Princess Twilight Sparkle Part 2
Pony's Log Number 402: It always rang true that uncovering the mysteries of the past can give you the resources to protect the present...
(As usual, I will be skipping the "Previously on My Little Pony Segments".)
(Main Theme)
Nightmare Moon continued to laugh manically before glaring fiercely at Twilight, who cowered back in fright as Mario stood in front of her.
"Luna! Why are you doing this?" Mario pleaded as Nightmare Moon fired a powerful magic beam that began to slice at the ceiling, causing pieces of it to come tumbling right on top of Twilight and Mario.
"Look out!" Mario cried out as he grabbed his wife and pulled her out of the way before a huge chuck of stone nearly crushed them. Nightmare Moon took a step forward as Princess Celestia hovered above her. Nightmare Moon fired another magic blast, but Princess Celestia dodged out of the way as the magic blast created a hole in the ceiling. Twilight and Mario slid in front of Princess Celestia as she landed back on the ground.
"Luna!" Twilight called out, "Think of how long you were banished to the moon! You'll give us no choice but to send you back there if you don't stop!" It was then Princess Celestia stood firmly behind them.
"Luna, I will not fight you!" Princess Celestia said sternly, "You must lower the moon! It is your duty!"
"Luna?" the dark alicorn exclaimed, "I am...Nightmare Moon! I have but one royal duty now: to destroy you!"
"No!" Mario said sadly as Twilight looked devastated. Nightmare Moon then jumped into the air and fired another magic blast, but Princess Celestia jumped into the air and flew out of the newly created hole.
"And where do you think you're going?" Nightmare Moon demanded as she went after Princess Celestia. Twilight and Mario both ran up to the hole and watched the two disappear. Mario then put on a determined look on his face.
"C'mon on!" he told his wife as the couple took off after the other two alicorns. Outside, Nightmare Moon continued to pursue Princess Celestia, firing blast after blast at the sun princess. Princess Celestia continued to dodge the blasts without much difficulty. But then a couple of magic blasts reflected off some walls...and headed straight for Twilight and Mario.
"I got this, honey!" Mario shouted as he flew in front of his wife. Performing a well timed barrel roll, Mario deflected the magic blasts with his wings. Twilight was left stunned. She had never seen or heard of a pony being able to deflect magic blasts by barrel rolling. Before she could ask, her husband pushed forward as she did her best to catch up to him. It was then one of Nightmare Moon's blasts hit a bridge to try and knock the rubble on top of the sun princess. But Princess Celestia, along with Twilight and Mario, were able to fly under it before the debris could fall on either of them. Then Nightmare Moon shot another magic blast.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
It was direct hit to the sun princess's chest, causing her to tumble down the opened hole below. Mario watched in horror as tears streamed down his eyes.
"Momma!" Mario screamed in anguish as he flew down to her.
"Celestia!" Twilight shouted right after as she followed her husband. Nightmare Moon just laughed in triumph. Mario and Twilight soon landed beside Princess Celestia as she lay on the floor on her back. The fact that she wasn't moving made them both fear the worst.
"Mom...Mom, please wake up..." Mario croaked as his tears increased, especially since there was no reply. Mario began to cry.
"No...Why would Luna do this?" Twilight asked as her voice cracked as her eyes watered, "Why now?" Soon Twilight began to cry as well as the two ponies lowered their heads. They were then given the shock of their lives when Princes Celestia sat up.
"Mom, you're alive!" Mario exclaimed.
"You're all right! You're all right!" Twilight said excitedly as Princess Celestia struggled to her hooves and glared up at the sky.
"Princess Celestia?" Twilight asked worried.
"Mom?" Mario asked in the same tone, but neither pony received an answer.
"Oh, dear sister," said Princess Celestia in a stern tone, "I'm sorry, but you have given me no choice, but to use these." Princess Celestia then made her horn glow as she made a secret compartment in the floor open up. It was then a planetarium of the sun and moon appeared with several gems placed on it. Mario and Twilight were stunned.
"Are those the Elements of Harmony?" said Twilight, "But that's how they looked in...the past."
"You're right, honey," Mario replied, "Mom only has six elements, and not seven. This could mean this was when Mom..."
"This is the night you banished her," Twilight finished as she looked at the sun princess. Princess Celestia then flew up to the model and summoned all the Elements of Harmony around her, including the Element of Magic, which had been placed inside of the sun model and looked just like Twilight's cutie mark. The Elements gathered around Princess Celestia, creating a rainbow ring around her body and making her glow.
"The original super form," Mario said in awe as he watched the sun princess flew up to Nightmare Moon. The dark alicorn snarled as she began to create a dome around herself as Princess Celestia lined up the Elements of Harmony in front of her. Nightmare Moon then fired a fully charged magic blast. Princess Celestia did the same, launching a rainbow colored magic blast. The two blasts collided with each other, but soon Nightmare Moon found that she was no match for the Elements of Harmony.
"Noooooooo!" Nightmare Moon screamed as the rainbow magic sent her straight to the moon. A rainboom could be seen as Nightmare Moon made her landing and a silhouette of her image could be seen on the surface.
Back in Ponyville, the magic from the potion had worn off, but Mario and Twilight's eyes were still glowing white. After a few blinks, they returned back to their senses. They looked at each other and then at their surroundings before they noticed the other six ponies and Zecora were just staring at her.
"Why are you all looking at us like that?" said Twilight.
"It's just...you two were mumblin' to yourself," Applejack answered with a concerned tone.
"Ooh! And don't forget the uncontrollable sobbing!" Pinkie added.
"And we all heard Mario scream "Momma!" for all of Equestria to hear," Shenran added.
"I for one found it delightful," Discord remarked as he reclined on his stomach from a nearby vine before leaning beside the couple and showing a flyer of them crying like babies, "Sort of a two-pony theater piece, if you will. You should really consider taking it on the road." Mario groaned.
"Yeah, well you try seeing what you thought was your mother's demise and you tell me if I shouldn't have reacted like I did," Mario muttered under his breath as Twilight gently hugged him and kisses his cheek.
"What do you mean?" Fluttershy asked since she heard Mario.
"Never mind that," Rainbow retorted, "Did you two find out whose rump we need to kick and where we can find them?" Rainbow did some mid-air karate kicks.
"We saw something from a long time ago," Twilight answered as she took a few steps forward with Mario right behind her, "But it didn't explain what's happening now."
