The cold air swims between the six element bearers, nipping at their hooves and tugging at their mane. Twilight sinks deeper into her threadbare scarf, pulling it tighter around her neck with her magic. A shiver runs down her spine as the frigid winds encompass her, howling to the skies. Silently, the purple alicorn begins to trudge up the back of the mountain, her eyes set on the black pool of magic hovering at the top. The wind pulls on the magic, but occasional drops of darkness only drift slightly from their base. The youngest princess watches with fear flowering in her heart, her hooves trembling slightly with each step upward. Her friends follow, the quiet weighing heavily on each pony’s shoulders. Each face is flushed bright pink, every eye is trained on their goal. The bearers cannot afford to lose, despite the difficulty of their duties to Equestria. This is it. They are their country’s only hope.

Fluttershy sucks in a deep breath and, clearly terrified, is the last to join the group climbing the mountain. She looks at Twilight, who is looking more and more sure of herself each minute. Then, her eyes fall on Rainbow Dash, who fights the winds from a few feet higher than the rest. She peers at Applejack, and an uncertainty lies in her expression. Pinkie’s eyes are downcast, her appearance much more solemn than usual. Finally, there’s Rarity. It is clear she is afraid, but she’s perhaps the most determined. She is aware of the possible consequences of taking on this kind of enemy, but she will give up her life for the ponies of Equestria if it’s needed. If anypony has represented the Element of Generosity before, certainly none of them did it better than Rarity. Even so, by her expression, one can tell that she is fighting the fear of death.

Just a day ago, things had been so normal. Nopony would have ever imagined that they would end up here, worrying that they might die, on Hearths Warming. It darkened their hearts that they might never share happy moments all together again like they did the day before at Pinkie’s Hearth’s Warming Eve party.

It had been a cheerful day in Ponyville. Fillies were out in the streets, tossing snowballs at one another and trying to build the tallest snowpony in town. The market was bustling with last minute Hearth’s Warming shoppers and ponies were stopping by one anothers houses to deliver their gifts. The town was bright with the energy of the holiday, and many ponies had marked their calendars for Pinkie’s party. The element bearers had gathered at Sugarcube Corner and were decorating in a mad rush with only an hour left before the bash. Although they had been there for hours, the girls had gotten distracted quite a few times by the large collection of cupcakes on the table, or by how cute Pound and Pumpkin Cake looked in their little Hearth’s Warming outfits, or by the white crystals that floated down from the sky. “Oooh! We’re going to have a white Hearth’s Warming!” Pinkie had exclaimed. Nonetheless, they managed to put the very last decoration on the tree before the first guest rang the doorbell.

“Wheeeeewiee!! That was close!” the pink earth pony giggled like a filly, jumping towards the door and swinging it open. She shot a wide smile at the Cutie Mark Crusaders who stood in the doorway. “Scootaloo! Sweetie Belle! Applebloom! C’mon in, guys! We’ve got cu-upcakes!” she sung lackadaisically.

The three fillies trotted in, dropping three bags of presents by the tree as they swung over to the snack counter, chatting about how to get their cutie marks and their favourite types of cupcakes. After they were seated, it wasn’t long before a whole slew of ponies had arrived. It seemed as though everyone in town had showed up to Pinkie’s party. There were families, couples, and best friends alike, all mingling around Sugarcube corner.

“Well, girls!” Pinkie grinned. “I do believe we have officially the best party in town!” She hoof-bumped with Rainbow Dash and the six laughed.

Suddenly, the building trembled. The music wafting about the room faltered and ponies shared looks of shock and exclamations of horror. “What’s going on?” they yelped to one another. “What’s happening?”

“Whoa!” Rainbow Dash yelled, lowering herself to the ground and leaning on the wall to stay standing up.

“What on earth is all this shaking about?” Rarity asked.

“Ah think Ah’m gonna be sick!” Applejack stumbled over her own hooves and nearly fell over.

Suddenly, the door to the confectionary opened with a loud bang. Spike stood below the awning, terror in his eyes.

“Spike!” Twilight called out as he ran and, albeit falling a few times, reached her side. He held a faded scroll in his claw.

