“Hold on y’all! We’re a-coming!”

With Applejack in tow, Fluttershy took the lead as they hurried off to Ponyville to save their friends. They decided that it would be best to get to Pinkie Pie first, because she was just a normal earth pony. She would be easier to take in a fight than a unicorn or Pegasus. Their first destination was Sugarcube Corner, the town’s candy shop. Pinkie Pie not only worked there, but loved sweet things.

Sure enough though, when they showed up, Pinkie was behind the counter snacking on a tray of red-velvet cupcakes. She greeted them with an enormous smile and laugh. “How’s it going buddies? You guys come to eat some cupcakes with me?” She took a bite from one cupcake, and then threw it with full force at Fluttershy.

Fluttershy caught it with her teeth and took a bite. “Not bad Pinkie, did you make them from scratch?” she laughed at the expression on Pinkie’s face.

“’Taint no time to be playin’ games, darlin'! We gotta help her get free!” AJ dashed toward Pinkie, tackling her to the ground.

Pinkie laughed, “Applejack, I am disappointed. I thought you were on our side! Oh well!” Black smoke flew from her mouth and into AJ’s.

“Achoo!” The smoke flew back out as AJ sneezed. It had no effect on her anymore.

Pinkie screamed, “What?! That’s not possible! How’d you do that?” She struggled to get up, but AJ held her firmly down. Fluttershy trotted up beside Pinkie, opening the pouch at her side. A pink gem rose into the air and flew into Pinkie’s chest.

“Here we go again, AJ…” Fluttershy sighed as a bright pink light swallowed them. Once the light faded, they found themselves in the white emptiness once more.

After a minute, Surgarcube Corner sprang in to color around them. Pinkie stood up, looking around at the building and her friends. “Where are we? Did I eat too much cake earlier?” She spun around, noticing a light shining from outside the window.

Fluttershy noticed it as well, and opened the door to examine it. It was the pink gemstone. Pinkie ran outside to take a closer look. AJ followed her. Fluttershy wondered why nothing was happening. If she was normal, shouldn’t the gem restore her permanently?

As ‘normal’ as she may be, she does not wish to be saved. That same mysterious voice called to her again.

“So…when can I go back to being evil again?” Pinkie asked bluntly, an annoyed look on her face.

“Why would ya wanna be evil, Pinkie?” AJ asked in confusion.

Pinkie smiled her normal Pinkie smile, “Well, because when you’re evil, you get to do all sorts of crazy fun things!” She sat next to the gem, admiring its glow.

Fluttershy stomped up to her friend and slapped her right on the face. “Are you insane? Wait- Don’t answer that! Look, we need your help, Pinkie! Don’t you want to save the others?”

AJ laughed, “She’s right y’know. We kinda need you to help stop this here Shadow stuff.”

Pinkie looked at her friends, raising one hoof into the air. “Oki-Doki-Loki! I was just playing about the evil stuff. It got boring after everypony else turned evil! But uh…how do we get out of here?”

You must beat the shadows within your heart. Only then can you be cleansed of them.

“Who was that?” Pinkie asked, raising an eyebrow. She looked up to see something falling above her.

A black blob fell from the sky, landing right on top of her. It caught both Fluttershy and Applejack off guard. They jumped back in surprise, waiting for the inevitable finished product of the slime. After a minute, it disappeared again, and Pinkie was left standing. She was back to her possessed form.

“Look guys, I like you… But if you want to keep mucking up Master’s plans, I’ll have to punish you personally.” She raised her front left hoof, and a ball of sludge formed on it. She waved her arm, and the sludge went flying at Applejack.

AJ tried to dodge, but it was to no avail. The sludge made contact, an adhesive so powerful she couldn’t even move. She was almost literally glued to the ground. “C’mon Fluttershy, you gotta get her to stop bein’ loopy. Y’know, like you did to me!”

“Right!” Fluttershy darted toward Pinkie Pie, who continued to throw the sludge at her. Just as the sludge got close, the pouch at Fluttershy’s side would flash, and the sludge would evaporate. Those gems were the only thing keeping her alive, it seemed.

“You’re joking me, right?” Pinkie Pie stared at Fluttershy as she was tackled to the ground and pinned down. “You weigh more than I thought, buddy…” Pinkie grunted with Fluttershy’s weight on her.

“Get over it, Pinkie! You’re the most fun person I know. If the whole world turns evil, everyone will be having just as much fun as you! You’re a party pony, right? Well evil people don’t party! Snap out of it!” Fluttershy smiled as she thought of what to say.

Pinkie’s eyes reverted back to normal. “No parties? But I can’t be a party pony without parties!” Pinkie screamed. Her head was throbbing as the Shadow tried to retake control. “Okay fine! Get me out of here Fluttershy! This is too much for me!”

The pink light engulfed the trio again, the world around them changing back into the empty void. Once the light faded, Pinkie sneezed one loud sneeze, and the black smoke evaporated. She smiled at her newly re-found friends.

Good. Through comedy, you allowed yourself to defeat the Shadow. Not the method I would have used, but it worked wonders. Go now, ponies. You still have friends to save.

Back inside Sugarcube Corner, AJ raised to her feet. “Who’s next, darlin’? Twilight, Rainbow, or Rarity?” she asked Fluttershy.

Pinkie chimed in, “Rarity! She’ll be the easiest to take down if we have to!”

“She’s right. Twilight’s magic is powerful, and Rainbow is fast…” Fluttershy confirmed Pinkie’s idea.

The trio shared a smile and nod, and darted from Sugarcube Corner, bound for Rarity’s home. Three down, three left to go. Before long, the whole gang would be together again…

“Yippie! Get ready Rarity!”

Next Chapter: Chapter 11: The Scar Left Long Ago (Act IV) Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 5 Minutes