Paper Mario: Elements & Starsby ThePegaKrisChapters00: Prologue01: The Gateway to Equestria02: Princess Twilight Sparkle03: Bros. Pony Attacks04: Cutie Map Meeting05: Zecora06: Luigi Time07: Special Connection08: No Power Up...Like Dancing?09: Decision Number One10: High Up In the Sky11: Shadow Captain Celaeno12: Fiery Truth, Part 113: Fiery Truth, Part 214: Equestria & Beyond15: Tales of Tails16: Long Journey’s End?17: The Other Unicorn With the Broken Horn18: Flight of the Ponies00: PrologueMario awoke to the brisk morning air, a slight disturbance making its way down his spine due to the looming fear that haunted him through the night. He was not feeling himself today. Nevertheless, the mustachioed Mario awoke as he joined his brother for breakfast. "Morning Bro! How'd you sleep?" "Good… I guess." "Better than I can say for myself… I spent the whole night tossing and turning." Mario was struck with curiosity. "Why?" he inquired. "I dunno.. I just felt somehow uncomfortable all night. I think I was having a bad dream or somethin'." Could Luigi's have been having the same nightmare? The possibility piqued Mario's interest, but before he could even have time to think or say anything, a loud bell chimed from outside the door. "*MAIL CALL!"* Parakarry shouted from the other side. "You have an important letter here from the Princess, Mario! Better read it." Mario walked outside onto the patio and, in a quick moment, embraced the freshness of the lovely summer day. The aroma of freshly baked Koopa Buns from Lady Koops' Bakery floated on the air, and the enchanting scents of Bub-ulb flowers tickled his nose. Mario received the letter and thanked Parakarry, and the mail koopa nodded and waved as he flew off. The envelope was richly decorated, which was nothing unusual for Princess Peach. Even her stationary could be used as a symbol for her status. ***Dear Mario,* I would be delighted if you would come to my castle today to join me for lunch and tea, as well as some discussion over this wacky dream I had last night! I'm not sure why, but I feel my discussing it with you will hold some special significance. Strange, right!? Anyways, come over ASAP! And bring Luigi too! See you soon!** *~Princess Peach* "Why does Peach always expect us to show up within 5 minutes of reading her letters?" he wondered to himself aloud. "Dunno! …but usually when the princess has something to say, it's either A, really important governing stuff, or B, something that's about to get us in a whole lot of trouble and end up having to save the world." Luigi mused. "Which one do you think it is today?" "Knowing the Princess? Probably B. C'mon, we'd better hurry before the princess gets impatient!" And with that Mario and Luigi headed off to the castle. Upon their arrival, the Mario Bros. were greeted as per usual by the guard toads, and were thusly escorted through the many floors and corridors of the castle to the princess's room, which resided in the tallest tower. Standing before a large door with a massive star emblazoned upon it, Mario reached out for a knock. But the doors burst open before he could get the chance, and the princess, in all her pink beauty, stood before the two plumbers. "Mario! Luigi! You've come! And you're only …3 minutes late! What took you so long?" "Sorry Princess, traffic!" exclaimed Luigi. "Let us adjourn to the tea room for some discussion." Peach lead the two through several more corridors of the palace. Mario and Luigi couldn't help but observe the awe-inspiring spectacle of the halls. Despite the many times they had been here, it was always captivating compared to what they had at home. "The tea room is just around here." Mario and Luigi followed the princess into the banquet room, which housed an unusually large table blanketed with a lacey white tablecloth. Looking up, you could see a cathedral-style ceiling with stained glass depictions of the night sky, complete with stars, and a large balcony with two equally large glass doors leading out ot it. The doors were open, which gave way for the warm summer breezes to sporadically flow into the room, each gust rustling the rich pink curtains as well as creating a scattered grain across the fluffy white carpet. They took a seat, and before even a moment could pass, several servant toads were already bringing in cups of tea, small sandwiches, and little sweet biscuits by the boat-loads. "So about that dream…" started the Princess, not giving the heroes a chance to indulge in the spread. "It was really bizarre! I remember, it was very dark… and there was a mysterious - almost discomforting – fog that justloomedover what I think was a garden. I felt rather uneasy the entire time, but what really got me was when right before I woke up, I saw an eerie shadow emerging from the fog!" Silence. "...well what do you think?!" Mario and Luigi sat with their mouths agape, pieces of crumpet falling from their extended jaws. "Boys! It's not polite to chew with your mouths open!" "Sorry Princess!" quipped Luigi, shaking off his shock. "It's just that.. well, I had the exact same dream last night!" "As did I!" added Mario. "What!? You're telling me we all had the same dream? This is odd… very odd! Well this sort of thing isn't normal! That doesn't just happen out of coincidence! I think we need to pursue this matter further." exclaimed the Princess. Mario could already tell where this was going… they were about to end up on some crazy adventure again. "We should tell somebody important about this… Somebody wise, and all knowing!" she further added. ”Why not go to Professor E. Gadd for help?” Luigi asked. ”Bro, you’re kidding, right?” as Mario adjusted his hat. “Can’t we give the old man a break? I think he can no longer keep up on our fast-paced journeys.” ”Exactly.” Peach interrupted. “Besides, I don’t want another crazy contraption of his blowing up the castle again!” ”Oops, I remembered using the Poltergeist and accidentally doing that.” Luigi gulped. “Sorry Princess!” ”Actually Luigi, now that you mention it, aren’t ghosts and shadows related to each other?” Mario asked. ”Kind of, but there’s no way in this kingdom that I’m not going near any of them again!” ”I guess it wouldn’t hurt to see the professor once again.” Peach said. “Wait, what’s going on?” The ground started to shake as the plumbers and the princess got down on their stomachs. The Toads panicked and scattered across the kingdom, leaving none behind with their beloved princess. That’s when the banquet room doors burned down, revealing the brute force to be none other than the Mario Brothers’ number one enemy, Bowser, the King of the Koopas. “BOWSER!” The trio yelled. ”Bwahaha, am I late to the party? Sorry, but looks like it’s over for you! You’re coming with me, Princess Peach!” ”No, not again! Please help me, you two, I’m begging you!” ”Not to worry, Princess!” Mario grinned. “Luigi and I got this again!” ”Y-Yeah... Wait...why are you alone, Bowser?” ”I’m not! In case your lovely ‘gem’ over there refuses to come with me, she will be surrounded by my minions and Koopalings if she tries to leave the castle. So go ahead and take a stab at me, fools! I welcome it, but it won’t do you any good! I’ll be sitting right here in this chair and just let my minions take care of things, okay?” ”Bro, you got a plan this time?” Luigi whispered. ”He thinks he’s playing smart, but we’re smarter than him by a long shot. We have to take him out quietly or else he’ll alert his minions. I think I know who will make the perfect distraction!” ”Why are you two smiling at me like that?” Peach whispered. “My kingdom is going to be destroyed if we don’t do something!” ”Princess, we need you to pretend to follow Bowser outside.” Mario explained softly. “Once he turns around, we’ll knock him on his head with our hammers!” "Are you sure this will work, Mario?" "How does this make you feel?" The red plumber leaned in to quickly kiss Peach on her cheek. "I will take your word because of that, thank you." "I'm losing my patience now!" Bowser groaned. "You better come now or else..." "Alright, I'm going!" Peach said as she winked back at the Mario Bros. "Good! You two boys better not try anything stupid!" "Oh, we won't..." Luigi giggled. "Ready bro?" "Ready." ”I don’t like how your voices sound right now, but anyway, it’s time for US to carry on with our wedding!” Bowser exclaimed. ”R-Right...” Peach mocked. As Mario and Luigi crept under the table to attack Bowser, the ground started to shake again, causing both Bros. to bonk their heads. Peach and Bowser also fell to the ground as the intensity of this earthquake was higher than when Bowser came in. "What's the meaning of this nonsense?" as Bowser struggled to regain his balance. ”What are you planning now?” as Mario got up from under the table. ”Trust me, this is not my fault!” Bowser replied. ”Then wh-who’s doing this??” as Luigi stayed under the table. Crystals... A dark cloud started to swirl up inside the castle and a lightning bolt struck the dining table. It appeared to be a shadow of a unicorn. Begone foul beings, or I will smite all of you! ”Who, or what, exactly are you?” Mario demanded. I am King Sombra. I once ruled a kingdom called the Crystal Empire, but I have fallen and shattered into nothing but a broken shard... ”Bah, I don’t know where that is or why you’re here, but you better let me get moving or I’m going to knock some sense into you!” Bowser challenged. Your feeble powers are no match for mine, as I am considered to be a REAL king! Take this! The shadowy unicorn king used his horn to blast Bowser, causing him to disappear entirely. Now with that settled, it’s time for me to return to Equestria and regain my full power! But first, it looks like your princess will be comfortable once she is in my castle! ”Not on our watch!” as Luigi threw a fireball. Not so fast... King Sombra zapped Luigi, causing him to disappear. ”Nooooo!” Mario gasped. “Where did you take my brother?” The land of Equestria. If you want to rescue him and that pathetic turtle, you must do my bidding. For now, say goodbye to your lover as well! ”Mario, help us!” Peach cried. ”I will, don’t worry!” King Sombra formed a giant claw and grabbed Peach tightly by her waist. Both of them teleported in the midst of a dark cloud, leaving Mario all by himself. ”I don’t think I could’ve been able to stop him all by myself. I need to find Professor E. Gadd, and fast...” 01: The Gateway to EquestriaMario just stood in the middle of the dining room without his hat, almost defeated, and he kept staring at a painting of Princess Peach. Seconds later, one of Bowser’s Koopalings, Roy Koopa, came in and found the plumber. ”Hey yo, what’s the holdup here? Where’s my dad gone to?” ”He’s been taken to another world, along with my brother and the princess.” Mario replied. ”He’s already going back home without us?” Roy stumbled. “I guess we gotta catch up to him. Smell ya later, sucker!” ”That’s not what I meant! Some mysterious shadow unicorn named King Sombra took Bowser away with the others somewhere called Equestria and now they’re gone.” ”What? Was that why there was another earthquake after he came in?” ”I hate to admit it, but yeah.” Mario said. ”How do I know you guys weren’t the ones who haven’t ruffled my dad up?” Roy hummed. ”We witnessed the entire thing. Your dad got teleported before he could even attack the unicorn.” ”Uh-huh. If you’re so sure about this, can you save him for us, Red Stache?” ”I might, but once he comes back to the Mushroom Kingdom, you guys better not go kidnapping Princess Peach again!” ”I don’t have a say in that, but I’ll try and talk to my dad.” Roy responded. ”Thanks bud. Now, I’ve got some business to take care of, so try not to do anything stupid while I’m gone, Roy.” ”Got it.” ”I think I can use the warp pipe in the basement to get to the lab from here.” Mario thought to himself. Mario left the dining room and took the east wing stairs to the basement. Only he, the Toads, and Princess Peach knew this castle’s layout more than anyone else. However, as Mario went down the stairs, the lights started to fade due to both earthquakes from Bowser and King Sombra. ”I think this is the right one. All these other pipes lead to different areas of the Mushroom Kingdom. I better hurry up while there’s still time. Let’s-a-go!” Mario jumped into the green pipe conveniently labeled, “Professor E. Gadd’s Lab,” and ended up on the other side. It was moved back to Thwomp Volcano after the professor finally helped Luigi capture King Boo a while back. ”At least that unicorn hasn’t destroyed the lab.” Knock knock. ”Hello?” as the voice passed while the door crept open. “Oh goodness, Mario! Wonderful seeing you again!” ”It’s nice to see you again, Professor E. Gadd! Listen, I’m in a bit of hurry and thought you might help me out. Please?” ”Well, I always come prepared to the fight, although I’m getting older by the second. Bowser’s got Princess Peach again as usual, I see?” ”Actually, no.” Mario said. “He, the princess, and Luigi have been taken away to some place called Equestria after some shadow unicorn got ahold of them. His name is King Sombra, by the way.” ”Equestria?” E. Gadd gasped. “I’ve been doing research about that place ever since the Shroobs invaded the Mushroom Kingdom. Quickly, I’ll explain inside!” ”Okay.” as Mario came inside and closed the door behind him. ”Now, the reason why I knew about Equestria was because that was where the Shroobs were originally planning to take over. I caught a handful of them trying to steal my time machine and go there, but I stopped them using my inventions. However, that led to the invasion of the Mushroom Kingdom instead. I’m really sorry if that was a problem.” ”No, not at all.” Mario reminisced. “You did what you had to do. Have you tried going to Equestria yourself, Professor E. Gadd?” ”Only for a test run. I actually succeeded in getting there, but I wanted to come back quickly because I didn’t know what I was going to get myself into.” ”What kind of people live there?” Mario asked. ”There are no people. Only ponies exist.” ”What?” Mario got frozen for a bit. “Then that means that King Sombra is a unicorn pony?” ”Yes, indeed.” The professor replied. “While doing research, I read a book about different worlds and dimensions called ‘A Mushroom’s Guide to Portals.’ Equestria is actually known to be a nice place for friendship, love, and tolerance.” ”I’m not so sure about that statement, after the fact that the princess’ castle just got wrecked by King Sombra.” as Mario fixed his hat. ”Not to worry!” E. Gadd exclaimed. “You won’t be going alone this time, Mario, because I will be coming along with someone else you just met!” ”Who?” ”Hi Mario, it’s me, Cappy!” A top-hatted floating ghost appeared, who appeared to be Cappy, Mario’s capturing buddy. ”Cappy? What are you doing inside the Storybook? I thought you were on top of the other Mario’s head?” ”I can visit the Paper Mushroom Kingdom any time I want, as long as Mario’s fine with it! I also thought it’d be cool to see some of the professor’s work here!” ”It’s crazy to know that the exact same things happen both inside and outside of the Storybook, huh?” E. Gadd reminded. ”Well, our Cappy’s not exactly here at the moment, but you can definitely sit on top of my head as well.” Mario said. ”Alright, but I don’t know how much longer it’ll take until the people of my Cap Kingdom need me again.” Cappy added. ”Then, we better get going. Professor, can I see that book of yours, real quick?” ”Sure thing, Mario! There’s another section about Equestria’s rulers on here. You can read it out loud, just for a heads up.” ”Okay.” The trio gathered up together as Mario flipped through the pages to find Equestria, hoping to see if there’s any hints of what to do in the land. It went on for a little while. Once upon a time, in the magical land of Equestria, there were two regal sisters who ruled together and created harmony for all the land. To do this, the eldest used her unicorn powers to raise the sun at dawn; the younger brought out the moon to begin the night. Thus, the two sisters maintained balance for their kingdom and their subjects, all the different types of ponies. But as time went on, the younger sister became resentful. The ponies relished and played in the day her elder sister brought forth, but shunned and slept through her beautiful night. One fateful day, the younger unicorn refused to lower the moon to make way for the dawn. The elder sister tried to reason with her, but the bitterness in the young one's heart had transformed her into a wicked mare of darkness: Nightmare Moon. ”Sounds wicked and awesome!” Cappy encouraged. She vowed that she would shroud the land in eternal night. Reluctantly, the elder sister harnessed the most powerful magic known to ponydom: the Elements of Harmony. Using the magic of the Elements of Harmony, she defeated her younger sister, and banished her permanently in the moon. The elder sister took on responsibility for both... ”...sun and moon...” as Mario closed the book. ”Hmm...” The professor wondered. “Elements of Harmony. I know I've heard of those before... but where?” ”No idea, but they sound like our key to stopping King Sombra and saving the others.” Mario thought. ”Why don’t we just leave Bowser behind in Equestria?” Cappy interrogated. “You’ve seen what he’s done to my home, right Mario?” ”He’s helped us in the past several times. I think he’ll be useful to us after we break out, even if it means yet another lousy attempt to kidnap the princess. I’m sure of that.” ”What are we waiting for, boys?” E. Gadd asked. “Let’s hop inside the time machine!” ”Wait, what if you accidentally send us there during the wrong time period?” Cappy mentioned. ”Don’t sweat it, lad, the time machine is set to ‘Present Day.’” ”Okay, I packed some Fire and Ice Flowers for the road, too.” Mario said. “I still don’t know what to expect over there.” ”I’ll be on top of your flat head now!” as Cappy transformed into Mario’s hat. ”Thanks!” ”You boys might want to put on some seatbelts, because it’s going to be a bumpy ride!” E. Gadd warned. ”Any catchy tunes in here?” Cappy asked. ”Just press this button here!” 02: Princess Twilight Sparkle”How are you boys holding up?” Professor E. Gadd asked. ”At least I’m not vomiting like Luigi.” Mario said. “Wouldn’t a warp pipe have been easier?” ”Ooh, you’re right!” E. Gadd replied. “Maybe I should’ve built that in Equestria a long time ago while I had the chance. This thing can still take us anywhere, if you recall.” ”But to get stuck back in time?” as Cappy turned back to normal. “Going all the way back to the moon from the very beginning will be tiring.” ”I highly doubt that will happen again, Cappy.” Mario reminded. “I do remember that this machine takes us anywhere, but it should’ve been called a ‘time portal,’ to be very specific. Sorry if I sound a bit off by the way, Professor.” ”No, it’s fine Mario. In fact, you just came up with some brilliant ideas while we explore this place! I’ll have to make some adjustments in the meantime.” ”Okay, does anyone have ideas on what to do when we get there?” Cappy asked. ”Let’s just ask around for information about either King Sombra or these Elements of Harmony, though I doubt these ponies will know anything from a thousand years ago, according to how old the events in this book were.” ”I’m going to see if I can find a way to build a warp pipe back home for future use.” The professor explained. ”Okay, but you have to build it somewhere where nobody else can see it, otherwise the Mushroom Kingdom will be full of ponies.” Mario warned. ”WOAH!” as everybody bumped into each other. The time machine opened up a rift and landed the trio in some dark forest. Everything was still paper, but every few plants out of the oddly dark ones were brightly colored, ranging from blue to purple. ”C’mon boys, let’s get out there!” E. Gadd exclaimed. “I can’t wait to see everything clearly!” Mario felt dizzy as he and his top-hatted friend fell down inside the time machine after coming to a big stop. As they regained consciousness and got situated with one another again, they leave to find an immediate fork in their road. ”Professor, Cappy, there’s a sign over here with arrows pointing to different locations! Maybe it can tell us where to go.” West: Castle of the Two Sisters North: Tree of Harmony East: Zecora’s Hut South: Ponyville ”Hold on a second.” E. Gadd paused. “That castle might’ve belonged to those regal sisters mentioned in the book!” ”Wait, it could be dangerous to just go straight in there!” Cappy freaked out. “I’m willing to bet that the evil sister is still in there!” ”Yeah, but we don’t know who it belongs to now after a thousand years.” Mario said. “Let’s try talking to this Zecora, wherever this hut of hers is.” ”How do you know where to go?” Cappy quizzed. “What if this Zecora is actually not friendly?” ”Well, we know what the drill is for baddies, but we need to start simple somewhere by getting some answers out of her. This sign will be our guide if one of us gets lost in this forest.” ”We’ll be right behind you, Mario.” Professor E. Gadd said. “Once you gather enough information, maybe we can explore this Tree of Harmony and this supposed town of Ponyville.” ”Stay close to me as possible. If anything moves, I’ll be sure to catch it with a fireball.” ”Try not to set the entire forest on fire!” Professor E. Gadd alarmed. ”Hold on.” Cappy laid off. “Do you hear that?” ”It’s a pony!” Mario almost screamed. “Let’s listen carefully.” A yellow pony with a pink mane and tail was seen walking with a bunch of raccoons and a big bear through the forest. The trio hid in some bushes, almost as if they’re spying on the animals. ”Right this way, little friends!” The yellow pony spoke softly. “Harry and I have almost found your new home...in this s-scary, o-ominous forest... Why do I keep on c-coming here?” ”Let’s-a-go help her out!” as Mario jumped out. ”Wait Mario!” Cappy interrupted. “The bear might-” ”RRAWRR!!!” The bear sharpened its claws as it attempted to rip Mario into pieces while the other two still remained unseen in the bushes. The raccoons also hid behind the yellow pony for safety. ”Easy, easy...” Mario gulped. ”Harry, stay back!” The pony commanded. “This is not the time to be rough! I think...” The bear frowned and faced the other way. ”Ma’am, there’s nothing to worry about.” Mario reassured. “I was just wondering if you were lost and thought you needed some help.” ”Oh, um...that would be nice, but is it rude if I asked you something? By the way, Harry, please show these raccoons their home and I’ll catch up with you later, okay?” ”No, go ahead and ask me anything!” Mario acknowledged. ”Are you new around here? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you before.” ”Yeah, you could say that. I actually come from another world called the Mushroom Kingdom and we ended up here because we’re on an important mission.” ”Oh?” The yellow pony noted. “What’s your mission?” ”The princess of the Mushroom Kingdom has been kidnapped by this shadow unicorn named King Sombra, and he’s even got my brother and this other king that I know.” Mario explained. ”Huh? Did you just say...King Sombra?” ”Yes, why?” Mario asked. “Do you know him?” ”Y-Yes, but how does he know you?” She shivered. ”I don’t know. The last thing I remember from him was that he wanted me to ‘obey him and go find him,’ so that he’ll release my friends.” ”You can’t trust him, not even for one bit! I-I can help you and my friends can too, but you can only tell this to certain ponies. Follow me.” ”Wait.” Mario said. “I forgot to tell you my name. It’s-a-me, Mario!” ”That’s a nice name, Mario. I’m...F-Flutter...shy.” ”Sorry, what was that?” Mario chuckled. ”I’m Fluttershy.” She’s whispered. ”It’s nice to meet you...Fluttershy.” The plumber winked. “I actually brought some more friends with me, if you like to meet them.” ”That would be nice!” Fluttershy squeaked. The professor and Cappy finally hopped out of the bushes and walked towards the two newly formed acquaintances. They even had to brush off some random twigs and rocks off themselves. ”Guys, I’d like you to meet Fluttershy! Fluttershy, these are my friends, Professor E. Gadd and Cappy!” ”Hi there!” Cappy waved. ”Hello friend!” E. Gadd greeted. ”Hehe, hello to the both of you!” Fluttershy giggled. “You know, I may be scared of ghosts, but I think you’re very cute, little guy!” ”Who, me?” Cappy blushed. “I’m just a ghost hat.” ”And I’m an inventor!” E. Gadd pointed out. ”More like mad scientist...” Mario whispered to himself. The four allies headed back down south and out of the forest into a beautiful looking town called Ponyville. Paper ponies began to wave at Fluttershy and even Mario’s team. One grey, cross-eyed pony came up to them and offered the group a basket of muffins, and they each took one for the road. ”Wow, I was wrong about this place!” Mario said. “I guess these people, or ponies rather, really are friendly!” ”Ponyville is really the friendliest place in all of Equestria!” Fluttershy exclaimed. “We love and tolerate like there’s no tomorrow!” ”Hmm, I wouldn’t say the same about Sombra, however. After all, he has my brother and princess...” ”I wonder what Bowser is planning to do right now.” Cappy mentioned. “He might be trying to break out of whatever prison Sombra put him in.” ”Well, we made it!” Fluttershy said. “This is where some of my best friends lives.” ”That is an ENORMOUS castle there!” E. Gadd panted. ”Your friends must be royalty, I assume?” Mario asked. ”Just one.” Fluttershy replied. “And she sort of acts like our leader. Allow me to knock on her door. Knock knock. ”Hey Fluttershy, I just noticed something about you.” Mario said. ”Oh?” ”What are you folding under your sides?” ”Oh, these happen to be my wings! I’m a Pegasus pony, by the way, but I’m not the best at flying. I usually do it in times when there’s a battle going on or if there’s something I can’t quite reach in my cottage. ”Good to know.” Mario said. “Ooh, the door’s opening!” As the door opened, a purple pony with an indigo mane & tail each having a pink stripe appeared. She looked completely different from Fluttershy, because not only did she look slightly taller, but she has both a unicorn’s horn and a Pegasus’ wings. ”Hey Fluttershy! I see you brought guests to the castle!” ”Umm, Twilight? They do seem friendly and all, but they have an important mission right now and they really need our help!” ”Okay, you may all come in.” The purple pony said. “Let’s discuss this in the map room.” ”Mm-hmm.” Everyone else huddled up. ”It’s always nice to make new friends! My name is Princess Twilight Sparkle, but everypony usually just calls me ‘Twilight.’ I’m sure Fluttershy has introduced herself already before you came here. I’m also the ‘Princess of Friendship’, if that’s a nice reference for you.” ”Twilight, this is Mario, and these are his friends, Professor E. Gadd and Cappy!” Fluttershy volunteered. ”Y-you’re also a princess??” The trio stuttered. “We must bow to you, Your Highness!” ”Hahaha!” Twilight giggled. “I’m very flattered by your manners, but you really don’t have to be so formal around me! To be honest, even though I am a princess, I always act casual with my best friends and everypony I pass by, unless there’s a royal meeting or whatever.” ”I’ll keep that in mind, Twilight.” as Mario stopped bowing. “Alright, I need to get to the point already, because I don’t know how much time we have left. I hope you can help us in our mission.” ”I’m all ears, Mario.” Twilight accepted. ”We came from a different world called the Mushroom Kingdom, which is where we live. My brother, the princess, and another kingdom’s king have all been kidnapped by this shadow unicorn named King Sombra.” ”WHAT???” as Twilight spit out some tea. “How is he still alive?” ”You know him too?” Cappy asked. ”Yes. He has been defeated twice before: once like a thousand years ago and another time a couple years back. I never thought he would keep coming back!” ”Is he that powerful?” Mario asked. “He’s just a unicorn with a broken horn.” ”Oh no, he’s much worse than that!” Twilight freaked out. “If hatred and fear are all that Equestria live off of, King Sombra will become unstoppable!” ”But why would he go to the Mushroom Kingdom to kidnap Princess Peach?” E. Gadd wondered. ”He said something about making Princess Peach his bride.” Mario replied. “It sounds like he’s not the only one who’ll be using dark magic. He also said something about me obeying him, which he still hasn’t clarified yet. We have to save her before she gets possessed by Sombra!” ”Yeah, but we still have to rescue Luigi and Bowser from...wherever he’s keeping them.” Cappy said. ”I don’t know how long exactly it’ll take us to find them, but I know exactly where Sombra sends his victims.” Twilight thought. ”Where?” Everyone else leaned in.” ”Tartarus.” ”You can’t be serious, Twilight!” Fluttershy cried. “What if Tirek is also planning something down there?” ”He’s too weak to even break out of his cell and Cerberus has a good eye on him, too.” ”Sounds like WE have some planning to do as well!” E. Gadd pointed to himself. ”So Mario, I understand your situation and we would be very glad to help you on your journey!” Twilight smiled. “But, do you trust us to join you?” ”How can I say no to friends like you? I trust you, Twilight!” ”Yay...” Fluttershy whispered. Mario exchanged a hand while Twilight exchanged a hoof and the two have formed a new bond. The rest of Mario’s team also exchanged hands with Fluttershy, too. ”It’s not going to be easy getting down there, Mario.” Twilight said. “I hope you came prepared.” ”Hmm, I don’t necessarily know magic, but I know how to throw fireballs and iceballs! Is that good enough?” ”I’m afraid not.” Twilight replied. “However, I can train you in the meantime to combine your powers with my magic spells!” ”You can do that?” Cappy wondered. ”Twilight’s magic is the most powerful I’ve ever seen.” Fluttershy added. “She’ll add an extra kick to your attacks!” ”Thanks Twilight!” Mario nodded. “I guess I’ll give you these flowers to hold onto for now.” ”I’m guessing these flowers have the powers you were talking about, right? Anyway, with enough training and effort, these flowers will become...Magic Flowers!” 03: Bros. Pony Attacks12:00PM Twilight’s Castle Wednesday ”Before we begin to train, Mario, may I ask how exactly you ended up in Equestria?” Twilight asked. ”You see, the professor’s time machine also acts as a portal, and we were lucky enough to end up here at the right time!” ”I’ve actually been researching this place for a while now!” E. Gadd exclaimed. “Whoever wrote that book I have must’ve done a lot of dimension hopping!” ”Well, if you trust me enough as a friend, then I hope you won’t mind your time machine being guarded by another friend you’re about to me.” Twilight said. “Honestly speaking, she takes great care of everything.” ”Y’all must be speaking about me, folks!” A cowgirl’s voice was heard from the dining room as she entered the throne room. She was an orange pony, wearing a brown stetson hat that cowgirls definitely wear, and her mane and tail looked like the same type of blonde hair as Princess Peach’s hair. ”Woah, who’s this fella with the mustache?” She whispered to Fluttershy. ”Applejack, we like you to meet our new friends, Mario, Cappy, and Professor E. Gadd!” Twilight introduced. The group waved back at the cowgirl pony. ”Howdy, partners. I’m Applejack, and I’ll be at your service whenever y’all need it! Now, what was your name again, sugarcube? Mario?” ”That’s-a-me! Nice to meet you too, Applejack. ”I really like your hat there!” Cappy added. ”Aww thanks, little buddy.” A.J. blushed. “I rarely say this to other stallions, but you’re...a bit cute, too.” ”D-Did s-she...also just call me...?” as Cappy fainted. ”Okay, with everything cute aside, let’s get to the important things, Applejack.” Twilight said. “King Sombra’s back.” ”What are ya talking about, Twilight? I thought the Crystal Heart completely blasted him out of existence! Spike knew this too, right?” ”Maybe his horn still had a piece of his shadow remaining?” Fluttershy wondered. ”That’s probably possible yet depressing.” Twilight replied. “I can’t believe we didn’t go searching for any of Sombra’s remains outside the Crystal Empire after he was supposedly killed, and it’s mostly because of how cold the Frozen North is.” ”That reminds me of something.” A.J. said. “Where’s Spike?” ”He’s probably telling more epic stories about himself to the sick foals at the hospital.” Twilight giggled. “That must be why he snuck out of bed and refused to go to Sugarcube Corner with me.” ”Who’s Spike, Twilight?” Mario attended to. ”He’s my best friend and number one assistant. We’ve been through so much together that even just the thought of leaving him will hurt me. I’ve always liked him and that’ll never change, even despite his goofy personality sometimes.” ”He’s also a baby dragon!” Fluttershy pointed out. ”Aren’t dragons supposed to be furious at people, regardless of age?” Cappy asked. ”Hehe, now where have we learned that from?” Mario thought. ”He may breathe fire like them other dragons, but he won’t do us any harm.” A.J. said. ”Now before we begin, would you like to join us in training Mario, Applejack?” Twilight asked. ”Woohoo! Well alright, count me in!” ”Great, and how about you, Fluttershy?” ”Umm, sure, but...as long as it’s not too rough.” ”I promise that nothing’s going to happen to you.” Twilight declared. ”Ditto, Fluttershy.” Mario added. ”Alright, follow me outside in the backyard, Mario.” Twilight instructed. “Before we show you our powers, you must first demonstrate to us what you know how to do in the Mushroom Kingdom.” Out in the backyard was nothing but an open field and way above the castle, there seemed to be a fancy city up in the mountains. A beautiful, sparkling waterfall is also next to the castle, acting as one of Ponyville’s main water supplies. Professor E. Gadd and Cappy stood back as they were watching Mario getting ready for his training, while Fluttershy and Applejack let Twilight go up first. ”Who built this castle, Twilight?” ”Technically, I earned it. Long story short, it was inside a chest that my friends and I opened using special keys. It’s not just my home, it’s ours, Mario. I decided that after we fought Tirek, whom you might’ve heard about from Fluttershy.” ”Alright. Everyone in the Mushroom Kingdom knows how high I can jump! Can one of you throw something up high so I can show you?” ”I’ve got it!” Twilight exclaimed. “Applejack, I want you to buck an apple straight up in the air as you can and see if Mario can catch it before I do. He’ll be jumping, I’ll be flying.” ”I hope you both brought your A-game today, because this’ll certainly be my highest apple buck in all of Equestria! But honestly, Rainbow Dash would smoke y’all if she was here.” ”You got this, Mario!” His team cheered. ”This’ll be my first time doing a race like this, though I’ve raced more than I can count. We’ll both count down from three, okay Twilight?” ”Oh, it’s on!” Twilight smirked. ”Remember to buck the apple on ‘Go,’ A.J.” Fluttershy mentioned. ”I got this!” ”Three... Two... One... GO!” Both Mario and Twilight counted. Applejack immediately used her hind legs to buck an apple straight up, even surpassing the height of the castle, and the two trainees were off. Mario held his left arm up open to catch it while Twilight flapped her wings and used two hooves to catch the apple. The two were pretty neck and neck, but however, none of them caught it. ”It’s coming back down, somebody better dive for that apple!” E. Gadd yelled. ”I’m way ahead of you!” as Mario took a nosedive. ”Not so fast, plumber!” as Twilight swooped down. ”This is too scary to watch!” as Fluttershy shielded her eyes. The two trainees were neck and neck yet again as they were practically skydiving for the apple. The ground was getting closer, so Twilight started to pick up flight speed and Mario resorted to throwing his hat to get the apple. But ultimately, the Princess of Friendship caught it in the end. ”Yes, yes, yes, I got it!!!” as Twilight descened. ”Well, I guess that’s a failure for me, huh?” Mario frowned for a bit. ”Are you crazy?” Twilight minded. “I’ve never seen somepony, or someone else rather, jump that high without the need to fly! Not even Pinkie Pie could hop that high! So, I would consider your first test to be a success in my book.” ”Wahoo!” as Mario jumped up and fist pumped. “I’ll admit too that you’re a pretty fast & amazing flyer, Twilight.” ”Thanks Mario. Alright, what else can you do?” ”I can throw fireballs & iceballs using those Flowers I just gave you. Do you have something I can burn or freeze, Twilight?” ”Actually, I would let you burn my least favorite Daring Do books, but Rainbow Dash wouldn’t talk to me for a week if you did that. What if we get to your new attacks already?” ”Sure, just give me a Fire Flower.” Mario said. As Twilight handed Mario the Fire Flower, he crushed it in his hands to transform. His overalls and cap turned from red and blue to red and white, much to the amazement of Mario and Twilight’s friends. ”I hope you’re ready for your first combo attack with me, Mario!” Twilight exclaimed. “This one is called ‘Fire Beam,’ and what it simply means is that I use my horn to shoot damage beams the same time you throw your fireballs. They will both fuse and create a deadly, incendiary beam that we can use against enemies.” ”That sounds like a really good idea, Twilight!” Mario commented. ”Thanks, but I literally just thought of the name right now.” She whispered. “Anyway, let’s try it! I’ll make some apples appear using magic so that we can test this attack.” ”You better not be stealing from Sweet Apple Acres, Twilight!” A.J raised an eyebrow. “Those apples were harvested out of hard labor!” ”I won’t. I know a spell that can spawn new apples in an instant.” ”Alright.” Mario said. “I’m ready when you are, Twilight.” ”Ready. Fluttershy, would you mind placing these apples on that tree stump over there?” ”Yes, of course!” She happily obliged. ”Professor, Cappy, stand back, because this might get a little heated.” Mario instructed. ”Will do!” They both replied. ”Applejack, on ‘Go,’ got it?” Twilight prompted. ”You bet I got this!” ”Three... Two... One... GO!” Mario and Twilight counted. Mario charged up a fireball while Twilight’s horn was getting ready to charge, too. With enough energy, they both launched their attacks on the apples, creating one blaze red beam, and they just completely burned the apples and tree stump, for additional damage. A trail of smoke was left with a scent of a few wood chunks still burning. ”Woah, that was intense!” Fluttershy gasped. ”Woah, I can’t believe that actually worked, Mario!” Twilight relieved herself. ”You know, this isn’t the first time I’ve combined my attacks with someone else! My brother Luigi and I do this all the time when fighting tough enemies. I just wish he was here right now...” ”Don’t worry, Mario.” Cappy reassured. “You’re becoming stronger as we speak and we’ll soon find Luigi and Bowser, thanks to you and these wonderful ponies!” ”Which reminds me...” Twilight wondered. “Cappy, what exactly kind of ghost are you?” ”A top-hatted one? Whenever I sit on top of Mario’s head, he can throw me onto anything and he’s able to possess that person, object, or even pony! He can even become his own hammer, but someone else has to catch him after he hits someone. ” ”Ooh, ooh, I know what to do!” Mario exclaimed. “Twilight, for this attack, I shall call it ‘Flying Hammer Chain.’ Basically, I am going to throw my hammer at an enemy one time, then I throw Cappy to my hammer so that I can possess it and hit the enemy in midair the second time, and finally, you fly in to catch my hammer so that you can swing at the enemy yourself. The faster you fly in and catch me, the harder your swing will hit!” ”Interesting.” Twilight agreed. “I just have to practice coming in and swinging the hammer at the right time, but I think I can do it.” ”Thanks Twilight. Cappy, get on my head. Professor, after the second time my hammer hits, that’s when Twilight has to fly in and grab me. Can you give her the signal?” ”Yes, my boy!” E. Gadd replied. “There’s another tree stump here that you can knock underground.” ”Okay, here goes nothing.” Mario said as he pulled out his hammer. ”Three... Two... One... GO!” The three trainees counted. In a quick sequence, Mario tossed his hammer at the tree stump, causing it to bounce up high into the air. He then threw Cappy, whose eyes were sticking through Mario’s white hat, onto the hammer and all that could be seen was his mustache and cap. Mario aimed himself at the tree stump and swung at it again, causing the hammer to bounce up again. ”Now, Twilight!” E. Gadd instructed. The princess flew in to grab Mario and while gritting her teeth, she furiously smacked the tree stump with the hammer one final time until it was stuck in the ground. Knowing it was a success, Cappy returned to Mario’s head out of his hammer and back into his real body. ”Whew, I actually thought that one might’ve been tough, but we somehow pulled it off, Twilight!” Mario exhilarated. ”That’s one of the things about friendship: it’s how you work together to accomplish something. These new attacks will definitely help us in stopping King Sombra!” ”I sure hope they do.” Mario assumed. “Thanks for training me so far today, Twilight! I also want to thank your friends for helping out, too!” ”Aww, don’t mention it, sugarcube!” A.J welcomed. ”Yes, it was nothing really...” Fluttershy paused. “Hold on, I think I heard something.” ”MMMARRIIOO!!!” A voice in the distance cried. ”Impossible...” E. Gadd’s jaws dropped. “It can’t be...” ”Is that who I think it is, Mario?” Cappy asked. ”L-Luigi?” 04: Cutie Map Meeting30 Minutes Earlier Tartarus Wednesday ”Ooh, my head... I can’t get up.” ”Luigi, this is not the time to give up! We need to get out of here and go find Mario!” ”Bowser, if you get out of here, you’ll just be going after Princess Peach again, won’t you?” ”Look, we’ll talk about that later.” He replied. “Maybe one day, I will learn to stop threatening you guys and kidnapping the princess. I’m just tired of being sucked into another world like this.” ”What are you trying to say?” Luigi asked. ”We need to work together to stop that unicorn, get Peach, and go back home, but we first have to break out of this prison and find Mario!” Bowser replied. ”Fine, but you have to promise to keep your word.” ”Done deal. How high up are we anyway, Luigi?” Floor 50 Cell Block G15 ”Hey you two, no talking!” A guard unicorn shouted. “I may have never seen you both before in my entire life, but the rules here are always the same for those who end up down here! Now, be quiet!” ”S-Sorry!” Luigi panicked. ”Haaahhh!” as Bowser breathed fire. “It’s no use. These iron bars are immune to fire, which means we can’t break out of these cells. Even if we do, the way to the top is heavily guarded, from the looks of it.” ”Wait a second.” Luigi whispered. “These guards haven’t confiscated my items! Check your pockets to see if we have anything to use to break out.” ”I’ve got a couple of Bob-ombs and hammers.” Bowser confirmed. “What can we throw these at, though?” ”Okay, I know this is going to sound crazy, but we need to set these other prisoners free. Maybe they can start a riot and take over the prison, and then we blend in with the crowd.” ”I like the sound of that, but even I’ll admit that something is bound to go wrong.” Bowser doubted. “I would think twice about pulling off a stunt like that.” ”Pssst! Hey, over here!” A pony whispered to the duo. ”What do you want?” Luigi asked. ”My name is Hunter. I’m a Changeling that can break you out of here. You have to trust me.” ”Why would we do that?” Bowser scratched his head. “We just happened to be in this stupid cell for no apparent reason, and we don’t even know you.” ”What the heck is a Changeling?” Luigi asked softly. ”A Changeling can shapeshift into anypony he sees...or in this case, I can copy your weird appearances.” Hunter replied. ”Okay, but how exactly will that help us?” Luigi interrogated. ”The guard on this floor doesn’t seem to have that big of a brain. He thinks he knows everything, but he’s actually new. I can trick him very easily by shapeshifting into another guard. Then, I can also break free by shapeshifting into one of you guys, which will fool the guard completely.” ”I mean, that would be really appreciated, but what exactly are you planning to do once you break out?” Bowser minded. ”I need to find this reformed Changeling named Thorax, because I believe that he’s willing to make me feel not so evil and he could be the only one who could save us from our old ruler, Queen Chrysalis.” ”Oh, I see.” Luigi hummed. “Maybe we’ll help you find this Thorax if you promise to bust us out, Hunter.” ”Don’t worry, I will. Okay, here goes nothing!” Within a flash, Hunter faced his cell wall and shapeshifted into a guard pony, complete with a uniform, glasses, and a hat. He had no weapons like the guards, but definitely looked the part. At last, he whistled at the dumb guard to draw his attention. ”Hey buddy, when did ya get the brightest idea of locking me up in here?” Hunter demanded. ”Oh no, I’m sorry!” The guard apologized. “I-I’m still a bit new to this job and everything!” ”You don’t want to deal with the Warden, do you? Unlock my cell and I won’t be so hard on you!” ”S-Sir yes sir!” as the guard grabbed his keys. “There, now please don’t punish me!” ”I won’t, but if this happens again next time, it’ll be you who’s ending up in the cell!” Hunter confronted. ”It won’t happen again, sir!” “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have my orders to release this green guy and turtle over here. Their jail sentence is finished...” ”...And that’s how we escaped from this so-called Tartarus!” Luigi explained. ”You...forgot...the part where we...had to CLIMB... SO. MANY. STAIRS!” Bowser coughed. ”I’m just glad to see you both alive and well again!” Mario cried. ”Ditto!” The ponies and the rest of Mario’s team. ”It’s too bad you had to miss out on Mario’s awesome training!” Cappy exclaimed. “He learned some really cool moves with Twilight over here!” ”Yeah, and y’all were lucky that I didn’t lose my mind.” A.J said. “If she used any of my hard earned apples from Sweet Apple Acres, I would’ve lost it the second I saw one of them!” ”Anyways, where is Hunter now, Luigi?” Twilight asked. ”I could’ve sworn I saw him going inside the castle.” ”GUYS, GET IN HERE QUICKLY!!! ”Follow me!” Twilight commanded. Hunter’s voice came inside from Twilight’s map room. When the group rushed to him, he was freaking out about the fact that dark clouds started to swirl up on the table and covered the entire thing. These were the same dark clouds Mario and Luigi saw back in the Mushroom Kingdom Cryystalllsss... ”Oh, you have got to be kidding me!” Mario shouted. ”King Sombra!” Twilight’s group called out. ”How are you still alive?” Twilight exacted. “Spike used the Crystal Heart to defeat you!” You haven’t completely destroyed me yet, Princess Twilight... Every time a piece of my horn remains, I still find a way to build back my power... This is only just the beginning of a new revolution... ”What have you done with Princess Peach?” Mario demanded. The clouds started to change images and the next thing Mario left him completely shocked. ”You possessed her???” ”Hello Mario! You may stand a chance against Bowser, but I don’t think you have what it takes to defeat me! You may also call me ‘Shadow Peach,’ by the way! I will completely turn you and Luigi into nothing but pieces of obliterated ashes!” ”N-no...” If you don’t obey me, Mario, then you will never see your beloved princess ever again returning to her normal self! What you have to do is very simple... ”Not a chance, Sombra!” Fluttershy intervened. “Twilight and Spike will show us the way to defeat ya once again!” Oh really? Well luckily for the Princess of Friendship, she also has a nice reward waiting for her if she does my bidding, too! ”What are you trying to play at?” Twilight minded. The dark clouds changed images and this sight left Twilight even more shocked than Mario. ”M-Mom, D-Dad???” ”Twilight, honey, come save us from this evil abomination!” Twilight Velvet cried. ”We know you can do it, Twilight!” Night Light pleaded. “We love you so much!” ”I-I love you guys, too! Don’t worry, my friends and I will be there to rescue you!” Try and come at me, Princess! However, if you fail to do my tasks, your parents will die when I leave them out to freeze in the Frozen North... ”WHAT DO YOU WANT???” Mario and Twilight yelled. Bring me these following items: the Elements of Harmony, the Sun Journal, the Memory Stone, the Ring of Destiny, and the Pillars of Old Equestria... I will give you updates on my location every time you acquire one of these items... King Sombra out... The dark clouds started to dissipate and the cutie map returned to normal, showing all the places in Equestria to be fully lit. However, both team leaders started to shed a tear after witnessing what just happened. ”A-Are you two okay?” as Cappy approached Mario. ”I wasn’t expecting that at all!” Hunter exclaimed. “I just wanted to find this map and make my way to Thorax! I’m really sorry, Your Highness...” ”It’s not your fault, Hunter.” Twilight said. “At least I know you’re not on Queen Chrysalis’ side anymore. I’m fine, you guys.” ”Me too.” Mario added. “Thank you for saving Luigi & Bowser, Hunter.” ”You’re welcome. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to find my new brothers and try to avoid the cops looking for me. Good luck on your journey, my friends!” ”Bye Hunter!” Everyone else waved off as he left the castle. ”So what’s the plan, you guys?” E. Gadd asked. “We need to come up with something fast!” ”Maybe, these other items are possible to give up, but we are NOT going to give up the Elements of Harmony!” Twilight exclaimed. “Without them, Equestria would be done for!” ”Aren’t we also going to talk about them Old Pillars?” A.J asked. “They’re ponies, not items!” ”What if Sombra was just talking about their artifacts?” Fluttershy wondered. ”Star Swirl the Bearded’s book, Mage Meadowbrook’s mask, Flash Magnus’ shield, Mistmane’s flower, Rockhoof’s shovel, and Somnambula’s blindfold...” Twilight reminisced. ”Did you catch any of that?” Luigi whispered to Bowser. ”Nope.” ”We need to get Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Spike here right now!” A.J proposed. “Strength in numbers, y’all!” ”Let’s split up, shall we?” Twilight asked. “Mario and I will get Spike at the hospital. Fluttershy, you alone will get Rainbow Dash up in her cloud house. Applejack, you and Cappy will go to Carousel Boutique to find Rarity. Luigi, Bowser, and Professor E. Gadd will then get Pinkie Pie at Sugarcube Corner. Everyone got that?” ”In case y’all get lost, this map right here will help y’all out.” A.J pointed out. “It’s got the names of everywhere we visited in Equestria.” ”Let’s-a-go!” as Mario jumped determinedly. While everyone else was leaving in their respective teams to find Twilight’s other friends, Mario stopped the Princess of Friendship herself in her tracks. ”Twilight, I just want you to know that it’s going to be an honor working together with you. Thanks for doing for this for me.” ”And I want to thank you, Mario, for accepting my offer to work with me. We may be from different worlds, but I think I’m already looking at a new best friend.” ”Same here.” Mario added. “Also, I’ve been meaning to ask you this ever since I got here, Twilight. What exactly are the Elements of Harmony?” ”Great question. I actually have a book about it right here, if you want to know their origins. Go ahead and open it up, Mario.” ”Thanks.” The origins of the elements are unknown, but their first recorded appearance was in the hooves of the sisters, Princesses Celestia and Lunq, who used the power of the elements to seal the despot Discord in stone. Ironically the next time the element’s power was needed was in a battle between Celestia and Luna, now transformed into the genocidal Nightmare Moon. Celestia was unable to redeem her sister and was forced to use their power to seal Nightmare Moon within the celestial object she was named after, this apparently the last time she used their powers. To better describe them: The Elements are a place filled with colors, The gentle cream yellow color filled with kindness. The pink that adores laughter and happiness. The courageous cyan of loyalty. The orange that is dependable and described as honesty. The white of beauty and generosity. To top it off, there's the lavender filled with knowledge and magic. Most ponies have speculated that it was Star Swirl the Bearded himself who made the Elements of Harmony, but no answers were found. He still had a lot to learn about friendship, as he continued his studies with the rest of the Old Pillars of Equestria. Wherever they went, ponies always try to follow them on their paths to glory and honor, but Equestria still awaits its new heroes. 