Chapter 58:
The Mean Seven
Following Twilight’s discovery that Cozy Glow is up to no good, she decides to continue to pretend that Cozy Glow is an ally so she decides to promote her to be her assistant and top helper at the library just so she can keep close taps on her while Cozy still keeping up the act accepts so she can try to learn more about Twilight on Midnight’s orders.
In the meantime, she has prepared a friendship retreat with the Mane Five and Starlight to which she is arranged and spent weeks preparing for, with plans to have a photographer take pictures of them before they all set off. What she did not expect was the fact that said photographer she hired was running late and if there is one thing for sure is having something not go according to plan and happening with proper explanation doesn’t sit well for the Princess of Friendship. Especially for something she has spent weeks preparing in advance for, something she has worked really hard to arrange for her friends. After all, ever since stepping up to help keep this school up and running, it was about time they took some time off so they can have fun and be friends like old times.
“I've been planning this retreat for weeks, and we're already ten minutes behind! Where is that photographer?!” Twilight sighed irritably as she paced around while looking at her watch as every passing second delays her planned hard work.
“...No-no-no-no-no-no-no!” Said photographer said in a panicked rush as she burst through the doors and inside Twilight’s office where they were all waiting for her. “I'm so sorry! Can you forgive me? I don't expect you to forgive me... Forgive me?” She pleaded with a grin to which Starlight stepped in place of Twilight when she wasn’t in the mood to answer that question.
“Of course. I'll help you set up your…” She stepped forward as the photographer ignores her to focus on Twilight.
“Princess Twilight, thanks so much for this!” The photographer thanked the princess. “The Canterlot Historical Society is thrilled to document the friendship work your teachers do! Let me just pretty you all up!” She offered as she went by and extracted a hair from each of the Mane Seven to which Rarity was clearly annoyed with, Applejack got her hat placed in her face in the process, and Rainbow got hair from her mane yanked off.
“Ow! Hey!” Rainbow Dash complained in pain.
“Don't want a single hair out of place, do we? This is for the history books! Now...” She said as she quickly snapped photos at the unprepared group of ponies.
“Well, that's that! Bye!” She quickly wanted to make her leave only to be stopped by Pinkie blocking the exit.
“Waaaait! You forgot Starlight! She needs a picture, too!” Pinkie quickly pointed out to Starlight who awaits with a patient smile.
“'Kay.” The photographer irritably obliged as she took a quick photo of her. “Now I'll get out of your manes. I know how busy you are.” She politely told the confused ponies by her behavior as she makes her leave. And once she makes her way back inside the Everfree Forest where she meets up with Midnight in her disguise.
“Did you collect all of the information I requested?” Midnight asked the deviously smirking photographer who presented the photos and hairs from the seven ponies.
“I sure did, Midnight, Now we have everything we need.” The photographer replied as she transformed back into Chrysalis and then evilly laughed in triumphant at her success.
“Excellent.” Midnight said pleased with her success as she immediately teleports them away back to their lair before they can be discovered by Twilight when she emerged from the school entrance to try to spot the photographer rushing away.
The two teleporting back to the lair with the Mane Seven’s DNA head over to Midnight’s lab where King Sombra is currently mixing chemicals and adding his dark magic into the mix.
“Is it ready?” Midnight asked the unicorn.
“Yes it is.” Sombra replied with a nod as she handed her the tubes of mixed chemicals to which she took over and placed them in each and in all seven pods before placing the DNA inside each and every color-coordinated pod into the mix.
“Chrysalis, will you do the honors?” Midnight gestured her to work her magic with her.
“With pleasure.” Chrysalis happily replied as the two work their magic by creating a combined spell with the power of the electricity and dark magic powering the pods. The machines whirred as the creation process unfolds as Chrysalis viciously grins of what is happening while Midnight and Sombra watch with calm satisfaction.
After a minute of the power working its magic the pods which currently had a red light from the top then changed to a yellow light before turning into a green light which meant the scientific experiment has been completed as the pods opened up the doors to reveal exact and evil doppelgangers of Twilight and her friends.
“Yes.” Chrysalis said pleased to see their successful work in progress.
“Remarkable.” Sombra remarked sounding impressed.
“It’s perfect.” Midnight added just as pleased before noticing a load of small details. “Once we make the proper readjustments…” She said as magically conjures up hair and fur dye and eye contacts so they can change their appearances to match the Mane Seven‘s by handing Chrysalis the eye contacts while she starts re-painting the fur of their clones.
Back inside the Everfree Forest, Twilight leads the others to their camping site as she hold up a scroll and quill pen with the others following from behind.
“Hmm. At least our retreat isn't too far behind schedule.” Twilight said now in a better mood than earlier. “Although there was something really off about that photographer. I might consider hiring a new one for photo re-takes while getting a refund for that last photographer’s poor services.” She commented in slight annoyance before smiling again ready to put that aside for now. “Get ready for fun!”
