Part 1

Pony POV: Friendship is Oppression

Part 1: The Beginning of Tyranny
By Jawmax

“Alright ladies, let’s show him what friendship can do!” I shouted as she and her friends got ready to use the elements of harmony.

“Wait, wait, wait!” Pinkie said as she got one last drink of chocolate rain.
As the elements began to activate Discord said. “What’s this?” As he was hit by the rainbow Discord laughed. “You think that this is over? I’ll break out again; it’s only a matter of time!”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“Why that it only took some kids arguing for me to break out, after Celestia and Luna lost their connection to the elements. All I have to do is to wait for something to happen to one of you, like dying of old age being the best case scenario for you, then one little unharmonious thing will happen and this will happen all over again. Harmony is such a fragile, temporary state. Hahahahahaah!“

All I could think about were Discord's last words and the ponies that were hurt or killed for his amusement. The ponies that killed when they were not in their right minds feeling guilt for the rest of there lives. The Ponies left homeless when his sky quake levelled Manehattan. The settler ponies and the buffalo who had also lost their homes and sacred ground to Discord's flood and so much more that was even worse. We were supposed to be living in a land of harmony but not all ponies; all creatures are living in harmony. We have all seen what chaos Discord has wrought. We all became the very opposite of our elements and almost failed. There is only one thing I can say. “You’re wrong Discord; on my life you will never be free again. I will bring total harmony to this world.”

***

There were of course celebrations, praise, and parades in our honor a few weeks after the events, but they have nothing to cheer about, not really. Confidence in the princesses has been shaken - many are openly wondering what other dangers Celestia has left ferreted away in poorly-secured areas. Ferry companies are filing for bankruptcy protection: After Discord felt the Manehattan air-ships should all have been made of air, they all had to pay out large insurance sums to the victims relative's as well as replace their ships and deal with the loss in passenger confidence. Only the ferries going out of the country seem to be doing well thanks to almost half a million heading to other nations either forever or just to get away. Suicide rates have skyrocketed. There have been riots in Los Pegasus and Clydesdale. There have been actual cases of Equinicide for the first time in centuries, committed not by any Discord victims but by those cracking under the stresses and fear that's taken over.

Outside of Equestria, even though Discord's chaos barely went a few hundred miles away from Canterlot other than his flooding of the deserts, it seems chaos is taking hold. Deepening problems in the Arabrayian Pennisula, Equrope and Meridia holding the attention of other major powers and at the stage of "when", not "if" for the prospect of war in some cases. There have been attacks on Equestrian Peacekeepers and Embassies. The violent coup in the Buffalo Lands the very day of the ceremony honoring us stretched the military even further.

Between rebuilding, trying to reinforce peacekeepers, trying to keep the borders secure, and the soldiers Discord managed to affect directly the guard is at breaking point. To think we thought that the few he had reached meant we'd been lucky and we may have had the numbers to cope. Now for every one he directly affected invalidated with PTSD, there are two more either from the stresses of disaster relief efforts, the stresses of attacks on them, or the general strain from the burdens placed upon them. The brief respite we'd had at first with the help of the Columbians is gone: with rescue efforts over, even if the nobility and parliament had been able to swallow their pride further to ask them to stay the commitments of our Griffin allies mean they have to send those forces to the other troublespots. We're on our own to fix ourselves.

The attack on Cadence's diplomatic party and the war in Costa Luna was not helping the confidence and harmony of Equestria. Our soldiers were coming home in coffins. Costa Luna, despite our aid against the invaders, had been one of the first to be part of the so-called Cadenza Movement - nations outside Equestria dropping her aunts as head of state and declaring her the sole princess, almost entirely against her misgivings. Hooves were pointed at the Princesses. Celestia had been disappointed but had apparently encouraged Cadence to agree to these changes simply to try and pacify the problems abroad only to make her own at home.

Some nobles begin to try and raise their own private armies and miltias, claiming the government and the military were not responding to their local problems fast enough. STARS units are accused of heavy-hoofedness when a fire during an arrest raid on a noble-backed militia kills a dozen ponies, three of them foals. There are claims that foreign private contractors have been hired on both sides.

There are daily rumors that some distant part of the nation has undergone full rebellion. Stalliongrad has become a Socialist haven. The Emerald Isle has declared itself a Cadenzan Monarchy. Caledonia has seceded. Treacle Mine Road in Ankh-Morpork has declared itself a republic. Even worse, the fact the last one was actually true went unnoticed for a week.

All of this taking place made us more and more convinced. First we had to fix Equestria before we could ever truly bring harmony to the world...

We all have a few moments alone before the audience with Celestia. If we are going to try and get the elements back and start to change things we need to act now. “Okay girls, we don’t have a lot of time. I’m sure you all are worried about what Discord said and what's been going on but I have a plan.”

“Well that is a heap of worry off mah shoulders. I have to tell ya'll my Aunt and Uncle Orange ost everything to what Discord did. If we can keep him from doin that to anypony else I'm all for it!” Applejack said.

“I knew it, Twilight always has a plan!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

Pinkie Pie was excited. “What’s the plan? What’s the plan?”

I take a breath and speak. “Well if not all ponies in Equestria are in harmony with everypony else then we have to make them be harmony with each other! Total harmony!”

“But Twilight how can we make the ponies get along?” Rarity asked.

“With the elements of harmony! Just like we did with Princess Luna! We can take all the bad parts out of ponies and they would live in harmony each other! No more lies! No more anger and despair! No more greed! No more cruelty! No betrayal! No more chaos forever!”

“But Twilight, how can we use the elements if Princess Celestia is going to lock them up again?” Fluttershy asked.

“I already have a plan. But right now I need you all to know that I have already begun research into how we can use the elements for what we intend to do but one thing that is out is that we each dedicate wholly to our own element. If we become only one part of ourselves completely then we would become Nightmares like Luna did when she was consumed with her jealousy! The way we need to do this we go in this together with total harmony as a whole cause. Most ponies probably won’t understand what we are trying to do for them right away and they might not like it. So this is your last chance to back out and we’ll never speak of this again. But once you’re in you are in till the end.”

“I’m with you Twilight! I will never betray you guys again!” Rainbow Dash said holding out her hoof.

“I’m telling the truth when Ah say Ah am with you Twilight.” Applejack put her hoof on Rainbow’s.

“How can I call myself generous if I refuse to help?” Rarity put her hoof in.

“It would be cruel if we didn’t try.” Fluttershy joined in.

“Let’s give smiles to everypony!” Pinkie Pie was in.

“Then let this be the beginning of an era of the greatest magic there is, the magic of friendship!” I placed my hoof on top.

“To total harmony!” We all vowed with our hooves going into the air. With that our pact was sealed.

In Canterlot tower Princess Celestia was asking us to make appearances in some of the hardest hit places and forward areas to raise hope and moral. “You are all inspiration to your fellow ponies and with you going with the ESO, you will show them all that through the magic of friendship there is nothing we cannot overcome.”

“Um, Princess Celestia, forgive me for saying this but I think we do can more then just give speeches and entire the troops. We can help secure our land but we need to elements to do it.” I said.

