Ch.10: A Meeting Turned Disastrous

Marvin and Dialga woke up the next morning to the sound of hustle and bustle outside of the library. Apparently, word got about Princess Celestia and Lady Arceus coming to Ponyville to meet and thank them, so the town must be preparing to welcome them. The Martian and his guardian then got up from bed and went over to the kitchen, where Spike and Skyress were preparing some pancakes for breakfast. Marvin's heart beat faster when Twilight, who's sitting at the table, turned to him with a smile. And Dialga felt her face blush when she saw Drago also there, smiling when he saw her.

"Morning, Marvin," Twilight said as he and Dialga sat down with them. "Morning,
Dialga."

"Did you sleep well?" asked Drago.

"Yes, we have," Marvin wrote on the parchment Twilight has out for him. "Thanks for asking."

"You as well, we hope?" Dialga asked.

"Sure did," Drago answered. Spike and Skyress then came over with the pancakes. Spike, of course, had the ones with the gemstones, and Skyress got the ones with birdseed sprinkled on them. Marvin and Dialga don't think it's odd; Skyress is a bird, and Twilight told them yesterday that dragons consider gems a delicacy, like bonbons or couscous. To the Martian and Temporal Dragon, gems are also a special way to enhance the fire inside of them. You know, like a fuel source or something.

"So did you four have a good time?" Spike asked the two Unicorns and two Dragonoids.

"We sure did," Twilight answered, "but it was rather strange to be honest." Spike and Skyress began sweating a little, scared that they might be on to them.

"St-Strange?" Skyress stuttered. "Like what?"

"Well, for starters," Drago answered, "somepony dropped a bouquet of red roses in Marvin's saddle pack for him to give to Twilight (not the growling through clenched teeth) and a bouquet of pink roses into my pack for me to give to Dialga. Then a puddle of water appeared out of nowhere, so Marvin and I used his cape to help the girls cross over."

Spike and Skyress stopped sweating and arched their eyebrows to each other in surprised confusion. A puddle of water? They, the Circle of Evolution Seekers, and the Cutie Mark Crusaders never did that. Was someone else playing matchmaker too?

"Then when we were at the Sugar Cube Corner," Twilight continued, "Pinkie Pie, Trister, and Mrs. Cake gave our tables some scented candles for us to test what we think of them. Then when we were at the dancing square, somepony chose a romantic song that we danced to." Okay, that thing with the song/dance was definitely not Spike, Skyress, the CES, and the CMCs' idea.

"Finally, when Marvin and Twilight were on a boat ride in the pond and Dialga and I rested under a willow tree," Drago added, "we began hearing a couple of Ponies playing the viola somewhere, we were surrounded by fireflies, and the pond started sparkling."

"And the moment was ruined by a torrential downpour," Spike mumbled.

"How did you know that?" Twilight asked with an arched eyebrow. Spike began to sweat again before Skyress spoke up.

"Uh, the whole town knows about it?"

"Oh, right," Twilight chuckled. "Forgot about that." Spike and Skyress mentally sighed with relief. Another slip-of-the-tongue like that, and they're dead meat.

After breakfast, the six of them joined their friends in getting ready for Princess Celestia and Lady Arceus's visit. Marvin and Dialga are just as excited about meeting them as anyone else. Not just because it will be their first time meeting the Princess and Lady, but also because they're the ones who can help them get their voice back. Once they've given her the package from Discord and Razenoid, they'll get his voices back. Then they can orally tell Twilight and Dialga their true feelings for them. Hopefully, the Unicorn and her guardian will return their kisses they give them before tonight's sunset. And hopefully Drago will reconsider the whole Courtship Battle.

Marvin and Dialga know they have to do it today. They don't have much time left.

It was then late afternoon when everypony was finished with the preparations. As they were, Princess Celestia and Lady Arceus's bright-colored chariot, pulled by three white gryphons (Twilight and Drago figure the Pegasus warriors are on break), appeared in the sky. All cheered as the chariot landed, and the beautiful white Alicorn and her Alpha Pokemon smiled affectionately at their loyal subjects.

