//------------------------------// // Chapter 4 - A Mountain of Troubles // Story: A New Harmony // by Pascoite //------------------------------// Sweetie Belle dodged through rough trunks and underbrush, darting left and right in an attempt to shake any possible pursuit. She finally surrendered to the burning ache in her muscles as she cantered to a halt behind a jagged outcrop of rock. Her chest heaving to draw precious air, she dropped onto wobbling knees. Just as she began to consider resuming her flight, an unexpected voice sent a shock of fright up her spine. “What in Equestria was that?” cried Discord, his frown just inches from Sweetie Belle’s face. The filly stumbled backward and tripped over an exposed tree root as she gasped against the words caught in her throat. “You bested Princess Celestia herself, and yet you let one stupid earth pony outwit you?” Discord shook his head and pointed an accusatory talon. “That was your only chance. Congratulations. You’re probably the most wanted criminal on the planet now. And I’m your only friend,” he added, rubbing his forehead. “I’m… I’m sorry,” Sweetie Belle stammered as she regained an unsteady footing. “I don’t know… I can’t believe I actually attacked the Princess!” She stared past her mismatched mentor, her body slightly rocking to the rhythm of her pounding heart. “I can’t help you like this, you know,” he stated flatly. Sweetie Belle nodded almost imperceptibly, still transfixed. “You have to let me out.” She failed to detect the guttural quality that had crept into Discord’s voice. Her eyes remained unfocused as she turned her head to meet his gaze and give one more vague nod. -------- Twilight Sparkle raced after Sweetie Belle, but the filly had too much of a head start. The sounds of cracking scrub had faded some time ago, depriving Twilight of any directional cues. She slowed to try and catch some last vestige of noise from her quarry, but no sign remained. What was that thing? It felt… twisted. She shuddered at the memory of that vertigo-inducing symbol etched on Sweetie Belle’s flank. Discord sure seemed proud of it. Twilight’s ears pricked at her sudden realization. Discord! If he’s involved, there’s only one way this is headed. Moments later, she appeared with a brilliant purple flash in the sculpture garden of Canterlot Palace. A stony draconequus towered over her in the darkness. She quickly dismissed the notion that it had turned to look at her. Preposterous! It’s just stone. For now… She knelt in the grass next to the statue and waited. Sooner or later, Sweetie Belle would come here. I’d better be ready this time. -------- Trixie awoke to the sounds of a hushed discussion in the library downstairs. She silently descended the staircase halfway, her ears pricking at the mention of her name. “Leave Trixie out of this. It’s our fight.” “I agree, sugarcube. I don’t know how she won Twilight over, but I still don’t trust her.” “Well, somepony’s got to sneak up there and get Twilight’s crown without waking her. And with the reigning ‘Shh!’ champion missing, you’re the quietest one of us, Applejack.” “Alright, but only ’cause time’s a-wastin’. Twi could be in major trouble by now.” Trixie abandoned any aspirations of stealth and hurried into the midst of the discussion. “What happened to Twilight?” she asked, her heart pounding. Rainbow Dash twisted her mouth into a frown and squinted at the new arrival. Applejack swallowed and gritted her teeth, remembering her promise to Twilight. She found that she couldn’t force a smile, but at least if she spoke slowly, she was able to keep the venom out of her voice. “Yeah, she is—” Applejack pried the word from her throat “—sugarcube.” “Well, what are you waiting for?” Trixie yelled, already on her way out the door. “We need the crown!” Pinkie shouted after her. “Already got it!” Trixie’s rapidly diminishing voice called back. “And I know where Twilight’s going!” Applejack shook her head, her patience long since expended. “Get along after her, y’all!” “Aren’t you coming, dear?” asked Rarity. “Naw, I gotta go find Fluttershy. I’ve been rackin’ my brain, and I think I figured out how.” -------- Just as the birds began sounding their dawn reveille, an exhausted Sweetie Belle emerged from the cover of the forest and took her first steps up the winding road to Canterlot. She smoothed her cloak to ensure it concealed her cutie mark. Once the panting unicorn had reached the city gates, she proceeded nonchalantly to the sculpture garden, comfortable in the knowledge that nopony here would recognize her. Sweetie Belle took a few hesitating steps into the garden and looked up at Discord’s motionless form. She gulped and took a deep breath, casting a glance around to make sure she was alone. “A-are you here, Dis—?” Twilight Sparkle stepped out from behind