//------------------------------//
// Chapter 22:  Challenge 
// Story: The Alchemist 
// by Mr_Hippopotomonstroses 
//------------------------------//


Chapter 22:  Challenge


"Stop them!  They have the elements!"

Ditto and I ran past the girls.  I had the elements of magic, laughter, loyalty, and kindness.  Ditto had the elements of honesty and generosity.  We both ran out a window as we both activated fire and flew off.  The girls began to chase us as the hunt began.


~Earlier~


I woke up.  I had a slight headache.  I still couldn't remember my nightmare.  I sighed.  I stretched and walked outside.  I saw Ditto with multiple daggers.  And surrounding him, what looked like human cardboard cutouts.  He threw the daggers hitting each human cardboard cutout in the heart or head.  On the last one he threw one at me.  Without thinking when it was within reach I grabbed it by the blade and threw it back.  He side stepped as it hit a cutout in the heart.

"What the hell was that for?"
"Just testing your reflexes.  They still haven't changed."
"And if they had?"
"Then you would be bleeding."
"Did you even worry that I wouldn't catch it?"
"No.  You never failed."
"You make it sound like I was perfect at fighting and shit like that."
"You kind of were."
"Whatever.  Now how did you do this?"
"The human targets?"
"Yeah, those."
"Alchemy.  I changed the earth into these human targets.  I changed their elemental structure."
"Cool.  How?"
"With this symbol."

He drew an alchemy symbol on the ground.  Then he placed his hand on the circle as another target appeared.

"Just think on what you want to make."

He then did it again and brought out a dagger.  He threw it as it impaled the new human target thing.  With that over he made another circle as all the targets seemed to melt into the ground.  It filled in the holes the targets made.

"Wow.  Let me try that."

I drew the circle on the ground and focused on an item.  I placed my hand as the ground indented and out came a scythe.  I picked it up.  I twirled it around and did a few test swings.  It was so weird.  I placed it back on the ground as it melted back and became ground once again.  Strange.

"You picked a scythe to make out of all things?"
"It's the first thing that came to my mind."

We just walked to Ponyville.  Having nothing better to do.  We were walking through the forest when Ditto asked something.

"You said we had to get the princesses trust right?"
"Yeah."
"Should we go pay them a visit and try to negotiate?"
"Yeah, I guess we should go talk to them."

We had just reached the burnt section of the forest near the bridge.  I drew the circle for fire as Ditto did as I did.  We activated fire and began to rocket ourselves to the castle we saw on the mountain side.  We landed near the big entrance.  A guard with a sun on his armor blocked out path.

"Visitors are not allowed in."

Ditto and I looked at each other.  Then I spoke.

"Princess Celestia asked us to come and talk to her in private over a few matters."
"Where's your paper showing proof that Princess Celestia asked you to come?"
"Look.  I don't have it.  I left it in Twilight's library when we received the letter.  Now if you don't believe us, you will have to explain to the Princess why we were late to a meeting she asked us to come.  If you are willing to take that risk and the consequences that come with it, we'll leave."

He just stared at us.  We began to walk away when the guard called back.

"W-Wait!"

We looked back at him.

"I must have not gotten notice.  Please, go on in."
"Smart choice."

He stepped aside and let us in.  We walked inside as Ditto looked at me impressed.  We waited until we were in the halls away from the guard.

"Nice."
"Thanks."
"You should remember that argument.  It might come in handy later."
"Sure."

We walked as we entered a hallway with a big door at the end of it.  That must be it.  We walked and were stopped by another two guards.

"What is your purpose for visiting the princess?"
"Princess Celestia asked us by letter to come here for a private meeting."

The two guards looked at each other.

"Where you supposed to come with the element bearers?"
"Yes actually.  We just had something to take care of quickly before coming over."
"Go ahead."

They opened the doors.  Inside we saw both princesses talking to the girls.  They all shut up when we entered.  Celestia was the first to say something.

"What are you two doing here?"

The guards looked in confusion.  They realized that we weren't supposed to be there and immediately blocked our paths.

"A thousand apologies princess.  He said he was late to come with the element bearers."
"Yo Celestia.  I got a deal for you."
"Wait!"

The guards stopped.  Celestia looked at us with curiosity.

"What kind of deal?"

I smiled.  Knew you would take the bait.

"First off.  Nothing against the girls here, but this is between you two and us two."

Celestia and Luna looked at each other and sighed.

"Very well.  Girls, if you would please wait outside."

The girls walked outside.  Each one of them seemed to be eyeing us down for some reason.  Once they left with the guard we walked up to the princesses.

"So what is this deal?"
"One of information."
"Information...how?"
"Simple."

