Friendship-ISN'T magic? ch. 7
I OWN AND REGRET NOTHING!
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AN: This chapter was collaborated by 'Wolvenstrom'.
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Twilight was ecstatic! Her friend had returned to her!...and so many other humans had come too! She couldn't wait to learn more about their culture! ...of course...there was some downsides...Dipper apparently was still abrasive as ever toward Celestia...and his refusal to forgive Luna was also rather worrying...but Twilight was confident that she could eventually get him to forgive them- Wait, what happened to his ear?
It was at that moment that, they heard a rustling from the bushes...the main-six turn...and are surprised to see a female version of Dipper... wearing an odd sweater?
Dipper sighed, -and that would be my sister." He said with a sad smile.
Mable said nothing...she just took in the large assortment of magical, cute ponies. And did what came natural to her-
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
Squealed Mable so loud that everyone and everypony had to cover their ears. Mable ran up happily to them, eager to hug them, love them, pet them, name them and be best friends, and ride off into a sunbeam like in her dreams-
"HOLD IT RIGHT THERE!" Shouts an angry Applejack suddenly, Mable stops abruptly in her tracks. "Wait, what?" She asked out loud.
"How could you do what you did to your kin? Trying to make him think he was loco and what-not?" Barked Applejack. "Yeah, not cool girl!" Snaps Rainbow Dash. "Very uncouth!" Shouts Rarity. "What kind of Sister doesn't support her siblings friendships?!" Demanded Twilight. "I'm very tempted not to offer you a pie!" Snaps Pinkie. "Uh...that was...kinda mean...what you did to Dipper I mean..." Said a reluctant Fluttershy.
Mable practically bugged out! "I- wha -how -who -what?" Babbled Mable in hurt confusion...ANGRY ponies!? This wasn't at ALL as she envisioned!...Plus, someone BESIDES her defending Dipper was kinda weird...
Dipper laughed, "Okay guys, thank you for standing up for me...but honestly...were all back together, I'm starting a brand new life in this wonderful land, I stand vindicated and it's just a great day all around...I'm willing to forgive Mable. I'm too happy not to!"
Mable smiled at that...
"Wait, your willing to forgive her but not Celestia?" Asked Twilight in disbelief. -I LIKE Mable! AND she's my sister!" Snapped Dipper annoyed.
Twilight sighed... "Fine..." She'd let it go for now... She turned to Mable, "Alright Mable, if Dipper forgives you...so do we- the others give nods to affirm that -friends?" She asked attentively as she raised up a hoof to her.
Mable giggled with as she reached out a hand- And then she saw something even MORE adorable!
"Hurry up!" "I can't see!" "Watch yourself!" "Were almost there!" The Cutie mark Crusaders fought their way through the crowd of ponies to get a better look at the strange 'HOO-mans' -was that right?
But found themselves falling forward and landing in a heap in front of the crowd...right in Mable's eyesight. Mable let out a squeal SOOOO great that several ears began to bleed, she ran over to scoop them up and hug them-
FWOOOM!
GAH!
-And set them on fire as they screamed in pain!?
WAIT, WHAT!?
Screamed everyone/pony-
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It didn't take long for everypony to see that it wasn't just the CMC that were having difficulty...every time Mable touched a pony...they burst into flames. Thankfully they were put out before any lasting damage was caused..but Mable was currently quarantined. Celestia was able to sense that it was the result of a dark curse(a type of which she had never seen before..and powerful too). But despite hers, Twilight's and Dipper's fevered search through the Ponyville library... and although they were able to discover that Mable was filled with an influx of 'negative energy'...they could find nothing-
Fortunately- "Well we could do what we always do when Twilight doesn't know anything. Go ask Zecora." Suggested Pinkie happily. Celestia stays to continue the search there while everyone else goes to Zecora's hut.
"Wow...this forest is HUGE!" Exclaimed Mable excited as they went through Everfree. "Don't you have forests like this back on earth?" Asked Twilight confused. Mable suddenly got very quiet... "Well...not anymore..." She admitted awkwardly.
