Five individuals rushed through the hectic streets of Canterlot, the scrambling nobles panicking as they pointed and gawked at the clouds. The group quickly arrived at the palace as the Guards rushed them inside, corralling them towards where the Princesses and their friend were. Coming to the throne room, the Princesses, Ghost and Twilight stood, turning to face the rapidly approaching group of friends.

"We came as soon as we could," Applejack said, her breath heavy as she put her hands on her knees to catch her breath.

"We thank you for coming on such short notice," Celestia said with a heavy tone. "I wish it were under better circumstances."

"With all due respect Princess, but what the heck is happening!? everything's crazy out there!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. "And where's Percy? Twilight said you guys were close to getting him back."

Twilight stepped forward, rubbing her arm in an almost ashamed manner as she kept her eyes on the floor in front of her. "The...we worked out a spell. it....didn't work like how we thought it would," She said quietly.

The mood of the room seemed to fall further than it already was, the newly arrived group looking between their friend and the Princesses, some even looking to the somehow quieter Ghost.

"It...it didn't work?" Rarity repeated.

"So he's gone?" Fluttershy whispered.

"I am sorry but there is a matter of great importance we must focus on," Celestia said, catching the group's attention as they quietly agreed. Looking at her sister, the two Princesses nodded. "Follow us."

As the Princesses guided the group through the busy halls, they finally reached a set of doors and pushed them open. The group followed, with Ghost keeping an eye out around them, glancing behind them occasionally. The corridor they entered was lined with colourful stained glass windows depicting different moments from the past, including when the Princesses had just started to more recent events, of the six friends taking down Nightmare Moon.

The group was amazed by the beautiful artwork and momentarily forgot about their friend's situation. The Princesses turned to speak to them once more.

"As most of you should be aware, my sister and I imprisoned a being of chaos called Discord," Luna said. "He is why the world seems to be falling apart outside and is the reason we called you all here today."

Motioning towards one of the many windows, the one she pointed to held the glass rendition of the Agent of Chaos. A lanky man, roughly the same height as the Princesses, clad in a brown three-piece suit. A deer and antelope horn protruded from his jet-black hair, adorned with white sideburns. His eyebrows, thick and bushy with a salt-and-pepper hue, arched over two yellow eyes, each with red pupils of varying sizes. His left arm bore the likeness of a scaled talon, while his right arm resembled a lion's paw. Two wings sprouted from his back, one resembling a bat's and the other a bird's. His legs appeared relatively normal, except for his mismatched shoes - one a darker beige and the other a green. All topped off with a white goatee and a single snaggletooth poking out from his top lip.

"When dealing with Nightmare Moon, you all demonstrated the remarkable ability to wield each of your respective Element," Celestia said, her voice holding pride. "Which is why we must ask you to wield them again. For only you six can."

"This is where the Elements have been stored since you recovered them," Luna said, indicating towards the back of the hall to a large set of doors with banners on the sides, both holding the symbol of the sun and moon. "Take them. Wield the Elements again and defeat Discord."

"We won't let you down your Highnesses," Applejack said.

"But wait, eternal chaos comes with chocolate rain people, chocolate rain!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed, clinging to the farmgirl's shoulders as Rarity moved to remove her as she pointed towards one of the windows, thick chocolate milk pelting off of the outside surface. "The school books say it can't be here again!"

"Don't listen to her princess, we'd be honoured to use the Elements again," Twilight said, while Rainbow Dash chuckled at the party girls' antics.

The Princesses giggled subtly, happy to have some levity given the situation. The two walked over to the doors, placing their hands on an inset grove on both doors and channelled energy into it from their horns to their hands. Pressing their hands deeper into the groves, the door made a few clicking noises before the seams lit up, opening to reveal a gem-encrusted box sitting atop a smooth stone pedestal.

"With how well you handled Nightmare Moon, I have total confidence you will defeat Discord with these," Celestia said as she levitated the case closer to her. But when she opened it, all they were met with were gasps and confused stares. The case was empty.

"Well if anyone needs me, I'll be outside with a giant bendy straw," Pinkie Pie said completely unfazed by the situation and began to walk off.

