Radio Station Dilemmas

Chapters

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 3

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Azura Peavielle trotted into work at the first ever radio station in Ponyville. She was a bit excited to given the chance to work here and as she entered the building for the first time, Azura looked forward to meeting her colleagues.

As Azura trotted down the main corridor, she noticed its brilliant shine and studied it with her yellow eyes. The shine was so good it reflected her studying gaze and her impressed smile upon her dark blue face. She immediately pondered who the janitor might be and placed her left hoof under her chin and thought the pony who had done this magnificent job was worthwhile meeting.

Then, Azura gazed down the corridor to see if she could see any of her colleagues were about and sighed a bit in disappointment to herself when the corridor was empty, but somehow the shining floor regained her attention and she briefly imagined herself trotting down it as a new DJ and still being impressed. She sighed again as she knew that was her dream job and she had been hired as a records filing clerk, but thought to herself it couldn’t really hurt to briefly imagine herself as a DJ.

Azura decided to just get things started and she trotted over to the door leading to the stairs and thought to herself that she might be a records filing clerk now, but with hard work, making friends with her colleagues and a little determination she might just earn her way to her dream job.

Azura opened the door to the stairs and stroked back her light blue and white mane to refocus herself a bit as she thought thinking about her dream job too much might cause her to become distracted, slip on the stairs and make a fool out of herself and then climbed up them to the second floor. When she reached the second floor door, Azura opened it up and saw a large stash of paperwork being carried toward her. The paperwork stash looked like it could topple at any minute and she couldn’t see who was carrying it, but thought she simply must offer to help this colleague.

“Hello there, do you want some help?” Azura spoke out with some concern toward her colleague.

“No thanks, I’m good, not that any pony cares,” a small male voice responded with what sounded like a snort.

Azura looked briefly at the stack again, but then found his comment a bit odd. Why did he say no pony cares? Then, she saw that the large paperwork stash was being carried by a small purple dragon with green hair and scales and both of his small arms were fully outstretched to keep the large stash under control. She was a little surprised to see that a dragon worked here as he passed her by, but thought he would struggle to carry the paperwork stash up the stairs as she saw he was heading in that direction.

“Are you sure you can manage?” Azura called after him as she was a bit concerned that he might trip or slip on the stairs.

“I said I’m good already, and I don’t need any help,” the dragon retorted angrily and walked through the door and slammed the door shut behind him with his tail.

Azura began to think into why the dragon was being so resistant to help and decided to go and wait by the door for a few seconds to see if the dragon would fall or trip on the stairs or change his mind on accepting her help, but heard slow footsteps and heavy grunting, but by the sounds of things, he was actually managing to climb the stairs and he had said he was good twice already.

Azura sighed as she didn’t know why he was so resistant, but she supposed if he felt he could manage alone then she supposed she ultimately had to leave it up to him. Still, she couldn’t help but to feel a little guilty about not opening the door and going to help him, but he had said he was good twice and she still hadn’t heard any trip or slip, so it appeared he could manage alone. Azura sighed again and decided to trot down the second floor corridor and get to the record filing room and perhaps meet a second colleague or two and help them.

As Azura trotted down the corridor, she noticed she was frowning slightly to herself and the second floor corridor looked just as immaculately clean as the main corridor, but didn’t allow herself to enjoy it. Then, Azura opened up the door to the records filing room and expected to see a colleague or two busying themselves with keeping the records neat and tidy and well-organised, but what she got was very different.

Azura gasped in horror as she met with a cloud of dust and the sight of just one unicorn colleague whose coat and mane were dull grey in colour.

“How does he…,” the unicorn sneezed, “Expect me to work…” the unicorn sneezed again, “In these conditions,” the unicorn finished.

Azura was gobsmacked by the amount of dust in the room when the main corridor downstairs and the corridor she had just trotted through was so clean. Then, she realised the unicorn had turned to face her and was looking at her with dull and grey eyes.

“Oh, it’s about time…,” the unicorn sneezed again, “You must be the new mare I’ve been asking Discord for, but you’re late,” the unicorn finished with another sneeze.

Azura wanted to say something about the dusty state of the room, but she knew also she wasn’t late and she could see a small clock on the west wall of the room which showed she was five minutes ahead of time.

“No, I’m not, I’m early,” Azura said and reluctantly stepped inside the room and pointed to the clock. The unicorn turned her head to glance at it.

“Oh, but so what, it’s not like I care, just go over there and start your job,” the unicorn snorted dismissively and pointed out her left front hoof toward a stash of records that seemed to have been left where they were for quite some time.

Azura noticed the unicorn was the second of her colleagues who seemed a bit off and she looked as was about to sneeze again.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Azura asked with concern as she trotted over thinking the unicorn was going to sneeze again.

“I am perfect, darling and you’ll do well to remember that,” the unicorn huffed.

Azura looked at the unicorn with her yellow eyes and very much doubted that as something about her dull and grey colour, the dusty room she was in and the way she was speaking to her seemed very wrong.

“And oh by the way,” the unicorn spoke up and gained Azura’s attention.

“Don’t get in the way of me earning my gem, Discord promised me one gem for a month’s work and if you get in the way, you’ll have hell to pay, you got it!” The unicorn yelled then puffed her chest out and glared her dull grey eyes into Azura’s eyes.

Azura flinched and took a pace backwards and couldn’t believe her new colleague had just threatened and intimidated her. She thought this sort of behaviour didn’t belong in a workplace and then she noticed some strange yellow swirling effect in her colleague’s eyes before they became dull and grey again.

“Now go and get started unless you want me to report you to Discord,” the unicorn threatened again and then pointed her hoof toward the pile she had previously pointed to again.

Azura thought her new colleague was being very anti-social and sniffled a little and hoped not all of her colleagues were like her and looked over to her pile and reluctantly stepped over to it and cried a little.

“Maybe I’ll speak to Discord about this,” Azura briefly commented to herself before there was a puff of black smoke that came out of nowhere and then Discord appeared.

“Greetings Azura and thank you for accepting the job role that somehow Rarity convinced me she needed help with, you should see how insisting her eyes can really be,” Discord greeted in an elegant manner and huffed a little at the end.

“Actually I would like to raise some concerns with you,” Azura sniffled slightly, but saw Discord was wearing a smart black tuxedo and a red tie and was definitely the boss.

Rarity sneezed, but appeared not to notice her boss was in the room with her.

“Oh, I’m sure you would want to raise some concerns, but first, what do you think?” Discord laughed and showed Azura his lion paw hand. Azura gazed at it and then realised Discord looked very odd indeed.

The horns on his head didn’t match, his yellow eyes looked a little creepy, plus a lion paw hand and what appeared to be a griffon talons from his second hand made no sense, and he had a goat like leg and one covered in scales and finally a red tail coming out of his back. Azura judged he looked very weird indeed, but then thought Discord might think she was rudely staring at him as she noticed her gaze was a bit transfixed on him and stepped back a pace.

“Okay, you’ve had enough of my glorious presence,” Discord boasted, though Azura thought he was more strange looking than glorious and she was thinking about talking to him about her concerns.

“I’ve come to do just one thing and I swear it won’t hurt a bit, though your mind will be muddled,” Discord smiled in a most unpleasant manner.

“What do you mean and what about my concerns?” Azura asked him in confusion and tilted her head up at him and then saw his unpleasant smile and backed off a bit.

Discord started to laugh again and continued to laugh until it drew a tear from his left yellow eye.

“Persistent, aren’t you?” Discord chuckled.

Azura looked up to Discord still with confusion and wondered if he was going to address her concerns.

“Rarity, my dear, would you be so kind to push Azura over to me, she seems to have wondered astray,” Discord commented and Azura noticed he looked over to Rarity and she wondered why Discord wanted Rarity to push her and also noted that must be her colleague’s name.

“Do it yourself, I’m earning my gem,” Rarity rudely commented.

Azura looked over to Rarity with surprise and was stunned that Rarity would dare address her boss like that.

“It appears I may have overdone you, Rarity, my dear,” Discord commented with great sarcasm and disappeared.

Azura noticed Rarity insult Discord further with a non-caring shrug.

“Enough!” Discord growled intensely and reappeared and Azura immediately paid attention thinking her boss would definitely address Rarity’s actions and the dustiness of the record filing room.

“Now, it’s turn, my dear Azura and don’t run, it’s useless other than a small amount of entertainment for me,” Discord stroked his beard in a menacing manner and narrowed his eyes onto Azura.

“Why would I run?” Azura asked in a puzzled tone as she was getting confused as she thought she had no reason to run when she wanted to raise some concerns with him, but then he disappeared and reappeared behind her.

“Brace yourself,” Discord laughed and then grabbed hold of Azura’s body and placed his griffon talons n her head.

