//------------------------------// // Chapter 1: Magic Minis and Cotton Candy Clouds // Story: The Disarray Trilogy Part 1: Of Harmony and Chaos // by Ink Blotch //------------------------------// The Disarray Trilogy Part one: Of Harmony and Chaos Written by Walker “Ink Blotch” Holden Edited by Joe Huang Chapter 1: Magic minis and cotton candy clouds In the heart of the mystical land of Equestria lay the small town of Ponyville. Renown for it's friendly inhabitants, sweet apple acres and most of all being the home of the bearers of the elements of harmony. Within Ponyville, atop of a a small, puffy, white cloud, sat a light blue pegasus with a rainbow mane, looking with pride at the beautiful day that had been her own doing. "Another job well done by Rainbow Dash!" the cocky pegasus exclaimed, continuing to look at her work. “Yep, don’t know what Ponyville would do without me. I guess I just have to-- HEY!” A cloud had lazily drifted over town, threatening to cast a shadow upon it's residents in the cobblestone streets on the gloriously sunny day. “Oh no you don’t!” Faster than a bolt of lightning, Dash had already flown to the cloud. She then pulled her arm back ready to deliver a devastating blow to the cloud. “This’ll show you to cross The Dash! Ha! I like the sound of that.” With the force of a stampeding buffalo, Rainbow launched her attack to the cloud. Without looking at her target’s fate, Rainbow brought her hoof up to smooth back her mane. “Yep, just goes to show you when you mess with the pegasus you get the-- huh?” It was now that Rainbow noticed that the cloud was stuck to her hoof and mane, and also that but the cloud was pink. “This cannot be happening!” Rainbow continued to pull and tug on her mane with no success. “Come on, come on!” After giving up on pulling the cloud out, Rainbow landed on a bench and began to think. Luckily the park where she landed was empty despite the sun so ni noise bothered Rainbow while she thought. Finally she came to a conclusion that gave her a smug smile. “Oh, of course. It’s so obvious. I’m dreaming. Okay, now I am going to close my eyes and count to three, and then I will be in my bed, just waking up in time to go get my work from the weather patrol office. Now then: one…two…three!” Rainbow opened her eyes, not to find her comfy cloud bed, but instead to be face to face with a pair of blue eyes on a happy pink face. “AH! Pinkie! Don’t scare me like that!” The Pink filly giggled at her friend’s reaction but happily apologized. “Sorry Dash, but I was walking in the park thinking what a beautiful day it was: the birds were chirping, the flowers blooming and fresh muffins being baked at Sugar Cube Corner. I was walking and walking and walking when I realized, ‘Uh oh, I forgot to eat breakfast!’ It was such a horrible tragedy that I almost panicked and flipped my lid, but then what do I see but my very bestest friend Rainbow Dash with a humongous, ooey gooey glob of cotton candy. Then I realized, hey, That isn’t just any cotton candy; it’s a cotton candy cloud. Only the tastiest thing I ever tasted. So I thought to myself ‘Hey self, just go over there and see if Dash will share!’ But then I thought, ‘That seems awful rude just to invite yourself to a friend’s treat!’ But then my tummy said ‘Pinkie. I am hungry. Feed me!’ Everypony knows that tummy knows best, so I caved and decided to come over and ask. So what do you say, Dashie old pal?” Rainbow Dash blinked a few times trying to register what Pinky had just said. The Pink pony talked faster than Rainbow could listen: an amazing feat against somepony like Rainbow Dash. “Uh… sure Pinkie. Go on ahead.” “Oh thanks Rainbow Dash. It’s been so long since I last ate that I was worried I would implode twice maybe even!” With that the pony started chewing at the pink cotton candy cloud attached to her friend. “So Pinkie, what do you think of this? I mean I recognize this, but last time it was Discord who created these things. You don’t think he's back do you?” Pinkie, her face now covered with cotton candy, pulled up for a gasp of air, looked at her friend, and jollily replied. “Don’t be silly Dash. Nopony gave him much credit but he was a pretty smart cookie. If he came back he wouldn’t start causing problems again. No, he would hide until everypony forgot about him; otherwise we could easily beat him again just like last time!” With that Pinkie went back in for more cotton candy. Dash gave a little tug and her hoof came free. Sticky, but free. “Well Pinkie, I guess what you’re saying makes sense, but I