the statue. “Sweetie Belle, what is this all about?” Her stern gaze belied the gentle, measured tone she forced. “I don’t know what’s made you do this, but it’s gotten way out of hoof. Let me help.” The younger unicorn leaped backward into a defensive stance, silently cursing the trembling plainly visible in her fatigued legs. “I can’t,” she said through clenched teeth. “I have to get away from here, or they’ll kill me. Nopony can help me now.” “Oh, tut, tut! I thought we already covered that.” Discord smirked as his ghostly form materialized in front of Twilight. “I’ve got your back, Demon Master.” He flew straight at Twilight with incredible speed. She backed away and held up a protective foreleg to ward off his attack, but the shade passed through her unimpeded. Her cutie mark and horn immediately blazing, Sweetie Belle sent waves of arcane energy toward Twilight, forcing her to crumple to the ground and squeeze her eyes shut against the resulting dizziness. The conflicting forces of horn and pentacle caused rippling distortions visible in the air, the chaotic interface rumbling like thunder. A loud cracking noise preceded a shower of dust and stone fragments that rained down on Twilight from the statue above her. She rolled out of the way as it fully disintegrated, leaving an unencumbered draconequus free to step down from the pedestal. Discord snapped his fingers, producing a fedora simply for the purpose of being able to doff it to his audience. “Greetings and salutations, Twilight Sparkle. Sweetie Belle.” He nodded to each in turn, a smug grin playing across his features. “Thank you kindly, Demon Master,” he said, theatrically sweeping an arm across his body in a gracious bow. “Congratulations for outliving your usefulness.” The draconequus swatted Sweetie Belle with the back of his paw, sending her sprawling across the ground until she slumped unconscious against the hedge. Twilight Sparkle charged her horn, whipping up a cloud of rocky particles from the statue’s remnants. She sent the dusty mass flying toward him and tried to form a shell around his body, but she wasn’t fast enough. Turning to face his attacker, Discord flicked a talon at her and flashed a self-satisfied smile as the gravel bombarded her face, blinding her. She stepped back into a defensive posture and gritted her teeth as she swiped at the grit in her eyes. In the blur of her obscured vision, Twilight couldn’t see the tawny paw swinging for her. It caught her squarely on the jaw and sent her sliding across the grass. “You know you have no hope, of course,” gloated Discord. “You and your pathetic little friends.” Rolling back to her hooves, Twilight rubbed a foreleg across her bruised cheek. She folded her ears back and squinted in a defiant sneer. “You’re not up to full strength yet or you wouldn’t have bothered fighting me.” A purple glow began to swirl about her, whipping the air into a vortex that lurched at the draconequus. Straining against the gale, Discord dropped to all fours to gain what purchase he could in the earth. His labored progress finally flagged in the windstorm’s fury, but he had approached close enough; the tufted end of his tail caught Twilight on the shoulder and slammed her against his former prison’s base. Reeling from the impact, Twilight shook her head momentarily to fight off the spinning sensation. By the time she looked up again, Discord was in midair, flying straight at her with claws bared. He failed to hear the rapidly approaching hoofbeats behind him over the sound of his own yelling. -------- Applejack knelt down as she tightened the knot of a cloth bandage around Winona’s leg with her teeth. The confused canine looked up, her ears plastered back. Cocking her head, she gave an inquisitive whine and squinted against the first rays of dawn streaming over the distant hilltops. “We talked about this, remember? You gotta do a convincing job. Now, let’s hear it.” A half-hearted whimper escaped the dog’s throat before she sought an approving smile from her owner. “Not bad for a start, but you can do better, sugarcube! C’mon! Sell it!” Applejack said, waving her forelegs. Winona knitted her brow and uttered a heart-wrenching yelp after rising to hobble around on her bandaged leg. Seeing the triumphant expression her master wore, she gave a playful bark, then allowed her tongue to loll out the side of her mouth as she wagged her tail furiously. Shaking her head as the smile faded from her face, Applejack nudged the brim of her hat a little further up. “You were doin’ so good, too! You broke character.” Winona tucked her tail between her legs and sidled up to Applejack. Once she felt that enough time had passed to establish her contrition, she ventured a glance upward and rolled onto her back to request a belly rub. Applejack allowed herself