Mario, Spike, Boomregard, and Diggsie all looked up at the old city that quickly engulfed them as they entered it. Fillydelphia took Ponyville and crammed three of it inside of itself. Ponies of all three species roamed the large city that actually looked more of a genuine city than Ponyville did. There were also more Donkeys as well as Goombas and what appeared to be eagle-lion hybrids called “Griffins” in the area.

Cranky sighed. “How long has it been since I’ve been here?” the old Donkey asked himself. Turning to his fiancée, he said, “Matilda, you know how I traveled across the entire country, attempting to look for you for over thirty-one years? Fillydelphia was the last place I looked before coming to Ponyville, ready to give up and live out the rest of my days alone.”

“Well, I’m glad you came to Ponyville after all of this time,” Matilda smiled. “We might not have met again after the Gala…”

“You spent thirty-one years traveling throughout Equestria?” Mario asked. Placing his hand to his chin, he asked, “Hmm… why does that sound like that’s when I was just getting my start? Great, now I can’t help but wonder how Donkey Kong is doing… probably still hanging out in the jungle, beating up Kremlings. Though there was this rumor he moved onto demonic Tikis and Ice Vikings. Oh, wait… that’s his grandson who he shares his name with. What’s he calling himself now…?” He then looked at Cranky, who was staring at him in confusion. “Oh… right.”

“Oh, nothing,” Mario chuckled. “Anyway, Cranky, you lived here, right? What way is the Mayor’s Office?”

“It should still be a few blocks north from here if memory serves,” Cranky answered. Looking at a poster, he read, “However, this big unveiling will be downtown at what’s left of the Fillydelphia Bell Tower. Hm… who are Flim and Flam?” Spike, Carrot Cake, Cup Cake, and Matilda all looked up in surprise, but then scowled.

“Those two con stallions are responsible for this!?” the Dragon asked. Mario, Cranky, Boomregard, Diggsie, and Beeatriz all looked in genuine confusion. “Oh, right… none of you were in Ponyville for the last Cider Season.”

“You don’t have Cider Season in the Mushroom Kingdom?” Spike asked. The plumber shook his head. “Well, in Equestria, it’s another tradition, especially one followed by the Apple Family. It’s the time of year in the late fall where the Apples sell their high-quality Apple Cider in bulk to the entire town, since running an Apple farm is especially difficult in the winter and they need the profits to keep their farm afloat. The last Cider Season in Ponyville, the Apples’ supply was far below Ponyville's high demand, something that happens every year.”

“But then the Flim Flam Bros., a pair of Unicorn salesponies, rode in on a high-tech train device,” Cup Cake continued the story. “They called their machine the Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000. It could produce an entire barrel of freshly brew Apple Cider three times as fast as it took the Apples to brew one by themselves. They then attempted to cut a rather one-sided deal with the Apples, attempting to split the profits 75-25 their way in exchange for their machine’s services. When the Apples refused, they sought to run Sweet Apple Acres out of business.”

“Sounds like these two were big ol’ snakes in the grass,” Boomregard scowled. “Why didn’t anyone stop ’em?”

“You really are the Temporary Bearer after Applejack,” Carrot Cake commented. “You figured it out that they were rotten a lot quicker than most of the town. But, well… we all were so desperate for Cider we were blinded by their words and promises to deliver it to us. Things got so bad that the Flim Flam Bros. challenged the Apples into a Cider making competition for the rights to the farm. That’s when the twins started showing their colors.”

“However,” Matilda recalled, “wasn’t that when your friends stepped in to balance things in the Apples’ favor, Spike?”

“Yeah,” Spike nodded. “Applejack considers the girls honorary family members… and Flim and Flam made the mistake of allowing the girls to compete. By doing so, the girls multiplied productivity to the Apples’ side by five, quickly overtaking the Flim Flam Bros. and their machine. However, that’s when the Flim Flam Bros. cheated to win, skipping out of quality control just to increase productivity. Unfortunately, this meant that the Flim Flam Bros. won.”

“Karma got them in the end,” Spike replied. “The Flim Flam Bros. may have made more cider, but by forsaking quality control, they ruined their business when they gave ponies the bad batches of Cider. They were quickly run out of town. Not only did the Apples get to keep their farm, but their supply finally met Ponyville’s demand! The best part? Applejack didn’t learn anything! Princess Celestia had a huge laugh at that.”

