The Cutie Re-Mark Part 1
Pony's Log Number 525: My wife and I are about to experience firsthand how dangerous it can be to tamper with the past...
Today was a very special day for Twilight and Mario. At least it was a special day for Twilight, since she was getting to do something that she had only dreamed of doing for many years. And that was give a lecture at the Canterlot lecture hall. Despite having several anxiety attacks beforehand, Mario had managed to calm her down, despite having his own anxiety attacks, so she could stand up on stage before those the ponies had come to hear her.
"If somepony had told me when I was a blank flank that I'd one day give a speech to a class at Celestia's School of Magic," said Twilight as she addressed the crowd with Mario at her right, "I wouldn't have believed it. but..." Twilight then quickly shuffled her notes so she could continue her speech.
"I hope that I have been up to the task, because I can tell that all of you are and that the future of Equestrian magic is in good hooves," said Twilight. It was then there was a long pause and the sound of only one pony clapping. Actually, the view showed that Spike was the only pony, or dragon, in the audience. Guess it wasn't mentioned that this was one of Twilight's practice rounds.
"Wow, hehe," said Spike with a brave smile on his face, "That was even better than the first eleven times." He then cleared his throat and continued to smile sheepishly.
"But you have improved in all those practice runs, honey," said Mario, "You didn't jump into my fore-leg and panic. Plus this time you were completely stutter free!" Twilight gave him an annoyed look about the first remark, but smiled at the second comment.
"Eh, I don't know, Spike and Mario," said Twilight as she walked away from the podium, "I'd like to be able to get through the whole speech without looking at the cards."
"Sweetie, even the greatest speech makers never master not using their cards," said Mario, "Even Mom uses cue cards that I would write for her big speeches from time to time."
"Really?" said Twilight, "Guess that explains why she once talked about how she once had a depostation before meeting with everypony."
"Hey! Spelling's hard okay!" Mario retorted with blushed cheeks, "I meant to write deputation." Twilight giggled.
"Come on, Twilight!" Spike encouraged, "You can't be nervous about giving a speech to a bunch of magic students!"
"Oh, I'm not nervous, Spike," said Twilight.
"Denial," Mario muttered before Twilight shoved him hard so he toppled over with a thump off screen.
"But I do have to set a good example," said Twilight as Mario recovered, "especially for the magic students. That's why this speech has to be..." Twilight gave the little dragon a knowing smirk. Spike just slumped over in defeat and sighed.
"Perfect?" Spike replied.
"Exactly," said Twilight as she headed back to the podium and pushed Mario with her, "Let's go through it one more time." Twilight then cleared her throat.
"When Princess Celestia asked me and my husband to speak to you today," said Twilight, "I was honored to have the opportunity to talk about my favorite subject: magic."
"Oh, hear that everypony?" said Mario, "Rage nap!" Mario then sat down and leaned his head back to pretend to fall asleep by snoring loudly. Twilight just growled, but then saw Mario just smirking at her. She then understood what he was trying to do.
"Please don't embarrass me while you try to be funny and help me relax," Twilight asked sweetly.
"Okay," said Mario. Spike just slumped in his seat in defeat, wanting to practicing to be over.
(Main Theme)
Later that afternoon, Amethyst Star and Lyra were rushing to the lecture hall since they were late to hear Twilight's lecture. They burst inside only to get dirty glares from nearby ponies before they went back to listening to Twilight as she stood at the podium with a circle graph that had a projection of the Cutie Mark Crusaders with their cutie marks on it. Twilight had been doing just fine with her lecture. The purple pony was also surprised at how hard everypony laughed when Mario made his "rage nap" joke. It definitely helped Twilight relax when Mario would crack some humor to her speech, but he did embarassed her once by saying she was cute. Twilight planned on getting back at him later for that.
"Obviously, the long term effects of..." Twilight continued as somepony shushed in the background, "...the simultaneous acquisition of cutie marks has yet to be determined, but..." Twilight went to sip of her water.
"We now take a commercial break," said Mario, "brought to you in part by...water. The healthiest way to quench your thirst." Some students snickered as Twilight gestured for Mario to lean toward her. When Mario did, she then spat out the water like a faucet into his face. The students laughed as Mario glared at getting his face soaked.
"Ahem," said Twilight to somepony upfront, "Next slide, please." Twilight put a fore-leg over her fore-head to look at Spike, who had fallen asleep during the lecture. Fortunately, Moon Dancer was sitting next to him as quickly nudged Spike awake.
"Huh? huh!" Spike spluttered.
"Come on, next slide please," said Mario annoyingly, "I'm getting grey hair over here!"
"I didn't know you were George Hoofey," Twilight teased to buy some time, "Any of you girls think Mario should be this year's "Cutest Stallion Alive" magazine cover?"
"What a cutie!" Moon Dancers shouted as the rest of the mares all cooed and whistled. Mario covered his face with his fore-hooves.
"Anypony got a brown paper bag that I can hide my now red face under?" he complained as they ponies laughed. By now Spike was woken up and just finished grabbing some slide cards and put them into the projector. Unfortunately, he had put in a picture of himself reclining at the beach, Mario standing on his hind legs wearing a white buttoned shirt holding a hair brush while imitating Tom Cruises "old time rock n roll" dance (which the students snickered at), and finally putting the picture of himself with the Mane eight upside down and finally correct the last picture to being right side up.
"I can speak from my own experience that the power of Cutie Mark Magic is very real," said Twilight as Spike fixed the last picture, "and in the instance of my husband, my friends, and I, it can be traced to a single event!" Spike then changed the slide to show Rainbow doing her Sonic Rainboom.
"Without Rainbow Dash's race to defend Fluttershy's honor...," said Twilight.
"And got Fluttershy sent falling off the clouds to the earth below," Mario added, "but was saved by a bunch of beautiful butterflies."
"...this rainboom wouldn't have happened," Twilight continued as Spike added another slide showing each of the Mane Seven showing their special talents (Shenran didn't get his cutie mark like the rest but is still part of the group), "Fluttershy might have never discovered her love of animals. Applejack might have never have realized that she belonged on her farm. And Pinkie might have never left hers. It might be hard to imagine Rarity without her sense of fabulousness. But it's even harder to fathom what my life would be like. If you've ever thought that the idea of star-crossed lovers wasn't true. Mario and I were true examples that such love can happen. That rainboom brought us together. And while I did call him a weirdo when we first met..." The ponies snickered and Mario rolled his eyes, "...the seeds of true friendship and true love had been planted." Twilight and Mario both walked up to front of the stage.
