Multiville Confidential

**Multiville Confidential** is the twenty-third episode of the second season of *Legends of the Multiverse: Friendship is Universe* and the forty-ninth episode overall. After some other very hard attempts to get their cutie marks fail, the Cutie Mark Crusaders start a gossip column under the name Gabby Gums, but they find it not worth the embarrassment and misery that they cause to other animals with their stories.

Template:Clr

## Summary

### Misunderstandings

 File:CMC crib S2E23.png
The episode opens just as school is getting out, with Aurora Amano and Alicia Acorn complaining about the compliments Fergy Fudgehog is receiving for his new-found cutie mark, considering they have yet to find their own. Sheriff Lonnie states that she has found the answer to all of their problems with the school newspaper, the *Friendly Free Press*. But just as she begins to explain, she is called away by Fa Grandmother. Alicia and Aurora decide to try out the idea, but they have completely misunderstood lonnie. First, they try using the newspaper to make paper-mâché, bird's nests, and even sailing down the river in a newspaper boat, checking for a cutie mark on their flank with each attempt. After these feats, Alicia and Aurora come to Lonnie to tell her how bad of an idea it was. Upon getting a chance to explain, Lonnie tells them that she meant for them to write for the *Friendly Free Press*. Aurora and Alicia fall over in defeat.

### The Foal Free Press

 File:Chloe enforcing her rule S2E23.png
The Cutie Mark Crusaders stay in the schoolhouse after class, for the *Foal Free Press* meeting. Alicia and Lonnie find trying to get their cutie marks in journalism to be "such a good idea." Miss Caline Bustier goes on to start the meeting, explaining that the previous editor-in-chief graduated, and that the editor-in-chief is the one in charge of the whole paper. She also states that they have a new editor to replace the previous: Chloe Bourgeois. The entire class is surprised, and Chloe jumps right into the meeting. She explains that nobody takes the school paper seriously, and how she plans to "deliver [them] to new-found glory," with only a single agreement from the rest of the class, and immediately begins handing out orders to the staff photographer, Featherweight. Chloe states that there will be no more "Panda Ham-Ham stories like last year's editor," referring to Namby-Pamby, the previous year's editor-in-chief. She demands that the rest of the crew go out and start reporting. Alicia suggests the Crusaders leave the school newspaper, only to be convinced by Lonnie and Aurora that it can get them their cutie marks.

### Looking for stories

Aurora's first story is an interview with Nene Amano while she's working on a project. But as she attempts to conduct the interview, her presence inspires Nene to use her as a test model for the outfit she's working on that features large feathers. Alicia's story is about a nest of newly hatched baby birds, where she falls out of a tree and is seen attempting to fly (to the birds' delight), only managing to keep her flank out of the mud. Sheriff Lonnie's story is about the history of Multiville, as told by Fa Grandmother, but she must first convince the elder Fa to not focus on albums filled with Lonnie's embarrassing baby pictures.

### Chloe Bourgeois's approval

 File:Diamond Tiara reading second paper S2E23.png
The Cutie Mark Crusaders head back to the *Friendly Free Press* room, bringing their stories with them. Each of their stories is shot down one-by-one by Chloe, as she corners them and badgers them for better, "juicier" stories. The Cutie Mark Crusaders are then thrown out of the back door of the news room, where Aurora happens to stumble across Juniper Lee, Ray Ray Lee and Max Lee fighting to get gum out of their coats, only managing to get themselves stuck together. She hurriedly calls Featherweight over to snap pictures of the scene and tells him that she will meet him during lunch. Unable to contain her excitement, Aurora tells Lonnie and Alicia about their next big story.

### The word is out!

 File:Snips and Snails on the newspaper S2E23.png
The newest edition of the paper is shown, with the headliner "Ray Ray and Max and Bubblegum Fails," which could be a reference to the nursery rhyme "What Are Little Boys Made Of" and the line "*Ray Ray and Max and puppy dogs' tails*." There is then a profuse amount of laughing and giggling as the friendlys reading the paper begin making comments, all exclaiming how good the newest edition of the paper is compared to previous. Ray Ray and Max are proud of ending up in the newspaper, also showing that they got the gum out of their coats. Chloe is overjoyed at how popular the Cutie Mark Crusaders' column is. She wants more gossip from the Cutie Mark Crusaders, who signed the column with the pseudonym "Gabby Gums," representing all three of them as there was not enough room for their names. Chloe continues to praise them for their work on the column.

### Writer's block

The Cutie Mark Crusaders are then shown sitting at a picnic table drinking what appears to be coffee, trying to think about what to write their next column about. Ray Ray and Max are seen stuck together with gum once more, attempting to be written about again.