“And now, Flim Flams responsible for whatever going on at Bell Tower?” Diggsie asked. “Hmm… Mohan probably worse con. At least Flim Flams' machine sound like it worked, and had they did things right way, would have gotten away with it leaving ponies satisfied. Mohan just leave ponies angry.”

“That’s a good point,” Spike realized. “Anyway, we should probably head to the Mayor’s Office to see if he’s in. Maybe stop by a shop to be on the safe side.”

“Got it,” Mario nodded. “We’ll catch up with you all later then, right?”

“I suppose,” Cranky shrugged. “Well, Mario… good luck on finding that Element. I guess this concludes the tour.”

As Mario’s four walked away from the tour group, Mario sighed in exhaustion. “I can’t believe how escalated this has all become!” the plumber pointed out. “Between the Foal Mountains, the Pegasirate Attack, Mohan, Carbon, and the Hollow Shades, I barely have half a clue as to how we survived all of that.”

“An’ it’s probably only gonna get worse,” Boomregard replied. “We really didn’t get to see much in the Colts o’ Nocturnes’ arsenal, so we ain’t got any idea what they have. But somethin’ tells me—”

“That’s it’s gonna be big?” Diggsie asked. “Sorry… but feels like that was where you were going.”

“…Yeah, it kinda was,” Boomregard replied. “So, anyways, Mayor’s Office, right?”

“Right,” Spike nodded. However, before they could really get walking, the Dragon’s stomach rumbled. “After we get a Filly Cheese Sandwich.”

Mario’s group easily found a stand where an Earth Pony vendor was making them. After purchasing and eating the surprisingly good meal, the group headed towards the Mayor’s Office, where a dark brown furred Pegasus stallion with a graying brown mane and tail awaited them.

“Ah, why aren’t you all interesting,” the Mayor greeted them. “Welcome to my beloved city of Fillydelphia. To what can I interest you about this fair city?”

“Well,” Mario began, “I’m a little curious. By chance did some kind of object from the sky crash land in this city within the past week or so?” The Mayor’s happy smile turned into a look of shock.

“…How did you… who told you that!? You certainly weren’t at our town meeting the other day where that meteor crashed into the Bell Tower! I think I would recognize a mustached human! By the way, I’m jealous… I WISH I could grow facial hair like that.”

“Mario having an awesome mustache aside,” Spike agreed, “we’re getting off topic, Mr. Mayor. So, what happened to that meteor object?” The Mayor sighed, sensing that Mario’s group wasn’t going to let this go.

“Alright,” he agreed. “I’ll tell you. You see, that Bell Tower we used to have up before the comet hit it was one of our cities prized possessions. We used it for everything… the first time foals press start, telling time, weddings, even funeral services. Ponies loved that Bell Tower, especially me. I remember my own daughter’s wedding… just this past week. Then, all of the sudden, that meteor you were talking about decided to crash the festivities… literally. Thank goodness nopony was hurt, but the tower was completely destroyed, leaving that red glowing meteor in its wake. When I examined it, it was gray with this weird red glowing lightning bolt…” Spike and Mario looked at each other, stunned in surprise.

“Lightning bolt, huh?” Mario asked the baby Dragon. “Remind me again, that’s Rainbow Dash’s Cutie Mark, right?”

“Sounds like the Element of Loyalty,” Spike nodded. “Red lightning bolt Cutie Mark… definitely reminds me of the time I became the temporary new Rainbow Dash.” Mario, Diggsie, and Boomregard each raised an eyebrow. “It’s a long story.”

“Element of Loyalty?” the Mayor asked. “What are you all talking about?”

“Oh, right,” Diggsie remembered. “You know nothing about Elements and what happen in Canterlot. You see, Mr. Mayor…” Diggsie did a surprising job relaying the story despite hearing it only the day before, Mario and Spike adding whatever details needed being filled in. But they soon got their point across.

“An’ that’s kinda why we need to ask ya fer that rock,” Boomregard answered. “We kinda need it.”

“…So, let me see if I got this straight,” the older stallion said, flying over to his desk where a cup of coffee awaited him. “The city of Canterlot was under siege by a group of cultists who worshipped the legendary Mare in the Moon.”

“The Bearers of the Elements of Harmony were defeated and kidnapped by the aforementioned cult but not before the Elements themselves were scattered throughout Equestria in some kind of inactive state while Canterlot is inaccessible.”

“Which indirectly explains why the Bell Tower was reduced to a pile of rubble by that meteor the other day and why I can’t contact my city’s representative in Canterlot requesting to get funds needed for a complete repair of the tower without going over our city’s annual budget.”

