My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic is owned by Hasbro, The Hub and of course Lauren Faust who seems to have gone out of her way to make a show about pastel colored ponies with names like "Twilight Sparkle" completely awesome. This story is just for fun and no profit shall be made so please above mentioned people don't sue me. You're not gonna get much. Any OCs that pop up in this fic belong to me and can be used with permission. Please don't steal from me. Now with that out of the way, on with the show.
The Elements of Discord
Chapter 14: Harmony vs Discord Round 1-Fight!
Just outside of Canterlot, on a path leading into the mountains, a small group of ponies watched with horror and dread as a black cloud grew out over the city and started to blot out the sun.
"I should be there," Princess Cadance said, mostly to herself, as she watched the ever expanding cloud.
"But Princess Celestia ordered-" Shining Armor started.
"And so can I!" she snapped, whipping her head towards him. "I'm a princess too remember? I could order you," she paused to look back at the multicolored armored guards behind her, "all of you to follow me back in there so we can fight!"
"Cadance, listen," Shining Armor said in a determined, yet cautious, voice. "No one's doubting your authority or your willingness to fight. In fact it's because of those things that Celestia sent you away. If something goes...wrong. If neither she nor Luna make it through this, then Equestria is going to need somepony to lead them. As the next princess in line that responsibility would fall to you. So you see Celestia needs you to survive this. Equestria needs you to survive this. But...most of all, I need you to survive it."
Her defiant expression started to fade in the face of her fiancé's loving look. But more importantly she knew he was right and the needs of Equestria's ponies outweighed her need to get involved right now.
"Fine," she sighed then offered him a loving smile in return. "You know sometimes I hate it when you're right."
"Hey I get so few chances to be right I gotta take 'em where I can get 'em," he joked.
"But you're so cute when you pout," she retorted before she gave him a quick kiss on the muzzle.
"Look I hate to break up such a touching moment, but we really need to get going," the female guard clad in black armor informed them.
Cadance nodded. "Right. Well then captain of the guard, why don't you show your princess the way," she instructed to her future husband in an overly proper way.
"With pleasure milady," Shining Armor replied with an exaggerated bow.
Some of the guards groaned at the cheesy display but still complied with their leaders' orders and circled the pair as they started to move towards the mountains again.
"You know, you don't really need to worry," Shining Armor said to Cadance. "Not only is Celestia one of the most powerful ponies in Equestria but Twilight and her friends should be there as well. And we both know how she can get when she really wants something."
Cadance chuckled a bit. "Well now I feel sorry for whoever they're going up against."
They both shared a good-hearted laugh that helped take their mind off the dreadful situation they currently found themselves in. At least for a little while.
( - ) ( - ) ( - ) ( - ) ( - ) ( - )
Down in Ponyville, several of the citizens gathered in the center of town to stare up in wonder at the black cloud that was hanging over Canterlot and seemed to quickly be spreading out towards them.
"It's heading right for us! Everypony panic!" Daisy screamed in her characteristically manic voice.
"Um...why?" Lyra asked, giving the crazy Earth pony a strange look. "It's just a cloud."
"Yeah the Pegasi are probably just setting up some storm over Canterlot or something," Bon Bon added, hoping to calm the usually frantic pony.
"Actually one of my friends that works in the Cloud Factory says they don't know what's going on with that thing," Ditzy remarked as she landed next to the group.
"And there has been those weird black clouds floating over Ponyville earlier today," Rosebud mumbled as she rubbed her chin with a forehoof.
"See?! I told you! It's something evil! EVIL!" Daisy screamed again.
"Ladies, ladies, ladies," Spike said calmly as he walked up to them. "This ominous, black cloud is nothing to worry about. I mean sure it probably means Nightmare Moon has returned, again, but we're gonna be just fine."
That did little to assure the small group of mares. In fact it seemed to set them a little more on edge than anything else.
"What makes you say that?" Lyra asked unsurely.
"Because Twilight and her friends took the Elements of Harmony to go beat her back down!" Spike exclaimed happily, punching a fist into his open claw for emphasis.
This actually did seem to calm them down a bit.
"Of course they were acting a bit weird about it," he continued, tapping a clawtip against his chin. "Like they weren't sure if they were going to come back or not. It was weird. And...really sad." His looked sullen for a second but he quickly shook his head to snap himself out of it. "But I'm sure it'll be okay!"
"See Daisy, Twilight and her friends will make everything turn out all right like they always do," Bon Bon told her.
"Maybe you're right," Daisy conceeded. "So until then...PANIC!"
She then let out a horrified shriek and began to run around like a madpony, causing everypony who saw her to do the same. Soon enough the entire town descended into a screaming, panicking mess as it usually did when something went wrong.
"Hooray! The prophecy has come true!" a light blue unicorn shouted excitedly as he ran through the street.
"A thousand years of darkness will reign!" his pink colored colleague agreed as he ran next to him.
"Ooooh darkness!" they said in unison.
"What is wrong with you two?!" Ditzy admonished them as she flew by.
