I don't own either 'Godzilla' nor 'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic'. 'Godzilla' is a trademark of Toho Co. Ltd. and 'My Little Pony' in all its incarnations is owned by Hasbro.

"Statue Event"

It's a big day in Ponyville. Everyone in the town is out and about, being joined by many a tourist for a big celebratory event honoring the great kaiju king known as Godzilla. This ceremony thanking the mighty kaiju for his heroic deeds in protecting Equestria sees many a unique character out and about. It's up to Twilight Sparkle and all her friends to manage everything and keep it from turning into chaos and anarchy. This may end up being easier said than done, though, when two familiar and rather unwelcomed faces show up to take advantage of the pandemonium surrounding the event.

Takes place before Season 7, Episode 24 "Uncommon Bond"

"What an awesome day!" Apple bloom exclaimed with much excitement and enthusiasm in her voice.

All the others accompanying the young filly through the streets of Ponyville spoke in very enthusiastic agreement. Along with the yellow furred, red-maned filly, there were several well known and even adored personalities in the group. There was her older sister, Applejack, their friends Twilight Sparkle, Muse, Sweetie Belle, Spike, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and even Fluttershy was there. At least, that was all the friends that were together in that particular group while there were a great many more ponies prancing and parading around in the streets around them. Ponies were dressed up, smiling, laughing, talking, singing, dressed up in all sorts of outfits while moving about the streets in a celebratory way. The usually calm and reserved streets of Ponyville, save for the usual farmer's market, had been completely transformed.

There were vendors selling all sorts of products or game stands that'd been setup, or even rides among other things. It was like a carnival had overtaken the streets of the small pony village in the best of ways (which technically it kind of had). Everypony there was having just the time of their lives, even Fluttershy, who was known for not doing so well in crowds. Well... she used to be known for not doing very well anywhere but had come a very long way since then. Now she was able to appreciate the fun, energy, excitement, and even the beauty of the sights and sounds before her.

She smiled brightly and giggled as she watched two fillies in event t-shirts, one carrying a balloon, and another carrying a popsicle ran passed her. The others were all ecstatic as well, even getting in on the celebration in a more hooves-on type of way. It was more claws-on for, Spike who bought a comic from a stand ran by an elderly Earth pony stallion with a green sweater, brushed back gray mane, glasses, and a mustache. As he started to walk away, he saw another Earth pony stallion walking by, one who was tan-furred wearing a brown fedora hat and glasses. He also had a comic, one Spike wanted more, while the stallion wanted the one the young dragon had more.

The two were more than happy to make a friendly trade, which the elderly stallion running the stand was very pleased to see.

"Excelsior!"

"Nuff said!" Spike and the friendly stallion he traded with said at the same time.

After exchanging a fist-to-hoof bump, the two went their separate ways, Spike merrily skipping passed Muse, Starlight Glimmer, and Pinkie Pie. This trio of mares were getting some cotton candy, all of them looking rather excited about enjoying such a tasty treat. But none looked any more excited than Pinkie Pie who was practically quaking in place with the most anticipating expression ever, squealing all the while.

"Gosh, Pinkie, you must really like cotton candy," Muse observed.

"Yeah, I mean, I know sugary treats are your thing," Starlight Glimmer continued, "but isn't this a little overboard just for cotton candy?"

"I'm not excited for me!" Pinkie Pie practically shouted out as she looked to her friends. "I'm excited for Muse!"

"Huh?" Muse and Starlight Glimmer let out together.

"Why's that?" Muse inquired.

"Because you've never had cotton candy before!" Pinkie Pie said. She zipped up, put her hoof around Muse, pulled her close to where their eyes were practically touching, then poked her in the chest. "When you told me how many carnival foods you never tried; popcorn, sweet cakes, fried Twinkies, double chili corn dogs, and all that; I knew I had to make sure you tried them all! But cotton candy absolutely had to be the first!"

"O...kay," Muse said. "I guess when you put it that way, it does make sense. I mean, you are Pinkie Pie and you've gotten excited over a lot of other random stuff."

"Was it really worth throwing a party on an anthill?" Starlight Glimmer asked.

"I was welcoming them into the neighborhood!" Pinkie Pie defended.

"Alrighty then," Starlight Glimmer said.

"Here ya go," the pegasus mare running the cotton candy stand said as she handed over three different flavors of the sweet treat to the mares who ordered them.

"Thanks, Sweet Cake!" an excited Pinkie Pie responded as the mares took their candies.

"No problem, Pinkie Pie," the teal furred, blond maned pony said with a sincere smile.

With that, Muse, Starlight, and Pinkie Pie went to rejoin their group.

"You know," Muse began, "you'd think a pony named Sweet Cakes would actually be selling... well, sweet cakes."

"Why would somepony think that?" a confused Starlight Glimmer asked.

"Well, because... her name's Sweet Cake and the food's called–– " Muse tried to explain. "You know what, never mind."

Pinkie Pie let out a laugh before responding to the exchange more directly.

"Don't worry there, Musey, I got what you meant," Pinkie Pie said reassuringly, making Muse smile. "It still doesn't make any sense, but I got what you meant. A pony wouldn't sell sweet cakes just because their name was Sweet Cake."

Muse's smile was replaced by the most annoyed of glowers, making Pinkie and Starlight both laugh out loud.

"Haha, very funny," Muse grumbled. "Why am I friends with you two again?"

"Ah, don't be like that, Muse!" Pinkie Pie said as she wrapped a hoof around her. "It was just some teasing was all."

Muse looked to her smiling friend just as the pink mare looked away to take a bite of her cotton candy.

"Mmm," Pinkie Pie let out happily. "Flavor swirl."

"Flavor swirl?" Muse said questioningly.

"That's a mix of all the flavors," Fluttershy explained as she flew down to Muse's side. The trio welcomed her with gleeful smiles. "It was a product that came from Pinkie Pie being a constant cotton candy eater. One flavor was never enough for her; not even two. Nope, she didn't stop until she'd tasted every flavor available in Ponyville."

"Then I went out and got more to make... flavor swirl," Pinkie Pie said longingly as she stared at her bitten into treat like it was her boyfriend.

"Well then," Muse said. "Never thought a pony could be that dedicated to candy."

"So, Muse, you've really never tried it before?" Starlight Glimmer asked. "Cotton candy that is."

"Nope," Muse said. "Being forced into living in isolation in the middle of a forest on an island full of death-loving minotaurs is a surprisingly restricting life."

"Oh, sure, when you put it that way, anything can sound like a dumb question," Starlight Glimmer said. "I see your point though. Sorry it was like that for you for so long, Muser. I'm also sorry if I made you relive some traumatic memories just now."

"No, no, it's fine, Starlight Glimmer," Muse said. "No, you're cool, I was just explaining."

"Albeit with a whole lot of sass," Fluttershy said as she raised an eyebrow.

Muse responded with a small smirk.

"You're one to talk, girlfriend," Muse said before sharing a giggle with the creamy yellow pegasus. Then she stopped and looked around. "No, we didn't get to do a whole lot of what I'm seeing around here. Not to these levels at least. Whenever we tried to do something like this... it was a lot smaller.

"We honestly didn't do anything anywhere near close to this until... until..."

"Until what, Muse?" Fluttershy asked.

"Well, until you guys came along," Muse said. "When Pinkie Pie threw that one party after the minotaurs and Solomon got chased away the first time. She saw how miserable we were and... tried to turn our frowns upside down."

"Yeah, Pinkie really––"

Fluttershy stopped speaking when she turned and saw Pinkie Pie. Muse and Starlight turned to see what the deal was, only to find their usually cheerful pink friend looking highly emotional. She then burst into tears, which spouted out of the sides of her eyes like water fountains.

"That's horrible!" Pinkie Pie let out before rushing up to and tightly hugging Muse. "Ohh, you poor, poor thing! I knew it was bad, but I had no idea it was that bad! What kind of living being wouldn't let a pony––"

Pinkie Pie couldn't even finish as she started sobbing again, although not nearly to the magnitude she had previously. She also used her tail to wipe away her tears and the snot dripping from her nose.

"No, no, no, Pinkie, it's okay!" Muse tried to reassure her friend. "No, my life is much better now that––"

Muse was stopped when Pinkie Pie actually used her tail like a handkerchief to blow her nose into. The sight gave Muse, Fluttershy, and Starlight all pause as they looked somewhat disturbed, passing those same glances onto each other as if to question what they were seeing. Then the poofy maned pony wheezed in a deep breath.

"No!" Pinkie Pie said as she ran up and pointed a hoof in Muse's nose, looking serious as ever. "This affront to all things fun mustn't be allowed to persist any longer. Musewith Rainbow Tail, I vow to you I will make sure you have the full festival-going experience, giving you years worth in just one day! You were deprived of it for far too long."

"Is your full name really Musewith Rainbow Tail?" Starlight Glimmer asked, to which Muse shook her head.

"I have no idea where she got––"

"And it all starts-" Pinkie Pie let out, cutting Muse off and making her friends look to her in surprise, "-with you taking that first bite of cotton candy."

"Well, technically, I've already been getting the festival––"

"I said eat it, Musewith!" Pinkie Pie let out as she pointed a hoof.

"Okay, okay!" Muse said as she held up a hoof. "Don't need to bite my head off."

"You should still try it, Muse," Starlight Glimmer said. She then took a bite of her own cotton candy. "It's sweet and tasty."

"You'll really love it," Fluttershy assured her friend. "Careful though, if you don't swallow it quickly, it'll vanish."

The multi-colored alicorn looked confused, but still used her horn's magic to pull a piece of the sugary treat off from the rest. She then looked to see the others smiling at her, waiting for her to try it. Pinkie Pie particularly seemed to be shaking in anticipation for Muse to try a bite. The mare simply shrugged and plopped the cotton candy piece in her mouth. Instantly her eyes lit up, trembled, and even seemed like they were watering a bit. Her face looked as though she had been transported to an ethereal plane of existence far beyond the mortal realm, Muse was that enthralled with the taste of cotton candy.

"It's... beautiful," Muse said in a voice that trembled as much as her eyes and body did. She gazed upon the cotton candy she held almost as if it were a lover. "I've tasted lots of stuff before... but this... I–– Oh!"

The cry of surprise snapped everyone out of the d'aww trance Muse's reaction to the cotton candy had put them in.

"What's wrong, Muse?" Fluttershy asked.

"Well," Muse began, "I see now what you meant about the cotton candy vanishing if you don't eat fast enough."

"Ohh!" the others all said before letting out fits of laughter.

"So now you see why I wanted you to taste it?!" Pinkie Pie asked excitedly, her face up in Muse's.

"Girl, you have no idea!" Muse squealed back.

Muse wasted no time in gobbling the rest of the cotton candy down faster than could be believed. Even Fluttershy and Starlight took notice of how fast Muse was eating the cotton candy. While they looked a bit concerned about it, Pinkie Pie just smiled like it was any other day. They all watched as Muse licked her lips in satisfaction, hoping to taste any morsels left around her mouth.

"That was so great," Muse said. "Can I get more?!"

"Ordinarily I would say, uh duh!" Pinkie Pie said. "But there's still so much more great and fun stuff for you to experience here!"

Muse looked around at all the delightful things going on around her. The food, games, side-show attractions, and how everypony seemed to be enjoying it all mesmerized her.

