//------------------------------// // Chapter 11 // Story: The Return of Harmony (EQG Style) // by Bookpony579 //------------------------------// Sweet Apple Acres fared no better than the rest of the city. Discords chaos now seemed to be spreading to people too. Big Macintosh, normally stoic and quiet, was now barking and digging holes like a dog. Granny Smith was now tap dancing while holding a cane, despite her previous hip problems. Applejack was leaning against an apple tree growing multicolored apples and eating one such apple in reverse (don't ask how that's possible, trust me, you don't want to know). "And so I tried to defeat Discord, but none of my so-called "friends" would lift a hoof to help me." AJ told her family, taking a 'bite' out of her apple. "Applejack!" She looked where she heard her name being called. A group of flying pigs flew by to reveal Flash, Sunset and Twilight Sparkle standing there determinedly. "I've come to fight for our friendship!" Twilight declared.....just before Dog Macintosh popped up right next to her and gave her a big lick on the cheek before running off. AJ got up and scowled. "Oh, now you want to fight. Where you went when I was battlin' Discord?" She threw some light punches. Twilight and the others walked towards AJ, "Snap out of it. This isn't you! You're not a liar." "Who says Ah'm lyin'? And if ya'll got a problem, yer gonna have to catch me first!" With that, she tried to run off, only for Flash to jump and tackle her to the ground. "Get off me!" AJ shouted just before Sunset joined in to keep her down. "Hurry! I don't know how much longer we can take her." Flash said, struggling to hold the athletic and super strong girl down. Twilight rushed up and placed a glowing hand on Applejack's forehead, inciting the spell. Memories flooded the cowgirl's mind, just like Twilight before her.....and soon her original color came back, along with her personality. "Wh-what happened?" She asked one she was back to normal. Flash and Sunset let her go and she rubbed her head before noticing Twilight. "Twilight! I saw a vision of us feudin' and fightin'. I couldn't face the truth, so I started tellin' lies. Can you ever forgive me?" She asked, taking off her hat and giving her friend an apologetic look. Twilight just smiled and hugged her. "I already have. Come on! We have to get the others!" Fluttershy was terrorizing some small animals with some cruel pranks when Sunset teleported in and unleashed a blinding flash that gave Applejack the time she needed to toss a lasso around one of the corrupted animal caretaker's wrists and pull her in, knock her out with a gentle smack and finish hog-tying her. At that point, Fluttershy woke up, but Twilight had ample opportunity to use her memory spell. "Oh no! Twilight, Applejack, I just had the worst dream!" Fluttershy asked as she was hogtied on her living room floor. "Afraid it was no dream, sugarcube, but we're working on bringing a happy ending to this mess." Applejack said as she untied Fluttershy. "What do you think you're doing?" Rairty's voice came from inside her house. "Now Rarity just-" Sunset was cut off with a crash from inside. "Get away from my gem!" "What in tarnation!?" "Oh my!" "Put down those needles!" Flash cried. "Get away-" A flash of light could be seen from the windows and all was quiet. A moment later the door opened and Rarity tossed the boulder away, a look of mortification on her face. "Let us never speak of this again." Was all she said to her friends. Later on, the group continued, only this time Flash was hauling a wheelbarrow holding a laughing Pinkie Pie. "And I-I turned gray!" She giggled. "Can you believe it?!" "No kidding." Flash shuddered, remembering the fight Pinkie put up which would haunt his nightmares for the next few weeks. Fluttershy peeked into Rainbow's room before shaking her head. "She's not here." "This is the tenth place we've checked." Sunset said. "Without Rainbow Dash, we can't use the Elements." Twilight said. "She could be anywhere by now! We're never gonna find her." AJ despaired. "Yeah, we will, 'cause she's right there!" Pinkie pointed out the window to where Rainbow Dash was resting under a tree. The girls quickly rushed outside and went up to