Chapters Not another Magical Mystery Mess!
Prologue: Twilight dooms Ponyville! (Again)
It was just another end of the day in the town of Ponyville. Ponies were all sleeping soundly in their houses, tired after a long day of working their respective duties and jobs, and for some just exhausted due to excess partying, causing chaos, and yelling. At this type of hour, it would seem that even the most overexcited and hyperactive pony would be asleep, following the daily routine of the entire town. The entire town, that is, except for the library, which was the only light gleaming in the darkness.
Twilight Sparkle was busily finishing up a mystery potion while Spike was taking a seven-hour bubble bath for the second time in two weeks. At first Twilight didn’t mind, but after finding out that Ponyville unlike Canterlot had water and electricity bills, she tried to stop him from doing so, to no avail.
It wasn't because she didn't have enough bits, she just didn’t want the cost of his baths affecting her…secret experiments down at the laboratory. Drinking down the potion in one gulp, she sighed and knocked on the bathroom door.
“Spike! Are you done yet! You do know that you’re affecting the effectiveness of my work!”
Inside the bathroom she heard an annoyed snort of fire.
“What, another one of your experiments?”
“Sure, like you aren’t “experimenting” yourself with those seven hours…” Twilight grumbled silently.
“What was that?”
“Nothing Spike, just finish up already!”
“Ok fine! Go do your work or something, sheesh.”
As Twilight walked back to her desk, she heard a faint whisper.
“Up it goes and down it slides, up it goes and down it…BARF. Oh…”
There was a long silence, followed by a second running of water, some wiping of towels, then a long breath of fire before Spike held his hand outside the door.
“Letter from the Princess, Twilight.”
“Um…Thanks Spike.”
Trotting back over to her desk, she examined and smelled the fresh parchment.
“Why is this parchment cleaner than usual? Whatever.”
Twilight rolled out the letter, and read it.
Dear Twilight Sparkle, The spell contained on the last page of this book is Star Swirl the Bearded's secret unfinished masterpiece. He was never able to get it right, and thus abandoned it. I believe you are the only pony who can understand and rewrite it. Princess Celestia.
“Ooh! Oh wow, Star Swirl the Bearded unfinished spell! And she believes that I am the only pony who can solve it!”
“Lame…” Came a voice from the bathroom.
“Shut up Spike. Let’s see this spell!” Twilight looked to the bottom.
From one to another, another to one. A mark of one's destiny singled out alone, fulfilled .
“Wait…what is this?”
Twilight was utterly confused as she read the line of text again and again.
“It doesn’t rhyme or make any sense! Does Starswirl the Bearded even understand friendship? Or is this about friendship at all? Why would Celestia send me a spell that might not even be about friendship or make sense?”
“Because she’s a troll?” Came the voice from the bathroom again.
Ignoring Spike, she continued to ponder.
“Well, I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to say the spell…I guess.”
She looked back at the parchment.
“From one to another, another to one. A mark of one’s destiny singled out, fulfilled .”
As she said these words, an invisible wave swept over Ponyville, causing a array of lights to shine in every house and the Elements of Harmony, which seemed to be surrounded in a protective bubble.
What was weirder was that no light came from the top floor of the Cake shop, the upper floor of the boutique, in two windows of the farm, Fluttershy’s cottage, Rainbow Dash’s house, and the tree house itself. Apart from those six places, Ponyville for a second glowed in a magical light that surrounded the town. As quickly as it came, it was gone.
“Well, this spell’s a dud. I don’t see anything-major happening. God damn it Celestia…Well, Spike, good night. I’m going to bed."
“Good night Twilight.”
As Twilight started to snore, Spike continued to play with his rubber duck.
“Up it goes and down it slides, up it goes and down it …"
Spike stared into the duck as he realised the depth of Twilight's words.
"Celestia why!”
Author's Note
Fun Riddle:
Not another Magical Mystery Mess!
Chapter 1: Unexpected results
The sun rose up as morning reached the small town. The birds were singing, the grass was growing, and slowly but surely, the citizens of Ponyville were waking up, including Twilight, who for some reason was really happy.
“Oh Spike! I’m so happy for this new day! For the first time in forever everything’s going to be normal!”
Spike slowly got out of his bed and yawned.
“What do you mean by nor…”
“Everything is so perfect, so divine, so beautiful! Why I’m so happy, I could sing!”
“Please don’t…”
“Why not Spike? I’m just so HAPPY!”
