P.P.O.V. (Pony Point of View)
Pony's Log Number 622: Three angry ponies, three different testimonies, and one huge mess of a problem that needs to be solved...
One morning at Twilight's castle, Twilight was just sitting inside of the library doing some early bird studying. She was just humming to herself happily as she turned the page of the book she was currently reading. It was then Mario entered the room with a serving cart beside him. He then walked up to his wife and placed a very gentle kiss on Twilight's cheek.
"Huh?" Twilight exclaimed when she saw Mario standing beside her with a warm smile on his face. "Oh! Morning, honey! What's up?" Mario just smiled as he grabbed one of her fore-legs.
"Thank you," said Mario in a soft but caring voice. Twilight felt her heart melt and giggled.
"For what?" Twilight asked curiously.
"For being my wife," Mario replied, "And for loving me no matter what." Twilight's eyes twinkled as she gave him a kiss on the lips and hugged him. Mario held her lovingly until Twilight noticed the cart behind him.
"Ooh! Did you bring me breakfast this morning?" Twilight asked excitedly.
"Uh-huh," said Mario, "It's been awhile since I surprised you with breakfast. I also realized...it's been a long time since I've done something like this for you. I've been so focused on my selfish issues lately. I had forgotten to take the time to show you that I really cherish and appreciate having you in my life..." Mario felt like he was gonna cry when Twilight kissed him again.
"Honey, you don't have to make me breakfast to do that," said Twilight, "but I do appreciate the gesture. Honestly, breakfast isn't what made my day. It's you telling me thank you is what really makes me happy." Mario couldn't help but shed a few happy tears as he nuzzled her cheek happily.
"I love you so much, Twilight Sparkle," said Mario, his tone fill with appreciation and love.
"I love you very, very much, Mario Star," Twilight replied as she tucked her head under his chin and they held each other quietly for a few seconds before Diamond Tiara entered the room. She was staying over for the time being.
"Oops! S-s-s-sorry," said Diamond Tiara nervously when she saw the alicorn couple cuddling each other, "The smell of breakfast woke me up early a-a-and I...wanted to see what it was and...I-I-I...I should just stop talking and leave now." Mario and Twilight who were just watching the filly stumble over her words, chuckled.
"It's alright Di," said Twilight, "Mario was just telling me how much he loves and appreciates me. Plus he made me breakfast as a surprise."
"Oh...ok..." said Diamond Tiara sheepishly, "If you two want your date, I can..."
"You can stay, Di," said Mario, "I'm just holding my girl is all. Nothing more. I just wanted to let her know how much she means to me. I haven't told her in a while and I didn't want her thinking my love for her is fading." Diamond Tiara giggled.
"Aside from that, my husband, the greatest chef in Equestria," Twilight added, making Mario blush, "made more than enough food here for the three of us. Let's eat." Diamond Tiara smiled excitedly as the three ponies took a seat at the table and cleared most of the plates that were on the cart.
"Delicious!" said Twilight in satisfaction.
"Aw man! I knew I shouldn't have overslept!" Spike remarked as he appeared next to the empty cart, "I missed breakfast."
"Actually, Mario had made only enough for me," said Twilight, "And Di beat you to it for the leftovers." Diamond Tiara smiled smugly as Spike stuck his tongue out at her.
"Well, I better go make myself breakfast then," said Spike, not hiding the bitterness in his tone, "I hope you didn't forget about the train today."
"Train?" Mario said puzzled and then it clicked, "Oh right! The train!" Twilight and Mario smiled excitedly.
"Train?" Diamond Tiara asked but didn't get a reply. In fact, she was still puzzled as Mario and Twilight were racing each other parallel of the train tracks just outside of town. Diamond Tiara was keeping up with them, enjoying herself but still wanted to know what was so important about the train. Spike was left far behind and was soon panting out of breath as he came to a stop.
"Twilight, Mario, Di, can you slow down a bit," said Spike, sweating heavily as he sighed to himself.
"Sorry, Spike," said Twilight with Mario and Diamond Tiara right behind her. Twilight could help but bounce on her hooves, "It's just Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Applejack are getting back from their Seaward Shoals boat trip, and I can't wait to hear all about it!" She then put Spike on her back as she headed to the train station. Mario and Diamond Tiara followed beside her.
"It's such a shame Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy had to miss it for their Cloudsdale flight school reunion," said Twilight, "and Shenran went with them. Maybe the rest of us not going was for the best anyway. I got some extra time with my husband and my daughter..."
"Did you just call Di your daughter?" Spike said in surprise as the group started walking. Diamond Tiara had a teary smile on her face as she nuzzled Twilight's fore-leg happily.
"It might not be an official thing," said Twilight, "but we've gotten really close and I'm starting to think of her like my own daughter. Besides, I do let her call me Mom from time to time."
"Ever thought of making it official?" Spike asked, "Di practically lives with us these days."
"That might be true," said Mario, "But Filthy Rich still loves Di very much and, despite her real mother and her issues, it wouldn't be fair for us to take Di away from him."
"True," Diamond Tiara sighed sadly, "I don't even know if I could even ask Father such a thing. It would break his heart, especially since he does make the effort to defend me against Mother when she crossed the line. and that is most of the time..." Twilight gave the filly a light squeeze.
"Let's just change the subject," said Twilight, "after all, we should all be excited to see Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Applejack again. I know the three of them were really looking forward to getting out of their element." Twilight then jumped up to the station platform, along with Mario and Diamond Tiara right behind him. Mario smiled excitedly as Twilight bit her lip and scouted about, trying to contain her own excitement.
"Getting out of their element?" Spike asked as he jumped off Twilight's back.
"What do you mean, Twilight?" Diamond Tiara asked.
"I think they all just wanted to try something new," said Twilight.
"Kinda like how Silver and I tried zip-lining last month?" Diamond Tiara asked.
"That's the idea," said Mario, "I'm still surprised Silver wanted to go twice after she was screaming so loudly the first time she went down." Diamond Tiara giggled.
"Huh. If that's the case," said Spike, "I guess a boat trip qualifies as that."
"My only worry is that they'll be so excited, they'll talk over each other, and I'll miss some of the details!" said Twilight, as she made a scroll and quill appear and handed them to Spike, "Just to be safe, I may need you to take notes." Twilight then shoved the items into Spike's claws.
"Uh...right," said Spike reluctantly as he took the items and had a long face, but then he smirked deviously.
"What about Mario and Di?" Spike asked, which made the two ponies flinch.
"Oh yeah!" Twilight remarked as she handed both of them a scroll and quill with her magic, "You two take notes as well!" Mario and Di glared at a now snickering Spike. It was then the train whistle was heard and Mario and Di tossed the items behind them without a care. The train then pulled into the station. It was then the group winced as they saw Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie looking very dirty and very angry.
"Son of a submariner, you spoony bard!" Mario exclaimed. The sound of crickets was heard as Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie just glared. Twilight, Spike, and Diamond Tiara gave Mario a "what the hay?!" look.
"Eh-heh...no idea why I blurted that out," Mario said sheepishly and blushed from embarrassment. Twilight, Diamond Tiara, and Spike just rolled their eyes. Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie just kept glaring. Twilight, Mario, Diamond Tiara, and Spike quickly grew uneasy at the glares from the three other mares.
"So how was the trip?" Twilight asked sheepishly. The three angry pony simply grunted as they all tried to exit the train at once. Applejack stomped away to the left, Rarity stomped away to the right, and Pinkie...she didn't want to walk away in either direction. So she simply climbed over the train and ran off. Mario, Twilight, Diamond Tiara, and Spike were left stunned and confused.
"Well that was awkward," said Diamond Tiara.
"Sorry..." said Mario, thinking she meant his outburst.
"Not you, Master. Them." Diamond Tiara clarified.
"My bad," said Mario. Twilight just said nothing. She was feeling rather worried.
"Well, at least you don't have to worry about them talking over each other," Spike pointed out, but that did nothing to make Twilight feel any better.
(Main theme)
A few hours later, Diamond Tiara and Twilight worked together to set up the table in the dining room for a tea party. Spike and Mario arrived with plates of freshly baked cookies and set them on the table. Twilight then used her magic to pick up the teapot and wiped a spot on it to make it shine. Diamond Tiara looked a bit worried when she saw Twilight cleaning teapot.
"Guess I still need practice making a teapot look spotless," said Diamond Tiara sadly.
