You're All Too Easy!

by Dr Atlas

Chapters

First Lesson: Don't look
Second Lesson: Don't listen
Third Lesson: Don't talk
Fourth Lesson: Don't do
Fifth Lesson: Do(n't) learn your lessons
Last Lesson: Learn from the master

First Lesson: Don't look

“Alright, Fluttershy, you ready?”

"Y-Yes."

"Okay, look at this pocket watch."

“Okay.”

“Now, focus on it as it swings, alright?”

“Alright.”

“Now, don’t fall under its trance, no matter how hard your head hurts. You can’t let it control you, okay?”

“Yes master…”

With an annoyed groan, Twilight stopped swinging the pocket watch in front of Fluttershy’s face and glared at her. “Really? That easy?”

“That easy for what?” Fluttershy asked, her eyes no longer swirling. “D-Did I do it right?”

“No, you didn’t…” Twilight dug her face in her book again, trying to figure out other ways to help her. “I don’t get it! You have the stare for Celestia’s sake, how can it only take seconds for you to come under my control?”

Fluttershy looked back and forth sheepishly. “W-Well, I don’t really control minds, Twilight...I-I just intimidate critters is all…”

“But you force them to stop doing whatever it is they were doing!” Twilight held up the watch again, the chain hanging from her magic. “Now, listen, when I swing this thing, try using the stare, alright?”

Fluttershy gulped, the watch already having somewhat of a trance on her already. “O-Okay.”

“Now, I’m gonna tell you to do something, and whatever you do, don’t do what I say, alright.”

Fluttershy eyes were glued to the pocket watch, her stare not having any effect on helping her. “A-Ah...Alright.”

Twilight sighed, swinging it again. “Okay, on the count of three, sleep.” She narrowed her eyes, already seeing colors in her friend’s eyes, but this didn’t stop her. “One...Two…” Twilight could already see that Fluttershy’s eyes were barely open, with a sad sigh, she said, “Three…”

*THUNK*

Twilight facehoofed as her friend’s head fell to the floor, her eyes closed and her mouth open with a tongue sticking out the side. “Come on, Fluttershy! That time it only took four seconds!” Twilight’s only response was her friend’s snoring.

“What’s the record?”

Twilight turned to the door, seeing Spike coming inside the library. “Spike, the best she’s done is seven seconds! SEVEN!” She flipped through the pages of her book again. “T-This shouldn’t be happening, I’ve been telling her everything she’s supposed to do to deal with this!”

Spike walked up to the still sleeping Fluttershy. “Not while she’s in a trance, right?”

Twilight sighed, picking up the watch. “I’ve tried everything! I tried using the spell Starlight used and she fell for that the second I cast it. I tried doing what Discord did and she fell for that just as fast! I even used those dumb tricks Trixie uses on stage, and she STILL fell for it!” Twilight held up the watch, swinging it. “This watch is the only other thing I could think of to help her!”

Spike kept his eyes on the watch, raising an eye at them. “I don’t see how a watch can do this, Twilight?”

“Me neither…” She put it back down, trying to find something else to help her in the book. “At least you’re not like this…”

“Not like what, master?” Spike asked, snickers soon following.

Twilight glared at him. “This is no times for jokes, Spike. I need to teach them about controlling their minds before others do! W-What if Discord does something like this, what if Starlight decides her room is too messy and uses one of them, w-what if Sombra comes back and uses the same thing he used on us!”

Spike scratched his head. “But didn’t we fall for it, too?”

Twilight shook her head. “He just made us see what we feared; not control us, but corrupt us...which would probably lead to control, b-but we were both able to get control over ourselves and not end up like...this!” She pointed at Fluttershy, who was still sleeping soundly.

Spike wasn’t sure if ‘control’ was the right word after what they experienced. “Uh...did you try using that on her?”

Twilight’s eyes widened. “Wha...I-I would never use that kind of magic on my friends! That’s not right!”

“And mind controlling them is?” Spike pointed out.

“I’m not doing this for my own sake, Spike. I’m doing this for them!” She stopped going through the pages of her book and put it down, grabbing another. “They need to learn the dangers of mind control, and if they can’t fight it, then...t-then-”

“Our foes will use them against us and rule over the world?”

Twilight shook her head. “Not just that. But also other ponies doing this to them. I just can’t even imagine what kind of irresponsible things ponies could do to them if they're this easy.” She looked down at Fluttershy, knowing that she had to be conscious for them to continue the lesson. “Anyways, Fluttershy, when I clap my hooves, you’ll wake up.” Twilight did just that, Fluttershy springing back up instantly.

“Did it work, Twilight?” She asked, receiving a deadpan glare from Twilight. “I-I take it that’s a no?”

Twilight looked back at the only friend she knew wasn’t so easy to control. “Spike, can you go tell Starlight to meet me in the main hall?”

Spike saluted. “You got it Twi- I mean, master!” He made his way to the door, failing to keep his laughs in his mouth.

Twilight groaned in sadness while Fluttershy held her hoof up to her mouth. “Oh dear, e-even Spike’s like that too?”

Twilight got up, grabbing a few books in her magical grip. “Come on, Shy, we got more ponies to teach.”

Fluttershy looked away, her mind starting to get a bit hazy. “Uh...T-Twilight, shouldn’t we take a break from all this?”

Twilight put her hoof on the door. “Fluttershy, the foes we might face don’t take breaks, and neither should we!” She opened the door. “Now come on, let's see if Rarity can do this.”

Fluttershy continued sitting, not wanting to come along. “Um...Twilight, c-can I just...go home now, m-maybe some other time we can-” She stopped talking the second Twilight swung the watch in her face.

“Come along, Shy.” Twilight said, feeling a bit bad from doing this.

Fluttershy slowly made her way next to Twilight. The watch not going out of her sight. “Yes, master…”

Twilight took a deep breath, setting the books on her friend’s head. “This is gonna be a long day…”

Second Lesson: Don't listen

“Did you try using the watch?”

Twilight continued trotting through Ponyville, Starlight and Spike following close behind while Fluttershy stayed in the back, her mind still focused on the swinging pocket watch. “Starlight, I want you to pay close attention to Fluttershy, because even she fell for the watch!”

Starlight raised an eye, looking at how Fluttershy was able to keep the books stacked on her head. “Wow, you even got her to keep her balance. That’s impressive.”

“It’s not about how impressive the trance is, it’s about how easy it is for her to get like this!”

Starlight had to ask. “How long did it take?”

Spike came in between them. “Seven seconds is her record, and her last attempt was four.”

“Really?” Starlight turned to Twilight, her eyes to the ground. “How can a pocket watch do that? Didn’t it take Discord even longer to corrupt her?”

“I don’t know, Starlight…” Twilight looked back at Fluttershy, her eyes still following the watch. “Either that spell you did made them worse, or their heads just can’t unwrap themselves from hypnosis.”

Starlight looked away the second she mentioned that. “Y-You’re not still disappointed in me, are you?”

“Starlight, you doing this to my friends is more of a wake up call for me than ‘me being disappointed’. Because if you can do this to them, think of what others could do. I don’t want my friends to be like this, Starlight.”

Starlight shrugged. “Maybe their minds are just too weak.” Starlight had an idea. “Why not use a spell on them so-”

“NO SPELLS!” Twilight yelled. “I’m not using a trick so they can’t get tricked. I know they can do this on their own. I just need to figure out a way before...b-before-”

“Before others use them as servants?” Spike asked, now sitting on top of the stack of books. “Cause if I start seeing them in maid outfits, then I think I’d lose all hope.”

“We’re not going that far, Spike. I just need them to stop doing what I say while their hypnotized. We can worry about dress codes later.”

“Speaking of dress, we’re here.” Spike pointed up, the boutique right in front of them.

Twilight took a breath, hoping all of this would work, Starlight noticed. “You’re okay doing this, right Twilight? I mean, when I did it, you felt pretty bad.”

