The Conjurer of Oz - Chapter 4

As the flash of light vanished Twilight opened her eyes to see a fuzzy outline of a large pony and as her vision’s focus returned the image became that of a beautiful alicorn that reminded her of her mentor.

“Princes Celestia…?” Twilight began to yell in excitement, stopping when she noticed the unusual clothing the princess seemed to be wearing.  Her tiara had been replaced with a large pink crown and she wore a large frilly pink gown that was covered in glittering stars covering much of her body as well as her cutie mark.

“Now I know we’re not in Equestria anymore,” Twilight said, thinking that this must be some conjured lookalike

“What if we’re in another Dimension?” Spike exclaimed, “Or what if we were abducted by Aliens, or Zombie Aliens!”

“Spike! You need to stop reading those comics with Pinkie Pie! Zombie Aliens, where do you even come up with this stuff?” Twilight said, her voice sounded as if she was slightly exasperated with current events.  The alicorn began to approach the two of them carrying a large wand in her hoof.

“Are you a good witch or a bad witch?” the alicorn said pointing the wand at Twilight.

Twilight looked around for a bit confused and seeing no other pony asked, “Who, me?”  The Alicorn nodded her head and gestured for Twilight to continue.  “Well, why I’m not a witch at all, I’m Twilight Sparkle, Resident Librarian of Ponyville and protégé of the princess in the Land of Equestria. She continued with a hint of pride.

“Oh, “ the Alicorn sighed then looking down saw Spike standing next to Twilight and gestured her wand at him and asked, “Well is that the witch?”

“Me, well I’m Spike and I’m not a witch, I’m a Dragon!” Spike exclaimed puffing out his chest.

“Spike, no he’s not a witch, he’s been with me since he hatched, he’s practically my little brother.” Twilight explained.

“Oh, Well! I’m a little muddled?” the Alicorn laughed.  “You see, the Blank Flankins called me because a new witch has just dropped a house on the Wicked Witch of the East. And there’s the house and here you are, and that’s all that’s left of the Wicked Witch of the East.” She continued pointing to the remains of the Apple family’s house.

Twilight looked over at the house and saw four legs poking out from under the house.  These legs were black and looked sickly, with these circular portions that looked like they had been cut out.  What struck her as the most intriguing aspect was actually the set of four beautiful ruby slippers covering the hooves of the apparently crushed Witch.  

“And so what the Blank Flankins, want to know is, are you a good witch or a bad witch?” The Celestia lookalike asked.

“But I already told you, I’m not a witch at all,” Twilight said, “I’m Twilight Sparkle Protégé of Princess Celestia ruler of Equestria,  and besides, witches are old and ugly, since their bodies have been corrupted by the dark magic’s that they wield, “ Twilight finished, recounting a passage she had read about dark magic, Strictly for educational purposes mind you.  Twilight suddenly turned around when she heard what sounded like several fillies giggling in the distance.

“What was that?” Spike said looking around but not seeing any sign of life besides them and the Alicorn.

“Why those are the Blank Flankins, they were laughing because I am a Witch” The Alicorn Witch began.  By this point a confused expression had formed on Twilight's face.  “I am Celestia, the Good Witch of the North, I don’t know who this Princess Celestia is you mentioned but she has apparently stolen my name, for we have never met.” She concluded with a slight grin on her face.

“But you look exactly like her, how could you not be her? This doesn’t make much sense!” Twilight exclaimed, rubbing her temple with her hoof as she tried to think up an explanation.

“Well I can assure you I am most definitely not this Princess you speak of and I have never been to this land of Equestria you speak of.” the Good Witch Celestia claimed.

“Twilight maybe we shouldn’t spend too much time dwelling on this fact and press on if we ever want to escape the aliens.” Spike stated tugging on Twilight's mane to get her attention.

“Yes, your right Spike the sooner we get some answers the sooner we can get home.”  Twilight confirmed with Spike, before turning back to face the Good Witch. “I beg your pardon, but I have never seen a good witch before, this violates all the known physical laws of magic” Twilight said to the Good Witch Celestia, who just smiled at her.

