A single seed

"Rainbow Dash! Don't you dare do something stupid or I will KILL you!"

The pegasus sat on her haunches on the edge of the library's roof. "Oh, I didn't have in mind to jump straight down. Perhaps I did. Since when do you give a buck about how much I'm hurting? You were lying to solve this crisis so you could get back to your work, I know that. He tells me the entire truth."

"Awesome. His influence has expanded. Rainbow, come down and we'll free you of that curse!" Twilight was prepared to pull her down if she had to.

"What curse? Free thinking? Finally seeing the truth?" Quietly, Dash whispered to herself as she rose. "After you synchronise... Leap of Faith." An eagle passed by. She gave him an aknowledging nod and started running.

"Now what in tarnation?"

Rainbow reached the edge and jumped, legs spread wide. She intended to give the other ponies a good scare for her. Only that, when she opened her eyes, she noticed she had enjoyed the feeling of freedom much too long. The ground was right in front of her.

It was too late to use her wings. Time froze. This wasn't what she had wanted. Maybe it was? Wasn't this the only way out of the pain she had always experienced, sooner or later, with those so-called friends?

It took her a few seconds to realise that the ground actually was not coming closer. Her mind cleared up again and she looked around, seeing Twilight's horn glow with the same color she could make out from her hindhooves.

"Erm... Thanks, I guess. Sorry, didn't want to do that. Or did I? Maybe that'd be even the slightest taste of the pain I'm experiencing for you. Hey, let me go and don't catch me this time!"

"Dash! How do you dare even thinking something like that! Think about yourself! Think about... me." Applejack shuddered at the thought of what'd happen if Twilight's reactions were just a bit slower.

"That's Discord speaking out of you. But we now know what let him in, Rainbow! We can help you!"

"Yay. As if those memories weren't killing me on the inside already, now you have to bring them up too. Put me down, please? I promise I won't fly off." Twilight released her magic.

"So, you're saying that Discord is manipulating my every move 'cause something let him in?" Rainbow Dash had been talked into speaking about the general state of things, as long as they weren't trying to cure her yet.

"The single seed that let him in. Admirable control that you had there. Even though complete repression isn't the way to go, or else the old wounds will just tear up and hurt you much worse. Q.E.D., I'd say."

"Yeah yeah. So what now?"

"Erm..." Twilight had no idea. She had intended to have a talk with Rainbow about that repressed memory and free her mind that way. She hadn't expected such an open reaction. "I'm afraid we can't avoid talking about Glimmer."

"If you have to."

"Yes, I have to. If we work out your psychological problems that came with that incident, he'll lose his grasp on you. Then everything else will fall into place."

"Bring in Applejack. It seems there's still some feeling for her left in me. I want her to be present."

"Yes, of course. Applejack? You can come in!"

"Hey sugarcube. What more do I have to do to convince you I'm sharing your feelings?"

"My feelings right now are nothing but pain and cold fury. I believe you're sharing those."

"No, fight him! Don't talk like that, you're making it easy for him to control you!"

"I am very well in control of myself. Now, I know I'm repeating myself, but convince me that you honestly love me back, no matter the circumstances."

"Such a stubborn little... Hey, Ah know something. When Ah was really little, even younger than Applebloom today, Ah once saw ya speeding through the sky. What a talent, flying like that at yer age! Ah wasn't sure if Ah hadn't mislooked, but mah heart told me what I saw was real. Oh, believe me, I couldn't stop thinking 'bout you."

"Cliché." Rainbow was not out of her cynical stance, but sounded genuinely interested.

"That little blue dot, flying around, barely visible except when in front of a cloud. Now here's something Ah never told nopony. 'Twas cause of you that Ah once missed everything while swimming. Ah could catch a glance at ya, so Ah beamed upwards towards the sky forever. When Ah came back to the ground with mah mind, all Ah could see was that wave."

Rainbow moved her head closer to Applejack.

"That wave that caught me so badly by surprise I had nothing against it. There Ah was, submerged deep, no idea where up'n'down were. Ah was so afraid. Not fer my life, mind you. Ah was afraid of never seeing the sky again, with you in it. Good thing Mac had some rescue training and got me just in time. That was when Ah got mah... problem with water."

"Wow. If I had known I'd almost killed you, I'd have cut off my wings with a rusty knife just to never risk something like that again. I... Damn, I love you."

"Ah waited so long fer you to say that." Applejack pulled Rainbow Dash in and pushed their lips together. There was no resistance.

"Do you two want some privacy? I don't mind spending a minute or two hours up in my room reading, really. You can have my room, too."