“Well, if you put it that way,” Diggsie shrugged, “I suppose that is case.”

“And now the lot of you are on some kind of cross-country quest to find the Elements of Harmony and six random souls who represent the virtues of the Elements as Temporary Bearers, one of whom is this cowboy Boomerang Bro,” the Mayor concluded, pointing at Boomregard.

“Yeah,” Boomregard shrugged. “It sounds mighty silly, don’t it? But Ah’m just doin’ what the magic Spirit pony in the jewel on mah wrist tells me to do.” The Mayor sat down in his chair, a somber look on his face. “Uh, look, Mr. Mayor, Ah know this all sounds strange, but ya gotta believe us. An’ please, please, PLEASE don’t throw us in jail or somethin’… Ah really hate jail cells.”

“…What have I done?” the Mayor said after a moment of silence. “The meteor, lightning bolt, the fact that I’ve lost contact with my Representative… it all makes more sense now. And if you’ve answered all of those details, then the rest of your story probably has merit to it. And to think I was so flustered by the Bell Tower’s destruction that I just thrust a strange object I didn’t even have half a clue as to what it does into two random ponies’ hooves and settled for that as payment for their invention to replace the Bell Tower.”

“I know where your magical artifact is, everypony,” the Mayor answered, looking up. “You see, I wasn’t in the right mood after that thing crash landed in the Bell Tower. Not only did it destroy my city’s pride historical landmark and leave the great bell cracked, but it ruined my daughter’s wedding. I was so… angry, I wanted it gone. That’s when those two Unicorn twins arrived… the Flim Flam Bros. They offered to replace the tower with something much better in exchange for an outrageous sum. However, they noticed the rock, and settled for me selling it to them to replace the tower. If you all had come sooner, I probably would not have accepted that deal. I’m afraid you’re out of luck with me. If you’re fast, you all could probably get across town to where the Bell Tower used to be and catch them before the unveiling is over. Maybe they could negotiate.”

“Oh, great,” Spike groaned at who they were going to have to talk to in order to save the Element. “I’ll get to work on that Tattle on our way over. Chances are they’re not gonna see reason, and we’re gonna have to fight them in some weird invention, and let’s get this over with. Hopefully there’s a Save Block right next to the Bell Tower or something.”

“Surely they be willing to talk things when they realize what Element is, right?” Diggsie asked.

“Diggsie,” Boomregard replied, “Mohan didn’t care fer the greater good when he went after mah Element. Ah ain’t so sure ’bout these Flim Flam boys… their names practically smell o’ deceit.”

“Guys,” Mario said, taking the reins, “we should just head over to the Bell Tower. We’re not gonna get anywhere with this until we talk to the Flim Flam Bros. ourselves.”

After a brief stop at a local shop, Mario came out of it with a few Maple Syrups and Mushrooms in his inventory, storing away the Life Shroom Karoline sent them for later. Soon, after hitting a Save Block, they headed straight towards the Bell Tower, but not before noticing a peculiar sight.

“Hey,” Boomregard asked, “what’s that cloud doin’?” The group was staring at a bright pink cloud that seemed to be raining a brown liquid near the inn.

“A Cotton Candy Cloud with chocolate milk rain,” Spike said after tasting some of the milk. “It’s one of Discord’s signature pranks. However, none of us can walk on clouds… let alone touch them. We’ll need somepony who can fly to get that down, but the next time we’re in Ponyville, we should tell Discord about this.”

“Why would he make a cloud of cotton candy that rains chocolate milk?” Mario asked, taking out his Mailbox 3DS and taking a picture of the spot for future reference.

“Discord’s insane,” the Dragon justified. “His own policy is ‘What’s the fun in making sense’.”

Soon, after no further distractions, the group arrived at a broken down building where a crowd was starting to form. Spotting the buzzing form of Beeatriz and Pound Cake on top of his tall father’s head, Mario managed to squeeze through with his Paper Form to get over to them and consequentially the front of the crowd to see the large stage in front of the destroyed building with a large cracked bell on one side and a large bell-shaped object covered by a large sheet. Beeatriz was the first to take notice of them.

“Guys, how did the Mayor’s go?” the Bee asked the four as they took their place beside her and the Cakes.

“No good,” Diggsie shook her head. “Mayor said Flim Flams had Element. So, we come here.” Turning to Cup Cake, she asked, “Have you seen Mr. Pie?”

