Princess Twilight Sparkle Part 1
Pony's Log Number 401: Guess it was foolish to think my wife and I would be able to ease into our new roles, but did it have to be by a major crisis?
It was a beautiful sunny day in Canterlot as Rainbow was trying to teach Twilight how to fly. Rarity, Applejack, Fluttershy, and Pinkie were watching from the ground below as Twilight was struggling just to steadily hover above the ground. Even Mario had done his best to help his wife how to fly during and after their honeymoon, which was only a couple of weeks ago, but the fact of the matter was that Twilight still needed time to get comfortable being in the air.
"You gotta really flap 'em hard," Rainbow told her. Twilight grunted as she increased the flapping speed of her wings.
"Whoa!" Twilight cried out as she found herself spinning out of control and tumbling toward a nearby tree branch. Twilight had also picked up a bird nest on her head. Twilight was dazed for a moment before she quickly recovered.
"Uh, maybe not quite that hard," Rainbow remarked as she hovered next to the purple alicorn as she sat on a tree branch. Twilight then tried to hover again, but she quickly lost control and crashed landed on the ground below.
"Lookin' good up there, Princess Twilight," said Applejack as she helped the dazed pony to her hooves.
"Applejack," said Twilight firmly, "you know you don't have to call me that. Even my husband said he's prefer you just call him Mario rather Prince Mario."
"Why do you two protest so?" Rarity asked as walked up beside Fluttershy, "You've already given up wearing your crowns all the time. The least you and your husband can do is embrace your new titles."
"If other ponies want to address me and my husband that way, I suppose it's fine," Twilight as she walked over to Spike, "but...not our friends. It just doesn't feel right." Twilight sighed as she opened her wings. Nearby, various ponies were hard at work setting everything up for one of the biggest festivals of the year.
"And neither does all this flying business," said Twilight, "Ugh! It also doesn't help that Mario, I know he doesn't do it on purpose, is learning how fly so well and so quickly! I'm seriously regretting not trying out those magic wings when he offered me the chance. He makes flying look so easy when its obviously not!"
"By the way, where is Mario anyway?" Pinkie replied.
"Up here, Pinks!" Mario called out from above a high bridge not too far away.
"Hey, bro!" Rainbow called out, "Your wife here says you've got skills. Care to put your bits where your mouth is?" Mario smirked.
"You asked for it!" Mario replied as he walked off the bridge. The others just exchanged looks with each other until Mario appeared to take a leap of faith from the top of a tower, did an aileron roll before opening his wings. He gently let himself glide downward a bit to gain some speed before he flapped his wings to ascend into the sky. Mario then did a rather wide turn as he flew over toward some towers that were far too narrow for him to fly safely through. The ponies and Spike all gasped as Mario then titled ninety degrees and easily slipped through the towers and then slipped back out again into view.
"Ooooh!" All but Twilight said impressively.
"Show off," Twilight remarked jealously. Mario then headed toward a wider turret and began to weave around the tower in a manner that looked like he was moving sideways around the tower. As he did, the momentum made the feathers in his wings glow light blue, then yellow, then magenta. Mario then straightened out and got a very long burst of speed. Rainbow was in shock.
"Sweet Celestia!" Rainbow exclaimed, "Mario learned how to air drift and mini-turbo?! I thought only a Wonderbolt could do that move! I...I've never been able to do that move!"
"Do keep in mind, darling," said Rarity as Mario continued to fly about, "Mario is friends with Spitfire. She probably taught him how to do it." Rainbow just snorted as Mario began to barrel roll between some towers as he flew about at a fast pace. One could say roughly 11.0 wing power. Not exactly Sonic Rainboom speed, but was still pretty fast. Mario then did Immelmann turn to get back to the group. Twilight then decided to wave her husband. Mario noticed and waved back when...
SMACK!
Mario was so focused on looking at his wife that he didn't watch where he was going and smacked into the side of a building. All but Rainbow cringed at the impact as the cyan Pegasus began to laugh.
"Guess he's still got work to do," Rainbow chuckled as Mario flew over to them with an annoyed look on his face,
"Honey, I would love to you look at you forever," said Mario sweetly before adding bluntly, "except when I'm about to fly into a wall." The others all laughed.
"I just wish I could fly as well as you," said Twilight.
"You will, dear," said Mario gently, "You just gotta keep trying. Remember: with practice, study, and discipline, all things are possible."
"But the Summer Sun Celebration is only two days away," Twilight protested, "and I'm never gonna be ready to perform my part."
"Not if you spend all your time down here, you won't," said Rainbow as the rest of the group smiled, "Now get up there and show everypony the big finish." Twilight nodded and, with a determined look on her face, opened her wings and took off into the sky as fast as she could. The others began to cheer for her. Twilight then smiled as she saw how fast she was going and that she was stable.
"Woo-hoo!" Twilight cheered excitedly, but then, "Whaaaa! Oof! Oof!" Twilight made Mario's mistake and didn't pay attention to where she was flying and smashed through three clouds before she could stop her momentum. Twilight then coughed some cloud that got in her mouth before she screamed and began to plummet to the ground.
"I gotcha honey!" Mario called out, "I gotcha...OOF!" Mario hovered to try and catch his wife, but she was coming down too fast for him to break her fall. Twilight then pulled up just in time to avoid crashing into her friends.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Twilight and Mario screamed as they came for a crash landing, burrowing themselves into the dirt. The others rushed to see if the two Alicorns were alright.
"Wow!" said Pinkie excitedly as she poked her head above everypony else's, "That was big finish!" Twilight just groaned with her nose buried into the dirt. It was then Mario's head popped out of the dirt in front of Twilight since he was actually buried under.
"I'm always the fall guy," Mario remarked.
"Oh be quiet!" Twilight retorted indignantly as her husband just rolled his eyes.
(Main Theme)
Inside of the castle corridor, two more additions had been added to the collection of stained glass windows. One was a window showing Twilight becoming an alicorn princess. The other was Mario becoming an alicorn prince. For the moment, they were admiring the stained glass window of the Prince.
"Well, what do ya know?" said Mario quietly as he admired his own stained glass window, "All those elites who said I was nothing but a ruffian and a nopony. Just look at me now! Guess I really was somepony special after all!"
"You never needed wings or to be an alicorn to be somepony special," said Twilight gently, "Nor did you need the approval of those snobby elites."
"True," said Mario, "I've got my wife and my friends and that's all the support I'll ever need." The others just nodded in agreement. They then headed over to Twilight's stained glass window.
"You look amazing darling," said Rarity to Twilight, "They've really captured your regality."
"Especially her pure and natural beauty," Mario added softly as Twilight blushed shyly to herself.
"I suppose," said Twilight quietly.
"Oh, don't be so modest," said Rarity, "It's everypony's dream to someday wear a crown and have their coronation preserved in stained glass for all to see." Rarity sighed contently as Rainbow snorted.
"I don't know if it everypony's dream," Rainbow remarked as she hovered in the air with her fore-legs crossed.
"Most of my dreams are about frosting! Ohohohoho..." said Pinkie as her mouth began to water and she liked her lips. The others just looked at her for a moment before Mario remembered something.
"Hey, Dashie, come down here for a second," said Mario as the blue Pegasus made her landing. Mario then used his magic to pull out a hoof-crafted silver crown with a red gem that looks like Rainbow's element and placed it on her head.
"Huh?" she exclaimed as Mario showed the blue Pegasus how she looked in the mirror.