"Oh no you don't," Ghost said, immediately turning her around.

"But this chamber was protected by a spell only we could we could get passed," Luna said, glancing up between the empty box and her sister. "This doesn't make sense."

Suddenly, a disembodied laugh emanated throughout the hall, the dissonant echo bouncing off of the walls. "Make sense? Awww, where's the fun in making sense."

"Discord!?" Celestia shouted. "Where are you!?

"Show yourself, you fiend!" Luna yelled.

"Did you two miss me? I certainly missed you," Discord said as one of the window murals of him came to life, moving from window to window, stopping at a picture of the Mane Six standing around a pedestal with the elements of harmony resting atop it. "It gets rather lonely being imprisoned in stone, especially when that stone is in Tartarus! But you wouldn't know that would you? That's just not my MO."

"Enough! How did you escape!?" Luna demanded.

"And where are the Elements!?" Celestia shouted, stamping her foot on the marble floor, cracking it slightly under her heel. "They had better be safe or so help me!"

"How did I get out? Not a clue," Discord shrugged. "One minute I was having a rather lovely conversation with a man who sold masks for a living, the next I was in the Everfree."

"As for the Elements. Nothing really. Just borrowed them for a moment," Discord said, snapping his fingers to make the picture of the elements disappear. "Come on, it's like you don't know me!"

"You will never get away with this Discord!" Luna yelled, pointing firmly at the moving mural of Discord.

"Uuuugh, I forgot how grim and serious you two can be," Discord groaned. "Honestly, it gets so boring!"

"Hey! No one insults the Princesses!" Rainbow yelled charging at Discord, only for Ghost to swiftly grab her ankle, pulling her back towards the group and standing in front of them.

"Oh, you must be Rainbow Dash, famed for her loyalty. The element of harmony you represent," Discord said as he reappeared on the opposite mural behind them. "Though I can't say I recognise the big fellow."

"Be thankful for that mate," Ghost growled.

"That's right I'll always be loyal to the Princesses," Rainbow said, baring her teeth at the glass version of the Lord of Chaos.

"We'll see about that," Discord said as he disappeared once more between the stained windows.

"I can't believe we're wasting time talking to a tacky window," Rarity said, slowly rubbing her temples.

"Ah the beautiful Rarity, representing the element of generosity," Discord said appearing in a window right next to Rarity as Applejack jumped in front of her.

"Ya keep her name out yer filthy mouth," Applejack snarled. "And you know who we are, big deal."

"My my, feisty," Discord said as he enlarged himself to fit the window. "And I know much more than that honest Applejack."

"You seem to know our strength too," Twilight said as Discord reappeared in the window with the Mane Six standing around the empty pedestal.

"Yes, Twilight Sparkle and yours is the most powerful and elusive element, magic. Fluttershy's is kindness." Discord said. "And Pinkie Pie is a personal favourite of mine, laughter."

"But I'm still stuck on this new guy," Discord commented, idly running his hand over his goatee. "Feel like I should know him."

"Well, why don't you come down here and we'll get real acquainted you demented bastard," Ghost squinted his eyes, tightening his grip around Ace from its place in the makeshift holster.

"I'll have you know I'm only partly demented, thank you very much!" Discord said, folding his arms and blowing raspberries in an annoyed fashion.

"Enough stalling Discord! What have you done with the Elements of Harmony!?" Celestia demanded.

"Oh, my Lords above! So boring Celestia, really. Fine. Fine! I'll tell you, but I'll only tell you in my own way," He said in an exasperated tone, before quickly clearing his throat.

"To find your missing elements, just make sense of this change of events. Twists and turns are my master plan, then find the Elements back where you began," Discord finished as the picture of himself returned to its proper place and stopped moving.

"Riddles," Ghost said with a loud sigh. "Fuckin' hell."

"Can we go home now?" Fluttershy asked quietly.

"What do ya think he meant? Twists and turns then back where we started?" Applejack asked as Twilight began to pace.

