh! Nyuh!" said Twilight as she used her magic several times to change Spike into various outfits, finally settling on a nice tuxedo. Then she noticed that Spike seemed a little distracted.

"Eyes over here, Spike!" said Twilight.

"Uh, sorry," said Spike. Twilight then turned the twig he was holding into a fancy cane.

"For this to work, it's crucial we keep our concentration totally on the-,"

"Ooh!" Pinkie exclaimed, which cut off Twilight's explanation and concentration as the rock she had turned into a top hat transformed back into a rock and clocked Spike on the head.

"Nyuh!" Spike yelped as he tumbled over.

"Spike!" Twilight scolded, "This magic needs our full attention to make it happen. There's no other way."

"I can't help it," Spike protested, "Look!" Mario and Twilight noticed that Pinkie was darting about frantically with an umbrella hat on her head. She looked rather intimidated and nervous.

"Wonder what's got her all wound up," Mario pondered, "I haven't seen a pony that on edge since final exams last semester."

"Oh hush you," said Twilight, not willing to admit he had been referring to her as she watched the pink pony, "Ugh, never mind her. She's just being Pinkie Pie."

"Super-extra Pinkie Pie today," Spike remarked.

"Plus super extra random," Mario added. Then they heard some rather eerie music as Pinkie's tails looked like it was...vibrating.

"Hmm...Twitchy, twitcha-twitcha, twitch," said Pinkie aloud. Mario just looked stunned before rolling his eyes.

"You know, I think maybe it's time I create a book on a whole new language," said Mario.

"What might that be?" Twilight asked.

"Pink-lish," Mario answered as both Spike and Twilight rolled their eyes at him before they all approached the pink pony.

"Pinkie Pie?" Twilight asked her curiously, "What in the wide, wide world of Equestria are you up to?"

"Oh! It's my tail! It's my tail! It's a-twitch a-twitchin'!" Pinkie answered, "And you know what that means."

"Actually, Pinkie, I haven't the slightest idea," said Twilight.

"My best guess is that somepony said you were gonna have bad luck today and you believed them," Mario suggested, "Or one of Fluttershy's chickens is claiming the sky is falling." Twilight giggled lightly at the second answer.

"The twitchin' means my Pinkie Sense is telling me that stuff's gonna start falling!" Pinkie answered, "You two better duck and cover."

"Oh, Pinkie, it's not gonna rain," said Twilight as Mario began to search his surroundings. As Twilight continued to speak, he silently gasped and covered his head with his fore hooves.

"Umm...Twilight..."

"Why, there's barely a cloud in the-UGH!" Twilight was then cut off when a frog smacked right on her nose. Twilight's eyes were startled as she and the frog just stared at each other from close range. The frog simply croaked.

"He just said "nice catch" in Frog," Pinkie told Twilight. Poor Twilight was too shocked to answer as the Frog croaked in reply.

(theme song)

Twilight still hadn't moved as the frog continued to hop and move about her head.

"Oh, I'm so, so sorry," said a voice from above. Everyone looked up to see Fluttershy, flying above carrying a large number of frogs in a giant wooden cart, her saddle bags, and even her fore-hoofs.

"You okay Twilight Sparkle?" Fluttershy asked, "I just couldn't stand to see the pond so over-populated, what with the frogs all hopping into each other and all, so I decided to fly as many as I can over to Froggy Bottom Bogg."

"Of course you did," said Twilight annoyed.

"Fluttershy, if you needed help moving all the frogs, why didn't you come ask me to help?" Mario asked her curiously, "I could have lent you my freight cars. Their more spacious and a simple floating spell would've helped you fly them over to the bog. Or I could've moved them for you."

"Oh...I...I didn't want to intrude, you seemed pretty busy..." Fluttershy answered.

"I'm never too busy to help a friend," said Mario, "do you need my help?"

"I'll be fine," said Fluttershy, "but thank you so much for asking. I think Twilight wants me to go. Bye-bye!" Her good bye was slightly muffed as Fluttershy flew away as the lone frog continued to move about her head.

"Um...Twilight?" said Pinkie, "You gotta little somethin' on your face there."

"Oh, really?" Twilight remarked annoyingly, "Did your Pinkie Sense tell you that, too?"

"Nah, I could just see it," said Pinkie before walking away singing "la-la-la-la-la..." That was when the frog finally hopped off of Twilight's face.

"Come on, Spike and Mario, let's continue our practice session where there's a little less commotion," said Twilight.

"Wow! That was amazing!" said Spike as he climbed into Twilight's back, "Pinkie Pie predicted something would fall, and it did!"

"You've gotta be kidding..." Mario exclaimed in exasperation.

"Oh come on," Twilight retorted, "She said that something would fall, and a frog just happened to fall right around the same time. A coincidence, nothing else to it."

"Besides, Spike," said Mario, "I saw Fluttershy flying above us when Pinkie said that and the fact she was overloaded with frogs. One falling was bound to happen."

"If you saw the frog about to fall, why didn't you warn me?" Twilight asked.

"Twilight, you're my best friend and I...care alot about you," said Mario, "But I've learned by now that you never listen to me." Twilight looked indignant.

"I'm working on it...," she muttered to herself as Mario just rolled his eyes. It was just then Pinkie returned.

"My Tail! My Tail!" Pinkie called out, "Twitch-a-twitch! Twitch-a-twitch! Somethin' else is gonna fall!" Spike tensed up and began to search around. Mario looked about as well, even extending an ear to try and detect anything. Twilight just kept walking forward without a care in the world.

"Oh, Pinkie, please," said Twilight, "Nothing else is gonna fa-AAAH!" Twilight hadn't been watching where she was going and fell into an empty ditch. Mario just barely stopped to prevent himself from falling and was too late to warn Twilight.

"Oh no, Twilight fell!" Spike said in a panic as Twilight lay on her back stunned, "Is it...safe to go help her?"

"Are you kidding me?" said Mario as he wasted no time jumping down to help Twilight, "Even if something else was gonna fall, I'm not letting Twilight be in harm's way!"

"It's okay, my tail stopped twitching," said Pinkie to Spike, who ignored Mario and was waiting Pinkie's answer.

"La-la-la-la-la, la-la-la..." sang Pinkie as she walked away.