“Not yet,” the blue Earth Pony shook her head. “I’ve never met the stallion before, sweetie… I don’t even know what he looks like.”

“Fillies and gentlecolts!” a voice interrupted their conversation. “It’s the moment you’ve ALL been waiting for!” Soon enough, two green lights flashed on stage, revealing two nearly identical Unicorn stallions. They both had olive fur and red and white striped manes and tails, Apple based Cutie Marks, and wore the hats, vests, and bowties of salesmen. However, one of them had a red curly mustache reminding Mario of his younger brother’s mustache.

Mario could tell these must be the famous Flim Flam Bros. he’s been hearing all afternoon about.

“We must once again thank the Mayor of this fine city for this opportunity,” the mustached brother declared. “I’m sure Flim and I can completely agree that the destruction of the Bell Tower and the cracking of the Great Bell was a tragedy I’m sure you all wish you could have avoided.”

“Absolutely, Flam!” the facial-hairless Flim nodded wholeheartedly. “But I’m positively sure that what we have planned here will soon make those depressed about Fillydelphia’s Bell Tower turn their frowns upside-down!”

Both brothers turned to the sheeted object, their horns glowing with a green aura. “Behold!” both Unicorns said, pulling back the sheet to reveal…

“Is that bell shaped like a Whacka?” Mario asked aloud. Sure enough, what was under the sheet appeared to be a bell, only it was painted to look like a Whacka.

“Indeed it is, my mustached companion,” Flim said, spotting Mario in the crowd. “You see… Whackas are an endangered species with more carnivorous species hitting those poor things on the head for their bumps.”

“Therefore,” Flam continued, “my brother and I created the Super Whacka Bell 5000! A bell to acknowledge the Whacka population AND protects Fillydelphia from its Owlbear problem.”

Ponies in the crowd looked at each other, curious about this development. A lot of them were on the fence about replacing their beloved bell with the Whacka Bell, but it offered to do what the old bell did and more. Until the Bell Tower was fixed, though, one could not be sure.

“Say,” Flim said, looking at Mario and his team, “your Dragon friend looks familiar… aren’t you from Ponyville, little drake?”

“You’ve come a long way from home, Dragon,” Flam remarked. “What’s going on with you?”

“Oh, right,” Mario remembered. “Say, you two wouldn’t have received a glowing rock lately, would you?”

“Oh, you mean this?” Flim asked, floating a large grey stone out with a glowing red lightning bolt… the Element of Loyalty. “Yes… the Mayor paid us this in exchange for the Super Whacka Bell 5000. It’s a meteor that fell from the stars, so it has to be worth something!”

“More than salesponies know!” a masculine voice declared. Mario, Spike, Diggsie, and Boomregard all looked around in shock.

“That voice…” Spike scowled after recognizing it. Soon enough, the stage burst open underneath Flam, knocking him out of the way and revealing Carbon, who howled.

“Flam!” Flim yelled, genuinely concerned for his brother that he dropped the Element to the stage and jumped off of it to check on his brother. “Brother, are you all right?”

“We meet again, Mustache Man and Dragon!” Carbon grinned. “Ready for another round?”

“Carbon, right?” Boomregard asked. “Didn’t we just beat the stuffin’ outta ya back in Foal Mountains? What are ya doin’ here?”

“Taking Element of Harmony, of course!” the Diamond Dog replied, holding up the Element of Loyalty. “We need Elements for Lord Sirius’ plan, remember? Now, all left to do is to take Element of Honesty from you and bring mustache and hat from Mustache Man as trophies, alongside baby Dragon!”

“Here we go again,” Diggsie said, sinking to her own fighting pose while the other three members of her team did the same.

“That will be quite enough, Carbon,” a new, if somewhat nasally voice interrupted from above. "I will take it from here." Carbon, looking up at the rubble behind him, growled in annoyance.

“Night Fortune, you late!” Carbon yelled. Mario, Spike, Boomregard, and Diggsie looked to see a short, cloaked stallion sitting on top of the rubble of the Bell Tower.

“So you’re Commander Night Fortune,” Spike breathed. “Why are you wearing the cloak?”

“I don’t show my face to my mental inferiors,” Night Fortune said. “And before you ask, no, I will not dirty my hooves with destroying you.”

“Don’t tell me you plan on watching me end their games and claim victory for self, Night Fortune!” Carbon accused.