05: Zecora12:15PM East Ponyville Wednesday Knock knock. ”Are you sure this is the right place, Luigi?” Professor E. Gadd asked. ”Uhh, I think so... Maybe? With a name like ‘Sugarcube Corner,’ I didn’t expect the place to be made ENTIRELY out of sweets!” ”Just ring the bell and see what happens.” Bowser said. “Also, is it just me or is that unicorn over there staring at our hands?” ”Y-Yeah, let’s hurry this up.” Luigi gulped. The door opened and a head stretched out of it about the same size as a giraffe’s neck. This pony was pink all over, mane and everything, except for three different colored balloons that seem to be painted on her flank. Her mane and tail were incredibly poofy, too. ”Welcome to Sugarcube Corner! Would you like to be the first ones to try out our lemon frosted cupcakes? Trust me, they’re super delicious!!!” ”Uhh thanks, but we’ll pass for now.” Luigi replied. ”I’d like to try one out!” E. Gadd stepped up. ”You gotta be kidding me.” Bowser facepalmed. ”Ooh, here you go, oldie!” The pink pony exclaimed. “Seniors get new sweets for free the first time they try them!” ”Well, that’s nice, but that’s not what we came here for, unfortunately.” Bowser said. “Are you Pinkie Pie?” ”Ding ding ding, that’s me! You sir also get a free cupcake, and this one will be stuffed into your mouth by yours truly!” ”Not bad!” Bowser mumbled. ”Now, what was it that you came here for?” Pinkie Pie asked. “You three seem lost, which isn’t good. Have a free one too, Mr. Green Guy!” ”Oof, my throat!” as Luigi got stuffed with a cupcake. “Mm-mmm... You see, we’re actually not from Equestria. We come from a world called the Mushroom Kingdom, which has been attacked by a unicorn named King Sombra.” ”And we have to go find him and get some payback!” Bowser groaned. ”Hahaha, that’s silly talk!” Pinkie chuckled. “Everypony in Equestria knows that Spike the Brave & Glorious defeated him for good. You can’t possibly be serious!” ”No, we are definitely serious!” as Professor E. Gadd finished his cupcake. “Not only has King Sombra kidnapped the princess of the Mushroom Kingdom, but he’s also kidnapped the parents of your friend, Twilight Sparkle!” ”What??? Now this is definitely looney talk! Alright, I’m coming with you! You can have some more cupcakes after we kick Sombra’s butt!” ”Thanks Pinkie.” Luigi said. “My brother, Mario, and Twilight already went to the hospital to go get Spike, by the way.” ”Ooh, then I can’t wait to meet him!” Pinkie exclaimed. “Who is he exactly? Is he a super famous hero or something?” ”Oh, he’s super famous, alright!” E. Gadd responded. “He has saved the princess of the Mushroom Kingdom countless times!” ”He’s also super famous for kicking my butt...” Bowser whispered. ”Ooh, is that him with the red overalls right there?” Pinkie pointed out. Mario, Twilight, and a small baby dragon who appeared to be Spike, were walking towards the castle and found Luigi’s group by Sugarcube Corner. The dragon appeared to be almost drowsy after reading his stories to the sick foals in the hospital, which is why Twilight had to saddle him up on top of her. ”Hey there, you guys!” Mario called out. ”Mario!” Luigi’s group hailed. ”Looks like Spike was busy being epic again, huh?” Pinkie asked. ”Too epic, if you ask me.” as Twilight rolled her eyes hysterically. “Pinkie, you always know how to wake Spike up. Would you mind doing that for me?Thanks!” ”I’ll get my party cannon!” as Pinkie hopped back inside the bakery. ”Meet us back at the castle, okay?” Mario asked. ”C’mon, we haven’t got time to waste!” Bowser announced. “Also Professor, wipe that frosting off your mouth! I can smell it!” ”Oh come on, even you ate a cupcake and you thought it was good! You got frosting on your mouth, too!” ”Ooh... You got me there, old man.” The almost full party headed back to Twilight’s castle and the afternoon sun started to dim a little bit, but it was still bright. All the other ponies were either seen having a picnic or eating at a restaurant. It made me Mario think about how to approach one of them in a more subtle way. ”It sounds like Cappy is having a blast in there, doesn’t it?” E. Gadd wondered. ”I hear Rarity, too.” Twilight mentioned. “Mario, I hope you’re ready to meet the rest of my best friends!” ”Always! Let’s-a-go!” Upon returning to the map room, Applejack and Cappy were seen talking to a marshmallow white unicorn, with a purple mane and tail that have quite a complex pattern to them. She also seemed to have an accent that wouldn’t be easy to find around. Her flank has three blue diamonds painted on it. ”Darling, you are quite the charming one, are you?” as the unicorn winked at Cappy. ”Rarity, this boy clearly likes the country style!” A.J claimed. “Right, sugarcube?” ”Applejack, he’s clearly a top hat, and that means he’s automatically more suited for high society.” Rarity giggled. ”This is too much for me...” as Cappy blushed harder than before. “Ahh Mario, you’re back!” ”Yup!” Mario replied. ”Rarity, I’d like you to meet our new friends, Mario, Luigi, Bowser, and Professor E. Gadd!” Twilight greeted. ”Ah yes, of course! Cappy has told me all about you and your brother’s fabulous adventures in the Mushroom Kingdom. Isn’t that right, sweetie?” ”Y-Yes I have! I actually just met Mario not too long ago and yet, we went through a lot as well.” ”He’s got moves, Rarity.” A.J said. “Our training montage was a success, mostly because Mario didn’t make a mistake and he didn’t burn some of my hard grown apples.” ”Yes, and he definitely seems ready to take on King Sombra.” Twilight added. “We still got more to teach him, though.” ”Hey, has anyone seen Fluttershy?” Luigi asked. ”Out of my way, coming through!” as a pony rushed in dragging Fluttershy. This blue pony actually has the colors of the rainbow on both her mane and tail. The way that she dashed into the map room was so fast that the entire team missed her while blinking. ”You didn’t really have to do that, Rainbow Dash.” Fluttershy whispered. ”Sorry, but I just can’t wait any longer! When we see King Sombra, we are going to put him in his place for good...in the awesome way!” ”Is this a bad time?” Mario gulped. ”No, not at all!” Rainbow Dash sweated. “Mario, is it? It’s so awesome to meet you!” ”It’s awesome meeting you too, Rainbow Dash!” as Mario fist bumped her. “I’d like you to meet Luigi, Cappy, Bowser, and Professor E. Gadd.” ”Woah, I can’t believe I’m meeting another world’s people! If only Daring Do were here to meet you all!” ”Daring who?” Bowser scratched his head. ”Anyway, Pinkie should be here any minute.” Twilight said. “Spike, wake up already!” ”Zzzzz... Donuts... Nachos... Rarity...” ”Does he sleep like this all the time?” Luigi asked. ”He usually mumbles in his sleep at night.” Twilight replied. “It’s a good that I have a spell that mutes my hearing, just for that. It’s nothing against Spike, though.” ”PARRTTAYY!” Pinkie yelled as she fired off her party cannon. ”Huh, what? W-Woah! Oww!” ”Spike, you’re finally awake!” Twilight cheered. ”Aww, but I was having the best dream ever!” ”Dude, you’ve had that dream for like two years now.” Rainbow minded. “You need to let it go.” ”Hey, who are these guys with the mustaches?” ”Hi Spike! I’m Mario, and this is my brother, Luigi! This is Cappy, Bowser, and Professor E. Gadd!” ”Hey, how it’s going guys? Woah, are you a dragon like me, big guy?” ”No, I’m a fire-breathing turtle king, to be exact.” Bowser resented. ”Ehh, same thing, but whatever.” Spike said. “What’s the scoop here, Twilight?” ”Remember King Sombra? He somehow came back and now, he’s kidnapped the princess of Mario’s homeworld, the Mushroom Kingdom, and he’s got my parents too!” ”B-But, I thought I stopped him, didn’t I?” Spike stuttered. “The Crystal Heart should’ve blasted him away forever!” ”That’s what we all thought, Spikey-Wikey, but unfortunately, Mario and Twilight are in a bad position right now.” Rarity sighed. ”Well, can’t we just borrow the Crystal Heart again to stop King Sombra?” Spike asked. ”I’m afraid not, Spike.” Fluttershy frowned. “I don’t think the Crystal Empire would survive the freezing weather if something were to happen to the Crystal Heart.” ”I don’t know if Shining Armor, Princess Cadence, Flurry Heart, or Sunburst would be okay either if the Heart were to be taken out of its pedestal.” Twilight insisted. “But, I’ll try asking them anyway. Spike, would you mind writing a letter?” ”I’m ready when you are, Twilight!” as Spike breathed out a burning scroll of paper. Dear Princess Cadence, Hi Cadence, this is your sister-in-law, Twilight! How’s my brother and Flurry Heart doing? Listen, I’m really sorry to disturb both of your duties, but my friends and I need your help right now. I just met a new friend named Mario, who just ran into King Sombra and needs our help trying to stop him. He’s kidnapped the princess of his homeworld and my parents. If possible, may we borrow the Crystal Heart to defeat him again? Can you also please try and talk to Sunburst about this? Thank you so much and I hope you guys stay safe! I really appreciate it! Yours truly, Princess Twilight Sparkle ”Hoooo...” as Spike blew the letter away. ”Alright, now that we’re all here, what do we do first?” Rainbow Dash asked. ”If we attack Sombra directly, he might kill my parents and possibly Princess Peach.” Twilight thought. “I think it’s best to deliver the items to him first and then we attack him. We already know where the Elements of Harmony are located. The Tree of Harmony can survive on its own once we wear the Elements around our necks, as long as they don’t get corrupted or anything.” ”I guess we might as well start off with those.” Mario said. “We better get going.” ”Actually, the rest of you guys can start heading to the Tree of Harmony already.” Twilight said. “I need to do something first with Mario to prepare him even more for this fight.” ”What is it, darling?” Rarity asked. ”I’m taking him to see Zecora real quick to see if she can brew up any necessary items for Mario.” ”Actually, Zecora’s hut was where I originally planned to go when we first got to Equestria, but I ran into Fluttershy and her animals first. ”Okay then, would you like me to bring you back there?” Twilight offered. ”Yes, thank you Twilight!” ”No problem, Mario. The rest of you take care, alright?” ”Mm-hmm!” Everyone else nodded. ”Okay, let’s go Twilight!” Mario exclaimed. “Bye guys, we won’t be long!” ”Bye Mario! Bye Twilight!” 1:00PM Everfree Forest Wednesday “Well, at least no one else touched Professor E. Gadd’s time machine.” Mario said. “Yeah, you definitely need that to get back to the Mushroom Kingdom.” Twilight conversed. “How do you like Ponyville so far, Mario?” ”I really like the town and while I’m not a pony, it would be cool to hang around here.” ”It doesn’t matter what species you are to us. Ponies here will accept you, no matter how similar or different you are from them. That’s how friendship is from time to time.” ”Yeah, you’re right, Twilight.” Mario reassured. “I’ll admit that I’ve also met companions along the way that looked shady at first, but I’ve grown to enjoy their company more often.” ”That’s really nice!” Twilight exclaimed. “It looks like we made it to Zecora’s hut!” ”I’ll go ahead and knock.” Mario said. In the Everfree Forest, Mario and Twilight crossed into a swamp with a tree hut in the center that had tinted windows and lanterns hanging outside. The light inside was definitely on too, meaning that Zecora was inside. Knock knock. Crreeekk. ”Ahh, it seems we have a red plumber, and one that looks like he’s ready for his slumber.” Zecora answered.. ”Am I really sleepy?” Mario scratched his head. “Hi, you must be Zecora! My name is Mario, and it’s nice to meet you!” ”Yes it is I, Zecora. Do not be fooled by my radiating aura. There is no need to consider me a witch, or as somepony evil to ditch.” ”Does she always rhyme while speaking?” Mario whispered to Twilight. ”Yes, just go with it. Hi Zecora!” ”Why if it isn’t the Princess of Friendship! What can I do for you and your friend’s current trip?” ”We need to stop King Sombra once and for all. Is there anything that you can brew for Mario that’ll make him grow stronger to stop him?” ”That would be really appreciated!” Mario exclaimed. ”Ahh yes, follow me inside, for I will show you items that can turn the tide.” Zecora chanted. ”Thank you, Zecora!” as Mario and Twilight closed the door behind them. ”I actually have Fire & Ice Flowers that can make me shoot Fireballs & Iceballs at my enemies.” Mario mentioned. “I don’t know if you can do something with them, though.” ”Try putting a Fire Flower inside my cauldron, and I’ll see if I can make other ingredients flow freely within. Mario, feel free to take a look around, and find whatever you think should be cauldron-bound.” Mario stared all around the room in amazement by so many ingredients that he can possibly put to use against enemies. He just couldn’t decide that his jaws started dropping, eventually making Twilight snap him out of it. ”There is no wrong decision, but you must choose the right ingredient with powerful precision.” Zecora said. ”Which one do you want, Mario?” Twilight asked. ”I choose...this lightning bolt in a jar!” ”Be careful with this electricity, for it could be dangerous in diversity. After curing Spitfire, leader of the Wonderbolts, she gifted me with something that has a lot of jolts. I see that you’ve made your choice precisely, and now we will see if this Fire Flower and lightning bolt will fuse nicely. The Lightning Flower shall have strong power!” ”This is going to be so much fun to use!” as Mario gritted his teeth excitingly. “Do you mind if I put my other Fire Flowers in for spare Lightning Flowers?” ”Put in as many as you want, but the time to brew these flowers will be quite the haunt.” Zecora stated. “If there’s no sorrow, I hope that these will be done by tomorrow.” ”That’s fine, Zecora.” Twilight said. “Thank you so much for helping us out, by the way!” ”Don’t mention it. I don’t want your situation to be costly at any bit. You may return home if you wish, for I’ve got more to make than a simple dish. Bye for now friends, and I will see you at your journey’s end...” 06: Luigi Time2 Hours Ago Unknown Location Wednesday ”...Huh? Where am I?” Shh... It’s okay, Your Highness... Nothing will hurt you, I promise... Peach scrambled to her feet, but the door slammed shut in her face before she had time to escape. With balled fists within her tattered gloved hands, she banged against the door, demanding to be released. But she found herself wasting a lot of precious energy. She bowed her head against the door, quivering in despair. I am terribly sorry, but I can’t just let you free... You will be MINE!!! ”Mario, please save me...” Peach sobbed. “What do you want with me?” You see... I must regain my full power and energy in order to take over Equestria, but upon reminiscing my foes, I learned that I can’t do that alone... So, I thought of sharing this power with another being from another world, that already has power over an entire kingdom! ”At least I don’t abuse my power like you!” Peach screamed. “When Mario gets here, he will make you sorry!” I would like to see him try! He’s too weak to fight me, even if he has beaten that lousy excuse for a king that’s been ransacking your own kingdom several times! This time, Mario will bow down to me... It’s time I sent him on a little scavenger hunt... ”Hey, who are these two ponies over here?” Peach asked. ”Somepony help us!” They cried. Oh, they’re just more leverage for me... In case you don’t know, those two happen to be the parents of the Princess of Friendship, who led her companions to my demise a few years ago... She will also have to do my bidding. ”Y-You can’t do that!” Peach exclaimed. “You’re putting innocent lives at great risk! Let them go!” That is not for you to decide, young one... Once I’m able to take full physical form again, I’ll be unstoppable... Isn’t that right, my...Shadow Bride? ”S-Shadow Bride? I will never be married to... W-What’s happening...to me I...can’t...breathe...” Shh... There’s no need to panic or run... You are under the possession of my spell, and will now be known as Shadow Queen Peach... Would you be so kind enough to take the hostages downstairs? ”Yes, my beloved Shadow Groom...” Hahahahahaha... ”I think I need to catch my breath.” Bowser coughed. “Those stairs almost killed me!” ”I’m perfectly fine!” Luigi brushed off. ”Duh, you and Mario were born to jump, hop, or leap off of things...like stairs!” Cappy exclaimed. ”Speaking of Mario, what do you think he’s doing with Twilight at Zecora’s hut?” Rarity asked. ”Probably making something that can make him move at awesome speed!” Rainbow Dash fangirled. ”We’ll see about that.” A.J conjectured. “We’re here, ain’t we?” ”The Tree of Harmony...” Fluttershy cited blissfully. ”It’s been a long time since we’ve used the Elements, hasn’t it?” Rarity brought up. ”And now we get to use them against Sombra!” as Rainbow hoof bumped the air. ”I think ya mean deliver them to him first, and then ruffle him up afterwards.” A.J corrected. ”Anything could be up his sleeve after we deliver all these items.” E. Gadd imagined. “Let’s be cautious here, lads.” The group just discovered the Tree of Harmony in a big cave, which seemed to be glowing bright as day. The Elements of Harmony looked like as if they were actual tree branches, but with jewels hanging inside of them instead of leaves. There were six in total, and the one in the middle resembled a sparkle in the night sky, with the inclusion of an embedded sun and moon. ”These look so beautiful!” Luigi pointed out. “You girls come here often?” ”Yeah.” Rainbow replied. “We actually have been representing the Elements of Harmony ever since Twilight first met us. That red lightning bolt over there is my Element, which is Loyalty.” ”I treat everypony with Kindness, which is the pink butterfly there.” Fluttershy said. ”I always swear to tell the truth with Honesty, which is that orange apple there.” A.J vowed. ”This purple diamond here represents my fabulous and giving Generosity.” Rarity concluded. ”I love to make everypony smile and be happy with Laughter, which is the blue balloon!” Pinkie giggled. ”And I am the spark in the middle that unites and brings my friends & the other Elements together, which is Magic.” Twilight entered. ”Twilight, Mario, there you are darlings!” Rarity screeched a bit. “How was the detour?” ”With Zecora’s help, she was able to brew my Fire Flowers into something special, but they won’t be ready until tomorrow.” Mario explained. “That’s a nice tree, by the way.” ”Equestria really depends on these six friends of mine, believe it or not.” Spike mentioned. ”Don’t forget the other princesses, Spike!” Twilight giggled. ”Oops, sorry.” ”So just like here, the Mushroom Kingdom depends on Mario and Luigi to save itself from me.” Bowser assumed. ”Yup.” as Mario patted Bowser’s shoulder. ”Well, we can cross off the Elements of Harmony on the list.” Twilight said. “Let’s just carefully remove these and...” ”Not so fast!” A voice popped out from behind. Smoke bombs went off behind the group and in the midst of them all was a blue unicorn wearing a magician’s outfit. She was smiling sinisterly and her eyes were colored black and red, while being surrounded by a dark aura around her. ”The Dark and Powerful Trrrixie shall put on a magic show for you all to enjoy!” ”Something doesn’t seem right about her.” Mario whispered. ”King Sombra must’ve possessed Trixie in order to go fight us.” Twilight said. “You better free her right now, Sombra!” ”Indeed he has, and I’m more great and powerful than you could ever possibly imagine!” Trixie laughed. “Haaahh!!!” The possessed unicorn shot a beam of dark magic from her horn into the cave and giant rocks started to block some of the group inside. They all shouted and tried to break out, but struggled desperately & heavily. Luigi, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity were the only ones left to face Trixie. ”Guys, you have to get us out of here!” Mario screamed. “Take care of that magician first!” ”Luigi, work together with Rainbow Dash and Rarity!” Twilight called out. “You three can do this! Save Trixie as well before she gets completely consumed by the darkness!” ”I-I got this!” as Luigi’s legs started to tremble. ”Keep your guard up, Luigi!” Rainbow Dash encouraged. “We got your back!” ”Yes indeed!” Rarity assured. “It’s time we mess up this ruffian shadow inside of Trixie! ”Enough talk, only duel! Take this!” Trixie shot another beam, aiming for Luigi, but he sidestepped out of the way just in time. He was still trembling, however, as he didn’t have Mario by his side this time. ”Wh-What do I do?” ”Show us your moves first, and we’ll shortly step in to help you improve on them!” Rainbow called out. ”Uhh... Eat a fireball, witch!” ”Gah, that burns! No matter, it will take a lot more than that to stop me! Deploying smoke bombs!” Crack. ”Where did she go?” Luigi asked. ”Don’t know, but you two need to get inside my shield before she attacks us out of the wild!” Rarity cried. Luigi and Rainbow Dash quickly hopped into a crystal clear diamond dome made from Rarity’s magic, which temporarily shielded them. The smoke was still in the atmosphere with no sign of another attack from Trixie, until she teleported and tried to attack the dome from above using powerful kicks. ”Your manners are as bad as ever!!” Trixie groaned. ”It’s time I put you three out of your misery!” ”Grr, there’s too many rocks to buck out of here!” as A.J tried to get out of the cave. ”The Elements won’t react to us struggling unless all of us are inside the cave!” Twilight exclaimed. ”Just keep fighting, Green Stache!” Bowser chanted. ”Aahh, my shield’s about to break!” Rarity cried. “She’s rapidly shooting energy beams at us, I can’t hold on much longer!” ”Luigi, I’m going to fly super fast all around Trixie to distract her!” Rainbow insisted. “Attack her when she’s not looking at you!” ”Got it!” ”Rarity, let me out.” Rainbow said. “Luigi will cover you, too.” ”Okay, but just for extra measures Luigi, I will shoot at Trixie as well to distract her!” Rainbow Dash immediately flew out of the dome shield and started to fly around like crazy to get Trixie’s attention. She kept missing her shots, which made her angry, and she kept getting hit by Rarity’s magic shots, which made the possessed unicorn weaker and weaker. ”Here we gooooo!!!” as Luigi shot himself into Trixie like a missile. “It’s Hammer Time!” The green plumber dealt a double attack on Trixie, which even caused her to fall flat on her back. The three fighters were grinning with confidence as they felt that they got this in the bag. ”Way to go, Luigi!” His other two allies cheered. ”You three have crossed the line this time! I will show you what real power is! You will bow down to the king!” ”Uh-oh, get down, now!!!” Luigi commanded. Trixie charged up and fire at giant beam at the trio, but they evaded it and the blast instead removed all the rocks blocking the way to the Tree of Harmony. ”Noooo!!! All of you, stay back!” ”We’re free!” Mario shouted. “C’mon bro, you can finish this once and for all!” ”She’s exhausted!” Twilight exhausted. “Luigi, now would be a good time to do some combo attacks with Rainbow Dash and Rarity!” ”I’ll go first!” Rarity volunteered. “Luigi, hold out your hammer, darling! I will attach magical diamonds to it and you can use it as a ‘Spiked Hammer!’ Just run straight at Trixie with it to give her the ultimate pain!” ”Hey, I heard that!” Spike yelled. ”Okay, let’s-a-go Rarity!” Luigi exclaimed. ”N-no... I can’t let this happen... I...” Luigi got his hammer ready into swinging position as Rarity’s horn generated clear blue diamonds around it, essentially making it glow like a real diamond. Then, Luigi took aim at Trixie and started to run straight at her. ”Hiiiyyyaahhh!!!” Luigi gritted his teeth. ”Aaack!” as Trixie started choking. ”Not like this...” ”One last move should finish her, Luigi!” Rainbow called out. “Hop onto me, we’re going up to the sky!” ”I think I know where this is going...” Twilight smirked. ”Please be careful up there, Luigi.” Fluttershy spoke softly. Rainbow Dash started to fly way up to the sky, surpassing the height of Twilight’s castle and even the highest mountain peak, as if she was going to space. She was also holding Luigi upright by his legs in preparation for his next combo attack. ”The view up here is so beautiful...” Luigi dozed off. ”It’s going to be even more beautiful on the way down!” Rainbow chuckled. “I’m going to try and fly super fast back down while holding you like this so you can do your missile attack again, Luigi. We’re actually going to break the sound barrier at the speed that I’ll be flying, making this attack a ‘Sonic Raindoom!’” ”Is it painful for us, Rainbow Dash?” Luigi gulped. ”You might want to ask that about Sombra’s possessed friend, Trixie... Hold on tight!” The airborne pony and plumber went for a quick nosedive and they slowly started to pick up speed and more speed in a jiffy. Luigi had his eyes closed and focused on landing his last attack. Meanwhile, the group down below kept an eye on the possessed Trixie to make sure she doesn’t get back up. ”Has anybody seen my popcorn?” as Spike looked around in a goofy fashion. ”Do you actually know Trixie, Twilight?” Mario asked. ”Yes, we used to be rivals in magic for quite some time now, but I’ve grown to like her more and more as a friend. I sure hope she doesn’t sustain any major injuries after this...attack. We need to check out on her and see if Sombra will leave her body. Zecora may be able to heal her, too.” ”Who’s ready to see some fireworks, y’all?” as A.J gazed into the sky. ”Heeeerreee weeee goooo!!!!!!!” as Luigi and Rainbow Dash came crashing down. ”Aaaahhhhh!!!” Trixie’s voice started to change in pitch and intensity after she got hit one last time. ”That...has just made me sick inside.” Rarity was left speechless. ”Hey guys, something’s happening to Trixie!” Bowser pointed out. I won’t forget this, ponies... A small shadow spirit that resembled a pony had Sombra’s voice and dissipated as it left Trixie’s body. She was left lying down inside a big crater with a rainbow streak of colors around it. A sparkle in the sky meant that Luigi and Rainbow Dash were still up there flying. ”Nnnrgh...” Trixie mumbled as she coughed up dust. “Where...am I?” ”Trixie, you’re still alive!” Twilight exclaimed. “Are you still okay?” ”Gah, I think so... I somehow felt only half of that entire pain and I didn’t have full control over my body. I guess I tried to push this demon out of me and he ended up taking the hits in my body. What happened, Twilight?” ”You’ve been possessed by King Sombra and tried to kill us. Thankfully, Rainbow Dash couldn’t have beaten the darkness inside of you without the help of new friends.” ”Oh, is that...so?” Trixie suffocated a bit. “I do recall their names after I was attacked and possessed by that demon. Were they Mario & Luigi?” ”Yeah, I’m Mario, and Luigi’s my younger brother. I hope you can recover from this by the way, Trixie.” ”Yeah, same here. Look, I know we just met and all, but I want to thank you so much for saving me.” ”No problem.” as Mario tipped off his hat. ”I just happened to have come back from doing a magic show in Starlight’s old village and this was the first thing to have happened to me.” Trixie explained. ”Starlight?” Rarity asked. “She didn’t go with you?” ”No, she decided to spend the rest of the day in the village, but she told that she’d be back in Ponyville by tomorrow.” Trixie replied. ”I see.” Fluttershy said. “Do you want us to check you in at the hospital?” ”Bowser, can you gently carry Trixie in your arms?” Mario pardoned. ”I’ll try my best not to poke at any of her injuries.” He replied. “Let me through, please.” ”Oof, easy, easy!” Trixie ticked off. ”S-Sorry, but I said I’ll try my best to be gentle with you!” Bowser reconciled. “Let’s take this nice and slow, shall we?” ”You guys go on ahead.” E. Gadd said. “I’m going to see if I can build a warp pipe back to the Mushroom Kingdom.” ”Okay!” Twilight smiled. “Mario, wait here until Luigi and Rainbow Dash come back down. My friends and I need to collect the Elements of Harmony from the Tree of Harmony. Cappy, you and Bowser take Trixie to the hospital, okay?” ”Are you kidding me? I’m not going with him, he’s still evil!!” ”Oh relax, I’m not going to hurt you!” Bowser reassured. “Besides, you’re not even strong enough to carry this pony around. ”Cappy, it’s okay.” Mario said. “Bowser will actually protect you if something goes wrong. Can you please go with him?” ”Fine. I guess I’ll see you at the castle later, Mario! Take care!” ”Bye Cappy! Bye Bowser!” The rest of the group waved off. 1:15PM Unknown Location Wednesday “So, it seems that the Great & Powerful Trixie was neither of those things, huh?” as Shadow Peach rolled her eyes. True, my love, but my failed attempt to fully control that magician is only just a minor setback... ”You do realize that these six ponies have the Elements of Harmony, right? If you are unable to stop them along with those pesky plumbers, then it’s my turn to step up the plate.” Your time to shine will come, Queen Peach... For now, we shall wait and see them when they have all the necessary items needed for complete domination... I will, however, turn the heroes’ scavenger hunt into a death race... ”Alright, my beloved shadow husband... I’m going down the list here and I see that our next target is somepony quite young. Her magic seems to be quite unstable as well.” Yesss indeed... She is also the only natural-born Alicorn pony in all of Equestria, making her as strong as a newborn unicorn... She will be perfect for our cause! ”But my dear, how will you get past the royal couple?” Shadow Peach asked. Sssimple... I found another friend of the Princess of Friendship to possess, and she’s even stronger than the princess herself! I’m sending another shadow pony to go find her as we speak... ”Who would that be?” Shadow Peach asked. Tempest Shadow...or as they actually call her, Fizzlepop Berrytwist... She has a broken unicorn horn like mine, and is a lot stronger, more agile, and more flexible than any of Princess Twilight’s friends... She can sneak into the Crystal Empire and fight off the royal couple all by herself in order to get Princess Flurry Heart... ”Where are you even going to find her? She could be anywhere in Equestria right now!” Easssyy... I will be lurking around the long trail that she took before she left the Storm King’s legion... It shouldn’t take me too long, I promise... ”I hope...” Shadow Peach said. “I’ll hold down the fort while you’re gone. Farewell, my love...” Same to you, my Shadow Bride... King Sombra’s shadow disappeared and Shadow Queen Peach stared crazily at Princess Twilight’s parents. ”As for you two, I don’t think your precious daughter and her incompetent friends will stand a chance against the birth of the Shadow Empire!” ”You’re so wrong about this!” Night Light moaned. ”Our Twilight never gives up on her own parents!” Twilight Velvet declared. “She and her friends will make sure that you literally stay grounded!” ”Hahahahaha!!!” Shadow Peach laughed menacingly. “If you say so...” 07: Special Connection”Hnnngh...” Dear Mario, Please come to the castle. I have baked a cake for you. Yours truly, Princess Toadstool Peach ”Whatcha got there, Mario?” Pinkie snooped around. ”Uhh, nothing! Just...something old, it’s no big deal!” ”Uh-huh...” Twilight presumed. “Well, we got the Elements of Harmony from the Tree of Harmony!” The six Elements of Harmony were worn by the Mane Six as golden necklaces, except for Twilight’s, which was in the form of a crown. These looked to be the real deal after Mario read about the tale of Equestria’s two regal sisters who ruled over the land about a 1000 years ago. ”It’s feel so awesome again to wear these after so long!” Rainbow exclaimed. “By the way, sorry if I made you feel sick, Luigi.” ”Blehhh!” as Luigi puked a bit. “It’s...nothing really...” ”Oh no!” Fluttershy gasped. “You’re not feeling well, either!” ”Wouldn’t be the first time Luigi’s thrown up like this...” Mario whispered to himself. “But seriously, we need to help him out!” ”Oh... Maybe I wasn’t in the best shape of my life for that attack.” ”Rainbow Dash, if you’re going to do a ‘Sonic Raindoom’ next time, at least don’t actually pull a fast one on Luigi, darnit!” A.J complained. ”I said I was sorry.” Rainbow pouted. ”We need to find Zecora so that she can relieve Luigi of his internal pain.” Rarity suggested. ”Her hut is just around the corner!” Twilight exclaimed. “Let’s go, and Pinkie, stay away from the Mirror Pool for once.” ”Aww, but it was so much fun cloning myself!” Pinkie frowned. East: Zecora’s Hut ”Luigi, stay with me, you’re going to be fine.” Mario said. ”Please, bro.” ”I’ll get the door.” Rarity acknowledged. “Huh? It’s locked!” ”Ya didn’t even knock on it, Rarity!” A.J raised an eyebrow. ”No, I swear I did, and there was no answer from Zecora!” ”There’s a note on her door.” Spike pointed out. I am out doing some harvesting, and all in a day without resting. If you seek my attention, unfortunately, I have to put our appointments on suspension. But, I will back soon, even before the rise of the moon. Hope you can accept an apology in the midst of my methodology. -Zecora ”Well, that sucks.” Rainbow harbored. “Where else do we take Luigi to?” ”The hospital, genius?” A.J spit out. ”Now that you mention it, the place was almost packed with patients when I left this morning.” Spike said. “I don’t even know if Cappy and Bowser could check Trixie in.” ”Well, I’m sure they’re trying their best to make sure she pulls through, Spike.” Twilight thought. “But, we need to find alternative solutions to Luigi’s pain.” ”I’ll take care of him.” Fluttershy insisted. ”Uhh, I’m pretty sure you’re only a vet, Fluttershy.” Rainbow said. ”That doesn’t mean I’m not able to take care of other ponies.” ”I gotta give it to Fluttershy, though.” A.J brought up. “She did treat Apple Bloom’s fever at one point, which I thanked her for. ”Mario, you get to make the call!” Twilight referred. ”Well, what do we gotta lose? I see no point in fighting over who has the best medical experience. All that matters is that we waste no time helping Luigi, so I say that Fluttershy will take care of him.” ”Yay...” Fluttershy intimated. ”Don’t be so quick to judge, Rainbow Dash.” Twilight settled. “She just wanted to volunteer to help, that’s all.” ”You’re right... Maybe I need to stop stuffing myself in the clouds and look at every possibility. Luigi’s all yours, Fluttershy. Make sure he’s well-rested by the end of today.” ”Are we...back in the Mushroom Kingdom?” as Luigi kept spinning his head. ”No, but once this is all over, we will be back home.” Mario reassured. ”Come on Luigi, let’s go safely patch you up!” Fluttershy exclaimed. “We’ll be back at the castle later!” as Rarity joined Fluttershy. ”Yeah, me too...” as Spike slowly started following Rarity. ”Bye!” The rest of the group waved off. ”At least all of us are still wearing our Elements of Harmony.” Twilight said. “Remember, none of them will work if the Element of Magic goes missing or is being used in the wrong hooves.” ”And just to be safe, before I start taking a nap at home, I’m going to hide my Element somewhere safe!” Rainbow instituted. ”Let me guess...” A.J smirked. “In your bathroom, Rainbow Dash?” ”H-Hey! I don’t like it when somepony is sneaking up on me while I’m doing my business! Later, girls...and Mario!” ”Uh-huh...” Twilight murmured. “What about you, Applejack?” ”There’s nothing to fret about, Twi! I’m hiding my Element somewhere safe in my attic, although Granny Smith hates having to go up there and breathe in the dust... Anyways, see ya both later too!” ”Bye Applejack!” Mario and Twilight waved off. ”...And then there were two.” Twilight sighed. ”Hehe, yeah!” Mario giggled. “Your friends really have been a big help thus far on our mission, Twilight, and I want to thank you a lot again.” ”No problem! That’s basically what we’re best at, Mario. We help other ponies in times of need, just like you do with your people from the Mushroom Kingdom. Again, that’s how important friendship is to us.” ”I see. How did you become a princess in the first place? Were you actually born into a royal family?” ”No, but my parents did raise me in a city that’s heavily centered around royalty.” Twilight replied. “ I became a princess five years ago, after completing an unfinished & almost impossible spell that one of my idols failed to utilize in his studies. His name happened to be Star Swirl the Bearded.” ”Star Swirl the Bearded?” Mario asked. “Didn’t you mention that he was one of the Old Pillars of Equestria?” ”Yes, I did. He is unstoppable, when it comes to magic! He may be over a thousand years old, but he’s still alive and well to this day. I finally achieved my dream of meeting him too, although we did exchange some bits of awkward dialogue!” ”Don’t we need him and the other Old Pillars to find King Sombra?” Mario inquired. ”No, Mario.” Twilight responded. “We only need their artifacts. If we were to actually bring them to King Sombra, he would probably steal all of their strong powers and use them to fight us, which will be much more difficult.” ”Fascinating story...” ”Yeah... Hey Mario, is it okay if you can...tell me what you were reading back there?” ”Oh... Well, I guess I trust you enough, so I can definitely tell you, Twilight. That letter I was reading...was one of the first letters I ever got from Princess Peach. It reminded me of all the adventures that I’ve been through, trying to save her.” ”Ah. How does Princess Peach react every time you save her from Bowser?” ”She’s always been grateful for the troubles I had to go through in order to get to her. She never lies, both about that and the rewards she gives to me and even Luigi. The three of us get along very well with each other.” ”What about Bowser himself?” Twilight asked. ”He’s always been a pain to deal with, but there are times when Luigi, Peach, and I have been forced to work with him, such as right now. There’s one part of me that says my duty is to always stop him, but another part of me...seems to somehow feel bad for him.” ”There must’ve been something terrible about Bowser’s past that’s causing him to do what he still does, huh?” ”Other than looking for a wife, even I still don’t fully understand why he goes around kidnapping the princess every single time. I don’t get tired of it, but it’d be really interesting to know more about him in detail. Before my friends and I got here, I managed to convince one of his kids to no longer invade the Mushroom Kingdom as long as I get his dad back safely.” ”Hmm, but there’s something I still don’t get...” Twilight zoned off. “When I saw you reading that letter, Mario, you looked...a bit depressed, when before that, you were all joyful. Is something bothering you?” ”Kind of... It’s about Princess Peach. You know, this isn’t the first time that she’s been possessed and turned into the Shadow Queen.” ”What?” Twilight gasped. ”It’s true. The first time Peach turned into the Shadow Queen, I actually felt an emotion that I rarely feel... Fear...” ”Fear of what?” Twilight pressured. ”Fear of losing her to the darkness.” as Mario started to shed a tear. “Not only is Princess Peach one of my best friends, but I-I... l...o...” ”Mario, there’s nothing to be afraid of.” Twilight reassured. “You can always trust us to comfort you and we’ll be there for you, no matter what. You not only have our word, but the word of your own friends, too. When we find King Sombra and return Princess Peach back to normal, you can tell her how you really feel about her, okay?” ”Okay, but...what if my fear takes over when I fight Sombra?” Mario sniffed. ”We won’t let that happen to you!” Twilight confirmed. “King Sombra grows stronger off of fear & hatred, and we won’t let you succumb to his possession, either.” ”...I’m really glad I met you, Twilight. It’s no wonder ponies here call you the ‘Princess of Friendship.’ You deserve that title forever.” ”And you, Mario? You deserve to be called a hero. We may be from different worlds, but I know one thing for sure.” ”What’s that?” ”We’ll be friends forever...” The two leaders, standing in front of the Tree of Harmony, gave each other one big hug, solidifying their right decisions that they’ve made along the way. 08: No Power Up...Like Dancing?7:00PM Canterlot Wednesday ”Well, this is it.” Twilight said. “Welcome to Canterlot, everybody!” ”Don’t you usually say ‘everypony,’ Twilight?” Rainbow asked. ”Yes, but Mario and his friends aren’t ponies, so I have to say ‘everybody’ like every other human. I did become human at one point, and yet I’ve already learned the language differences that they’ve used in the human world.” ”Thanks for taking us to your old home, Twilight!” Mario exclaimed. ”Ah, it’s nothing!” Twilight blushed. “You and your friends deserve to relax for a bit before we go back on our scavenger hunt tomorrow. I thought I’d take you around the city and show you what I used to do when I lived here.” ”I’ve never seen such wonderful architecture like this before!” Professor E. Gadd gasped. ”That’s because you barely leave your lab.” Bowser teased. ”Where do we even begin?” Cappy asked. ”Some food would be nice...” Luigi’s mouth started watering. ”Good choice, Luigi!” Rarity exclaimed. “Canterlot is also known for some of the most exotic cuisines that have been cooked without a single mistake. There’s a restaurant called ‘The Tasty Treat,’ if you would like to try it!” ”I’m surprised, Rarity!” Pinkie Pie’s jaw dropped. “I thought you were trying to turn it into one of those fancy froufrou restaurants like every other restaurant in Canterlot.” ”Yes, but if it wasn’t for your help, we wouldn’t be able to have solved our friendship problem two years ago. As long as you’re satisfied with the way the restaurant turned out, then I’m satisfied. I actually enjoy eating here from time to time, too!” ”I guess we’ll eat something tasty, no pun intended!” Mario laughed a bit. ”Ooh, looks like there are plenty of seats left for all of us!” Pinkie pointed out. “Now it’s a party!” ”Pinkie, there will be time for that after we stop King Sombra.” Rainbow Dash whispered. “We gotta show Mario a good first time in Equestria so that he can trust us on his mission.” ”Oops, my bad!” The group walked towards a restaurant that looked small on the outside, but on the inside, there was a lot more depth and livery as if it was actually showing itself to be rated with five stars. ”Let me handle this.” Rarity said. Knock knock. ”Rarity, it’s so good to see you!” greeted a male and female unicorn with foreign accents. “Please, come on in!” ”Hello there!” The entire group greeted in return. ”It’s nice to see you two again!” Rarity commented. “It’s been too long since we’ve last met, right?” ”Oh hoho, far too long!” The female unicorn giggled. “Hmm?” The male unicorn sounded. “It appears that not only you’ve brought your best friends, but...you’ve also brought new friends to our restaurant! I’m so delighted to know about them!” ”Certainly. Mario, Luigi, I’d like you and your friends to meet Coriander Cumin, and the pony right next to him is his daughter, Saffron Masala! They own this restaurant, by the way!” ”Hello!” as Mario’s team exchanged handshakes with the unicorn family. ”Ah, it always warms my heart to see new customers, even ones that are entirely different from us ponies.” Saffron acknowledged. “Isn’t that right, Father?” ”Indeed! What would you like us to serve to all of you tonight, Rarity?” ”This is Mario’s first time in Equestria.” She said. “Would you mind preparing some of your best dishes to make him and his friends feel very welcome? Also, as for the rest, can you bring us our favorites as well? That would be very appreciated from us, thank you!” ”Yes, coming right up, Rarity!” as the family duo headed to the kitchen. ”Thank you!” Both Mario and Twilight’s group blessed. ”Rarity, thank you for this.” Mario said. “You really shouldn’t have to go out of your way for us!” ”Don’t worry, I insist! As Twilight mentioned before, you deserve to get comfortable around here for a bit. What would the Element of Generosity be like if she wasn’t able to give at all? Greedy!” ”She has a point there.” Spike said. ”I hope y’all like to eat spicy food, because this is packed with them spices!” A.J hollered. ”Did you say spicy food???” Mario, Luigi, and Bowser asked. “I love spicy food! No way, me too!” ”Oh goodness...” as Fluttershy tried to contain herself from laughing. ”I really can’t eat anything, because...I have no stomach.” Cappy zoned off. ”I’m not sure if someone old like me can handle spicy food.” Professor E. Gadd quivered. ”There’s going to be a bit of sweetness in these dishes, you know!” Pinkie brought up. ”Well, at least it’s a good thing I still haven’t lost my sweet tooth after all these years!” E. Gadd relieved himself. ”So Bowser, did you and Cappy manage to check Trixie in at the hospital?” Mario asked. ”Yeah, but we almost got into real trouble. The receptionist wanted us to pay her afterwards with these so-called ‘Bits,’ which I guess is Equestria’s currency.” ”Luckily, I had to bluff by saying that we were checking in on behalf of Princess Twilight Sparkle, and the receptionist didn’t make us pay anything!” Cappy laughed nervously. ”Oh no, I can’t believe I forgot to tell you guys to say those exact words before you left!” Twilight panicked. “I’m such an idiot...” ”Well, if anyone else is going to end up in the hospital next, that would be King Sombra, and we will make HIM pay for what he’s done!” Rainbow exhilarated. ”You got that right, Rainbow Dash.” Mario added. “Speaking of medical assistance, I’m glad that you’re feeling better again, Luigi.” ”Yeah bro, and Fluttershy, thank you so much for taking care of me!” ”You’re welcome! All you needed was a bit of a rest and some strong, high-quality medicine that I actually stocked up on in case either me or somepony else got sick. Just be careful not to eat too fast, otherwise you’ll be vomiting again, Luigi.” ”Okey-dokey!” The green plumber nodded. ”Okay everypony, coming in hot...literally!” as Coriander Cumin exited the kitchen. ”Mario, Luigi, this is our ‘Mushroom Curry!’” as Saffron put their food on the table. “Be careful, the plates are very hot!” ”Wow...” as the Mario Bros. were left amazed by their food. ”Okay, here we have the ‘Fried Hot Eggplant’ for you, big guy!” as Coriander set down Bowser’s plate. ”Don’t mind if I do!” ”And for you, old sir, these are the ‘Sweet & Sour Potatoes!’” as Saffron set down E. Gadd’s food. ”Oh, these certainly look appetizing!” ”And Rarity, we brought you and your friends your usual favorite dish, ‘The Red Hot Flower Salads!’” Coriander presented. ”Thank you!” Twilight and her friends thanked. ”Okay, enjoy the food, everypony!” Both family members bowed. ”Thank you guys!” The entire team praised. ”It’s a good thing Luigi and I have our own forks.” Mario said. “Ponies definitely don’t eat with kitchen utensils.” ”And I always bring mine as well!” E. Gadd exclaimed. ”Mm-mmm, I don’t need a fork, thanks!” as Bowser bit into his food. ”You definitely made the right choice, Rarity.” Twilight said. “I think the amount of courtesy shown by you today will definitely leave a very good first impression of Equestria for Mario! It looks like he might consider coming back in the near future or unless something that we can help him with comes up.” ”I’m glad you’re taking all of this into account, Twilight, and that’s what I love about you.” ”I’ll pay for the entire thing!” Pinkie volunteered. ”Hehe, no need for that, Pinkie Pie!” Saffron giggled. “Father and I are so grateful for you and Rarity improving the nature of our restaurant, and because of that, we have become very successful here in Canterlot! So, there’s no need for a tip or payment!” ”This just got even better...” Luigi chewed some more. 1 Hour Ago Unknown Location Wednesday ”Ma’am, please, you’ve got to snap out of this!” Twilight Velvet cried. ”What exactly are you talking about?” Shadow Peach asked. “I’m perfectly fine, okay?” ”Please, you’ve got to snap out of his possession and take us back to our daughter, Twilight!” Night Light begged. ”Wrong, hahaha! My husband is not possessing me, he’s helping me. All I ever want from him is his love and to succeed at conquering all of Equestria! Your daughter Twilight is too weak to stop us both, even with the help of her friends and Mario.” ”Grr, talk all you want, but you both will never win!” Twilight Velvet spit out. ”Mwahahaha, even the same thing could be said about your daughter!” Shadow Peach laughed. “You’re lucky I’m still keeping you alive, but it won’t be for much longer!” ”I don’t know who this Mario is, but he’s probably on his way right now to save you and us from this scumbag’s wrath!” Night Light exclaimed. ”Misery, misery, misery... I would wish good luck to Mario, but he’s still too weak to fight a supreme goddess like me! You just can’t beat the impossible...” 7:30PM Canterlot Wednesday ”Mamma mia, that food was both delicious and so spicy!” Mario burped. ”I need to come here more often.” Luigi thought to himself. ”All right, there’s one more thing I’d like us all to do with you, Mario.” Twilight said. “Does the Mushroom Kingdom hold concerts?” ”Yes it does! Would you like to know who the best singer is at these concerts? Princess Peach!” ”What???” Twilight and her friends’ jaws dropped. “No way!!!” ”It’s true.” Mario added. “She even sent me an audio recording of herself singing on stage. It’s here on my Game Boy SP, by the way.” The entire group leaned in closer to Mario’s mobile device as he pulled it out of his pocket and played the song Peach was singing. ”Sweet Celestia...” Rainbow Dash stuttered. “That...was...AWESOME! I normally listen to fast-paced songs, but Princess Peach just blew my mind right now!” ”Yup, and she normally holds these concerts every year, in honor of my heroic deeds.” Mario explained. “She never disappoints the crowd!” ”I’m impressed with her voice too, Mario!” Twilight exclaimed. “Now, it’ll be time for your first ever concert in Equestria! Applejack, where are we going to tonight?” ”Get ready Mario, because you’re about to see my best friend and Equestria’s number one pop star, Countess Coloratura, or ‘Rara’ for short!” ”We do need some good entertainment every once in a while!” Bowser complimented. ”Luckily, Applejack and Rara got very close with each other, and they still are to this day.” Fluttershy said. “We get to go to every single one of her shows for free because of how strong their friendship is!” ”Eeyup.” A.J nodded. “C’mon gang, Rara’s concert is just at the Canterlot Derby Track. Follow me!” ”Mm-hmm!” Everyone else joined in. 8:00PM Canterlot Derby Track Wednesday ”Sorry missy, but do you or your friends have tickets?” The bouncer asked. “I can’t let any of you in without your tickets.” ”Oh c’mon there, Don Chains!” A.J cried. “It’s me, Applejack!” ”Applejack? Oh, it is you! Sorry about that, I’m always required to wear these shades, which was why I couldn’t see you ponies in the first place.” ”In the middle of the night?” Bowser scratched his head. ”N-Nevermind that!” Don Chains stuttered. “You’re just in time for the concert, guys, so take care in there!” ”Thanks Don!” as A.J tipped off her hat. “Follow me inside, there’s enough front row seats for all of us.” Inside the venue was an actual derby raceway track, which was near the edge of Canterlot, overlooking Ponyville, and the place was packed full of ponies. In the center of the clouded track was the stage, and it was fully lit, too. Everypony cheered really hard as the concert was about to begin. ”Fillies and gentlecolts, this is Mayor Mare speaking! I now have the greatest honor of introducing to you our special celebrity guest this evening! Everypony, please welcome Countess Coloratura!” ”YEAHHH, WOOHOO!!!” The crowd went nuts. Out from behind the curtains and into the center stage was none other than Countess Coloratura herself. She was a light gray pony with a bit of an indigo mane and tail, who was wearing a black diva outfit. Behind her came out a band of ponies, too. ”There she is, Mario!” A.J pointed out. “Enjoy the show, okay?” ”Thanks Applejack!” ”This first song is for those who adore traveling...” Rara announced. “3... 2... 1... GO!!!” 09: Decision Number One8:00PM Unknown Location Wednesday I’m back, my love... ”Ah, it’s good to see you again too, dear.” Shadow Peach said. “Have you found the unicorn with the broken horn yet?” Not yet, but I’ve learned something interesting that can help her snatch the royal couple’s infant child... The one known as Sunburst, is always left in charge of taking care of their baby at this time while they go out to run errands, and his power level is calculated to be nowhere near as strong as Tempest Shadow’s... ”Okay, but how is she going to sneak into the castle unnoticed? You can’t just rival speed with more power, it’s imbalanced.” I just explained to you earlier that she has the necessary abilities to make it inside the castle... She’ll be perfect... ”Who knows?” Shadow Peach minded. “She might find Mario and the others first before us, that could be possible. We have to find Tempest Shadow immediately.” Now is not the time to rush our plans, my love... We can only do so much in one day... ”But, we have a good chance to attack now! These fiends seem to be attending some kind of concert and there’s a lot of ponies in the audience that we can gather up to do our bidding!” Sorry, but that just contradicted one of your previous statements... If we cause chaos immediately, we’ll be outnumbered by the Royal Guard and the Princesses of Day and Night... ”Alright, I’ll give it to you on that one, dear.” Shadow Peach said. “But, you better not use your power for nothing once you reclaim it.” 10:00PM Twilight’s Castle Wednesday ”Oh boy, that concert was a fun experience!” Mario exclaimed. ”That song was so catchy, I felt like we’ve heard it before...” Cappy wondered. ”I’ll be sure to give y’all copies of the photos that we took together with Rara.” A.J said. ”Pinkie, I know what you’re going to say next.” Twilight smirked. “We’re not doing that.” ”Hehe, what are you talking about, Twilight? I was totally NOT going to put the photos in the Mirror Pool! That’s silly talk right there!” ”Either way, those photos would make fabulous souvenirs for you guys, would they?” Rarity winked at Mario’s team. ”They sure would, even though the majority of them had me lying down on the ground so that I could fit in.” Bowser acknowledged. ”Well, we still got a big day ahead of us tomorrow.” Professor E. Gadd declared. ”We should probably get off to bed, Twilight.” Rainbow Dash snored. ”Yeah, we should go ahead and use the time machine to get back to the Mushroom Kingdom.” Mario suggested. “We’ll come back and see you girls in the morning, okay? Thank you all so much for today, by the way!” ”Woah, wait a minute, Mario!” Twilight halted. “I was wondering if you and your friends would be interested in spending the next few nights in the castle with us! I’m guessing you’re all already feeling homesick, though, huh?” ”This calls for a slumber party!” Pinkie cheered. “What do you think, pals?” ”If so, then I’m always down to eat warm s’mores!” Rarity agreed. ”I call sleeping by the kitchen as usual!” as Spike raised his claws. ”Mario, it’s your choice.” Cappy said. ”Where do you want to sleep, bro?” Luigi asked. ”You know what? Okay Twilight, I guess we’ll be staying in the castle from now on! Thanks for your hospitality, by the way!” ”Then it’s settled.” The princess confirmed. “Before we go sleep, I want you all to please follow me into the map room.” ”Got it!” Everyone else responded. ”Now where did Pinkie hide her stash of marshmallows?” Rarity whispered aimlessly. ”I almost forgot to ask you something, Twilight.” Mario said. “What are those tattoos painted on your...flanks?” ”I’m glad you asked that, Mario! These are what we call ‘Cutie Marks.’ They’re a unique representation of a pony’s special skills, talents, or abilities that is carried on for his or her life.” ”Forrevvverrrr!” Pinkie howled. ”Exactly.” Twilight came back in. “I earned my Cutie Mark after passing my magical entrance exam at Princess Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns.” ”I got my Cutie Mark after I saw the ground for the very first time and earned the ability to communicate with animals!” Fluttershy reminded. ”I was the one who accidentally made Fluttershy fall from the clouds that day.” Rainbow Dash admitted. “I’m still sorry about that... Anyway, my Cutie Mark is a reminder of the day when only I was able to pull off a ‘Sonic Rainboom,’ which was the move that I combined with Luigi’s missile attack to make the ‘Sonic Raindoom!” ”As you would expect from a fashionista like me, I certainly am glad that I earned my Cutie Mark after sewing some dazzling costumes for a school play.” Rarity brought up. ”I was just a little filly back then, who tried to make a big break by living with my Aunt & Uncle Orange in the city of Manehattan, but I realized that life on the farm was where I belonged.” as A.J took off her hat in pride. ”I also had a farm life, but ny family and I thought it was depressing to find nothing of purpose on a rock farm.” Pinkie sniffed. “But at that very moment, the Sonic Rainboom that Rainbow Dash pulled off was the one that brought us all together! I realized that my special talent was to make sure that everypony laughs, smiles, and have fun!” ”Those stories...were so beautiful.” Bowser sniffed. ”Are you actually crying right now?” Cappy raised an eyebrow. ”What? No, of course not! I just...forgot to blink, hehe, that’s all!” ”Uh-huh...” Mario hummed. “Anyways, what do we do now, Twilight?” ”Tomorrow, we’ll be splitting up into different teams in order to find the next remaining items on the list. Rarity, Professor E. Gadd, and I will be avoiding detection from any of King Sombra’s minions by going invisible using magic. However, there’s a risk that we might be accidentally uncloaked if we bump into another pony or even each other.” ”Right.” Rainbow Dash said. “Fluttershy, Cappy, Luigi, and I will be finding the items while flying through the skies. Twilight knows a spell that allows anypony to walk on clouds, but there’s another risk of you missing your jumps since there’s going to be a lot of gaps in the clouds.” ”Pinkie Pie, you’re with me, sugarcube!” A.J decided. “We’ll be bringing Bowser and Spike with us on the ground, and now we got extra firepower, but there’s obviously going to be a darn problem because we’re going to be directly exposed to King Sombra’s goons and what not.” ”What about me?” Mario asked. “Who do I get to go with?” ”It’s your choice, Mario...” Twilight replied. ”I’m taking it to the skies!” 