//------------------------------// // Counting down // Story: Elevator Entropy // by ShadowBolt96 //------------------------------// The New Year was almost here. When the Cutie Mark Crusaders trudged into the apartment, the adults chalked their exhaustion up to the playtime they spent outside, and didn’t give it much thought. Even Applejack, who volunteered to chaparone for Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle when Babs invited them to Manehattan, was familiar with her sister's tendencies to come home exhausted after crusading with her friends, and was simply happy that they came back safe and sound. This suited the fillies just fine, they figured that nopony would believe them if they were to tell them about what happened in the elevator. After a brief rest, Babs Seed’s mother came with four mugs of hot cocoa, warming them up and putting their minds a little at ease. And after eating a delicious dinner served by Babs’ sister and father, the misadventure was all but forgotten. In the hours that followed, they played a series of board and card games, told funny stories regarding the past year, all to pass the time and keep each other awake. Now, as midnight approached, the anticipation of the New Year grew as everypony crowded around the window. True to Babs Seed’s word, their apartment had a good view of the time ball in Celestia Square, which now hosted a writhing ocean of pastel painted ponies. 11:59 PM. The Cutie Mark Crusaders pressed their faces against the window as the crystal ball began to descend, and a countdown timer appeared on a billboard in front of the building. Meanwhile, the adults behind them began pouring a glass of their favorite beverage, ready to toast the New Year. The ball pulsated faster and faster the lower it got, as if the energy of everypony in Manehattan was powering it. Though given how fast Scootaloo’s wings were going, or the rate Sweetie Belle was prancing in place, it could have been the opposite. Regardless, everypony in the apartment soon found themselves counting down with the rest of Equestria. “TEN, NINE, EIGHT, SEVEN, SIX, FIVE, FOUR, THREE, TWO, ONE!” The moment the ball completed its journey, fireworks were launched from the building, a storm of confetti was unleashed, and the cheering from the ponies in the square could be heard all the way to the Statue of Harmony, everypony cheering the same thing. “HAPPY NEW YEAR!” the Cutie Mark Crusaders cheered, throwing confetti, blowing horns, making as much of a ruckus as possible for the next minute. “Woohoo! Happy New Year everypony!” Sweetie Belle cheered, before falling flat on the floor, ready to fall asleep on the spot. “Yep, good idea Sweetie Belle,” Apple Bloom yawned. “I reckon it’s time to hit the hay.” “Come on, let’s go girl,” Babs Seed helped Sweetie Belle up, guiding her to her room. “Good night everypony,” Scootaloo brushed some loose confetti out of her hair before following Babs. “Happy New Year.” Apple Bloom was about to follow when she felt a hoof on her shoulder. “Hold up there sugarcube,” Applejack said. “Before you turn in, I’ve got somethin’ for you.” “Really?” Apple Bloom’s eyes lit up. “Yeah,” Applejack reached into her saddlebag and pulled out an envelope. “Discord told me to give this to ya after midnight.” “Discord?” Apple Bloom opened the envelope and pulled out the card inside. A pop up picture of a smiling Discord in an elevator took shape as Apple Bloom opened the card. Some feat of magic made the elevator raise and lower itself while the card was opened. Beneath the lift the card read: Hope this card really lifts your spirits! Happy New Year, Cutie Mark Crusaders! Love, Discord “Aww, ain’t that sweet,” Applejack said. But when she looked down at Apple Bloom, it seemed like she didn’t think the same thing. From the glare she was giving the cardboard Discord, it was almost like she was trying to set him on fire with her mind. “Apple Bloom, is something wrong?” “Nope. Everything is just...dandy,” Apple Bloom said, deadpan. She closed the card and looked back up to Applejack. “I’m just a little tuckered out, that’s all.” Applejack gave her sister a loving nuzzle. “Well, why don’t you go join your cousin and the rest of your friends and catch some Zs. I’ll see you in the mornin’ sugar cube.” “G’night sis,” Apple Bloom picked up the card and trotted towards Babs Seed’s room. As she curled up into her sleeping bag, she planned to call a secret Crusader meeting after breakfast. She would show the girls Disord’s little “gift”. From there they would get to the main issue at hoof: coming up with a plan to get back at the spirit of chaos.