You moved as quickly and as quietly as you could through the forest. You, Pinkie, and Gummy had won three more matches and had made it to the semi-finals. You thought you were finally getting a hang of the game, but feel lost in the whole new two-hundred square feet of forest roped off just for this match. The leaves rustle above you, making you jump back and take aim. A squirrel scampers down from the tree and runs away. You were on edge and you had a right to be. The other team was made of pegasi, so an attack could come from anywhere. It didn’t help that you and Pinkie split up, in hopes to confuse the other team.

“THERE YOU ARE!”

Every muscle in your body tightens at the words and you begin moving as fast as you can, dodging through the trees, hoping that they would act as impromptu cover. It works as you realize the pops from behind you were the sound of paintballs against the leaves.

“Give up already!” the Pegasus calls from behind you. “Ain’t no way you can outrun me!”

You pay no heed to the taunts and keep running, dodging the paintballs that are now whizzing by your head. You run for a few more minutes, but stop dead in your tracks when the Pegasus with the rainbow mane cuts you off.

“Sorry buddy, but you’re done.” Rainbow Dash says as she touches down. Before the match, Pinkie had warned you about her. She was fast and experienced. Dash grins slightly before pressing down on the button.

*Click*

“Huh?” Dash presses down on the button repeatedly, but nothing happens. She doesn’t notice that her tank was completely empty. You can’t help but chuckle at this stroke of luck, which makes Dash stop and look up at you with fear in her eyes as she realizes the position she’s in.

“Oh… Hey….Come on now! This isn’t fair!” she yells.

You press down on the button as she begins to take off and manage to catch her left wing and flank. She groans aloud and comes back down to land.

“DARN IT!”

A bell rings from behind you and announcer yells out “TEAM PIE IS THE WINNER!”

You meet up with Pinkie after the match, who was covered in splotches of paint.

“Sorry. Dashie got the drop on me after I took out Firefly.”

You pat her on the back. “It’s okay. You did awesome.” Looking down, you see Gummy covered in paint as well.

“He managed to tag Ditzy before Dashie found him up the tree.” Pinkie giggles as Gummy tries to squirm away as she wipes the paint off. “Come on, let’s go find her and see how she’s doing. She doesn’t take losing that well.”

You and Pinkie make your way to the drop off point and find a unicorn wearing a white lab coat tending to Dash.

“You‘re sure nothing’s hurt?” he asks. Dash nods. “I told you I’m fine! Geez, you really need to chillax.” The unicorn sighs heavily. “Your wing got hit. The wing you broke. Or have you forgotten about that already?”

Dash’s ears go back. “No, I haven’t.” she says curtly. “You care WAY too much.”

The unicorn nuzzles up to her. “Oh don’t be mad. I care because I love you.” Dash’s face goes red as you two approach and she tries to put on a smile.

“Oh! Hey Pinkie Pie and…” her smile disappears as you walk up. “You…” Dash looks like she’s going to yell at any minute, but instead she shakes her head.

“I shouldn’t be mad. You won, fair and square.”

The unicorn pats Dash on the back. “That’s my angel.” Dash blushes and kisses the unicorn on the cheek. “Meet you back at the house?” she asks. The unicorn gives her a nod and walks away.

“You sure you’re okay?” you ask.

“Yeah, I’m fine.” Dash says as she kicks at the ground. “It’s Carrot Top who I should be mad at. She stole Cloud Kicker from my team! We’ve been on the same team for three years and this year she gives me this lame excuse about how Carrot Top asked her first!” Dash throws her hoofs up in disgust. “I mean, Ditzy is awesome since she can keep an eye on two players at once, but she’s got lousy depth perception.”

Dash sighs. “Listen, you guys, you have to promise me that you’ll win this tournament. I couldn’t stand to see Carrot Top win again this year.”

“It’s a Pinkie promise. Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.” Pinkie says as she performs the sacred vow. You mimic her, but almost stick your hoof in your eye at the end of it.

"Alright," Dash says, reassured. "Goodbye, and good luck!" Dash leaves you with a final wave and flies out of sight. You and Pinkie head to the picnic area and eat a lunch consisting of fried dough, snowcones, and pizza. Not the healthiest of things to eat, but at least the pizza had vegetables on it. Pinkie is silent the entire time, hardly even making eye contact

“Have you ever loved someone?” Pinkie asks abruptly. You almost choke on your snowcone and spend a minute coughing it up.

“Umm, well… .” you say sheepishly. You feel Pinkie’s hoof on yours and follow it until you reach her face. She looked very serious.

“Who?” she asks. You swallow the lump in your throat and you try to calm down your racing heart.

“Well I… I mean, I love…” Pinkie is staring you down, making you feel uncomfortable. You take a deep breath, finally finding the words and the courage to say them. “Well, you. I love you, Pinkie Pie.”

You cringe and shut your eyes. You said it. The words were floating through the air now. She could break your heart in less than a second, and what happened next was up to her.

