Mystery Misadventure Miscalculated!

by chankl2

Rating: everyone
Tags: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Comedy, Cutie Mark Crusaders, Other, Pipsqueak, Adventure, Discord, Zecora, Alternate Universe
Length: 7182

After the CMC had finished playing in the woods before the school exams, imagine their surprise when it isn't Cherilee who greets them inside? In fact, everypony seems to be acting like somepony else? Join the CMC in the adventure to save Ponyville!

While adventuring out in the Everfree Forest to visit Zecora, the CMC stumble upon a poisonous plant that almost puts them in serious danger! Luckily Zecora was able to interferee before it was to late, but the poison had already put them to sleep, forcing the zebra to take them to her house to recover and reveal a mysterious prophecy, which happens overnight as an invisible wave sweeps over Ponyville and changes the cutie marks of the entire town. When the CMC wake up, they find their sisters missing and the entire town in chaos! Rushing back to Zecora, the four must adventure out into the depths of the forest to find a cure for this curse! What will they find, will they make it back into Ponyville safety? Will the unknown finally be explained? Find out reading this sequel to Not another Magical Mystery Mess!

Published 2015-02-20 05:40:02 UTC
Last updated 2015-02-25 11:29:49 UTC

Chapter 1: Adventures for Misfits

“Come on Sweetie Belle, harder!”

“Get into position, Scootaloo!”

“Applebloom, use more energy, pump it faster!”

“Is Sweetie Belle flying yet?”

“No, she’s not.”

“OH COME ON!”

“Girls, we’re not going to finish this routine if we keep going the wrong direction…”

“THEN GET INTO POSITION APPLEBLOOM!”

It was another interesting day in the town of Ponyville, or more specifically the tree house in the apple orchards. The cutie mark crusaders were once again trying to get their cutie marks. Naturally, to no avail as always.

“I can’t believe we still don’t have our cutie marks yet! We tried every possible position, posture, everything!” Sweetie Belle groaned.

“Well, you can’t expect everything to go right on the first try… This is all our first times doing this right?” Scootaloo said sheepishly. It was pretty obvious who thought of this idea.

“Well I had it! Heck, even Sweetie Belle’s had it! Can we please do something else? How about a trip to the Everfree forest? I want to visit Zecora!” Applebloom remarked.

“Sure, why not?” Sweetie Belle chirped.

“Of course you would say that…” Scootaloo snorted.

Before Scootaloo could finish her sentence, she was already face to face with an angry Applebloom.

“And WHAT does that imply’? Are you still, I don’t know, SCARED of Zecora?” Her sudden anger caused Scootaloo to jump before replying.

“No…it’s just that the way she talks is weird…”

“Well, are you chicken, or are you coming?”

“Fine…let’s go to the Everfree forest, sheesh.”

And with those words, the trio dropped their circus equipment and left the tree house, heading towards the gloomy woods.

Passing by the apple orchards, Scootaloo remarked: “What’s the point of visiting your zebra friend anyway?”

“Yesterday Zecora told me that there would be a strange event that would affect the whole town of Ponyville! I’m just curious to see what she means by that, since her predictions improve when the event comes closer to its unknown date.” Applebloom replied.

“And how in Equestria does she actually do that?” Sweetie Belle asked, being as confused as Scootaloo, tilting her head.

“I’m not really sure actually. She says that all zebras have the ability to sense natural or artificial disasters and situations by picking up the vibrations on the ground. Zecora uses these sensed vibrations and translates them into a message. She even says that my family all have the same ability as well, only less powerful. What’s more interesting is that she says that Pinkie Pie’s sense is stronger than hers. I wonder what that means?”

“Who knows? Maybe Zecora was just pulling your hoof…”

“Well, since we’re already here, it wouldn’t hurt to find out…” Sweetie Belle interjected.

The trio looked forwards and the dark forest welcomed them silently, revealing the thin road in the darkness.

“Um…are you sure you want to visit Zecora? I don’t think its safe for any of us to venture in this place…” Scootaloo whimpered.

“Oh please. The Everfree forest isn’t scary at all! We always see our sisters venture into the forest for fun and always come out unharmed, and even Applebloom does too!” Sweetie Belle giggled.

Applebloom groaned. “Since when was the forest dangerous? It’s all the silly rumors and claptrap that made it scary anyway. Ponies are scared of the forest just because it’s different, just like they were all afraid of Zecora at first.”

“I remember that! Rarity used to lock me in her room every time she showed up! I got to see her through the upper window though, and she didn’t look that bad to me, just different.” Sweetie Belle remarked, not before smirking a bit.

“Well, not as bad as that one time Scootaloo tried to impress Rainbow Dash by introducing herself in a cool way and ended up tripping on a log and…”

“Ok ok ok! I get it! Let’s go into the forest…” Scootaloo sighed.

Chucking they set off onto the dirt path. The forest rustled quietly, the draft of a spring breeze falling victim into an inescapable hole.

“Aren’t any of your scared? I mean I’m not, but didn’t we get attacked by a cockatrice here before?” Scootaloo said quietly.

