//------------------------------//
// IX 
// Story: Finding Harmony 
// by Alice Eddor 
//------------------------------//

Chrysalis walked into the throne room to see Discord lounging on one of the main planning tables. He was smoking, blowing multicolored shapes around the room, both three-dimensional and not. She raised an eyebrow and walked forward, preparing herself for the worst.

"Shouldn't you be asleep?"

"Is it night? Hm."

Chrysalis sighed and stopped walking, looking down on him. He didn't give her a second glance; instead releasing a fuchsia goldfish into the air and watching it 'swim' away. "You mean you didn't notice when it got dark out? Do you use your eyes?"

Discord tapped his cigarette, the burnt part falling to the floor, and pushed himself off the table. "I was thinking about what you two were talking about in terms of planning, and I need to ask. You are aware the Elements of Harmony are gathering, are you not?"

Chrysalis blinked. "The Elements of Harmony? You can't be serious."

"You mean you can't feel it? They're gathering. We should watch our backs, if they are assembled, they'll put a kink in the works."

"But-" Chrysalis was caught off guard, "the Elements haven't assembled in years." She leaned over the map Discord had been lying on. "They're scattered over Equestria. There is no way..."

She looked up from the map to see Discord leaning over the table with her, slightly bemused. "I'm not talking about them."

"Then who are you talking about?"

"The new ones."

Chrysalis took a step back, trying to read his face. "There are new ones? What do you mean? How can you tell?"

"My dear Chrysalis, when you've been beaten by the Elements of Harmony twice you learn how it feels when their strength grows."

"So there's new ones then."

"Of course! You didn't actually think that those ones, being as corrupted as they are, would still be the human manifestations of the Magic of Friendship?" He laughed quietly to himself. "Of course, you never actually have fought them, have you?"

Chrysalis hesitated. "No, I have not."

"That's right. You were beaten by your own power source, and Sombra was beaten, to put it bluntly, by a rock. I know how strong these people can be. We must not let them gather. Two groups have already formed, I can tell that much. Where? I don't know. I can find them, given time. But they turned me to stone. Twice." His eyes met hers, and she was surprised to see seriousness in them. "If they come together again, our chances of success will be very, very slim. I personally volunteer to track them down and deal with them, there are some old scores I want to settle."

Chrysalis narrowed her eyes. "The three of us should discuss the subject. If what you're saying is true, then we need to take them all out. Sombra and I are stronger than you take us for. Tell us where they are and we'll go."

Discord nodded. "Good spirit. You do the planning, I'll find them."

He left, though not through the door. There was a flash of white light, that caused Chrysalis to shield her eyes, and he was gone. Where he had gone, she didn't know or care. She sighed, glancing about the room. There were no guards yet; neither hers nor Sombra's, such was the hour. They didn't waste time on a night guard. Who would attack them anyway, even during the day? Their location was a well-protected secret.

She thought about what he had said, the Elements of Harmony gathering. He was right in saying she had never fought them. Though she had come in contact with the Elements of Harmony once, they were not the people that caused her downfall. If their power were as great as Discord had implied, they would certainly need to be taken out before they could realize their potential.

She glanced back at a map, her mind racing. They would need to take out the princesses as well, which would prove a liability. She knew she had the power to defeat the dark one herself, and would leave the other to Sombra and Discord. She beat Celestia once, but only with all the power that groom had to offer. The sun princess would be too strong for her in her present condition. She had to gain power before charging.

Though, her army could start the attack. Perhaps it was time to invade Canterlot. She pulled a map towards her, tracing a finger along the cities, formulating a battle strategy.