Life for Twilight Sparkle and her friends continued to go on as normal in the week after the Grand Galloping Gala. Per usual, Twilight continued on with her studies in magic and learning lessons in friendship by sending her daily reports to Princess Celestia on what she has learned. When she wasn't busy with that, she was continuing to help keep the library organized with Spike's help, and of course spending good days when she wasn't hanging out with her friends reading for leisure.
Applejack was continuing her daily routine at Sweet Apple Acres of bucking apple trees and preparing for the next applebuck season. The money she earned from the Gala came in handy as she was able to do what she planned to do after attending the Gala by putting the bits into helping the farm and her family, as well receiving orders from Canterlot by those that wished to try more of her families' apples.
Rarity was receiving a lot of orders from those who attended the Gala saw the outfits she designed for herself and her friends and wished to have some dresses made by the fashionista mare. Even though she was working day in and day out, she was continuing to do what she considers her passion and wouldn't let the quantity of orders get in her way, when it came to creating quality dresses for ponies out there. Aside from the incident with Prince Blueblood, the Gala for her was something she will never forget and was an enjoyable one, and looked forward to the next one.
Pinkie Pie continued being Pinkie Pie, planning parties and baking the hours away at Sugarcube Corner and spreading laughter with everyone around Ponyville.
Fluttershy continued to care for her animal friends, as well as enjoying the company of her friends that happen to drop by and help her out when she has her hooves full.
Rainbow Dash kept up with her practicing for one day getting into the Wonderbolts, which she kept her hopes high after hanging out with them at the Gala. She had a feeling after their encounter and just chatting with them, she figured it would be a sure sign of getting recruited at the Wonderbolt Academy. Other times, she would continue her friendly rivalry with Applejack in competing to see who is the better and stronger pony.
As for Silver, he often left and came back to Ponyville after business needed to be done at the jewelry store. Ponies remembering him from the Gala and learning he was the colt of the late Golden Veil had made the Golden Emerald garner more business since and didn't want Diamond Dust to be swamped. Because of the business, the two decided it was time to try to hire more workers and the possibility of expanding the business outside Canterlot, namely a branch in Manehatten and Fillydephia.
Outside that, the young stallion would continue to hang out with Twilight and the others when they gathered together to do something fun or often visits each of the girls and sees about helping them out, like helping Applejack out at the apple farm, who went so far as to making him an honorary member of the Apple family after helping her out at the Gala, much to his surprise and honor, or Fluttershy with her animals, or Twilight at the library.
When he was by himself, he continued to train as normal with the blade, even learning how to swing his blade using his tail after watching Applejack swing her lasso around with her tail. It took a lot of time to get the feel and method down, but within a week and a half he was able to do it. He would also often wander to the Everfree Forest to assist Zecora with finding ingredients in the dangerous parts of the forest she herself couldn't venture through alone, or to strengthen his body and mind by battling any of the creatures that just had the tendency to stalk him and try to attack him. All the while doing this, he secretly continued to master his use of Black and White Magic spells under the guidance of Crimson through his dreams.
Within the couple weeks after learning them, he was able to master the use of Fire and Cure and could advance into learning ice and lightning magic, with the Blizzard and Thunder spells respectively. He still used caution on using them, as while he was able to use the basic spells with little effort it would still leave him strained due to his own unicorn magic not completely exposed to him yet.
He also took the time to learn about using defensive spells in the form of Protect and Shell, which were identical to shield spells that some unicorns were capable of using to block magic from other unicorns or magic-using creatures, but were much more potent in protection as Protect created a barrier spell that shielded from physical attacks and would reduce the impact they do, and Shell was the same but with magic based attacks.
He continued to keep this sort of information in the dark from Twilight and the others, as he knows how Twilight will be if she learned him using magic that was completely foreign to Equestrians and would be all over him on it. He felt he would only share it should the time come to expose what he is able to do, or should it be an emergency.
All seemed well for Equestria, however everything that has happened so far since Silver and Twilight's arrival in Ponyville many moons ago would only serve as a prelude to things to come...
Silver had this feeling, as while training one day, he was having another hunch... a very strong hunch. He knew something bad was going to happen soon.
Canterlot Sculpture Garden
Noon
It was a bright and beautiful day, as Cheerilee and her students were taking a field-trip to visit the world-famous Canterlot sculpture garden. Consisting of Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon, Snips, Snails, and Twist, Cheerilee was pointing out what each of the statues in the garden represented. She points toward one statue that represented 'Friendship' and one they were passing by that represented 'Victory'.
This causes a small debate between the CMC when Scootaloo mentioned if it would be cool to have a cutie mark based on victory. Cheerilee gets them to stop bickering as they come across one particular statue of a strange creature that appeared to have different animal parts to it. It appeared to be joyfully singing to the heavens.
"Alright girls, this statue is really interesting. What do you notice about it?" Cheerliee asked.
"It's got an eagle claw!" Apple Bloom shouted.
"And a lion paw!" Scootaloo added, shouting as well.
"And a snake tail!" Sweetie Belle finished.
