//------------------------------// // Discussing the New Arrival // Story: A Touch of Chaos // by Written Out //------------------------------// It was another beautiful morning in Ponyville. Or, more accurately, it was if you were a morning pony. If you weren’t a morning pony, you would probably want to stay in bed unless an external force prompted you to get up. In Twilight’s case, that external force took the form of the sweet smell of coffee coming from downstairs. Dragging her unwilling carcass out of the bed's comfortable and nurturing embrace, the bleary-eyed unicorn slowly made her way down the stairs, the few functioning parts of her brain tracking the sweet scent and leading her towards its source. Sizzling sounds from the kitchen told her that Spike had woken up before her and was now preparing a breakfast of pancakes and hay bacon. As she made her way to the table, her number one assistant exited the kitchen, a plate of food held firmly in each hand. "Morning, Twilight. I was just about to go wake you." Spike placed one of the plates in front of her while placing the other at his own spot. "Do you want some coffee?" Twilight’s response cannot be written down in any language, instead coming out as a low groan that probably would have had John throw his hands into the air and run away screaming about demons wanting to eat his soul if he heard it. Long years of experience allowed Spike to translate the unintelligible moan into a vaguely affirmative answer and he quickly returned to the kitchen. A few minutes passed before he returned, clutching a steaming cup of coffee which he passed to Twilight before claiming his own spot at the table. Sticking a fork into one of the pancakes, he shovelled the whole thing into his mouth. After a few thoughtful chews, he turned to his quiet companion and asked the question that had been worrying him since Twilight had arrived at the table. "Bad dreams, Twilight? Er, sorry." Spike bashfully reached across the table and wiped the half-chewed pancake off of the mare’s face. Twilight just gave him a flat look before fishing a piece of pancake out of her coffee and taking another sip. “I was thinking about Discord, Spike. Last time, he nearly destroyed my friendship with my friends. Who knows what he’s planning to do this time? Maybe we should send a letter to the Princess before we do anything. I expect she’ll want to know.” She picked up her fork and knife with her magic and began making inroads on her own breakfast. This time, Spike remembered to swallow his mouthful of food before speaking. "I already wrote up a letter saying what you told me last night," he pointed at scroll that lay in the corner, "but you should probably talk to the others first. They might have some ideas.” Spike finished off his breakfast and began collecting his dishes. "On the bright side, you don’t need to worry about Discord hypnotizing everypony this time, because they know better than to listen to anything he says." Twilight perked up at Spike’s words before polishing off her own meal and letting him take the empty plate away. "You’re right, Spike. We’ve beaten him once and we’ll beat him again." Twilight trotted out the front door, only stopping long enough to wave good-bye to Spike. "I’ll be back later. Have a good day." “Good luck.” Spike waved her goodbye before turning to the owl perched on one of the bookshelves. “Looks like it’s just you and me today, Owlowiscious.” “Who?” the owl hooted down at him. “You and me.” “Who?” “You- we’re not doing this.” Twilight trotted to the confectionery centre of town, Sugarcube Corner. The closer she got, the more her pace slowed as she consider how Pinkie had been acting the previous night. Fortunately, she needn't have worried. “Good moooooooorning, Twilight!” Twilight looked up to see Pinkie waving at her from the upstairs window. Now she was standing on the upstairs windowsill. Now she was pushing off of the upstairs windowsill. Now she was flying through the air from the upstairs window directly at the uncomprehending unicorn. "Gah!" Struck by a poofy pink pony ballistic missile powered by sugar and candy, Twilight found herself lying on her side in the middle of the street, her crazed conqueror standing above her. The passing ponies glanced at the pair only once before continuing on, used to Pinkie's crazy antics. "So are you ready for today, Twi?" The pink mare seemed to have recovered from the depression she had been feeling the previous day. Twilight took a moment to consider what to do. On the one hoof, it was good to see Pinkie acting as cheery and joyful as ever. On the other, personal space was nice. Choosing the second option, Twilight pushed Pinkie off and got to her hooves. "You’re feeling better, Pinkie?" Twilight was fairly certain Pinkie was feeling better, but she wanted to hear the other mare say it. Pinkie bounced energetically before responding. "Of course I am. Oh, I was disappointed that we weren't able to use magic to communicate with new friend, but then I remembered that Option A was still an option. And Option A is option Fluttershy and there is no better option when dealing with a scared animal than option Fluttershy. You said you wanted to talk to the others, and I know Fluttershy and Rarity are going to the spa this morning. I’ll go let them know while you find Dashie and