Star Swirl's Mistake
"This is odd," Star Swirl remarked, looking at his book.
"What is it?" Clumsy asked, approaching him.
"The book seems to be talking about us." Star Swirl explained.
"That can't be good." Clumsy said, worriedly.
"In any case," Star Swirl stated, closing the book, "The book should not be used to look into one's own future."
Suddenly, there was a knocking on the door.
"I'll get it." Star Swirl stated, making his way to the door.
When he opened it, he noticed a mob of ponies who looked rather angry.
"An angry mob." Star Swirl observed, "You know, I never see a happy mob or sad mob or even an apathetic mob."
"Star Swirl!" One of the ponies, with a red coat, dark mane, green eyes, and a pencil for a cutie mark shouted, "We demand you fix the problem you caused!"
"The one with the cutie marks, or the one with lemonade?" Star Swirl asked.
"Umm... The cutie mark one." The pony replied.
"Well.. I don't know what to do." Star Swirl replied.
"Star Swirl, who is it?" Clumsy asked.
"An angry mob," Star Swirl answered, "Could you make about twelve trays of muffins?"
"We did not come here for muffins!" The red pony yelled.
"I would like three!" A green pony in the crowd shouted.
He had light blue hair, orange eyes, and a cuckoo clock for a cutie mark.
"Can do!" Clumsy shouted, heading for the kitchen.
"We demand either a solution or a sacrifice!" The red pony shouted.
"Alright," Star Swirl closed the door, and opened it while levitating a teddy bear, "This is Mr. Fluffy. I've had him since I was three. I'll miss him, but you can take him."
"Do you have one in blue?" The green pony asked.
"We mean something of greater value!" The red pony shouted, "You're hat!"
"Not my hat!" Star Swirl shouted, "It marks my standing as a great wizard! And it looks really cool!"
"You have one day," The red pony "Either you solve the problem or we take your hat and burn it!"
"Can I just have it instead?" The green pony asked.
"No!" The red pony shouted.
As the mob moved out, Star Swirl closed the door.
"What was that about?" Clumsy asked.
"A while ago I invented a spell," Star Swirl answered, "It was supposed to change a pony's destiny, but it didn't work right. Six ponies had their cutie marks switched and their memories rewritten. I couldn't fix it, so I just ran away."
"You ran away?" Clumsy asked, surprised.
Star Swirl put his hat over his face in shame, which was rather difficult to do with a horn, but he managed.
"I don't know how to solve it," Star Swirl stated sadly "And tomorrow, I'm going to have to watch my hat burn."
"We won't let that happen." Clumsy picked up a muffin and gave it to Star Swirl.
"I'm just out of my element here." Star Swirl stated.
"You can do it, I know you can," Clumsy hugged him, somewhat tightly, "Because I'm sure that there's nothing you can't do."
"That's so cheesy," Star Swirl sniffled, "But thank you for moral support, Clumsy."
Star Swirl then looked up, as if he had a sudden realization.
"Wait... I have an idea." He said, and went to his study.
Throughout the night, there was the sound of hammering, tinkering, Star Swirl shouting in pain whenever either one hurt him, and, at one point, Clumsy could have sworn she heard a cow.
The next morning, the angry mob returned. The red one stood at the front, with the green one by his side.
"So, you're sure that he's the right guy?" The green one asked.
"We went over this yesterday," the red one stated, "There is only one Star Swirl the Bearded in all of Equestria."
"Then we better start heading over there!" The green one starting walking away, only to be grabbed by the red one.
"Why are you even here?" The red one asked.
"I heard that we might get free muffins." The green one answered.
Before the red one could respond, Star Swirl opened the door, with a box floating by his side.
"Here!" Star Swirl said with much enthusiasm, "These are little necklaces and a big crown thingy that I made! It should solve a lot of problems! Except that the outcome will be different every time that they are used, but whatever!"
"And how are they used?" The red pony asked.
"Easy!" Answered Star Swirl, "Out of the six ponies give one to the most kind, one to the most joyous, one to the most honest, one to the most loyal, one to the most generous, and one to the most friendly. That should solve things."
The red pony took the box.
"Thank you," he said to Star Swirl, "I have no doubt that these will work. You may keep your hat."
"Awwww!" The green pony said, distraught.
The mob left. As they did Star Swirl burst out laughing.
"What happened, Star Swirl?" Clumsy asked, somewhat concerned.
"Clumsy, I just invented the Elements of Harmony!" Star Swirl answered, "And I didn't even realize it until now!"
And so, the two simply laughed until they could laugh no longer.