“Have you been smoking bubbles again? Because this is just…”
Knocking over Spike, she sent him reeling into the corner of the staircase as she opened the window of her tree house.
“♫ Morning in Ponyville, Shimmers ♫…”
“ ♫ Morning in Ponyville, Shiiiinnnnes! ♫”
“ ♫ And I know for absolute certain… ♫”
“ ♫ That everything is certainly fine!!! ♫”
As Twilight busted out of her door, she blinked her eyes as the effects of the potion wore off. Shaking her head, she groaned.
“What happened? Where am I? Wait a second…WHATS THIS!”
What was in front of her was not the bright path of the crossroads, but the burnt mark of lightning, electricity still sparkling from it.
“Which Pegasus is in charge of weather duty today? Now that I think of it…WHITE LIGHTNING! You think this is…”
“Sorry sister, I’m not really good with the flashy things.” The pony speaking to her was not the Pegasus, rather a green unicorn, who for some reason had White Lightning’s cutie mark.
“Funny? Lyra, what are you doing with White Lightning’s…?”
“What on earth are you talking about Twilight? I don't obsess myself over hands.”
“White Lightning doesn’t do that, you do!"
“Sister I think you’re not feeling right. I'm perfectly happy with my hoofs…” Her tone was serious.
“But What happened to everypony? What happened to your cutie mark? This isn’t your true destiny, your true wish!”
“Twilight Sister, everypony is following their destiny.”
Stepping back, she revealed the city square.
“And what in Equestria in going on here? What the…”
Without warning, Lyra started to sing.
♫ Whatever I say you don’t listen, not a little bit♫,
Big Mac and Berry Punch came pass, pushing a flower cart.
Next came Ms. Cake, who seemed drunk.
Daisy, who looked more dazed and confused than usual, came along with Rose, who was following her, very bored and pawing the ground.
Octavia glided towards the scene, followed by hobbling Bulk Biceps.
DJ-Pon3 along with Derpy were arguing across the corner.
Now came a trio, Bon Bon, Colgate, and Mr.Waddle.
Granny Smith and Dr.Whooves were engaging in a music battle, though it was hard to tell who played their genre worse.
Last but not least White Lightning finally showed up, carrying the Mayor.
Just when Twilight was about to react, the whole town burst into chorus.
“♫It’s got to be…♫”
“♫My destiny…♫”
“♫My destiny…♫”
“♫Cause it’s WHAT MY CUTIE MARK IS TELLING ME!! ♫”
Not another Magical Mystery Mess!
Chapter 2: The True Power Of Friendship
“Um…aah…err…”
Not knowing what to do, she rushed back to the library, meeting Spike, who was faintly stirring on the bottom of the stairs.
“What happened mama…is it Winter’s Wrap Up already?”
“Oh no what have I done, this day isn’t normal at all! What happened to all the residents in Ponyville! How could this happen?”
Looking outside the window, she saw Berry Punch crushing flowers into juice and trying to sell them to Bulk Biceps, who was hobbling on crutches.
“What is going on? Everypony is acting strange! They’re not doing what they love and represent! What happened to them?”
She gasped.
“What if the same happened to my friends!”
Rushing over to her notes on her desk, she continued to panic.
“The potion was only supposed to make you happy…Or is this a weird side effect? Did Celestia’s letter hold a trick spell? Wait a second! The letter!”
Sure enough, the letter was glowing faintly on the bottom of the paper. Rolling it out again, she saw that the words glowing were from the spell that she recited.
“From one to another, another to one. A mark of one’s destiny singled out, fulfilled. Could it mean that the spell I said accidently switched everypony’s destinies except for mine?”
“Not exactly, Twilight.”
Looking out the window, she saw Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy hovering outside the balcony of her house.
“Huh? Rainbow Dash? Fluttershy? You’re both…normal?”
“Of course we are Twilight, including Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Applejack! Though we’re not sure anypony else is…”
“Um…Twilight…did you mess up again?”
Twilight stared at Fluttershy for a few seconds, then groaned.
“Yes I did Fluttershy, I’m sorry. By the way Rainbow Dash, where are the rest of our friends?”
“Oh! They’re just downstairs, I’ll tell them to come in.”
With those words Rainbow Dash flew downwards as Fluttershy landed herself on the balcony and entered Twilight house.
“So Twilight…er…care to explain?”