"Ha ha! That was amazing," said Spike as Mario revived Twilight and got her upright.

"Uh, Twilight?" Applejack asked as she arrived on the scene, "Why are you and Mario hanging out in a ditch?"

"Because Pinkie Pie predicted it!" Spike said excitedly. Twilight and Mario both rolled their eyes.

"Honestly, Spike, she did not," said Twilight as she poked her head out of the ditch and Mario jumped out, "Two coincidences like this may be unlikely, but it's still easier to believe than twitchy tails that predict the future." Mario helped Twilight out of the ditch when Applejack froze in fright and gasped.

"Twitchy tail? Pinkie Sense?" Applejack spluttered, "Whoa! Nyu-uh!" Applejack nervously ducked under a table.

"Don't worry, it's safe," said Spike, "Prediction already came true." Applejack breathed a sigh of relief as she crawled out from under the table.

"Oh, wait," said Twilight, "Don't tell me you believe in this stuff, too?"

"Here we go again," Mario muttered, remembering the nonsense about Zecora.

"I know it doesn't make much sense," Applejack replied, "but those of us who have been in Ponyville a while, have learned over time that, if Pinkie's a twitchin', you better listen."

"And you're proof of this is..." Mario asked skeptically.

"I know plenty of ponies who have seen the Pinkie Sense in action," Applejack retorted, "it's quirky, but accurate. So quit doubting my word before I turn you into the Ponyville Day balloon again." Mario glared before giving her a raspberry. Applejack returned it. Pinkie then came back again.

"My ears are flopping! My ears are flopping!" Pinkie cried out.

"Nyuh! What does that mean?!" Spike asked nervously. Pinkie looked at Twilight and Mario.

"I'll start a bath for you," Pinkie answered.

"Huh?" said Twilight with a chuckle, "A bath? This thing keeps getting more ridiculous by the minute!" As Twilight spoke, Mario looked around to see what could cause them to need a bath. It was then he noticed a pony with a kart walked by quickly and a mud puddle right behind them.

"Heads up!" Mario called out as he jumped high into the air as the mud came at them. Mario avoided the mud, but Twilight was drenched. Twilight just grumbled to herself before allowing Pinkie to escort her to Sugarcube Corner. Pinkie not only worked there, but she lived there as well. Twilight just enjoyed her bubble bath as Mario waited downstairs for both girls.

"Phhhft," said Twilight as she popped out of the water. Pinkie was sitting nearby.

"Sooo, basically, it works like this," Pinkie explained, "I get different, little, niggly feelings and they mean different things. Like, when my back is itchy, it means it's my lucky day. and when my knee gets pinchy, that means something's scary is about to happen."

"Is your knee pinchy now?" Twilight asked.

"No, but my shoulder's achy," said Pinkie, "That means that there's an alligator in the tub." Pinkie ducked her head into the bath and pulled out a baby alligator from the water.

"AAAH!" Twilight screamed as she stood on the edge of the bathtub in fright.

"How come your knee didn't get pinchy?" Twilight asked as she continued to stand at the end of the tub, "that isn't just scary, it's downright dangerous!" Pinkie chuckled.

"No, it's not, silly!" Pinkie answered, "This is my pet alligator, Gummy. He's got no teeth. See? haha!" Pinkie laughed as Gummy tried biting Pinkie's mane and tail several times, but all that did was just tickle Pinkie.

"Okay, okay...I get it," said Twilight annoyed, but didn't feel safe getting back into the bubble bath anymore. Once Twilight had finished, Mario joined her and Pinkie outside as they continued their discussion.

"Well, I still don't believe in all this..."special power" stuff," said Twilight, "It's just a bunch of mumbo-jumbo." Pinkie looked indignant.

"What's not to believe?" Pinkie asked, "You do magic, my sweet babboo can run super fast, jump super high, and use special power ups and such, what's the difference?"

"I am not your sweet babboo!" Mario retorted. Pinkie then put a fore-hoof to her neck and then put her own hoof on his.

"Feel that?" she asked. Mario looked puzzled and uncomfortable.

"That's the sound of heartbeats in sync," said Pinkie, "My Pinkie sense says that happens when two ponies are meant to be special someponies." Mario narrowed his eyes at her.

"You're right Twilight," said Mario, "This Pinkie Sense is complete nonsense." Pinkie glared at him before she picked up her pace.

"To answer your question Pinkie, it's huge," Twilight answered to Pinkie's question as she raced over towards a cardboard crate. She stood on it and cleared her throat, "For one thing, magic is something you study and practice. It only happens when you decide to do it, and it's meant to make something specific you choose to happen, happen. With you, uh, it makes no sense at all!"

"Yeah," Mario added, "I can see how certain twitches and flicks can signal different things and I do know that certain ponies can be born with an added sense that can detect danger, but...your Pinkie sense is still too random for me to fully accept it." Mario didn't want to outright say he rejected the Pinkie Sense. He just wanted to learn more about it. However, Pinkie still took their lack of acceptance personally.

"That's so not true, Twilight and Mario!" said Pinkie, "Sometimes it's a bunch of random things happening to my body at random times that supposedly predict the future. I call 'em "combos".

"Combos?" Twilight asked.

"You know, like when I can chain up multiple spin jumps without hitting the ground or combine different jumps without stopping?" Mario pointed out.

"I know what a combo is," Twilight told Mario, "I'm asking what Pinkie means that her twitches have combos."

"Sure!" Pinkie answered, "You know like, ear flop, then knee twitch, then eye flutter. That means the sky is about to be graced with a beautiful rainbow!"

"Yeah, sure," said Twilight.

"That's as believable as you and me getting married Pinkie," Mario retorted in annoyance and made a face.

"Uh-oh, I feel a combo coming on," Pinkie replied, "Ear flop, eye flutter, knee twitch!"

CRASH!

Mario and Twilight were walking right in front of the door to library when Spike roughly slammed the door open, smashing the both of them into it. He was apparently carrying some heavy objects, making the sound of a beeping truck backing up as he walked away. The door then closed on its own. Twilight was still flattened against the door as Mario floated to the ground as flat as a pancake.

(lose a life fanfare) For Mario at least.

"Mama mia," he groaned. Twilight soon was able to get herself un-pasted from the door and landed right on top of him.