In one swift motion, Pinkie guides your face to hers and you feel your lips meet. The kiss is quick and sweet, but it leaves you speechless and your head spinning.

“That’s all I needed; now I know we can’t lose,” Pinkie says with a grin before kissing you once more, this time longer and with more passion.

Pinkie lets the kiss go on for a few more minutes before pulling away.“I’ve kind of known for a while now.”

“Was it that obvious?” you ask bashfully.

“Yeah,” Pinkie nods “and I love you, too.” You never imagined those simple little words could mean so much. “You’re so special, and nice, and generous, and a whole bunch of other nice words!”

You open your mouth to return the compliment, but the loudspeaker cuts you off.

“Team Pie, please report for the final match! I repeat, Team Pie, please report for the final match!”

You and Pinkie stare at the loudspeaker for a few seconds before turning to each other.

“Let’s go win this.” Pinkie says with a grin. You smile back. “yeah. Let’s.”

You and Pinkie hid behind a fallen tree, waiting for the volley of paintballs to stop. Gummy had run off as soon as the match started, leaving you and Pinkie alone. Cloud Kicker was the first to charge and the first to fall from a barrage of Pinkie laid down.

“I’ve had a lot of practice against Dashie.” Pinkie stated when you brought up how amazing that shot had been.

But now Pokey was laying down suppressing fire, keeping you pinned down while Carrot Top tried to circle around. Luckily, you could poke yourself out enough to fire off deterring shots, while still behind cover.

“We’re getting nowhere fast!” you yell out.

Pinkie Pie pokes her head out, only to duck down again. “I got an idea!”

“What-”

Before you can get another word out, Pinkie bolts to the right, diving into a bush and drawing the fire of both Pokey and Carrot Top. Taking this opportunity, you fire off three shots and hit Pokey right in the chest. Carrot Top, however, manages to run off before you can even take aim. Running over to the bush, you grab a hold of Pinkie and help her to her hooves.

“You okay?”

Pinkie nods quickly. “Yeah. Now come on!”

You and Pinkie run off in Carrot Top’s general direction and come to a clearing. You and Pinkie look around, back to back.

“Coltacon…I want to ask. Do you think love can bloom even on the battlefield?” Pinkie asks in a purposely dramatic tone. You laugh at the absurdity of all this.

“Yes Solid Pie. Any time, any place, love can blossom. But if you love someone, you have to be able to protect them.” You couldn’t believe you just quoted that.

“Then I love you. I love you with all my heart.” Pinkie’s words resonate with your very being. It’s like she set a fire in your very soul.

“You don’t know how much that means to me. I-” You stop as you feel something solid hit your chest. Looking down, you see a large, green splotch. You were just shot.

“Where-” Pinkie flinches as she’s hit too. From the trees, you hear a laugh. Carrot Top comes walking out of the thick, smiling the entire time.

“Thanks for deciding to get all lovey dovey right then and there.” she gloats. You slump to the ground. You promised her you’d win and you let her down. All you wanted to do now is curl up in a ball and disappear. Taking a glance at Pinkie Pie, you immediately regret it. She looks completely devastated. Her once bouncy mane was flat and she was barely holding back tears.

“Now all I have to do is find your silly little crocodile.”

Pinkie’s eyes go wide and her mane fluffs up again and you swear you can hear the sound of a noise maker. Pinkie smiles. “You’re the one who's silly. He’s not a crocodile. He’s an alligator. NOW GUMMY!”

Carrot Top doesn’t have any time to react. Gummy bit down on his button, sending out one paintball, hitting Carrot Top right in the side. Everyone is silent.

“…I lost.” Carrot Top finally says.

Pinkie runs forward and picks up Gummy. “Way to go, Gummy! You made mommy proud!” Part of you feels jealous as Pinkie holds Gummy close to her chest.

“You get over here too!”

Pinkie grabs you and holds tight. You’re not feeling so jealous anymore.

You and Pinkie walk back to Ponyville, trophy in tow. Pinkie wanted to hold a victory party at Sugar Cube Corner and everyone at the tournament was invited, even Carrot Top.

“Uh, hey,” Carrot Top said as she trotted up next to you and Pinkie.

“Yup?” Pinkie Pie asks, still smiling from the award ceremony.

“I wanted to apologize. I got way into the game and forgot I’m supposed to be having fun. I feel bad for all the times I rubbed it in your face, now that I know how it feels... I hope you’re not mad.” Carrot Top says, her voice getting quieter as she realizes how she’s acted up until now.

Pinkie surprises Carrot Top with a hug. “Oh, I was never mad. I just wanted to show you there was more to the game than winning. Now come on! Let’s party!”

Pinkie Pie runs off, leaving you and Carrot Top in the dust. “You’re lucky, you know.” Carrot Top says.

You smile ear to ear. “Yeah, I guess I am.”