//------------------------------// // The Return of The Elements of Harmony // Story: The Return of Disharmony // by RachWrites //------------------------------// Twilight healed Spike of his discorded state right after realizing Discord had escaped. Spike shook his head and looked at Twilight with surprise. He looked like somepony waking up from a bad dream. "W-What happened, Twilight?" Spike asked deliriously. It seemed he had no recollection of himself before his healing as Twilight told him what had happened with Luna. She herself couldn't remember what happened while she was in Discord's control. "Twilight, how come Discord escaped? Doesn't he want to rule Equestria? Why didn't he just stay and get rid of Luna while he had the chance?" Spike asked. Twilight thought about this for a while, it was a valid point. Why would Discord suddenly leave when he had two of the most powerful ponies in Equestria right in his grasp. "Maybe he was afraid...Luna did look really angry." Twilight said, shuddering as she remembered. Spike tilted his head. "She did?" He asked. Twilight laughed, she guessed he didn't see her furious look at Discord, or hadn't cared at the time. Twilight smiled at Spike's frown and hugged him close. "I'm so glad you're back, Spike." Twilight said. Spike laughed happily as he hugged Twilight back, she was alright! Twilight and Spike made their way to Sugar-Cube Corner in a rush. They had to get rid of Discord, and the only way to do that was to get their friends back one way or the other. Twilight had hoped Pinkie Pie would be the easiest, but getting closer to the bakery she wasn't too sure of this anymore. Her doubts were confirmed when she opened the door and a gray looking Mrs. Cake opened the door. "What do you two want!?" Mrs.Cake demanded as Twilight and Spike strode in. "Um.. Well we're looking for Pinkie Pie." Twilight replied. She had no idea of what discorded Mrs.Cake was like so she decided to tread carefully. "She's upstairs... Don't see why you need that useless girl though. She hasn't stopped cryin' since this whole thing started." She replied angrily. Twilight blinked in surprise. She had no idea that Mrs.Cake could be so mean, but then again she was probably in control of Discord so Twilight didn't take her too seriously. "Thanks! I'll just uh, go upstairs then!" Twilight replied. Winking at Spike she and him rushed up the stairs towards Pinkie's room. Pinkie was feeling so sad now. Her anger had decreased and was now a very deep depression. She was on her bed and she was crying when she suddenly heard a knock on the door. And a voice, a very familiar voice. Her ears perked when her name was called. "Pinkie!! It's me, Twilight! I'm here to help you!!" Twilight called, hoping Pinkie would open the door. Pinkie sighed and rolled over, she was not falling for this again. Her mind couldn't control her anymore. She was better than that. The Twilight she knew and loved was gone and all her other friends too. "Go away!! I don't listen to you anymore!" Pinkie cried. She put her hooves on top of her head, like she was trying to muffle a sound. She thought the voices were inside of her head, but they weren't this time. "Pinkie.. ugh this is ridiculous!" Twilight exclaimed. She sighed and rolled her eyes and Spike looked worriedly at her. "What if she doesn't come out?" He asked. Twilight had a plan for this outcome. She bucked the door with all her might and it slammed open. Pinkie was on the bed and she looked at Twilight with awe. She really was there, and she looked diffrent, she looked better! Pinkie's smile was small at first but it grew larger as Twilight hit her with her new and improved memory spell. This gave Pinkie all of her old memories, everything she had done with her friends came flooding back to her and she beamed as all her color came back and her mane poofed up again. "Oh, thank Celestia!!! I was soooo tired of being all gray and sad all the time!!" Pinkie exclaimed as she hugged Twilight. Twilight's eyes widened and she sighed, Pinkie was only being Pinkie after all. "Well, I'm glad you're back Pinkie! But we have to help the others too!" Twilight replied. Pinkie smiled brightly and nodded. She Twilight and Spike walked out of her bedroom, Pinkie was leading and she was hopping. Twilight was so glad she was back to normal. AppleJack was next on Twilight's list. She seemed