This is the 35th chapter. I don't own the series of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.
The Cutie Mark Chronicles
On a clear sunny day, the CMCs found themselves at the top of a tall tree. They were all linked together by a rope that was connected to another tree. They were also donning some helmets for safety.
"Are you sure about this, Scootaloo?" Sweetie Belle asked, gulped nervously. "I've never even heard of a pony zip-lining before. I mean...I know Mario told us it is really dangerous for kids like us..."
"Never mind your boyfriend." Scootaloo said in annoyance. "As for zip-lining, neither have I, Spike told me it was awesome."
The three fillies then took off their zip-line, but soon realized that they had tied the rope to the other side a little too high since they came to stop in the middle of the two trees. Another mistake they had made was using a rope that wasn't made specifically for zip-lining. The rope they used became heated as their metal connectors grinded on it, making the rope catch fire and break.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" The CMCs screamed.
"Whoa!"
"Oh!"
"Wah!"
The CMCs honked, bonked, and tumbled through several tree branches until they all crashed onto the ground, covered in pine needles and sticky tree sap.
"Ow!" The three fillies groaned.
"See anything?" Apple Bloom asked before either of them had gotten back onto their hooves.
Scootaloo was the first to get up and check her flank.
"Tree sap and pine needles, but no cutie mark." Scootaloo replied in a disappointed tone.
"Plan B?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"Yeah, you know where we can find a cannon at this hour?" Scootaloo suggested.
The other two fillies just looked at Scootaloo with fearful eyes. Scootaloo then removed her helmet and slammed it onto the ground.
"It's no use." Scootaloo said angrily. "No matter what we try, we always end up without our cutie marks. And surprisingly often, covered in tree sap."
"Maybe we should do something less dangerous, like pillow testing or flower sniffing?" Sweetie Belle proposed, taking the harness off.
Apple Bloom wasted no time providing the three fillies with some buckets of water so they could wash off the tree saps and pine needles.
"This town is full of ponies who have their cutie marks." Apple Bloom points out, cleaning herself up while the two fillies does the same. "Why don't we ask them how they did it?"
"That's a great safe idea." Sweetie Belle said.
"Yeah!" Scootaloo said with agreement. "And we can start with the coolest pony in Ponyville!"
"Applejack!" Apple Bloom said.
"Rarity!" Sweetie Belle adds. "Oh, oh...let's not forget...Mario!"
Sweetie Belle sighed happily to herself as Scootaloo made a face.
"Come on, guys, I said 'cool'!" Scootaloo said as she flapped her wings, hovering a few inches off the ground. "You know who I'm talking about. She's fast, she's tough, she's not afraid of anything!"
Scootaloo hovered around, trying to fly like Rainbow Dash before returning to the group and stood on her hind legs.
"Pinkie Pie?" Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle guessed.
"No!" Scootaloo said. "The greatest flyer ever to come out of Cloudsdale."
"Fluttershy?" Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle guessed next.
"No!" Scootaloo snapped. "Rainbow Dash!"
"Oh yeah, that makes more sense." Apple Bloom said.
"Of course." Sweetie Belle agrees.
"Let's do it! Let's find out how Rainbow Dash earned her cutie mark!" Scootaloo said.
"Yeah!" Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle said together as they high hooved each other, but only to realize that Scootaloo's fore-hooves were still covered in tree sap.
"Aah! Uuh!" Sweetie Belle grunted as she and Apple Bloom tried to pull their hooves apart, but the tree sap was too sticky.
The CMCs just groaned as they're now stuck together...for the moment.
My Little Pony, My Little Pony
Ahhhh
My Little Pony
I use to wonder what friendship could be
My Little Pony
Until you all share this magic with me
Big adventure,
Tons of fun,
A beautiful heart,
Faithful and strong,
Sharing kindness
It's an easy feat
And magic makes it all complete
You all have my little ponies
Do you know all you're my best friends?
With the sound of a motor revving, Scootaloo rode her scooter down a dirt path with Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle being pulled with a wagon behind her. Scootaloo was rather focused on keeping up her speed when three bunnies carrying apples appeared in the middle of the road. Scootaloo gasped as she applied the brakes, causing her scooter and the wagon to screech to a stop just a foot away from the apple carrying bunnies.
"Get back here, ya theivin' varmints!" The voice of Applejack and Apple Shine shouted.
Apparently, the three bunnies had taken the apples from the two and they've chasing after them.
"Thievin' what now?" Apple Bloom asks out of the blue.
Applejack and Apple Shine popped out of a nearby bush and tried to pounce on the bunnies, but their aim and timing were off and they ended up crashed right into the three fillies. When the dust has settled, Apple Bloom and Apple Shine were on top of Applejack and Sweetie Belle somehow found herself on top of Scootaloo.
"Apple Bloom/Aunt Apple Bloom?" Applejack and Apple Shine called her when Apple Bloom noticed her sisters cutie mark which it got her an idea.
"Hey sis!" Apple Bloom called her sister. "How'd ya get your cutie mark?"
"I never told you that story?" Applejack asked surprisingly, raised her eyebrow.
"Hey! I thought we were gonna ask Rainbow Dash!" Scootaloo protested as Applejack smirked to herself.
"About what?" Apple Shine asked curiously.
"We're about to ask Rainbow Dash about how she got her cutie mark." Apple Bloom explains. "But we need all the help we can get."
"Ugh, fine!" Scootaloo groaned with reluctance.
"Why, shoot." Applejack began. "I was just a little filly. Even littler than y'all."
Flashback
Young Applejack leaves the Sweet Apple Acres, carrying a small sack on a stick as a younger Big Macintosh and Granny watches her leave. Both of them are shedding tears as they see Young Applejack disappear into the distance.
"I didn't want to spend my life on a muddy old farm." Applejack continued. "I wanted to live the sophisticated like with my Aunt n' Uncle Orange. So, I set out to try my luck in the big city, Manehatten! The most cosmopolitan on all of Equestria."
Young Applejack is amazed at all the tall buildings and a ponified version of the Statue of Liberty.
"Hey! Outta the way, you rube!" A pony named Count Caeser said rudely to Young Applejack when she simply stepped out of the way.
"I knew I'd find out who I was meant to be in Manehatten." Applejack said.
Young Applejack then stood before an apartment door that had an orange on it and knocked on it. It wasn't long before both her Aunt and Uncle opened the door and invited her inside.
"Aunt Orange! Uncle Orange!" Young Applejack said excitedly. "Thank y'all so for lettin' me stay."
"Y'all." Aunt Orange said with a laugh. "Isn't she just the living end?"
"How quaint." Uncle Orange added with a chuckle of his own.
"Don't worry, we'll have you acting like a true Manehattenite in no time." Aunt Orange said as she began to rub Young Applejack's mane with her fore-hoof.
Young Applejack was just skeptical about it.
Soon, she was placed before a dinner party with her mane now done in an updo. She sat between her Aunt and Uncle Oranges as they were chatting with their dinner and sipping come sparkling juice.
"And how are you finding good old Manehatten?" A pony named Tall Order asked.
"Oh, it's simply divine." Young Applejack answered, tried to sound proper.
"Very well said, my dear." Aunt Orange said.
"Although, I must admit the city noise took some getting used to." Young Applejack continued. "Where I'm from, nights are so quiet, you seldom hear a peep until the rooster wake you up."