"Behold Princess Rainbow Dash," Mario announced as Rainbow looked at herself. She couldn't help but giggle a little.
"Okay, I guess even I've had that dream," Rainbow confessed rather bashfully.
"Where'd you get that crown?" Twilight asked curiously.
"I made them for our friends," said Mario as he revealed similar crowns with hoof-crafted gems that looks like their Elements for them all, "I thought you could all wear them during the party back home. After all, you are family and all members of the family are royalty." The others smiled excitedly as they collected their own crowns, except for Pinkie, who was still daydreaming about frosting.
"I don't think that's how royal family relations work, dear," said Twilight.
"It's just a formality!" Rarity exclaimed excitedly as she set the tiara on her head, "Oh thank you, Mario! I would love to be a princess for a day!" Rarity just posed regally as she admired her crown. Applejack timidly removed her stenson hat and put her own tiara on her head and giggled to herself.
"Princess Applejack," she told herself, "Does have a nice ring to it. Thanks Mario." The others said thank you as well as they tried on their crowns. Except for Pinkie for the same reason mentioned before.
"We'd better get going," said Fluttershy as she turned to exit the hallway, "We don't want to miss our train."
"Fluttershy's right," said Applejack as she stood beside the yellow Pegasus, "Don't know about y'all, but I've still got bushels to do to get ready. The official celebration may be here in Canterlot, but hoo-wee, has the Mayor put us in charge of one heck of a party back home." Twilight and Mario couldn't help but feel rather sad. Because of their new royal status, they couldn't be in Ponyville with their friends. While giving their friends the crowns helped to cheer up Mario a bit, it didn't last for long. Neither alicorn wanted to part ways from their friends and Applejack could tell.
"Aw, don't look like that sugarcubes," said Applejack gently as she lifted both of their chins, "You two get to be right there with the Princesses when Celestia raises the sun."
"And we're honored. Really, we are," Twilight said in her defense as Mario nodded in agreement, "It's just that the Summer Sun Celebration is what first brought us all together. It just doesn't feel right not getting to spend such a special day with our Ponyville friends."
"Yeah, it just won't be the same without you guys here," said Mario as he felt his eyes water and sniffled a bit. Summer Sun Celebration meant alot to him as well.
"Oh honey..." said Twilight sweetly as she held Mario close as a pair of tears left his eyes.
"It doesn't feel right to us either, darlings," said Rarity, "If the Mayor wasn't so desperate for our assistance, we'd most certainly stay here in Canterlot. And of course we do understand that your royal duties must come first." Mario and Twilight said nothing.
"We'll promise to wear the crowns you gave us, Mario," said Rainbow, trying to cheer them up, "If it will make you feel better, I guess I can forego being 20% cooler for one day." That got Mario and Twilight to smile.
"Trust me, Dashie," said Mario, "You'll look 20% cooler wearing that crown." Rainbow smiled as she and Mario shared a hoof-bump.
"The Summer Sun Celebration may have brought us together," said Applejack as she stood before a stained glass window featuring the seven of them defeating Nightmare Moon, "but it's something much bigger that'll always keep us connected. Exhibit A: The seven of us are united by the Elements of Harmony. No amount of royal duties is gonna change that. Right, everypony!" Fluttershy, Rainbow, and Rarity gave a general agreement.
"Right, Pinkie Pie?" Applejack asked sternly as she gave the pink pony glare.
"Creamy, creamy frosting..." Pinkie said in a daze as she chuckled to herself. She was mentally lost in her own dreams as Fluttershy zipped over and wiped Pinkie's mouth. The pink pony hadn't stopped drooling since she re-entered la-la land.
"You should just take that as a yes," Fluttershy remarked sheepishly. The others just smiled in agreement. It wasn't long before they had all gathered at Canterlot station as the train gave off a loud whistle. Pinkie had finally recovered from her little land of frosting to speak to the two alicorns.
"We're gonna write you and give you so many details, it'll be like you're in Ponyville with us," Pinkie told Mario and Twilight, "Right, girls?"
"Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye," said Applejack, Fluttershy, Rainbow, and Rarity as they did the gestures as well. Mario, Twilight, and Spike smiled.
"And you two will be with us right after the Celebration," said Rarity, wearing her glasses and holding a notepad, "We already sold Mario's house, relocated Charlie into the Library, and have an appointment on the books to discuss the royal upgrades to your loft decor." Rarity couldn't resist sticking her face into Twilight's. Mario was just stunned and baffled.
"Wait you what?" Mario exclaimed. Sure, he could live with Twilight now because they were married, but he always thought he'd take care of his old house and Charlie's relocation himself. He didn't know whether to be annoyed or thankful that his friends had taken care of those things for him. Before he could say something about it, the train whistle blew again.
"All aboard for Ponyville!" the train conductor called out. Spike the stepped away as the mane seven minus Pinkie shared a group hug together. Mario felt so happy embracing them that he soon forget he was upset and annoyed.
"We love you guys," said Mario softly.
"We love you too," all the girls minus Pinkie replied and giggled to each other.
"Whee!" Pinkie exclaimed as the group pulled away and the pink pony tackled Twilight to the ground and even knocked Mario back as well. Pinkie hugged Twilight tightly before she jumped off and hugged Mario tightly as well.
"Love you, big brother," Pinkie told him.
"Love you too, little sister," said Mario, his voice slightly strained, but fortunately Pinkie let go before and bounced over to the train. Mario and Twilight quietly got back on their hooves as they watched their friends wave goodbye as the train pulled out of the station. Twilight just exhaled loudly.
"I can't help it, Spike and Mario," said Twilight sadly, "They've only been gone a minute, and I already feel like I'm missing something."
"You just miss them, dear," said Mario gently, "I do too." Twilight just gave her husband a sad smile when a mail Pegasus arrived.
"For the Prince and Princess," he said as Spike took the letter and opened it up.
"Dear Twilight and Mario," Spike read aloud, "you aren't missing anything. Your friend, Pinkie Pie."
"That's me!" Pinkie shouted in the distance as the two alicorns and Spike watched the train leave the city limits. Their laughter could heard as the train headed into the distance.
"But I am," said Twilight, "I just know it." She then turned to her husband, "Hold me." Mario did as the couple just stayed closed for a few minutes before Spike lead them back to the castle.
Soon they were back in their guest room and the royal couple and Spike were hard at work with the preparations for The Summer Sun Celebration. Keeping busy also seemed to lighten their moods a bit as Spike ran through another lengthy checklist.
"Check, check, check, check, and...check!" said Spike as he finished marking off the list, "Huh, whaddya know? We're way ahead of schedule! I credit your extremely competent assistant." Twilight, in a rather wobbly fashion, landed beside the little dragon since Mario was trying to teach her how to just hover off the ground.
"So do I," said Twilight in agreement.
"Same here," said Mario as he hovered nearby and offered the little dragon a hoof bump, "A job well done, little bro." Spike returned the hoof bump as he relooked at his list.
"The Celebration isn't until the day after tomorrow," said Spike, "We could still fit in a quick trip to Ponyville and be back in plenty of time to finish off these last few things before the main event!"
"Why not?" Mario replied, "What do you think, honey?" Twilight just sighed to herself.
"That would be nice, Spike," said Twilight, "but what if something else came up while we were gone? What if we were delayed getting back and Mario and I weren't able to finish everything on that list? What if we lost the list on the way to Ponyville and then couldn't remember which things we'd done..." Mario then noticed as Twilight started to list off all the possible worst case scenarios that she started to involuntarily hover into the air.