"You did just fine, sweetie," said Twilight, "I'm just being nitpicky. Anyway, I don't know what happened on that boat trip. But once Rarity, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie have some tea and talk it out, I'm sure everypony will feel better."
"Assuming they show up honey," Mario remarked as Charlie arrived, wearing a nice sport coat and derby hat. Mario gave him a funny look since he hadn't invited the koala to this particular tea party.
"They will," said Twilight as she put the bags of tea into the hot water inside of the teapot. Spike then grabbed a cookie to eat and went to bite it when Twilight pulled away and put it back on the plate with her magic. Spike just smiled apologetically as Twilight smirked. Diamond Tiara rolled her eyes.
"Do you have any self-control?" Diamond Tiara asked the little dragon.
"I do!" Spike retorted indignantly, "Who said I don't?"
"Well a little birdie told me about a tale of a dragon who wanted to make a gem cake but couldn't keep himself from eating all the gems," Diamond Tiara remarked in a sweet but sassy tone.
"Oh, you had to bring that up!" Spike remarked angrily and pouted in embarrassment. He hated being reminded of that incident.
"Be nice, Di," said Twilight in a motherly tone, "Spike learned his lesson...eventually." Spike blushed as he continued to pout.
KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK
"Looks like they've arrived," said Mario. Twilight headed over to the double doors and opened them with her magic.
"Come on in, everypony!" Twilight said in a mannerly tone, but then noticed that there weren't any hoof-steps. She looked down to see three familiar critters standing before the door.
"Gummy, Opalescence, and Winona?" said Twilight, "This is a surprise."
"Hey!" Charlie exclaimed excitedly as he rushed up to the door and invited his friends inside with a gentlepony's bow. Opal didn't resist raised a paw in a snooty manner for Charlie to kiss, which he did. Once Opal had walked away...
PTOOEY!
Charlie spat out the shedding cat hair that had gotten on his lips. Then he walked over to join the others for the tea party. Diamond Tiara just watched the whole scene with a blank look.
"Looks like this tea party was mostly for Charlie's friends and not ours," said Diamond Tiara, "Or Master's and Twilight's friends to be precise since I'm not sure they think of me as their friend..." Mario was about to retort Diamond Tiara's train of thought when he and Twilight heard the sound of purring. Twilight found Opal nuzzling her and then saw that there was a note on the cat's collar. Twilight used her magic to collect it.
""Sorry, darling"," said Twilight as she read Opal's note, ""But I must decline the invitation to your soiree. While I'm sure it will be positively resplendent, there are certain ponies I'd rather not associate with at the moment", Rarity." Twilight looked rather upset.
"Rarity's not coming?" Spike said sadly and looked at his claw, "Awww. So I polished my scales for nothing."
"Oh brother," Diamond Tiara remarked annoyingly. Twilight and Mario rolled their eyes.
"I was afraid this was going to happen," said Mario.
"And I'm guessing the other notes Winona and Gummy have probably have the same declines on them," Diamond Tiara remarked as she watched Gummy climb into the table and landed on his back. Winona sat on a stool and just let it spin her about. Charlie was just sitting on a table sipping some tea from a cup with his pinkie sticking out. Twilight used her magic to retrieve Winona's note, which was covered in slobber.
"Sorry, I can't make it"," Twilight read aloud using her own version of a country accent, ""But I'm still a mite upset about everything that happened on the boat", Applejack."
"Hey, you've been workin' on that family country accent haven't ya?" Mario asked, using his own country accent.
"You like it?" Twilight asked with a smirk.
"Yes, I do," said Mario as he gave his wife a cheek kiss. Twilight chuckled and found that Pinkie's note...was written on Gummy's stomach.
""Sorry I can't make the tea party today," said Twilight, "But there's a small problem with the guest list. Plus, I'm right in the middle of a very important cupcake", Pinkie." Twilight was now very upset.
"Well, guess the tea party is a bust," said Mario sadly and then saw Charlie enjoying himself as he bit a cookie and dabbed his lips with a napkin, "At least for us, Charlie's having a good time." Twilight then felt her disappointment turn into anger.
"Come on, Spike, Di, honey," said Twilight firmly, "Since our friends won't come here and tell us what happened, we'll just have to go to them!"
"Hmm," Mario pondered with interest, "This sound like another mystery for Inspector Mario!" Mario then grabbed a changing wall and within two seconds had changed into his trench coat and fedora. Twilight looked annoyed.
"You've been reading way too many Shadow Spades books, dear," said Twilight, "and hanging around Rarity too much."
"Well, this might not be much of a mystery," said Mario and ignored the second remark, "But if there's one thing investigating has taught me. It's that when ponies are angry, there are often contradictions to every testimony. You're gonna need a pony to help you filter out those contradictions and uncover the truth.
"What are contradictions, master?" Diamond Tiara asked.
"It's when a pony gives information that doesn't make logical sense," Mario explained, "Like if a pony were to say they enjoyed a cupcake but then said that the bakery was sold out."
"I think I understand," said Diamond Tiara, "Can I help?"
"You bet," said Mario as he replaced her tiara with a fedora just like his, "You'll be my assistant, Ms. Tiara."
"Awesome!" said Diamond Tiara excitedly. Twilight just sighed, but still smiled as the three ponies made their way. Diamond Tiara noticed that Spike wasn't behind them.
"Come on, Spike!" Diamond Tiara called out.
"Right behind you!" said Spike as he stuffed his mouth with several of the cookies and followed behind them, leaving Charlie alone with the rest of his critter friends.
At the Carousel Boutique, Rarity was just glaring angrily at her messy mane from a pony-sized mirror. She sternly removed the piece of seaweed in her mane and started to brush her mane back into shape. Rarity then winced and lifted part of her mane to find that a crab had made its home in it. Rarity gasped.
"I'm sorry," said Rarity huffily, "but my mane wasn't made to support marine life!" Rarity used her magic to place the crab on the floor. The crab angrily walked away, catching the attention of Twilight, Mario, Diamond Tiara, and Spike.
"That was unexpected," said Diamond Tiara to the group.
"Ruined, completely ruined," said Rarity as she used her magic to hold a very dirty trench coat.
"I don't know," said Twilight, "Maybe you could-"
"Throw it away," Rarity interrupted as she dumped the coat into a waste bin, "Yes, I agree."
"You sure we can't save it, daring?" Mario asked, using his own posh tone, "I'm ready for emergency surgery..."
"No, Mario, it's a lost cause," Rarity replied, "Just another innocent casualty of that disastrous boat trip."
"About that," Twilight replied as she discreetly shoved a scroll and quill into Spike's claws, "Spike, Mario, Di, and I were wondering what happened out there." Spike gave Twilight a glare that went unnoticed by the purple pony. Twilight then went to shove another scroll and quill to Mario and Diamond Tiara.
"We've got stuff for taking notes!" Mario and Diamond Tiara called out. Twilight just smiled sheepishly as she made her extra scrolls and quills disappear.
"Think you can give your testimony on the situation, Rares?" Mario asked.
"Please, darlings, I don't know if I'll ever be able to discuss it," Rarity replied in dramatic fashion as she summoned her chasse sofa and reclined on it, "It's far too painful." Rarity then gasped dramatically. Mario and Diamond Tiara looked disappointed. Spike looked relieved as he pressed the scroll and quill on Twilight's side to emphasize he didn't want to take notes.
"If it's too difficult to talk about," Spike said gently, "we completely understand."
"Well, since you dragged it out of me..." Rarity continued as Spike made a face showing he was regretting opening his big mouth, "It all started at the docks. I knew Applejack and Pinkie wanted to get out of their element, so I thought I would surprise them with an elegant cruise." By now, Spike, Mario, and Twilight were taking notes. Though Spike did so reluctantly.
Flashback
The scene changed to show Seaward Shoals docking area. There was a large boat ready for sailing as Rarity arrived wearing a life jacket and had a porter pony holding a rather small travel bag.
"I had brought a small bag with just a few key essentials," Rarity narrated and then her past self spoke.
"All right ponies," Rarity said excitedly, "Prepare yourselves for luxury on the high seas!" Pinkie was already at the docks wearing her own life vest and had saddle bags loaded with games and other things.
"That sounds...fun?" Pinkie said uneasily. It was then Applejack made her presence known. The orange pony was wearing a worn black jacket with a green turtle neck, red beanie on her head and had a sour look on her face with one eye closed.