"Perhaps further back still are the answers you seek," said Zecora as she approached the two ponies and presented the potion to them, "Another sip of the potion will give you a peek." Twilight took the flask again as she and Mario eyed it nervously.
"You sure about this?" Spike asked.
"No," Mario answered, "but here goes nothing I guess." Twilight nodded as she took a drink, making a face afterward before giving the flask for Mario to do the same. The other ponies just watched worriedly until Discord appeared wearing a dorky old fashioned director's outfit and holding a 1930s style movie camera.
"Oh, I do hope they break into a song this time!" Discord said excitedly.
"Put that camera away or I'll-" Too late. Before Mario could finished his sentence, his and Twilight's eyes glowed white once again.
When Twilight and Mario regained their senses, they noticed a school of fish swimming past them in thin air. They also noticed that the ground was checker patterned, the sky was pink, and there not too far away was a rather familiar and crooked looking throne.
"I think I have a very good idea of where we are," Mario muttered to his wife, "Wait, scratched that. I mean when." It was then a rather battered Princess Celestia and Princess Luna approached the throne. Both had saddles bags on their backs and very stern looks on their faces. Discord then turned his throne so he was facing them.
"Oh, this is so much fun," said Discord, "How about a game of "Pin the Tail on the Pony"?" Discord then held in his claw a very familiar tail. Princess Celestia gasped as she looked to find her own tail missing. Even Princess Luna was stunned at the sight. Both sisters quickly recomposed themselves.
"Play time is over for you, Discord," said Princess Celestia sternly.
"Oh, I doubt that," said Discord as he munched on a bag of what looked to be black rocks or sunflower seeds, "Hungry?" He then tossed a bunch of them at the two Princesses. One rock, or seed bopped the top of their heads as they kept glaring at him.
"Suit yourselves," said Discord dismissively and continued eating. It was then Princess Celestia pulled out the Elements of Harmony and positioned them in front of herself and Princess Luna.
"Oh! What have you got there?" Discord asked curiously as he dropped his sack.
"The Elements of Harmony," Princess Celestia answered.
"With them, we shall defeat you," Princess Luna added as the Elements rotated around them to create a magic barrier around the two sisters. Mario and Twilight watched the scene unfold.
"This must be when they turned Discord into stone," Twilight remarked as Mario nodded in agreement. Discord just outright laughed at them.
"You should see yourselves right now," said Discord, "The expressions on your faces. So intense. So sure of yourselves." As he continued to laugh, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna tapped their horns together, creating the arching rainbow that rose into the sky and descended onto Discord.
"Hilarious!" Discord chortled, but it was his last words before the rainbow struck him, turning him into stone. Mario and Twilight's eyes then glowed white again.
Once they shook their heads and recovered, they gasped at what they saw. There before them was a tree, but not just any tree. This tree was made out of light blue crystal and had exactly five branches that contained five gems at the end of each branch. It was then Princess Luna and Princess Celestia arrived, the former gasping at the sight.
"The Tree of Harmony," said Princess Luna.
"The Tree of Harmony," Twilight and Mario said together in surprise.
"Honey, look!" said Mario as he pointed to the top of the three where the five branches extended from.
"My cutie mark," said Twilight. Princess Celestia then hovered up to the same spot and fired a magic blast at the center crystal resembling the Element of Magic, making it glow.
"Are you sure?" Princess Luna asked with uncertainty in her tone as she hovered beside her older sister.
"We have managed to discover the only means by which we can defeat Discord and free the citizens of Equestria," Princess Celestia explained, "Even without these elements, the Tree of Harmony will possess a powerful magic. As long as that magic remains, it will continue to control and contain all that grows here." It was then Princess Celestia removed all the Elements from the tree including the Element of Magic. The six elements floated before herself and Princess Luna. Then Princess Luna looked at the tree and noticed right below the main crystal was another small carving in the tree that resembled the shape of a heart.
"Hmm..." Princess Luna pondered to herself.
"What is it, sister?" Princess Celestia asked.
"I still have not found the connection between this heart shape and its connection to harmony in general, sister," Princess Luna said aloud.
"That is because this is the location for an additional Element," Princess Celestia answered. Princess Luna's looked shocked.
"An additional Element?" she exclaimed, "But...but Star Swirl the Bearded said that such an Element was only a legend!"
"It is no legend, my dear sister," Princess Celestia replied, "this seventh element won't be found by either one of us, but will be connected to a very special pony. They will be seen by others as the least, but will ascend to become the greatest. They will possess the humility and qualities of all the Elements of Harmony and will become the controller that bounds the Elements together in a way that the Element of Magic could never do. That pony... will become one of us." Mario couldn't help but listen in awe as a soft smile appeared on his face. It was then his and Twilight's eyes glowed.
The two ponies blinked before shaking their heads to clear their senses, finding themselves back in the present.
"So what do you two find out?" Spike asked curiously as he walked up to them.
"We still don't know what's happened to Princess Luna and Princess Celestia," Twilight explained, "but I think I know why the Everfree Forest is acting this way. Something's happened to the Tree of Harmony." The others and Zecora just looked worried as Twilight spoke. Discord just sat nearby in a floating cinema chair, enjoying the scene unfold as he ate some popcorn and wearing 3D glasses. The six ponies, Spike, and Zecora looked more puzzled than ever once she finished.
"The tree of what now?" Rainbow asked skeptically.
"It's where Princess Celestia and Princess Luna found the Elements," Twilight replied, "I think it's in danger."
"It's also where Mom foretold a prophecy about the seventh Element," said Mario, "She knew I was the seventh Element long before I was ever born! She said I would be viewed as the least, but would ascend to be the greatest. I would become one of them...an alicorn! A Prince! I really am a very special pony." Mario looked at his crown and opened his wings with a warm smile on his face. The others smiled back as Applejack approached the two ponies.
"Well, all right then!" Applejack replied, "Let's go save a...tree. Uh...where is it exactly?"
"I think it's in...there," Twilight answered as she pointed toward the Everfree Forest, which was covered in the blank vines. The others just cringed and whimpered worriedly.
"No worries my friends," said Shenran as he unsheathed his dual swords, "I can clear us a path to the Tree of Harmony." Fluttershy smiled and clapped for him. Even Discord was looking rather excited as well.
"Ooh-hoo! I'm going to need more popcorn!" said Discord as he looked...at me?
What am I? A concession stand?! Oh never mind, back to the adventure...
It wasn't long before Shenran had cleared a path to the entrance of the Everfree Forest. The vines were continuing to spread from within the dark and murky woods. The eight ponies and Spike cautiously approached the entrance path.