Before Twilight can ask her to elaborate- "Look! A hut! Is that Zecora's!?" Shouted Dipper quickly. Sure enough he was right...but Twilight can't help but notice Dipper breathe a sigh of relief...
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"Why do you speak only in rhyme all the time. Ha! Good one Mabel." This was naturally one of the first things she asked to the eccentric Zebra. Zecora just smiled. "I assure you that my speech of verse, is not afflicted by spell or curse. It is by choice and I plan I choose to devise, so that ponies would believe all that I say was wise."
Dipper nods at that thoughtfully, "Makes sense I guess. It's easy to make anything sound sage when you make it rhyme or haiku it."
"Wait...so you don't 'have' to speak like that?" Asked Dash amazed. Zecora sighed and shook her head, "Once that may have been true. But my decision do I rue. So long was I rhyming that by the time I wished to stop, verse I have forgotten how to drop.
...So...You spent so long rhyming that now you can't stop?" Said Applejack simply. Zecora just nods.
Thankfully Zecora had been there when Gravity Falls 'landed', so she knew what had happened and had already prepared her instruments and potions already for if they came to her. So She was quick to recognize it...Bad karma...
"A sentient curse that does it's best to hide, keep's it's worst aspects inside. But now that you are in the know, it's power shall only start to grow. What once was a spark, easy to dampen and spoil, new friends shall now blaze as though dipped in oil!" Explains Zecora dramatically.
Dipper just looks at the scrolls detailing this curse thoughtfully...then he goes back to the back of the hut...and begins to tinker...with...something...
Meanwhile, the ponies are confused by the situation, especially Twilight. "Weird; The concept of karma so strong it turns to curse is not unheard of...but it's just extremely rare in Equestria given how ponies generally get what is coming to them swiftly...I get that it never manifested before since there was no magic on earth to power it...but I've never heard it building up to such a degree like Mabel's has."
"Geez, Mable...who'd you cheese off?" Asked Dash. Mable suddenly looked very nervous. "Uh...well...you see-
"Okay, look you don't know Mable like I do!" Interrupted Dipper from the other side of the Shack. "She is literally the nicest person you'd ever meet! she can't go 5 minutes without making a new friend- she befriends ever pizza boy that comes by for crying out loud!" Dipper shook his head... "No, it's probably my fault...even though there was little to no magic in our world- outside of gravity Falls -I still experimented with arcane objects and the like in close proximity to Mable...also, I've caught her drinking a lot of my chemicals...so who knows what effects that had on her?"
Mable chuckles nervously, "Uhhh- Yep! That's probably it! heh, heh- I told you not to mess with that stuff you creep! And to not make that goop so delicious! But hey, no one's perfect! Let's change the subject now!"
This pacified everyone...except Zecora...she eyes the nervous Mable suspiciously. The ponies maybe too innocent...and Dipper to absorbed in his work- and too blinded for his concern for his sibling -to see it...but an older and more world weary Zecora...could see the BS coming from this young girls mouth fairly easily...
She trots up to Mable...checks to see that everyone is too busy researching -or in Dipper's case...she actually had no idea, what was that boy up to? -and whispers to Mable: "This affliction I have seen, in the luckiest to ever have been. In our lives we take the good and bad, baring the dim to await the glad."
Mable looks at her confused, "What are you- Zecora nods toward a still busy Dipper, "For as long as you refuse the blame. All will end the same. Strengthen your heart, endure his ire. Or all your friendships will end in fire." She said pointedly.
Mable's eyes widened- "How'd you- She quickly composed herself -I mean...I've no idea what your talking about?" She lied lamely. Zecora rolled her eyes...but before she could respond-
"Finished it!", Shouted Dipper from the back. Everyone looked toward Dipper as he pulled out what he'd been working on- Zecora gasped and flattened herself against the wall in fright. Quickly making a mark with her hands to ward off evil.
The ponies, curious about Zecora's reaction. Gather to see the talisman Dipper just fashioned. It was made of bone, covered in runes and converged in on itself in a three-pronged sheath...and it felt...off...it was obviously full of magic...but the ponies had never felt magic like this! Equestria magic was warm, fuzzy and sweet...this was...more chewy, cold, and SOUR.