"The sea air carries a potent for trouble this day," Applejack narrated darkly with a sea dog accent, "'Tis a treacherous and perilous journey that lies ahead of us! We sail to adventure...or our very doom." Rarity and Pinkie gave Applejack funny looks.
"I...have no idea what you just said," Rarity pointed out as she and Pinkie both smiled sheepishly, "but wardrobe is delightfully seaworthy." Applejack sternly stomped aboard the boat while Rarity and Pinkie followed behind her.
As the ship was finally at sea, Rarity was steering the ship while Applejack was just keeping watch from the front. Pinkie was standing near the mast enjoying the view.
"Despite Applejack's colorful seafarer attitude," Rarity narrated again, "I was still determined to get my friends out of their element by providing them with all the refinements of a luxury cruise. I made sure to bring the most delectable nibbles for them to enjoy." Rarity then pulled out a tall metal dome from her bag and walked up to the others as Applejack was adjusting one of the sails as she set her plate and dome into a wooden table. Applejack and Pinkie looked at the treats skeptically.
"Ooh, I brought food too!" said Pinkie as she emptied a bag filled with various candies and other snacks into the deck.
"Let's see," said Pinkie as she pointed at the treats and snacks, "I've got cotton candy, taffy, circus peanuts, and lots of other super-yummy stuff."
"Oh, Pinkie Pie, that all looks positively delectable," Rarity remarked in a rather insincere tone, "But you simply must try one of these cucumber sandwiches. Dig in!" Rarity then used her magic to give Pinkie a cucumber sandwich.
"Hmmm. Hmmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm," Pinkie Pie hummed as she looked at her sandwich.
"Arrr!" Applejack grunted loudly in frustration, still using a sea dog accent, "Get those off me ship!" She then tossed all of Rarity's treats into the water. Pinkie and Rarity ran to the edge of the boat as the treats sank into the sea and the water bubbled.
"Oh! I'm so sorry!" said Rarity sadly, "I had no idea you had such a distaste for cucumbers!"
"Yar-har-har-har, harder-har-har-har!" Applejack chortled like a pirate gone insane.
HOLD IT!
End Flashback
Spike and Twilight were left stunned at Rarity's testimony. Diamond Tiara and Mario looked rather skeptical as well.
"So you're saying Applejack voluntarily took an entire plate of cucumber sandwiches and dumped them overboard," said Mario, "because she despised cucumbers?"
"That is correct," said Rarity.
"Hmm...That's doesn't sound like Applejack," said Twilight.
"Huh," was all Spike could say.
"I agree," said Diamond Tiara, "Applejack loves cucumbers. So does Apple Bloom. She ate all the cucumber sandwiches I made the last time I invited her to a tea party."
"Well, hold on," said Rarity indignantly, "because it gets even worse."
"Proceed then, Rares," said Mario as he and Diamond Tiara got ready for more note taking.
"Pinkie tried to lighten the mood with some fun maritime games," Rarity continued.
Flashback
As Applejack was sternly steering the ship, Pinkie set up a piñata in the shape of a fish nearby.
"It's piñata o'clock!" Pinkie announced, "Wanna give it a whack, Rarity?"
"Oh, darling, of course!" Rarity replied as she took the stick with her magic. Suddenly there was some thunder and lightning as the boat got caught up in an oncoming storm. Applejack laughed like a mad pony.
"I'll be chartin' a course to the very heart of that maelstrom!" said Applejack as the weather conditions grew more severe. Applejack then looked at her map when Rarity appraoched.
"Ahem. Er, Applejack?" Rarity suggested, "Just a thought, but maybe we should steer the ship toward calmer waters."
"This be the only way to Plunder Cove!" Applejack announced. Rarity then winced as some more lightning clashed and the water got rougher. Applejack didn't seem to notice or care.
"Perhaps if I took a quick look-see at that map of yours," said Rarity as she tried to look at the map herself, "I could find us a more cruise-friendly path-"
"Yah!" Applejack retorted as she sternly pulled the map away from the marshmallow mare, "There'll be no mutiny aboard me ship!"
"Look at me! I'm the captain too!" said Pinkie, now wearing her own captains hat as she grabbed the map away from Applejack. Soon Applejack and Pinkie were playing tug-o-war with the map. Rarity also joined in so it was a three way fight for the map.
"Clearly, Pinkie Pie had caught Applejack's sea madness," Rarity pointed out to those taking notes." The three ponies continued to argue and fight for the map. Then a wave crashed over the boat and knocked them apart. Applejack then looked to see a giant tidal wave coming right at them.
"Is that all you've got?!" Applejack retorted and laughed manically. Rarity cringed as Applejack steered the boat right into the tidal wave, which quickly and easily overtook them.
End Flashback
HOLD IT!
"Then what happened?" Spike asked as Twilight and Diamond Tiara cringed.
"Oh, the boat sank. Obviously," Rarity said plainly. Diamond Tiara, Twilight, and Spike shared puzzled look with each other. Mario pondered.
HOLD IT!
"So Applejack got some sort of sea madness and caused the boat to capsize?" Twilight asked, trying to make sure that what she had heard.
"I know Applejack can be a stubborn mule at times," said Mario, "But she usually has enough common sense not to do anything reckless...most of the time."
"Yeah," Diamond Tiara added, "That sounds more like something Rainbow Dash would do...no offense!"
"None taken," said Mario, "I could totally see Dashie stupidly take on a tidal wave...and fail miserably." Twilight didn't resist rolling her eyes at that remark.
"After all the effort I put in to provide her and Pinkie with the exact luxury cruise they needed to get out of their element," Rarity huffed, "that is how Applejack thanked me!"
"So you were stuck out in the middle of the ocean?" Spike remarked, "How in Equestria did you get back?"
"Spike, darling, you'll have to forgive me," said Rarity dramatically as she leaned away from the group, "I am far too emotionally drained to discuss the matter any further!" Diamond Tiara hummed definitely.
"Should I press for more information, master?" Diamond Tiara whispered.
"No, for now, we don't need to know that part," Mario replied in a hushed tone, "After all, despite looking dirty and angry, they clearly came home alright without any serious physical injuries." Diamond Tiara hummed in agreement. Twilight and Spike walked up Rarity.
"Rarity, I don't suppose there's any chance you might be...uh, exaggerating things? Just a little?"
"Honey!" Mario retorted indignantly.
"What?" Twilight retorted, "It's a good question to ask." Mario looked at his wife disapprovingly while Rarity looked rather offended as she grabbed a bin of ice cream and took a large bite of the cold treat.
"Well! I can assure you that that is exactly what happened!" Rarity said angrily, "But if you don't believe me, you can ask Pinkie Pie. I'm quite certain her story will be the same."
HOLD IT!
"If Pinkie's on your side, then why are you angry with her?" Diamond Tiara asked. Rarity huffed and stuffed another large bite of ice cream in her mouth.
"I have my reasons," Rarity replied quickly.
"I see..." said Mario, "Well thank you for your time, Rarity. We'll be on our way." Despite still feeling upset, Rarity couldn't help but crack a small smile as Mario's mannerisms.
"It was a pleasure, Inspector," said Rarity, "I'm sure you'll uncover the truth in good time." Mario smiled and nodded in agreement.
"Come on, everypony. Rarity gave us an alibi," Mario told the group, "We might as well speak to Pinkie and get her input on this situation." The rest of the group followed Mario out of the Boutique. Twilight quickly walked up to her husband with a stern look on her face.
"Okay, what exactly was so wrong about asking Rarity if she exaggerated things?" Twilight demanded, "Don't you think she's stretching a few things in her testimony?"
"Of course I do," said Mario, "but since Rarity is still angry and upset, it wasn't that surprising that she got defensive with you for saying that. If we want to uncover the truth and get as much information as we can, we need to keep ourselves as impartial as possible. Otherwise, getting information out of them might get more difficult." Twilight rolled her eyes.
"I think I know what I'm doing," said Twilight, "You watch and learn." Now it was Mario's turn to roll his eyes. Once they arrived at Sugarcube Corner, Twilight immediately told Pinkie that they had talked to Rarity and told her what she had said. Mario just looked at his wife disapprovingly, especially when Pinkie had a bitter look on her face.
"So that's what Rarity said happened on the boat, huh?" Pinkie asked indignantly while sternly opening the oven and put in a tray of muffins to bake. Twilight just smiled sheepishly.