“Only Bad witches are Ugly,” Celestia replied as she began to walk toward the center of the town, spreading her front legs out in a sweeping motion she said, “The Blank Flankins are happy because you have freed them from the Wicked Witch of the East.”

“Oh, but if you please, what are Blank Flankins?” Twilight asked, turning around almost immediately afterwards when she heard the same giggling from before but yet again seeing nothing.

“Why they are the Little Ponies who live in this land.  It’s Blank Flankin Land, and you are now their national heroine, my dear,” the Good Witch announced.   She proceeded to wave her wand in the air and turn around in place calling out, “It’s alright, you may all come out and thank her.”  As she said this Twilight looked around and saw several small fillies and colts start walking out from behind bushes and out of houses.  Most of them were wearing elaborate clothes that reminded her of some of Rarity’s more over the top designs. Though this paled in comparison to what she noticed next, all of the young ponies did not have cutie marks, not a single one of them.

“Spike do you notice something odd about all these Ponies?” Twilight whispered to Spike.

“Yeah, they all are young and lack cutie marks and some of them look like young versions of the residents of Ponyville.” Spike replied.  “See! Look over there, that little filly sitting upright on that bench, she looks just like Lyra just much younger?” He continued as more fillies and colts found the courage to come out of hiding and approach them.

Meanwhile in what appeared to be a dark abyss, a door opened flooding the abyss with light as a pink pony walked in looking around with her blue eyes.  Once she was past the door she stopped and said, “Uh oh, I feel a combo coming on,” upon finishing that statement, her body began to experience a series of sudden uncontrolled motions that only she understood.  “Itchy back, knee twitch, and eye flutter?  Well that’s one I don’t get every day, one of my friends is about to be the guest of a party in another Dimension.  Aww, it won’t be the same without me, well I guess that means I’ll have to invite myself, better go grab my party cannon…” The mysterious pony yells, filled with the excitement of a party.  She pulls out her party cannon and proceeds to run further into the abyss causing the door to close behind her returning everything to darkness in this endless realm beyond the wall.

To help gather the timid Blank Flankins from hiding Celestia the Good Witch of the North began to speak in a lullaby like trance waving her wand around causing the little ponies to start coming out from their hiding places  just about everywhere.

“Come out, Come out wherever you are,“

As she was singing Ponies were coming out of houses and climbing out of the ponyholes that lead to the sewers as if spellbound they began to recite the Good Witches words

“Equestria she says is the name of the star.”

“But Celestia, I don’t think you understand, Equestria isn’t a star it’s a nation and I don’t think I fell from the sky I think I arrived here via some sort of magical dimensional rift or something.” Twilight whispered into the Good Witches ear as they walked toward a stage in the center of the town.

“Yes I realize that Twilight, but if you want to explain dimensional travel to little fillies and colts then be my guest” the Good Witch Celestia replied to Twilight with a slight wink causing her to slightly blush in embarrassment at not realizing that the Good Witch was intentionally simplifying the mystery of her arrival. The Good Witch then turned back to the Flankins and continued her magical lullaby.

“She brings you good news, or haven’t you heard.”

“More like dumb luck,” Spike suddenly interrupted, while he was trying to balance on one of the huge lily pads in the clear pond next to the stage.

“Spike, be quiet about that, we need to stay on their good side until I can figure out how to get home” Twilight whispered to him.

By this point most of the Blank Flankins had gathered next to the stage and were waiting for an explanation when the Good Witch turned to Twilight and spoke, “this is your chance to explain what happened just remember to keep it simple they are just young fillies and colts.”

“Celestia, what do you mean? Do you want me to sing for them or something?” Twilight asked as she saw all the staring faces of the ponies waiting for her to speak.

“Well you don’t have to, but it’s in the script.” The Good Witch said.

“Script, what do you mean by that?” Twilight said catching the unusual word in this Celestia lookalikes last comment.

“Oh! Nothing, nothing at all…” The Good Witch quickly countered though her eyes seemed to avoid Twilights. “The Blank Flankins are getting impatient perhaps you should proceed with your song part” Celestia the Good Witch continued as she stepped to the side of the stage and gestured for Twilight to step up and sing.