10: High Up In the Sky”So, it looks like you’re rolling with us, right Mario?” Rainbow Dash asked. ”Yes, I am! Luigi and I got your backs, by the way.” ”Please tell me I won’t get sick again.” Luigi gulped. ”No to worry, because we’ll watch your backs as well!” Fluttershy exclaimed. “You can count on me if you need any medical assistance, Luigi.” ”Mario, be sure to pick up your Lightning Flowers from Zecora tomorrow.” Twilight said. “They might come in handy up there in the sky.” ”I’ll remember them, thanks Twilight. Where exactly are we going tomorrow?” ”See that pointy place on the map?” Pinkie pointed out. “That’s Twilight castle, which we’re in right now. If you ever happen to get lost in a pickle, then this map should be a fun reference point!” ”The cloud city above Ponyville is Cloudsdale, which is our destination tomorrow.” Rainbow explained. “It’s where Fluttershy and I used to live during our childhood before moving to Ponyville. We’ll be going after the Ring of Destiny.” ”Are you sure Daring Do will let us borrow it?” Fluttershy asked. ”Don’t worry, she trusts me enough to handle anything now.” Rainbow replied. “I’m sure she’ll let us use the Ring for our ruse on Sombra.” ”Just try not to reveal her secret identity, or at the very least, get her killed.” Rarity mentioned. ”In that case, we will go talk to Princess Celestia about the Memory Stone.” Twilight declared. “Applejack, Pinkie, you and the others must head to Ponhenge and find the Old Pillars of Equestria. We’ll regroup here once we have everything on King Sombra’s list.” ”It’s a good thing we were one step ahead collecting the Elements of Harmony.” A.J raised. ”What about the Sun Book?” Cappy asked. ”It’s in the library.” Twilight responded. “I’m not sure what significance King Sombra finds about it, though. The cover has a sun that’s also got some purple on it.” ”So, that makes only three items left to find!” Pinkie exclaimed. ”Technically, the Old Pillars’ artifacts would be counted as more items, but I guess you’re right about what you said if we’re planning on mixing the artifacts into one package.” Rarity explained. ”I think you guys might have the items that would take the longest.” Fluttershy assumed. ”What’s the worst that can happen, Fluttershy?” Spike shrugged. ”The little dude is right.” Bowser added. “Let’s add fire with fire, shall we?” ”Oh, I’m ready for this!” ”I hope you don’t plan on burning everything.” Mario said. “We can train with fire while in the middle of our quest.” ”Hehe, and I see that Applejack doesn’t look too happy about apples being destroyed in training!” Rainbow giggled. ”Hey, as long as Twilight doesn’t touch Sweet Apple Acres, then I’m totally fine!” ”What is it about me that’s bad to your home, A.J?” Twilight’s eye began to twitch. ”You always...” ”Enough!” Mario yelled. “This is getting us nowhere. You girls are close friends with each other, I’m sure about that. There’s no reason to fret like this. Twilight, you did say that you have a spell that magically creates apples out of nowhere, right?” ”Right.” ”If you mess up and accidentally use Applejack’s own apples in training, don’t worry.” Mario reassured. “From what I’ve heard about her, she grows apples very quickly and ponies describe her as a hardworking pony, right?” ”Uh-huh.” A.J murmured. ”Now that you mention it, Mario, maybe we do need to cool it down a bit.” Twilight realized. “I mean, we’re fighting to save Equestria again, but things don’t really have to get hostile between friends over a training session.” ”Yeah, what you said too, Mario.” as A.J took off her hat. “We all make mistakes every now and then. If Twilight messing up becomes an accident, I reckon I wouldn’t mind a bit of a sacrifice on my end.” ”Good. It’s been a long day for all of us, so let’s just go sleep and we’ll figure this out in the morning.” ”Aww, no s’mores?” Rarity pouted. ”You guys can have some if you want, but I’m good for now Rarity, thanks.” Mario insisted. ”Let me show you where you’ll be staying.” Twilight demonstrated. ”Allow me to start the fire!” Bowser requested. Mario looked the most exhausted out of the entire team and so, Twilight had him follow her upstairs into one of the guest rooms. The castle was not only huge, but it had the interior of a mansion. The entire team could even live in here by staying in any of the multiple rooms. ”Are you all right, Mario?” Twilight asked. ”Yeah, just give me a second.” ”Oh okay. Hey, about what you said back there... That was really nice of you to intervene like that.” ”Really?” Mario coughed. “I guess I was trying to get rid of any tension between two friends, huh?” ”Yes, it would seem to be like that. My friends and I argue a lot, but it’s not like anything is actually going to separate us for good.” ”I see.” Mario said. “Well, this room looks comfortable for us. I’ll see you in the morning, Twilight! Good night!” ”Good night, Mario!” You just gave me a brilliant idea, Princessss... Hahaha... ”I think I know where this is going, won’t I?” Shadow Peach asked. 8:00AM Twilight’s Castle Thursday ”Good morning, everyone!” Twilight called out. “Did you all sleep well last night?” ”Hehehe, I dreamt like I was a filly all over again!” A.J hollered. ”I actually had a nightmare about somepony stealing my valuable emeralds!” Rarity shuttered. “That hooligan better show himself so I can lay a beating on him!” ”It’s just a dream, Rarity.” Cappy said. “Besides, we’ll have all the time to lay a beating on King Sombra.” ”I will do whatever it takes to stop him...again!” Spike vowed. ”It’s hard to believe that a puny dragon like you has already beaten that foolish king.” Bowser reminded. ”What can I say except,’ You’re welcome?’” Spike uttered. ”Alright, does everypony remember what items they’re getting?” Rainbow Dash asked. ”Yeah!” Everyone else confirmed. ”Let’s get moving, shall we?” as Rarity headed out the door. ”Wait Rarity!” Twilight halted. “I still need to make Mario be able to walk on clouds, remember?” ”Oh yes, my apologies!” ”Okay Mario, I’m going to need you to stay still for just a second. You won’t feel any pain, but you’ll definitely feel some kind of tingling.” ”I’m ready!” Within an instant, the Princess of Friendship zapped Mario with a magical beam from her horn. However, even though not much happened, the rest of the team was in complete shock. ”Oh...my...” Fluttershy’s jaw dropped. ”M-Mario?” Luigi stuttered. ”Why’s everyone looking at me like that? Is there something wrong?” ”You...must see yourself in the mirror, darling.” Rarity consulted. “Take a look.” ”WHAT?” as Mario fell backwards. ”Awesome!” Rainbow exclaimed. “Your cap has wings, Mario!” ”A Wing Cap?” Luigi inquired. “It’s been too long since we’ve one of those, right bro?” ”Yeah. Was this supposed to happen, Twilight?” ”No... Maybe? I don’t know! Well, according to legend, only Alicorn & Pegasus ponies can access the city of Cloudsdale. I guess anypony or anyone with wings can go there.” ”Have fun up there in Cotton Candy Land!” Pinkie exclaimed. “But whatever you do, don’t taste the rainbow!” ”I still need to walk on clouds, don’t I?” Luigi minded. ”Oh, sorry about that, Luigi!” Twilight apologized. “I guess I’ll give your cap wings, too.” ”Don’t worry, you two.” Cappy said. “If one of you loses or damages either of your caps, I can turn myself into your new cap.” ”Thanks Cappy.” Mario added. Luigi also got zapped by Twilight, who felt himself being tickled instead when Mario felt being frozen in place. His green cap now has wings, too. ”How do I look, bro?” ”Good as always!” Mario replied. “This time, we’re ready to fly!” ”Be careful up there, Mario.” Twilight raised. “My friends will back you up in case of an emergency.” ”You can count on me, Twilight. Professor, Bowser, stay strong out there.” ”Relax, nothing is going to stop this king!” as Bowser sharpened his claws. ”And I will do my best to pick up the pace!” E. Gadd saluted. ”Without further ado, let’s-a-go!” as Mario triple jumped out the door. Mario was in front as he led Luigi, Cappy, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash while flying freely up to Cloudsdale. They obviously admired the view on the way up and Fluttershy got a bit distracted watching the birds fly in sync, to which Rainbow had to drag her back on track. ”We’re just about halfway there.” Rainbow said. “There’s my cloud house, right above Ponyville.” ”What made you two decide to leave your hometown in order to live here?” Cappy asked. ”Besides Rainbow Dash’s ‘Sonic Rainboom’ bringing us altogether, we all had separate lives to carry on after we got our Cutie Marks.” Fluttershy addressed. “We still see our parents every now and then, though.” ”That’s good to know.” Mario acknowledged. “Hey look, there’s Canterlot right there!” ”Twilight should be heading there right now with Rarity and Professor E. Gadd, so that they can talk to Princess Celestia about the Memory Stone.” Rainbow explained. ”And since Twilight is Princess Celestia’s numer one pupil, getting into her castle won’t be a problem.” Fluttershy enumerated. “The castle’s also heavily guarded and armed in case anypony tries to attack, like King Sombra.” ”Oh, at least my stomach isn’t acting up yet!” Luigi gulped. ”I see ponies up there, I think we made it!” Mario confirmed. ”Then, follow my lead!” Rainbow whistled. 8:15AM Cloudsdale Thursday ”Woah, this is so soft!” Mario exclaimed. ”We’re standing on unstable clouds, but once we get on the street, it should be safer for you guys to walk.” Fluttershy informed. “Just...please be super careful and watch your step!” ”This place looks so peaceful!” Luigi dozed off. ”Yeah, but us Pegasus ponies are always busy when it comes to weather patrol.” Rainbow said. “For me, I’m part of an elite group of flyers called the Wonderbolts, and we usually train hard and put on awesome shows for ponies across Equestria!” ”I’m not that good of a flyer...” Fluttershy whispered. ”Oh okay...” Mario hummed. “Anyway, Rainbow Dash, does this Daring Do know where we could find the Ring of Destiny?” ”Of course she knows, Mario! She actually keeps a safe eye on it in case her enemies try to steal it from her! The Ring of Destiny was almost used in an evil, dark ritual by her great archenemy, Ahuizotl, but Daring Do emerged victorious as always!” ”Hmm, Rarity mentioned something about her secret identity.” Luigi said. “Who is she?” ”A.K Yearling is the author of the Daring Do book series, but guess what?” Rainbow Dash freaked out. “She is Daring Do!” ”Are you serious?” Cappy begged the question. “You must’ve been so lucky to even meet her in the first place!” ”Yeah, very lucky! In fact, she trusts me enough that she recently moved here in Cloudsdale a few months ago, and she gave me her address in case of a real emergency, like this! Just remember Rarity’s words about trying not to expose Daring Do.” 7032 Tornado Avenue Wing Street ”Daring Do shouldn’t be too far from here.” Fluttershy said. “Remembering from last time that Rainbow Dash brought me to her house, it’s the house with the curtains closed on each side.” ”Make sure no one is following us inside.” Mario warned. ”Let me do the honors.” Rainbow volunteered. Knock knock. ”Uhh, is it just me or did the sky turn dark?” Luigi pointed up. ”Of course it just started raining!” Rainbow moaned. “I knew I should’ve taken the shift today!” Bang bang. The door finally opened, but with only a slight creek. Behind it was a female Pegasus pony wearing red glasses, a hat with a bow tie, and a purple cloak. She looked outside in digust because of the ongoing downpour of rain. ”Is that you, Rainbow Dash?” ”Yeah, it’s me!” Rainbow whispered. “How have you been, Daring Do?” ”It’s nice to meet you again, Rainbow, I’m fine! Quickly, we’ll talk inside where there’s no rain!” ”I’ll get the door!” Mario exclaimed. “Phew, at least my Wing Cap is still intact.” ”Mine too.” Luigi added. ”I hate getting wet.” Cappy complained. ”So, what can I do for you today, Rainbow Dash?” Daring Do asked. ”Daring, Fluttershy and I made some new friends that we found. This is Mario, Luigi, and Cappy!” ”Hello!” The three greeted. ”Hmm... Suspicious looking mustaches, weird overalls, and a floating top hat... Did you bring thieves into my house, Rainbow Dash?” ”No, they’re not thieves! They really need your help, Daring Do!” ”She’s right ma’am, we’re not thieves.” Mario reassured. “We have a very important favor that we would like you to do for us! We’d really appreciate it!” ”Okay, but anything that doesn’t involve evil or treasure, you can leave me out of it.” Daring reminded. “I’m listening.” ”You see, the three of us come from a world called the Mushroom Kingdom, which lost its princess to King Sombra.” Mario explained. “We ended up here in Equestria so that we can rescue her, but first, King Sombra wants us to collect some valuable items for him. One of them happens to be the Ring of Destiny, which is something Rainbow Dash said you have.” ”Stop right there!” Daring Do halted. “Why in Equestria would I give up the Ring of Destiny to that lunatic?” ”We’re not actually giving it to him, we’re asking you if we can borrow it so that we can pull off an elaborate ruse on him.” Rainbow mentioned. ”May we please borrow the Ring of Destiny?” Fluttershy asked gently. ”This definitely sounds like it could be dangerous. I’ll be kind enough to give it to you, but only on one condition.” Daring Do raised. ”What would that be?” Mario minded. ”Do you mind if I tag along? This sounds like a good idea for a new Daring Do book! As A.K Yearling, I must publish something amazing for my fans, even when it’s not really expected. You know, just to keep ponies on edge.” ”You want to come along with us?” Cappy asked. “Even when we get to King Sombra?” ”Yes.” Daring Do replied. “You all don’t have to worry. In case something happens to any of you or the Ring of Destiny, I’ll be there to protect you. Just please let me keep an eye on the Ring.” ”That sounds like a good deal, Mario!” Rainbow exclaimed. ”M-Mario?” Luigi checked. ”Something is coming this way! We have to get outside! We’ll talk about the Ring later!” HOOONNNKKK. Outside in the pouring rain, near the edge of the city, was a large airship flying towards Mario’s team. The flag was an image of King Sombra himself, and that meant obvious trouble. The ship was being flown by what seemed to be a female parrot and her pirate crew, with all of them looking sinisterly angry as a dark aura was around them. ”Is that...Captain Celaeno?” Fluttershy pointed out. ”It is!” Rainbow confirmed. ”Looks like King Sombra got ahold of her and her crew.” Mario noticed. “I think we know the drill by now...” 11: Shadow Captain Celaeno”Everypony, fly for your lives!” A random bystander cried out. ”AHHHH!!!” ”Quickly, we have to get onboard that ship!” Mario commanded. ”I-I’m coming!” Fluttershy briefly paused before flying. Not only was the rain getting heavier, but the wind blew much fiercer than before. Mario’s team had a bit of a struggle trying to fly to the pirate airship, so they made it onboard with a slippery landing until they reached the deck. ”Captain Celaeno!” Rainbow yelled. “We’ve come to set you free!” ”How dare you set foot on our ship? Let us swashbucklers sail in peace or we will make you suffer the consequences!” ”Yup, King Sombra is up to his mind games again.” as Cappy rolled his eyes. ”Throw them overboard!” One of the possessed crew members squawked. ”Whatever King Sombra’s doing inside your head, it’s not going to help him get the Ring of Destiny!” Mario exclaimed. ”Daring Do, Fluttershy, and I got the crew members, Mario!” Rainbow insisted. “You, Luigi, and Cappy deal with Captain Celaeno!” ”Aargh, it’s about we make you walk the plank, ponies!” Another pirate squawked. ”Just like old times, bro.” Mario reminisced. ”These parrot pirates move like ordinary humans.” Luigi mentioned. ”So does the captain.” Cappy said. The dark aura rages within Captain Celaeno, and she took her hands off the wheel in order to face off with the Mushroom Kingdom’s heroes. She drew out a sword and smiled sinisterly some more. ”Just because you plumbers have outnumbered me doesn’t mean this’ll be any easier for you! Watch closely!” ”What is she doing?” Mario raised an eyebrow. ”The parrot captain raised her sword into the air and a lightning bolt struck it with an intense magnitude of electricity. Her sword was now sparking and she began to sprint at Mario. ”Take this!” ”It’s too bad your leg is missing, which means you can’t fly like us!” as Mario soared to the top of the ship. ”How do you like us now, Captain Celaeno?” Luigi tattled. ”I may not be able to reach you, but that doesn’t mean I can’t still attack you! I will strike you down like dead meat! Kiyaaa!” Captain Celaeno waved her sword at the trio, which led to lightning bolts shooting out of her sword that are constantly being aimed at the trio. They kept flying to dodge her attacks, and one of the bolts ended up leaving a hole in the airship. ”I thought only unicorns and Alicorns can use magic to enhance their attacks.” Mario said. ”Yeah, but once somepony gets possessed by Sombra, he or she gets pumped up!” as Rainbow backed up into Mario. ”Stop talking and fight for once!” The captain resented. ”You want to play it like that, huh?” Mario dared. “It’s a good thing I snuck outta bed this morning to get those Lightning Flowers from Zecora!” ”With these new flowers of shock, you shall unleash attacks that one cannot block...” ”Luigi, here’s one for you!” ”Thanks bro!” Both Mario Bros. grabbed their Lightning Flowers and crushed it in their gloves. While their Wing Caps were still intact, the colors of their overalls turned completely different. Mario wore black and yellow while Luigi wore greenish-yellow. ”Now let’s put these powers to the test!” Mario exclaimed. “I’m now glad it’s the perfect day for a storm!” ”Your feeble toys are still no match for me!” Shadow Captain Celaeno declared. ”Your heads shall be under my blade!” ”Nope!” as Luigi shot a bolt of electricity. ”Bzzzgh! A good hit, but you’ll still have to do better than that, mateys! Take this!” ”How about a ‘Thunder Hammer’ for added measure?” Mario conformed. Mario charged up his hammer with electricity and charged back at the captain, whose sword was still electrified. Both held it off fiercely while Mario’s pony friends held their ground against the other pirates. ”You will succumb to the darkness!” Captain Celaeno cried. ”King Sombra is not your master!” Mario exclaimed. “I’m here to break you free from his control!” ”GAH!!!” as the captain got her sword swiped away by Mario. ”You stay right there, Captain Celaeno!” as Mario immobilized her with lightning. ”Nnnoooo, aaargghh!!!!!!!” ”Luigi, Cappy, over here!” Mario called out. “It’s time to finish her off once and for all!” ”What do we do now?” Cappy asked. ”There was a combo attack that Twilight taught me.” Mario replied. “I think it was called ‘Flying Hammer Chain.’” ”Ooh, ooh, I know what to do!” Mario exclaimed. “Twilight, for this attack, I shall call it ‘Flying Hammer Chain.’ Basically, I am going to throw my hammer at an enemy one time, then I throw Cappy to my hammer so that I can possess it and hit the enemy in midair the second time, and finally, you fly in to catch my hammer so that you can swing at the enemy yourself. The faster you fly in and catch me, the harder your swing will hit!” ”I guess I’m filling in for Twilight, right bro?” Luigi interrogated. ”Yeah, get ready too, Cappy!” Mario added. ”Ready on you, Mario!” ”3... 2... 1... Now!” The attack sequence began as Mario threw his hammer at the paralyzed captain with a widespread throw. Then, he threw Cappy onto his hammer and came swinging down on Celaeno again. Finally, Luigi flew in fast to grab Mario and took the last swing against the already weak parrot. ”What’s...happening... to my body?” as Captain Celaeno’s voice pitch was restored. You will regret this again, Mario... as another shadow pony left the captain’s body. ”Captain, is everything okay?” A crew member demanded. ”T-The ship!” She stuttered. “The storm’s too strong, we’re going down!” ”Follow me!” Mario yelled. ”Who are you?” Celaeno minded. ”Not now, we’re going to jump!” ”HUPPP!!!” as everyone jumped for safety. The pirates’ airship started to fall out of commission by the fierce lightning, but Mario’s team and Captain Celaeno’s crew were able to safely reach Daring Do’s house. The sail of King Sombra’s image was torn off and even though the ship was going down, the sail was restored to the crew’s normal pirate image. Nevertheless, everyone ran inside the house in order to catch their breath. ”Is everypony okay?” Rainbow Dash checked up. ”Aargh, why do I feel like I’ve been smacked on me head?” A male parrot groaned. ”Rainbow Dash & Fluttershy?” Captain Celaeno asked. “It’s nice to see you two, but...how did we end up in Cloudsdale?” ”I think Mario can explain that, Captain.” Fluttershy smiled. ”Mario? Why does that name sound familiar?” ”Yeah, that’s me. Everything’s all right, Captain. King Sombra no longer has control over you and your crew.” ”Wait, I remember that now...” The captain thought. “The last thing that scallywag told me before I got possessed was to lead my crew in order to stop Mario, which is you, and find the Ring of Destiny...” ”Looks like you weren’t kidding.” as Daring Do dried herself. “The Ring of Destiny shouldn’t be toyed around with.” ”It seems like we’re finally free!” Captain Celaeno gasped. “Mario, thank you so much for getting rid of the demons controlling us! I hope we didn’t deal any low blows to you and your friends.” ”Not a problem. I’m more concerned about whether or not I actually hurt you severely. Are you all right, though?” ”Yes, I’m fine, even though I’m still feeling a bit of volts running through me.” The captain replied. “That shadow probably took all the hits when it was still inside me, so I only felt half the pain.” ”That’s good to know.” Cappy admitted. ”Oh Mario, I almost forgot, hehe!” Captain Celaeno giggled. “I’d like you to meet the rest of my crew! This is Boyle, Lix Spittle, Mullet, and Squabble!” ”Ahoy there, mateys!” The crew greeted. ”So, how long have you guys been sailing?” Luigi inquired. ”SQWAK!” Squabble squawked. “We’ve been sailing the Sea of Clouds for so long that I’ve started to lose count!” ”No matter where we go, the treasure always ends up in our grasp.” Mullet foretold. ”We fire the cannons like there’s no tomorrow.” Boyle deliberated. ”And you can’t fight scallywags unless you’ve eaten some of my finest grub to toughen yourself up!” Lix Spittle chuckled. ”But most importantly, you always need to have a loyal captain that will look out for his or her crew...” Celaeno winked. ”Wow...” Mario hummed. “Speaking of your crew, we’re really sorry about your airship, Captain Celaeno.” ”Ah, that’s okay, Mario! This isn’t the first time our ship hasn’t been wrecked like this. I’m sure we can fix it up in no time.” ”SQWAK, what she said!” Squabble spit out. ”Lads, since you’ve been courageous enough to help us, I think it’s safe to assume that the treasure now belongs to you now.” Mullet said. ”Thank you!” Mario complimented. ”I’ll go get the Ring of Destiny from the attic, Mario.” Daring Do volunteered. “Feel free to grab a snack or something, but don’t touch my sandwich.” ”Dang it, so close!” Rainbow whispered. ”Thanks, Daring Do!” Mario also complimented. 8:45AM Unknown Location Thursday ”Looks like your new plan ended up in utter failure again, my love.” Shadow Peach firmed up. “A whole crew of pirates and yet they couldn’t defeat Mario and his friends?” Grrr... This is an embarrassment indeed, darling... This is just yet another minor setback for us... ”You think this is funny?” Shadow Peach groaned. “The more you keep saying that, the more frustrated I start to become! Can’t you at least step it up for real this time?” Relax, dear... I promise you that the third time will be the charm for sure... We just need to get ahold of that Tempest Shadow... ”Speaking of her, where could she be? You said it yourself that she’s incredibly fast, strong, and evasive, which makes me believe that it’ll be impossible to find her. Doesn’t that seem like karma in your thinking, my shadow husband?” I know what I’m doing... If all else fails, then it’ll finally be time for you to show them what you’re made of... ”I’m not called the ‘Shadow Queen’ for nothing.” Shadow Peach bragged. “At least, try and get your full power already so that we may team up on Mario and destroy him and those worthless ruffians he hangs around with!” When the time is right, my love... How are our guests doing, by the way? ”They’re being well-fed and rested, but not for long.” Shadow Peach replied. “I thought I’d make them comfortable before they’re about to face their imminent deaths.” Excellent... It seems that the Princess of Friendship went off with her own squad of allies as well... ”I still don’t care about any of them.” Shadow Peach huffed. “What’s going on with that pathetic excuse for a king, however?” Hmm, looks he and his squad left Princess Twilight’s castle slightly later than Mario’s squad... They went to Ponhenge to go find the Old Pillars of Equestria... Let me ssssee... ”The Princess of Friendship, Rarity, and Professor E. Gadd went off to Canterlot to go talk to Princess Celestia about the Memory Stone.” Shadow Peach said. “To be honest, I would be bored yet curious to see how they ended up doing.” Let me guessss... You wanted to storm the castle and just completely obliterate everything, right? ”And this is why I love you. You always know what I have in mind, unlike that stupid plumber! When I get my hands on him, I’m going to start doing all sorts of evil things to him! He won’t even know what hit him...” That’sss the ssspirit... Once the list is complete, we will be unstoppable, perfect life forms in all of Equestria... Nothing can stand in our way... Mwahahaha... ”I’ll admit that it’s pretty funny to know that you were once beaten before by a puny baby dragon in the past.” Shadow Peach let out. Like I said, the third time will be the charm, and no Crystal Heart is going to stop me this time... 12: Fiery Truth, Part 18:20AM Ponyville Station Thursday ”All aboard the Friendship Express!” The conductor yelled. ”It’s about time.” Bowser said. Among this group were Bowser, Spike, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie. According to the train routes, Manehattan is the last stop, and Ponhenge is just a couple stops before, which is where the group needed to go. Even though the place was written in tiny letters, it was listed under a place called Hollow Shades. ”It was a good thing y’all ate something before we got on, otherwise we’d be there for a while.” A.J mentioned. ”Pinkie, Bowser wasn’t kidding when he said your lemon frosted cupcakes were delicious!” Spike lauded. ”It’s sincere service...with a smile!” Pinkie winked. ”We’ll gobble on some more later once we get the job done, alright?” Bowser asked. “I wonder what my kids and troops are doing right now...” ”Ooh, you got kids?” Pinkie intrigued. “What do they like to do for fun?” ”Umm, what you call fun here, we don’t exactly have that same kind of fun in the Mushroom Kingdom. I don’t want to talk about it, thank you.” ”Hey, you guys see that up there?” Spike asked as he looked out the window of the train. ”Looks like some kind of airship.” A.J pointed out. “Maybe Air Pegasus has a new means of transportation!” ”I don’t exactly remember Pegasus ponies using an airship to deliver mail.” Spike suspected. ”I’m sure Mario will tell us about it later.” Bowser said. “So, who exactly are the Old Pillars of Equestria?” ”Once upon a time, in the magical land of...” ”Applejack, the short version.” Spike requested. ”Right, sorry! The Old Pillars of Equestria were actually the original Elements of Harmony. They were the ones who protected Equestria from all the evils for more than centuries, until that duty was passed on to Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, and eventually us. Star Swirl the Bearded is Sorcery, Mage Meadowbrook is Healing, Flash Magnus is Bravery, Mistmane is Beauty, Rockhoof is Strength, and Somnambula is Hope.” ”I’m guessing that together with Twilight, you’re now the Elements of Magic, Kindness, Loyalty, Generosity, Honesty, and Laughter, right?” Bowser asked. ”Right you are, partner.” A.J replied. “If them Old Pillars are unable to lend us their artifacts, maybe they can team up with us to overthrow Sombra’s shenanigans instead.” ”It’s like fighting fun with fun!” Pinkie exclaimed. ”I haven’t been the brightest bulb when it comes to stopping Mario, but I’ve easily dealt with more threatening pests before.” Bowser said. ”Yeah, what’s up with that?” Spike minded. “What exactly made you and Mario enemies with each other?” ”He’s always been thwarting my plans to kidnap Princess Peach. There’s a reason why I keep doing it, but even just thinking about it makes me uncomfortable. I don’t know if you ponies, or even Mario, want to hear it, though.” ”The truth always hurts, but I believe that you can move past this if you just be honest.” A.J reassured. ”Once this whole thing blows by, Bowser, you can talk to Mario about it if it helps.” Spike added. ”Nobody, not even Mario or Luigi, except me knows that Princess Peach actually has abusive parents.” ”WHAT???” Twilight’s friends gasped. ”It explains why Princess Peach stays mostly quiet all these years. She’s too scared and traumatized to do anything about it. So, I thought the only way to set her free from her abusive parents’ rule is doing the one thing I’ve been doing for so long. I really thought I could make Princess Peach happy and give her a new life away from the Mushroom Kingdom, but Mario doesn’t realize what she’s actually going through and goes after me instead.” ”Do you actually hate Mario?” Pinkie asked calmly. ”I... I don’t, but...” ”But you’re worried about things going even darker, right?” A.J thought. ”H-How did you know that?” Bowser quizzed. ”I can see the look in your eyes, sugarcube. Ya basically kept this whole thing a secret from Mario, and if it was all revealed, then you would probably fear that Princess Peach’s parents would start a revolution against your kingdom. I get it.” ”What’s that supposed to mean?” Bowser asked. ”I think you don’t hate Mario, but you’ve been putting him aside in order to confront who you thought were the real enemies.” Spike said. “There’s just so much that you’ve also been going through, is there Bowser?” ”Yeah, I’ve been going through a lot. I’m pretty sure that every time I invade the Mushroom Kingdom and grab the princess, her parents don’t even bother to save her and they just flee like the Toads who live there.” 8:25AM Inside Peach’s Mind Thursday ”B-Bowser... Is that...true?” ”Pipe down, will you?” Shadow Peach spit out. “I’m in charge here, and everything that comes out of your friends’ mouths will not be of any significance to me! I’m just going to pretend that I did not hear Bowser.” ”Mario and Luigi will definitely team up with him to stop your evil plans!” Peach exclaimed. “I know they’ll come for me!” ”Oh Princess, Princess, Princess...” Shadow Peach grinned. “When will you finally realize that hope and love will get you nowhere in life? There is only despair, hatred, fear, and sadness! They are what truly fuel the Shadow Empire’s existence, and NOTHING is going to bring it down!” ”You know, I used to be possessed and tortured once like you, Shadow Queen, but I was thankfully restored and brought back to normal by Mario! He will kindly do it again for me!” ”Hahaha!!! Now, THAT is a bet I’m willing to wager! Obviously, the odds are stacked in my favor as I see that Mario will have a zero percent chance of beating me this time. No Crystal Star or Element of Harmony...is even going to touch me!” ”I still beg to differ!” Peach defied. “Like I said, M-Mar... Wait, what are you...?” ”Shh, you’re getting sleepy, Princess... Like I said, Mario will not come for you whatsoever, as long as I’m in control... Your conscience will be safe, but...it’ll take a LOT of effort for Mario to restore yourself. I...am the real Peach...” 13: Fiery Truth, Part 28:30AM Hollow Shades Thursday ”Well, we made it, folks!” A.J exclaimed. ”This place looks like a wasteland!” Bowser asserted. “Are you sure this is where we need to go?” ”If we go back just a few feet the way we came, we should reach Ponhenge, which is at the base of Foal Mountain.” Pinkie Pie said. ”Thank Celestia that you don’t have to climb to the top of the mountain every time you come here!” Spike stated. ”Let’s hurry before King Sombra might launch another attack like last time with Trixie.” Bowser said. ”I hope she’s able to recover quickly, by the way.” Pinkie assumed. ”We ain’t got time to waste!” A.J exclaimed. Bowser’s team ran to this mountain range that was several feet high, even reaching half the height of the sky. A small forest appeared before the group at the base of the mountain, and in the middle of it were some vertical, uniquely-shaped stones. ”Concentrate a little harder on your meditation, ponies.” A masculine voice spoke. ”We are trying our very best, Stygian, but this will not be perfect unless we know when it is.” An old, bearded unicorn said. ”There they are.” A.J whispered. “Just follow my lead and I’ll explain everything, mm’kay?” ”Uh-huh!” The rest of the group replied. ”Ahem.” A.J coughed. “Excuse me?” ”Who goes there, lads?” as a muscular looking stallion opened his eyes. “Ah, could that be you, Applejack?” ”Eeyup, it’s me again, Rockhoof! How are the rest of y’all doing?” ”Welcome back to our sanctuary, Applejack.” The old pony spoke again. “And I see that you’ve brought the Element of Laughter, Pinkie Pie, Spike the Brave & Glorious, and... Who’s the newcomer?” ”My name is Bowser, King of the Koopas. I’m not from Equestria, but I came here from another world to help these ponies save this one from impeccable destruction.” ”Judging by your literally sharp appearance, you definitely reveal yourself as a newcomer.” An old female unicorn presumed. ”Destruction in Equestria will not be tolerated, but we can’t just help unless you provide an explanation, and fast.” A female Pegasus pony considered. ”Either way, I’m sure we can fix it up in a jiffy.” A female Earth pony declared. ”If this problem gets out of hoof, things are going to get nasty.” A male Pegasus pony conjectured. ”Bowser, I’d like ya to meet Star Swirl the Bearded, Mage Meadowbrook, Flash Magnus, Mistmane, Rockhoof, and Somnambula!” A.J introduced. “These are the Pillars of Old Equestria.” ”Oh cool, but I thought they were called the Old Pillars of Equestria.” ”It varies!” Pinkie jumped in. ”If you really speak of danger, King Bowser, do not make haste and explain to us what it is!” Star Swirl demanded. ”Some unicorn named King Sombra invaded my world, which is the Mushroom Kingdom, captured the princess there and he’s brought her here so that she can serve under him as a slave. My other...friends all ended up so that we can find the princess and defeat Sombra!” ”You’re talking about THE King Sombra that was destroyed several years ago?” Star Swirl huffed. “I don’t believe that at all!” ”It’s true, Star Swirl.” Spike said. “He appeared in Twilight’s castle right before our very eyes, and he’s even got her parents hostage!” ”Oh come on, guys!” Flash Magnus exclaimed. “This’ll be the fourth time that King Sombra’s going down!” ”You mean third, right?” Spike persisted. “The first time, he was defeated by Princess Celestia & Princess Luna, and Twilight & I beat him the second time, so this week will make it his third defeat.” ”I’m afraid Flash is right, little one.” Mistmane sighed. “We beat King Sombra the first time, believe it or not.” Mage Meadowbrook admitted. ”He was a weakling trying to claim the Crystal Empire’s throne, but we pummeled him way to the ground easily.” Rockhoof explained. ”The second time around, only Star Swirl’s most faithful students were able to do it again while King Sombra actually managed to rise to power that time.” Somnambula clarified. ”And yet, the Frozen North somehow manages to keep a piece of his broken horn intact.” Star Swirl expounded. ”Shouldn’t the Crystal Heart already be enough to stop Sombra, y’all?” A.J inquired. “It’s as simple as that, and yet, he’s making us go fetch the Elements of Harmony, the Sun Book, the Memory Stone, and your artifacts as we speak.” ”There’s no way we’re letting him corrupt Equestria’s most important means of defense!” Star Swirl declared. “Are you sure it’s a good idea to bring all of them to him?” ”We’re planning an elaborate ruse on him, don’t worry.” Bowser replied. “Besides, there’s more of us to fight and he only has the help of our princess, who has now been possessed.” ”Yes, but do you realize how powerful the king will be once he gathers the power of all these valuable items?” Star Swirl realized. “He’s going to become an unstoppable god, for crying out loud!” ”First, we need to make sure that there are no civilian casualties.” Mistmane included. ”The thing is that King Sombra won’t tell us where he and Princess Peach are unless we get the artifacts first.” Pinkie Pie said. “Bowser’s friends all split up and went with Twilight and the others to find the missing items, so that we can regroup at Twilight’s castle.” ”That sounds awful, my young ponies.” Rockhoof sighed. “By the way, what a lovely name for a princess!” ”Don’t worry y’all, we’ve already messaged the rulers of the Crystal Empire to see if we could borrow the Crystal Heart.” A.J added. ”Now, let me ask the real question already.” Bowser said. “Will you six help my friends and I defeat King Sombra so that we can return to the Mushroom Kingdom with our princess?” ”Hmm...” as Star Swirl rubbed his beard. “Stygian, can you come here for just a bit?” ”Yes, what is it, Star Swirl?” The small unicorn abided. ”We need you to do something very important for us. You must find Sunburst and inform him and the royal couple about our progress on our upcoming attack on King Sombra. They have no choice but to either fight with us or evacuate everypony inside the Crystal Empire.” ”Hold on a second!” Pinkie halted. “If you evacuate everypony over there, Sombra has a pretty good chance of taking over the place, and that won’t be fun!” ”The Crystal Heart...” Bowser thought to himself. “Why does it remind me of the Crystal Stars from way back?” ”Then, fighting it shall be!” as Flash Magnus pumped himself up. ”Hurry Stygian, there’s not much time!” Somnambula warned. ”I’ll be back as soon as I can, guys. Stay safe out there!” The small unicorn dashed off into the woods as he left immediately. Bowser’s team now faced the Old Pillars’ stone pedestals, which had different symbols on each of them. ”Now then, we shall lend you four allies our most beloved artifacts in this dire situation.” Star Swirl concluded. “However, fatal consequences will happen to Equestria if something actually happens to the artifacts, so guard them with all your lives.” ”Right this way, King Bowser.” Mistmane guided. ”Not so fast!!!” A feminine voice shouted. ”Oh no, I recognize that darn voice anywhere, even from a blue moon!” A.J cried. ”N-no...” Spike’s jaw dropped. ”YES!!! It is I, Queen Chrysalis! I’m back for sweet revenge!” Queen Chrysalis is a female Changeling, who has holes around her body and horn, much like Hunter’s. Most of her features are green, like her wings, tail, mane, and eyes. Her crown also had four little orbs. According to Hunter, she was the former leader of the Changelings, until Thorax defeated her before. ”Way to ruin the party, meanie!” Pinkie grunted. ”What do you want this time, Chrysalis?” Spike demanded. ”Simple. I’m always one step ahead of you worthless ponies, and I even discovered about King Sombra’s plan to rule over Equestria with these special items that you are now collecting. I’m that sneaky... But, it is I who will use these items to stop Sombra and conquer Equestria with my Changeling Army! Bwahahaha!!!” ”So, you’re the creep who made Hunter leave your army to go find this Thorax...” Bowser reminisced. ”Those two traitors don’t know how to be a real Changeling like me!” Chrysalis added. “Who are you anyway, you imbecile?” ”I am Bowser, King of the Koopas. I think it’s time that we have a royal rumble and see who gets to use these items to defeat King Sombra! Winner takes all!” ”You do realize what you’re getting yourself into, right?” Star Swirl reminded. ”Relax there, good sir.” Bowser asserted. “I got this under control and no king or queen is going to stop this titan!” ”You don’t scare me at all!” The Changeling Queen spit out. “I can do whatever I want with you and these ponies, and you won’t even get a chance to land a single hit!” ”That’s where you’re wrong, Chrysalis!” A.J stepped in. “Ya ain’t gonna last that long in this rodeo!” ”Flee now while you can, jerk!” Pinkie yapped. ”Put ‘em up!” as Spike sharpened his claws. ”Showtime!!!” Bowser ranted. The Pillars of Old Equestria retreated to their pedestals to gather their artifacts, while Bowser’s team faced off against Queen Chrysalis. She smiled menacingly as she took a step back and shapeshifted into her first fake form. ”Let’s-a-go!” ”Oh, you can’t be serious!” as Bowser swayed his head back and forth. “She turned into Mario?” ”Remember Bowser, Chrysalis is the Queen of the Changelings, and can shapeshift into anypony...or anyone she comes across.” Spike explained. “She can copy attacks and use them against you.” ”Hammer time!” The fake Mario chanted. Mario’s doppelgänger rushed for Bowser with his hammer, but he blocked it with his spiky shell. ”The real Mario would know when I would pop in and out of my shell!” Bowser laughed. “It’s my turn to attack now! Haaarrrrr!!!” ”Hot, hot, hot!” as the fake Mario ran in circles while burning. ”Don’t let your guard down, mate!” Rockhoof called out in the background. ”Nice try, but that won’t do you any good, Bowser!” The doppelgänger exclaimed. “How about this?” ”Nice try, but the real Mario would know how to fight fire with fire!” as Bowser got back in his shell. ”Fine, have it your way!” The fake Mario uttered. “Why don’t I try something else?” ”This can’t be good...” Pinkie gulped. ”Oh great, Chrysalis is now Princess Twilight?” Bowser minded. “What do you think you’re getting at, fool?” ”I may teach friendship, but that doesn’t mean I don’t know how to teach you a thing or two about pain!” The fake Twilight smirked. “Watch and learn!” Princess Twilight’s clone flew up into the air and started to swoop down onto Bowser while shooting damage beams. However, his shell started to pick up speed as it was spinning out of control, and before Twilight landed, he shell dashed towards her, causing her to bounce back several feet. ”That’s gotta hurt.” Spike said softly. ”Who’s feeling scared now, Chryssi?” Bowser asked. ”I’m just getting started!” The fake Twilight huffed. “Just wait until you see THIS!” Queen Chrysalis shapeshifted yet again and this time, she turned into Bowser. The real one knew this was coming, but still, he wasn’t ready to give up at any time soon. ”I’ll show you who’s the real King of the Koopas!” Bowser’s doppelgänger pointed out. ”No, that’ll be me!” The real Bowser declared. ”Haaarrrrr!” as both Bowsers breathed fire at each other. Both Bowsers ended up flinching afterwards, but they were still standing strong. Meanwhile, the Pillars of Old Equestria finally got their artifacts from the pedestals and rushed towards Spike, A.J, and Pinkie. ”We got them!” Star Swirl exclaimed. “Tell King Bowser to come back here immediately!” ”Which Bowser is which, though?” as Flash Magnus scratched his head. ”Chrysalis...” Star Swirl nodded. “Don’t worry ponies, I know how to spot a Changeling in case one gets mixed up with the original pony. FREEZE!” Star Swirl’s horn had a white aura around it and he ended up shooting at both Bowsers, until Queen Chrysalis was reverted back to normal in the midst of the blast. The real Bowser quickly got back up and dusted himself off like it was nothing. ”Still as...powerful...as ever huh, Star Swirl?” as Chrysalis tried to regain focus. “This...isn’t over...” ”Bowser, time to finish her off, sugarcube!” A.J encouraged. “I’m ‘bout to show ya a real finisher right here called ‘Lasso Roundup.’” ”What do I do?” He asked. ”Get back into your shell, Bowser. I’m going to tie you up with my lasso and I’m going to swing you around and release you until you knock that cretin out.” ”Okay, I’m ready!” as Bowser got back inside his shell. Applejack started gritting her teeth tightly on her lasso as she grabbed Bowser’s shell and started to build up rotation speed. Spike, Pinkie, and the Old Pillars gave the duo some room for the combo attack, while Queen Chrysalis was too immobilized to even do anything. ”Woah, woah, woah!” as Bowser started getting dizzy. ”Hey Chrysalis, think fast!” as A.J released Bowser. ”Wh-What..are...you?” Bowser’s rapidly spinning shell launched himself at Chrysalis and she ended up getting spiked on all sides, still leaving her in the dust. ”Gaaah!!!” The Changeling Queen moaned. ”Ooh, ooh, can I do something too?” as Pinkie raised her hoof excitingly. ”Go ahead, Pinkie.” Spike replied confidently. ”Sweet! Bowser, hop in!” ”In your confetti cannon? It’s too small for me, I can’t fit in there!” ”Nonsense silly, this party cannon can fit anything inside, no matter what the size is!” Pinkie corrected. “I’m going to fire you off at Chrysalis, and you’ll land on her, making this the ‘Cannon Slam!’” ”Alright alright, I’ll get in!” Bowser yelled. ”Spike, would you mind lighting it up for me?” Pinkie requested. ”Hoooo... It’s lit, Pinkie!” ”What exactly did I sign up for, Pinkie?” Bowser thought to himself. ”5... 4... 3... 2... 1... Blast off!!!” Pinkie counted down. After the party cannon’s fuse was lit up, Bowser was launched yet again at Queen Chrysalis. This time, he attempted to do a body slam upon landing on her corpse, just like Pinkie mentioned. ”Eat this!!!” as Bowser fully extended his arms and legs upon his descent. “Hahahaha!!!” [ceneter]”NOOOOOO!!!!!!” as Queen Chrysalis started to lose consciousness. ”Equestria is a land meant for friendship, not for war, Chrysalis...” Star Swirl soaked it all in. 14: Equestria & BeyondAfter Queen Chrysalis was left lying, beaten down on the ground by Bowser, him and his friends were approached by the Pillars of Old Equestria. They were all carrying their artifacts in unison. ”I now understand the way you fight.” Star Swirl the Bearded said. “It is not merely old-fashioned like our combat, but it is quite effective. I was beginning to have doubts about you, Your Highness, but I see that you are capable of holding your own and defending these artifacts with your life. Let us get you and your allies back to Princess Twilight’s castle.” ”Thanks...” as Bowser followed him. “How many times have you guys encountered Queen Chrysalis, by the way?” ”Twice before, and we had to rely on somepony else to save us both times.” Spike replied. ”We got our cupcakes handed to us by the worst party crasher ever!” Pinkie cried. ”Looks like you managed to do just the same this time, partner!” A.J winked. ”Yeah, but...I couldn’t have done it without you ponies.” Bowser said. “I think we did our part for now, but let’s just go find Mario in the meantime.” ”Everypony, gather around.” Star Swirl instructed. “We’re about to magically transport ourselves to Princess Twilight’s castle. Hold on to the artifacts, I say!” The Old Pillars’ artifacts consisted of Star Swirl the Bearded’s spell book, Mage Meadowbrook’s mask, Flash Magnus’ shield, Mistmane’s flower, Rockhoof’s shovel, and Somnambula’s blindfold. Without further hesitation, the wizard’s horn glowed white again as he used a bit of effort to gather everyone in the area and teleported away. Poof. 9:00AM Twilight’s Castle Thursday Poof. ”Hey, do you guys hear something?” Mario asked. “It sounds like someone’s here.” ”We’re back, everyone!” Bowser called out. “Look who we managed to find..” ”The Pillars!” Twilight’s team shouted. ”We heard you ponies were in need of some proper assistance!” Meadowbrook gloated. ”Yes, but mostly this guy.” as Twilight pointed to Mario. ”So, I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that ‘M’ on your cap means you’re Mario, right?” Star Swirl guessed. ”Yeah, that’s me. You’ve already met Bowser, so I’d like you to also meet my brother, Luigi, Cappy, and Professor E. Gadd!” ”Hello!” Mario’s team greeted. ”Ah, hello there!” Star Swirl returned. “It’s always fascinating to see beings from another world, and finally ones that don’t mean any harm. Would you mind telling us about this Mushroom Kingdom you come from?” ”Sure, but I’ll try to make this as brief as possible.” Mario replied. “It’s a pretty peaceful place inhabited by people known as Toads. Things also seemed to get...tense between me and Bowser, but in times like these, we seem to work together nicely. I’m what Toads consider to be their hero, mostly their ruler, Princess Peach, who’s been kidnapped by King Sombra. Now, we finally have the items that we need in order to find their location.” ”Does he really mean that?” Bowser thought to himself. ”Princess Peach unfortunately got possessed and turned into Shadow Queen Peach, which isn’t the first time this has happened to her.” Mario explained. ”We gotta move fast or we’ll never find the princess ever again!” Luigi sobbed. ”It’s a good thing Daring Do gave us the Ring of Destiny to start off with.” Cappy said. ”I’m still sorry about what happened to your ship, Captain Celaeno.” Fluttershy gloomed. ”Nah, it’s not the end of the world. I really appreciate you letting me stay here with my crew until my ship gets fixed though, Twilight!” ”You’re welcome! Rarity, Professor E. Gadd, and I managed to obtain the Memory Stone from Princess Celestia. I also got the Sun Book from the library ready.” ”And we have the artifacts ready in hoof.” Somnambula commented. ”Uhh, Twilight?” as Spike poked her. ”My Cutie Mark! It’s glowing again!” ”Mine too!” Twilight’s friends uttered. The Mane Six’s Cutie Marks were all glowing and a projection of them was pointing to Twilight’s castle on the Cutie Map. Twilight’s Cutie Mark was the one star surrounded in the middle by her friends’ Cutie Marks. However, a dark cloud started to swirl up on the table. Mario... ”King Sombra!” Everyone yelled. ”Greetings, travelers!” Shadow Peach smirked. “And how especially wonderful it is to meet you again, Mario!” ”Peach, I know you’re in there somewhere! You must break free from his evil spell! You can be pure as ever again!” ”What are you talking about?” Shadow Peach asked. “There is nothing wrong with me, I’m perfectly fine. Besides, your lovely Princess Peach doesn’t exist anymore!” ”N-no...” Mario heaved. ”We finished your stupid list, Sombra!” Twilight exclaimed. “Just tell us where you’re hiding so you can give my parents and Princess Peach back!” I guess you actually have my items... Well, a deal’s a deal, but...I’m not quite satisfied yet... ”What is the meaning of this, you fool?” Star Swirl demanded an answer. “How do you keep coming back? You know what we do to ponies who put innocent lives at risk, don’t you?” ”It’s time we get some darn payback, lads!” Rockhoof nodded. Honey, why don’t you explain to our servants what they’ll be doing next?” ”Certainly, my love.” Shadow Peach replied. “Mario, you must reach the top of Mount Aris with Princess Twilight and her friends. However, if you bring Luigi or any other of your friends, then say goodbye to Princess Peach and Twilight’s parents! Bring the list of items with you as expected. I will meet you there by myself. You must arrive before tomorrow. Do you understand completely?” ”...Yes, Peach.” ”Crying is definitely not going to bring Princess Peach back!” Shadow Peach bickered. “It’s only going to make things easier for when we finish building the Shadow Empire!” ”Fine, but don’t pull off anything suspicious while we get there!” Twilight solicited. We won’t... Anyways, you ponies better get a move on if you know what’s good for Equestria... Sombra out... ”What a big jerk...” as Spike crossed his arms. ”Hey Mario, where are you going?” Luigi interrogated. ”I’m going home... I can’t deal with this right now...” ”But Mario, we all need you!” Twilight encouraged. “I need you!” ”Yeah, what she said!” Rainbow mentioned. “Cheer up buddy!” ”You can’t give up on your friends, right Mario?” Cappy wondered. ”Well, I really appreciate everything that you’ve done for me, but...I just want to be alone right now... Professor, can you show me where the warp pipe is?” ”S-Sure...” E. Gadd frowned. Mario slowly waved off to everyone as he left the castle with Professor E. Gadd to go back to the Mushroom Kingdom. Everyone was in complete disbelief at the moment. ”Is nobody going to stop that boy from leaving?” as A.J gave a dirty look. ”No!” Luigi exclaimed. “We can’t force Mario to feel better, he has to take it slowly. I would go after him, but seeing him like that makes me feel the same way.” ”Maybe I can cheer him up.” Bowser insisted. “I know I always haven’t gotten along with Mario, but...maybe it’s time for that to change.” ”Are you sure you know where you’re going with this?” Rarity asked. ”Just trust me.” Bowser reassured. “You never know what could happen...” 