Episode 13:
Slice of Life
"I'll never understand the ponies in this town!" Cranky Doodle Donkey said when he walked in through the door, before placing his recently purchased bag of fruit onto the floor. He angrily slammed the door shut with his back leg.
Matilda, a lovely female donkey who is currently living with him ever since their reunion was busy working on her scrapbook. It was filled with so many pictures of her and Cranky's time together, from their trip to Manehatthan, to the Heart's Warming Eve party, Princess Twilight Sparkle's coronation, along with Prince Kion’s coronation. They had been through so much together recently that Matilda needed more than one book for said memories.
Even though Cranky’s attitude had improved since reuniting with the love of his life he was still feeling really annoyed with the townsponies today. "Everywhere I went, they were all gussied up and lookin' at me funny! Kept asking if I was "nervous"!"
Matilda simply smiled in response. "Did they forget the wedding is tomorrow?"
"Oh, maybe they're just as excited for us to be married as I am."
The two donkeys giggled and nuzzled their noses just knowing that nothing can break apart their love for each other.
"Well, they're going to feel awfully silly when they realize they've got the wrong date." Matilda then took a look at the invitations she just placed on her scrapbook before suddenly gasping in horror when something caught her eye taking her soon to be husband back by surprise. "The invitations are wrong! This says the wedding is today!"
"But I got such a good deal on them…"
"Oh no!"
"What now?"
"They say that the wedding isn't going to be here in Ponyville but…at Pride Rock!!"
"What?! How did that even happen?"
"Everypony in town got these! The princesses have even RSVP'd!" Matilda started to panic upon seeing this as she galloped nervously in place.
"I told you we should have eloped!"
"Oh, dear. The caterer, the flowers, the musicians! We've got to move it all to today! And to the city!"
"What?!"
Matilda didn't waste any time to burst out through the doors to find Pinkie Pie. "Where's my wedding planner?!"
Cranky looked back at the invitations, re-reading the words they said now feeling extremely cranky and ready to kill whoever wrote out these invitations. Well not kill, but certainly give said culprit quite an earful of yelling about this.
When he got to the pony who wrote out their invitations he sure made good on it.
"You told me you could do it for half what the others charged, and then you sent the invitations to everypony in town with the wrong date and wrong place! Now I'm going to have to get married in a musty old city!"
Cranky's nostrils flared angrily as Derpy, pulled out a basket of apology muffins and placed them on the counter. "Muffin?" she offered while smiling nervously.
"Do you have any idea how stressed Matilda is now?!" Cranky then sighed to keep his cool. "Well, I suppose there no use in fightin' this, is there? A Pride Lands wedding it is."
The groom-to-be walked out the door, leaving Derpy to feel terrible for her mistake and the accidental stress she had just caused for both him and the bride.
Later that day, both Twilight Sparkle and Kion ran across town, bypassing various ponies. Both the prince and princess looked determined as they rushed off to take of something very important together.
While they were passing by everypony in town, Derpy was sitting with the town’s local scientist Dr. Hooves.
"I really messed up on those invitations! I feel just awful, Doc!" She said deeply regretful.
The waiter pony placed the tray of juice onto the table and rose his nose up into the air in a snobby fashion, typical for rich jerks like him. "Hmph! Perhaps that explains why I never got mine!" He commented before leaving.
"I told Cranky I could get 'em printed for cheap, but that meant hiring somepony with no experience using a printing press."
Upon hearing it from afar, Mtoto gasped in response before looking aside to act like he heard nothing while feeling guilty himself as he recalled accidentally sneezing ink on the printing press which contributed to said date mix up.
“Uh-oh.”
“Something the matter?” His mother standing next to him asked.
“Nothing really…” He replied not wanting to admit what he did. “…thought I heard something nearby.”
“Like what?”
Unable to lie to his mother he admitted. “Something about a screw-up with the invitations that now has the Pride Lands hosting a wedding today.”
“Okay.” She calmly replied. “Not a problem. We’ll just go over to Pride Rock and let King Simba know right away of what is happening. I’m sure we can sort this out in time. Okay?”
“Okay.”
Derpy then covered her eyes in shame. "Oh, I wish there was a way I could go back in time and fix all this."
Dr. Hooves tapped his chin in thought as he thought of an idea something that Mtoto cringed for the poor pony knowing that it is not going to be a great one. “Follow me.” He said before leading her away from the café.
Dr. Hooves opened the door to his underground lab while Derpy followed close behind him, all while marveling at all of the gadgets and stuff around her.
"Going back in time is old thinking, my friend." said the stallion once he entered and began tinkering on one of his machines.
The entire room was filled with all sorts of futuristic, and somewhat retro looking, objects, materials and experiments the pony had been working on.
"I was working off a cutting-edge theory of making time come forward to you." The Doc noticed that Derpy was no longer at his side, but rather playing on a hanging model air-plane device while wearing some kind of helmet on her head. Dr. Hooves pulled a lever and lowered her down to remind her to focus and that he is still talking to her.
"My life's work, decades – centuries, really – of research and experimentation, and I nearly had it cracked! Turns out there's a magic spell for it. Who knew?"
Derpy once again got away and was now playing with an electric orb, which caused her hair to stand up every time she touched it.
"But there are so many things that magic can't explain, where science and mathematics are the real magic!"
"What are these?" Derpy asked while gazing at a tube with floating, colorful-like objects. "They're pretty."
