Mario And Luigi: Friendship Is Magicby That_Random_WriterChaptersChapter 1 - The Nightmare Night ArcChapter 1-Bonus "Sweet Dreams!" (Chapter 1 Epilogue)Chapter 2-1 "Deceptive Cadence" (Chapter 2 Prologue)Chapter 2-2 Part 1 "Changeling Chase/Hisstocrat Swing!"Chapter 2-2 Part 2 "Snakey Chantey/Belly Of The Beast"Chapter 2-3 Part 1 "Manehattan Flip-flops"Chapter 2-3 Part 2 "Factory Shutdown/Showstage Craze"Chapter of King Chryssal, Chrysalis' Father (Bonus)Chapter 2-4 Part 1 "Dangers Along The Way"Chapter 2-4 Part 2 "Lucky Moustache"Chapter 1 - The Nightmare Night ArcChapter 1 - The Nightmare Night Arc Episode 1-1 "News Flash!" (Chapter 1 Prologue) Toad News News flash! Professor E. Gadd has gone into public and announced a new upgraded time machine with the now added ability to travel between dimensions! The Princess of the Mushroom Kingdom herself and the two heroes Mario and Luigi have volunteered to test the new machine in hope to experience something sensational as maybe discovering something worth for history, stay tuned on the public Toad radio network and you might just get to hear a live transmission from E.Gadd's lab. The almighty Koopa King, Bowser, closed the newspaper and simply tore it apart with his fist, a loud irritated growl echoing throughout the throne room as he rose up from his throne. He wasn't very happy with the news, infact he was as not happy as one could get. But a new plan to attempt to kidnap the princess and become the ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom once and for all was slowly edging into his mind and that angry frown soon turned into such a vicious smirk that would make even Adagio feel ashamed. But his deep thinking session was interrupted as his trusty son, Bowser Junior, stepped into the throne room. "Dad, we haven't attempted to kidnap the princess in ages... I'm getting really, really bored!" Bowser Junior said with a whiny voice, all the while looking at the big and menacing Bowser. "Junior, our goal isn't to escape boredom, our goal is to conquer this whole Kingdom!" Bowser threw his arms up into the air as he looked at Bowser Junior, taking a few steps towards him. "But anyhow, that was just what I was about to do when you entered my room. Get the other Koopalings and for Peach's sake, gather up all the minions and we'll strike the Mushroom Kingdom with some real brute force today... you see, they'll not be expecting us this time. Grwahahahaha!" "Uh, right away Bowser! I'm not gonna disappoint you!" Bowser Junior said as he saluted Bowser as a kid playing as a military soldier would do before chuckling and running out of the throne room again. Bowser turned around as his smirk went even bigger as he approached a painting of Princess Peach, looking into the painting's 'eyes' as he slowly put his clawed hand onto her face. "You'll be mine, someday... someday, Peach. 'Cause I'm coming for you, and you cannot escape," he said with a softer variant of his grumbly voice, slowly and creepily caressing Princess Peach's cheek. Mario, Luigi and Peach stood outside the crazy professor E. Gadds laboratorium, it looked eerily similiar to his head, even the chimney was shaped as E. Gadd's little 'spike' of hair. They exchanged looks until Mario finally knocked on the door, a big end of a telescope appearing out of the front lawn, startling Mario and Luigi as they jumped up into the air. "Hehehehe! No reason to be frightened, just come on through, you won't believe your eyes when you see my latest invention," came a voice from a speaker besides the door. Mario and Luigi looked at eachother and began laughing nervously, the princess behind them giggling as well before coming to an end and entering the oddly shaped building. As they entered the main room, they saw the old things from past adventures, like their old companion stuffwell the talking suitcase laying ontop of a operating table. They soon found themselves infront of a door though, and a monitoring screen placed above the door flicked on, starting to display a picture of E. Gadd sitting in his trademark robes with his peculiar glasses. "I hope you see that I've done some modifications to my laboratorium since last time, eh? Well, there's more to see in my exciting underground lab, I'll open up the elevator door and then you can get down here so you can try my newest invention out of course," the picture of E. Gadd says, the elevator door sliding to the side as they all enter, a monitoring screen inside the elevator greeting them as well. The door slides shut and the elevator begins it's descent, the monitor flicking off and on as the picture disappears. A creaking sound begins to burrow into their ears as the elevator stops at it's destination and the three step out as the doors slide at the side, being greeted by the small scientist. "So glad you could all make it! Wasn't so long time ago with you two, Mario and Luigi. But I must say, with you Peach, it must have been when those horrible Shroobs invaded the Mushroom Kingdom. But let us not prolong the fun, yes! I'm sensing that you all are eager to try out my new invention... the P.O.R.T.A.L!" E. Gadd said, smiling at the three as he began leading them through the lab. The group could see many big inventions like bigger Poltergust models and storing tanks filled with a blue liquid and a different creature for each. They finally reached an enormous big ring that was embedded onto an even bigger platform. It was almost mindblowing that one single person had done it. "See? That's what I call the Powerful Ornament Ready To Answer Life, a weird name, yes. But it has a deeper meaning than what you probably think. And either way it's only just a prototype after all," E. Gadd says as he steps onto a smaller platform where a control pad is located, he presses some buttons and some peculiar markings on the ring start glowing as energy starts to build up. "Excuse me, professor. But only a 'Prototype'?" Peach says and quirks an eyebrow, feeling a bit more unsecure than before. "Yes, I hope to make the final version more portable and probably a lot smaller. And to be fueled by something else than sun energy... which is why we have to take this little thing to the land above," E. Gadd says and chuckles, checking to secure if the three are on the platform already, which they are. He immediately presses a button as a hatch above them opens and let's in the sunlight. "You're crazy, have I ever told you that?" Mario says as he looks at E. Gadd, chuckling at himself at the same time. "I don't think so, but now you have. Get ready peeps, we're going up!" E. Gadd says, pressing a big button as the platform starts to shake a bit before slowly travelling upwards through the now open space in the ground, slowly approaching the surface. Mario, Luigi and Peach are standing back to back as the platform rises to the surface, but is shocked as the first thing they see is a very big armada of airships approaching them, accompanied by 8 clown copters. "Get them! Kidnap the princess at all costs!" Bowser Junior shouts as the airship armada closes in, soon precisely above them. "E. Gadd! We've got company!" Mario shouts to E.gadd who suddenly looks up from the control pad, a panic strucken expression on his face as he sees all the airships, probably around 75 of them. "Alright, I'm opening the portal! This will send you all to a random dimension, but at least you'll be safe from these! Hurry up, I gotta make sure to destroy it and then flee and we haven't got enough time!" E. Gadd says as he starts to press what seems to be random buttons as a force field starts to build within the ring, slowly beginning to spin in spirals. "What do you mean with, 'DESTROY' it?! How are we gonna come back?!" Mario shouts as he sees the airships beginning to get closer to the ground as they prepare to land the ground forces and try to defeat Mario and Luigi once and for all. "Don't worry about that, that's why I need time to flee!" E. Gadd shouts as he presses a big blue button on the control pad as the portal shines up and then drags the three nearby people into the portal. He quickly presses it again as the portal powers down and then he is about to press the self destruct button, but suddenly a koopa shell hits him and he falls off the small controlling platform. "You're not going anywhere, nerd," Bowser Junior says as he descends with his clown copter, looking down at E. Gadd on the ground. He quickly flies toward the professor and snaps him up into his clown copter. "Infact, I think my daddy wants to have a quick word with you about that portal, gwehehehe!" "No, leave me be!" E. Gadd shouts before Bowser Junior puts him in a sack and ties it together. As Twilight is studying late at night, a bright light suddenly comes from outside her window and breaks her concentration, she lets out a grumpy sigh and opens the window, just to see that outside the Golden Oak library, a giant swirling portal spits out two odd creatures, before quickly disappearing into thin air, leaving only the two bodies laying on the ground. She didn't know what was going on, but she knew that she had to figure out... Episode 1-2 "Welcome To Ponyville" Sometime during the morning on the day of Nightmare Night "Wakey wakey, or it's going to get shaky!" A loud and high pitched voice shouts as Mario slowly tries to open his eyes, but he lays still in the comfortable bed a little longer as he tries to remember what happened before, the only thing popping up in his head being the portal. Though his room of thinking is broken as two round things grab him by the shoulders and shakes him so much that he gets dizzy. "Teehee! I told you it was going to be shaky!" Mario sits up in what he presumes is a bed and opens his eyes, though the first thing he sees makes him almost leap up into the air and fly further than what he has ever done. A pink strange creature standing on four limbs is looking at him with large eyes and an unusual big smile. "Mama mia! Luigi, run for your life!" Mario shouts instinctively with his Italian accent before looking around the room for Luigi, bursting out in even more panic as he notices that Luigi is gone, but he followed through the portal, Mario remembers that quite well. "Luigi! LUIIIIGIIII!" Mario shouts as he jumps out of the bed, ignoring the pink creature as he walks down the wooden stairs of what seems to be a library because of all the bookshelves around the room. He hears a peculiar bouncing sound and turns around to locate it, and sees that the pink creature is following him, while bouncing. Mario looks at it, which seems to be a her, and then returns to his searching of Luigi. He walks until he finds what is presumeably the living room as the door leading outside is right when he comes down the stairs. He then notices that the door doesn't have a handle. Mario stops in his tracks and turns around, seeing the pink creature still bouncing right behind him with a gleefull face and expression. "And what do you want?" Mario says in a frustrated tone, rolling his eyes as he has had enough of the irritating bouncing sound. "Oh! I want many things, cupcakes, a big cake for my birthday, hmmm let's see here... Ooh! I know! Jenga!" The pink creature says with overdone enthusiasm and Mario takes a step back as his eyes go wide out of fear of the overly positive... thing. "Uh, are there no Toads around I can talk to?" Mario finally says, pressing himself against the wall as he observes the pink creature. "Oh! I usually also talk to Toads, are you a Toad talker too?! Wait, let me introduce you to Pondhopper, the Toad!" The pink creature says and starts digging in her mane with hooves. Mario relaxes and sighs in relief as he watches the weird female pink creature searching for what probably is the Toad. But Mario screams out in shock as the pink pony instead pulls out a massive green toad and holds it out infront of Mario's face. "That's-a not a 'Toad', that's a frog," Mario says, making a deadpan expression towards the toad infront of him. "A frog? Are you crazy!? It's a toad! Just like you said," the pink creature says, now looking at Mario with a hint of frustration in her eyes. "THAT'S-A FROG! AND THAT'S FINAL!" Mario shouts at the pink creature and takes off his cap as he turns around and falls on his knees and starts crying, "Why? Why is Luigi gone? Why is the princess gone? And why did I have to be sent to a dimension where the first person I meet is driving me crazy!? Please answer me, angel Toad." "Oh, that princess isn't gone you know, she's just down in the basement with my friend Twilight," the pink creature says as she lets out a chortle and puts away the toad in her mane again. "And why didn't you tell-a me?! I was-a worried sick!" Mario shouts, his face turning red in anger as he looks at the pink creature. "You never asked, hihihi! My name's Pinkie Pie by the way, and guessing by the 'M' on your cap I'd say you got the cap from your mother?" Pinkie Pie says, giggling as she starts bouncing again. "No! It's a me! Mario! I have the cap because my name is Mario," Mario says as he looks at Pinkie Pie, starting to calm down a bit. "Mario, never heard such a short name before on a pony... I mean uh, whatever you are," Pinkie Pie says, looking at Mario as she puts a hoof to her chin. "Ah! It all makes sense now, you're a pony! Couldn't tell before... because you are coloured pink. And ponies aren't pink. But enough with that, where's the basement?" Mario says, looking at Pinkie Pie. "Well, I can show you. Just follow me!" Pinkie says as she turns around and bounces towards another door within the living room, she quickly pushes it open and heads down the staircase with Mario just behind her. When they arrive at the basement Mario can see a purple pony sitting by a table holding a tea cup that's covered with some magic aura, next to the purple pony he sees Princess Peach holding a tea cup and talking about something. "Oh, Mario!" Peach says as she suddenly looks to the side at Mario and Pinkie Pie. She stands up and runs foward as she pulls Mario into a tight hug. "I was so worried, but I knew you were okay!" Mario says as he returns the hug, before letting go and looking around the room. "But where's Luigi?" "...Luigi?" Peach says, her expression changing from that of joy to shock as she covers her mouth with her hands in panic. "Oh my goodness, Luigi isn't here, I didn't notice!" The purple pony, who Mario assumes is Twilight looks at them and finishes her tea, "Who is Luigi? Only you two came through that portal, I didn't see anyone else," Twilight says, looking at the two with a bit of concern. "It's-a my bro! Luigi, he looks like me but he is taller, and wears a green cap with an 'L' on it," Mario says as he looks at Twilight. "It could be possible that the portal couldn't handle three life forms at once if as you said, Peach, you all quickly opened and then shut off it even quicker, which would result that this Luigi got sent to somewhere else or possibly even a different dimension," Twilight says as she levitates a chalk infront of her and starts to write down calculations on the wall. "But you see, these portal's need an energy source to open within other dimensions as well, and your portal opened next to my library since my Alicorn magic probably acted as a beacon in the dark night. And the only other active magical places during night in Equestria would either be the Crystal Empire, Canterlot or the Everfree Forest." "You mean Luigi probably landed in one of those places?" Peach says as she looks at Twilight. "According to my theory, yes, but that's only my theory. He could be Celestia knows where!" Twilight says as she flails her hooves around to emphasize her point. "Oh, that's right, Celestia knows where!" Twilight says and chuckles. "Who's 'Celestia'?" Mario says as he raises an eyebrow and looks at the surprisingly intelligent pony, Twilight. "The princess of Equestria and the one who raises the sun, my former mentor as well as a sidenote," Twilight says and smiles, "Pinkie Pie, Peach, Mario. Let's make haste towards Canterlot!" Twilight says as she places her hoof in the air, looking at the others. "Luigi here we come!" Peach says as she lays her hand ontop of Twilight's hoof. "Let's-a go!" Mario says, adding his hand to the mix. "Okiee dokiee lokiee mokiee!" Pinkie says, placing her hoof in the middle as she receives a weird glance from Mario and Peach before they all finish the group gesture. She puts her hoof under her chin and starts pondering a bit as she then looks at Twilight; "Don't you think two weird creatures walking on two legs would cause quite a commotion on a train to Canterlot though? I'd say we wait a while until the night arrives, everypony is going to dress up as something this Nightmare Night for sure!" Twilight stares at Pinkie Pie for a while before sighing and hoofpalming, "You're right, Pinkie Pie. I almost forgot about that small detail, well. Mario, Peach, looks like we'll have to wait until everybody starts trick or treating." "Well, as long as-a I get to my bro I'll be just fine," Mario says, sighing and sitting down on a chair. And so the waiting game could begin... E. Gadd felt himself being dragged along many corridors until he was tossed forward, a couple of seconds passed and then later someone opened the bag he was trapped in. But if he had chosen, he had chosen to stay. Because before him stood the evil tyrant, Bowser, and he was grinning menacingly as he circled around E. Gadd as a shark. "Do you know what I strive for, professor? It's not like I kidnap the princess because I feel good about Mario stomping my bottom everytime he reaches my castle, without me doing any real resistance. It is because I can feel superior, and I want to attempt to rule this pathetic kingdom. But you know as well as I that if you get rid of one hero, someone else will take that place. But now with all heroes gone in another dimension and nobody to rule the kingdom except that puny little King Toadstool, I guess that make my chances very big of succeeding? Yes? Well, no it doesn't. Because I also strive for love... and that love is for that blonde princess, but the bad guy never gets his cake... you know? Without me, Mario wouldn't have anyone to save and therefore he wouldn't be the hero he is today... only a fat plumber." Bowser says, walking back and forth as he keeps rambling about different stuff, E. Gadd thinks that it's mildly uninteresting but it isn't like he has a choice. "But on to the real point here, you made the portal, you opened the portal and you closed the portal. I just want you to re-open it again, so I can also be apart of the test subjects, and I of course want to get rid of Mario and Luigi for good." Bowser says, his tall figure looming over E. Gadd as he crouches down slightly, looking the professor straight into the eyes. "And you think I'll do that? You're just a big spiky ol' koopa with the thinking capabilities of a Goomba! You've got no heart and you're just a big growling Koopa who happens to have a very bad breath!" E. Gadd shouts at Bowser as he takes a brave stance, but regrets his choice of words as he sees Bowser's anger boiling up. "GRRRRWWAAAAAAAGH! You have the guts to insult me, the king of Koopas, in my own throne chamber?!" Bowser roars, shooting a rain of blue fire over E. Gadd's head as he then grabs the professor in his clawed hand and lifts him up from the ground. "I'm currently rethinking that thing about sparing your life even if you open the portal for me, little guy. Besides, plenty of my minions could probably open it themselves if I would let them have more time... but I don't. My orders to them were to get the princess as fast as possible." "Then why are you forcing me to do it?!" E. Gadd shouts, still feeling brave even though he is in Bowser's grasp. But that changes as Bowser squeezes the professor a little bit in his grip. "Because, we need you to get back, E. Gadd. And even if you refuse to get us back we'll only settle down in the other dimension and keep Mario and Luigi as my personal slaves and Princess Peach as my all lovingly wife, and if the dimension happens to have lifeforms we'll just rule over them as well. So you see, professor. I have my reasons," Bowser says, becoming more deceptive and generous in his voice. "Wait, you're sending the entire Koopa army through the gate? That would be impossible! You'd only end up creating a dimensional rift with that amount of life energy entering at once, not only that. But what if the other dimension is unhabitable, your whole army will be desolated to nothing!" E. Gadd says, struggling a bit against the hand that squeezes tighter for each second. "Well, yes I am. But not at once of course, we have to send some through first and if they don't return then we'll know or not. But it's your choice, E. Gadd. Save yourself or desperately make a futile attempt to block us from going through, which we will be forced to do by ourselves if you're not able to cooperate," Bowser says as he begins to slowly walk back to his throne and sits down, releasing the grasp of E. Gadd as he drops to the floor, looking up at Bowser. "For the last time, I'm not doing it!" E. Gadd says, standing up as he looks at Bowser who's grinning menacingly. "Then that leaves me to no choice, I'll destroy all your inventions except the dimensional portal and we'll open it by ourselves as you spend your time in a cold and empty prison within my castle for the rest of your life... imagine for yourself. You'll lose everything you had and you'll lose the ability to move on from that point as you won't be able to engineer anything in the prison chamber. Or, you could just help me out and open that portal, and I won't even touch your inventions or you. Even after I take command over the Mushroom Kingdom," Bowser says, looking at E. Gadd as the professor freezes in his place and his face turns pale. Bowser knows he now has the puny professor at his will and he can't help to laugh menacingly about it. "Well... I... uhm..." E. Gadd stops in his place as he can't help but think about anything else than his inventions, before suddenly he gives up and sits down on the ground. "You win, Bowser... but you better keep that promise, or I'll not even open up the portal again for you," E. Gadd says and looks up at Bowser on his throne. "Gwahahaha! Perfect, see? That wasn't so hard after all now was it? Now, we better make haste to your lab so we can finally get this over with," Bowser says, climbing down from his throne as he grabs the professor once again and heads out the door. Ghost House Episode 1-3 "Where Was Luigi?" At the same time when Mario and Peach got out of the portal, another portal opened somewhere in the Everfree Forest. Luigi suddenly got thrown out of the twirling vortex that was the portal right into the pitch black night, landing on safe ground, he could hear the portal quickly close behind him and he groaned as he slowly sat up. As he began taking in his surroundings he started shivering, in the middle of the night he was out in a spooky forest filled with ghostly looking trees and what looked to be predatory plants, and the fact that it seemed like glowing eyes were always staring at him didn't help his psyche in the moment, he backed away slowly from the clearing. But suddenly he got stopped by a tree behind him with razor sharp claws and a nasty grin on it's face. "M-M-M-MAAAAAARIO!" Luigi shouted until he realised that the tree was actually not alive, it was just how it looked. He slowly pulled out his flashlight that he always had with him since his adventures with King Boo and activated it, still seeing the forest very clearly before suddenly a thick mist started to cover the surroundings, only granting him vision for one meter ahead. Mysterious buzzing sounds like that of a bee and faint whispers suddenly filled the eerily silent air, Luigi didn't want to know what did that sound and simply kept his guard up as he kept moving forward, turning around now and then to see if he was being followed by a ghost or something. "This is not fun, Mario!" Luigi shouts as he keeps moving forward, stumbling over a root above ground as he falls forward and starts rolling down a hill. When he eventually stops rolling he sits up and rubs his head as he takes in his surroundings, the mist has disappeared and it's quite empty, a few meters away there's some ruins of what looks to be a castle connected to the place he is at with a rope bridge. "Hnnngh, couldn't E. Gadd have sent me to a land full of sweets and candy instead?" Luigi says and stands up, activating his flashlight and moving over to a wooden rope bridge. "Oh no, I'm-a not going over that bridge, there's no way," Luigi says as he crosses his arms and tries to find another way around. When he turns around though, he sees an odd shadow approaching, he can't make out what it is but he has no intentions to stay around and find out as he quickly turns around and runs for his life across the rope bridge, reaching the other end in what seems like only two seconds but he doesn't stop there as he continues running forward, finally coming to a stop within the ruins. Luigi forces the door to the main entrance shut as he blocks it with a couple of stones laying nearby before finally sighing in relief. But as he turns around his face turns pale as he notices that the castle is filled with spooky webs and dusty old books and such. "Why doesn't this nightmare ever end?!" Luigi shouts, sitting down on the floor as he starts to nibble on his nails through his white gloves, almost breaking into tears as he wonders what happened to Peach and Mario. Though as he looks forward he sees a familiar shadowy figure in the distance sitting on what seems to be a throne, he quickly stands up and walks closer. As he gets closer he sees that the figure herself is Princess Peach herself. He is immediately filled with cheer and runs up to her. "Peach! So good to see in this horrid place!" Luigi shouts, running forward and hugging Peach but just as he touches her, the body dissipates into the thin air like a ghost and he is left standing there with empty arms and the eerie silence of the ruins. Luigi turns around and frowns, sitting back on the throne as he let's out a complaining sigh, before looking up as he hears strange noises of that of a horse shoe wandering through the halls. He quickly goes into a fetal position on the throne and covers his ears with his hands as he shuts his eyes, and just as he does, the sounds of the horse shoes get closer and closer before finally stopping. "Do not fret, I assure you, a dangerous thing you haven't met," a poethic voice says, speaking in rhymes. "You're a creature I've never seen before, which makes my curiousity expand more." Luigi doesn't say anything in response but he opens his eyes and continues to shiver as he sits up normally on the throne, before him a four legged creature (like a horse but with stripes) stands and looks at him with friendly eyes. His expression changes from that of a frown and turns into a smile. "Imma Luigi, I come from the Mushroom Kingdom and we went through this crazy portal and now I can't find my bro and the princess." "Ah, so I see, but I suppose I'll give you some basic information about me. My name is Zecora, I live in these woods. But why you have entered this castle I ponder, it's not like you were taken by it's wonder," Zecora says, looking at Luigi all the while. "I don't know, I just wanted to find a safe place... but this place is even scarier than the woods outside," Luigi says, a smile slowly warming up his body again as he stands up from the throne, looking at Zecora. "If that's the case, then we should make our way to my hut in haste. This castle is a dangerous place at night, mischievous ghosts live here and they like to cause fright in the hearts of those foolish enough to enter," Zecora says as a devilish child-like laughter echoes through the hall, all lit candles slowly dissipating as everything goes pitch black, except where the moonlight shines through some holes in the wall. "Mama Mia! Why does this always happen to me?!" Luigi screams as he pulls out his flashlight in panic and activates it, illuminating a great portion of the hallway infront of them. "Impressive... such a powerful illumination spell, it lights up the halls quite well!" Zecora says and smiles at Luigi, looking at the weird wand that he holds in his hand. "No, this is a flashlight, it runs on batteries," Luigi says, chuckling nervously as he still shivers from the thought of there being ghosts here that wants to scare him. "Strange words you pronounce, but let us not waste our time and get out of here at once!" Zecora says as she starts walking through the hallway, followed by Luigi who is nibbling on his nails, now and then looking backwards and lighting up the whole throne room. "Boo! Hyahyahya!" A ghost with razor sharp teeth and purple glowing eyes shouts as it appears from the floor, heading towards Luigi but right then he charges up his flashlight in panic and activates it again, stunning the ghost for a few seconds as it puts up a confused expression and then flies into a bookshelf on the left side of the hallway. "Hurry up! You just made them angry!" Zecora shouts as she begins running through the corridor as she sees the main gate ahead, followed by the now scared for life Luigi who is running as fast as possible, trying to keep up with the four legged runner. "Where ya goin'?!" The same ghost says as it appears out of another bookshelf followed by flying books with eyes and razor sharp teeth, they immediately start to fly against Luigi and Zecora but Luigi simply puts his flashlight in his pocket and quickly builds up a small spark in his finger and then as it grows he finally sends the bolt of lightling flying, hitting one possessed book and then quickly spreading to all the others as they drop to the ground and turn into normal books again. "Not cool, hehehe!" The ghost flies up into the roof and disappears. "Luigi, I am in your debt, but we gotta get out of here or as wandering souls we will be kept," Zecora says, hearing the pipe organ beginning to play as many traps activate, now they just have to be sure not to accidently trigger one. "I'm sorry, but my bro and the princess must be around here somewhere. Because one of those ghosts took on the appearance of Princess Peach!" Luigi says, switching on the darklight mode, seeing the traces of the ghost who disappeared. "We're gonna go ghost hunting!" "I admire your enthusiasm, but these ghosts aren't just made of ectoplasm!" Zecora says as she stops running, looking at Luigi who begins to trail off, following the traces of the ghost. "I know, but boo's aren't all made of ectoplasm either," Luigi says, coming to an end as he sees the trail leading down a pitch black staircase into what probably is a basement. "Not a smart idea to go down there, it'll only give you an everlasting nightmare. Those ponies who venture into this castle and go down those stairs never come back" Zecora says, feeling quite worried about the sudden braveness from what seemed to be the most easily scared person in the world next to Fluttershy. "I'll do anything for my bro, and either way, me and him defeated the embodyment of Nightmares once." Luigi says as he hesitates to go down the staircase, but is filled with braveness as he thinks about all the other times he has gone ghost hunting. "Your stubborness is surprising, but to be sure that you'll be okay you have me to bring," Zecora says as she follows behind Luigi as they both slowly walk down the staircase. But Zecora's guts twist in place as she hears the pipe organ play again and tries to grab onto Luigi to pull him up but he doesn't stop walking and suddenly the stairs turns and the flat surface is where they were standing moments before. They both release a complaining sigh and falls, quickly sliding down the stairs as they soon hit the floor of the basement very hard, Luigi taking all the impact of course. "Don't say I didn't warn you," Zecora says, grunting as she steps up and tries to fix her bruised fur. "Imma sorry for that, Zecora," Luigi says, rubbing his head as he stands up. The two look around the room and notice that it doesn't look like a basement or part of the castle actually, the ground is moist and made of some black kind of organic chitin, a green glowing source also lights up the whole room, even up in the roof hanging green lamps illuminate the room and even on the floor infront of them, green orbs are laying everywhere in the room, covering most of the surface. The two give eachother a glance and then looks forward again with uncertainty. "This doesn't remind me of any ghosts I've ever seen before," Luigi says, taking a step forward into the chamber, being careful not to touch any of the green orbs. Zecora only stands still and stares, she knows this is very familiar, and it is not ghost related. As she continues to ponder, she hears a very loud thud as her focus changes to Luigi who looks to have tripped over something and landed on one of the green orbs which has begun to glow ominously. Just as she looks at the lamps hanging from the ceiling she notices that they are green pods containing pony bodies and in the middle of the chamber a big green orb is positioned, looking more like an egg. That's when she realises what they've stumbled into, a changeling nest! "Luigi, we have to hide, quickly!" Zecora says, her poethic voice changing into that of a very shaky and distressed voice. Luigi quickly rises up and accidently backs up into another orb and it begins to glow, he quickly starts to panic and runs over to Zecora, touching about 13 more of the green orbs on his way back. The two hide behind a corner, peeking through a small hole in the insect-like structured wall. "What's happening, Zecora?" Luigi whispers, looking at Zecora who's expression has freezed into someone who has just seen a ghost, her face turning pale with each moment. "Those are changeling eggs, the changelings are a long lost enemy and I thought they would never return..." Zecora whispers back, having completely abandoned the rhyming in this moment as she looks through the hole. Suddenly the first egg that Luigi touched begins changing shape into a pony shape, the features of the changeling becoming visible almost immediately. It looks around the chamber and uses it's horn to scan the chamber, but luckily Luigi and Zecora are standing outside. It stands still for a second before sniffing on the ground, tracing up Luigi's unfamiliar human scent. It doesn't know what creature it is and only get's more curious as it begins to follow the trace. Luigi quickly prepares a small spark in his hand as the changeling approaches, fearing the worst. They hear the clicking sound of the changeling's insectoid legs getting closer and closer until they can even hear it breathing just around the corner. Luigi closes his eyes and quickly fires away the lightning bolt he summoned in his hand, electrifying the creature as it begins to shriek until it drops to the floor and evaporates into simple green dust. "What just happened?" Luigi asks, looking at Zecora. "You, you defeated a changeling," Zecora says, looking at Luigi in awe. "But we have to find a way out, I think I can see a door on the opposite side of the room, the question is to get there." "We just have to be really careful and not be clumsy, like me... hehe," Luigi says, pulling on the neck of his green overall, chuckling nervously. "Follow me," Zecora says and takes the lead, quickly running into the open as she then realises that Luigi didn't just stumble over one egg, but it's too late as the thirteen eggs that Luigi touched transform into changelings and glare at the two, but instead of attacking they all just stand there and glare. "I. Just. Wanna. Go. Home!" Luigi says to himself, following after Zecora as they walk along the wall, pressing themselves desperately against the wall behind them to not accidently awaken even more changelings. Suddenly as Luigi and Zecora cast a glance over to the thirteen changelings they see the changelings transform into a perfect replica of Luigi and they all grin, running around as they touch every changeling egg possible. "RUN!" Zecora shouts back at Luigi as she begins running, ignoring that she accidently touches many eggs all the while. "HOW DID THEY DO THAT?!" Luigi shouts as he runs for his life, running past Zecora in just a few seconds as he keeps running forward to the opposite side. Suddenly the whole room gets illuminated by a strong green light as almost every orb transform into the changeling form, including the massive egg. Zecora and Luigi starts to run as if they we're being chased by a black hole and finally reached the door, but just as they did the slender insectoid form of the changeling queen, Chrysalis, landed before them. "Welcome to my egg chamber," The queen says, her voice sounding demented and as if it were hundred voices in one. "Who is that, Zecora?" Luigi whispers into Zecora's equine ear and takes a step back. "Oh, but I am the lovely queen Chrysalis! And infact, when I said lovely I meant literally lovely. I can already tell that you're a promising specimen just filled with passion," Chrysalis says before Zecora has the chance to open her mouth, she has a sly smirk on her face and gets dangerously close to Zecora and Luigi as she begins to slowly circle them. Soon many other changelings appear on the sides and surrounds them as well. "You're the one who controls the ghosts?" Luigi says naively, looking at Chrysalis. "Ghosts? What are you talking about? Do these really look like ghosts?" Chrysalis says, looking a bit dumbfounded as she looks over to her beloved changelings. "Clearly not her at least..." Luigi mumbles to himself, looking at Chrysalis as she gets even closer, invading their personal space. "What kind of species are you, green creature with an 'L' on his hat? I think I've never seen something so tasty, just let me take a look!" Chrysalis says as she grins and puts her horn against Luigi's forehead, activating her magic as she goes deep into Luigi's mind, extracting all information and memories of his life, even ones he can't remember. Luigi's face goes slack as Chrysalis continues her magic on his head, before finally stopping and taking some steps back. "Yes! YES! That Princess Peach is the key to ruling Equestria! Her everlasting power of love surprises me, even stronger than that of Princess Cadance," Chrysalis says as she her tongue lolls out of her mouth as she begins to drool of the taste sample of the love from Princess Peach. Luigi slightly nudges Zecora and points at the open door, slowly gliding backwards as Chrysalis and the other changelings who probably share the same hive mind by the looks of it is in their own world. They finally reach the door and they both leap forward through the opening, slamming the door shut as Luigi fetches a nearby chair and puts it against the door. "This is bad! I gotta find the princess, and Mario!" Luigi says, hearing the confused sounds of the changelings on the other side of the door. "Hmm, if Chrysalis gets enough power to rule Equestria it'll only end bad, but the loss of your friends is really sad. We'll have to find them, before this turns into total mayhem! Though, the best way to find them would be to ask a certain Alicorn." Zecora says, using her more relaxed and poethic voice again as she looks at Luigi. "Alicorn? What's that?" Luigi says, looking around the dust covered old room, seeing a staircase in the right corner. "In time, you will understand," Zecora says, taking the lead as she walks towards the stairs. "But that'll have to wait until morning, we still need some new energy after that little adventure." The two of them ventured out of the castle, though they didn't notice that some angry and vengeful ghosts were hot on their heels... A real Nightmare Night awaited them. The swirling blue neon light of the portal illuminated the dark night in the Mushroom Kingdom. Bowser stood proudly upon a mobile throne with properly arranged Koopa elite forces standing in two lines behind him, these were equipped and combat ready Koopas though, they had plating over places where their shell couldn't protect them and they all carried spears. Bowser chuckled menacingly and slowly got off his throne, looking at Bowser Junior as he approaches. "Son! Take over the Mushroom Kingdom for me, and see to that this portal is open for two days straight, you hear me? Two days straight! We want to get in and we're gonna return, with the princess," Bowser says, crouching down as he tries to be at eye level with his son. "Just call upon us for reinforcements, daddy. I'd be happy to oblige," Bowser Junior says, bowing down as he looks up at Bowser, seeing a wide warmhearted smile on the big Koopa's face. "You're shaping up to be just like me, act nice and you might even get your own kingdom to rule over one day," Bowser says as he rubs the little tuft of hair on Bowser Junior's head before standing up again and walking over to the portal. "Minions! Today we gather, because we are tired of being beaten, over and over and over again. Today we gather, because we must fulfill our destiny. Some may fall, some may stand, some may even get remembered in Koopa history. You're all loyal servants to Bowser, me. But in choosing that trust in me, I must give what I have promised back to you all. So let's do this once and for all, let's do this... for Peach!" Bowser says, facing the army he is going to use to invade the unknown dimension, they are all cheering for him and some are even crying in joy. "We have been kicked around as shells for far too long, it's about time, that those plumbers get their own pipes handed to them!" Bowser shouts as he quickly turns around and is about to enter the portal when Bowser Junior runs infront of it and holds his arms out. "Papa! Let me take care of Peach! I know I have failed you so many times before, but I want to prove to you, that I am truly your son. Just let me have a chance with the airship armada, and if that doesn't work. I'll give you the pleasure to do your worst to break those red and green monsters," Bowser Junior said as he looked up at Bowser with a proud stance, trying not to fall backwards into the portal as he was standing on the ledge. "Junior, you know what? You've enthusiasm is actually quite convincing, though I'm not staying here this time. So what I propose to you is instead an offer to come with me and we'll do this together, father and son. Heck, I might as well bring Kamek with us incase something happens, am I right?" Bowser says as he chuckles and lifts up his son a bit carefully and puts him ontop of his head. "Well, who is gonna be in charge then?" Bowser Junior says as he grabs onto Bowser's horns to keep steady on his head. "I'll leave that to the Koopalings, they'll find a way to keep it organized... I hope. Now! Forward until we find those wretched 'heroes'! You know, the plague won't disappear by itself," Bowser says as he quickly jumps down into the blue swirling portal, followed by the marching elite Koopa army who were ready to hunt down the ones who has killed many dear friends to them. Episode 1-4 "Reunion" The night of Nightmare Night had finally arrived, and this year had been guaranteed to be the most haunted one yet, their predictions were soon to come true Luigi and Zecora walked out of the haunted Everfree forest and yawned as they entered the small dirt path that led to Ponyville, they had gotten lost while walking through the Everfree forest and they saw that the night was soon upon them yet again. Zecora looked at Luigi who was struggling to not fall asleep, and she could see his willpower fading away each and every second. She couldn't blame him though as she also felt like just dropping to the ground and taking a five minute rest just to get some replenished energy, but she had to get to Twilight's library, and they were so close now. Suddenly she hears Luigi's heavy body slump to the ground, followed by a long series of snoring. She turns around and lifts him up onto her back as she gathers the last of her energy and walks over to Ponyville, hearing the omnious laughing of ghosts. Nightmare Night had begun... "Mario!" Mario heard as he was awoken from his deep slumber, he had fallen asleep on the chair while he had waited for whatever they were waiting for. He opened his eyes and saw that Peach was just about to give him a slap for not waking up, sometimes he considers himself lucky not to be as stubborn with sleeping as Luigi is. He got off the chair and stood up, looking around the basement, seeing that Twilight and that other pink pony Pinkie Pie was gone. "What is it, Princess?" Mario said, looking at Peach. "Twilight told me to wake you up, Nightmare Night has just begun. It's pretty much just Halloween, some kids just came by and trick or treated and told me I had a very spooky outfit," Peach said as she made a grumpy sigh. "You, spooky? Where are-a they?! I'll-a make them get the Bowser treatment!" Mario said as his Italian temperament started rising, his face red with anger. "Calm down, Mario. They're just kids after all, and I suppose they're not used to creatures like us," Peach said as she laid a hand upon Mario's left shoulder, trying to calm him down. "Huh, true I suppose. But I'm-a not gonna let you get disgraced like that again!" Mario said as he straightened his back and tried to look like a gentleman. "You two coming or not?!" A somewhat impatient Twilight shouted from upstairs, Mario and Peach looked at eachother and chuckled as they turned towards the stairs and walked up. "Sorry for delaying, Princess Twilight. But we're here now, so ready to go?" Peach said as she got up from the stairs and looked at Twilight who was fixing some sort of suit that looked like a Magikoopa but with a long white beard. "Hang on a second, just fixing my Starswirl The Bearded costume, he was the greatest unicorn ever to be born, almost as strong with his magical powers as an Alicorn," Twilight said as she stood infront of a mirror and properly arranged her fake beard. "We'll have to team up with the others and my personal assistant Spike on the way to the train station, they said they also wanted to come with us." "The others?" Mario said as he looked at Twilight and raised an eyebrow. "Yes, the best friends one could imagine, we have Applejack, who's the most reliable and honest pony you could think of. Then we have Fluttershy who's the kindest pony alive, Rainbow Dash, the most loyal and athletic pony around, though her ego can sometimes drive one insane she has gotten a lot better since I first met her. Then we have Rarity, who's the most generous of the bunch besides Fluttershy and a very nice pony to talk to if you're interested in 'girly' stuff. And you two already know Pinkie Pie of course," Twilight said as she fixed the last details to her Starswirl costume. "It'll be a pleasure to get to meet your friends, Twilight. They sound like wonderful peop- ponies," Peach said as she smiled and looked at Twilight as the purple pony turned around and walked towards the door. "Then let us not waste anymore time around here, you two already look properly prepared for a Nightmare Night so let's go everypony!" Twilight said as she was about to open the door to the outside world, but as someone knocked on the door she sighed and opened it slowly, prepared to face some small trick or treaters. But what she saw was a pleasant surprise, outside the door stood Zecora, she carried a human on her back from the looks of it that looked like Mario but was taller and had a green overall and green cap instead of red clothes. "Ah, Zecora. So good to see you here, but aren't you supposed to show the small fillies and colts the yearly tradition of offering candy to Nightmare Moon in like, one hour?" "That doesn't matter Twilight, I have both bad news and good news this haunted night," Zecora said as she slowly staggered into the library, her eyes almost half lidded as she tried to stay awake. Mario couldn't believe his eyes as the weird striped pony came walking in, she was carrying his beloved brother! Without thinking he ran forward and hugged both Zecora and the sleeping Luigi. "Ah! Lugi! I missed-a you so much!" Zecora looked at Mario and her eyes widened in surprise as he started hugging her and the deadweight on her back. "Hm, You are Mario perhaps? You and this tired big thing on my back wears almost the same caps." "Yes, I'm-a Mario! Luigi is-a my only bro, and I got-a so worried when he-a didn't land at the same place as-a me and-a Princess Peach while going through that portal. Thank you so-a much for finding him," Mario said as he kept hugging both Zecora and Luigi, turning his head to look to face Zecora. Luigi slowly woke up as he felt the strong familiar arms hugging him tight and opened his eyes, yawning as he looked at Mario but then jumped off Zecora's back while still hugging Mario. "Mario! I was so scared! I thought I was going to be separated from you forever!" He shouted as he began crying in joy, his tears raining down onto the floor. Twilight and Peach observed the family reunion from the other side of the room as they exchanged a giggle before turning serious as Zecora pushed her way out of the hug and walked over to them. "Twilight, the Changelings are about to return and they are seeking out a certain Princess Peach to rebuild their might," Zecora said as she looked at Twilight with a worried expression. "The Changelings want Princess Peach?! But she's right here, we were just about to catch the night train to Canterlot to find Luigi, but it seems he has found us instead," Twilight said as she pointed towards Peach, starting to panic as memories from the Canterlot wedding starts to pop up in her head. "Then Canterlot would be the best move either way, Celestia can provide protection as you all enjoy your stay," Zecora said with a smile, the lack of sleep starting to catch up on her again as she takes a few steps back and relaxes against the wall. "Are you okay, Zecora? You look very tired, you sure you're gonna be able to hold out the night with the small fillies and colts?" Twilight said with a concerned voice as she laid her hoof on Zecora's shoulder. "Yes, a little rest is all that is needed I guess," Zecora said as she shut her eyes and lets out a sigh. "Okay, Mario, Luigi, Peach. You all ready for your first Nightmare Night?" Twilight said, patting Zecora on her head before turning around and looking at all the three humans. "Let's-a go!" Mario said, doing a heroic pose next to Luigi. "Okiee dokiee!" Luigi said, striking a heroic pose but almost stumbling over himself as he fails to look as good as Mario. "It's nice to see you two reunited again, and let's give these changelings something to remember if they happen to get in our way," Peach said with a somewhat mischievous smirk, ready to head to the place called Canterlot. Chapter 1 - The Nightmare Night Arc FINALE - Part 1 One hour before midnight Twilight opened the door and walked outside, followed by Luigi, Mario and Peach. But Luigi clinged onto Mario as he saw that the streets were filled with hideous ghosts and monsters, Mario himself even felt uneasy about this and grabbed Peach's hand as he continued to walk after Twilight. Twilight sighed as she looked back at the two brothers and stopped walking as she turned around. "You do know these are just young ponies and some adults, they're just dressed up because that is a tradition. No need to look like two chickens amongst one hundred foxes." "Ooooh, heehee. Sorry for that, Twilight," Luigi said as he rubbed the back of his head in shame and chuckled nervously, letting go of Mario as they continued to head towards the place they were going to meet up with Twilight's other friends. They continued walking, but something caught Luigi's interest as he stopped by an enormous tent that had a sign saying that they were giving out "ghost busting" vacuum cleaners as a price for winning a contest, without thinking he quickly walked into the tent, leaving his friends behind. Though as he entered it, iron bars went up and sealed the entrance behind him. It didn't help that the inside of the tent was completely dark and he couldn't see a thing. He instinctively grabbed his flashlight and charged it up as he pressed the button and illuminated most of the tent. It looked like any other circus tent, though it had a bit of an eriee atmosphere in it's own way, with the brightly coloured checkered pattern on the wall combined with the silent and empty room. Though suddenly Luigi heard a distorted music box starting to play a repetitive spooky tune. "Welcome, Luigi! To the haunted carnival of DOOM! Teehee, this contest is all about good ol' fun. And the price is something from your memories, in this case, a Poltergust 5000 straight from your dimension. Now, the rules are simply: don't make it boring!" a mischievous voice echoed throughout the tent and suddenly Luigi heard the familiar evil laughs that come only from one thing; a boo. He turned around and dropped his flashlight on the floor as he stood face to face to a big boo, it had razor sharp teeth and a long tongue that hanged all the way down to the sandy floor of the tent. "Mama Mia! M-Mario! Help me!" Luigi shouted as he dove down and grabbed his flashlight and quickly crawled away as the big boo started chasing him. "We should be there quite soon, let's just hope none of them arrive late," Twilight said as she turned at a corner and walked into another crowded streetway full with ponies enjoying their night. "Twilight, just how are these friends of yours?" Peach asked as she walked up next to Twilight. "Well, that'd be easy to explain. First off we have Applejack, you can always depend on her if anything goes wrong and she's a very good friend, but her stubbornness and dedication to her own pride can be quite a pain in the rear some time. Fluttershy is quite self explanatory, she's shy, but also the kindest pony I can think of. Then we have Rarity, who is very generous but mostly just cares about fashion and being popular, and when she gets to see you I bet she'll freak out because you're a princess. Rainbow Dash is very loyal, and she's very athletic and suffers from her big ego sometimes, but once you get to know her she can surprise you sometimes with what she is capable of, and that's not just within the athletic area. And you already know Pinkie Pie of course," Twilight said whilst walking through the crowd and looking at Peach, Mario didn't care to listen, he was more concerned just to get his damsel in a safe place before anything would happen to her, it'd be a pain if he had to do the usual thing and rescue her from some bad guy with a castle. Suddenly they turned into a alleyway and standing before them in a ring were six ponies and a small purple reptile thing, Peach and Mario guessed they were Twilight's friends. "Hello there girls... -and Spike. Glad you could all make in time! So up for some planning?" Twilight said as she walked up to her friends and looked at them, but they weren't looking at her, they were busy inspecting the weird creatures standing on two legs. "What in tha whole tarnation are those things?" an orange pony wearing a cowboy hat said, looking at Peach and Mario. "Well, it's-a me! Mario!" Mario shouted as he made a small jump into the air with his fist punching upwards. "Oh, and I'm princess peach," Peach said calmly and smiled, looking at all the ponies. "They're some kind of mutant ponies from a different universe, they came here in some weird alien portal and now they're stranded, isn't it the coolest thing ever you guys?! AM I RIGHT?" Pinkie said as she bounced around in excitement before stopping to a halt next to Mario only to wrap a hoof around his shoulder. "Uh, I don't know, Pinkie. They look kind of off... like, they have no fur, but that princess has a mane and that weird thing has a moustache," Rainbow Dash said as she raised an eyebrow and kept looking at the two weird creatures. "Don't worry, Rainbow. They're humans from another dimension, they fled here because they got ambushed by some evil army and got stranded here and they have no clue of how to come back, and now Queen Chrysalis has returned and is going to stop at nothing to retrieve the princess," Twilight said as she looked back at Peach and Mario, suddenly noticing that the green brother was not there, her mouth fell agape and her eyes enlarged in shock. "You! Princess! Haven't you noticed how bruised your dress is?! I mean, darling, it could need some serious refining, a princess can't look like they just came out of battle, it's so unladylike. Luckily for you, I just happen to own a dress store!" a white pony Peach assumed to be Rarity said as she walked up to her and started to grab a bit of the dress and inspect it. "Thank you, uh, Rarity? But maybe that'll have to wa-" Peach was about to say before Twilight ran towards Mario and took a hold of his shoulders and started to shake his whole body. "LUIGI IS GONE! WHERE IS HE?!" Twilight said in panic as she looked Mario in the eyes. "What?! But he-a was walking next to-a me all the time! He can't be gone!" Mario said as he pushed Twilight away a bit and turned around to look for Luigi who was nowhere to be found. "You're supposed to be his brother, right?! WELL! You go find him, show some respect for your brother who probably went through Tartarus to get reunited with you again!" Twilight shouted as she looked at Mario who sighed in shame and frowned. "I'll-a be back, Twilight. You take-a care of-a Peach, alright?" Mario said as he turned around and looked back at Twilight over his shoulder. "We're not going anywhere until he is back, so we'll take care of her." Twilight said as she grunted in irritation. "Well, I guess a delay was bound to happen sometime." "Having fun, green man? Sure looks like it, tee hee! Well, what are your thoughts on this Carnival of Doom so far?" that same taunting voice echoed throughout the tent as Luigi kept running away from the giant boo, it was just something about it that sounded so menacing but still joyful and unserious. "Stop it, please! I can't take anymore!" Luigi shouted as he stumbled forwards and landed on the ground, turning around as he suddenly remembered that he can stun the ghost with his flashlight. Without wasting more time he charged it up and then turned it on, flashing the ghost and stunning it. "Oooh? You can fight back? That was a surprise! Maybe you don't need that vacuum cleaner after all! Haha!" the voice said again. "Hey! That's-a my price! You can't-a take it away, that'd-a just be dishonest!" Luigi shouted as he growled and put the flashlight in his pocket as he began charging up some electricity in his hand before swinging with his hand and launching the thunder bolt away at the Boo, making the boo vaporize into thin air with a loud shirek. "Oh, how amusing! You humans can use magic too?" the voice said as a sudden sparkle coming from behind him lit up the whole room, as Luigi turned around he saw something unlike anything he had seen before. It was a long serpentine-formed creature of some kind with body parts of several different animals, his head being that of a goat with antlers. "Who are you?" Luigi said, studying the creature even closer. "Well, what am I? I'm everything, I'm chaos. But specifically I'm, Discord." the creature said, slowly starting to walk around Luigi in circles. "So your name is Discord, or?" Luigi said as he looked up at the weird thing. "Yes, yes. Last I checked I am Discord, but that won't be necessary to remember as the only thing I want from you is to sate my thirst for chaos. Have you ever wondered what hundreds of Luigi's would be to the whole world? Utter chaos. You're even more chaotic than me sometimes, your unpredictable clumsiness or your comedic attempts at trying to be your brother always ends poorly for everyone and everything. Your family and friends has a tough time with only one of you, so just imagine, a hundred Luigi's..." Discord said as he started stroking his beard with his talons. "Well, as long as I get my-a Poltergust and can get-a back to my brother I won't mind anything," Luigi said naively as he looked as Discord. "Oh, you'll get that, but first... the last challenge for you, beat my army of Luigi's! Gwahahaha!" Discord said as he snapped his fingers and the whole tent suddenly got filled with many, many, many Luigi's. Almost enough to fill the complete floor. "He's-a not doing that-a alone," Mario said as he suddenly entered the tent, holding the hammer he used to smash through the door that was blocked with iron bars. "Haha! Welcome to the show, now I suppose these green people of doom shall show you two the way out!" Discord said as he snapped his fingers and summoned a chair from out of nowhere and made it levitate up into the air while he flew over to it and sat down, watching the show from up high. "WAAAHOOOO!" the Luigi's shouted in unison as they all started glowing like dreamy Luigi's and started to gather in a formation, ready to defeat Mario and Luigi. "Mario! What are we gonna do! WAAAA! I DON'T WANT TO DO THIS! I CAN'T TAKE IT!" Luigi began shouting as he cowardly crouched and pulled his cap over his face. Mario looked at Luigi and then looked at all the other Luigi's who seemed to be glowing with some weird green magic he has seen before, remembering their past adventures he suddenly came up with an idea and nodded to himself. He dropped his hammer and suddenly ran forward as he spread his arms as far as he could and stopped infront of the formation of Luigi's. "Stop! It's-a me, right? Mario, your bro! You cannot-a hurt-a me!" Mario said as he bravely stood his ground, what he was about to do was something very risky. These were all dreamy Luigi's, he could see it as clear as day. Luigi just had to realise as well if Mario himself was going to survive... because he knew words was not in the slightest going to stop these Luigi's. And as expected, all Luigi's brought out their hammers and jumped on Mario as they began beating him up. Luigi pulled down his cap even more as he heard the painful grunts from his brother getting beaten down by all of the Luigi clones, this was it, the moment where the Mario bros. got erased from existence, all was so hopeless. After Mario they'd jump on him and defeat him, but he couldn't do anything to escape this fate... it was all so hopeless, and he was so scared... so scared... so hopeless... but Mario needed help, yes. His bro was in danger! Mario was about to die, nobody can beat down the Mario bros and get away with it unharmed. After all, they were the Mario bros! "YOU LEAVE MY BRO ALONE!" Luigi shouted in sudden braveness as he suddenly began glowing, the clones starting to glow the same way as they stopped in place and they started to turn really transparent before slowly being drawn towards Luigi's cap, making him slowly grow in size. Giant Luigi was slowly making his return, and this time it wasn't just a dream. Discord's chin comically fell down on the base of the levitating chair and he stared in awe as all the cloned Luigi's were absorbed into the real Luigi, only making him grow even more in size, soon big enough to tear through the roof of the insanely large circus tent. "HOW DID THAT HAPPEN! The humans know magic! GAAAH!" Discord said as he began panicking, looking up at the huge monstrosity as Luigi lifted up the whole tent and threw it away towards the horizon, it was time for some good ol' revenge. "Luigi Time!" Luigi shouted as crouched down and lifted up the bruised Mario and carefully put him on top of his giant cap. "Well, uh, two can play that game!" Discord said as he smirked and snapped his finger, summoning hundreds of Discords as he absorbed them into himself and began growing as big as the giant Luigi. "You're at least giving me the amusement of a real challenge, I really like you! Just don't be surprised if I end up ending our little friendship~!" Luigi smiled heroically and ran up to Discord, grabbing his now giant hammer as he began swinging it from the ground and upwards, hitting Discord's chin and sending him flying backwards. All the ponies around the town began screaming and distanced themselves as much as they could so they wouldn't be hit by the enormous creatures. The mane six turned around, looking at where the sudden sounds of shouts and screams were coming from and they all put up a shocked expression as they saw the giant human with blue and green overalls duking it out with the god of chaos, Discord. "Looks like we'll have to be delayed for an even longer time, come on girls, We have to stop Discord from destroying the town! Peach, you stay with Spike, I'll handle this!" Twilight said as she sighed in slight frustration, beginning to run towards the giant guys. "Why do I have to stay, Twilight?!" Spike shouted as he looked at Twilight but she and the others were far too gone by now, leaving only him and Princess Peach left. "Don't worry, little guy. I'm sure she just wants the best for you," Peach said in her soft voice as she smiled at Spike and crouched slightly as she patted him on the head before sitting down on a bench in the alleyway. "Yeah, but she doesn't know what's best for me, or what I want. She's always jumping to conclusions without asking others, she may be the element of magic and extremely intelligent, but she doesn't think of what others may want before she does anything." Spike said, walking over to Peach as he sits down next to her. "Maybe you should tell that to her, make her understand your feelings. It can only bring forth something good," Peach said as she smiled at Spike. "Uh, maybe I should. I bet you're a great princess back in the place you were before. You seem like a kind ruler and someone who knows what they're doing," Spike said as he looked up at Peach, her gentle figure really fitting that of a princess. "Thank you, but I'm actually not the one who rules the place where I live, that would be King Toadstool, he's a bit old but he still manages to do his work. And either way, I'm too big of a target of being the ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom where we live, a giant old reptile named Bowser keeps kidnapping me and so the kingdom would be in chaos if I was the one who ruled it," Peach said as she sighed but suddenly, both Peach and Spike closed their eyes and covered them with their hands as a bright blue sparkling light appeared on the wall infront of them, a big blue portal opening up very quickly. When the light shining from the portal started to shine less, both Peach and Spike uncovered their eyes again and stared at it in wonder, the swirling blue neon light looked like a shining pool of water on the wall. Peach realised this was probably E.gadd who had finally managed to open the portal again and escaped Bowser's invading army. "We're saved! I have to tell Mario!" Peach exclaimed as she pushed herself off the bench and began hopping in glee, almost forgetting about Spike still sitting on the bench. "Wait, what? How does this mysterious thing imply that you're saved?" Spike said, scratching his head but gasping in panic a moment after as suddenly a giant clawed fist reached out of the portal and slammed into the side of the wall followed by another fist slamming to the other side of the wall right after. "Well, it's the same portal that E.gadd used to send us here. Seems he opened it up for us yet again, oh, I can't wait to return to the Mushroom Kingdom!" Peach said, seeming oblivious to what's happening behind her as Bowser slowly pushes himself through the portal. Spike watched in horror as the very tall dragon-like creature stepped out of the portal, it set its eyes on Peach and it grinned very menacingly as it stood there, then it lifted its hands up in the air in an attempt that looked like it was about to kidnap her. Spike soon realised that this must've been that Bowser she talked about and rose up from the bench as he ran forward and pushed Peach to the side as Bowser suddenly reached down and swing with his open fist, capturing Spike in his grip instead of his target. "Bowser?! Oh no!" Peach shouted, freezing in place as Bowser looked in his hand comically and saw that he was holding a small purple fat dragon instead. "You're not escaping me this time, princess!" Bowser said as he threw Spike into the wall mercilessly and grinned as Bowser Junior came through the portal with the clown car, followed by the Elite Koopa's. "Mario may not be here right now, but I know full well since last time when you invaded the Sprixie Kingdom that you're still just a big whimp!" Peach said as she took a brave stance and pulled out her umbrella, holding it over her shoulder like a baseball bat. "Grahahaha! That time you were not alone, but I was. This time we've got you outnumbered like every other time you got kidnapped so, minions, attack!" Bowser said in his growly angry voice and pointed towards Peach as he gave off the signal to attack, the Elite Koopa's immediately running forward with Bowser Junior in the lead on his clown car. Peach gulped in fear and instead turned around and began running as fast as she could through the streets, the ponies had at least left the streets since Luigi became giant. Maybe that was a way to save herself, try to trick Bowser's minions to accidently stumble into giant Luigi so he could crush them? Yeah, that would work. Peach turned to another streetway and looked up in the sky to see the two giant creatures still fighting but they were quite far away but she had to make it or else she would be kidnapped for sure! But she suddenly heard the sound of an engine and wheels accelerating very fast and looked over shoulder in time to see Bowser Junior soon to ram into her with the clown car which had suddenly developed wheels, she jumped up high into the air as Bowser Junior suddenly passed under her, she sighed in relief and kept floating in the air a while longer before she couldn't stay airborne anymore and landed firmly, quickly turning into another streetway. But things seemed to darken for her as Bowser suddenly landed infront of her, crushing the ground beneath him with his heavy body. He grinned as he began walking slowly forwards. Peach tried backing away but as she looked over her shoulder she noticed that the Elite Koopa's had catched up and were just some steps away from her. And before she knew it she was lifted up into the air by two big claws. "A futile attempt, but at least you got this far, yeah?" Bowser said with a somewhat bragging tone in his voice, looking quite proud for the moment as he snapped his fingers, making Kamek appear right behind him. "Why don't you go ahead Kamek and give this cute little princess a fitting home, yes?" Bowser said as he smirked in evil towards Peach as Kamek floated above her and wafted with his spell as it began glowing and before she knew it she was trapped in a pink cage with a red ribbon ontop. "Bowser! Let me go! In the end, you'll only regret this!" Peach said as she tried to shake the almost indestructible bars of the cage. "Am I? Well, tell me why, my future wife." Bowser said as he chuckled, looking down at his new catch. "Well, Mario and Luigi are going to send you flying up so high that you'll be sent back to the Mushroom Kingdom and I'll be rescued, as always." Peach said as she made a serious expression, but she felt so tiny and a bit scared in the presence of the big Koopa king, Bowser. "Is that so? Grahaha! You underestimate my plans this time, princess Peach. They won't even know that you're gone, I'll just return to the Mushroom Kingdom with you and my army and leave them here to rot!" Bowser said as he growled and suddenly lifted up the cage and began walking through the streets back to the alleyway. "Hey, papa. Have I done a good job not screwing up the attack?" Bowser Junior said as he levitated in his clown car next to Bowser. "An excellent job, if you weren't here she wouldn't have made that turn so I could block her. But you still screwed up in claiming the actual prize for yourself. You'll have to work on that if you are to become an independent Koopa like me, got it, son?" Bowser said as he patted his son on the head with his free hand. "Yay! I did a good job for once! Thank you, dad!" Bowser Junior said and smiled, before lowering himself to hover next to Peach's cage. "Next time, you'll have to watch out for me, lil' princess." He said and then returned to his former position as the commander over the Elite Koopa's. They walked for a while before they entered the alleyway and saw that the portal was gone, Peach looked up at Bowser who looked dumbfounded for the moment but then he began turning completely red as he put down the cage and took some heavy steps forward, clenching his fists. "E.gaaaaaaadd! You're going to be dead when I finally return! Gwwwwaaaaaaaaaaargh!" Bowser roared as magma slowly dribbled out of his jaw, he suddenly roared again and a long stream of fire ascended into the air and created a rain of fire around the town, everything slowly began to burn because every building is made out of hay and wood. Bowser didn't care though, he looked very angry and he could probably crush his owns minions to relieve that anger but he chose not to. "Papa, what are we going to do now? Mario and Luigi are going to return at least sometime, we have to secure the princess somehow!" Bowser Junior said as he looked at Peach in the cage and then looked at Bowser. "We'll build a castle, or take over one, yes. That's it. We'll just build a castle, and watch it get destroyed by those damn plumbers again! Gaaah! No! Why did he have to betray us?! We are doomed, Junior, doomed!" Bowser said as he got angrier and angrier, punching the wall where the portal last appeared. "But dad, look over there in the distance! It's a castle, we can just use our army to take over it and store the princess over there, build up our defences and all that!" Junior said as he pointed towards the mountains in the horizon, where a big white castle was positioned right on the cliffside of it. "Yeah, you're right. It looks ideal for an evil fortress. Ha ha! You're a genious, son, but we won't use brute force... hehehe..." Bowser said as he began rubbing his fists together menacingly chuckling all the while. Peach gulped in fear of what's to come... she hoped that Luigi and Mario would return and rescue her... but they were so far away... But a heroic baby dragon knew what had happened, and he still knew what was happening in the moment. He was going to be the key to her rescue. He just had to wait for Twilight, and then everything would be okay... Chapter 1 - The Nightmare Night Arc FINALE - Part 2 Midnight... "Haha, this is fun, isn't it, Luigi?" Discord said while chuckling, stepping away from Luigi's attempt to slam the massive hammer on him. Though as Discord took another step backwards he stepped on a house and lost his footing, falling backwards and landing into a huge cluster of empty houses since the ponies had all escaped to the edge of the Everfree Forest by now. "Yeah!" Luigi said while smirking, putting away his hammer as he crouched down and started building up a super jump. When he was finished with building it up he sprang up like a trampoline and then in midair he dove down with his boots aimed at Discord's head on the ground. Luigi landed with a loud 'boom' and took a boost from Discord's head to perform yet another jump, doing a backflip in the air before finally landing on Discord's head again and then taking another boost as he jumped off and landed safely on an open streetway, picking up his hammer as he waited for Discord to make his move. "Ouch! That hurt! You do this all the time?" Discord said as he rubbed his head and felt a bit dizzy, the impact from Luigi's boots had really shaken things up in his head. But he sighed and suddenly flew forward as he quickly wrapped around Luigi like a snake, forcing Luigi to drop his hammer in the process. "Wah! Mario! Get him off me!" Luigi shouted as Discord started to squeeze his body, hugging it almost so tight so he couldn't breathe. Mario, still on Luigi's cap, jumped off it and grabbed his hammer, landing on the head of the giant Discord. Mario held a firm grip on his hammer as he lifted it into the air and then slammed it down on a swollen spot on Discord's head, with an agonizing shout from Discord, Mario quickly jumped up on Luigi's cap again and sat down as he saw Discord retract and crawl away. "Gah! That hurt even more! Well, as the god of chaos I should still be able to prevent you from winning that prize. You know, this is my game! I should be the best at it!" Discord said as he chuckled pathetically and snapped with his talons, making two giant Discord's appear next to him. Luigi stood his ground and picked up his hammer once again, running forward as he began spinning around, holding his hammer with two arms as he lifted it up, spinning so fast now that he began to lift from the ground like a helicopter. He ascended quite high into the air and then lifted up his hammer over his head while still spinning as he began falling down similiar to that of a massive drill on one of the Discord clones, the impact being so powerful that the giant clone started exploding in some sort of multi coloured magic, and as Luigi jumped off he threw away the spinning hammer at the other clone, the hammer hitting the fake Discord's face with a loud 'bang' as it fell backwards and started exploding as well. "No! Do you know how much magic it took for me to create those?! Grrr! The game is over for you, because you're going down for real!" Discord said as he growled, actually frowning now as he glared at Luigi. "It's on, like-a Luigi!" Luigi said as he grinned, anticipating Discord's move as held his hammer low, waiting for the trickster to just come forward and try something. "Take this!" Discord shouted as he snapped with his talons, thousands of birds appearing right behind Luigi as they began diving down against him from the air. "Waah!" Luigi shouted as he made a comical panicked expression and started running away from the birds as quickly as he could, trying not to destroy any houses in the meantime. The birds were right behind him now and he began making a slow U turn while running and soon he found himself facing Discord again and kept running, he was practically smiling now instead as he had finally come up with a plan. He kept running and as he was very close to Discord he leaped up into the air and went over Discord's head, landing behind him as all the birds crashed into Discord instead, attacking the draconequus furiously as they began pecking him with their tiny beaks. "Get off me you pesky small things!" Discord said as he snapped his talons yet again and made them disappear, turning around and growling in annoyance as his anger began to boil. He looked at the laughing Luigi and got even angrier, how could one get rid of someone so knowing of countering attacks? Luigi stopped laughing at Discord's fail at attacking and gripped his hammer in his hand even harder as he ran forward before jumping up into the air and falling down with the hammer aimed precisely at Discord's head. And as the hammer made contact, Discord felt it screwing up his room of thinking, making him unable to think of anything really, he just stood there, dizzy and seeing only stars. Luigi retracted his hammer and ran back to his former position, chuckling again. Time to finish this! "Mario, your turn, finish this off!" Luigi shouted as he crouched, grabbing the star in his hand as he jumped up high up into the orbit. Mario jumped off Luigi's cap and landed on the star as Luigi spinned before sending it away down at Equestria again. Mario held onto the star as the star started approaching its goal, which was the very dizzy giant Discord. Mario aimed it towards Discord's swollen head and crashing down he and the star flew so fast they went through his body, splittering the hundreds of Discord clones it took to build him up, with a loud explosion the dreamy Discord's disappeared into thin air, leaving only the weak and defeated normal sized Discord left on the floor sobbing. A normal sized Luigi came crashing down towards the ground as well a moment after, and Mario flew towards him with the star as he grabbed the almost unconscious Luigi. He steered the star towards the ground and made it stop, jumping off while holding Luigi. Some seconds after he had jumped off the star flew away into the horizon. "Why? Why did I lose to you two!? I'm the god of chaos, a GOD! You hear me?!" Discord shouted as tears came flowing down in a river from his eyes, sprawling on the ground as he looked up at Mario and Luigi. "Yes, I hear you. But that's-a what you-a get from-a touching my-a bro!" Mario said as he crossed his arms and looked down at Discord with disappointed eyes. "Oh, look at who's cocky. You did nothing, it was all your brothers work. Trying to take the fame for yourself?" Discord said with a bitter voice, trying to defend his honour. "Hey! That's-a not-a true! I helped-a him, and I was-a the one who finished you," Mario said, glaring at Discord on the ground. "Do not insult me and my brother, Discord. Now, where's my prize?" Luigi said as he impatiently stepped on the ground. "Well, about that. I never thought you would defeat me, Luigi. So there's no prize, but you won the honour at the least, yeah?" Discord said as he chuckled nervously and stopped crying. "Grrr! I hate false advertisement," Luigi said as he sighed and accepted the situation, grabbing Mario as he was about to turn away and walk back to the princess and the others. But he didn't need to because suddenly six ponies were standing infront of him, one being the familiar Twilight. "Mario, Luigi! Where's Discord!? He is in so much trouble now!" Twilight said furiously as she looked around herself and saw destroyed houses and the damaged streetways. "He's-a right here," Mario said as he turned around and took a step to the side so that Discord became visible. "Discord, luckily for you, Luna only comes to the Nightmare Moon statue in the Everfree forest, because if she was here right now... you'd be imprisoned yet again!" Twilight said as she angrily walked up to him, standing right infront of him infact. "And... why... DID YOU HAVE TO DESTROY PONYVILLE!?" Twilight shouted from the bottom of her lungs, her nostrils almost shooting fire out of them in rage. "Aaahahah! You see Twilight, this, this, this wasn't my fault! It was, uh..." Discord took a deep breath and tried to look for an escape, but it was going to be futile to try to escape with an angry Twilight ready to send a powerfull spell at him at anytime. "...Okay okay! Just please don't hurt me! I'll do anything!" Discord screamed as he began crying again and wrapped his arms beggingly around Twilight's left front hoof. "Well, firstly, clean up this mess. Secondly, don't do it again! Thirdly, learn to become a better person!" Twilight shouted as she shaked his arms off her front hoof, trotting back to the others without waiting for an answer from Discord. "You all, we don't have time for this. We have to make it to Canterlot as fast as possible, and I actually fear that the train has already left because somebody decided that turning giant and duking it out in the middle of Ponyville was a good idea." "I could take you all to Canterlot with the snap of a finger, literally. Would that make you happy, Twilight Sparkle?" Discord said, smiling nervously as he carefully stood up. "Yes it would, we just have to find Princess Peach first. Come on everypony, let's go!" Twilight said as they began running back where Princess Peach and Spike were probably waiting. "I can't believe that they took the princess, but what could I do? I'm just a fat baby dragon..." Spike said as he crawled out of a dumpster bin after Bowser's forces had walked away from the alleyway. He had ran into the portal and told the weird guy to close it, so that Bowser could not take her away from here. That had at the least helped to some extent, but the fact that she was still kidnapped could not be ignored. Spike walked over to the bench and sat down, dangling his small legs back and forth as he waited for Twilight to come back and begin shouting at him for being bad. But it had been her decision really, to let the ones who could not assist in any way to stay. Suddenly Spike heard the sounds of galloping hooves approaching and he stared down at the ground as he heard them enter the alleyway and slow down, a couple of confused mutterings could be heard and he looked at the mane six and Mario and Luigi as they returned. "Spiiiiiiike, where, is, Peach?" Twilight said as her hair suddenly got bruised and her eyelids started twitching as she smiled as a psychopath would do. "A giant big dragon thing called Bowser stepped through a portal and kidnapped her! I tried to sto-" Spike said before being interrupted by Twilight slumping to the floor with open eyes, probably blacking out from all the mishaps. "Twilight!" Everyone shouted in unison as they walked up to her and tried to check if she was awake, but she seemed unconscious. "Has she been like this the whole day, or what?" Discord said as he stroked his beard in confusion. "Probably some stress from doin' all these shenanigans," Applejack said as she singlehandedly dragged Twilight towards the wall and laid her in a comfortable position and then backed away. "Ah worker like me should know, stress can do these things to ya." "She seemed quite aggravated right from the start if you ask me..." Fluttershy said as she backed away slightly, hiding her face behind her mane from Mario and Luigi. But Mario and Luigi didn't care that much, they seemed quite distant actually. They stood still but suddenly they looked quite angry. "Hey, Spike. Where did-a this 'Bowser' go?" Mario said as he and Luigi walked up to Spike. "He said he was going to try and take over the castle in the mountains over there, which would be Canterlot," Spike said as he smiled, hopping off the bench as he pointed towards a white castle and a city up on the cliffside of a big mountain, feeling useful for once. "Hmm, well. Let's get there first and surprise him then. Discord, we need you to teleport us all to Canterlot, now. I'm sure Twilight can get some rest up there as well, hm?" Mario said, looking at Discord and all the others. "Really? Well, you two did beat me in a giant battle. So, is everyone ready?" Discord said as he chuckled, awaiting an answer from everybody. "OH! I'M SO READY FOR CANTERLOT!" Rarity shouted in excitement, thinking about the Canterlot elite again, but as she looked around herself she noticed that everyone was staring at her very strangely and she blushed awkwardly. "Ahem, sorry. Yeah! We're ready, probably!" "Good, here we go!" Discord said as he snapped his fingers as they teleported away in a flash, leaving the alleyway to be empty yet again. "Grawhaha! Time for some mountain climbing, Koopa lads! We'll be there in no time if we just climb up! So get it moving!" Bowser said as they stood right under the castle in the sky, soon to climb up. They had used Kamek's teleportation spell to speed themselves up to get here faster, and now they surely were going to need an endurance or strength spell to climb a 90 degree cliffwall without any real spots to use to climb. Though the effort would not be worth it, but they didn't know that. They didn't even know that the castle belonged to two immortal creatures that could be considered as gods... Chapter 1-Bonus "Sweet Dreams!" (Chapter 1 Epilogue)It had been such a stressful night for Luna, she had disguised herself as Nightmare Moon and scared the children to hand over candy... and now she just had to return back to Canterlot. But as she flew over Ponyville she realised that Ponyville was burning and that all the ponies were running around in fright and crying. She quickly dove down and landed in the town square as she looked around, smoke was in the air and ponies were panicking, trying to keep themselves safe but only made the matter worse. It wasn't just fire that had been causing all this commotion, some houses seemed crushed as if something big had landed on them, she wondered what had happened but she soon realised that the thinking could wait because these ponies needed help. Luna spread her wings and soared up into the air, activating her horn as she summoned gray rainclouds and squeezed them with the help of magic, wringing out all water as if they were sponges. All the ponies looked up at her from the ground and stared in awe before cheering, but she still felt bad, she had to help them rebuild. It wasn't just one or three houses that had been burnt down, it was around half of the village. She began descending and all the ponies came rushing to her as they cheered her on and some even began hugging her, but she still focused on the destroyed village... ...