Azura suddenly felt very dizzy and then there was an aggressive surge of mental agony as something wanted to take over her mind, but she was too slow to resist and then she thought what surge and why should she care about it…

Chapter 2

The next few days passed without anything meaning much to Azura. Nothing mattered other than come to work, get to lunch, have lunch, finish work in the afternoon, go home, sleep and repeat. She barely even noticed she had Rarity with her in the dusty records room and it all seemed part of a normal day. However, a few days later Rarity trotted beside her unexpectedly.

“You know I’m getting my gem today,” Rarity enthusiastically cooed and Azura had the feeling she shouldn’t turn her head, but she did.

Azura saw Rarity had quite a happy smile on her and she immediately thought it odd. Plus, she had colour on her as most of her fur coat was white and it looked freshly groomed along with a beautiful purple mane that just drew Azura’s attention of it being out of the ordinary.

“Discord promised me one month of work for one gem and it better be big,” Rarity spoke and Azura noticed her blue eyes look on with eagerness. It all appeared very odd to Azura.

“Here, let me hold the door open for you, darling,” Rarity generously offered and then held the door to the stairs open for Azura. Azura hadn’t really noticed she had been trotting throughout Rarity’s attempts to speak to her, but thought about whether she wanted to accept the generosity. She shrugged and thought it easier than opening the door herself and began climbing the stairs with Rarity following behind her.

“Oh, are you going to return the favour?” Rarity asked as Azura gripped the second floor door handle and was about to turn it when Rarity asked her the question.

Azura shrugged, but thought briefly about Rarity opening the door for her and it was perhaps an insignificant kind and generous thing Rarity had done for her, but did it warrant returning the favour? Azura wasn’t sure and her mind felt frazzled and unable to come with an immediate answer, but then the door was opened by the dragon.

“Oh, hi Spike, let me help you with those,” Rarity said happily and then Azura noticed a blue aura of magic coming from Rarity’s horn and surround the papers Spike was about to attempt to climb up the stairs with as he stepped through the door and appeared to be struggling.

“Huh? Hey, what are you doing, I’m supposed to take those papers to Discord on the third floor and I don’t need any help,” Spike growled.

Azura looked on, but she began to think she had meet Spike before and he just as resistant to help then too. Then, she realised Rarity had called him Spike and he had a name.

“Oh, but with this heavy load, a trip or a slip and you’ll tumble all the way down to the bottom of the stairs,” Rarity said with concern.

Azura shrugged and decided she didn’t really care about Spike or Rarity’s concern with him and she had a job to get to and went to go through the door and Spike slammed it shut with his tail onto her head. She immediately whined in pain and felt the sharp impact.

“I told ya’ I don’t need any help, now give those papers back to me,” Spike growled angrily.

Meanwhile just before Rarity spoke again, the door slamming onto her face and the resistance of Spike to receiving help made Azura remember she had indeed meet him before. It was on her first day of working for the radio station and he had refused her help too. Then…

“Spike! How dare you slam a door onto your colleague’s face!?” fumed Rarity’s voice which instantly drew Azura’s attention.

“What do I care?” Spike snorted, “She shouldn’t have stuck her head in the way.”

“Consider this a punishment for that dreadful behaviour!” Rarity yelled.

Azura happened to look up and noticed Rarity’s magic aura around the paperwork stash faded and then they flew and dropped around the stairs in messy heaps.

Spike huffed in annoyance and then went to go and get them and Rarity stopped him by pushing her left front hoof against his chest.

“Spike, what’s wrong with you? You don’t normally act like this,” Rarity spoke out with some concern and then tilted her head in confusion as if another conflicting thought was competing for head space.

Azura thought Spike didn’t deserve Rarity’s concern as she rubbed her sore face.

Spike huffed again and looked like he didn’t care and pushed his way past Rarity’s hoof to go and get the papers.

However, as Spike headed down to get them, Azura eyed up him up and noticed his scales were and hair were grey and the brief memory of their last meeting suggested this was odd. Azura tilted her own head in confusion and remembered seeing purple scales and green hair on the last time they had met.

“Really, I must say, I have no idea why he’s acting like this,” Rarity spoke up with a puzzled tone.

“He’s normally friendly and actually a little affectionate, though I can’t seem to recollect the last time we met,” Rarity continued and Azura noticed her blue eyes looked puzzled.

Azura felt her own confusion grew as two conflicting thoughts did battle in her head. One of them wanted to just to scowl at the door being slammed on her face, shrug and ignore the incident entirely, but the other wanted to seek a little vengeance upon Spike.

“Look, I know he doesn’t deserve our help, considering what he did to you, but maybe he apologise if we go down and help him,” Rarity commented.

Azura noticed Rarity’s eyes shot her a concerned look and looked down toward Spike and it was clear to her he was getting frustrated trying to sort out the messy heaps of paperwork that was all over the stairs. Azura briefly considered not helping and watch him struggle and she doubted he would apologise, but then a memory shot through her as remembered feeling guilty about not helping him previously and this small guilt made her feel she had to help. Azura sighed in great reluctance and trotted down with Rarity to help Spike out.

“Spike, darling, let us help you,” Rarity commented to Spike gently as Spike glared at the paperwork.

However, something Rarity had said made Spike’s ears perk up and he even raised a small smile.

“Aww, Rarity, you called me a darling,” Spike said softly and his smile increased and Azura noticed his eyes turn green and then became dominated by love hearts and he began to float.

Azura found this behaviour a bit weird, but it made her giggle a little. Something about it was a bit amusing as it was unexpected considering he had been rude and anti-social before and then Azura felt a little positivity from her giggle as she felt she enjoyed it.

“Now, let us help you with these stacks and don’t slam the door on your colleague’s face again or next time we won’t help you,” Rarity lightly threatened and puffed her chest out.

“I’m sorry Rarity, and hey, I don’t think we’ve met,” Spike said in a confused tone and Azura noticed he was looking at her, but she remembered they had met.

“Greetings there and I’m Spike,” Spike introduced himself with a small friendly smile and Azura saw him look up at her with friendly looking green eyes.

Azura stroked back a bit of her mane as her recollection told her they had met, but he hadn’t introduced himself in such a friendly manner last time and his smile was friendly too.

“I’m Azura, but we’ve met before,” Azura decided to tell him.

Then, out of nowhere, Spike grabbed and shook her front left hoof before she could stop him, but as she was about to protest, he looked up at with another small smile and let go.

Azura noticed the small smile and couldn’t resist feeling that she should smile back especially as Spike looked much friendlier than on the last time they met. Then, Azura allowed a small smile to cross her mouth and Spike smiled back, but then he seemed puzzled and scratched the back of his neck with his left claw hand.

“Wait, did you say we’ve met before?” Spike asked and scratched his chin in bafflement with his right claw hand and then Azura saw a yellow swirling effect take over his eyes and remembered seeing this effect in Rarity’s eyes.

Rarity acted instantly and Azura felt a light push as she saw Rarity push past her and touch her unicorn horn onto Spike’s head and then there was a bright flash. Azura instinctively shielded her eyes and when she re-opened them, Spike no longer had the yellow swirling effect in his eyes.

“Rarity, what’s going on?” Spike rubbed his claws up and down his forehead.

“Actually, right now, I don’t exactly know,” Rarity rubbed her eyes and reopened them.

“Wait, what’s this?” Spike asked and glared toward the messy heaps of paper.

“That’s the paperwork that you were carrying,” Azura simply answered.

“Oh yeah, I remember now, I need to get them to Discord’s office,” Spike remembered and gave Azura a light smile for helping him remember.

“And you’re going to need our help,” Rarity said eagerly with a small smile.

“Come on Azura, let’s get these papers to Discord,” Rarity smiled triumphantly.

Azura nodded and felt inspired to help as she helped Spike and Rarity pick up the papers and then they split the workload of carrying the papers into three manageable stacks and Rarity used her magic to make the stacks neat and tidy.

Azura couldn’t help but feel a slight tinge of jealously that Rarity had magic to help her out, but after going through the effort of making three manageable stacks neat and tidy and leaving one stack for Azura to carry, Azura could see the mental toll it had taken for Rarity to concentrate and sort it out and decided to take a stack to help her and Spike out was the least she could do to help.

Azura picked up her stack with the grip and her front left hoof and held it close to her chest, so she could keep the remaining three hooves on the stairs and to make sure her stack didn’t slip out of her grip. In the meantime, Spike held his stack out with his two arms and Rarity had enough mental concentration and levitation magic skill to hold her stack with her magic and the three of them climbed up to the third floor.

“You know, thanks for doing this, you’ve really saved me a lot of trouble,” Spike said in a friendly manner when the three of them reached the third floor door.

Azura smiled as she liked being thanked and put her stack down and opened up the third floor door and then picked it up again.

“Well, we’re almost there,” Rarity commented and trotted through the door and then strangely stopped and paused.