As the academic walked off, she muttered under her breath, repeating the Chaos Lord's words, doing her best to decipher them. "Twists and turns. Twists and turns," She mumbled, her feet leading her towards one of the clear windows, her eyes landing on the thick hedge maze out in the castle's garden "Twists and turns, that's it! I bet Discord hid the Elements in the palace labyrinth," She exclaimed, lightly slapping the stone window frame in her excitement.

"Well...that was easy," Ghost muttered to himself.

"Good luck My Little Ponies. The fate of Equestria is in your hands."

"We won't let you down!" Twilight said before she and the rest of the group ran off out of the room.

"Join them Ghost," Celestia whispered. "Without Percival's aid, I fear they may be all we have."

Ghost nodded at the Princesses as he rushed to follow close behind the group.

Standing in front of the labyrinth entrance, Ghost glanced around at the disturbingly quiet garden as the ruckus of the city was silenced, even the birds dared not make a peep. Looking over the tall hedge walls, the tops of which were lined with sharp black thorns, an uncertain hum rumbled in Ghost's throat.

"I don't like this," He murmured to himself.

"We-we don't have to go there, do we?" Fluttershy trembled, hiding behind Applejack as the group stared at the maze entrance.

"Of course we don't! Discord forgot about these babies!" Rainbow Dash boasted, flaring her wings. "I'll just fly in and get the Elements lickidy split!"

In a single flap, the daredevil was already above the hedge but before she could get any further, her wings disappeared in a sudden flash of white light and she quickly found herself bouncing off of the ground back where she began.

"Ow," She wheezed quietly.

Ghost was quick to her side just as more flashes popped up amongst the group as Fluttershy's wings also vanished along with Twilight and Rarity's horns. A flash also appeared around Ghost's body, though no visible changes seemed to occur as he helped the down Rainbow speedster.

"The hell?" He murmured, looking over himself as the girls began to panic.

All of a sudden, a small light appeared before the entrance, white with a faint green outline that grew fainter as the ball expanded before disappearing completely as streaks of electricity licked the grassy ground, burning and charring where it impacted as Discord stood there, cackling like a madman, double over and clutching his stomach.

"You should see the looks on your faces! Absolutely priceless!" Discord said, wiping away a stray tear before he found himself looking down the barrel of the Ace of Spades.

The Ace's signature bang sounded from the firearm, and a large fireball formed at the end of the weapon as the side of Discord's face disappeared in an instant. The girls screamed as the Lord of Chaos held his pose while his grey matter and chunks of bone seemed to be suspended in the air by nothing before slowly whipping back forward, his head snapping back into place with an exaggerated pop while the Lord himself held an offended and annoyed expression.

"Well, that was just plain rude," He said, folding his arms with a harumph.

"Give us back our wings and horns back!" Twilight demanded.

"Oh, you'll get them back in good time," Discord said, lightly slapping away the Ace away from his face as Ghost took a step back. Disappearing in a flash, he reappeared next to Applejack, lightly nudging her. "I simply took them to ensure there's no cheating.

"You see, this is the first rule of our game," He quickly fell to the floor, slithering up between Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy as the latter hid behind the former." No wings-" He slithered away again, coming straight up to the purple-clad Unicorn and running his finger along her jaw, staring her straight in the eye. "-and no magic."

"The first rule?" Rainbow Dash repeated.

Appearing back at the entrance, Ghost stood between him and the group while Discord continued. "The second is rather simple. Everyone has to play or the game is over and I win," He twiddled his fingers, grinning meniacally.

"Good luck everyone!" Cackling once again, he disappeared in the same flash of white he appeared in, his voice echoing one last time. "Oh and watch out for the Black-furs. They can be quite vicious," And with that final declaration, the garden fell to silence.

"Black-fu..? Oh, you've gotta be shittin' me," Ghost said as his shoulders fell slightly.

"Never fear guys. We have each other!" Twilight exclaimed.

"Exactly! We can do anything as long as we stick together!" Rainbow nodded as the others joined in.

"Alright, guys," Twilight said. "Let's do this!"

