-The Elements of Harmony(part 2)-
The group of girls stood readily atop a steep hill at the edge of the Everfree forest, waiting. “Last chance to turn back,” Twilight said as she looked around at her companies.
“As if, no way you’re hogging all the glory,” Rainbow said hovering in the air getting a somewhat nod from the others.
With a shake of Twilight’s head, the group began their way forward. Of course, as if fate itself willed it before they could even take a single step, the ground shook as the hill they stood upon began to collapse and crumble.
The only one not affected by said fall was Rainbow, have sprung into action as she snagged the others, leaving only Twilight and Applejack...the latter holding on to a loose and dying root. “Hold on!” Applejack said as she slid down and grabbed ahold of Twilight’s hand.
“Thanks, but what do we do now,” Twilight said as she saw that Applejack was having a hard time holding her up.
Applejack stole a look to the sky as resolve built upon her face. “Let go.”
“What!? Twilight cried in confused fear. “How do you know I’ll be fine?!”
“I promise you will be fine, it's the honest truth.” Applejack said with a smile.
Twilight took a minute before nodding her head, closing her eyes as she let go. She didn't fall too far as Applejack herself made her descent, grabbing Twilight and hugging her with one arm, using the other to activate her gauntlets.
Their descent had slowed to a crawl until both felt their legs upon the ground. “See?” Applejack gave an assured smile as she let Twilight gather her bearings. “Told ya you'd be fine.”
“That. Was so...Awesome!” Rainbow exclaimed, gushing over what she just saw.
“Nothing to it.” Applejack said, dusting her knuckles off as she deactivated her gauntlets that she named the Rose twins.
With the show out of the way, the group began to walk through the forest as quickly as they could. “Huh, that's weird.” Pinkie began tapping her chin in thought. “There arent any monster in our way.”
“It must be with all the darkness it's confusing them... I hope I'm right.” Twilight said whispering the last part to herself.
“Oh man! I would have shown ‘em what for!” Rainbow said as flew back and forth slashing some loose branches that were in their way.
“I’d feel better if they don’t show up,” Fluttershy said as she played with her necklace.
“Agreed, I don't rather feel like fighting.” Rarity said with her head held high.
Of course, as if to spite them, a manticore had jumped out at the group and stop in their way. It stared at them before letting out an angry roar. “Hmm, I spoke too soon.” Rarity let out a tired sigh as she readied her weapon, a white rapier with a purple ribbon tied through the hilt.
The others, besides Fluttershy, had also readied their various weapons. “I got this!” Rainbow said as she rushed forward but was promptly slapped out of the sky.
“I got your back!” Applejack cried, punching the ground causing pillars to rise. The Manticore jumped to the side, dodging the attack. Twilight followed up by channelling her magic to cast thunder.
“Wait!” Fluttershy yelled, stopping Twilight dead in her task.
“Fluttershy?!?” Everyone yelled as Fluttershy walked up to the beast.
“Oh~ you poor thing,” Fluttershy said as she held her charm over one of the Manticore’s paw. It roared at her before picking her up and licking her. Everyone was obviously quite shocked at the sight.
“How did you know that would work?” Rainbow asked as the others thought the same thing.
“It looked to be in pain, so I just cured its ailment,” Fluttershy said, holding up her butterfly-shaped necklace. “It was a gift from Alder.” She said holding back a tear for her late teacher.
As they each made there way around the Manticore, it seemed to follow them. “I don't mean to make a scene, but we are being followed.” Rarity whispered to Twilight.
The group stopped. “Can we help you?” Twilight asked knowing full well she would not be getting an answer.
It purred as it walked up and rubbed against Fluttershy. “Oh, you want to help?” Fluttershy asked, getting a rather loud purr in response.
“It’s too dangero-… Fluttershy?!” Rarity said as she saw Fluttershy jumped onto its back.
“I suppose it can help,” Twilight said as she put a hand on Rarity’s shoulder.
“He, its a boy. Oh, that's what he said.” Fluttershy replied as she hid behind her bangs.
With a shrug they all counties they head into a dense part of the forest. “Eugh...this place certainly does get creepy fast.” Rarity commented as she stayed close to the group so as not to lose sight of them.
“Pfft, no way. It’s not that scary.” Pinkie said as she did a cartwheel, causing Twilight to roll her eyes.