“But this is for a good cause! It’s so they can prepare themselves for whatever evil we may face, not because I want them to be better friends with me. Besides, it’s not like I’ve hypnotized anyone because I wanted them to do what I say before. I can keep this under control.”

Knowing that was a downright lie, Spike got off the stack of books and pointed at Twilight, “What about that time you got almost everyone in Ponyville to fall for a doll?”

The gears in Starlight’s brain went off track for a second once she heard this. “She did what?”

Twilight was hoping that wouldn’t come up. “Let’s just say me trying to get a friendship report kinda made me get a little...desperate…”

Spike smirked. “So she thought that if she made a problem herself, then she can fix it.”

Starlight blinked. “Wow, the whole town?” She smirked. “I have to say, that’s impressive.”

Twilight frowned, but ended up chuckling. “To tell you the truth, you doing that to my friends kinda reminded me of what I did…That I was so desperate to do something for my teacher that I went to such great lengths just to do it, without even caring for anyone else...” Twilight then remembered what they were doing right now. “I might just try the want it need it spell on them too, it’s not that hard of a spell to fight, anyways.”

“S’long as it doesn’t involve a doll.” Spike said, crossing his arms.

Twilight ignored this and knocked on the door. It opened seconds later, Rarity now standing in front of them. “Oh, hello, Twilight.” She said, surprised to see four of her friends knocking at her door. “What brings you all here?”

Starlight waved. “Hey, Rarity, uh, a-are you feeling better after what happened?”

Rarity smiled. “I’m fine, Starlight. Don’t tell me you’re here to apologize again.”

Twilight shook her head. “It’s more than that, Rarity. Can we come in?”

“Uh, of course.” Rarity opened the door wider, the four of them walking inside. As Rarity shut the door, she noticed the state Fluttershy was in. “Fluttershy? Are you alright?” Rarity waved a hoof in front of her face, but no response came other than her swirling eyes and hung open jaw. “What’s the matter with her? And what’s with the watch?”

Twilight noticed this and cringed. “Well, Rarity, that’s kinda why I’m here. You see, after what Starlight did, I realized that maybe you guys are a little too easy to mind control. So, I’m here to make sure all of you can control your minds before others do.”

“Too easy?” Rarity wasn’t sure if she should feel offended or concerned.

Twilight tried thinking of a way to rephrase that. “I-It’s just that some spells may be too powerful for you to handle, so I’m here to make sure you can handle any kind of hypnosis that comes your way.”

“Hypnosis?” Rarity laughed. “Darling, what makes you think anyone will try to hypnotize us?”

“It’s happened two times already, Rarity. Three times for me and Spike. I just wanna make sure all of us are ready for whatever comes our way! And the only way to do that is to practice!” Twilight lit up her horn and levitated a book off of Fluttershy’s head, opening it. “Now, the first kind of mind control I’ll go over is one of the most well known.”

Unlike Twilight, Rarity wasn’t so prepared for this. “Um, Twilight, perhaps another time would be-”

“This can’t wait any longer, Rarity. What if a villain comes here and tries to brainwash everypony in Ponyville! All of us need to prepare.”

Rarity was still skeptical. “What kind of horrid creatures can do that, Twilight?”

Twilight held up the book. “Roughly a book full of creatures can. One of those creatures that we’ll go over is a lamia.”

“A lama?” Spike asked.

“No, a lamia. Half snake; half pony; all monster. These creatures can control minds by just looking into the victim's eyes.”

Starlight tried to think of an example. “So, kinda like what Discord did to you?”

“Kind of.” Twilight held up the book. “But the lamia uses vibrant and colorful eyes to leave them in a state of fatigue while Discord used more pale and bland eyes to turn us against each other.”

Hearing this gave Spike an idea. “Uh, should we go get Discord for this or-”

Twilight shivered at the thought of someone like him helping. “No offence Spike, but I’d rather not have someone who wields chaos more than Starswirl wields magic help in this. Maybe later if things get a little bit tough.” She turned back to Rarity, reading the book. “Now, one of the main reasons why ponies continue staying in a trance is because of the swirling colors that go through their heads. Some cases have the victim practically beg for them to keep going, and that’s not something I want my friends...wanting…”

“Why would a creature do that?” Rarity asked.

“It’s a trick they do in order for their prey to stop struggling. Either that or they do it for fun...” Twilight shivered in disgust, unable to even fathom how someone would want that.

Despite hearing all of this, Rarity still wasn’t so sure. “Twilight, are you sure you want to do this, I mean, what’s the point if we ca-”

“I don’t want to see my friends look at their demise while they have a dopey smile on their face, Rarity!” Twilight yelled, causing some silence in the room and making Fluttershy fall on her side, the books tumbling soon afterwards. With some composure, Twilight took a breath and continued. “Please, Rarity. This is for our own good.”

Knowing she had a point, Rarity nodded and said, “Alright Twilight, what’s the first step?”

Twilight looked at the pages. “Well, first I gotta know what to do…”

“You haven’t done this yet?” Starlight asked.

“There’s many different ways you can trick a pony, Starlight. This is just a way I’m not too familiar with…” After skimming through the book for a bit, Twilight shut it and smiled. “Alright, I think I got it.” She looked right into Rarity’s eyes. “Okay Rarity, my eyes are going to change into many different colors, kinda like what Discord did, but more colorful.”

Rarity held her head high, having complete confidence. “Twilight, I’ve dealt with it before, and I’m very certain I won't get fooled again.”

Spike nudged Starlight. “I bet ten bits that she’ll crash a rock in a building again.”

“A rock?” Starlight asked. “What does a rock have to do with-”

“I told you not to speak of it!” Rarity yelled, Twilight coming in between her and Spike.

“Focus, Rarity, and listen.” She went eye to eye with her. “Whatever I say, whatever I tell you to do, don’t do it. Okay?”

Rarity decided to ignore the past and focus on the present. “Alright, go ahead Twilight.”

Twilight turned to Starlight and Spike. “Guys, I want you two to see if she’ll do anything. I have to have constant eye contact while I do this.”

Starlight nodded while Spike pulled out a quill and parchment. “Ready when you are.” Spike said.

Twilight faced Rarity again, closing her eyes and concentrating. After a bit of muttering, Twilight slowly opened her eyes again; everything from her cornea to her pupil to her iris was instantly swirling with different colors. Rarity watching in confusion at first, only to suddenly have the same colors going through her eyes. “Rarity?” Twilight said. “You still with me?”

Rarity slowly nodded. “Y-Yes mas..mis...T-Twi…” She tried keeping it together, but those eyes were far too colorful for her to concentrate.

Twilight didn’t want to give up, so she kept going. “Okay, Rarity, I command you to slowly lift your front right leg up to your head.” Twilight continued keeping her eyes on Rarity. “Spike, Starlight. Is she doing anything?”

Spike tilted his head, seeing Rarity’s right hoof shaking. “She’s having...some control over it. What do you think, Starlight?”

Starlight was about to say she was doing good, but that sentence went away when Rarity smacked her head with her hoof, no response of pain coming from her. “Uh, it’s...progress?”

Twilight drew a sharp breath, not wanting to lose hope in this. “Rarity, behave like a dog.” The white unicorn brought her back leg up to her ear, scratching it just like a dog would. “Is she doing it?”

Spike and Starlight were too concerned to answer. “Uh, I-It’s kinda more like a cat than a dog…” Spike pointed out, writing it down.

Twilight narrowed her eyes, trying to think of something she wouldn’t do while under control. “Rarity, lick the hoof you used to hit your head.”

Spike and Starlight’s eyes widened as Rarity shoved her entire hoof in her mouth. “Uh...Twilight, it’s not working.” Starlight admitted.

Hearing this, Twilight shut her eyes and groaned. “For Celestia’s sake, how can it be so easy for you?”