"Ah, yes, my flameless fireworks. I never could quite figure out how to get them to ignite."
"How did you learn to make all this stuff anyway?"
"I've been studying science my whole life. Ever since a particularly traumatic experience as a foal, I've been looking for ways to make sense of the world around me. Science provides explanations of things we never thought possible! … However, I never could get to the logical conclusion as to how a lion became half alicorn." said the Doc as he looked at some of the notes and pictures he had on Prince Kion up on his wall. "Then again, I also can't understand the whole 'soul mate' theory of hers either. Now, why did we come here again?"
Derpy shook her head to remind herself of what it was for once. "Yeah. Oh! Because I accidentally sent out invitations for Cranky and Matilda's wedding with today's date instead of tomorrow's and now, instead of it being in Ponyville, It's in the Pride Lands at Pride Rock!"
Dr. Hooves rapidly shook his head in disbelief, "Great whickering stallions! I completely forgot! And I still need to get my suit tailored!" Dr. Hooves galloped out of the room, leaving Derpy alone, and once again, with no idea on how to fix her problem.
Dr. Hooves galloped towards the Carousel Boutique, with his suit on his back, and knocked on the door, with neither the unicorn nor the egret he expected answering the door. "Rarity? Rarity! Ono? Ono! Blast!"
He heard music and saw Vinyl Scratch walk by him. As always, she wore her headphones on at all times. "Please! You've got to help me!" he called out to her, getting her attention, "I lost track of time, unbelievably, and forgot that the wedding is this afternoon!"
But while he was speaking, Vinyl didn't hear anything due to her music and only watched his movements.
"Have you seen Rarity and Ono? They got to alter the sleeves on my suit, and she's got to do it now!"
Vinyl nodded her head, thinking she knew what he wanted, and gestured him to follow her.
"Oh, ha-ha, thank goodness. Lead on, my friend."
He lead him on over to the nearby bowling alley where the confused doctor tries to understand why.
"Er, why have you brought me all the way here? Rarity would never set hoof in—"
"Strike!"
Doc turned his head to see a trio of hippos wearing bowling shirts alongside the elephants. Each of them were all wearing stylish, and personalized bowling shirts.
Dr. Hooves shook his head rapidly once again at the sight of the three, "Great whickering stallions, they've got style!" he thanked Vinyl for her 'assistance' and she left the building, dancing to the music in her headphones. Dr. Hooves approached both teams and introduced himself, "Gentlecolts! Oh, I mean, Gentle hippos and elephants! I'm facing certain calamity, and I couldn't help noticing your remarkable fashion sense. Could I have the name of your incredible tailor?"
Most of the large animals turned their heads towards one elephant who can only look aside rather embarrassed before speaking up. “Oh all right. You’re looking at him. Courtesy of the elephant matriarch of the herd I have picking up a few sewing habits from her and Rarity. Here…” In quick and careful use of his trunk, Zito was able tailor the stallion’s suit no problem so that it was presentable and fitting for a wedding appearance. “My, word! You certainly are fast with that trunk of yours!"
“Just please don’t mention this to anyone, okay.” Zito insisted. “If anyone outside of here knows that then everyone will be coming to me for patch up jobs and all of that stuff that requires the Guard’s Keen Sight to handle.”
“Oh I hear you. Not really a sewing kind of guy, but need it for emergencies like these. Anyways…” He then remembered something. “…since you’re here, I actually could your help something.”
“Like what?”
“Well as you can see from around you we’re about to start the finals and our fourth member didn’t show.”
Another male elephant Johari added. “Ma Tembo is on his way here but the other couldn’t be here due to helping her son with the whole wedding problem. So think you fill the void in her absence?”
“And consider it holding up your end of the bargain. We wouldn’t tell if why you really came here if you don’t.” Zito added as he handed a bowling ball to Dr. Hooves.
He stared at the pins and started calibrating in his head the numbers for a perfect strike, but he could not find one that would accurately hit them all. "I'm sorry, gentlemen, but I will not bowl. The splits, the spares! There are simply too many variables!"
"Variables? What are you talking about?" Johari replied to assure him that there’s no complicated math involved. "Just throw the ball straight!"
"Hold on. Straight?" He noticed the way other people were throwing the balls, indeed they were straight and managing to hit many pins that way. Maybe he could play alongside their upcoming team match, after all it was the least he could do. “Very well. I'll try your "straight" technique. It just might be crazy enough to work."
In the Pride Lands, The Lion and Pony Guard all gathered together so they can discuss a plan as if something major is about to happen. A small group of Pride Landers and ponies gathered but kept a far enough distance as not to disturb them. As always, Kion and Twilight were calling the shots while the others listened attentively, openly suggestion alternatives if needed.
"Do we know what they're on about?" Octavia Melody asked.
Within the crowd were the Cutie Mark Crusaders, along with the honorary Lion Guard group, Rafiki, Big Mac, Cheerlie, Laini, and Bupu, who were all watching them today.
"The way they're huddled up like that, I'd say it's either a friendship problem or a monster attack." Mtoto answered as he used his hearing to make out what both leaders of the Guard are saying.
"A monster attack?!" Octavia exclaimed, "Blast! I'm performing at the ceremony this afternoon, and I still haven't sorted out what to play." she placed her hand over her forehead in a dramatic manner, "How am I meant to practice with a monster invading the city?"
