//------------------------------// // A Test // Story: Secrets of the Princesses’ Gems // by KidatHeart5 //------------------------------// “So what’s the situation here?” Shining Armor asked as he and the alicorn princesses raced down the streets of Canterlot.             His sister answered, “We don’t know. Something about a giant orb circling the city.”             Flurry asked in confusion, “’Circling the city’? Why would it be doing that?”             Celestia replied, “I suspect it’s no ordinary orb, but something Luna and I had faced a long time ago-“              “DUCK!” Luna suddenly cried.             The princesses and prince followed Luna’s lead and ducked into an alleyway.             Celestia instructed promptly, “Under that tarp! Quick!”             The others obeyed her command and scrambled to get under the tarp with the tall princess. Within a few moments, Flurry saw a crimson light wash over the tarp as she heard an ominous droning sound. When the sound began to fade, the crimson light vanished.             After several tense moments, Luna whispered, “I think we’re safe for now.”             Flurry was startled yet confused by what just happened. Her heart beat with nervous energy and adrenaline coursed through her veins. Nothing like this had ever happened before in her life, so why now was there danger lurking about? She looked down at her Heartstone and wondered if the events of yesterday and today were connected.             Twilight was as unnerved as Flurry was and peeked around the corner to see a giant dark green orb hovering just above the street lights of Canterlot. She gasped when she realized what it was.             She asked with anxiety underlining her voice, “Celestia…is that…?”             Celestia also peeked around the corner with her former student and gravely nodded, “Yes, Twilight. That is a Green Eye…from the Shades of Darkness.”             Shining Armor asked, “The Shades of Darkness? I thought those guys were wiped out centuries ago.”             Luna said, “It seems they have been underground for some time.”             Flurry Heart asked, “Why are they resurfacing just now? Is it because of my Heartstone?”             Celestia responded, “It is too soon for them to notice that the Heartstone has a new bearer. But the Green Eye will detect two things: alicorns and the Enchanted Gems.”             Luna spoke, “Luckily, the Green Eye can't detect heat and can only recognize us if we're right in front of it. But if it discovers the gems in Canterlot Tower, the Shades will use them for nefarious purposes.”             “Then we have no time to waste.”             In a flash of Celestia’s yellow light, Flurry found herself and her family in a hall with stained glass windows. She looked around in wonder before her father’s voice broke her reverie.             “Is this Canterlot Tower?” Shining Armor asked the royal sisters.             Celestia answered, “It is. Flurry’s Heartstone was kept in this chamber until we decided to bring it to her. The other Enchanted Gems should be safely hidden inside.”             The white alicorn slid her horn into a hole in the doors and fed her magic into the sun emblem surrounding the hole. The blue light spread from the symbol and traveled along the lines bordering the patterns on the door. After the four dots began to glow and radiate light, the doors slid open to reveal a bejeweled case.             Celestia levitated the case with her magic and sighed, “I had hoped it would be a long time before we would use the Enchanted Gems again, but it seems that time is now.”             Luna said confidently, “And with the Heartstone used alongside its kin again, the Shades will stand no chance against us.”             But as soon as Celestia opened the case, everyone gasped in shock. Even Celestia herself was astonished as she let the empty case drop to the floor. The clattering sound it made upon hitting the floor echoed throughout the hall a few times. After several moments of stunned silence, Twilight was the first to speak.             “The gems! They’re gone!” she exclaimed.             Celestia, who was usually the image of calm, now fretted, “That chamber is protected by a powerful spell that only I can break! This doesn’t make sense.”             FLASH!            The sudden flash of a camera took everypony by surprise. When their eyes recovered from the bright light, they looked all around to find the camera. To their astonishment, they saw none. A few moments later, a strange chuckle filled the air.             Just as the echo of the chuckle faded, a male voice resounded throughout the hall, “Come now, Celestia. What fun is there in making sense?”             Celestia’s eyes slit as she said in a low tone, “Discord.”             Luna commanded, “Show yourself!”             As Discord’s laughter echoed through the hall again, Flurry asked her Aunt Twilight, “Who’s Discord?”             The purple alicorn answered, “The spirit of chaos and disharmony. He causes nothing but trouble.”             Suddenly, a beast with an array of animal body parts appeared before the group in a flash of light. He was wearing a game show host’s outfit as confetti poured down out of nowhere.             Discord cheerfully said, “Right you are, Ms. Twilight Sparkle! You deserve a prize.” In another flash, he conjured up a big box that was wrapped like a gift. “Here! For you.”             After he opened the lid, a lemon meringue pie sprung up and splattered Twilight’s face. The princesses and Shining Armor scowled as Discord laughed merrily.             He then joked, “I suppose you’re not just the Princess of Friendship now. You’re also the princess of pies!”             After the draconequus laughed once more, Flurry asked with a scowl on her face, “Were you the one who took the Enchanted Gems?”             Discord answered as his outfit disappeared, “All but one.” He tapped the Heartstone on Flurry’s neck as he said, “This little gem here, once worn by your dear mother.” He clasped his hands together as he mentioned Cadance. He told Flurry in mock pity, “So sorry to hear about her unfortunate…disappearance.” He bowed as he said, “My condolences.”             Shining Armor retorted, “Yeah, almost 16 years later.”             Discord put his hands together and explained, “Now as for your precious gems, I only took three of them away because using all four of them on that frightening Green Eye seems like overkill. Really, all you need is Flurry’s Heartstone…” He then flashed a wicked grin, “…that is, if she can use its power.” He continued, “Tell you what? I will give you a test. If Flurry Heart can destroy the Green Eye with her Heartstone, I will give you a hint that will lead you to Twilight’s Starstone. But if Flurry fails …” He chuckled, “…you can guess what will happen.”             He waved his paw and said, “Well, toodles! I’ll be watching the show!” He then remembered something and tossed a picture at the group, “Oh, I almost forgot to give you this! The looks on your faces were absolutely priceless!”             As Discord chortled, the group looked at the Polaroid picture and saw themselves mere moments after they had found that the Gems were missing. Before anyone could speak, Discord disappeared in another flash.             Twilight grumbled with her ears folded down in annoyance, “He really likes to get under our coats, doesn’t he?”