pretty easy to deal with, what with Pinkie's logic to back her up. But she was wrong. A.J. was lying constantly and it was really annoying. Twilight gritted her teeth as AppleJack continued on with another dumb lie. "Did y'all know pigs can fly!? Ah've seen it myself." She exclaimed and Pinkie groaned. "Make it stop!!" She cried. Twilight laughed and A.J scowled at her. "What are yeh doin' here, Twilight? Ah thought Discord had made you his minion." She asked. Twilight smiled confidently. "I broke his spell and I'm gonna do the same for you AppleJack. Pinkie get her." Twilight said nodding to Pinkie who smiled brightly. Pinkie laughed as she grabbed a piece of rope and began to twirl it like a lasso. AppleJack saw this and her eyes widened. "Oh no you 'aint!" She shouted. She tried to get away, but Pinkie was too fast for her and she caught her quickly. AppleJack grunted as her haunches hit the floor. She struggled against the tight knots. Twilight walked over to her cautiously, she had no idea if this spell would work again but it was worth a try. She closed her eyes and concentrated on AppleJack's forehead. Her horn began to glow and she cast the spell. It seemed to have worked. AppleJack had stopped struggling and was now smiling a little smile just like Pinkie had done before her, but hers didn't grow quite as much as she regained her right colors and her memories. "What in Equestria is goin' on here, Twi?" She asked as she got up. Twilight laughed joyfully and gave A.J a tight hug, surprised A.J hugged her right back. "Seriously though, what's up?" She asked again. Twilight giggled and she along with Pinkie told her all she needed to know as the gang headed out to Fluttershy's cottage, for Fluttershy was going to be a lot harder to get back to normal Twilight thought. Fluttershy was nowhere to be seen. Her cottage looked empty and Twilight sighed. "Are yeah sure she's here, Twilight?" AppleJack asked for the second time. Twilight sighed with annoyance. "Yes, I'm sure. She wouldn't go too far away from her cottage." Twilight replied. But the truth was, she wasn't so sure. Fluttershy she knew, but Discorded Fluttershy? That was a whole other playing field and she was a little worried. Spike noticed this and smiled at her encouragingly. Twilight smiled back, she was so grateful for Spike. She wondered if he knew how much she cared. "Don't worry Twilight, you can do it!!" Spike said, pumping his fist in the air. Both Pinkie and AppleJack nodded at her and Twilight sucked in a breath as she opened the door of Fluttershy's cottage nervously. The room was pitch black and there wasn't any sound. Twilight's heart was beating a mile a minute as she walked into the dark living room. She used her magic to make an orb of light glow on the tip of her horn and she gasped as she saw Fluttershy right in front of her. She had an evil smirk on her face and she laughed. "BOO!!" Fluttershy cried. Twilight screamed and Pinkie and AppleJack heard it from outside of the cottage and came rushing in to aid their friend. Pinkie shielded her with her body and AppleJack did little circles around the two of them. "Ooh, I see you brought our friends. Gee, did you need a good laugh, Twilight?'' Fluttershy asked with a pointed look at Pinkie. "Hey!! That's not very nice!" Pinkie shouted. Twilight stared at Fluttershy and she starred back at her. "Darn it, Fluttershy! Come back to me!" Twilight snapped. Fluttershy just laughed. "Do you really think you can beat me at staring!? I'm the world champ!" She replied. AppleJack whistled. "Ah think that sounds an awful lot like a challenge." She exclaimed. Twilight gulped. A starring contest!? What had she gotten herself into!? The contest had lasted for about an hour or so. Twilight was surprised at how long she held out, she guessed her reading so many books helped. She had finally gotten Fluttershy to hold still and, with the help of Pinkie holding her down she cast the spell on her. It worked almost instantaneously and Fluttershy gasped and flew into the air, making Pinkie and Twilight fall over backwards from the force. "Ooh!!! Goodness, what happened!? Is everypony okay!?" She asked, her voice very high. Twilight laughed with Pinkie as she flapped down to her friends. They all got into a group hug and walked out of the cottage. Spike was there waiting for them. "Good job ,Twilight! I knew