Twilight went towards her desk and came back levitating the letter.
“I accidently switched the destinies of everypony in Ponyville with this spell Celestia gave me…” Twilight said as she passed it to Fluttershy.
“But how could the spell work when you read it if it’s unfinished?”
“I don’t know! It’s really unexplainable!”
“So let me get this straight. You, being the egghead that you are, decided that reading a unknown spell was safe?”
“And with those words cast a dreadful spell on sweet little Ponyville, Changing the destinies of every poor mare and husky stallion…”
“Like causing my brother Big Mac to go more cuckoo than a raging bullhorn and start selling’ flowers with that Berry Punch or something?”
“And causing Mr. Cake be a dentist while Ms. Cake only stays at home and drinks apple cider, getting punch all over the tables, the counter, the babies…OOH! And don’t get me started about Colgate and Bon bon! I understand that they want to help, but Colgate keeps on adding toothpaste to the cupcakes while Bon Bon adds too many sweets to everything while complaining about Colgate and my threats! Oh the Sugarmanity! I try to stop them, but they told me that they were the owners of Sugarcube Corner now, and they fired me on the spot! THEY FIRED ME ON THE SPOT!!”
Twilight stared at all her friends. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy were looking at her silently, Rarity was pouting; Applejack was staring at her with one eyebrow raised, while Pinkie Pie was still ranting on how the cake was a lie.
“I’m really sorry, girls. I just don’t know what to do. I mean, look at their cutie marks! They’re all switched! And it’s all my fault…again…”
She sank to the ground, only to be picked back up by Applejack.
“Don’t worry Twi, we all forgive ya. Why do you think we’re here anyway? To complain some more? We’re all in this together, Twi, and we’ll solve it one way or another, no matter what. As friends.”
Her friends were now smiling faintly. Twilight stood up and smiled. Suddenly, a giant glow came emitting downstairs. Not knowing what the light was coming from, the six ponies rushed to the bottom of the tree house, only to find…
“The Elements of Harmony! Oh how could I miss the message that the spell meant…it all makes sense now!”
Twilight was bouncing around excitedly while her friends looked at her confused, except for Pinkie, who had finished ranting and was bouncing around the room behind her.
“From one to another, another to one. That was referring to each pony’s cutie mark! And for the second line…”
She stopped bouncing, as it didn’t turn out as expected.
“A mark of one’s destiny singled out, fulfilled. But shouldn’t it be six? Why is it only one’s destiny who has yet to be fulfilled?”
A long silence followed, finally broken by Rainbow Dash coughing.
“Um, Twilight, ignoring the second line, what exactly does the Elements of Harmony have to do with the spell? You think we could use it to bring everything back to normal?”
“If the spell had reversed the Elements of Harmony, no, but since the Elements have protected us from the spell, I know for sure that it can reserve the effects!”
“That’s fabulous darling! Let’s put them on right now!”
Removing the glass casing, the mane 6 took their respective elements and put them on their individual necks, causing them to glow even brighter.
“It’s working, let’s go fix Ponyville!”
“YEAH!” Everyone was cheering onwards as they went outside the tree house, except for Fluttershy, who quietly whispered a small “yay”.
“Ok girls, let’s line up like in the way we trapped and released Dischord. Twilight, are you ready?”
“Aw, but can’t we sing a song to make it more exciting?”
Everypony stared at Pinkie and she giggled.
“I’m as ready as you five are. Let’s do this!”
Twilight thought about her friends, and how they had helped her for some many seasons. Then, she thought about the townponies, how they had helped and accompanied her along the whole journey since the day she had stepped into this town, the rich yet special town of Ponyville, her home. With these thoughts, her horn began to glow, as did the Elements.
The six friends begin to rise from the ground as the Elements took over. With the colours of the rainbow bursting out of Twilight’s horn and connecting to the other elements including her own, a giant spiral rainbow rose gracefully out of the element of magic, bursting on the top of the town, separating into six as it surrounded Ponyville in a magical bubble, glowing strongly with the bond everypony shared with one another. As the perplexed population looked towards the six friends, a giant flash of light occurred, covering the entire town.
“What happened?”
“Urghh…my head feels…normal?”
“Everything…makes sense now! I realize my true destiny!”
“Why am I lifting these weights?”
“Muffins!”
As the now restored residents of Ponyville were still confused as to why they were doing the odd jobs they were in the first place, Twilight, joined by her friends, walked to the center of the town city square.
