//------------------------------// // Chapter One: World Got Flipped, Turned Upside-Down // Story: Rainbow is Magic Season 2: Disharmony, Disruption, Discord // by aceotaku //------------------------------// “Twilight!” Twilight Sparkle frowned as she got up from tending to the silkworms in their enclosure, trotting to the front of the farm, eyes widening in shock as she saw Flim and Flam being dragged along the end up of a rope, the other end tied to massive carrot that was literally acting like a bucking bronco. “What in the hay...?” The purple unicorn muttered in shock and disbelief. She yelped as several more carrots, as well as various other fruits and vegetables, shot up from the ground and started going on a rampage through her farm. “What in the hay is going on!?” She turned as she heard flapping wings approach, a bat-winged pony with a dark coloured coat landing in front of her. Though a recent addition, these frightening looking Nightsteeds had soon become a common (and welcome) sight in the town, acting as law enforcement and protectors in case of attacks, as per an agreement between the newly elected mayor and the Princesses. “Twilight Sparkle, correct?” The armoured guardsman asked, slicing a few ornery veggies with blades hidden on his wings. “The Princesses have sent word, you must come with me.” “But my farm...” Twilight protested weakly, gazing in concern at her home. “The Princesses assure me they have both answeres and a solution to this.” The stallion sighed. “I’m sorry, but I have my orders and I must follow them.” Twilight returned the sigh and trotted over. “Alright, I understand...” She gave her family’s farm one last concerned look. ----------------------------- Fluttershy’s pet cat, Opalescence, gazed in utter fear and confusion as she spun in the air like a propeller, her uncontrolled flight pressing her uncomfortably against the ceiling of Fluttershy’s shack. “Wooo!” Fluttershy hollered in glee. “You’re amazing, Opal! I didn’t know you could fly!” Opal meowed in discomfort as there was a knock at the door. Fluttershy giggled and opened the door, seeing a Nightsteed in full armour. “Ma’am, by order of the Princess, you must come with me!” “Sure!” The yellow Pegasus grinned. “Lead the way!” ------------------------- Applejacked yelled and hollered as she was accosted by several of her finest dresses, which had suddenly sprung up and came to life as if invisible ponies were wearing them. Near as Applejack knew, they probably were. “Unhand me!” Applejack shouted. “I created you! You must listen to me!” Naturally, as is often the case when a phrase like this uttered, the fashionista was ignored and unceremoniously thrown out through she shop/store’s front door, alongside Lil’ Strongheart. “That was...” Lil’ Strongheart began with a shiver, “unpleasant.” “Ah simply must agree!” Applejack huffed. “If they keep that up, they’ll get wrinkles! And who will have to iron those wrinkles out? Me!” Strongheart gave the earth pony a withering gaze. “What?” Applejack shrugged. “It’s true! You don’t know how to work it, and dear little Applebloom is too young!” “Ma’am.” Applejack immediately got up, smiling winsomely at the guardsman. “Why hello darling, what brings a handsome stallion such as yourself here?” She winked. “I’d offer some tea but...my shop is currently...uh...under renovations.” “Ma’am, I am here to escort you to speak with the Princesses, I must insist that you come along.” The stallion turned away nervously. “And I’m not sure I appreciate your tone, under these circumstances...” “Oh but of course darling!” Applejack giggled and trotted beside the Nightsteed. “But I’m sure we can talk a while along the way....” Strongheart rolled her eyes and got up and began walking the opposite direction. “I suppose it is up to me ensure Applebloom is alright...” she blushed and muttered under her breath. “And keep her company....f-for protection.” ---------------------- Rainbow Dash grunted as she tried to use her magic to hold down several of the books of her library, which was tricky as they were flapping around like butterflies and were for some reason resistant to her magic whenever she tried to grab them. “Spike, did I miscast a spell I don’t remember practicing or something?” She asked her assistant as he tried the far more ‘logical’ course of attempting to knock the books down with a broom. “I have as much idea about this as you do, Dash.” Spike admitted, knocking a book to the ground with a triumphant smile, only to growl in annoyance as the