The second the colors went away, Rarity shook her head and looked around. “W-Wait, w-why did you stop? T-Those colors were beautiful, you can’t-”

Twilight back-hoofed Rarity in hopes that she wouldn’t ask it again. “Rare, you’re not getting the colors back, understand?”

Rarity didn’t seem to care about the pain her face had, her mind needing those sweet swirling colors in her eyes again. “C-Come on, Twilight! Please?” She put on a pleading face, but unlike her, Twilight could withstand the look.

Twilight would’ve tried another hypnotic spell, but she knew she had more friends to teach. “You know what, maybe this is a great way to learn, if you can control your urge to not get sucked into those colors, maybe you won’t lose control.” She turned to Starlight and Spike. “Spike, get Shy back on her hooves.” Spike nodded and grabbed the watch, bringing it up to Shy’s eyes again. “Starlight, let's go get Dash, maybe her head won't be so easy.” Twilight walked out the door, her friends following close behind.

While they continued walking, Rarity stood closer to Starlight. “Um, Starlight.” She whispered. “Uh….y-you wouldn’t happen to know that spell too, would you?”

Starlight knew where this was going. “Are you asking what I think you’re asking, Rarity?”

Rarity pulled her closer. “I-It’s just for a little bit, Starlight. Besides, you do kinda...owe me after what you did.”

“All I made you do was make a dress.”

“Not A dress, Glimmer…” Rarity pointed out.

Spike raised his claw in the air while his other one continued swinging the watch in front of Fluttershy. “I can help, Rarity!”

Hearing this made Rarity step away from Starlight. “Um...t-that’s fine, Spike...M-Maybe it’s best to just...let me get over it...heh…” Rarity looked down at the ground, her mind begging for those colorful colors again.

“This is going to be a long day…”

Third Lesson: Don't talk

“Come on, Dash! We need to do this!”

“By we you mean just you, because I want no part in this!”

“But you gotta be apart of it!” Twilight pointed toward town while the five of them stood on the outskirts. “What if some nasty villain comes into town and brainwashes everypony, including you!”

Rainbow Dash continued looking away from Twilight, her front legs crossed and her head high. “I don’t wanna be apart of this weird experiment of yours, Twilight. For all I know, you’re just doing this for your own sick mind.”

Twilight’s jaw dropped. “W-Who in the right mind would like doing this to their friends?”

Dash shrugged. “I dunno, but I’m sure someone else might.” She looked forward with a raised eye, knowing exactly who she was talking to.

Knowing this wouldn’t be the last time she’d hear this today, Starlight turned away and said, “Dash, I said I was sorry.”

“You don’t get it, Starlight, that spell gave me a worse headache than that time I got in AJ’s cider cellar!”

Twilight forced Dash to face her again with her magic. “Dash, if you don’t prepare for this, then there will be worse things that happen to you besides headaches!”

“Like what?” Dash asked.

“Well...uh, f-for starters, you wouldn’t be able to control yourself, a-and they could turn you on your friends.”

“But you have spells for that, don’t you?” Dash pointed out.

Twilight brought her hooves to her temples. “Dash, this isn’t about spells, this is about controlling your own mind by sheer will, not with magic.”

“Can’t you just cast a spell so we can’t get affected by other spells?”

Twilight was on the verge of losing it. “Dash, magic doesn’t work like that. It’s like you’re asking me to keep a drink cold without any ice.”

“But that’s a pretty easy spell to cast, Twilight.” Starlight pointed out, reciving a glare from Twilight seconds later.

“That’s not what I’m talking about. Mind control can be thwarted by other things besides magic.”

Dash thought of another example. “But didn’t it take a spell to make me not act like a jerk when Discord-”

“YOU’RE MISSING THE POINT!” Twilight shouted, causing all eyes to go to her, besides Fluttershy’s. “All of you need to prepare for this! I’m not always there for you girls, and I know there will be a time where my own magic just isn’t enough to help, I need all of you to do this, i-it’s not even that hard.”

Dash turned her head to her other two friends. “Seems like they’re having a tough time.”

Twilight turned to Rarity and Fluttershy. Rarity seemed to be shivering and looking around, trying to find some form of flashing colors while Fluttershy continued standing straight with her eyes swirling and a stack of books still on her head. Spike was starting to get just as concerned as everyone else. “Uh, is she still suppose to be like this? The watch isn’t even in front of her anymore.”

Twilight tapped her chin, trying to find some logical answer to this. “Maybe having prolonged exposure to the hypnosis has caused her to stay in a trance. We’ll worry about it later, right now, we need to make sure Dash can do this.”

“I told you, I’m not doing it!” Dash started walking away. “And there’s nothing you can say to make me be apart of this weird experiment of yours.”

Hearing this gave Twilight the perfect idea on what to say next. “Fine, I understand. You obviously don’t want to do this. You probably can’t even handle it anyway.”

Dash froze. “What did you just say?”

Twilight smirked. “I said that Rainbow Dash can’t handle any type of hypnosis that could come her way, she’d have her mind in the hooves of a foe in ten seconds fla-”

Dash flew right up to her, her face inches away from her’s. “Like anyone can do that! I have a brain that’s strong enough to handle any kind of trick that’ll come my way!”

Twilight continued smiling. “Prove it.”

With gritted teeth, Dash stepped back and stood tall. “Alright, fine! Do it again! Do that same spell Starlight did on me!”

“Same spell?” Starlight walked up to Dash. “A-Are you sure that’s a good idea, Dash?”

“It’ll be good practice, Starlight.” Twilight pointed out. “If she’s already experienced the spell before, she might have a more powerful resistance to it.”

“Yeah! Come on, just try to get in my head.”

With a smile on her face, Twilight levitated another book off of Fluttershy and opened it. “Alrighty then, Dash, you ready?”

Rainbow Dash held up her front hooves as if she were ready for a fight. “I was raised ready!”

Twilight lit up her horn and flipped through the pages. “I suggest all of you close your eyes while I do this.” Starlight used both her front hooves to shield her’s and Fluttershy’s eyes while Spike closed his own, as for Rarity, she continued looking away from them, still trying to find some source of colorful colors. After a bright flash, all of them looked back at Dash, her eyes glowing for a split seconds before she closed them herself.

Spike walked up to her. “Uh...Dash, you okay?”

Rainbow Dash blinked, her irises seeming to change sizes rapidly. “Y-Yeah…” Was all she could say before they slowly got smaller and smaller.

Twilight smiled. “See, you’re doing fine, right Dash?”

“I...I think so?” Dash held her head, still not sure what to expect from this. “S-Shouldn’t I be...taking things literally or…”

Twilight held up the book. “Well...The spells a tad bit different, I made it so there’s a phrase I need to say before I tell you what to do, or a Post-hypnotic Activation Phrase. If you will.”

Dash rubbed her head. “A post-what?”

Starlight tilted her head. “Who made that kind of spell?”

Twilight shrugged. “Some guy who’s probably under the ocean by now, or writing stories…” Knowing that explaining it would be pointless, Twilight continued. “Anyways, Dash, test number one.” With her eyes still closed, Twilight waved her hoof toward her. “Would you kindly step toward me.”

The second she uttered that sentence, Dash stood right in front of Twilight, her pupils the size of pinpriks. “Yes, Miss Sparkle!” She called out before shaking her head. “What the...w-whoa, Twilight, personal space here…” She was about to back up, but Twilight continued.

“Would you kindly hover in the air.” She asked, Dash’s eyes shrinking and her smile growing again.

“Yes, Miss Twilight!” She hovered above, her eyes and smile still the same.

Twilight rubbed her chin while Starlight and Spike watched in confusion. “Uh, Twilight?” Spike asked. “I-Is it not working?”

Twilight shook her head. “She seems to respond to continual tasks, but not ones that involve achieving one goal.” She waved her hoof again. “Dash, would you kindly stop flying, please.”

“Yes, Miss Sparkle!” Dash sat on the ground, still no change in her expression.

