Return of Harmony Part 1

Ponies Log Number 201: It's not uncommon for ponies to learn the hard way just how your weaknesses can be used against you. And that a bad situation will always get worse before it gets better...

It was just a day after Mario's visit to Canterlot that Cheerilee was guiding the class through the same gardens.

"I want to start our field trip here," said Cheerilee as she guided the young ponies through the area, "in the world famous Canterlot sculpture garden. That one over there represents "Friendship"..." it was then three familiar fillies walked by a statue of three little ponies standing up top of each other. Apple Bloom came to a stop to take a look at the statue, causing Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo bumped into her. They all just gave each other some annoyed glares. They had apparently been getting on each other's nerves all day.

"All right, my little ponies," said Cheerilee, "This one represents "Victory"." Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, and Sweetie Belle just looked at the statue.

"How cool would it be to have that for a cutie mark?" said Scootaloo as she looked at the flag the statue was holding.

"Cool, if you were actually victoryful at somethin'," said Apple Bloom in a snarky tone.

"That's not a word!" Sweetie Belle retorted.

"What are you, a dictionary?" Scootaloo shot back.

"Girls!" Cheerilee retorted, getting the three fillies to stop fighting as she stops the class before the mutated serpent statue, "Now this is a really interesting statue. What do you notice about it?"

"It's got an eagle claw!" said Apple Bloom.

"And a lion paw!" said Scootaloo.

"And a snake tail!" said Sweetie Belle.

"This creature is called a draconequus," said Cheerilee, "He has the head of a pony and the body made up of all sorts of things. What do you suppose that represents?"

"Confusion!" said Apple Bloom.

"Evil!" Sweetie Belle interjected as she shoved into Apple Bloom.

"Chaos!" Scootaloo added, shoving Apple Bloom into Sweetie Belle.

"It's not chaos, you dodo!" said Sweetie Belle to Scootaloo.

"Don't call me thing I don't know the meaning off," Scootaloo shot back, "and it is chaos!"

"Is not!" Sweetie Belle yelled.

"You're both wrong!" Apple Bloom retorted before they all begin to tussle with each other. A cloud of smoke appeared around them as they began to fight. Cheerilee just rolled her eyes and shook her head at them. Unaware to her or any of the younger ponies, the heart of the statue began to glow twice.

"Actually, in a way, you're all right," said Cheerilee, making the three fillies stop fighting each other as the rest of the students around them just glared, "This statue represents "Discord", which means lack of harmony between ponies." The three fillies smiled.

"In fact, Cheerilee continued, "You three have demonstrated discord so well that you're each going to write me an essay explaining it." That flipped over their smiles instantly as the other students around them laughed quietly at them.

"Now let's go," said Cheerilee, "and I don't want any more fighting!" Cheerilee then led the younger ponies ahead with the three fillies tagging from behind.

"It's confusion!" Apple Bloom whispered under her breath.

"Evil!" said Sweetie Belle in a quiet tone.

"Chaos!" Scootaloo added.

Little did they know that their continued fighting had seemed to have caused the "Discord" statue to crack. A devious laughter could be heard as something terrible was about to revive back to life.

Were the three fillies the cause? They may have sped up the releasing process, but the draconequus had already succeeded in obtaining the power he needed to escape from another source...

(main theme)

why am I even here? I don't need anypony...

Of course not, but you can watch me defeat them.

Why?

to make them pay for what they did to you. Wouldn't you like that?

I see...at last, they will know how they made me feel. At last, I will have...revenge...

Muwahahahahaha!

Back in Ponyville, all seemed well. Until Rainbow came flying past chasing what appeared to be a renegade storm cloud. A pink renegade storm cloud.

"Come back here, you!" said Rainbow as she went to capture the cloud, "Gotcha!" But then when she crashed into the cloud she got herself all sticky.

"Eww, what's is this?" Rainbow exclaimed until she recognized the content of the cloud, "Cotton candy?" It was then several clouds zoomed past her. Then she heard the rumble of thunder from above as Rainbow felt something wet hit her nose and she looked up to find an even larger cotton candy cloud.

"Wait a second!" said Rainbow, "It's not supposed to rain until tomorrow. You can't just..." The "rain" began to pour down on her anyway, leaving her very annoyed.

"You did," she muttered to herself.

In sweet apple acres, Applejack was just busy collecting stocks of corn when Rainbow was flying quickly in the sky after another pink cloud.

"Hey, I didn't tell you to go anywhere!" Rainbow yelled at the cloud as she continued pursuit. Several others began to appear in the sky and it began to rain on the orange pony.

"Rainbow Dash," said Applejack, "what's going on with this rain? I mean chocolate milk? I mean chocolate milk rain?!"