“Well I guess I have to,” Twilight said as she took center stage and breathed in and began to tell of the most recent events leading to her mistaken defeat of the Wicked Witch of the East.

“It really was no miracle, what happen was just this.”

“Woah! I didn’t know you were taking rhyming lessons from Zecora, Twilight.” Spike said, stunned at how well she managed to rhyme her words.

“I haven’t been taking lessons, it just sort of came naturally to me, and I don’t understand it. It must have something to do with this place; it almost reminds me of Pinkie Pie.” Twilight said to Spike.

Almost immediately after Twilight had song her tale, several of the Blank Flankins stepped forward led by one colt in particular.  When Twilight saw this she could have sworn the colt looked like a colorful version of Star Swirl the Bearded with his tall pointed hat and blue cape along his back.

The young Star Swirl began with the others shortly following him like in a choir.

“And oh what happened then was rich!”

“Wow, catchy” Twilight said now that the Blank Flankins had completely taken over in singing about her explanation of the events of her arrival.

They had broken into a full on dance in the center of town all the while continuing to sing about the demise of the Wicked Witch of the East. As they sang, a carriage being pulled by two colts was being brought over to Twilight’s position.  It seemed to be escorted by what looked to be young Guardsponies dressed in an unusual form of honor uniforms and wearing large pointy green helmets

“The house began to pitch, the kitchen took a slitch.”

The Good Witch Celestia motioned for Twilight and Spike to board the carriage amid the cheers and shouts of joy from the Flankins. Twilight climbed into the chariot only to be greeted by two familiar colts  

The first colt that approached her was a light blue colt with orange mane who said, “We thank you very sweetly for doing it so neatly.”

The second colt who approached was a bit taller and had an orange coat with turquoise mane and said, “For killing her so completely, that we thank you very sweetly.” finishing for the first one and presenting her with a tasty bouquet of daffodils and daisies.

“Why thank you, these look delicious.” Twilight said as she accepted the bouquet, though she couldn’t help but shake the feeling that she knew these two colts.  Leaning over to Spike she whispered, “I cant seem to place it but these two colts look familiar do you notice it as well?”

Spike looked at the two colts and then his eyes grew larger as realization set in, “Twilight they look just like Snips and Snails though their mane styles are slightly off and they lack their cutie marks.”  He replied.

“Yes that’s it, though let’s not say anything until everything calms down a bit” she concluded as they sat down in the carriage when it started to move down the red brick road.

“Let the Joyous news be spread,” The Good Witch Celestia announced, “The wicked, old witch at last is dead!” she concluded while flapping her large wings in an impressive display as she stood on her hind legs and elegantly waved her forelegs in the air.

The Blank Flankins cheered at this announcement and began to all jump around in a wild celebration.  Then the whole town got back into a rhythm and started singing again.  While the Royal Flankin Honor Guards marched behind the carriage in a parade style formation escorting Twilight to her next destination.

“Ding-dong the witch is dead. Which old witch The Wicked Witch?”

The carriage arrived at the steps of what looked to be a town hall from what Twilight could see of its architecture, and the fact that it was the biggest building in town.   

“Um, Twilight, they just took us in almost a whole circle, couldn’t we have just walked it’s only like 40 hooves from where we were before.” Spike asked as the carriage began to slow down.

“Spike don’t be rude, we don’t want to be rude and potentially insult their traditions, just go with it for now.” Twilight answered with an air of diplomacy.

As the carriage came to a stop three ponies came out of the building dressed in these poufy gowns and they were each carrying a long bugle horn with royal banners on each.  They proceeded to play into the horns signaling the arrival of several important looking ponies though the one at the front with the exaggeratedly long top hat caused Twilight to gasp.

“Madam Mayor, what are you doing here?” Twilight said as she stepped out of the carriage to approach the officials.

“Why, I don’t know how you know my name, Ms. Sparkle of Equestria but yes I am the Mayor of Blank Flankin but I don’t know how you know my name.” the Mayor said.

“Oh! I’m sorry you look like somepony I know and you conveniently have the same name.” Twilight apologized looking extremely embarrased.  Then under her breath so that only Spike could hear she muttered, “I think I know what’s happened and I have a feeling this won’t be the last time we meet someone we know.”