“Yeah…but since then I have been constantly going in the forest and nothing has attacked me so far, so I’m not scared at all!” Applebloom quipped, walking in front of the trio.

Another rustle came by the forest, this time artificial.

“But doesn’t the forest actually have dangerous creatures?”

“Yes it does Scootaloo, but most of them only come out at night.”

The rustling of the leaves became louder, but still not noticeable.

“Um…Applebloom? What kind of creatures?”

The rustling was highly noticeable now. Scootaloo was hiding behind Sweetie Belle while the latter was not amused.

“Darn it are you really that scared? Fine, I’ll tell you. There are cockatrices, manticores, hydras, hippogriffs, even…”

The creature glided out of the darkness, its teeth baring, sharp and unforgiving. The ghostly texture was pale, yet it held the presence of fear in its body, fear that was reflected in all of the fillies faces.

“A Tara…Taraxippus!”

“Everyone, RUN!”

Chapter 2: Warnings of another crisis

The screams of the fillies echoed in the depths of the forest as they ran, the spirit chasing them, filled with nothing but fear and despair.

“Girls, keep running! We have to escape it!”

“Scootaloo, I…can’t…I’m too tired…”

“We’ve been running for only five minutes! Come on!”

“We…can’t…make…it…I…give…up…”

And with those words, Sweetie Belle collapsed on the ground, sweating not from exhaustion but from despair. Applebloom soon followed, curled up so tightly she started to turn red.

“Sweetie Belle! Applebloom! Get up!”

The monster laughed ferociously, and charged as Scootaloo stepped in-between her two friends in a last effort to protect them. But just before the inevitable, green powder suddenly exploded in front of the spirit, banishing the howling ghost from existence.

“Be gone, evil spirit, burn! Leave this place and never return!”

The zebra stepped out of the shadows, carrying a bag on her back.

“Are you okay Scootaloo? Where are the other two?”

The pegasus nervously stepped aside, revealing the fainted fillies.

“The taraxippus is a spirit that is meant to scare horses. Filled with despair, its easily scared by the scent of roses. You are pretty brave to stay standing to protect your friends, Scootaloo. Any closer and you would have all met your doom.”

“Tha…Thanks, Zecora. Um…Do you think you can wake Sweetie Belle and Applebloom up?”

“Of course young filly, follow me. I will take you to my home in Everfree.” Zecora put the fainted fillies on her back and the two walked towards the willow, opening the door and going inside.

“Whoa… what’s with all the different colors?” Scootaloo asked, surprised.

The shelves on the top were filled with potions, both colorful and dull that were neatly placed among each other, forming a distorted yet strangely satisfying row of liquids.

“These are the potions that I have conjured since I was small. As you can see, I do have quite the haul.”

“Oh wow! Which potion are you going to use to wake my friends, Zecora? The rainbow one? The shiny one? The yellow one?”

Zecora went up to the two fillies, and after a quick examination, slapped their faces with her hoofs.

“Oh.”

“Wha…What happened? Why am I lying down beside Sweetie Belle?”

“Took the words out of my mouth. Scootaloo, where are we?”

“You were attacked by a spirit that scares horses, a Taraxippus filled with despair. A dangerous ghost that you all should beware.”

“Zecora!”

“Hello there Applebloom. I see that you are now tranquil. However, I cannot say the same for Ponyville.”

“Wait, what? What are you talking about Zecora? You don't mean...”

“Come to my cauldron and you will see here, where the warnings are more explainable and clear.”

The CMC walked slowly towards the bubbling pot, which gave off a hazy green smoke every so often, the surface was as clear as glass.

“Um, Zecora, what are we supposed to see?”

“Be a bit patient Sweetie Belle, I have yet to finish the spell.”

The zebra trotted towards one of the cabinets and came back holding some red powder in her hoof, pouring it into the cauldron, it hissed and suddenly images formed on the surface, immersing the interest of the fillies as Zecora continued to speak.

“On the entire day tomorrow until the sun goes down, an unexpected disaster will come across this town. The Mark of ponies will be changed that day, so disastrous that even fillies won’t have the chance to play. Six heroes will join the quest to save Equestria, and one will undergo a change that will affect the next saga.”

The images disappeared, and the fillies looked back at Zecora, confused.

“What exactly does that mean, Zecora?”

“Sorry Applebloom, I am not sure. Predictions like this can be very obscure.”

“Aw…Well, I guess we should go back then. Thanks for saving us Zecora! Come on girls!”

There wasn’t really much to see the way back to Ponyville, and no longer than a few minutes later the trio was out of the forest and already at the school, the sun settling down as the moon came up.

“See you tomorrow, Applebloom!”

Applebloom trotted back to the farm, her expression deep in thought.

“I wonder what’s up with her.” Scootaloo quipped.

“Well, I think she’s just worried about Zecora’s warning. Who knows, maybe a celebrity will visit our town! She did say something about all the townspeople’s mark being changed…”

“Sure…like that would ever happen Sweetie Belle…” Looking up, her expression quickly changed from amusement to joy due to the sight in front of her, a rainbow pony grinning.