"It all looks so amazing," Muse said.

"Yep, and I want you to try it all!" Pinkie Pie said as her alicorn friend smiled at her. "Then we can get some more cotton candy afterward if you want. Does that sound good?"

"You bet!" Muse exclaimed happily.

"Great!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed excitedly as she grabbed Muse's hoof and started to drag her away. "Come on! I want you to see my sister Maud's rock stand she set up!" Pinkie then stopped dragging Muse away for just a moment to look and say, "Thank you for helping her set it up, Starlight Glimmer!"

"No problem, Pinkie," the unicorn mare replied sincerely. "It was my pleasure."

"Okay, goodbye now!" Pinkie Pie said. "Come on, Muse!"

With that, Pinkie Pie dragged an equally excited Muse out for a day full of fun.

"Looks like it's gonna be quite the exciting day for Muse," Fluttershy said.

"It seems to me like it's an exciting day for Ponyville in general," Starlight Glimmer said.

"And why shouldn't they be excited, darling?" Fluttershy and Starlight turned to see Rarity coming their way, wearing a wonderful hat, and greeted her warmly. "Today is a day entirely worth being joyous and exuberant for!"

"Yeah, and everyone should be happy too," Sweetie Belle said, having accompanied her older sister.

The prim and proper-looking fashionista looked down to the little filly at her side with a smile and raised eyebrow. The younger unicorn responded with a big cheeky grin. Eventually, all four ponies busted out in laughter.

"Yo!" Everypony turned to see Rainbow Dash flying over with a bundle of stuffed animals and carnival prizes that hid Scootaloo following close behind. "S'up?"

"S'up?" Scootaloo's muffled voice said from underneath all the prizes.

Everypony else in the group greeted the two pegasi as warmly as one would expect such close friends to.

"Hey!" Fluttershy said as she pointed a hoof.

Everypony looked to see Applejack and Apple Bloom walking up to their group, Apple Bloom also carrying several prizes on her back.

"Howdy, y'all," Applejack and Apple Bloom both greeted their friends.

The group responded by showering them with their own warm greetings.

"Quite a shindig they put on today, wouldn't ya say?" Applejack asked.

"I do say," Rarity exclaimed happily. "Today has been utterly wonderful and most resplendent." Rarity paused and looked around for a moment before the smallest hint of a frown crossed her face. "The color pallet could be a little more organized and coded... but it's still a fun, fantastic day all the same."

"To be fair," everypony looked and saw Twilight Sparkle and Spike walking their way, "it is the event manager's first time being... well, the event manager. Can't expect him to get every single little detail right the first time."

"True," Rarity said. "But I'm confident you'll bring him up to our level soon enough, Twilight, dear."

"Oh, you can count on it," Twilight Sparkle said.

Everypony laughed before they started greeting Twilight Sparkle and Spike properly and vice-versa. Like before, it was all warm feelings and good vibes as if they were all the absolute best of friends (which they were).

"H- Hello, Rarity," Spike said somewhat bashfully once all the chatter died down.

He then attempted to hide the new stash of comic books he'd just acquired behind his back.

"Oh, hello, Spikey-poo," Rarity said as she trotted up and started rubbing her hooves all over the purple dragon's face. She stopped and looked at the bag of comics laying behind Spike. "Oh, what have you got there?"

Rarity used her levitation magic to bring the bag of comics around, making Spike gasp.

"Rarity, no!" Spike let out. "Those–– Those are––"

"Ooh, a new stash of comic books I see," Rarity said. "You must be so happy, Spikey-Wikey."

"Uh... yeah," Spike said. "You don't mind?"

"Goodness no, not at all," Rarity said. "Why would I mind, Spike? I know you enjoy comic books and that they make you happy. Anypony who'd mind that needs to learn how to mind their own business." Rarity looked to see a big smile on Spike's face, which made hers all the brighter.

"Never let anyone keep you from the things that make you happy, Spike. No matter what."

"Thanks, Rarity," Spike said in a somewhat romantically longing voice before letting out a sigh.

Rarity actually took a comic book out of the bag and started flipping through it.

"Ooh!" Rarity let out. "This is a Godzilla comic book!"

"No way!" Starlight Glimmer let out. "Godzilla's got his own comic book series now?!"

"Several actually," Twilight Sparkle said. "Ever since Godzilla saved us all from doom and destruction––"

"A lot," Apple Bloom pointed out.

"Everyone's being trying to get a piece of Godzilla's publicity," Twilight Sparkle said. "That includes multiple publishers releasing Godzilla adventure novels and comic books."

"Myself included, I'm proud to say," Scootaloo boasted as she stood and looked proud.

"Uh, Scoots," Rainbow Dash chimed in. "Where did all your prizes and stuff go?"

"Oh, I put them away," Scootaloo said as she looked to Rainbow Dash.

There was a second or two of awkward silence, Rainbow Dash not knowing exactly what Scootaloo meant, how she could make all the stuff disappear, or what to say next.

"Don't forget I helped you with that comic book, too," Spike said. "I had the business know-how to make it happen. Not to mention some of the artwork was mine."

"I helped write some too," Sweetie Belle said.

"Me too," Apple Bloom said as she stepped forward.

"Um, Apple Bloom," Applejack said, "what happened to all the stuff on your back?"

"I put it away," Apple Bloom replied.

What happened after was basically the same awkward scenario Rainbow Dash had walked herself into with Scootaloo. It was silent and Applejack wasn't sure exactly what her little sister meant or where she possibly could've put everything she'd won for her sister.

"Oookay," Applejack let out. She then walked up to Rainbow Dash, put a hoof to the side of her mouth and mumbled to her cyan blue friend. "Where do you think those fillies put all that stuff?"

"Your guess is as good as mine," Rainbow Dash said out loud. "It's strange for sure." Her eyes suddenly widened in realization before a mischievous smile crossed her face. "All I do know is that Scootaloo had to hide a lot more stuff. Or at least that's what it looked like to me, Applejack.

"Gotta admit, that's pretty impressive, or at least I'd say so. Almost as impressive as what the pony that won those prizes for her had to go through. Who was that again?" Rainbow Dash paused as an inquisitive expression crossed her face and she scratched her chin. "Hmm... oh, yeah! It was me!"

"Oh, boy, here we go," Fluttershy mumbled.

A slightly annoyed and more so competitive look crossed Applejack's face.

"I would've won Apple Bloom more stuff," Applejack began, "but we spent half our time helping set up the Apple family's stand. The other half I spent at the test of strength... which I won, fifteen times out of fifteen. I could win all these carnival games with one hoof tied behind my back."

"Yeah, well––" Rainbow Dash started. "I already did the test of strength twice and beat it both times, along with half the games here."

"Bet ya can't beat the other half before I beat them all," Applejack said, a playful, yet competitive smile on her face.

"Oh, we'll see about that," Rainbow Dash said.

The two then stared each other down with the kind of smiles most athletes have on their faces right before going into the big game or the big fight depending on the sport. At the same time, the Crusaders and Spike had continued on about their collaborative effort on their Godzilla comic book.

"I know, I know," Scootaloo said. "You all helped and I'm proud to have worked with you guys. Especially since our comic was more so a labor of appreciation than wanting to take advantage of Godzilla's good status in Equestria."

"Hmm, I don't know," Rarity said. "Is a scenario where Godzilla goes to another planet and dances really a labor of love? It seems rather juvenile to me."

"That's just the funny short at the end," Spike said. "To leave off on a good note. If you look again, the main story gets really... well, real."

Rarity looked again before turning to Spike.

"You and I seem to have somewhat dissimilar definitions of real, Spikey-Poo," Rarity said. She looked again. "Still, I have to admire the creativity of thinking up Godzilla fighting his way through Tartarus. Never would've been able to picture that."

"No need to either," Twilight Sparkle said. "I talked to Princess Celestia after her visits to Tartarus. Apparently, the guy who runs the place isn't that bad of a guy. Uh, to the right ponies that is. Anyone living or dead who ended up in Tartarus that was evil is in for a... let's say, not so pleasant time."

Twilight Sparkle paused for a moment before looking to the comic book Rarity was skimming through. "Rarity, can I see that?"

"Certainly, darling," Rarity said before politely levitating the comic over to her alicorn friend.

Twilight Sparkle's telekinesis took over as she opened up the comic book.

"Is this one of yours, Spike?" Twilight Sparkle asked. "One you worked on with the girls that is."

"Huh, we wish," Spike grumbled spitefully.

"Someone else published the idea before we could," Scootaloo said.

"Someone with clearly wider distribution," Sweetie Belle said. "Rarity took me with her on one of her business trips to Van Hoover, the comic was on stands and in the shops everywhere."

"When did comics start getting that kind of attention again?" Twilight asked.

"Never," Spike said. "It's only because it's a Godzilla product. Ponies eat that stuff up like candy."

"Anyways," Apple Bloom said, "since we couldn't do Godzilla in Tartarus, we had to go with our next best idea."

"Which was?" Starlight Glimmer chimed in.

"Godzilla: Rage Across Time!" The CMC and Spike all boasted proudly.

"Yeah, Godzilla goes to different periods in time!" Scootaloo let out excitedly.

"And then messes up any bad guy, monster, or higher power's good times!" Apple Bloom let out.

"As only Godzilla can!" Spike and Sweetie Belle said at the same time, surprising them both.

"Well, I got to give you credit for creativity," Twilight Sparkle said as she gave Spike back his comic book.

"Traitor," Sweetie Belle whispered playfully before nudging Spike, who nudged her back. "Buying a competitor's comic."

"Still," Twilight Sparkle went on, "if there were going to be any grand acts of appreciation for Godzilla at all, I'd prefer it be something more like this."

Twilight Sparkle then waved her hoof at the big event going on around them.

"You mean a big party with a statue reveal at the end?" Spike inquired. "Any professional party pony could do that. We put a lot of effort into our comics."

"Besides," Apple Bloom interjected, "every other town in Equestria has had their own statue unveiling for Godzilla. Not that he don't deserve them all, but still."

"You gotta admit, she has a point," Spike said. "Also, we went straight to Godzilla for approval with our ideas."

"You did?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Yeah," Spike and the CMC said together.

"That's super cool G said yes to them!" Rainbow Dash said. "It was all of them, right?"

"Yes," Spike said.

"Uh-huh," Scootaloo added.

"Eeeyup," Apple Bloom said.

"No rejections so far," Sweetie Belle finished.

"Now I really need to focus more on expanding my collection," Rainbow Dash said. "With a stronger emphasis on your guys' stuff."

"You have a Godzilla comic book collection, Rainbow Dash?" Scootaloo asked excitedly.

"I got a Godzilla collection, period, squirt," Rainbow Dash said as she ruffled Scootaloo's hair. "Can't get enough of the Big G. Aside from me, he's the coolest cat around."

"I suppose those products shouldn't be made either, Twilight?" Spike asked. "I mean, they are things made in Godzilla's image that ponies are profiting off of. Even though there's gonna be a lot of profit for ponies from this festival too."

"Nothing wrong with that, though, darling," Rarity said.

"Oh, I know that," Spike said, "It's just that––"

"No, no, Spike's right," Twilight Sparkle said. "I went off the deep end a little. Any show of affection, respect, and appreciation for Godzilla should be taken at equal value. Just so long as it's done for the right reason without doing any harm."