I was making this as I go along.  No idea why, but the first thing that came to my mind as a good deal had to do with escaping.

"You will have the girls chase Ditto and I as we run away.  If they catch us and bring us back here.  We tell you everything we know.  If we get to the castle where I live without them catching us.  We tell you only what we think you need to know."

They where thinking on something.

"So you will give us information either way?  Why?"
"Look.  As far as I know, we have an enemy in common.  Discord.  I know you want hims.  And I need him to clarify a few things.  We both benefit."

They looked at each other.

"Can we discuss this?"
"Be my guest."

We walked to the opposite side of the giant room as the two princesses talked.  Ditto and I began to talk as well.

"This was a good idea?"
"It was the first that came to mind okay?"
"I guess it could be worse."

There was a brief moment of silence.

"I wonder why this place has two princesses but not a king or queen."

Then Celestia called us over.  We walked over to them as the looked at each other and nodded.  They looked at us.

"We agree to your terms."
"Excellent."
"But the girls wont just chase you for no reason.  What motive could we give them to chase you two?"
"Is there anything valuable that you two have around here that would motivate the girls if we ran off with them?"

We all smiled as a though entered all our minds.  We each said at the same time what Ditto and I had to run of with.

"The elements."


Celestia gave me four elements and gave Ditto two.  I was confused about that.

"Why give me more?"
"About that.  I would like to give this deal a little more excitement."

I was intrigued by this.  What are you thinking Celestia?

"How?"
"If the girls catch only you, with the majority of elements, you tell us everything you know.  If you get to the castle and your friend is captured you only tell us what we need to know."
"So he is like a distraction."
"Precisely."
"I love the way you think Celestia."

She smiled.  Then we shook hands and hooves sealing our deal.  Celestia looked at me.

"Ready to run for your life?"
"No.  Let's do this."

The door burst open as Ditto and I began to ran.  I could already fell the excitement of how interesting this will be.  Once we ran out the door Celestia yelled something.

"Stop them!  They have the elements!"

Ditto and I ran past the girls.  I had the elements of magic, laughter, loyalty, and kindness.  Ditto had the elements of honesty and generosity.  We both ran out a window as we both activated fire and flew off.  The girls began to chase us as the hunt began.

As we fell Ditto used the fire alchemy to fly to the left.  I kept diving almost to the ground as Rainbow  flew after me.  Why didn't you go after Ditto?  Whatever.  I could run on the wall as I fell.  It felt weird.  I pushed off the wall and used the fire to launch myself away.  I was flying away as I could see Rainbow not far behind.  Have to lose her.

I began to take sharp turns around the buildings.  I could tell Rainbow was having a hard time to keep up.  Once I knew she was more behind.  I made a sharp right and hid just on the roof.  I saw Rainbow fly straight instead of turning where I was on the roof.  I laughed to myself.  I was about to run away when I was met with Fluttershy.

"Why are you doing this Mimic?"

I got closer face to face with her.  Smiled and spoke.

"Catch us and find out!"

I quickly ran off the roof and flew away.  I flew to the train station.  Then entering one of the windows I sat down on a seat.  They wouldn't expect someone fleeing to use the train, would they?  I was just sitting down laughing softly to myself.  Then I heard a slightly angry/irritated voice speak from behind me.

"Having fun Mimic?"

I froze.  I turned around and saw Twilight who didn't exactly look happy.  I got up and was about to jump out a window when she tackled me to the ground.  We struggled  trying to subdue the other.  Once I threw her off me I jumped out the window and flew beside the train.  I flew beside the train as Twilight stared at me.  Once I knew she saw me I flew ahead of the trains path.  I met up with Ditto.

"This is so much fun!"
"I know right!"

I looked back and saw Rainbow gaining speed and approaching us at very fast.  She would catch at least one of us.  We looked at each other.

"She's going to get one of us."
"She is."
"Human sacrifice?"

I nodded.

"Human sacrifice."
"I'm counting on you Mimic.  Make it safe."
"I will."

He slowed down and went up, closer to Rainbow but still ahead.  Rainbow changed direction and eventually got Ditto.  The last thing I saw was him being tackled down by Rainbow.  I laughed softly.

"Great human sacrifice."

I could see Ponyville.  I landed in the town and just walked calmly.  As to not bring any attention to myself.  I walked behind houses and alleys too, just to be safe.  I could see the bridge coming up.  I smiled.  My victory was secured.

"Hold it right there!"
"What the..?!"

A rope came around me and tied me.  I was being dragged and saw Apple Jack.  She seemed so confused.

"We trusted you.  Why did you do this?"
"Catch me and find out."
"Ah did catch you."
"Look again."