"Seems like only yesterday we were heading into these woods to find the Elements of Harmony," said Rarity to everypony else.
"You do remember that I wasn't part of the group back then, right?" Shenran pointed out.
"Oh, you were," said Fluttershy as she added timidly, "My dream of meeting a pony like you dates back to when I was a teenage filly. You were with me in spirit." Shenran just smiled.
"Seems like only yesterday I was foolish enough to think Mario and I should go after them alone," Twilight added as she took the first few steps into the Everfree Forest with Mario just a couple of steps behind her, "I don't know what we're going to face in there. But whatever it is, I know we need to face it together." The others all smiled and mumbled in agreement.
"Shenran, we need you up front in case we need to clear a path or fight through any pesky vines," said Mario. Shenran then hovered beside the prince as Fluttershy walked close by since she felt braver being near him.
It wasn't much longer before they reached a swampy part of the forest where there were several rocks leading through a some swamp waters.
"We can use those to cross," said Twilight as she hopped into a small row of rocks, even using her wings to increase her jumping distance. As she did so, the rocks began to move about, making Twilight yelp when she suddenly realized that she was standing on the tail of a crocodile made with a rocky exterior. The creature then flicked its tail and sent Twilight crashing back first into a nearby tree. Rarity gasped.
"A cragadile!" Rarity yelled, "Run for your lives!" All the girls and Spike scattered as Mario and Shenran stayed put.
"Spike, go see if Twilight is alright!" said Mario with determination before turning to the Pegasus stallion, "C'mon, buddy! Double team!" Shenran nodded as they flew off to fight the cragadile. The cragadile gave a loud roar as Mario curled into a ball and home attacked the creature on the head, leaving it dazed for only a couple of seconds as Shenran flew by its face.
"Can't catch me ya ugly beast!" Shenran taunted, hoping to lure it away from the rest of the group. As Mario hovered in the air, the cragadile then tried to take a bite out of him. Mario yelped as he just escaped being bitten when Shenran landed on his back.
"Giddy up there you big pile of rocky scales! Yeeeee-haw!" Shenran called out, trying to sound like Applejack as the cragadile tried to buck him off. It thrashed about so violently that when Mario went for another homing attack. The cragadile did a one-eighty and swatted Mario away and crashing into the same tree Twilight was against and trying to recover with Spike's help.
(Lose a life fanfare)
Mario was down as Shenran fought to stay on the cragadile back, but was soon bucked off and sent crashing into some nearby vines. As Fluttershy and Rainbow tried to get Shenran free, the cragadile then noticed Twilight and began to charge for her. Twilight tried to use her wings to take off twice, but she couldn't get off the ground. She held her knocked out husband close as the cragadile got closer to them. Then a rope made from the vines appeared and the rest of their friends started to pull the creature back tug of war style. Shenran then handed them all each some vines so they could tie the cragadile down by tying each of its legs with a vine to some trees as well as the tail. They also managed to tie the creature's mouth shut as well.
"That was close," said Twilight with relief as Shenran hovered over and fed Mario a green and white mushroom.
(extra life fanfare)
Mario then sat up, still feeling a bit groggy.
"Maybe a little too close, if you ask me," said Applejack with a sigh, "You sure you're alright?"
"I'm fine," said Twilight as she turned to her husband, "How about you, honey?"
"Brrbrrbrrbrrbrr," said Mario as he snapped out of his daze, "Yeah...I'm fine, dear. But...ugh...I can run at mach 2 for pony's sake! How are my attacks still so slow sometimes that I get swatted back like that?"
"Maybe you're just not as good as you think," Rainbow remarked before Shenran and Fluttershy glared at her. Rainbow then noticed that Mario looked hurt.
"Sorry..." Rainbow said feebly, but Mario didn't answer.
"Mario isn't the only one whose feeling frustrated," Twilight added as she opened and closed her wings, "I just can't seem to get these new wings to do what I want them to do when I want them to do it." The group then continued on their way as Rainbow hovered over to the two alicorns.
"Aw, you'll figure it out eventually," said Rainbow, "both of you will."
""Eventually" isn't soon enough," Twilight remarked bitterly.
"Yeah, I should be proficient in all my attack abilities," said Mario, "I haven't added anything new other then flying in months. I've had plenty of time to perfect my skills and I clearly didn't take enough advantage of it!"
"Mario, you practice for hours each day!" Rainbow remarked, "Even I don't practice my awesome skills as heavily as you do."
"You have been having an awful lot of trouble with those things, Twilight," Applejack said worriedly, "And Mario's fighting skill aren't exactly up to par. And, well, who knows what else is gonna try to come after us? You know, maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea for Twilight and Mario to go back to Ponyville and let us look for the Tree of Harmony without them." Twilight and Mario both froze still as if somepony had just slapped them hard across the face.
"Excuse me?" Mario retorted angrily.
"What? Why?" Twilight demanded with a glare.
"For starters, you two just about got eaten by a cragadile," Applejack explained calmly.
"We all did," said Twilight, "he wasn't after just me."
"Just cause I wasn't able to fight back one time and suddenly your trust in my abilities is gone?!" Mario added sternly.
"Sure, and no it ain't Mario," Applejack answered, "but...well, the rest of us aren't royalty."
"What's that got to do with anything?" Twilight demanded as Mario glared.
"Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are gone," Applejack said upfront, "If something happened to either of you, or even both of you, I-I just don't think Equestria can risk losing another princess and its only alicorn prince."
"Applejack does make a valid point," said Rarity, "Even if we manage to save the Tree of Harmony, it won't necessarily mean Princess Celestia and Princess Luna will return. Equestria will need somepony to lead in their absence."
"But the Tree of Harmony!" Twilight protested, "Mario and I are the only ones who have seen it and knows what it looks like."
"Huge tree, cutie marks on the trunk, probably being attacked by something hideously awful?" Rainbow replied in her blunt manner, "Yeah, I'm pretty sure we'll know it when we see it. Plus we've got Fluttershy's coltfriend to help us out...so we're good." Twilight and Mario were most upset.
"Do you really think sending us away is a good idea?" Mario retorted, "Don't you think we'd be safer here with our friends instead of Ponyville where, while you think it's safe, could just the perfect opportunity for somepony to capture us because you weren't their help us? Neither of us wanna do the old "royalty captured and taken hostage" routine. Thank you. It's so overdone."
