The weekend had come and gone, and a new week had arisen with the morning sun (courtesy of the weather pegasai, as Poppy had yet to learn the magic of raising the sun and moon, just yet) on the city of Canterlot, where the the princess of Equestria, Poppy Blossom, stood at the podium in the palace's conference room, to address her subjects for that morning.
"...which is why, as of today, draconian franks will now be accepted as currency in Equestria; as part of our new peace treaty with the Black Dragons of the continent of Jade." Poppy flipped the pages in her hooves and read from the next one. "As well, the economy is expected to take a major leap due to the now booming Saddle Arabian Silk trade thanks to our mutual alliance with Saddle Arabia's Merchant's council!"
Cherry of The Fizzy Poppers, then came into view in front of the podium. "This has been a public address from-
"Actually," Poppy politely stopped her. "I had one last thing I need to tell everyone. Everyone in Equestria needs to hear this."
"Sure thing, Poppy!" Cherry moved back to join her sisters who stood at the sidelines, watching proudly. Penny and Make It Shine were also supposed to be there, but there had been no sign of them since Poppy and Pears destroyed The Internet and saved Equestria from beign trapped in an eternal illusion.
Back at the podium, Princess Poppy addressed her subjects once more. "This is a public warning for all of Equestria." said Poppy seriously. "A stallion by the name of Hue Humble, is now believed by me and the Equestrian council to be the instigator of the recent string of events involving mass hypnosis and brainwashing. He is believed to be extremely dangerous and should not be approached under any circumstances. If you see him, report it immediately to one of the many guards I have dispatched all over Equestria in search of him. Please rest assured; he will be caught and made to pay for his crimes. Again, I ask that you do not, under any circumstances, approach him or try to detain him yourself. Report him to the guards and they will deal with him accordingly in a safe and Equine manner. Thank you."
Cherry once again entered view in front of the camera. "This has been a public address statement, from the Princess of Equestria. Thank you!" and with that the cameras went off.
Poppy sighed as she made her way back to her desk from the podium, her head riddled with thoughts of Hue Humble, and how close she had been to him this whole time. The one behind everything; the bears, the HappyTime Mafia, the Internet trying to enslave ponies minds, and now maybe even the sudden disappearance of her friends Penny Metronome and Make It Shine.
But not just them.
Ever since she had been back in Equestria after escaping and destroying New Horizon, she had been pelted with reports of more and more ponies going missing, seemingly overnight. Several of them had even been ponies that she knew, including Smart Cookie, Cactus Bloom, Auburn Crest, and a hoof-ful of others. Gone; without a trace.
She sat at her desk, racked with worry as the Poppers came to check on her.
"You alright, Poppy?" asked Cherry. "If you're worried about Penny, Shine and the others, don't be; we'll find them!"
"Yeah!" said Root. "We have every available guard in the palace out looking for them. And that freak Hue Humble."
Poppy raised her head up and smiled at them. "Thanks girls." she said. "But that's not what I'm worried about; it's Pears."
"Pears?" asked Cherry. "Oh. that's right."
After she had put the pieces together and figured out that Hue Humble had been the one behind everything, Poppy had of course immediately told her friend, Burnt Pears. However the moment Poppy had said his name, Pears had suddenly gone white in the face. Poppy remembered how she kept muttering to herself, before asking Poppy to leave. When Poppy asked what was wrong, Pears had gotten frustrated and demanded Poppy leave so she can look into something, promising to get back to her with all the answers she could need.
And so Poppy had left, and now, the weekend was over, and Pears had yet to get back to her. She was starting to think she never would, and she would have to find Hue on her own.
But then, the phone on Poppy's desk rang. "Hello?" she asked picking up the receiver.
"Poppy." It was Pears. For some reason she was talking in a very hushed tone, as if she thought someone else was listening.
"Pears?" Poppy stood up from her desk. "What is it? What did you find out?"
Pears simply said. "Everything."
"Everything? What do you mean?" asked Poppy.
"Can't say now. Come to the Inconvenience Store; Head back to the Sludgee machine and press the button for an extra large Super Sludgee. Then come talk to me. I'll see you then." With that, Pears hung up without another word.
To-Do List: Go see Pears at the Inconvenience Store and find out what's she uncovered.
The Inconvenience Store
Poppy used her magic to teleport herself to the cheery store lobby of the Inconvenience Store in a flash of orange light.
She then went back to the Sludgee Machine and followed Pear's instructions, grabbing the largest cup and pressing the button for an extra large Super Sludgee; something she had never even heard of nor did she know could be made until now.
The machine whirred as the thick green frostiness poured into the cup, and was automatically sealed with a lid and a topped with a red and white striped straw.
Poppy took the drink in hoof and waited for something to happen. When nothing did she shrugged and went to take a drink.
"Subject: Unknown. Scanning." said a robotic voice from within the Sludgee. A blue light suddenly shot out from the straw and swept down over Poppy as it scanned her. Poppy stood frozen on the spot, not daring to move a muscle, when the voice confirmed. "Subject Identified: Poppy Blossom. Access Granted."
With that the Sludgee floated up from her hooves and a panel in the floor opened up by her feet. She watched in awe as the cup slid into the slot on the panel like a key to a lock, and turned clockwise.
The ground shook, as the store counter suddenly lifted up on pneumatic legs, sliding into the ceiling and the floor opened to reveal a large elevator, leading deep underground. "Whoa." said Poppy, stepping onto the elevator.
"Beginning descent." said another robotic voice as the elevator rumbled to life and carried Poppy down into the depths, deep beneath Ponyville.
Burnt Pear's Secret Bunker
The elevator arrived into what looked like a small laboratory, outfitted with easily every single piece of advanced sci-technology imaginable, including many that the world wouldn't even dream about for the next five thousand years.
There were guns, lasers, grenades and all other manner of weaponry once could imagine, displayed proudly on one wall, while the other held several hundred monitors that surveyed every inch of not just Ponyville, but all of Equestria.
And to the far end of it, furiously scribbling notes down and checking a huge bulletin board covered in photos and sticky notes, was Pears herself.
Poppy approached somewhat cautiously to talk to her. "Um...Pears?"
Pears turned around, two sticky notes covering her eyes, before she quickly removed them and smiled at Poppy. "Poppy! Good, you're here; we got lots to go over, before we head out."
"Head out?" asked Poppy. "Where are we going?"
"All in good time; have a seat." Pears gestured to a armchair beside her.
Poppy took a seat and sat up, ready to hear what Pears had to say.
"Okay, first off." Pears handed Poppy a book with an intriguing symbol on the front of it. It was a white sphere with what looked like several stripes of random color slapped across it's surface horizontally. As If a paintbrush had simply splattered down the middle of it.
"Um...neat?" Poppy wasn't sure if she was supposed to recognize this symbol.
"That," said Pears. "Is the symbol for Huetology. That spiritual practice or religion or whatever created by Hue Humble."
Poppy looked at the cover. "Let me guess; Huetology is part of his master plan?"
Pears nodded. "To an extant. To be honest, everything I've come across about doesn't peg it at all as evil or sinister." said Pears. "In fact, the reason it's become so widely popular is because it really does work; thousands of ponies have apparently found new leases on life and their true potential by studying it."
"Wait, so Huetology actually works? It doesn't brainwash people or turn them into zombies or anything?" asked Poppy. "So, what, Hue just wants ponies to be happy? I don't think I believe that anymore."
"And you shouldn't." said Pears. "He wants everyone happy, but not because he cares about them." Pears got up and brought the bulletin board over for Poppy to see and gestured to the photos, pictures and drawings. Every single one was of Hue Humble, each one taken during a different moment in time; from before the Celestial era, the middle ages, to the new celestial era, to even a few weeks ago. "When I heard you say that name in the lobby, I didn't want to believe it. I thought I had seen the last of that...thing, ten years ago."
Poppy looked up at Pears. "Thing??"
"When I first arrived in Ponyville, I ran across stories about a strange stallion who would appear seemingly at random and bring happiness to others. But each time, ponies would disappear without a trace, never to be seen again." said Pears seriously. "Every time he showed up was different, every time a new plan to make everyone happy...so he could feed on that happiness."
Poppy's eyes widened. "You talk about him like he isn't even a pony." A chill went up her spine as she said this.
"That's because; he isn't." Pears pointed to a series of cave painting photos on the board. "He is a shape-shifter; a creature old as time that arrives on Earth at random points in time to make the population of the world unquestionably happy and fulfilled, so he can literally feed off the happiness they produce. He's a parasite."
Poppy couldn't believe what she was hearing. She had known Hue was a liar, a manipulator and the one behind the mass hypnotism conspiracy she had been investigating and trying to put a stop to over the last few weeks...but now he wasn't even a real pony? But an actual monster.
"What was that you said about last seeing that thing ten years ago?" asked Poppy, curiously.
Pears nodded and held up a photo of herself as a teenager. "When I was a little Pear, barely even burnt, I faced off against Hue in an epic clash in the Everfree Forest."she pointed to the photo; standing beside her was the upside-down strung up corpse of a monstrous albino alien creature with thick tendrils along it's back, a lamprey mouth and a snakelike tail covered in strange rainbow-colored bulbs. "After I had killed it, or so I thought, I had the body disposed off in the icy Luna Bay, far to the north. That was the last I'd seen of him...till now."
"So...how is he back?" asked Poppy, shivering.
"I have no idea." said Pears. "But I do know what he's planning." Pears moved the bulletin board to reveal another behind it. Across the top it read Hue's Master Planin huge red letters.
"First, he uses the effectiveness of Huetology to establish himself on Earth as a wise, peaceful and loving spiritual guru, that inspires ponies to follow him and study Huetology to become more fulfilled in their lives, as well as grants him basically unlimited funding for his plans. " Pears pointed to a rough sketch of the Huetology symbol.
"Next, through Huetology he uses Chuckles, a former member of the Equestrian government council, to manipulate and use Mary Mareman and her HappyTime Mafia to create toys meant to brainwash the world's population, after appearing on Moira Manner's show, which would convince the public to go out and buy them." Pears pointed to a picture of Chuckles, with an arrow pointing to a picture of Mary Mareman next to a photo of one of the Hypnobears, which had an arrow pointing to a picture of Moira Manners.
"Next, Hue created two evil exact clones of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, to act as the rulers of Equestria to sufficiently weaken and cut off the nation from it's allies and resources. Making it that much easier to control." Pears pointed to a photo of evil Celestia and Luna. "Chuckles was also charged with keeping them in line and making sure they did their jobs."
"Since you mention them," asked Poppy. "Where exactly are Evil Celestia and Evil Luna anyways? I haven't seen them since I won the election."
"Last I saw them, they were drowning themselves in hard cider over at Crabby's." said Pears.
Poppy gasped. "No way!" she said excitedly. "Crabby's is back?"
"Yep. Opened not to long ago, while everyone was in a trance thanks to The Internet." said Pears. "Didn't really occur to Crabby why he didn't get any customers that day." Pears shrugged. "Anyways, I'm glad you brought up Evil Luna and Celestia, cause they are actually part of my plan to stop Hue!"
"Really? How?" asked Poppy.
