The Cutie Re-Mark Part 2
Pony's Log Number 526: I've never thought I'd see the day that all my abilities would finally be matched...
(I repeat as before: No "Previously on My Little Pony" segments)
Twilight, Mario, and Spike were still panicking at being surrounded by ponies holding very sharp spears.
"Will you point that thing someplace else?" Mario retorted.
"Get 'em!" Pinkie shouted as she, Fluttershy, and several other ponies charged at them. Mario lit his own.
"Let'sa go!"
"Let's do this!"
(Cue Turn Battle theme)
Mario and Twilight soon found themselves before a group of eight ponies in tribal gear and their spears were raised in the air. This group also included Pinkie and Fluttershy.
"Mario...do we..." said Twilight timidly.
"Yes we do," said Mario sadly, "It's the only way we'll get them to listen to us." Twilight sighed.
"Well, go and do your double stomp," said Twilight. Mario shook his head.
"Those spears will hurt me if I jump on them," said Mario, "We need to go for a Super Chopper Ponies!"
"Right!" said Twilight as she got into position as she aimed for Fluttershy and added sadly, "I'm sorry I have to do this..." Mario then slammed Twilight underground. Twilight then burrowed under the yellow Pegasus and sent her flying airborne several times over as Mario continued to send the purple pony underground. After about six strikes, Fluttershy landed and poofed from the battlefield.
"Serves her right for mocking me as a filly," Mario remarked.
"Honey, let it go," said Twilight sternly.
"Fine," said Mario, "Ready for the next move!"
"Time for Super Knockback Ponies!" said Twilight. Mario then curled into a ball and jumped up a little as Twilight swung her hammer to send Mario into one pony. After about two hits, the pony poofed from the battle so Twilight was able to defeat three of them when she went for the final hammer smash.
"Oh yeah!" said Mario and Twilight with a hoof-pump. With one turn, they had defeated half the pony tribe warriors. Only Pinkie and three others were left.
"Circle formation!" Pinkie shouted as they began to circle dance around the two ponies as they stood on their hind legs. Then Pinkie glanced quickly at Mario.
"Now!" Pinkie shouted as they all tossed their spears into the air so they all headed right for Mario. But Mario managed to jump over the spears so they crashed into each other and disappeared. Pinkie them made more spears re-appear and gave them to the other three before they returned to their side of the battlefield.
"Change!" Pinkie called out, making all the ponies lower their spears so they were pointing in front of them instead of above their heads. Mario smirked.
"Perfect!" said Mario, "Honey, Super Fire Ponies!" Twilight nodded as Mario stood before her and fired several fire-balls into the air to create a giant orb of fire. Pinkie and the other tribal warriors winced at the sight.
"Uh-oh..." Pinkie squeaked.
"Set!" Twilight yelled as she pushed the fire ball into the air. Mario then ran under it and jump up.
"Fire Spike!" Mario shouted as he slammed the fire ball at the four tribe ponies. Since their gear was made of plants, the fire was super effective. All but Pinkie poofed from the battlefield.
"Alright!" said Mario excitedly, "Let's finish this with a Super..."
"No need!" said Twilight as she rushed up to Pinkie and did a basic double stomp attack, defeating the pink pony with ease.
"Well if you wanna take her out the easy way," said Mario with an eye roll as Twilight landed gracefully and she stuck her tongue out at him.
(Battle Victory!)
Despite their victory, the rest of the group hadn't exactly backed down.
"Only changelings fight with that much skill and tenacity!" said Fluttershy as she and the others raised their spears at them again.
"Wait!" Twilight cried out, "we're not changelings! I'm a pony! He's a pony! And he's a dragon!"
"A likely story!" said Pinkie as she stuck her spear at Spike, "Do something dragonish!"
"BURP!" Spike belched as some dragon breath hit the pink pony in the face.
"That works!" Pinkie wheezed as she backed away.
"The servants of Chrysalis will do anything to save their evil skins!" Fluttershy called out as the spear were pointed closer to the three heroes.
"Would a changeling say this," said Mario before clearing his throat, "my wife's nickname for me is Schmoopy." The tribal ponies all froze before they started snickering.
"No changeling would be that desperate to save his skin," Pinkie snickered.
"It could also mean he's just a big dork," Fluttershy added. Mario and Twilight looked indignant.
"You're the real dork, Fluttershy," Twilight muttered until a sword was pointed at her. She turned to see Shenran, also wearing tribal gear and paint on his body.
"Watch what you say about my wife!" he threatened before giving them a stern glare.
"Guess Shenran is alive and married to Fluttershy in this timeline," said Mario.
"You sure that's a good thing?" Spike asked nervously.
"Hmm...now that you say it that way..." Mario pondered.
"Stop!" called a voice. It was then everypony looked up and saw a familiar zebra, wearing tribal attire, appeared up in a tree branch, "If they are changelings we'll soon see. Though I think they are not what they appear to be."
"Zecora," said Twilight with relief, "Please, you have to listen." Fluttershy, Pinkie, and Shenran pointed their spears at them again.
"Will you point those things someplace else!" said Mario annoyingly as he swatted them back, "even if we were changelings, would you strike one down if they were willing to surrender?" Mario winced when they jabbed their spears at the group once more. Zecora then appeared with some sort of bowl in her fore-hoof.
"Beneath this salve, no changeling hides," said Zecora, "for it reveals the truth inside." She then applied the salve to Twilight, giving her the same attire at the others. Zecora than hesitated to apply the salve to Mario.
"For reasons I cannot do, for you must use your magic to apply my medicinal goo," Zecora told him. Mario looked puzzled for a moment, but then blinked and smiled. Mario then used his horn to inhale the goo into his horn. He then squatted down...
He was now...Leaf Mario! He now donned a leaf headband and some leaf armor around his body.
It was then all three heroes bodies began to glow white. The other ponies gasped and backed away fearfully.
"What does it mean?" Pinkie asked timidly.
"The meaning is far worse," said Zecora as she addressed the others, "I see, for it is we who should not be."
"I think I can explain," said Twilight. "Well...my husband and I can explain."
"I'm sure you can," said Zecora as she eyeballed the three heroes from the corner of her eye, "but let's not talk here. Chrysalis and her army will soon draw near!" The three heroes soon followed the group. As they ventured deep into the forest, Mario could see some other tribal attired ponies scouting the forest for trouble.
"This is reminding me of that forest planet from volume six of my Pony Wars books," Mario told his wife.
"And you said it was pretty here!" Spike quoted sarcastically from the books as Mario stuck his tongue out at the dragon.
"The changelings took over not long ago," Zecora explained, "Though I'll wager in your world that isn't so."
"Chrysalis and her army tried to take over Canterlot, but my friends, my husband, and I stopped her," said Twilight.
"It was during that victory I uncovered the secret to powerful love magic," said Mario, "but that magic was lost when the past was disrupted."
"I see," said Zecora, "those friends as you know them are not here, alas. But tell me how all this came to pass."
"Starlight Glimmer," said Twilight.
"Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!" Mario growled, but Twilight smacked the side of his head to stop.
"She's a pony who traveled back in time to stop my friends, my husband, and me from ever coming together!" Twilight explained as Mario gave his wife a death glare and snorted to himself.
"And it is these friends you both have in life that keep Equestria free from strife?" Zecora asked as they continued on their way.
"I guess so," said Twilight, "but this is the second time we've come back and this world is even worse than the last one! If Starlight keeps doing the same thing in the past, how could the present be so different?"
"That is a good question, honey," said Mario.
"Ah, time is a river," Zecora explained as she stopped next to a small creek, "where even the tiniest changes seen can lead to a cascade of effects downstream." Zecora put her fore-hoof into the stream to alter its path to emphasize her point.