tome simply drifted back up into the air. “Dangit.” There was a knock at the door as a Nightsteed mare trotted in. “Rainbow Dash, the Princesses have requested your presence forthwith.” “CLOSE THE DOOR!” Spike and Rainbow shouted. However it was too late, seeing an opportuinity, the various books of the library flew past the confused guardsmare and out through the door, flying towards the horizon. Rainbow shoved her hoof to her face. “Now I need to pay for replacement copies. AGAIN.” The Nightsteed blushed and looked down, scuffing her hoof along the floor. “S-sorry, the door wasn’t locked so I thought...” Rainbow shook her head. “It’s fine, it dounded like you got something important for me.” “Y-yes, ma’am!” The mare saluted. “I-I’m Lieutenant Griefer of the Ponyville Guard! I-I have been ordered to bring you to the castle of Princess Luna and Princess Celestia!” \ Rainbow tilted her head in confusion. “Do you know why?” “All I know is it is related to what is afflicting the town, as you just experienced!” “OH you mean the thing with my books?” Rainbow’s eyes widened. “Wait, the rest of the town is experiencing stuff like this?” The Nightsteed nodded. “Indeed, ma’am. Farmers crops coming to life and attacking, animals displaying strange and unusal behaviour, houses launching high into the sky like Iron Will Industries’ rockets, the list goes on.” “Oh great...” Rainbow groaned. “Can’t we just have a quiet day where the worst that happens is that somepony has some sort of, I dunno, ‘firendship problem’ or whatever?” She shook her head as Spike leapt onto her back. “Okay, Miss Griefer, lead the way.” ------------------------------ Rainbow Dash and the rest of her friends had been lead onto a large chariot that was pulled along by a pair of pegasi royal guardsmen as they flew to Canterlot. As they travelled, the group surveyed the odd surroundings passing them by. Pink clouds made of cotton candy that constantly poured chocolate milk like rain . Roads replaced with a purple soap. A sky that, rather than a perfect blue, was now a garish plaid colour. A screaming sun. Though that was more annoying than anything else. “What the hay is happening to Equestria?” Rainbow Dash wondered aloud as she stared wide eyed at the madness greeting her eyes. FLuttershy grinned and tried to taste some of the clouds, only to be held back by an irritated Pinkamena. Soon, they arrived at their destination, and the six mares (and one male dragon) were lead towards the Princesses throne room, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna standing side by side. “Greetings, my little ponies.” Celestia smiled wisely. “It is a pleasure to see you are well.” “Cut the nonsense.” PInkamena snorted. “Just tell us why Equestria is suddenly my worst nightmares come to life.” The others gave the pink mare a quizzical look. “I am screaming on the inside.” Pinkamena responded in a dull monotone. “I assure you.” Luna shook her head. “As rude as she is, she has a point sister; we can’t simply act like nothing untoward is happening.” The smaller Princess stepped forward. “You six are the holders of the Elements of Harmony, Equestria’s greatest and only weapon against the enemies of harmony. As such, you are here to make use of them, for only they can repair the damage being done to our world.” “But...” Twilight began. “But what IS happening? This isn’t really...normal.” Celestia frowned. “No, it isn’t. A thousand years ago....” “Four thousand.” Luna corrected. Celestia rolled her eyes. “Four thousand years ago, Luna and I were...normal ponies. That changed however when a powerful being named Discord appeared. We knew not where he came from or why he was threatening our livelihoods, but he was an incredibly powerful being who warped reality around him, using ponies as playthings for his amusement. We used the Elements of Harmony to seal him away, and became what we are now.” Rainbow frowned. “Sealed him...how?” “Keep in mind we could not control the elements, we did not know how they worked.”Luna said. “When the magic struck, Discord was turned to stone, and we have kept his statue closeby so we could at least catch him if he ever escaped.” Celestia’s horn glowed and an ornate, white case decorated in gold swirls was pulled in front of the group. “We have brought the Elements out of their vault for you six to use and end Discord’s reign before it began.” The white mare shivered. “Please...we must not wait any longer.” Rainbow nodded, stepping forward. “Of course your majesty, if it’s within our