“Twilight, Discord is defeated. What could we need the elements for?”

“Princess, We are vulnerable to any force outside our land and these new rebel factions should they decide to take advantage of the situation. At a time like this we cannot afford to be one hour away from the elements by flight, two hours by express train if we need to act quickly. If we keep the elements with us then all you need to do is send me a letter to get us to where we need to be mobilized. At the very least it would put your subjects’ minds at ease until our forces are back to one hundred percent.” This was it, if Princess Celestia says no then our plans end here before they can really begin. She was really giving it some serious thought.

“Very well Twilight Sparkle, You may keep the elements for now but please be careful with them; they are the most powerful magic we have.”

“Don’t worry Princess; we will be responsible with them.” I reassured her. I don’t see why she would be so worried. She will be so pleased with us when we show her what we will be able to do for this world, and it’s not like the elements of harmony can be used for evil right?

***

A few days later Fluttershy came to the Library with a very worried look on her face that morning. “Twilight it’s awful! Last night as I came home I heard a voice but there was nopony there. Then I looked in the mirror and there was the me was when Discord changed me! She is still alive inside me!”

“I thought something felt different when I was doing the memory spell on you. Spike, go get the girls over here right away!”

“Right!” Spike said as he ran out the door. He didn’t know what we were planning, he just dismissed all the materials I asked for as part of my studies. I wish he would ask sometimes but at least I know he is going to understand what we are trying to do.

After he left I turned to Fluttershy and said. “Don’t worry Fluttershy we’ll find a way to destroy this thing!”

“No, Twilight! I realized that she's just a filly, only a few days old really, who had a bad father and doesn’t know any better!”

Then her face seemed to change into an angry scowl. “Quit calling me that!”

I was shocked. “Don’t worry Twilight; I can keep her in check for now. But she knows all about our plans and she said she would do everything she can to stop us.”

Her face changed again. “Yeah, turn the whole world into goody-goody doormats? No thank you.”

“Not a problem Fluttershy. I found something while doing research for our plan and while it’s not what we need it should do exactly what I think you want it to.” I then whisper what the spell would do to Fluttershy.

“Oh, Twilight that would be perfect!” Fluttershy beamed.

After the rest of the girls arrived we briefed them on what was going on and what we were going to do. “Are you sure you want to do it like this Fluttershy? It would be a whole lot easier just to get rid of her.” Rainbow Dash said.

“This is want I want to do Rainbow Dash.” Fluttershy said.

“All right let’s begin.” I said. We all began to channel the power of the elements. The rainbow surrounded Fluttershy.

“No! You can’t do this to me! I won’t let you!” The thing Discord made yelled. She tried to act tough but we could tell she was scared.

“Now none of that young lady, this is for your own good.” Fluttershy said.

A light, another soul came out of Fluttershy. “No! No! Waaaaaaah!” Flesh formed around the soul and on the floor of the library was a crying new born baby filly with a darker coat and mane than Fluttershy.

I smiled “Her memories have been wiped clean. She is a pure innocent foal. Congratulations Fluttershy, you’re a mother.”
Fluttershy picked up the baby. “You told me your name was Fluttercruel but that’s not a name for such a sweet little filly, from now on I am going to call you Flutternice, for what I will raise you to be. You were a foal in a body too big for you but now you can grow up like a proper filly.” Flutternice continued to cry. “Don’t worry, mommy is here. Mommy loves you.” Fluttershy then sang her hush now, quiet now song.

“Well that’s one problem solved but now I better research a mind scanning spell in case Discord left any other surprises in us.

“I do hope you don’t find anything Twilight. Otherwise we might all be single mothers soon.” Rarity said.

***

After I got the mind scanning spell ready and taught it to Rarity to use it on me I began searching each of our minds for more of Discord's taint. While there was nothing like Fluttercruel in me, Applejack, or Rarity I did find that Pinkie Pie was dividing herself and Rainbow Dash was hiding the truth of what happened to her. I convinced all the parts of Pinkie to come together and after Pinkie told Rainbow Dash a story about a donkey and two piles of hay I knew that we were ready to continue with our noble work. Fluttershy finalized her adoption of Flutternice. All the ponies at the department of child services needed to know was that the baby was found by us abandoned, which is what Discord did to her. We all kept our plans to ourselves as life in Ponyville gradually returned to normal. After months of study we were ready to experiment, the only thing we needed were ponies and other creatures that were far from model citizens. We had a short list; Trixie, Gilda, Blueblood, Jet Set, Upper Crust, and the Flim Flam brothers. I asked Princess Celestia for help with an experiment. When she asked what kind of experiment it was I told her that it was a magic sociology experiment that would benefit the whole world. Unfortunately Gilda was nowhere to be found but we got the rest. However when Trixie was brought into Canterlot hospital we were all in for a surprise, she was touched by Discord like we were. She would be the first subject we would test on, if it worked not only will she be free from Discord's taint but she will be a better pony too. The result was very disappointing, as far as we can tell her coat has been restored but she still acts the same. When I tried the mind scanning something pushed me away. “No! Stay away! You’ll only get hurt!” When I tried again it was like there was a wall keeping her in and the world out.

Without anything else we could do we next turned our attention to Blueblood. “What are you going to do to me?” Blueblood asked us.

“Well if this works then we will get rid of all that rudeness and vanity and make you a perfectly charming prince. You and I might get married after all!” Rarity said.

We used the elements again and he was pushing us back while standing on the tips of his hooves. “Careful, careful! We mustn’t crush any poor dust mites!”

Next was the Flim Flam brothers. “Here brother have my hat.” Flim said.

“Oh, I can’t! Have my hat dear brother!” Flam said.

Upper Crust couldn’t stop laughing with the oversized grin on her face.

When we finally got to Jet Set he became a happy, pleasant pony. We had the hospital take care of the others. I promise you all I will not forget your sacrifice.

***

After that I spent weeks figuring out what went wrong. Jet Set visited his wife every day. I went over every little detail of the spell trying to find the tiniest mistake and I found two. First was the fact that we did not need to use one big spell for everything when one time offenses can be overcome by a simple restrictive Geass'. The second problem was that I was the one focusing on all the elements like I did with Nightmare Moon and Discord when the cleansing spell needs each bearer to focus on each of their own element. It would still only work like it did with Discord and seal the target in a statue if they were completely resistant to total harmony but for most they would be happy, well-adjusted creatures with no disharmonious thoughts and feelings. They would be completely harmonized. However with the matter of Trixie and the others I am afraid that we cannot help them without undoing their reharmonization. If we found a way to do that then somepony could use it to undo the new world we are going to make! Discord could break free! No, as much as it pains me to say this but Trixie’s and the others condition is a small price for a world free of chaos and evil and I will be sure to let them know every day that their sacrifice is appreciated. If they could understand what was going on they would agree. Now that we know how to make the spell work we still needed a pony to reharmonize to show what we can do. And we found him in the form of a stallion named Cracker. He was named for the food but most would think it was a nickname for him being the most notorious safe cracker in Equestria. He has just recently been arrested so now we can show the world what we can do.