Cheerilee smiled from their answers as she points up at.
"This creature is called a draconequus. He has the head of a pony and a body made up of all sorts of things." The teacher responded, before looking at the group.
"What do you think he represents?" She asked.
"Confusion!" Apple Bloom answered.
"Evil!" Sweetie Belle added.
"Chaos!" Scootaloo finished.
Sweetie and Apple Bloom just look at her.
"It's not chaos, you dodo!" The unicorn filly responded with a sneer.
Scootaloo just glares back at Sweetie Belle.
"Don't call me things I don't know the meaning of! And it is too chaos!" She rebutted by getting in Sweetie's face.
"Is not!" Sweetie yelled back.
"You're both wrong!" Apple Bloom said as she got in on the action.
Soon the CMC were on top of each other and just at each other's throats while Cheerilee just looks at the three with an unamused look. All while this was going on, no one noticed that the statue was suddenly pulsating a dark aura.
"Actually, in a way, you are all right." Cheerilee then said calmly while smiling.
This suddenly caused the three fillies to stop fighting and look at their teacher while she continues.
"This statue represents "Discord", which means a lack of harmony between ponies."
The CMC just smile cutely up at Cheerilee as they were happy that they were all right about their answer.
"In fact, you three have demonstrated discord so well that you're each going to write me an essay explaining it." Cheerilee finished, causing the fillies to suddenly frown with disappointment.
The other ponies simply laugh at the three for getting in trouble like that.
"Now let's go, and I don't want anymore fighting." Cheerilee said, frowning at the CMC as they continued on with their tour.
The three quietly argue over their answers again, all unaware of the large cracks that the statue of Discord was forming, followed by a rather sinister cackle coming from the statue itself.
Ponyville
Noon
Some time later in Ponyville, Rainbow Dash was flying around town checking out the weather. All seemed normal, until a pink cloud suddenly shot past her, causing her to spin. Surprised, she glared at the cloud and flew after it.
"Get back here, you!" She yelled.
She managed to catch it by tackling into it.
"Gotcha!" She smirked, before realizing something off about the cloud.
She noticed how... sticky it was for a cloud.
"Eww, what is this?" She shakes the cloud off as it dissipates and just leaving some on her coat, mane, and tail.
She eyes it and licks it, and just gave a confused look.
"Cotton candy...?" She asked herself.
Soon, shadows hovered above her as more of the cotton candy clouds move in and thunder rumbles through them, and shortly start dripping something brown on her snout.
"Wait a second! It's not supposed to rain until tomorrow. You can't just–" Rainbow yelled as it suddenly starts raining brown liquid all over her.
The pegasus just gives an annoyed look, now more sticky.
"...You did." She mumbled.
Meanwhile, Silver was just enjoying a stroll through town, before he notices the clouds and how they were pouring down the brown liquid. He holds his hoof up, catching some of the liquid and gives it a lick.
"Is that... chocolate milk?" Silver wondered.
He looked up and saw the rainbow blur that was Rainbow chasing the clouds out toward the apple farm.
"...Better go get Twilight. If she hasn't noticed know, she is likely thinking of a way to stop this weird weather." He said to himself as he gallops off to the library.
Sweet Apple Acres
Applejack was busy tending to her corn field, grabbing a stalk of it and tossing it in her wagon. She was about to move onto the next when she stops and sees the pink clouds roll right in as Rainbow was chasing after them.
"Hey, I didn't tell you to go anywhere!" Rainbow yelled.
Applejack was suddenly confused as she realized what was pouring down onto her farm.
"Rainbow Dash! What's going on with this rain? I mean chocolate milk? I mean chocolate milk rain?!" Applejack asked, with a freaked out expression.
Rainbow just looks at her with just as much confusion and shock.
"There's crazy weather all over Equestria! Cloudsdale is getting soaked by a major cola storm right now! But don't worry. I'm not leaving you until I get control of Ponyville!" She declared.
Applejack gave a relieved look, but soon the two hear a 'popping' sound. They notice all the corn in the field were all turning to popcorn and were rapidly covering the fields with it.
They then notice Pinkie Pie, who was enjoying every moment of this strange anomalies, diving into the pile of popcorn and munching on it.
"Why would you want to stop this?" Pinkie asked, slurping up the chocolate rain.
Rainbow and Applejack just roll their eyes, as the former flies off to get a control of the cotton candy clouds, leaving the latter in a pile of popcorn. Rarity, wearing a purple raincoat and umbrella to match, walks over to the farmer with a soft grin.
"Ahem. I heard about your troubles, Applejack, and I came to see if there's anything I can do without getting wet. Or dirty. Or out from under my umbrella." Rarity explained.
Before she could respond, they hear the sound of wood creaking and look up and notice how the apples in the tree are slowly beginning to swell in size. They were becoming to heavy for the trees to hold them up as some start to bend down from the weight.
On top of that, several animals like squirrels were eating the enlarged apples. Applejack notices Fluttershy looking through several trees and watched her animal friends just eating away.
"Fluttershy! Do somethin'!" Applejack pleaded.