"There's crazy weather all over Equestria!" said Rainbow, "Cloudsdale is getting soaked by a major cola storm right now! But don't worry. I'm not leaving you until I get control of Ponyville!" It was then all the corn in the fields began to turn into popcorn. Rainbow quickly flies away as the mounds of popcorn grow as Applejack gets blasted in the face by a few popped kernels, knocked backwards, and gets buried in one of the mounds of popcorn.

"Why would you wanna stop this?" said Pinkie as she started eating the pop corn and slurping the chocolate milk rain happily. It was then Rarity arrives wearing a designer purple raincoat and has a saddle umbrella on her back.

"Ahem, I heard about your troubles, Applejack," said Rarity, "and I came to see if there's anything I can do without getting wet. Or dirty. Or out from under my umbrella." Applejack just stared at her blankly when suddenly all the apples on the apple trees became mega sized. Their large size causes the trees to creak loudly as they tilt to one side. Several squirrels appear and starting eating up the mega sized apples.

"Fluttershy! Do somethin'!" said Applejack, but the yellow Pegasus was having her own problems. Apparently Angel was also gobbling up one of the large apples.

"Now Angel," said Fluttershy gently, "you really shouldn't-" Then before Fluttershy's eyes, Angels hind legs and feet became long and skinny, making him look like a cross between a bunny and a deer and he took off.

"No!" Fluttershy gasped in shock, "It's not possible! I must be seeing things!" It was then in the distance several other bunny-deer began to run about the landscape.

"Don't worry everyone," said a voice. Everyone turned to see Twilight, using her magic to hold up a book with Spike nearby. She then closed the book and tossed it aside, "I've learned a new spell that will fix everything." Twilight then concentrated as she made her horn glow before firing a large magic blast. It was so strong that it even sent a magical wave that spread away from her like a rock when it hit still water. Twilight opened her eyes in shock when she saw that her spell...had no effect whatsoever. The chocolate milk rain was still falling, the corn was still popping, and the strange looking animals stayed...strange looking.

"My fail-safe spell...failed," said Twilight, still in shock, "whatever do we do?"

"Give up?" Spike proposed, but only earned a glare from Twilight.

"Spike, Twilight will come up with something," said Rarity as she placed her umbrella saddle on Twilight's back.

"Hmm, time for plan B," said Twilight after pondering to herself for a bit, "Rainbow, can you corral all these clouds into one corner of the sky?" For the moment, Rainbow was trying to get herself unstuck from one of the cotton candy clouds. Some of the animals were even licking the candy off. Once she managed to do so and shake off the animals, she gives Twilight a salute and starts to round up all the cotton candy clouds together. Pinkie had been reclining and enjoying the rain, her mane drenched in chocolate milk, until Rainbow pulled the cloud away. Twilight then turned to Applejack.

"Applejack, I need you to bring those high-strung storm clouds down to Earth," Twilight instructed. Applejack then grabbed her lasso and grabbed the giant collection of cotton candy clouds to pull them down. Pinkie has tried to recline and enjoy the rain again when her enjoyment was once again cut off.

"Hey, what happened?" said Pinkie when her stream of chocolate milk was cut off. By now applejack had started tying up one giant cotton candy cloud when Twilight whispered something to Fluttershy. Fluttershy just listened before giving a smile.

"Oh dear," said Fluttershy, trying to sound dramatic, "I hope none of the animals see these delicious filled chocolate cotton candy clouds. I'd hate to have to share them." The others just waited patiently as Pinkie was faceplanted into the cloud enjoying herself.

"You and me both, sister!" said Pinkie when the animals all crowded around the cloud, knocking Pinkie out of the way, "Hey!" The animals just enjoyed the cloud as Pinkie glared since she couldn't find a spot to get some of it herself.

"And when y'all are done with that," Applejack told them, "feel free to have some popcorn for dessert." Twilight was very pleased.

"You see, Spike?" said Twilight as she turned to her number one assistant, "You should never give up. There's nothing we can't overcome if we all work together." Spike just looked rather bored for a second before he hunched over.

"BURP!"

Spike then produced a scroll on the ground. Twilight began to read it as she gasped.

"Come on, girls," said Twilight, "Princess Celestia wants to see us all Canterlot immediately!" Everyone just looked at each other worried.

Inside Canterlot castle, one could see Princess Celestia pacing anxiously back and forth from inside the castle. She came to a stop when she saw the six ponies arrive in the main room, charging through the front door in a hurry.

"Princess Celestia, we came as fast as we could!" said Twilight as they came to stop on front of the splitting staircase.

"Thank you Twilight," said Princess Celestia, "Thank you, all."

"Is this about the weather?" Twilight asked very quickly, "And the animal's weird behavior? What's happening out there? Why isn't my magic working? Is there-" Twilight was then cut off when Princess Celestia raised a fore-hoof in the air.

"Where's my son?" she asked calmly. All six ponies looked rather uneasy at each other and Twilight just looked down at her hooves.

