As Spike slept in, like always, Twilight was casually sorting books. Every so often she would reorganize them because organization was her top priority.
“Hmmm, Spells for Beginners would go under the spell book category, and the book on how to organize books would go into the nonfiction category,” Twilight muttered to herself as she put the books into their proper place.
At that that very moment she heard somebody knock at her door.
“I-I’ll get it,” said Spike sleepily as he woke up.
Spike walked slowly over to the door and opened it. Applejack stepped in followed by Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash.
“Well howdy Twilight,” said Applejack, “We all have nothing much to do today, so we were wonderin’ if you didn't either then we could all hang out.”
“We could all go to the spa!” proclaimed Rarity excitedly.
“Or we could throw a party! For no apparent reason at all!” squealed Pinkie.
“Or we could go to my house and pet all the cute animals,” said Fluttershy quietly.
“Those all sound like great ideas girls! Spike, sort the books while we’re gone,” said Twilight as she ambled outside with her friends.
“Ugh, fine…” answered Spike.
As the friends walked down the street chatting excitedly Applejack noticed something strange in the sky. She did a double take not believing her eyes.
“Oh my stars, hey Dash! Lookie here! Is it just me or is that cloud pink?!” stammered Applejack.
“What are you talking about Applejack?” said Rainbow Dash coolly as she floated by.
“Th-that cloud! It’s pink!”
“Huh? Wow, your right. One sec, I’ll fly up there and check it out.”
Rainbow Dash bolted upwards flying faster than ever and stopped before the cloud. She studied it closely and then cautiously tasted it. Realizing what it were her eyes opened wide. She was paralyzed with fright; just hovering there in the sky. But then she thought,
“Why am I so scared? We owned that bastard once and we can do it again! Besides, why would he be back? We freaking encased him in stone! This is probably just a leftover cloud that never disappeared or something.”
“Hey Rainbow!” yelled up Applejack, “What is it? You’ve been hovering up there for awhile now.”
“Oh it’s nothing,” called down Rainbow Dash, “I think it’s just a leftover cloud that never disappeared after we defeated Discord.”
“Awesome! Bring it down here so I can eat it!” cried Pinkie as she bounced up and down eagerly.
Rainbow Dash leisurely brought the sugary cloud down the earth. Pinkie took a huge bite, chortled, and then took another. The ponies continued walking down the street as if nothing had happened. That is until they saw a second cloud. Then another, and another, and another! They seemed to be appearing out of nowhere! Either a normal cloud would turn pink, or a pink cloud would randomly materialize!
“You call that one extra cloud!” exclaimed Rarity
Soon there were so many cotton candy clouds that the sun was virtually blocked out. This left Ponyville dark and shadowy.
“Muahahahaha!” laughed a familiar voice from all directions, “Did you really think that you could defeat me, the king of chaos, disorder, and confusion!”
“Discord! N-no way!” stammered Fluttershy.
“Did you miss me? Because I know I missed you. Muahahaha!” he guffawed hysterically.
“Show yourself!” demanded Twilight.
“Oh, all in good time Twilight.”
“We beat you once and we can beat you again!” yelled Rainbow Dash in a random direction.
“Yeah, there ain’t no way you can beat us,” argued Applejack.
“Well, we’ll just see about that! Do you really think I’d let myself be overpowered for a third time?” questioned Discord, “I mean seriously! One thousand years ago I had no knowledge about the elements and got destroyed by Celestia and her sister Luna. Then, one thousand years later, I became overly confident and lost to you girls. Ah, but not this time! This time I won’t celebrate my victory until I know for a fact that you’re all beaten! I will crush anybody who gets in my way, and kill all who defy me! You’re about to see my bad side, and trust me when I say you’re not going to like it! My motto this time is destroy all and then chaos!”
Lighting made of fire erupted from the clouds and incinerated nearby houses. Then from the center of it all Discord slowly descended down to the ground.
“Nyahahahahaha!” Discord laughed so hysterically he seemed to be mentally insane.
Nobody moved. They all just stared at him, shocked by his sudden change of attitude.
“Why lookie here!” he said acting surprised, “I just happen to have the elements of harmony!”
He snapped his fingers and they instantly appeared into his open hands.
“No! I won’t let you!” screamed Rainbow Dash.