"Uh...honey?" Mario called out.
"...and which things we hadn't done," Twilight continued as she continued to fly upward, "and then spent so much time trying to figure out what we hadn't done and what we had done, and we ruined the entire Celebration by not doing the one really important thing that we were supposed to do?!"
"Honey, look out!" Mario shouted.
THUD!
CRASH!
Twilight then bumped her head on the ceiling before falling back to the ground. Like the gentlecolt he was, Mario dived onto the floor to catch her on his back and did so successfully. However, Twilight still landed rather hard on Mario's back. Spike winced at the impact. Mario just glared, trying to ignore the ache in his back. Twilight then looked at him with a stern face.
"Not. A. Word," Twilight warned, expecting his usual remark about being the fall guy.
"Did I say anything?" Mario retorted indignantly.
"You were about to!"
"I didn't say anything!"
"You always complain when I use you for a landing pad!"
"I didn't say anything!"
Spike just rolled his eyes at the two ponies.
"Uh...so that's a "no" then?" Spike asked, trying to change the subject.
"Obviously," said Mario, "But my wife does have a good point. When it comes to events like this, the old tale: if something can go wrong, it will go wrong, rings true. We need to show these ponies that we can handle whatever unexpected circumstances that get thrown at us. We cannot let the unexpected get us all stressed out. We must not panic! We have to remain calm!" Mario's voice became more panicky as he spoke until he raised his voice. Mario panted heavily for a bit.
"Mario," said Twilight slowly as reminded him of Cadance's breathing technique. They went through the gestures together to take a deep breath and then exhaled slowly. Mario felt better.
"Thanks, Twilight," Mario replied.
"You're welcome," said Twilight.
"I still think you two are overreacting," said Spike.
"There are the first royal duties Princess Celestia has given us," said Twilight as she got into Spike's face, "We can't risk letting her down!"
"And I'm sure you won't," said a voice. The two ponies and Spike turned their heads to see Princess Celestia herself just outside the door.
"Your highness!" Spike exclaimed as he, Twilight, and Mario bowed before her.
"No need for that now, Princess Twilight," Princess Celestia remarked before adding, "And Mario, your my son. You normally don't bow before me!"
"Sorry," said Twilight.
"Sorry, Mom," said Mario, "Just thought I needed to that time." Princess Celestia giggled.
"No need to apologize," Princess Celestia told them gently.
"Sorry!" Twilight and Mario said together with sheepish smiles on their faces.
"We're just...a little nervous is all," Mario explained.
"I must admit that it is wonderful to actually be looking forward to the Summer Sun Celebration," Princess Celestia told them as she headed toward a window where Princess Luna was raising the moon into the night sky.
"What do you mean?" Twilight asked curiously before looking at her husband, who had a knowing look on his face, "Sweetheart, do you know what the Princess is talking about?"
"I'll let her explain it," Mario replied.
"For my subjects, it has always been a celebration of my defeat of Nightmare Moon. But for me..." Princess Celestia sighed sadly to herself, "It was just a terrible nightmare reminder that I'd had to banish my own sister." Mario hummed in agreement.
"I guess I never really thought about it that way," Twilight replied honestly.
"Even when I was a foal," Mario added, "I always could tell that Mom was always a little sad whenever the Summer Sun Celebration came up. So one year I decided to make some moon shaped cookies to cheer her up. It became a tradition every year. After Mom raised the sun, we would make some moon sugar cookies and we'd present a few to Aunt Luna when the moon came out that night. Now that Aunt Luna is here. We can actually give her the cookies every year to eat. She never held back on eating as many as she could."
"Remember that first year when Luna stuffed seven cookies in her mouth at once?" Princess Celestia asked.
"I remember! We said she looked like a chipmunk and...(snickered)...the face she made after we said that..." Mario added as the two laughed. Twilight and Spike just shared awkward looks with each other.
"Even after all this time, it still amazes me to see you and Princess Celestia acts like a mother and son. It's like you two are...friends," said Twilight as she giggled to herself, "It sounds as you two have alot of memories you cherish together."
"Indeed we do," Princess Celestia answered, "The Summer Sun Celebration once celebrated Princess Luna's banishment, but now it had become a wonderful reminder of her transformation back into Princess Luna, and our happy reunion. I am so pleased that you two will be playing a role in the festivities. I know it must be difficult to see your friends return to Ponyville without you."
"Maybe a little," said Twilight sadly as she looked away.
"It was this very festival that showed us just how valuable and magical friendship really is," Mario added quietly.
"You may no longer be my students, Princess Twilight and Prince Mario," Princess Celestia continued, "but I hope you both know that I will always be here if you need me. Just as I hope that you will always be there when I need you."
"Of course, Mom," said Mario as he and Twilight shared a loving nuzzle with the Princess. Spike then cleared his throat.
"I think this guy needs you?" Spike pointed out as the mail Pegasus appeared again.
"Uh, a message for Princess Twilight and Prince Mario," he told them before flying off. Twilight then opened the letter as some confetti popped out of it. Twilight smiled as Mario gave a little chuckle.
"Little Sis, you always knew how to make us smile," Mario remarked quietly.
"A letter from Ponyville, I presume?" Princess Celestia asked curiously.
"Never mind," said Twilight as she made the envelope disappear. Then Mario remembered something.
"Twilight, I just remembered something," said Mario, "Now that you're married to me, you can call Princess Celestia "Mom" if you want to. You are her daughter-in-law." Twilight's eyes shrunk. She knew Mario was right, but the truth of the matter really overwhelmed her mind.
"Umm...r-r-right," Twilight stuttered awkwardly and gave a nervous chuckle, "I forgot she's my mother-in-law now."
"Actually Mario, since Princess Celestia never officially adopted you and Cadance married Shining Armor and Twilight married Mario," Spike pointed out, "Cadance is now your sister-in-law, which would make Celestia your aunt if I got the family tree correct." Mario just blinked and rolled his eyes.
"Technically, yes," said Mario as he nuzzled Princess Celestia on the side, "But our bond is more like a mother and a son. She said I could call her Mom and nothing is going to change that." Spike just shrugged his shoulders as Twilight smiled in agreement.
"Oh that reminds me," said Princess Celestia, "Mario, I'll need you to come visit me tomorrow morning at dawn."
"Okay, what's up?" Mario asked curiously.
"Since you are Equestria's new alicorn prince," Princess Celestia replied, "I figured you should demonstrate your newly obtained alicorn magic to help me raise the sun at the festival." Now it was Mario's turn to have his eye shrink as he looked at the Princess with his jaw hanging out.
"You mean...I get to help you raise the sun for the Ceremony!?" Mario squeaked as a wide smile appeared on his face, "That...would be...so awesome!" Mario then bounced on his hooves excitedly. Princess Celestia chuckled.
"I look forward to seeing you at dawn so I can show you what to do," said Princess Celestia as Mario just nodded excitedly and bounced up in down like Pinkie.
"Settle down, dear," said Twilight, trying not to laugh at Mario's giddiness before turning to the little dragon, "Spike, where were we?"
"About to call it night?" Spike asked hopefully.
"We should probably go over the checklist one more time," Twilight suggested instead, "Come over here, honey. We need your help going over the list."
"Yes, dear," Mario replied as he calmed down and head over to her.
"I knew you were going say that," said Spike as the three got back to work.
"I'll leave you to it," said Princess Celestia as she quietly dismissed herself and headed down the hallway. Things seemed nice and quiet as she walked about.
Maybe...a little too quiet. As she continued down the hall, an ominous looking black vine came out of the floor and slithered over to her.