“Are we talking fun fun, or learning pretending to be fun?” Rainbow Dash felt the need to ask of what she has in mind knowing exactly of what her definition of fun is.
“Both!” Twilight replied. “We've all been so busy teaching, we've hardly had a chance to hang out with each other. And I may have scheduled some friendship activities as well!” She added as Rainbow gives her a knowing smile as Pinkie bounces over to her.
“Count me in!” Pinkie immediately voiced her interest. “We can do friendship trust falls and pony pyramids! Oh! And hide and seek! Quick! Find me!” She said as she did said motion before climbing on top of Rainbow Dash before running off ahead.
“Well, I love the idea of some quiet time with my best friends.” Fluttershy said as Pinkie startled her by jumping out from one of the nearby bushes.
“You found me!” Pinkie screamed causing the shy pony’s heart to skip as Applejack carts a cart of luggage as Rainbow Dash flies over to her and Rarity who was walking beside her.
“Rarity, why is Applejack carrying all your stuff?” Rainbow asked assuming Rarity has carried loads of luggage again.
“Oh, that's not mine.” Rarity responded as she gestures to the very small saddle bag on her back. “Yes, I used to overpack a tad, but now it's just the essentials for me. I'm a simple filly.”
“Normally I wouldn't lug so much gear, but did y'all know this is Starlight's first time campin'?” Applejack clarified as Rainbow Dash flew down onto the ground to walk beside her and Rarity as Starlight the last pony trails from behind sounding very uninterested to the idea of camping.
“I just never really felt the need to... "hang out" in nature.”” Starlight explained as she trailed off while shooing the nearby bugs buzzing around her. “Home has books, tea, fewer bugs, a roof...”
“That attitude right there is why I brought the whole kit and caboodle.” Applejack said in encouragement as she tosses up a camouflage trench coat onto Starlight which does little to wonders to improving Starlight’s attitude. “I'm givin' Starlight the full Apple family campin' experience!”
“Um, where are we camping?” Fluttershy asked.
“Well, with a great deal of reluctance…” Twilight said with a matching tone as her uncertainly curious friend. “…Right next to the Elements that brought us all together in the first place – the Tree of Harmony or rather what’s left of it!” She said as they make their way on the trail heading in the Tree of Harmony's direction.
Back at the hideout both Midnight and Chrysalis both put on the finishing touches to their makeover of the seven clones so that they all look just like their good counterparts.
“Now it’s perfect.” Midnight is now very pleased with the results. “And now here is your first task at hoof…” She told the clones who most of them look uninterested expect for Twilight and Starlight's mean counterparts.
“Like hunting down some lame Elements? This is the worst day ever!” Mean Pinkie complained.
“No.” Mean Fluttershy replied by throwing dirt in Mean Pinkie’s face. “Now it's the worst day ever!” Mean Fluttershy then laughed cruelly in her face.
“Those Elements are mine! Along with this rock! Oh, and that twig!” Mean Rarity manically declared with greed in her eyes.
“I got all kinds o' Elements right here under my hat. I'll let you see 'em for five bits.” Mean Applejack offered for a price as she motioned to her hat.
“Losers.” Mean Rainbow Dash scoffed.
“Why didn't you just attack them?” Mean Twilight questioned Chrysalis who took offense to that remark.
“Excuse me?” Chrysalis remarked in an offended tone.
“You were close enough to pull hairs from their manes. Why not just take your revenge then?” She further questioned her as she pointed out.
"She does have a point there." Mean Starlight quickly supported Mean Twilight's claim. "What a waste of an opportunity."
“They’ve defeated my army.” Queen Chrysalis defended herself. “I know better than to strike alone. I need…”
“…Friends?” Mean Twilight tauntingly hinted.
“Servants!“ Chrysalis corrected with a growl.
"Uh-huh, Sure." Mean Starlight replied unconvinced while still smirking.
“Enough!” Midnight interrupted as both Mean Twilight, Mean Starlight and Chrysalis turn to her attention. “Twilight, I summoned you and the others for a reason. You have the honor of carrying out my latest plan. It will sow distrust and havoc in the magic of friendship and will help clear and pave the road for an easier takeover of Equestria.” Midnight then prepared to give Mean Twilight her instructions as she willing obeys her more than Chrysalis. “Twilight, take your friends to the Everfree Forest, travel around and “chat.” with the other Twilight and her friends, got it?”
“Just chat with them? That’s it?” Mean Twilight questioned with a raised eyebrow.
“Just one thing…” Midnight added with caution in her tone. “Whatever you all do, do not go anywhere near the Tree of Harmony. Understand?”
“Right where the Elements of Harmony are located?” Mean Twilight asked with an intrigued eyebrow.
“Yes, and if you’re smart enough you’ll stay away from the tree.” Midnight further warned her.