"Without this rainboom," Twilight continued, "I might not have gotten into magic school. I wouldn't have met my future husband. Celestia wouldn't have taken me and Mario on as her pupils or sent us to Ponyville to meet our friends. And the most powerful thing about Cutie Mark Magic that we found is the connection I share with them." Twilight and Mario then looked at all the ponies in the audience. It was then they caught sight of a familiar lilac pony with purple mane with a pale blue highlight smirking at them.
"Wuh?" Mario mouthed as he and Twilight blinked and scanned the audience but the pony was nowhere to be found.
I sense trouble Mario thought as he felt a little uneasy. Twilight looked a little uneasy as well.
"Just keep going," Mario whispered to her while the purple pony looked at her note cards, "We'll talk about what we saw later."
"But, um..." Twilight stuttered as she shuffled her note cards to get back on track, "the real question about...Cutie Mark Magic is...who it seems to affect..."
Once the lecture was over and the students had finished asking their question. Mario and Twilight flew back home to Ponyville. Diamond Tiara was there waiting for them.
"Hey, master, Twilight," she said cheerfully, "How did the lecture go?"
"It was fine, Di," said Mario before stuttering, "Just...well..."
"Starlight Glimmer?" said Spike as he hopped off Twilight's back.
"Starlight Glimmer?" said Diamond Tiara puzzled, "You mean that unicorn who tried to steal your cutie marks and tried to break Mario by insulting him with years of hurtful words in under two minutes?"
"Mario and I were sure we saw her, Spike and Di," said Twilight as they all headed back to the castle, "But when I looked again, she was gone! I'm just worried what she might be up to."
"She'd have to be really stupid if she thinks she can do anything to us again," said Mario bitterly.
"Well, keep in mind, master," said Diamond Tiara, "when you're angry and want revenge, you'll still make the effort to try. Believe me I would know..." Diamond Tiara looked away shamefully, but Mario didn't notice. He just had a very bitter look on his face.
"Whatever it could be, it's nothing good, I bet," said Spike, "We both heard that she wasn't happy the last time you saw her."
"She's lucky I didn't blast her to kingdom come!" Mario snapped angrily.
"Master..." said Diamond Tiara nervously, clearly frightened at seeing Mario so angry.
"Mario has a right to be angry with her," Twilight pointed out, "Starlight broke him at one point and then beat him up and tried to destroy him! Plus forcing everypony in the village to have the same cutie mark wasn't right. We had to do something!"
"And now she's coming back to revenge," said Spike darkly. Until he and Mario noticed that Twilight was frozen stiff and her knees were knocking together.
"Twilight, calm down," said Diamond Tiara as she gave the purple pony a hug.
"Uh, or she was just really interested in your speech!" Spike added, trying to do damage control. Mario then gave his wife a hug and kiss.
"Don't you worry honey," said Mario before adding with a dark tone, "I underestimated Starlight the last time, but this time I'll make sure she doesn't hurt you or anypony else. Just try and show your face, Starlight Glimmer. I'm ready for you this time!" Twilight, Spike, and Diamond Tiara just shared uneasy looks with each other before catching up with the alicorn prince.
"Honestly, you guys," said Twilight as they continued to make their way to the castle, "I'm not really sure what we saw. But as long as we have our friends, we know everything will be all right. Right honey?" Mario said nothing as first but then turned around to see the concerned looks. Mario then took a long deep breath to calm himself down.
"Right...honey," said Mario.
"Are you okay, Mas-" Diamond Tiara tried to ask.
"I'm fine!" said Mario a little more sternly than he had wanted, "Let's just get back to the castle." Twilight just smiled in agreement.
"Maybe I was just more stressed about that speech than I thought," said Twilight as Spike put some stuff against a wall and Twilight and Mario hung their saddle bags along the back of the hallway wall.
"Yeah," said Spike as he and Diamond Tiara went to catch up with the alicorn couple, "that sounds better than Starlight Glimmer coming back with an evil plot for revenge."
"Spike!" Diamond Tiara scolded.
"Well, when you say it like that," said Twilight lightheartedly as she opened the doors to the throne room, "it does sound kinda silly." Mario and Spike then looked inside and both gasped silently.
"Or it's totally true!" said Spike. Twilight and Diamond Tiara looked and both their eyes bugged out. There sitting smugly in Fluttershy's throne was Starlight Glimmer herself.
"Welcome home, Twilight and Mario!" said Starlight deviously before she grabbed an old sheet of paper and fired her magic at it.
"GRRR!" Mario growled furiously, "Oh you made a BIG mistake showing your face here!" But Starlight wasn't listening as the enchanted sheet of paper fired a magic beam at the table, activating the cutie map. Diamond went to charge at the lilac unicorn when Mario held her back.
"Stay here!" Mario commanded as he, Twilight, and Spike charged at the table.
"What are you doing, Starlight?" Twilight demanded. Starlight laughed haughtily.
"I'd tell you," Starlight gloated, "but I don't want to ruin the surprise!" She then crumpled up the paper. Mario snarled.
"If it's from you, I'd like to politely decline ya witch!" Mario shot back as Starlight laughed as she tossed the paper aside and ignored the alicorn prince. It was then some magic rings surrounded the cutie map. Twilight, Mario, and Spike backed up as some winds started up. Twilight fired a magic blast, but the rings nullified her blast.
"Let's try this!" said Mario as he curled up into a ball and home attacked the rings, "UGH!" Mario was jolted and knocked back, landing on his back. Spike was nearly blown away until Twilight caught him with her wing and held him close. Poor Diamond Tiara tried to hold on form the edge of the doorway, but lost her grip and screamed as she was sent flying away. It was then a dome like portal with clocks on it appeared above the rings. Starlight looked at the dome deviously as the rings disappeared then smiled smugly at the others before using her magic to float up into the air and sucked into the dome before she and the dome disappeared. Mario, Twilight, and Spike rushed to the table.
"Where'd she go?" Spike pondered frantically.
"I don't know, Spike," said Twilight, "but I think we better find out!"
"I've got a bad feeling about this," said Mario under his breath as he and Twilight looked at the map.
"I guess we could start with this," said Spike as he reached the pick up the crumpled paper.
"Spike, no!" Twilight and Mario shouted, "Don't touch that!" It was too late. As soon as Spike grabbed the paper, the portal was reactivated and they were all sucked into the portal, screaming as they went through. Diamond Tiara had recovered and had arrived just in time to see everything.
"Master! Twilight!" said Diamond Tiara before she hit her lower lip and started to panic. It was then Pinkie entered the room and didn't noticed the little filly as she pushed a cake inside.