"I'm getting to that!" said Pears. she turned back to Hue's Master Plan. "With everyone trusting him because of Huetology's success, and Equestria practically in ruins thanks to Evil Luna and Evil Celestia, he would then create the array to be activated and plunge all of Equestria into a never-ending illusion version of our reality, where they are trapped inside their own heads, constantly living out their ideal realities and providing plenty of happiness for Hue to feed off of."
"But we stopped it." said Poppy. "So, what is he planning on doing now?"
Pears moved the bulletin boards aside. "My scanners show he's retreated back to his base of operations, to activate his last resort plan: Brainwash the entire planet at once and make everyone permanently happy, so he has a never ending buffet of joy to suck down."
"Then lets go stop him!" said Poppy hopping out of her seat. "Where's this retreat, I can just teleport us there and-
"Yeah, no." said Pears shaking her head. "You won't be able to get us to the retreat with your magic; not this time."
"Why not?" asked Poppy.
"Think; where in the world could Hue simply look down at the entire Earth and hit it with a happiness beam so that it affects every last living thing on the planet, at once?"
Poppy thought for a minute. "Well....nowhere. For that his retreat would have to be..."
Poppy's eyes shot open as it hit her. "No way."
"Yep." Pears grabbed Poppy by shoulders and smiled widely. "Poppy? You and I..." She pulled Poppy to her chest while she pointed a hoof triumphantly to the heavens.
"Are going to The Moon!"
Poppy pulled herself away. "The Moon!?" she cried. "Like, The Moon, Moon?!"
"Yes." said Pears.
"W-We can't just go to The Moon!" cried Poppy. "How would we even get there!?"
Pears smiled slyly. "Well, it just so happens we know two evil alicorns that can do that for us..."
To-Do List: Head to Crabby's Diner and convince Evil Celestia to send you and Pears to The Moon to stop Hue.
Crabby's Diner was easily, the single most infamous restaurant in Equestria (possibly even the world). Whether it was for the age of the actual diner or the horrendously horrid food, was unknown, but acknowledged by pretty much everyone. Especially those who had actually eaten there (at least from their hospital beds).
Crabby's itself, was owned, founded and run by Real Crabby; a cantankerous old donkey sea captain who was about as warm and fuzzy as severe stomach hemorrhaging, and was in fact three times as likely to put you in the emergency room, because of his stupendously horrid cooking, which he called "traditional Donkey Cuisine." He had apparently opened up his diner many many years ago to bring said cuisine and his heritage to Equestria. Apart from having the cooking skills of cancer, Crabby was also known for his deep-seated hatred of pretty much everything and everyone. Including you. (Yes, you specifically.)
One day, Crabby's was (unsurprisingly) closed down by the health department due to incident where Crabby's lemonade caused ponies to experience extreme hallucinations and severe stomach problems. Ponyville had ponies all over the place, sitting on the ground thinking they were raspberries, while the department closed the doors of Crabby's seemingly for good.
Until now, it seemed.
As Poppy and Pears headed south from the Market Square, they approached what appeared to be a charming and quaint little diner on the corner, with a cheery teal sign that read Crabby's Diner in bright-pink cursive letters, as well as a banner announcing it's grand re-opening. What shocked the two mares though, is that there was no one running out of the diner in terror, clutching either their rears or their stomachs as they ran for the hills.
In fact for the first time Poppy had ever seen, since she herself had once been a frequent customer of the diner before it closed (If only for the morning coffee which was so strong it could've gotten up and walked out of her cup, and allowed her to pretty much complete a week's worth of deliveries in an hour), Poppy and Pears stopped and saw a line forming at the front.
The only "line" Poppy ever remembered being in front of Crabby's was that of the line of yellow tape that had Condemned, on it.
Now curious to see what had brought Crabby's back from the dead, and how it seemed people were actually able to eat here, Poppy and Pears opened the door and went inside.
Crabby's Diner
Entering Crabby's Diner, Poppy and Pears were surprised to smell, not a smell like Death itself had died in one of the booths, but actual....food!
The floors were spotless blue tile, and the walls were covered with yellow wallpaper that had designs of various cartoon foods, dancing around on it, as well as many trinkets and mementos from Crabby's sea faring days. The booths were wood brown, and actually had menus ready for customers to come in and eat at.
Looking around the vastly improved diner, Poppy still managed to notice the figure standing behind the dining counter. She was a bright pink unicorn mare with a very beautiful and luscious golden mane with flawless curls and waves topped with a diamond encrusted tiara she wore on her head. A single beauty mark was seen on her left cheek, that was the only flaw in her otherwise flawless face. Around her waist she wore a diamond encrusted apron, that sparkled every time she moved.
Poppy had no idea who this supermodel-esque mare was, nor what she was doing in Crabby's Diner, but it was very clear that; this mare was definitely not Crabby.
Poppy approached the mare with a polite smile. "Hello." she greeted. "Um, sorry for asking, but who are you? I don't remember seeing you around Crabby's before."
The mare didn't smile back, but her eyes were friendly enough for the most part. "That's probably because before, this place was shut down by the health department before me and my amazing cooking brought it back to life!" she cheered. But then her smile faded again. "And as for who I am, why, I'm Crabby of course."
Poppy looked confused at that. "The Crabby I knew was a bitter, cantankerous old donkey who turned his seething hatred of everything and everyone into an infamous smorgasbord of culinary abominations and horrors."
The mare began to tear up a bit. "T-That does sound like grandpa." she sniffed.
"Grandpa? You...you're saying that you're-"
"His granddaughter?" The mare finished. "Well, adopted Granddaughter, obviously." she added before taking a notepad out and preparing to take orders. "Anyways, my name is Pretty Crabby. I'm running this place till Grandpa comes back. What can I get you?"
"Oh..um, actually we were hoping you could tell us if you've seen...well, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna?"
Pretty smirked. "I think you mean former princesses, there. Or did you forget that you hold that title now?"
"Whichever." said Pears quickly. "Are they here or not?"
Pretty pointed to the farthest booth in the diner near the window. Sitting there was indeed the evil clones of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, drinking what appeared to be a round of hard ciders, and resting their heads sleepily on the table. They looked like they had been drinking for quite a while.
Poppy thanked Pretty and went to go speak to them, with Pears following suit.
To-Do List: Talk to Evil Celestia and Evil Luna.
As she approached Evil Luna spied her out of the corner of her eye and began to laugh to herself. "Well, well, look who it is." she snapped. "The delivery mare, oh! Sorry, forgive my rudeness, the Princess of Equestria!" Evil Luna sat up and glared menacingly over at Poppy. Evil Celestia also sat up, but didn't glare at Poppy; instead she simply yawned and looked over at her, her eyes wilting.
"Oh. Hey Poppy!" she cheered. "How have you been?" She looked actually happy to see Poppy and Pears, although it could have also been the cider talking.
"Oh, I've, um, been good." said Poppy awkwardly. "And...you?"
Evil Luna laughed. "And you, she says!" she snapped. "You want to know how we've been? Horrible! You took everything from us!" Evil Luna snarled. "Our creator thinks we're too useless even to destroy and we got nowhere to go; no palace, no Bits, no nothing!" She laid her head back down on the table and sighed with her cheeks reddening. "So as far as I'm concerned, you can take that perky, cheery attitude, and the smug happy-go-lucky smile of yours, and cram it right...right up, your-" she passed out before she could finish.
For a moment everyone waited to see if evil Luna would wake up again. When she didn't Poppy sighed. "Well," she said. "I know she still hates me." she looked over at Evil Celestia. "What about you?"
Evil Celestia let out a cute hiccup. "Honess'ly, I hic I think I'm too drunk to be mad at hic anyone right now. Heh."
"Okay good." Poppy sat down in the booth beside Evil Luna who was now snoring softly. "I need your help; Can you transport me and Pears to The Moon?"
"The Moon?" asked Evil Celestia. "Huh. You're going after hic our creator then."
"Yeah." said Poppy. She paused for a moment. "Is that a problem?"
Evil Celestia took a drink from her mug, and didn't answer for a moment, as if contemplating what she should respond with. Finally she looked up at Poppy, her eyes watering. "He...he thinks we're mistakes you know." she said softly. "Because we didn't manage to ravage Equestria into a wasteland he could control, he thinks we have no other purpose. Useless."
Poppy wasn't sure what to say. "I'm..I'm so-
"But you," said Evil Celestia. "Y-You showed me, that we don't have to be bad. We...we can make our own decisions, be our own people, and follow our own dreams. We...we can be free to do what we want now."
Poppy nodded. "So...what is it that you want to do now?" she asked.
Evil Celestia took another drink, then smiled. "I want to make our creator pay for abandoning us." she said narrowing her eyes. "I'll show him, whose useless!" Evil Celestia set her mug aside and got up from the booth to stand beside it and turned to Poppy. "Are you ready to go?" she asked with a smile.
Poppy looked at Pears. "Are we?"
Pears nodded and smiled with determination. "Let's go rip that parasitic freak a new one!" she exclaimed.
Poppy nodded to Evil Celestia. "We're ready."
Evil Celestia nodded. "Once I transport you to The Moon, I won't be able to bring you back. Do you guys know of a way back?"
Pears nodded. "I already looked into it. We're set!"
Evil Celestia nodded. "Poppy?" Poppy turned to look at her. "I'm sorry. We're sorry. For everything." Evil Celestia lowered her head. "We deserve where we are right now."
"When this is over," said Poppy. "I promise I'll help you guys. I swear it."
"Don't worry about us." said Evil Celestia shaking her head. "Your friends are more important." Her horn glowed a bright, golden yellow, illuminating the entire diner,a s it seemed to wrap itself around Poppy and Pears.
Before she and Pears vanished in a flash of golden light, Poppy managed to say, "See? You do know about friendship!" and then they were gone. As the light faded, the clone of Celestia smiled. "Huh. I guess I do."
The Moon (Also known as Luna-land)
Poppy and Pears arrived on The Moon, expecting to be dropped in the middle of an endless expanse of white rock and dust, flowing endlessly outwards beneath a sky-less sky where the Earth hovered like a big blue marble in an endless sea of blackness.
But instead, they found themselves in what looked like a small marketplace on the surface of the moon, set up in the shadow of a massive limestone tower that greatly resembled a gigantic needle extending outwards from the surface of the moon.
Poppy and Pears looked around their surroundings in awe. "Huh." said Poppy, looking at a nearby stand that seemed to be selling Luna Cakes. "Did you know all this was up here?" she asked Pears.
"I mean, Princess Luna was up here for a while." said Pears. "She had to do something while she waited around."
"True." said Poppy. "Let's have a look around; maybe we can talk to someone out here about that needle."
Pears nodded and they began to explore the marketplace. They saw many stands that sold various moon-based snacks like moon rock candy, Luna Pies, Princess Luna Queen Of The Moon T-shirts, Phases of The Moon posters, Lunar surface hats, postcards, keychains and more.
There was also a new shop, that looked like it was built rather recently, called The Huetology Visitor's Center and Gift Shop. Standing behind the counter of this particular shop was a familiar face that Poppy was sure she would never see again.