( - ) ( - ) ( - ) ( - ) ( - ) ( - )
While the rest of the town descended into chaos, one brown earth pony stood stoic among the scrambling masses. He stared up at the growing black cloud with a look of grim determination on his face. He glanced back at his home or more accurately at the blinded attic window where he kept an object he thought he was long past needing. But maybe...just one more time...
He looked back at the cloud for a second before he made his decision. When he turned back around, however, he found his way suddenly blocked by a charcoal black earth pony.
"This isn't your place to interfere," Star Gazer said in his usually cryptic tone. "For once you need to let events play out as they should."
The spikey maned stallion looked at him for a moment.
"I was just going to find a safe place to hide in all this madness," he explained.
"Of course you were," the other pony replied with a slight smirk.
There was a tense moment where the two simply stood and stared at each other. The brown pony seemed a bit annoyed as it appeared his blonde maned companion knew more than he was letting on. A feeling he wasn't used to be on the other side of.
"Who are you?" he finally asked.
"I could ask you the same question," Star Gazer returned. "Who are you?"
Again there was a slight pause before the other stallion grinned wildly.
"Me? Oh I'm just an earth pony. No one special," he explained, though his brown eyes held a mischievous glint as he said it.
"Really? Because I could have sworn you were a doctor."
The stallion's eyes widened a bit but he quickly recovered. "Yes. A doctor. Dr. Hooves."
"Well then doctor," Star Gazer smirked again, "I suggest you find Nurse Redheart and get the hospital ready. I'm sure somepony's bound to hurt themselves in all this madness."
"Right. Yes. Good idea," Dr. Hooves nodded then turned and started to run off but then stopped and looked back at him. "But after all this we need to have a long talk!"
He then trotted off to find Nurse Redheart and help as many ponies as he could along the way. Star Gazer watched him go with a hint of nostalgia going through him before he turned his attention back to the looming cloud.
"Now then, let's see how this goes..." he muttered to himself.
( - ) ( - ) ( - ) ( - ) ( - ) ( - )
The panic even spread to town hall where representatives from various offices tried their best to calm the manic ponies. The ruckus was so bad that it even reached the Mayor's office on the top floor. She had tried to ignore it at first and concentrate on her paperwork but it quickly became too much for her to tune out.
"What is going on out there?!" she bellowed as she stepped into the waiting room just outside her office.
"Sorry Miss Mayor but the populace is in a panic!" her secretary informed her.
"Oh again?' the Mayor asked with a roll of her eyes. "I swear somepony starts a panic almost every week!"
"But what if it is something serious?" the secretary asked.
"If it was I'm sure I would have heard from either Princess Celestia or Twilight Sparkle by now. Since I haven't I'm assuming it's just somepony overacting and inciting the rest of the citizens. Again." She sighed and shook her head. "I swear sometimes I wonder why I even bother running for reelection."
"Miss Mayor! Miss Mayor!" another member of her staff called from one of the windows.
"What is it now?" she asked a bit wearily.
"I think I know why they're panicking! You better see this!" he called out.
Quirking an eyebrow at his urgency, she joined him by the window then looked up to the sky where his hoof was pointing. What she saw as a deep black cloud quickly forming over the view of Canterlot they had from that window. And it looked like it would be upon them soon enough. A prospect that for some reason filled her with dread.
"Somepony get me Twilight Sparkle," she ordered in a quiet, yet immediate tone.
( - ) ( - ) ( - ) ( - ) ( - ) ( - )
Like almost everypony in the nearby areas, the six bearers to the Elements of Harmony stood still as they stared up at the cloud that was quickly blotting out the sun and covering everything in blackness.
"What is that thing? It looks...frightening," Fluttershy squeaked, hiding behind Rainbow Dash for protection.
"Oh come on Fluttershy, I thought you were over that!" the blue Pegasus snapped. It's just a cloud!"
"No," Twilight spoke up, drawing the others' attention. "It's not just a cloud. It has to do with Nightmare Moon. I just know it!"
"Hold up. Didn't you say that Dark Sky gal had a cloud around her too?" Applejack asked.
"That's what Princess Celestia and Luna told me, yes," she nodded in confirmation.
"Then maybe that's what that is just, y'know, gettin' bigger," the Earth Pony guessed.
"It could be," Twilight mused, tapping a hoof on her chin. "But whatever it is we have to go stop it and save not only Princess Celestia but also Princess Luna and now all of Equestria!"
"Soooo...basically a normal Saturday for us?" Rainbow Dash grinned.
"This is serious Rainbow!" Applejack scolded. "Remember...remember what else is at stake here."
The statement sent a somber feeling throughout the group and sent them all into a heavy silence.
"Girls, again if you want to-" Twilight started but was stopped by Rarity placing a hoof on her shoulder.
"Don't you even dare," she chided. "We've gone this far with you darling and we're determined to see it through to the end. Right girls?"
"Right!" the others cheered in unison.
Twilight smiled and quickly wiped away a joyful tear.
