//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 – Curiously Conjured Cyclonic Conundrum? // Story: The Conjurer of Oz // by TheGSPony //------------------------------// The Conjurer of Oz Written by TheGSPony Authors Note: Listed below is the crossover character list of all characters that have been revealed up to this point for anyone who forget from the last chapter I will be including it at each chapter so everyone can have a quick reference in case anyone forgot. Well this is chapter 2 hopefully it is as good as the first if not better. As before, constructive criticism is much appreciated I want to try and improve my writing so you enjoy it more. Also if you spot any errors or something I failed to ponify let me know so I can correct it. I will also try and get these chapters out quicker from now on. I will aim to get one chapter done every 2 weeks or quicker. Well that’s all for now, happy reading and hope you enjoy. Also forgot to do this before, but all characters belong to their respected owners and what not. Character List: Dorothy – Twilight Sparkle Aunt Em – Granny Smith Uncle Henry – Big Mac Hunk – Applejack Hickory – Fluttershy Zeke – Rainbow Dash Todo – Spike Miss Gulch – The Great and Powerful Trixie Chapter 2 – Curiously Conjured Cyclonic Conundrum? Twilight and Spike had been wondering down the road to Canterlot for a few minutes now, when Twilight suddenly made a realization. “Hey, Spike did you see Rarity in town earlier today? I haven’t seen her all day.” She asked. “I went over to her Boutique but Sweetie Belle said she went to some convention in Canterlot.” Spike replied. “What do you mean by some convention?” Twilight questioned pressing spike for more information. “It’s some sort of convention for people who love Emeralds and stuff, I hope she brings back some souvenirs for me” Spike said with a look of longing in his eyes that cause Twilight to roll her eyes. They continued to walk down the path when Spike noticed a traveler pony’s cart of the side of the road up ahead. “Hey Twilight, that isn’t Trixie’s cart is it?” Spike asked while nervously hiding behind Twilight. “I don’t think so, let’s go check it out.” Twilight said as they crossed a bridge and approached the cart. The cart was a large wooden cart on four wheels and completely enclosed. Painted on its side was a sign that read: Professor SWIRL Acclaimed by The CROWNED HEADS of EQUESTRIA Let Him Read Your Past • Present and Future In His Crystal Also Juggling and Sleight of Hand “Well it’s definitely not Trixie’s Cart” Twilight said as they approached, “let’s see if this Professor Swirl is around.” Upon approaching the cart they could hear somepony humming aloud and rummaging around in the cart. They walk around to the entrance just as an older unicorn stallion proceeds to step out wearing a black Stetson on his head with a suit and tie. The older pony looks up at them and stops humming aloud. “Well, well, a houseguest?” he says as he spots the young mare, “and who might you be?” “I…” just as Twilight begins to speak the stallion interrupts. “No, now don’t tell me” he says as he approaches a fire pit and sits down, rubbing his chin, thinking to himself. “Let’s see, you’re travelling in disguise. No, that’s not right” he continues as he puts his hoof to his head, “You’re going on a visit?” he asks again as he looks at her but realizes he’s wrong due to her vacant expression. “No, I’m wrong,” he continues as his gaze reaches her laden saddlebags and then finally concludes, “You’re running away.” “How did you guess?” Spike exclaims suddenly. “Ha, Ha!” the pony laughs heartily as he explains his abilities, “Professor Swirl never guesses he knows.” Spike stares wide eyes as this knowledge sinks in, while Twilight just rolls her eyes. “Now, why are you running away” Professor Swirl inquired. “Well….” Twilight began “No, no, no, don’t tell me,” Swirl interrupted, “Um, they don’t understand you at home, they don’t appreciate you,” He continued while gauging Twilight’s reaction. “You want to see other lands, big cities, big mountains, big oceans.” He concluded smiling as he saw Twilight’s face light up at the mention of cities, Spike continuing to remain in awe at the stallion’s apparent mind reading ability. “It’s just like you could read what was inside of me!” Twilight exclaimed while Spike shifted his eyes down to the campfire and noticed a large basket of hay fries crisping next to it. “Yes, well um” Professor Swirl answered while noticing Spike now drooling at the site of the fries, his stomach