"That makes alot of sense," said Mario, "after all, the future isn't written. Any change in the past can lead to numerous possibilities." Zecora hummed in agreement. Twilight just stared at the creek before catching up with the others. It wasn't long before they arrived at a nearby area with thick bushes.
"This part of the forest is dark and damp," said Zecora as she lifted the flora to reveal a hidden village, "but it's done well to hide our camp." Twilight and Mario looked around the area.
"Oh yeah, I'm definitely getting a Pony Wars volume six vibe here," said Mario, "The only thing missing is a pony..." It was then a pony blew a horn fanfare close by.
"Nice touch," said Mario impressively.
"This is cozy," said Spike to Pinkie and Fluttershy, who just kept glaring at him. It was then a familiar shriek was heard and there appeared...Rainbow, Applejack, and Rarity?!
"Please! You have to help us!" Rarity pleaded.
"The changelings attacked Ponyville!" Rainbow added, "We're barely escaped with our lives!" Twilight nearly ran up to them with Zecora and Mario raised a fore-leg to stop her.
"The only changeling attack I see is the one that comes here looking for me!" said Zecora. It was then Applejack stepped forward with her stenson hat lowered over her eyes.
"It's taken quite a while to find you, Zecora," said Applejack darkly before she started laughing sinisterly and a green glow appeared around her. The other tribal ponies appeared around the zebra as Applejack transformed into Queen Chrysalis herself. Mario stood on his hind legs, ready to use his new leaf and wind magic.
"What a lovely village you've chosen to stage your little resistance. It's look absolutely delicious!" Chrysalis taunted as Zecora glared at her, as the so called queen slurped hungrily. Two ponies pushed the queen back with their spears.
"Oh, come now, Zecora," said Chrysalis as Rainbow and Rarity revealed themselves as changelings, "You've vastly outnumbered." It was then a huge swarm of changelings appeared from above and surrounded the camp. Mario snorted.
"Numbers do not win a battle," said Mario sternly. It was then he saw a small filly reveal herself as a changeling as well to another pony. The pony ran off and the changeling chased after them.
"But I bet they help..." Mario said to himself.
"I know you don't want your charges hurt," said Chrysalis confidently, "Come quietly to the dungeons of Canterlot and I promise to leave the others alone."
"Why would she ever trust you?!" said Fluttershy.
"You made the same promise to my father!" Shenran yelled angrily, "but you went back on your word and now he's...gone!" Shenran's voice cracked as tears built up in his eyes, Mario looked at him sympathetically.
"Even if there's a chance Chrysalis will honor her word," said Twilight, "shouldn't you try?"
"Race to the map while we hold off their attack," Zecora said in a hushed tone to Twilight and Mario, "Stop Starlight and put the whole world back on track!" Twilight and Mario nodded as they ran off, the latter picking up Spike as they headed back to the cutie map.
"Time to make a decision, Zecora!" Chrysalis taunted.
"Even if what you are saying were true," said Zecora boldly, "we'd never surrender to a creature like you!" Zecora gave a yell and the tribal ponies charged. Chrysalis yelled as well as all the changelings charged as well. Soon the two groups clashed into each other. Chrysalis used her magic to blast Zecora and pin her down. Another changeling tried to block Twilight, but she blasted it away. But the other changelings were catching up with the three heroes.
"I'll take care of this," said Mario as he stopped.
"Mario, don't! There's no time!" Twilight called out.
"We still gotta keep them away from the map!" Mario called out as he ducked and turned into a pile of leaves. Several changelings gathered around the pile of leaves when...
POW!
Mario sent a huge vine at them, knocking them all back as he made himself reappear. As he jumped into the air, he began swiping his fore-legs about to make a combination of wind and leaves to strike and knock the attacking changelings back. When Mario saw that they were still in high pursuit, he back-flipped, crunched down and charged up his magic. When the changelings were in attacking range...
WHOOOOOOOSH!
Mario created a tornado to capture the nearby changelings and sent them flying away. Mario then turned around to see that his wife was still being pursued and went to catch up with her. Twilight was panting as she tried to rush for the map as quickly as she could. A changeling nearly caught up to her and tried to take a bite at Spike. Then they tried to surround her. Mario then appeared and tried to knock them back with some more leaf magic, but one changeling managed to attack Mario, knocking Mario backwards and making the alicorn prince drop his copy ability. Twilight then teleported herself, Mario, and Spike to the cutie map. Activated the spell, and they headed into the portal.
(Cue Sonic CD time travel cut scene...again)
As soon as Twilight, Mario, and Spike left the portal. Twilight and Mario created a shield that blocked Starlight's crystal prison attack. The two ponies glared at her menacingly.
"I'm not one to brag but...HA!" Mario retorted at blocking Starlight's attack. Twilight and Mario snarled before they exchanged nods with each other before they each fired a magic blast at the unicorn. Starlight just side stepped from the attack and the chunk of could fell away.
"Not bad," said Starlight smugly, "but it's gonna take a lot more than that!"
"Lucky for you, there's more where that came from!" said Twilight.
"Alright, honey, let's rock n roll!" said Mario as he put his targeting visor on his face. The two ponies then did a loop-de-loop into the air as Twilight fired several magic blast at Starlight, but the unicorn put up a barrier to protect herself. Mario then charged up his horn and fired a homing magic blast at the unicorn, but the barrier blocked his blast as well! Spike flinched since some of Twilight's blasts nearly missed his feet and two little fillies went to watch the battle. Starlight then fired along steady blast at Twilight and Mario, but the two alicorns simply flew ahead of the blast with ease. Starlight then fired some magic blasts of her own at the group.
"Do a barrel roll!" Twilight called out to her husband. Mario smirked as he did just that and reflected the magic blasts away. Mario then went for another homing magic blast, but Starlight moved out of the way at the last second. Starlight then smirked as she fired her own homing blast right at Mario.
"Incoming from behind!" Spike called out. Mario then noticed the fast approaching magic blast and did a loop-de-loop, making the magic blast fly off and out of harms away. He then saw Starlight trying to chase after Twilight and firing constant magic blasts at her. Spike noticed as well.
"Twilight, bogey on your tail!" Spike called out. Twilight gasped as she barely missed getting it from behind.
"Honey, use your brakes!" Mario called out. Twilight looked puzzled for a second but then smirked as she remembered what Mario had taught her. She then shifted her feathers to make herself slow down and Starlight zoomed ahead of her. Twilight then fired her magic blasts at Starlight, but the unicorn recovered as she blocked and moved out of the way. Mario tried another homing blast, but Starlight kept using shields to block them.
"Come on, Spike, where's the shield analysis?" Mario shouted to the little dragon from below.
"How in Equestria am I supposed to figure that out?" Spike shouted back as Mario rejoined his wife. The two alicorns then flew behind some pillars as two more fillies watched in amazement. Twilight then charged up her horn and fired another blast, but Starlight floated out of the way.
"You've really gotta work on your aim," Starlight taunted.
"My aim is just fine!" Mario shouted as he targeted her again and fired a fully charged homing magic blast at the unicorn. But the unicorn used her shield to block it again.
"The blasts are accurate," said Starlight, "too bad your magic is so weak!" Mario snarled as Starlight fired another blast at Twilight. Twilight teleported out of the way just in time. The three ponies kept at it, exchanging and blocking magic blasts with each other viciously and aggressively. It was then young Rainbow, young Hoops, and young Dumb-bell noticed all the action. By now, Twilight, Mario, and Starlight were panting from exhaustion as they landed on the air strip. Mario tried to fire a shot while Starlight was weak, but his magic was drained.
"Horseapples..." he muttered. Starlight then fired a cheap shot, but Mario and Twilight blocked it easily.