“Yeah sure…” Mean Twilight agreed with a sly smile as Mean Starlight gets the same idea. “We’ll talk with them all right…come on girls!” She told the others as Midnight teleported them away to the Everfree Forest with Mean Twilight winking at Mean Starlight to which Midnight took notice off as she teleported them away.
“And now to watch the show.” Midnight told Sombra and Chrysalis who both pull up seats and snacks as they watch as Midnight pulls up multiple monitors of the Mean Seven and the Mane Seven travelling around the Everfree Forest.
“I don’t understand how you are able to get through to them while I couldn’t!” Chrysalis exclaimed in frustration while relieved that they are all gone.
“It’s just a matter of knowing how and which strings to pull when manipulating others to further my goals along with having the imposing ability to command respect and obedience from those who follow me.” Midnight simply replied as she watches both parties make their way through the forest.
“You really think they will stay away from the Tree of Harmony even after King Sombra destroyed it?” Chrysalis questioned as she sees that Mean Twilight is intending to try to use its power against them.
“If any of them aside from the Twilight and Starlight clones are truly smart enough not to trifle with it.” Midnight replied she doesn’t expect them to heed her warning. “As long as they tear down Twilight’s friendship with the girls, I really don’t care what happens to them.”
“Just as long as I’m not around to be destroyed by the Element’s power‘s I’m okay with whatever happens.” Sombra said sounding completely okay with watching the show. “Because I have been dying too many times to put myself at risk to their power again. I was lucky I was just simply blasted away by them instead of destroyed by them the last time I fought them.”
“And as long as they don’t come to see of where they truly lie in, you won’t have to be worry about that happening again.” Midnight assured the unicorn as she watches the scene at the Everfree Forest. “And I think these seven pawns will take care of that just fine?” She then said with an eager grin.
Inside the Everfree Forest, Twilight and the others make their way through the forest when Pinkie stepped in front of everypony.
“Everypony, stop! And smell these roses!” She yelled before smiling as she sniffs the nearby roses. “Ahhh! Oh, yeah!” She then decided to roll around in the rose bushes.
“Right. Roses. Fun.” Twilight simply replied in a “Sure, let’s go with that.” tone “Now, let’s try and stay on schedule.” She tried to kindly insist to her they need to keep moving as Rarity stops noticing her mane has hairs slightly out of place.
“Applejack, darling, anything in that wagon for mane maintenance?” She asked the farm pony who stopped to thoroughly check to see if she has something useful in her cart for her unicorn friend.
“Uh, let's see here.” Applejack tried her best with what her camping equipment has to offer. “Uh... all right. I got a bandana!” She offered.
“Ugh, an entire wagon and no anti-frizz? Darling, you're not even prepared.” Rarity couldn’t help but feel more amused than disappointed.
“I am! For campin'?” Applejack pointed out as she turned to Starlight who is now carrying the camping gear on her back along with wearing the camouflage coat “How ya doin', Starlight?“
“Whoa!” She exclaimed as she nearly lost her balance after tripping because of a rock on the trail. “Ugh. Great.” She flatly replied as Fluttershy sees a bird on the ground nearby.
“Oh, no! You and your sister fell out of your nest and got separated? That's terrible!” Fluttershy said in sympathy as she offered her wing for her to climb onto. “Here. I'm sure your home isn't too far away.” She then strayed away from the group unbeknownst to their knowledge. As she set out to help the bird Twilight finds herself again blocked off by Pinkie’s antics yet again as she swings on vines like a swing unintentionally making her friend nearly drop her paper and pen.
“Pinkie! If we keep stopping to have fun, we're never gonna get to the fun things I've got planned!” Twilight scolded the party pony who gasped in response.
“Good point!” Pinkie immediately agreed as she ran off ahead as Twilight sighs in further annoyance with her antics. “Last one to the Tree of Harmony is a parasprite! Whoo-hoo!”
At the same time the Mean Seven in a different part of the forest are finding Mean Pinkie already bored out of her mind, lying on the ground.
“I'm sooooo bored. Are we there yet?” She complained.
“No, we’re not!” Mean Twilight irritably replied. ”And we need to keep moving if we want to find them!”
“I know where the Elements are. This, uh, here boulder just told me. I swear.” Mean Applejack flimsily attempted to lie to her to which Midnight, Sombra and Chrysalis roll her their eyes together in response as Mean Fluttershy comes across the bird’s sister.
“You tried to fly out of the nest, but you fell and got lost?” Mean Fluttershy unsympathetically told the bird before shoving her aside. “Hope you like walking!” She taunted the bird while cruelly laughing at her as she walks away.
“Come get me when I should care.” Mean Rainbow Dash yawned as she flew off on her own as Mean Twilight decided to search on her own too seeing that the others are dead weight and useless.
“Ugh, this is just so disappointing.” Chrysalis said in disgust with the clones especially Mean Applejack and Mean Fluttershy. “And I thought cocooning many of my victims was worse than this.”