a brief indulgence of making Winona’s leg kick reflexively before snapping her concentration back to the task at hoof. “Alright, time’s a-wastin’. It’ll have to be good enough.” The long trot to the edge of the Everfree Forest passed in silence as Winona kept by Applejack’s side, deftly weaving around her flicking hooves. When they finally reached the first dense copse of trees, Applejack motioned for her companion to wander into the thicket, then took cover behind a stout oak. Winona milled about for a few minutes, making pitiable sounds and walking with a pronounced limp. However, the only attention she managed to attract was that of a startled covey of mourning doves. An hour later, the disheartened dog slunk back toward Applejack and curled up next to her, an enormous yawn drawing a squeak from her throat. “It’s okay, sugarcube,” Applejack reassured her. “I think that might be enough. Now we wait.” Before long, Winona’s ears pricked at the distant sound of crunching leaves and a soft voice. One of the doves returned and settled on a nearby branch, cooing excitedly. “Where was it? Oh dear, I hope the poor thing is okay.” Applejack hissed at Winona and nudged her back out from their hiding spot. Winona stumbled from the bushes and emitted a high-pitched keening. “There, there, dear,” Fluttershy comforted her through a gentle smile. “Let’s have a look—Winona? What are you doing out here?” “She’s with me.” Stepping out from behind the tree, Applejack set her jaw in anticipation of a quarrel. Instead, the pegasus ran over and locked her in a tight embrace. “Applejack! It’s so good to see you!” “Um… yeah, same here,” said a flustered Applejack with a nervous grin, reaching a foreleg around to return the hug. “I kinda figured you’d be… well, mad.” “Oh, no. I could never be mad. You got my note, just like I hoped!” Fluttershy trilled, smiling so broadly that her cheeks trembled. “But… what’s wrong with Winona?” “Nothin’, sugarcube,” Applejack replied. “She was bait. And good bait at that,” she added, giving her pet a commending wink. “Here you go, girl. You earned it.” Applejack reached into her saddlebag and produced a large biscuit, then flung it in a high arc. Winona timed her leap perfectly and already had half of it devoured before she landed. “Where’ve you been, Shy?” “Well, um, I’ve been staying with Zecora,” Fluttershy explained. “Because I left my normal place, she kindly volunteered some space. The critters find a helpful mare, and know I still can treat them there. Oh, now she’s got me doing that, too.” “That’s great, Shy,” Applejack said, the impatience in her eyes underscoring her voice’s note of urgency, “but we need you. Where’s your Element? We gotta go! Discord’s at it again!” “Um, it’s at Zecora’s house,” answered Fluttershy while trying to take refuge behind her mane from the unwelcome news. “Where are we going?” “I dunno, sugarcube.” Applejack shrugged and glanced off in the direction of the palace. “Somewhere ’round Canterlot, judgin’ by which way Sweetie Belle was headed. I expect they won’t be hard to find.” “Sweetie Belle? What…?” “I’ll explain on the way.” Tilting her head toward Zecora’s home, Applejack added, “C’mon.” She trotted off without looking back to see if Fluttershy was following. -------- Discord’s leonine claws swung toward Twilight’s head as she braced for the impact. At the last moment, Discord’s body jerked sideways, propelled by a dusky blue streak. He tumbled across the ground before righting himself and turning to face his assailant. “Ah, the prodigal filly, come back for redemption, eh?” he spat. “You’re not even worth my time.” Cracking his knuckles, he advanced once again on Twilight, a leer on his face. Trixie watched as Twilight fought to see through the dusty tears that clouded her vision, making her lash out at the blurry mirages in front of her. Trixie’s eyes grew wide as she momentarily backed away, her legs trembling, but as her horn’s glow increased, she strode toward Discord with renewed determination. Through gritted teeth, she growled, “You leave her alone!” The aura around her horn reached a new intensity as she clenched her eyes shut. Four flaps of turf sprung up and snapped shut around Discord. He slashed easily through the soil with his talons and stepped out of the grassy pyramid, his look of astonishment not even half as intense as that on Trixie’s gaping face. “Aha! So you’re more than just a one-trick pony, I see.” “You mean…” Trixie stammered quietly, “I actually…” She shook herself out of her reverie as Discord approached. The scowl returning to her face, she lowered her head and charged him. Trixie dodged his paw’s feint, but his talons caught her unprepared, leaving a trio of deep gashes as they raked down her side. She cried out and braced for another impact, but a flurry of motion over at the garden’s trellised entryway caught her attention. Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash had just passed the last of the small, glowing trail markers Trixie had left for them and galloped into the garden just in time to see a deathly paleness overtaking her face as she sank to her knees. Discord made one last lunge toward Twilight, but the last traces of light surrounding Trixie’s horn enveloped his arm and held it in check. With a grunt, he loomed over Trixie as her strength failed. The last thing she saw before losing consciousness was a purple form tackling him from behind, then disappearing with him in a brilliant flash. -------- When Applejack and Fluttershy finally trotted up to the Canterlot city gate, the guards on duty stepped in front of their path. “Excuse me, ma’am. Are you those other two Elements from Ponyville?” the captain asked. “Um… yes, sir. I reckon we are,” Applejack replied. “Princess Celestia arrived not long ago. She said to send you to the sculpture garden as soon as you arrived. Do you know your way?” “Yes… yes, we do. C’mon, Shy!” The two galloped through the city until they reached the palace grounds, then grimaced upon remembering the circumstances of their last visit during the Gala. As they stepped through the ivied archway marking the entrance to the garden, their eyes immediately alit on three hubs of activity. Rarity knelt by the side of her unconscious sister, her forehead creased as she lightly splashed some cool water on Sweetie Belle’s face. Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie were applying bandages to a badly wounded Trixie, whose limp form drew shallow, ragged breaths. In the center of the garden stood Celestia, her eyes closed in concentration as she used her magic to examine the large stone hemisphere that dominated the statuary. Celestia looked up at the new arrivals and smiled, her wings drooping loosely by her sides. She exhaled heavily before her bloodshot eyes focused on Fluttershy. “How fortunate that Applejack was able to find our Element of Kindness,” she remarked as she tilted her head downward. Bowing, Applejack looked up when the Princess’s breathing deepened and saw her head slowly sinking toward the ground. “Um… yes, Your Highness.” Celestia’s eyes snapped back open. “She hadn’t gone far.” Fluttershy hid her face as an embarrassed smile crept across it. “I’m sorry. I just—” “No explanation is necessary. Please rise,” said the Princess. “We have much work do.” She stifled a yawn and led them over to Trixie. “I have sent word to have my sister awakened. After last night’s events and having to raise the sun this morning, I do not have the strength to handle this situation alone. We need to know what Trixie witnessed.” Celestia lay down in the grass next to the wounded mare and gave Rainbow Dash a concerned glance. Dash anticipated the Princess’s question. “We’ve got her bandaged, Princess. I’m glad she was out when we put on the disinfectant, or it would’ve hurt!” She shook her head, then recovered from a brief moment of silent distraction. “I think she’ll be fine, though.” Eager for the chance to contribute, Pinkie Pie bounced up beside Rainbow. “Uh huh! She’ll be good as new, lickety split!” Once she finally opened her eyes, she saw the fatigue gnawing at Celestia. “I’ve got some awesome hot coffee, Princess! Fresh from Sugarcube Corner. Would you like some?” she asked, pulling an insulated bottle from her saddlebag. “Actually, that sounds like a good idea,” Celestia replied, and poured herself a cup. It floated along beside her as she strained to regain her hooves and walk toward Sweetie Belle’s prone form. The unsteadiness in her knees only grew worse as she approached the faint red glow of Sweetie Belle’s cutie mark. “How is she, Rarity?” “Her pulse seems to have settled down, Your Highness. I think she’s just resting now. Oh, I can’t believe my own sister would attack—” “Please. I believe she was coerced,” Celestia assured her while mustering as kind a smile as possible. “She has nothing to fear from me. I do, however, need to determine exactly what the nature of her ‘talent’ is.” “Trixie’s comin’ around, y’all,” Applejack called from behind the Princess. “You’d best come over here.” Celestia downed her cup of coffee and returned to Trixie’s side. When Trixie attempted to get to her hooves to bow, the glow of Celestia’s magic surrounded her and held her down. “Please rest, Trixie. We just need to know what happened.” “Discord attacked Twilight and—” She winced and drew a sharp breath as the effort of speaking tightened the muscles in her side. Through clenched teeth, she continued. “I tried to stop him. He was still weak. She—she teleported somewhere with him.” “Luna should be able to trace where, but I already have my suspicions. Ah!” Celestia