Dark Alleys, Bright Hearts

Mark and I walk through the royal gardens as the sun sets. I smile, leading him to the group of five statues, “We have a small window. Let’s do this quickly.”

Mark grins, taking out the six Elements from a hip bag. He hands the tiara of Magic to me, “I’m disappointed by these ponies and their lack of security.”

I grin, placing the tiara on my head, it taking the place of my crown, “Be glad they are overconfident. It makes this way too easy.”

He smiles, “Can’t say I disagree. Let’s get this done quickly.”

I take the Element of Laughter from him, walking up to Discord’s statue, “This is the only one which fits you, Discord, so I hope this works.”

I press the Element against his stony skin, and close my eyes as a bright flash comes from the point of contact.

After a few blinks, I reopen my eyes to see a pile of stone on the ground, and the living form of Discord in front of me.

He grins down at me, “Ah, Chrysalis, little love-bug you, so nice you could finally get to freeing me.” He stretches an arm, popping it off his form and wringing it out like a sponge, “I am so sore, it almost is like I slept on a rock!”

I take a few steps back, “Hello, Discord.”

He nods, “Yes, hello, bonjour, hola, all that noise. Look, love-bug, we don’t have time. Free the others while they’re still distracted.”

I nod, and move to Grover’s statue.

I look at the Elements, and float over Generosity.

I touch the Element to the statue, as yet another bright flash of light causes me to wince and blink.

Now in front of me stands an armored griffon, with a sword held to my neck.

Grover narrows his eyes, “Where is Celestia and Luna?”

I slowly hold up my hooves, “Raising the sun and moon. It’s been thousands of years, you were sealed in stone, and we’re now opposing them together.”

He pauses, and slowly sheathes his sword, “And who is this ‘we’ you speak of?”

I smile, “So far, we have Mark, an alien from another world, Discord, me, and you. If you look around, you can see our other allies still in stone.”

Grover looks around, looking back at me and nodding, “Well, if I have you to thank for freeing me from my stony prison, then I shall gladly offer forth my assistance.”

I nod back to him, “Thanks for understanding.” I offer him the Element of Generosity, “Take this, it’s the Element of Generosity.”

He takes the Element into his talons, “Generosity? I am unsure if this is the most fitting thing to give me, but I will accept it.”

I smile, heading to the next statue. I float over the Element of Loyalty as I reach Mid Knight, “This is the most obvious of all.”

I press the Element against the statue, but there is no flash this time. Instead, the stone simply falls.

The thestral hisses at me as her armor falls from her form, clattering onto the ground. She suddenly pauses her hiss, and looks around.

She looks back at me, “Celestia’s fate?”

I shake my head, “She defeated you, and is still ruling. Luna came back from the moon, and was turned to normal by the Elements.”

She pauses, blinking slowly. Without a word, she turns around, laying down and staring at the setting sun.

I trot closer to her, but Mark rushes over. He places a hand on me, “Let me talk to her, Love. You continue with the others.”

I look at him, and nod. I trot over to the Yak, pressing the Element of Honesty against him.

The stone falls away, and the Yak stares at me, “You... Celestia cheated. She sealed me in stone.”

I nod, “Yes, she did. We’re forming a team to do the same to her. I imagine you want in?”

He nods, “One does not cheat lightly.”

I smile, and hold out the Element of Honesty, “Great, here’s your Element.”

He accepts the Element, looking it over, “Honesty I feel does describe me the most. Thank you, Changeling.”

I nod, “You’re welcome, Yakford.”

I trot to the final statue, the zebra. I press the remaining Element of Kindness onto him. The stone crumbles from his form.

He blinks, looking at me, “Ah, hello there. I am Xerxes, pleasure to meet you. If I’m here, then I assume I must have been turned to stone by Celestia and Luna. I thank you for freeing me, truly.”

I smile, “Well, welcome to the land of the living once more. We’re building a team to turn Celestia and Luna to stone.”

He smiles back, “A noble goal, one which I will help with, if you want it.”

I nod, “Your help would be very appreciated, Xerxes.” I look around, “All of you, meeting time!”

All of the others slowly move over to me. Discord grins, coiled up and munching a bowl of popcorn. Grover seems busy examining the Element of Generosity. Mid Knight stares at the setting sun dejectedly, though she is a lot more responsive than previously. Yakford examines a stone piece of himself. Xerxes and Mark both smile, standing to attention.

I look around, “Alright, everyone, let’s go over everything. You are all assigned a different Element of Harmony and I hope they’ll respond to you. We’re going to try and face down Luna and Celestia, and turn them to stone as they did, or attempted to do, to all of us.”

I pause as I feel something pass by my head. I blink, and see Xerxes fall down.

The voice of Hunter X speaks from behind me, “Hello there, deary.”

I spin around, seeing the woman with an empty crossbow.

Discord frowns, “Well, that’s not good.”

She moves a crossbow to point at my head, “Say bye, buggy.”

The sound of snapping fills the air.