Link and Prism exited the great tree and tended to the former's wounds. His arm was wrapped in gauze and his chest was as well. He took a heavy hit when he was brushed up the wall, and another when the parasite broke him through a column. "You were reckless," his sister might say. "That was awesome!" Rainbow might commend. But Prism just mended his wounds in silence.

"Nothing to say?" Link asked.

"You did your job. What's there to say?"

Link was quiet. The two sat in front of the great tree as it began to speak. "Young knight..." Its voice was more raspy than when he went in. Looking closer, the branches and leaves looked more dead than before as well.

"You knew..." Link pushed Prism aside and fought to stand up. "You knew!" He pointed at the tree. "You knew from the start you'd die anyway!"

"What do you mean?" Prism asked. "And be careful; your arm wound will open again."

"The great tree knew he was dying. That our arrival was too late from the start. But why?"

"I had to know..." the tree replied, "that you were strong enough to keep it safe." There was quiet. "I am dying. It is too late for me. The least I can do now is tell you who did this to me."

"Black alicorn, loves riddles, uses illusions?"

"Well... yes... How is it you know of him?" it asked.

"We've had dealings with him in the past. He's actually the reason I could find this place." He sat down again, noticing the color fade even as he spoke.

The great tree spoke further. "If I pass before bestowing the sacred stone, the alicorn will come to claim it. My last task for you is to keep it safe." A brilliant green light filled the area around them. A shining gem appeared in front of him and revealed a familiar green stone with a golden border.

Link took it and held it in his hand. Carefully, he stowed it with the other two. "You're giving it to me... to keep him from obtaining it. Why would he want it though?"

"It is one of a set of three."

"Ahh. The third of three needed to open a door, right? Together with a song?"

"You know more than you appear to, boy."

"I get around." He coughed. "How would he know about that anyway? And I have all three already. Does that make me his target?"

"I don't know his true intentions. But if he cursed me, he can't have good ones." The color was nearly gone. "The rest I leave to you... Hero of Equestria..."

The Great Forest Spirit was dead...

Link bowed in a farewell respect, and started for the exit. "Are you alright?" Prism asked, following him.

"I'm fine. I got exactly what I came for." He turned and walked down the path further. Then another turn and was stopped by the same bucktoothed colt as before.

"You!" he blurted. "You killed the Great Treant, didn't you?! I bet you even lied about Emerald!" Without letting Link respond, he added, "Get out of our forest!"

"Try and stop me," Link said calmly, pushing the colt's head out of the way. He walked quickly to the forest's exit, with Prism close behind.

Soon as he crossed the bridge to leave, which wasn't there on his entrance path, the alicorn appeared behind him. "You made it after all."

Link turned and saw the alicorn. "You cursed that tree. Why?"

"To get your attention. I knew you had what it took to retrieve the stone."

"The tree said you wanted it."

"Well, that's true. I did," he admitted. "But only to give up to you, as an offering of peace." The alicorn appeared serious. "I would like you to trust me."

"Tall order, considering-"

"Considering I went out of my way to help you? I led you to your ultimate goal, did I not? I Made it possible for you to get the stone you'd have never found on your own. Considering the work I went through to get you this far, yeah, I'm entitled to a moderate amount of trust here."

Both Link and Prism stood quietly.

The alicorn sighed and shook his head. "I see you need more time." He looked down the path and to the exit. "It's a one-way trip, this bridge. If you ever need to come back here, seek out my meadow. At least that path never changes here." The alicorn disappeared into a shroud of black mist.

"Least he could do was tell me his name," Link said.

"I'll tell you eventually, boy," the alicorn's voice replied.

The two of them exited the forest and found themselves just beyond the tree line. With the woods behind them at last, Link made the night continue as it should and walked with Prism back to the library.

When he and Prism returned, Twilight rushed up to him and gave him a hug. "Are you hurt at all?" she asked.

"Oh yeah," he admitted, taking a seat. "Gimme a look over? I'll tell you what I found."

As Twilight began treatment, Link told them all what happened, leaving nothing out. Well, except for Prism's identity. Delighted and overjoyed, Twilight finished healing him and congratulated him on his success.

It didn't take long before everypony started calling it a night. Ruby and Emerald shared the living room couch. Spike had his bed beside Twilight's, which was loaned to Prism. Link slept on the upper room floor, while Epona took his bed and Twilight herself took the chair downstairs. In all of that, there were no complaints.

Twilight was the first to rise from slumber. Quietly, she glanced around in the early morning light. She walked to the kitchen and began brewing a pot of tea. Chamomile, since the last of the Luna Bay stock was gone. The smell alone woke Ruby, which in turn woke Emmy. The two of them joined her in the kitchen and found Twilight by the stove top.