Tall Order and a mare sitting nearby named Dane Tee Dove just looked stunned.
"The...what?" Dane Tee Dove asking, giving Young Applejack a weird look.
"I say, my dear." Tall Order replied to Dane Tee Dove. "What in the world is a 'rooster'?"
'What's he talkin' about? What do I say? I don't want to look like a fool.' Young Applejack mentally thought nervously.
Young Applejack didn't have to ponder long before some ponies arrived, placing some dinner plates on the table. Each of them covered with a serving dome.
"Dinner is served." The pony said.
"Thank goodness." Young Applejack said with relief. "Being a city pony's hard work. I'm so hungry, I could eat a..."
Young Applejack was surprised to see just a tiny morsel of food no bigger than her hoof was sitting on the plate. She just sighed to herself.
The next morning, Young Applejack was sitting quietly leaning against the outside border of her city bedroom window.
"Cock-a-doodle-doo..." Young Applejack said quietly. "Oh, I wonder what Granny Smith and Big Mac are up to. I bet they're applebuckin' their way through the Red Delicious trees. Oh, what I wouldn't give for just one bite..."
Young Applejack sighed to herself as a small tear left her eyes.
"I never felt so homesick in all my days as I did right then." Applejack said.
Suddenly...
BOOOOOOOM!
Young Applejack was startled as she looked out of her window.
"It was amazin'!" Applejack said. "A rainbow pointin' right back to...home. In that moment, it all become clear. I knew right then just who I was supposed to be."
Young Applejack then runs all the way back home. Granny Smith and Big Mac are there waiting for her as she embraces them happily. As she does, a flash of light appears on her flank as her cutie mark appears.
Flashback Ended
"That's when this here appeared." Applejack said, pointing her cutie mark. "I've been happily workin' in the farm ever since."
Then the moment was spoiled as the apple carrying bunnies gave Applejack a raspberry. It got Applejack and Apple Shine blew their stack.
"There they are! Get back here ya thievin' varmints!" Applejack and Apple Shine shouted as they took off towards the bunnies, leaving the CMCs alone.
"Aw, that was such a sweet story." Sweetie Belle said.
"Sweet? Try sappy!" Scootaloo said as she made a grossed out face and climbed onto her scooter. "Come on! We've got to find Rainbow Dash and hear the cool way to get a cutie mark."
Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle climbed into the wagon and Scootaloo took off right away.
It wasn't long before they were racing down the road again when Fluttershy and Winter Breeze suddenly landed in front of them. Scootaloo immediately tried to put on the brakes as Fluttershy stood on her hind legs to get them to stop.
Scootaloo stopped so quickly that the three fillies were all sent flying in the air and landed in a pile just a few feet away from Fluttershy and Winter Breeze. That was when they saw why the two Pegasi had stopped them. A small family of baby ducks needed to cross the road and get to the other side.
"All right little ones, this way, this way." Fluttershy said before turning to the CMCs. "You really should be more careful. Somepony could get hurt."
"She's right, and you three almost hurt those baby ducklings." Winter Breeze adds. "Why are you three in such a hurry?"
"We're trying to find Rainbow Dash so we can hear how she earned her cutie mark." Scootaloo answered.
"She's probably with Storm Hawk, helping him either on those clouds or some aerial moves." Winter Breeze guessed with a ponder.
"But still, it would be interesting." Fluttershy said. "You know, I wouldn't have gotten my cutie mark if it weren't for her."
"Rainbow Dash!? Really?!" Scootaloo said excitedly as Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle stood beside her.
"Oh, yes, it all started at Summer Flight Camp." Fluttershy said.
Flashback
Fluttershy's story takes place at the Summer Flight Camp groups in Cloudsdale. Where the Young Fluttershy was just alone watching some other Pegasi flying through some cloud shaped rings.
"You'd never guess, but when I was little, I was very shy and a very weak flyer." Fluttershy told the four fillies.
Young Fluttershy slowly tried to fly up to one of the cloud rings. Taking her time, she slowly rose off the ground and went through. She smiled at her little accomplishment, until she accidentally tripped over the bottom of the ring. Young Fluttershy yelped as she tumbled forward, slid down a steep cloud slope, launches into the air, tearing off a flag as she flew into it and crashed into some clouds below with the flag on top of her. It was then two young Pegasi colts started laughing at her.
"Nice going, 'Klutzershy'!" Young Dumbbell said. "They outta ground you permanently."
"Ha! My baby brother can fly better than you!" Young Hoops added.
The two colts continued to laugh at her as poor Young Fluttershy just cowered back.
"It was the most humiliating moment of my life." Fluttershy continued. "And then, out of nowhere..."
It was just then, a familiar young Pegasi appeared, zooming through the sky. Her high speed flying caught the attention of the other two colts as they looked up and then saw the Young Rainbow Dash make a landing in front of them.
"Leave her alone!" Young Rainbow Dash said sternly.
"Ohh, what are you gonna do, 'Rainbow Crash'?!" Young Hoops jeered.
"Keep making fun of her and find out!" Young Rainbow Dash threatened as she got into his face.
"You think you're such a big shot?!" Young Dumbbell sneered. "Why don't you prove it?!"
"Whaddya have in mind?" Rainbow Dash asked curiously.
It wasn't much longer before the three Pegasi were lined up at the starting grid for a race around the Flight Camp Obstacle course. Some other adult and younger Pegasi ponies had arrived to watch the race. Fluttershy was already on her own cloud, holding a checkered flag.
"You're going down!" Young Hoops said.
"In history, maybe, see you boys at the finish line!" Young Rainbow Dash retorted.
It was then Young Fluttershy lowered the flag and the three Pegasi took off. They flew so close to Young Fluttershy that she was spins out of control...and right off her cloud toward the ground below.
Young Fluttershy screamed as she continued to fall, flailing her legs for dear life, and with no other Pegasi even bothered to go rescue her. When she got closer to the ground, a large migration of butterflies appeared below and caught her.
"Huh?" Young Fluttershy said as she realized she wasn't falling anymore and the large group of butterflies underneath her as they carried her about what appeared to be a forest. She couldn't help but smile.
"I had never seen such beautiful creatures." Fluttershy said. "Butterflies don't fly as high as my cloud home. And I'd never been near the ground before."
It was then, Young Fluttershy began to sing.
[It was then each creature she sang began to appear around her as she flew just above the butterflies. Some squirrels poked their heads out of a tree, three bunnies stopped hopping to look at her, three birds flying in the air came down to see her.]
Young Fluttershy (Sings):
What is this place
Filled with so many wonders?
Casting its spell
That I am now under
[Some bees were buzzing through some flowers when she sang that part.]
Squirrels in the trees
And the cute little bunnies
Birds flying free
And bees with their honey
Hoooonneeeeeeeey!
[All the creatures surrounded her as she continued to sing.]
Oooh, what a magical place
And I owe it all to the Pegasus race
(She looked up to the sky where the Flight Camp Obstacle course was and the three Pegasus ponies were still racing.)
If I knew the ground had so much up its sleeve
I'd have come here sooner, and never leave
[The creatures were now just swaying to her singing and the view panned around the area just as Young Fluttershy finished her little song.]
Yes, I love ev-er-ythiiiiing!
BOOOOOOOOOOM!