Azura trotted alongside her and wondered why had she’d stopped.

“You know I have just got a strange feeling that going to Discord might be a bad idea,” Rarity commented and Azura noticed her doubting eyes.

Then, Azura felt a strange feeling that Rarity might be right as there seemed to something just beyond her memory that didn’t feel right about Discord.

Spike stopped and paused to think about it also, but then a dull and grey alicorn galloped toward them.

“Spike! You’re late!” The alicorn yelled unhappily at Spike….

Chapter 4

“Azura, Azura, can you hear me?” asked a familiar and caring voice.

Azura grunted and didn’t want to wake up. Her head throbbed and Azura felt she had just suffered a hard knock and couldn’t remember how it happened.

“It’s me, Spike,” Spike said gently.

Azura sighed a little in happiness as she felt Spike claws rub up and down her forehead. It even seemed to help soothe her mental agony. Spike seemed to know where to rub and how hard.

“Thank goodness, I was beginning to think you were going to be passed out for ages,” Spike said in relief and then he rubbed a little harder and Azura reluctantly opened her eyes.

“So, Azura, things seem screwy around here and I need your help, something’s definitely up with Twilight and I couldn’t convince Rarity to help me wake you,” Spike said in a somewhat puzzled, but suspicious tone.

Azura gazed toward Spike and saw his pleading green eyes.

“Come on, Azura, get back onto your feet, I really need your help,” Spike tried to encourage Azura onto her feet.

“You see after I left Discord’s office, I began to suffer from mental strains and things that didn’t quite make sense. I thought about knocking myself out, but then I had a thought that reminded me Twilight was my friend and Rarity was too…” Spike continued.

Azura clambered onto her feet and wondered where Spike was going with his words. She still felt a bit wobbly on her feet and she decided to just hear Spike out.

“And four other ponies were my friends too, and I think their names were Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash and when I searched my locker as I tried to make sense out of the thought, I found this,” Spike said and flashed an old photo of six ponies smiling and appearing to be happy in each other’s company.

Azura gazed at the photo and thought she could recognise Twilight and Rarity through their similar mane styles, but in the photo, both had coloured fur and eyes. Twilight had a mulberry fur coat and a sapphire blue mane and a moderate rose and a violet streak and Rarity had a magnificent well-groomed white coat and a well-styled indigo mane. Plus, in the photo, Twilight had violet eyes and Rarity had blue eyes, but Azura thought they both had grey dull eyes.

“Where did you get this photo?” Azura asked as she couldn’t understand why the photo showed colour on both Twilight’s and Rarity’s fur and in their eyes.

“I told you, in my locker, remember, it was buried under a bunch of stuff though and neglected like it had been there for a while,” Spike frowned as Azura noticed he appeared unhappy about neglecting the photo.

“How do you know it’s real?” Azura asked as it crossed her mind that it could be fake.

“A strong feeling in my gut says it’s real and strangely after I picked up the photo, I remembered I was the one who snapped it and so it has to be real,” Spike stated.

Azura noticed Spike’s green eyes appeared very sure and there wasn’t any doubt in his voice either.

“Okay, how can I help?” Azura asked as she noted Spike hadn’t told her what he wanted help with.

“I’ve just got a feeling that Discord has done something to change mine and our friends and I need your help to find them and then find out what happened to change them,” Spike stated boldly.

Azura noted his boldness sounded like he was giving her a mission.

“First, I think we need to find Fluttershy, she’s this Pegasus in the picture,” Spike pointed to a yellow Pegasus with overflowing pink mane who seemed to be the only one in the photo to be a little shy about being part of the photo. She was smiling like every pony else, but her stance suggested she was a little nervous.

“Any idea where she is?” Azura asked Spike.

“Nope,” Spike said bluntly, “But we can cover more ground between us if we work together.”

“Okay, I’ll take second and you take first,” Azura said as she looked into Spike’s determined green eyes and decided to help him.

“It’s most likely that’s she’s on the third floor since I seem to remember Discord had a special affinity for her, but we should still search the other floors to eliminate possibilities, so I’ll check first,” Spike stated like he was giving orders.

“Okay, I check this floor then,” Azura nodded and she actually felt she was part of some type of mission.

“I just don’t recommend you bother Rarity as when I asked her to help you out, she told me she doesn’t know you and I was a bother to her. She got really mean, so I would avoid her if I was you,” Spike warned and ran towards the stairs.

Azura watched Spike open the door and go down the stairs, but thought that surely Rarity would remember her. Azura recalled they had both helped Spike up the stairs with the paper work and before that Rarity had even opened the door for her and seemed to have been happy and friendly. But then, Azura thought her memory seemed a bit hazy and foggy and she couldn’t quite recollect what happened, but decided to check Spike’s story out for herself and trotted back to the record filing room and opened the door.

“I told you to go away, I’m much too busy earning my gem to be hassled by the likes of you!” Rarity snapped as the door creaked open.

Azura stood in horror as she saw Rarity was covered in grey fur. Then, Rarity turned her head and Azura saw her dull grey eyes.

“Oh, it’s you, I thought it was that pesky, annoying little dragon who was getting on my nerves! Still, I hope you realise just how late you are, I’m definitely going to report you to Discord,” Rarity said in anti-social manner and Azura noticed an intense scowl, but she didn’t want to believe what she was seeing.

“Rarity, it’s me, Azura, don’t you remember we helped Spike together?” Azura tried and trotted into the room, hoping that Rarity would recognise her.

“Who’s Spike? And I don’t care what your name is, especially when you’re speaking utter balderdash as I remember no such thing. You better get back to your post before you lose a whole day’s worth of wages,” Rarity stated bluntly and pointed her hoof over to a stack of records.

Azura sobbed a little as she saw Rarity had become completely anti-social and Rarity continued to point her hoof out until Azura reluctantly trotted toward the records and then Rarity turned and got back to work.

From her encounter with Rarity, Azura felt more certain Spike was definitely right about something screwy going on. Azura could remember the colourful Rarity had smiled at her and she had thought could be friends after they had helped Spike together.

“I’ll find a way to help you,” Azura mumbled as she wanted to be sure the grey and anti-social Rarity didn’t hear her and crept back at the room. Azura decided she would help Spike find Fluttershy and find out just exactly what was going on….

Chapter 5

Azura sighed again as she slowly closed the records room door behind her. She decided she would help Spike find Fluttershy and then find out why Rarity had behaved in such an anti-social manner when she remembered she had been friendlier. Plus, the photo, Spike showed her presented a happy and smiling Rarity too and she was beginning to think this change of behaviour had something to do with Discord. Azura stroked her chin with her front left hoof as she began to ponder about the connection. Then, Azura froze as she remembered witnessing Discord put his talons on Rarity’s head and being blinded by some type of magic spell or light and immediately afterwards when she opened her eyes again, Rarity was dull and grey.

Azura shivered as she remembered being frightened by seeing Rarity change and just what Discord could had done to her too. She began to wonder if it was so wise to help Spike and to figure out how to stop Discord, but she thought about Rarity generously holding the door open for her and when she had colour, she was much friendlier. Azura even thought she could be friends with Rarity and decided that alone was worth trying to stop Discord’s plans.

Azura gazed down the clean and shiny corridor and noticed her blue eyes still appeared a little unsure, but in her mind, the decision had already been made and Azura trotted down the corridor. As she trotted, she began to notice how eerily quiet the corridor was and it was kinda spooky that her hooves were making the only clopping sound. Then, Azura saw a door leading to another room ahead and trotted to it and opened it up.

The door opened up into a canteen area with ten small tables accompanied by twenty wooden uncomfortable looking chairs that were lined up in an oblong fashion across the rectangular room. Strangely, only one chair was out of place and wasn’t fully pushed in against a table like the others. A memory shot through her mind as Azura gazed at it as she remembered she had sat in that specific chair at lunch breaks before. Puzzled by the fact the chair seemed so familiar to her, Azura trotted over it and wondered if she touched it or sat down on it that somehow she might remember more things about being in this room before.

Azura began to wonder that if she had been in the room for lunch breaks, then it was possible that she had been around or had met Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash before, but there was a cloudy haze inside her mind and she couldn’t remember. Azura touched the chair hoping it would trigger a memory, but nothing further came back to her. Azura scratched her head with her right front hoof and thought maybe by sitting in the chair that might trigger a memory. However, she began to think did she really have time to try and remember things when she had agreed to help Spike find Fluttershy and perhaps that was a little more important than trying to recall lost events.

“Hey you!” A voice shouted out and gained her attention. Azura looked over to where it came from and behind the servicing area, there was a dull and grey earth pony who was wearing a Stetson hat and somewhat resembled an orange earth mare with sap green eyes in the photo Spike showed her.