rumbling as he slowly approached. “Spike!” Twilight yelled, suddenly noticing Spikes sudden infatuation with the food, “that’s not polite. We haven’t been asked yet.” “Ah haha,” Swirl heartily laughed at the Spikes drooling state, “He’s perfectly welcome” at this Spike picked up the fries and proceeded to engulf them whole. “As one pony to another, or well a dragon in this case” Swirl stated as he proceeded to levitate another basket of hay fries next to the fire to crisp. “Here now, let’s see, where were we?” He asked Twilight. “Please Professor, why can’t we go with you…” Twilight asked placing her hoof on Swirls shoulder, “…and see all the crowned heads of Equestria?” she pleaded while looking into his eyes. Upon hearing the young mare mention the crowned heads of Equestria Professor Swirl looked up with a bit of confusion and asked, “Do you know any?” “Why as a matter of fact…” Twilight began with a look of pride in her eyes only to be interrupted by Professor Swirl with his sudden realization of what she meant. “Oh! You mean the thing,” he said pointing to the sign on the cart, “Yes, Well, I never do anything without consulting my crystal first,” he continued as he stood up from the fire pit and proceeded to the cart. “Let’s go inside here. We’ll…” he began as he ushered the lavender mare toward his cart, “Just come along. I’ll show you.” As Twilight Sparkle stepped into the cart her eyes took a moment to adjust to the lack of lighting and began to take in the marvelous collection of mystical artifacts displayed all along the shelving in the cart. She saw everything from ancient books to skulls of ponies from ancient times and sitting on a small stand in the middle of a table was a small clear crystal ball that gave off a hint of magic. “That’s right. Here, sit right down here. That’s it.” Professor Swirl said as he proceeded to light the candles in the room and then take his place seated in front of the crystal ball. “This is the same genuine, magic, authentic crystal used by the Princesses Celestia and Luna in the days of the ancient Ala’Cornus empire, in which Celestia first saw the approach of the malevolent being known as Discord and the rise of Nightmare Moon and so on and so on.” Swirl continued as he levitated a sorcerer’s hat onto his head. This hat had a blue color with several stars and moons visible circling around the hat and at the top of the hat it had a single bell and several more bells lined the rim of the hat. “Wait, your hat looks just like the hat of Star Swirl the Bearded?” Twilight asked realizing that the hat looked just like the one from her costume for Nightmare Night a while back. “Oh, you know of Star Swirl the Bearded!” Professor Swirl exclaimed, “Why I was the former roommate of Star Swirl’s current descendant’s Father’s, Brother’s, Nephew’s, Cousin.” Swirl attempted to explain to the now confused mare. “O-kay?” Twilight deadpanned not quite grasping the relation hidden in the explanation. “Well, let’s move on then,” Swirl stated while moving the crystal ball closer to him. “Now, you’d better close your eyes, young filly, for a moment, in order to better in tune with the infinite.” He rehearsed as he took her saddlebags and when Twilight had closed her eyes, he proceeded to rummage through the bag looking for anything to aid him in his fortune telling. “We ah, we can’t do these things without reaching out into the infinite,” he continued having at last found a picture of her with Granny Smith standing in front of Sweet Apple Acres. He proceeded to return the items to the saddlebags and placed them on the ground before continuing, “Yes, that’s all right. Now you can open them. We’ll gaze into the Crystal.” Professor Swirl and Twilight leaned in toward the crystal attempting to see into it. “Ah what’s this I see?” Swirl exclaimed, “A house with a picket fence and a barn with a weathervane of a red apple.” Swirl continued looking up at Twilight as he spoke observing her reactions. “That’s Applejack’s Farm” Twilight said surprised at the detail of the professor’s description. “Yes, there’s an older mare, she’s wearing an orange scarf with red apples on it, her face is careworn.” Swirl said attempting to describe the mare in the photo from memory. “That’s Granny Smith!” Twilight exclaimed at the detail at which he was able to describe her. “Yes, her cutie mark is of a fresh apple pie” Professor Swirl said, continuing to watch Twilight’s reaction. “That’s right. What’s she doing?” Twilight asked, causing Professor Swirl to gaze deeper into the