Fluttershy nods as she approached one tree and saw her pet rabbit Angel eating an apple. She gave a soft smile.
"Now, Angel, you really shouldn't–" She was cut-off as she watched in horror as her rabbit's legs suddenly grew long like sticks, as did several other rabbits.
"No! It's not possible! I must be seeing things!" The yellow mare panicked.
"Hey!"
The girls, sans Pinkie who was still slurping away in a puddle of chocolate milk, see Silver alongside Spike and Twilight who was looking in a book.
"Don't worry, everyone. I've learned a new spell that'll fix everything." Twilight boasted, as she closed the book.
She closes her eyes as she charges her horn up and fires off a purple beam of magic into the sky where the clouds were and left off a white flash.
They soon recover and look up, but all saw that nothing happened. Twilight just looked with wide eyes and confusion.
"My fail-safe spell...failed. What do we do?" She asked.
Spike thought for a second and shrugs.
"Uh... give up?" He replied.
"Really Spike...?" Silver responded with a deadpan stare.
Rarity then approaches the three.
"Spike, Twilight will come up with something." She replied.
Twilight smiled and nods.
"Hmm, time for plan B. Rainbow, can you corral all those clouds in one corner of the sky?"
Rainbow gives a determined look and salutes as she flies off and begins flying around rounding up the clouds together in one bigger cloud. She was fighting them, which caused more chocolate milk to rain down in one spot, right onto Pinkie who just had her mouth wide open taking it all in.
Twilight looks toward Applejack.
"Applejack, I need you to bring those high-strung storm clouds down to Earth." Twilight directed.
With that, the farmer grabs her rope and starts swinging her lasso around and tosses at the cloud Rainbow rounded up and managed to snag it, giving a big tug and brings the cloud down to the ground.
It slowly moved away from Pinkie, who noticed that the chocolate rain suddenly stopped. She looked around with an annoyed look.
"Hey! What happened?" She questioned.
Ignoring her, Twilight looks to Fluttershy and suddenly whispers something to her, to which the pegasus grinned at the plan.
"Oh dear. I hope none of the animals see these delicious chocolate-filled cotton candy clouds. I'd hate to have to share them." Fluttershy said in mock voice.
This get all the animals attention and see the large cotton candy cloud that was tied down and immediately go for it.
"You and me both sister!" Pinkie said with a bright grin as she approached the large cotton candy cloud, before getting pushed out of the way by the long-legged rabbits, squirrels and some raccoons who begin eating it, much to Pinkie's displeasure.
"Hey!" She yelled.
Applejack smirked as they all watch their work pay off.
"And when y'all are done with that, feel free to have some popcorn for dessert." She chuckled.
"You see, Spike? You should never give up. There's nothing we can't overcome if we all work together." Twilight responded with a proud look.
Shortly after, Spike then burps out a scroll from the Princess. Twilight then takes it and reads it, and gasps.
"Come on! Princess Celestia wants to see us all in Canterlot immediately!"
Canterlot Palace
Half an hour later
Princess Celestia was pacing back and forth with a look of worry and concern above the stairs of the main hall. He mind was snapped back to reality when she heard the doors open and noticed the seven ponies gallop in.
"Princess Celestia! We came as fast as we could!" Twilight called out as they dashed to the stairs.
Celestia gives a look a relief.
"Thank you Twilight. Thank you, all." She replied.
Twilight begins bombarding Celestia questions about the situation, like the crazy weather, the behavior of the animals, and why her magic didn't work against it all. This prompts Celestia to calmly raise her hoof up for her to be silent.
"Follow me." Celestia simply answered.
The group were walking down a long corridor decorated with beautifully made stained glass windows, the sun shining through them and reflecting what was on the windows down to the floor. Celestia then begins explaining the situation.
"I've called you here for a matter of great importance. It seems an old foe of mine, someone I thought I had defeated long ago, has returned. His name... is Discord."
Fluttershy squealed frighteningly as she looked up at one window that depicted Discord. She then rushes back to her friends, hiding behind Twilight as the others listended.
"Discord is the mischievous spirit of disharmony. Before my sister and I stood up to him, he ruled Equestria in an eternal state of unrest and unhappiness. Luna and I saw how miserable life was for Earth ponies, Pegasi, and unicorns alike, so after discovering the Elements of Harmony, we combined our powers and rose up against him, turning him to stone." The princess explained further.
Showing them a window of Discord causing chaos and unhappiness to ponies all over, depicted as an earth pony, pegasus, and unicorn being controlled by Discord as if they were puppets and he was the puppeteer. As she went into detail about sealing Discord into stone, they see a window of Luna and Celestia around Discord who was now encased in stone.
"Alright Princess!" Rainbow cheered.
They continued onward.
"I thought the spell we cast would keep him contained forever, but since Luna and I are no longer connected to the Elements, the spell has been broken." Celestia said with sadness.
Twilight tilts her head.
"No longer connected?" She asked herself.
Soon they reached the end and look upon a large door with the sun in the center with a small hole. Celestia looks to the group.