“Lunch is not for another half an hour! And what are ya’ doing here anyway? Haven’t ya’ got ya’ own job to do?” sassed the earth mare.

Azura trotted back in surprise as she hadn’t noticed the earth mare when she first trotted into the room.

“Well, ya’ better hop back to ya’ job before I inform Discord of ya’ neglect,” the earth mare lightly threatened, but when Azura saw her dull and grey eyes look toward her, she knew the earth mare was under some sort of spell, but she didn’t know how to break it.

“Well, what’s your name?” Azura decided to ask in an attempt to get somewhere. She hoped she wouldn’t tell the earth mare wouldn’t tell her that her name was unimportant or something like that.

“My name’s Applejack, not that there’s a pony who cares and I slave making lunches and apple pies for my colleagues like you and I never even hear a thank you for my labour and I would complain to Discord, but he insisted I perform an essential role ya’ hear,” Applejack grumbled intensely.

Despite the dullness of her eyes and lack of colour, Azura could see Applejack didn’t appear happy with her job and she remembered Twilight had appeared to change slightly when Azura noted she appeared to be debating about saying thank you and maybe by thanking Applejack, the same thing would happen to her. Azura judged it was worth a shot.

“Well, thank you for making such delicious lunches and apple pies for every pony,” Azura tried and decided to trot a little closer to see if something might change.

Applejack stood still and Azura noticed she didn’t seem to believe she had just got a thank you, but then, she came around the servicing area and stared her dull and grey eyes into hers.

“Are ya’ telling the truth?” Applejack asked.

Azura noticed a glint of a spark deep inside the dull and grey eyes of Applejack that wasn’t there before, but she couldn’t remember lining up at the canteen and taking what Applejack had slaved to make and then eating it. There were cloudy and extremely hazy visions of brief scenes inside the canteen instead, but after struggling to recollect something a little more clearly, Azura remembered every time she had come into the canteen had been the same. She would trot in at twelve, move the seat she sat at and then eat a pre-prepared packed lunch she made herself back at home as a matter of routine and she couldn’t remember ever approaching the canteen or ordering any food from the kitchen.

“I don’t know, I can’t remember,” Azura mumbled honestly. Her brain felt frazzled and was desperately searching for answers, but it actually felt like something inside her mind was fighting against her attempts to remember.

“Wait, I think I know ya’, you’re the pony who always sits so quiet in the same chair every day I’ve seen ya’ and ya’ always had a packed lunch on ya’, so ya’ have never even tried my food have ya!” Applejack accused angrily.

“I don’t know, but you might be right because I don’t think I have,” Azura mumbled sadly, but in all honesty, she couldn’t remember.

“Then, ya’ better come back in slightly less than half an hour, but in the meantime go back to ya’ job,” Applejack fumed and turned her head and trotted back into the kitchen and slammed the door behind her.

Azura stood there and felt a little sorry for Applejack. If what Applejack had told her about slaving away to make meals and never being thanked for it, then it was perhaps understandable why she didn’t like her job very much. However, she found herself wondering what did Applejack make?

Azura sniffed the air and she detected a whiff of something cooking in an oven and whatever it was it smelt delicious. Azura decided she just had to see for herself and trotted to the kitchen door and opened it up only to be greeted by a stronger waft of smell. Then, Azura saw Applejack open up an oven door and some type of pie was inside the oven and Applejack checked it over and then shut the door.

“What type of pie are you making?” Azura asked as she trotted over.

“Apple! And what are you still doing here? I told ya’ to come back and I would tell Discord about ya’!” Applejack snapped.

Azura instantly backed off as she saw Applejack puff her chest out a bit and noticed a familiar looking yellow swirling effect in her eyes. Then, a stream of memories flooded her thoughts as she remembered she had seen the same effect in Rarity’s, Spike’s and Twilight’s eyes and instantly thought the effect had to be connected to the spell she saw Discord insert into Rarity by controlling her head with his talons.

“Well, ya’ better be going or I’ll walk straight out of the canteen and tell Discord about ya’” Applejack threatened and snapped Azura out of her stream of memories.

Upon snapping out of her memory trance, Azura happened to look toward a sink and saw a dirty pile of barely balanced dishes and neglected dirty cutlery near a sink and was horrified that it looked to her it had been just left there and not cleaned up for days.

“How about I help you clean those dishes instead,” Azura offered as she was disgusted by how dirty and untidy they looked.

“Haven’t got ya’ your own job to do? I would greatly suggest ya’ go and get back to it,” Applejack huffed in reply.

Despite, her huff, Azura decided she just couldn’t tolerate the messy dishes and cutlery. So, she trotted over to the sink and got the water running which startled Applejack.

“What in the hay do ya’ think ya’ doing?” Applejack asked in a bit of surprise.

“Getting the water running, these dishes are just plain filthy and I just can’t tolerate it,” Azura replied and started to search for the soap bar now the water was getting warm enough.

“Well, stop it, washing them dishes is my job, though I never seem able to motivate myself to do them,” Applejack rubbed her neck in some small confusion as she began to think why she never got around to cleaning up.

“Well, I can help,” Azura replied stubbornly as she looked at just how many dirty dishes there was and couldn’t believe Applejack would refuse help.

“You would help me?” Applejack asked with a bit more confusion and Azura noticed a small bit of sap green colour return to her eyes and a small bit of her face became orange as Applejack’s voice gained her attention.

Azura smiled as finally something was beginning to change and maybe if she continued to hep Applejack, more would change and then she located the soap bar and started to get the warm water soapy.

“Yeah, I’m helping you,” Azura said to confirm.

“Well, that’s very kind and a might generous of ya’ but I can handle things here myself,” Applejack stated boldly. Then, Azura noticed Applejack trotted away from her with quite some confidence in her paces and seemed determined to do things herself. However, as Applejack trotted away, Azura saw a small part of her tail change to golden yellow. Azura smiled as being helpful to Applejack seemed to be making things change.

“Now where did I leave them utensils?” Applejack asked herself as she started to search through draws.

Azura ignored her and thought Applejack would soon turn and notice she was helping and washed the first dish and put it on a draining grate. Then, she got startled by the sound of a quick gallop toward her.

“Hey! I didn’t say ya’ could get started and I said I’ll handle this mess,” Applejack hollered in annoyance.

Azura sniffled a little and she felt offended and she was only trying to help.

“You can grab a towel and dry afterwards if you want to help,” Azura whimpered a bit as she began to think Applejack wasn’t appreciating her help one bit.

“Oh, fine then,” Applejack hollered again and stubbornly turned herself around and trotted away.

Azura felt a tear creep down her face and though her colour had changed slightly, Applejack appeared too stubborn to accept help. However, Applejack returned with a red towel in her mouth and then placed it near the dishes and began to dry them. Azura decided not to comment and just get the job done and then leave. A few minutes passed by and slowly the job was being done.

“Well, consider me darned, that’s half the dishes already,” Applejack commented out of nowhere. Azura sniffled and thought Applejack was just going to throw another insult.

“I almost feel as I should say something as I never been able to motivate myself to get the dishes done myself,” Applejack continued to comment as Azura heard her dry another dish.

Azura didn’t actually think Applejack would say thank you as she had been so resistant to her help and just washed another dish. However, when Azura reached over to put another dish into the sink, she looked up and noticed Applejack was putting the dishes away afterwards as well as drying them and a little more of her fur had changed into an orange colour. Plus, it was only with Applejack’s help that the dishes didn’t end up into another disorganised stack after they were cleaned. Azura turned her head as she heard Applejack place another dish inside a cupboard.

“Hey, why are you stopping, sugar cube, half is done already, we might as well finish the job now,” Applejack commented and Azura noticed her voice sounded a lot friendlier.

Azura sniffled again, but this time in relief as she wasn’t getting yelled at and she even felt if she finished helping Applejack, maybe more friendliness was to come and so Azura concentrated on finishing washing the dishes while Applejack dried them and put them away.

Azura sighed greatly in relief as she grabbed the last dish and washed it and then turned to see if helping Applejack had changed more of Applejack’s appearance. Azura smiled broadly as she saw most of Applejack’s fur had changed colour from grey to orange and some of her mane and tail had changed from grey to a dazzling golden yellow colour.

“Well, actually this time, I’m going to say it, I do thank ya’ kindly for ya’ help,” Applejack spoke up in a friendly manner.

Azura’s smile grew broader and then she got a surprise when she saw Applejack was smiling back.

“Now, I think about it, I don’t think I ever got your name and I definitely think we could be friends,” Applejack said with a friendly glint in her sap green eyes.

“I’m Azura,” Azura introduced herself and put a hoof out for Applejack to shake, only to get a firm grip and a shake afterwards.

“Well, ya’ already know my name, but I’ll tell you again just to be a bit formal, I’m Applejack,” Applejack said and then let go and smiled back at Azura.