"Ah, that can wait 'till later. We still got some butt to kick."

"Perfect. Then let's go. We should probably visit Fluttershy first. She's a little way off, but that poor little thing will die from worry if we keep her waiting for liberation much longer."

"Fluttershy? Come out, I got a nice surprise for you!"

"Uh, okay. If you say it's nice..."

More locks than Twilight remembered the door having unlocked. Fluttershy pulled it open. "Oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh..."

"Yeah, I know, they're quite... Wait." Twilight's smile faded a little. She looked over her shoulder where, behind her, Applejack and Rainbow Dash were already deeply kissing again. "Okay, I mean, why stick to the plan. Didn't seem to miss your effect. You alright, Fluttershy?"

"She finally... Oh, I'm so happy for her!"

"Looks like it."

"A little kindness can go a long way... All the way down from a cloud." Fluttershy whispered, even more quiet than what was usual.

"What was that?"

"Uh, I don't know why I said that. It's been haunting around my head for so long, but now it's finally gone. Isn't that wonderful?"

"Now it's just Rarity and we'll FINALLY be ready to go."

"I think I can handle her. Leave her to me."

"If you want, 'Shy."

"Rarity? Let me in, please."

"Fluttershy? What are you doing here? Come in, it's open."

"Should we?" Twilight asked, but Fluttershy only motioned for the other three ponies to stay where they were. "I'll be right back."

Truly, no ten minutes later, both Rarity and Fluttershy came out of the boutique. Rarity had a bright smile on her face, replacing her usual hopeless expression Twilight had learned to fear.

"Generosity is a gift... Depending on how justified that gift is." Rarity breathed out with a sigh of relief.

"Glad to know his magic finally left you too." Twilight happily welcomed her friend back.

"So am I, dear. What was I thinking? Oh, nothing at all, most likely. No situation that couldn't be brightened up with the right portion of hope. Good to know you never abandoned yours as I did mine."

"Show yourself, demon!" The six ponies were ready for battle, each wearing their Element.

"Lord of chaos and disharmony, please." Discord grew out of the ground, then suddenly lost interest and restarted from the head, joining the two parts at his knees. "Oh, how nice, the Elements are together. Depression, Cowardice, self-proclaimed Rationality, Hysteria, Hopelessness and... I'm sorry, what's your problem, my dear?"

"How about Magic?"

"Oh no, that's what you're supposed to be. Excuse me, I have to finish a joke."

"Stay right here!" Twilight conjured magical shackles for Discord.

"How brute. A simple request would have been enough. But I'll play your game, you've failed this before. Fire when ready."

"You bet. Girls?" The ponies powered up their necklaces. Discord's eyes flinched with fear.

"Wait, what? You're not supposed to... Not yet! Not at all!"

"Hold still, and it'll be over quick."

Discord strained at his bindings, only to find them not giving any way. "Noooooooooo..." Once more, his physical form turned into stone.

"Perfect. I'm proud of all of your girls. I knew we could overcome everything if only we worked together with all our force."

"PART FIVE! Pinke, ya got them gears?"

"Sure! Which one do you want first?"

"Ah'll let you pick."

"Girls? What's going..." Twilight's voice trailed off as Pinkie pulled a jackhammer out of thin air, then hoofed it to Applejack.

"Now, we're gonna make sure you never even try ta make RD and all of us hurt like that. Ya hear me?" The earth pony was furious. Dust flew around as more and more pieces fell to the ground. Four ponies watched in surprise, Pinkie looked at them with an innocent smile. Discord's head flew in a high arch and crashed into the ground just before Twilight's hooves.

"You wanna try too?" Pinkie said as she offered the unicorn a sledge hammer. Twilight hesitated, but then her emotions overwhelmed her and she took the hammer into her magical grasp, intent on enjoying every bit of it.

Long minutes later, they were done. Everypony had their own tool and piece to work with, until Discord was reduced to nothing but pebbles.

"That was satisfying. You think he's finally going to stay away?"

"I think he should. Why didn't anypony come to this idea before?"

"Congratulations on your success, my little ponies. Let us hope that this creature has now finally returned to it's home realm." Princess Celestia stepped over the pile of stones as she suddenly appeared. Five ponies lowered their heads in respect. All but Twilight.

"Twilight! What are you doing? Show the princess some respect!" Pinkie hissed.

"Oh, that's alright, I suppose. My priced pupil doesn't need to stick to such outdated protocol. Neither do you, elements. Twilight Sparkle?"

Twilight did not react to the princess at all. She kept turned away from her, eyes closed.

"You."