“Yeah well I'm totally not-” Rainbow said but strange laughter had shattered her concentration. “What was that?” she asked. Whipping about wildly as she held her blade close to her chest.
The others all gathered in a circle armed with their weapons as they looked at the various trees that had grown faces. Twilight, ever calm, began to calculate the estimated threat. “There must be a logical-” Only for Pinkie to burst into peals of laughter, causing her to stare oddly at the Pink Miqo’te.
“My gran used to say: Pinkie, ya gotta laugh at the things that scare ya.” Pinkie said in between her giggling.
“She said what now?” Twilight said raising an eyebrow.
“Will…” Much to Twilight’s now lessening sanity, Pinkie started to sing.
“Is she?” Twilight asked as Pinkie did another cartwheel.
“She is.” Rarity said answered.
As her singing continued, everyone started to laugh at the trees causing the faces to disappear. “See what I mean?” Pinkie asked as she calmed down from her laugh fit.
“Okay, you're right it did help,” Twilight said as the last of the tree faces disappeared, she looked past the mass of wood and saw that the path seemed to brighten up. ‘That's weird.’ She thought.
“Come on! The last one out’s a rotten Malboro!” Rainbow said as she flew past the trees.
“Hm, always so childish.” Rarity chided as the group continued their trek.
The shady trees began to become far more scarce as the path continued. Leaving that part of the forest behind them, the group had come before a vicious and unforgiving river. “How are we supposed get over that!?” Pinkie asked as she saw Rainbow standing by a bridge that waved back and forth.
Rarity stood there for a sec before following the sound of crying as everyone was arguing on how to cross. She moved passed the bend to find a turtle of all things crying its eyes out. “What seems to be the matter?” Rarity asked as she slowly walked towards the Serpent.
“Oh it's nothing at all, it’s just…. My beautiful hair was cut by these flying bees.” It said as it continued to cry.
Rarity looked around for anything she could use to aid in his crisis. “What's going on?” Applejack said as she and the rest of the group walked over.
Not even bothering to answer, she held her rapier to the back of her head, slicing her locks leaving her with shorter hair. “Rarity! your hair...” Fluttershy said in awe.
“Here you go, it may not be the colour suited to you-”
“I love it!” The turtle said taking the bundle of hair as he fashioned it into his own.
‘Okay why does a turtle even need-’ Twilight thought to herself
“Thank you, Thank you! Do you need a lift on the other side.” The turtle asked, horribly derailing Twilight’s train of through.
“If it isn't too much trouble.” Rarity said. With a nod, the turtle came up close to let everyone on.
After a short ride, the turtle dropped them off on the other side. Unbeknownst to the group, however, was that once they were a safe distance away, the turtle began to glow transforming into a Yuke. “I have played my part.” He said as he walked off.
The girls made their way to the castle with very little hassle, even with the occasional bat or two attacking them. They stopped however at a rope bridge that seemed to have been cut. “Oh now what?” Pinkie asked with a huff.
“I got this,” Rainbow said as she flew down and grabbed the rope and flew right back up and to the opposite end.
She was about to tie the bridge to its post until three figures came into view, although the built-up fog had obscured them from view. “Well, what do we have here?” A male voice said, the silhouette moved closer, Rainbow’s eyes going wide as she saw that they had incredible darkened angel-like wings. “Are you by any chance Rainbow Dash? The Rainbow Dash?”
“Yep! The one and only. Please hold your applause.” Rainbow said with a bow, pride exhuming from her voice.
“We came here because we want you to be part of our team.” The centermost figure said.
“With that, you can-”
“Pass,” Rainbow said interrupting their speech.
“Come again? We're offering you the deal of a lifetime here!” The center one said.
“Hey, I’m sure you guys are cool and all, but I want to make a name for myself on my own, so shoo,” Rainbow said as she tied the rope to the post.
“You will regret this.” The center one said as they took off.
“Yeah...I don't think so.” Rainbow said right before taking off and clearing some of the fog.
“What took you so long? Did you get attacked” Pinkie said shaking Rainbow
“Nah, just having a chat with these three-”
“You had a chat with someone on the other side… ok, this is getting weird… Is anyone else getting a sense of deja vu?” Twilight asked getting confusing looks.
“No time to think about that! We have a world to save!” Pinkie said as she skipped over the bridge.
“She’s right dear.” Rarity said as she followed suit.
Twilight decides to leave her creeping feeling be and made her way with the rest to the castle.