"Thank you all. Again. I'm truly the luckiest pony in Equestria to have friends like you," she confessed.
"Awww! Pre-fight, heartfelt group hug!" Pinkie declared, somehow pulling them all into said hug.
Despite their initial shock and confusion, the other five quickly recovered and joined in the massive group hug to show their solidarity and friendship. And to feel cheerful just a bit longer before the long road they no doubt had ahead of them.
"Alright," Twilight said once the hug was broken. "Let's do this."
"Right!" the others again called out in unison.
With renewed determination they were quick to make their way into Canterlot where they found the street lights had already been lit so they that citizens could see through the unnatural darkness. Adding to the surreal and creepy feel of the situation was that the usually crowded streets were completely empty and still. The only movement they could see were shadowed figures cowering behind drawn shades in the homes surrounding them. While it wasn't surprising that the usually timid Fluttershy was shaking, the feeling of isolation was starting to wear on the others as well. They glanced side-to-side, tentatively on the lookout for traps orsome kind of ambush but it quickly turned into trying to find some sign of life in the city.
Thankfully once they reached the castle they finally did find some other ponies in the form of a pink Earth pony guard and a deep purple unicorn guard looking at the closed wooden doors. They looked confused and seemed to be discussing something amongst themselves.
"It's about time we saw somepony else!" Pinkie declared. "This was gettin boooo-riiiing! Come on let's go throw a 'We're Happy We're Not The Only Ponies Around' party with them!"
"Hold on Pinkie," Twilight spoke up, holding the hyperactive pony back. "Maybe now's not the best time to go around surprising ponies."
Pinkie seemed to consider this for a moment.
"Hmmm...yeah I guess you're right Twilight. We can wait 'til after we save everypony to throw a huge 'We Saved Everypony' party!"
Twilight just stared at her for a second.
"Right. For the moment, I'll go talk to those guards to see what's going on you. You girls stay back here and keep an eye open for..." she paused to glance around the area, "...anything!"
They nodded then moved into a circle with their flanks to each other so they could keep watch on their surroundings. Twilight took a few cautious looks around herself before she made her way over to the two guards.
"Excuse me ma'am," she said politely as she tapped the pink guard on the shoulder armor.
This was met by a deep, annoyed sigh. "For the last time I'm not a mare!" he shouted incredulously as he turned towards her.
Twilight laughed nervously at her mistake.
"Sorry. It's just that...uh...with the coat and all I just...um..." she stammered.
"You know it's very disrespectful to judge somepony by the color of their coat," the purple guard chided her.
"I know! I didn't mean to I just-" she started but then stopped herself with a calming breath. "Look can you just tell me what's going on here? Why are you just standing outside the castle?"
The guards looked at each other.
"We don't know," they answered her together.
"We were told to go outside and secure the grounds but when we came back the doors were shut and locked," the pink one explained.
"Have you tried your key?" she asked, trying not to sound too sarcastic.
"We've tried everything," the purple guard exclaimed. "We just can't seem to get back in. Which, quite frankly, is very rude of them."
"I don't think they're to blame," Twilight said as she stepped closer to examine the door. "I think there's some kind of spell keeping it closed."
"Who would use a spell to hold the main doors to the castle closed?" the pink guard wondered allowed.
"Believe me, you don't want to know."
( - ) ( - ) ( - ) ( - ) ( - ) ( - )
In the throne room, Nightmare Moon turned away from her taunting of Celestia to gaze at the doors with a far off look in her eyes.
"They're here," she said cryptically with a demented smirk.
"Who is?" Dark Sky asked.
"Why Twilight Sparkle and her friends of course," the Mare of the Moon replied as she turned towards her group. "The Elements of Harmony. Come to vanquish me once again. Isn't that right sister?!" she snarled, as she spun back towards Celestia.
"I certainly wouldn't bet against them," she replied with a small smirk.
"Then that's a bet you would lose!" Nightmare Moon snapped. "For this time I'm ready for them. What's the saying that's popped up since I've been gone anyway?" she asked, tapping her muzzle with an armored hoof. "Oh yes, 'Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me'. Well I won't be fooled this time! This time I have the perfect way to combat your little Elements of Harmony."
"What's that? Is it valuable?" Treasure Hunt asked with a hopeful glint in her eyes.
"It's you!" the dark mare hissed at her but then quickly calmed herself. "All of you my loyal followers. You shall be the keys to our victory."
"Does this mean we finally get to hit somepony?" Stampede eagerly asked.
"Oh yes. As much as you'd like."
"Finally!"
"But subdue them and nothing more! I want them brought to me. I have something special in mind for them," Nightmare Moon teased.
Stampede gave a disappointed scowl. "Fine."
"So how exactly are we supposed to do this anyway?" Crimson Streak asked.
"Separate them of course," the empress replied. "Their strength lies in their unity. Divide them and we shall conquer them."
"And how do we divide them?" the red Pegasus asked again with barely restrained sarcasm.