"Especially for that princess in that kingdom with all those mushroom people," Pinkie remarked as everypony stared at her.
"What are you talking about?" Shenran asked puzzled.
"Never mind, the ponies reading this story will know who I'm talking about," Pinkie added, earning an eye roll from all but Twilight and Mario, who just looked at the group, seeing that they all seem to agree with the idea that they should go back. They lowered their heads briefly before looking at the group again with tears forming in their eyes.
"All of you feel this way?" Twilight asked sadly, "Feel like we shouldn't be here?" The rest of the group said nothing, in fact, none of them could make eye contact with the two alicorns either.
"It is probably for the best," Fluttershy said at least, even Shenran nodded in agreement. Mario just sniffled.
"Geez, give a pony some wings and crown on their head and suddenly their own friends don't even want 'em around anymore," Mario remarked in a sad tone, "C'mon, honey." Together the two alicorns headed back to Ponyville with Spike walking just behind them. The rest of the group just continued to venture deeper into the forest. Shenran was the only pony to look back at them sadly before joining up with the rest of the group.
Back in Ponyville, Discord was using Gummy to file one of his claws. Nearby, Cherry Berry and Comet Tail were being held by a vine.
"Help! Help!" they cried out.
"Discord!" Twilight scolded.
"What are you doing?!" Mario added sternly. Discord jumped before quickly snapping his fingers to set the two ponies free. The two ponies looked at him fearfully before recovering and running for their lives.
"You're welcome!" Discord shouted at them with a huff before turning to the clearly distressed alicorns as they sat down side by side. Mario then wrapped a fore-leg around his wife and held her close. Twilight just tucked her head under his chin.
"No luck finding your tree?" Discord asked curiously as he hovered behind them.
"We ran into some trouble," Twilight explained with her head lowered, "And our friends decided it would be best if we returned to Ponyville while they continue the search. Equestria needs us if Princess Celestia and Princess Luna don't return."
"Not to mention our friends feel we are too important to be part of the team anymore," Mario remarked sarcastically before just sighing sadly to himself.
"I'm just surprised that you agreed to their plan," Discord replied, "I never thought you two would be the kind of ponies who would think they were better than everypony else."
"What do you mean?!" Mario asked indignantly.
"We don't think we're better than anypony!" Twilight retorted.
"Oh, well, how silly of me to assume that you would think that," Discord replied as he made a purple robe appear on Twilight's back and holding a gold scepter with her head on the top. He did the same with Mario, same robe color but his scepter had his head on top of it as he showed them the vine cluttered forest, "All you chose to do was keep your prince and princess selves out of harm's way while your friends thrust themselves right into it. I'm sure you'll all be the best of pals again when they return from their terrifying and yet deeply bonding experience that they're having without you." As Discord spoke to them, Twilight and Mario glared. They then tossed the items away from themselves when Discord popped out of Twilight's left ear and then appeared out of Mario's right ear, chuckling to himself. Once Discord had finished speaking, they pondered to themselves, looked at each other, nodded firmly before taking off. Sending Discord flying out of Mario's ear.
"We never should have agreed to come back here," said Twilight.
"Yeah, our lives will always be at risk," said Mario, "But it doesn't mean we have to sit around hoping nothing bad will happen to us!"
"Right," Twilight said in agreement. Spike then ran up behind them.
"Come on, Twilight and Mario," said Spike, "Discord may be reformed, but he's not that reformed. He's just trying to get under your skin."
"Well, it's working!" Twilight snapped as she put Spike on her back as they approached the Everfree Forest.
"If we gotta chose between putting up with him and risking our lives," Mario added, "We'll take risking our lives!"
"I just hope we can catch up to our friends," Twilight pondered. Mario smirked.
"Then, my beautiful wife, it's time for the two of us to team up," said Mario with a smile as he made his horn glow pink, Twilight smiled tapped her horn against his, "it doesn't matter what obstacles the forest puts in our way, We'll blow past everything it throws at us." Twilight and Mario then twirled into the air as their right fore-hooves began to glow pink. Then once the energy was charged, they shared a echoing hoof-bump.
"FRIENDSHIP BOOST!"
Mario and Twilight rocketed into the Everfree Forest at high speed, Spike screamed as he held onto Twilight for dear life. Discord just watched them zoom away and waved goodbye. Because the two alicorns were moving so fast, they were able to smash right through any incoming vines with ease.
(cue double boost theme in the background, with lyrics below)
Together we can show the world what we can do
You are next to me and I'm next to you
Pushing on through until the battle's won
"Woooooo-hooooooooo!" Twilight cheered excitedly.
"I knew you've been waiting a long time to try this out!" Mario said happily.
"As much as I'm loving this move," said Twilight, "Just one question..."
Nopony's gonna give a thing to us
Into each other we put our trust
Standing united...
"...Do you know where to find our friends?" Twilight finished.
After the...
(record scratch fanfare)
Mario then pulled himself and his wife to a complete stop within a few seconds as he sat down with a blank look on his face. He hadn't even thought about where they were supposed to go!
"Well?" Twilight asked impatiently. Mario just looked at her and gave he a squeaky smile.
"UGH!" Twilight grunted loudly.
"Well, that was anti-climatic," Spike remarked indignantly.
Elsewhere in the forest, the six ponies were still trying to find the Tree of Harmony. Thanks to Shenran and his dual swords, he had done a good job fending off any renegade vines. However, they hadn't been able to spot much of anything that matched Twilight's description.
"Anypony else starting to think this is a lost cause?" Rainbow asked the others, "We're almost at Celestia and Luna's old castle. Maybe whatever Twilight and Mario saw when they took that crazy potion wasn't real."
"So you're saying that the idea of Princess Celestia's prophecy about Mario being special is fake as well," Shenran remarked, "Wow...can't wait to see you tell that to Mario..."
"Oh hush Shenran," Rainbow retorted, "I'm just beginning to think the Tree of Harmony isn't real. Maybe..."
"Maybe it's right down there," said Applejack as she pointed down a large chasm in the ground with a cave. The entrance had several large vines spawning from inside it.
"It can't be!" Rainbow gasped.
"Well, seeing is believing," Shenran added, rather stunned at the sight as well.
"How are we supposed to get to it?" Rarity wondered.
"Whoa! Oof! Ugh!" Pinkie yelped as she fell down a very long path of stairs that lead to the bottom of the chasm before shouting to the others, "Take the stairs, silly!" The rest of the group just looked at each other and then made their way down.
