(Twilight's crown is fake in that picture, alright?)
Over at the Castle of Friendship, about a half-hour before Pinkie and Fluttershy travel to Cloudsdale, Twilight was taking deep breaths as she looks through Starswirl the Bearded’s journal.
“Ok.” She started. “I have the feeling I got it now. Total concentration.” Twilight’s horn began to glow as she began to use her magic on herself. Fog and sprites filtered around her as wind blew against her hair. She began to float off the ground as the magic spreads around her. Just then, her body begins to split in half, and then another half takes its place creating two whole Twilights. The magic stops as Spike opens the door to her library and walks inside.
“Twilight, can I have your recommendation on something?” Spike asked. “I’m looking at the jobs section on this newspaper and- WHOA!” He yelled as he saw two Twilights in front of him.
“Hi, Spike!” both Twilights said.
Spike rubs his eyes as he says, “Is it me, or am I seeing double?”
“Hmm… I’m not sure. You could be seeing double.” One of the Twilights guessed.
“But then again, it could just be you.” The other Twilight teased.
“Looks like you’re getting the hang with Starswirl’s magic after all!” Spike said.
“I…” one of the Twilights started.
“…we…” the other Twilight added.
“…have been practicing these spells for a while, and so far, they’ve been really fascinating!” the first Twilight said.
“It took some work, and these spells are VERY complicated.” The second Twilight said.
“I’m still wondering why this book was locked away. The spells in this book have been really useful with my everyday life!” the first Twilight said.
“Now that there are two of us, we can do stuff we never did before on our own!” the second Twilight said.
“And what might that be?” Spike asked.
“Reading TWO books at the same time!” both Twilights said excitedly as they both took out some books and read them.
“Hmm… interesting.” Spike said sarcastically.
“Ooo let’s play a game, Spike!” the first Twilight suggested.
“Alright, what do you two Twilights have in mind?” Spike asked.
“Can you guess which one of us is the real Twilight?” the second Twilight asked.
“Well that’s easy! That one is!” Spike pointed to the second Twilight.
“Wow! How did you know that?” the second Twilight asked.
“Lucky guess?” the first Twilight asked.
“No because your cutie mark is glowing.” Spike pointed. The first Twilight looked over and saw that the second Twilight’s cutie mark was vibrating while the first one was not.
“The map!” the first Twilight gasped.
The second Twilight smiled and jumped in joy. “Yippie! I have been summoned again! Somepony needs friendship help, and the map has chosen me again! This is so amazing!”
“Yeah for you!” the first Twilight said angrily.
“Twilight? Would you like to come with me on the adventure?” the second Twilight asked with a smile.
“YES I WOULD!” the first Twilight said excitedly. “But how are we going to do that?”
“Simple!” the second Twilight said as she uses her magic to bring the first Twilight back within her again, becoming one. “Now we both get to go – as one!”
“This was like the most messed up thing I’ve ever seen in my entire life.” Spike said awkwardly.
Just then, Rarity runs into the library and yells out, “Twilight! The map is calling for me!” She shows her cutie mark that is vibrating.
“And now that makes three of us that are going!” Twilight said excitedly.
“Huh?” Rarity asked.
“You don’t wanna know.” Spike said.
A few minutes later over in the map room, Twilight and Rarity walk over to the map to check out where their cutie marks want them to go. When they spot where they need to go, Rarity says in a disgusted tone, “Ugh! We’re going to THAT place? A place with the skull? Why couldn’t we go to Cloudsdale like where Pinkie and Fluttershy’s cutie marks are floating over?”
“It’s pretty odd to see four different cutie marks in two different places in the map.” Twilight said. “I guess there are friendship problems happening in two places at once.”
“Can we switch?” Rarity whined.
“No.” Twilight said. “Whatever the map wants, we have to go to. The map obviously thinks they need us to go to where we need to go, so that’s what we’re going to do.”
Rarity sighs and says, “Fine. But I guess I shouldn’t bring my best dresses with me on this trip, that’s for sure. So what is this place anyway? I bet it’s a place that could really use a makeover.”
“This place is the Arlmaspi Territory.” Twilight said.
“Armpassi Territory?” Rarity asked.
“No. Arlmaspi Territory.” Twilight said.
“I know how you said it, dear, but I don’t want to say it that way because it sounds… uncouth.” Rarity said. “Plus it seems like a tongue-twister of a word, too much for my sensitive tongue to produce.”
“Uh huh.” Twilight said unamused.
“Also this is a long way to go!” Rarity whined. “My little hoofseys won’t make it all the way!”
“Don’t worry, Rarity, we’ll just catch a train to Appleloosa, and perhaps we can rent a carriage.” Twilight suggested.
“It seems a lot of work to stand there in a hot sun while we rely on other ponies to do the walking for us.” Rarity said as she learns her arm on her forehead. “But it’ll have to do. I suppose there are always compromises to be made. I’m nothing if not a reasonable pony.” Rarity then calls out from across the castle. “Spikey-Wikey?! I could use your help, darling!” There was no response. She clears her throat and yells out again, “Spike?! I would be ever so grateful if you could assist me in a problem?!”
“Rarity, he’s not your servant. I’m sure you can find a find a way to cover yourself from the sun.” Twilight said.
“Oh nonsense! Spike is always there for me in my time of need.” Rarity said as she walks through the castle corridors calling out his name. She eventually walks over to the library and sees Spike putting on a white apron. Starlight Glimmer was in the room as well, brushing Owlowiscious.
“What do you think, Starlight?” Spike asked. “Do I look good enough for the job?”
“Doesn’t matter how you look as long as you get it done.” Starlight said.
