Troubling Times
It was a sunny day in Ponyville. Where most of the other ponies were out enjoying the day, one magenta Alicorn stood in her new home, or at least thats what she liked to call it. Twilight couldn’t bear to hear others call her “Home” a castle, because she didn’t quite think of herself as a princess yet. However that is what she was. The reason she wasn’t out enjoying this amazing day with all of her friends was her studying. Ever since Celestia had declared Twilight “The Princess of Friendship” she had been taking it way too seriously, spending all of her time on her work and no free time. However to study friendship, she did get to be with her friends. Well, 3 days a week anyway. the rest of the four days of her week were spent analyzing the data from those three days, writing it down in neater notes, and then sending it to Celestia.
“No, no, no!” Twilight exclaimed. “I don’t have nearly enough notes!” She thought about what to do. She had already finished her notes, and the day had already started. Should I publish it? Or should I go study some more? Twilight desperately wanted to be with her friends, but on the other end if she finished her publishing, when she was done maybe she could take one day off of her already 2 months of studying. She couldn’t resist not going. She put on her saddlebag and walked out the door. It was already 4 hours into the day, and Twilight was about to go looking for her friends, but when she got outside nopony was around.
She could have sworn she heard ponies only 30 minutes ago… She then laid her eyes upon a poster that said “Royal announcement at Ponyville Hall!” and Twilight looked at it confused, A lot of ponies go against the royals controlling all of Equestri- she then looked below that writing and saw “And free royal pastries” Twilight chuckled. No wonder everypony was gone! Twilight set out for ponyville hall. I wonder what announcement they have in store for us? Twilight thought excitedly. From a long distance, Twilight could see Cadence on the deck of Ponyville hall, while all of the there were eating some of the delicious royal pastries. Well all except for Applejack who was waiting in the back for the announcement. She had acquired a hatred for royal pastries at the Grand Galloping Galla.
But as Twilight approached, she saw flashes of green appearing from the crowd. Everyone gasped as the green flashes left the ponies without any color, and then who was thought to be Cadence quickly turned into Discord. No. Twilight thought. This can’t be happening again. Both applejack and Twilight had seen this before. The last time it happened, Discord almost took ponyville as his own. Before anyone could see AJ, Twilight teleported her to the ground right next to her.
AJ looked at twilight with the most worried look she had ever given her. With a nod, both of them ran back to Twilight’s house. As they arrived, Spike was there waiting for Twilight. “Spike! Send a message to Celestia!” Twilight said, in the most urgent tone she could muster. “Dear Princess Celestia, i am sad to inform you that Discord has been hypnotizing all of the ponies in ponyville with “Royal Desserts” that were enchanted. Apple Jack, Spike and I are the only ones who hadn’t consumed any of the enchanted treats.”
“Discord has been what?!” Spike exclaimed.
“Just send the message Spike!” Spike sent the message, asking the two ponies on a more detailed approach on what had just occurred. After around 10 minutes, Twilight was getting worried.she used her magic to look at the princess’s castle. However it looked fine, but she soon noticed a magical shield around it that made it look fine, but it was just an illusion. Half of the castle had been destroyed and there was an army of royal ponies marching across Equestria, who were headed to Appleoosa.
Twilight used a spell to display the sight on a wall. Their eyes flew wide opened. The sight in front of them would have been more than enough to make Rairty feint, much more then enough. After the three had stared at the image for around 30 seconds, Twilight finally broke silence. “The first place I think we should go is to Zecora. She might know a way to cure the ponies, well at least the “Element Wielders” so that we can use the elements of Harmony on Discord once again.”
As they set out, AJ felt a tingling feeling inside of her. It felt so good, but she knew what it would do to her. AJ may have taken a tiny nibble of one of the pastries, even though those pastries had taken all of her business at the Galla, who could resist the perfect cooking? She was trying to fight it off. She told herself she could hold it off, but that feeling was so amazing… No! AJ thought to herself. I can’t invite this feeling, if I just repel it, I will be able to stay uncontrolled. But that would be impossible. It would spread through all of her body and take control of her, however for now she could hold it off, but not for long...
As they approached the Everfree forest, AJ let out a yelp. Twilight and Spike turned around. “You ok AJ?” asked Twilight.
“Oh, it’s just nothi- ahh” Responded AJ. Twilight and Spike both looked at AJ with worried expressions.
“AJ, what is it? I need to know.” Said Twilight.
“Well… I may have taken a tiny nibble of one of the pastries, and I’ve been trying to hold back gettin’ taken over the entire time. It just feel so good…” Twilight could see AJ starting to ease into the feeling, so she yelled something that she never thought she’d say in her life.
“Granny Smith is dead!” Yelled Twilight to AJ.
“What?!”
Said AJ completely forgetting the feeling, in shock of what Twilight had just said.
“Discord came to the apple orchards, and the rest of them got away. But Granny wasn’t so fortunate.” Responded Twilight, mustering the most believable voice she could.Granny Smith was just fine, but Twilight knew that if AJ thought Granny was dead, that she would never be able to ease into the feeling made by the person that killed someone so dear to her heart. AJ started crying slightly, but this “news” she had just learned made her just want to take Discord down more.
As they reached Zecora’s place, AJ broke the door down. A very suprised Zecora looked at the two ponies as they entered. Something was off, but Twilight couldn’t put her hoof on it. When a new door appeared and Zecora’s house turned into a prison of steel, and the figure that looked like Zecora vanished. Twilight knew what was going on. It was a trap. Discord teleported into the cage. “Did you really think I didn’t see you escape the “Royal Announcement?” You ate one of my pastries, and you practically led me to Twilight and Spike!” Exclaimed Discord while grinning. “I hope you three know what's in store for you, lets just say your not going to like it...” Discord said with an evil grin spread across his face as he teleported out.