power, we will save our land.” The others nodded as Pinkamena simply spun her hoof in the air in a ‘hurry up’ motion. Celestia smiled as she opened the case. “Thank you, now here...” She blinked as something seemed amiss, turning the case this way and that. But the Elements were not inside. They were gone. “What but I checked just a second ago!” Celestia protested. “They were here! This...This just...this doesn’t make any sense!” “Make sense!? Where’s the FUN in making sense!?” Everypony gasped in surprise, looking this way and that for the new voice. “Hello!” The stranger called out. “Up here!” Everypony looked, seeing the dancing form of Dr Prankie Pie within in one of the glass stained windows. “Limestone.” PInkamanea growled. “Get out of the stained glass window and present yourself in a more appropriate manner. Our family has one rule: obey the laws of physics!” Prankie cackled and vanished, popping her head out through the ear of a completely taken aback Luna. “Oh you silly! Who cares!? Now that my new bud Discord’s in charge, Equestria’s now a more wild and fun place!” Luna’s eye twitched. “Did you. Just refer to. THE most dangerous being in our world. As your. ‘Bud’!?” Prankie grinned pulled her head back, this time appearing as a stain on the silk carpet. “That’s right! I heard some stories about him, and I thought it’d be REALLY funny if I freed him, so I did!” “YOU DID WHAT!?” Celestia and Luna shouted in rage. “Do you have any idea what you have unleashed!?” Celestia roared. “You complete, utter FOOL! You have DOOMED our world to be WORSE THAN DESTROYED at the hands of that LUNATIC!? ARE YOU INSANE!?” “Yeah!” Dr Prankie agreed, pulling herself up from the carpet, finally showing up in her normal pony form, spiral-decaled sunglasses over her eyes, a rainbow afro wig over her white mane and a fake moustache with a big round red nose accentuating her wide, manic grin. “Isn’t it HILARIOUS!?” “Nevermind that!” Rainbow exclaimed. “Where are the Elements, Limestone? Where did you take them? Return them at once!” “It’s Dr Prankie, if you please!” The mad prankster shouted, then folded her forelegs as she pouted derisively. “Anyway, I’M not the one who took them, my new best buddy did, and even if I DID know where they are, I’m certainly not telling you!” “Get her!” Pinkamena shouted and leapt at her insane sister...only to find herself splash into the carpet like it was water, swimming in disbelief. “WHAT.” Everypony else, however, simply stood as if it was solid ground, looking even more confused. Dr Prankie laughed, standing atop a stone column above everypony else. “Made ya look!” “Get down here, you...RUFFIAN!” Applejack shouted, bucking her hooves against the column. “I WILL NEVER forgive you for what you did to me on Pranking Day! You cad!” She blinked as her rear hooves struck not solid stone, but instead sank into delicious cake, Rarity running to pull her out. Rainbow looked between her entrapped friends as she thrust her wings, blasting a beam of magic at the prankster, only for said beam to freeze and shatter as if it were ice, a mocking chuckle greeting her ears. “My, my, how...unusual. You have earned some special interest, little ponies.” With a bright flash of light, Rainbow Dash found herself and her friends standing in the middle of a grassy,checkerboard-coloured field, disoriented by free. “Wha.” Pinkamena gaped, wide eyed and shaking. “Wha. Huh. Water. Carpet. Castle. Buh?” Applejack looked over herself, sighing in relief. “Oh thank goodness, at least none of that...cake...stained my lovely dress and tail.” Twilight looked around in confusion. “But...where are we...?” “Oh, why, you impressed me so much with how...chaotic you are, I felt I simply HAD to meet you face to face.” Everypony turned and stared at the monstrosity before them. He had a goat-like head with a single fanged tooth sticking out from the upper lip, his head atop a long neck; yellow eyes with red pupils, one larger than the other; a pair of horns, one twisted and coiled and the other straight, both quite long; He sported a pair of red wings which appeared to be made of red silk clothe, like a torn cape; his thin torso was bright gold; his tail was a miniature train that puffed smoke at intervals; his right arm was a massive Ursa Minor’s paw; his left arm was a skeletal claw; his right leg was a blunderbuss and his left leg was a hoof made of glass. “My name is Discord, my little ponies,” the twisted, impossible creature greeted with a smirk, “and I want to play a little game.”