Suddenly, a loud explosion and a large ring of rainbow color appeared in the sky. All of the creatures and birds began to run for cover. Young Fluttershy watched as three bunnies ran by before she narrowed her brow and went to go find them.
"Shhh, it's okay." Young Fluttershy said to the frightened bunnies.
"You can come out." Young Fluttershy told some frightened squirrels by knocking lightly on their tree.
Young Fluttershy then stuck her head underwater to see some starled frogs.
"Everything's okay." Young Fluttershy told the submerged frogs.
She then flew towards some startled birds.
"There's nothing to be afraid of." Young Fluttershy told some birds in the sky and soon all of the birds and the animals were surrounding her as she smiled and sat down in the middle of them.
"Somehow, I had the ability to communicate with the animals on a different level." Fluttershy said.
It was then Young Fluttershy's flank was decorated with her well known three butterflies cutie mark. A young bunny just looked at it curiously.
Flashback Ended...abruptly
"Wait, wait, wait." Scootaloo interrupted as Fluttershy and Winter Breeze were now sitting on the grass near the road. "What happened to Rainbow Dash? What about the race?"
"Oh, well, I wasn't there." Fluttershy answered. "So, I don't really know what happened."
By now, Scootaloo was already back on her scooter.
"Come on, Crusaders!" Scootaloo said. "We've got to find her. Besides, I can't take anymore singing."
"Maybe my sister knows where she is." Sweetie Belle said as she and Apple Bloom climbed back onto the wagon. "Bye, Fluttershy! Bye, Winter!"
Sweetie Belle waved as well as Apple Bloom and Scootaloo just began to accelerate on her scooter.
"Bye, girls." Fluttershy and Winter Breeze said as the CMCs made their way down the road to the Carousel Boutique.
It wasn't long before Scootaloo had a long face as she and the two fillies were now acting as models for Rarity as she was creating some filly-sized dresses.
"How did we get roped into this?" Scootaloo complained. "Oh, we'll never hear Rainbow Dash's story."
"Are you girls still obsessing over your cutie marks?" Rarity asked curiously.
"Of course." Sweetie Belle answered. "Most of the filles at school already have theirs."
"Mmm, I know how you feel." Rarity said. "For the longest time, I couldn't figure out why I didn't have mine."
Flashback
Just outside of Ponyville schoolhouse, a stage has been set up for what appears to be some sort of a play. As some music plays in the background, several young ponies are dancing and wearing some homemade costumes made by the young fashion designer...at this time...in training.
"Well done, Rarity, your costumes are very nice!" The teacher said.
"Nice?!" Young Rarity exclaimed. "They need to be spectacular! And the performance is tomorrow!"
Back in her bedroom, which look similar to the interior decor of her Boutique, she was busy working at her sewing machine.
"I tried every trick I could think of, but nothing seemed to work." Rarity continued. "The costumes just weren't right and the play opened that night."
Young Rarity sighed to herself.
"Maybe I'm not meant to be a fashionista." Young Rarity said sadly.
Suddenly, her horn glowed brightly and she suddenly found it pulling her out of the house, through the woods, and beyond. Young Rarity tried to stop herself from being pulled, but the magic was too strong for her to control.
"I had no idea where my horn was taking me." Rarity continued.
Young Rarity gave up resisting the pull and was just apathetically enjoying the ride as she was pulled through the desert and up and down the hills.
"But unicorn magic doesn't happen without a reason." Rarity said. "I knew this this had to do with my love of fashion and maybe even my cutie mark. I knew that it was...My destiny!"
It was just then, Young Rarity arrived in a rocky area and crashed right into a large tall rock.
"A rock?!" Young Rarity exclaimed angrily. "That's my destiny?! What is your problem, horn?! I followed you all the way out here for a rock!? Dumb rock!"
Young Rarity couldn't help but groaned with frustration, until...
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
Young Rarity screamed as she saw the ring of rainbow color from the Sonic Rainboom. Suddenly, the rock in front of her began to crack and then, split down the middle. Inside the rock was a large collection of...precious gems.
"Ooh!" Young Rarity said.
Soon, the night of the play had arrived and the costumes the young ponies were dancing in were now decorated in the beautiful gems she had discovered. Every pony in the audience smiled and awed in amazement, even her teacher. Young Rarity smiled, feeling very pleased with herself, as her three diamonds cutie mark appeared on her flank.
Flashback Ended
"Ugh!" Scootaloo grumbled. "These namby-pamby stories aren't getting us any closer to our cutie marks! They're all about finding who you really are and boring stuff like that!"
"Yes, Scootaloo, that's exactly..."
"Come on, girls! We need action! We need Rainbow Dash!"
But Rarity was cut off as Scootaloo was already pushing the two fillies right out of the Carousel Boutique.
But she'll have to wait a little longer with much reluctance and irritation, she found herself sitting at a table getting ready to listen to how Twilight got her cutie mark. Mario and Comet were sitting next to her, but they weren't thrilled to hear the story of how the girls got their cutie marks.
"As a young filly in Canterlot, I always wanted to go see the Summer Sun Celebration." Twilight said. "Where Princess Celestia raises the sun."
Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle listened eagerly while Scootaloo rolled her eyes and faceplanted the table.
"Mario?" Sweetie Belle guessed as Scootaloo groaned loudly while Apple Bloom snickered a bit.
Mario was surprised to hear that from her, but ignored it as he kept silent.
"No, silly." Twilight said. "I didn't meet him until after he and I got our cutie marks."
"It's when I calmed you down from that magic distortion." Mario points out.
"Yes, it was." Twilight agreed with him, not noticing him look away.
Flashback
The stage is set for the opening of the Summer Sun Celebration. The royal guards blew their trumpets. The crowd gathered around as Young Twilight pushed her away through some ponies to get a better look and smiled excitedly.
It was then, Princess Celestia rose high into the air majestically and raised the sun. Everypony cheered and Young Twilight smiled in amazement.
"I poured myself into learning everything I could about magic." Twilight continued.
Young Twilight was now in her bedroom with stacks of various books. As she was reading one, she grunted a bit to make her horn spark. Then used her magic to turn the page of her book. She gasped excitedly and kept on reading, and reading, and reading. She was clearly enjoying herself and being surrounded by all her books.
"My parents decided to enroll me in Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns." Twilight continued. "It was a dream come true."
Young Twilight sees the paper with her acceptance that her parents were holding and jumps up and down excitedly.
"Except for one thing..." Twilight said. "I had to pass an entrance exam!"
Young Twilight was now standing at the bottom of what appeared to be a lecture hall, looking rather nervous as a pony rolled a cart with a giant purple spotted egg. Her parents kept encouraging her smile from the sidelines as Twilight gave a shaky smile.
"Well, Miss Sparkle?" An administrator pony named Crystal Clear said.
Young Twilight simply looked at the purple spotted egg and giggled nervously.
"Well, Miss Sparkle?" Crystal Clear repeated.
Another pony named Arpeggio just coughed in reply as they waited impatiently for Young Twilight to begin. She groaned as she tried to light up her horn, but she wasn't able to get anything to happen. Another administrator pony named Top Marks yawned to himself as the other ponies started to take notes.
"We don't have all day." Crystal Clear said.
Young Twilight was now sweating nervously.
"I knew it was the most important day of my life." Twilight said. "My entire future would be affected by the outcome of this day and I was about to blow it!"
