//------------------------------//
// Chapter 4: A plan is set 
// Story: Hand among hooves 
// by anonymouspony5X 
//------------------------------//

It was dark by the time Adrian finished telling about how in his world, Equestria was the stage for a children’s television show, and how so many men, like himself, were getting so obsessed with it. The only respite the human had had was the few minutes Princess Celestia had to step out to lower the sun. When she returned, her lunar sister was in tow. It took another hour to see what was and wasn’t true between the show and real life in Equestria, and half an hour to fill Princess Luna in, who had taken quite an interest in life on Earth.

“One last question, my dear hooman.” The princess of night asked from her throne.

“Yes Luna?” Adrian tried not to sound stressed, but his facade was slipping: he had been talking for over three hours. Luckily, the elder alicorn came to his rescue.

“Dearest sister, while I am as eager to hear more about our guest as you are, we have stalled far too long. We must discuss the situation surrounding Discord’s escape.” The princess let her voice take on the tone her sister called her ‘Highest highness’ voice, the one she used whenever she was angered or impatient.

“Of course, dearest sister…” Princess Luna seemed put off that she couldn’t ask her question, but didn’t want to anger her sister. Luna looked around and realized just how long they had been talking: Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy were all asleep where they sat, and Applejack seemed to be succumbing to her need for sleep. 

“Princess, you mentioned something about a tracking spell in your letter.” Twilight addressed her teacher. Twilight seemed to be the only pony in the room without a trace of weariness; even Celestia seemed a little less radiant.

“Yes, my dear student. Luna and I feared that Discord would not remain confined, so we placed the most powerful tracking spell possible on him. Thankfully, it seems that escaping from his imprisonment so soon after you defeated him has drained him of power. The only chaos our dear Discord seems to have done was turn the cell we were keeping him in into chocolate.” At this last part, Pinkie stirred in her sleep.

“Well, that’s good.” Rainbow Dash said from her spot in the air. She had resorted to hovering in place to keep from falling asleep, “not all of us need to go after him.”

“What?” Twilight thought she had just heard Rainbow say that they didn’t need all six of them to capture Discord.

“Yeah. Pr-incess Celestia says he’s too weak to cause chaos, so why all six of us have go and catch him? Some of us can catch ‘im, then turn him to stone when we… get back.” Rainbow tried to explain, but sleep was catching up to her.

“It seems you are not the only pony who can think of a plan, Twilight Sparkle.” Luna grinned down from her throne. “We took a magical scan of his cell, and it seems Discord has only a little more power than the average unicorn. Perhaps half of the elements should pursue Discord, while the others stay in Ponyville with our dear hooman, to make sure he gets settled.”

Twilight turned to see what Adrian thought of this arrangement. Wearily, the human gave a signal that Twilight had learned meant ‘yes’, lifting his smallest digit on one hand.

“Good. Now, my dear sister and I shall make the necessary arrangements. Now, I assume you remember where the guest towers are, Twilight?” Twilight nodded. “Excellent. Now, get some rest, and we can talk on the morrow.”
With that, the sleeping members of the group were teleported away, while Twilight lead the remaining ponies (and human) to their rooms.

As the door to the throne room closed, the solar sisters let out a combined sigh.

“Well, dear sister, it seems that things are about to get strange in Equestria.” The lunar Princess looked to her elder, eliciting a smile.

“No Luna, things are about to get interesting."

* * *

As Celsetias sun brightened the skies above Canterlot, a group of made up of seven ponies and a baby dragon made their way from the guest towers of the solar sister’s castle to the throne room. Word had quickly spread through the royal guards: the elements of harmony were going to be given another important task by Princess Celestia. But this was not the main topic of gossip. Just who was this mysterious pony with the elements? And why did the princess treat him with as much respect as she did the elements of harmony? But it seemed that no answers were to be forth coming, as the doors were magically locked and sound proofed by Princess Celestia as soon as the group entered the throne room.