"Whoa!" said a voice. Twilight and Mario looked back and gasped silently. There was young Rainbow, eating popcorn with young Hoops and young Dumb-Bell as they watched their battle.
"What are you doing?" Twilight asked, "You have to finish your race!"
"No way!" said young Rainbow, "This is way more exciting!" Mario groaned and face-hoofed himself.
"See?" said Starlight smugly, "You can't stop me no matter what you do." Mario knew what was coming next and made his horn glow before the portal could appear.
"Let's a go!"
"Let's do this!"
(Cue boss turn battle)
Twilight was puzzled at the fact Mario had initiated another turn battle.
"Mario, what good would it do fighting Starlight now?" said Twilight, "The rainboom's been stopped!"
"She has a good point," Starlight added cockily.
"Simple," Mario said in a hushed tone his wife, "We wear her out and then we can pull her in with us back to the future. Then we can keep her pinned down so we can make sure the rainboom takes place without her interfering!" Twilight smirked.
"Honey, you are a genius," said Twilight before facing Starlight, "Actually, I changed my mind. I wanna take you down before we go back to the future!" Starlight blinked and then smirked.
"Very well," said Starlight, "But just like you two have your own perk. I'm gonna have my own!" Starlight then created a pink bubble around her body as she floated in the air.
"Good luck breaking my shield if you want any chance of defeating me!" Starlight taunted.
"Don't underestimate our offensive power, Starlight!" Mario snarled, "Super Splash Ponies!" Twilight nodded and they performed the attack. But to their shock when Mario made the final strike. He only bounced off the barrier, dealing no damage at all.
"Shoot!" Mario said in frustration.
"Let's keep trying!" said Twilight, "Super Bounce Ponies!" Mario nodded as they went for the attack, but neither alicorn could break her shield and they bounced off it. Starlight laughed.
"My turn!" said Starlight cockily. Starlight then shifted from side to side as she charged up her horn, making the two ponies guess which one would have to jump to avoid the attack. Starlight then fired a very fast magic beam at Mario. Mario jumped too early and was struck.
"GAH!" Mario yelped. Then Starlight played very dirty. She then fired another long steady magic beam at Mario before he could recover, which deal continuous damage to Mario.
"Momma mia..." Mario groaned. Starlight dealt so much damage that Mario was knocked out.
"Mario!" Twilight screamed before she rushed over and put Mario into her back. Starlight didn't even give Twilight a chance to take a turn to attack. She charged up her horn and then fired the same blast at Twilight. Twilight couldn't jump early enough since she didn't realize until too late that having Mario on her back delayed her jumping timing. Poor Twilight was at the mercy of Starlight's second magic beam, which dealt continuous damage to her.
"You'll...pay...for...this..." Twilight groaned as she passed out as well. Starlight laughed in triumph.
(Battle Defeat!)
The two alicorns were knocked out as Starlight watched them and Spike being pulled into the time portal before they could recover.
"Aw, man," said young Rainbow as she tossed her popcorn over her head annoyingly since the action was over.
It wasn't long before the portal dumped the three heroes onto the table, where they once again bounced off it and onto the ground nearby. Spike groaned as he sat up but then noticed that Mario and Twilight were still knocked out. He quickly looked inside his backpack.
"Please...please...please...yes! I do have some!" said Spike as he pulled out a pair of some green and white mushrooms. He quickly fed them to the two ponies.
(extra life fanfare)
"ugh..." Mario and Twilight groaned as they woke up. Spike was glad they were okay now, but then noticed the surroundings.
"That's strange..." said Spike.
"Well, you obviously don't mean us falling," said Twilight, "because that's becoming routine."
"I outta strangle the pony who said falling is half the fun," said Mario as he rubbed his sore back.
"No," said Spike, "it's just the other times we've come back, it's been day! But look!" The group looked up and saw that it was nighttime.
"Why would the map bring us back to a different time of day then when we left?" Twilight asked.
"I dunno honey," said Mario, "but this doesn't feel like ordinary night time." Mario closed his eyes and shivered.
"There is a dark presence that surrounds everything," said Mario ominously, "I can really feel the hopelessness here."
"But why?" Twilight asked.
"Um, maybe we should figure it out later!" Spike suggested when they heard some branches cracking. They turned to see some timberwolves surrounding the cutie map. Twilight tried to fire a magic blast, but her magic was still drained from their last battle and being knocked out.
"What I wouldn't give for a fire flower right about now!" Mario said fearfully. It was then the timberwolves saw them and the three heroes ran for their lives. The two wolves howled as Twilight, with Spike on her back, and Mario ran away. They were then stopped at the edge of a cliff. Twilight and Mario gasped at what was before them, which appeared to be an ominous looking castle.
"The Castle of the Two Sisters!" said Twilight and Mario together. They then heard the timberwolves howling behind them.
"Well don't just stand there," said Spike as he ran across the bridge and headed toward the castle. Twilight and Mario both followed and rushed inside the castle and quickly closed the door. Just as they both breathed a sigh of relief, Mario looked around.
"Wuh?!" said Mario in surprise. Twilight and Mario found the castle in good condition, but was surrounded in shades of blue decor and lighting. The three heroes ventured down the hallway and walked up the thrones.
"This place looks alot cleaner than I remember," said Spike.
"Not to mention more ominous," Mario added when they were all startled to see a tapestry lifted by some magic. They turned to see a familiar marshmallow unicorn wearing a dark blue work jacket with lighter blue shirt with her mane and tail in tight buns. She also had on a pair dark blue shoes on her fore-hooves.
"Rarity?" Twilight and Mario exclaimed.
"The castle isn't open for viewings today," said Rarity sternly, "The tapestries all need changing. Again." Spike rushed up to her.
"Rarity, it's me!" Spike called out.
"I don't socialize with dragons," Rarity remarked in a condescending tone before stomping away, "I don't know anypony who would."
"Ouch..." said Mario as Spike whimpered loudly and felt very heartbroken. Twilight and Mario leaped over the distraught dragon to speak with the marshmallow mare.
"Rarity, you have to listen to us!" said Twilight, "The future of Equestria's at stake!"
"And we could use your help!" Mario added. Rarity just glared at the two alicorns.
"I don't know how you two know my name," said Rarity indignantly, "but I am far too busy to entertain some tourist's ridiculous fantasies!" Rarity then got back to work.
"This is serious, Rarity," said Mario.
"We have to get back to the map so we can stop Starlight from changing the past, because present we come to is worse than the last!" Twilight told the unicorn in a frantic tone, but Rarity seemed to ignore her.
"Time travel, you say?" said a familiar, but evil voice. Twilight, Mario, and Spike all huddled up. It was then they saw various images and artwork of...nightmare moon! It wasn't long before the said pony made her presence known.
"No wonder I was sensing so much darkness!" Mario exclaimed.
"Now that's something I would like to see," said Nightmare Moon and then laughed as the group was surrounded by nightmare moon guards. She then hovered toward the three heroes, "Tell me how you came by this magic to travel through time."
"Like we would tell you anything," Mario muttered.
"The princess asked you a question!" said a familiar voice as the pony removed her helmet to reveal that it was Rainbow, "And unless you wanna end up in the dungeon, you'll tell her what she wants to know!" Twilight and Mario were deeply shocked.
"Nopony in my kingdom but me should possess a magic powerful enough to change time!" Nightmare Moon warned.
"Your kingdom?" Spike pointed out, getting glares from Twilight and Mario.
"Who else?" Nightmare Moon asked.
"Um...Celestia, of course!" Spike replied. Rainbow and the other guards winced. There was a long pause before Nightmare Moon laughed.