Seeing this made Twilight flip through her book again. “Now why the hay is she doing this now?”

“Doing what?” Starlight asked, looking into the book as well. “I thought you said-”

“I know what I said, but it’s not working. She’s suppose to be back to her normal state, not wait for-”

“Waiting for orders, Miss Sparkle!” Dash said with a wag of her tail.

Seeing this made Twilight shut the book and sighed. “Looks like the phrase already broke. Her mind’s probably too easy to even need one.”

“What now?” Spike asked, standing in front of Dash.

“I guess we should go get Applejack next.”

Dash saluted. “Okay, Miss Sparkle.”

Twilight’s eyes went wide, now realizing she should’ve worded that differently. “N-No, Dash, WAIT!” But it was too late, Dash flew right past Twilight, making her spin several times before coming to a stop, feeling dizzy. “Ugh...so much for that…”

Rarity turned her head toward the rainbow trail Dash left behind. “D-Did you see those colors! T-They were so-” Rarity couldn’t finish as the trail of colors whizzed past her again

“Here she is, Miss Twilight!” Dash held up an orange, stetson wearing pony, who seemed to look very confused.

Once Applejack got her surroundings, she turned to Twilight. “Uh...Twi, ah take it you know why Dash snatched me away from my work?”

Twilight sighed. “I’m trying to teach her how to control her mind while she’s hypnotized…”

“And ah also take it it’s not going well.” She asked, eyeing Dash.

Twilight shook her head sadly. ”No...no it’s not…” Twilight looked back at Rainbow Dash. “Rainbow, would you kindly drop Applejack and sit next to Rarity.”

“Yes, Miss Sparkle!” Within a second, Dash was next to Rarity, her expression still as mindless as ever.

Rarity’s eyes wend wide as she looked at her friends rainbow colored hair. “Um, D-Dash, you don’t mind if I...l-look at your hair, do you?”

With a smile, Dash shook her head. “No problem at all, Miss Rarity!”

Rarity smiled and held onto her mane while Twilight started talking to Applejack. “Listen, AJ, I’m trying to get all my friends to get their minds clear enough to handle hypnosis.” She turned to the three ponies. “As you can see...it’s not going to well, b-but I’m sure with enough time and effort, we can do it!”

Applejack crossed her front legs. “So lemme get this straight, ur usin’ magic so we can have a resistance to magic?”

“It’s not just that, AJ! It’s about your safety! I don’t want my friends to be brainwashed again!” She stepped closer to her. “Please, AJ, I need you in this too.”

Applejack looked back at her other three friends, seeing the state they were in. Part of her just wanted to walk home and hope this was just another thing Twilight would freak out over, but she knew Twilight had a point, if her mind was under someone else's control again, it would be terrible. “If it’s so ah can get a stronger brain, then go ahead, Twalight, I’ll do mah best!”

Twilight breathed a sigh of relief, grabbing another book. “Thank you for understanding Applejack, now, let me see how you girls respond to mind tricks.”

Starlight was starting to believe she was making this up. “Mind tricks, really Twilight?”

“You can never be too sure, Starlight!” Twilight said. “I have to check everything.” She turned back to the book. Going though the pages. “Alright, AJ, no matter what I say after this, don’t do what I say, okay?”

Applejack adjusted her stetson, prepared for whatever Twilight will do. “Go ahead Twa, just try to git in mah head.”

“Alright, here goes…” Twilight took a deep breath then held up one of her hooves, slowly waving it across AJ’s face. “You will take off your hat.”

Applejack blinked, not understanding what Twilight was doing. “Uh, what?”

Twilight looked down at the book, hoping she was doing this right. After some more skimming, she looked up at her again. “You will take off your hat~” She repeated, gliding her hoof in front of Applejack’s face even slower.

It took a few seconds for AJ to respond, her eyes going into a thousand yard stare. “Ah will take off mah hat...” Starlight and Spike’s jaws went to the floor as AJ grabbed her stetson with both her front hooves and took it off her head.

“You’ll toss it when I say so~” Twilight continued, making the same motions.

“I’ll toss it when ya say so...”

Using her other front hoof, Twilight pointed to the stack of books. “You will make it land on top of the books~”

Applejack stood up, her hoof preparing to toss her hat. “I’ll make it land on top of the books…”

In her mind, Twilight knew this wasn’t working, but part of her hoped Applejack would fail, giving her some confidence that if she were to be tricked like this, she wouldn’t try her hardest. “Throw it!” As if her hopes were the hat and the books were her fears, Applejack flawlessly tossed the hat on top of the stack of books, her face still expressionless. Seeing this made Twilight slump to the ground.

After recovering from seeing this new type of mind control, Starlight run up to Twilight. “W-What kind of spell is that?”

Twilight got up and looked closer in the book. “I’m...not really sure if it’s even a spell. It’s more of a mind trick.”

Spike looked up at AJ, her face still blank. “Looks like AJ’s just as much of a lightweight.”

Starlight cringed and looked back at Twilight, seeing the look of hopelessness in her eyes. “W-well, uh, what now Twilight?”

Knowing there was one friend left, Twilight turned around and said, “Let’s go get...er- go to Pinkie’s house next.”

“Okay, Miss Twilight!”

“I will go to Pinkie’s house next…”

“Yes...mistress…”

“Dash! Hold still, I can barely see all the colors!”

Twilight tried her hardest to ignore the responses and continued moving forward. “This day just keeps getting longer and longer…”

Author's Note

Would you kindly ignore the references.
or
These aren't the tropes you're looking for~

Fourth Lesson: Don't do

“Stop pulling her hair, Rarity!”

“But it’s sooooo colorful!”

“Dash, would you kindly-”

“-let Rarity keep looking at your hair and never stop!”

Twilight gritted her teeth as Rainbow Dash nodded. “Sure thing, Miss Rarity!”

Rarity’s eyes dove into Dash’s mane, Starlight watching in concern. “Huh, she can even take the order despite different voices.”

Twilight chose to ignore this and continued walking to Sugarcube Corner. “This is starting to become hopeless! They fell for almost every trick so far, I can’t even imagine what a villain will do once they-”

Starlight put a hoof on Twilight’s back before she could finish. “Twilight, listen, I know you said it’s not right before, but maybe it’s time to use magic to help-”

“NO!” Twilight yelled, making Starlight back up. “You can call me stubborn if you want, but I’m not resorting to magic to fix this, not again!”

“I-It was just a suggestion, Twilight.”

Twilight kept a straight face before turning away. “Sorry, Starlight. It’s just...it’s just that if they don’t learn it this way, then they never will. There might be a villain out there that will block any kind of magic that comes their way, and if a spell were to keep them from going under hypnosis, then they would all be doomed! I can’t let that happen, Glimmer…” She sighed, looking down. “L-Let’s just keep going until we hit-” Twilight was interrupted by the door to Sugarcube Corner hitting her.

As she rubbed her nose and stumbled back, A pink pony swung the door even wider. “Oh, hiya Twilight, whacha doing here?”

With some help from Starlight and Spike, Twilight got on all fours and looked at Pinkie Pie. “Uh, hi, Pinkie, uh…” Knowing it’d take a long time to explain to her, Twilight decided to get to the point. “I-I need your help.”

Pinkie’s eyes lit up. “Ooooh, help in what? Is it baking? Learning the two step? Do you need to run more experiments on Doomie again, cause his hips still aren’t working right after you-”

“No, Pinkie, I...uh, already know what he’s like.” She cleared her throat, ignoring the weird looks Starlight and Spike were giving her. “I’m talking about mind control.”

“Mind control? You mean like what Starlight did a couple days ago?”

Starlight looked away while Twilight nodded. “Sorta...It’s hard to explain, um, can we come in?”

Pinkie got out of the way and extended her hoof inside. “My home’s your home!” As all of them got inside, Pinkie started noticing the state her other friends were in. “Whoa Why is everyone’s eyes so swirly...and creepy, and silly?"