"Huh!" said Pinkie before devouring the cake in one bite. Diamond Tiara rushed up to her.
"Pinkie Pie!" Diamond Tiara said in a panic, "I need your help!" Pinkie just stared curiously at the filly with her face covered in cake.
Meanwhile...
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!" Spike, Twilight, and Mario screamed as they traveled through what looked like some sort of portal as they saw a sand dial appeared before them. Then the portal reopened in the middle of the sky...dumping them and the paper into the abyss.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahh!" they all screamed some more before Twilight and Mario realized that they had wings and stopped their momentum. Twilight then saw that Spike was still falling and used her magic to stop him just before he hit what appeared to be asphalt. They looked around to see several Pegasi flying around, especially young fillies and colts.
"Cloudsdale?" said Spike, "Starlight doesn't even have wings! Why would she come here?"
"I don't know, Spike," said Twilight, "but it looked like she could fly with just magic."
"Impossible!" said Mario, "I spent years burning my own magic out doing that. That's why I created the magic wings!"
"You know as well as I do that Starlight is very advanced with magic," said Twilight, "Keep your eyes open. We don't know what she has planned."
"The sooner we find out, the better," Mario said firmly in agreement. Suddenly, a small, but familiar filly zoomed between them, startling them in the process.
"Isn't that Rainbow Dash?" Spike asked in surprise.
"Did Rainbow Dash look really young to you?" said Twilight as Spike pulled out some binoculars, "and I didn't see a cutie mark. You don't think..."
"I think I did but I wish I wasn't right..." Mario said wearily.
"...We traveled back in time to when Rainbow Dash raced the bullies who made fun of Fluttershy and performed her first sonic rainboom?" Spike suggested fearfully. Twilight face-hooved herself.
"Spike, only Star-Swirl the Bearded could do something like that," said Twilight as Mario gave her a glare, "and even his spell just went back a week! How could Starlight do more than the greatest wizard in Equestria?"
"Well, ever heard the phase..." Mario suggested indignantly.
"No! The student totally did not surpass the master!" Twilight snapped, "There is no way!" It was then Spike and Twilight found a sheet of paper on the asphalt. Spike picked it up and scanned it.
"With this," Spike suggested as he showed the spell paper to Twilight and Mario. They only needed a few seconds to look it over.
"Star Swirl's spell!" Twilight winced, "Oh, no!"
"This is not good," said Mario.
"Come on, let's go!" said Spike as he walked forward a bit.
"Go where?" Twilight and Mario asked.
"To watch the race," said Spike, "I don't wanna miss the rainboom! Whoa!" Spike then went to step on the cloud and fell through. Twilight quickly used her magic to grab the little dragon, put him on her back as the two alicorns flew off at high speed, making Spike yelp.
"Keep your eyes out for Starlight," said Mario to Twilight and Spike, "If she's here, she might be trying to do something to disrupt the race. We need to be ready for anything." Twilight nodded in agreement as they headed to the starting line. They had just arrived when young Rainbow, young Hoops, and young Dumb-bell took off and sent young Fluttershy spiraling off the cloud. Twilight nearly dived after her, but Spike held her wings and shook his head.
"I wanna go after her too," said Mario gently, "But history demands that she fall. Plus we know the butterflies will keep her safe." Twilight reluctantly conceded as they continued to watch the race. Young Rainbow as pushing her speed to its filly limit with the two bullies right behind her as they zoomed through one cloud ring after another. Just like young Rainbow had said, they went to make a turn when young Dumb-bell missed the turn and ended up smashing through a pillar.
"Ooooh, that's gotta hurt," Mario winced before calming down, "So far, so good, so what would Starlight want to..." Mario's eyes shrunk when an idea came to mind. As young Rainbow was enjoying the speed, young Hoops bashed her aside.
"Heh. Later, Rainbow Crash!" young Hoops taunted before zooming off.
"Hey!" young Rainbow shouted as she took off after him. It was then she passed a cloud and Starlight rose out it with a devilish smirk on her face.
"Aw, sorry about this," Starlight said unapologetically as she charged her horn as young Rainbow began to pick up speed for the sonic rainboom. Starlight then fired her magic blast. Mario then teleported between the mare and the young rainbow filly.
"Oh no you don't!" Mario shouted as he grabbed his tennis racket to return the blast like he had done the last time.
TWANG!
But the magic blast was too powerful and it broke right through Mario's racket! Young Rainbow was then frozen in her tracks by Starlight's magic.
"Hey! What gives?" Young Rainbow asked as she watched young Hoops cross the finish line and everypony minus Twilight and Spike cheered. Mario reappeared beside her when his eyes glowed bright pink.
Everything happened at once.
Young Fluttershy had been giggling and enjoying her new animals friends...when they all left her alone.
Young Applejack just sighed as she looked out her window before closing the curtains and walking away.
Young Pinkie just continued working on the farm, feeling miserable.
Young Rarity stared at the rock her magic surge had led her to before pushing it off the edge of a cliff and walking away.
Young Twilight struggled to use her magic to make Spike's egg hatch, but was unable to do so as the School teachers just scribbled their notes. Young Twilight just lowered her head in defeat.
Young Mario let Princess Celestia hug him before looking at the tower young Twilight had been taking her test, before sighing and walking away, feeling sadder than ever.
Back with the alicorn couple, Twilight and Spike watched as young Rainbow remained frozen in place. Then they saw a bright pink light appeared from Mario's horn as a pink glowing heart rose out of his horn. Then the heart cracked in several places before the heart shattered into dust. Mario's body stiffened for a second before he plopped to the nearby cloud looking drained.
"Honey, what happened?" Twilight asked before she looked to see Mario's looked rather drained.
"I just felt all my love magic being completely destroyed," Mario said weakly. Twilight and Spike gasped. Then Twilight then saw Starlight smirking triumphantly.
"What did you do?!" Twilight demanded as she flew up to the unicorn's face.
"You are about to find out," said Starlight smugly as Mario recovered and caught up with his wife. It was then the portal had reappeared above Twilight, Mario, and Spike.
"You'll pay for thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis!" Mario shouted as he, Twilight, and Spike were sucked into the portal. It wasn't long before the portal opened. The alicorn couple and Spike screamed as they tumbled out and landed with a THUD below. Twilight found herself sitting in what appeared to be a broken throne as she looked at the cutie map.
"Ugh...I don't know what Starlight's up to yet," said Twilight as she examined the map, "but we have to figure it out before it's too late."