"He's...gone...your majesty," said Twilight slowly.

"Gone?" Princess Celestia exclaimed in surprise.

"You see, your highness," said Applejack, "things between Mario and Twilight had started to heal, but...well..."

"It was my fault," Pinkie admitted, "I told Mario that we had known the whole time that Twilight was panicking about her date with him to the Gala. And that she had found out about his feelings beforehand."

"He felt like we set him up to be humiliated," Fluttershy added.

"We left him alone to give him time to cool off," Rainbow continued, "we didn't know until we were on our way here that he had run away."

"Princess, please understand that I never meant to hurt Mario," said Twilight sadly, "I just...panicked. I never really thought about the idea of him...having feelings for me and I...I just lost the courage to speak up, even saying sorry just didn't feel like it was enough. Now...he's gone...I'll never forgive myself if something's happened to him..." Princess Celestia just listened quietly before giving a long sigh.

"It appears my worst fears have been realized," said Princess Celestia, "Follow me." Princess Celestia than guided them down a long hallway filled with various handmade stained glass windows.

"I've called you here for a matter of great importance," Princess Celestia explained as she lead them down the hallway, "It seems an old foes of mine, someone I thought I had defeated long ago, had returned." As they continued down the hallway, Fluttershy then sees the light reflection of one of the windows on the ground.

"His name...is Discord," said Princess Celestia as Fluttershy looked up and saw a large stained glass image of the draconequus in front of her.

"Squee!" Fluttershy screamed and runs away from the image.

"Discord is the mischievous spirit of disharmony," Princess Celestia continues to explain as she shows them another stained glass window of Discord controlling ponies like puppets, "Before my sister and I stood up to him, he ruled Equestria in an eternal state of unrest and unhappiness. Luna and I saw how miserable life was for the Earth ponies, Pegasi, and unicorns alike, so after discovering the Elements of Harmony..." She led them towards another stained glass of her and Luna surround a now stone version of Discord, "...we combined our powers and rose up against him, turning him to stone."

"All right, Princess!" said Rainbow impressively, giving her a hoof pump.

"I thought the spell we cast would keep him contained forever," Princess Celestia continued as they continued to venture further down the hall, "but since Luna and I are no longer connected to the Elements, the spell has been broken."

"No longer connected?" said Twilight puzzled. It was then they arrived before a rather majestic looking door that was royal purple in color and coated with some gems.

"This is Canterlot Tower," Princess Celestia told the six ponies, "where the Elements are kept since all of you recovered them. I need you to wield the Elements of Harmony once again and stop Discord before he thrusts all of Equestria into eternal chaos." Everypony just looked worried when Pinkie suddenly zipped away.

"But why us?" Twilight asked, still not understand why it had to be the six of them, "Why don't you-"

"Hey, look!" said Pinkie as she showed them a stained glass that showed them defeating Nightmare Moon, "We're famous!"

"You seven showed the full potential of the Elements by harnessing the magic of your friendship to beat a mighty foe," said Princess Celestia.

"But were missing Mario!" said Twilight, "he's the Seventh Element! We need him to bound and control the magic we unleashed!"

"Until we can locate Mario, you will need rely on just the six main elements for now," Princess Celestia answered, "they were enough to defeat Discord then and they should be enough to defeat him now..." She raised her wings and the tone of her voice became more serious, "...Although Luna and I once wielded the Elements, it is you who control their power, and it is you who must defeat Discord!" Everypony flinched a bit at her tone and looked at each other. Twilight was a bit worried herself before she gave the Princess a determined look.

"Princess Celestia, you can count on-"

"Hold on a second!" said Pinkie, cutting Twilight off, as her eyes bulged at the idea of chocolate, "Eternal chaos comes with chocolate rain, you guys! Chocolate Rain! We could totally make Mario forgive us if we gave him lots of that! He loves chocolate after all!" Everypony just looked at her before Twilight just zipped over to the Princess.

"Don't listen to her, Princess," said Twilight, "We're honored to use the Elements of Harmony." Princess Celestia then recomposed herself as she stuck her horn into a hole on the door and used her magic to activate it. Three sets of circles then lit up before the entire door glowed and opened before them. Everyone minus the Princess looked away from the bright light as they saw before them a jeweled chest.

"Ooh, you can keep the Elements," said Rarity as Princess Celestia presented the chest to them, "I'll take that case!"

"Have no fear, ponies," said Princess Celestia, "I have total confidence that you'll be able to defeat Discord with these!" She then opened the chest to find it...empty!

"GASP!" everypony exclaimed as their jaws dropped. Everypony except for Pinkie that is.

"Oh well," said Pinkie, "If anyone needs me, I'll be outside in the chocolate puddles with a giant swizzle straw." She then bounced away as everypony else was in too much shock to answer. Celestia just dropped the chest after she started to recompose herself.

