”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!”