Return of Disharmony

Chapter 6

The mane six continued to run blindly through the forest as impending doom was almost breathing down their necks. After a few minutes of running they felt secure in that the changelings were gone. Rainbow Dash even flew up into the sky for a moment to look around. Even at that great height she could barely see Ponyville. Once again in the forest with nothing but despair and fear on the hearts they walked along in silence. After a while it began to get darker. This time however they did not know where they were going, they didn’t have any supplies, and even though they were miles away; they felt that the changelings were very close to them. They were lucky this time however because only moments after nightfall they spotted a cave where they decided to spend the night.

“About back there I’m sorry she came out of nowhere and she-” Fluttershy said tears forming in her eyes.

“Don’t worry Fluttershy” Applejack said comfortingly “She fooled us all.”

“Thank you for saving me.” Fluttershy said “I-I just wish I could have thanked Sweetie Belle.”

"That’s alright dear.” Rarity said “She knew you were thankful."

The mane six walked into the cave once again silent, all thinking about the fillies and Spike’s bravery. After a while of staying up they began to get dreary and start to fall asleep.

“Alright,” said a rather sleepy Twilight. “To take down this army we need help. I thinkt we could find Cadance and Shining Armor for some help since the changelings probably haven’t gotten to the crystal empire yet.”

Her statement was answered with a few weak yes’s and a few yawns. Twilight tried desperately to stay awake and stand guard but she ever so slowly drifted off to sleep. Still a strange feeling in her gut did not make it a restful sleep.

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The sound locking cuffs and rattling chains was hardly a warm awakening for Celestia. She was still groggy from being in the cocoon but a loud voice showed her that Luna was wide awake.

“THOU DEMAND TO KNOW WHO YOU ARE AND WHY YOU HATH BROUGHT US HERE!!!!” Luna boomed in her royal Canterlot voice.

Celestia often thought Luna was foolish at time but when Luna used the Royal Canter Voice; even Celestia feared and respected Luna due to her anger.

“L-luna.” Celestia said weakly.

“Don’t worry Tia I can get us out of here. ONCE THIS SORRY EXCUSE FOR A PONY INFORMS THEE WHERE WE ARE AND WHO HE IS!!!!” Luna shouted once again.

“Dear, Luna you don’t need that brutal voice with me I am simply following orders.” The figure said.

At that comment Luna’s blood began to boil. “ORDERS!!!! WHO’S ORDERS ARE Y-”

Luna was suddenly cut off by a magical force that was holding her mouth shut. Around her muzzle was a dark green aura that matched the aura around the figure.

“I would watch your mouth princess.” The figure threatened in a deep raspy voice. “Before I seal it shut.”

After he said that Luna stopped talking and lowered her head.

“Now,” the figure continued.“ You both are in the Canterlot dungeons in my special chains, and shackles. They are both impervious to magic and prevent you both from moving. I have also cuffed your wings to you sides to prevent flight and have cuffed your horns to prevent magic. Oh, I almost forgot only I can reverse the effects so even if you do escape you can’t fly or use magic unless I deactivate the spell.”

After hearing that Luna decided to speak up. “But how? You are just a changeling?”

“Correction, I am a very powerful changeling. One who will make your lives worse than being imprisoned if you escape.” He said.

Just then another normal changeling crept into the room. Celestia was amazed at the size of the one that imprisoned them. It looked to be about the three fourths her height. He could probably reach the bottom of her chin. She heard him mumble something about the queen then someone escaping. Then he said to tell her he would look into it. Then they left and shut the cell door; once again plunging the princesses back into darkness.

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“At last I found you!” Chrysalis shouted.

Twilight opened her eyes and was stricken with fear. She saw dozens of changelings surrounding them in their cave. All of her friends were being pinned to the ground and being dragged away. Twilight was being held to the ground by her forehooves while Queen Chrysalis stood laughing over her.

“Let them go!” Twilight shouted in despair.

“No no, the time for releasing anyone is gone. I have been in the archives and I have found a spell to stop a pony’s heartbeat…forever.”

Chrysalis’s horn began to glow as she leaned forward to Twilight's head. Twilight's mind went blank as the glow began to blind her. She heard her friends cries fade as Twilight could feel her heartbeat slowing.

With one final breath Twilight screamed weakly into the night. “NOOOOOOOOOOOOO-”

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Twilight shot up as she finished her scream of terror. “-OOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!”

She was out of breath and covered in sweat as the fear of her nightmare lingered on. One thing that also scared her was that Luna wasn’t there to comfort her during her dream. Looking around the cave she saw her friends sleeping peacefully. Well, sort of; she could tell they had something on their minds. They were all tossing and turning. She couldn’t blame them of course she was woken up by a nightmare. She laid back down hoping to have a more peaceful sleep. Something however still felt off with her. The feeling in her stomach was stronger and she felt a bit dizzy. Just as she was about to go to sleep she passed out.