her. "Rainbow Dash!" Twilight called out. "Hey guys." Rainbow greeted, not bothering to get up or even look at them. "We've been looking everywhere for you!" Flash pointed out. "That's nice." Was all Rainbow said. "Discord's still on the loose! We need you to help us defeat him with your element, Loyalty!" Twilight explained, only for Rainbow to wave her aside. "Pfft. Loyalty, schmoyalty! Have you guys seen Canterlot? It's a disaster! I'm staying here in Cloudsdale where everything's awesome." She said as she snuggled into the tree. Rarity was astounded. "How in Equestria can she think that that one tree is Cloudsdale?" "The same way he got you to think that cheap rock was a bona fide diamond." AJ smirked. Rarity glared daggers at her. "I thought we agreed never to speak of that again." Twilight wasn't ready to give up yet. "Time for plan B." About half an hour later, Rainbow was dozing away while a few feet away Twilight and her group had come up with a plan. "Okay, Fluttershy, you grab Rainbow Dash and hold her down so I can cast the memory spell on her." Twilight said. "Got it!" Fluttershy confirmed with determination. She quickly and quietly snuck up to Rainbow Dash. She raised her arms up high......just before gently nudging the rainbow haired girl awake. "Um...I'm just wondering if it's okay if I hold you down against your will for a little bit?" Fluttershy asked politely. The group groaned and several of them face palmed. "Really Fluttershy?" Sunset groaned. "Nice try! Canterlot's your problem, not mine." With that, Rainbow sped off. "Ok! On to plan C!" Twilight declared, as they got to work. Rainbow continued running until she came up to a wall of animals! "What the-get out of my way you dumb rodents!" Rainbow demanded. But the wall didn't budge. Rainbow groaned and tried to run in the other direction....only to be met by a wall of diamonds. "What the-!?" "Gotcha!" Flash jumped out and tackled Rainbow....who fought back fiercly. "Alright pretty boy! You wanna figh? I'll give you a fight!" With that they fought. Flash did his best to dodge her attacks but Rainbow's speed allowed her to get a few hits in. Thankfully this was only step 2.... "Yeee-haw!" Suddenly Rainbow found herself tied up by a lasso by AJ. Before she could do anything, several more ropes appeared, each wielded by her former friends. Rainbow Dash was trapped. The group struggled to keep a tied up Rainbow Dash from getting away. "Lemme go! I don't need you guys! Leave me alone!" She struggled against the ropes as Twilight approached and started the spell. Rainbow snarled as Twilight touched her forehead. Suddenly she went quiet as her color returned and the others let go of the roped. Rainbow shrugged them off and rubbed her head. "Wh-what happened?" Suddenly she gasped, remembering what happened. "How's Canterlot!? Where are the Elements?! Did we stop Discord?" Rainbow asked frantically before she was enveloped in a group hug. They celebrated their success.....until they noticed the buffalos in tutus dance by. "Maybe it's a little early for a group hug." Twilight said and they broke the hug. "Nice to have you back Rainbow." With that, Twilight held out the Element of Loyalty. Rainbow grinned and put it on. "Glad to be back." Rarity took down the wall and Fluttershy thanked the animals for their help. Twilight turned to Flash and Sunset. "I can't thank you two enough for helping with all of this. And I'm sorry I snapped at you two earlier when you really were doing your best to help. That was completely uncalled for." "No sweat." Sunset shrugged. "It was my pleasure." Flash bowed gentlemanly. "I'm grateful for what you've done, but now it the Element's turn to take the lead. We have to confront Discord on our own. Until this ends, can you see what you can do to help the other people?" "We're on it!" Sunset declared. "Are you sure you'll be alright?" Flash asked with worry. "We'll be fine. We're prepared this time, right girls?" The group nodded and agreed. "Right now the rest of the city needs you more than we do. Can I count on you to help them?" Flash smiled and nodded. "You got it." "Thank you." Twilight smiled. With that, the Elements left to confront discord and hopefully put an end to this nightmare. Hopefully.