Rainbow Dash looked on as Nightmare Moon vanished as quickly as she had appeared. Once gone, who else to fix her gaze upon than Twilight. "Want to let us in on what the hay just happened?" Rainbow almost demanded, closing the gap between the two. "Who was that? Where'd she go?!"

"Simmer down, Sally. All of that can be explained," Applejack began. "But first, 2 things need to happen. 1: Ah need to apologize to Twilight for not 100% believin' in her. Ah realize now how much effort ya threw into yer studies. And 2: we gotta get back t' the library."

"She's right," Twilight assured, seeming to either ignore her apology, or make a note to accept it later. "Once there, I can explain to everypony what's happened. I have my research stuff there." She started for the door. Link put his gear away and followed.

"Whatever it is," an orange maned mare spoke, "leave us out of it. You're crazy." A few other ponies joined in leaving with the first mare. All who remained were Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash.

"Well, that was rude... But Ah guess the rest of us're with ya," Applejack surmised. She looked at the remaining ponies.

"You! You knew what was gonna happen, didn't you? How'd you know? Are you a spy or something?" demanded Rainbow.

Taken aback by the accusation, Twilight argued, "I am no such thing. I just did my research, is all."

"An' if y'all'll listen to her, she-" She was cut off by another interruption from the colorful pegasus.

"1,000 years, evil pony, dark world, sun gone, and eternal darkness. Sound right?"

" ... Actually, that about sums up my research. How'd you... Then you also know about the Elements of Harmony."

"Sure do, but I don't know where they are, or even what they are. Oh, and you have got to look out your window more often..."

"The Elements of Harmony's last known location was in the Everfree Forest. And if you don't mind, the only ones coming with me are Link and his fairy." Twilight finished with a stomp of her hoof.

"Like hay! Link goes, I go too." She flashed him a grin. "I got your back, kid."

"Ah believed ya before the rest o' ya, so 'course Ah'm comin'," Applejack said as she moved to stand beside Twilight.

"Sending you alone isn't right; I'll accompany you and help however I can." Rarity nodded her head. "Aside from safety in numbers, nopony gets in my face and gets away with it!"

Pinkie bounced up and down. "Travel-Through-the-Scary-Woods Party!"

"I... think I'll just... stay here and-" The rest of them shot a forceful stare at Fluttershy, the only hold-out among them. "ok, I'll go too..."

"Sorry, darling, but you did stay with us," Rarity concluded.

"8 of us total... That's... I mean, are you all sure you want to come with? All of you?"

"Face it, Twilight. You're stuck with us." Rainbow announced as she and the others head out the door. Link stayed beside Twilight and put a hand on her head in comfort.

"He means you'll be fine. It'll all work out," a grey pegasus said behind him. "I know it, too. Just one of those things, I guess."

"Where do you keep coming from?" Navi asked.

"Hmm... I don't really know how to answer that. But I can tell you this: if that pony isn't dealt with, then Equestria, will fall." With that, she left behind the rest of them.

"She makes a good point... Come on, lets go," Twilight added. "Somehow, I couldn't tell them all, 'no'. We have to catch up to them."

With that, the 3 of them caught up to the 5 that had a head start. Together, they made their way to the edge of the forest.

Twilight gulped at the dark forest before them. "Last chance to flee." She looked side to side, and saw nopony faltering. Besides Fluttershy.

"Turning back now would go against why we're all out here. No way would any of us," Rarity paused to glance at Fluttershy who looked less than enthused about this, "go back now."

"Alright then, the last known location of the Elements of Harmony is deep in the forest. An old building called, 'The Castle of the Two Sisters'." Twilight led the company through the treeline, and immediately looked for a path.

Nopony noticed the blue mist seeping into the trees that surrounded them, that is, until Pinkie started giggling. "Hey, guys!" Again, a held back laugh. "These trees are funny looking!" As she couldn't help herself anymore, she fell to her back in laughter.

