...What I mean to say, is that this is a pressing matter, everypony. Ponyville with no music isn't Ponyville at all!”

“I agree,” Rainbow Dash replied. “Which makes my idea so much more awesome! Listen; if we get our hooves on the Elements of Harmony we could take out this jerk before he makes another appearance. He deserves it! Not only did he cast a spell on everypony, he zapped Vinyl and crashed the concert!"

“I have ta agree with Dash, Sugar Cube.” Applejack, who up to this point had been holding her tongue, couldn’t help but interject with her own two bits' worth. “This Mozart fella is a powerful one. We can’t jus’ canter up to ‘em and fend em off! We need the elements! Did ya see that thingamajigger he was holdin’?”

“Yes!” Twilight said desperately. “I saw it! I just don’t like the idea of harming anypony if we don’t have to.”

“I... um, I agree,.” Fluttershy whispered, almost too low to be heard.

“But look at what he’s done to us… to the whole of Ponyville! Hay, that should be enough to convince you. We don’t know what will happen if the town is deprived of music for much longer. It’s just like you said Twi! ‘Ponyville wouldn’t be Ponyville if there wasn’t any music!’” Rainbow Dash explained. Twilight, unable to make the decision, turned to Rarity.

“Rarity, what are your thoughts on all of this? You can be the tie breaker.” Rarity rose from her sitting positioned and stood up.

“Darling, I’m so sorry, but I have to agree with Dash and Applejack. The sooner we can get this nuisance out of Ponyville, the quicker things will get back to normal. The entire town has fallen into a sort of depression, and it is absolutely dreadful for business!”

“Oh, you must know!’ Pinkie Pie, who had decided to take the backseat on the debate, finally piped up. “Sugar Cube Corner hasn't seen a single customer today!” Suddenly, the pink filly looked grave. “I bet even my party cannon couldn’t liven Ponyville’s mood up now.”

Closing her eyes Twilight sighed.

“Very well. Tomorrow, I'll head off to Canterlot and retrieve the Elements of Harmony for us. You all should stay behind to keep sentry... who knows what Mozart has up his sleeve. Besides, I would hate to leave Ponyville undefended." The others nodded understandingly in response. The meeting was adjourned.

***

As the traveling party arrived at the entrance to the Auditorium that following evening, Mozart's horrid composing blared from the main entrance. The garbage from last week’s musical performance still littered the ground.

“Alright everypony,” Twilight said, addressing her friends. Her voice did little to betray her inner conflict. “Here we are. There is no going back now... are we set?” she was met by five nodding heads. Everypony had their respectable elemental necklace on, and Twilight reached into her Saddlebag to pull out her tiara. They were indeed set.

“Now, before we go in, I want to run through the plan again.” Five pairs of eyes gazed back at Twilight attentively. “Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy… you two keep to the sky, in the cloud cover if possible. You’ll be my first round of backup.” The pegasi took off. “Rarity…"

“Yes Dear?”

“Take Pinkie Pie and sneak around to the other exit. You’ll be hidden until you’re needed. If you’re needed.” And then, as an after though; “the smaller our group, the less suspicious Mozart should be.” The unicorn and the earth pony nodded in confirmation and disappeared around the curve of the building. Turning now to Applejack, Twilight spoke.

“We’d best be heading in now.”

“Yep.”

“Keep in mind Applejack, that we need to try and ask him to leave first. If he turns our proposal down… well you know what we’ve got to do.”

“Ah do Sugarcube. Let’s get buckin’.”

***

As Twilight and Applejack made their way under the arched entrance and onto the main floor, the organ stopped and Mozart turned.

"Visitors? Finally decided to recognize my talent?. ” his voice had gone from high to low- and then back up again -in a matter of seconds.

Twilight shook her head.

“Listen Mozart, we’re here to give you a single chance to leave Ponyville without a struggle,” Twilight continued, putting on her bravest face. “You’re encroaching in our city, and you’re unwelcome. Leave. Now.” she made sure to emphasize her command by pointing behind her back at the exit.

“How about no?!” Mozart replied rudely. “I came here out of the kindness of my heart, and what do I get in return? Disrespect?” The colt stepped down from his orchestrating podium and approached Twilight. His brown eyes were pinpricks of anger. "This town is like all the others, heartless!”

With that, his horn glowed and a lightning bolt shot out to strike Twilight. She acted quickly, and conjured a quick defensive shield around her and Applejack. The bot hit and rebounded, striking a wall behind them.

“How about I give you a final warning, little filly. Leave this auditorium immediately or I’ll…” Mozart was interrupted by a sharp cry.

“Ye haw!” Applejack bucked the assailant, sending him flying. Shaken but otherwise visibly unharmed, Mozart got up and sent a lightning bolt in the earth pony’s direction. Applejack dodged the bolt deftly, and it sailed by her, striking the ground several hooves away.

A wholehearted battle cry from above, and Rainbow Dash tackled the unicorn before he could let off another one of his spells. The two of them wrestled around on the floor until they were pulled apart by a combination of Twilight and Rarity’s magic. Separated at least, the scenario became clear to all. It was six against one; any ounce of resistance Mozart could muster would only lead to his downfall. Picking up on this, Mozart looked around for an escape plan. After a few moments of scrambling, a wild grin spread across his face. Taking off at a dead gallop, he ran towards the stage where his instrument was resting.

“Stop him Rainbow Dash!” Twilight hollered, motioning for the idle pony to beat the fleeing Unicorn. “He can’t get his hooves on that instrument!” with a nod she broke away from the group and sped towards the keydrum.

Mozart had used his magic however, and in doing so, reached the device before the speeding filly could. With a frustrated groan Rainbow Dash had pulled back and regrouped with the others.

Laughing hysterically, Mozart clicked a button on his keydrum and began to play. Rays of neon green and sickly yellow exploded from the device in a fury of light, breaking away from the keydrum and speeding towards the bracing ponies.

Conjuring as much willpower and concentration as she could muster, Twilight cast a defensive bubble around her friends, warding off the initial attack and allowing them to take formation.

“You can’t defend yourself forever!” Mozart howled, sending another violent wave of energy at the group. Twilight tensed and continued to ward off the assault.

“I can’t hold his attacks off for much longer! Is everypony ready to cast their element?” The group nodded.

“Good, I’m putting the shield down now; we’ve only got one chance at this, so make it count!” The signets at her friend’s chests began to glow as they powered up. Praying to Celestia, Twilight dropped the shield and willed her own element to unite the others. Nothing happened.

A heavy despair flooded into her body… what the hay was going on?!
Picking up on the problem at hoof, the others gazed at Twilight with a combination of horror, panic, and expectation.

“Oh Luna! I don’t know what’s wrong! My, my signet… it won’t charge!” the panic was threatening to overcome her completely. Another wave of energy was approaching the shaken ponies; it was glowing a vibrant orange…they had to act quickly.

“Retreat!” Rarity screamed, breaking the formation and heading for the exit.

“I’m behind you Rarity!” Twilight replied, hot on the fleeing purple tail. “Everypony retreat!” Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy took off into the sky, while Applejack and Pinkie Pie ran for the main entrance. They had broken formation just in time to avoid the magnitude of the assault.

The fleeing Twilight, trying to see properly through watery eyes, could only repeat one thing.

“I knew it.”

Next Chapter: Twilight's Triumph Estimated time remaining: 14 Minutes