Chapter Eighteen: Difficulty

The archives were, like the rest of Canterlot, uninhabited. The sounds of hooves and feet were the only ones. The door to the Starswirl The Bearded wing was locked magically, so we went back outside and entered through a window. So much for security, I thought as I climbed into the building. The interior of this wing was intact, as though protected from Discord's chaos, somehow. I didn't doubt it- the most powerful unicorn that ever lived had his secrets stored here. Trixie and Twilight were both visibly excited at the wealth of powerful spells they could learn from this place, but they kept to the task of searching the shelves for a spell that might help us. I sifted through some ancient scrolls.

Spells for anything one could imagine- transmute spells, invisibility spells, summoning spells, anti-evil spells, the well-known time spells, even combat spells. All in this ancient, magical place. Rarity spoke.

"What a mystical place this is! So many fantastic spells!" she said with a laugh.

"Fantastic, indeed. Twilight, you know how I said that magic didn't exist in my world?" I said.

"Yes, I do." Twilight replied, sifting through some old books.

"It looks like the concepts in it are very similar to those portrayed in fiction on Earth. I find that odd." Twilight chuckled at that.

"Well, it looks like magic is to be found anywhere, in some way," she said.

"Yeah, even in the sky! Have you seen what pegasi can do?" Rainbow Dash was trying to get my praise for her weather-control abilities. I found that funny.

"Indeed I have, Rainbow Dash."

The search continued, and some interesting spells were found. Pinkie was elated to find a spell of 'summon balloons', Trixie found an 'animate' spell that she was sure she could use in her performances, Derpy was excited to find a spell for baking cup-based pastries, and so on. It wasn't for about an hour that we found what we were looking for.

"Aha! I found something!" Time Piece announced.

"What is it?" Twilight rushed over to see it.

"'Bind Elements of Harmony to object'," He read aloud. Twilight swiped the scroll from his hooves.

"Yes! It says that all the bearers of the Elements must be present, which means us!" A triumphant cheer came from the group, and we found a suitable locale to set the spell in motion; A table in a small empty room, probably for reading. I produced the gun from my backpack, and after inspecting its magazine and safety, I placed it on the table. The six bearers of the Elements of Harmony gathered in a ring around the table while the other five of us watched.

"Are you sure this will work, Twilight?" Fluttershy asked the unicorn.

"I have no idea. It'll have to, though," she replied.

"Well, when it does we can finally be done with Discord's tricks!" Applejack said.

"Awww, yeah! Let's do this!" Rainbow Dash said enthusiatically.

The ritual began.

"I hope this works," Time Piece said worriedly.

"It wouldn't be here if it didn't," I reasoned.

"But what if Twilight isn't powerful enough, and somepony else has to-" We all stared at Trixie with a look that said 'are you serious?'. She noticed, and shut up.

The six fated ponies' eyes began to glow as the ponies focused their power, and so did the gun. Twilight was orchestrating the spell with great concentration. In a great flash, the ponies fell to the ground, strained by their efforts. They quickly rose again.

"It worked! It actually worked!" Twilight cheered.

I went to the table and picked up the gun. It was now a glowing white color. I ejected the magazine, curious. It contained four shining bullets, gleaming with the same energy as the weapon itself. I checked the chamber, and it held one too. I reinserted the magazine and nodded at Twilight.

"Looks like we have our weapon," I said, pocketing the enchanted gun.

"Now what?" Pinkie asked.

"We go find Discord and give him a double dose of Harmony," I said, going for the window leading to the outside of the castle.

As the rest of the group came through the window, I found myself thinking once more that this was just... too easy. I looked around, and despite everything being out of place, nothing looked suspicious. Discord had to be toying with us, letting us obtain a weapon powerful enough to banish him without a hitch. I didn't like it.

"This has been too easy," I said to the ponies.

"What do you mean, 'too easy'?" Twilight asked.

"Discord is too clever to just let us have this," I said, gesturing at the gun protruding from my pants pocket.

"Maybe we're just too good, that's all." Rainbow Dash was confident.

She didn't get a chance to say any more, as all of us began coughing, and soon fell unconsious from a mysterious airborne agent.

*****

I was in my room, in my house, with all the ponies of our group, and I felt a warm sensation of comfort in their company. This immediately felt out of place. First, I hated having large groups in my room. It was a big room, but not that big. I looked about me. Second, all were laughing, having a good time. My room just isn't that fun. I couldn't make out what they were saying. Third, my brother, who I shared my room with, was not present. I tried to leave, and Pinkie Pie stopped me.

"Aren't you going to stay? We're about to have cake!" Whatever this was, it wasn't Pinkie. I could just feel it. I didn't even like cake very much.

"No, thank you," I replied flatly. She stood in front of the door.

"I won't let you leave!" she teased.

"Knock it off, whatever you are." The thing that wasn't Pinkie suddenly changed disposition and voice. Discord's voice coming from Pinkie Pie was just creepy.

"Maybe I've misjudged your fancies. You are... human, after all. This game of mine looks like it won't work on you! You're free to leave, but your... friends are not going to be happy to see you. Ta-ta for now!" He opened the door, and I left. As I went up the stairs, I found myself in a different place, viewing ten large bubbles, each one of a specific color. I knew what this meant; Discord was subjecting all of my allies- friends- to a similar dream. I could only imagine what kind of diabolical mind-control or other sorcery Discord was putting into action. I started towards the closest bubble.