"Maybe it's just a friendship problem," Sweetie Belle attempted to assure her from freaking out. "and it'll all be cleared up in half an hour or so."
Octavia groaned before leaving. "I hope so."
Matilda, who just appeared amongst the crowd was now shouting. "Where's Pinkie Pie?! I need my wedding planner!"
The sound of buzzing filled the air and all eyes turned their attention towards the direction of the looming shadow over them. One of the most strangest and horrible creatures anyone has ever seen. A half bear-half bee hybrid with four arms and wings growling with fury. Nobody knew what this creature was exactly, but one thing was certain is…
…The Lion and Pony Guard are going to do whatever it takes to stop it!
The monster growled loudly as it aimed it’s stinger directly at the heroes, who all quickly jumped out of the way, sliding to a halt once they landed.
Using a lift from Beshte, Applejack was quick to use her uninjured legs to land a firm blow to the creature causing him to stagger to the ground briefly because of it with the hippo quick to catch him before she could do anymore damage to herself. Both Kion and Twilight flew up and simultaneously unleashed magical beams at the creature, causing him to stumble back. Both Fuli and Rainbow Dash moved to run and fly at the creature to force it on the defense and to retreat as the others moved to chase and pursue it ready to keep taking it on by all means necessary.
“I’m afraid your wedding planner is busy helping the Lion and Pony Guard with a monster attack or whatever that horrible creature is.” Bupu bluntly broke the news to the now distressed pony.
"Oh, no! On my wedding day?! Somepony's gotta help me!"
That’s where Mtoto and Apple Bloom took charge in guiding everyone to safety.
“All right everyone for the sake of the Lion and Pony Guard everyone evacuate to the nearest caves and watering holes for safety!”
“You all know the drill, so let’s get a move on!” She quickly turned to a certain zebra. “And that does not mean you can panic and run! Got it!”
“Uh-huh.” Thurston reluctantly agreed before following after the others along with the rest of his herd.
Everyone quickly obeyed the little elephant and pony’s command as they all scurried away from the ongoing attack happening around them.
During the chaos, Matilda spotted a unicorn with a purple coat, horn, and matching darker shade of purple hair. Her cutie mark consisted of three cyan diamonds. She was currently helping the Crusaders and Honorary Lion Guard crew in instructing the other inhabitants of where to evacuate to safety and they all willingly followed her directions. From the looks of her, she was incredibly organized much like Twilight and her cutie mark sure looked similar to Rarity’s which got Matilda’s attention.
"You!"
Amethyst Star looked back at her "Me?"
"I've got to move an entire wedding from tomorrow to today at Pride Rock!"
"But nopony's asked me to organize anything since Twilight came to town." She replied unsure if she can step up to the task herself.
Before Matilda could plead her further, Bupu appeared with a confident smile. “I think I can help you both out with that, since I’ve been able to keep these antelope in line ever since I became the leader of the herd so organizing a large crowd should be doable.”
“So you’ll help me?”
Amethyst upon seeing his confidence then smiled as she responded in kind. "I used to be the best organizer in all of Ponyville. And since I’ve seen how Bupu keeps a herd together, you can bet your wedding vows we will!”
“As long as you say the magic words?”
“Please? Both of you?”
“Of course.”
Just then the bugbear growled once more. It had managed to grab hold of both Pinkie and Bunga, giving them both a nuggie with his paws. Rainbow and Fuli tried to save her, but the former was knocked aside by the monster's second paw while the Pegasus ended up hitting a tree. She barely had time to fly out of the way before the monster aimed and crashed into the tree in an attempt to attack her.
"Come on! We better get to the salon before that monster flattens it!" Matilda urgently guided both helpers away before they could get caught in the crossfire.
From the looks at what is happening around them especially when King Simba and Queen Nala moved to join in on the fray not wanting their son to be harmed, everybody was in for a busy day today.
Meanwhile, Derpy was flying by the park, bypassing the Lion and Pony Guard fighting the monster with Applejack trying to subdue the creature with her lasso with Ono going in for the relentless pecking in his attempts to assist her. All while Derpy was far more focused on her dilemma.
"What am I gonna do?" She gasped once she saw the future bride galloping on ahead. Derpy flew beside her in hopes to be able to make up for it. "Matilda! I feel so bad about the invitations! Is there anything I can do—"
"FLOWERS!" Matilda screamed as she galloped away. Derpy smiled upon seeing an opportunity immediately presented to her.
Derpy wasted no time as she made her way back to Ponyville to speak with the flower ponies, Lilly Valley, Daisy and Rose only when she made her request their response was not what she expected it to turn out.
"You want Matilda's arrangements... today?!" Lily gasped and she and her two friends all fainted.
"This is awful!" Daisy shouted.
"The horror, the horror!" Rose exclaimed dramatically.
"So there's no way you can do it?" Derpy asked, hoping there would be some kind of last second solution to the matter.
"We don't even have Matilda's flowers in yet, much less arranged!" Lily gripped her head with her hooves. "This is a disaster!"
Knowing that is going to go nowhere, Derpy turned and walked away from the ponies. "Okay. Thanks anyway."
Just as both Fuli and Rainbow Dash pursed the bugbear, Lilly noticed what the instant rush caused.
"Look, girls! A broken stem on one of the zinnias!"
"Whaaat?!" the three fainted once more. "Oh, the horror, the horror!"