Spike spoke up first. “Twilight’s hypnotizing all her friends so they can prepare themselves for any kind of mind control that comes their way.”

Pinkie tilted her head. “How’s that work?”

Twilight cleared her throat. “Well, you see Pinkie, I’m trying out different techniques here, seeing if one way of doing it can work, but so far, it’s been...unsuccessful, b-but I know that if anyone has a mind that’s almost too hard to understand, it’d be you.”

Pinkie smiled. “Aw, thanks Twilight. I think you have a complicated mind too!”

“Uh...thanks?” Twilight grabbed another book from Fluttershy. “A-Anyway. I’m going to see if you can do this.”

"Do what?"

Twilight held up the book. "I'm gonna see if you can keep control of your mind while I try to do the same, do you think you can do this?"

Pinkie smiled. “I’ll do my best!” She then started pronking. “So, which kind are we doing? Am I gonna look at a watch? Are your eyes gonna go all colorful?”

Twilight kept reading the book in her hooves. “No, but my eyes will change color for this.”

Starlight was curious. “What color...actually, what other kind of hypnosis are you going to try?”

“I’m gonna try the same thing she did to Shining.”

Spike had to ask. “Uh, who?”

Twilight held up a page of the book, revealing a black, hole filled, jagged horned, fanged creature known as- “Queen Chrysalis, she’s the last one I know who can do something like this.”

Pinkie stopped jumping, having an idea what this was leading to. “Is this because of him? Because Doomie isn’t a-”

“This isn’t about your bug friend, Pinkie, this is about making sure your mind is clear enough to not let that bug queen get in your head!”

Now Starlight was thinking she was going too far. “What makes you think Chrysalis will come back and try this?”

Twilight shut the book. “You can never be too sure, Starlight. Changelings are very crafty creatures, and if Chrysalis can get into my brother’s head, I’m pretty sure she’ll get in my friend’s head.”

Starlight shrugged. “I’m just saying that she’d try something else instead of hypnotizing ponies, m-maybe she’ll try ponynapping again, getting everypony she knows in her cave in one night.”

Twilight laughed. “Like her changelings can do that all in the span of one night. Crafty or not, they’re still changelings. Me and my friends handled a huge group of them before, and we can do it again.”

Starlight decided to dismiss the thought and levitated the book Twilight had to her hooves. “So, do all changelings do it or just her?”

Pinkie put her hooves to her hips. “No, they don’t. Doomie has never done that to me.”

Starlight had to get this question out of the way. “Okay, who the heck is-”

“No one important.” Twilight answered. “Let’s just continue.”

“Hey!” Pinkie yelled. “He is important! More important than that Thoras- er, Thorax guy Spike met.”

“What’s wrong with Thorax?” Spike asked. “I think he’s a nice-”

Twilight stomped her hoof on the ground. “Can we PLEASE stay on topic here!” She turned back to Pinkie. “Listen to me, Pinkie. I’m gonna tell you to do something after I perform this spell, and under no circumstances will you do it, okay?”

Pinkie raised an eye. “What spell?”

Twilight pointed at the book. "The same thing she used on my brother, my eyes will look just like her's while I do this, and I need you to look deep inside them, Pinkie."

“Uh, Twilight.” Starlight held the book up. “Are you sure this will work? This is changeling magic we’re talking about here.”

Twilight held her head high. “Starlight, I’ve done different types of magic before, and if I can handle Dark magic, bug magic can be no problem. Now then...” She turned back to Pinkie. "Get ready Pinkie?"

"Okie Dokie!" Pinkie said, her face leaning toward Twilight, and her eyes ready for anything.

With her eyes closed, Twilight lit up her horn, the aura changing from purple to green in seconds. Starlight continued looking concerned while Spike grabbed the book. As for Pinkie, she sat still with a determined face and her tongue sticking out the side of her mouth. “How much longer?” Pinkie asked.

“I need full concentration on this, Pinkie. Changeling magic is hard to do for a pony.”

“Can’t be that hard.” Pinkie said, looking away. “I mean, it’s magic, and since you’re a pony who has very strong magic, I’m sure you...can…” Pinkie trailed off as Twilight slowly started opening her eyes.

Twilight’s eyes started pulsating green, her pupils in the shape of a cat. “Pinkie, you doing okay so far?"

Pinkie squinted her eyes, hoping she was looking at them right. “I think so, am I supposed to be talking funny right now?”

“If I did this right, your own eyes should turn just as green, but you seem to be doing pretty good so far.” Her eyes went brighter while Pinkie’s went wider.

As she continued, Spike started noticing something in the book, something that Twilight left out. “Uh, Twilight, I don’t think this’ll work.”

Twilight kept her eyes on Pinkie. “What makes you say that, Spike? I’m doing the spell just fine.”

“But didn’t Chrysalis need to get Shining to fall in love with her?” Spike pointed out. “The book says it takes a changeling queen months for them to fully control a victim's mind.”

Twilight sighed and turned to Spike, her eyes going normal. “It’s more than that, Spike, she made sure Shining believed her that she was a pony he could trust. That’s all it took for her tricks to work, and I’m certain that, if Pinkie has full trust in a pony like me, and Chrysalis is disguised as me, then she’ll easily get into Pinkie’s head. Right Pinkie?”

“Mmmhh hmmm…”

Twilight pointed at her, her sight still on Spike. “See, Even she agrees...with...oh for-” Twilight recognized that tone of voice, the same tone Shining was at the wedding. “Come on, Pinkie, was it really that easy?” Twilight’s only response was another nod from Pinkie, her eyes going just as green as Shining’s were, but Twilight didn’t want to give up. “Okay, Pinkie, if you’re really hypnotized, then...then...oh, what’s the use, you’re glowing eyes already give it away…” She slumped to the floor while Pinkie nodded again, her eyes starting to go farther apart.

Starlight was just as shocked. “I-I don't get it. I thought you said Pinkie had a mind so confusing that she wouldn’t succumb to this.”

Twilight sighed. “I also said that she trusts me just as much as my other friends, and trust is the one thing a changeling can manipulate when they’re disguised as someone they love!” She turned to her friends. “and if you guys can’t figure that out, then-” Twilight stopped talking once she saw the state her friends were in.

Rarity’s entire face was buried in Dash’s hair while Rainbow continued having pinprick sized pupils and a wide smile. Fluttershy was still balancing books and Applejack was starting to go crosseyed, and now Pinkie’s eyes were glowing green with a hung open jaw. Twilight’s eye started to twitch, never thinking this would happen, that she’d fail five times in a row. Starlight stood next to her, having some concern for her teacher. “Uh...Twilight? You okay?”

Twilight would’ve broke after seeing this, but she held up her hoof to her chest, breathed in, then breathed out, extending her arm out. After a second time, she turned to Starlight and said something she should’ve done a while ago.

“It’s been a long day, Starlight...let’s go home…”

Fifth Lesson: Do(n't) learn your lessons

Twilight slammed the library door open, groaning loudly before sulking to the middle of the room, her friends soon following. “What a day…” Twilight said, laying down in sadness.

“Yup,” Spike said. “It was; it’s not everyday you hypnotize all your friends to try and teach them about not being hypnotized.”

Twilight was too tired to even flash a glare at him. “Spike...I don’t wanna talk about it, can you please just find all the books for fixing this mess, I’m way too tired to handle this right now…”

“Can’t you just tell them to snap out of it or something?”

Twilight shook her head. “It’s hard to explain, Spike, but I’ll just say that telling them to not be under mind control while they're under mind control might just fry their brain, so, just grab some of the books and bring them here, please.”

Spike shrugged and started searching while Starlight sat next to Twilight. “Hey, cheer up. I-I mean, at least one of them snapped out of it, right?”