She looked at the rope and saw that I had burned the rope so I was free again.  She just looked at the rope then at me.  I smiled.

"Try harder next time."

I kicked off from the ground.  I flew when I was hit by a strong force.  I saw colors everywhere.  I looked to what hit me and saw Pinkie with her party canon.  Fuck that's a strong cannon.  Then rope circled me again.  Apple jack came closely and tied my hands together.  She had a smile of victory.

"That good enough for you?"

I smiled as I still saw a way to get out of this.

"Almost."

I shot up with fire and quickly brought my hands that were tied to my back to my front.  Then as my body glowed blue,  I looked back at them.

"Good try though.  I was worried for a second."

I ran.  Pinkie was going to shoot her cannon again.  But before it hit me I made a wall of rock appear blocking the confetti.  I ran past the bridge and made a wall of rock block the path.  So I can switch elements without directly drawing the circle.  I have to ask Ditto about this.  I ran.  a good distance into the woods, I drew a transformation circle type thingy and made a small knife.  I cut my roped and dissolved the knife leaving to trace.

I walked through the woods and saw the castle.  I smiled.  I crossed the river and slowly walked my way to the door of the castle.  Then I was tackled by Twilight.  Shit!  I got her off of me and ran for the door.  Then Rainbow tackled me.  I saw Apple Jack and Pinkie come as well.  Apple jack tied a rope to each one of my limbs to hole me in place as the other girls held me in place with the ropes.  The only ones not doing anything were Fluttershy and Rarity.  Rainbow held two ropes.  Apple jack and Pinkie had one.  Twilight came up to me.

I had this feeling of being watched so I assumed Celestia was somewhere watching this.

"Can we negotiate Twilight?"
"You stole the elements.  We have to bring you back to Celestia."
"Good luck.  Because i'm not going to make it easy."
"We have you tied."
"You do.  But have you noticed my glowing hands?"

She looked down.  While we were talking, I touched the ground as it dissolved and turned into a weapon for me to use.  She started in awe as I used the scythe I made to cut the rope that tied my hands.  My hands where tied but I could still twirls the scythe and cut the ropes by using my fingers to maneuver the scythe.

"What!?"

The girls all yelled in unison.  With my hands freed I used the scythe to cut the ropes tying my feet.  I quickly ran to the door.  Apple Jack threw another rope at me.  Where does she get so many fucking ropes from!?  Right before it hit my I used the scythe to cut it into pieces.  I entered the door and got in the castle.  I landed with a thud onto the floor and began to laugh.

"Made it!"

The girls came in after me.  I just threw them each their elements.  The elements Ditto had were given to their bearers.  Ditto walked in a moment later.  We high five'd each other.

"I made it."
"Was there ever any doubt?"
"Whats going on?  Why are you acting like nothing happened and why did you steal the elements?"
"I believe Celestia can answer that.  Isn't that right princess?"

They looked at me confused.  Suddenly Celestia appeared in the room.  She had cast an invisibility spell on herself.

"Yes I can help.  How did you know I was here?"
"I could feel your presence."

I took my scythe and stabbed the wall.  They all looked at me.  I looked at the wall.

"Don't think you're any harder to detect Discord."

There was a laugh.  Then Discord became visible.  Where I had stabbed the wall was just the the left of his neck.  He smiled.

"I could never sneak up on you Mimic, could I?"
"I dunno, you tell me."
"No thanks.  Now, a nice show you put up.  Now I must be off, I have things to plan."

He snapped his fingers and disappeared.  I sighed.

"He is very bothersome.  Wouldn't you agree Celestia?"

She sighed and nodded.

"Yes.  He is a bother."
"So.  I believe we have to talk on things."
"Yes.  Let us go back to the castle and discuss matters there."
"Whats going on!?"

We looked at the girls who had yelled this.  Celestia and I just looked at each other.  She nodded.  I shrugged.

"Celestia and I made a deal.  If you had caught me, we would have told her everything we know.  If I made it here safely, I would tell her what she needs to know."

The girls seemed to ponder on that.  Twilight asked something.

"So you were going to give Princess Celestia information regardless of the outcome?"

I laughed softly and looked at Celestia.

"Teacher and student think alike.  Now, lets go talk Celestia."
"Of course."

We began to walk outside.  Then from there we flew to the castle.  We were flying for a while.  It didn't take to long but we got to the castle.  We began to walk in the halls.  We saw the door that led to the same room Ditto and I made the deal with Celestia.  We opened the door and saw Luna there.  She greeted us and asked who won.  We told her Ditto and I won the deal.  Now we had to tell them what we thought they should know.

"So first of all, you should know..."