The seven made their way in, the thick hedge walls rising high above them. Ghost took the lead, Ace tight in his grip as he glanced behind them occasionally as silence reigned over the maze as did on the outside. They walked for what felt like hours, and looking to the sky for any indication of how much time had passed bore no fruit as it seemed as though it was locked perpetually in midday.

Glancing down at his watch, Ghost's eyes squinted as the watch hands spiralled faster than they had any right to, spinning as though it were being wound by hand. "I really don't like this."

"Hey Ghost, can I ask you something?" Rainbow Dash asked suddenly.

"Shoot."

"Since you're using Percy's...gun?" Ghost nodded. "Why aren't you using his sword?"

"Couldn't lift the damn thing," He replied as they continued through the maze. "It was a miracle the Princesses could lodge it out of the wall. It's like it got heavier after he disappeared."

"Even the Princesses had trouble lifting it?" Rainbow Dash asked incredulously. "Man, if Percy was here, he'd get this done in no time."

"Makes ya wonder how strong Percy is, don't it?" Applejack commented.

"I hope he's alright," Fluttershy whispered.

"I'm sure he's okay. He's strong," Twilight reassured her friend.

"Yeah! I'm sure no matter where ever he is, he'll be back in no time," Pinkie Pie said, putting her arm around the timid woman's shoulder.

"I hate to change the subject but is no one else worried about the 'Black-furs' Discord mentioned?" rarity chimed in. "And you didn't seem very happy at their mention, Ghost."

"Me and Percival fought them at Las Almas," He replied as they rounded a corner. "Nasty little buggers."

Just as the words left his mouth, a twig suddenly snapped behind them and a deep snarl registered in the group's ears. Ushering the group behind him, mumbling something about timing. Ghost immediately raised Ace and trained his sights on a faint shadow looming around the corner. The shadow lumbered forward, the growling slowly stronger as the tall man tightened his grip around the firearm.

The shadow slowly turned the corner and the hedge at Ghost's side burst open, and a large, thick black-furred beast wrapped its arms around him as it barreled through to the other side as the sound of struggling met the girl's ears as the shadow peered at them with six glowing clouded blue eyes.

Snarling at them, the beast's tongue lulled over its split lower jaw, saliva running down each side over its needle thing teeth as the low sunlight bounced off of its dark grey scales and black fur lined back as spikes jutted out from its back. Throwing its skinny arm out, a thick blade extended from its forearm before it bent its lanky legs and ran forward.

The girls screamed as a bang ran out, a stray bullet penetrated its neck, the force behind it blowing the long appendage wide open as it fell to the ground. Ghost poked his head through the hole his and the demon's bodies made, his body jittering as he fought off the demon while several shrieks sounded out around them.

"Run!"

Applejack and Rarity ran as fast as their legs could carry them, their friends close beside them as the sounds of yells, bangs and shrieks began to dim behind them. The group would glance behind them as they ran the maze as best they could, trying to navigate it while worrying about their safety was not an easy feat.

They ran for several minutes before stopping, all breathing heavily as they stopped to catch their breath.

"What the heck was that thing!?" Rainbow Dash shouted as she moved to Fluttershy, doing her best to comfort the hyperventilating woman. "Was that the thing Discord warned us of?"

"Well whatever it was, it sure as hell weren't happy," Applejack said as she checked on Rarity.

"Come on girls, we need to keep moving. We can't be far now," Twilight said, determination filling her words.

But before any of them could get much farther, the ground began to rumble as thick thorned hedges burst from the ground between them, blocking them off from each other and throwing those who were side by side to the ground. The six friends yelled out in surprise and confusion as they scrambled to their feet, trying to find a way through.

"Rares!" Applejack shouted, trying to at least find a hole to look through. "Rares! Ya alright!?"

"I'm alright darling!" Her voice was faint through the thicket, but the farmgirl breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing her.

"Girl?"

"I'm okay!" Pinkie Pie shouted.

"Same here!" Rainbow Dash joined in.

"I want to go home!" Fluttershy's voice cracked as she shouted.

"It's alright Flutters! You're gonna be fine!" Rainbow Dash shouted, trying to calm her nerve-wracked friend.

