chapter 4

Twilight did not know where she was, but judging by the trees around her somewhere in the Everfree Forest.

"Twilight, is that you?" she heard a familiar voice behind her.

She slowly got to her feet and then turned around. Standing before her was Discord.

"Discord? What are you doing here?" Twilight asked.

"Trying to get away from that blasted place-Canterlot," Discord said, sticking out his tongue on the word 'Canterlot.'

"Why?" Twilight asked.

"...Celestia," Discord said, hiding his eyes from her, most likely from tears.

"Yeah..." Twilight agreed, feeling a pain in her heart.

"Now that you have walked in on my business and stomped all over it I'm wondering; why are you here?" Discord asked.

"I was fighting Nightmare Moon when she threw me out here," Twilight said, dusting herself off.

Discord began laughing, and he even fell on his stomach from excessive laughter. He pounded the ground with his fist and began tearing up. He then looked back up at Twilight, and took notice of her expression.

"Wait...you're serious?" Discord asked.

Twilight nodded. "It seems as if she has come back to take over Equestria."

Discord stood up. "Well I can see why, with Celestia gone there is a vacant throne ready for the taking."

"Discord!" Twilight said repulsively, shocked at his statement.

"What? You didn't think I haven't thought of that? That's one of the main reasons I left, I didn't want those thoughts to get out of hand!" Discord said, irritated.

"But still-that's awful!" Twilight exclaimed.

Discord chuckled. "You know Twilight, you remind me of her."

"Who?" Twilight asked.

"Celestia! When she was around your age, she acted a lot like you," Discord said.

"Oh?" Twilight said. She shook her head. "Never mind that, I need to get back to Canterlot!" She opened her wings and took off in the direction she had come.

Discord opened his wings and followed her. "Wait! I'm coming with you! I want to see my friend again!"

When Nightmare Moon was gone, Soarin let go of Rainbow Dash's tail.

"Girls, head to my suite!" Rarity cried out to her friends as ponies began frantically running about.

Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Rarity began to run towards Rarity's suite, while Rainbow Dash stayed back with Soarin.

"Dash, stay with me-I'll keep you safe," Soarin said to her.

"I have to go with my friends," Rainbow Dash said, desperately.

"Then I'll go with you. Come on, we have some catching up to do," Soarin said, taking flight.

Rainbow Dash followed him upwards but then took lead toward Rarity's suite.

Some of the ponies had dropped their candles, and now there was fire sprouting upwards randomly throughout the garden. Screams rang out as ponies were trying to avoid the fire and locate their loved ones.

The guards tried to calm them and help them, but the ponies were to scared and confused to care or take much notice.

Soarin and Rainbow Dash landed on the balcony to Rarity's suite. They knocked their hooves on the glass doors until Rarity and the others entered the room and let them into the suite.

"What are we gon' do?" Applejack asked.

"I'll tell you what we're going to do-we'll knock Nightmare Moon right out of Luna!" Rainbow Dash said, punching the air with her hoof.

"First we should figure out what to do without Twilight, Luna, or Cadence to help us," Rarity said.

"I know what direction Nightmare Moon threw Twilight, I could fly in that direction until I find her," Rainbow Dash offered.

"No, stay here. You might miss her and fly on forever," Applejack said.

Suddenly, the door to Rarity's suite flew open. Spike was behind the door, holding his tail in his claws and tearing up. "Where's Twilight?" he whined.

"Don't worry dear, we know exactly where she is," Rarity said reassuringly.

Rarity leaned over to Rainbow Dash. "Maybe you should go look for Twilight," She whispered.

Rainbow Dash nodded nudged Soarin with her flank and ran out on to the balcony.

Soarin followed her, and shut the balcony doors behind them. "Did you want something, Dash?"

"I'm going to go find Twilight, do you want to tag along?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Sure," Soarin said.

With that, the two of them spread their wings and took off into the night sky.

Back inside the suite, Spike stood before the girls with teary eyes and wobbly knees.

"Spikey-wikey my poor baby. What has got you so upset?" Rarity asked him sweetly, gently pushing him into the suite and closing the door behind him.

"What do you think? I'm scared! I want Twilight here!" Spike said, a bit angrily.

"Rainbow Dash is looking for her now, it'll be alright-we'll find her," Rarity said reassuringly.

"I hope so," Spike said.

"Try 'know so'" Apple Jack said, looking out the Balcony doors.

"Huh?" Spike said, running over to the doors.

Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy followed behind him.

"It's Rainbow Dash, Soarin, and Twilight!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed excitedly.

"And Discord!" Fluttershy added, a bit excitedly. "I haven't seen him since we reformed him!"

"Make that since you reformed him. And how is that a bad thing that we haven't seen him for so long?" Rarity said, forming a face of disgust.

Fluttershy frowned and narrowed her eyes.

The three ponies and Discord landed on the balcony and Applejack opened the doors.

They walked in the suite, and Rarity couldn't help but grimace when Discord stepped in.

"How did you find her so fast-and where did Discord come in the picture?" Applejack asked.

"They were already flying this way," Rainbow Dash explained.

"Oh Twilight, what are we going to do?" Rarity whined.

"I'm not sure, but we should get Shining Armor and Cadence here so that we can all discuss this together," Twilight said.

"No can do sugarcube, Cadence went after Nightmare Moon and as for Shining Armor, well, we aren't quite sure as to where he ran off to," Applejack said.

Twilight sighed. "Alright, looks this will be up to us. Discord-you like to cause disharmony, what do suggest we do to regain the harmony and peace that Nightmare Moon has just dismissed?"

"I don't understand why you just don't use the elements of Harmony," Discord said nonchalantly.

Twilight's expression lit up. "Of course! The Elements of Harmony! It's stupidly genius because it's so obvious! Why didn't I think of that?"

The other ponies happily and confidently agreed.

"Go grab your elements girls, Nightmare Moon won't get very far after the magic of friendship has been released!" Twilight said.