AJ and we’ll all meet up at the spa, okay? Okay, bye!!" And she was gone. Twilight, with one lifted hoof which she had been about to shove into Pinkie’s mouth, stared in the direction the pink rocket had vanished. "Pinkie…he’s connected to Discord..." But Pinkie was out of sight already, and couldn’t hear her. Shorty afterwards, Twilight arrived at the farm where Applejack lived, Sweet Apple Acres. She agreed with Pinkie that it would probably be easier to bring Applejack and Rainbow Dash to the spa then to arrange another meeting place elsewhere. Spotting a large red stallion pulling a wagon full of apples, she waved to him and made her way over. “Good morning, Big Mac. Has Apple Bloom already gone to school?” “Eeyup.” Big Macintosh, Applejack’s big brother, wasn't one for wasted words. Twilight was convinced he was smarter then he let on, but she was willing to let it go for now. "Is Applejack around?" "Eeyup." Big Mac pointed a hoof in the direction of the apple orchard he had been walking away from. "She and Rainbow Dash are applebucking together." “Thanks,” Twilight began walking towards the orchard for a moment before turning back, realizing what Big Mac had just said. “Wait, Rainbow Dash is applebucking? How did that happen?” Lifting one hoof to signify a shrug, Big Mac walked away, easily pulling the giant cart behind him. Realizing there was only one place she was going to get any answers, Twilight continued walking to the apple orchard. Hearing a pair a voices coming from a patch of trees, she headed in their direction. "Are ya doin’ alright, Sugarcube?" There was a hint of worry in the country-accented voice, and Twilight wondered what Applejack was up to with their mutual pegasus friend. "Don’t – ungh – worry about me. I can keep going at this pace all day." That tomboyish voice with a hint of a squeaky crack in it could only belong to Rainbow Dash, the best flier in Ponyville and (if she was to be believed) the rest of Equestria, though she sounded more tired than usual. "Ah am enjoying this, but Ah don’t want ya to get hurt because of me." "If you’re enjoying it now, why don’t we pick up the pace? Oh, hey Twilight." "Good morning girls," Twilight greeted them both, "What’s going on?" Rainbow Dash was standing next to one of the apple trees, obviously tired and equally obviously trying to hide it. Her rainbow-streaked mane was damp with sweat, and had plastered itself to the sportspony's cyan coat. Applejack stood a few trees away, a carriage most filled with full apple baskets next to the farm pony. It was similar to the one Big Mac had been pulling away, except that it was still mostly empty. Applejack turned to answer Twilight while Dash surreptitiously leaned against the tree she was standing beside. Speaking with her customary southern drawl, the orange earth pony explained the situation. "Good morning, Twi. Me and Rainbow had a little argument a few days back, and the long’n’short of it is that Dash said she would be able to keep up with me for a full day of applebuckin’, and Ah said she couldn't. So we made a bet of it. If she can keep up, Ah would save her a full barrel of Sweet Apple Cider next cider season. If she couldn't, she has ta dye her coat and mane in mah colours and go around lookin’ like me fer a week. We've been at it since dawn, and the gal’s clearly beat, but you know what she’s like." They both glanced at the rainbow-maned cyan mare, who had her eyes closed and was panting openly, blissfully unaware of the attention she was receiving. Applejack lifted a hoof to rub at the Stetson hat resting atop her head for a moment before turning back to Twilight. "She’s about as stubborn as Ah am, and Ah’m afraid she’s gonna do herself an injury. She’s overworkin’ muscles she ain't used to usin', and Ah’m tryin’ to convince her there’s no shame in givin’ up. You got any ideas?" Twilight tapped her chin thoughtfully with her hoof before answering. "I think so. That’s actually why I came here. We've got a mission from Princess Celestia, and everypony’s meeting up at the spa." Applejack nodded once to Twilight’s words. "Yeah, that works. Didja catch that, Dash? Hey!" She shouted at the dozing pegasus, who was startled awake at Applejack’s yell. "Good work, but we’re gonna have to call off the bet fer now. Important mission from the Princess, we’re meetin' the others at the spa. Go run yerself under the hose while Ah go tell Big Macintosh and Granny Smith." One hose down later, the group set off for the center of Ponyville. Rainbow Dash was feeling much better, and flew above the other two, badgering Twilight for answers. "So what’s so important that you had to pull me away from my bet with AJ?" Dash protested, her wings slicing through the air as she flew above the heads of the two landbound ponies. "I was totally going to win and score that full barrel of cider." Applejack nickered softly in amusement, shooting a sidelong glance at the pegasus above her. "Who are ya trying to fool, Dash? You was plum tuckered, and the day had just begun. Ah was lookin’ forward to seein' a flying me around town." Twilight shot Applejack a questioning look."AJ, you were worrying about Dash when I arrived, but now you’re saying you found it funny. What changed?" Applejack smiled smugly and tipped her brown Stetson hat down on her head. "Jest because Ah didn’t want