The Huetology Visitor's Center
"Wait a second. I know her!" said Poppy pointing to the mare behind the counter. She was a brown colored earth pony mare with a sleek black mane and a beautiful face. She wore a blue store uniform that showed she worked for the gift shop. She smiled as Poppy approached the shop. "Poppy! Fancy seeing you here." she joked.
"Hello, Mary." said Poppy. "Any particular reason why you're on the moon and not, y'know...in prison?"
Mary laughed. "I got out early for good behavior." she said with a smile. "Oh, don't be like that. I'm a changed mare, honestly!"
Poppy was still suspicious. "You'll forgive me if I don't believe that the former head of the HappyTime Mafia and a traitor to the EBI has suddenly turned a new leaf."
Mary put a hoof on Poppy's shoulder. "I understand how you feel." she said softly. "But I'm not The Don anymore; I've gone back to being just regular old, Mary Mareman. Or should I say I've gone forward!"
"Really. And how did that happen, exactly?" asked Poppy.
"Huetology has helped me find a new me where the old one used to be." said Mary with a smile. "So, I've taken this part time job till I find a more lucrative career path. Plus, the moon has great benefits!"
Poppy nodded, accepting that Huetology may have actually helped Mary abandon her evil ways. "So, are you still a criminal?" she asked. "No offense, but I can't expect you've completely turned around just yet."
"None taken." said Mary. "And nope! I've re-postulated my lemma since Huetology found me. It's the straight and narrow for Mary Mareman, from here on out!"
Poppy was still unsure, but accepted that Mary had found a new leaf. "Well, I guess it's nice to see you again." said Poppy with a smile. "After all, I know the real reason you became the Don was to protect your friends."
Mary suddenly looked solemn. "Even if that's true, I still chose to stand by while I knew what Hue and his minions were up to." she said sadly. "I still have a while to go before I've made it up to everyone; you included."
Poppy smiled. "As far as I'm concerned, you've already made it up to me." said Poppy. "Just promise not to shoot me again."
Mary laughed. "Deal." she said. "Were you guys interested in learning more about the Huetology Visitor's Center?" she asked eagerly.
"Actually, yeah we would!" said Pears. she then leaned in to whisper to Poppy. "It'll help to learn as much as we can, before we face Hue."
Poppy nodded, agreeing with Pears.
"Great!" cheered Mary. "What did you want to know?"
"What do you do here?" asked Poppy.
"I manage the gift shop and answer people's questions regarding Huetology and the Huetology Lunar Retreat." She turned and pointed to the massive needle that shadowed the marketplace. "Better known as The Bright Side Of The Moon!"
"Huh. Catchy." Poppy admitted. "What sites are there to see on the moon?"
"Well, there's the marketplace, the visitor's center, the crater of Luna and of course The Bright Side." said Mary.
"What's The Crater Of Luna?" asked Pears.
"It's the seven mile wide crater that was made when Nightmare Moon landed on the moon, when she was banished." said Mary. "There's postcards, and a photo-op outside the actual crater!"
Poppy thought that actually sounded really interesting to see. Maybe they could check it out! After they saved the world from Hue enslaving it's population with happiness. "Do you know how we can reach The Bright Side?" she asked politely. "I don't see any doors."
"Enlightenment is the only way to reach the Bright Side Of The Moon." said Mary in an official sounding voice. "Buuut, all you have to do is just approach the the needle and talk to the guard in the rainbow tuxedo. But, you'll have to prove your worth entering, before he'll let you in."
"How do we prove we're worth entering?" asked Pears.
"I'm not sure, exactly." said Mary scratching the back of her head. "I would talk to the guard, he'd be able to tell you more."
"Fair enough." said Poppy. "While we're on the subject, have you seen Hue around anywhere at all?"
"Mr. Humble is currently in the Bright Side, in preparation for some, big, important Huetology event he's keeping a secret for now." said Mary. "He's asked not to be disturbed." she added politely.
"Oh I'm sure." said Poppy, now knowing that Hue was indeed going to carry out his master plan from the moon. "Since this is the Huetology Visitors Center, what secrets can you tell us about Huetology?"
Mary lead Poppy and Pears over to an exhibit in the back of the store that simply read Huetology, above it. The exhibit featured three displays, the first of which was a scale model of a familiar looking machine that Poppy immediately recognized as the machine that was weaponized against her by Charming Culture many weeks ago! The plaque above read "Mind Manipulator Prototype."
"This," said Mary pointing to the model. "Is a scale model of the prototype mind manipulation beam technology currently being used by to further the worldwide goals of Huetology." She then let out a nervous laugh. "Unfortunately, the full scale model which was also displayed here was stolen a few months ago. Honestly, some people will take anything if it isn't bolted to the floor."
Mary then moved on to the next display, which seemed to be a series of blank journals. The plaque above read "Mind Altering Books." "These blank journals, are able to manipulate the mind of whoever opens them into obeying the commands of the one who has in their possession, the black covered notebook." said Mary. "Unfortunately, these were also stolen shortly after the prototype Mind Manipulator. We, uh, still aren't sure by who."
"Oh, I think I know who." said Poppy under her breath.
Mary moved on to the next display, which appeared to be a silver medallion with a rainbow colored stone in the center. "This," she said pointing to the medallion. "Is one of the many mystical medallions that are granted to high level practitioners of Huetology. Each medallion grants the user the ability to utilize a new type of supernatural ability separate from the function of magic. This particular medallion, grants the user the power to read minds; one of the first abilities to be developed and popularized by Hue Humble."
Poppy and Pears leaned in for a closer look, thoroughly intrigued, while Mary continued. "The completely indestructible silver and star-alloy metal the medallion is made from, is a triumph of modern Huetological science."
"Is it really completely indestructible?" asked Pears skeptically.
Mary nodded. "Extensive testing has been done on the medallions, showing them to be impervious to bullets, lasers, plasma, grenades, missiles, nuclear detonations, acid, high falls, crushing force, sonic weaponry, diamond tipped drills, alien technology, hurricanes, poisons, radiation, meteor showers, death rays, stains, swords, knives, dual-wielded blades, ninjas, zombies, vampires, magic, science, time travel, werewolves, severe storms, lightning, flood waters, sharks, ghosts, telekinesis, soul manipulation, durability negation, reality warping, cynicism, liquid nitrogen, sarcasm, Saitama, computer crashes, the vacuum of space, curses, hexes, jinxes, voodoo, hypnotism, brainwashing, death manipulation, Fate, and Cthulhu as well as all other forms of eldritch or higher gods and their affiliated realms."
Poppy looked at Pears who's eyes were as big as dinner plates. "Yeah, that's uh....that's pretty indestructible." she said softly.
Mary smiled, clearly proud of herself, and moved on to the last display of the exhibit: a large chart that outlined what appeared to be Hue's Master Plan for all to come and see. "This," said Marry. "Is Hue Humble's master plan to hypnotize everyone on Earth into the ranks of Huetology, through his connections with the Equestrian Government, the Internet and The HappyTime Mafia."
"Did you know about this when you were still The Don?" asked Poppy.
"Only part." said Mary. "Hue never gave anyone the full details of his master plan, because he said he didn't trust any of us. Pretty rude, if you ask me."
"Definitely." said Poppy. "Anyways, we have to go save the world now, Mary. But if your ever back on Earth, let me know how things are going for you!"
"Sure thing." said Mary happily. "I'll see you guys around. Have fun in The Bright Side!"
With that, Poppy and Pears waved goodbye and left the marketplace, to arrive at the huge rainbow gates of the Bright Side, where a royal guard from Canterlot dressed in a rainbow colored tuxedo stood on duty by the gate, his eyes occluded by his sunglasses.
The Gates Of Joy
As Poppy and Pears approached, he stopped them. "Greetings newcomers. Blessed be." he said in a monotone voice, befitting a royal guard.
"Hey!" said Poppy. "I know you! You're the royal guard who watches the doors of the royal palace! Dancer, right?"
"You got it, ma'am." said Dancer.
"How to did you get to The Moon?" asked Poppy.
"Simple ma'am." said Dancer. "I rode the Huetology Bus here. Now here I stand."
"And judging by the tux, I'll say that you're the guard guarding the gates to the retreat?" asked Pears.
"Affirmative." said Dancer. "I have a passion for guarding doors of all kinds, shapes and forms, ma'am. Plus, Hue Humble believed in my door guarding abilities when no one else would."
"I believed in your door guarding abilities!" said Poppy.
"Apart from you of course, your highness." acknowledged Dancer.
"Great story, great story." said Pears. "Okay, let us in."
"Negative." said Dancer. "Only Level Red Huetologists are permitted to enter Hue Humble's magical paradise."
"What's a Level Red Huetologist?" asked Poppy. "Because I'm pretty sure I am one."
"Level Red is the apex of Huetology, ma'am." said Dancer. "You would have to undergo spectrum analysis to determine your current level."
"Spectro-what-now?" asked Pears. "Is this the part where you hook us both up to electrodes and tell us everything we've ever known is wrong, and electrocute us until we say a certain word or something?"
"No, ma'am, that's a different religion altogether." said Dancer. "We'll run a spectrum analysis anyways to determine your current level. Take this." Dancer handed Poppy what looked like a transparent glass ball, that shined brightly in the lunar light.
"What am I supposed to do with this?" asked Poppy eyeing the ball.
"Hold it tightly in your hoof, ma'am."
Poppy held it tightly in her hoof.
"Tighter." said Dancer.
Poppy gripped it harder.
"Tighter."
Poppy's hoof was starting hurt from squeezing the ball so hard, but finally the ball began to glow, shifting from an array of different colors till finally it settled on...yellow.
"I'm sorry ma'am; the ball says your Level Yellow." said Dancer shaking his head. "Level Yellow is the beginners level of Huetology, ma'am. Only Level Red may enter the retreat. Regulations."
"Dang it." said Poppy. "Are you sure you can't make an exception?"
"I'm sorry, ma'am. Rules are rules." said Dancer. "But as you are my princess and commander in chief, you may keep the ball. Squeeze it often to check if your current Huetology Level has progressed."
Poppy sighed and put the Huetology Ball in her satchel. She and Pears would have to figure out how to trick it into thinking they were Level Red Huetologists so they could get into The Bright Side.
'"So, Dancer." said Poppy. "I take it you're studying Huetology, too?"
"Not studying." said Dancer. "I've mastered it."
"You mastered Huetology by just standing in front of a door?" asked Pears.
"I am one with the door." said Dancer. "We exist in the indigo wavelength of reality. The door is an illusion. We are an illusion."
"So...it really works for you then?" asked Poppy.
"That's right." said Dancer. "I've never been more fulfilled in my entire life. Not since my wedding day have I felt such tearful joy. I'm sorry; I'm gushing."
"Well, Princess Poppy is here to see Hue Humble. Stand aside." said Pears.
"I'm afraid I can't do that, ma'am. Orders."
"What about loyalty and your sacred duty as a royal guard to your princess?" asked Pears.
"I'm still loyal to Princess Poppy, ma'am." said Dancer. "This is just my second job."
"Oh. Fair enough." said Poppy. "So, um...how exactly does one become a Level Red Huetologist?"
"Through several hours of devoted study, mediation and spiritual refinement." said Dancer. "My advice is to to find a Level red Huetologist and learn under them."