“I know, but I want to make a good first impression.” Spike said.
“Well regardless, I wish you the best of luck!” Starlight said. “In a little bit I’m going to be researching a bit about some case that’s going on about griffons going missing around Equestria.”
“Spikey-poo! So good to see you!” Rarity said as she walks in.
“Hey, Rarity!” Spike said.
“Spike, Twilight and I are about to go off on a friendship adventure to a strange territory that sounds like a… a dreadful place, probably full of strange beasts.” Rarity said dramatically.
“Ok.” Spike said.
“And we’re about to go through a desert that’s going make me sweat, and probably ruin my soft white fur, and make my mane soaked!” Rarity whined. “Please, Spike, I need your help in keeping me cool. If you do, I’ll be so grateful!”
Spike looks back at Starlight, and Starlight shakes her head. “Sorry, Rarity.” Spike said to her. “But I really have things to do today. I’m going to go help out Mr. and Mrs. Cake at the bakery. They have their hooves full right now with their foals, so I wanted to fill in for them. Perhaps I’ll find my special talent in the process!”
“Yeah that’s great, dear.” Rarity said in an uncaring tone. “But I really need you to come with us. Your sweet fabulous Rarity needs the help of a big strong dragon.” She flutters her eyes at him.
“The kid said no, ok Rarity?” Starlight asked her. “He’s got a life, you know. Right, Spike?”
“Oh, umm… r-right.” Spike said, trying to hold back his feelings towards Rarity.
“Hmph. Starlight obviously doesn’t know you as well as I do.” Rarity said to Spike. “Did I mention you’ll be seeing me on the adventure? You can stand right there by my side, as long as you keep at least a foot away from me. A girl needs her space.”
“Yes, and I’ll see you when you get back, and stand there by your side at least a foot away from you.” Spike informed her as he walks towards the exit. “But for now I have a tight schedule. No more reading about destinies for this dragon. It’s time I actually DID something. But I will miss you, Rarity, and I will think of you, don’t worry!” He then walks out. Rarity just stood there in shock.
“No?” Rarity asked shockingly. “Spike never refused to… help me before. How… how can that be?”
“Because Spike has a life of his own.” Starlight said as she continued to brush Owlowiscious. “He can’t be there for you ALL the time, because he’s got things to do.”
“Hoo-hoo.” Owlowiscious nodded in agreement.
“No… no…” Rarity said upsettingly. “How can this be? I even fluttered my eyes at him and waved my mane around! Am I… am I… losing it?!”
So after a brief conversation with Pinkie and Fluttershy about their mission, two duos go their separate ways. As Pinkie and Fluttershy head for the balloon, Twilight and Rarity head for the trains. Twilight and Rarity take a train to Appleloosa where they rented a carriage. As the carriage makes its way through the desert and through the woods surrounding Arlmaspi, Twilight enjoys the scenery, while Rarity just sits there with an umbrella, sunglasses, and a glass of iced tea. The freshly brewed stuff, not that yucky fountain iced tea.
“Ah, the Arlmaspi woods!” Twilight said as she felt the breeze on her face. “Can you feel that breeze, Rarity? That’s not your average everyday Cloudsdale factory-made breeze; no, this is the homemade Arlmaspi breeze made by Arlmaspi mages.”
“That’s nice, dear.” Rarity said as she closes her umbrella. “But now it is time for me to change into something cooler. The temperature has decreased rapidly all the sudden.”
“Well, the people of Arlmaspi need the cold air because they have sensitive skin. The hot air makes their skin fall off and peel.” Twilight explained.
“Ew!” Rarity said in a disgusted tone. “Well then thank Celestia for this cool air.”
“Sorry, Rarity, but one of the things I don’t like about Arlmaspi Territory is that they don’t believe in Celestia.” Twilight said. “But I respect their traditions. However, that doesn’t mean the power of friendship doesn’t flow within them still.”
“Didn’t Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie say when they went to Griffonstone, a Arlmaspi infiltrated the palace and stole the Idol of… something?” Rarity asked.
“The Idol of Boreas?” Twilight asked.
“Yeah that one.” Rarity said. “It makes me wonder if these Arlmaspis are thieves.”
“That is actually a good question, Rarity.” Twilight thought.
“Yeah, well, I’m chucked full of them.” Rarity said, admiring herself.
“This is as far as we go.” One of the ponies pulling the carriage said.
“We’re not allowed to go any further.” The other pony said.
“It’s fine.” Twilight said as she flies off the carriage. “Thank you so much for the ride!”
“Ahem.” One of the ponies cleared his throat. “Princess of Friendship or not, you still need to pay.”
“Oh…” Twilight said as she chuckles awkwardly. “I… I seem to have left my bits at home. Umm… Rarity, could you handle this for me please? I’ll pay you back when we get home.”
“Not a problem, dear!” Rarity said as she gives the ponies a small sack of bits. “Here you go, dearies! I hope you have a good trip back!” Rarity starts to walk off, but the ponies stopped her.
“This isn’t enough.” One of them said.
Rarity stopped walking and she curiously turned around and asked, “I beg your pardon?”
“This isn’t enough. This is half of what we want.” The pony with the sack of bits said.
“We walked hundreds of miles to get here, and it’s outside of Equestrian territory.” The other pony said. “We need more than this. Trust me, I calculated what we need, and I know what’s a fair price.”
“It’s true. I flunked math.” The first pony said.
“Well…” Rarity started as she flips her around and flutters her eyes at them. “I’m sure a couple of big strong ponies like yourselves can set aside this one unfortunate affair.” The two ponies looked at eachother confusingly. Rarity then walks up against them and rubs their chins. “If you can do this for me, I’ll be incredibly grateful! A sensitive girl such as myself has been threw a lot. I’m sure you two will do the right thing not let greed take control of you.” She turns around and fluffs her tail on their faces.