the gal to overwork herself don’t mean Ah didn’t enjoy watchin' her look like a foal. Suppose Ah’ll have ta wait until later to watch her humiliate herself." "I am right here, you know." The annoyed pegasus mare interjected. Applejack continued undeterred. If anything, her voice was only more smug than before. "Oh, Ah know. Ah also know there’s nothin’ y'all can do about it. Unless yer goin’ to forfeit?" the orange country mare challenged. "We could dye ya up right now." She knew Dash wouldn't back down from such blatant provocation, and the sporty pegasus didn't disappoint. "Well, aren’t you feeling cocky today? I’ll take you on, anytime, anyplace. Next time, I’ll show you what Equestria’s most awesome pegasus can do." "Just so long as you two avoid another fiasco like that Iron Pony competition,” Twilight cut them off before the situation could escalate any further. "Anyways, we’re here." The trio had made it all the way to the spa while Applejack and Rainbow Dash bickered. The pegasus landed, and the three mares entered the building. "Good morning, Twilight, Applejack, Rainbow Dash." The pony behind the counter, Lotus Blossom, greeted them in order as they entered. "I don’t normally see you three here. Your friends are waiting for you down the hall." Thanking her, they made their way in the direction she pointed and soon heard the sound of their excitable friend coming from one of the rooms ahead. "…so after he threw it, Twilight magickisizeded it into the air and the thing was like booooooooom, and then he vanished into the forest." It sounded like Pinkie was explaining the meeting in the forest. A quiet, gentle voice followed the energetic one, like a warm summer breeze following a thunderstorm. “Oh my, that sounds so scary. Are you sure you’re alright?” That voice could only belong to Fluttershy, the shy yellow pegasus pony sounding meek even at a distance. A third voice followed the quiet voice, this one sounding much more cultivated and refined. "Really, Pinkie, he sounds like an absolute ruffian. I simply can’t understand why you would want to be friends with somepony that sounds even more uncouth then Applejack." "And what, ‘xactly, is wrong with my couthness?” the earth pony in question drawled as she entered the room, Twilight and Rainbow Dash entering behind her. "Why, nothing’s wrong with it, darling." The white fashionista unicorn was lying on her back on one of the couches around the room, her personal bath robe covering her body, the stylistic R on the flank signifying who its owner was, and a cucumber slice covering each of her eyes. "But you at least have a certain country charm. This beast sounds absolutely… beastly." "So happy to have yer approval," Applejack stated sarcastically before giving her head a small shake. "So, did Pinkie tell ya’ll anything?" Rainbow Dash flew up and perched on the side of the large tub that dominated the center of the room, which Pinkie was merrily floating in. "Yeah, spill. Twilight’s been mum the whole trip." Pinkie continued to blissfully float in the tub, so Fluttershy answered instead. "Only that she and Twilight met an unusual creature in the Everfree Forest. From what she said, it doesn’t sound like any creature I've heard of living in the area, and I don’t think it's native to the region. The poor thing must be so scared, alone in that spooky forest." The pink-maned mare had a towel wrapped around her head and was comfortably reclining against some cushions. "Really, Fluttershy. That kind heart of yours is going to get you in trouble some day." Rarity turned to the ponies not being treated. “I’m guessing the beast has something to do with why you wanted to meet up today, Twilight. Why don’t you girls join us and get comfortable while we talk?" Applejack pondered the offer for a moment before nodding her head in agreement. “Alright. Ah am curious as to what the Princess wants, but a good rubdown and massage never hurt nopony.” She carefully hung her beloved hat on the wall before making her way to one of the empty couches near Rarity, Twilight following closely behind her. "That does sound good, but there’s no point in getting a hooficure or something fancy like that," Twilight took a moment to get comfortable on the couch she had chosen, "since we’ll be going into the Everfree Forest." Rarity made a sound of disgust at hearing they would be entering the forest. "Really dear, had I known we would be going to that dreadful place, I would have set the spa visit afterwards." Fluttershy, who had perked up at hearing that all her friends would be with her when she went to see the creature, visibly wilted at Rarity’s words. "Oh, sorry, Rarity. I was happy to hear that we would all be together, but, um, you don’t have to come if you don’t want-" Rarity waved her off before she could finish. "There’s nothing to apologize for, darling. If it’s something Princess Celestia wants, I’m certainly not going to abandon you girls to do it alone. I’ll just have to come back later. Speaking of which," she added, looking at the only member of their group who hadn't claimed a spot in the spa, "aren’t you going to join us, Rainbow Dash? It’s absolutely divine.” Dash flared her wings and shook her head from where she was perched on the side of the large tub. "Nah. I’m not into any of that frou-frou stuff. I’m good like this." Despite