don’t think anypony would know how to even make a cotton candy cloud. It could be left over from last time, but I was for sure that Celestia’s spell would have cleaned up all traces of Discord. I guess the only thing to do would be take it or,” Dash looked up to her hungry friend gnawing on her mane. “What’s left of it at least… over to Twilight” Pinkie stopped herself from finishing off the last of the cotton candy and balled it up to show to Twilight. “Okay Dash, I’ll come with you. I have nowhere else to be… well except for Sugar Cube Corner and Applejack’s booth for zap apple jam and Zecora’s for a tummy ache remedy for Gummy and… Hey, I have a lot of places to be! Well sorry to eat and run Dash but I’ll catch up to you later.” With that Pinkie gave the ball of cotton candy to Rainbow and hopped off to Sugar Cube Corner. Rainbow Dash, wasting no time, flapped her wings and flew off to Twilight’s library. ************************************************************************************************************************************************************ “Okay Spike, now very carefully set the school house to the right, gently.” Twilight Sparkle and her assistant, Spike, were both standing around a large table, on which sat a model of Ponyville. It had taken three weeks, even with magic, to make the model, and it was nearly finished. All that was left was the schoolhouse and the little painted miniatures of everypony to put around town. She had everypony: herself, Spike, Rarity, Pinkie, Apple Jack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, the Cutie Mark Crusaders, Ms. Cherilee, Snips and snails. She had even made a little Derpy, complete with lazy eye. “Almost and… THERE, All done, Twilight, and I gotta say we did awesome!” “Well… I wouldn’t say that it is perfect, but it is well done.” The baby dragon rolled his eyes at his adopted sister. “Come on Twi, give yourself a little credit. It’s the best model of Ponyville there is!” “That’s because it is the only model of Ponyville there is.” “That’s what makes it so special. And these minis are amazing too. I mean just look at mine, you actually made it almot handsome as the real thing.” Spike leaned onto the table to get a closer look at the little him. “I mean just look at them, they look like they could just spring to life!” At those words, the little wooden dragon threw his arms up into a flexing pose and exclaimed in a small voice, “Looking good Spike, looking reeeal good!” “Whoa!” Twilight couldn’t control herself and broke out laughing at her little brother’s reaction to her charm. “Sorry Spike, I should have told you, but I knew it would be hilarious to see your reaction.” Twilight continued to giggle, making her brother turn a deeper shade of purple. “Come on Twilight, did you have to make it say that?” “Its okay, Spike. It says other things: it only says that when you talk to it. Go ahead, try out some others.” Spike, looking over the collection of minis, found the one he was looking for. “Hey Rarity, how you doing?” “Quite fine, Spike, thank you for asking.” “Whoa Twilight, I didn’t know you could make them know who's talking to them.” The purple unicorn had a hoof over her mouth, fighting back tears. “I can’t.” “Huh? But then how did it…” “Spike, it is considered rude to engage a lady in a conversation and then just ignore her.” Spike turned around to see Rarity wearing a purple sunhat and standing a few feet behind him. “Oh, Rarity, I didn’t see you come in! “But then whom were you talking to?” Spike, changing the subject, quickly said to Rarity, “You have got to see what Twilight made!” Rarity, peering over Spike, looked at the miniature Ponyville in awe. “Well Twilight, that is truly an amazing sight. What is the occasion for such an astounding project?” “Well, Mayor Mare asked me if I could make it for a display that will be in town hall. It’s almost finished; all I have to do is to have the mini ponies move out to their positions in town. Let’s see, the spell is in on this paper I wrote on… here!” With the muttering of a few words and the glow of her horn Twilight had made all the little ponies move throughout town to their usual spots. Apple Jack was setting up her stand with Big Macintosh in town square; Derpy was fluttering from door to door on her mail route; even the Cutie Mark Crusaders were running around Town Square. Spike and Rarity, needless to say, were in awe at the sight of their friend’s magic ability. Twilight wasn’t done yet though. “That isn’t all. Get this: the minis are enchanted to be wherever