Nightmare Moon narrowed her eyes at her but chose to ignore the remark for now.
"Leave that to me..." she said as her horn started to glow.
( - ) ( - ) ( - ) ( - ) ( - ) ( - )
Back outside, the previously unmovable palace doors slowly opened with a loud, ominous creak.
"Huh. Well look at that, the doors finally opened," the pink guard remarked. "I wonder what that means?"
"I don't think it's anything good," Twilight warned him. "Maybe it's best if you two stay here while my friends and I go inside to investigate."
"Wait, why should we wait out here? We're the guard ponies here!" he protested.
"And I'm Princess Celestia's star pupil! Not to mention one of the Elements of Harmony!" Twilight told him, pointing to her tiara for emphasis. "And my friends are the rest of the Elements!" She gestured towards the other five which of course sent Pinkie Pie into a waving fit towards them. "And we've beaten Nightmare Moon before!"
"She makes a lot of good points," the purple guard admitted. "Plus I've never been one for a fight anyway. I'm a pacifist."
"Oh right. But we should do something though!" the other guard remarked.
"You can! You can keep...um...guarding the doors here incase anypony else tries to come in or more importantly out," Twilight suggested.
"Sooo...basically stand here like we've been doing?"
"Um...yes?"
"I like it!" the unicorn guard said.
"Well I guess we could do that," the pink one resigned.
"Then it's agreed!" Twilight said quickly then turned to the others. "Come on girls we got a Princess and a kingdom to save!"
They let out a victorious cheer before rushing towards the doorway. Rarity straggled behind for just a second, however, to look at the pink Earth pony guard.
"By the way I love your coat color darling and have some ideas on how you can help bring it out more if you're interested," she offered.
"Oh that'd be lovely!" he replied. "We'll have to get together after all this."
"Indeed," Rarity nodded before she followed the rest of her friends.
As soon as they were all inside, the doors suddenly slammed behind them with a loud "bang". They all jumped in shock, but no more than Fluttershy who practically jumped up to the high ceiling above them. When they all calmed down, or rather fell down in Fluttershy's case, Applejack and Rainbow Dash pushed on the door with all their might.
"It won't budge!" Rainbow grunted as she pushed her shoulder into the wooden door.
"It's locked down tighter than a barn in a hurricane!" Applejack groaned as she shoved her hooves into it.
After a few more seconds of trying they finally gave up with an exhausted sigh. Never one to give up that easily, Applejack narrowed her eyes and pulled the brim of her hat down a bit.
"One more shot," she muttered to herself.
"Huh?" Rainbow Dash asked in confusion.
Her answer came in the form of the orange Earth pony slamming her forehooves onto the floor and pushing the rest of her body up in her famous apple bucking action. Her hindhooves smashed into the doors with the same force that nearly fell a few of the older apple trees on the farm. Unfortunately, the magically enhanced doors weren't nearly as forgiving as the old trees and they stood defiantly firm against her hooves. To make matters worse it seemed all the energy reverberated back through Applejack's body so hard it caused her to shake violently and flip her hat off her head and right onto Rarity. The tremor also caused her to lose her balance and fall flat on her face to the tile floor below. Rainbow Dash snickered a bit at her which caused Applejack to glare daggers at her.
"Sorry AJ. You okay?" she asked as she extended a hoof to help her up.
"Yeah I'm fine," the earth pony muttered as she took the offered hoof and pulled herself up. "Hurt mah pride more than anything."
"Well at least you're alright besides that," Rarity said as she walked up to Applejack then pulled her hat from her head. "And here's your hat back darling."
"Thanks Rarity," Applejack replied as she put her trademark headpiece back on.
"So...we're trapped here?!" Fluttershy shrieked in the beginning stages of a panic attack.
"Calm down Fluttershy," Twilight advised her. "Getting scared is just what Nightmare Moon wants us to do."
"Well she's doing a good job of it!" the yellow Pegasus whimpered.
"Calm down Fluttershy," Rainbow Dash sneered. "It's not like we haven't beaten her before."
"Rainbow's right. Well we have to do is stick together and we'll be okay," Twilight reassured her and the others.
"Uh Twilight, that seems like it's gonna be easier said than done," Applejack quickly spoke up as she pointed to something on the floor.
The other five looked to where her hoof was pointed and saw a star filled mist seeping up between the tiles. Before any of them knew it the mist was swallowing them up, cutting off Fluttershy's terrified screech and yanking Rainbow Dash right out of the air as she tried to fly away. The mist then slithered back under the floor, leaving only an uneasy stillness in the spacious room.
( - ) ( - ) ( - ) ( - ) ( - ) ( - )
"And just like that, they are separated," Nightmare Moon said, chuckling to herself.
"So now we get to fight them?" Stampede asked impatiently.
"Yes you can fight them now. But remember what I said," the dark mare warned the scarred pony.
"Yeah, yeah I got it," she grumbled.
"And what about those of us who aren't raving psychotics?" Crimson Streak asked.