-This was going to take a while. Celestia opened the room to her bedroom and walked over to her bed sluggishly, she slowly laid down and tucked the covers over her. These nights were often so peaceful, the guards were all out having fun on Nightmare Night, even her sister was not here. Everything was so silent... But this night was different, like crawling bugs she heard multiple echoing footsteps around her castle now and then. But it never got the chance to bother her since it constantly went silent as soon as she had picked up the strange sound. But now when she was silently laying in her bed those sounds tormented her. It sounded like it came from the walls, but that seemed a bit too farfetched, those walls were made of solid rock. After a while she felt her eyelids slowly closing as the promise of sleep gnawed at her brain, and before she knew it she fully closed them, the last thing she saw being two shining green eyes... green eyes?! It was too late, she had fallen asleep and couldn't force herself to wake up. She found herself already being stuck in a dream, but it was no regular dream. She just seemed to float around in nothing. What was this place? There was no floor, only a background consisting of green floating magic. Celestia tried moving but she seemed to be paralyzed, she couldn't do anything but look around with her eyes. Suddenly Chrysalis appeared infront of her and the changeling queen quickly levitated over to her with a mocking grin on her face. "So, Celestia. How do you feel about your new temporary home?" Chrysalis said with a smirk, chuckling faintly as she circled around Celestia like a shark. "Chrysalis?! I thought Shining Armor and Cadance defeated you for good," Celestia said as she was relieved that she could at least speak. "Oh, they did. I had to use the last of our magic to cast all of my changelings and me in hybernation in your old castle where we landed from the explosion. But ponies seemed to stumble in now and then and foolishly fell for our tricks. Which gave us a small amount of magic each time, and now we're ready to reclaim Canterlot," Chrysalis said as she tenderly stroked her changeling hoof through Celestia's mane teasingly as she then took some steps away and quickly transformed into the shape of Celestia. "I'll release you from this dream when the time comes, but until then... be prepared to have some really sweet love filled dreams that'll fuel our food supply immensely!" Chrysalis said as she grinned and then disappeared. Suddenly Celestia stood in a very old classroom from when she was just a little filly in magic school, where she sat next to her first crush at the school bench... was this really Chrysalis plan? Either way, Celestia knew she was not going to be able to escape... Chapter 2-1 "Deceptive Cadence" (Chapter 2 Prologue)Chapter 2 - The World Bowser Arc Mario opened his eyes, suddenly they were all standing inside a huge throne room decorated almost like Peach's throne room but without all the mushrooms and pink stuff. Massive Ivory pillars reached up into roof and had golden decor on them at the base, and the middle of the room had a purple carpet with a sculpture of a white and blue pony on it and the carpet itself stretched itself from the door all the way up to the throne. On the throne though, a white pony with both wings and a horn sat idly and looked at them all with calm eyes, she didn't even seem surprised that they were here. "Hello there, Celestia! How's it going, sitting on that throne the whole day without any real fun as usual? Tee hee," Discord said as he teleported next to Celestia and pulled on her cheek playfully. Her otherwise calm facade turned into one of a bit of annoyance as she enveloped Discord in a magical aura and lifted him aside before giggling and looking back at the mane six, Spike, Mario and Luigi. "It's good to see you all deciding to visit me on this day, it get's awfully lonely when Luna only wants to lay in her bed and rest up after being awake the whole night and taking care of the playful kids on Nightmare Night," Celestia said, her calm and soothing voice sounding a bit uncanny, but it didn't bother Mario too much. "Don't want to sound rude but this ain't no ordinary visit, princess. Twilight fainted in stress and according to Spike, a big dragon thingy called Bowser is gonna to try to invade Canterlot," Applejack said, looking up at Celestia on the throne. "Ah, good. Finally some piece of action. You know girls, why don't you all just wait over here and take a cup of tea while I get something done for once as a ruler, does that sound good to you all?" Celestia said as she stood up, surprisingly sounding a bit cocky for being the calm princess she usually is. But the ponies and Spike guessed this was just because nothing had happened to the kingdom since that time Discord planted those seeds and they had to give up the elements of harmony. "Celestia, ah think that dragon can wait. Aren't you worried about Twilight?" Applejack said, looking at Celestia while quirking an eyebrow as she stepped aside to show Twilight laying on the floor behind her completely unconcious. But nobody listened, they ignored her completely as if she was just an annoying bug. "I wouldn't mind... if you others don't mind of course..." Fluttershy said, looking at her friends and slowly hiding behind her mane again as she looks at Mario and Luigi again. "Yeah, some tea wouldn't hurt after that running we did all around the town, my hooves got all dirty!" Rarity said as she looked at her hooves that had one single piece of dirt on it. "Oh shut it, Rarity. I wouldn't even call that running, we practically walked. I mean, I've seen tank doing it faster," Rainbow Dash said mockingly and leaned against a pillar. Rarity glared at Rainbow Dash but Rainbow only shrugged it off as she chuckled. "Stop ya'll! Is nopony here worried about the safety of Twilight?! She fainted and I think it would be best if we do something about it, heck, she might even be dead yet no one has thought about that fact! Especially you, Celestia. Your former student needs help... and you haven't showed any concern," Applejack said, angrily walking towards Celestia as she stopped Celestia from heading towards the balcony. Celestia's eyes coldly stared into Applejack's as she walked towards the farmer and stopped when she was inches away, her head reached next to Applejack's left ear and she softly whispered; "I'm fully aware of Twilight's condition, but Applejack... would you risk the lives of hundreds of ponies at the price of one beloved? Hundreds of ponies that have a life and family as well? This is one of the important decisions as a queen has to do. A leader must be ready to sacrifice herself for her own people." "Queen? What's goin' on right here...? Oh, oh no. Chrysalis," Applejack whispered faintly to herself as her eyes went wide in fear at the realisation as she began noticing a green glint in Celestia's eyes, she began staggering back, suddenly stumbling backwards as she landed on her back and kept crawling backwards in fear without saying anything. "Guards, I think Applejack needs some fresh air. Such a wildlife pony as her must get crazy in these Canterlot surroundings. Gently show her the way out," Celestia said, her stale face showing no emotions as she walked towards the balcony at the end of the room. Everybody only watched in horror as Applejack got dragged out of the throne room forcefully against her will, the guards throwing her out the door as they then slammed it shut and returned to their posts. Nobody protested, they just stood and stared in shock before looking back at Celestia. "Then that's settled, we'll have a lot to talk about when I come back, especially about those new faces you have with you," Celestia said calmly and looked at Mario and Luigi before spreading her wings and quickly flying out through the balcony, ready to welcome Bowser to Canterlot. "Grawhaha! We're soon there, aren't we minions? Just keep on struggling and we'll be ready to strike whenever we reach the actual castle!" Bowser said as he sat in his own clown car he had asked Kamek to summon, flying just next to an elite Koopa who was slowly climbing up the 90 degree wall using his spear. "Daddy, don't you think this is a little unfair?" Bowser Junior said as he flew over to Bowser in his own clown car. "What? Unfair? No! There's no harm in some healthy exercise, these Koopas can handle it anyway, they're elite Koopas after all!" Bowser said as he crossed his arms and smiled, chuckling a bit as he looked at his son. "No, that's good and all, dad. But why are we allowed to have these things to fly with and they have to climb up a near impossible wall?" Bowser Junior said as he waited for an answer from Bowser. "Junior! Empathy is not the way of a Koopa king, you'll have to learn to be like your daddy if you want to get somewhere in life," Bowser said as he smiled and reached out his claw to pat his son on the head, almost knocking them both over as the clown cars collide in the process. "But I don't want to be like you! You cannot even do the one thing you're good at. I want to be better than you, and actually take over the Mushroom Kingdom," Bowser Junior said as he chuckled and began laughing at Bowser who looked dumbfounded. "Hey, don't speak like that to your father! I'm good at my job, just look what I've accomplished so far this time, we've got Peach, we're not being followed by Mario and green stache aaaaaand! We soon have a castle so we can rule this kingdom too!" Bowser said as he flew a bit higher to keep up with the climbing elite Koopa's. Suddenly, a shining white thing with two wings, weird looking floating hair and a horn descended into view behind Bowser, it had a calm expression on it's face but there was a playful touch to it. Bowser Junior began flailing with his arms at Bowser to gesture to look behind him but Bowser only quirked an eyebrow and wondered what he was doing. "Welcome to Canterlot, Bowser," Celestia said with a smirk and giggled, her look being very menacing as if she was about to just banish everyone to the moon. "Huh?! Who and what are you supposed to be?! Hahaha! You look pretty funny though, like a horse, but you can speak!" Bowser said as he turned around with his clown car, looking at the white flying horse with a horn, being quite shocked but almost laughing to death to this overly cute looking thing. "I'm princess Celestia, and if your intention is to invade Canterlot, then you might as well go back to where you came from and we'll settle this peacefully," Celestia said as she distanced herself a bit, ready to fire a spell if they decided to attack. "Canterlot, what in the whole world is Canterlot? No I'm not doing anything to that place at the least, I'm just gonna grab this castle over here and settle in and protect myself from Mario and that stupid Luigi and then take over this kingdom!" Bowser said, unaware who he was talking to as he turned around and kept ascending slowly. "Then I ask you to stop, or you'll have to suffer the consequence," Celestia said, using a levitation spell to stop Bowser in his tracks and move him aside slowly. "HEY! What do you think you're doing!? I'm Bowser, the Koopa king! You cannot just mess with me, you cutesy little thing!" Bowser said as he flailed with his arms and glared at Celestia. "This is the last warning, leave, now," Celestia said as her horn started to glow slightly. "No! This is YOUR last warning, leave, now!" Bowser said as he growled, looking at Celestia as he turned around and started ascending yet again. "I don't get why nobody gives me the respect I deserve anymore..." He mumbled to himself, turning around yet again. "Don't say I didn't warn you!" Celestia shouted as she began powering up her horn immensely, it beginning to emit rainbow coloured sparks before she finally lowered her head and aimed precisely, firing a thick and powerful beam against Bowser and his minions. "WHAT THE?! NOOOOO!" Bowser shouted as the laser beam of magic approached rapidly, quickly covering himself over the cage to defend the princess at all costs. "Daddy!" Bowser Junior shouted as the magical beam hit the wall and exploded, sending all the minions and the Bowsers flying up into the air and into the horizon, their plans once again failing. Celestia sighed, chuckling to herself. "Now, to try to find out where they are keeping that princess Peach," Celestia said, smiling before turning around in the air and soaring up towards her castle again. She entered through the balcony again and landed softly, looking forwards into the throne room as she saw that her guards had been nice enough to bring in eleven armchairs and a table. They had even begun serving the tea to the guests which all sat down around the table on a chair. Celestia approached and sat down on the last free chair and levitated a cup of tea over to herself as she took a sip before placing it down again carefully. "He didn't seem too bright that dragon," Celestia said, smiling warmly as she looked at her guests. "Where's-a the princess?" Mario said, looking around the room to see if she had returned as well but it didn't look like that was the case. "Hm? I'm the princess, is my crown not visible enough?" Celestia said humbly, looking at Mario while smiling. "No, I-a meant-a the princess kidnapped by-a Bowser," Mario said, taking a sip from his tea cup to try to relax his Italian temperament. He was awfully worried about princess Peach, but why wouldn't he be? Everyone wanted to kidnap her and exploit her to their own power. "I didn't see any princess, it was just the dragon, his baby and his small army," Celestia said, her expression changing into that of a serious one yet again. "Oh no..." Mario and Luigi both said, they looked at eachother and then silently gave eachother a nod before rising up and walking away from the table as they stood and talked about something in a corner. "So, how did these humans get here?" Celestia said, looking at the remaining mane six and Spike. "They came here via a dimensional portal when they tried to escape from Bowser, who is the dragon. And they got stranded here, but now the dragon has come yet again to kidnap the princess, but thanks to me, he is also stranded here now." Spike said, standing up on his chair as he put his arms on the table to see all the others. "I was beginning to wonder why all these magical interferences were appearing just now, and there we have the solution. You see, temporary portals are beginning to open up all over Equestria and it began starting the day before Nightmare Night. Each time one has opened, something has come out of them. It's possible that not all these are linked to the world these humans are from but they are results of an unstable dimensional rift, which could mean that our dimension is slowly being merged with theirs, but that can be easily fixed. We just need a little help from Discord," Celestia said inbetween the sipping of tea, taking her time to explain the whole situation. "I'm not gonna be bossed around just becuase you are all thinking you can exploit my magic here and there just because you didn't get your breakfast pancake," Discord said as he stood up from his chair and grabbed his tea cup, putting on a coat and a gray hat as he quickly walked out the door and slammed it shut after him. "What do we do now?" Rainbow Dash asked, looking at the door and then back at Celestia. "We'll just have to wait for Twilight to wake up. I'm sure with her knowledge that she'll know what to do. I however have to tend over Equestria while this portal crisis is happening. I'd suggest you all take the train back to Ponyville and search for your lost princess in the meantime, might find something if you search long enough. And when you find her, you can bring her here so we can discuss some princess duties, hehe," Celestia said as she finished her cup of tea and walked over to her throne and sat down, looking at all the others. "Oh, but can't we just stay here? We'll be safe under your protection!" Rarity shouted as they all rose up from their chairs, receiving an angry glare from Rainbow Dash. "Rarity! We're not staying in Canterlot, I need to get back to my work of clearing clouds in Ponyville and we need to search for the princess," Rainbow Dash said as she sighed. "Well, what would happen if that angry big dragon decided that we look like his lunch, huh? I'm not taking that miniscule risk, besides... I haven't met up with the Canterlot elite in ages!" Rarity said as they all walked towards the door. "Uh, thanks for the tea, princess Celestia. It tasted good," Fluttershy said as they stopped infront of the door and looked back at Celestia. "Only a pleasure, be sure to visit more often!" Celestia shouted back, relaxing on her throne as she levitated a pile of new mails infront of her and began reading one at a time. "Hey, red cap and green cap! Carry Twilight for us will you, because we're getting out of here," Rainbow Dash said as she looked at Mario and Luigi who still stood and talked, they nodded towards Rainbow Dash and ran over to Twilight as Mario picked her up and carried her on his back. Celestia sat on her throne and sighed as they left, closing her eyes as her horn suddenly enveloped itself with green flames, a moment after, her appearance quickly changed into that of the Changeling queen, Chrysalis. All the royal guards within the chamber started transforming as well as they returned to their actual shape, Chrysalis sighed yet again and stepped off the throne. "Who could have thought, right? That our target would be far gone when we actually set up a trap for them..." Chrysalis said as she sighed again and levitated a mail over to herself, opening it and doing her duties as the impostor for Celestia. "But we did kidnap Celestia and we have soon taken over Canterlot without anyone noticing, and everyone that does notice... becomes our meal," Chrysalis spoke as she jumped off the throne and wandered back and forth infront of it, smiling towards all her changelings. "Rainbow, I'm not coming with you all to Ponyville, and that's final," Rarity said as they walked through the corridors of Canterlot castle. "Well fine! We'll split up if that's the case. But that's not going without a price, you know. You'll get to stay here until Twilight wakes up, and when she does... you bring her to Ponyville," Rainbow Dash said as they walked down a couple of stairs leading to the main gate. "Hmmfph, okay. We'll pick partners for the team then. I choose Mario, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie," Rarity said as she opened the gates to the courtyard as they stepped out of the castle. Applejack was sitting on the stairs just outside to the courtyard and was fidgeting quite impatiently. "Yeah, so you're doing it like that, huh? Then I pick Applejack, Luigi and Spike," Rainbow Dash said as she crossed her front hooves, flying a bit above ground as she flew up next to Applejack. "But-a wait! I am not-a leaving my-a bro again!" Mario said as he crossed his arms and glared at Rarity. "Don't worry, bro. I can handle myself now, I'm old enough. I'm not that little baby you and Yoshi had to rescue before," Luigi said as he walked over to Rainbow Dash and Applejack alongsides Spike. "I care about-a you, Luigi. You're my only brother, and I guess I should-a treat you like an equal. Just remember to-a never lose faith in yourself, teach everybody that nobody messes with-a the Mario bros and gets away with it," Mario said and walked up to Luigi, giving him a brotherly hug before stepping away. "Take-a care." Luigi laid his hand on Mario's shoulder and patted him slowly, "I'll be fine," He said, turning around and walking away with Rainbow Dash, Applejack and Spike towards the train station. "Oh, this is going to be so much fun! I just can't wait to meet the Canterlot Elite!" Rarity said as her eyes began shining in what would be excitement. "I, uh, want, uh, to... go somewhere less crowded..." Fluttershy said, beginning to think of the horrible crowds of people in streets. "You guys! We have to visit Donut Joe's bakery and buy donuts! I'm sooooooo hungry!" Pinkie Pie said, a loud rumble coming from her belly as she began giggling as usual. Mario looked at them all and sighed, just how was he going to survive this? It would be certainly be a hard task to try find the princess now, especially when he didn't have his brother at his side to help him. But this? These ponies probably were going to slow him down in his pursuit of Bowser significantly... and he could only watch. Meanwhile... A sunny morning indicated that it was going to be a wonderful day in Equestria, but which day was not wonderful in Equestria could be asked by the deepthinker known as Big Mac. A sunny morning was also perfect for working after staying up a whole night on the night of Nightmare Moon because it brought a special kind of joy to the otherwise repetetive job of bucking apples. And Big Mac was happy today, the apples looked extremely fresh and they reflected the morning sun with their glossy red fruitskin. But something looked amiss to him, something just wasn't right... yeah. Something was totally off about the ground, there was no dirt! Only shining white sand! Big Mac growled in both shock and frustration, how had this sand gotten here just over night without anyone noticing!? And how did the apples seem so nutritious with only sand to live on? The trees would certainly die without any water as well! He also noticed that there seemed to be a lack of trees now that he thought about it, there were still lots of trees standing but some spots where a tree was before was now just an empty spot with sand. What had really happened? "Applebloom!" Big Mac shouted towards the house, hoping Applebloom would come out to check. A moment later she did open the door and looked at him, mumbling something as she rubbed her eyelids, trying to hide that she was still tired. "What do ya want, Big Mac?" Applebloom said in her southern accent, looking at Big Mac, but as she looked to the side towards the acres she also noticed that the dirt was gone and had instead been replaced with sand. "Big Mac! What have ya done to tha acre!?" "Nnnnnoooope! Not me! It was here when ah stepped outside mah house!" Big Mac said as he looked at the apple trees as suddenly one of the trees quickly got dragged under the sand without any sound, it was like someone just pulled it down. "Did ya see that?! The tree disappeared!" "Yeah, what's goin' on right here?!" Applebloom said as she looked on in shock as another tree got pulled underground, more trees were disappearing as well now, plopping down into the ground as quick as a blink of an eye. "We gotta save them apples! Applebloom, help me with tryin' to pull up that tree!" Big Mac said as he ran forward to a tree and quickly grabbed a rope, binding it around the tree as he then bit down on the rope, joined by Applebloom as they used every muscle in their body to try to pull it up, and pull it up they did as they stumbled backwards in the process, but that wasn't the only thing they pulled up. Big Mac and Applebloom went silent and only stared in shock once again as the thing before them rose up and loomed over them with it's tall figure. "Apples, tasty little apples..." The thing said while putting much weight on 'S' as a snake would, its front figure was nearly impossible to make out because the morning sun was shining behind it. Suddenly three more things quickly rose up from the sand in random spots as they made hissing noises and looked at Big Mac and Applebloom. Both ponies slowly began backing away and suddenly, just one centimeter ahead of them an enormous big thing like the others popped out of the ground, it had a shining gold crown that sparkled in the morning sun and had robes of that of a king or a very rich man in Canterlot. "This is our acre now ya punks, scram like small chickens and don't think about coming back!" The enormous creature said, this one was so enormous it blocked out the sun completely. It looked like an enormous snake but only the head was above ground so they didn't know just how long it was. But as it suddenly hissed and began moving forward slowly Big Mac started to panic alongsides Applebloom. "Get inside the house, Applebloom, now!" Big Mac said as they both ran away, opening the door to the house and closing it, they had to tell Applejack somehow, she would know what to do! But they both knew she was in Canterlot... and by the time she got back, those trees would be long gone. Chapter 2-2 Part 1 "Changeling Chase/Hisstocrat Swing!""Ah, it feels good to soon return to Ponyville, yeah? Don't you agree Applejack?" Rainbow Dash said as she smiled and relaxed on her seat, now and then glancing out of the window to look at the landscapes. "Yeah, it'll be good to return to mah apples again. Celestia was right, I can't take the air in Canterlot," Applejack said as she stared blankly out the window, trying to remember what happened back there, something happened... she saw something... she just couldn't remember. "Haha, you're so silly AJ. You've been in Canterlot multiple of times and this is the first time you begin to freak out? Give me a break!" Rainbow Dash said as she punched Applejack's shoulder jokingly. "Ah don't know, Rainbow. There was somethin' wrong this time, ah just can't remember what," Applejack said as she looked away from the window and at Rainbow Dash with a concerned look. "Yeah, I must confess... the way Celestia threw you outside was unlike her. What did she whisper to you anyway that made you freak out like that?" Rainbow Dash said as she scratched the back of her head with her hoof. "That's what ah can't remember, Dash. I freaked out about somethin' at the least," Applejack said, looking outside the window as the train approached Ponyville but was shocked to see as where the Sweet Apple Acres once stood was instead lots of sand reaching over the lands. She quickly began panicking and grabbed Rainbow Dash's shoulders with her front hoof and began shaking her. "Mah apples!" "What?! You freaked out about your apples?!" Rainbow Dash shouted as she got shaked by Applejack. "No! Look outside! Mah apples are gone!" Applejack shouted as she forcefully turned Rainbow Dash's head to look out the window as well. "Uh, what's going on you two?" Spike said as he jumped up on his seat and reached up to look out the window, seeing only sand where the Sweet Apple Acres once stood. "Sweet Celestia, that's a lot of sand." "Huh? I-a don't see any apples," Luigi said naively as he approached and looked outside the window as well and saw only sand. "Of course ya don't see any apples, they're gone!" Applejack shouted, flailing with her hooves in frustration. "Well, we cannot do anything until we get off the train, you'll have to calm down, Applejack," Spike said, trying to comfort Applejack. "Shush, Spike. Ah think we can do somethin'. Luigi, open that hatch up in the roof over there and lets go!" Applejack said as she pointed towards a hatch in the roof. "Hehe! Luigi time!" Luigi shouted as he ran forward in the train and crouched down before jumping up with a boost, his fist pointed upwards as he punched the hatch, making it fly away up into the sky. He then jumped up throof the hatch and landed on the trainroof, almost falling off in a typical Luigi manner. "Rainbow, let Spike ride on you until we reach Sweet Apple Acres so that he doesn't get harmed. And Spike, don't tell Twilight. This is the last thing she wants to hear from you when she finally wakes up," Applejack said before she ran forward and with a boost used her earthpony strength to jump up and grab onto the edge of the open hatch, pressing herself up as she climbed up onto the trainroof. "Hop on kiddo, this'll be the first time you get to ride on the fastest pony in Equestria so better make it worthwhile," Rainbow Dash said and smiled, walking up next to Spike as she spread her wings and prepared for flight. "I really hope you're a better flier than Twilight..." Spike said as he slowly climbed ontop of Rainbow Dash's back and hugged tightly to Rainbow Dash, making her flying capabilities a bit unstable, but it was nothing she couldn't handle. Rainbow Dash dashed up through the open hatch and then rainbowed through the sky in dashing speed, almost so that her tail and mane created a dashing rainbo- okay, one time's enough I suppose... Rainbow Dash landed firmly next to Luigi and Applejack, chuckling as she looked back at Spike hugging tightly around her body to stay on. "Hey, Rainbow. If ah knew you were going to do that ah'd just let him climb up himself, it would be less dangerous as well," Applejack said as she smirked jokingly, holding onto her hat as the speed of the train almost made it fly off. "So, you all ready to jump?" "Yeah! Let's-a go!" Luigi said as he crouched down and blindly jumped off, being sent flying directly into the flat surface of a rock. "Luigi!" Applejack shouted, trying to follow him as she jumped off, landing with a roll as she kept rolling for a couple of meters before coming to a stop next to the rock Luigi slammed into. "Hahaha! You two alright?" Rainbow Dash said as she flew over to Applejack and Luigi. "Eh, shut it Rainbow. Everybody wasn't born with wings you know," Applejack said as she giggled, sitting up as she adjusted her hat again. "Weeeeeh, that hurt!" Luigi said as he pressed himself off the rock, the outline of his body still visible on the rock. "Jumping from trains is a bad idea of course, but we did it for a reason, so, come on! We're heading to the farm!" Applejack said as she began galloping towards her farm, seeing the house just ahead. "Hey, AJ. What were you going to do about this whole sand problem when we arrive now again?" Rainbow Dash said, coming up next to Applejack while flying. "We ask Big Mac what happened and then we get to the bottom of the problem," Applejack said with a determined voice, the sounds of her hoofs echoing throughout the open fields as she galloped forward with Rainbow Dash and Luigi on her heels. "I think she meant all the sand, you do realise it's covering the whole acre, right?" Spike asked from Rainbow Dash's back, looking down at Applejack. "Ah don't care! As long as ah get to know who did it, ah'll be pretty freakin' satisfied!" Applejack said in a very angry voice thinking about her dead apple trees... ...her poor, poor, apple trees. "Hello yello!" Pinkie Pie shouted as she opened the door to Donut Joe's bakery, she held it open as Rarity, Fluttershy and Mario that was carrying the unconscious Twilight on his back stepped in. Though as they looked inside they saw that Donut Joe was laying on the floor surrounded by nine changelings. His limbs were stuck to the floor by some green goo and one of the changelings were pointing its glowing horn against his head. "Eeeeeeek!" Fluttershy shrieked, quickly hiding behind Mario. "Oh dear Celestia's mane!" Rarity said as she swooned and fainted, dropping to the floor almost immediately. Mario sighed in frustration as he looked at all the helpless ponies he had around himself, but he soon began to panic as well as the changelings turned towards where the new sounds were coming from as they pointed their horns against the heroes and started building up spells. "Have I ever told you guys that your hooves look like black swiss cheese? Omigosh I must have a taste someday!" Pinkie Pie said in excitement before her face turned serious as she pulled out a water pistol from her mane and pathetically shot towards the changelings, only ending up confusing them instead of actually doing harm. "You've gotta be-a joking with-a me!" Mario said as he looked at Pinkie Pie and then grabbed her, Rarity and Fluttershy and quickly opened the door, throwing them out the door with Twilight as he then slammed it shut and quickly locked it. "You leave-a that man- errh, pony alone!" Mario said, bringing his fist forward as he stood in a battle position, ready to take down these probably bad guys. The changelings chuckled between eachother as they each quickly transformed into Luigi, all standing with their hammers high as they smirked towards Mario. "Grr! If you're going to-a transform into Luigi then you-a better get the moustache right!" Mario shouted in confidence, pulling out a Fireflower from his pocket and spinning around as he turned into Fire Mario. He suddenly ran forward and created a massive fire ball in his hand as he spinned in a circle against the changelings as the fire ball acted like a fire tornado, sending them flying backwards out a window. He chuckled and turned around as he walked over to the entrapped pony on the floor. "You're-a saved now," Mario said as he crouched down and pulled away the green goo from Donut Joe's hooves. But the pony didn't move, he seemed like he was in another world. His eyes were completely green and so very distant. Mario tried waving his hand infront of his eyes but didn't get any response. "Huh." Mario turned around and opened the door as he stepped outside to the others, but to his surprise, thousands of those insectile ponies were swarming up in the sky and began creating like a protective bubble around the area. He instinctively ran forward and grabbed Rarity and Twilight and laid them on his back as he began running forward, signalling Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy to follow. "Uh, I'm kinda scared. Could we please pick up the pace, if you don't mind of course," Fluttershy muttered to Mario as they continued to run, trying to escape before the changelings had the full chance to surround them. But Mario couldn't run faster, the two unconscious ponies on his back showed to be too much for him. He had to lift one off, luckily for him, they were more than just one. "Hey, Pinkie Pie. Could you please-a carry Rarity for-a me!?" Mario said as he kept running but stopped as he looked back because Pinkie didn't give him an answer. And to his horror he saw that Pinkie Pie was being glued to the floor with that green goo back at the actual restuarant. How had he not noticed? With a grunt of pain he stumbled on a small stone that made him fall forwards as he wasn't looking where he was stepping and landed with two ponies on his back. "Ooomph! Fluttershy! Help me!" Mario said as he tried to get the ponies off him but he couldn't move. "Oh no! Uh! I'm so scared!" Fluttershy said as she hastily ran over to Mario and lifted off both Rarity and Twilight. Mario decided that he had to leave Rarity behind this time, Twilight was the one who mattered. Without her they wouldn't get anywhere. With a grunt of determination Mario gathered his strength to lift up Twilight onto his back as he began running yet again, Fluttershy looked on in confusion as to why Mario was going to leave Rarity behind. In an attempt of desperation, Fluttershy tried to lift up Rarity but she was not near as strong as Mario and only ended up lifting her up a little bit. A tear ran down her cheek and Fluttershy looked at the disappearing gap as Changelings began surrounding them completely and she abandoned Rarity, spreading her wings as she flew forward and catched up with Mario. "Fluttershy, where do-a we need to-a go to get safe?" Mario said as they began running towards their window of exit from this swarm of changelings. "Ponyville, where Applejack is!" Fluttershy said in panic as they both quickly sprinted through the small gap in the surrounding swarm, changing direction towards the train station. Though as Fluttershy looked backwards she noticed that the changelings weren't going to give up so easily as a big part of the swarm dispatched and created a smaller swarm, beginning to dive down after Fluttershy and Mario. "Eeeeeek!" "We cannot-a go there now, we have to shake-a these guys off-a first! Fluttershy, try-a to cover Twilight!" Mario shouted as he stopped and turned around, pulling out his emergency gold leaf that he and Luigi only uses if things go really awry. He threw it up in the air and touched it directly with the tip of his finger as he suddenly was wearing a white sparkling Tanooki-suit. "Let's-a go!" The changelings kept diving to Mario's suprise but he only smirked as began running in circles and building up momentum before jumping up into the air, using his golden sparkling tail to swing around to keep him airbourne. As the changelings foolishly attempted to tackle him they started vaporizing at the touch of the suit. The thing with golden leaves was that they worked as a superstar but they lasted for a greater amount of time, but these changelings didn't even know what a superstar was. Suddenly there were no attacking changelings left, only green magic dust laying in a giant heap on the ground. Mario landed and looked back at Fluttershy as suddenly the suit turned brown and the sparkles disappeared. "Thanks for saving me, M-mario," Fluttershy said as she looked at Mario in confusion, the look of him was fooling her to think that he was a brown racoon but he was surprisingly still Mario. The thing didn't just match up with her brain. "Hmph, we better move towards the train before more show up, because I won't be able to do that again unless we find another golden leaf," Mario said as he walked over to Twilight and lifted her up onto his back as the two slowly wandered towards the train station, now and then casting glances back at the huge swarm of changelings doing all kinds of stuff to their friends that they had to abandon. Only problem being that the trainstation was on the other side of Canterlot. "Big Mac, you open this door right now or ah'll do... somethin'!" Applejack shouted as she banked on the door to her house, but nobody answered. "I don't think he's home, AJ. Your family might have moved away 'cus of all this sand," Rainbow Dash said as she turned around and pointed towards the sandy dunes that has replaced the otherwise beautiful acre. "Nah, they're too stubborn like me to even think of such a thing, mah guess is they tried to do somethin' about it but "it" ended up doin' somethin' to them instead," Applejack said as she walked away from the door and took a step as she looked around at the acres of sand, at the edge between their frontyard and the acres a single rope laid alone in the sand. "Look! Over there ya'll!" Applejack shouted as she pointed towards the rope and ran forward to it. As Applejack was about to touch it though, the ground started shaking as a big creature suddenly rose from the sand and looked down at Applejack with hungry eyes. But Applejack wasn't scared, she only yelled out a warcry and snatched the rope from the ground and used it as a lasso as she threw it up in the air, making sure to catch the creature in it as she quickly pulled, the rope slowly beginning to strangle the creature. "Where's mah family ya big thing?!" She yelled as she pulled on the rope even more, looking at the creature that looked exactly like a snake, its underside completely white but otherwise it was blue. The creature tried to breath but was unable to, and as it suddenly began singing on a strange tune the ground began shaking again as more snakes popped up from the ground, surrounding Applejack. "Well, ah ain't goin' down without a fight! Rainbow Dash and Luigi, let's give these reptiles a reason to stay out of mah farm!" Applejack said angrily as she withdrew her rope and put up her hooves, shadowboxing a bit in the air in an attempt to frighten the snakes. "Oke dokey!" Luigi shouted as he ran towards the ring of snakes surrounding Applejack as he prepared his lightning powers again, getting up close as he powered up the ball of lightning in his hand before slamming his hand into a snake, shocking it entirely as it slumped backwards onto the sand, almost crushing Luigi. The ground started shaking yet again and all the snakes went down into the sand, Rainbow Dash, Luigi and Applejack only stood still and watched their surroundings, what was going to happen next? Before they had a chance to ask another snake popped out of the ground, but this one was enormous and had a nice royal coat and a crown, it loomed so tall over them that it blocked out the sun. "Hmfph! Who dares to attack my royal servants?" The snake thing said with what Applejack would call an overdone Canterlot accent. Luigi looked at the snake and pulled up his cap a bit as he growled and ran forward, climbing up on the snake with the help of the snake's robes, when he reached the top of the snake's head he jumped up in the air and then retracted his legs in midair, falling down quite quickly as he did a groundpound on the snake's head. The snake screeched as his eyes got teary before he frowned and went underground, leaving Luigi to fall back onto the sand again. "Luigi! What did ya do that for?! Now ah'm not gonna find out anything about where mah family is!" Applejack shouted towards Luigi as the ground began shaking again, but there was no sign of the snake. "Sorry, Applejack. But it was the Hisstocrat!" Luigi shouted back, running away from the spot as the shaking intensified. After some seconds the big snake reappeared, but this time he had another snake next to him, it looked mostly like himself but this one was pink instead of blue and had lipstick, clearly a female, but their pick of clothing were the same at the least. The snakes did not look happy though, they both glared at Luigi and they began singing that strange tune the first snake sang before as several other smaller snakes popped out of the ground, some having luxurious plates with shiny objects on them on their heads and some not. "Rainbow, go find a rope and use it as a lasso 'cus we have to capture these snakes!" Applejack shouted as she looked at Rainbow Dash and backed away a bit from the snakes. "Oh, such a dreadful accent!" The female Hisstocrat shouted as she cringed from Applejack's southern accent, a moment after she began gurgling something in her mouth and before anyone could react she opened it and spat out multiple fireballs. "Watch out!" Spike shouted as the fireballs started descending, shadowy spots on the bright sand indicated where they would land but Luigi, Applejack, Spike and Rainbow Dash still had a hard time avoiding them, but they got out of the situation unharmed. "Just a sec, AJ! Where can I find a rope anyways?" Rainbow Dash asked as the fireballs dropped to the sand and disappeared. "Look in the barn, better be one over there!" Applejack shouted as she ran forward and jumped up on one of the plates infront of the male Hisstocrat, glaring at him as she adjusted her hat. "Got it, I'll be back!" Rainbow Dash shouted as she flew away quickly towards the barn. Applejack watched as Rainbow Dash soared away and then turned around once again as she stood face to face with the male Hisstocrat. "You should have left mah farm alone, ya big sandeater!" Applejack said before leaping up in the air from the plate and landing on the snake's head. The male Hisstocrat became teary eyed and spinned around before disappearing underground again making Applejack fly off him at a high speed as she crashed into the sand. "You imbecils! How dare you treat a gentlesnake like that!" The female Hisstocrat said as she began singing on the snakecharmer tune as her own royal servants appeared, these seemed more agressive with their angry eyes and just how they seemed to move visciously. "Time for you to learn some Etiquette!" She shouted as she began singing on a very strange tune different from the snakecharmer tune. And before they knew it the female snakes began diving forward into the sand and appeared around them some moments after, looking like angry Cobra's who were about to have an afternoon snack. Luigi picked up Spike on his back as he jumped up into the air and got out of the surrounding ring of snakes, some seconds passed and Applejack did the same just as the all snakes dove down in the middle where they had been standing before. "Luigi, Spike. Let's return the favor!" Applejack said as she gestured for them to follow as they began running forward against the female Hisstocrat but just as they were approaching the ground began shaking and the male surfaced and opened his wide snake mouth, and before they could stop they unfortunately ran into his open mouth and slipped into his throat. The inside of the snake's throat was slippery and as they tried to make a futile attempt to hold on and not slip further down in the throat the Hisstocrat began dancing, making the wall of the throat shake as it became much more difficult to hold on, forcing them to let go and fall to into the dark abyss... Night was quickly approaching and it was already pitch black outside, but Mario had no intention of stopping now. Him and Fluttershy were sneaking through the abandoned streets of Canterlot, wondering about what exactly had happened. Mario figured that those insectile ponies had a part to play in this, and every now and then he could see them fly into an open window and moments after it would glow green from inside the house. And as Fluttershy and Mario turned into another streetway they pressed themselves against the wall as a small group of Changelings flew above them, their horns shining light on the ground beneath them on individual spots, just like a flashlight. "Mario? I'm really, really, scared... I want to get out of here," Fluttershy whispered to Mario as they began advancing yet again. "Stay-a calm, Fluttershy. We're gonna get through this, nobody is-a going to take down-a me that easily," Mario whispered as he patted Fluttershy's head reassuringly before continuing to move towards where the signs were pointing the trainstation was positioned. Suddenly another group of changelings appeared, this time on the ground. Mario and Fluttershy had no time to react before the light found them directly. Mario laid Twilight down on the ground and raised his fists, standing in a defensive position. But the small group of changelings suddenly fired a laser up in the air instead of firing it at them, and when it was high up in the air it exploded and made a screeching sound. Mario knew that this was going to attract other changelings and instead quickly picked up Twilight and strapped her to his back with a rope he found on the ground and took a hold of Fluttershy and began running in the opposite direction. "Oh no! No! Run faster!" Fluttershy screamed as she began to panic, but for a good reason. The stars were being blocked out and instead the sky was crawling with changelings instead, and they looked very angry. Mario ran as fast as he could with Twilight on his back while dragging along Fluttershy, deciding to not look back as he continued to run. Suddenly multiple changelings landed infront of him but he didn't care, he had the Tanooki suit for a reason. He leaped up into the air and spinned his tail as he stayed airbourne, jumping over the changelings that blocked his path. As they landed, Fluttershy released herself from Mario's grip and began running herself instead of just being dragged along. All the changelings in Canterlot were probably chasing them right now and their way to the trainstation had just been significantly more difficult. Mario turned into another alleyway alongsides and Fluttershy, but it turned out to be a dead end. And as Mario heard the changelings approach he had to improvise, as he looked around he saw a barrel full of dynamites and a scrapped airplane. Mario picked up his wrench and got to work as he grabbed most of the parts from the plane and attached them to the barrel, he quickly threw out the dynamites within the barrel, replacing them with the airplane engine and placed the dynamites in a pile neatly on the ground and then placed the airplane barrel some meters ahead of it. He took out yet another Fireflower from his pocket and spinned around as he became Fire Mario yet again and threw a fireball towards the fuse attached to the dynamite as he hopped on the barrel, gesturing for Fluttershy to do the same. She hesitated but gave in as she hopped on and grabbed on tight as Mario did. "Uh, Mario? How exactly did you, uhm, think this would work?" Fluttershy asked as she looked at the airplane barrel that had no wheels and then back at the stack of dynamites that were soon to explode a couple of meters behind them. "Don't-a you worry, DK taught me," Mario said as he smirked, looking back he saw that the swarm of changelings entered the alleyway but their expression soon turned into panic as they saw how much dynamite was laying on the ground and how much of the fuse was left. With a boom the stack of dynamites exploded and the changelings that were at the front of the swarm evaporated into green sparkling dust, but the explosion was powerful enough to get the airplane barrel to launch into the air, and the speed of the launch was quick enough to get the propeller working. Mario smirked, and as he looked down he could see the trainstation and quickly began steering the airplane barrel towards it, but as he looked up and down he also saw that the changelings hadn't given up yet. They began firing bolts of green lasers at Mario and Fluttershy. Mario steered it into safety but he realised that there was no way they would survive by taking the train, and instead he steered it towards Ponyville in the distance. Fluttershy had been screaming the entire time as she did not like being stuck on this dangerous contraption, but it was either this or the fate of being kidnapped by Changelings. But they hadn't stopped following them either. The changelings began firing green magic from behind them and Mario tried steering it out of harms way but suddenly two magic bolts hit both wings, making the wings explode and detach. The airplane barrel started to lose altitude quite quickly and Mario tried steering it upwards but a simple propeller wasn't enough to keep them airbourne. Mario tried to think of a solution and looked at Fluttershy... she had wings. "Fluttershy! Use-a your wings! You have to!" Mario shouted to Fluttershy who was covering her eyes with her wings, but she looked up with tear filled eyes and nodded. Fluttershy began flapping her wings very hard and fast as if her life depended on it, which it actually did. She managed to gain altitude with the barrel and Mario sighed in relief and wiped his forehead before returning to steer the flying barrel. Mario suddenly felt Twilight beginning to turn and move her limbs a bit, his eyes started bulging in panic and looked back to see Twilight opening her eyes slowly, blinking a bit as she looked at everyone with distant eyes. But as she looked back at all the changelings chasing them her distant look disappeared and instead she began clingering onto Mario in pure instict, unconsciously making it harder for him to steer. "Gah! What in the whole Tartarus is going on!" Twilight screamed as she took a firmer grip of Mario so that she wouldn't fall down. "Oh, uh, hi Twilight," Fluttershy said as she continued to flap her wings, avoiding mutliple magic bolts from the changelings who had pretty bad aim, at the least from the distance they were flying. "Those-a bugs swarmed us, we-a had to escape!" Mario shouted as he steered the flying barrel downwards as he looked back and saw that the changelings had made a group formation and were about to fire one single massive magic beam towards them. "How does this even make sense?! Is this a sick, twisted dream?!" Twilight screamed as the massive magic beam passed right over their heads. "We'll explain-a later!" Mario said, watching in horror as the changelings picked up some speed and flew past them. In the distance they were creating flying formations and were probably going to set up some blockades. "Oh yeah, you better!" Twilight shouted, aiming her horn to the changelings behind them, firing off rapid streams of magic that succesfully scattered the swarms and forced the changelings to take cover and stop chasing. She then used her magic to unbind the rope and instead clinged onto Mario even more safely. But the problem ahead of them wasn't gone and the changeling formations were approaching rather quickly. Fluttershy started panicking even more and her wings stopped flapping as the changelings approached and the flying barrel lost altitude very fast since the propeller had stopped going after Fluttershy had began flapping her wings instead. But as the changeling had passed by Twilight took over and took a hold of the barrel as quick as she could and used her stronger Alicorn wings to gain altitude again to avoid a changeling formation that had sweeped lower to actually hit them. "You know what, even though my heart is probably beating too fast because of all these tense moments, this is pretty fun!" Twilight said with a smirk as she powered up her horn and fired away rapid magical bolts against the approaching changeling formation, scattering them and killing off most of the formation. All seemed to go well before the whole sky began shining with a green ominous light and something flew past them before they could see it, but as they looked ahead they saw the changeling queen herself, Chrysalis. She grinned and powered up her horn and fired away, the single magical bolt directly hitting the barrel as it exploded and sent them all flying up into the air without warning, throwing them off control. Twilight regained the control of her wings and swooped down to grab Mario in mid-air successfully, he at least didn't weight as much as the barrel and him combined and this was nothing she couldn't handle. Some moments after Fluttershy also regained her control and flew over to Twilight as they were face to face with Chrysalis. "So, you're the three who have been messing with my army?" Chrysalis said calmly as she flapped her insectile wings, grinning menacingly all the while. "What are you doing here!?" Twilight said angrily, growling a bit as she clenched her teeth. "Well, all my changelings went into pursuit after you three, but they failed. So I had to see who the troublemakers were myself, and here you are," Chrysalis said, crossing her front hooves as she continued to grin. "Yeah, well. What are you going to do about it? We don't have the princess," Twilight said as she looked at Chrysalis, remembering that Zecora had told her that Chrysalis was out to kidnap Princess Peach. "Mhm, but I want to have a little fun. I'll let you go peacefully if you can make it to Ponyville before me and my army can kidnap you or defeat you," Chrysalis suggested as she smirked and pointed towards Ponyville, which still was a long way ahead. "Deal!" Mario shouted from beneath Twilight as he grabbed a normal brown Tanooki leaf from his pocket and touched it with the tip of his finger, turning into Tanooki Mario as he began spinning his tail rapidly to gain altitude. "Then so be it, you three have ten seconds on you to distance yourself from us, and then you better be afraid," Chrysalis said and smiled, crossing her front hoof as she fired a green laser into the sky as a giant black cloud gathered over Canterlot and began approaching quickly. Without hesitation, Mario jumped up on Twilight's back and spinned his tail to give her a slight speed boost and to make up for his added weight. Fluttershy, Twilight and Mario nodded to eachother before dashing forward, trying to fly away as fast as possible from Chrysalis. This did go faster than the airplane barrel but they couldn't look back without taking the risk to slow down now, so if anything would happen, they wouldn't know it before it hit them. Suddenly though, Chrysalis soared ahead of them and enveloped herself with green magic before she took the shape of a big winged dragon. Fluttershy's wings almost froze in panic but she knew it wasn't an actual dragon, but it still looked like a big fire-breathing dragon. Mario and Twilight gasped in shock and ascended together with Fluttershy over the clouds to avoid Chrysalis in her dragon transformation. "Who said Changelings can't change into dragons?" Chrysalis said with a playful but dark and growly voice, her giant dragon head peeking up through the clouds and watching Twilight, Mario and Fluttershy pass over her. "This is impossible! The amount of magic that transformation would require is too much to think of!" Twilight shouted as they passed over Chrysalis head and then descended again, seeing that Ponyville was not that far away now. "Oh, but I am a queen and there is just so much potent love in Canterlot, tee hee!" Chrysalis said, beginning to slowly fly after them as she powered up her belly with the hottest of fire, hot enough to destroy a whole mountain if necessary. Mario looked back and saw the golden light that shined through Chrysalis scales, he quickly tried to steer Twilight down and she got the gesture and quickly descended alongsides with Fluttershy, just after five seconds the steaming hot fire passed over their heads and was enough for them to feel like they were sitting in a REALLY warm sauna. "Woah! She can breathe fire too?! What is this madness!?" Twilight shouted as she looked at the golden fire above them. "Alright, keep it together everyone. We're soon there!" She continued as she looked forward and saw Ponyville quite clearly now, but she also noticed that the whole Sweet Apple Acre was covered in sand and began steering towards it instead of her original landing spot which was just the entrance to Ponyville. "Doing great so far, but that was just phase two of the chase!" Chrysalis said as her fellow changeling army began picking up speed and transformed into very small dragons, about the size of a pony. Mario looked back and saw the approaching swarm of mini dragons and looked at Twilight and Fluttershy. "Baby dragons incoming!" Fluttershy smiled at the thought of 'baby' dragons and looked behind her to see but her they didn't look as she had imagined, these looked like adult dragons but they were just small. But she had an idea, she quickly pulled out a bird whistle from a small bag around her neck she always carries around. She blew it and all the trees in the Everfree Forest below them began shaking intensely before all birds flew up in a more massive swarm than the changelings and tried to fly after Fluttershy but on their way they only flew into all the changelings and made it difficult for them to fly fast as some even crashed towards the ground as they tried to shake off all the small birds. Chrysalis smirked and as she saw that they crossed the border into Ponyville she sighed and transformed herself into her normal shape and all the changelings turned back as well. "Good luck try finding that princess for us, because we'll arrive when you do!" Chrysalis shouted before she gestured for all her minions to follow her as she turned around and flew back towards Canterlot. "Grr," Twilight simply said as she growled, but she had to find out why there was so much sand at The Sweet Apple Acres and continued to fly forward. "Uhm, Twilight? Can I go home now? If you don't mind of course," Fluttershy said calmly as she felt tired from all the work her wings have done. "Could you hang on a bit longer, Fluttershy? I have to see what's going on here," Twilight said as she stopped over Sweet Apple Acres and descended, landing firmly on the sandy ground. Mario jumped off and immediately saw footsteps covering the sand here and there, but these weren't any ordinary footsteps, it was from his brother's boots. "Luigi has been here..." Mario said as he looked at Twilight. "So has Applejack," Twilight said as she looked a bit ahead and saw Applejack's hat laying infront of a big round pit. "I, uh, wonder what happened here... on second thought though, I don't wanna know." Fluttershy said as she backed away and watched her surroundings, what really had happened? To Be Continued... Chapter 2-2 Part 2 "Snakey Chantey/Belly Of The Beast"Luigi opened his eyes, but he still couldn't see. The smell that immediately hit his nose was anything but pleasant, it smelled like apple juice combined with stomach acid. And that's when he realised that he was soaked in something, he was floating in some liquid even. He grabbed his flashlight from his soaked pocket and quickly activated it to make some sense of all this. And as the light illuminated his surroundings he saw that he was in a big "cave" made entirely of pink flesh, and the water that he was floating in had the same colour as apple juice. He scratched his head and began swimming towards a small island amongst the apple juice and climbed up without slipping. And that's when he remembered that they had been gobbled up by the Hisstocrat and he must have passed out when he hit the surface of the apple juice. Another question arose in Luigi's head as he began remembering, where was Applejack and Spike? He remembered that he had been trying to hold onto Spike while they were falling and Applejack was with them as well. Rainbow Dash had been gone while it happened, but did she get eaten as well? "Heeeeello?!" Luigi shouted as he searched for Applejack and Spike nearby, shining with his flashlight in the apple juice to see if they were there. A loud rumbling could be heard afterwards and the meaty floor began shaking intensely as Luigi tried to hold on. Some seconds passed and suddenly more juice began flowing down in small tubes that hanged in the roof, making the room fill up significantly with more juice. Luigi began to panic at the rising levels of juice and noticed that there was a dark path ahead underwater which probably lead to some other area. He quickly jumped into the apple juice and tried to hold his breath as he quickly swam to the tunnel. It wasn't a dead end at the least and seemed to lead up into a bigger tunnel which he quickly began swimming towards. But as he continued to shine underwater with his flashlight it suddenly began blinking and he started to panic. He began to swim even faster as he tried to cover as much distance as he could before his flashlight died, and as he swam into the big tunnel he saw that there was a surface just ahead. He quickly surfaced out of the juice a moment after and searched around this new room with his blinking flashlight as he saw that this room wasn't as filled with juice as the other had been, and it looked like he could mostly walk in here. Luigi crawled up from the juice and stood up on the meaty floor, as he looked around he saw that Spike was sitting restlessly against a wall and his eyes were empty of hope. "Spike! Is-a that really you!?" Luigi shouted as he ran over to Spike and hugged him, crying tears of joy to find someone else in this crowded inside of a giant snake. "Luigi! I thought you and Applejack were dead!" Spike said with a smile but the happiness was shortlived as it began rumbling again, the floor beginning to shake intensely. Luigi quickly retracted from the hug and looked around for any sign of trouble, but he only noticed that there was now a round opening to a straight tunnel that seemed to be glowing faintly. But soon it began rumbling again and as Luigi looked towards where the sound came from he saw that a big tube opened and juice began flowing out in a big river into the room. "Waaah! Run!" Luigi shouted as he grabbed Spike and threw him on his shoulder before turning around and running as fast as he could into the tunnel. The sounds of splashing juice echoed from behind them but the same old rumble could be heard again before the opening closed and the water couldn't get into the corridor. Luigi sighed and wiped some sweat from his forehead in relief as he looked back at the closed opening and instead slowly walked towards the glowing light. And as they walked through the corridor his flashlight suddenly died, but it didn't matter since the light from the other end of the tunnel was enough to illuminate where he was stepping. "I wonder where that light is coming from," Spike said as he scratched the scales on his head and tried to see what laid before them. "Hopefully ice cream and birthday candles!" Luigi said naively as he patted his belly. Spike heard another rumble and made a panicked expression. "Luigi! Quick! Another rumble!" Spike shouted as he held onto Luigi's cap. Luigi chuckled and made an awkward expression. "Sorry, just-a my belly. I'm really hungry!" Luigi said as he continued to walk slowly forward as the end of the tunnel slowly approached. The light shined so bright that Luigi and Spike had to cover their eyes with their hands as they stepped through the opening to what they assumed was another room, but as their eyes adjusted to the light and they retracted their hands to see their surroundings they both stared with an open mouth. This room was bigger than the others, significantly bigger than the other rooms infact. It was as big as Celestia's throneroom in Canterlot but entirely made of flesh, with weird looking round glowing things hanging from the ceiling. And as Luigi and Spike took another step into the room and took in their surroundings they saw Applejack ahead, but she was surrounded by weird black Koopas with turqoise eyes and with an insectile structure. "You leave Applejack alone!" Spike shouted towards the group of insect-Koopas. Applejack peered up her ears and smiled before sighing in relief, but her expression soon changed into one of worry instead as one of the creatures turned around slightly and glared towards Spike and Luigi with turqoise glowing eyes. "Spike! Luigi! Be careful there fellas!" Applejack shouted to Spike as every insect-Koopa turned around and showed off their razor sharp teeth. "R-r-run!" Luigi shouted as he immediately began running to the left with Spike on his shoulders as the insect-Koopas approached, but they didn't stop either and gave chase after him and Spike. "What are you doing?! Running isn't going to solve this situation!" Spike shouted as Luigi ran for his life around the room to distance himself from the creatures. "There are too many of them!" Luigi screamed as he stopped at the right upper corner of the square room, looking at the insect-Koopas as they approached. "Yeah, well, we gotta save Applejack and then get out of here!" Spike said as he began to panic, Luigi stood still against the corner and the creatures were approaching quickly. But Luigi smirked as they were almost within a hands reach and instead jumped over them as they couldn't stop and ran into the fleshy wall with their head first. The wall sucked them in as if it was made of jelly and they tried to futilely escape but just ended up drawing themselves in even more. "Woah, that was kind of smart of you, Luigi," Spike said as he wiped his forehead but soon began to panic as he saw that not all creatures had gotten stuck in the jelly-like wall of flesh, three remained, and they looked more agressive than before. "Hang on, Spike," Luigi said with a smirk and jumped up into the air and masterfully landed on one of the creatures as it fell to the ground before slightly exploding and turning into green glowing dust. All the creatures looked on in horror and then began running away themselves in panic, one creature quickly began singing on a familiar tune, it was the tune that the female Hisstocrat had sung to make her servants attack and become more agressive. A moment passed and familiar rumble returned as an opening in the wall revealed itself which the creatures quickly ran into to escape from Luigi and Spike. "Well, could ya believe it? Ah could have probably taken them down if ah was prepared, but they ambushed me when ah finally had found mah family. They left me here but they took Applebloom, Macintosh and Granny Smith down that tunnel," Applejack said as she approached, she was without her hat and to Luigi, that was a strange sight to see. "Then what are we waiting for, let's go save ourselves some apples!" Spike said heroically as he sat on Luigi's shoulders. "Yeah!" Luigi shouted as he struck an heroic pose together with Spike on his shoulders infront of Applejack. "Hehe, come on then, heroes," Applejack said as she smiled before turning around and changed her expression into one of determination. "Celestia knows what they're doin' to mah family right now," Applejack muttered as they walked towards the tunnel, she began doubting if she really would see her family again, but she would. There was no way she was going to let anything horrible happen to them. "Applejack! Luigi!" Twilight shouted across the acres as she levitated Applejack's hat behind her. But she got no answer, something had happened to one of her best friends and she didn't even know if she was gone, or something worse. She looked at Mario and Fluttershy that stood behind her in the sand, she had at least some friends left. But something instinctively told her that Applejack wasn't the only one that was missing, because, where was Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash and Spike? "What are we going to do, you two? We can't find them anywhere, and I have no idea on how to find them! If only there was a spell for this particular reason!" Twilight said as she frowned and walked towards Applejack's house and away from the sand with Fluttershy and Mario following her. Suddenly they heard someone shouting from within the barn and they all looked towards it, Twilight, Fluttershy and Mario instinctively ran towards the barn as a feeling of hope began to grow. Was it Applejack, was it Spike, was it Luigi, was it Rainbow Dash or was it all of them? "Help!" They heard from within the barn, they could recognize the voice but they weren't sure. Twilight quickly powered up her horn and fired an explosive magic bolt towards the door as it blew open and she hurried in and infront of her she saw Rainbow Dash laying on the floor, her left wing stuck to the floor by a hayfork. "Sweet Celestia, Rainbow! What happened!?" Twilight shouted as she carefully enveloped the hayfork with a magical aura and lifted it up from Rainbow Dash's wing. "Nghn! Gah!" Rainbow Dash screamed in pain as Twilight lifted the hayfork, her wing aching in agonizing pain as small driplets of blood fell to the floor. Fluttershy covered her eyes with her wings as she saw the blood, she unwillingly began imagining herself having a hayfork impaled in her wing and winced. "Rainbow, what happened here? Answer me!" Twilight said as she worriedly ran forward and pointed her horn towards Rainbow's wing and tried to heal it with a spell. "Applejack told me to fetch a rope in the barn so we could catch the giant snakes that attacked us, but just as I grabbed the rope I bumped into something and suddenly that hayfork fell down and impaled my wing!" Rainbow Dash said as she bit her lip while Twilight tried to heal her wounds. "Giant snakes? Oh, that sounds awful," Fluttershy said, looking up from her wings. "Yeah, they looked like quite a pain even for me, but something happened to the others, I don't know. I tried screaming after them but they never arrived," Rainbow Dash said, looking at Mario and Fluttershy. "Who are "the others"? Do you mean Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Luigi, Spike and Applejack?" Twilight asked as she finished healing Rainbow Dash's wounds. "What are you talking about, Twilight? Only Luigi, Spike and Applejack went back to Ponyville, the others stayed in Canterlot," Rainbow Dash said as she quirked an eyebrow and saw that only Mario, Fluttershy and Twilight were the ones present. "Wait what?! Mario?! Why didn't you say something?!" Twilight said as she froze in place before turning around and glaring towards Mario. "Not-a my fault! We-a got ambushed by-a changelings!" Mario exclaimed as he crossed his arms. "We-a barely got away ourselves anyways!" Mario added as he lowered his arms again and looked back and forth at Fluttershy and Twilight. "The changelings got them...?" Twilight said as she calmed down and instead frowned, her eyes staring down into the ground. "If only I had been awake to protect them," she muttered to herself before looking up again and walking out of the barn with determined steps. "Uhm, Twilight? I really need to return to my animals, I haven't fed them in a while and oh, I'm so worried about them. I'll return right after that though!" Fluttershy said as she prepared to take off, but patiently waited for an answer from Twilight. "Yeah, but stay careful, Fluttershy. We don't want yet another one of our friends to go missing do we?" Twilight said as she looked back at Fluttershy and waved her hoof slightly. "Bye, Flutters!" Rainbow Dash shouted to Fluttershy as the yellow pegasus lightly flew up into the air and headed to her cottage. "Rainbow Dash, where did these quote on quote "snakes" go?" Twilight said as she walked out of the barn and onto the sand and looked around for any other signs of Applejack, Luigi and Spike's disappearance. "I don't know, they just appeared out of the ground," Rainbow Dash said as she walked up to Twilight with Mario behind her. "Hm? Appeared out of the-a ground?" Mario said as he began stroking his moustache, pondering as some things began fall into place. Big snakes that appeared out of the ground... that live in sand. "Yeah, and they had a Canterlot accent and then there were these super giant snakes that used those normal giant snakes as servants, one female and one male!" Rainbow Dash said as she tried to explain how they looked. Mario dropped his jaw as he slowly began realising, he pulled up his cap and growled. "The Hisstocrats! They took-a Luigi! They're gonna pay for-a doing this to my-a brother!" "Yeah, Luigi said something about some Hisstocrat too, you know these things, Mario?" Rainbow Dash asked as she quirked an eyebrow. "Mhm, and they're going down!" Mario said as he pulled out a Super-bell and put it on his neck as he spinned around and transformed into Cat-Mario. Twilight and Rainbow Dash exchanged some weird stares as they looked at Mario, he was covered in fur and had a cat tail and cat ears. "How is that 'thing' you're wearing going to solve anything, Mario?" Twilight asked as she scratched her mane with one of her front hooves. "You'll-a see! They'll return, we-a just have to wait," Mario said as he looked out towards the acre and glared at nothing really, but he was prepared to avenge his brother. Applejack, Luigi and Spike peeked through the end of the tunnel and the exit lead to a big room covered with some weird kind of black cobweb or something. Luigi recognised it at the least, it was like the thing that had been covering the changeling egg chamber in the old castle in the Everfree Forest. But how? "Ah'd reckon that this is the place where they're keeping mah family," Applejack said as she crawled through the end of the tunnel but was surprised as she suddenly began falling down towards the floor. She wasn't prepared that the end of the tunnel was positioned quite high up on the wall, but none the less she still survived the fall and got up slowly as she looked around. The floor of the room was filled with turqoise glowing liquid and some familiar-looking changeling eggs scattered here and there. Weird looking pods were attached to the walls with the same black substance as the floor and everything else in this room and inside the pods were creatures of all kinds from what they could tell. The room was square just as most other rooms that came before and was the biggest one yet, the sizes of the rooms just seemed to increase for each room they entered and Applejack began doubting if they were still even inside the snake. Luigi crawled out with Spike on his shoulders and was unprepared of the height as well, flailing with his arms to try to stay in the air, which worked to some degree due to the 'slapstick laws of physics' which only he and Pinkie Pie seemed to be able to use, but in the end he fell down with his face first and landed with a loud 'smack' onto the insectile floor. "Ya okay there, sugarcubes?" Applejack said as she looked behind her at Luigi who's face was stuck in the floor and Spike who was comfortably sitting on Luigi's back. "Yeah, I think so," Spike said as she stepped off Luigi and looked around the room as well. "I mean, he survived jumping off a train and getting slammed into a big rock... I think he'll be fine." "Awawa..." Luigi said as he pulled his face up from the floor and sat back, seeing stars spinning around his head for a moment as he tried to come back to his senses. "So, got any clues on where the others are?" Spike said as he walked up to Applejack and looked around of what was actually inside the room. "Nah, but ah think they can actually be inside one of these pods right here," Applejack said as she looked at all the pods that were attached to the walls, trying to find at least someone she could recognise. "Then let's start looking, Luigi, could use a hand here," Spike said as he looked at Luigi and waited for him to get up, which he did. "Oke dokee!" Luigi said as he picked up Spike and threw him onto his shoulder to give him a piggy-back ride. But before they could start searching, Applejack heard the sound of what could only be a filly struggling to breathe. She turned towards the sound and saw Applebloom with her ribbon stuck in of the pods that were slowly being filled with the turqoise liquid. "Applebloom!" Applejack screamed in panic and ran towards the pod as quick as she could and smiled for a second to see her sister again, but she was also VERY determined to get her beloved sister out of there. She turned around to buck the pod with her strong hooves but it didn't budge, it was like hitting very solid rock. Applejack didn't give up however, she was known to be stubborn and she would not let her sister drown in whatever liquid that was. She tried couple of more times but the pod still didn't budge. Applejack looked at Applebloom once again and saw that she had gone unconscious, probably because of the lack of air. But suddenly she saw two small thin tentacle-like things reaching down within the pod and traveling up into Appleblooms nose. Applejack hoped that these things provided oxygen, but that was only mere hope. She raised her hind-hooves and bucked onto the pod again, but nothing happened yet again. A single tear ran down Applejack's cheek as she struggled to save her sister but her efforts were useless, without thinking she began banging on the pod with her front-hooves while starting to cry uncontrollably. "Applebloom! Please sob h-hang in there, ah'll save ya!" She shouted as she continued to cry, banging on the pod even more before she gave up and slowly fell to the floor as her tears began forming a puddle on the floor right infront of the pod. Luigi and Spike approached Applejack as fast as they could and looked at the pod in horror as a bright green flashing began lighting up the room. Applebloom's fur began disappearing and her skin slowly turned into the insectile chitin of a changeling, holes beginning to form on her hooves and a small twisting horn starting to sprout just like a plant on hear forehead as her mane slowly disappeared. Spike growled slightly and got angry inside, the changelings would surely pay for this. But he was more worried for the well of Applejack's sanity and jumped down from Luigi's shoulders and held his hands over Applejack's eyes so she would not see the new Applebloom if she were to look up even once. "W-what are ya doin', Spike?" Applejack said as her sobbing came to an end and she pulled away Spike's hands just because they were a bit irritating, but she regretted her choice as she slowly stood up and looked at Applebloom. She roared out in anger and stomped down in the ground as her nostrils fired up, she looked at her little fragile sister that wasn't her sister anymore, she didn't even resemble Applebloom anymore. The only thing that did remind Applejack of who it was the ribbon that was now attached to the changeling horn and acted most only to aggrevate Applejack even more. As she looked next to Applebloom at the other two pods she saw a big muscular changeling and in the other an old normal sized changeling, their past identities dawned upon Applejack as she looked at them even more. She was sad, but anger and rage were the feelings she felt the most, she began walking towards a big tunnel that lead elsewhere with heavy steps, almost marching even. But she was determined to get out of the snake and find whoever was responsible and make them dig their own grave. But just as she was about to step in, three unique changelings dropped down infront of her, one insectile-Koopa, one normal changeling and one armoured changeling with a diamond horn that stood in the middle of the group. Applejack didn't care and instead pulled up her front hooves and swinged with her left hoof with all her anger inserted into it. The hoof slammed into the changeling-Koopa and it flew back and turned into dust. The other two changelings tried to figure out her next move, but that proved to be impossible as Applejack didn't use tactics, she only wanted to avenge her sister in any way possible. She brought up her hooves and leaped onto the armoured changeling and began hitting it repeatedly as she seethed her rage, her punches all in full force. The armoured changeling turned into dust as well from just three hits and Applejack proceeded her rampage with picking up the armor and throwing it at the one remaining changeling's head, the force of the metal armor strong enough to actually make the changeling die and turn into green glowing dust as well. "Applejack? Are you okay!?" Spike shouted as he and Luigi ran up to Applejack, trying to keep their distance as they knew Applejack was beyond the level of having a normal conversation without punching something now. Applejack ignored the two concerned friends and instead stood still as her nostrils continued to flare in anger, she was going to avenge her family at all costs and find a way to turn them back. She wasted no time and immediately marched towards the end of the big tunnel, she was going to stop at nothing and if someone would try to block her... ...a strong and anger-infused punch awaited their 'once' pretty face. "Mario, we can't just wait like this, for each second that passes Chrysalis grows stronger from all the plentyful love in Equestria," Twilight said as she walked back and forth, beginning to freak out at Mario who was just sitting and expecting the 'snake' to pop out of the ground. Suddenly the ground began shaking to everyones surprise. Rainbow Dash and Mario recognised it as the sign that the Hisstocrat or Hisstocrats were about to pop out of the ground. The shaking intensified as suddenly the female Hisstocrat appeared out of the ground, shaking herself as he shook off most of the sand from his royal cape. Her eyes bulged as she saw Mario sitting with angry eyes in his cat-suit. "Oh! My goodness! I d-didn't expect you to be here, mister Mario. Hehe," she said as she blushed in awkwardness and was about to travel down into the ground again but waited just to see where this was going. "You took-a my brother!" Mario shouted as he jumped up from the ground without warning, getting high enough up in the air as he dived forward with his cat claws aimed forward, landing right on the female Hisstocrat's head as tears formed at the sides of her eyes before she spinned around and then dived down into the ground. "Prepare yourselves! This ended bad for Luigi and Applejack, remember?" Rainbow Dash said as she flapped her wings and lifted from the ground, her healed wing feeling better than ever. "Right, well. We'll see how this goes!" Twilight said as she flapped her wings as well and flew up into the air. Mario felt the ground starting to shake even more than before and ran away from the spot where he landed, and just as he did the male Hisstocrat surfaced and began gobbling up into the air before stopping and looking around to see who he was really facing. As he saw Mario he whimpered in fear but knew that it was now or never. "Twilight, Rainbow! Dive-a down towards his-a head!" Mario