"Isn't it already too late?" Mario replied in a soft but firm tone, "Starlight somehow destroyed my love magic." She could see that Mario looked rather hopeless as she put a fore-hoof under his chin.
"That doesn't mean we can't restore it," said Twilight gently, "We just need to stop Starlight before it's too late."
"Um, Twilight," said Spike, "I think it already is." Twilight and Mario then gasped. Their castle was gone, only some broken thrones and the cutie map remained.
"Uh, Twilight? Mario? Where's your castle?" Spike asked.
"Gee, I dunno," Mario replied sarcastically, "maybe it just got up and walked away!"
"I was being serious!" Spike snapped.
"Sorry," said Mario timidly, "Just this whole situation is making me feel very uneasy."
"The map pulled us back," said Twilight as she examined it, "but whatever Starlight did in the past changed things here!"
"But why?" Spike asked, "And how did we get here? Where's here?" Twilight then pulled out the scroll from Spike's backpack.
"More like when," said Twilight as she pointed at the sheet of paper.
"What do you mean?" Spike asked, still puzzled.
"Remember, Spike," said Mario as he and Twilight stepped forward, "One of Star Swirl's greatest fests of magic and studies were about time travel!"
"Starlight altered Star Swirl's spell," Twilight explained, "then somehow used it on the map to travel into the past and change something!"
"Something that made my love magic disappear," Mario pointed out.
"Once she did," Twilight concluded, "the map pulled us back into the present!"
"So we're back where-I mean, when we started?" Spike asked, trying to make sense of it all. Twilight and Mario walked behind him toward the cutie map.
"Not exactly," Twilight replied as she showed Spike the map, "Everything's different. Look. The map doesn't even make sense anymore! The Crystal Empire takes up half of Equestria!"
"And even Ponyville feels...dark and empty," said Mario, "whether it's from the loss of my love magic or not...something definitely feels off."
"Plus there's the whole missing castle thing," Spike added, "Not to mention Diamond Tiara is nowhere to be found." Mario nodded in agreement.
"Right!" Twilight replied, "This is too big to handle on our own."
"Ya think?" Spike replied sarcastically as Twilight gave him a quick glare.
"We need to find our friends and get help!" Twilight said with determination.
"Easier said than done now," said Mario, "Without my love magic, I can detect their presence anymore. I can't even feel our bond with them anymore. It's all gone..." Mario was on the verge of tears as Twilight nuzzled his chin.
"Don't worry, sweetie," said Twilight, "You'll feel that connection again once we find them."
"I hope so," said Mario doubtfully. He didn't want to mention to Twilight that the love she had given him felt very weak.
I still love her said Mario but our connection to each other feels weak. As if...only my love for her feels strong now...that's not good... But rather than speak up, Mario decided to say nothing.
It wasn't long when they heard some roosters crowing in the sky as they arrived in town. They found the place looking like an abandoned ghost town. Houses were boarded up and damaged and nopony was outside. It was then Golden Harvest nervously looked out the window and saw the two ponies and Spike. Spike looked up and waved hello, but Golden Harvest closed her curtain fearfully.
"I'm gettin' a bad feeling about this, Twilight and Mario," said Spike.
"Everything...everything feels so cold and lifeless..." said Mario sadly.
"Mario, stop!" said Twilight sternly as she got into his face, "I know you lost your love magic, but the love that gives us hope and determination is still there! In your heart! Don't give into the despair, even if things look bleak right now! Remember that I love you, our friends love you! And never, never give up!" Mario looked at her hopelessly for a few seconds before giving her a brave nod, but he still felt rather glum inside.
"You sure about that?" Spike asked, "this looks pretty hopeless."
"I know, Spike, but this is Ponyville," said Twilight as they approached some familiar buildings, "How bad could things be?" They were then stopped in their tracks when they noticed the sight of a familiar bakery. Except it was dark inside and looked...like a normal building instead of made of sweet goodies.
"Is that Sugarcube Corner?" Spike asked in disbelief.
"I think it is, and I wish it wasn't!" Mario replied.
"I don't understand," said Twilight. Then Spike took off toward the Carousel Boutique, which as boarded up and looking empty as well.
"Rarity?" Spike called out as he panted and banged on the door, "Rarity?!" He then tried to pry off one of the boards, but it was no good.
"This isn't good..." said Mario worriedly.
"I don't think she's here, Spike," said Twilight, "I'm not sure anything we know is the same." Twilight then remembered something, "But I do know one place that could never change!" Mario then smiled as Twilight hugged Spike tightly.
"You're right," said Mario, "To Sweet Apple Acres everypony!" When they arrived, they were in deep shock to see the entire farm had been...industrialized. Twilight and Spike stared with their jaws open.
"AJ said she'd sell her bucking legs before she'd ever resort to industrializing this place," said Mario, "Now I'm worried." Twilight walked up to the barn and found inside that its interior had been turned into a factory that was making mashed apples in a can. Both Big Mac and Applejack were inside, each of them wearing what looked like tan-colored cameo style shirts and hair nets over their manes and tails along with some matching hats. It was then Applejack came walking past rolling a large barrel when Twilight and Mario saw her.
"Applejack?!" Twilight and Mario shouted as she they rushed to the orange pony and hugged her. Applejack only glared back in return.
"What can I do for you?" Applejack asked in a very blunt tone as she walked off. Mario looked hurt.
"It's so good to see you!" said Twilight, "We couldn't find Pinkie or Rarity or Fluttershy or Rainbow Dash, but I just knew you'd still be here!" Mario watched as Applejack rolled a barrel into the wagon.
"Of course I am," Applejack replied, "This is my home. But who in tarnation is Pinkie Bow or Flutterdash? Or you two for that matter?" Twilight and Mario were taken aback as the orange pony walked behind them to load another barrel.
"You...don't know who we are?" Twilight asked sadly.
"Nope," Applejack replied.
"Sis...it's me, your brother," said Mario sadly, "Born after Big Mac and before you?"
"Impossible," said Applejack, "That little colt disappeared years ago. Ma never found him again before she passed."
"But that's because..." Twilight then cut him off and shook her head. Mario felt a tear leave his eye before sighing in defeat.
"Yeah...he's probably gone by now," said Mario quietly.
"Honestly, the only name I recognize is Rarity, but she left for Manehattan years ago," Applejack continued as she loaded another barrel into the wagon.
"Probably to become a world-famous fashion designer, I bet," Spike remarked.
"Not that I know of," said Applejack when she saw Mario help her roll a couple of more barrels into the wagon, "Thank you kindly, sir."
"You're...welcome," said Mario bravely, thought being called just "sir" really made his heart ache.