“Why do that, you brute, when I already put my plan into their demise into action?” Night Fortune’s hood glowed a sickly green before an aura of magic wrapped around the Super Whacka Bell 5000, lifting it to the sky. “And now, I summon a being known by few but feared by all…” Carbon blinked in genuine surprise.

“Okay,” the Diamond Dog captain scowled. “What you up to, Night Fortune?”

“Something almost guaranteed to crumple Mario and his Dragon sidekick for certain,” the short stallion said before a beam of magic shot out and struck the Whacka Bell, causing a large, almost cartoonish bump to protrude from its head. The bell then unleashed a large, irritating song wave that ripped throughout the town, causing everyone to cover their ears but Night Fortune.

The horrifying sound wave struck the Hollow Shades quickly, spreading a fire of noise straight to the unconscious Monty Mole, waking him up from his nap.

“AAAAAAAAAAAHH!” Mohan screamed after covering his ears. After a few minutes, the noise died down. Mohan then looked around, trying to get his bearings. “Ugh… where am I?”

“GRRWHOOO!” a voice bellowed. Mohan gasped in fear, eventually realizing he was at the mouth of a cave. Looking behind him, he saw that the cave’s entrance was huge. And two giant yellow eyes were looking right at him.

“Uh-oh…” the Monty Mole gasped. The next thing he knew, a massive, owl-like bear paw the size of a full-grown Diamond Dog slammed itself on top of him. A building size mess of fur and feathers soon trampled over Mohan and straight towards Fillydelphia. “Pain… good thing I still have that Life Shroom…”

After the shriek died down, everyone held their ears for a while longer. “Ugh,” Carbon growled, “next time you stun everyone, warn ME!” He then noticed Night Fortune had the Element of Loyalty. “HEY! I STEAL ELEMENT FIRST, NIGHT FORTUNE! GIVE BACK!”

“I cannot do that, you foolish Diamond Dog,” Night Fortune replied. “With what I have done, I still have use for the Element in order to control my beast through this bell. I can’t have you risking the Element in a fistfight with Mario after you’ve failed to end his and the Dragon’s games twice, now.”

“Wait, beast?” Carbon asked. “You no mention beast in plan to defeat Mustache Man. Why just now hearing about this?”

“Because I didn’t want to risk ruining the surprise,” Night Fortune answered.

“Uh… what’s that?” Cup Cake asked, trying so desperately to settle down her crying twins.

Soon enough, as if it ripped through the background with ease, a colossus of an Owlbear emerged, stomping towards the Bell Tower. Most of the ponies reasonably began to do the one thing they best in crises like this: run screaming at the top of their lungs. Only a few ponies and Toads remained alongside Mario’s team, Beeatriz, the Cakes, the Flim Flam Bros., Night Fortune, Carbon, Cranky, and Matilda… one of which was an older Earth Pony stallion with brown fur, a short gray mane and tail, a black hat and long black tie. The other was a gray mare with her black mane in a bun wearing a pair of yellow glasses on the bridge of her snout and a black checkered scarf.

“That… that can’t be!” Cranky breathed. “Hootenanny… that mad-stallion woke up Hootenanny!”

“And here we are without Fluttershy to tame her,” Spike breathed. “Somepony has to do something…”

“Why did we decide to have adventures here again?” the pink member of the Traveling Sisters Three asked her sisters.

“I thought Equestria was a happy place!” the red Toad answered. "At least, it was in the brochure we got before coming here!"

“Girls, we should probably run away!” the green Toad interrupted. The three Toads retreated, leaving but a choice selection near the Bell Tower.

“Well, that certainly proved to be interesting,” Night Fortune commented. Soon, the Element floated up towards the Whacka Bell, and he put the Element inside of it using an intangibility spell. “But now… let’s see just what power a single Element can do.” He then rang the Whacka Bell. However, instead of causing a piercing ear pain, it let loose a hypnotic rhapsody, charming the angry Hootenanny, turning her yellow eyes into pale green ones. He then lowered the Whacka Bell to the ground. Hootenanny approached him, but rather than do what a traditional Owlbear would do— eat the pony— she lowered her head, allowing Night Fortune to place a boot-covered hoof to her beak, signaling he was her master.

“No way… he tamed Hootenanny?” Diggsie asked. “Wow… how did he do that?”