“Oh hey its Rainbow Dash!” Scootaloo rushed over to her sister, who after rubbing her hair picked the filly up and soared up towards the cloud house, leaving Sweetie Belle in the disappearing rainbow.

“At least her sister is ok about being late…” Sweetie Belle groaned, as she walked into Carousal Boutique, which resulted in a scream of happiness from her own sister followed by anger. They were still bickering till they reached her room.

“Good night Sweetie Belle!”

“Urghh…” Sweetie Belle groaned as she collapsed on her bed.

“I said, GOOD NIGHT, Sweetie Belle!!”

“Good night, Rarity…”

Soon all members of the CMC were snoring peacefully under the calm light of the full moon. The day, aside from a few moments, was relatively quiet compared to the other adventures they had before. The only sound that came from the sleeping town was the soft whispering of a voice, which drove away the ponies’ nightmares and led them to happy dreams.

“You really should have been a foalsitter, Luna.”

“I know…I would have loved to care for the fillies and townspeople during the day as well if it wasn’t for the war with Sombra. And…my mistake, dear sister.”

“Do you know what tomorrow is, younger sister?”

“Game day?”

A quick slap sound was heard at the castles of Canterlot.

“Ow…seriously?”

“You know as well as I do that tomorrow’s main event is not gaming day. Tomorrow my student will be given the biggest test of all.”

“Yes, I do know that, sister. But don’t you think that this method is a bit, well, unethical. I mean…looking back at Cadence’s reaction…”

Celestia smiled faintly.

“But isn’t it more fun and exciting, Luna?”

The princess of the night giggled.

“I guess so. Well, I’m off to resume my duties. Farewell dear sister.”

Before the alicorn could take off, the other spoke.

“There is one more thing I would like to request of you, sister.” Her expression was serious.

“What is it, sister, did you have another vision?”

“Maretroid, Pokepon, or Pony Sisters?”

Luna slapped herself on the face this time, then laughed quietly.

“Definitely Pony Sisters.”

Chapter 3: The start of the main...5?

The sun shone over Ponyville lightly, basking the town in warm sunlight and waking up Equestria’s inhabitants one by one. It was the start of a new day, and the start of another new adventure for the CMC. Sweetie Belle, her hair curled up by Rarity overnight while she slept, was mumbling to herself a variety of random words.

“Peels I woh gnitirw er’uoy eveileb t’nac I…”

Her body was already halfway out of the bed, and slowly but surely the filly started sliding off the blanket and fell.

“Naarr…Oof! I really should stop doing that…”

She quickly untied the hair ribbons with disgust, and then walked down the stairs, yawning slowly.

“Rarity? Hhaauuwnn…Are you there?”

There was no response. She was honestly at least expecting a grumble, not from her stomach but from her sister.

“Rarity?”

She trotted into the front of the boutique and found no one. The same went for the kitchen, the bathroom, and the dressing room. Rarity was nowhere to be found. The trotting quickly became a gallop.

“Rarity! WHERE ARE YOU?” Sweetie Belle screamed.

“BE QUIET FILLY, I’M WORKING!”

“RARITY…Wait a minute, Diamond Tiara? Working?!”

She opened her door, only to find that the bully was indeed painting the neighbor’s house pink. More surprisingly she was using her own hooves, with her butler nowhere to be seen. She also had a paintbrush on her flank instead of the infamous tiara.

“Keep quiet nerd! Can’t you see I’m making this house beautiful?”

“Um…you only painted the bottom of the house.”

“Ah Ah Ah! You don’t understand modern art! By painting only the bottom of the house I have not only saved the cost of the paint but the effort as well!”

“Didn’t your…um…client tell you to do that?”

“No, but I’m sure he’ll love it! Now go away, peasant!”

She returned to splattering the bottom of the house, but not before sticking out her tongue at Sweetie Belle.

“At least her attitude is the same…” Sweetie Belle grumbled as she walked away from the boutique before stopping at the realization.

“Wait…why was her cutie mark a paintbrush?!”

She rushed over to the town center, hoping that her worst fears were just a thought. However one look at the town and her jaw dropped, the thought being confirmed to reality.

“………….”

It really was quite the spectacular sight. Lyra was controlling the weather clouds and causing lightning to crash down on the rooftops of the houses, Ms.Cake had collapsed on the ground holding twelve bottles of cider, and worst of all, Cheerilee, their beloved teacher, was wearing Diamond’s tiara and bossing everyone around her, Sliver Spoon behind her back holding her drinks.

“Um…er…aah…”

“Sweetie Belle, Come over here!”

“Wha…Applebloom and Scootaloo? You two are ok?!”

She rushed over to her two friends and hugged them tightly, extremely happy to see them unaffected.

“Can’t…breathe…”

“Oops…Sorry. I got a bit overexcited.” She removed her hoofs from their backs, resulting in two big gasps of relief.

“I can’t believe you’re all right! I thought you two would have also changed like the other townspeople around here!”

“Yeah, we thought that as well as we woke up. Applebloom here found Granny Smith up in the morning blasting discorded DJ beats while seeing her brother start picking up flowers with Berry Punch!”