"Ughhh...You said that combo means beautiful rainbow!" Twilight protested wearily.

"Oh-no-no-no-no-no," said Pinkie, "You're thinking of an ear flop, then knee twitch, then eye flutter. That was an ear flop, then eye flutter, then knee twitch. that usually means "look out for opening doors". You okay?"

"I don't believe this," said Twilight in irritation as she stood, not even realizing she was still standing on a flattened Mario.

"You don't believe because you don't understand," Pinkie Pie remarked as she got into Twilight's face.

"Hmm..." Twilight pondered to herself. Then she realized what she was standing on.

"Oh! Sorry!" said Twilight, "I didn't see you there."

"It's alright," Mario muttered. He had revived on his own, but hadn't managed to un-flatten himself yet as he lifted his head, "I'm just a doormat after all."

"Oh stop, Mario," said Twilight, "You're our friend!"

"And we love you sweet babboo!" Pinkie added.

"I am NOT your sweet babboo!" Mario yelled.

"Isn't he the cutest thing?" Pinkie cooed. Mario and Twilight just rolled their eyes.

Once Mario had managed to unflatten himself, he and Twilight guided Pinkie to an underground room of the tree house. It was here that Mario and Twilight conducted more technical and potentially dangerous magic spells and experiments. It was fortunate to say neither of them had suffered an accident in years. For the moment, a metallic dome shaped helmet was set on pinkie's head that had lights on it. She was also shackled into place as well by the fore-hoofs as Twilight got the machinery and a device that resembled a seismograph ready. Mario was standing by to take further notes and provide assistance.

"Okay," said Twilight as she hooked up several wires to the machine, "Now when you get another twitch, we'll have all kinds of scientific information."

"Okie-dokie-lokie," said Pinkie as the machines began to steam stack whistle about. Mario and Twilight waited impatiently for some results.

"Any twitches yet?" Twilight asked curiously.

"Nopey-dopey!" said Pinkie.

"Now? Anything?" Twilight asked not too long afterwards.

"Wait! Hold on!" said Pinkie anxiously before she went back to looking neutral, "Uhh, no."

"Are you kidding me?!" said Twilight in frustration, "After a whole day on non-stop twitching, now that I've got you hooked up, you're not getting a single one?"

"Ironic," Mario muttered.

"I don't control it, they just come and go," said Pinkie.

"Kind of like an instinct?" Mario asked curiously.

"Mario, we ponies don't rely on instincts anymore!" Twilight replied, "we rely on facts and logic and reasoning. Instincts? That makes no sense!"

"Sometimes you just have to believe in things, even when you can't figure them out," Pinkie answered.

"Sort of like Santa Hooves," Mario replied as Twilight gave him a dirty look.

"What? That's a good example," said Mario, "We were never able to calculate how he manages to visit every pony around the world in just one night and yet we have proof under our trees every year that he did it."

"Oh brother," said Twilight before rushing up to Pinkie's face, "I will not believe in anything I cannot explain."

"Well, that sounds a little cynical," said Mario.

"Wait, hold on," said Pinkie before Twilight could retort, "I'm feeling something..."

"Oh my gosh," Twilight exclaimed excitedly, "What? What is it?!" There was a short silence before they heard a loud rumble from Pinkie's stomach.

"It's my tummy!" said Pinkie, "That usually means I'm hungry. Let's eat!"

"That's done," said Mario, tossing his empty notebook behind him.

"URGH!" Twilight grunted angrily as she used her teeth to rip out the cables to Pinkie's helmet and shut the machines down, "You know what? Just forget it. I don't need to know if this is real or not! I don't need to understand it! I don't even care!"

"Okie-dokie-lokie," said Pinkie as she easily pulled her fore-hooves out of the shackles and bounced past the frustrated Twilight and Mario and up the stairs. Then Pinkie gasped.

"Uh-oh," said Pinkie with a second gasp, "hu-bu-bu-bu-bu-buh!" Pinkie twitched about and tumbled onto her back. Mario nearly rolled his eyes until he saw that she had done an ear flap, eye flutter, and knee twitch. He soon saw Twilight nearing the door.

"Twilight, look out!" Mario called out. Twilight looked back when...

SMASH!

Spike slammed the door on her.

"Pinkie? Have you seen Twilight?" Spike asked curiously.

"Uh-huh," said Pinkie casually and bounced her way out of the room. The door then closed on its down, showing Twilight was now pasted onto the door.

"Twilight? What are you doing back there?" Spike asked curiously.

"Are you okay?" Mario asked concerned as she glared at Spike.

"Rrrrgh...Did you two plan this?" Twilight asked annoyed.

"Plan what?" Spike asked, his tone pretty much answering his question as Twilight was peeled off the door and landed on the floor with a plop...and onto Mario's back again.

"I'm always the fall guy," he muttered.

"Urgh! This is ridiculous," said Twilight, "This can't be happening. This makes no sense. I have to figure this out."

"Couldn't we just declare today just a bad day and give it a rest?" Mario asked from underneath her, fearing the worst. Twilight just smiled, but it wasn't a cheerful smile. It was a "what you do think I'm gonna say, Mario" kind of smile. Mario just groaned.

It wasn't much longer before Mario and Twilight had collected a nearby bush and were using it to camouflage themselves as they heard some frogs croaking in the background. They both had on some tribal hats as they peaked out of the bush to watch Pinkie bounce about in the park.

"Mmm..." Pinkie giggled as she sniffed a flower and continued to giggle about. Twilight began to jot down some notes as Mario tapped the side of his hat, causing some metal goggles to appear over his eyes. Twilight was stunned when Mario then made the goggled expand and contract.

"Where'd you get those?" Twilight asked.

"I made 'em," said Mario, "I was gonna make you a pair but you wouldn't let me borrow your hat." Twilight just groaned aloud, remembering that she had cut Mario off when he had asked that question. His goggles looked far more effective than her binoculars.

"Twilight?"

"Ah!"

"Yipe!"

Mario and Twilight jumped when they saw that it was Spike standing next to the bush.

"Whoa-oh-uh!" Spike yelped as Twilight tugged him into the bush.

"Honestly, Spike," Twilight snapped, "don't you know better than to sneak up on ponies?"