As the gryphons stopped the chariot and Her Majesty and Her Ladyship stepped out gracefully, Marvin and Dialga bowed to them alongside Spike, the Mane Six, and their Guardians. They now feel a bit more timid than the others will ever be. Each of their great beauty and royal appearance truly shines out an aura of great power and purity. He could understand why all of Equestria adores them…and possibly why Discord and Razenoid are interested in them.

"Princess Celestia," Twilight said, standing up and walking over to her mentor.

"Lady Arceus," Drago said, also getting up and walking up to his mentor.

"It is good to see you again, my faithful student," Celestia said to them.

"It is good to see that you are doing well also, Drago," Arceus added. Marvin and Dialga watched as the two Ponies and their two guardians embrace. It feels to them like they have a mother-daughter and mother-son relationship than teacher-student relationships. The Martian and Pokemon can understand why his beloved Unicorn and her beloved Dragonoid look up to the High Princess and Lady of Light. They then silently gulped as the four turned to them.

"Princess Celestia," Twilight said to the Alicorn, "I want you to meet Marvin, the Unicorn I've told you about who saved me." Marvin then lowered his head before the royal Pony, feeling more nervous than before.

"And, Lady Arceus," Drago said to the celestial Pokemon, "I want you to meet Marvin's guardian Dialga, the Dragonoid I've told you about who saved me from that dark Swampert." The intimidated Dialga then lowered her head before the powerful Pokemon, not daring to make eye contact.

"I am honored to finally meet you, Marvin," Princess Celestia then said to him, "and I am grateful to you for saving my student."

"I am also honored to finally meet you, Dialga," Lady Arceus said to her, "and I am grateful as well to you for saving my precious pupil."

"The honor is all ours, Your Highness and Ladyship," Marvin wrote as he and Dialga stood up. "We had also hoped that we would meet you soon."

"Yes, we were asked to give these to you," Dialga added before Marvin then used his horn's magic to hold the packages out to Celestia and Arceus.

"I see," the Princess said, taking her package with curiosity.

"Who sent it?" asked Arceus, also taking her package.

"The sender wishes to be…anonymous," Marvin answered, feeling reluctant about not telling them the truth. The Princess and Lady nodded in reply, understanding and respecting his answer. They then used their magic to open the package…and now wished they hadn't.

Out of the packages sprung chains that glowed orange and red and snaked quickly around their bodies, binding Celestia's legs and wings and Arceus's legs.

"Princess!" Twilight cried as everyone cried out in fear.

"Lady Arceus!" Drago also cried out. Many of Ponies, as well as the gryphons, rushed forth to help their fallen rulers. However, Kaa, Mewtwo, Genesect, and Hiss appeared in flashes of light before they could reach them. The snakes then shot green and yellow bolts from their eyes at the attempting saviors, and they all stopped and stood there frozen. Mewtwo made them float in midair with his psychic powers, and Genesect shot gunk at their feet from his cannon, getting them stuck. Frightened at this, everyone else ran away. All that were left were the petrified gryphons and Ponies, the Mane Six, Spike, Marvin, Kaa, Hiss, the bound up Celestia, and their guardians, including the also trapped Arceus.

Suddenly, two laughs filled the air. Maniacal laughs they all know too well. Twilight clutches to Marvin as another flash of light appeared. Drago didn't notice this because he was focused on the flash and holding the frightened Dialga. When it vanished, Discord and Razenoid stood there, laughing at the lightning that flashed above them.

"Aw, guys," Discord then chuckled to their henchmen. "I just saw the looks on their faces. A plus for ya! Ha haa…"

"Yes, excellent work, you four," Razenoid said with a grin. "You especially made good use of that gunk Discord provided for you, Genesect."

"Discord!" Princess Celestia cried out in shock.