If anybody else saw this, they could only shake their heads and say “Oh, dear.” In response to the overly-dramatic display on par with Rarity’s on a bad day, because clearly these girls have such a high standard in regards to their flowers.
Just outside of Pride Rock, two ponies, a unicorn named Lyra and an earth pony named Bon Bon worked together to decorate the area around them in time for the wedding. So far, everything was going smoothly. Well, the wedding preparations were at least, hard to tell about the battle with the bug-bear outside.
"I have to admit, when Matilda said we needed this place ready by today, I was a little nervous." Bon Bon commented to her partner as they hung decorations from atop Pride Rock.
Lyra smiled in response as they bumped flanks together. "With you by my side, I knew we'd get it done in time."
"There is nothing like a best friend is there?” Bon Bon said.
“Anything’s possible as long as we know each other.” Lyra commented just when they both heard a loud roar in the distance.
"What was that?" Bon Bon asked.
"There's some monster attacking the city or something." Lyra casually replied, like it’s something to expect nowadays.
Bon Bon shared the same casual tone like her partner. “What is it this time? A creature from the Everfree Forest? Another Outsider attack? A fiery enraged alicorn on the loose again?"
“No, no, it’s definitely not Luna nor Twilight. It’s actually some sort of bugbear." Lyra answered.
Suddenly, Bon Bon turned to her friend with a rather serious expression. “Did you say bugbear?" She quickly hid behind the doors in terror. "It found me!"
"What are you talking about, Bon Bon?" Lyra asked, noticing that she is very worried for her life and very unlike her to act like this.
The earth pony took one quick look for anyone nearby before turning back to Lyra. "My name isn't Bon Bon. It's "Special Agent Sweetie Drops". I work for a super-secret anti-monster agency in Canterlot, or at least I did until the bugbear went missing from Tartarus a few years back."
Lyra looked on clearly confused of what she is saying. "What are you talking about?"
Bon Bon then pulled out (apparently from nowhere) a briefcase with all sorts of spy gadgets. She pulled out a grappling hook and a rope. "When it escaped, we had to shutter the whole agency. Every last shred of evidence of the organization's existence was destroyed. Celestia demanded complete deniability."
Lyra was still not getting any of this. "…What?"
"It was me who captured the bugbear. I had to go deep cover in Ponyville and assume the name Bon Bon. I never thought it'd be able to track me, but now it has."
Lyra could not believe what she is hearing now. "Are you saying our whole friendship was based on a lie?!"
"I'm sorry, Lyra! I couldn't tell you for your own protection!"
Now feeling betrayed and on the verge of tears feeling that all of this was a lie moved to confront her supposed friend in front of her. "B-b-but the lunches! The-the long talks! My sister's funeral! The benches we sat on! None of that was real?!"
Bon Bon smiled as she wiped Lyra's tears away. "Of course it was all real. You're my very best friend."
Just then their moment was interrupted when another roar was heard. Bon Bon took her grappling hook and prepared to escape via the widow. "I've got to go find a crowd to blend into before I put you in danger!" She put on a pair of shades. "I'll see you at the wedding." With that, Bon Bon, or more accurately Agent Sweetie Drops, lowered down attaching her hook to the stone rocks of the kingdom's capital and made her way on over to the commotion.
Lyra called out as she ran off. "Fine! But we're going to talk about this later."
Meanwhile, Dr. Hooves was still bowling with the guys where they are all facing a close game with their opponents the hippos, led by Beshte’s father Basi. Thanks to Dr. Hooves they were able to make it a close game.
It all came down to the final frame where Dr. Hooves had just rolled his final frame. Eight out of ten pins were knocked down and unfortunately for him all but the two pins on the far separate ends of the lane.
“Oh…Seven/ten split, man. Harshest of the harsh.” Johari commented with pity that had to happen to him. “But if you pick this up, we win the whole shebang!”
“Come on, work your magic on this shot!” Zito hoped for the best for a first timer as Dr. Hooves quickly did some complicated mathematics calculations with his calculator, abacus, and all devices before moving to try his luck on converting this split.
“Math don’t fail me now.”
With a deep breath and the best calm approach to his roll, he moved to hook it to the left in the hopes of getting the left pin to move and knock over the one on the right. He had the right approach, only when it came down to the crunch the ball only knocked the left pin alone with the right pin remaining untouched leaving three elephants to all groan upon seeing of how close their loss came down to.
“Dang it!”
“So close!”
“Good game.” Ma Tembo moved to shake Basi’s upper leg with her trunk along with the other three hippo’s.
“Same to you as well.” Basi commented like any good sport not even gloating about it before turning the disappointed Dr. Hooves. “And don’t feel too bad about not making that shot. As far as I know no one I know around from home has been able to do it before.”
“I know. It’s just…” The dismayed pony still couldn’t help but remark that he almost had it. “…I hooked it a little too much to the left. I thought I had it there.”
“Well, if you keep practicing then maybe someday you might be able to get that shot all rolled down.” He chuckled along with the other hippos. “Oh, if only my son wasn’t too busy protecting the Pride Lands and Equestria to be able to hear that.”
“Thanks.” Dr. Hooves moved to shake Basi’s hoof as the best good sport and gentleman just when Derpy quickly busted through the doors with good news.
“Doc! I've finally figured out how I can help! Your flameless fireworks look just like flowers! I'll use them for the wedding!”