Twilight craned her head up to Glimmer. “Starlight, Rarity currently has her head buried in Dash’s mane...I don’t think she’s ‘snapped out of it’ yet…”

Starlight looked at Rarity, seeing that she was looking at all different angles of Dash’s hair, all the while, Rainbow Dash stood still, looking at Twilight with a smile. “Well, w-what about the others? Do you think they-”

Twilight grabbed Starlight’s neck and pulled her closer. “Applejack has a brain so weak it fell for a trick, Fluttershy’s mind is to innocent that she’s still in a trance, Rainbow Dash’s ego filled mind made her easy to control, and Pinkie’s brain trusts me so much that she could fall for anything!”

Hearing that last bit gave Starlight an idea. “Um...t-then why not just find a pony who doesn’t trust you for-”

“This is about my friends, Starlight! Not others. Those ponies can wait.” She shot her head to Spike, seeing him on a ladder. “Spike! Have you found everything yet?”

Spike almost fell from the outburst. “Give me a sec, Equestria wasn’t build in a day, ya know…”

Twilight sighed and let go of Glimmer, slumping back on the floor. “I can’t believe this...I’ve un-discorded their minds and brought their memories back! How is it this hard to teach them to not have their minds be under control?”

Starlight had many theories. “Well, they trust you with every spell you did, so since their mind knows it’s someone they trust is doing it, then-”

“But I told them to not do what I say! Explain that!”

Starlight but her lip. “Um...m-maybe it’s just what a brain does, it’s like telling someone to not think of a pink elephant...they’re gonna think of one the second you say it.”

Twilight stood up. “But they...t-their minds are...t-they just...it’s not...we...huh…” She sat down, thinking this through. “I...guess you have a point, b-but hypnosis is still hypnosis! Some part of their head has to fight back against control, t-that’s just natural!”

“You girls are thinking about this way too hard…” Both mares turned to Spike, who had a small stack of books on his arm.

Starlight turned back to Twilight while Sparkle narrowed her eyes at Spike. “Listen, Twilight, all I’m saying is that you can’t expect this to be done in a day, controlling the mind is a pretty tough thing to do, and you’re wanting to do this without magic.”

Twilight took a deep breath, knowing she had a point. “I know, Starlight...I just want to plan ahead, there could be foes around us this minute, waiting to take their minds and forcing me to play along with them till I can get them back.”

Starlight tilted her head. “You really think every single villain we’ll meet has some form of mind magic on them?”

“It’s happened four outta six times, the first with Discord, than Chrysalis, than Sombra, and then...a-and then...uh...” She started trailing off, realizing who else she was going to list.

“Me…” Starlight said plainly. “Yeah, I...guess you have a point, most foe’s you’ll meet will try to control your friends…” Despite the depressing tone of voice, Starlight smiled. “But I’m sure even if they have your friends, you can still beat them.”

“It’s not just about that, Glimmer…” Twilight turned to her friends. “I don’t want to see them like this...like they’re not themselves anymore, like I’m looking at a pony who I’ve never even met.” She looked away from them, hating the looks they were giving her. “I want to be ready for anything we’ll face.”

Starlight couldn’t argue with that, that if Twilight didn’t prepare herself and them for any type of mind control, then they’ll...Starlight repeated that thought in her head, realizing something that she should've pointed out from the very start of all of this. “Hey, Twilight. I have a question.”

After everything that happened today, Twilight was almost too sad to answer. “What is it, Glimmer.”

“Uh, w-what about you?”

Twilight turned her head to her. “What?”

“Your mind. Are you just as easy or…”

Twilight looked at her friends, then at Glimmer, then laughed loudly. “Oh, that’s a good one, Starlight, but my mind is far too clear for it to be corrupted.” She sat in front of her, teleporting a pocket watch with a chain attached in front of her. “Go ahead, try me.”

Starlight was a little hesitant, but decided that it might be a good laugh, so, she held the watch up to Twilight’s face while Spike continued going through the pages. “Okay then, Let's see…uh.” She tried to think of something silly for her to do while she swung the watch in front of Twilight.. “Twilight, I command you to go around and dust everything in a maids outfit!” She said with her head high and her eyes closed, waiting for Twilight to laugh.

“Yes...Master…”

“Heh, I guess it was kinda sil- wait-” Hearing this, Starlight opened her eyes and looked at Twilight, her jaw dropping the second she looked at her. “Tw-Twilight!?” She stopped swinging the watch as Twilight held up a feather duster in one hoof and a maid's outfit in the next. Her eyes swirling around.

“It will be done…” She said blankly as she slowly stepped back, passing her friends and exiting the door, leaving Starlight with a flabbergasted expression.

Starlight blinked, her mind having a tough time comprehending what she just witnessed. “D-Did...did she...just-”

“Found them!” Starlight turned to Spike, who was walking toward her with a stack of books that were taller than he was. “I have to say, Twilight, there sure are a lotta different ways to trick a mind, I’m still surprised AJ fell...for...that...” The second he set the books down, he realized there was one less pony in the room. “Hey, where'd Twilight go?”

His question was answered once the library doors opened. Twilight standing straight with a feather duster in her magic grip, a maid’s outfit on, and a smile plastered on her face. “Where do you want me to start first, mistress?”

Once Spike took all this in, he looked at Glimmer with an expression that said, “D-Did you just…”

Starlight rapidly shook her head. “I-It was just a joke, Spike. She said she wouldn’t succumb to it’s control. I-It didn’t even take that long anyways...I guess she is just as weak...h-heh.” She cleared her throat. “A-Anyway, uh…” She picked up a book, starting to have very bad deja vu. “L-Let’s get this all cleared up, shall we!?”

Spike looked at the book, then at Twilight, then at Glimmer, then at Twilight’s friends. “Uh...maybe it’s time for a break, don’t you think?”

With a nervous tone and shaking hooves, Starlight turned back to Spike. “Wh-What!?”

Spike closed the book in Starlight's hooves. “Twilight said it herself, it’s been a pretty long day, and I think that...well, all of us need some rest.” He pointed at the hypnotized mares. “Those girls, especially.”

Starlight shook her head and flung the book open. “Spike, the last thing we need is rest in a situation like...l-like, THIS!” She threw her hoof at her friends.

Spike crossed his arms. “So you just wanna bring them back? What about what Twilight said.”

Starlight lit up her horn, walking up to Twilight first. “All she said was that they needed practice.”

“Then help ‘em practice.” Spike suggested.

Hearing this made Starlight’s horn fizzle away. “M-Me? Help them?”

Spike shrugged. “Helping is a pretty nice thing friends do for each other, despite the circumstance we’re in. I’m sure it’s something Twilight would want. Right Twilight?”

“Yes...master…”

“See?” Spike said, only for Starlight flash the same glare Twilight had been doing.

She turned back to her friends, ready to finally get them out of these trances, but part of her knew he was sorta right. If a villain were to show up soon, none of them would be prepared for this. So, with a big sigh, she looked at all of them and asked. “Okay, I-I think now would be a great time to practice some more, don’t you think?”

“Yes...Miss Glimmer...”

“Yes! Miss Glimmer!”

“Ah will practice some more…”

“Yes...Master.”

“Mmmmh hmm.”

“D-Does that mean I’ll get to see the colors again!?”

Starlight gulped while Spike watched. "Uh..." Glimmer stepped back, looking through all the books while she hyperventilated. “Oh...okay, Glimmer.” She thought. “D-Deep breaths, you’ve done this before, you can do this again, a-and it’s to help ‘them’ this time, n-not just you...o-okay, focus. L-Let’s just start with something easy…” She cleared her throat, looking at Dash. “Okay, Dash, would you kindly step right here pl-”

“Yes! Miss Glimmer!” Rainbow Dash was inches away from Starlight, a few strands of her hair gone from Rarity’s grip.

Starlight closed her eyes, trying to find her happy place in all of this “You can do this, Starlight, just. Focus.” She opened her eyes, looking at the book for the first step in getting her out of this hypnosis. “Alright Dash, I’m gonna say something, a-and I need you to listen carefully, okay?”