“Citizens of Ponyville, I’m sorry for causing all this. I was the one who said an unfinished spell out loud, which switched everypony’s cutie marks with each other’s, explaining the weird situation you’re finding yourself in right now.”
“Tell me about it.” Granny Smith grumbled.
“Although I hold myself fully responsible for this action, this switcheroo did teach me a lesson that I will never forget. No matter what ever happens to us, we will still remain friends and family towards each other. Friendship and Family is the one thing that linked us all together as one being, one destiny.”
She looked at Octavia and DJ-Pon3, Lyra and Bon Bon, Daisy and Rose, representing the spirit of connection with one another. Dr.Whooves and Derpy, Mr. and Ms. Cake, representing the strength of love. The apple family, the cutie mark crusaders, who were hugging her friends, their sisters, representing the unbreakable bond of families. All grouped together, they represented the magic of friendship as a whole. And now…the second line finally made sense to Twilight as she spoke confidently towards her element.
“A mark of one's destiny, singled out alone, fulfilled. From all of us together, together we're friends. With the marks of our destinies made one, there is magic without end!”
Completing the spell, every element except for the element of magic suddenly fired a multicoloured beam at the crown, increasing an intense rainbow sphere around her. Before she could react, another flash, and she disappeared, leading to the many exclamations of shock from the town’s people and her friends.
“TWILIGHT!!”
Not another Magical Mystery Mess!
Chapter 3: Why do I need wings?
“Hello? Where am I? What is this place?”
Twilight found herself in a black void, similar to the space charts she studied. Luckily, it seemed that she could breathe in this area.
“Wait…why am I here? So my reward for completing the spell is to be banished in the space-time continuum? God damn it Celes…”
Celestia and Luna were staring at her. Luna seemed to be trying not to laugh while Celestia, taking a long breath, spoke.
“Congratulations, Twilight. We knew that you could do it.”
“Princess Celestia and Princess Luna... I don't understand. What did I do?”
“You did something today that's never been done before. Something even a great unicorn like Star Swirl the Bearded was not able to do, because he did not understand friendship like you do. The lessons you've learned here in Ponyville have taught you well. You managed to solve the puzzle. You revealed your destiny, Twilight Sparkle.”
“So my destiny was what the spell meant!”
However there were still a lot of things unexplained.
“Still, how did solving the spell lead me to this dimension, to you two?”
“Well, it’s funny you should say that, because that’s what Princess Cada..”
Celestia covered Luna’s mouth with her hoof, but it was too late.
“You. Did. This. Before?”
“Um, Twilight, what Luna meant was, um, that…”
“Are you meaning to tell me that this spell was completed before?”
“Um…er…to be honest..yes.”
Somewhere in space, there was a supernova explosion.
“DO YOU TWO REALIZE THAT YOU PUT EVERYPONY’S LIFE IN DANGER IN ORDER TO DO YOUR SILLY LITTLE PRANK…”
“It’s not a prank it’s a test…”
“FORCING OTHER PONIES TO DO WHAT THEY DON’T WANT TO DO JUST TO TEACH ME A LESSON…”
“There was a failsafe if you couldn’t succeed, you know…”
“ABOUT…”
She slowed down as she realized what they wanted her to feel.
“Friendship…the strongest connection of all.”
Celestia looked and Luna and she nodded.
You have proven that you're ready, Twilight.”
“Ready? Ready for what? Wait…don’t tell me…”
Celestia and Luna stood in front of her, smiled, and started to sing in harmony, while all the memories of all of her adventures surrounded them one by one.
♫You've come such a long, long way♫
With those words, both princesses fired a pink magical wave, sweeping itself once again around Twilight. She could feel nothing but bliss, as she was teleported back to Ponyville in a great flash of violet light, her own cutie mark on the sphere that landed in front of her friends.
“Twilight? Is that you?”
Twilight heard Applejack’s voice, and tried to stand up. In doing so, she felt an unknown part of her body release itself for the first time, revealing her wings.
“Wha…why do I have…wings!”
“Er…Twilight, why do you have wings?” Applejack echoed while the others just stood there in disbelief.
“Darling…did you become an alicorn? I’ve never seen anything like it before…”
“That’s so cool! I bet you can fly as fast as you can study, I hope!”
“She’s…so majestic…”
“Oh wow, so that’s an alicorn! How toyetic can you get!”
