Link followed close behind Sweetie Belle as she led him to her classmate's last known location. The two of them stood at the forest's edge, looking down at the abandoned scooter. "This is Scootaloo's scooter. She's my classmate, and she's never anywhere without this."

Taking a slow breath, Link looked at the scooter, then the tracks it made, and lastly at how it sat. "So, looks like she voluntarily went into the woods. But she's young, and most likely knows better. Maybe something overrode her sense of danger..." He picked up the scooter. "Go home, Sweetie Belle. It's late." As Link examined the scooter, he made mental notes of its features before setting it down.

"Mmm-mmm. I'm not moving until she's back safely."

"Fine." He stood, and stared into the forest. "Then go get some food for us. She'll likely be hungry after this." Link handed a small pouch of bits. "Whatever that affords."

"Alright..." She took it in her mouth and scampered off.

Slowly, Link walked into the Everfree Forest. He paid extra attention to broken branches and hoof tracks, and after an hour of wandering, he heard a voice.

"Hello?" it called. "Anypony out there?"

Feminine. Young. Must be Scootaloo. "Listen. I'm looking for you now, so stay where you are, alright? Keep talking though, so I can find you."

"Hurry! I can't see anything." The voice kept talking. Mostly, "I'm over here"s and "you still there?"s.

Link followed the voice best he could for what felt like hours on end. Eventually, the sound got louder, like she was nearby. He lifted the leaves of a bush and saw a filly, brown of coat and purple of mane. "There you are. Come on, we gotta go."

"You found me!" she said, hopping up and out of the bushes. Her eyes were still closed, and Link noticed. "Let's go, already." She was smiling.

Carefully, Link stepped back. "Who are you?"

"Scootaloo. And you're Link, right?"

"Wrong answer." He drew his weapons and added, "Open your eyes."

After a few quiet moments, the pony before him opened her eyes, revealing black voids where there would be pupils. "What do you mean?" Slowly, her eyes returned to normal. "Oh hey. I can see again."

The familiar voice called out, "Hey, are you still following my voice?" Both Link and the pony looked where the voice came from.

Link quickly looked at the pony in front of him, and felt his muscles tense, unable to move. He could only watch as the little filly transformed in a shroud of black magic that, once dissipated, revealed a more familiar pony. Epona stood before him. "Welcome back to the woods." Two skeletal ponies climbed up from the ground and stood at her side. Their eyes were replaced by red lights, and each one carried a weapon of some kind. "Now that you're back, let's play a game. You have until sunrise tomorrow to rescue your precious little Scootaloo. Should you succeed, you are free to leave this forest with your soul intact. If you fail, and wander the woods lost, then I will claim your souls as mine. The little one's as well."

Again, magic circled the pony, then vanished into nothing as the skeletons advanced. Link, still frozen in shock, could do nothing. Navi flew in front of his face and nearly shouted, "Wake up!" When she turned and saw them approaching, she flew down and retrieved a bomb of his. In one great toss, she flung it at the advancing bone forms. Link snapped out of it, and reached out, catching Navi and turning away from the blast.

The explosion knocked him several yards off his feet due to his proximity. Careful landing ensured Navi would be safe. Upon opening his hand, he saw Navi crouched with her arms over her head. "You alright?" he asked.

"I'm alright," she responded, standing upright. Link turned them around to see the result of their effort. "What were those things?"

"I don't know, but anything spawned from the darkness can't possibly mean any good." He looked around him, and asked, "So... Which way do we start?"

Several hour later, Link sat down on a fallen tree to rest. Navi, who had flown at his side for most of it, sat on his knee and looked up at him. The voice from before had led him to a swinging log trap. It sounded again, and led him to a pitfall.

"I can't give up..." he admitted. "I can't... She's depending on me to save her from this evil forest." Link took out his ocarina. "And there's about 5 hours until sunrise..."

"Don't be hard on yourself, Link. We'll find her. When have we not succeeded in our ultimate goal?"

He stayed looking at the ocarina. "If only time were on our side..." Link also took out his journal and flipped to the page with the graveyard songs on it. "Remember these? One brings the sun from night, and the other calls out the moon from the day."