and do whatever the real things are!” Rarity’s brow furrowed. “Is this so…” The mini Sweetie Belle had just jumped into a very large mud puddle with the other Crusaders and was continuing to roll in it. “I have to go. I need to make sure Sweetie doesn’t foul up anything in my boutique. Oh, before I leave, can I borrow that book on historical fashion from a few weeks ago? I forgot to make some notes on a section on saddle bag accessories.” “Of course, Spike, would you please?” “Already got it covered, Twi.” Spike, with a faraway look on his face, pranced up to Rarity, book in claw. “Why thank you, Spike. Now then, if you will excuse me I need to speak to my sister.” Rarity, eying the model on the way out, didn’t notice the door was already open and almost crashed into Rainbow Dash. “Oh sorry, dear. Also, you must see what Twilight has made.” “Yeah, Rarity, I will, but right now we have bigger problems.” “Oh my, you are right. I must see Sweetie Belle immediately.” With that Rarity was out the door. “Hey Dash, you gotta see what Twilight made over here.” “Later, Spike. Twilight, I think we may have a big problem.” Twilight was shocked at the sense of urgency in her friend’s voice. “What is it, Rainbow?” Rainbow Dash quickly went through the events of the morning, from her hoof being stuck in the cloud to Pinkie eating most of the cloud. She did leave out the part when the cloud got stuck to her mane. At the end of her story she gave the remains of the cloud to Twilight to examine. Twilight put the glob on a side table and poked, prodded and scanned the glob before coming to a conclusion. “Well Rainbow, I am definitely sensing magic energy from Discord, but it’s different. Not to mention Discord is under heavy surveillance in Canterlot and it would be impossible for him to escape from the stone on his own.” “So what is it then? What are we dealing with?” “That’s the thing: I don’t know. To make things worse, it’s not just Discord that I am sensing here.” “What do you mean, Twilight?” Twilight was silent while she considered how to tell Rainbow what she had found. “Well… it’s not just Discord’s magic that I’m sensing: I-I also sense magic from myself, Rarity, Fluttershy and you, Rainbow.” “But-but that doesn’t make sense. I didn’t even think pegasi had magic!” “Well, technically, both pegasi and Earth Ponies do. That’s how you control the weather and Applejack grows food so well. Unicorns just have more access to their magic. This cloud is a direct result of a combination of pegasi, Unicorn and draconequus magic.” “But Twilight, that doesn’t answer why it’s our magic you’re sensing.” “Rainbow, please try to stay calm. We are going to get to the bottom of this, but for now I think that we should gather everypony here and send a letter to the princess.” “OK Twilight, I’ll go and get everypony; you write the message to the princess!” And with that, Rainbow Dash dashed off to find her friends. “Spike!” “Like you even needed to ask. Okay, go!” “Dear Princess Celestia, I am afraid I send this message in dire times, as it would seem that the fate of Equestria may hang in the balance. This morning, my friends, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie, made a shocking discovery. When Discord was at large, one of his favorite things to create were cotton candy clouds, and this morning my friends found one of these clouds above Ponyville. After I examined the cloud, I discovered that it did in fact have traces of not only Discord’s magic, but also that of my own and my friends. I was shocked at my discovery and would appreciate your opinion. Sincerely, your student Twilight Sparkle.” “Okay Twilight, I got that. Well then, here goes.” And with a puff of green fire the message was off to Canterlot. “ Now, Spike, we wait.” “Okay Twi, but while we wait can you explain this model to me some more?” “Of course, Spike. What is it you want to know?” “Well right now, the Cherilee mini looks like its talking to thin air. What’s up with that?” “Well that just means that there is no mini for whoever she is talking to right now. But that can be fixed.” With a flash of the horn, a chest in the corner of the room opened up and a pile of wooden blocks and a small knife flew out and landed near the table. Next, the Knife began to whittle one of the blocks into the shape of a pony. “Now the Enchanted Knife will whittle the zap apple wood into the shape of the ponies that aren’t in the model. Unfortunately,” Twilight began to blush. “I still haven’t gotten the brush enchantment down yet though, so the painting has