“Twilight, Princess Celestia sent you this!” he said in one breath, giving her the scroll. “And, there’s this big cloud of black smoke up by Canterlot!” The crowd responded to his last comment with gasps and widening eyes. The purple alicorn wordlessly levitated the scroll and broke the seal. As her eyes scanned the paper, the world slowly stopped shaking, but the look of fear in Twilight’s expression did not fade.

When she finished reading, Twilight opened her mouth as if she were about to give a response. Then, however, she looked back up, seeming to remember the ponies present. She cleared her throat nervously, rolling up the paper again and turning to face the worried group of ponies. “Please, head back to your homes. The party will have to be over for tonight. Presently, we cannot tell you anything about the, um, earthquakes, for lack of a more proper term. We will inform you as soon as possible.” Then, she turned back to her friends, who wore looks of concern and confusion. She waited for a moment for everypony to leave, watching quietly for the very last filly to head out the door. Calmly, she used her magic to turn the lock on the door. She looked at the Cakes, who now stood in the centre of the main area of Sugarcube Corner. “I’m very sorry, but we need to speak alone, if that’s alright.”

“That’s okay, Princess,” Carrot Cake said with a smile, gently lifting the twins from their spot on the floor. The family headed upstairs. Once Twilight heard the click of the door closing, she turned back to her friends.

“Sorry, Princess Celestia just didn't want anypony else to know yet,” Twilight explained, giving Pinkie an apologetic look before glancing at each of her other friends. “It’s important that ponies remain calm.” It was clear, though, that Twilight wasn't calm. She seemed to be desperately trying to look as though she was, but her eyes were brimmed with tears and she seemed afraid.

“It’s mighty fine, Twi, we understand,” Applejack said carefully, her tone sympathetic and worried. They all looked at her, on the edge of their seats, waiting for an explanation.

“Well,” the purple pony swallowed her emotions. “It seems as though King Sombra and Queen Chrysalis have… had a colt.”

“What?” Fluttershy commented in disbelief.

“Yes, they… named him Dark Heart, apparently. Dark Heart has come to Canterlot. He’s very powerful, of course, considering his parents are so powerful themselves. We have to admit they were not easy to defeat,” Twilight responded, obviously being very selective in how she said what she needed to say. “He has very strong hypnotic powers, and he has taken control of the princesses, at least, I believe he has, and most the citizens of Canterlot. Somehow, a few of the ponies there were immune, however, but he has used his strong magic to lock them up and use them to his advantage, much like what King Sombra did when he ruled over the Crystal Empire… Princess Celestia, she wrote her letter as he was coming for her…” The tears that were previously in Twilight’s eyes returned, threatening to break free. “We’re Equestria’s last hope.”

For a minute, everypony stood in stunned silence. Finally, Rarity spoke. “Well, we can’t let that happen!” she stated matter-of-factly, shaking her head.

“No, we can’t,” Rainbow nodded. “So what do we gotta do to save Equestria this time?”

Twilight didn't seem encouraged by her friends’ exclamations of heroism. “We have to take him down with the magic of friendship, I suppose…”

“What’s wrong sugarcube?” Applejack stepped forward. “We've done this before, we can do it again.

The other four nodded and voiced their agreement with Applejack’s promise.

“Girls, there’s reason to believe we can’t,” Twilight replied. “This colt is more powerful than any enemy we've ever taken on. He certainly knows more about magic than I do, and that’s my element! He’s shrouded all of Canterlot in darkness, they say. I couldn't do anything that requires that much magic. We couldn't do anything that requires that much magic. Don’t you see? We could die! He could kill us!”

The ponies looked to one another, now considerably less sure of themselves. All of them looked much more fearful, and Fluttershy seemed horrified.

“B-but Twilight, y-you took on Tirek!” the yellow pegasus whimpered, seemingly trying to calm herself more than Twilight.

The purple alicorn looked at her friend, pity in her eyes. “I’m sorry, Fluttershy, but this pony… Well, it’s likely he has the power of ten Tireks, completely filled with magic.”

Everypony grew quiet, the gravity of their situation settling on their shoulders. “We… have to do this,” the Element of Loyalty finally spoke up, living up to her element as well as she was able.