Azura felt very positive about making her first friend inside the radio station and she almost wanted to hug Applejack, but out of the corner of her eye she realised there was only one minute left to twelve. She realised Twilight or Discord could step in the dining room at any minute and what would they do if one of them caught her in the kitchen with Applejack.

“Look at the time,” Azura stuttered nervously as she realised she could be in trouble if Twilight and Discord found out as she somehow doubted the anti-social Twilight wouldn’t rat her out to Discord and she feared Discord would change both her and Applejack back into dull and grey ponies.

“Oh, nelly, thanks for that, I nearly forgot to check the pie, it should be ready by now, I’ve always endeavoured to make sure it’s ready to be served at lunch time for some reason,” Applejack scratched the back of her neck and then she trotted over and opened up the oven door.

Azura was instantly hit with the delicious smell of the well baked pie and stood still and drooled in delight of the scent. Then, she heard hoof steps moving about in the canteen.

“You know I’ve been thinking, why does Discord even bother allowing us lunch breaks?” A loud voice complained.

“How in the heck should I know? It’s not I really care anyway,” answered back a brash complainer.

“It’s in the contract you signed,” dully stated the familiar voice of Twilight and Azura hoped she wouldn’t poke her nose into the kitchen and rat out her to Discord.

“Like I care, the sooner I back at work and earning my gem the better,” complained Rarity’s voice.

“Hmm, where’s Applejack, she should be at the service counter by now. She has five minutes before I report her as late to Discord,” Twilight commented.

“Well, that’s my cue,” Applejack said as she passed by Azura. Azura didn’t particularly want Applejack to go out and greet them, but she pushed the doors open before she could stop her.

“Soup’s on, every pony and thanks to Azura, I’ve got enough fresh and clean dishes for every pony,” Applejack greeted the crowd. Azura shivered again as she heard Applejack mention her name as she was sure Twilight would investigate…

Chapter 6

Azura gasped in horror inside the kitchen as Applejack made her presence known and commented she had helped her. She was sure, Twilight would investigate and tell Discord about it.

“Azura, huh,” Twilight said quizzically, “I wasn’t aware of any second canteen employee, I will need to investigate this.”

Azura worried that she would be discovered and looked for a back exit as she heard Twilight start to trot toward the kitchen.

“Hey, boss, why are heading behind the canteen?” asked a brash voice in a curious manner.

“I already told you, I’m investigating something,” Twilight replied a little harshly, but stated her intentions.

“Why bother?” Rarity’s voice snapped, “I’d rather get this lunch break done and over with.”

“Yeah, who cares,” the loud voice yelled in agreement.

“I do!” Twilight yelled, “And as your boss, it is my job to investigate all matters relating to business and an unmentioned employee raises my suspicions!”

“Oh, I’ve just decided I don’t like this discussion and I don’t like any of you, come here!” A loud voice boomed and Azura heard a punch being landed.

Azura worried that Applejack would get hurt or involved and a brawl might get started and opened the kitchen door, only to see Twilight growl and a grey Pegasus kick Rarity.

“Alright y’all, stop this reckless brawl before I have to wrangle all of ya’!” Applejack threatened and puffed her chest out and glared her eyes out toward the fighting ponies.

The brawling continued regardless as Azura saw who she assumed was Pinkie Pie, judging on the fact she somewhat resembled the photo Spike had shown her rip a few tail hairs out of Twilight’s tail causing Twilight to yelp.

“That’s it!” Applejack hollered and then Azura turned her attention and saw Applejack remove her hat and reveal a rope underneath. For a brief second, Azura even saw that the piece of mane underneath Applejack’s hat was just as beautiful as the rest of her mane and wondered why she hid it under a hat and then she saw Applejack score a perfect neck noose around Pinkie Pie.

“Hey, I was just getting started!” complained Pinkie Pie as Applejack dragged her across the floor. Then, Azura noticed Applejack’s eyes look toward her as if expecting her to try and help sort out the brawling ponies rather than watch on from the safety of the kitchen door.

The grey Pegasus and Rarity continued to tussle, while Twilight was getting involved too and Azura didn’t think it wise to attempt to break it up as she was likely to get hurt, but then out of nowhere, Azura saw another rope fly through the sky and score another perfect neck noose around the Pegasus and Applejack dragged her across the floor.

“Hey, what’s your problem!” complained the Pegasus.

“So, it’s just me and you now,” Twilight said glaring down toward Rarity. Rarity failed to back off and the two locked eyes. Azura watched as Twilight and Rarity snorted at each other and made waving hoof movements as if to charge or fight.

“Come on, Azura, stop them, I can’t keep all four of them down at the same time,” Applejack lifted her head toward Azura and Azura noticed she was struggling to keep Pinkie and the grey Pegasus from hitting each other and her. Then, light from two auras drew her attention as Rarity and Twilight began to charge up their magic, but Twilight looked stronger.

Azura decided she had to act and galloped fast toward Rarity and tackled her, trying to save her from being blasted by Twilight’s superior magic. As Azura tackled Rarity, she got a brief look back toward Twilight and noticed she seemed almost fully charged and the strength of her aura looked very frightening, but then the canteen doors opened.

“Twilight, stop!” Spike’s voice yelled across the canteen. Twilight growled and turned her attention.

“I told you to call me boss or ma’am! And I was about to put a stop to some disorderly conduct!” Twilight fumed to Spike.

“By blasting Rarity and Azura with your magic!” Spike yelled back, “You know there’s no way to resolve conflict or treat a friend, even if they’re mad at you!”

“Friend?” Twilight stuttered in puzzlement and her charge faltered slightly.

“Hey, get off me!” Rarity yelled up at Azura, but Azura saw Rarity appeared to be willing to keep fighting if she let her up and kept her pinned down.

“Yes, friend!” Spike stubbornly crossed his arms and glanced disappointingly toward Twilight.

“In fact, you’re all friends and me and Fluttershy have photos proving it!” Spike bellowed.

“Are you sure this is a good time to do this?” asked a quivering voice and then saw a shy yellow Pegasus with an overflowing pink mane trot nervously over to Spike, but upon seeing Fluttershy, Azura sussed out the other Pegasus had to be Rainbow Dash by process of elimination.

“Just get off!” Rainbow Dash yelled. Azura made sure her body weight pinned Rarity, but turned her head to see Applejack was trying to stop her from squirming and escaping.

“It has to be now, Fluttershy or Dash escapes or Twilight goes to tell Discord about this,” Spike stated with encouragement and looked toward Fluttershy.

“Okay,” Fluttershy muttered and then produced a photo that showed Applejack, herself, Pinkie, Rainbow Dash, Rarity and Twilight all having smiles and being happy in each other’s company. Spike also showed his photo and Azura noticed they were one and the same photo.

Twilight stared toward the photos in much puzzlement and stood still. The two matching photos were harder to dismiss as coincidence or as fake when they looked the same.

“Azura, get Rarity to look, AJ, get Dash and Pinkie to look,” Spike instructed boldly.

Azura managed to grab a hold on Rarity’s head and force her to look toward the photos. However, as Azura got Rarity’s head into position, when Rarity looked toward the photos, Azura noticed her resistance against her grip stopped as she gave them a look.

“I’m free!” Pinkie chirped happily as Azura turned and saw Pinkie had managed to bite through her rope and bounce up while Applejack had managed to make Rainbow Dash look at the photos.

“And I’m going to tell Discord all about this,” Pinkie declared.

“Oh, no…. you’re not…” Fluttershy boldly stated and hoofed over her photo to Spike and flew over and tackled Pinkie just as she about to run through the kitchen and look through for an escape route.

“Is that a photo of me? Why do I look so happy and different?” Twilight commented in puzzlement.

“It’s because in this photo, you, Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie, Rainbow and Rarity are all friends and not dull and grey pawns inside a radio station working for Discord,” Spike stated boldly and flashed the two photos as high as his claws would allow. Azura felt Rarity’s head budge and thought briefly she was trying to escape, but then noticed it was only to get a better look at the photos.

“Ya’ know I just got me a feeling that he’s telling the truth,” Applejack stated and Azura turned her attention.

Then, Azura marvelled at the sight of a brief orange magic aura surround Applejack and then in the blink of an eye, there was a flash and then the aura went away and Applejack’s entire body had colour. From all of her golden yellow tail with one red ribbon keeping her tail tied up a bit to her entire body being orange and all grey disappearing from her mane too. Rainbow Dash gasped in disbelief below, but failed to use the opportunity to escape.

“Just how did you do that?” Rainbow Dash asked in an awestruck voice.

“I just have to admit that was awesome,” Rainbow Dash declared happily with much emphasis on the word awesome. Azura noticed a small part of her mane and tail changed colour from dull and grey to rainbow coloured.