"The Elements!" Twilight exclaimed in shock, "They're gone!"

"That chamber is protected by a powerful spell that only I can break!" said Princess Celestia as she paced back and forth with worry, "This doesn't make sense."

Muwahahahaha!

Suddenly an devious laughter echoes throughout the halls. Princess Celestia and the others look around but can't find the source of the laughter.

"Make sense?" said a voice, "Oh, what fun is there in making sense?"

"Discord..." said Princess Celestia, "Show yourself!" The draconequus chuckled.

"Did you miss me, Celestia?" Discord asked as the stained glass image of him to comes to life, "I missed you. It's quite lonely being incased in stone, but you wouldn't know that, would you, because I don't turn ponies into stone!"

"Enough!" said Princess Celestia sternly, "What have you done with the Elements of Harmony?"

"Oh, I just borrowed them for a teensy little while," Discord replied casually as he snapped his fingers making himself disappear as well as the stained glass versions of all seven elements. Princess Celestia just rubbed a hoof impatiently on the carpet.

"You'll never get away with this, Discord!" she said angrily.

"Oh, I'd forgotten how grim you can be, Celestia," said Discord as he repapered in another stained glass window, looking rather bored, "It's really quite boring."

"Hey! Nopony insults the Princess!" Rainbow makes an impluse charge at the glass, but then...

SMACK!

Rainbow hit the glass face first and Discord disappears easily to avoid getting hit. Rainbow has to literally peel her face off the glass as she tries to recover as Discord reappears.

"Oh, you must be Rainbow Dash, famed for her loyalty, the Element of Harmony you represent," said Discord.

"That's right!" said Rainbow definitely, "I'll always by loyal to the Princess!"

"We'll see about that," said Discord as he disappears again.

"I can't believe we're wasting our time talking to a tacky window," said Rarity indignantly as Discord reappeared in the window next to her in a reclining position.

"The beautiful Rarity," said Discord, "representing the element of generosity, if I'm not mistaken." Rarity looked rather uneasy as Applejack walked up to her looking very annoyed.

"So you know who we are, big deal," said Applejack annoyed.

"Oh, I know much more than that, honest Applejack," Discord answered, enlarging himself.

"You seem to know our strengths too," said Twilight with a glare.

"Yes, Twilight Sparkle," said Discord as he moved about the glass showing them with their elements, "and yours is the most powerful of all the elements, magic...oh wait, that's actually the second most powerful, the numero uno is the one belonging to a pony named Mario Star, the element of love. Ugh, so revolting...good thing he's already been...dealt with..." Everypony gasped.

"No!" said Twilight in despair.

"What have you done with my son?!" Princess Celestia demanded.

"Umm, now where was I? Oh yes," said Discord with his claws on his hips, ignoring Celestia's question, "While Twilight is the element of magic, Fluttershy's is kindness, and Pinkie Pie's is a personal favorite of mine - laughter." Discord laughed as Pinkie snickered.

"Pinkie!" Twilight scolded. After hearing that Discord has dealt with Mario, one would think Pinkie wouldn't be finding anything about this funny, but there she was laughing.

"He's standing on your head!" Pinkie pointed out that Discord was doing the moon walk on head of the glass pony representing Twilight.

"Stop stalling, Discord!" said Princess Celestia sternly, "What have you done with the Elements of Harmony and my son?"

"Oh, so boring, Celestia," said Discord in annoyance, "Really? Fine, I'll tell you, but only tell you my way. To retrieve your missing Elements and your precious son, just make sense of this change of events. Twists and turns are my master plan. Then find the Elements back where you began." As Discord spoke, he shifted from one stained glass window to the next. The ponies struggle to keep track of him and follow his little riddle before he returns to the glass window of him using ponies as puppets and returns to being a mural.

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

"What do you reckon he meant?" Applejack asked everypony else, "Twists and turns and ending back where we started?"

"Twists and turns...twists and turns...twists and turns!" said Twilight as she paced towards a window and then realized something, "That's it! I'll bet Discord hid the Elements in the palace labyrinth! Mario might be there as well."

"Good luck, my little ponies," said Princess Celestia, "The fate of Equestria is in your hooves. And please...find my son and makes thing right. He needs you all."

"Thanks, Princess, we will," Twilight answered, "We won't let you down." The six ponies made their exit as they ran out of the halls. Princess Celestia watches them leave when she hears the ominous laughter of Discord echoing down the hall once more.

It didn't take much longer before all six ponies arrived at the entrance to the garden and they all gasped.

"W-we have to go in there?" said Fluttershy, quivering fearfully.

"Nope!" said Rainbow, "Dopey Discord forgot about these babies!" Rainbow then took off to the sky.