It was a bigger success than I imagined! After we used the spell on him Cracker renounced his criminal ways and vowed to be a model citizen! The nobles were so impressed that they want us to use the cleansing spell to reharmonize every criminal in the Equestria justice system saying it would save the tax payers and the government a lot of money. I heard some ponies in the crowd say that we were the hope for the future of Equestria. But why does Princess Celestia look concerned?

***

The next day we were all called to Canterlot. Fluttershy left Flutternice with the Cakes so she could play with Pound and Pumpkin while we are gone. When we arrived Princess Celestia and Luna both had disapproving looks on their faces. “Twilight Sparkle!” Celestia said in the royal Canterlot voice. “You used your cleansing spell on ponies who committed no crime to warrant such a thing all for the sake of perfecting it!”

Luna then spoke. “Thou thought that we did not know? Thou thought we would not find out?”

“But Princess we are going to make the world free from chaos! A world forever free from Discord’s evil!” I pleaded.

Celestia was shocked. “At what cost?! You are changing who they are! Forcing them to feel what you want them to feel! Girls you cannot control everything! Now it is time you gave back the elements.”

'Why can’t they understand?' I thought. I thought. Then I said. “Why? Why can’t we control everything?”

“Well for one thing you are our subjects.” Luna said.

“Yeah about that…” Rainbow Dash said.

“We have all been giving that a lot of thought.” Rarity followed

“And we all came to the same conclusion.” Fluttershy added.

“That is that the two of you alone honestly just ain’t the best mares for the job.” Applejack continued.

“We hope you understand. You did your best.” Pinkie said.

“What?” Celestia and Luna both said.

I began to explain. “If what happened between the two of you is any indication if you get into a major disagreement it could plunge our land into civil war and that’s not including the possibility that one or both of you could become nightmares again. And if you look at your rule over the last thousand years while pony kind has advanced technologically and culturally, crime rates have risen steadily, social problems abound, and you let the Everfree Forest and the monsters that call it home remain!”

“Yeah, you should have burned that place down a long time ago!” Rainbow Dash interrupted.

I continued. “So right now you have a choice to make, help us bring about a state of total harmony, or we will have to take over and do it ourselves.”

“And how do you intend to do that?” Celestia asked.

“Well we do have the elements don’t we?”

“You wouldn’t use them against the two of us.” Luna said.

“Not if you join us.”

“Twilight I am sorry but what you propose is just not something we can support.” Celestia said sadly.

“Princess, please; don’t make me do this.” I pleaded. At that moment the royal sisters unleashed their magic on us but we used the elements against them. As they turned into gold and silver statues a single tear fell from Celestia and splashed against her golden hooves. You will understand someday and then you will thank us for making such a wonderful world.

***

It was not long after that when the rest of Equestria came under our care. Most of the armed forces are either at home recovering from what Discord did to them or busy with running the refugee camps, pushing back hostile forces, and rebuilding efforts. With all the forces divided and in disarray after the Day of Discord we quickly get the armed forces under our control in little over a week. Three days after we took over the military, work on the magic clock to tap Celestia and Luna’s magic was complete we finally begun the next night (As much as it pained me to, I did come up with the plans for the clock in preparation for our confrontation with the princesses) and we proclaimed ourselves the Queens of Harmony and of our individual elements.

(Interviewer Notes (Pegasus): Why do you call yourselves queens? Feel guilty about what you did?)

I did what had to be done for the world and the title of queen is more mature and commands more respect. Ponies need to take what we have to say seriously and if Celestia had taken the same title maybe ponies would have be less inclined to take shots at her in the tabloids. I am glad we shut all of those down.

“You can’t rightly call it news if you make stuff up half the time and twist the truth around the other half!” Applejack once said to a tabloid editor.

“And most of what you write here isn’t very nice and if don’t have anything nice to say then you shouldn't say anything at all! Sorry if that sounded harsh.” Fluttershy added.

As things began to fall into place we rewarded those close to us. Pinkie made the Cakes the official royal bakers who in addition to making all the wonderful treats in the castle they are in charge of making Pinkie’s signature happy sauce. Production is at four thousand gallons a day.

It’s good to have them and the twins here because Fluttershy was so worried when she began to put Flutternice in the castle daycare, but having her daughter’s two favorite playmates helped ease her enough that she'd do her job and spend her free time with her little filly. It must be so hard for her to be a single working parent.

Applejack hired about two dozen new farm hands for Sweet Apple acres so that she wouldn’t worry about the farm as queen. And she convinced Granny Smith and Big Macintosh that Apple Bloom should move into the castle with us and work as a part time assistant while she attends our new school for wonderful ponies.

Applejack was giving Apple Bloom a tour of her new school. “You’ll really like it Apple Bloom, Twilight put all the best books in the school library, and the uniforms make it so nopony can tell if ya have a cutie mark or not so there should be no teasin'. And don’t you worry about Diamond Tiara we’re getting her fixed right up. Yep soon teasing and bullies will just be a story to tell your grandfoals about.”

“Yeah… that…that sounds great Applejack.” Apple Bloom said.

Rarity opened our reeducation centers to help ponies be more harmonious and personally welcomed two of the first students. “Rarity, what we doing here?” her mother asked.

“Mother, Father, I hate to say this but the two of you are often selfish, leaving Sweetie Bell in my care while you leave for weeks at a time, and you have no concept of beauty. So I brought you here to cure you of that.”

Rarity’s parents were in shock. “What? You can’t do that!” Mr. Bell yelled.

“What about Sweetie Bell? Who is going to take care of her if we’re stuck in here?” Mrs. Bell asked.

“Why I will of course, like I always have. As Queen of Generosity I have the authority to place Sweetie in the care of her closest relative while you undergo rehabilitation, which happens to be me. Oh, don’t look so sad; think of it as a vacation! And it’s not like you’ll never see her again, there are visiting hours every day and when you get out you’ll be beautiful and generous parents Sweetie Bell will be proud of. And you will be so proud of her, helping her big sister bringing total harmony to the world. Now these fine stallions will escort you to your room and then you have your first class! You wouldn’t want to be late for that.” Two large guards grabbed Rarity’s parents and took them away. Sweetie Bell came out from behind a potted plant.

“Rarity, are…are you sure this is the right thing?” she asked.

Rarity smiled. “Don’t you worry, it’s for their own good as well as ours. And now you get to share a room with Apple Bloom! Won’t that be fun?”

“I guess so.”

I wasn’t worried about splitting up the Cutie Mark Crusaders and I was right. As soon as Scootaloo heard that Sweetie Bell and Apple Bloom were going to assist us part time she asked Rainbow Dash if she could do the same.

The response that Rainbow gave the filly was. “Yeah, sure whatever kid.” Of course we then found out that Scootaloo was living out of the crusader club house because circumstances made it so that her parents were unable to care for her themselves and they said it was an honor that their daughter was going to work for one of their new queens.

And of course Spike is still my number one assistant. And with Pinkie Pie agreeing to babysit for the Cakes despite her title I have high hopes for the next generation as they will probably one day take over our duties of maintaining harmony all over the world.

(Interviewer Notes (Unicorn): So you do not plain on finding a way to become alicorns?)

