The bright orb of the moon shines down on the Fellowship and the alicorn at the edge of Armonia. Thestral guards stand at firm attention, with Ribalue and Nina flanking Luna, and Eulabir next to Celestia. Out of all the alicorns present, Eulabir and Celestia are the only day alicorns, and they have a glow to them that is like a soft candle light which illuminates the ancient masonry of the arching gateway leading outside.

Despite all the soldiers around her and the Fellowship's supply of weapons and armor, Apple Bloom still feels vulnerable, like a newborn left in a field of wolves. The grim expressions of Celestia and Luna and the anxiety of Nina and Ribalue do nothing to ease this. From what Apple Bloom can see, the Fellowship is also a few beats from having fear chain them to Armonia, not that she can blame them since the idea of changing her mind and suggesting Celestia take a crack at destroying the Amulet nudge their way to the front of her mind.

Apple Bloom's thoughts are interrupted when Nina and Ribalue step forward, and the thestral kneels down at her level and gently places a glowing glass orb held to a woven necklace by leaf shaped metal.

“From me and Nina,” says Ribalue as he folds Apple Bloom's fingers over the object. “This is a piece of the moon. It will be your light in the dark. Keep it with you at all times.”

Apple Bloom nods and blinks tears out of her eyes, wishing she can see her grandma one last time so that what can possibly be her final moment will not be so grim.

“You're a brave one,” says Nina.

She kneels down to Apple Bloom's level and hugs her tight, getting an uncomfortable grunt from her brute alicorn strength, but that is as far as the complaint goes. Apple Bloom can feel the tears sliding on to her, and she awkwardly returns the hug.

“Stay safe,” says Nina. She steps away and looks at the Fellowship, specifically at the foalings. “Stay safe, all of you.”

The Fellowship nods, and Celestia speaks.

“The Amulet Bearer is setting out on a quest that will determine the fate of our world,” says Celestia. “You are bound by oath to Faust to lay your lives down for her and each one of you to the ends of the earth. May the blessings of Faust and the High Alicorns be with you. Good luck and godspeed.”

Celestia and Luna step aside and extend their hands to the dark, outer world, and the thestral alicorn guards make a path, each standing stiff and disciplined. The Fellowship does not move at first, for they are all looking at Apple Bloom, and she looks at all of them with big eyes and drooped ears. Seconds later, Twilight gently places her hand on Apple Bloom's shoulder and smiles at her when the foaling looks up, visibly shaking.

“It's okay, Apple Bloom, we're here for you,” says Twilight.

Apple Bloom swallows and nods, and she takes a deep breath, then makes the first step. Each step is heavy and hard, but the Fellowship follows her without word of protest, and the accompanied nobles of the factions watch them intently. Redheart, Purity, the Daveports and Igneous are nowhere to be seen, though.

During their passing, Blitz nods to his children, then points at Flash and slides his finger across his throat. Flash bobs his head quickly for a nod and tightens the grip on his blade while moving in front of Dash and Fluttershy. After that, Blitz smiles thinly and flashes a thumbs-up.

As for Braeburn, he smiles brightly and salutes his troops, which are standing with the alicorn guards.

“I'll be back before you know it, colts. Don'tcha worry,” says Braeburn.

His soldiers return the salute, and step back when the Fellowship steps into the forest. Once there, Apple Bloom looks to the left and to the right, legs frozen and eyes seeing doubles. Her hand grips the sealed pocked holding the Amulet and her eyes drift to each identical tree.

“Which way am I going?” asks Apple Bloom.

“Left,” says Twilight gently.

Apple Bloom nods and turns left, and when the Fellowship is safely out of the away of the gate, it shimmers gold and bars appear in the entrance. Followed by bricks and snaking vines.

The group keeps walking in silence down the ever fading brick path laid before them. Even the forest is still and the wind is lacking. Only the calming noise of a running stream and the snapping twigs and crunching leaves under their feet make any sounds. An owl hoots somewhere in the distance, and as the minutes tick by Pinkie Pie demeanor becomes increasingly more agitated, from her look over her shoulder, to her grumbling and fidgeting, and glancing at everyone in the group. After a few more minutes of tense silence, she makes an obnoxious groan, drawing confused eyes to her. Or, in Rainbow Dash's case, an eye roll.

“All these pones and all this silence. Come on, you guys, let's get some noise going!” says Pinkie Pie. “Somepony talk. Somepony strike up a conversation.”

Pinkie Pie looks at Rarity and Blueblood.

“But, you two might like the silence. You look like the boring type,” says Pinkie Pie.

“We're cultured,” says Rarity.

“Uh, yeah, that's what I said.”

Rarity gasps in disgust, and Blueblood hisses Pinkie Pie's name. When the Ranger looks at him, he wags his finger at her with a hard glare, and she smiles innocently and backs up, nearly running into Flash Sentry. Luckily he moves out of the way, though, so all she gets is an odd look from him.

“Okie doki, I got it, bossman,” says Pinkie Pie. She looks at Rainbow Dash and runs her fingers through her colorful mane. “How much money do you spend on mane dye?”

Rainbow Dash swats her hand away. “Nothing. It is all natural, just like my urge to hurt you.”

Pinkie Pie scoffs and looks at Fluttershy while jabbing her thumb at Rainbow Dash. “That was fast. Is she always like this?”