"I'll just do a quick flyover and we'll have the elements in no time," said Rainbow but then a flash of light appeared. Rainbow suddenly came crashing down onto her back and then noticed that her back was...wingless.

"My wings!" she exclaimed in horror. There was then another flash of light. Fluttershy's wings were gone as well.

"EEEEEEEEEK!" Fluttershy screamed seeing her back was also wingless. Two more flashes of light removed the horns for both Rarity and Twilight. They gasped as they saw each other.

"Your horn! My horn! AAAAAAAAAAH!" Twilight and Rarity said together as they screamed and fuss about in full panic. It was then the big bad lunatic himself made is LIVE debut before the ponies, laughing at them all, thunder clashing behind him. The six ponies all gather close together fearfully.

"You-you should see the looks on your faces," he laughed, "Priceless!"

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

"You'll get them back in good time," said Discord, scratching his chin as he hovered about them, nudging Applejack flank, smirking at Rainbow and Fluttershy, and then tracing a finger over Twilight's chin, (the creep), "I simply took them to ensure there is no cheating. You see, this is the first rule of the game. No flying, and no magic."

"The first rule?" said Rainbow wearily as discord headed over to a hedge to recline.

"The second rule is everypony has to play or the game is over and I win," said Discord, "Oh, and you'll also be having a spectator to watch your progress. He's been looking forward to watch how you all will do today!" The other ponies looked puzzled until Discord realizing that the so called spectator didn't appear.

"Today, today!" Discord sneered under his breath behind him, "that was your cue!"

"Oh whatever!" a familiar voice bellow as Twilight's eyes shrunk. With a poof of a teleportation spell, there before them was another pony, his hooves and tail a dull shade of grey, wearing a dark cloak with a black rose pin on the front and a hoodie to cover his face so only his nose and horn were visible.

"Hoods off during the show!" Discord shouted. The pony growled sternly before using his magic to lift the hood. The six ponies gasped in horror. There before them with his coat, mane, and tail in shades of grey, glaring at them sternly with ice cold grey eyes that had black circles under them...

...was Mario Star.

"Mario..." said Twilight sadly. Mario wasted no time leaping off and stomping the ground around him, causing it to crack.

"Say hello to today's special spectator," said Discord, "he's going to be watching to see how you all do." Mario said nothing but just glared at them all coldly. While none of them admitted to it, his glare gave them all a bad case of the goosebumps.

"Mario, you're...you're working with Discord?" Rainbow said at last. Mario just snarled.

"I work for nopony," said Mario in a now deep but cold tone, "I work alone. Discord said he help me get exactly what I've been wanting. Revenge." The other ponies felt their hearts break.

"I thought love was something special," Mario snarled, "but you all proved to me just how foolish I was and to think I could ever be loved or accepted when all you did was lie to me and treat me like your little doormat!" Everypony felt rather guilty, especially Twilight.

"Mario, please, don't let Discord do this..." Twilight said softly. `

"I don't care what this lunatic does or has planned," said Mario darkly, "I'm not going to help you either. If you want your precious elements so badly then give it your best shot. I don't care about any of you and I don't need you either."

"Mario..." Twilight said, her voice cracking.

"You have no idea what is coming to you," said Mario with his back turned against them, "especially you, Twilight Sparkle!" Mario then did a giant leap back towards the top of the ledge, gave them a final glare before teleporting away.

"Ugh, such a drama queen that one," said Discord, "but it certainly makes for a good plot twist! Good luck everypony!" Discord then disappeared, laughing as he did so. The other ponies were all shaken up, especially Twilight.

"Now what are we going to do?" Pinkie said worried, "Mario's gone to the dark side! Soon he'll be wearing a black mask and telling ponies: I. am. your. father!" Pinkie deepened her voice to proof her point and breathing deeply.

"He was only wearing a black cloak," Rainbow pointed out.

"Give it time..." Pinkie warned. The others look unamused, but then they noticed that Twilight was looking very upset as she turned towards them with eyes that were fighting back tears.

"What have I done?" she asked. The others didn't wait long before Applejack walked up to her.

"Don't you worry about thing," said Applejack, "Let's focus on getting the elements and then we can find a way to deal with Mario." Twilight wiped her eyes and replaced her sadness with determination.

"Never fear girls," said Twilight, "we have each other!"

"Yeah," said Rainbow in agreement, "Like Twilight said, there's nothing we can't overcome if we all stick together!" They all smile in agreement before lining up side by side at the entrance to the labyrinth. With determined faces, they each take a firm stomp with a fore-hoof.

"All right, girls, let's do this!" said Twilight.

"Together!" they all shouted, but then they were all sent screaming as some hedge walls rose up and separated them all from each other. They also prevented them from leaving as well.

"Stay calm, girls!" Twilight shouted as a "Brady Bunch" style screen appeared with her in the middle, "everypony had to the middle as quickly as you can, and we'll regroup there!"