Of course not! In my studies to determine which are the true magics of the world I found records of experiments where a unicorn tried to become an alicorn by trying to copy magic from a pegasus and an earth pony. The unicorn didn’t change at all, the pegasus was badly scarred, and the earth ponies was reported to become some kind of zombie! I would never want to try to recreate those kinds of experiments! I have a hard enough time living with what happened with Trixie and the others!

(Interviewer Notes (Earth Pony): Yeah, that does sound kind of scary.)

We don’t need to become alicorns anyway. Through our vigilance and hard work of these past two years we are transforming Equestria into a paradise! Crimes are solved quickly and all criminals are reformed after their crimes. Everypony loves and tolerates each other, no one is judged on what you are or what you like. There are no poor ponies because every pony has all the bits they need. Not a cruel word or violent act is to be found. If you hear something that you take heart in knowing that is absolutely true! Magic is everywhere to make your life safer and easier. And most of all everypony in Equestria is happy and soon everypony in the whole world will be happy. Now doesn’t that sound nice?

Part 2

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Part 2: Journeys beginning
Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo all shared the same bedroom in the Grand Castle of Eternal Harmony (formerly Canterlot).

Sweetie Belle's corner of the room had a mountain of dolls and stuffed animals, most of them taken from Diamond Tiara by Rarity. Sweetie Belle shuddered. Thinking of the filly now one of the castle's lowly maids. Sweetie Belle didn't know how much of the filly's behavior was her being terrified of punishment if she upset Sweetie Belle even in the slightest. And how much was her having been hollowed out on the inside.

In the end, a sobbing Silver Spoon (after running away screaming two weeks earlier), asked to join her best friend. After all, her parents had already been stripped of everything they were already.

Sweetie Belle was applying Scootaloo's daily first aid. "Scootaloo, she doesn't care about you," Sweetie said.

"Who?"

"Rainbow Dash!"

"That's a lie! She cares about me a lot!"

"Then why did she slam your face into a tray so hard it left an impression?"

"That was my fault, I didn't do the frosting on the Rainbow Dash cookies right."

"You smudged one cookie's rear hoof less than an inch." Applebloom said.

"Exactly," Scootaloo sighed, "That's why I deserved it. Dash is the greatest, I'm not so great."

Sweetie and Applebloom looked at each other.

*Don't lose hope. All will be well.*

*Princess Cadence sacrificed herself to become Nightmare Polyphony, but she can saved, so can your sisters and their friends.*

Applebloom and Sweetie Belle startled, yes, they had both heard that.

*The Elements of Chaos: Courage. Deceit. Empathy. Desire. Free-Will. And the sixth. Find them in the hearts of six ponies. Despite what the Harmony Queens believe, chaos is not the opposite of Harmony, it is a vital part of it, a needed part. And with it you can save the souls of those you love.*

Applebloom and Sweetie Belle couldn't have been less hesitant to start this quest.

~~~

The big question was how do they start? Applebloom and Sweetie Belle stayed up half the night trying to think of any plans to find these elements of chaos. They knew Scootaloo didn’t hear the voice so they whispered under Applebloom’s covers while she slept. The pair wished that they could have their friends help but she was blindly loyal to Rainbow Dash and might have told her what they were trying to do. Until they could figure out how to find these elements of chaos Applebloom and Sweetie Belle would have to pretend everything was normal. And this morning that meant going to school. For the past two years since the harmony queens took power the girls once called the cutie mark crusaders attended Twilight Sparkle’s School for Wonderful Ponies, which was once the school for gifted unicorns until Queen Twilight merged it with the schools for gifted pegasi and earth ponies. After classes the three would spend a few hours as assistants to the queens once their homework was finished. “Ah miss going Ms. Cheerilee’s class.” Applebloom said slipping on her school uniform. It was a blue vest with a red scarf and skirt that covered the flank; boys in the school would wear matching blue pants instead. As the skirt went over her cutie mark, an apple with a hammer and nails, she couldn’t help but look at Scootaloo who was the only one of the trio who did not have a cutie mark yet.

“Once she’s out of the happy house I’m sure the queens will have her teaching us at our school again in no time.” Scootaloo said. From what Applebloom could gather the big thing that was keeping her friend from her cutie mark was her consuming devotion to Rainbow Dash; Scootaloo was so wrapped up in trying to make her happy that she hardly did anything else. If Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon didn’t clean their room everyday then Scootaloo’s scooter would have a thick layer of dust. Applebloom knew that as the principal of their school Twilight made sure that both she and Sweetie Belle were placed into positions to get their marks, a school play with Sweetie Belle singing the lead role and Applebloom making the sets. Knowing this there were times when Applebloom could barely look at her mark.

Sweetie Belle’s mark; three gold bells each with a pink heart; was plainly visible as she placed her books in her saddle bag. “We will have probably graduated by the time that happens.” Sweetie Belle sighed.
There was a knock at the door. “Sorry to disturb you but we must have your rooms clean and beds made before we all go to school and we mustn’t be late.” It was Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon in their maid uniforms.
Sweetie Belle shivered. “Oh, yeah; come on girls let’s get to breakfast, wouldn’t want to disappoint Rarity and the others.”

~~~

Breakfast with the Queens was always a time to go over the day's itinerary. “Now Rarity how is this month’s redistribution of wealth going?” Queen Twilight asked.

Queen Rarity smiled. “Oh just wonderful darling, each time it gets easier to track down all the buying and selling and make sure every pony in Equestria has the exact same amount of bits again.”

Queen Applejack had something to say. “Twilight, I would like to ask you about my proposal to burn all books that are not truthful like fairy tales, comic books, and other works of fiction. There are romance novel writers that’ve never even been on a single date!”
Queen Fluttershy looked up as she was eating with Flutternice who was now a precocious two year old. “But um…Flutternice won’t go to bed unless I read her favorite bedtime story ‘Mr. Frog visits Puppy Manor.’ And it has such a nice lesson.”

Queen Twilight thought for a moment and said. “Applejack while it is true that the stories may not be true what we can learn from them is very real. How about we just make a law requiring all books to be clearly labeled fiction or nonfiction so to avoid confusion? It would be no different than using a hypothetical situation to explain how something should work. ”

“Well, it should be enough that everypony would know what is true about the story and what isn’t.” Queen Applejack agreed.
It was then that a guard burst into the dining room. “Excuse me your highnesses but we just received reports that Nightmare Polyphony was seen approaching Baltimare!”

The Queens rose up from their seats. “I was wondering when she’d show her face again!” Queen Rainbow Dash flapped her wings in anticipation.

Queen Twilight Sparkle immediately took charge. “Right, Fluttershy you get Flutternice to Daycare; Spike will you please inform the Cakes that they may have to look after Flutternice for a couple of days.”

“Right away Twilight!” Spike zipped out of the room.

“You hear that Flutternice? You get to sleep over with Pound Cake and Pumpkin Cake for a few days. Now be a good girl for the Cakes and I will be back as soon as I can.”

“Yay” Flutternice gave a tiny cheer.

“You girls best head off to school and don’t you fret none, we’ve faced off against her before.” Queen Applejack commanded.
Queen Twilight then spoke. “This is it girls we are going to save Cadence from herself!”