Rainbow looked at the tree she pointed at, and saw a major lack of funny face. "Did you... hit your head or something?"

After she righted herself, Pinkie found a pair of trees with similar faces to the first one. Twilight noticed them too and recoiled in fright. "It's just a silly tree, Twilight. See?" Pinkie busted out laughing again, and Twilight saw the faces in the trees completely vanish. "Told ya~ No silly tree's gonna stop me."

Interesting... A laugh to make the scary go away. I have to remember this. This isn't normal by any means. Twilight thought as she too started laughing at the trees. Soon, everypony joined in the laughing fit. Even Link and Navi had their laughs heard.

Not one of them saw the blue mist evaporate as they slowed their laughter. It went into the cliffside they were approaching.

"What was with those trees? And their faces?" Rainbow flew beside the group. "Not really expecting an answer, just had to ask."

"If you don't need an answer, why ask the question?" Twilight asked.

"Good point. Besides, stranger stuff's been known to happen here. Like the weather." Rainbow paused a moment, to let them wonder. "It takes care of itself."

For the first time since entering the forest, Fluttershy spoke. "And the animals care for themselves too. Oh they must be so lonely..."

"That ain't even all of it. There ain't no earth ponies in here to tend the land, but the plants 'n' trees grow all by themselves too," Applejack added her 2 bits.

Rainbow landed on the edge of the cliff. "On top of that, I heard that anypony foolish enough to venture into these woods," and with each of her next three words, she took a step toward a now frightened Twilight, "never, come, out!" With the emphasis on the final word, the ground gave way and fell beneath them. Rainbow caught Pinkie, and Fluttershy caught Rarity as they all slid to the edge of the cliff. Link stabbed his sword into the softened dirt to slow down. Twilight wasn't as fortunate as she had already got to the dropoff, forehooves clinging on for dear life.

Appleack had bit down on a root, but let go of it. "Hold on, Ah'mma comin'." She made her way to Twilight, who was frantically flailing her hindlegs to find support.

"What do I do?" she cried as Applejack held on to her forehooves. She noticed Link with his hand out.

Applejack looked below Twilight and replied. "Ah'm gonna let ya go. You'll be fine, trust me."

"That's not true! You let go, I'll fall and die!"

"Now you listen here, Ah ain't never told a lie, Ah told ya that already. Now, do ya believe in me or not?"

After a moment of thought, Twilight nodded her head, and started falling. With her eyes closed, she hit a platform made by Link's barrier magic. "Nice catch, Link!" Navi said as she flew out to the suspended pony. Link soon followed, standing on the barrier he made. As this wasn't its primary function, it was unstable, so he quickly got the two to the ground. As they descended, they saw Applejack leap down from ledge to ledge. Her earth pony strength made it all too easy.

"Everypony alright?" she asked as she hit the ground.

"That was SUPER FUN!" Pinkie cheered. "Let's go again!"

"Uh, once was enough, thanks. But seriously though, faces on trees, falling rocks, what's next?" As Rainbow finished her rant, a loud roar reached their ears, prompting Link to draw his blade. The others cowered at the sudden outburst.

"You just had to ask..." Applejack deadpanned

Fortunately, they had landed in a clearing. Looking around for the source proved helpful as Link saw the beast. With a thick mane, scorpion tail, and another loud roar, what should jump out at them, if not a manticore. "Save it for the evil enchantress! We got a monster to tame," Pinkie blurted.

The others looked at her in confusion, but soon shook it off. Link, Applejack and Rainbow stood at the front line, while Rarity and Pinkie stayed by Twilight. Fluttershy huddled against the cliff wall, trying to be as small as she can. Link looked back at Twilight, who nodded her head. He took up his stance, earning a glance from Applejack. "Just don't kill it. It don't sit well with me," Applejack said.

"As she says, Link. Restrain, unless I say otherwise," Twilight agreed, making Link put his gear away.