"GASP! AAH!"
Princess Celestia never saw what was coming.
Later on, Twilight was fast asleep on her desk. She suddenly woke up and rubbed her eyes. As she looked out the window, what she saw made her gasp.
"Huh?!" Twilight exclaimed quietly as she quickly turned to her husband, who was fast asleep on the bed. He was laying on his stomach using his notes for a pillow.
"Honey, honey, wake up," Twilight said as she nudged him.
"Zzzzzzz...okay, Twilight, I'll dye my mane purple...zzzzzzzz," Mario mumbled in his sleep, "Just don't make me wear the giant bow...zzzzzzzzzzz." Twilight snickered loudly and then quickly recomposed herself before giving Mario a gentle kiss on the cheek.
"Wuh? Duh? Huh?" Mario spluttered as he slowly opened his eye and yawned.
"Enjoying the purple mane, cutie?" Twilight asked sweetly. Mario looked blank for a moment before his eyes nearly popped out and he blushed.
"Let's agree never to speak of that again," Mario replied sternly as he yawned again, "What's up honey?" Mario then looked outside and saw how light it was and gasped.
"Oh no! I'm late!" Mario replied as he tried to get off the bed and ended up stumbling over his fore-legs and falling off with a THUD.
"Oww..." Mario groaned.
"Never mind that," said Twilight, "Just look out the window!" Mario just did as he was told as Twilight headed over to Spike's bed, where he was sleeping on his back in a stretched out position.
"Spike?" Twilight called out.
"Check-check-check-check-check-check," Spike said as he snored.
"Spike!" Twilight called out a little louder, making Spike sit up quickly.
"Ungh...What time is it?" Spike asked.
"It's the middle of the night!" Twilight replied, "But it could be morning. That's just it! I can't tell!"
"Neither can I..." said Mario as he looked out the window completely shocked. Spike and Twilight arrived beside him. There outside the window, the sun and the moon were high in the sky...side by side!
"Whoa," said Spike, "That is weird."
Outside in the streets of Canterlot, several ponies were chattering with each other as they noticed the strange phenomenon up in the sky. That all had worried and concerned looks on their faces as they chatted amongst each other.
"What do you think it means?!" Primrose asked. It was then Twilight, Mario, and Spike came out of the castle.
"Princess Twilight and Prince Mario will know!" Royal Ribbon shouted as the two alicorns were surrounded by various ponies who chattered at once.
"Oh...um...uhh...well..." Mario stuttered nervously, feeling overwhelmed by all the chatter.
"I'm-I'm sure it's just..." Twilight tried to speak, but was feeling just as tongue tied, "Well, there's certainly a logical ex-"
"Your Highnesses, you must come with us," said a royal guard as he quickly ushered for Mario, Twilight, and Spike to follow him inside. He waited until the castle doors were closed before speaking again as a second guard stood beside him.
"It's Princess Luna and Princess Celestia," said the first royal guard nervously. He wasn't sure what to say.
"They're gone!" the second royal guard shouted. Twilight, Mario, and Spike gasped.
It wasn't long before Twilight and Mario recomposed themselves.
"But I don't understand!" said Twilight, "Where are they?"
"We don't know," the first royal guard answered, "It seems that Princess Celestia and Princess Luna have simply vanished."
"Vanished?" Spike spluttered before passing out.
(lost a life fanfare)
"When was the last time you saw either Mom or Aunt Luna?" Mario asked as he discreetly gave Spike a green and white mushroom.
(discreet extra life fanfare)
"We last saw Princess Celestia after she went to speak with you and your wife last night, your highness," the first guard answered.
"We last saw Princess Luna after she had finished raising the moon," the second guard replied, "She had asked to be left alone." Mario hummed in reply.
"This is why we have come to the both of you," said the first guard.
"We await your command," said the second guard as they both bowed before the two alicorns. Mario and Twilight were shocked.
"My command?!" said Twilight and Mario together before looking at each other, "Our command?!"
"We are officers of the Royal Guard," the second guard explained, "We take our orders from royalty. With Princess Luna and Princess Celestia gone, and Princess Cadance overseeing the Crystal Empire now, that means we take our orders from the two of you." The guards knelt down before them again as Spike, who had finally recovered and stood up, passed out a second time.
(Lose a life fanfare)
Mario involuntarily just tossed another green and white mushroom at Spike.
(discreet extra life fanfare)
Mario and Twilight were still too stunned to speak.
"Princess Twilight, Prince Mario," said the second royal guard, "There's no time to waste. We need to know what you want us to do." Fortunately, Twilight was the first to recover.
"I want you to continue the search for Princess Luna and Princess Celestia," Twilight said firmly, "We have to find them before ponies start to panic. There must be some clue that can tell us what's happened to them. If you find something, anything, let me or my husband know immediately." Mario nodded in agreement with a firm look on his face. The guard then saluted the two alicorns and went on their way. Twilight then let out a breath she had been holding.
"Way to take charge, Twilight," said Spike impressively as he stood up with a smirk on his face. Twilight just smiled when the door behind them burst open.
"Your highnesses!" said a third royal guard, "News from Ponyville! The Everfree Forest appears to be...well...invading!" Twilight and Mario gasped as Spike passed out a third time.
(lose a life fanfare)
(game over fanfare)
Just kidding on that second fanfare. Spike's fine since Mario gave him another green and white mushroom. However, this time around, it was Mario who recomposed himself first.
"I want you to send an urgent message to the Crystal Empire," said Mario sternly, "inform Princess Cadance that we need Shenran's assistance at once!" The royal guard saluted and headed back outside. Twilight was little surprised by Mario's request, but she wasn't against the idea either.
They needed all the help they could get.
Back in the outskirts of Ponyville and just outside the Everfree Forest, Fluttershy was trying her best to move about her own cottage. Apparently her home was now filled to the brim with frightened animals of all shapes and sizes. They were also chattering about at once.
"Excuse me...oh pardon me," said Fluttershy as she picked up a clearly shaken up squirrel with her fore-hoof, "Are you all right?" The squirrel simply hid inside of Fluttershy's mane.
"My goodness," Fluttershy remarked, "what is it that has caused you all such distress?" Harry, who was also looking rather shaken, nervously pointed a finger outside and grunted.
"Whatever it is, I'm sure it's nothing you need to really worry about," said Fluttershy in a calm but motherly tone as she opened the door and looked outside.
"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK!"
Fluttershy screamed for dear life when she saw just outside her house were numerous black vines with blue spikes on them. She quickly shut the door and stood on her hind legs to barricade the door.
"Oh, no, you were right," said Fluttershy in a panicked tone, "You should be worried! Very, very worried! Oh...I promised myself I'd never do this, but..." Fluttershy bit her lip before shouting in a very loud and high pitched tone.
"SHENRAN! HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLP!"
Back at Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack was having her own troubles the vines. Granny Smith was trying her best to pull one vine out of the ground, but as she pulled, the vine eventually recoiled and left Granny Smith dazed for a bit.
"Come on, y'all," Applejack called out a she was trying to pull out her own vine from the ground, "Put your backs into it!" She grunted as she kept pulling on the vines. However, more vines were starting to cover the farming grounds and the barn was already covered in them. Apple Bloom was trying to pull a vine out of the ground, but it kept stretching endlessly.
"Eeyup," said Big Mac as he went to grab a vine but the vine kept retracting before he could grab it, "Nope. Eeyup. Nope. Eeyup..."
TWACK.
