A Forbidden Friendship
Chapter 10: Malbourne's Metamorphosis: Final Chapter
Previous Chapter Next ChapterEveryone watch as Apple Bloom falls from where the balloon is into the boiling potion. Those in the bottom and middle row thought about how the completed potion would spread the effects of the Immoral Gem all throughout Equestria, how all ponies would be and how they are going to use Earth Ponies until they become extinct. While the top row is thinking about how they are going to reshape Equestria and mock the princesses.
As Apple Bloom is about to fall into the potion, pink magic surrounds her and lift her up as a winged pony fly up as well. To everyone's shock, they see the pony go up, placing Apple Bloom on its back. Captain use magic to show whom the being is to reveal Orange horn, wings, and a 3 Red Apple Cutiemark: it's Applejack as an Alicorn. As she is flying, her horn is glowing with Pink as she uses magic to tie Apple Bloom to her back.
"Get Our Being Back And Annihilate the Fraudulent," Captain yelled as everyone charge up their horns.
"Hold on tight, SugarCube. I won't let them near you," Applejack whisper as she uses magic to tighten the strap and then transport.
Applejack transport to the side of the rim as the ponies shoot beams at her.
She flew fast over the potion, skillfully dodging the beams with great flying skills.
When they stop, Applejack uses her magic on them, as well as three councilmembers who jump to the middle row to fight her, stick them to the wall and prevent them from using magic.
At the bottom row, the Fraudulents there were about to throw a different and powerful attack at Applejack when they heard a stomp.
They look to see it is Big Mac with a Red horn and wings.
Before they have a chance to attack him, Big Mac use light blue magic to get some rope and tie the two, even up to their horns.
He looks up and decide to fly up to his sisters.
Applejack fought against two more council members when she is joined by her brother and with their horns, they stop them.
They thought they had taken out all of the council members when Applejack realizes only one has not dealt with and it is Captain.
The two look up to see Captain, using magic to hold up a blue/orange feather and a yellow/red feather.
Captain lectured them, looking at the feathers, about how he is more experience as an Alicorn than they are and how they won't be able to defeat him. He also saw how the feathers are changing color and called them both big liars, specifically calling out Applejack for not even trying to hide the fact they belong to someone else. After that claim, he opens his wings and gets ready to fight them.
The two fought Captain but unbeknownst to them, he's cheating; making duplicates of himself, directing their attacks against each other and healing or making himself stronger.
When the two became exhausted, Captain explains he didn't get his position for a good reason as he uses magic on himself to become darker, ferocious and more powerful.
As Captain's final form is about to unleash his magic on the Apples when a huge pink bubble appears in front of him.
The bubble took the damage and it is revealed to be from Malbourne, who use bubble gum, saying how good and sweet it is.
Captain aim his magic at him, but before an attack could happen, Malbourne blew another balloon in his place. After that, he created more replicas, this time for the Apples.
Frustrated with them, Captain uses magic to create weapons and bombs only for Malbourne to change them into party favors.
Now angry, Captain channel all of his magic to do a spell that would end them all where they are. Seeing what he's doing, Malbourne told them to channel the power from the capsules into the magic they can do and unite their horns together.
As Captain launch his attack, the three did theirs and the spells clash and at an equal power. It seems like the first one to show weakness will be the one to fall.
While it is going on, Malbourne felt something: he questions this feeling and embraces it when his magic change from light orange to white and it became strong enough to add more power to the spell and defeat Captain.
Captain is knocked out and Applejack and Big Mac celebrate as Malbourne use his leftover magic to turn on the TV screens.
"That's some magic you got there Malbourne, do you know how to wake…" Applejack said when she saw what Malbourne is watching.
They see widespread damage across Equestria: citizens of Ponyville fighting, Royal Guards doing their jobs, Wonderbolts saving innocent lives and fighting back, and all four Alicorns using magic to protect others.
"This has all gone too far, considering it is many ponies with small Immoral Gems causing this much trouble," Malbourne said as Big Mac join in.