"Moving out!" said Rainbow from the upper left square.

"See you in the center," said Rarity from the bottom right square.

"Yee-haw," said Applejack from the bottom left square.

"See you guys there!" said Pinkie in the upper right square. They all took down their pre-determined paths as Fluttershy appeared from below, gasping with fright.

"What's that? Who's there?" Fluttershy exclaimed, "Girls!" The yellow Pegasus was given no answer. Mario just watched a short distance away.

"And so it begins," he said with a devious smirk, "heh, heh, heh." He had no idea what Discord was going to do, but he knew it was going to be what they deserved.

Applejack was just trying to move as quickly as she could to try and get the middle of the garden as fast as she could. Just as she passes a particular intersection, she notices three apple on the ground. When she approaches them, the start to roll away from her.

"What in tarnation?" said Applejack as she chases after them. She is soon brought to an open area in the maze surrounded with various apple trees.

"Where am I?" Applejack asks. The three apples began to circle before her as another apple clocks her on the head. The apples from the trees form three groups, red, light red, and green as they began to laugh and circle around her.

"Who are y'all?" Applejack asked uneasily.

"The keeper of the groove of truth," said the red apples as they formed two eyes and a smile, "You may ask us..."

"...one question..." said the light-red apples.

"...past, future, or present," said the green apples.

"But be warned..." said the red apples.

"...that the truth..." said the light-red apples.

"...may not always be pleasant," said green apples.

"All right then," said Applejack, feeling as uneasy as ever, "I don't trust this place worth a hill of beans, but I've got a really bad feeling about this feller Discord. What's gonna come of this mission we're on?"

"For the answer you seek..." said the red apples as they head towards a pond.

"...go ahead, take a peek," said the light-red apples. Applejack looked into the pond. It wasn't long before she saw all seven of her friends stand together in the middle of town.

"I'm through with all of you!" Pond Mario shouted.

"I hope I never see you again!" Pond Rainbow added.

"Me too!" said Pond Fluttershy.

"Fine!" Pond Pinkie added.

"Fine!" Pond Rarity repeated.

"It's settled then," said Pond Twilight before they all left their separate ways. Applejack was in shock.

"No! Our friendship? Over?!" Applejack exclaimed as she lowered her hat. Unknowing to her, Discord was above, animating the apple clusters using puppet strings, chuckling to himself. Applejack looks into the pond and sees the entire event play in front of her eyes once again.

"This just can't be the truth," said Applejack in disbelief.

"When all the truth does..." said the light-red apples.

"...is make your heart ache..." said the green apples as Discord reflected his face and eyes in them to stare at Applejack.

"...sometimes a lie is easier to take..." said the green apples and Discord said together, laughing as Applejack was corrupted, and her entire coloring became a shade of grey. She just stood there frozen until a nearby hedge lowered itself to reveal Twilight.

"Applejack! Thank goodness!" said Twilight happily, "I thought I heard voices over here! Who were you talking to?" To Twilight, there was no pool or any apples, just Applejack staring at hedge.

"I was talking to...uh..nopony!" said Applejack quickly, shifting her eyes quickly and nervously, "Nopony whatsoever!"

"What?" said Twilight in shock.

"Nothing," said Applejack quickly, "Come on, uh, we best be going!" Applejack quickly left the area.

"Did Applejack just...?" said Twilight but dismissed the idea, "Come on, Twilight, Applejack wouldn't lie." They left the area as Mario stood on top of the hedge. He had seen everything.

"You are so naive my dear Twilight," said Mario as she walked away, "But you'll learn how painful the truth can be..."

In another part of the maze, Pinkie was just whistling and bouncing about. She then comes to an area that is filled with lots of balloons with smiles on them. She could hear all the balloons laughing and having a good time as she made her way into the area.

"Whee! This is the greatest balloon garden I've ever seen!" said Pinkie, enjoying herself, "This is the first balloon garden I've ever seen, but still! WAH!" Pinkie then tripped and splashed into some mud, now the balloons surround her and continue to laugh at her expense.

"Hey, what gives?" Pinkie asked, now covered in mud. It was then Discord arrived.

"What's the matter, Pinkie Pie?" said Discord, "I thought you appreciated a good laugh?"

"It's different," Pinkie protested, "They're laughing at me." Discord then put a balloon over his face so he can keep talking through it.

"It's hardly different," said Discord, "Your friends laugh at you all the time."

"My friends laugh with me, not at me," Pinkie protested.

"Oh really?" said Discord as he hovered near her and started to circle her, laughing at her. Pinkie tried to follow the balloon as the other balloons continued to laugh at her as well. Some turning into the faces of her other friends as they laughed at her too.

"No! Stop it!" Pinkie begged, feeling a bit dizzy as she cowered to the ground, but the laughter got louder until the green balloon looked directly at her.