Young Twilight then tried some various poses and stances to try and get her magic to do something. But after all her efforts, all she could generate was a small spark from her horn before she plopped onto her stomach in exhaustion. She felt very sorry for herself as she rose to her hooves.
"I'm sorry I wasted your time." Young Twilight said when...
BOOOOOOOOM!
A sudden explosion and a giant rainbow-colored ring appeared outside the classroom window. The explosion startled Young Twilight so much that her horn began to glow brightly. Her inner magic begins to grow dramatically as she fired a magic blast that hatches the egg into was actually a baby dragon.
Young Twilight yelped in panic as her eyes glowed white and she was surrounded by a powerful magic bubble. Her overcharged magic caused her to levitate the administrators into the air while also turning her parents into potted plants. Her magic also caused Spike to become a giant fully grown dragon. He became so big in size that his head broke through the roof. Princess Celestia noticed the giant dragon head in the distance.
Poor Twilight was fearfully trying to regain control, but failing miserably...until a gentle hoof was placed on her shoulder. She turned her head to see a Young Mario looking at her with a calm smile, telling her it's okay.
Young Twilight was finally able to calm down as her eyes returned to normal. She gently lands on the ground as her magic stops, but everything doesn't return to normal. Mario and Twilight gaze into each other's eyes for the moment before a blinding light appears in the room as Princess Celestia her entered.
The two unicorns witnessed her using her magic to return the administrators back on the ground, restored her parents back to being ponies again, and Spike returned to being a baby dragon, now sitting on a now destroyed wagon and sucking his tail innocently.
She then walks to them as Twilight had a guilty expression on her face while Mario looked away sadly.
"Twilight Sparkle, Mario Star." Princess Celestia said formally.
"Oh, I'm so sorry." Twilight said nervously. "I didn't mean..."
"You both have a very special gift." Princess Celestia said. "I don't think I've ever come across a unicorn with your raw abilities."
"Huh?" Young Twilight said which she and Young Mario were puzzled.
"But you two need to learn to tame these abilities through focused study." Princess Celestia continued.
"Huh?!" Young Twilight and Young Mario repeated again.
"Twilight Sparkle and Mario Star, I'd like to make you two my own personal proteges here at school." Princess Celestia said.
"Huh?!" Young Twilight and Young Mario said, still unable to process what was happening.
"Well?" Princess Celestia asked as Young Twilight finally put two and two together, she looked at her parents, who're nodding excitedly for her to accept.
"Yes!" Young Twilight said as she jumped in the air.
"I'm afraid I can't take up your offer, Princess Celestia." Young Mario declines which Young Twilight and Princess Celestia were surprised. "I'm still trying to find out what my goal leads me and...it's something I have to find out on my own."
Princess Celestia can tell that Young Mario is looking for answers which she can understand, decided not to pressure him as she gives him a nod.
"One other thing, Twilight and Mario." Princess Celestia said, stopping her in mid-air.
"More?" Young Twilight exclaimed with big eyes before landing on the floor while Young Mario looked stunned for a moment.
Young Twilight and Young Mario looked at her curiously as Princess Celestia pointed to their flanks. Young Twilight smiled excitedly when she saw her sparkle star cutie mark and Young Mario saw his silver heart with a golden ribbon and a golden star cutie mark.
"My cutie mark!" Twilight said as she bounced in circles around Princess Celestia while Mario smiled at his own with a tearful smile. "Yesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyes..."
Flashback Ended
"...yesyesyes..." Twilight said, still chanting 'yes' while hopping excitedly around the three fillies.
Mario just facehoofed himself while Comet shook his head in a chuckle. The CMCs were rather embarrassed for her and for being around her.
"Okay, okay." Apple Bloom said.
"We're happy for you." Sweetie Belleadded.
"Yeah, thrilled." Scootaloo said with a tone dripping with sarcasm. "Let's get out of here while we still can."
It was then Sweetie Belle forgot about Mario.
"Wait! We didn't get a chance to hear Mario's cutie mark story!" Sweetie Belle said as Mario turned to her with a look of bitterness.
"I already told you girls that I don't want to talk about it." Mario said sternly.
"Okay! See you later!" Scootaloo shouted as she and her friends took off in the distance.
"Thank goodness." Mario sighed with relief as Twilight just continued jumping around.
"...yesyes...yees!" Twilight soon stopped her bouncing once she saw the three fillies were gone and several other ponies were now staring at her. Twilight felt rather embarrassed.
"Are you okay?" A pony named Cherry Fizzy asked.
"Um...yes." Twilight answered shyly which it got both Mario and Comet chuckled.
"Ease off, everypony. She's just being cute." Mario said.
The other ponies just chuckled to each other and walked away. Twilight felt her cheeks turn pink and glared at him.
"Did you have to say that?" Twilight asked in annoyance, causing Mario to look at her plainly.
"I just did you a favor." Mario answered honestly before he sighed. "I wasn't making fun of you."
Twilight dropped her glare and became concerned before she walked over to him.
"Are you alright?" Twilight asked gently.
"I'm fine." Mario answered as he got up from his seat.
"You want to walk with me to Sugarcube Corner?" Twilight asked with a gentle smile. "We can get you something to eat there."
Mario looked at her for the moment before he smiled.
"Sure." Mario answered.
"Come on. Our friends are probably waiting for us over there." Twilight said as she and her son walked ahead of him.
Mario sighed sadly before looking at his cutie mark for the moment and went to catch up with Twilight and Comet.
Meanwhile, the CMCs were still zooming around the town. But their effort to find Rainbow Dash was proving fruitless and as more time passed, Scootaloo was getting grumpier and grumpier.
"Ugh!" Scootaloo groaned loudly. "Why don't we ever smash into Rainbow Dash?!"
"You're looking for Rainbow Dash?" The voice of Pinkie Pie asks.
The three fillies looked at themselves to find Pinkie Pie wearing a helmet as she sat in the wagon. She'd apparently invited herself for a ride.
"If I was her, I'd be at Sugarcube Corner." Pinkie Pie said. "Of course, if I was anyone, I'd be at Sugarcube Corner. Hey! I have an idea! Wanna go to Sugarcube Corner?"
Pinkie Pie raised her fore-hooves and nearly fall out of the back of the wagon. Luckily, Apple Bloom grabbed her to keep Pinkie Pie from falling.
"Well, we're sort of looking for Rainbow Dash so we can hear how she got her cutie mark." Sweetie Belle answered.
"Cutie Mark?" Pinkie Pie said excitedly. "Come with me and I'll tell you how I got mine."
Scootaloo just sighed in irritation.
"Why not?" Scootaloo replied sarcastically.
"All right!" Pinkie Pie said as Scootaloo kept driving.
Flashback
Her old home was actually a dark and gloomy farm where the sky was cloudy for most of the year. Her two sisters, Limestone Pie and Marble Pie, who were both young fillies in this story, were hard at work loading rocks into a cart as their father, Igneous Rock Pie, was supervising them from the distance.
"My sisters and I were raised on a rock farm outside of Ponyville." Pinkie Pie explains. "We spent our days working the fields. There was no talking. There was no smiling. There were only rocks."
Young Pinkie Pie just sighed as she moved a rock with her nose, her mane and tail straight and her face looking rather glum.
"We were in the south field, preparing to rotate the rocks to the east field when all of a sudden..."