"And weren't you warned not to play them when their respective time is already here?" Navi saw the look on his face. "You're going to do it no matter what I say, huh?"

Wordlessly, Link pressed his lips to the blue instrument and played very carefully Lunar Requiem. A cloud of dark blues and black filled with white sparkles swirled around him. Upon completion, the cloud shifted and blew away in the wind, which also disappeared. He looked around and didn't see any changes around him. Then, he turned to the sky. "I don't know what happened. Maybe nothing at all?"

"What were you hoping for?" Navi asked, flying around him.

Link stood and thought a moment. "Well, if the Sun's Song brings the sun, and Lunar Requiem the moon, maybe they make day or night stay day or night. At least until I play the correct one. That's what I think, anyway." He paused a few moments. "While I'm thinking, I might just know where Scootaloo is. Think you can fly over the treetops and look for that tree? The one we passed when we looked for Epona the first time."

She nodded, flew up and looked out over the forest. As far as she could see, there was a single meadow that stood out as the one he meant. Navi descended to Link's level and said, "I found it. About a mile and a half..." Then she pointed to her side. "That way."

Link adjusted his belt and smiled. "I've got a good feeling about this."

As he started walking, Navi asked, "Okay, assume I'm ignorant. What exactly do you think about all this?"

"You remember the last time we were in here looking for somepony? We came across that meadow and tree. It was then that the pony took Epona's form. However, she said the way there was blocked by a dead end. Why, then, was there a tree bridging the gap? I think this creature wants me to go there. Scootaloo should be there. And if she isn't, then I'm willing to bet there's a clue that'll help me."

"And you would not be wrong," a stallion's voice answered. A cloud of black formed itself as a pony in front of them. A black pony with both wings and a horn. "But, even with that knowledge, will it be enough? I wonder..."

Link stopped and drew his sword. "Look, we're playing your stupid game. Least you could do is leave us alone while we do what you want." He's an alicorn. No regalia. Strange indeed...

"You only have until sunrise, as per my rule. Remember that when you're fighting your way through the woods." The dark one disappeared into an orb of shadows.

Behind where the dark one stood, another dozen bone ponies began putting themselves together as their parts crawled up from the forest floor. Link, unfazed at the sight, ran over and kicked one of the skulls, shattering it against a tree. With his shield hand, he cast a fireball at a group of bones at his side. "We mow through!"

The two of them arrived at the clearing they sought an unknown length of time later. As before, there stood a single tree in the center, as full of life as when he first saw it. At its base, sat a single pony who looked to be staring at him. Link walked up to her, sword drawn and watched as she ran around the tree and hid from him. "I saw you there," he said, kneeling down. "Come on out, and keep your eyes open for me."

Scootaloo peeked around the tree at him, and showed off her purple eyes. "What do you want with me?" she asked.

"I want to ask you some questions." Link set his sword down and sat, causing Scootaloo to come out of hiding. She looked at him cautiously, but decided to sit with him all the same. "What is your name?"

"Scootaloo."

"Alright, so far so good. You're a student at Ponyville Schoolhouse, right? Who's your teacher?"

"Ms. Cheerilee. She teaches all the fillies and colts. She's super nice too." She began to relax during her answer.

"Last question, I suppose: why didn't you take your scooter in here?" Link tilted his head to the side.

Scootaloo looked away for a moment. "Well... I can't exactly ride it in the forest. Too many branches in the way, and there wasn't a path where I came in here. More trouble than it's worth. Especially when I was following somepony." Link waited a few moments. "Oh right. Um. There was a mare at the woods lining. She looked like she was being pulled in, and she even called for help. When I went in after her, she was fine. But, she turned into some black pony with wings and a horn. He told me to follow him. I tried to run away the way I came, but I got turned around somehow and ran straight back to him. He told me that if I followed him, I wouldn't get lost. I had to trust him. I didn't have a choice.

"He sat me here, and told me to wait for someone to find me. Didn't think it'd be you of all ... um... what term do I use?"