"I can agree with that," Spike said.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders also spoke in agreement as well.

"Sorry, about that," Twilight Sparkle said. "I guess I'm a little tired, thus easily up in hooves on a soapbox. It's exhausting having as much fun as I have today enjoying Ponyville's first annual Godzilla Celebration Day."

Everyone else looked around at the celebration going on around them and smiled happily to see so many other ponies enjoying the festival as much as they were.

"I will say this," Spike said after a moment. "If anypony deserves such a big show of appreciation like this, it's definitely Godzilla."

"I do agree," Apple Bloom said. "Although if I'm honest, I think y'all should get days like this too. Along with Pinkie Pie... wherever she is."

"Right here, Apple Bloom!" Pinkie Pie called out loudly as she and Muse seemed to appear out of nowhere.

This caused a small jump and scream from the others, but after a few breaths and looking to see who it was that caused the commotion, their demeanor quickly returned to normal.

"Pinkie Pie, don't do that!" Twilight Sparkle said.

"What have we talked to you about when it comes to showing up behind ponies randomly and screamin'?" Applejack asked.

"It's annoying and ponies don't like it?" Pinkie Pie said questioningly. "Because it scares them?"

Everypony else nodded their heads and spoke in confirmation.

"So you probably should've?" Applejack went on.

"Not did that?" Pinkie Pie asked further.

"Yes," everypony else except Muse said.

"So... please at least try to take that more to heart?" Applejack requested.

"Okay," Pinkie Pie said as she looked to the others. "Sorry, everypony. It's a force of habit, you know? Especially when it comes to surprise parties."

"It's fine when you're doing it for that occasion, Pinkie, darling," Rarity said. "But only then."

"Rodger Dodger," Pinkie Pie said with a salute.

"Who's Rodger?" Spike wondered out loud.

"Do you always get put on blast like this?" Muse whispered to her pink friend.

"No," Pinkie Pie whispered back. "Only every once in a good while. I don't blame them though. I mean, I am me after all."

"But I like you," Muse said.

"Thanks, kiddo," Pinkie Pie said with a smile of appreciation. "I like you too."

The two friends then hugged, big smiles plastered on their faces.

"I'm sure we all appreciate your sentiment, Apple Bloom," Twilight Sparkle said. "I know I do, but we're just not those kind of... uh..."

"Heroes?" Sweetie Belle offered.

"Well, I was looking for a different, better word to use," Twilight Sparkle said. "But I guess that describes us well enough. But yes, that's not the kind of heroes we are. At least, I'm not. My reward is every day we wake up and Equestria is still here."

"I get my appreciation by still getting to work on the farm," Applejack said.

"Expanding my business," Rarity added on.

"Getting to be with my animal friends," Fluttershy said.

"Performing with the Wonderbolts and getting to hear everypony cheer for me," Rainbow Dash added on.

"Planning and then throwing parties!" Pinkie Pie said.

"You see, Apple Bloom?" Applejack asked. "That's the appreciation we're content with. Waking up every day and having it be just like it's supposed to be."

"The same is actually true for Godzilla too," Fluttershy said. "Although he's told me how grateful he is for these parties, and festivals, and statues, and other shows of appreciation. Still, more or less said all he needs is... basically his own version of what we all said."

"Ponies pretty much just do these kinds of things in Godzilla's name... because they want to," Starlight Glimmer added on.

"I'm sure it doesn't hurt the local economies of the town doing these things," Spike said.

"What about the money setting these things up?" Scootaloo asked.

"To make money, you gotta spend money," Spike said. "Oh, I guess it really is a well-working economy either way."

"Very good, Spike," Twilight Sparkle said. "So either way you choose to look at it, these big events are still a huge positive." Guess making a profit off of Godzilla isn't such a bad thing in some ways at least.

"Unless you're trying to be a debbie-downer," Pinkie Pie said. She then turned away and held a hoof to the side of her mouth. "No offense, Debbie!"

"None taken!" Debbie Downer called back. "I'm used to it!"

"See?" Twilight Sparkle asked as she pointed a hoof around at the festival. "Right there, sll of that. That is what makes this day worth it the most. The joy and jubilation of the ponies enjoying it."

"And I do hope they keep enjoying it."

Everypony looked to see a familiar, tan-furred, black-maned Earth pony stallion walking up to them. The only difference was he had a pencil resting on his ear and a clipboard on his back.

"TJ!" several ponies let out happily, but none more than Twilight Sparkle.

They all gathered around him and greeted the busy Earth pony as warmly as they would any other friend.

"Hey, everypony," Thunder Jack greeted back. He then looked directly at the alicorn princess in the group. "Hey, Sparkles."

The two smiled at each other warmly before exchanging a kiss.

"How are things going, Jacky?" Twilight Sparkle asked her boyfriend.

"You tell me," TJ said. "How's everyone enjoying the day so far? Everypony having a good time?" The others all responded with massive grins, all showing off their pearly whites. "I guess I can take that as a yes.

"Glad to see I can mark you all down as satisfied." He then looked around at all that was going on and his smile grew even brighter. "Looks like I can mark it down for just about everypony else, too, locals and tourists alike."

"I'd certainly say so!" Applejack said. "Haven't seen this much fun in Ponyville in a long trottin' time."

"I know I've been having the time of my life!" Muse said.

"We both have!" Pinkie Pie said.

"That's right, you two went off to enjoy the festival," Starlight Glimmer said.

"Mm-hmm," Pinkie Pie and Muse said together as they nodded.

"So why did you come back so soon?" Fluttershy asked.

"We already did everything," Muse and Pinkie Pie said together.

Everyone else froze for a moment, standing there looking puzzled, which got their two friends confused.

"What?" they said together.

"You already did... everything there is to do here?" Applejack asked.

"Yeah," Pinkie Pie and Muse confirmed.

"In just a matter of minutes?" Twilight Sparkle added on.

"Yeah," the two mares said together.

"Is it really that surprising?" Pinkie Pie asked. "I'm all about fun, Muse wanted to have fun, and... well, it's me!"

"Yeah, we went on all the rides," Muse said excitedly.

"Played all the games!" Pinkie Pie went on.

"Went to all the picture booths," Muse went on.

"Ate at all the food stands," Pinkie Pie said.

"My stomach's gonna make me regret that later," Muse said. "But heck, it's worth it for all the fun we've been having!"

"We even enjoyed Trixie's fireworks and magic show!" Pinkie Pie said. "And we looked in at my sister Maud's rocks and minerals stand."

"She wasn't there herself, though," Muse said. "Guess she was on a break or something. A shame because I really wanted to meet her."

"Don't worry, Musey, we'll get another chance," Pinkie Pie said reassuringly.

"Oh, that reminds me," Starlight Glimmer interjected. "I was supposed to help Trixie with her shows! And help Maud with her stand later! Gotta go! Bye!"

The light purple unicorn disappeared in a flash before anyone could say or do anything else.

"Uh... bye?" Apple Bloom let out.

"Well, it certainly looks like everything's going great," TJ said before letting out a nervous sounding chuckle. "Thank Celestia, because I wasn't really sure how this was gonna work out when you asked me to help the mayor and city council organize this and actually have me be head manager. I was really freaking out but wanted to make you happy because I appreciated the chance you were taking on me, Twilight, and so I tried my best to––"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, TJ, calm down!" Twilight Sparkle said as she ran up and grabbed a hold of her man.

"Seriously, you're talking a word a second," Rainbow Dash said.

"And you're sweating a lot," Apple Bloom said.

"And turning an unflattering shade of red," Rarity added on.

"In other words," Spike said.

"Take a chill pill," everyone said to TJ.

"Guess you rubbed off more on him than we thought, Twi," Rainbow Dash said.

"So this is what it's like to be on the other side of one of these," Twilight Sparkle said.

"Nah, he always freaks out whenever he has anything he has to do," Muse said.

"I do not!" TJ said defensively. Muse just sat with her front legs crossed and a smug smile on her face. "Okay, yeah! But it's only because I don't want to let anypony down."

"You never do though, TJ," Twilight Sparkle said.

"Oh, there have been times," TJ said. "I hate to admit it, but there have been a few instances where for one reason or another I... done goofed."

"Everypony has their moments," Applejack said. "But I gotta say, I've seen a lot more of your positive moments than your negatives since you came to live in Ponyville alone. Add on all the good I know ya done did on the island back in the day and I'd say you're a gold standard for stallions."

TJ smiled appreciatively.

"You really think so, Applejack?" TJ asked. Then the orange Earth pony mare and the others looked at the stallion with amused smiles. "Right, honesty. Well... cool then. Does... everypony feel the same way?"

The others all spoke in confirmation and nodded their heads for emphasis.

"Was there ever really any doubt, cuz?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Sometimes I do," TJ said. "I won't act like it isn't nice to have an 'Atta boy' every once in a while."

"Aww," Twilight Sparkle said as she leaned up against TJ. Then she ruffled a hoof through his mane. "Atta boy."

Then everyone else started crowding around TJ to mess with him while letting out their own "Atta boy." This got TJ laughing, but he also struggled to get away from everyone.

"Aw, you guys are the best," TJ said when he finally broke free.

"Well, welcome to the elite," Rainbow Dash said. "Because if we're the best, that means you're the best too! You're one of us now!"

"In other words, what everyone's trying to say, big bro," Muse interjected, "you're a good pony and you've done a good job with this... festival... carnival... party... thingy."

"Thanks, sis," TJ said with a smile. "I think it's officially being called a statue event, but if somepony wants to call it any of those other things, I won't fight them. Just so long as they don't call it a bust... or lame... or boring... or anything like that."

"Oh, trust me, TJ," Muse said, "I don't think there's any chance of that happening."

"Fair enough," TJ said. "You did experience almost the whole thing yourself."

"Almost?" Muse asked.

"Well, there's still the unveiling itself," TJ said.

"True, true," Muse responded.

"Here I come, ready or not," Firefly said as she slowly hovered in for a landing.

"Hi, Mom!" Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo both said excitedly.

They quickly ran over and embraced the pink pegasus, who gladly did the same with a beaming smile on her face.

"Hey, girls!" Firefly let out happily. Then she looked to the others around her. "S'up, everypony?"

Everypony else talked at the same time, warmly greeting the newcomer to the Ponyville Godzilla Day celebration.

"We're so glad you could be here, Firefly," Twilight Sparkle said joyously.

"Too true, auntie!" TJ exclaimed.

"What brings ya out this way?" Applejack asked.

"As if we didn't already know," Spike said.

"Y'all kidding?" Firefly asked. "Once I heard Ponyville was throwing a bash for our favorite crime-fighting lizard, I had to be here!"

"Have you been to any of the other Godzilla celebrations across Equestria, Mom?" Scootaloo asked.

"Yeah, how has your exploring Equestria been?" Rainbow Dash added on.

"Great," Firefly replied. "So much has changed... Some not as much as it should. A few ponies still ruder than the day is long. But still, gotta admit, I see a lot of positive changes. Most of which I here you and your friends caused, Twilight. Including my daughter."

"Yes, absolutely," Twilight Sparkle replied. "Rainbow Dash is just as important a pony as any of my friends have been in helping me spread peace, harmony, and friendship across Equestria."

"Don't forget saving it from destruction on a regular basis," Pinkie Pie chimed in.

"True, but in a way, teaching friendship plays a big part in that too," Twilight Sparkle responded.