15: Tales of Tails”Professor, wait up!” Bowser called out. ”Oh? What can I do for you, Bowser?” ”Where is the warp pipe? I need to find Mario.” ”It’s just through the forest over there.” E. Gadd replied. “Mario wanted to be alone, remember?” ”Yeah, but I feel like we can’t do anything without him.” Bowser said. “We really don’t have much time to find Sombra. I’m going to see if I can help Mario out, one way or another.” ”And you’re sure he’ be okay with that, Bowser?” Professor E. Gadd asked. ”We haven’t been arguing or anything since we got here. I guess it’s safe to say that we are getting along.” ”Hurry, Bowser!” The professor exclaimed. “The princess is counting on us!” ”I’m going!” The Koopa King ran into the Everfree Forest, where Professor E. Gadd’s time portal was still hanging around. He obviously couldn’t fit inside and had to take the professor’s newly built warp pipe, secretly hiding in the middle of a patch of bushes. ”Here goes nothing...” as Bowser got ready to jump in. 9:15AM Mushroom Kingdom Thursday ”Oof... Aw man, that’s gotta be a painful landing... Why’s it so dark in here? Mario? I need to go upstairs and find him.” The warp pipe that led Bowser back to the Mushroom Kingdom made him end up in the basement of Princess Peach’s castle. When he first invaded the Mushroom Kingdom yesterday, his trembling dimmed out all the lights. So, Bowser found a put out torch and decided to light it back up by breathing fire on it. ”Mario? Hello? Is there anybody home?” Hnnrgh... ”Who’s there? Talk to me at this instant!” Nnnrgh... ”Okay, if you’re not going to show yourself, I might as well come after you! Come out from wherever you’re hiding!” As Bowser approached a set of stairs, he heard the source of the crying coming from underneath the staircase. He crept slowly and slowly, waiting to attack at any moment. Then, suddenly... ”NO, STAY BACK I SAY!!!” An old man yelled. ”Wait a minute...” Bowser paused. “Toadsworth?” ”K-King Bowser? W-What are you still doing here? I thought you left already with Princess Peach!” ”I was supposed to, but now I need to find Mario and save her from some unicorn named King Sombra. This time, she’s going back home safely to the Mushroom Kingdom, where she belongs.” Toadsworth is Princess Peach’s elderly steward, or caretaker as how commoners would call it. Like other Toads, Toadsworth is short and stout. Despite his age, he is quite energetic. He also speaks with a southern English accent. He’s been traveling with Princess Peach for many years, looking after her by her side. Regardless of his position, he cares deeply for the princess very much in a fatherly manner. ”I-I don’t believe you! Even if Mario manages to save Princess Peach, you’ll just go back to kidnapping her as usual!” ”Trust me, I won’t.” Bowser spoke. “In fact, Mario and I seem to be finally getting along with each other. I just happened to have come back to the castle to try and find him. He’s not in the best of moods right now, though.” ”What seems to be troubling him?” as Toadsworth calmed his breathing. “I think I saw him go upstairs, but I’ve been very restless hiding under these stairs since yesterday to even notice a thing.” ”Just take it easy for now.” Bowser said. “After this is all over, the Mushroom Kingdom can go back to living in peace.” ”Why are you helping us, anyway?” Toadsworth wondered. “I thought only power was the only thing that mattered to you.” ”Yeah, but what’s the point of it all anyway if I’m just going to keep on failing? After Mario and I made some new friends in the world where Princess Peach is held in, it made me realize that...it’s time I started doing the right thing. All this time, I wanted Princess Peach to live a better life, but kidnapping her is basically forcing her into situations that she doesn’t want to be in.” ”What are you trying to tell me?” Toadsworth asked again. ”I don’t want to be evil anymore. I mean, it’s cool having all these powers and what not, but who would want to live in a world where destruction leaves nothing left?” ”I see... What about Mario?” ”I’m going to try and cheer him up. We actually don’t have much time before Princess Peach goes missing, so I gotta hurry this up. It was, uh, nice running into you...” ”W-Wait a minute, King Bowser!” Toadsworth interrupted. ”Hmm, yes Toadsworth?” ”Look after Princess Peach.” ”I will.” As Bowser ran up the stairs, he ended up in the west wing of Princess Peach’s castle. Not much has changed, except for the fact that the dining room was left open. He started walking towards the room to see if Mario or anyone else was still left inside. ”Mario? Hello?” Sniff sniff. ”Mario, is that you?” Bowser peeked inside. Another torch lit the room, and it turned out that Mario was actually here. He seemed to be staring at a giant painting of Princess Peach with his arms crossed. He got up close and personal with it that he even felt the painting with his hand. ”There you are, Mario!” Bowser called out. “Is...everything alright?” ”...Bowser?” Mario sniffed. “Hey, I never thought I’d get to see you follow me like this! What’s up?” ”I came by to see if there was anything I could do that would lighten things up for you. We all need you right now to beat King Sombra once and for all so you can save Princess Peach! You have to cheer up, Mario!” ”I know, but...I just can’t. I can’t stand to see Princess Peach like that again. Like I said, I appreciate your guys’ help, but now’s not the time.” ”That’s not Princess Peach.” Bowser corrected. “That’s just a demon trying to take control of Princess Peach. How come you weren’t like this the first time she turned into the Shadow Queen?” ”Something about King Sombra possessing the princess this time makes it even more terrifying.” Mario replied. “I don’t want to see her succumb to the darkness!” ”She won’t!” Bowser firmed up. “Remember, Twilight said that Sombra feeds off of fear and hatred. Don’t let it get to your head, Mario, or you’ll also end up being his slave!” ”I know, but...it’s really hard for me. Maybe I just need to stop thinking about what the princess has become on the outside and think about how she really is on the inside. Who knows?” ”Yeah, that’s a good start.” Bowser said. “I could see that you’re no longer crying now. Just take a deep breath in and out.” ”Hooo...” Mario inhaled and exhaled. “I have no fear... I have no hatred...” ”Good, good, good. You know what I think? There’s something I have to tell you that’ll probably make you feel even better, Mario, if you’re interested.” ”What is it, Bowser?” ”You and Princess Peach were really meant for each other. I mean, she obviously has expressed her gratitude towards your heroic deeds, hasn’t she? She feels so happy when you’re around.” ”You really think so? It’s not like I’m in her castle 24/7 or anything, but yeah, I guess I really have been falling for Princess Peach. Thanks, Bowser!” ”Haha, now there’s your smile!” Bowser chuckled. “How are you feeling now?” ”I think I’m feeling better now!” Mario exclaimed. “Do you mind if I say something too?” ”Go ahead, Mario.” ”Maybe you and I were meant to get along in the first place. I know you’ve always had a thing for kidnapping the princess, but I guess she matters to you as much as she does to me.” ”She does matter to us equally.” Bowser admitted. “I know I’ve been playing rough all these years, but it’s definitely time I put an end to these evil deeds. No more kidnapping and fighting from me at this point, alright? Are we...friends now?” ”Friends...” as Mario offered a handshake. ”Thank you, Mario.” as the Koopa King returned the handshake. “C’mon, let’s get back to Twilight.” ”Yeah, but first, let me... Wait, what’s happening?” ”MARIO!!!!!!” a grumpy voice from outside the castle yelled. Yet another earthquake trembled throughout the Mushroom Kingdom, and at an even higher magnitude than when Bowser and King Sombra first came in. It was so strong that the long dining room table flipped all the way until it was upside down. ”That voice sounds familiar to me. Let’s get out there, Bowser!” ”Got it!” The two allies ran outside Peach’s castle while still holding their torches. The earthquake continued throughout their escape until the two of them finally made it outside the castle. Their jaws dropped massively hard when they found the source of the voice...or three, rather. ”It can’t be...” as Mario covered his mouth. “Hooktail, Gloomtail, and Bonetail???” Hooktail is a large, female red dragon, with a cream-colored underside, jaw, and cheeks. She has small red-and-purple wings on her back, and antennae resembling ponytails on her head. She has large red feet with purple claws, and her tail is light purple, thin, and forked into three parts. Gloomtail is the middle sibling in the "Tail" family. He is the older brother of Hooktail and the younger brother of Bonetail. Upon hearing Mario's former partners say they defeated his sister Hooktail in her castle a long time ago, Gloomtail vowed to destroy Mario and company and avenge his sister. He lives in the Palace of Shadow beyond the Thousand-Year Door. Bonetail is a large, skeletal dragon who lives in the Pit of 100 Trials, beneath the city of Rogueport. It is the older brother of Gloomtail and Hooktail. Unlike its still-living siblings, it is an undead dragon, having died of old age after not eating anything for centuries at the bottom of the Pit of 100 Trials. It was once a pet of the Shadow Queen, but legend never stated why or how Bonetail came to reside at the bottom of the Pit. ”How are you three still alive?” Mario demanded. “I thought I killed you all!” ”That’s where you’re wrong!” Bonetail shouted. “You may have left us for dead, but in the end, we were able to recover to the fullest!” ”Now that the three of us have finally reunited once again, we will gladly put an end to your story, Mario!” Hooktail laughed. ”Any last words before we put you out of your misery?” Gloomtail waited. ”I’ve stopped you all before and I will do it again right now!” Mario pointed at them angrily. ”Oh really?” Bonetail asked. “With what assistance? Certainly not from that puny, weak turtle down there!” ”Hey, who are you calling puny and weak?” Bowser roared. “I never got to meet any of you dragons outside of Rogueport, but now’s the time we finally get down to business!” ”Oh, it’ll be our pleasure, hehe!” Gloomtail giggled. “Oh, by the way, Mario? You remember your lifelong friends that you’ve met since you came to Rogueport? They were great sources of food for us!” ”YOU ATE MY FRIENDS???” as Mario stomped the ground. “HOW DARE YOU!!!” ”Mario, there’s nothing to worry about!” Hooktail lied. “At least, they’ll be living happily ever after...while resting in PIECES, hahaha!” ”Wow, and I thought I was evil.” Bowser disbelieved. “Whatever, you three giant doofuses are going down!” ”My dear siblings, it is now time to exact our revenge on Mario, and we’ll even kill Bowser as an added bonus.” Bonetail confirmed. “Do not fall to him once again.” ”Bring it, cowards!” Mario challenged. The three dragon siblings started to fly all around the castle, in hopes that Mario and Bowser are unable to reach them. Although the two were dodging their claws and breaths of fire, Mario’s hammer throw wasn’t within range of them and neither was Bowser’s fire. The earthquakes were more of a volcanic eruption than just earth tremors. ”So, you got any plans, Mario?” Bowser questioned. ”Uhh, not any that I can think of! Ooh, if only Luigi and the others were here, we can at least outnumber these freaks!” ”Look out!” as Bowser ducked with Mario. ”Psst, you two are so helpless!” as Bonetail cooled off his breath. “It is now time to unleash our full power!” ”And with pleasure!” as both other dragons lined up behind Bonetail. Bonetail, Hooktail, and Gloomtail all started to line up in the form of a train and opened up their razor sharp teeth. Facing Mario and Bowser in front of the castle, they all started to swoop down and attempted to consume the two head on. ”Brace for impact!” as Bowser hid. ”This is not good!” Mario exclaimed. “They’re going to destroy the castle!” ”Well, is there anything inside that we can use, Mario?” Bowser worried. ”I think the Toads might’ve stored a Mega Mushroom somewhere in the basement, but it’s going to be hard to find it in the dark. You have to take it, though!” ”Hoooo, that’s fine!” as Bowser kept breathing fire. “Just get down there while I try to distract the dragons!” ”I’m on it!” Mario confirmed and ran back inside. ”So, this is the warm welcome I get for coming back to the Mushroom Kingdom?” Bowser smirked. “All right punks, it’s just you and me now! Bam, a punch to your face is what you need, haha!” ”Grrr!” Gloomtail groaned. “Whatever, it’ll take more than that if you think you can stand up to me!” ”Where is it, where is it?” Mario panicked. “Why did it have to be so dark?” Storage Room ”Aha!” as Mario lit up the hallway with a torch. “It’s in one of these blocks, which I must jump up to get.” Pow. ”A Raccoon Leaf? Well, at least I can fly again! Is the Mega Mushroom in here?” Pow. ”No, that’s just a regular Mushroom! C’mon, I know you’re in here somewhere!” Pow. ”Frog Suit, no! Fire Flower, no! Aww, which block is it in? Oh, there’s a chest.” Mario walked towards a small wooden chest and when he opened it up, he was so happy that he was left speechless. ”Bingo, baby! All right, now to get back to Bowser!” ”Who wants some more?” as Bowser punched Hooktail when she flew in. “How about you, Bonepal?” ”It’s Bonetail!” The eldest sibling corrected. “You may think that this is funny, but I say that playtime is over!” ”Bam!” as Bowser threw a punch at Bonetail. “Oww, my hand!” ”Attacking an undead being like me is like attacking a being made of iron!” Bonetail yelled. “I will knock you so far away that you’ll be dead by the time you come back!” ”Not on my watch!” Mario interrupted. “Bowser, catch!” Mario, who now had a raccoon tail and ears, threw the Mega Mushroom at the Koopa King. Instead of using his hands to catch it, he chomped down into it as soon as it made contact with his jaws. Bowser’s stomach started to grow loudly now. ”YEAH!!!!!!” Bowser roared. ”Now you’re no match for Giga Bowser!” ”We got you this time, fools!” as Mario flew up onto Bowser’s shoulder. ”What difference does this make?” Hooktail spit out. “There’s still three of us and only two of you!” ”Mario, I got the weaker siblings!” Bowser called out. ”Go get Bonetail!” ”Right away!” Mario accepted. Giga Bowser and Raccoon Mario both went in opposite directions as they continued to face off against the Tail Dragons. The giant Koopa King was even able to grab Hooktail & Gloomtail by their necks and he threw them into Princess Peach’s lake. Mario also flew to the top of the castle and reached Bonetail at the height of the flagpole. ”Just because you can fly doesn’t mean you match my strength, Mario!” as Bonetail hovered in place. ”Maybe, but I can easily outsmart you! Wahoo!” ”Hey, what’s the meaning of this?” Bonetail asked. “Get off of my antennae!” ”Never!” Mario replied. “I’ll just have to make you crash into something!” ”Nnrgh...” Bonetail gritted his teeth. “Let go of my antennae, I’m warning you!” ”Forgive me, Princess Peach...” Mario whispered to himself while looking at the castle. 9:30AM Twilight’s Castle Thursday ”I wonder what’s taking Bowser this long.” Luigi said. ”I really do feel sorry for your brother, Luigi.” Rarity added. “It’s times like these where things get even more difficult than going to battle.” ”Maybe Bowser succeeded and went with Mario for a celebratory snack?” Pinkie grinned. ”Who knows how long he’ll take?” Cappy asked. “I’m not saying Bowser is slow, but I think he’s never done something like this before.” ”Then it’s settled.” Twilight declared. “We’re going after Mario now!” ”You heard Bowser, Twilight.” Rainbow Dash sighed. “He’s got this, doesn’t he?” ”Yes, but we’re going to give him and Mario even more moral support. It should wrap things up quickly before we head to Mount Aris.” ”I don’t know about this, Twilight.” Fluttershy thought. “We don’t what’s waiting for us in the Mushroom Kingdom! There could be scary monsters over there!” ”Ehh, only if you plan on leaving the Mushroom Kingdom.” Professor E. Gadd raised. “I could take you all there right now if you want to!” ”If ya say so, Professor.” A.J insisted. “C’mon y’all, let’s go see what those two are up to!” ”Once we’re done, Mario and I can show you our house if we have time.” Luigi suggested. ”Okay!” Everyone else nodded. ”You ponies head on forth.” Star Swirl said. “We shall guard this castle, even if it takes an eternity or so.” ”Please don’t go in my room...” Spike gulped. ”Time is of the essence, mateys!” Captain Celaeno alarmed. ”I’ll be waiting for you, too.” Daring Do acknowledged. ”Follow me to the forest!” E. Gadd exclaimed. ”Bye everypony!” Luigi and the rest of the group waved off. ”Hang in there, Mario, we’ll be right there...” Twilight thought to herself. 16: Long Journey’s End?9:45AM Mushroom Kingdom Thursday As the rest of Mario’s team entered the warp pipe to Princess Peach’s castle, they all tripped upon exiting the pipe when they found out that debris was the first thing they came in contact with. Everyone all piled up in the dark like a messy gathering. ”Owowow!” Luigi murmured. “Is everyone alright?” ”Yeah, I think so.” Spike replied. “What happened to the lights?” ”I don’t know, Spikey-Wikey, but Twilight and I can light up the room.” Rarity said as her horn glowed. ”Let’s keep going.” as Twilight’s horn also glowed. ”Mario...” Rainbow Dash echoed. “What was that?” ”How many times is the ground going to shake under our feet?” Professor E. Gadd wondered. ”Whatever it is, it must have to do with Mario!” Cappy exclaimed. ”Luigi, you and Mario know this place by heart, do you?” Twilight questioned. ”Yeah, but even I get lost sometimes down here! We just need to find the front doors and get outside.” ”We’ll be right behind ya, partner.” A.J winked. The group ran up the same staircase that Toadsworth was hiding under. Their footsteps didn’t seem to wake him up from his apparent sleep, however. When they raced to the top, they found the front doors knocked on their side. ”Oh...my...” Fluttershy gasped. ”When did Bowser get huge all of a sudden?” Spike scratched his head. “Also, look up in the sky!” ”Is it a bird?” Fluttershy inquired. ”Is it a plane?” E. Gadd asked. ”No, that’s Mario!” Twilight called out. “And he’s...riding a dragon?” ”Sweet Celestia, there’s three dragons!” Rarity stated. ”Had enough yet?” Giga Bowser smirked. ”This...isn’t...over...” Gloomtail huffed. ”Hold the phone, brother.” Hooktail paused. “Do you see those people down there?” ”...Ahem. Well, well, if it isn’t Mario’s brother, Luigi! I thought he’d never come out of his shadow...” ”Looks like he brought food for us as well, haha!” Hooktail laughed. ”You stay away from them this instant!” Giga Bowser yelled. ”Guys, hop on!” ”Bowser!” The group greeted. The giant Koopa King laid out a hand on the ground as he started to carry the group in his palm and brought them up to his eye level. The other two Tail Dragons were already weakened from Bowser’s previous attacks. ”Thanks for the lift, buddy!” Rainbow praised. ”You guys get the red one.” Giga Bowser said. ”I’m going to finish off her lousy brother.” ”You got it, Bowser!” Twilight cheered. “Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, let’s fly everyone over there!” ”Roger!” The two Pegasus ponies nodded. ”This...is madness!” Bonetail groaned. “Let me go or you will be punished!” ”Not if I have to say anything about it, Bonetail!” Raccoon Mario retaliated. ”Huh? Who’s that down there?” ”Luigi, Twilight?” Raccoon Mario wandered. ”Hehehe, you brought more friends?” Bonetail giggled. “Well, it’s about time I add them to our feast! If I can’t kill you Mario, then I’ll just make you kill yourself!” ”Wwooaahhh!!!” Mario panicked. “What are you doing?” Bonetail finally managed to regain control of his flight and stopped for a second. Although Mario was still holding on to his antennae, he couldn’t control where Bonetail was going anymore. The eldest dragon sibling started to nosedive straight down while Mario was still holding on, in an attempt to kill him with a crash landing. ”If I’m going down, I’m taking you down with me!” Bonetail grinned determinedly. ”I...I can’t control this!” Mario cried. “Eeeeeeek!!!” ”I will not be beaten by a bunch of tiny ponies!” Hooktail declared. “Brother, no!!!” ”...Avenge me, sister...” as Gloomtail took one last jab to his stomach. ”Take this!” as Twilight shot an energy beam. ”Take this too, you hideous dragon!” Rarity shouted as she also shot an energy beam. ”Hey, I heard that!” Spike minded. ”We will destroy you...if that’s okay with you!” Fluttershy tempted. ”Incoming!!!” as Pinkie shot herself out of her party cannon. Pinkie was curled up into a cannonball and headed straight for Hooktail’s antennae, to which she looked excited about. Meanwhile, Luigi had been temporarily using Cappy to throw his cap back and forth as an attack. ”I don’t even want to look down!” The professor shivered. ”NOOOOOO!!!!!!!” Hooktail screamed at the top of her lungs. “I...have failed, you two...” The youngest dragon sibling started to tumble out of commission as the rest of the group managed to reach the ground safely. The effects of Bowser’s Mega Mushroom also started to disappear as he started shrinking after defeating Gloomtail with ease. ”Are you guys okay?” Bowser checked. ”Yeah, we’re fine, thanks!” Twilight replied. “Where’s Mario?” ”Uhh, guys?” Spike stuttered. “I think you might want to look up...” ”LOOK OUT!!!!!!” Raccoon Mario screamed at the top of his lungs. ”Say your prayers, Mario!!!” Bonetail proclaimed. Everyone else ran for safety as the nosediving dragon and Mario hit the ground on a big impact. The ground almost had some sort of explosion as it left a huge crater in the midst of the crash landing. The dragon had all of his bones broken, meaning that Mario defeated him. However, as for Mario himself... ”Ack!” Bowser coughed. “I can’t see anything through this smoke!” ”Well, I think Mario saved the day again!” Fluttershy exclaimed. ”He should be coming out of there any second now!” Rainbow smiled. ”Way to go, Mario!” Cappy howled. ”Okay sugarcube, you can come out now!” A.J voiced. ”Let’s go celebrate!” Pinkie exhilarated. ”...M-Mario?” Luigi shuddered. ”Oh no...” Twilight gasped. “Quick, let’s get down there!” ”Mm-hmm!” Everyone else joined in. Everyone headed down the big crater to go find Mario in the bone pile left by the dragon’s crash landing. They kept searching and searching, and they came across the red plumber. His current condition wasn’t looking very good, though. ”Mario, it’s me, Twilight! Are you alright?” T-Twilight...is that...you? Did... Did we...win?” ”Yes, and we’re here to get you to safety!” Twilight exclaimed. “Just hang in there, okay?” ”Stay with me, bro!” Luigi instructed. ”Thanks for helping me out with that Mega Mushroom, Mario.” Bowser reminded. “Now, I must repay you.” ”T-That’s...okay...” Mario breathed scarcely. “I...appreciate you guys...coming here, but...I’m...fine...” ”You won’t be fine lying around like this!” Rainbow bickered. “C’mon, all you need is a good rest and we’ll go find King Sombra right afterwards!” ”I’m going to saddle you up, Mario.” Twilight said. “You can’t walk around in this condition.” ”N-No, that’s fine, Twilight... I...don’t think...I can go on anymore...” ”You mean like this, silly?” Pinkie asked. “That’s exactly we’re going to patch you up!” ”You’ll be fine, Mario.” A.J reassured. ”I know this hurts, but you might need to bear the pain for a bit.” Rarity explained. ”No no...” Mario hacked. “I mean, this...is my last stop...” ”Don’t say that, Mario!” Cappy startled. “You’re starting to freak me out now!” ”Bro, please...” Luigi started sobbing. ”...Guys, this...was a wonderful journey, but...you’re going to have to go on...without me...” ”WHAT???” Everyone else panicked. ”But Mario, we can’t defeat King Sombra without you!” Bowser pleaded. “You must get back up! Princess Peach is still out there, I know she is!” ”It’s not too late, my boy!” Professor E. Gadd reassured. ”Tell...Princess Peach...that I’m...sorry...I...failed her... I...loved...her...” ”What can we do to make you feel better, Mario?” Spike worried. ”Nothing... Look, I... have a feeling Sombra has already taken Peach away for good, so...I’m just going to go live in peace...with her.” ”Princess Peach is still alive, Mario!” Luigi corrected. “All you have to do is destroy the Shadow Queen once again!” ”Luigi, I...need you...to come closer...” ”Yes, what is it, bro?” ”You...are the best...brother that I could ever ask for... I want you...to protect Princess Peach from now on...” ”Y-You can’t be serious...” Luigi continued crying. ”Bowser, come here...” Mario requested. ”I’m here if you need anything pal.” ”You...must also protect Princess Peach... I know that she probably won’t like it when she returns to normal, but...I believe in you...” ”I’ll be there, Mario...” as Bowser started to shed a tear. ”T-Twilight...” ”Yes Mario?” The Princess of Friendship wondered. ”Go save Equestria... You...and your friends...are my friends...and heroes...” ”Anything for the Mushroom Kingdom’s greatest hero!” Twilight sobbed. ”I’m gonna... I’m gonna miss you... All of you... I...” The red plumber’s eyes slowly started to close. Twilight felt the last of his heart beating, but at last, Mario had no more pulse. He was...officially dead, much to everyone’s immediate depression. He lost his raccoon tail and ears after Bonetail’s crash landing, too. ”MMMAAARRRIIIOOO!!!!!!!!!” Luigi cried excessively. 17: The Other Unicorn With the Broken Horn”How long is he gonna be sitting here like that?” Spike asked calmly. ”No idea, Spike, but let’s just let Luigi take the time to remember his brother.” Twilight suggested. “I’m really going to miss him too.” ”It’s a shame that this is the first thing to experience as our first time in the Mushroom Kingdom.” Rarity sighed. ”This is so not awesome.” Rainbow lamented. ”Bummer!” Pinkie frowned. ”Aww shucks, I wasn’t expecting this either.” as A.J took off her hat. ”Poor Mario...” Fluttershy weeped. ”We can’t just leave him there like that!” Bowser exclaimed. “He needs a proper funeral like most other heroes, even though I don’t believe that he’s actually dead.” ”Hey look, it’s Toadsworth!” Cappy pointed out. ”I-Is it over?” The steward asked. “I don’t feel any earthquake, so I’m assuming it’s safe to go outside!” ”We took care of some of Mario’s old foes, but unfortunately, Mario didn’t make it.” Twilight confirmed. ”Master Mario is dead?” Toadsworth freaked out. “That can’t be possible!” ”Even I feel bad to say that he’s actually gone now.” Bowser soaked in. “He’s down that crater, where he got crushed.” ”I see that Master Luigi is obviously having the hardest time right now.” Toadsworth added. “The poor boy certainly isn’t finding anything worth to lighten the mood up.” ”Mario was the only one that can lead us to save Princess Peach, and now, it is up to us to finish what he’s started.” Twilight proposed. “Let’s go back home.” ”Madam, I guess I must thank you and your friends for stopping these massive attacks on Princess Peach’s castle.” Toadsworth declared. “And you too...Master Bowser.” ”Uhh, no problem, hehe!” Bowser chuckled. ”It is our pleasure, Toadsworth.” Twilight replied. ”Oh, before you leave, may I have your permission to look over Mario? I know that he’s not probably going to resurrect any time soon, but I’ll see what I can do to bring him back.” ”You would DO that?” as Luigi rushed over and got down on his knees begging. “Oh Toadsworth, please, you must do whatever it takes to bring Mario back!” ”I’ll try my hardest, Master Luigi, but it won’t be easy. If I must honestly speak, I would give my life to save this kingdom’s greatest hero.” ”Princess Peach isn’t going to be happy about that once we bring her back.” Cappy said. “She wouldn’t want to lose another important person in her life.” ”We’re running out of time!” Rainbow lamented. “Maybe it’s too late to save Mario, but we can definitely stop King Sombra and free Princess Peach from his spell!” ”I don’t know about that either.” Twilight mentioned. “Mario did fight Princess Peach when she got possessed the first time, so it seemed like he knew what to do, but now that he’s gone, we can’t stop the Shadow Queen without him.” ”Is there anything we CAN do?” Spike worried. ”If all else fails, we might as well use the Crystal Heart.” A.J suggested. ”King Sombra might see that coming from a mile away.” Rarity said. “We have to be faster than him or we’ll never get our chance of success.” ”I know somepony who can help.” Twilight thought. ”Ooh, who is it?” Pinkie begged the question. “Is it somepony famous? A comedian? An athlete?” ”No, it’s Tempest Shadow.” Twilight replied. “She can definitely help us easily! I can call her by using that potion spell that she’s been using to call the Storm King in the past.” ”I had to sweet talk her into lending that spell for you, Twilight!” Pinkie winked. ”Thanks Pinkie. Everyone, gather around me.” ”So, what’s the game plan?” Rainbow asked. ”We must get a ride on Tempest’s airship to Mount Aris before nightfall.” Twilight explained. “I say we must gather the Old Pillars & Captain Celaeno’s crew so we can all team up against Sombra & Peach.” ”Don’t forget about the Elements of Harmony & the other artifacts.” Fluttershy reminded. “We would feel powerless without them.” ”Wait, King Sombra is mostly looking for Mario.” Rarity forgotten. “He’s going to notice that he’s actually gone if we don’t bring him.” ”Mmm...” as Luigi stopped crying. “Isn’t Hunter able to turn himself into anybody? Bowser and I were able to escape prison because of his shapeshifting.” ”He probably found this Thorax by now.” Bowser thought. “Can’t we go get him to copy Mario?” ”That could work, even if it means a bit of a time being lost.” Twilight said. “I’m not sure if King Sombra is still watching us, though.” ”I have a bad feeling he’ll catch on real quick.” A.J gulped. “M-Maybe we all should we wait for Toadsworth to look after Mario.” ”Like I said before, it’s not going to be easy bringing him back.” The steward brought up. ”I wonder if my parents are still okay right now...” Twilight implored. 10:00AM Mount Aris Thursday King Sombra and Shadow Queen Peach were both standing at the top of a really high mountain with a long set of steps leading to the top. Inside was what looked to be a destroyed kingdom, with a gate symbol of some griffon-hybrid species. The ocean waves all the way down below were fierce as a storm was in the evil couple’s midst. Now, we shall wait for that pesky plumber... ”Mario has no idea what’s about to happen.” Shadow Peach said. “This battle will be over before he can even blink!” ”You two are monsters!” Twilight Velvet cried. ”Just please let us free!” Night Light begged. ”Oh, we will!” Shadow Peach exclaimed. “In fact, we only kept you around so that we can lure your daughter into our trap. It is SHE who will be dying instead of you two, hahaha!” ”NO, don’t you touch our Twilight!” Twilight Velvet weeped. “You can take our lives instead, but just don’t hurt her!” ”Don’t you dare lay a hoof on our daughter!” Night Light bickered. Sacrifice yourselves all you want, but it won’t do you any good... You see, the Princess of Friendship’s magic will be useful to us, unlike yours once we kill her and extract her magic from within... ”NOOO!!!” Both of Twilight’s parents screamed. Shadow Peach actually had her own giant shadow claw that was keeping Twilight’s parents tightly grasped. Obviously, they couldn’t break free from her unmatched strength. ”It seems that Bowser has gotten rid of that putrid Chrysalis earlier.” Shadow Peach pointed out. Yes, indeed... Even if she got rid of him, she and her Changelings still wouldn’t stand a chance against us... Only you and I will have complete power over all these ponies once we succeed... ”Absolutely, my love. It is only a matter of time before the heroes make their way here...” It’s too bad we weren’t able to get ahold of that Tempest Shadow... ”Let’s get back to the castle first.” Twilight said. “Toadsworth, please take good care of Mario.” ”Certainly. Oh wait, Master Luigi!” ”Yeah?” ”I found these Ice Flowers in Mario’s pockets.” Toadsworth added. “Use them wisely if you need to.” ”I will not let Mario down.” as Luigi grabbed the flowers. ”Back to the warp pipe, everybody!” Professor E. Gadd instructed. ”The Mushroom Kingdom is counting on you!” Toadsworth shouted. While the steward was carrying Mario out of the crater, Mario’s friends ran back inside the still-dark castle and raced down the stairs leading to the basement. Bowser lifted some of the debris that was covering the warp pipe and was the first one to jump in, but not without a bit of a tight squeeze. ”Luigi, are you feeling all right?” Twilight paused before jumping in. ”Yeah, I guess, but I still can’t believe Mario died right there in front of us.” ”I know.” Twilight reminisced. “But once we defeat King Sombra and save Princess Peach, we’re going to find a way to bring your brother back to life.” ”Thanks Twilight, but I also think that it’s not going to be easy.” ”Well, we’ll have plenty of time to talk about it after we kill Sombra, okay? Let’s go, Luigi.” The green plumber and pony princess now both jumped into the pipe to get back to Equestria. As bright as the world was, the sun wasn’t shedding that much light on the Everfree Forest, which is where the warp pipe leads to. 10:05AM Ponyville Thursday ”Let’s get going, shall we?” Rarity configured. ”Did somebody say something about an airship?” Bowser asked. “There’s a giant one behind the castle!” ”That’s gotta be Tempest’s, then!” Twilight exclaimed. “This way, follow me!” ”So much...for that potion spell.” A.J huffed as she dashed towards the castle backyard. ”Twilight, hey, there you are!” A deep female voice called out. ”What’s up, fellas?” A male voice spoke. On the landing platform of the airship was a unicorn pony with a rose red mane and tail, wearing what appeared to be some suit of body armor with horns for a symbol, and much like King Sombra, she had a broken horn. Next to her was also a male pug-faced hedgehog with gray hair and a tail, who was eating a sponge cake joyfully. Not surprisingly, he was very short like most hedgehogs. ”Is that a...unicorn?” Cappy wondered. ”I think so, but...what happened to her horn?” Luigi minded. ”Hehe guys, I know what you’re thinking.” The unicorn giggled. “I’m in no way related to King Sombra, don’t worry. My name is Tempest Shadow, and this is my best friend, Grubber.” ”’Sup fellas!” as the hedgehog swallowed his food. ”I’m Luigi, and this is Bowser, Cappy, and Professor E. Gadd!” ”So, you’re the ones Sombra and his lady are looking for, right?” Tempest inquired. ”How do you know all about that?” Spike asked. ”Tempest and I were flying after midnight to come visit you guys today for a little relaxation, until that punk ran into us!” Grubber chomped. 4:00AM South Luna Ocean Thursday ”I think I’m gonna go back to bed now, Tempest.” Grubber yawned. “Good night...” ”Okay, but if I’m flying from now on, I’m going to have to lay you off of your favorite snacks!” Tempest smirked. ”Zzz... H-Huh? I don’t remember the weather forecast calling for a storm!” ”Something’s not right here...” Tempest suspected. “We have to keep moving faster to Ponyville!” Tempest Shadow... In the dark skies of Equestria, the unicorn put the airship on autopilot and got ready for combat. Only the flash of lightning bolts & lanterns intensely lit up the skies. Then up on the deck, a dark cloud started to swirl in and spawned none other than King Sombra and Shadow Queen Peach. ”That’s not what I had in mind...” as Grubber’s eyes dilated. ”You...” Tempest gritted her teeth. “Haven’t you already been stopped before enough times? I see no point in you continuing to live!” ”Calm down, madam.” Shadow Peach tempted. “We’re not looking for confrontation with you, but we need your set of skills to help us.” Tempest Shadow... The Storm King’s greatest soldier gets afraid of him and now she turns to the light? What an absolute shame... ”You don’t know anything about me!” Tempest yelled. “Why should I serve you in the first place?” ”You will bring to us a red plumber and green plumber named Mario and Luigi, who are also called the Mario Bros.” Shadow Peach explained. “Bring them along with their friends and we shall reward you greatly! But first, you must retrieve the Crystal Heart from the Crystal Empire.” ”I may be powerful, but that doesn’t mean I abuse that power like a tyrant such as you, King Sombra!” Tempest exclaimed. “I will not bow down to another power-hungry fiend like you!” Why waste your power doing ridiculous deeds of friendship when you can use it while breathing in the smell of Equestrian domination? You can go back to the way you were and start your life of reign and terror all over again... ”She’d never do something like that!” Grubber butted in. ”Oh well, I guess you leave me no choice, but to put you back right where you belong!” Tempest argued. “You too, lady!” ”W-Wait, think about what you’re doing here!” Shadow Peach stuttered. Altough King Sombra was in spiritual form and Shadow Queen Peach was an almighty human, they both had faces of regret when Tempest fired a devastating magical beam from her broken horn at both of them, inflicting some critical damage. Hhrrgh... You...really are an excellent fighter, but for now, I...will show you what a real shadow can do... ”Hey, l-let me go!” as Tempest was grabbed by Peach’s big shadow claw. ”Tempest!” Grubber called out. ”I wonder what’s in that mind or yours, hehehe...” Shadow Peach giggled. ”Go...ahead, see what happens...” Tempest betted. A dark aura started to surround the female unicorn as she had her eyes closed. This was the same dark aura that Sombra used to possess Trixie yesterday. Once Tempest was fully enclosed inside, the dark cloud started to dissipate and the Shadow Queen let her free. ”Join the Shadow Empire, Tempest! You are now under our possession for eternity, and it shall remain this way!” ”...Never.” What is the meaning of this? Why aren’t you under our spell? ”I may be broken, but the dark side is NOT the one that gets to decide who I am! Take this!!!” ”GAHHH!!!” The shadow couple was immobilized as Tempest shot lightning bolts at them. ”I-I’ll get this thing going again!” as Grubber took the wheel. This...isn’t over, Tempest Shadow... I may not have my full power yet, but when I do, I will teach you how it’s done! Let’s get out of here, honey... ”F-Fine...” Shadow Peach coughed. “Y-You haven’t seen the last of us, Tempest Shadow...” The two evil rulers disappeared into the sea of dark clouds and retreated off of the airship to return to wherever they were hiding in. While Grubber was flying, Tempest dusted herself off like it was nothing and continued traveling with her little friend for the night. ”I’m surprised you were able to stand up to him.” Bowser thought. “It’s too bad he got away, though.” ”Our little vacation here has now turned into the battle of our lives.” Tempest said. “Twilight, I can help you defeat King Sombra once he regains full power!” ”That’s exactly what we needed you for! Can you give us a lift to Mount Aris? That’s where King Sombra and Shadow Queen Peach will meet us.” ”I remember that place.” Tempest said. “I would do anything to help you and your friends out in this time of need!” ”What she said!” as Grubber finished his food. ”Let’s get onboard, everyone!” Twilight instructed. ”Wait a minute...” Tempest halted. “Luigi, you’re the green one?” ”Yeah, that’s me.” ”Where’s Mario?” Tempest asked. ”He didn’t make it...” Bowser gulped. “We lost our greatest friend today during a fatal crash landing.” ”I’m sorry to hear about that...” Tempest shed only one tear. “Wherever he is right now, I promise that he will not die in vain fighting for you! Let’s get on the ship and go after that tyrant!” ”YEAH!!!” Everyone else chanted. 18: Flight of the Ponies”Let’s get to the Hive first.” Twilight said. “Thorax should help us.” ”Wait, aren’t we forgetting something?” Fluttershy asked. ”The artifacts?” Bowser raised. ”Most importantly, the Elements of Harmony!” Spike panicked. ”Unbelievable!” Rarity exclaimed. “All this rushing is now making us forgetful! Well, it’s back to Carousel Boutique for me!” ”Wow, we just fooled ourselves right there.” Rainbow zoomed out. ”You ladies gather what you need and the rest of us will be on the lookout while you get back.” Tempest added. ”No need.” Star Swirl the Bearded came in. “If this foul demon wants our artifacts, then we’ll give them to him the hard way!” ”That’s right, we’re coming with you to bring justice once and for all!” Mage Meadowbrook vowed. ”It is within our pride that we must do battle!” Flash Magnus declared. ”No set of moves is without style!” Mistmane exhilarated. ”Strength will be on our side, comrades!” Rockhoof nodded. ”Hope for the best!” Somnambula alluded. ”Oh really?” Twilight asked. “This is so incredible!” ”Don’t forget about me either!” as Daring Do rushed in. ”We’re setting sail with you as well!” Captain Celaeno and her crew chanted. ”It’s a good thing my ship can hold all of you inside.” Tempest pointed out. “Just be careful not to set anything off until we say so.” ”This is going to be so awesome!” Rainbow giggled. “With all of us, Sombra will definitely be outnumbered!” ”I wouldn’t jump to a conclusion already, Rainbow Dash.” Rarity admitted. “Who knows how strong Princess Peach will be when her power is combined with King Sombra’s?” ”If Mario was still here, he would be able to take care of her.” Luigi sighed. ”Yeah, and this’ll be our first time against Sombra.” Bowser pointed out. ”We’ll plan everything inside.” Tempest said. “Is everypony here?” ”Uh-huh!” Everyone else nodded. ”Grubber, can you get this thing started?” Tempest asked. ”I got you, bud!” The hedgehog replied. ”Twilight, can you bring yourself and your new friends above deck, please?” Tempest added. ”Yes, Tempest. Spike, you and everyone else will be inside the cabins. Luigi, Bowser, Cappy, and the professor are with me up top.” ”A surprise assault for later, perhaps?” Star Swirl wondered. “If so, we need time to think carefully.” ”Ooh, I like surprises!” as Pinkie hopped inside the ship. ”I think we’re good to go, Twilight!” as Spike gave the thumbs up. As everyone got inside the airship, the landing platform retracted and closed itself in. Above deck, Grubber took to the controls and started to slowly lift the ship off the ground. The wind current was steady enough to not let any turbulence occur during mid-flight. ”We should be at the Hive in about an hour or so!” Grubber called out. ”Okay!” Luigi exclaimed. “What should we do now?” ”Uhh...” Twilight paused. “Want to see a magic trick?” ”It’s not really a trick since you know a lot about magic and know how we’re going to react.” Bowser replied. ”He’s right about that.” E. Gadd sided. ”Aww...” Twilight frowned. “What about you, Cappy?” ”Maybe later, Twilight. I’m still sad about Mario.” ”Yeah, I miss him too.” Twilight added. “I thought I could maybe lighten things up a bit. Guess that’s what we have Pinkie here for, though!” ”Indeed.” Tempest soaked in. “The Changeling Kingdom is located somewhere west of Ponyville, but it’s quite a distance. Let’s not hope that any of Queen Chrysalis’ Changelings are still there.” ”I’m sure they’re probably either being reformed by Thorax or running away with Chrysalis.” Twilight said. “Good job on stopping her by the way, Bowser!” ”Yeah thanks, but I didn’t expect her to turn into Mario, myself, or even you, Twilight.” ”For the record, you still managed to defeat another one of Equestria’s most feared threats.” Twilight mentioned. “That means we only have to deal with King Sombra.” ”What about this Tirek you’ve talked about before?” Bowser interrogated. ”He won’t be leaving Tartarus any time soon.” Tempest claimed. “He’s too weak to absorb any magic at the moment.” ”So, that old guy we found while Bowser and I escaped from that prison is Tirek.” Luigi brought up. “It makes sense why he’s locked up, but not us.” ”I’m hungry again...” as Grubber’s mouth salivated. ”I feel you, little buddy.” as Tempest patted his head. “Maybe we can grab a bite on the way there. How about you, guys?” ”Okay!” Everyone else nodded. ”Hey Twilight, does every single pony around here communicate with letters?” Cappy asked. “I remember you telling Spike to go send a letter.” ”Good question. Letters are a common form of communication in Equestria, but I believe that I’ve written the most out of anypony, mostly for friendship lessons to Princess Celestia. I still remember the story about me missing the usual letters I write to her ever since I became a princess.” The Golden Oak Library was quiet and serene. Little moonlight came through the window and slightly illuminated the dark home and revealed that Spike was sleeping in a hoof-made crib. The gentle glow of the moon reflected off of the purple scales and green spikes of Spike’s small stature. A small puddle of drool was beginning to form on his soft blue blanket as he snored. He clutched his warm blanket as he muttered in his sleep, "Rarity…are those gems…for me?" He continued to murmur, snore, and make other strange noises. Later that night, the front door slowly creaked open and let in the warm midnight spring breeze and a small amount of light to reveal Twilight’s silhouette. She quietly stepped inside and carefully closed the door and lit some candles by her desk with her magic. Owlowiscious, Twilight’s pet owl, had already set down a blank parchment on the centre of the desk, a quill above the parchment, and ink on the left side. She was very pleased with the owl now that he knew about the mare's obsessive-compulsive disorder and the preferences that came with it. Now, working at night was as easy as working during the day. Twilight allowed a soft grin spread across her face as she realised she was about to do her favourite thing she always did at the end of the day: write to the princess. These weren't her usual weekly letters to the princess about her studies on the magic of friendship. They were just nonchalant letters about her day or questions about trivial things or just little secrets that she only trusted Celestia with. Twilight still remembered the day at the Grand Galloping Gala… "Oh, Princess Celestia, I'm so glad I could talk to you this time!" Twilight beamed at the large alicorn. "Indeed, it was quite generous of my sister to greet the guests this year so we could talk and she could get used to the modern crowd." The princess gave her star pupil a warm, bright smile that reminded those who saw it of her amazing sun. Twilight just stared at her mentor with wide, sparkling eyes, like a little foal staring at an ice cream factory. She never did get very used to the fact that she was the princess's student. After ten seconds or so, the princess felt a little awkward and cleared her throat before speaking, "Um… I, well, I trust that you and your friends had a great time at the gala this year?" Twilight realised she had been staring. She lowered her head and tried to hide her now red violet face behind her mane. "Y-Yeah, um, we had a wonderful time this year, especially since we all looked after each other and made sure not to cause as much trouble as last year… Ah ha…hahaha…" "Oh, Twilight, sure your friends made a mess, but it was entertaining! Would you like to tell me about all of those adventures you fillies have all the time?" Twilight leaped for joy at the sound of those words, "Of course, princess! Now where should I start…Oh I know! There was this one time…" The princess listened to the purple unicorn tell her stories about her friends for the rest of the night. Both of the ponies wished they could stay like this forever, telling stories and laughing just like Twilight always did with the princess as a foal, talking about her favourite stories except now those stories were real. Unfortunately, the sun must always set some time. "I wish we could talk like this more often.” Twilight sighed before she drank from her glass. “The only time I get to communicate with you like this is in my friendship letters, but I wish I could tell you about my friends and our adventures just to tell you about them instead of telling you what I learned from them." ”Hehe, I know just how you feel, Twilight. There’s always a time for talk, but...there’s always a time for action.” ”I now only write letters to Princess Celestia in case of either emergencies or an urgent task.” Twilight explained. ”What did you two talk about when you went to get the Memory Stone?” Bowser asked. ”Well, she actually was at an important meeting, but her younger sister, Princess Luna, was the one who gave us the Memory Stone. She just told us to be very careful out when we get to King Sombra.” ”I never thought you were so interested in reading books like me, Twilight!” The professor glanced over. ”When this is all over, maybe I can take you to the Canterlot Archives, where most of the greatest masterpieces ever written will be!” ”Nerds...” Cappy whispered. Suddenly, a hatch opened up from underneath the crew’s feet and out came the Pillars of Old Equestria. Grubber then put the ship on autopilot as the ponies and Mario’s team gathered up. ”We have come up with a possible solution, and one that may turn the tide of this upcoming battle.” Star Swirl suggested. ”This better be good, wizard.” Bowser aspired. ”Twilight, remember when we sealed the Pony of Shadows in limbo?” Somnambula questioned. ”Yes, what about him?” ”We’re going to do the same thing with Sombra!” Flash Magnus counted on. ”Oh really?” Luigi anticipated. “How are we supposed to turn Shadow Queen Peach back into Princess Peach if she’s under Sombra’s possession?” ”Don’t bother, my friend.” Rockhoof concluded. “We’re going to seal that witch along with him!” ”WHAT???”Twilight and the rest of the team freaked out. ”Why would you guys do that?” Cappy begged the question. “Not only are you taking away the ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom, but you’re also taking away one of Mario’s best friends!” ”Can’t we just attempt to free Princess Peach like we did with Stygian a while back?” Twilight wondered. ”Unfortunately, things are different this time around.” Mage Meadowbrook broke the news. ”You said yourself that Mario was the only one who knew how to free the princess from the darkness, but...he’s not here.” Mistmane assumed. ”So what?” Bowser argued. “It doesn’t mean that we’re not able to at least try and do whatever he did! You can’t possibly tell us to give up, not when we’re this close!” ”I thought the whole point of this was to go and avenge Mario!” Luigi yelled at the top of his lungs. ”My thoughts exactly!” Tempest exclaimed. ”Do you have a better plan then, Twilight?” Star Swirl minded. ”I...I really...” ”We’re on your side, Twilight!” Bowser confirmed. “We know you’ll help us free Princess Peach!” ”Don’t listen to this babbling buffoon, Twilight!” Mage Meadowbrook spit out. “Are you going to trust your own kind or these total strangers?” ”Uhh... I...” ”M-Maybe I should...continue to the Hive?” as Grubber bit his nails. ”I think you lied about Mario trusting you from now on, Bowser!” Star Swirl claimed. “Maybe he still thinks you’re just as evil as you always have been!” ”That’s not true, he does trust me now! I just saved all six of you from Queen Chrysalis and this is how you’re going to talk to me now?” ”We could’ve easily stopped her ourselves, but no, we wanted to see whether or not if she was a problem in your little fetch quest instead!” Flash Magnus bickered. “We don’t associate ourselves with weaklings like you fools!” ”Who are you calling weaklings?” Luigi quarreled. ”If you consider Mario to be the Mushroom Kingdom’s greatest hero, then I don’t understand why he would have the need to make friends with you!” Star Swirl disputed. ”How dare you?” E. Gadd crossed swords. “Mario knows that we’re not weak because we’ve been by his side all these years and he doesn’t just put us aside like trash! We’re his real friends!” ”Well, it doesn’t look like that, huh?” Mistmane raised an eyebrow. ”What doesn’t look like what?” Luigi minded. ”You said you’ve been by Mario’s side all these years, and yet, you’re not by his side right now.” Somnambula grinned mockingly. ”T-That’s because...” Cappy hesitated. ”Just as I thought...” as Star Swirl brushed his beard. “I don’t believe that’s how friendship works, right Twilight?” ”Nnnrgh...” ”Twilight, are you...alright?” Tempest checked up. The sounds of anger were coming directly from the Princess of Friendship as her breathing became inconsistent. Mario’s friends, Tempest, Grubber, and the Old Pillars slowly approached the Alicorn pony, but were blown back upon a furious face from Twilight. She lit herself on fire and her entire body turned white and blaze red. ”ENOUGH!!!” Twilight screamed. ”Hey, what’s going on up there?” Rainbow popped her head in. ”T-Twilight?” Fluttershy shivered. ”This doesn’t look good...” Spike gulped. Hehehe... Yesss, that’s more like it... ”You’ve got to be kidding me...” Bowser facepalmed. ”That voice...” Rarity consumed. “King Sombra!” Correct! ”And don’t forget about me!” as Shadow Peach made herself visible. ”Twilight!” Her parents cried. ”...M-Mom, D-Dad?” Twilight snapped out of it. ”What are you doing here, man?” Rainbow demanded. “I thought you guys were at Mount Aris.” Yesss, but it appears that we’ve sensed a disturbance during your little trip... ”First off, where is Mario?” Shadow Peach asked. “Second, where in the world do you think you’re going?” ”None of your business, Shadow Queen!” Bowser fought back. “We came here to stop you from controlling Princess Peach so that we can save her, Twilight’s parents, and Equestria!” There’s no use bluffing through your silly little teeth, Your Highness... I think we know what you’re really up to... ”Hah, what a real pity!” Shadow Peach chuckled. “Looks like the Mushroom Kingdom lost its only means of defense...and that’s Mario! You guys really think we’re going to let you fool us with a Changeling attempting to shapeshift into Mario?” Well, Princess Twilight... Since you failed to obey our directions, I guess this is the part where I must get rid of your beloved parents... ”Don’t you dare touch them!” On second thought, I decided not to harm them at all... However, I have something else planned for you, Princess Twilight... ”You want our artifacts so badly, do you punk?” Star Swirl challenged. “We’ve got them right here!” Oh, goodie! I would unleash my full power right now, thanks to all of your help, but I’ve also decided to toy with you ponies one last time... Princess Twilight, your vessel of powerful magic shall be mine! ”Get away from me!” as the Alicorn tried to fly away. ”Nice try, but you won’t be going anywhere!” as Shadow Peach grabbed Twilight with a giant shadow claw. ”TWILIGHT!!!” Everyone else called out. ”I-I...can’t free...myself... She’s too strong...” ”She’s all yours, my love!” Shadow Peach exclaimed. Thank you very much, my sweetheart... It looks like the Mushroom Kingdom and Equestria lost their most powerful means of defense! Come to me, Princess Twilight, and you shall be made useful... ”NOOOOOO!!!” Twilight pleaded. Shadow Queen Peach put Twilight in a sudden sleep and King Sombra slowly began to bind his soul with the Alicorn’s body. A dark aura swirled crazily around the purple pony as her eyes and horn’s aura began to turn black and red. The Shadow Queen then freed her from her grasp until Twilight was standing up again. ”At last, I...am reborn, hahaha!!! The possessed Twilight laughed sinisterly. ”You’re going to pay for this, Sombra!” Bowser gritted his teeth. ”If you want to get to my master so badly, you’ll have to get through me first! I shall now be known as Shadow Princess Twilight Sparkle!” A storm started to brew up in the sky as Equestria was now going through a downpour of rain and a furious storm of lightning. The ship was accidentally off autopilot and Grubber had to rush to get back to the wheel. Meanwhile, the evil Twilight was facing off against everyone else while Shadow Queen Peach and Twilight’s parents were watching from the side. ”I’m so sorry, Twilight, but ya leave us no choice!” A.J confided. “Gals, get ready with the Elements of Harmony!” ”I almost forgot about my own best friends!” Shadow Twilight mocked. “Would you girls care to join me?” Zap. Twilight’s crown, which is actually the Element of Magic, started to get corrupt as it turned from a pink star to a black one. She zapped her five pony friends, who were wearing the other Elements of Harmony, and they fell under King Sombra’s spell too. One by one, they had a dark aura surrounding each and every one of them. ”Now this is more like it!” Shadow Dash smiled menacingly. ”You may call us the Elements...of Disharmony!” Shadow Fluttershy exclaimed. ”Who’s ready to have some real fun?” Shadow Pinkie giggled. ”You fools will understand the true meaning of pain and misery!” as Shadow Rarity pumped up her hooves. ”Don’t blink, or y’all would miss the part where we buck you into oblivion!” Shadow A.J betted. ”We’re so screwed...” Luigi’s jaw dropped. “MMMAAARRRIIIOOO!!!” ”I take back what I said before about you four!” Star Swirl corrected. “Now, we must assist you in this tough fight!” ”I see you’ve finally come to your senses, old man.” as Bowser crossed his arms. “Alright Twilight, don’t worry, we’re going to free you and your friends!” ”Try if you can, but you will obviously fail!” Shadow Twilight retaliated. ”Bring it on!” Cappy groaned.