“Or enslaving an entire empire?” Sombra added his input as Midnight ignores them as she continues watching.
“You need us way more than we need you, your Majesty!” Mean Twilight scoffed at her creator’s instructions. “The others are fools. But with me to lead them, there's no reason we can't find the Elements and keep the power for ourselves! Come on Starlight” She said as she asked the unicorn to follow her lead as she sinisterly grins.
"Oh, I'm right behind you pal." Mean Starlight said in her direction as she does as she is told.
“And I’m sure it’s quite the opposite as long as you keeping following the path you are all currently on.” Midnight stoically commented unsurprised by Mean Twilight and Starlight’s behavior as she makes her way through the forest where she ends up crossing paths with Pinkie Pie.
“You're it!” She cheerfully exclaimed as she tackled her to the ground. “Hey, how'd you get ahead of me? You're fast.” She complimented her thinking she is the real Twilight. "And I didn't know you're as capable of running as fast as Twilight." She commented to who she is thinks is the real Starlight who responds by coldly using her magic to throw her off.
"Ugh! Get off of me!" Mean Starlight irritably told the bubbly mare off who was taken aback by her attitude.
“We're looking for Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash.” Mean Twilight told Pinkie as she stepped forward.
“Aren't they back there?” Pinkie asked in confusion.
“They are?” Mean Twilight with intrigued interest.
“Sure!” Pinkie replied. “Unless they're already at the Tree of Harmony.”
“What is the Tree of Harmony?” Mean Starlight questioned the party pony.
“Oh-ho-ho. This is one of your "activities", right? Like a friendship quiz?” Pinkie figured Twilight and Starlight are playing games with her. “It's the crystal tree that holds the Elements of Harmony. Boom!”
“Where is it?” Mean Twilight asked as Pinkie imitates a buzzer in response.
“It's at the bottom of the stairs in the ravine by the Castle of the Two Sisters. Double boom!”
“How do you know? You've seen it?” Mean Starlight further questioned her.
“Mm-hmm. Honestly, Twilight, Starlight, these questions are super easy.” Pinkie replied to the cloned alicorn and unicorn doubles who ignores as she deviously clasps her wings together.
Meanwhile, Fluttershy has managed to help a bird find its nest who thanks her with her a hug as she comes across Mean Rainbow Dash after realizing she is lost.
“Oh, Rainbow Dash!” Fluttershy called out to her thinking she is the real deal. “I'm so glad you're here. I was lost.”
“Bummer. Later.” Mean Rainbow coldly scoffed as she flew off leaving Fluttershy taken aback by that.
“What just happened?” She asked to herself in complete confusion.
At the same time the others in a different part of the forest all now wondering where Fluttershy is after noticing she slipped away from them.
“Oh, fantastic.” Twilight sarcastically remarked. “First Pinkie races ahead of us, and now Fluttershy's lost somewhere behind us. My retreat is off to a great start!”
“It's not like Fluttershy to disappear like this.” Rarity pointed out just as worried as everypony else.
“We'll split up and search for her.” Applejack immediately proposed. “We can all meet back at the Tree. Starlight, take the navigation gear and…”
“Go with Rarity? Great!” Starlight immediately volunteered. “Rainbow Dash, you can go with Applejack!”
“I'll find Pinkie Pie.” Twilight then set out to do so as she sets forward as the other’s go forward in the opposite direction.
Meanwhile, the three villains watching from their lair watch as Midnight uses her magic to communicate with the others as she appears before Mean Pinkie, Mean Applejack, and Mean Rarity through teleportation.
“Report, girls?” Midnight questioned of them.
“Probably plotting to steal my things!“ Rarity replied with a growl as she guarded a nearby bush.
“They're at a secret party up in that there tree.” Mean Applejack suggested with another flimsy lie. “Run by a... squirrel named, uh, Jerome. But, uh, y-you need a password to get in.”
Midnight evidently having none of their antics immediately uses her magic to pin them all to the wall with an annoyed and bored expression.
“So since you girls are all coming up with nothing so far let’s make one thing clear…” Midnight calmly said as she addressed. “You all answer to me so when I ask you all to do something you all do it.” She then threatened them as held them in choke-holds without raising her voice. “So when I tell you all to find Twilight Sparkle and her friends you will all do it and you will all speak with them, understand! So do it” She said with gritted teeth to which the three clones nervously gulped as they nodded in agreement with her as Midnight let’s go of her grip on them before quickly teleporting away.
“The party password is "rutabaga".” Mean Applejack whispered to the others.
“I heard that!” Midnight’s called out to them as she briefly reappeared to them causing them to all run off to do what they have been ordered to before teleporting back to the lair. “One would think that an easy job should be as easy as it looks.” She commented to Chrysalis and Sombra who both have looks of agreement on their faces as they resume watching the show.