She quickly flew away to do so much to the doctor’s horror upon seeing that’s not such a good idea at all. “Great whickering stallions! Wait!” He quickly turned to the hippos and elephants he bowled alongside with. “Anyways, I got to get ready for this afternoon. I’ll catch you all sometime next week.” He waved to everyone before rushing on out of the alley to stop Derpy from whatever she is planning. “Wait! The flameless fireworks are extremely volatile! Without knowing what the trigger is, they could go off at any moment…!” Just then he witnessed, the fight between the Lion and Pony Guard with the bugbear continued to rage on having moved to Ponyville now. “… My word, is that a bugbear?"
While Twilight and Kyoga were both trying throwing down their magic at it, Rainbow and Kion trying their work by unleashing their punches and claws at it in an attempt to bring it down, while both Simba and Nala traded stingers and claws to keep it at bay all without getting stung. The bugbear was able to shrug off their attacks although barely since the lion turned alicorn along with his father are really doubling down on his slashing his claws at him, especially after managing to sting Fuli and Rarity during the attack. It was getting to the point both father and son were starting to get the upper hand in this battle.
Just then, Twilight noticed something hiding in the nearby bushes. She smiled knowing exactly who’s lurking in there before rushing on over there after giving the bugbear another blast to buy a quick rush route on over there.
“The banana gets peeled at midnight.” Bon Bon’s voice whispered to her ear as she floated with her head looking on as casual and stoic on an okay day.
“And the grapes are squished in the morning.” Twilight replied while turning her head in the pony’s direction who emerged from the bushes and tilted her shades to reveal her eyes to the pony princess.
“Hello, Agent Sparkle.”
“Hi, Agent Sweetie Drops. Glad you can drop by and as you can see that bugbear isn’t going down that easily.”
“I can tell.”
“You have what we need to take it down?”
“Got it right here.” Sweetie Drops pulled out her briefcase and a small tranquilizer dart and a gun to shoot it with. "One good shot with this, and that beast will go down faster than a raging three-headed chimera in the forest." Sweetie Drops moved to give the dart one good heavy dose of syringe before delicately placing it inside the gun and handing it to the princess. "Can you use this with great responsibility?"
“Absolutely!” She turned to Kion who managed to get a glimpse of their conversation before seeing the alicorn nodding at him.
“Everybody take cover!” Kion shouted to everyone before moving to slash his claws right at the bug bear to get him to looking away from where Twilight is standing so she can take her shot.
Everyone moved to do so just when Twilight moved to shoot the gun with it’s dart aimed directly at the bugbear’s back.
“Night night, crazy guy!” Bunga yelled out just when Twilight pulled the trigger. One swift aim and pull of the trigger, the tranquilizer flew out and hit the bugbear directly on its back. The creature roared in agony before moving to collapse to the ground with now sleepy eyes and his wings folding shut.
Upon seeing the creature is now neutralized, both Kion and Twilight landed in front of it, gave it one good gentle touch to make sure it was out cold, which it was thanks to the powerful chemical used in the tranquilizer dart.
After blowing the smoke from the gun, she declared. “That should keep it down for now.”
“Hopefully.” Kion sighed in relief while being hugged by his parents thankful that he is safe. “Long enough that we can get it back to Tartarus and be back here in time for the wedding.”
“We’ll let the mayor know to what for you all while you all handle that.” The lion king assured before moving on towards the nearby spa so they can both freshen up. “In the meantime Nala, shall we?” He asked with a grin.
“Only if you promise not to drag me in cold water again.” She returned with a knowing look.
“Oh come on Nala, you know I wouldn’t dream of doing that. Besides the water’s hot enough for us both to get comfortable enough before we head back to Pride Rock. And by that I really comfortable.” He added rather suggestively much to his son’s discomfort.
“Just try not to get too comfortable, okay.” Nala kindly yet firmly replied before looking on at their son apologetically for having to witness this along with a look to make it clear one day he’ll understand it when he gets to be their age.
Before heading out, Twilight turned back in Sweetie Drops direction where they both exchanged a final salute before parting ways.
“Ta ta!”
“Thanks Sweetie Drops!”
While the secret agent moved to swing away from the scene, the others moved on over to Tartarus with the now knocked out bearbug in tow.
As a secret agent, nobody really knows who Sweetie Drops really is. The only exception is the prince and princess after being informed by Celestia herself in emergency situations.
Just when Bunga moved to ask about her, Kion quickly shook his head against it. “Uh-uh. Don’t even ask.”
“Why not?!”
Twilight raised a single wing in his direction to silence him. “Sorry, that’s classified information.”
Meanwhile at the spa, Matilda was still frantic over the wedding which is only hours away. "Oh, there are so many things I'm forgetting!" she was laying on a spa-bed with the spa attendants working on her mane, "I hope Cranky remembers to tell the musicians! Oh! Oh! I'll never get my mane done in time!"
Muhimu the zebra who happened to be sitting on the chair next to her moved to comfort her. “Easy, Matilda. I’m sure it’ll all work out in the end. I mean not everything is known to happen under ideally. I mean…” She turned to her boy who is relaxing in the hot tub. “…take my son for example. Giving birth to him didn’t happen in the Pride Lands.”
“No?”
“No. It happened while traveling through the Outlands, and even still he turned out to be fine and is quite a strong and healthy little boy himself.”