“The Elements of Harmony, when together, are virtually unstoppable, mutt,” Night Fortune replied. “But one Element by itself? In the right hooves, it’s near limitless power can be used for anything. Hootenanny’s loyalty is now to me. Surrender now and I will make your trips to the Underwhere quick.” He then spotted something that intrigued him out of the corner of his hidden eye. “Carbon? Where are you going?”

“Back home,” the Diamond Dog said in a matter-of-fact tone. “I no want any part of large monster rampages. Remember Lord Sirius’ rule of ‘No horse armor incident repeats’? Even though we talk about ‘no foal kidnappings’, pretty sure he also meant ‘no using local giant monsters’.”

“It wasn’t as bad as everypony makes it out to be,” Night Fortune replied. “But go ahead and inform Lord Sirius that I will be returning soon with BOTH Honesty and Loyalty.”

“Just don’t smash entire town again,” Carbon warned. “Took me forever to dig everyone out of jail that time.” Carbon dug a hole to retreat, leaving Night Fortune with Hootenanny.

“Now, then, my giant featherbrained pet… destroy Mario and the Dragon! Just make sure not to eat their bodies so I have something to present to Sirius and the Bearers!”

“GRRWHOOO!” Hootenanny cawed. Spike, sensing the battle had begun, Tattled on Hootenanny while Mario, Boomregard, and Diggsie set to work on attacking Hootenanny. Beeatriz grabbed Pumpkin Cake and Gummy for Cup Cake while Pound instantly flew with her, allowing the Cake family to escape to safety while Cranky and Matilda managed to get away as well.

“So, this is the legendary Diamond-Dog-named Owlbear to end all Owlbears Hootenanny,” the Dragon gulped. “Okay… she’s huge! Like, really huge. Seriously, one of her stomps can crush two of us for major damage! And her roars right in our faces… I don’t think she’s brushed the inside of her beak, lately, as those roars seem rather poisonous. What’s more, is that… wait, how much HP does she have!?!? UNKNOWN!?!? Yeah, Mario, I’m not seeing how we can win this conventionally. However, she seems cranky from being woken up. Could we fix that?”

“You mean that NONE of our attacks can take her down?” Mario asked, confused. Not often did he have an invincible enemy that there wasn’t some way he could defeat it. There had to be a way to defeat Hootenanny. However, he really couldn’t think of that as he and Spike had to scramble away from being stomped by Hootenanny… something that Diggsie and Boomregard were barely able to avoid with Superguard.

After a few more rounds of attack and avoid being hit by Hootenanny— which was harder than it sounds— Boomregard was exhausted, barely able to stand between the times he had been crushed and being poisoned. “Ugh… our attacks ain’t bringin’ her down. What do we do?”

“You guys are going about this the wrong way!” a new voice spoke up. The group looked to see the brown stallion walking over to them. “Hootenanny was just woken up, right? Try putting her to sleep. Enough Sleepy Sheep uses or attacking that Bell enough ought to do it.”

“Hey, there Diggsie… you had me worried!” the rock farmer greeted. “But we don’t have time to catch up right now. Music can soothe most beasts… its how I taught my daughters how to control Parasprites before they left home and me and Sue moved out here. And right now, that crazy Unicorn is controlling Hootenanny through the Bell.”

“My husband has a point,” Sue Pie said. “If you stop that Bell, that Unicorn has nothing… aim for that.”

Mario looked at the Bell, and grinned. “Boomregard, let’s use that to heal us all up. Spike, Diggsie, can you two hit the Bell?”

“You got it, Mario!” While Diggsie pounced the Bell and Spike used his Jackhammer Tail, Boomregard and Mario used Truth’s Relief to recover their HP. Night Fortune watched as his hijacked bell was damaged by the attacks with interest. After a few rounds of this, the bell seemed to be ringing a different tune, which was causing Hootenanny to stumble with her attacks.

“I see…” Night Fortune said as he watched the battle, and saw the flaw in his attack being exposed and exploited. He turned away from the scene, no longer interested. “Well, this proved useful with my experiments, so this proved to be only a minor failure.”

Mario and Diggsie both managed to avoid one final stomp by the giant Hootenanny, bouncing off of her head before slamming down on top of the Super Whacka Bell 5000, ringing it loud and hard. Soon, the bell began to ring hard, breaking the trance Night Fortune placed on Hootenanny. The giant Owlbear began to sleepily stumble before falling on her stomach. Her loud snores signaled that she was fast asleep. The Bell cracked open, leaving the Element in plain sight.