The manticore took this chance to bring his left paw down on him. Link got his arms up to block, but it proved too much as he was forced to take a knee. Rainbow bolted under its frame and swept its legs out from under it. As it hit the ground, Link jumped up and out of the way. Applejack reared up and gave a love tap to its face. If she bucked with full force, there'd be nothing left, so she toned it down, a lot. Cringing in slight pain, it batted her away with its paw, sending her flying. When she hit the cliff, she made an indent. She hit the ground beside Fluttershy, and sat in slight pain. As soon as she was sent flying, Rainbow flew literal circles around the manticore. Link landed behind it, and grabbed its tail before it could be swung at Rainbow. With this, Rainbow vanished, and reappeared above it, and with the help of gravity, she plummeted downward, ramming the manticore in its back. Under the impact, the beast hit the ground and flung Link away with its tail. Now free, it batted away Rainbow like it did with Applejack.

Rarity couldn't do nothing, so she bucked it in the face. "Take that, you ruffian!" she exclaimed as though she earned a victory. Upon getting bucked, the manticore roared again, messing up her mane and sending her away.

"WAAAAAAAAAIIIT!!!" Fluttershy screamed, louder than she normally would have. With a smile, she approached the manticore. It held up its left paw. "Now, hold on just a moment." Fluttershy sniffed at its paw, making the manticore take a look at it.

Fluttershy leaned in and bit down on a thorn that somehow made its way into its paw. With a sharp yank, she pulled it out, causing the manticore to roar once more. But, after a moment, she found her face subject to a lick-fest by a grateful manticore.

"How'd ya know 'bout the thorn?" Applejack asked, a bit sore from the impact earlier. "Ah didn't see nothin', an' Ah was up close to it."

After being set down, she replied, "I didn't. I'm an animal expert, and knowing that animal abuse gets you nowhere, I had to be patient with him. In my personal experience, the only way to earn an animal's kindness is to be kind first. With the rare exception of my bunny. He can be... fussy."

Rainbow appeared from where she was thrown, a bit wet from where she landed. "You guys, there's a river up ahead, but some other creature won't let us pass. Let's see you be nice to that one, Fluttershy."

The group gathered themselves and came to the river, where a sea serpent was making the waves roll too fiercely to cross on hoof. Wailing and thrashing about all the while, several waves came crashing down on the adventurers. Link, in particular, was able do stay the closest to dry. "Woe is me!" the serpent cried out.

"Whatever's the matter, dear? What has caused you so much pain to... disrupt the river's flow?" Rarity asked, giving him a look over.

"Well, just look!" he says, pointing at his one sided mustache. "Some purple mist came by, cut off my beautiful mustache, and just, vanished."

"And I'm sure it was a dazzling mustache indeed. But now, oh now, there's hardly anything dazzling about it!" She looked around, then at Link. "Excuse me... Link, was it? ... I need your blade."

Hesitant to give up his only weapon, he looked at Twilight, who had the final say. "... Go ahead, give it to her. She'll give it back," she assured him. Drawing his sword, he held it out to Rarity, who took it in her magic.

"Such a thing to do, it's a crime if ever there was such a thing. It won't go unpunished!" With this, she cut off her own tail. Not completely, but close to it. Then she levitated it to the side of the sea serpent's face, and attached it to the stub of a mustache that remained. "I'll see to that personally." Rarity finished, returning his sword which was put away immediately.

"Aren't you going to miss it? It's your tail after all," Twilight asked.

"Of course I am. Besides, short tails are 'in' this season."

"Wait a second..." Pinkie interrupted. "Season as in summer, or as in season one? Because-" Pinkie paused. "Oh wait, you can't do that. Sorry, I forgot."

With a few looks of confusion, they crossed the river on the sea serpent's back. "Allow me, friends."

On the other side, Twilight groaned after a few minutes walking as she and company stood before a fallen bridge. "Can this get any worse?!" she complained.

"Hey, don't sweat it. I got this." Rainbow flew down, got the ropes, and landed on the other side. "I'll have these tied off in -"

"We've been waiting for you, Rainbow Dash..."