her complaints, the pegasus suddenly learned that she had a lot less choice in the matter then she thought she did as a pair of what appeared to be bright pink tentacles shot out of the water and wrapped themselves around her torso before pulling her backwards into the water. She only had enough time for a single startled exclamation of surprise, which was abruptly cut off when her head went under the water. Sputtering as she broke the surface, she turned and saw that Pinkie had wrapped her legs around Dash and was now grinning cheerfully at her. Dash could do nothing but sigh, acknowledging her defeat. "Or maybe I’ll just have a short soak." The group shared a short laugh at their friend before Twilight cleared her throat, getting everypony’s attention. "Alright, so here’s the situation..." Dear Journal, I reread what I wrote last night, and I choose to believe that I am sane. Maybe I was a researcher before I lost my memory, and that would explain why I know so much about the flora and fauna, including what’s edible, what will attract various animals, and what’s dangerous. Maybe I am mixing up distant memories with more recent ones, and I once though things like hydras were impossible, but I eventually learned better. I don’t know, journal. What I do know is that despite my irrational hatred and fear of those tiny horses, I know almost nothing about them. Or maybe I hate and fear them because I know almost nothing about them. If that’s the case, I might stop fearing them if I understood them. I have to capture one of them, journal. I need to understand them. Today, I will be setting up traps in the forest. These traps are intended to capture, not kill. The creatures may be injured in the process, but that is within the acceptable margin for error. In order to test these traps, I will spend the day attempting to capture one of the creatures that live in the area. I believe it is called a Manticore. It should be easy to lure in, because apparently when I combine the juice of three different plants together, it creates something that is almost like catnip to the manticore. Containing it will be the hard part. Wish me luck, journal. "...and after the fruit exploded, he had vanished." Twilight finished her explanation of what had happened in the forest the previous day to her five friends. With the exception of Pinkie, all of them had developed expressions of extreme shock and dismay when Twilight had mentioned Discord. Pinkie had only a mild expression of shock and dismay, her dislike for the Spirit of Chaos warring with her love of chocolate rain and cotton candy clouds. The group was silent for a moment before Rainbow Dash raised one hoof out of the water and splashed it down, trying to make an authoritative “thump” but only managing to splash herself in the face. "Well I say should go out there right now and beat that thing to a pulp," she said firmly, trying to look fierce despite the water dripping off her face. "If he’s connected to dopey Discord, there’s no way he could be anything but bad!" She looked like she intended to fly off right now and make good on her threat, and probably would have if her wings weren't being pinned down by her pink friend, who hadn't let go once during the story. "Pinkie, could you let me go?" Pinkie shook her head rapidly, causing her mane to whip out of the water and spray everypony present. Ignoring Rarity's shriek of dismay, she held on even tighter. “No way, Dashie. If I do, you’ll go out and hurt him. Just because Discord is involved doesn't mean we can’t be friends.” Dash stared at her friend’s pleading expression. "Friends?" she asked disbelievingly. "Do you even remember what Discord did to us last time? If he’s involved, we should strike with everything we’ve got from the start. Since Princess Celestia is holding the Elements of Harmony, that leaves violence." "Ah reckon it ain’t that simple," Applejack interjected, the dependable workpony trying to deter the impulsive sportspony’s brashness. "This critter may simply have been touched by that varmint Discord like we was. Ain’t that right, Twilight?" "That’s right," the intelligent unicorn agreed. "I don’t know whether it was the creature that stopped my magic using Discord’s power, if it was a passive spell placed on the creature that simply stops magic cast on him, or if Discord directly intervened to stop my spell. Normally, it would be easy for me to tell, but Discord certainly loves making easy things difficult." Dash rested against the side of the tub, no longer trying to escape, but not willing to let this go. "So he might not be our enemy, but he might also be part of some scheme of Discord’s. I say we should charge in there, hooves flying, and figure it all out afterwards. Back me up, Fluttershy." The shy mare “eeped” at suddenly being thrust into the center of attention, and took a moment before responding. "Oh...um…I think, no matter what we do, we can’t really decide what we’ll do without meeting him again. I hope I said that right." Rarity spoke over Rainbow Dash’s grunt of dismay. "You said that just fine, dear. And it just so happens that I agree with you. Even if it means entering that dreadful forest, we’ll just have to do it. After we’re finished here." It was indicative of how comfortable they all were that none of them, not even Rainbow Dash, disagreed.