“Wow,” a pony breathed, looking at the act. “I can’t believe those four did it… they defeated Hootenanny!” Everyone applauded the heroes while Flim and Flam looked at each other.

“Flam,” Flim asked with a whisper, “chances are somepony’s gonna trace that bell back to us and we’re gonna be in some huge trouble…”

“Next town,” Flim nodded. The two Unicorn brothers took the opportunity to run away, avoiding being blamed for the accident.

Carrot Cake, Cup Cake, their twins, Beeatriz, Cranky, and Matilda all walked towards Mario’s exhausted group. “Mario, Spike, you saved the day yet again,” Cranky nodded. “I’m glad to say I know ya.”

“Wait… Spike?” Clyde Pie asked. Sure enough, the stallion walked over, confused. “I’ve heard of that name before… Pinkamina mentioned an adorable baby Dragon in her letters about her closest friends back in Ponyville… I take it she was talking about you, Dragon?”

“Um, yeah,” Spike nodded. “You’re Pinkie’s father, right? I'm surprised... I thought you guys would look like her.”

“She really takes after her grandmother,” Sue smiled. “I really hope she’s doing alright…” She then noticed the sheepish faces that the Cakes, Mario, Spike, Cranky, Matilda, and Diggsie were all making. “What’s the matter? You all don’t look so good.”

“Mr. and Mrs. Pie,” Carrot began, “I have some rather poor news for you... about your daughter. You see, I’m her boss, and, well… Pinkie’s been… kidnapped by the organization those two who crashed the unveiling work for!” Clyde blinked in shock.

“What?” he asked. He then looked up at the rubble of the Bell Tower, only to see Night Fortune had escaped. “…Somepony needs to start at the beginning.” Mario and Spike took turns explaining the situation to the two Pies.

“…Wow,” Sue Pie breathed. “So, Pinkamina and her friends… oh, Celestia...” She then broke down in tears while her husband comforted her.

“I apologize,” Carrot replied. “I… I don’t think I did a very good job keeping her safe… if you two hate me, I completely understand.”

“…How can I blame you?” Clyde replied. “To be honest, for a free spirit like Pinkamina, I wasn’t exactly the best father, but I tried for all of my fillies. If her letters say anything, you did a very good job watching after her. It ain’t your fault Pinkamina’s in the hooves of a madstallion. I just want to know what I can do to help get her back.”

“That’s where I come in, Mr. Pie,” Diggsie interrupted. “…Sorry for making you worry, before, for one.”

“It’s fine,” Clyde said. “I take it you were with Mario?” Diggsie nodded.

“Ah… you want me to make a Hammer?” Clyde asked. “I can do that, but why?”

“It’s for Mario,” Diggsie replied. “And… I need your permission to go with him. I know I help a lot around the farm and I love helping you, but your daughter need my help more! It least I can do to pay you back for allowing me to stay all this time.”

“Wow, kid! You really are faithful to them, huh?” a new voice asked. Everyone turned to see Boomregard holding the Element of Loyalty, but the Element had revealed a holographic image of Rainbow Dash.

“Oh, right,” the spirit laughed. “Mario and Spike there never said anything about my Bearer, Rainbow Dash, did you? Well, I’m the Spirit of Loyalty!”

“What’s going on, here?” Carrot asked. “Why is there a spirit? And why does she look like Rainbow?”

“Long story short,” Mario said, “the Elements of Harmony like using the forms of the True Bearers as a form to communicate to us with.”

“It’s easier to talk to somepony if you’re in a form they’re familiar with,” the Spirit of Loyalty added. “Sorry if you were expecting Pinkie Pie… that’s Laughter. But I’m sure she’ll be found, soon. After all, Mario and Spike here have recovered two Elements… and their temporary Bearers. Isn’t that right, Diggsie?”

“I have this feeling you’re the Temporary Bearer of the Element of Loyalty, kiddo,” the Spirit of Loyalty replied. “You’re so faithful to the Pies and willing to help everypony who’s helped you, you can’t be any other Element!”

Diggsie gasped. “You mean… I am Bearer!?” She then jumped for joy, truly excited. “Woohoo! Best day ever!”

“Good for you, Diggsie!” Beeatriz smiled at the Diamond Dog. “You’ve earned this.”

“Hold on, Diggsie,” the Spirit warned. “It’s a tough job. You have to cool your jets. You’re energetic, kind of like Pinkie Pie… but you have to remember that there’s a tough road ahead. I know Boomregard there is still struggling with his amnesia, but you need to remember to keep yourself calm and focused, not rushing into things. Heh… my true Bearer has that problem. I think you’re gonna be fine.”