shouted as his angry eyes almost piercing the male Hisstocrat's soul. "Okay!... wait what?!" Twilight said as she looked down at Mario and got confused by the question but was surprised to see Rainbow Dash flying up into the air and then diving down towards the Hisstocrat's head, her front hooves slamming into the clean reptile head of the male Hisstocrat as he spinned around and dove under the sand again. It didn't take long before the ground shaked again but this time both Hisstocrats surfaced and looked at the two ponies and Mario with a somewhat fearful expression. They were afraid that maybe they had chewed off more than what they could swallow. Just as Luigi, Spike and Applejack entered the tunnel it began shaking and the floor began to slowly tilt downwards, everything began tilting actually. Suddenly what used to be floors turned into walls and walls turned into floors, and Applejack, Luigi and Spike began falling down into the next room without warning while screaming. Luigi landed first even though Applejack was infront of him, but she fell ontop of Luigi and Spike landed on Applejack. Spike took in his surroundings and saw a person with red robes that concealed most of his body, but he looked like a male and he was picking small glowing orbs from the floor. "Hey, you! Did you get eaten as well?" Spike shouted as he climbed off Applejack and Luigi. The person turned around and pulled down his hood, revealing his green face and his blue glasses with weird spirals in them. "Eaten has happened to me indeed!" the weird person exclaimed as his big smile widened. "Swallowed like a waffle I has!" Spike quirked an eyebrow at the weirdo, something about the guy was very unsettling. "Uh, so. Do you know any way out?" "I say to you, no! If it had been so, the rotten fink-rats would be as sorry as a child that dropped a sandwich with peanut butter on the floor!" The weirdo said as he gathered all the glowing orbs and put them in a sack on his back. "Anypaths, the must be going is I!" "Yeah, and where are you supposed to go? You said that you didn't know a way out," Spike said as he looked at the weirdo who sat himself down on the floor, seemingly waiting for something to happen. "You is mistakenness, snake has explode soon!" the weirdo said in his very 'cryptic' language which Spike had a hard time understanding. Luigi and Applejack finally stood up and were surprised to see Spike talking to the weird guy, but Luigi gasped at the realisition and looked at the weirdo with the red robe and light-blue glasses and green skin... Fawful. "Oh, the fink-rat is there. Has you feel the fink-ratness wafting off the fink-rat like three spring-lambs covered in rotten socks? Fawful has felt the fink-rat," Fawful said as he stood up again and grinned with his big teeth at Luigi. "What-a you doing here?!" Luigi asked Fawful as he raised his fists a bit. "I has abandoning, I has loneliness! Green and red mustard defeat Fawful, so Fawful are exile!" Fawful said with his terrible grammar and made a dramatic pose as he frowned before returning to his wide grin. "Ah can't make a lick of sense out of this fellah," Applejack said as she tried to understand Fawful, but it was like reading an ancient language while sitting upside down. "Me neither," Spike said, his eyes wide as he looked at Fawful, clearly amazed about how someone can be so strange. The floor began shaking again and Fawful looked up, before looking back at all the others. "When snake has explode, the escape is us." "What do you mean with 'snake has explode'?!" Spike said as he rubbed his forehead, his mind going into an overdrive to understand. "He means that the snake is-a going to explode, and that is-a going to be our escape," Luigi said, being familiar with Fawful's antics he at least could understand his way of speaking to some degree. "Oh, I guess that makes sense, then let's just wait!" Spike said as he jumped up on Luigi's shoulders again. "You is bad understanding, Fawful has outstanding language," Fawful said mockingly towards Spike and chuckled. Spike shaked his head and facepalmed, how would this end? The Hisstocrat couple both sang the snake-charmer tune in unison as the ground shook, summoning their loyal servants to their side as they used them as a protective wall against Mario, but he only smirked menacingly and looked up at Twilight who was high up in the air. "Hello! You-a Twilight, get-a me up in the air!" Mario shouted before he looked towards the Hisstocrat couple as they began singing on another tune, which was very unfamiliar to him. He raised an eyebrow as the servants dove into the sand again, confused as to why they had retreated beforethe ground shook beneath him and he quickly jumped away from the spot as he looked back and saw a female Hisstocrat servant rising up from the ground and chewing up towards the air in an attempt to eat Mario, but he was already gone from the spot. Twilight descended towards Mario and he quickly jumped up on her back as she then soared up into the sky, out of the Hisstocrat's range. "Okay, so here is-a the plan. You dive-a towards them and in the last second I-a jump off and hit the female Hisstocrat's head and-a you continue diving towards the male, oke?" Mario said to Twilight as he held on tight on her back. "Yeah, got it. But won't that hurt?" Twilight asked as she turned to look behind her at Mario. "Haha, no," Mario said as he chuckled. "Their heads are-a like jelly, you'll-a be fine." "Alright, let's go!" Twilight said as she dived towards the male Hisstocrat, her speed almost uncontrollably fast and within seconds Mario jumped off and dived down towards the female Hisstocrat. Both landed at the same time and both Hisstocrats spinned around with tears in their eyes before they plunged into the sand again. The snakes surfaced again, this time they looked more furious than afraid of Mario, and as they surfaced the female spit out fireballs and the male spit out concentrated balls of boiling mud into the air which slowly mixed with the fire and rained down towards the ground. Rainbow Dash, Twilight and Mario avoided the projectiles with ease and turned to face the Hisstocrats once again. "This is a crime against wealth and law! I dare you to stomp on my head one more time, because I won't hesitate to call my lawyer on you, Mario!" The female Hisstocrat shouted before she sang the snake-charmer tune and summoned her servants once again. "I'll say the same, you rude baboon!" The male Hisstocrat said as he spit out a rapid stream of heated mud against Mario, which the plumber avoided swiftly in his catsuit. Both Hisstocrats sang the other tune again as the ground suddenly  egan to shake violently around Mario, and before he knew it all their servants appeared out of the sand and immediately began chasing Mario as he turned around and ran for his life. "Wahahaho! Help-a me!" "Twilight, take pinky over there and I'll take blue-guy," Rainbow Dash said before she soared up into the sky much to Twilight's surprise. But Twilight did as she was tasked to do and began diving down towards the female who was too occupied looking at Mario as he ran for his life away from their servants. Twilight raised her front hooves and held them straight forward as she crashed down onto the female Hisstocrat's head. The giant royal snake spinned around as she began to glow in all the colours of the rainbow, her servants also stopping dead in their tracks and slowly spinning around. Twilight distanced herself and she was caught off guard as the female Hisstocrat suddenly exploded into a myriad of colours, all of the sand disappearing with her as it just magically disappeared, revealing the oddly enough fertile soil under it. "Woah! Oh no! How am I supposed to move in this dirt?! My cape is going to get all messy as well!" The male Hisstocrat said as he found himself stuck in the dirt. Suddenly Twilight looked up in the air and saw Rainbow Dash quickly approaching, she tried to distance herself again as the pegasus dived down towards the Hisstocrat. Rainbow Dash's wings were flapping like crazy and she showed no sign of stopping as she crashed down towards the Hisstocrat and slammed into his head with her front hooves, which in return made her bounce off the jelly-like surface and into the air again. Twilight and Mario looked at the Hisstocrat as he blinked, unaware of what just happened as tears formed at the corners of his eyes. He suddenly began glowing and his servants who were also stuck in the dirt glowed as well before the inside of the "king's" mouth suddenly started to glow even more intensely. Mario and Twilight quirked an eyebrow and within seconds the snake spewed out a stream of sparkling golden magic into the air which slowly scattered across the acre and quickly made the apple trees regrow into their former state as if nothing had happened to them. "What was that sound?" Spike asked as a loud hissing noise echoed throughout the insides of the snake and the floor began to slightly shake. "I have explodeness!" Fawful shouted as a mysterious force pulled them off the ground and back the way they came from, travelling up through all kinds of rooms and sections of the giant snake's body. "What now?! Put me down, what or whoever that's makin' us levitate!" Applejack shouted as she tried to hold onto a wall or something but failed significantly as she had to let go and continue flying upwards through all the tunnels and before-visited places. "Uh, you guys, we're n-not alone!" Spike shouted as he began to panic, seeing many changelings floating ahead against their own will. "Hang onto Luigi and you'll be fine, sugarcube!" Applejack shouted back to Spike as she swiftly flailed her hooves to avoid any incoming changelings that just happened to float around. Spike swimmed over to Luigi and held on tightly as they ascended quite quickly, they were travelling through the first few rooms now and were approaching the throat... soon they would be free. Luigi suddenly noticed that all the apple juice was now mysteriously gone, but he didn't care that much because before he knew it they were dragged up in the long and pitch-black throat. "Uhm, are we dead? Because I can see the light!" Spike said as a faint light slowly began to illuminate the inside of the throat while they were ascending very quickly. "I-a don't know!" Luigi shouted as the light blinded them and they were forced to close their eyes. Seconds passed and Luigi felt fresh air hitting his cheeks and blowing through his moustache, he felt at peace and thought that he was in heaven for a while. First the light, and now this. But that illusion was crushed in a matter of seconds when he heard Spike and Applejack screaming for their lives. "Aaaaah! We're falling, and we're falling fast!" Spike screamed as he had regretfully opened his eyes, the ground seemed so far away but it inched significantly closer and closer for each hammering heartbeat. Luigi opened his eyes just to see what was happening and immediately started to flail his arms as he saw the same thing as Spike. He struggled to flap his arms repeatedly but the laws of physics weren't going to be ignored this time. "Well, could ya believe it? Mah apple trees are back!" Applejack shouted as she looked down and saw that the whole acre was covered with healthy trees and red glistening apples. "How can you worry about that now?! We're gonna die for Celesti-" Spike shouted before he was cut off by Rainbow Dash grabbing him with her hooves, a moment later he saw that Twilight safely stopped Applejack's fall with a levitation spell. But Luigi continued to fall alongsides with Fawful who was leaning back against an imaginary pillow while in the air but just as they were about to hit the ground Fawful pulled out a remote from his robes and pressed it as he deployed his trusty jetpack and quickly grabbed Luigi. "Hya! Saved like a bug about to fly into a spiders mouth you is!" Luigi was hyper-ventilating, his face inches away from the solid dirt on the ground. He calmed down as Fawful slowly descended and dropped him on the ground and Luigi immediately started to calm down. "Thank-a you, Fawful," Luigi said as he sat up and adjusted his cap. "Fink-rat has luckiness, Fawful just happens to be in a good mood," Fawful said as he landedand deactivated his jetpack. "Thank Celestia that all of you are alive!" Twilight said as she swooped down and placed Applejack safely on the ground near Luigi as Rainbow Dash did the same with Spike. "Not everyone," Applejack muttered as she looked up at the sky were a massive swarm of changelings gathered and began heading towards Canterlot in the distance. "What do you mean with that? You're all here," Twilight said as she raised an eyebrow and looked at Applejack. "They turned mah family into changelings, right before mah eyes!" Applejack said as she bit her lip in frustration and tried to hold back some tears. "Changelings?" Twilight asked, looking up into the sky as she finally heard the buzzing sound above them, seeing the changeling swarm moving towards Canterlot. "Wait, what?" "Uhm, well. The changelings had built a small hive within that snake. Probably some egg laying changeling that somehow got gobbled up and proceeded to do what it was born to do," Spike said, trying to explain the situation with his own words. "Okay, I guess that makes some sense at the least. And I'm sorry to hear about that, Applejack. I'd gladly go to Canterlot right now and rescue all of our missing friends but I fear that Chrysalis is too strong by now," Twilight said as she slowly rubbed her hoof across the soil. "She'll only grow stronger, Twilight. I'd recommend we ask Zecora for assistance, if we're lucky she's still sleeping at the library," Spike said, crossing his arms and looking at Twilight. "Good idea, Spike. Let's make our way to the library!" Twilight said as she was about to begin running but stopped as she realised that there was another person with them now. "Uh, would you like to help us?" "Ha! I laugh at you! Fawful doesn't help fink-rats like you! Fawful has loneliness!" Fawful said and activated his jetpack before flying away. "Okay..." Twilight said before rolling her eyes and sighing. What was left was just to meet up with Mario and then get on their way back to the library. Those changelings would pay... ...But we haven't checked on Bowser in a while, have we now? Chapter 2-3 Part 1 "Manehattan Flip-flops""Almighty lord Bowser the ugliest and meanest, are you alright?" Bowser heard his loyal servant Kamek say as he opened his eyes. "No, of course I'm not alright! Guuuh, what happened?" Bowser said as he sat up from the ground and looked around, seeing lots of weird ponies staring at him, Kamek and the cage holding Peach. "That horse sent us flying away o-mighty Bowser and we landed in what seems to a be a city," Kamek said as he pointed towards the many massive scyscrapers around them standing proudly in the morning sun. Suddenly a grey pony wearing a police uniform approached the big Koopa king, he walked nervously and looked a bit uncertain but he was brave enough to at least walk up to Bowser. "G-good sir, I ask of y-you to m-m-move out of the way, you're b-blo-ocking the traffic," He said, his voice shaky and squeaky as his hooves shook at the sight of Bowser slowly standing up. "Grrrrh! How dare you speak to me like that!? I'm THE Koopa king, chump. So you better be the one moving out of my way!" Bowser said as he bent down and poked the police's badge with his pointy claw, his tall and massive figure looming over the small brave police-pony. "Oh, a k-king? H-how is y-your stay in Manehattan then?" The police said as he slowly backed away with his tail between his legs just like a cat, regretting the choice to approach the big dragon-like turtle. "Ah, finally someone gives me the respect I deserve!" Bowser said and smiled, feeling proud over himself for once. "Manehattan? So that's the name, huh?" Bowser said as he pondered over the name, he had heard that white horned-horse mention it before. "Say, do you have many tourists here? It's a city after all!" "Yeah, t-tourists often visit this p-place," The police said as he stopped backing away and looked up at Bowser who had calmed down and instead begun thinking deeply. "Then show me your leader! I must speak to him or her about some business!" Bowser said as he began laughing menacingly, picking up the cage with the princess. "Do you m-mean the mayor? Then c-come with me to the station over there and I'll s-see to that the almighty k-king shall enjoy his diplomatic trip!" The police-pony said, turning around and heading forwards against a big building with flags saying 'Manehattan Police Station'. "Whatever you say, chump," Bowser said as he scratched his head as he started thinking of what 'Diplomatic' means while walking after the police-pony, the crowd of ponies looking on in fear and awe at the big Koopa king as he walked past them with the cage in his hand and Kamek sitting on his left shoulder. That's when the big Koopa noticed that Bowser Junior was nowhere to be seen. "Kamek! Where's my son?!" He said as he turned his head to look at Kamek sitting on his shoulder. "Kraah! I don't know, almighty Bowser!" Kamek said as he came to the realisation as well, but now he was more worried that Bowser would punish him. "Grrr, well. One thing at a time, we'll find him later when we're done talking to this 'mayor'," Bowser said as he shook his head in frustration and kept walking after the police-pony as they approached the steps up to the big academic-looking police station. "He's not the only thing missing, forgot about your Elite Koopa army did you?" Princess Peach said with a smug grin as she leaned back inside the cage. Bowser stopped walking at the realisation, if the Mario brothers found him now he would be defated for sure! "Hey! You're one to talk. Your 'mushroom' army is surely being enslaved just as we speak you stupid princess!" Bowser said hastily as he tried to come up with an insult, continuing to walk towards the opening of the police-station. Bowser's insult did infact work as Peach began thinking about her poor Toad followers, stuck in the Mushroom Kingdom without any heroes to save them. Yeah, they could fight back, but she knew very well that Bowser's minions were more focused on combat and significantly more violent. "Please enter and sit down near the reception and we'll call the mayor to come here," The police-pony said as he opened the double doors and held them open for Bowser as the big Koopa king entered but had to bend his back a bit to not hit his head in the roof. "Hey, I'd suggest that you leave that cage with your pet outside, some ponies have allergies too, you know?" He said as he looked at Bowser with his cage, thinking that Princess Peach looked like some alien. "It's a police station, right? Then just throw her in some cell or something! I don't care, as long as she is protected from possible kidnappers," Bowser said as he dropped down the cage infront of the police-pony and then continued walking down the hallway that was incredibly small for Bowser. He and Kamek entered some weird room that had a sign saying 'reception' and figured it was here they were supposed to wait. Nearby were some small and uncomfortable chairs which Bowser clearly refused to sit on and instead stood next to as Kamek jumped down and took a seat, wafting with his wand as he summoned a book named '100 Ways To Tell If Your Leader Is An Evil Mastermind'. "So.... yeah? What do we do now, Kamek?" Bowser said in a more relaxed voice than his usual growly and angry voice, an awkward silence settling in as every policemare and policecolt who passed by almost fainted in fear as they saw Bowser standing in the reception room. "We wait, that's what he told us to do my liege," Kamek said as he continued to read his book, adjusting his glasses now and then. "Do you wanna hear my fool-proof plan in the meantime?" Bowser asked with a child-like manner, seeming to be a bit excited. "Mhm, go ahead," Kamek said, seemingly not interested as he continued to read the book. "Well, I was thinking that we get someone to build a miniature model of a theme park called Bowser World, and then when it's done, you use your 'turn giant' spell on it and there we have it! A huge contraption that doesn't cost and that'll drive tourists crazy from all over this pathetic world!" Bowser said, not minding that mostly everyone walking by can hear his quote on quote 'fool proof' plan. "Haven't we already done 'Bowser World'? You know how it went last time..." Kamek said as he continued to read. "Yeah... I guess that's true. But think of the possibilities! We'll get rich and be able to build a castle so we can protect ourselves from Mario!" Bowser said, chuckling menacingly all the while. "Then why don't you get someone to build a model of an unpenetrable castle and then I use my 'turn giant' spell on that instead? Gives less time for Mario to figure out where we are," Kamek said, quirking one of his eyebrows as he finally looked up from his book at Bowser. "Kamek! Don't be so optimistic! We're gonna do this the Koopa way!" Bowser said as he crossed his arms and grinned as a mad villain, which he was. "Whatever you say, o-mighty lord Bowser," Kamek said, shaking his head as he returned to his book. Suddenly a policemare entered the room, she had a grey coat, a golden-blond mane, had blue eyes and wore a police uniform. She held a notepad of some sorts and walked up and sat down next to Bowser, grabbing a cup of coffé from a coffe-machine on the way. "So, you're the big guy that all my recruits been reporting about, huh? The one sitting in the reception and scaring the lives out of them?" She said inbetween sipping on her coffe, looking up at Bowser as she readied her notepad and pen to write down something. "Me? I guess so. Not my fault that I'm so awesomely scary!" Bowser said, a smug expression all too apparent on his face. The policemare looked up at him and quirked an eyebrow as she gave him a weird look. "So, you're actually a king? You don't seem to be wearing a crown," She said, leaning back and inspecting Bowser's appearance. "Yeah! THE Koopa King to be exact. Isn't it obvious enough?" Bowser said, looking down at the small mare who seemed calm and not frightened by his appearance at all. "You certainly don't look like one to be honest, but you sure look like something you wouldn't like to be alone with in an empty alleyway," She said, looking Bowser up and down again, seeing his face slowly fade into a frustrated face as he looked at her. It was now that she was beginning to feel a bit frightened as Bowser's before calm eyes now glared at her. He then turned his face away and crossed his arms as he snorted smoke out of his nostrils. "Well excuse me for not looking like everyone else then," he said in an annoyed voice, receiving a weird glance from Kamek who finally had picked up on the conversation. "Haha, that's cute. Reminding me of a big baby with a threatening voice and a threatening appearance," The policemare said as she giggled at the frustrated Bowser who fought with every ounce of his willpower not to get angry and destroy the whole building, he had to keep it together if he wanted to get his plans through. "Anyways, if you're a king. Where's your queen then? Really interested in how a female specimen of your kind looks like." "Grrrrr..." Bowser muttered, closing his eyes as he tried to silence his frustration. "It's none of your business!" "You two broke up?" She asked with a smug smirk as she leaned back on the chair. "Urrrgh! Yes-...No- Maybe! For Kamella's sake! Could you stop taunting me?!" Bowser shouted as he actually sat down on the floor, his cheeks turning red in embarrasment and anger. "Okie, touchy subject maybe. Anyways, where do you and your friend come from? It's apparent that you're not from Equestria at the least," The mare said, giggling faintly. "From 'soon-to-be-Koopa Kingdom!' Where I am the supreme ruler and will rule the kingdom with my awesome crudness," Bowser said as images of him and a willingly married Peach rule together in the Mushroom Kingdom, where everybody is a servant to him. "Wait, so you're not a king? Is that what you're saying?" The mare asked as she quirked an eyebrow, looking at Bowser with a hint of curiosity. "Gah, stop it! Why are you even asking me these stupid questions?!" Bowser shouted as he stood up again and began walking back and forth as he tried to calm down. "I just can't stop myself, it's not often we get a royal visit." The mare said as she giggled at Bowser who struggled not to get an outrage. "My name is Rosebadge by the way, I'm an officer here at this station. I think I never got your name though, king." "Hngh," Bowser said as he sighed. "My name is Bowser, King Bowser of The Koopa Kingdom. Over there is my faithful and loyal servant, Kamek the Magikoopa," He continued as he began to calm down again. "King Bowser, alright. The mayor said he was on his way, but it may take some time so just wait here and be patient. Anything I can do for you though, King Bowser?" Rosebadge said as she got up from her chair and refilled her cup of coffe. "Yeah, disappear as fast as you can from this room before I order Kamek to turn you into a Goomba!" Bowser said in his angry and growly voice. Being quite irritated at the mare by now. "But on second thought, could you send out some patrols and search for my lost son? I haven't seen him in a while and I'm quite worried! He looks like me but smaller and with a napkin around his neck." "Why should I do that for you? I don't think you've been that nice to me," Rosebadge said as she reclined against the desk where the coffe machine stood, looking at her polished hooves as she smirked smugly. "Not my fault that I got mad at some very personal questions from a stranger!" Bowser exclaimed, frowning towards the mare. "But then you better do something for me in return, Bowser," Rosebadge said in a teasing voice, smirking all the while. "Hm? And what's that?" Bowser said, his curiousity peaking as he awaited an answer. "After you have talked to the mayor, I want you to bring down the Manehattan Mafia. Capture the leader and bring him here and then we can search for your son and even assist you in any other way," Rosebadge said, her smug smirk more apparent than ever before in this conversation as she continued to lean onto the desk behind her. "Haha? That's all? Just give me the location and I can do it right now!" Bowser said boastfully, chuckling a bit. Rosebadge pulled out a walkie-talkie from her pocket and threw it over to Bowser who catched it while in mid-air quite clumsily. "Grab this and we'll lead the way, you press the button on the top to activate it," She said, gesturing for the small red button on the top of the walkie-talkie. "Come on then, Kamek. It's SHOWTIME!" Bowser shouted, bearing his teeth as he grinned menacingly. "Alrighty, Lord Bowser!" Kamek said as he closed his book and then jumped up on Bowser's left shoulder again as the Koopa King began walking through the corridor and out of the reception room towards the exit. "Move out of my way!" Bowser roared to citizens that crowded the streets, they of course moved away in fright and looked on in shock as Bowser walked over the road and continued heading somewhere, he didn't actually know where he was heading. "Lord Bowser, I think that you may have chewed off more than what you can swallow this time," Kamek said, holding the walkie-talkie as Bowser continued to stomp through Manehattan. "How hard can it be to find a Mafia? They're not really discrete," Bowser said as he walked over yet another road with a red traffic-light. Kamek sighed and picked up the walkie-talkie and turned it on. "Rosebadge, are you ready to guide us?" Kamek said, the stomping from Bowser being heard in the background. "Yes, I copy. We estimate that the hideout is hidden somewhere within the pub called 'The Pink Horseshoe' which is north from your position. Report to us when you arrive there, Officer Rosebadge out," Rosebadge said through the walkie-talkie to Kamek. "You heard that, lord Bowser? Just continue going north my liege," Kamek said as he kept the walkie-talkie on but muted their mic. "Yeah yeah, I can handle this myself," Bowser said as he continued to walk, seeing the pub just right up ahead. "I'm just wondering why the police couldn't go after this Mafia themselves, isn't it, like, their job to do that?" "Your rudeness, it's probably because trying to take down a Mafia isn't as easy as you think," Kamek replied, leaning back against Bowser's head as he sat on his left shoulder. "Well, we're here. Message whatever her name was again and let's get this over with," Bowser said, stopping infront of the pub as he readied his right fist, pulling it backwards slightly. "On it, almighty Bowser," Kamek said as he pressed the 'un-mute' button and drew the walkie-talkie closer. "Rosebadge, we're right outside. Awaiting clearance." "That's neat of you two cuties, now just enter and proceed with caution and find out where the hideout is at all costs. Keep me posted on the walkie-talkie as well, I need to know what happens. Officer Rosebadge out," Rosebadge said through the walkie-talkie as Kamek then attached it to a pocket on his blue Magikoopa-robes. "SHOWTIME!" Bowser roared as he pulled his fist back and then released as it was fully reached backwards, destroying the whole wall with one single punch as he entered the pub. Wooden splinters covered the pub floor but they didn't bother Bowser as he stepped in. Some ponies with suspicious looking hats sitting around a table gasped and dropped their chin as Bowser stepped in nonchalantly. "Ey! You! Watcha doin' just punchin' right through that wall over there and then expectin' everythin' to be pancakes and waffles?" The bartender said with an annoyed Chicago accent, wiping away some filth from the bar counter. "I'm looking for the Manehattan Mafia!" Bowser replied, the group of ponies with hats looking even more frightened now, they slowly began standing up and walking into the backroom. "You there, you know where I can find the Mafia? I'm interested in some negotiations!" The ponies stopped in their tracks and turned around, looking at both Bowser and Kamek. "Yeah, maybe we know, maybe we don't. Come with us and we'll give ya some tidbits," One of them said before they all turned around and continued to head towards the backroom. "Now, this is how you do it Bowser style," Bowser said to Kamek who was facepalming. "I can't believe you, my lord. You really like to do a direct approach," Kamek said, tucking away his walkie-talkie a bit. "Haha, of course I do," Bowser said, and when seeing that the door was too small for him he simply walked through the wall. The ponies looked at him and shook a bit nervously now that he was standing so close, but the one who had talked before took some steps forward and looked up at Bowser. "Ya can't be so open 'bout it, see? The police are on to us y'know, but ya certainly don't look like the police so yeah, we'll take ya to the boss," He said as he walked towards a barrel that stood in the lower left corner and then pressed a switch as the floor opened up in the middle of the room. "Finally a door that's made for me!" Bowser said as he walked up to the hole and saw that there was a slide leading into what seemed to be a dark cave. Bowser quickly jumped down and lost his balance as he started gliding down the slide and then being launched into a big warehouse of some sorts. He landed on solid cement and quickly stood up and looked around, lots of containers stood here and there, probably containing smuggled goods. Suddenly an overweight pony with a grey mane, brown coat, wearing a brown jacket with a blue tie approached. "So, you're the king folks up on the street has been talkin' 'bout. So what'sa your business here, big guy?" The guy said in a dark bass voice, pulling out a cigarr and putting in his mouth before pulling out a fuse and lighting it. "Oh, nothing in particular," Bowser said as he leaned against a container just about his own size. "Just to bring down the Manehattan Mafia." The guy began laughing in a raspy voice as he took out the cigar from his mouth and held it in his hoof. "You and what army? You're being surrounded just as we speak, and I bet that your shell won't protect all parts of your body," the guy said as armed ponies walked out behind containers and crates, aiming at Bowser with guns. "I don't need an army, I'm KING Bowser," Bowser said as he smirked smugly, standing up straight as he stopped leaning on the container and took some steps forward. "Give up peacefully or you'll have to deal with my bad breath." As if to emphasize his own point, Bowser built up some fire in his throat and blew it into his hand a bit. "No, I'm not crazy," the guy said, turning around and blowing out some smoke with his cigar. "Fire in three!" "Three!" The surrounding armed ponies shouted, Bowser only patted Kamek on the magikoopa's head. "Two!" They shouted, Kamek took out his wand and began powering it up. "ONE!" They shouted but before they could press the trigger Kamek's wand glowed and suddenly they were all holding yellow flip-flops. "What in Celestia's mane?!" The boss said, looking at everyone's weapons that were now simple flip-flops. "That's why you don't mess with me! Kamek, prepare the bags!" Bowser said, grinning menacingly as Kamek wafted with his wand and summoned a giant bag. "Distract him!" The boss said as he began running away to hide from Bowser. "Gwahahaha, pathetic!" Bowser shouted as he opened his fists and grabbed lots of nearby henchponies and threw them into the giant bag. The few remaining henchponies turned around and were about to run away but Bowser grabbed them before they could and threw them into the bag as well. Now, the boss was the only one left. Bowser violently just lifted every container and crate he could see and tried to see which one the boss was hiding under, but it deemed too time consuming for him. "Kamek! Turn every possible hiding spot into a single rubber duck!" Bowser said, smirking as Kamek wafted with his wand and made all the containers and crates turn into small rubber ducks, and in the middle of the room behind a small rubber duck the overweight boss stood and smoked on his cigar, looking at Bowser with super frightened eyes. "Gotcha now, chump!" "Nononono! Please! Spare me!" The boss screamed as Bowser ran towards him with heavy steps, but Bowser didn't stop. The Koopa king picked up the boss and threw him into the bag very quickly before tying it together. "I told you Kamek, I always do a direct approach," Bowser said braggingly as he picked up the giant bag and lifted it up onto his back and tied it onto one of his spikes. "Uuuh, what's the sit?" Rosebadge suddenly said through the walkie-talkie. "All done and sealed, literally," Kamek replied, sighing as he rolled his eyes behind his glasses. "So you two cuties brought down the boss and his henchponies?" Rosebadge said, sounding a bit surprised. "Yeah, should have seen the looks on their faces when Kamek turned their weapons into flip-flops, gwarhahaha!" Bowser said loudly and laughed while trying to look for an exit. "Well, the mayor arrived some seconds ago, I'd recommend that you return immediately and don't keep him waiting! Officer Rosebadge out," She said, muting her walkie-talkie and leaving Bowser and Kamek to find a way out themselves. "Kamek, just teleport us out of here," Bowser said after a while, sighing and crossing his arms. "Kraah, sure your rudeness," Kamek said, spinning around with his wand as it glowed a distinct purple and then with a bright flash they were back at the reception again where the mayor and officer Rosebadge were standing. "Well, uh. Sooner than expected," Rosebadge said as she chuckled and smiled towards Bowser and Kamek. "I'm the mayor, but call me Charles. Rosebadge has told me quite a lot about you, Bowser. And I am looking forward to making some negotiations with you," Charles said in what would be considered as a Canterlot accent, he had a golden-brown coat and a normal brown mane and wore a simple black tie. "Grahaha! Well, I'm King Bowser as you already know, and this is Kamek, my faithful servant and magician. So yeah, where are we gonna talk?" Bowser said, chuckling a bit. "Just follow me into my office, you three. It's the most appropriate location for this," Rosebadge said as she smiled and then turned around and began walking down a hallway. "So you took down the most threatening Mafia there is here in Manehattan in just a matter of maybe some minutes, that's a record! I'm quite impressed," Charles said as he walked just infront of Bowser and looked back at the big monster. "That was nothing, you should see how many times I have kidnapped the princess," Bowser said nonchalantly and continued to walk, but he quickly realised what he just had said and chuckled. "With that I mean that I have kidnapped the princess back from other kidnappers, hehe." "Oookay, a national hero, then?" The mayor said, sounding a bit weirded out. "Yeah, kind of," Bowser said and knew he was fully lying, but he was a hero in his own way, he was a hero for the Koopas. "I see, if you're staying here longer, do you think you could help out with some more? It's been a long time since we in Manehattan has had a real hero," The mayor said and blew some of his surprisingly long mane out of his face. "Have some patience, mayor. One thing at a time," Bowser said and faked a smile, suddenly Rosebadge went inside a room with double doors and him, Kamek and the mayor followed. "So yeah, this is my office, this is where I often drink coffee and interrogate prisoners from time to time. Just take a seat and I'll see to that we won't be interrupted," Rosebadge said and closed the blinds to the windows and locked the door. "Okay, but what should I do with the Mafia?" Bowser said and untied the bag from his spiky shell. "Wait what, you got the entire mafia inside that bag?" Rosebadge said in confusion as she raised one eyebrow. "On second thought. Where did it even come from?" "Just a summoning spell by Kamek, now, what do I do about them?" Bowser said, dropping the bag onto the floor. "Throw them outside the door, I'll take care of it later," Rosebadge said as she rolled her eyes and then sat down on a nearby chair around the small table. Bowser opened the door and threw the bag outside and then closed the doors again before sitting down on the floor near the table while Kamek jumped off and sat down on a normal chair. The mayor sat down as well and Rosebadge gave everyone a cup of coffee, even though she was unsure if Kamek and Bowser drank coffee. "So, king Bowser, what is it that you wanted to talk to me about?" The mayor finally said to break the silence. "Uh, well. I've got an idea about how to increase the amount of tourists here and to boosten the connection between my Kingdom and Manehattan," Bowser said, actually sounding intelligent for once as he stood up and leaned forward on the table. "I'd like to build a whole theme-park called World Bowser or Bowser World, whatever rows your boat. What I need is only the permission from you." "Wait, what? That's all you want to do?" Charles said, raising one eyebrow as he sat back onto his chair. "Well, we've just been flatting out an area so we can build a resort, but a theme park sounds just as good." "Excellent, then let's get right to it," Bowser said with a smirk and gestured for Kamek to begin. The Magikoopa spinned around with his wand and a bright poof appeared on the table, and a small miniature theme park with lots of rides and a giant Bowser head as an entrance suddenly became visible. "So, this here are my thoughts on how it should look like. The ideas here are countless and not just that, it'll attract tourists as well as thousands of Marios hearing the scream of Princess Peach. In other words, it'll draw tourists like a moth to a flame." "Uh, okay. I suppose it's a promising concept, but how much will it cost us to actually build all this? It looks very detailed and there are a lot of amusement rides. But those will take many years to build," Charles said as he put on a pair of glasses and inspected the miniature thing even more closer. "Oh, don't you worry about that. We'll only have to build a miniature scale of it like this one but with actual working engines and all that. Which won't require as much money and effort," Bowser said and grinned. "Hmm, I'll get my experts on it. I'll message you in person when we are done, in the meantime you can work on some advertising so that we can hype some ponies up for this amusement park. What is your opinion, Rosebadge?" Mayor Charles said and took off his glasses again. "Well, we haven't actually made an amusement park here yet, and I think that would be the last finishing touch if we want to be Equestria's first choice of enjoyment," Rosebadge said and smiled, looking over the miniature model before looking up at Bowser. "And if this means I'll get to meet King Bowser more often, I'd gladly comply," She said and winked flirtatiously towards Bowser who shuddered in disgust at the thought. "Then that's settled, Bowser. We'll shake hooves and claws on it," Mayor Charles said as he stood up and reached forward with his right front-hoof. "Glad to make business with you, mayor," Bowser said and faked yet another smile as he grabbed the mayors hoof and shook it as weak as he could so that he wouldn't mistakenly throw the pony up in the air. "Well then, I must be going. Remember to advertise this, I trust you, Bowser," Mayor Charles said and unlocked the door and then walked out. Bowser stood up as well and was about to exit as well before Rosebadge cleared her throat and gestured for him to sit down again. "Not done yet with you, big guy. Regarding your lost son, I actually sent out a patrol when you were away and they'll probably report to me as soon as they can, but it can still take a while to find him. If you have nowhere to stay you can gladly borrow a room in my appartment, it may not be the best choice for a towering big dude like you but it'll save you from the trouble of sleeping on the streets. And I wouldn't mind some company for the first time in years," Rosebadge said as she leaned back on her chair and sipped from her coffee. "That's, uh, nice of you. I guess. But I'll be fine on my own," Bowser said as he awkwardly scratched the back of his head, trying to avoid anymore conversation time with the mare who has seemingly found an interest in him. "That 'pet' of yours, is it your daughter? She tried to convince us that she was a princess of the 'Mushroom Kingdom', but I had to ask you first to get my confirmation," Rosebadge asked, leaning a bit more over the table as she looked into Bowser's eyes. What started as a negotiation was now an interrogation. "Uh, yeah. You know those rebellious teenagers! Haha! A-always trying to run away and accuse you of being a kidnapper and a tyrant, hehe," Bowser said hastily as he tried to awkwardly explain it off. "She didn't look much like an offspring to you, one like that might have been more handsome. But that's why I'm seeing forward to meet your son," Rosebadge said in what Bowser considered as a creepy tone. "Hehehehe, right. Well, I better be off now with Kamek to 'advertise' hehe, contact me on the walkie-talkie if you find Junior. BYE!" Bowser said as he stood up and grabbed Kamek, quickly rushing out the door before Rosebadge could say anything more. "Next time, Rose. Next time I'll get him," Rosebadge said as she smirked and continued to sip on her coffee. "I can't believe that cop, trying to hit on me nonchalantly!" Bowser exclaimed as he took a step outside the building with Kamek on his shoulder. "My liege, I thought you loved attention from girls," Kamek said and sighed, looking at Bowser who stuttered while trying to come up with an answer "Yeah, girls! Not hairy small ponies with no reason to be attracted to. She's not even in my league," Bowser said and growled slightly, angrily stomping as he walked down the street aimlessly. "Maybe if you get all these folks onto your side you can order them to protect you from Mario and his brother, frame them as outlaws and so on," Kamek said, once again summoning his book and beginning to read. "Not bad, yeah. That could work," Bowser said as he began scratching his chin with his big claws. "Just a pleasure to be of assistance, my lord," Kamek said and relaxed. Suddenly when Bowser turned left into yet another streetway he found himself blocked by a massive crowd that were looking at a small stage across the street. On it a blue mare with a purple wizard hat and matching purple robes stood and walked back and forth, seemingly looking amongst the crowd for something. But her gaze landed upon Bowser and she smirked menacingly. "You there! The great and powerful Trixie demands that you volunteer for my next trick!" She shouted as all attention turned towards Bowser and Kamek. "Ha! In your dreams, pal!" Bowser exclaimed as he was about to turn around and walk away but suddenly a light-blue aura enveloped him and he slowly levitated towards the stage. "One does not simply ignore Trixie. You should be ashamed!" Trixie said as she smirked and put Bowser down on the stage. "Well, one does not simply annoy Bowser, king of Koopas!" Bowser said, glaring at Trixie as she turned against the crowd. "Oh, a king? The great and powerful Trixie is amused indeed. Let's see what the king says about this," Trixie said as many ropes appeared and suddenly tied Bowser, almost three ropes for each limb and bodypart. "It's for your safety, I can guarantee." "Oh, you did not just do that! And it's not for my safety, it's for yours. Sadly it's not gonna last," Bowser said as his nostrils flared up and exhaled smoke. He was pretty pissed and he struggled against the ropes as he tried to break free, the sounds of ropes slowly breaking all too apparent. Trixie looked at the big Koopa with shocked eyes, maybe she didn't think this completely through. The ropes quickly broke and Bowser was free yet again, and he didn't look happy. She was admittely too frightened to move and watched on in horror as Bowser took slow, heavy, steps towards her. Being so huge that he blocks out the sun when standing right infront of her. "Now witness, as the awesomely rad King Bowser himself punishes the 'Too Brave And Boastful, Trixie'!" Bowser shouted as he turned towards the crowd and did a stage-like voice before turning towards Trixie again and slamming his fists together in a frightening way. "Without cheating..." Bowser said and gestured for Kamek to approach. "Kamek, even the odds a little bit." "Kraah! With pleasure!" Kamek said as he pulled out his wand and spinned it around before firing a spell towards Trixie, which she immediately felt boost everything within her, her strength, her speed, her magic abilities, everything. The magikoopa then levitated up in the air and spinned it around again as the stage disappeared and a battle arena instead slowly formed. And from the looks of it, more ponies were swarming around to watch the event that was about to unfold. "The battle starts in, five!" "Four!" Kamek shouted, Bowser was smirking menacingly and had his arms crossed, Trixie was still frightened but gathered enough courage to at least stand up against the big king. "Three!" Kamek continued, Bowser and Trixie looking eachother directly into the eyes as they prepared infor the battle that was about to commence. "Two!" Kamek shouted, Trixie feeling like an hour already had passed as beads of sweat formed on her forehead. "And one! May the best Koopa win!" Kamek shouted, spinning his wand as a big transparent shield-bubble formed around the arena so that the two would never really get punched out of it. Bowser immediately ran forward, and Trixie froze in place yet again as she watched the giant reptile run towards her with his heavy stomps. She cowered in fear and suddenly felt Bowser tackling her quite powerfully, sending her flying up into the air and then landing painfully on the ground. The crowds cheered and began singing made-up songs to cheer either Bowser or Trixie on. "That's it?! FIGHT ME!" Bowser shouted, turning around and looking towards Trixie who slowly got up from the ground. "You won't come anywhere in life if you just give up like that, show me some fighting spirit!" Trixie stood up and looked at Bowser, this guy was all enthustiastic about it. He wanted to punish her severely but was doing it for fun and for sports when instead he could have just gobbled her up like breakfast. Trixie smirked and powered up her horn, "The great and powerful Trixie shall live up to her words!" She shouted before she ran forward, a magic field building up around her as she ran faster and faster as the shield became more cone-shaped and pointed towards Bowser. "Grawahaha! Even Mario doesn't fight back as pathetically," Bowser said as Trixie approach and instead readied his fist and slammed it down into the ground as it emitted shockwaves which traveled towards Trixie and made her lose her balance and trip over herself as the magic shield dissipated. "Kamek, go ahead and help her out. She'll need it!" Kamek flew over to Trixie on his newly summoned broom and wafted with his wand again as he gave her another boost. She immediately stood up yet again and looked at Bowser who just stood still with crossed arms while smiling smugly. "Just what I needed," Trixie said and powered up her horn as she levitated up into the air, the glowing intensifying for each second before she fired off a big white sphere of concentrated magic which quickly splittered and turned into a rain of small white spheres of magic. "Nice, now see and learn!" Bowser said with a smirk, jumping up into the air and spinning repeatedly as he turned into a giant spike-ball. He rolled back and then forward to get some speed and as all the magic spheres hit him they only bounced off as he rolled forwards, and as Trixie saw that he wasn't stopping she quickly rolled out of the way and in the nick of time avoided Bowser rolling devastatingly through the battle arena. She powered up her horn yet again and then fired one powerful concentrated beam of blue magic towards the "Bowser Ball" which had suddenly stopped rolling. The beam hit Bowser in his current ball-state and it slowly pushed him backwards but didn't actually harm him. He quickly unrolled and stood up, chuckling and laughing at the little mare before returning to his former serious face. "Good effort, might hire you as my minion as a punishment instead. Just need to work a bit on actually defeating me!" Bowser said with a grin and then started building up the familiar feeling in his guts as his mouth filled with heat. Bowser began running forward and much to Trixie's horror he leaped forward before landing infront of her, releasing his built-up flame as they scorched everything in their way. Trixie quickly created a shield bubble around herself but she felt it greatly weaken to Bowser's powerful flames but he gave up first and had to recatch his breath. A perfect oppurtinity for the mare to actually do any kind of damage towards him. Trixie powered up her horn and spinned around while levitating, the horn glowing even more as she fired off a big sphere of pure magic again, and at the close range which Bowser was the sphere didn't even splitter and instead exploded on impact which sent him flying backwards into the wall of the shield that surrounded the battle arena. His head slammed into the ground and he stood up with fiery eyes, he wasn't prepared for that, not at all. "Oh, that's it!" Bowser shouted and growled, running straight forward with his claws outstretched. Trixie had built up some confidence now and was about to fire yet another magic sphere but before she could Bowser had already approached and he grabbed her while she levitated and slammed her onto his chest and then leaped up into the air before crashing down with her under him. The feeling was painful and Trixie felt like she was about to go unconscious, the feeling of her body being slammed into the ground under the heavy Koopa was unbearable. But Bowser wasn't finished with her. He grabbed one of her back-hooves and took a firm grip as he slammed her into the ground back and forth between two spots, and Trixie only felt herself becoming dizzy as Bowser finally let go and walked away to give her some time to stand up again. "Hnngh, I'm still not defeated..." Trixie muttered as she forced herself up, if this had been a real fight her bones and body would probably been crushed to no end but the magic that she had been granted seemed to prevent that from happening and instead she just felt more tired each time she got hurt. "So you're a fighter after all, huh? Who could have thought," Bowser said and chuckled, the crowd completely silent as they waited to see what would happen next. "Of course I am, the great and powerful Trixie loves a challenge!" Trixie said as she stood up, powering up her horn as she fired off multiple rapid magic bolts against Bowser. Bowser chuckled and went down on the floor and began spinning on his belly before he retracted into his shell and then spinned forward, the bolts of magic just reflecting off him and bouncing off before dissipating. Bowser grinned within his shell and began spinning quicker as he went forward under the levitating Trixie and then pressed out his arms and punched the ground as his spinning shell flew up into the air and hit Trixie, damaging her significantly as the spinning shell drilled into her back before falling down. Trixie dropped down to the ground and felt her eyes close even though she fought to stay awake, but no. She went unconscious and Bowser stopped spinning in his shell and pulled out his arms, legs , tail and head out of his shell and made a victorious pose as he walked up to the unconscious Trixie. "The winner is the one and only, Koopa Kiiing! BOOOOOOWSER!" Kamek roared as he spun his wand around and returned the place back to normal as Bowser and Trixie stood on the stage again. Trixie suddenly woke up again and felt like normal, she stood up and rubbed her head with her hoof and looked at Bowser who was smirking menacingly. The spectating crowd screamed their lungs out in cheer as they all chanted 'King Bowser!' repeatedly. One out of the crowd suddenly shouted: "Punish her for real!" and was followed up by everyone else shouting: "YEAH! DO IT! She never thought it would go this far, her boasting and showful attitude, but here she was infront of a king about to be killed or something of the likes. "I, King Bowser. Hereby declare Trixie to be kept as my own minion for trying to tie me to the wall against my will!!" Bowser shouted as the crowd cheered on, they were crazy for King Bowser. "You can't do that! Slaving is against Manehattan rules!" Trixie said, and suddenly the crowd realised it as well and went completely silent. "And besides, you aren't a king in this land, so you have no power here!" "Then I'll just make myself king of Manehattan instead!" Bowser said grumpily and was thrown off guard as some ponies in the crowd started booing and threw random objects. "I have no other choice, Kamek! Motivate them a bit," Bowser said, grinning villainously as Kamek flew up into the air and spinned his wand repeatedly and activated it as the magic began creating a captivating spiral that slowly sent pacifying waves of powerful brainwashing magic right into the heads of the crowd. "I am King Bowser, and you are my loyal servants. Everything I do is a good thing, and you shouldn't question my Koopa logic. I am a hero! I am your leader! And now, bow infor your only king!" Bowser shouted, the crowd staring with half-lidded eyes as they worshippingly bowed down for Bowser and nodded slowly nodded their heads and accepted Bowser's words as truth. Trixie stood at the side and looked on in horror as Bowser brainwashed the entire crowd. It wasn't just five or six ponies, this could easily be around 150 ponies that had gathered to see what was happening. Kamek slowly stopped the spell as he flew down to Bowser again on the stage. The ponies in the crowd looked like normal as soon as the spirals had stopped but now they were cheering again and chanting Bowser's name. "Kamek, I think our new minion has to be set into the right frame of mind as well, grawhahaha!" Bowser said, grinning creepily as he looked at Trixie who was beginning to panic. She had nowhere to go and was about to get her mind taken away from her. "You're a monster!" Trixie shouted as she was about to turn around and run away but Kamek fired a spell on her that paralysed her, leaving her to be aimlessly always looking forward. She could move her eyes but her eyelids couldn't close and her head wouldn't move, she was left staring forward as Kamek started spinning his wand and activating it as those same spirals began entering her mind slowly and powerfully. It was as if she took a bath in the most softest magic and she couldn't even resist it as the magic kept raining down on her, her mind went blank as her eyelids dropped down halfways and her eyes glazed over. "I am your king, and you'll obey me. You must serve me as a minion, because it is your punishment. Listen to your king, listen to your lord. King Bowser," Bowser said, and Trixie took every single word into her blank mind as the powerful spirals kept washing over her endlessly. And as Kamek took away his wand, Trixie's eyes returned to normal and she looked at her new king. "Grahaha! Sweet! Soon I'll maybe even rule this whole world!" Bowser said and chuckled, turning to face the crowd once more. "You will all spread the word of the coming amusement park called 'World Bowser' and you'll say it's going to be the best thing ever. Now go!" Bowser shouted, smirking menacingly as he saw the crowd shatter and all the ponies returning to their daily business. "As for you, you'll venture out and build up some interest at other places. You're already a performing pony so you should be used to it, yeah?" Bowser asked Trixie who stood there, slowly nodding as an answer. Bowser began roaming at the back of his shell for something and then pulled out a scrapped paper, handing it over to Trixie. "This is a song that Kamella used to sing while showering, just take it and replace 'Kamella' with your own name and sing it infront of crowds," Bowser said and crossed his arms as Trixie nodded and then slowly walked off the stage and onto the streets. "My liege, I think you're going too far this time. You can't just abuse my magic here and there because then I won't be able to turn that amusement park of yours giant! I really need to rest, these past few days have really taken on my magic," Kamek said as he held his wand and looked a bit exhausted. "There's no such thing as going too far, my father taught me that it's good to push the boundries because otherwise there would be none to begin with!" Bowser muttered as he crossed his arms and looked at Kamek. "And that's what I'm gonna teach my son as well, wherever he is." "But what would my mother, Kamella, say to you if she was still around, my lord? Huh? I might not be as bossy as her but I still have the rights to be my own individual," Kamek said, summoning his broom as he flew up and poked Bowser on his nose. "Whatever, I do as I want. And I'm gonna be an awesome ruler," Bowser said with a smug smile. "You're sounding just like a spoiled brat, as you've always been and how your son is. It's a mystery as to why I'm still calling you 'my lord'," Kamek said and sighed, still levitating on his broom. "Hey! I'm not a brat, I'm an awesome evil king! Urgh, I think this dimension is getting to the both of us. Soon we'll be hugging eachother and playing with dolls," Bowser said, thinking of how apparently over-colourful everything was here. Even a dirty city wasn't dirty, it was clean and most houses were painted in colour that you would find in a box of crayons. "I guess so, your rudeness," Kamek said and sighed, there was no point in arguing with the stubborn Koopa King. Bowser could think sometimes, but it was mostly only for his own reasons. If he had putten a brainwashing spell on Peach centuries ago he wouldn't have to kidnap her each month, but he wants to do it fair. A part of the game if you could say so. Either way, the sun was now slowly disappearing into the horizon and Kamek knew they would have to sleep on the streets. Because Bowser was stubborn as always. Chapter 2-3 Part 2 "Factory Shutdown/Showstage Craze"BEEP. BOOP. BEEP. "What?" Bowser Junior said, reacting to the strange sound as he opened his eyes and found himself laying inside of a high technological laboratory. Colourful buttons and flickering light bulbs were everywhere, on panels, walls, machines, you name it. The strange sounds of buzzing buttons and the occasional beeping made him slightly nervous but was still almost comical. The strangest thing though was that he was strapped to a medical table. Bowser Junior struggled faintly to break free but the bindings didn't even budge... but he was a Koopa. He'd find out who had taken him capture and then burn them down to toast! Suddenly a door opened and a white stallion with an unfixed black mane and black tail clad in a lab coat and round maniacal goggles stepped into the room and closed the reinforced iron door behind him. He grinned widely and pulled on some rubber gloves on his hooves, his big grin never fading. "Ah, valcome to our facility. Isn't it just wunderbar? Ja!?" The mad scientist said with a strong accent, one that Bowser Junior had never heard before in his life. "Eh, I've seen better," Bowser Junior said as he looked around, the place looking eerily creepy even though it was just a normal laboratory, a normal laboratory with colorful devices and unfitting wallpaper. "Interesting, ja. Ze specimen talks," The mad scientist said, putting one of his rubber covered hooves under his chin. "Do you even know vhat ve do here at this factory?" The scientist asked as he stepped closer and grabbed a notepad and a pen. "No..." Bowser Junior said as he looked on as the scientist approached, the big grin was still wide and was just as unsettling as it had been moments ago. "Ve make ze toys," The scientist shouted, raising his hooves and standing on his back hooves as lightning cracked down behind him, his maniacal laughter echoing through the room. Bowser Junior rolled his eyes, sighing grumpily as he had expected it to be something else than just toys. "That's all? Then why do you have a laboratory like this?" Bowser Junior asked and nodded his head to all the weird devices and cutting instruments. "Oh, ve have ze occasional new strange animal that ve dissect and then turn into a new stuffed toy or something along ze likes," The scientist said and pulled a lever that made the table Bowser Junior is strapped onto begin to shift higher up towards lots of devices in the ceiling. "Uhm... what are you gonna do?" Bowser Junior said before gulping and looking up as a big colorful sawblade with some dried blood on it lowered down. "Oh, just lay still, this vill only hurt a tiny little bit!" The mad scientist shouted with a maniacal laughter as he pressed a rainbow colored button which made the sawblade spring to life. "Oh, nononononononooo!" Bowser Junior shouted, he knew where this was going and he wasn't going to let himself end like this! He shook his arms frantically as the saw lowered down even more and as he did, the leather straps holding his arms stuck loosened pretty quickly. Bowser Junior managed to extend his claws a bit and then quickly cut the leather straps open as his arms got free... now it was only his legs left. But the sawblade was too close for him to actually sit up and then remove the straps from his feet, but he had an idea. A typical Bowser family idea to be certain. Bowser Junior reached for the back of his shell and grabbed his hammer and then with a mighty swing while laying down he hit the flat surface of the side of the sawblade and sent it flying across the room before eventually crashing into the wall and getting stuck in it. He sighed and wiped his forehead before sitting up and then cutting the straps on his feet. Finally he was free, and he was going to make sure that it stayed that way. Bowser Junior jumped down from the table that was quite high above the floor and then landed infront of the mad scientist who was still grinning. "Ze turtle vants to play? Ja?! Nein! Ze playtime is ovah!" He shouted as he pressed a blue button as a hatch opened in the floor and a very big wind up robot started to slowly ascend up via a lift. "Holy Bowser's treasure chamber," Bowser Junior said, his eyes bulging in fear and his legs shaking as the giant robot continued to rise from the hatch. The robot looked mostly just like a normal toy robot, but instead of hands it had a grinder where the arms ended. The mad scientist pressed a green button which made the robot wake up with a low rumble. A weird maniacal laugh came out from a voice box inside of it and Bowser Junior began backing away, trying to keep his distance with the giant metal monstrosity. "Zis is Robert! He vants to hug you!" The mad scientist said before breaking into a big maniacal laugh as well. "Haurhaurhaurhar! Small turtle, exterminate!" Robert said with his broken voice box as all the systems began booting up inside of him. "Wheh... dad!" Bowser Junior screamed as he kept backing away until he was met with the wall behind him, he sighed and then looked up at Robert the robot that was approaching with the occasional maniacal laughter going off every ten seconds. The mad scientist pressed a red button which made Robert's right hand transform into a big hammer while his other hand stayed as a grinder. After the transformation was done though, the big robotic monster began walking towards Bowser Junior slowly with his arms outspread to make it seem like he was going to hug Bowser Junior, which the little Koopa knew was not the intention. Bowser Junior held tightly onto his hammer which he had not laid aside yet and held it high in a defensive position as he just watched the big robot approach. His legs were still shaking and the hand which he held the hammer with shook as well, but he knew that he couldn't freak out now. The robot stepped awfully close and bent down towards Junior and that was Junior's signal, Bowser.J rolled between the robot's legs just as the robot was about to 'hug' him. Bowser Junior sighed in relief and wasn't going to waste any time. He glared towards the mad scientist who began to look worried as his robot still hadn't realized that his intended target had gotten away. Bowser Junior ran forward with his hammer and the mad scientist backed away and hid behind a table with alchemic potions, but Junior wasn't going to harm him. He needed to make sure that the robot was out of harms way first! A big red button with yellow and black stripes around it with the text 'Robot Self Destruct' over it made Bowser Junior smirk wickedly as he stepped up and quickly slammed down his hammer on it. Suddenly Robert stood up and realized that there was no one in his hug, but it was far too late. His body parts began shaking violently as his systems went into overdrive and began overheating, and before he could do anything more he simply began falling apart. His arms fell to the floor as the magnetic seal went off and all his other parts shut down as they also fell to the floor in a useless pile of junk. The mad scientist had taken off his gloves and was biting the ends of his hoof as Bowser Junior began glaring at him, there was no more giant robots that could do his dirty work now. "Ha! That's what you get for messing with B.Junes!" Bowser Junior said and pointed out his tongue towards the mad scientist and then opened the door before sealing it after him. There was a lock on the other side and Bowser Junior quickly locked it, moments after hearing the scientist banging on the door. Bowser Junior didn't care, he only cared for himself and to make his father proud at all costs. He had no idea of where he was though, it was a dark linear corridor with a very creepy and industrial theme. The laughter of a child echoed throughout the corridor and Bowser Junior tried to figure out which direction it came from, but it seemed to come from the vents and not behind any of the doors that were inside here. He looked towards a door that was in the end of the corridor and walked towards it. A rusty iron sign above it said: "Manehattan Rainbow Toys Factory, Management Office" Bowser Junior opened the door and inside was just a grey and empty office with a single desk with a panel on it and a monitor. There were of course power switches and other miscellaneous stuff on the walls as well, but the monitor intrigued Bowser Junior the most. Maybe he could find a way out with it? He walked up to it and saw that it was monitoring 16 cameras, each positioned in a different room. The first camera displayed what looked to be the room where the toys were being manufactured. There were several rolling bands and big pistons and robotic arms that were making the same kind of toy over and over again. It was just a boring looking marionette doll inside a box. He turned away from the cameras almost immediately and saw a map laying on the desk that showed all the paths inside the building which he of course grabbed as he turned around and walked out the door again. He followed the map all the way towards the lobby and on the way he crossed multiple strange rooms, some with lots of vials and glass tubes with biologically engineered creatures. One room he entered was different from the rest, atop a podium inside a glass cube was a small little ladybug that was made of metal and had blue glowing eyes. Bowser Junior walked towards it and read a sign that stood infront of it. "This is the Bio-Tech bug, it will latch onto a host and make the host insanely powerful and impossible to defeat, though after a certain amount of time the bug will take over it's host fully. But it can be simply removed by someone else by pulling it off or smashing it." the sign said. Bowser Junior didn't hesitate and grabbed the glass cube sitting on top of the podium but was surprised as an alarm suddenly went off as he grabbed it. He quickly tucked it away into the back of his shell as everything began flashing red and he quickly fled towards the lobby while the sirens went off in the background. Doors began closing around him but he got to the lobby in one piece and watched as the main door was about to be sealed off by a big iron door, but he was quick to react and quickly leapt forward and crushed the normal glass door and ended up outside the factory. Though, as he looked around he noticed that he was surrounded by many police cars... "Hello! Anyone here!?" Twilight shouted as they entered the good ol' library. "As infact, yes there is," Luna said with a firm voice and a smile. Luna was standing next to Zecora and Twilight smiled at them as they entered. "Good to see you Luna, I was afraid that Chrysalis had taken you as well." "Hm? Who are-a you?" Mario asked as he stepped in alongsides with Luigi and Spike. "I'm Princess Luna, I'm the one who raises the moon and Celestia is the one who raises the sun, but in this case it is Chrysalis who does both things," Luna said as she sighed, smiling towards Mario and everyone else. "It's not often we get a visit of your kind," Luna then added as she looked at both Mario and Luigi. "Yes, I can tell," Mario said and chuckled. "But Luna, what exactly are you doing here?" Twilight said as Luna was about to bombard Mario and Luigi with questions. "Ah, yes. Well, you see. I was here performing as Nightmare Moon over at the Nightmare Moon statue in the Everfree Forest and as I flew over Ponyville it was burning and lots of houses were destroyed, so I decided to stay and help. And while I was here I thought I should drop by and say hello to you," Luna explained before she turned her head towards Zecora. "You were unfortunately not here, but Zecora was sleeping on the floor so I decided to have a chit-chat with her instead." "Haha, well. We've been to Canterlot and we've been here fighting off some very big snakes at Applejack's farm and right now I just want to lay back and have a rest," Twilight said and sighed. "Then we'll let you do so, there's no need for us to get in the way of things," Luna said as she looked at Zecora and then back at Twilight. "Oh, thank you very much, Luna. But just one question, how were you aware that Chrysalis has taken Celestia's place?" Twilight asked while the others went upstairs and attempted to find a bed. "Because I'm not the one who raised the moon or lowered it this time," Luna said as her face grew serious before smiling. "Good night, Twilight Sparkle. Don't forget about that box you got from the tree of harmony though, it may be useful against Chrysalis." Twilight just realised, she did have the box. But she had given up on trying to solve the mystery a while back since she drew the conclusion that six keys would be impossible to find after sitting up two weeks without sleeping and trying to solve the mystery. With a sigh she turned to face the door leading to the basement and pondered for a while if she would go down there and study all night long or get some well-needed rest. Twilight of course went with the latter and turned around once more and gently waved at Zecora and Luna as she walked up the stairs and found Luigi laying in her bed with Mario next to him and Twilight let out a grumpy sigh as she walked over to Spike instead and laid down next to him in the basket. Her eyelids fell faster than expected and she drifted off to sleep, but something wasn't right. Maybe it was that devious evil chuckle, or those menacing green eyes staring right into her soul...? No! Twilight realised who the voice and eyes belonged to. And just as she realised the eyes faded away and the voice echoed until eventually stopping, and suddenly she was standing in the middle of a cemetery with a giant monument of the six elements together. It was almost completely dark but the moon up high in the sky gave enough light to make the dead trees surrounding the place look even more creepy. Twilight shuddered in the cold before inspecting the monument further. "Here lies; Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Fluttershy and soon, Twilight. May them always be remembered as those who tried to save Equestria," Twilight read aloud, her voice becoming shakier for each name. She looked back at "and soon, Twilight" and "tried to save Equestria" and felt really frightened, but this was just a dream. That she was certain of. Suddenly five pair of hooves pressed through the ground in a ring around Twilight. Twilight herself screamed out in fright and opened her wings which just evaporated as she spread them out. She then tried to use a teleportation spell but the same happened to her horn as she was reduced to a simple earth pony, and something was telling her that soon she would be another kind of 'earth' pony. The things pressed themselves more up and Twilight saw that they were lifeless shells of her friends. They were what Spike would call, zombies. "Your time has come, Twilight Sparkle," an ominous voice said as it echoed through the cemetery and a grave opened up behind her. "No! This is just a dream! Wake me up!" Twilight screamed as her zombified friends forcefully grabbed her and groaned as a zombie would and then all pushed Twilight into the grave. "Help! Spike! HELP!" She screamed as she landed and her friends grabbed a shovel each and then began burying Twilight alive. She closed her eyes and was about to scream but suddenly she was in a dark blue room. It was endless and the floor consisted of some blue floaty magic. Suddenly though, Luna appeared through a door that also appeared out of nowhere and she took some steps towards Twilight. "Twilight, that is the fate that you'll suffer if you give up on that box. You'll have to solve the mystery, and I promise you; since it is from the Tree Of Harmony, it has to do something with friendship," Luna said as she walked closer and looked down on Twilight. "Maybe you should even ask Discord for advice." "Discord? But I don't even know where he is!" Twilight asked as she looked up at Luna who seemed very serious about the matter, she wasn't even smiling. "You'll find him, where trouble goes, chaos follows," Luna said and then turned around as she walked towards the door again. "And you better hurry, Pinkie Pie, Rarity and Celestia are in Chrysalis clutches and horrible things will happen to them," Luna said before opening the door and then walking through it as it slowly disappeared. Twilight just stood there as she tried to process everything but she was snapped out of her thinking as the floor suddenly collapsed. "What the-" She muttered before she began falling into a pitch black abyss, seeing lots of moving pictures of strange events on the way down. There was this one where herself and her friends were standing infront of a big wooden mask with two hands and arguing over something. Another picture floated by and she saw the big Koopa king laying on the ground in what looked like a destroyed Canterlot completely dead, but a glimpse of Chrysalis could be seen moving up in the background. Twilight wanted to find out more but suddenly everything went black and she opened her eyes as she sat up in Spike's small basket. "I-uh... I'm, back," Twilight said as she shook her head and looked around as she saw as she was back in her own room again. The sun peeked in from the windows and the smell of breakfast came from downstairs. That made some sense at least, because nobody was still here in the bedroom. She stood up and walked over to a mirror as she grabbed a hairbrush, looking at her fuzzy mane that made her look as if she had been electrified. She levitated the hairbrush with a sigh and began fixing her hair when the door to the bedroom suddenly opened and she looked at the doorway where Mario stood. He chuckled and looked at Twilight as he took off his cap. "I was just-a checking if you were still asleep or not," Mario said as he scratched the back of his head and smiled. "Nah, it's a wonder that I slept this long though," Twilight said with a smile as she finished brushing her hair and then patted with one of her hooves to do the final fixes. "Mhm," Mario said as he nodded. A silence broke out as Mario stood in the doorway and held his cap while trying to think of a way to get a conversation going. He looked around in the room and then walked over to Twilight's bed and sat down and then began rolling his thumbs. Twilight glanced at Mario through the mirror and quirked an eyebrow before turning around and looking at him directly. "Is there something on your mind, Mario?" Twilight asked as she levitated her hairbrush into a drawer and then closed it. "Yeah," Mario muttered as his eyes met Twilight's, a look of worry all too apparent in his eyes. "Princess Peach is gone, and we don't know where she is. And both Bowser and Chrysalis is searching after her. Heck, Bowser might already have found her," Mario said before looking down at the floor again. "Don't you worry, Mario," Twilight said with a concerned smile and took some steps closer to the bed. "I'm sure she'll be alright. After all, she told me that you've rescued her countless of times before in situations where it was worse," She added as she patted his shoulder with one of her hooves and then levitated his cap onto his head. "I better go downstairs now and get some breakfast though, try to cheer up a bit in the meantime," Twilight said and then walked through the doorway and down the stairs, leaving Mario alone. His thoughts immediately wandered over to Peach and he leaned back onto the bed and closed his eyes, because he hadn't gotten any sleep because of all the thoughts. "This is Officer Rosebadge; Bowser, do you copy?" Bowser heard through the walkie talkie as he opened his eyes with a grumpy yawn. He sat up and was met with some pedestrians looking at him in fright and then quickly walking away. He was angry at himself for not finding a more comfortable place to sleep on, but he had been tired when he decided to sleep in an alleyway. "Bowser, do you copy?!" Rosebadge shouted through the walkie talkie and Bowser gruggingly grabbed the thing and activated the mic. "Yeah, I do. What's your deal this time?" Bowser said as he rubbed his eyes. "Your son has been found and been taken to the police station, you'll have to come and pick him up. And I've got some good news from the mayor," Rosebadge said with an amused tone, knowing that she'll get to meet Bowser one more time. "Guuuh," Bowser said with a grumpy sigh, but he knew he had no other choice but to go there. "I'll arrive as fast as I can," Bowser added and then muted his mic and looked towards Kamek who was sleeping on a bench. He took some heavy steps towards Kamek and then drew in some air. "MARIO HAS TAKEN PEACH!" Bowser roared, his voice so powerful that the ground shakes somewhat. Kamek quickly jumped up and aimed his wand forward and to the sides, "Where are they!? Koopa troops, don't let them escape!" Kamek said in panic as he looked around after Mario but saw nobody, except Bowser standing infront of him and laughing so much that he had to lean against the wall. "Oh, ha ha. Very funny, lord Bowser," Kamek said in an annoyed voice and sighed as he tucked away his wand and crossed his arms. "No time for slacking, they've found Junior," Bowser said and then turned around and began walking towards the police station. "If that's the case, then let's not waste any time!" Kamek said as he summoned his broom and then catched up to Bowser before grabbing his wand again and teleporting them right into the reception room. Rosebadge leaned against a desk with Bowser Junior standing next to her with crossed arms with an annoyed expression on his face. He shined up though as he saw both Kamek and his father standing right infront of him. "Papa! I'm sorry for calling you stupid!" Bowser Junior said as he ran up to Bowser and hugged his leg due to the size difference. "When did you call me stupid?" Bowser asked as he scratched his head and then bent down and picked Bowser Junior up onto his back. "Either way, were have you been?" "Me? Well, I woke up in a lab and some scientist tried killing me! But I showed him!" Bowser Junior said, seeing Bowser react on the part about him almost being killed. "Scientist... what?!" Bowser asked as he began boiling up, stomping with his foot down into the ground. "That scientist dares trying to kill my son just like that?! I hope he or she paid the Bowser price!" He shouted, being careful not to go on a rampage and then lose his reputation. "Woah, big dude. Calm down," Rosebadge said to Bowser as she grabbed a cup of coffee and sipped from it. "The mayor just dropped by this morning with a model of that thing you wanted. It's yours, so just take it," she said as she grabbed a thing from the desk and then handed it over to Bowser who grabbed it carefully. It was a full 3D Model with working mechanics, it was just as Bowser wanted it to be. "Well, let him know that it's perfect, now. If you don't mind, I'll be going," Bowser said while trying to act like a normal king, his grumpy voice and scary appearance only making him look comical. "You do that, King Bowser. Just promise me that I'll have a VIP ride sometime," Rosebadge said with a dirty wink and Bowser dropped his chin and just as he was about to puke, Kamek used his wand to send them to the place where the government had been flatting out the ground so they could build apartments, but now it was going to be Bowser World. Kamek grabbed the 3D model with his magic and levitated it to the middle as he then flew over it and activated his wand, spraying his "Turn Giant" spell onto it as it began glowing in the colours of the rainbow. The 3D model began expanding and growing quicker for each second that passed and Bowser and Junior stood still as the floor beneath them changed, the theme park amusement rides growing taller and bigger. Kamek flew over the place again and sprayed his magic, making other Bowser minions appear with costumes and formal attire. Some Koopas were wearing suits complete with a bow-tie. Bowser figured that these new minions were going to be the staff of World Bowser and grinned. They were standing amidst the transformation now and in just a matter of minutes the transformation was complete. Neon lights glowed up into the sky and big amusement rides activated and music began playing in speakers positioned here and there. What impressed Bowser the most was the big Bowser statue in the middle which had a giant tower built in the middle of it. The tower looked like a chimney that went out of the statue's head, and Bowser only smirked. Ponies were gathering outside the gates to watch the spectacle at hand but some bouncer Koopas walked up to the gates and stood guard to make sure nobody sneaked in. Bowser knew this was going to be a success, and Mario wouldn't be able to stop him now! "Gwarhahahr! Junior, what do you think about them apples?! Yeah!" Bowser shouted in a cheerful tone, smiling for himself as he walked towards the Bowser statue and decided that it was time for him to make himself at home. "Kamek! Tell the minions to test if everything is operational and give that pony named 'Trixie' some tips on what to do! We'll need something big for our grand opening!" Bowser shouted towards Kamek who was high up in the sky. Kamek nodded and then descended towards a group of Koopas. Finally things were going Bowser's way; He had a 'fortress', he had Peach, he had a whole city on his side and what only awaited was this whole, pathetic, land! Some hours later... outside of Ponyville Trixie sat behind the curtains in her mobile stage, putting on some make up and making sure she was ready to perform. She had been training the whole night and somehow she still wasn't tired. Suddenly though with a 'poof', Kamek appeared behind her. "Kraaah! Lord Bowser wanted to make sure that you're ready," Kamek said as he levitated on his broom. "The great and powerful Trixie is always ready," Trixie said and turned around. "Really? Then let me hear!" Kamek said with a cocky smile, looking at Trixie who levitated the page with the lyrics infront of her. "Who's the mare next door, living in a haunted ma-" She sang in a monotone voice before Kamek cut her off. "Gah! You can't sing! And either way, that part is sung by background choirs. You'll need a background choir!" Kamek said, looking at Trixie who looked annoyed. "Yeah, and how am I supposed to do that?" Trixie asked as she crossed her hooves. "Like this!" Kamek said as he activated his wand and summoned two Boos. Both said; "Boo" but one sounded like a child and the other sounded as deep in his voice as Bowser. "That's good, but what about my voice?" Trixie said, smiling allknowingly at Kamek. Trixie looked forward to being as perfect as possible, even though she thought she was already as perfect can be. Kamek sighed and spinned his wand, a beam going straight from the wand and into Trixie's throat as she began to shine before the light absorbed into her and then disappeared. "Try singing now." "You'd better learn my name, 'cus it's Tri-i-xie!" Trixie sang in a high tone, without her voice cracking. It sounded beatiful to her own ears but Kamek just deemed it as okay. "Now, that's a bit better. Put out some posters for Bowser World when you're there as well, try to think of something that'll attract more ponies there," Kamek said before spinning around and then disappearing with a flash. "Oh, I already know what I am going to do," Trixie said in an evil voice and rubbed her hooves together, images of Twilight and her friends popping up in her head. "It's time, for a little revenge..." Mario woke up once again and sat up in the bed before standing up and then walking out of the room and down the stairs. He was immediately met with Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Spike and Luigi standing in the hall and discussing something. "Hello there, Mario! You ready for a tour around Ponyville?" Spike said as he saw Mario slowly walking towards them. "Yeah, that would-a be nice," Mario said as he nodded and stopped next to Luigi. "But, where is-a Luna and Zecora?" "They decided to go to Zecora's hut and plan some stuff so that they wouldn't bother us. I think that they're planning for a way for us to infiltrate Canterlot without having to directly face Chrysalis but still get to the egg chambers and rescue our friends," Twilight said, looking over to everyone else. "And now, we thought we'd finally get a chance to relax." "Mhm, well. Let's-a go," Mario said as he smiled and looked as Applejack took the lead and turned around, opening the front door and walking outside. "I wonder where Fluttershy is, she told us she was going to return to the farm as soon as she was done with her animals," Rainbow Dash said as she flew slightly over Twilight. "Don't worry about her, Rainbow Dash. We'll drop by her cottage when we're done with the tour of Ponyville," Twilight said and smiled to Rainbow Dash as they walked through a long street with lots of market stands, each one selling a different kind of fruit or vegetable. "Fair enough, Twi," Rainbow Dash said with a sigh as she then looked up from Twilight and saw a giant crowd of ponies infront of her. Everyone stopped and raised an eyebrow, what was going on now? "Strange, there's no town event that's supposed to happen today," Twilight said and spread out her wings as she flew up and looked towards where the crowd was looking. A big stage was there now, red curtains covering whatever is behind it and spotlights randomly moving now and then. Twilight landed again and turned around to face the group with a sigh. "There seems to be some sort of show in our way, should we stay and watch or keep moving?" Twilight asked as she looked at all her friends, all of them seeming clueless. "Well... couldn't hurt, right?" Applejack said with a shrug, moving ahead and pushing her way into the crowd as the others followed without saying anything. "What-a do you think it-a is?" Mario asked Twilight as he tried to push his way through the crowd which seemed to distance themselves slightly from Mario. "Could be anything, this is Ponyville after all," Twilight said with a sigh as they approached the middle of the crowd. "I have a bad feeling about-a this..." Luigi muttered as he grabbed a hold of his brother's shoulder. "Don-t-a you worry, Luigi. We'll be ready," Mario said quietly to Luigi as he looked back, continuing to walk until eventually stopping as they reached the middle. Twilight noticed Fluttershy standing right next to them in the crowd, and she looked as curious as everyone else. Twilight walked up to her and gave her a bump from behind which made her squeal in fright. "Ah! Omigosh, Twilight!" Fluttershy said as she turned around. "Yeah, good to see you here as well, Fluttershy. Do you have any idea about what's going on?" Twilight said as she looked at Fluttershy and smiled. "Uhm, no. The stage just kind of rolled in and then it has been standing here ever since..." Fluttershy said, pointing towards the wheels on the side of the stage. Suddenly though the spotlights centered onto the middle of the curtains and a sudden drum roll made everyone go silent. Twilight and Fluttershy turned towards the stage and watched as suspension filled the air. "Welcome to Trixie's Haunted Mansion Of Doom, dear fillies and gentlecolts! A spoooooooky musical show made just for you ponies in Ponyville, so enjoy your stay!" An announcer shouted as the curtains opened and revealed a fairly well decorated stage full of spooky props like spiderweb, purple candles and a creepy wallpaper making the background look like a big haunted mansion. Suddenly something mysterious walked out on the stage wrapped in an odd cloak and was wearing a matching witch hat, the cloak and the hat had small stars and moons printed into them both and they were purple. Mario and Luigi didn't know who it was, but the others recognised those clothes and began growling slightly. Two boos entered the stage and levitated over to each side of the stage and then placed themselves in a corner, the mysterious pony unwrapped herself from her cloak and threw it onto her back as she made it look like a cape instead. She smirked creepily as jazzy music started playing, attracting crowds of ponies there to look. (You can press here if you want to get a hang of the melody or how the lyrics fit) "Who's the mare next door, living in a haunted mansion?" The two boos sang in unison, one having a child-like voice and the other sounding like a fully grown male. "You'd better learn my name, 'cus it's Tri-i-xie!" Trixie sang boastfully, looking over the whole crowd as she spotted Twilight standing at the front row. She smiled and quickly lifted up her rival with magic and levitated her onto the stage. Twilight's friends looked on in horror and immediately made their way to the stage, but the ponies were standing still in the crowd and didn't seem phased at all, heck, it looked like Twilight was part of the play. "She knows the darkest spells and she brews the meanest potions!" The boos sang as Trixie quickly lifted Twilight up on the stage and before the alicorn could react, Trixie attached a ring to horn that sparked with red magic. "You might be the ingredient I seek!