Twilight started to think aloud in a quiet whisper and though only certain words were overheard by the others, Spike was able to catch something about alternate dimensions, the multiverse, string theory, wormholes, and he swore Twilight mentioned Pinkie Pie somewhere in her rambling before Spike noticed that the Mayor and her associates were waiting for Twilight to stop.

“Twilight” he said, nudging her so she looked up and saw the waiting ponies.

“Oh! Sorry please continue” Twilight apologized to the Mayor allowing her to continue her speech.

“Well as you know I am the Mayor and these are my associates,” the Mayor said as she pointed to her advisors.  “We have Filthy Rich,” she said pointing to a pony in a long velvet cloak.  “Then there is Fancy Pants here” she said pointing to the pony to her left with the frilly suit and oddly styled hat that Twilight guessed was currently in style, though she had her doubts that Rarity would approve.  “Lastly over here is Doctor Whooves,” who had a large pocket watch around his neck and kept glancing at Twilight with a look that seemed to border on familiarity.  

“Why, hello Twilight Sparkle, as the Mayor said I am the Doctor and I just have to ask you.  What are you doing here?” Doctor Whooves asked.

“Well I don’t know I just sort of transported here in some weird magical storm along with my friends house…?” Twilight told him.

“Well, I don’t know exactly what happened but it sounds like some form of dimensional travel but I wouldn’t worry about it, just keep pressing forward and you should find a way back.” The little colt version of The Doctor said. “Oh, and when you get back, tell Derpy the muffins were delicious and I will be visiting her again, but anyways, I think the Mayor wants to talk.” The Doctor continued.  Then he leaned in closer and whispered, “Likes the sound of her own voice that one does,” pointing to the Mayor.

“Ahem!” the Mayor coughed to get their attention.  “Thank You!” She said, and then she stepped forward and began to speak to the crowd and Twilight.

“As Mayor of the Blank Flankin City, in the county of the Land of Oz I welcome you most regally…” The Mayor began, only to be interrupted by Filthy Rich.

“But we’ve got to verify it legally. To see”

“To see” the Mayor replied

“If she.” Filthy continued waving his arm for emphasis

“If she.” The Mayor said nodding her head

“Is morally, ethically…” Filthy began,

“…Spiritually, Physically…” Doctor Whooves exclaimed,

“… Positively, absolutely…”  Fancy Pants added.
“… Undeniably and reliably dead.” They all finished together facing Mayor Mare.

“Well it seems we are in agreement that we need to have the coroner examine her.” Mayor said, signaling for the coroner.

When the coroner arrived Twilight took one look at the colt and started smiling to herself, then she turned to Spike and said, “That colt looks just like a little version of Big Mac and he’s small compared to most of the other colts here.”

“Yeah and he’s wearing a cloak and a hat practically just like that costume that Big Mac wore at Nightmare Night.” Spike laughed.

“Ah Little Mac, as Coroner can you aver to us the status of the Wicked Witch?” Mayor asked the tiny colt.

“Eeyup.” Little Mac said with a high pitch voice.

“So you have thoroughly examined her?” Mayor asked

“Eeyup.”

And was she not only merely dead but she’s really most sincerely dead?” Mayor inquired further.

“Eeyup.” Little Mac replied once more presenting a certificate of death to the Mayor.

Mayor Mare stepped forward again raising her arms in the air and shouted to the crowd. “Then this is a day of independence for all the Blank Flankins and their descendants.”

“If any!” Filthy Rich suddenly yelled out

“Yes, let the joyous news be spread, the wicked old witch at last is dead!” Mayor Mare exclaimed causing the crowd to break out into an exhilarating cheer followed by them breaking into song, yet again to the dismay of Twilight, as they ran through the town alerting all of the remaining Flankins of the joyous news.

    “Ding-dong the witch is dead. Which old witch The Wicked Witch?”

As all the remaining Flankins approached the center of town the Royal Flankin Honor Guard formed a perimeter around the town hall.  Then they parted and two fillies dressed in very fancy dresses with tiaras approached Twilight.  Twilight thought that they reminded her of some of the nobles of Canterlot the way they were dressed but Spike recognized them immediately.  