"Wha...what is that?" Asked Twilight both frightened...and intrigued... "It's a bone charm, back when magic was in the world...it was a very popular way to focus and form one's magic- even if you weren't naturally gifted in magic...this is amazing! I've never got one to work before!" He exclaimed excitedly.
"Uh...is it safe?" Asked Fluttershy nervously
Dipper smiled, "Don't worry. This sort of magic is 'not' approved of anymore on earth than Equestria. But this particular kind is only considered dark magic by means it was made, not the result."
Zecora finally composes herself and cautiously checks it for herself... "Of putrid magic is it's make, yet your correct, a corrupting influence it does not make. It's power will certainly make her curse go numb...but it's about as effective as fixing a pot with chewing gum." She said flatly.
Dipper again nodded, "Yeah, I figured as much...but hopefully it'll buy me time to figure out a more permanent solution for the curse." He then puts the charm on Mable, she shudders as she feels it take effect.
Twilight takes a deep breath as she volunteers to see if it works, she practically whimpers as she cautiously raises her hoof to Mable...who also tentatively reaches toward it...everyone holds their breath as they touch...and nothing happens.
Everyone lets out a cheer! Twilight is especially excited and eagerly bounces toward Dipper to ask more about this strange new type of magic...
While everyone is distracted...Zecora walks once more to Mable..and nods her head toward Dipper. Mable just squirms, "Look...your barking up the wrong tree! And even if you weren't, you don't understand the situation-
Zecora shrugs, "It would not hard, I could understand why. Either an ugly truth, or a beautiful lie?"
Mable glares, "Look it's over! The curse will be taken care of eventually, and me and Dipper will live happily together in this wondrous new world! Everyone wins! So mind your own business!"
Zocroa angrily huffs, "Then go ahead and run away. Let your curse forever stay. A life alone, without friendship or love, ignore the world for which others strove. Live trapped in a world that exists in your mind, and leave all else that matters behind." And with that...she turns around and leaves Mable be...
Feeling very uncomfortable, Mable quickly rejoins the others as they get ready to leave- "Wait, slow down- Who is the 'Outsider'? Asks a confused Twilight as she writes down everything he says.
As they leave the hut, they find a broken 'welcome to Gravity Falls' sign nearby- "Wait, seriously? The town is named 'Gravity Falls'?...isn't that kinda redundant?" Asked Rainbow Dash.
Dipper rolled his eyes, "Oh, don't get me started." While the old friends made good on their reunion and caught up...Mable lagged behind...when she was sure she was out of sight...she reached into her sweater...into a hidden pocket she'd sewn into it years ago...and pulled a strange star-shaped Flower...long dried up for all the years it spent in a magic-less land...after twirling it around in her hands...admiring it's fading beauty...Mable tore it up and tossed it out of sight.
The bone charm flared it up briefly as it shook a bit...Mable began to sweat...but breathed a sigh of relief when it held. Quickly, she ran back to the group, who'd been too busy with yet another discussion to notice anything else.
-Yeah...my parents weren't...BAD...but their not good either...they were just sorta there...I know this sounds horrible...but I don't even remember their names or what they look like even when I'm with them...their just not very memorable characters-
"Dipper! That's horrible!" Shouted Twilight. Dipper gave her a scathing look, "Uh Twilight? Remind me again what you and your friends parent names are again?"
The main six smiled...and began to say them...but then realized they couldn't!(1) "Whoa...that's...messed up." .admitted Rainbow Dash somberly...
Dipper just lightly patted her back as they walked home...they barely felt the small quake...and of course no one saw the EARTH oak sapling pop up between two equestrian trees...
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TO BE CONTINUED?
1: Yes, I know we know them NOW, but only after what? 5, 6 seasons?...I can barely remember them now!...well, except Applejacks of course...dang that was a good episode...
AN: I know it says "in-progress" but really I just don't like boxing myself into a corner. For now this is more of a one-shot that I might continue one day...but probably won't.
But, hey. Feel free to use whatever elements you want from this, if you want! Or maybe give me ideas?
Love me, flame me, review me