Off-Limits

Sweet dreams of sugarcane jungles and cupcake houses danced through Pinkie’s mind as she dreamed of being the queen of a land coated in candy. All the sweets she could eat all day long, without having to worry about anything bad. Except when the evil dentist came and tried to force Pinkie to dispose of all her candy.

The pink mare rolled around in her bed. Her covers had long since been thrown off the fluffy mattress in her escapade to outrun the dentist that tormented the poor candy kingdom.

“N...No! You... can’t have my... cupcakes!” Pinkie yelled, her body still trying to find the position in which she would be most comfortable. She started flailing her hooves in the air wildly. “N...no... not the gingerbread... house! That’s... where all my... sweets are!”

Pinkie shot up out of bed, drenched in sweat. Her pupils dilated. The mare could feel her chest rise and fall, her heart thumping, her breathing becoming strained. Her enlarged eyes darted across the ever familiar pink room. All of her furniture had a similar decoration that imitated designs of various pieces of candy and sweets, laced with a vibrant pink. Pinkie let out a breath of relief as she finally finished looking over her entire room, noting that everything was safe and there was, in fact, no evil dentist.

She turned towards her pet alligator that was happily snoring in his own make-shift bed. “Wow, Gummy!” she yelled exuberantly, defying her body’s reaction to just waking up. “That was some dream! I mean, a land filled with candy and dancing ponies with non-stop parties! Everything was so fun and I had so much fun!” Pinkie crossed her hooves. “Until that mean evil dentist came and took away all our sweets. I mean, who does that?! That’s just being a big old meanie!”

Gummy turned over. Continuing with his snoring, the toothless alligator was lost in the blissful embrace of sleep.

“Oh, maybe you’re right Gummy!” Pinkie stated, stifling a yawn she felt building up. “It is pretty late, and sleep is important! No more time to stay awake!”

She slammed her head back onto the pillow that rested underneath her. The warm feeling of sleep came over the earth pony as she attempted to reenter her delicious candy kingdom. As the first images of mountains of sweet candy floated through her mind, a large crash came from downstairs. The earth pony’s eyes shot open. 

Letting her mind get the better of her, Pinkie’s thoughts raced through ideas that monsters or bad ponies had broken into Sugarcube Corner. As her mind looked over those images, each one more horrifying than the last, another crash rang out throughout the house. Her mind screamed at her to stay in the bed; to ignore whatever was going on downstairs. Pinkie put these thoughts in the back of her mind, as she got up from her resting spot. She crept towards the door that hid her from whoever, or whatever was lurking on the main floor. Grasping the door handle between her two front hooves, she turned it and pulled the door open. The hallway that led to the stairs had pictures of the Cake family haphazardly placed on the walls, adorning the space between the Cake's and the babies' rooms. Pinkie tip-hooved past all of the rooms, being as quiet as she could be, and down the hallway. As she neared the top of the stairs, the sounds of somepony rummaging through something emanated from downstairs towards the party pony’s ears. The thought of hiding away until this was over forced its way into Pinkie’s mind, making her cower. Mustering up her courage, she decided to ignore the thoughts that made her scared, and trotted to the top of the stairs.

Surveying the main floor below her, Pinkie’s eyes caught an outline of a familiar looking pony bolt across the room. Alright, step by step, Pinkie. Don’t let your fear get the better of you... Slowly she descended the stairs, taking each step as if it would crumble beneath her hoof. Upon reaching the bottom of the stairs, Pinkie looked around the room. It was in a pristine condition. Nothing was wrong. The glass that protected all of the sweets were untouched. The cupboards that were stocked with rows of assorted cupcakes and candy were all in order.

Something shattering in the kitchen captured Pinkie’s attention, as her head turned towards the room the noise was coming from. “Umm, Mrs. Cake? Is that you?” Pinkie called out, her voice wavering under the pressure of dealing with something evil.

A high-pitched gasp came from the room.