“It was horrible! They wouldn’t listen to me at all!” Applebloom was close to tears, her strong bond with her family obvious.

“Wait…I thought Cheerliee was Big Mac’s very special somepony…Is Big Macintosh cheating?!” This caused Applebloom to curl up into a ball whimpering, with Scootaloo unamused.

“Now is not the time to make jokes, Sweetie Belle! Remember Zecora’s prediction yesterday? She was right! We have to get to here since she may be the only one who knows the answer behind this!”

“Sorry Scootaloo, but I also want to ask if you two have seen your sisters or mine anywhere, perhaps Twilight as well.”

“Our sisters were also missing when we woke up. That’s why I rushed to Applebloom’s farm to confirm the truth. We have to solve this mystery of the changed townspeople and our missing sisters, along with the rest of our friends!”

“I guess you’re right…Applebloom, can you lead us to Zecora’s place?”

“O…Ok.” She stood up, wiped her tears, and the trio rushed to the Everfree forest, quickly reaching the willow house.

“Zecora, are you in there?” Applebloom yelled, knocking on the door.

“Yes I am Applebloom. You three are unaffected I assume.”

The door opened and Zecora quickly dragged them inside.

“As the situation is now extremely grave, we need the Golden Lotus from the Sliverbark Woods.”

“Er…what do you mean Zecora?” Sweetie Belle was confused.

“Oh I am sorry for you do not know this situation. As you know, the ponies in your town have been altered of their characterization.”

“You mean that their cutie marks were switched? Yeah, I noticed that when Lyra and White Lightning had each other’s cutie marks.” Scootaloo added.

“Indeed, that part is true too. The “mark” is my prediction was the ponies’ cutie marks, including the fillies, who had a clue?”

“But what about the six heroes that would stop this crisis?” Applebloom questioned.

“Honestly Applebloom, I thought it was going to be our sisters and their friends, since they always save the day since Twilight came.” Sweetie Belle remarked.

“But our sisters are missing! Who will stop this crisis now?” Scootaloo exclaimed. “Zecora?”

The zebra was sitting down, deep in thought. A few seconds of waiting and she opened her eyelids, determined.

“We would have to ignore this part of the prediction. We must not let magic affect a part in our decision.”

“Huh?” Sweetie Belle was confused again.

“What I’m saying is that to stop this curse from lasting forever, we have to join forces and find the Golden Lotus together.” She said, her hoof picking up a filled leather bag and flinging it to her shoulder.

“Wait…really? So we’re ignoring your own prediction and going on an adventure to save Ponyville as a group of four?” Applebloom enquired.

“Five actually…if you don’t mind, of course.”

Zecora and the CMC turned around, expecting a hero to rise out of the darkness. Imagine their disappointment when they saw Pipsqueak, holding a rubber sword in his mouth stepping into the house and falling sideways on the wooden floor.

“Pipsqueak? Did you follow us?” Scootaloo said while helping the young male filly back up.

“Sure I did! I couldn’t stand being the only horse around who wasn’t affected by that weird spell, so when I saw you three acting normally I thought that following you would be the safest option!” He responded proudly.

“Pipsqueak, the Everfree forest is a bit too dangerous for you…”

“And now we get to go on an adventure! Oh I just love adventures! Can I come, please?” Pipsqueak asked excitedly, intercepting Sweetie Belle.

“Um...You’re too young Pipsqueak. I don’t think you should…”

“Pipqueak is it not? You were the pirate in Nightmare Night, I knew I recognized you from a thought.” Zecora came forward, curious.

“Yes I am! Hi Zecora! Can I please join your adventure? I don’t want to be the only one left in Ponyville who is unaffected…and I also want to save my parents!” Pipsqueak added.

“Hmm…” Zecora stared into Pipsqueak eyes, scanning him.

“Zecora no! He’s just too young to go on adventures! And he’s also a colt…” Sweetie Belle grumbled.

“Sweetie Belle! What’s wrong with Pipsqueak being male?” Scootaloo reprimanded, surprised at what her friend said.

“It’s just that he’ll be too overconfident and make decisions without thinking! Don’t all colts do that?” Sweetie Belle fired back.

“No, Big Mac never does that! He’s kind and considerate!” Applebloom followed, also angry.

“Well he’s a stallion, a grown up pony…And Pipsqueak is still small.”

“It’s ok Applebloom, Scootaloo. I guess I’ll just go back to Ponyville then.” Pipsqueak smiled sadly, then started to walk to the door.

“Wait…I didn’t mean…” Sweetie Belle tried to reach the sad colt, but Zecora reached him first.

“Young colt, although you are young I can see that you have the heart of a true stallion. You can join us if that is your ambition.”

Pipsqueak face took less than a second to turn from depression to happiness and excitement once again.

“Oh yes! I would love to! The adventure will sure be scary, but fun! Dangerous, but fun! Challenging, but fun…”

“Jeez…at this rate we’ll be slower than Rarity’s makeovers…” Sweetie Belle groaned as they watched him bounce around.

