S2 E23 everypony! MMMystery On The Friendship Express is up next

At the Ponyville schoolhouse Malibu was walking by when he spotted his little friends leaving it looking rather depressed while some of the other colts and fillies ran out to celebrate one of the colts named Featherweight getting a Cutie Mark which was… a feather.

He went up to them. "Hey guys, you alright?" The two cmcs that were there looked back up at Malibu. "We guess. But we still can't get over that Featherweight got his cutie mark. Before us!" Sweetie Belle complained while Snips and Snails complimented over Featherweight's new mark.

Malibu was happy for Featherweight but he felt it was long overdue for Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo to get theirs, so he could understand their frustration. The three moaned and sat down. "I give up…" Sweetie mumbled even though Applebloom suddenly had an idea, a smile on her face when she came along.

"I've got it! The answer to all our problems!" She announced, tossing the newspaper towards her friends. Malibu read the title. "The Foal Free Press?" He read aloud, wondering what idea could it be.

"How's the school paper gonna get us our cutie marks?" Sweetie Belle added in. Before Applebloom answered Granny Smith called to her. "Uh-Oh, that's Granny Smith. Gotta run!" She said, running to catch up to her granny.

Malibu and the other two glanced at each other in confusion. "Maybe there is something to this newspaper idea," Scootaloo concluded. Sweetie Belle shrugged. "Guess it is worth a shot. Can you help, Malibu?"

The former clone gargoyle supposed he could even if it was nothing too excited. "I guess. Let's get this thing going." He helped picked up the newspapers to go figure it all out.

They started with packing boxes for mailing, but nothing. Next was making birds nests and still nothing. The final thing was doing paper boats and hats. While on the paper boat Sweetie Belle and Scoot looked at their flanks but still no marks, sinking into the river. Thankfully it was shallow and were able to get out, all muddy.

Frustrated, the three friends returned to the clubhouse where Applebloom waited for them. She turned to see her friends covered in muck minus Malibu. "Applebloom! Your newspaper idea was nothing but a big bust!"

Scootaloo nodded. "We tried everything, from paper-mâchè to making bird's nests and nothing worked!"

What Malibu didn't expect was for Applebloom to laugh out loud, making them look somewhat shocked. "What I meant was, we should write for the paper! We can get our cutie marks as journalists!" She then put in.

That caused the other two to collapse. Malibu himself felt this idea was pretty ambitious. "You sure that is your calling?" He asked AB. She nodded. "For certain this time! Meetings for new journalists are tomorrow after school! I hope you can join us!"

"I can try. Would like to learn how the newspaper system is run here," Malibu agreed with. They all eventually went to bed that night, excited for tomorrow.

…

At the school, Malibu joined the after meeting when official classes ended, standing near the door to watch since he wasn't really involved because the system was for the kids. Cheerilee tapped on the desk.

"Ok, class, see you tomorrow! Oh, and for those of you who want to join the newspaper staff, stay here, because we're meeting right now!"

Applebloom looked quite excited. "Cutie marks in journalism!"

Scootaloo grinned. "Such a great idea!"

Cheerilee beamed out at everypony. "Welcome! Including you Malibu as our guest! Now, as you know, our editor-in-chief graduated last year—."

Sweetie Belle eagerly raised her hoof. "Oh! Oh! Ohohohoh!" She called out. Cheerilee pointed. "Yes?"

"What's an editor-in-chief?" The white filly asked. Malibu was impressed of her being able to ask questions right away. Maybe this was a good place for them.

"Good question, Sweetie Belle! I like those reporter's instincts!" Cheerilee complimented, causing her to blush. "The Foal Free Press is a student run paper. I'm only involved as an advisor, so the editor-in-chief is the pony in charge, from choosing the stories to making sure it gets to press on time."

Malibu perked his ears up in interest. He liked the idea of telling stories to everypony. "Now, as I said, we have a new editor this year!" Cheerilee announced, the door opening to reveal:

"Diamond Tiara?!" Gaped all the students, as the bully in pink entered the room, huffing. Malibu instantly wanted to get out of here, for Diamond really seemed to hate him still. And to have her in charge of a newspaper spelled disaster. She strode haughtily up to the front.

Cheerilee nodded. "I'll leave you alone now to discuss everypony's assignments." Malibu was ready to follow but then decided to stay, to ensure his friends weren't hurt or harassed by Diamond Tiara.

She glared out at everypony. "Alright, listen up!" Her hoof kicked the wall; revealing a huge poster of herself, making Malibu roll his eyes in annoyance. This filly was so full of herself. "The Foal Free Press is a joke." Diamond snapped.