Before Pinkie had a chance to react, a high-speed blur of pink had exited the kitchen and lunged at the party pony, knocking her over and pinning her against the ground. Pinkie looked up at her assailant, to see familiar sky blue eyes and a large toothy grin. The pony had a bright pink coat and a dark pink puffy mane. The trapped Pinkie gasped. “You’re me!”

“And you’re me!” the other Pinkie replied excitedly. “I’ve been looking all over for you! At first I thought you were playing hide and seek, so I went into the kitchen and started looking everywhere for you! Of course I ended up knocking things over by accident, but I just wanted to find you so badly! So I kept looking and looking and there was no sign of you! But then I heard you calling out with a voice that sounded like mine, I knew it had to be you so I gasped as loudly as I can and ran out here and tackled you!” she exclaimed. 

The Pinkie on the floor tilted her head. “Where are you from, anyway? I mean, I know absolutely everypony in this town, and since I don’t know you that must mean you’re not from this town! Are you new to Ponyville or something? If so, that means I have to throw you a party!”

“Well, you see Pinkie. I’m from the future! Twilight sent me back in time with some chrono-magic or whatever she wants to call it!”

“Ohhhh... what’s it like in the future, Pinkie?”

“It’s almost exactly like this place! Except everypony is older and more mature and boring. The Cutie Mark Crusaders still don’t have their cutie marks yet, which is strange. But I’m not the master of the cutie marks, so I can’t decide. I wonder, what would it be like to be the master of all cutie marks?”

“Oh, what would his cutie mark be? Would it be the words ‘cutie mark’, or would it be a mosaic puzzle of every cutie mark ever made!”

“Well, if that’s the case, he better have a big flank in order to fit every single cutie mark then!”

Both Pinkies giggled uncontrollably.

Future Pinkie slowly got off the pinned present Pinkie.

Present Pinkie rolled over, and lifted herself to her hooves. “Say, Pinkie. Why did you come here? I mean, time travel sounds fun and all, but you must’ve had a reason! Is something important going to happen? Is Equestria in trouble?”

Future Pinkie sat on her haunches. “Yes, something important is going to happen! It takes place tomorrow. Rainbow Dash is going to do something super-duper incredibly mean! Something incredibly terrible! Something she should never ever do!”

Present Pinkie gasped as the other one finished her sentence. “Rainbow Dash? Do something mean? But... but... but... she’d never do something like that!”

“Oh, she will, Pinkie! And it’s going to traumatize Fluttershy for the rest of her life! The fate of Fluttershy’s life is in your hooves! Will you accept this quest to stop Rainbow Dash from pulling her evil scheme tomorrow?”

Pinkie saluted. “I accept this quest!”

“Very good, Pinkie. Now come over here and I’ll whisper you what’s going to happen, and what you need to do to ensure the safety of Fluttershy!”

Pinkie nodded, and trotted over to the other Pinkie.

The future Pinkie whispered into the other Pinkie’s ear as the present Pinkie’s expression went from serious, to a look of pure shock and dismay.

“Rainbow Dash... no... she... wouldn’t do that, would she?”

“I’m afraid so, Pinkie! This is why you have to stop her! How you do it is up to you, I can only spend so much time in this time-line before Twilight’s spell wears off and I’m sent to my own time-line! Apparently being in a different time-line for too long can break the space time continuum, or whatever it’s called!”

“So I won’t get to throw a party for you?” Pinkie asked, her voice filled with sorrow.

“As much as I’d love to stay and have a party for myself, Twilight only gave me so much time to be here! I just needed to relay the message, and she’d pull me back! Maybe I’ll ask to drop by sometime, then we can have a super duper amazingly awesome party!”

Pinkie let out a large gasp. “That sounds like a great idea! Why, I’ll have to prepare for the party at once! We’ll need balloons, and streamers and games! Oh, and music!”