The little zebra neighed in response to confirm the truth in her mother’s words just when one of the female spa workers move to tend to ease her worries. "Muhimi’s right, my dear! You must relax! We can handle anything! We once did somebody's hair during the ceremony!"
"Oh, it's true, it's true! They really are the best!" Another guest said, who happened to be the large purple sea monster that the Lion and Pony Guard came across during their first trip to the Everfree Forest resting in the hot tub.
"Matilda, I've just got to say, I already feel like we're family!"
Matilda moved to politely shake his hand though still looked on rather uneasy. "You do?"
"Of course! I'm Stephen Magnet, Cranky's best beast!"
Matilda was very surprised to hear this while the lady worked on her mane. "You're Stephen Magnet?"
"Well, what'd you expect, a bugbear? I've known Cranky forev-er! Surely he must have told you about the time he saved me from Flash Freeze Lake?"
"…You're Stephen Magnet."
"Oh, I know, I know! Typical Cranky, to leave out minor details, like the fact that I'm, y'know, a sea monster, right? I just love that old burro!"
"I'm sorry, Stephen. I guess I assumed you were a pony. And I had no idea you had such adventures together."
"Oh, honey, you don't know the half of it! But let me tell you something. In all that we've been through together, the only thing he ever cared about was finding you."
Matilda wiped away a single tear that escaped her eye. "Really?"
"Well, that and a baldness cure." Stephen added with a laugh.
Matilda smiled as the ladies worked on making her mane stunning for her big day. "He is the sweetest thing, isn't he? All the stress I've put myself through. All the stress I've put him through. The only thing that matters is that we're together. The wedding isn't the important thing – the marriage is."
Much to her surprise, Stephen started laughing in response. "Oh, goodness gracious. If you believe that, I have got a bridge to sell you! All these folk traveling from Ponyville to Pride Rock, putting on uncomfortable clothes, sitting through a long ceremony, you think any of them care about the marriage? Honey, the wedding is everything."
As if that wasn’t bad enough, Matilda was now left shaking and trembling in great worry with what is about to happen…
…luckily for her both the lion king and queen just happened to be escorted inside the room having heard every word before they both moved to help Matilda out with her current wedding stress.
Elsewhere in Ponyville, Vinyl had returned home where she is currently living alongside her cousin Octavia in a house where it each half of the house was styled to their own liking.
Said pony with a pink bowtie was currently practicing on her cello, but she was clearly dissatisfied with the current song she is playing.
"Ugh, all these wedding songs are so... standard. I want Matilda and Cranky's wedding to be special." She continued playing while Vinyl came up with an idea of how to help her out on that.
On her side of the room, Vinyl played on her DJ station, scratching the records, providing dub-step beats to the scene. But it didn’t work wonders with Octavia's music.
"Thanks, but I'm not sure that's appropriate for a wedding, is it?" Octavia resumed her practicing but Vinyl wasn’t about to give up there. She was determined to find the right music to blend with her stylish cello music.
She played a different track, providing backup beats, creating a new and fresh invigorating sound.
"That's more like it!"
The two musically talented ponies continued to play the new music together. For one moment, the two stopped, smiling knowingly at one another. Even when they both different tastes in musics, they both knew of how to make music speak to each other.
Octavia played her cello while Vinyl played on her tracks. The two were completely lost in their own music, once these two got in the grove there was no stopping it. Like true artists. Vinyl plugged in her stereos to increase the sound and Octavia played faster on her cello, both acting like total rock stars. For one final performance, they were going to smash their instruments like a punk rock star until Octavia remembered something very important. Something that’s right around the corner or more accurately something afar.
"Stop! I'm going to be late for the wedding!"
The two then made their way out…ridding on Vinyl's mobile DJ booth.
Along the way, the two started picking up other wedding guests who had all traveled from Ponyville to the Pride Lands for the celebration in the most comedic and unexpected way possible. This was something nobody saw coming.
Amongst the Pride Landers still in Ponyville who ended up getting caught up and catching the literal bus ride on over to the actual wedding destination, were Simba and Nala who had just appeared with newly styled and freshen up suits and dresses, along with Bupu, Laini and the galagos (much to Bupu’s annoyance due to the fact that they are all still clinging onto his fur),
Matilda, now in her wedding gown, was nervously walking with Mr. and Mrs. Cake, who were holding her large wedding cake. The mobile DJ booth swooped in and carried the two as well.
Cranky, with suit and all, saw the contraption coming towards him, but he managed to duck in time…all while losing his wig in the process.
They ended up hitting the Twilicane, dropped by Lemon Hearts, which upturned the vehicle and tossed everybody through the portal and had them all skidding on towards Pride Rock. All the while Gummy the alligator was watching from afar with his usual blank expression. His own words spoken through his own mind.
"What is life? Is it nothing more than the endless search for a cutie mark? And what is a cutie mark but a constant reminder that we're all only one bugbear attack away from oblivion? And what of the poor gator? Flank forever blank, destined to an existential swim down the river of life to... an unknowable destiny?"
Amazingly, everybody who was invited managed to land perfectly onto their chairs, Octavia and Vinyl landed perfectly where the band was to play and the wedding cake landed on the table without a single frosting flower out of place along with a single hair out of place.
Much to Bupu’s relief, the galagos all jumped off of him and rushed on over to their seats. “Now I know how Fuli feels whenever they all jump into her.” He muttered to himself.