"Heck, I believe it," Firefly said. "After seeing the things I've seen, you're darn right I believe it."

"It was the magic of friendship that helped Godzilla to be loved by everypony everywhere––" Twilight Sparkle started.

"And got him to kick serious monster tail for us and got him these regular bashes as a result!" Rainbow Dash finished.

"I only hope Ponyville's measures up," TJ said hopefully.

"Yo, TJ, it's cool," Firefly said. "I may have just got here, but it looks awesome to me so far. Can't wait to try everything out."

"Thanks, auntie," TJ said. He then turned to his fellow Earth pony. "And thank you, Pinkie Pie, for your guidance while I was putting this together." TJ then looked around to his friends. "That goes for all of you, too. I appreciate all the help you gave me."

"We were happy to help, cuz," Rainbow Dash assured TJ.

"We did try to be as hooves-off as possible, though," Rarity said. "We wanted to make this as much your baby as we possibly could."

"While still trying to give you nudges in the right direction," Applejack said with a wink.

"Would've been cool if we'd gotten Godzilla to make an actual appearance, though," Spike said.

"I was thinking the same thing, Spike," TJ said. "I mean, I know he only ever appeared at the Canterlot celebration that one time. Still, having Godzilla show up here would've been quite the statement. Probably the guaranteed thing to make this festival a success."

"Now, now, TJ," Twilight Sparkle said in an overly mothering way as she rubbed the back of his head. "You can't expect Godzilla to make an appearance at every festival thrown in his honor around Equestria."

"Yeah, but I at least thought he'd come to the one thrown by his friends," TJ insisted. "I mean, technically Ponyville was the first town in Equestria to give him a fair chance."

"Still, you know there are several reasons why Godzilla couldn't be here," Twilight Sparkle replied. "Including some personal desires on Godzilla's own part."

"I know, I know," TJ said. "You're right, Twilight, I'm not debating that. I was only saying."

"That's fair," Twilight Sparkle said.

"A part of me does sort of agree with TJ," Fluttershy said. "If only for my own wishes. Although I will admit it's... kind of selfish."

"Why do you say that, Fluttershy?" Muse asked.

"Well," Fluttershy began, "lately Godzilla's just been spending so much more time away from Equestria. I can't help but be worried about that."

"About what exactly, Fluttershy dear?" Rarity asked.

"Godzilla growing more distant from us," Fluttershy said. "More distant from me."

"Ah, come on now, Fluttershy, ya know that just ain't so," Applejack said as the group started to walk along. "You know Godzilla loves us all with that big powerful heart of his. That's especially true for you."

"Yes, but he's spending so much more time away from home," Fluttershy said.

"I don't mean this the way it sounds, but G doesn't really have a set home," Rainbow Dash said. "Wait, does that island he found with Anguirus count?"

"You're not worried that Godzilla's spending more time with Anguirus, are you, Fluttershy?" Muse asked.

"No, no," Fluttershy said. But then she silently mulled it over. "Okay, yes, a little bit. Only because... I... Well, I guess I'm a bit jealous."

"JEALOUS?!" several of the others let out.

"I know it sounds bad, I'm sorry," Fluttershy said. "I'm happy Godzilla found someone more like him and is getting out to see more of the world. I just... hope it doesn't lead to him not wanting to see us that much. Or wanting to see me... or forgetting about us completely."

"That's paranoia talking, Fluttershy," TJ said.

"I know, TJ," Fluttershy responded. "I know I shouldn't feel this way, but I do. It's selfish, it's silly, and it's wrong."

"Don't think bad about yourself, Fluttershy," Twilight Sparkle said. "It's not wrong for you to care so strongly about a friend. What you do need to do is just remember that this world is still so relatively new to Godzilla. It has so much more left to offer him in terms of discovery. It probably does for us to, but not near to the extent for Godzilla and Anguirus."

"Twilight's right, Flutters," Muse chimed in. "It's also like you said, too, Godzilla and Anguirus both have a pal to hang out with now. A pal they can relate to on a much more personal level in each other. I mean, it doesn't bother me at all that Anguirus and Godzilla have been kicking it together more and further away from Equestria recently."

"It doesn't, Muse?" Fluttershy inquired.

"Not at all," Muse said. "Would I like to hang out with Anguirus more? Sure, but I know he and Godzilla are paling it up and will do it the best way they can. Even for some other creatures' benefit if they can. Remember what we heard about with the parrot island?"

"Oh, that sounded so awesome," Rainbow Dash said.

"Definitely worth making a comic book out of," Scootaloo chimed in.

"I heard that," Spike added on.

"I smell another collab coming," Pinkie Pie said.

"So you see, Fluttershy, darling?" Rarity asked. "Not only should we not be fretting over Godzilla and Anguirus spending so much time away from Equestria together, perhaps we should even be encouraging it."

"If they can do that for that small island, just imagine what else they could do," Applejack said.

"Just keep in mind Godzilla will always love us all and always want to come back to us," Pinkie Pie said as she jumped up to Fluttershy. She then booped her hoof on the tip of the yellow pegasus pony's nose. "Especially you."

Fluttershy giggled while a few chuckles and soft laughs escaped the mouths of her surrounding friends.

"You're all right," Fluttershy finally conceded happily. "I have nothing to worry about. So long as Godzilla's happy, I should be too."

"That's the spirit, girl!" Firefly said enthusiastically. "Now you can enjoy the rest of your day!"

"Only if you all are a part of it," Fluttershy said. "Come on, everypony, let's go have a good rest of the day."

"YAY!" the others said enthusiastically.

Then the whole group ran out to enjoy the rest of their day.

4 HOURS LATER:

It was late into the afternoon heading into the early evening as the sun slowly started lowering out of the sky. Yet the fun and excitement in the festival showed no signs of slowing down whatsoever. Everypony was still going strong in celebrating the glory that they felt was Godzilla and all he'd done for the prosperous country of Equestria. Hidden among this enormous gathering of equines (among a few members of other species) Twilight Sparkle and all her friends were still out and about. They'd broken off a few times to do their own thing, as one might expect they would, but they'd always reconvene and do a ton of fun stuff together as the group of besties they were.

"Man, this has been one of the best days of my life," Spike said happily. "And I've had a lot of good days in my life."

"I hear ya, Spike-O!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed. "This is one of the best days of my lives! Including all the millions of days collected from my past lives!"

"Do you believe in reincarnation, Pinkie?" Muse asked.

"Me? Why I've never even kissed a girl," Pinkie Pie replied. "Yet."

Pinkie Pie added a wink that made Muse unsure how to feel.

"What in carnation are y'all going on about?" Applejack asked, soliciting laughs from her friends.

"Ohh, today's just been great," TJ said. "Today's just been such a great day. I even got to monitor it a little while I was having fun with my friends."

"Gee, I wonder where you got your multi-tasking skills?" Applejack said sarcastically before smiling and winking at Twilight.

TJ smiled as he pressed his front hooves against Twilight Sparkle's while she smiled right back. Then they snuggled cheek-to-cheek, loving how affectionate they were to each other.

"Look over yonder!" Apple Bloom said excitedly as she pointed.

Everypony turned to see that the Apple family's stand seemed to be doing good business. They were selling all sorts of products, including apple cider, which made both Rainbow Dash and Firefly's mouths water.

"Looks like the Apples made the right choice setting up a stand at the festival," Applejack said proudly.

"Oh, Celestia, absolutely," TJ said. "It's been a hit all day, AJ. I know because I kept checking. You and your family have a lot to be proud of."

"Why thank ya mighty kindly, TJ," Applejack said before hugging her friend. "Course I reckon it wouldn't be as big a hit if we didn't have such a dedicated baker on hoof helping out."

Applejack pointed behind the stand, revealing a long dark blue-haired, and lighter blue-furred unicorn mare at an oven baking some nice apple goods. TJ and Muse both smiled proudly.

"Mom seems to be coming along," TJ said.

"After separating time working at Sugarcube Corner and Sweet Apple Acres, I'd certainly hope so," Muse said.

"I can confirm having seen her work both places," Pinkie Pie said. "She's doing great."

"Really?" Muse asked with concern. "She's not overworking herself?"

"Like Dad did, having to miss the festival as a result?" TJ added.

"No, no," Apple Bloom assured. "At least far as I've seen, she's been going fairly well."

"She does try to do more than her fair share sometimes," Applejack admitted. "Only because she wants to be helpful and see something's done right. Sort of reminds me of Granny Smith, which is why I think they're working together so well."

"Still, can't help but feel a little guilty she's working today while we're running around having fun," Muse said.

"I hear ya," Applejack said as she watched Granny Smith and Big Mac work the stand.

"Nope, nope, nope," Pinkie Pie said. "None of that." She pointed her hooves at the stand. "They agreed to work the stand together so you all could have a good time. I remember because I was there when they specifically told you 'young whipper-snappers' not to worry about a thing. Let them do the work while you go have fun."

"Pinkie Pie's right, fam," Firefly said. "They're doing the heavy lifting for the day because that's how they wanted it to be."

"Yeah, I reckon y'all are right," Applejack said.

"Of course I'm right," Firefly said. "I'm always right."

"Except when you're wrong," Rainbow Dash chimed in, making the others laugh, even Firefly herself. But then Rainbow Dash got a serious look on her face as she pulled her mom aside. "Speaking of fam, Mom, are you sure you don't want to... you know, with Dad––"

"Dashie, no," Firefly said firmly. "Now's not the right time. Not when your dad seems so happy bring married to the mare he's with."

"Will it ever be the right time then?" Rainbow Dash asked.

Firefly hesitated for a moment before replying.

"Eventually, I will tell him I'm back," Firefly assured her daughter. "I promise I will. It just has to feel right for me."

"Okay, Mom," Rainbow Dash said, though she still felt disappointed.

Firefly put a hoof around her daughter's shoulders and offered her a small smile, which Rainbow Dash returned in kind.

"So we have a little bit of time before the statue unveiling ceremony," Twilight Sparkle said. "What does everypony want to do?"

"We could ride the roller coaster," a voice said, one that sounded familiar to most of the group.

"That's impossible," TJ said. "We don't have a roller coaster."

"Then what is that?" Sweetie Belle asked as she pointed.

TJ noticed the unicorn filly was pointing and staring at something behind him, the others in his group also staring. TJ turned and looked up... and his heart felt like it'd jumped right into his throat as he saw the jumbled, random, ball of disjointed monstrosity that only barely resembled a roller coaster. It was a track leading carts around true, but it had so many twists and turns, ups and downs, zigs and zags; it was large and chaotic, much more so than any other roller coaster to ever exist. There was a good reason for that, for no safety regulators in their right mind would approve of something so dangerous.

"What in the wide wide world of Equestria is that?!" TJ let out in horror. He looked at his clipboard and then back to the monster of a roller coaster. "That wasn't in the plans. Th- That wasn't even there before. How the heck did that bunch of chaos get there?!"

"How indeed," the voice from earlier said again.

"Did y'all hear that voice or am I going crazy?" Firefly asked.

"Uh... what the heck was that?" Muse asked with concern.

"That's no mystery," Fluttershy said with a bright smile on her face.