Chapter 4: Facing the truth

After calming the colt, which took a bit longer than expected, the group of five were now travelling in the forest, Zecora taking the lead with Pipsqueak behind her, the CMC in the back.

“Does anyone hear that?” Pipsqueak asked, nervous.

“What are you talking about Pipsqueak?” Scootaloo questioned.

“I think I hear singing from back home…” Pipsqueak replied.

“Nevermind that, it’s probably Granny Smith mixing up a random set of tunes…” Applebloom answered.

“Besides, there’s something more important…” She continued as she walked towards Zecora, who stared back at her, waiting.

“Zecora, I’ve been wanting to ask you this question before Pipsqueak came…where exactly is Sliverbark woods?” Applebloom asked while passing through giant leaves and scattered branches, accidently smacking Sweetie Belle on the muzzle.

“It is actually a neighbor to the Everfree forest, my little pony. This trip to the Golden Lotus will actually be a very short journey.”

“But if that’s the case why didn’t you collect the Golden Lotus before?

Wouldn’t it be very useful as it can cure anything?” Sweetie Belle questioned while rubbing her bright red nose.

“The Lotus is guarded in legend by a dangerous beast. It depicts how adventurers that encountered this creature existence’s ceased.” Zecora replied gravely.

“A…a beast? I…I’ll fight it with my sword!” Pipsqueak quipped.

“I don’t really think your rubber sword will help much, Pipsqueak…” Scootaloo replied.

“But honestly guys, I don’t we have anything to fear. We have been sticking up for each other since we met and went on countless adventures together.” Sweetie Belle remarked.

“Our friendship, between us and our friends…” She added, nodding to Zecora and Pipsqueak. “are as strong as horses. This is something that no beast will be able to break!” She concluded.

“Yeah!” Pipsqueak, Applebloom, and Scootaloo cheered.

“Heh….Hahahaha….HAHAHAHAHA!”

The sudden voice erupted from the depths of the woods, a cold and menacing laughter, which echoed around the group, chilling them to the bone.

“Who’s there? Show yourself!” Scootaloo shouted.

“I am the beast of which you described. The protector of the Golden Lotus, and the enemy you will face.” The voice echoed.

“Well we’re not afraid of some big voice trying to be a bully!” Applebloom yelled back.

“Exactly! We have faced countless dangers on our adventures, and no one has managed to break our friendship!” Sweetie Belle shouted.

“Well then, I guess I will be the first to do so…” A somber voice replied, stepping out of the woods onto the front of the gang. It’s white fur was elegant and clean, as if it was made of light itself, though its teeth and eyes gleamed aggressively, forming a small smirk in front of such an easy prey, scaring the young horses, who hid behind Zecora.

“I can’t believe my eyes…I never found this creature, not matter how many tries…” Zecora was, for the first time in her life, lost for words.

“What…what is he Zecora?” The CMC and Pipsqueak asked, hiding behind her shadow as the beast continued to move forward.

“He’s…He’s a Teumessian fox…The wise yet cunning fox deity that can never be caught…” Zecora stumbled.

The fox smiled, impressed yet not surprised by her knowledge.

“Indeed, zebra. Prepare for extinction!”

------------------------------------------------------------------*************************--------------------------------------------------------------

A brilliant flash of light, and it was all they saw before the fox pounced on them, bursting into smoke and covering the group of five in temporary darkness.

“Cough…Cough…Guys? Anyone?”

The smoke disappeared as quickly as it came, and Scootaloo soon found herself alone in the forest, only that the dirt road had become a circle, with the trees blocking every possible path.

“Where am I? This isn’t where we were before…” The pegasus tried running towards the bushes, only to be repelled back by a mysterious force which sent her flying back to the center of the circle.

“No, it isn’t. Your friends are gone, Scootaloo. And you ran away from them.” The fox echoed.

“No! That’s not true! I will never run away from them!” Scootaloo shouted, which the sound was quickly drowned by the fox once again.

“You did little filly. You left them and now they’re in danger. From me…from everything in here. You’re a chicken, a coward. Scared of everything, scared of disappointment, especially from your sister…Rainbow Dash. She is in as much doom as the others.” The voice laughed.

“Rainbow Dash…in danger…I….I…” She sank to the ground, the pressure to much for such a young mind.

“Chicken…Coward…Chicken…Coward…” The voice repeated.

“I’m…I’m…I’m a disappointment.” With these words, she wept, and her entire body slowly started to turn grey.

Satisfied, the fox left for its next target.

“Applebloom? Scootaloo? Where are you?” Sweetie Belle screamed. She was stuck in the middle of a swamp, where the mud on the surface bubbled and dared her to go forward.

“Hello there, Sweetie Belle.” The fox cooed, playful.

“You….YOU! What have you done to my friends!” Her horn crackling with anger, her horn fired out a pale green blast at the source of the sound, which disappeared into the shadows.

“Pathetic first grade magic…just like yourself, is it not?”

“SHUT UP!” She continued to fire bolts of magic until she collapsed, the light fading from her horn as her stamina was gone.

“Arrogant, selfish, overconfident. How can you ever live up to your sister, the spirit of generosity?”

