“Today’s target will be… Spike!” Rainbow Dash announced, pointing towards Twilight’s Library.

“You’ve really run out of ideas, haven’t you?” Discord asked.

“What? No! I know exactly what we’re doing with him! We’re going to make it so that when he sends one of Twilight’s letters, it explodes!” Rainbow exclaimed. She snuck up by the window. “Look, he’s sending one now!”

Spike clasped the letter firmly in his claw, breathing a small gout of green flame and lighting the edge. Oddly enough, nothing happened. He tried again, taking a deeper breath and exhaling a larger flame as Discord snapped his fingers outside.

The force of the ensuing explosion sent him flying into the wall as the letter drifted slowly down and settled on his head.  “What just happened?” Spike asked, taking the letter in his claws and checking it over. It seemed normal.

“Yawn,” Discord said. “I can do better in my sleep.”

“Let’s see you try then!” Rainbow Dash replied, folding her forelegs.

“Gladly,” Discord smirked.

Back inside the library, Spike shook the dust off his body, rolled up the letter, and held it as far away from his body as possible. “Please don’t explode,” Spike said to it, as he took a deep breath…

A torrent of flame shot out of Spike’s backside, engulfing the bookshelf behind him. His eyes widened as he slowly turned around. The bookshelf was now empty.

-----

Meanwhile, in Canterlot, Celestia was enjoying her afternoon tea when a waterfall of books rained out of the sky, spilling her tea and crushing her coffee cake. A vein pulsed in her forehead as the sun seemed to flare brighter.

-----

“Oh geez,” Spike muttered, examining the bookshelf. There was no way Twilight was going to let him live this one down.

“Spike, did you finish sending the letter yet? There’s something I need you to do for me,” Twilight called from upstairs.

“Not yet, I’ll be right on it!” Spike shouted back nervously.

Back outside the library window, Rainbow Dash and Discord were laughing heartily. “That was a good one, I have to admit. But next, can you…” Rainbow Dash leaned in and whispered something in Discord’s ear. He nodded, giving his claw a twirl.

Spike sat down in a bucket of water, gently holding the scroll as far away as possible, and took a deep breath. His claws suddenly slipped as the scroll sucked up into his mouth, causing him to fall over, gasping for air. The bucket emptied its contents onto the wooden floor, creating a large, slippery puddle.

Spike gagged as he forced the scroll out, stomped out of the water, and shook himself off. “Why are you doing this to me?” he shouted, shaking his fist at the ceiling.

Twilight ran downstairs, slipped in the water, and landed on Spike. “Ow. Wait, is that my letter? Why is the floor wet? What’s going on, Spike?” she asked.

“I DON’T KNOW!” Spike shouted, pushing her off of him. “Every time I try to send this letter, SOMETHING goes wrong! Watch!” He inhaled deeply and engulfed the letter in a wave of fire. When the flame died down, the letter was encased in a block of ice, along with the claw that held it. Spike wiggled his arm awkwardly, looking at Twilight as if to say “I told you so”.

“What?” Twilight asked, staring at the letter. “But that doesn’t make any sense... Why don’t you try again, and I’ll watch this time?”

Spike shrugged. “I’ve pretty much given up, but alright.” He took a deep breath, and when he exhaled, Pinkie Pie flew out, landing on the floor and skidding a few meters.

“Hi Spike!” she said, smiling widely. “Whatcha doin?”

“Sorry, Pinkie. I was just trying to send a letter and… well… you popped out,” Spike said.

“Oh, that’s okay! I pop out when I try to send a letter sometimes too!” Pinkie Pie said, bouncing up and down.

“Pinkie, do you remember what you were doing before you got here?” Twilight asked.

“I was on my way out to give Applejack this cupcake!” Pinkie Pie said, pulling a wrapped cupcake out from her saddlebag. “And then everything turned green, and you showed up!”

“So you didn’t see any sort of magical creature about to send a letter or anything?” Twilight asked.

“Nope! Just walking along and then FWOOSH! I’m in a library!” Pinkie Pie replied.

“Alright, I think I have this figured out. But just to be sure, I need you to try sending the letter one last time, okay Spike?” Twilight asked.

“Oh alright. But this better be the last time. Who knew a letter on friendship could cause so much trouble?” he grumbled, melting away the ice with a small flame and clutching the soggy letter in his claws.

“The last time, hmm? I know just the thing…” Discord said outside.

“Hold on! You did the last two things! It’s my turn now!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

“Whose magic is it?” Discord asked her.

“You two!” Twilight screamed, slamming open a window. “I should’ve known it was you! What do you have to say for yourselves?”

“I’m the better prankster anyway! The best ones were based off of my ideas!” Rainbow Dash shouted.

“Well if you think that way, why don’t we arrange a competition? Best prank wins,” Discord said, folding his arms.

“Fine! We’ll do three pranks each, and the loser has to do whatever the winner says for a week!” Rainbow Dash said.

“Very well then! I look forward to seeing you dancing nonstop for a week.” Discord said, turning around and pulling out an umbrella. “Nice to see you, Twilight, how’re the books?” he gave her a friendly nod. “Ta-ta!” a strong gust of wind blew by as he opened his umbrella and flew away.

Twilight blinked slowly. This was obviously not the reaction she expected. “Um… Rainbow? What’s going on here?”

“Oh, we were just pranking Spike and I agreed to face Discord in a prank-off. Oh feathers…” Rainbow Dash’s eyes widened. “I am so dead.”

Next Chapter: Part 3 intro: Helping Hooves Estimated time remaining: 40 Minutes