Back to Twilight, Mario, and Spike, they were trying to get back on track on finding where their friend could be.
"Are we there yet?" Spike complained for the umpteenth time.
"I don't know where we are," said Twilight before glaring at her husband, "Thanks to a certain husband of mine..."
"I said I was sorry!" Mario said sadly. This hadn't been the first time Twilight had shoved his mistake to his face today. Twilight softened seeing how upset Mario was getting.
"We're lost," said Twilight as she sat down, "We never should have left our friends." Mario looked at his wife for a moment before walking up to her and lifting up her chin.
"Hey, don't lose hope," said Mario, "I got us into this mess, but I'm not gonna rest until I fix it."
"How?" Twilight asked.
"I...I don't know," Mario said worried as he sat in front of her.
"We just can't give up," said Spike as he hopped off Twilight's back, "Maybe if I get up there, I'll be able to spot 'em!"
"Well, go for it, little bro!" Mario encouraged as Spike climbed a nearby tree. Running on all fours, Spike made his way to the edge of a tree branch. He quickly moved some leaves out of the way. There before them, were the six ponies making their way down the stairs.
"Well, what do you know?" said Spike impressively, "Twilight? Mario?" However, there wasn't any answer. Spike then headed back and saw that Mario and Twilight had both been ambushed by some black vines. But these were not like the other black vines. At the ends of these black vines were plant crabs. They surprised the two alicorns by spraying them with some sort of swamp gas that left them coughing and too disoriented to get away. Spike gasped.
By now, the six ponies had finally arrived at the entrance to the cave. They all saw that the Tree of Harmony was not only grayed out, but was nearly covered in the black vines. Fluttershy gasped.
"I think it's dying!" Fluttershy exclaimed.
"I don't know much about plants and trees," Shenran remarked, "but I think my girl might be right."
"So let's save it already!" Applejack shouted as she jumped forward and tried to pull one of the vines, but the vine recoiled and sent the orange pony flying backwards onto her back.
"Nice try," Rainbow remarked as she flew off into the air and went to an air dive karate kick," Hey-Whoa! Oof!" However, Rainbow was swatted back like a bug.
"Valiant efforts on both your parts," said Rarity, "but the tree remains in jeopardy."
"And I supposed you've got a better idea?" Applejack retorted indignantly as Rarity just smiled and said nothing, "That's what I thought."
"Then let me take care of it," said Shenran as he unsheathed his swords and charged in.
SWISH! SWISH! SLASH! SWISH! SLASH!
Fluttershy smiled excitedly as Shenran bravely fought the vines and cut them up before they could reach him.
"GO! SHENRAN GO!" Fluttershy cheered loudly.
"Fluttershy! You never cheered so boldly before!" Rarity pointed out. Fluttershy smiled bashfully as her cheeks turned red.
"What can I say? I'm in love!" Fluttershy said confidently, "You can do it, Shenran! You can-"
POW! POW! POW!
It was then the vines came at Shenran with vengeance, quickly overwhelming the Pegasus and sending him flying back toward the group, looking rather battered up as each sword landed at his sides since he dropped them from the impact. Fluttershy cringed and winced as she saw Shenran land near her.
"Shenran!" said Fluttershy worried as she hurried over to him and helped him sit up.
"Ugh...I'll be okay," said Shenran bravely as he grabbed his swords, "Ready for round two you dumb weeds!"
"No Shenran!" Applejack said sternly, "Apparently brute force ain't gonna get these vines off the tree. We have to think of somethin' else!" Shenran sighed as he tucked his swords away. Fluttershy nuzzled his cheek to help him feel better.
"I know who would know what to do," said Fluttershy, "But we sent them home." The others began to realize that they had made a very big mistake.
However, two ponies weren't going to be mature about it.
"It was your idea, Applejack!" Rainbow shouted.
"We all agreed it was the best thing, Rainbow Dash!" Applejack yelled back, "We were tryin' to protect them!" The two ponies growled at each other until Shenran stuck a sword between the two to break them apart.
"In the end, we all made a mistake," said Shenran firmly before putting his sword away, "We needed them to help us complete our mission. And they probably would have been safer with us then back in Ponyville. Let's go back and find them at once!" The others just listened attentively and then all nodded in agreement.
"Oof! Ow! Ugh!" said a voice outside the cave. The six ponies looked to see Spike tumbling down the long staircase. Several ponies of the group whinnied as they rushed up to the little dragon. Applejack sat down and held him up. They all took notice that poor Spike looked rather beaten up.
"Twilight! Mario! Trouble! Help!" Spike yelped before passing out.
(Lose a life fanfare)
"It's...(cough)...too...much...(cough)(cough)...my...princess...(cough)...I...(cough)...failed you..."
(lose a life fanfare)
Those were the last words Mario spoke before the swamp gas made him pass out. Twilight was already knocked out earlier on. As they both lay on their backs, the plant crabs hovered over them. They continued to spray their swamp gas to prevent them from waking up. Then one plant crab gave a loud screech as it went to attack when somepony off screen lassoed the crab plant's mouth shut.
"Listen here you rabid rhododendrons!" Applejack said sternly, "You mess with one of us, you mess with all of us!" The other five ponies gathered around her with stern looks on their faces. Another plant crab then screeched at them when Pinkie blew a party horn at it.
"Up here!" said Rainbow as she made two crab plants get tangled into each other.
"Yoo-hoo! Come and get me!" said Pinkie as she taunted one plant crab to come and chase her.
"Don't forget about me!" Rarity remarked as she taunted another plant crab to follow her. Fluttershy even managed to get one plant crab to follow her and got itself tangled around a tree.
"Nice!" said Shenran as he and Fluttershy shared a hoof-bump. Applejack then slid and dodged another plant crab. Then one tried to snap at the orange pony before it recoiled away from her. Applejack turned to see that the group had managed to get all the plant crabs into one tangled mess of vines.
"Ta-da!" said Pinkie as she stood on her hind legs and fore-legs raised into the air. Suddenly a plant crab roared behind her and went for an attack. It was then a blast of purple magic appeared to knock the plant crab away. Pinkie turned to see Twilight, now revived as well as Mario, as they struggled to get to their hooves. Fluttershy then glared at the big mess of vines.
"Do your thing, Shenran!" she called out. Shenran smiled and raised his swords.
"Hold it!" somepony called out as Mario stood beside him.