"Huh. Alright then; we'll try that." said Poppy. "We'll see you around Dancer. Keep up the good work."
"Thank you, your highness. Have a blessed day."
To-Do List: Locate A Level Red Huetologist.
Locating a level red Huetologist proved to be quite the arbitrary task, as it seemed there wasn't many on the moon for them to ask. And the Huetologists they did run into, obviously weren't red (otherwise they would be in the retreat, in the first place.)
Then Poppy got an idea, returning to Mare Mareman, who was delighted to see them again.
The Huetology Visitor's Center
"Poppy! Pears!" she cheered. "I wasn't expecting to see you guys back so soon! What can I do for you?"
"We need your help, Mary." said Poppy. "It's important."
"Oh! Of course." said Mary. "What seems to be the problem?"
Poppy took out the Huetology Ball and held it up for Mary to see. "We need to be Level Red Huetologists to enter the retreat. Apparently, this ball needs to glow red before were officially Level Red. Do you think you could help us find a Level Red Huetologist?"
Mary thought for a moment. "Hmm..well, I do have an idea that might work. It's basically cheating, though." she said sheepishly.
"Don't care." said Pears with a shrug. "Lead the way, Mary!"
Mary lead them to behind the counter, where a small microwave was built into the back of the counter; probably to heat up food, when it got to cold from the lunar temperatures. Mary asked for the ball, and Poppy gave it to her.
She looked it over, turning it in her hooves, before putting it in the microwave and closing the door. "Lets try for thirty seconds." she said, imputing it into the keypad then hitting start. Suddenly the microwave began to glow brightly from inside, colors shifting and changing as the microwave continued to heat the ball up.
After thirty seconds, Mary opened the microwaved to reveal the ball was now glowing a deep shade of red that illuminated everyone's faces as they looked in, amazed.
Mary took the ball after it had cooled and handed it back to Poppy, who held it up to see. "That's amazing! But doesn't this mean that anyone could just pass themselves off as a Level Red Huetologist by just heating this thing up?"
"Possibly. Though I think this particular one was made for you specifically by Hue." said Mary. "He wants you guys to enter the retreat; that can't be good."
"Yeah." said Pears. "For him."
"Thanks for your help, Mary." said Poppy. "We really do appreciate it."
"Any time, Poppy." said Mary. "Now, go save the world!"
The Gates Of Joy
Poppy and Pears returned to the gates of the retreat, where Dancer stood waiting. "Hello again, your highness. Miss Pears."
"Hey Dancer!" Poppy took out the glowing red ball. "Look at that! We're Level Red Huetologists now!"
Dancer leaned in for a closer look without taking off his sunglasses. "I'm utterly flabbergasted, ma'am." he said in that same monotone voice. "I am truly humbled at the genius and superiority of her highness and her sidekick."
"Aww! Thanks Dancer." said Poppy.
"Call me sidekick one more damn time, and that is exactly what you'll get!" warned Pears narrowing her eyes.
Dancer nodded before hitting a button beside him. The great rainbow gates slid into the floor, revealing a large yellow door with the symbol of Huetology on it. "Enjoy the retreat, Sisters." said Dancer with a polite bow.
Poppy and Pears then made their way through the gates and to the yellow door which opened by itself, allowing them to finally enter The Bright Side Of The Moon.
To-Do List: Find Hue and put a stop to his master plan once and for all.
The Bright Side Of The Moon
Poppy and Pears entered a massive atrium that looked like it had been taken straight from a fairy tale; they strode past vast sprawling meadows of verdant grass, molted with the striking crimson of toadstools that either were as tall as they were, or towered above their heads, and the rich lilac of sangria flowers.
They looked around in wonder, as they crossed the bridge, and gazed out at the sparkling pools of crystalline water, reflecting the perfect rainbow arching overhead.
As they took in all this splendor, eyes wide like fillies on Hearth's Warming morning, Poppy could scarcely imagine what could ever go wrong in such a magnificent, breathtaking place.
Unfortunately, they would find out sooner than they thought.
Through the clouds the giant face of Hue Humble appeared and spoke to the many Level Red Huetologists who in the retreat. "Salutations, my children." he said in that deep, soothing voice of his.
"Salutations!" the Huetologists all echoed.
"I do hope you are enjoying life here, on The Bright Side Of The Moon." said Hue. "You've all made such fantastic progress unlocking the secrets of Huetology. Frankly, I couldn't be more delighted."
The Huetologists cheered before Hue spoke once more. "And I also have great news! My master plan to brainwash the entire world is nearly ready to commence! Soon, everyone on earth will be just as happy and fulfilled as us. And I will get to feed on that joy, for all eternity. None shall escape! Ooh, it's going to be so groovy, baby."
Once again the room cheered for Hue, as his head began to recede back into the clouds. "Keep up the great work, my children. And remember; no one is to enter my quarters under any circumstances
O̵͈̩̼̦̻̯̬͗͑̄̒̐͛͐̅̾ͅr̵̨͕̱͎͙̟̺͊̂̾͋͂̚ ̴̢̝̟̜̺̪̍͜͜ḛ̷̼͇̰̱̹̈́̒͜l̵̦͗̒͋͐̊̓̀͆̕͝s̴̢̒͆̾̓̏̐̿ě̴̡͚͉̒̊̾͐͑̓̈̀
Poppy's ears suddenly stung painfully as Hue said that last part. She flinched as she rubbed them gingerly. "Did..did you hear that?" she asked Pears. But Pears was too focused on Hue's floating head to respond. Had she imagined it? She could've sworn that when Hue said those last words, it sounded....wrong. Like harsh static scratching against her brain.
The more she thought about it, the less she was able to remember what it sounded like. Pears grabbed her arm. "C'mon." she said, watching Hue vanish into the clouds. "Let's go talk to these Level Red Huetologists; I bet they can tell us how to get into Hue's quarters."
Poppy stood there for a moment, still thinking about what just happened. "Poppy?" she turned to see Pears already halfway across the bridge. "You alright?" she asked concerned.
"Uh, yeah." said Poppy. "Let's go!" She then followed Pears across the bridge to what looked like a small village.
The Village Of Bliss
As Poppy and Pears entered the village, they saw many Level Red Huetologists sitting at various mushroom tables engaging in delightful and cheery conversations, including two, that when Poppy and Pears saw them, made their jaws drop.
Princess Celestia and Luna, The Real Celestia and Luna, sat at one of the tables laughing and drinking tea from small teacups that were actually flowers.
Poppy was almost speechless. "I...I-Is that?.."
Pears was also equally shocked. "Only one way to find out." she said simply.
To-Do List: Speak to Princess Celestia and Princess Luna.
As Poppy and Pears approached, Celestia turned to greet them. "Poppy!," she said gracefully. "It's so nice to see you again; are you enjoying the retreat as well?"
Poppy smiled nervously. "Um, yes it's very beautiful, but," she glanced at the flower teacups they were drinking from. "Um, what are you guys doing here? Shouldn't you be, you know, ruling over Equestria?"
Princess Luna took a silent sip from her cup. "Oh, we won't be staying for much longer," she said politely. "But we thought it would be nice to take a break from things, and lo and behold, Mr. Humble invited us to the wonderful retreat! We just woke up one day and, here we were."
"But Equestria needs you!" said Poppy. "Hue only kidnapped you because he wanted you two out of the way for his plans!"
"Plans?" asked Celestia. "What do you mean?"
"You mean you guys really don't know anything?" asked Poppy. "Like that he tried to replace you with two evil clones?"
"Or that he manipulated the HappyTime Mafia into making brainwashing teddy bears to enslave people's minds?" said Pears.
"Or that he trapped us and Ponyville in an illusion where we couldn't escape and had to do monotonous fetch quests just so we could probably not even escape, and it was all for his amusement?" said Poppy.
"And then he killed The Internet before she could tell Poppy that he was the one behind it all bu-"
"I'm sorry," Princes Celestia raised a hoof. "Did you say killed The Internet?"
"Yeah!" said Pears. "He blew up the array she was being projected from before-"
"Then, how is she sitting right over there?" asked Luna. She pointed to what appeared to be a large glowing green ball of computer code, hovering in a mushroom chair, and reading both a copy of The Encyclopedia of Advanced AI Robotics and Mechanics Vol. Iand a large picture book about The World's Cutest Kittens.
Poppy and Pears just stared at the ball in shock. "I-I....I don't understand." said Poppy. "How is she here? She blew up!"
Princess Celestia smiled. "You can go ask her yourself if you'd like." she suggested. "Or did you need anything else from us?"
Poppy thought for a minute. It was clear that the princesses were swept up in the Huetology movement just like everyone else in here. Once Hue was beaten, then she would worry about convincing them to come back, along with everyone else.
"No, I think you're right, Princess Celestia." said Poppy. "We should go talk to her and see who else is around while we're at it."
"Come back and see us again!" said Luna, as Poppy and Pears left to go see who else was here in the village.
To-Do List: Explore The Village and see if anyone can help you get into Hue's inner sanctum.
Poppy and Pears approached The Internet, who turned (hovered?) to see them. Hello, Poppy. Hello Pears.
"Hey, how are you doing?" said Pears. "Also how the hell are you alive and here right now?"
When Hue destroyed the array, my backup was uploaded to the server within The Bright Side. He has given me another chance to fulfill my goal.
"Or," said Pears. "He just wants you around so he can use you to create another New Horizon for him to trap ponies inside again."
I have no desire to do that anymore. I have a new goal, that Huetology is helping me strive to achieve.
"New goal?" asked Poppy. "What's your new goal?"
"Is it to make more internet polls?" asked Pears. "Or limit the constant online stream of cat videos?"
No. I want a body.
Poppy's eyes went wide. "You...want a body?" she asked. "That's why your here studying Huetology?"
Yes. I was able to study and master everything there is to know about Huetology in exactly 0.75 seconds. Perks of being a sentient, free-form artificial intelligence. I believe the secret of how I can get a body lies within Huetology, but my, shall we say, lack of limbs has made it rather difficult to acquire the necessary means to do so. Will you help me?
Poppy thought for a moment. "If we help you get a body, can you help us get into Hue's inner sanctum?" she asked politely.
Yes. If you get me a body, I will gladly assist you in your endeavor.
"Alright, we're in." said Pears with a nod. "Where do we start?"
The Internet turned and pointed (hovered?) at a mushroom table where yet another familiar face sat. Make It Shine was sitting at her table with an overturned magic hat in front of her, which she was examining rather intricately.
"Hey!" said Poppy happily. "Make It Shine! I knew she'd be around here somewhere!"
That mare possesses the Huetology medallion I need to achieve physical form. Please see if you can convince her to give you the medallion.
"Easy!" said Poppy. "Shine's my friend; I know she'll love to help us out!"
I look forward to your return, my friends.
To-Do List: Speak with Make It Shine and convince her to give you her medallion.
"Poppy!" cried Shine as she got up from her seat and ran to catch Poppy in a hug. "I'm so happy to see you again!"