"We thought there was a chance she might have..." Twilight cleared her throat, "embellished the story just a tad. So we wanted to hear about what happened from you! Did Applejack really capsize the boat?" Twilight also noticed Spike, who was sitting on a counter, was trying to lick some frosting in a bowl, but she used her magic to take the frosting spatula from him and shoved another scroll and quill into his claws. Mario and Diamond Tiara, before Twilight had even pulled the items out, held up their own pencils and notepads for her to see. Twilight just stuck her tongue out at them.
"Of course not!" Pinkie replied, "Pfft, that's just silly! There's no way Applejack could've sank the boat!"
"I see," said Mario with interest.
"I knew it!" said Twilight.
"That's a relief," added Spike.
"Because Rarity did!" Pinkie exclaimed as she got into Twilight's face.
"What?!" Twilight and Spike gasped together.
"Interesting..." said Diamond Tiara curiously, "Care to tell us how Rarity sank the boat, Miss Pie?"
"It all started on the docks," Pinkie narrated as she put some baking items on her head, She then shook her head so a frosting tube, measuring cup, and a stick of butter landed side by side between Twilight and Spike, starling them, "I knew Rarity and Applejack wanted to get out of their element, so I figured I'd throw them the funnest, silliest boat party ever! But I guess Rarity had other ideas." As Pinkie spoke, she got between Spike and Twilight, donning a bitter look on her face.
Flashback
"I thought I overpacked until I saw Rarity and her team of porter-ponies!" Pinkie narrated as the scene showed them at the docks. Applejack was already there wearing a red beanie and her life vest while holding a treasure map in her fore-hooves. Pinkie then arrived with her saddle bags and board games. It was then Rarity appeared wearing a gem studded captains outfit with turquoise sunglasses, white captain's hat, and her mane tied up into a curly pony tail. Behind Rarity was a large group of porter-ponies carrying a single piece of her luggage.
"Prepare yourselves for a luxury cruise!" Rarity announced, "A day of opulence, decadence, and extravagance!" Applejack and Pinkie shared worried looks with each other.
"That sounds fun," said Pinkie in a deadpan tone.
"Ahoy, mateys!" said Applejack cheerfully, "Batten down the hatches, y'all, 'cause this here's gonna be a boat ride for an adventure!"
"Eh, I can live with that," said Pinkie. Rarity just smiled and rushed on board. Pinkie and Applejack smiled at first as the porter ponies went on the ship to drop off Rarity's luggage, but those smiles soon turned into worried looks as the number of porter ponies didn't seem to end.
"Huh. They just keep coming," Pinkie remarked.
Once they were at sea, Rarity was at the steering wheel while Pinkie and Applejack were at the front of the boat.
"Now, you can't throw a silly boat party without snacks," Pinkie continued to narrate, "So I made sure to pack the funnest party food I could find!" Pinkie then set a tin plate loaded with her treats and set them on a table.
"Rarity, would you care for some cotton candy?" Pinkie asked as she held out some paper cones filled with blue and pink cotton candy, "It's freshly spun!" Rarity flinched as the cotton candy was presented to her and looked indignant.
"Oh, Pinkie Pie, those all look simply...well, simple," Rarity said snootily as she used her magic to remove Pinkie's treats, and set a metal plate with a dome on top of the table and removed the dome top, "But they're obviously unfit for a luxury cruise. Now, my cucumber sandwiches, on the other hoof...Try one, then you'll understand." Rarity then grabbed a sandwich slice and shoved it into Pinkie's mouth. Pinkie just chewed and ate the sandwich. Applejack then went to grab something from the plate.
"Ooh, are those chocolate chip?" Applejack asked hungrily. Then Applejack and Pinkie were shocked when Rarity tossed the entire plate overboard, making the treats sink into the water and some bubbles appeared in the water.
"Sorry!" said Rarity snootily, "Cucumber sandwiches are so ten seconds ago."
HOLD IT!
End Flashback.
"Wait, wait, wait," said Twilight as Spike was stuffing his face with popcorn he found during Pinkie's testimony, "That doesn't sound like Rarity."
"You can say that again," said Diamond Tiara, "Rarity would have to be out of her mind to simply toss perfectly good cucumber sandwiches into the water on purpose! Not to mention claim their out of style! Cucumber sandwiches never go out of style when it comes to high class gatherings!"
"Just wait until you hear how much more unlike her she sounds!" said Pinkie.
"Pinkie just admitted she exaggerating Rarity didn't she?" Diamond Tiara asked Mario in a deadpan tone.
"Make a side note, keep your ears open, and mouth closed," Mario said quickly, "Pinkie's about to continue." Diamond Tiara nodded as she quickly jotted down a side note with her pencil.
"I thought I'd lighten the mood with some super-fun party boat games," Pinkie continued, "But Rarity was a real wet blanket."
Flashback
Applejack was now steering the ship as Pinkie hung up her green fish shaped piñata.
"It's piñata time!" Pinkie said excitedly, "Ooh! Wanna give it a whack, Rarity?" Rarity then gave a very exaggerated posh laugh and then stopped.
"...Oh. you were serious," said Rarity bluntly before adding in condescending tone, "Well, that's adorable." Rarity then walked off importantly, leaving Pinkie feeling hurt as she held the blindfold with a fore-hoof.
"I'll give it a go!" Applejack volunteered.
"That's the spirit!" said Pinkie, now feeling better, "Let's get this boat party started!" She quickly tied the blindfold on Applejack's eyes, spun her around, and had her hold the stick.
"Whoooooa! Heh-heh! Whoa, doggie!" Applejack chuckled as she wobbled about on her hind legs. Then there was a clash of thunder and lightning. Applejack lifted her blindfold as she and Pinkie winced. Their boat was sailing right into the middle of a storm. Applejack rushed back to the steering wheel to regain control of the boat. Then a wave crashed over the ship, washing over Pinkie's games. Pinkie then saw that Applejack and Rarity were now fighting over the map.
"Tug of war?" Pinkie asked, "Now we're talking! Whoever wins gets to be captain!" The three ponies continued to grunt as they did tug of war with the map. Then Pinkie saw that the steering wheel was spinning and rattling out of control.
"Or...one of us should just be captain now?" Pinkie said worriedly. Rarity let go of the map, making Applejack and Pinkie recoil into the back railing. Then the marshmallow mare rushed to the front of the boat.
"Oh, don't worry, dear," said Rarity as a giant wave appeared before them, "Luxury cruises never sink."
"What?!" Pinkie exclaimed as Applejack tried to regain control of the ship. But it was too late. The wave crashed over the ship.
End Flashback
"And that's why the boat sinking was all Rarity's fault," Pinkie finished as she was stirring something in another bowl.
HOLD IT!
"Okay, time out here!" Diamond Tiara snapped, "Why in Equestria would Rarity say or think of something so stupid?! I mean..."luxury cruises never sink"?! Any pony who follows high society know about the tragedy of the Titanic!"
"Di does have a point," said Twilight, "that seems...odd." Pinkie gave Twilight a death glare.
"Damage control! Damage control!" Mario whispered as he leaned toward his wife. Twilight smiled sheepishly.
"I mean, we trust you, of course," said Twilight quickly, "But it's all so...extraordinary?"
"Oh, it's "extraordinary", all right," said Pinkie, "But that's exactly what happened!"
HOLD IT!
"Is there anything else you can tell us Pinkie?" Mario asked, "every detail is important for our investigation."
"Well..." Pinkie pondered, "In fact, the only thing I might've gotten wrong was that there were even more porter ponies!" Mario and Diamond Tiara sweated sheepishly with long faces.
"I'm seriously regretting asking my question," Mario remarked to his assistant.
"With Pinkie, there's a risk asking her just about anything, master," Diamond Tiara replied in a deadpan tone.
"But to be sure, you should talk to Applejack," Pinkie added, "She'll know exactly how many porter ponies there were!" Twilight just looked stunned and Spike looked just as baffled. Mario was still sweating sheepishly. Diamond Tiara blinked.
"Actually, that's not a bad idea, master," said Diamond Tiara to Mario in a hushed tone, "Speaking to Applejack, not the porter ponies." Mario stared and then smiled.
"Sounds like a plan," said Mario before addressing Twilight and Spike, "Let's move out ponies!"
"Okay, hold on a sec, Mario," said Spike but then looked at Pinkie, "but if the boat sank, how did you all get rescued?"
"I'd like to know the answer to that as well," Diamond Tiara added.
