The pegasi flew up above, a-spying out their way,
The unicorns called magic spells to make the night as day.
The earthen ponies, thunder-hooved, the vanguard of the band;
And so the Mane Six ventured forth to try to save their land.
Behind them faded Ponyville, from hearing and from sight –
Though not from memory, the place for which they now would fight.
But ere they reached the wyverns' lair, for many miles between
Stood dangers old and dangers new and dangers none had seen.
Called Rainbow Dash, "The river nears, I see its banks of mud –
A torrent mighty. We must cross, e'en though it be in flood."
"Oh my," then whispered Rarity, "oh dear, alas, alack!"
"Don't worry," Twilight reassured, "you know we have your back."
But though full fine and brave she spoke, within her dwelt a doubt:
The unicorn, no ranger she – would she now turn about?
"Now listen up, now listen, y'all," cried Applejack at once,
"We have to work together here; nopony is a dunce.
"So Rainbow Dash, you scout ahead, and watch the farther shore,
And give us warning should you hear a vicious creature's roar.
You, Fluttershy, your task it is to keep an eye behind
And sound the signal, loud and clear, if danger you shall find."
The flying ponies gave a nod, and headed fore and aft
While Twilight Sparkle cast about to find a river craft:
A sunken ferry, that was all she found in waters dim.
The wood was sodden. "There's no choice: we four shall have to swim!"
Poor Rarity was almost numb upon the river bank:
"The water flows so fast!" she said. "It's freezing!" (And it stank.)
"I'm sorry, gal," said Applejack, "there is no other way:
To wander up or down the bank would give us all away
To wyvern scouts, if such they have, and then where would we be?"
"I know; you're right," the other said. "But help me, please," quoth she.
So Applejack, she took a breath, and calling out the name
"Celestia!" held Rarity, as 'cross the stream they came.
Upon the nearer bank the other unicorn saw plain:
As Twilight watched her friends' success, her courage welled again.
"I'm coming, everypony!" And she gave a little rear;
Made ready to dive into what she now much less did fear,
But Pinkie Pie, from nowhere, was beside her in a flash:
"Hey, don't be silly sillypants! You'll only make a splash!
Let AJ take us, one by one, 'til we are safe across.
You surely realise that here she has to be the boss."
The unicorn deflated, but she knew her friend was right:
She dropped her hooves and drooped her head and waited in the night
For Applejack to ferry her across the river wide;
And this she did, and soon they both were on the other side.
A-shivering and chattering they breathed the cool night air,
With Rarity the last to come, for Pinkie, she was there
Already, though they none knew how, and she herself did not
Explain to anypony, and before long 'twas forgot.
The ponies stopped awhile there, and in the night-time haze
A spark from Twilight's horn there came, to kindle a fine blaze.
They six all huddled round the glow to dry their sodden coats
For those who wished to feed themselves, there was a meal of oats.
They knew they could not tarry long: already in the east
A faintest greyness had appeared, and at the very least
The river must be left behind, for it was none too wise
To linger here within the sight of any stranger's eyes.
But weariness was rising fast, and all the ponies knew
They soon would have to sleep, so they could carry on anew
Come evening-tide with all their vital faculties intact;
For should they push on ceaselessly, their minds and bodies racked
With pain and doubt, then every chance there was that one would fall
To accident or plain disease, and that would risk them all.
The barren plains were ending now, and so they had begun
To leave the world they'd always known: they felt it, every one.
Now on the far horizon spied the pegasi the hills:
The borders of the mountains that gave all their number chills.
"We really ought to camp round here," suggested Applejack.
"Then fresh we'll be again tonight to trot along our track."
There was a shallow lake ahead, hard by a little wood.
"Now that looks perfect," Rainbow said. "May it be understood
That I shall keep first watch today, then AJ; Rarity;
Then Twilight; Pinkie; Fluttershy. We'll sleep beneath this tree.
"But first we need to eat, I think. My wings are pretty sore
And horns and hooves will need to be preserved, for we are sure
To need them soon. When that may be, I really cannot say,
But these lands they are dangerous, we know that, night or day."
The orange pony's saddlebags contained a tasty treat:
"Oh! Muffins!" cried the friends with joy, and settled down to eat.
For just a while, their cares were lifted from the party's backs.
They sang and danced and laughed again, but still could not relax.
"I think we need a game!" then Pinkie, bouncy yet, did say.
"And I have thought of just the thing for all of us to play.
Now great adventurers we are, perhaps we'll win our fame.
If so then each of us, I think, will need a hero's name."
"Hey, this sounds good!" chimed in a voice. "I'm going first, okay?
It's Rainbow Dash the Bold for me." Said AJ, "What the hay?
Well, all right then, if I must choose, I guess that I could see
That Applejack the Strong could work. Straightforward, just like me."
"And Pinkie Pie the Fun!" exclaimed that pony of the earth.
A name with which they all agreed: the bringer of much mirth.
"So what about you, Fluttershy?" "Oh really, I don't know.
I'm here, of course, to help you out – but legendary? No."
"Your heroism's plain to see," said Twilight. "Bear in mind
How much you've loved and cared for us, oh Fluttershy the Kind.
And you, my sister unicorn, thou proud and stately mare:
There is no doubt what is your name: 'tis Rarity the Fair."
"But Twilight," queried Pinkie Pie, "though our delicious game
Has neared its end, there still is one who doesn't have a name.
So what of you, my Sparkly friend? What are you called, pray tell?
I doubt that Twilight Big Crown Thingy's quite the name to sell
The story of our mighty quest when our return's at hand,
And Twilight Unicorn, though apt, is not exactly grand."
"It's tricky, but," the other said, "I have my answer now.
I shall be Twilight of the Book, for after all, that's how
"We came to be upon this quest: the story I did see
And lend to Rainbow Dash: that from my little library."
The daylight hours, they passed without a warning or alarm.
Come evening-tide none of the band had suffered smallest harm.
So, as the dusken shadows lengthened 'cross the stony ground,
The ponies set off once again; they barely made a sound.
The air about them colder now, as they began to climb
Into the hills, their gentler slopes a bed for sage and thyme.
Our heroes had such stamina, they walked for many a mile,
They took a path that snaked into a sinister defile.
Down there, the light of Luna seemed so weak and far away,
There was a reek of wrongness here, a stench of foul decay;
No mighty trees or cheerful budding flowers could be seen,
Just stunted bushes, bitter stalks of brown rather than green.
So gloomy was it now that every time one turned to check
The rear, they'd barely see a thing; it was a weary trek.
An hour passed; another; three; the moon began to set,
The unicorns they did their best, but all was murk, and yet...
"There – on that ledge!" called Rainbow Dash. The others strained their eyes.
"She's right! A stallion, watching us!" cried Twilight with surprise
And panic rising to her lips, however hard she tried
Her courage then to summon up, her fear to push aside,
For she was close to bolting now; her body urged her, "Flee!"
The stranger had a barren flank: no cutie mark had he.