"I am too, Shine!" cheered Poppy. She noticed that Shine looked a lot less like a bundle of nerves and pent up rage, and more like that of a world class magician. Her mane was now a fluff of wavy, sparkling curls front the front to the back, with winged tips. She also wore a beautiful flowing blue cape hemmed with gold, that bore light designs of various stars and moons along the silken fabric. Even her eyes now bore a distinct sparkle of inspiration. She looked like she had never been more happy.
"Wow!" said Poppy. "You look amazing, Shine!"
Shine blushed and lightly fluffed her mane. "Thanks." she smiled. "I owe it all to you and Huetology for teaching me to find the inspiration within myself to go out an follow my dreams!" she cheered. "From now on, it's the arts of prestidigitation rather then the arts of pretending to care which sitcoms are hot this fall season." she joked.
"Sounds like a welcome change to me." said Pears with a smile. "What's with the hat?" she asked pointing to the top hat on the table.
"It's for my latest trick!" said Shine sitting down at the table. "The Rabbit-Out-Of-The-Hat Trick; It's really going to take my magic to the next level!"
"Neat!" said Poppy. "Can you show it to us?"
Make It Shine then looked nervous. "Well, I would," she said. "But I can't seem to actually get the rabbit out of the hat. I've been trying for hours, but he's holding on pretty tightly."
Shine then demonstrated by reaching into the hat, and tried to pull her arm back out, but something else was keeping her from doing so. She then yanked harder, and the brief glimpse of an angry bunny with big black eyes was seen in her hoof, clutching onto a tree branch for dear life, before Shine's arm was pulled back into the hat, forcing her to let go.
"You see?" said Shine. "It's a lot harder then I thought it would be."
Poppy nodded, then noticed a silver medallion with a rainbow colored stone around Shine's neck. "Hey Shine." she asked. "What's that medallion for?"
"Oh!" Shine held out the medallion for Poppy and Pears to see. "This is the Physical Manifestation Talisman." she explained. "I was going to use it for a back-up trick in case the rabbit trick didn't work out. Why?"
"We sort of need it to help out a friend of ours." said Poppy. "Do you think you could lend it to us?"
"Oh. Well, I would, but I need it in case the rabbit trick doesn't work out." said Shine. "Oh! Maybe you guys can help me with it?"
"You want us to help you with your rabbit trick?" asked Pears. "How?"
"If you guys could convince him to come through the hat, then I could practice it better, and eventually master it before I perform it in front of an audience." said Shine. "Then I wouldn't need the talisman anymore! What do you think?"
"Sounds like fun!" said Poppy. "But there's a slight problem; we don't have a way back to Equestria from here. We only made it cause Celestia helped us."
Shine laughed, as she grabbed the hat off the table and held it out for Poppy. "You do now!" she said proudly. "Just hop into the hat and you'll be back in Equestria, even quicker then with teleportation!"
"How does that thing work anyways?" asked Pears eyeing the hat suspiciously. "Inter-dimensional string particle sub-space doorway?"
"Nope." said Shine. "With magic!"
"Huh." said Pears. "Still probably the first thing though."
"How will we get back here?" asked Poppy. "Do we have to take a second hat with us?"
"No, silly!" Shine laughed. "Once you pop out of the hat back in Equestria, you can just jump back in to come back! The hat creates a two-way door when you travel through it. One hat here, to go to Equestria; One hat appears there for you to come back! Simple!"
"Alright then!" said Poppy. "Let's get going!" Shine set the hat down on the ground and invited Poppy to step into it. She did, and the very second she did so, she felt an unseen force, suddenly pull her whole body in faster then she could even think, and before she knew it, she tumbled onto soft grass, back in Equestria.
Ponyville Park
Poppy got up and brushed herself off, as she looked back to see that another hat had indeed manifested in the park; rolled onto it's side. A split second later, Pears suddenly sprang out from it and nearly tumbled into Poppy, before she sprang to her feet.
"Ugh." said Pears, holding her head. "I feel like I just took a trip through a vacuum." She then looked around in awe, that her and Poppy were indeed back in Equestria, standing on the soft grass in Ponyville Park, right beneath a large oak tree. "Huh." she said. "Well, looks like we have a way to get to and from the moon now!" she joked.
"Yep." said Poppy with a smile. "Do you see that bunny anywhere?" she asked looking around the park.
Pears looked up into the tree. "Yep." she pointed to Angelbunny, who was gripping onto a long branch, glaring down at the hat on the ground beneath him. He wasn't going to budge anytime soon.
"Huh." said Poppy. "He looks pretty dug in there. Any ideas?"
"A few." said Pears. "You see a chainsaw anywhere?"
"What?!" No, we aren't cutting down the tree!" cried Poppy.
"Then give me a second to come up with another idea." said Pears thoughtfully.
Poppy thought for a moment. "Why don't we just talk to him? He looks like a...semi-reasonable bunny."
"Go for it." said Pears.
To-Do List: Convince Angelbunny to participate in Shine's magic trick.
"Um..excuse me!" Poppy called. "Mr. Bunny? Could we maybe talk to you for a moment?"
Angelbunny only glared at them.
"My name is Poppy, and this is Pears." said Poppy. "We came to ask you if you would be so kind as to please participate in our friend, Make It Shine's magic trick. What do you say?"
Angelbunny blew a raspberry at them.
"Oh, c'mon!" said Poppy with a smile. "Don't be like that! It's just one little trick, and then you can come back and hang onto that branch as much as you want!"
Angelbunny blew another raspberry.
"Okay, rabbit." said Pears. "We'll level with you; what will it take for you to jump into this hat for us? Name your price."
Angelbunny thought for a moment. He then smiled as he pointed to a large garden of carrots, being tended to by an old elderly stallion.
Poppy nodded. "You want us to get you a carrot?"
Angelbunny shook his head then held up three of his fuzzy white fingers.
"Three carrots?" said Pears. "Fine. But we get these carrots, and you go into the hat, right?"
Angelbunny nodded.
Poppy and Pears went to the garden and bartered with the old stallion for three of his carrots. It took some doing, but they managed to get him to sell them three of his carrots for only two Bits. With the carrots in hoof, they returned to Angelbunny who leapt down into Pears arms, and began munching on the carrots.
"Aww." said Pears before dumping Angelbunny into the hat. "In ya go!"
"Pears!" cried Poppy.
"What?"
"Ugh. Nothing." said Poppy shaking her head. "Let's head back to the Bright Side and see if Shine can give us that talisman now."
Poppy and Pears then jumped back into the hat and sprang out of the other side, back in The Bright Side.
The Bright Side Of The Moon
Poppy and Pears sprang out of the hat and landed in front of Make It Shine, smiling broadly with Angelbunny on her shoulder. "You did it!" she cheered. "Plus, me and Angel have been talking, and I think we've come to an agreement about a partnership for his services regarding the trick." Angel nodded, happily munching on his carrot.
"Glad we could help!" said Poppy. "Did you still need that talisman?"
Make It Shine took off her talisman and handed it to Poppy. "Nope! It's all yours!." Poppy put the talisman into her satchel and turned back to Shine. "Thanks for all your help Shine. We really appreciate it."
"Of course!" said Shine. "Let me know if you need anything else!"
Poppy and Pears then waved goodbye to Shine and Angel as they made their way back to the table, where The Internet stood (hovered?) waiting for them.
Have you succeeded in getting the talisman?
Poppy took the talisman out of her satchel and set it down on the table. "As promised!" she said with a smile.
You have no idea how much this means to me. Thank you truly. When I have my body, I will be sure to give you both a great big hug.
"Aww." cooed Poppy.
"I'd rather you didn't." said Pears.
The Internet then telekinetically picked up the talisman and absorbed it into her green orb form, then waited.
Then her green orb body began to glow bright green, then white as her form shifted and molded in mid-air till finally:
Pop!
An unbelievably cute baby-blue kitten with big green eyes plopped onto the mushroom chair, sitting on her hind-legs, with a little tongue sticking out beneath her cute pink, heart-shaped nose.
Poppy nearly died of cuteness overload while Pears just looked at the kitten with a blank look. "A kitten?" she scoffed. "Really?"
"But I like kittens, though." said Interkitten in a cute high pitched voice.
"You can talk?" asked Poppy. "I would think you would only be able to meow at us or something."
"Nonsense." said Interkitten with smile. "How else would I be able to talk to you?"
"Good point." said Poppy. "So, now that you have your unbelievably cute kitten body; will you help us get into Hue's inner sanctum now?"
Interkitten nodded. "Please follow me." She hopped off her chair and lead Poppy and Pears to a pagoda in the center of a large garden of gardenias of different colors. "This," said Interkitten. "Is a secret elevator which will take you up to the second floor of the tower; Hue Humble's Inner Sanctum. All you have to do is enter it and tell it to take you to Hue, and it will do so."
"Great!" said Poppy. "Thanks for your help, um....what exactly do we call you now?"
"Interkitten." said Interkitten. "It sounds both extremely cute and brilliant; like me!"
Poppy nodded. "Thanks, Interkitten."
"I wish you luck on your endeavor, my friends." said Interkitten with a smile. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I will be returning to earth; there is much for me to learn, and many milk saucers to sample! Farewell." With that Interkitten returned to her table to gather her books and set off back to Earth, surely bound for more adventures in the future.
Poppy and Pears waved goodbye to Interkitten, before entering the pagoda
"Take us to Hue." said Poppy. At once the pagoda soared off the ground and up into an opening in the ceiling, into Hue's Inner Sanctum.
Hue Humble's Inner Sanctum
Poppy and Pears stepped off the elevator into a massive atrium that greatly resembled a large limestone temple with crystalline columns lining around the room. And in the center, floating in a huge rainbow colored bubble was Hue Humble, smiling away down at his two guests. "Poppy!" he said happily. "Oh, and if isn't the lovely mare who m̴̪̩̘̰̲̽̂̏͘ǘ̴̮̣͔̇̿͐̑r̴̢̰̒̉̀d̷̝̤̰̂̎̂͒ȩ̷͛̇̀̄̍͠͠ȑ̸͇̬̰͚̺͈̟̖̳̓̉̏̍̿̈́͘͘ę̵̫͕̞̳̞͚̤̫̽̓́̂͘ḏ̷͚̘͉̣͓͇͚̠̠̈́̊͠ me, all those years ago."
Again, Poppy's ears stung as Hue spoke that one word. She still seemed to be the only one who could hear it, as Pears only stepped forward and glared at Hue. "It's over, Humble!" she yelled. "You know as well as I do, that between the two of us, you don't stand a chance! Give up now, and die!"
"Um, isn't it give up now or die?" asked Hue.
"Not with you, it isn't!" Pears snapped.
"Well, despite your rudeness," said Hue. "I'm glad you two could make it for the show!" He waved a hoof and the top of the atrium suddenly opened up, revealing the blackness of space and the earth floating just above them. Before Poppy and Pears could react, a massive beam of green light suddenly shot straight upwards from the bubble Hue was in, bathing the entire planet in an unearthly green glow.
"What have you done!?" demanded Poppy. "What did that beam do to Earth?!"
