HPNR

Chapter III: BREAKING NEWS

It took 4 agonizing hours, 89 paper clips, 3 ink-less pens, and 7 assorted paper cuts before Mayor Mare and Twilight finished he rescheduling. However, the calm, collected voice of Stryker Z from the Mayor's radio set made the job a little LESS agonizing. However it was no easy task, and halfway through the Mayor almost had a nervous breakdown. Twice. Nevertheless, they made it through. The field trip had managed to be rescheduled for Wednesday morning, and the plans for the week had been safely administered into their proper places. Providing any, "unforeseen Circumstances" didn't happen to mess it up all over again. Which they were, repeatedly. Twilight helped the mayor on the finishing touches, then made her way back home, hearing the town slowly dum down to silence as the moon rose in the sky.

"Whew, I'm beat. I think I need to get home..." Twilight quickened her pace as she realized exactly how late it was. "Next time, try not to send the Change Request forms in triplicate... Glad the Mayor talked me out of Quadruplicates. Thank goodness for miracles!" Twilight said as she reached her front door. She walked in, expecting to smell dinner from the kitchen, except, all she got was the loud sounds of the radio from upstairs. With a huff, she followed the music up until she saw Spike dancing around the room, holding a broomstick like a guitar. When he made eye contact, he immediately dropped the broom and blush. After a few minutes of silence, he finally let out a quick reply:

"I'msorryIdidn'tmakedinnerIthoughtforsomereasonyouweregoingtostaythenightatApplejack'ssoIturnedontheradioand--!" he was silenced by the sudden insertion of Twilight's hoof in his mouth.

"Whoa! Spike! Calm down! It's okay, I had to stay late with the Mayor to help with rescheduling since she had confused the date on Ponyville elementary's field trip to the Canterlot royal gardens! It's fine!" Twilight pulled her hoof out of spikes mouth in order for him to speak.

"Whew, got a bit worried for a second. So, what happened with the schedule?"

Twilight moved over to her bed, and flopped down throwing her saddlebags to the floor. "Apparently, Stryker Z had said the field trip was today, but in actuality,  it was scheduled two days from now!" Twilight took a deep breath, it'd been a hard day. "Don't worry about supper tonight Spike, I need some rest..." Twilight started to loose the energy to speak, when DJ Stryker's voice once again came out of the radio.

"Ooh, what a sweet tune. That was OK Go, with one of their best hits: Get Over It. Thanks for all those guys and gals out there listening, but I'm afraid we're done for the night, thanks for listening children! Remember, this is Radio HPNR, and we're here, for you. Good night, and Stay Classy!" the sounds of his voice faded out until the hum of an Off-Air channel played. Spike walked over and turned off the radio."

"Guess it IS pretty late, and I've been rocking out to HPNR all day. I think I need some sleep too..." Spike silenced himself realizing Twilight was already out. "Huh, guess that's my cue."

Spike turned off the light, headed over to his bed, and quietly hummed a tune as he fell asleep. Little did either of them know, things we're about to get complicated.

<><><><><>

*Ambient Music*

Late at night, in the large expanse of Sweet Apple Acres, a lone figure shifts across the path. It moves silently, not making a sound as it travels quickly through the fields. It follows the path towards the barn. It stops, looks up at the moon, and mutters something under it's breath.

"Crud, I've taken too long, need to wrap this up quickly, only 2 hours ‘till sunrise"

He quickens his pace, now making small sounds as it moves up the path. When nearing the barn, it looks closely at the window and doors, studying them. When it seems to have made a sufficient observation, it goes over to a small table and grabs an empty bucket off of it. It proceeds to move over to trees and rapidly picking off apples until the tree is empty. It does this three or more times until the bucket it grabbed it full. As he realizes the sun is just starting to peak over the horizon, it picks it's apple-filled bucket up and runs down the path near the Everfree forest, before entering it turns around and says one last thing.

"Thank you Applejack, for being such a dear friend!" It pauses, then chuckles to itself. "I've always wanted to say that."

It then turns back around and disappears from view within the forest's darkness, with nopony the wiser.

<><><><><>

Twilight was greeted by Stryker Z's joyful voice upon waking up.

"Ahem, Gooood Morning Equestria! It looks like a great day out an--" He was suddenly silenced by a loud cough that came from the Radio. "--we hope you have a-" The coughs returned, even worse then before, before Stryker came on one last time. "Bah! Screw this, AHEM, noise... Just, just start the damn music!" His voice went out and in came a song Twilight had heard many times before.

