Big Macintosh collapsed to the ground, bloody, battered and breathing heavily. The stallion winced and spat out blood as he struggled to get back to his hooves. Nightmare Moon examined the torn off mechanical leg, ignoring the stallion’s presence.
“Fascinating. Technology has advanced so much since my banishment.” The alicorn grinned as she crushed the leg into scrap, “So many wonders, that must be undone.”
“It… ain’t over yet.” Big Macintosh managed to counter, before coughing up more blood.
“Such heroic nonsense.” The alicorn smirked, “But such bra-”
The alicorn’s gloating was cut off as something smashed through the wall and into the alicorn’s head, shattering her helmet and knocking her to the ground.
“What the…” Big Macintosh blinked.
A panting Dizzy Twister stood where Nightmare Moon once was. She ran over to Big Macintosh, as Thunderlane landed in the room and rushed to the Earth stallion.
“I told you all to get out of here.” Big Macintosh scolded the pegasi.
“You did.” Dizzy agreed, “But I never agreed to it.”
“Mac, we’re getting you out of here.” Thunderlane added.
A blast of magical energy flew past the three ponies, causing all of them to drop to the ground.
“You…You insolent bitch.” Nightmare Moon returned to her feet; shards of her helmet embedded in the side of her head, “Death is too good for you; I will send you to everlasting torment.”
Nightmare Moon charged up another magical blast and fired it at the group, only for a large rock to suddenly drop in front of the group, taking the blast. Rarity trotted into view, hurling another rock at Nightmare Moon.
“Rarity? Why are you here?” Dizzy Twister looked at the unicorn.
“Because fools must stick together,” the unicorn replied, “and we’re not leaving you either.”
“This…This is a grievous mistake on all of your parts,” Nightmare Moon returned to her feet, “I-”
“-will show you all the true meaning of suffering,” Lemon Hearts entered the room, levitating multiple rusted swords with her, “You shall rue the day that you decided to oppose the true ruler of Equestria and the princess of the night, is that what you were going to say?”
“I-”
“-will not be mocked by common trash,” Lemon Hearts finished as the others chuckled slightly, “Please think of something more original, right now you’re spewing every villain cliché that I’ve ever used and some that I probably never will.”
“Lemony, why are you here?” Dizzy propped Big Macintosh up, “We need to get out of here.”
“Not quite,” the mare smiled as she brought the swords to bare, “We’re waiting on Time Turner. Now what would the hero say…ah right.”
Lemon Hearts coughed to clear her throat as she prepared to fight.
“Come villain, I have shown you my valor, can you not do more?”
Three of the swords sliced at Nightmare Moon in a large curving arc, allowing the alicorn to easily block them. Two more stabbed at her, allowing her to easily dodge them.
“Your sword handling is most amateurish, how do you expect to defeat me?” Nightmare Moon taunted.
“I don’t have to win, just stall you.” Lemon Hearts grinned, “Or I can do this.”
The swords exploded, engulfing Nightmare Moon is rusted shrapnel.
“We need to get out of here,” Thunderlane told the others, “Nothing we can do is going to really defeat her.”
“Be patient, Time Turner has a plan,” Rarity paused, “Hopefully one that works.”
The smoke cleared, revealing a bleeding Nightmare Moon.
“I tire of these fleeting distractions. You have no way of stopping me, this is over, finished!” Nightmare Moon triumphantly declared.
“That’s…where you are wrong.” A grinning Time Turner entered the room, “Because in your haste to kill us, you have given us the exact means to defeat you.”
“You jest.”
“On the contrary, I am absolutely right. You see…” Time Tuner trotted to the front of the group, “I did read about the elements before, the old bearers, how they were used after your defeat, and something stuck out at me.
It was a quote referring to them, ‘When the Five are present a spark will cause the sixth element to be revealed’.
Naturally, I thought this meant only a unicorn would be capable of wielding it, but tonight may show otherwise.
For the new bearers of the elements stand before you!”
“…You cannot be serious.” Rarity stared at Time Turner.
“On the contrary, I am completely serious.” Time Turner flashed the mechanic a grin, “Let’s start with the first element, Generosity.
Generosity isn’t just about giving, sometimes it is about sacrifice. Certainly one pony here tonight is the best example of that, Big Macintosh.”
“Me?” the farm stallion blinked, “I ain’t nobody important.”
“On the contrary. You offered the troll both food, work and a chance to live on, when we could have easily ignored him. And even now you continued to give.
After all, what’s more generous than giving up your life for everyone else to survive?”
A gem shot out of Rarity’s bag and remained in front of Big Macintosh. It changed from a dull grey to red and remained suspended in midair, much to Nightmare Moon’s horror.
“…No. No no no, this cannot be!”
Nightmare Moon fired another blast of magic at the group, only for the other gemstones to erupt out of Rarity’s bag and form a protective barrier around the group. Time Turner glared at Nightmare Moon.
“I. Wasn’t. Finished. Speaking.” The stallion calmly responded, “It’s rude to interrupt.