Octavia smiled at Vinyl for her quick thinking. "Something like that might work. Nice thinking, cousin."
After that wild experience, more of the guests arrived, including the royal alicorns themselves. Celestia and Luna were currently near the table bearing wedding gifts for the bride and groom, though both sisters were speaking amongst each other in a rather angry tone with each other because they apparently realized something at the last second when they got there.
"What do you mean you left it on the counter?!"
"I thought you were bringing it!" Luna replied through her teeth.
"Well, this is just wonderful!"
The two princesses put on fake smiles on Spike walked up and placed his own present on the table before leaving.
"I handled the gift for Cadance and Shining Armor!" said Luna, "You were supposed to do this one, remember?"
"Well, we can't just come to this wedding empty-hoofed!"
“Ahem!” Kiara’s voice called out to them as she looked on with narrowed eyes and appeared at the table with the gift they accidentally left behind along with placing her own at the table. “You’re welcome.”
Both sisters were left feeling and looking sheepish as a result of the young princess’s helpful act though she wasn’t really too pleased of having to do it. At least it was a good thing they agreed to watch over her while their parents helped the Lion and Pony Guard deal with the bugbear. Deep down she is starting to feel that nearly losing Kion had quite an impact on them.
At the same time, she happened to turn her head towards Shining Armor sobbing like a baby while his wife tried her best to comfort him. “Is he okay?”
"It's alright." She assured the young lion princess. "He always cries at weddings." To her and Kiara’s surprise, Shining Armor bawled even harder much to the former’s eye rolling dismay. "…Usually it's not until the wedding starts."
At that point they heard two more voices bawling their eyes out, and it just so happened to be the gorilla princes that the Lion and Pony Guard escorted back home once before after they forgot their father’s message to King Simba one time.
“And it sounds like I have found my boys new friends already.” The gorilla king remarked while taking pity on them. “As long as the lovely lady doesn’t wind up suffering an unfortunate accident.” He muttered that part to himself not wanting to draw even more question marks from both princesses.
“What was that?” Kiara asked having picked that bit up.
“Nothing. That’s for another time, okay.”
“Fine.”
Derpy having arrived moved to admire the display of the colorful flower shaped stones she had borrowed from Dr. Hooves. "These flameless fireworks look even better than flowers!"
Both Simba and Nala had arrived and with the latter moving to take her seats next to their daughter with spots open for the Lion and Pony Guard to sit next to them. Since Pride Rock is his kingdom capital, Simba will have the honor of marrying both Matilda and Cranky Doodle today.
“Are both Kion and Twilight okay? And did you get to take that bugbear down alongside the Lion and Pony Guard?” Her eldest child asked her mother as she sat next to her.
“Of course they’re okay. Everything all went accordingly.” She gently assured with a warm motherly smile.
“But where are they?!” She urgently asked upon seeing the wedding is about to start.
“Knowing Twilight…” She replied as she saw the sun in position ready to set just when warm colors appeared in the sky. “…they should be here right about…
Instantly, with one teleportation spell, the Lion and Pony Guard had appeared right on the spot, and all in their best clothes along with everyone in attendance.
“Now!”
Upon arriving and getting everyone's attention, Kion moved to make an announcement. "Great news, everybody! The bugbear is defeated and is back in Tartarus as we speak!"
Everybody in the room cheered, giving Bon Bon the chance to quietly approach Lyra, who sat with her legs and arms crossed, not looking at her, still hurt by her sudden departure and reveal that she’s a secret agent.
"Hey."
"Hello." Lyra still didn't look at her.
"So, uh, you didn't happen to mention our earlier conversation about my secret identity…" She whisper asked through gritted teeth, "…to anybody, did you?"
Lyra finally opened her eyes and turned to look at the secretive pony in the eyes in return. "No. I did not. And you're not the only one with a secret, y'know. You know those expensive imported oats you were saving for a special occasion? I cooked them up and ate them! All of them!"
Lyra glared at Bon Bon, but she could tell by just reading her expression that Lyra wasn’t really mad and upon realizing it the former started to laugh.
"It's sort of thrilling to reveal your deepest, darkest secrets!"
"That's what best friends are for. You're the brains…"
"And you're the bronze."
The two best friends embraced each other with a warm and friendly hug just knowing that no secret could break the strong and powerful bond they shared together. A best friend bond, heck, maybe even a romantic bond like two peas in a pod.
At the same time on the opposite side of the seating, both Celestia and Luna were still sour with each other for forgetting the wedding present, only to have the soon to be queen of the Pride Lands be the one to bring it.
"Next time, you can just bring your own gift, and I'll bring mine." Celestia said to Luna in a hushed and still angry tone.
"Fine." She bitterly agreed.
Derpy looked around to her surrounding on towards the portal to make sure that was the last of the guests arriving just when Dr. Hooves came galloping towards Pride Rock. Once he approached her, she saw that the pony is now wearing a long colorful scarf around his neck and the same outfit he was wearing the first time he came.
"There you are! My suit has vanished and this was the only thing left in my closet! How do I look?"
"Like a million bits!" Derpy happily replied as she hugged him.
For a moment, the Doc actually enjoyed the embrace feeling great relief and pleasure out of it.
He then shook his head, realizing what was happening upon seeing what is in front of him upon seeing the sun is about to set.
