She was everywhere. As Prickle, at least, Prickle was safe. She could see Immovable soaring overhead, likely looking for her, but she never recognized her without her costume. There were benefits to having a secret identity. It also implied to her that Immovable wasn't local.

"If she was, she'd probably know me," she explained to her friends at lunch.

Apple Bloom bobbed her head in agreement. "'Sides, yer the only super pony ah know of, 'least like that. Ah mean, mah sibs are way strong, but yer..." She was rolling a hoof, searching for a word.

Sweetie provided, "superior!" in a happy squeak, voice breaking as she did so. "Is she trying to hurt you?"

Silver Spoon suddenly leaned in. It seemed she and Diamond Tiara were also there. "Did she hurt you?!"

Scootaloo waved her hoofs side to side in a negative fashion. "I'm not sure she has any moves besides planting herself in place and not moving. It's like... an anti-move."

Diamond's brow hiked. "If that's all she can do, then why are we even worried about her? Unless she catches you in a doorway, you can just go around her as if she wasn't even there."

Prickle flinched faintly. "I know that... but..."

"--Besides," cut off Diamond. "Why would she know you, specifically, or hurt you? She's going after Tiny Titan, not you, Prickle."

There was an awkward silence around the table as everyone was reminded that, somehow, Diamond was still ignorant of the two strong ponies being the same pony.

"What?"

Prickle chomped down the last of her sandwich. "I should get doing."

As she went, Diamond shook her head. "What's up with her?"

The Cutie Mark Crusaders all found other places to look, whistling, muttering, and otherwise trying to not engage directly.

Silver Spoon was not so coy. "You have to ask her directly." She leaned in closer. "And nicely."

Diamond waved it off, "Maybe I will!" She hopped to the ground. "Grab my pail for me, thanks." She trotted off after Prickle.

Scootaloo looked mightily uncertain. "Was that a good idea?"

Silver gave an easy smile. "She has to learn eventually, but it should be Prickle that tells her, not us."

Diamond caught up with Prickle easily. "Hold on a moment there. You're hiding something from me."

Prickle went as rigid as a statue for a moment before she remembered to breathe. "W-what?"

"I wasn't born yesterday," said Diamond confidently. "Come on." She reached out and nudged Prickle lightly. "We're friends, aren't we?"

Prickle felt an unbidden smile creep across her face. It was still nice to hear that from her once-tormentor. "Y-yeah."

"So why are you so obsessed with this Immovable pony?" Her eyes suddenly widened. "Wait! I know! You must be a huge Tiny Titan fan!" She leaned in close. "Are you afraid your hero will get hurt? Gosh, it's just like Silver Spoon." She rolled her eyes, then paused. "Wait, are you in love with her too?"

Prickle felt her mouth go dry. "Um..." Well, technically... "Sorta?"

Diamond laughed and threw a leg over Prickle, pulling her in tight. "You're the same awkward filly I always knew." She gave a noogie to the top of Prickle's head. "It's too cute, but I think Tiny Titan's a little out of your league. She's a superhero after all, and you're... you."

Prickle spoke without thinking, "Says who?!"

"Well, I guess you could show off for her?" Diamond pulled her leg back as she shrugged. "Maybe she likes other strong fillies? Still, even you aren't as strong as she is."

Prickle realized an important thing had been said. "Wait! Silver Spoon is in love with Tiny Titan?"

"What, you didn't know?" Diamond rolled her eyes. "The poor mare's not very subtle about it. Are you jealous? She's pretty and refined. I don't mean this in a bad way, but she's a lot closer to getting Tiny Titan's eyes than you ever will be."

Prickle couldn't immediately decide if that was very true, or very false. She thanked Diamond for the advice and staggered back inside to finish the day of school.

After school, she trotted towards home, when a figure dropped from the sky in front of her.

"Stop right there!" ordered Immovable, sitting up on her haunches as commandingly as she could. "You! Filly! I need to talk to you."

Had she been found out?! "Oh, uh... yeah?"

"I've been scouring this city for her, but I can't find her. I get the feeling you and Tiny Titan are close." She thrust a hoof. "I heard you talking to that other filly."

"You were spying on me?!"

Immovable shrugged. "I landed on the school just as you two got to talking." She leaned in. "Does Tiny Titan know you like her--" She cocked a brow. "--Or should I be foalnapping that silver one?"

Prickle drew in a sudden breath. "You don't have to do this!"

"We disagree. Tiny Titan won't face me, so I'll draw her out." She pulled out a sack. "So you'll get in here like a good filly, right?"

Prickle considered her options. If she ran away, Silver Spoon would likely be the victim instead. "Yes, ma'am."