"Just stay calm girls! We'll be fine!" Twilight shouted. "Everyone try your best to head to the middle as fast as you can! We'll regroup there!"

"Moving out!"

"See you at the centre!"

"See you guys there!"

Nodding to themselves, the girls wasted no time in turning on their heels, picking the only direction they could go. Turning back towards where she heard her voice, Applejack breathed slowly.

"I'll meet you at the centre Love," Rarity said, her voice faint, but soft and reassuring. "I love you."

"I love ya too," Applejack replied. "Stay safe!"

"You know me, darling," Rarity said, her voice growing fainter. "I'm the epitome of safety."

~~

"Why the heck...would they put...a damned labyrinth in the castle garden? Just...why?" She said to herself.

Running through the winding walls of the palace labyrinth, Applejack's legs carried her as fast as they could as she continued to quietly mutter to herself. Rounding a corner, she glanced down a random pathway, quickly backpedalling as something caught her eye. Stepping up to what she saw, her eyes rested on a trio of bright red apples, their surfaces sheening in the cloudy sun. The apples shuddered at her presence, moving seemingly at random, bouncing off of each other before rolling further down the path they were on.

"What the what?" She said quietly, slowly following them as they rolled away.

Following them as they moved, they rounded several corners, rolling at a steady pace before they came to a large clearing, apple tree growing from the ground as far as the eye could see while the three apples simply rolled in a circle.

"Where...?" Applejack started, only to be interrupted as an apple hit her square in the head.

Looking up, the tree shook as more apples of varying colours fell to the ground, rolling towards her as they separated into three piles, raucous laughter filled her ears. The piles continued to roll around her, their laughter sounding almost mocking in nature as they slowly rose, indents forming on each pile in makeshift faces, the leaves of stems creating a disturbing visage of eyes.

"What...? Who...are y'all?" She asked quietly.

"We are the Keepers of the Grove of Truths," The red pile replied. "You may ask us-"

"-one question-" The yellow pile continued.

"-past, future or present," The green pile finished.

"But be warned...that the truth...will not always be pleasant," They said, alternating in taking turns to speak, continuing to roll around the farmgirl, the others still laughing as one of them spoke.

"Alright then, I don't trust this place worth a lick o' salt, but I got a bad feelin' about this fella Discord," She said, more to herself than to the piles that still encircled her. "What's gonna come o' this mission we're on?"

Suddenly, the piles stopped, falling to the ground for a moment before rolling off towards a small body of water. Tentatively stepping up to it, Applejack peered down into it as the piles stopped beside her.

"For the answers you seek...take a peek," The piles said, again alternating between them.

Peering down into the water, dirt fell from the bank creating a deep ripple as Applejack's vision was overtaken. Visions of her friends in the middle of Ponyville's street, their mouths moving wordlessly, fingers pointed and faces scrunched in anger. One by one, they left, stomping their feet as they went their separate ways. Falling back, Applejack scrambled away as the piles seemingly began to laugh harder.

"No...no that can't be right. We're all friends, we..." She said to herself. "Heck, me n' Rares, we...no...no that can't be it."

"All the truth does...is make the heart ache," The piles said, their tones jeering and their makeshift faces gleaming as their voices began to lower, Discord's hands slowly cupping the sides of her face as his eyes swirled. "Sometimes a lie is easier to take."

Bounding down the maze with the usual pep in her step, Pinkie Pie whistled herself a small tune as distorted laughter slowly came to her ears. Rounding a corner, the laughter became clear, her eyes swiftly landing on balloons, countless balloons wafting softly in the wind as the laughter continued in her ears.

"Wow, this is the best balloon garden I've ever seen!" She exclaimed. "It's the first I've seen but still-whoa!"

Falling to the ground, the party girl peered over her shoulder, seeing one of the balloons tied tightly around her ankle as several others floated up next to it, sneering and testing laughter filling her head as they looked down at her, the whole garden soon joining in as they surrounded her.

"What gives?"