"Oh, sorry, but, um, well, isn't that what you're doing?" Spike asked again as he stood just outside the bush. Twilight then gasped when she suddenly pounced on Spike, knocking the young dragon to his back.

"No!" Twilight retorted quickly, "We're doing scientific research. I'm observing Pinkie Pie, scientific name: Pinkius Pieicus, in its natural habitat."

"Pinkius-whoicus? Hh!" Spike asked as he stood between Twilight and Mario.

"Wouldn't rosea mannulus, be more accurate?" Mario asked since that was the politically correct term for a "pink pony". Twilight said nothing as she turned head to talk to Spike.

"There's something fishy going on with the whole twitchy thing," said Twilight, "and I'm getting to the bottom of it. So, shh." Mario had just gestured that Pinkie was leaving the park.

"Come on," said Twilight to Spike and Mario, "Pinkius Pieicus is on the move. Mario and Twilight each held the bush and went on their way. Spike offered to help, but since the two ponies held the bush to high up, Spike was literally walking on thin air as they carried the bush and followed Pinkie.

It wasn't much longer before Pinkie arrived at the school playground. Since the children were in class at the moment, Pinkie was just rolling around the grass and enjoying herself as she hummed. Then she stopped and started to rub her nose a bit.

"Hm...Itchy nose..." said Twilight.

"That's new," said Mario, "at least for being a Pinkie twitch...if it is one." Pinkie then gasped and ducked nervously under a metal horseshoe.

"Interesting..." Mario replied to Pinkie's behavior.

"Aha!" Twilight said to Spike, who was also writing down his own notes, "That makes no sense. See? She's hiding like something's about to fall from the sky, but a twitchy tail means something's gonna fall from the sky, not an itchy nose." Pinkie continued to stare at the sky nervously. Spike and Mario looked up as Twilight spoke. Then they heard some theremin music and the sound of a large swarm buzzing overhead.

"This proves..." Twilight continued, completely clueless about the swarm.

"GASP!" said Spike and Mario.

"...perhaps conclusively, that-"

"Gah!" Spike yelped and run away from the bush.

"Spike! Where are you going?" Twilight called out, "I'm trying to teach you the value of scientific- ...Hey! Mario, let go of me! Get off!" Mario grabbed her from behind and tried to pull her out of their bush.

"Twilight, we need to get out of-"

"Ow! Ouch! Ow! Yeow! Ow! Ow! Ow!"

Too late, the swarm had seen both Mario and Twilight and surrounded the bush for the attack. The swarm stung them to their heart's content, making both ponies whimper in pain.

A little while later, Mario and Twilight, now covered in multiple stick on bandages, were observing Pinkie as she walked about the open fields at Sweet Apple Acres.

"What's she doing now?" Spike asked curiously with his notepad at hand. Mario zoomed in on his goggles a bit to get a better look at Pinkie. She was apparently smelling another flower.

"Smelling a flower," said Twilight and Mario plainly.

"Holy guacamole!" Spike exclaimed as he dropped his notepad, "I wonder what that means?"

"Probably that the flower smells good," Twilight answered and Mario nodded in agreement until they noticed that Pinkie was twitching again.

"Wait, I'm getting something," said Twilight, "Ear flop, eyes flutter, knee twitch."

"Hold on...You told me that's the combo that says "watch out for opening doors"?" Spike exclaimed as he dashed away from barn door and hid behind some hay stacks.

"Oh-ho. You really, really believe this stuff, don't you?" Twilight teased, "Here, let me show you there's nothing to be afraid of." Twilight and Mario both walked in front of the barn door. Since the top half was already open. Mario was able to look inside to see if anyone could be coming that could smack them with the door if they opened it. Nopony was there.

"You see?" Twilight pointed out as she started to walk away from the door. As if fate just had it in for her, a door open from the ground and Mario gasped.

"I promise you," Twilight continued to say to Spike, "there's nothing to be fear from that-Who-o-ah!" Twilight fell through the opening but Mario grabbed her tail by his teeth to try and pulled her up.

"I got ya, I got ya...WAH!" Mario called out, but Twilight's momentum ended up pulling him down with her.

"OW! UGH! OW! OW!" They yelped as she tumbled down a set of stone stairs and landed hard at the bottom.

"Twilight! Mario! You came to visit my new apple cellar, how nice," said Applejack cheerfully until she saw that they were both in pain, "Twi? Mario? Are you okay? Uh, Twi? Mario?"

"MEDIC!" was all Mario could say before he and Twilight passed out.

(lose a life fanfare)

It was a little later, both Mario and Twilight were back on the chase again. That last injury had done a number to both of them. Twilight's fore-hooves had been badly injured to the point they were bandaged and she was now in wheelchair for mobility. Mario was more fortunate, only injuring his back and the top of his head. While his back and head were also bandaged, he could still move about without a wheelchair or any support. But concentrating did make him more prone to bad headaches. Plus he couldn't run or move very quickly either. Twilight was trying to use her bandaged fore-hooves to lift her binoculars, but her injuries prevented her from doing so.

"Here, let me help you," said Spike as he pulled a rope to help lift the binoculars. He had created a special pulley rope to help Twilight lift her fore-hooves up without injuring them more.

"Okay, take this down," Twilight instructed to both Spike and Mario, "twitchy tail."

"Twitchy tail?" said Spike and the gasped frantically, "Twitchy tail!" Spike let go of the rope, making Twilight's fore-hooves painfully smack the top of a bench. A familiar theremin music could be heard as Mario looked up at the sky, now feeling very uneasy.

"Hush, Spike! We can't let Pinkie know we're here, remember!" Twilight reminded him sternly. Then Mario gasped when he saw something above and tried to concentrate, but his head injury made focusing difficult.

"Something's gonna fall, something gonna fall!" Spike said in a full panic, "Run for your lives! Ah-ha-ha!" Spike then took off, leaving the two ponies behind. Mario was still trying to activate a shield.

"Ugh, Spike honestly, you're overreact-"

CRACK!

A flower pot landed on Twilight's head. Mario tried harder to ignore his headache to get the shield up.

CLANG!

Twilight then got an anvil to the head and Mario finally got the shield up.