~" Trixie sang, lifting up Twilight with a levitation spell again as she quickly summoned a big sack. "Don't let yourself be fooled by her innocent demeanor," the boos sang as Mario, Luigi, Spike, Rainbow Dash, Applejack and Fluttershy went up on the stage, they immediately began running forward towards Trixie who had closed the sack with the help of a rope that was laying around on the stage. "You'd better be afraid of the great, Tri-i-xie!" Trixie sang as she laid down the sack on the stage and then lit up her horn as she enveloped Twilight's friends in a magical aura that prevented them from moving. "She plays with voodoo dolls and she has spiders in her hair!" the boos sang as Trixie smirked. "Eh, I just like to do spooky things like that!" Trixie sang as the jazzy music started to get more intense, dropping into a small solo. Everyone glared at Trixie as she slowly approached and levitated over three peculiar things, an eye of a newt, an old grainy wig and a small bottle labeled as kitten spit. The short solo was coming to an end and Trixie adjusted her mic a little as she prepared. "Eye of a newt, I cast a hex on you!" Trixie sang as the eye became liquid magic and quickly fused with Fluttershy, quickly transforming her into what looks to be a stallion version of Fluttershy. "Grandma's wig, this'll make you big!" she continued as the wig became liquid magic as well, floating over to Applejack's hat which became so massive that it captured her under it. "Kitten spit, soon your pants won't fit!" Trixie continued to sing, opening the bottle and levitating the spit over to Mario and then forcing it into his mouth and using magic to force him to swallow it. "Pantalones Giganticus!~" she sang mockingly as Mario began shrinking very significantly, his clothes towering over him as he changed into the size of a small house-hold mouse. "Oh no, not again!" she sang with a sarcastic tone as she faked a swoon and put her hoof over her forehead as the crowd cheered on her to continue with her magic tricks. "She could defeat a god, whilst balancing on a single tree top!" The boos sang as they approached and threw the male Fluttershy, Applejack and the now miniature Mario into the sack. "Everyone knows I'm the greatest, Tri-i-xie!" Trixie sang as she held her hat in one hoof and spinned around as fireworks exploded behind her, creating quite a sight, this only leading to her earning even more cheering from the massive crowd. "You'd better watch your step or she'll cast a spell on you!" The boos sang as they threw Rainbow Dash in the sack as well, now leaving only Spike and Luigi left. "I really like eating with spoons!" Trixie sang with a weird expression as she began questioning Bowser's songwriting ability. "I must refer to my spells, and yes, it's true, well. I don't have as many friends as you!" She continued as she walked up to Spike and Luigi and mockingly hugged them at the same time as if they were inaminate plushies. "But I think you're nice, and maybe we could be friends?!" She said as she went up into a high soprano voice, looking at Luigi and Spike pleadingly before dropping into an evil grin. "And if you say no, you're toast!" She sang as yet another jazzy solo kicked in, she immediately threw Spike and Luigi off the stage and into a garbage bin. "Spooked yet? You gentlecolts and fillies should be! Because I'm the great and powerful, Trixie!" Trixie shouted over the solo into her mic, looking at the crowd who was enjoying every part of it, thinking it all was just planned before with all the magic tricks and everything. "Who's the mare next door, living in a haunted mansion?" The boos sang as the music began getting a bit more intense. "You'd better learn my name, 'cause it's Tri-i-xie!" Trixie sang as she smirked, knowing that she has completed her true mission. "Just remember this, when you see her on the street..." The boos sang, looking at Trixie as the song began approaching its end "I'm the coolest mare you'll ever meet!" She sang, wrapping herself in her cloak in the blink of an eye and threw a smoke bomb down to the ground. The music soon stopped and as the clouds of smoke disappeared the stage and everything was gone, the only thing remaining being the posters hanging on the nearby walls about a theme park called Bowser World opening up in Manehattan. Luigi and Spike crawled out of the dumpster and sighed pathetically, they both looked at eachother and then towards the stage and saw as well as it was suddenly gone. They scratched their heads but instead walked over to the wall with the posters. "Hey, Luigi. Isn't Bowser that big dragon king that stole that princess?" Spike said as he grabbed a poster from the wall and began reading. "Mhm, and I have a feeling that witch worked with Bowser since she was accompanied by two boos," Luigi said as he looked down at Spike and crouched down next to him to read the poster as well. "Huh, weird. Bowser World is opening up in Manehattan, a fun place for both small ponies and adults! We've got attractions that are extremely rad and that'll make you beg for more such as the infamous "DK's Rocket Barrel Ride", "Plessie's Plunging Falls" and the classical Rollercoaster called "Bowser's Lava Flume-Ride", so, come at our grand opening and you'll have a chance to see the King of Koopas, Bowser, himself on stage. Entry fee; 10 bits," Spike said as he directly read from the poster that had a picture of a big neon head of Bowser with large text under it. But he quickly tore it apart with his claws and frowned, looking up at Luigi as to await an answer. "Bowser World... they must have been taken there!" Luigi said as he lifted up his cap that had slipped down a little and smiled at Spike. "Then let's go and save ourselves some princesses!" Spike said as he striked a heroic pose, looking quite humoristic with his little tummy and baby appearance. "Huh, 'princesses'?" Luigi said as he looked at Spike and quirked an eyebrow. "Oh, I was referring to Twilight and Peach, hehe," Spike said as he chuckled and scratched the back of his head. "Okie! Well then, let's-a go!" Luigi shouted as he did a heroic pose as well. "Okey dokey!" Spike said, doing his best to imitate an Italian accent. And so the two wandered out of Ponyville to rescue their near and dear from the evil clutches of Bowser, are they gonna make it? Yeah they are, but they're comic reliefs, something bad is going to happen... To Be Continued Chapter of King Chryssal, Chrysalis' Father (Bonus)This is the tale of Chrysalis father, King Chryssal. He was a warrior that had no mercy on his foes, but he never fought without a reason... he needed to feed his people, the changelings. He had earned his place as king after all the years of migrating to planet after planet in search after the foodsource known as: love. But eventually, as they settled down on a planet with inhabitants known as humans they were immediately struck with resistance and the humans found a way to fight back in a way the other planets they had taken over were not able to. The humans were more resistable as well and were filled with hate, and while the few humans they sapped were potent with love the food turned out to have an opposite effect against them with all the other negative emotions overpowering that of the love. In short, the changelings slowly began to starve to death but King Chryssal was determined that they would overtake this planet if they fought hard enough. The few hundreds of remaining changelings had to change their plans and instead focused on war, training and equipping themselves to have their last stand. King Chryssal would not let his people down, no matter the cost. He would win this war, he thought. But he had already chewed off more than what he could swallow... This is the tale of what happened 500 years ago, on a planet far away in the same galaxy as Equestria "My liege! The humans are gathering for a final assault, there are over thousands of them and our people are starving, you have to do something! We could retreat and find a less hostile planet, this battle is already decided!" An armoured changeling shouted to King Chryssal who sat on his throne inside a throne room resembling that of Canterlot Castle's throne room but with black ivory instead of white. "Silence! We will not do such a thing as retreating from those brainless monkeys. They are taking the battle to us, they may be more in quantity but we have both quality and tactics. Send out our most skilled combatants in tactical positions and tell them to ambush the humans when they approach, tell the others to stay here and prepare to defend the castle at all costs!" King Chryssal shouted angrily, frowning and glaring towards the changeling before him. "Go, now! Precious time is running out!" "Yes, my lord! I won't fail you, almighty Chryssal," The changeling said, saluting his king before turning around and running out of the throne room. King Chryssal sighed and leaned back towards the throne. He looked mostly like a male version of Chrysalis but with metallic body-armour and a royal green cape attached to his neck much like that of King Sombra. He also had a golden crown and his turquoise changeling mane flowed down his neck, while very volymous and soft-looking it was still somehow shaggy and spiky. "My, such stubborn fools. I can't stand those smelly monkeys with their unpure love and passion for hate, maybe leaving this planet would be the right choice after all," King Chryssal contemplated as he began to stroke his chin with one of his front-hooves. "Hahahaha! What am I saying?! Nobody has beaten us, especially not in combat. It was my fault for ordering more of the drones... I should have prepared for this trip and spawned more warrior class changelings like myself," King Chryssal continued with a smirk on his face. Though, he almost jumped out of his seat as the whole castle suddenly began to shake slightly. Before he could say something aloud for himself the changeling returned into the throne room with a panicked expression. "MY KING! They're here! We opened up the gate to send out our most skilled warriors but they got ambushed by human warriors, and before we could close the gate they began storming into the castle grounds and slaughtered unsuspecting changeling drones. They'll soon make it here, we have to flee! They're even bombarding us with catapults!" The changeling warrior began rambling, each word just serving to make King Chryssal more pissed off. Chryssal frowned, looking quite angry as he rose up from his throne. "Then so be it, let them come. You're all pathetic, weak genes. I am a true changeling warrior! I will dispose of those pathetic lifeforms and get rid of their putrid smell for good!" He roared, a green glowing aura beginning to emanate from him. He had never been pushed to reach into his untapped energy before in his life, but an endless wave of humans awaited him, an endless wave of soon to be corpses for him. The changeling began stepping back, his jaw was dropped in awe at the aura that surrounded Chryssal. But that was soon replaced with fear as Chryssal began glaring at him. ... "Weakling," Chryssal said before powering up his horn and firing a beam of magic at the changeling which evaporated the changeling warrior into nothing. King Chryssal was mad, and the humans were going to pay. He was probably the last of his kind, the humans would have gotten to the breeding chambers by now and killed all the kidnapped broodstock, making the possibility of laying new eggs impossible. It all depended on him, one against thousands of armed human warriors. He instinctively powered up his horn and shot a hole in the roof to make an opening for himself, he quickly spread his wings and soared up through it and then over to the courtyard which was filled with humans who froze and glared towards Chryssal. Sad for them, they were on the ground, he wasn't. King Chryssal smirked, powering up his horn as he began gathering energy into a giant sphere of magic. It grew and grew and the humans in the courtyard stared up, unsure of what would happen next. The sphere continued to grow until it reached the size of a house, and his smirk went wider. Now the humans began to panic slightly and they were in their right to do so as Chryssal first leaned his head backwards slightly (the big sphere following the motion) before swinging it forward and down towards the humans. The sphere began to crash down in the blink of an eye and all the humans screamed in terror as the sphere landed in the middle of the courtyard and exploded, killing dozens and dozens of people. King Chryssal laughed all the while and slowly descended to watch what he had unleashed upon those rebellious monkeys. He landed firmly and looked around, around 700 human warriors had been killed in the blast and he saw no survivors, now that he thought about it, why would he be expecting someone to survive that? He was King Chryssal after all, the mightiest being in all of the milky way. "Fools," he scoffed, spitting on a dead corpse. Suddenly twenty warriors ran into the courtyard, all with hateful expressions. All equally powerful except one, the leader. The king of the humans, the warrior who had led them all against the changelings. "King Chryssal! You're the last one of your race, and your tyranny is soon to be over. The countless of planets you have sapped all life and love from will be avenged by the hands of us. These are nineteen of my strongest warriors, all trained by me. All of them are capable of standing their ground on their own and together, they will be your doom," the king said, he was fairly young and dressed in simple drags, just like his disciples. The only piece of equipment they had was a sheath and a sword in it, swords that were practically coloured green by all the changelings they had cut through this day. King Chryssal frowned, that these humans had the guts to say that they were capable of bringing him down. He took a good look around him and saw that he was surrounded at every direction, he had no choice but to face them all. King Chryssal suddenly charged forward against one disciple but the disciple sidestepped and raised his arm before crashing his elbow down against Chryssal's back as he flew forward. King Chryssal was struck by the attack without having the time to react and got sent flying down into the ground, he didn't know these humans were skilled enough to land a blow on him. Pfft, seems I underestimated their power. No need to hold back here... I might actually lose if I don't stay on my guard. He quickly rose up and headbutted the disciple who had not stepped away, though it did more than just headbutt. King Chryssal's horn impaled the warrior in his heart and the disciple quickly lost the spark in his eyes. Chryssal chuckled for himself before activating his horn and levitating the corpse off his horn. "Don't underestimate me, and I won't underestimate you." "Get him! Bring him down, remember what I taught you all!" The human king shouted as all the 18 remaining warriors quickly went forward to attack. King Chryssal didn't expect them all to attack at once and before he knew it he was caught in a blurry of thousands of quick jabs and punches on his body. There was no way for him to get out of it all, with all the pain spreading throughout his body he couldn't focus his horn and make a shockwave or something. He screamed out in pain as all the punches kept connecting and knew that he had to do something, so he kicked back with his backhooves and then swinged his head to the side to use his sharp changeling horn as a sword. And he was lucky enough to send two of his backhooves into four guys at once behind him and his horn managed to slash 6 warriors infront of him. The others jumped back and watched as their companions slowly fell to the ground, those who had been slashed in the stomach began to bleed out and went unconscious and those who were kicked by his hooves were paralyzed by the force of a real buck. King Chryssal was still in a critical condition though, his whole body ached in pain and he suddenly coughed up a bit of green blood. The remaining warriors infront of him drew their swords and all spread out. 8 of them remained, 9 counting the king. But King Chryssal was not one to give up, he still had some spirit in him. He powered up his horn and the green aura began to emanate again as he tapped into his true power. He quickly dashed forward and punched one of the warriors in the face with his hoof, the punch strong enough to bash in the human's face and send him flying backwards. As he turned around he was met with the sight of a blade slashing down against him and before he knew it a pain went off in his horn, it took a while to register but as he looked up he saw that his horn was cut in half. Then the real pain kicked in. King Chryssal screamed out in the pain, green blood practically flooded out of his horn. He glared at the warrior and then quickly dashed forward and impaled him on his now half horn, while his horn was impaled he moved his head around and made the human scream his last words before his lifeforce slowly went away. The changeling king shook the body off his horn and began to cry in both shame and anger... his pride was somewhat hurt too. How did that low-class monkey even hurt me? My horn... m-my b-beautiful horn! He roared out in anger and powered up his horn, firing magic bursts against the remaining warriors. Most of the warriors could avoid the bursts at first but eventually one of them got hit, and then another, then another. Chryssal eventually stopped firing and saw that one remained, he had got hit and lost his left arm from the elbow down. Chryssal could see the pain in the warrior's expression, he only smirked. It felt good to inflict pain on others, he thought to himself. The warrior ran forward in futility with his sword raised in his right hand. The changeling king simply dashed forward and punched him in the stomach three times in one second, the shock visible on the warrior's face as he fell forward and died. "Hmmph, they proved to be a match. Surprising coming from your race... but they are dead now," King Chryssal said, looking at the human king with a smirk. "I am the victor here, give up and accept your fate and maybe I won't kill all the people," he added, stepping forward towards the king who surprisingly lowered his guard and put his sword down. "I underestimated you, King Chryssal... I won't be able to beat you by fighting. I give up, do it quick," the human king said, his voice lacking any hope as he got down on his knees. "Oh, hohoho. Who said I'd not take my time in killing you? My horn is in half... and it hurts like literal hell. It was caused by your man, and I'm not just satisfied with killing them quickly. I'm going to take my time torturing you and giving your people an example of what I'll do to them if they do not feed me the love that I need to become even more powerful," King Chryssal said as he approached the human king. Who, unbeknownst to King Chryssal, was reaching into his robes subtly and grasping a hidden poisoned dagger. King Chryssal stopped infront of the human king and smiled down on him. "First, your name?" King Chryssal said, "It's the least you could tell me for being such a nuisance." "My name is..." the king began, suddenly pulling out his poison tipped dagger and impaling it into Chryssal's neck in blinding speed. "Your ticket to hell..." he finished. But Chryssal quickly punched him in the stomach with one of his front hooves and then activated his horn. "Stupid fool! You thought it was that easy to kill a Changeling King?!" Chryssal shouted, glaring at the human king and creating a sphere the size of a very big beachball. "Yes I did, the dagger isn't deadly itself... but it was laced with the deadliest poison on this planet. In a matter of five minutes you'll die, it's already too late to siphon all that poison out of your bloodsystem, seeing as how I hit a blood vessel in your throat. You're too far gone, King Chryssal. Your whole race is dead and with that, your tyranny is over," The human king rambled as he clutched his stomach in the pain of Chryssal's punch. "Even if you kill me now, my people will survive. And you won't have the time to kill them all." "Grrrr! Shut up! I can't die! A TRUE KING CAN NEVER DIE!" Chryssal roared as he sent the sphere of destructive magic flying towards the human king who was too damaged to move. The sphere exploded and the last sign of the human king's life was the scream of agony as his flesh was evaporated. Chryssal began to feel the effects of the poison and pulled the dagger out of his throat. The blood that dripped out of the wound was pink, all his blood had been affected by the poison already and he slowly felt his senses and his life force beginning to drain away... ...there was only one thing he could do. He would ensure that his race survived one way or another. His horn sparked up and he squinted his eyes in pain as he emptied his body from all his power and concentrated it into creating an egg inside of him... all of his own essence being sent into it. With enough power he slowly began to push the egg up through his throat, it was a painful procedure for him since he was not used to doing this. The egg went slowly up his throat and if anyone watched they would see that a giant bulge would be traveling up his throat. He loosened his jaw and opened it up as the egg soon approached it's final destination. It pressed it's way into his mouth and as the final part of it left his throat he aimed his mouth up and with all the energy he could muster he spit it out so hard that it was sent up into the atmosphere and sent through the depths of space to someday land on a planet with life... The king felt his last spark of life fade away and collapsed, his body turning into green dust periodically as tears began to flow down from his eyes... ...he had been defeated, all depended now on his unhatched child... 30 years from the present, in the orbit of Equestria. Life had finally found it's way... The egg was slowly approaching the planet Equus, where Equestria was. The magnetic pull of the planet began to draw the egg in into it's atmosphere as it began to descend, the speed increasing for each second. It began to catch flame but the egg was sturdy and kept increasing the speed before finally crashing down into a wasteland at the outskirts of Equestria. As soon as it had landed the egg began hatching, knowing that it had arrived. Out of the egg crawled a female changeling, the reincarnation of King Chryssal. She was... Queen Chrysalis. And she knew instinctively that someday, she would avenge her father. But first, she had to find someone to fertilize her eggs. She was already at a mature age. Someday, she would make this planet hers. She would make her people thrive, and she would make her enemies fear her. Chapter 2-4 Part 1 "Dangers Along The Way"In the last chapter, Luigi and Spike were separated from Applejack, Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and Mario. Trixie had kidnapped them right infront of their eyes and then disappeared mysteriously, but both knew that their friends had been taken to World Bowser in Manehattan... Now they just had to get there first; which would be a hard task for the two, most, unlucky people in the world. "Gah, haha... wait-heh... up for-a me!" Luigi said between trying to breathe as he ran after Spike, his legs giving out under him as he fell forward onto the dirt path. "Come on, Luigi. We're one step outside of Ponyville, so, get up!" Spike said, sighing as he crossed his arms. They had been running for maybe five minutes and things were starting to look bad already. "Do you even know where-a Manehattan is?" Luigi asked Spike as he got up to his feet slowly, looking down at Spike as he saw him beginning to ponder. "Umm.... no, actually. I've always taken the train but it passes through Canterlot and you know, changelings. But there we have our first clue! Just follow the rails and we'll find our way," Spike said as he began walking towards the big mountain where Canterlot is positioned again. "But it's so far awaaaaay!" Luigi said with a whiny voice. "Luigi, pull it together! You're a hero for Celestia's sake!" Spike said, turning around again as he saw Luigi realising the fact and then seemed to refill with vigor. "Yeah! You're right! I'm a hero," Luigi said with a cocky voice as he began walking in a faster tempo. "Heh, I was beginning to think my motivational attitude never worked," Spike said as he smiled for himself, proudly walking forward with closed eyes. Luigi looked forward and saw a mare with a broken wagon full with hay on it. She had white fur and a long blonde mane coupled with some typical western clothes, a cowboy hat, a checkered shirt and a pair of jeans shorts. She looked distressed about her broken wagon and as she looked up and saw Spike and Luigi she smiled faintly. She even raised one of her front hooves and waved to them. "Hay there ya'll! Would ya mind helpin' me with mah wagon?!" She shouted to them as they approached, smiling and moving her hoof to point at the broken wheel. Luigi looked at Spike and Spike gave him a nod back before they ran to the mare and then stopped infront of her. "What can we help-a you with?" Luigi asked as he smiled. "Well, Ah was wandering through them here plains and suddenly sum' crazy mare came running through with a sack floatin' in the air 'hind her and she told me to move out of the way, but Ah didn't. So she blasted my wheel with her darn magic and Ah've been waiting here since," The mare explained, clearly looking a bit frustrated. But she smiled towards Spike and Luigi again after a moment. "Mah name is Cotton Hay by the way, Ah live on a yard in the fields between Manehattan and Fillydelphia with mah family and Ah was going to deliver this here hay to the Apple Family. But now ah ain't gettin' nowhere unless Ah get some help." "I'm sad to say that the apple family is currently on a vacation in Manehattan. Maybe if we fix it for you, would you give us a ride to Manehattan as well?" Spike said, smiling a bit deviously as he winked towards Luigi to tell him to go along with it. "They are? Huh, well. Ah guess Ah could do that then, but ya better fix it first 'cus we ain't gettin' anywhere with one wheel," Cotton Hay said, sighing in slight frustration as she rolled her eyes and then flipped her long but bruised mane out of her face. "Okey dokey!" Luigi shouted as he pulled out the family wrench and walked over to the wheel, seeing that the wheel itself was fully operational but some bolts and hobnails were missing. Spike approached as well and inspected the thing, looking dumbfounded as he tried to figure out what was wrong. "Uh, so what do we need to do?" He asked after a moment. "Try to-a find some hobnails and bolts nearby, they seem to be-a missing," Luigi said as he squinted his eyes and tried to see how many were missing. Spike turned around and took a blind step as he accidentally stepped on a hobnail facing upwards. "OUCH!" Spike screamed as he grabbed a hold of his foot as it began to throb cartoonishly in his hand. He looked down to see two hobnails and one bolt. "Oh, hey. I found them!" "You found all ten of them?" Luigi said as he turned his head around to see Spike roll his eyes. "Nah, but I found three. Two hobnails and one bolt," Spike said with a sigh and picked them up from the grass and threw them over to Luigi. "Keep-a looking then," Luigi said as he put his wrench into his pocket and then brought out his big hammer and carefully inserted the things into the wheel again. "Yer doin' quite a good job. But that's understandable for bein' a human and all," Cotton Hay said as she leaned against the wagon as she looked at Luigi continuing to insert the hobnails. Luigi looked at her for a moment and felt a bit weird when she said 'human' as if it was something downgrading. But the biggest question was that she knew what he was. "How do you know what a human is?" He finally asked while inserting the last hobnail. "Mah grandma told me sum' stories when Ah was just a lil' foal. Y'know, yer kind has visited before. At least in Canterlot through that magical mirror," Cotton Hay said, flipping her mane out of her face again. "I found five more on the dirt path!" Spike exclaimed right as Luigi was about to continue the conversation with Cotton hay. "Yeah! Go Weegee!" Luigi said as he turned his head towards Spike as the small dragon threw the small things over to Luigi. "Just-a two more, keep-a looking!" Spike began wandering away looking through the nearby area and Luigi picked up his hammer again and counted the five small things. There were three hobnails and two bolts. "Tell me, what's yer two fellahs called?" Cotton Hay asked, remembering that she had told them her name, but they hadn't told their names yet. "My name is-a Luigi, and his is-a Spike," Luigi said with a focused voice as he swinged with his hammer carefully. "Luigi'n'Spike, huh? How come ya two know the Apples if ye'r a human and yer friend is a dragon?" Cotton Hay asked with a hint of curiousity in her voice. "Everyone knows eachother in Ponyville!" Spike shouted from where he standed, continuing to look across the area for the missing bolts. "Heh, that would explain it," Cotton Hay said with a giggle, looking at Luigi as he swinged his hammer yet again. "Ah have ta say, ye'r quite good with a hammer. Are you some sort carpenter from where ya come from?" Luigi swinged his hammer yet again and inserted the last hobnail before placing the hammer back on the ground. He reached for his forehead and wiped all the sweat from it as he looked at Cotton Hay. "Eh, kind of. I'm a plumber," He said and scratched the back of his head. "A plumber?" Cotton Hay said and chuckled. "Could also explain why ya swing so well," She then added with a suggestive wink as Spike returned. Luigi looked at her with a deadpan face and facepalmed. "Oh, yeah. Sorry fer that one, raised in a barn'n'all and Ah often forget what to say and what not to say," Cotton Hay concluded, looking at Spike as he gave them both a weird glance before walking over to Luigi and handing over the last bolts. "Fix those and we should be good to go," Spike said, still trying to figure out what was so special about what she said. "Great work, Spike," Luigi said, smiling at Spike before he picked up his big hammer again and then carefully inserted a bolt before mercilessly hammering it in. "It was nothing," Spike said, trying to look proud of himself for such a small task. "But now, if you don't mind, I'll take my rightful position!" Spike said with a smug face and then hopped up on Luigi's back and then onto the wagon as he threw himself into the giant pile of hay. Luigi fixed the last one and then wiped some sweat off from his forehead, looking at Cotton Hay who had a wide smile on her face. "Thank you, darlin'. Just hop on with yer friend there and Ah'll take ye to Manehattan in no time! Yee haw!" She said as she attached the wagon to herself again. Luigi jumped up onto the wagon and laid down next to Spike, sighing in relief as he closed his eyes, Spike had already fallen asleep in the soft and comfortable hay and it didn't take long before Luigi fell asleep as well. Meanwhile... in Canterlot Chrysalis sat on her new throne but was quickly finding it boring just sitting around, nobody had come to stop her yet, her power was multiplying by the second and she couldn't get the chance to use it. She was even beginning to think she was putting on some weight... oh wait, she was actually putting on some weight. Chrysalis inspected herself and saw that unnecessary flab was beginning to appear on her marvelously perfect body, her meals were becoming too frequent and too much for her to handle... it was time... for her to do nothing. Chrysalis yawned before the two doors suddenly sprung open and a changeling came flying forth. "My queen! Our scouts reported that a dragon, a human and a pony is approaching our border. What do you wish we do?" The changeling asked, bowing formally infront of Chrysalis who smiled in return. "My, my. Changeling #421, grab the wheel of misfortune!" Chrysalis shouted as she sat up slightly in her throne, watching as the one referred to changeling number 421 dragged a big wheel of fortune into the throne room. There were four options: Seduce with transformation, send in personal hatchling, turn subjects into changelings, take as broodstock. "Does the queen wish to spin it herself?" 421 asked, looking at Chrysalis. "Oh, gladly," Chrysalis smirked as 421 flew to the side to let Chrysalis do her thing. She grasped the wheel with her magic and made it go into a crazy spin, she then let go with her magic and pressed her hooves together to watch where it would land. It began to slow down and Chrysalis rubbed her hooves together impatiently as the wheel slowed down even more as it approached the first option. "Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!" She exclaimed as it was about to stop on 'Seduce with transformation'. She was about to throw her hooves in the air as it was about to stop on that option but eventually stopped on the option after: "send in personal hatchling". "Naaaww. I wanted to do the work myself. Eh, whatever, you minions are lucky today... you'll get to witness the birth of a true changeling warrior," Chrysalis said, rising up from her throne and taking some steps forward. Changeling 421 and the other changeling who had come storming into the throne room some minutes before exchanged confused glances and then looked back towards Chrysalis. "A 'true' changeling warrior?" They both asked. "Yes, a changeling infused with the power and energy from a queen. It'll get rid of all this fat for me and it will hopefully do a better job in finding that princess than you two slacky drones," Chrysalis said, walking up to the center of the throne room as she began to glow green, the flab slowly disappearing. "Nothing shall stop you, my child!" She shouted before a visible bulge began going up her throat. Her jaw loosened up and began to open wide as the giant bulge in her throat slowly proceeded to rise up through her esophagus. The two changelings could now see what appeared to be a solid egg beginning to poke out slightly into her open mouth and they both gasped in awe, fascination and disgust. Before they knew it the egg just launched out of her mouth and landed on the floor, it was pulsating with green magic and Chrysalis smiled as she inspected her restored body again, as fit and prime as ever. Though she then switched her focus over to the egg which already began to hatch. "Welcome to this pathetic world, my true child. I have given you my power, and you will obey your creator... you are a warrior, you are unbeatable," Chrysalis monolouged as the super changeling began to escape from it's shell covered prison. Though recently born it began to grow almost immediately, it didn't look like a normal changeling, it was like a dragon but with a humanoid build and the trademark changeling holes and insectile wings instead of dragon wings. The 'creature' rose up and stood on it's two clawed feet before bowing infront of Chrysalis. "I await your command, mother," it said in a dark voice which had a distorted effect to it, making it seem like thousands of people were saying the same thing at once. "Your first task is to either eradicate or kidnap three pathetic morons who are approaching our perimeters... make sure to display your strength... Shifuto," Chrysalis said before her newly born warrior spread his insectile wings and soared out through a window, leaving only the two changelings with Chrysalis. "Gah, what are you two still doing here, drones? Go do something useful, like fertilize the broodmares or something... geez," Chrysalis said as she turned around and waved the two changelings off carelessly as she walked over to her throne and sat down again. She had full faith in her child... And she had a good guess about who the human and dragon is. Our two heroes had been travelling for a while, Cotton Hay had taken a detour from the railroad and headed through a forest path towards Manehattan, but unbeknownst to them, Shifuto was on their heels... Spike opened his eyes with a yawn and stretched his arms as he sat up, Luigi did the same as well. They looked around and saw that they were in the middle of a forest. "Good mornin' fellahs! How ya doin'?" Cotton Hay asked as she looked back. "Just fine..." Luigi said with another yawn and smiled. "I'm fine too, do you know where we are, Cotton Hay?" Spike asked, looking around and seeing only trees alongside the path they were walking on. "Uhhh, about halfway there, hun," she said, pulling out a map from her hat. "Yeah, it won't take that long for us tah hit it up." "Heh! Then napping time it-a is!" Luigi exclaimed with a smile and was about to lay down again but suddenly an energy blast hit the underside of the wagon and sent them three all flying up in the air. "Woah!" Cotton hay screamed as the shockwave sent her flying into the trees at the side. Spike and Luigi landed next to eachother and Luigi quickly got to his feet and looked around, seeing a creature up in the sky which slowly began to descend. "Spike! Look! Up in the sky!" Luigi said and pointed towards what seemed to be a monster. It landed firmly some meters infront of them, smiling faintly. "What even is that thing?" Spike exclaimed loud as he got up to his feet, first glancing towards the monster and then to the burning wagon. Luckily enough, Cotton Hay had gotten to safety. "I'm Shifuto, Queen Chrysalis' personal warrior child. Now, you will either be eradicated or taken with me back to the castle," Shifuto said as he clenched his fists, giving both Spike and Luigi a menacing glare. "We'll-a never give up to you!" Luigi said, clenching his fist and crouching down in a wide stance... this looked like it was going to descend into a battle. "**Then...* let that be your death-wish!*" Shifuto shouted before moving so fast that Luigi and Spike couldn't see him. Spike was suddenly struck with a well placed hand into the side of his neck which sent him flying to the side and causing him to go unconscious. Luigi quickly turned around and his jaw dropped as he saw Spike just falling limply to the ground. "No! Spike!" Luigi screamed as he ran back towards Spike and wrapped his arms around him. Luigi checked Spike's pulse and saw that he was still alive and sighed in relief, but that didn't change the fact that Spike was unconscious. Luigi sighed grumpily and laid Spike down on the ground again before standing up and adjusting his cap with a serious face. "You're-a gonna pay for hurting-a Spike..." he said with a determined look before charging up his hand with lightning. "Ha! Like you could stand a chance against me?" Shifuto said and crossed his arms, seemingly oblivious to the fact that Luigi is building up an attack. "Yeah, you may be fast! But not faster than lightning!" Luigi roared as he directed all the power he could muster into his index finger before directing the finger towards Shifuto, releasing the charge and shooting a straight charged up beam which caught Shifuto off guard. The beam of lightning hit him in the chest and went through it, at the same time the electricity that's passing through would spread throughout his body and inflict major pain. Shifuto gasped, as Luigi's attack was over, putting a hand over the hole Luigi made in his chest. "You...! You...!" Shifuto shook his head, groaning in pain. "I'm a warrior! I'M UNBEATABLE! You... puny... little... maggot!" Shifuto said before charging forward, due to his injury though, he wasn't as fast as before and Luigi simple rolled to the side before getting up to his feet quickly and then leaping into Shifuto with his elbow first. Shifuto's eyes widened in surprise but he got hold of the situation and sidestepped as Luigi couldn't stop and then punched Luigi in the stomach with a well placed fist. Luigi himself clutched his stomach in pain, his eyes bulging as tears began to flow down his cheeks. He jumped back reactively and then glared towards Shifuto who was smiling faintly. "At least there's some satisfaction in this," Shifuto said and chuckled. "N-no..." Luigi stammered as he stood upright, clenching his fists and smiling deviously as he got into a fighting position again. "Oh yes, it's wrong for me to lie like that. Taking out the trash is only a nuisance!" Shifuto said as he began to frown, raising one hand and extending his index finger as he began to create a glowing green sphere above his head with it. "This will end you, your friend and all the natural wildlife nearby!" He shouted as he began to levitate higher up into the air. Luigi watched as the sphere of concentrated magic only grew more and more before eventually blocking out the sun, but he couldn't just jump up and reach Shifuto, he had to take the sphere head-on... it was all depending on him. "Are you ready to die?! Please send me a postcard when you're in hell!" Shifuto roared before throwing down the giant sphere with enough power to almost catch Luigi off guard. But he prepared both of his hands and widened his stance as he raised his hands and catched the sphere with his hands as it landed. But he was not strong enough to lift it up, it was slowly beginning to press him down into the ground and he knew this would not last long... this would be the end... but he had to save Mario from Bowser, he had to save Peach from Bowser. He had to save Spike... Fluttershy, Twilight, Applejack, Rainbow Dash and eventually, Pinkie and Rarity. He had to hold on! Luigi began tapping into his inner strength, his fear and adrenaline was pumping through his body instead of blood and suddenly he began to grow slightly bigger... ...and bigger... ...and bigger.... AND EVEN BIGGER! "Huh? What's this?" Shifuto asked, watching as the magic sphere slowly was lifted. "HE CAN'T POSSIBLY BE THAT STRONG!" He added as the sphere began to rise even more from the ground. But what he didn't know was that Luigi was turning giant, ever since he had absorbed those Luigi copies from Discord he always had his untapped strength within him... nobody messes with Luigi, Shifuto was about to learn that the hard way. Luigi with his now giant strength building up gathered his strength and pressed the ball up into the air, sending it flying up in surprising speed and almost hitting Shifuto. The changeling in question was too distracted by the ball flying up in the air and exploding to look at Luigi as he expanded to the height of a large mountain. "NOW! You-a pay!" Luigi said in his normal voice that came out as shouting because of his giant size form. Shifuto turned towards him and his jaw dropped, he was feeling fear, legitimate fear. Not only had he just mashed all his energy into that ball, but he was also wounded, and his enemy was now as big as a mountain. This didn't look good for our little changeling. "B-but no! I'M IMMORTAL! I'M THE SPAWN OF THE QUEEN!" Shifuto shouted, vaguely trying to punch Luigi but just ending up irritating the giant Italian man. "Luigi! SMASH!" Luigi said before lifting his leg and then stomping down on the insect that Shifuto is. "NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!" Shifuto screamed at the top of his lungs as he was caught under Luigi's foot and was quickly approaching the ground below. "Now that I think about it, this defeat is very anti-climactic... heh. Well... goodbye, mother. I failed you, immensely," He thought to himself before he felt his back touch the ground and the moment after he felt the agonizing pain of all his intestines and bodyparts being squished under Luigi's boot. Luigi rubbed his foot on the ground to make sure it didn't get sticky or something before he eventually began to shrink down to his normal size. He looked towards the puddle of what looked like green ink which began to glisten and pile up in a pile of the changeling dust that remains after a changeling dies. He tipped his hat towards the pile before walking over to the unconscious Spike again. "I did it, Spike. He got what he-a deserved, no one threatens or hurts my friends without paying for it," Luigi said and looked at Spike, lifting him up with his arms and placing him against a tree. Cotton Hay suddenly climbed out of the bushes and whiped her forehead. "Woah there nelly, you've got sum' skills," she said to Luigi who smiled. "I try my-a best, but my brother is better, he has courage, he is heroic and he's not clumsy," Luigi said, frowning and thinking about his brother before clenching his fist and putting on a determined expression. "Which is why we have to go to Manehattan as soon as possible!" Luigi said. "Ah agree, but lil' fellah Spike might need tah wake up first," Cotton Hay said and nudged towards Spike. "I'll just carry him, let's go!" Luigi said and picked Spike up on his shoulder as he began to marching towards the direction of Manehattan... "GAH! Changeling 421! Get in here! Your queen needs you!" Chrysalis screamed as an agonizing pain went off inside her head. She felt as if her whole body just got crushed beneath a mountain but she was still intact... "Unngh, that's weird... this pain. Have I gotten a disease?" Chrysalis thought for herself as 421 entered the room and flew up to her, placing his hoof on her shoulder. "What is it my queen? Has your time come already?" 421 said, receiving a glare from Chrysalis. "I'm as young and healthy as one can get! I'm not dying...!" Chrysalis shouted, showing off her two razor-sharp teeth and crossing her front hooves comically before calming down again and frowning slightly. "But I'm afraid Shifuto is, dead. I don't know how, and it's highly illogical that it was the three people but he's dead. SEND OUT SCOUTS NOW!" She added, slamming her front hooves onto the armrests of her throne. "Yes my queen!" 421 quickly said before dashing out of the throne room. "Grrr... it couldn't be that human could it? No, I poured my own essence into that changeling, my child was on the same level as Twilight Sparkle in terms of magic power," Chrysalis said as she put her hoof against her chin. "Maybe it was a trap... maybe they ambushed my creation, GAH! Either way, he's dead! And now I'm pissed!" Chrysalis added before throwing her hooves into the air in frustration and then crossing them. "I'll see to that I'll get to personally meet this killer and then make him my slave... I need skilled adverseries... yes," Chrysalis said before putting her hooves together and rubbing them menacingly as she put on the widest grin possible. Would our heroes know which evil is now on their heels, or will they make it safely to Manehattan and rescue the others? Find out next time! To be continued in Part 2 Chapter 2-4 Part 2 "Lucky Moustache""Hey, hand over the money or else the kid's gonna get it!" A big muscular stallion who was a bandit said, holding up a gun made for the use with hooves in his left front-hoof and strangling a kid with his right front-hoof and pointing the gun towards the two parents. "You monster!" The mom shouted, her expression being that of panic. Tears ran in a stream from her eyes and her husband put his hoof around her shoulder and drew her in comfortingly. "Please... just let us go. We're a poor family and we're just seeking refuge after those insect things raided our small village," the stallion said and looked pleadingly towards the bandit. "Pfft! Ain't my problem! Now, be quick, or I won't hesitate to break this lil' guy's neck," the bandit said and squeezed his grip a bit harder around the small colt who screamed in both pain and fear. "Heeeelp!" He screamed, only receiving yet another harder squeeze from the bandit. Suddenly something moved quick as lightning and before the bandit could react the colt was gone out of his grip. His eyes widened in surprise and he dropped the gun in shock and turned around to see a two legged creature with brown boots, blue overall with a green shirt under it and a green cap with the letter 'L' printed on it now holding the little colt. "W-w-who are you?!" the bandit exclaimed, looking at Luigi with a shocked expression. "The green thunder! Luigi! Numbah one!" Luigi said before placing the little colt down on the ground before quickly speeding forward, sending his elbow flying into the bandit's stomach, making the bandit slowly fall to the floor and then pass out. "Oh! Thank you so much for saving us, you magnificent Italian man with the most handsome moustache that could ever exist!" The mother said and ran over to her little colt, hugging him and smiling. "Now, if you excuse-a me! I have to save-a my brother!" Luigi said and crossed his arms as a red cape appeared on his back before he quickly soared away into the sky like a superhe---- "LUIGI! Wake up!" Spike shouted straight into Luigi's face, throwing Luigi directly out of his dream of being a hero. "Uh, what is it?" Luigi asked, looking around to see that they were still in the same location as before. Yesterday after beating Shifuto, Luigi and Cotton Hay had ran non-stop for several hours and then finally decided to set up a camp not that far away from their destination, and now it seemed Spike was awake again. "We're packing up and leaving, bro. The grand opening for World Bowser is today at sunset!" Spike exclaimed, putting his hands on his hips and looking determined. "Okey dokey," Luigi said and nodded, smiling towards Spike as he got up on his own feet. And so, our heroes prepared to continue their travel to Manehattan. If things went as planned, they would arrive there just in time as the amusement park opens it's gates for the people of Manehattan. But, unbeknownst to them, the showpony: Trixie, had yet to arrive at her destination as she had stopped to sleep along the way. And to top off the cake, back in Canterlot an impatient queen was finally about to receive some... intel. "Grr, you mean to tell me that the human known as Luigi killed my child?" Chrysalis growled, banging one of her hooves onto the armrest of her throne. "Yes! Yes! Sorry my queen but that is what happened!" The changeling scout said, shaking in fear as he was afraid that Chrysalis would kill him out of anger. "Hnngh..." Chrysalis muttered as she bit her lip to contain her anger. She then took a breath before exhaling, seemingly calming down for the moment. "Fine, seems that I underestimated those two... Mario and Luigi. But if Luigi is Mario's brother, then I'm wondering how much stronger Mario is... since he seems to be the more heroic of the two," Chrysalis contemplated, scratching her chin with one of her hooves. "Drone! Fetch me Changeling #15 and his combatant squad, we're going after Luigi and Spike." "Yes my queen!" the scout said before saluting and quickly dashing out of the throne room to make sure not to waste the queens time. "Mmmm, everyone fears me. Even my own people..." Chrysalis said, grinning menacingly. "Time to make sure that this Luigi does the same," She said and showed off her teeth in anger. Chrysalis shifted in her seat, the memories from her first encounter with Luigi popping up in her head... how he had only been a scaredy cat. He showed no signs of power at all, he was nothing compared to her. But he managed to beat her own offspring that was stronger than what she was back then... maybe Twilight had given him a power boost or something? As the door to the throne room slammed open, Chrysalis got snapped out of her thinking and she saw Changeling 15 entering the throne room, followed by twenty-five of his soldiers. The only thing that made him stand out more than the others was that he had an iron chestplate and iron boots on all his four hooves. "You requested me, my lady?" Changeling 15 said, his accent being similiar to the Canterlot accent. "Yes, you and your soldiers are coming with me. We're going to put down a nuisance," Chrysalis said, rising up from her throne and taking some steps forward. "Mm, excuse me, my queen. Are you really going to come with? We can probably handle it ourselves," Changeling 15 said, looking at her. "I do favour your enthusiasm, but this is not something we shall underestimate. This 'nuisance' was the one who killed Shifuto," Chrysalis said, keeping a calm facade as she walked over to a window and stared out at the landscapes of Equestria. "Oh, I see. Then your excellence, we shall move out whenever you're ready," Changeling 15 said, saluting her. "Mhm," Chrysalis said before opening the window carefully, spreading her insect wings and beginning to soar away. It was time for her to get revenge... "'Ey, fellahs. There's a village just up ahead, we better resupply and get sumthin' tah eat," Cotton Hay said with a smile and looked towards Spike and Luigi who beamed up as they heard something about food. "Oh, man. You can't believe how hungry I am... I haven't eaten since we left Ponyville!" Spike exclaimed and rubbed his belly which let out a small rumbling sound in hunger. "Heh, I-a haven't eaten in a while either," Luigi said with a chuckle and scratched the back of his head. "If Ah'm not mistaken, tha village is called Hoofdale. And tha people there are really nice from what Ah've heard," Cotton Hay said as she readjusted her two saddlebags. Luigi and Spike smiled as the sight of smoke from chimneys became visible behind all the treetops, they instinctively began to hasten their pace and Cotton Hay had a hard time keeping up. It was an exceptionally beautiful day, the sun was shining and every plant and tree looked greener than usual. Birds were singing and the feeling Luigi and Spike had in their gut told them that this day would be a good day, but at the same time, there also seemed to be some tension in the air for what is to come... As the three turned around a corner where the path began turning they got a full view of the village ahead; most of the houses were built out of logs and hay-roofs while some exceptional houses were built out of normal wood and planks. On the street wandered many happy ponies going by their day as usual, some carrying home bags for lunch, some sitting out on benches and enjoying the weather and others just taking a stroll. When Luigi, Spike and Cotton Hay entered the village the villagers looked at them and dropped their chin almost in surprise of seeing someone visit their village. "Welcome! Nice to see visitors for once!" One villager shouted happily, not phased by the fact that Luigi (a human) was there. "Yeah! Welcome!" The three heard repeatedly as they walked by, soon ending up infront of a restuarant. Cotton Hay opened the door first and walked in, followed by Spike and Luigi. The restaurant honestly looked more like some old western saloon and as they inspected the menu Luigi cringed. "N-no.... n-n-no pizza...?" Luigi muttered, looking at all the hay-based foods as his head slowly sank in disappointment. "Huh, pizza? They don't serve that in these parts I suppose," Spike said and looked at Luigi who frowned. "Uggghhh..." Luigi muttered and crossed his arms. "Well, at-a least they have-a the pasta!" "Heh, ya two go on now and order sumthin', Ah'll pay," Cotton Hay said with a chuckle, patting Luigi on the back before walking up to the counter where a mare with two ponytails and wearing a red and white checkered blouse stand. "Hey there, miss. What'll it be for you and your two friends?" The mare asked, leaning onto the counter. "I'll take a ha--" Spike said before the door hastenly opened and a freaked out stallion ran in. "THE CHANGELINGS! THE CHANGELINGS ARE COMING!" He shouted at the top of his lungs before running out, probably to warn everyone else. Luigi and Spike looked at eachother with a concerned look before looking at Cotton Hay who only raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Uh, changelings? Mind tellin' me what 'changelings' are?" She asked, scratching the top of her head with one of her hooves. "No time to explain if they're already on their way, Cotton Hay," Spike said, his face turning serious. "Luigi, we have to hide!" "No..." Luigi said, his expression being unreadable before his eyebrows lowered in an aggressive manner. "I've been a coward for-a too long, always relying on my brother. I-a proved last time that I was more than-a capable of standing on my own," Luigi said and slowly began walking towards the door. "Well! I'm not gonna stand at the side and be worthless! I'll fight for Rarity... those monsters took her!" Spike said, forcing some tears back as he began to think of the cruel fate of his beloved Rarity... what if she had been turned into a simple-minded broodmare or transformed into a changeling? The thought disgusted Spike, and the anger he has within him at the moment only fuels his courage even more. Luigi looked back at Spike and smiled briefly. "That's-a the spirit... now let's-a go!" Luigi said, clenching his fist and then opening the door before walking out with Spike after him. They walked out onto the path that lead straightly through the village and watched as what seemed to be a small black cloud quickly approaching. All the citizens locked all their doors and blocked off their windows with wooden planks as the small changeling swarm became more visible. Suddenly though, within a flash the swarm disappeared and re-appeared in a surrounding ring around Luigi and Spike. Luigi kept up his serious facade even though he had been caught off guard by their speed while Spike had dropped his chin in both fear and amazement. Though Luigi soon dropped his chin as well as a larger and female changeling landed within the surrounding ring, right infront of Luigi and Spike. Luigi recognised her face, Spike did as well. And they both became as scared. "Why, hello there... boys," Chrysalis said with the most evil smirk possible. "Mamma mia..." Luigi thought aloud in his head, looking at Chrysalis with a surprised gaze. "My my, it looks like you two have seen a ghost. Heh, can't blame you two though, I'd be pretty amazed if I got to see the Changeling queen herself," Chrysalis said in a mocking tone and blew a strand of her mane out of her face. "But, enough with toying around already. If my scouts are not misinformed, Greenie, you're the one who had the skill and gut to kill my son," Chrysalis said, beginning to circle Luigi and inspect him. She began to doubt if the intel was right, he didn't look strong at all. Luigi gulped, following Chrysalis every moment as she circled around him and Spike. "Well, can you confirm my suspicions or must I force it out of you?" Chrysalis whispered into Luigi's right ear as she appeared behind him, letting one of her hooves glide forward over his shoulder as she pointed towards her changeling drones at the last part of her sentence. Luigi kept silent, he was too scared to say anything. All the courage he had built up at first had entirely disappeared... there just was something about Chrysalis that made his legs weak in fear, maybe it was the fact how she always seemed in control of the situation and had the power to back up all of her claims... or how she was so threatening but calm at the same time. "Hmm, no answer. Well, my faithful drones, take care of them however you please," Chrysalis said with a disapproving snort, spreading her wings slightly and levitating up in the air to observe what would happe next. Luigi and Spike both gulped in fear but gathered enough courage to at least not look like a pair of shaky little kids about to be bullied. The surrounding changelings exchanged glances and smirked as they began to move away from their original surrounding position and instead gathered in a triangle shape infront of Luigi and Spike. "Alright, maggots. There's no point in resisting our strength, you can give up now if you want. Or else die trying to protect your puny lives," the lead changeling said in a mocking voice. "Hnngh..." Luigi muttered, raising his fists and widening his stance as he entered a combat position before putting on a cocky grin. "Give it all you got, Shifuto did too," he said, receiving glares from the changelings infront of him. "Grr! You bloody monkey!" They all screamed in unison as they charged forward, Luigi grabbed Spike under the arms and then jumped up, holding Spike up as a flamethrower as Spike spewed his flame all over the swarm of changelings. Luigi eventually landed and put Spike down on the ground again before turning around and seeing all the changelings laying down with burnmarks. They all slowly got up and grunted in pain, glaring towards both Luigi and Spike. "Annoying fools, to think that you use cheap tactics like that," the lead changeling said, frowning. "Heh, at-a least ours is a working tactic," Luigi said with a cocky smirk, very different from the Luigi he oftenly is. "Oh you! Little!" The changeling screamed before powering up his horn and shooting a straight beam of green magic towards Luigi's feet which Luigi simply jumped over as he began charging up his hand with his signature move. His hand began sparking slightly as he gathered electric energy into it and as he landed next to the changeling he pointed it towards him. "...Bang," Luigi said calmly before releasing the beam of electricity onto the changeling, the sparks crackling as the changeling suddenly just exploded and left a green pile of dust behind. "What... the?!" Chrysalis exclaimed, her eyes widening in surprise and then returning to normal as she smiled proudly. "Oh, so humans have inner magic as well? To think that he could harbour such a devastating attack." The other changelings looked on in fear and began to back away, now their leader of the pack was gone and they began to realise just what kind of monster Luigi was... since he was able to beat Shifuto after all. "See, Luigi. It wasn't that hard to answer my question after all," Chrysalis said happily as she landed behind Luigi and Spike, smiling menacingly. "I can see how you were able to kill Shifuto with that much magic inside of you..." "Huh? You aren't mad about-a that?" Luigi said as he began lowering his guard, turning around to face Chrysalis who was surprisingly calm. "I am..." She said with a straight face before returning to her more cocky expression. "It's just that, I respect you. Humans have always fascinated me, how they are so ridiculously potent with love and still filled with burning hate and anger. Most ponies are limited to one talent but a human can be good at everything if they put their mind to it, same goes for a dragon," Chrysalis said with a smile, Luigi tried to wrap his mind around her motive right now but she was a total mystery for him. "Luigi, I'd like to have a conversation with you, in private." "Uh?!" Luigi muttered with a surprised look, pointing at himself while saying in a weak voice as he shook in fear: "M-m-me?" "Yes, I'd like you to come over to Canterlot with me and have a healthy discussion I think that we both are in need of," Chrysalis said with a straight face, only making Luigi even more surprised. "This... this isn't just some trick, right?" Spike said, raising one eyebrow. "Either way, trick or not. We have to chase down Trixie." "Look, kid. Just because I'm a queen and I feed on other creatures love doesn't mean I'm pure evil. Yes, yes... I kidnapped some of your friends but whatever, they're still alive," Chrysalis said and rolled her eyes. "Guh, you monster. You're as selfish as they come, the way you talk about living things as if they're just a meal!" Spike said and clenched his fists, glaring towards Chrysalis. "Well, that's because they are meals," Chrysalis said as she gave Spike a threatening glare back, making the little baby dragon step back and shudder slightly. "Now, Luigi. What is your answer to my offer?" She said, beginning to smile friendly again as she turned towards Luigi. "Uh, no," Luigi gulped. "We are on a trip to-a Manehattan," He said, scratching the back of his head apologizingly. "I see, I see. Do come for a visit sometime then, but be sure to send an envelope in preparation so my army doesn't mistake you for an intruder," Chrysalis said with a chuckle as she turned around and prepared to soar off. "But hey! Wait! Why are-a you just leaving, are you not going to-a fight me or anything?" Luigi said, raising an eyebrow and crossing his arms. "Why would I? I'm not at full strength at the moment since giving birth to Shifuto drained me and when he died I got even weaker. I'm doing the right thing not to underestimate you, but someday, I won't be that generous. With that I mean, make a visit before I change my mind," Chrysalis said, shrugging slightly before turning around again and spread her wings before quickly soaring up into the sky and into the distance. "Chryssie! Wait for us!" The remaining changelings shouted as they all spread their wings and began flying after Chrysalis. Spike quirked an eyebrow in confusion, scratching one of his green fins. "Luigi... why is she acting so weird towards you?" "I really don't-a know, is it my moustache?" Luigi said, stroking his fine moustache as he let out a faint chuckle. Suddenly all the ponies inside the houses opened up their doors and ran out with wide smiles on their faces. "Those two saved us! Our village is saved! They sent the changelings fleeing with their tails between their legs!" Luigi and Spike looked even more puzzled, they had yet to grasp the situation or what just happened. Not only did Chrysalis have a genuine smile on her face, but she was asking Luigi over to Canterlot and didn't even attack herself. But it spared them the trouble at the least... Cotton Hay exited the saloon and smiled as she approached the two. "So, ya two took care of those 'changelings', huh? Good job," she said, patting both Luigi and Spike on their shoulders. "Just so ya two know, Ah packed some food in mah saddlebags, we'll be able tah eat somewhere along the way." "Neat! And we're not that far away from Manehattan either, we should keep going!" Spike said as he grabbed the map from one of the saddlebags and inspected it. "Yeah, Ah agree," Cotton Hay said and turned around, beginning to walk through the village towards where the path continued on all the way to Manehattan. All the villagers waved them off as they approached the end of the village, shouting things like: "Hope you had a nice stay!" and "You're always welcome here again, heroes!" Luigi and Spike smiled to eachother and Luigi gently lifted Spike up on his shoulders as they continued walking, their surroundings slowly shifting from that of an open plain into a forest path. Most of the trees were high enough to block out the sunlight and the air was very heavy inside the forest path which reminded Luigi of the Everfree Forest. Though, the majority of the trees didn't look like they were possessed by some demon. Which was a 1+ in his book. *Crack!* "Huh?!" Luigi said aloud as they all instinctively turned towards the sudden sound, though the forest was in the way and they couldn't see a single thing. "Eh, it was probably sum' woodland critter," Cotton Hay said and shrugged before continuing to walk forward on the path. Meanwhile... Trixie's chest heaved in and out rapidly in panic as she pressed herself against a tree to hide herself from sight, she almost got caught that time. "Stupid overly loud snapping twig, how dare you try to spoil the almighty Trixie's position like that?" Trixie whispered beneath her breath as she looked over to a broken twig that laid on the forest floor, one which she had stepped on. "Eh, it was probably sum' woodland critter," Trixie heard Cotton Hay say before the sound of steps could be heard again. With a proud smirk, Trixie levitated the sack behind her and moved closer to the actual path itself while still holding herself behind the last line of trees. She peeked behind a tree at the trio walking on the path and glared at them, now she would probably have to either encounter them and trick them or she would have to wait until they were long gone out of her sight. Suddenly though, the ground shook momentarily behind Trixie and she froze in place. Not a second after she could feel warm air hit her back and her eyes bulged in panic. She slowly turned around, not really wanting to know what stood behind her. And as she turned around fully she stood face to face with a giant plant-monster. "Eeeeeeeeeiii!" It screeched infront of Trixie, whom covered her nose from the monster's terrible breath. It stood on two stumps for legs and had two leaves for arms, it was also wearing red pants with white polka dots on them. The monster's body was rounder at the bottom and got thinner and thinner the longer up it got until it connected with the head. The head itself being as big as the body itself. The head was round and had the same colour and pattern as it's pants while being outlined with a row of orange and red petals at the sides. It had no eyes, nose or ears but giant green lips stretched over it's face and behind those lips were several razor-sharp teeth and an endless pit for a mouth. "Eeeek! Please don't eat the great and powerful, Trixie!" Trixie screamed as she backed into the tree she was hiding behind before, trying to make as much distance between herself and the plant monster. "Eeeeeeyiii!" It screeched before slowly walking forward threateningly and licking it's lips with a fleshy tongue. "I swear to Celestia's holy hooves that I'm not that tasty as I must look!" She screamed and bit her lower lip in panic as she pressed herself into the tree as she could as her heartbeat began skyrocketing. "Gehehe!" It chuckled menacingly before opening it's mouth and preparing to gobble Trixie up in one shot. "No! I'm too young and beautiful, not to mention powerful, to die!" She screamed in hopelessness as the monster was going to eat her up, but suddenly he got hit by a beam of lightning of some sorts and got knocked back into another tree close by. Trixie looked towards where it came from and saw Luigi holding up a singly finger which sparked a little with electricity for a faint second. He had a determined look on his face and gave a momentary glare at Trixie before glaring at the plant monster. "Heh, thank you. But I could probably have gotten out of that situation myself, I am the almighty Trixie after all," Trixie said and brushed some imaginary dust off her shoulders before making a cocky expression. "Then, go ahead. There is-a no need for me to-a help you if you-a claim that," Luigi said with a straight face as he lowered his hand and shrugged before slowly beginning to walk away. Trixie looked back at the plant monster and then at Luigi, back at the plant monster (who was now slowly getting back up), then back at Luigi. Well, that plant monster couldn't be that tough could it? It's just a brainless, drooling vegetable with a giant size, that's all. She put on a cocky facade and smirked towards the plant monster as it got to his 'feet' again. "Take this, you veggie!" Trixie shouted as she powered up her horn and fired a sphere of magic the size of a pony towards him. The monster opened up his mouth wide and then swallowed the sphere of magic as if it was breakfast before patting it's own belly and burping faintly. Trixie stood dumbfounded and her eyes twitched in shock, how could it just have done that?! She powered up her horn again and then fired off a thin beam of magic which the monster just deflected with one of it's leaf-arms. "W-what?! I-imp-possible!" Trixie exclaimed as the monster began approaching and she reactively backed away until she was standing next to Luigi who had been standing still and watching. She looked at him and then back at the plant monster... it was time for her to swallow her pride. "Don't just stand there! Defeat it!" She shouted angrily towards Luigi who shrugged it off and remained calm. "Why don't-a you ask nicely?" He said with a smug face while stroking his moustache. "Grrr! I swear I'll...!!!" Trixie said as she bit her lip in frustration before sighing and giving up as she noticed that the monster was getting awfully close. "Okay! You win! Would you please save me from that monster before he eats me up!?" She finally shouted and felt her pride shatter just like as if someone had thrown a glass onto a rock. "Mhm, but in return we-a want our friends back," Luigi said and smirked wider as he crossed his arms. Trixie looked at the monster and she could feel his breath once again, he was too close for her own liking and she really didn't have a choice. "Yeah! Whatever! HE'S RIGHT INFRONT OF ME!" She screamed before turning around and running away as quick as possible, leaving Luigi alone with the monster. "Eeeeeeeeyeeie!" The monster screeched and angrily swooped with one of his leaf arms towards Luigi which Luigi simply dodged by crouching down and ducking. He thought quick and while crouching he used his legs to press off the ground and sent him flying straight up into the monster's head like a missile. The force of the attack was great and made the monster take a few staggering steps back to get his balance back. "Heh, serves-a you right, Petey Pirahna," Luigi said with a cocky smile and Trixie raised one of her eyebrows... did Luigi know this monster? "Guess-a you must have come through-a the randomly opening portals, but guess-a what? You should-a have stayed back in-a the Mushroom Kingdom!" Luigi shouted before leaping forward and began unleashing a flurry of kicks and punches on Petey Pirahna's face, sending him staggering back for each blow and unable to dodge or counter. "Whaaat?" Trixie thought as her brain tried to process everything, portals, Mushroom Kingdom, Petey Pirahna...? And since when was the green guy this tough and brave? Last time she saw him he looked like a goof, but now he had an attitude and was beating the crap out of a monster which had resisted her attempts to attack as if they were nothing. "Go find-a your portal, I-a don't ever want to-a see you in this dimension again!!!" Luigi shouted before sending a particurarly strong kick into the side of Petey Pirahna's head which sent him flying back into a tree and landing onto the ground unconscious. Luigi brushed his hands together to signal a job well done before turning towards Trixie and smiling. "Now, your-a promise?" He said with a faint chuckle. "Guuhh.... take it, sure, go ahead, hehe... thank you and all that!" Trixie said nervously and pointed towards the sack before running off as quickly as her hooves would let her so that she would hopefully never even be in the same country as Luigi again. "Huh, wonder why she's in-a such a hurry? Maybe it's my moustache?" Luigi asked himself and stroked his moustache momentarily before turning around towards the sack with a faint chuckle. He walked towards it before grabbing a tight grip of it and throwing it up onto his shoulder with a smile. "Just wait until Spike and Cotton Hay hears about this!" Luigi thought as his smile widened and he began whistling on a cheerful tune whilst walking back towards the forest path itself. As Luigi came out on the path again he could see Spike and Cotton waiting for him a bit up ahead and waved towards them as he began hightening his pace. "You-a guys! I-a got our-a friends back!" Luigi shouted with a big smile on his face as he got closer and closer, now only around 10 meters away. "Oh, wow. Really?! How could you find them in there?!" Spike exclaimed as Luigi approached and then laid the sack down onto the path and scratched the back of his head while chuckling. "Turns out that-a the one who was-a shouting for help was-a the kidnapper," Luigi said and continued to smile. "How about we-a open it up?" "Yeah! Man, it's gonna be so awesome to see them all again!" Spike said and hopped up into the air in excitement. "Mhm! Let's-a go!" Luigi said and grabbed the rope which was bound aroun the top of the sack and untied it before throwing it away somewhere randomly. He then opened it up and the inside of the sack began glowing in a blue light before five spheres of blue magic levitated up into the air before slowly forming into the shapes of the kidnapped heroes... ...Twilight, Mario, Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy. They slowly descended and landed safely on the ground as they all began rubbing their eyes and yawning as if they had just taken a long nap. "Where are we? Infact, what even happened?" Twilight said and looked around at her surroundings before a certain baby dragon jumped up on her and hugged her tightly while laughing in joy. "Oh, Twily! I was so worried about you, man. I thought you were being tortured by Bowser or something!" Spike said and hugged her even tighter as he began to almost choke her. "Woah, Spike, take it easy!" Twilight said in a jokeful manner as she tried to get out of Spike's 'deadly' grip. "Hehe! Mario, my bro. It was-a good that we rescued you all before it was-a too late," Luigi said and put his hands at each side of his waist, standing proudly next to his brother. "Huh, what do-a you mean?" Mario asked, raising an eyebrow. "Well, you know. That pony was-a going to take-a you all to Bowser," Luigi said and patted Mario on the back jokingly, the roles had been reversed it would seem. "Right, I'm just glad we're back in action. That 'Bowser' creep is gonna get it when I get my hooves on him," Rainbow Dash exclaimed and raised her fists and began airboxing. "Tha same, Ah'll help in anyway Ah can, sugarcubes," Applejack said and tipped her hats towards the gang. "Uhm... I think I'll stay in Ponyville... heheh... you know. Fighting isn't my style," Fluttershy said nervously and slowly scratched her hoof at the ground gently. "It's okay, Fluttershy. You do yours and we'll be back in no-time," Twilight said and patted Fluttershy on the back reassuringly. "But don't expect that you can just sneak away on the next adventure, you're missing out." "Hehe, fair enough," Fluttershy said and giggled slightly before taking some steps away from Twilight. "Alright everyone, take care!" Fluttershy said before spreading her wings and then heading towards the direction of Ponyville. "Bye, Flutters!" Rainbow Dash shouted as she waved Fluttershy off. "Yeah, bye Fluttershy!" The others shouted in unison and waved at her until she had gotten out of sight. Cotton Hay had been looking at the whole event and finally sighed with a faint chuckle. "So, Ah guess ah better make mah leave now, enjoy it ya'll!" She said before walking away back towards the village, which Luigi found strange since she had told him she lived above Manehattan in a place between that and Fillydelphia. "Who was that?" Twilight asked and scratched the back of her head. "Somepony who was basically just Applejack but stranger, in a way," Spike said and shrugged. "You implyin' that Ah'm strange, ya lil' runt?" Applejack said jokingly and harshly rubbed one of her front hooves on Spike's head. "Ouch! Haha!" Spike exclaimed with a playful smile as Applejack ruffled his fins on his head. "Now, we'll have to-a move forward as well so we don't-a miss Bowser's show," Luigi said with a smile as he began taking the lead by turning around and continuing to head towards Manehattan. And so, our heroes were reunited. And they were ready to pay King Bowser an unexpected visit, how will it go? Find out next time in; Chapter 2-5 "Next Stop, World Bowser!!"