crystal. “Well, I can’t quite see,” He stated as he stared into the crystal trying to discern what was happening in its depths. “Why, she’s crying. Somepony has hurt her. Somepony has just about broken her heart.” Swirl continued as he turned to look at Twilight. “Me?” Twilight asked with a bit of hesitation fearing the inevitable response. “Well, it’s somepony she loves very much, somepony she’s been very kind to, somepony she’s taken care of in sickness.” He explained while continuing to look at Twilight instead of the crystal ball. “I had the Strangles once and she stayed right by me every minute.” Twilight said worry starting to show on her face. “What’s she doing now?” She asked. “She’s… What’s this?” He exclaimed his voice putting on a sense of urgency. “She’s putting her hoof on her heart. She’s dropping down on the bed.” He continued trying to impart the urgency of the situation on Twilight. “No, no, no.” Twilight said, as the worry started to show on her face. “That’s all. The crystal’s gone dark” Professor Swirl sighed as he leaned back from the crystal. “Well, you don’t suppose she could really be sick do you?” Twilight asked, having stood up at the sudden sense of urgency and the desire to check up on the older mare started to take hold of her. In her panic she proceeded to grab her saddlebags and head toward the exit of the cart, “I’ve got to go home right away.” She proclaimed. “But what’s this?” Professor Swirl questioned Twilight, “I thought you were going along with me.” He continued as he proceeded to get up from the table and follow Twilight out of the cart. “No! No, I have to get to her right away. Come on Spike!” Twilight shouted as she exited the cart, Spike stepping away from the fire with several hay fries in his claws and a few in his mouth. “Come on, Come on,” Twilight repeated at Spike as she proceeded back toward the road. “I’m coming, I heard you the first time, sheesh!” Spike deadpanned as he shoved the remaining clawfuls of hay fries into his mouth. Half way to the road, Twilight turned around and said, “Goodbye, Professor Swirl, and thanks a lot!” The wind at this point had picked up considerably and the unusual storm from the Everfree Forest was practically on top of Ponyville, as Professor Swirl stepped out of the cart. He proceeded to walk toward a mint green unicorn mare at the front of the cart messing with some unusual artifacts. “Better get under cover, Lyra.” Professor Swirl urged as he approached the unicorn, “There’s a storm blowing up, it’s a doozy, to speak in the vernacular of the peasantry.” He continued. “But you said you would tell me all you know about the legends of the humans this afternoon Professor.” Lyra whined. Not paying attention to the impending storm. “Don’t worry I’ll tell you all about the disappearance of the Humans after this unusually magic laden storm passes,” Professor Swirl assured her, while also having noticed the unusual feel of the fast approaching storm. “Poor filly, I hope she gets home all right.” He states as Lyra and him proceed to find shelter from the storm. The storm had already spread out over Sweet Apple Acres blowing up dust and dirt everywhere making it nearly impossible to work. Out in the distance a twister had formed and was heading straight for the farm and the town of Ponyville beyond it. Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash had both returned to the farm to help Applejack prepare for the approaching storm. “Hurry up and get them Cows loose!” Big Mac yelled to Applejack directing her to the barn. “Where’s Fluttershy? Fluttershy! Doggone it!” Big Mac continued to yell trying to find Fluttershy. “It’s a twister!” Rainbow Dash yells as she flies over to Big Mac, as the cows pass by, stampeding out of the barn to escape the path of the storm. “It’s a twister!” she continues pointing toward the Everfree Forest watching as the large plume of cloud extending down out of the sky continues to drift toward the farm. “The Weather team can’t do anything to stop it, it’s got some sort of magic controlling it.” She tries to explain to the Big Mac as they help the last of the cows out. “Moooo-ch obliged,” Mooriella yells as the last of the cows rush out of the barn. “We need to get to the Apple cellar, we’ll be safe there,” Applejack yells as they head back to the house. “But first we need to find Fluttershy, has anyone seen her?” she asks. “I think she’s with Granny Smith at the house.” Rainbow Dash hollers the wind now making it very hard to hear anything. As they head back to the house, Granny