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Part 2

Chapter Five: Through the Forest

“Seize her!” the mayor shouted. “Only she knows where the Princess is!”

Three royal pegasi, donned with golden armor, hidden before, suddenly took off toward Night Mare Moon. She did not take kindly to it. “Stand back, you fools!” Her eyes shined a bright teal, and bolts of lightning knocked the pegasi back.

She took the form of the violet mist now encasing her, and snaked her way across the hall and out the front doors into the night. Applejack lost her hold of Rainbow’s tail, and the pegasus chased after the mist.

“Come back here!” she shouted angrily. As she said it, however, the mist was already too far to pursue. Her voice grew worrisome. “Nighttime? Forever?” Looking down back to the hall doors, she saw Twilight rushing out after Night Mare Moon. “Where’s she going?” she asked herself.

Later, Spike awoke from his restless sleep. “We’ve got to stop Night Mare!” he shouted. However, he soon fell back asleep.

Twilight walked across the library bedroom, throwing a blanket over the dragon, who was now snoozing in his basket. “You’ve been up all night, Spike. You are a baby dragon after all.” She clicked the light off, and made her way to the library, searching for information on the Elements of Harmony.

“Elements, elements, elements,” she searched. “Ugh! How can I stop Night Mare Moon without the Elements of Harmony?!”

“And just what are the Elements of Harmony?” Rainbow Dash suddenly entered the library, confronting Twilight. Her voice was accusatory. “And how did you know about Night Mare Moon, huh? Are you a spy?” She was now floating in the air, her nose inches from Twilight’s, anger etched on her face.

Rainbow’s tail was jerked back by an upset-looking Applejack. Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy had come in too. Applejack let go of Rainbow’s tail. “Simmer down, Sally. She ain’t no spy,” she said, “but she sure knows what’s going on. Don’t you, Twilight?” Rainbow, Fluttershy, Pinkie, Applejack, and Rarity all looked at Twilight with concerned faces, looking for an answer.

Twilight closed her eyes. “I read all about the prediction of Night Mare Moon. Some mysterious beings called the Elements of Harmony are the only things that can stop her.” She looked out at the moon. “But I don’t know what they are- where to find them. I don’t even know what they do!”

“The Elements of Harmony: a Reference Guide.” Pinkie Pie read the name on the side of a book, resting on a shelf across the room. Twilight rushed over, knocking Pinkie out of the way.

“How did you find that?!” she asked in bewilderment.

“It was under eee,” she explained in a singsong voice.

Twilight looked slightly embarrassed. “Oh.” She levitated the book closer. It was dark red, with golden-colored pages and spine stripes. On the cover, painted in gold, was the head of a unicorn, surrounded by a blue ring, six golden squares resting on it. Twilight found the page she was looking for, and read aloud. “’There are six Elements of Harmony, but only five are known. Kindness, laughter, generosity, honesty, and loyalty’,” she read aloud, “’The sixth is a complete mystery. It is said, the last known location of the five elements, was in the ancient castle of the royal pony sisters. It is located in what is now the Everfree Forest.’”

After reading that, a certain violet mare lurking outside knew exactly what she must do.

---

The Everfree Forest was a dark place. With thick foliage, animal noises carrying into the night, and the unknown waiting around every corner, all six ponies standing outside of its entrance had a reason to be scared. All except Pinkie Pie.

“Whee! Let’s go!” she exclaimed merrily. She started to skip in, until she was addressed by Twilight.

“Not so fast,” she told her, “I appreciate the offer, but I’d really rather do this on my own.

“No can do, sugarcube.” Applejack’s voice was confident. “We sure ain’t letting any friend of ours go into that place alone. We’re sticking to you like caramel on a candy apple.” She trotted bravely into the forest, followed by Fluttershy, Rainbow, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie, who sounded even happier than before.

“Especially if there’s candy apples in there!” She saw Twilight’s confused gaze, then followed the others. “What? Those things are good!”

Twilight sighed, and made her way in.

Minutes later, walking through the forest, Twilight asked the others, “So, none of you have been in here before?”