The students were beyond confused, muttering to each other. "Nopony at this school takes it seriously. Well, I, the editor-in-chief in charge, am going to deliver us to newfound glory!"

Her words left the room in silence, especially Malibu, who was trembling just a little when only one colt exclaimed "Yay!"

Diamond looked about. "First things first. Where's the staff photographer?" Featherweight appeared having a camera. "Go out there and document everything!" He saluted, scrambling to run outside. Malibu felt sorry for Featherweight now. "I'll decide what's important!" She slammed the door rather harshly.

"The rest of you, I want hard-hitting news and interesting think pieces. No more Namby-Pamby stories like last year's editor," grumbled Diamond Tiara, rolling her eyes.

Another colt spoke up. "But Namby-Pamby was a great editor!" He complimented, rather confusing Malibu at the idea of a little pony with that name. Diamond Tiara just smirked like usual. "Well, there's a new regime now, and I want juicy stories. The jucier, the better! Now get out there and report!" She kicked the poster back up, walking out.

On her way, she eyed Malibu who gulped slightly. "And are you joining us?" Diamond asked roughly. "N-No, j-just here to watch," Malibu stuttered. She glowered. "Then don't get too involved, prince." Diamond threatened before finally leaving.

Deciding was a good time to leave, Malibu snuck out, wishing silent good lucks to the CMCS, wishing to breathe air again after that horror.

He sat out nearby the school yard, just resting his head from Dimond's voice until his ears picked up the sound of Snips and Snails shouting at each other. "You get it off me, Snips!"

"Ah! You are making it worse!" Curious, Malibu followed the sound, now to find his friends there wearing their reporter hats and holding notepads. Sweetie Belle had whispered to Featherweight to take some pictures, wondering now if that was they were going to use for the paper.

Scootaloo had seen him, looking excited. "Mal! We have a story finally! Check this out!" Malibu looked down at the photo which was Snips and Snails having gum attatched to their backs, struggling to get it off. He had to admit it was kind of funny.

"At least you're bringing humor into this," He said to them. "For sure!" Scootaloo said with her big smile. "Maybe one day we can do a story about you!"

Malibu cringed. "Not so sure about that. Never really desired to be in the paper." He said. Scootaloo simply shrugged before taking off to get their story printed.

And as he predicted; the story was a hit, making Snips and Snails famous in a humorous kind of way, the rest of the school pretty much eating up the story. That must've been what Diamond Tiara meant by juicy if it was popular, Malibu figured.

He soon got to have a spa day with his other 6 friends at the Ponyville Spa, which was welcome.

Malibu sat on a chair, feeling Lotus massage his back and wings which felt great. The past few days before now, the newspaper now called Gabby Gums was growing ever so popular more than ever now that it was more than just school stories. Though one awkward story he read once was about the Cake Twins crying after shopping with their parents, wondering how Gabby Gums got that photo in the first place, not knowing that his CMC friends were going farther since the gum story.

"Thanks for inviting me guys, I really needed this relaxation," Malibu thanked to the other mares and Spike who all smiled at him. "No problem. Any day is a spa day!" Rarity sighed, her hooves getting smoothed out.

Spike sighed with cucumbers over his eyes. "I don't know if I've ever been so relaxed…" He moaned until Dash's voice rang out. "You guys!" Spike yelled out from shock, the cucumbers falling off onto Rainbow's eyes now who had a newspaper in her mouth.

"The new Gabby Gums column just came out! The Great and Powerful Trixie's Secrets Revealed!" She read, Malibu remembering that haughty show unicorn, but he too had read the story already.

"Yeah, though we've read that one, Dash," Malibu stated, Rarity agreeing. "And come on, relax! Have a hooficure, it feels amazing!" She breathed, lying back, stretching her hooves.

Rainbow Dash swallowed one of the cucumbers that were on her eyes, looking put out about it. "You kidding? Did you forget who you're talking to? The day I get a hooficure is the day I turn in my daredevil license. Besides, I haven't read this Gabby Gums yet," She said, Spike getting his cucumbers back and somehow taking the one Rainbow swallowed out of her mouth.

"Well do it quietly, will ya? Some of us are trying to unwind," Spike muttered before going back to lounging. Malibu himself had read one or two of the articles, though some of them have been starting to get a little bit… invasive of other's private lives.

Twilight also agreed. "I like Gabby Gums too, but don't you think she can be a little mean?" She pointed out while getting her hooves polished. Applejack chuckled softly "She's not mean, Twilight! She's a hoot!"