"May I?" Mario asked casually, "I've got some anger I need to vent out with these things." Shenran then said nothing and gave Mario his swords. Mario then hovered above and raised the two swords together as one.
"This is for hurting my mare I love!" Mario shouted angrily as he made the sword glow, raised them high above his head before making a downward motion, causing a large wave of magical energy, known as the sword beam. The beam made contact with the lump, slicing it into two perfect halves before the magic caused the entire lump to POOF into thin air. Mario then made a landing and then handed the swords back to Shenran.
"Thank you," Mario said plainly before rejoining his wife, who had the rest of the group gathered around her.
"That was so cool!" Rainbow said excitedly.
"That's nothing," said Twilight, "You should Mario deflect magic blasts while barrel rolling in the sky." Rainbow's jaw dropped.
"I should've tried to marry Mario when I had the chance," Rainbow blurted out loud before realizing what she said and covered her red face with her fore-hooves. She knew everypony was staring at her.
"I'm gonna go find a plant crab and let it eat me now," Rainbow muttered before trying to fly off when Shenran gave her a hug.
"Huh?" Rainbow said, surprised at the gesture.
"It's okay, Rainbow," Shenran replied gently, "You'll find your stallion someday." Rainbow was touched. After all the hard time she had been giving him, he still showed her...kindness. The blue Pegasus felt like she was gonna cry before she hid her face into Shenran's shoulder in case she did.
"I sure am glad you two came back looking for us," said Applejack as the rest of the ponies gathered around her and Mario to get the attention off of Rainbow.
"Not as glad as I am that you found us," said Twilight.
"Yeah...I kind of tested out the Friendship Boost with my wife and...I didn't even realize I had no idea where you guys would be," said Mario sadly, "It's my fault those plants overtook us." Twilight just gave him a sympathetic smile and nuzzled his cheek. She wasn't angry with him anymore, especially since he was willing to take responsibility for his mistake.
"No sweat there, big bro," said Applejack, "we've all rushed into things without thinking. Just be glad we found y'all in time."
"I am. So thank you, everypony," said Mario.
"The truth of it is, Twilight and Mario," said Rarity, "We're simply lost without the both of you."
"Yeah," said Rainbow, who had finally recovered from her...emotional moment, "Equestria may need its prince and princess..."
"...But we need our friend," Fluttershy finished as all but Shenran shared a group hug together. Rainbow even hovered above Twilight to give her a hug directly. Shenran just watched from the side.
"Hey, get in here, buddy," said Mario, "You're part of this friendship too."
"R-really?" said Shenran surprised. The others all agreement and motioned for him to come as he joined the group hug with a teary smile on his face.
He might not be around all the time, but he's officially part of the group now.
It wasn't long before the eight ponies and Spike had returned to the Tree of Harmony. Twilight and Mario slowly stepped forward to examine the dying tree and all the vines surrounding it. Together, the two alicorns flew up to the center crystal that resembled Twilight's cutie mark. Just as they made their way toward the crystal. Two vines tried to attack them. Mario and Twilight both yelped as they fired a magic blast each to repel the attack and some more vines surrounded the center crystal. They both hovered in place as they remembered Celestia's words from the past:
"Even without these elements, the Tree of Harmony will possess a great magic. As long as that magic remains, it will continue to control and contain all that grows here."
Mario then looked at a little further down the tree trunk and right below the main crystal and above a carving that looked like the sun, was the open carving of a heart. The placeholder for the seventh element. Mario and Twilight exchanged nods before landing back before the group.
"Mario and I know how we can save the tree," said Twilight.
"We have to give it the Elements of Harmony," Mario finished for his wife.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, heh," Rainbow protested, "How are we supposed to protect Equestria?"
"How are we meant to rein Discord in if we can't use the Elements to turn him back to stone?" Rarity asked.
"Twilight...Mario...The Elements of Harmony..." said Applejack as she placed a fore-hoof on her Element gem, "They're what keep us connected no matter what." Mario looked at the orange pony sympathetically.
"No...they're not," Mario replied as all but Twilight looked at him with confused and curious looks.
"You're right about one thing, Applejack," Twilight told them, "The Elements of Harmony did bring us together. But it isn't the Elements that will keep us connected. It's our friendship. And it's more important and more powerful than any magic. My husband and I's new roles in Equestria may mean we have to take on new responsibilities, and our friendships will be tested, but it will never, ever be broken."
"That is true," Mario added, "because friendship is always worth fighting for." The others all smiled in agreement. Then they heard somepony sniffling. They turned to see that Shenran was crying.
"Sweetheart?" Fluttershy asked.
"S-s-sorry," said Shenran, as he wiped his eyes, "Just moved by the speech is all." Fluttershy just gave him a kiss while the other chuckled sympathetically.
"There's no time to lose," said Twilight, "Everypony ready?"
"Ready!" said the five other Element bearers.
"Really, sweetie?" Twilight asked.
"Let's a go!" Mario replied with a hoof pump. Together, Mario and Twilight flew up into the air. Making their horns glow together, creating a pinkish glow instead of their normal horn glow colors. They carefully removed the Elements from everypony's necklace, or crown in their case, and made the gems orbit around them. Soon the Elements began to move so quickly that they formed a rainbow band around the two ponies. Suddenly, the vines lunged at the two alicorns, making the six ponies below gasp. This time, Mario knew the vines were approaching.
"Not this time!" Mario shouted as he tried to home attack the vines, but when he spun into it, the vine became very rubbery, making Mario uncurl and wobble a bit as another vine snaked around his torso. A few more vines grabbed Twilight as well as Mario struggled to break free.
"Anypony got a gold ring?" Mario shouted, "A star cookie perhaps?" The others just murmured that they didn't, even Pinkie was pulling out everything but the kitchen sink out of her mane but found nothing. Mario was really regretting the fact he had left his magic saddle bag in Canterlot.
"Never mind, Mario!" said Twilight as the vine began encase her, "Just help me put the Elements into the Tree of Harmony!" Mario nodded as the vines closed in on himself. With good visual memory and magic control, they successfully placed each Element gem into its proper branch as the vines made it more and more difficult for them to see. Then came the Element of Magic, which a portal opened in the center crystal to receive it. A vine tried to steal it, but Twilight managed to set the Element in place before the vine could grab it. Mario had to move his Element about several times since the vines were relentlessly trying to take his Element before finally placing it in the center of the tree truck right below Twilight's Element. Once the seven Elements were set, the Tree of Harmony locked them into place. The tree then gave off a bright white light, causing all the black vines to disappear into thin air as the magic spread from the cave to the Everfree Forest and back to Ponyville. Discord was just reclining on a vine wearing some tropical vacation attire, sunglasses, and drinking coconut juice. Then his vine disappeared, making him fall hard onto his back.