Immovable blinked. "Really? I mean! Of course! Who would dare defy Immovable!?" She let out an almost hysterical laugh as she threw the bag over Prickle and plucked it from the ground. "I won't hurt you, promise. This is just to get Tiny Titan to come out of hiding."

Prickle couldn't see where she was taken. She could hear wind through the bag and could feel the motions of being in flight. She could, of course, just punch Immovable, but that still felt wrong. She bided her time.

Immovable set the bag on the ground. "You can come out, just don't leave my sight."

Prickle poked her head out of the bag to see they were in a cave. It wasn't any cave she could immediately recognize. "Where are we?"

"My hideout! At least while I'm in Ponyville. I have a better one back home." She waved a hoof about. "It does what I need it to do for now."

Prickle pulled out her notebook and began to write. This confused Immovable who moved around to get a peek at it. "Are you writing a distress letter? Yes, that will help draw Tiny Titan out here faster!"

"I'm doing my homework," corrected Prickle as she scribbled with the pencil in her mouth. "I don't think Cheerilee will excuse me just because I was foalnapped."

Immovable plopped down on her haunches. "Oh... Can you write a teary-eyed letter of distress after that?"

Prickle twitched an ear at her captor. "Are you good at math?"

"Math?" Immovable frowned. "Infinity minus Infinity is zero." She clopped her hooves together. "That's why Tiny Titan has no chance against me!"

Prickle was not far enough in math to provide proofs to argue that idea. "Why's it so important?"

"What's what so important?" She stomped a hoof. "Me and Tiny Titan were meant to be!"

Prickle colored a little. Was this another mare that was chasing her? She had more than enough of those! "Meant to be?"

"It was destiny! The irresistible force, the immovable object. How could they not meet and clash in a struggle that would challenge the very fabric of the universe?!" She was grinning, a huge expression that split her face. "It's just the way it must be. She'll never move me."

"Do you want to be moved?" Prickle set her pencil down lightly and looked at her captor.

The question confused Immovable. "W-what?"

"Do you want to be moved?" repeated Prickle. "Do you want to win or lose?"

"Win, of course." She puffed out her chest. "That's a silly question."

"So if she did move you?"

"I..." Immovable deflated a little. "She won't..."

"But if she did?" Prickle rolled a hoof. "Theoretically."

"I... wouldn't... be Immovable." She sagged. "That would be terrible! What would I even... No! I won't go back to being worthless." She grunted as she sat up. "Tiny Titan must try, and fail. She will fail and fail and fail again! I am Immovable!"

Prickle considered the pony before her. Immovable felt more like a hurt pony than a villain, in her eyes. She saw the deep cracks that threatened to break, leaving Immovable to fall to pieces and cry. She was no psychiatrist, but it seemed too much like looking in a mirror. She had become a hero and found a purpose for her freakishness...

"Does... it bother you?"

"Does what bother me?"

Prickle smiled thinly. "Being different. Being a pegasus that stands still."

Immovable clenched her teeth, muscles in her snout bulging from the effort. "Are you about--"

Prickle held out a hoof. "I'm not making fun! I, uh... have different friends too."

"Like who?" challenged Immovable with a stomp. "Nobody as different as I am."

"What about... Tiny Titan?" She offered, pointing to where she thought the exit of the cave was. "She's a little filly that's stronger than the biggest stallion. I bet she feels wierd and freaky a lot of the time."

"That...." She went quiet a moment. "That is exactly why we must clash." She gave a firm nod. "We have to."

Prickle wasn't sure what to say. Immovable wasn't a bad pony. She was looking for a peer. Just... in the least proper way. "Have you tried asking her?"

"Asking her?"

"You know, for a match, for fun."

"This isn't about fun!" Immovable sprang to her hooves. "This is about destiny and completing our purposes!"

"Does it have to be?" Prickle smiled a little. "If she wanted to challenge you, for fun, would you say no?"

Immovable shook her head back and forth. "Why would she ever do that?! We are.... nemesises... nemesii? She's my nemesis! We are meant to clash."

"Where's it written you have to clash with people you don't like?" challenged Prickle. "My friends test me all the time in all kinds of ways that confuse me and make me grow. It's why we... should have friends."

"I don't think you get this whole nemesis thing." She leaned in close, her larger adult face in Prickle's smaller one. "You aren't friends with your nemesis."

Prickle struggled to find the words to say what she meant to say, but it was too late.

"Look, thanks. You're a good foal. Get back to your homework. I'll be waiting for Tiny Titan."

Author's Notes:

Some heart to heart with Immovable, even if she doesn't know who she's speaking to.

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