As the Queens left Applebloom muttered. “Not if we can save all of you first.”

~~~

Despite the name the School for Gifted Ponies had teachers and students of many different species; case in point was the new magic teacher Zecora. The only reason the Queens never changed the name for the sake of political correctness was because there already was a school for gifted creatures in Equestria." The reharmonized zebra had the same big smile pasted on her face as Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. “Now come, gather around my dears, time for the truths of magic for you to hear.”

Sweetie Bell and Applebloom could not help but think back to the day when their old friend was changed; of how she abandoned her old magic except her potions. Zecora was giving the usual lecture on what kinds of magic were true and what were not. The same one she gave every week. The two fillies along with other bored classmates had tuned it out. Applebloom tried to think of where the best place to look for the Elements of Chaos would be. “They’re probably folks who are standing against the Queens but since they are almost caught immediately or like the rebels are secretive they are hard to find. Come on think Applebloom! You have been helping your sister keep track of crime reports for two years! If only I could figure it out then you can go back HOME! To Ponyville and Sweet Apple Acres … wait! That’s it! Reports keep coming from Ponyville about someone stealing food and leaving graffiti insulting the Queens. It’s not much of a start but it is a start. Now I just need to wait for Sweetie Bell to be alone to talk about it."

~~~

The last class of the day was shop; a class Applebloom was very good at. The teacher was a tan earth pony stallion wearing a neck tie and suspenders with a slightly curly mane named Mr. Tool Time, his cutie mark was a hammer crossed with a saw. “Okay class, today I’m going to show how to replace the stud behind the wall. The first step is of course is to remove the section of wall to get to the stud you can do this with a saber saw, a claw hammer or my favorite a twenty pound sledge hammer. Oh ho ho…ow!” Tool Time grunted a laugh before he got a headache.

“Are you okay Mr. Tool Time?” Sweetie Bell asked.

Tool Time seemed to be getting better. “I’m okay, Sweetie Bell; I just remembered the time before I started teaching here. I had an assistant named Flannel Shirt, I used to always crack jokes about the shirts he wore, his beard, his mom's weight. But that was before Queen Fluttershy had a Geass’ on me that give me headaches if I think about mean jokes. Alright, as you should all know once you measure and draw your guide then it should take you about five to ten minutes to cut depending on the size of the cut. However how you kids like to see it done in five to ten seconds?” There was and air excitement in the room. “I can do this because I gave the saw what?”

“More Power!” Every boy in the class and Scootaloo cheered.

“You’re darn right, more power!” As he began to cut he lost control of the saw as it went from the mock wall to the floor and kept cutting dragging the shop teacher through the wall. “Whoa!”