to be done by hoof.” “Still, Twilight, that is awesome how you did that-- and look, it’s already done! Sure enough, a small wooden unicorn was fully whittled and trotted to the square to talk with the little wooden Cherilee. As soon as it was done making the unicorn the Knife began to whittle another pony. “Well, I guess Ponyville has become quite the hotspot if there are so many new ponies are in town today. Any other questions Spike?” “No Twilight I think I'm –BRAP!” Along with the burp flew out a tied up scroll from Spike’s mouth. “Oh, that was fast,” remarked Twilight. “Allow me,” insisted Spike. “Ahem, Twilight, gather your friends and report to the castle as soon as possible. I am giving permission for a Class Six transmission spell. Sincerely, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. Well, that was shorter than I thought it would be. What do you think, Twilight?” Twilight mulled it over for a while before replying to Spike. The only sound during that period was the sound of another wooden pony trotting to the earlier-made unicorn. “Well, it means we were right and something really is going on.” Seeing the look of confusion on Spike’s face, Twilight explained. “Well you know how each spell has a level of power ranging from one to seven right?” “Of course. Stop patronizing me!” “Right, well certain spells are banned from public use after a certain level. Some are strict, such as a fire spell of Level Three or higher are banned, but levitation spells under Level Six are allowed anywhere.” Seeing the bored expression on Spike’s face, Twilight gets to the point. “So then, transmission spells of Level Four and under are the only ones allowed, so the fact that I have received permission for a Level Six means that this is serious.” “But Twilight, what is so dangerous about a Level Six transmission spell?” Twilight shifted her hooves and gulped at the thought of why. “Well, the last pony to try it ended up being blended with a horsefly.” At the look of horror on Spike’s face, Twilight quickly takes a reassuring stance. “He was very inexperienced and was not focusing. I will be at total peace and have trained with magic harder.” Spike wiped the sweat from his brow in relief. “Whew, I had the worst image in my mind of all six of you blended like some kind freaky science experiment from a mad scientist movie.” Twilight sighed preparing to explain how many things were wrong with that analogy. ************************************************************************************************************************************************************ “Ok a little to the right Big Macintosh. Almost, now put it a little higher… Perfect!” Big Macintosh heaved and put the last crate of apples on his carefully made stack behind the Apple family’s farmer’s market stand. He wiped his brow from the heavy lifting. He considered it great exercise for himself but found his sister's anal retentiveness on how the crates should be arranged a bit annoying especially since she never was with anything else. The farmers market was almost ready to open and different stall owners were bustling to get prepared for shoppers. Applejack had learned from an early age the art of stall preparing. She had chosen the best spot, had chosen her best apples for display and now Big Mac was almost done with the crate display. “Ok Big Macintosh is that all of em?” Big Macintosh looked over his shoulder and was disheartened to see one more crate. “Nope.” “Really? Ah coulda sworn we only brought-” Applejack was not able to finish her sentence because from within the mystery crate Pinkie Pie burst from the top. “Hi Applejack and Big Mac. How are you guys?” Applejack’s and Big Mac’s shock only lasted a few seconds because they had known Pinkie for quite some time. “Well uh… Ahm doing just fine.” Said Applejack “Eeyup.” Replied Big Mac. Applejack asked “What can I do ya fer Pinkie?” “Oh I need some zap apple jam please!” Applejack sighed and patiently explained to Pinkie “Sugar, zap apple season ended a few months ago. We ran out of the stuff last week.” “Uh… AJ?” Big Mac said trying to get his sister’s attention. “What is it Big Mac?” Big Mac motioned to a crate underneath the stand. It had a small layer of dust and looked like it had been there for awhile. “Oh yeah I forgot about that crate…” Applejack pulled the crate out and opened it to find it full of air tight jars of jam. “Sorry about that Pinkie.” “It’s ok Applejack. So how much is that going to be?” Before Applejack could say two bits Rainbow Dash landed by the stand