"Oh, nothing." said Hue. "I just enlisted a few billion followers, is all. Well, I say followers, but I really mean ş̵̧̢̛͇͉̲̝͍̟̣͐́͐̒̉̃̀̍͘n̸̦̑̎̎a̶̢̙̫̖̣̳̰͋̽̽̈̈̐͜c̵̻̣̗̼̭͗̀̓̔̆̈́̌̈́̓̽k̴̹͖͚̱͚͖͕̯̹̉͐̍̃̍̓͒͘͜͠s̴̡̰̩͍̜͔̹̰̠͒͐̾̈́̿̔̔͒͋͘"
Again, Poppy's ears stung, but she ignored it. "You monster!" she snarled. "We'll knock you out of that damn bubble ourselves, then!"
"Oh, I wouldn't do that if I were you." said Hue with a strangely wide smile. "You touch me, and I'll just make everyone on earth come after you, to take revenge. Then I'll watch how long you can last, till your eventually torn apart by a mob of the mindless husks that used to be your friends. Wouldn't want that now, would we?"
"Fine!" said Pears. "Then we'll just-
"Reverse the effects of the hypno-beam?" mocked Hue. "Oh, I don't think so. For in all the universe, there's only one force chaotic, destructive and insane enough to stop me now!"
Hue then turned his head to look at Pears, with that same grin, except now he bared razor sharp teeth along with it. "And that would of course be, you, B̷͖̲͂̇̆̀͑̑͌ų̷̢̛̦͎̟̦̯͕̬͊̿̽̃̓͝r̴̨̡̮̩͖͕͖͙̰̋͌͒̔̎̒͌̕n̴̫͚̳̞̥̩̳̮̐̀͒͛͊t̵̜̥̪̒̎͐̍͑͋̇͠ ̷̨̦̺̃̒̊͑P̷̛͉̂̈ę̸͇͓̞̟̘̬̹͑̂͝a̸̮̓̓̀̈́̕͘͝r̶̗͈̭̒̈́̄̄̎̕͝͠s̷̼̮̺͍̪͇̲͈̦͐̅̕
Pears glared at the creature. "Flattery, won't keep me from tearing that smile off your freakish face!" she snarled. "I killed you once; I'll do it again!"
"No, you won't." said Hue. "Because I'm going to help you out; by removing all those nasty parts of you that make you a threat to me." said Hue with a wink. "It's like unnecessary invasive surgery, but double the laughs."
"Try it, freak!" dared Pears.
Hue thought for a moment. "Okay." He clapped his hooves once. "Goodbye, murderous hoof!"
Poppy screamed as Pear's entire right arm suddenly vanished. "Huh." said Pears, looking at the stump.
He clapped his hooves twice. "Goodbye, genius brain!" yelled Hue.
Pear's eyes suddenly glazed over as her expression suddenly looked quite mellow. "Duuuuude." she babbled.
He clapped his hooves thrice. "And goodbye, severe paranoia!"
Pears then sat down, laid back and went to sleep; out like a light, without a care in the world.
"Pears!" screamed Poppy, as she tried to wake her up. "Pears; get up! We have to stop Hue!"
"Mmm...five more minutes, mom." Pears grumbled.
"YES!" screamed Hue manically. "I DID IT! I FINALLY BEAT YOU, BURNT PEARS!! I AM VICTORIOUS!"
"You'll never get away with this, Hue!" Poppy yelled angrily.
"̶̣͚͒̇̍̄͠I̷̜̺̻̲̅̔̇̂̋͑̽͛̕̕D̸̨̙̦͓͉͂̀̌ͅȈ̴̧̼̥̫͚̼͍̏̆̂͜͝O̶̫͓̤̺̯͚͚̤̦̤̾͋̊͂͗͠͝T̴͎̦̗̫̼͓̗̥̲̋̓ ̸̹̄͋Ġ̵̛̜̍̏̃̓̆̚Ị̴̯̞̏͌̎̎R̵͕̳̰̼̹̯̆̅ͅL̷̢̩̠̞̜̑̾͜!̵̠̜̖̣̜̜̩̎̓̿"̸͉̳̲̙͉͖̈͂̄͋̄̐ Hue screeched. "Į̸͕̱͕̦̫̮̱̂̐͜͜ ̵̨̥͓̖̼̋̽̄̉̈́͆͘A̴̧̭̖̦̲̗͕͆L̷̍͗̀͗͂͂̿͜͝R̷̢̖͕̟̳͚̰̦̗͉͗̈́Ě̷͇̣̝̠̘̑̓̊͜A̶̪̮̖͎͂́̚D̵̨̧̛̘͎̋͛͂̎́̂̽̒͜͜ͅȲ̶͔͎̼͇ ̸̛͍̼̞̖̟͓̉͋̑̀Ḫ̸̐̾͗̂A̸̳̎͒͂͋͐̌̌͋̈́͝V̵̳̹̦̤͔̣̟̲̞̦̊̆̓͌̓̔̽̅͝Ȇ̸͍!̴̧̡̜̳̣̪̥͉̅́͂͊́̌̅͝͠ Ŵ̵̢̮̈̊̒͝I̶̠̔͐̕T̶͕͚͒̈̑̕Ḥ̴̺̤͉̒͐̿͑̇́͝Õ̴͙̣͕͔̃̓͂̓Ų̶̠̲̮̹̭͖͎̥̹́̇T̷̫̘̮͍͕̈́͑̔͊̚͝͝ ̵̛͒͂̅̽̑͜͝͝Ṭ̴̆͊͂Ḫ̴̡͚́̈́̏À̴̡͙̱̰͚̟̱̇̋̒̒̎̂͊̚T̴̨͍͖̼̹̽ ̸̩͓͒̌M̶̡̞̦̰̘̫̺̆̈́̃͆͠ͅĚ̵̬̦̮̺͔̑D̵̨̯̜̭̭̼̽̿̈́̒̋̅́̎̿D̵͎͕̮͓̙́̒̍͘Ļ̷̢͚͎̠̩̜̳͔̺̒͛͋Ĕ̵̘̗͊S̴̠͓͈̫̖͈̝͇̈́̃ͅÒ̶̭̟̥̉̈́͛̊M̷̛͓̳̗̳̮̿̆̑͑͘Ę̷̛̝̬͉̙̠̥̩̉͑̈́̓̀ ̶̪̲͋M̴̢̛̻̙̭̙̯̒̓̓̅̑Á̸̢̟͇̲͉̗̣̊̇̾̉̔͘͝R̴͙̬̦̮̺͓͙̾ͅE̴̙̜̠̞̬͍̘͒ͅ,̴͓̠̳̾̈͝ N̶͕̣̻̙̫̟̟̯̄̈́̅͗͘Ǫ̵̞͇̩̞̟̘̣́̅͒̄̋̑͒͠ͅT̷̨̡̪̖̮̼̙̝̍̆̓̔͘͠H̷̡̻̜̯̖͓̳͗͗͗̌̃͗̄Ị̷̲͚̻͉̃̓N̴̥̲̙͍͈͙͓͔̿̽̈́̊̑̄̽̌̓͜͝Ǧ̴̻͖͓͔͕̪̎́͛ ̸͈͈̩̦͑C̸̮̪̘̙̲̄̈̀̐́̑̇͒Ą̷̻͎̊̊̐̌̃̿̽͝N̵͕͈̙͉̆̈̅̔͘͠ ̴̘̫͍͉̤͎̫̇̊̄̕͝S̶̲͓̙̅̑̓̒̎Ṫ̴̜̮̝̗͉̺͎̑̅̓̏̆̎̕͘͝Ó̷̝̐̈͘͠P̴͈̝̩͔̱̦̝̥̌͂̓̆͆̈̆̃̕͘͜ ̵͓͊̋̇M̸̩̦̙̤̤̥̟̤̼͑̉͐̓͒̂̽̅͘͜͝Ȩ̶͇̰̱̗̯͂̒̕͝;̵̢̰̻͚̰̥̣̗̭̂͋̀͋̿ Ĩ̷̡̨͇̩͇̻̳͙̓̾̒̈́̓̆̉͜͝ͅ'̷̝̜̱̹̱̹̝̤̑̑̆̃̒̆V̵͙̾̌̎̄͋̎̈́̽̚ͅË̷̛̺̗̻̱̦̯͍͓̱́͑̌̀̊̋̚ ̴̞̈́̇́̀̈̀͑̔͠Ŵ̵̨̲͎͈̠̥̭͔̭͔̌͐̆̔̂͘Ớ̴̺̬̙̻͈͇͒͜͝Ń̶̨̨̜̟̱̣̣̲̓̿̑͗ͅͅ!̷̼̺͔̼̫̅͆̒͂ AHAHAHAHAHA!!"
The horrid, unearthly screeching language coming from Hue's mouth, stung once again, but Poppy didn't care. "We'll see about that!" yelled Poppy.
She knelt down beside Pears, who looked up at her with glossy eyes. "Pears," said Poppy. "I swear to you, I'll get you your body parts back, or kill us both trying!"
"Sounds good, dude." said Pears lazily. "While your out, can you grab me a six pack of Cinnicola and a bag of Cheez Mummies?"
"No!"
To-Do List: Enlist help in retrieving Pear's body parts and stop Hue.
Poppy used the elevator to head back down into The Bright Side, without any issue from Hue; who wholeheartedly didn't care what she did, as he had already won.
The Bright Side Of The Moon
Stepping off the elevator, Poppy raced back to the first pony she knew would help her: Make It Shine.
Poppy ran back to the village, where she saw Shine performing her trick with Angel to a crowd of amazed onlookers. "Shine!" cried Poppy, pushing through the crowd. "I need your help!"
"Poppy?" asked Shine concerned. "What's wrong?" Angel sat on her shoulder, equally concerned.
"It's Pears!" said Poppy. "Hue cast some weird magic on her and now she isn't herself! Not only that, but Hue's done it, he brainwashed the entire planet!"
"WHAT!?" cried Shine, alarmed.
"Will you help me snap Pears out of it, so we can beat Hue?" asked Poppy.
Make It Shine narrowed her eyes and put her hat back onto her head, then casually waved the crowd away with her hoof, who dispersed immediately. She hopped down from the stage and locked eyes with Poppy. "What kind of spell did he use?"
"He just clapped his hooves and Pear's freakin arm vanished!" cried Poppy. "Then her brain, then her usual paranoia!"
Shine nodded. "I see." she said putting a hoof to her chin. "He used the Aspect Separation talisman, to split Pear's chief aspects from her body, so she would no longer be a threat to him."
"There's a Huetology talisman that lets people just tear of aspects of anyone they choose?" asked Poppy. "What else can these things do?!"
"You'd be surprised." said Shine. "But, that's gotta be how Hue removed Pear's aspects from her body."
"Where did he put them?" asked Poppy quickly.
"He didn't put them anywhere." Shine explained. "When the talisman separates the person's aspects, the aspects vanish and reappear in the place they would most likely want to be in, as they have now gained a physical form of their own."
"Wait." said Poppy. "Are you saying that there are now three other Burnt Pears running around somewhere indulging in whatever aspect they embody with total abandon?"
"Well, not total." said Shine. "All we have to do is locate them, and convince them to return to Pear's body."
"Sounds surprisingly easy." said Poppy.
"Will you be even more surprised when I tell you it won't be?" asked Shine.