“Oh, who cares and some pony get this Pegasus off me,” whined Pinkie. Azura found herself wondering if Pinkie had missed the transformation, because she was stunned into being awestruck too as she felt her mouth gape open in disbelief.

“You’re not going anywhere,” Fluttershy asserted herself confidently and kept Pinkie pinned against the floor.

“These photos show all of you as your real selves and the power of friendship,” Spike stated boldly and got the attention of every pony including Pinkie as Fluttershy grabbed her head and turned it toward Spike and the photos. Azura noticed there was barely any resistance from Rarity and she had completely quit trying to escape as she looked back over to Spike.

“Friendship? Why does that word sound so familiar to me all of a sudden?” Twilight asked and exchanged a puzzled look toward Spike. Azura noticed a small part of her tail had changed colour from dull and grey to sapphire blue with a velvet and rose streak in it again. It seemed Spike was getting through to her.

“Oh, Twilight, don’t you remember you’re the Princess of Friendship?” Fluttershy stated in a confused tone and tilted her head as she thought it puzzling that Twilight couldn’t remember.

“No, I can’t be,” Twilight refused to accept Fluttershy words.

“I’m the assistant manager of this radio station and all of you should return to work!” Twilight yelled and spread her wings out and glared toward Fluttershy with some intimidation.

“But, Twilight, we’re still on lunch break for another ten minutes,” Rarity whined and Azura thought this a ridiculous reaction considering Twilight seemed to want to fight again. However, it caused Twilight to turn her attention to Rarity and gave her a glance.

“Hey, look here, Twilight, Fluttershy is telling ya’ the truth and ya’ know I am when I look at ya’ like this,” Applejack said while trotting over toward Twilight and then intensely glared into Twilight’s dull and grey eyes. Twilight seemed fixated into place and unable to back off or break Applejack’s gaze straight into her eyes and Azura saw the yellow swirling effect return to her eyes.

However, as soon as it appeared, it began to fade fast and then in one blink of Twilight’s eyes, the effect wasn’t there when she re-opened them and her eyes were no longer dull and grey, but violet instead.

“I find myself strangely believing you, but how can be this be?” Twilight spoke with confusion.

“Hey, if she’s the Princess of Friendship, then what’s my role?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Yeah, and what’s mine?” Pinkie asked loudly.

“I would like to know mine too,” Rarity added and Azura was curious too and looked over to Spike.

“Rainbow Dash, you’re the Element of Loyalty and the fastest flyer in all of Equestria,” Spike turned and addressed Rainbow Dash first.

“Really? I’m the fastest flyer in all of Equestria that sounds cool and totally awesome,” Rainbow Dash boasted and burst out of Applejack’s grip, but instead of going to Discord, she decided to perform an aerial flip inside the canteen and exchanged a small confident smile afterwards.

Azura marvelled at Rainbow’s ability and noticed that more of Rainbow’s mane had changed colour from dull and grey to rainbow coloured and even a small patch of her fur had changed from dull and grey to cerulean blue.

Spike smiled at Rainbow’s display too and even when she was just standing, Azura noticed Rainbow Dash looked confident and much happier.

“Oh, Pinkie Pie, you’re the Element of Laughter and like to throw parties and be friendly to every pony,” Spike turned to address Pinkie next.

“I like to throw parties!” Pinkie yelled happily as she bounced out of Fluttershy’s grip, “That sounds like fun!” Azura thought so too as she liked parties on occasion and saw Pinkie’s tail change from dull and grey to pink.

“Rarity, you’re the Element of Generosity, you’re sometimes a little vain, but you have a generous and warm heart underneath,” Spike addressed Rarity next.

Azura decided not even to try and restrain Rarity as she stood up after listening to Spike’s words and tilted her head in curiosity. Azura noticed her tail change from dull and grey to purple again too.

“You can tell these things and even show us a couple of photos, Spike, but that doesn’t make true,” Twilight bluntly stated out of nowhere and sounded that somehow she was still sceptical.

Azura looked down glumly as Twilight seemed hard to convince and noticed Pinkie, Rainbow Dash and Rarity look down too as if Twilight’s negative statement affected them too.

“You remembered my name!” Spike stated happily and hugged himself into Twilight.

Twilight flinched nervously, but then wrapped her front left leg around Spike’s neck and accepted it. Azura noticed a small patch of Twilight’s fur turned into a mulberry colour.

“And he’s telling all of y’all the truth by the way,” Applejack added and exchanged a stern glance toward Pinkie, Rainbow, Rarity and Twilight.

“So, if I can fly really fast I can do this,” Rainbow Dash said and then took off and then performed another flip, two perfect barrel rolls and a small loop-de-loop all while in the air of the canteen space and then smiled and was impressed with her skill.

Azura awed at Dash’s ability too and then noticed more of her had changed and then she was surrounded by a cerulean blue aura and when it disappeared, all of her fur was cerulean blue coloured and her mane and tail were fully rainbow coloured. Rainbow Dash even beamed a bright smile at herself.

“How did you do that!?” Pinkie asked, “That was amazing!” Pinkie bounced up and down twice on the spot and smiled. Azura noticed more of her fur had changed to a pink colour and thought maybe she was going through a transformation too.

“But can you do this?” Pinkie laughed and then bounced up and down lots of times in a very fast manner, performed a backflip and a joyful dance and beamed a happy smile.

“That was fun!” Pinkie yelled out happily and then in the blink of an eye, she was surrounded by a pink magic aura and when it disappeared, all of her grey fur and mane had changed to pink.

“How did you both just do that?” Twilight asked and looked to Rainbow and Pinkie for answers.

“I would want to know too,” Rarity spoke in a formal and elegant, but curious tone.

“I honestly don’t know at the moment, but after I saw what happened to Applejack, I just thought it was awesome! And I felt I could remember something about liking things that are just plain awesome,” Rainbow Dash answered with much emphasis on the two times she said the word awesome.

“And when I saw Rainbow Dash fly around like she did, it triggered something that made me think it was fun, but I wanted to prove to myself that you don’t have to be a Pegasus to have fun!” Pinkie gave her answer in a happy tone.

Meanwhile, Azura could see Twilight was stunned by what she had witnessed and slowly more and more of her fur, mane and tail were changing colour as if these events were triggering memories fighting back against Discord’s controlling spell. Azura also looked at Rarity and saw her fur was now mostly white and her mane and tail were purple.

“No, something still doesn’t feel right about this and I need to report it to Discord,” Twilight shook her head. Azura noticed Twilight’s doubt seemed to change a small part of fur back into a dull and grey colour. Then, a brief smoke vapour appeared and then Discord was there….

Chapter 7

“Discord,” Rainbow Dash and Applejack snorted at same time as Discord appeared into the canteen area with his smart black tuxedo suit and a red tie on.

“What’s going on here then?” Discord through a slight chuckle.

“I have just felt the strong presence and essence of magic,” Discord looked around the room and saw Applejack, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash and Spike were fully coloured and noticed Twilight and Rarity still had some grey patches of fur in places.

“Boss, there’s been some disorder and I was trying to sort it out,” Twilight stated slowly with uncertainty and Azura noticed her face looked unsure and puzzled.

“I see, thank you for telling me, Twilight,” Discord patted Twilight on her head with his lion paw.

“Call every pony into my office and we’ll try and sort this out through a disciplinary rather than through harsh and rash actions,” Discord commented and darted his eyes around the room as he was trying to be aware of every pony’s position.

“Discord, for what you’ve done, you should be ashamed of yourself,” Fluttershy spoke up with volume and glared toward Discord.

“Yeah, you’ve been trying to control us all with some type of spell,” Azura decided to speak up with her as she could still remember Discord planting his talons onto Rarity’s head and afterwards she had turned into a grey anti-social pony. Azura decided she would look more supportive if she stood next to Fluttershy and trotted over, while Discord seemed fazed by her accusation.

“Azura, Fluttershy, you heard the boss,” Twilight commented with greater uncertainty and Azura noticed the more Twilight seemed to side with Discord, the greater the speed of the returning grey patches of fur developed at. Though when, she reached Fluttershy and stood beside her, she saw Fluttershy exchanged a small glad smile toward her.

“Twilight, take a look at ya’ self,” Applejack said and pulled a mirror out of nowhere and threw at Twilight and Twilight instantly casted a spell at it to keep it from hitting the floor and gave herself a look.

Discord flinched as he seemed afraid that Twilight would recognise there was something wrong with her reflection.

Azura saw Twilight gasp in horror and the spell around the mirror faded and the mirror shattered upon impact with the floor, but one of its larger fragments happened to land in front of Rarity.

“Why am I so grey?” Twilight shuddered in fear.

“Yeah me too,” Rarity gasped in disbelief and in shock she had grey patches of fur on her body.

“Enough!” Discord growled, “I worked too hard for too long to set up this game.”