Before Big Mac could try again, another vine sprouted behind his back and flicked him in the flank, knocking him over.
"...Nope," Big Mac remarked with a glare as more vines sprouted around him.
"Dagnabbit," Applejack retorted, her voice straining as she tried to pull out a vine with no avail, "we ain't never seen this kind of trouble with weeds before. Now that I think about it, I've never seen these kinds of weeds at all! Have y'all?" Apple Bloom then walked across the foreground still trying to completely pull out what appeared to be an endless vine.
"Nope," Big Mac answered as another vine smacked him in the back end.
"Where the heck are these things comin' from?" Applejack wondered aloud as she looked in the sky, "and what in tarnation in goin' on in the sky?!" Up above them, the sky was being filled with black clouds that had spikes on them.
The main town area was already covered in vines as the black clouds came to cover the sky.
"Oh, no, you don't!" said Rainbow angrily to one black spiny cloud, "This is Ponyville territory, and we aren't due for rain until after the Summer Sun Celebration. You Everfree clouds need to just head on back to where you belong!" Rainbow then charged at a cloud with a plan to bust it apart, but when she made contact with it, she found her body and wings covered in some sort of sticky substance.
"Whoa!" Rainbow yelped as she plummeted to the ground, but then quickly recovered, shook off the goop on her body, and flew back up to the cloud.
"Gonna make me do this the hard way, huh?" Rainbow challenged when the cloud started shooting lightning bolts at her, "hey!" Soon Rainbow could help flying away as the clouds gave chase after her.
At the Carousel Boutique, the vines were slowly making their way toward the building as Rarity hummed to herself and opened her curtains.
"Hmm, something strange about the sky," Rarity thought as the vines crept up the sides of the window and started to glow. Inside, Rarity had just finished making herself a pot of tea and had set the pot on the table. A magic wave then appeared that caused the magic from Rarity's horn to glow in a distorted manner. Rarity went to pour herself a cup of tea, but the tea then began to move about randomly before zipping away off screen.
"What in the name of calming chamomile is going on?!" Rarity asked as the teapot then headed toward one of her recent creations. Then poured its contents over the hat and ruined it. Opal then gave a loud yowl as the teapot headed over to the white cat, firing some tea that knocked her ribbon off and sent her running for her life.
"Opalescence, darling," said Rarity apologetically as the teapot kept pursuing the cat and shooting hot tea at her, "I'm so sorry! I promise I'm not doing this on purpose!"Rarity then licked her fore-hoof and then put it against her horn to make the glow fizzle out. This caused the teapot to stop chasing Opal and smash to the floor.
"It wasn't me, I swear!" Rarity said honestly to her cat. Opal just growled at the marshmallow pony quietly before walking away.
"Ooh, Sweetie Belle," said Rarity angrily, "If this is some sort of prank you and your little Crusader friends are pulling. I find very little humor in it!"
"Rarity, you have to help me!" said Sweetie Belle as her horn was seen in the same blue distorted glow as she came downstairs bouncing on her head, "I think something's wrong with my horn!" Sweetie Belle then landed on her head as the glow around her horn faded. But then a curtain was covered in the glow and rose into the air. Sweetie belle grunted and yelped as the curtain chased after her. She then turned around and ran towards Rarity, screaming for dear life. Rarity gasped as she tried to get control over the flying curtain before yelping at it captured the both of them.
Back in Canterlot, Twilight and Mario were running down the stairs from the main entrance of the castle. Each of them had their Element, which can also be addressed as their royal crowns, in their magic grip.
"Where are we going?!" Spike called out from behind them as he reached the bottom of the stairs.
"The Everfree Forest is..."invading"," Twilight reminded Spike, "Whatever is going on, I'm sure we're going to need our friends and the Elements of Harmony to stop it!" Twilight and Mario then put their crowns on top of their heads when, out of the blue, Shenran appeared and caused the three friends to skid to a stop. The Pegasus looked rather woozy before recomposing himself.
"Your highnesses," he said formally as he bowed before them.
"No need for formalities, buddy," said Mario, "You are our friend after all. How'd you...teleport?!"
"Princess Cadance figured it would be the fastest way to get here," Shenran replied, "I'm just glad the dizziness wears off quickly. Anyway, I'm at your service. What's going on?"
"We'll explain along the way," Twilight replied, "We need to get to Ponyville as soon as possible. I just hope we haven't missed the train..." The three ponies and Spike took off. Spike was soon gasping for breath when he got an idea.
"Twilight? Mario?" he called out as they reached a small bridge, "There is another way for us to get to Ponyville, remember?"
"There is?" Twilight asked puzzled as the three ponies came to a stop.
"Huah!" Spike yelped as he nearly fell into the steam and Twilight caught him with one of her wings and pulls him up, "You two can fly!"
"Oh. Right!" said Twilight as she put Spike on her back.
"Uhh...honey," said Mario worried, "are you sure you can fly all the way to Ponyville?"
"We're about to find out," said Twilight firmly. With the sound of an car engine starting and spluttering, Twilight shakily hovered off the ground and took off. Shenran stood beside a clearly worried Mario.
"We better make sure she doesn't crash or get hurt," Shenran pointed out.
"R-r-right," said Mario, recomposing himself as the two stallions took off into the sky after Twilight.
Back in Ponyville, Rainbow tried again to chase after one spiny cloud, but was then flying for her life again as three spiny clouds came after her. Down below ponies were running or flying away screaming for their lives as the vines continued to grow around Ponyville. Rarity, after freeing herself and Sweetie Belle from the curtain and taking her little sister somewhere safe, nervously headed toward Town Hall.
"Something very strange is going on and-" Rarity then gasped when a vine tried to sneak up on her. She got away from it before quickly running toward the balcony of Town Hall, "I for one would appreciate an explanation!"
"All I know is the sky's split in two," Rainbow explained as she hovered over to the marshmallow pony, "and these clouds moving in sure aren't from around here."
"Neither are all these crazy plants!" said Applejack as she fruitlessly tried to pull out a vine with no results, "They're comin' from the Everfree forest! And try as we might, us Earth ponies can't do anythin' to get rid of 'em! Don't suppose you know any magic that might stop 'em from spreadin'?" As Applejack spoke to Rarity, the vines were continuing to grow in the foreground and Pinkie slid against one to arrive in front of town hall.
"Alas, this whole raging forest situation seems to have left my horn on the fritz," said Rarity sadly as her horn flickered to prove her point.
"We have to figure out something!" said Fluttershy as she arrived before the group, "I don't know how much more Ponyville can take!" Fluttershy then yelped as a vine grabbed her hind leg. Rainbow then zoomed by and set the yellow Pegasus free.
"I don't know how much more I can take!" Fluttershy added before crying out in a high pitch tone, "Shenran, I need you!"
"Well, he's not coming, Fluttershy!" Rainbow yelled, "He's in the Crystal Empire! So stop crying for his help and toughen up!" Fluttershy flinched but then felt her fear turn into anger.
"You're just jealous cause I found love and nopony wants to be with you!" Fluttershy snapped in rage before her eyes went wide and she put a fore-hoof over her mouth. She looked at Rainbow with eyes filled with tears and regret, "I'm so sorry Rainbow Dash. I didn't mean that..."
"It's okay," said Rainbow quietly, showing a mixture of hurt and guilt, "You're right. I am jealous. Okay, I admit it! Rainbow Dash wants to find love, too! But she can't find it! Alright!" The others just looked at her sympathetically as Fluttershy put a fore-hoof on Rainbow's shoulder. Now it was the blue Pegasus's turn to fight back tears.