Suddenly random things from the festival sprouted arms and legs and started walking towards the group; either that or they just floated over. A giant pretzel, a stuffed pink bear, a dart a pony threw, a whole game stand, a banner hanging from two poles. They all came towards the group and as they got closer, they all started to change shape. It actually started to terrify TJ, Muse, and Firefly while their friends looked either amused or neutral. By the time the random items reached the group, they had all fully transformed into different parts of seemingly different animals, save for what looked like sections of a serpentine body.

Then they all came together and made a shape familiar to the Mane Six, the CMC, and Spike. All it was missing was the head, which appeared in a flash of light, revealing the smiling face of Discord. TJ, Muse, and Firefly all screamed while the CMC, Applejack, and Rarity rolled their eyes.

"Hi, Discord," Fluttershy said happily.

"You knew it was me all along, didn't you, Flutters?" Discord practically sang with delight.

"Of course," Fluttershy said as she flew up and hugged her chaotic friend. "I recognized your brand of zaniness a mile away and I was oh so happy to see it. Always brightens up a party."

"And that's just what I was aiming to with my little attraction here," Discord said, putting his thumb under his index finger.

He messed with the laws of space and physics to create a second festival between his fingers, making it match the one going on around him and the others, which included his roller coaster. His hand expanded, but not as fast as the mini-festival did, which eventually grew and melded into the actual festival itself, making it as though the smaller one never even existed.

"It's never a real party unless at least a little chaos is introduced," Discord proclaimed, a giggle in his voice.

"Ir's true," Pinkie Pie said. "Well, nine times out of ten. It depends on what kind of party you're looking for. And that's my kind of party!"

"Oh, I was hoping you'd like it," Discord said as he slapped Pinkie a high hoof. "I have so many other plans as–– "

"Hold on, hold on!" TJ exclaimed. "Everyone just hold up a minute here."

Everypony turned to look at the flustered stallion.

"Oh, what have we here?" Discord asked as he looked to the Earth pony stallion. His eyes widen before a mischievous smile crossed his face. "Oh, you must be the boy toy of Twilight's I keep hearing so much about."

"Boy toy?" Muse lets out in confusion.

"Oh! And is this the other alicorn in Equestria?!" Discord asked as his body extended over to the young mare, his neck wrapping around her. "Ah, I had heard there was a new one of you in town, but had yet to have the pleasure." The sneaky draconequus stretched his hand over, took Muse's hoof and kissed it before his eyes widened. "Oh, I thought you were an alicorn."

Discord showed Muse a mirror he had made appear out of thin air, showing her that her horn was gone. She gasped before looking at her sides and seeing her wings were gone.

"What in the name of Celestia?!" Muse shrieked in horror.

"DISCORD!" Twilight, Rarity, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Spike shouted angrily.

He looked to see them glaring.

"Oh, fine," Discord let out as he rolled his eyes, an annoyed frown on his face as he snapped his fingers. "Try to have fun with someone, get to know their humor, by criminy."

In a flash, Muse's horn and wings had returned, making her sigh with relief.

"Oh, thank Celestia i have my horn and wings back," Muse said aloud.

"Remember when those were a rare sight to see on a pony at the same time?" Discord asked dryly.

"What's this guy's problem?!" TJ asked.

"I'm just trying to have some fun and liven up the place a little," Discord said defensively.

"It was lively enough before you got here, pal!" TJ said as he pointed a hoof at the lord of chaos.

The two glared off at each other, neither seeming to like the other.

"Discord, remember, he's not as powerful as you," Fluttershy said in a mothering tone.

Discord looked to see Fluttershy putting on one of her prettiest smiles, instantly making his heart melt. He groaned before letting out a sigh and backing off.

"I feel we got off on the wrong hoof," the draconequus said before extending his lion hand and putting on a friendly smile. "I'm Discord, the lord and master of all chaos."

TJ looked a bit concerned before turning to his friends. They all nodded, but it was Twilight's smile that reassured him. The tan-furred stallion still seemed unsure, but put on the best friendly smile as he could.

"Nice to meet you, Discord," TJ said as he extended his hoof. "I've heard a lot about you."

Only it ended up going right through the lord of chaos's lion paw, which looked almost like a see-through hologram. This tripped TJ, making him flinch back before taking a closer look at Discord's paw. He then looked to see the draconequus smiling sheepishly, making the Earth pony flash him an annoyed frown.

"Yeah... pranks and mischief are sort of his thing," Fluttershy said with an apologetic smile and red face.

"So I've heard... and noticed," TJ said as he noticed Discord's paw was solid again and still extended. TJ reached out and shook his paw before the whole arm came snapping off, further tripping the stallion up. "Son of a kaiju!"

"Discord!" Twilight and Fluttershy said at the same time.

"Oh, what?" Discord asked after he was done laughing, his severed arm having reappeared on his body. "I was just having some fun with my new friend here. Only wanted to break the ice."

"If you make an ice pond appear under him and break, I swear––!" Twilight Sparkle let out through gritted teeth.

"Alright, alright," Discord said as he turned to TJ. "I'm sorry. I just got... carried away." Suddenly a whole family of ants picked Discord up and started carrying him away, though his neck stretched to let his head stay in place. "I lost track of how... well, nutty I can be. I was excited to meet the stallion Big Mac and Spike had been slipping in sessions of Ogres and Oubliettes with."

"Excited? Not enraged or upset and wanting revenge?" TJ asked.

"Over O&O?" Discord let out as the ants disappeared and his body came over to where his head was. "Why would it upset me to have a potential new game mate to play four creature sessions with?"

"Remember with Tree Hugger at the Gala?" Fluttershy asked.

"Yes, but I learned from that," Discord assured his friend. "And besides, I've learned that with O&O, the more, the merrier. So I just wanted to introduce myself, my real, true blue self."

Discord suddenly turned blue, giving Twilight, Rarity, and Applejack bad flashbacks.

"Uh, Discord––" Applejack began.

"Way ahead of you, AJ, my bad," Discord said despite flashing a wickedly satisfied smile on his face as he returned to his actual color pallet. He then turned his attention back to Thunder Jack. "Besides that, when I heard there was gonna be such a big celebration today in Godzilla's honor, I simply had to put my own spin on such a momentous occasion. Hence, the roller coaster!" Discord waved his hand up at his monstrosity of a ride, which everyone looked at in pure terror, clearly not seeing the joy and satisfaction in it that their chaotic friend did.

"Oh and this," Discord said with a snap of his fingers.

Suddenly, a cotton candy Scootaloo was eating grew a mouth full of razor-sharp teeth, shrieking at her as it grew arms and hands, waving them at her. The orange-furred pegasus filly screamed in fear as she dropped the pink puffball and sought protection from Rainbow Dash and Firefly, who gladly gave it. The cotton candy sprouted legs and looked to those above it and shrieked out before it pulled a black cane and top hat seemingly out of nowhere. Then suddenly it started kicking its legs up into the air as music started playing.

"Hello, my baby! Hello, my honey! Hello, my ragtag gal!" the cotton candy sang as it danced along. "Send me a kiss by wire! Baby, my hearts on fire! If you reuse me, honey you lose me. Then you'll be left alone, so telephone and tell me I'm your own!"

As the music finished, the cotton candy disappeared behind the curtain of a festival stand, leaving everyone speechless at what they had just seen. Discord had a wickedly pleased smile on his face.

"I gave this festival the spectacle it needed," Discord said. "My work here is done." He then looked to a still stunned TJ and Muse and waved. "A pleasure meeting you."

Then with a snap of his fingers, Discord disappeared, taking the roller coaster with him and leaving his friends still wide-eyed and opened mouthed about what just happened. After a few seconds of just staring and blinking silently, everyone looked to one another, all of them noticing Fluttershy had a very different look on her face. She was smiling with delight trying to hold back laughter. However, she was unable to contain it any longer as a few cute giggles turned into near howls of laughter. Even more shocking was that the others actually started to join her.

"So, that was Discord?!" TJ let out in disbelief.

"Yup!" Applejack said between laughs.

"Was it all you were hoping for, cuz?" Rainbow Dash let out.

"And more!" TJ said.

"That was great!" Muse said.

"Golden!" Firefly exclaimed.

"Oh, wow!" TJ said. "I cannot wait to play Ogres & Oubliettes with that guy!"

"I know," Spike said. "It's gonna be great doing it all together!"

"Looking forward to it, big guy," TJ said giving the purple dragon a hoof-to-fist bump.

"So you're not upset, honey?" Twilight Sparkle asked with concern.

"No, no," TJ said. "I mean... I was at first, I won't lie. But that was just... I don't know. For some reason, it's just hard for me to stay mad about it. Something about that guy... he just had a... likable quality to him."

"We're all still trying to figure it out too, darling," Rarity assured her friend.

"Not me," Fluttershy said. "I already know what it is."

"Hey, there's Maud's rock stand!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed excitedly as she pointed a hoof. Everypony looked to see an actual stand made of rock with several smaller rocks on it. "C'mon, let's go see her!"

The highly excitable pink Earth pony led her group of friends over to her older sister's rock stand, bouncing with anticipation all the way.

"HI, MAUD!" Pinkie Pie shouted as she seemingly floated in mid-air, all of her excitement surging through her body, even her mane, and tail.

Pinkie Pie then went on a big, energetic, and exuberant rant about how happy she was to see Maud not only out and about at the festival, but actively taking part in it as a vendor. The electrified mare was going hard too, speaking faster and more energetically than most have ever see even her. Pinkie Pie even had to stop and take a quick breath in the middle of her rant, a very rare occurrence for her when she gets like this. However, she was able to finish her happy, excited yarn about how she loved seeing Maud, leaving everypony in her group stunned with wide-eyed disbelief that Pinkie could go so hard. The only one who didn't seem phased by Pinkie Pie's joyous display of sisterly affection was the sister herself, for Maud Pie kept her usual calm, neutral demeanor, and expression, never cracking once.

"Hello, Pinkie, it's nice to see you too," Maud Pie let out in her usual monotone voice. She then looked passed her sister to all the others, some of them even more stunned now by how unaffected the gray furred mare was. "Hello, guys. I see you have some new faces in your clique."

"Why, yes, we––" Twilight Sparkle started to say.

She let out a scream when Pinkie Pie interrupted by scooping up Firefly, TJ, and Muse in one fell swoop and putting them at the forefront of the group.

"These are Muser, Firefly, and Thunder Jack who prefers TJ because everypony calls him TJ and he hates to repeat himself!" Pinkie Pie introduced, pointing to each stunned pony when she mentioned them. "They're the ponies from Pony Tale Island! You know, the ones I told you about who helped us fight a cult of evil minotaurs to save the world and had their own kaiju?! How crazy was that?! Tell her, guys.

"Tell Maud how crazy it was!"

"Uh... what just happened?" Muse asked

"It's nice to meet you all," Maud said.

"Um... the- the pleasure's all ours, Ms. Pie," TJ said once he recovered.

"Absolutely," Firefly concurred. "It's great to finally meet another member of this big Pie family I keep hearing about."

"Me, too," Muse said. "Now I don't have to keep looking in a bakery for one."

"Good thing you found Maud Pie... instead of a mud pie," Maud said in her usual monotone voice.

This caused a big uproar of laughter amongst the group.

"You were right, Pinkie!" Muse let out. "She is funny! Hilarious even!"

"If you think that one was good, you should hear this one," Maud responded.

"Oh, please," Muse said in anticipation.

"Or more correctly, won't hear," Maud said. This confused some of the others, but they listened all the same. "What's the loudest sound in space?"