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Twilight woke up cautiously as to not wake up anyone else. She was thankful that the strange feeling in her stomach had finally left. She walked out of the cave into the daylight and looked up at the sky. It was a clear day one that would be perfect for a picnic or a nice walk around town if the town wasn’t invaded by changelings. She then thought of how the princesses were doing and hoped that they were alright. Possibly that they were even searching for them right now. She heard Pinkie Pie beginning to get up so she walked into the cave to say good morning. It seemed almost impossible for Pinkie’s hair to be crazier than normal but it was. It looked as if it was twice the size of her head. She began to brush it down when she heard Twilight walk up behind her. Pinkie turned her head to say good morning when she heard Twilight gasp.

“P-Pinkie w-what’s on your sides?” Twilight stammered.

“What? What’s on my side?” Pinkie asked in a panic.

Twilight pulled Pinkie over to a small pool of water on the cave floor and then Pinkie screamed.

“OHMYGOSHOHMYGOSHOHMYGOSH I-I have wings!!!!” Pinkie shouted.

“Yea- wait what?! You’re happy?” Twilight asked in confusion.

“Of course! It’s so exciting! By the way where did your horn go?” Pinkie said, taking a break from her joy.

“My horn is right he-” Twilight began as she felt her forehead, but since she couldn’t feel it she looked into the puddle and her eyes almost bulged out of her head.

Her shriek of terror was enough to wake up a sleeping Rainbow Dash.

“What’s goin’ on?!” She shouted in annoyance.

Her question was followed by two screams. She began to scratch her head when she felt something there. Rainbow Dash ran straight to the small pool on the ground as she saw that a horn had grown on her head. The real scary factor to Rainbow Dash was that her wings were gone. The three ponies heard someone waking up behind them.

“What they hay is goin’ around here” Applejack said. But when they looked over to Applejack she was still asleep on the ground. Then they looked over at Rarity who spoke again in Applejack's voice.

“Um, hello what goin' on with y’all?” Her voice asked again.

Seeing that Applejack’s voice was coming out of Rarity’s mouth plus all of the other shocks of the day caused three more screams. Which woke up Applejack's body.

“WHAT IN ALL OF EQUESTRIA IS ALL OF THIS SHOUTING ABOUT?” Rarity’s voice said.

Which only caused more shouting.

“Why are we all shouting I mean-” Rarity began.

After Rarity said that she released a scream so loud and high pitched that a deaf pony somewhere gained hearing and then instantly fell to the ground in pain due to the scream.

“Why am I over there and why is my hoof orange?!” Rarity continued to shout in her confused riot.

Twilight once again being the levelheaded pony she was…fainted.

After being revived after a few seconds her friends looked somewhat calm.

“Okay sugarcube,” Rarity’s body said. “What’s goin' on?”

“I don’t know.” Twilight said.

Then something caught her eye. A certain blue flower in the middle of the cave.

“Is that?” Twilight said walking towards the suspicious flower.

“Oh no it can’t be.” Rarity said in horror.

“Yep.” Twilight said with confidence. “Poison Joke.”

The response was acceptable. It included a bit of pouting, stomping of hooves, and one fake faint.

“Alright everypony just calm down.” Twilight said.

Almost on cue a deep rumbling sound came from outside the cave. The five friends slowly backed into the corner of the cave.

*boom*

“Wait, where’s Fluttershy?” Rarity asked in distress.

“She must have gone outside before we woke up.” Applejack said.

“I hope she’s in better shape than us.”

*BOOM*

Another sound it seemed as if it was almost outside. Suddenly, a tree fell on the ground right in front of the entrance. The five friends braced for the utterly terrifying monster that was right outside their shelter.

“Umm h-hello?” A small voice whimpered.

“Fluttershy wh-what are you doing out there and what’s causing all of that noise.” Twilight asked.

“You can come outside just don’t be scared.” Fluttershy said nervously.

“Now why would we be scared of you sugarcube?” Applejack (still in Rarity’s body mind you) said.

The second they got outside the question was answered. Outside of the cave there was a broken tree on the ground and a tree stump with a hoof on it. Only this hoof belonged to Fluttershy and it was huge. Standing at about 50 feet from ground to head stood Fluttershy who was now about 10 times the size of anypony. Her friends, who were now as small as baby rabbits to her, looked up at her in awe and somewhat of fright.

“Fluttershy what happened?” Twilight asked in disbelief.