Next is the second Element to activate, Loyalty, and its bearer, Dizzy Twister.”
“Why me?”
“This entire trip has been you refusing to abandon anypony,” Time Turner reminded her, “Not at the beginning, not when we faced the reanimated skeletons, not when Macintosh ordered us all to run, and certainly not now when we are face to face with Nightmare Moon.
Your entire reason for being here with us is your refusal to let ponies that rely on you down.
You said everypony plays a different role, this one is yours.”
One of the gems broke off from the protective formation and remained in front of Dizzy. The dull grey was quickly replaced by khaki.
“No…” Nightmare Moon spread her wings and attempted to flee the building, only to find herself unable to move, “This is impossible.”
“If it were impossible, we would not be here.” Rarity shot back.
“Thus leading us to Honesty,” Time Turner beamed.
“...If that is what I am, then I accept.” Rarity nodded.
“I don’t think I need to make an extravagant speech about this,” Time Turner chuckled, “Through this entire night, you have said exactly what is on your mind, and we respect you for it.
Take your element and stand proud.”
Rarity levitated a gem towards herself, and smiled as it turned purple.
“Halfway done, let’s get to the next one: Kindness, and its bearer, Thunderlane.”
“Whoa there, me?” The Pegasus tore his gaze away from Nightmare Moon.
“Yes you. Looks are deceiving and steely looks can hide hearts of gold, or how ever that quote went.
You saved the troll from further injury, and myself as well. This entire night has been you offering to help everypony you’ve run into.
Kindness is sometimes as simple as giving a pony a hoof when he needs it, and everyone needed it tonight.”
Another gem left the formation, stopping by Thunderlane. Rather than growing brighter, his gem grew a darker shade of grey, matching his coat.
“…I suppose I’m supposed to be Laughter then?” Lemon Hearts chuckled, “My entire life has been dedicated to making something that ponies enjoy, but I don’t think that makes me worthy of laughter.”
“I think sometimes ponies take the names of the elements much too literally,” Time Turner countered, “Laughter is about joy, kindness, compassion, love and satisfaction. You may have entertained us with your story, but you also kept our spirits up as we started this journey and now as we finish it.”
““Necessity makes even the timid brave”,” the unicorn quoted, “I will step up and be your element of Laughter.”
A gem floated towards Lemon Hearts, pausing by the unicorn. It changed to a shade of yellow, matching the unicorn’s coat.
“And that leaves…Magic.” Time Turner grinned.
“Fool, you think that an Earth pony is capable of magic?” Nightmare Moon scoffed at the idea.
“The slight hesitation in your voice says otherwise,” Lemon Hearts countered.
“Magic…” Time Turner sighed, “You are correct, I can’t perform magic. At least not what most ponies count as magic.”
Time Turner began to pace back and forth in front of the ponies, “You see…the ancient text keep referring to the magic of friendship. Not just magic. While it appears that the original bearer of the Element of Magic was a unicorn…this got me thinking.
What if, just if mind you, that there was a mistake translating?
It would not make sense to have only a specific type of pony to be capable of using one of the elements, they’re the Elements of Harmony for a reason.
Harmony as in working together, not letting a unicorn lead them every time.
Sometimes leaders need to be able to soar above the clouds, and in other times be closer to earth.
I’m not a great leader by any stretch of the imagination, but what I have managed is to bring five ponies together, and unite them with one goal in mind. We all have different reasons; Rarity. Dizzy Twister and Big Macintosh are here to save their loved ones, Thunderlane is here to keep his own from suffering, Lemon Hearts is here for…why are you here?” Timer Turner turned his attention to the unicorn.
“It’s the right thing to do,” Lemon Hearts shrugged, “If I don’t stand up and do it, who else will?”
“Seems logical. But back to the point at hoof,” Time Turner returned his attention to Nightmare Moon.
“That is why I am Magic. I made friends and worked with them to accomplish a goal. We chose this, and now we choose it for you.
After all, friendship is magic.”
The final gem changed from grey to a light brown, matching Time Turner’s coat. All six of the gems began to glow, engulfing the entire castle in a blinding light.
---
Time Turner groggily opened his eyes before closing them again. Several seconds later, his eyes shot open, and he leapt onto his hooves, scanning the area. Behind him, the other five ponies groaned as they shakily got to their hooves.
“What happened? Where are we? Why am I here? Why are you wearing that?” Time Turner pointed at Lemon Hearts.
“What?” the unicorn looked down; a golden necklace with a Yellow and blue heart-shaped gem remained around her neck, “Ah, The elements. They must have accepted us as their bearers.”
“I like it.” Dizzy looked at her own necklace; gold with a small khaki and pink gem in the shape of a tornado, “It’s quite nice.”
“I feel ridiculous.” Thunderlane blushed as he looked at his own elements: a grey stormcloud shaped gem perched in a silver necklace. “Did we all get these?”
“Not all of us.” Rarity frowned as she levitated an ornate wrench to show to the others. The wrench appeared to be crafted out of silver, with a purple wrench shaped gemstone in the middle of it, “This one looks like it fused with my work wrench. That was my favorite wrench too.”