"No open fire?" Ruby asked, only half joking.

"Fire? In a tree? No thank you. Not a good combo. Tea?" They nodded and watched her pour a few cups. Soon, they heard heavy footsteps coming down the stairs. Twilight smiled and fired a small magic beam at Link as he rounded the corner.

Link deflected it with his shield magic and watched it fizzle against the ceiling. "Good morning to you, too."

"Nice reflex, Link!" Emmy commended. "Sleep well, I take it?"

"There are better places to sleep than on the floor, but as I offered my bed to another, it was the best of the remaining options." He pulled up a seat with the three of them.

"Content with just about anywhere, huh?" Ruby asked.

"You're one to talk," Link retorted.

"Hey, you be nice to Ruby," Emmy almost demanded. He scowled at Link.

"Am I wrong, though?"

Ruby shook her head. "No he's not wrong, seeing as how I live in an abandoned forest castle."

Emmy turned to her, then back to Link. "You never said that about her."

"I specifically said I wouldn't tell you where she lived." He sipped his fresh tea.

Twilight asked, "So when can we see it? The new stone, I mean."

Link retrieved the third stone, then the other two. "These three will do what I need. But only together, and only with a song that I know. However..." He glanced from Emmy to Ruby, then at Twilight. "Nah, I couldn't possibly."

"Hey now. You can't just get my attention like that then shut us out," the pegasus complained. "Spill."

"Alright, fine." Link took a breath. "Though she said no, I want to ask the princess if I can take you three with me when I open the door and get the sword."

"Love to, but can't," Twilight replied. "Hear me out. If you were to do that, and I were to go, you'd go and do that quest that the princess wants, which would mean you wouldn't be there to cheer me on during the tournament." Link thought about it. "But, if you were to wait, you could come to the tournament, then we can all go to the castle for your thing."

"Are you nervous, or something?" Emmy asked her. "You must be nervous if you’re asking for a cheer squad."

"No, I'm not nervous. It would just be nice to see a friendly face in the audience. Celestia knows there won't be any in the competition..." She thought back to the princess called Prismarine, and shook her head. "I saw a lot of strong unicorns at the preliminary rounds. I'd be lying if I said I'm not scared."

"Nervousness and fear are different things," Ruby stated. "Best bring some tea with you, just in case."

“I’ll keep that in mind."

Link retrieved a scroll, ink and feather and wrote out a letter to the princess. "Let's see... 'Dear Princess Celestia, Twilight, Emerald, Ruby and Epona wish to come with me to see the door open. I trust all of those listed above with the secret it holds. Will you allow them to be in attendance when I open it? Also, Twilight would like me to cheer her on in her upcoming tournament. By your leave, I would see to postpone the mission until after. -Link.'" He coiled it and lit it ablaze, sending it in red smoke to the princess.

Epona walked around the corner. "I get to see what's behind the door?"

"If the princess replies favorably, yes. I trust you." Link smiled as he turned around. "Did you see if the commander was awake?"

She shook her head. "The commander was still asleep soundly; I had to sneak out of the room. Glad your door doesn't creak."

Ruby asked, "Hey, is the tournament the whole weekend?"

"Yep," she replied.

"I already booked a room," Emmy announced. The others looked at her. "What?"

"There's lodging?" Twilight asked.

Emmy went on to admit, "Well sure. It's a tournament spanned over three days in the middle of anywhere. Trains can't be able to go anywhere like that, so they bring in a hotel from their warehouse. I have a room booked for two if anypony wants to stay." Link raised his hand. "Nice try, but competitors can have a guest in their free room." He lowered his hand.

"I'll join then." Epona slowly raised her hoof. Emmy looked incredibly surprised, considering what went down last time they shared a room. "As long as there are separate beds."

"There are. I made sure of it," Emmy admitted.

"Okay, so Link rooms with Twilight, Emmy rooms with Epona... Where do I sleep?" Ruby asked. "Don't I get a room?"

"Uhm..." Twilight started. "Actually, I might know somepony who'd be willing to share a room with you. She's a competitor, but at least you'll be able to stay. I'd have to find her and ask first, of course."

Ruby thanked her in advance. The 5 of them continued their morning tea in anticipation of the princess' reply, Twilight's coming challenges and Link's encroaching mission.

Sorry it took a while. New job and all's got me tired.
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Any thoughts on who this good samaritan pony is that'll let Ruby stay with her?
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What do you think? Should Princess Celestia allow Ruby, Emmy, both or neither watch as Link opes the door? What about Twilight? Should she be in attendance?