As they watch they see Mean Fluttershy constantly taunts the bird climbing up the tree before stopping on nearby flowers and intimidating the nearby creatures before trotting off leaving them to berate the real Fluttershy leaving her feel taken aback and intimidated by their anger while Mean Rarity crosses paths with the real Applejack and Rarity who greedily eyes the compass, telescope, and the fishing pole from Applejack’s wagon like a crazy mad pony leaving the two creeped out by her behavior before focusing on Starlight and Rarity making their through their search as the former while carrying the heavy luggage trips on a rock.
“Starlight, darling, you're a gloriously bad camper. And coming from me, that is saying a lot.” Rarity bluntly yet gently told Starlight as she offered her a helping hoof.
“I know.” Starlight didn’t even deny the truth as she gratefully accepted Rarity's help. “Want to break it to Applejack for me?” She asked as Applejack’s mean clone suddenly appeared.
“Who's breakin' what now?” She asked causing Rarity’s grasp on Starlight to slip and for Starlight to accidentally slip and fall over. “Who are you?” She asked them like she doesn’t know them which is true since the clone had just met her.
“Very funny, Applejack. Still me under all this gear. Starlight.” The unicorn replied unamused thinking she is the real cowgirl pony.
“Starlight? How 'bout that?” Mean Applejack said very interested in her. “Y'all better come with me. It's, uh, dangerous out here.”
“Applejack, darling, are you all right?” Rarity asked feeling something is off with her. “You look a little peaky. And where's your wagon?”
“Uh... stolen! Uh, I barely got away!” Mean Applejack again badly lied. “Follow me, and I'll tell ya all about it.” She gestured them to follow her to which they hesitantly did so.
“And I thought my imitation of Princess Cadance was bad.” Chrysalis commented as she gets further annoyed with Mean Applejack’s pathetic attempts of lying as they continue watching as Twilight comes face to face with the Mean Pinkie.
“Pinkie! There you are! What are you doing?” Twilight said pleased to see what she thinks is the party pony she knows thanks to the convincing makeup but wonders why she is looking like a frowner as opposed to a cheerful and bubbly pony who points to a big bubble in the nearby pond popping.
“You call that a pop?! Ugh!” Mean Pinkie groaned in disappointment.
“I thought you were racing to the retreat.” Twilight said in confusion of her behavior finding it a clear 180 from the last time she saw her good counterpart.
“Please. Why would I waste my time on a boring, lame, no-fun retreat?” Mean Pinkie scoffed and ignored her as she hopped off and away.
“What?” Twilight responded in shock feeling deeply hurt by that comment as she slumps down on the tree branch Mean Pinkie was sitting to sulk as the insult rocks her to the core until she sees Mean Rainbow Dash fly by. “Rainbow Dash! I think something's wrong with Pinkie!“ She tried to tell her as the cloned Pegasus flies ahead without a change in speed or care in the world.
“Not my problem.” She ignored Twilight without second thought and glance as the latter accidentally fell into the water who groaned in response.
Elsewhere, her mean counterpart is getting increasingly irritated with putting up with the real Pinkie as she recalled the memory of the castle of friendship being created as Mean Starlight looks at her ready to literally kick Pinkie's flank.
“And then we all grew super-long manes with all kinds of colors, and your castle grew out of the ground, and everypony was like, "Whoa!" And then we sang this song about rainbows, and…” She explained as her mane style briefly appeared when they used the rainbow power before spotting the real Fluttershy crying on the ground.
“Fluttershy! What's wrong?” Pinkie immediately questioned the sobbing Pegasus.
“Everycreature is mad at me!” Fluttershy answered in-between sobs.
“What?!” Pinkie gasped in shock before moving to comfort her. “That can't be right!”
“Can we hurry this up?” Mean Twilight groaned showing no sympathy for Fluttershy. “We're on a schedule here!”
“Twilight, your schedule can wait!” Pinkie refused while stilling hugging her upset friend. “Fluttershy's upset.”
“Well, tell her to get over it! I'll go get the others. Stay here!” Mean Twilight coldly demanded and brushed aside the meek Pegasus's feelings as she and Mean Starlight walked off on their own. Pinkie casted an unhappy frown in their direction before focusing her attention back to Fluttershy just when the real Twilight arrived.
“Oh, great. You upset Fluttershy, too?” Twilight wrongly assumed earning herself an angered pink pony getting in her face for something her mean counterpart did.
“You know what, Twilight? Maybe if you weren't so worried about schedules, you'd realize you're the one ruining the retreat for your friends!” Pinkie told off who she thinks is the real Twilight she saw leaving her hurt by that accusation as she gasped in response to that statement.
“Well, if my friends don't care about the retreat I planned for them... maybe they should've stayed home!” Twilight retorted in shocked defense as she started to tear up feeling further and deeply hurt by Pinkie's words as she thinks she is the same Pinkie who insulted and dismissed her friendship retreat earlier.