"This is Canterlot Tower, where the Elements are kept inside since all of you recovered them. I need you to wield the Elements of Harmony once again and stop Discord before he thrusts all of Equestria into eternal chaos."
They all give a look of surprise, as Twilight looks up at her mentor.
"But why us? Why don't you–"
She was interrupted by Pinkie who was by another stained glass window with a bright grin on her face.
"Hey look! We're famous!" She yelled gleefully.
They all see the window which depicts the event in which they defeated Nightmare Moon, who was in the center-right of the image, surrounded by an orb of magic that was caused by the six ponies to the far left, with a seventh before them all. Six depicted the girls using the power of the Elements to stop Nightmare Moon, and the seventh showed Silver at the forefront as he appeared ready to strike with his Mythril Sword, reflecting the battle he had prior to her defeat. Even so much that it has him cloaked and with just his muzzle out of the hood.
"You six showed the full potential of the Elements by harnessing the magic of your friendship to beat a mighty foe, and one of you was able to hold their own against Nightmare Moon and help bring the rest of you together." Celestia elaborated looking at the window.
She then looks down to her student.
"Although Luna and I once wielded the Elements, it is you who now control their power, and it is you who must defeat Discord!" She finished as she spreads her wings out.
Twilight listened as she looks down in thought, before giving a look of determination.
"Princess Celestia, you can count on–"
Only for Pinkie to jump in, raising her hoof and interrupting Twilight once again.
"Hold on a second! Eternal chaos comes with chocolate rain, you guys. Chocolate rain!" Pinkie emphasized, as if having chaos and despair for chocolate rain was a trade-off.
Celestia just looked at the pink mare with a raised brow, before Twilight rushes over and sides up to her leg chuckling nervously.
"Don't listen to her, Princess. We'd be honored to use the Elements of Harmony again." She said with a smile.
Celestia simply nods as she approached the door and bows forward and inserts her horn into the hole in the center. The crevices of the door glow blue as the group watch in awe as the door opens up revealing a decorated chest with gemstones on it.
Rarity just got excited at the sight of it.
"Ooh. You can keep the Elements. I'll take that case!" She said in a giddy tone.
The group just rolls their eyes at that as Celestia lifts the chest out of its place and before the group.
"Have no fear, ponies. I have total confidence that you will be able to defeat Discord with these!"
She opens the case, only to reveal that there was nothing in it.
They all gasp, Celestia included as she drops the case. It was then all followed by a distant cackle.
They could only look down at the chest with their mouth agape in shock. Well, everyone except Pinkie.
"Oh, well. If anyone needs me, I'll be outside in the chocolate puddles with a giant swizzle straw." She then prances on out while humming out loud, leaving the group, who all just watched her go, still with wide open mouths.
Silver, the first to recover, ran outside to go grab her. By the time they got back, much to Pinkie's dismay as she was enjoying sucking every chocolate puddle she came across, the girls just watched Celestia as she paced back and forth, very concerned and confused.
"That chamber is protected by a powerful spell that only I can break! This doesn't make sense!" She said, frustrated.
They then heard an echoing laughter.
"Make sense? Oh, what fun is there in making sense?" The voice taunted.
The group looked around, but Celestia just glared outward.
"Discord... Show yourself!" She ordered out.
They looked around the room, as he chuckles and obliges.
"Did you miss me, Celestia? Discord asks.
They all look to the window of Discord's reign, as a flash where the image of Discord was and suddenly, it began to move and speak as her looks to the alicorn.
"I missed you." He finished, letting Celestia just flair her wings and glare.
"It's quite lonely being encased in stone, but you wouldn't know that, would you, because I don't turn ponies into stone." He taunted.
His image disappears and appears in another window where it showed the Bearer of the Elements surrounded by the centerpiece of the Elements of Harmony.
"Enough! What have you done with the Elements of Harmony?" Celestia asked in a frustrated tone.
"I simply borrowed them for a teensy little while." He replied with a smirk.
He snapped his paw, as the image of the Elements disappeared.
Celestia stomps her hoof down, in anger.
"You will never get away with this, Discord!" She yelled.
The spirit simply looks at his paw as he lays on the pedestal that the Elements were resting on.
"Oh, I'd forgotten how grim you can be, Celestia. It's really quite boring." He replied in an indifferent tone.
The group all just frown and stare at Discord. It was then Rainbow flew before the Princess and defends her honor.
"Hey! Nopony insults the Princess!" She yelled as she flies at Discord, only to slam head first into the window, which surprisingly didn't break upon impact.
Discord disappeared and reappeared much larger as he looks at the pony, amused, and just laughs.
"You must be Rainbow Dash, famed for her loyalty, the Element of Harmony you represent."
Rainbow simply crosses her hooves.
"That's right! I'll always be loyal to the Princess!" Rainbow boasted.
Discord just smirked.
"We'll will see about that." He replied.
Rarity just sighed.
"I can't believe we're wasting our time talking to a tacky window." She said, as Discord reappears beside her in the window near her.
"The beautiful Rarity, representing the element of generosity, if I'm not mistaken?" He asked.