The castle itself had fallen to ruin. It's walls and tapestries having suffered in several states of decomposition. “There they are,” Twilight said running up to some orbs on a display stand.
As everyone removed an orb each and put them right next to Twilight, Rainbow was then first to bring up the objects themselves. “Umm do you know if these are it?” Rainbow asked
“It’s just a feeling… Let me think.” Twilight said rubbing her temples
“We should-”
A dark smoke swirled around the stones. “No!” Twilight cried as she jumped on one as it disappears.
Twilight fell on the floor dizzy. “I should thank you for retrieving this for me.” Twilight shook the dizziness away and saw Nightmare standing right in front of her holding a staff.
“Nightmare! What do you want with these?” Twilight asked eyeing the dark-skinned women.
“With their destruction, the seal shall be undone.” Nightmare said as she slammed her staff down, a massive shock wave destroying the orbs.
“What have you done?!” Twilight called out only getting Nightmare to laugh.
Twilight sat there for a bit till she heard her new friends coming up the stairs, she looked up and saw the fragments started to glow. “You...have not truly destroyed the elements.” She said standing up as her friends walked in.
The shards started to float towards each of the others. “For they live within.,” Twilight said as she shook off her feeling of Deja Vu.
“My friends.”
The shards had reformed, shaped into Crystals that perfectly fit into their weapons.
Shocked, but not deterred, Nightmare readied herself for battle. “You are still. Missing. One.” The nightmare began a dread march, flaring a pair of wicked wings.
Twilight held out her right arm and staff with a golden Phoenix with red wings atop it, it's single eye holding Magic, her element. “With this, I shall stop you,” she said drawing energy from the other elements forming a dense orb. With a flick of her wrist, she sent it flying.
With widened eyes and frantic movement, Nightmare fired bolt after bolt of magic, only for the oncoming orb to absorb everything she threw. “Nooo!” Nightmare screamed, and the room was bathed in glorious light.
As the light died down, everyone looked at one another. Rainbow high fived Pinkie, Applejack pay Fluttershy’s shoulder, and Fluttershy began to gush over Rarity’s hair. “Oh my! Rarity your hair is back!”
“I know!” Rarity squealed, hugging her once again luxurious locks. “I’m never parting with you again!”
Twilight smiled at this before turning to where Nightmare laid. “Well done my faithful student,” Celestia exclaimed as she teleported in, the sun rising behind her.
“Princess.” Twilight happily ran up and hugged the Princess.
“I’m also happy to see you, my sister,” Celestia said turning to see a young woman with pale skin and dark blue hair with a cracked horn.
“Sister.” everyone besides Twilight said in unison.
“I’m so sorry...please forgive me.” Celestia’s sister said rushing over for a hug.
“I'll alwa-”
Booming laughter unceremoniously cut Celestia off. “Fools.” A man wearing blackened armour with a horned helmet and a cape said as he teleported where it was ‘Nightmare’ once stood.
“Golbez, so nice to see you. How's the family?” Celestia said sarcastically.
“You stand before me no longer bound to Cosmos,” Golbez said readying a ball of darkness.
“I may not, but they are,” Celestia said motioning to Twilight and her friends.
“It does not matter to me,” Golbez said launching the ball of darkness.
Everyone closed their eyes but when they opened them again, they bore witness to a black armoured ninja, blue markings adorning his armour. “You are outnumbered.” The ninja said standing between them and Golbez.
Golbez just eyed the ninja before disappearing in a flash of light. “It's good to see you up Shadow,” Celestia said to the ninja.
“Just doing my job…” Shadow said putting away his weapon, staring off in the opposite direction
“You guys know what this calls for? A party!!” Pinkie yelled causing everyone to laugh.
As everyone left Twilight walked up to Shadow. “So were you watching over us?” she asked the ninja.
“I may of… I'll see you later.” Shadow said throwing a smoke bomb down and disappeared.
Pinkie popped her head in. “Are you coming?” She asked
“I’m coming.”
Cosmic was walking around the realm of light when a flash of light revealed Shadow. “It seems to be starting again.” He said kneeling in front of her.
“And this time should be the last.” Cosmic said as she looked in in an orb that watched over Zidane and Sunset training.
“Are they ready?” Shadow asked
“They have to be…. I just wish I could train the Element bearers.” Cosmic said as she summoned another orb that looked upon the party Pinkie put together faster then even she could believe.