Dash wagged her tail. “Listen to you, got it!”

“Alright...here goes…” She cleared her throat, hoping that saying this will snap her out of this.

“Code Yellow.”

Author's Note

Stick around for the last chapter, featuring the master of mind control himself!

Last Lesson: Learn from the master

“NOT AGAAAAAAAAAIN!”

Starlight eyes darted around the library as Twilight and her friends continued causing havoc. Gilmer had tried to fix them, but the end result was Rarity rubbing Dash’s strands of hair on her face, her eyes swirling with colors, Applejack ripping apart books, Dash laying on the floor, her legs twitching, Fluttershy constantly following a pocket watch that somehow got on Pinkie’s tail, who herself was throwing baking ingredients everywhere, and Twilight who was doing her best to clean up all the mess, which wasn’t that good at all.

Spike stood next to Starlight, whose expression of utter horror stayed on her face. “Uh, Glimmer, I don’t think this is working.”

Starlight levitated more books in front of her. “I-I-I was j-just telling them to stop! H-How are they still like this.”

Spike had several answers. “Well, ya told AJ to help you find a better book, which she isn’t doing a good job at, and I have no idea what code yellow means, but Dash isn’t taking it that lightly, Rarity still has her obsession with colors, Twilight wouldn’t make a good maid, and telling Pinkie to go back to her old self only made her bake without a kitchen, and I don’t know how the hay the watch stayed on Pinkie’s tail, but Fluttershy’s still not taking her eyes off it.”

“OKAY! I GET IT!” Starlight yelled, making Spike flinched. “The spells still aren’t working right...i-if I can just get Twilight to snap out of it…”

“Snap out of what, mistress?”

Starlight yelped as Twilight invaded her personal space, her smile wider than Starlight had ever seen. “F-For Celestia’s sake, Twilight! You need to get out of this hypnosis.”

Twilight tilted her head. “What hypnosis?” She asked as her eyes swirled faster.

Glimmer’s eye twitched. “Twilight, stop being hypnotized!”

The second Glimmer uttered those words, Twilight’s eyes spun in her head, her body then convulsed and twitched, spazzing out until she fell to the floor, her legs twitching. Spike crossed his arms while Starlight’s jaw stayed dropped. “Guess it did make a paradox.” He looked up at Glimmer, seeing that she was on the verge of a mental break down. “Hey, calm down, Glimmer, it could be worse.”

“How!?” Starlight yelled. “How could it get any-”

*KNOCK KNOCK*

Both pony and dragon turned to the door, Spike asking the obvious. “Who do you think that could be?”

Starlight narrowed her eyes and started walking to the library entrance. “Who ever it is, they need to just come back later!” Once they were both at the door, Starlight swung it open and yelled out. “NOW’S NOT...a...good...time?”

Spike’s eyes widened, recognizing that mess of body parts anywhere. “Discord?”

With a smirk on his face, the draconequus waved. “Hello Spike, Starlight.”

“D-Discord!?” She looked back at the chaos inside, hoping he didn’t know what was going on. “What are you doing here?”

He smiled “I was in the neighborhood and realized that Fluttershy wasn’t home yet for our pottery lessons, so I had a feeling that after sensing massive amounts of mind control in the air I thought that you would know where she is?”

Starlight tried her best to stay calm. “W-What makes you think I know where she is?”

He chuckled. “Well, for one, you’re a friend of a friend of her’s, and two…” He pointed inside. “I’ve been feeling this all day.”

Spike stepped in. “Feeling what?”

His smile vanished as he snapped his claw, appearing right behind the both of them inside the library. “This!” He threw his arms to the current mess that was still happening. “Nothing but different types of magic and tricks and spells traveling across the air and into my head.” He shivered.

Starlight and Spiked looked at each other before looking back at Discord. “So, you knew Twilight was doing this?” Starlight asked.

“Twilight was doing what?” He asked, only to answer his own question. “Wait a minute, are you telling me she was the one who did all this?”

Glimmer smiled sheepishly. “Well, kinda, y-you see, after what happened a few days ago, Twilight started teaching her friends on how to control their minds before others do it first.”

“She’s teaching her friends about mind control.” Discord held his snout in the air, feeling a little offended. “I’m a little bit jealous that you didn’t call me to help.”

Spike scratched the back of his neck. “Well, Discord, no offence, but Twilight thought bringing you into the mix might not help us.”

Discord gasped. “I’m the master of mind manipulation. How can you not need my help?” He turned back to the mess the mares were causing. “I take it her lessons didn’t go as planed?”

Starlight stepped forward. “Long story short, Twilight went to all her friends to see if they can withstand certain types of mind magic, only for all of them to...well, stay hypnotized.” She pointed at Twilight, who was dusting the floor. “She ended up being hypnotized herself after everything.”

Discord laughed. “I must say, I’m impressed. I’ve never seen such mind numbing powers in a long time.”

Spike ran around him, trying to get Twilight on all fours. “Do you think you can help us here, Glimmer’s being trying her best, but she can’t-”

“Snap Twilight out of a simple watch swing trance?” Discord asked, receiving looks of wonder from Starlight and Spike. “What?”

Starlight stepped in front of him. “H-How do you know she’s under this kind of trick?”

Discord chuckled. “You forget who you’re talking to, Starlight.” He snapped his claw, bringing Twilight into his grasp. “Now, let’s see…” He pulled out a pair of glasses and inspected Twilight, stretching her eyes out to get a better look. “Mhhh...yes, this is the work of a watch if I’ve ever seen one. Either that or a spoon.” He closed her eyes and set her down, her body falling to the floor. “Alright, let’s look at the other mares.” He snapped a rubber glove on his claw, tearing it in the process, and lit it up, all five mares stopping what they're doing.

With a twirl of one finger, he managed to get them all in a line, their eyes to him. “Alright, from what I can tell, Applejack’s under a mind trick, Dash looks like her heart stopped.”

Hearing this made Starlight’s own heart skip a beat. “D-Did it!”

Discord tapped his chin and brought Dash closer with his magic, putting a paw on her chest. “Hmmm, I’m not sure how most organs work, but I’m pretty sure she shouldn’t be standing if there wasn’t a thump in her chest.”

“W-Why?” Starlight ran up to her, putting a hoof on her neck. “I-Is her heart…”

“Not beating?” He asked, Starlight’s blood running cold with the question. Discord just shrugged and let go of her. “I think she’s fine, the heart is a very stubborn part of the body to control, unlike the brain, which is pretty simple despite how confusing it is.” He pushed Dash away and looked at the others. “Hmmm, Fluttershy seems to be under the same trance as Twilight, Rarity has my eyes, but more vibrant, and Pinkie seems to be under the same kind of magic her bug friend has.” He pulled out a notebook and quill, writing all this down. “Quite the variety, if I do say so myself.”

Starlight started fidgeting. “So, do you know how to fix this?”

Discord looked over his notes, which were nothing but doodles of Twilight and her friends. He tossed this over his shoulders, a small explosion happening on impact. “Oh, don’t worry Glimmer, I have just the thing to take their minds off of this whole ‘hypnosis’ thing.”

Starlight’s jaw dropped, never thinking that he, over everyone else, would be able to fix this mess. “Y-You do?”

Spike glared at him. “It better not involve them turning into jerks.”

Discord laughed. “Like I’d try that again. No, dear Spike, I have something that I’ve used many a time where I needed to fix a problem." With a snap of his claw, Discord brought out a strange device that was about the size of a pen. “Behold, an item so powerful that it shouldn’t even be in my claws right now.”

“Then why is it in your claws?” Starlight asked.

Discord held up the object to his eyes. “Not sure, probably because I’ve kept this hidden for many a millennia from other ponies, luckily, all of you won’t remember anything once I use this.”

Spike tilted his head. “Why, does it flash a bright light or something?”