“Don’t you dare…compare the two of us…” Sweetie Belle growled.

“Why not? You two are perfect to compare, both attention seekers, where one prospered while the other was forced to comply with nothing. It’s so pathetic its humorous.”

“You…you monster…just because of my 5th birthday…doesn’t mean that I am worse than Rarity…it doesn’t mean…” The excess use of magic reached its peak, and Sweetie Belle collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

“Interesting…she didn’t break like the other one did…Perhaps I shouldn’t tackle them one by one and in order...” The fox doubted.

Leaving the fainted filly, the fox disappeared into the next area.

Unlike the CMC, Pipsqueak and Zecora were stuck together in the bark of a tree, with thorns surrounding the wood, which prevented them from escaping.

“Um…Miss Zecora, did you find a way out yet? I don’t seem to have any luck with these plants…” Pipsqueak said while trying to chop the plants in half with his sword for the last ten minutes, with a result of not even one centimeter of the plant sliced.

“No Pipsqueak, I have not. The thorns are too thick, the forest has us caught.” Zecora replied, her powders and potions having no effect.

“You do realize that it is not the forest who has you caught, but me, if I presume.” The fox suddenly spoke, causing Pipsqueak to instantly duck behind the zebra.

“Teumessian fox, please, let us and the others free. I promise that I will make sure that none of them ever step in your territory again in the forest of Everfree.” Zecora pleaded.

“Always the protector and the solution to everything, aren’t you, Zecora?” The fox laughed.

“Please Mr. Fox…don’t hurt Zecora…she didn’t do anything wrong…” Pipsqueak whimpered behind her back.

“Mr. Fox? That’s the first time anyone has addressed me like that…You wouldn’t be from Trottingham, by any chance?” The fox asked, amused by the little one’s accent.

“Ye…Yes…” Pipsqueak replied, still glued to the ground.

“How delightful! Two inhabitants of Ponyville who didn’t belong there in the first place!” The fox chanted.

“What are you talking about? We are all accepted residents of Ponyville, that is without a doubt!” Zecora said, annoyed.

“Yeah!” Pipsqueak said angrily, gaining some confidence back.

“Oh really?” The deity whisked around the area, creating a vision for the two horses with a sound of a snap.

The blurry image swirled around in the background of the woods, turning faster and faster as the still pictures slowly moved with the illusion of speed, a mesmerizing sight which hypnotized the two.

“Trottingham and Marefrica are being destroyed…”The voice whispered as he created images of the city and the village collapsing and falling into dust.

“No…my home…” Both droned, captured by the magic.

“Your families are being hurt…” The fox snickered.

“Please…not them…run…” They were frozen in place completely.

“The residents of Ponyille are disappointed with your lack of care of your home town. If you can’t protect the place where you were born, how are you worthy of staying in their town?” The voice concluded.

“I…We…we’re not.” The magic was secured, and the bodies of both horses turned grey. It was impossible to tell if they had been turned to stone, the contradiction shown only by their shocked eyes.

“Heh…that was easy. Now for the core of the apple.” The fox slowly drifted towards the last one remaining, Applebloom, who saw all of the events take place from the top, trapped in a conjured cage. She had not spoken for the entire event, but when the fox stared at her eyes, for once a fearful expression came to its face as it realised its mistake.

"You...My friends...I'LL NEVER LET YOU GET AWAY WITH THIS!!!"

Chapter 5: The True Meaning of Friendship

Applebloom continued to glare at the fox, her expression blazing with anger through witnessing the victimity of her friends. The fox, who was surprised for a moment, quickly returned to normal.

“Like you could do anything to stop me. So what will it be, little Applebloom? Will you break like Scootaloo? Run out of energy like Sweetie Belle? Or should I trap you in a pocket reality of your worst fears?” The fox laughed coldly.

“You don’t really understand friendship, do you?” Applebloom said quietly. Her calmness took the fox aback.

“Friendship? Do you think that the reason I do this is because I don’t have friends? Pah, I don’t really need that many friends. One is enough...” The fox mumbled.

“I was right. You don’t. You don’t understand friendship.” Applebloom was still glaring at the fox, but her expression had softened.

“You mean after all this…all the harm I have done to your friends, you will still forgive me if I…I don’t know…give up?” The fox spluttered.

“You’re not actually evil aren’t you?” Applebloom asked questionably, tilting her head in a sideway angle.

“Well I…actually…wait what am I doing? I am evil! I showed you the flaws of all your best friends! And yet you’re still not willing to give up, to surrender to my whim!” The fox howled.

“And what do you mean by that?” Applebloom asked.

“Scootaloo is scared of disappointing others! Sweetie Belle is arrogant and selfish when trying to prove herself! And Zecora and Pipsqueak still have doubts about their identity even after living in Ponyville for so long! Even you had doubts about your purpose before you met them!” The fox shouted, losing his temper.

“Each person/pony is special in a way and that no one is perfect. The friends you lose still remain a part of you, and every friend shares their strengths to heal each other’s weaknesses.” Applebloom remarked.