"Okay got it!" said Mario, panting and ignoring the pain in his head as he saw the anvil on Twilight's head and smile apologetically.

"Well...better late than..."

SMASH!

It was then a large wagon loaded with hay crashed on both of them. The impact was so strong that it destroyed Mario's shield and Twilight's wheelchair. Then as if to add more insult to injury.

CRASH!

They both got a piano dropped on top of them as well. It broke apart as it landed on top of them.

"Ugh..." Twilight groaned.

(lose a life fanfare) This time for both of them.

"Mama mia..." Mario added in the same tone.

If anyone has wondered why Mario didn't just move the wheelchair out of the way, remember that his back injury prevented him from moving quickly. Plus he panicked when he saw the delivery ponies above that all he could think of was a shield. He probably could have moved Twilight out of the way regardless, but...even Mario sometimes can't think straight when he's panicking. And the headache has got trying to raise a shield didn't help either.

Up in the sky, a colt Pegasus gave his employees, one was a popular crossed eyed mare with bubbles for a cutie mark, a death glare. She was the first to smile apologetically and the other pegasi followed. They were the ones who had accidentally dropped their deliveries on the two ponies below.

Later on, Pinkie was back to humming cheerfully in the park when Applejack arrived.

"Hey Applejack," said Pinkie, "whatcha doin'?"

"Takin' more apples to my new apple cellar," Applejack answered, showing Pinkie a huge basket of apples, "how about you Pinkie Pie? Whatchu doin'?"

"Oh, letting Twilight and Mario secretly follow me all day without me knowing," said Pinkie simply.

"You mean you knew all along?!" Twilight demanded angrily and Mario giving her a death glare of his own. It had taken one of Mario's revival mushrooms to get Twilight and Mario back on their hooves. While their physical injuries had recovered thanks to the mushrooms, they still had their bandages on and their manes, fur, and dark circles around one eye showed that they had been through alot today, "Why didn't you tell us?"

"Silly," Pinkie giggled, "that would have spoiled the secret."

"Urgh!" Twilight's jaw open and closed as one of her eyes twitched and her body trembled angrily. Mario felt his anger surge as well, but once he noticed how unraveled Twilight was getting and pulled her into a hug.

"Easy, easy," he said gently, getting Twilight to settle down a bit. Spike still seemed a bit on edge.

"Tail...still twitching?" Spike asked.

"All done," Pinkie answered, "clear skies from here on in, as far as I can tell-hu-bu-bu-bu-bu-bu!" Suddenly Pinkie's entire body began to twitch and shudder violently.

"Okay, that makes even me feel very uneasy," said Mario.

"Oh no! What does that one mean?" Spike asked nervously.

"Dunno, never gotten any like it before," Pinkie answered, "but whatever that shudder is about, it's a doozy. Something you'd never expect to happen is gonna happen! Hu-bu-bu-bu-bu hu-bu-bu-bu-bu! And it's gonna happen... at Froggy Bottom Bogg!" Spike looked rather nervous as Twilight just looked plain bored.

"Phew, that's a relief," said Mario and everyone looked at him.

"Don't tell me you believe in the Pinkie Sense now?" Twilight asked.

"Why not?" Mario replied as he held his own notepad, "I've been taking notes all day. The proof of these "instinctive warnings" is in the pudding. The Pinkie Sense has some legitimacy about it. Plus our...no, your ignorance of it has landed us in the hospital twice! This doozy could be anything! The end of the word! A pony apocalypse! The worldwide discontinuation of peanut butter! Me realizing my soulmate really is Pinkie Pie!" Mario gave Twilight his own frantic look, but Twilight just looked rather passive to his worries.

"Mario, I said something you'd never expect to happen," said Pinkie, "I already know that last one is gonna happen." Mario grew very indignant.

"Be quiet!" Mario said annoyingly. Applejack just chuckled until she realized something and gasped.

"You mean it's true?" Mario asked frantically.

"No, not that," Applejack said honestly, "That's where Fluttershy's headed!"

"Oh no!" Spike remarked worried, "Is it about her?"

"Uh, I'm not sure," said Pinkie.

"We better go and make sure she's okay," Applejack replied.

"Calm down, everypony," said Twilight, "All we know right now is that Pinkie Pie just got a case of the shivers. That's all." Pinkie glared and Mario did as well.

"It's shutters Twilight, big difference," Mario told her. They were soon on their way towards the bog.

"Guh-Hey!" Spike yelped as he felt Twilight scoop him up into her back, "I thought you didn't believe in this stuff?"

"I don't," Twilight retorted, "I just want to be there to see the look on Pinkie's face when we find out nothing is wrong."

"Okie-dokie!" said Pinkie.

"Twilight, stop," said Mario as he stood in front of her, "I'd rather you stay here and not end up in the hospital again." Twilight glared.

"Step aside Mario," she demanded.

"No! This time I'm putting my hoof down," said Mario sternly, "Enough!" Twilight just glared until she just smiled.

"Mario, have I ever told you how much I like your mane?" Twilight asked sweetly, "it's very cute." Spike made a face behind her. Mario blinked and then blushed.

"Well, heh...I...I never thought it as anything special but..." Mario suddenly realized he had been tricked and Twilight was gone.

"URRRRRGH!" Mario groaned angrily as he grit his teeth, "You're gonna pay for that Twilight Sparkle!" He rushed after her and soon caught up with Twilight and the rest of the ponies as they were at the outer edges of the bog.

For the moment, Fluttershy was just casually helping her frogs exit her cart and settle down in the bog as the rest of the ponies were slowly making their way towards her. Mario was about to give Twilight a piece of his mind when Pinkie started to vibrate and shutter again.

"Hu-bu-bu-bu-bu-bu!" Pinkie stuttered.

"Cold?" Twilight asked smugly, "Need a jacket or something?"

"No thanks, I'm fine," said Pinkie, but then shuttered again, "Hu-bu-bu-bu-bu-bu!"

"So...whadda'ya think happened to Fluttershy?" Spike asked worried.

"I hope nothin'," said Applejack, trying to keep her face from showing any worry or concern.

"I know, but, whadda'ya think happened?" Spike asked.

"I'm tryin' not to think about it," said Applejack bluntly.