"I'm sure you'll find your stallion someday," Fluttershy said kindly, making Rainbow give her a hopeful smile.
"I hate to break things up," said Applejack as she and Pinkie were back to stomping some vines, "but the forest is expandin', y'all, and judgin' by how fast it's movin', it doesn't seem content just takin' over Ponyville...I reckon before long, it'll cover half of Equestria!" The five ponies watched as the vines continued to spread around them.
Up in the sky, not too far away, Twilight, Mario, and Shenran were flying as fast as they could to Ponyville. While Twilight had managed to stay in the air, she was having a tough time keeping her flight and altitude steady. Mario and Shenran did what they could to keep Twilight from falling, but Twilight was determined to manage on their own. It didn't help that all the rising and falling was making Spike feel a little airsick. He then nearly fell off and quickly made a safety belt appear out of nowhere and buckled himself onto Twilight's back.
"I'm starting to wish..." Spike groaned, "we'd taken the train!" He was regretting not taking Mario's offer a few minutes earlier to switch flights. Even if Twilight had said that she was carrying Spike, no questions asked.
"Almost there!" said Twilight, "Come on, Spike, Mario, Shenran, we need to get the Elements of Harmony and find the others!"
"We're more concerned about you getting there in one piece, Twilight," Shenran said concerned.
"I'm fine!" Twilight snapped as she headed down toward the Golden Oak Library, but as she went for the landing, she lost control of her momentum. Mario and Shenran tried to grab hold of her fore-legs and use their wings to slow her down, but it was no good.
"She's coming in too fast!" Shenran cried out, "What do we do?"
"Prepare for zee crash landing!" Mario shouted in a rough French accent.
"Incoming!" Spike called out.
"WWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAH!" Twilight, Mario, and Shenran shouted. Just before they hit the balcony. Twilight used her teleporting spell to send them inside, except for Spike.
"Aah!" the three ponies yelped when the three of them crashed into a large pile of books. They hadn't even noticed that the rest of their friends were inside the main room. Twilight was the first to pop her head out of the pile of books. As for Spike, he had smacked face first into a window and slid down it. Fluttershy cringed at the sight.
"Oh thank goodness!" Rarity exclaimed when she saw Twilight. The rest were just as relieved to see her.
"Oh, I hope you know we wouldn't normally go through yours and Mario's books without permission," said Fluttershy sheepishly. Before Twilight could answer, Spike opened the front door and started kissing the floor.
"Sweet ground!" Spike exclaimed joyfully, "Sweet, sweet, wonderful ground!"
"Okay, I get it! I need to work on my flying!" said Twilight irritably, "But my husband says I'm getting better! Right, my Schmoopy?" Mario then rose out of the stack of book, looking very dazed.
"I'm okay!" Mario remarked in a dorky tone, "I'm fluffy!" Then Shenran popped up beside him, looking just as woozy.
"I'm just a pretty pony!" Shenran remarked. Twilight just rolled her eyes at the two as Shenran shook his head to recover.
"Shenran!" Fluttershy squealed with glee and hugged him happily, "I'm so glad you're here! I knew you'd come! I just knew it!" Shenran quickly embraced Fluttershy tenderly. Rainbow was about to make another jealous remark when she noticed that Fluttershy was crying heavily onto Shenran's shoulder.
"My love?" Shenran asked gently as Fluttershy pulled away, tears still falling rapidly down her cheeks.
"I'm so scared," Fluttershy sobbed, "I was crying out for you to come and help..."
"It's okay, Fluttershy," said Shenran gently, "All will be set right. You'll be okay. Remember, you are a strong and capable pony." Fluttershy sniffled and nodded as a timid smile appeared on her face. She then gasped when she noticed a vine about to sneak up behind her coltfriend.
"Shenran look out!" Fluttershy called out. Shenran then narrowed his eyes as he glanced behind him.
SWISH! SLASH! SWISH!
Shenran posed at the vine that tried to attack him was now in pieces. Shenran just looked around before putting his dual swords away. All minus Mario were left stunned. Well...Fluttershy did smile and look at him as hearts floated above her head.
"Told ya he would be useful for this mission," Mario said as a matter of fact to Twilight, who was still too stunned to answer.
"You don't expect us to say you were right do you?" Spike remarked. Mario groaned irritably.
"Would have been nice..." he muttered under his breath.
"I dunno if you've noticed," said Pinkie as she spoke to the two Alicorns, "but the Everfree Forest is just a teeny-tiny bit out of control." Pinkie's tail then began to twitch as she ducked and covered her head. Fluttershy had told Shenran about Pinkie's special sense and held his swords and looked for something to fall.
"UGH!"
However, he didn't expect a giant vine to come smashing into Rarity from the side.
"Guess it turned out you were missin' something here in Ponyville after all," Applejack remarked as she shut the window and cut the vine in the process. Shenran then helped a dazed Rarity to her hooves.
"I'm so sorry Rarity," said Shenran sadly, "Fluttershy told me a twitchy tail meant a falling object, not a vine attack from the side." Shenran then sliced up some of the vine in frustration.
"It's alright, darling," said Rarity as she shook her head to clear her daze and turned to Twilight, "But perhaps you already know what's causing all of this calamity. Has Princess Celestia sent you two to dispel it posthaste?" Twilight and Mario just looked at each other nervously. Even Shenran was quiet since he already knew the answer to that question, but wasn't sure if he should speak up. Fluttershy and Rainbow just hovered right next to the Pegasus stallion.
"Not exactly," said Twilight, "You see, Princess Celestia is, well..."
"Gone missing!" Spike exclaimed frantically as he jumped into the air and then clasped his claws over his mouth. The others all gasped in shock.
"We don't know who has taken them," said Twilight as she looked out the window, "But I've got a hunch we're going to need the Elements of Harmony to get them back." Twilight then opened the case that contained the other Elements of Harmony and equipped the appropriate element to its owner.
"Oh, yeah," said Rainbow as she admired her necklace, "just like old times."
"You look so beautiful with your necklace on, my love," said Shenran as Fluttershy giggled happily.
"A-boo-yah!" said Pinkie once her necklace was equipped and she and Twilight shared a hoof-bump with each other. Applejack then put a fore-hoof on Twilight's shoulder.
"I told ya we'd always be connected by the Elements," said Applejack to the two alicorns, who both smiled at her. Applejack then sighed to herself, "Now we just gotta figure out who to aim these bad boys at so we can get Celestia and Luna back and keep the rest of Equestria from becoming plant food! Any ideas?"
"Hmm..." Twilight pondered.
"I haven't found squat in any of the books I've been looking through!" said Pinkie as the others turned to see her looking and coloring a page from a coloring book, "Oopsies! Missed a spot!" Pinkie pointed at the colorless part of her picture and grabbed a crayon with her mouth to color it. Shenran just chuckled at the sight as Twilight looked outside the window.
"Half day, half night..." Twilight pondered aloud, "strange weather patterns...out of control plants. I think I'm starting to get a pretty good idea of who we're up against." It didn't take long before Mario figured out who Twilight was considering as the culprit as he walked up to her.
"If you're considering who I think you are," Mario warned, "Remember that the old rule of law: innocent until proven guilty. I find it a bit too easy to pin the blame on him. And I know that my wife doesn't jump to conclusions about anypony."
"But he probably did..."