Chapter 1 - The Nightmare Night ArcChapter 1 - The Nightmare Night Arc Episode 1-1 "News Flash!" (Chapter 1 Prologue) Toad News News flash! Professor E. Gadd has gone into public and announced a new upgraded time machine with the now added ability to travel between dimensions! The Princess of the Mushroom Kingdom herself and the two heroes Mario and Luigi have volunteered to test the new machine in hope to experience something sensational as maybe discovering something worth for history, stay tuned on the public Toad radio network and you might just get to hear a live transmission from E.Gadd's lab. The almighty Koopa King, Bowser, closed the newspaper and simply tore it apart with his fist, a loud irritated growl echoing throughout the throne room as he rose up from his throne. He wasn't very happy with the news, infact he was as not happy as one could get. But a new plan to attempt to kidnap the princess and become the ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom once and for all was slowly edging into his mind and that angry frown soon turned into such a vicious smirk that would make even Adagio feel ashamed. But his deep thinking session was interrupted as his trusty son, Bowser Junior, stepped into the throne room. "Dad, we haven't attempted to kidnap the princess in ages... I'm getting really, really bored!" Bowser Junior said with a whiny voice, all the while looking at the big and menacing Bowser. "Junior, our goal isn't to escape boredom, our goal is to conquer this whole Kingdom!" Bowser threw his arms up into the air as he looked at Bowser Junior, taking a few steps towards him. "But anyhow, that was just what I was about to do when you entered my room. Get the other Koopalings and for Peach's sake, gather up all the minions and we'll strike the Mushroom Kingdom with some real brute force today... you see, they'll not be expecting us this time. Grwahahahaha!" "Uh, right away Bowser! I'm not gonna disappoint you!" Bowser Junior said as he saluted Bowser as a kid playing as a military soldier would do before chuckling and running out of the throne room again. Bowser turned around as his smirk went even bigger as he approached a painting of Princess Peach, looking into the painting's 'eyes' as he slowly put his clawed hand onto her face. "You'll be mine, someday... someday, Peach. 'Cause I'm coming for you, and you cannot escape," he said with a softer variant of his grumbly voice, slowly and creepily caressing Princess Peach's cheek. Mario, Luigi and Peach stood outside the crazy professor E. Gadds laboratorium, it looked eerily similiar to his head, even the chimney was shaped as E. Gadd's little 'spike' of hair. They exchanged looks until Mario finally knocked on the door, a big end of a telescope appearing out of the front lawn, startling Mario and Luigi as they jumped up into the air. "Hehehehe! No reason to be frightened, just come on through, you won't believe your eyes when you see my latest invention," came a voice from a speaker besides the door. Mario and Luigi looked at eachother and began laughing nervously, the princess behind them giggling as well before coming to an end and entering the oddly shaped building. As they entered the main room, they saw the old things from past adventures, like their old companion stuffwell the talking suitcase laying ontop of a operating table. They soon found themselves infront of a door though, and a monitoring screen placed above the door flicked on, starting to display a picture of E. Gadd sitting in his trademark robes with his peculiar glasses. "I hope you see that I've done some modifications to my laboratorium since last time, eh? Well, there's more to see in my exciting underground lab, I'll open up the elevator door and then you can get down here so you can try my newest invention out of course," the picture of E. Gadd says, the elevator door sliding to the side as they all enter, a monitoring screen inside the elevator greeting them as well. The door slides shut and the elevator begins it's descent, the monitor flicking off and on as the picture disappears. A creaking sound begins to burrow into their ears as the elevator stops at it's destination and the three step out as the doors slide at the side, being greeted by the small scientist. "So glad you could all make it! Wasn't so long time ago with you two, Mario and Luigi. But I must say, with you Peach, it must have been when those horrible Shroobs invaded the Mushroom Kingdom. But let us not prolong the fun, yes! I'm sensing that you all are eager to try out my new invention... the P.O.R.T.A.L!" E. Gadd said, smiling at the three as he began leading them through the lab. The group could see many big inventions like bigger Poltergust models and storing tanks filled with a blue liquid and a different creature for each. They finally reached an enormous big ring that was embedded onto an even bigger platform. It was almost mindblowing that one single person had done it. "See? That's what I call the Powerful Ornament Ready To Answer Life, a weird name, yes. But it has a deeper meaning than what you probably think. And either way it's only just a prototype after all," E. Gadd says as he steps onto a smaller platform where a control pad is located, he presses some buttons and some peculiar markings on the ring start glowing as energy starts to build up. "Excuse me, professor. But only a 'Prototype'?" Peach says and quirks an eyebrow, feeling a bit more unsecure than before. "Yes, I hope to make the final version more portable and probably a lot smaller. And to be fueled by something else than sun energy... which is why we have to take this little thing to the land above," E. Gadd says and chuckles, checking to secure if the three are on the platform already, which they are. He immediately presses a button as a hatch above them opens and let's in the sunlight. "You're crazy, have I ever told you that?" Mario says as he looks at E. Gadd, chuckling at himself at the same time. "I don't think so, but now you have. Get ready peeps, we're going up!" E. Gadd says, pressing a big button as the platform starts to shake a bit before slowly travelling upwards through the now open space in the ground, slowly approaching the surface. Mario, Luigi and Peach are standing back to back as the platform rises to the surface, but is shocked as the first thing they see is a very big armada of airships approaching them, accompanied by 8 clown copters. "Get them! Kidnap the princess at all costs!" Bowser Junior shouts as the airship armada closes in, soon precisely above them. "E. Gadd! We've got company!" Mario shouts to E.gadd who suddenly looks up from the control pad, a panic strucken expression on his face as he sees all the airships, probably around 75 of them. "Alright, I'm opening the portal! This will send you all to a random dimension, but at least you'll be safe from these! Hurry up, I gotta make sure to destroy it and then flee and we haven't got enough time!" E. Gadd says as he starts to press what seems to be random buttons as a force field starts to build within the ring, slowly beginning to spin in spirals. "What do you mean with, 'DESTROY' it?! How are we gonna come back?!" Mario shouts as he sees the airships beginning to get closer to the ground as they prepare to land the ground forces and try to defeat Mario and Luigi once and for all. "Don't worry about that, that's why I need time to flee!" E. Gadd shouts as he presses a big blue button on the control pad as the portal shines up and then drags the three nearby people into the portal. He quickly presses it again as the portal powers down and then he is about to press the self destruct button, but suddenly a koopa shell hits him and he falls off the small controlling platform. "You're not going anywhere, nerd," Bowser Junior says as he descends with his clown copter, looking down at E. Gadd on the ground. He quickly flies toward the professor and snaps him up into his clown copter. "Infact, I think my daddy wants to have a quick word with you about that portal, gwehehehe!" "No, leave me be!" E. Gadd shouts before Bowser Junior puts him in a sack and ties it together. As Twilight is studying late at night, a bright light suddenly comes from outside her window and breaks her concentration, she lets out a grumpy sigh and opens the window, just to see that outside the Golden Oak library, a giant swirling portal spits out two odd creatures, before quickly disappearing into thin air, leaving only the two bodies laying on the ground. She didn't know what was going on, but she knew that she had to figure out... Episode 1-2 "Welcome To Ponyville" Sometime during the morning on the day of Nightmare Night "Wakey wakey, or it's going to get shaky!" A loud and high pitched voice shouts as Mario slowly tries to open his eyes, but he lays still in the comfortable bed a little longer as he tries to remember what happened before, the only thing popping up in his head being the portal. Though his room of thinking is broken as two round things grab him by the shoulders and shakes him so much that he gets dizzy. "Teehee! I told you it was going to be shaky!" Mario sits up in what he presumes is a bed and opens his eyes, though the first thing he sees makes him almost leap up into the air and fly further than what he has ever done. A pink strange creature standing on four limbs is looking at him with large eyes and an unusual big smile. "Mama mia! Luigi, run for your life!" Mario shouts instinctively with his Italian accent before looking around the room for Luigi, bursting out in even more panic as he notices that Luigi is gone, but he followed through the portal, Mario remembers that quite well. "Luigi! LUIIIIGIIII!" Mario shouts as he jumps out of the bed, ignoring the pink creature as he walks down the wooden stairs of what seems to be a library because of all the bookshelves around the room. He hears a peculiar bouncing sound and turns around to locate it, and sees that the pink creature is following him, while bouncing. Mario looks at it, which seems to be a her, and then returns to his searching of Luigi. He walks until he finds what is presumeably the living room as the door leading outside is right when he comes down the stairs. He then notices that the door doesn't have a handle. Mario stops in his tracks and turns around, seeing the pink creature still bouncing right behind him with a gleefull face and expression. "And what do you want?" Mario says in a frustrated tone, rolling his eyes as he has had enough of the irritating bouncing sound. "Oh! I want many things, cupcakes, a big cake for my birthday, hmmm let's see here... Ooh! I know! Jenga!" The pink creature says with overdone enthusiasm and Mario takes a step back as his eyes go wide out of fear of the overly positive... thing. "Uh, are there no Toads around I can talk to?" Mario finally says, pressing himself against the wall as he observes the pink creature. "Oh! I usually also talk to Toads, are you a Toad talker too?! Wait, let me introduce you to Pondhopper, the Toad!" The pink creature says and starts digging in her mane with hooves. Mario relaxes and sighs in relief as he watches the weird female pink creature searching for what probably is the Toad. But Mario screams out in shock as the pink pony instead pulls out a massive green toad and holds it out infront of Mario's face. "That's-a not a 'Toad', that's a frog," Mario says, making a deadpan expression towards the toad infront of him. "A frog? Are you crazy!? It's a toad! Just like you said," the pink creature says, now looking at Mario with a hint of frustration in her eyes. "THAT'S-A FROG! AND THAT'S FINAL!" Mario shouts at the pink creature and takes off his cap as he turns around and falls on his knees and starts crying, "Why? Why is Luigi gone? Why is the princess gone? And why did I have to be sent to a dimension where the first person I meet is driving me crazy!? Please answer me, angel Toad." "Oh, that princess isn't gone you know, she's just down in the basement with my friend Twilight," the pink creature says as she lets out a chortle and puts away the toad in her mane again. "And why didn't you tell-a me?! I was-a worried sick!" Mario shouts, his face turning red in anger as he looks at the pink creature. "You never asked, hihihi! My name's Pinkie Pie by the way, and guessing by the 'M' on your cap I'd say you got the cap from your mother?" Pinkie Pie says, giggling as she starts bouncing again. "No! It's a me! Mario! I have the cap because my name is Mario," Mario says as he looks at Pinkie Pie, starting to calm down a bit. "Mario, never heard such a short name before on a pony... I mean uh, whatever you are," Pinkie Pie says, looking at Mario as she puts a hoof to her chin. "Ah! It all makes sense now, you're a pony! Couldn't tell before... because you are coloured pink. And ponies aren't pink. But enough with that, where's the basement?" Mario says, looking at Pinkie Pie. "Well, I can show you. Just follow me!" Pinkie says as she turns around and bounces towards another door within the living room, she quickly pushes it open and heads down the staircase with Mario just behind her. When they arrive at the basement Mario can see a purple pony sitting by a table holding a tea cup that's covered with some magic aura, next to the purple pony he sees Princess Peach holding a tea cup and talking about something. "Oh, Mario!" Peach says as she suddenly looks to the side at Mario and Pinkie Pie. She stands up and runs foward as she pulls Mario into a tight hug. "I was so worried, but I knew you were okay!" Mario says as he returns the hug, before letting go and looking around the room. "But where's Luigi?" "...Luigi?" Peach says, her expression changing from that of joy to shock as she covers her mouth with her hands in panic. "Oh my goodness, Luigi isn't here, I didn't notice!" The purple pony, who Mario assumes is Twilight looks at them and finishes her tea, "Who is Luigi? Only you two came through that portal, I didn't see anyone else," Twilight says, looking at the two with a bit of concern. "It's-a my bro! Luigi, he looks like me but he is taller, and wears a green cap with an 'L' on it," Mario says as he looks at Twilight. "It could be possible that the portal couldn't handle three life forms at once if as you said, Peach, you all quickly opened and then shut off it even quicker, which would result that this Luigi got sent to somewhere else or possibly even a different dimension," Twilight says as she levitates a chalk infront of her and starts to write down calculations on the wall. "But you see, these portal's need an energy source to open within other dimensions as well, and your portal opened next to my library since my Alicorn magic probably acted as a beacon in the dark night. And the only other active magical places during night in Equestria would either be the Crystal Empire, Canterlot or the Everfree Forest." "You mean Luigi probably landed in one of those places?" Peach says as she looks at Twilight. "According to my theory, yes, but that's only my theory. He could be Celestia knows where!" Twilight says as she flails her hooves around to emphasize her point. "Oh, that's right, Celestia knows where!" Twilight says and chuckles. "Who's 'Celestia'?" Mario says as he raises an eyebrow and looks at the surprisingly intelligent pony, Twilight. "The princess of Equestria and the one who raises the sun, my former mentor as well as a sidenote," Twilight says and smiles, "Pinkie Pie, Peach, Mario. Let's make haste towards Canterlot!" Twilight says as she places her hoof in the air, looking at the others. "Luigi here we come!" Peach says as she lays her hand ontop of Twilight's hoof. "Let's-a go!" Mario says, adding his hand to the mix. "Okiee dokiee lokiee mokiee!" Pinkie says, placing her hoof in the middle as she receives a weird glance from Mario and Peach before they all finish the group gesture. She puts her hoof under her chin and starts pondering a bit as she then looks at Twilight; "Don't you think two weird creatures walking on two legs would cause quite a commotion on a train to Canterlot though? I'd say we wait a while until the night arrives, everypony is going to dress up as something this Nightmare Night for sure!" Twilight stares at Pinkie Pie for a while before sighing and hoofpalming, "You're right, Pinkie Pie. I almost forgot about that small detail, well. Mario, Peach, looks like we'll have to wait until everybody starts trick or treating." "Well, as long as-a I get to my bro I'll be just fine," Mario says, sighing and sitting down on a chair. And so the waiting game could begin... E. Gadd felt himself being dragged along many corridors until he was tossed forward, a couple of seconds passed and then later someone opened the bag he was trapped in. But if he had chosen, he had chosen to stay. Because before him stood the evil tyrant, Bowser, and he was grinning menacingly as he circled around E. Gadd as a shark. "Do you know what I strive for, professor? It's not like I kidnap the princess because I feel good about Mario stomping my bottom everytime he reaches my castle, without me doing any real resistance. It is because I can feel superior, and I want to attempt to rule this pathetic kingdom. But you know as well as I that if you get rid of one hero, someone else will take that place. But now with all heroes gone in another dimension and nobody to rule the kingdom except that puny little King Toadstool, I guess that make my chances very big of succeeding? Yes? Well, no it doesn't. Because I also strive for love... and that love is for that blonde princess, but the bad guy never gets his cake... you know? Without me, Mario wouldn't have anyone to save and therefore he wouldn't be the hero he is today... only a fat plumber." Bowser says, walking back and forth as he keeps rambling about different stuff, E. Gadd thinks that it's mildly uninteresting but it isn't like he has a choice. "But on to the real point here, you made the portal, you opened the portal and you closed the portal. I just want you to re-open it again, so I can also be apart of the test subjects, and I of course want to get rid of Mario and Luigi for good." Bowser says, his tall figure looming over E. Gadd as he crouches down slightly, looking the professor straight into the eyes. "And you think I'll do that? You're just a big spiky ol' koopa with the thinking capabilities of a Goomba! You've got no heart and you're just a big growling Koopa who happens to have a very bad breath!" E. Gadd shouts at Bowser as he takes a brave stance, but regrets his choice of words as he sees Bowser's anger boiling up. "GRRRRWWAAAAAAAGH! You have the guts to insult me, the king of Koopas, in my own throne chamber?!" Bowser roars, shooting a rain of blue fire over E. Gadd's head as he then grabs the professor in his clawed hand and lifts him up from the ground. "I'm currently rethinking that thing about sparing your life even if you open the portal for me, little guy. Besides, plenty of my minions could probably open it themselves if I would let them have more time... but I don't. My orders to them were to get the princess as fast as possible." "Then why are you forcing me to do it?!" E. Gadd shouts, still feeling brave even though he is in Bowser's grasp. But that changes as Bowser squeezes the professor a little bit in his grip. "Because, we need you to get back, E. Gadd. And even if you refuse to get us back we'll only settle down in the other dimension and keep Mario and Luigi as my personal slaves and Princess Peach as my all lovingly wife, and if the dimension happens to have lifeforms we'll just rule over them as well. So you see, professor. I have my reasons," Bowser says, becoming more deceptive and generous in his voice. "Wait, you're sending the entire Koopa army through the gate? That would be impossible! You'd only end up creating a dimensional rift with that amount of life energy entering at once, not only that. But what if the other dimension is unhabitable, your whole army will be desolated to nothing!" E. Gadd says, struggling a bit against the hand that squeezes tighter for each second. "Well, yes I am. But not at once of course, we have to send some through first and if they don't return then we'll know or not. But it's your choice, E. Gadd. Save yourself or desperately make a futile attempt to block us from going through, which we will be forced to do by ourselves if you're not able to cooperate," Bowser says as he begins to slowly walk back to his throne and sits down, releasing the grasp of E. Gadd as he drops to the floor, looking up at Bowser. "For the last time, I'm not doing it!" E. Gadd says, standing up as he looks at Bowser who's grinning menacingly. "Then that leaves me to no choice, I'll destroy all your inventions except the dimensional portal and we'll open it by ourselves as you spend your time in a cold and empty prison within my castle for the rest of your life... imagine for yourself. You'll lose everything you had and you'll lose the ability to move on from that point as you won't be able to engineer anything in the prison chamber. Or, you could just help me out and open that portal, and I won't even touch your inventions or you. Even after I take command over the Mushroom Kingdom," Bowser says, looking at E. Gadd as the professor freezes in his place and his face turns pale. Bowser knows he now has the puny professor at his will and he can't help to laugh menacingly about it. "Well... I... uhm..." E. Gadd stops in his place as he can't help but think about anything else than his inventions, before suddenly he gives up and sits down on the ground. "You win, Bowser... but you better keep that promise, or I'll not even open up the portal again for you," E. Gadd says and looks up at Bowser on his throne. "Gwahahaha! Perfect, see? That wasn't so hard after all now was it? Now, we better make haste to your lab so we can finally get this over with," Bowser says, climbing down from his throne as he grabs the professor once again and heads out the door. Ghost House Episode 1-3 "Where Was Luigi?" At the same time when Mario and Peach got out of the portal, another portal opened somewhere in the Everfree Forest. Luigi suddenly got thrown out of the twirling vortex that was the portal right into the pitch black night, landing on safe ground, he could hear the portal quickly close behind him and he groaned as he slowly sat up. As he began taking in his surroundings he started shivering, in the middle of the night he was out in a spooky forest filled with ghostly looking trees and what looked to be predatory plants, and the fact that it seemed like glowing eyes were always staring at him didn't help his psyche in the moment, he backed away slowly from the clearing. But suddenly he got stopped by a tree behind him with razor sharp claws and a nasty grin on it's face. "M-M-M-MAAAAAARIO!" Luigi shouted until he realised that the tree was actually not alive, it was just how it looked. He slowly pulled out his flashlight that he always had with him since his adventures with King Boo and activated it, still seeing the forest very clearly before suddenly a thick mist started to cover the surroundings, only granting him vision for one meter ahead. Mysterious buzzing sounds like that of a bee and faint whispers suddenly filled the eerily silent air, Luigi didn't want to know what did that sound and simply kept his guard up as he kept moving forward, turning around now and then to see if he was being followed by a ghost or something. "This is not fun, Mario!" Luigi shouts as he keeps moving forward, stumbling over a root above ground as he falls forward and starts rolling down a hill. When he eventually stops rolling he sits up and rubs his head as he takes in his surroundings, the mist has disappeared and it's quite empty, a few meters away there's some ruins of what looks to be a castle connected to the place he is at with a rope bridge. "Hnnngh, couldn't E. Gadd have sent me to a land full of sweets and candy instead?" Luigi says and stands up, activating his flashlight and moving over to a wooden rope bridge. "Oh no, I'm-a not going over that bridge, there's no way," Luigi says as he crosses his arms and tries to find another way around. When he turns around though, he sees an odd shadow approaching, he can't make out what it is but he has no intentions to stay around and find out as he quickly turns around and runs for his life across the rope bridge, reaching the other end in what seems like only two seconds but he doesn't stop there as he continues running forward, finally coming to a stop within the ruins. Luigi forces the door to the main entrance shut as he blocks it with a couple of stones laying nearby before finally sighing in relief. But as he turns around his face turns pale as he notices that the castle is filled with spooky webs and dusty old books and such. "Why doesn't this nightmare ever end?!" Luigi shouts, sitting down on the floor as he starts to nibble on his nails through his white gloves, almost breaking into tears as he wonders what happened to Peach and Mario. Though as he looks forward he sees a familiar shadowy figure in the distance sitting on what seems to be a throne, he quickly stands up and walks closer. As he gets closer he sees that the figure herself is Princess Peach herself. He is immediately filled with cheer and runs up to her. "Peach! So good to see in this horrid place!" Luigi shouts, running forward and hugging Peach but just as he touches her, the body dissipates into the thin air like a ghost and he is left standing there with empty arms and the eerie silence of the ruins. Luigi turns around and frowns, sitting back on the throne as he let's out a complaining sigh, before looking up as he hears strange noises of that of a horse shoe wandering through the halls. He quickly goes into a fetal position on the throne and covers his ears with his hands as he shuts his eyes, and just as he does, the sounds of the horse shoes get closer and closer before finally stopping. "Do not fret, I assure you, a dangerous thing you haven't met," a poethic voice says, speaking in rhymes. "You're a creature I've never seen before, which makes my curiousity expand more." Luigi doesn't say anything in response but he opens his eyes and continues to shiver as he sits up normally on the throne, before him a four legged creature (like a horse but with stripes) stands and looks at him with friendly eyes. His expression changes from that of a frown and turns into a smile. "Imma Luigi, I come from the Mushroom Kingdom and we went through this crazy portal and now I can't find my bro and the princess." "Ah, so I see, but I suppose I'll give you some basic information about me. My name is Zecora, I live in these woods. But why you have entered this castle I ponder, it's not like you were taken by it's wonder," Zecora says, looking at Luigi all the while. "I don't know, I just wanted to find a safe place... but this place is even scarier than the woods outside," Luigi says, a smile slowly warming up his body again as he stands up from the throne, looking at Zecora. "If that's the case, then we should make our way to my hut in haste. This castle is a dangerous place at night, mischievous ghosts live here and they like to cause fright in the hearts of those foolish enough to enter," Zecora says as a devilish child-like laughter echoes through the hall, all lit candles slowly dissipating as everything goes pitch black, except where the moonlight shines through some holes in the wall. "Mama Mia! Why does this always happen to me?!" Luigi screams as he pulls out his flashlight in panic and activates it, illuminating a great portion of the hallway infront of them. "Impressive... such a powerful illumination spell, it lights up the halls quite well!" Zecora says and smiles at Luigi, looking at the weird wand that he holds in his hand. "No, this is a flashlight, it runs on batteries," Luigi says, chuckling nervously as he still shivers from the thought of there being ghosts here that wants to scare him. "Strange words you pronounce, but let us not waste our time and get out of here at once!" Zecora says as she starts walking through the hallway, followed by Luigi who is nibbling on his nails, now and then looking backwards and lighting up the whole throne room. "Boo! Hyahyahya!" A ghost with razor sharp teeth and purple glowing eyes shouts as it appears from the floor, heading towards Luigi but right then he charges up his flashlight in panic and activates it again, stunning the ghost for a few seconds as it puts up a confused expression and then flies into a bookshelf on the left side of the hallway. "Hurry up! You just made them angry!" Zecora shouts as she begins running through the corridor as she sees the main gate ahead, followed by the now scared for life Luigi who is running as fast as possible, trying to keep up with the four legged runner. "Where ya goin'?!" The same ghost says as it appears out of another bookshelf followed by flying books with eyes and razor sharp teeth, they immediately start to fly against Luigi and Zecora but Luigi simply puts his flashlight in his pocket and quickly builds up a small spark in his finger and then as it grows he finally sends the bolt of lightling flying, hitting one possessed book and then quickly spreading to all the others as they drop to the ground and turn into normal books again. "Not cool, hehehe!" The ghost flies up into the roof and disappears. "Luigi, I am in your debt, but we gotta get out of here or as wandering souls we will be kept," Zecora says, hearing the pipe organ beginning to play as many traps activate, now they just have to be sure not to accidently trigger one. "I'm sorry, but my bro and the princess must be around here somewhere. Because one of those ghosts took on the appearance of Princess Peach!" Luigi says, switching on the darklight mode, seeing the traces of the ghost who disappeared. "We're gonna go ghost hunting!" "I admire your enthusiasm, but these ghosts aren't just made of ectoplasm!" Zecora says as she stops running, looking at Luigi who begins to trail off, following the traces of the ghost. "I know, but boo's aren't all made of ectoplasm either," Luigi says, coming to an end as he sees the trail leading down a pitch black staircase into what probably is a basement. "Not a smart idea to go down there, it'll only give you an everlasting nightmare. Those ponies who venture into this castle and go down those stairs never come back" Zecora says, feeling quite worried about the sudden braveness from what seemed to be the most easily scared person in the world next to Fluttershy. "I'll do anything for my bro, and either way, me and him defeated the embodyment of Nightmares once." Luigi says as he hesitates to go down the staircase, but is filled with braveness as he thinks about all the other times he has gone ghost hunting. "Your stubborness is surprising, but to be sure that you'll be okay you have me to bring," Zecora says as she follows behind Luigi as they both slowly walk down the staircase. But Zecora's guts twist in place as she hears the pipe organ play again and tries to grab onto Luigi to pull him up but he doesn't stop walking and suddenly the stairs turns and the flat surface is where they were standing moments before. They both release a complaining sigh and falls, quickly sliding down the stairs as they soon hit the floor of the basement very hard, Luigi taking all the impact of course. "Don't say I didn't warn you," Zecora says, grunting as she steps up and tries to fix her bruised fur. "Imma sorry for that, Zecora," Luigi says, rubbing his head as he stands up. The two look around the room and notice that it doesn't look like a basement or part of the castle actually, the ground is moist and made of some black kind of organic chitin, a green glowing source also lights up the whole room, even up in the roof hanging green lamps illuminate the room and even on the floor infront of them, green orbs are laying everywhere in the room, covering most of the surface. The two give eachother a glance and then looks forward again with uncertainty. "This doesn't remind me of any ghosts I've ever seen before," Luigi says, taking a step forward into the chamber, being careful not to touch any of the green orbs. Zecora only stands still and stares, she knows this is very familiar, and it is not ghost related. As she continues to ponder, she hears a very loud thud as her focus changes to Luigi who looks to have tripped over something and landed on one of the green orbs which has begun to glow ominously. Just as she looks at the lamps hanging from the ceiling she notices that they are green pods containing pony bodies and in the middle of the chamber a big green orb is positioned, looking more like an egg. That's when she realises what they've stumbled into, a changeling nest! "Luigi, we have to hide, quickly!" Zecora says, her poethic voice changing into that of a very shaky and distressed voice. Luigi quickly rises up and accidently backs up into another orb and it begins to glow, he quickly starts to panic and runs over to Zecora, touching about 13 more of the green orbs on his way back. The two hide behind a corner, peeking through a small hole in the insect-like structured wall. "What's happening, Zecora?" Luigi whispers, looking at Zecora who's expression has freezed into someone who has just seen a ghost, her face turning pale with each moment. "Those are changeling eggs, the changelings are a long lost enemy and I thought they would never return..." Zecora whispers back, having completely abandoned the rhyming in this moment as she looks through the hole. Suddenly the first egg that Luigi touched begins changing shape into a pony shape, the features of the changeling becoming visible almost immediately. It looks around the chamber and uses it's horn to scan the chamber, but luckily Luigi and Zecora are standing outside. It stands still for a second before sniffing on the ground, tracing up Luigi's unfamiliar human scent. It doesn't know what creature it is and only get's more curious as it begins to follow the trace. Luigi quickly prepares a small spark in his hand as the changeling approaches, fearing the worst. They hear the clicking sound of the changeling's insectoid legs getting closer and closer until they can even hear it breathing just around the corner. Luigi closes his eyes and quickly fires away the lightning bolt he summoned in his hand, electrifying the creature as it begins to shriek until it drops to the floor and evaporates into simple green dust. "What just happened?" Luigi asks, looking at Zecora. "You, you defeated a changeling," Zecora says, looking at Luigi in awe. "But we have to find a way out, I think I can see a door on the opposite side of the room, the question is to get there." "We just have to be really careful and not be clumsy, like me... hehe," Luigi says, pulling on the neck of his green overall, chuckling nervously. "Follow me," Zecora says and takes the lead, quickly running into the open as she then realises that Luigi didn't just stumble over one egg, but it's too late as the thirteen eggs that Luigi touched transform into changelings and glare at the two, but instead of attacking they all just stand there and glare. "I. Just. Wanna. Go. Home!" Luigi says to himself, following after Zecora as they walk along the wall, pressing themselves desperately against the wall behind them to not accidently awaken even more changelings. Suddenly as Luigi and Zecora cast a glance over to the thirteen changelings they see the changelings transform into a perfect replica of Luigi and they all grin, running around as they touch every changeling egg possible. "RUN!" Zecora shouts back at Luigi as she begins running, ignoring that she accidently touches many eggs all the while. "HOW DID THEY DO THAT?!" Luigi shouts as he runs for his life, running past Zecora in just a few seconds as he keeps running forward to the opposite side. Suddenly the whole room gets illuminated by a strong green light as almost every orb transform into the changeling form, including the massive egg. Zecora and Luigi starts to run as if they we're being chased by a black hole and finally reached the door, but just as they did the slender insectoid form of the changeling queen, Chrysalis, landed before them. "Welcome to my egg chamber," The queen says, her voice sounding demented and as if it were hundred voices in one. "Who is that, Zecora?" Luigi whispers into Zecora's equine ear and takes a step back. "Oh, but I am the lovely queen Chrysalis! And infact, when I said lovely I meant literally lovely. I can already tell that you're a promising specimen just filled with passion," Chrysalis says before Zecora has the chance to open her mouth, she has a sly smirk on her face and gets dangerously close to Zecora and Luigi as she begins to slowly circle them. Soon many other changelings appear on the sides and surrounds them as well. "You're the one who controls the ghosts?" Luigi says naively, looking at Chrysalis. "Ghosts? What are you talking about? Do these really look like ghosts?" Chrysalis says, looking a bit dumbfounded as she looks over to her beloved changelings. "Clearly not her at least..." Luigi mumbles to himself, looking at Chrysalis as she gets even closer, invading their personal space. "What kind of species are you, green creature with an 'L' on his hat? I think I've never seen something so tasty, just let me take a look!" Chrysalis says as she grins and puts her horn against Luigi's forehead, activating her magic as she goes deep into Luigi's mind, extracting all information and memories of his life, even ones he can't remember. Luigi's face goes slack as Chrysalis continues her magic on his head, before finally stopping and taking some steps back. "Yes! YES! That Princess Peach is the key to ruling Equestria! Her everlasting power of love surprises me, even stronger than that of Princess Cadance," Chrysalis says as she her tongue lolls out of her mouth as she begins to drool of the taste sample of the love from Princess Peach. Luigi slightly nudges Zecora and points at the open door, slowly gliding backwards as Chrysalis and the other changelings who probably share the same hive mind by the looks of it is in their own world. They finally reach the door and they both leap forward through the opening, slamming the door shut as Luigi fetches a nearby chair and puts it against the door. "This is bad! I gotta find the princess, and Mario!" Luigi says, hearing the confused sounds of the changelings on the other side of the door. "Hmm, if Chrysalis gets enough power to rule Equestria it'll only end bad, but the loss of your friends is really sad. We'll have to find them, before this turns into total mayhem! Though, the best way to find them would be to ask a certain Alicorn." Zecora says, using her more relaxed and poethic voice again as she looks at Luigi. "Alicorn? What's that?" Luigi says, looking around the dust covered old room, seeing a staircase in the right corner. "In time, you will understand," Zecora says, taking the lead as she walks towards the stairs. "But that'll have to wait until morning, we still need some new energy after that little adventure." The two of them ventured out of the castle, though they didn't notice that some angry and vengeful ghosts were hot on their heels... A real Nightmare Night awaited them. The swirling blue neon light of the portal illuminated the dark night in the Mushroom Kingdom. Bowser stood proudly upon a mobile throne with properly arranged Koopa elite forces standing in two lines behind him, these were equipped and combat ready Koopas though, they had plating over places where their shell couldn't protect them and they all carried spears. Bowser chuckled menacingly and slowly got off his throne, looking at Bowser Junior as he approaches. "Son! Take over the Mushroom Kingdom for me, and see to that this portal is open for two days straight, you hear me? Two days straight! We want to get in and we're gonna return, with the princess," Bowser says, crouching down as he tries to be at eye level with his son. "Just call upon us for reinforcements, daddy. I'd be happy to oblige," Bowser Junior says, bowing down as he looks up at Bowser, seeing a wide warmhearted smile on the big Koopa's face. "You're shaping up to be just like me, act nice and you might even get your own kingdom to rule over one day," Bowser says as he rubs the little tuft of hair on Bowser Junior's head before standing up again and walking over to the portal. "Minions! Today we gather, because we are tired of being beaten, over and over and over again. Today we gather, because we must fulfill our destiny. Some may fall, some may stand, some may even get remembered in Koopa history. You're all loyal servants to Bowser, me. But in choosing that trust in me, I must give what I have promised back to you all. So let's do this once and for all, let's do this... for Peach!" Bowser says, facing the army he is going to use to invade the unknown dimension, they are all cheering for him and some are even crying in joy. "We have been kicked around as shells for far too long, it's about time, that those plumbers get their own pipes handed to them!" Bowser shouts as he quickly turns around and is about to enter the portal when Bowser Junior runs infront of it and holds his arms out. "Papa! Let me take care of Peach! I know I have failed you so many times before, but I want to prove to you, that I am truly your son. Just let me have a chance with the airship armada, and if that doesn't work. I'll give you the pleasure to do your worst to break those red and green monsters," Bowser Junior said as he looked up at Bowser with a proud stance, trying not to fall backwards into the portal as he was standing on the ledge. "Junior, you know what? You've enthusiasm is actually quite convincing, though I'm not staying here this time. So what I propose to you is instead an offer to come with me and we'll do this together, father and son. Heck, I might as well bring Kamek with us incase something happens, am I right?" Bowser says as he chuckles and lifts up his son a bit carefully and puts him ontop of his head. "Well, who is gonna be in charge then?" Bowser Junior says as he grabs onto Bowser's horns to keep steady on his head. "I'll leave that to the Koopalings, they'll find a way to keep it organized... I hope. Now! Forward until we find those wretched 'heroes'! You know, the plague won't disappear by itself," Bowser says as he quickly jumps down into the blue swirling portal, followed by the marching elite Koopa army who were ready to hunt down the ones who has killed many dear friends to them. Episode 1-4 "Reunion" The night of Nightmare Night had finally arrived, and this year had been guaranteed to be the most haunted one yet, their predictions were soon to come true Luigi and Zecora walked out of the haunted Everfree forest and yawned as they entered the small dirt path that led to Ponyville, they had gotten lost while walking through the Everfree forest and they saw that the night was soon upon them yet again. Zecora looked at Luigi who was struggling to not fall asleep, and she could see his willpower fading away each and every second. She couldn't blame him though as she also felt like just dropping to the ground and taking a five minute rest just to get some replenished energy, but she had to get to Twilight's library, and they were so close now. Suddenly she hears Luigi's heavy body slump to the ground, followed by a long series of snoring. She turns around and lifts him up onto her back as she gathers the last of her energy and walks over to Ponyville, hearing the omnious laughing of ghosts. Nightmare Night had begun... "Mario!" Mario heard as he was awoken from his deep slumber, he had fallen asleep on the chair while he had waited for whatever they were waiting for. He opened his eyes and saw that Peach was just about to give him a slap for not waking up, sometimes he considers himself lucky not to be as stubborn with sleeping as Luigi is. He got off the chair and stood up, looking around the basement, seeing that Twilight and that other pink pony Pinkie Pie was gone. "What is it, Princess?" Mario said, looking at Peach. "Twilight told me to wake you up, Nightmare Night has just begun. It's pretty much just Halloween, some kids just came by and trick or treated and told me I had a very spooky outfit," Peach said as she made a grumpy sigh. "You, spooky? Where are-a they?! I'll-a make them get the Bowser treatment!" Mario said as his Italian temperament started rising, his face red with anger. "Calm down, Mario. They're just kids after all, and I suppose they're not used to creatures like us," Peach said as she laid a hand upon Mario's left shoulder, trying to calm him down. "Huh, true I suppose. But I'm-a not gonna let you get disgraced like that again!" Mario said as he straightened his back and tried to look like a gentleman. "You two coming or not?!" A somewhat impatient Twilight shouted from upstairs, Mario and Peach looked at eachother and chuckled as they turned towards the stairs and walked up. "Sorry for delaying, Princess Twilight. But we're here now, so ready to go?" Peach said as she got up from the stairs and looked at Twilight who was fixing some sort of suit that looked like a Magikoopa but with a long white beard. "Hang on a second, just fixing my Starswirl The Bearded costume, he was the greatest unicorn ever to be born, almost as strong with his magical powers as an Alicorn," Twilight said as she stood infront of a mirror and properly arranged her fake beard. "We'll have to team up with the others and my personal assistant Spike on the way to the train station, they said they also wanted to come with us." "The others?" Mario said as he looked at Twilight and raised an eyebrow. "Yes, the best friends one could imagine, we have Applejack, who's the most reliable and honest pony you could think of. Then we have Fluttershy who's the kindest pony alive, Rainbow Dash, the most loyal and athletic pony around, though her ego can sometimes drive one insane she has gotten a lot better since I first met her. Then we have Rarity, who's the most generous of the bunch besides Fluttershy and a very nice pony to talk to if you're interested in 'girly' stuff. And you two already know Pinkie Pie of course," Twilight said as she fixed the last details to her Starswirl costume. "It'll be a pleasure to get to meet your friends, Twilight. They sound like wonderful peop- ponies," Peach said as she smiled and looked at Twilight as the purple pony turned around and walked towards the door. "Then let us not waste anymore time around here, you two already look properly prepared for a Nightmare Night so let's go everypony!" Twilight said as she was about to open the door to the outside world, but as someone knocked on the door she sighed and opened it slowly, prepared to face some small trick or treaters. But what she saw was a pleasant surprise, outside the door stood Zecora, she carried a human on her back from the looks of it that looked like Mario but was taller and had a green overall and green cap instead of red clothes. "Ah, Zecora. So good to see you here, but aren't you supposed to show the small fillies and colts the yearly tradition of offering candy to Nightmare Moon in like, one hour?" "That doesn't matter Twilight, I have both bad news and good news this haunted night," Zecora said as she slowly staggered into the library, her eyes almost half lidded as she tried to stay awake. Mario couldn't believe his eyes as the weird striped pony came walking in, she was carrying his beloved brother! Without thinking he ran forward and hugged both Zecora and the sleeping Luigi. "Ah! Lugi! I missed-a you so much!" Zecora looked at Mario and her eyes widened in surprise as he started hugging her and the deadweight on her back. "Hm, You are Mario perhaps? You and this tired big thing on my back wears almost the same caps." "Yes, I'm-a Mario! Luigi is-a my only bro, and I got-a so worried when he-a didn't land at the same place as-a me and-a Princess Peach while going through that portal. Thank you so-a much for finding him," Mario said as he kept hugging both Zecora and Luigi, turning his head to look to face Zecora. Luigi slowly woke up as he felt the strong familiar arms hugging him tight and opened his eyes, yawning as he looked at Mario but then jumped off Zecora's back while still hugging Mario. "Mario! I was so scared! I thought I was going to be separated from you forever!" He shouted as he began crying in joy, his tears raining down onto the floor. Twilight and Peach observed the family reunion from the other side of the room as they exchanged a giggle before turning serious as Zecora pushed her way out of the hug and walked over to them. "Twilight, the Changelings are about to return and they are seeking out a certain Princess Peach to rebuild their might," Zecora said as she looked at Twilight with a worried expression. "The Changelings want Princess Peach?! But she's right here, we were just about to catch the night train to Canterlot to find Luigi, but it seems he has found us instead," Twilight said as she pointed towards Peach, starting to panic as memories from the Canterlot wedding starts to pop up in her head. "Then Canterlot would be the best move either way, Celestia can provide protection as you all enjoy your stay," Zecora said with a smile, the lack of sleep starting to catch up on her again as she takes a few steps back and relaxes against the wall. "Are you okay, Zecora? You look very tired, you sure you're gonna be able to hold out the night with the small fillies and colts?" Twilight said with a concerned voice as she laid her hoof on Zecora's shoulder. "Yes, a little rest is all that is needed I guess," Zecora said as she shut her eyes and lets out a sigh. "Okay, Mario, Luigi, Peach. You all ready for your first Nightmare Night?" Twilight said, patting Zecora on her head before turning around and looking at all the three humans. "Let's-a go!" Mario said, doing a heroic pose next to Luigi. "Okiee dokiee!" Luigi said, striking a heroic pose but almost stumbling over himself as he fails to look as good as Mario. "It's nice to see you two reunited again, and let's give these changelings something to remember if they happen to get in our way," Peach said with a somewhat mischievous smirk, ready to head to the place called Canterlot. Chapter 1 - The Nightmare Night Arc FINALE - Part 1 One hour before midnight Twilight opened the door and walked outside, followed by Luigi, Mario and Peach. But Luigi clinged onto Mario as he saw that the streets were filled with hideous ghosts and monsters, Mario himself even felt uneasy about this and grabbed Peach's hand as he continued to walk after Twilight. Twilight sighed as she looked back at the two brothers and stopped walking as she turned around. "You do know these are just young ponies and some adults, they're just dressed up because that is a tradition. No need to look like two chickens amongst one hundred foxes." "Ooooh, heehee. Sorry for that, Twilight," Luigi said as he rubbed the back of his head in shame and chuckled nervously, letting go of Mario as they continued to head towards the place they were going to meet up with Twilight's other friends. They continued walking, but something caught Luigi's interest as he stopped by an enormous tent that had a sign saying that they were giving out "ghost busting" vacuum cleaners as a price for winning a contest, without thinking he quickly walked into the tent, leaving his friends behind. Though as he entered it, iron bars went up and sealed the entrance behind him. It didn't help that the inside of the tent was completely dark and he couldn't see a thing. He instinctively grabbed his flashlight and charged it up as he pressed the button and illuminated most of the tent. It looked like any other circus tent, though it had a bit of an eriee atmosphere in it's own way, with the brightly coloured checkered pattern on the wall combined with the silent and empty room. Though suddenly Luigi heard a distorted music box starting to play a repetitive spooky tune. "Welcome, Luigi! To the haunted carnival of DOOM! Teehee, this contest is all about good ol' fun. And the price is something from your memories, in this case, a Poltergust 5000 straight from your dimension. Now, the rules are simply: don't make it boring!" a mischievous voice echoed throughout the tent and suddenly Luigi heard the familiar evil laughs that come only from one thing; a boo. He turned around and dropped his flashlight on the floor as he stood face to face to a big boo, it had razor sharp teeth and a long tongue that hanged all the way down to the sandy floor of the tent. "Mama Mia! M-Mario! Help me!" Luigi shouted as he dove down and grabbed his flashlight and quickly crawled away as the big boo started chasing him. "We should be there quite soon, let's just hope none of them arrive late," Twilight said as she turned at a corner and walked into another crowded streetway full with ponies enjoying their night. "Twilight, just how are these friends of yours?" Peach asked as she walked up next to Twilight. "Well, that'd be easy to explain. First off we have Applejack, you can always depend on her if anything goes wrong and she's a very good friend, but her stubbornness and dedication to her own pride can be quite a pain in the rear some time. Fluttershy is quite self explanatory, she's shy, but also the kindest pony I can think of. Then we have Rarity, who is very generous but mostly just cares about fashion and being popular, and when she gets to see you I bet she'll freak out because you're a princess. Rainbow Dash is very loyal, and she's very athletic and suffers from her big ego sometimes, but once you get to know her she can surprise you sometimes with what she is capable of, and that's not just within the athletic area. And you already know Pinkie Pie of course," Twilight said whilst walking through the crowd and looking at Peach, Mario didn't care to listen, he was more concerned just to get his damsel in a safe place before anything would happen to her, it'd be a pain if he had to do the usual thing and rescue her from some bad guy with a castle. Suddenly they turned into a alleyway and standing before them in a ring were six ponies and a small purple reptile thing, Peach and Mario guessed they were Twilight's friends. "Hello there girls... -and Spike. Glad you could all make in time! So up for some planning?" Twilight said as she walked up to her friends and looked at them, but they weren't looking at her, they were busy inspecting the weird creatures standing on two legs. "What in tha whole tarnation are those things?" an orange pony wearing a cowboy hat said, looking at Peach and Mario. "Well, it's-a me! Mario!" Mario shouted as he made a small jump into the air with his fist punching upwards. "Oh, and I'm princess peach," Peach said calmly and smiled, looking at all the ponies. "They're some kind of mutant ponies from a different universe, they came here in some weird alien portal and now they're stranded, isn't it the coolest thing ever you guys?! AM I RIGHT?" Pinkie said as she bounced around in excitement before stopping to a halt next to Mario only to wrap a hoof around his shoulder. "Uh, I don't know, Pinkie. They look kind of off... like, they have no fur, but that princess has a mane and that weird thing has a moustache," Rainbow Dash said as she raised an eyebrow and kept looking at the two weird creatures. "Don't worry, Rainbow. They're humans from another dimension, they fled here because they got ambushed by some evil army and got stranded here and they have no clue of how to come back, and now Queen Chrysalis has returned and is going to stop at nothing to retrieve the princess," Twilight said as she looked back at Peach and Mario, suddenly noticing that the green brother was not there, her mouth fell agape and her eyes enlarged in shock. "You! Princess! Haven't you noticed how bruised your dress is?! I mean, darling, it could need some serious refining, a princess can't look like they just came out of battle, it's so unladylike. Luckily for you, I just happen to own a dress store!" a white pony Peach assumed to be Rarity said as she walked up to her and started to grab a bit of the dress and inspect it. "Thank you, uh, Rarity? But maybe that'll have to wa-" Peach was about to say before Twilight ran towards Mario and took a hold of his shoulders and started to shake his whole body. "LUIGI IS GONE! WHERE IS HE?!" Twilight said in panic as she looked Mario in the eyes. "What?! But he-a was walking next to-a me all the time! He can't be gone!" Mario said as he pushed Twilight away a bit and turned around to look for Luigi who was nowhere to be found. "You're supposed to be his brother, right?! WELL! You go find him, show some respect for your brother who probably went through Tartarus to get reunited with you again!" Twilight shouted as she looked at Mario who sighed in shame and frowned. "I'll-a be back, Twilight. You take-a care of-a Peach, alright?" Mario said as he turned around and looked back at Twilight over his shoulder. "We're not going anywhere until he is back, so we'll take care of her." Twilight said as she grunted in irritation. "Well, I guess a delay was bound to happen sometime." "Having fun, green man? Sure looks like it, tee hee! Well, what are your thoughts on this Carnival of Doom so far?" that same taunting voice echoed throughout the tent as Luigi kept running away from the giant boo, it was just something about it that sounded so menacing but still joyful and unserious. "Stop it, please! I can't take anymore!" Luigi shouted as he stumbled forwards and landed on the ground, turning around as he suddenly remembered that he can stun the ghost with his flashlight. Without wasting more time he charged it up and then turned it on, flashing the ghost and stunning it. "Oooh? You can fight back? That was a surprise! Maybe you don't need that vacuum cleaner after all! Haha!" the voice said again. "Hey! That's-a my price! You can't-a take it away, that'd-a just be dishonest!" Luigi shouted as he growled and put the flashlight in his pocket as he began charging up some electricity in his hand before swinging with his hand and launching the thunder bolt away at the Boo, making the boo vaporize into thin air with a loud shirek. "Oh, how amusing! You humans can use magic too?" the voice said as a sudden sparkle coming from behind him lit up the whole room, as Luigi turned around he saw something unlike anything he had seen before. It was a long serpentine-formed creature of some kind with body parts of several different animals, his head being that of a goat with antlers. "Who are you?" Luigi said, studying the creature even closer. "Well, what am I? I'm everything, I'm chaos. But specifically I'm, Discord." the creature said, slowly starting to walk around Luigi in circles. "So your name is Discord, or?" Luigi said as he looked up at the weird thing. "Yes, yes. Last I checked I am Discord, but that won't be necessary to remember as the only thing I want from you is to sate my thirst for chaos. Have you ever wondered what hundreds of Luigi's would be to the whole world? Utter chaos. You're even more chaotic than me sometimes, your unpredictable clumsiness or your comedic attempts at trying to be your brother always ends poorly for everyone and everything. Your family and friends has a tough time with only one of you, so just imagine, a hundred Luigi's..." Discord said as he started stroking his beard with his talons. "Well, as long as I get my-a Poltergust and can get-a back to my brother I won't mind anything," Luigi said naively as he looked as Discord. "Oh, you'll get that, but first... the last challenge for you, beat my army of Luigi's! Gwahahaha!" Discord said as he snapped his fingers and the whole tent suddenly got filled with many, many, many Luigi's. Almost enough to fill the complete floor. "He's-a not doing that-a alone," Mario said as he suddenly entered the tent, holding the hammer he used to smash through the door that was blocked with iron bars. "Haha! Welcome to the show, now I suppose these green people of doom shall show you two the way out!" Discord said as he snapped his fingers and summoned a chair from out of nowhere and made it levitate up into the air while he flew over to it and sat down, watching the show from up high. "WAAAHOOOO!" the Luigi's shouted in unison as they all started glowing like dreamy Luigi's and started to gather in a formation, ready to defeat Mario and Luigi. "Mario! What are we gonna do! WAAAA! I DON'T WANT TO DO THIS! I CAN'T TAKE IT!" Luigi began shouting as he cowardly crouched and pulled his cap over his face. Mario looked at Luigi and then looked at all the other Luigi's who seemed to be glowing with some weird green magic he has seen before, remembering their past adventures he suddenly came up with an idea and nodded to himself. He dropped his hammer and suddenly ran forward as he spread his arms as far as he could and stopped infront of the formation of Luigi's. "Stop! It's-a me, right? Mario, your bro! You cannot-a hurt-a me!" Mario said as he bravely stood his ground, what he was about to do was something very risky. These were all dreamy Luigi's, he could see it as clear as day. Luigi just had to realise as well if Mario himself was going to survive... because he knew words was not in the slightest going to stop these Luigi's. And as expected, all Luigi's brought out their hammers and jumped on Mario as they began beating him up. Luigi pulled down his cap even more as he heard the painful grunts from his brother getting beaten down by all of the Luigi clones, this was it, the moment where the Mario bros. got erased from existence, all was so hopeless. After Mario they'd jump on him and defeat him, but he couldn't do anything to escape this fate... it was all so hopeless, and he was so scared... so scared... so hopeless... but Mario needed help, yes. His bro was in danger! Mario was about to die, nobody can beat down the Mario bros and get away with it unharmed. After all, they were the Mario bros! "YOU LEAVE MY BRO ALONE!" Luigi shouted in sudden braveness as he suddenly began glowing, the clones starting to glow the same way as they stopped in place and they started to turn really transparent before slowly being drawn towards Luigi's cap, making him slowly grow in size. Giant Luigi was slowly making his return, and this time it wasn't just a dream. Discord's chin comically fell down on the base of the levitating chair and he stared in awe as all the cloned Luigi's were absorbed into the real Luigi, only making him grow even more in size, soon big enough to tear through the roof of the insanely large circus tent. "HOW DID THAT HAPPEN! The humans know magic! GAAAH!" Discord said as he began panicking, looking up at the huge monstrosity as Luigi lifted up the whole tent and threw it away towards the horizon, it was time for some good ol' revenge. "Luigi Time!" Luigi shouted as crouched down and lifted up the bruised Mario and carefully put him on top of his giant cap. "Well, uh, two can play that game!" Discord said as he smirked and snapped his finger, summoning hundreds of Discords as he absorbed them into himself and began growing as big as the giant Luigi. "You're at least giving me the amusement of a real challenge, I really like you! Just don't be surprised if I end up ending our little friendship~!" Luigi smiled heroically and ran up to Discord, grabbing his now giant hammer as he began swinging it from the ground and upwards, hitting Discord's chin and sending him flying backwards. All the ponies around the town began screaming and distanced themselves as much as they could so they wouldn't be hit by the enormous creatures. The mane six turned around, looking at where the sudden sounds of shouts and screams were coming from and they all put up a shocked expression as they saw the giant human with blue and green overalls duking it out with the god of chaos, Discord. "Looks like we'll have to be delayed for an even longer time, come on girls, We have to stop Discord from destroying the town! Peach, you stay with Spike, I'll handle this!" Twilight said as she sighed in slight frustration, beginning to run towards the giant guys. "Why do I have to stay, Twilight?!" Spike shouted as he looked at Twilight but she and the others were far too gone by now, leaving only him and Princess Peach left. "Don't worry, little guy. I'm sure she just wants the best for you," Peach said in her soft voice as she smiled at Spike and crouched slightly as she patted him on the head before sitting down on a bench in the alleyway. "Yeah, but she doesn't know what's best for me, or what I want. She's always jumping to conclusions without asking others, she may be the element of magic and extremely intelligent, but she doesn't think of what others may want before she does anything." Spike said, walking over to Peach as he sits down next to her. "Maybe you should tell that to her, make her understand your feelings. It can only bring forth something good," Peach said as she smiled at Spike. "Uh, maybe I should. I bet you're a great princess back in the place you were before. You seem like a kind ruler and someone who knows what they're doing," Spike said as he looked up at Peach, her gentle figure really fitting that of a princess. "Thank you, but I'm actually not the one who rules the place where I live, that would be King Toadstool, he's a bit old but he still manages to do his work. And either way, I'm too big of a target of being the ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom where we live, a giant old reptile named Bowser keeps kidnapping me and so the kingdom would be in chaos if I was the one who ruled it," Peach said as she sighed but suddenly, both Peach and Spike closed their eyes and covered them with their hands as a bright blue sparkling light appeared on the wall infront of them, a big blue portal opening up very quickly. When the light shining from the portal started to shine less, both Peach and Spike uncovered their eyes again and stared at it in wonder, the swirling blue neon light looked like a shining pool of water on the wall. Peach realised this was probably E.gadd who had finally managed to open the portal again and escaped Bowser's invading army. "We're saved! I have to tell Mario!" Peach exclaimed as she pushed herself off the bench and began hopping in glee, almost forgetting about Spike still sitting on the bench. "Wait, what? How does this mysterious thing imply that you're saved?" Spike said, scratching his head but gasping in panic a moment after as suddenly a giant clawed fist reached out of the portal and slammed into the side of the wall followed by another fist slamming to the other side of the wall right after. "Well, it's the same portal that E.gadd used to send us here. Seems he opened it up for us yet again, oh, I can't wait to return to the Mushroom Kingdom!" Peach said, seeming oblivious to what's happening behind her as Bowser slowly pushes himself through the portal. Spike watched in horror as the very tall dragon-like creature stepped out of the portal, it set its eyes on Peach and it grinned very menacingly as it stood there, then it lifted its hands up in the air in an attempt that looked like it was about to kidnap her. Spike soon realised that this must've been that Bowser she talked about and rose up from the bench as he ran forward and pushed Peach to the side as Bowser suddenly reached down and swing with his open fist, capturing Spike in his grip instead of his target. "Bowser?! Oh no!" Peach shouted, freezing in place as Bowser looked in his hand comically and saw that he was holding a small purple fat dragon instead. "You're not escaping me this time, princess!" Bowser said as he threw Spike into the wall mercilessly and grinned as Bowser Junior came through the portal with the clown car, followed by the Elite Koopa's. "Mario may not be here right now, but I know full well since last time when you invaded the Sprixie Kingdom that you're still just a big whimp!" Peach said as she took a brave stance and pulled out her umbrella, holding it over her shoulder like a baseball bat. "Grahahaha! That time you were not alone, but I was. This time we've got you outnumbered like every other time you got kidnapped so, minions, attack!" Bowser said in his growly angry voice and pointed towards Peach as he gave off the signal to attack, the Elite Koopa's immediately running forward with Bowser Junior in the lead on his clown car. Peach gulped in fear and instead turned around and began running as fast as she could through the streets, the ponies had at least left the streets since Luigi became giant. Maybe that was a way to save herself, try to trick Bowser's minions to accidently stumble into giant Luigi so he could crush them? Yeah, that would work. Peach turned to another streetway and looked up in the sky to see the two giant creatures still fighting but they were quite far away but she had to make it or else she would be kidnapped for sure! But she suddenly heard the sound of an engine and wheels accelerating very fast and looked over shoulder in time to see Bowser Junior soon to ram into her with the clown car which had suddenly developed wheels, she jumped up high into the air as Bowser Junior suddenly passed under her, she sighed in relief and kept floating in the air a while longer before she couldn't stay airborne anymore and landed firmly, quickly turning into another streetway. But things seemed to darken for her as Bowser suddenly landed infront of her, crushing the ground beneath him with his heavy body. He grinned as he began walking slowly forwards. Peach tried backing away but as she looked over her shoulder she noticed that the Elite Koopa's had catched up and were just some steps away from her. And before she knew it she was lifted up into the air by two big claws. "A futile attempt, but at least you got this far, yeah?" Bowser said with a somewhat bragging tone in his voice, looking quite proud for the moment as he snapped his fingers, making Kamek appear right behind him. "Why don't you go ahead Kamek and give this cute little princess a fitting home, yes?" Bowser said as he smirked in evil towards Peach as Kamek floated above her and wafted with his spell as it began glowing and before she knew it she was trapped in a pink cage with a red ribbon ontop. "Bowser! Let me go! In the end, you'll only regret this!" Peach said as she tried to shake the almost indestructible bars of the cage. "Am I? Well, tell me why, my future wife." Bowser said as he chuckled, looking down at his new catch. "Well, Mario and Luigi are going to send you flying up so high that you'll be sent back to the Mushroom Kingdom and I'll be rescued, as always." Peach said as she made a serious expression, but she felt so tiny and a bit scared in the presence of the big Koopa king, Bowser. "Is that so? Grahaha! You underestimate my plans this time, princess Peach. They won't even know that you're gone, I'll just return to the Mushroom Kingdom with you and my army and leave them here to rot!" Bowser said as he growled and suddenly lifted up the cage and began walking through the streets back to the alleyway. "Hey, papa. Have I done a good job not screwing up the attack?" Bowser Junior said as he levitated in his clown car next to Bowser. "An excellent job, if you weren't here she wouldn't have made that turn so I could block her. But you still screwed up in claiming the actual prize for yourself. You'll have to work on that if you are to become an independent Koopa like me, got it, son?" Bowser said as he patted his son on the head with his free hand. "Yay! I did a good job for once! Thank you, dad!" Bowser Junior said and smiled, before lowering himself to hover next to Peach's cage. "Next time, you'll have to watch out for me, lil' princess." He said and then returned to his former position as the commander over the Elite Koopa's. They walked for a while before they entered the alleyway and saw that the portal was gone, Peach looked up at Bowser who looked dumbfounded for the moment but then he began turning completely red as he put down the cage and took some heavy steps forward, clenching his fists. "E.gaaaaaaadd! You're going to be dead when I finally return! Gwwwwaaaaaaaaaaargh!" Bowser roared as magma slowly dribbled out of his jaw, he suddenly roared again and a long stream of fire ascended into the air and created a rain of fire around the town, everything slowly began to burn because every building is made out of hay and wood. Bowser didn't care though, he looked very angry and he could probably crush his owns minions to relieve that anger but he chose not to. "Papa, what are we going to do now? Mario and Luigi are going to return at least sometime, we have to secure the princess somehow!" Bowser Junior said as he looked at Peach in the cage and then looked at Bowser. "We'll build a castle, or take over one, yes. That's it. We'll just build a castle, and watch it get destroyed by those damn plumbers again! Gaaah! No! Why did he have to betray us?! We are doomed, Junior, doomed!" Bowser said as he got angrier and angrier, punching the wall where the portal last appeared. "But dad, look over there in the distance! It's a castle, we can just use our army to take over it and store the princess over there, build up our defences and all that!" Junior said as he pointed towards the mountains in the horizon, where a big white castle was positioned right on the cliffside of it. "Yeah, you're right. It looks ideal for an evil fortress. Ha ha! You're a genious, son, but we won't use brute force... hehehe..." Bowser said as he began rubbing his fists together menacingly chuckling all the while. Peach gulped in fear of what's to come... she hoped that Luigi and Mario would return and rescue her... but they were so far away... But a heroic baby dragon knew what had happened, and he still knew what was happening in the moment. He was going to be the key to her rescue. He just had to wait for Twilight, and then everything would be okay... Chapter 1 - The Nightmare Night Arc FINALE - Part 2 Midnight... "Haha, this is fun, isn't it, Luigi?" Discord said while chuckling, stepping away from Luigi's attempt to slam the massive hammer on him. Though as Discord took another step backwards he stepped on a house and lost his footing, falling backwards and landing into a huge cluster of empty houses since the ponies had all escaped to the edge of the Everfree Forest by now. "Yeah!" Luigi said while smirking, putting away his hammer as he crouched down and started building up a super jump. When he was finished with building it up he sprang up like a trampoline and then in midair he dove down with his boots aimed at Discord's head on the ground. Luigi landed with a loud 'boom' and took a boost from Discord's head to perform yet another jump, doing a backflip in the air before finally landing on Discord's head again and then taking another boost as he jumped off and landed safely on an open streetway, picking up his hammer as he waited for Discord to make his move. "Ouch! That hurt! You do this all the time?" Discord said as he rubbed his head and felt a bit dizzy, the impact from Luigi's boots had really shaken things up in his head. But he sighed and suddenly flew forward as he quickly wrapped around Luigi like a snake, forcing Luigi to drop his hammer in the process. "Wah! Mario! Get him off me!" Luigi shouted as Discord started to squeeze his body, hugging it almost so tight so he couldn't breathe. Mario, still on Luigi's cap, jumped off it and grabbed his hammer, landing on the head of the giant Discord. Mario held a firm grip on his hammer as he lifted it into the air and then slammed it down on a swollen spot on Discord's head, with an agonizing shout from Discord, Mario quickly jumped up on Luigi's cap again and sat down as he saw Discord retract and crawl away. "Gah! That hurt even more! Well, as the god of chaos I should still be able to prevent you from winning that prize. You know, this is my game! I should be the best at it!" Discord said as he chuckled pathetically and snapped with his talons, making two giant Discord's appear next to him. Luigi stood his ground and picked up his hammer once again, running forward as he began spinning around, holding his hammer with two arms as he lifted it up, spinning so fast now that he began to lift from the ground like a helicopter. He ascended quite high into the air and then lifted up his hammer over his head while still spinning as he began falling down similiar to that of a massive drill on one of the Discord clones, the impact being so powerful that the giant clone started exploding in some sort of multi coloured magic, and as Luigi jumped off he threw away the spinning hammer at the other clone, the hammer hitting the fake Discord's face with a loud 'bang' as it fell backwards and started exploding as well. "No! Do you know how much magic it took for me to create those?! Grrr! The game is over for you, because you're going down for real!" Discord said as he growled, actually frowning now as he glared at Luigi. "It's on, like-a Luigi!" Luigi said as he grinned, anticipating Discord's move as held his hammer low, waiting for the trickster to just come forward and try something. "Take this!" Discord shouted as he snapped with his talons, thousands of birds appearing right behind Luigi as they began diving down against him from the air. "Waah!" Luigi shouted as he made a comical panicked expression and started running away from the birds as quickly as he could, trying not to destroy any houses in the meantime. The birds were right behind him now and he began making a slow U turn while running and soon he found himself facing Discord again and kept running, he was practically smiling now instead as he had finally come up with a plan. He kept running and as he was very close to Discord he leaped up into the air and went over Discord's head, landing behind him as all the birds crashed into Discord instead, attacking the draconequus furiously as they began pecking him with their tiny beaks. "Get off me you pesky small things!" Discord said as he snapped his talons yet again and made them disappear, turning around and growling in annoyance as his anger began to boil. He looked at the laughing Luigi and got even angrier, how could one get rid of someone so knowing of countering attacks? Luigi stopped laughing at Discord's fail at attacking and gripped his hammer in his hand even harder as he ran forward before jumping up into the air and falling down with the hammer aimed precisely at Discord's head. And as the hammer made contact, Discord felt it screwing up his room of thinking, making him unable to think of anything really, he just stood there, dizzy and seeing only stars. Luigi retracted his hammer and ran back to his former position, chuckling again. Time to finish this! "Mario, your turn, finish this off!" Luigi shouted as he crouched, grabbing the star in his hand as he jumped up high up into the orbit. Mario jumped off Luigi's cap and landed on the star as Luigi spinned before sending it away down at Equestria again. Mario held onto the star as the star started approaching its goal, which was the very dizzy giant Discord. Mario aimed it towards Discord's swollen head and crashing down he and the star flew so fast they went through his body, splittering the hundreds of Discord clones it took to build him up, with a loud explosion the dreamy Discord's disappeared into thin air, leaving only the weak and defeated normal sized Discord left on the floor sobbing. A normal sized Luigi came crashing down towards the ground as well a moment after, and Mario flew towards him with the star as he grabbed the almost unconscious Luigi. He steered the star towards the ground and made it stop, jumping off while holding Luigi. Some seconds after he had jumped off the star flew away into the horizon. "Why? Why did I lose to you two!? I'm the god of chaos, a GOD! You hear me?!" Discord shouted as tears came flowing down in a river from his eyes, sprawling on the ground as he looked up at Mario and Luigi. "Yes, I hear you. But that's-a what you-a get from-a touching my-a bro!" Mario said as he crossed his arms and looked down at Discord with disappointed eyes. "Oh, look at who's cocky. You did nothing, it was all your brothers work. Trying to take the fame for yourself?" Discord said with a bitter voice, trying to defend his honour. "Hey! That's-a not-a true! I helped-a him, and I was-a the one who finished you," Mario said, glaring at Discord on the ground. "Do not insult me and my brother, Discord. Now, where's my prize?" Luigi said as he impatiently stepped on the ground. "Well, about that. I never thought you would defeat me, Luigi. So there's no prize, but you won the honour at the least, yeah?" Discord said as he chuckled nervously and stopped crying. "Grrr! I hate false advertisement," Luigi said as he sighed and accepted the situation, grabbing Mario as he was about to turn away and walk back to the princess and the others. But he didn't need to because suddenly six ponies were standing infront of him, one being the familiar Twilight. "Mario, Luigi! Where's Discord!? He is in so much trouble now!" Twilight said furiously as she looked around herself and saw destroyed houses and the damaged streetways. "He's-a right here," Mario said as he turned around and took a step to the side so that Discord became visible. "Discord, luckily for you, Luna only comes to the Nightmare Moon statue in the Everfree forest, because if she was here right now... you'd be imprisoned yet again!" Twilight said as she angrily walked up to him, standing right infront of him infact. "And... why... DID YOU HAVE TO DESTROY PONYVILLE!?" Twilight shouted from the bottom of her lungs, her nostrils almost shooting fire out of them in rage. "Aaahahah! You see Twilight, this, this, this wasn't my fault! It was, uh..." Discord took a deep breath and tried to look for an escape, but it was going to be futile to try to escape with an angry Twilight ready to send a powerfull spell at him at anytime. "...Okay okay! Just please don't hurt me! I'll do anything!" Discord screamed as he began crying again and wrapped his arms beggingly around Twilight's left front hoof. "Well, firstly, clean up this mess. Secondly, don't do it again! Thirdly, learn to become a better person!" Twilight shouted as she shaked his arms off her front hoof, trotting back to the others without waiting for an answer from Discord. "You all, we don't have time for this. We have to make it to Canterlot as fast as possible, and I actually fear that the train has already left because somebody decided that turning giant and duking it out in the middle of Ponyville was a good idea." "I could take you all to Canterlot with the snap of a finger, literally. Would that make you happy, Twilight Sparkle?" Discord said, smiling nervously as he carefully stood up. "Yes it would, we just have to find Princess Peach first. Come on everypony, let's go!" Twilight said as they began running back where Princess Peach and Spike were probably waiting. "I can't believe that they took the princess, but what could I do? I'm just a fat baby dragon..." Spike said as he crawled out of a dumpster bin after Bowser's forces had walked away from the alleyway. He had ran into the portal and told the weird guy to close it, so that Bowser could not take her away from here. That had at the least helped to some extent, but the fact that she was still kidnapped could not be ignored. Spike walked over to the bench and sat down, dangling his small legs back and forth as he waited for Twilight to come back and begin shouting at him for being bad. But it had been her decision really, to let the ones who could not assist in any way to stay. Suddenly Spike heard the sounds of galloping hooves approaching and he stared down at the ground as he heard them enter the alleyway and slow down, a couple of confused mutterings could be heard and he looked at the mane six and Mario and Luigi as they returned. "Spiiiiiiike, where, is, Peach?" Twilight said as her hair suddenly got bruised and her eyelids started twitching as she smiled as a psychopath would do. "A giant big dragon thing called Bowser stepped through a portal and kidnapped her! I tried to sto-" Spike said before being interrupted by Twilight slumping to the floor with open eyes, probably blacking out from all the mishaps. "Twilight!" Everyone shouted in unison as they walked up to her and tried to check if she was awake, but she seemed unconscious. "Has she been like this the whole day, or what?" Discord said as he stroked his beard in confusion. "Probably some stress from doin' all these shenanigans," Applejack said as she singlehandedly dragged Twilight towards the wall and laid her in a comfortable position and then backed away. "Ah worker like me should know, stress can do these things to ya." "She seemed quite aggravated right from the start if you ask me..." Fluttershy said as she backed away slightly, hiding her face behind her mane from Mario and Luigi. But Mario and Luigi didn't care that much, they seemed quite distant actually. They stood still but suddenly they looked quite angry. "Hey, Spike. Where did-a this 'Bowser' go?" Mario said as he and Luigi walked up to Spike. "He said he was going to try and take over the castle in the mountains over there, which would be Canterlot," Spike said as he smiled, hopping off the bench as he pointed towards a white castle and a city up on the cliffside of a big mountain, feeling useful for once. "Hmm, well. Let's get there first and surprise him then. Discord, we need you to teleport us all to Canterlot, now. I'm sure Twilight can get some rest up there as well, hm?" Mario said, looking at Discord and all the others. "Really? Well, you two did beat me in a giant battle. So, is everyone ready?" Discord said as he chuckled, awaiting an answer from everybody. "OH! I'M SO READY FOR CANTERLOT!" Rarity shouted in excitement, thinking about the Canterlot elite again, but as she looked around herself she noticed that everyone was staring at her very strangely and she blushed awkwardly. "Ahem, sorry. Yeah! We're ready, probably!" "Good, here we go!" Discord said as he snapped his fingers as they teleported away in a flash, leaving the alleyway to be empty yet again. "Grawhaha! Time for some mountain climbing, Koopa lads! We'll be there in no time if we just climb up! So get it moving!" Bowser said as they stood right under the castle in the sky, soon to climb up. They had used Kamek's teleportation spell to speed themselves up to get here faster, and now they surely were going to need an endurance or strength spell to climb a 90 degree cliffwall without any real spots to use to climb. Though the effort would not be worth it, but they didn't know that. They didn't even know that the castle belonged to two immortal creatures that could be considered as gods...