The two ponies looked at eachother again, and then they looked back at Rarity and said, “No!”
“WHAT?!” Rarity yelled in shock.
“It’s either you pay the full price, or we won’t come back to pick you up.” One of them said.
“Just pay them, Rarity.” Twilight said in an annoyed tone. “I told you I’ll pay you when we get back.”
Rarity sighs upsettingly as she gives the ponies another sack of bits. “Thank you!” the ponies said happily.
“We’ll be right here waiting for ya. If you’re not back by 24 hours, we’ll go get help.” One of the ponies promised.
“Will do!” Twilight said as she and Rarity started to walk through the forest. Rarity was feeling frustrated because her flirtatious charms seemed to have failed her again. She was starting to become more afraid that she’s losing her touch, but she just figured it might be a coincidence, and she’ll do better next time.
As the two were walking, Twilight was looking through a map in an effort to know what direction they’re going. “Ew!” Rarity said.
“What? What happened? Did you step on something?” Twilight asked.
“No… we’re here.” Rarity said as she pointed up ahead where it showed the rocky mountains, and a giant cyclops skull on top of the middle mountain. On the three cylinder-shaped mountains next to the big middle one, smoke was coming out of them, which made it seem like that mountain was a factory of some sort.
“Wow… this is so fascinating!” Twilight said excitedly.
“I find it to be disgusting.” Rarity said. “Also, yes, I did step in something.” Rarity showed Twilight the blue gooey stuff on the bottom of her hoof.
“Rarity, if you’re so disgusted on the germy substances you step on, why don’t you ever wear any shoes?” Twilight asked.
“Uhh, blisters? Obviously.” Rarity informed her. Twilight rolled her eyes as the two of them continued on to get closer to the mountain. When they got closer, they made their way to a huge wooden gate, with a wall surrounding both directions.
“This must be a very secure city we’re going to.” Twilight said.
“Why? I don’t think anypony would want to go to a place as disgusting as this one!” Rarity said.
“Rarity, I hope you realize we’re not in Equestria anymore technically.” Twilight informed her. “This place is apart of its own nation. So we’re not in our own nation anymore. We’re outside of it.”
“Which is to say… out of this world.” Rarity said.
“Just let me do the talking, ok?” Twilight asked her.
“Fine, but tell them they should at least have to tidy up a bit.” Rarity said. “At least this place doesn’t smell as bad as it looks.”
“Halt! Who goes there?” the head of a cyclops yells out from the top of the wall.
“Tell him he looks like he needs to put eye-drops on his one eye.” Rarity whispered to Twilight.
“Shhh!” Twilight shushed her. She then shouts out to the cyclops, “My name is Twilight Sparkle, princess of friendship, and this is-“
“I am Rarity, founder and owner of Carousel Boutique and Canterlot Carousel!” Rarity interrupts. She then whispers to Twilight, “I’d rather introduce myself, thank you very much.”
“What do you ponies want?” the cyclops asked.
“We were sent here by the Map of Harmony.” Twilight said. “It would seem that there is a friendship problem here, so we were sent here to help out.”
“I dunno what you’re talking about.” The cyclops said. “Us Arlmaspi cyclopes get along just fine.”
“Are you sure?” Twilight asked. “Because that map doesn’t lie.”
“Positive.” The cyclops said. “I’m not sure what map you’re talking about, but I assure you that it must have found an error. We Arlmaspi cyclopes never fight with eachother. It is pretty much us against the world, so we need eachother to survive.”
“B-but… there must be some kind of mistake!” Twilight said.
“Thank you for visiting the Arlmaspi Territory. Now good day madams!” the cyclops demanded.
“But darling,” Rarity attempted to persuade him, “surely there must be something-“
“I SAID GOOD DAY MADAMS!” the cyclops yells as he throws a giant rock down at them, but Twilight uses her magic to shield herself and Rarity from the rock and when it touches the shield, it smashes into a bunch of pieces.
Rarity gasps in shock and says, “How rude!”
“Looks like we can’t reason with him. We need to try something else.” Twilight said.
“And what do you suppose we do, Twilight?” Rarity asked.
“I think I have one idea.” Twilight said as she takes out Starswirl’s book from her satchel.
“Is that the book from Starswirl’s castle?” Rarity asked. “The one we used to help Princess Skyla control her magic?”
“Yep!” Twilight said. “It turns out there’s a whole bunch of magic spells in here that I never even heard of before! Not even Princess Celestia has ever done these spells, nor mention them!”
“You think there’s something in there we can use?” Rarity asked.
“I sure do!” Twilight said as she opens the book. “It might question my moral friendship code, but I really want to help these guys see reason.” Twilight turns the pages of the book until she finds the page she’s looking for. “Ah! Here we go! This will get him to open the gate.” Twilight immediately starts calling out for the cyclops. “Hey, gatekeeper!”
“What?!” the cyclops yelled out angrily. “Can’t you take a hint? We don’t have any friendship problems! Get outta here!”
Twilight closes her eyes, and her horn begins to glow. She then waves it from side to side and says, “You will open the gate for us.”
“Wait what?” Rarity asked. “Twilight, darling, you can’t just tell someone to-“
“I will open the gate for you.” The cyclops said with a blank expression on his face. The gatekeeper starts to turn a crank, and the city gate begins to open.
“Wait… Twilight, what did you just do?” Rarity asked curiously.
“Mind Control – Type One.” Twilight said. “I used that spell from this book. I sent a message to his mind, giving him an order to open the gate.”