"Oh that's easy," said Pinkie, "We just-" Suddenly some black smoke appeared above their heads and Pinkie sniffled something burning.
"My muffins!" Pinkie screamed and ran into the kitchen to do damage control.
"That's it!" said Spike, feeling fed up, as he jumped off the counter, "We've gotta go talk to Applejack."
"Good idea," said Twilight, "She'll straighten this out." As the conversation ended, the black smoke had cleared, which probably meant either Pinkie saved the muffins or disposed the burnt ones. No pony bothered peeking into the kitchen to check as they made their exit from the bakery.
"I just really, really wanna know how they made it back!" said Spike, "But yeah, that'd be great too."
"Hmm..." Diamond Tiara pondered as Twilight took noticed.
"Something on your mind, sweetie?" Twilight asked curiously as Mario also looked at his student with interest.
"Twilight, wasn't there a waxing crescent moon during the time Applejack, Pinkie and Rarity were on that boat trip?" Diamond Tiara asked. Twilight was rather stunned at the filly's question, but also impressed at the topic.
"Yes, there was a waxing crescent moon," said Twilight, "what about it?"
"Well...a few weeks ago, Miss Cheerilee was talking about this deep sea creature that will migrate close to shore during the time the moon is a waxing crescent," Diamond Tiara explained, "But if that creature were in the area...(sigh)...nevermind...it's just a silly theory."
"No theory is silly if you take the time and effort to do the research, Di," said Twilight.
"Hmm, it might be something worth looking into," said Mario, "Once we visit Applejack, we'll stop be Cheerilee to see if this creature of yours would go anywhere near Seaward Shoals." Diamond Tiara nodded with a smile, glad her little theory was being taken seriously.
It wasn't long before the group arrived at Sweet Apple Acres. Mario knew exactly where his little sister would be. Whenever the orange pony was fuming about something, she would use that pent up energy to buck apples. Like before, despite Mario's recommendation, Twilight filled the orange pony in on what Rarity and Pinkie had said about the boat trip.
"Hold on a tick," said Applejack angrily, "Pinkie Pie says it's Rarity's fault, and Rarity says I sank the boat? Well, that's plumb crazy!" Twilight and Spike shared looks with each other.
"As much as I know you can get stubborn sometimes and that stubborn pride can make you do dumb things..." Mario pointed.
"Grrrrr..." Applejack growled.
"What Master is trying to say that, despite your stubbornness," Diamond Tiara corrected, "You wouldn't be dumb enough to face a tidal wave head on."
"Darn tootin' I wouldn't!" Applejack retorted, "If you four really wanna know what happened, I'll tell you." Twilight just smiled excitedly and discreetly handed Spike another scroll and quill. Spike saw the items coming early on and sternly snatched them from Twilight's magic grip.
"Y'all know how Pinkie Pie and Rarity wanted to get out of their "element"?" Applejack began, "Well, I brought a treasure map to give 'em rip roarin' seafarin' adventure!"
HOLD IT!
"I still can't wrap my head around the fact that Rarity would turn down a treasure hunt," said Diamond Tiara, "She loves anything involving precious jewels and such."
"I thought so too," said Applejack before adding bitterly, "But they had other ideas."
Flashback
Once again, the scene changed to show the docs, but this time Applejack was already at the boat wearing her life vest and her stenson hat. She also had several shovels tied to her back. Rarity then appeared wearing a cream colored dress and hat that dated around the close of the 19th century. She had only one porter pony carrying her bags.
"La-la-la! Prepare yourselves for the most luxurious boat outing that ever outed a boat!" Rarity announced. Applejack just smiled. It was then Pinkie arrived with her saddles bags LOADED with games and other things that towered above her.
"And more fun than you can shake a stick at!" Pinkie said with a maniacal smile on her face and squee, "Because I brought a stick!"
HOLD IT!
End Flashback
"Okay, I gotta ask this," said Diamond Tiara, "I know Pinkie can get hyper sometimes, but your implying she went insane before the boat trip even started? You're sure she just wasn't overexcited?"
"With Pinkie Pie, who can ever tell," said Applejack indignantly.
"Well that's a bit insensitive isn't it?" Diamond Tiara remarked, clearly offended.
"Di, settle down," Mario warned gently, "Remember, keep your questions objective."
"Right...master," said Diamond Tiara hastily, "Please continue Applejack." Applejack snorted as she went back to her story.
Flashback
"Alright mateys," said Applejack as she held her map on her fore-hooves, "but just y'all wait 'til you see the high seas adventure I've got planned!" Applejack then noticed that Rarity and Pinkie had already boarded the ship. Pinkie was just bouncing about while Rarity was viewing the horizon. Another porter pony` was putting all of Rarity's luggage onto the ship. Applejack just put her map away and smiled optimistically as she boarded the boat.
Later at sea, Rarity was at the steering wheel. Pinkie and Applejack were at the front of the ship. Applejack then pulled out her own personal spyglass and started to scan the sea for good treasure spots.
"Unfortunately, they seemed less interested in a treasure huntin' adventure," said Applejack, "and more interested in snacks." Applejack had just discovered a sunken ship when she looked behind her to find Pinkie putting her collection of snacks onto a wooden table and made an offer to Rarity.
"Oh, darling, that food isn't fit for a pony of proper breeding, darling, and refinement, darling!" Rarity declined snootily as she presented her metal dome loaded with her fancy treats, "Now my cucumber sandwiches, on the other hoof..." Applejack looked annoyed while Pinkie eyeballed the sandwiches with a crazed look on her face.
"Bet you I can fit them all in my mouth!" Pinkie remarked and opened her mouth wide to do just that, "Ahh..."
"Pinkie, darling, please!" Rarity retorted as pulled her metal place away. Pinkie just chomped the air like a hungry Pac-pony. Applejack went to break up the disagreement when she suddenly stepped onto a stray volleyball. Applejack yelped as she crashed into Rarity, who ended up tossing her food overboard. Rarity and Applejack winced, Pinkie looked clueless, as all three watched the food sink into the water and some bubbles surfaced from the water. Rarity gave Applejack a fierce glare.
"Uh, Rarity, I-" Applejack stuttered, trying to apologize.
"Well, I never! Hum-ph!" Rarity huffed and stomped away.
"Me neither! Hum-ph!" Pinkie huffed and stomped away as well.
HOLD IT!
End Flashback
Twilight and Spike both had blunt looks on their faces.
"Do you want to say it, or should I?" Twilight asked Spike.
"I'll go," Spike volunteered, "That sure doesn't sound like Rarity or Pinkie Pie!"
"We do know that Pinkie can definitely shove large amounts of food into her mouth," said Diamond Tiara, "and that Pinkie can be a tad inconsiderate, but it's usually not intentional."
"And Rarity can get a little huffy sometimes during mishaps, even if it was an accident," said Mario, "and I've seen Pinkie copy or mimic others before. But this behavior does seem a bit extreme, AJ."
"Oh, its gets a sight worse than that!" said Applejack.
Flashback
It was then Pinkie set up her green fish piñata.
"It's P.W.T. - Piñata Whacking Time!" Pinkie announced.
"Oh, darling, whacking is a base pastime for common ponies," Rarity said snootily, "Doesn't interest me in the least." Rarity then walked off, leaving Pinkie disappointed. She then looked to see Applejack steering the ship. Pinkie then got an idea.
"Meh. Hee-hee!" Pinkie Pie giggled behind Applejack and peeked out from behind her a couple of times. Applejack looked unamused but still suspicious of what Pinkie might be up to. Then Pinkie surprised her by tying a blindfold over her eyes.
"Huh?" Applejack said in shock when Pinkie blindfolded her and spun her around.
"Whoooooa!" Applejack said dizzily as she wobbled about the lower part of the ship on her hind legs and holding a piñata stick on one fore-hoof. Then some thunder and lightning were heard as Applejack recovered and lifted her blindfold. She winced when she saw that their boat heading into a storm.
"Looks like we need to change course!" Applejack as she rushed to the steering wheel and pulled out her map. Suddenly, Rarity took the map away with her magic.
"Ooh! Why, this will make a perfect tablecloth for my cheeseboard!" Rarity remarked.
"Maybe so," said Applejack, "But it's also the only way to find Plunder Cove!" Then Pinkie snatched the map and was just giggling with a giant captain's hat on her head.
"And Pinkie Pie was just about as helpful as a weasel in a hen house," Applejack narrated.