Chapter 1-Bonus "Sweet Dreams!" (Chapter 1 Epilogue)It had been such a stressful night for Luna, she had disguised herself as Nightmare Moon and scared the children to hand over candy... and now she just had to return back to Canterlot. But as she flew over Ponyville she realised that Ponyville was burning and that all the ponies were running around in fright and crying. She quickly dove down and landed in the town square as she looked around, smoke was in the air and ponies were panicking, trying to keep themselves safe but only made the matter worse. It wasn't just fire that had been causing all this commotion, some houses seemed crushed as if something big had landed on them, she wondered what had happened but she soon realised that the thinking could wait because these ponies needed help. Luna spread her wings and soared up into the air, activating her horn as she summoned gray rainclouds and squeezed them with the help of magic, wringing out all water as if they were sponges. All the ponies looked up at her from the ground and stared in awe before cheering, but she still felt bad, she had to help them rebuild. It wasn't just one or three houses that had been burnt down, it was around half of the village. She began descending and all the ponies came rushing to her as they cheered her on and some even began hugging her, but she still focused on the destroyed village... ...-This was going to take a while. Celestia opened the room to her bedroom and walked over to her bed sluggishly, she slowly laid down and tucked the covers over her. These nights were often so peaceful, the guards were all out having fun on Nightmare Night, even her sister was not here. Everything was so silent... But this night was different, like crawling bugs she heard multiple echoing footsteps around her castle now and then. But it never got the chance to bother her since it constantly went silent as soon as she had picked up the strange sound. But now when she was silently laying in her bed those sounds tormented her. It sounded like it came from the walls, but that seemed a bit too farfetched, those walls were made of solid rock. After a while she felt her eyelids slowly closing as the promise of sleep gnawed at her brain, and before she knew it she fully closed them, the last thing she saw being two shining green eyes... green eyes?! It was too late, she had fallen asleep and couldn't force herself to wake up. She found herself already being stuck in a dream, but it was no regular dream. She just seemed to float around in nothing. What was this place? There was no floor, only a background consisting of green floating magic. Celestia tried moving but she seemed to be paralyzed, she couldn't do anything but look around with her eyes. Suddenly Chrysalis appeared infront of her and the changeling queen quickly levitated over to her with a mocking grin on her face. "So, Celestia. How do you feel about your new temporary home?" Chrysalis said with a smirk, chuckling faintly as she circled around Celestia like a shark. "Chrysalis?! I thought Shining Armor and Cadance defeated you for good," Celestia said as she was relieved that she could at least speak. "Oh, they did. I had to use the last of our magic to cast all of my changelings and me in hybernation in your old castle where we landed from the explosion. But ponies seemed to stumble in now and then and foolishly fell for our tricks. Which gave us a small amount of magic each time, and now we're ready to reclaim Canterlot," Chrysalis said as she tenderly stroked her changeling hoof through Celestia's mane teasingly as she then took some steps away and quickly transformed into the shape of Celestia. "I'll release you from this dream when the time comes, but until then... be prepared to have some really sweet love filled dreams that'll fuel our food supply immensely!" Chrysalis said as she grinned and then disappeared. Suddenly Celestia stood in a very old classroom from when she was just a little filly in magic school, where she sat next to her first crush at the school bench... was this really Chrysalis plan? Either way, Celestia knew she was not going to be able to escape...
Chapter 2-1 "Deceptive Cadence" (Chapter 2 Prologue)Chapter 2 - The World Bowser Arc Mario opened his eyes, suddenly they were all standing inside a huge throne room decorated almost like Peach's throne room but without all the mushrooms and pink stuff. Massive Ivory pillars reached up into roof and had golden decor on them at the base, and the middle of the room had a purple carpet with a sculpture of a white and blue pony on it and the carpet itself stretched itself from the door all the way up to the throne. On the throne though, a white pony with both wings and a horn sat idly and looked at them all with calm eyes, she didn't even seem surprised that they were here. "Hello there, Celestia! How's it going, sitting on that throne the whole day without any real fun as usual? Tee hee," Discord said as he teleported next to Celestia and pulled on her cheek playfully. Her otherwise calm facade turned into one of a bit of annoyance as she enveloped Discord in a magical aura and lifted him aside before giggling and looking back at the mane six, Spike, Mario and Luigi. "It's good to see you all deciding to visit me on this day, it get's awfully lonely when Luna only wants to lay in her bed and rest up after being awake the whole night and taking care of the playful kids on Nightmare Night," Celestia said, her calm and soothing voice sounding a bit uncanny, but it didn't bother Mario too much. "Don't want to sound rude but this ain't no ordinary visit, princess. Twilight fainted in stress and according to Spike, a big dragon thingy called Bowser is gonna to try to invade Canterlot," Applejack said, looking up at Celestia on the throne. "Ah, good. Finally some piece of action. You know girls, why don't you all just wait over here and take a cup of tea while I get something done for once as a ruler, does that sound good to you all?" Celestia said as she stood up, surprisingly sounding a bit cocky for being the calm princess she usually is. But the ponies and Spike guessed this was just because nothing had happened to the kingdom since that time Discord planted those seeds and they had to give up the elements of harmony. "Celestia, ah think that dragon can wait. Aren't you worried about Twilight?" Applejack said, looking at Celestia while quirking an eyebrow as she stepped aside to show Twilight laying on the floor behind her completely unconcious. But nobody listened, they ignored her completely as if she was just an annoying bug. "I wouldn't mind... if you others don't mind of course..." Fluttershy said, looking at her friends and slowly hiding behind her mane again as she looks at Mario and Luigi again. "Yeah, some tea wouldn't hurt after that running we did all around the town, my hooves got all dirty!" Rarity said as she looked at her hooves that had one single piece of dirt on it. "Oh shut it, Rarity. I wouldn't even call that running, we practically walked. I mean, I've seen tank doing it faster," Rainbow Dash said mockingly and leaned against a pillar. Rarity glared at Rainbow Dash but Rainbow only shrugged it off as she chuckled. "Stop ya'll! Is nopony here worried about the safety of Twilight?! She fainted and I think it would be best if we do something about it, heck, she might even be dead yet no one has thought about that fact! Especially you, Celestia. Your former student needs help... and you haven't showed any concern," Applejack said, angrily walking towards Celestia as she stopped Celestia from heading towards the balcony. Celestia's eyes coldly stared into Applejack's as she walked towards the farmer and stopped when she was inches away, her head reached next to Applejack's left ear and she softly whispered; "I'm fully aware of Twilight's condition, but Applejack... would you risk the lives of hundreds of ponies at the price of one beloved? Hundreds of ponies that have a life and family as well? This is one of the important decisions as a queen has to do. A leader must be ready to sacrifice herself for her own people." "Queen? What's goin' on right here...? Oh, oh no. Chrysalis," Applejack whispered faintly to herself as her eyes went wide in fear at the realisation as she began noticing a green glint in Celestia's eyes, she began staggering back, suddenly stumbling backwards as she landed on her back and kept crawling backwards in fear without saying anything. "Guards, I think Applejack needs some fresh air. Such a wildlife pony as her must get crazy in these Canterlot surroundings. Gently show her the way out," Celestia said, her stale face showing no emotions as she walked towards the balcony at the end of the room. Everybody only watched in horror as Applejack got dragged out of the throne room forcefully against her will, the guards throwing her out the door as they then slammed it shut and returned to their posts. Nobody protested, they just stood and stared in shock before looking back at Celestia. "Then that's settled, we'll have a lot to talk about when I come back, especially about those new faces you have with you," Celestia said calmly and looked at Mario and Luigi before spreading her wings and quickly flying out through the balcony, ready to welcome Bowser to Canterlot. "Grawhaha! We're soon there, aren't we minions? Just keep on struggling and we'll be ready to strike whenever we reach the actual castle!" Bowser said as he sat in his own clown car he had asked Kamek to summon, flying just next to an elite Koopa who was slowly climbing up the 90 degree wall using his spear. "Daddy, don't you think this is a little unfair?" Bowser Junior said as he flew over to Bowser in his own clown car. "What? Unfair? No! There's no harm in some healthy exercise, these Koopas can handle it anyway, they're elite Koopas after all!" Bowser said as he crossed his arms and smiled, chuckling a bit as he looked at his son. "No, that's good and all, dad. But why are we allowed to have these things to fly with and they have to climb up a near impossible wall?" Bowser Junior said as he waited for an answer from Bowser. "Junior! Empathy is not the way of a Koopa king, you'll have to learn to be like your daddy if you want to get somewhere in life," Bowser said as he smiled and reached out his claw to pat his son on the head, almost knocking them both over as the clown cars collide in the process. "But I don't want to be like you! You cannot even do the one thing you're good at. I want to be better than you, and actually take over the Mushroom Kingdom," Bowser Junior said as he chuckled and began laughing at Bowser who looked dumbfounded. "Hey, don't speak like that to your father! I'm good at my job, just look what I've accomplished so far this time, we've got Peach, we're not being followed by Mario and green stache aaaaaand! We soon have a castle so we can rule this kingdom too!" Bowser said as he flew a bit higher to keep up with the climbing elite Koopa's. Suddenly, a shining white thing with two wings, weird looking floating hair and a horn descended into view behind Bowser, it had a calm expression on it's face but there was a playful touch to it. Bowser Junior began flailing with his arms at Bowser to gesture to look behind him but Bowser only quirked an eyebrow and wondered what he was doing. "Welcome to Canterlot, Bowser," Celestia said with a smirk and giggled, her look being very menacing as if she was about to just banish everyone to the moon. "Huh?! Who and what are you supposed to be?! Hahaha! You look pretty funny though, like a horse, but you can speak!" Bowser said as he turned around with his clown car, looking at the white flying horse with a horn, being quite shocked but almost laughing to death to this overly cute looking thing. "I'm princess Celestia, and if your intention is to invade Canterlot, then you might as well go back to where you came from and we'll settle this peacefully," Celestia said as she distanced herself a bit, ready to fire a spell if they decided to attack. "Canterlot, what in the whole world is Canterlot? No I'm not doing anything to that place at the least, I'm just gonna grab this castle over here and settle in and protect myself from Mario and that stupid Luigi and then take over this kingdom!" Bowser said, unaware who he was talking to as he turned around and kept ascending slowly. "Then I ask you to stop, or you'll have to suffer the consequence," Celestia said, using a levitation spell to stop Bowser in his tracks and move him aside slowly. "HEY! What do you think you're doing!? I'm Bowser, the Koopa king! You cannot just mess with me, you cutesy little thing!" Bowser said as he flailed with his arms and glared at Celestia. "This is the last warning, leave, now," Celestia said as her horn started to glow slightly. "No! This is YOUR last warning, leave, now!" Bowser said as he growled, looking at Celestia as he turned around and started ascending yet again. "I don't get why nobody gives me the respect I deserve anymore..." He mumbled to himself, turning around yet again. "Don't say I didn't warn you!" Celestia shouted as she began powering up her horn immensely, it beginning to emit rainbow coloured sparks before she finally lowered her head and aimed precisely, firing a thick and powerful beam against Bowser and his minions. "WHAT THE?! NOOOOO!" Bowser shouted as the laser beam of magic approached rapidly, quickly covering himself over the cage to defend the princess at all costs. "Daddy!" Bowser Junior shouted as the magical beam hit the wall and exploded, sending all the minions and the Bowsers flying up into the air and into the horizon, their plans once again failing. Celestia sighed, chuckling to herself. "Now, to try to find out where they are keeping that princess Peach," Celestia said, smiling before turning around in the air and soaring up towards her castle again. She entered through the balcony again and landed softly, looking forwards into the throne room as she saw that her guards had been nice enough to bring in eleven armchairs and a table. They had even begun serving the tea to the guests which all sat down around the table on a chair. Celestia approached and sat down on the last free chair and levitated a cup of tea over to herself as she took a sip before placing it down again carefully. "He didn't seem too bright that dragon," Celestia said, smiling warmly as she looked at her guests. "Where's-a the princess?" Mario said, looking around the room to see if she had returned as well but it didn't look like that was the case. "Hm? I'm the princess, is my crown not visible enough?" Celestia said humbly, looking at Mario while smiling. "No, I-a meant-a the princess kidnapped by-a Bowser," Mario said, taking a sip from his tea cup to try to relax his Italian temperament. He was awfully worried about princess Peach, but why wouldn't he be? Everyone wanted to kidnap her and exploit her to their own power. "I didn't see any princess, it was just the dragon, his baby and his small army," Celestia said, her expression changing into that of a serious one yet again. "Oh no..." Mario and Luigi both said, they looked at eachother and then silently gave eachother a nod before rising up and walking away from the table as they stood and talked about something in a corner. "So, how did these humans get here?" Celestia said, looking at the remaining mane six and Spike. "They came here via a dimensional portal when they tried to escape from Bowser, who is the dragon. And they got stranded here, but now the dragon has come yet again to kidnap the princess, but thanks to me, he is also stranded here now." Spike said, standing up on his chair as he put his arms on the table to see all the others. "I was beginning to wonder why all these magical interferences were appearing just now, and there we have the solution. You see, temporary portals are beginning to open up all over Equestria and it began starting the day before Nightmare Night. Each time one has opened, something has come out of them. It's possible that not all these are linked to the world these humans are from but they are results of an unstable dimensional rift, which could mean that our dimension is slowly being merged with theirs, but that can be easily fixed. We just need a little help from Discord," Celestia said inbetween the sipping of tea, taking her time to explain the whole situation. "I'm not gonna be bossed around just becuase you are all thinking you can exploit my magic here and there just because you didn't get your breakfast pancake," Discord said as he stood up from his chair and grabbed his tea cup, putting on a coat and a gray hat as he quickly walked out the door and slammed it shut after him. "What do we do now?" Rainbow Dash asked, looking at the door and then back at Celestia. "We'll just have to wait for Twilight to wake up. I'm sure with her knowledge that she'll know what to do. I however have to tend over Equestria while this portal crisis is happening. I'd suggest you all take the train back to Ponyville and search for your lost princess in the meantime, might find something if you search long enough. And when you find her, you can bring her here so we can discuss some princess duties, hehe," Celestia said as she finished her cup of tea and walked over to her throne and sat down, looking at all the others. "Oh, but can't we just stay here? We'll be safe under your protection!" Rarity shouted as they all rose up from their chairs, receiving an angry glare from Rainbow Dash. "Rarity! We're not staying in Canterlot, I need to get back to my work of clearing clouds in Ponyville and we need to search for the princess," Rainbow Dash said as she sighed. "Well, what would happen if that angry big dragon decided that we look like his lunch, huh? I'm not taking that miniscule risk, besides... I haven't met up with the Canterlot elite in ages!" Rarity said as they all walked towards the door. "Uh, thanks for the tea, princess Celestia. It tasted good," Fluttershy said as they stopped infront of the door and looked back at Celestia. "Only a pleasure, be sure to visit more often!" Celestia shouted back, relaxing on her throne as she levitated a pile of new mails infront of her and began reading one at a time. "Hey, red cap and green cap! Carry Twilight for us will you, because we're getting out of here," Rainbow Dash said as she looked at Mario and Luigi who still stood and talked, they nodded towards Rainbow Dash and ran over to Twilight as Mario picked her up and carried her on his back. Celestia sat on her throne and sighed as they left, closing her eyes as her horn suddenly enveloped itself with green flames, a moment after, her appearance quickly changed into that of the Changeling queen, Chrysalis. All the royal guards within the chamber started transforming as well as they returned to their actual shape, Chrysalis sighed yet again and stepped off the throne. "Who could have thought, right? That our target would be far gone when we actually set up a trap for them..." Chrysalis said as she sighed again and levitated a mail over to herself, opening it and doing her duties as the impostor for Celestia. "But we did kidnap Celestia and we have soon taken over Canterlot without anyone noticing, and everyone that does notice... becomes our meal," Chrysalis spoke as she jumped off the throne and wandered back and forth infront of it, smiling towards all her changelings. "Rainbow, I'm not coming with you all to Ponyville, and that's final," Rarity said as they walked through the corridors of Canterlot castle. "Well fine! We'll split up if that's the case. But that's not going without a price, you know. You'll get to stay here until Twilight wakes up, and when she does... you bring her to Ponyville," Rainbow Dash said as they walked down a couple of stairs leading to the main gate. "Hmmfph, okay. We'll pick partners for the team then. I choose Mario, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie," Rarity said as she opened the gates to the courtyard as they stepped out of the castle. Applejack was sitting on the stairs just outside to the courtyard and was fidgeting quite impatiently. "Yeah, so you're doing it like that, huh? Then I pick Applejack, Luigi and Spike," Rainbow Dash said as she crossed her front hooves, flying a bit above ground as she flew up next to Applejack. "But-a wait! I am not-a leaving my-a bro again!" Mario said as he crossed his arms and glared at Rarity. "Don't worry, bro. I can handle myself now, I'm old enough. I'm not that little baby you and Yoshi had to rescue before," Luigi said as he walked over to Rainbow Dash and Applejack alongsides Spike. "I care about-a you, Luigi. You're my only brother, and I guess I should-a treat you like an equal. Just remember to-a never lose faith in yourself, teach everybody that nobody messes with-a the Mario bros and gets away with it," Mario said and walked up to Luigi, giving him a brotherly hug before stepping away. "Take-a care." Luigi laid his hand on Mario's shoulder and patted him slowly, "I'll be fine," He said, turning around and walking away with Rainbow Dash, Applejack and Spike towards the train station. "Oh, this is going to be so much fun! I just can't wait to meet the Canterlot Elite!" Rarity said as her eyes began shining in what would be excitement. "I, uh, want, uh, to... go somewhere less crowded..." Fluttershy said, beginning to think of the horrible crowds of people in streets. "You guys! We have to visit Donut Joe's bakery and buy donuts! I'm sooooooo hungry!" Pinkie Pie said, a loud rumble coming from her belly as she began giggling as usual. Mario looked at them all and sighed, just how was he going to survive this? It would be certainly be a hard task to try find the princess now, especially when he didn't have his brother at his side to help him. But this? These ponies probably were going to slow him down in his pursuit of Bowser significantly... and he could only watch. Meanwhile... A sunny morning indicated that it was going to be a wonderful day in Equestria, but which day was not wonderful in Equestria could be asked by the deepthinker known as Big Mac. A sunny morning was also perfect for working after staying up a whole night on the night of Nightmare Moon because it brought a special kind of joy to the otherwise repetetive job of bucking apples. And Big Mac was happy today, the apples looked extremely fresh and they reflected the morning sun with their glossy red fruitskin. But something looked amiss to him, something just wasn't right... yeah. Something was totally off about the ground, there was no dirt! Only shining white sand! Big Mac growled in both shock and frustration, how had this sand gotten here just over night without anyone noticing!? And how did the apples seem so nutritious with only sand to live on? The trees would certainly die without any water as well! He also noticed that there seemed to be a lack of trees now that he thought about it, there were still lots of trees standing but some spots where a tree was before was now just an empty spot with sand. What had really happened? "Applebloom!" Big Mac shouted towards the house, hoping Applebloom would come out to check. A moment later she did open the door and looked at him, mumbling something as she rubbed her eyelids, trying to hide that she was still tired. "What do ya want, Big Mac?" Applebloom said in her southern accent, looking at Big Mac, but as she looked to the side towards the acres she also noticed that the dirt was gone and had instead been replaced with sand. "Big Mac! What have ya done to tha acre!?" "Nnnnnoooope! Not me! It was here when ah stepped outside mah house!" Big Mac said as he looked at the apple trees as suddenly one of the trees quickly got dragged under the sand without any sound, it was like someone just pulled it down. "Did ya see that?! The tree disappeared!" "Yeah, what's goin' on right here?!" Applebloom said as she looked on in shock as another tree got pulled underground, more trees were disappearing as well now, plopping down into the ground as quick as a blink of an eye. "We gotta save them apples! Applebloom, help me with tryin' to pull up that tree!" Big Mac said as he ran forward to a tree and quickly grabbed a rope, binding it around the tree as he then bit down on the rope, joined by Applebloom as they used every muscle in their body to try to pull it up, and pull it up they did as they stumbled backwards in the process, but that wasn't the only thing they pulled up. Big Mac and Applebloom went silent and only stared in shock once again as the thing before them rose up and loomed over them with it's tall figure. "Apples, tasty little apples..." The thing said while putting much weight on 'S' as a snake would, its front figure was nearly impossible to make out because the morning sun was shining behind it. Suddenly three more things quickly rose up from the sand in random spots as they made hissing noises and looked at Big Mac and Applebloom. Both ponies slowly began backing away and suddenly, just one centimeter ahead of them an enormous big thing like the others popped out of the ground, it had a shining gold crown that sparkled in the morning sun and had robes of that of a king or a very rich man in Canterlot. "This is our acre now ya punks, scram like small chickens and don't think about coming back!" The enormous creature said, this one was so enormous it blocked out the sun completely. It looked like an enormous snake but only the head was above ground so they didn't know just how long it was. But as it suddenly hissed and began moving forward slowly Big Mac started to panic alongsides Applebloom. "Get inside the house, Applebloom, now!" Big Mac said as they both ran away, opening the door to the house and closing it, they had to tell Applejack somehow, she would know what to do! But they both knew she was in Canterlot... and by the time she got back, those trees would be long gone.
Chapter 2-2 Part 1 "Changeling Chase/Hisstocrat Swing!""Ah, it feels good to soon return to Ponyville, yeah? Don't you agree Applejack?" Rainbow Dash said as she smiled and relaxed on her seat, now and then glancing out of the window to look at the landscapes. "Yeah, it'll be good to return to mah apples again. Celestia was right, I can't take the air in Canterlot," Applejack said as she stared blankly out the window, trying to remember what happened back there, something happened... she saw something... she just couldn't remember. "Haha, you're so silly AJ. You've been in Canterlot multiple of times and this is the first time you begin to freak out? Give me a break!" Rainbow Dash said as she punched Applejack's shoulder jokingly. "Ah don't know, Rainbow. There was somethin' wrong this time, ah just can't remember what," Applejack said as she looked away from the window and at Rainbow Dash with a concerned look. "Yeah, I must confess... the way Celestia threw you outside was unlike her. What did she whisper to you anyway that made you freak out like that?" Rainbow Dash said as she scratched the back of her head with her hoof. "That's what ah can't remember, Dash. I freaked out about somethin' at the least," Applejack said, looking outside the window as the train approached Ponyville but was shocked to see as where the Sweet Apple Acres once stood was instead lots of sand reaching over the lands. She quickly began panicking and grabbed Rainbow Dash's shoulders with her front hoof and began shaking her. "Mah apples!" "What?! You freaked out about your apples?!" Rainbow Dash shouted as she got shaked by Applejack. "No! Look outside! Mah apples are gone!" Applejack shouted as she forcefully turned Rainbow Dash's head to look out the window as well. "Uh, what's going on you two?" Spike said as he jumped up on his seat and reached up to look out the window, seeing only sand where the Sweet Apple Acres once stood. "Sweet Celestia, that's a lot of sand." "Huh? I-a don't see any apples," Luigi said naively as he approached and looked outside the window as well and saw only sand. "Of course ya don't see any apples, they're gone!" Applejack shouted, flailing with her hooves in frustration. "Well, we cannot do anything until we get off the train, you'll have to calm down, Applejack," Spike said, trying to comfort Applejack. "Shush, Spike. Ah think we can do somethin'. Luigi, open that hatch up in the roof over there and lets go!" Applejack said as she pointed towards a hatch in the roof. "Hehe! Luigi time!" Luigi shouted as he ran forward in the train and crouched down before jumping up with a boost, his fist pointed upwards as he punched the hatch, making it fly away up into the sky. He then jumped up throof the hatch and landed on the trainroof, almost falling off in a typical Luigi manner. "Rainbow, let Spike ride on you until we reach Sweet Apple Acres so that he doesn't get harmed. And Spike, don't tell Twilight. This is the last thing she wants to hear from you when she finally wakes up," Applejack said before she ran forward and with a boost used her earthpony strength to jump up and grab onto the edge of the open hatch, pressing herself up as she climbed up onto the trainroof. "Hop on kiddo, this'll be the first time you get to ride on the fastest pony in Equestria so better make it worthwhile," Rainbow Dash said and smiled, walking up next to Spike as she spread her wings and prepared for flight. "I really hope you're a better flier than Twilight..." Spike said as he slowly climbed ontop of Rainbow Dash's back and hugged tightly to Rainbow Dash, making her flying capabilities a bit unstable, but it was nothing she couldn't handle. Rainbow Dash dashed up through the open hatch and then rainbowed through the sky in dashing speed, almost so that her tail and mane created a dashing rainbo- okay, one time's enough I suppose... Rainbow Dash landed firmly next to Luigi and Applejack, chuckling as she looked back at Spike hugging tightly around her body to stay on. "Hey, Rainbow. If ah knew you were going to do that ah'd just let him climb up himself, it would be less dangerous as well," Applejack said as she smirked jokingly, holding onto her hat as the speed of the train almost made it fly off. "So, you all ready to jump?" "Yeah! Let's-a go!" Luigi said as he crouched down and blindly jumped off, being sent flying directly into the flat surface of a rock. "Luigi!" Applejack shouted, trying to follow him as she jumped off, landing with a roll as she kept rolling for a couple of meters before coming to a stop next to the rock Luigi slammed into. "Hahaha! You two alright?" Rainbow Dash said as she flew over to Applejack and Luigi. "Eh, shut it Rainbow. Everybody wasn't born with wings you know," Applejack said as she giggled, sitting up as she adjusted her hat again. "Weeeeeh, that hurt!" Luigi said as he pressed himself off the rock, the outline of his body still visible on the rock. "Jumping from trains is a bad idea of course, but we did it for a reason, so, come on! We're heading to the farm!" Applejack said as she began galloping towards her farm, seeing the house just ahead. "Hey, AJ. What were you going to do about this whole sand problem when we arrive now again?" Rainbow Dash said, coming up next to Applejack while flying. "We ask Big Mac what happened and then we get to the bottom of the problem," Applejack said with a determined voice, the sounds of her hoofs echoing throughout the open fields as she galloped forward with Rainbow Dash and Luigi on her heels. "I think she meant all the sand, you do realise it's covering the whole acre, right?" Spike asked from Rainbow Dash's back, looking down at Applejack. "Ah don't care! As long as ah get to know who did it, ah'll be pretty freakin' satisfied!" Applejack said in a very angry voice thinking about her dead apple trees... ...her poor, poor, apple trees. "Hello yello!" Pinkie Pie shouted as she opened the door to Donut Joe's bakery, she held it open as Rarity, Fluttershy and Mario that was carrying the unconscious Twilight on his back stepped in. Though as they looked inside they saw that Donut Joe was laying on the floor surrounded by nine changelings. His limbs were stuck to the floor by some green goo and one of the changelings were pointing its glowing horn against his head. "Eeeeeeek!" Fluttershy shrieked, quickly hiding behind Mario. "Oh dear Celestia's mane!" Rarity said as she swooned and fainted, dropping to the floor almost immediately. Mario sighed in frustration as he looked at all the helpless ponies he had around himself, but he soon began to panic as well as the changelings turned towards where the new sounds were coming from as they pointed their horns against the heroes and started building up spells. "Have I ever told you guys that your hooves look like black swiss cheese? Omigosh I must have a taste someday!" Pinkie Pie said in excitement before her face turned serious as she pulled out a water pistol from her mane and pathetically shot towards the changelings, only ending up confusing them instead of actually doing harm. "You've gotta be-a joking with-a me!" Mario said as he looked at Pinkie Pie and then grabbed her, Rarity and Fluttershy and quickly opened the door, throwing them out the door with Twilight as he then slammed it shut and quickly locked it. "You leave-a that man- errh, pony alone!" Mario said, bringing his fist forward as he stood in a battle position, ready to take down these probably bad guys. The changelings chuckled between eachother as they each quickly transformed into Luigi, all standing with their hammers high as they smirked towards Mario. "Grr! If you're going to-a transform into Luigi then you-a better get the moustache right!" Mario shouted in confidence, pulling out a Fireflower from his pocket and spinning around as he turned into Fire Mario. He suddenly ran forward and created a massive fire ball in his hand as he spinned in a circle against the changelings as the fire ball acted like a fire tornado, sending them flying backwards out a window. He chuckled and turned around as he walked over to the entrapped pony on the floor. "You're-a saved now," Mario said as he crouched down and pulled away the green goo from Donut Joe's hooves. But the pony didn't move, he seemed like he was in another world. His eyes were completely green and so very distant. Mario tried waving his hand infront of his eyes but didn't get any response. "Huh." Mario turned around and opened the door as he stepped outside to the others, but to his surprise, thousands of those insectile ponies were swarming up in the sky and began creating like a protective bubble around the area. He instinctively ran forward and grabbed Rarity and Twilight and laid them on his back as he began running forward, signalling Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy to follow. "Uh, I'm kinda scared. Could we please pick up the pace, if you don't mind of course," Fluttershy muttered to Mario as they continued to run, trying to escape before the changelings had the full chance to surround them. But Mario couldn't run faster, the two unconscious ponies on his back showed to be too much for him. He had to lift one off, luckily for him, they were more than just one. "Hey, Pinkie Pie. Could you please-a carry Rarity for-a me!?" Mario said as he kept running but stopped as he looked back because Pinkie didn't give him an answer. And to his horror he saw that Pinkie Pie was being glued to the floor with that green goo back at the actual restuarant. How had he not noticed? With a grunt of pain he stumbled on a small stone that made him fall forwards as he wasn't looking where he was stepping and landed with two ponies on his back. "Ooomph! Fluttershy! Help me!" Mario said as he tried to get the ponies off him but he couldn't move. "Oh no! Uh! I'm so scared!" Fluttershy said as she hastily ran over to Mario and lifted off both Rarity and Twilight. Mario decided that he had to leave Rarity behind this time, Twilight was the one who mattered. Without her they wouldn't get anywhere. With a grunt of determination Mario gathered his strength to lift up Twilight onto his back as he began running yet again, Fluttershy looked on in confusion as to why Mario was going to leave Rarity behind. In an attempt of desperation, Fluttershy tried to lift up Rarity but she was not near as strong as Mario and only ended up lifting her up a little bit. A tear ran down her cheek and Fluttershy looked at the disappearing gap as Changelings began surrounding them completely and she abandoned Rarity, spreading her wings as she flew forward and catched up with Mario. "Fluttershy, where do-a we need to-a go to get safe?" Mario said as they began running towards their window of exit from this swarm of changelings. "Ponyville, where Applejack is!" Fluttershy said in panic as they both quickly sprinted through the small gap in the surrounding swarm, changing direction towards the train station. Though as Fluttershy looked backwards she noticed that the changelings weren't going to give up so easily as a big part of the swarm dispatched and created a smaller swarm, beginning to dive down after Fluttershy and Mario. "Eeeeeek!" "We cannot-a go there now, we have to shake-a these guys off-a first! Fluttershy, try-a to cover Twilight!" Mario shouted as he stopped and turned around, pulling out his emergency gold leaf that he and Luigi only uses if things go really awry. He threw it up in the air and touched it directly with the tip of his finger as he suddenly was wearing a white sparkling Tanooki-suit. "Let's-a go!" The changelings kept diving to Mario's suprise but he only smirked as began running in circles and building up momentum before jumping up into the air, using his golden sparkling tail to swing around to keep him airbourne. As the changelings foolishly attempted to tackle him they started vaporizing at the touch of the suit. The thing with golden leaves was that they worked as a superstar but they lasted for a greater amount of time, but these changelings didn't even know what a superstar was. Suddenly there were no attacking changelings left, only green magic dust laying in a giant heap on the ground. Mario landed and looked back at Fluttershy as suddenly the suit turned brown and the sparkles disappeared. "Thanks for saving me, M-mario," Fluttershy said as she looked at Mario in confusion, the look of him was fooling her to think that he was a brown racoon but he was surprisingly still Mario. The thing didn't just match up with her brain. "Hmph, we better move towards the train before more show up, because I won't be able to do that again unless we find another golden leaf," Mario said as he walked over to Twilight and lifted her up onto his back as the two slowly wandered towards the train station, now and then casting glances back at the huge swarm of changelings doing all kinds of stuff to their friends that they had to abandon. Only problem being that the trainstation was on the other side of Canterlot. "Big Mac, you open this door right now or ah'll do... somethin'!" Applejack shouted as she banked on the door to her house, but nobody answered. "I don't think he's home, AJ. Your family might have moved away 'cus of all this sand," Rainbow Dash said as she turned around and pointed towards the sandy dunes that has replaced the otherwise beautiful acre. "Nah, they're too stubborn like me to even think of such a thing, mah guess is they tried to do somethin' about it but "it" ended up doin' somethin' to them instead," Applejack said as she walked away from the door and took a step as she looked around at the acres of sand, at the edge between their frontyard and the acres a single rope laid alone in the sand. "Look! Over there ya'll!" Applejack shouted as she pointed towards the rope and ran forward to it. As Applejack was about to touch it though, the ground started shaking as a big creature suddenly rose from the sand and looked down at Applejack with hungry eyes. But Applejack wasn't scared, she only yelled out a warcry and snatched the rope from the ground and used it as a lasso as she threw it up in the air, making sure to catch the creature in it as she quickly pulled, the rope slowly beginning to strangle the creature. "Where's mah family ya big thing?!" She yelled as she pulled on the rope even more, looking at the creature that looked exactly like a snake, its underside completely white but otherwise it was blue. The creature tried to breath but was unable to, and as it suddenly began singing on a strange tune the ground began shaking again as more snakes popped up from the ground, surrounding Applejack. "Well, ah ain't goin' down without a fight! Rainbow Dash and Luigi, let's give these reptiles a reason to stay out of mah farm!" Applejack said angrily as she withdrew her rope and put up her hooves, shadowboxing a bit in the air in an attempt to frighten the snakes. "Oke dokey!" Luigi shouted as he ran towards the ring of snakes surrounding Applejack as he prepared his lightning powers again, getting up close as he powered up the ball of lightning in his hand before slamming his hand into a snake, shocking it entirely as it slumped backwards onto the sand, almost crushing Luigi. The ground started shaking yet again and all the snakes went down into the sand, Rainbow Dash, Luigi and Applejack only stood still and watched their surroundings, what was going to happen next? Before they had a chance to ask another snake popped out of the ground, but this one was enormous and had a nice royal coat and a crown, it loomed so tall over them that it blocked out the sun. "Hmfph! Who dares to attack my royal servants?" The snake thing said with what Applejack would call an overdone Canterlot accent. Luigi looked at the snake and pulled up his cap a bit as he growled and ran forward, climbing up on the snake with the help of the snake's robes, when he reached the top of the snake's head he jumped up in the air and then retracted his legs in midair, falling down quite quickly as he did a groundpound on the snake's head. The snake screeched as his eyes got teary before he frowned and went underground, leaving Luigi to fall back onto the sand again. "Luigi! What did ya do that for?! Now ah'm not gonna find out anything about where mah family is!" Applejack shouted towards Luigi as the ground began shaking again, but there was no sign of the snake. "Sorry, Applejack. But it was the Hisstocrat!" Luigi shouted back, running away from the spot as the shaking intensified. After some seconds the big snake reappeared, but this time he had another snake next to him, it looked mostly like himself but this one was pink instead of blue and had lipstick, clearly a female, but their pick of clothing were the same at the least. The snakes did not look happy though, they both glared at Luigi and they began singing that strange tune the first snake sang before as several other smaller snakes popped out of the ground, some having luxurious plates with shiny objects on them on their heads and some not. "Rainbow, go find a rope and use it as a lasso 'cus we have to capture these snakes!" Applejack shouted as she looked at Rainbow Dash and backed away a bit from the snakes. "Oh, such a dreadful accent!" The female Hisstocrat shouted as she cringed from Applejack's southern accent, a moment after she began gurgling something in her mouth and before anyone could react she opened it and spat out multiple fireballs. "Watch out!" Spike shouted as the fireballs started descending, shadowy spots on the bright sand indicated where they would land but Luigi, Applejack, Spike and Rainbow Dash still had a hard time avoiding them, but they got out of the situation unharmed. "Just a sec, AJ! Where can I find a rope anyways?" Rainbow Dash asked as the fireballs dropped to the sand and disappeared. "Look in the barn, better be one over there!" Applejack shouted as she ran forward and jumped up on one of the plates infront of the male Hisstocrat, glaring at him as she adjusted her hat. "Got it, I'll be back!" Rainbow Dash shouted as she flew away quickly towards the barn. Applejack watched as Rainbow Dash soared away and then turned around once again as she stood face to face with the male Hisstocrat. "You should have left mah farm alone, ya big sandeater!" Applejack said before leaping up in the air from the plate and landing on the snake's head. The male Hisstocrat became teary eyed and spinned around before disappearing underground again making Applejack fly off him at a high speed as she crashed into the sand. "You imbecils! How dare you treat a gentlesnake like that!" The female Hisstocrat said as she began singing on the snakecharmer tune as her own royal servants appeared, these seemed more agressive with their angry eyes and just how they seemed to move visciously. "Time for you to learn some Etiquette!" She shouted as she began singing on a very strange tune different from the snakecharmer tune. And before they knew it the female snakes began diving forward into the sand and appeared around them some moments after, looking like angry Cobra's who were about to have an afternoon snack. Luigi picked up Spike on his back as he jumped up into the air and got out of the surrounding ring of snakes, some seconds passed and Applejack did the same just as the all snakes dove down in the middle where they had been standing before. "Luigi, Spike. Let's return the favor!" Applejack said as she gestured for them to follow as they began running forward against the female Hisstocrat but just as they were approaching the ground began shaking and the male surfaced and opened his wide snake mouth, and before they could stop they unfortunately ran into his open mouth and slipped into his throat. The inside of the snake's throat was slippery and as they tried to make a futile attempt to hold on and not slip further down in the throat the Hisstocrat began dancing, making the wall of the throat shake as it became much more difficult to hold on, forcing them to let go and fall to into the dark abyss... Night was quickly approaching and it was already pitch black outside, but Mario had no intention of stopping now. Him and Fluttershy were sneaking through the abandoned streets of Canterlot, wondering about what exactly had happened. Mario figured that those insectile ponies had a part to play in this, and every now and then he could see them fly into an open window and moments after it would glow green from inside the house. And as Fluttershy and Mario turned into another streetway they pressed themselves against the wall as a small group of Changelings flew above them, their horns shining light on the ground beneath them on individual spots, just like a flashlight. "Mario? I'm really, really, scared... I want to get out of here," Fluttershy whispered to Mario as they began advancing yet again. "Stay-a calm, Fluttershy. We're gonna get through this, nobody is-a going to take down-a me that easily," Mario whispered as he patted Fluttershy's head reassuringly before continuing to move towards where the signs were pointing the trainstation was positioned. Suddenly another group of changelings appeared, this time on the ground. Mario and Fluttershy had no time to react before the light found them directly. Mario laid Twilight down on the ground and raised his fists, standing in a defensive position. But the small group of changelings suddenly fired a laser up in the air instead of firing it at them, and when it was high up in the air it exploded and made a screeching sound. Mario knew that this was going to attract other changelings and instead quickly picked up Twilight and strapped her to his back with a rope he found on the ground and took a hold of Fluttershy and began running in the opposite direction. "Oh no! No! Run faster!" Fluttershy screamed as she began to panic, but for a good reason. The stars were being blocked out and instead the sky was crawling with changelings instead, and they looked very angry. Mario ran as fast as he could with Twilight on his back while dragging along Fluttershy, deciding to not look back as he continued to run. Suddenly multiple changelings landed infront of him but he didn't care, he had the Tanooki suit for a reason. He leaped up into the air and spinned his tail as he stayed airbourne, jumping over the changelings that blocked his path. As they landed, Fluttershy released herself from Mario's grip and began running herself instead of just being dragged along. All the changelings in Canterlot were probably chasing them right now and their way to the trainstation had just been significantly more difficult. Mario turned into another alleyway alongsides and Fluttershy, but it turned out to be a dead end. And as Mario heard the changelings approach he had to improvise, as he looked around he saw a barrel full of dynamites and a scrapped airplane. Mario picked up his wrench and got to work as he grabbed most of the parts from the plane and attached them to the barrel, he quickly threw out the dynamites within the barrel, replacing them with the airplane engine and placed the dynamites in a pile neatly on the ground and then placed the airplane barrel some meters ahead of it. He took out yet another Fireflower from his pocket and spinned around as he became Fire Mario yet again and threw a fireball towards the fuse attached to the dynamite as he hopped on the barrel, gesturing for Fluttershy to do the same. She hesitated but gave in as she hopped on and grabbed on tight as Mario did. "Uh, Mario? How exactly did you, uhm, think this would work?" Fluttershy asked as she looked at the airplane barrel that had no wheels and then back at the stack of dynamites that were soon to explode a couple of meters behind them. "Don't-a you worry, DK taught me," Mario said as he smirked, looking back he saw that the swarm of changelings entered the alleyway but their expression soon turned into panic as they saw how much dynamite was laying on the ground and how much of the fuse was left. With a boom the stack of dynamites exploded and the changelings that were at the front of the swarm evaporated into green sparkling dust, but the explosion was powerful enough to get the airplane barrel to launch into the air, and the speed of the launch was quick enough to get the propeller working. Mario smirked, and as he looked down he could see the trainstation and quickly began steering the airplane barrel towards it, but as he looked up and down he also saw that the changelings hadn't given up yet. They began firing bolts of green lasers at Mario and Fluttershy. Mario steered it into safety but he realised that there was no way they would survive by taking the train, and instead he steered it towards Ponyville in the distance. Fluttershy had been screaming the entire time as she did not like being stuck on this dangerous contraption, but it was either this or the fate of being kidnapped by Changelings. But they hadn't stopped following them either. The changelings began firing green magic from behind them and Mario tried steering it out of harms way but suddenly two magic bolts hit both wings, making the wings explode and detach. The airplane barrel started to lose altitude quite quickly and Mario tried steering it upwards but a simple propeller wasn't enough to keep them airbourne. Mario tried to think of a solution and looked at Fluttershy... she had wings. "Fluttershy! Use-a your wings! You have to!" Mario shouted to Fluttershy who was covering her eyes with her wings, but she looked up with tear filled eyes and nodded. Fluttershy began flapping her wings very hard and fast as if her life depended on it, which it actually did. She managed to gain altitude with the barrel and Mario sighed in relief and wiped his forehead before returning to steer the flying barrel. Mario suddenly felt Twilight beginning to turn and move her limbs a bit, his eyes started bulging in panic and looked back to see Twilight opening her eyes slowly, blinking a bit as she looked at everyone with distant eyes. But as she looked back at all the changelings chasing them her distant look disappeared and instead she began clingering onto Mario in pure instict, unconsciously making it harder for him to steer. "Gah! What in the whole Tartarus is going on!" Twilight screamed as she took a firmer grip of Mario so that she wouldn't fall down. "Oh, uh, hi Twilight," Fluttershy said as she continued to flap her wings, avoiding mutliple magic bolts from the changelings who had pretty bad aim, at the least from the distance they were flying. "Those-a bugs swarmed us, we-a had to escape!" Mario shouted as he steered the flying barrel downwards as he looked back and saw that the changelings had made a group formation and were about to fire one single massive magic beam towards them. "How does this even make sense?! Is this a sick, twisted dream?!" Twilight screamed as the massive magic beam passed right over their heads. "We'll explain-a later!" Mario said, watching in horror as the changelings picked up some speed and flew past them. In the distance they were creating flying formations and were probably going to set up some blockades. "Oh yeah, you better!" Twilight shouted, aiming her horn to the changelings behind them, firing off rapid streams of magic that succesfully scattered the swarms and forced the changelings to take cover and stop chasing. She then used her magic to unbind the rope and instead clinged onto Mario even more safely. But the problem ahead of them wasn't gone and the changeling formations were approaching rather quickly. Fluttershy started panicking even more and her wings stopped flapping as the changelings approached and the flying barrel lost altitude very fast since the propeller had stopped going after Fluttershy had began flapping her wings instead. But as the changeling had passed by Twilight took over and took a hold of the barrel as quick as she could and used her stronger Alicorn wings to gain altitude again to avoid a changeling formation that had sweeped lower to actually hit them. "You know what, even though my heart is probably beating too fast because of all these tense moments, this is pretty fun!" Twilight said with a smirk as she powered up her horn and fired away rapid magical bolts against the approaching changeling formation, scattering them and killing off most of the formation. All seemed to go well before the whole sky began shining with a green ominous light and something flew past them before they could see it, but as they looked ahead they saw the changeling queen herself, Chrysalis. She grinned and powered up her horn and fired away, the single magical bolt directly hitting the barrel as it exploded and sent them all flying up into the air without warning, throwing them off control. Twilight regained the control of her wings and swooped down to grab Mario in mid-air successfully, he at least didn't weight as much as the barrel and him combined and this was nothing she couldn't handle. Some moments after Fluttershy also regained her control and flew over to Twilight as they were face to face with Chrysalis. "So, you're the three who have been messing with my army?" Chrysalis said calmly as she flapped her insectile wings, grinning menacingly all the while. "What are you doing here!?" Twilight said angrily, growling a bit as she clenched her teeth. "Well, all my changelings went into pursuit after you three, but they failed. So I had to see who the troublemakers were myself, and here you are," Chrysalis said, crossing her front hooves as she continued to grin. "Yeah, well. What are you going to do about it? We don't have the princess," Twilight said as she looked at Chrysalis, remembering that Zecora had told her that Chrysalis was out to kidnap Princess Peach. "Mhm, but I want to have a little fun. I'll let you go peacefully if you can make it to Ponyville before me and my army can kidnap you or defeat you," Chrysalis suggested as she smirked and pointed towards Ponyville, which still was a long way ahead. "Deal!" Mario shouted from beneath Twilight as he grabbed a normal brown Tanooki leaf from his pocket and touched it with the tip of his finger, turning into Tanooki Mario as he began spinning his tail rapidly to gain altitude. "Then so be it, you three have ten seconds on you to distance yourself from us, and then you better be afraid," Chrysalis said and smiled, crossing her front hoof as she fired a green laser into the sky as a giant black cloud gathered over Canterlot and began approaching quickly. Without hesitation, Mario jumped up on Twilight's back and spinned his tail to give her a slight speed boost and to make up for his added weight. Fluttershy, Twilight and Mario nodded to eachother before dashing forward, trying to fly away as fast as possible from Chrysalis. This did go faster than the airplane barrel but they couldn't look back without taking the risk to slow down now, so if anything would happen, they wouldn't know it before it hit them. Suddenly though, Chrysalis soared ahead of them and enveloped herself with green magic before she took the shape of a big winged dragon. Fluttershy's wings almost froze in panic but she knew it wasn't an actual dragon, but it still looked like a big fire-breathing dragon. Mario and Twilight gasped in shock and ascended together with Fluttershy over the clouds to avoid Chrysalis in her dragon transformation. "Who said Changelings can't change into dragons?" Chrysalis said with a playful but dark and growly voice, her giant dragon head peeking up through the clouds and watching Twilight, Mario and Fluttershy pass over her. "This is impossible! The amount of magic that transformation would require is too much to think of!" Twilight shouted as they passed over Chrysalis head and then descended again, seeing that Ponyville was not that far away now. "Oh, but I am a queen and there is just so much potent love in Canterlot, tee hee!" Chrysalis said, beginning to slowly fly after them as she powered up her belly with the hottest of fire, hot enough to destroy a whole mountain if necessary. Mario looked back and saw the golden light that shined through Chrysalis scales, he quickly tried to steer Twilight down and she got the gesture and quickly descended alongsides with Fluttershy, just after five seconds the steaming hot fire passed over their heads and was enough for them to feel like they were sitting in a REALLY warm sauna. "Woah! She can breathe fire too?! What is this madness!?" Twilight shouted as she looked at the golden fire above them. "Alright, keep it together everyone. We're soon there!" She continued as she looked forward and saw Ponyville quite clearly now, but she also noticed that the whole Sweet Apple Acre was covered in sand and began steering towards it instead of her original landing spot which was just the entrance to Ponyville. "Doing great so far, but that was just phase two of the chase!" Chrysalis said as her fellow changeling army began picking up speed and transformed into very small dragons, about the size of a pony. Mario looked back and saw the approaching swarm of mini dragons and looked at Twilight and Fluttershy. "Baby dragons incoming!" Fluttershy smiled at the thought of 'baby' dragons and looked behind her to see but her they didn't look as she had imagined, these looked like adult dragons but they were just small. But she had an idea, she quickly pulled out a bird whistle from a small bag around her neck she always carries around. She blew it and all the trees in the Everfree Forest below them began shaking intensely before all birds flew up in a more massive swarm than the changelings and tried to fly after Fluttershy but on their way they only flew into all the changelings and made it difficult for them to fly fast as some even crashed towards the ground as they tried to shake off all the small birds. Chrysalis smirked and as she saw that they crossed the border into Ponyville she sighed and transformed herself into her normal shape and all the changelings turned back as well. "Good luck try finding that princess for us, because we'll arrive when you do!" Chrysalis shouted before she gestured for all her minions to follow her as she turned around and flew back towards Canterlot. "Grr," Twilight simply said as she growled, but she had to find out why there was so much sand at The Sweet Apple Acres and continued to fly forward. "Uhm, Twilight? Can I go home now? If you don't mind of course," Fluttershy said calmly as she felt tired from all the work her wings have done. "Could you hang on a bit longer, Fluttershy? I have to see what's going on here," Twilight said as she stopped over Sweet Apple Acres and descended, landing firmly on the sandy ground. Mario jumped off and immediately saw footsteps covering the sand here and there, but these weren't any ordinary footsteps, it was from his brother's boots. "Luigi has been here..." Mario said as he looked at Twilight. "So has Applejack," Twilight said as she looked a bit ahead and saw Applejack's hat laying infront of a big round pit. "I, uh, wonder what happened here... on second thought though, I don't wanna know." Fluttershy said as she backed away and watched her surroundings, what really had happened? To Be Continued...
Chapter 2-2 Part 2 "Snakey Chantey/Belly Of The Beast"Luigi opened his eyes, but he still couldn't see. The smell that immediately hit his nose was anything but pleasant, it smelled like apple juice combined with stomach acid. And that's when he realised that he was soaked in something, he was floating in some liquid even. He grabbed his flashlight from his soaked pocket and quickly activated it to make some sense of all this. And as the light illuminated his surroundings he saw that he was in a big "cave" made entirely of pink flesh, and the water that he was floating in had the same colour as apple juice. He scratched his head and began swimming towards a small island amongst the apple juice and climbed up without slipping. And that's when he remembered that they had been gobbled up by the Hisstocrat and he must have passed out when he hit the surface of the apple juice. Another question arose in Luigi's head as he began remembering, where was Applejack and Spike? He remembered that he had been trying to hold onto Spike while they were falling and Applejack was with them as well. Rainbow Dash had been gone while it happened, but did she get eaten as well? "Heeeeello?!" Luigi shouted as he searched for Applejack and Spike nearby, shining with his flashlight in the apple juice to see if they were there. A loud rumbling could be heard afterwards and the meaty floor began shaking intensely as Luigi tried to hold on. Some seconds passed and suddenly more juice began flowing down in small tubes that hanged in the roof, making the room fill up significantly with more juice. Luigi began to panic at the rising levels of juice and noticed that there was a dark path ahead underwater which probably lead to some other area. He quickly jumped into the apple juice and tried to hold his breath as he quickly swam to the tunnel. It wasn't a dead end at the least and seemed to lead up into a bigger tunnel which he quickly began swimming towards. But as he continued to shine underwater with his flashlight it suddenly began blinking and he started to panic. He began to swim even faster as he tried to cover as much distance as he could before his flashlight died, and as he swam into the big tunnel he saw that there was a surface just ahead. He quickly surfaced out of the juice a moment after and searched around this new room with his blinking flashlight as he saw that this room wasn't as filled with juice as the other had been, and it looked like he could mostly walk in here. Luigi crawled up from the juice and stood up on the meaty floor, as he looked around he saw that Spike was sitting restlessly against a wall and his eyes were empty of hope. "Spike! Is-a that really you!?" Luigi shouted as he ran over to Spike and hugged him, crying tears of joy to find someone else in this crowded inside of a giant snake. "Luigi! I thought you and Applejack were dead!" Spike said with a smile but the happiness was shortlived as it began rumbling again, the floor beginning to shake intensely. Luigi quickly retracted from the hug and looked around for any sign of trouble, but he only noticed that there was now a round opening to a straight tunnel that seemed to be glowing faintly. But soon it began rumbling again and as Luigi looked towards where the sound came from he saw that a big tube opened and juice began flowing out in a big river into the room. "Waaah! Run!" Luigi shouted as he grabbed Spike and threw him on his shoulder before turning around and running as fast as he could into the tunnel. The sounds of splashing juice echoed from behind them but the same old rumble could be heard again before the opening closed and the water couldn't get into the corridor. Luigi sighed and wiped some sweat from his forehead in relief as he looked back at the closed opening and instead slowly walked towards the glowing light. And as they walked through the corridor his flashlight suddenly died, but it didn't matter since the light from the other end of the tunnel was enough to illuminate where he was stepping. "I wonder where that light is coming from," Spike said as he scratched the scales on his head and tried to see what laid before them. "Hopefully ice cream and birthday candles!" Luigi said naively as he patted his belly. Spike heard another rumble and made a panicked expression. "Luigi! Quick! Another rumble!" Spike shouted as he held onto Luigi's cap. Luigi chuckled and made an awkward expression. "Sorry, just-a my belly. I'm really hungry!" Luigi said as he continued to walk slowly forward as the end of the tunnel slowly approached. The light shined so bright that Luigi and Spike had to cover their eyes with their hands as they stepped through the opening to what they assumed was another room, but as their eyes adjusted to the light and they retracted their hands to see their surroundings they both stared with an open mouth. This room was bigger than the others, significantly bigger than the other rooms infact. It was as big as Celestia's throneroom in Canterlot but entirely made of flesh, with weird looking round glowing things hanging from the ceiling. And as Luigi and Spike took another step into the room and took in their surroundings they saw Applejack ahead, but she was surrounded by weird black Koopas with turqoise eyes and with an insectile structure. "You leave Applejack alone!" Spike shouted towards the group of insect-Koopas. Applejack peered up her ears and smiled before sighing in relief, but her expression soon changed into one of worry instead as one of the creatures turned around slightly and glared towards Spike and Luigi with turqoise glowing eyes. "Spike! Luigi! Be careful there fellas!" Applejack shouted to Spike as every insect-Koopa turned around and showed off their razor sharp teeth. "R-r-run!" Luigi shouted as he immediately began running to the left with Spike on his shoulders as the insect-Koopas approached, but they didn't stop either and gave chase after him and Spike. "What are you doing?! Running isn't going to solve this situation!" Spike shouted as Luigi ran for his life around the room to distance himself from the creatures. "There are too many of them!" Luigi screamed as he stopped at the right upper corner of the square room, looking at the insect-Koopas as they approached. "Yeah, well, we gotta save Applejack and then get out of here!" Spike said as he began to panic, Luigi stood still against the corner and the creatures were approaching quickly. But Luigi smirked as they were almost within a hands reach and instead jumped over them as they couldn't stop and ran into the fleshy wall with their head first. The wall sucked them in as if it was made of jelly and they tried to futilely escape but just ended up drawing themselves in even more. "Woah, that was kind of smart of you, Luigi," Spike said as he wiped his forehead but soon began to panic as he saw that not all creatures had gotten stuck in the jelly-like wall of flesh, three remained, and they looked more agressive than before. "Hang on, Spike," Luigi said with a smirk and jumped up into the air and masterfully landed on one of the creatures as it fell to the ground before slightly exploding and turning into green glowing dust. All the creatures looked on in horror and then began running away themselves in panic, one creature quickly began singing on a familiar tune, it was the tune that the female Hisstocrat had sung to make her servants attack and become more agressive. A moment passed and familiar rumble returned as an opening in the wall revealed itself which the creatures quickly ran into to escape from Luigi and Spike. "Well, could ya believe it? Ah could have probably taken them down if ah was prepared, but they ambushed me when ah finally had found mah family. They left me here but they took Applebloom, Macintosh and Granny Smith down that tunnel," Applejack said as she approached, she was without her hat and to Luigi, that was a strange sight to see. "Then what are we waiting for, let's go save ourselves some apples!" Spike said heroically as he sat on Luigi's shoulders. "Yeah!" Luigi shouted as he struck an heroic pose together with Spike on his shoulders infront of Applejack. "Hehe, come on then, heroes," Applejack said as she smiled before turning around and changed her expression into one of determination. "Celestia knows what they're doin' to mah family right now," Applejack muttered as they walked towards the tunnel, she began doubting if she really would see her family again, but she would. There was no way she was going to let anything horrible happen to them. "Applejack! Luigi!" Twilight shouted across the acres as she levitated Applejack's hat behind her. But she got no answer, something had happened to one of her best friends and she didn't even know if she was gone, or something worse. She looked at Mario and Fluttershy that stood behind her in the sand, she had at least some friends left. But something instinctively told her that Applejack wasn't the only one that was missing, because, where was Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash and Spike? "What are we going to do, you two? We can't find them anywhere, and I have no idea on how to find them! If only there was a spell for this particular reason!" Twilight said as she frowned and walked towards Applejack's house and away from the sand with Fluttershy and Mario following her. Suddenly they heard someone shouting from within the barn and they all looked towards it, Twilight, Fluttershy and Mario instinctively ran towards the barn as a feeling of hope began to grow. Was it Applejack, was it Spike, was it Luigi, was it Rainbow Dash or was it all of them? "Help!" They heard from within the barn, they could recognize the voice but they weren't sure. Twilight quickly powered up her horn and fired an explosive magic bolt towards the door as it blew open and she hurried in and infront of her she saw Rainbow Dash laying on the floor, her left wing stuck to the floor by a hayfork. "Sweet Celestia, Rainbow! What happened!?" Twilight shouted as she carefully enveloped the hayfork with a magical aura and lifted it up from Rainbow Dash's wing. "Nghn! Gah!" Rainbow Dash screamed in pain as Twilight lifted the hayfork, her wing aching in agonizing pain as small driplets of blood fell to the floor. Fluttershy covered her eyes with her wings as she saw the blood, she unwillingly began imagining herself having a hayfork impaled in her wing and winced. "Rainbow, what happened here? Answer me!" Twilight said as she worriedly ran forward and pointed her horn towards Rainbow's wing and tried to heal it with a spell. "Applejack told me to fetch a rope in the barn so we could catch the giant snakes that attacked us, but just as I grabbed the rope I bumped into something and suddenly that hayfork fell down and impaled my wing!" Rainbow Dash said as she bit her lip while Twilight tried to heal her wounds. "Giant snakes? Oh, that sounds awful," Fluttershy said, looking up from her wings. "Yeah, they looked like quite a pain even for me, but something happened to the others, I don't know. I tried screaming after them but they never arrived," Rainbow Dash said, looking at Mario and Fluttershy. "Who are "the others"? Do you mean Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Luigi, Spike and Applejack?" Twilight asked as she finished healing Rainbow Dash's wounds. "What are you talking about, Twilight? Only Luigi, Spike and Applejack went back to Ponyville, the others stayed in Canterlot," Rainbow Dash said as she quirked an eyebrow and saw that only Mario, Fluttershy and Twilight were the ones present. "Wait what?! Mario?! Why didn't you say something?!" Twilight said as she froze in place before turning around and glaring towards Mario. "Not-a my fault! We-a got ambushed by-a changelings!" Mario exclaimed as he crossed his arms. "We-a barely got away ourselves anyways!" Mario added as he lowered his arms again and looked back and forth at Fluttershy and Twilight. "The changelings got them...?" Twilight said as she calmed down and instead frowned, her eyes staring down into the ground. "If only I had been awake to protect them," she muttered to herself before looking up again and walking out of the barn with determined steps. "Uhm, Twilight? I really need to return to my animals, I haven't fed them in a while and oh, I'm so worried about them. I'll return right after that though!" Fluttershy said as she prepared to take off, but patiently waited for an answer from Twilight. "Yeah, but stay careful, Fluttershy. We don't want yet another one of our friends to go missing do we?" Twilight said as she looked back at Fluttershy and waved her hoof slightly. "Bye, Flutters!" Rainbow Dash shouted to Fluttershy as the yellow pegasus lightly flew up into the air and headed to her cottage. "Rainbow Dash, where did these quote on quote "snakes" go?" Twilight said as she walked out of the barn and onto the sand and looked around for any other signs of Applejack, Luigi and Spike's disappearance. "I don't know, they just appeared out of the ground," Rainbow Dash said as she walked up to Twilight with Mario behind her. "Hm? Appeared out of the-a ground?" Mario said as he began stroking his moustache, pondering as some things began fall into place. Big snakes that appeared out of the ground... that live in sand. "Yeah, and they had a Canterlot accent and then there were these super giant snakes that used those normal giant snakes as servants, one female and one male!" Rainbow Dash said as she tried to explain how they looked. Mario dropped his jaw as he slowly began realising, he pulled up his cap and growled. "The Hisstocrats! They took-a Luigi! They're gonna pay for-a doing this to my-a brother!" "Yeah, Luigi said something about some Hisstocrat too, you know these things, Mario?" Rainbow Dash asked as she quirked an eyebrow. "Mhm, and they're going down!" Mario said as he pulled out a Super-bell and put it on his neck as he spinned around and transformed into Cat-Mario. Twilight and Rainbow Dash exchanged some weird stares as they looked at Mario, he was covered in fur and had a cat tail and cat ears. "How is that 'thing' you're wearing going to solve anything, Mario?" Twilight asked as she scratched her mane with one of her front hooves. "You'll-a see! They'll return, we-a just have to wait," Mario said as he looked out towards the acre and glared at nothing really, but he was prepared to avenge his brother. Applejack, Luigi and Spike peeked through the end of the tunnel and the exit lead to a big room covered with some weird kind of black cobweb or something. Luigi recognised it at the least, it was like the thing that had been covering the changeling egg chamber in the old castle in the Everfree Forest. But how? "Ah'd reckon that this is the place where they're keeping mah family," Applejack said as she crawled through the end of the tunnel but was surprised as she suddenly began falling down towards the floor. She wasn't prepared that the end of the tunnel was positioned quite high up on the wall, but none the less she still survived the fall and got up slowly as she looked around. The floor of the room was filled with turqoise glowing liquid and some familiar-looking changeling eggs scattered here and there. Weird looking pods were attached to the walls with the same black substance as the floor and everything else in this room and inside the pods were creatures of all kinds from what they could tell. The room was square just as most other rooms that came before and was the biggest one yet, the sizes of the rooms just seemed to increase for each room they entered and Applejack began doubting if they were still even inside the snake. Luigi crawled out with Spike on his shoulders and was unprepared of the height as well, flailing with his arms to try to stay in the air, which worked to some degree due to the 'slapstick laws of physics' which only he and Pinkie Pie seemed to be able to use, but in the end he fell down with his face first and landed with a loud 'smack' onto the insectile floor. "Ya okay there, sugarcubes?" Applejack said as she looked behind her at Luigi who's face was stuck in the floor and Spike who was comfortably sitting on Luigi's back. "Yeah, I think so," Spike said as she stepped off Luigi and looked around the room as well. "I mean, he survived jumping off a train and getting slammed into a big rock... I think he'll be fine." "Awawa..." Luigi said as he pulled his face up from the floor and sat back, seeing stars spinning around his head for a moment as he tried to come back to his senses. "So, got any clues on where the others are?" Spike said as he walked up to Applejack and looked around of what was actually inside the room. "Nah, but ah think they can actually be inside one of these pods right here," Applejack said as she looked at all the pods that were attached to the walls, trying to find at least someone she could recognise. "Then let's start looking, Luigi, could use a hand here," Spike said as he looked at Luigi and waited for him to get up, which he did. "Oke dokee!" Luigi said as he picked up Spike and threw him onto his shoulder to give him a piggy-back ride. But before they could start searching, Applejack heard the sound of what could only be a filly struggling to breathe. She turned towards the sound and saw Applebloom with her ribbon stuck in of the pods that were slowly being filled with the turqoise liquid. "Applebloom!" Applejack screamed in panic and ran towards the pod as quick as she could and smiled for a second to see her sister again, but she was also VERY determined to get her beloved sister out of there. She turned around to buck the pod with her strong hooves but it didn't budge, it was like hitting very solid rock. Applejack didn't give up however, she was known to be stubborn and she would not let her sister drown in whatever liquid that was. She tried couple of more times but the pod still didn't budge. Applejack looked at Applebloom once again and saw that she had gone unconscious, probably because of the lack of air. But suddenly she saw two small thin tentacle-like things reaching down within the pod and traveling up into Appleblooms nose. Applejack hoped that these things provided oxygen, but that was only mere hope. She raised her hind-hooves and bucked onto the pod again, but nothing happened yet again. A single tear ran down Applejack's cheek as she struggled to save her sister but her efforts were useless, without thinking she began banging on the pod with her front-hooves while starting to cry uncontrollably. "Applebloom! Please sob h-hang in there, ah'll save ya!" She shouted as she continued to cry, banging on the pod even more before she gave up and slowly fell to the floor as her tears began forming a puddle on the floor right infront of the pod. Luigi and Spike approached Applejack as fast as they could and looked at the pod in horror as a bright green flashing began lighting up the room. Applebloom's fur began disappearing and her skin slowly turned into the insectile chitin of a changeling, holes beginning to form on her hooves and a small twisting horn starting to sprout just like a plant on hear forehead as her mane slowly disappeared. Spike growled slightly and got angry inside, the changelings would surely pay for this. But he was more worried for the well of Applejack's sanity and jumped down from Luigi's shoulders and held his hands over Applejack's eyes so she would not see the new Applebloom if she were to look up even once. "W-what are ya doin', Spike?" Applejack said as her sobbing came to an end and she pulled away Spike's hands just because they were a bit irritating, but she regretted her choice as she slowly stood up and looked at Applebloom. She roared out in anger and stomped down in the ground as her nostrils fired up, she looked at her little fragile sister that wasn't her sister anymore, she didn't even resemble Applebloom anymore. The only thing that did remind Applejack of who it was the ribbon that was now attached to the changeling horn and acted most only to aggrevate Applejack even more. As she looked next to Applebloom at the other two pods she saw a big muscular changeling and in the other an old normal sized changeling, their past identities dawned upon Applejack as she looked at them even more. She was sad, but anger and rage were the feelings she felt the most, she began walking towards a big tunnel that lead elsewhere with heavy steps, almost marching even. But she was determined to get out of the snake and find whoever was responsible and make them dig their own grave. But just as she was about to step in, three unique changelings dropped down infront of her, one insectile-Koopa, one normal changeling and one armoured changeling with a diamond horn that stood in the middle of the group. Applejack didn't care and instead pulled up her front hooves and swinged with her left hoof with all her anger inserted into it. The hoof slammed into the changeling-Koopa and it flew back and turned into dust. The other two changelings tried to figure out her next move, but that proved to be impossible as Applejack didn't use tactics, she only wanted to avenge her sister in any way possible. She brought up her hooves and leaped onto the armoured changeling and began hitting it repeatedly as she seethed her rage, her punches all in full force. The armoured changeling turned into dust as well from just three hits and Applejack proceeded her rampage with picking up the armor and throwing it at the one remaining changeling's head, the force of the metal armor strong enough to actually make the changeling die and turn into green glowing dust as well. "Applejack? Are you okay!?" Spike shouted as he and Luigi ran up to Applejack, trying to keep their distance as they knew Applejack was beyond the level of having a normal conversation without punching something now. Applejack ignored the two concerned friends and instead stood still as her nostrils continued to flare in anger, she was going to avenge her family at all costs and find a way to turn them back. She wasted no time and immediately marched towards the end of the big tunnel, she was going to stop at nothing and if someone would try to block her... ...a strong and anger-infused punch awaited their 'once' pretty face. "Mario, we can't just wait like this, for each second that passes Chrysalis grows stronger from all the plentyful love in Equestria," Twilight said as she walked back and forth, beginning to freak out at Mario who was just sitting and expecting the 'snake' to pop out of the ground. Suddenly the ground began shaking to everyones surprise. Rainbow Dash and Mario recognised it as the sign that the Hisstocrat or Hisstocrats were about to pop out of the ground. The shaking intensified as suddenly the female Hisstocrat appeared out of the ground, shaking herself as he shook off most of the sand from his royal cape. Her eyes bulged as she saw Mario sitting with angry eyes in his cat-suit. "Oh! My goodness! I d-didn't expect you to be here, mister Mario. Hehe," she said as she blushed in awkwardness and was about to travel down into the ground again but waited just to see where this was going. "You took-a my brother!" Mario shouted as he jumped up from the ground without warning, getting high enough up in the air as he dived forward with his cat claws aimed forward, landing right on the female Hisstocrat's head as tears formed at the sides of her eyes before she spinned around and then dived down into the ground. "Prepare yourselves! This ended bad for Luigi and Applejack, remember?" Rainbow Dash said as she flapped her wings and lifted from the ground, her healed wing feeling better than ever. "Right, well. We'll see how this goes!" Twilight said as she flapped her wings as well and flew up into the air. Mario felt the ground starting to shake even more than before and ran away from the spot where he landed, and just as he did the male Hisstocrat surfaced and began gobbling up into the air before stopping and looking around to see who he was really facing. As he saw Mario he whimpered in fear but knew that it was now or never. "Twilight, Rainbow! Dive-a down towards his-a head!" Mario shouted as his angry eyes almost piercing the male Hisstocrat's soul. "Okay!... wait what?!" Twilight said as she looked down at Mario and got confused by the question but was surprised to see Rainbow Dash flying up into the air and then diving down towards the Hisstocrat's head, her front hooves slamming into the clean reptile head of the male Hisstocrat as he spinned around and dove under the sand again. It didn't take long before the ground shaked again but this time both Hisstocrats surfaced and looked at the two ponies and Mario with a somewhat fearful expression. They were afraid that maybe they had chewed off more than what they could swallow. Just as Luigi, Spike and Applejack entered the tunnel it began shaking and the floor began to slowly tilt downwards, everything began tilting actually. Suddenly what used to be floors turned into walls and walls turned into floors, and Applejack, Luigi and Spike began falling down into the next room without warning while screaming. Luigi landed first even though Applejack was infront of him, but she fell ontop of Luigi and Spike landed on Applejack. Spike took in his surroundings and saw a person with red robes that concealed most of his body, but he looked like a male and he was picking small glowing orbs from the floor. "Hey, you! Did you get eaten as well?" Spike shouted as he climbed off Applejack and Luigi. The person turned around and pulled down his hood, revealing his green face and his blue glasses with weird spirals in them. "Eaten has happened to me indeed!" the weird person exclaimed as his big smile widened. "Swallowed like a waffle I has!" Spike quirked an eyebrow at the weirdo, something about the guy was very unsettling. "Uh, so. Do you know any way out?" "I say to you, no! If it had been so, the rotten fink-rats would be as sorry as a child that dropped a sandwich with peanut butter on the floor!" The weirdo said as he gathered all the glowing orbs and put them in a sack on his back. "Anypaths, the must be going is I!" "Yeah, and where are you supposed to go? You said that you didn't know a way out," Spike said as he looked at the weirdo who sat himself down on the floor, seemingly waiting for something to happen. "You is mistakenness, snake has explode soon!" the weirdo said in his very 'cryptic' language which Spike had a hard time understanding. Luigi and Applejack finally stood up and were surprised to see Spike talking to the weird guy, but Luigi gasped at the realisition and looked at the weirdo with the red robe and light-blue glasses and green skin... Fawful. "Oh, the fink-rat is there. Has you feel the fink-ratness wafting off the fink-rat like three spring-lambs covered in rotten socks? Fawful has felt the fink-rat," Fawful said as he stood up again and grinned with his big teeth at Luigi. "What-a you doing here?!" Luigi asked Fawful as he raised his fists a bit. "I has abandoning, I has loneliness! Green and red mustard defeat Fawful, so Fawful are exile!" Fawful said with his terrible grammar and made a dramatic pose as he frowned before returning to his wide grin. "Ah can't make a lick of sense out of this fellah," Applejack said as she tried to understand Fawful, but it was like reading an ancient language while sitting upside down. "Me neither," Spike said, his eyes wide as he looked at Fawful, clearly amazed about how someone can be so strange. The floor began shaking again and Fawful looked up, before looking back at all the others. "When snake has explode, the escape is us." "What do you mean with 'snake has explode'?!" Spike said as he rubbed his forehead, his mind going into an overdrive to understand. "He means that the snake is-a going to explode, and that is-a going to be our escape," Luigi said, being familiar with Fawful's antics he at least could understand his way of speaking to some degree. "Oh, I guess that makes sense, then let's just wait!" Spike said as he jumped up on Luigi's shoulders again. "You is bad understanding, Fawful has outstanding language," Fawful said mockingly towards Spike and chuckled. Spike shaked his head and facepalmed, how would this end? The Hisstocrat couple both sang the snake-charmer tune in unison as the ground shook, summoning their loyal servants to their side as they used them as a protective wall against Mario, but he only smirked menacingly and looked up at Twilight who was high up in the air. "Hello! You-a Twilight, get-a me up in the air!" Mario shouted before he looked towards the Hisstocrat couple as they began singing on another tune, which was very unfamiliar to him. He raised an eyebrow as the servants dove into the sand again, confused as to why they had retreated beforethe ground shook beneath him and he quickly jumped away from the spot as he looked back and saw a female Hisstocrat servant rising up from the ground and chewing up towards the air in an attempt to eat Mario, but he was already gone from the spot. Twilight descended towards Mario and he quickly jumped up on her back as she then soared up into the sky, out of the Hisstocrat's range. "Okay, so here is-a the plan. You dive-a towards them and in the last second I-a jump off and hit the female Hisstocrat's head and-a you continue diving towards the male, oke?" Mario said to Twilight as he held on tight on her back. "Yeah, got it. But won't that hurt?" Twilight asked as she turned to look behind her at Mario. "Haha, no," Mario said as he chuckled. "Their heads are-a like jelly, you'll-a be fine." "Alright, let's go!" Twilight said as she dived towards the male Hisstocrat, her speed almost uncontrollably fast and within seconds Mario jumped off and dived down towards the female Hisstocrat. Both landed at the same time and both Hisstocrats spinned around with tears in their eyes before they plunged into the sand again. The snakes surfaced again, this time they looked more furious than afraid of Mario, and as they surfaced the female spit out fireballs and the male spit out concentrated balls of boiling mud into the air which slowly mixed with the fire and rained down towards the ground. Rainbow Dash, Twilight and Mario avoided the projectiles with ease and turned to face the Hisstocrats once again. "This is a crime against wealth and law! I dare you to stomp on my head one more time, because I won't hesitate to call my lawyer on you, Mario!" The female Hisstocrat shouted before she sang the snake-charmer tune and summoned her servants once again. "I'll say the same, you rude baboon!" The male Hisstocrat said as he spit out a rapid stream of heated mud against Mario, which the plumber avoided swiftly in his catsuit. Both Hisstocrats sang the other tune again as the ground suddenly  egan to shake violently around Mario, and before he knew it all their servants appeared out of the sand and immediately began chasing Mario as he turned around and ran for his life. "Wahahaho! Help-a me!" "Twilight, take pinky over there and I'll take blue-guy," Rainbow Dash said before she soared up into the sky much to Twilight's surprise. But Twilight did as she was tasked to do and began diving down towards the female who was too occupied looking at Mario as he ran for his life away from their servants. Twilight raised her front hooves and held them straight forward as she crashed down onto the female Hisstocrat's head. The giant royal snake spinned around as she began to glow in all the colours of the rainbow, her servants also stopping dead in their tracks and slowly spinning around. Twilight distanced herself and she was caught off guard as the female Hisstocrat suddenly exploded into a myriad of colours, all of the sand disappearing with her as it just magically disappeared, revealing the oddly enough fertile soil under it. "Woah! Oh no! How am I supposed to move in this dirt?! My cape is going to get all messy as well!" The male Hisstocrat said as he found himself stuck in the dirt. Suddenly Twilight looked up in the air and saw Rainbow Dash quickly approaching, she tried to distance herself again as the pegasus dived down towards the Hisstocrat. Rainbow Dash's wings were flapping like crazy and she showed no sign of stopping as she crashed down towards the Hisstocrat and slammed into his head with her front hooves, which in return made her bounce off the jelly-like surface and into the air again. Twilight and Mario looked at the Hisstocrat as he blinked, unaware of what just happened as tears formed at the corners of his eyes. He suddenly began glowing and his servants who were also stuck in the dirt glowed as well before the inside of the "king's" mouth suddenly started to glow even more intensely. Mario and Twilight quirked an eyebrow and within seconds the snake spewed out a stream of sparkling golden magic into the air which slowly scattered across the acre and quickly made the apple trees regrow into their former state as if nothing had happened to them. "What was that sound?" Spike asked as a loud hissing noise echoed throughout the insides of the snake and the floor began to slightly shake. "I have explodeness!" Fawful shouted as a mysterious force pulled them off the ground and back the way they came from, travelling up through all kinds of rooms and sections of the giant snake's body. "What now?! Put me down, what or whoever that's makin' us levitate!" Applejack shouted as she tried to hold onto a wall or something but failed significantly as she had to let go and continue flying upwards through all the tunnels and before-visited places. "Uh, you guys, we're n-not alone!" Spike shouted as he began to panic, seeing many changelings floating ahead against their own will. "Hang onto Luigi and you'll be fine, sugarcube!" Applejack shouted back to Spike as she swiftly flailed her hooves to avoid any incoming changelings that just happened to float around. Spike swimmed over to Luigi and held on tightly as they ascended quite quickly, they were travelling through the first few rooms now and were approaching the throat... soon they would be free. Luigi suddenly noticed that all the apple juice was now mysteriously gone, but he didn't care that much because before he knew it they were dragged up in the long and pitch-black throat. "Uhm, are we dead? Because I can see the light!" Spike said as a faint light slowly began to illuminate the inside of the throat while they were ascending very quickly. "I-a don't know!" Luigi shouted as the light blinded them and they were forced to close their eyes. Seconds passed and Luigi felt fresh air hitting his cheeks and blowing through his moustache, he felt at peace and thought that he was in heaven for a while. First the light, and now this. But that illusion was crushed in a matter of seconds when he heard Spike and Applejack screaming for their lives. "Aaaaah! We're falling, and we're falling fast!" Spike screamed as he had regretfully opened his eyes, the ground seemed so far away but it inched significantly closer and closer for each hammering heartbeat. Luigi opened his eyes just to see what was happening and immediately started to flail his arms as he saw the same thing as Spike. He struggled to flap his arms repeatedly but the laws of physics weren't going to be ignored this time. "Well, could ya believe it? Mah apple trees are back!" Applejack shouted as she looked down and saw that the whole acre was covered with healthy trees and red glistening apples. "How can you worry about that now?! We're gonna die for Celesti-" Spike shouted before he was cut off by Rainbow Dash grabbing him with her hooves, a moment later he saw that Twilight safely stopped Applejack's fall with a levitation spell. But Luigi continued to fall alongsides with Fawful who was leaning back against an imaginary pillow while in the air but just as they were about to hit the ground Fawful pulled out a remote from his robes and pressed it as he deployed his trusty jetpack and quickly grabbed Luigi. "Hya! Saved like a bug about to fly into a spiders mouth you is!" Luigi was hyper-ventilating, his face inches away from the solid dirt on the ground. He calmed down as Fawful slowly descended and dropped him on the ground and Luigi immediately started to calm down. "Thank-a you, Fawful," Luigi said as he sat up and adjusted his cap. "Fink-rat has luckiness, Fawful just happens to be in a good mood," Fawful said as he landedand deactivated his jetpack. "Thank Celestia that all of you are alive!" Twilight said as she swooped down and placed Applejack safely on the ground near Luigi as Rainbow Dash did the same with Spike. "Not everyone," Applejack muttered as she looked up at the sky were a massive swarm of changelings gathered and began heading towards Canterlot in the distance. "What do you mean with that? You're all here," Twilight said as she raised an eyebrow and looked at Applejack. "They turned mah family into changelings, right before mah eyes!" Applejack said as she bit her lip in frustration and tried to hold back some tears. "Changelings?" Twilight asked, looking up into the sky as she finally heard the buzzing sound above them, seeing the changeling swarm moving towards Canterlot. "Wait, what?" "Uhm, well. The changelings had built a small hive within that snake. Probably some egg laying changeling that somehow got gobbled up and proceeded to do what it was born to do," Spike said, trying to explain the situation with his own words. "Okay, I guess that makes some sense at the least. And I'm sorry to hear about that, Applejack. I'd gladly go to Canterlot right now and rescue all of our missing friends but I fear that Chrysalis is too strong by now," Twilight said as she slowly rubbed her hoof across the soil. "She'll only grow stronger, Twilight. I'd recommend we ask Zecora for assistance, if we're lucky she's still sleeping at the library," Spike said, crossing his arms and looking at Twilight. "Good idea, Spike. Let's make our way to the library!" Twilight said as she was about to begin running but stopped as she realised that there was another person with them now. "Uh, would you like to help us?" "Ha! I laugh at you! Fawful doesn't help fink-rats like you! Fawful has loneliness!" Fawful said and activated his jetpack before flying away. "Okay..." Twilight said before rolling her eyes and sighing. What was left was just to meet up with Mario and then get on their way back to the library. Those changelings would pay... ...But we haven't checked on Bowser in a while, have we now?