remarked as Luna flapped to a landing beside her, flanked by two of her personal guard. “We have work to do. That,” she said, pointing at Sweetie Belle’s cutie mark, “has to go. But first, please tell me where you think that enormous rock originated. Twilight Sparkle teleported somewhere and exchanged positions with it.” Luna’s eyes widened as she raised an eyebrow at the massive stone. -------- Twilight awoke with a pounding in her head. She rubbed a hoof to her temple and then blinked a few times to make sure her eyes were actually open. Bracing herself to try standing, she immediately collapsed back to the ground, a searing pain burning down her right side. As a soft groan escaped her lips, she lit her horn with a weak glow and peered at the dull rock walls surrounding her. “Clever pony. But you must know that this place won’t hold me forever.” Discord smirked at her as he stepped from the shadows. “Doesn’t need to.” Twilight looked along her bruised and battered body, then let her head sink to the cold granite as her light died. “My friends will be here soon.” Remnants of illumination danced in front of her eyes as a wave of lightheadedness washed over her. “You’re in no condition to do anything about it. And what threat will your pathetic little friends pose without their precious Element of Magic?” Twilight could practically hear his expression of glee. “Your magic can’t reach through stone. And there’s an awful lot of it here.” “I can move. And I have claws. It may take me a hundred years, but I’ll dig my way out eventually. You should have teleported me into a more draconequus-shaped space.” “I can’t be that precise over this distance. That’s why I’m even here with you. I had to make sure I didn’t miss and put you outside somewhere.” Twilight winced again at the pain in her sides and the throbbing in her skull as her head swum, once again descending toward unconsciousness. She heard an evil chuckle and one last remark in the darkness. “Oh, I’m the only one who’s ever getting out of here.” -------- Luna bent low to examine Sweetie Belle’s cutie mark, wrinkling her nose at the faint vertigo it caused. “This is… horribly unnatural,” she said, looking up at Celestia. “How did it even get here?” “Discord did something to her. I don’t know what,” Trixie replied. “That was before he got to me.” She looked away from the assembled ponies and hung her head. “I just know that it lets her control demons.” Nodding, Luna beckoned her sister over. “This will take both of us.” Her horn’s glow enveloped Sweetie Belle as Luna tried to get a feel for the magic that had been infused in her. As Luna loomed over her and Celestia looked on, Sweetie Belle’s eyelids fluttered open. She stifled a scream and charged her horn, but Rarity moved in front of her and grabbed her by the shoulders. “No, Sweetie Belle! They only mean to help you!” Rarity shouted as she fought back the rising wave of nausea. Sweetie Belle shook her head as she backed against the hedge. “No! They’re going to kill me!” “No they won’t!” Rarity said, looking her sister in the eye. “Discord lied to you. That should come as no surprise. Nopony will hurt you. I wouldn’t allow it,” she added, directing a pointed look at the Princesses. “But… Discord told me there was only one pony that had this talent before… and Celestia had him killed.” Sweetie Belle gulped as her heart raced. Stepping forward, Celestia knelt down next to her. “Sweetie Belle,” she said in her gentlest tone, “I have never seen anything like this before. It is not a real cutie mark. We have to remove it. I promise no harm will come to you.” Seeing her sister add an encouraging nod, Sweetie Belle forced a smile and allowed her magic to dissipate. “Discord gave you a real ability, but he could control it,” Luna explained. “It would be foolish to allow that influence over you to remain. However,” she added, “the fact remains that such a power has been forced upon you. You may well retain it to some degree, perhaps permanently.” Sweetie Belle hesitantly lay down on her side as Rarity held her in a hug. A moment later, Luna and Celestia had flared their horns to a fiery intensity and touched them to the pentacle on Sweetie Belle’s flank. A shower of red sparks immediately shot up from it as the air rippled with distortions, the red star hissing and seething its defiance. The cutie mark’s crimson glow intensified, pushing the Princesses back. Fighting to maintain their footing, the alicorns’ hooves left deep scratches in the turf. “Rarity!” Celestia shouted into the swirling wind. “Please help! We need every bit of magic we can collect.” “How…?” Rarity replied as she frowned down at her sister, who had begun trembling. “Just add whatever energy you can.” Luna took her eyes off Sweetie Belle for a moment and waited for Rarity’s