"Razenoid!" Lady Arceus also cried out in shock. The Draconequus and Darkus Bakugan then turned to them and smiled before Discord picked Celestia up gently and Razenoid held Arceus up gently with his tail.

"Hey, Tia," Discord purred before kissing the Alicorn's cheek. "Missed me?"

"You have become lovelier last time I saw you, Arcy," Razenoid purred, nuzzling his nose into the Pokemon's cheek. He and his partner then turned to Marvin and Dialga, who glared at them.

"Thanks for taking care of your end of the bargain, Marv and Dia," Discord said to them as he and Razenoid took out the orbs holding the Martian and Dragon's voices.

"For that," Razenoid added, "you get your voices back." Two glowing orb then seeped out of their prisons and floated over to the shocked black Unicorn and blue Dragonoid. Everyone watched in shock as they seeped into Marvin and Dialga's throats, and they gasped before placing their hoof/claw on them. However, they have no time to celebrate getting their voices back.

"You…you tricked us!" Marvin yelled, now being able to talk for the first time in a couple of days.

"We thought they were just small gifts," Dialga snapped, "but they were traps."

"Well, if w told you what was in the packages, you wouldn't deliver them, now would you?" Razenoid replied with a smile before Discord snapped his fingers. Marvin and Dialga then jumped back as the contract appeared before them.

"Oh, and that thing about being our temporary slaves?" the Draconequus added. "Well, you're off the hook about that. See, according to the contract's fine print, which you probably should've read, your servitude to us will end once we have Celestia and Arceus in our grasp. And since we now have them, the slave thing's off."

"Wait," Twilight protested. "What does Marvin have to do with this?"

"And Dialga too?" Drago growled.

"You mean the didn't tell you?" Discord teased. "Oh, right…Razenoid and I had their voices at the time. Well, your boyfriend Marvin and girlfriend Dialga here are really a Martian and a Temporal Dragon who have fallen in love with you at first glance. They never told you that part because they were afraid of what you might think of them." Twilight turned to Marvin, who looked away with tears in his eyes.

"Marvin, you…" she whispered in shock.

"I'm sorry, Twilight," he answered, his heart slowly breaking. Drago would have yelled at him for lying to Twilight had he not noticed Dialga crying also. He knows why; she thinks he hates her now for lying to him. Well, he's not going to reconsider the Courtship Battle with Marvin, but he's sure as hey not going to hate her from now on.

"And just to let you know, Twilight Sparkle," Discord went on, "I tricked him like he said. I just convinced him that I'd make him a Unicorn like you so he can be with you. Quite romantic, wouldn't you think?"

"And I tricked Dialga like she said, Titanium Dragonoid," Razenoid added. "I convinced her that she can be with you if she was a Dragonoid like you…like something out of a love story."

Marvin shut his eyes tightly as the tears stung his eyes. This is entirely his fault, and Twilight now hates him for it.

Dialga, knowing that it's her fault as well, shut her eyes as tears stung them. Drago probably wants nothing to do with her now.

"Now, if you will all excuse us," Discord then said to them, "I've got some alone time to spend with my Celly-Pie."

"And I've some with my Arcy-Poo," Razenoid added, taking Arceus into his arms. Discord then snapped his fingers, and he, Celestia, Kaa, Hiss, and their guardians vanished in a flash of light. As they vanished, Marvin and Dialga looked up with anger in their eyes and their teeth gritting.

"No," Marvin growled. "You're not getting away with this…"

"And we're going to see to it," Dialga added angrily. Marvin then hopped onto her back before started running to take off, but Applejack and Wolfurio stepped out in front of her to stop her.

"Whoa, there, pardners," Applejack said, looking at them like they've gone nuts.

"Where do you think you're going?" Wolfurio demanded.

"To get your Princess and Lady back," Marvin answered firmly.

"This whole thing was our fault," Dialga added, the tears still in her eyes, "and we're going to fix it."