00: PrologueMario awoke to the brisk morning air, a slight disturbance making its way down his spine due to the looming fear that haunted him through the night. He was not feeling himself today. Nevertheless, the mustachioed Mario awoke as he joined his brother for breakfast. "Morning Bro! How'd you sleep?" "Good… I guess." "Better than I can say for myself… I spent the whole night tossing and turning." Mario was struck with curiosity. "Why?" he inquired. "I dunno.. I just felt somehow uncomfortable all night. I think I was having a bad dream or somethin'." Could Luigi's have been having the same nightmare? The possibility piqued Mario's interest, but before he could even have time to think or say anything, a loud bell chimed from outside the door. "*MAIL CALL!"* Parakarry shouted from the other side. "You have an important letter here from the Princess, Mario! Better read it." Mario walked outside onto the patio and, in a quick moment, embraced the freshness of the lovely summer day. The aroma of freshly baked Koopa Buns from Lady Koops' Bakery floated on the air, and the enchanting scents of Bub-ulb flowers tickled his nose. Mario received the letter and thanked Parakarry, and the mail koopa nodded and waved as he flew off. The envelope was richly decorated, which was nothing unusual for Princess Peach. Even her stationary could be used as a symbol for her status. ***Dear Mario,* I would be delighted if you would come to my castle today to join me for lunch and tea, as well as some discussion over this wacky dream I had last night! I'm not sure why, but I feel my discussing it with you will hold some special significance. Strange, right!? Anyways, come over ASAP! And bring Luigi too! See you soon!** *~Princess Peach* "Why does Peach always expect us to show up within 5 minutes of reading her letters?" he wondered to himself aloud. "Dunno! …but usually when the princess has something to say, it's either A, really important governing stuff, or B, something that's about to get us in a whole lot of trouble and end up having to save the world." Luigi mused. "Which one do you think it is today?" "Knowing the Princess? Probably B. C'mon, we'd better hurry before the princess gets impatient!" And with that Mario and Luigi headed off to the castle. Upon their arrival, the Mario Bros. were greeted as per usual by the guard toads, and were thusly escorted through the many floors and corridors of the castle to the princess's room, which resided in the tallest tower. Standing before a large door with a massive star emblazoned upon it, Mario reached out for a knock. But the doors burst open before he could get the chance, and the princess, in all her pink beauty, stood before the two plumbers. "Mario! Luigi! You've come! And you're only …3 minutes late! What took you so long?" "Sorry Princess, traffic!" exclaimed Luigi. "Let us adjourn to the tea room for some discussion." Peach lead the two through several more corridors of the palace. Mario and Luigi couldn't help but observe the awe-inspiring spectacle of the halls. Despite the many times they had been here, it was always captivating compared to what they had at home. "The tea room is just around here." Mario and Luigi followed the princess into the banquet room, which housed an unusually large table blanketed with a lacey white tablecloth. Looking up, you could see a cathedral-style ceiling with stained glass depictions of the night sky, complete with stars, and a large balcony with two equally large glass doors leading out ot it. The doors were open, which gave way for the warm summer breezes to sporadically flow into the room, each gust rustling the rich pink curtains as well as creating a scattered grain across the fluffy white carpet. They took a seat, and before even a moment could pass, several servant toads were already bringing in cups of tea, small sandwiches, and little sweet biscuits by the boat-loads. "So about that dream…" started the Princess, not giving the heroes a chance to indulge in the spread. "It was really bizarre! I remember, it was very dark… and there was a mysterious - almost discomforting – fog that justloomedover what I think was a garden. I felt rather uneasy the entire time, but what really got me was when right before I woke up, I saw an eerie shadow emerging from the fog!" Silence. "...well what do you think?!" Mario and Luigi sat with their mouths agape, pieces of crumpet falling from their extended jaws. "Boys! It's not polite to chew with your mouths open!" "Sorry Princess!" quipped Luigi, shaking off his shock. "It's just that.. well, I had the exact same dream last night!" "As did I!" added Mario. "What!? You're telling me we all had the same dream? This is odd… very odd! Well this sort of thing isn't normal! That doesn't just happen out of coincidence! I think we need to pursue this matter further." exclaimed the Princess. Mario could already tell where this was going… they were about to end up on some crazy adventure again. "We should tell somebody important about this… Somebody wise, and all knowing!" she further added. ”Why not go to Professor E. Gadd for help?” Luigi asked. ”Bro, you’re kidding, right?” as Mario adjusted his hat. “Can’t we give the old man a break? I think he can no longer keep up on our fast-paced journeys.” ”Exactly.” Peach interrupted. “Besides, I don’t want another crazy contraption of his blowing up the castle again!” ”Oops, I remembered using the Poltergeist and accidentally doing that.” Luigi gulped. “Sorry Princess!” ”Actually Luigi, now that you mention it, aren’t ghosts and shadows related to each other?” Mario asked. ”Kind of, but there’s no way in this kingdom that I’m not going near any of them again!” ”I guess it wouldn’t hurt to see the professor once again.” Peach said. “Wait, what’s going on?” The ground started to shake as the plumbers and the princess got down on their stomachs. The Toads panicked and scattered across the kingdom, leaving none behind with their beloved princess. That’s when the banquet room doors burned down, revealing the brute force to be none other than the Mario Brothers’ number one enemy, Bowser, the King of the Koopas. “BOWSER!” The trio yelled. ”Bwahaha, am I late to the party? Sorry, but looks like it’s over for you! You’re coming with me, Princess Peach!” ”No, not again! Please help me, you two, I’m begging you!” ”Not to worry, Princess!” Mario grinned. “Luigi and I got this again!” ”Y-Yeah... Wait...why are you alone, Bowser?” ”I’m not! In case your lovely ‘gem’ over there refuses to come with me, she will be surrounded by my minions and Koopalings if she tries to leave the castle. So go ahead and take a stab at me, fools! I welcome it, but it won’t do you any good! I’ll be sitting right here in this chair and just let my minions take care of things, okay?” ”Bro, you got a plan this time?” Luigi whispered. ”He thinks he’s playing smart, but we’re smarter than him by a long shot. We have to take him out quietly or else he’ll alert his minions. I think I know who will make the perfect distraction!” ”Why are you two smiling at me like that?” Peach whispered. “My kingdom is going to be destroyed if we don’t do something!” ”Princess, we need you to pretend to follow Bowser outside.” Mario explained softly. “Once he turns around, we’ll knock him on his head with our hammers!” "Are you sure this will work, Mario?" "How does this make you feel?" The red plumber leaned in to quickly kiss Peach on her cheek. "I will take your word because of that, thank you." "I'm losing my patience now!" Bowser groaned. "You better come now or else..." "Alright, I'm going!" Peach said as she winked back at the Mario Bros. "Good! You two boys better not try anything stupid!" "Oh, we won't..." Luigi giggled. "Ready bro?" "Ready." ”I don’t like how your voices sound right now, but anyway, it’s time for US to carry on with our wedding!” Bowser exclaimed. ”R-Right...” Peach mocked. As Mario and Luigi crept under the table to attack Bowser, the ground started to shake again, causing both Bros. to bonk their heads. Peach and Bowser also fell to the ground as the intensity of this earthquake was higher than when Bowser came in. "What's the meaning of this nonsense?" as Bowser struggled to regain his balance. ”What are you planning now?” as Mario got up from under the table. ”Trust me, this is not my fault!” Bowser replied. ”Then wh-who’s doing this??” as Luigi stayed under the table. Crystals... A dark cloud started to swirl up inside the castle and a lightning bolt struck the dining table. It appeared to be a shadow of a unicorn. Begone foul beings, or I will smite all of you! ”Who, or what, exactly are you?” Mario demanded. I am King Sombra. I once ruled a kingdom called the Crystal Empire, but I have fallen and shattered into nothing but a broken shard... ”Bah, I don’t know where that is or why you’re here, but you better let me get moving or I’m going to knock some sense into you!” Bowser challenged. Your feeble powers are no match for mine, as I am considered to be a REAL king! Take this! The shadowy unicorn king used his horn to blast Bowser, causing him to disappear entirely. Now with that settled, it’s time for me to return to Equestria and regain my full power! But first, it looks like your princess will be comfortable once she is in my castle! ”Not on our watch!” as Luigi threw a fireball. Not so fast... King Sombra zapped Luigi, causing him to disappear. ”Nooooo!” Mario gasped. “Where did you take my brother?” The land of Equestria. If you want to rescue him and that pathetic turtle, you must do my bidding. For now, say goodbye to your lover as well! ”Mario, help us!” Peach cried. ”I will, don’t worry!” King Sombra formed a giant claw and grabbed Peach tightly by her waist. Both of them teleported in the midst of a dark cloud, leaving Mario all by himself. ”I don’t think I could’ve been able to stop him all by myself. I need to find Professor E. Gadd, and fast...”
01: The Gateway to EquestriaMario just stood in the middle of the dining room without his hat, almost defeated, and he kept staring at a painting of Princess Peach. Seconds later, one of Bowser’s Koopalings, Roy Koopa, came in and found the plumber. ”Hey yo, what’s the holdup here? Where’s my dad gone to?” ”He’s been taken to another world, along with my brother and the princess.” Mario replied. ”He’s already going back home without us?” Roy stumbled. “I guess we gotta catch up to him. Smell ya later, sucker!” ”That’s not what I meant! Some mysterious shadow unicorn named King Sombra took Bowser away with the others somewhere called Equestria and now they’re gone.” ”What? Was that why there was another earthquake after he came in?” ”I hate to admit it, but yeah.” Mario said. ”How do I know you guys weren’t the ones who haven’t ruffled my dad up?” Roy hummed. ”We witnessed the entire thing. Your dad got teleported before he could even attack the unicorn.” ”Uh-huh. If you’re so sure about this, can you save him for us, Red Stache?” ”I might, but once he comes back to the Mushroom Kingdom, you guys better not go kidnapping Princess Peach again!” ”I don’t have a say in that, but I’ll try and talk to my dad.” Roy responded. ”Thanks bud. Now, I’ve got some business to take care of, so try not to do anything stupid while I’m gone, Roy.” ”Got it.” ”I think I can use the warp pipe in the basement to get to the lab from here.” Mario thought to himself. Mario left the dining room and took the east wing stairs to the basement. Only he, the Toads, and Princess Peach knew this castle’s layout more than anyone else. However, as Mario went down the stairs, the lights started to fade due to both earthquakes from Bowser and King Sombra. ”I think this is the right one. All these other pipes lead to different areas of the Mushroom Kingdom. I better hurry up while there’s still time. Let’s-a-go!” Mario jumped into the green pipe conveniently labeled, “Professor E. Gadd’s Lab,” and ended up on the other side. It was moved back to Thwomp Volcano after the professor finally helped Luigi capture King Boo a while back. ”At least that unicorn hasn’t destroyed the lab.” Knock knock. ”Hello?” as the voice passed while the door crept open. “Oh goodness, Mario! Wonderful seeing you again!” ”It’s nice to see you again, Professor E. Gadd! Listen, I’m in a bit of hurry and thought you might help me out. Please?” ”Well, I always come prepared to the fight, although I’m getting older by the second. Bowser’s got Princess Peach again as usual, I see?” ”Actually, no.” Mario said. “He, the princess, and Luigi have been taken away to some place called Equestria after some shadow unicorn got ahold of them. His name is King Sombra, by the way.” ”Equestria?” E. Gadd gasped. “I’ve been doing research about that place ever since the Shroobs invaded the Mushroom Kingdom. Quickly, I’ll explain inside!” ”Okay.” as Mario came inside and closed the door behind him. ”Now, the reason why I knew about Equestria was because that was where the Shroobs were originally planning to take over. I caught a handful of them trying to steal my time machine and go there, but I stopped them using my inventions. However, that led to the invasion of the Mushroom Kingdom instead. I’m really sorry if that was a problem.” ”No, not at all.” Mario reminisced. “You did what you had to do. Have you tried going to Equestria yourself, Professor E. Gadd?” ”Only for a test run. I actually succeeded in getting there, but I wanted to come back quickly because I didn’t know what I was going to get myself into.” ”What kind of people live there?” Mario asked. ”There are no people. Only ponies exist.” ”What?” Mario got frozen for a bit. “Then that means that King Sombra is a unicorn pony?” ”Yes, indeed.” The professor replied. “While doing research, I read a book about different worlds and dimensions called ‘A Mushroom’s Guide to Portals.’ Equestria is actually known to be a nice place for friendship, love, and tolerance.” ”I’m not so sure about that statement, after the fact that the princess’ castle just got wrecked by King Sombra.” as Mario fixed his hat. ”Not to worry!” E. Gadd exclaimed. “You won’t be going alone this time, Mario, because I will be coming along with someone else you just met!” ”Who?” ”Hi Mario, it’s me, Cappy!” A top-hatted floating ghost appeared, who appeared to be Cappy, Mario’s capturing buddy. ”Cappy? What are you doing inside the Storybook? I thought you were on top of the other Mario’s head?” ”I can visit the Paper Mushroom Kingdom any time I want, as long as Mario’s fine with it! I also thought it’d be cool to see some of the professor’s work here!” ”It’s crazy to know that the exact same things happen both inside and outside of the Storybook, huh?” E. Gadd reminded. ”Well, our Cappy’s not exactly here at the moment, but you can definitely sit on top of my head as well.” Mario said. ”Alright, but I don’t know how much longer it’ll take until the people of my Cap Kingdom need me again.” Cappy added. ”Then, we better get going. Professor, can I see that book of yours, real quick?” ”Sure thing, Mario! There’s another section about Equestria’s rulers on here. You can read it out loud, just for a heads up.” ”Okay.” The trio gathered up together as Mario flipped through the pages to find Equestria, hoping to see if there’s any hints of what to do in the land. It went on for a little while. Once upon a time, in the magical land of Equestria, there were two regal sisters who ruled together and created harmony for all the land. To do this, the eldest used her unicorn powers to raise the sun at dawn; the younger brought out the moon to begin the night. Thus, the two sisters maintained balance for their kingdom and their subjects, all the different types of ponies. But as time went on, the younger sister became resentful. The ponies relished and played in the day her elder sister brought forth, but shunned and slept through her beautiful night. One fateful day, the younger unicorn refused to lower the moon to make way for the dawn. The elder sister tried to reason with her, but the bitterness in the young one's heart had transformed her into a wicked mare of darkness: Nightmare Moon. ”Sounds wicked and awesome!” Cappy encouraged. She vowed that she would shroud the land in eternal night. Reluctantly, the elder sister harnessed the most powerful magic known to ponydom: the Elements of Harmony. Using the magic of the Elements of Harmony, she defeated her younger sister, and banished her permanently in the moon. The elder sister took on responsibility for both... ”...sun and moon...” as Mario closed the book. ”Hmm...” The professor wondered. “Elements of Harmony. I know I've heard of those before... but where?” ”No idea, but they sound like our key to stopping King Sombra and saving the others.” Mario thought. ”Why don’t we just leave Bowser behind in Equestria?” Cappy interrogated. “You’ve seen what he’s done to my home, right Mario?” ”He’s helped us in the past several times. I think he’ll be useful to us after we break out, even if it means yet another lousy attempt to kidnap the princess. I’m sure of that.” ”What are we waiting for, boys?” E. Gadd asked. “Let’s hop inside the time machine!” ”Wait, what if you accidentally send us there during the wrong time period?” Cappy mentioned. ”Don’t sweat it, lad, the time machine is set to ‘Present Day.’” ”Okay, I packed some Fire and Ice Flowers for the road, too.” Mario said. “I still don’t know what to expect over there.” ”I’ll be on top of your flat head now!” as Cappy transformed into Mario’s hat. ”Thanks!” ”You boys might want to put on some seatbelts, because it’s going to be a bumpy ride!” E. Gadd warned. ”Any catchy tunes in here?” Cappy asked. ”Just press this button here!”
02: Princess Twilight Sparkle”How are you boys holding up?” Professor E. Gadd asked. ”At least I’m not vomiting like Luigi.” Mario said. “Wouldn’t a warp pipe have been easier?” ”Ooh, you’re right!” E. Gadd replied. “Maybe I should’ve built that in Equestria a long time ago while I had the chance. This thing can still take us anywhere, if you recall.” ”But to get stuck back in time?” as Cappy turned back to normal. “Going all the way back to the moon from the very beginning will be tiring.” ”I highly doubt that will happen again, Cappy.” Mario reminded. “I do remember that this machine takes us anywhere, but it should’ve been called a ‘time portal,’ to be very specific. Sorry if I sound a bit off by the way, Professor.” ”No, it’s fine Mario. In fact, you just came up with some brilliant ideas while we explore this place! I’ll have to make some adjustments in the meantime.” ”Okay, does anyone have ideas on what to do when we get there?” Cappy asked. ”Let’s just ask around for information about either King Sombra or these Elements of Harmony, though I doubt these ponies will know anything from a thousand years ago, according to how old the events in this book were.” ”I’m going to see if I can find a way to build a warp pipe back home for future use.” The professor explained. ”Okay, but you have to build it somewhere where nobody else can see it, otherwise the Mushroom Kingdom will be full of ponies.” Mario warned. ”WOAH!” as everybody bumped into each other. The time machine opened up a rift and landed the trio in some dark forest. Everything was still paper, but every few plants out of the oddly dark ones were brightly colored, ranging from blue to purple. ”C’mon boys, let’s get out there!” E. Gadd exclaimed. “I can’t wait to see everything clearly!” Mario felt dizzy as he and his top-hatted friend fell down inside the time machine after coming to a big stop. As they regained consciousness and got situated with one another again, they leave to find an immediate fork in their road. ”Professor, Cappy, there’s a sign over here with arrows pointing to different locations! Maybe it can tell us where to go.” West: Castle of the Two Sisters North: Tree of Harmony East: Zecora’s Hut South: Ponyville ”Hold on a second.” E. Gadd paused. “That castle might’ve belonged to those regal sisters mentioned in the book!” ”Wait, it could be dangerous to just go straight in there!” Cappy freaked out. “I’m willing to bet that the evil sister is still in there!” ”Yeah, but we don’t know who it belongs to now after a thousand years.” Mario said. “Let’s try talking to this Zecora, wherever this hut of hers is.” ”How do you know where to go?” Cappy quizzed. “What if this Zecora is actually not friendly?” ”Well, we know what the drill is for baddies, but we need to start simple somewhere by getting some answers out of her. This sign will be our guide if one of us gets lost in this forest.” ”We’ll be right behind you, Mario.” Professor E. Gadd said. “Once you gather enough information, maybe we can explore this Tree of Harmony and this supposed town of Ponyville.” ”Stay close to me as possible. If anything moves, I’ll be sure to catch it with a fireball.” ”Try not to set the entire forest on fire!” Professor E. Gadd alarmed. ”Hold on.” Cappy laid off. “Do you hear that?” ”It’s a pony!” Mario almost screamed. “Let’s listen carefully.” A yellow pony with a pink mane and tail was seen walking with a bunch of raccoons and a big bear through the forest. The trio hid in some bushes, almost as if they’re spying on the animals. ”Right this way, little friends!” The yellow pony spoke softly. “Harry and I have almost found your new home...in this s-scary, o-ominous forest... Why do I keep on c-coming here?” ”Let’s-a-go help her out!” as Mario jumped out. ”Wait Mario!” Cappy interrupted. “The bear might-” ”RRAWRR!!!” The bear sharpened its claws as it attempted to rip Mario into pieces while the other two still remained unseen in the bushes. The raccoons also hid behind the yellow pony for safety. ”Easy, easy...” Mario gulped. ”Harry, stay back!” The pony commanded. “This is not the time to be rough! I think...” The bear frowned and faced the other way. ”Ma’am, there’s nothing to worry about.” Mario reassured. “I was just wondering if you were lost and thought you needed some help.” ”Oh, um...that would be nice, but is it rude if I asked you something? By the way, Harry, please show these raccoons their home and I’ll catch up with you later, okay?” ”No, go ahead and ask me anything!” Mario acknowledged. ”Are you new around here? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you before.” ”Yeah, you could say that. I actually come from another world called the Mushroom Kingdom and we ended up here because we’re on an important mission.” ”Oh?” The yellow pony noted. “What’s your mission?” ”The princess of the Mushroom Kingdom has been kidnapped by this shadow unicorn named King Sombra, and he’s even got my brother and this other king that I know.” Mario explained. ”Huh? Did you just say...King Sombra?” ”Yes, why?” Mario asked. “Do you know him?” ”Y-Yes, but how does he know you?” She shivered. ”I don’t know. The last thing I remember from him was that he wanted me to ‘obey him and go find him,’ so that he’ll release my friends.” ”You can’t trust him, not even for one bit! I-I can help you and my friends can too, but you can only tell this to certain ponies. Follow me.” ”Wait.” Mario said. “I forgot to tell you my name. It’s-a-me, Mario!” ”That’s a nice name, Mario. I’m...F-Flutter...shy.” ”Sorry, what was that?” Mario chuckled. ”I’m Fluttershy.” She’s whispered. ”It’s nice to meet you...Fluttershy.” The plumber winked. “I actually brought some more friends with me, if you like to meet them.” ”That would be nice!” Fluttershy squeaked. The professor and Cappy finally hopped out of the bushes and walked towards the two newly formed acquaintances. They even had to brush off some random twigs and rocks off themselves. ”Guys, I’d like you to meet Fluttershy! Fluttershy, these are my friends, Professor E. Gadd and Cappy!” ”Hi there!” Cappy waved. ”Hello friend!” E. Gadd greeted. ”Hehe, hello to the both of you!” Fluttershy giggled. “You know, I may be scared of ghosts, but I think you’re very cute, little guy!” ”Who, me?” Cappy blushed. “I’m just a ghost hat.” ”And I’m an inventor!” E. Gadd pointed out. ”More like mad scientist...” Mario whispered to himself. The four allies headed back down south and out of the forest into a beautiful looking town called Ponyville. Paper ponies began to wave at Fluttershy and even Mario’s team. One grey, cross-eyed pony came up to them and offered the group a basket of muffins, and they each took one for the road. ”Wow, I was wrong about this place!” Mario said. “I guess these people, or ponies rather, really are friendly!” ”Ponyville is really the friendliest place in all of Equestria!” Fluttershy exclaimed. “We love and tolerate like there’s no tomorrow!” ”Hmm, I wouldn’t say the same about Sombra, however. After all, he has my brother and princess...” ”I wonder what Bowser is planning to do right now.” Cappy mentioned. “He might be trying to break out of whatever prison Sombra put him in.” ”Well, we made it!” Fluttershy said. “This is where some of my best friends lives.” ”That is an ENORMOUS castle there!” E. Gadd panted. ”Your friends must be royalty, I assume?” Mario asked. ”Just one.” Fluttershy replied. “And she sort of acts like our leader. Allow me to knock on her door. Knock knock. ”Hey Fluttershy, I just noticed something about you.” Mario said. ”Oh?” ”What are you folding under your sides?” ”Oh, these happen to be my wings! I’m a Pegasus pony, by the way, but I’m not the best at flying. I usually do it in times when there’s a battle going on or if there’s something I can’t quite reach in my cottage. ”Good to know.” Mario said. “Ooh, the door’s opening!” As the door opened, a purple pony with an indigo mane & tail each having a pink stripe appeared. She looked completely different from Fluttershy, because not only did she look slightly taller, but she has both a unicorn’s horn and a Pegasus’ wings. ”Hey Fluttershy! I see you brought guests to the castle!” ”Umm, Twilight? They do seem friendly and all, but they have an important mission right now and they really need our help!” ”Okay, you may all come in.” The purple pony said. “Let’s discuss this in the map room.” ”Mm-hmm.” Everyone else huddled up. ”It’s always nice to make new friends! My name is Princess Twilight Sparkle, but everypony usually just calls me ‘Twilight.’ I’m sure Fluttershy has introduced herself already before you came here. I’m also the ‘Princess of Friendship’, if that’s a nice reference for you.” ”Twilight, this is Mario, and these are his friends, Professor E. Gadd and Cappy!” Fluttershy volunteered. ”Y-you’re also a princess??” The trio stuttered. “We must bow to you, Your Highness!” ”Hahaha!” Twilight giggled. “I’m very flattered by your manners, but you really don’t have to be so formal around me! To be honest, even though I am a princess, I always act casual with my best friends and everypony I pass by, unless there’s a royal meeting or whatever.” ”I’ll keep that in mind, Twilight.” as Mario stopped bowing. “Alright, I need to get to the point already, because I don’t know how much time we have left. I hope you can help us in our mission.” ”I’m all ears, Mario.” Twilight accepted. ”We came from a different world called the Mushroom Kingdom, which is where we live. My brother, the princess, and another kingdom’s king have all been kidnapped by this shadow unicorn named King Sombra.” ”WHAT???” as Twilight spit out some tea. “How is he still alive?” ”You know him too?” Cappy asked. ”Yes. He has been defeated twice before: once like a thousand years ago and another time a couple years back. I never thought he would keep coming back!” ”Is he that powerful?” Mario asked. “He’s just a unicorn with a broken horn.” ”Oh no, he’s much worse than that!” Twilight freaked out. “If hatred and fear are all that Equestria live off of, King Sombra will become unstoppable!” ”But why would he go to the Mushroom Kingdom to kidnap Princess Peach?” E. Gadd wondered. ”He said something about making Princess Peach his bride.” Mario replied. “It sounds like he’s not the only one who’ll be using dark magic. He also said something about me obeying him, which he still hasn’t clarified yet. We have to save her before she gets possessed by Sombra!” ”Yeah, but we still have to rescue Luigi and Bowser from...wherever he’s keeping them.” Cappy said. ”I don’t know how long exactly it’ll take us to find them, but I know exactly where Sombra sends his victims.” Twilight thought. ”Where?” Everyone else leaned in.” ”Tartarus.” ”You can’t be serious, Twilight!” Fluttershy cried. “What if Tirek is also planning something down there?” ”He’s too weak to even break out of his cell and Cerberus has a good eye on him, too.” ”Sounds like WE have some planning to do as well!” E. Gadd pointed to himself. ”So Mario, I understand your situation and we would be very glad to help you on your journey!” Twilight smiled. “But, do you trust us to join you?” ”How can I say no to friends like you? I trust you, Twilight!” ”Yay...” Fluttershy whispered. Mario exchanged a hand while Twilight exchanged a hoof and the two have formed a new bond. The rest of Mario’s team also exchanged hands with Fluttershy, too. ”It’s not going to be easy getting down there, Mario.” Twilight said. “I hope you came prepared.” ”Hmm, I don’t necessarily know magic, but I know how to throw fireballs and iceballs! Is that good enough?” ”I’m afraid not.” Twilight replied. “However, I can train you in the meantime to combine your powers with my magic spells!” ”You can do that?” Cappy wondered. ”Twilight’s magic is the most powerful I’ve ever seen.” Fluttershy added. “She’ll add an extra kick to your attacks!” ”Thanks Twilight!” Mario nodded. “I guess I’ll give you these flowers to hold onto for now.” ”I’m guessing these flowers have the powers you were talking about, right? Anyway, with enough training and effort, these flowers will become...Magic Flowers!”
03: Bros. Pony Attacks12:00PM Twilight’s Castle Wednesday ”Before we begin to train, Mario, may I ask how exactly you ended up in Equestria?” Twilight asked. ”You see, the professor’s time machine also acts as a portal, and we were lucky enough to end up here at the right time!” ”I’ve actually been researching this place for a while now!” E. Gadd exclaimed. “Whoever wrote that book I have must’ve done a lot of dimension hopping!” ”Well, if you trust me enough as a friend, then I hope you won’t mind your time machine being guarded by another friend you’re about to me.” Twilight said. “Honestly speaking, she takes great care of everything.” ”Y’all must be speaking about me, folks!” A cowgirl’s voice was heard from the dining room as she entered the throne room. She was an orange pony, wearing a brown stetson hat that cowgirls definitely wear, and her mane and tail looked like the same type of blonde hair as Princess Peach’s hair. ”Woah, who’s this fella with the mustache?” She whispered to Fluttershy. ”Applejack, we like you to meet our new friends, Mario, Cappy, and Professor E. Gadd!” Twilight introduced. The group waved back at the cowgirl pony. ”Howdy, partners. I’m Applejack, and I’ll be at your service whenever y’all need it! Now, what was your name again, sugarcube? Mario?” ”That’s-a-me! Nice to meet you too, Applejack. ”I really like your hat there!” Cappy added. ”Aww thanks, little buddy.” A.J. blushed. “I rarely say this to other stallions, but you’re...a bit cute, too.” ”D-Did s-she...also just call me...?” as Cappy fainted. ”Okay, with everything cute aside, let’s get to the important things, Applejack.” Twilight said. “King Sombra’s back.” ”What are ya talking about, Twilight? I thought the Crystal Heart completely blasted him out of existence! Spike knew this too, right?” ”Maybe his horn still had a piece of his shadow remaining?” Fluttershy wondered. ”That’s probably possible yet depressing.” Twilight replied. “I can’t believe we didn’t go searching for any of Sombra’s remains outside the Crystal Empire after he was supposedly killed, and it’s mostly because of how cold the Frozen North is.” ”That reminds me of something.” A.J. said. “Where’s Spike?” ”He’s probably telling more epic stories about himself to the sick foals at the hospital.” Twilight giggled. “That must be why he snuck out of bed and refused to go to Sugarcube Corner with me.” ”Who’s Spike, Twilight?” Mario attended to. ”He’s my best friend and number one assistant. We’ve been through so much together that even just the thought of leaving him will hurt me. I’ve always liked him and that’ll never change, even despite his goofy personality sometimes.” ”He’s also a baby dragon!” Fluttershy pointed out. ”Aren’t dragons supposed to be furious at people, regardless of age?” Cappy asked. ”Hehe, now where have we learned that from?” Mario thought. ”He may breathe fire like them other dragons, but he won’t do us any harm.” A.J. said. ”Now before we begin, would you like to join us in training Mario, Applejack?” Twilight asked. ”Woohoo! Well alright, count me in!” ”Great, and how about you, Fluttershy?” ”Umm, sure, but...as long as it’s not too rough.” ”I promise that nothing’s going to happen to you.” Twilight declared. ”Ditto, Fluttershy.” Mario added. ”Alright, follow me outside in the backyard, Mario.” Twilight instructed. “Before we show you our powers, you must first demonstrate to us what you know how to do in the Mushroom Kingdom.” Out in the backyard was nothing but an open field and way above the castle, there seemed to be a fancy city up in the mountains. A beautiful, sparkling waterfall is also next to the castle, acting as one of Ponyville’s main water supplies. Professor E. Gadd and Cappy stood back as they were watching Mario getting ready for his training, while Fluttershy and Applejack let Twilight go up first. ”Who built this castle, Twilight?” ”Technically, I earned it. Long story short, it was inside a chest that my friends and I opened using special keys. It’s not just my home, it’s ours, Mario. I decided that after we fought Tirek, whom you might’ve heard about from Fluttershy.” ”Alright. Everyone in the Mushroom Kingdom knows how high I can jump! Can one of you throw something up high so I can show you?” ”I’ve got it!” Twilight exclaimed. “Applejack, I want you to buck an apple straight up in the air as you can and see if Mario can catch it before I do. He’ll be jumping, I’ll be flying.” ”I hope you both brought your A-game today, because this’ll certainly be my highest apple buck in all of Equestria! But honestly, Rainbow Dash would smoke y’all if she was here.” ”You got this, Mario!” His team cheered. ”This’ll be my first time doing a race like this, though I’ve raced more than I can count. We’ll both count down from three, okay Twilight?” ”Oh, it’s on!” Twilight smirked. ”Remember to buck the apple on ‘Go,’ A.J.” Fluttershy mentioned. ”I got this!” ”Three... Two... One... GO!” Both Mario and Twilight counted. Applejack immediately used her hind legs to buck an apple straight up, even surpassing the height of the castle, and the two trainees were off. Mario held his left arm up open to catch it while Twilight flapped her wings and used two hooves to catch the apple. The two were pretty neck and neck, but however, none of them caught it. ”It’s coming back down, somebody better dive for that apple!” E. Gadd yelled. ”I’m way ahead of you!” as Mario took a nosedive. ”Not so fast, plumber!” as Twilight swooped down. ”This is too scary to watch!” as Fluttershy shielded her eyes. The two trainees were neck and neck yet again as they were practically skydiving for the apple. The ground was getting closer, so Twilight started to pick up flight speed and Mario resorted to throwing his hat to get the apple. But ultimately, the Princess of Friendship caught it in the end. ”Yes, yes, yes, I got it!!!” as Twilight descened. ”Well, I guess that’s a failure for me, huh?” Mario frowned for a bit. ”Are you crazy?” Twilight minded. “I’ve never seen somepony, or someone else rather, jump that high without the need to fly! Not even Pinkie Pie could hop that high! So, I would consider your first test to be a success in my book.” ”Wahoo!” as Mario jumped up and fist pumped. “I’ll admit too that you’re a pretty fast & amazing flyer, Twilight.” ”Thanks Mario. Alright, what else can you do?” ”I can throw fireballs & iceballs using those Flowers I just gave you. Do you have something I can burn or freeze, Twilight?” ”Actually, I would let you burn my least favorite Daring Do books, but Rainbow Dash wouldn’t talk to me for a week if you did that. What if we get to your new attacks already?” ”Sure, just give me a Fire Flower.” Mario said. As Twilight handed Mario the Fire Flower, he crushed it in his hands to transform. His overalls and cap turned from red and blue to red and white, much to the amazement of Mario and Twilight’s friends. ”I hope you’re ready for your first combo attack with me, Mario!” Twilight exclaimed. “This one is called ‘Fire Beam,’ and what it simply means is that I use my horn to shoot damage beams the same time you throw your fireballs. They will both fuse and create a deadly, incendiary beam that we can use against enemies.” ”That sounds like a really good idea, Twilight!” Mario commented. ”Thanks, but I literally just thought of the name right now.” She whispered. “Anyway, let’s try it! I’ll make some apples appear using magic so that we can test this attack.” ”You better not be stealing from Sweet Apple Acres, Twilight!” A.J raised an eyebrow. “Those apples were harvested out of hard labor!” ”I won’t. I know a spell that can spawn new apples in an instant.” ”Alright.” Mario said. “I’m ready when you are, Twilight.” ”Ready. Fluttershy, would you mind placing these apples on that tree stump over there?” ”Yes, of course!” She happily obliged. ”Professor, Cappy, stand back, because this might get a little heated.” Mario instructed. ”Will do!” They both replied. ”Applejack, on ‘Go,’ got it?” Twilight prompted. ”You bet I got this!” ”Three... Two... One... GO!” Mario and Twilight counted. Mario charged up a fireball while Twilight’s horn was getting ready to charge, too. With enough energy, they both launched their attacks on the apples, creating one blaze red beam, and they just completely burned the apples and tree stump, for additional damage. A trail of smoke was left with a scent of a few wood chunks still burning. ”Woah, that was intense!” Fluttershy gasped. ”Woah, I can’t believe that actually worked, Mario!” Twilight relieved herself. ”You know, this isn’t the first time I’ve combined my attacks with someone else! My brother Luigi and I do this all the time when fighting tough enemies. I just wish he was here right now...” ”Don’t worry, Mario.” Cappy reassured. “You’re becoming stronger as we speak and we’ll soon find Luigi and Bowser, thanks to you and these wonderful ponies!” ”Which reminds me...” Twilight wondered. “Cappy, what exactly kind of ghost are you?” ”A top-hatted one? Whenever I sit on top of Mario’s head, he can throw me onto anything and he’s able to possess that person, object, or even pony! He can even become his own hammer, but someone else has to catch him after he hits someone. ” ”Ooh, ooh, I know what to do!” Mario exclaimed. “Twilight, for this attack, I shall call it ‘Flying Hammer Chain.’ Basically, I am going to throw my hammer at an enemy one time, then I throw Cappy to my hammer so that I can possess it and hit the enemy in midair the second time, and finally, you fly in to catch my hammer so that you can swing at the enemy yourself. The faster you fly in and catch me, the harder your swing will hit!” ”Interesting.” Twilight agreed. “I just have to practice coming in and swinging the hammer at the right time, but I think I can do it.” ”Thanks Twilight. Cappy, get on my head. Professor, after the second time my hammer hits, that’s when Twilight has to fly in and grab me. Can you give her the signal?” ”Yes, my boy!” E. Gadd replied. “There’s another tree stump here that you can knock underground.” ”Okay, here goes nothing.” Mario said as he pulled out his hammer. ”Three... Two... One... GO!” The three trainees counted. In a quick sequence, Mario tossed his hammer at the tree stump, causing it to bounce up high into the air. He then threw Cappy, whose eyes were sticking through Mario’s white hat, onto the hammer and all that could be seen was his mustache and cap. Mario aimed himself at the tree stump and swung at it again, causing the hammer to bounce up again. ”Now, Twilight!” E. Gadd instructed. The princess flew in to grab Mario and while gritting her teeth, she furiously smacked the tree stump with the hammer one final time until it was stuck in the ground. Knowing it was a success, Cappy returned to Mario’s head out of his hammer and back into his real body. ”Whew, I actually thought that one might’ve been tough, but we somehow pulled it off, Twilight!” Mario exhilarated. ”That’s one of the things about friendship: it’s how you work together to accomplish something. These new attacks will definitely help us in stopping King Sombra!” ”I sure hope they do.” Mario assumed. “Thanks for training me so far today, Twilight! I also want to thank your friends for helping out, too!” ”Aww, don’t mention it, sugarcube!” A.J welcomed. ”Yes, it was nothing really...” Fluttershy paused. “Hold on, I think I heard something.” ”MMMARRIIOO!!!” A voice in the distance cried. ”Impossible...” E. Gadd’s jaws dropped. “It can’t be...” ”Is that who I think it is, Mario?” Cappy asked. ”L-Luigi?”
04: Cutie Map Meeting30 Minutes Earlier Tartarus Wednesday ”Ooh, my head... I can’t get up.” ”Luigi, this is not the time to give up! We need to get out of here and go find Mario!” ”Bowser, if you get out of here, you’ll just be going after Princess Peach again, won’t you?” ”Look, we’ll talk about that later.” He replied. “Maybe one day, I will learn to stop threatening you guys and kidnapping the princess. I’m just tired of being sucked into another world like this.” ”What are you trying to say?” Luigi asked. ”We need to work together to stop that unicorn, get Peach, and go back home, but we first have to break out of this prison and find Mario!” Bowser replied. ”Fine, but you have to promise to keep your word.” ”Done deal. How high up are we anyway, Luigi?” Floor 50 Cell Block G15 ”Hey you two, no talking!” A guard unicorn shouted. “I may have never seen you both before in my entire life, but the rules here are always the same for those who end up down here! Now, be quiet!” ”S-Sorry!” Luigi panicked. ”Haaahhh!” as Bowser breathed fire. “It’s no use. These iron bars are immune to fire, which means we can’t break out of these cells. Even if we do, the way to the top is heavily guarded, from the looks of it.” ”Wait a second.” Luigi whispered. “These guards haven’t confiscated my items! Check your pockets to see if we have anything to use to break out.” ”I’ve got a couple of Bob-ombs and hammers.” Bowser confirmed. “What can we throw these at, though?” ”Okay, I know this is going to sound crazy, but we need to set these other prisoners free. Maybe they can start a riot and take over the prison, and then we blend in with the crowd.” ”I like the sound of that, but even I’ll admit that something is bound to go wrong.” Bowser doubted. “I would think twice about pulling off a stunt like that.” ”Pssst! Hey, over here!” A pony whispered to the duo. ”What do you want?” Luigi asked. ”My name is Hunter. I’m a Changeling that can break you out of here. You have to trust me.” ”Why would we do that?” Bowser scratched his head. “We just happened to be in this stupid cell for no apparent reason, and we don’t even know you.” ”What the heck is a Changeling?” Luigi asked softly. ”A Changeling can shapeshift into anypony he sees...or in this case, I can copy your weird appearances.” Hunter replied. ”Okay, but how exactly will that help us?” Luigi interrogated. ”The guard on this floor doesn’t seem to have that big of a brain. He thinks he knows everything, but he’s actually new. I can trick him very easily by shapeshifting into another guard. Then, I can also break free by shapeshifting into one of you guys, which will fool the guard completely.” ”I mean, that would be really appreciated, but what exactly are you planning to do once you break out?” Bowser minded. ”I need to find this reformed Changeling named Thorax, because I believe that he’s willing to make me feel not so evil and he could be the only one who could save us from our old ruler, Queen Chrysalis.” ”Oh, I see.” Luigi hummed. “Maybe we’ll help you find this Thorax if you promise to bust us out, Hunter.” ”Don’t worry, I will. Okay, here goes nothing!” Within a flash, Hunter faced his cell wall and shapeshifted into a guard pony, complete with a uniform, glasses, and a hat. He had no weapons like the guards, but definitely looked the part. At last, he whistled at the dumb guard to draw his attention. ”Hey buddy, when did ya get the brightest idea of locking me up in here?” Hunter demanded. ”Oh no, I’m sorry!” The guard apologized. “I-I’m still a bit new to this job and everything!” ”You don’t want to deal with the Warden, do you? Unlock my cell and I won’t be so hard on you!” ”S-Sir yes sir!” as the guard grabbed his keys. “There, now please don’t punish me!” ”I won’t, but if this happens again next time, it’ll be you who’s ending up in the cell!” Hunter confronted. ”It won’t happen again, sir!” “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have my orders to release this green guy and turtle over here. Their jail sentence is finished...” ”...And that’s how we escaped from this so-called Tartarus!” Luigi explained. ”You...forgot...the part where we...had to CLIMB... SO. MANY. STAIRS!” Bowser coughed. ”I’m just glad to see you both alive and well again!” Mario cried. ”Ditto!” The ponies and the rest of Mario’s team. ”It’s too bad you had to miss out on Mario’s awesome training!” Cappy exclaimed. “He learned some really cool moves with Twilight over here!” ”Yeah, and y’all were lucky that I didn’t lose my mind.” A.J said. “If she used any of my hard earned apples from Sweet Apple Acres, I would’ve lost it the second I saw one of them!” ”Anyways, where is Hunter now, Luigi?” Twilight asked. ”I could’ve sworn I saw him going inside the castle.” ”GUYS, GET IN HERE QUICKLY!!! ”Follow me!” Twilight commanded. Hunter’s voice came inside from Twilight’s map room. When the group rushed to him, he was freaking out about the fact that dark clouds started to swirl up on the table and covered the entire thing. These were the same dark clouds Mario and Luigi saw back in the Mushroom Kingdom Cryystalllsss... ”Oh, you have got to be kidding me!” Mario shouted. ”King Sombra!” Twilight’s group called out. ”How are you still alive?” Twilight exacted. “Spike used the Crystal Heart to defeat you!” You haven’t completely destroyed me yet, Princess Twilight... Every time a piece of my horn remains, I still find a way to build back my power... This is only just the beginning of a new revolution... ”What have you done with Princess Peach?” Mario demanded. The clouds started to change images and the next thing Mario left him completely shocked. ”You possessed her???” ”Hello Mario! You may stand a chance against Bowser, but I don’t think you have what it takes to defeat me! You may also call me ‘Shadow Peach,’ by the way! I will completely turn you and Luigi into nothing but pieces of obliterated ashes!” ”N-no...” If you don’t obey me, Mario, then you will never see your beloved princess ever again returning to her normal self! What you have to do is very simple... ”Not a chance, Sombra!” Fluttershy intervened. “Twilight and Spike will show us the way to defeat ya once again!” Oh really? Well luckily for the Princess of Friendship, she also has a nice reward waiting for her if she does my bidding, too! ”What are you trying to play at?” Twilight minded. The dark clouds changed images and this sight left Twilight even more shocked than Mario. ”M-Mom, D-Dad???” ”Twilight, honey, come save us from this evil abomination!” Twilight Velvet cried. ”We know you can do it, Twilight!” Night Light pleaded. “We love you so much!” ”I-I love you guys, too! Don’t worry, my friends and I will be there to rescue you!” Try and come at me, Princess! However, if you fail to do my tasks, your parents will die when I leave them out to freeze in the Frozen North... ”WHAT DO YOU WANT???” Mario and Twilight yelled. Bring me these following items: the Elements of Harmony, the Sun Journal, the Memory Stone, the Ring of Destiny, and the Pillars of Old Equestria... I will give you updates on my location every time you acquire one of these items... King Sombra out... The dark clouds started to dissipate and the cutie map returned to normal, showing all the places in Equestria to be fully lit. However, both team leaders started to shed a tear after witnessing what just happened. ”A-Are you two okay?” as Cappy approached Mario. ”I wasn’t expecting that at all!” Hunter exclaimed. “I just wanted to find this map and make my way to Thorax! I’m really sorry, Your Highness...” ”It’s not your fault, Hunter.” Twilight said. “At least I know you’re not on Queen Chrysalis’ side anymore. I’m fine, you guys.” ”Me too.” Mario added. “Thank you for saving Luigi & Bowser, Hunter.” ”You’re welcome. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to find my new brothers and try to avoid the cops looking for me. Good luck on your journey, my friends!” ”Bye Hunter!” Everyone else waved off as he left the castle. ”So what’s the plan, you guys?” E. Gadd asked. “We need to come up with something fast!” ”Maybe, these other items are possible to give up, but we are NOT going to give up the Elements of Harmony!” Twilight exclaimed. “Without them, Equestria would be done for!” ”Aren’t we also going to talk about them Old Pillars?” A.J asked. “They’re ponies, not items!” ”What if Sombra was just talking about their artifacts?” Fluttershy wondered. ”Star Swirl the Bearded’s book, Mage Meadowbrook’s mask, Flash Magnus’ shield, Mistmane’s flower, Rockhoof’s shovel, and Somnambula’s blindfold...” Twilight reminisced. ”Did you catch any of that?” Luigi whispered to Bowser. ”Nope.” ”We need to get Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Spike here right now!” A.J proposed. “Strength in numbers, y’all!” ”Let’s split up, shall we?” Twilight asked. “Mario and I will get Spike at the hospital. Fluttershy, you alone will get Rainbow Dash up in her cloud house. Applejack, you and Cappy will go to Carousel Boutique to find Rarity. Luigi, Bowser, and Professor E. Gadd will then get Pinkie Pie at Sugarcube Corner. Everyone got that?” ”In case y’all get lost, this map right here will help y’all out.” A.J pointed out. “It’s got the names of everywhere we visited in Equestria.” ”Let’s-a-go!” as Mario jumped determinedly. While everyone else was leaving in their respective teams to find Twilight’s other friends, Mario stopped the Princess of Friendship herself in her tracks. ”Twilight, I just want you to know that it’s going to be an honor working together with you. Thanks for doing for this for me.” ”And I want to thank you, Mario, for accepting my offer to work with me. We may be from different worlds, but I think I’m already looking at a new best friend.” ”Same here.” Mario added. “Also, I’ve been meaning to ask you this ever since I got here, Twilight. What exactly are the Elements of Harmony?” ”Great question. I actually have a book about it right here, if you want to know their origins. Go ahead and open it up, Mario.” ”Thanks.” The origins of the elements are unknown, but their first recorded appearance was in the hooves of the sisters, Princesses Celestia and Lunq, who used the power of the elements to seal the despot Discord in stone. Ironically the next time the element’s power was needed was in a battle between Celestia and Luna, now transformed into the genocidal Nightmare Moon. Celestia was unable to redeem her sister and was forced to use their power to seal Nightmare Moon within the celestial object she was named after, this apparently the last time she used their powers. To better describe them: The Elements are a place filled with colors, The gentle cream yellow color filled with kindness. The pink that adores laughter and happiness. The courageous cyan of loyalty. The orange that is dependable and described as honesty. The white of beauty and generosity. To top it off, there's the lavender filled with knowledge and magic. Most ponies have speculated that it was Star Swirl the Bearded himself who made the Elements of Harmony, but no answers were found. He still had a lot to learn about friendship, as he continued his studies with the rest of the Old Pillars of Equestria. Wherever they went, ponies always try to follow them on their paths to glory and honor, but Equestria still awaits its new heroes.