Fluttershy hides her face with her mane. “She's just uncomfortable.”

Pinkie Pie rubs her chin, humming with an odd grin growing. “Hmm, uncomfortable, eh?”

“Pinkie, now is not the time for disturbing behavior,” says Twilight.

Pinkie Pie beams and jogs next to Twilight, and when she is there she starts walking backwards so she can look at her, even though they are going down hill on a broken path being overrun with tangled roots. Seeing this, Fluttershy cringes and holds out her hands slightly.

“Oh, no, please don't do that. You're going to hurt yourself,” says Fluttershy.

“Ten gold says she'll fall,” says Scootaloo.

“One hundred says she won't,” says Spike.

“You're on!”

Pinkie Pie hops backwards over a thick root, skillfully hops off of the rock behind it, and lands with ease. She resumes walking backwards with no trouble, whatsoever. Scootaloo's jaw hangs loose and Spike smirks and holds out his hand while the other foalings snicker. Seeing the drake's hand, Scootaloo's hand rubs the back of her neck and she chuckles nervously.

“Um... IOU?” offers Scootaloo.

Spike scowls and pulls his hand back. “Fine, but I'll hound you for it.”

“Twilight, I got a question,” says Pinkie Pie. “Wouldn't chit chatting create a morale boost and help us achieve our goals quicker and more efficiently? Think about it. We got to form bonds in our Fellowship and we can't do that if we don't talk, and bonds make things stronger so why not make our friendship stronger by playing a game where we get to know each other? Like, 'Hi, I'm Pinkie Pie, I like food, weapons and sex.'”

When she is saying this Spike is drinking from his canteen, and her final word sparks a very ugly choking fit from him that results in him keeling over and squirting water from his nose. He grips a tree, coughing, hacking and crying about his nose, and Shining Armor pats him on back, offering comforting words as the drake wheezes for air. While the Fellowship looks at Spike curiously, Twilight glares at Pinkie, and Apple Bloom and the foalings stare at the Rnger, each with various levels of hot faces.

“Wow, she doesn't beat around the bush, does she?” says Pipsqueak.

“Then I would go, 'Your turn, Twilight', and you'll say...” says Pinkie Pie, pointing at Twilight, smiling widely and completely ignoring the mortified looks she is getting from the Fellowship.

Twilight stops, as does the Fellowship, and she sighs, puts her hand on Pinkie Pie's shoulder and smiles.

“Pinkie, please be quiet or else I will put a muting spell on you,” says Twilight.

Pinkie Pie's smile fades. “You wouldn't.”

“I would.”

“Why?”

“Because you're annoying,” says Rainbow Dash.

Pinkie Pie frowns at Rainbow Dash. “And you're short, so what's your point?”

Rainbow Dash's eye twitches, but Fluttershy putting a hand on her shoulder keeps her from doing anything rash. Twilight, meanwhile, grabs Pinkie Pie's collar and tugs her close so their snouts are almost touching and her fiery eyes lock on to the Ranger's while smoke rises from her fingers.

“Pinkie, I'm being serious. Stay quiet for five minutes or else I'll make you quiet,” says Twilight.

Pinkie Pie looks at Twilight with drooped ears and dim eyes, then looks at the hand on her shoulder, and again at Twilight.

“But what about fellowshipping?” asks Pinkie Pie.

“Fellowshipping can come later,” says Twilight.

Pinkie Pie huffs and sags her shoulders. “Fine... Five minutes?”

“Five minutes.”

Pinkie Pie nods, seals her lips, zips her pinched fingers across said lips, then gestures a the tossing of a key, pats Apple Bloom on the head and bows with her arm held out towards the path. Twilight and Apple Bloom stare at her for a moment before they resume walking. As each member of the Fellowship passes her, she waves and nods curtly, and when the last ones, being Braeburn, Applejack and Davenport pass, she keeps pace in total silence.

Five minutes later, the Fellowship enters a clearing with no roads and provides an uncompromising view of the rolling hills, green grass, glowing flowers and distant mountains. All illuminated by the full moon and sky full of twinkling stars.

Apple Bloom's jaw drops with a gasp, as do the other foalings, at the beautiful sight that they have not been able to enjoy until now, but they keep on walking.

“This is beautiful,” says Apple Bloom, her eyes drifting towards a large patch of glowing, light blue flowers pointing at the moon.

Twilight smiles. “Yes it is. When this is all over, I'll take you wherever you want to go. You will be able to see the world as it was meant to be.”

Apple Bloom smiles and feels a lightness in her heart and steps, and even though she cannot see much of the large world, she thinks she is feeling excitement of what is ahead. Then Pinkie Pie talks.

“You know what we need, right now?” says Pinkie Pie.

Twilight groans and covers her face, and Apple Bloom looks over her shoulder to see that Pinkie Pie has wrapped her arms around Applejack and Davenport's necks with a huge grin on her face, completely ignoring the discomfort of the former and the agitation of the latter. However, the group keeps on trekking, despite the Ranger's antics.

“We need epic music,” says Pinkie Pie. She then waves her hands around like she is directing an orchestra. “Daaaa-daaaa-da-da-daaaaa! Da-da-da! Da-da-da! Da-da-daaaa! Daaaa! Daaaa! Daaaa! Da-”

“Oh, my gosh. Shut. Up!” yells Rainbow Dash.