"What?" some of them asked.

A few seconds went by, Maud didn't answer. Then a few more went by and still, Maud didn't say anything. This started to confuse and unnerve her captive audience.

"Uh... what's the loudest sound, Maud?" Applejack asked.

"I just told you," Maud said.

"No, you were silent," TJ said.

Twilight Sparkle started laughing.

"I get it," Twilight Sparkle said.

"Mind letting us in on it?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"There is no sound in space," Twilight Sparkle said.

"Exactly," Maud Pie confirmed.

Pinkie Pie and Twilight Sparkle hollered together while everypony else looked more or less confused.

"Wow, that's quite the talent you have there, Maud," Muse said as she looked around the stand. "Apparently you also have a talent for rounding up all different kinds of rocks. You're into them, I hear."

"Yeah," Maud said. "They're kinda my thing."

"Not surprising, given you grew up on a rock farm apparently," Muse said. "Not knocking it or anything, just saying I get it."

"Wow, a rock farm?" TJ said. "I'll bet that rocked."

The tan stallion started laughing, although he was the only one to do so. He realized this and saw the others were staring at him with confused expressions, making him feel awkward. He slowly looked away while Twilight put a supportive hoof around him.

"Anyways," Rainbow Dash said.

"About everypony in our family's into rocks," Pinkie Pie said.

"Even you, Pinkie?" Muse asked.

"Hmm... I prefer rock candy myself," Pinkie Pie said.

"Ooh," Muse said as she pointed behind Maud. "Is that a piece of tanzanite?"

Everyone looked to the back, including Maud herself.

"Yeah," Maud said before turning away, grabbing the mineral, and putting it at the front of the stand for all to see.

Everyone exclaimed in awe as they looked at the blue-ish and purple-ish, clear object.

"Formation of this mineral is typically caused-"

"By small amounts of vanadium," Muse finished for Maud.

This caused Maud to look at her with only the slightest of more interest showing on her face.

"Exactly," Maud said, keeping her same monotone voice. "But did you know tanzanite isn't this mineral's actual name?"

"It's actually blue zoisite," Muse answered with a smile. "It's called tanzanite because of where it's most commonly found."

"You know about rocks and minerals?" Maud asked with some intrigue.

"I'm afraid I only know what I read in the Big Book of Geology, Muse said. "And of course, since it was a twelve-page kid's book, not really all that big, I actually don't know that much."

"I had that same book as a kid," Maud said.

"So did I," Pinkie Pie said. "It was... kind of required reading for all of us under the Pie roof."

"So you wouldn't know about this fingerite then?" Maud asked as she brought out a smaller piece, one that looked less appealing, more on the brown side. "It wasn't in the book."

"Sorry, I'm afraid not," Muse admitted. "I wouldn't mind learning at some point, though."

"You wouldn't?" Maud asked.

"Absolutely," Muse replied. "You're Pinkie's sister and this is clearly your thing. Pinkie's been nothing but good to me and my family, so I want to do the same with her and her kin. Besides that, you seem really nice in your own right. You're funny, you're smart, and you don't condescend to anyone."

"So, you're not off-put at all?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"What's to be off-put about?" Muse asked. "Everyone's different in some way. I guess you can say ponies are like all these rocks and minerals here at Maud's stand. They may share some similarities, but they're also different somehow. It doesn't make them any less important, though. Right, Maud?"

"Sure," Maud said. "Would you like to meet Boulder?"

Pinkie Pie gasped happily.

"I would love to," Muse said. "That's your little pocket pet, right?"

"Mm-hmm," Maud said as the gray Earth pony reached into the front pocket of her frock. She then pulled out a tiny little pebble of a rock. "This is Muse and her family. Say 'hi', Boulder."

Muse smiled while Firefly and TJ were neutral, trying not to look or act rude despite being a bit off-put themselves by Maud's "pet".

"Wonderful to meet you, Boulder," Muse said. "I hear a lot of good things about you.

"They're all true," Maud assured the young alicorn.

"There's no doubt in my mind," Muse said.

"So, how much are you asking for a piece of that tanz... tanza... the blue one?" TJ asked.

"These aren't for selling," Maud answered. "They're all just for ponies to look at."

"Oh," TJ said nodding. "That's fair."

Maud went under the stand, grabbed a small ice pick and then broke off a small piece of the tanzanite. She then scooched it across the top of the stand towards Muse.

"Really?" Muse asked.

"Sure," Maud said neutrally. She then looked at TJ. "She's why you were asking, right?"

"Mm-hmm," TJ said as he nodded his head and smiled. "Thank you for your kindness towards my sister, Maud."

"She was nice to mine," Maud replied. She then allowed a small smile to cross her face. "And she seems nice in her own right."

"Likewise," Muse said as she took her piece of the mineral. "Thank you, Maud. This is so cool."

"So, I actually do have a question," Firefly chimed in.

"Yes?" Maud said as she looked to the pink pegasus.

"If this is a display stand, why are you displaying these plain rocks in front?" Firefly asked. "I mean, these ones you have here besides the tanza-whatever look like any rocks you'd see on the side of the street. Why not have them in the back and the more interesting ones in the front?"

For a moment, Maud Pie was silent, leaving the whole group hanging on how she might respond.

"That's a fair question, I suppose," The mare with the brushed back mane finally answered. "But it's also easy to answer. "While geology in general interests me, it's these plain rocks that I started my hobby on and what I typically stay for."

"I'm sorry if I offended you with how I worded that," Firefly said.

"It's okay," Maud said. "I don't really get offended."

"That's a relief," Firefly said. Especially since I don't think I'd ever be able to tell if she was.

"Besides, I prefer these rocks for other reasons," Maud said, piquing the interest of the group. "They all may be normal or plain, but they all typically have a big part to play. We may not notice it, but a large chunk of what we built our foundations on and what holds the whole planet together are these plain rocks. Coal, granite, chalk, till, mudstone, even the tiniest river pebble. They all have stories to tell because they are or at one point were part of the system that keeps the world overall afloat."

Everyone thought about it for a moment as they eventually smiled at Maud's sentiment, understanding full well what she was saying.

"It was fantastic meeting you, Maud Pie, and you too, Boulder," Muse said before kissing the little rock and handing it back to its owner.

"It was nice meet you, too," Maud said back. "I hang out at the comedy club sometimes if you ever want to meet up again."

"I look forward to it," Muse said with a smile. "Oh, one more thing. You excited to see the statue unveiling later tonight?"

"Soapstone with reinforced concrete chiseled into the shape a giant monster who protects ponies?" Maud asked. "Sure, who wouldn't want to see that?"

"Well, hopefully, we'll see you there," TJ said.

"I'd say there's a good chance," Maud Pie replied.

Pinkie Pie gave her sister a big hug, while Maud replied with a smaller, but still loving hug.

"Goodbye, Maud, love you," Pinkie Pie said.

"I love you too, Pinkie," Maud said as another small smile crossed her face.

Everyone said goodbye before moving on, leaving the gray-furred, faded purple-maned, Earth pony mare at her stand. Despite her usual overall demeanor of being outwardly and emotionally neutral, she couldn't help but have a lingering smile from having met a pony like Muse.

"Wow, she's great!" Muse exclaimed. "I loved meeting her!" The multi-colored alicorn turned to the pink Earth pony mare next to her. "Thanks for having us go meet your sister, Pinkie Pie. That was the greatest!"

"Yeah, I know!" Pinkie Pie said excitedly as she hopped alongside Muse. "I'm so glad it went well!"

"She certainly seemed... unique," TJ said.

"Yeah," Firefly agreed. "Oddly enough, she was unique in how..."

"Average she seemed?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Well... yeah," Firefly said.

"Don't worry, darling, we all thought the same," Rarity said. "But in the best of ways."

"And that's how we mean it, too," TJ said with a smile.

He then out a hoof around Twilight Sparkle, who he then shared a kiss with. The two smiled brightly at one another as they cuddled close.

"I'm glad this day has gone so great so far," Twilight Sparkle said.

"It really has, though," TJ said. "Not one problem. I don't think I could've asked for a better day. I hope it keeps up."

Right after he said that an explosive burst disrupted the festivities, catching everyone's attention. Twilight Sparkle and her friends were all on high alert as they took battle stances, facing the direction the explosions were coming from. Although, when they looked, they saw it was not an intentionally destructive explosion going off, but the bursts of fireworks gone out of control. Muse and Fluttershy hung back with the Cutie Mark Crusaders while everyone else charged towards the scene to investigate.

"What do you think happened?!" Twilight Sparkle asked as she looked to her boyfriend.

"No clue!" TJ replied.

"Hey! Make a path!" Rainbow Dash called out.

"Move, everypony, move!" Applejack said in conjunction.

Ponies did move out of the way, but their sights were still set on the bursts of random fireworks, which did seem to be dying down some. In fact, by the time, the Re-Mane Five, Spike, TJ, and Firefly got there, only a few fireworks were still going off with a lot of smoke filling the air. They ran into the puff of smoke, doing their absolute best to keep it from entering their mouths and sending them into a coughing fit. When they got through to the source, they heard that some other ponies weren't so lucky and finally got to see who those ponies were.

"Oh, my," Rarity let out.

"Of course," Rainbow Dash and Applejack said at the same time.

"Oh, horse apples," Twilight Sparkle let out in a weak, yet exasperated voice.

At the epicenter of the now mostly contained combustion of wild fireworks, Trixie Lulamoon was running all over the place trying to get control of what was left. Starlight Glimmer was still up on stage coughing her lungs out, although she was also trying to get control of the fireworks still going off. Twilight Sparkle rolled her eyes before using her magic to contain the remaining fireworks in small barriers. Then she used her magic to cause a wind that blew the smoke up into the air where it would hopefully dissipate and not cause any more harm.

"Why me?! Why me?! Why me?! WHY ME?!" Trixie was crying while still running round in circles. "Why does this always have to happen to me when I just want to––"

Trixie stopped and looked with a befuddled, yet adorable look on her face. She soon realized she was surrounded by the Re-Mane Five and company, which included Twilight Sparkle herself.

"Hello, Trixie," Twilight Sparkle said, her expression still annoyed as ever.

"Uh––" Trixie let out. Then in what seemed like one swift movement, the blue unicorn as on her stage once more, her front hooves raised high, her usual hat and cape on her once more as she smiled boastfully. "Greeting commoners! ... And alicorn... a princess... I guess."

Twilight Sparkle rolled her eyes.

"You have been lucky to experience the great and powerful Trrrrixie's brand new fireworks show!" the traveling magician let out like the show pony she was supposed to be. "Yes, it was quite a spectacle. Although it shouldn't be a surprise, for only a pony as fabulous as the great and powerful Trrrrrixie can put on such a show. It may have seemed like I lost control of my fireworks, BUT... I... I didn't."

Nopony was buying it, even before the defeated tone in Trixie's voice overtook her boastful show pony voice.

"Starlight, you alright?" Applejack asked.

"I'm... fine," Starlight said half-heartedly. "I'm... just a little... uh... frazzled is all."

"As one should be after seeing such a great show," Trixie said as she crossed her front hooves.

"Oh, come off it, Trixie!" Rainbow Dash said. "You lost control of those fireworks and you know it!"

"How could this have happened?" TJ asked, feeling panicked.