"Oh, poo," Discord remarked as he saw the vines disappearing.
Once the vines had been cleared, the Tree of Harmony regained its power. Mario and Twilight were freed from their vine prisons and hovered over to their friends, sharing a hoof bump with each other before landing. There was still two clumps of vines that hadn't been removed just yet. It was then those vines were removed, revealing that Princess Celestia and Princess Luna were inside and completely unharmed. The others smiled excitedly as Twilight and Mario rushed over to them. Twilight embraced Princess Celestia happily while Mario happily embraced Princess Luna.
"Thanks goodness you're both alright," Mario told them both as he pulled away from Princess Luna and gave his mother a hug as well.
"We know how difficult it must have been for you two to give up the Elements," Princess Celestia told them as she held Twilight and Mario close, "It took great courage to relinquish them."
"Mom, Twilight and I learned that you prophesied about who would be the bearer of the Seventh Element well before you two vanquished Discord," Mario told her, "Have I...I mean...did I..." Princess Celestia put a fore-hoof to his mouth and smiled.
"You have and so much more, my son," said Princess Celestia.
"Indeed, my nephew," Princess Luna added as she looked at heart shaped gem, "I have never seen a pony who's heart is as loving as yours. You should be very proud to be the bearer of the Seventh Element." Mario smiled happily. Suddenly, some magic from the five elements converged into the Element of Magic. Then six streams of magic came converging into Mario's Element and then flowed down as one magic stream that passed through some markings of the sun and the moon. Once the magic stream reached one of the tree's roots, it sprouted a large pink flower before Twilight and Mario.
"Is...the Tree of Harmony giving us something?" Mario pondered as Twilight tapped the bud. The bud them gave off a bright light and revealed a hexagonal shaped chest with a keyhole on each side of it.
"What's inside it?" Twilight asked, "How are we supposed to open it?" Princess Celestia and Princess Luna looked at the box with puzzled looks on their own faces.
"Six locks, six keys," said Princess Luna aloud.
"I do not know where they are," said Princess Celestia, "But I do know that it is a mystery you will not be solving alone." Princess Celestia stepped side as the six ponies and Spike smiled at them. Twilight and Mario both smiled back in return. Then Mario realized something.
"Wait a second!" said Mario, "six keyholes, six keys, but there are seven elements! Shouldn't there be one more keyhole somewhere?"
"You're right, my nephew," said Princess Luna, "Could there have been a mistake?"
"No, the Tree of Harmony would not forsake the Seventh Element," said Princess Celestia, "I'm sure Mario will have a role in unlocking this...Mario...why is there a glow in your mane?"
"What glow?" Mario asked as he looked up at his mane.
"It's right here by your...AHH!" Twilight then yelped as she poked the glowing part of his mane, causing the yellow Power Heart to appear above Mario's head. It quickly zoomed away and floated above the chest, causing it to glow.
"The magic from the heart is reacting to the chest," said Princess Luna. Princess Celestia was in awe.
"Mario, where did you find...a Power Heart?" Princess Celestia asked.
"It...was during Twilight and I's honeymoon," Mario answered, still surprised the heart was in his mane and not back in his saddle bag where he had put it, "It was right after that whole...kissing incident."
"You kissed another mare?!" Shenran exclaimed, "For shame, Mario, for shame!"
"Shenran, stop it!" Fluttershy scolded, "It was an accident. She kissed him."
"Oh..." Shenran remarked. Princess Celestia smirked before watching the heart some more.
"So...they are called Power Hearts?" Mario asked.
"Power Hearts contain love magic in its purest form," Princess Celestia explained, "I feel that there may be a connection between the Power Heart and this chest, but how is still a mystery." Mario just narrowed his eyes in deep thought.
"If that is the case," Mario said in a serious tone, "Then I do have a role in opening the chest after all. I don't know what it could be, but with the help of my friends, I'll find out soon enough." He gave the group a smile as they all gathered around to share a large group hug together.
With the remains of their necklaces and crowns put away, the eight ponies and Spike made their way out of the Everfree Forest. Then two banners showing drawings of the eight ponies dangled from above along with two wooden posts that had a number 1 on them. (Shenran didn't like the fact that somepony drew him with wide cross-eyes.) It was then a certain Draconequus appeared wearing a number one glove on his right claw.
"Bravo, ladies and gentlecolts!" Discord said to them as he blew a party horn, "How ever did you save the day this time? Blast the beastie with your magic necklaces I presume? Where are those little trinkets of yours? You know, the ones you use to send me back to my extremely uncomfortable stone prison?" Discord didn't resist sticking his face into Rainbow's, making her lean away from him. He then reappeared on Applejack's back wearing cowboy attire, shivering as he remembered being stone. Applejack, Twilight, and Mario could be seen glaring at him.
"Gone," Applejack replied with a sigh.
"Gone?" Discord replied as he disappeared and then reappeared with a mischievous look on his face, "Gone?" It was then Fluttershy hovered over to him with her fore-hooves crossed and a stern glare on her face.
"But our friendship remains," Fluttershy told in sternly before adding in a motherly tone and giving him the "Stare", "And if you want to remain friends, you'll stop thinking whatever it is your thinking and help us clean up." Unlike the last time, her "Stare" made Discord flinch as his body shrunk and went poof. He then reappeared wearing a maid's outfit.
"Fine," Discord remarked, "But I don't do windows." The rest of the group just followed behind him.
"One thing I don't get," said Applejack, "Why did all this happen now?"
"I have no idea," Discord replied, "Those seeds I planted should have sprouted up ages ago."
"What did you say?!" Twilight demanded angrily.
"You said you had nothing to do with this!" Mario snapped angrily.
"Oh, why should I try to explain it when you can see for yourself?" Discord proposed as he handed Twilight and Mario the gold flask. The two ponies glared before taking a drink from it each. Then their eyes glowed white and returned to the point where Princess Celestia and Princess Luna were confronting Discord.
"Play time is over for you, Discord!" Princess Celestia said sternly.
"Oh, I doubt that," said Discord as he munched on what was some black seeds, "Hungry?" Discord then spilt a bunch of the seeds onto the ground as two bopped on the heads of the two sisters. It was then present Discord spoke to Twilight and Mario as they continued to watch the past.