you could do it!!" Spike said when he noticed Fluttershy. Twilight giggled as she watched Fluttershy give Spike a huge hug that squished the small dragon. "Thanks, Spike but it wasn't just me. Everypony helped." She replied. Spike gasped for air and nodded as Fluttershy guiltily let him go. She smiled at Twilight and walked beside her. "Who are we gonna help next?" She asked timidly. Twilight sighed, this pony might be a little more challenging. "Rarity of course." She replied as they walked. Fluttershy squeaked. Rarity and Sweetie Belle were arguing as the group tried to get into the Boutique. The door was stuck and it took all of them pushing on the front door to make it open just slightly. Twilight's eyes widened in horror and in awe. The place was almost full of gemstones. It looked like there was hardly any room left to stand in the place. Every single type of gem was scattered throughout the room and Rarity and Sweetie Belle were standing in the middle of it. "I don't care if you need your bedroom for sleeping!! I need it for my gems!!" Rarity complained. Sweetie groaned and stomped her hoof, sending gems flying. "Oh come on!! Don't you see you have pretty much filled all of the rooms here!? It's like we're swimming in them!" She replied angrily. "Well I digress. I need that room! This place isn't big enough!" Rarity demanded rather lamely. Sweetie just rolled her eyes. She brightened a little when she heard the door creak. She tried to wade through all the gems to get to it and Rarity followed, she wasn't through with her yet. "I also need a room for Tom! I don't want you and your little friends dirty hooves all over him! He's too valuable just to be left in the middle of a room!!'' Rarity cried. Sweetie groaned and she finally got to the door. "You do realize Tom's a boulder, right Rare?" AppleJack said as Sweetie opened the door. Sweetie Belle laughed as she looked at Rarity's face as she opened the door. Her friends were all there and Rarity couldn't stand the sight of them, they had all abandoned her. But she didn't need them anymore. She had her gems, her precious precious gems... "HELLO!! Earth pony to Rarity!!'' Pinkie cried. She waved a hoof in front of Rarity's face and Rarity sighed as she saw her. She was the most annoying of the bunch, she didn't need her right now. She was already stressed out. "Girls, you came to help me move my gems!! How sweet... but nopony takes any of 'em!! They're all mine I say!! MINE!!" Rarity exclaimed, her eye twitching at the end of her rant. Pinkie flinched back and her ears drooped and she giggled nervously as Twilight stepped forward. "Alright, Rarity... Are we gonna do this the easy way or the hard way?" She asked. Rarity glared at Twilight for a while, she had no idea what she was going on about but she didn't really care. She sighed and picked up a gemstone with her magic and started to rub it gently, making it shine. "Twilight, darling I really do have no idea what you're talking about.'' She replied. "But if you ever would be so kind and could-" Rarity was cut off as Twilight hit her with a spell. It wasn't a painful spell, it was sort of nice. Her body began to glow and change back into its original white and she regained her memories. "Oh my, Celestia!! How did all of these gems get here!?" Rarity asked incredulously. The girls all laughed and hugged her close. Her sister was included in this hug and she hugged her hardest of all. "Oh, Sweetie I'm so sorry! Let's promise never to speak of this again!" She said . Sweetie Belle laughed and hugged her sister. Her coloring was also coming back. "It's okay, Rarity!" She replied. The girls and Spike all laughed for a while before Twilight realized who was left, she would most definitly be the most difficult to help. Rainbow Dash. Rainbow was in Cloudsdale napping, well it wasn't exactly Cloudsdale. It was a cloud she thought was Cloudsdale. But she had successfully saved her Pegasi brethren and she had taken an exhausted nap afterwords, she deserved it for being so awesome. She was right in the middle of an awesome Daring Do dream, starring herself as Daring of course; when she was rudely woken up by a yell. Huh, that sounds like Twilight... I thought she had given up. She thought. Her thoughts were confirmed when she opened up her eyes and saw all of her friends looking up at her. Twilight was smiling at