Link chuckled. "Raised by ponies, so I might as well be one."

"Alright. You of all ponies." Scootaloo finished, and stood up. She walked to his sword and looked at her reflection. "What's this for?"

"Self defense." He took it away and sheathed it. "Since I found you, we can start on our way out of here." Link looked side to side, hearing hoofsteps just outside of the meadow lining. "And quickly, too. I don't want that-"

The stallion from earlier called out, "That what? That stallion? That alicorn? Do tell, I'm dying to hear it." He dropped out of the tree and landed behind Scootaloo, who ran behind Link, who stood up in surprise. "Oh, don't be scared of me. Not yet. Looks like you found her. Just like I said he would, huh little one?" He gave the filly a wink.

"You stay away from us," Link threatened. "I found her. I win your game."

The alicorn laughed hard for a minute or so. "Wait, you're serious? You really think you won? Think back. I said 'rescue'. Simply finding her isn't a rescue. You also have to escape with her. And I should warn you: the way you came in won't let you leave. Good luck."

Link hesitated. Right. The woods play tricks on the mind. "Want to tell me the right way to go then?"

"That way." A black arrow pointed toward the meadow's exit, down the path he took the first time. "But again, the woods are ever-changing. The route you once took will be foreign to you. But rest assured, it will lead you out." As Link started walking with Scootaloo, he added, "But my game isn't over. You have to outrun me." He started trotting after them. The tree behind him caught on fire from his words alone.

Link held up his hand and shot a fireball at him. Unsurprisingly, it went clean through him, and added to the flames. Quickly, Link picked up Scootaloo and said, "Catch me if you can." He planted his back foot and pushed off, running full speed through the woods. His foot left a small dent in the meadow.

Already at the tree line, Scootaloo said, fighting against his grasp, "I can run myself out! Put me down!"

Easily, Link tightened his overall grip. "You're nowhere near as fast as I am, trust me." He hopped over some logs and ducked under branches. "If he catches us, it's game over. And I don't know about you, but I want to keep my soul." Link turned around and saw the stalker phase through the same obstacles Link had bounded over. How is he doing that?!

"Link! Watch out!" Before he could properly react, Link was thrown forward. In his panic, he tossed his passenger way ahead of him. Navi escaped his hat and hovered. Link fell face first into a patch of blue flowers. Hastily, he rolled over and looked at the stallion. "Come on!" Scootaloo shouted. "Before he gets you!"

The alicorn stopped at the edge of the flowers and looked down at them, before turning his gaze to Link. "Ohh, I wouldn't worry about me," the stallion said. "I think the situation you're in will serve as torture enough."

Link got to his feet and backed away from the alicorn. As he turned around again, he picked up Scootaloo and took off again. "Are you hurt?" he asked. She shook her head in reply. "Good." Just out of sight, Link turned around and walked backward. The stallion had yet to move from his spot just outside the patch.

"You know? I think I'll let this play out. You'll come back in good time. Too bad I'll have the only pony that can help you in my possession by the time you figure out what happened." The stallion turned around and disappeared into a cloud of darkness. "Sleep well, Link..."

Link and Scootaloo found where the former had come into the woods. Sweetie was pacing around the abandoned scooter. A brown bag was just outside her pacing circle. She heard sounds from the woods and exclaimed, "You're all back!"

"Sweetie Belle? What are you doing here?" Scootaloo asked, running over and stopping the circular motion of the unicorn.

"I saw you walk into the woods on your own, and I went to get help." Sweetie responded. "I knew it was you, since your scooter gives you away."

Scootaloo looked up at Link. "And you got... him?" Sweetie nodded. "Then, I guess, thank you. Both."

"Hey. Us blank flanks have to stick together, right?" Sweetie turned to her side and showed her markless haunch.

"How'd you know I didn't have my cutie mark?" Scootaloo asked.

"Well... You see... I've been meaning to approach you for some time now... I wanted to ask if you wanted to be friends with me. But, I didn't know how to go about it. It's out there now, so... Want to be my friend?"