hastily knocking over Big Mac’s carefully set up crates. Realizing what she had done Rainbow nervously looked to Big Mac who had a look of annoyance on his face. “Oh uh… Sorry Big Macintosh…” Rainbow apologized nervously. “But I tried to land on the crates but missed and I… What am I saying? Pinkie, AJ Twilight says she needs all of us at the library now.” “What fer?” Applejack asked Rainbow hastily explained with minor interruptions and interpretations by Pinkie Pie of the days events. “And then Twilight told me to get everypony and bring them back to her pronto!” Applejack absorbed the news of the possibility of Discord’s return. “Well I suppose if Twilight needs me then I have to be there for her. Big Mac I'm real sorry but do ya think ya could mind the stall and Applebloom fer me?” The hard to read Big Mac paused from his crate stacking and answered “Eeyup.” “Thanks big brother I’ll make it up to ya I promise.” With that Applejack and Pinkie Pie followed Rainbow Dash to Find Fluttershy and Rarity. On their way away from the stall Pinkie remembered to pay for her jam and ran back and tossed a few bits in Big Mac’s direction, who was not paying attention to her. The bits landed on the top crate causing an unbalance and the fall of the crates onto Big Mac. Pushing the crates aside Big Mac looked around for the assailant. He found nopony and muttered “Eeyup.” *********************************************************************************************************************************************************** “Ok, ok Rarity I’ll be careful! Just lay off!” “Sweetie don’t talk to me in that tone. I simply asked that you be careful near the boutique.” Rarity had found her sister and the cutie mark crusaders playing in mud just as Twilight’s model had shown near sweet apple acres. When she found them she had given Sweetie Bell a stern talking to about her muddy hooves. Sweetie sighed “I'm sorry Rarity. I promise to wash off my hooves before I go inside…” Rarity smiled and opened her arms to hug her sister but immediately regretted when she had mud around her sides. “Erm… Yes Sweetie maybe you should clean yourself now.” Before Sweetie could retort the sound of hooves was heard from behind. Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie were approaching. “Hey Rarity!” Yelled Rainbow Dash “We need you to come with us.” “And Applebloom” called Applejack “I need ta talk to ya bout something.” While Rainbow explained the situation to Rarity with Pinkie Pie Applejack went to Applebloom. Scootaloo went off to the side feeling that she should give the sisters some privacy. “Now Applebloom there’s a good chance that I might have ta go fer the rest of the day. I jus wanted ta let you know so you can tell Granny Smith and Big Macintosh if I'm not back by tonight.” “Ok Applejack.” “Also make sure ta start yer summer readen.” “Ok Applejack.” “And make sure to clean yer room tonight.” “Ok Applejack.” “And wash behind yer ears.” “OK Applejack.” And be safe.” OK Applejack. I'm a big pony ya don’t have ta baby me.” Applebloom said annoyed Applejack was taken aback by her sisters slight outburst but realized her own pushiness. “Ahm sorry Applebloom ah jus worry bout you is all.” Applebloom smiled at her sister. “I know ya do sis. But ahll be jus fine, go on and do what you gotta do. Ahll tell Big Macintosh that he’ll have extra chores to do.” Applejack laughed at this. “You do that sugarcube.” Applejack hugged her sister. She then turned to her friends who had just finished explaining the situation to Rarity who in turn explained to Sweetie Bell that she might not be home that night. “But Rarity! You said we would hang out tonight!” Sweetie Bell complained. “Erm, yes well I am afraid we will have to reschedule Sweetie.” Seeing her sisters saddened face Rarity quickly added. “But while I am gone you may play with my extra fabrics and threads.” Sweetie’s face lit up to this. “Yay! Lets go you guys!” And with that the crusaders were off. Rarity bit her lower lip. “Lets go find Fluttershy ladies and fast. I fear that I have just made a mistake.” ************************************************************************************************************************************************************ “Spike I seriously doubt that would work.” “Come on Twilight all we would need is Pinkie’s party canon, a rubber band and a jar of peanut butter!” “I still don’t think-” Twilight was not able to finish as she was interrupted by the knocking on the door. “Hey Twilight! I got everypony. Let us in!” “Coming.” Twilight