"Oh, poor Pinkie Pie," said Discord, "And here I thought laughter made you happy." Pinkie was instantly corrupted and her coloring grayed when she gave the balloon a stern glare.

"Happy?" Pinkie said in stone serious tone, "I don't think so." It was then all the balloons popped and Pinkie was left alone. Twilight and Applejack found her right after the balloons were gone.

"Pinkie Pie!" Twilight exclaimed, "Are we glad to see you!" Twilight rushed over until Pinkie gave her a death glare.

"Oh are you are, huh?" Pinkie snarled, "Why need a good laugh?" Pinkie stomped away and past Applejack, who just watched her pass without a word.

"Pinkie?" said Twilight in shock, "What do you suppose has her so upset? It's not like her."

"I didn't notice anything strange about Pinkie," said Applejack quickly before turning around to leave the area as well.

"Weird," said Twilight, feeling rather puzzled, "Better pick up the pace before the stress of this gets the better of all of us." As Twilight walked away, she failed to see the sinister smile of Discord's Balloon behind her. Mario, standing above the hedge to the area, just rolled his eyes.

"Always knew that Pinkie could dish out jokes, but couldn't take being the joke herself," Mario muttered aloud, "Pitiful. Maybe this will teach her twice to take a hint when a pony can't stand her."

Rarity was just walking about the garden in a snooty manner.

"I was expecting an audience with the Princess," said Rarity to herself, "Not outdoor sports. Augh! Oh my..." Rarity then comes to stop as she sees a rather large wall with three diamonds on the center of it. Discord then appears in the reflection of all three diamonds.

"Welcome to your lucky day, Rarity," said Discord, "You've found the one thing in Equestria that could rival my face for sheer beauty. What do you think? You like?" A bright light begins to flash before Rarity.

"Yes...I like very much," said Rarity as she is starting to be corrupted, but stops herself and shakes her head, "No! No, I shan't succumb to such fabulousness. Must...get to the center...to meet the others." Rarity dragged her hooves to fight the temptation, but in the end give into it, turning grey and becoming corrupted.

"Mine!" said Rarity as she used her fore-hooves to dig and break down the wall. By the time she had finished, the wall was in ruins and she was very dirty.

"Well, Rarity, it took forever, but it was worth it," she told herself, "who knew three little gemstones would turn out to be this handsome hunk of a diamond?" There before Rarity was diamond the size of a full grown stallion, "Now to get you home." Rarity grunts as she uses all her strength to lift the diamond on her back. The rubble then disappears as Twilight, Pinkie, and Applejack arrive.

"Rarity! Are we glad to see.." said Twilight before she saw that the grayed out marshmallow pony was doing, "Why are you carrying a humungous boulder?"

"What do you mean, "boulder"?" said Rarity as she puts it down and rubs a fore-hoof on it. This big beautiful bedazzling rock is a diamond!" She then got into Twilight's face.

"And it's all mine!" Rarity shouted, "keep your envious little eyes off it! I found it and it's mine, fair and square!" She then grunted as she lifted the "diamond" and carried it away. Twilight just looks at Rarity worried as the others walk by without another word. Mario just rolls his eyes at what had happened.

"Pathetic," he snorted, "I already knew Rarity would do that. Then again...I'd love to see the look on her face when she finally goes to the spa to clean up. Hope you're ready to sell the boutique sweetie. It'll cost you that much to fix that hoof-i-cure! Ha!" Mario then teleported away.

As for Fluttershy, she was timidly trying to find her way through the maze as she popped out of one hedge and made her way through, her teeth chattering fearfully.

"Okay, I can do this," said Fluttershy, trying to pep talk to herself, "I can...EEEEK!" Fluttershy then was frightened as three pink butterflies appear and dives back into a hedge wall with her back end and tail sticking out. But then turns around and smiles excitedly.

"Oh wait a minute...butterflies?" said Fluttershy excitedly as she took off after them, "Wait! Don't leave me here!" It wasn't long before she lost sight of them. The three butterflies reappear before her, now showing they have the same facial features as Discord.

"Fluttershy, looks like you've been left behind by your so-called friends, huh?" said one butterfly.

"Oh no," said Fluttershy, "I'm certain they're doing their best to find me."

"Well, it must be so upsetting to know how weak and helpless they think you are," said the butterfly.

"Not at all," answered Fluttershy, "I am weak and helpless and I appreciate their understanding." Fluttershy seemed to have a good answer to the butterfly's attempts to make her doubt herself, and it was really getting on the butterfly's nerves.

"Yes...Well," the butterfly retorted, showing its patience was thinning out, "surely, it burns you up..."

"Not really," Fluttershy responded, "In fact, I think I'm awfully lucky to have friends who want me to be the best I can be." That was the melting point.