"My sister has been imprisoned in the moon for years!" Nightmare Moon replied as she showed the moon has a silhouette of the sun princess before getting into Twilight and Mario's faces, "But it is no less a fate than she'd sentence me to! Now, reveal to me the source of this time magic." Mario glared as he went to rub his mane. It was then he felt something inside and quickly realized that he had another item inside of his mane. Mario then pulled Twilight close and whispered something into her ear. She then gave him a firm nod before looking sadly at Nightmare Moon.
"...Alright," Twilight conceded.
"Very well," said Mario before adding in a spiteful tone, "your majesty."
"Twilight, Mario, no!" Spike protested.
"We have no choice, Spike," said Twilight as Mario nodded in agreement. The alicorn couple approached Nightmare Moon.
"I can take you to it," said Twilight, "but you'll have to get past the timberwolves."
"I am the ruler of all of Equestria," Nightmare Moon boasted, "Do you think I can't deal with timberwolves?"
"No," said Twilight sadly before adding with a glare, "I know you can."
"Same here," said Mario in the same tone as he looked at his wife.
"And if you were thinking of trying to escape," said Nightmare Moon as she made her horn glow to pick up Spike and chained him up tightly, "it would be very unfortunate for your friend." Mario glared and Twilight winced. The purple pony looked at Mario, who snuck a glance at her and gave her a discreet wink. He had expected Nightmare Moon to play dirty...and he was ready.
Nightmare Moon made easy work of the timberwolves and used her magic to scare them off as she, Twilight, and Mario headed side by side into the Everfree toward the table.
"How does it work?" Nightmare Moon demanded.
"A pony from my time used this spell to travel back and change the past," Twilight explained.
"And now you will give this spell to me!" said Nightmare Moon as she eagerly approached the cutie map.
"Of course, your majesty," said Mario in a serious tone.
"With it, I will ensure that the Elements of Harmony are never found and my reign will last forever!" Nightmare Moon gloated as she kept her horn glowing.
"But it won't," said Twilight and Mario together with smirks on their faces.
"What?!" Nightmare Moon exclaimed as she glared back at them.
"In my world, my friends, my husband, and I found the Elements and used them to defeat you!" Twilight explained, "and we will do everything in my power to bring that world back!" Twilight then raised her wings in a defensive stance. Mario then smirked.
"While you did imprison Celestia in the moon," Mario added as he casually took out the star cookie and put it in his mouth before continuing to speak, "you neglected one little factor."
"What might that be?!" Nightmare Moon demanded. Mario smiled deviously at her.
"Celestia..." Mario said in a very quiet, but smug tone, "...had a son!"
(cue favorite invincibility tune)
Mario's body glowed brightly, shocking all the guards and Nightmare Moon.
"GAAAAAAAAAAH!" Nightmare Moons screamed at the bright light, "Get him!" Several guards charged at Mario, but the invincibility made them all rebound away from the prince when they made contact with him.
"Get Spike and go!" Mario shouted to Twilight. Twilight then made her own horn glow, but Nightmare Moon saw her.
"No!" Nightmare Moon shouted as she fired a magic blast at Twilight, but was too late. Twilight quickly teleported Spike to herself as they both landed on the table. Mario then teleported beside his wife and Spike just as the invincibility wore off.
"See ya!" Mario taunted as Twilight activated the spell and they headed back into the portal.
"Noooooo!" Nightmare Moon screamed as two guards tried to stop them but were too late.
(cue Sonic CD time travel cut scene...again...)
Twilight and Mario didn't take long before they came out of the portal to fire a magic blast at Starlight. This time she was the one encased inside of a large crystal.
"Oh yeah!" said Mario with a hoof-pump.
"Now more than ever we know how important it is to stop you!" said Twilight as she and Mario hovered before the now encased unicorn. Starlight quickly used her own magic to break free from her crystal prison.
"Well, good luck!" Starlight bragged before taking off.
"Get back here you coward!" Mario shouted and tried to fly after her. But Mario found that he couldn't catch up with her.
"I'm practically coming at you at Mach 2!" Mario shouted, "How are you even faster than me?"
"Guess you're not as fast as you think!" Starlight taunted as she pushed her speed even more. Mario tried hard but his top speed in the air was already maxed. It wasn't long before he tired out and plopped into a cloud.
Meanwhile, young Rainbow was in the middle of her flight against the bullies. This time, Starlight did a simple lift of her fore-hoof to make young Rainbow trip up. Starlight smiled smugly as the three heroes were sucked up into the portal once again.
When the three heroes arrived, they found Equestria being destroyed by the tyranny of Lord Tirek!
"I can't fight him again without the Power Hearts!" Mario said frantically. Spike just held up the scroll and Twilight triggered the spell to return to the past. Twilight and Mario once again fired a pre-emptive strike at Starlight, but she dodged this time and now young Rainbow was encased in the large crystal. Starlight mocked clapped for them.
"GRRRRRRR!" Mario growled as they were pulled back into the portal again.
This time, they surfaced under a collection of plush toys when they saw Celestia and Luna doing a clown act as Discord played in what was now his world of chaos. Mario began to hyperventilate since he didn't like clowns.
"Get me out of here!" Mario cried out. As some pies splattered on the top of their heads. Twilight glared before using the spell once more to head back to the past.
Twilight and Mario left the portal and charged their horns when they were stunned to see Starlight helping young Fluttershy learn to fly. The unicorn gave them a devilish smile. Mario gritted his teeth at her furiously, feeling his temper boil before they were sucked into the portal...again.
When the three heroes arrived, they found Flim and Flam were using machinery to industrialize and pollute the entire land! The three heroes left as soon as they could.
Then these alternate timelines took a turn for the strange!
When the three heroes arrived, they appeared backstage to what looked like the preparations for a massive looking fashion show. Twilight, Mario, and Spike were in shock.
"This is new," said Mario.
"I can't believe you!" said a voice dramatically as Rarity, dressed like an upper class Canterlot pony dress with fashionable yellow scarf, gold stud earrings, and a yellow headband in her straight but very styled mane.
"What are your talking ab-"
SMACK!
Mario was cut off when Rarity smacked him across the face.
"I've been working my tail off trying to expand and maintain our fashion empire!" Rarity yelled to the point of tears, "And here you are spending your hours with another mare! I thought I was your one and only! You big liar! You don't love me anymore!" Rarity ran off crying dramatically. Mario and Twilight was left stunned. Spike stomped up with a stern look on his face as he held a picture frame in his claw.
AAH-OOOOO-GAH!
Mario and Twilight were shocked to see that it was a picture of Mario and Rarity in wedding attire! In this timeline, they were married to each other. Twilight glared at Mario viciously.
"Twilight, remember this is an alternate timeline," Spike reminded her but shot Mario a glare of his own. Mario just smiled nervously and held the scroll. Twilight huffed before she activated the portal.
Then after another failed attempt in the past. Mario and Twilight found themselves inside a rather casual living room.
"Wonder who I am supposedly married to this..."
SMACK!
Mario was cut off again by another smack across the face, but this time it was Rainbow Dash. Twilight didn't know what shocked her more. The fact Rainbow was probably going to claim she was his wife or the fact Rainbow was wearing a large pink bow in her mane and an apron. She looked...girly.
"I can't believe you would do this to me," said Rainbow in tears, "I gave up being a Wonderbolt for you! I decided to be more girly because you said it made me awesome! And here you are with another mare! And here I was gonna tell you that we're going to have a baby when you came home from work!" Mario gave a strained shriek as his jaw hit the floor. Spike winced as he held the scroll and Twilight teleported them out of there.
After another failure, they landed in a rather peaceful area filled with lots of animals.
"Well this look pretty harmless," said Spike.
"Maybe for you," said Mario wearily, "but if there's all this nature. I can guess who is gonna claim to be my wife here!"