“Can't we all just get along?!” Fluttershy cried out as Midnight looks on pleased with the Mean Seven’s progress as the real Applejack and Rainbow Dash look completely bewildered by Mean Rarity’s crazy and greedy behavior in hoarding of all Applejack’s camping equipment before focusing on Mean Applejack walking with the real Rarity and Starlight.
Mean Starlight then took this opportunity to casually walk and kick dirt at Pinkie and Fluttershy's faces leaving them struggling to get it out of their eyes as kicks a nearby tree to make a swarm of bees attack them forcing Twilight to conjure up a magic shield to protect themselves.
“...So there I was. Just me and, uh, a bucket of honey. Yeah, yeah, that's the ticket. Uh, b-but I-I survived all by myself in this here forest for, uh, a hundred and... twenty-seven hours!” She explained another huge whopper of a story.
“Really? I can't believe you've never told us that story before.” Rarity asked sounding really surprised hearing this.
“She's making a point.” Starlight remarked feeling annoyed at this point. “We get it. You're the greatest camper in the history of Equestria.” She told Mean Applejack in response to her constant boasting of tall tales.
“Well, I sure don't need any o' that silly stuff you're luggin' around.” Mean Applejack callously remarked.
“Uh, the things you gave me are silly?!” Starlight asked feeling offended by that remark thinking she only gave her the stuff just to make fun of her.
“Just look in a mirror. Guess I should've told you that before, huh?” Mean Applejack crudely confirmed with a mean and scornful laugh causing Starlight to gasp and tear up with trembling lips from hearing that. As she takes of the poncho and the camping gear she barely could contain her sudden pain while sounding like she is having a panic attack.
“Glad I was so entertaining for you!” Starlight said as she ran off in tears leaving an angered Rarity face to face with Mean Applejack.
“I'm going to make sure that she doesn't break a hoof out there, and then you and I are going to have a serious talk!” Rarity calmly yet sternly told off the clone before trotting off in disappointment for her insensitive behavior.
“For once I’m impressed with the Applejack clone.” Chrysalis commented as she chuckled a little. “Seeing that I get to see Starlight feel my wrath for stealing my hive.”
“And now that the seeds of insults have been placed and scattered all around now comes the fun part seeing the failing friendship take place.” Midnight also commented as they watch as Rarity and Starlight end up running over a cliff by accident and end up coming across Twilight and Pinkie still arguing as Fluttershy continues to cry on the ground.
“Of course I care about Fluttershy!” Twilight honestly retorted to Pinkie.
“Then you've got a super weird way of showing it!” Pinkie fired back still not believing her.
“W-What in Equestria's going on here?” Rarity questioned wondering what the commotion is all about.
“Twilight is so into her retreat…” The party pony emphasized with mimicking motions. “…that she doesn't even care if her friends are upset! She just wants us to "stay on schedule"!”
“Well, I'm sorry, Pinkie! If I knew you thought this was a "boring, lame, no-fun retreat", I wouldn't have invited you in the first place!” Twilight yelled back as she briefly teared up again as she shouted in the pink pony's face.
“I never said that!” Pinkie yelled back in the alicorn's face in her defense just when Applejack and Rainbow Dash arrived on the scene.
“Sorry, y'all.” Applejack apologized. “We would've been here sooner, but we had to take the long way after Rarity ran off with all my stuff.” She then glared at the unicorn in question.
“Wha—?! I most certainly did not!” Rarity offended said in her defense completely baffled that she would accuse her of such a thing.
“What?! You know I ain't no liar!” Applejack refused to believe her before turning to Starlight with a quizzical expression. “Where's all your gear?”
“Why? So you can laugh at me some more?!” Starlight still hurt angrily questioned back.
“Hey, hey, we're all friends here!” Rainbow Dash tried to calm every pony down only to be shot an angry and upset accusation by her childhood friend.
“Friends?! You left me alone in the woods!” Fluttershy cried out in-between sobs as she fired back at the blue Pegasus with an upset glare before continuing to sob her hurt heart out.
Everyone expect Twilight argues as the alicorn is finding herself completely irritated and agitated with all of the fighting until...
“Everypony, quiet!” She yelled out to get everyone’s attention. “Listen. We know each other really well…the great stuff and how to get on each other's nerves, too. I wanted a fun trip with my friends.” She briefly smiled before continuing. “But instead, I got carried away with plans and ruined everything. If you want to forget it all and head home, I won't be offended. I just want us to stop fighting.” She apologized to everypony as the upset look softened into regret for their flaring temper's at each other. Truthfully, they now didn't know what they were fighting about.
“What?!” Chrysalis exclaimed while Midnight and Sombra’s expressions don’t change at all.
“Hey, sorry if I got carried away with all that campin' stuff.” Applejack then apologized to Starlight.
“I'm sorry, too.” Starlight returned in kind. “I should've just told you I'll never like camping. Also, I'll never like camping.” She added with a knowing smirk to back it up with.