She got one tied on, but looked around for the source of the voice. "Who's there? Come on out, I ain't afraid of you!"

3 dark coated pegasi made their appearance in front of Rainbow, who had a startled look. "We've been waiting for you for a long time now."

"Do I know you?"

"We're the aerial team of the woods. The Shadow Bolts. But, we are in need of a leader." With a grin, they started circling her. "Somepony strong."

"Me?" she asked.

"Somepony fearless..." they continued.

"Yeah, me." It became less of a question.

"We need you, Rainbow Dash. We need your skills."

"Don't listen to them! They're just trying to-" Twilight's voice faded as a thick cloud of fog blocked them from view and put them out of earshot.

"Tell ya what, strange team: After this is all said and done, I'll agree. But first, I gotta tie off this bridge, find things, then beat up a bad pony, so-"

"No! It's either them, or us!"

Faced with this ultimatum, she paused. "Well, since you put it that way... I have to thank you. For the offer I mean. Sure flying with a world class team would be great and all, but I'd rather see my friends accomplish their goals first." Rainbow blew away the fog cover as the Shadow Bolts disappeared from sight. "I'd never leave my friends hangin'."

With the bridge fixed, Twilight and troop continued walking until they saw a ravine with a stone bridge crossing it. On the opposite side, sat a castle in ruin, of impressive size.

"This is it. The Castle of the Two Sisters. Within those stone walls lie the objects of our journey: the Elements of Harmony." Twilight proceeded across the bridge into the ruin, Link beside her, AJ on the other side, and the rest trailing.

Once inside, and after a look around, Twilight sat down. "Which way?" Before her, were 2 stair cases going up to meet a balcony with an opening leading further in. They extended higher into two towers. Under the balcony was another set of stairs leading down. There's a hall on either side of them, but it was too dark to tell what they held.

"Well, sitting here won't help us any," Rarity said, looking up at the balcony. "If I were a gambling pony, I'd wager that these, 'Elements', are in the throne room."

Rainbow walked to Twilight's side. "So you think we should split up to find this throne room? Might cover more ground that way."

Twilight rose to her hooves. "It's easy to get lost in a castle, more so in one as old as this. If the architects had any intellect at all, they'd have built the throne room in the middle of the castle." Twilight headed for the stairs up to the balcony. "Which, if I'm not mistaken, is this way."

Sure enough, in the grand hall, stood a stone statue with five branches. Each branch had a stone orb at its end.

"But, there's only five of them... Aren't there six Elements?" Pinkie asks, as she counts them out.

"The 6th Element will appear when the other 5 are ignited with a spark." She started lifting them down with her magic. "And in order to figure that part out, I need quiet to focus."

Applejack and the others spoke various agreements and headed down the stairs. Once at the bottom, a purple cloud shot past them, up the stairs and into the room, slamming shut the giant wooden doors.

"What the Tartarus was that?!" Rainbow said as she lands.

Rarity looked up at the now shut doors. "I think that was our journey's main hindrance. Nightmare Moon."

"If that's true, then it went after Twilight!" Applejack shouted as she bolted up the stairs. At the top, she started pushing on the doors.

Rainbow got beside her, running a hoof against the door. "It's not gonna open very easily. It's sealed by strong magic. Unless you can buck it hard enough, and apply more magic than it's sealed with, it won't open."

Applejack got into position, as if she were bucking a tree. "Then have all o' this, ya magic wall!" Her hind hooves hit the door so hard, saying it got knocked in would be a vast understatement.

But, inside the room, where Twilight and Link once stood, was nothing. "Up there!" Rainbow pointed out the window to a taller tower with lights flashing inside.

With the exception of Pinkie, who bounced, the group ran up the left staircase in the room by the thrones.

Once the group was behind the doors, Twilight focused on the orbs before her. Link poked at one of them, expecting something to happen. "So... what's supposed to happen here?" he asked, making sure the others were out of earshot.