“Wait… you controlled his mind?!” Rarity asked surprisingly.
“Not so much as ‘controlling’ it. That’s Mine Control – Type Two.” Twilight corrected her. “I wouldn’t go so far as to go all the way to type two, unless I REALLY NEED to. That’s going to be last resort.”
“It just doesn’t seem right to force other ponies to do something for you.” Rarity said. Twilight gives her a glare. “What?”
After a half a minute, the gates open revealing the Arlmaspi city. The huge cyclops who was standing right behind the gate greets them inside as Twilight and Rarity walk inside. The buildings were as big as Manehattan buildings; however, most of them were only two stories tall – cyclops height. Cyclopes were wandering around the city just like everyday citizens, even though most of them were using magic to get their jobs done.
“Wow… are they all magical?” Rarity asked.
“All of the Arlmaspi cyclopes are magical.” Twilight said. “There are other cyclopes around the outside that are not magical, but this is the place they go to study magic. It’s pretty much the Canterlot of the Cyclops Republic / Democracy.”
“So they’re not ruled by a king or princess or something?” Rarity asked.
“Nope. The cyclopes are ruled by a council.” Twilight said. “Multiple cyclopes rule the nation, not just one individual.”
“You know a lot about our nation, puny ponies.” A cyclops said as he leaned against the wall eating a giant apple.
“Whoa! Applejack would have a field day with that thing!” Rarity said impressively.
“HEY! Who you callin’ a thing?!” the cyclops yelled feeling offended.
“I was talking about your apple.” Rarity corrected him.
“Hey! What’re callin’ my home a thing?!” a giant worm yelled out after sticking out of the apple.
After an awkward silence, Rarity says, “Ok, I’m officially freaked out now.”
“Anyways we’re here to help out a friendship problem here.” Twilight said. “Do you know of anywhere in town that your people are fighting?”
“Our people get along just fine!” the cyclops said. “It’s us against the world! Surely, if you knew much about our kingdom, you’d know that.”
Twilight started to think, and then she says to Rarity, “I don’t get it. Why would the map send us here if none of these cyclopes have any friendship problems?”
“It’s weird. Both of those cyclopes gave us the same exact answers.” Rarity said. “Can it be a coincidence?”
“I think we’ll need to investigate.” Twilight said. “I’m going to go up the mountains and see what I can find. You should try speaking with these cyclopes down here in town and see if you can find any clues.”
“With me and my charms,” Rarity waves her hoof against her mane, “nopony can resist!”
“Well I hope you put your charms to good use, and not try to get these cyclopes to do your bidding.” Twilight said.
“Twilight, darling, I assure you, I never get anyone to do my ‘bidding’.” Rarity informed her.
“Is that so?” Twilight asked, not believing her.
“It is so.” Rarity said. “It is all for good reasons.”
“For both our sakes, Rarity, I hope so.” Twilight said as she started to walk towards the mountains. Rarity takes out a mirror to check up on her face.
“Rarity, you ol charmer, you’re going to woo these guys! Who knows what you can accomplish?” she asked herself. “For all you can get regular ol stallions to do for you, who knows what these cyclopes can do if you just show them what you’re made of!”
Twilight heads over to the mountains nearby and she speaks to herself as she looks up at it. “Hmm… with the smoke coming out of those skinny peaks, it doesn’t seem like this mountain is a natural resource, unless something was built inside of it.” Twilight looks over and sees a giant door on the mountain with two cyclops guards carrying giant metal spears guarding it.
“Excuse me, sirs?” Twilight asked as the cyclopes’ metal armors clained as they looked down at Twilight. “Yeah hi, I’m Twilight Sparkle, princess of friendship!”
“Ask us if we care.” One of the guards instructed her.
“I’d rather not because it’s basic psychology that I know what your answer is.” Twilight said.
“Good, that should save us some time, and you can finally leave.” One of the guards said.
“But you see, I must speak to your leaders at once.” Twilight said. “The Map of Harmony has sent me here, and I wish to help out with a friendship problem.”
“We have no friendshi-“ one of the guards said, but gets cut off by Twilight.
“-No friendship problems. Yes, I got that.” Twilight said. “But the map is never wrong.”
“Must be wrong this time.” One of the guards said.
“No! It’s never wrong!” Twilight said. “I want to speak to your leader at once. I really want to help.”
“We don’t need any pony’s help. Get lost!” one of the guards instructed her.
“Unless you’re already lost, in that case, get lost somewhere else.” The other guard said.
Twilight sighs and says, “I really didn’t want to do this, but I’m desperate to help out.” Twilight closed her eyes and her horn started glowing. She then waves her head back and forth and says, “You will let me see your leader.”
“I will let you se our leader.” One of the guards said.
“Wait why?” the other guard asked the other guard. “What’s wrong with you, pal?”
“You both will let me see your leader.” Twilight said as she waved her head again.
“We both will let you see our leader.” Both of the guards said as they opened he doors. The guards walked inside and Twilight followed them. After walking through the caverns, the base of the mountain was revealed to Twilight’s eyes. It turns out she was correct that something was built inside the mountain. It was a machine containing magic inside. A conveyor belt containing vials of magic potions went on by. This aroused Twilight’s curiosity to why there was a factory inside the mountain. She continued to follow the guards until they reached the council chamber. There were councilor cyclopes sitting around the chamber, and the head councilor had their chair turned.
“President Lia.” One of the guards said.
“What is it, you two?” a female cyclops wearing navy blue gown and gold upside-down triangle ear-rings asked with an attitude. “No, you cannot have a raise!”