Applejack comes over as she gives him a raised brow.
"So you know who we are, big deal." She answered.
Discord just looks at her.
"Oh, I know much more than that, honest Applejack." Discord replied as he grows in size again and disappears once more.
He reappears in another window, looking toward Twilight, Fluttershy and Pinkie.
"You seem to know our strengths..." Twilight responded.
"Yes, Twilight Sparkle, and yours is the most powerful and elusive element, magic. Fluttershy's is kindness and Pinkie Pie's is a personal favorite of mine - laughter." Discord answered, as he laughed.
This only prompted Pinkie to hold back her snicker, before unleashing it. Twilight looks at her and gives her an angry look.
"Pinkie!"
Pinkie just laughs more.
"He's standing on your head!" She stammered, while Discord dances on the image of Twilight comically.
Celestia, however, wasn't having anymore of it. Pinkie then stopped laughing as she stepped away from the princess.
"Stop stalling, Discord! What have you done with the Elements of Harmony?" Celestia demanded.
Silver just slowly approached as the sound of his blade rising slowly from its scabbard was heard.
"Unless you want me to take my blade and cut you out of that window and warrant a hoof down onto your face, you will tell us what you did with the Elements..." The stallion threatened calmly.
This got the girls to just look at him, wide eyed. They knew he was calm and collective, but that was just dark.
Discord, however, just stared at him and chuckles.
"Oh? Well aren't you the bold kind... Silver Guardian was it?" Discord asked.
Silver just grunts.
"Hmm... you are an interesting one. Having appeared and just happened to bring these little ponies together one day, and since decided to be part of the group, and... you don't even know do you?" Discord taunted.
"...Know what?" Silver asked, still focused on him.
"Oh I could tell you... but I won't! After all, as it seems you are stewing in that little mind of yours about trying to figure out where you fit in all of this, I find it more entertaining to see you struggle on that thought. It is more fun than just outright tell you, no suspense." Discord chuckles.
"Enough! Where are the Elements, Discord?" Silver asked again, anger slowly peeking out of his calm facade.
The spirit was really starting to get to him, and it was troubling. He needed to keep a clear mind when going against this being if they had a chance.
Discord seemed unfazed and simply scoffs.
"Just like Celestia, so boring and just wants to get to the point. Very well then." Discord shrugs.
"I will tell you, but I will only tell you my way. To retrieve your missing Elements, just make sense of this change of events. Twists and turns are my master plan. Then find the Elements back where you began. Good luck." Discord said as he disappears for the last time, leaving the group alone.
Silver, closed his eyes, breathing deeply as he calms down. He slides his sword back into place.
"Can we go home now?" Fluttershy meekly asked.
"What do you reckon he meant? Twists and turns and ending back where we started?" Applejack asked, confused by Discord's riddle.
The group ponders on this, while Twilight thinks aloud.
"Twists and turns... twists and turns..." Twilight then looks outside toward the statue garden, and gasped.
"Twists and turns! That's it! I bet Discord hid the Elements in the palace labyrinth!" Twilight deduced.
The girls look and then figured it would make sense. Celestia looks to the group and bows her head down.
"Good luck, my little ponies. The fate of Equestria is in your hooves." She said in a more calm tone.
Twilight gives a brave face.
"Thanks, Princess. We won't let you down."
With that the group makes their way out to the palace labyrinth. Celestia watches them go, praying for her little ponies success. She also saw how Silver's anger almost peeked when confronting Discord, and was concerned if even he could handle the spirit's chaotic nature.
Palace Labyrinth
Afternoon
The group slowly tops at the entrance to the labyrinth, the skies now replaced with dark clouds. Who thought that something like this would make some as innocent as a large hedge maze more sinister. That and Discord's laughter could be heard from within.
Fluttershy, afraid, looks toward the place.
"W-We have to go in there?" She asked timidly.
Rainbow simply grins.
"Nope!" She said as she flairs her wings out.
"Dopey Discord forgot about these babies! I'll just do a quick flyover and we'll have the Elements in no time."
Rainbow flies up, but no sooner she got off the ground, her wings suddenly vanish from her back causing her to fall to the ground with a loud thud.
"What... my wings!" Rainbow shrieked out seeing her missing appendages.
Fluttershy's wings also suddenly vanish, causing her to scream. And Twilight and Rarity's horns both vanish as the two noticed.
"My horn! Your horn! AHH! Both unicorns screamed.
Pinkie, Applejack, and Silver were unaffected by any physical changes. However, Silver's suddenly felt a bit lighter, as he turns to see that his sword suddenly disappeared from its scabbard.
"My blade!" Silver yelled.
Discord suddenly appeared in flash and just laughs at the group. The group huddles close together, a bit frightened by his sudden appearance.
"You–You should see the looks on your faces. Priceless!" Discord laughed.
"Give us our wings and horns back!" Twilight ordered.
"And what did you do with my sword?" Silver glared.
Discord's laughter slows down into a chuckle.
"You'll get them back in good time. I simply took them to ensure there's no cheating." He replied.