### Snooping

 File:Rarity reading S2E23.png
Upon tripping over Aurora's backpack, an annoyed Nene picks it up to move it. The bag falls open as she picks it up, revealing a copy of the *Friendly Free Press*. Just as Nene is reading the paper, Aurora walks in to catch her in the act. She is surprised that Nene actually likes the school paper, and gives in to Nene's pleading to show it to her friends. Aurora rushes out as Nene is asking questions about Gabby Gums, not answering any of them. She runs to meet with Apple Bloom and Scootaloo at the school playground, stating that they should give up trying to "squeeze" stories out of the school, and how they need to expand to writing stories about the residents of Multiville. Excited, the Cutie Mark Crusaders tell Featherweight to work overtime. Their first Multiville story is about King Frederic and Queen Arianna; a snapshot is shown of them holding their crying chimps while Chloe narrates the headline: "Sage and Ginger, Trip to the Store Ends in Tears." Just then, Tiptup runs in exclaiming how the Multiville Newsstand wants to carry the *Friendly Free Press*, with an ecstatic Chloe ordering and encouraging the Cutie Mark Crusaders to keep writing the gossip columns. A montage is shown of the process of writing and printing the paper, as well as animals grabbing the paper as soon as it is off the press.

### Great gossip

 File:No one touches my Paws S2E23.png   Kairi, Olaf, Navi, Mulan, Spectra, Nene, and Rapunzel are being treated at the spa, when Sally rushes in with the *Friendly Free Press*. Nene insists that Sally sit down and have a picture, but Sally resists stubbornly, saying that the day she gets a picture is the day she turns in her daredevil license. Kairi explains she enjoys reading Gabby Gums too, but that she finds her a little mean. Reading the headline "Palutena: Just Like Us," Kairi says Gabby Gums doesn't value anyone's privacy. The others brush it off as "harmless gossip" and laugh at a few of the other headlines. Kairi also explains how she feels sorry for the animals featured in Gabby's columns, and Sally shoots it down as it being "awesome" to get your name in the paper. Nene again insists that Sally should join them in getting a picture, which she reluctantly accepts, just as Furgy steps into the doorway with a camera. Upon the spa animal's attempt to file Sally's paw, Sally flies away in fear, stating that she hates ponies touching her hooves. Then she says that she "would love it if Gabby Gums did a story on [her]." Olaf and Navi responds that Gabby Gums already did a story on himself.

### Back to the basics

 File:Olaf's interviewed S2E23.png   Trying to go a different route, the Cutie Mark Crusaders attempt to write about an interview with Olaf and Navi. They are shot down by Chloe, and decide to go back to their "usual gossip." Aurora realizes that they might be hurting other ponies with their gossip, and Lonnie and Alicia agree, saying they didn't want to say anything because everybody loved it so much. Sweetie Belle opts for giving the public what they want, that being gossip, and the others reluctantly agree.

### Not so harmless anymore

 File:Rapunzel and Nene reading newspapers S02E23.png   The next edition of the *Friendly Free Press* features a gossip column about Mulan sleeping on the job and Li Shang hiding something, with a picture of Li Shang sitting down with Smarty Pants. There is also a column about Kairi titled "Kairi Sparkle: I Was a Canterlot Snob," detailing how Olaf and Navi told Gabby Gums Kairi's supposed opinion of Multiville. Olaf and Navi claims Gabby Gums made it up, and Nene reiterates her opinion about how Gabby Gums is just a harmless newspaper columnist.

The next story is about Spectra, who slowly sinks under the table at the announcement of the headline "Spectra Has Tail Extensions." Rapunzel, being outraged at first, reluctantly admits that the headline "Rapunzel is an Out of Control Party Animal" is true. The Rapunzel's family rushes in as Kairi reads the headline "The Rapunzels are Breaking Up!" Sally breaks through the door with a large pile of newspapers, upset about being called a "Super Softie" in the headlines, and wails over being a laughing stock. Nene, still saying that the gossip is harmless and all of the other animals are over-reacting, finally finds the headline "The Drama Queen Diaries." Gabby Gums reprinted her diary, Nene says that she will destroy her.

Kairi suggests that they should talk to Aurora to get to the bottom of Gabby Gum's identity. Nene defends her sister, saying that she would never associate herself with someone as "beastly" as Gabby Gums. Upon arriving home, she opens Aurora's saddlebag to find her diary, astonished by her sister's treacherous act. From this, Nene concludes that Sweetie Belle is indeed Gabby Gums.