But then Malibu pulled out one he hadn't read, which set off his anger quite a bit. "Celestia… just like us? Are you kidding me? She posted junk about my mom, Applejack!" Malibu snapped. The picture was of Celestia eating a cake and looking nervous when somepony snapped a picture of her. Applejack's expression changed when seeing that but didn't say anything else.

"Oh, lighten up, Malibu and Twilight! It's nothing but harmless gossip!" Rarity laughed, not even accepting that the newspaper posted crack about Malibu's adopted mother. Pinkie Pie came up from under the water in the bath tub. "Yeah, guys, I mean, listen to this one!" She pulled out another slightly wet paper. "Mayor, not naturally grey. The mayor in a mane dyeing scandal? Who wouldn't want to read that?!"

Malibu shook his head. "Not me, she's getting a little out of hand here," He snapped. Twilight nodded. "And I just can't help feeling sorry for the ponies featured in their columns. It's gotta be a little embarrassing."

Rainbow's eyes shone in excitement. "Are you kidding? Do you know how awesome it is to get your name in the paper? And I'm surprised that you're not in it, Mal!" Malibu backed away. "Because I don't want my privacy exposed to everypony." He argued back.

Before Dash could reply Rarity spoke again. "Rainbow, why don't you join me in one of these delicious hooficures?"

The cyan blue pegasus felt somewhat nervous now. "It's that good, huh?" Twilight nodded. "Well, maybe just one little hoof."

Malibu didn't see Featherweight in the corner with his camera while Aloe went to try using a hoof filer. She attempted to get close until Dash gave a yelp. "Forget it! I don't like ponies that do my hooves!" She gasped, turning to leave, Malibu laughing quietly until she saw a newspaper. "Man. I would love it if Gabby Gums did a story on me!"

Spike grinned. "She did one on me." All 7 zipped right over, making him yell. "What?!"

….

Over the course of the following days since his mom's article, Malibu decided not to read the paper anymore if it meant reading some uncomfortable news about pony's lives. But he had no idea what he was going to be in for.

One nice afternoon he and Rainbow got to have a picnic date together where nopony else was watching, both laughing and having a good time, until suddenly Rainbow saw a newspaper abandoned nearby, grabbing it.

"Dash, you probably shouldn't. It could be more Gabby Gums gossip," Malibu protested but too late. Rainbow opened, and gasped, her eyes growing big.

"No! NO! How?!" She sobbed, showing it to Malibu. "Rainbow Dash: Speed Demon or Super Softie?" He asked in shock, amazed at how they were getting these pictures. "I'll see you later, gotta stop these from getting out!" Rainbow whimpered, zipping away.

Malibu could understand what was going on, but decided to keep out of it in case he got himself into a gossip article. Eventually he decided to wander through Ponyville to find his other friends, unaware of ponies laughing or making wolf whistles.

What's happening? Why are they all looking at me weird? Malibu questioned himself until one mare stepped up, hearts apparently in her eyes.

"Oh, Prince Malibu! If I am with you, will I be a princess?" She squealed, flapping her wings. Malibu swallowed, turning red, backing up, before running into more mares saying the same thing, face burning with humiliation, running now, a whole herd on his tail, before managing to get into Suagarcube Corner where the others are at.

The rest could see his saddened and humiliated face. "Tell him," whispered Fluttershy softly. "No, you," Twilight hissed back. Malibu's nerves fluttered in worry when Fluttershy, looking saddened, showed him a newspaper.

What he saw, made Malibu realize why the rest of the town was obsessed with him at all. "Prince Malibu ; any commoner mare's dream come true to be a princess? W-what?" He croaked, ears super flat down on his head now, shaking badly, for it was a picture of him and Dash at the picnic; staring lovingly into each other's eyes. "Is… is that why most of the mares were going after me?" He asked.

The others nodded sadly, Malibu covering his eyes. Everypony did know about him dating her before, but this was now making him look like a scandal. This was why he never wanted a story on him! What if his mom saw it?!

Applejack herself was mad too but for something else. "That's not all! Look at this! Applejack: Asleep On The Job! And this one: Big Macintosh: What's He Hiding?" Malibu studied the second picture, seeing that Big Mac was holding a doll that looked terribly familiar to him. "Who the hay does this Gabby Gums think she is?" Snarled AJ.

Twilight herself was pissed. "Listen to this one." She pulled out an article about her. "Twilight Sparkle: I was a Canterlot Snob. A well placed scaly source close to the prissy pony says Twilight Sparkle thinks Ponyville is nothing but muddy roads and low class rubes."