Rarity shuddered. “Heavens, no. Just look at it,” she said nervously, eying the trees, “it’s dreadful!”

“And it ain’t natural,” Applejack added. “Folks say it don’t work the same as Equestria.” Beneath her, a blue mist was seeping its way through the soil under their feet.

Twilight sounded scared. “What’s that supposed to mean?” They stopped, coming to a cliff edge, wondering where to go next.

“Nopony knows,” Rainbow said spookily, a mischievous smile spread on her face. “You know why?”

“Rainbow, quit it!” Applejack said. They were now at the edge, peering for a way down.

The smiling mare continued, “Cause everypony whose ever come in, has never. Come. Out!” She said the last word loudly, making everypony jump. It echoed up and down the cliffside, and an ominous vibration could be heard, but not just heard, felt.

A terrible cracking, and the section of cliff they were all standing on broke apart, and all six ponies started to slide down the cliff. Rainbow and Fluttershy instinctively took to the air. The other four would not survive if they slid much further, for an overhang in the slope led straight into nothing, only ending hundreds of feet below. Behind them, the violet mist darted out from the place where it broke, unnoticed.

“Fluttershy, quick!” Rainbow was surprised, yet acted quickly. Leaving a rainbow-colored trail behind her, she raced after her falling friends.

Fluttershy took a second to register what had happened. “Oh, my goodness. Oh, my goodness!”

Rainbow had caught Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy had caught Rarity. Applejack and Twilight were still sliding down the cliff. Seeing her chance, Applejack grabbed a root coming out of the earth with her teeth, but Twilight was still sliding.

The purple unicorn continued sliding until she reached the edge, at which point she was dangling. Her life depended on her two front hooves.

Applejack saw this, and after letting go of the root, carefully slid down toward Twilight. “Hold on, I’m a comin’!” Upon reaching Twilight, she took her hooves.

“Applejack!” Twilight was scared. “What do I do?” Their hold was slipping.

Applejack looked pained. They almost couldn’t hold on anymore. With certainty and care in her voice, she said to Twilight, “Let go.”

“Are you crazy?!” Twilight couldn’t believe her ears.

“No I ain’t.” Applejack said. “I promise you’ll be safe.”

“That’s not true!”

“Now, listen here,” she said quietly. “What I’m sayin’ is the honest truth. Let go, and you’ll be safe.”

Twilight put all of her trust into Applejack, and with one meaningful look, let go.

She was falling through the air. Surely she wouldn’t survive the terrible fall. She screamed at the top of her lungs, waiting for the impact.

But it didn’t come. She was fifty feet in the air, being held by Rainbow and Fluttershy.

“Phew.” She was extremely relieved. Their hold slipped a little, but they recovered. Fluttershy spoke up.

“Sorry, girls. I’m not used to holding more than a bunny or two.”

Looking back to the cliff, Twilight could see Applejack hopping down on various rocks to the bottom. She looked quite pleased.

Twilight had trusted her life to Applejack, and she had not let her down.

Behind them, a violet disembodied mist moved forth, its plan not yet foiled.

---

“… and once Pinkie and Rarity were safe, whoosh! Me and Fluttershy looped-de-looped around and wham! Caught you right in the nick of time.” Rainbow Dash’s voice carried loudly to the other ponies continuing their path. Twilight wasn’t fond of her bragging.

“Yes, Rainbow. I was there.” She sounded annoyed. Her tone softened, though. “And I’m very grateful, but we got to-” She gasped. Everypony stopped in their tracks.

Standing before them was a terrible beast, with the body of a lion, reptilian wings spread out on either side of it, and a fat scorpion’s tail, arched over its back, looking deadly. It’s wings, tail, and mane, were all deep red. It was three times the size of anypony.

“A Manticore!” Twilight yelled. It reared on its hind legs and gave a great roar, murder in its eyes. She sounded confident now. “We’ve got to get past him!”