“I guess class is dismissed?” one of the girl's classmates asked.

~~~

The Crusaders along with Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon left out of the hole Tool time made.

“So what do you guys want to do now?” Scootaloo asked.

Sweetie Bell sighed. “We got a few things to do for the Queens before we head back to the castle. You go on ahead.”
“Hey, Scootaloo. You know that we’ll always be best friends, no matter what happens right?” Applebloom asked.

“Of course!”

“Good, good… you know Scoot you could try to earn your Cutie Mark while Rainbow Dash is away.”

“Oh, yeah! She’d be so proud! Okay Silver Spoon, Diamond Tiara let’s get back to the castle I’m going to get a Cutie Mark in Ice sculpting by making a statue of Rainbow Dash and you can help me get started!”

“Yes, miss Scootaloo, right after we finish our homework.” They both said in unison with those big smiles.

Applebloom checked to make sure they were alone before she spoke again; making extra sure to look for observation crystals; the magical devices used as the Harmony Queens’ all seeing eyes which there seemed to be more of every day. “Ah wish we could bring her with us.”

“It, would be like old times but we just have to remember we’re not just doing this for Equestria, our sister, or their friends, we’re doing this for Scootaloo too!” Sweetie Bell got a serious look on her face. “Now in the school library I read about a way we can sneak out of the city. Back when the Grand Castle of Eternal Harmony was a small town called Bahamut’s Rest; I think that’s the neighborhood where Twilight grew up; and the long winding trail that they used to use to come here.” As they talked they made their way through the streets.

“No pony is guarding it?”

“Well a rockslide blocked off part of the path. The miner that lived here at the time cut open a series of tunnels that the trains run through today. It might be rough but it will be our best way out of the city once we figure out where we’re going.”

“Ah got that all figured out!” Applebloom checked again to make sure they weren’t being watched. “Since these Elements of Chaos will probably be rebels and law breakers I found the that the longest run of crime is in Ponyville, graffiti against the queens and theft of food. The perpetrator always evades capture and is believed to hide somewhere out of town. Maybe we can visit Granny Smith, and Big Macintosh!”

Sweetie Bell had a doubtful look on her face. “I don’t know Applebloom …”

“Come on Sweetie! Except for Hearth's Warming or my birthday I hardly get to see them!”

“Well, if we have time.” Sweetie Bell stopped at an a vine covered area. “We’re here.”

“Great! Did you remember to pack extra food in your lunch for the trip?”

“Yes, now all we have to do is follow that trail!” Sweetie Bell shouted.

“Sweetie I don’t see the trail.”

Sweetie Bell pulled on the vines with her magic. “Here is the trail that we blaze!” The vines fell only to show an old stone wall. Applebloom face hoofed and then notice the small rocky path right next to the walland pointed. Sweetie then pointed the same way. “That trail which we blaze!”

As they started down the long forgotten trail the couldn’t help but think that while the fate of Equsetria and their sisters and friends were on their shoulders they were now living the dream that everybody who ever heard an adventure story had at least once, to go on a journey to save the world. So they giggled and began to sing.

Look out lost world, here we come
Brave, determined, and then some
Seekers of salvation
Going to say salutations
To hope that can end this bad dream
Fightin’ our way up the stream
On the trail we blaze!

”They came upon a broken stair way and hopped from section to section the last step cracked and Sweetie Bell nearly fell if Applebloom hadn’t caught her and pulled her up to see a spectacular view.

Heading on no turning back
We’ll change the path of this story
Show them all the proof
They’re living in a haze.
And watch hope unfolding
Alongside mystery.
We will never yield
On the trail we blaze!

The pair trotted to a long forgotten building, they both entered and ran right out followed by a colony of bats!

Tragedy has made us strong
For free will is what we long
Anger burns that is not wrong

Even if cruel we have to be
Or with deceit must beguile
We desire hope go wild

Even hope held by a child

Crossing a wooden bridge Applebloom and Sweetie Bell were shocked when it gave way and they rode the piece of the bridge they were on down a twisting and rapid river down to the base of the Canterhorn.

On the trail we blaze!

After shaking themselves dry they walked a short ways until they found train tracks. Applebloom looked down the track confirming that they went to Ponyville then stared in the other direction “Well all we have’ta do now is wait for the train to pass and jump on, then it’s off to Ponyville!” In the distance they heard the whistle of a train.

Will of the Wind

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Part 3: Will of the Wind

The train pulled up to Ponyville station and Sweetie Bell and Ah hopped of before they began to unload the box car. After making sure nobody (Twilight was really pushing political correctness in the schools) saw us Ah couldn’t help but look around. It’s been two years since we last set hoof here; Applejack always insisted that Granny and Big Macintosh come up to the castle for birthdays and Hearth's Warming Eve. At this time of day Applejack used sell apple out of the cart, but now there was a permanent stand in its place with a mare Ah've never seen before. The Library while bigger just had some old stallion for the librarian. The first Carousel Boutique was once both Rarity’s home as well as her shop until there was one in every town. Sugercube Corner while still owned by the cakes is under new management. The local vet now took care of all the animals in Ponyville. And now Derpy Hooves of all ponies is the captain of the weather team.

“Hello Ms. Hooves how are you this fine day?” Lily asked.

“Oh you just…” Before she could finish we all heard a tune in the air. I miss when songs were just on the spot and not scheduled every day. “…awesome!”

Everything is awesome! Everything is good when yer part of the team!

This went on for a little bit. “That was the song Rainbow Dash and Pinkie wrote together?” Sweetie asked me.

“Yeah, let’s start looking for this trouble maker and hope they’re this Element of Chaos we’re looking for.” We knew it wouldn’t be easy to find. Anyone who has any success in defying the princesses must be good at keeping out of sight.

We started by looking for any of the graffiti around town but street after street every wall was predictably spotless. “Ah guess our next step is to see about the theft of the food and most of that is at Sweet Apple Acres.” Ah am a little anxious about seeing mah family. We haven’t seen each other since Applejack became a Queen. The first thing ah noticed was that there were a lot more ponies in the orchards than ah ever saw.

“Hello there.” One of the stallions said to us.

“Howdy.” Ah said.

“So, what do you little ones need?”

“We are here as a favor for the Queens. There was talk of apples going missing in the fields.” Sweetie said.

The stallion suddenly looked very nervous. “Sorry if we have not been satisfactory. But the thief is just so fast we hardly could even get a look her!”

“There nothing for you to be worried about. No one holds any of you responsible.”

The Stallion calmed down a little. “We have been looking in the nearby hills but we have never been able to find anything.”

Just then a brown blur swooped by and grabbed apples off the nearby trees. “Stay put; we’ll chase after it. Come on Sweetie Bell.”

+++

We followed the streak up to the hills close to where the Everfree forest used to be. “Hello? Are y'all here?”

Nothin.

“We don’t want to turn you in. In fact, we need your help. You’re the only lead to something that can save our sisters and friends and put an end to all this forced harmony.” Sweetie Bell said.

Then from out of a cave two apple cores hit us on our heads. “Yeah right, like I’d stick my neck out for any of them. Especially that backstabber Rainbow Dash.” Out of the cave came a griffin with purple highlights in some of her feathers.

“Wait aren’t you Gilda? The Griffin that visited Ponyville a few years ago?” ah asked.

“What’s it to you?” Gilda then gave a roar.

“We’re looking for the elements of chaos and if they are anything like the elements of harmony then we have to find them in the hearts of others who aren’t afraid to stand up to the queens like you do.”

Flicking her tail across my snout Gilda just gave a grunt. “I don’t stand up to them I just stay out of their way and do want I want.”

“What?” Sweetie Bell asked.

“Here is how it is. According to the Queens' plan I’m the enemy because I like to think for myself, I’m into freedom of speech, and freedom of choice. I’m the kind of gal who sits in the greasy spoon and think should I have the T-bone steak or the jumbo rack of BBQ ribs with the side order of gravy fries? I want high cholesterol. I want to eat bacon and butter and buckets of cheese! I want to park my wagon in the no parking zone. I want to run through the streets covered in green gelatin reading violent comics! Why? Because I might suddenly feel the need to! Ok dweebs? I’ve seen the future the Queens want and you know what it is? It’s a 47-year griffon going around in his beige suit; drinking a banana and broccoli shake while singing the sappy song of the month. You live in any town you live their way; what they want, when they want, how they want. Your other choice; come out here and maybe starve to death.

“Don’t you want to stop them? You could help us find the elements of chaos that can show them that what they are doing is wrong!” Ah said.