“Well, if we're all being honest…” Rarity brought up as she pulled up her little saddlebag. “…I can't survive with just this tiny yet fashionable little saddlebag! I miss my things!” She complained as she dramatically teared up.
“I'm sorry that you thought that I thought your plan was lame.” Pinkie apologized to Twilight as she held up her right hoof. Twilight in return smiled in response. “Your plans are the most un-lamest!“ She then hugged the alicorn as Rainbow flies over.
“And I always have fun when we're all together. Even if it's learning pretending to be fun.” Rainbow Dash also brought up.
“So... does that mean you still want to have the retreat?” Twilight hopefully asked.
“Yes!” Everyone expect Fluttershy answered happily as they all hugged each other.
“If everypony likes me again.” Fluttershy hopefully asked as everypony laughs and tackles her by surprise so she can join in on the group hug before lying on their backs getting a glimpse at the sunset.
“Let's get to that Tree. I have the whole campsite set up and ready.” Twilight told everypony as she leads the way to their campsite.
“I can’t believe it! The plan failed!” Chrysalis said in disbelief that the magic of friendship still prevailed despite all of the seeds they planted to try to spark a wedge in between them.
“Not yet…” Midnight calmly assured her as she pulled up a monitor of the Mean Seven making their way to the camp as Mean Starlight catches up with them. “And remember I still have more cards to lay out onto the table and my big plan coming up at the end of the school year.” She reminded the distraught changeling as she continues watching the Mean Seven and Mane Seven walk together on their own accords towards the camping grounds.
The Mean Seven arrive first at the camp Twilight had already set up where they all waste no time trashing the place.
“What's this garbage?” Mean Pinkie groaned.
“Badger installation art! Ya see—“ Mean Applejack claimed.
“Mine! Mine!” Mean Rarity greedily claimed as she grabbed ahold of the valuables as Rainbow Dash trashes one of the tents looking very uninterested while doing so.
“Once we get the power of the Elements, no creature – not even her Majesty – can tell us what to do.” Mean Twilight declared as she picked up the slumping anti-party pony. “Just follow my lead. Got it?”
The mean ponies all make their way to the Tree of Harmony where to their surprise the tree is destroyed and completely shattered.
“What?!” Mean Twilight exclaimed in shock. “How can this be?”
“Well this was certainly a waste of time!” Mean Pinkie groaned in disappointment.
“Tell me about it.” Mean Rainbow Dash groaned as she laid back onto the ground as Mean Fluttershy deliberately tripped Mean Rarity.
“Oops, I’d say sorry but I’m not.” Mean Fluttershy unsympathetically told the unicorn prompting her to attack her and tussle each other on the ground.
At the same time the Main Seven all arrive at the camp and are surprised to see the damage somebody did during the time Twilight had her back turned.
“Are you kidding me?” Twilight expressed her shock seeing the camp site destroyed as Pinkie laughs.
“This was... the worst... day... ever!” She said as everyone else joins in on the laughter.
“Come on, everypony. We can fix this campsite in no time.” Starlight assured everypony.
“Spoken like a true camper.” Applejack complimented.
“Eh, don't push it.” Starlight replied with a smirk as Twilight gets distracted by something.
“You okay, sugarcube?” Applejack asked Twilight as she approaches the remains of the Tree of Harmony. “Twi?” She called out to get her attention.
“Shh…” Twilight raised a hoof up to silence her as she sneaks up to the tree’s remains. “Listen…”
Applejack and Starlight register confused looks as they listen in to what Twilight is hearing the Mean Seven’s voices from where the tree is as the others stop what they are doing as they follow Twilight.
Once they all make their way towards the tree they come across their clones as Mean Applejack and Mean Pinkie are gathering up the tree’s remains while Mean Rarity desperately searches for the elements while continuing to fight Mean Fluttershy as Mean Rainbow Dash decides to rest on the ground as Mean Twilight watches on.
“Come on, they got be here somewhere!” Mean Twilight called out to them. “We need those elements if we want to take over!”
“What elements and…Holly Celestia!” Twilight began before exclaiming in shock upon to seeing her mean clone as the others walk in on the scene equally shocked at seeing double.
“Well, well, well, look what the alicorn dragged in.” Mean Twilight commented with a snarky tone. “Herself along with her so called friends.”
“And suddenly everything that has happened all makes sense now.” Twilight glared at her evil clone as the truth dawns on her. “Every nasty thing you and your friends have said and done to trick us into thinking we said and did those things in an attempt to break up our friendship.”
“You know for somepony with your intelligence you’re pretty bright aren’t you?” Mean Twilight commented with a smirk. “If only my allies had brighter brains like yours.”
“If only so, but you don’t know as much of the Elements of Harmony as you think since you and the others don’t understand friendship as well as we do!” Twilight retorted to her clone as the others growled in the face of their clones. “And now you are going to learn why trying to break it up is a huge mistake.”