"Last I heard, she went to help with the cause like everypony else," Applejack continued.
"The cause?" Twilight asked.
"What cause?" Mario asked as well.
"The war against King Sombra and the Crystal Empire?" Applejack replied as a matter of fact.
"WHAT?!" Twilight, Mario, and Spike exclaimed in shock.
"Where have you two been?" Applejack asked suspiciously.
"You wouldn't believe us if we told you, AJ," Mario remarked wearily.
"Actually, it's when," said Spike smugly.
"I know this is hard to believe, but you, my husband, and I and those other ponies I mentioned are friends!" said Twilight, "and Mario is your long lost brother!"
"Did you bump your head on a crate of cider or somethin'?" Applejack asked skeptically.
"Sis, just look at me," said Mario, "aside from my wings and horn, I have the same fur and mane colors as Buttercup!" Applejack glared.
"You look nothing like Ma!" Applejack said darkly, "and how do you know her name?!" Mario winced at the remark.
"He knows because I'm telling you the truth!" said Twilight, "And if you come with us, I'll prove it." Twilight, Mario, and Spike ran off. Applejack just looked at them bluntly and went back to work. Or she tried to until Twilight grabbed her with her magic and dragged her along. It didn't take long before they reached the cutie map.
"Well, I'll admit," said Applejack as she looked at the map, "I've lived in these parts my whole life and I've never seen this before."
"There's also supposed to be a castle that goes with it," Spike added.
"But I still don't see what this has to do with you and I and your husband bein' friends," Applejack remarked.
"Another pony named Starlight Glimmer..." Twilight began to explain.
"Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr," Mario growled under his breath, but was easily heard by the two ponies.
"As I was saying," said Twilight as Applejack looked at the map, "she used this map to travel through time and change things in the past. For some reason, the map's here but everything else is different!"
"Different how?" Applejack asked.
"Well, for one thing," Twilight pointed out, "where we come from, there's no war with King Sombra." Applejack looked rather sad.
"Maybe you could tell us how the war started," Twilight suggested, "then we can figure out when everything changed!"
"That's easy enough," said Applejack with a sigh as visual of a dark version of the Crystal Empire came into view, "When the Crystal Empire returned, it brought King Sombra along with it." It was then the wicked unicorn stepped out of his castle. He overlooked the chaining and enslaving of the crystal ponies.
"And it didn't take long for him to force every one of his subjects to fight for him against Equestria," said Applejack as the crystal ponies were given militia style helmets and armor that made glowing eyes to show they were under Sombra's control.
"Princess Celestia had known of King Sombra's evil plan," said Applejack, "So she sent a group of mercenaries to try and stop him. Shenran, their leader, Shining Armor, his wing pony, and Trixie Lunamoon, an utterless slime ball who "volunteered" for the assignment!" It was then the three ponies stood before Princess Celestia, each of them wearing olive green shirts and pants with metallic boots on their hind legs along with a voluminous white jacket that had the sun insignia on the back of it.
"It turned out that Trixie was working for Sombra all along," Applejack said sadly, "Nopony saw it coming when she lead the mercenary group right into a trap. In an act of sheer bravery, Shenran sacrificed himself so Shining Armor could escape. Barely escaping with his life, Shining Armor reported the Shenran's final moments of courage. It was then King Sombra launched a full-scale attack against Equestria. Thus beginning the war." As she spoke, Trixie smiled deviously as she stood before some crystal soldiers that ambushed them. Shenran was then seen telling Shining Armor to leave before charging at the soldiers to face them alone with his dual swords. Shining Armor ran but could hear the clanging and fighting of a pony who was clearly outnumbered. Then several solders stood in the foreground as a large image was seen of King Sombra's wicked face as Applejack said the war had began.
It was then another collection of Crystal soldiers marched in place. When Princess Celestia stood on the edge of a high cliff with royal guards standing beside her as several Pegasi led the charge in the air. Airplane sounds could be herd as the now Wonderbolt soldiers lead the attack. It wasn't long before the two sides finally clashed and the fighting began. As the fighting continued, King Sombra appeared from the rising dust clouds. Three soldiers tried to charge him, but were stopped when King Sombra made some large crystals rise from the earth. He laughed victoriously from above. It was then a familiar blue Pegasus, wearing her solider uniform managed to attack a few Crystal soldiers on her own. It should also be noted that she also had a metallic left wing. Then another solider tried to attack her from behind, but she bucked them off, making her lose her helmet. She then went to keep fighting. Just then two Crystal soldiers tried to roll a large boulder at her, but then Pinkie and Maud appeared, wearing fighter attire as they used their fore-hooves to smash the boulder apart. They both saluted Rainbow before parting ways. Princess Celestia then entered the battlefield were several of her soldiers were knocked out. The four Crystal soldiers tried to ambush her, but she used a magic bubble to blast them away.
"And even with Princess Celestia leadin' the charge," said Applejack as the view showed Manehattan harbor, "it still takes every last pony in Equestria doin' their part, workin' day and night, to keep up the fight." It was then shown that Fluttershy was busy sheering sheep to make uniforms, wiping her brow from working so hard. Rarity was busy making the uniforms, wiping her own brow from exhaustion as well. Then several ponies were getting on a train to join the fight as the whistle blew and the engine let off steam.
Twilight and Mario looked devastated.
"I just can't believe it!" said Twilight in disbelief.
"Shenran is...gone?" Mario said sadly.
"No, he's supposed to be alive!" said Twilight, "We stopped King Sombra! You and me and my husband and all our friends!" Twilight put her fore-hooves on Applejack's shoulders.
"But we aren't friends," said Applejack bluntly as she pushed Twilight back, "At least not here."
"Right," said Twilight sadly.
"Look. I hope all this helped," said Applejack, "But I really need to get back to cannin' those apples." Applejack then turned to leave.
"Thank you," said Twilight, "We're going to set things right."
"I hope you do," said Applejack with a doubtful sigh and made her leave. They watched the orange pony walk away for a few seconds.
"So...how are we gonna set things right?" Spike asked.
"I don't know!" Twilight yelled as she slumped into the table with her fore-hooves on it.
"Everything we know and care about is gone!" Mario retorted, "It's all gone...all gone..." Mario then faceplanted the edge of the table in defeat.
"Mario, don't give up so easily!" said Twilight as she looked up, "You can still fight back even without your love magic!"
"How?" Mario snapped, "I don't even have my saddle bag of tricks with me! How can I fight back?"
"But you still have your wit and agility," said Twilight, "as well as your regular magic. As I recall, you don't need love magic to initiate those special battles or the pony attacks!"