“I chose this path and if I want to keep on it I need to stay as far from their scared little followers as I can. I’m not gonna risk my freedom for two fillies I barely know for trinket that probably doesn’t exist! Go back to town or find you place but get out of here!”

+++
“What do we do now?” Ah asked as we made our way out of the hills. “This is just the first step on our quest and already we seem to be blowing it big time!”

I don’t know, maybe she’s the element we’re looking for but we don’t have any proof of it.” Sweetie Bell placed her hoof on mah shoulder. “You know we hear rumors of a resistance all the time, maybe they can help us.”

“Apple Bloom!” We heard a very familiar voice. “Land Shakes youngin why didn’t tell me didn’t ya tell me y’all were comin for a visit?” It was Granny Smith.

“Granny!” Ah was frozen in place. It had been so long since we were last together.

“Now, come along child we got some fresh baked pies in the house and we can get all caught up. Big Mac should be done with his chores so he can join us.” Reluctantly we made our way to the house. “How is yer sister doing these days?” Granny asked sadly. “We only hear what the news says about her but it’s been a trees age since we last heard from her.”

Ah took a deep breath and looked to Sweetie who shook her head. Ah couldn’t lie to Granny. “She's very busy with everythin'. Frankly Ah’m worried about her Granny, this road she’s taking us all down. Ah’m worried it’s breaking her on the inside.”

Then the Barn doors opened and out came Big Macintosh and a load of other ponies including the Mayor, Lyra, and that cherry stand pony. So many of them had those forced smiles of the harmonized ponies. “Apple Bloom. Ah know you think yer just trying to help AJ but we know yer skipping school and you didn’t have any orders to go after that thief. If you were trying to do somthin with her help then you are the one who needs help.” Big Mac said.

“Don’t any of you see that what they are doing is wrong? We’re all either living in fear or are brain washed! We’re just trying to get them back to who they used to be!” Sweetie pleaded.

The Mayor spoke. “Now children we are not going to hurt you. We just are going to hold you until the Queens can help you.”

“Yeah a lot of us needed help and they helped us. It doesn’t hurt or anything.” Lyra said.

Ah looked to mah family. “Granny, Big Mac are you really okay with this? Ah can tell. Yer livin in fear of yer own sister; yer own granddaughter! How can that be the way the world is supposed to be? This is a false harmony we are livin' in! No one is free! No one can do anything without looking over their shoulder out of fear that they will be punished!”

“We’re sorry Apple Bloom but it’s…fer the best.” Granny said.

“Eyup” Big Mac said sadly.

“Is this really how it ends?” Ah thought. “Arrested by mah family. Our mission ends just as we began?”

-My Hero Academia OST You say Run-

“Spiral Wind Buster!” a sideways Tornado pushed everyone away and we found ourselves in Gilda’s claws.

“Gilda? Why are you helping us” Sweetie Bell asked.

Gilda gave some kind of shamed grin “I really am pathetic you know that? Here I am talking about my freedom doing what I want but all this time I really didn’t do what I really want to do out of fear. And here are two little fillies with no clue on what to do who are risking everything to change the world. You two inspired me to take action instead of hiding from my problems.” She then looked at the crowd. You ponies hear me? I am going to fight for the world I want. I am going the get my best friend back! This is what I CHOOSE!” Then a light came out of her heart and became a dark red jewel the shape of a talon with a pair of wings clasped to Gilda’s neck by a silver band. “This is my Element of Chaos, the Element of Free Will!” The element shined and ponies in the crowd looked confused.

“I’m free! I am me again!” Lyra said.

“What did they make me do?” The Cherry salespony said.

The next thing we knew some folk in the mob were trying to wrestle the ponies that the Element of Free will freed. “Get out of here!” Lyra said. "You mustn't let the only weapon against the Queens we have be captured!”

“Right!” Gilda took off with us in tow, tackling any pegasus that tried to get in our way.

+++

We were now high above Ponyville. Sweetie Bell had a big smile on her face. “We found the first element and she can break the harmonization on anyone we find. This is a big step forward!”

“Yeah but now we need to figure out where to go next to find the next element.” Ah said.

Then Gilda’s element shot out a beam of light into the distance. “Guess we follow this thing.” Gilda said.
Then I thought as we looked out into the horizon. “Ah’m still sad at what Granny and Big Macintosh tried to do but We got to keep moving forward. Now we have real hope again. Whoever you are that told us about these elements Ah want to thank you for this hope.”

Nightmare Polyphony

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Part 4: Nightmare Polyphony

Our own airship is one of the perks of being Queens of Equestria. I look around to see my friends getting ready for the task ahead. I am so proud of how far we come in two years and today we bring Candance home. There is just one thing that is bothering me so I think I should talk to Rainbow about it now.

“Hey Twilight, what’s up?” She asked me.

“Rainbow before we help Candance I would like to talk to you about Scootaloo.”

“Uh what about her? She’s just my assistant. The kid that does what I tell her. Wish she wouldn’t get things wrong all the time.”

“Dash, Scootaloo isn’t just some servant we assigned to you. You need to teach her; she looks up to you and you need to look ahead and mold her to the next element of Loyalty we know she can be.”

“Her, the next Element of Loyalty?”

“Dash we are not going to be around forever, so it is our responsibility to make sure the next generation is ready to maintain harmony. You have been hard on her, but we need you to start showing her the ropes of governing like Applejack is doing with Applebloom, Rarity with Sweetie Bell, or me with Spike. And please stop being so rough on her we’re starting to worry how hurt she is getting with you.”

Dash was in thought for a moment. “I guess I have been a little hard on her even if it will toughen her up for job…I guess I could pull back a bit, but do you really think I can teach? Won’t she think I’m an egghead?”

“It’ll be good for her to see another side to you and good for you to bond with her. Just think about it okay?”

“Fine.”

That’s one problem at least beginning to be fixed but going back to the task ahead I can’t help but think about how all this started.

“You did what to aunt Celestia?!” Cadence said. It was two years ago Cadence and Shining were in shock at the sight of the gold and silver statues that were once the rulers of Equestria. The couple had just come back from visiting other lands asking for help.

“They wouldn’t listen.” I explained. “This is only temporary, until they realize that what we are doing is necessary.”

“Necessary? Shining asked. “We come back after months to find you’re place crystals to watch ponies, changing them, and you have taken over Equestria and you say it’s necessary?!”

“To restore and maintain harmony to Equestria, yes.”

“Twilight this isn’t harmony! Ponies are scared of making a mistake and being punished for it!” Cadence looked at us disapprovingly.

Rainbow huffed. “Only the bad guys need to be scared of us. What we do doesn’t hurt anypony.”

“Most folks seem to think we’re doing a good job.” Applejack said.

Shining Armor shook his head. “Because things got so bad, they were desperate ANYTHING that might make them better and YOU took advantage of them!”

“To help them.” Fluttershy said cradling Flutternice.

“Don’t you see what you are doing is wrong?” Cadence asked. “I can feel it inside, what you are doing isn’t harmony!”

“What we are doing is preventing chaos, the very meaning of harmony.” I explained. “Cadence, Shining, please don’t go against us.”

“Twili please stop this, this isn’t you.” Shining Armor pleaded.

“I’m more clear-headed than before.” The next thing we knew my brother trapped us in a shield bubble while Cadence flew them out of the castle.

Over the next year they led several lands against us but in the end we have prevailed. But sadly, after we helped one of their guards see the errors of standing against us, he told us of the tragedy. It began as their war against us dragged on the newlyweds were seeing less and less of each other. Shining Armor spent most of his time with his troops and making strategies while Cadence spent most of her days making alliances and spy networks to stop our mission. In going against us they sadly were paying the price with their marriage. “Cadence, we need to talk.” Shining Armor said coming into a dark room with a large map.

“Is this about my order to place more troops on the eastern border?” Cadence asked with bags under her eyes.

“The eastern…no! Cadence we’ve haven’t spent any time with each other outside of war meetings in weeks! Doesn’t that bother you?”

Cadence took a breath and sighed. “Shining, I love you but we both must make sacrifices if we’re to stop the queens and their false harmony.”

“I know that, but I am worried about you. The staff tells me you don’t sleep much, you barely eat, shower only when you’re about to meet delegates, spend hours in this room alone making war plans! You are becoming obsessed with stopping Twili to the point that you are pushing everything else aside!”

“You don’t know what this is like for me!” Cadence screamed. “Every day I hear how someone I loved like a little sister is perverting harmony and it is feels as if I’m being twisted up inside! With each new law, each new territory they take they are making a mockery of harmony! Turning more and ponies away from it! We can’t let Twilight continue with this! A temporary time of focus on our duties is a small price to pay. We can’t stop until the queens have been captured and they are locked away for the rest of miserable lives!”