"You can't go fight him on your own," Fluttershy said, fluttering to their side.

"Fluttershy's right," Boulderon protested. "You're going to need our help."

"Boulderon's right, too," Rainbow Dash said firmly as he flew up to Applejack's side. "You're gonna need back-up!"

"And we're qualified for the job," Helios added, flying up to Boulderon's side.

"But…don't you hate us for what we've done?" Marvin asked in confusion and yet happy for their support as he got off Dialga.

"Why would we hate you?" Pinkie Pie answered, bouncing beside him.

"Yeah," Trister added, riding on her back, "it wasn't your fault at all."

"Wise Ponies say that love is blind, Marvin," Rarity said as she and Twilight walked up to them.

"And you and Marvin were just so focused on winning Drago and Twilight's heart that you were unaware of Discord and Razenoid's plots, Dialga," Taylean added as he and Drago walked up to them as well.

"And besides," Twilight added, placing a comforting hoof on Marvin's shoulder, "you can get hurt, and…I don't want that to happen to you." Marvin smiled in reply. She still cares about him.

"And I don't want you to get hurt either, Dialga," Drago added, tilting her chin up with one claw. "You may be a Dragon Pokemon, but deep down, you're a brave and powerful Dragonoid at heart." He then wiped her tears away as she slowly started to smile. "So stop beating yourself up, okay?" She nodded in answer, happy that he still cares about her, before he turned to Marvin with a glare.

"But you still have to face me in a Courtship Battle if you want to date Twilight, pal!" he snapped at the Martian.

"Drago…" Twilight started with a glare before Marvin spoke up.

"No, it's alright, Twilight. I understand perfectly, and I will follow his rules."

"Don't think you're going out there alone," a voice said. The group then turned to see Dodgers, Cadet, Palkia, and Tyr'hanee walk up to them.

"Who are you guys?" asked Rainbow Dash.

"There friends of ours," Marvin answered. "Queen Tyr'hanee of the planet Mars, her guardian Palkia the Spacial Dragon Pokemon, Duck Dodgers of the Galactic Protectorate, and his faithful sidekick Cadet."

"Oh, I've already figured she's a queen," Rarity said. "Why else would she wear such a wonderful material like that skirt of hers?"

"Oh, this old thing?" Tyr'hanee asked, looking down at her garment. "Well, I've always thought of myself as a silk kind of girl, but after seeing myself in it, I've changed my mind."

"Yeah, you can talk fashion later," Helios said, "but right now, we got a princess and lady to save." Spike and Marvin then hopped onto Dialga's back.

"Yeah, let's go!" Spike cheered. And the group galloped off for the Everfree Forest with Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Dodgers, Cadet, Tyr'hanee, and the winged guardians flying above them. As they were, Marvin and Dialga (they're leading the small army) turned to Spike and Skyress.

"So you don't hate us either, huh?" Marvin asked the little dragon and his phoenix guardian.

"Are you kidding?" Skyress answered. "You two were willing to give up the real you so that you can be with Twilight and Drago, and you're really a Martian and a Dragon Pokemon! That makes you cooler than we ever thought you were. By the way, can we ask you a question?"

"Of course," Dialga answered.

"Well, no offense, but aren't Martians…green?" Spike asked. Marvin and Dialga laughed in reply.

"No, you just got them confused with their distant cousins," Dialga answered in between chuckles.

"They live on the moons of Jupiter," Marvin explained with a smile.

"You have cousins living on Jupiter's moons?" Skyress replied.

"I better remember to start making a list of all the cool stuff about you after we save the Princess and Lady," Spike added. Marvin just laughed again in reply as Dialga turned to Drago.

"Drago?"

"Yeah?" he asked, turning to her.

"Thanks you for understanding…and I am sorry again for not being honest with you." Drago just smiled at her.

"Don't worry," he assured her, giving her claw a squeeze with his. "No matter what happens, we're in this together."