"She doesn't jump to conclusions about anypony," Mario said sternly to her face. Twilight then remembered what Mario was talking about. Mario may have forgiven her for accusing him during their honeymoon, but he was going to make sure she learned her lesson. Twilight sighed heavily.
"Fine, we're just ask him a few questions then," said Twilight, "maybe he might know something. After all, this does resemble his type of magic."
"That I agree with," said Mario. Mario then checked his Element as all the colors of the other elements glowed and shined brightly from within the gem.
"Looks like my Element is all charged up and ready to go," said Mario. Soon the eight ponies were all standing outside in a small circle.
"Alright, everypony," said Mario, "Remember, as much as the evidence is pointing towards him being responsible, we need to remain calm and simply ask him what he might know about all of this. Pointing hooves at him isn't going to get us anywhere. Is that understood?" All Mario got was a mutual, deary, and reluctant agreement from the others. Mario glared.
"Keep in mind ladies," Mario warned.
"Excuse me?" Shenran replied.
"Bro, I was just addressing the girls," Mario retorted.
"Oh" Shenran remarked with an eye roll.
"Keep in mind," Mario repeated, "any ill intent will cause my element to shut down! So you won't be able to turn him to stone even if you wanted to!" Mario then jumped into the air, giving a silent cry and made his body glow yellow. Twilight then activated the magic in her own Element. This caused the other Elements to glow and all but Shenran, who backed away in awe and amazement, as a rainbow ribbon linked the six elements together. Then the elements transferred their magic into Mario making him glow brighter until he had enough magic to perform his move.
"COME ON OUT, DISCORD! FRIENDSHIP MAGIC! DO YOUR THING!"
Mario then created a whirling rainbow vortex, which summoned the draconequus. And he was apparently in the middle of a bath. (Awkward) The rest of the group landed on the ground and glared at Mario.
"That was the lamest shout-out I've ever heard," Shenran remarked.
"Yeah, well it was either that or "Discord, I choose you!"," Mario remarked before making a face, "and the second one made me feel sick to my stomach."
"At least no random announcer didn't say anything afterward like "Summoning chaos" and then Discord started dancing fusion or disco in front of us," Pinkie added as the others just looked at her puzzled, "What?" They all rolled their eyes at the pink pony as Discord just enjoyed his bath.
"Winter Wrap Up, Winter Wrap-ooh!" Discord sang until he noticed he was before the mane seven and a pony he didn't recognize. He quickly grabbed a pink towel to wrap around his serpent-like body and laughed, "Now, Twilight and Mario, you know Princess Celestia said that you were to give me a heads up before you summon me with that little spell she gave you. In case you haven't noticed, I was in the middle of a particularly invigorating shower." Discord poked Twilight's crown and began to shimmy with his towel and literally sticking his backend in Twilight's face. Twilight was disgusted and so was Mario, but the later quickly recomposed himself.
"Well, we apologize for the interruption Discord," said Mario, "We'd give you the normal heads up if this wasn't an emergency. You see-"
"E-nough!" Twilight yelled as she lifted her fore-hooves and stomped down on the ground angrily and shoved Discord forward, "Release Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, and stop the Everfree Forest from invading!" A black vine then snaked around Twilight, startling her and Mario until it turned into Discord.
"Why," Discord began with a chuckle, "whatever are you talking about?"
"Don't play dumb with us, Discord!" Applejack snapped as she stood beside Twilight, "We know you're the one behind all this!" Mario just growled, both at the two girls for their accusations and Discord for thinking he could get so close to his wife. It didn't help that his super form suddenly shut down on him and sent him landing hard on his back. Discord just rolled his eyes and slithered away.
"Don't get me wrong," said Discord as he reappeared behind a house and started taking pictures, "I absolutely love what you've done with the place, but I couldn't possibly take responsibility. I'm reformed, don't you remember?" He then hovered over to Fluttershy. Fluttershy just made a long face when he said that. Shenran was about to fly up to the draconequus's face when Rainbow beat him to it.
"Yeah, right!" Rainbow accused as she got into his face, "This has got your cloven hoofprints all over it!"
"I'll have you know that I have only one cloven hoof," said Discord as the suggested cloven hoof appeared behind Rainbow and kicked her in the back end. He then disappeared and reappeared and started to walk away, "Such accusations. And here I thought we were friends."
"Drop the act, buster!" Pinkie snapped angrily as she pointed a fore-hoof at him, "We're onto you!" Shenran was stunned.
"Discord must have really hurt Pinkie for her to not even want to make friends with him," Shenran remarked to his marefriend, who nodded in agreement.
"Mario is the only pony besides me who is willing to forgive him and move on," Fluttershy whispered back.
"Don't blame them," Shenran replied in the same tone, "Mario told me what he did to all of you. Still don't see how you could ever be cruel." Fluttershy shuttered.
"I'd rather not be reminded of that," Fluttershy whimpered as Shenran hugged her apologetically.
"Ladies, ladies, I'm innocent," said Discord as he smashed a finger into Pinkie's face, "would I lie to you?"
"YES!" Twilight, Rainbow, Pinkie, Rarity, and Applejack shouted angrily.
"Um, maybe?" said Fluttershy.
It was then Mario stood between the four angry mares and Discord.
"Okay, what part of "we just talk, ask him questions, and not accuse him" did you not understand?!" Mario asked angrily.
"Mario is right, or should I say Prince Mario," said Discord, "Might I say I am quite jealous. I wonder what sort of legacy you'll leave being the only alicorn Prince to ever exist." Mario cringed and then glared.
"Guess we'll see in time," Mario remarked under his breath before adding in a more audible tone, "right now we seem to have a failure to communicate!"
"But honey..." Twilight protested.
"Don't you but honey me!" Mario snapped sternly, "I asked you all to do one simple thing! And you go and do the complete opposite! I get that Discord hurt you all, and forgiving him is hard, I should know, but you all need to do so. All this resentment is clouding your judgment and accusing him hasn't gotten us anywhere closer to fixing this magical vine problem!" The four mares said nothing, though neither of them could look Mario in the eye. Discord just chuckled to himself.
"Well then, it seems we've reached an impasse," said Discord as he hovered before the eight ponies, "I'm telling the truth, but you think I'm lying. What do friends like us do in a situations like this, Princess Twilight? Congrats as well, by the way, on the promotion. You totally deserve it." Discord then poked Twilight's crown, hugged the purple pony from the side, and then poked her nose. Mario felt his temper rise again.
"Discord, you're really making it difficult for me to defend you when you do that!" Mario muttered through his teeth.
"I say we blast him back to stone!" Rainbow shouted.
"Works for me!" Applejack replied.
"Hear, hear!" Rarity added in agreement as the three made their elements glow.
"Hey!" Fluttershy retorted as she got in front of him, "What if he really is telling the truth?" Mario nodded in agreement behind him, Shenran looked shocked, and Discord just smiled and made a halo appear over his head.
"Well, finally!" Discord remarked, "Somepony besides the Prince willing to give me the benefit of the doubt. The rest of you could learn a lot about friendship from Mario and from my dear friend Shutterfly here." Discord then grabbed Rainbow and cuddled her like a plush toy as Fluttershy hovered next to him.
"Um, it's Fluttershy," said the yellow Pegasus with Shenran sternly hovering beside her.
"Oh, right, whatever," Discord said dismissively as he tossed Rainbow aside and wrapped a single arm around her. Fluttershy just made another long face. Shenran couldn't stay quiet any longer.
"Get your grubby...whatever that is around her...off my mare!" Shenran demanded as he got into Discord's face.
"And who, might I ask, are you?" Discord asked, slightly annoyed.