"You mean those who are two cowardly to fight directly themselves?" Nightmare Moon asked her with a sly smirk.
The red Pegasus looked around nervously. "No! I...just...mean that...um..."
"Don't worry. Those of you who need help will get it. Not that I think many of you will," she informed them, giving pointed stares to Crimson Streak.
"What about me?! What do I get?!" Treasure Hunt asked eagerly. "After all I should get something for putting my life on the line!"
"You get to keep your life. How does that sound?"
The earth pony cringed a bit but still managed to pout some. "That sounds good but maybe..."
Nightmare Moon sighed and rolled her eyes. "You get the treasury."
"Yay!" Treasure Hunt cheered as she jumped into the air and clapped her hooves excitedly.
"Now if there are no other objections..." the dark empress paused for a reaction but thankfully received none. "Good. Now go make your mistress proud."
With that she spread her mist around them as well and just as before with the Elements of Harmony the six discordant ponies vanished to other parts of the castle. Once they were done Nightmare Moon turned back to the still bound Celestia with a sadistic smile on her muzzle.
"Now then where were we?" she taunted with a gloating smile. "Oh yes, I believe I was about to enjoy more of this delicious chocolate cake."
She brought a fork full of the almost forgotten cake up to her lips with her magic and stared intently into Celestia's surprisingly calm face.
"You do know how childish this is, right?" she asked in a near deadpan tone.
"Oh I'm just having a bit of fun," Nightmare Moon assured her before her expression grew much more grim. "Your real suffering will come much, much later..."
( - ) ( - ) ( - ) ( - ) ( - ) ( - )
When the mist cleared from her vision, Applejack closed her eyes instinctually from the sudden influx of light. She took a few careful blinks before finally opening them fully so she could look at her new surroundings. It was a medium sized theater with enough fancy accents to let her know that she was still in the castle. She was just about to look for the exit when she heard a pair of muffled cries. She turned to her left to find a pair of guards bound in one of the chandeliers and carpets with the tassels acting as gags.
"Hang on ya'll! Ah'll get ya out!" she said as she ran over to them.
"Not so fast!" Trixie's voice called out from behind the curtain.
Despite herself, Applejack stopped and glared up at the stage as the curtains rose to reveal the smug looking unicorn.
"Ah should have known it was gonna be you!" Applejack groaned.
"Yes the Great and Powerful Trixie has always had a flair of the dramatic," she exclaimed with her usual bombast. "Though in truth, Trixie was hoping she'd get to face Twilight Sparkle and pay her back for humiliating her and ruining Trixie's life!" She gave a quick snort before she calmed down a bit. "But she supposes she can make do with one of her friends."
"Wait. Onna Twilight's friends or onna your friends?" the earth pony asked in confusion.
"I mean you!" Trixie hissed. "Twilight's friend! I will humiliate you!"
"Fine, whatever! Just stop talkin' in third pony so Ah can understand you!"
"Oh like you're one to talk with your thick country accent!" Trixie shot back.
Applejack was about to say something else but then stopped herself with a sigh.
"Look Ah ain't gettin into this," she said. "Ah gotta go help mah friends and if that means Ah gotta go through you then Ah will!"
"Ha!" the blue pony scoffed as she assumed a fighting stance, her cape bellowing behind her. "You can't hope to beat Trixie in a fight!"
"Oh I definitely could in a fair fight. But somethin' tells me you don't exactly plan on fightin' fair now do ya?"
Trixie gasped then turned her head up in disgust.
"Trixie won't even validate that question with a response," she remarked.
"Just what Ah thought," Applejack smirked as she walked up onto the stage. "So then let me ask ya this, what exactly are ya doing here with these varmints?"
"Wha?!" Trixie blurted out in legitimate confusion.
"Look Ah know you're a braggin', stuck up, full of herself show pony, but that doesn't make you a bad pony," she explained. "Ah saw you tryin' to save Ponyville when that Ursa Minor came though. Ah mean, ya didn't do a good job but at least ya tried! That proves ya got some good in ya. Definitely not the kinda pony Ah see hooking up with some wackos tryin' ta take over the world."
Trixie stared dumbfounded for a moment before her jaw finally clenched and her eyes narrowed to glare daggers at Applejack.
"You...DARE ask me WHY I'm doing this?!" she screamed in incredulous frustration. "You have NO idea what I had to go through after that incident! That cart wasn't just my stage, it was my home! Everything I had was in there! Including all my savings! So I had to wonder from town to town bitless, taking up humiliating jobs just to survive! And when I did finally start performing again the stigma of that defeat followed me! Everywhere I went ponies would know me as "The Failed Magician From Ponyville". How did they even know about that?! How did word travel that fast from one small, stinking, stupid, little town?!"
"Whoa now! That town is mah home!" Applejack shot back, narrowing her own eyes at her.
"I don't care! That town ruined my life and to have that little upstart Twilight Sparkle make it look soooo easy to defeat an Ursa was just rubbing salt into my wounds! I can't stand for it! I won't stand for it! And that, that is why I'm with them! I'm going to make. Her. PAY!"