“Dashie is right,” the formerly quiet Pinkie spoke up. She gave them a weak smile. “We are the bearers of the elements, guys! Nopony can beat us!”

The others brightened up a bit at her comment and all began to agree. That is, all except Fluttershy, who seemed reluctant. “B-but guys…” she mumbled nervously.

Applejack walked over to her and looked her in the eyes. “Fluttershy, Ah know you’re scared. Aw, hay fries, so am Ah. But… if’n we don’t beat this guy… Ah mean, think o’ the princesses, o’ your animals… your friends. We’ll be like the folks of the Crystal Empire, assumin’ we ain’t hypnotized… There ain’t no winnin’ if we don’t even give it a try.”

“She’s right, dear,” Rarity backed her up, with a sad but reassuring smile.

“O-okay… I’ll do it for Angel bunny, and for you guys…” Fluttershy almost whispered, getting up slowly.

“Alright,” Twilight said. “It also mentioned in the letter that there are no trains to Canterlot, since a few royal guards were able to escape and inform the ponies in charge of transportation, so we’ll have to travel by hoof. You all better go back to your homes and pack what you need. Dress warmly, too, everypony, we've got a long journey ahead of us. Oh, and remember, please don’t tell anypony about what’s going on. If somepony asks, just tell them that you are leaving town for element business, don’t say any more. Meet me by the Castle when you’re done getting ready, and please try to hurry.”

“Okay, Twilight,” Rainbow responded, and all of them but Pinkie and Twilight filed out the door.

Pinkie smiled nervously at Twilight, who was clearly downtrodden. “It’s okay, Twilight. We’ll save Princess Celestia and the rest of Equestria, I just know it.”

The purple alicorn glanced at her friend with a dark expression. “I sure hope so,” she said quietly as she made for the door and, head low, trotted out.

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A half hour or so later, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Applejack, and Twilight had gathered outside Twilight’s castle. Each wore their saddlebags and were standing in quietude. “Where is that Rarity?” Applejack questioned, breaking the silence.

“That’s what I was thinking,” Dash said, looking annoyed.

As though on cue, Rarity called out from a few yards away, running in their direction. “So sorry! I just could not find my earmuffs!” she apologized as she reached her destination and placed a pink pair of earmuffs on her head with her magic.

“It’s okay, Rarity,” Fluttershy responded softly. Rainbow kept a look of irritation on her face.

“Let’s get going,” Twilight replied, lifting herself into the air, just above the heads of her grounded friends. Fluttershy also preferred to walk, but Twilight motioned for her to join her and Rainbow. Reluctantly, the pegasus fought the strengthening breeze to fly beside them. “Okay, I’m sure you girls know the way, right?” Twilight asked.

“Yes, of course, darling,” Rarity answered her.

“Alright. We’re going to fly ahead, so we can find the best and quickest way to go up the mountain when we get there. Meet us at the base of the North Mountain,” Twilight instructed.

“You got it, Cap’n Twilight,” Pinkie Pie said, much too chipper for the situation. She saluted Twilight enthusiastically.

The lavender pony lifted herself higher reluctantly, glancing back at her friends. “Be careful, girls, I don’t know if he’s found out we’re coming yet.”

As Twilight, Rainbow, and Fluttershy began to fly away, the other three looked at each other nervously.

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It had taken quite a long time to reach the North Mountain, until what must have been shortly after dawn the morning of Hearth’s Warming. Nopony could have been sure, though, because the whole area surrounding the mountain was veiled with a dark fog, like an eternal night with no moon and stars, and somehow even darker than that. Even so, there was some form of blue light coming from an unknown source that allowed the winged ponies to see their friends as they arrived. That had been about a half hour ago. They had discussed the plan of how they would reach the top, and that had been about it. After that, it had been complete silence, which seemed to be a recurring thing between the circle of friends in the past few hours.

As they continue to trot up the mountain, somepony finally says something. “So… how… was your trip?” Pinkie awkwardly asks the pegasi and alicorn. “Didya have any problems?”

“Well, we kinda had some trouble seeing. It was a lot darker up there,” Rainbow replies.

“Why, that’s strange,” Rarity comments.