"Me too," said Spike bravely, but could feel her worry return, "But I'm thinkin' about it anyway. Like, what if she exploded?"

"Just exploded?" Applejack asked puzzled, "For no reason?"

"Yeah, like boom!" Spike answered.

"Whoa!" Pinkie exclaimed.

"I know," Spike replied in agreement.

"What if...What if she exploded, and then...and then exploded again?" Pinkie suggested.

"Can you do that?" Spike asked fearfully, "Can you explode twice?"

"Of course not," said Applejack.

"Puh! You've never been with Twilight when she does potions," said Mario, earning himself a glare from the purple pony, but Mario just stuck his tongue out at her.

"But what if she exploded, and exploded again, and then...ugh!" Spike was cut off as Twilight stepped down on his tail. Not too hard to hurt him, but enough to bend it out of shape.

"Will you two stop?" Twilight retorted, "She's fine, I'm sure of it."

"I hope you're right, for Fluttershy's sake," said Applejack and Mario nodded in agreement as he walked alongside the orange pony as they forged ahead.

"Look!" said Applejack, "There's Froggy Bottom Bog." They heard the buzzing of a dragon fly before they found who they were looking for.

"Fluttershy?" Applejack asked once she saw the yellow Pegasus in the distance.

"Fluttershy?" Pinkie gasped.

"Fluttershy!" Spike called out as he hopped onto her back and hugged her, "You're okay!"

"Of course," Fluttershy answered calmly.

"Phew, what a relief," said Applejack.

"I'll say," Mario added with a sigh of relief.

"Sorry, I know it's not nice to gloat, but..." Twilight began.

"And yet you are going to," Mario remarked with an eye roll. Applejack and Pinkie glared as well.

"...Aha!" Twilight declared proudly, "I told you there was nothing to worry about, and I was right. Pinkie said whatever she was shuddering about was a [cough] doozy, and [cough] the only [cough] doozy here is how right I am." While Twilight was bragging, some fog mist began to rise from the swamp, making breathing a bit difficult and then something began to rise behind Twilight. Mario and the others gasped in shock.

"Um...Twilight?" said Applejack with a fearful tone.

"Pinkie's made a lot of predictions today but [cough] ugh, what is that smell?" Twilight then realized all the dust and a sudden stench on the air, "But we've shown here is that there's no point in believing [cough] in anything you can't see for yourself." The rising creature turned out to be a hydra which was a creature with four heads on its body. Everyone was quivering fearfully at the sight.

"W-Well t-then, s-see what's b-b-behind you," said Spike fearfully. That was when hydra growled and Twilight slowly turned around.

"I see it..." said Twilight in shock, "but I don't believe it!" The hydra gave a loud roar.

"What more proof do you need?!" Mario called out as he stood next to her, "visiting the inside of it's stomach?!"

"Is that a hydra?" Pinkie asked in shock.

"Who cares? Run!" Applejack called out as the ponies all screamed and run for their lives, except for Pinkie. Poor Pinkie was so frightened that she couldn't laugh her fear away or even move. All she could do was whimper.

"Pinkie! Come on!" Twilight called out before grabbing her tail and pulled her away just in time as a hydra head tried to snatch her and barely missed.

"Ooph!" Pinkie panted as she went airborne from the pull as everyone else made a run for it. Fluttershy then noticed a frog running for its life as well.

"Oh, I'm so sorry," said Fluttershy to the frog as three of the four heads tried to attack.

"Ah!" said Fluttershy as the hydra head missed. Two others tried to attack Pinkie and Applejack, but they missed too. The single hydra head that hadn't attacked laughed at the other three as they continued chase. Soon the ponies reached a steep ledge that only Mario could successfully jump up to and they quickly looked around for another escape route.

"Everypony up that hill!" Twilight commended and they were about to leave when...

"He-e-elp!" Poor Spike had gotten caught in some swamp muck and was trapped as the hydra inched closer to him.

"Spike!" Mario called out and was about to go get him, but Twilight had already taken off.

"Coming Spike! Hang on!" Twilight called out. She grabbed Spike just in time as the hydra attacked. The ponies then made their way up the hill when Mario noticed that the hydra tried to follow but had gotten a foot stuck in the muck. Mario just growled.

"Girls, Spike, get up the hill and find a safe place," said Mario, "I'm going in to stall it!"

"Mario no!" Twilight called out as Mario rushed down the hill. The hydra had just freed its foot when it noticed Mario standing nearby.

"You're not going to be having any of my friends for dinner," said Mario angrily, "If you want something worthwhile, try and catch me!" Mario stood on his hind legs and gave the Hydra a smirk.

(cue favorite mid-boss music)

The Hydra roared as one head tried to attack. But Mario easily quick-stepped out of the way. Then a second and third attacked, but Mario either quick stepped or cartwheeled out of the way. Mario then ran around at high speed as the Hydra continued to attack. Then he came to stop when the fourth head tried to attack. Mario used his magic to make the ground launch him upward, causing him to twirl in the air a bit and out of the fourth head's way. Now that Mario was behind it, he curled into a ball and rolled up the neck of a hydra head and spin jumped into it, knocking it senseless. The other hydra heads growled before Mario then pulled the same move back when facing nightmare moon. The only difference was that Mario was successful with his attack as he successfully launched himself at all four hydra heads, making each head growl angrily once it had snapped out of its daze. Everyone else was watching from the distance.

"Wow, Mario's gotten way better at his attacks," Spike said impressed.

"I had no idea Mario was that athletic," said Applejack, "I thought for sure he was only a runner." Fluttershy nodded in agreement and then yelped as the hydra heads came at Mario at once. Mario surprised everyone by back flipping several times to get himself out of reach before land on all four of his hooves. Mario snarled.

"Let's see if you can take the heat!" Mario cried out as he pulled out an orange flower. Twilight just looked dumbfounded.

"Seriously?" Twilight exclaimed, "You think giving it flowers is gonna..." Twilight then noticed the flower being tossed into the air, turn into magic dust and Mario's fur turned a rich orange and his mane turned bright red. Mario then used his fore-hooves to launch several balls of fire at once.