Everypony stood prepared to attack when necessary. Everypony except Fluttershy, who hovered toward the back, fear in her eyes. The Manticore swiped at Rarity, who dodged it, then kicked with her hind legs. The force of the kick would make Applejack’s buck look mediocre. The Manticore was launched onto its back. “Take that, you ruffian!”

It roared right in front of the unicorn, sending back her hair, and any bravery she had in her. She darted away.

“Wait!” Fluttershy said, though too quietly for anypony to hear.

The Manticore tried to follow, but was stopped as it felt a thud on its back. The thud was Applejack.

“Yee-haw!” she held onto its blood red mane. “Get-a-long, little doggy!” The Manticore bucked with all its strength, trying desperately to get Applejack off.

“Wait!” Fluttershy said a little more assertively, though was still unheard.

The beast proved stronger than Applejack anticipated, and succeeded in throwing her off.

Upon landing, she said to Rainbow, “All yours, partner.”

“I’m on it!” she said determinedly. As she rushed toward it, Fluttershy spoke even louder this time.

“Wait!” Still nothing.

Rainbow spun in circles around the Manticore, with the same style as she used on Twilight. Her rain-blow-dry. It was confused for a moment, but lashed its tail out, sending the pegasus launching back to the others.

“Rainbow!” Twilight called out, seriously concerned for Rainbow’s safety. Upon landing, however, she seemed for the most part unfazed.

Twilight, now personally angry at the Manticore, glared at it. She prepared the charge. As did her friends. As did the Manticore.

Five ponies began to race to the Manticore, finishing what they started. They were stopped by a desperate-looking Fluttershy.

“WAIT!” She screamed. Loudly enough to stop everypony. The Manticore waited, preparing to strike, though Fluttershy had her back to it. She gave her friends an ‘I’ve-got-this’ look, and walked up to the beast, not a trace of fear or uncertainty in her eyes.

The creature reared, its paw raised, ready to go for the kill. All five ponies looked away, unable to watch what they knew would come next.

Fluttershy’s voice was quiet and peaceful. “Shh. It’s okay.” She nuzzled its lowered paw, care on her face. The Manticore looked pained, then opened its left paw to show the yellow pegasus a large purple thorn stuck right in the middle.

“Aww, you poor, poor little baby,” she said lovingly.

“Little?” Rainbow asked, astonished.

Fluttershy ignored her, speaking instead to the Manticore. “Now, this might hurt for juuust a second.” She put her teeth around the thorn, and pulled.

The creature gave a great roar, surprised from the sudden pain. It lifted the pony into the air.

“Fluttershy!” Twilight and Applejack yelled.

Fluttershy, still in the air, drew smiles to the other five pony’s faces. She was being hugged tightly by the Manticore, who seemed to enjoy such caring company.

“Aww, you’re just a little baby kitty aren’t you? Yes, you are!” She spoke adoringly. “Yes, you are!”

The other five ponies walked right past the Manticore now releasing Fluttershy. When she caught up with them, Twilight asked her, “How did you know about the thorn?”

“I didn’t. Sometimes we all just need to be shown a little kindness.”

Twilight smiled..

The thorn, now forgotten on the ground, transformed into a curious substance that moved toward the walking ponies.

---

Continuing their trek, Rarity complained, “Ugh, my eyes need a rest from all this icky muck!” They walked under many thick trees, blocking out all moonlight. “Well, I didn’t mean that literally.”

“That ancient ruin could be right in front of our faces and we wouldn’t even know it!” Twilight said.

“Ah, wait. I think I stepped in somethin’,” Applejack said, eyeing the mud on her hooves. Fluttershy shrieked. Applejack gave her a look. “It’s just mud!”

She turned around and realized why she shrieked. Before them stood a brightly glowing tree, its features altered to look like monstrous beings. She jumped back, yelling herself. Surrounding them were many trees like the first, faces and limbs made out of the various parts. Though stationary, they scared everypony into panic.

Again, everypony except Pinkie Pie. She was pointing and laughing at a tree some two feet in front of her, returning funny-looking faces. With each face, she made a quite silly sound.

Twilight couldn’t believe what Pinkie was doing. “Pinkie! What are you doing? Run!”