He asks if there is a way to stop all of this, only for Malbourne to say, "So long as the Immoral Gems are still attach to a pony, they will fill out its desire for bad and evil things, even after a long time of separation."
After that, Applejack felt pain on her back and they see Apple Bloom is awake and hitting her in the back. They all knew it is because of the Immoral Gem's influence even when she is not wearing it.
Malbourne knocks Apple Bloom out with a simple sleep spell, asking her for forgiveness, as the older siblings ask how they can get they their sister back, which got Malbourne to think.
He then remembers the idea of friendship and asks for all of the Power Capsules back.
Applejack willingly took hers off neck and forehead, Malbourne remove his bracelet from one of his front hoofs, while Big Mac felt bad for needing to remove his, but remember who it is for, and took it off. Big Mac and Applejack's wings and horns vanish as a result.
After this, Malbourne got out a jar of dirt and an empty Power Capsules as he asks Applejack to leave a hoof-print.
Seeing the Power Capsule, Applejack did what he ask and when it is there, Malbourne put the capsule on the print, and it absorbed the dirt print and her cutie mark appear in the capsule.
Malbourne gathers all six of the Power Capsules and remanence on how he got the others.
Back when Applejack was getting ready to leave, Twilight ask him what Applejack should expect in rescuing Apple Bloom only for him to display some concern for AJ because she's an earth pony and she's going to have to deal with ponies that not only master magic but also flight.
She said that Applejack puts her family first and would go through anything to make sure they are safe, even if it means going through great dangers.
Malbourne explains that when he said what Applejack has to deal with, he forgot to mention that the land is filled with ponies pretending to be alicorns by actually having horns and wings through magic capsules.
Twilight became curious about the capsules and ask for a short explanation on how they work.
After a brief explanation and using her horn and wings, for example, he pulls out six capsules and Twilight got an idea and launch a magic spell on one of the capsules, making her cutie mark appear there.
Malbourne is confused by how her cutie mark appear in it as she told him to follow her as she started to run.
He ask what is she thinking, only for Twilight to answer, "I know Applejack and I'm sure she would not want to bring other ponies along so if we can't come with her physically, we can help through these capsules."
"That's magnificent Princess, but who are the others that would help?" Malbourne asks as they stop and look up.
Twilight whistle and it is revealed Rainbow Dash is there: Twilight ask for a feather and since Rainbow recognize Malbourne through his horn, gave it to them easily.
When he got the feather, Twilight told Rainbow to spread the word of the impending danger to all of Ponyville and to let the princesses know as well. Also to tell them it is real and serious. After Twilight told her to deliver the message, the two went to look for the rest of their Mane six.
Next, they went to see Fluttershy who recognize him for what he did earlier and ask if he would like something.
They ask for a feather and she gave one without any question.
As they leave, Malbourne starts to be worried about Applejack being done getting ready, only to be eased by Twilight saying they have plenty of time to find the others by then.
After she said that, he runs into Pinkie Pie, who recognize him as the new colt she didn't throw a party for.
In the bump, he drops one of the Power Capsule on one of her hoof-print, getting her cutie mark to appear there.
Twilight told him about it, which got him surprise about the accidental discovery and bring him to the next place they are going to.
Pinkie sat there, somewhat confuse about what happened until Rainbow Dash made it to her and tell her about what is going to happen, which got her to say, "The small parties can wait, cause this one needs all the party cannons and blasters I can get."
The last place they went to is Rarity's boutique and ask for a small bit of magic from her.
She didn't recognize him but he asks for that bit of magic, telling her about what is going to happen next and why he needs it.
After hearing that, Rarity decided to give him the magic spell in the capsule and wish him good luck and to send Applejack some luck too and leave to let her parents know what is going to happen.
After the last thought, Malbourne uses magic on the potion and infuse his good memories into it, making it lighter in color.