Chapter 2-3 Part 1 "Manehattan Flip-flops""Almighty lord Bowser the ugliest and meanest, are you alright?" Bowser heard his loyal servant Kamek say as he opened his eyes. "No, of course I'm not alright! Guuuh, what happened?" Bowser said as he sat up from the ground and looked around, seeing lots of weird ponies staring at him, Kamek and the cage holding Peach. "That horse sent us flying away o-mighty Bowser and we landed in what seems to a be a city," Kamek said as he pointed towards the many massive scyscrapers around them standing proudly in the morning sun. Suddenly a grey pony wearing a police uniform approached the big Koopa king, he walked nervously and looked a bit uncertain but he was brave enough to at least walk up to Bowser. "G-good sir, I ask of y-you to m-m-move out of the way, you're b-blo-ocking the traffic," He said, his voice shaky and squeaky as his hooves shook at the sight of Bowser slowly standing up. "Grrrrh! How dare you speak to me like that!? I'm THE Koopa king, chump. So you better be the one moving out of my way!" Bowser said as he bent down and poked the police's badge with his pointy claw, his tall and massive figure looming over the small brave police-pony. "Oh, a k-king? H-how is y-your stay in Manehattan then?" The police said as he slowly backed away with his tail between his legs just like a cat, regretting the choice to approach the big dragon-like turtle. "Ah, finally someone gives me the respect I deserve!" Bowser said and smiled, feeling proud over himself for once. "Manehattan? So that's the name, huh?" Bowser said as he pondered over the name, he had heard that white horned-horse mention it before. "Say, do you have many tourists here? It's a city after all!" "Yeah, t-tourists often visit this p-place," The police said as he stopped backing away and looked up at Bowser who had calmed down and instead begun thinking deeply. "Then show me your leader! I must speak to him or her about some business!" Bowser said as he began laughing menacingly, picking up the cage with the princess. "Do you m-mean the mayor? Then c-come with me to the station over there and I'll s-see to that the almighty k-king shall enjoy his diplomatic trip!" The police-pony said, turning around and heading forwards against a big building with flags saying 'Manehattan Police Station'. "Whatever you say, chump," Bowser said as he scratched his head as he started thinking of what 'Diplomatic' means while walking after the police-pony, the crowd of ponies looking on in fear and awe at the big Koopa king as he walked past them with the cage in his hand and Kamek sitting on his left shoulder. That's when the big Koopa noticed that Bowser Junior was nowhere to be seen. "Kamek! Where's my son?!" He said as he turned his head to look at Kamek sitting on his shoulder. "Kraah! I don't know, almighty Bowser!" Kamek said as he came to the realisation as well, but now he was more worried that Bowser would punish him. "Grrr, well. One thing at a time, we'll find him later when we're done talking to this 'mayor'," Bowser said as he shook his head in frustration and kept walking after the police-pony as they approached the steps up to the big academic-looking police station. "He's not the only thing missing, forgot about your Elite Koopa army did you?" Princess Peach said with a smug grin as she leaned back inside the cage. Bowser stopped walking at the realisation, if the Mario brothers found him now he would be defated for sure! "Hey! You're one to talk. Your 'mushroom' army is surely being enslaved just as we speak you stupid princess!" Bowser said hastily as he tried to come up with an insult, continuing to walk towards the opening of the police-station. Bowser's insult did infact work as Peach began thinking about her poor Toad followers, stuck in the Mushroom Kingdom without any heroes to save them. Yeah, they could fight back, but she knew very well that Bowser's minions were more focused on combat and significantly more violent. "Please enter and sit down near the reception and we'll call the mayor to come here," The police-pony said as he opened the double doors and held them open for Bowser as the big Koopa king entered but had to bend his back a bit to not hit his head in the roof. "Hey, I'd suggest that you leave that cage with your pet outside, some ponies have allergies too, you know?" He said as he looked at Bowser with his cage, thinking that Princess Peach looked like some alien. "It's a police station, right? Then just throw her in some cell or something! I don't care, as long as she is protected from possible kidnappers," Bowser said as he dropped down the cage infront of the police-pony and then continued walking down the hallway that was incredibly small for Bowser. He and Kamek entered some weird room that had a sign saying 'reception' and figured it was here they were supposed to wait. Nearby were some small and uncomfortable chairs which Bowser clearly refused to sit on and instead stood next to as Kamek jumped down and took a seat, wafting with his wand as he summoned a book named '100 Ways To Tell If Your Leader Is An Evil Mastermind'. "So.... yeah? What do we do now, Kamek?" Bowser said in a more relaxed voice than his usual growly and angry voice, an awkward silence settling in as every policemare and policecolt who passed by almost fainted in fear as they saw Bowser standing in the reception room. "We wait, that's what he told us to do my liege," Kamek said as he continued to read his book, adjusting his glasses now and then. "Do you wanna hear my fool-proof plan in the meantime?" Bowser asked with a child-like manner, seeming to be a bit excited. "Mhm, go ahead," Kamek said, seemingly not interested as he continued to read the book. "Well, I was thinking that we get someone to build a miniature model of a theme park called Bowser World, and then when it's done, you use your 'turn giant' spell on it and there we have it! A huge contraption that doesn't cost and that'll drive tourists crazy from all over this pathetic world!" Bowser said, not minding that mostly everyone walking by can hear his quote on quote 'fool proof' plan. "Haven't we already done 'Bowser World'? You know how it went last time..." Kamek said as he continued to read. "Yeah... I guess that's true. But think of the possibilities! We'll get rich and be able to build a castle so we can protect ourselves from Mario!" Bowser said, chuckling menacingly all the while. "Then why don't you get someone to build a model of an unpenetrable castle and then I use my 'turn giant' spell on that instead? Gives less time for Mario to figure out where we are," Kamek said, quirking one of his eyebrows as he finally looked up from his book at Bowser. "Kamek! Don't be so optimistic! We're gonna do this the Koopa way!" Bowser said as he crossed his arms and grinned as a mad villain, which he was. "Whatever you say, o-mighty lord Bowser," Kamek said, shaking his head as he returned to his book. Suddenly a policemare entered the room, she had a grey coat, a golden-blond mane, had blue eyes and wore a police uniform. She held a notepad of some sorts and walked up and sat down next to Bowser, grabbing a cup of coffé from a coffe-machine on the way. "So, you're the big guy that all my recruits been reporting about, huh? The one sitting in the reception and scaring the lives out of them?" She said inbetween sipping on her coffe, looking up at Bowser as she readied her notepad and pen to write down something. "Me? I guess so. Not my fault that I'm so awesomely scary!" Bowser said, a smug expression all too apparent on his face. The policemare looked up at him and quirked an eyebrow as she gave him a weird look. "So, you're actually a king? You don't seem to be wearing a crown," She said, leaning back and inspecting Bowser's appearance. "Yeah! THE Koopa King to be exact. Isn't it obvious enough?" Bowser said, looking down at the small mare who seemed calm and not frightened by his appearance at all. "You certainly don't look like one to be honest, but you sure look like something you wouldn't like to be alone with in an empty alleyway," She said, looking Bowser up and down again, seeing his face slowly fade into a frustrated face as he looked at her. It was now that she was beginning to feel a bit frightened as Bowser's before calm eyes now glared at her. He then turned his face away and crossed his arms as he snorted smoke out of his nostrils. "Well excuse me for not looking like everyone else then," he said in an annoyed voice, receiving a weird glance from Kamek who finally had picked up on the conversation. "Haha, that's cute. Reminding me of a big baby with a threatening voice and a threatening appearance," The policemare said as she giggled at the frustrated Bowser who fought with every ounce of his willpower not to get angry and destroy the whole building, he had to keep it together if he wanted to get his plans through. "Anyways, if you're a king. Where's your queen then? Really interested in how a female specimen of your kind looks like." "Grrrrr..." Bowser muttered, closing his eyes as he tried to silence his frustration. "It's none of your business!" "You two broke up?" She asked with a smug smirk as she leaned back on the chair. "Urrrgh! Yes-...No- Maybe! For Kamella's sake! Could you stop taunting me?!" Bowser shouted as he actually sat down on the floor, his cheeks turning red in embarrasment and anger. "Okie, touchy subject maybe. Anyways, where do you and your friend come from? It's apparent that you're not from Equestria at the least," The mare said, giggling faintly. "From 'soon-to-be-Koopa Kingdom!' Where I am the supreme ruler and will rule the kingdom with my awesome crudness," Bowser said as images of him and a willingly married Peach rule together in the Mushroom Kingdom, where everybody is a servant to him. "Wait, so you're not a king? Is that what you're saying?" The mare asked as she quirked an eyebrow, looking at Bowser with a hint of curiosity. "Gah, stop it! Why are you even asking me these stupid questions?!" Bowser shouted as he stood up again and began walking back and forth as he tried to calm down. "I just can't stop myself, it's not often we get a royal visit." The mare said as she giggled at Bowser who struggled not to get an outrage. "My name is Rosebadge by the way, I'm an officer here at this station. I think I never got your name though, king." "Hngh," Bowser said as he sighed. "My name is Bowser, King Bowser of The Koopa Kingdom. Over there is my faithful and loyal servant, Kamek the Magikoopa," He continued as he began to calm down again. "King Bowser, alright. The mayor said he was on his way, but it may take some time so just wait here and be patient. Anything I can do for you though, King Bowser?" Rosebadge said as she got up from her chair and refilled her cup of coffe. "Yeah, disappear as fast as you can from this room before I order Kamek to turn you into a Goomba!" Bowser said in his angry and growly voice. Being quite irritated at the mare by now. "But on second thought, could you send out some patrols and search for my lost son? I haven't seen him in a while and I'm quite worried! He looks like me but smaller and with a napkin around his neck." "Why should I do that for you? I don't think you've been that nice to me," Rosebadge said as she reclined against the desk where the coffe machine stood, looking at her polished hooves as she smirked smugly. "Not my fault that I got mad at some very personal questions from a stranger!" Bowser exclaimed, frowning towards the mare. "But then you better do something for me in return, Bowser," Rosebadge said in a teasing voice, smirking all the while. "Hm? And what's that?" Bowser said, his curiousity peaking as he awaited an answer. "After you have talked to the mayor, I want you to bring down the Manehattan Mafia. Capture the leader and bring him here and then we can search for your son and even assist you in any other way," Rosebadge said, her smug smirk more apparent than ever before in this conversation as she continued to lean onto the desk behind her. "Haha? That's all? Just give me the location and I can do it right now!" Bowser said boastfully, chuckling a bit. Rosebadge pulled out a walkie-talkie from her pocket and threw it over to Bowser who catched it while in mid-air quite clumsily. "Grab this and we'll lead the way, you press the button on the top to activate it," She said, gesturing for the small red button on the top of the walkie-talkie. "Come on then, Kamek. It's SHOWTIME!" Bowser shouted, bearing his teeth as he grinned menacingly. "Alrighty, Lord Bowser!" Kamek said as he closed his book and then jumped up on Bowser's left shoulder again as the Koopa King began walking through the corridor and out of the reception room towards the exit. "Move out of my way!" Bowser roared to citizens that crowded the streets, they of course moved away in fright and looked on in shock as Bowser walked over the road and continued heading somewhere, he didn't actually know where he was heading. "Lord Bowser, I think that you may have chewed off more than what you can swallow this time," Kamek said, holding the walkie-talkie as Bowser continued to stomp through Manehattan. "How hard can it be to find a Mafia? They're not really discrete," Bowser said as he walked over yet another road with a red traffic-light. Kamek sighed and picked up the walkie-talkie and turned it on. "Rosebadge, are you ready to guide us?" Kamek said, the stomping from Bowser being heard in the background. "Yes, I copy. We estimate that the hideout is hidden somewhere within the pub called 'The Pink Horseshoe' which is north from your position. Report to us when you arrive there, Officer Rosebadge out," Rosebadge said through the walkie-talkie to Kamek. "You heard that, lord Bowser? Just continue going north my liege," Kamek said as he kept the walkie-talkie on but muted their mic. "Yeah yeah, I can handle this myself," Bowser said as he continued to walk, seeing the pub just right up ahead. "I'm just wondering why the police couldn't go after this Mafia themselves, isn't it, like, their job to do that?" "Your rudeness, it's probably because trying to take down a Mafia isn't as easy as you think," Kamek replied, leaning back against Bowser's head as he sat on his left shoulder. "Well, we're here. Message whatever her name was again and let's get this over with," Bowser said, stopping infront of the pub as he readied his right fist, pulling it backwards slightly. "On it, almighty Bowser," Kamek said as he pressed the 'un-mute' button and drew the walkie-talkie closer. "Rosebadge, we're right outside. Awaiting clearance." "That's neat of you two cuties, now just enter and proceed with caution and find out where the hideout is at all costs. Keep me posted on the walkie-talkie as well, I need to know what happens. Officer Rosebadge out," Rosebadge said through the walkie-talkie as Kamek then attached it to a pocket on his blue Magikoopa-robes. "SHOWTIME!" Bowser roared as he pulled his fist back and then released as it was fully reached backwards, destroying the whole wall with one single punch as he entered the pub. Wooden splinters covered the pub floor but they didn't bother Bowser as he stepped in. Some ponies with suspicious looking hats sitting around a table gasped and dropped their chin as Bowser stepped in nonchalantly. "Ey! You! Watcha doin' just punchin' right through that wall over there and then expectin' everythin' to be pancakes and waffles?" The bartender said with an annoyed Chicago accent, wiping away some filth from the bar counter. "I'm looking for the Manehattan Mafia!" Bowser replied, the group of ponies with hats looking even more frightened now, they slowly began standing up and walking into the backroom. "You there, you know where I can find the Mafia? I'm interested in some negotiations!" The ponies stopped in their tracks and turned around, looking at both Bowser and Kamek. "Yeah, maybe we know, maybe we don't. Come with us and we'll give ya some tidbits," One of them said before they all turned around and continued to head towards the backroom. "Now, this is how you do it Bowser style," Bowser said to Kamek who was facepalming. "I can't believe you, my lord. You really like to do a direct approach," Kamek said, tucking away his walkie-talkie a bit. "Haha, of course I do," Bowser said, and when seeing that the door was too small for him he simply walked through the wall. The ponies looked at him and shook a bit nervously now that he was standing so close, but the one who had talked before took some steps forward and looked up at Bowser. "Ya can't be so open 'bout it, see? The police are on to us y'know, but ya certainly don't look like the police so yeah, we'll take ya to the boss," He said as he walked towards a barrel that stood in the lower left corner and then pressed a switch as the floor opened up in the middle of the room. "Finally a door that's made for me!" Bowser said as he walked up to the hole and saw that there was a slide leading into what seemed to be a dark cave. Bowser quickly jumped down and lost his balance as he started gliding down the slide and then being launched into a big warehouse of some sorts. He landed on solid cement and quickly stood up and looked around, lots of containers stood here and there, probably containing smuggled goods. Suddenly an overweight pony with a grey mane, brown coat, wearing a brown jacket with a blue tie approached. "So, you're the king folks up on the street has been talkin' 'bout. So what'sa your business here, big guy?" The guy said in a dark bass voice, pulling out a cigarr and putting in his mouth before pulling out a fuse and lighting it. "Oh, nothing in particular," Bowser said as he leaned against a container just about his own size. "Just to bring down the Manehattan Mafia." The guy began laughing in a raspy voice as he took out the cigar from his mouth and held it in his hoof. "You and what army? You're being surrounded just as we speak, and I bet that your shell won't protect all parts of your body," the guy said as armed ponies walked out behind containers and crates, aiming at Bowser with guns. "I don't need an army, I'm KING Bowser," Bowser said as he smirked smugly, standing up straight as he stopped leaning on the container and took some steps forward. "Give up peacefully or you'll have to deal with my bad breath." As if to emphasize his own point, Bowser built up some fire in his throat and blew it into his hand a bit. "No, I'm not crazy," the guy said, turning around and blowing out some smoke with his cigar. "Fire in three!" "Three!" The surrounding armed ponies shouted, Bowser only patted Kamek on the magikoopa's head. "Two!" They shouted, Kamek took out his wand and began powering it up. "ONE!" They shouted but before they could press the trigger Kamek's wand glowed and suddenly they were all holding yellow flip-flops. "What in Celestia's mane?!" The boss said, looking at everyone's weapons that were now simple flip-flops. "That's why you don't mess with me! Kamek, prepare the bags!" Bowser said, grinning menacingly as Kamek wafted with his wand and summoned a giant bag. "Distract him!" The boss said as he began running away to hide from Bowser. "Gwahahaha, pathetic!" Bowser shouted as he opened his fists and grabbed lots of nearby henchponies and threw them into the giant bag. The few remaining henchponies turned around and were about to run away but Bowser grabbed them before they could and threw them into the bag as well. Now, the boss was the only one left. Bowser violently just lifted every container and crate he could see and tried to see which one the boss was hiding under, but it deemed too time consuming for him. "Kamek! Turn every possible hiding spot into a single rubber duck!" Bowser said, smirking as Kamek wafted with his wand and made all the containers and crates turn into small rubber ducks, and in the middle of the room behind a small rubber duck the overweight boss stood and smoked on his cigar, looking at Bowser with super frightened eyes. "Gotcha now, chump!" "Nononono! Please! Spare me!" The boss screamed as Bowser ran towards him with heavy steps, but Bowser didn't stop. The Koopa king picked up the boss and threw him into the bag very quickly before tying it together. "I told you Kamek, I always do a direct approach," Bowser said braggingly as he picked up the giant bag and lifted it up onto his back and tied it onto one of his spikes. "Uuuh, what's the sit?" Rosebadge suddenly said through the walkie-talkie. "All done and sealed, literally," Kamek replied, sighing as he rolled his eyes behind his glasses. "So you two cuties brought down the boss and his henchponies?" Rosebadge said, sounding a bit surprised. "Yeah, should have seen the looks on their faces when Kamek turned their weapons into flip-flops, gwarhahaha!" Bowser said loudly and laughed while trying to look for an exit. "Well, the mayor arrived some seconds ago, I'd recommend that you return immediately and don't keep him waiting! Officer Rosebadge out," She said, muting her walkie-talkie and leaving Bowser and Kamek to find a way out themselves. "Kamek, just teleport us out of here," Bowser said after a while, sighing and crossing his arms. "Kraah, sure your rudeness," Kamek said, spinning around with his wand as it glowed a distinct purple and then with a bright flash they were back at the reception again where the mayor and officer Rosebadge were standing. "Well, uh. Sooner than expected," Rosebadge said as she chuckled and smiled towards Bowser and Kamek. "I'm the mayor, but call me Charles. Rosebadge has told me quite a lot about you, Bowser. And I am looking forward to making some negotiations with you," Charles said in what would be considered as a Canterlot accent, he had a golden-brown coat and a normal brown mane and wore a simple black tie. "Grahaha! Well, I'm King Bowser as you already know, and this is Kamek, my faithful servant and magician. So yeah, where are we gonna talk?" Bowser said, chuckling a bit. "Just follow me into my office, you three. It's the most appropriate location for this," Rosebadge said as she smiled and then turned around and began walking down a hallway. "So you took down the most threatening Mafia there is here in Manehattan in just a matter of maybe some minutes, that's a record! I'm quite impressed," Charles said as he walked just infront of Bowser and looked back at the big monster. "That was nothing, you should see how many times I have kidnapped the princess," Bowser said nonchalantly and continued to walk, but he quickly realised what he just had said and chuckled. "With that I mean that I have kidnapped the princess back from other kidnappers, hehe." "Oookay, a national hero, then?" The mayor said, sounding a bit weirded out. "Yeah, kind of," Bowser said and knew he was fully lying, but he was a hero in his own way, he was a hero for the Koopas. "I see, if you're staying here longer, do you think you could help out with some more? It's been a long time since we in Manehattan has had a real hero," The mayor said and blew some of his surprisingly long mane out of his face. "Have some patience, mayor. One thing at a time," Bowser said and faked a smile, suddenly Rosebadge went inside a room with double doors and him, Kamek and the mayor followed. "So yeah, this is my office, this is where I often drink coffee and interrogate prisoners from time to time. Just take a seat and I'll see to that we won't be interrupted," Rosebadge said and closed the blinds to the windows and locked the door. "Okay, but what should I do with the Mafia?" Bowser said and untied the bag from his spiky shell. "Wait what, you got the entire mafia inside that bag?" Rosebadge said in confusion as she raised one eyebrow. "On second thought. Where did it even come from?" "Just a summoning spell by Kamek, now, what do I do about them?" Bowser said, dropping the bag onto the floor. "Throw them outside the door, I'll take care of it later," Rosebadge said as she rolled her eyes and then sat down on a nearby chair around the small table. Bowser opened the door and threw the bag outside and then closed the doors again before sitting down on the floor near the table while Kamek jumped off and sat down on a normal chair. The mayor sat down as well and Rosebadge gave everyone a cup of coffee, even though she was unsure if Kamek and Bowser drank coffee. "So, king Bowser, what is it that you wanted to talk to me about?" The mayor finally said to break the silence. "Uh, well. I've got an idea about how to increase the amount of tourists here and to boosten the connection between my Kingdom and Manehattan," Bowser said, actually sounding intelligent for once as he stood up and leaned forward on the table. "I'd like to build a whole theme-park called World Bowser or Bowser World, whatever rows your boat. What I need is only the permission from you." "Wait, what? That's all you want to do?" Charles said, raising one eyebrow as he sat back onto his chair. "Well, we've just been flatting out an area so we can build a resort, but a theme park sounds just as good." "Excellent, then let's get right to it," Bowser said with a smirk and gestured for Kamek to begin. The Magikoopa spinned around with his wand and a bright poof appeared on the table, and a small miniature theme park with lots of rides and a giant Bowser head as an entrance suddenly became visible. "So, this here are my thoughts on how it should look like. The ideas here are countless and not just that, it'll attract tourists as well as thousands of Marios hearing the scream of Princess Peach. In other words, it'll draw tourists like a moth to a flame." "Uh, okay. I suppose it's a promising concept, but how much will it cost us to actually build all this? It looks very detailed and there are a lot of amusement rides. But those will take many years to build," Charles said as he put on a pair of glasses and inspected the miniature thing even more closer. "Oh, don't you worry about that. We'll only have to build a miniature scale of it like this one but with actual working engines and all that. Which won't require as much money and effort," Bowser said and grinned. "Hmm, I'll get my experts on it. I'll message you in person when we are done, in the meantime you can work on some advertising so that we can hype some ponies up for this amusement park. What is your opinion, Rosebadge?" Mayor Charles said and took off his glasses again. "Well, we haven't actually made an amusement park here yet, and I think that would be the last finishing touch if we want to be Equestria's first choice of enjoyment," Rosebadge said and smiled, looking over the miniature model before looking up at Bowser. "And if this means I'll get to meet King Bowser more often, I'd gladly comply," She said and winked flirtatiously towards Bowser who shuddered in disgust at the thought. "Then that's settled, Bowser. We'll shake hooves and claws on it," Mayor Charles said as he stood up and reached forward with his right front-hoof. "Glad to make business with you, mayor," Bowser said and faked yet another smile as he grabbed the mayors hoof and shook it as weak as he could so that he wouldn't mistakenly throw the pony up in the air. "Well then, I must be going. Remember to advertise this, I trust you, Bowser," Mayor Charles said and unlocked the door and then walked out. Bowser stood up as well and was about to exit as well before Rosebadge cleared her throat and gestured for him to sit down again. "Not done yet with you, big guy. Regarding your lost son, I actually sent out a patrol when you were away and they'll probably report to me as soon as they can, but it can still take a while to find him. If you have nowhere to stay you can gladly borrow a room in my appartment, it may not be the best choice for a towering big dude like you but it'll save you from the trouble of sleeping on the streets. And I wouldn't mind some company for the first time in years," Rosebadge said as she leaned back on her chair and sipped from her coffee. "That's, uh, nice of you. I guess. But I'll be fine on my own," Bowser said as he awkwardly scratched the back of his head, trying to avoid anymore conversation time with the mare who has seemingly found an interest in him. "That 'pet' of yours, is it your daughter? She tried to convince us that she was a princess of the 'Mushroom Kingdom', but I had to ask you first to get my confirmation," Rosebadge asked, leaning a bit more over the table as she looked into Bowser's eyes. What started as a negotiation was now an interrogation. "Uh, yeah. You know those rebellious teenagers! Haha! A-always trying to run away and accuse you of being a kidnapper and a tyrant, hehe," Bowser said hastily as he tried to awkwardly explain it off. "She didn't look much like an offspring to you, one like that might have been more handsome. But that's why I'm seeing forward to meet your son," Rosebadge said in what Bowser considered as a creepy tone. "Hehehehe, right. Well, I better be off now with Kamek to 'advertise' hehe, contact me on the walkie-talkie if you find Junior. BYE!" Bowser said as he stood up and grabbed Kamek, quickly rushing out the door before Rosebadge could say anything more. "Next time, Rose. Next time I'll get him," Rosebadge said as she smirked and continued to sip on her coffee. "I can't believe that cop, trying to hit on me nonchalantly!" Bowser exclaimed as he took a step outside the building with Kamek on his shoulder. "My liege, I thought you loved attention from girls," Kamek said and sighed, looking at Bowser who stuttered while trying to come up with an answer "Yeah, girls! Not hairy small ponies with no reason to be attracted to. She's not even in my league," Bowser said and growled slightly, angrily stomping as he walked down the street aimlessly. "Maybe if you get all these folks onto your side you can order them to protect you from Mario and his brother, frame them as outlaws and so on," Kamek said, once again summoning his book and beginning to read. "Not bad, yeah. That could work," Bowser said as he began scratching his chin with his big claws. "Just a pleasure to be of assistance, my lord," Kamek said and relaxed. Suddenly when Bowser turned left into yet another streetway he found himself blocked by a massive crowd that were looking at a small stage across the street. On it a blue mare with a purple wizard hat and matching purple robes stood and walked back and forth, seemingly looking amongst the crowd for something. But her gaze landed upon Bowser and she smirked menacingly. "You there! The great and powerful Trixie demands that you volunteer for my next trick!" She shouted as all attention turned towards Bowser and Kamek. "Ha! In your dreams, pal!" Bowser exclaimed as he was about to turn around and walk away but suddenly a light-blue aura enveloped him and he slowly levitated towards the stage. "One does not simply ignore Trixie. You should be ashamed!" Trixie said as she smirked and put Bowser down on the stage. "Well, one does not simply annoy Bowser, king of Koopas!" Bowser said, glaring at Trixie as she turned against the crowd. "Oh, a king? The great and powerful Trixie is amused indeed. Let's see what the king says about this," Trixie said as many ropes appeared and suddenly tied Bowser, almost three ropes for each limb and bodypart. "It's for your safety, I can guarantee." "Oh, you did not just do that! And it's not for my safety, it's for yours. Sadly it's not gonna last," Bowser said as his nostrils flared up and exhaled smoke. He was pretty pissed and he struggled against the ropes as he tried to break free, the sounds of ropes slowly breaking all too apparent. Trixie looked at the big Koopa with shocked eyes, maybe she didn't think this completely through. The ropes quickly broke and Bowser was free yet again, and he didn't look happy. She was admittely too frightened to move and watched on in horror as Bowser took slow, heavy, steps towards her. Being so huge that he blocks out the sun when standing right infront of her. "Now witness, as the awesomely rad King Bowser himself punishes the 'Too Brave And Boastful, Trixie'!" Bowser shouted as he turned towards the crowd and did a stage-like voice before turning towards Trixie again and slamming his fists together in a frightening way. "Without cheating..." Bowser said and gestured for Kamek to approach. "Kamek, even the odds a little bit." "Kraah! With pleasure!" Kamek said as he pulled out his wand and spinned it around before firing a spell towards Trixie, which she immediately felt boost everything within her, her strength, her speed, her magic abilities, everything. The magikoopa then levitated up in the air and spinned it around again as the stage disappeared and a battle arena instead slowly formed. And from the looks of it, more ponies were swarming around to watch the event that was about to unfold. "The battle starts in, five!" "Four!" Kamek shouted, Bowser was smirking menacingly and had his arms crossed, Trixie was still frightened but gathered enough courage to at least stand up against the big king. "Three!" Kamek continued, Bowser and Trixie looking eachother directly into the eyes as they prepared infor the battle that was about to commence. "Two!" Kamek shouted, Trixie feeling like an hour already had passed as beads of sweat formed on her forehead. "And one! May the best Koopa win!" Kamek shouted, spinning his wand as a big transparent shield-bubble formed around the arena so that the two would never really get punched out of it. Bowser immediately ran forward, and Trixie froze in place yet again as she watched the giant reptile run towards her with his heavy stomps. She cowered in fear and suddenly felt Bowser tackling her quite powerfully, sending her flying up into the air and then landing painfully on the ground. The crowds cheered and began singing made-up songs to cheer either Bowser or Trixie on. "That's it?! FIGHT ME!" Bowser shouted, turning around and looking towards Trixie who slowly got up from the ground. "You won't come anywhere in life if you just give up like that, show me some fighting spirit!" Trixie stood up and looked at Bowser, this guy was all enthustiastic about it. He wanted to punish her severely but was doing it for fun and for sports when instead he could have just gobbled her up like breakfast. Trixie smirked and powered up her horn, "The great and powerful Trixie shall live up to her words!" She shouted before she ran forward, a magic field building up around her as she ran faster and faster as the shield became more cone-shaped and pointed towards Bowser. "Grawahaha! Even Mario doesn't fight back as pathetically," Bowser said as Trixie approach and instead readied his fist and slammed it down into the ground as it emitted shockwaves which traveled towards Trixie and made her lose her balance and trip over herself as the magic shield dissipated. "Kamek, go ahead and help her out. She'll need it!" Kamek flew over to Trixie on his newly summoned broom and wafted with his wand again as he gave her another boost. She immediately stood up yet again and looked at Bowser who just stood still with crossed arms while smiling smugly. "Just what I needed," Trixie said and powered up her horn as she levitated up into the air, the glowing intensifying for each second before she fired off a big white sphere of concentrated magic which quickly splittered and turned into a rain of small white spheres of magic. "Nice, now see and learn!" Bowser said with a smirk, jumping up into the air and spinning repeatedly as he turned into a giant spike-ball. He rolled back and then forward to get some speed and as all the magic spheres hit him they only bounced off as he rolled forwards, and as Trixie saw that he wasn't stopping she quickly rolled out of the way and in the nick of time avoided Bowser rolling devastatingly through the battle arena. She powered up her horn yet again and then fired one powerful concentrated beam of blue magic towards the "Bowser Ball" which had suddenly stopped rolling. The beam hit Bowser in his current ball-state and it slowly pushed him backwards but didn't actually harm him. He quickly unrolled and stood up, chuckling and laughing at the little mare before returning to his former serious face. "Good effort, might hire you as my minion as a punishment instead. Just need to work a bit on actually defeating me!" Bowser said with a grin and then started building up the familiar feeling in his guts as his mouth filled with heat. Bowser began running forward and much to Trixie's horror he leaped forward before landing infront of her, releasing his built-up flame as they scorched everything in their way. Trixie quickly created a shield bubble around herself but she felt it greatly weaken to Bowser's powerful flames but he gave up first and had to recatch his breath. A perfect oppurtinity for the mare to actually do any kind of damage towards him. Trixie powered up her horn and spinned around while levitating, the horn glowing even more as she fired off a big sphere of pure magic again, and at the close range which Bowser was the sphere didn't even splitter and instead exploded on impact which sent him flying backwards into the wall of the shield that surrounded the battle arena. His head slammed into the ground and he stood up with fiery eyes, he wasn't prepared for that, not at all. "Oh, that's it!" Bowser shouted and growled, running straight forward with his claws outstretched. Trixie had built up some confidence now and was about to fire yet another magic sphere but before she could Bowser had already approached and he grabbed her while she levitated and slammed her onto his chest and then leaped up into the air before crashing down with her under him. The feeling was painful and Trixie felt like she was about to go unconscious, the feeling of her body being slammed into the ground under the heavy Koopa was unbearable. But Bowser wasn't finished with her. He grabbed one of her back-hooves and took a firm grip as he slammed her into the ground back and forth between two spots, and Trixie only felt herself becoming dizzy as Bowser finally let go and walked away to give her some time to stand up again. "Hnngh, I'm still not defeated..." Trixie muttered as she forced herself up, if this had been a real fight her bones and body would probably been crushed to no end but the magic that she had been granted seemed to prevent that from happening and instead she just felt more tired each time she got hurt. "So you're a fighter after all, huh? Who could have thought," Bowser said and chuckled, the crowd completely silent as they waited to see what would happen next. "Of course I am, the great and powerful Trixie loves a challenge!" Trixie said as she stood up, powering up her horn as she fired off multiple rapid magic bolts against Bowser. Bowser chuckled and went down on the floor and began spinning on his belly before he retracted into his shell and then spinned forward, the bolts of magic just reflecting off him and bouncing off before dissipating. Bowser grinned within his shell and began spinning quicker as he went forward under the levitating Trixie and then pressed out his arms and punched the ground as his spinning shell flew up into the air and hit Trixie, damaging her significantly as the spinning shell drilled into her back before falling down. Trixie dropped down to the ground and felt her eyes close even though she fought to stay awake, but no. She went unconscious and Bowser stopped spinning in his shell and pulled out his arms, legs , tail and head out of his shell and made a victorious pose as he walked up to the unconscious Trixie. "The winner is the one and only, Koopa Kiiing! BOOOOOOWSER!" Kamek roared as he spun his wand around and returned the place back to normal as Bowser and Trixie stood on the stage again. Trixie suddenly woke up again and felt like normal, she stood up and rubbed her head with her hoof and looked at Bowser who was smirking menacingly. The spectating crowd screamed their lungs out in cheer as they all chanted 'King Bowser!' repeatedly. One out of the crowd suddenly shouted: "Punish her for real!" and was followed up by everyone else shouting: "YEAH! DO IT! She never thought it would go this far, her boasting and showful attitude, but here she was infront of a king about to be killed or something of the likes. "I, King Bowser. Hereby declare Trixie to be kept as my own minion for trying to tie me to the wall against my will!!" Bowser shouted as the crowd cheered on, they were crazy for King Bowser. "You can't do that! Slaving is against Manehattan rules!" Trixie said, and suddenly the crowd realised it as well and went completely silent. "And besides, you aren't a king in this land, so you have no power here!" "Then I'll just make myself king of Manehattan instead!" Bowser said grumpily and was thrown off guard as some ponies in the crowd started booing and threw random objects. "I have no other choice, Kamek! Motivate them a bit," Bowser said, grinning villainously as Kamek flew up into the air and spinned his wand repeatedly and activated it as the magic began creating a captivating spiral that slowly sent pacifying waves of powerful brainwashing magic right into the heads of the crowd. "I am King Bowser, and you are my loyal servants. Everything I do is a good thing, and you shouldn't question my Koopa logic. I am a hero! I am your leader! And now, bow infor your only king!" Bowser shouted, the crowd staring with half-lidded eyes as they worshippingly bowed down for Bowser and nodded slowly nodded their heads and accepted Bowser's words as truth. Trixie stood at the side and looked on in horror as Bowser brainwashed the entire crowd. It wasn't just five or six ponies, this could easily be around 150 ponies that had gathered to see what was happening. Kamek slowly stopped the spell as he flew down to Bowser again on the stage. The ponies in the crowd looked like normal as soon as the spirals had stopped but now they were cheering again and chanting Bowser's name. "Kamek, I think our new minion has to be set into the right frame of mind as well, grawhahaha!" Bowser said, grinning creepily as he looked at Trixie who was beginning to panic. She had nowhere to go and was about to get her mind taken away from her. "You're a monster!" Trixie shouted as she was about to turn around and run away but Kamek fired a spell on her that paralysed her, leaving her to be aimlessly always looking forward. She could move her eyes but her eyelids couldn't close and her head wouldn't move, she was left staring forward as Kamek started spinning his wand and activating it as those same spirals began entering her mind slowly and powerfully. It was as if she took a bath in the most softest magic and she couldn't even resist it as the magic kept raining down on her, her mind went blank as her eyelids dropped down halfways and her eyes glazed over. "I am your king, and you'll obey me. You must serve me as a minion, because it is your punishment. Listen to your king, listen to your lord. King Bowser," Bowser said, and Trixie took every single word into her blank mind as the powerful spirals kept washing over her endlessly. And as Kamek took away his wand, Trixie's eyes returned to normal and she looked at her new king. "Grahaha! Sweet! Soon I'll maybe even rule this whole world!" Bowser said and chuckled, turning to face the crowd once more. "You will all spread the word of the coming amusement park called 'World Bowser' and you'll say it's going to be the best thing ever. Now go!" Bowser shouted, smirking menacingly as he saw the crowd shatter and all the ponies returning to their daily business. "As for you, you'll venture out and build up some interest at other places. You're already a performing pony so you should be used to it, yeah?" Bowser asked Trixie who stood there, slowly nodding as an answer. Bowser began roaming at the back of his shell for something and then pulled out a scrapped paper, handing it over to Trixie. "This is a song that Kamella used to sing while showering, just take it and replace 'Kamella' with your own name and sing it infront of crowds," Bowser said and crossed his arms as Trixie nodded and then slowly walked off the stage and onto the streets. "My liege, I think you're going too far this time. You can't just abuse my magic here and there because then I won't be able to turn that amusement park of yours giant! I really need to rest, these past few days have really taken on my magic," Kamek said as he held his wand and looked a bit exhausted. "There's no such thing as going too far, my father taught me that it's good to push the boundries because otherwise there would be none to begin with!" Bowser muttered as he crossed his arms and looked at Kamek. "And that's what I'm gonna teach my son as well, wherever he is." "But what would my mother, Kamella, say to you if she was still around, my lord? Huh? I might not be as bossy as her but I still have the rights to be my own individual," Kamek said, summoning his broom as he flew up and poked Bowser on his nose. "Whatever, I do as I want. And I'm gonna be an awesome ruler," Bowser said with a smug smile. "You're sounding just like a spoiled brat, as you've always been and how your son is. It's a mystery as to why I'm still calling you 'my lord'," Kamek said and sighed, still levitating on his broom. "Hey! I'm not a brat, I'm an awesome evil king! Urgh, I think this dimension is getting to the both of us. Soon we'll be hugging eachother and playing with dolls," Bowser said, thinking of how apparently over-colourful everything was here. Even a dirty city wasn't dirty, it was clean and most houses were painted in colour that you would find in a box of crayons. "I guess so, your rudeness," Kamek said and sighed, there was no point in arguing with the stubborn Koopa King. Bowser could think sometimes, but it was mostly only for his own reasons. If he had putten a brainwashing spell on Peach centuries ago he wouldn't have to kidnap her each month, but he wants to do it fair. A part of the game if you could say so. Either way, the sun was now slowly disappearing into the horizon and Kamek knew they would have to sleep on the streets. Because Bowser was stubborn as always.
Chapter 2-3 Part 2 "Factory Shutdown/Showstage Craze"BEEP. BOOP. BEEP. "What?" Bowser Junior said, reacting to the strange sound as he opened his eyes and found himself laying inside of a high technological laboratory. Colourful buttons and flickering light bulbs were everywhere, on panels, walls, machines, you name it. The strange sounds of buzzing buttons and the occasional beeping made him slightly nervous but was still almost comical. The strangest thing though was that he was strapped to a medical table. Bowser Junior struggled faintly to break free but the bindings didn't even budge... but he was a Koopa. He'd find out who had taken him capture and then burn them down to toast! Suddenly a door opened and a white stallion with an unfixed black mane and black tail clad in a lab coat and round maniacal goggles stepped into the room and closed the reinforced iron door behind him. He grinned widely and pulled on some rubber gloves on his hooves, his big grin never fading. "Ah, valcome to our facility. Isn't it just wunderbar? Ja!?" The mad scientist said with a strong accent, one that Bowser Junior had never heard before in his life. "Eh, I've seen better," Bowser Junior said as he looked around, the place looking eerily creepy even though it was just a normal laboratory, a normal laboratory with colorful devices and unfitting wallpaper. "Interesting, ja. Ze specimen talks," The mad scientist said, putting one of his rubber covered hooves under his chin. "Do you even know vhat ve do here at this factory?" The scientist asked as he stepped closer and grabbed a notepad and a pen. "No..." Bowser Junior said as he looked on as the scientist approached, the big grin was still wide and was just as unsettling as it had been moments ago. "Ve make ze toys," The scientist shouted, raising his hooves and standing on his back hooves as lightning cracked down behind him, his maniacal laughter echoing through the room. Bowser Junior rolled his eyes, sighing grumpily as he had expected it to be something else than just toys. "That's all? Then why do you have a laboratory like this?" Bowser Junior asked and nodded his head to all the weird devices and cutting instruments. "Oh, ve have ze occasional new strange animal that ve dissect and then turn into a new stuffed toy or something along ze likes," The scientist said and pulled a lever that made the table Bowser Junior is strapped onto begin to shift higher up towards lots of devices in the ceiling. "Uhm... what are you gonna do?" Bowser Junior said before gulping and looking up as a big colorful sawblade with some dried blood on it lowered down. "Oh, just lay still, this vill only hurt a tiny little bit!" The mad scientist shouted with a maniacal laughter as he pressed a rainbow colored button which made the sawblade spring to life. "Oh, nononononononooo!" Bowser Junior shouted, he knew where this was going and he wasn't going to let himself end like this! He shook his arms frantically as the saw lowered down even more and as he did, the leather straps holding his arms stuck loosened pretty quickly. Bowser Junior managed to extend his claws a bit and then quickly cut the leather straps open as his arms got free... now it was only his legs left. But the sawblade was too close for him to actually sit up and then remove the straps from his feet, but he had an idea. A typical Bowser family idea to be certain. Bowser Junior reached for the back of his shell and grabbed his hammer and then with a mighty swing while laying down he hit the flat surface of the side of the sawblade and sent it flying across the room before eventually crashing into the wall and getting stuck in it. He sighed and wiped his forehead before sitting up and then cutting the straps on his feet. Finally he was free, and he was going to make sure that it stayed that way. Bowser Junior jumped down from the table that was quite high above the floor and then landed infront of the mad scientist who was still grinning. "Ze turtle vants to play? Ja?! Nein! Ze playtime is ovah!" He shouted as he pressed a blue button as a hatch opened in the floor and a very big wind up robot started to slowly ascend up via a lift. "Holy Bowser's treasure chamber," Bowser Junior said, his eyes bulging in fear and his legs shaking as the giant robot continued to rise from the hatch. The robot looked mostly just like a normal toy robot, but instead of hands it had a grinder where the arms ended. The mad scientist pressed a green button which made the robot wake up with a low rumble. A weird maniacal laugh came out from a voice box inside of it and Bowser Junior began backing away, trying to keep his distance with the giant metal monstrosity. "Zis is Robert! He vants to hug you!" The mad scientist said before breaking into a big maniacal laugh as well. "Haurhaurhaurhar! Small turtle, exterminate!" Robert said with his broken voice box as all the systems began booting up inside of him. "Wheh... dad!" Bowser Junior screamed as he kept backing away until he was met with the wall behind him, he sighed and then looked up at Robert the robot that was approaching with the occasional maniacal laughter going off every ten seconds. The mad scientist pressed a red button which made Robert's right hand transform into a big hammer while his other hand stayed as a grinder. After the transformation was done though, the big robotic monster began walking towards Bowser Junior slowly with his arms outspread to make it seem like he was going to hug Bowser Junior, which the little Koopa knew was not the intention. Bowser Junior held tightly onto his hammer which he had not laid aside yet and held it high in a defensive position as he just watched the big robot approach. His legs were still shaking and the hand which he held the hammer with shook as well, but he knew that he couldn't freak out now. The robot stepped awfully close and bent down towards Junior and that was Junior's signal, Bowser.J rolled between the robot's legs just as the robot was about to 'hug' him. Bowser Junior sighed in relief and wasn't going to waste any time. He glared towards the mad scientist who began to look worried as his robot still hadn't realized that his intended target had gotten away. Bowser Junior ran forward with his hammer and the mad scientist backed away and hid behind a table with alchemic potions, but Junior wasn't going to harm him. He needed to make sure that the robot was out of harms way first! A big red button with yellow and black stripes around it with the text 'Robot Self Destruct' over it made Bowser Junior smirk wickedly as he stepped up and quickly slammed down his hammer on it. Suddenly Robert stood up and realized that there was no one in his hug, but it was far too late. His body parts began shaking violently as his systems went into overdrive and began overheating, and before he could do anything more he simply began falling apart. His arms fell to the floor as the magnetic seal went off and all his other parts shut down as they also fell to the floor in a useless pile of junk. The mad scientist had taken off his gloves and was biting the ends of his hoof as Bowser Junior began glaring at him, there was no more giant robots that could do his dirty work now. "Ha! That's what you get for messing with B.Junes!" Bowser Junior said and pointed out his tongue towards the mad scientist and then opened the door before sealing it after him. There was a lock on the other side and Bowser Junior quickly locked it, moments after hearing the scientist banging on the door. Bowser Junior didn't care, he only cared for himself and to make his father proud at all costs. He had no idea of where he was though, it was a dark linear corridor with a very creepy and industrial theme. The laughter of a child echoed throughout the corridor and Bowser Junior tried to figure out which direction it came from, but it seemed to come from the vents and not behind any of the doors that were inside here. He looked towards a door that was in the end of the corridor and walked towards it. A rusty iron sign above it said: "Manehattan Rainbow Toys Factory, Management Office" Bowser Junior opened the door and inside was just a grey and empty office with a single desk with a panel on it and a monitor. There were of course power switches and other miscellaneous stuff on the walls as well, but the monitor intrigued Bowser Junior the most. Maybe he could find a way out with it? He walked up to it and saw that it was monitoring 16 cameras, each positioned in a different room. The first camera displayed what looked to be the room where the toys were being manufactured. There were several rolling bands and big pistons and robotic arms that were making the same kind of toy over and over again. It was just a boring looking marionette doll inside a box. He turned away from the cameras almost immediately and saw a map laying on the desk that showed all the paths inside the building which he of course grabbed as he turned around and walked out the door again. He followed the map all the way towards the lobby and on the way he crossed multiple strange rooms, some with lots of vials and glass tubes with biologically engineered creatures. One room he entered was different from the rest, atop a podium inside a glass cube was a small little ladybug that was made of metal and had blue glowing eyes. Bowser Junior walked towards it and read a sign that stood infront of it. "This is the Bio-Tech bug, it will latch onto a host and make the host insanely powerful and impossible to defeat, though after a certain amount of time the bug will take over it's host fully. But it can be simply removed by someone else by pulling it off or smashing it." the sign said. Bowser Junior didn't hesitate and grabbed the glass cube sitting on top of the podium but was surprised as an alarm suddenly went off as he grabbed it. He quickly tucked it away into the back of his shell as everything began flashing red and he quickly fled towards the lobby while the sirens went off in the background. Doors began closing around him but he got to the lobby in one piece and watched as the main door was about to be sealed off by a big iron door, but he was quick to react and quickly leapt forward and crushed the normal glass door and ended up outside the factory. Though, as he looked around he noticed that he was surrounded by many police cars... "Hello! Anyone here!?" Twilight shouted as they entered the good ol' library. "As infact, yes there is," Luna said with a firm voice and a smile. Luna was standing next to Zecora and Twilight smiled at them as they entered. "Good to see you Luna, I was afraid that Chrysalis had taken you as well." "Hm? Who are-a you?" Mario asked as he stepped in alongsides with Luigi and Spike. "I'm Princess Luna, I'm the one who raises the moon and Celestia is the one who raises the sun, but in this case it is Chrysalis who does both things," Luna said as she sighed, smiling towards Mario and everyone else. "It's not often we get a visit of your kind," Luna then added as she looked at both Mario and Luigi. "Yes, I can tell," Mario said and chuckled. "But Luna, what exactly are you doing here?" Twilight said as Luna was about to bombard Mario and Luigi with questions. "Ah, yes. Well, you see. I was here performing as Nightmare Moon over at the Nightmare Moon statue in the Everfree Forest and as I flew over Ponyville it was burning and lots of houses were destroyed, so I decided to stay and help. And while I was here I thought I should drop by and say hello to you," Luna explained before she turned her head towards Zecora. "You were unfortunately not here, but Zecora was sleeping on the floor so I decided to have a chit-chat with her instead." "Haha, well. We've been to Canterlot and we've been here fighting off some very big snakes at Applejack's farm and right now I just want to lay back and have a rest," Twilight said and sighed. "Then we'll let you do so, there's no need for us to get in the way of things," Luna said as she looked at Zecora and then back at Twilight. "Oh, thank you very much, Luna. But just one question, how were you aware that Chrysalis has taken Celestia's place?" Twilight asked while the others went upstairs and attempted to find a bed. "Because I'm not the one who raised the moon or lowered it this time," Luna said as her face grew serious before smiling. "Good night, Twilight Sparkle. Don't forget about that box you got from the tree of harmony though, it may be useful against Chrysalis." Twilight just realised, she did have the box. But she had given up on trying to solve the mystery a while back since she drew the conclusion that six keys would be impossible to find after sitting up two weeks without sleeping and trying to solve the mystery. With a sigh she turned to face the door leading to the basement and pondered for a while if she would go down there and study all night long or get some well-needed rest. Twilight of course went with the latter and turned around once more and gently waved at Zecora and Luna as she walked up the stairs and found Luigi laying in her bed with Mario next to him and Twilight let out a grumpy sigh as she walked over to Spike instead and laid down next to him in the basket. Her eyelids fell faster than expected and she drifted off to sleep, but something wasn't right. Maybe it was that devious evil chuckle, or those menacing green eyes staring right into her soul...? No! Twilight realised who the voice and eyes belonged to. And just as she realised the eyes faded away and the voice echoed until eventually stopping, and suddenly she was standing in the middle of a cemetery with a giant monument of the six elements together. It was almost completely dark but the moon up high in the sky gave enough light to make the dead trees surrounding the place look even more creepy. Twilight shuddered in the cold before inspecting the monument further. "Here lies; Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Fluttershy and soon, Twilight. May them always be remembered as those who tried to save Equestria," Twilight read aloud, her voice becoming shakier for each name. She looked back at "and soon, Twilight" and "tried to save Equestria" and felt really frightened, but this was just a dream. That she was certain of. Suddenly five pair of hooves pressed through the ground in a ring around Twilight. Twilight herself screamed out in fright and opened her wings which just evaporated as she spread them out. She then tried to use a teleportation spell but the same happened to her horn as she was reduced to a simple earth pony, and something was telling her that soon she would be another kind of 'earth' pony. The things pressed themselves more up and Twilight saw that they were lifeless shells of her friends. They were what Spike would call, zombies. "Your time has come, Twilight Sparkle," an ominous voice said as it echoed through the cemetery and a grave opened up behind her. "No! This is just a dream! Wake me up!" Twilight screamed as her zombified friends forcefully grabbed her and groaned as a zombie would and then all pushed Twilight into the grave. "Help! Spike! HELP!" She screamed as she landed and her friends grabbed a shovel each and then began burying Twilight alive. She closed her eyes and was about to scream but suddenly she was in a dark blue room. It was endless and the floor consisted of some blue floaty magic. Suddenly though, Luna appeared through a door that also appeared out of nowhere and she took some steps towards Twilight. "Twilight, that is the fate that you'll suffer if you give up on that box. You'll have to solve the mystery, and I promise you; since it is from the Tree Of Harmony, it has to do something with friendship," Luna said as she walked closer and looked down on Twilight. "Maybe you should even ask Discord for advice." "Discord? But I don't even know where he is!" Twilight asked as she looked up at Luna who seemed very serious about the matter, she wasn't even smiling. "You'll find him, where trouble goes, chaos follows," Luna said and then turned around as she walked towards the door again. "And you better hurry, Pinkie Pie, Rarity and Celestia are in Chrysalis clutches and horrible things will happen to them," Luna said before opening the door and then walking through it as it slowly disappeared. Twilight just stood there as she tried to process everything but she was snapped out of her thinking as the floor suddenly collapsed. "What the-" She muttered before she began falling into a pitch black abyss, seeing lots of moving pictures of strange events on the way down. There was this one where herself and her friends were standing infront of a big wooden mask with two hands and arguing over something. Another picture floated by and she saw the big Koopa king laying on the ground in what looked like a destroyed Canterlot completely dead, but a glimpse of Chrysalis could be seen moving up in the background. Twilight wanted to find out more but suddenly everything went black and she opened her eyes as she sat up in Spike's small basket. "I-uh... I'm, back," Twilight said as she shook her head and looked around as she saw as she was back in her own room again. The sun peeked in from the windows and the smell of breakfast came from downstairs. That made some sense at least, because nobody was still here in the bedroom. She stood up and walked over to a mirror as she grabbed a hairbrush, looking at her fuzzy mane that made her look as if she had been electrified. She levitated the hairbrush with a sigh and began fixing her hair when the door to the bedroom suddenly opened and she looked at the doorway where Mario stood. He chuckled and looked at Twilight as he took off his cap. "I was just-a checking if you were still asleep or not," Mario said as he scratched the back of his head and smiled. "Nah, it's a wonder that I slept this long though," Twilight said with a smile as she finished brushing her hair and then patted with one of her hooves to do the final fixes. "Mhm," Mario said as he nodded. A silence broke out as Mario stood in the doorway and held his cap while trying to think of a way to get a conversation going. He looked around in the room and then walked over to Twilight's bed and sat down and then began rolling his thumbs. Twilight glanced at Mario through the mirror and quirked an eyebrow before turning around and looking at him directly. "Is there something on your mind, Mario?" Twilight asked as she levitated her hairbrush into a drawer and then closed it. "Yeah," Mario muttered as his eyes met Twilight's, a look of worry all too apparent in his eyes. "Princess Peach is gone, and we don't know where she is. And both Bowser and Chrysalis is searching after her. Heck, Bowser might already have found her," Mario said before looking down at the floor again. "Don't you worry, Mario," Twilight said with a concerned smile and took some steps closer to the bed. "I'm sure she'll be alright. After all, she told me that you've rescued her countless of times before in situations where it was worse," She added as she patted his shoulder with one of her hooves and then levitated his cap onto his head. "I better go downstairs now and get some breakfast though, try to cheer up a bit in the meantime," Twilight said and then walked through the doorway and down the stairs, leaving Mario alone. His thoughts immediately wandered over to Peach and he leaned back onto the bed and closed his eyes, because he hadn't gotten any sleep because of all the thoughts. "This is Officer Rosebadge; Bowser, do you copy?" Bowser heard through the walkie talkie as he opened his eyes with a grumpy yawn. He sat up and was met with some pedestrians looking at him in fright and then quickly walking away. He was angry at himself for not finding a more comfortable place to sleep on, but he had been tired when he decided to sleep in an alleyway. "Bowser, do you copy?!" Rosebadge shouted through the walkie talkie and Bowser gruggingly grabbed the thing and activated the mic. "Yeah, I do. What's your deal this time?" Bowser said as he rubbed his eyes. "Your son has been found and been taken to the police station, you'll have to come and pick him up. And I've got some good news from the mayor," Rosebadge said with an amused tone, knowing that she'll get to meet Bowser one more time. "Guuuh," Bowser said with a grumpy sigh, but he knew he had no other choice but to go there. "I'll arrive as fast as I can," Bowser added and then muted his mic and looked towards Kamek who was sleeping on a bench. He took some heavy steps towards Kamek and then drew in some air. "MARIO HAS TAKEN PEACH!" Bowser roared, his voice so powerful that the ground shakes somewhat. Kamek quickly jumped up and aimed his wand forward and to the sides, "Where are they!? Koopa troops, don't let them escape!" Kamek said in panic as he looked around after Mario but saw nobody, except Bowser standing infront of him and laughing so much that he had to lean against the wall. "Oh, ha ha. Very funny, lord Bowser," Kamek said in an annoyed voice and sighed as he tucked away his wand and crossed his arms. "No time for slacking, they've found Junior," Bowser said and then turned around and began walking towards the police station. "If that's the case, then let's not waste any time!" Kamek said as he summoned his broom and then catched up to Bowser before grabbing his wand again and teleporting them right into the reception room. Rosebadge leaned against a desk with Bowser Junior standing next to her with crossed arms with an annoyed expression on his face. He shined up though as he saw both Kamek and his father standing right infront of him. "Papa! I'm sorry for calling you stupid!" Bowser Junior said as he ran up to Bowser and hugged his leg due to the size difference. "When did you call me stupid?" Bowser asked as he scratched his head and then bent down and picked Bowser Junior up onto his back. "Either way, were have you been?" "Me? Well, I woke up in a lab and some scientist tried killing me! But I showed him!" Bowser Junior said, seeing Bowser react on the part about him almost being killed. "Scientist... what?!" Bowser asked as he began boiling up, stomping with his foot down into the ground. "That scientist dares trying to kill my son just like that?! I hope he or she paid the Bowser price!" He shouted, being careful not to go on a rampage and then lose his reputation. "Woah, big dude. Calm down," Rosebadge said to Bowser as she grabbed a cup of coffee and sipped from it. "The mayor just dropped by this morning with a model of that thing you wanted. It's yours, so just take it," she said as she grabbed a thing from the desk and then handed it over to Bowser who grabbed it carefully. It was a full 3D Model with working mechanics, it was just as Bowser wanted it to be. "Well, let him know that it's perfect, now. If you don't mind, I'll be going," Bowser said while trying to act like a normal king, his grumpy voice and scary appearance only making him look comical. "You do that, King Bowser. Just promise me that I'll have a VIP ride sometime," Rosebadge said with a dirty wink and Bowser dropped his chin and just as he was about to puke, Kamek used his wand to send them to the place where the government had been flatting out the ground so they could build apartments, but now it was going to be Bowser World. Kamek grabbed the 3D model with his magic and levitated it to the middle as he then flew over it and activated his wand, spraying his "Turn Giant" spell onto it as it began glowing in the colours of the rainbow. The 3D model began expanding and growing quicker for each second that passed and Bowser and Junior stood still as the floor beneath them changed, the theme park amusement rides growing taller and bigger. Kamek flew over the place again and sprayed his magic, making other Bowser minions appear with costumes and formal attire. Some Koopas were wearing suits complete with a bow-tie. Bowser figured that these new minions were going to be the staff of World Bowser and grinned. They were standing amidst the transformation now and in just a matter of minutes the transformation was complete. Neon lights glowed up into the sky and big amusement rides activated and music began playing in speakers positioned here and there. What impressed Bowser the most was the big Bowser statue in the middle which had a giant tower built in the middle of it. The tower looked like a chimney that went out of the statue's head, and Bowser only smirked. Ponies were gathering outside the gates to watch the spectacle at hand but some bouncer Koopas walked up to the gates and stood guard to make sure nobody sneaked in. Bowser knew this was going to be a success, and Mario wouldn't be able to stop him now! "Gwarhahahr! Junior, what do you think about them apples?! Yeah!" Bowser shouted in a cheerful tone, smiling for himself as he walked towards the Bowser statue and decided that it was time for him to make himself at home. "Kamek! Tell the minions to test if everything is operational and give that pony named 'Trixie' some tips on what to do! We'll need something big for our grand opening!" Bowser shouted towards Kamek who was high up in the sky. Kamek nodded and then descended towards a group of Koopas. Finally things were going Bowser's way; He had a 'fortress', he had Peach, he had a whole city on his side and what only awaited was this whole, pathetic, land! Some hours later... outside of Ponyville Trixie sat behind the curtains in her mobile stage, putting on some make up and making sure she was ready to perform. She had been training the whole night and somehow she still wasn't tired. Suddenly though with a 'poof', Kamek appeared behind her. "Kraaah! Lord Bowser wanted to make sure that you're ready," Kamek said as he levitated on his broom. "The great and powerful Trixie is always ready," Trixie said and turned around. "Really? Then let me hear!" Kamek said with a cocky smile, looking at Trixie who levitated the page with the lyrics infront of her. "Who's the mare next door, living in a haunted ma-" She sang in a monotone voice before Kamek cut her off. "Gah! You can't sing! And either way, that part is sung by background choirs. You'll need a background choir!" Kamek said, looking at Trixie who looked annoyed. "Yeah, and how am I supposed to do that?" Trixie asked as she crossed her hooves. "Like this!" Kamek said as he activated his wand and summoned two Boos. Both said; "Boo" but one sounded like a child and the other sounded as deep in his voice as Bowser. "That's good, but what about my voice?" Trixie said, smiling allknowingly at Kamek. Trixie looked forward to being as perfect as possible, even though she thought she was already as perfect can be. Kamek sighed and spinned his wand, a beam going straight from the wand and into Trixie's throat as she began to shine before the light absorbed into her and then disappeared. "Try singing now." "You'd better learn my name, 'cus it's Tri-i-xie!" Trixie sang in a high tone, without her voice cracking. It sounded beatiful to her own ears but Kamek just deemed it as okay. "Now, that's a bit better. Put out some posters for Bowser World when you're there as well, try to think of something that'll attract more ponies there," Kamek said before spinning around and then disappearing with a flash. "Oh, I already know what I am going to do," Trixie said in an evil voice and rubbed her hooves together, images of Twilight and her friends popping up in her head. "It's time, for a little revenge..." Mario woke up once again and sat up in the bed before standing up and then walking out of the room and down the stairs. He was immediately met with Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Spike and Luigi standing in the hall and discussing something. "Hello there, Mario! You ready for a tour around Ponyville?" Spike said as he saw Mario slowly walking towards them. "Yeah, that would-a be nice," Mario said as he nodded and stopped next to Luigi. "But, where is-a Luna and Zecora?" "They decided to go to Zecora's hut and plan some stuff so that they wouldn't bother us. I think that they're planning for a way for us to infiltrate Canterlot without having to directly face Chrysalis but still get to the egg chambers and rescue our friends," Twilight said, looking over to everyone else. "And now, we thought we'd finally get a chance to relax." "Mhm, well. Let's-a go," Mario said as he smiled and looked as Applejack took the lead and turned around, opening the front door and walking outside. "I wonder where Fluttershy is, she told us she was going to return to the farm as soon as she was done with her animals," Rainbow Dash said as she flew slightly over Twilight. "Don't worry about her, Rainbow Dash. We'll drop by her cottage when we're done with the tour of Ponyville," Twilight said and smiled to Rainbow Dash as they walked through a long street with lots of market stands, each one selling a different kind of fruit or vegetable. "Fair enough, Twi," Rainbow Dash said with a sigh as she then looked up from Twilight and saw a giant crowd of ponies infront of her. Everyone stopped and raised an eyebrow, what was going on now? "Strange, there's no town event that's supposed to happen today," Twilight said and spread out her wings as she flew up and looked towards where the crowd was looking. A big stage was there now, red curtains covering whatever is behind it and spotlights randomly moving now and then. Twilight landed again and turned around to face the group with a sigh. "There seems to be some sort of show in our way, should we stay and watch or keep moving?" Twilight asked as she looked at all her friends, all of them seeming clueless. "Well... couldn't hurt, right?" Applejack said with a shrug, moving ahead and pushing her way into the crowd as the others followed without saying anything. "What-a do you think it-a is?" Mario asked Twilight as he tried to push his way through the crowd which seemed to distance themselves slightly from Mario. "Could be anything, this is Ponyville after all," Twilight said with a sigh as they approached the middle of the crowd. "I have a bad feeling about-a this..." Luigi muttered as he grabbed a hold of his brother's shoulder. "Don-t-a you worry, Luigi. We'll be ready," Mario said quietly to Luigi as he looked back, continuing to walk until eventually stopping as they reached the middle. Twilight noticed Fluttershy standing right next to them in the crowd, and she looked as curious as everyone else. Twilight walked up to her and gave her a bump from behind which made her squeal in fright. "Ah! Omigosh, Twilight!" Fluttershy said as she turned around. "Yeah, good to see you here as well, Fluttershy. Do you have any idea about what's going on?" Twilight said as she looked at Fluttershy and smiled. "Uhm, no. The stage just kind of rolled in and then it has been standing here ever since..." Fluttershy said, pointing towards the wheels on the side of the stage. Suddenly though the spotlights centered onto the middle of the curtains and a sudden drum roll made everyone go silent. Twilight and Fluttershy turned towards the stage and watched as suspension filled the air. "Welcome to Trixie's Haunted Mansion Of Doom, dear fillies and gentlecolts! A spoooooooky musical show made just for you ponies in Ponyville, so enjoy your stay!" An announcer shouted as the curtains opened and revealed a fairly well decorated stage full of spooky props like spiderweb, purple candles and a creepy wallpaper making the background look like a big haunted mansion. Suddenly something mysterious walked out on the stage wrapped in an odd cloak and was wearing a matching witch hat, the cloak and the hat had small stars and moons printed into them both and they were purple. Mario and Luigi didn't know who it was, but the others recognised those clothes and began growling slightly. Two boos entered the stage and levitated over to each side of the stage and then placed themselves in a corner, the mysterious pony unwrapped herself from her cloak and threw it onto her back as she made it look like a cape instead. She smirked creepily as jazzy music started playing, attracting crowds of ponies there to look. (You can press here if you want to get a hang of the melody or how the lyrics fit) "Who's the mare next door, living in a haunted mansion?" The two boos sang in unison, one having a child-like voice and the other sounding like a fully grown male. "You'd better learn my name, 'cus it's Tri-i-xie!" Trixie sang boastfully, looking over the whole crowd as she spotted Twilight standing at the front row. She smiled and quickly lifted up her rival with magic and levitated her onto the stage. Twilight's friends looked on in horror and immediately made their way to the stage, but the ponies were standing still in the crowd and didn't seem phased at all, heck, it looked like Twilight was part of the play. "She knows the darkest spells and she brews the meanest potions!" The boos sang as Trixie quickly lifted Twilight up on the stage and before the alicorn could react, Trixie attached a ring to horn that sparked with red magic. "You might be the ingredient I seek!~" Trixie sang, lifting up Twilight with a levitation spell again as she quickly summoned a big sack. "Don't let yourself be fooled by her innocent demeanor," the boos sang as Mario, Luigi, Spike, Rainbow Dash, Applejack and Fluttershy went up on the stage, they immediately began running forward towards Trixie who had closed the sack with the help of a rope that was laying around on the stage. "You'd better be afraid of the great, Tri-i-xie!" Trixie sang as she laid down the sack on the stage and then lit up her horn as she enveloped Twilight's friends in a magical aura that prevented them from moving. "She plays with voodoo dolls and she has spiders in her hair!" the boos sang as Trixie smirked. "Eh, I just like to do spooky things like that!" Trixie sang as the jazzy music started to get more intense, dropping into a small solo. Everyone glared at Trixie as she slowly approached and levitated over three peculiar things, an eye of a newt, an old grainy wig and a small bottle labeled as kitten spit. The short solo was coming to an end and Trixie adjusted her mic a little as she prepared. "Eye of a newt, I cast a hex on you!" Trixie sang as the eye became liquid magic and quickly fused with Fluttershy, quickly transforming her into what looks to be a stallion version of Fluttershy. "Grandma's wig, this'll make you big!" she continued as the wig became liquid magic as well, floating over to Applejack's hat which became so massive that it captured her under it. "Kitten spit, soon your pants won't fit!" Trixie continued to sing, opening the bottle and levitating the spit over to Mario and then forcing it into his mouth and using magic to force him to swallow it. "Pantalones Giganticus!~" she sang mockingly as Mario began shrinking very significantly, his clothes towering over him as he changed into the size of a small house-hold mouse. "Oh no, not again!" she sang with a sarcastic tone as she faked a swoon and put her hoof over her forehead as the crowd cheered on her to continue with her magic tricks. "She could defeat a god, whilst balancing on a single tree top!" The boos sang as they approached and threw the male Fluttershy, Applejack and the now miniature Mario into the sack. "Everyone knows I'm the greatest, Tri-i-xie!" Trixie sang as she held her hat in one hoof and spinned around as fireworks exploded behind her, creating quite a sight, this only leading to her earning even more cheering from the massive crowd. "You'd better watch your step or she'll cast a spell on you!" The boos sang as they threw Rainbow Dash in the sack as well, now leaving only Spike and Luigi left. "I really like eating with spoons!" Trixie sang with a weird expression as she began questioning Bowser's songwriting ability. "I must refer to my spells, and yes, it's true, well. I don't have as many friends as you!" She continued as she walked up to Spike and Luigi and mockingly hugged them at the same time as if they were inaminate plushies. "But I think you're nice, and maybe we could be friends?!" She said as she went up into a high soprano voice, looking at Luigi and Spike pleadingly before dropping into an evil grin. "And if you say no, you're toast!" She sang as yet another jazzy solo kicked in, she immediately threw Spike and Luigi off the stage and into a garbage bin. "Spooked yet? You gentlecolts and fillies should be! Because I'm the great and powerful, Trixie!" Trixie shouted over the solo into her mic, looking at the crowd who was enjoying every part of it, thinking it all was just planned before with all the magic tricks and everything. "Who's the mare next door, living in a haunted mansion?" The boos sang as the music began getting a bit more intense. "You'd better learn my name, 'cause it's Tri-i-xie!" Trixie sang as she smirked, knowing that she has completed her true mission. "Just remember this, when you see her on the street..." The boos sang, looking at Trixie as the song began approaching its end "I'm the coolest mare you'll ever meet!" She sang, wrapping herself in her cloak in the blink of an eye and threw a smoke bomb down to the ground. The music soon stopped and as the clouds of smoke disappeared the stage and everything was gone, the only thing remaining being the posters hanging on the nearby walls about a theme park called Bowser World opening up in Manehattan. Luigi and Spike crawled out of the dumpster and sighed pathetically, they both looked at eachother and then towards the stage and saw as well as it was suddenly gone. They scratched their heads but instead walked over to the wall with the posters. "Hey, Luigi. Isn't Bowser that big dragon king that stole that princess?" Spike said as he grabbed a poster from the wall and began reading. "Mhm, and I have a feeling that witch worked with Bowser since she was accompanied by two boos," Luigi said as he looked down at Spike and crouched down next to him to read the poster as well. "Huh, weird. Bowser World is opening up in Manehattan, a fun place for both small ponies and adults! We've got attractions that are extremely rad and that'll make you beg for more such as the infamous "DK's Rocket Barrel Ride", "Plessie's Plunging Falls" and the classical Rollercoaster called "Bowser's Lava Flume-Ride", so, come at our grand opening and you'll have a chance to see the King of Koopas, Bowser, himself on stage. Entry fee; 10 bits," Spike said as he directly read from the poster that had a picture of a big neon head of Bowser with large text under it. But he quickly tore it apart with his claws and frowned, looking up at Luigi as to await an answer. "Bowser World... they must have been taken there!" Luigi said as he lifted up his cap that had slipped down a little and smiled at Spike. "Then let's go and save ourselves some princesses!" Spike said as he striked a heroic pose, looking quite humoristic with his little tummy and baby appearance. "Huh, 'princesses'?" Luigi said as he looked at Spike and quirked an eyebrow. "Oh, I was referring to Twilight and Peach, hehe," Spike said as he chuckled and scratched the back of his head. "Okie! Well then, let's-a go!" Luigi shouted as he did a heroic pose as well. "Okey dokey!" Spike said, doing his best to imitate an Italian accent. And so the two wandered out of Ponyville to rescue their near and dear from the evil clutches of Bowser, are they gonna make it? Yeah they are, but they're comic reliefs, something bad is going to happen... To Be Continued