"Oh, for goodness sake!" Discord snapped, corrupting Fluttershy by pressing a finger on the top of head like it was activation button, "You've been kind for far too long, my dear. Time to be cruel. Arrivederci!" Discord then poofed away indignantly when the other ponies arrived.

"Fluttershy! I'm so glad to see a friendly face," said Twilight as she approached her, "This awful labyrinth is getting to everypony." Rarity was just quiet with her "diamond" on her back. Applejack just growled and Pinkie gave her a raspberry. Fluttershy just glares at her.

"Aw, boo-hoo-hoo!" said Fluttershy in a tone that made a pony wonder if she and Diamond Tiara had switched bodies, "Why don't you wave your magical little horn and make everything alright?"

"Uh..." said Twilight stunned by the snarky comment.

"Oh, that's right," said Fluttershy snootily, "You can't. You don't have one." Fluttershy then snapped her tail into Twilight's face as she walked away.

"What is happening to my friends?" said Twilight as Fluttershy kicked Pinkie in a hedge. Applejack laughed at the pink pony as she fell out.

"And what are you laughing at?" Pinkie snarled.

"Chocolate milk," said Applejack with a fake innocent tone. Twilight just looks stunned at the whole scene.

"Little help here!" Rarity called, feeling exhausted from carrying her "diamond" as Twilight goes to help.

"Thanks Twilight," said Rarity.

"You're welcome-"

"But don't get any idea about my gem!" Rarity warned before Twilight could finish, "I know where you live." Twilight just flinched away at her tone before they moved on. Mario was just watching from above when Discord parked himself nearby.

"Way to keep your cool," Mario remarked bluntly. Discord mocked his comment.

"Well, are you at least enjoying the revenge?" Discord asked.

"Considering the show was free," Mario answered in the same tone, "It's satisfactory I guess."

"Then my job is done," said Discord, "Oh wait! There's still one more!" Discord then vanished as Mario rolled his eyes and jumped behind the ledge.

Rainbow was just making her way through the area in a stealthy but quick manner, zooming from one hedge intersection to another. It was then she heard some thunder clash and saw a paper thin cloud shooting rainbow lightning bolts from it.

"I've got you now, element," said Rainbow as she chased after the cloud. She was then brought to a stop when she saw Discord lounging between two trees using some clouds for a hammock.

"Oh, I can see why you like these clouds so much," Discord remarked, "Very plush."

"Get off there and put 'em up!" said Rainbow, standing on her hind legs and punched about with her fore-hooves, "Come on! Let's go!"

"Hey, I'm here to deliver a message!" said Discord as he climbed off the hammock.

"I've got a message for you too!" Rainbow retorted, still giving jabs with her fore-hoof.

"Listen closely, this is important," said Discord in a serious tone, "A weighty choice is yours to make: a right selection of a big mistake. If a wrong choice, you chose to pursue, the foundations of home will crumble without you." The paper thunder cloud began to spin, showing Rainbow a vision of Cloudsdale crumbling into ruins and other Pegasus ponies fleeing for their lives. Rainbow gasped in horror as the corruption begins to take effect as Discord presents her with a box.

"That box contains your wings," said Discord, "You can take them and leave the game, or you can carry on aimlessly wandering the maze. Your choice." Rainbow just stood stiff. Mario was standing on a hedge behind her, smirking deviously as she watched Rainbow make her choice.

As for the rest of the group, they were just walking about quietly as Twilight was left in the back carrying Rarity's "diamond" alone.

"Must...find...Rainbow Dash," Twilight panted, trying to stay positive, "as a team...we're unstoppable. Rainbow Dash won't let us down."

"Well, looky there," said Applejack as Twilight caught up with her, "Rainbow Dash is flying away. She's abandonin' us."

"Now I know that's a lie," said Twilight as she set the rock down and then gasped as she saw that Rainbow was flying away into the sky, "How can it be?" There was a clash of thunder as the entire garden lowered itself into the ground, leaving nothing but a large shallow valley where the labyrinth once stood. Discord then appeared before then all.

"Well, well, well," said Discord, "somepony broke the "no wings, no magic" rule." He then snapped his finger to return Twilight and Rarity's horns, and Fluttershy's wings before getting into Twilight's face, "Game's over, my little ponies. You didn't find your precious elements. Looks like we might be due for a big old storm of chaos!" Discord than laughed manically as the thunder and lightning clashed behind him as he opened an upside down umbrella. Twilight just looks at him fearfully before she sees Mario standing just a few yards away.

"Mario! Please!" Twilight called out, "Please! Help us!" Mario just glared at her, snarling before he turned and walked away. Twilight felt her heart break as Mario disappeared out of sight.

(To be Continued)

Ugh, let me just say that I really didn't enjoy writing this chapter, especially with Mario being so cold and indifferent. But it's what you guys wanted to see I guess.

Peace Pony Fans...