Celestia hit the ground with a thud after Spark had teleported them. She tried to get a grip of her surroundings. She looked around, seeing nothing but thick bushes and towering trees. The only place she could think of that would be this poorly maintained was the Everfree Forest. She had not personally explored Everfree to a great extent, but something about this place felt... familiar. She shifted, but the chains that wrapped around her didn't budge. Suddenly, she felt herself being pulled to her feet. Spark walked up, with the same expression he'd always held around the princess.

"Spark," Celestia said coldly," I can't believe you would do this to me, and even worse, to your country. Why would you want to do this?"

"I am truly sorry I had to do this to you and your sister Celestia, but what Gyro, Sterling, and myself are doing is certainly in the best interest of Equestria," Spark said with a flat level of confidence.

"How can what you are doing be what's best for Equestria!" Celestia demanded. "You overthrew it's rulers, attacked its capital and now you have thrown it into belligerent conflict! Tell me Spark, how is this what's best for Equestria!"

Spark raised his tone only slightly, "Yes, Celestia, it's all true, but Equestria will be far greater than ever before - with rulers who aren't so weak." Lowering his voice again Spark continued," I never agreed with how little you and your sister used your great power, but I wouldn't dare question it, given that nothing could even rival yours."

"So what changed your mind Spark?" Celestia said frustrated and worried at the same time. Spark used his magic, guiding Celestia to walk through the forest, until they came upon a small clearing.

"Well," Spark said with a satisfied grin, "you never know where you might discover a little extra something."

Celestia couldn’t believe her eyes as the they came into the clearing. "No..." she let slip away as she gazed upon the open door of the magical cell she had she had visited just the night before.

= = = = = = = = = = = = =

Gates slowed his pace to a canter. He didn't want to run out of energy and let his guard down here of all places. He pushed forward, heading towards Ponyville, using the sun as a guide. It got easier since the clouds began to clear out.

It has been a long time since he was here, he thought. He had always hoped hoped never to return. He walked through the forest, letting his mind run. The place felt vaguely familiar, even though he knew he had never set foot in this area of the forest. This place would always bring those memories back - it has been hard enough to keep them from returning in a life that seemed so far away now. It has been only yesterday that Gates was in the barracks joking with his friends.

"Friends," the word burned in his mind. He could still remember talking to them...

"I told you guys there was nothing to be afraid of in here," the young Gates said bravely.

"I never disagreed with you, it's all just tricks your mind plays on you," Lucy returned, "you're always your own worst enemy in places like this." Gates was convinced she was right - she always was. The white-coated, black-maned filly was one of the smartest he’s ever met. Almost completely opposite of himself and Rampart, who were always looking for something foalish to do. The brown earth pony had been his best friend since they were born.

"Yeah, and even if there were, nothing we can't handle right Gold?" Rampart joked. He was a year older than Gates and had always won when they wrestled, however, Rampart had stepped in when a few of the colts at school started giving Gates trouble. He was always a better fighter than Gates, and Gates had started to become annoyed by this. This was part of the reason they had come out here in the first place. Gates had to prove to himself he could handle himself on his own, without relying on Rampart.

"Totally, nothing the three of us can't deal with," Gates said with a nervous grin. There was a rustling in the bushes nearby...

No, Gates thought, he couldn't let the forest get to him. He pushed the memories to the back of his mind, a skill he had become adroit at through the years. He looked to the sky, the sun was low in the sky, Gates didn't realize for how long he had been traveling. He looked down from the sky and saw a small structure in the distance. He hadn't thought anypony lived in the Everfree Forest, and if somepony did, they probably weren't the most hospitable. Gates approached quietly, weapon ready.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash moved through the brush, making sure to avoid the poison joke that lay on the path.

"We don't wanna have any more problems with your wing-a-lings," Pinkie Pie said happily, seemingly unaffected by the events that had occurred throughout the day.

"Heh, yeah the last thing we want is an upside down AND broken wing," Rainbow Dash responded. Normally, Rainbow would have been a little annoyed by Pinkie's chipper attitude, but now she was happy Pinkie was there, helping Dash all day without even thinking about her own safety. Rainbow would never admit it, but she was genuinely scared. Not only scared that for herself, but for her friends, for Ponyville. If they were hurt and there was nothing she could do, she would be devastated. Rainbow Dash knew she was lucky to have her friend there with her - this was one of the few times she wasn't sure if she could handle things on her own.

"Gee, I sure hope Zecora can help us. It would be a shame if we came all the way into this big spooky forest for nothing," Pinkie added. As they came up on Zecora's hut. Pinkie Pie nearly jumped out of her coat.

Applejack and the Cutie Mark crusaders were standing just outside the hut. Pinkie practically tackled Applejack when she saw her.

"Applejack! I missed you SO much!" Pinkie Pie was bouncing with excitement," Me and Dashie were gonna come look for you guys, but then she got her wing hurt." Scootaloo ran up to Rainbow Dash excited to see her personal hero but then froze, looking at Rainbow's limp wing.

"Is it..." Scootaloo had look of pure fear in her eyes, she couldn't bear the thought of her hero being hurt that badly.

"Oh, don't worry about it kid, it'll be fine, I'm sure Zecora will be able to help make it better," Rainbow Dash soothed, trying to make the injury seem like less than it was. Scootaloo seemed to relax and began telling Rainbow Dash about how they had escaped.

Zecora came out of her house, surprised by the group of visitors that had arrived so suddenly.

"Zecora!" Pinkie yelped,"We're so sorry to bother you but-"

"HEY!" a voice shouted from behind," who the flank are you ponies?" Gates asked stiffly, aiming his staff towards the center of the group.

Next Chapter: Chapter Seven - Reunion Estimated time remaining: 2 Hours, 54 Minutes