“Wait, game!? Are ya’ saying we’re not even working for a real radio station?” Applejack asked.

Azura flinched in fear as Discord scowled intensely and seemed cheesed off.

“Wait, does that mean you were never going to give me a gem?” Rarity yelled with ferocity.

Discord angrily snapped a giant boulder in front of Rarity and Azura was surprised to see Rarity gallop up toward it and hug intensely as if she thought the boulder was her gem and reward.

“Rarity, you’re aware that’s no gem, right?” Rainbow Dash raised her eyebrows and gave Rarity an inquisitive look.

“Discord! Just what are you up to?” Applejack hollered in the meantime as Azura saw her shot Discord an intense glare.

“You’ll see,” Discord answered with an ugly, unhappy scowl and then snapped his talons and disappeared.

“Quick, follow me,” Fluttershy called into Azura’s ears as she took off and flew toward Applejack as she seemed to suspect something was about to happen to her. Azura quickly nodded and followed after her and then Discord reappeared behind Applejack.

Azura saw Discord place his talons on Applejack’s Stetson hat and remembered what he had done to Rarity before and didn’t want Applejack to turn back into a grey and anti-social pony again.

“Discord, stop! Why are you doing this?” Azura asked as she tried to close the distance as fast as she could with a small amount of tears forming in her eyes. Her question managed to distract Discord to looking toward her.

“Discord, I thought you were our friend and you had even accepted reformation, so this stop this or I will be forced to tackle you!” Fluttershy threatened angrily.

Discord turned his attention and Applejack bucked his body and forced him back, then Twilight shot a spell at Applejack and kept her in place. Azura had time enough to see Twilight appeared most unsure whether keeping Applejack in place with her magic was what she needed or wanted to do and her magic aura around Applejack didn’t look particularly strong as she rushed over to stop Discord from putting his talons onto Applejack’s head.

“Fluttershy, you wouldn’t tackle me, it’s me,” Discord focused his attention at Fluttershy and frowned at her.

Then, Azura heard a crashing sound and couldn’t help turning her attention and saw Rainbow had tackled herself into Twilight and when she looked forward again, the spell around Applejack was broken.

“Put everything back the way it should be and I won’t have too,” Fluttershy ordered Discord and bravely puffed her chest out toward him.

“And leave Applejack alone,” Azura decided to bravely contribute and stopped and puffed her own chest out as she didn’t want to lose Applejack as a friend.

Azura noticed Discord’s attention was on Fluttershy’s eyes and he frowned glumly and seemed to be considering doing as she had ordered. Azura decided this was a good time to get Applejack away from danger and though it was perhaps a bit abrupt, she rushed up to her and pushed her away from Discord just in case Discord would try and control her again.

“Wait!” Rarity called out.

“Rainbow Dash is right, this isn’t the gem I was promised!” Rarity yelled as she realised she was kissing a rock and spat out tiny pieces of rock dust.

“Have you all forgotten that each of you has a signed contract obligating you all to this radio station?” Discord stated in great annoyance as Rarity’s yell distracted him from looking straight into Fluttershy’s eyes.

“Aww, shucks, you just pushed me out of danger, but we need to stand up to Discord if we’re going to reason or defeat him,” Applejack said to Azura in the meantime and her cheeks reddened slightly and Azura was briefly confused to what it meant.

“Wait we do!?” Pinkie asked.

“Yes,” Discord huffed with malice.

“Twilight, be a dear and roll out the contracts for me,” Discord stated still with anger in his voice and turned his attention to Twilight.

“Contract or not, nothing gives ya’ the right to wipe our memories and control our minds!” Applejack hollered defiantly as she stopped forward to confront Discord. Azura nervously stepped beside her as she saw Discord turned his attention to them with an ugly scowl on his face.

In the meantime, Twilight flinched and she was uncertain who to side with, Discord or with four of her five friends who shoot unhappy glances toward Discord.

Azura saw Applejack boldly push her head forward and increase the intensity of her glance toward Discord, but she felt a little nervous. She shook a bit, but then thought she couldn’t stand losing Applejack as a friend if Discord managed to put his talons on her head again and puffed her chest out to back Applejack up.

Discord’s ugly scowl intensified and his eyes darted around the room to see who was becoming his enemy and who still sided with him. Azura noticed Pinkie still seemed a little confused and hoped she wouldn’t side with Discord.

“Is that what really has happened?” Pinkie asked, still with some uncertainty.

“Oh, come on Pinkie, and tell me when’s the last time ya’ threw a party?” Applejack hollered trying to get Pinkie to realise what had happened to her. Pinkie briefly looked baffled and Discord put on a slight smug smile and turned his attention to Applejack and shot her an intense glare.

“I can’t remember,” Pinkie stated glumly and her admission made her look down and a piece of her pink fur returned to a grey colour.

“Looks like you’re not all in unison,” Discord commented smugly, “And you probably don’t remember what happens when all of you combine together.”

“Hey, Pinkie, don’t frown, you’ll get the chance to throw lots of parties to make up for lost time and we need your help to show Discord he’s wrong to mess with us!” Rainbow Dash spoke up to encourage Pinkie and put her hoof on Pinkie’s back.

Azura looked on as Rainbow Dash’s encouragement made Pinkie brighten up again and the grey patch was changed back into pink.

“I don’t know what to do,” Twilight mumbled in an unsure tone, Azura turned her attention and saw Twilight appeared most uncertain how to act or respond and even her mane looked frazzled.

Discord snapped his talons and then disappeared and reappeared next to Twilight.

“Fret not, Twilight Sparkle,” Discord said with menace and stroked her fur.

“This will soon be over, because as you long as you can’t decide or side with your friends, the Elements of Harmony can’t work and I can do this,” Discord spoke manipulatively and then placed his talons onto Twilight’s head.

“Twilight! He’s going to try and control you, fight it, fight it with all ya’ got!” Applejack hollered, but Discord smiled.

Twilight opened her mouth agape as Discord forced his talons onto her head, but instead of an instant flash of magic, Azura noticed her face became covered in sweat showing a sign she was fighting on the inside against Discord’s attempt to control her.

“That’s it!” Fluttershy yelled and waved over to Rainbow Dash and the two of them tackled themselves into Discord and he lost his ability to keep his talons placed on Twilight’s head.

“Come on, Twilight, snap out of it, I was under Discord’s control too until I decided to help Rarity with Spike!” Azura yelled as she was desperate to stop Discord from perhaps recovering and seizing control of Twilight or the situation.

“Plus, without Azura, I would still be stuck inside the kitchen as a dull and grey anti-social pony, she showed me true friendship by putting up with my stubbornness and helping me out and I wouldn’t have turned back into me without her. I know you’ve got memories of friendship in there, Twilight!” Applejack joined in with Azura and Azura felt her confidence boost.

“Wait, if Azura helped you turned back into you, then because you changed and inspired me to change, that means she helped me too. And that makes her my friend too,” Rainbow Dash boldly stated and then flew over and stood with the two of them.

“And your change inspired me to change, Rainbow, so by chain reaction events, that means Azura helped me too, so I’m standing with her,” Pinkie bounced over and made it three ponies around Azura.

“And I remember see agreed to help me with helping Spike, plus I think I can remember they both came into the records filing room and tried to reason with me and get me to realise I was dull and grey, but I was too stubborn to listen to them, but I’m not anymore,” Rarity said with confidence and also joined the growing team.

“Plus, you’ve helped me too, as without you convincing Applejack to change, Fluttershy and I probably wouldn’t have been able to hold down every pony and you agreed to help me when you could had decided not to, so that makes you my friend too, Azura,” Spike said confidently and then ran up and hugged Azura’s left front leg.

“And you stood with me and made me feel glad for your support and for that reason, I will add gladly add myself to your friend list,” Fluttershy added with a bit of meeker voice than the others, but her small confident smile told Azura she was happy to be friends with her and then flew over to join her and the others.

“Are you all forgetting you’re still missing one pony?” Discord growled as he stood up and brushed himself off and intensely glared at the six of them.

“No, they’re not!” Twilight shouted out and rushed over to join Azura and the others. Azura cried and sniffled a little as she never expected to have six new friends around her.

“Applejack is right, I can remember I learned a lot of lessons about friendship and I can remember I am the Princess of Friendship!” Twilight declared valiantly as she joined the team.

“And it’s over Discord, surrender now or face the consequences!” Twilight said.

Azura briefly had time to look around and saw Twilight standing in front of her, Applejack and Rarity flanked her right side, while Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy flanked her left and Pinkie was standing slightly to the left of Twilight. Azura felt Spike tug on her leg again.

“Please, make sure to not shake me off, I might be part of the formation this time,” Spike said pleadingly up toward her. Azura briefly wondered what he meant by might be as he was inside the formation already as he was hugging her leg.