"...Coming from the spirit of disharmony, that is ironic." Silver responded with a deadpan tone.
Discord just smirks.
"You are too kind good pony. Now then, this is the first rule of our game: no flying, no magic, and no weaponry." Discord said as he rubs his paw on Twilight's cheek, who was giving an uncomfortable look.
"The first rule?" Rainbow asked with skepticism.
Discord reappears as he reclines on the hedge.
"The second rule is everypony has to play or the game is over, and I win." He said, twiddling his claw and paw together.
"Good luck, everypony! Ahaha!" He then vanished from sight.
The group gives each other a worried look, with Fluttershy shaking.
"Never fear! We still have each other." Twilight said proudly.
"Yeah! Like Twilight said, there's nothing we can't overcome if we all stick together!" Rainbow said with confidence.
The group agreed, smiling.
"All right, let's do this!" Twilight said as the group prepares to enter the maze.
"Together!" They all declared.
As soon as they stepped into the maze, the entrance behind them gets blocked as a series of hedges separate the group, causing them to scream.
"Calm down everypony!" Silver yelled out.
"Silver is right, girls! Everypony head to the middle as fast as you can, and we'll regroup there!" Twilight yelled out.
"Right." Silver replied.
"Moving out!" Rainbow replied.
"See you in the center." Rarity replied.
"Yee-haw!" Applejack cheered.
"See you guys there!" Pinkie finished.
Fluttershy though, still looking scared.
"What's that? Who's there? Girls!" She screamed, as the other already move out.
Applejack was galloping around turn after turn to find the center of the maze.
"Hope everything's okay back in Ponyville. I don't know if Big Mac and Granny have enough butter for all that popcorn..." She said aloud to herself, worried about everyone back in Ponyville and the farm.
She runs past one pathway, but stops and notices something odd: a pile of apples.
"What in tarnation?" She asked herself.
The apples then begin to roll away on their own, causing her to give chase to them. She eventually finds herself in an apple orchard, which she was certain was never here before.
"Where am I?" She asked no one in particular.
That was when an apple fell on her head and began rolling into a pile alongside several other apples. They all began to circle around her, followed by laughing.
"Who are y'all?" She asked the apples.
They all formed into faces that stared creepily at the pony.
The pile of red apples spoke first.
"The keepers of the grove of truth. You may ask us..."
Followed by the light-red ones.
"...one question..."
Then the green ones.
"...past, future or present."
Applejack just looked at the pile of apples with confusion and nonsense.
"But be warned..." The red apples spoke again.
"...that the truth..." The light-red ones added.
"...may not always be pleasant." The green ones finished.
She didn't want to think this was really happening, but the curious nature of these talking apples were starting to get to her, and her curiosity got the better of her.
"All right then. I don't trust this place worth a hill of beans, but I've got a really bad feelin' about this feller Discord. What's gonna come of this mission we're on?" She asked.
"For the answer you seek..." The red apples started.
"...go ahead, take a peek." The light-red ones finished, motioning to the pool of water.
Applejack then looks into the water, seeing her friends arguing with each other.
"I hope I never see you again!" Rainbow yelled.
"Me too!" Fluttershy replied.
"Fine!" Pinkie yelled.
"Fine!" Rarity argued back.
"It's settled then." Twilight said with a disappointed look.
"Tch... I'm out of here." Silver said plainly.
The group of friends then simply all turn away and leave, their friendship ending. Applejack just looked horrified and confused.
"No!" Applejack held her hoof up to her mouth.
"Our friendship? Over?!" She asked aloud.
She was so stressed about what she witnessed, she didn't hear Discord chuckling as he hovers above her, controlling the applies like puppets.
"It can't be true. It just can't!" She stomped her hoof down.
The red apple pile moved closer to her.
"When all the truth does..."
"...is make your heart ache..." The green pile added, which then mixes in Discord speaking to her.
"...sometimes a lie is easier to take." They all just laugh.
Applejack began to feel different, as if seeing Discord through the apple pile, his eyes having a hypnotic look and she just stares into them. Her color begins to fade away, now looking pale in comparison to her normally bright orange color. Everything around her vanished, leaving her alone in the middle of the maze.
"Applejack!" Twilight called out as she came out from another pathway, happy to find her friend.
"Thank goodness! I thought I heard voices over here. Who were you talking to?" She asked, approaching her.
Applejack just stammers as she looks back at Twilight.
"I was talking to... uh... nopony! Nopony whatsoever!" She scrunched her face as she looks around anxiously.
Twilight frowns and raises her brow.
"What?" She asked.
But Applejack simply trots past her.
"Nothing. Come on, uh, we best be going." She stammered out before going ahead.
Twilight thinks for a moment.
"Did Applejack just...?" She asked herself, before chuckling.
"Come on, Twilight! Applejack wouldn't lie." She said, going after Applejack.
Meanwhile, Silver was wandering about the maze keeping his eyes and ears open. He couldn't trust Discord one bit, as he had a feeling that he and the girls were playing a game where they can't win.