"Hm.. I wonder what's wrong with Stryker Z? He seemed out of it this morning, and that's an understatement!" Twilight thought for a moment,before realizing that Stryker would be fine, he's probably got a competent staff that would take him to the hospital it got too bad. Right now she needed to open the library for the day. Well, she WOULD'VE anyway, had in not been for Stryker Z making one last announcement, interrupting the previously scheduled programming:

"Hold up, hold up! One more thing! It seems we have a very important public service announcement! Just listen to this! I have been informed by a friend of mine about a new development in Canterlot! If you live in that immediate vicinity, you MIGHT want to get your ponchos and umbrellas ready because it seems you guys are due for a storm of, get this, CHOCOLATE RAIN! Yes that's right my little ponies, everyone's LEAST favorite draconequus, Discord for the one's who don't know, has broken free from his stone prison. Can't win 'em all can you? But wait! There's more, it seems the Elements of Harmony THEMSELVES have come to disarm this Chaotic Conqueror. If you're listening to this Elements, this one goes out... AHEM, to you. Alright cut it, my throat can't take this anymore."

Stryker Z's voice once again cut out and replaced with a song Twilight was already familiar with. We are the Champions, she believed it was, yes that was it. By Queen.

"I've paid my dues. Time after time. I've done my sentence, but committed no crime. And bad mistakes..."

"I've made a few. I've had my share of sand kicked in my face. But I've come--"

Twilight then shut the radio off as the song entered it's chorus. She was concerned about this. Who was Discord? And how much did this Stryker Z exactly know. Things were getting suspicious. But as always, she first decided to start with a letter to the princess, asking multiple questions about this so called "Discord" and what he had to do with Chaos. About half an hour later, she was done.

"Spiiiike?!" I need you for a second!" she called throughout the house.

"Yes?" came the faithful assistant's reply. He came down quickly, holding within his hands a comic book, rather securely. The less I know, Twilight thought to herself, the better.

"I need you to send this letter. It's urgent." Twilight quickly spoke.

"Yeah yeah, important business, same old, same old. Give it here." Spike grabbed the letter from her hand. Rolled up and sealed already. Twilight watched as Spike breathed his trademark green flame and sent the letter to it's respective owner. "Now, can I go back to reading my book? I'm almost finished."

"Yes spike, I doubt she'll reply to quickly. Besides, I'm probably just overreacting to..." Twilight closed her mouth after realizing that Spike had just coughed up a letter. "How long has that...?"

Spike was as surprised as Twilight "53 seconds, I know. Fast right?" Spike handed the letter to Twilight, who calmly removed the ribbon while saying, "I doubt it's anything THAT important, probably just wanted to get it out of the way quickly." Twilight carefully read every word, her expression turning to that of worry. Spike caught this almost immediately.

"Twilight, what's wrong? You seem, stressed." Spike almost face-palms at this, realizing that she looks stressed 90% of the time. "Uh, what I meant to say was--"

"The princess need us! She says it's an emergency! I need our friends and  I to Canterlot! You're in charge while I'm gone Spike!" And with that, she took of out the door, and Spike was left alone.

"I'm in charge? I'm in... CHARGE! YES!" Spike had decided to spend that time eating all his gems and reading his comic books. He would be enjoying his evening. OTHERS, however, might not be having the same feeling.

<><><><><>

The train ride was long and boring, and most did not enjoy it thanks to the fact that there was a problem in Canterlot. Most couldn't sit still and multiple times Rainbow had flown aside the train just to "blow off some steam." The conductor did not like that. It wasn't everyday that you got called in by the princess herself because something was threatening the very boundaries of EQUESTRIA ITSELF. Let's just say everyone spent the trip silent and uncomfortable. When they finally got there, it was also, mostly silence until they reached the castle, where everyone began bombarding Twilight with questions.

"What is this emergency?!"

"Why did we need to come so quickly?!

"What's going ON?!"

"Allow me to explain." Celestia said in her most monotone voice. From in front of them. Miraculously. Magic, it works guys.. Anyway, after a series of bows, and graces, Twilight was the first to speak.

"Is this about the weather? And the animals' weird behavior? What's happening out there? Why isn't my magic working? Is there–"

"Follow me." Celetia chimed in. She took them to the main hall, where large stained glass windows depicting every major event over the course of Equestria's timeline. Celestia spoke as they reached one with Celestia and Luna circling a strange creature in purple light.

"I've called you here for a matter of great importance. It seems an old foe of mine, someone I thought I had defeated long ago, has returned. His name..."

"Discord!" Twilight finished, she looked behind her toward her friends, who looked at her with mouths agape in confusion. She gave them a quick look of "I'll tell you later" then turned back to the princess who also had a bit of surprise on her face.

"Yes, that is his name. You must explain how you retrieved this information, and where you learned of this news of his escape." Celestia said to her prized pupil.