"Captain Pinkie Pie reporting for map duty!" Pinkie announced. Then the three ponies started doing tug of war with the map. Then a wave crashed over them, making Applejack let go of the map and fall over. Applejack then winced when she saw that the boat's steering wheel was spinning out of control. And then a large wave appeared in front of them.
"Hold on, everypony!" Applejack shouted as Pinkie stupidly stood nearby with her tongue sticking out. Applejack fought for control, but the wave easily consumed the boat.
HOLD IT!
End Flashback
"Wait, so it was Rarity and Pinkie's fault?" Twilight remarked as she and Spike were checking the scroll. Mario and Diamond Tiara were checking their notes as well.
"Yup!" said Applejack bluntly as she put a bucket of apples on her back, "and maybe if they ever apologized, I'll consider talkin' to them again."
"Sure there isn't anything you need to say sorry for?" Diamond Tiara asked.
"Why do I need to apologize?!" Applejack snapped as she got into the filly's face.
"Eep!" Diamond Tiara yelped as she hid behind Mario's hind legs.
"Back off, little Sis!" said Mario sternly, "She's just asking if you've ever thought about anything you might have done to make them act this way? Saying sorry, even if you think you did nothing wrong, might go a long way in settling things."
"I have nothin' to say unless they apologize first!" Applejack said firmly and walked off.
"Now there's the stubborn mule I know and love," Mario remarked with an eye roll.
"If they all blame each other, I don't know how we're gonna get them to talk again," Spike pointed out.
"Neither do I, Spike," said Twilight, "Neither do I." There was a long silence before Mario snorted definitively.
"Hey now, cheer up everypony!" said Mario, "I know these three testimonies sound different and they are clearly blaming each other for what happened. But with a little extra evidence. I think we can filter out the contradictions in each testimony and get to the truth!"
"Right, master!" said Diamond Tiara with a nod.
"But we don't even know where to start!" Twilight remarked.
"What about my creature theory and that waxing crescent moon?" Diamond Tiara pointed out, "Don't you think it might be worth looking into?"
"What does that creature have to do with this boat incident, Di?" Twilight asked.
"Because I think one of the places the creature visits is Seaward Shoals," said Diamond Tiara, "I'm gonna go see Miss Cheerilee to be sure. If you don't mind, master?"
"Not at all," said Mario, "In fact, I need to take a visit to Cloudsdale Weather Factory. I think an archive record of the weather patterns for Seaward Shoals, might be useful for this case." Twilight and Spike looked at each other.
"And what are we supposed to do?" Spike asked.
"You can just stand there and look dumb," Diamond Tiara suggested.
"Bleh!" Spike remarked with a raspberry.
"Just teasing, Spike," Diamond Tiara giggled, "How about you and Twilight look at the testimonies and see what you can find? Then master and I can meet you once we're done gathering our information." Twilight blinked and then smiled.
"Sounds like a plan," said Twilight, "Let's do this!"
Back at the castle, Twilight and Spike were in the throne room trying to figure out how to find some truths amongst the three ponies testimonies. Twilight was pacing back and forth as Spike sat lazily in one of the larger thrones. Mario and Diamond Tiara had not returned just yet.
"There's gotta be some way to fix this," said Twilight, "If Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Rarity keep not talking to each other, they could forget what good friends they really are!"
"I just don't get it!" said Spike as he looked at the long scroll filled with the notes he took, "All of their stories are so different!" Spike sighed to himself. We're never gonna figure out what happened." Twilight then used her magic to grab the scroll and looked through it.
"Their stories were different," said Twilight, "but they also had alot in common."
"I guess..." said Spike as he walked in front of the purple pony, "They were all on a ship that sank, and...that's about it."
"Not quite," said Twilight as she used her magic to pull over a blackboard and began drawing some illustrations of the following items: a cucumber sandwich, some bubbles, and a wave. Twilight then pondered to herself. It was then Mario and Diamond Tiara arrived.
"Twilight! Guess what!" Diamond Tiara announced, "My theory just might have a connection to what happened after all!"
"How so, Di?" Twilight asked. Diamond Tiara pulled out a book from her saddle bags.
"This is the book Cheerilee let me borrow," said Diamond Tiara, "It talks about a creature that migrates close to the shore of Seaward Shoals whenever the moon reaches its waxing crescent phase!"
"And not only that," said Mario, "I just got back from obtaining a record of the past weather conditions at Seaward Shoals. Including what the weather was like during Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie's boat trip." Twilight used her magic to grab the book and the weather records. She quickly shuffled through the pages of the book and examined the weather records. She then looked at her blackboard. Mario walked behind his wife to help her out. Diamond Tiara and Spike waited impatiently. Then Mario and Twilight whispered to each other.
"A-ha!" Twilight exclaimed, starling Diamond Tiara and Spike, "Not only do my husband and I know how the boat sank, we have a pretty good idea on how to get Rarity, Applejack, and Pinkie together!"
"We just need to speak to one more pony, or ponies to be more precise," said Mario, "Then we'll have all the puzzled pieces we need to solve this mystery and mend Rarity, Applejack, and Pinkie's friendship!"
"Awesome!" Diamond Tiara said excitedly. Spike just looked rather uncertain.
The next day, Twilight, Spike, and Diamond Tiara were at the docks of Seaward Shoals with a small sailboat behind them. Mario, who had come with them, had just arrived in the docks with some papers in his magic grip.
"Alright, I got the information we needed," said Mario, "We just need our three friends to arrive and we can started putting the puzzle together."
"I hope this plan of yours works," said Spike.
"It will, Spike," said Diamond Tiara confidently, "It will." It was then Applejack arrived and rushed up the docks to see them.
"Winona brought me your note about a friendship emergency!" Applejack panted, "H-How can I help?" It was then Rarity arrived.
"Opalescence delivered your message, Twilight and Mario!" Rarity panted, "What's the emergency?" Rarity didn't notice that Applejack was looking at her bitterly. Then Pinkie appeared between them and shoved the two ponies apart.
"It's a good thing it was time for Gummy's bath," said Pinkie as Applejack and Rarity both gave the pink pony bitter looks, "or I might not have seen your note about the emergency, Twilight and Mario!" It was then Pinkie saw that Applejack and Rarity were there.
"What's she doing here?!" Applejack, Pinkie, and Rarity interjected as they pointed a fore-hoof at each other.
"Sorry, but we just didn't know how else to get the three of you here together," Twilight explained.
"And there really is a friendship emergency!" Mario added, "Yours!" The three ponies all had rather snooty and pouty looking faces.
"Oh, there's no emergency!" Applejack said with an eye roll, "I'm just waitin' for an apology."
"An apology?!" Rarity said appalled.
"What?!" Pinkie snapped, "Why would you want me to apologize when it was Rarity's fault?!"
"What are you talking about?" Rarity retorted as she shoved Pinkie's fore-leg down, "Applejack clearly caused the boat to sink! She stranded us in the middle of the ocean!" Spike then growled in frustration.
"Will somepony please tell me how you made it back?!" Spike yelled. There was a pause of silence as the three ponies shared uneasy looks.
Flashback
After the boat sank and was destroyed, each pony gave a loud gasp as they surfaced from under the water. Applejack grabbed her now soaked hat to find that the water was...shallow?! They found that they were just a few feet away from the docks. Applejack looked embarassed. Rarity looked indignant. Pinkie looked clueless.
End Flashback
"Well...Maybe it wasn't in the middle of the ocean..." Rarity remarked.
"Ugh," said Spike as he face-palmed himself.
"I can sympathize with your feelings, Spike," said Mario, "that final testimony actually helps us our case and the recent evidence I gathered this morning!"
"Even so," Applejack said sternly, "I don't appreciate bein' hornswoggled into comin' back here." She then walked off with a huff.
"On that, at least, we agree," said Rarity as she turned to leave too.
"Yeah!" Pinkie said firmly before she turned to leave as well.
"I know you each have a different perspective on how the boat capsized and blame each other," said Twilight.
"But Inspector Mario and his lovely assistant, Miss Tiara," Mario added as he and Diamond Tiara put on their detective's hats, "have solved the case!"
"Oh really," said Applejack skeptically.
"Yes, they have," said Twilight, "and if you come on the boat with us. We'll show you what really happened."
"You three wanted the truth," said Diamond Tiara, "and now we can give you just that...the truth." Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie gave the other three ponies skeptical looks. Then gave each other skeptical looks.