"I hope the girls are alright. Haven't heard from them since we started... figured we all would've wound up meeting each other by now." Silver thought as he looked around.
However, as he moved, something unexpected happened. A bright flash of light obscures Silver's vision.
"Gah! What the...?!" He shielding his eyes.
He heard a faint voice call out to him.
"Huh?" He asked.
"Silver... Silver.... Silver. Come to me, sweetie." The voice sounded clear.
He opened his eyes, and saw himself in a familiar setting: a hospital room. The same room his mother was in when she passed away five years ago, and laying in the bed was Golden Veil herself, as she did before she passed on.
"...No... Oh please not this again. I don't want to go through this all over again...!" Silver started to panic.
"S-silver dear..." Golden muttered weakly.
"Mom! Please hang in there!" Silver rushed over to her, holding her hoof, which felt cold.
She looks at him, not seeing a stallion, but the small colt that witnessed her death those years ago.
"I promise I will save you! Just don't die on me again, please!" He yelled.
"...How long...?" She asked.
"...?" Silver looked at her confused.
"How long must I suffer because of you? Why haven't you found a way to save me? Maybe if you spent more time with me than your friends, I would still be alive." Golden asked, still weak.
Silver just stumbles aback.
"W-what are you talking about...?" Silver gave an incredulous look.
"You let me die, because you really didn't care about me. You are just a selfish colt, who preferred some other ponies than your own flesh and blood..." She echoed.
"M-mom... Why are you acting like this?" Silver was slowly freaking out.
"You will never accomplish what you hoped to achieve. A naive little pony, who just wants to play 'hero' because he wants attention... and doesn't want to face his reality for what it is and just uses this whole facade as a means to cope with pain and guilt for not being able to save me in the end... You should just go back and live alone in that wasteland you wasted your time living out for for the past five years... You were better off that way, training away as a means to cope." Golden said with a frown.
Silver didn't know what to think now. Was everything he has been doing just so he cope with the loss of his mother? He was conflicted now. What was he suppose to do...
"I... I..." Was all Silver could say, before he collapsed to ground now appearing despondent.
"Oh... there there." Golden said as she pat his head.
"Don't feel bad, sweetie. After all, you have me and you don't have to worry about a thing now. All you need to do is let go of your little make-believe dreams and we can be together like you always wanted...~" The mare said, with a soft smile.
Silver just sat there, still feeling a distance away. However, deep down, he just wanted to see his mother's shining smile again, and he could. Maybe he should just let it all go.
Golden appeared out of the bed, beside Silver, now looking better.
"That's it dear... just let everything go... It is for the best." She said softly, unaware of the malicious grin she was giving now.
Slowly, Silver's colors were slowly beginning to fade by letting go of his ideals and accept the reality he was hiding from. It was nearly all drained but stopped as it reached his cutie mark. It was now glowing green.
"You mustn't let this fool you, dear Silver Guardian... You are in an his illusion world... He is only lowering your mindset, making you lose your willpower to fight him." A familiar voice echoed inside Silver's mind.
This causes his right ear to flicker. That voice, why did it sound familiar?
"You must fight this Silver. Do not let Discord control your mind, as he is doing to your friends now..." The voice continued.
"I shall not let him turn you against your friends... break free from his spell Silver. Remember what your mother told you before she passed... she wanted you to live a happy and fulfilling life... and not grieve for her anymore."
"That's right..." Silver mumbled.
"Hmm? What did you say dear?" Golden asked.
"...This is not real... You're.... you are not real..." Silver said as he stood up.
"Silver dear, what are you talking about? Of course this is real... everything you thought of doing was just in your mind and wasn't what you really wanted to strive for. I am real, this is all real...~" Golden said softly, however everything around them started to flicker.
"...No... No.... NO!" Silver stomps his hoof down, causing the ground to crack, which slowly began to spread throughout the realm.
"None of this... is real. It is nothing but an illusion! My mother... my mother never said anything of this on her deathbed! She wanted me to live a happier life, and not let her death get the better of me... I was young and naive, sure... but it is what I wanted to do in life, and she would've supported my decision! I vowed I never let another one I care about get hurt or lose them...!" Silver yelled, glaring at his 'mother'.
"Silver! Calm down, you are scaring me! You are just acting confused...!" She defended.
"QUIET! YOU ARE NOT HER! I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING TO ME... DISCORD!!!"
Silver screamed as her lifts his hoof and at full force, punches the illusion of Golden, which causes the rest of the illusion to literally shatter like glass, revealing the maze again, and on top of that he struck Discord in the stomach, surprising the spirit as he yelped and was then sent back into a hedge, leaving a impact of himself as he flew through it.
Silver simply walks toward Discord, fire in his eyes as the draconequus pops back out and suddenly saw how the color on the stallion began to return to normal, and found himself entranced by the amount of anger he was giving off.
"You... how dare use my mother like that... When I get done with you Discord, you are going to wish you were still encased in stone..." He said in the deadest calm tone he mustered.
For once, Discord was actually showing some hint of fear.