Chapter of King Chryssal, Chrysalis' Father (Bonus)This is the tale of Chrysalis father, King Chryssal. He was a warrior that had no mercy on his foes, but he never fought without a reason... he needed to feed his people, the changelings. He had earned his place as king after all the years of migrating to planet after planet in search after the foodsource known as: love. But eventually, as they settled down on a planet with inhabitants known as humans they were immediately struck with resistance and the humans found a way to fight back in a way the other planets they had taken over were not able to. The humans were more resistable as well and were filled with hate, and while the few humans they sapped were potent with love the food turned out to have an opposite effect against them with all the other negative emotions overpowering that of the love. In short, the changelings slowly began to starve to death but King Chryssal was determined that they would overtake this planet if they fought hard enough. The few hundreds of remaining changelings had to change their plans and instead focused on war, training and equipping themselves to have their last stand. King Chryssal would not let his people down, no matter the cost. He would win this war, he thought. But he had already chewed off more than what he could swallow... This is the tale of what happened 500 years ago, on a planet far away in the same galaxy as Equestria "My liege! The humans are gathering for a final assault, there are over thousands of them and our people are starving, you have to do something! We could retreat and find a less hostile planet, this battle is already decided!" An armoured changeling shouted to King Chryssal who sat on his throne inside a throne room resembling that of Canterlot Castle's throne room but with black ivory instead of white. "Silence! We will not do such a thing as retreating from those brainless monkeys. They are taking the battle to us, they may be more in quantity but we have both quality and tactics. Send out our most skilled combatants in tactical positions and tell them to ambush the humans when they approach, tell the others to stay here and prepare to defend the castle at all costs!" King Chryssal shouted angrily, frowning and glaring towards the changeling before him. "Go, now! Precious time is running out!" "Yes, my lord! I won't fail you, almighty Chryssal," The changeling said, saluting his king before turning around and running out of the throne room. King Chryssal sighed and leaned back towards the throne. He looked mostly like a male version of Chrysalis but with metallic body-armour and a royal green cape attached to his neck much like that of King Sombra. He also had a golden crown and his turquoise changeling mane flowed down his neck, while very volymous and soft-looking it was still somehow shaggy and spiky. "My, such stubborn fools. I can't stand those smelly monkeys with their unpure love and passion for hate, maybe leaving this planet would be the right choice after all," King Chryssal contemplated as he began to stroke his chin with one of his front-hooves. "Hahahaha! What am I saying?! Nobody has beaten us, especially not in combat. It was my fault for ordering more of the drones... I should have prepared for this trip and spawned more warrior class changelings like myself," King Chryssal continued with a smirk on his face. Though, he almost jumped out of his seat as the whole castle suddenly began to shake slightly. Before he could say something aloud for himself the changeling returned into the throne room with a panicked expression. "MY KING! They're here! We opened up the gate to send out our most skilled warriors but they got ambushed by human warriors, and before we could close the gate they began storming into the castle grounds and slaughtered unsuspecting changeling drones. They'll soon make it here, we have to flee! They're even bombarding us with catapults!" The changeling warrior began rambling, each word just serving to make King Chryssal more pissed off. Chryssal frowned, looking quite angry as he rose up from his throne. "Then so be it, let them come. You're all pathetic, weak genes. I am a true changeling warrior! I will dispose of those pathetic lifeforms and get rid of their putrid smell for good!" He roared, a green glowing aura beginning to emanate from him. He had never been pushed to reach into his untapped energy before in his life, but an endless wave of humans awaited him, an endless wave of soon to be corpses for him. The changeling began stepping back, his jaw was dropped in awe at the aura that surrounded Chryssal. But that was soon replaced with fear as Chryssal began glaring at him. ... "Weakling," Chryssal said before powering up his horn and firing a beam of magic at the changeling which evaporated the changeling warrior into nothing. King Chryssal was mad, and the humans were going to pay. He was probably the last of his kind, the humans would have gotten to the breeding chambers by now and killed all the kidnapped broodstock, making the possibility of laying new eggs impossible. It all depended on him, one against thousands of armed human warriors. He instinctively powered up his horn and shot a hole in the roof to make an opening for himself, he quickly spread his wings and soared up through it and then over to the courtyard which was filled with humans who froze and glared towards Chryssal. Sad for them, they were on the ground, he wasn't. King Chryssal smirked, powering up his horn as he began gathering energy into a giant sphere of magic. It grew and grew and the humans in the courtyard stared up, unsure of what would happen next. The sphere continued to grow until it reached the size of a house, and his smirk went wider. Now the humans began to panic slightly and they were in their right to do so as Chryssal first leaned his head backwards slightly (the big sphere following the motion) before swinging it forward and down towards the humans. The sphere began to crash down in the blink of an eye and all the humans screamed in terror as the sphere landed in the middle of the courtyard and exploded, killing dozens and dozens of people. King Chryssal laughed all the while and slowly descended to watch what he had unleashed upon those rebellious monkeys. He landed firmly and looked around, around 700 human warriors had been killed in the blast and he saw no survivors, now that he thought about it, why would he be expecting someone to survive that? He was King Chryssal after all, the mightiest being in all of the milky way. "Fools," he scoffed, spitting on a dead corpse. Suddenly twenty warriors ran into the courtyard, all with hateful expressions. All equally powerful except one, the leader. The king of the humans, the warrior who had led them all against the changelings. "King Chryssal! You're the last one of your race, and your tyranny is soon to be over. The countless of planets you have sapped all life and love from will be avenged by the hands of us. These are nineteen of my strongest warriors, all trained by me. All of them are capable of standing their ground on their own and together, they will be your doom," the king said, he was fairly young and dressed in simple drags, just like his disciples. The only piece of equipment they had was a sheath and a sword in it, swords that were practically coloured green by all the changelings they had cut through this day. King Chryssal frowned, that these humans had the guts to say that they were capable of bringing him down. He took a good look around him and saw that he was surrounded at every direction, he had no choice but to face them all. King Chryssal suddenly charged forward against one disciple but the disciple sidestepped and raised his arm before crashing his elbow down against Chryssal's back as he flew forward. King Chryssal was struck by the attack without having the time to react and got sent flying down into the ground, he didn't know these humans were skilled enough to land a blow on him. Pfft, seems I underestimated their power. No need to hold back here... I might actually lose if I don't stay on my guard. He quickly rose up and headbutted the disciple who had not stepped away, though it did more than just headbutt. King Chryssal's horn impaled the warrior in his heart and the disciple quickly lost the spark in his eyes. Chryssal chuckled for himself before activating his horn and levitating the corpse off his horn. "Don't underestimate me, and I won't underestimate you." "Get him! Bring him down, remember what I taught you all!" The human king shouted as all the 18 remaining warriors quickly went forward to attack. King Chryssal didn't expect them all to attack at once and before he knew it he was caught in a blurry of thousands of quick jabs and punches on his body. There was no way for him to get out of it all, with all the pain spreading throughout his body he couldn't focus his horn and make a shockwave or something. He screamed out in pain as all the punches kept connecting and knew that he had to do something, so he kicked back with his backhooves and then swinged his head to the side to use his sharp changeling horn as a sword. And he was lucky enough to send two of his backhooves into four guys at once behind him and his horn managed to slash 6 warriors infront of him. The others jumped back and watched as their companions slowly fell to the ground, those who had been slashed in the stomach began to bleed out and went unconscious and those who were kicked by his hooves were paralyzed by the force of a real buck. King Chryssal was still in a critical condition though, his whole body ached in pain and he suddenly coughed up a bit of green blood. The remaining warriors infront of him drew their swords and all spread out. 8 of them remained, 9 counting the king. But King Chryssal was not one to give up, he still had some spirit in him. He powered up his horn and the green aura began to emanate again as he tapped into his true power. He quickly dashed forward and punched one of the warriors in the face with his hoof, the punch strong enough to bash in the human's face and send him flying backwards. As he turned around he was met with the sight of a blade slashing down against him and before he knew it a pain went off in his horn, it took a while to register but as he looked up he saw that his horn was cut in half. Then the real pain kicked in. King Chryssal screamed out in the pain, green blood practically flooded out of his horn. He glared at the warrior and then quickly dashed forward and impaled him on his now half horn, while his horn was impaled he moved his head around and made the human scream his last words before his lifeforce slowly went away. The changeling king shook the body off his horn and began to cry in both shame and anger... his pride was somewhat hurt too. How did that low-class monkey even hurt me? My horn... m-my b-beautiful horn! He roared out in anger and powered up his horn, firing magic bursts against the remaining warriors. Most of the warriors could avoid the bursts at first but eventually one of them got hit, and then another, then another. Chryssal eventually stopped firing and saw that one remained, he had got hit and lost his left arm from the elbow down. Chryssal could see the pain in the warrior's expression, he only smirked. It felt good to inflict pain on others, he thought to himself. The warrior ran forward in futility with his sword raised in his right hand. The changeling king simply dashed forward and punched him in the stomach three times in one second, the shock visible on the warrior's face as he fell forward and died. "Hmmph, they proved to be a match. Surprising coming from your race... but they are dead now," King Chryssal said, looking at the human king with a smirk. "I am the victor here, give up and accept your fate and maybe I won't kill all the people," he added, stepping forward towards the king who surprisingly lowered his guard and put his sword down. "I underestimated you, King Chryssal... I won't be able to beat you by fighting. I give up, do it quick," the human king said, his voice lacking any hope as he got down on his knees. "Oh, hohoho. Who said I'd not take my time in killing you? My horn is in half... and it hurts like literal hell. It was caused by your man, and I'm not just satisfied with killing them quickly. I'm going to take my time torturing you and giving your people an example of what I'll do to them if they do not feed me the love that I need to become even more powerful," King Chryssal said as he approached the human king. Who, unbeknownst to King Chryssal, was reaching into his robes subtly and grasping a hidden poisoned dagger. King Chryssal stopped infront of the human king and smiled down on him. "First, your name?" King Chryssal said, "It's the least you could tell me for being such a nuisance." "My name is..." the king began, suddenly pulling out his poison tipped dagger and impaling it into Chryssal's neck in blinding speed. "Your ticket to hell..." he finished. But Chryssal quickly punched him in the stomach with one of his front hooves and then activated his horn. "Stupid fool! You thought it was that easy to kill a Changeling King?!" Chryssal shouted, glaring at the human king and creating a sphere the size of a very big beachball. "Yes I did, the dagger isn't deadly itself... but it was laced with the deadliest poison on this planet. In a matter of five minutes you'll die, it's already too late to siphon all that poison out of your bloodsystem, seeing as how I hit a blood vessel in your throat. You're too far gone, King Chryssal. Your whole race is dead and with that, your tyranny is over," The human king rambled as he clutched his stomach in the pain of Chryssal's punch. "Even if you kill me now, my people will survive. And you won't have the time to kill them all." "Grrrr! Shut up! I can't die! A TRUE KING CAN NEVER DIE!" Chryssal roared as he sent the sphere of destructive magic flying towards the human king who was too damaged to move. The sphere exploded and the last sign of the human king's life was the scream of agony as his flesh was evaporated. Chryssal began to feel the effects of the poison and pulled the dagger out of his throat. The blood that dripped out of the wound was pink, all his blood had been affected by the poison already and he slowly felt his senses and his life force beginning to drain away... ...there was only one thing he could do. He would ensure that his race survived one way or another. His horn sparked up and he squinted his eyes in pain as he emptied his body from all his power and concentrated it into creating an egg inside of him... all of his own essence being sent into it. With enough power he slowly began to push the egg up through his throat, it was a painful procedure for him since he was not used to doing this. The egg went slowly up his throat and if anyone watched they would see that a giant bulge would be traveling up his throat. He loosened his jaw and opened it up as the egg soon approached it's final destination. It pressed it's way into his mouth and as the final part of it left his throat he aimed his mouth up and with all the energy he could muster he spit it out so hard that it was sent up into the atmosphere and sent through the depths of space to someday land on a planet with life... The king felt his last spark of life fade away and collapsed, his body turning into green dust periodically as tears began to flow down from his eyes... ...he had been defeated, all depended now on his unhatched child... 30 years from the present, in the orbit of Equestria. Life had finally found it's way... The egg was slowly approaching the planet Equus, where Equestria was. The magnetic pull of the planet began to draw the egg in into it's atmosphere as it began to descend, the speed increasing for each second. It began to catch flame but the egg was sturdy and kept increasing the speed before finally crashing down into a wasteland at the outskirts of Equestria. As soon as it had landed the egg began hatching, knowing that it had arrived. Out of the egg crawled a female changeling, the reincarnation of King Chryssal. She was... Queen Chrysalis. And she knew instinctively that someday, she would avenge her father. But first, she had to find someone to fertilize her eggs. She was already at a mature age. Someday, she would make this planet hers. She would make her people thrive, and she would make her enemies fear her.
Chapter 2-4 Part 1 "Dangers Along The Way"In the last chapter, Luigi and Spike were separated from Applejack, Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and Mario. Trixie had kidnapped them right infront of their eyes and then disappeared mysteriously, but both knew that their friends had been taken to World Bowser in Manehattan... Now they just had to get there first; which would be a hard task for the two, most, unlucky people in the world. "Gah, haha... wait-heh... up for-a me!" Luigi said between trying to breathe as he ran after Spike, his legs giving out under him as he fell forward onto the dirt path. "Come on, Luigi. We're one step outside of Ponyville, so, get up!" Spike said, sighing as he crossed his arms. They had been running for maybe five minutes and things were starting to look bad already. "Do you even know where-a Manehattan is?" Luigi asked Spike as he got up to his feet slowly, looking down at Spike as he saw him beginning to ponder. "Umm.... no, actually. I've always taken the train but it passes through Canterlot and you know, changelings. But there we have our first clue! Just follow the rails and we'll find our way," Spike said as he began walking towards the big mountain where Canterlot is positioned again. "But it's so far awaaaaay!" Luigi said with a whiny voice. "Luigi, pull it together! You're a hero for Celestia's sake!" Spike said, turning around again as he saw Luigi realising the fact and then seemed to refill with vigor. "Yeah! You're right! I'm a hero," Luigi said with a cocky voice as he began walking in a faster tempo. "Heh, I was beginning to think my motivational attitude never worked," Spike said as he smiled for himself, proudly walking forward with closed eyes. Luigi looked forward and saw a mare with a broken wagon full with hay on it. She had white fur and a long blonde mane coupled with some typical western clothes, a cowboy hat, a checkered shirt and a pair of jeans shorts. She looked distressed about her broken wagon and as she looked up and saw Spike and Luigi she smiled faintly. She even raised one of her front hooves and waved to them. "Hay there ya'll! Would ya mind helpin' me with mah wagon?!" She shouted to them as they approached, smiling and moving her hoof to point at the broken wheel. Luigi looked at Spike and Spike gave him a nod back before they ran to the mare and then stopped infront of her. "What can we help-a you with?" Luigi asked as he smiled. "Well, Ah was wandering through them here plains and suddenly sum' crazy mare came running through with a sack floatin' in the air 'hind her and she told me to move out of the way, but Ah didn't. So she blasted my wheel with her darn magic and Ah've been waiting here since," The mare explained, clearly looking a bit frustrated. But she smiled towards Spike and Luigi again after a moment. "Mah name is Cotton Hay by the way, Ah live on a yard in the fields between Manehattan and Fillydelphia with mah family and Ah was going to deliver this here hay to the Apple Family. But now ah ain't gettin' nowhere unless Ah get some help." "I'm sad to say that the apple family is currently on a vacation in Manehattan. Maybe if we fix it for you, would you give us a ride to Manehattan as well?" Spike said, smiling a bit deviously as he winked towards Luigi to tell him to go along with it. "They are? Huh, well. Ah guess Ah could do that then, but ya better fix it first 'cus we ain't gettin' anywhere with one wheel," Cotton Hay said, sighing in slight frustration as she rolled her eyes and then flipped her long but bruised mane out of her face. "Okey dokey!" Luigi shouted as he pulled out the family wrench and walked over to the wheel, seeing that the wheel itself was fully operational but some bolts and hobnails were missing. Spike approached as well and inspected the thing, looking dumbfounded as he tried to figure out what was wrong. "Uh, so what do we need to do?" He asked after a moment. "Try to-a find some hobnails and bolts nearby, they seem to be-a missing," Luigi said as he squinted his eyes and tried to see how many were missing. Spike turned around and took a blind step as he accidentally stepped on a hobnail facing upwards. "OUCH!" Spike screamed as he grabbed a hold of his foot as it began to throb cartoonishly in his hand. He looked down to see two hobnails and one bolt. "Oh, hey. I found them!" "You found all ten of them?" Luigi said as he turned his head around to see Spike roll his eyes. "Nah, but I found three. Two hobnails and one bolt," Spike said with a sigh and picked them up from the grass and threw them over to Luigi. "Keep-a looking then," Luigi said as he put his wrench into his pocket and then brought out his big hammer and carefully inserted the things into the wheel again. "Yer doin' quite a good job. But that's understandable for bein' a human and all," Cotton Hay said as she leaned against the wagon as she looked at Luigi continuing to insert the hobnails. Luigi looked at her for a moment and felt a bit weird when she said 'human' as if it was something downgrading. But the biggest question was that she knew what he was. "How do you know what a human is?" He finally asked while inserting the last hobnail. "Mah grandma told me sum' stories when Ah was just a lil' foal. Y'know, yer kind has visited before. At least in Canterlot through that magical mirror," Cotton Hay said, flipping her mane out of her face again. "I found five more on the dirt path!" Spike exclaimed right as Luigi was about to continue the conversation with Cotton hay. "Yeah! Go Weegee!" Luigi said as he turned his head towards Spike as the small dragon threw the small things over to Luigi. "Just-a two more, keep-a looking!" Spike began wandering away looking through the nearby area and Luigi picked up his hammer again and counted the five small things. There were three hobnails and two bolts. "Tell me, what's yer two fellahs called?" Cotton Hay asked, remembering that she had told them her name, but they hadn't told their names yet. "My name is-a Luigi, and his is-a Spike," Luigi said with a focused voice as he swinged with his hammer carefully. "Luigi'n'Spike, huh? How come ya two know the Apples if ye'r a human and yer friend is a dragon?" Cotton Hay asked with a hint of curiousity in her voice. "Everyone knows eachother in Ponyville!" Spike shouted from where he standed, continuing to look across the area for the missing bolts. "Heh, that would explain it," Cotton Hay said with a giggle, looking at Luigi as he swinged his hammer yet again. "Ah have ta say, ye'r quite good with a hammer. Are you some sort carpenter from where ya come from?" Luigi swinged his hammer yet again and inserted the last hobnail before placing the hammer back on the ground. He reached for his forehead and wiped all the sweat from it as he looked at Cotton Hay. "Eh, kind of. I'm a plumber," He said and scratched the back of his head. "A plumber?" Cotton Hay said and chuckled. "Could also explain why ya swing so well," She then added with a suggestive wink as Spike returned. Luigi looked at her with a deadpan face and facepalmed. "Oh, yeah. Sorry fer that one, raised in a barn'n'all and Ah often forget what to say and what not to say," Cotton Hay concluded, looking at Spike as he gave them both a weird glance before walking over to Luigi and handing over the last bolts. "Fix those and we should be good to go," Spike said, still trying to figure out what was so special about what she said. "Great work, Spike," Luigi said, smiling at Spike before he picked up his big hammer again and then carefully inserted a bolt before mercilessly hammering it in. "It was nothing," Spike said, trying to look proud of himself for such a small task. "But now, if you don't mind, I'll take my rightful position!" Spike said with a smug face and then hopped up on Luigi's back and then onto the wagon as he threw himself into the giant pile of hay. Luigi fixed the last one and then wiped some sweat off from his forehead, looking at Cotton Hay who had a wide smile on her face. "Thank you, darlin'. Just hop on with yer friend there and Ah'll take ye to Manehattan in no time! Yee haw!" She said as she attached the wagon to herself again. Luigi jumped up onto the wagon and laid down next to Spike, sighing in relief as he closed his eyes, Spike had already fallen asleep in the soft and comfortable hay and it didn't take long before Luigi fell asleep as well. Meanwhile... in Canterlot Chrysalis sat on her new throne but was quickly finding it boring just sitting around, nobody had come to stop her yet, her power was multiplying by the second and she couldn't get the chance to use it. She was even beginning to think she was putting on some weight... oh wait, she was actually putting on some weight. Chrysalis inspected herself and saw that unnecessary flab was beginning to appear on her marvelously perfect body, her meals were becoming too frequent and too much for her to handle... it was time... for her to do nothing. Chrysalis yawned before the two doors suddenly sprung open and a changeling came flying forth. "My queen! Our scouts reported that a dragon, a human and a pony is approaching our border. What do you wish we do?" The changeling asked, bowing formally infront of Chrysalis who smiled in return. "My, my. Changeling #421, grab the wheel of misfortune!" Chrysalis shouted as she sat up slightly in her throne, watching as the one referred to changeling number 421 dragged a big wheel of fortune into the throne room. There were four options: Seduce with transformation, send in personal hatchling, turn subjects into changelings, take as broodstock. "Does the queen wish to spin it herself?" 421 asked, looking at Chrysalis. "Oh, gladly," Chrysalis smirked as 421 flew to the side to let Chrysalis do her thing. She grasped the wheel with her magic and made it go into a crazy spin, she then let go with her magic and pressed her hooves together to watch where it would land. It began to slow down and Chrysalis rubbed her hooves together impatiently as the wheel slowed down even more as it approached the first option. "Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!" She exclaimed as it was about to stop on 'Seduce with transformation'. She was about to throw her hooves in the air as it was about to stop on that option but eventually stopped on the option after: "send in personal hatchling". "Naaaww. I wanted to do the work myself. Eh, whatever, you minions are lucky today... you'll get to witness the birth of a true changeling warrior," Chrysalis said, rising up from her throne and taking some steps forward. Changeling 421 and the other changeling who had come storming into the throne room some minutes before exchanged confused glances and then looked back towards Chrysalis. "A 'true' changeling warrior?" They both asked. "Yes, a changeling infused with the power and energy from a queen. It'll get rid of all this fat for me and it will hopefully do a better job in finding that princess than you two slacky drones," Chrysalis said, walking up to the center of the throne room as she began to glow green, the flab slowly disappearing. "Nothing shall stop you, my child!" She shouted before a visible bulge began going up her throat. Her jaw loosened up and began to open wide as the giant bulge in her throat slowly proceeded to rise up through her esophagus. The two changelings could now see what appeared to be a solid egg beginning to poke out slightly into her open mouth and they both gasped in awe, fascination and disgust. Before they knew it the egg just launched out of her mouth and landed on the floor, it was pulsating with green magic and Chrysalis smiled as she inspected her restored body again, as fit and prime as ever. Though she then switched her focus over to the egg which already began to hatch. "Welcome to this pathetic world, my true child. I have given you my power, and you will obey your creator... you are a warrior, you are unbeatable," Chrysalis monolouged as the super changeling began to escape from it's shell covered prison. Though recently born it began to grow almost immediately, it didn't look like a normal changeling, it was like a dragon but with a humanoid build and the trademark changeling holes and insectile wings instead of dragon wings. The 'creature' rose up and stood on it's two clawed feet before bowing infront of Chrysalis. "I await your command, mother," it said in a dark voice which had a distorted effect to it, making it seem like thousands of people were saying the same thing at once. "Your first task is to either eradicate or kidnap three pathetic morons who are approaching our perimeters... make sure to display your strength... Shifuto," Chrysalis said before her newly born warrior spread his insectile wings and soared out through a window, leaving only the two changelings with Chrysalis. "Gah, what are you two still doing here, drones? Go do something useful, like fertilize the broodmares or something... geez," Chrysalis said as she turned around and waved the two changelings off carelessly as she walked over to her throne and sat down again. She had full faith in her child... And she had a good guess about who the human and dragon is. Our two heroes had been travelling for a while, Cotton Hay had taken a detour from the railroad and headed through a forest path towards Manehattan, but unbeknownst to them, Shifuto was on their heels... Spike opened his eyes with a yawn and stretched his arms as he sat up, Luigi did the same as well. They looked around and saw that they were in the middle of a forest. "Good mornin' fellahs! How ya doin'?" Cotton Hay asked as she looked back. "Just fine..." Luigi said with another yawn and smiled. "I'm fine too, do you know where we are, Cotton Hay?" Spike asked, looking around and seeing only trees alongside the path they were walking on. "Uhhh, about halfway there, hun," she said, pulling out a map from her hat. "Yeah, it won't take that long for us tah hit it up." "Heh! Then napping time it-a is!" Luigi exclaimed with a smile and was about to lay down again but suddenly an energy blast hit the underside of the wagon and sent them three all flying up in the air. "Woah!" Cotton hay screamed as the shockwave sent her flying into the trees at the side. Spike and Luigi landed next to eachother and Luigi quickly got to his feet and looked around, seeing a creature up in the sky which slowly began to descend. "Spike! Look! Up in the sky!" Luigi said and pointed towards what seemed to be a monster. It landed firmly some meters infront of them, smiling faintly. "What even is that thing?" Spike exclaimed loud as he got up to his feet, first glancing towards the monster and then to the burning wagon. Luckily enough, Cotton Hay had gotten to safety. "I'm Shifuto, Queen Chrysalis' personal warrior child. Now, you will either be eradicated or taken with me back to the castle," Shifuto said as he clenched his fists, giving both Spike and Luigi a menacing glare. "We'll-a never give up to you!" Luigi said, clenching his fist and crouching down in a wide stance... this looked like it was going to descend into a battle. "**Then...* let that be your death-wish!*" Shifuto shouted before moving so fast that Luigi and Spike couldn't see him. Spike was suddenly struck with a well placed hand into the side of his neck which sent him flying to the side and causing him to go unconscious. Luigi quickly turned around and his jaw dropped as he saw Spike just falling limply to the ground. "No! Spike!" Luigi screamed as he ran back towards Spike and wrapped his arms around him. Luigi checked Spike's pulse and saw that he was still alive and sighed in relief, but that didn't change the fact that Spike was unconscious. Luigi sighed grumpily and laid Spike down on the ground again before standing up and adjusting his cap with a serious face. "You're-a gonna pay for hurting-a Spike..." he said with a determined look before charging up his hand with lightning. "Ha! Like you could stand a chance against me?" Shifuto said and crossed his arms, seemingly oblivious to the fact that Luigi is building up an attack. "Yeah, you may be fast! But not faster than lightning!" Luigi roared as he directed all the power he could muster into his index finger before directing the finger towards Shifuto, releasing the charge and shooting a straight charged up beam which caught Shifuto off guard. The beam of lightning hit him in the chest and went through it, at the same time the electricity that's passing through would spread throughout his body and inflict major pain. Shifuto gasped, as Luigi's attack was over, putting a hand over the hole Luigi made in his chest. "You...! You...!" Shifuto shook his head, groaning in pain. "I'm a warrior! I'M UNBEATABLE! You... puny... little... maggot!" Shifuto said before charging forward, due to his injury though, he wasn't as fast as before and Luigi simple rolled to the side before getting up to his feet quickly and then leaping into Shifuto with his elbow first. Shifuto's eyes widened in surprise but he got hold of the situation and sidestepped as Luigi couldn't stop and then punched Luigi in the stomach with a well placed fist. Luigi himself clutched his stomach in pain, his eyes bulging as tears began to flow down his cheeks. He jumped back reactively and then glared towards Shifuto who was smiling faintly. "At least there's some satisfaction in this," Shifuto said and chuckled. "N-no..." Luigi stammered as he stood upright, clenching his fists and smiling deviously as he got into a fighting position again. "Oh yes, it's wrong for me to lie like that. Taking out the trash is only a nuisance!" Shifuto said as he began to frown, raising one hand and extending his index finger as he began to create a glowing green sphere above his head with it. "This will end you, your friend and all the natural wildlife nearby!" He shouted as he began to levitate higher up into the air. Luigi watched as the sphere of concentrated magic only grew more and more before eventually blocking out the sun, but he couldn't just jump up and reach Shifuto, he had to take the sphere head-on... it was all depending on him. "Are you ready to die?! Please send me a postcard when you're in hell!" Shifuto roared before throwing down the giant sphere with enough power to almost catch Luigi off guard. But he prepared both of his hands and widened his stance as he raised his hands and catched the sphere with his hands as it landed. But he was not strong enough to lift it up, it was slowly beginning to press him down into the ground and he knew this would not last long... this would be the end... but he had to save Mario from Bowser, he had to save Peach from Bowser. He had to save Spike... Fluttershy, Twilight, Applejack, Rainbow Dash and eventually, Pinkie and Rarity. He had to hold on! Luigi began tapping into his inner strength, his fear and adrenaline was pumping through his body instead of blood and suddenly he began to grow slightly bigger... ...and bigger... ...and bigger.... AND EVEN BIGGER! "Huh? What's this?" Shifuto asked, watching as the magic sphere slowly was lifted. "HE CAN'T POSSIBLY BE THAT STRONG!" He added as the sphere began to rise even more from the ground. But what he didn't know was that Luigi was turning giant, ever since he had absorbed those Luigi copies from Discord he always had his untapped strength within him... nobody messes with Luigi, Shifuto was about to learn that the hard way. Luigi with his now giant strength building up gathered his strength and pressed the ball up into the air, sending it flying up in surprising speed and almost hitting Shifuto. The changeling in question was too distracted by the ball flying up in the air and exploding to look at Luigi as he expanded to the height of a large mountain. "NOW! You-a pay!" Luigi said in his normal voice that came out as shouting because of his giant size form. Shifuto turned towards him and his jaw dropped, he was feeling fear, legitimate fear. Not only had he just mashed all his energy into that ball, but he was also wounded, and his enemy was now as big as a mountain. This didn't look good for our little changeling. "B-but no! I'M IMMORTAL! I'M THE SPAWN OF THE QUEEN!" Shifuto shouted, vaguely trying to punch Luigi but just ending up irritating the giant Italian man. "Luigi! SMASH!" Luigi said before lifting his leg and then stomping down on the insect that Shifuto is. "NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!" Shifuto screamed at the top of his lungs as he was caught under Luigi's foot and was quickly approaching the ground below. "Now that I think about it, this defeat is very anti-climactic... heh. Well... goodbye, mother. I failed you, immensely," He thought to himself before he felt his back touch the ground and the moment after he felt the agonizing pain of all his intestines and bodyparts being squished under Luigi's boot. Luigi rubbed his foot on the ground to make sure it didn't get sticky or something before he eventually began to shrink down to his normal size. He looked towards the puddle of what looked like green ink which began to glisten and pile up in a pile of the changeling dust that remains after a changeling dies. He tipped his hat towards the pile before walking over to the unconscious Spike again. "I did it, Spike. He got what he-a deserved, no one threatens or hurts my friends without paying for it," Luigi said and looked at Spike, lifting him up with his arms and placing him against a tree. Cotton Hay suddenly climbed out of the bushes and whiped her forehead. "Woah there nelly, you've got sum' skills," she said to Luigi who smiled. "I try my-a best, but my brother is better, he has courage, he is heroic and he's not clumsy," Luigi said, frowning and thinking about his brother before clenching his fist and putting on a determined expression. "Which is why we have to go to Manehattan as soon as possible!" Luigi said. "Ah agree, but lil' fellah Spike might need tah wake up first," Cotton Hay said and nudged towards Spike. "I'll just carry him, let's go!" Luigi said and picked Spike up on his shoulder as he began to marching towards the direction of Manehattan... "GAH! Changeling 421! Get in here! Your queen needs you!" Chrysalis screamed as an agonizing pain went off inside her head. She felt as if her whole body just got crushed beneath a mountain but she was still intact... "Unngh, that's weird... this pain. Have I gotten a disease?" Chrysalis thought for herself as 421 entered the room and flew up to her, placing his hoof on her shoulder. "What is it my queen? Has your time come already?" 421 said, receiving a glare from Chrysalis. "I'm as young and healthy as one can get! I'm not dying...!" Chrysalis shouted, showing off her two razor-sharp teeth and crossing her front hooves comically before calming down again and frowning slightly. "But I'm afraid Shifuto is, dead. I don't know how, and it's highly illogical that it was the three people but he's dead. SEND OUT SCOUTS NOW!" She added, slamming her front hooves onto the armrests of her throne. "Yes my queen!" 421 quickly said before dashing out of the throne room. "Grrr... it couldn't be that human could it? No, I poured my own essence into that changeling, my child was on the same level as Twilight Sparkle in terms of magic power," Chrysalis said as she put her hoof against her chin. "Maybe it was a trap... maybe they ambushed my creation, GAH! Either way, he's dead! And now I'm pissed!" Chrysalis added before throwing her hooves into the air in frustration and then crossing them. "I'll see to that I'll get to personally meet this killer and then make him my slave... I need skilled adverseries... yes," Chrysalis said before putting her hooves together and rubbing them menacingly as she put on the widest grin possible. Would our heroes know which evil is now on their heels, or will they make it safely to Manehattan and rescue the others? Find out next time! To be continued in Part 2
Chapter 2-4 Part 2 "Lucky Moustache""Hey, hand over the money or else the kid's gonna get it!" A big muscular stallion who was a bandit said, holding up a gun made for the use with hooves in his left front-hoof and strangling a kid with his right front-hoof and pointing the gun towards the two parents. "You monster!" The mom shouted, her expression being that of panic. Tears ran in a stream from her eyes and her husband put his hoof around her shoulder and drew her in comfortingly. "Please... just let us go. We're a poor family and we're just seeking refuge after those insect things raided our small village," the stallion said and looked pleadingly towards the bandit. "Pfft! Ain't my problem! Now, be quick, or I won't hesitate to break this lil' guy's neck," the bandit said and squeezed his grip a bit harder around the small colt who screamed in both pain and fear. "Heeeelp!" He screamed, only receiving yet another harder squeeze from the bandit. Suddenly something moved quick as lightning and before the bandit could react the colt was gone out of his grip. His eyes widened in surprise and he dropped the gun in shock and turned around to see a two legged creature with brown boots, blue overall with a green shirt under it and a green cap with the letter 'L' printed on it now holding the little colt. "W-w-who are you?!" the bandit exclaimed, looking at Luigi with a shocked expression. "The green thunder! Luigi! Numbah one!" Luigi said before placing the little colt down on the ground before quickly speeding forward, sending his elbow flying into the bandit's stomach, making the bandit slowly fall to the floor and then pass out. "Oh! Thank you so much for saving us, you magnificent Italian man with the most handsome moustache that could ever exist!" The mother said and ran over to her little colt, hugging him and smiling. "Now, if you excuse-a me! I have to save-a my brother!" Luigi said and crossed his arms as a red cape appeared on his back before he quickly soared away into the sky like a superhe---- "LUIGI! Wake up!" Spike shouted straight into Luigi's face, throwing Luigi directly out of his dream of being a hero. "Uh, what is it?" Luigi asked, looking around to see that they were still in the same location as before. Yesterday after beating Shifuto, Luigi and Cotton Hay had ran non-stop for several hours and then finally decided to set up a camp not that far away from their destination, and now it seemed Spike was awake again. "We're packing up and leaving, bro. The grand opening for World Bowser is today at sunset!" Spike exclaimed, putting his hands on his hips and looking determined. "Okey dokey," Luigi said and nodded, smiling towards Spike as he got up on his own feet. And so, our heroes prepared to continue their travel to Manehattan. If things went as planned, they would arrive there just in time as the amusement park opens it's gates for the people of Manehattan. But, unbeknownst to them, the showpony: Trixie, had yet to arrive at her destination as she had stopped to sleep along the way. And to top off the cake, back in Canterlot an impatient queen was finally about to receive some... intel. "Grr, you mean to tell me that the human known as Luigi killed my child?" Chrysalis growled, banging one of her hooves onto the armrest of her throne. "Yes! Yes! Sorry my queen but that is what happened!" The changeling scout said, shaking in fear as he was afraid that Chrysalis would kill him out of anger. "Hnngh..." Chrysalis muttered as she bit her lip to contain her anger. She then took a breath before exhaling, seemingly calming down for the moment. "Fine, seems that I underestimated those two... Mario and Luigi. But if Luigi is Mario's brother, then I'm wondering how much stronger Mario is... since he seems to be the more heroic of the two," Chrysalis contemplated, scratching her chin with one of her hooves. "Drone! Fetch me Changeling #15 and his combatant squad, we're going after Luigi and Spike." "Yes my queen!" the scout said before saluting and quickly dashing out of the throne room to make sure not to waste the queens time. "Mmmm, everyone fears me. Even my own people..." Chrysalis said, grinning menacingly. "Time to make sure that this Luigi does the same," She said and showed off her teeth in anger. Chrysalis shifted in her seat, the memories from her first encounter with Luigi popping up in her head... how he had only been a scaredy cat. He showed no signs of power at all, he was nothing compared to her. But he managed to beat her own offspring that was stronger than what she was back then... maybe Twilight had given him a power boost or something? As the door to the throne room slammed open, Chrysalis got snapped out of her thinking and she saw Changeling 15 entering the throne room, followed by twenty-five of his soldiers. The only thing that made him stand out more than the others was that he had an iron chestplate and iron boots on all his four hooves. "You requested me, my lady?" Changeling 15 said, his accent being similiar to the Canterlot accent. "Yes, you and your soldiers are coming with me. We're going to put down a nuisance," Chrysalis said, rising up from her throne and taking some steps forward. "Mm, excuse me, my queen. Are you really going to come with? We can probably handle it ourselves," Changeling 15 said, looking at her. "I do favour your enthusiasm, but this is not something we shall underestimate. This 'nuisance' was the one who killed Shifuto," Chrysalis said, keeping a calm facade as she walked over to a window and stared out at the landscapes of Equestria. "Oh, I see. Then your excellence, we shall move out whenever you're ready," Changeling 15 said, saluting her. "Mhm," Chrysalis said before opening the window carefully, spreading her insect wings and beginning to soar away. It was time for her to get revenge... "'Ey, fellahs. There's a village just up ahead, we better resupply and get sumthin' tah eat," Cotton Hay said with a smile and looked towards Spike and Luigi who beamed up as they heard something about food. "Oh, man. You can't believe how hungry I am... I haven't eaten since we left Ponyville!" Spike exclaimed and rubbed his belly which let out a small rumbling sound in hunger. "Heh, I-a haven't eaten in a while either," Luigi said with a chuckle and scratched the back of his head. "If Ah'm not mistaken, tha village is called Hoofdale. And tha people there are really nice from what Ah've heard," Cotton Hay said as she readjusted her two saddlebags. Luigi and Spike smiled as the sight of smoke from chimneys became visible behind all the treetops, they instinctively began to hasten their pace and Cotton Hay had a hard time keeping up. It was an exceptionally beautiful day, the sun was shining and every plant and tree looked greener than usual. Birds were singing and the feeling Luigi and Spike had in their gut told them that this day would be a good day, but at the same time, there also seemed to be some tension in the air for what is to come... As the three turned around a corner where the path began turning they got a full view of the village ahead; most of the houses were built out of logs and hay-roofs while some exceptional houses were built out of normal wood and planks. On the street wandered many happy ponies going by their day as usual, some carrying home bags for lunch, some sitting out on benches and enjoying the weather and others just taking a stroll. When Luigi, Spike and Cotton Hay entered the village the villagers looked at them and dropped their chin almost in surprise of seeing someone visit their village. "Welcome! Nice to see visitors for once!" One villager shouted happily, not phased by the fact that Luigi (a human) was there. "Yeah! Welcome!" The three heard repeatedly as they walked by, soon ending up infront of a restuarant. Cotton Hay opened the door first and walked in, followed by Spike and Luigi. The restaurant honestly looked more like some old western saloon and as they inspected the menu Luigi cringed. "N-no.... n-n-no pizza...?" Luigi muttered, looking at all the hay-based foods as his head slowly sank in disappointment. "Huh, pizza? They don't serve that in these parts I suppose," Spike said and looked at Luigi who frowned. "Uggghhh..." Luigi muttered and crossed his arms. "Well, at-a least they have-a the pasta!" "Heh, ya two go on now and order sumthin', Ah'll pay," Cotton Hay said with a chuckle, patting Luigi on the back before walking up to the counter where a mare with two ponytails and wearing a red and white checkered blouse stand. "Hey there, miss. What'll it be for you and your two friends?" The mare asked, leaning onto the counter. "I'll take a ha--" Spike said before the door hastenly opened and a freaked out stallion ran in. "THE CHANGELINGS! THE CHANGELINGS ARE COMING!" He shouted at the top of his lungs before running out, probably to warn everyone else. Luigi and Spike looked at eachother with a concerned look before looking at Cotton Hay who only raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Uh, changelings? Mind tellin' me what 'changelings' are?" She asked, scratching the top of her head with one of her hooves. "No time to explain if they're already on their way, Cotton Hay," Spike said, his face turning serious. "Luigi, we have to hide!" "No..." Luigi said, his expression being unreadable before his eyebrows lowered in an aggressive manner. "I've been a coward for-a too long, always relying on my brother. I-a proved last time that I was more than-a capable of standing on my own," Luigi said and slowly began walking towards the door. "Well! I'm not gonna stand at the side and be worthless! I'll fight for Rarity... those monsters took her!" Spike said, forcing some tears back as he began to think of the cruel fate of his beloved Rarity... what if she had been turned into a simple-minded broodmare or transformed into a changeling? The thought disgusted Spike, and the anger he has within him at the moment only fuels his courage even more. Luigi looked back at Spike and smiled briefly. "That's-a the spirit... now let's-a go!" Luigi said, clenching his fist and then opening the door before walking out with Spike after him. They walked out onto the path that lead straightly through the village and watched as what seemed to be a small black cloud quickly approaching. All the citizens locked all their doors and blocked off their windows with wooden planks as the small changeling swarm became more visible. Suddenly though, within a flash the swarm disappeared and re-appeared in a surrounding ring around Luigi and Spike. Luigi kept up his serious facade even though he had been caught off guard by their speed while Spike had dropped his chin in both fear and amazement. Though Luigi soon dropped his chin as well as a larger and female changeling landed within the surrounding ring, right infront of Luigi and Spike. Luigi recognised her face, Spike did as well. And they both became as scared. "Why, hello there... boys," Chrysalis said with the most evil smirk possible. "Mamma mia..." Luigi thought aloud in his head, looking at Chrysalis with a surprised gaze. "My my, it looks like you two have seen a ghost. Heh, can't blame you two though, I'd be pretty amazed if I got to see the Changeling queen herself," Chrysalis said in a mocking tone and blew a strand of her mane out of her face. "But, enough with toying around already. If my scouts are not misinformed, Greenie, you're the one who had the skill and gut to kill my son," Chrysalis said, beginning to circle Luigi and inspect him. She began to doubt if the intel was right, he didn't look strong at all. Luigi gulped, following Chrysalis every moment as she circled around him and Spike. "Well, can you confirm my suspicions or must I force it out of you?" Chrysalis whispered into Luigi's right ear as she appeared behind him, letting one of her hooves glide forward over his shoulder as she pointed towards her changeling drones at the last part of her sentence. Luigi kept silent, he was too scared to say anything. All the courage he had built up at first had entirely disappeared... there just was something about Chrysalis that made his legs weak in fear, maybe it was the fact how she always seemed in control of the situation and had the power to back up all of her claims... or how she was so threatening but calm at the same time. "Hmm, no answer. Well, my faithful drones, take care of them however you please," Chrysalis said with a disapproving snort, spreading her wings slightly and levitating up in the air to observe what would happe next. Luigi and Spike both gulped in fear but gathered enough courage to at least not look like a pair of shaky little kids about to be bullied. The surrounding changelings exchanged glances and smirked as they began to move away from their original surrounding position and instead gathered in a triangle shape infront of Luigi and Spike. "Alright, maggots. There's no point in resisting our strength, you can give up now if you want. Or else die trying to protect your puny lives," the lead changeling said in a mocking voice. "Hnngh..." Luigi muttered, raising his fists and widening his stance as he entered a combat position before putting on a cocky grin. "Give it all you got, Shifuto did too," he said, receiving glares from the changelings infront of him. "Grr! You bloody monkey!" They all screamed in unison as they charged forward, Luigi grabbed Spike under the arms and then jumped up, holding Spike up as a flamethrower as Spike spewed his flame all over the swarm of changelings. Luigi eventually landed and put Spike down on the ground again before turning around and seeing all the changelings laying down with burnmarks. They all slowly got up and grunted in pain, glaring towards both Luigi and Spike. "Annoying fools, to think that you use cheap tactics like that," the lead changeling said, frowning. "Heh, at-a least ours is a working tactic," Luigi said with a cocky smirk, very different from the Luigi he oftenly is. "Oh you! Little!" The changeling screamed before powering up his horn and shooting a straight beam of green magic towards Luigi's feet which Luigi simply jumped over as he began charging up his hand with his signature move. His hand began sparking slightly as he gathered electric energy into it and as he landed next to the changeling he pointed it towards him. "...Bang," Luigi said calmly before releasing the beam of electricity onto the changeling, the sparks crackling as the changeling suddenly just exploded and left a green pile of dust behind. "What... the?!" Chrysalis exclaimed, her eyes widening in surprise and then returning to normal as she smiled proudly. "Oh, so humans have inner magic as well? To think that he could harbour such a devastating attack." The other changelings looked on in fear and began to back away, now their leader of the pack was gone and they began to realise just what kind of monster Luigi was... since he was able to beat Shifuto after all. "See, Luigi. It wasn't that hard to answer my question after all," Chrysalis said happily as she landed behind Luigi and Spike, smiling menacingly. "I can see how you were able to kill Shifuto with that much magic inside of you..." "Huh? You aren't mad about-a that?" Luigi said as he began lowering his guard, turning around to face Chrysalis who was surprisingly calm. "I am..." She said with a straight face before returning to her more cocky expression. "It's just that, I respect you. Humans have always fascinated me, how they are so ridiculously potent with love and still filled with burning hate and anger. Most ponies are limited to one talent but a human can be good at everything if they put their mind to it, same goes for a dragon," Chrysalis said with a smile, Luigi tried to wrap his mind around her motive right now but she was a total mystery for him. "Luigi, I'd like to have a conversation with you, in private." "Uh?!" Luigi muttered with a surprised look, pointing at himself while saying in a weak voice as he shook in fear: "M-m-me?" "Yes, I'd like you to come over to Canterlot with me and have a healthy discussion I think that we both are in need of," Chrysalis said with a straight face, only making Luigi even more surprised. "This... this isn't just some trick, right?" Spike said, raising one eyebrow. "Either way, trick or not. We have to chase down Trixie." "Look, kid. Just because I'm a queen and I feed on other creatures love doesn't mean I'm pure evil. Yes, yes... I kidnapped some of your friends but whatever, they're still alive," Chrysalis said and rolled her eyes. "Guh, you monster. You're as selfish as they come, the way you talk about living things as if they're just a meal!" Spike said and clenched his fists, glaring towards Chrysalis. "Well, that's because they are meals," Chrysalis said as she gave Spike a threatening glare back, making the little baby dragon step back and shudder slightly. "Now, Luigi. What is your answer to my offer?" She said, beginning to smile friendly again as she turned towards Luigi. "Uh, no," Luigi gulped. "We are on a trip to-a Manehattan," He said, scratching the back of his head apologizingly. "I see, I see. Do come for a visit sometime then, but be sure to send an envelope in preparation so my army doesn't mistake you for an intruder," Chrysalis said with a chuckle as she turned around and prepared to soar off. "But hey! Wait! Why are-a you just leaving, are you not going to-a fight me or anything?" Luigi said, raising an eyebrow and crossing his arms. "Why would I? I'm not at full strength at the moment since giving birth to Shifuto drained me and when he died I got even weaker. I'm doing the right thing not to underestimate you, but someday, I won't be that generous. With that I mean, make a visit before I change my mind," Chrysalis said, shrugging slightly before turning around again and spread her wings before quickly soaring up into the sky and into the distance. "Chryssie! Wait for us!" The remaining changelings shouted as they all spread their wings and began flying after Chrysalis. Spike quirked an eyebrow in confusion, scratching one of his green fins. "Luigi... why is she acting so weird towards you?" "I really don't-a know, is it my moustache?" Luigi said, stroking his fine moustache as he let out a faint chuckle. Suddenly all the ponies inside the houses opened up their doors and ran out with wide smiles on their faces. "Those two saved us! Our village is saved! They sent the changelings fleeing with their tails between their legs!" Luigi and Spike looked even more puzzled, they had yet to grasp the situation or what just happened. Not only did Chrysalis have a genuine smile on her face, but she was asking Luigi over to Canterlot and didn't even attack herself. But it spared them the trouble at the least... Cotton Hay exited the saloon and smiled as she approached the two. "So, ya two took care of those 'changelings', huh? Good job," she said, patting both Luigi and Spike on their shoulders. "Just so ya two know, Ah packed some food in mah saddlebags, we'll be able tah eat somewhere along the way." "Neat! And we're not that far away from Manehattan either, we should keep going!" Spike said as he grabbed the map from one of the saddlebags and inspected it. "Yeah, Ah agree," Cotton Hay said and turned around, beginning to walk through the village towards where the path continued on all the way to Manehattan. All the villagers waved them off as they approached the end of the village, shouting things like: "Hope you had a nice stay!" and "You're always welcome here again, heroes!" Luigi and Spike smiled to eachother and Luigi gently lifted Spike up on his shoulders as they continued walking, their surroundings slowly shifting from that of an open plain into a forest path. Most of the trees were high enough to block out the sunlight and the air was very heavy inside the forest path which reminded Luigi of the Everfree Forest. Though, the majority of the trees didn't look like they were possessed by some demon. Which was a 1+ in his book. *Crack!* "Huh?!" Luigi said aloud as they all instinctively turned towards the sudden sound, though the forest was in the way and they couldn't see a single thing. "Eh, it was probably sum' woodland critter," Cotton Hay said and shrugged before continuing to walk forward on the path. Meanwhile... Trixie's chest heaved in and out rapidly in panic as she pressed herself against a tree to hide herself from sight, she almost got caught that time. "Stupid overly loud snapping twig, how dare you try to spoil the almighty Trixie's position like that?" Trixie whispered beneath her breath as she looked over to a broken twig that laid on the forest floor, one which she had stepped on. "Eh, it was probably sum' woodland critter," Trixie heard Cotton Hay say before the sound of steps could be heard again. With a proud smirk, Trixie levitated the sack behind her and moved closer to the actual path itself while still holding herself behind the last line of trees. She peeked behind a tree at the trio walking on the path and glared at them, now she would probably have to either encounter them and trick them or she would have to wait until they were long gone out of her sight. Suddenly though, the ground shook momentarily behind Trixie and she froze in place. Not a second after she could feel warm air hit her back and her eyes bulged in panic. She slowly turned around, not really wanting to know what stood behind her. And as she turned around fully she stood face to face with a giant plant-monster. "Eeeeeeeeeiii!" It screeched infront of Trixie, whom covered her nose from the monster's terrible breath. It stood on two stumps for legs and had two leaves for arms, it was also wearing red pants with white polka dots on them. The monster's body was rounder at the bottom and got thinner and thinner the longer up it got until it connected with the head. The head itself being as big as the body itself. The head was round and had the same colour and pattern as it's pants while being outlined with a row of orange and red petals at the sides. It had no eyes, nose or ears but giant green lips stretched over it's face and behind those lips were several razor-sharp teeth and an endless pit for a mouth. "Eeeek! Please don't eat the great and powerful, Trixie!" Trixie screamed as she backed into the tree she was hiding behind before, trying to make as much distance between herself and the plant monster. "Eeeeeeyiii!" It screeched before slowly walking forward threateningly and licking it's lips with a fleshy tongue. "I swear to Celestia's holy hooves that I'm not that tasty as I must look!" She screamed and bit her lower lip in panic as she pressed herself into the tree as she could as her heartbeat began skyrocketing. "Gehehe!" It chuckled menacingly before opening it's mouth and preparing to gobble Trixie up in one shot. "No! I'm too young and beautiful, not to mention powerful, to die!" She screamed in hopelessness as the monster was going to eat her up, but suddenly he got hit by a beam of lightning of some sorts and got knocked back into another tree close by. Trixie looked towards where it came from and saw Luigi holding up a singly finger which sparked a little with electricity for a faint second. He had a determined look on his face and gave a momentary glare at Trixie before glaring at the plant monster. "Heh, thank you. But I could probably have gotten out of that situation myself, I am the almighty Trixie after all," Trixie said and brushed some imaginary dust off her shoulders before making a cocky expression. "Then, go ahead. There is-a no need for me to-a help you if you-a claim that," Luigi said with a straight face as he lowered his hand and shrugged before slowly beginning to walk away. Trixie looked back at the plant monster and then at Luigi, back at the plant monster (who was now slowly getting back up), then back at Luigi. Well, that plant monster couldn't be that tough could it? It's just a brainless, drooling vegetable with a giant size, that's all. She put on a cocky facade and smirked towards the plant monster as it got to his 'feet' again. "Take this, you veggie!" Trixie shouted as she powered up her horn and fired a sphere of magic the size of a pony towards him. The monster opened up his mouth wide and then swallowed the sphere of magic as if it was breakfast before patting it's own belly and burping faintly. Trixie stood dumbfounded and her eyes twitched in shock, how could it just have done that?! She powered up her horn again and then fired off a thin beam of magic which the monster just deflected with one of it's leaf-arms. "W-what?! I-imp-possible!" Trixie exclaimed as the monster began approaching and she reactively backed away until she was standing next to Luigi who had been standing still and watching. She looked at him and then back at the plant monster... it was time for her to swallow her pride. "Don't just stand there! Defeat it!" She shouted angrily towards Luigi who shrugged it off and remained calm. "Why don't-a you ask nicely?" He said with a smug face while stroking his moustache. "Grrr! I swear I'll...!!!" Trixie said as she bit her lip in frustration before sighing and giving up as she noticed that the monster was getting awfully close. "Okay! You win! Would you please save me from that monster before he eats me up!?" She finally shouted and felt her pride shatter just like as if someone had thrown a glass onto a rock. "Mhm, but in return we-a want our friends back," Luigi said and smirked wider as he crossed his arms. Trixie looked at the monster and she could feel his breath once again, he was too close for her own liking and she really didn't have a choice. "Yeah! Whatever! HE'S RIGHT INFRONT OF ME!" She screamed before turning around and running away as quick as possible, leaving Luigi alone with the monster. "Eeeeeeeeyeeie!" The monster screeched and angrily swooped with one of his leaf arms towards Luigi which Luigi simply dodged by crouching down and ducking. He thought quick and while crouching he used his legs to press off the ground and sent him flying straight up into the monster's head like a missile. The force of the attack was great and made the monster take a few staggering steps back to get his balance back. "Heh, serves-a you right, Petey Pirahna," Luigi said with a cocky smile and Trixie raised one of her eyebrows... did Luigi know this monster? "Guess-a you must have come through-a the randomly opening portals, but guess-a what? You should-a have stayed back in-a the Mushroom Kingdom!" Luigi shouted before leaping forward and began unleashing a flurry of kicks and punches on Petey Pirahna's face, sending him staggering back for each blow and unable to dodge or counter. "Whaaat?" Trixie thought as her brain tried to process everything, portals, Mushroom Kingdom, Petey Pirahna...? And since when was the green guy this tough and brave? Last time she saw him he looked like a goof, but now he had an attitude and was beating the crap out of a monster which had resisted her attempts to attack as if they were nothing. "Go find-a your portal, I-a don't ever want to-a see you in this dimension again!!!" Luigi shouted before sending a particurarly strong kick into the side of Petey Pirahna's head which sent him flying back into a tree and landing onto the ground unconscious. Luigi brushed his hands together to signal a job well done before turning towards Trixie and smiling. "Now, your-a promise?" He said with a faint chuckle. "Guuhh.... take it, sure, go ahead, hehe... thank you and all that!" Trixie said nervously and pointed towards the sack before running off as quickly as her hooves would let her so that she would hopefully never even be in the same country as Luigi again. "Huh, wonder why she's in-a such a hurry? Maybe it's my moustache?" Luigi asked himself and stroked his moustache momentarily before turning around towards the sack with a faint chuckle. He walked towards it before grabbing a tight grip of it and throwing it up onto his shoulder with a smile. "Just wait until Spike and Cotton Hay hears about this!" Luigi thought as his smile widened and he began whistling on a cheerful tune whilst walking back towards the forest path itself. As Luigi came out on the path again he could see Spike and Cotton waiting for him a bit up ahead and waved towards them as he began hightening his pace. "You-a guys! I-a got our-a friends back!" Luigi shouted with a big smile on his face as he got closer and closer, now only around 10 meters away. "Oh, wow. Really?! How could you find them in there?!" Spike exclaimed as Luigi approached and then laid the sack down onto the path and scratched the back of his head while chuckling. "Turns out that-a the one who was-a shouting for help was-a the kidnapper," Luigi said and continued to smile. "How about we-a open it up?" "Yeah! Man, it's gonna be so awesome to see them all again!" Spike said and hopped up into the air in excitement. "Mhm! Let's-a go!" Luigi said and grabbed the rope which was bound aroun the top of the sack and untied it before throwing it away somewhere randomly. He then opened it up and the inside of the sack began glowing in a blue light before five spheres of blue magic levitated up into the air before slowly forming into the shapes of the kidnapped heroes... ...Twilight, Mario, Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy. They slowly descended and landed safely on the ground as they all began rubbing their eyes and yawning as if they had just taken a long nap. "Where are we? Infact, what even happened?" Twilight said and looked around at her surroundings before a certain baby dragon jumped up on her and hugged her tightly while laughing in joy. "Oh, Twily! I was so worried about you, man. I thought you were being tortured by Bowser or something!" Spike said and hugged her even tighter as he began to almost choke her. "Woah, Spike, take it easy!" Twilight said in a jokeful manner as she tried to get out of Spike's 'deadly' grip. "Hehe! Mario, my bro. It was-a good that we rescued you all before it was-a too late," Luigi said and put his hands at each side of his waist, standing proudly next to his brother. "Huh, what do-a you mean?" Mario asked, raising an eyebrow. "Well, you know. That pony was-a going to take-a you all to Bowser," Luigi said and patted Mario on the back jokingly, the roles had been reversed it would seem. "Right, I'm just glad we're back in action. That 'Bowser' creep is gonna get it when I get my hooves on him," Rainbow Dash exclaimed and raised her fists and began airboxing. "Tha same, Ah'll help in anyway Ah can, sugarcubes," Applejack said and tipped her hats towards the gang. "Uhm... I think I'll stay in Ponyville... heheh... you know. Fighting isn't my style," Fluttershy said nervously and slowly scratched her hoof at the ground gently. "It's okay, Fluttershy. You do yours and we'll be back in no-time," Twilight said and patted Fluttershy on the back reassuringly. "But don't expect that you can just sneak away on the next adventure, you're missing out." "Hehe, fair enough," Fluttershy said and giggled slightly before taking some steps away from Twilight. "Alright everyone, take care!" Fluttershy said before spreading her wings and then heading towards the direction of Ponyville. "Bye, Flutters!" Rainbow Dash shouted as she waved Fluttershy off. "Yeah, bye Fluttershy!" The others shouted in unison and waved at her until she had gotten out of sight. Cotton Hay had been looking at the whole event and finally sighed with a faint chuckle. "So, Ah guess ah better make mah leave now, enjoy it ya'll!" She said before walking away back towards the village, which Luigi found strange since she had told him she lived above Manehattan in a place between that and Fillydelphia. "Who was that?" Twilight asked and scratched the back of her head. "Somepony who was basically just Applejack but stranger, in a way," Spike said and shrugged. "You implyin' that Ah'm strange, ya lil' runt?" Applejack said jokingly and harshly rubbed one of her front hooves on Spike's head. "Ouch! Haha!" Spike exclaimed with a playful smile as Applejack ruffled his fins on his head. "Now, we'll have to-a move forward as well so we don't-a miss Bowser's show," Luigi said with a smile as he began taking the lead by turning around and continuing to head towards Manehattan. And so, our heroes were reunited. And they were ready to pay King Bowser an unexpected visit, how will it go? Find out next time in; Chapter 2-5 "Next Stop, World Bowser!!"