“I’ll definitely be looking forward to it, Pinkie! I’ve never been to a party my time-line clone has thrown! That will definitely be the greatest party I’ve ever been to! Oh, one last thing, Pinkie... make sure you go back in time and relay this message to the other Pinkie, too! Otherwise Rainbow Dash’s evil plan will unfurl there, and we don’t want that!”

“Will do, Pinkie!”

The future Pinkie lifted up into the air, as a purple magic aura enveloped her. “Looks like my time-line needs me! They must be bored already without my parties! Goodbye Pinkie!” she said, giggling.

Pinkie waved. “Bye Pinkie!”

With a small poof, Pinkie disappeared into a ball of smoke. When it dissipated, the pink mare was nowhere to be seen.

Pinkie looked around the now empty room. “Well, now that the fun is over, I guess it’s time to get some sleep! I’m going to need my rest if I ever plan on stopping Dashie!” Pinkie reasoned, shrugging her shoulders. Adding a bounce to her step, the pink mare made her way back to her room. “Now to go stop the evil dentist!” Pinkie expressed in fervorous anticipation, before flopping back down on to her bed. Once again, thoughts of being the monarch of the candy capital of the world drifted back to Pinkie’s mind. Nothing interrupted the energetic mare as sleep overtook her.

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Rainbow Dash shielded her eyes from the sun with her hoof. She was in a tree just outside of Fluttershy’s cottage for the last hour or so, waiting for the owner of it to go on her weekly run of getting food for the bunnies. Nothing’s going to ruin this plan! was her only thought. As if on cue, the front door to the cottage was gently pushed open, and a yellow pegasus stepped outside.

“Oh, Angel. I’m going into town to get some carrots...”

Angel stood at the door way. He had his arms crossed and was thumping his foot against the ground. He nodded in affirmation.

“Don’t get into too much trouble, Angel...”

The bunny glared at the pegasus. He pointed in the direction of Ponyville.

“Oh, maybe I should go later... I don’t want to leave you by your lonesome, Angel...”

Angel replied by slamming the door in the mare’s face.

“I’ll... take that as a no,” the pegasus said, turning towards the dirt path that led towards Ponyville.

Rainbow Dash watched as Fluttershy began walking away from the cottage. A malicious grin spread across her face, as she flew down to the bush just a few meters away from the tree she was previously perched in. Sticking her hooves into the bush, she moved them around until they brushed against something. Taking out her supplies that she’d need for the fun times she was going to have, she began to laugh evilly. She rubbed her front hooves together. This time, Fluttershy won’t have Pinkie to protect her! I win this time, Fluttershy!

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Pinkie ran frantically throughout Ponyville’s main square in her search for Fluttershy. While the sun was out, and clouds were few and far between, nothing could keep the earth pony’s mind away from the mission she had received. The birds chirping in the trees did little to relax Pinkie’s nerves, while the bustling of the crowds of ponies going through their daily routines only made her more anxious. In a moment of wit, Pinkie decided to stand on her back hooves in order to see over top of all the ponies. She scanned the entire area, but was unable to locate her pegasus friend who was still in immediate danger. Deciding to risk the embarrassment, she chose the most logical thing she could do.

“FLUTTERSHY!” Pinkie yelled at the top of her lungs.

Everypony stopped in their tracks and turned their attention to the party pony.

Pinkie forced a grin. “Umm... has anypony seen her at all today?”

A collection of ‘no’s were heard, as nearly everypony shook their heads negatively.

“I saw her!” shouted a voice from the crowd.

Carrot Top forced her way through the group of ponies to Pinkie. 

“Where is she?” Pinkie asked, worry evident in her words.

“She just bought a shipment of carrots earlier, and should be on her way back home! Is...  something the matter?” Carrot Top asked, with a nervous smile.

“I just need to see her right now. Rainbow Dash is about to do something horrible!” Pinkie answered, her words slurring together as she spoke as quickly as she could.