Scootaloo gave Sweetie a light hug. "You went out of your way to help me. Yeah, you can be my friend." The two looked up at Link. "I suppose this means your job is done. Sorry I don't have any money."

Link held up a hand. "Saving a life is its own reward." The three of them started back towards town. They split the fruit slices between the three of them. Sweetie and Scootaloo kept pace with Link, who turned his head to look at the former of them. "What were you doing out here that let you see Scootaloo go into the woods?"

"I was out for a walk. Home gets kind of... undesired at times."

"Uh huh. And you Scootaloo?" He turned the other way.

Scootaloo rode ahead on her scooter and did a spin, kicking up dirt when she stopped. "Tricks. I always spend my spare time training."

"And it shows. Speaking of..." He withdrew his ocarina and notebook. Link sat down and flipped to his songs page. Carefully, he played Sun's Song. A bright yellow cloud moved around him, shining and brightening the area around him before dispersing. He looked up, as did his companions, and saw the moon regain its revolution. "Well how about that... Time really stopped there. That would make it... What... 10 at night?"

"Maybe. All the clocks would have had to stop as well to get the right answer." Navi sat on his shoulder as Link stood up, walking once more. "Don't tell anypony about this. If you do, and word that you can make Eternal Night a reality..." Navi pointed at the moon. "To the moon with you."

"Mother would never do that to me... Would she?"

Navi narrowed her eyes at him. "Nightmare Moon."

"Alright, good point."

Link escorted the two fillies to Sweetie's house. Scootaloo decided to bunk with her since its too late to go home herself. Rarity was kind enough to let her stay. Then, Link returned to the library.

At the door, Navi got in front of him, barring passage. She shook her head and put an ear to the door. Link copied her and listened.

At first, it was muffled, but it cleared shortly after. Twilight's voice was heard saying, "He shouldn't be gone this long unless there was a request."

Dash added, "Must have been last minute. I have a feeling he'd have come back otherwise."

"Could always go hunting for him. Maybe help him out?" Emmy asked.

"And give you an opening to disappear again? I don't think so. I-"

Link opened the door just then. "I'm back, everypony."

Epona got up from her seat and pulled him inside, hugging him. Emmy flew over and landed. "You weren't kidding; she really does hug you whenever you walk into the room."

"And you thought I was. Heh." He quick-hugged in return, then let go. "I'd love to stay and chat with you all, but I'm not feeling so good. I'm gonna go up and get some sleep."

He received several goodnights from the visitors, then walked upstairs. Within minutes of laying down, he fell asleep.

"And you thought I was. Heh." Link gave Epona a quick hug, before letting go. "I'd love to stay and chat with you all, but I'm not feeling so good. I'm gonna go up and get some sleep."

Various goodnights were said to him from those who stayed downstairs.

Out of earshot, Twilight asked, "So... Who thinks he's actually not feeling well?"

Emmy answered, "I think he is."

Dash countered, "He's probably avoiding his promise to you. He seems like he's stalling, 'cause he doesn't want to sit through our conversation."

"If Link says he's not feeling well, then he's not feeling well. What reason would he have to lie?" Epona asked them in earnest. Twilight and the others were quiet. "That's what I thought."

"Well," Twilight started, "he does tend to withhold information... But, there's still a likely chance he's sick. I'll give him a look tomorrow, see what's up. Dash, would it satisfy you to sleep here tonight?" Dash nodded. "Emmy?" Another nod. "And Epona by default. Let's see... The couch fits two, and the chair fits one. Dash and Emmy, are you two alright to share the couch?"

"Sure we are. If ... If Dash is, anyway."

"Think you can try to not squirm? I'm a light sleeper." Dash smirked.

"Oh please. It'll be like I'm not even there," Emmy responded.

"Well, you better be there when I wake up. If you're not, then no matter how far you'll go, you'll be feeling my magic like it's right behind you. You hear me?"

Emmy nodded. Twilight sighed and returned to her book. The night continued, and the ponies fell asleep.

Twilight surrendered her chair to Epona, then walked upstairs. Careful to not wake Link, she crawled into her bed and fell asleep herself.

Obvious foreshadow is obvious, right?