“No, madam, it is not that. We have the princess of friendship here that wishes to speak with you.” One of the guards said.
“I see.” President Lia said as she looks down at Twilight, and Twilight awkwardly waves at her. “Do you have an appointment, your highness?
“Well… no.” Twilight admitted. “But I-“
“I cannot speak with anyone, especially a pony, unless they have an appointment.” Lia said. “I’m a very busy cyclops, if you haven’t figured out. I’m trying to run a business, as well as a nation with my fellow councilors here.” The councilors all said hi to Twilight, but in their own words.
“My name is Twilight Sparkle.” She said.
“Yes, I heard of you.” Lia said. “I was at a summit one time. I heard what you do. You go around Equestria and help out others that are in need of friendship, but I’m pretty sure plenty of my people have already told you that we all get along just fine.”
“Ooooh, they probably mentioned it once or twice.” Twilight teased as she chuckled.
“This is no time for humor, Miss Sparkle.” Lia said. “We have a bone to pick and it is time we did something about it.”
“AH HA! So you do have a friendship problem!” Twilight said.
“How can we have a friendship problem if we have never been friends with these creatures before?” Lia asked.
“What do you mean?” Twilight asked.
“You ask too many questions, Princess Twilight.” Lia said. “Questions that could get you into a lot of trouble. I hope you realize that we’re not really part of Equestria, even though we do business with them. So we are not your responsibility. Our problems remain our own.”
“But is it our responsibility for the ones you’re angry at?” Twilight asked.
“Princess Twilight, I hope you realize you’re in our territory with our own laws, and we will not hesitate to capture you.” Lia said. “Now if you be so kind is to leave? We won’t have to make things ugly.” She then looks at her councilors and then says, “Well… uglier than usual.” Her councilors all looked at eachother curiously, and then one of them smelled his own armpit and shrugged.
So the guards began to escort Twilight out. Meanwhile, Rarity was strolling through town looking for a reliable place to get information from. She ended up trying her charms on every cyclops on the street, but she had no such luck. Everyone just ignored her. Rarity started to feel frustrated.
“UGH!” she groaned. “Is anyone going to help a girl out?! I’m pretty! No guy has ever ignored this look!”
“Whoa, first world problems, lady.” A cyclops said as he walked by.
“UGH!” she groaned again. “I’m losing it! I’m really losing it! Everyone thinks I’m ugly now!”
“That’s not true.” A female cyclops said.
“Really?” Rarity asked happily.
“Yeah. You always looked ugly to us.” The cyclops said as she walked away.
Rarity started spazing out. She really thought after those cyclops told their own opinions about her, she started to think it was a fact, but then that was when she knew what she needed to do. “Ok… ok… desperate times call for desperate measures. It is time to look the prettiest I’ve ever been!” Rarity puts down her satchel and starts going through it. “I’ll show these one-eyed freaks who’s ugly!”
Back in the factory while Twilight was being escorted out, Twilight needed to do something to get more information on who the cyclopes have not been getting along with, so she needed to get rid of the guards. She uses the mind control spell she’s been using on the guards to get rid of them. Twilight then sneaks deeper into the factory watching as the conveyor belt transports the jars of magic.
“What is this place?” Twilight asked herself as she follows the conveyor belt seeing where the magic is coming from. She watches as the machine cleans the magic and adding substances to it to make it from a gas to a liquid. Twilight feels a bit concerned so she goes deeper. She eventually sees a door that says ‘keep out’ on it. Her curiosity got the best of her so she opens the door.
“AAAH!” a female screamed from inside as water was also heard running from inside.
“AAH! Sorry, sorry!” Twilight said as she quickly shut the door and she blushed in embarrassment. Twilight looks over and sees another door right next to it with the sign that says ‘Storage’. She opens the door and gasps in shock. Inside the room was a bunch of griffons trapped in cages. Some were yelling and fighting to get out, while some were lying down on the ground feeling drained. Twilight started to feel worried and suspicious. “Griffons! What have they done to you?”
“Those dweebs kidnapped us, and they’re draining our magic!” Gilda said.
“Gilda?” Twilight asked.
“Yeah what’s up?” Gilda asked. “How’s Dash doing?”
“She’s fine.” Twilight said. “Gilda, what happened here?”
“These stupid one-eyed freaks snatched us while we weren’t looking!” Gilda explained.
“It is terrible! Unacceptable!” Gustave le Grand said worryingly.
“Gustave le Grand?!” Twilight cried out in surprise.
“I was at my restaurant; I was closing down shop when they snatched me!” Gustave cried. “Look at my apron! It’s ruined!”
“It’s just wrinkled, dimwit! You’ll survive!” Gilda informed him.
“How about you, Gilda? How did you get here?” Twilight asked.
“You may not know it, but since Griffonstone got finished rebuilding, I became its new ambassador.” Gilda said. “Now I can travel around Equestria demanding stuff for my kingdom. Now that’s the life I like – adventure, and demanding!”
“Well, Princess Twilight, I do not wish to hurry you, but this hose here draining our magic a little bit at a time!” Gustave said as a giant hose showed up and started sucking the magic off a fellow griffon. So much of his magic has drained that he collapsed on the ground, feeling drained.
“This is NOT good!” Twilight said worryingly. “What could they be using this magic for?”
“I dunno, but you better think of something FAST!” Gilda said. “Otherwise-“ Just then, Twilight suddenly blacks out from getting hit in the head by a guard.
Back in the city, over by the tavern, cyclopes were talking, drinking milk, playing games, and one was even playing a piano. Their fun time gets disturbed when Rarity walks in. She doesn’t say anything – she just walks in showing off her gemstones on her water blue dress. Everyone just stares down (literary) at her as she walks over to the bar area. She struggles as she climbs up onto the stool that’s 4x bigger than a normal one. “Hello, darling!” Rarity said to the bartender as she waves her hair around.
