My Little Pony: Stone and Metal

   Twilight and her friends looked around the deserted town. Many of the houses were empty, and the roads were quiet. "Hello?" Twilight called, "Is anypony there?" The head that Twilight carried kept silent. This seemed amusing to it that she was calling out to no one in particular, but he didn't want to upset her. "No one's responding," Twilight said at last. "That's because there ISN'T anyone here to hear your cries," the head told Twilight, "There's no one anywhere. No one like you, anyways." The chuckle the Pygon head had sounded like a suffocating stone. Cadance felt freaked out by the fact that Twilight was talking to a thing that isn't really supposed to be alive and that it was actually having a conversation with her. Fortunately, she was sensible enough to keep her composure. "What's that you got there, Twilight?" She asked, almost motherly. "It's a Pygon head," answered Twilight, "I found it at the entrance to Everfree." The other 5 examined the head closely. "I don't really want to say that I don't trust that thing," Rainbow Dash said. "Actually," explained Rarity, "I have absolutely NO problem saying it whatsoever; I don't trust that thing!" "What do they call ya?" Asked Applejack. "Implying I actually WANTED to say my name to the likes of you," insisted the head. "Whatever," giggled Twilight, "You kinda look like a gourd, so I guess that will be your name." "How wonderful," Gourd said, in an obvious sarcastic tone, "Insulted by a fluffy, flexible, purple grotesque. My day just gets better and better."

   "This could be the Pygon form of an live creature," said Fluttershy, "I bet it's the Pygon form of a pony, like us." "Could be," agreed Twilight. "PLEASE don't tell me a lot of ponies have turned into... into... into Pygon," Rarity said, almost scared. "A lot?" laughed Gourd, "Goodness, no, I dare not say that." Twilight sighed with relief, "Oh, that's good." "Of course," said Gourd, "That's to say... EVERYONE became Pygon." Though stunned for a second, Twilight refused to believe that everything living in Equestria have become Pygon. There's no way every living creature could turn into ogres made entirely of rock and steel that had no remorse or common sense, they just couldn't have! "It's okay, girls," Twilight soothed the others, "This guy's just joshing us." "I will admit it DID take a long time to remove the plague of flesh and fur from every repugnant animal in the land," Gourd confessed, "The sad truth is that all seven of you have fallen prey to that very plague once again." "I don't think animals are repugnant," whispered Fluttershy. "Fortunately," continued Gourd, "You all can be fixed, your real forms restored." "That's enough," said Twilight, "If this Pygon curse is real, then we're going to undo it, and Gourd will help us." Everyone agreed with Twilight. ...Save Gourd. "Explain why I'd want to help you lot," Gourd said. "Because we'll bash you in if you don't," threatened Rarity. "...Wow. Rarity," Rainbow Dash said, stunned beyond belief. "No, That would be too harsh," said Twilight, "If you're no use to us, Gourd, we can put you in a box and throw it into a river." "You know," said Gourd, "For walking bags of blood, your arguments are quite forceful. I SUPPOSE I can help you."

   "What's our objective, boss?" Joked Rainbow Dash. "It's simple," answered Gourd, "You must find the true source of Pygon power. The source you seek just so happens to be the one thing that can grant me a new body. I'm going to help you because you are the only ones that can help me." Twilight suddenly remembered something; the crystal worked on restoring Cadance to her true pony form, maybe it can help undo the Pygon curse. "Say, Gourd," she asked him, "We found these crystals in a cave. What do you know about it?" "Those are Pygite," answered Gourd, "It is Pygon power created manifest." "So THAT'S what we're holding," Twilight thought, "Pygite crystals..." "It flows through all Pygon," Gourd explained, "Making us immune to any force, magic, blunt, or sharp. The magic you possess, pony, is as inconvenient to any Pygon as simple falling snow!" That's when Twilight had an epiphany. "Pinkie Pie," She said, "You remember those rock candy necklaces you made for Maud Pie when she was coming over?" "Yep," said Pinkie, "I sure do." "I think we're going to need the necklace ropes," Twilight told her. "This ought to be worth a good chuckle," smirked Gourd.

   Six necklace strings were presented to Twilight, and she got to work. She cut out a hole in each of the crystals, small enough for the string to slink through. Everyone put the necklaces on, and the Pygite began to glow brightly bringing forth a show that Gourd found more terrifying than funny. "That's what you were planning to do with the crystals, Twilight?" wondered Cadance. "With the magic from these pygite," said Twilight, feeling a bit proud, "We might be able to undo the Pygon curse once and for all!" They all admired their fashion accessories. "By the way," Twilight told Gourd, her tone soft at first, but then grimly sour, "May Princess Celestia have mercy upon you if you try anything suspicious on us." "I don't have any use for your Princess Celestia," chuckled Gourd, "nor do I seek her mercy. You wish to find the source of Pygon power, do you not?" Twilight nodded. "And," he added, "Since you wanted my guidance, I have given it to you. Do as you will, but it would be MUCH APPRECIATED if you could put me down somewhere safe!" "Uh... How about no?" insisted Twilight, "Until our task is done and the Pygon curse is lifted for good, no matter where we walk, you are coming with us." "Oh yes," Gourd said, "I DID agree on helping you, didn't I?" "Why don't we check the houses?" said Twilight, "We might be able to find some clues." And so, they began took a look around the deserted town starting with Twilight's castle.