Eljunbyro

by Imploding Colon


My Friends

"Rainbow Dash!" Twilight Sparkle shouts. "Get over here!"

Pensively, Spike peers out from behind a large boulder wearing a ruby lightning bolt for a necklace. He gulps and waddles over to stand beside the five mares and their pendants. All are gray, except for Twilight.

Frowning, the crowned unicorn faces Discord and grumbles, "Alright! Let's get this over with!"

Discord stands unamused before them, watching only because he can.

Twilight closes her eyes. The star at the top of her crown lights up. An invisible wind blows across the scene as she and her four friends levitate up off the ground. From below, Spike watches nervously as the Elements of Harmony light up one by one.

Fluttershy's body tenses as her bejeweled butterflies pulse with golden light.

Pinkie's lethargic eyes reflect the fuschia glow of her pendant.

Applejack gazes off towards the horizon as her red and green element shimmers.

Rarity calmly allows her blue diamond to glow with deep intensity.

Twilight's eyes glow brighter and brighter. The five ponies float in formation, short one member.

Discord raises an eyebrow, intrigued by the increasing luminosity of the summoned spell.

Twilight's forehead begins to crease. Sweat runs down her temples as the star above her head glows brighter, hotter...

Fluttershy is the first to let out a pained grunt.

Pinkie Pie's eyes flicker with fear.

Applejack gasps, convorting in pain as the gray melts away from her coat. "What... Wh-what's happenin'?"

"Augh!" Rarity shreaks, her mane returned to its purple shrine. "Twilight! Something... is wr-wrong!"

"Guys! What's happening?!" Spike gasps from below, clutching his tail and stammering, "The Elements... Th-they're..."

"My my, well this is certainlyinteresting," is all an intrigued Discord can say.

"Aaah!" Fluttershy yelps, her tears evaporating in the burning hot wind. "I-I'm on fire! Oh Celestia... Oh Celestia h-help!"

"Make it stop! Make it st-stop!" Pinkie sobs.

"I-I can't!" Twilight Sparkle shouts. Her glowing eyes curve in pain and shock. "There's some k-kind of feedback! I can't reverse it! I can't even think!"

"Aaaaugh!" Rarity shrieks, tossing her head back as the diamond's glow spreads through her twitching body. "Oh heavens! There's so m-much light! So much! I... I..." Rarity twitches one last time, chokes, and her body explodes in a brilliant flash of dust.

"Rarity!" Spike screams, his face awash with tears.

"Wh-what happened?!" Applejack shouts. The pendants are generating a hum so loud that it forms fissures in the earth below. "Did Rarity just—"

"Mmmmngh-Gaaaah!" Fluttershy's body arches back as the glow of her pendant spreads through her and bursts in platinum fury. What was left of her body and feathers scatters to the ground in white ash.

"Fluttershy!" Pinkie sobs, curling up into a fetal position as the pendant spins her around in mid-air. "Nnnngh... No! Please, no! No!"

"Girls..." Twilight stammers, cries, and gasps for breath. "Girls, the elements. They... th-they're consuming us. I d-don't understand—"

"Aaaah!" Pinkie lets loose and twirls until her body flies apart in shimmering ash.

"Pinkie Pie!" Applejack shouts. Gritting her teeth, she spins around and hisses towards Twilight. "Twi! Do somethin'! Please!"

"I... I-I can't..."

"I wanna see my family again! Please!" The hat atop her head melts away as she grits her teeth with glowing eyes. "Make it st-stop! I'm begging you!"

"So... so much burning..." Twilight's eyes leak platinum froth towards the skies as she floats backwards and screams. "Nnnngh—Augh! Celestia—"

Twilight's crown explodes, and her body dissolves like spiraling fireworks along with it.

Alone in the glowing tempest, Applejack clutches her hooves to her chest and shivers.

"Must b-be strong. Must be strong for them! The Elements... We're..." Hot tears leak out of her eyes as her face wrenches in pain. "Oh my... it goes on forever..." She sobs and buckles. "I'm so sorry. I'm sorry, y'all. I—"

A last flicker of emerald eyes, and the white heat absorbs everything.