"She wouldn't dare!" said Twilight then turned her head to see Fluttershy, her mane tied up in a ponytail wearing a brown long sleeve top with a betrothal necklace that had Mario's and her own cutie mark merged together. Twilight was frozen in fear as Fluttershy gave her The Stare!
"You think you can steal my one true love away from me!" Fluttershy threatened, "Just who do you think you are!" Twilight whimpered and started to cry from being stared down. She couldn't speak. This time, Mario used the scroll the activate the spell and they teleported away.
By the time they had failed their last attempt in the past, Mario had managed to comfort Twilight from what had happened. Ironically, the fact Starlight mocked Twilight for crying helped the purple alicorn recover faster. Twilight waited until they landed in the next alternate timeline before speaking to Mario.
"Remind me to never make fun of you for being afraid of the Stare ever again," Twilight whimpered, "That was horrible!" Mario wasted no time pulling Twilight in for a hug. But then a shadow loomed over them.
"I can't believe you!" said an angry voice. Twilight and Mario both groaned as they turned to see...Pinkie. She was wearing a yellow ribbon in her mane as well as a yellow housewives dress.
"Here you are having fun with that mare!" said Pinkie angrily, "leaving me alone to take care of our giant mansion and our children!" Twilight and Mario looked to see a large house that was covered in vines. Then out of the front door came out twelve mini-Pinkies in two straight lines. They quickly marched up to Pinkie.
"Daddy...you hurt Mommy!" said one of the little Pinkies as they rest were in the verge of tears.
"I...uh...I..." Mario stuttered, unsure of what to say or do.
"Don't give me excuses!" Pinkie shouted in rage, "Little Pinkies! GET HIM!" The twelve mini-Pinkies screamed and charged at Mario.
"AAAAAAAAAAAHHH!" Mario screamed as Twilight cringed and used the scroll to teleport them away just in time.
When they arrived back at the past, for which I've lost count of what attempt it was, they barely missed Starlight's pre-emptive magic blast.
Correction, Twilight avoided the blast. For Mario...the blast struck his left wing! Mario was sent spiral out of control, his wing smoking, until he crashed landed on the asphalt.
CRASH!
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Twilight screamed in horror as she rushed toward her husband. Mario looked battered. His left wing was covered in black soot and badly bent out of shape.
"My wing..." Mario groaned painfully.
"It's okay, sweetie," said Twilight as she helped Mario stand up, "I got you!"
"Up for another race-ending fight, Twilight and Mario?" Starlight bragged as she stood on a cloud. Twilight then carried Mario with her fore-legs to a nearby could so they could both take a seat across from the unicorn.
"What's the point?" said Mario in a defeated tone.
"What?" said Twilight in shock, even Starlight looked rather baffled.
"What's the point?" Mario continued in tone full of exhaustion and hopelessness, "Starlight's ultra-fast adapting and magic ability gives her a huge advantage! Our own skills don't matter! She can match us both blow for blow! Even if we attack her with all our might. She can learn from it and then strike back with the same force! It's like we're fighting against ourselves! We can't win..." Starlight's shock turned into a devious smile.
"Well, what do ya know?" said Starlight in a demeaning tone, "Little pathetic Mario actually has a brain!" Mario just looked hurt as Twilight glared before she lowered her head sadly.
"Mario's right," said Twilight, "We can't stop you." Starlight then fired a magic blast right at Mario. Mario flinched but Twilight got in front of him to block the attack.
"But you can't stop me or my husband from trying," said Twilight with determination, "and we could be stuck doing this for all eternity!" Mario winced.
"Honey, did you forget my wing is fried right now?!" Mario spluttered, "I'm down!"
"If that's what it takes to keep you, your husband, and your friends from getting your cutie mark connection and prove just how worthless your husband is," Starlight challenged, "then I'm game." Starlight fired another magic blast, but Twilight blocked it as she stayed in front of Mario.
"What you're doing goes way beyond cutie marks!" said Twilight as she made a slope out of cloud as well as a house and a cloud snowball, "Everything we do here in the past - even the smallest change - can snowball into an avalanche of trouble for the future!" Twilight made the cloud snowball roll into the cloud house and destroyed it. Starlight's retort was blasting the diorama to smithereens.
"Oh, next I suppose you'll tell me that "the fate of all Equestria hangs in the balance"!" Starlight remarked with an over the top tone.
"It does!" Twilight and Mario said together in desperation.
"Spare me your overblown egos!" Starlight remarked with an eye roll, "no group of friends, not even Princess Twilight's or your worthless excuse of a husband, is that important!" Mario snarled, getting sick of Starlight's insults. Starlight then saw young Rainbow fly by and fired a magic blast at her.
"Aaaaaaah!" Young Rainbow yelped as she was knocked away. It was then the portal opened and Mario hopped into Twilight's back and held her. Spike tried to hold on, but lost his grip and was sucked in.
"I don't know how important other ponies' friendships are in the future," said Twilight and then glared at the unicorn, "but I can show you what the world is like without ours!" Before Starlight could react, Twilight snagged the unicorn as they were pulled into the portal. When they arrived, there was nothing but the cutie map and a desolate wasteland as the wind blew across the landscape.
"Where are we?!" Starlight demanded, giving Twilight a fierce glare.
"The future," said Twilight grimly as she stood beside before the cutie map, "Or rather, the present." Mario was just sitting next to her, glaring at Starlight as he examined his blackened left wing.
"But there's nothing here!" Starlight replied as she walked up to the cutie map.
"I wish I could I was surprised," said Twilight calmly and also sadly, "Even my husband isn't that surprised either. But every world we've come back to is worse than the last."
"And the last four of them had me married to somepony other than Twilight," said Mario angrily, "and let's just say. When they saw me with Twilight, I nearly got killed by each of them!" Starlight snickered, making Mario tremble as his temper began to boil.
"Despite all that," Twilight continued, "I don't know why Mario, my friends, and I are so important to Equestria, but we are."
"I don't believe you!" Starlight snapped.
"Come on, Starlight, look around!" said Spike as Starlight stood with her back against them.
"The end results are kind of obvious!" Mario retorted, "what more proof do you need?!"
"Proof that you're just an insignificant nopony?" Starlight retorted and then smirked as she said darkly, "From what I learned, you were deemed worthless the day you were born. This is all you ever really deserved! Maybe you should just accept it!" That was it. Mario gritted his teeth as a steady flow of red coloring rose from his hooves to his head. Twilight winced as she nervously backed up a bit. Suddenly...
(cue loud train whistle)
Mario had fury as smoke steamed from his ears. Starlight just laughed.
"Aw, whittle worthless baby gonna throw temper tantrum!" Starlight mocked and even used baby talk. Mario snarled viciously.
"I'm gonna shut your mouth even if it the LAST THING I EVER DO!" Mario yelled at the top of his lungs, his voice echoing across the wind. Starlight laughed, but was then cut off when a huge chunk of dirt smacked her in the face, making her cough and splutter. Mario then created some magic walls and a long thin platform that spiraled widely around the cutie map. Mario then jumped to the platform.
"Catch me if you can ya witch!" Mario taunted angrily before running off. Starlight growled but then smirked as she used her magic to rise into the air and went after Mario. Twilight watched them take off with worry on her face.
"Mario...no...what are you doing?!" Twilight whimpered as Spike watched with a worried look on her face. Mario just ran at a casual pace about the long platform.
(Cue "Stardust speedway bad future")
Mario just run across the platform as Starlight appeared hovering behind him, gritting her teeth as she caught up with him. Just as she was a few yards behind him. She unleashed a large burst of magic from her body, which caused the platform Mario was running across the collapse and he was soon plummeting to the ground...and he still couldn't fly. Twilight gasped with horror. Then Mario then smirked as he landed on a falling piece of the platform, did a few flips despite his hurt wing and launched himself high into the air. Starlight snarled as she charged at Mario at high speed, but Mario knew she was coming. Just as Starlight was within range of slamming into him. He spin jumped into the air and stomped her.