Smith and Fluttershy step out of the house and onto the porch. “Twilight!” Granny Smith yells out trying to call Twilight Sparkle not realizing she had run away. “Twilight Sparkle!” she yells again but can’t seem to spot her anywhere. “Eeep!” Granny Smith turns suddenly to the house upon hearing the sound of a startled pony only to find Fluttershy cowering on the porch pointing in the direction of a now apparent twister heading straight for the farm. “Oh Ponyfeathers! A twister, let’s get to the apple cellar young’un.” Granny Smith hollers over to Fluttershy above the sound of the storm. With much effort, Twilight Sparkle had managed to make it back to the farm and now saw the twister approaching the farm. “We have to get to the farm and make sure everyone is okay, they should be in the apple cellar by now.” Twilight yelled as she and spike attempted to make it to the front gate. “I can feel the storm Spike, there is so much magic in it, it’s affecting my horn and that twister seems to be at the center of it. I wonder what could be causing this.” Twilight continued as they moved closer to the farm. “Twilight it’s too hard to walk in this wind!” Spike said as he was attempting to walk toward the farm but not making any ground. Twilight turned to him and using her magic levitated him onto her back as they approached the gate of the farm. “Come on everypony in to the apple cellar!” Big Mac yelled as they made it to the apple cellar. “Big Mac! I can’t find Twilight!” Granny Smith yelled as Big Mac approached the apple cellar. “She’s somewhere out in the storm” She cried. “Twilight! Twilight!” “We can’t look for her now” Big Mac said while attempting to push Granny Smith into the apple cellar while Applejack and Rainbow Dash tried to keep the doors open in the gale. “Come on, get in the cellar. Hurry up.” Big Mac urged her. “Granny Smith, have you seen Fluttershy we haven’t seen her yet?” Applejack asked as Granny Smith stepped into the Cellar. “Don’t worry she’s already in the cellar.” Granny Smith said as she climbed down the steps followed by Big Mac. Rainbow Dash and Applejack proceed to wrestle with the cellar doors against the wind before finally managing to close the doors and lock themselves in. “I sure hope nothing happens Twilight,” Applejack cried as they made their way down into the cellar. “That egghead! She knows how to take care of herself she’s probably just in the basement of the Library,” Rainbow Dash assured her as they made their way to the bottom of the cellar now safe from the storm. “Spike we’ve made it!” Twilight exclaimed as she kicked the gate door open and proceeded to walk to the door of the house. As she approached a strong gust of wind ripped the screen of the door off its hinges and sent it flying away from the house. She pushed the door in and entered the house beginning to search for the Apple family, with the twister bearing down on the farm. “Granny Smith!” Twilight yelled as she checked each of the rooms in the house looking for Granny Smith. “Granny Smith!” she called again as she approached the back of the house. “They’re probably already in the Apple Cellar,” Spike suggested to Twilight. Twilight opened the back door and walked up to the Apple cellar. She tried to open the door but it was locked shut, so she proceeded to kick on the door to try and attract the attention of somepony inside. “Granny Smith! Big Mac!” Twilight yelled as loud as she could hoping somepony would hear her above the storm, but to no avail. “Spike they can’t hear us due to the storm, we will have to wait it out inside the house.” Twilight told Spike as they made their way back inside against the force of the wind. Twilight walked into the guest bedroom of the house and walked up to the window looking out at the storm. “Granny Smith?” Twilight hesitantly called out one more time hoping to hear somepony else in the house. As she turned to face inside the house a sudden gust of wind hit the window causing it to break apart from the wall hitting Twilight in the head causing here to fall over onto the bed and slip into unconsciousness. “Twilight!” Spike shouted as Twilight hit the bed, jumping onto the bed and attempting to awake her. While he sat there the house began to shake as the twister overtook the house. “Holy Guacamole!” Spike exclaimed when with a sudden strong lurch the house lifted upwards and they were swept into the eye of the tornado. Spike watched as the house was lifted by the tornado wondering where they would land and if Twilight would be okay. To Be Continued