Books and Branches Library

A mark of one's destiny, singled out alone, fulfilled...

Twilight gasps and pulls out of her friends' embrace. "Wait a second, that's it! I understand now. I know how to fix the spell!"

She doesn't bother trying to explain. She just gallops back to the library, with five very confused ponies following in her wake. She picks up Star Swirl the Bearded's notebook from where she left it on the table, summons a quill pen, and starts writing:

From all of us together, together we are friends.
With the marks of our destinies made one, there is magic without end.
As she writes the final glyph, she can already feel power building. The Element stone on her tiara flares with a brilliant light, sending a pulse of magical energy through the room. The other Elements flare in response, each sending a beam of magic back toward Twilight. The sheer force of it leaves the ponies powerless to move--all they can do is stare in shock and confusion.

Twilight, surrounded by an increasingly powerful aura of magic, is likewise paralyzed and shocked--but only for a moment. It's okay, says a wordless voice inside her. This is meant to be. She closes her eyes, and waits for whatever is coming next.

The light increases to a blinding flash.

Then, abruptly, it's gone.

And so is Twilight.

===>

Yesterday morning, a letter arrived from Princess Celestia saying that she would be coming to Ponyville to see Twilight and her friends on an urgent matter. Exactly what that urgent matter was, the letter didn't specify, but Twilight and her friends have assembled at the appointed time nonetheless. Twilight and Spike pace in nervous circles on the turf; Rarity primps and preens; Rainbow Dash hovers impatiently; and Pinkie... well, is Pinkie.

"I love it when Princess Celestia comes to Ponyville! I got my hooves shined just like Rarity for the occasion!" Pinkie Pie holds up one gleaming hoof for Rarity to see." You like?"

"I certainly do," says Rarity, admiring her own reflection in the polished surface.

"I'm surprised she's not here yet," Twilight remarks, scanning the skies for the twentieth time in the past ten minutes. It's not like the Princess to be late for anything.

"I wonder what's taking so long?" says Spike.

"And where are Apple Jack and Fluttershy?"

"Fluttershy's detained helping Apple Jack with a mishap at Sweet Apple Acres," says Rarity, still using Pinkie's hoof as a mirror while she primps. "They'll be along."

"I still don't get why the Princess would be so late!" says Spike.

"She's bringing an important visitor," Twilight offers. "That could be part of it."

"A visitor who's important and slow," says Rainbow Dash, rolling her eyes.

"Maybe," suggests Rarity, "it's somepony so terribly important, she still had many more terribly important things to do before she got here."

"Or," says Spike with sudden alarm, "maybe the visitor has a deer antler, a goat leg, a bat wing, and a snake tail?"

Twilight rolls her eyes. "Yeah, right. That's Discord."

Rarity giggles. "Why in the wide, wide world of Equestria would Princess Celestia bring along somepony like that?"

"M-m-maybe you should ask her." Spike points at the royal chariot coming in to land a few yards away. Actually, the two royal chariots. One is occupied by Princess Celestia, as one would expect. The other...

The other is carrying a statue. A statue with a deer antler, a goat leg, a bat wing, a snake tail, and a horrified expression on its all-too-familiar face.



For a long moment, all the assembled ponies can do is stare in shock. Twilight is the first one to speak up. "With all due respect, Princess Celestia..." her voice raises to a shout: "How could you bring Discord HERE?! --your Majesty."

Celestia is unmoved. "I'm fully aware that the last time Discord was here, he created serious havoc."

"If by 'serious havoc,'" says Rainbow Dash, "you mean turning Ponyville into the chaos capital of the world."

"And tricking us all into being the opposite of our true selves," adds Rarity.

"And making yummy delicious chocolate milk rain all over the place without a single dollop of whipped cream to go with it anywhere in sight!" cries Pinkie. "NOT A SINGLE DOLLOP!"

"Yes, I understand," says the Princess gently. "But I have use for Discord's magic if it can be reformed to serve good instead of evil. This is why I've brought Discord here, because I believe that you are the ponies who can help him do just that."

"This will never work!" shrieks Spike. "This is a disaster! How will we ever control him?! We're doomed!"

Celestia smiles reassuringly. "Need I remind you that you are the ponies who turned him back into stone like this in the first place?"

"I suppose we can just use the Elements of Harmony against him again if it gets out of hand," says Twilight, hesitantly. She doesn't want to question Celestia's judgment, but... really? Reforming the spirit of chaos itself? That's a tall order for anypony.

Spike, on the other hand, is already actively backing away from the statue. "Uh, w-w-we probably need a volunteer to run away from here right away to get them. I'll do it!"

"No need, Spike." Princess Celstia nods toward a gilded chest being carried out of her chariot by the guardsponies. "I have them right here, and I've cast a spell so Discord can't take them and hide them again. Now where is Fluttershy? I believe she may know best how to begin reforming Discord..."

Sneaking Fluttershy back into Ponyville was, fortunately, a lot easier than getting her out. After that, Twilight and Zecora spent the rest of the night fine-tuning the unicorn's plan, while their friends on the other side of the wall carried out the instructions sent with Fluttershy.

It's nearly noon when Twilight and Zecora walk up to the borders of Ponyville. She has to squint, but Twilight can just barely see the strip of red cloth tied to the peak of the Carousel Boutique--the agreed-upon signal that the plan is ready for execution. She looks back at Zecora, briefly, and the zebra gives her an encouraging nod.

Nix your magic. Use the six.

Twilight walks up to the edge of the forcefield and raps her hoof sharply on the wall. Rings of blood-red light ripple out from the point of contact. That ought to get Trixie's attention.

The milokedromorphic spell is considered to be a keystone for any unicorn who aspires to master the art of transfiguration. If one can transform an apple into an orange completely and consistently, then one is ready to move up to more complex transformations of living creatures.

This spell is the entirety of Twilight's coursework for the week, and as far as she's concerned it's more than enough. She's been studying the theory behind it for three days, and trying to put it into practice all morning, without success. She almost had it half an hour ago, but Pinkie's surprise hug threw her aim off and she ended up transfiguring a blue jay in a nearby tree instead. (The jay should turn back to normal tomorrow morning. Probably.)

She feels good about this time, though. Twilight takes a deep breath and takes careful aim at the apple on the table in front of her.

"One...two..."