"ACK!" Starlight yelped as she knocked down. Mario then did leap frog from one piece of falling platform to the next. Starlight then recovered from being stomped on, growled and went back after Mario. The alicorn prince had just reached the part of the platform, while still collapsing, was more stable as Mario made sure that more of the platform could be created ahead of himself so he wouldn't reach a dead end. Starlight then recovered as she went back after Mario. She was just a short distance away when she made her body glow and charged at Mario. Mario jumped over her easily.
"It's game time!" Mario called out as he ran across the platform to keep from falling off. Starlight managed to keep pace as she hovered to the side, got right behind him. She then twirled about as she made her body glowed and charged at Mario once again. Mario jumped over her easily. He then noticed that Starlight was trying to catch her breath a bit.
"Perfect!" said Mario as he spin jumped into Starlight, making her face-plant the platform as he ran off, but he noticed that Starlight, as usual, was prepared. Despite being knocked down and disoriented, her magic allowed her to follow Mario's momentum, giving her time to recover without Mario leaving her far behind. Starlight then recovered as she followed Mario in the fore-ground. She then ducked down and rose back into the air, using her magic to toss seven large dead tree branches at Mario at high speed. They were so big that Mario couldn't weave side to side to avoid them as they crashed into the platform and broke apart. He had to constantly change his speed to avoid getting a tree branch to his head. He even had to spin dash a few times to get momentum as well. Starlight then went to catch her breath again after launching about seven tree branches at him. She made the mistake of hovering in front of him when Mario launched himself at her again, making her face-plant the platform again.
"Take that!" Mario called out, leaving Starlight dazed and disoriented again. Starlight didn't need long to recover before she then hovered above Mario as she made her body glow brightly for a few seconds. Somehow managing to keep right under him no matter how fast he was going.
"Yikes!" Mario called out as he barely missed getting a huge blast of magic to his body. Starlight repeated the attack three more times. The last attempt, Mario smirked as he jumped into the air and let himself slow down just as Starlight released her magic surge. She was now sweating as she tried to catch her breath...when Mario spin jumped and made her face-plant the platform for a third time. Starlight then recovered and then snarled, especially since the last attack had actually made her momentum magic weaken. She then turned herself into a giant floating mass of magic that glowed brightly and dangerously as she pursued Mario at high speed, twirling about to make the magic around her crackle and sizzle loudly. Eventually her magical surge settled down and Starlight charged at Mario at an even higher speed. Mario managed to jump over her with ease despite the extra speed...and he landed right on top of her, making Starlight face-plant the platform so hard that she went into the air, completely stunned and dizzy. Mario then slowed down, targeted Starlight and went for a fully charged homing attack to send her flying for the critical strike.
But to Mario's horror...Starlight caught the alicorn in his curled up form with her magic!
POW!
Before Mario could react, Starlight slugged him hard, stunning Mario as he was knocked away into the air. She didn't wait for Mario to even recover before...
POW!
Starlight teleported to Mario and slugged him again. She then began air diving at Mario at intervals so short and quick that the poor alicorn prince couldn't not defend or block. Leaving Mario to be slugged about in mid air with no mercy or even a chance to fight back.
"You..."
POW!
"...will..."
POW!
"...never..."
POW!
"...amount..."
POW!
"...to anything!" Starlight screamed between attacks as Twilight bit her lips as tears streamed down her cheeks. Spike just watched with wide eyes as he kept his mouth covered with his claws.
"You..."
POW!
"...should've..."
POW!
"...never..."
POW!
"...been..."
POW! POW! POW!
"...BORN!"
Then Starlight delivered a downward smash right on Mario's stomach, sending him plummeting hard back to the ground.
CRITICAL STRIKE!
DEFEAT!
To Twilight and Spike's utter horror, Starlight had defeated Mario. Twilight quickly rushed over to Mario, who was now lying in his own self-made and shallow crater. His body, mane, and tail were in even worse shape than before as he lay there motionless. Spike fought hard not to cry.
"Is...is...is he..." Spike stuttered, afraid to ask the worse.
"No..." said Twilight bravely in a whisper, "No...he's alive. Battered, beaten, knocked out, but still alive..." Twilight shed some more tears as she nuzzled and kissed his cheek, despite the fact he wasn't conscious to feel it or reply. Starlight just huffed as she looked at Mario's condition, but to her surprise. She felt dissatisfied.
I don't get it, Starlight thought, I just broke and defeated Equestria's alicorn prince! That's what I wanted! But...but...why...why...why do I not feel happy about it? I did it! I should be happy. What's wrong with me?! Starlight didn't have much time to think about it when she saw Twilight looking at her with a serious, grim, but composed face as she now had her battered husband on her back.
"Like I said," said Twilight calmly, "everything in the past affects the future, even the tiniest act. And what you're doing leads here." Twilight held some dirt as it blew away. Starlight just turned away. Looking sadly at the landscape.
"I know we can't stop you," Twilight continued, "but I thought showing you all this, and the fact you've defeated my husband and feel no satisfaction over it, might change your mind." Starlight was taken aback. How did she know I was feeling like that?!
"Change my mind?" Starlight retorted in rage, "You don't know anything about me! I was perfectly happy before you, that piece of garbage you married, and your friends ruined what I built!" Starlight jumped at Twilight, making her sit down so quickly that Mario tumbled off her back, but remained knocked out. Spike searched his backpack for a green and white mushroom, but was sorry to say he didn't have any more.
"I don't know what happened that led you to make your village without cutie marks," said Twilight sympathetically, "but my husband and I are sorry my friends and I had to take it away." Starlight just stared at her angrily.
"You want to know what happened to me?!" Starlight screamed as she hovered into the air and made her horn glow brightly, "I'll show you!" Starlight then hovered over the map and fired her magic at it, creating a new time portal above them that sucked all three heroes in with her. They eventually arrived at a small village. Twilight made sure that Mario landed on her back to avoid any further injury while he was knocked out.
"Where are we?" Twilight asked.
"That map of yours in connected to every part of Equestria," said Starlight, "and this part is my home." Spike and Twilight shared looks with each other. Then Twilight gasped when she noticed a burnt down building.
"What's that?" Twilight asked. Starlight just snorted.
"It was an old apartment building that collapsed after a huge fire," said Starlight, "that was years ago." Twilight and Spike shared knowing looks with each other.
"Is this...Sire's Hallow?" Spike asked.
"Yeah, my home," said Starlight rudely, "I just said that." Twilight looked at her sadly.
"This...was Mario's original home too," said Twilight quietly and sadly, "He was born here." Starlight was shocked at hearing that.
"He was left abandoned under that very building," Twilight added. Starlight huffed.
"Yeah, well, he should've just stayed under there with the rest of the scum!" Starlight said angrily.
"What have you got against Mario anyway?" Spike asked.
"Hey! You're here because you asked what happened to me! NOT HIM!" Starlight yelled. Twilight took a slow deep breath.
"You're right," said Twilight, "Lead the way, Starlight." Starlight just seethed before she calmed herself down and led to her old house. Inside were two foals, an orange colt and there was young Starlight, who had her usual bangs but her mane was in pigtails. She was clapping happily at their little book tower.
"Sunburst and I did everything together," Starlight explained as they watched the foals play from a window, "In fact, I don't remember us ever being apart. Until today..." It was then young Starlight went to grab a book from the bottom of the pile, but then the books wobbled and started to fall toward her. Young Starlight flinched away, waiting for impact, but then saw that young Sunburst had grabbed the books with his magic. The books began to circle around him as he floated into the air. The books all flew into the shelf as Sunburst glowed and floated back down. It was then his cutie mark appeared. Young Sunburst gave a happy whinny and took off, leaving young Starlight alone. Young Starlight watched as young Sunburst showed his parents his new cutie mark. They both laughed as his mother lifted him in the air with her magic and carried him away. Young Starlight was devastated and began to cry.
