Ch.10: A Meeting Turned Disastrous

Marvin woke up the next morning to the sound of hustle and bustle outside of the library. Apparently, word got about Princess Celestia coming to Ponyville to meet and thank him, so the town must be preparing to welcome her. He then got up from bed and went over to the kitchen, where Spike was preparing some pancakes for breakfast. His heart beat faster when Twilight, who's sitting at the table, turned to him with a smile.

"Morning, Marvin," she said to him as he sat down with her. "Did you sleep well?"

"Yes, I have," he wrote on the parchment she has out for him. "Thanks for asking. You as well, I hope?"

"Sure did," she answered. Spike then came over with the pancakes. He, of course, had the ones with the gemstones. Marvin doesn't think it's odd; Twilight told him yesterday that dragons consider gems a delicacy, like bonbons or couscous. To him, gems are also a special way to enhance the fire inside of them. You know, like a fuel source or something.

"So did you two have a good time?" the little dragon asked the two Unicorns.

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

"St-Strange? Like what?"

"Well, for starters," his adoptive sister answered, "somepony dropped a bouquet of red roses in Marvin's saddle pack for him to give to me. Then a puddle of water appeared out of nowhere, so Marvin used his cape to help me cross over."

Spike stopped sweating and arched his eyebrow in surprised confusion. A puddle of water? He 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 and Mrs. Cake gave our table 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 and the CMCs' idea.

"Finally, when we were on a boat ride in the pond, 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?" she asked with an arched eyebrow. Spike began to sweat again.

"Uh, the whole town knows about it?" he answered quickly.

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

After breakfast, the three of them joined their friends in getting ready for Princess Celestia's visit. Marvin is just as excited about meeting her as anyone else. Not just because it will be his first time meeting her, but also because she's the one who can help him get his voice back. Once he has given her the package from Discord, he'll get his voice back. Then he can orally tell Twilight his true feelings for her. Hopefully, she'll return his kiss he gives her before tonight's sunset.

He knows he has to do it today. He doesn't have much time left.

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

As the gryphons stopped the chariot and Her Majesty stepped out gracefully, Marvin bowed to her alongside Spike and the Mane Six. He is feeling a bit more timid than the others will ever be. Her great beauty and royal appearance truly shines out an aura of great power and purity. He could understand why all of Equestria adores her…and possibly why Discord's interested in her.

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

"It is good to see you again, my faithful student," the taller Pony said to her. Marvin watched as the two embrace. It feels to him like they have a mother-daughter relationship than a teacher-student relationship. He can understand why his beloved Unicorn looks up to the High Princess. He then silently gulped as the two turned to him.

"Princess Celestia," Twilight said to her, "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.

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

"The honor is all mine, Your Highness," he wrote as he stood up. "I had also hoped that I would meet you soon. I was asked to give this to you." He then used his horn's magic to hold the package out to her.

"I see," the Princess said, taking the package with curiosity. "Who sent it?"

"The sender wishes to be…anonymous," he answered, feeling reluctant about not telling her the truth. The Princess nodded in reply, understanding and respecting his answer. She then used her magic to open the package…and now wished she hadn't.

Out of the package sprung chains that glowed orange and snaked quickly around her body, binding her legs and wings.

"Princess!" Twilight cried as everyone cried out in fear. Many of them, including the gryphons, rushed forth to help their fallen ruler. However, Kaa and Hiss appeared in flashes of light before they could reach her. They then shot green and yellow bolts from their eyes at the attempting saviors, and they all stopped and stood there frozen. Frightened at this, everyone else ran away. All that were left were the petrified gryphons and Ponies, the Mane Six, Spike, Marvin, Kaa, Hiss, and the bound up Celestia.

Suddenly, a laugh filled the air. A maniacal laugh they all know too well. Twilight clutches to Marvin as there was another flash of light appeared. When it vanished, Discord stood there, laughing at the lightning that flashed above him.

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

"Discord!" Princess Celestia cried out in shock. The Draconequus then turned to her and smiled before picking her up gently.

"Hey, Tia," he purred before kissing her cheek. "Missed me?" He then turned to Marvin, who glared at him.

"Thanks for taking care of your end of the bargain, Marv," he said to him as he took out the orb holding the Martian's voice. "For that, you get your voice back." A glowing orb then seeped out of its prison and floated over to the shocked black Unicorn. Everyone watched in shock as it seeped into Marvin's throat, and he gasped before placing his hoof on it. However, he has no time to celebrate getting his voice back.

"You…you tricked me!" he yelled, now being able to talk for the first time in a couple of days. "I thought it was just a small gift, but it was a trap."

"Well, if I told you what was in the package, you wouldn't deliver it, now would you?" Discord replied with a smile before snapping his fingers. Marvin then jumped back as the contract appeared before him.

"Oh, and that thing about being my temporary slave?" the demon added. "Well, you're off the hook about that. See, according to the contract's fine print, which you probably should've read, you'll servitude to me will end once I have Celestia in my grasp. And since I now have her, the slave thing's off."

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

"You mean he told you?" Discord teased. "Oh, right…I had his voice at the time. Well, your boyfriend Marvin here is really a Martian who has fallen in love with you at first glance. He never told you that part because he was afraid of what you might think of him." 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.

"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?"

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

"Now, if you will all excuse me," the demon then said to them, "I've got some alone time to spend with my Celly-Pie." He then snapped his fingers, and he, Celestia, Kaa, and Hiss vanished in a flash of light. As they vanished, Marvin looked up with anger in his eyes and his teeth gritting.

"No," he growled. "You're not getting away with this…" He then started running, but Applejack stepped out in front of him to stop him.

"Whoa, there, pardner," she said, looking at him like he's gone nuts. "Where dya think yur goin'?"

"To get your Princess back," he answered firmly. "This whole thing was my fault, and I'm going to fix it."

"You can't go fight him on your own," Fluttershy said, fluttering to his side. "You're going to need our help."

"Fluttershy's right," Rainbow Dash said firmly as he flew up to Applejack's side. "We're gonna back you up!"

"But…don't you hate me for what I've done?" he asked in confusion and yet happy for their support.

"Why would we hate you?" Pinkie Pie answered, bouncing beside him. "It wasn't your fault."

"Wise Ponies say that love is blind, Marvin," Rarity said as she and Twilight walked up to him. "You were just so focused on winning Twilight's heart that you were unaware of Discord's plots."

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

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

"Who are you guys?" asked Rainbow Dash.

"There friends of mine," Marvin answered. "Queen Tyr'hanee of the planet Mars, 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," Rainbow Dash said, "but right now, we got a princess to save." Spike then hopped onto Marvin's back.

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

"So you don't hate me either, huh?" he asked the little dragon.

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

"Shoot."

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

"Nah, you just got us confused with our distant cousins," he answered in between chuckles. "They live on the moons of Jupiter."

"You have cousins living on Jupiter's moons?" the little dragon replied. "I better remember to start making a list of all the cool stuff about you after we save the Princess." Marvin just laughed again in reply.