gaze to meet her own. “We can redirect it.” Nodding, Rarity gulped and brought her magic to bear. As soon as she did, the magical resistance pushed her away as well, but her effort had enabled the Princesses to creep forward slowly once more. “Trixie!” Celestia called. Fluttershy let out a whimper, barely above the sound of the wind. “No… Her bandages…” Before Fluttershy could act, however, Trixie had struggled to her hooves and added her own stream of energy. In response, Sweetie Belle’s pentacle flared even brighter until nopony could look at it. Luna gritted her teeth and closed her eyes, straining to get close enough to touch her horn to the cutie mark again. Flapping her wings hard to get that last bit of momentum, she finally reached it. The sound of breaking glass echoed throughout the garden as red shards erupted into the air. Everypony stood transfixed for a moment, looking at the glittering fragments as they drifted slowly earthward and faded to ash, finally borne off by the now-subdued breeze. When she had returned to her senses, Rarity whipped her head back toward Sweetie Belle. “Are you okay?” Her mouth hung open as she tried to slow her panting. Sweetie Belle opened one eye, and glanced down at her side. Looking up at her sister, she gave a weak nod as her eyes welled with tears. “I’m sorry…” Rarity leaned in and hugged Sweetie Belle tightly. “I’m just glad we’ve got that all sorted out.” She backed off a little, letting a few of her own tears dot the grass. “I’ve just been… so worried about you lately, and…” “I thought I finally had it. My cutie mark…” Sweetie Belle averted her eyes as she sniffled. Just as she was leaning back in for another hug, Rarity turned toward the sound of a clearing throat behind her. “We must act quickly,” Luna said, “on Twilight’s behalf. I do not know how long she can hold out. It is reasonable to assume she is not safe.” “You know where she’s gone?” Applejack asked, stepping forward. Luna nodded. “I can teleport us there, to the center of Dragon Mountain. It would make the thickest stone walls in all of Equestria.” As the assembled ponies gasped, Luna continued. “We must bring the Elements with us, but first, we must locate the Element of Magic.” Sweetie Belle’s mouth hung open momentarily as she tried to force the words out. Finally, she grimaced and let out a small sob. “I—” “I have it,” Trixie said, glancing over at Sweetie Belle. “And I’m coming with you.” “How’d you get that?” asked Applejack, raising an eyebrow. Trixie set her jaw. “Discord,” she growled, bracing a hoof to stand. “Whoa, whoa!” cried Applejack as she blocked Trixie’s path. “You’ve done plenty already, sugarcube. You need to rest.” Luna looked over to Trixie. “Your friend”—Trixie’s head jerked up and her eyes widened at the use of that word—“is correct. You must remain behind.” Trixie’s mouth continued to hang open as she glanced back and forth between a smiling Applejack and Luna. Finally, she removed her hat, reached in a hoof, and pulled out the crown. “Who’ll use it?” she asked as Luna levitated it toward herself. “With any luck, Twilight Sparkle,” Luna said as a glow resurged from her horn, growing to envelop the five assembled Elements. She then glanced at Celestia’s trembling knees. “Rest, sister. We shall return shortly.” Just before the teleport spell took hold, Trixie lurched forward into Luna’s side, with Sweetie Belle close behind. -------- Twilight stirred to the sound of scratching. It took her a moment in the total darkness to realize that her eyes were actually open. She attempted to stand, but the burning pain in her side sent her back to the ground, stars dancing in her vision. “Awake again?” The scratching halted and footsteps approached her. “You’ve been out for about two hours, and I’ve already gotten a good quarter-inch closer to freedom. I should be out in… oh, eighty years or so. Blink of an eye.” Twilight didn’t reply. She lay her head back on the ground and considered trying out a few of the healing spells she knew, but they took too long to work, and any glow from her horn, no matter how faint, would shine like a beacon in this black void. Forcing her breathing to slow, she concentrated on getting what rest she could. The frigid stone actually felt good. Out of the shadows, she could see Spike approaching with a nice, tall glass of water. Perfect! That’ll hit the spot. She wriggled off the spot that her body heat had warmed a bit to get more of that pleasant sensation. It wasn’t until a few beads of sweat had trickled across her face that she regained any semblance of clarity. Pain flared along her ribs, but it soon faded into blissful numbness once more as Spike set the glass down next to her. As she reached for it, a bright light sliced through the image, and she squinted at the blurry figures in the