"What's the matter?" Discord said, suddenly appearing in a flash in the clearing a few metres away from the downed party animal. "I thought you appreciated a good laugh?"

"This is different," She said, trying to free her still-bound ankle. "Their laughing at me, not with me."

"It's hard being different, isn't it?" He said, his head disappearing behind a balloon as it spun, bearing his likeness. "Your friends laugh at you all the time!"

"My friends laugh with me, not at me," She said, finally freeing her leg.

"Oh really?" He said as the balloon circled around her, faster and faster still as his voice joined the cacophony.

The laughter got louder and louder, the balloons getting closer and closer as they bobbed up and down. The faces that had been painted before shifted and warped, flashing as the faces of her friends took their places, their laughs mocking her and taunting her.

"Stop it!" She shouted, scrunching down and clamping her hands around her ears.

"Oh, poor Pinkie Pie," The Discord balloon said softly, landing in front of her, his eyes whirling like a whirlpool and his hands sneaked out from behind it, gently touching her cheeks. "And here I thought laughter made you happy."

As Rarity walked, the landscape seemed to shift and change around her, the floor becoming walls while the wall became the ceiling. Despite this, she kept focus as she peered up towards the darkening sky, cringing as she felt a drop or two of rain.

"I can't say this was how my day was going to go," She said. "Cotton candy clouds. Chocolate rain. Craved animals. Now Ghost is fighting demons while we try to get to the centre of a Discord-infected palace hedge maze. At least Pinkie made a nice song about the rain thing."

As she finished talking to herself, she turned a corner and walked straight into a large stone wall. Clutching her nose to make sure it wasn't bleeding or broken, she looked at the wall and her eyes went wide. Encrusted in the centre were three large, perfectly cut gems, their surface shining and gleaming even in the low, dark clouded sky.

"Oh my," She whispered as she stepped closer, immediately spotting Discord's face appear within the gems, his low chuckle sound within her skull.

"Welcome to your lucky day! You have found the one thing in Equestria that could rival my face in sheer beauty!" He said. "What do we think? Do you like?"

"Yes," She said, her vision swimming as she slowly reached out towards the gems. "I like very much."

Just as she was about to touch the gems, she suddenly stopped, shaking her head as her senses came back to her, causing her to recoil.

"No, no. I shouldn't give in," She said, quickly turning on her heel. "I need to get to the centre and meet up with the others!"

"So you're willing to give up such a magnificent item?" Discord teased. "It can be all yours if you wanted."

She slowly stopped, glancing over her shoulder. "I...no. I shouldn't. I can't. What would Applejack think?"

Discord appeared at the corner of the bend, leaning against it as he motioned toward the three gems. "Just look at them! Such an incredible piece deserves to be with the only one who would truly appreciate them."

"They are incredible," She murmured, biting her lip before firmly shaking her head. "No! I...I must stay...focused!"

Discord simply raised his eyebrow, smirking at her as she slowed, glancing over her shoulder before racing up towards the gems held within the wall.

"Ok Fluttershy, you can do this. You can do this!"

A sudden feeling of air on the back of her neck quickly ceased her line of thought, sending the almost quivering woman diving into the hedge as she looked over her shoulder.

"Wait a minute!" She exclaimed quietly upon seeing what had caused her sudden panic. "Butterflies!"

"Wait! Don't leave me here!"

Chasing after them, she followed close behind them as they disappeared around the corner. Skidding to a stop, she hastily looked around the small clearing, she lost sight of them before a voice sounded behind her.

"Fluttershy," It said meekly as she turned to see it was the butterflies she had been chasing after. "Looks like you've been left behind by your so-called friends, huh?"

"Oh no, I'm sure they're doing their best to find me," She said confidently.

"Well, it must be so upsetting to know how weak and helpless they must think you are," The butterfly said as they circled around her head.

"Not at all! I am weak and helpless and I appreciate their understanding!"

"Yes, well, surely it burns you up, I mean," Butterfly said, its voice cracking slightly in apparent irritation before it composed itself. "They're always pointing out your flaws, right?"

"Not really. In fact, I think I'm awfully lucky to have friends who want me to be the best I can be," Fluttershy smiled warmly.