05: Zecora12:15PM East Ponyville Wednesday Knock knock. ”Are you sure this is the right place, Luigi?” Professor E. Gadd asked. ”Uhh, I think so... Maybe? With a name like ‘Sugarcube Corner,’ I didn’t expect the place to be made ENTIRELY out of sweets!” ”Just ring the bell and see what happens.” Bowser said. “Also, is it just me or is that unicorn over there staring at our hands?” ”Y-Yeah, let’s hurry this up.” Luigi gulped. The door opened and a head stretched out of it about the same size as a giraffe’s neck. This pony was pink all over, mane and everything, except for three different colored balloons that seem to be painted on her flank. Her mane and tail were incredibly poofy, too. ”Welcome to Sugarcube Corner! Would you like to be the first ones to try out our lemon frosted cupcakes? Trust me, they’re super delicious!!!” ”Uhh thanks, but we’ll pass for now.” Luigi replied. ”I’d like to try one out!” E. Gadd stepped up. ”You gotta be kidding me.” Bowser facepalmed. ”Ooh, here you go, oldie!” The pink pony exclaimed. “Seniors get new sweets for free the first time they try them!” ”Well, that’s nice, but that’s not what we came here for, unfortunately.” Bowser said. “Are you Pinkie Pie?” ”Ding ding ding, that’s me! You sir also get a free cupcake, and this one will be stuffed into your mouth by yours truly!” ”Not bad!” Bowser mumbled. ”Now, what was it that you came here for?” Pinkie Pie asked. “You three seem lost, which isn’t good. Have a free one too, Mr. Green Guy!” ”Oof, my throat!” as Luigi got stuffed with a cupcake. “Mm-mmm... You see, we’re actually not from Equestria. We come from a world called the Mushroom Kingdom, which has been attacked by a unicorn named King Sombra.” ”And we have to go find him and get some payback!” Bowser groaned. ”Hahaha, that’s silly talk!” Pinkie chuckled. “Everypony in Equestria knows that Spike the Brave & Glorious defeated him for good. You can’t possibly be serious!” ”No, we are definitely serious!” as Professor E. Gadd finished his cupcake. “Not only has King Sombra kidnapped the princess of the Mushroom Kingdom, but he’s also kidnapped the parents of your friend, Twilight Sparkle!” ”What??? Now this is definitely looney talk! Alright, I’m coming with you! You can have some more cupcakes after we kick Sombra’s butt!” ”Thanks Pinkie.” Luigi said. “My brother, Mario, and Twilight already went to the hospital to go get Spike, by the way.” ”Ooh, then I can’t wait to meet him!” Pinkie exclaimed. “Who is he exactly? Is he a super famous hero or something?” ”Oh, he’s super famous, alright!” E. Gadd responded. “He has saved the princess of the Mushroom Kingdom countless times!” ”He’s also super famous for kicking my butt...” Bowser whispered. ”Ooh, is that him with the red overalls right there?” Pinkie pointed out. Mario, Twilight, and a small baby dragon who appeared to be Spike, were walking towards the castle and found Luigi’s group by Sugarcube Corner. The dragon appeared to be almost drowsy after reading his stories to the sick foals in the hospital, which is why Twilight had to saddle him up on top of her. ”Hey there, you guys!” Mario called out. ”Mario!” Luigi’s group hailed. ”Looks like Spike was busy being epic again, huh?” Pinkie asked. ”Too epic, if you ask me.” as Twilight rolled her eyes hysterically. “Pinkie, you always know how to wake Spike up. Would you mind doing that for me?Thanks!” ”I’ll get my party cannon!” as Pinkie hopped back inside the bakery. ”Meet us back at the castle, okay?” Mario asked. ”C’mon, we haven’t got time to waste!” Bowser announced. “Also Professor, wipe that frosting off your mouth! I can smell it!” ”Oh come on, even you ate a cupcake and you thought it was good! You got frosting on your mouth, too!” ”Ooh... You got me there, old man.” The almost full party headed back to Twilight’s castle and the afternoon sun started to dim a little bit, but it was still bright. All the other ponies were either seen having a picnic or eating at a restaurant. It made me Mario think about how to approach one of them in a more subtle way. ”It sounds like Cappy is having a blast in there, doesn’t it?” E. Gadd wondered. ”I hear Rarity, too.” Twilight mentioned. “Mario, I hope you’re ready to meet the rest of my best friends!” ”Always! Let’s-a-go!” Upon returning to the map room, Applejack and Cappy were seen talking to a marshmallow white unicorn, with a purple mane and tail that have quite a complex pattern to them. She also seemed to have an accent that wouldn’t be easy to find around. Her flank has three blue diamonds painted on it. ”Darling, you are quite the charming one, are you?” as the unicorn winked at Cappy. ”Rarity, this boy clearly likes the country style!” A.J claimed. “Right, sugarcube?” ”Applejack, he’s clearly a top hat, and that means he’s automatically more suited for high society.” Rarity giggled. ”This is too much for me...” as Cappy blushed harder than before. “Ahh Mario, you’re back!” ”Yup!” Mario replied. ”Rarity, I’d like you to meet our new friends, Mario, Luigi, Bowser, and Professor E. Gadd!” Twilight greeted. ”Ah yes, of course! Cappy has told me all about you and your brother’s fabulous adventures in the Mushroom Kingdom. Isn’t that right, sweetie?” ”Y-Yes I have! I actually just met Mario not too long ago and yet, we went through a lot as well.” ”He’s got moves, Rarity.” A.J said. “Our training montage was a success, mostly because Mario didn’t make a mistake and he didn’t burn some of my hard grown apples.” ”Yes, and he definitely seems ready to take on King Sombra.” Twilight added. “We still got more to teach him, though.” ”Hey, has anyone seen Fluttershy?” Luigi asked. ”Out of my way, coming through!” as a pony rushed in dragging Fluttershy. This blue pony actually has the colors of the rainbow on both her mane and tail. The way that she dashed into the map room was so fast that the entire team missed her while blinking. ”You didn’t really have to do that, Rainbow Dash.” Fluttershy whispered. ”Sorry, but I just can’t wait any longer! When we see King Sombra, we are going to put him in his place for good...in the awesome way!” ”Is this a bad time?” Mario gulped. ”No, not at all!” Rainbow Dash sweated. “Mario, is it? It’s so awesome to meet you!” ”It’s awesome meeting you too, Rainbow Dash!” as Mario fist bumped her. “I’d like you to meet Luigi, Cappy, Bowser, and Professor E. Gadd.” ”Woah, I can’t believe I’m meeting another world’s people! If only Daring Do were here to meet you all!” ”Daring who?” Bowser scratched his head. ”Anyway, Pinkie should be here any minute.” Twilight said. “Spike, wake up already!” ”Zzzzz... Donuts... Nachos... Rarity...” ”Does he sleep like this all the time?” Luigi asked. ”He usually mumbles in his sleep at night.” Twilight replied. “It’s a good that I have a spell that mutes my hearing, just for that. It’s nothing against Spike, though.” ”PARRTTAYY!” Pinkie yelled as she fired off her party cannon. ”Huh, what? W-Woah! Oww!” ”Spike, you’re finally awake!” Twilight cheered. ”Aww, but I was having the best dream ever!” ”Dude, you’ve had that dream for like two years now.” Rainbow minded. “You need to let it go.” ”Hey, who are these guys with the mustaches?” ”Hi Spike! I’m Mario, and this is my brother, Luigi! This is Cappy, Bowser, and Professor E. Gadd!” ”Hey, how it’s going guys? Woah, are you a dragon like me, big guy?” ”No, I’m a fire-breathing turtle king, to be exact.” Bowser resented. ”Ehh, same thing, but whatever.” Spike said. “What’s the scoop here, Twilight?” ”Remember King Sombra? He somehow came back and now, he’s kidnapped the princess of Mario’s homeworld, the Mushroom Kingdom, and he’s got my parents too!” ”B-But, I thought I stopped him, didn’t I?” Spike stuttered. “The Crystal Heart should’ve blasted him away forever!” ”That’s what we all thought, Spikey-Wikey, but unfortunately, Mario and Twilight are in a bad position right now.” Rarity sighed. ”Well, can’t we just borrow the Crystal Heart again to stop King Sombra?” Spike asked. ”I’m afraid not, Spike.” Fluttershy frowned. “I don’t think the Crystal Empire would survive the freezing weather if something were to happen to the Crystal Heart.” ”I don’t know if Shining Armor, Princess Cadence, Flurry Heart, or Sunburst would be okay either if the Heart were to be taken out of its pedestal.” Twilight insisted. “But, I’ll try asking them anyway. Spike, would you mind writing a letter?” ”I’m ready when you are, Twilight!” as Spike breathed out a burning scroll of paper. Dear Princess Cadence, Hi Cadence, this is your sister-in-law, Twilight! How’s my brother and Flurry Heart doing? Listen, I’m really sorry to disturb both of your duties, but my friends and I need your help right now. I just met a new friend named Mario, who just ran into King Sombra and needs our help trying to stop him. He’s kidnapped the princess of his homeworld and my parents. If possible, may we borrow the Crystal Heart to defeat him again? Can you also please try and talk to Sunburst about this? Thank you so much and I hope you guys stay safe! I really appreciate it! Yours truly, Princess Twilight Sparkle ”Hoooo...” as Spike blew the letter away. ”Alright, now that we’re all here, what do we do first?” Rainbow Dash asked. ”If we attack Sombra directly, he might kill my parents and possibly Princess Peach.” Twilight thought. “I think it’s best to deliver the items to him first and then we attack him. We already know where the Elements of Harmony are located. The Tree of Harmony can survive on its own once we wear the Elements around our necks, as long as they don’t get corrupted or anything.” ”I guess we might as well start off with those.” Mario said. “We better get going.” ”Actually, the rest of you guys can start heading to the Tree of Harmony already.” Twilight said. “I need to do something first with Mario to prepare him even more for this fight.” ”What is it, darling?” Rarity asked. ”I’m taking him to see Zecora real quick to see if she can brew up any necessary items for Mario.” ”Actually, Zecora’s hut was where I originally planned to go when we first got to Equestria, but I ran into Fluttershy and her animals first. ”Okay then, would you like me to bring you back there?” Twilight offered. ”Yes, thank you Twilight!” ”No problem, Mario. The rest of you take care, alright?” ”Mm-hmm!” Everyone else nodded. ”Okay, let’s go Twilight!” Mario exclaimed. “Bye guys, we won’t be long!” ”Bye Mario! Bye Twilight!” 1:00PM Everfree Forest Wednesday “Well, at least no one else touched Professor E. Gadd’s time machine.” Mario said. “Yeah, you definitely need that to get back to the Mushroom Kingdom.” Twilight conversed. “How do you like Ponyville so far, Mario?” ”I really like the town and while I’m not a pony, it would be cool to hang around here.” ”It doesn’t matter what species you are to us. Ponies here will accept you, no matter how similar or different you are from them. That’s how friendship is from time to time.” ”Yeah, you’re right, Twilight.” Mario reassured. “I’ll admit that I’ve also met companions along the way that looked shady at first, but I’ve grown to enjoy their company more often.” ”That’s really nice!” Twilight exclaimed. “It looks like we made it to Zecora’s hut!” ”I’ll go ahead and knock.” Mario said. In the Everfree Forest, Mario and Twilight crossed into a swamp with a tree hut in the center that had tinted windows and lanterns hanging outside. The light inside was definitely on too, meaning that Zecora was inside. Knock knock. Crreeekk. ”Ahh, it seems we have a red plumber, and one that looks like he’s ready for his slumber.” Zecora answered.. ”Am I really sleepy?” Mario scratched his head. “Hi, you must be Zecora! My name is Mario, and it’s nice to meet you!” ”Yes it is I, Zecora. Do not be fooled by my radiating aura. There is no need to consider me a witch, or as somepony evil to ditch.” ”Does she always rhyme while speaking?” Mario whispered to Twilight. ”Yes, just go with it. Hi Zecora!” ”Why if it isn’t the Princess of Friendship! What can I do for you and your friend’s current trip?” ”We need to stop King Sombra once and for all. Is there anything that you can brew for Mario that’ll make him grow stronger to stop him?” ”That would be really appreciated!” Mario exclaimed. ”Ahh yes, follow me inside, for I will show you items that can turn the tide.” Zecora chanted. ”Thank you, Zecora!” as Mario and Twilight closed the door behind them. ”I actually have Fire & Ice Flowers that can make me shoot Fireballs & Iceballs at my enemies.” Mario mentioned. “I don’t know if you can do something with them, though.” ”Try putting a Fire Flower inside my cauldron, and I’ll see if I can make other ingredients flow freely within. Mario, feel free to take a look around, and find whatever you think should be cauldron-bound.” Mario stared all around the room in amazement by so many ingredients that he can possibly put to use against enemies. He just couldn’t decide that his jaws started dropping, eventually making Twilight snap him out of it. ”There is no wrong decision, but you must choose the right ingredient with powerful precision.” Zecora said. ”Which one do you want, Mario?” Twilight asked. ”I choose...this lightning bolt in a jar!” ”Be careful with this electricity, for it could be dangerous in diversity. After curing Spitfire, leader of the Wonderbolts, she gifted me with something that has a lot of jolts. I see that you’ve made your choice precisely, and now we will see if this Fire Flower and lightning bolt will fuse nicely. The Lightning Flower shall have strong power!” ”This is going to be so much fun to use!” as Mario gritted his teeth excitingly. “Do you mind if I put my other Fire Flowers in for spare Lightning Flowers?” ”Put in as many as you want, but the time to brew these flowers will be quite the haunt.” Zecora stated. “If there’s no sorrow, I hope that these will be done by tomorrow.” ”That’s fine, Zecora.” Twilight said. “Thank you so much for helping us out, by the way!” ”Don’t mention it. I don’t want your situation to be costly at any bit. You may return home if you wish, for I’ve got more to make than a simple dish. Bye for now friends, and I will see you at your journey’s end...”
06: Luigi Time2 Hours Ago Unknown Location Wednesday ”...Huh? Where am I?” Shh... It’s okay, Your Highness... Nothing will hurt you, I promise... Peach scrambled to her feet, but the door slammed shut in her face before she had time to escape. With balled fists within her tattered gloved hands, she banged against the door, demanding to be released. But she found herself wasting a lot of precious energy. She bowed her head against the door, quivering in despair. I am terribly sorry, but I can’t just let you free... You will be MINE!!! ”Mario, please save me...” Peach sobbed. “What do you want with me?” You see... I must regain my full power and energy in order to take over Equestria, but upon reminiscing my foes, I learned that I can’t do that alone... So, I thought of sharing this power with another being from another world, that already has power over an entire kingdom! ”At least I don’t abuse my power like you!” Peach screamed. “When Mario gets here, he will make you sorry!” I would like to see him try! He’s too weak to fight me, even if he has beaten that lousy excuse for a king that’s been ransacking your own kingdom several times! This time, Mario will bow down to me... It’s time I sent him on a little scavenger hunt... ”Hey, who are these two ponies over here?” Peach asked. ”Somepony help us!” They cried. Oh, they’re just more leverage for me... In case you don’t know, those two happen to be the parents of the Princess of Friendship, who led her companions to my demise a few years ago... She will also have to do my bidding. ”Y-You can’t do that!” Peach exclaimed. “You’re putting innocent lives at great risk! Let them go!” That is not for you to decide, young one... Once I’m able to take full physical form again, I’ll be unstoppable... Isn’t that right, my...Shadow Bride? ”S-Shadow Bride? I will never be married to... W-What’s happening...to me I...can’t...breathe...” Shh... There’s no need to panic or run... You are under the possession of my spell, and will now be known as Shadow Queen Peach... Would you be so kind enough to take the hostages downstairs? ”Yes, my beloved Shadow Groom...” Hahahahahaha... ”I think I need to catch my breath.” Bowser coughed. “Those stairs almost killed me!” ”I’m perfectly fine!” Luigi brushed off. ”Duh, you and Mario were born to jump, hop, or leap off of things...like stairs!” Cappy exclaimed. ”Speaking of Mario, what do you think he’s doing with Twilight at Zecora’s hut?” Rarity asked. ”Probably making something that can make him move at awesome speed!” Rainbow Dash fangirled. ”We’ll see about that.” A.J conjectured. “We’re here, ain’t we?” ”The Tree of Harmony...” Fluttershy cited blissfully. ”It’s been a long time since we’ve used the Elements, hasn’t it?” Rarity brought up. ”And now we get to use them against Sombra!” as Rainbow hoof bumped the air. ”I think ya mean deliver them to him first, and then ruffle him up afterwards.” A.J corrected. ”Anything could be up his sleeve after we deliver all these items.” E. Gadd imagined. “Let’s be cautious here, lads.” The group just discovered the Tree of Harmony in a big cave, which seemed to be glowing bright as day. The Elements of Harmony looked like as if they were actual tree branches, but with jewels hanging inside of them instead of leaves. There were six in total, and the one in the middle resembled a sparkle in the night sky, with the inclusion of an embedded sun and moon. ”These look so beautiful!” Luigi pointed out. “You girls come here often?” ”Yeah.” Rainbow replied. “We actually have been representing the Elements of Harmony ever since Twilight first met us. That red lightning bolt over there is my Element, which is Loyalty.” ”I treat everypony with Kindness, which is the pink butterfly there.” Fluttershy said. ”I always swear to tell the truth with Honesty, which is that orange apple there.” A.J vowed. ”This purple diamond here represents my fabulous and giving Generosity.” Rarity concluded. ”I love to make everypony smile and be happy with Laughter, which is the blue balloon!” Pinkie giggled. ”And I am the spark in the middle that unites and brings my friends & the other Elements together, which is Magic.” Twilight entered. ”Twilight, Mario, there you are darlings!” Rarity screeched a bit. “How was the detour?” ”With Zecora’s help, she was able to brew my Fire Flowers into something special, but they won’t be ready until tomorrow.” Mario explained. “That’s a nice tree, by the way.” ”Equestria really depends on these six friends of mine, believe it or not.” Spike mentioned. ”Don’t forget the other princesses, Spike!” Twilight giggled. ”Oops, sorry.” ”So just like here, the Mushroom Kingdom depends on Mario and Luigi to save itself from me.” Bowser assumed. ”Yup.” as Mario patted Bowser’s shoulder. ”Well, we can cross off the Elements of Harmony on the list.” Twilight said. “Let’s just carefully remove these and...” ”Not so fast!” A voice popped out from behind. Smoke bombs went off behind the group and in the midst of them all was a blue unicorn wearing a magician’s outfit. She was smiling sinisterly and her eyes were colored black and red, while being surrounded by a dark aura around her. ”The Dark and Powerful Trrrixie shall put on a magic show for you all to enjoy!” ”Something doesn’t seem right about her.” Mario whispered. ”King Sombra must’ve possessed Trixie in order to go fight us.” Twilight said. “You better free her right now, Sombra!” ”Indeed he has, and I’m more great and powerful than you could ever possibly imagine!” Trixie laughed. “Haaahh!!!” The possessed unicorn shot a beam of dark magic from her horn into the cave and giant rocks started to block some of the group inside. They all shouted and tried to break out, but struggled desperately & heavily. Luigi, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity were the only ones left to face Trixie. ”Guys, you have to get us out of here!” Mario screamed. “Take care of that magician first!” ”Luigi, work together with Rainbow Dash and Rarity!” Twilight called out. “You three can do this! Save Trixie as well before she gets completely consumed by the darkness!” ”I-I got this!” as Luigi’s legs started to tremble. ”Keep your guard up, Luigi!” Rainbow Dash encouraged. “We got your back!” ”Yes indeed!” Rarity assured. “It’s time we mess up this ruffian shadow inside of Trixie! ”Enough talk, only duel! Take this!” Trixie shot another beam, aiming for Luigi, but he sidestepped out of the way just in time. He was still trembling, however, as he didn’t have Mario by his side this time. ”Wh-What do I do?” ”Show us your moves first, and we’ll shortly step in to help you improve on them!” Rainbow called out. ”Uhh... Eat a fireball, witch!” ”Gah, that burns! No matter, it will take a lot more than that to stop me! Deploying smoke bombs!” Crack. ”Where did she go?” Luigi asked. ”Don’t know, but you two need to get inside my shield before she attacks us out of the wild!” Rarity cried. Luigi and Rainbow Dash quickly hopped into a crystal clear diamond dome made from Rarity’s magic, which temporarily shielded them. The smoke was still in the atmosphere with no sign of another attack from Trixie, until she teleported and tried to attack the dome from above using powerful kicks. ”Your manners are as bad as ever!!” Trixie groaned. ”It’s time I put you three out of your misery!” ”Grr, there’s too many rocks to buck out of here!” as A.J tried to get out of the cave. ”The Elements won’t react to us struggling unless all of us are inside the cave!” Twilight exclaimed. ”Just keep fighting, Green Stache!” Bowser chanted. ”Aahh, my shield’s about to break!” Rarity cried. “She’s rapidly shooting energy beams at us, I can’t hold on much longer!” ”Luigi, I’m going to fly super fast all around Trixie to distract her!” Rainbow insisted. “Attack her when she’s not looking at you!” ”Got it!” ”Rarity, let me out.” Rainbow said. “Luigi will cover you, too.” ”Okay, but just for extra measures Luigi, I will shoot at Trixie as well to distract her!” Rainbow Dash immediately flew out of the dome shield and started to fly around like crazy to get Trixie’s attention. She kept missing her shots, which made her angry, and she kept getting hit by Rarity’s magic shots, which made the possessed unicorn weaker and weaker. ”Here we gooooo!!!” as Luigi shot himself into Trixie like a missile. “It’s Hammer Time!” The green plumber dealt a double attack on Trixie, which even caused her to fall flat on her back. The three fighters were grinning with confidence as they felt that they got this in the bag. ”Way to go, Luigi!” His other two allies cheered. ”You three have crossed the line this time! I will show you what real power is! You will bow down to the king!” ”Uh-oh, get down, now!!!” Luigi commanded. Trixie charged up and fire at giant beam at the trio, but they evaded it and the blast instead removed all the rocks blocking the way to the Tree of Harmony. ”Noooo!!! All of you, stay back!” ”We’re free!” Mario shouted. “C’mon bro, you can finish this once and for all!” ”She’s exhausted!” Twilight exhausted. “Luigi, now would be a good time to do some combo attacks with Rainbow Dash and Rarity!” ”I’ll go first!” Rarity volunteered. “Luigi, hold out your hammer, darling! I will attach magical diamonds to it and you can use it as a ‘Spiked Hammer!’ Just run straight at Trixie with it to give her the ultimate pain!” ”Hey, I heard that!” Spike yelled. ”Okay, let’s-a-go Rarity!” Luigi exclaimed. ”N-no... I can’t let this happen... I...” Luigi got his hammer ready into swinging position as Rarity’s horn generated clear blue diamonds around it, essentially making it glow like a real diamond. Then, Luigi took aim at Trixie and started to run straight at her. ”Hiiiyyyaahhh!!!” Luigi gritted his teeth. ”Aaack!” as Trixie started choking. ”Not like this...” ”One last move should finish her, Luigi!” Rainbow called out. “Hop onto me, we’re going up to the sky!” ”I think I know where this is going...” Twilight smirked. ”Please be careful up there, Luigi.” Fluttershy spoke softly. Rainbow Dash started to fly way up to the sky, surpassing the height of Twilight’s castle and even the highest mountain peak, as if she was going to space. She was also holding Luigi upright by his legs in preparation for his next combo attack. ”The view up here is so beautiful...” Luigi dozed off. ”It’s going to be even more beautiful on the way down!” Rainbow chuckled. “I’m going to try and fly super fast back down while holding you like this so you can do your missile attack again, Luigi. We’re actually going to break the sound barrier at the speed that I’ll be flying, making this attack a ‘Sonic Raindoom!’” ”Is it painful for us, Rainbow Dash?” Luigi gulped. ”You might want to ask that about Sombra’s possessed friend, Trixie... Hold on tight!” The airborne pony and plumber went for a quick nosedive and they slowly started to pick up speed and more speed in a jiffy. Luigi had his eyes closed and focused on landing his last attack. Meanwhile, the group down below kept an eye on the possessed Trixie to make sure she doesn’t get back up. ”Has anybody seen my popcorn?” as Spike looked around in a goofy fashion. ”Do you actually know Trixie, Twilight?” Mario asked. ”Yes, we used to be rivals in magic for quite some time now, but I’ve grown to like her more and more as a friend. I sure hope she doesn’t sustain any major injuries after this...attack. We need to check out on her and see if Sombra will leave her body. Zecora may be able to heal her, too.” ”Who’s ready to see some fireworks, y’all?” as A.J gazed into the sky. ”Heeeerreee weeee goooo!!!!!!!” as Luigi and Rainbow Dash came crashing down. ”Aaaahhhhh!!!” Trixie’s voice started to change in pitch and intensity after she got hit one last time. ”That...has just made me sick inside.” Rarity was left speechless. ”Hey guys, something’s happening to Trixie!” Bowser pointed out. I won’t forget this, ponies... A small shadow spirit that resembled a pony had Sombra’s voice and dissipated as it left Trixie’s body. She was left lying down inside a big crater with a rainbow streak of colors around it. A sparkle in the sky meant that Luigi and Rainbow Dash were still up there flying. ”Nnnrgh...” Trixie mumbled as she coughed up dust. “Where...am I?” ”Trixie, you’re still alive!” Twilight exclaimed. “Are you still okay?” ”Gah, I think so... I somehow felt only half of that entire pain and I didn’t have full control over my body. I guess I tried to push this demon out of me and he ended up taking the hits in my body. What happened, Twilight?” ”You’ve been possessed by King Sombra and tried to kill us. Thankfully, Rainbow Dash couldn’t have beaten the darkness inside of you without the help of new friends.” ”Oh, is that...so?” Trixie suffocated a bit. “I do recall their names after I was attacked and possessed by that demon. Were they Mario & Luigi?” ”Yeah, I’m Mario, and Luigi’s my younger brother. I hope you can recover from this by the way, Trixie.” ”Yeah, same here. Look, I know we just met and all, but I want to thank you so much for saving me.” ”No problem.” as Mario tipped off his hat. ”I just happened to have come back from doing a magic show in Starlight’s old village and this was the first thing to have happened to me.” Trixie explained. ”Starlight?” Rarity asked. “She didn’t go with you?” ”No, she decided to spend the rest of the day in the village, but she told that she’d be back in Ponyville by tomorrow.” Trixie replied. ”I see.” Fluttershy said. “Do you want us to check you in at the hospital?” ”Bowser, can you gently carry Trixie in your arms?” Mario pardoned. ”I’ll try my best not to poke at any of her injuries.” He replied. “Let me through, please.” ”Oof, easy, easy!” Trixie ticked off. ”S-Sorry, but I said I’ll try my best to be gentle with you!” Bowser reconciled. “Let’s take this nice and slow, shall we?” ”You guys go on ahead.” E. Gadd said. “I’m going to see if I can build a warp pipe back to the Mushroom Kingdom.” ”Okay!” Twilight smiled. “Mario, wait here until Luigi and Rainbow Dash come back down. My friends and I need to collect the Elements of Harmony from the Tree of Harmony. Cappy, you and Bowser take Trixie to the hospital, okay?” ”Are you kidding me? I’m not going with him, he’s still evil!!” ”Oh relax, I’m not going to hurt you!” Bowser reassured. “Besides, you’re not even strong enough to carry this pony around. ”Cappy, it’s okay.” Mario said. “Bowser will actually protect you if something goes wrong. Can you please go with him?” ”Fine. I guess I’ll see you at the castle later, Mario! Take care!” ”Bye Cappy! Bye Bowser!” The rest of the group waved off. 1:15PM Unknown Location Wednesday “So, it seems that the Great & Powerful Trixie was neither of those things, huh?” as Shadow Peach rolled her eyes. True, my love, but my failed attempt to fully control that magician is only just a minor setback... ”You do realize that these six ponies have the Elements of Harmony, right? If you are unable to stop them along with those pesky plumbers, then it’s my turn to step up the plate.” Your time to shine will come, Queen Peach... For now, we shall wait and see them when they have all the necessary items needed for complete domination... I will, however, turn the heroes’ scavenger hunt into a death race... ”Alright, my beloved shadow husband... I’m going down the list here and I see that our next target is somepony quite young. Her magic seems to be quite unstable as well.” Yesss indeed... She is also the only natural-born Alicorn pony in all of Equestria, making her as strong as a newborn unicorn... She will be perfect for our cause! ”But my dear, how will you get past the royal couple?” Shadow Peach asked. Sssimple... I found another friend of the Princess of Friendship to possess, and she’s even stronger than the princess herself! I’m sending another shadow pony to go find her as we speak... ”Who would that be?” Shadow Peach asked. Tempest Shadow...or as they actually call her, Fizzlepop Berrytwist... She has a broken unicorn horn like mine, and is a lot stronger, more agile, and more flexible than any of Princess Twilight’s friends... She can sneak into the Crystal Empire and fight off the royal couple all by herself in order to get Princess Flurry Heart... ”Where are you even going to find her? She could be anywhere in Equestria right now!” Easssyy... I will be lurking around the long trail that she took before she left the Storm King’s legion... It shouldn’t take me too long, I promise... ”I hope...” Shadow Peach said. “I’ll hold down the fort while you’re gone. Farewell, my love...” Same to you, my Shadow Bride... King Sombra’s shadow disappeared and Shadow Queen Peach stared crazily at Princess Twilight’s parents. ”As for you two, I don’t think your precious daughter and her incompetent friends will stand a chance against the birth of the Shadow Empire!” ”You’re so wrong about this!” Night Light moaned. ”Our Twilight never gives up on her own parents!” Twilight Velvet declared. “She and her friends will make sure that you literally stay grounded!” ”Hahahahaha!!!” Shadow Peach laughed menacingly. “If you say so...”
07: Special Connection”Hnnngh...” Dear Mario, Please come to the castle. I have baked a cake for you. Yours truly, Princess Toadstool Peach ”Whatcha got there, Mario?” Pinkie snooped around. ”Uhh, nothing! Just...something old, it’s no big deal!” ”Uh-huh...” Twilight presumed. “Well, we got the Elements of Harmony from the Tree of Harmony!” The six Elements of Harmony were worn by the Mane Six as golden necklaces, except for Twilight’s, which was in the form of a crown. These looked to be the real deal after Mario read about the tale of Equestria’s two regal sisters who ruled over the land about a 1000 years ago. ”It’s feel so awesome again to wear these after so long!” Rainbow exclaimed. “By the way, sorry if I made you feel sick, Luigi.” ”Blehhh!” as Luigi puked a bit. “It’s...nothing really...” ”Oh no!” Fluttershy gasped. “You’re not feeling well, either!” ”Wouldn’t be the first time Luigi’s thrown up like this...” Mario whispered to himself. “But seriously, we need to help him out!” ”Oh... Maybe I wasn’t in the best shape of my life for that attack.” ”Rainbow Dash, if you’re going to do a ‘Sonic Raindoom’ next time, at least don’t actually pull a fast one on Luigi, darnit!” A.J complained. ”I said I was sorry.” Rainbow pouted. ”We need to find Zecora so that she can relieve Luigi of his internal pain.” Rarity suggested. ”Her hut is just around the corner!” Twilight exclaimed. “Let’s go, and Pinkie, stay away from the Mirror Pool for once.” ”Aww, but it was so much fun cloning myself!” Pinkie frowned. East: Zecora’s Hut ”Luigi, stay with me, you’re going to be fine.” Mario said. ”Please, bro.” ”I’ll get the door.” Rarity acknowledged. “Huh? It’s locked!” ”Ya didn’t even knock on it, Rarity!” A.J raised an eyebrow. ”No, I swear I did, and there was no answer from Zecora!” ”There’s a note on her door.” Spike pointed out. I am out doing some harvesting, and all in a day without resting. If you seek my attention, unfortunately, I have to put our appointments on suspension. But, I will back soon, even before the rise of the moon. Hope you can accept an apology in the midst of my methodology. -Zecora ”Well, that sucks.” Rainbow harbored. “Where else do we take Luigi to?” ”The hospital, genius?” A.J spit out. ”Now that you mention it, the place was almost packed with patients when I left this morning.” Spike said. “I don’t even know if Cappy and Bowser could check Trixie in.” ”Well, I’m sure they’re trying their best to make sure she pulls through, Spike.” Twilight thought. “But, we need to find alternative solutions to Luigi’s pain.” ”I’ll take care of him.” Fluttershy insisted. ”Uhh, I’m pretty sure you’re only a vet, Fluttershy.” Rainbow said. ”That doesn’t mean I’m not able to take care of other ponies.” ”I gotta give it to Fluttershy, though.” A.J brought up. “She did treat Apple Bloom’s fever at one point, which I thanked her for. ”Mario, you get to make the call!” Twilight referred. ”Well, what do we gotta lose? I see no point in fighting over who has the best medical experience. All that matters is that we waste no time helping Luigi, so I say that Fluttershy will take care of him.” ”Yay...” Fluttershy intimated. ”Don’t be so quick to judge, Rainbow Dash.” Twilight settled. “She just wanted to volunteer to help, that’s all.” ”You’re right... Maybe I need to stop stuffing myself in the clouds and look at every possibility. Luigi’s all yours, Fluttershy. Make sure he’s well-rested by the end of today.” ”Are we...back in the Mushroom Kingdom?” as Luigi kept spinning his head. ”No, but once this is all over, we will be back home.” Mario reassured. ”Come on Luigi, let’s go safely patch you up!” Fluttershy exclaimed. “We’ll be back at the castle later!” as Rarity joined Fluttershy. ”Yeah, me too...” as Spike slowly started following Rarity. ”Bye!” The rest of the group waved off. ”At least all of us are still wearing our Elements of Harmony.” Twilight said. “Remember, none of them will work if the Element of Magic goes missing or is being used in the wrong hooves.” ”And just to be safe, before I start taking a nap at home, I’m going to hide my Element somewhere safe!” Rainbow instituted. ”Let me guess...” A.J smirked. “In your bathroom, Rainbow Dash?” ”H-Hey! I don’t like it when somepony is sneaking up on me while I’m doing my business! Later, girls...and Mario!” ”Uh-huh...” Twilight murmured. “What about you, Applejack?” ”There’s nothing to fret about, Twi! I’m hiding my Element somewhere safe in my attic, although Granny Smith hates having to go up there and breathe in the dust... Anyways, see ya both later too!” ”Bye Applejack!” Mario and Twilight waved off. ”...And then there were two.” Twilight sighed. ”Hehe, yeah!” Mario giggled. “Your friends really have been a big help thus far on our mission, Twilight, and I want to thank you a lot again.” ”No problem! That’s basically what we’re best at, Mario. We help other ponies in times of need, just like you do with your people from the Mushroom Kingdom. Again, that’s how important friendship is to us.” ”I see. How did you become a princess in the first place? Were you actually born into a royal family?” ”No, but my parents did raise me in a city that’s heavily centered around royalty.” Twilight replied. “ I became a princess five years ago, after completing an unfinished & almost impossible spell that one of my idols failed to utilize in his studies. His name happened to be Star Swirl the Bearded.” ”Star Swirl the Bearded?” Mario asked. “Didn’t you mention that he was one of the Old Pillars of Equestria?” ”Yes, I did. He is unstoppable, when it comes to magic! He may be over a thousand years old, but he’s still alive and well to this day. I finally achieved my dream of meeting him too, although we did exchange some bits of awkward dialogue!” ”Don’t we need him and the other Old Pillars to find King Sombra?” Mario inquired. ”No, Mario.” Twilight responded. “We only need their artifacts. If we were to actually bring them to King Sombra, he would probably steal all of their strong powers and use them to fight us, which will be much more difficult.” ”Fascinating story...” ”Yeah... Hey Mario, is it okay if you can...tell me what you were reading back there?” ”Oh... Well, I guess I trust you enough, so I can definitely tell you, Twilight. That letter I was reading...was one of the first letters I ever got from Princess Peach. It reminded me of all the adventures that I’ve been through, trying to save her.” ”Ah. How does Princess Peach react every time you save her from Bowser?” ”She’s always been grateful for the troubles I had to go through in order to get to her. She never lies, both about that and the rewards she gives to me and even Luigi. The three of us get along very well with each other.” ”What about Bowser himself?” Twilight asked. ”He’s always been a pain to deal with, but there are times when Luigi, Peach, and I have been forced to work with him, such as right now. There’s one part of me that says my duty is to always stop him, but another part of me...seems to somehow feel bad for him.” ”There must’ve been something terrible about Bowser’s past that’s causing him to do what he still does, huh?” ”Other than looking for a wife, even I still don’t fully understand why he goes around kidnapping the princess every single time. I don’t get tired of it, but it’d be really interesting to know more about him in detail. Before my friends and I got here, I managed to convince one of his kids to no longer invade the Mushroom Kingdom as long as I get his dad back safely.” ”Hmm, but there’s something I still don’t get...” Twilight zoned off. “When I saw you reading that letter, Mario, you looked...a bit depressed, when before that, you were all joyful. Is something bothering you?” ”Kind of... It’s about Princess Peach. You know, this isn’t the first time that she’s been possessed and turned into the Shadow Queen.” ”What?” Twilight gasped. ”It’s true. The first time Peach turned into the Shadow Queen, I actually felt an emotion that I rarely feel... Fear...” ”Fear of what?” Twilight pressured. ”Fear of losing her to the darkness.” as Mario started to shed a tear. “Not only is Princess Peach one of my best friends, but I-I... l...o...” ”Mario, there’s nothing to be afraid of.” Twilight reassured. “You can always trust us to comfort you and we’ll be there for you, no matter what. You not only have our word, but the word of your own friends, too. When we find King Sombra and return Princess Peach back to normal, you can tell her how you really feel about her, okay?” ”Okay, but...what if my fear takes over when I fight Sombra?” Mario sniffed. ”We won’t let that happen to you!” Twilight confirmed. “King Sombra grows stronger off of fear & hatred, and we won’t let you succumb to his possession, either.” ”...I’m really glad I met you, Twilight. It’s no wonder ponies here call you the ‘Princess of Friendship.’ You deserve that title forever.” ”And you, Mario? You deserve to be called a hero. We may be from different worlds, but I know one thing for sure.” ”What’s that?” ”We’ll be friends forever...” The two leaders, standing in front of the Tree of Harmony, gave each other one big hug, solidifying their right decisions that they’ve made along the way.
08: No Power Up...Like Dancing?7:00PM Canterlot Wednesday ”Well, this is it.” Twilight said. “Welcome to Canterlot, everybody!” ”Don’t you usually say ‘everypony,’ Twilight?” Rainbow asked. ”Yes, but Mario and his friends aren’t ponies, so I have to say ‘everybody’ like every other human. I did become human at one point, and yet I’ve already learned the language differences that they’ve used in the human world.” ”Thanks for taking us to your old home, Twilight!” Mario exclaimed. ”Ah, it’s nothing!” Twilight blushed. “You and your friends deserve to relax for a bit before we go back on our scavenger hunt tomorrow. I thought I’d take you around the city and show you what I used to do when I lived here.” ”I’ve never seen such wonderful architecture like this before!” Professor E. Gadd gasped. ”That’s because you barely leave your lab.” Bowser teased. ”Where do we even begin?” Cappy asked. ”Some food would be nice...” Luigi’s mouth started watering. ”Good choice, Luigi!” Rarity exclaimed. “Canterlot is also known for some of the most exotic cuisines that have been cooked without a single mistake. There’s a restaurant called ‘The Tasty Treat,’ if you would like to try it!” ”I’m surprised, Rarity!” Pinkie Pie’s jaw dropped. “I thought you were trying to turn it into one of those fancy froufrou restaurants like every other restaurant in Canterlot.” ”Yes, but if it wasn’t for your help, we wouldn’t be able to have solved our friendship problem two years ago. As long as you’re satisfied with the way the restaurant turned out, then I’m satisfied. I actually enjoy eating here from time to time, too!” ”I guess we’ll eat something tasty, no pun intended!” Mario laughed a bit. ”Ooh, looks like there are plenty of seats left for all of us!” Pinkie pointed out. “Now it’s a party!” ”Pinkie, there will be time for that after we stop King Sombra.” Rainbow Dash whispered. “We gotta show Mario a good first time in Equestria so that he can trust us on his mission.” ”Oops, my bad!” The group walked towards a restaurant that looked small on the outside, but on the inside, there was a lot more depth and livery as if it was actually showing itself to be rated with five stars. ”Let me handle this.” Rarity said. Knock knock. ”Rarity, it’s so good to see you!” greeted a male and female unicorn with foreign accents. “Please, come on in!” ”Hello there!” The entire group greeted in return. ”It’s nice to see you two again!” Rarity commented. “It’s been too long since we’ve last met, right?” ”Oh hoho, far too long!” The female unicorn giggled. “Hmm?” The male unicorn sounded. “It appears that not only you’ve brought your best friends, but...you’ve also brought new friends to our restaurant! I’m so delighted to know about them!” ”Certainly. Mario, Luigi, I’d like you and your friends to meet Coriander Cumin, and the pony right next to him is his daughter, Saffron Masala! They own this restaurant, by the way!” ”Hello!” as Mario’s team exchanged handshakes with the unicorn family. ”Ah, it always warms my heart to see new customers, even ones that are entirely different from us ponies.” Saffron acknowledged. “Isn’t that right, Father?” ”Indeed! What would you like us to serve to all of you tonight, Rarity?” ”This is Mario’s first time in Equestria.” She said. “Would you mind preparing some of your best dishes to make him and his friends feel very welcome? Also, as for the rest, can you bring us our favorites as well? That would be very appreciated from us, thank you!” ”Yes, coming right up, Rarity!” as the family duo headed to the kitchen. ”Thank you!” Both Mario and Twilight’s group blessed. ”Rarity, thank you for this.” Mario said. “You really shouldn’t have to go out of your way for us!” ”Don’t worry, I insist! As Twilight mentioned before, you deserve to get comfortable around here for a bit. What would the Element of Generosity be like if she wasn’t able to give at all? Greedy!” ”She has a point there.” Spike said. ”I hope y’all like to eat spicy food, because this is packed with them spices!” A.J hollered. ”Did you say spicy food???” Mario, Luigi, and Bowser asked. “I love spicy food! No way, me too!” ”Oh goodness...” as Fluttershy tried to contain herself from laughing. ”I really can’t eat anything, because...I have no stomach.” Cappy zoned off. ”I’m not sure if someone old like me can handle spicy food.” Professor E. Gadd quivered. ”There’s going to be a bit of sweetness in these dishes, you know!” Pinkie brought up. ”Well, at least it’s a good thing I still haven’t lost my sweet tooth after all these years!” E. Gadd relieved himself. ”So Bowser, did you and Cappy manage to check Trixie in at the hospital?” Mario asked. ”Yeah, but we almost got into real trouble. The receptionist wanted us to pay her afterwards with these so-called ‘Bits,’ which I guess is Equestria’s currency.” ”Luckily, I had to bluff by saying that we were checking in on behalf of Princess Twilight Sparkle, and the receptionist didn’t make us pay anything!” Cappy laughed nervously. ”Oh no, I can’t believe I forgot to tell you guys to say those exact words before you left!” Twilight panicked. “I’m such an idiot...” ”Well, if anyone else is going to end up in the hospital next, that would be King Sombra, and we will make HIM pay for what he’s done!” Rainbow exhilarated. ”You got that right, Rainbow Dash.” Mario added. “Speaking of medical assistance, I’m glad that you’re feeling better again, Luigi.” ”Yeah bro, and Fluttershy, thank you so much for taking care of me!” ”You’re welcome! All you needed was a bit of a rest and some strong, high-quality medicine that I actually stocked up on in case either me or somepony else got sick. Just be careful not to eat too fast, otherwise you’ll be vomiting again, Luigi.” ”Okey-dokey!” The green plumber nodded. ”Okay everypony, coming in hot...literally!” as Coriander Cumin exited the kitchen. ”Mario, Luigi, this is our ‘Mushroom Curry!’” as Saffron put their food on the table. “Be careful, the plates are very hot!” ”Wow...” as the Mario Bros. were left amazed by their food. ”Okay, here we have the ‘Fried Hot Eggplant’ for you, big guy!” as Coriander set down Bowser’s plate. ”Don’t mind if I do!” ”And for you, old sir, these are the ‘Sweet & Sour Potatoes!’” as Saffron set down E. Gadd’s food. ”Oh, these certainly look appetizing!” ”And Rarity, we brought you and your friends your usual favorite dish, ‘The Red Hot Flower Salads!’” Coriander presented. ”Thank you!” Twilight and her friends thanked. ”Okay, enjoy the food, everypony!” Both family members bowed. ”Thank you guys!” The entire team praised. ”It’s a good thing Luigi and I have our own forks.” Mario said. “Ponies definitely don’t eat with kitchen utensils.” ”And I always bring mine as well!” E. Gadd exclaimed. ”Mm-mmm, I don’t need a fork, thanks!” as Bowser bit into his food. ”You definitely made the right choice, Rarity.” Twilight said. “I think the amount of courtesy shown by you today will definitely leave a very good first impression of Equestria for Mario! It looks like he might consider coming back in the near future or unless something that we can help him with comes up.” ”I’m glad you’re taking all of this into account, Twilight, and that’s what I love about you.” ”I’ll pay for the entire thing!” Pinkie volunteered. ”Hehe, no need for that, Pinkie Pie!” Saffron giggled. “Father and I are so grateful for you and Rarity improving the nature of our restaurant, and because of that, we have become very successful here in Canterlot! So, there’s no need for a tip or payment!” ”This just got even better...” Luigi chewed some more. 1 Hour Ago Unknown Location Wednesday ”Ma’am, please, you’ve got to snap out of this!” Twilight Velvet cried. ”What exactly are you talking about?” Shadow Peach asked. “I’m perfectly fine, okay?” ”Please, you’ve got to snap out of his possession and take us back to our daughter, Twilight!” Night Light begged. ”Wrong, hahaha! My husband is not possessing me, he’s helping me. All I ever want from him is his love and to succeed at conquering all of Equestria! Your daughter Twilight is too weak to stop us both, even with the help of her friends and Mario.” ”Grr, talk all you want, but you both will never win!” Twilight Velvet spit out. ”Mwahahaha, even the same thing could be said about your daughter!” Shadow Peach laughed. “You’re lucky I’m still keeping you alive, but it won’t be for much longer!” ”I don’t know who this Mario is, but he’s probably on his way right now to save you and us from this scumbag’s wrath!” Night Light exclaimed. ”Misery, misery, misery... I would wish good luck to Mario, but he’s still too weak to fight a supreme goddess like me! You just can’t beat the impossible...” 7:30PM Canterlot Wednesday ”Mamma mia, that food was both delicious and so spicy!” Mario burped. ”I need to come here more often.” Luigi thought to himself. ”All right, there’s one more thing I’d like us all to do with you, Mario.” Twilight said. “Does the Mushroom Kingdom hold concerts?” ”Yes it does! Would you like to know who the best singer is at these concerts? Princess Peach!” ”What???” Twilight and her friends’ jaws dropped. “No way!!!” ”It’s true.” Mario added. “She even sent me an audio recording of herself singing on stage. It’s here on my Game Boy SP, by the way.” The entire group leaned in closer to Mario’s mobile device as he pulled it out of his pocket and played the song Peach was singing. ”Sweet Celestia...” Rainbow Dash stuttered. “That...was...AWESOME! I normally listen to fast-paced songs, but Princess Peach just blew my mind right now!” ”Yup, and she normally holds these concerts every year, in honor of my heroic deeds.” Mario explained. “She never disappoints the crowd!” ”I’m impressed with her voice too, Mario!” Twilight exclaimed. “Now, it’ll be time for your first ever concert in Equestria! Applejack, where are we going to tonight?” ”Get ready Mario, because you’re about to see my best friend and Equestria’s number one pop star, Countess Coloratura, or ‘Rara’ for short!” ”We do need some good entertainment every once in a while!” Bowser complimented. ”Luckily, Applejack and Rara got very close with each other, and they still are to this day.” Fluttershy said. “We get to go to every single one of her shows for free because of how strong their friendship is!” ”Eeyup.” A.J nodded. “C’mon gang, Rara’s concert is just at the Canterlot Derby Track. Follow me!” ”Mm-hmm!” Everyone else joined in. 8:00PM Canterlot Derby Track Wednesday ”Sorry missy, but do you or your friends have tickets?” The bouncer asked. “I can’t let any of you in without your tickets.” ”Oh c’mon there, Don Chains!” A.J cried. “It’s me, Applejack!” ”Applejack? Oh, it is you! Sorry about that, I’m always required to wear these shades, which was why I couldn’t see you ponies in the first place.” ”In the middle of the night?” Bowser scratched his head. ”N-Nevermind that!” Don Chains stuttered. “You’re just in time for the concert, guys, so take care in there!” ”Thanks Don!” as A.J tipped off her hat. “Follow me inside, there’s enough front row seats for all of us.” Inside the venue was an actual derby raceway track, which was near the edge of Canterlot, overlooking Ponyville, and the place was packed full of ponies. In the center of the clouded track was the stage, and it was fully lit, too. Everypony cheered really hard as the concert was about to begin. ”Fillies and gentlecolts, this is Mayor Mare speaking! I now have the greatest honor of introducing to you our special celebrity guest this evening! Everypony, please welcome Countess Coloratura!” ”YEAHHH, WOOHOO!!!” The crowd went nuts. Out from behind the curtains and into the center stage was none other than Countess Coloratura herself. She was a light gray pony with a bit of an indigo mane and tail, who was wearing a black diva outfit. Behind her came out a band of ponies, too. ”There she is, Mario!” A.J pointed out. “Enjoy the show, okay?” ”Thanks Applejack!” ”This first song is for those who adore traveling...” Rara announced. “3... 2... 1... GO!!!”
09: Decision Number One8:00PM Unknown Location Wednesday I’m back, my love... ”Ah, it’s good to see you again too, dear.” Shadow Peach said. “Have you found the unicorn with the broken horn yet?” Not yet, but I’ve learned something interesting that can help her snatch the royal couple’s infant child... The one known as Sunburst, is always left in charge of taking care of their baby at this time while they go out to run errands, and his power level is calculated to be nowhere near as strong as Tempest Shadow’s... ”Okay, but how is she going to sneak into the castle unnoticed? You can’t just rival speed with more power, it’s imbalanced.” I just explained to you earlier that she has the necessary abilities to make it inside the castle... She’ll be perfect... ”Who knows?” Shadow Peach minded. “She might find Mario and the others first before us, that could be possible. We have to find Tempest Shadow immediately.” Now is not the time to rush our plans, my love... We can only do so much in one day... ”But, we have a good chance to attack now! These fiends seem to be attending some kind of concert and there’s a lot of ponies in the audience that we can gather up to do our bidding!” Sorry, but that just contradicted one of your previous statements... If we cause chaos immediately, we’ll be outnumbered by the Royal Guard and the Princesses of Day and Night... ”Alright, I’ll give it to you on that one, dear.” Shadow Peach said. “But, you better not use your power for nothing once you reclaim it.” 10:00PM Twilight’s Castle Wednesday ”Oh boy, that concert was a fun experience!” Mario exclaimed. ”That song was so catchy, I felt like we’ve heard it before...” Cappy wondered. ”I’ll be sure to give y’all copies of the photos that we took together with Rara.” A.J said. ”Pinkie, I know what you’re going to say next.” Twilight smirked. “We’re not doing that.” ”Hehe, what are you talking about, Twilight? I was totally NOT going to put the photos in the Mirror Pool! That’s silly talk right there!” ”Either way, those photos would make fabulous souvenirs for you guys, would they?” Rarity winked at Mario’s team. ”They sure would, even though the majority of them had me lying down on the ground so that I could fit in.” Bowser acknowledged. ”Well, we still got a big day ahead of us tomorrow.” Professor E. Gadd declared. ”We should probably get off to bed, Twilight.” Rainbow Dash snored. ”Yeah, we should go ahead and use the time machine to get back to the Mushroom Kingdom.” Mario suggested. “We’ll come back and see you girls in the morning, okay? Thank you all so much for today, by the way!” ”Woah, wait a minute, Mario!” Twilight halted. “I was wondering if you and your friends would be interested in spending the next few nights in the castle with us! I’m guessing you’re all already feeling homesick, though, huh?” ”This calls for a slumber party!” Pinkie cheered. “What do you think, pals?” ”If so, then I’m always down to eat warm s’mores!” Rarity agreed. ”I call sleeping by the kitchen as usual!” as Spike raised his claws. ”Mario, it’s your choice.” Cappy said. ”Where do you want to sleep, bro?” Luigi asked. ”You know what? Okay Twilight, I guess we’ll be staying in the castle from now on! Thanks for your hospitality, by the way!” ”Then it’s settled.” The princess confirmed. “Before we go sleep, I want you all to please follow me into the map room.” ”Got it!” Everyone else responded. ”Now where did Pinkie hide her stash of marshmallows?” Rarity whispered aimlessly. ”I almost forgot to ask you something, Twilight.” Mario said. “What are those tattoos painted on your...flanks?” ”I’m glad you asked that, Mario! These are what we call ‘Cutie Marks.’ They’re a unique representation of a pony’s special skills, talents, or abilities that is carried on for his or her life.” ”Forrevvverrrr!” Pinkie howled. ”Exactly.” Twilight came back in. “I earned my Cutie Mark after passing my magical entrance exam at Princess Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns.” ”I got my Cutie Mark after I saw the ground for the very first time and earned the ability to communicate with animals!” Fluttershy reminded. ”I was the one who accidentally made Fluttershy fall from the clouds that day.” Rainbow Dash admitted. “I’m still sorry about that... Anyway, my Cutie Mark is a reminder of the day when only I was able to pull off a ‘Sonic Rainboom,’ which was the move that I combined with Luigi’s missile attack to make the ‘Sonic Raindoom!” ”As you would expect from a fashionista like me, I certainly am glad that I earned my Cutie Mark after sewing some dazzling costumes for a school play.” Rarity brought up. ”I was just a little filly back then, who tried to make a big break by living with my Aunt & Uncle Orange in the city of Manehattan, but I realized that life on the farm was where I belonged.” as A.J took off her hat in pride. ”I also had a farm life, but ny family and I thought it was depressing to find nothing of purpose on a rock farm.” Pinkie sniffed. “But at that very moment, the Sonic Rainboom that Rainbow Dash pulled off was the one that brought us all together! I realized that my special talent was to make sure that everypony laughs, smiles, and have fun!” ”Those stories...were so beautiful.” Bowser sniffed. ”Are you actually crying right now?” Cappy raised an eyebrow. ”What? No, of course not! I just...forgot to blink, hehe, that’s all!” ”Uh-huh...” Mario hummed. “Anyways, what do we do now, Twilight?” ”Tomorrow, we’ll be splitting up into different teams in order to find the next remaining items on the list. Rarity, Professor E. Gadd, and I will be avoiding detection from any of King Sombra’s minions by going invisible using magic. However, there’s a risk that we might be accidentally uncloaked if we bump into another pony or even each other.” ”Right.” Rainbow Dash said. “Fluttershy, Cappy, Luigi, and I will be finding the items while flying through the skies. Twilight knows a spell that allows anypony to walk on clouds, but there’s another risk of you missing your jumps since there’s going to be a lot of gaps in the clouds.” ”Pinkie Pie, you’re with me, sugarcube!” A.J decided. “We’ll be bringing Bowser and Spike with us on the ground, and now we got extra firepower, but there’s obviously going to be a darn problem because we’re going to be directly exposed to King Sombra’s goons and what not.” ”What about me?” Mario asked. “Who do I get to go with?” ”It’s your choice, Mario...” Twilight replied. ”I’m taking it to the skies!”