BOOOOOOOOM!
Young Pinkie Pie was shaken a bit as a huge gust of wind blew away all the grey clouds, causing her mane and tail to gain its now trademark cotton candy appearance. Though, it's a lot messier in her younger days. As a rainbow graced the sky, Young Pinkie Pie's eyes widened in amazement as her frown slowly curved in a joyful smile.
"I'd never felt joy like that before!" Pinkie Pie continued. "It felt so good that I just wanted to keep smiling forever. And I wanted everyone I knew to smile too, but rainbows don't come along that often. I wondered, how else could I create some smiles?"
As the rainbow in the sky faded, young Pinkie Pie pondered to herself before she got an idea. She quickly took off to who knows where for the moment as the sun set, the moon rise, then set, and the sun rises into the sky again. The rooster crowed as Igneous Rock Pie, Cloudy Quartz, Limestone Pie, and Marbel Pie same outside.
"We better harvest the rocks from the south field." Igneous Rock Pie told his family when they all suddenly heard some accordion like music inside from the silo.
"Pinkamena Diane Pie! Is that you?" Cloudy Quartz called her daughter.
It's then Young Pinkie Pie opened the silo door as some confetti and two balloons came floating out.
"Mom! I need you and dad and the sisters to come in." Young Pinkie Pie said excitedly. "Quick!"
The music continued to play as the family walked inside. They all gasped in shock at what was inside. The interior of the silo had been decorated with a giant cake sitting on a table.
"Surprise! You like it?" Young Pinkie Pie asked. "It's called...a party!"
She then blew a party tweeter as the family was left in a state of shock. Igneous Rock Pie's jaw dropped, causing the piece of wheat he was sucking on to fall out of his mouth. They just looked at the decorations as their mouths quivered. Young Pinkie Pie looked worried, assuming that their twitching mouths meant they were not pleased.
"Oh. You don't like it." Young Pinkie Pie said sadly, until she gasped when she saw that what their mouths were struggling to do was...smile!
They were now all smiling excitedly.
"You like it!" Young Pinkie Pie said as she and her mother began to dance together. "I'm so happy!"
As their dance continued, Young Pinkie Pie's yellow and blue balloon cutie mark appeared on her flank
Flashback Ended
"And that's how Equestria was made!" Pinkie Pie said out of the blue, leaving Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle confused.
"Wha...huh?" Scootaloo said in confusion as she brought her scooter to a stop...right in front of Sugarcube Corner.
"Look! We're here!" Apple Bloom said.
"Maybe on the way home I can tell you the story of how I got my cutie mark." Pinkie Pie said as she casually made her way inside. "It's a gem!"
Scootaloo just had a weirded out look on her face.
"Oh, come on, she's just being Pinkie Pie." Sweetie Belle points out.
"Ugh..." Scootaloo groaned with an eye roll as the CMCs removed their helmets and headed inside.
They found all of the Mane 7 and the 5 foals inside, including the one pony Scootaloo had been looking for.
"Rainbow Dash! You're here!" Scootaloo exclaims.
Rainbow Dash turned around and gave them a confident smile as she stood before them.
"I hear you're looking for my cutie mark story." Rainbow Dash said to the CMCs when Scootaloo sighed.
"You have no idea what I've been through today to hear that story." Scootaloo said as she sat down.
Rainbow Dash just smiled shyly for a moment before recomposing herself.
"It all happened during a race at Flight Camp..." Rainbow Dash began.
Flashback
Young Rainbow Dash stood at the starting line for a race against Young Dumbbell and Young Hoops.
"...where I stood along against all odds to defend Fluttershy's honor..." Rainbow Dash continued.
The two colts began to drag their hooves on the cloud surface and leaned forward. Young Rainbow Dash looked at them as they did so. Young Fluttershy was just standing on her own cloud with the checkered flag raised.
The two colts repeated their little hoof dragging. Young Rainbow Dash did the same, leaning forward, licking her lips as sweat began to form on her brow. They all raise their wings. Young Fluttershy then waved her flag for the race to start. The three young Pegasi took off and flew past Young Fluttershy so fast that she yelped, spins out of control, and fell off her cloud.
Young Rainbow Dash gritted her teeth as she pulled ahead with the two colts right behind her as they flew through one cloud ring after another. Young Rainbow Dash begins to increase her speed. As they reached a turn, she and Young Hoops made the turn without any problem. However, Young Dumbbell missed the turn completely, crashed into the cloud which later disintegrated and showed that he had crashed head first into the denser cloud pillar.
"I've never flown like that before." Rainbow Dash told them. "That freedom was unlike anything I've ever felt. The speed, the adrenaline, the wind in my mane...I liked it."
Young Rainbow Dash was just embracing the rush and adrenaline with a smile on her face...until Young Hoops bashed her out of the way.
"Ow!" Young Rainbow Dash groaned.
"Ha! Later, Rainbow Crash!" Young Hoops teased as he flew ahead.
"Hey!" Young Rainbow Dash shouted as she chased after him.
It was then the racetrack started to descend downward at a sharp angle. Young Rainbow Dash flew past Young Hoops so fast that he was sent into a tailspin and left far behind screaming. It was then Young Rainbow Dash began to fly as fast as she could, going faster and faster as a slipstream appeared around her body. Soon she was pushing herself to the limit and her slipstream began to form a V shape.
"Turns out that only thing I more than flying fast...was winning!" Rainbow Dash said.
It was then Young Rainbow Dash reached a cloud ring just a few yards above the forest below. As she went through and headed upward...
BOOOOOOOOOOM!
"Most people thought that the sonic rainboom was just an old mare's tale..." Rainbow Dash said. "But that day...The day I discovered racing...I proved that the legends were true. I made the impossible...happen!"
Young Rainbow Dash looked back and smiled excitedly at making a sonic rainboom and put on a determined look on her face as she zooms across the finish line, creating a large rainbow as she flew by. The other young Pegasi ponies are left surprised and soon cheered for her. As Young Rainbow Dash continued to fly, her flack was graced with her cloud in lightning bolt cutie mark.
Flashback Ended
"And that, little ones, is how you earn your cutie mark." Rainbow Dash said proudly, showing her cutie mark to the three fillies.
"Whooooaaa..." The CMCs said in amazement.
"Wait a second." Fluttershy said as she stood beside Rainbow Dash. "I heard that explosion. And I saw a rainbow too. Rainbow Dash, if you hadn't scared the animals, I never would have learned I could communicate with them and gotten my cutie mark."
Rainbow Dash just looks at Fluttershy in surprise.
"I heard that boom!" Pinkie Pie added. "And right afterwards, there was an amazing rainbow that taught me to smile."
Rainbow Dash was starting to feel a little frazzled.
"When I got my cutie mark, I saw a rainbow that pointed me home." Applejack said. "I bet it was your Sonic Rainboom!"
The CMCs and the five foals smiled excitedly as Rainbow Dash is still too stunned at everything being said. Before she could react, Pinkie Pie happily tackled Rainbow Dash to the floor.
"There was an explosion I could never explain when I got my cutie mark." Rarity added as she stood about her.
"This is uncanny!" Twilight said in surprise as she put two and two together. "If that explosion didn't happen when it did, I would have blown my entrance exam. Rainbow Dash, I think you helped me earn my cutie mark too!"