“Don’t worry,” Mario said, “I’m sure we’ll be keeping her focused.”

“Good to hear,” the Spirit nodded. She then spotted Spike who was looking down. “What’s the matter, Spike? Are you thinking about that time back when Discord was still a bad guy?”

“You mean the time where Twilight just strapped the Element of Loyalty on me?” Spike asked. Mario was genuinely surprised at this. “Well… kind of. Now that you mention it… why aren’t I the Temporary Bearer of Loyalty? I’m just… curious.”

“You’re experiencing conflicting loyalties with all of this,” the Spirit of Loyalty replied. “I’m sorry, Spike, but that’s all I’m allowed to say. Back about 1,500 years ago when this prophecy was discovered, I was made to promise that I would not tell the purple and green creature that was destined to reunite the Elements of Harmony WHY he's not a Bearer. Honesty has genuinely forgotten the reason why you aren't. Perhaps Magic can tell you when she’s reawakened.”

“…I guess,” the Dragon said in defeat. Shaking away his depression, he said, “But with you, we have two Elements! Four to go, right? Then we can rescue Twilight, Rarity, Rainbow, Pinkie, Fluttershy, and Applejack!”

“That’s the spirit!” the Spirit of Loyalty smiled. Turning to Diggsie, she continued, “Anyway, I’m getting way off track. So, Diggsie, wanna do me the honor of taking up my power and defending Equestria from the Colts of Nocturne until Rainbow Dash can? Dare you become the Temporary Bearer of Loyalty in her stead?”

Diggsie, smiling, turned to the Pies. “Um, Mr. and Mrs. Pie… you no mind if I do this, do you?”

“Of course not,” Clyde replied. “Go ahead, Diggsie… like Pinkamina before you, there’s more to your life than rocks.”

"A lot more," Sue agreed. "Right now, our daughter's hope rests with you, Diggsie. I ask you... no, I BEG of you to rescue her." Diggsie turned back to the Element, and nodded.

“It okay with Mr. and Mrs. Pie, it okay with me!” The Element then floated out of Boomregard’s hands, over to Diggsie before the Spirit disappeared, the stone cracking. Soon enough, the stone opened to reveal the Element had turned into a red lightning bolt dog tag, smaller than it was normally but could attach to her collar. After doing so, Diggsie looked at the others.

“So, I guess yer stickin’ with us fer now, huh?” Boomregard asked. “A plumber who goes on too many adventures fer his own good, the baby Dragon o’ the Bearers, an amnesiac Boomerang Bro, an’ a hyperactive Diamond Dog. Ah knew this group was gonna git weird.”

“As weird as it is,” Mario said, sticking his hand out, “we’re gonna have to stay together to save Equestria. Are you with me?” Spike placed his hand on top of Mario’s, and Boomregard on top of the Dragon’s.

“You bet!” Diggsie grinned, placing her hand in the pile. “By the way, is this going to be a thing? Because I like this, Mario!”

YOU GOT THE ELEMENT OF LOYALTY!

Mario’s Element Power has increased to 2! With Diggsie by his side, he can use “Faithful Storm” to strike all enemies with an attack that can potentially stop opponents!

Mario, Spike, and Boomregard, desperate to make it to Fillydelphia, joined the expensive tour that was hosted by the corrupt Mohan. During this adventure they met several new faces, including the newest Temporary Bearer, Diggsie the Diamond Dog! But during this, they had to face down the pirate Rose Heart, the powerful Carbon, the corrupt Mohan, and the legendary beast Hootenanny.

Not only that, but Mario’s team helped improve a relationship, calm the worries of two worried stallions, made friends with a Bee, and enjoyed good sandwiches. But their victories seemed rather short-lived. Mario remembered he still had four other Elements and four other Temporary Bearers to gather before he could make a move to free his or Spike’s friends. Where were the Elements and who were the four other Temporary Bearers? Hopefully Goombella, Celestia, Luna, and Peach could find out. Mario could not help but worry.

But Mario’s main concern was the mysterious Night Fortune. Who WAS he that he concealed himself beneath a cloak? What happened to Prosperous Dusk before the attack began? And were the Bearers alright with his sinister mind guarding them? The plumber and Dragon both wondered if everyone they cared about was okay…

Paper Mario: The Land of Harmony

by Blade Squall

Chapter 2 Part 4