her. "Oh, hey guys!" She said waving a forearm and turning around nonchalantly. Twilight's smile grew bigger. "Rainbow! Can you come down!? We need your help!" Twilight called. Rainbow stiffened and turned around. "What for?" She asked. Twilight sighed and rolled her eyes. "Uh, we need your element of harmony to help save Ponyville, remember?'' Twilight said. She was trying to invoke memories of what had happened with Discord, but it seemed not to work. Rainbow just laughed and smiled. "Why would I help you guys!?" She said. "I'm staying here in Cloudsdale, where everything's awesome!!" Rarity rolled her eyes. "How can she think that tiny cloud is Cloudsdale?" She asked. AppleJack snickered. "The same way Discord got ya to believe that big ol' rock was a diamond!" She replied with a smirk. Rarity's eyes widened. "I thought we promised never to speak of that again!!" She replied with a huff. AppleJack laughed and Pinkie smiled. Fluttershy looked at Twilight with concern. "How are we going to get her down, Twilight?" She asked softly. Twilight thought about this for a moment, there was only one possible way. If Rainbow would come down to them... They would have to go up to her. Wouldn't they? Twilight's eyes sparked as she got an idea. The girls looked at her with a curious expression. "Girls, I know how to get Rainbow back!" She exclaimed. Twilight's plan was simple, really. They had all gotten into an air balloon and they were now in the sky. Rainbow was still on the cloud but she noticed them and took off right when they got near her, but Twilight was prepared for this. "AppleJack! Throw a rope!!" She called. AppleJack nodded and threw a rope out like a lasso, she tried to catch the speeding Rainbow but she missed as she dogdged quite easily. "That's the best you could do!?" Rainbow shouted from behind her. AppleJack gritted her teeth and tried again. This time though her rope was attached to Pinkie's leg and Pinkie was right beside Rarity. They both got caught up in the rope and the two mares squealed. "Pinkie-ee!! I thought you secured the ropes!" Rarity squealed dangling from the basket beside Pinkie. Pinkie giggled awkwardly. "Heh, oops." She replied with a sheepish look. "That was the second last rope, there's only one more left, Twi!!" AppleJack called over the wind. "Well, we'll have to make it count!! Fluttershy, you have to fly faster!!!" Twilight demanded. "Yes Fluttershy dear, you need to fly faster!!" Rarity called from the basket. Poor Fluttershy was already flying the fastest she had in years and she squeaked when Twilight yelled this. "I-I c-can't." She replied with a squeak. Twilight groaned. "If you don't then Discord will win again!!" Twilight yelled. This sparked something in Fluttershy and she growled, chewing on the rope. "That. Big. Fat. MEANIE!!!" She yelled as she kicked up a burst of sudden speed. Twilight yelped in surprise as the basket lurched forward. She smiled and cheered along with the others as Fluttershy continued her pace. "Woohoo!! That's our girl!" AppleJack hollered. Twilight laughed happily as they closed in on Rainbow. They were almost close enough.... "NOW APPLEJACK!!" Twilight screeched. AppleJack complied and threw the lasso. It landed around Rainbow's neck and Twilight fist pumped as the she came to a stop. "Alright girls, we got her!" AppleJack said happily as the balloon came to a stop. Twilight smiled as the balloon began to descend. Maybe they'd actually have a chance. Discord muttered to himself as he walked back and forth in front of his throne. Things had taken a surprisingly bad turn, and right when things were going so well. He had no idea how, but somehow Luna had managed to save Twilight. It was infuriating. "I mean come on!! How could anypony believe that after all this time... Luna has got not one last bit of hatred left for her sister. She said so herself a thousand years is a long time.'' He said angrily stomping about. He sighed and plopped on his chair. He snapped his fingers and a glass appeared. Well if I am going to be defeated, might as well do it with some class. He thought as he poured chocolate milk out of the cotton candy cloud. "There you are Discord!" Twilight called. Discord spit the chocolate milk out of his mouth and stared. Twilight and all of her friends were standing about three feet away from him and they all were back to normal. Twilight's