"That...is true," said Mario, feeling a little better, "plus I feel something when I face-planted the table. I might not have any love magic...or connecting without friends...but I'm still connected to my element."
"At least Starlight didn't destroy that bond," said Twilight, "Otherwise, the only thing we know for sure is that Starlight stopped the rainboom!"
"And the map's still here," said Spike. Twilight then gasped.
"Spike's that's it!" said Twilight excitedly, "The map is connected to the Tree of Harmony! It must sense that something isn't right. That's why it's still here!" Mario then put an ear to cutie map and hummed.
"It's also powered by exactly thirty Flower Sprites," said Mario, "that magic is strong enough to resist the alterations to the time line, but for how long is anypony's guess..." Twilight hummed and got an idea as she pulled the scroll from Spike's backpack.
"I'll just use Starlight's version of the spell and go back a little earlier and stop her before she even knows we're there!" said Twilight.
"Easier said than done, honey," said Mario.
"Have you got any better ideas?" Twilight asked bluntly.
"Nope," said Mario before smirking with determination, "Starlight Glimmer, you're going down!" Twilight then activated the spell to create the portal and the two alicorns and Spike rose into the air. Spike made sure to grab the scroll before they entered as they headed back into the past.
(Cue "Sonic CD" time travel cut scene, but with our three heroes)
It wasn't long before they arrived back in the past. Spike screamed as they fell out of the portal, but Twilight used her magic to slow his fall as she and Mario hovered in place.
"All we have to do now," Twilight explained, "is find Starlight and-"
ZAP!
Too late, before Twilight could finish. A certain unicorn fired a magic blast at the two Alicorns and Spike, freezing them inside a large purple crystal that landed beside the airstrip.
"Well, finding her will be easy!" Starlight bragged as she made her presence known, "But stopping her's gonna be harder than you think."
"Let us out of here!" Mario yelled from the crystal.
"Oh what's that? you want me to sing for you?" Starlight taunted, "okay, here's a good lullaby I found in an old newspaper!
Mario's no use at all
Thinks he's very clever
Think that he can beat us all
That's the best joke ever!"
Mario growled as Starlight laughed at him.
"Sorry to disappoint you both," Starlight continued to gloat as she floated around the crystal, "but I created that spell so send myself back in time. So even when you cast it, I still get sent back here."
"Oooh...think you're so amazing just cause you got the preemptive strike against us?" Mario asked irritably.
"Exactly loser," Starlight replied, "It wasn't difficult to change Star Swirl's spell. He'd already done the hard part. But figuring out that I could use the map to go to any time or place and pull you along with me?" Starlight laughed haughtily, "I even impressed myself with that."
"Oh whatever!" Mario replied with an eye roll, "Gloating about your skills never leads to anything good!"
"You would know," said Starlight, "I know all about your glory days as the Flying Unicorn. Got quite a large head from all the fame and glory. Isn't that right?" Mario just gritted his teeth and blushed in embarrassment. Starlight laughed.
"I kinda wish I had gone back to the moment you crashed," said Starlight, "watching that moment over and over sounds like fun. I could even brag that was my favorite part of the race!"
"Stop mocking my husband," said Twilight, finally finding her ability to speak despite not being able to move, "You're not going to stop us!"
"Oh but I will!" said Starlight, "I knew you'd try and stop me. You're so predictable. Why else would I leave the scroll behind? Touching it will trigger a map to whisk you here and watch me erase the one thing that linked you with your friends! In fact, just try using your love magic Mario! I don't think traveling back is gonna restore it!" Mario glared and then tried to make his horn glow pink, but it was no good.
"You...you...you'll pay for this!" Mario barked in rage.
"No, You'll pay for this!" Starlight yelled as she stopped floating and landed on the crystal, glaring down at them, not even realizing the crystal was sinking through the clouds, "My village was a sanctuary of equality, where nopony's cutie mark allowed them to fell superior! It was special place, and you, your stupid husband, and your friends took it away!" Starlight then blinked when she realized the crystal was gone. She then floated away to find them under the cloud to continue her little monologue.
"Now it's my turn to take something special from you!" Starlight continued angrily.
"You took my love magic away, what more do ya want?!" Mario snapped.
"Without the rainboom, you and your friends will never form your special cutie mark bonds!" Starlight declared, "Cutie marks for cutie marks! Sounds like a fair trade to me! Besides...Mario never deserved that bond to begin with..." Starlight then gave the crystal a firm tap, sending it plummeting to the earth with the three heroes still trapped inside. As they continued to fall, Twilight got an idea.
"Mario, glow your horn with me!" she shouted. Mario then narrowed his eyes and they made their horn's light up, which made the crystal shatter, freeing them from their fallen prison.
"Umm...where's Spike?" Mario asked as he and Twilight hovered into the air.
"TWIIIIIIIIIIIIIIILIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGHT!" Spike screamed as he continued to fall.
"Oops!" said Twilight before she and Mario flew down at high speed. Spike kept screaming until Twilight managed to catch him with her fore-leg.
"Thanks!" said Spike with a squeak.
"No problem, Spike," said Twilight, "At least know we know exactly what we have to do!"
"Good for us Starlight was so full of herself to revel her scheme," said Mario with eye of determination, "Now we can gain the upper hand on her!"
"Right dear," said Twilight as they headed back to the flight camp.
It wasn't long before the three heroes were teleporting together from one cloud to the next, searching for Starlight before they found a spot hidden inside of a cloud.
"Okay, keep your eyes peeled," said Twilight.
"Right!" said Spike as he grabbed some binoculars to search around.
"Look what I found!" said Mario as he pulled out his tech visor and put it on, "Thank you Pinkie about teaching me the secret storage in the mane trick!"
"Good, honey," said Twilight, "We have to stop Starlight as soon as Rainbow Dash and those bullies race by!" Spike and Mario then noticed something and were stunned.
"Uh, Twilight?" said Spike.
"Honey?" Mario added.
"So be ready," said Twilight.
"I know, but..." Spike tried to say.
"Honey, please..." Mario tried to say at the same time.
"Because she could pop up anywhere!" Twilight snapped when Spike tapped her shoulder.
"Like over there?" Spike and Mario pointed out as Twilight grabbed the binoculars.
AAH-OOOOO-GAH!
Twilight's eyes bugged out when she saw Starlight with Young Hoops, Young Dumbbell, and Young Fluttershy.
"Just remember how you'd feel if someone said those things to you," Starlight told the three young ponies.
"What's going on here?" Twilight demanded as she and Mario landed nearby.