"Well, not that I have any doubts," said Rarity as she glared at Applejack and Pinkie, "but it will feel good for everypony to see exactly whose fault it was."
"I think we all know which pony's about to be proven right," said Applejack as she glared at Pinkie.
"We sure do," Pinkie remarked sternly. It wasn't long before everypony had their live vests on and were on board the boat.
"Like I said, I sure hope this works," said Spike.
"You worry too much, Spike," said Diamond Tiara as Twilight untied the rope keeping the boat docked, "We've got this. Right, Master?" Mario smiled and nodded in agreement.
By the time they were out at sea, Spike and Diamond Tiara noticed that Applejack, Pinkie, and Rarity were looking very huffy and were not speaking to each other. Spike chuckled nervously.
"Whatever you're looking for," said Spike to Twilight, Mario, and Diamond Tiara, "I hope you find it soon." Twilight was still scouting about when she smiled.
"Don't worry, Spike," said Twilight, "We've got it all under control. Honey, Di, time for you to shine." Mario and Diamond Tiara smiled, shared nods with each other as they turned to face the others.
"Well, since you three are enjoying each other's company," said Diamond Tiara, "It's time for us to begin our cross-examination."
"You're what?!" Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie exclaimed as Mario stood before them with a firm but determined smirk on his face.
(Cue favorite Ace Attorney "Cross-examination" tune)
"Let's start with the beginning of the day when you three arrived at the docks," said Mario, "All three of you gave different accounts of how your friends were acting upon getting on board the boat. All three of you all had one thing in common. At least one of you was not acting like their usual self."
"Because they were the ones at fault for the boat sinking!" Applejack protested.
"Actually..." Mario smirked.
TAKE THAT!
"All three of you were acting in an over the top manner," Diamond Tiara pointed out, "Rarity was being extra snooty. Pinkie was being extra hyper. Applejack was acting like a pirate...with a country accent. And you drove each other crazy because of it!" All three ponies cringed.
"Uh...um..." Applejack stuttered.
"Well...to put it mildly..." Rarity said nervously.
"Well, depends on what you mean by hyper..." Pinkie remarked uneasily.
"Movin' on," said Mario, "Another fact that we found didn't add up was how much luggage each pony brought. Rarity, you said you only brought a single suitcase, correct?"
"Well, yes I did," said Rarity.
"Then tell me..." Diamond Tiara pointed out.
TAKE THAT!
"...why there is rather expensive masseur bill from a total of fifteen porter ponies who all said they had to carry somepony's luggage?" Diamond Tiara asked. Rarity cringed and bit her lower lip. Pinkie and Applejack smirked.
"I'd wipe that smile if I were you Pinkie," said Mario.
TAKE THAT!
"Because only thirteen porter ponies said they had got sore carrying Rarity's luggage," Mario replied, "the remaining two porter ponies reported carrying a heavy loaded of board games and sports equipment." Pinkie cringed and chuckled sheepishly. Applejack just chuckled.
"You think it's funny, little sister?" Mario remarked.
TAKE THAT!
"I heard from both Pinkie and Rarity that you were a bystander during the whole conflict about the snacks they had brought for the trip," said Mario, "While you claimed to be an innocent bystander, I have confirmation that you, Miss Honesty, lied." Applejack cringed and then growled.
"On what grounds?!" Applejack demanded angrily.
"Both you and Rarity confirmed in your testimonies that you were the one responsible for dumping her cucumber sandwiches overboard," said Diamond Tiara, "While Rarity said it was on purpose, you said it was accident. But neither is correct.
TAKE THAT!
"All three of you said that there was a disagreement between Rarity and Pinkie over the snacks," said Diamond Tiara, "It is clear that there must have been a fight that broke out between these two ponies. And when you, Applejack, tried to intervene, but she ended up somehow tossing the snacks into the water yourself or made Rarity toss them out of impulse from all the arguing." Applejack blinked.
"How...how did you know...? I...I mean..." Applejack stuttered, "I don't know what your talkin' about!"
OBJECTION!
Mario then did a quad-pedal version of a Phoenix Wright pose.
"You know exactly what I'm talking about here!" Mario retorted sternly, "Rarity and Pinkie clearly overpacked for the trip and Applejack was the one who failed to settle the snack dispute and caused Rarity's cucumber sandwiches to be tossed into the ocean! You just confirmed that this was what really happened." Applejack and Rarity whimpered. A sign that they weren't going to deny that fact as truth.
"In addition," said Diamond Tiara, "We can also confirm that all three of you started to fight over the map when the storm appeared. This also confirms a very important fact."
TAKE THAT!
"All three of you were so busy fighting over the map and arguing with each other that you completely left the ship at the mercy of the watery elements," said Diamond Tiara, "In other words, nopony was steering the ship until it was too late!" All three ponies cringed.
"Um..." Pinkie stuttered.
"Uhh..." Applejack stuttered.
"I...uhh...I..." Rarity snapped.
"And the most embarassing thing about your behavior?" Mario pointed out.
TAKE THAT!
"Was that all of this took place before the ship ever went thirty yards past the dock!" Diamond Tiara finished with a firm look on her face.
Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie's jaw all dropped in shock. Even Spike's jaw was hanging out from Mario and Diamond Tiara's discoveries. Twilight just smirked.
"W-w-w-what's your proof?!" Applejack demanded in a shakey but nervous tone. Rarity and Pinkie were sweating heavily.
"Yeah, sure that's what happened but we're not gonna admit that is exactly what happened!" Pinkie added indignantly as Rarity face-hooved herself. Pinkie had practically confessed that's what happened!
"Before you all came this morning," Mario explained, "I got an eyewitness report from all fifteen porter ponies who eye witnessed what happened on the boat from the docs. I also spoke to the boat rental pony who gave you the very boat you three destroyed! The whole reason you are even resorting to blaming each other is because of this..."
TAKE THAT!
"The bill for the boat you three destroyed with your carelessness and for, in his words, littering the ocean!" Mario replied as he showed the three ponies a familiar looking piece of paper, "According to this receipt, all three of you pitched in 30 bits for the rental, but the pony is now demanding a total of 360 bits for completely destroying it!" Applejack, Pinkie, and Rarity winced. Suddenly their anger and defenses were now starting to crumble. They were now starting to feel guilty, as well as embarassed.
"Did you guys split the costs? Or are you actually trying to make each other take the blame and pay for the entire sum alone?" Diamond Tiara asked.
"Stop!" Rarity cried out as she panted heavily in exasperation, "Just...stop..."
"Okay, we confess!" Pinkie added sadly, "It's all true...everything..."
"It's the honest truth," said Applejack, as tears pricked her eyes, "All that did take place and the bill is the reason we all got really angry with each other. So I guess we're all to blame for the boat sinking..."
"Yeah..." said Rarity and Pinkie wearily.
OBJECTION!
Applejack, Pinkie, and Rarity were stunned as Mario and Diamond Tiara smirked.
"Once again, you are incorrect," said Mario, "Care to explain sweetie?"
"Thank you sweetie," said Twilight as she approached, "While all of your stories seem very different, they all had something in common - cucumber sandwiches." Applejack, Pinkie, and Rarity looked puzzled.
"What in the hay does that have to do with anythin'?" Applejack asked puzzled. Twilight, Mario, and Diamond Tiara shared some smirks as the purple pony tossed the sandwich into the water.
"And why would you waste a perfectly good hors d'oeuvre?" Rarity asked.
"You also mentioned bubbling water," said Twilight as some bubbles appeared in the water where the sandwich had sank. Then Twilight and Mario used their magic to lift the boat out of the water as a huge wave passed under them.
"And the swell," Twilight continued, "Diamond Tiara mentioned to me yesterday that Cheerilee had her class studying this particular creature who's migration patterns take it very close to Seaward Shoals during this time of year. And cucumber just happens to be the favorite food of the tri-horned bunyip and bubbles followed by a swell is what happens when they swim up to the shallows from deep water." Applejack, Pinkie, and Rarity stared in surprise.
"So...we attracted a tri-horned whatchamacallit?" Applejack remarked, trying to make sense of what Twilight had said.
"With cucumber sandwiches?" Rarity added.
"Sounds like a stretch," said Pinkie Pie skeptically. It was right then the creature surfaced out of the water.
TAKE THAT!
"We've got evidence," said Mario smugly.
"Just turn around," Diamond Tiara added.