10: High Up In the Sky”So, it looks like you’re rolling with us, right Mario?” Rainbow Dash asked. ”Yes, I am! Luigi and I got your backs, by the way.” ”Please tell me I won’t get sick again.” Luigi gulped. ”No to worry, because we’ll watch your backs as well!” Fluttershy exclaimed. “You can count on me if you need any medical assistance, Luigi.” ”Mario, be sure to pick up your Lightning Flowers from Zecora tomorrow.” Twilight said. “They might come in handy up there in the sky.” ”I’ll remember them, thanks Twilight. Where exactly are we going tomorrow?” ”See that pointy place on the map?” Pinkie pointed out. “That’s Twilight castle, which we’re in right now. If you ever happen to get lost in a pickle, then this map should be a fun reference point!” ”The cloud city above Ponyville is Cloudsdale, which is our destination tomorrow.” Rainbow explained. “It’s where Fluttershy and I used to live during our childhood before moving to Ponyville. We’ll be going after the Ring of Destiny.” ”Are you sure Daring Do will let us borrow it?” Fluttershy asked. ”Don’t worry, she trusts me enough to handle anything now.” Rainbow replied. “I’m sure she’ll let us use the Ring for our ruse on Sombra.” ”Just try not to reveal her secret identity, or at the very least, get her killed.” Rarity mentioned. ”In that case, we will go talk to Princess Celestia about the Memory Stone.” Twilight declared. “Applejack, Pinkie, you and the others must head to Ponhenge and find the Old Pillars of Equestria. We’ll regroup here once we have everything on King Sombra’s list.” ”It’s a good thing we were one step ahead collecting the Elements of Harmony.” A.J raised. ”What about the Sun Book?” Cappy asked. ”It’s in the library.” Twilight responded. “I’m not sure what significance King Sombra finds about it, though. The cover has a sun that’s also got some purple on it.” ”So, that makes only three items left to find!” Pinkie exclaimed. ”Technically, the Old Pillars’ artifacts would be counted as more items, but I guess you’re right about what you said if we’re planning on mixing the artifacts into one package.” Rarity explained. ”I think you guys might have the items that would take the longest.” Fluttershy assumed. ”What’s the worst that can happen, Fluttershy?” Spike shrugged. ”The little dude is right.” Bowser added. “Let’s add fire with fire, shall we?” ”Oh, I’m ready for this!” ”I hope you don’t plan on burning everything.” Mario said. “We can train with fire while in the middle of our quest.” ”Hehe, and I see that Applejack doesn’t look too happy about apples being destroyed in training!” Rainbow giggled. ”Hey, as long as Twilight doesn’t touch Sweet Apple Acres, then I’m totally fine!” ”What is it about me that’s bad to your home, A.J?” Twilight’s eye began to twitch. ”You always...” ”Enough!” Mario yelled. “This is getting us nowhere. You girls are close friends with each other, I’m sure about that. There’s no reason to fret like this. Twilight, you did say that you have a spell that magically creates apples out of nowhere, right?” ”Right.” ”If you mess up and accidentally use Applejack’s own apples in training, don’t worry.” Mario reassured. “From what I’ve heard about her, she grows apples very quickly and ponies describe her as a hardworking pony, right?” ”Uh-huh.” A.J murmured. ”Now that you mention it, Mario, maybe we do need to cool it down a bit.” Twilight realized. “I mean, we’re fighting to save Equestria again, but things don’t really have to get hostile between friends over a training session.” ”Yeah, what you said too, Mario.” as A.J took off her hat. “We all make mistakes every now and then. If Twilight messing up becomes an accident, I reckon I wouldn’t mind a bit of a sacrifice on my end.” ”Good. It’s been a long day for all of us, so let’s just go sleep and we’ll figure this out in the morning.” ”Aww, no s’mores?” Rarity pouted. ”You guys can have some if you want, but I’m good for now Rarity, thanks.” Mario insisted. ”Let me show you where you’ll be staying.” Twilight demonstrated. ”Allow me to start the fire!” Bowser requested. Mario looked the most exhausted out of the entire team and so, Twilight had him follow her upstairs into one of the guest rooms. The castle was not only huge, but it had the interior of a mansion. The entire team could even live in here by staying in any of the multiple rooms. ”Are you all right, Mario?” Twilight asked. ”Yeah, just give me a second.” ”Oh okay. Hey, about what you said back there... That was really nice of you to intervene like that.” ”Really?” Mario coughed. “I guess I was trying to get rid of any tension between two friends, huh?” ”Yes, it would seem to be like that. My friends and I argue a lot, but it’s not like anything is actually going to separate us for good.” ”I see.” Mario said. “Well, this room looks comfortable for us. I’ll see you in the morning, Twilight! Good night!” ”Good night, Mario!” You just gave me a brilliant idea, Princessss... Hahaha... ”I think I know where this is going, won’t I?” Shadow Peach asked. 8:00AM Twilight’s Castle Thursday ”Good morning, everyone!” Twilight called out. “Did you all sleep well last night?” ”Hehehe, I dreamt like I was a filly all over again!” A.J hollered. ”I actually had a nightmare about somepony stealing my valuable emeralds!” Rarity shuttered. “That hooligan better show himself so I can lay a beating on him!” ”It’s just a dream, Rarity.” Cappy said. “Besides, we’ll have all the time to lay a beating on King Sombra.” ”I will do whatever it takes to stop him...again!” Spike vowed. ”It’s hard to believe that a puny dragon like you has already beaten that foolish king.” Bowser reminded. ”What can I say except,’ You’re welcome?’” Spike uttered. ”Alright, does everypony remember what items they’re getting?” Rainbow Dash asked. ”Yeah!” Everyone else confirmed. ”Let’s get moving, shall we?” as Rarity headed out the door. ”Wait Rarity!” Twilight halted. “I still need to make Mario be able to walk on clouds, remember?” ”Oh yes, my apologies!” ”Okay Mario, I’m going to need you to stay still for just a second. You won’t feel any pain, but you’ll definitely feel some kind of tingling.” ”I’m ready!” Within an instant, the Princess of Friendship zapped Mario with a magical beam from her horn. However, even though not much happened, the rest of the team was in complete shock. ”Oh...my...” Fluttershy’s jaw dropped. ”M-Mario?” Luigi stuttered. ”Why’s everyone looking at me like that? Is there something wrong?” ”You...must see yourself in the mirror, darling.” Rarity consulted. “Take a look.” ”WHAT?” as Mario fell backwards. ”Awesome!” Rainbow exclaimed. “Your cap has wings, Mario!” ”A Wing Cap?” Luigi inquired. “It’s been too long since we’ve one of those, right bro?” ”Yeah. Was this supposed to happen, Twilight?” ”No... Maybe? I don’t know! Well, according to legend, only Alicorn & Pegasus ponies can access the city of Cloudsdale. I guess anypony or anyone with wings can go there.” ”Have fun up there in Cotton Candy Land!” Pinkie exclaimed. “But whatever you do, don’t taste the rainbow!” ”I still need to walk on clouds, don’t I?” Luigi minded. ”Oh, sorry about that, Luigi!” Twilight apologized. “I guess I’ll give your cap wings, too.” ”Don’t worry, you two.” Cappy said. “If one of you loses or damages either of your caps, I can turn myself into your new cap.” ”Thanks Cappy.” Mario added. Luigi also got zapped by Twilight, who felt himself being tickled instead when Mario felt being frozen in place. His green cap now has wings, too. ”How do I look, bro?” ”Good as always!” Mario replied. “This time, we’re ready to fly!” ”Be careful up there, Mario.” Twilight raised. “My friends will back you up in case of an emergency.” ”You can count on me, Twilight. Professor, Bowser, stay strong out there.” ”Relax, nothing is going to stop this king!” as Bowser sharpened his claws. ”And I will do my best to pick up the pace!” E. Gadd saluted. ”Without further ado, let’s-a-go!” as Mario triple jumped out the door. Mario was in front as he led Luigi, Cappy, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash while flying freely up to Cloudsdale. They obviously admired the view on the way up and Fluttershy got a bit distracted watching the birds fly in sync, to which Rainbow had to drag her back on track. ”We’re just about halfway there.” Rainbow said. “There’s my cloud house, right above Ponyville.” ”What made you two decide to leave your hometown in order to live here?” Cappy asked. ”Besides Rainbow Dash’s ‘Sonic Rainboom’ bringing us altogether, we all had separate lives to carry on after we got our Cutie Marks.” Fluttershy addressed. “We still see our parents every now and then, though.” ”That’s good to know.” Mario acknowledged. “Hey look, there’s Canterlot right there!” ”Twilight should be heading there right now with Rarity and Professor E. Gadd, so that they can talk to Princess Celestia about the Memory Stone.” Rainbow explained. ”And since Twilight is Princess Celestia’s numer one pupil, getting into her castle won’t be a problem.” Fluttershy enumerated. “The castle’s also heavily guarded and armed in case anypony tries to attack, like King Sombra.” ”Oh, at least my stomach isn’t acting up yet!” Luigi gulped. ”I see ponies up there, I think we made it!” Mario confirmed. ”Then, follow my lead!” Rainbow whistled. 8:15AM Cloudsdale Thursday ”Woah, this is so soft!” Mario exclaimed. ”We’re standing on unstable clouds, but once we get on the street, it should be safer for you guys to walk.” Fluttershy informed. “Just...please be super careful and watch your step!” ”This place looks so peaceful!” Luigi dozed off. ”Yeah, but us Pegasus ponies are always busy when it comes to weather patrol.” Rainbow said. “For me, I’m part of an elite group of flyers called the Wonderbolts, and we usually train hard and put on awesome shows for ponies across Equestria!” ”I’m not that good of a flyer...” Fluttershy whispered. ”Oh okay...” Mario hummed. “Anyway, Rainbow Dash, does this Daring Do know where we could find the Ring of Destiny?” ”Of course she knows, Mario! She actually keeps a safe eye on it in case her enemies try to steal it from her! The Ring of Destiny was almost used in an evil, dark ritual by her great archenemy, Ahuizotl, but Daring Do emerged victorious as always!” ”Hmm, Rarity mentioned something about her secret identity.” Luigi said. “Who is she?” ”A.K Yearling is the author of the Daring Do book series, but guess what?” Rainbow Dash freaked out. “She is Daring Do!” ”Are you serious?” Cappy begged the question. “You must’ve been so lucky to even meet her in the first place!” ”Yeah, very lucky! In fact, she trusts me enough that she recently moved here in Cloudsdale a few months ago, and she gave me her address in case of a real emergency, like this! Just remember Rarity’s words about trying not to expose Daring Do.” 7032 Tornado Avenue Wing Street ”Daring Do shouldn’t be too far from here.” Fluttershy said. “Remembering from last time that Rainbow Dash brought me to her house, it’s the house with the curtains closed on each side.” ”Make sure no one is following us inside.” Mario warned. ”Let me do the honors.” Rainbow volunteered. Knock knock. ”Uhh, is it just me or did the sky turn dark?” Luigi pointed up. ”Of course it just started raining!” Rainbow moaned. “I knew I should’ve taken the shift today!” Bang bang. The door finally opened, but with only a slight creek. Behind it was a female Pegasus pony wearing red glasses, a hat with a bow tie, and a purple cloak. She looked outside in digust because of the ongoing downpour of rain. ”Is that you, Rainbow Dash?” ”Yeah, it’s me!” Rainbow whispered. “How have you been, Daring Do?” ”It’s nice to meet you again, Rainbow, I’m fine! Quickly, we’ll talk inside where there’s no rain!” ”I’ll get the door!” Mario exclaimed. “Phew, at least my Wing Cap is still intact.” ”Mine too.” Luigi added. ”I hate getting wet.” Cappy complained. ”So, what can I do for you today, Rainbow Dash?” Daring Do asked. ”Daring, Fluttershy and I made some new friends that we found. This is Mario, Luigi, and Cappy!” ”Hello!” The three greeted. ”Hmm... Suspicious looking mustaches, weird overalls, and a floating top hat... Did you bring thieves into my house, Rainbow Dash?” ”No, they’re not thieves! They really need your help, Daring Do!” ”She’s right ma’am, we’re not thieves.” Mario reassured. “We have a very important favor that we would like you to do for us! We’d really appreciate it!” ”Okay, but anything that doesn’t involve evil or treasure, you can leave me out of it.” Daring reminded. “I’m listening.” ”You see, the three of us come from a world called the Mushroom Kingdom, which lost its princess to King Sombra.” Mario explained. “We ended up here in Equestria so that we can rescue her, but first, King Sombra wants us to collect some valuable items for him. One of them happens to be the Ring of Destiny, which is something Rainbow Dash said you have.” ”Stop right there!” Daring Do halted. “Why in Equestria would I give up the Ring of Destiny to that lunatic?” ”We’re not actually giving it to him, we’re asking you if we can borrow it so that we can pull off an elaborate ruse on him.” Rainbow mentioned. ”May we please borrow the Ring of Destiny?” Fluttershy asked gently. ”This definitely sounds like it could be dangerous. I’ll be kind enough to give it to you, but only on one condition.” Daring Do raised. ”What would that be?” Mario minded. ”Do you mind if I tag along? This sounds like a good idea for a new Daring Do book! As A.K Yearling, I must publish something amazing for my fans, even when it’s not really expected. You know, just to keep ponies on edge.” ”You want to come along with us?” Cappy asked. “Even when we get to King Sombra?” ”Yes.” Daring Do replied. “You all don’t have to worry. In case something happens to any of you or the Ring of Destiny, I’ll be there to protect you. Just please let me keep an eye on the Ring.” ”That sounds like a good deal, Mario!” Rainbow exclaimed. ”M-Mario?” Luigi checked. ”Something is coming this way! We have to get outside! We’ll talk about the Ring later!” HOOONNNKKK. Outside in the pouring rain, near the edge of the city, was a large airship flying towards Mario’s team. The flag was an image of King Sombra himself, and that meant obvious trouble. The ship was being flown by what seemed to be a female parrot and her pirate crew, with all of them looking sinisterly angry as a dark aura was around them. ”Is that...Captain Celaeno?” Fluttershy pointed out. ”It is!” Rainbow confirmed. ”Looks like King Sombra got ahold of her and her crew.” Mario noticed. “I think we know the drill by now...”
11: Shadow Captain Celaeno”Everypony, fly for your lives!” A random bystander cried out. ”AHHHH!!!” ”Quickly, we have to get onboard that ship!” Mario commanded. ”I-I’m coming!” Fluttershy briefly paused before flying. Not only was the rain getting heavier, but the wind blew much fiercer than before. Mario’s team had a bit of a struggle trying to fly to the pirate airship, so they made it onboard with a slippery landing until they reached the deck. ”Captain Celaeno!” Rainbow yelled. “We’ve come to set you free!” ”How dare you set foot on our ship? Let us swashbucklers sail in peace or we will make you suffer the consequences!” ”Yup, King Sombra is up to his mind games again.” as Cappy rolled his eyes. ”Throw them overboard!” One of the possessed crew members squawked. ”Whatever King Sombra’s doing inside your head, it’s not going to help him get the Ring of Destiny!” Mario exclaimed. ”Daring Do, Fluttershy, and I got the crew members, Mario!” Rainbow insisted. “You, Luigi, and Cappy deal with Captain Celaeno!” ”Aargh, it’s about we make you walk the plank, ponies!” Another pirate squawked. ”Just like old times, bro.” Mario reminisced. ”These parrot pirates move like ordinary humans.” Luigi mentioned. ”So does the captain.” Cappy said. The dark aura rages within Captain Celaeno, and she took her hands off the wheel in order to face off with the Mushroom Kingdom’s heroes. She drew out a sword and smiled sinisterly some more. ”Just because you plumbers have outnumbered me doesn’t mean this’ll be any easier for you! Watch closely!” ”What is she doing?” Mario raised an eyebrow. ”The parrot captain raised her sword into the air and a lightning bolt struck it with an intense magnitude of electricity. Her sword was now sparking and she began to sprint at Mario. ”Take this!” ”It’s too bad your leg is missing, which means you can’t fly like us!” as Mario soared to the top of the ship. ”How do you like us now, Captain Celaeno?” Luigi tattled. ”I may not be able to reach you, but that doesn’t mean I can’t still attack you! I will strike you down like dead meat! Kiyaaa!” Captain Celaeno waved her sword at the trio, which led to lightning bolts shooting out of her sword that are constantly being aimed at the trio. They kept flying to dodge her attacks, and one of the bolts ended up leaving a hole in the airship. ”I thought only unicorns and Alicorns can use magic to enhance their attacks.” Mario said. ”Yeah, but once somepony gets possessed by Sombra, he or she gets pumped up!” as Rainbow backed up into Mario. ”Stop talking and fight for once!” The captain resented. ”You want to play it like that, huh?” Mario dared. “It’s a good thing I snuck outta bed this morning to get those Lightning Flowers from Zecora!” ”With these new flowers of shock, you shall unleash attacks that one cannot block...” ”Luigi, here’s one for you!” ”Thanks bro!” Both Mario Bros. grabbed their Lightning Flowers and crushed it in their gloves. While their Wing Caps were still intact, the colors of their overalls turned completely different. Mario wore black and yellow while Luigi wore greenish-yellow. ”Now let’s put these powers to the test!” Mario exclaimed. “I’m now glad it’s the perfect day for a storm!” ”Your feeble toys are still no match for me!” Shadow Captain Celaeno declared. ”Your heads shall be under my blade!” ”Nope!” as Luigi shot a bolt of electricity. ”Bzzzgh! A good hit, but you’ll still have to do better than that, mateys! Take this!” ”How about a ‘Thunder Hammer’ for added measure?” Mario conformed. Mario charged up his hammer with electricity and charged back at the captain, whose sword was still electrified. Both held it off fiercely while Mario’s pony friends held their ground against the other pirates. ”You will succumb to the darkness!” Captain Celaeno cried. ”King Sombra is not your master!” Mario exclaimed. “I’m here to break you free from his control!” ”GAH!!!” as the captain got her sword swiped away by Mario. ”You stay right there, Captain Celaeno!” as Mario immobilized her with lightning. ”Nnnoooo, aaargghh!!!!!!!” ”Luigi, Cappy, over here!” Mario called out. “It’s time to finish her off once and for all!” ”What do we do now?” Cappy asked. ”There was a combo attack that Twilight taught me.” Mario replied. “I think it was called ‘Flying Hammer Chain.’” ”Ooh, ooh, I know what to do!” Mario exclaimed. “Twilight, for this attack, I shall call it ‘Flying Hammer Chain.’ Basically, I am going to throw my hammer at an enemy one time, then I throw Cappy to my hammer so that I can possess it and hit the enemy in midair the second time, and finally, you fly in to catch my hammer so that you can swing at the enemy yourself. The faster you fly in and catch me, the harder your swing will hit!” ”I guess I’m filling in for Twilight, right bro?” Luigi interrogated. ”Yeah, get ready too, Cappy!” Mario added. ”Ready on you, Mario!” ”3... 2... 1... Now!” The attack sequence began as Mario threw his hammer at the paralyzed captain with a widespread throw. Then, he threw Cappy onto his hammer and came swinging down on Celaeno again. Finally, Luigi flew in fast to grab Mario and took the last swing against the already weak parrot. ”What’s...happening... to my body?” as Captain Celaeno’s voice pitch was restored. You will regret this again, Mario... as another shadow pony left the captain’s body. ”Captain, is everything okay?” A crew member demanded. ”T-The ship!” She stuttered. “The storm’s too strong, we’re going down!” ”Follow me!” Mario yelled. ”Who are you?” Celaeno minded. ”Not now, we’re going to jump!” ”HUPPP!!!” as everyone jumped for safety. The pirates’ airship started to fall out of commission by the fierce lightning, but Mario’s team and Captain Celaeno’s crew were able to safely reach Daring Do’s house. The sail of King Sombra’s image was torn off and even though the ship was going down, the sail was restored to the crew’s normal pirate image. Nevertheless, everyone ran inside the house in order to catch their breath. ”Is everypony okay?” Rainbow Dash checked up. ”Aargh, why do I feel like I’ve been smacked on me head?” A male parrot groaned. ”Rainbow Dash & Fluttershy?” Captain Celaeno asked. “It’s nice to see you two, but...how did we end up in Cloudsdale?” ”I think Mario can explain that, Captain.” Fluttershy smiled. ”Mario? Why does that name sound familiar?” ”Yeah, that’s me. Everything’s all right, Captain. King Sombra no longer has control over you and your crew.” ”Wait, I remember that now...” The captain thought. “The last thing that scallywag told me before I got possessed was to lead my crew in order to stop Mario, which is you, and find the Ring of Destiny...” ”Looks like you weren’t kidding.” as Daring Do dried herself. “The Ring of Destiny shouldn’t be toyed around with.” ”It seems like we’re finally free!” Captain Celaeno gasped. “Mario, thank you so much for getting rid of the demons controlling us! I hope we didn’t deal any low blows to you and your friends.” ”Not a problem. I’m more concerned about whether or not I actually hurt you severely. Are you all right, though?” ”Yes, I’m fine, even though I’m still feeling a bit of volts running through me.” The captain replied. “That shadow probably took all the hits when it was still inside me, so I only felt half the pain.” ”That’s good to know.” Cappy admitted. ”Oh Mario, I almost forgot, hehe!” Captain Celaeno giggled. “I’d like you to meet the rest of my crew! This is Boyle, Lix Spittle, Mullet, and Squabble!” ”Ahoy there, mateys!” The crew greeted. ”So, how long have you guys been sailing?” Luigi inquired. ”SQWAK!” Squabble squawked. “We’ve been sailing the Sea of Clouds for so long that I’ve started to lose count!” ”No matter where we go, the treasure always ends up in our grasp.” Mullet foretold. ”We fire the cannons like there’s no tomorrow.” Boyle deliberated. ”And you can’t fight scallywags unless you’ve eaten some of my finest grub to toughen yourself up!” Lix Spittle chuckled. ”But most importantly, you always need to have a loyal captain that will look out for his or her crew...” Celaeno winked. ”Wow...” Mario hummed. “Speaking of your crew, we’re really sorry about your airship, Captain Celaeno.” ”Ah, that’s okay, Mario! This isn’t the first time our ship hasn’t been wrecked like this. I’m sure we can fix it up in no time.” ”SQWAK, what she said!” Squabble spit out. ”Lads, since you’ve been courageous enough to help us, I think it’s safe to assume that the treasure now belongs to you now.” Mullet said. ”Thank you!” Mario complimented. ”I’ll go get the Ring of Destiny from the attic, Mario.” Daring Do volunteered. “Feel free to grab a snack or something, but don’t touch my sandwich.” ”Dang it, so close!” Rainbow whispered. ”Thanks, Daring Do!” Mario also complimented. 8:45AM Unknown Location Thursday ”Looks like your new plan ended up in utter failure again, my love.” Shadow Peach firmed up. “A whole crew of pirates and yet they couldn’t defeat Mario and his friends?” Grrr... This is an embarrassment indeed, darling... This is just yet another minor setback for us... ”You think this is funny?” Shadow Peach groaned. “The more you keep saying that, the more frustrated I start to become! Can’t you at least step it up for real this time?” Relax, dear... I promise you that the third time will be the charm for sure... We just need to get ahold of that Tempest Shadow... ”Speaking of her, where could she be? You said it yourself that she’s incredibly fast, strong, and evasive, which makes me believe that it’ll be impossible to find her. Doesn’t that seem like karma in your thinking, my shadow husband?” I know what I’m doing... If all else fails, then it’ll finally be time for you to show them what you’re made of... ”I’m not called the ‘Shadow Queen’ for nothing.” Shadow Peach bragged. “At least, try and get your full power already so that we may team up on Mario and destroy him and those worthless ruffians he hangs around with!” When the time is right, my love... How are our guests doing, by the way? ”They’re being well-fed and rested, but not for long.” Shadow Peach replied. “I thought I’d make them comfortable before they’re about to face their imminent deaths.” Excellent... It seems that the Princess of Friendship went off with her own squad of allies as well... ”I still don’t care about any of them.” Shadow Peach huffed. “What’s going on with that pathetic excuse for a king, however?” Hmm, looks he and his squad left Princess Twilight’s castle slightly later than Mario’s squad... They went to Ponhenge to go find the Old Pillars of Equestria... Let me ssssee... ”The Princess of Friendship, Rarity, and Professor E. Gadd went off to Canterlot to go talk to Princess Celestia about the Memory Stone.” Shadow Peach said. “To be honest, I would be bored yet curious to see how they ended up doing.” Let me guessss... You wanted to storm the castle and just completely obliterate everything, right? ”And this is why I love you. You always know what I have in mind, unlike that stupid plumber! When I get my hands on him, I’m going to start doing all sorts of evil things to him! He won’t even know what hit him...” That’sss the ssspirit... Once the list is complete, we will be unstoppable, perfect life forms in all of Equestria... Nothing can stand in our way... Mwahahaha... ”I’ll admit that it’s pretty funny to know that you were once beaten before by a puny baby dragon in the past.” Shadow Peach let out. Like I said, the third time will be the charm, and no Crystal Heart is going to stop me this time...
12: Fiery Truth, Part 18:20AM Ponyville Station Thursday ”All aboard the Friendship Express!” The conductor yelled. ”It’s about time.” Bowser said. Among this group were Bowser, Spike, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie. According to the train routes, Manehattan is the last stop, and Ponhenge is just a couple stops before, which is where the group needed to go. Even though the place was written in tiny letters, it was listed under a place called Hollow Shades. ”It was a good thing y’all ate something before we got on, otherwise we’d be there for a while.” A.J mentioned. ”Pinkie, Bowser wasn’t kidding when he said your lemon frosted cupcakes were delicious!” Spike lauded. ”It’s sincere service...with a smile!” Pinkie winked. ”We’ll gobble on some more later once we get the job done, alright?” Bowser asked. “I wonder what my kids and troops are doing right now...” ”Ooh, you got kids?” Pinkie intrigued. “What do they like to do for fun?” ”Umm, what you call fun here, we don’t exactly have that same kind of fun in the Mushroom Kingdom. I don’t want to talk about it, thank you.” ”Hey, you guys see that up there?” Spike asked as he looked out the window of the train. ”Looks like some kind of airship.” A.J pointed out. “Maybe Air Pegasus has a new means of transportation!” ”I don’t exactly remember Pegasus ponies using an airship to deliver mail.” Spike suspected. ”I’m sure Mario will tell us about it later.” Bowser said. “So, who exactly are the Old Pillars of Equestria?” ”Once upon a time, in the magical land of...” ”Applejack, the short version.” Spike requested. ”Right, sorry! The Old Pillars of Equestria were actually the original Elements of Harmony. They were the ones who protected Equestria from all the evils for more than centuries, until that duty was passed on to Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, and eventually us. Star Swirl the Bearded is Sorcery, Mage Meadowbrook is Healing, Flash Magnus is Bravery, Mistmane is Beauty, Rockhoof is Strength, and Somnambula is Hope.” ”I’m guessing that together with Twilight, you’re now the Elements of Magic, Kindness, Loyalty, Generosity, Honesty, and Laughter, right?” Bowser asked. ”Right you are, partner.” A.J replied. “If them Old Pillars are unable to lend us their artifacts, maybe they can team up with us to overthrow Sombra’s shenanigans instead.” ”It’s like fighting fun with fun!” Pinkie exclaimed. ”I haven’t been the brightest bulb when it comes to stopping Mario, but I’ve easily dealt with more threatening pests before.” Bowser said. ”Yeah, what’s up with that?” Spike minded. “What exactly made you and Mario enemies with each other?” ”He’s always been thwarting my plans to kidnap Princess Peach. There’s a reason why I keep doing it, but even just thinking about it makes me uncomfortable. I don’t know if you ponies, or even Mario, want to hear it, though.” ”The truth always hurts, but I believe that you can move past this if you just be honest.” A.J reassured. ”Once this whole thing blows by, Bowser, you can talk to Mario about it if it helps.” Spike added. ”Nobody, not even Mario or Luigi, except me knows that Princess Peach actually has abusive parents.” ”WHAT???” Twilight’s friends gasped. ”It explains why Princess Peach stays mostly quiet all these years. She’s too scared and traumatized to do anything about it. So, I thought the only way to set her free from her abusive parents’ rule is doing the one thing I’ve been doing for so long. I really thought I could make Princess Peach happy and give her a new life away from the Mushroom Kingdom, but Mario doesn’t realize what she’s actually going through and goes after me instead.” ”Do you actually hate Mario?” Pinkie asked calmly. ”I... I don’t, but...” ”But you’re worried about things going even darker, right?” A.J thought. ”H-How did you know that?” Bowser quizzed. ”I can see the look in your eyes, sugarcube. Ya basically kept this whole thing a secret from Mario, and if it was all revealed, then you would probably fear that Princess Peach’s parents would start a revolution against your kingdom. I get it.” ”What’s that supposed to mean?” Bowser asked. ”I think you don’t hate Mario, but you’ve been putting him aside in order to confront who you thought were the real enemies.” Spike said. “There’s just so much that you’ve also been going through, is there Bowser?” ”Yeah, I’ve been going through a lot. I’m pretty sure that every time I invade the Mushroom Kingdom and grab the princess, her parents don’t even bother to save her and they just flee like the Toads who live there.” 8:25AM Inside Peach’s Mind Thursday ”B-Bowser... Is that...true?” ”Pipe down, will you?” Shadow Peach spit out. “I’m in charge here, and everything that comes out of your friends’ mouths will not be of any significance to me! I’m just going to pretend that I did not hear Bowser.” ”Mario and Luigi will definitely team up with him to stop your evil plans!” Peach exclaimed. “I know they’ll come for me!” ”Oh Princess, Princess, Princess...” Shadow Peach grinned. “When will you finally realize that hope and love will get you nowhere in life? There is only despair, hatred, fear, and sadness! They are what truly fuel the Shadow Empire’s existence, and NOTHING is going to bring it down!” ”You know, I used to be possessed and tortured once like you, Shadow Queen, but I was thankfully restored and brought back to normal by Mario! He will kindly do it again for me!” ”Hahaha!!! Now, THAT is a bet I’m willing to wager! Obviously, the odds are stacked in my favor as I see that Mario will have a zero percent chance of beating me this time. No Crystal Star or Element of Harmony...is even going to touch me!” ”I still beg to differ!” Peach defied. “Like I said, M-Mar... Wait, what are you...?” ”Shh, you’re getting sleepy, Princess... Like I said, Mario will not come for you whatsoever, as long as I’m in control... Your conscience will be safe, but...it’ll take a LOT of effort for Mario to restore yourself. I...am the real Peach...”
13: Fiery Truth, Part 28:30AM Hollow Shades Thursday ”Well, we made it, folks!” A.J exclaimed. ”This place looks like a wasteland!” Bowser asserted. “Are you sure this is where we need to go?” ”If we go back just a few feet the way we came, we should reach Ponhenge, which is at the base of Foal Mountain.” Pinkie Pie said. ”Thank Celestia that you don’t have to climb to the top of the mountain every time you come here!” Spike stated. ”Let’s hurry before King Sombra might launch another attack like last time with Trixie.” Bowser said. ”I hope she’s able to recover quickly, by the way.” Pinkie assumed. ”We ain’t got time to waste!” A.J exclaimed. Bowser’s team ran to this mountain range that was several feet high, even reaching half the height of the sky. A small forest appeared before the group at the base of the mountain, and in the middle of it were some vertical, uniquely-shaped stones. ”Concentrate a little harder on your meditation, ponies.” A masculine voice spoke. ”We are trying our very best, Stygian, but this will not be perfect unless we know when it is.” An old, bearded unicorn said. ”There they are.” A.J whispered. “Just follow my lead and I’ll explain everything, mm’kay?” ”Uh-huh!” The rest of the group replied. ”Ahem.” A.J coughed. “Excuse me?” ”Who goes there, lads?” as a muscular looking stallion opened his eyes. “Ah, could that be you, Applejack?” ”Eeyup, it’s me again, Rockhoof! How are the rest of y’all doing?” ”Welcome back to our sanctuary, Applejack.” The old pony spoke again. “And I see that you’ve brought the Element of Laughter, Pinkie Pie, Spike the Brave & Glorious, and... Who’s the newcomer?” ”My name is Bowser, King of the Koopas. I’m not from Equestria, but I came here from another world to help these ponies save this one from impeccable destruction.” ”Judging by your literally sharp appearance, you definitely reveal yourself as a newcomer.” An old female unicorn presumed. ”Destruction in Equestria will not be tolerated, but we can’t just help unless you provide an explanation, and fast.” A female Pegasus pony considered. ”Either way, I’m sure we can fix it up in a jiffy.” A female Earth pony declared. ”If this problem gets out of hoof, things are going to get nasty.” A male Pegasus pony conjectured. ”Bowser, I’d like ya to meet Star Swirl the Bearded, Mage Meadowbrook, Flash Magnus, Mistmane, Rockhoof, and Somnambula!” A.J introduced. “These are the Pillars of Old Equestria.” ”Oh cool, but I thought they were called the Old Pillars of Equestria.” ”It varies!” Pinkie jumped in. ”If you really speak of danger, King Bowser, do not make haste and explain to us what it is!” Star Swirl demanded. ”Some unicorn named King Sombra invaded my world, which is the Mushroom Kingdom, captured the princess there and he’s brought her here so that she can serve under him as a slave. My other...friends all ended up so that we can find the princess and defeat Sombra!” ”You’re talking about THE King Sombra that was destroyed several years ago?” Star Swirl huffed. “I don’t believe that at all!” ”It’s true, Star Swirl.” Spike said. “He appeared in Twilight’s castle right before our very eyes, and he’s even got her parents hostage!” ”Oh come on, guys!” Flash Magnus exclaimed. “This’ll be the fourth time that King Sombra’s going down!” ”You mean third, right?” Spike persisted. “The first time, he was defeated by Princess Celestia & Princess Luna, and Twilight & I beat him the second time, so this week will make it his third defeat.” ”I’m afraid Flash is right, little one.” Mistmane sighed. “We beat King Sombra the first time, believe it or not.” Mage Meadowbrook admitted. ”He was a weakling trying to claim the Crystal Empire’s throne, but we pummeled him way to the ground easily.” Rockhoof explained. ”The second time around, only Star Swirl’s most faithful students were able to do it again while King Sombra actually managed to rise to power that time.” Somnambula clarified. ”And yet, the Frozen North somehow manages to keep a piece of his broken horn intact.” Star Swirl expounded. ”Shouldn’t the Crystal Heart already be enough to stop Sombra, y’all?” A.J inquired. “It’s as simple as that, and yet, he’s making us go fetch the Elements of Harmony, the Sun Book, the Memory Stone, and your artifacts as we speak.” ”There’s no way we’re letting him corrupt Equestria’s most important means of defense!” Star Swirl declared. “Are you sure it’s a good idea to bring all of them to him?” ”We’re planning an elaborate ruse on him, don’t worry.” Bowser replied. “Besides, there’s more of us to fight and he only has the help of our princess, who has now been possessed.” ”Yes, but do you realize how powerful the king will be once he gathers the power of all these valuable items?” Star Swirl realized. “He’s going to become an unstoppable god, for crying out loud!” ”First, we need to make sure that there are no civilian casualties.” Mistmane included. ”The thing is that King Sombra won’t tell us where he and Princess Peach are unless we get the artifacts first.” Pinkie Pie said. “Bowser’s friends all split up and went with Twilight and the others to find the missing items, so that we can regroup at Twilight’s castle.” ”That sounds awful, my young ponies.” Rockhoof sighed. “By the way, what a lovely name for a princess!” ”Don’t worry y’all, we’ve already messaged the rulers of the Crystal Empire to see if we could borrow the Crystal Heart.” A.J added. ”Now, let me ask the real question already.” Bowser said. “Will you six help my friends and I defeat King Sombra so that we can return to the Mushroom Kingdom with our princess?” ”Hmm...” as Star Swirl rubbed his beard. “Stygian, can you come here for just a bit?” ”Yes, what is it, Star Swirl?” The small unicorn abided. ”We need you to do something very important for us. You must find Sunburst and inform him and the royal couple about our progress on our upcoming attack on King Sombra. They have no choice but to either fight with us or evacuate everypony inside the Crystal Empire.” ”Hold on a second!” Pinkie halted. “If you evacuate everypony over there, Sombra has a pretty good chance of taking over the place, and that won’t be fun!” ”The Crystal Heart...” Bowser thought to himself. “Why does it remind me of the Crystal Stars from way back?” ”Then, fighting it shall be!” as Flash Magnus pumped himself up. ”Hurry Stygian, there’s not much time!” Somnambula warned. ”I’ll be back as soon as I can, guys. Stay safe out there!” The small unicorn dashed off into the woods as he left immediately. Bowser’s team now faced the Old Pillars’ stone pedestals, which had different symbols on each of them. ”Now then, we shall lend you four allies our most beloved artifacts in this dire situation.” Star Swirl concluded. “However, fatal consequences will happen to Equestria if something actually happens to the artifacts, so guard them with all your lives.” ”Right this way, King Bowser.” Mistmane guided. ”Not so fast!!!” A feminine voice shouted. ”Oh no, I recognize that darn voice anywhere, even from a blue moon!” A.J cried. ”N-no...” Spike’s jaw dropped. ”YES!!! It is I, Queen Chrysalis! I’m back for sweet revenge!” Queen Chrysalis is a female Changeling, who has holes around her body and horn, much like Hunter’s. Most of her features are green, like her wings, tail, mane, and eyes. Her crown also had four little orbs. According to Hunter, she was the former leader of the Changelings, until Thorax defeated her before. ”Way to ruin the party, meanie!” Pinkie grunted. ”What do you want this time, Chrysalis?” Spike demanded. ”Simple. I’m always one step ahead of you worthless ponies, and I even discovered about King Sombra’s plan to rule over Equestria with these special items that you are now collecting. I’m that sneaky... But, it is I who will use these items to stop Sombra and conquer Equestria with my Changeling Army! Bwahahaha!!!” ”So, you’re the creep who made Hunter leave your army to go find this Thorax...” Bowser reminisced. ”Those two traitors don’t know how to be a real Changeling like me!” Chrysalis added. “Who are you anyway, you imbecile?” ”I am Bowser, King of the Koopas. I think it’s time that we have a royal rumble and see who gets to use these items to defeat King Sombra! Winner takes all!” ”You do realize what you’re getting yourself into, right?” Star Swirl reminded. ”Relax there, good sir.” Bowser asserted. “I got this under control and no king or queen is going to stop this titan!” ”You don’t scare me at all!” The Changeling Queen spit out. “I can do whatever I want with you and these ponies, and you won’t even get a chance to land a single hit!” ”That’s where you’re wrong, Chrysalis!” A.J stepped in. “Ya ain’t gonna last that long in this rodeo!” ”Flee now while you can, jerk!” Pinkie yapped. ”Put ‘em up!” as Spike sharpened his claws. ”Showtime!!!” Bowser ranted. The Pillars of Old Equestria retreated to their pedestals to gather their artifacts, while Bowser’s team faced off against Queen Chrysalis. She smiled menacingly as she took a step back and shapeshifted into her first fake form. ”Let’s-a-go!” ”Oh, you can’t be serious!” as Bowser swayed his head back and forth. “She turned into Mario?” ”Remember Bowser, Chrysalis is the Queen of the Changelings, and can shapeshift into anypony...or anyone she comes across.” Spike explained. “She can copy attacks and use them against you.” ”Hammer time!” The fake Mario chanted. Mario’s doppelgänger rushed for Bowser with his hammer, but he blocked it with his spiky shell. ”The real Mario would know when I would pop in and out of my shell!” Bowser laughed. “It’s my turn to attack now! Haaarrrrr!!!” ”Hot, hot, hot!” as the fake Mario ran in circles while burning. ”Don’t let your guard down, mate!” Rockhoof called out in the background. ”Nice try, but that won’t do you any good, Bowser!” The doppelgänger exclaimed. “How about this?” ”Nice try, but the real Mario would know how to fight fire with fire!” as Bowser got back in his shell. ”Fine, have it your way!” The fake Mario uttered. “Why don’t I try something else?” ”This can’t be good...” Pinkie gulped. ”Oh great, Chrysalis is now Princess Twilight?” Bowser minded. “What do you think you’re getting at, fool?” ”I may teach friendship, but that doesn’t mean I don’t know how to teach you a thing or two about pain!” The fake Twilight smirked. “Watch and learn!” Princess Twilight’s clone flew up into the air and started to swoop down onto Bowser while shooting damage beams. However, his shell started to pick up speed as it was spinning out of control, and before Twilight landed, he shell dashed towards her, causing her to bounce back several feet. ”That’s gotta hurt.” Spike said softly. ”Who’s feeling scared now, Chryssi?” Bowser asked. ”I’m just getting started!” The fake Twilight huffed. “Just wait until you see THIS!” Queen Chrysalis shapeshifted yet again and this time, she turned into Bowser. The real one knew this was coming, but still, he wasn’t ready to give up at any time soon. ”I’ll show you who’s the real King of the Koopas!” Bowser’s doppelgänger pointed out. ”No, that’ll be me!” The real Bowser declared. ”Haaarrrrr!” as both Bowsers breathed fire at each other. Both Bowsers ended up flinching afterwards, but they were still standing strong. Meanwhile, the Pillars of Old Equestria finally got their artifacts from the pedestals and rushed towards Spike, A.J, and Pinkie. ”We got them!” Star Swirl exclaimed. “Tell King Bowser to come back here immediately!” ”Which Bowser is which, though?” as Flash Magnus scratched his head. ”Chrysalis...” Star Swirl nodded. “Don’t worry ponies, I know how to spot a Changeling in case one gets mixed up with the original pony. FREEZE!” Star Swirl’s horn had a white aura around it and he ended up shooting at both Bowsers, until Queen Chrysalis was reverted back to normal in the midst of the blast. The real Bowser quickly got back up and dusted himself off like it was nothing. ”Still as...powerful...as ever huh, Star Swirl?” as Chrysalis tried to regain focus. “This...isn’t over...” ”Bowser, time to finish her off, sugarcube!” A.J encouraged. “I’m ‘bout to show ya a real finisher right here called ‘Lasso Roundup.’” ”What do I do?” He asked. ”Get back into your shell, Bowser. I’m going to tie you up with my lasso and I’m going to swing you around and release you until you knock that cretin out.” ”Okay, I’m ready!” as Bowser got back inside his shell. Applejack started gritting her teeth tightly on her lasso as she grabbed Bowser’s shell and started to build up rotation speed. Spike, Pinkie, and the Old Pillars gave the duo some room for the combo attack, while Queen Chrysalis was too immobilized to even do anything. ”Woah, woah, woah!” as Bowser started getting dizzy. ”Hey Chrysalis, think fast!” as A.J released Bowser. ”Wh-What..are...you?” Bowser’s rapidly spinning shell launched himself at Chrysalis and she ended up getting spiked on all sides, still leaving her in the dust. ”Gaaah!!!” The Changeling Queen moaned. ”Ooh, ooh, can I do something too?” as Pinkie raised her hoof excitingly. ”Go ahead, Pinkie.” Spike replied confidently. ”Sweet! Bowser, hop in!” ”In your confetti cannon? It’s too small for me, I can’t fit in there!” ”Nonsense silly, this party cannon can fit anything inside, no matter what the size is!” Pinkie corrected. “I’m going to fire you off at Chrysalis, and you’ll land on her, making this the ‘Cannon Slam!’” ”Alright alright, I’ll get in!” Bowser yelled. ”Spike, would you mind lighting it up for me?” Pinkie requested. ”Hoooo... It’s lit, Pinkie!” ”What exactly did I sign up for, Pinkie?” Bowser thought to himself. ”5... 4... 3... 2... 1... Blast off!!!” Pinkie counted down. After the party cannon’s fuse was lit up, Bowser was launched yet again at Queen Chrysalis. This time, he attempted to do a body slam upon landing on her corpse, just like Pinkie mentioned. ”Eat this!!!” as Bowser fully extended his arms and legs upon his descent. “Hahahaha!!!” [ceneter]”NOOOOOO!!!!!!” as Queen Chrysalis started to lose consciousness. ”Equestria is a land meant for friendship, not for war, Chrysalis...” Star Swirl soaked it all in.
14: Equestria & BeyondAfter Queen Chrysalis was left lying, beaten down on the ground by Bowser, him and his friends were approached by the Pillars of Old Equestria. They were all carrying their artifacts in unison. ”I now understand the way you fight.” Star Swirl the Bearded said. “It is not merely old-fashioned like our combat, but it is quite effective. I was beginning to have doubts about you, Your Highness, but I see that you are capable of holding your own and defending these artifacts with your life. Let us get you and your allies back to Princess Twilight’s castle.” ”Thanks...” as Bowser followed him. “How many times have you guys encountered Queen Chrysalis, by the way?” ”Twice before, and we had to rely on somepony else to save us both times.” Spike replied. ”We got our cupcakes handed to us by the worst party crasher ever!” Pinkie cried. ”Looks like you managed to do just the same this time, partner!” A.J winked. ”Yeah, but...I couldn’t have done it without you ponies.” Bowser said. “I think we did our part for now, but let’s just go find Mario in the meantime.” ”Everypony, gather around.” Star Swirl instructed. “We’re about to magically transport ourselves to Princess Twilight’s castle. Hold on to the artifacts, I say!” The Old Pillars’ artifacts consisted of Star Swirl the Bearded’s spell book, Mage Meadowbrook’s mask, Flash Magnus’ shield, Mistmane’s flower, Rockhoof’s shovel, and Somnambula’s blindfold. Without further hesitation, the wizard’s horn glowed white again as he used a bit of effort to gather everyone in the area and teleported away. Poof. 9:00AM Twilight’s Castle Thursday Poof. ”Hey, do you guys hear something?” Mario asked. “It sounds like someone’s here.” ”We’re back, everyone!” Bowser called out. “Look who we managed to find..” ”The Pillars!” Twilight’s team shouted. ”We heard you ponies were in need of some proper assistance!” Meadowbrook gloated. ”Yes, but mostly this guy.” as Twilight pointed to Mario. ”So, I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that ‘M’ on your cap means you’re Mario, right?” Star Swirl guessed. ”Yeah, that’s me. You’ve already met Bowser, so I’d like you to also meet my brother, Luigi, Cappy, and Professor E. Gadd!” ”Hello!” Mario’s team greeted. ”Ah, hello there!” Star Swirl returned. “It’s always fascinating to see beings from another world, and finally ones that don’t mean any harm. Would you mind telling us about this Mushroom Kingdom you come from?” ”Sure, but I’ll try to make this as brief as possible.” Mario replied. “It’s a pretty peaceful place inhabited by people known as Toads. Things also seemed to get...tense between me and Bowser, but in times like these, we seem to work together nicely. I’m what Toads consider to be their hero, mostly their ruler, Princess Peach, who’s been kidnapped by King Sombra. Now, we finally have the items that we need in order to find their location.” ”Does he really mean that?” Bowser thought to himself. ”Princess Peach unfortunately got possessed and turned into Shadow Queen Peach, which isn’t the first time this has happened to her.” Mario explained. ”We gotta move fast or we’ll never find the princess ever again!” Luigi sobbed. ”It’s a good thing Daring Do gave us the Ring of Destiny to start off with.” Cappy said. ”I’m still sorry about what happened to your ship, Captain Celaeno.” Fluttershy gloomed. ”Nah, it’s not the end of the world. I really appreciate you letting me stay here with my crew until my ship gets fixed though, Twilight!” ”You’re welcome! Rarity, Professor E. Gadd, and I managed to obtain the Memory Stone from Princess Celestia. I also got the Sun Book from the library ready.” ”And we have the artifacts ready in hoof.” Somnambula commented. ”Uhh, Twilight?” as Spike poked her. ”My Cutie Mark! It’s glowing again!” ”Mine too!” Twilight’s friends uttered. The Mane Six’s Cutie Marks were all glowing and a projection of them was pointing to Twilight’s castle on the Cutie Map. Twilight’s Cutie Mark was the one star surrounded in the middle by her friends’ Cutie Marks. However, a dark cloud started to swirl up on the table. Mario... ”King Sombra!” Everyone yelled. ”Greetings, travelers!” Shadow Peach smirked. “And how especially wonderful it is to meet you again, Mario!” ”Peach, I know you’re in there somewhere! You must break free from his evil spell! You can be pure as ever again!” ”What are you talking about?” Shadow Peach asked. “There is nothing wrong with me, I’m perfectly fine. Besides, your lovely Princess Peach doesn’t exist anymore!” ”N-no...” Mario heaved. ”We finished your stupid list, Sombra!” Twilight exclaimed. “Just tell us where you’re hiding so you can give my parents and Princess Peach back!” I guess you actually have my items... Well, a deal’s a deal, but...I’m not quite satisfied yet... ”What is the meaning of this, you fool?” Star Swirl demanded an answer. “How do you keep coming back? You know what we do to ponies who put innocent lives at risk, don’t you?” ”It’s time we get some darn payback, lads!” Rockhoof nodded. Honey, why don’t you explain to our servants what they’ll be doing next?” ”Certainly, my love.” Shadow Peach replied. “Mario, you must reach the top of Mount Aris with Princess Twilight and her friends. However, if you bring Luigi or any other of your friends, then say goodbye to Princess Peach and Twilight’s parents! Bring the list of items with you as expected. I will meet you there by myself. You must arrive before tomorrow. Do you understand completely?” ”...Yes, Peach.” ”Crying is definitely not going to bring Princess Peach back!” Shadow Peach bickered. “It’s only going to make things easier for when we finish building the Shadow Empire!” ”Fine, but don’t pull off anything suspicious while we get there!” Twilight solicited. We won’t... Anyways, you ponies better get a move on if you know what’s good for Equestria... Sombra out... ”What a big jerk...” as Spike crossed his arms. ”Hey Mario, where are you going?” Luigi interrogated. ”I’m going home... I can’t deal with this right now...” ”But Mario, we all need you!” Twilight encouraged. “I need you!” ”Yeah, what she said!” Rainbow mentioned. “Cheer up buddy!” ”You can’t give up on your friends, right Mario?” Cappy wondered. ”Well, I really appreciate everything that you’ve done for me, but...I just want to be alone right now... Professor, can you show me where the warp pipe is?” ”S-Sure...” E. Gadd frowned. Mario slowly waved off to everyone as he left the castle with Professor E. Gadd to go back to the Mushroom Kingdom. Everyone was in complete disbelief at the moment. ”Is nobody going to stop that boy from leaving?” as A.J gave a dirty look. ”No!” Luigi exclaimed. “We can’t force Mario to feel better, he has to take it slowly. I would go after him, but seeing him like that makes me feel the same way.” ”Maybe I can cheer him up.” Bowser insisted. “I know I always haven’t gotten along with Mario, but...maybe it’s time for that to change.” ”Are you sure you know where you’re going with this?” Rarity asked. ”Just trust me.” Bowser reassured. “You never know what could happen...”