“What can I do for you?” the bartender asked.
“Oh I’ve just been around the neighborhood, and thought it would be a good idea to get some… information.” Rarity said.
“Information on what?” the bartender asked.
“I’m looking for a friendship problem.” Rarity said. “It would seem your people are having some sort of… fight. Would you care to explain so I can help out?”
“That is none of your concern.” The bartender said.
“Ahem.” Rarity clears her throat as she waves her mane again and flutters her eyes. “I don’t think you understood me, which is completely fine. A smart handsome creature such as you must make mistakes just like everybody else.”
“Look if you want rumors, you’re going to have to pay for it.” The bartender said.
“Umm… yeah about that.” Rarity started.
“Then I have nothing for you. Either buy something or get out. Your choice.” The bartender said.
“Hmph.” Rarity groans. She then turns towards a female cyclops next to her and asks, “Do you like my dress? It could be yours with no charge! All I need is some information.”
“No thank you. That dress seems awfully bright for my taste.” The cyclops said.
“How about if I took the gems out?” Rarity suggested.
“That might fix the clarity, but how am I going to fit into that little thing, genius?” the cyclops asked sarcastically. Rarity started to get angry. She needed to get information somehow. She tried the card players, she tried the piano player, but no such luck was made. There was only one more cyclops in the tavern to get information from, and that was a lonely cyclops sitting near the corner.
“Ah! A loner!” Rarity said happily. “He must be desperate enough. He’ll for sure give me the information I need!” Rarity walks over to the lonely cyclops and shows off her dress and hair to him. “Hello there, handsome! What could a big strong cyclops like you be all alone back here?”
“Wow, you finally got to me. I thought for sure you’d skip me.” the cyclops said upsettingly.
“Me? Skip you?” Rarity chuckled. “Why would I want to do that?”
“Save your breath, you’re only using me to get information. Why else would you be flirting with anyone in here? You ponies have no interests in ‘freaks’ like us.” The cyclops said.
“Whaaaaat? No! You’re not freaks!” Rarity fibbed.
“Go ahead, lie to us some more. It’ll definitely get you the information you need.” The cyclops said sarcastically. “I’ve seen what you and your friend have been doing. You’re trying to force information out of us. How do you think we feel about that?”
“Oh but darling, please!” Rarity persuaded.
“My name is Roland, and that’s what I want to be called.” The cyclops said with an attitude.
“Ok… Roland.” Rarity said.
“That’s a start.” Roland said.
“So does a big strong handsome-“ Rarity continued but Roland cuts her off.
“Will you cut that out?” Roland complained. “No one wants to hear your lies. If you really want information from us, you’ll have to earn our trust. That… that what you’re doing now.”
“What?” Rarity asked as she fluttered her eyes at him.
Roland sighs. “You look pretty, alright? Don’t get me wrong. But seriously… that needs to stop.”
“Ooooh…” Rarity moaned to herself as she faceplants her head onto the table. “It’s hopeless! I’ve been doing the same exact technique and it’s not working. I’m not sure what happened. I used to be so irresistible! I had dealbreakers with my fair looks! It’s no use anymore. I don’t need this dress!” Rarity starts to freak out as she rips off her dress and throws it aside – it lands inside a cyclopes’ milk glass. “And this mane! This was the main source of my beauty! No one ever resisted!” She then uses her magic to pick up one of the cyclops’ mug of water and dumps it on her head, messing up her mane.
“HEY! That was my water!” the cyclops complained.
“Oh hush! You didn’t even PAY for it!” Rarity yelled angrily.
“It’s true.” The cyclops agreed.
“And this magnificent coat!” Rarity continued. “I make it shinny and beautiful, but has anybody paid attention to it?! Noooo! Here I am trying to save the fate of Equestria, and all that surrounds it, and all this cleanliness goes to waste!” Rarity then jumps outside and covers herself with dirt. She then hops back inside and yells, “THERE! Look at me! I’m UGLY now! Is this what you wanted?! Huh!?” Everyone just stared at Rarity in silence. Rarity started to feel embarrassed and awkward. “I’m… I’m sorry.” She said. “That has never happened to me before.”
“Hey, I understand your situation.” Roland walks over to her and helps her up. “You know how I ended up here? Because I’m gullible. Our previous president, President Corgan ordered me money to hunt down griffons and capture them and bring them back to the mountain. As I was bringing a group of griffons in, they bribed me. They offered me money to let them go. He fired me. It cost everything I have. Money got the best of me. It tricked me, and all for what?”
“So… what are you saying?” Rarity asked.
“You can’t bribe or charm others to get you the information you want.” Roland said. “It’s not right. Not only could you hurt others, but you could hurt yourself too. I didn’t want to capture those griffons in the first place, because it didn’t seem right. President Corgan paid me, then the griffons paid me – some think beauty and greed will get them what they want, but it’ll only take you so far. I’m hoping our newly-elected President Lia thinks otherwise.”
“Hey, I would’ve listened to you now.” the bartender said to Rarity. “I mean you look better with that mane like that. Those gems made you look awfully bright. I prefer dark myself.”
“Hmm.” Rarity thought it over. “I must remember that next time. Not everyone likes the same look, but… then again… looks aren’t everything.”
“Exactly what I’ve been saying.” Roland said.
“Well… I apologize yet again for what I’ve been doing, dear, and for what Twilight’s been doing too. We’ve both been misusing our gifts.” Rarity said. “Oh… how am I supposed to get the information now?”