When it became light enough, he flew over the cauldron carrying the capsules containing the Mane Six's talents and release them into the potion, as he says what he heard about these ponies main quality.
"Laughter, Kindness, Loyalty, Generosity, Honesty and Friendship. Along with their talents, these elements of outsiders should be shared and shown to those that have been hidden in this forged darkness for the longest time. May this evil be gone and these lost ponies see the light." Malbourne said as the Power Capsule from Twilight empties into the potion and adds the finishing touch on the potion. As he is doing it, his magic turns white again and when it is done, it exploded with rainbow colors.
The explosion cloud covered Malbourne easily and start to move like one should. In its explosion, Big Mac quickly grabbed and hug his sisters as they went into the explosion. It moved fast with the color pattern of pink, yellow, blue, white, orange, and purple as it spreads all throughout Equestria: covering every pony everywhere.
Within it, the evil that was created by the Immoral Gem was expelled from the wearer or those whose gem were removed. It took seven hits of light attacks before disintegrating, all while the wearer's gem crack and break.
As it started to fade, it is shown no one is truly hurt and no real damage was done to the buildings outside of Reproscape. All of the outside ponies look around and see that the fraudulents they have to fight are clones that are vanishing as well. The disintegration happened from Ponyville to Manehatten, as well as Cloudsdale and the Crystal Empire. The only place with the real fraudulents is Canterlot.
Back in Reproscape Castle, the apples look at each other to check if they are alright and look at the cauldron to see a Rainbow Ball where Malbourne was. As the colors swirled, it burst to revealed Malbourne was in there: now somewhat taller, lighter, mane well-groomed and him looking happy.
He opens his eyes, which are lighter than how they were, as he says, "Greetings Apple Siblings."
"Malbourne?" Applejack said in surprise as he lands on the platform.
"Yes, it is I, I've changed in form in the potion. I made it so it eliminates any trace of evil that was influenced by the Immoral Gem, while keeping the explosion portion," Malbourne explained.
The two sigh in relief as Malbourne went up to Apple Bloom and reverse the sleep spell on her. Apple Bloom woke up and ask why she is tied to Applejack. After she asks that, both the Apple siblings ask if she is okay, only for to say yes and ask where they are.
They hug her, knowing that they got their sister back. While being hugged, she seesMalbourne and notice his changes. Not only that, she notice how left out he is. That is until Big Mac pull him into the group hug. He was confused but felt very good, along with Apple Bloom as they continue their hug session.
Back in Ponyville, the rest of the Mane Six check with each other to see if all is well and if no one went missing. Shortly after, they see a gold stream in the clearing sky. The stream went over Ponyville and land on the ground there. It is revealed to be Malbourne, carrying all three Apples siblings with his light orange magic. The ponies there gather around the group to congratulate them and ask what happen in their travel.
Both Applejack and Big Mac told them about what they saw, what they were told and what they have been through. When they are done, everyone look at Malbourne and became surprise by his changes.
As they are about to ask about the changes, the sound of flapping wings occur and everyone look up to see Princess Luna and Cadence flying, carrying a carrier filled with knocked-out ponies. Along with them, Princess Celestia is flying ahead of them as they all land.
"I take it that you're the Prince. (Directly looking at Malbourne) We have found your kingdom's people: lost in dark and evil thoughts. I've heard about you in Twilight's messages before the attack, but I never thought it would relate to your lost kingdom after so many moons of being hidden," Celestia said.
"We found these ponies in Canterlot. They are real," Luna explain.
"They probably must have been locked in that state for so long, that they don't really know what is anything outside what that gem taught them," Cadence added.
"That's true, however, if they are taught what is to learn, they won't be bad and we can rebuild from what we learn. All I need is some assistance," Malbourne said.
After he said that, Apple Bloom went up to him and said, "If you need help trying to reteach a small population what is good and how to do what we can do, than all of your people can learn here: just look at you when we first met and you started to change immediately after that. You have all the help you need, Prince."