"...never mind," said Twilight in defeat while Mario attacked. While he could only target two heads at once, he had no trouble switching targets to keep the hydra from attacking him. Then his body sparkled and he was able to target all four at once with a wave of larger fireballs. The hydra was quickly overwhelmed as the fireballs exploded, leaving it dazed as the effects of the flower wore off. Mario then ran in place before...

BOOM!

A small rainbow was created as Mario charged right into the Hydra stomach, sending it backwards and knocking it out cold. The other ponies cheered as Mario made a huge backwards somersault that landed him halfway up the hill.

"That was amazing!" said Spike as the others smiled.

"Well, thanks I..." Mario froze, "you guys were supposed to find a safe place to get away while I distracted it!" The ponies just looked at each other before chuckling sheepishly. They had been so busy watching Mario fight that they had forgotten. Mario facehoofed until he heard a roar. Apparently this hydra was very durable because it had already recovered and was making pursuit once again.

"Let's get out of here!" Mario called out as they made their way back up the rest of the hill.

"I think we're gonna make it," said Twilight as they got closer to the top.

"But Pinkie's still shuddering!" Spike pointed out. Pinkie's shudders were making it very difficult for the pink pony to climb up the hill, but then the shudders stopped.

"Oh, lookie there, it stopped," said Pinkie but then the shudders began again, "O-h-h-h, t-h-e-r-e i-t i-s a-g-a-i-n!" Despite her shudders, Spike helped Pinkie get up the hill. They reached the top of the hill only to find that it was dead end. They all gasped when they realized that the only way across was a series of platforms that crossed some bubbly bog water far below them. The hydra was gaining ground quickly.

"Ugh, he'll be up here in no time!" Twilight said to everyone, "Quick, one at a time, cross!"

"Nyu-uh!" Spike protested then got an idea as he faced Twilight, "Do you know any spells for turning a hydra into a mouse?"

"No"

"How about a squirrel?

"No!"

"How 'about-"

"No small rodents of any kind!" Twilight snapped.

"That's too bad," said Spike.

"Spike, if we did," Mario pointed out, "Do you think I would have fought the hydra a minute ago?" Spike just smiled sheepishly before rubbing his head nervously. Fluttershy just looked nervously at the platforms.

"A hop, skip, and a...jump!" Fluttershy called out as she made her way across first. Twilight then grabbed Spike by the tail and tossed him.

"Whoa-ho!" Spike called out as he bounced across the platforms to the other side.

"Whoa-oa-oa-oa-oa!" Pinkie vibrated and nearly went off the cliff as Applejack pulled her back by the tail with a grunt.

"He's too close," said Twilight, "I'll distract him. You three go, now!" Mario was agape as Applejack obeyed and pulled Pinkie across, but Mario didn't leave.

"Go!" Twilight said to Mario as the hydra got closer.

"I'm not leaving you to fight that thing!" Mario yelled, "You go and I'll deal with it!"

"I. Said. GO!" Twilight yelled as she pushed Mario near the cliff edge, got behind him, and bucked him forward.

"Woo-ho-ho-ho-ho-hooooooo! UGH!"While Mario managed to curl into a ball and spin jumped across, he couldn't control his momentum too well and smacked into the wall on the other side back first and slid down with a groan.

"Why do I put up with her?" Mario asked in a daze. Meanwhile the hydra was getting closer to Twilight, making her feel very nervous. She was regretting telling Mario to let her deal with it.

"Oh...What would a brave pony like Rainbow Dash do?" Twilight asked herself. The hydra got closer until Twilight just ran towards it.

"Chaaarge!" she shouted instinctively. Twilight quickly ducked under its short legs. All four hydra heads tried to follow her, but it ended up toppling over.

"T-T-T-twilight!" Pinkie Pie cried out from the outside. Twilight made a charge towards the platforms, but the hydra had already recovered and went to attack her. Twilight just barely dodged out of the way. Unfortunately, the hydra's attack slammed into the platforms, causing several of them minus two on the other side to crumble into the boggy abyss. Twilight was stranded. The hydra head whimpered over a lump it had gotten on its head before roaring angrily.

"T-T-T-twilight! You have to jump!" Pinkie shouted as the other ponies looked worried.

"I'll never make it!" Twilight shouted back.

"You'll be fine!" Pinkie told her.

"I will not!" Twilight protested as the hydra roared behind her and moved closer to her.

"It's your only ho-o-oope!" Pinkie told her as another case of shutters hit her, "You need to take a leap of faith!" Twilight gulped as she looked towards the platforms before backing and making a charge to take a jump. The hydra attacked again. While it missed, it caused the piece of ledge Twilight was standing on to crumble. Mario quickly hopped into the second platform and extended a hoof to try and catch her as she made her leap.

"Y-ugh!" Twilight grunted as she made her jump. Even with the crumbling ledge getting her a little bit closer, she tried to reach out for Mario's hoof, but she didn't make it, "No! Oh No! Noooo!" Twilight attempted to use Mario flutter jump technique, but since she never bothered to ask him about how to do it properly, she ended up just kicking her legs in the air as she tumbled down into the bog. Then by some pure fate, Twilight landed on a giant bog bubble. As she landed on it, the bubble popped, sending her upward.

"WA-A-A-AH! Ugh! Blegh!" Twilight was somehow tossed onto the platform. While Mario caught her, they both ended up tumbling across the platforms and landed against the bottom of the slope on the other side. Twilight was a rather dazed. Mario landed upside down, but managed to avoid getting dizzy despite the hard impact. Twilight shook her head and just smiled to show she was alright. The ponies cheered as Mario turned himself over and hugged her.

"Mario, you can let go now," said Twilight with giggle. Mario did so, but not without looking embarassed.

"S-s-sorry," said Mario, "It's just...when you fell...and I couldn't reach you..." Twilight could see just how frazzled Mario looked and smiled.

"I'm okay," said Twilight gently. Mario nodded as he recomposed himself. Twilight then exchanged an embrace with Pinkie.

"I knew you could do it Twilight!" Pinkie told her happily.

"I don't know how it happened, coincidence, dumb luck, or what," Twilight told her, "but you said there'd be a doozy here at Froggy Bottom Bogg, and I'd say we just had ourselves one heck of a doozy. I mean that hydra..." Mario nodded in agreement. Suddenly Pinkie began to shutter again.