“I don’t know I got up last night and I felt funny so I went outside to get some air then I saw that lake over there and I went to get some water, I passed out an-and…” Fluttershy said tears forming in her eyes.

“Oh boy.” Pinkie said as she could see Fluttershy was about to cry.

“Everypony for themselves!” Rainbow Dash shouted.

“WHAAAAAAAAHAAAAAAAAHAAAAAAA!!!!!!” Fluttershy cried tears bursting out of her eyes. On the ground the tears were roughly the size of a normal pony’s head were crashing to the ground while the friends quickly dodged them.

Applejack (In Rarity’s body. This is the last reminder so don’t forget) ran over to the side of the cave and hopped up on the rocky side of it until she was about at Fluttershy’s shoulder then she jumped on her and walked over to the side of her head and began stroking her mane in a comforting fashion.

“It’s alright we can fix this. Don’t worry Fluttershy you’ll be back to normal in no time.” Applejack said quietly.

Applejack stayed to comfort Fluttershy as she began to calm down and slow her crying.

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“So let’s go over the facts.” Twilight said. “Rainbow Dash has lost her wings and now a horn, Pinkie Pie now has wings, and I am just an earth pony; Rarity and Applejack have switched bodies; and Fluttershy…” Twilight paused as she looked up and the gargantuan pegasus on the brink of tears again. “Anyways, we know where we have to go from here.” She expected an answer right away but when she looked out at the confused faces in front of her she simply sighed and continued her thought. “Zecora. We are going to Zecora’s hut, she has the cure for poison joke.”

Her statement was met with little praise. It was clear to Twilight that her friends had about enough suffering. They had bailed out of a train, watched as the place they called home get taken over by changelings, and now this. Now they had to suffer through yet another prank from poison joke. Twilight let out a sigh of defeat as they left the cave when they heard Fluttershy.

“Would you guys…um…like a ride?” Fluttershy asked awkwardly.

At first only awkward silence was the only answer until Rarity finally spoke up.

“W-why yes darling, thank you for the kind gesture” Rarity said while giving an awkward smile.

Fluttershy then crouched down and held out a hoof for her friends to walk up. Due to her size everyone had plenty of room on her back. However, in her gentle nature and her giant size she still walked slowly. At 50 feet she was barely below the tree line if she bent her head down. She could hardly walk without knocking over a tree let alone making noise. She kept creeping along until she reached a clearing. She was going to go around it until something caught her eye. She stared off into the distance until she realized where she was looking.

“Oh my,” Fluttershy began “Look it's Canterlot."

Her friends on her back ran up to her shoulder to see the disaster zone that was Canterlot. In the distance they could make out. Hundred of changelings flying in the sky and the same covering on the cocoons draped of the castle and many other important buildings.

“Well, let’s keep goin’ it looks like we are running out of time until that happens to all of Equestria.” Applejack said.

“You know something,” Rarity said “Discord made that big entrance in front of us and then he disappeared so I am just wondering where he went.”

“Well wonder no longer my sweet Rarity.” said a strange voice.

“Ah! Who said that?” Fluttershy asked as she turned her head to the right frantically, only to be met by an equal sized head sticking out of some kind of portal.

“Me.” said Discord bluntly.

That was enough to send Fluttershy over the edge in fright and was responded to by a large pegasus jumping up then falling to the ground with a mighty thud. Also five other ponies fell to the ground as well but their thuds were drowned out by Discord rolling around with laughter.

“Discord...” Twilight said in anger.

“Yes we have established that.” he replied, wiping the tears from his eyes. “Do you like what my patch of poison joke has done? Naturally having a 50 foot tall pony that was against me was a little alarming at first. But when I found out that the pony who had the size advantage would faint at the sight of a spider, it brought me some relief.”

“Your poison joke?” Rainbow Dash asked

“Yes, my poison joke. I made that patch appear just as you ran in the forest just to give you the trouble of having to deal with it. I also led those timberwolves to you and helped the changelings take over Ponyville. Sure I wanted to lead Chrysalis to you; but seeing you ponies get tortured by your journey alone is just too fun! HAHAHAHA! Well I see you all are busy so I’ll catch up with you later. Bye!” Discord said with a mischievous grin.

As he disappeared back through his portal the mane six could still hear his menacing cackle.

“Come on.” Twilight said “Zecora’s hut is on the other side of this clearing."

As they ran off Discord once again opened his portal to see them running then with a snap of his fingers said “Hmmmm Zecora....Chrissie you know what to do.”

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Twilights heart soared as she saw that lights in Zecora’s hut were on. Despite her friends being a good 20 feet behind her, Twilight ran toward the hut and barged in the door. At first she didn’t see anything unusual until someone or something swung a staff and hit Twilight in the head knocking her out cold.