"Well first you gonna go through me!" the earth pony declared, stamping her hooves down in a defensive stance.
"With pleasure!" Trixie called back, her anger fully overcoming her.
With that, Trixie threw off her hat to reveal her horn was already glowing. She cast a malicious grin Applejack's way before she fired a blast from it at her. Applejack let out a surprised gasp but then deftly dodged the light pink beam and ran towards the unicorn. This time it was Trixie who let out the surprised gasp but she was quick to recover herself and conjured up a mini storm cloud to protect herself. The tiny lighting bolts shot down toward Applejack but again she was agile enough to avoid them. She tried to catch the mad magician with a flying tackle though Trixie just ducked so that Applejack harmlessly passed over her. Thankfully the earth pony was quick to recover and landed harmlessly on all four hooves. Unfortunately, just when she turned around she was greeted with a pair of hindhooves to the face. A loud "thud" rang out from the wooden stage as she crashed onto it. Before she could properly recover, one of the ropes holding the curtains back slithered down like a snake towards her and quickly wrapped itself tightly around her. She struggled against her quickly tightening bonds but it seemed to do no good. It especially didn't help when she heard Trixie's annoyingly smug laugh again.
"Did you really think you could stand up to the Great and Powerful Trixie?!" she taunted as she walked up to the bound Applejack. "Don't you remember what last time? In fact, I believe it was this very thing!" She leaned in closer to grin triumphantly at the orange pony. "How's it feel to be hogtied yourself, cowpony?"
The response came in the form of a swift headbutt from Applejack that caused her to reel back a bit. It also broke her concentration enough to cause the rope tying Applejack down to loosen just a bit. Unfortunately, Trixie recovered far too quickly for her to take advantage of it and before she knew it the rope was tied even tighter around her.
"Very cute," Trixie growled. "Well allow me to return the favor!"
Trixie then preformed a headbutt of her own but it seemed to hurt her head more than it did Applejack's.
"OOOOOWWW!" she cried out as she rubbed her now doubly sore head.
Applejack chuckled in amusement though she had to admit her head was hurting more than she expected it too.
"Oh shut up!" the unicorn snapped.
She then spun around and delivered a powerful kick with her hindhooves that'd be worthy of any apple bucking session right to the captive pony's head. Applejack flew back from the blow and tumbled down helplessly as the world around her quickly grew black. By the time she hit the stage again she was out cold and truly a captive of the Great and Powerful Trixie.
( - ) ( - ) ( - ) ( - ) ( - ) ( - )
"Ah-ah-AHCOOO!"
Rarity's sneeze blew away the rest of the mist surrounding her and she sniffled a few times as she rubbed her nose with her right hoof.
"Oh this day has been just simply dreadful!" she exclaimed. "First that incident behind the bushes and now this. Just how am I supposed to remain ladylike when all these horrible things keep happening?"
Of course her question went unanswered as she appeared to be alone in the large room. As she took in her surroundings more closely she realized she was in the grand ballroom where they held the Grand Galloping Gala. For a moment she felt a bit of joy as she remembered the anticipation she had leading up to the Gala and then seeing all the wonderful fashions on the upper class ponies in attendance. That moment passed quickly, however, when she immediately remembered how her "best night ever" was ruined by that uncouth lout "Prince" Blueblood. And given the way he acted she seriously doubted the veracity of that title.
"Of course. Why not add to my Canterlot humilations today by sending me back to the place where first, and worst, one happened!" she muttered. "What else could possibly happen today?!"
"Oooh don't you know you're never supposed to say that?!" a voice warned her.
"Who's there?!" Rarity asked with a start.
She turned to where she thought the voice had come from and saw an dark orange earth pony wearing saddle bags stepping out from behind one of the pillars.
"Oh it's just me," the mare replied.
"And who are you?"
"I did forget to say my name, didn't I?" she wondered as she patted her muzzle with a hoof. "Sorry I'm kinda bad at that. I'm Treasure Hunt!"
"Hello Treasure Hunt, I'm Rarity," the unicorn greeted politely. "How long have you been back there."
"Awhile."
"Why didn't you say anything before?"
"Because I didn't want you to hurt me," Treasure Hunt explained.
"Why would I want to hurt you?" Rarity asked in confusion but gasped when she thought of a possible answer. "Unless you're one of those dastardly Elements of Discord I've been hearing about!"
"Yeah I guess I am since I'm with them and all," the earth pony remarked. "But I don't really care about that stuff. I just care about getting stuff!"
Rarity felt her confusion sink back in.
"So you don't care about taking over Equestria?" she questioned.
Treasure Hunt seemed to ponder this question as rubbed her muzzle once again.
"Hmmmm...well...I mean it is a lot of hard work and I don't like doing that, buuuut it would be nice to have everypony worshiping me and bringing me all their stuff. Or any stuff. ALL the stuff! All of it!"
Rarity's face scrunched up in disgust.