"Whoa!" Rainbow Dash said, still overwhelmed at the idea.
"We all owe our cutie marks to you!" Pinkie Pie said.
"Do you realize what that means?" Fluttershy asked. "All of us had a special connection before we even met."
"We've been BFFs forever and we didn't even know that!" Rarity answered.
"You sure about that?" The voice of Mario asked bluntly.
Everypony turned their heads to see Mario sitting silently in the corner.
"What do you mean by that?" Fluttershy asked curiously.
Scootaloo couldn't take it anymore as she shouted.
"Ugh...okay, okay!" Scootaloo bellowed. "Mario, can you tell us your cutie mark story?!"
Mario looked at them for the moment before he sighed to himself as he turned his head away from them.
"Ya know, sugarcube." Applejack said. "I'm curious about your story myself."
"Well I did get my cutie mark as a result of the sonic rainboom." Mario said in a plain tone which it got them gasped.
"Really? How?" Pinkie Pie exclaims. "Tell us! Tell us! Tell us!"
The others nodded as well, wanted to hear his story. Mario couldn't help but chuckle as he sat beside his niece.
"Alright, but I'll admit, it's hard to follow up after a story like Rainbow's." Mario said. "Mine's more on the adventure."
"We still want to hear it." Apple Bloom said before glancing at Scootaloo. "Don't we?"
"Yes..." Scootaloo replied through her teeth which it causes Mario to roll his eyes.
"As far as I can remember, I've been searching answers for what I'm missing along by finding my cutie mark." Mario began. "I finished practicing martial arts with Master Wu at the mountains, when Wild Heart and his father arrived..."
Flashback
Young Mario and his friends named Kai, Nya, Cole, Zane, Jay, Morro, Shenran, Skylor, Karlof, and Lloyd were finishing their martial arts training at the martial arts monastery with Master Wu watching from the sidelines while drinking his tea. Wild Heart and his father, Flying Eagle arrived at the monastery.
"We were told from Flying Eagle that his village was destroyed by a demon bear. His tribe were safely at the mountains, but we don't know how long." Mario continued. "He pleaded us for help in order for him to use the shamanism to place the demon bear to the realm of the Underworld."
Of course, Master Wu was against it after learning of Flying Eagle's village been rampaged by a demon bear, but without any other options, he turns to his students.
"Gathers your things and your weapons, we'll be heading out by daybreak." Master Wu told them. "It'll be a long journey ahead."
Young Mario and his friends knew there will be a journey, but Jay wasn't excited about it after learning about the demon bear. It didn't take long for both Cole and Karlof to drag Jay back inside to get everything ready, much to Jay's dismay.
"Though, we've got Jay convincing him to come along since we'll be heading out soon. He never stopped complaining about those things he brought back." Mario said. "It already took us four days of long journey to his village at southeast. And it would seem that the demon bear didn't left anything behind, all except the miasma. A plague that could kill any creatures and the demon bear is spreading all over the village."
After a few days of long journey towards the village in the southeast, Master Wu and the others were able to make it through the ruined village. They decided to conduct an investigation, but noticing the animals were dying from the spread of miasma.
"Master Wu, the animals were dying from the plague." Young Zane explains. "It would seem the demon bear is causing the spread of this deadly air."
"Not just any deadly air, Zane, it's called a miasma." Master Wu told him. "This happened before during mine and my brother's time on our journey. We fought against those demons that's been spreading miasma for a very long time. And I'm afraid that someone must've sent the bear to do its bidding."
"Um, Master Wu...I think the animals aren't the only ones dying, look!" Young Kai said, pointed at the trail where the trees were withered along with the plants.
"The demon bear left us a trail and it's heading towards the mountains!" Young Morro points out.
"Then we must go and stop the demon bear." Flying Eagle suggested with a glare.
Young Mario and the others are now pursuing after the demon bear while following the trail. The demon bear was able to made its way to the entrance of the mountains and about to climb up to go after the tribe, but the spirit arrow and the wind arrow just shot the demon bear in the shoulders which it got the bear roared in pain. The demon bear turned its attention to Master Wu, his students, Flying Eagle, and his son, who're running after it.
The demon bear is enraged as it charges after them. Both Flying Eagle and Wild Heart stopped themselves while preparing to ready the shaman magic while Master Wu and his students charged after the demon bear to keep it busy. Morro and Nya combined their elements of water and wind, turning it into a typhoon to blow the demon bear into the air. Zane then used his element of ice to freeze it while Cole brings out his war hammer, cracked the ice and bashing the demon bear. The demon bear was sent flying and crashed against the trees.
"We were able to hold it off with the elemental powers against the demon bear, but it's too strong for us to fight and we know full well that the demon bear is trying to go after the tribe." Mario said. "But we're holding it off to buy both Flying Eagle and Wild Heart time."
The demon bear roared in anger, charging after them. Master Wu readied his bamboo staff when Young Kai used his fire element to surround the bear with the flame wall. Young Mario and Young Shenran fired their chi while Young Jay fired his lightning element at the demon bear, but it barely damaged it.
"However, we were lucky enough that Flying Eagle and Wild Heart completed the shaman magic by creating a binding symbol." Mario said.
Flying Eagle and Wild Heart completed the shaman magic as the symbol begins to bind the demon bear in chains. Both Flying Eagle and Wild Heart then use the incantation by using ancient language that passes on to their tribes and their forefathers. The demon bear roared while trying to struggle, but Lloyd, Mario, and Shenran fired their chi at the bear which it's enough to stun it as the chains then drags the demon bear down to the Underworld.
"After we put the demon bear in the Underworld, we remained behind to rebuild the village and clean the air of miasma out." Mario continued. "The tribe were relieved to hear the news. They'll be able to grow crops and replanting the trees."
Master Wu and his students were helping the tribe rebuilding the village when Cole and Lloyd combined their elements to heal nature and life. Mario uses his strength to carry the wooden lumber, Nya and the tribes were using the materials to make tents, Morro uses his wind element to blow the miasma while Zane uses ice element to freeze it, and Kai melts the ice in order to burn the smell of miasma.
After the village is rebuild, Master Wu and his students left the village.
"After our long journey back to the monastery, we've received a letter for me to enroll in Princess Celestia's school for the gifted unicorns." Mario said.
This scene showed that Young Mario Star read a letter, which he's not too excited about going there because Princess Celestia probably haven't heard from him after leaving Canterlot for training in martial arts. Master Wu noticed the look on one of his students face, but he decided to let him choose to either he accepts or not. Though, he wont tell Princess Celestia about his journey or fighting against the demon bear, it'll get her awfully worried and overprotective which it's the last thing he wants.
"Though, I wasn't happy about it when I left Canterlot in order to learn martial arts, magic, and chi from Master Wu. Princess Celestia did try to convince me not to go after I've learned a bit of magic from her and Cadence." Mario told them. "I'm just going to decide to go there and try to enlighten them. But the only thing that required to enter into this 'fancy school'...I had to pass the entrance exam."
The scene showed Young Mario Star at the lecture hall as a pony rolled a cart with a phoenix egg on it. Young Mario hummed in thought, feeling uneasy before glaring it.
He focused for the first shot as he tried to hatch it, but failed. Breathing heavily, Young Mario remembered of Master Wu's teachings as he lighten up his horn, focusing all of his magic in him as his horn sparked up a bit before he fired at the egg, striking it in an instant. Then suddenly, the egg broke up to reveal a newborn phoenix flapping its tiny wings and chirping cutely.