“I...I…I’m…”

Scootaloo will do anything to protect any of us. Sweetie Belle means well for every task and is kind and considerate towards others even though she does have a temper issue. Pipsqueak and Zecora are brave and friendly citizens of Ponyville and nothing will change that. As for me, like everyone else I learn from my mistakes and improve in my honesty to help others.”

“You…I…um…”

“This is what makes friendship unbreakable.” Applebloom concluded.

There was a stunned silence as the deepness of her words reached the so-called villain, who after having his mouth dropped for more than ten seconds recomposed his state badly in a fit of fury.

“Show me then! Show me how its unbreakable!” He shouted while making another snap sound, causing the cage to fall gracefully to the ground and disappear, freeing Applebloom.

“You asked for this…” Applebloom said while walking to her captured friends, her mouth starting to hum a tune.

“Wait what are you doing…oh dear god please n-”

♫A true, true friend helps a friend in need♫

♫A friend will be there to help them see♫

♫A true, true friend helps a friend in need to see the light, that shines from a true, true friend♫

♫Uhm, hello? You need to prove it to me, remember? ♫ The fox said.

♫Scootaloo needs my help, she's disappointed doing what she can♫

♫Need you try, just give her a chance♫

♫She must be brave and start to make a stand♫

♫A true, true friend helps a friend in need♫

♫A friend will be there to help you see♫

♫A true, true friend helps a friend in need to see the light, that shines from a true, true friend♫

The essence of the song formed into a ray of light, surrounding Scootaloo and in a flash restoring her back to normal.

“Uh, what just happened?” Scootaloo asked, dazed

“Let me just make this plain, I need your help!”

“Sweetie Belle has collapsed out of fatigue!” Applebloom replied.

“Say no more!” Scootaloo said, becoming the solo.

♫Sweetie Belle needs our help, she's tries too hard doing what she can♫

♫She is kind, just give her a chance♫

♫Just give ways for her to start to understand♫

♫A true, true friend helps a friend in need♫

♫A friend will be there to help them see♫

♫A true, true friend helps a friend in need to see the light, that shines from a true, true friend♫

The light wrapped itself around the filly, reviving her throughly, her friends hugging her waking figure.

“Oh wow, what a terrible dream…” She stared at the fox.

“Or maybe I'm still having it.”

“Sweetie Belle, Zecora and Pipsqueak are stuck in a nightmare!”

“We need to reunite the CMC!”

“Stuck in a nightmare? Well we can't let that happen now, can we?”

Sweetie Belle said as she joined in the line.

♫Our two friends are in trouble♫

♫We need to get there by their side♫

♫We must show them their true home now♫

♫As together we can be their guide! ♫

♫A true, true friend helps a friend in need♫

♫A friend will be there to help them see♫

♫A true, true friend helps a friend in need to see the light, that shines from a true, true friend♫

The Light faded as its final deed was done. All of the team members were back to normal. However, to the fox’s dismay, they were now the ones glowing.

“Yeah! Now that's more like it, what's next?” Said Pipsqueak excited.

“The townspeople are still affected, we still need turn them back” The CMC replied together.

“I see that the fox needs convincing, I know just the upbringing!” Zecora remarked as she recovered from the spell, facing the fox.

♫The townspeople need us they've been sad for a while♫

♫They march around, faces frown and never seem to smile♫

♫And if you feel like helping, we appreciate a lot! ♫

♫If you help us get the cure to spread from home to Canterlot! ♫

♫Come on foxy, We wanna see you smile! ♫ They shouted.

♫A true, true friend helps a friend in need♫

♫A friend will be there to help them see♫

♫A true, true friend helps a friend in need to see the light (see the light) that shines (that shines) from a true, true friend…♫

♫Let our friendship last until the end! YEAH!♫

Finishing the song, they turned to the fox, smiling together as one.

“Sniff…I…I guess I don’t know friendship that well yet.” The fox cried. His voice was somehow getting distorted to a weird level.

“Wait…are you ok?” Sweetie Belle asked, concerned.

“I’m…fine…it’s just that these emotions…make me…AHH... sick…ACHOO!” A flash of light enveloped the fox, and suddenly it wasn’t a fox anymore. In fact, it was a very familiar being with deer horns, bat wings, a goat leg, and the body of a serpent. A draconequus, to be exact.

“DISCORD???!!!” They shouted.

“Oh, pooh.”

Chapter 6: Another ending of Another day

“Dischord…you were the fox the whole time?” Scootaloo asked, breaking the ice but still dumbfounded.

“I was! Can I ask you a question by the way?”

“Wahuh?” Sweetie Belle managed to get out.

“You’re friends with Fluttershy, right?” Discord face was continuously getting red with embarrassment.

“Yes, and what does that have to do with…”

“Well its just that being friends with her is so...um…I mean she’s a kind pony and all, but seriously it really is a bit…er…” Dischord, lost in thought, was teleporting repeatedly around the group.

“Girly?” Scootaloo answered, unamused.