This article was even worse than his. Malibu felt his anger growing by the minute, slowly putting the pieces together at who posted garbage about him. He was gonna have a talk with the cmcs.

"Spike! How could you say such a thing?" Twilight asked in disappointment, Spike looking worried. "Well, I didn't! Gabby Gums made that up! I never said anything like that!"

Rarity began to laugh, which was starting to annoy Malibu that she wasn't even effected by the articles. "Everypony, please! She's just a harmless schoolpony engaged in a little harmless gossip. You're really making too big a deal out of this!" She stated, reading her paper more.

Malibu had enough. "No, Rarity. This about me and Twilight are all lies! I'm not a scandal!" He shouted at her.

"Yes, and Gabby Gums prints whatever she wants. She doesn't care whose reputation she destroys! Fluttershy Has Tail Extensions!" Twilight read aloud, her and Malibu giving Flutter weird looks. She had a humiliated face, ducking behind the counter.

"Pinkie Pie is an Out Of Control Party Animal." Malibu read out loud next, seeing a ridiculous looking picture of the pink earth pony. "WHAT?!" Pinkie shrieked, reading once and soon bursting into tears, literally crying a river out of her eyes. "It's true! I-I do have a problem!" She sobbed.

The young clone hated that the one article was enough to make one of his best friends instatnly cry like that. Twilight eventually saw another. "Oh, according to this one: The Cakes Are Breaking Up!"

Almonst instantly after reading it said couple appeared in seconds. "We are?" Asked Mrs. Cake. To Malibu that was kind of funny until the doors banged open, showing a huge pile of newspapers, which was Rainbow trying to grab all the copies of her story from before.

She hugged Malibu tight. "I tried grabbing as many copies as I could, but it was too late! I am a laughingstock!" Rainbow cried in shame, Malibu doing his best to comfort her but soon showed what they did on him. "If your story is bad, check out this."

Rainbow read the title in shock. "But-but I only want to be with you for you! Not publicity!" Rainbow argued. Malibu nodded. "Now nearly every mare is trying to go after me." He said shakily, looking down.

Twilight turned to Rarity in her anger. "See, Rarity? Your so-called 'harmless gossip' can be very hurtful!"

But as he predicted, Rarity simply shrugged it off. "Honestly, you ponies have no sense of humor! So she tweaks a few ponies every now and then. Maybe they deserv—." She cut herself off, gasping aloud when finally; the paper revealed an article for Rarity. "I'LL DESTROY HER! The Drama Queen Diaries? She's reprinted my diary! How could have Gabby Gums possilby get access to my private diary?!" She wailed, Malibu unable to help the smirk on his face of satisfaction. Now she knew how they felt.

Twilight looked determined. "We've got to put a stop to this once and for all! Rarity, Sweetie Belle's on the newspaper staff. Maybe she knows who Gabby Gums is!"

Rarity gasped again, hooves over her mouth, rightfully so. "My sister would never associate with anyone as beastly as Gabby Gums! I resent you even suggesting such a thing, Twilight! Why, she's the most innocent, most lovely sister! I'll prove you all wrong!" She ran out of the store back to her house to find Sweetie Belle.

Malibu himself didn't like the idea of venturing outside in case the mob try getting at him again, tears falling down his face now that everypony thought of him as a romantic scandal. Rainbow saw it. "Hey, easy. I can help you get home and you can just rest there for a while," She invited, a hoof on his cheek. He smiled at his only special somepony, knowing now this was real love from her.

"Thanks Dash," He sniffled, following her out, instantly being greeted by the crowd of mares.

"Malibu! Be with me!"

"No, me! I'm the better princess than her!" Another mare shouted, pointing at Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow's eyes filled with anger, and she gave out a yell. "BACK… UP… NOW!" She bellowed, making the crowd disperse, managing to get Malibu back to Sweet Apple Acres which he was happy to see again, a place of peace and quiet.

Rainbow walked up with Malibu to the doorway. "If-If there's anything you need, just call me," She said in a sad voice, a wing around him. Malibu just nodded, wanting nothing but to just rest all this humiliation off. He went inside silently, closing the door to the barn behind him.

Big Mac had noticed him coming in but Malibu didn't say anything, flying up into his room and continued to remain there in solitude, thinking he could never ever show his face in Ponyville ever again. Shadow came inside with him, squeaking in sadness.

"Hi boy. I'm glad you can't read," Malibu said with a sad smile, petting his little bat companion until he heard a buzzing from his journal.

Malibu picked it up with his magic, seeing a message from his mom about both of their articles, making him feel nervous again.