As soon as she finished speaking, Pinkie bolted through Ponyville, zig-zagging her way through endless crowds. She was trying her best to avoid crashing in a frantic pursuit of reaching Fluttershy before it happened, whatever ‘it’ was. She barely managed to come out unscathed from the ordeal, since she had bumped into ponies, but it did little to lower the mare’s incredible speeds. Plotting the direction to Fluttershy’s cottage, Pinkie quickly galloped down the street. Her eyes fell upon a small image of a yellow pegasus walking along the dirt path that led to her cottage. Oh, this isn’t good! She’s too far away... I don’t know if I can reach her in time!

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Fluttershy hummed to herself to the rhythm of a song the birds always seem to sing. The birds sang to whoever listened, each of them singing perfectly synchronized and in harmony with the rest. Every note produced seemed to strike deep in the soul. It was easy to lose one’s self to the song that drifted in the emptiness of this road. That is, if one paid attention. Fluttershy’s ears perked as the sound of somepony shouting started to drown out the blissful singing of the birds. The pegasus shrugged it off, believing it to just be somepony running through the town. Fluttershy was about to get lost in the music again, as a shout for her managed to reach her. Fluttershy turned around to see a pink earth pony galloping towards her.

“Fluttershy!” Pinkie yelled out once more.

The pegasus smiled once she saw who it was. “Oh... hi, Pinkie!”

“Don’t go to your cottage!” Pinkie shouted frantically. “Rainbow Dash is trying to do something very terrible to you!”

Fluttershy was taken back by the words her friend spoke. “Something... terrible?”

Pinkie finally managed to fully catch up to Fluttershy. She stopped in front of the pegasus to regain her breath and energy. Each full breath brought a wave of comfort to the earth pony, making her more lively then what she had previously been. “Well... you see...” Pinkie trotted over to Fluttershy, and began whispering in her ear.

Fluttershy’s eyes dilated. “Oh... my, that does sound evil. So I should stay away from my cottage for now?”

“Not necessarily!” Pinkie reasoned. “You see, I’ve been working out a plan to stop this dastardly evil being! I’ll just need your help to make it happen...”

“Oh... I don’t know if I could. That would be very mean.”

“This is the only way, Fluttershy. We need to take this out before it unfurls into something even bigger!” Pinkie exclaimed.

“Oh... alright. What do you need me to do?” Fluttershy asked, intrigue filling her voice.

“Well... here’s the plan...”

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Rainbow Dash crouched behind the bush, hiding her entire body from view. The only way a pony would be able to find herself under these circumstances would be if they were actively scouting around the bushes, and the cyan pegasus knew this. Her plan to deal with Fluttershy was all set; all of the components were in place. All it would take is her to walk in that one certain spot, and everything would go off without a hitch! Rubbing her hooves together once again, the malicious smile still in tow, she began to wait patiently.

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Fluttershy thought over the plan in her mind. She barely had any part in it except to avoid walking in through the front door. That’s where all the fun would take place. Her cottage came into view, along with a myriad of animals moving on with their daily lives all around it. Bunnies, snakes, birds, and insects. All of them living in tranquility. Her eyes shifted towards the front door. It was open only a crack, something Fluttershy wouldn’t have noticed if Pinkie hadn’t informed her. At the top, she saw the thing Rainbow Dash had planted.  Rainbow Dash had tried her best to hide it by painting over it to somewhat match the color of cottage - pure white. Fluttershy chuckled at the silly idea her friend imagined, and continued trotting towards the entrance.

Rainbow Dash watched Fluttershy slowly draw closer to the entrance. Almost there... just a few more steps... wait, what’s she doing? 

Fluttershy walked to the door, and sat on her haunches beside it. “Angel,” she called out. “I’m going to be a bit busy for a little while longer so I won’t be entering the house anytime soon!”

Rainbow Dash watched with her mouth agape. No, she’ll go in... I just know it... No one knows about this!  My plan will be complete, and all of Ponyville will be in shock as I’ll be the first pon-! 