"I don't really know... someth-" Twilight was cut off by a swirling purple vortex around the stones, pushing Link back. With a lunge, Twilight jumped into the purple field. She recognized it as a rather old teleportation spell. Link jumped in soon after and they vanished from sight.

When they reappeared, they did so in an observatory-like room. With the windows and everything. Link was on his knees, having never teleported before. Twilight had her hooves under her at least. Nightmare Moon appeared near these windows with the stone orbs carried by her umbral mane.

The Elements of Harmony... Without them, we've no chance. Not even I could handle a foe that big. Head-on is foolish Link thought. He glanced to his side, and saw Twilight get her head down. Charging is foolish... Think... why would she do this? ... She can teleport. It's a fakeout. Ok, here goes... Link drew his weapon and charged Nightmare Moon beside Twilight.

The dark one set the orbs down and charged the two. Moments before collision, Twilight teleported to where the stones were. This causes the alicorn to slow down, giving Link enough time to tuck and roll off to the side. He continued running and got beside Twilight.

"Just one little spark..." Twilight focused, and sent a literal spark from her horn to the orbs, the reaction sending her reeling back, along with Link. The villain formed her cloud and moved to the stones, appearing in the middle of them. As she appeared, the stones lit up and started shaking.

"No! This isn't possible!!!" the dark alicorn shouted. The stones hit the floor again. Nightmare Moon stomped the floor, smashing the orbs into shards, laughing all the while. "So foolish an attempt."

Link heard it, the faint shouts coming from the stairwell, for Link and Twilight. Soon, she heard them too. "You think you can destroy the Elements of Harmony just like that? You may have- !"

Suddenly, a bolt of lightning erupted from the nightmare's horn toward Twilight. Link, upon instinct, threw himself in front of it, erecting a barrier that deflected the bolt up and away.

Twilight noticed a small, shining object on the back of his left hand. "What is..."

I can't believe this... That spark didn't work... Now, I do have to fight for my life here... Better make it worth it. He dropped his barrier and drew his sword and shield. "You know, You only stand there because I haven't been ordered to cut you down to size, so I suggest you listen close." He finished, and pointed his sword at her as a threat.

With nothing she could say, Nightmare Moon looked deep into his eyes, and saw his unwavering will to protect. So, all she could do was stand there, fixed under his gaze as though moving meant death.

"Are you alright, Twilight?" Applejack asked, standing beside her.

"You girls are here..." Twilight looked at her. "This must be what they call fate." She looked back at Nightmare Moon. "You see? It is the 6 of us that house the Elements of Harmony. All you managed to do was break a bunch of rocks. For it is within us, that the Elements of Harmony reside.

"In Pinkie Pie, who was able to laugh in the face of danger, who made everypony smile and have a great time with her jokes, is the Spirit of Laughter!" With this, blue shards floated around Pinkie. "In Applejack, who assured me she'd never lie no matter the circumstance, who assured me when I had doubts, is the Spirit of Honesty!" Again, shards floated around said pony, this time orange. "Fluttershy, whose calm demeanor and patience mellowed a minorly maimed manticore, represents the Spirit of Kindness!" This time, they glowed pink as they floated around her. "Within Rarity, who soothed the soul of a sorrowful sea serpent with the gift of her own tail, lies the Spirit of Generosity!" Purple shards floated around her. "And Rainbow Dash, who vowed to aid Link should he need it, who abandoned her own selfish desires to help us, is the Spirit of Loyalty!"

"But you're missing one! The spark didn't work!" the evil one protested.

"Oh yes it did. The 6th Element will reveal itself when the other 5 are present!" a gold crown with Twilight's cutie mark at the apex appeared and landed neatly on her head. The other ponies received necklaces of similar design to their own cutie marks. "A different kind of spark. I realized it when I heard my friends come for us."