"A display like that really could've hurt somepony, Trixie," Rarity said.

"It wasn't my fault!" Trixie insisted.

"Oh, really, Trixie?!" asked a vocally and visibly irritated Twilight. "Well, if it wasn't your fault, who's was it?!"

Trixie and Starlight Glimmer both pointed hooves as two Earth ponies stallions standing nearby next to a crate of fireworks. One was tall and lengthy with a long blond mane wearing a yellow jacket and a black beanie. The other was a shorter, fatter pony with a long brown mane and a bushy beard to match, wearing a backward white baseball cap and a long green overcoat.

"Hey, yo, yo, yo, yo!" the tall stallion called out. "What's up, y'all looking for the snoochiest, boochiest fireworks in town?! Right here is where they at! Snoochie boochie noochies!"

"Oh, no," TJ groaned. "Not these guys again."

"You know them, TJ?" Spike asked.

"We've been chasing them around the festival all day," TJ said. "They've been trying to sell illegal and now we know faulty fireworks to ponies without a permit."

"Son of an apple worm," Applejack let out.

"That's what I've been saying... I think," TJ said. He then turned to Trixie. "I'm sorry about this, miss...?"

The blue-furred mare scoffed in outrage.

"You don't know me?" Trixie let out boastfully. "Well, let me inform you then. I am a great traveler of many talents in the mystic arts. I have dazzled and amazed with my... amazing skills and feats. I am the great... and powerful... TRRRRIXIE!"

In addition to her charismatic boasting, Trixie also exaggerated with all sorts of movements and gestures just like a show pony would. TJ couldn't keep himself from smiling.

"She's my friend I told you about," Starlight Glimmer chimed in. "You know, Trixie Lulamoon?"

"Of course, of course," TJ said, still smiling. "A pleasure to meet you, Ms. great and powerful."

"Of course it would be," Trixie said. Starlight nudged her a little in the side with her elbow, making the stage pony look to see her friend frowning and shaking her head disapprovingly. "I mean, nice to meet you, too... um–– Sorry, what was your name again?"

"Oh, forgive me," TJ said as he extended a hoof up towards her on the stage. "Thunder. Thunder Jack. But you can call me TJ. Everypony calls me TJ."

"Charmed, I'm sure," Trixie said as they shook hooves. Then a look of realization crossed her face. "Wait, TJ? As in Princess Twilight's squeeze TJ?"

The Earth pony blushed a little before looking to his special girl with loving eyes.

"Yeah... I guess you can say that," TJ said.

"I see," Trixie let out.

"Yo, miggie, miggie mac! Get on these awesome fireworks, jack!"

TJ looked to the two ponies selling fireworks with a look of disdain and aggravation before turning to Trixie.

"Sorry this happened to you, Ms. Lulamoon," TJ said. "Sorry you fell victim to those two bumbling dunderheads. I'll see to it they're taken care of."

"Uh... as I meant to happen," Trixie said. "You don't think Trixie would buy some obviously bad fireworks from two obviously shady characters without knowing, do you? I was just–– I meant for what happened to happen so that you could sniff those two out and deal with them. 'Course not you per se, but anypony in charge here because that's just the kind of pony the great and powerful Trrrixie is!"

While most of the others groaned and Starlight looked embarrassed, TJ just kept smiling.

"Never doubted it for a second, Ms. Lulamoon," TJ said.

Trixie looked a tad surprised before a shy smile crossed her face.

"Just the great and powerful will do," she said as she turned away while keeping her eyes on the stallion.

"How about we meet halfway and make it Trixie from now on?" TJ requested.

"S- Sounds good to me," Trixie said.

TJ's smile faded as he turned to the two ponies selling fireworks.

"Hey, you two!" he called out as he galloped over to them. The sudden shouting made the two ponies look to TJ with wide-eyed surprise. "What did I tell you about selling those here?!"

"Flee, fat-flank, flee!" the taller pony shouted. "Grab the loot and let's boot!"

The smaller, rounder pony grabbed the fireworks and cash before running off with TJ in hot pursuit. The others all laughed as Trixie and Starlight got off the stage and joined them.

"So that's your boy toy, huh, princess?" Trixie asked teasingly.

Twilight Sparkle looked to the unicorn with distrusting eyes.

"That's one way of putting it," the violet alicorn replied.

"Not a bad catch, princess," Trixie said with a slight hint of teasing and another of actual mocking. "He does seem kind of cute for sure."

"Uh... thanks?" Twilight Sparkle asked.

"Seriously, Trixie, how could you buy fireworks from characters like those?" Applejack asked.

"Yeah, especially when they were clearly based on already existing characters?" Pinkie Pie asked. Everyone turned to the Earth pony mare with confused looks soliciting one of her own. "What?"

"I told you already," Trixie insisted. "It was a ploy to expose those jerks!"

"Uh-huh, sure," Rainbow Dash let out.

"Besides, you try finding fireworks on such short notice," Trixie said. "Every shop in town that sells them is either out or closed. I mean, who closes a shop during a town-wide event?!"

"Yeah, you'd think there'd be more open to take advantages of all the potential business," Starlight Glimmer said.

"True," Spike said. "But some shop owners probably closed for the day so they could be out in the streets enjoying the festival too."

"Fair enough," Starlight Glimmer said.

"What happened to your usual supply you have on hoof, Trixie?" Rarity asked.

"Uh... somepony forgot to restock them ahead of time," Trixie said. "But it wasn't me. The great and powerful Trixie never forgets!"

"Oh?" Rarity let out.

"Well, if it wasn't you, Trixie, then who was it?" Twilight Sparkle asked.

The show pony had a blank look on her face before it turned into a frown.

"The great and powerful Trixie forgot," she let out in annoyed defeat.

"Hey!" Muse's voice called as she walked up with Fluttershy and the CMC.

Starlight Glimmer smiled brightly as she waved.

"Hiya again, Muser!" she called.

"S'up, Glim Glam?" Muse said happily.

"Is everything alright now?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Nopony was hurt?" Scootaloo asked.

"None that we've seen," Pinkie Pie said.

"And there seems to be no damage to the overall festival decor either," Rarity added.

"Good," Fluttershy said. "I flew around really quick to make sure nopony was hurt or anything was damaged. I didn't see anything bad either."

"Good work, Fluttershy, thank you," Twilight Sparkle said with a smile.

"This your friend, Glimmy?" Muse asked as she pointed to Trixie. "The magician?"

"Yes, Muse, she is," Starlight Glimmer said happily. "This is––"

"I am," Trixie interrupted, "the great and powerful––"

"This is Trixie Lulamoon," Starlight Glimmer quickly said. The blue unicorn flashed her light purple friend an annoyed frown, to which she responded with an apologetic smile. "Trixie, this is Muse."

"Oh, right, the new alicorn," Trixie replied. "Anypony remember when alicorns were rare? Anypony else?"

Nopony responded, feeling awkward at the moment.

"It's nice to meet you, Trixie," Muse said pleasantly. "Starlight's told me a lot about you. The two of you seem to be really tight."

"Oh, we couldn't be tighter," Trixie said, smiling to her fellow unicorn who smiled back.

"Clearly," Muse said. "That's cool."

"You two seem to have a bit in common as well," Trixie said. "What with you both being Twilight's students in a way. While that doesn't even make you as close to Starlight as I am, the great and powerful Trixie can still tell you both hit it off rather well."

"True, true," Muse said. "I heard all about it. While Starlight and I didn't really have anything like... well, that, I still like to think we formed a nice friendly bond. A good connection, you know, things like that."

"I certainly think so," Starlight Glimmer said as she and Muse clapped hooves.

"Right," Trixie said as she rolled her eyes.

TJ soon rejoined the group, looking tired as can be.

"Did you get them, Jacks?" Firefly asked.

"No... unfortunately," TJ let out between breaths. "For a couple of goons, they sure run fast."

"I suppose you'd have to be able to run fast if you want to go into a life of crime," Fluttershy said.

"Don't you bring your logic into this," TJ said as he pointed a hoof, still breathing hard. "Not while I'm about to die."

The others laughed at how dramatic TJ was being. Twilight Sparkle came over, put her hooves around her boyfriend and then smiled pleasantly at him making him smile back before they kissed.

"Eww, they're even adorable together," Trixie let out in disgust.

"Oh, wow, look at the time," Muse said as she pointed to the town's clock tower. "The ceremony's about to begin!"

"Muse is right!" Rarity said in horror.

"We'd better head for our seats then," Applejack let out.

"Let's go, everypony," Twilight Sparkle said to her ever-growing posse.

The gathering or ponies, along with their dragon friend, started heading towards the main stage set up in town square where the statue was to be revealed and put on permanent display. But then a commotion caught the group's eyes and ears.

"Alright, everypony, step right up!" one stallion's voice called.

"You won't want to miss the most miraculous merchandise based on Equestria's favorite hero!" another stallion's voice called out.

"Come one, come all to get your very own Godziller merchandise!"

"Huh?" several in Twilight's group let out.

Those voices were very familiar to at least some of the ponies, along with Spike. This were particularly true to Applejack and Apple Bloom. They had such a good idea of who it was that the glares came to the Apple sisters' faces almost immediately. Twilight led the way as she and her friends walked up to and then through the growing group of onlookers gathering around whoever it was that was trying to sell their Godzilla products. When they finally broke through to the front of the gathering, the Mane Six, CMC, and Spike's suspicions were all confirmed, much to their annoyance and disdain.

"Yes, fillies and gentlecolts, now you too can take a piece of your favorite monster hero with you!" Flim called out.

"Who better to be a monster slayer than an actual monster?!" Flam added on. "You know the king of all monsters himself, now respect his royal highness by buying the products of him given his official stamp of approval!"

"Toys, t-shirts, lunch boxes, coloring books, blankets! Get them all!" Flim called out.

"You can even get these jars containing actual pieces of Godziller's skin!" Flam called out.

That last outlandish claim only served to amplify the already high levels of disgust Twilight and her friends were all feeling at this sight. The unicorn brother con-team was indeed selling these sorts of products that were supposed to be based on Godzilla. As it turned out, however, the word based was used in its loosest form. Clearly none of the images on the products really captured Godzilla's own image, some being mere shadows of him at best.

"Can you believe this garbage?" Rainbow Dash let out in outrage.

"Seriously!" Muse let out in disgust. "I mean look at that toy. That doesn't even look like Godzilla! Looks more like a stuffed cartoon dragon they tweaked a little."

"Disgusting," Spike let out. "And that thing on the cover of that cereal box doesn't look like Godzilla either."

"Looks like some lame iguana thing," TJ said with just as much disdain as all who spoke before him.

"That's a lot of fish," Pinkie Pie said.

The others looked at her in confusion to which she pointed to a cheap, cheesy-looking pic of the iguana-like monster eating a pile of fish. Then she smiled and winked as if to cue a non-existent audience.

"Is that... pickle green plastic in those jars?" Rarity let out in horror. "What a simply vile shade of green. Nowhere near as winsome and charming as the emerald tone of Godzilla's delightful scales."

"This stuff is just cheap garbage," Scootaloo let out with disgust.

"You shouldn't expect anything less from those two," Apple Bloom said as she pointed a hoof at Flim and Flam.

"You're darn right, sis," Applejack said before marching towards the stand, her friends in tow.

"Come one, come all!" Flam called out.