Something tapped Dash on the shoulder.

Dash brushed it away with her hoof, annoyed that her thinking was interrupted. “Not now, I’m busy!”

Another tap.

Dash turned around. “Can’t you se- uhh...” her wings froze in fear, as her eyes turned to mere pinpricks.

Before her stood a manticore. Its bright red mane blew lazily in the small updraft the afternoon provided. It’s eyes glared daggers into Dash’s. The manticore scowled at the cyan pegasus.

Rainbow Dash backed up slowly. “Umm... nice kitty?” she asked, forcing a grin.

The manticore let out an earth shattering roar, unleashing a powerful gust of wind that sent Dash’s mane into disarray.

Forcing herself to come over the fear that had enveloped her, Rainbow Dash closed her eyes and flew in the opposite direction of the beast that had previously stood before her.

“Flutttershy! Ru-”

Her words were cut short as her muzzle impacted hard on something wooden. She opened her eyes to see she had slammed right into a door. Her eyes moved to the top of the entrance, and  fell upon a paint bucket that was rocking back and forth from both sides of the door. Dash covered her face with her hoof, in an attempt to protect herself from the contents that were inside the bucket. After staring at the bucket perched precariously on top of the door for a moment, it stopped wobbling and stood perfectly still. Dash wiped the sweat that had collected on her forehead away, and gave off a happy sigh.

Then the bucket tipped over.

Dash screamed as the mixture of glue and feathers landed all over her, painting her mane, tail, and coat pure white. Feathers stuck to every visible part of her body, giving her a vague resemblance to a chicken. She shook her head violently, and looked at Fluttershy who was holding the door open.

“Fluttershy! Why didn’t you run!? There’s a manticore coming after us!” Dash yelled, her voice filled with concern.

Fluttershy chuckled at her friend that now resembled a chicken. “Oh, Dash. That wasn’t a manticore, that was Pinkie!”

“...What?” Dash turned around to see the manticore remove its mask. Underneath of it, a pink face she loathed at the moment beamed at her.

“Heya, Dashie! How’s it going?” Pinkie asked, oblivious to the anger seething from the white pegasus.

“Pinkie? How the hay did you get a manticore costume!? And why did you mess up my prank? That was supposed to be for Fluttershy!” Rainbow Dash asked, trying to rub the feathers off of herself.

“Manticore suit? Rarity made it specifically for me in case I ever needed it to scare somepony really good!” Pinkie happily exclaimed. Her expression changed to a more serious one. “And you should really know I do not condone pranking Fluttershy! We both went over this before! Fluttershy is off-limits!” 

Rainbow Dash tried to bite one of the feathers off, but to no avail. The glue was already stuck to her coat, and so were the feathers. “Well, great! Now I look like a chicken and it’s all your fault! Now I’m going to be the laughing stock of all of Ponyville! ‘Rainbow Dash the chicken’ is not a title that makes me sound cool!”

Pinkie unzipped the manticore suit from the back, and stepped out of it. “Well then, don’t prank Fluttershy again!”

“Hey... Pinkie, how’d you even know about my prank?” Dash asked.

“Simple! I had a little bit of help from my friends!” Pinkie asked, winking at the chicken pegasus. “Now, I need to go talk to Twilight about something!”

“Oh... what would that be, Pinkie?” Fluttershy inquired, managing to stifle her laughter.

“I need to ask her to go back in time, so I can stop this from happening in the next time-line!” the party pony said exuberantly, before trotting back in the direction of Ponyville.

Rainbow Dash glared at Pinkie. Back... in time?... Maybe I can get Twilight to send me back in time so I can successfully pull off this prank! That way I’ll have pranked everypony in Ponyville... She thought, rubbing her front hooves together. It took her a little while to remember her hooves had been glued together. She looked down at the mess of glue and feathers her body had become. Maybe... after a shower.

                                                  End

Editors: Angelhood101, Artimae,  CheeseDeluxe, MadJedi

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