Young Mario was stunned at this as the administrators were shocked beyond words as the baby phoenix flapped in front of Young Mario before perching itself gracefully on the colt's back as he smiled.
"Hey, little guy." Young Mario greets with a gentle nuzzle to the baby phoenix's head as it cooed at the affection.
The administrators clapped in his direction.
"Well done, Mr. Star." Crystal Clear congratulated him.
"Would you be willing to observe the next observation to take notes?" Top Marks asked him.
Young Mario looked at him before thinking to himself. The he faced him.
"Well, I've got nothing better to so, I'll be happy to watch." Young Mario said as he went to take a seat before turning to the new phoenix. "How about I call you Cyra?"
The newly named Cyra chirped in agreement as she nuzzled Young Mario's cheek, making him smile. Then, he turns his attention to the pony bringing in another cart that had a purple dragon egg.
"That's when I saw Twilight coming in." Mario said.
Coming into the lecture hall was a unicorn filly with the shade of magneta and purple, and her eyes...those beautiful lavender eyes.
"Welcome, Mrs. Twilight Sparkle." Crystal Clear addressed her name.
'Wow, that's a beautiful name.' Young Mario mentally thought as he stared at the unicorn filly with a dreamy look on his face as if she's a beautiful piece of art work.
Young Twilight was now standing at the bottom of the lecture hall, looking rather nervous as the pony rolled in a cart with a large purple spotted egg. Her parents kept encouraging her, smiled from the sidelines as Twilight gave a shaky smile. Sitting at one of the chairs was Young Mario Star as he stared at her with a dreamy look.
"Well, Miss Sparkle?" Crystal Clear said.
Young Twilight simply looked at the purple dragon egg and giggled nervously.
"Well, Miss Sparkle?" Crystal Clear repeated.
Arpeggio just coughed in reply as they waited impatiently for Young Twilight to begin. She groaned as she tried to light up her horn, but she wasn't able to get anything to happen. Top Marks yawned to himself as the others started taking notes.
"We don't have all day." Crystal Clear said which it got Young Twilight sweat nervously.
Young Mario felt sorry for her.
"I watched her so desperately trying to impress the administrators by using different methods to make the dragon egg hatch. But no matter how she tried, it wasn't enough to impress them." Mario said.
Young Twilight was trying various poses and stances to try and get her magic to do something. But after all her efforts, all she could generate was a small spark from her horn before she plopped onto her stomach in exhaustion. She felt very sorry for herself as she rose to her hooves.
"I'm sorry I wasted your time." Young Twilight said when...
BOOOOOOOOOOOM!
A sudden explosion and a giant rainbow ring appeared outside the classroom window. The explosion startled Young Twilight along with Young Mario, so much that her horn began to glow brightly. Her inner magic begins to grow dramatically as she fired magic blast that hatched a dragon egg into what appeared to be a baby dragon.
Young Twilight just yelped in panic as her eyes glowed white and she was surrounded by a powerful magic bubble. Her overcharged magic caused her to levitate the administrators into the air while also turning her parents into potted plants.
Young Mario dodges the magic blasts and combined his magic and chi to conjure a shield. Her magic also conjured the baby dragon to become a giant fully grown dragon. He became so big in size that his head broke through the roof. Princess Celestia noticed the giant dragon head in the distance.
Poor Young Twilight was fearfully trying to regain control but failing miserably...until a gentle hoof was placed on her shoulder. She turned her head to see Young Mario Star looking at her with a calm smile, telling her that it's okay.
Young Twilight was finally able to calm down as her eyes returned to her lavender gaze. She gently lands on the ground as her magic stops, but everything doesn't return to normal. Young Mario and Young Twilight gaze into each others eyes for the moment before a blinding light appears in the room as Princess Celestia had entered.
The two unicorns witnessed her using her magic to return the administrators back on the ground, restored her parents back into ponies again, and the dragon returned into a baby form, now sitting a destroyed wagon and sucking his tail innocently.
She walks to Young Twilight, who had a guilty expression on her face while Young Mario looked away sadly.
"Twilight Sparkle, Mario Star." Princess Celestia said formally.
"Oh, I'm so sorry." Young Twilight said nervously. "I didn't mean..."
"You both have a very special gift." Princess Celestia said. "I don't think I've ever come across a unicorn with your raw abilities."
"Huh?" Young Twilight and Young Mario said, puzzled.
"But you two need to learn to tame these abilities through focused study." Princess Celestia continued.
"Huh?!" Young Twilight and Young Mario repeated.
"Twilight Sparkle and Mario Star, I'd like to make you two my own personal proteges here at the school." Princess Celestia said.
"Huh?!" Young Twilight and Young Mario said, unable to process what was happening.
"Well?" Princess Celestia asked when Yong Twilight finally put two and two together, she looked at her parents, who're nodding excitedly for her to accept.
"Yes!" Young Twilight said as she jumped high into the air.
"I'm afraid I can't take up your offer, Princess Celestia." Young Mario declines which Young Twilight and Princess Celestia were surprised. "I'm still trying to find out what my goal leads me and...it's something I have to find out on my own."
Princess Celestia can tell that Young Mario is looking for answers which she can understand, decided not to pressure him as she gives him a nod.
"One other thing, Twilight and Mario." Princess Celestia said, stopping her in mid-air.
"More?" Young Twilight exclaims with big eyes before landing on the floor while Young Mario looked stunned for the moment.
Young Twilight and Young Mario looked at her curiously as Princess Celestia pointed to their flanks. Young Twilight smiled excitedly when she saw her magneta sparkle star cutie mark. Young Mario saw his silver heart with a golden ribbon and a golden star cutie mark.
"My cutie mark!" Young Twilight said as she bounced in circles around Princess Celestia while Young Mario smiled at his own. "Yesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyes..."
Young Mario looked at his cutie mark with a smile as a tear runs down his eye before whispered. "Master Wu, I finally got a cutie mark."
Flashback Ended
Mario just sat quietly as the girls and boys looked at him, beyond amazed from what happened in the past.
"Wow, I just can't believe you actually calmed down Twilight down from my rainboom." Rainbow Dash said with an impressed look.
"I can't believe that you and your friends took down the demon bear without any fear." Fluttershy adds, amazed.
"I still can't believe I had forgotten that you didn't have anything to be afraid of from the blast I made." Twilight said.
"What choice do I have? I couldn't risk of causing you to wreak havoc at the Lecture Hall." Mario replied back.
"Well, why would you decline on Princess Celestia's offer to be her protege besides finding answers to somepony you don't know?" Twilight asked. "Unless you have a crush on me..."
Twilight suddenly froze and slowly turned her head to Mario with large eyes. Try as he might, his cheeks betrayed him as they turned bright pink.
"You had a crush on me, didn't you?" Twilight asked.
"Yeah, I did. But I'm over it years ago." Mario said as he narrowed his eyes. "The main reason is because you were focusing on studying and magic, and never got a chance to spend some time with our old friends back in Canterlot. That, Twilight, is the reason why we've been on a rift."
Twilight looked worried about him for the moment. Pinkie Pie then appeared behind her with a hopeful smile, thinking Mario might be her date.