distance. Surrounded by multicolored spots, a central midnight-blue blotch registered in her mind just before everything went black. Luna flashed into existence in the center of the cavern amid seven other ponies. As soon as she had materialized, Trixie sank back to her knees and met Discord’s glare, illuminated with the full light of Luna’s magic. Trixie staggered back to her hooves and galloped to Twilight’s side. Brushing Twilight’s forelock up, she ran a foreleg across Twilight’s cheek. “She’s burning up! It must be shock.” Discord stood with his arms crossed and smirked at Luna. “Oh, dear,” he said, clicking his tongue as he puffed out his lower lip. “You seem to be one Element shy of a set. Tragic.” Luna glanced back and forth between the crown she had floating in front of herself and Twilight. Upon catching sight of it, Discord’s eyes shot wide open. He managed to close his gaping jaw, then glared at Trixie. Turning toward Twilight, he swung his talon at her, keeping it on target even through the fresh source of light that threatened to distract him. “Stop, Discord!” Sweetie Belle yelled as her horn blazed. His arm halting in mid-swipe, Discord grunted as he strained against the magic that confined him. Claws inched forward through the glow that enveloped them as Sweetie Belle squeezed her eyes shut. “I said stop!” Discord growled as he struggled to keep his claw moving toward Twilight. He raised his arm in a sweeping gesture. “Behind me, everypony!” Luna shouted as she conjured a shield to deflect the wall of flame he sent their way. Most of the Elements managed to duck behind her, but the thinner edge of the barrier was only partially successful, allowing the inferno to singe the tips of Trixie’s and Sweetie Belle’s manes. Trixie flipped her cape up in time to ward off the last of the heat, then tugged the Element of Magic away from Luna and set it gently on Twilight’s head. “C’mon, Twilight,” she rasped. With one final snarl, Discord jerked his arm backward and free of Sweetie Belle’s magic. Trixie lowered her head and closed her eyes, and soon there were a dozen copies of her dodging and feinting around Discord from all sides. While they had him distracted, she bit down on Twilight’s tail and tried to drag her over toward Luna, but she felt a renewed burning on her side as a fresh streak of red soaked through her bandages. The other five Elements rushed over to help pull Twilight over to Luna, but Discord had finished slashing his way through all of the impostors and grabbed Twilight, hefting her over his shoulder. “No. She stays with me.” Twilight’s crown clattered to the ground and rolled in front of Trixie. She looked up to where Twilight’s glazed eyes had opened halfway and stared unfocused at the wall. “Yes, Princess Celestia,” she mumbled, “this is my friend, Trixie.” Her breath caught in her throat, Trixie glanced back down at the crown in time to see Applejack scoop it up. Applejack shoved it over Trixie’s hat and looked her in the eye. “It’s gotta be you, sugarcube,” she said with a fierce smile. “B-but… I…” “The magic works through friendship. Twi said so herself,” said Applejack, pointing a hoof toward Twilight. “I heard what she said. You gotta believe it.” Trixie shook her head and gulped. “When she saw you in need and shared a meal with you. When she gave you a place to sleep. How’d that make you feel?” Applejack patted her shoulder. Looking past Applejack, Trixie saw four other faces grinning back. “Think about it. Remember how it felt.” Trixie hesitated, then gave a small nod. She focused on that unfamiliar warmth, keeping her concentration even as a voice rang out next to her. “You put her down!” Sweetie Belle shouted, and Discord’s body once more lurched to a halt. He whipped his head around and gaped at the whirlwind that had formed around Trixie. Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Fluttershy all hung in midair, their necklaces streaming light. Trixie raised her head, but kept her eyes shut, tears dripping from her muzzle as little fits of laughter sounded through her blissful smile. As Discord shielded his eyes from the increasing glow, Sweetie Belle threw her shoulder into him, knocking Twilight loose. Sweetie Belle dove under her limp form to take the brunt of the impact. Trixie closed her eyes against the still-growing brightness, but it cut right through her eyelids. The rest of her senses died away, only the radiating warmth left to sweep over her in the sudden stillness. With a final flash, everything went black once more. -------- Trixie limped into the garden and weaved her way among the statues until she took her place in the group already seated in the center. A tall statue of a dranconequus loomed over them, and next to it, smiling stone faces of Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy. As