She burst forward with so much speed that she almost instantly created a sonic rainboom! Discord held his hand out in front of him and then snapped his fingers. Rainbow Dash literally stopped right in front of him, frozen in time! Discord then snapped his fingers again and she was blown back with so much force that she broke that sound barrier a second time!
“How about we play a little game?” grinned Discord fiendishly, “Everypony has to play or I win and you die!”
The friends stared at Discord speechless. They had never seen him so humorless and malevolent before.
“I’ve never seen you this serious Discord,” said Twilight stunned.
“I know right?!” exclaimed Discord putting his hands on his head, “I’m surprised I was able to stay this serious for this long! It’s torture you know! But I promised myself no chaos until the six of you are dead and the Elements of Harmony are destroyed!”
“So, what’s this “game” you have in mind for us Discord?” replied Twilight eyeing him suspiciously.
“Well,” Discord laughed, “I could just kill you here and now, but that wouldn’t be any fun now would it? So, I constructed a little game that I like to call, The Labyrinth of Pandemonium!”
“Uh, Twilight,” interrupted Applejack.
“What?” answered Twilight.
“What exactly is a labyrinth?” questioned Applejack.
“A labyrinth is kinda like a maze. It is a confusing network of tunnels and passageways that somepony could easily get lost in. Not to mention the fact that most labyrinths are equipped with traps, puzzles, hidden pathways, and sometimes dangerous animals.”
“Ugh, not another maze!” cried Applejack, “What is it with you and mazes Discord!”
“Ah, but this is no ordinary maze Applejack…” chortled the fiend.
“I don’t care what it is!” yelled Rainbow Dash still recovering from the blast, “I am not going to be a pawn in one of your stupid games again!”
“If you insist,” said Discord raising an eyebrow, “Then I guess I’ll just have to do this the boring way; anybody up for some tacos?”
Discord snapped his fingers. Rainbow Dash, hovering a few feet above the earth, instantly turned into a taco and fell down to the ground. The five ponies looked in horror at what had become of their friend Rainbow Dash!
“Now who’s next?” hooted Discord, “How about you Twilight? But what would be fitting for you? I know how about I turn you into a book since you like to read so much! The title will read, The Story of Twilight Sparkle’s Pitiful Life.”
“You big fat meanie!” screamed Fluttershy surprising everyone, “You change Rainbow Dash back right now! Or else…I’ll….um…I don’t know.”
Discord, taken aback by Fluttershy’s sudden outburst, replied, “Why of course I’ll change her back Fluttershy! That is if you decide to play my game…”
“Give us a sec Discord,” said Twilight flatly. The ponies huddled in a circle to discuss the matter.
“We have no chance of winning!” proclaimed Rarity looking like she was about to have a nervous breakdown.
“I know! That is why we have to play along with his wicked game for now,” stated Twilight, “Nobody’s perfect; even
Discord makes mistakes. He has to mess up at some point, and when he does we will steal the elements back! Who’s with me?”
“I’m in!” said Pinkie Pie looking more sober then anypony had ever seen her before.
“Me too,” affirmed Applejack
“Let’s show this monster what we’re made of,” joined in Rarity gaining control of herself.
“Um…yeah,” whispered Fluttershy back to her normal personality.
“Ok then,” announced Twilight turning to face the fiend, “We’ll play your “game” just turn our friend back to normal!”
“Finally!” replied Discord flippantly. He snapped his finger’s once more. The taco disappeared and Rainbow Dash suddenly materialized beside them.
Dazed she looked around and muttered, “What the hell just happened? And why does it taste like I just ate twenty tacos?”
“We decided to play the “game” while you where…um…gone” answered Twilight.
“Now before you start let me explain the rules,” said Discord jokingly, “Rule 1: There are no rules! Rule 2: If at least one of you ponies makes it out alive then I’ll give you back the elements! And rule 3: If none of you make it out alive then I get to reign over Equestria with eternal chaos forever!”
Discord began to laugh, an evil laugh, a laugh that would give even Lucifer himself chills. Then without any further hesitation he snapped his finger’s once more. The game had begun! The ground opened beneath the friends and seemed to swallow them whole. As they plunged into the darkness they could hear the sound of Discord’s demon possessed laughs slowly fade into silence while their screams grew louder and louder…