"What do you think you're doing?" Mario asked suspiciously.
"Oh, I was just reminding these two colts how hurtful teasing can be," said Starlight smugly. Mario was taken aback.
"Wait...really?" said Mario, his tone softening.
"Well, don't!" Twilight snapped.
"Huh?" said young Dumb-Bell, young Hoops, and young Fluttershy in confusion as Starlight had a smug smile on her face.
"Honey...damage control...now!" Mario muttered under his breath.
"I mean...you were?" said Twilight once she realized what was going on.
"Of course!" Starlight replied in an overly sweet tone as she rubbed young Fluttershy's mane, "In a world where everypony is unique, some are bound to feel more special than others." Twilight and Mario glared.
"But that isn't a license to be cruel, is it?" Starlight asked with a smirk.
"No, of course not..." said Twilight.
"Maybe consider taking your own advice," Mario muttered to himself.
"Oh, isn't it a shame we don't live in a world where everypony is equal?" Starlight pondered aloud as she stood with the young ponies and gave two of them a hug, making them all smile, "No one would ever tease anyone there! Would that be nice?"
"Mm-hmm," said the young ponies. Mario felt his jaw drop.
"No, it wouldn't!" Twilight remarked, but stuttered to find her words, "I mean, it'd be nice not to be teased of course, but that's not the same thing!"
"Come on, Fluttershy," said young Hoops, "Maybe I can help you get through the course this time."
"Well, I-I sure could use the practice," said young Fluttershy. The three young ponies then walked away.
"I know you only convinced those bullies to not tease Fluttershy to stop the rainboom!" Twilight said as she sternly walked up to the unicorn.
"Oh, that's not true," said Starlight.
"Yeah, and I'm a overly filled custard pastry with wings!" Mario remarked with an eye roll.
"Well, you are kinda fat," Starlight said bluntly, making Mario whinny in shock.
"I convinced them not to be bullies because everypony should be equal," said Starlight arrogantly before adding darkly, "Stopping the rainboom is just a bonus." Twilight glared angrily at her as Mario recovered from Starlight's cruel remark.
"My own dream...of changing a bad memory of the past into a good memory," said Mario, "used against me..." Mario growled.
"CURSE YOU STARLIGHT!" Mario screamed.
"Excuse me, such language!" young Fluttershy retorted when Mario found her standing close by.
"I thought you were the super shy and timid one," Mario remarked annoyingly.
"And you look like a dork!" young Fluttershy retorted before walking away in a confident demeanor, humming to herself.
"Grrr-rah!" Mario snapped angrily as Starlight laughed.
"You enjoying making my husband feel bad don't you?" Twilight remarked.
"Look!" Spike shouted as young Rainbow zoomed by in the sky.
"This isn't over yet!" Twilight said sternly, "Come on, honey!" Mario gave Starlight growl before following his wife.
"If you say so!" Starlight sing sang. Mario wanted to fire a magic blast at her, but decided to hold back and followed his wife.
"So what's the plan?" Mario asked Twilight.
"You just stay with Spike and look cute," said Twilight, "I'll handle Rainbow myself." Twilight flew away before Mario could reply. In fact, Spike was still holding onto Twilight's tail since the purple alicorn didn't even give him the chance to climb onto Mario's back. Young Rainbow was just enjoying herself when Twilight flew beside the young filly with a huge smile on her face.
"Hi," said Twilight cheerfully.
"Uh...hi?" said young Rainbow when she saw Spike hanging onto Twilight's tail.
"Think you could stop for a minute?" Twilight asked.
"Sure," said Young Rainbow and she came to an immediate stop while Twilight ended up crashing into a cloud off screen. Mario went to help his wife, but she had already recovered and pushed him aside before he could speak with Young Rainbow.
"I hear you're pretty fast!" said Twilight with Spike now on her back. Mario was right behind her.
"Pretty fast?" said young Rainbow confidently, "Please! I'm even faster than that!"
"Okay, so um, hey, you want to race?" Twilight asked, nudging the young filly. Mario's jaw dropped at the fact his own wife was going for such a direct tactic.
"Um, that wouldn't really be fair," said young Rainbow as he hovered before Twilight, "I mean, you're a full grown pony, and...Wait, Are you an Alicorn? You both look like Alicorns? I thought only grown girl ponies became Alicorns?"
"Just a lucky stallion," said Mario, "Besides, my wife might be an Alicorn and a grown pony, but she's not a fast flyer..." Twilight glared and then stomped him.
"Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa-UGH!" Mario yelped and then grunted as he crashed into a cloud below off screen. Young Rainbow just watched Mario fall and crash, wincing at the impact.
"Come on," Twilight coaxed as she wrapped a fore-hoof around the filly, "I thought you were fast!" Young Rainbow looked down to see Spike hanging on Twilight's tail and gave a springy thumbs up. Young Rainbow was now weirded out.
"Uh, actually," said young Rainbow nervously, "I just remembered I have somewhere I need to be." She quickly zoomed away. Twilight wasted no time following after her.
"Okay, listen," said Twilight as she flew beside the filly, "You don't have to race me. I just need you to fly fast enough to do a sonic rainboom."
"What?!" young Rainbow exclaimed, "I can't do that! Nopony can! It's not even a real thing! It's just an old mare's tale!"
"But it's not!" said Twilight as Mario finally recovered and followed in the background, "I know it's not! I've seen you do it! In the future!" Twilight raised and lowered her eye brows twice at the filly while smirking. Mario groaned as he face-hoofed himself and shook his head.
"I can hear Starlight laughing at us already!" Mario remarked to himself. Now young Rainbow really wanted to get as far away from Twilight as possible.
"Oookay..." said Young Rainbow nervously, "I'm gonna go now."
"No! Wait!" Twilight called out, but Rainbow was out of sight.
"Hold up!" Mario added as well. Starlight then appeared with a very arrogant look on her face. She had seen everything.
"Gee, Twilight and Mario, what's the matter?" she asked arrogantly, "Couldn't convince her to do the impossible? That's too bad." Mario growled and then smirked deviously as he got an idea before he disappeared and returned with Young Rainbow by his side.
"What are you doing?" Starlight asked rather defensively.
"I told my new friend that I gonna give her a way to beat up a pony and not get in trouble for it," said Mario smugly before narrowing his eyes at her, "Ever heard of the old self-defense training sessions young ponies used to do called "Ponymon"?" Starlight blinked and then smirked.
"You'll be sorry, Mario Star," Starlight said deviously. Twilight was puzzled.
"What's Ponymon?" Twilight asked.