"Hello, bunyip, sir!" said Twilight cheerfully. The bunyip smiled and rolled over in the water playfully as Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie turned around and saw the creature with their own eyes.
"So that's a..." said Rarity.
"A tri-horned bunyip!" Twilight finished for the marshmallow mare, "Who's very sorry he accidentally knocked over your boat? Right?" The bunyip nodded in reply. The three mares were stunned.
"If it helps settle your minds down," said Mario, "Twilight and I spent last night learning his language, which was easy since bunyips understand pony language."
"Wait, the storm had nothing to do with the capsizing?" Pinkie asked.
"Nope!" said Twilight.
"According to this weather report," said Diamond Tiara as she held a sheet of paper, "This area's last storm was over two weeks ago. The weather calls for clear skies until next week."
"The darkness you girls thought was a storm was just from the size of the wave before it crashed over the boat," Mario explained.
"All right," said Rarity, "Even if our friend the bunyip is responsible for sinking the boat, and we're at fault for not paying attention to the signs of an oncoming wave, it doesn't excuse a certain pony's behavior!" Rarity sternly pointed a fore-hoof at Applejack.
"Me?!" Applejack exclaimed offensively, "How about you and Pinkie Pie?"
"Pfft - What?" Pinkie stuttered indignantly, "Who? Me? No-"
HOLD IT!
Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie gave Mario long faces.
"Let me guess," said Applejack, "You got proof as to why we acted the way we did."
"You are correct," said Diamond Tiara confidently, "Twilight?"
"Thank you, Di," said Twilight as she addressed the three girls, "I think I can explain that too. Each of you spent so much time trying to come up with the perfect way to get the others out of their element, that you didn't notice your friends were doing the same thing!"
"And because you were so focused on what you wanted to do," said Mario, "You closed yourself off to each other. Thus when one pony tried to present their ideas to you, you saw it as them trying to ruin your own ideas, which led to all the fighting and disagreements you three had during your trip." The three mares were left surprised once again.
"Wait a minute," said Applejack as she looked at Pinkie, "You brought all those games and things for us?"
"Of course!" said Pinkie, "I figured a boat trip was the perfect time to do things that were silly and fun!"
"And I was just trying to give the two of you the elegant cruise I thought you deserved," Rarity added.
"And I just wanted to give you a high seas adventure, since that's be somethin' new and different for y'all," said Applejack. Then it finally clicked in their minds that Mario and Twilight were right.
"Ohhhh," said Applejack, Pinkie, and Rarity in realization. Now the three ponies were no longer angry with each other. They just felt silly.
"That is so sweet," said Rarity, clearly touched now that she knew the truth, "You must have gone through so much trouble."
"Well, not half as much trouble as you did makin' all that fancy food," Applejack said to Rarity and then spoke to Pinkie, "and you brinin' all those games!"
"I guess this just teaches us that even long time friends need to work at communication," said Twilight.
"Indeed," said Mario as Spike and Diamond Tiara nodded in agreement.
"Well, there's something I'd like to communicate to you all right now!" said Pinkie as Twilight and Mario walked up to the three mares, "You girls, and Mario, are the best friends a pony could ever have!"
"Oh, let's never fight again!" said Rarity happily as Pinkie pulled them all into a group hug and Spike rushed in to join.
"You got it!" said Pinkie.
"Agreed!" said Applejack at the same time as Pinkie. Diamond Tiara just stood nearby and smiled.
"Di, darling," said Rarity, "why are you all by yourself?"
"Get in here, girl!" said Pinkie excitedly. Diamond Tiara just gave them a sad smile.
"But...I'm not part of your group of best friends," said Diamond Tiara, "I'm just Mario's student. Besides, I...I...thought..." Applejack and Rarity soon realized what the filly was referring to and walked up to her.
"Diamond Tiara, are you still blaming yourself over that?" Applejack asked.
"We forgave you for what happened between you and the Cutie Mark Crusaders a long time ago," said Rarity.
"We'll admit that we were skeptical when we heard Mario was taking you in as his student," said Applejack.
"For we had good reasons to," added Rarity, "but you've proven our concerns wrong. Several times over. You, Diamond Tiara, shine brighter than any diamond and your heart is a just a pure as one too." The filly's eyes twinkled as a warm smile appeared on her face.
"Because you're learning what it means to be a good friend and a better pony," said Applejack, "If we didn't make it clear before, we will now."
"You are part of our group now, Diamond Tiara," said Rarity, "and you'll always will be." Diamond Tiara couldn't help but cry from feeling so touched and overwhelmed. Rarity and Applejack both hugged her from the sides, which helped Diamond Tiara's tears quickly slow down. Then the two mares lead the filly over to the others and they went back to their group hug. The bunyip couldn't help but give a little whimper since he had seen everything and felt left out.
"All right, you big softie," said Applejack, "Bring it in!" The bunyip then picked up the entire boat and gave it a happy nuzzle. Those on the boat just smiled.
"And that wraps up another case for Inspector Mario," said the alicorn prince, "I declare this case closed and this friendship emergency...resolved!" Everypony, including the bunyip, cheered.
Later on, Pinkie set up her piñata as the bunyip wore a blindfold and held the stick in his mouth.
"Come on, bunyip, sir!" Pinkie cheered as the creature gave a few practices swings, "You got it!" At the other side of the boat, Applejack and Mario had teamed up to use a net for some deep sea treasure hunting. It wasn't long before the two ponies pulled up the net and inside of it was some sea shells, sea weeds, and a nicely sized treasure chest.
"Yar har, Ms Jack!" said Mario in a pirate's voice, "I believe we found ourselves some treasure!" Applejack smiled excitedly as she opened the chest. Inside was gold coins, pearls, and other trinket including some gem studded drinking goblets. Rarity grabbed three of the goblets and filed them up with ice cream, whipped cream, an a cherry to make sundaes for the three ponies. Diamond Tiara was just watching the scene with a smile on her face as Spike was just bitterly writing stuff down on another scroll. Twilight then walked up to them.
"One thing's for sure, Spike and Di," said Twilight, "There's nothing like a luxurious adventure boat party to get you out of your element." She then removed Spike's quill and scroll from his claws and gave the little dragon some ice cream.
"You said it!" said Spike as he dug into his treat. Diamond Tiara then gave Twilight a nuzzle.
"You're friends are so cool, Twilight," said Diamond Tiara, "I never imagined I'd be having this much fun on a boat this like!"
"Don't you mean our friends, Di?" Twilight asked with a smirk. Diamond Tiara smiled.
"Yeah...our friends," said Diamond Tiara as Rarity handed her a goblet filled with ice cream.
"Thanks," said Diamond Tiara and enjoyed her treat. Mario and Twilight smiled as they watched the little filly eat her ice cream before sharing a hug and kiss with each other.
"You are so amazing Mario," said Twilight, "You helped bring our best friends back together."
"With a little help," Mario reminded her. Twilight chuckled.
"Of course," said Twilight, "but I'm just saying that I think you're very special and I love you." Mario smiled.
"I love you too," said Mario as they held each other close for a moment. Then went to join the rest of the fun.
The group continued to enjoy their time at sea til long after the stars came out.
I hope you enjoyed the alternate opening. I just wanted Mario and Twilight to have a cute moment together. I've really laid off on the lovey-dovey moment in recent chapters and I wanted to remind fans that their love for each other is still growing despite being married for nearly three seasons.
And I have opened the door for a future idea. Should Mario and Twilight consider adopting Diamond Tiara? She's certainly happier being with them since Filthy Rich works most of the time and Spoiled Rich...ehhh...I have nothing nice to say so I won't say anything at all about her.
Kudos to anypony who enjoyed Mario's random Final Fantasy reference.
Plus one of the biggest critics about this episode is that there was no indication as to how Twilight would have even known about the existence of the Bunyip beforehand. I mean if they were going for a plot twist, okay fine. It still never really explains what actually happened during the boat trip itself before the boat was capsized. I'll admit I used alot of educated guesses to come up with what really happened. But I think alot of fans will agree, Applejack, Pinkie, and Rarity needed to have their testimonies pulled apart before Twilight tells them outright that they had been too insensitive of each other's feelings. I hope I did a better job with the Ace Attorney elements this time around.
Next Time: Another adventure of the stubborn mule...as a teenager...(sigh) Not looking forward to this one... Most of the story takes place in the past before Mario and Applejack ever met. Or...what if they had met as teenagers...and never realized it?
Peace Pony Fans!