“Hmm, we’ll see about that, Princess Twilight!” Discord huffed angrily and made it clear he wasn’t giving up without a fight and began snapping dark, black threatening looking clouds that had spikes in them, but Azura noticed a super charge was growing in and around her and then Azura felt a magical pulse go through her body and Spike tightened his hug grip around her leg. Then, in she floated up with Twilight, Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity and Rainbow Dash and felt a lot of magic pass through her and she was somehow connected to all of them.

Twilight concentrated all of their combined magic into her eyes and her eyes glazed over into a totally white colour and she knew the charge was at its most powerful and then concentrated all the power to her crown and her horn and the super charge caused a rainbow wave of magic to head straight for Discord.

“Nooo… not again,” Discord just about managed to mutter as he got hit.

Azura saw through Twilight’s eyes as he was turned into a stone statue and then the connection to Twilight faded and Azura could see Discord’s statue with her own eyes and then they all descended back to the ground.

However, despite she felt Discord deserved what he got, as she planted her feet back onto the ground, questions bothered her into why Discord had gone through so much trouble to get a radio station built in Ponyville, why he made himself the boss and why he had to insert his control and authority through mind manipulation? However, as he was now a stone statue, Azura wondered if she would ever know the reasons why…. The End.

Chapter 3

Azura found herself staring at the dull and grey alicorn as the combination of wings and horn meant only one thing, the alicorn was a Princess and what the heck was a Princess doing working in a radio station!?

“Twilight…” Spike said with a bit of uncertainty.

“How did you know my name? And don’t call me it, I’m the assistant manager and from now on call me mam or boss!” Twilight yelled. Spike saluted in fright.

“Twilight, is that your name? But darling, you look so dull and grey,” Rarity commented with concern and gave her a look with her blue eyes.

“Call me mam or boss and what do I care what I look like and why are the two of you even up here!?” Twilight gazed straight at Rarity with dull grey eyes.

It was then, Azura noticed the familiar yellow swirling effect in her eyes that she had seen in Rarity’s and Spike’s too and it had to be more than just coincidental and Azura rubbed her front left hoof down her neck. The effect only last for two seconds and Azura noticed Rarity failed to react, which meant she didn’t notice.

“Twilight, please stop yelling, we’re here helping Spike carry the paperwork to Discord’s office,” Rarity said with slight displeasure.

“Call me mam or boss, I shouldn’t have to need to tell you more than once!” Twilight yelled and spread her wings out and scowled intensely at Rarity.

“And I’ll need to check the records to find out where the two of you are supposed to be, and Spike, you better come with me to Discord’s office,” Twilight ordered Spike and dismissed Rarity by turning her head away and expressed an anti-social huff, she also gave Rarity no chance to respond.

“Actually, we’re carrying paperwork that Discord needs too,” Azura decided to speak up after seeing Twilight dismiss Rarity like that, it was the least she thought she could do and she even braved stepping toward the grey alicorn as she turned her head again.

“Alright, fine, you two can tag along for now,” Twilight sighed in great reluctance, “But keep a steady pace because as soon as the paperwork is in Discord’s office, you’ll both accompany me to my office and I’ll find out where you two are supposed to be.” Then, before any further words could be spoken, Twilight turned and began to lead the way with Spike following immediately behind her.

“Goodness gracious, Twilight has her fur in a bunch, I would ask her to calm down, but she didn’t have to speak to us in that way,” Rarity huffed to Azura.

Azura nodded in agreement, but decided it was best to get the job done and over with and followed Spike and left Rarity to bring up the rear.

Twilight led the three of them to Discord’s office, and Azura noticed the wooden door to the office was odd. The door handle was way down near the bottom of the door and it was upside down and a gold name plate was below it and also upside down while the name written on was right side up and stated ‘Discord’. Twilight pushed the door open with a small grunt and it creaked a little as it revealed the office room.

“Ah, there you are, Spike, I was afraid you might have taken a tumble and I sent Twilight out to fetch you and the paperwork I need,” Discord commented as the four of them entered the room.

Azura decided to have a brief look around and thought the whole room didn’t make sense as Discord sat comfortably in what looked to be a throne seat rather than the boss’s chair and thought it a bit odd what would a throne being doing inside a radio station. There were other oddities to catch her attention, the achievement awards were upside down on the walls and there was even a chair bolted to the ceiling upside down.

“Well, Spike, I haven’t got all day, please come over and deliver your stash,” Discord spoke in an impatient, but slightly polite manner.

“Well, me, Rarity and Azura each have a stack, so where do you want us to put them?” Spike enquired nervously and Azura noticed Discord’s voice had unnerved him, but shrugged.

“Hmm, I see you’ve managed to convince some helpers, I must say I’m impressed,” Discord smiled and stroked his beard.

Azura was about to shrug and not really care about the conversation when she recalled she had seen Discord stroke his beard before.

“Actually, while we’re here, I want to lodge a complaint against this unfriendly alicorn,” Rarity spoke out and glared toward Twilight unhappily.

Azura admired her newfound bravery to trot forward and puff her chest out toward Twilight.

“Oh, you don’t recognise her, that’s good,” Discord spoke manipulatively and stroked his beard some more.

“Hey! I’ve just noticed that you don’t have your stack, and that’s going to come out of your salary,” Twilight spoke up and glared back at Rarity.

“What!? Wait, you can’t take it out of my salary, I’ve nearly completed one month’s worth of work for my gem!” Rarity whinged desperately.

“I’m afraid she can, Rarity, my dear, but what you fail to realise is the alicorn that just spoke you is more familiar to you than you think,” Discord chuckled menacingly.

Rarity tilted her head into a thoughtful pose and then Azura saw Discord snap his talons and disappear and then a second later, another snapping sound occurred and Discord appeared next to Rarity and placed his talons on her head and before she could resist, protest or react too much, he pressed down and there was a brief flash.

Azura instinctively shielded her eyes and when she re-opened them, she gasped in horror that all the colour of Rarity's well-groomed white fur and an indigo mane had been changed back into grey. Azura trotted back a pace in fright of what she had just witnessed.

“Hey, place your stack on Discord’s desk and then follow me out,” Twilight spoke up and Azura decided if she didn’t do as asked, then she might meet the same fate as Rarity and nodded and put her stack next to Spike’s and then Discord reappeared in the throne in front of her.

“Good job, Azura,” Discord spoke and then Azura felt the unexpectedly soft touch of his lion paw pat her on her head, but cringed slightly.

“Twilight will now assign you back to your post, just follow her out,” Discord said and turned his head sideways and Azura nervously turned and trotted out toward Twilight as she decided she would do what she could to avoid meeting the same fate as Rarity, who then pushed past her, Twilight and Spike and headed back down the third floor corridor.

“So, what now, mam?” Spike addressed Twilight nervously and Azura was glad she wasn’t the only one to be unnerved by what Discord did to Rarity and now she thought there was good reason why Spike wasn’t bold enough to stand up to Discord.

“Go and find the stack that Rarity dropped and return it to Discord,” Twilight ordered. Spike saluted and left to retrieve the dropped stack. Then, Twilight turned the attention of her dull grey eyes to Azura and Azura shivered a little as she noticed the attention.

“You can come with me and I’ll check the records to where you’re supposed to be working,” Twilight stated bluntly.

“Actually, I work in the record filing room, mam,” Azura mumbled as she thought Twilight’s anti-social demeanour was a bit scary, plus what she had just witnessed Discord doing was still on her mind.

“Speak up!” Twilight ordered.

“I said I work in the record filing room, mam,” Azura re-addressed a little louder, but still shook with fear.

“Oh, I presume then you can find your own way back to work,” Twilight grunted.

“Yes mam,” Azura nodded shyly.

“Then, trot off to it,” Twilight stated bluntly.

“But I do suppose you’ve saved me the job of checking the records and a little bit of time and I almost feel like I should say something, but you should get back to work,” Twilight continued, but Azura noticed her tone wasn’t quite so forceful and a little friendlier.

Azura gasped slightly when she noticed a small part of Twilight’s tail had changed colour from dull and grey to sapphire blue with part of a rose and a violet streak also being visible.

“I’ll leave you to it,” Twilight said and trotted off.

Azura stood in confusion as she was trying to process a few thoughts.

Azura began to think into why Twilight’s tail changed colour? Was it something she had said or done? She was all grey when she had first met her glaring at Spike. Plus, what she mean by she almost felt like saying something? Azura thought it a bit silly, but maybe Twilight had considered saying thank you.

However, then a hum of Discord enjoying himself inside his office interrupted her thoughts and Azura decided to leave and trotted past Spike without noticing him and back down to the stairs and into the second floor corridor and still her head was so full of thoughts and she just wanted some peace from the growing mental stress.

Azura decided to pound her head onto the wall until they stopped and then after a couple of head pounds and a more significant one, her gaze got blurry and she passed out…