//------------------------------// // The Return of Chaos // Story: Deeper than friendship? // by TheDiscontent //------------------------------// "Curses!" Celestia muttered as she began to examine the cave she and the others were standing in. "Discord must still have the Elements on him, Twilight, do you know where he would have went?" "Even if I knew where Discord had gone it wouldn't matter." Twilight said feeling hope was lost, "Discord no longer has the Elements, he's ... hidden them again." "Well at least they are no longer on the move." Celestia began, "Did he leave a clue as to where he put them?" "No princess, he didn't hide them like last time, they're pretty much in plain sight. But, he changed them." "Changed them? Whatever do you mean?" "The Varmint done plum turned the Elements into ponies!" Applejack interrupted. "P-Ponies?" Celestia asked, trying to make sure she had heard her right. "Yes, Discord claims to have found a way to disrupt the Elements by turning them into Stallions, although I don't see what good that would do him." Twilight said again trying to figure out a plan. "Hmm, this is not like Discord, he would not have done this unless he had reason." "But he's the spirit of chaos! Wouldn't he just do it because he thought ... well ... Chaos?" AJ asked. "No, to defeat the Spirit of Chaos, you must think like him, and I doubt Discord would find the Elements being stallions very entertaining. He would have to have another motive." Celestia said. Twilight was running through their meeting with Discord moments before, trying to find something that she may have missed that would tell them why Discord had done such a thing until she thought of something. "Princess, Discord said something earlier about the Elements being powered by Love as well as Friendship being the fact that gave him his idea, does that mean anything?" Celestia froze as she understood what her student had told her. She too had begun to notice the lack of relationship between the Element bearers and any Stallions and had simply put it off her mind. Now she realized that Discord, having realized the same thing, used this fact to his advantage. "Of course, I now realize why Discord had tried so hard to keep us from locating him to quickly, an act of magic such as that will have left him temporarily exhausted. And could have terrible consequences if interrupted." "Did you figure out why he changed them?" Rarity asked. "I believe so, but I will need to return to Canterlot and test myself to be sure." "Then there's no time to waste!" Twilight said with enthusiasm as they began to head out. Discord appeared over top of Canterlot After he had left hastily from the cavern sure Celestia would arrive shortly. He was observing his new kingdom when another him floated up to him atop a cotton candy cloud. "Discord! Friend! It's so good to see you again!" The clone exclaimed offering Discord a glass of chocolate milk, which he immediately drank the glass away tossing the milk. "And you as well me! I take it things went alright with Celestia seeing as I was able to cast the spell and scatter the Elements before seeing a single hair of her!" "Indeed they did! Oh! That reminds me," the clone said pulling out a camera, "I got that Picture you wanted!" he said with Glee as the real Discord took the Camera with Excitement. "Oh goody! I can't wait to see it!" He said as he loaded the image of Celestia after seeing the fake Elements. "Priceless!" They both Exclaimed simultaneously after the image had loaded and bursting into a laughing mess. "Anywho, enough about that. Have you decided where to make your new Chaos Capital of the world?" The clone asked with anticipation. "Oh I'm stuck!" Discord said with a pout, "I can't decide weather to take Canterlot as my new Capital or try and use Ponyville again! Anywhere else doesn't really strike me Either, although I do plan on making the castle of the two sisters a nice summer home!" Discord exclaimed. "Marvelous! Although The everfree is closer to Ponyville so Unless you want to live away from your summer home, I would choose Ponyville myself!" "Quite true, but we can't just leave Canterlot with absolutely no Chaos to enjoy for the time being! What kind of Evil Overlord would I be if I showed them mercy?" "Not a very fun one, Lets get to ruining!" And with that the Discords were off to different parts of Canterlot to create their mischief before going to Ponyville. Celestia and the Main 6 arrived inside the throne room of Canterlot which had been half turned upside down, literally. But were forced to ignore that fact as it was only a matter of time before Discord paid a visit to renovate the castle. As they approached the throne Celestia's horn began to glow and a Giant round table began to rise at the base of the Throne. After the table had finished Rising, it began to glow with an aura, signs that it was enchanted as a map of all Equestria appeared on its surface. Although Something was wrong, a dark cloud which had originated from canterlot was slowly expanding and had overtaken a few major cities. "This is a very old map of Equestria, while the map itself is extremely old the enchantment keeps it up to date." Celestia said as they circled the map. "Princess, what are these?" Twilight asked as she pointed to a small yellow light that appeared to be moving slightly. "That Twilight, is one of the Elements of harmony, Kindness to be precise. It is another affect of the Enchantment, this table is used when the Elements are lost or Stolen so that they may be located." "Hey, if these are supposed to be the Elements, how come there are only two?" Rainbow asked pointing to the other blip of light, this one orange. "Two? There were three a minute ago!" Twilight asked looking to where she had seen the third light. But the dark cloud had overtaken the part of the map the light had been near. "Discord is spreading his chaos to mask the Elements," Celestia said as she approached one of the two remaining lights, "Since Discord altered the Elements, they are encircled by Chaos magic. While they remain the same outside of the cloud. When chaos begins to happen around the same area as the Elements they become lost within. The Elements of Kindness and Honesty appear to be in Appleloosa and on a Nature Reserve somewhere near Ponyville." "But what about the other four Elements?" Pinkie asked. "Those Elements are already masked by the Cloud of Chaos, therefore we will have to search for those blind. Although I Doubt they will be to hard to find. They should be simultaneous to all of you so you need simply think where you would be if not in ponyville. As they finished talking the rest of the map and the Last two Elements became engulfed in the Chaos Cloud and a dark chuckle was heard within the castle. "DISCORD!" Celestia shouted as the Spirit of Chaos appeared in her throne. "Why Hello Celestia! Terribly sorry that I wasn't able to see you at the cave for you see I've been rather busy today!" Discord said with a chuckle as he gestured to the now all black and fogged map. "What have you done with the Elements!?" Rainbow shouted as she zoomed up to face the Draconequus head on. "Have you really not figured it out yet?" Discord asked un-surprised at how dense the Rainbow maned Pegasus could be. "Discord, Return the Elements as they should be this instant!" Celestia Demanded. "Hmm whats the word I'm looking for? Oh I believe it begins with a no, Oh wait! Thats the word! No! Now, I'd love to stay and chat but being ruler of Equestria means Busy busy busy! You know how it is Celestia Right? Anywho I'm off to Decorate my new capital, Ta-Ta!" And with that Discord was gone. "Twilight you Mu-" Celestia began before being interupted by Discord as he opened the wall like a door and strolled through. "Oh and Before I forget, I want Celestia to know what it feels like to be trapped in stone for a thousand years just as I do! I won't trap your student or her friends though, after all, they only had me in stone again for what? A month?" Discord said as he snapped his talons and Disappeared once again. Celestia was about to continue before her hooves became solidified with the floor as she began to turn to stone. "Twilight! You and your friends must find the Elements of harmony! Just go off of your own instincts and you will surely find them! And remember they will only be able to activate through L-" As Celestia was about to finish her statement the spell finished and she was officially turned to a statue. Leaving Twilight and her friends without Her last piece of wisdom and in Confusion. "Uh so what now Twi?" Applejack asked. "I don't know Applejack, But I guess the best thing to do at the moment would be to try to find our Elements and go from there!" Twilight said. The others nodded and rushed off to figure out where these stallions might be, They had a feeling it was going to be a long couple of days.