Twilight had now realized how weird it sounded. "Um, I heard it from Stryker Z, on his radio broadcast. He said the Elements of Harmony were going to take care of it. I know he's referring to us, but how he knows all this is a bit... suspicious."

"Yes, the fact that a radio announcer learned of Discord's escape before any of my guards or even Luna could, scares me. But no matter, let me explain who Discord is." Celetia took a deep breath, then began to explain.

"Discord is the mischievous spirit of disharmony. Before my sister and I stood up to him, he ruled Equestria in an eternal state of unrest and unhappiness. Luna and I saw how miserable life was for Earth ponies, Pegasi, and unicorns alike, so after discovering the Elements of Harmony, we combined our powers and rose up against him, turning him to stone."

Rainbow jumped in and shouted "All right, Princess!" before getting a few looks to be quiet. After the outburst, the princess continued.

"I thought the spell we cast would keep him contained forever, but since Luna and I are no longer connected to the Elements, the spell has been broken." Celestia said, hanging her head.

"No longer connected?" Twilight said with just a tinge of worry. Celestia led them to the end of the hall, with a big stone door in front of them, one tiny hole was in the center, along with 6 gray dots aliened upward on either side with a giant sun in the middle decorated it. Celestia spoke again.

"This is Canterlot Tower, where the Elements are kept inside since all of you recovered them. I need you to wield the Elements of Harmony once again and stop Discord before he thrusts all of Equestria into eternal chaos." Celestia turned toward Twilight, waiting for a response.

"But why us? Why don't you-" Twilight was suddenly interrupted by a certain pink party pony.

"Hey, look! We're famous!" she said, the others looked to where she was pointing, and saw the stained glass window depicting them using the elements against Nightmare Moon."

"You six showed the full potential of the Elements by harnessing the magic of your friendship to beat a mighty foe. Although Luna and I once wielded the Elements, it is you who now control their power, and it is you who must defeat Discord!" Celestia said proudly.

"Princess Celestia, you can count on–" she was, once again, cut off my Pinkie.

"Hold on a second! Eternal chaos comes with chocolate rain, you guys. Chocolate rain!" Pinkie looked at them with a face of longing. Twilight decided to end this situation now.

"Don't listen to her, Princess. We'd be honored to use the Elements of Harmony again." Celestia inserted her horn into the door's lock, causing it to glow with a faint blue light. After a few seconds, the door opened and inside was a purple case.

Rarity spoke first. "Ooh. You can keep the Elements. I'll take that case!" Twilight rolled her eyes, then turned towards the princess.

"Have no fear, ponies. I have total confidence that you will be able to defeat Discord with these!" Celestia opened the case, and inside were all 6 elements accounted for. She handed each respective element to their proper owner, then spoke again. "First, we have to find Discord. I suggest we start in the garden, his imprisonment area. We may be able to find clues there." She led them through the halls of the castle, and finally to a back door exit and into the sprawling, lush green garden. As she walked, she started to explain about the garden's history, and why they thought it was a good place for discord, until she stopped, dead in her tracks, her mouth agape in horror. Twilight caught this and spoke first.

"Uh, princess, what's wrong?" she followed her gaze until she her face met the same fate. Their in front of them, was the Statue of Discord, still right where it belonged. Irony. It also works.

"Wait, what?! Princess that can't be right! I thought he escaped, was wreaking havoc on Equestria! What... how?" Twilight's voice faded off, as she realized the answer to all her questions. She was wrong.

"I guess that's what we get for trusting the owner of a radio station." Rainbow said behind them. Celestia snapped back to reality, and started to speak.

"It seems we've all made a bit of a mistake. I guess someone had made the wrong choice in listening to a radio broadcast, and believing it. Twilight froze at that, now getting how the mayor felt after being confronted by Cheerilee. She started to speak something, but just felt too bad to say anything. "Fear not Twilight, we'll just have to have a talk with this "Stryker Z" and see where he got this false information. But for now, I think it'd be best if you all went home. I do believe you all have jobs to attend to, correct?

"Oh.. right" they all said in unison. After handing back the elements, a few quick goodbyes, they all headed for the train station As the Ponyville express came in from the 3:00 run, out came Cheerilee's class, who were spending today and tomorrow in Canterlot to view the gardens, as a reward for their good behavior. After a few sturdy replies of "be safe" to Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle fro their respective sisters, and a quick talk with Cheerilee about the trip from Twilight, they got on the train and headed home. Although it was nice to see Cherrilee, Twilight held her head down low, trying to make sense of this whole thing. She got back to Ponyville,only for it to be night and time for her to go to bed. She decided enough was enough, and she was fed up with the day's events. So she turned on the radio, and fell asleep. She was going to need it, Tomorrow was going to be the most confusing day of her life.