(Cue "Pokémon" trainer battle music)
"I'll explain once the intro finishes," said Spike as the intro began. Some white outline stars streaked across the screen. Then a linear zoetrope background appeared as Starlight appeared from the left in the background and the back of Mario's head was seen in the fore-ground as he appeared from the right.
Mario Star was challenged by Starlight Glimmer.
Starlight Glimmer sent out Young Hoops. The mare then allowed the Pegasus colt to step forward and growled at Mario.
Mario sent out young Rainbow Dash.
"Aw yeah!" Young Rainbow shouted as Mario held out a fore-legs and helped the Pegasus filly jumped into the battlefield. Twilight and Spike were close by watching the action unfold. Starlight smirked confidently.
"You're move, Mario Star," said Starlight arrogantly. Mario smirked.
"Rainbow, use Zippy Zap!" Mario called out. Rainbow chuckled.
"Oh alright," she called out, creating some static electricity on herself and then charged fully speed at Young Hoops, "TAKE THAT!"
POW! BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZT!
Young Hoops was given the jolt of a lifetime, taking heavy damage.
"It's super effective!" said Spike.
"What do you mean?" Twilight asked, not understand what just happened.
"Heh, I actually study the ins and outs of Ponymon training," said Spike, "Each pony always has one or two skill set types. Rainbow Dash, our Rainbow, told me that while she and Hoops were both Flight skill types, Hoops' second skill set was Bug type while Rainbow's second skill set was Electric type, which makes her attacks super powerful against Hoops since flight and bug skills are weak to electric skills." Young Hoops fainted and he poofed from the battlefield.
"Nice work, Rainbow!" said Mario. Young Rainbow smiled cockily. Starlight just smirked.
"It's not over yet," the mare said smugly, "You only have one filly. I have a second colt for little Rainbow to fight!" Starlight sent out Young Dumb-bell.
"Easy peasy!" said young Rainbow and went for another Zippy Zap.
"Rainbow wait!" Mario called out, but he as too late, Rainbow went for the attack.
POW! BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZT!
Young Dumbbell took damage, but looked as if he come out unscratched.
"What the huh?!" young Rainbow exclaimed.
"What happened?" said Twilight in shock.
"Simple Twilight," Starlight replied deviously before Spike could explain, "While little Dumb-bell here is a flight skill type, his second skill set is actually Ground skill set, which makes him resistant to Electric skill attacks." Young Rainbow gulped.
"Uh oh..." Young Rainbow whimpered.
"Dumbbell, use Cloud-quake!" Starlight shouted. To explain, "Cloud-quake" is a Pegasus variant of an "earthquake", but with clouds instead of earth. The cloud underneath young Rainbow shook about violently, dealing heavy damage to the Pegasus.
"Ooooooooooh, that is super effective!" said Spike as he and Twilight winced. Then a chime was heard indicating that the young filly's might not be able to take any more damage. Even young Rainbow looked shaken up...literally and confidently. Young Dumb-bell laughed.
"Ready to crash...uhh...Crash!" he taunted and laughed dumbly.
"Hang tight Rainbow," said Mario, "You'll beat him yet!"
"How?" said Starlight, "Rainbow is flight and electric skill set. None of those are weak against ground." Mario chuckled.
"Your right, none of her initial or learned skills for her skill types are weak to ground skills," said Mario, "But if there's one thing Future Dashie told me...is that as a filly, she took advantage of learning Technical Moves."
"Oh yeah!" said Spike as he hopped up and down excitedly.
"What?!" Starlight steamed in rage.
"Rainbow, use Splishy Splash!" Mario called. It was then a huge wave of water appeared as Young Rainbow rode a surf board.
"Surf's up, dude!" she called out.
SLOOOOOOOOOOOOSH!
Young Dumb-bell was left stunned as the wave crashed into him, dealing heavy damage.
"It's super effective!" Spike called out. Young Dumb-bell then fainted and went poof.
(Battle Victory!)
"Ugh...whatever..." Starlight scoffed indignantly as she looked away irritably. Mario just smirked as the battlefield disappeared. By the time they were all back in the air, young Rainbow had flown away.
"You may have won the battle, but not the war!" said Starlight smugly. Twilight went to retort but the portal reappeared and sucked her, Mario, and Spike into it. The three heroes then landed hard on the cutie map as the portal closed above them.
"Ugh. Well, that didn't work," said Spike as he sat up and Twilight and Mario looked around.
"What was the point of that...that Ponymon battle back there?" Twilight asked rather irritably to her husband.
"So show Starlight that she's not as invincible as she thinks," said Mario, "She'll think twice before she tries to outsmart us again." Twilight just sighed as she looked at the scroll.
"This is gonna be harder than I thought," said Twilight, "We'll have to try again!" It was then Spike and Mario looked at their surroundings and huddled up to the purple pony.
"Hey, Twilight?" said Spike nervously.
"Honey?" Mario called out fearfully.
"I don't want to live in that awful future we saw!" said Twilight.
"I wouldn't worry about that!" said Mario wearily.
"I don't think you'll have to!" Spike added. It was then several spears were pointed right at them, making Twilight drop the scroll. It was then she saw several ponies glaring at them, two of them very familiar friends, but were wearing tribal mud all over them as well as green like masks and gear.
"Pinkie? Fluttershy?" Twilight remarked.
"Didn't I tell you not to stick sharp objects at me?" Mario remarked, trying to be playful.
"Silence, changeling!" Pinkie snapped sternly.
"All servants of Queen Chrysalis found in these woods must be...destroyed!" said Fluttershy in the same tone. Twilight gulped. Mario and Spike exchanged nervous looks with each other.
Things had just gotten much worse...
(To be Continued)
George Hoofey is just a spoof on the famous name George Clooney, who as if you recall, got grey hair before he was considered an old man.
I get it, I might get heat for making them talk inside that chunk of crystal, but I couldn't see Mario staying silent with Starlight mocking him so much. So they now speak despite being frozen inside that thing.
Hope you enjoyed my parody of Pokémon Let's go Pikachu/Eevee. If you like to see more of these battles, I can consider Diamond Tiara engaging in some "Ponymon" training. Plus I even managed to parody the intro to Star Fox too!
Guess I don't need to point out that things have gotten worse, but normally I say things will get better. But with Starlight having such a huge advantage...who knows what part 2 will bring?
I might even take another short break. So if part 2 takes a while it's because I've been feeling burnt out. I had a hard time just writing this chapter because of it! And Part 2 has more bonus content to it so I wanna give you all my best!
Peace Pony Fans!