"Great whickering stallions, look at the time! We'd better get on over there. Allons-y!" He walked on over to where the seats are placed, all while looking aside to hide his personal embarrassment.
Cranky stood to the side, where Stephen was, with the former still very reluctant to go on with the wedding. "I can't believe I lost my hair! I look ridiculous. The love of my life deserves better than this!"
"Have no fear, Cranky, my dear. It's Stephen Magnet's mustache to the rescue!" Using one of his scales, much like Rarity did when they first met, he cut off his mustache and placed it over Cranky's head, combed it and added hair spray for that special shine fit for a wedding. Now Cranky’s previous frown turned upside down.
"Aw, thanks, buddy."
The happy sea monster hugged him. "Oh, no problem." He then gently pushed him forward towards the altar, "Now you get in there and marry that donkey!"
Matilda and Cranky were now facing one another under a hand-crafted altar where they both smiled very happy for each other, while Simba stood in the center, ready to start the ceremony.
"Well, is everybody here?" Upon seeing that are no more last second arrivals he proceeded to start the ceremony. “Good!” He cleared his throat before beginning with everyone all focused on the happy couple.
“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join these two in mare-trimony. As I look around this room, I can only imagine how uncomfortable Cranky must be." The audience laughed as the groom tugged on his collar, already sweating, but not out of nervousness, but embarrassment knowing just how true to the core it is. "But I also see so many ponies and Pride Landers, closet friends and allies from here to the most snowy hills and mountains beyond the northern border outside of the kingdom, from all parts from of this kingdom and all of Equestria, brought together by love."
Cadance nuzzled against Shining Armor who returned it in kind by wrapping his arm around her with a single tear falling down from his eye. At the same time, Muhimu smiled as she watched her little boy give a soft neigh in response to the king’s ongoing speech.
"Cranky searched all across the great land of Equestria to find Matilda, and no matter what obstacles kept them apart, love would finally bring them together, just as it has brought all of us together now."
As Simba spoke, both Celestia and Luna looked at each other with regret before smiling and held hooves together. After all they went through in the last thousand years it would be silly of them to this little argument like this get between them. They still loved each other and are together again and that’s what matter the most.
"It's remarkable to me how a story like Cranky's search for Matilda could fill this room with such a unique collection of friends! It makes you realize that everybody is the star of their own story. And it's not just the main characters in our stories that make life so rich! It's everybody and everypony – those who play big parts and those who play small."
"If it weren't for everybody in this room and many more who couldn't be here today, Cranky and Matilda's lives wouldn't be as full and vibrant as they are."
Even though the speech itself was meant for the couple, everyone could tell that he is also talking about each and everyone here today. How much they all meant to him and how much they all meant to each other. Stephen started to cry tears of joy as he hugged Bulk Biceps who was left completely caught off-guard by the heartwarming gesture.
"And so, in front of all these loved ones... Cranky, do you take this donkey to be your lawfully wedded wife?"
"You bet I do!"
"And do you, Matilda, take this donkey to be your lawfully wedded husband?"
Matilda started tearing up, "I do!"
"Then I'm proud to say, I now pronounce you jack and jenny!"
The two lovers sealed their newly blossomed marriage with a kiss, which had everyone clapping and cheering happily for them.
Suddenly, the flameless fireworks started to glow and rise up. Dr. Hooves watched on as his creations started to activate. In a dazzling display, the fireworks went up, exploding into the sky in a fantastic rainbow sparkle display while wowing everybody.
Dr. Hooves laughed with joy and hugged Derpy. "Of course! They need love to ignite! How could I have missed it?!"
Matilda and Cranky happily watched on as they held on to each other together. While their wedding didn’t go the way they expected, but it still all worked out in the end.
An hour later just when the sun is starting to disappear during the reception, Matilda and Cranky shared their first dance as husband and wife while everybody else chatted happily with one another, talking about how beautiful the wedding was and what a happy couple Cranky and Matilda made.
All while the Lion and Pony Guard all watched from afar on top of a building, happily gazing down at all of the love down below. The love between everyone around being a blessing in full display all around them whether it was from friends, or siblings, or husbands and wives, neighbors, cousins, teammates, co-workers, all of them showered with happiness all amongst each other.
“You know something, guys and girls.” Twilight said to everyone. “We are so lucky to be able live here and in Equestria. I can't imagine how things would be had I not met you all."
“Probably a bleak and friendless background before turning to a life of crime.” Bunga replied with a chuckle before realizing what he just said. “I mean, probably not quite as warm and colorful as the sky right now.”
Twilight didn’t take offense to that and lightly jabbed him in the elbow. “Nope.”
“That’s true Little B.” Beshte agreed. “"I can't even imagine what it would be like without having meet everyone of her in Equestria."
“And I could say the same thing about what it would be like if we hadn’t come across Ponyville when we did.” Ono said agreeing with Beshte too.
“Well it certainly wouldn’t have been as wonderful as we are right now.” Kion commented. “And I’m sure glad to have you in your lives right now.”
“And I couldn’t have said it any better myself.” Twilight agreed with that statement wholeheartedly before they all gathered together for a group hug. “I love you all so much!"
During the group hug, Kion wrapped one of his free paws around Fuli’s back at the same time Applejack did the same with Rarity who both winced in pain.
"Ow! Kion, that's where the bugbear bit me!"
“Mine too, Applejack!”
"Sorry!"
“My bad, Rarity!”