“Why yes, thank you Scootaloo, girly. Every time I visit her to have some fun as friends its always tea parties with her fluffy animals and wooly creatures, walks in the parks, and personal talking sessions! I mean seriously! I’m the spirit of chaos, at least let me have some fun and disorder with the only friend I have! My magic has been reduced to just levitating teacups!” Discord ranted.

Pipsqueak was trying his best not to be laughing in the background.

“You see? Even he finds it funny…” Discord moaned, annoyed.

“But why would you target us then, of all the Ponyfolk? Do you perhaps find us okay to joke?” Zecora asked with a tone of anger.

“No no no, zebra. Well, it was just because that I can’t really fool around with Twilight and her friends anymore as the have the protection of the Elements of Harmony, and most of the townspeople in Ponyville hardly see me as a friend, more so a nuisance. Except you five I suppose, since you never saw me before.” Discord replied.

“So how did the trip to the Golden Lotus lead us to you in the first place? Sweetie Belle questioned, confused.

“Well, I kind of switched the name of the scroll about the Lotus in Zecora’s house.” Discord answered, snapping his hangers and conjuring the same scroll. “You see, the original one says that the Lotus was never found and remains a mystery.” He said while showing it to Zecora, who was shocked.

“Wait…does that mean that this whole trip was a waste of time? What about Ponyville? What about our families?!” Pipsqueak whined.

“Oh about that…the only reason I set up this whole adventure in the first time was because of Twilight’s spell.” Discord said.

“TWILIGHT was the one who caused this?” They shouted.

“Where’s your proof?” Applebloom demanded.

“Well, as the creature of chaos I can sense magical imbalances in the world, and boy was there one this morning.” Discord talked while conjuring a sofa for himself.

“And?” Scootaloo asked.

“And she somehow was received the letter of that famous magician which contained a spell to switch everyone’s destines, which she then stupidly read out.” Discord justified, showing a created map of Ponyville surrounded by radar with Twilight’s library at the center.

“Who sent that letter to her, knowing that it would cause a disaster?” Zecora asked Discord sternly.

“Why it was none other than Princess Celestia, her mentor and my past enemy. I was in Canterlot the other day invisible and bored as ever and I heard her talking to Princess Luna about some test she’s giving Twilight. Who knew it was to solve a fundamental problem that she caused in the first place?” Discord replied.

“But what about helping the citizens, our sisters and our friends?” Sweetie Belle cried.

“Don’t worry Sweetie Belle, Twilight Sparkle has already solved the test that Celestia gave her. In fact the reason I sneezed just now wasn’t because of your song. I think that Twilight isn’t just an ordinary unicorn anymore, with such a large powerup. The townspeople and your sisters are all right.” Discord said with a hint of jealously.

“Really? Can you teleport us back home now?” The CMC asked Discord excitedly, eager to see their families again.

“Well, I guess. It’s the best I can do for tricking you all this time. And I’m sorry for that. I suppose I should know better than to manipulate ponies like yourselves just for fun.” Discord said sheepishly.

“Don’t worry Discord, you did help us relearn a lesson about friendship. And it seems like you learned your own lesson as well.” Applebloom remarked.

And with that, the draconequus grabbed hold of the group and in a flash they were back at the city center.

“Applejack! Rarity! Rainbow Dash!”

The CMC hugged their sisters, who were confused as first, but accepted their affection graciously as they continued to stare at Alicorn Twilight, who was with Princess Celestia. Pipsqueak left as well, going in the opposite direction towards his parents, leaving Discord and Zecora as the only ones remaining.

“Do my eyes deceive me? Is Twilight an alicorn princess for all to see?” Zecora said surprised.

“Yes, that explains the massive increase in magical power. Do you need me to take you back to the Everfree forest, Zecora?” Discord asked the zebra who broke off of her trance.

“Why yes thank you, if that’s what you can do.”

Another flash and the two disappeared from the crowd, who were boarding into carriages and flying off towards Canterlot. A few seconds later and they arrived inside Zecora’s house.

"Phew, I'm glad that the girls were so understanding. If I did the same to Twilight and her friends I think that I would be back in stone for another hundred years, right Zecora?" Discord laughed gently.

"You can do good in this world, Discord, even at your prime. Just make sure to keep the chaos in control next time." Zecora reprimanded.

"I will I will...who knows? Since Twilight Sparkle is a princess and that the magic of the tree is almost gone..."

"The tree? What ever do you mean?" Zecora asked Discord cautiously.

"Oh, it's um...nothing! Just the tree that me and Fluttershy planted last week at the Pony Nature Association." Discord rambled. Zecora raised her eyebrows, then went back with her work, checking the potions waving a hoof for Discord to leave, who thankfully took the message.

“Well, goodbye. I’m off to the ceremony as well. Are you sure you don’t want to come?” Discord asked Zecora timidly. She shook her head and the spirit of chaos disappeared.

The adventure had ended and the zebra knew that. She sighed as she walked over to the now cold cauldron and relighted the fire, revealing the words of the prediction that had caused the whole situation in the first place. Staring into it, she finally smiled as she realised the truth.

“Well who would have a clue…The prophecy was true.”

SPOILER: For those who still don't get the meaning of the ending

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