"Discord, this is Shenran, my coltfriend," Fluttershy answered. Discord's eyes nearly, and literally, popped out of his head when he looked at the stern Pegasus stallion glaring at him.
"You're the infamous Shenran?" Discord asked as he let Fluttershy go, "the one pony she calls the stallion of her dreams, her prince charming, and so many other sappy things that she writes in those letters of hers."
"I'm surprised she lets you read them," Shenran remarked bluntly.
"Neither can I," Fluttershy remarked in a very soft tone to herself before hovering between them.
"Now shake hooves, or claws, with each other," said Fluttershy, "I'm sure you two will become great friends."
"Wuh?"
"You've got to be kidding me!" Shenran and Discord said at the same time.
"Boys..." Fluttershy warned. The two snorted before doing as they were told.
"Pleasure meeting you, my friend," said Discord as he narrowed his eyes at him with a smile on his face.
"Likewise, my friend," Shenran replied with the same facial expressions before roughly pulling away and wiping their claw, or hoof, on their chest. Fluttershy seemed satisfied with the exchange, but knew she was probably going to have to be a peacekeeper between the two in the future. Mario approached the draconequus.
"Now, Discord," Mario began, "I would like to ask you a simple question."
"Very well," Discord replied rather skeptically.
"Do you have 100% control over your chaotic magic?" Mario said up front. Discord blinked.
"Of...of course I do!" Discord replied, "Why? Are you saying I did this now too? I thought you were on my side!"
"Hear me out, will ya!" Mario snapped, "I've seen you use your magic to enchant and animate objects before and those said objects tend to have a mind of their own. If you were using your magic to entertain yourself. It would not surprise me if you accidentally enchanted something that could cause something like this to happen while you were goofing around." Discord then made it look like he was sitting in a wooden box in the middle of a courtroom as the judge and even an audience, who were copies of himself, glared at him. Mario found himself dressed as the prosecutor, but didn't bother to say anything about it and just went with the flow of things.
"So you're saying that I accidentally could have caused this?" Discord asked innocently.
"Depends on whether you've been anywhere near the Everfree Forest recently," Mario replied, "After all, Fluttershy's cottage is nearby."
"Well, I can assure you that I didn't go anywhere near the forest," Discord replied firmly.
"What about goofing around with your magic?" said Mario, "It does have a long range of effectiveness."
"He only uses his magic inside my house," Fluttershy replied, "I watch him when he leaves the house and disappears." Mario hummed.
"Well, unless anypony else has any actual evidence," Mario replied, giving his friends and glare, "Discord's alibi checks out." The rest of the group said nothing.
"Not guilty!" said the judge as Discord smiled and made the courtroom disappeared. Twilight just groaned.
"If you're not the one responsible, then help us figure out who is!" Twilight demanded.
"I supposed I could," said Discord dismissively, "but after all the hoof pointing and besmirching of my good name, I just don't know if I'm up to it." Discord then grabbed two of the vines and started stitching them together with some crochet needles.
"Rrrgh!" Twilight growled in frustration.
"Calm down, honey," said Mario, "Losing your temper isn't going to make things better. We'll figure this out." Twilight just sighed in exasperation as Mario held her close for a bit.
"Why don't you ask your zebra friend if she knows anything?" Discord suggested as he continued to make one giant black sock out of the vines.
"Zecora!" Twilight exclaimed as Mario looked at the side of Discord. There was the zebra carrying a tall stack of objects on her back and pulling a wagon loaded with more objects that was just as high. Twilight and the others rushed over to her. Fluttershy, Rainbow, and Shenran helped to lighten the load of objects off of Zecora's back. Shenran then introduced himself, which the Zebra gave him as warm a welcome as she could before sitting on the floor in exhaustion.
"From my home, I have had to flee!" Zecora explained, "The forest has grown too wild, even for me!" She and the other eight ponies looked at the road behind her, which was covered in thick vines.
"Any idea why all this is happening?" Applejack asked when a vine snatched her hat. Applejack was taken aback and then glared at the vine. Shenran sliced the vine so it dropped her hat. Shenran then dusted it off and handed it to the orange pony.
"Thank ya kindly," said Applejack with a smile on her face.
"I'm afraid it is a mystery to me as well," Zecora replied as she stood back up, "But I may have something that, if combined with a spell..." Zecora then rummaged through her things and pulled out a gold flask with a purple colored mixture inside of it.
"I do not dare to use it myself," said Zecora, "the results would be tragic. It only responds to Alicorn magic. Princess Twilight and Prince Mario, you can turn the potion from purple to white. After a sip, you may see why the sky is day and night." The two alicorns looked up at their crowns and opened their wings. They then looked at each other.
"We know what to do, right sweetheart?" Twilight asked.
"Y-yeah," said Mario as he looked at the potion nervously. Together, they used their illusion magic to change the color of the liquid.
"Oooh!" said Pinkie in amazement. The others just looked worried as Twilight was the first to lift the flask with her magic.
"This doesn't look safe to drink..." Mario said wearily, but Zecora nodded and ushered them to do so. Twilight then took a drink and Mario did the same soon afterward. They both licked their lips involuntarily at the same time afterward.
"Doesn't seem to be work-" Twilight was then cut off when she and Mario's eyes glowed white and stood very still.
It was moments later when they both shook their heads wildly to regain their senses.
"Whoa! Well, that happened..." Mario remarked as he held his head with a fore-hoof. Twilight then looked around to see that she and her husband were no longer in Ponyville, but inside an unknown location.
"Where are we?" Twilight asked.
"You're guess is as good as mine," Mario asked as he looked around.
"Not...another step!" somepony said sternly behind them. Mario and Twilight turned around to see a familiar moon princess standing before them.
"Princess Luna!" Twilight exclaimed as she and her husband took a seat, "I don't understand. Where are we? Why did you and Princess Celestia disappear?"
"Yeah, what's going on here, Aunt Luna?" Mario asked as well.
"Did you really expect me to sit idly by while they all basked in your precious light?" Princess Luna demanded angrily as she approached a podium.
"Precious light?" Twilight asked puzzled.
"What do you mean, Aunt Luna?" Mario replied, "Ponies appreciate you."
"There can only be one princess in Equestria!" Princess Luna declared, "And that princess...will be me!"
"What?!" said Mario in shock, "Aunt Luna! Don't do this! Equestria needs you and Mom! You are loved Luna! I love you!" Princess Luna refused to listen as she angrily stomped the podium, smashing it into pieces and creating a large crack in the wall. The wall soon came crumbling down, blinding Mario and Twilight with the sun shining outside as Luna raised the moon over it. The created lunar eclipse caused some dark magic to surround Princess Luna's body.
"No! STOP!" Mario cried out as he and his wife watched in horror as Princess Luna was consumed by the dark magic. The magic then encased the moon princess inside a red bubble that turned black. When it shattered, there before them...was Nightmare Moon! The now black and blue alicorn laughed manically as her teeth turned into fangs.
"Luna..." Mario whimpered as the two ponies stood before her in fearfully, holding each other close.
To be continued...
Hoo-wee! Quite alot has happened in this chapter! Mario and Twilight had new duties to fulfill, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are missing, a love triangle had been initiated, plants are taking over Equestria, and now it appears Princess Luna had gone to the dark side... (Red laser sword not included. LOL)
That's alot for our new Princess and Prince to deal with! How will they handle it all?
Kudos to those who caught the Yokai Watch and Pokémon references.
Peace Pony Fans!