“Well, for one all you needed to do was explain the situation.” Roland said. “If we knew all of Equestria was hanging in the balance, I would’ve told you what you needed to know right away.” The other cyclopes in the tavern all nodded in agreement.
Rarity started to chuckle. “All that freaking out for nothing, huh? All I needed to do was explain!” The other cyclopes laughed along. Rarity smiled after officially learning her lesson. She then asked Roland, “Oh, and what’s the second thing you were going to tell me, Roland?”
“Well, I already gave you the information you need.” Roland said. “The council has been capturing griffons, stealing their magic, because they stole something from us, and we need it back.”
“My friend Twilight might need some help in that regard.” Rarity thought. “Will you please take me to the mountain?” She just smiled; she didn’t even flutter her eyes. Why should she anyway? Her eyelashes are all messed up.
Roland then smiled back. “Follow me.” He instructed her.
Back inside the mountain, Twilight wakes up from lying on the ground. She moans as she rubs her head. She eventually stands up and walks forward, that is, until she hits some kind of invisible wall. “What the?” Twilight asked herself. Twilight then curiously walked right, and then she hits another invisible wall. “This isn’t right.” Twilight starts running around the room, as she keep hitting invisible walls all around her. “Hmm…” she thought. “Something tells me…” Twilight continues running around the room touching the invisible walls to be sure. “Yeah, yep. It’s a glass box. Is it what I think it is?” Twilight attempts to use her magic, but her horn didn’t even spark. “Yep I was right.”
“An anti-magic box.” President Lia said as she and two of her guards walk in.
“President Lia, I am impressed!” Twilight said. “Anti-magic boxes are not easy to come by.”
“To us they are. We invented them.” President Lia said.
“Ah.” Twilight nodded. “How about we just cut to the chase? Why do you have a bunch of griffon prisoners?”
“You know why.” Lia said.
“Yes I know, you’re draining their magic, by why griffons?” Twilight asked.
“Well now that we have you. Alicorn magic is the most powerful magic in all the land.” Lia said.
“Yeah that’s nice, but you’re not answering my question.” Twilight reminded her.
Lia sighs and says, “You’re not going to make this easy for me are you? Are you going to try to force the answer out of me, like you’ve been doing to my people?”
“I’m here on an important mission. The Map of Harmony gave us a message saying there’s a friendship problem here.” Twilight said.
“You can’t seem to understand my language, so how about you read my lips?” Lia continued. “WE… HAVE… NO… FRIENDSHIP… PROBLEM!”
“You may not have any friendship problems with eachother, but what about those griffons?” Twilight asked.
“Oh them?” Lia asked. “We weren’t friends with them in the first place. They stole something from us.”
“THAT’S A LIE!” Gilda yelled from the cage at the other side of the room. “We stole NOTHING from you!”
“Oh yeah?” Lia asked as she walks over, crouches over, and leans over (that’s what I call the three overs) near Gilda and said, “Idol of Boreas. Does that name mean anything to you?”
“Yes that’s the treasure that brought griffonkind together, that is, until it was lost, but then we learned to live without it.” Gustave said.
“And how was that icon found?” Lia asked.
“Well that’s easy. But how about we discuss this over an éclair?” Gustave suggested.
“ANSWER THE QUESTION!” Lia demanded.
“King Grover discovered it, ok?!” Gilda said with an attitude. “Now cool your jets!”
“Hmm, let me rephrase that… you mean he STOLE it from us.” Lia corrected them.
“He didn’t stole NOTHIN’!” Gilda corrected her.
“Yes he did!” Lia said. “It was one of our priceless artifacts. It was an heirloom that belonged to our first president. Our former president, Corgan, sent one of our best agents, Arimaspi, over to the kingdom in an attempt to get the idol back, but Arimaspi disappeared, and never returned. When he learned about his failure, it wasn’t all lost. Griffonstone was falling apart, so it’s a little something I like to call: karma.”
“So if you exacted your revenge, why are you capturing griffons?” Twilight asked.
“Well, after an unfortunate chain of events, griffons decided to rebuild their society after finding out they don’t need the idol anymore to survive.” Lia said. “Since we still don’t have our idol back, we need to make sure Griffonstone stays as a low rate society, which is why we’re collecting their magic, and we’re going to attack their kingdom and take over it! The more magic we collect, the more successful our troops will be in taking over.”
“Well you can’t use ALL of us!” Gilda said. “We don’t have enough magic for your army, so you’re wasting your time.”
“That’s why we have a princess now!” Lia said as she looks over at Twilight mischievously.
“Oh… if you think you’re going to be taking my magic, you have another thing coming.” Twilight threatened her. “The princesses will not allow this!”
“HA! You think the princess’s laws apply here?” Lia asked. “We’re not part of Equestria, remember? We have our own nation! What we’re doing is practically legal – we have the rights to do this.”
Twilight started to get nervous. “Surely we can be reasonable here!” She suggested.
“You trespass into our base, brainwash my guards – the time of negotiations are over.” Lia said. She turns to her guards and ordered them, “Guards! Start the hose!” One of the guards pulled down a lever and a giant hose began to decedent into Twlight’s box. Twilight was starting to shake since she knew she would be defenseless while inside that box. “I hope you realize alicorn magic is very powerful, too powerful even for you!”
“Ah but with your magic, combined with this book you thoughtfully brought,” Lia showed Twilight Starswirl’s book, “we’ll have magic that will be so powerful that it will be out of this world!” She started to laugh mischievously. The hose was descending closer and closer until it goes through inside the box. The hose then gets connected to her horn. The guards push another lever down and the machine activates, slowly sucking the magic out of Twilight. Twilight began to struggle as she was being drained. The hose transports the magic into the machine and starts filling containers full of it.