spell had worked on Rainbow and she smiled brightly at him. "Surprised to see me, Discord?" She asked with a grin. Discord sputtered and gulped. The ponies were all glaring at him, they all had their respective Elements on. "We're not afraid of you anymore Discord!" AppleJack yelled out. The girls all nodded and Twilight smiled. "Well, well, well... Congratulations, Twilight.'' Discord said, clapping his hands on every 'well.' Twilight scoffed. Discord smiled evilly. "I'm sure you know of the state your Princess is in right now, Twilight." He said. Twilight nodded sadly and the girls gave her questioning looks. "What's wrong with the Princess, Twilight?" Rainbow asked. Twilight shivered nervously and Discord laughed out loud. "You mean you haven't told them!? You haven't told them that the Princess is dying because of you!? Wow, Twilight some friend you are. I mean really." Discord jeered. Twilight squeaked as her friends gave her a look. It wasn't an angry or mean look, it was more of a disappointed look. "W-well.. I was gonna tell you guys but.'' Twilight was cut off by AppleJack who smiled at her. "It don't matter now, Twilight. 'Cause we're gonna whop Discord and give 'em a one-two!" AppleJack exclaimed, making Twilight smile in relief. "Yeah!! Discord's goin' down!!" Pinkie replied, copying AppleJack. Twilight and Rarity laughed and Rainbow smirked. Discord's eyes almost fell out of his head, why weren't they fighting? Didn't they even care that their Princess was dying!? Twilight saw Discords look of disbelief and she smiled she had got him surprised, this was what she needed. She grinned as her friends all came around her, getting in position. "Why? Why are you all such great friends even though Twilight has done all this wrong?" Discord asked, still in shock. Twilight smiled. "Because, Discord. We're friends for life and they know I've done wrong.. but I'm about to correct this wrong. That is why my friends still are my friends." Twilight replied. Her friends all nodded and Twilight's eyes welled up with tears. She was just so thankful for them all. Discord scowled and sighed, clearly annoyed. "Oh, well get on with it then." He knew this couldn't possibly work. His eyed Twilight suspiciously as her eyes became bright, white orbs and she began to float in the air. Discord watched, now amazed as the five friends surrounding Twilight began to do the same thing. "You know what I've learned Discord?" Twilight said, her eyes were still glowing. Discord shuddered and shook his head, he wondered briefly if Twilight could see him still. He did this anyways. "I have learned that there is no doubt that friendship is worth fighting for, no matter how bad or bleak things may seem it is your true friends that will always be there for you. You're friends will always be there no matter what!" She exclaimed. Discord howled out as Twilight and her friends zapped him with a rainbow that came from their elements. The rainbow collided with Discord and he continued to scream in pain as he turned to stone. He was completely solid when the ponies were though. Discord's magic had vanished along with him, a net of bright light white had appeared along with the rainbow and it had covered Ponyville, the light had changed everything back to normal. Twilight smiled as her hooves hit the ground and her friends all came up to her and hugged her tightly. "You did it Twilight!! You really did it!" Fluttershy exclaimed with a smile. Twilight smiled back and hugged her. "No, we all did it girls... All of us together as friends." She replied. Rainbow broke the hug off suddenly. "Hey, what about the Princess?" She asked. Twilight gulped she hadn't thought of that. She shuddered of the trouble she was bound to be in and she sighed as she walked with her friends towards her library. "I'm not sure, Rainbow. I hope she is okay." Celestia awoke with a gasp and Luna was standing over her, smiling. "Oh thank goodness you're alright!" Luna exclaimed nuzzling her. Celestia smiled as she got up and nuzzled her back. "How long was I asleep?'' She asked worriedly. Luna thought about that, Discord hadn't ruled for too long, but it was long enough for her to lose track of the time. Worring about 'Tia didn't help much either. "I think about a week, but I'm not sure." She replied. Celestia gasped and started to pace. "A WEEK!? Where was my faithful