### The confrontation

 File:Nene most evil S2E23.png   Nene kicks open her bedroom door and finds Aurora reading through her notepad on the floor. Aurora is surprised at Nene finding out, and asks how, to be informed that her reprinting of her big sister's diary was her giveaway. Nene then reiterates Kairi's point earlier on, about how gossip can be a very hurtful thing, and how it can be an invasion of privacy, just like when Nene searched through Aurora's backpack. Aurora explains that they are only doing this because of how badly they want their cutie marks, and Nene explains that making people feel horrible is not something to want as a destiny.

### Feelings

The Cutie Mark Crusaders continue to confront Chloe about quitting, and are again shot down. Chloe says she doesn't care about other animals' feelings. The Cutie Mark Crusaders try to quit again, only to be confronted with embarrassing photos taken by Fergy, from when they were working on their first stories, that Chloe threatens to print instead if they don't come up with a story.

### Finding a way out

 File:Spectra and Kiko S02E23.png   The Cutie Mark Crusaders attempt to find a way out of the situation but ask around for stories for the moment. They first try asking Sally, only for her to push a raincloud over their heads. Next, they try Spectra, and when arriving at her house, notice a puddle leaking under the door. Kiko opens the door, and Spectra is seen crying in the background. Kiko then slams the door in their faces. They then head to Kairi's library, only to discover that a force field has been placed around it. Olaf and Navi yells at the trio that Kairi had anticipated such a visit and had put the barrier up. Lastly, they try Mulan and Li Shang, who are still mad at them due to their feature in the paper. In a reversal of character, Mulan is laconic while Li Shang explains why the Crusaders should be ashamed of themselves and tells them to leave them be. As the Cutie Mark Crusaders walk through town, everyone turns their head away from them and closes their windows and shutters. They regroup at their club house, where they discuss the situation, and how Chloe will publish their blackmail pictures the next day if they do not meet their deadline. They decide that they will not leave the clubhouse until they figure out a solution.

### Too late

 File:Chloe Bourgeois gasping at the paper S2E23.png   Just as the sun rises, and Chloe instructs to have the unopened file of blackmail pictures printed, the Cutie Mark Crusaders run in with a Gabby Gums column. Chloe, in a hurry to get the next edition out on time, does not read the column before sending it to the press. As she exits the schoolhouse, she catches Dixie Kong reading the newest edition of the paper, and pulls it out of her hooves to read it. Astonished at the title, Chloe sets out for revenge, and vows to print their blackmail photos the next day. The column that the Cutie Mark Crusaders submitted instead is an open letter of their apology to all of the residents of Multiville for the pain and embarrassment that they caused, and also reveals who Gabby Gums is, being Aurora, Alicia, and Lonnie. The column explains their reasoning for writing the previous gossip columns, being that the popularity of the column made them ignore the feeling of wrongness it caused, and asks for Multiville's forgiveness. They conclude it by signing off for the last time as Gabby Gums.

### The resolution

 File:Spectra hugs the CMC S2E23.png   Everyone in Multiville forgives the Cutie Mark Crusaders after reading their letter, and Caline admits her mistake in that she might've given too much power to a first-time editor. Chloe is demoted to working on the printing press while "Sheen Estevez" is promoted to staff photographer, and Featherweight is instated as editor-in-chief of the *Friendly Free Press*.Template:Clr