"Pinkie?" Twilight asked worried. Pinkie's shuttering had become more intense.

"That wasn't it," Pinkie said plainly. Twilight and Mario looked stunned.

"Huh?" Twilight asked.

"What wasn't what?" Spike asked curiously.

"What are you talking about, Pink?" Applejack asked as well.

"The hydra wasn't the doozy," Pinkie remarked, earning herself a raspberry by the said creature as it walked away indignantly.

"I'm still getting the shudders," Pinkie continued, "Oo-o-oh, oo-o-oh. You see? There it is again. Whatever the doozy was at Froggy Bottom Bogg, my Pinkie Sense says it still hasn't happened." Mario just groaned. Twilight's eye twitched.

"Huh? But I-WHAT?!" Twilight snapped, "The hydra wasn't the doozy?! How could it not be the doozy? What could be more doozier than that?!"

"Dunno, but it just wasn't it," Pinkie answered simply. Twilight's could feel her temperature rising. The sound of a kettle whistled loudly as she gritted her teeth. She was a powder keg ready to blow. Mario panicked before just pulled her close for another hug.

"Just let it go!" Mario pleaded, "Come on. Let's go home and read a nice book..."

"RRRGH!" Twilight growled as she went into the air and her entire body lit up in flames.

"MAMA! WOO-HA-HOO! WOW-WHOA!" Mario yelped as his back end was caught on fire from the flame. He quickly bounced about before finally putting the flame out. Fortunately Twilight's anger fizzled out and her mane and tail were slightly charred.

"Ooh...I give up..." Twilight conceded before plopping onto the ground with her hind legs resting against a nearby rock. Despite the circumstances, Mario couldn't help but feel his heart break. It was extremely rare to ever hear the purple pony say those three words out loud.

"Give what up, Twi?" Spike asked.

"The fight," said Twilight in exasperation, "I can't fight it anymore. I don't know how, why, or what, but the Pinkie Sense somehow...make sense. I don't see how it does, but it just does. Just because I don't understand doesn't mean it's not true."

"Y-Y-Y-You m-m-mean you b-b-b-believe?" Pinkie asked, her body vibrating more than ever.

"Eeyup, I guess I do," said Twilight quietly, clearly worn out. Pinkie's vibrating and shuttering became even more intense.

"She's going to blow!" Mario cried out fearfully as he created a front shield, but only Twilight, Mario, and Spike got behind it.

"Oo-woo-oo-oo-oo, woo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oh, woo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-ooh. Ooh!" said Pinkie as her body contorted into various shapes before finally settling down and gasped, "That was it. That's the doozy." Twilight, Mario, and Spike looked stunned.

"Bbrrbbrrbbrr," Spike remarked as he shook his head wildly for a second or two.

"What? What is?" Twilight asked puzzled.

"You believing," said Pinkie, "I never expected that to happen. That was a doozy, oh and, oh what a doozy of a doozy it was! La-la-la-la-la..." The other's just watched stunned as Pinkie just walked away without a care in the world. Mario just rubbed his head.

"That pony gives me such a headache..." Mario groaned when...

SMOOCH

Twilight kissed his cheek!

Mario just looked stunned as his cheeks turned bright red.

"Don't ask. I just felt like it," said Twilight simply, "Besides, after what I put you through today, I just wanted to say I appreciate you being such a good friend." Twilight then walked away, leaving Mario to endure the snickers of both Applejack, Fluttershy, and Spike as a dazed smile appeared on his face.

Later that week, Spike was rushing to return back to the library. Giggling could be heard from outside as he walked inside.

"Oh good, Spike, you're here," said Twilight, "Take a letter."

"With pleasure, Twilight," said Spike as he walked inside and grabbed a piece of paper and a quill.

"Dear Princess Celestia, I'm very happy to report that-" Twilight then realized that Spike looked distracted, "Spike, what have I been saying about focus?"

"I know, but I...well..." Spike stuttered. He was surprised to see Twilight and Mario each wearing an umbrella hat on their heads. Pinkie was there too, wearing her own hat.

"What's wrong Spike? Never thought you'd see me with an umbrella hat on?" Twilight pointed as she smiled with Mario and Pinkie nearby.

"Not, really no," Spike answered.

"Pinkie's tail's a-twitchin'," Twilight pointed out as the Pink pony's tail was vibrating, "What else could we do?"

"I've had enough trips to the hospital and green mushrooms this week," Mario added. They all laughed. Spike then recomposed himself so Twilight could finish the letter.

"We are happy to report that we now realize there are wonderful things in this world you just can't explain, but that doesn't necessarily make them any less true. It just means that you have to choose to believe in them and sometimes it takes a friend to show you the way." Twilight walked over to Pinkie and Mario as she finished talking.

"Honk!" Pinkie said as she poked Twilight's nose. She had been poking Mario's nose beforehand and the colt was glad it wasn't him...again.

"Honk," Spike chuckled.

"Always your faithful students, Twilight Sparkle and Mario Star," Twilight concluded as she, Pinkie, and Mario made their way out of the library as Pinkie's tail twitched again.

"There it goes again," said Pinkie.

"I wonder what's gonna drop outta the sky this time?" Twilight wondered as she and Mario looked up.

"You never know," said Pinkie, looking up as well.

"I just hope our umbrellas can protect us," said Mario.

"If not, we can always swap you as the crashing target," Pinkie suggested.

"True," Twilight added, "You are supposed to protect us girls." The two girls giggled to each other as Mario looked annoyed.

"Remind me to get some life insurance," he told them both. Pinkie and Twilight laughed as the three ponies continued on their way. Back at the library, Spike had opened a window on the second floor to breathe fire on the letter to send it. He was then interrupted when he heard the sound of a jet engine as Princess Celestia came crashing down on the tree branch.

"Twitchy tail?" Spike remarked as Celestia took the letter and flew away.

"Holy guacamole!" Spike said afterward as he watched the Princess fly away. Did this mean Celestia believed in the Pinkie sense this whole time?

Equestria may never know...

This chapter was fun to write. Plus I hope you all enjoyed getting to see Mario show off some of his athleticism. It was time Mario just stopped claiming he could do this and that and show ponies what he could do. And this battle was just the surface of his abilities. More will come in future chapters.

Peace Pony Fans!