“You can always get another one,” Big Macintosh trotted over to the group.
“Wait, Mac, how are you walking? Nightmare Moon crushed your leg,” Thunderlane looked at the stallion.
“She what?!?!” Rarity stared at the stallion in disbelief.
“She did, but…” Big Macintosh smiled as he turned to his side, revealing his new prosthetic leg. Crafted out of what appeared to be gold and silver, the leg hummed softly as Big Macintosh moved it back and forth. A single red and green gemstone in the shape of an apple was worked into the leg’s knee joint, and glistened in the light as Big Macintosh flexed it.
“It looks like the elements fused with the remains of it,” the stallion chuckled, “It’s mighty nice looking, ain’t it?”
“It’s very nice, Macintosh.” Dizzy Twister nodded in agreement.
“It’s much more artistic than something I would do, that is for certain,” Rarity stated, “But Time Turner, where is your element?”
“Mine?” the stallion blinked, “Oh please tell me I’m not wearing a crown. I look stupid in those things.”
“Look lower.” Lemon Hearts smiled.
The stallion looked down at his own neck; fastened around his neck was a small, black bow tie. In the middle remained a light brown gemstone in the shape of an hourglass, flipped onto its side.
“I like it,” Time Turner beamed, “Bowties are cool.”
“Indeed they are, Turner.” A familiar voice chuckled.
Time Turner spun around to see a radiant draconequus sitting atop the ruined display stand.
“Discord! You’re alright!” the earth pony excitedly exclaimed as the other five ponies stared on in shock.
“It seems so,” Discord chuckled, “Let me tell you that was not fu-”
“Where’s my sister?” Rarity interrupted.
“Behind you.”
“RARITY!” a shrill young voice called out. The unicorn spun around as the filly tackled her with a bone crushing hug.
“Oh thank goodness!”
“Mom!” Dinky and Scootaloo leaped at Dizzy Twister, embracing the pegasus.
“Mac!” Applebloom embraced Big Macintosh, as Carrot Top, Roseluck and Applejack lead another group of ponies into the room.
“It seems everyone is alright,” Discord smiled, “Let’s get you all taken care of now.”
Discord snapped his fingers: the other ponies vanished with a slight popping sound.
“I’ve sent them back to Ponyville; they’ve been through quite an ordeal.”
“We’re not finished yet?” Big Macintosh inquired.
“No, not just yet. There’s still one piece of business to take care off.” Discord smiled and motioned towards another pony, lying on their side, “Her.”
The pony remained motionless on her side; her coat was a dark midnight blue, and her mane a deep cobalt blue. With a pained groan she staggered to her hooves, revealing both a unicorn’s horn and a pair of wings on her back. The Elements of Harmony gasped in surprise.
The alicorn once again collapsed to her hooves, unable to stand.
“Is that…”
“It is, Time Turner. Princess Luna in all her regal splendor, and devoid of what made her Nightmare Moon.”
Discord floated into the air, and over towards the alicorn princess. He leaned in closer towards her as the defeated pony finally opened her eyes. Terror gripped the alicorn as she realized who stared back at her.
“Hello, Luny.” Discord grinned.
“D…Discord.” The mare weakly responded, “But…but…”
“The Elements purged you of what made you Nightmare Moon,” Discord stood back up, backing away from Luna. “And with that, it freed me and those you imprisoned.”
The alicorn sighed in defeat, “I’m sorry.”
“Sorry does not make up for all the things you have done all those years ago,” Discord shook his head, “I have had a century to think of the proper punishment for you.”
“I accept it, just…please. Let me face it with dignity. Like a Princess should.”
Luna pulled herself off the ground, and stood on uneasy hooves. She bowed her head and closer her eyes, awaiting her final punishment.
She continued to wait.
Five minutes passed before the alicorn summoned enough courage to open one eye: Discord impatiently stood there tapping his foot as the Element bearers exchanged uneasy glances with one another.
“Well?” Discord impatiently asked, “I have things to do, citizens to calm, celebrations to plan.”
“Why haven’t you killed me? I deserve it.” The Alicorn begged.
“Kill you?” Discord smirked in response, “Oh Luna that would be letting you off easy. I want you to see what has become of the Kingdom you fought to protect, and what has become of the republic you tried to end.”
“…No.” Luna whispered in realization.
“I want you to live and see what has become of your beloved Equestria. I want you to see first hand what has happened, and…” Discord’s smile turned from mocking to serious, “I want you to spend every waking moment suffering from regret.
That is your punishment.
I have shown you mercy, and you will suffer for every minute of it.”
Discord spun around, motioning for Luna to leave, “Now go, you have plenty to see and do. You know where to find me.”
“Wait!” Luna pleaded, “I…”
She trailed off as Discord snapped his fingers. The Element bearers and the dracoequus vanished in a flash of light. Luna stared at the spot where the elements were. After several moments, the full weight of Discord’s words sunk in and the alicorn collapsed to her knees and burst out into tears of regret, sorrow, shame and terror.
“…I can’t.”