"Well, obviously things didn't go according to my original plan," Discord explained, "My plunderseeds should have stolen the magic from the Tree of Harmony and captured Princess Celestia and Princess Luna thousands of moons ago. Alas, it seems the tree had enough magic to keep the seeds from growing up big and strong. Until now, that is." As Discord spoke, the seeds were shown sinking into the ground and had started growing, but it wasn't until the Tree of Harmony weakened that the plants were able to mature. Twilight and Mario then returned to the present.
"So in the end, you did plant those seeds," Mario retorted sternly, "but it was during your first reign. And you said you were innocent!"
"I was," Discord replied, "I didn't plant the seeds after we became friends. It was before I reformed."
"You realize this is information we could have used hours ago?!" Twilight yelled.
"And rob you of a valuable lesson about being princess and prince?" Discord replied as he pulled her cheek roughly, "What kind of friend do you think I am?" Twilight just glared. Mario then smirked and made his horn glow.
THONK!
Discord was then turned into a pancake as another random cart loaded with hay ran him over. Discord then unpeeled his head off the ground.
"Okay...should've seen that one coming," Discord whimpered. Shenran snickered to himself, Mario smirked, as the others just rolled their eyes.
Soon the day had come for the Summer Sun Celebration, several ponies including the rest of the mane seven, Spike, and even Shenran, were in the audience waiting for the big event to begin. Mario and Twilight waited nervously behind the stage. Since they had to remove their Elements from their crowns, they had to be given new ones. Mario's crown was a thicker but more traditional designed prince crown that had pink hearts on its tips. Twilight's crown was a gold wire crown that had pink gem stones in the tips of it. Mario then gave his wife a kiss on the cheek.
"We put in alot of time into your routine," Mario whispered to her, "You're ready." Twilight smiled.
"Are you ready?" she asked. Mario just took a deep breath and nodded bravely as they shared a kiss with each other. It was then Princess Celestia and Princess Luna walked past them.
"It is time, my son," said Princess Celestia as Mario nodded and followed the two sister to the stage and stood between them. All three alicorns then opened their wings together.
"Citizens of Equestria," Princess Celestia announced, "it is no longer with a heavy heart but with great joy that I raise the summer sun. For this celebration now represents not the defeat of Nightmare Moon, but the return of my sister, Princess Luna." The moon princess smiled as the crowd cheered excitedly. Princess Luna then hovered before a display of the moon and began to lower the moon from the sky. Princess Celestia then hovered to the left of the sun display with Mario on her left. They then pointed their horns so they made the tip of a triangle as made them glow together. This allowed mother and son to raise the sun together. Mario closed his eyes to concentrate as the sun appeared in the sky as the moon continued to lower. Princess Celestia then surprised the crowd by stopping her horn's glow. Mario was raising the sun all on his own! However, he didn't know it because his eyes were closed and the crowd ahhed in amazement. It was then time for Twilight to shine. Twilight then took off into the air so fast that she created a Sonic Magicboom, which was similar to a Sonic Rainboom, but it instead of produced a ring of rainbow into the sky, Twilight made a large outline of her cutie mark appear in the sky as Mario finished raising the sun. The ponies all awed in amazement as Twilight soared through the sky and landed perfectly to the left Princess Celestia. Princess Celestia, Mario, and Princess Luna all gave her warm smiles. Twilight returned the gesture, feeling very proud of herself.
It wasn't long before they were able to rejoin their friends for the party. Since Ponyville was still recovering from all the vines, their friends were able to do the party in Canterlot so they could be with the royal couple. Even Shenran had stayed to enjoy the party, which made a certain yellow Pegasus very happy. Once the royal couple had arrived, the group had plenty of congrats to share with the royal couple. Just like they had promised, the five girls were all wearing the tiaras Mario had made for them.
"Great job, you two," said Applejack, "I reckin' this Summer Sun Celebration will be something we will all remember!"
"Indeed," said Rarity impressively, "Twilight flew magnificently and I had no idea that Mario could raise the sun!" While Mario appreciated the praise, he also had an ice pack on his head. Apparently raising the sun had given him a rather nasty headache.
"Neither did I," Mario groaned as he held the ice pack in place, "And I'd really appreciate it if Mom didn't make me do that again." The others all laughed as Twilight kissed his cheek and held him lovingly. Fluttershy and Shenran then embraced each other happily and share a brief kiss with each other.
"Umm, Shenran," said Rainbow nervously as the two Pegasi looked at her curiously, "I...I wanted to apologize for being such a jerk whenever you're around. It's not like I don't think you're good enough for my best friend. It's just...I was jealous." Shenran then smiled as he gave Rainbow a friendly hug.
"It's cool, Rainbow," said Shenran, "and it means alot you approve of me being with Fluttershy."
"You two are meant for each other," said Rainbow, "Just like Mario and Twilight belong together. I guess I sometimes wish I could find my special somepony."
"Oh I'm sure he's out there looking for you," Shenran replied.
"Yeah right," Rainbow remarked with an eye roll when a certain sky blue Pegasus stallion appeared in his Wonderbolt's uniform.
"Hey Rainbow Dash, wanna hang out?" Soarin asked upfront as he hovered before her. Rainbow blinked before she smiled excitedly.
"Sure!" Rainbow said excitedly as hovered next to him.
"You look pretty as a princess, Rainbow Dash," Soarin told her. Rainbow blushed and giggled before she tried to recompose herself.
"Umm...heh...thanks," said Rainbow, trying to play it cool. Soarin smiled and they headed off into the sky. Shenran and Fluttershy just shared knowing smiles with each other. They knew blossoming love when they saw it.
Even if Rainbow denied it.
And that concludes part 2! You got to see Mario and Twilight do the Friendship Boost and Mario even pulled off a famous move from the Kirby games and Star Fox Zero. Mario's involvement with the chest might not seem too clear now, but as the season progresses, it will make sense, especially at the finale. Next chapter will certainly explain more about the Power Hearts.
And Mario raising the sun was only a one-time thing. He won't be doing that again.
While Shenran is now considered a part of the group, his appearances will still be rather infrequent. How often he appears depends on the readers, but I will say that for the moment, not all Fluttershy focused episodes will feature him, but most of them will.
I hope nopony minded a little extra Soarin-Dash moment. The show always hinted of them liking each other and I wanted to add one of my own.
Okay...so looks like Mario will have to embrace his "Luigi" for the next chapter.
Peace Pony Fans!