student during all of this!? Why wasn't she doing something about it? About Discord?" Celestia replied angrily. Luna chuckled nervously, this was going to be hard to explain. "Yes, well about that. Sister, Twilight and her friends all got corrupted by Discord's magic, so they couldn't be counted on to save Equestria. Twilight had to be snapped out of it by me. I almost used Plan B." She explained. Plan B had failed. That was what the reforming spell was for, but thankfully Luna didn't have to use it on Twilight. She and Celestia only used it in extreme emergencies. "What!? You almost used the reforming spell!? What were you thinking?" Celestia replied. The reforming spell was not used often, and it was very powerful and advanced magic that only the two sisters could properly perform together. She was only concerned about Luna's safety and she said so. Luna smiled in return to this. "But I didn't use it, dear sister. I didn't have to. Twilight heard my little speech about you and how much I loved you and that snapped her out of it." Luna replied Celestia's eyes widened and she walked over to her sister and hugged her close. "You don't hate me still, do you Luna?" She asked softly. Luna thought about how to answer this. While it was true that sometimes the memories of what her sister did angered and bothered her, she knew that she did what she did back then for a reason. The ponies of Equestria had to have sunlight, or else they would all have starved and it would've been her fault. "Well, no I don't still hate you. I don't think I really ever did hate you precisely, I just hated the fact that everypony was afraid of us." Luna replied. Celestia's smile fell and she looked at her sister with tears in her eyes. "Luna. I promise you, nopony will have any reason to fear you now. You have grown up so much. I'm very proud of you, sister." She replied as she came in for another hug. Luna wept silently as she hugged her sister back for a long time. Twilight and Rainbow Dash were both pacing and their friends were following them with their eyes. Pinkie made a gulping noise and she cried out in a yelp. "Would you guys stop!? You're making me dizzy!!" She said. Twilight and Rainbow both did stop, at the same time. This made them collide into each other and they fell on their haunches with a grunt. "O-ouch." Twilight exclaimed, rubbing her now sore bottom. Rainbow got up and sighed, she was used to crashing. "When's the Princess gonna come? Spike said he'd sent that letter like thirty minutes ago!" She complained. Twilight groaned and looked at the clock. It had actually been an hour, they were all so nervous that time didn't seem to matter. "Well, hopefully she'll be here soon." Twilight replied with a sigh. She was actually terrified. Celestia appeared in a sudden flash of light. It had been another full hour before she had appeared and Twilight and her friends jumped in surprise. "Oh! Princess, you're alright!!" Twilight squealed. Celestia smiled a little smile at Twilight as she ran to her and gave her a nuzzle, she returned the nuzzle and she sighed. "Yes, Twilight. I am alright." She replied. Twilight sighed out in relief, she had been so worried that she almost felt sick. She grinned as Celestia's smile grew as she took in the sight of Twilight and her friends all standing around her. "Twilight, I am very proud of you." She exclaimed. Twilight's eyes widened and she beamed at Celestia. "You are?" She asked. "Of course I am, Twilight. Why wouldn't I be?" Celestia replied curiously. Twilight shifted uncomfortably and sighed after a while. "Well, I gave up. Discord won and he took away our friendship and we all left Equestria in his hands... and you were-you almost...." Twilight couldn't continue for she had begun to cry. Celestia thought about this and gave Twilight a sad smile. "Yes, you did. But I'm not proud of you for that. I'm proud of you because even with all of your challenges with Discord and thinking that your friends had given up on you, you stood up for your friend. Princess Luna called inside of you a spark and that spark made you remember friendship. I am proud of you for that." Celestia replied. Twilight gushed as the Princess walked over to her and gave her a tight hug. Twilight was still crying, but she was crying tears of joy now as all of her friends, including Spike, surrounded her in a giant group hug.