He looks at her with a smile and at the nodding crowd. In the crowd, he also sees the rest of the Apple family, all looking approving. Knowing he had the towns approval, he told Princess Celestia that tomorrow, he along with Ponyville, are going to help reform the fraudulents to do good while helping rebuild the town.
When he said that, Celestia gave him and the town blessing that it all goes well as both Luna and Cadence give their blessings as they all took flight and fly towards their home towns.
The next morning, the ponies in the carrier woke in confusion as they only recall the feeling of having both a horn and a set of wings and waking up to find they only have either of the two instead. When they look around, they see Twilight and Malbourne in front of them, welcoming them to Ponyville and telling them that they will be learning modern jobs as well as some valuable morals while making friends by working with the residents of town who were lined up outside them.
They all were curious as some went over to the Cake family, who are going to teach them how to bake. Two of them went to the gardening ponies, some went up to Rainbow Dash who was going to teach them about taking care of weather and build a small military group. Another small group went to Fluttershy to learn about animals while another went to Rarity's boutique to learn about crafting and gems.
As many ponies went to learn about magic and how to take care of others, Malbourne ask for some of the leftover ponies to learn about farming with Applejack and her family, saying that he will join along with them. There they learn how to grow produce, what is needed and the result of hard work. They all became impressed with the result of hard work and become inspired to try it themselves.
After the next few days, everyone from Reproscape started to take a shine to what they were given, and during this time, Pinkie Pie threw a huge party for as many new ponies as she can and it got them to be interested in party planning. As many of them start to be familar with what they like, it was not long till someone gain a cutiemark of dealing with weather for farming. Seeing this pony celebrating, it got everyone else to work hard and not long, many others start to gain their own cutiemark.
One day, Apple Bloom decided to go look for Sweetie Bell and Scootaloo. When she found them together, she apologize from the bottom of her heart, saying she didn't mean the bad things she said and she didn't have any control of her behavior either. She also mentioned that she does not like the things she did herself and she wants to be friends again with them. Hearing her heartfelt words, they forgive her and decide to form the Cutie Mark Crusaders again.
When they hug it out, Malbourne appears by her and she introduces him to her friends, saying they met at one point and are impressed with him being an alicorn. After that small meeting, Malbourne told her that he and his people need to go to their home and rebuild there.
"What, you're leaving? But really why?" Apple Bloom asked.
"This town is rebuild, along with all of the lands that were attacked. The only place that is not rebuilt is Reproscape. It needs to be fixed and we all can't stay here," Malbourne explains to Apple Bloom as she and the others start to be sad.
"I'll take my leave this evening," Malbourne added, looking sad as he went walking to find his people.
As the sun begin to set, the people of Reproscape gather outside of town along with the people of Ponyville so everyone can say their last goodbyes and thanks for the teaching. Right when they are about to leave, Apple Bloom told him to wait for a moment as her family wanted to give him something. They came in with a small apple tree with intentions for a gift.
"It's so you can remember us by, we taught you how to take care of plants and I hope you don't forget us while you all are done rebuilding," Apple Bloom said as Applejack get the tree to him.
"Thank you Apple Family, I'll certainly remember you all as I'll take care of this tree. Oh, and before I go, I just want to say... I'm really going to miss you, Apple Bloom. In the few days I hang out with you, you showed me alot, from real food to friendship, all that. Thank you once more,"Malbourne said as he gives a hug to Apple Bloom, and than let go.
He uses magic to carry the tree as he took flight. He told his people to follow his magic light and to stay together as they are going to travel far and have everything they need. After he said that, he uses magic to create a light and start to fly towards Reproscape. The ponies started to follow as Malbourne start to look like a light orange star.
As all the people leaving start to look like a line of mixed colors, Apple Bloom said, "I'm gonna miss you, Malbourne."
She then added, "Hey Applejack, do you think we will see Malbourne or his people again?" Applejack answered that maybe one day, they will see each other again, as she took her hat off.