"You won't want to miss your chance to get in on some fine––" Flim's words trailed off when he saw the group coming towards them with disdained faces.

He quickly started poking on Flam's shoulder while he was still in the act not realizing who was coming towards them.

"Yes, never in my life have I had the opportunity of practically giving away such fine––" Flam finally stopped and turned to his brother. "What, Flim?! Can't you see I'm–– Ohh."

The mustached one of the brothers finally saw what his clean-shaved twin saw. The angry looks of so many ponies at once, a lot of them being familiar faces to the brothers, made Flim and Flam feel... very awkward and concerned to say the least. However, the two quickly got a hold of themselves, for they knew they had to stay in the act both as trained show ponies and traveling conartists to keep the act going.

"Oh, and what do you know?!" Flam called out. "Look who's here. Some dear old friends of ours!"

"Yes, it's the princess of Ponyville herself, Twilight Sparkle!" Flim followed up. "She's here to reinforce the okay she gave us to sell these quality products based on not just a good friend to her."

"But to all of Equestria too!" Flam called out.

This excited the ponies in the crowd to hear. That is, everypony except Twilight and her posse. The violet furred alicorn looked completely outraged, as did her boyfriend and her little dragon ward. The rest just looked angry beyond compare.

"Stop with your lies, Flim and Flam!" Applejack let out. "You know darn well you never even talked to Twilight or anypony on the planing committee for the festival about vending her and selling these... these cheap knock-off pieces of hog stye."

Some ponies in the crowd gasped and murmured amongst themselves.

"It's true," TJ said as he stepped forward. "This is an unauthorized set-up."

"Oh, is it?" Flim asked slyly.

"Maybe you should check again," Flam said. "You might find a stand to sell Godzilla products personally approved by you for a Smitty Werbenjagermanjensen."

"Which includes two helping hooves," Flim added.

"Only we gave him four!" they said together before laughing.

"So many so and doing so good helping he decided to take the day off and enjoy the festival," Flim said.

"Of course we can provide him if you want," Flam said. "But do you really want to go through all this trouble over just a tiny stand making a profit?"

TJ seemed at a loss trying to figure out what he could do about it and wondering if it was worth all the fuss. Of course, it was to him, but would it be for anypony else?

"This would never hold up," Twilight Sparkle said. "I'd see to that."

"Darn it, Flim and Flam, why couldn't y'all just stay in Las Pegasus?!" Applejack asked in frustration. "Sell all this cheap trash there and out of our sight?!"

"Oh, we were selling our quality products there," Flim explained. "They sold very well, especially around Las Pegasus's own Godzilla Celebration Day!"

"So we got the idea of traveling around to sell our items at every Godzilla celebration all over Equestria," Flam explained further.

"Sold out each time," the two unicorn stallions said with triumphant smirks on their faces.

"But none of these things even look like Godzilla," Firefly said.

"Not even a little bit," Rainbow Dash concurred.

"That creature on that towel is clearly a serpent," Starlight Glimmer said as she pointed. "Doesn't resemble Godzilla in the slightest."

"We said these products were based on Godzilla," Flam said.

"That term can be used in the loosest of ways," Flim said. "Shall we give examples?"

"Oh, I'll give you an example alright," Applejack said. "I'll give you an example of what happens when I put my hoof in your––"

TJ put a supportive hoof on the orange-furred mare's shoulder. She looked and turned to the stallion who had a smile on his face.

"It's all good, AJ," Thunder Jack assured his friend. "I got this."

Applejack looked doubtful at first, but she slowly allowed herself to trust her friend. She even put a smile on her face despite Flim and Flam's presence.

"Alright, sugar cube," Applejack said. "Give 'em what fer."

"You know it," TJ said with a wink.

Everyone watched TJ step up behind Flim and Flam's stand, Twilight and Applejack particularly smiling big.

"Um... I'm sorry, but you can't be back here," Flim said.

"Yeah, vendors only," Flam agreed.

"I'm asserting my authority as head of the festival planning committee," TJ said.

Flim and Flam seemed slightly concerned, but mostly annoyed.

"Well, make it fast," Flam said. "We don't want you wrecking our business."

"Especially not after how good we've done for ourselves so far," Flim said showing their cash register was full as were several jars filled with bits.

"Oh, no, no, no, of course not," TJ said. "I just wanted to say you two were right."

This shocked several ponies, including the stallion's friends and even Flim and Flam themselves.

"Really?" the unicorn brothers asked at the same time.

"Most certainly," TJ said. "All the love and admiration ponies feel for Godzilla is an easy cash cow. You'd be crazy not to want to take advantage of it in some way."

"TJ, what are you doing?" Twilight Sparkle whispered in an irritated tone.

The black-maned Earth pony merely responded with a wink and a smile.

"Of course you should make some sort of business venture out of all this," TJ said.

"Well... y- yes, of course, we should," Flim agreed.

"Yeah," Flam chimed in. "After all, if we can make a fast bit out of all this, why shouldn't we?"

"Absolutely," TJ said. "I just hope Godzilla sees it that way when we tell him."

Flim and Flam stopped instantly as they looked to the Earth pony stallion.

"What?" they both asked.

"Yeah," TJ said. "Wait, did you think we weren't gonna tell him about all this?" He paused for a moment, but Flim and Flam couldn't find the voice to reply. "Oh, I see, you didn't think we would. Well, he is our friend, our very close friend, so of course, we'd have to let him know someone was making money off his name with cheap, faulty, cheesy, lame products like yours."

The majority of TJ's friends caught on to what he was cooking up and it put almost evil-looking smirks on most of their faces.

"Yeah, what would a monster who's won every battle he's fought with several other giant monsters think of something like this?" Twilight Sparkle egged on.

"One with explosive superpowers beyond our comprehension?" Rarity supplied further.

"Especially that mouth beam of his," Muse added.

"Sure it makes sense to us you'd be such cheapskates and use a national hero's image without his say so," TJ said. "But will it make sense to a creature who can crush a boulder the size of an ocean liner with his bare claws? You know, the gigantic king of all monsters known for his legendary power and, to a lesser extent, his massive rage? What would a larger monster with an even larger temper do if two goons like you were making money off his name with such misrepresenting products?"

The entire time TJ and his friends spoke, Flim and Flam grew all the more nervous and concerned. It was plain to see in their fearful faces, particularly in their trembling eyes and their equally shuddering bodies and chattering teeth.

"Well, one thing's for sure," TJ said, "Twilight will probably have to call an evacuation of your guys' hotel and casino."

"WHAT?!" Flim and Flam said together in horror.

"Yeah," TJ said. "With Godzilla's temper and the power to rip a building apart like cardboard, how could we expect anyone to feel safe going to that little business of yours? The one Applejack told me you two con-ponies inherited from another con-pony."

Flim and Flam looked all the more terrified while Twilight and the majority of the others looked all the more amused.

"Uh... how about this instead, my good man?" Flim asked.

"I'm listening," TJ said.

"We'll just tear down our stand," Flim said.

"Burn all these pieces of merchandise," Flam continued.

"Then we'll run back to our hotel in Las Pegasus," Flim said.

"And we can act like this all never happened," Flam said.

Up to this point, they'd managed to put smiles back on their faces. Those eventually melted into faces of pure fear and terror.

"Please!" Flim said.

"Please spare us Godzilla's wrath!" Flam begged.

Both ponies were on their knees, their front hooves clasped together as they begged. Twilight and the others laughed while TJ rolled his eyes and shook his head despite having a smile on his face. He then turned to his friends.

"Guys, what do you all think?" TJ asked.

Most of them acted along saying they should spare Flim and Flam of their possible jam with Godzilla.

"Okay, there's your answer," TJ said. "Now, hit the road, jacks."

"And don't you come back no more, no more, no more, no more!" Pinkie Pie let out.

"YOU GOT IT!" Flim and Flam said.

In what seemed like the blink of an eye, Flim and Flam tore down all their horrible products and took apart their vending stand, which seemed like it was already falling apart anyways. They also seemed to be gone in a flash as they ran in a panic for Las Pegasus. TJ's friends whooped, cheered, and even applauded before Twilight kissed the walking tall stallion. The others gathered around him to give him props, save for Fluttershy who just looked confused.

"You know Godzilla doesn't actually care about this kind of stuff, right, TJ?" the creamy yellow pegasus mare asked. "The merchandising and all that? It really doesn't matter to him either way."

"Yeah, I know," TJ said. "But it matters to all of us because he's our friend. We want him represented the right way, like with Scootaloo's comic." The small orange filly smiled at the stallion who gave her a reassuring wink. "Also, those guys are obviously big jerks that needed to be taken down a peg.

"Let's just say Godzilla helped us deal with some villains again without even knowing it. Or having to be here for that matter."

The others all laughed as the good feeling was shared around.

"Oh, yes, this one's definitely a keeper, princess," Trixie whispered to the alicorn mare. "I only hope you can keep him."

Twilight Sparkle looked to the blue-furred unicorn who only responded with a wink. However, the princess's attention was quickly taken away by TJ turning her to him for a kiss.

"Come on, everypony!" Muse said excitedly. "Let's finally take our seats."

"Our seats reserved by an awesome member of the committee," TJ boasted.

"And finally go see the statue revealing ceremony!" Muse finished up.

Everyone agreed very enthusiastically as they headed for the unveiling ceremony. Just about everything else in the festival took a respectful pause as well, as nearly everyone in town, citizens and tourists alike, turned out for the main event. Mayor Mare made a big speech on a podium for the unveiling talking about the usual of how lucky Equestria was to have Godzilla and how he's saved the country's citizens countless times. She even worked in a quick note of how some of Godzilla's closest friends were in the audience that night and were permanent residents in Ponyville. This solicited a cheer and applause from audience members as a spotlight was shined on Twilight and her friends, some of whom stood up and waved to the public.

Then Mayor Mare called for the drum-roll, after which a curtain was pulled back to reveal the 30-foot tall white statue of Godzilla standing on top of a water fountain. Audience members marveled in awe at the chiseled image of the kaiju king, which was standing in a battle pose, One foot stood elevated by a slab of stone, his tail was raised, and his hands were held up at his sides, his claws and palms pointed skywards as was his head. His mouth was opened, allowing a large spray of water to spout out of the statue's mouth and into the fountain below. The audience all applauded in admiration and respect.

They loved how wonderful sculpted the statue was and how it truly captured Godzilla's endless fighting spirit while also being an appealing new town piece to look at. Just the way Godzilla would've wanted it, Twilight Sparkle thought as she was cuddled close to TJ. He smiled at her before they shared a group moment with all their friends who helped prove every day that friendship is magic.

That's right, I'm back. Sorry I was gone for so long. I had to figure out how to balance some changes in my life. Some REALLY BIG CHANGES! But I think I've finally got it down and I can finally, FINALLY get back to work on these. This short concludes this volume of the short story collections. Sorry there was less Godzilla in it than there was Godzilla in it. I didn't mean for that to happen. The next volumes will more properly balance trying to integrate my leftover OCs into the MLP:FIM universe and integrating Godzilla himself. I also got some other BIG SURPRISES coming in this series that I don't want to talk about now. Just know they're gonna be HUGE and worth the wait. I promise. Until next time, I'm the Writer of the Storm, signing off.

Keep a look out for "Godzilla-MLP:FIM Short Story Collection Volume 2"