opened the door to the library and her friends filed in and stood in a small group. Twilight took charge and addressed her friends “Everypony is here? Good. Is everypony up to speed on the situation?” From the back of the group a small squeak was emitted. Twilight craned her neck to see the source. “Yes Fluttershy?” “Oh, well Twilight, I um… just wanted to clarify who exactly it is that we are investigating on the, um, well cloud thing. Rainbow made it sound like we were going against Discord, you, and Rainbow. So you don’t have to answer if it’s really too much to ask for…” Twilight smiled at her timid pegasus friend and answered, “Well, the truth is, I don’t even know who it is. The cloud had traces of Discord, Rarity, Rainbow Dash and I.” Rainbow made an inquiring look to Twilight, but in a second realized why her friend had not included Fluttershy in her list of alleged magic users. “Well then, is Everypony ready? The Princess responded and would like all of us to report to the castle immediately. I will be teleporting us there. Spike will stay here in case anypony tries to reach us.” “Got it, Twilight. Good luck girls.” The half-pint dragon gave a kind of salute to the ponies. “Right then. Everypony. hold onto me tightly. I cannot emphasize that enough: TIGHTLY!” Everypony held onto Twilight in what a passerby would describe as one of the most passionate group hugs they had ever seen. Twilight closed her eyes, inhaled deeply, and slowly her horn began to glow brighter and brighter until arcs of purple lightning streaked the library, crackling and hissing as they went by. Spike watched in awe at the raw magical power he was seeing. It was so amazingly brilliant that he only had one other time in his life to compare it to, and that was his first few moments under Celestia’s sun. Finally with a crack that would pierce the noise of a sonic rainboom, the six were gone, leaving nothing behind but a stupefied baby dragon. “Well, now what?” Spike outer monologued. But his question was answered by the sound of the trotting of the third and apparently final wooden pony as the whittling knife had rested itself by the remaining wood blocks. “Well might as well see who the newbies are.” Spike sat at the stool by the table and peered at the three newcomers. At the front was an impressive male unicorn apparently giving his earth pony companion a talking to while the third, a pegasus, was holding its mouth, trying not to laugh at what the other two were arguing about. Unlike the other minis, these three were only wood and so had no color. Also, they made no noise as they spoke, whereas the others at least made squeaking noises. “Man, Fluttershy would be mute in this place.” Spike now gave his attention to the library, and took off the removable roof to peek inside. Twilight had made great effort for detail in the library. The only two things out of place were that there was no model of the model of Ponyville and that in the center of the room, a pile of minis sat motionless as their counterparts were inexplicably gone. However, the Spike mini was there and sitting on the exact same stool as he was. Spike was so impressed at the accuracy of the library that he didn’t notice that the three companions had stopped their fighting, or that they had reached some kind of agreement, or that they were on the move towards the library. And Spike most certainly hadn’t noticed three dark shadows forming on the closed drapes of the library. The one time he noticed anything was when the door opened and the familiar bell jingled, announcing the new arrivals. “Oh hey! Haven’t seen any of you before. My name is Spike. Can I help you?” The one to speak was the golden-orange unicorn with the black mane. His voice sounded like that of an older wiser pony. “Yes, we are looking for one Twilight Sparkle. Would she be in?” “Uh, sorry, but you just missed her and I don’t know when she will be back.” “Oh, what a shame. I guess we will just have to wait here, if that would be alright.” Spike was feeling a little awkward, being put on the spot like that, but he felt he could trust this unicorn; he just seemed so familiar. His friends too: the pegasus, with a white puffy mane and sky blue body; and the earth pony, who, granted, looked much more intimidating with a short blood-red mane and mahogany body. All of them he felt he knew but couldn’t quite place it. “Yeah sure, why not?” “We certainly hope we aren’t imposing. I suppose introductions are in order: these are my brothers Rage and Bliss. I you may call Wisdom.” To Be Continued...