"And Pinkie, if you think of me being your date at the Gala, I'm not interested in you." Mario said sternly, making Pinkie Pie flinched before groaned in frustration while Rose and the three fillies giggled.
Fluttershy came to him and gently placed a hoof on Mario's shoulder with a smile.
"Don't feel too bad, Mario. I'm pretty sure your teacher and your friends were very proud of you for getting your mark." Fluttershy said softly.
"Yeah, it must've been quite an honor to get it since you had special gift in martial arts and chi." Applejack added.
But Mario had something different to say.
"You guys don't get it." Mario said with it got them confused.
"What do you mean, Uncle Mario?" Apple Shine asked curiously.
"I didn't just do it for Master Wu or my friends. I did it for the previous master element of nature named Bolobo." Mario responded back as he bowed his head in sadness. "Master Bolobo was about to teach me in the elements of nature after I've been able to use it. However, Master Bolobo was killed before I even get to the temple."
They gasped in surprised and shock.
"Master Bolobo?" Fluttershy asked in great shock.
"What do you mean by nature?" Comet asked. "I've never heard about it."
"It's way before our time. Master Wu is also the master of elements along with the Elemental Masters." Mario said. "Before us, there were warriors who master many elements known as the Elemental Masters. They're the first generations when the first master shard his powers to the number of individuals who became the first Elemental Master and the first generations. It can only passed down to either the future generations or to their successors so they could continue to be used to protect Equestria from the evil forces."
"Wait, did you say Elemental Masters?" Rainbow Dash said in shock before turning into amazement. "As in the first group of fighters who fought against the demons and the Overlord?! That is so awesome!"
Mario kept quiet as Twilight came to him with a concerned look.
"I actually remembered you saying about becoming Bolobo's successor and about his death." Twilight said softly.
"Yeah, it hurt me a lot when he was murdered at the temple." Mario turned to her. "But Master Wu taught me how to use the element of nature and Cole taught me the element of earth."
"That's why you didn't want to talk about the story about your cutie mark." Twilight said, realized why he didn't want to talk about it.
"It's also why I agreed to be friends with you guys in the first place." Mario added with Twilight looked at him sadly. "Mostly."
Mario then made his way to the door before he stopped to turn to the others one last time.
"I need to carry on Master Bolobo's legacy as the new master of Nature and honoring him. It's the only thing that matters." Mario finished before he walked outside and shut the door which it got them worried.
Later at the martial arts dojo, Mario was sharpening a blade on a bo staff attached to it with his magic. Zane noticed the sad look on Mario's face, knew that he's thinking about Master Bolobo. He didn't forget about the incident at the temple, where Bolobo was killed which nopony knows how he got killed or who. As he continued to sharpen the blade, he and Zane heard footsteps coming down the stairs. Mario and Zane stopped as they heard them.
"Who's there?" Mario and Zane said as they readied their element, but only saw the Mane 6, the CMCs, and the 5 foals coming down.
"Whoa! Whoa! It's us!" Rainbow Dash protested, waving her hooves in defense.
"Sorry, we didn't know you were coming." Zane apologized as he and Mario lowered their guard. "What brings all of you here?"
"We just wanted to see how he was doing, Zane." Fluttershy said with a caring smile with the others.
"Fine. You know." Mario said with a look of sadness before he recomposed. "Look, I know what you guys are thinking, and believe me when I say I don't want to talk about Master Bolobo."
"Well, he said it! Come on, let's go!" Scootaloo said quickly with anxious smile, only to be shushed by the two fillies which it got her groaned in irritation.
"You never cross our minds, Mario." Twilight said with a smile.
"He doesn't have to." Zane told her with a narrowed eyes. "But we both know who killed Master Bolobo after we made to the temple years ago."
"Who?" Storm Hawk asked curiously.
"A demon that goes by the name of...Orochimaru." Zane answered with a serious glare. "Orochimaru is a demon snake who belonged to the snake clans in the Hollow Shades. He killed Master Bolobo by using someponies skin to disguise himself in order to kill many innocent lives, including the Master of Nature."
They gasped in shock.
"But he didn't do it alone, Kabuto was also responsible for killing and conducting on experiments to any other creatures he was able to grab hold." Mario adds with an angry glare. "Kabuto was researching magic, chi, anything based in spiritual. Once he managed to find what he's looking for, he'll conduct the experimentation and use it for either his or anypony."
"And how long did this go on?" Apple Shine asks fearfully.
"There's no telling, but we know that they're still around in Equestria...or somewhere else." Zane answered. "I'm afraid with Lord Garmadon, Orochimaru, and Kabuto on the loose, Equestria was in grave danger. And we need to be ready if they're coming to invade here again, after what we've been informed by the Princesses."
They nodded with an agreement since they'll have to face the greatest threats in the future when the time comes since Lord Garmadon, Orochihmaru, and Kabuto are still around in Equestria.
Later at the Golden Oak Library, Twilight was having Spike write down their letter to Princess Celestia. Mario and Comet were there as well, busy meditating.
'Dear Princess Celestia,
Today we learned something amazing. Everypony everywhere has a special magical connection with their friends, maybe even before they've met them. If you're feeling lonely and you're still searching for your true friends, just look up in the sky. Who knows? Maybe you and your future best friends are all looking at the same rainbow.'
Twilight was started pacing around as she began to recite the letter but then finished by sitting against her window and looked out of it to see a rainbow in the sky. Spike was a little disgusted.
"Gross!" Spike remarked. "When did you get so cheesy?"
Twilight just continued to look out the window.
"Just write it, Spike." Twilight said with her fore-hooves to her face as Spike just shrugged his shoulders and wrote the letter.
"Mario? Comet?" Twilight called them, earned their attention while continuing staring at the sky. "Take a break and sky gaze with me for a bit."
Both Mario and Comet smiled as they sat next to Twilight and crossed their hooves over the window, looking at the rainbow.
"Mario, I wanted to tell you that I forgot to say something when you saved me from that entrance exam." Twilight told him.
"What's that?" Mario asked, glancing at her when she smiled.
"Even though you got over crush on me, you were very brave back then and I like you." Twilight said as Mario sighed happily as they continued to look at the sky quietly together.
Mario didn't know if she meant that either as friends or something more, but being able to hear these words from Twilight really got him happy. Comet overheard their conversation which it got him smiled, but he was hoping for Twilight to marry Mario in the future, so he'll have the father considering the young colt has been around with his godfather.
Unknown to all of them, Lord Garmadon was watching everything from the flames as he smirked evilly.
"Well, seeing how much he still thinks about Bolobo, I think we need a new strategy." Lord Garmadon said, walked over to the altar that had two fangs of the Great Devourer. "Thanks to Kabuto locating the second fang, I need two more along with the four staffs of the Snake Generals. Luckily, I was able to find the third fang of the Great Devourer, but apparently, neither of my minions would dare to go near towards the dragon cave that's been guard by a dragon. I will be needing a distraction...and I know just a certain who can do it for me."
Lord Garmadon then changed the image to Spike.
"Yes, this little whelp will do." Lord Garmadon said. "Once this little dragon distracts the adult dragon, I will have my wraiths find the third fang and bring it to me. With the addition, I will personally set a trap for Mario and Twilight so they'll be rid of once and for all."
He then laughed with a sinister smirk on his face.
That's for the 35th chapter.