“Pinkie Pie, what does toyetic even mean…”
“Oh I can’t really say it out loud, or else our overlord Hasbro might delete me!”
“What’s a Hasbro?” Everyone looked at Pinkie Pie dumbfounded. She took out a notepad, gasped, then nervously put it back into her tail.
“Nevermind that! If Twilight’s an alicorn, that means she’s a princess!”
“Just like Celestia, Luna, and Cadence? I only look like one…”
“But you really are one.” Celestia and Luna had appeared beside her.
Compared to their reactions to Pinkie Pie, her friends didn’t really have much of a reaction, rather gaping at either Twilight, Celestia, or Luna.
“But…why am I a princess?”
“Because, Twilight Sparkle, since you've come to Ponyville, you've displayed the charity, compassion, devotion, integrity, optimism, and of course, the leadership of a true princess. I will still guide you, but we are all your students as well now.”
“I…didn’t realize that my destiny was to be a princess! What should I study? What challenge will I face? Will being a princess separate me from my frien…”
Luna smiled and shook her head, while Celestia continued.
“We can worry about that later. Well, since you are a princess now, we must hold a celebration to celebrate the coming of our new princess Twilight Sparkle!”
The townspeople cheered, along with her friends as fleets of royal guards started to fly into Ponyville, ready to escort all the ponies towards Canterlot.
“Wait…you two prepared for this?” Twilight remarked as she climbed on a carriage with her friends and the two princesses.
“Why of course, Princess Twilight! Isn’t that what fun is meant to be?”
“Also, both of us had to prepare for a very special gift to you, Twilight.”
“And what is that…” Twilight asked questionably as they arrived at the back of the castles, because Celestia’s tone wasn’t serious, always a dangerous thing.
“You will see. For now, stay behind the doors behind the castles until I announce your name.” Seeing Twilight nod, she smiled and open the doors towards the cheering crowd at the podium while the royal guards flew her friends to the VIP section of the audience.
Settling the crowd down, she cleared her throat and spoke.
“We are gathered here today in celebration of a momentous occasion. My most faithful student, Twilight Sparkle, has done many extraordinary things since she's lived in Ponyville. She even helped reunite me with my sister, Princess Luna. But today, Twilight Sparkle did something extraordinary. She created new magic, proving without a doubt that she is ready to be crowned Equestria's newest princess. Fillies and gentlecolts, may I present for the very first time, Princess Twilight Sparkle!”
As the crowd cheered, Twilight heard a familiar tune as she walked through the doors of the podium. It was so long ago, yet still embrassing.
“Oh…my…god…” She tried not to blush furiously as the choir began.
♫The Princess Twilight cometh♫
“Say Something, Princess.”
Celestia was smiling while Luna was laughing in the corner. Twilight really wanted to scream, but she took a deep breath, and managed to smile back. She did play that song in the speaker of the castle when Celestia refused to give her the second edition of Daring Do when she was a filly, so she guessed that they were even now, though her pranks were far from over.
“A little while ago, my teacher and mentor Princess Celestia, who as you can see, is quite a humorous pony, sent me to live in Ponyville. She sent me to study friendship, which is something I didn't really care much about. But now, on a day like today, I can honestly say I wouldn't be standing here if it weren't for the friendships I've made with all of you. Each one of you taught me something about friendship, and for that, I will always be grateful. Today, I consider myself the luckiest pony in Equestria. Thank you, friends. Thank you, everypony!”
The crowd cheered on, and down below she saw her best friends, who were cheering the loudest, including her brother and Princess Cadence.
“Way to go, Princess!”
“I knew you could do it!”
“We love you, Twilight!”
“Best coronation day ever!”
“You’re as fabulous as ever, darling!”
“Twilight! I’m so proud of you!”
“I’ll always be your best sister-in-law!”
"Long live Princess Twilight Sparkle!"
And so, Twilight Sparkle looked on forwards, as she became the fourth alicorn princess of Equestria. She knew now that no matter what happened, everypony in the crowd would support her to the very end, to continue the ongoing quest for friendship. Well…except for one very special non-pony in the library…
“Twilight? Anypony? WHERE IS EVERYONE??”
Not another Magical Mystery Mess!
(SPOILER: Who was switched with whom)
(SPOILER) For those who are really confused who switched with whom.
Author's Note
Bear in mind that these were the only background ponies I mentioned in the story, and it doesn't mean that the others were not affected. :L