“A very huge mistake!” Applejack added as she charged at Mean Rarity as she tackled her and then immediately greeting the clone with a kick to the face. “That’s for stealing my camping gear you greedy psycho!”
As Twilight and Mean Twilight engaged in an evenly matched beam of war that Twilight was slowly winning, Starlight used her magic to blast Mean Applejack right in the face.
“Oops. Silly me.” Starlight mockingly fired back before firing another blast to send her flying into the tree’s remains. “Now who looks ridiculous? Guess I should have told you before huh.” She returned with a mean laugh back at her in retaliation for making her cry earlier as she engages in a Beam of War against her mean counterpart.
During the scuffle Mean Pinkie is constantly pushing her hooves on the tree stump as Mean Applejack constantly kicks at it as Rainbow Dash tackles and beats down Mean Fluttershy.
“This is for making Fluttershy cry and framing me, jerk!” Rainbow yelled at the mean clone as she repeatedly punched her in the face.
“Yeah! Take that you meanie!” Pinkie yelled out as she and Rarity take down Mean Rarity as the tree responded to Mean Applejack and Mean Pinkie’s constant slamming their hooves on it by ensnaring the clones in white magic vines just as Twilight and Starlight send powerful magic right at her evil clones to send them crashing into the tree and into the tree’s grasp.
"Imbeciles, you've ruined everything!" Mean Twilight shouted before a flash of magic made her along with the other clones melt into goo because of the tree’s magic before their remains disappears in a flash courtesy of Midnight’s magic disappear before anyone could find out what happened to their remains.
“Well, this sure explains a lot.” Rainbow Dash said being the first to speak up after briefly seeing their clones face to face. "And that was sure a nasty way to go." She couldn't help but feel disturbed by their death's along with everyone else who cringed and looked away when it happened.
“It sure did.” Applejack said in agreement as she apologetically turned to Rarity. “Sorry I accused you stealing my camping equipment, Rarity.”
“It’s all right darling.” Rarity waved it off as she placed a comforting hoof on Applejack’s shoulder before embracing each other in a hug together.
“Sorry I accused you of leaving me alone in the woods.” Fluttershy apologized to Rainbow as she brought her in for a hug too.
“It’s okay.” Rainbow took the apology and the hug in stride as they nuzzled their faces cheek to cheek. “At least it’s nice to see the truth clear now that we know who really was there and said what they did.”
“Truer words have never been spoken, Rainbow Dash.” Twilight said in agreement as she turned to Pinkie. “Sorry I thought you said my retreat plan was lame.”
“I’m sorry too, Twilight.” Pinkie returned with a hug. “For thinking you didn’t care about Fluttershy in favor of staying on schedule.”
“Of course I care about you as much as every pony else.” Twilight replied. “Just because I may say and do things that no pony likes time from time doesn’t mean I don’t care for every pony deep down.”
“And we know deep down that you care for us no matter what happens, Twilight.” Fluttershy replied with a hug for the alicorn princess to which she returned in kind.
“You know, if we can survive a day like this, I think our friendship is strong enough to handle anything the world can throw at us.” Twilight positively thought of their friendship as they all walk outside to glance at the full moon. “Even whatever Midnight throws at us herself. Although…” She glanced back at the Tree of Harmony which had seeds growing deep down into the ground. “...It would seem that the Tree of Harmony may not be dead after all.”
“We’ll see about that Twilight.” Midnight replied unfazed as she levitates the leftover goo from the clones so she can recreate them again later on when the time comes while crossing her arms as she watches the scene from her monitor. “Go. Set the wheels in motion.” The alicorn told Sombra as she handed her the jars as he set off to do so.
“You got it Midnight!” Sombra obliged without hesitation.
“Servants always fail you in the end!” Chrysalis commented in disappointment. “Just wait Twilight and Starlight. I will have my revenge!” She angrily vowed as Midnight places a calming hoof on her shoulder.
“And you will get it in due time.” Midnight gently but firmly assured her. “ But for now we need to keep a low profile until the end of the school year while I gather enough information to use in order to prepare ourselves for my next big plan to take over Equestria and that includes keeping an eye on the Tree of Harmony since it still managed to melt my most recent creation back down to goo.”
“But I thought King Sombra destroyed it?” Chrysalis said in confusion.
“He did but trees are capable of growing backs stronger than before which could lead to the Elements of Harmony growing back stronger than before too.” Midnight explained to the confused changeling. “Which could pose a threat to my plan should they be used against us.” She said as turned away from Chrysalis. “In the meantime, Cozy Glow will continue to feed us the information we need for our next big day.” She added as she pulled up an image of Cozy Glow gaining ahold of a copy of Twilight’s friendship lessons while looking at information on the castle security system from another image from her orb before pulling up an image of a very specific book with a picture of a bell on the front cover.