## Quotes

Template:Maintranscript

**Chloe Bourgeois**: Alright, listen up. The Friendly Free Press is a *joke*.
**Students**: Huh?
**Chloe Bourgeois**: Nobody at this school takes it seriously. Well I, the editor-in-chief in charge, am going to deliver us to new found glory!
[pause]
**Tiptup**: Yay!
**Ray Ray Lee**: Oh! Get it off me, Max!
**Max Lee**: Yeah, you get it off *me*, Ray Ray?
**Ray Ray Lee**: Aah! Stop it! You are making it worse! *Nah*! Oh, great.
**Max Lee**: I'll get it. [grunt]
**Ray Ray Lee**: Aah!
**Max Lee**: Get it off! *Get it off*!
**Juniper Lee**: Guys! Stop It!
**Aurora Amano**: [starts laughing] Hey, Furgy, c'mere! Take a few pictures of this then meet me during lunch.
**Ray Ray Lee**: Our mothers always told us we'd end up in the papers someday.
**Max Lee**: Yeah, and look! We finally got the gum out!
**Chloe Bourgeois**: Your column is a sensation!
**Nene Amano**: You really shouldn't be snooping, Nene. [pushes the bag away] oh, but it's so much fun, Nene! Hello... what's this? Gum on their bum! [laughing] Too rich! [continues laughing]
**Aurora Amano**: Can you please keep it down with all the laughter? I'm trying to... hey!
**Nene Amano**: I-I was just–
**Aurora Amano**: Are you snooping through my saddle bag? How DARE you!
**Sally Acorn**: The new Gabby Gums just came out! “*The Great and Powerful Zee's secrets revealed!*”
**Nene Amano**: We already read that one, Sally.
**Sheriff Mulan**: She's not mean, Kairi, she's a hoot!
**Kairi Sparkle**: *"Palutena, just like us"*?
**Nene Amano**: Sally, why don't you join me in one of these delicious pictures?
**Sally Acorn**: It's that good, huh? Well, maybe just one little paw.
[chords]
**Sally Acorn**: [yelps] Forget it, I don't like ponies touching my hooves. Man, I'd love it if Gabby Gums did a story on me.
**Olaf**: She did one on me!
**Navi**: Yeah! Why Not?!
**All main characters**: [all together surrounding **Olaf** and **Navi**] WHAT?!
**Sheriff Mulan**: "*Applejack, asleep on the job!*" Can y'all believe this?! And this one: "*Li Shang – what's he hiding?*" Who the hay does this Gabby Gums think she is?
**Kairi Sparkle**: Listen to this one. "*Kairi Sparkle: I was a Canterlot snob. A well-placed scaly source close to the prissy cat says Kairi Sparkle thinks Multiville is nothing but muddy roads and low-class rubes.*"
**Nene Amano**: Everybody, please! She's just a harmless school animal engaged in a little idle gossip. You're really making too big a deal out of this.
**Kairi Sparkle**: But it's *all* lies! Gabby Gums prints whatever she wants, she doesn't care whose reputation she destroys! "*Spectra has tail extensions!*" "*Rapunzel is an out-of-control party animal!*"
**Rapunzel**: *What?!* [crying] It's true! I *do* have a problem!
**Twilight Sparkle**: Oh look! According to this one, the Rapunzels family are breaking up!
**Queen Arianna**: We are?!
[crash]
**Sally Acorn**: [muffled] Well, my life is officially *over*. Gabby Gums has made it to Cloudsburg.
**Kairi Sparkle**: "*Sally Acorn: Speed demon or super softie?*"?!
**Rainbow Dash**: I grabbed as many copies as I could, but it was too late! [crying] I'm a laughing stock!
**Kairi Sparkle**: See, Nene? Your so-called 'harmless gossip' can be very hurtful!
**Nene Amano**: Honestly, you animals have no sense of humor. So she tweaks a few ponies every now and then, maybe they dese- [gasps] *I'll **destroy** her!* "*The Drama-Queen Diaries*"... she's reprinted my diary! How could Gabby Gums possibly get access to my private diary?!
**Kairi Sparkle**: We've got to put a stop to this once and for all. Aurora's on the newspaper staff. Maybe she knows who Gabby Gums is!
**Nene Amano**: [gasps] My sister would never associate with anyone as beastly as Gabby Gums! I resent you even suggesting such a thing, Kairi! Why, she's the most innocent, most lovely-
**Nene Amano**: -*most evil bunny in Multitopa!* How could my own sister steal my private diary?! How could my own sister be... Gabby Gums?
**Nene Amano**: *Et tu, Gabby Gums*?!
**Aurora Amano**: [gasps] You know?! How'd you find out?!
**Nene Amano**: The gilded pages of your betrayal!
**Aurora Amano**: Oh yeah.
**Nene Amano**: How could you do this to me???
**Apple Bloom**: Aw, c'mon, Mulan! You're not mad at us too, are you?
**Sheriff Mulan**: Eeyup.
**Apple Bloom**: You're not even gonna talk to us?
**Sheriff Mulan**: Nope.
**Li Shang**: You should be ashamed of yourself, humiliatin' your sister 'n' me like that. We don't wanna talk to any o' y'all right now, so take your little gossip column and your embarrassing photographs and just *go away*!
**Aurora Amano**: *Stop the presses!*
**"Sheen Estevez"**: Uh... they haven't started yet.
**Alicia Acorn**: We have a Gabby Gums column!
**Chloe Bourgeois**: Hmph, you're lucky I'm nice.
**Caline Bustier**: I'm sorry, Chloe! I have to strip you of your title!
**Chloe Bourgeois**: [growls in anger]

## References

Template:Episodes, films, and shorts
es:El Cuarto Poder de Ponyville
id:Ponyville Confidential
it:Gossip a Ponyville
ja:ゴシップポニー
ko:가비검즈의 비밀!
pt-br:Ponyville Confidencial
ru:Секреты и тайны Понивилля