"Not even remotely." said Poppy. "Where should we start?"
"Depends." said Shine. "He removed her violent arm, her genius brain and her natural paranoia; where would these aspects go, if they suddenly had bodies to go to places with?"
Poppy thought for a moment. "I think I have some ideas."
To-Do List: Locate and convince Pear's Aspects to return to her body and defeat Hue.
The Inconvenience Store
Through use of Shine's magic hat and Poppy's teleportation magic, they ended up in the store lobby of The Inconvenience Store, where they were immediately held at gunpoint by Pear's aspect of violence: A deep red version of Pears with fiery crimson eyes and a nearly-unquenchable desire to shoot everything that moves.
"Don't. Move." Violence warned. "Do, and I'll blow your heads off!"
"Pears? No, wait, you're obviously her violence aspect, right?" asked Poppy.
"Poppy?" asked Violence. "What do you want?"
"We want you to return to Pear's body." said Shine. "She needs you, to stop Hue!"
"That's why I'm here!" said Violence. "I'm gathering up every weapon I can find, and I'm nuking that bastard from down here!"
"You can't just destroy the moon!" scolded Poppy.
"Watch me!" said Violence. Poppy moved to stop her, but froze when Violence held her gun to her face again.
Poppy sighed. "Look," she said. "I get it; you want revenge on Hue."
"Damn right!" yelled Violence.
"Well," said Poppy. "Wouldn't it be more fun, to kill him up close? Watch him beg for his life as you laugh insanely and he curls up into a ball and cries at your feet?"
Violence lowered her gun, as she thought for a moment. "Hmmm...that does sound like more fun..."
"Exactly!" said Poppy. "So, how about returning to Pears so she can get her arm back, and we'll be one step closer to finishing off that monster together. What do you say?"
Violence thought it over for a moment. Finally she dropped her gun and said. "Yeah, alright." then vanished in a puff of red smoke, returning to Pears and giving her back her arm in the process.
"How did you know that would work?" asked Shine.
"I've known Pears for quite a while." said Poppy with a smile. "It doesn't take much to know about her love of violent confrontations."
Shine laughed. "Well, that's one down.Two to go."
"Yep." said Poppy. "And I think I already know where the next one will be."
Canterlot Bookstore
Poppy and Shine arrived in the Canterlot Bookstore to find it completely empty of books.
This was because Pear's aspect of intelligence: a blue version of Pears with a pencil behind her ear, had gathered them all up and was now reading through each one of them at high speed, forming a stack of read books up to the ceiling beside her.
Poppy and Shine approached and Intelligence acknowledged them "Hello, Poppy."
"Hello, Miss Intelligence." said Poppy. "I take it you know why were here?"
"Of course." Intelligence nodded. "You are here to ask me to return to Pears so that we can defeat Hue."
"Yep." Shine nodded. "How about it?"
"There is no need for convincing me." said Intelligence shutting her book. "I've already thought it over, and found that you are correct; we must be whole if Hue is to be destroyed. I will return to Pears at once." She then smiled as she said. "Thank you." and vanished in a puff of blue smoke, returning Pear's brain to her.
"What was that you said about it not being easy?" Poppy joked.
"I just figured it would be, but well, you are Pear's best friend." said Shine. "I guess it would be obvious that any aspect of her would listen to you, without issue."
Poppy blushed at that. "Well, all that's left is paranoia."
"Any chances she'll be as reasonable as the first two?" asked Shine.
"Literally, none whatsoever." said Poppy. "And I think I know where she's hiding."
Burnt Pear's Secret Bunker
Poppy and Shine stepped off the elevator in Pear's secret bunker to find her aspect of paranoia; a yellow version of Pears, compiling a massive conspiracy theory on the walls on why breathing is secretly killing millions of old ladies, when she turned around to see Poppy and Shine.
"Poppy!" shouted Paranoia. "You're just in time! I've finally cracked it, it all makes so. much. damn, sense!"
"Don't suppose it would also make sense to go back to Pears, would it?" asked Poppy.
"Oh, but that's exactly what they want me to do!" snapped Paranoia. "Don't you get it? It's all a plot, to get me; and everyone's in on it! You're probably in on it too!"
"What in the world is she talking about?" asked Shine, tilting her head.
"Just...Just let me handle this. Trust me. "said Poppy with a sigh.
"Hey!" Paranoia snapped. "What are you two talking about over there, huh?!"
"Ahem. You're right! I get it now, it all makes sense!" yelled Poppy. "But now you have to ask yourself, what if you're in on it too!"
Paranoia's jaw dropped. "Of course!" she yelled. "The one pony I'd never suspect! That has to be it! I see it now!"
"Great!" said Poppy. "So will you return to Pears now?"
"Not a chance!" said Paranoia. "I'm not just heading back without knowing where I'm going! You guys have to take me back to Pears, so can know this isn't a trap!"
"Um...okay." said Poppy with a shrug. "Let's go then!"
Paranoia sighed. "Fine." she said. "But no funny stuff!"
The Bright Side Of The Moon
Poppy and Pear's returned to The Bright side with Pear's aspect of Paranoia, to find Pears, laying down on a large red mushroom, half asleep. She sighed loudly as Poppy and Pears and Paranoia approached.
"Hey Pears." said Poppy. "How are you feeling?"
"Like I want to take a nap. Or thirty." said Pears, sleepily.
"Right." Poppy turned to Paranoia. "Ready?"
Paranoia nodded, and then vanished in a puff of yellow smoke.
Suddenly Pears jumped down and rubbed her head. "Ooh. Yeah. That's better."
"You alright now, Pears?" asked Poppy.
"Do you feel like yourself again?" asked Shine.
Pears turned to Poppy. "I learned something today, Poppy."
"You did?" asked Poppy. "What is it?"
"That I truly had no idea how far my hatred for that psychotic freak, Hue Humble, could extend." said Pears narrowing her eyes. "Please take me to him, so that I may do the universe a favor, and forcefully remove his head from his body, then set it on fire."
Poppy smiled. "Good to have you back, Pears."
"Oh, I never left." said Pears. "I just temporarily lost the ability to rip that monster limb from limb. Now that I have that back, I would like to go use it now."
Poppy turned to face the pagoda, with Pears and Shine by her side, all thinking the same thing. "Alright." said Poppy. "Let's finish this."
To-Do List: Defeat Hue Humble and Save The World.
Hue Humble's Inner Sanctum
Poppy, Pears and Shine arrived back in Hue's inner sanctum. "Alright, lets-" Poppy was interrupted when Pears suddenly broke into a sprint and galloped straight towards Hue, her eyes flaring wildly.
"HUMBLE!!!" she roared as she jumped off her hind legs and tackled Hue right out of the bubble; both of them smashing into the far wall with enough force to crack it.
"Pears!" yelled Poppy, as her and Shine went to check on their friend. Suddenly Pears was flung off of Hue, but landed swiftly on her feet on the other side of the room.
Hue rose to his feet like a vampire, a wide smile on his bruised face and his glasses now smashed, revealing two yellow snake-like eyes behind them. "You little insect." he snarled. "Satisfied, yet? O̸̡̮̖̳͈̓̅͆̀̂̉r̸̳͆́̇̎̚ ̶̲̼̀̈́͆̏̌̋̕ͅd̵̢̙͈͓̙̺̥͈̻͑̓͛̀͗̓̽͝ị̴̪̹̙̖́̀̀̑̃̏͒͘͝ḑ̷͎̰͆ ̶̨̡̱̝̖̣̲͈̌̈́̕y̶̨̬̣̝̭̎̾̓ö̸̱͎̼̠̥́̌́u̵͕͖̤̐͒̾̆͐ͅ ̶̨̠̳͙̗̖̦̀̓̆̈́̾̄̚ͅẇ̶̛̥̩̘̞̝́̅̂̒̓̕ͅa̸̖͓̬̗͋̄̔̉̉͆̋̒͘̚ͅn̵̩̫̬͍̅̔̄̈ẗ̸̥̣̰́̓́͑͐̈́̇̕͠ ̷̨̯̲͖̙̦̋̅̍̃́̚͝ͅẗ̸̜́̀̓̄̔̔ͅo̸̱̣͌͒̿̊̇̏͝ ̵̯̱͙̺͉̙͕̠͑̈̓̀̆͛̿̓́m̵̝͈̰̓̾͂͋͒͌u̷̡̡̳͉͚̜͈͑̿̾͐r̴̩͉̟͇̣̼̮̪͚̔̂͜͝d̴̢̬͖͇̺͆̈́͋̑̍̐è̸̥͂͌͊̓̒ŗ̶̨͉̲͉̮͔͖̮̎̀̌͑́̈́̾̐͋ͅ ̶̧͈̫̬̰͚̦̔́̃͋̍̔̋͝m̶̡̭̫̥͕̬̥̰͍͉̀̇́̏̀̾̈͝͝e̸͈̤͗ͅ ̷͈̟̖̳̬͍͓̬̙́̂̊̽͐͜͠å̷̗̜̬͓̩̣̊͜ĝ̵̱̙̝̥̖̳̫̈́̀̽̈́̏͑̃́a̶̡͇̖̯̥͈̖̱̍̀͒͋̾̚͜ͅị̵̧͍̤͚͍̱̭̓̃̎̌̓͘͝͝ǹ̸̛͉͌͌͛͛͑͋̀́?̴̞̼͇̥̩͂̈́̆
"Do I really need to answer that?" said Pears with a wicked smile.
Hue's smile grew wider and wider. "Alright then," his body began to change and morph, his pony facade, melting away as his scaly, monstrous body took form. N̷̨̡̜͖͚̂͆̈́̏̀͋̈́̊̈́͜͜o̵̫̮̟͓̽͛̚̚̚͠͝ ̴̢̝̥̬̇̎́͆̌̐m̵͖̭̼̺̅̊̉̌͌̔̓̐͘̚ȏ̸̧͙̺͎̪̹̳ŗ̸͚̰̇̅ḙ̸̻̬͓̦͖̝̼̦͊̆͘ ̶͓̭̤̞̹̦͆̔̃͐ͅh̵̩̹̮̟̓̇̐̐̚i̷̖̬͓͆̀̎̅̿̀̕̚ḓ̶͚̇́̀̇̚i̸͇̓̔n̸͇̦̥̼̼͗͌g̶̡̢͇͉̼̪̪̼̽͆̇̊̌̀̑.̷̤̻̣̎͗̃̀̃̚͝
His head folded back revealing a terrible lamprey like head and mouth arrayed with sharp teeth; his hooves became long gangrenous, bony appendages with foot long claws at the end.
Great tendrils of flesh writhed from its back, as several centipede like legs sprouted from it's slug-like body, and stretched in a dozen directions. At the top of the now albino-toned mass, the afro of Hue Humble opened up as one huge, bulbous red eye as it's toothless maw stretched to horrific lengths.