As Lia was laughing mischievously thinking she was unstoppable, one of Lia’s guards turns against the other by the hose controls and immediately switches off the controls. The hose gets released from her horn, and the anti-magic box opens. “YOU FOOL!” Lia yelled. “You treacherous fool! I will have you fired for this!”
“You see what the irony is of that?” The guard asked as he removes his helmet revealing himself to be Roland. “You already have.”
“ROLAND!” Lia yelled. “You have a lot of nerve doing what you did! I’ll have you arrested for this!”
“Not if I have everything to say about it!” Twilight said as she aimed her horn towards Lia.
“Twilight!” Rarity called out as she ran over to Twilight and gave her a hug.
“Rarity!” Twilight said excitedly.
“Are you ok, darling?” Rarity asked worryingly.
“A little woozy, but I’m alright.” Twilight said. “Nevermind me though, what happened to you?” She observed her wet mane and dirt all over her.
“Oh.” Rarity chuckled embarrassingly. “It’s a long story.”
“Well you came just in time.” Twilight said.
“Just in time?!” Gilda complained. “It’s ABOUT time you came!”
“Pardon my poor memory of faces, but is that Gilda?” Rarity asked.
“Yeah, but nevermind that.” Twilight said.
“Oh yeah, like I’m anything special.” Gilda said sarcastically.
“President Lia, I want you to give the magic back to these poor griffons, and release them at once.” Twilight instructed her.
“Oh what are you going to do? Brain wash me to cancel the attack on Griffonstone?” Lia asked.
“Yes.” Twilight said as Rarity said “No.” at the same time.
“Wait what?” Twilight asked curiously.
“Twilight, you told me I shouldn’t be using my charms to get others to do my bidding, but how is you brain washing these poor creatures make you any better?” Rarity asked.
“I just want to restore the balance of peace between the griffons and cyclopes.” Twilight said. “Start up a friendship.”
“But a new friend of mine taught me that you cannot get what you want by forcing it upon others.” Rarity said as she smiles at Roland. “If we’re going to restore the balance of friendship between these two races, we’re going to do it the right way, or not do it at all.”
Twilight thought over what Rarity said and she looked down feeling bad. “Wow… Rarity, you’re right. Starswirl’s book is bringing wealth of knowledge and power to my head, making me abuse my gift.”
“As I have abused mine.” Rarity said.
Twilight and Rarity both smile at eachother, and they both looked over at Ria and Twilight said, “President Ria, perhaps it is time to start negotiations again. I have a deal for you!”
So after a deal was made, the head Arlmaspian cyclopes were marching towards Griffonstone. The griffons of Griffonstone felt the earth shaking from the cyclopes’ stamping feet. They all felt worried, but as the new king walked out of the castle he calmed his subjects, and then he and his guards started walking towards the cyclopes as the cyclopes came closer. Twilight and Rarity were up on another part of Griffonstone’s mountain watching over everything that was going on. When the griffons and the cyclopes walked up to eachother, and President Lia and the king saw eye to eye, they glared at eachother in silence.
“C’mon, President Lia!” Twilight mumbled. Not saying anything, Lia nods to her guards. Her guards then turn around and unchained the captured griffons, setting them free. The griffons happily ran over to the king, but not before Gilda sticks her tongue out at one of the guards.
“Why I outta…!” The guard said angrily, lifting a fist. The other guard stopped him though. After the griffons were released, the king nodded to one of his guards and the guard walks over to the president, giving her the Idol of Boreas. Lia smiles as she takes the idol, observing it carefully, making sure it was real. Lia takes out her hand to the king, and the king accepts it, and he shakes it. By the time that happened, Twilight’s and Rarity’s cutie marks began to vibrate.
“Well, Rarity, I guess it just goes to show, being reasonable is the way to go!” Rarity said.
“Yeah but we already knew that.” Rarity reminded her.
“Yeah, but sometimes we can forget something we already learned in the past.” Twilight said. “Sometimes our gifts get the better of us.”
“Well no matter what, I was glad to have done it with you, Twilight!” Rarity said as they both hugged.
“I’m glad things worked out for the better.” Roland said as he walks over to the ponies. “President Lia, wants me to personally thank you for everything. Without you, this could’ve all ended in violence, and as you may know, we do have a nation to keep running and have no time for war.”
“So does that mean you got your job back?” Twilight asked.
“Even better!” Roland said. “I got a promotion to ambassador! I’ll be going to Equestria from time to time, and we were actually thinking of linking up with Equestria officially.”
“So I guess you’ll be a part of our world after all, huh?” Twilight asked.
“Perhaps.” Roland said. “But, Princess Twilight, you better keep that book in a safe place.”
“Absolutely!” Twilight agreed. “A book like Starswirl’s long lost magics taken into the wrong hooves would make tragic consequences. I have to keep a closer eye on it, and use it more wisely. From now on, I’m going to be studying the book from only at home, and using the magic I learned on the adventures.”
“Sounds like a fair idea, darling!” Rarity agreed. She then looks over at Roland and says, “Now Roland, would you please be a dear and help us get home?”
“Oh yes, you beautiful angel!” Roland said as he felt blushly around Rarity with her newer… not-so-fabulous look.
“Hm! Everyone seems to have their weakness. I guess not everybody likes the same look.” Rarity said as she fluffed her mane. Twilight then glares at her. “What? I’m not FORCING him to do anything, but you have to admit, my delightful charms have helped us get out of situations before, and it does have its advantages.” Twilight rolls her eyes and shakes her head.