"And just like that," said Starlight, "my friend was gone. His family recognized his magical talent and sent him off the Canterlot. I never saw him again."
"Well, why not?" Spike asked curiously. Starlight blinked.
"Because of his cutie mark!" Starlight snapped and got into Spike's face and then Twilight's, "He got his, and I didn't! He moved on, and I didn't! I stayed here and never made another friend because I was too afraid another cutie mark would take them away too!" Tears were pricking the corner of Starlight's eyes as she spoke. Twilight looked at her sympathetically.
"That's ridiculous," Twilight replied, "A cutie mark can't take your friends away."
"Not everypony's lucky to get her or his cutie mark at the same time as their friends!" Starlight retorted as she activated the time portal. They arrived back in the past. Twilight, with Mario and Spike on her back, landed on one cloud while Starlight landed on another.
"You don't know what it's like to lose a friend because of a cutie mark," Starlight continued angrily as she saw the young Pegasi racing by, "but once I stop the rainboom, you will!" Spike and Twilight were then stunned when Starlight used her magic to intercept Spike's backpack.
"And when I destroy the scroll," Starlight threatened as she pulled out the sheet of paper, "there'll be no way for you or your useless husband to change it!" Starlight began to slowly rip the scroll in two. Twilight began panic. If she didn't think fast, the damage Starlight was going to cause in the future would become permanent. Twilight looked at her still limp husband. She could see he was still too hurt to be revived without a green and white mushroom. She was on her own at this point.
"Starlight, you're right!" said Twilight and was soon pleading, "I don't know what you went through! But I do know that you can't do this! My husband and I have seen where this leads, and so have you!"
"I only saw what you showed me!" Starlight remarked, not willing to back down, "Who knows what'll really happen?"
"We've seen it a dozen times!" Twilight pressed on, "Things don't turn out well in Equestria without our friends!"
"Ugh!" Starlight groaned in annoyance and rolled her eyes, "What's so special about your friends? How can a group of ponies that are so different be so important?!" By now, the young Pegasi were continuing their race. The two clouds Twilight and Starlight were standing on had somehow come together so Twilight was able to slowly approach the unicorn. It was also at this point, Starlight had to shut her eyes since her frustrations and anger were making her tears surface. She didn't want to look weak before the very pony she still saw as her enemy.
"The differences between me, my husband, and our friends are the very things that make our friendship strong!" Twilight told Starlight. The unicorn felt her tears increase.
"I thought Sunburst and I were the same," Starlight admitted as her tears began to pour from her eyes, "but we turned out different, and it tore our friendship apart!" Starlight tore the scroll further as she shouted.
"So try again!" said Twilight as she managed to hover in the air with both Spike and her unconscious husband on her back, "Make new friends! And if something that you can't control happens that changes things, work through it together! That's what friendship is! And it's not just our friendships that are important to Equestria! Everypony's are! When yours ended, it led us here. But just imagine all the others that are out there waiting for you if you just give them a chance!" As Twilight spoke, Starlight's demeanor went from stern and insecure as her tears were still falling from her eyes. She didn't want to admit it, but Twilight's words were getting to her. The look on Starlight's face was proof enough that she was afraid.
"How do I know they won't all end the same way?" Starlight asked, no longer hiding her fear.
"I guess it's up to you to make sure they don't," said Twilight as she landed and extended a fore-hoof to Starlight. Starlight now found herself at her own crossroad of destiny. She saw the Pegasi race by and knew she had to make a choice. What had once been an easy decision now seemed very difficult, but it wasn't long before Starlight made her choice.
She extended her fore-hoof to Twilight's and smiled, dropping the partially ripped scroll from her magic grip. Spike then reached out and grabbed it. Just then...
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
Young Rainbow made her first sonic rainboom, followed by a great rainbow in the sky. Twilight and Starlight looked at the rainbow before the portal appeared and sucked them in.
(Cue Sonic CD time travel cut scene...for the last time)
The portal then dumped them right back into the throne room of the castle with a hard thud.
"YEOW!" Mario yelped since the impact had been hard enough to painfully wake him up. He also discovered that Starlight had landed, back first, on top of him.
"Get off!" Mario bellowed as he rudely shoved her off his stomach. Spike had barely recovered when he saw the scroll floating toward the portal. As Twilight, Starlight, and Spike stood up, and Mario slowly turned around, they saw the cutie map's thirty Flower Sprites gather around the scroll. The scroll glowed turquoise as it soaked up the magic Starlight had casted on the cutie map. The scroll entered the portal, casting a huge bright light that expanded away from the castle. A sign that all the damage Starlight tried to do had been purified and hopefully nopony would use the scroll to travel through time ever again. Spike wasted no time kissing the throne room floor.
"One Castle of Friendship - check!" said Spike. It was then the doors burst open, revealing the rest of the Mane Eight along with a very worried Diamond Tiara.
"What in Equestria was that?!" Rarity asked.
"Is everypony okay?" Fluttershy asked.
"Can you do it again?" Pinkie asked with a squeal as Diamond Tiara rolled her eyes and rushed up to Mario, who was struggling greatly to stand up since his body was still battered and his left wing charred.
"One group of amazing friends - check!" said Spike.
"Yeah, Spike," said Twilight as she looked at the little dragon and her husband, "It looks like we're home!" Twilight also noticed that Mario wasn't smiling but still had a bitter look on his face. Diamond Tiara gave him a worried look.
"Dude, what in Equestria happen to you?!" said Shenran as he looked at Mario's battered condition.
"You look like you got stuffin' beat out of ya!" said Rainbow with concern.
"ASK HER!" Mario barked as he pointed a fore-leg sternly at Starlight, who was looking rather nervous.
"Uh...what's she doing here?" Applejack asked skeptically as Rarity and Fluttershy winced at seeing the lilac unicorn. Starlight just looked sadly away.
"Actually, it's kind of a long story," said Twilight as she put a fore-hoof on Starlight's shoulder supportively.
"A long, painful story," said Mario angrily, giving Starlight a death glare.
It wasn't long before they had Nurse Redheart come to check on Mario's beaten up condition. She once again remarked at how Mario could take such a beating without getting any broken bones. Most of his injuries were just various degrees of bruises and a few scrapes and cuts, which she bandaged without any trouble. The only severe injury was his burnt left wing, but Nurse Redheart said that would heal within a couple of weeks as long as Mario didn't try to fly.
Later, Starlight was now pacing nervously back and forth outside the throne room as the Mane Eight, with Diamond Tiara, held an emergency meeting inside. Twilight had gotten done telling them what had happened, but they were also surprised that Mario had hardly said a word.
"I mean, I knew my rainbow was awesome," said Rainbow, "but I never thought all of Equestria depended on it."
"Or on us!" said Pinkie.
"I think it's more than that," said Twilight as Mario sat in his throne with a stern look and his bandaged fore-legs crossed, "Friendship connects all of Equestria, and undoing one group of friends made its magic less powerful."
"And it destroyed my love magic," Mario remarked, "By the way, I think its permanent cause it never came back when we managed to restore the timeline. I've been trying and so far...nothing!"
"Maybe it will come back its own time, master," said Diamond Tiara hopefully, "You did take quite a beating after all."
"Whatever..." Mario muttered.
"I can't believe y'all were able to travel through time like that," said Applejack.
"That Starlight must be pretty magical!" said Pinkie.
"She must be if she defeated Mario," Fluttershy added. Mario hissed angrily at Fluttershy, making her flinch.