well as Sweetie Belle and Trixie. She gasped when she recognized her own likeness staring back at her. “Feelin’ better, sugarcube?” Applejack asked. “Yes.” Trixie blushed and looked down at the grass. “I just don’t think I should have been part of that,” she added, waving a hoof at her statue. “I caused half the trouble myself.” “Actually, Discord caused every last bit of the trouble. And he still gets a statue.” Celestia walked over to the assembled ponies and beamed at them. “I am glad you could all be here. I wanted you to be the first to see it before we did the public dedication.” “Uh… Princess? Is it a good idea… you know… to leave Discord out here again?” Fluttershy asked from behind her mane. “I mean… with what happened the last two times…” Celestia chuckled and held a hoof to her chest. “Oh, that is not the real Discord. He is still at the center of Dragon Mountain. I thought that would be a wise precaution.” “Then what…?” Rainbow Dash asked, jabbing a hoof toward his likeness. Luna strode over with a broad grin on her face. “That would be my doing. I fashioned both of these out of that mound of rock Twilight left here. It just seemed like too good an opportunity to pass up.” Her ears pricking toward her own likeness, Rarity craned her neck to see around the side of the pedestal. “What is that? Over there…” She rose to her hooves and took a few tentative steps toward some scratches she could see in the stone. Upon closer inspection, they read: May include Tom or Tom by-products. Rarity’s face turned a deep red, and she began to shake. Behind her, Rainbow Dash fell over onto her back, laughing uncontrollably. “I thought we all agreed never to speak of that again!” Rarity shot as she whipped her head around. She let out a low growl. “Nice,” Pinkie said as Rainbow managed to roll upright and slap hooves with her in one fluid motion. “You come back here this instant!” Rarity shouted as she ran after the fleeing pegasus. Applejack chuckled for a moment, then patted Fluttershy on the shoulder. “I had a nice, long talk with some o’ the ponies in town. They feel bad about how they treated you, and… well, they wanted to say they were sorry. We’ve arranged for Pinkie to throw you a ‘welcome back’ party. That is, if you can forgive ’em.” “Oh, I was never angry,” Fluttershy replied with a soft smile. “I was just afraid for my animals. But if everypony promises to be more understanding with them…” Applejack nodded. “Yeah, they do. And so do I.” Leaping at Fluttershy, Pinkie nearly tackled her with a hug. “This is going to be the best ‘we’re sorry, Fluttershy’ party ever!” She held a hoof to her chin and squinted. “Of course, it’s the only one of those I can think of… but that still makes it the best!” “And how about you, Trixie?” Twilight asked. “Will you stay in town this time?” Trixie sighed and shook her head. “I appreciate what you taught me. All of you,” she added, sweeping her hoof around the group. “You’ll always hold a special place with me. I just need to spend some time thinking about what’s happened. Fix up my old wagon. Decide what’s next for me. But I’ll come back from time to time.” She leaned over to hug Twilight and whispered in her ear, “You’ll never know what it means that you stood up for me. You’re right—there’s power in friendship, and I need to understand it. I’ll visit, though.” She patted Twilight’s hoof. “You’ll certainly have a lot to tell your friends when they get back,” Twilight said to Sweetie Belle. “Yeah, but they’re gonna come back with their cutie marks. I’ll still be left behind.” “Nuh-uh,” Applejack replied. “Just got a letter from Apple Bloom a few days ago. She’ll be home next week, and still a blank flank. Though I don’t know ’bout Scootaloo.” “And how many of your friends can say they have a statue at the palace?” Twilight added. Sweetie Belle sighed. It hadn’t turned out so bad after all. She still had a strange ability to control some magical creatures—she’d already tried it on Philomena while she was here, but no luck. She also had a very unique adventure. But she couldn’t help thinking that it would have all been better if she’d just had the super-boring summer she was afraid of. What good had come of any of this? For a moment, Sweetie Belle watched Trixie smiling and looking around at everypony there. She had to grin herself, and when Celestia caught her eye and nodded at her… Well, maybe things did have a way or working out for the better. “I’m gonna try to catch up to my sister. See you all back in Ponyville for the party?” she asked. Everypony nodded back, and she started toward the entrance, but she felt a hoof on her shoulder. She turned to see Trixie, who wrapped her in a hug that lingered much longer than she would have expected. A new friend. Yeah. Definitely better than boredom.