“It was.... weird,” Fluttershy adds, her voice haunted.

There is another uncomfortable quietness between the best friends as they make their way up the steep mountain. The quiet is suddenly shattered, though, when a deep, throaty roar echoes through the mountain. Everypony stops in their tracks and looks at each other. Heavy hoofsteps shake the ground beneath them, and they all instinctively take a step back.

“Nopony run! Running is what Dark Heart wants!” Twilight yells over the hoofsteps. She peers ahead, trying to get a look at what seems to be coming down the mountain but unable to see through the thick darkness ahead. Thoughts of what creature is coming to them run through her mind, until she matches the roar she heard with one of them.

An Ursa Major, she recalls, her heart skipping a beat.

Before she can warn her friends further, the creature’s nose is right in front of her. The creature stares her down, its posture confident. “Everypony grab my hoof!” she yells as she reaches back as quickly as she can. Once she thinks she feels each friend’s hoof, she teleports a ways up the mountain, behind the Ursa.

“Where’s Applejack?” Pinkie shouts in bewilderment, before Twilight can recognize that only four of her friends are present.

“Oh, no!” Twilight yelps. “You four go ahead, we’ll catch up, okay?”

Pinkie, Rarity, and Fluttershy nod and begin to run ahead, but Rainbow Dash looks unsure. “Be careful, okay?” she says, worried for her friends’ safety.

“We’ll be alright, Rainbow,” Twilight reassures, though she doesn’t believe that is necessarily true.

With that, RD flies towards the other two ponies farther up the mountain. Twilight turns and takes flight, the wind whistling in her ears as she picks up her speed.

“Hey, Ursa!” she yells, using all her strength to kick him in the back. The creature turns around, his claws flying furiously. She flies out of his reach, dodging each attempt to catch her. “Applejack!” She calls down, searching for her friend.

Finally, she spots her. The orange pony lies on the ground in front of the Ursa. Twilight gasps when she doesn’t reply to her calls. She darts down at full speed, doing her best to avoid getting caught by the Ursa. But as she nears the ground, her worries for Applejack grow as she notices she seems unconscious, and the Ursa Major is able to hit her while she is distracted. She is flung backwards through the air, flapping her wings as hard as she is able to keep herself from crashing into the quickly approaching side of the mountain. She tries to create a force field as she did with Tirek but finds it difficult, images of Applejack rushing through her mind. What if she’s dead? she worries. She finally clears her mind by reminding herself that she will be no use to Applejack if she herself dies. After she remembers this, her wings feel stronger and stop her right before she collides with the mountain. She flies upwards again, the Ursa Major watching her from below, pawing up towards her but not quite able to reach. Then, she plummets towards the ground, hooves outstretched. She makes her way past the Ursa and gets close enough to Applejack that she can use her magic to carry her.

Carrying heavier items with magic for long periods of time is a major energy drainer, and she knows she will need her magic to fight Dark Heart. Because of this, she places Applejack on her back, despite the strain on her wings. She flies back up towards the sky before racing forward, parallel to the mountainside. Her adrenaline keeps her going when her wings would have otherwise failed. The Ursa Major growls before belting out another angry roar. He, luckily, gives up following them rather quickly, apparently realizing that they are leaving his territory anyway and are not worth his time.

As soon as he stops chasing them, Twilight lowers herself to the ground weakly. She has to stop for a minute, the weight of AJ and her speed having tired her out. She is unsure if she will be able to complete the trip, but she knows her friends are ahead. She vows to only take a short rest, knowing that it is also dangerous to sleep in snow. She gently sets Applejack down and lies down in the snow, her chest rising and falling shakily with each ragged breath. The cold stings her throat and the wind blows snow in her eyes.

She soon realizes how exhausted she truly is. Her mind fights her body as it pulls her towards slumber. What about Applejack? she questions herself. She tries to get up, but she can’t. She hasn't slept all night and has just worked herself to her limits. There is no way her body will let her continue her journey.

So, despite her protest and worries about the dangers of sleeping in the cold, Twilight feels herself quickly falling into the serenity of sleep. Next Chapter: Chapter 2- Equestria in Our Hooves- Twilight's POV Estimated time remaining: 9 Minutes