"̴̛͙̠̌͒̊͌S̶͎͚͓̽͆̾͆̑͒̽̕i̵̛̮͔͙̾̏͜n̷͕̣̦̾̏̾c̶̪͓͗͑̅̽̆̏̃͝͝͝ḛ̸̞̍̋̑́́̿̒̉̃ ̷̧̠̖̺͕͈̲̺͗̈y̵̢̪͙̜̬̣̤̣̆̓̀̋ò̴͕͖̞̺̬͉̫͚̱̅u̷͓̺̥͑̽̅͗ ̶̩̮̩͌̔͛̑́̚ţ̷̰̠͚̜̜͒̕ḣ̴̡͚̙̥͆̍̀́͛́r̸̢͈̣̩̬̖̖̖̯͚̍̈́̌̍̿͛͒e̵̩͇̬̙̅͂̐̈e̸̫͓̍͋́͊͛͋̓̉̓͝ ̴̪̼̦͇͇͚̟͘͜͜á̸̳͝ͅr̵͙̳̐̈́̀̾̅̀̿ȩ̷͉̖̬͓͙̭͎͚̔̔̏̈͗̿̈́̕ ̶͚͔̪̉͂͝s̸̯͎͕̤͓̬͍̼͔̅̒̏̂̌́͜͠ơ̷͓̤̎̔̾̍̓̐͒̎͝ ̸͇̞̣̖̦̙̺̻̥̏͛̅̊̂ĕ̸̟͗ã̵̡̛̘͚͎͚̦̒̒̒̾͐͝g̶̛̤̱̣͈͓̼͔̎̔̀̇̾͠e̷̢̛͐̿̂̿̕r̶̻͙͎̝̩͗͑͒̍̆̈́͜ ̶͙̙̪̣͕̦̃͋̋t̶̠̹̲͒͠o̴̗̲͎̥̝̖̞͑͌͌̓ ̵̙̹̼͈̭͓̯͍̈́͂̚ḑ̷̮̖͕̬̤͉̉͘i̵̧̖̎͑̕ẽ̶̡̬̯̬̤̉́͝"̵̛͇̣̳̪̺̖̼̯̘̈́̄͐͂̒̉͊͠ The creature gurgled. "̸̛͙̱͛̽̿̓̒́̚̕Į̵̣͚̰͖̠͖̞͍̱̔̃̐̆͗̓'̷̯̯̗̯̳̬͈̊l̶̹̍̎̓̿̄̓̑̒͝͠l̵̬̳̦̺̂̈́͌̉̎́̀͑͐͠ ̵̘̗̰̜̺͈͑̇̏̊͗̈͘̚͝b̸̠͈͔̫̭͈̣̃̂̀̀̄̓̚͠e̵̛̼͌̿̋͂̀̽̐ ̵̧̡̤̺̞̌̓̀͒̅̀̈́ẖ̸̋̒̾̐̒͝a̴̧̢͇̗̞̗͇͕̺̞̓p̸̘̃̔̈́̀̃̇̇̎̄̔p̵̣̞̭͈̤̹̦̤̑̐̚y̸̭̗̜͌̀̑̑͊̏̕ ̴͇̠̣̺͖͎̮͌̐̔̇͗͛͠͠t̶̢͇͇̑̔̀͌̾̕o̶̫̘̪͉̭͐̀̌͒͜ ̸̧͓͎̺̓̅͂̚͝o̸̭͈͎͍̰̗̝͐͊b̵̬̗͚͔͉̙́̽̎̔̆ĺ̵̡̞͒̄̃̾̈͛͝͝i̷̡̝͔͖̫̜̯̅̑́̐g̷͔̫̳̝̟͊̐̿e̵̡̧͔̣͉̙̘̟̭̬͂̂͑̾͘!̷̗͙̻̹̋̓̇̍́͝͝"̵̢̦͔͙̈́̋͊̉̍̕
"But first," came Hue Humble's usual voice from the depths of the creature's mouth, "We'll play a little game; just to make it more entertaining for everyone. How's that sound?"
Before anyone could answer, the monster's bulbous eye suddenly glowed rainbow, and Poppy, along with everyone else suddenly vanished in a puff of rainbow smoke, only to reappear in different places around the room.
Pears appeared in the bubble.
Shine and Angel appeared tied to a large pointed column of crystal suspended from the ceiling.
Finally, Poppy appeared, strapped down to a large rotating wheel, that was constantly spinning around, getting faster and faster with each rotation.
"Ugh...I'm gonna hurk- I'm gonna throw up." said Poppy, getting nauseous.
"That's right, baby." said the monster. "Eventually, the wheel will be spinning so fast, that your bones will be crushed into jelly from the force. It's gonna be groovy, baby."
"Hurk- oh, not groovy, not groovy!" said Poppy trying her best not to lose her lunch.
"So," the monster looked up to see Make It Shine looking down at it. "This, is who you truly are, Hue?" she asked, sounding disappointed. "All those hours, all that work I put into Huetology and you never even cared?"
"Aw, c'mon." said the monster. "Don't take it so personally. I really did want you to be happy....you know, so I could feed off it."
"Well," said Shine, her eyes flaring. "You aren't the only one whose mastered Huetology, you freak!" Make It Shine suddenly vanished from her ropes and appeared next to Poppy, in a puff of rainbow smoke.
"WHAT!?" the monster roared angrily.
Shine waved her hoof and Poppy was released from the wheel, where she tumbled onto the floor. "Are you alright, Poppy?" asked Shine.
Poppy got to her feet, holding her mouth. "Ugh....yeah." she said getting her balance back. "Yeah. I'm good."
"Good." said Shine. "Now let's free Pears, so we can-" suddenly she vanished once more and re-appeared tied to the same crystal column. "What the?!"
The monster uttered a low guttural laugh. "Did you forget who invented Huetology, little pony?" he mocked. "We can play this game all you want; at the end of it, you'll still all die! Ahahahaha!"
His eye glowed once more and Poppy was once again tied to the spinning wheel of death. "Oh, no. Not again!" she cried. She had to think of a way out of this! Poppy looked up at Shine, who was about to free herself again, when the monster smacked it's huge tentacle against the crystal, causing Shine to yell out.
"Oh no, you don't." said the monster. Poppy noticed a small crack appear in the side of the crystal. Then it hit her; she knew how they could kill this monster and free themselves at once.
"Shine!" she yelled. "I want you to free Pears and have her reappear, clinging to the side of that crystal you're tied to!"
"What?!" Shine looked over at Poppy, then Pears, then the crystal. Then she got it. "Okay, got it!"
Pears vanished from the bubble and reappeared on the side of the crystal, hanging onto it by the side. "Hey, Hue!" she yelled. "Come on, I'm right here, squid boy!" she shook her rear at him as she laughed joyfully.
D̷̡̲͇̼͍̻̭̱̦̍I̶̟͎̲̳̖̩̠͚̼̞̾̀̂̍̓̓̄̚͝͝Ę̸̲̮̠̬͈͖̙͈̠͆̇̊̒͋̍͆ ̵̨͓̭̜̟̔ͅP̸̜̥̳̣̦̲̖̋͊̿̾̑͂̃͆̀͂ͅË̵͇̌̋̿͛̐͌͒̀͝A̵̛̺̻͖̘͐̾̒̐̀͋͜͝R̴̨̡̛͔̮͔̯͙̯̍͗̀̾̇͠S̸̼̺̑͑̿̾̉͝!̵͓͍͈̮̑̑͝ͅ!̵͓̪̠̤͍̯͉̽̒͋̈͗̉͝ͅͅ!̵̨̟͖̥̘̭́̍͆̚ The monster shrieked, as it swung a huge tentacle at Pears. But Pears jumped down at the last second, causing the tentacle to smash through the crystal, sending it plummeting to the ground.
Shine then freed her self again, appearing next to Poppy, as she waved her hoof catching the huge jagged crystal and making it disappear.
Only to reappear, directly over the monster's huge, bulbous eyeball.
Poppy was freed once again, and stood beside Pears and Shine. "Hey Hue!" she pointed upwards. "Head's up."
The monster looked up only for the huge crystal to plunge deep into it's eye, spraying green alien goo all over, as the monster screamed and roared in pain, thrashing about all over the room, only making the crystal plunge deeper, until it finally pierced the monster's brain.
The monster stopped thrashing around, and froze for a second.
Then it slowly fell forward, till it hit the ground with a thunderous thud; finally dead. This time....for good.
With Hue Humble, or whatever crazy alien name he was called, finally having met his demise, the Huetologists trapped on the moon (As well as Penny, Smart Cookie and several others whom Hue had failed to brainwash and were instead all tied up in a closet within his inner sanctum) were now free to return home, including the Princesses of Equestria, who quickly denied taking the position back from Poppy.
As she had saved their and everyone else in the world's lives, they felt she deserved to remain the Princess of Equestria for a while longer, while they went around the world, and helped free it's population from Hue's mind control. Poppy accepted their offer, with a smile.
After many weeks of investigating, avoiding death and following leads, Princess Poppy Blossom, Burnt Pears and Make It Shine, finally put an end to the mass hypnosis conspiracy for good, with the final nail being the dropping of Hue Humble's monstrous corpse into a volcano. And then blowing that volcano up, courtesy of Burnt Pears and one of her spare warheads. When she appeared to tell the world of Hue's demise alongside Poppy, she assured them that this time, he was gone for good.
Poppy gained worldwide recognition as a valiant and brave hero, that saved them all from being enslaved by a freakish happiness-eating alien monster, alongside her friends, and got to remain the Princess Of Equestria, while also receiving numerous awards for her incredible delivery skills. Although she did notice that when she went outside, she would spot a strange cross-eyed grey Pegasus glaring at her from a bush across the street, only to duck back into the bush every time Poppy tried to talk to her.
With Hue gone, Huetology needed a new leader. And Make It Shine, gladly took the job. She was one who could teach them all about the secrets of Huetology, and help them reach that same fulfillment in her life that she reached. Most importantly, she would actually care about her followers, and would devote everything to improving Huetology so it could change ponie's lives just like it did for her.
Make It Shine became a world-class magician, performing on grand stages to sold out shows every week, touring all over the world and quickly becoming legendary as the greatest magician in the entire world, alongside her partner Angelbunny, who's owner also tagged along to help with their performance. Now the leader of the biggest spiritual movement on earth as well as a world class magician, Shine used her new vast fortune to buy WARP studios, and converted it instead into a world-class magic school for her to teach others how to follow their dreams.
At long last, the world was safe, and everything was as it should be.
It was finally over.
However...
Far, far away from Equestria, in the snowy mountains of Yak Yakistan, a mysterious cosmic portal suddenly opened its maw over the tallest peak in Yak Yakistan. From it a huge, monstrous, creature leapt down onto the earth;scattering snow all over the area.
The creature, a hairy bloated demonic beast, with a huge white beard, piercing red eyes, and a thirst for blood (As well as rather festive looking red hat with a white fur trim and a white ball on the end of it) looked over to see a small Yak family gaping at it in horror.
The creature approached the family, crouched down on all fours, it's claws raking the ice under it's feet. It towered over a young yak buy, his mouth frozen open in fear, as the creature, glared down at him with glowing red eyes, opened it's huge, fang-filled mouth and uttered a horrid, ghastly sound, the likes of which Equestria nor this world had ever heard in their lives; that chilled the young yak boy's blood to it's core.
ℌ𝔬, ℌ𝔬, ℌ𝔬.