"Oh for the love of Helis and Argentum!" Discord shouted, appearing in a flash of white, harshly pressing his finger against Fluttershy's forehead. "You've been kind for far too long, my dear! About time you were cruel! Arrivederci!"

Bounding through the maze, Rainbow Dash bobbed and weaved through the clearing, diving into cover as she diligently kept an eye and an ear out for any potential threats. Looking past the section she was in, the daredevil did a double take as a cloud petered by, and a small rainbow lightning bolt flashed out from under it, the sound of thunder passing her ears.

"What the...?" She whispered to herself, her confusion changing to confidence. "Oh, I've got you now, Elements!"

Quickly pursuing it, she entered yet another clearing and skidded to a stop as she swiftly spotted Discord lounging between two trees on a hammock made from a soft, white cloud, wearing a pair of sunglasses as he sipped away at a margarita.

"I can see why enjoy these so much," He said, lightly patting the cloud beneath him. "Very plush."

"Get off there and put 'em up!" She said, swiftly raising her fists. "Come on! Let's go!"

"Hey," He said softly, raising his hand. "Don't shoot the messenger."

"Yeah, well, I've got a couple messages for you too!"

Rolling his eyes beneath his sunglasses, he took them off, his face shifting to a serious expression. "Listen closely. This is important."

Appearing next to her, he grinned widely. "An awaiting choice is yours to make. A right selection or a big mistake? If the wrong choice you choose to pursue, the foundations of home will crumble without you."

Snapping his fingers, the cloud from before appeared before Rainbow Dash's eye, spinning faster and faster until it was a blur, the woman's eyes swirling in a multi-coloured spiral, filling them with visions of her home city falling, towers and columns collapsing as people ran for safety. Disappearing as quickly as it appeared, a small box flashed in front of her, sparkling as it floated.

"That box contains your wings. You can take them and leave the game or you can carry one aimlessly wandering this maze," He said, running his finger along the side of her face. "Your choice."

Standing in the middle of a random clearing, Twilight ran her hand through her hair, almost threatening to tear it straight from her scalp.

At some point during her rather aimless wandering, she had met up with her friends but they didn't seem...themselves. Applejack lied about even the smallest things, Pinkie Pie refused to laugh, Rarity obsessed over a large rock and Fluttershy was being plain rude. To make matters worse, Applejack and Rarity didn't dare look each other in the eye, let alone speak to one another. Something must have happened to them after their separation and what could have caused it made Twilight assume the worst.

"We just need to find Rainbow Dash. Like she said, as a team, we're unstoppable!" She said as they began to move.

"Well lookie there," Applejack said suddenly. "Rainbow's flyin' away. She's gone an' abandoned us!"

"Now I know that's a lie," She said before spotting the aforementioned speedster flying off into the sky. "But...what?"

The ground began to shake as the hedge maze fell, crumbling to the ground as dirt was kicked up into the air, leaving the five standing amidst and glancing around the now-raised clearing, a deep crater taking where the maze once stood.

"Well, well, well," Discord said smugly, appearing before them in a flash, holding a limp Ghost by the back of his neck. "Looks like someone broke rule número uno!" Snapping his fingers, their horns and wings reappeared on their heads and backs.

"Games over My Little Ponies! You didn't find your oh-so-precious Elements!" Discord jeered as Ghost peered up at them limply, his once-piercing brown eyes now appearing dull. "Looks like we might be due for a big ol' storm of chaos!"

His wild cackling filled the air as lightning clashed high above them as he chucked Ghost's limp body into the air, the large man quickly becoming suspended as a thick bubble appeared around him. The lightning grew stronger and stronger before it eventually crashed to the ground, the thunder creating a cacophony as his cackles echoed around them.

Author's Note

Apologies for the wait friends, been real distracted of late with work and the Elden Ring DLC

Still, I enjoyed this one, been a while since I actually watched an episode but it definitely makes me want to rewatch them again
Hope you enjoyed

Please point out any mistakes I may have made
Constructive criticism is always appreciated
Until next time, TTFN!