Discord shook his head, smiling. “Watch and learn, Spike. Watch. And. Learn” Using his thumb, he pushed the button on the back of the pen shaped object, a red dot appearing in the middle of the room.

All mares froze and turned to the dot, Twilight getting up off the floor and doing the same. Even Starlight looked at it in fascination. “Wh-What’s that?” Starlight asked.

Discord didn’t say anything, he simply craned his wrist to the right, the dot going the same direction, along with every mare’s head. Each eye followed the dot, not a single one tearing away from its sight.

Spike was both confused and scared seeing his friends act like this. “Uh...Discord, what is that?”

“This, my dear Spike, is a laser pointer. A device my mother used to entertain herself when she was bored. This thing keeps ponies occupied for hours, even days.” Discord made the dot travel up to the front of Pinkie’s hooves. She gasped and slammed her hoof on top of it, only to find out it was still there.

Discord snickered. “I’d use a ring of keys and jingle them in front of their faces, but that strains the ears.” He did the same thing to Dash, only for her to pounce on it, but the dot was far too fast as it traveled to the other side of the room.

Before long, all mares were trying their hardest to get the dot by any means necessary. Applejack used her hat most of the times while Rainbow Dash dashed for it, Twilight lowered her body to the floor and followed it with precision, Fluttershy doing the same.

Pinkie seemed the most interested in it as she skidded across the room, never standing farther than three inches away from it. Rarity’s eyes seemed to go wide the whole time, her irises going bigger or smaller depending on how far away the dot was. As for Starlight, she teleported in front of the dot every time it moved, only for it to change direction before she could grab it.

All the while, Discord laughed with every motion they made, Spike trying not to do the same. “H-Hey now, this isn’t right, Discord”

He put his paw to his hips while his claw continued moving the dot around. “Oh, so she can cast a mind spell on all your friends, but Eris forbid I do it again.”

Spike looked back at them, seeing that their eyes were somewhat back to normal. “So, are they out of their hypnosis now?”

“Let's find out.” Discord pushed the button again, all mares stopping whatever they were doing and either holding head, shaking and shivering, or landing face down on the floor. Starlight was the first to speak. “Ugh...w-what the...what happened?”

Discord held his head high. “I managed to save your minds from utter control.” He held up his claw and paw. “No applauses are needed.”

“Wait...DISCORD!?” Twilight ran up to him, not believing him for a second. “T-That’s a downright li..w-wait, what are you doing here? NO! A-A better question to ask is why I can’t remember a thing after-” Twilight then looked down at herself. “W-Why am I in a maids outfit!?!?”

“Twilight…” Starlight interrupted. “Um, one: the reason why you're in one is because your just as easy as your friend, and two: He’s...kinda telling the truth, I mean, look at everypony.” Twilight turned to her friends, seeing all of them were out of their trance, all eyes no longer swirling, or different sizes.

Dash held her head, feeling this same pain in her head a few days ago. “Oh for...I knew this was gonna happen! Why did I agree to this stupid…”

“Dash…” Rarity looked down at her hooves. “W-Why do I have strands of your hair on me?”

AJ had questions as well. “And wha the hay can’t I remember anythang besides Twi tellin’ me to toss a hat?”

“And why’s all my ingredients on the floor?” Pinkie scratched her batter covered head. “Did me and Doomie have fun last night again?” She looked at her tail. “And what’s with the watch?”

Fluttershy took hold of the watch before Pinkie could do anything with it, she then raised her hoof in the air and slammed it on the ground, the thing smashing into pieces after doing so, she breathed in and out and looked at everyone else, noticing the concerned looks. “Never...again…” She said, trying her hardest to catch her breath.

After listening to all of them, Twilight turned back to Discord. “B-But how did you help? I thought I...I mean, I think I di-”

Discord laughed. “All you did when I got here was run around and dust everything, I must say though, Twilight. I am rather impressed that you managed to control all your friends, not only that, but do it differently every time!”

Hearing this again, Twilight sat down and flopped her ears, realizing all of this had been for nothing. “So, we’re still easy to control? E-Even after everything I did to help?”

Spike had to point this out. “Uh, Twilight, you didn’t really ‘help’. You just ran around and did spells on your friends in hopes that they would be resistant to it.”

Discord crossed his arms and turned away. “I still don’t see why you didn’t come to me for help, if there’s one thing I know, besides causing chaos, is messing with minds, and I know just the trick to help them-”

“NO TRICKS!” Twilight yelled, making him flinch and turn back. “I’m not using any kind of-” She looked at herself again, realizing she was still in a maids outfit. She lit up her horn and teleported it away, looking up at Discord again. “Any kind of spell or trick or magic to help them. I know they can do this on their own.”

Discord shook his head. “If you want to do it the hard way, then go ahead.” He turned away again and made his way to the door. “Now, If you want more lessons on mind control, hypnosis, or mind tricks...give me a call.” With that, he shut the door, leaving Twilight and the others to themselves.

Starlight then noticed the mess that had been caused through all of this. “Well, uh, Twilight, I think we should all take a break from this mind control stuff and clean this place up.”

Twilight sighed, knowing she was right. “I guess you're right, my heads starting to hurt too. Spike! Can you...wait, where’s Spike?” All mares looked around the room, not seeing any indication of a purple dragon.

Meanwhile, Discord was just about to snap his claw to go home, but something small, purple, and green stopped him by climbing up to eye level. “Hey, uh, Discord, can I ask you something?”

Discord raised an eye. “If it involves how you were resistant to the pen, then I can tell you that only ponies can be effected by it.”

“It’s not that...well, thanks for explaining me, b-but it’s something else” Spike looked back at the library door, hoping no one heard them. “Um, you don’t mind if I just...take this off your paw, do you?” He pointed at the laser pointer, smiling.

Discord held up the pen, thinking about this. “You want me to give you, a small, baby drake, an object that can control any type of equine in Equestria?”

Spike started sweating. “Uh, yeah, kinda.”

Discord thought long and hard about this for two seconds before coming up with an obvious answer. “Eh, okay, but be warned." He went face to face with him, his eyes glowing and the background darkening. “For if this ancient relic were to be used for catastrophic causes, the consequences will be dire.”

Spike blinked. “So...do it when I’m bored?”

Discord smiled and held up the pointer. “Bingo.” He handed it over to him without a care in the world. “Just make sure it doesn’t fall into the wrong hands, blah blah blah. I’ll be in my shower.”

Spike was rather surprised he did this. “You’re just giving this to me?”

Discord already put a towel on. “I have plenty more at home, now, if you’ll excuse me.” He snapped his claw and got out of the room, making Spike fall to the floor.

He got up and looked at the laser pointer in aw, thinking of all the possibilities he could do with this. He was about to do an evil snicker to end it, but the library doors opening made him quickly hold the pointer behind his back. “Spike, there you are.” Twilight opened the door wider, showing her friends cleaning up. “We could really use a hoof, or claw, to help in here. Do you mind?”

Spike had many thoughts swimming through his head, part of him wanted to use it on her to get out of the mess, another part told him it would be wrong to use it to skip out on helping, another part of him realized this type of power shouldn’t be in his claws while another part told him to destroy it. In the end, Spike sighed and put the laser where his quill and paper were and made his way inside. “Okay, Twilight.”

Twilight smiled. “Thank’s Spike, maybe after all this you can help with a few other things, I know that these books might need some organizing and I will need some help with more mind magic, and I don’t know how the hay so much dust got anywhere but maybe we...can…” She stopped talking the second she noticed a dot on the floor, her eyes not looking away. Spike just smirked as he held it steady, knowing he needed this.

“Thank you, Discord.”

Author's Note

Thanks for reading.
And be on the look out for my 800 follower millstone story coming soon
The only hint I can give is that it has to deal with an object more powerful than a laser pointer that will fly through ponyville, changing the personalities of anyone who touches it.