Dungeons and Discords

“Cheerilee's been turned to stone?” Rainbow asked incredulously.

Rarity nodded. “We saw her with our own two eyes.”

“I do hope she’s alright,” said Fluttershy worriedly.

“I’m sure she is,” said Twilight.

Rainbow did a backflip. “Something strange is going on.”

“I think so,” said Twilight. “The weather is acting crazy. And–”

“Not just that,” said Rainbow. “Somepony changed the weather schedule to have snow tomorrow!”

“Didn’t you say it was supposed to be mildly cloudy tomorrow?” asked Fluttershy. “Or did I get it backwards?”

“You're right, it was supposed to be mildly cloudy tomorrow. Not snowy!”

“I wonder how ponies being turned to stone ties into this,” Rarity wondered.

“I wish I had that book,” sighed Twilight. “It probably would have helped us.”

“Maybe we should try to stop the ponies being turned to stone first,” said Fluttershy. “That seems the most important. And I think I know why it’s happening–”

Fluttershy was interrupted by a shout.

“Uh-oh,” said Rainbow. “I have a bad feeling about this….”

Rainbow bolted towards the shout, the others following.

Town Square was packed. The center fountain had been cracked, and a stone pony was tipped over next to it.

Two more ponies had been petrified near the first. Rainbow recognised them as Fire Flare, and Electric Sky.

“Rainbow!” said Spitfire, flying over to her. “Do you have any idea of what’s going on?! These ponies were supposed to set off the fireworks in our Wonderbolts performance in two days!”

Rainbow shook her head. “Sorry, but I’m afraid the Wonderbolts may have to go without fireworks.”

“I think that the Wonderbolts are gonna have to go not at all!” yelled Spitfire, pointing to the last petrified pony. It was Soarin.

“Soarin’s not in much position to be in your performance,” Rainbow noted.

Spitfire shook her head. “He’s not at all!” She paused. “Unless, you could play in Soarin’s place.”

“Yes!” said Rainbow. “Definitely! One hundred percent!”

Spitfire nodded. “You're on then. Five-thirty sharp tonight. Don’t miss it.”

“I thought you were gonna help me with my dress making,” said Rarity.

“And help, you know, fix all the madness in Ponyville,” said Twilight.

“I’ll fit it in,” said Rainbow. “But I can’t miss a chance to go with the Wonderbolts! I’ve been a member for twenty moons, and haven’t got a chance to perform with them!”

“I hope you don’t overload yourself,” said Fluttershy.

“I won’t,” said Rainbow. “Don’t worry! I’ll be fine.”

And with that, she leapt into the sky.

Twilight stared at the stone ponies. The crowd was dissipating, and she could get a clearer view of the stone ponies.

“It looks like they were all attacked at the same time,” said Rarity, shivering.

Twilight’s gaze was riveted on the fountain. It didn’t look like it had been cracked with a hard impact.

It looked like it had been cracked with a spell.

Somepony had been defending themselves.

Twilight cased the square. She couldn’t see much. Just the stone ponies.

“Twilight,” said Rarity quietly, and then: “Twilight!!”

Twilight and Fluttershy burst around the corner, just in time to see an opening in the bricks in front of the fountain close.

Rarity was gone.