Equestria’s matriarch looked over the group. It seemed to Celestia that not everypony had had a good night’s sleep. The element of laughter (why did that ponies name always seem to slip the Princesses mind?) seemed to be quite stable and level headed, which, while calming, was quite unusual for the normally hyper pony. Applejack seemed to be in a worse mood than the previous night, her eyes seeming capable of melting stone. Luckily for Adrian, Applejack hadn’t really developed this power, or else he would have been a puddle of goo the second she saw him. The remaining ponies (and dragon) were in varying stages of disarray. The only one who seemed to be in a good mind set was the very ‘special’ guest.

“Good morning Princess Celestia!” Adrian beamed, bowing slightly as he approached the awaiting alicorn.

“And good morning to you, Adrian. I assume you had a good night’s sleep?” Princess Celestia weakly smiled, envying the humans current good mood.

“I did your highness. Thank you for asking.” An impatient tapping ended Adrian’s chipper statement.

“While I’m glad you ahuuuuuuuuuuh are adjusting to Equestria, Adrian, we have more pressing issues than how soft Canterlot beds are.” Twilight blew a stray hair from her eyes, wishing she had gotten more than three hours of sleep. But her industrious mind wouldn’t allow her to rest until she had thought over the situation, so she had decided to take a moon lit stroll to allow her mind to wander.

“Yes of course Twilight,” Celestia said, slightly annoyed at her students need for action, “My sister and I have decided that it would be best if three of you would go and re-capture Discord.”

“But Princess, don’t all six of us need to be there for the elements to work?” Fluttershy asked, her usual timidity gone with her lack of sleep. Like Twilight, she hadn’t been able to stop thinking about what had happened only yesterday. Unlike Twilight however, it wasn’t Discord that occupied most of her thoughts.

Celestia turned to the element of kindness, “Correct, but the elements of harmony should not be necessary to capture Discord this time. I believe that three of you should be able to contain him without any major problems. As we stated last night, Discord seems to be unable to create as much chaos as previously.”

“Who shall go and capture this ruffian?” Rarity asked, her elegance not escaping her in her drowsy state.

“That is what my sister and I were mainly debating. Unfortunately, we were unable to come to a decision. We thought it best if you yourselves decide who will go where.” Princess Celestia looked over the group. If she had happened to look out the stained glass windows of her throne room, she might have noticed a certain grey pegasus peeking in at the group, one eye fixed on Adrian.

“Ah’ll go, um, uh…Princess.” Applejack offered immediately. She had been worrying that she would be in the group that was sent to Ponyville with the human. Any chance to get away from the unnatural thing was a gift.

Twilight stepped towards the princess. “I’ll go too, your majesty.” The princess nodded, and then looked over the group once more.

“Who else would like to save Equestria from eternal chaos, and be remembered forever as a hero?” The princess knew at least one of her subjects could not resist a challenge such as that. Rainbow Dash bolted upwards, a hoof raised in salute.

“I’ll go your highness!” Rainbow said before she could stop herself. She had been keeping quiet for a reason, a reason that was now clapping his hands at her bravery.

“Thank you Rainbow Dash. Now Twilight, here is the map which will show you where Discord is.” The princess levitated a scroll to her student, who tucked it into her saddle bag. “I wish you luck in finding Discord, my little ponies.”

“Thank ya kindly, Princess.” Applejack tipped her Stetson hat, and turned towards her two traveling companions. Princess Celestia shifted her gaze to the other group of ponies.

“I hope you are able to settle in Ponyville comfortably, my dear human.” The Princess beckoned Adrian closer. “And before you go, you might want to have a better charm on you.”

“Thank you kindly, Princess.” The human couldn’t help snicker at the reaction of Crabapple when he mirrored her words, but more important things called his attention. Adrian watched as a glowing ball of magic emanated from the foot long horn of the alicorn, and enveloped his form. Flexing his fingers, Adrian shivered as he felt the magic seep in around him.
Turning, Adrian saw his new guides to Ponyville, waiting with expectant looks on their faces. Adrian grinned. 

This was going to be fun.