Mom, I don't think you're just like everypony else. You're special to me. And who cares what Gabby Gums thinks? But… I'm scared for my future here if the town continues to think of me as a scandal. He wrote in the journal, tears falling more down his face. From Canterlot, Celestia saw his son's fears from that horrible article she too read.

Don't hide from what an article says about you, my dear son. Even if ponies believe you as such an awful lie the paper claims, stand up for yourself. Don't let others drag you down. Malibu gave a tiny smile, almost feeling like he could hear Celestia's comforting words lifting him up, wiping his eyes. Shadow nuzzled him as well. Tomorrow; he was gonna talk to the cmcs about all this.

Yawning from his stressful day, Malibu eventually said good night to his mom and curled up in his bed for the night. While he was talking to his mom the cmcs were facing neglect and hate from their readers after being exposed as Gabby Gums, hoping they can find Malibu and apologize to him but Applejack said they won't let them anywhere near.

…..

The next morning, Malibu woke up early, knowing he had to get to his friends and stop them from posting more gossip, running out without even eating breakfast.

He panted heavily, managing to get to the clubhouse, going up to knock on the door.

The door opened; revealing the three little fillies, who's eyes widened at the sight of him. Malibu gave a little glare, for he was still somewhat mad.

"Oh… hey…" Applebloom greeted with a timid grin.

"So… I'm guessing Diamond Tiara put you up to this? To make me look like a hooligan?" Malibu asked in a stern tone, showing his article to them. Sweetie Belle gulped, nodding. "Rarity caught me with her diary, managing to convince me that maybe what we were doing wasn't a good idea."

Scootaloo's head lowered. "But all we wanted were our cutie marks, and now we've upset everypony!" She said sadly. Malibu didn't realize, gasping slightly. Everypony in town now hated them?

"I don't suppose you have a plan to make up for all the lies?" He asked Applebloom, who nodded. "Yes, if you can help us this time. I now know we should've asked for help ages ago." Malibu agreed. Anything to keep his humiliation at bay. And to keep Diamond Tiara from publishing some embarrassing pictures Malibu learned Featherweight took pictures off while on their first time out as writers. Plus with Diamond forcing them to keep up the gossip with that deal.

"And… we're really sorry." Sweetie Belle said in a saddened tone. Malibu's anger began to fade away when hearing the sincerity in their voices, smiling softly, gesturing them all to doing a hug.

The three fillies stopped at the press to release not a gossip page this time around; but a letter to all of Equestria. It went something like this:

"To the citizens of Ponyville,

For some time now, you've been reading this column to get the latest dirt and the hottest buzz. But this will be my final piece. We want to apologize for the pain and embarrassment we've caused.

Y'see, I'm actually three little fillies, Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo.As the popularity of our column grew, we got swept up in the hype. We knew that what we were doing didn't feel quite right, but we ignored the guilt because everypony seemed to want to read what we were writing."

As the apology letter grew more popular, so did everypony wanting to accept their apology, along with Applejack giving a loving nuzzle to her sister.

"From now on, we promise to respect everypony else's privacy, and we won't engage in hurtful gossip any more. All we can do is ask for your forgiveness, Ponyville.

Signing off for the very last time,

XOXO, Gabby Gums."

That seemed to win the town over, as Cheerilee held another meeting for the Foal Free Press to discuss what had happened, Malibu there with the CMCS, glaring hard at Diamond Tiara. Not only she tricked his friends into making up lying gossip, she bullied both him and his mom to a great extent. Cheerilee looked disappointed in Diamond.

"Well, staff, I guess I gave a little too much authority to our first time editor. I'm sorry, Diamond Tiara. I have to strip you of your title!" Cheerilee stated, kicking the poster of her back up, Diamond growling, stomping back over to the crowd, blowing a raspberry at him and the cmcs. Malibu would forever hate her for threatening blackmail on his friends.

"And for the next editor of the Foal Free Press, here's your new editor-in-chief; Featherweight!" Cheerilee announced, Featherweight coming out with a smile, seeming to be happy not to take photos anymore. Malibu and the others cheered for him.

Diamond huffed. "Him?! But what about me?!" The colt doing the printing press machine put his outfit on her. "Here ya go! I've been promoted to staff photographer!" He said smugly, taking a picture of Diamond Tiara who crashed into the printing machine, getting ink all over her.

The others laughed, Malibu knowing now that the Press will hopefully be in much better hooves now. And nopony was thinking of him as a scandal anymore either which made him feel better, glad that the gossip was no more.

Enjoyed doing the newspaper episode, just one more episode now before the big one! No flame reviews are still welcome!