"Well aren't you simply...terrible," she muttered half-heartedly.
"Oh what, like you've never been selfish just once in your life?" the earth pony pressed.
The white unicorn was to say something in protest but then stopped herself when though back over some of the...less than flattering decisions she had made in the past.
"Well I wouldn't say selfish exactly but...perhaps...maybe there were times when I was just a teensy bit...self...centered," she stammered.
"Ha! I knew it!" Treasure Hunt practically cheer. "See?! Everypony can be selfish at times! I'm just the only one that admits to it!"
"But that won't get you many friends," Rarity countered.
"Pffffft! Who needs friends?" she waved off. "Things are much better than friends! They won't hurt you! They won't betray you! They don't judge you! They won't try to take your things from you! They just sit there and be pretty. Besides, there's only one friend I need!"
She then craned her neck backwards to root around in her right saddlebag. A second later she pulled out an old, orange colored lantern with her teeth and beamed proudly as she presented it to Rarity.
"Him! He's my only friend! The only one I'll ever need!" she said surprisingly well around the mouthful of handle. Even so she set it down so she could speak without dropping it but held her front to hooves over it possessively.
"That's your friend?" Rarity asked, feeling a bit disturbed now.
"Oh yes. He whispers to me. Tells me which things are the best to get," Treasure Hunt explained as she lovingly caressed the lantern. She then narrowed her eyes at the Element of Generosity jewel hanging around Rarity's neck. "In fact, he's telling me I should take that pretty necklace of yours right now."
The unicorn blinked then took a few cautious steps backward.
"Now-now let's just take it easy there deary. You wouldn't want to do something either of us would regret," she tried to reason with her.
"Oh I wouldn't regret it at all," Treasure Hunt said before she quickly packed the lantern away again and started to walk threateningly towards Rarity.
"I'm warning you! Just because I don't like to fight doesn't mean I can't!"
"Gimme that necklace!" the orange pony screeched as she leapt at the unicorn.
Rarity let out a quick screech but quickly recovered and used her magic to throw one of the round wooden tables near her right at the flying Treasure Hunt. In a surprising show of agility, Treasure Hunt was able to flip herself midair and extend her left hind leg so that her hoof smashed through the table. Rarity watched in awe as the table split in half and the otherwise unassuming pony came flying through the middle. Course she quickly realized that that pony was flying down towards her and leapt out of the way. Treasure Hunt bounded just a little bit as she landed but otherwise seemed fine. A little too fine as she made another frantic run towards Rarity faster than then fabulous unicorn was expecting and she soon found herself pinned under the greedy mare. Thankfully there was still enough room between their bodies that Rarity was able to bring her hind legs up and kick Treasure Hunt off her. While the earth pony landed on her back, she was able to make another quick recovery and jump up to all four legs. She snorted a few times as she expression became more and more deranged and angry.
"Give. Me. That. Necklace!" she shrieked.
"You'll have to pry it from my cold, lifeless neck," Rarity shot back, her own eyes narrowing dangerously.
"Don't tempt me!" Treasure Hunt growled.
They began to circle the room, eyeing the other one carefully for any sign of movement they might make. At about the third rotation of the area, Treasure Hunt noticed an over turned chair that Rarity must have knocked over when she threw that table at her. She carefully slipped a hoof under the chair's backboard then in once swift move tossed it into the air then spun around and kicked it with her hind legs to launch it towards Rarity. The unicorn flinched just a bit but was still able to stop the chair just in front of her with her magic. Unfortunately, this turned out to be just the perfect distraction Treasure Hunt needed and as Rarity kept her focus on the chair, the earth pony slid underneath her and delivered a two hoof kick right to the other mare's chin. The blow was sent Rarity flying upwards just a bit before she slammed back down onto the decorative tile floor. This attack also caused her to loose her concentration on the chair which Treasure Hunt quickly picked up with her front hooves and smashed over the prone Rarity's skull which finally knocked her out. Treasure Hunt tossed the remaining bits of the chair away then moved her head toward Rarity's neck and grasped the loose chain of her necklace with her teeth. In one hard yank she managed to break the clasp holding it together and victoriously waved her new prize about.
"Mine!" she snarled triumphantly.
( - ) ( - ) ( - ) ( - ) ( - ) ( - )
Rainbow Dash looked around the area she had been transported to in annoyance. It wasn't just that she had been zapped away from her friends against her will but also where she was zapped to! A boring old hallway! With all the exciting things a hallway had, like a long carpet! Or some old paintings! Or lots of lights on the wall! Or her favorite, dozens of similar looking doors! It was all just so boring! There wasn't even much room for her to fly around in there. She let out a frustrated sigh as she shook her head.
"Guess I better start walking down the hallway then!" she grumbled to herself.
Before she could get two steps forward though she suddenly found herself tackled by somepony coming out one of the doors behind her. They rolled around on the floor for a bit before Rainbow Dash was able to pin the attacker to the wall. It turned out that attacker was a red colored Pegasus that looked completely terrified of her.