“Hey, they look like those two uptight fillies that are always being mean to Applebloom” Spike whispered,

Twilight upon realizing this, whispered back, “yes I agree but they may not act like them here so just don’t act like you know them.”

The two fillies bowed and then proceeded to speak, “We represent the Royalty League, The Royalty League, the Royalty League and in the name of the Royalty League we wish to welcome you to Blank Flankin Land.”

“Whats the Royalty League?” Twilight asked the two fillies on the completion of their greeting.

“Why it’s only the most important group in Blank Flankin Land, we are the council of Nobles who run the town for the lesser ponies.” The magenta filly said.  “Speaking of which, here come three of the lesser ponies now, come on Silver Spoon lets go before they infect us with their inferiority.” She sneered.  The two fillies walked away as three very recognizable fillies approached.

“Let me guess?” Twilight said as the three fillies approached, “You all are the Cutie Mark Crusaders, Right?”

The three fillies gasped, “How did you know?”

“Oh, a lucky guess.” Twilight replied.

“Well anyways we are the Cutie Mark Crusaders and in the name of the Cutie Mark Crusaders, we wish to welcome you to Blank Flankin land” they said in unison then they started to walk around Twilight and when they spotted what they were looking for the suddenly exclaimed. “We’re on a quest to get our cutie marks and you have a cutie mark; you have to tell us how you got it.” The three fillies crowded around Twilight waiting to hear her story.

“Well I don’t think we have time for that right now, maybe afterwards I can tell you.” Twilight said.  “And besides why do you want your cutie marks so badly, no pony else here has them.”  She asked.

“Well, you see we want to be the first, since no pony has gotten one in as long as we can remember, so we want to get ours so we will be special.”  They said.

“But what will you do when you get your cutie marks?” twilight asked.

“Well once a Blank Flankin gets their cutie mark they are no longer a blank Flankin and thus they have to go on the Great Journey of Cuteceanera?” The Fillies said.
“Where do you go on this journey?” Twilight asked

“Why that’s simple you just follow the Red Brick road until you get to the end, didn’t you know that, everypony knows that?” They said.

“No I didn’t, and you just go on this road not knowing where it leads and just leave everypony behind?”
Twilight inquired.

“Exactly, though shouldn’t you know this already, you have your cutie mark?”  They replied,

“Well, I…” Twilight hesitated then coming up with an idea promptly countered, “Well if no pony else has gotten their cutie marks in so long, how do you know this is what you are supposed to do.”

The three Fillies thought for a moment and after a while looked up at Twilight with those wide smiles and said, “Well that’s easy, because the yellow brick road only goes to the Emerald City thus to go on the Journey of Cuteceanera you have to go down the red road or else you would be taking the Journey of Sorceanera which all young wannabe witches and wizards must take.”

“Oh! Well that makes sense.” Spike said with a hint of sarcasm

“You know what, sorry I asked,” Twilight sighed, “now what were you all doing before this.”

“Oh! Sorry, we were only supposed to great you, so welcome to Blank Flankin Land, oh and have a Lollipop, my friend Twist made it,” the Applebloom doppelganger said presenting her with a large rainbow swirled lollipop.  Then the three fillies got up and ran back into the crowd discussing something about their latest plan to become…

“CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS WICKED WITCH HUNTERS ARE GO!!”

As the fillies disappeared into the crowd, the cheering began again and the crowd of ponies started to converge back on Twilight.

“Please tell me they aren’t going to start singing again,” Twilight asked.

“Yep they’re going to” Spike said as the crowd of little ponies all began singing again.

“We welcome you to Blank Flankin Land”

The Mayor stepped up next to Twilight with her advisors and spoke, “From now on you’ll be history”

“You’ll be hist…” Flithy Rich said as he cut into the conversation only to be interrupted himself.

“You’ll be hist…” Fancy Pants said interrupting Filthy.

“You’ll be history” the Mayor finalized interrupting both of them.

“And we will glorify your name!” the Mayor and her advisors all shouted in unison.

“You will be a bust,” Mayor said,

“Be a bust,” Filthy said.

“Be a bust,” Fancy Pants replied.