"Want to see how well I fare without my blade? Come here and you will find out... because I am going to knot you like a pretzel." The pony said as he was getting dangerously close with the intent of hurting the spirit of chaos, really really badly.
"...W-well, I would love to stay and oblige to your offer b-but... gotta go!" Discord said hastily, as he snapped his claw and disappeared.
Silver stopped, the anger still welling up in him.
"...You better run, because when we find you, don't expect mercy from me, your monster..." The stallion said in a calm tone.
He began to take a deep breath and exhale just as deeply, slowly regaining composure. Any longer, he would buck the next living thing he would see.
"Silver!"
The pony's ears twitched, as he turns around and spots Twilight, Applejack, Pinkie and Rarity. The latter three, both drained of color and not looking right. Pinkie looked to be rather grumpy and in just as in a bad mood as he was in not long ago, only minor in comparison, Applejack looked as though she stuck her hoof in the cookie jar and was hiding that fact, and for whatever reason, Rarity was carrying a large boulder on her back, ogling at it at times.
"...Twilight, AJ, Pinkie, Rarity. You four are... okay." He said calmly.
"Well we heard screaming over here, and thought you were in trouble. We tried to get her as fast as we could, but Rarity was insistent on carrying her 'diamond' and wanted to take her time..." Twilight said sheepishly.
Silver looks at the three.
"...What are you looking at?!" Pinkie yelled as Silver stared at her.
"...So it is true..." Silver mumbled.
"Huh?" Twilight tilts her head.
"...This is Discord's doing. You really never questioned why those three looked as if the life was drained from them, or how they are acting?" Silver questioned.
"W-well I figured the stress of being in his maze was just getting to them. But... I do admit, something isn't right with them. Pinkie was never this grumpy, specially when it came to her surprise party... Applejack just looks as though she is hiding something and Rarity is... well very dead set getting that boulder--"
"Diamond, Twilight!" Rarity intervened.
"...diamond, all the way home." Twilight said with a worried look.
"...Yep, he is doing what he was trying to do to me: he is making our friends into the opposite of what they represent. Applejack is now a liar, Pinkie is now grumpy, and Rarity... well she has become greedy..." Silver deduced.
"What?! And he almost got you too? What happened?" The purple mare getting up to his face.
"...I'd rather not talk about it. Long story short, he did something that was unforgivable... and I was able to break free of his illusion... by literally punch through it and sending him flying into the hedges." Silver said noting the impact Discord took after Silver hit him.
"You hit him that hard?? And he took it?" She asked.
"For the spirit of chaos, he isn't bright when it comes to foresight, otherwise he would've seen it coming." Silver said turning around.
"I worry for Fluttershy and Dash. He is clearly trying to make this game unwinnable for us. We have to find them before he makes them into the opposites of what they represent." He added before moving forward.
"You're right! Come on girls, we have to hurry!" Twilight said going off after Silver.
"Don't worry Twi, we'll catch up!" Applejack said, who was just walking instead of galloping after them.
"Why should we even care? I hate running!" Pinkie complained.
"But Twilight, my diamond!" Rarity whined.
However, despite their best efforts, they found Fluttershy too late. She was already turned, and was now mean toward the group. Becoming cruel. Suddenly, Silver realized what that dragon felt when the normally timid and kind pegasus was this cruel.
As they all moved forward, they realized they needed to hurry and find Rainbow Dash and find the Elements, only for Applejack to point up in the sky.
"Well, lookie there. Rainbow Dash is flying away. She's abandonin' us." She said in a dead tone.
Twilight rolls her eyes, as she was carrying the boulder on her back, with Silver's help.
"Now I know that's a lie." She said, looking up.
She then gasps, as the group sees Rainbow flying away.
"How can that be?!" She asked.
Soon thunder rumbles as the whole place shakes, and the entire hedge maze sinks into the ground, leaving a large crater. Discord then reappears walking toward the group with a not so amused look.
"Well, well, well. Somepony broke the "no wings; no magic; no weaponry" rule." He said, snapping his claw.
Twilight and Rarity's horns reappear, as do Fluttershy's wings. And Silver's sword reappears in its scabbard.
"Game's over, my little ponies. You didn't find your precious elements." Discord taunts, getting up in Twilight's face.
He steps back, breaking an umbrella out, having it open outside-out.
"Looks like we might be due for a big old storm of chaos." He laughed.
Chocolate rain begins to pour down around them.
"...You know what Discord?" Silver said, causing the group too look at him.
"...Buck the Elements. You should've just stay hidden, because I wasn't kidding when I said I would show you how I go without my weapon... Now, we are going to play by my rules..." He said as he removes the sword and scabbard and drops it onto the ground with a clang.
Discord then just remembered, as he felt the spot he was punched at earlier. He suddenly should've stayed hidden.
"...Oh." Discord simply said, holding his gut.
Silver's eyes, suddenly produced the same fire from before as he slowly approaches Discord. Twilight, even the girls despite their change, noticed the change of aura around Silver and stepped away. Silver was now enraged.
"...Ready for Round 2, you monster...?"
To be continued...