Pinkie sounded amused. “Oh, girls, don’t you see?” She adopted a rhythmical voice.

“When I was a little filly, and the sun was going dooown,”

“Tell me she’s not,” Twilight said.

“The darkness and the shadows, they would always make me frooown.”

“She is,” Rarity said.

“I’d hide under my pillow, from what I thought I saw,

but Granny-Pie said that wasn’t the way to deal with fears at aaall.”

“Then, what is?” Rainbow asked.

“She said, ‘Pinkie, you gotta stand up tall. Learn to face your fears!

You’ll see that they can’t hurt you, just laugh to make them disappear!’

Ha. Ha. Ha.”

She said the last words confidently, and as suddenly as it appeared, the tree she looked at returned to its original state. She smiled at her other friends, who gasped as they saw what happened.

“Sooo, giggle at the ghostly, guffaw at the grossly,

crack it up with the creepy, whoop it up at the weepy!

Chortle at the kooky, snortle at the spooky!”

As she sang, everypony laughed, chortled, and giggled at the trees, and as a result, each and every face began to disappear, returning to their ordinary form. Pinkie sang the next part as one run on sentence.

“And tell that big dumb scary face to take a hike and leave you alone and if he thinks he can scare you then he’s got another thing coming and the very idea of such a thing just makes you wanna…

Laaaaaaaaugh!”

Everypony laughed amongst themselves, both at their success, and at Pinkie’s song.

---

Still giggling, the six ponies came to a wide river, violent waves crashing upon one another. They all paused, smiles wiped from their faces, and looked at their obstacle. Although it was hard to tell, the water was about a foot deep, though the waves would render anypony crossing to be swept away into the raging current.

“How are we gonna cross this?” Pinkie asked.

They heard an agonized wailing from somewhere near them, and followed the sound.

Sitting in the water was a giant purple sea serpent, different parts of its body thrashing about in the water. It had a head similar to a pony, with bright orange hair and eyebrows, both appearing to be expertly groomed. On its snout was a curved mustache, orange like its owner’s hair, with light yellow streaks running down it. It would look perfect if it weren’t for the fact that half of it was missing.

The creature cried into the night with a voice much like a pony, though it reverberated pain. “What a world! What a world!” It continued thrashing around, causing more waves around it.

Twilight spoke up. “Excuse me, sir. Why are you crying?” she asked slightly bluntly.

“Well, I don’t know,” the serpent told them, “I was just sitting here, minding my own business, when this tacky little cloud of purple smoke just whizzed past me, and tore half of my beloved mustache clean off!” he wailed, “And now, I look simply horrid!” He threw himself into the water, splashing all six ponies.

“Oh, give me a break.” Rainbow said.

“That’s what all the fuss is about?” Applejack asked, slightly annoyed.

Rarity sounded shocked at the other’s reactions. “Why, of course it is!” Her tone was sharp. “How can you be so insensitive?!” She approached the serpent, who was now resting his head on the shore. “Aww, would you look at him? Such lovely, luminescent scales!” She rubbed her hoof on his chin.

The serpent sniffed. “I know.”

“And your expertly coiffed mane.”

“Oh, I know, I know!” the serpent said, rubbing his mane in adoration.

“Your fabulous manicure!” Rarity recognized.

“It’s so true!” the serpent was flattered at the unicorn’s words.

“All ruined without you beautiful mustache,” she said pityingly.

“It’s true! I’m hideous!” It covered its head with its arms, hiding the “hideous” shame.

Rarity sounded determined. “I cannot possibly let such a crime against fabulosity go uncorrected!” She reached her head and pulled out one of the serpent’s scales.

“Ow! What did you do that for?” it asked, hurt.

Rarity ignored it. With the sharp scale still in her mouth, she brought it swinging down. The other five ponies gasped.

She sliced most of her tail clean off, and, throwing the scale aside, levitated the hair up to the serpent’s snout. She affixed it to the torn part of its mustache, and stood back, happy with her work. Where a stub of a mustache half used to be, there was now a purple set of hairs, contrasting yet complimenting the other half.