"Don't hurt me!" she pleaded, hiding her face behind her forelegs.
"Why did you attack me?!" Rainbow Dash pressed.
"I wasn't attacking you I was hugging you!" the newcomer replied. "I was just so happy to see somepony else!"
"Who are you?" Rainbow asked again, letting up just a little bit.
"My name's Crimson Streak," the other Pegasus finally introduced herself.
"And what exactly are you doing here?"
"Nothing!" Crimson Streak squeaked. "I was here with a tour group when all these crazy ponies started attacking and everything went black! I ducked into one of these rooms and waited until it was safe to come out."
Rainbow arched an eyebrow suspiciously at her.
"And how did you know it was safe to come out when I was around?" she asked.
"Well..." Crimson Streak paused a bit. "You're that Rainbow Dash from Ponyville, right? The one who did the Sonic Rainboom at the Young Flyers Competition?"
"You heard about that?" Rainbow remarked, going from suspicious to prideful.
"Of course! It was the talk of the town! I even head you saved the Wonderbolts!"
"Well yeah I kinda did," the blue Pegasus said smugly as she stepped back from the red one. "And it was pretty awesome."
"I'm sure it was," Crimson Streak agreed as she stood up. "So that's how I knew when I saw you that I was safe."
"Okay so you're not wrong on that part," Rainbow Dash assured her. "But I'm not sure how I can get you out of here. To be honest I don't really know much about the castle myself. Plus I gotta find my friends so we can all put an end to this whole mess."
"Oh? How are you going to do that?"
"Well if it was me I'd just give Nightmare Moon and her followers a quick hoof to the face but we're following Twilight's plan to use the Elements of Harmony here to stop them," she explained, tapping her necklace with a hoof for emphasis. "Which I suppose would work better but boy it'd be really satisfying to just knock 'em out, you know?"
"I'm not really much of a fighter so I guess I wouldn't," Crimson Streak replied.
Rainbow laughed a bit. "Yeah I suppose not everypony can be the flank kickers we are." She then cast a reassuring look towards the still shaken Crimson Streak. "So don't worry you'll be safe with me until we find the others."
"Thank you. Thank you so much!" the other Pegasus said happily as she moved next to Rainbow.
"So just stick close and hopefully this'll all be over soon," she explained but then quickly frowned. "Just as soon as I figure out which we we're supposed to go."
"Maybe one of these doors will lead to a shortcut or something," Crimson Streak suggested.
"Yeah maybe," Rainbow agreed as she mused over the various doors in front of them. "But which one?"
The red Pegasus walked ahead of her to one of the doors a bit further down the hallway.
"Maybe this one?" she asked.
Rainbow started to walk over towards her but then stopped and narrowed her eyes at her and the door.
"Wait...why that one?" she asked cautiously.
Crimson Streak sighed and lowered her head again. "Still suspicious of me?"
"I just think it's a bit weird that you seem to know where to go if you were supposed to be hiding all this time."
"I don't know where to go!" the other mare snapped in frustration. "I'm just taking a wild guess! But fine! If you don't trust me I guess I'll just do it myself!"
She then flung open the door and darted inside the room.
"Hey wait!" Rainbow called out then quickly ran after her.
When she entered the room all she found was a small room with a few pieces of furniture placed about and Crimson Streak standing right in the middle of it. Apparently she had just enough time to turn around so she faced Rainbow but instead of the slightly cowering mare she had just met, she a smug smile on her face that let the blue Pegasus know something wasn't right. Before she could react, however, Rainbow suddenly found herself overcome by three figures descending upon her from the ceiling. During the ensuing scuffle she recognized the black and purple outfits of the Shadowbolts. She tried to fight them off but their numbers were just too much and they quickly overpowered her. She felt a hoof slam her face to the floor and could only watch helplessly as a pompous looking Crimson Streak sauntered over to her.
"And there's your problem Rainbow, just too trusting," she gloated before she drew a hoof back and kicked the prone Pegasus in the temple to knock her out.
( - ) ( - ) ( - ) ( - ) ( - ) ( - )
Back in the throne room, Nightmare Moon slowly opened her eyes and chuckled as looked towards Celestia.
"Three down. Three to go," she remarked before launching into another round of vicious laughter that cut right through the captured Sun Princess.
Celestia closed her eyes and lowered her head somberly.
Everything will be alright. It has to be, she tried to reassure herself.
Unfortunately she wasn't doing a very good job.
To Be Continued...
Author's Notes: Well once again this chapter turned out a bit differently than I had planned. Originally I was going to have all six fights take place in this chapter but once I realized it was running a bit long I figured it'd work out more dramatically to cut it off after the third one. Keeps the chapters relatively short and readable and is a great way to build up suspense! Especially since so far the scoreboard reads Discord Six-3 and Harmony Six-0. Will Twilight, Pinkie and Fluttershy be able to even up the score and save their friends or will this truly turn into the last day for all of Equestria? Find out next time! Shame Pony channel! Same Pony time!
...
Why did I do that?