“Cadence you don’t mean that.” Shing was shocked. “Yes, they must be stopped, but…she’s still family. We can still find a way to reason with her.”

“Twilight is lost to us Shining. She is a grown mare that must face the consequences of what she’s done. If I don’t stop her and the others this whole world will become a parody of all we hold dear.”

“Cadence I…” Shining Armor then hung his head. “I have to go; I need to meet with the troops. Members of the Equestria underground want to meet to see if there is some way can coordinate our operations.”

Cadence turned back to her map. “Alright, let me know when you’ve worked something out.”

Shining’s ears drooped and he went to his office and began writing a note. When he finished it as he closed to door he said. “Goodbye Cadence.”

It was a week later when our forces were about to take her castle. The six of us were only a day away. “How did we not see they turned the five of our command staff?” Cadence asked one of her ministers.

“I…don’t know your majesty!” The minister replied. “Our troops are in disarray! What do we do?”

“Why isn’t Shining Armor rallying them? Where is he?” Cadence began franticly looking room to room to find her husband and general. “Please tell me she didn’t turn you too!” When she got to his office, she found the letter and began to read it.

“Dear Cadence, I am writing this letter because I do not have the courage to tell you what you don’t want hear. By time you read this I will have already left. Your obsession with stopping my sister has completely buried all the things I have loved about you. I no longer see the wonderful mare I married and more and more we are not husband and wife, but princess and general. Where did your forgiving heart go? You have given up on reaching Twili but I cannot stop trying. I’m joining the Equestria Underground, they need an experienced battle commander and with the state we’re in I don’t think I can any good for your guards. I need time, time away, time that will hopefully bring you back to yourself. Until then we cannot, should not be together. Goodbye.”

“No… Shining why? I…need you.” she cried. As the sounds of the battle echoed around her so did her thoughts. “How could he leave me? This isn’t right! We were supposed to live happily ever after! We were going to have the most beautiful foals! Why did this happen? Twilight! It’s Twilight and her friend’s fault! They drove us apart! They robbed us and everypony of our futures! All in the name of their false harmony! This isn’t fair! It’s not fair! It’s not fair!! It’s not fair!!!” she then began to scream. “I WILL MAKE IT FAIIIIIIIIRRRRRRRRR!” Her scream became louder and louder, her voice splitting into different pitches as smoke surrounded her.

Outside the battle continued until the screams reached outside. “What the hoof is that?” one of our guards asked as first the windows cracked and broke followed by the stone of the castle. The it exploded as the noise ended.

“Rise my subjects. We still have much to do.” Dozens of voices spoke as one, but all came from just one pony.

“Princess Cadence is that you?” one of Cadence’s guards asked the pony.

“No longer. I needed to tap into greater power to prevail over the queens of false harmony. They would call me a nightmare, so let them call me Nightmare Polyphony. Together my subjects we will free this world and bring our prince back to us. Now come while their forces are in disarray, we must find a new base of operations.”

“My queens we are about to land.” The captain said snapping me out of my revery.

I nodded to him and turned to the others. “All right girls it’s time, Candance will not get away from us this time. We landed in front of a large field of flowers. After casting a simple revealing spell, we all found Candace or Nightmare Polyphony standing before us.

I still could not believe that this was once the best foal sitter in the world. Now before us was a Nightmare with her dark red coat, hair that rippled like sound waves, and a Cutie Mark of a broken crystal heart surrounded by lightning bolts. “I will stop all of you and your false harmony. I know because I AM HARMONY!”

“No, Candace. It is not false. Come back with us and we can heal you and then we can find Shining Armor together.”

Polyphony reared up with rage in her face. “That is not my name anymore! He left me, and it is all your fault!”

She slammed her hooves down and a powerful sound wave flowed from the impact. “Everyone! Look out!” I yelled. Rainbow and Fluttershy flew Rarity and Applejack up while Pinkie bounced above the wave while I teleported.

Polyphony opened her wings circles appearing on each feather, they were like speakers. Then she took a deep breath and she then let out a scream that torn up the ground. We landed back down. “Nightmare Moon, Discord, and so many others. You have all become that which you’ve fought against! Tyrannts! With each village, fortress, and city I attack your subjects see that you are not all powerful, you do not care for them. When I defeat you here, they will know that true harmony has prevailed! Then my love will return, and all shall be as it should be.”

“No Cadence. We do care for all our subjects!” Fluttershy said.

“This is a might tricky Twi.” Applejack said as the nightmare screamed again. “How are we going to get a clear shot with all this racket?”

I thought for a moment. “I have an idea wait for my signal.”

“I will not fall to you and your tainted elements!” Polyphony ranted. The Elements tainted? She really has gone off the deep end. Sure, they seem a little dull these days, but we use them almost every day with no problems. She took one more deep breath.

This is what I was waiting for. “Now!” We fired the elements that hit the wave of sound pressure. Neither side was giving an inch but there was one big advantage we had to this thing that took hold over Cadence, we could still breath while we attacked. The scream stopped as Nightmare Polyphony tried to inhale the elements stripping the twisted form of one I care for so deeply.

I could see tears in her eyes. Did she finally realize her mistake? “Shining I was wrong.” Cadence cried as he true self. “I’m sorry, I tried my best.” What came next was not what I wanted but I did expect it as pink crystal grew around her covering her completely just like Celestia and Luna.

“It will okay Cadence.” I told her. “We’ll bring you home and find a way to free you, Celestia and Luna. We’ll find and help Shining Armor too and you can go back to being a love couple and we’ll be a family again.”

The crew carefully loaded Cadence on board and we made our way home. “Twilight dear, about Cadence…” Rarity asked. “Are we to tap into her magic like we do Celestia and Luna?”

“I, I don’t know. I’m not sure how we could use her love magic or even if we should. While couples finding love would be more harmonious none of us are match makers. We need to do more research be we can even begin to set up a proper system.”

“And besides none of us single gals are what I’d call an authority on romance.” Applejack said.

“Yeah, the mushy stuff really isn’t my thing.” Rainbow Dash agreed. “When we get back how about I have Scootaloo make us some nacho’s? Maybe she won’t forget the green chilis this time.

“Dash remember what we talked about.” I reminded her.

“Right… mentoring like Applejack and Rarity. Guess I should be asking them for pointers.”

Just then Spike sent me a letter and what it said to me shocked me to my core. “Sweetie Bell and Applebloom ran away from the castle!”

“Or not.” Rainbow said.

We had our airship increase to maximum speed. When we got back, we asked Scootaloo what she knew. “I had no idea they were planning something like this. They just said they had something to do for you before they came home. Why didn’t they…?”

Applejack and Rainbow looked at Scootaloo with thier magic. “She’s telling the truth.” Applejack said.

“And her loyalty is rock solid. G, good job kid.” Rainbow said leaving a smile on Scootaloo the made her look like she had a triple serving of Pinkie’s happy sauce.

“Still, it just doesn’t make a lick of sense! Where did those two run off two?” Applejack asked.

That was when Spike came running in. “Twilight! They’ve been spotted in Ponyville!”

“I suppose the dears were feeling a little homesick.” Rarity hummed.

“Uh…no, according to Big Mac and other ponies on the scene Applebloom and Sweetie Bell found Gilda of all people! When the ponies of the town tried to bring them back, she used something she called an Element of Chaos to somehow undo the reharmonization on several ponies there!”

This not only made us all gasp, but I felt a heavy feeling in the pit of my stomach. “Gilda must have used that thing to brainwash Applebloom and Sweetie Bell! We got to find them now!” Rainbow said touching her element. “I didn’t think of it at the time, but during the fight I felt an odd pulsing from my Element of Loyalty, like something somewhere was echoing back to it. I didn’t say anything at the time because I felt like I had to keep my focus on Cadence.”

“But where did Gilda find such a thing?” Fluttershy asked as Flutternice played with her mother’s tail blissfully unaware of what all this meant.

“I don’t know but I’m heading to the library right now!” I said turning to leave.

“Is this really the best time for that Twi?” Applejack asked.

“Gilda can undo harmonization with just this one element! If it is like the Rainbow suggests just one of a set of elements the complete opposite of ours, we need to learn all about them! The rest of you have the guards place finding Gilda, Applebloom, and Sweetie Bell! We will save them from this thing!” As I made may way to the library, I found myself passing by the clock room with Celestia, Luna, and now Cadence who was just being placed on a dais in the room. “Just as we get one back, we lose two more.”