The serpent laughed gleefully. “My mustache! How wonderful!”

“You look smashing,” Rarity said fondly.

Twilight looked concerned. “Oh, Rarity! Your beautiful tail!”

“Oh, it’s fine, my dear. Short tails are in this season. Besides, it’ll grow back.”

Rainbow leaned in toward Twilight. “So, with the mustache…”

Twilight gasped, then began to make her way through the water. “We can cross now! Let’s go. Whaa!” She was lifted up out of the water, standing on a section of serpent body.

“Allow me!” it said with a courteous bow. Raising sections of its body up, the ponies used them as stepping stones to cross the river without getting any wetter.

---

Satisfied with themselves, they came to a ridge. On it was a broken wooden bridge, with ropes as support on either left or right. It was not affixed to the other side, however, and hung limply off the two pegs in the ground nearest the ponies. Across the bridge stood an old and crumbling ruin.

“There it is!” Twilight shouted. “The ruin that holds the Elements of Harmony! We made it!” She ran forward, and, distracted by the ruin, had not yet seen the ridge. She stopped as soon as she could, both front hooves dangling over the edge into nothingness below, shock on her face.

Rainbow grabbed her tail and pulled her back. “What’s with you and falling off cliffs today?”

They all stood at the edge. Pinkie sighed, “Now what?”

“Duh,” Rainbow said, fluttering her wings. She took off, grabbing the end of the bridge not yet fixed, and began to tie it to the other pegs.

“Oh, yeah,” Pinkie said.

“Raaainbow…” A ghostly mare’s voice called out to the pegasus.

“Who’s there?!”

“Raaainbow…” Suddenly, Rainbow was being surrounded by thick white mist, blocking the other ponies from view.

“I ain’t afraid of you!” Rainbow shouted. “Show yourself!”

“We’ve been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the best flyer in Equestria.”

“Who?”

“Why, you, of course!”

“Really?” she asked eagerly. “I mean, oh yeah, me. Hey, you wouldn’t mind telling the Wonderbolts that, would ‘ya? Cause, I’ve been trying to get into that group, for like, ever!”

“No, Rainbow Dash. We want you to join us…” Three black pegasi approached Rainbow. They had blue manes, grey wings, and wore purple flight suits with lightning borders and yellow goggles. “…the Shadow Bolts!”

Rainbow looked surprised.

“We are the greatest areal team in the Everfree Forest,” a mare spoke from the middle, a stallion on either side. “And soon we will be the greatest in all of Equestria.” She hovered to Rainbow. “But first, we need a captain.”

Rainbow smiled.

“The most magnificent…”

“Yup!”

“…swiftest…”

“Yes!”

“…bravest flyer in all the land!”

“Yes, it’s all true!” Rainbow said happily.

“We need,” the mare said softly. She hovered to Rainbow, and barely whispered the next word. “You.”

Rainbow sprang into the air. “Whoo-hoo! Sign me up!” She flew over to the bridge pegs. “Just let me tie this bridge real quick, and then we have a deal.”

“No!” the mare shouted. “It’s them or us.”

Rainbow said nothing.

“Rainbow!” Twilight shouted. “What’s taking so long?”

The mare’s goggles glowed, and the fog toward the other ponies condensed, blocking sound, but not before Twilight could say, “Don’t listen to them!”

“Well?” the mare asked.

“You.” Rainbow said. The mare’s wings extended as she smiled. “Thank you, for the offer, I mean.” She went back to the pegs and tied the bridge. “But, I’m afraid I have to say no.” She took off back toward her friends, a rainbow colored trail following in her wake.

The Shadow Bolts looked angry as they saw the pegasus fly away, then transformed into a cloud of violet mist and took off to the ruin.

Her friends cheered Rainbow as she returned across the bridge. “Good job, Rainbow!” Twilight said.

“See? I’d never leave my friends hangin’!” Rainbow said happily.

Twilight watched her float ahead, thinking about all the obstacles they conquered on their way to the ruin.

They were there.