"Mario stop it!" Twilight scolded as Mario pouted.
"She obviously has more talent for magic than almost anypony we've ever seen," said Twilight as Mario rolled his eyes, "She even had my husband completely outmatched! Our magic couldn't stop her. I had to convince her to stop on her own. Once I realized that, everything fell into place."
"But if she's as powerful as all that," said Applejack, "We can't just send her on her way, can we?"
"Of course not," Mario said sternly, "She nearly destroyed Equestria because of her petty little grudge against us! I say we cast judgment!" He slammed a fore-hoof to the table to make his point, only to wince since it was a fore-leg that had several bruises on it.
"Actually, I kind of have something else in mind," said Twilight. Starlight was then seen pacing some more as more muffled conversation was heard.
"So do we all agree on the plan?" Twilight proposed. Fluttershy and Shenran nodded, then Spike, Applejack and Rarity, then Rainbow and Pinkie, and finally Diamond Tiara. Twilight smiled but then noticed that Mario was just glaring.
"Honey?" Twilight asked as he noticed everypony else. Mario looked at the others before releasing a slow deep breath.
"I'll go with whatever you think is right," said Mario in a begrudging tone. It's not like it matters that I oppose your plan and think it's stupid! But Mario only said that to himself. The others looked concerned at Mario for a second.
"Great!" said Spike, clueless to the tension in the room, "I'll go get Starlight!" Starlight was just standing in place nervously when she was startled by the door opening. Spike gestured for the lilac unicorn to come in. Starlight gulped before she released a slow breath and walked inside.
"I know there's no excuse for what I did," said Starlight as she approached the table, "but I want you to know that I'm ready for whatever punishment you think is fair."
"It's actually unfair," Mario muttered under his breath.
"I've been thinking a lot about how badly Equestria fared without just one group of friends," Twilight explained, "because even when one friendship dies, the results can be disastrous."
"I know first-hoof how true that can be," said Starlight sadly.
"And that's why we've asked you here," said Twilight as she walked up to the unicorn, emphasizing her husband as well, leaving Mario stunned, "If you're willing to learn, I'm willing to teach you what I know. You'll have the power to make Equestria an even better place." All but Mario gave her a smile. Mario just glared at her. Starlight was surprised.
"How do I start?" Starlight asked in a hushed tone.
"Starting is easy!" said Twilight, "All you have to do is make a friend! And you've got ten of them right here!" All but Mario surrounded Starlight with welcoming smiles on their faces. Mario just groaned irritably before sneaking off. He could feel a song coming on and wanted no part of it. Starlight smiled as she put a fore-hoof to her chest.
[Starlight - the background went dark as she sang. She then looked like her younger self, who watched as Sunburst got praise for his cutie mark, then sadly walked away. She then walked past other possible filly friends, grew back up, and then bumped into Twilight. Twilight gave her a warm smile. Starlight smiled back as she sang. Then Twilight used her horn to teleport them back to the castle.]
I never thought that I would find a place
To step right in and start again
I never thought that I could just begin
Right where I left off and make a friend
[Twilight - She sang and led Starlight out of the castle, passing Mario, who shot Starlight a bitter look. When she opened the door, there was the rest of the Mane Eight. (And she ignored for the moment that her husband had come to join them at all.) Twilight presented the group as Starlight nervously walked up to them. Applejack shook her fore-hoof. Rarity, Fluttershy, and Shenran stood around her. Pinkie gave her a playful tackle to the ground. They never noticed that Mario had stood outside the door, scoffed at them, and shut the castle doors with his magic.]
Don't ever think it might be too late
You don't have to wait, there's no mistakes with the friends you make
A friendship's only made of what you bring
And if you do it right, you can do anything
[Starlight, Mane Eight minus Mario, and Diamond Tiara - They marched in place as Spike led the march playing a drum. Rainbow, Rarity, Applejack and Diamond Tiara were on the left. Twilight, Fluttershy, Shenran, and Pinkie were on the right. Starlight then did her version of the famous slow motion leap into the air.]
Just use your eyes
This time, no lies
Just don't disguise
Who you are inside
[Starlight, Mane Eight minus Mario, and Diamond Tiara - Starlight was seen modeling for Rarity a black dress as the marshmallow filly put some gems on the skirt and Spike clapped. Fluttershy and Starlight, the latter using her hover magic, watched some butterflies before Starlight landed and Harry gave her a crushing hug. Then Rainbow and Starlight were flying through cloud rings together. Starlight and Applejack worked together to buck apples off the trees. She and Shenran were doing sword training, which Shenran smiled in approval and Starlight smiled modestly. Starlight and Diamond Tiara were working together selling lemonade for a school charity project. Starlight was then seen helping Pinkie bake and sample cupcakes, and finally reading books with Twilight. In the background, Mario was about to enter the room when he saw Starlight with his wife, rolled his eyes, and limped away.]
Because your friends are always there for you
You don't have to be the same for friendship to be true
Because your friends are always there for you
Around the world, it's still the same
Together you have more to gain
There's nothing that a friend won't do
[Starlight, Mane Eight minus Mario, and Diamond Tiara - Twilight guided Starlight to her old village. Double Diamond was speaking to Sugar Belle and Party Favor when Night Glider arrived and they all turned to see Starlight. They glared as they approached her. Starlight approached them and silently apologized. The four ponies enveloped her in a group hug to forgive her. Twilight was touched.]
Everywhere you go
Friendship there will grow
When you find it, it's the key
Friends can change the world, you see
[Starlight, Mane Eight minus Mario, and Diamond Tiara - The ponies sang they marched into town together. The other ponies gathered around them as Applejack and Twilight helped Starlight stand on her hind legs. Then several ponies smiled from the left, then more familiar faces to the right. Then as they finished their song and shared a group hug, they and several other ponies all turned to smile at...you the readers! (Try and find your favorite background ponies in the crowd!)]
Everywhere you go
Friendship there will grow
When you find it, it's the key
Friends can change the world (ah-ah)
Friends can change the word (ah-ah)
Friends can change the word, you see
Starlight Glimmer has now joined the Mane eight, now making it the Mane nine! Everypony was happy.
Everypony...except Mario, who stood just a short distance away with a very bitter look on his face.
"You might have fooled everypony else with your transformation, Starlight Glimmer," Mario said darkly, "but you and I both know that you are very proficient at being an evil deceiver." Mario huffed as he saw the lilac pony chatting happily with the rest of his friends, wife, and student.
"I warn you, Starlight Glimmer," Mario continued, "If you take one step backwards, one slip up, give me one reason that you'll hurt my family, I'll make you pay...mark my words...You. Will. Pay!"
And with that, Mario limped away to go sulk in the castle.
And season five in finally complete! Bet none of you were expecting that ending! Usually Mario is more than willing to forgive and forget, but not this time! So much for the happy-go-lucky ending from the original episode.
Kudos if you caught my Stars Wars joke! As well as my parody to Madeline. I hope you enjoyed getting elements of Mario and Luigi, Star Fox, and Sonic CD! How could you do a time travel adventure and not have Stardust Speedway and a parody of Sonic vs. Metal Sonic in it? (which I used the Sonic Generations version of the battle).
Someone requested that I feature alternate timelines with Mario being married to the other girls. They might have been very quick, but I hope you enjoy those timelines. And for those wondering, Applejack is Mario's sister. There's no way I could make them get married!
As usual, there will be an intermission chapter before I start Season six. It's pretty obvious what it will deal with. After all, do you think the rest of the Mane Nine are gonna let Mario stay bitter and resentful?
Next time: Mario will finally have to face not just his bitterness, but what's been making him feel gloomy. Can his friends help him do just that? Can Starlight help him?
Peace Pony Fans!