15: Tales of Tails”Professor, wait up!” Bowser called out. ”Oh? What can I do for you, Bowser?” ”Where is the warp pipe? I need to find Mario.” ”It’s just through the forest over there.” E. Gadd replied. “Mario wanted to be alone, remember?” ”Yeah, but I feel like we can’t do anything without him.” Bowser said. “We really don’t have much time to find Sombra. I’m going to see if I can help Mario out, one way or another.” ”And you’re sure he’ be okay with that, Bowser?” Professor E. Gadd asked. ”We haven’t been arguing or anything since we got here. I guess it’s safe to say that we are getting along.” ”Hurry, Bowser!” The professor exclaimed. “The princess is counting on us!” ”I’m going!” The Koopa King ran into the Everfree Forest, where Professor E. Gadd’s time portal was still hanging around. He obviously couldn’t fit inside and had to take the professor’s newly built warp pipe, secretly hiding in the middle of a patch of bushes. ”Here goes nothing...” as Bowser got ready to jump in. 9:15AM Mushroom Kingdom Thursday ”Oof... Aw man, that’s gotta be a painful landing... Why’s it so dark in here? Mario? I need to go upstairs and find him.” The warp pipe that led Bowser back to the Mushroom Kingdom made him end up in the basement of Princess Peach’s castle. When he first invaded the Mushroom Kingdom yesterday, his trembling dimmed out all the lights. So, Bowser found a put out torch and decided to light it back up by breathing fire on it. ”Mario? Hello? Is there anybody home?” Hnnrgh... ”Who’s there? Talk to me at this instant!” Nnnrgh... ”Okay, if you’re not going to show yourself, I might as well come after you! Come out from wherever you’re hiding!” As Bowser approached a set of stairs, he heard the source of the crying coming from underneath the staircase. He crept slowly and slowly, waiting to attack at any moment. Then, suddenly... ”NO, STAY BACK I SAY!!!” An old man yelled. ”Wait a minute...” Bowser paused. “Toadsworth?” ”K-King Bowser? W-What are you still doing here? I thought you left already with Princess Peach!” ”I was supposed to, but now I need to find Mario and save her from some unicorn named King Sombra. This time, she’s going back home safely to the Mushroom Kingdom, where she belongs.” Toadsworth is Princess Peach’s elderly steward, or caretaker as how commoners would call it. Like other Toads, Toadsworth is short and stout. Despite his age, he is quite energetic. He also speaks with a southern English accent. He’s been traveling with Princess Peach for many years, looking after her by her side. Regardless of his position, he cares deeply for the princess very much in a fatherly manner. ”I-I don’t believe you! Even if Mario manages to save Princess Peach, you’ll just go back to kidnapping her as usual!” ”Trust me, I won’t.” Bowser spoke. “In fact, Mario and I seem to be finally getting along with each other. I just happened to have come back to the castle to try and find him. He’s not in the best of moods right now, though.” ”What seems to be troubling him?” as Toadsworth calmed his breathing. “I think I saw him go upstairs, but I’ve been very restless hiding under these stairs since yesterday to even notice a thing.” ”Just take it easy for now.” Bowser said. “After this is all over, the Mushroom Kingdom can go back to living in peace.” ”Why are you helping us, anyway?” Toadsworth wondered. “I thought only power was the only thing that mattered to you.” ”Yeah, but what’s the point of it all anyway if I’m just going to keep on failing? After Mario and I made some new friends in the world where Princess Peach is held in, it made me realize that...it’s time I started doing the right thing. All this time, I wanted Princess Peach to live a better life, but kidnapping her is basically forcing her into situations that she doesn’t want to be in.” ”What are you trying to tell me?” Toadsworth asked again. ”I don’t want to be evil anymore. I mean, it’s cool having all these powers and what not, but who would want to live in a world where destruction leaves nothing left?” ”I see... What about Mario?” ”I’m going to try and cheer him up. We actually don’t have much time before Princess Peach goes missing, so I gotta hurry this up. It was, uh, nice running into you...” ”W-Wait a minute, King Bowser!” Toadsworth interrupted. ”Hmm, yes Toadsworth?” ”Look after Princess Peach.” ”I will.” As Bowser ran up the stairs, he ended up in the west wing of Princess Peach’s castle. Not much has changed, except for the fact that the dining room was left open. He started walking towards the room to see if Mario or anyone else was still left inside. ”Mario? Hello?” Sniff sniff. ”Mario, is that you?” Bowser peeked inside. Another torch lit the room, and it turned out that Mario was actually here. He seemed to be staring at a giant painting of Princess Peach with his arms crossed. He got up close and personal with it that he even felt the painting with his hand. ”There you are, Mario!” Bowser called out. “Is...everything alright?” ”...Bowser?” Mario sniffed. “Hey, I never thought I’d get to see you follow me like this! What’s up?” ”I came by to see if there was anything I could do that would lighten things up for you. We all need you right now to beat King Sombra once and for all so you can save Princess Peach! You have to cheer up, Mario!” ”I know, but...I just can’t. I can’t stand to see Princess Peach like that again. Like I said, I appreciate your guys’ help, but now’s not the time.” ”That’s not Princess Peach.” Bowser corrected. “That’s just a demon trying to take control of Princess Peach. How come you weren’t like this the first time she turned into the Shadow Queen?” ”Something about King Sombra possessing the princess this time makes it even more terrifying.” Mario replied. “I don’t want to see her succumb to the darkness!” ”She won’t!” Bowser firmed up. “Remember, Twilight said that Sombra feeds off of fear and hatred. Don’t let it get to your head, Mario, or you’ll also end up being his slave!” ”I know, but...it’s really hard for me. Maybe I just need to stop thinking about what the princess has become on the outside and think about how she really is on the inside. Who knows?” ”Yeah, that’s a good start.” Bowser said. “I could see that you’re no longer crying now. Just take a deep breath in and out.” ”Hooo...” Mario inhaled and exhaled. “I have no fear... I have no hatred...” ”Good, good, good. You know what I think? There’s something I have to tell you that’ll probably make you feel even better, Mario, if you’re interested.” ”What is it, Bowser?” ”You and Princess Peach were really meant for each other. I mean, she obviously has expressed her gratitude towards your heroic deeds, hasn’t she? She feels so happy when you’re around.” ”You really think so? It’s not like I’m in her castle 24/7 or anything, but yeah, I guess I really have been falling for Princess Peach. Thanks, Bowser!” ”Haha, now there’s your smile!” Bowser chuckled. “How are you feeling now?” ”I think I’m feeling better now!” Mario exclaimed. “Do you mind if I say something too?” ”Go ahead, Mario.” ”Maybe you and I were meant to get along in the first place. I know you’ve always had a thing for kidnapping the princess, but I guess she matters to you as much as she does to me.” ”She does matter to us equally.” Bowser admitted. “I know I’ve been playing rough all these years, but it’s definitely time I put an end to these evil deeds. No more kidnapping and fighting from me at this point, alright? Are we...friends now?” ”Friends...” as Mario offered a handshake. ”Thank you, Mario.” as the Koopa King returned the handshake. “C’mon, let’s get back to Twilight.” ”Yeah, but first, let me... Wait, what’s happening?” ”MARIO!!!!!!” a grumpy voice from outside the castle yelled. Yet another earthquake trembled throughout the Mushroom Kingdom, and at an even higher magnitude than when Bowser and King Sombra first came in. It was so strong that the long dining room table flipped all the way until it was upside down. ”That voice sounds familiar to me. Let’s get out there, Bowser!” ”Got it!” The two allies ran outside Peach’s castle while still holding their torches. The earthquake continued throughout their escape until the two of them finally made it outside the castle. Their jaws dropped massively hard when they found the source of the voice...or three, rather. ”It can’t be...” as Mario covered his mouth. “Hooktail, Gloomtail, and Bonetail???” Hooktail is a large, female red dragon, with a cream-colored underside, jaw, and cheeks. She has small red-and-purple wings on her back, and antennae resembling ponytails on her head. She has large red feet with purple claws, and her tail is light purple, thin, and forked into three parts. Gloomtail is the middle sibling in the "Tail" family. He is the older brother of Hooktail and the younger brother of Bonetail. Upon hearing Mario's former partners say they defeated his sister Hooktail in her castle a long time ago, Gloomtail vowed to destroy Mario and company and avenge his sister. He lives in the Palace of Shadow beyond the Thousand-Year Door. Bonetail is a large, skeletal dragon who lives in the Pit of 100 Trials, beneath the city of Rogueport. It is the older brother of Gloomtail and Hooktail. Unlike its still-living siblings, it is an undead dragon, having died of old age after not eating anything for centuries at the bottom of the Pit of 100 Trials. It was once a pet of the Shadow Queen, but legend never stated why or how Bonetail came to reside at the bottom of the Pit. ”How are you three still alive?” Mario demanded. “I thought I killed you all!” ”That’s where you’re wrong!” Bonetail shouted. “You may have left us for dead, but in the end, we were able to recover to the fullest!” ”Now that the three of us have finally reunited once again, we will gladly put an end to your story, Mario!” Hooktail laughed. ”Any last words before we put you out of your misery?” Gloomtail waited. ”I’ve stopped you all before and I will do it again right now!” Mario pointed at them angrily. ”Oh really?” Bonetail asked. “With what assistance? Certainly not from that puny, weak turtle down there!” ”Hey, who are you calling puny and weak?” Bowser roared. “I never got to meet any of you dragons outside of Rogueport, but now’s the time we finally get down to business!” ”Oh, it’ll be our pleasure, hehe!” Gloomtail giggled. “Oh, by the way, Mario? You remember your lifelong friends that you’ve met since you came to Rogueport? They were great sources of food for us!” ”YOU ATE MY FRIENDS???” as Mario stomped the ground. “HOW DARE YOU!!!” ”Mario, there’s nothing to worry about!” Hooktail lied. “At least, they’ll be living happily ever after...while resting in PIECES, hahaha!” ”Wow, and I thought I was evil.” Bowser disbelieved. “Whatever, you three giant doofuses are going down!” ”My dear siblings, it is now time to exact our revenge on Mario, and we’ll even kill Bowser as an added bonus.” Bonetail confirmed. “Do not fall to him once again.” ”Bring it, cowards!” Mario challenged. The three dragon siblings started to fly all around the castle, in hopes that Mario and Bowser are unable to reach them. Although the two were dodging their claws and breaths of fire, Mario’s hammer throw wasn’t within range of them and neither was Bowser’s fire. The earthquakes were more of a volcanic eruption than just earth tremors. ”So, you got any plans, Mario?” Bowser questioned. ”Uhh, not any that I can think of! Ooh, if only Luigi and the others were here, we can at least outnumber these freaks!” ”Look out!” as Bowser ducked with Mario. ”Psst, you two are so helpless!” as Bonetail cooled off his breath. “It is now time to unleash our full power!” ”And with pleasure!” as both other dragons lined up behind Bonetail. Bonetail, Hooktail, and Gloomtail all started to line up in the form of a train and opened up their razor sharp teeth. Facing Mario and Bowser in front of the castle, they all started to swoop down and attempted to consume the two head on. ”Brace for impact!” as Bowser hid. ”This is not good!” Mario exclaimed. “They’re going to destroy the castle!” ”Well, is there anything inside that we can use, Mario?” Bowser worried. ”I think the Toads might’ve stored a Mega Mushroom somewhere in the basement, but it’s going to be hard to find it in the dark. You have to take it, though!” ”Hoooo, that’s fine!” as Bowser kept breathing fire. “Just get down there while I try to distract the dragons!” ”I’m on it!” Mario confirmed and ran back inside. ”So, this is the warm welcome I get for coming back to the Mushroom Kingdom?” Bowser smirked. “All right punks, it’s just you and me now! Bam, a punch to your face is what you need, haha!” ”Grrr!” Gloomtail groaned. “Whatever, it’ll take more than that if you think you can stand up to me!” ”Where is it, where is it?” Mario panicked. “Why did it have to be so dark?” Storage Room ”Aha!” as Mario lit up the hallway with a torch. “It’s in one of these blocks, which I must jump up to get.” Pow. ”A Raccoon Leaf? Well, at least I can fly again! Is the Mega Mushroom in here?” Pow. ”No, that’s just a regular Mushroom! C’mon, I know you’re in here somewhere!” Pow. ”Frog Suit, no! Fire Flower, no! Aww, which block is it in? Oh, there’s a chest.” Mario walked towards a small wooden chest and when he opened it up, he was so happy that he was left speechless. ”Bingo, baby! All right, now to get back to Bowser!” ”Who wants some more?” as Bowser punched Hooktail when she flew in. “How about you, Bonepal?” ”It’s Bonetail!” The eldest sibling corrected. “You may think that this is funny, but I say that playtime is over!” ”Bam!” as Bowser threw a punch at Bonetail. “Oww, my hand!” ”Attacking an undead being like me is like attacking a being made of iron!” Bonetail yelled. “I will knock you so far away that you’ll be dead by the time you come back!” ”Not on my watch!” Mario interrupted. “Bowser, catch!” Mario, who now had a raccoon tail and ears, threw the Mega Mushroom at the Koopa King. Instead of using his hands to catch it, he chomped down into it as soon as it made contact with his jaws. Bowser’s stomach started to grow loudly now. ”YEAH!!!!!!” Bowser roared. ”Now you’re no match for Giga Bowser!” ”We got you this time, fools!” as Mario flew up onto Bowser’s shoulder. ”What difference does this make?” Hooktail spit out. “There’s still three of us and only two of you!” ”Mario, I got the weaker siblings!” Bowser called out. ”Go get Bonetail!” ”Right away!” Mario accepted. Giga Bowser and Raccoon Mario both went in opposite directions as they continued to face off against the Tail Dragons. The giant Koopa King was even able to grab Hooktail & Gloomtail by their necks and he threw them into Princess Peach’s lake. Mario also flew to the top of the castle and reached Bonetail at the height of the flagpole. ”Just because you can fly doesn’t mean you match my strength, Mario!” as Bonetail hovered in place. ”Maybe, but I can easily outsmart you! Wahoo!” ”Hey, what’s the meaning of this?” Bonetail asked. “Get off of my antennae!” ”Never!” Mario replied. “I’ll just have to make you crash into something!” ”Nnrgh...” Bonetail gritted his teeth. “Let go of my antennae, I’m warning you!” ”Forgive me, Princess Peach...” Mario whispered to himself while looking at the castle. 9:30AM Twilight’s Castle Thursday ”I wonder what’s taking Bowser this long.” Luigi said. ”I really do feel sorry for your brother, Luigi.” Rarity added. “It’s times like these where things get even more difficult than going to battle.” ”Maybe Bowser succeeded and went with Mario for a celebratory snack?” Pinkie grinned. ”Who knows how long he’ll take?” Cappy asked. “I’m not saying Bowser is slow, but I think he’s never done something like this before.” ”Then it’s settled.” Twilight declared. “We’re going after Mario now!” ”You heard Bowser, Twilight.” Rainbow Dash sighed. “He’s got this, doesn’t he?” ”Yes, but we’re going to give him and Mario even more moral support. It should wrap things up quickly before we head to Mount Aris.” ”I don’t know about this, Twilight.” Fluttershy thought. “We don’t what’s waiting for us in the Mushroom Kingdom! There could be scary monsters over there!” ”Ehh, only if you plan on leaving the Mushroom Kingdom.” Professor E. Gadd raised. “I could take you all there right now if you want to!” ”If ya say so, Professor.” A.J insisted. “C’mon y’all, let’s go see what those two are up to!” ”Once we’re done, Mario and I can show you our house if we have time.” Luigi suggested. ”Okay!” Everyone else nodded. ”You ponies head on forth.” Star Swirl said. “We shall guard this castle, even if it takes an eternity or so.” ”Please don’t go in my room...” Spike gulped. ”Time is of the essence, mateys!” Captain Celaeno alarmed. ”I’ll be waiting for you, too.” Daring Do acknowledged. ”Follow me to the forest!” E. Gadd exclaimed. ”Bye everypony!” Luigi and the rest of the group waved off. ”Hang in there, Mario, we’ll be right there...” Twilight thought to herself.
16: Long Journey’s End?9:45AM Mushroom Kingdom Thursday As the rest of Mario’s team entered the warp pipe to Princess Peach’s castle, they all tripped upon exiting the pipe when they found out that debris was the first thing they came in contact with. Everyone all piled up in the dark like a messy gathering. ”Owowow!” Luigi murmured. “Is everyone alright?” ”Yeah, I think so.” Spike replied. “What happened to the lights?” ”I don’t know, Spikey-Wikey, but Twilight and I can light up the room.” Rarity said as her horn glowed. ”Let’s keep going.” as Twilight’s horn also glowed. ”Mario...” Rainbow Dash echoed. “What was that?” ”How many times is the ground going to shake under our feet?” Professor E. Gadd wondered. ”Whatever it is, it must have to do with Mario!” Cappy exclaimed. ”Luigi, you and Mario know this place by heart, do you?” Twilight questioned. ”Yeah, but even I get lost sometimes down here! We just need to find the front doors and get outside.” ”We’ll be right behind ya, partner.” A.J winked. The group ran up the same staircase that Toadsworth was hiding under. Their footsteps didn’t seem to wake him up from his apparent sleep, however. When they raced to the top, they found the front doors knocked on their side. ”Oh...my...” Fluttershy gasped. ”When did Bowser get huge all of a sudden?” Spike scratched his head. “Also, look up in the sky!” ”Is it a bird?” Fluttershy inquired. ”Is it a plane?” E. Gadd asked. ”No, that’s Mario!” Twilight called out. “And he’s...riding a dragon?” ”Sweet Celestia, there’s three dragons!” Rarity stated. ”Had enough yet?” Giga Bowser smirked. ”This...isn’t...over...” Gloomtail huffed. ”Hold the phone, brother.” Hooktail paused. “Do you see those people down there?” ”...Ahem. Well, well, if it isn’t Mario’s brother, Luigi! I thought he’d never come out of his shadow...” ”Looks like he brought food for us as well, haha!” Hooktail laughed. ”You stay away from them this instant!” Giga Bowser yelled. ”Guys, hop on!” ”Bowser!” The group greeted. The giant Koopa King laid out a hand on the ground as he started to carry the group in his palm and brought them up to his eye level. The other two Tail Dragons were already weakened from Bowser’s previous attacks. ”Thanks for the lift, buddy!” Rainbow praised. ”You guys get the red one.” Giga Bowser said. ”I’m going to finish off her lousy brother.” ”You got it, Bowser!” Twilight cheered. “Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, let’s fly everyone over there!” ”Roger!” The two Pegasus ponies nodded. ”This...is madness!” Bonetail groaned. “Let me go or you will be punished!” ”Not if I have to say anything about it, Bonetail!” Raccoon Mario retaliated. ”Huh? Who’s that down there?” ”Luigi, Twilight?” Raccoon Mario wandered. ”Hehehe, you brought more friends?” Bonetail giggled. “Well, it’s about time I add them to our feast! If I can’t kill you Mario, then I’ll just make you kill yourself!” ”Wwooaahhh!!!” Mario panicked. “What are you doing?” Bonetail finally managed to regain control of his flight and stopped for a second. Although Mario was still holding on to his antennae, he couldn’t control where Bonetail was going anymore. The eldest dragon sibling started to nosedive straight down while Mario was still holding on, in an attempt to kill him with a crash landing. ”If I’m going down, I’m taking you down with me!” Bonetail grinned determinedly. ”I...I can’t control this!” Mario cried. “Eeeeeeek!!!” ”I will not be beaten by a bunch of tiny ponies!” Hooktail declared. “Brother, no!!!” ”...Avenge me, sister...” as Gloomtail took one last jab to his stomach. ”Take this!” as Twilight shot an energy beam. ”Take this too, you hideous dragon!” Rarity shouted as she also shot an energy beam. ”Hey, I heard that!” Spike minded. ”We will destroy you...if that’s okay with you!” Fluttershy tempted. ”Incoming!!!” as Pinkie shot herself out of her party cannon. Pinkie was curled up into a cannonball and headed straight for Hooktail’s antennae, to which she looked excited about. Meanwhile, Luigi had been temporarily using Cappy to throw his cap back and forth as an attack. ”I don’t even want to look down!” The professor shivered. ”NOOOOOO!!!!!!!” Hooktail screamed at the top of her lungs. “I...have failed, you two...” The youngest dragon sibling started to tumble out of commission as the rest of the group managed to reach the ground safely. The effects of Bowser’s Mega Mushroom also started to disappear as he started shrinking after defeating Gloomtail with ease. ”Are you guys okay?” Bowser checked. ”Yeah, we’re fine, thanks!” Twilight replied. “Where’s Mario?” ”Uhh, guys?” Spike stuttered. “I think you might want to look up...” ”LOOK OUT!!!!!!” Raccoon Mario screamed at the top of his lungs. ”Say your prayers, Mario!!!” Bonetail proclaimed. Everyone else ran for safety as the nosediving dragon and Mario hit the ground on a big impact. The ground almost had some sort of explosion as it left a huge crater in the midst of the crash landing. The dragon had all of his bones broken, meaning that Mario defeated him. However, as for Mario himself... ”Ack!” Bowser coughed. “I can’t see anything through this smoke!” ”Well, I think Mario saved the day again!” Fluttershy exclaimed. ”He should be coming out of there any second now!” Rainbow smiled. ”Way to go, Mario!” Cappy howled. ”Okay sugarcube, you can come out now!” A.J voiced. ”Let’s go celebrate!” Pinkie exhilarated. ”...M-Mario?” Luigi shuddered. ”Oh no...” Twilight gasped. “Quick, let’s get down there!” ”Mm-hmm!” Everyone else joined in. Everyone headed down the big crater to go find Mario in the bone pile left by the dragon’s crash landing. They kept searching and searching, and they came across the red plumber. His current condition wasn’t looking very good, though. ”Mario, it’s me, Twilight! Are you alright?” T-Twilight...is that...you? Did... Did we...win?” ”Yes, and we’re here to get you to safety!” Twilight exclaimed. “Just hang in there, okay?” ”Stay with me, bro!” Luigi instructed. ”Thanks for helping me out with that Mega Mushroom, Mario.” Bowser reminded. “Now, I must repay you.” ”T-That’s...okay...” Mario breathed scarcely. “I...appreciate you guys...coming here, but...I’m...fine...” ”You won’t be fine lying around like this!” Rainbow bickered. “C’mon, all you need is a good rest and we’ll go find King Sombra right afterwards!” ”I’m going to saddle you up, Mario.” Twilight said. “You can’t walk around in this condition.” ”N-No, that’s fine, Twilight... I...don’t think...I can go on anymore...” ”You mean like this, silly?” Pinkie asked. “That’s exactly we’re going to patch you up!” ”You’ll be fine, Mario.” A.J reassured. ”I know this hurts, but you might need to bear the pain for a bit.” Rarity explained. ”No no...” Mario hacked. “I mean, this...is my last stop...” ”Don’t say that, Mario!” Cappy startled. “You’re starting to freak me out now!” ”Bro, please...” Luigi started sobbing. ”...Guys, this...was a wonderful journey, but...you’re going to have to go on...without me...” ”WHAT???” Everyone else panicked. ”But Mario, we can’t defeat King Sombra without you!” Bowser pleaded. “You must get back up! Princess Peach is still out there, I know she is!” ”It’s not too late, my boy!” Professor E. Gadd reassured. ”Tell...Princess Peach...that I’m...sorry...I...failed her... I...loved...her...” ”What can we do to make you feel better, Mario?” Spike worried. ”Nothing... Look, I... have a feeling Sombra has already taken Peach away for good, so...I’m just going to go live in peace...with her.” ”Princess Peach is still alive, Mario!” Luigi corrected. “All you have to do is destroy the Shadow Queen once again!” ”Luigi, I...need you...to come closer...” ”Yes, what is it, bro?” ”You...are the best...brother that I could ever ask for... I want you...to protect Princess Peach from now on...” ”Y-You can’t be serious...” Luigi continued crying. ”Bowser, come here...” Mario requested. ”I’m here if you need anything pal.” ”You...must also protect Princess Peach... I know that she probably won’t like it when she returns to normal, but...I believe in you...” ”I’ll be there, Mario...” as Bowser started to shed a tear. ”T-Twilight...” ”Yes Mario?” The Princess of Friendship wondered. ”Go save Equestria... You...and your friends...are my friends...and heroes...” ”Anything for the Mushroom Kingdom’s greatest hero!” Twilight sobbed. ”I’m gonna... I’m gonna miss you... All of you... I...” The red plumber’s eyes slowly started to close. Twilight felt the last of his heart beating, but at last, Mario had no more pulse. He was...officially dead, much to everyone’s immediate depression. He lost his raccoon tail and ears after Bonetail’s crash landing, too. ”MMMAAARRRIIIOOO!!!!!!!!!” Luigi cried excessively.
17: The Other Unicorn With the Broken Horn”How long is he gonna be sitting here like that?” Spike asked calmly. ”No idea, Spike, but let’s just let Luigi take the time to remember his brother.” Twilight suggested. “I’m really going to miss him too.” ”It’s a shame that this is the first thing to experience as our first time in the Mushroom Kingdom.” Rarity sighed. ”This is so not awesome.” Rainbow lamented. ”Bummer!” Pinkie frowned. ”Aww shucks, I wasn’t expecting this either.” as A.J took off her hat. ”Poor Mario...” Fluttershy weeped. ”We can’t just leave him there like that!” Bowser exclaimed. “He needs a proper funeral like most other heroes, even though I don’t believe that he’s actually dead.” ”Hey look, it’s Toadsworth!” Cappy pointed out. ”I-Is it over?” The steward asked. “I don’t feel any earthquake, so I’m assuming it’s safe to go outside!” ”We took care of some of Mario’s old foes, but unfortunately, Mario didn’t make it.” Twilight confirmed. ”Master Mario is dead?” Toadsworth freaked out. “That can’t be possible!” ”Even I feel bad to say that he’s actually gone now.” Bowser soaked in. “He’s down that crater, where he got crushed.” ”I see that Master Luigi is obviously having the hardest time right now.” Toadsworth added. “The poor boy certainly isn’t finding anything worth to lighten the mood up.” ”Mario was the only one that can lead us to save Princess Peach, and now, it is up to us to finish what he’s started.” Twilight proposed. “Let’s go back home.” ”Madam, I guess I must thank you and your friends for stopping these massive attacks on Princess Peach’s castle.” Toadsworth declared. “And you too...Master Bowser.” ”Uhh, no problem, hehe!” Bowser chuckled. ”It is our pleasure, Toadsworth.” Twilight replied. ”Oh, before you leave, may I have your permission to look over Mario? I know that he’s not probably going to resurrect any time soon, but I’ll see what I can do to bring him back.” ”You would DO that?” as Luigi rushed over and got down on his knees begging. “Oh Toadsworth, please, you must do whatever it takes to bring Mario back!” ”I’ll try my hardest, Master Luigi, but it won’t be easy. If I must honestly speak, I would give my life to save this kingdom’s greatest hero.” ”Princess Peach isn’t going to be happy about that once we bring her back.” Cappy said. “She wouldn’t want to lose another important person in her life.” ”We’re running out of time!” Rainbow lamented. “Maybe it’s too late to save Mario, but we can definitely stop King Sombra and free Princess Peach from his spell!” ”I don’t know about that either.” Twilight mentioned. “Mario did fight Princess Peach when she got possessed the first time, so it seemed like he knew what to do, but now that he’s gone, we can’t stop the Shadow Queen without him.” ”Is there anything we CAN do?” Spike worried. ”If all else fails, we might as well use the Crystal Heart.” A.J suggested. ”King Sombra might see that coming from a mile away.” Rarity said. “We have to be faster than him or we’ll never get our chance of success.” ”I know somepony who can help.” Twilight thought. ”Ooh, who is it?” Pinkie begged the question. “Is it somepony famous? A comedian? An athlete?” ”No, it’s Tempest Shadow.” Twilight replied. “She can definitely help us easily! I can call her by using that potion spell that she’s been using to call the Storm King in the past.” ”I had to sweet talk her into lending that spell for you, Twilight!” Pinkie winked. ”Thanks Pinkie. Everyone, gather around me.” ”So, what’s the game plan?” Rainbow asked. ”We must get a ride on Tempest’s airship to Mount Aris before nightfall.” Twilight explained. “I say we must gather the Old Pillars & Captain Celaeno’s crew so we can all team up against Sombra & Peach.” ”Don’t forget about the Elements of Harmony & the other artifacts.” Fluttershy reminded. “We would feel powerless without them.” ”Wait, King Sombra is mostly looking for Mario.” Rarity forgotten. “He’s going to notice that he’s actually gone if we don’t bring him.” ”Mmm...” as Luigi stopped crying. “Isn’t Hunter able to turn himself into anybody? Bowser and I were able to escape prison because of his shapeshifting.” ”He probably found this Thorax by now.” Bowser thought. “Can’t we go get him to copy Mario?” ”That could work, even if it means a bit of a time being lost.” Twilight said. “I’m not sure if King Sombra is still watching us, though.” ”I have a bad feeling he’ll catch on real quick.” A.J gulped. “M-Maybe we all should we wait for Toadsworth to look after Mario.” ”Like I said before, it’s not going to be easy bringing him back.” The steward brought up. ”I wonder if my parents are still okay right now...” Twilight implored. 10:00AM Mount Aris Thursday King Sombra and Shadow Queen Peach were both standing at the top of a really high mountain with a long set of steps leading to the top. Inside was what looked to be a destroyed kingdom, with a gate symbol of some griffon-hybrid species. The ocean waves all the way down below were fierce as a storm was in the evil couple’s midst. Now, we shall wait for that pesky plumber... ”Mario has no idea what’s about to happen.” Shadow Peach said. “This battle will be over before he can even blink!” ”You two are monsters!” Twilight Velvet cried. ”Just please let us free!” Night Light begged. ”Oh, we will!” Shadow Peach exclaimed. “In fact, we only kept you around so that we can lure your daughter into our trap. It is SHE who will be dying instead of you two, hahaha!” ”NO, don’t you touch our Twilight!” Twilight Velvet weeped. “You can take our lives instead, but just don’t hurt her!” ”Don’t you dare lay a hoof on our daughter!” Night Light bickered. Sacrifice yourselves all you want, but it won’t do you any good... You see, the Princess of Friendship’s magic will be useful to us, unlike yours once we kill her and extract her magic from within... ”NOOO!!!” Both of Twilight’s parents screamed. Shadow Peach actually had her own giant shadow claw that was keeping Twilight’s parents tightly grasped. Obviously, they couldn’t break free from her unmatched strength. ”It seems that Bowser has gotten rid of that putrid Chrysalis earlier.” Shadow Peach pointed out. Yes, indeed... Even if she got rid of him, she and her Changelings still wouldn’t stand a chance against us... Only you and I will have complete power over all these ponies once we succeed... ”Absolutely, my love. It is only a matter of time before the heroes make their way here...” It’s too bad we weren’t able to get ahold of that Tempest Shadow... ”Let’s get back to the castle first.” Twilight said. “Toadsworth, please take good care of Mario.” ”Certainly. Oh wait, Master Luigi!” ”Yeah?” ”I found these Ice Flowers in Mario’s pockets.” Toadsworth added. “Use them wisely if you need to.” ”I will not let Mario down.” as Luigi grabbed the flowers. ”Back to the warp pipe, everybody!” Professor E. Gadd instructed. ”The Mushroom Kingdom is counting on you!” Toadsworth shouted. While the steward was carrying Mario out of the crater, Mario’s friends ran back inside the still-dark castle and raced down the stairs leading to the basement. Bowser lifted some of the debris that was covering the warp pipe and was the first one to jump in, but not without a bit of a tight squeeze. ”Luigi, are you feeling all right?” Twilight paused before jumping in. ”Yeah, I guess, but I still can’t believe Mario died right there in front of us.” ”I know.” Twilight reminisced. “But once we defeat King Sombra and save Princess Peach, we’re going to find a way to bring your brother back to life.” ”Thanks Twilight, but I also think that it’s not going to be easy.” ”Well, we’ll have plenty of time to talk about it after we kill Sombra, okay? Let’s go, Luigi.” The green plumber and pony princess now both jumped into the pipe to get back to Equestria. As bright as the world was, the sun wasn’t shedding that much light on the Everfree Forest, which is where the warp pipe leads to. 10:05AM Ponyville Thursday ”Let’s get going, shall we?” Rarity configured. ”Did somebody say something about an airship?” Bowser asked. “There’s a giant one behind the castle!” ”That’s gotta be Tempest’s, then!” Twilight exclaimed. “This way, follow me!” ”So much...for that potion spell.” A.J huffed as she dashed towards the castle backyard. ”Twilight, hey, there you are!” A deep female voice called out. ”What’s up, fellas?” A male voice spoke. On the landing platform of the airship was a unicorn pony with a rose red mane and tail, wearing what appeared to be some suit of body armor with horns for a symbol, and much like King Sombra, she had a broken horn. Next to her was also a male pug-faced hedgehog with gray hair and a tail, who was eating a sponge cake joyfully. Not surprisingly, he was very short like most hedgehogs. ”Is that a...unicorn?” Cappy wondered. ”I think so, but...what happened to her horn?” Luigi minded. ”Hehe guys, I know what you’re thinking.” The unicorn giggled. “I’m in no way related to King Sombra, don’t worry. My name is Tempest Shadow, and this is my best friend, Grubber.” ”’Sup fellas!” as the hedgehog swallowed his food. ”I’m Luigi, and this is Bowser, Cappy, and Professor E. Gadd!” ”So, you’re the ones Sombra and his lady are looking for, right?” Tempest inquired. ”How do you know all about that?” Spike asked. ”Tempest and I were flying after midnight to come visit you guys today for a little relaxation, until that punk ran into us!” Grubber chomped. 4:00AM South Luna Ocean Thursday ”I think I’m gonna go back to bed now, Tempest.” Grubber yawned. “Good night...” ”Okay, but if I’m flying from now on, I’m going to have to lay you off of your favorite snacks!” Tempest smirked. ”Zzz... H-Huh? I don’t remember the weather forecast calling for a storm!” ”Something’s not right here...” Tempest suspected. “We have to keep moving faster to Ponyville!” Tempest Shadow... In the dark skies of Equestria, the unicorn put the airship on autopilot and got ready for combat. Only the flash of lightning bolts & lanterns intensely lit up the skies. Then up on the deck, a dark cloud started to swirl in and spawned none other than King Sombra and Shadow Queen Peach. ”That’s not what I had in mind...” as Grubber’s eyes dilated. ”You...” Tempest gritted her teeth. “Haven’t you already been stopped before enough times? I see no point in you continuing to live!” ”Calm down, madam.” Shadow Peach tempted. “We’re not looking for confrontation with you, but we need your set of skills to help us.” Tempest Shadow... The Storm King’s greatest soldier gets afraid of him and now she turns to the light? What an absolute shame... ”You don’t know anything about me!” Tempest yelled. “Why should I serve you in the first place?” ”You will bring to us a red plumber and green plumber named Mario and Luigi, who are also called the Mario Bros.” Shadow Peach explained. “Bring them along with their friends and we shall reward you greatly! But first, you must retrieve the Crystal Heart from the Crystal Empire.” ”I may be powerful, but that doesn’t mean I abuse that power like a tyrant such as you, King Sombra!” Tempest exclaimed. “I will not bow down to another power-hungry fiend like you!” Why waste your power doing ridiculous deeds of friendship when you can use it while breathing in the smell of Equestrian domination? You can go back to the way you were and start your life of reign and terror all over again... ”She’d never do something like that!” Grubber butted in. ”Oh well, I guess you leave me no choice, but to put you back right where you belong!” Tempest argued. “You too, lady!” ”W-Wait, think about what you’re doing here!” Shadow Peach stuttered. Altough King Sombra was in spiritual form and Shadow Queen Peach was an almighty human, they both had faces of regret when Tempest fired a devastating magical beam from her broken horn at both of them, inflicting some critical damage. Hhrrgh... You...really are an excellent fighter, but for now, I...will show you what a real shadow can do... ”Hey, l-let me go!” as Tempest was grabbed by Peach’s big shadow claw. ”Tempest!” Grubber called out. ”I wonder what’s in that mind or yours, hehehe...” Shadow Peach giggled. ”Go...ahead, see what happens...” Tempest betted. A dark aura started to surround the female unicorn as she had her eyes closed. This was the same dark aura that Sombra used to possess Trixie yesterday. Once Tempest was fully enclosed inside, the dark cloud started to dissipate and the Shadow Queen let her free. ”Join the Shadow Empire, Tempest! You are now under our possession for eternity, and it shall remain this way!” ”...Never.” What is the meaning of this? Why aren’t you under our spell? ”I may be broken, but the dark side is NOT the one that gets to decide who I am! Take this!!!” ”GAHHH!!!” The shadow couple was immobilized as Tempest shot lightning bolts at them. ”I-I’ll get this thing going again!” as Grubber took the wheel. This...isn’t over, Tempest Shadow... I may not have my full power yet, but when I do, I will teach you how it’s done! Let’s get out of here, honey... ”F-Fine...” Shadow Peach coughed. “Y-You haven’t seen the last of us, Tempest Shadow...” The two evil rulers disappeared into the sea of dark clouds and retreated off of the airship to return to wherever they were hiding in. While Grubber was flying, Tempest dusted herself off like it was nothing and continued traveling with her little friend for the night. ”I’m surprised you were able to stand up to him.” Bowser thought. “It’s too bad he got away, though.” ”Our little vacation here has now turned into the battle of our lives.” Tempest said. “Twilight, I can help you defeat King Sombra once he regains full power!” ”That’s exactly what we needed you for! Can you give us a lift to Mount Aris? That’s where King Sombra and Shadow Queen Peach will meet us.” ”I remember that place.” Tempest said. “I would do anything to help you and your friends out in this time of need!” ”What she said!” as Grubber finished his food. ”Let’s get onboard, everyone!” Twilight instructed. ”Wait a minute...” Tempest halted. “Luigi, you’re the green one?” ”Yeah, that’s me.” ”Where’s Mario?” Tempest asked. ”He didn’t make it...” Bowser gulped. “We lost our greatest friend today during a fatal crash landing.” ”I’m sorry to hear about that...” Tempest shed only one tear. “Wherever he is right now, I promise that he will not die in vain fighting for you! Let’s get on the ship and go after that tyrant!” ”YEAH!!!” Everyone else chanted.
18: Flight of the Ponies”Let’s get to the Hive first.” Twilight said. “Thorax should help us.” ”Wait, aren’t we forgetting something?” Fluttershy asked. ”The artifacts?” Bowser raised. ”Most importantly, the Elements of Harmony!” Spike panicked. ”Unbelievable!” Rarity exclaimed. “All this rushing is now making us forgetful! Well, it’s back to Carousel Boutique for me!” ”Wow, we just fooled ourselves right there.” Rainbow zoomed out. ”You ladies gather what you need and the rest of us will be on the lookout while you get back.” Tempest added. ”No need.” Star Swirl the Bearded came in. “If this foul demon wants our artifacts, then we’ll give them to him the hard way!” ”That’s right, we’re coming with you to bring justice once and for all!” Mage Meadowbrook vowed. ”It is within our pride that we must do battle!” Flash Magnus declared. ”No set of moves is without style!” Mistmane exhilarated. ”Strength will be on our side, comrades!” Rockhoof nodded. ”Hope for the best!” Somnambula alluded. ”Oh really?” Twilight asked. “This is so incredible!” ”Don’t forget about me either!” as Daring Do rushed in. ”We’re setting sail with you as well!” Captain Celaeno and her crew chanted. ”It’s a good thing my ship can hold all of you inside.” Tempest pointed out. “Just be careful not to set anything off until we say so.” ”This is going to be so awesome!” Rainbow giggled. “With all of us, Sombra will definitely be outnumbered!” ”I wouldn’t jump to a conclusion already, Rainbow Dash.” Rarity admitted. “Who knows how strong Princess Peach will be when her power is combined with King Sombra’s?” ”If Mario was still here, he would be able to take care of her.” Luigi sighed. ”Yeah, and this’ll be our first time against Sombra.” Bowser pointed out. ”We’ll plan everything inside.” Tempest said. “Is everypony here?” ”Uh-huh!” Everyone else nodded. ”Grubber, can you get this thing started?” Tempest asked. ”I got you, bud!” The hedgehog replied. ”Twilight, can you bring yourself and your new friends above deck, please?” Tempest added. ”Yes, Tempest. Spike, you and everyone else will be inside the cabins. Luigi, Bowser, Cappy, and the professor are with me up top.” ”A surprise assault for later, perhaps?” Star Swirl wondered. “If so, we need time to think carefully.” ”Ooh, I like surprises!” as Pinkie hopped inside the ship. ”I think we’re good to go, Twilight!” as Spike gave the thumbs up. As everyone got inside the airship, the landing platform retracted and closed itself in. Above deck, Grubber took to the controls and started to slowly lift the ship off the ground. The wind current was steady enough to not let any turbulence occur during mid-flight. ”We should be at the Hive in about an hour or so!” Grubber called out. ”Okay!” Luigi exclaimed. “What should we do now?” ”Uhh...” Twilight paused. “Want to see a magic trick?” ”It’s not really a trick since you know a lot about magic and know how we’re going to react.” Bowser replied. ”He’s right about that.” E. Gadd sided. ”Aww...” Twilight frowned. “What about you, Cappy?” ”Maybe later, Twilight. I’m still sad about Mario.” ”Yeah, I miss him too.” Twilight added. “I thought I could maybe lighten things up a bit. Guess that’s what we have Pinkie here for, though!” ”Indeed.” Tempest soaked in. “The Changeling Kingdom is located somewhere west of Ponyville, but it’s quite a distance. Let’s not hope that any of Queen Chrysalis’ Changelings are still there.” ”I’m sure they’re probably either being reformed by Thorax or running away with Chrysalis.” Twilight said. “Good job on stopping her by the way, Bowser!” ”Yeah thanks, but I didn’t expect her to turn into Mario, myself, or even you, Twilight.” ”For the record, you still managed to defeat another one of Equestria’s most feared threats.” Twilight mentioned. “That means we only have to deal with King Sombra.” ”What about this Tirek you’ve talked about before?” Bowser interrogated. ”He won’t be leaving Tartarus any time soon.” Tempest claimed. “He’s too weak to absorb any magic at the moment.” ”So, that old guy we found while Bowser and I escaped from that prison is Tirek.” Luigi brought up. “It makes sense why he’s locked up, but not us.” ”I’m hungry again...” as Grubber’s mouth salivated. ”I feel you, little buddy.” as Tempest patted his head. “Maybe we can grab a bite on the way there. How about you, guys?” ”Okay!” Everyone else nodded. ”Hey Twilight, does every single pony around here communicate with letters?” Cappy asked. “I remember you telling Spike to go send a letter.” ”Good question. Letters are a common form of communication in Equestria, but I believe that I’ve written the most out of anypony, mostly for friendship lessons to Princess Celestia. I still remember the story about me missing the usual letters I write to her ever since I became a princess.” The Golden Oak Library was quiet and serene. Little moonlight came through the window and slightly illuminated the dark home and revealed that Spike was sleeping in a hoof-made crib. The gentle glow of the moon reflected off of the purple scales and green spikes of Spike’s small stature. A small puddle of drool was beginning to form on his soft blue blanket as he snored. He clutched his warm blanket as he muttered in his sleep, "Rarity…are those gems…for me?" He continued to murmur, snore, and make other strange noises. Later that night, the front door slowly creaked open and let in the warm midnight spring breeze and a small amount of light to reveal Twilight’s silhouette. She quietly stepped inside and carefully closed the door and lit some candles by her desk with her magic. Owlowiscious, Twilight’s pet owl, had already set down a blank parchment on the centre of the desk, a quill above the parchment, and ink on the left side. She was very pleased with the owl now that he knew about the mare's obsessive-compulsive disorder and the preferences that came with it. Now, working at night was as easy as working during the day. Twilight allowed a soft grin spread across her face as she realised she was about to do her favourite thing she always did at the end of the day: write to the princess. These weren't her usual weekly letters to the princess about her studies on the magic of friendship. They were just nonchalant letters about her day or questions about trivial things or just little secrets that she only trusted Celestia with. Twilight still remembered the day at the Grand Galloping Gala… "Oh, Princess Celestia, I'm so glad I could talk to you this time!" Twilight beamed at the large alicorn. "Indeed, it was quite generous of my sister to greet the guests this year so we could talk and she could get used to the modern crowd." The princess gave her star pupil a warm, bright smile that reminded those who saw it of her amazing sun. Twilight just stared at her mentor with wide, sparkling eyes, like a little foal staring at an ice cream factory. She never did get very used to the fact that she was the princess's student. After ten seconds or so, the princess felt a little awkward and cleared her throat before speaking, "Um… I, well, I trust that you and your friends had a great time at the gala this year?" Twilight realised she had been staring. She lowered her head and tried to hide her now red violet face behind her mane. "Y-Yeah, um, we had a wonderful time this year, especially since we all looked after each other and made sure not to cause as much trouble as last year… Ah ha…hahaha…" "Oh, Twilight, sure your friends made a mess, but it was entertaining! Would you like to tell me about all of those adventures you fillies have all the time?" Twilight leaped for joy at the sound of those words, "Of course, princess! Now where should I start…Oh I know! There was this one time…" The princess listened to the purple unicorn tell her stories about her friends for the rest of the night. Both of the ponies wished they could stay like this forever, telling stories and laughing just like Twilight always did with the princess as a foal, talking about her favourite stories except now those stories were real. Unfortunately, the sun must always set some time. "I wish we could talk like this more often.” Twilight sighed before she drank from her glass. “The only time I get to communicate with you like this is in my friendship letters, but I wish I could tell you about my friends and our adventures just to tell you about them instead of telling you what I learned from them." ”Hehe, I know just how you feel, Twilight. There’s always a time for talk, but...there’s always a time for action.” ”I now only write letters to Princess Celestia in case of either emergencies or an urgent task.” Twilight explained. ”What did you two talk about when you went to get the Memory Stone?” Bowser asked. ”Well, she actually was at an important meeting, but her younger sister, Princess Luna, was the one who gave us the Memory Stone. She just told us to be very careful out when we get to King Sombra.” ”I never thought you were so interested in reading books like me, Twilight!” The professor glanced over. ”When this is all over, maybe I can take you to the Canterlot Archives, where most of the greatest masterpieces ever written will be!” ”Nerds...” Cappy whispered. Suddenly, a hatch opened up from underneath the crew’s feet and out came the Pillars of Old Equestria. Grubber then put the ship on autopilot as the ponies and Mario’s team gathered up. ”We have come up with a possible solution, and one that may turn the tide of this upcoming battle.” Star Swirl suggested. ”This better be good, wizard.” Bowser aspired. ”Twilight, remember when we sealed the Pony of Shadows in limbo?” Somnambula questioned. ”Yes, what about him?” ”We’re going to do the same thing with Sombra!” Flash Magnus counted on. ”Oh really?” Luigi anticipated. “How are we supposed to turn Shadow Queen Peach back into Princess Peach if she’s under Sombra’s possession?” ”Don’t bother, my friend.” Rockhoof concluded. “We’re going to seal that witch along with him!” ”WHAT???”Twilight and the rest of the team freaked out. ”Why would you guys do that?” Cappy begged the question. “Not only are you taking away the ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom, but you’re also taking away one of Mario’s best friends!” ”Can’t we just attempt to free Princess Peach like we did with Stygian a while back?” Twilight wondered. ”Unfortunately, things are different this time around.” Mage Meadowbrook broke the news. ”You said yourself that Mario was the only one who knew how to free the princess from the darkness, but...he’s not here.” Mistmane assumed. ”So what?” Bowser argued. “It doesn’t mean that we’re not able to at least try and do whatever he did! You can’t possibly tell us to give up, not when we’re this close!” ”I thought the whole point of this was to go and avenge Mario!” Luigi yelled at the top of his lungs. ”My thoughts exactly!” Tempest exclaimed. ”Do you have a better plan then, Twilight?” Star Swirl minded. ”I...I really...” ”We’re on your side, Twilight!” Bowser confirmed. “We know you’ll help us free Princess Peach!” ”Don’t listen to this babbling buffoon, Twilight!” Mage Meadowbrook spit out. “Are you going to trust your own kind or these total strangers?” ”Uhh... I...” ”M-Maybe I should...continue to the Hive?” as Grubber bit his nails. ”I think you lied about Mario trusting you from now on, Bowser!” Star Swirl claimed. “Maybe he still thinks you’re just as evil as you always have been!” ”That’s not true, he does trust me now! I just saved all six of you from Queen Chrysalis and this is how you’re going to talk to me now?” ”We could’ve easily stopped her ourselves, but no, we wanted to see whether or not if she was a problem in your little fetch quest instead!” Flash Magnus bickered. “We don’t associate ourselves with weaklings like you fools!” ”Who are you calling weaklings?” Luigi quarreled. ”If you consider Mario to be the Mushroom Kingdom’s greatest hero, then I don’t understand why he would have the need to make friends with you!” Star Swirl disputed. ”How dare you?” E. Gadd crossed swords. “Mario knows that we’re not weak because we’ve been by his side all these years and he doesn’t just put us aside like trash! We’re his real friends!” ”Well, it doesn’t look like that, huh?” Mistmane raised an eyebrow. ”What doesn’t look like what?” Luigi minded. ”You said you’ve been by Mario’s side all these years, and yet, you’re not by his side right now.” Somnambula grinned mockingly. ”T-That’s because...” Cappy hesitated. ”Just as I thought...” as Star Swirl brushed his beard. “I don’t believe that’s how friendship works, right Twilight?” ”Nnnrgh...” ”Twilight, are you...alright?” Tempest checked up. The sounds of anger were coming directly from the Princess of Friendship as her breathing became inconsistent. Mario’s friends, Tempest, Grubber, and the Old Pillars slowly approached the Alicorn pony, but were blown back upon a furious face from Twilight. She lit herself on fire and her entire body turned white and blaze red. ”ENOUGH!!!” Twilight screamed. ”Hey, what’s going on up there?” Rainbow popped her head in. ”T-Twilight?” Fluttershy shivered. ”This doesn’t look good...” Spike gulped. Hehehe... Yesss, that’s more like it... ”You’ve got to be kidding me...” Bowser facepalmed. ”That voice...” Rarity consumed. “King Sombra!” Correct! ”And don’t forget about me!” as Shadow Peach made herself visible. ”Twilight!” Her parents cried. ”...M-Mom, D-Dad?” Twilight snapped out of it. ”What are you doing here, man?” Rainbow demanded. “I thought you guys were at Mount Aris.” Yesss, but it appears that we’ve sensed a disturbance during your little trip... ”First off, where is Mario?” Shadow Peach asked. “Second, where in the world do you think you’re going?” ”None of your business, Shadow Queen!” Bowser fought back. “We came here to stop you from controlling Princess Peach so that we can save her, Twilight’s parents, and Equestria!” There’s no use bluffing through your silly little teeth, Your Highness... I think we know what you’re really up to... ”Hah, what a real pity!” Shadow Peach chuckled. “Looks like the Mushroom Kingdom lost its only means of defense...and that’s Mario! You guys really think we’re going to let you fool us with a Changeling attempting to shapeshift into Mario?” Well, Princess Twilight... Since you failed to obey our directions, I guess this is the part where I must get rid of your beloved parents... ”Don’t you dare touch them!” On second thought, I decided not to harm them at all... However, I have something else planned for you, Princess Twilight... ”You want our artifacts so badly, do you punk?” Star Swirl challenged. “We’ve got them right here!” Oh, goodie! I would unleash my full power right now, thanks to all of your help, but I’ve also decided to toy with you ponies one last time... Princess Twilight, your vessel of powerful magic shall be mine! ”Get away from me!” as the Alicorn tried to fly away. ”Nice try, but you won’t be going anywhere!” as Shadow Peach grabbed Twilight with a giant shadow claw. ”TWILIGHT!!!” Everyone else called out. ”I-I...can’t free...myself... She’s too strong...” ”She’s all yours, my love!” Shadow Peach exclaimed. Thank you very much, my sweetheart... It looks like the Mushroom Kingdom and Equestria lost their most powerful means of defense! Come to me, Princess Twilight, and you shall be made useful... ”NOOOOOO!!!” Twilight pleaded. Shadow Queen Peach put Twilight in a sudden sleep and King Sombra slowly began to bind his soul with the Alicorn’s body. A dark aura swirled crazily around the purple pony as her eyes and horn’s aura began to turn black and red. The Shadow Queen then freed her from her grasp until Twilight was standing up again. ”At last, I...am reborn, hahaha!!! The possessed Twilight laughed sinisterly. ”You’re going to pay for this, Sombra!” Bowser gritted his teeth. ”If you want to get to my master so badly, you’ll have to get through me first! I shall now be known as Shadow Princess Twilight Sparkle!” A storm started to brew up in the sky as Equestria was now going through a downpour of rain and a furious storm of lightning. The ship was accidentally off autopilot and Grubber had to rush to get back to the wheel. Meanwhile, the evil Twilight was facing off against everyone else while Shadow Queen Peach and Twilight’s parents were watching from the side. ”I’m so sorry, Twilight, but ya leave us no choice!” A.J confided. “Gals, get ready with the Elements of Harmony!” ”I almost forgot about my own best friends!” Shadow Twilight mocked. “Would you girls care to join me?” Zap. Twilight’s crown, which is actually the Element of Magic, started to get corrupt as it turned from a pink star to a black one. She zapped her five pony friends, who were wearing the other Elements of Harmony, and they fell under King Sombra’s spell too. One by one, they had a dark aura surrounding each and every one of them. ”Now this is more like it!” Shadow Dash smiled menacingly. ”You may call us the Elements...of Disharmony!” Shadow Fluttershy exclaimed. ”Who’s ready to have some real fun?” Shadow Pinkie giggled. ”You fools will understand the true meaning of pain and misery!” as Shadow Rarity pumped up her hooves. ”Don’t blink, or y’all would miss the part where we buck you into oblivion!” Shadow A.J betted. ”We’re so screwed...” Luigi’s jaw dropped. “MMMAAARRRIIIOOO!!!” ”I take back what I said before about you four!” Star Swirl corrected. “Now, we must assist you in this tough fight!” ”I see you’ve finally come to your senses, old man.” as Bowser crossed his arms. “Alright Twilight, don’t worry, we’re going to free you and your friends!” ”Try if you can, but you will obviously fail!” Shadow Twilight retaliated. ”Bring it on!” Cappy groaned.