“In the Hall of Fame!” They all exclaimed together.

Then all the little ponies in the city started singing and dancing

“Tra la la la la la”

Then suddenly out of nowhere a large cloud of smoke appears in the middle of town with a band along with confetti and Streamers shooting out in all directions.

As the smoke begins to clear Twilight notices what appears to be a pony standing on what looks to be a cannon in the lingering smoke.  Then suddenly the pony leaps out of the smoke unto the stage.

“Surprise!” the Pony yells as she lands in front of Twilight. “Aww!  Shoot! I’m Late.” She continues when she realized all the singing and dancing has ceased.  “Hi, Twilight, what are you doing in Oz? I didn’t know you could break the wall too.” The Pony says walking up in front of Twilight.

“Pinkie Pie… is that really you? But how…?” Twilight says as she struggles to grasp the situation meanwhile Spike has already collapsed from the sudden surprise moments ago.

“Well duh! Of course it’s me silly who else would it be” Pinkie exclaims.

“But, what are you wearing you look like a weird gryphon hybrid” Twilight said looking at the unique costume that Pinkie Pie was somehow dressed in, it had wings and a solid tail and her legs looked like they ended in soft Claw like fixtures.  Not to mention the unusual clothing she was wearing with consisted of a matching hat and shirt with red stripes on them.

“Why I’m not a Gryphon I’m a Flying Monkey” Pinkie stated.

“But why and how?” Twilight pressed further still unable to grasp the situation unfolding with Pinkie.

“Well that’s simple, because there are only four mane characters in this story and six of us so the writer needed a way to incorporate the other two characters so I became Nikko General of the Flying Monkey Legions commanded by the Wicked Witch of the West.”

“But why are you on the side of the Wicked Witch, and isn’t she dead?” Twilight asked.

“Geez Twilight I think you hit the books too hard and hurt yourself, you are over analyzing this, it’s just a story not like anything bad is going to happen and if it does I’ll know and tell you.  As for the second question that’s Glinda’s... I mean Celestia's line.” Pinkie Pie explained as she hovered off the ground to see if her wings worked.

Twilight turned to Celestia the Good Witch and stated, “ I thought you said the witch was dead.”

“She is, the one under the house is the Wicked Witch of the East, the Wicked Witch of the West is still alive and she’s worse than the other one.” Celestia explained.

“Then why are we celebrating if there is still a wicked witch out there” Spike asked rhetorically

“Pinkie, you still haven’t told me how you got here?” Twilight asked her unusual friend.

“Why that’s easy, I used the Trap Door located over there beneath the yellow brick road.” Pinkie explained.

Then suddenly Pinkie’s legs all began to shake causing Pinkie to Gasp. “My Pinkie Sense,” she said, “The Wicked Witch is coming!” Pinkie continued as she started gathering her things and heading over to the spot where she first appeared.  “Well Twilight the Witch is coming but you won’t get to see her until the next chapter because the Writer is tired and is going to leave off with a cliffhanger just like the last chapter.” And with that Pinkie Pie fired her cannon which released a cloud of pink smoke that upon clearing away revealed that the pink pony had disappeared to where ever she came from.

“Well that was weird,” Twilight said as she tried to grasp what had just happened.  But before she could get a chance to think a maniacal laughter arose from somewhere nearby…

“Mwhahahahaha! Why hello Twilight Sparkle I’m so happy to see you here, it seems fate will allow us the chance to prove who is more powerful” the evil voice on the wind shouted.

“Wait, do I know you, show yourself?” Twilight said.

“Why certainly,” the voice said and then the sky began to grow dark as a thunderstorm began to form overhead and then there was a blast of red smoke in the location where Pinkie was just a moment ago and a few fireworks shot out of the smoke exploding in an eerie green color and adding to the smoke.  Then the outline of a pony appeared in the smoke standing on its hind legs wearing what appeared to be a cape and a witch hat and laughing as it lunged out from the cloud of smoke.

“Mwhahahaha! It is I the Great and Powerful Wicked Witch of the West Trixie! and I want to know who Killed my sister the Wicked Witch of the East so I may have Vengeance! Mwhahahaha!”

To Be Continued