Out from between them, a rainbow shot out and pierced through the darkness. Swirling around Nightmare Moon, it stopped, revealing a teenage pony with similar colors. Princess Celestia appeared out of nowhere. "Well done, my faithful student. You saved my little sister from her mental prison. I knew you could do it."

"I'm so sorry, big sister!" the younger one cried, running to her sister's embrace. "I missed you so much!" she continued to cry. With the arrival of the princess, the ponies and Link bowed.

"You told me it was an old pony's tale."

"I told you to make friends, nothing more." Celestia released her sister and addressed her student. "I saw the signs of Nightmare Moon's return, and I knew it was you who had the magic inside you to defeat her. But you couldn't unleash it until you let true friendship into your heart." Looking back at Luna, who in turn stared at Link, she continued, "Now, if only another will as well.

"Princess Luna... 1,000 years have passed since I last saw you in this form." She knelt beside her sister. "We were not meant to rule as rivals, or as opposing forces, but as a sign of unity. One no better than the other in any regard. Now, will you accept my friendship?"

Without any hesitation, Luna leapt into Celestia's forelegs. "Of course I will! Again, I'm so very sorry for my previous actions. I cannot begin to tell you of the wrong I've done. I can only hope to ease the pain I've caused."

"What better way than a celebration?!" Pinkie cheered.

All of Ponyville had gathered to welcome Princess Luna of the Night. Both she and Princess Celestia rode in on a single carriage, while two fillies placed a flower crown on the former's head. Celestia noticed Twilight being lonely, so she excused herself. "Is something the matter, Twilight?"

"Um... Is it wrong of me to ask that I stay in Ponyville with my new friends?" she asked. "It's just... I've only just discovered friendship, and now to have to give them up."

"Hmm... Spike, take a note please." Spike did as he was told. "I, Princess Celestia, hereby decree that the unicorn Twilight Sparkle, shall take on a new mission for Equestria: to study the magic of friendship here in Ponyville, and report to me her findings."

Link, as well as the others, wrapped their respective limbs around Twilight in happiness. "What about Link? What'll he do?"

"About him... when he shielded me from a lightning blast, I saw something shine on the back of his left hand. There isn't a 7th element is there?" Twilight asked.

"I can assure you, there are only six... Perhaps it is something from his homeworld?" Celestia offered.

Both Link and Navi looked on the back of his hand, where the faint glow of the golden Triforce was barely visible. "But," Navi said, "How... This isn't Hyrule! What are the Sacred Triangles doing here?!"

"What's so 'sacred' about them?" Rainbow asked.

"I'll explain later, at the library. For now, let's just enjoy the return of our princess." Navi finished.

Luna spoke quietly into Celestia's ear. "What's a parasprite doing here?"

Sacred triangles? Triforce? From my home world? Still so much is unknown to me... Looking closer, I see three of them. So there are two others... With a quick look at Pinkie, he changed his train of thought. What's Pinkie doing?

Pinkie was staring out at the town. A look of distraction spread across her face. To herself, she mumbled, "Today was a good day."

Yeesh. This is taking a while. Also, decided to voice Link. Will give reason next chapter. Also, please question Derpy's inclusion. I so want to answer it.

Also, I've edited Chapter 2 to accomodate his age. When he was teleported here, he was 10 months. When the days start to get noticeably longer, Summer is coming, which is March 20th. This would make his birthday 2 months later, making him one year old on May 20th. The summer sun celebration is the longest day of the year, which is June 21st, a month after his birthday. So, saying he's been in Equestria for 13 years and one month as of Chapter 2. Fixed and done with that nonsense.

Yikes! I am sooo error. He's 8 months. His b-day is 4 months later, making him one year on July 20th. The celebration is one month before his birthday, so that would make him 12 years and 11 months as of chapter 2. NOW I'm done with that nonsense. Yeesh.

In other news: I've got a gift for you that Pinkie Pie sees coming. Don't worry, she swore not to tell. At least, her pony form swore not to tell... Don't tell him!