Twilight and her friends begin searching for the rain that can’t be stopped. They find so much rain around Everfree, but each of them has been stopped by Twilight’s and even Starlight’s magic. On the way, they even find Manny the Manticore, who all except Fluttershy who scared of seeing. The Manticore recognized Fluttershy and began licking her. They even find a cragadile along the way, parasprites, and even Steven Magnet whose rain shower was interrupted by Twilight magically stopping it.
Twilight’s friends started to get tired. “Ugh! Are we done yet?” Rainbow complained. “We’ve been searching for seven hours already!”
“Uhh… actually it’s been 6 hours and 59 minutes.” Pinkie said tiredly as she looked at her watch that didn’t even have numbers on it, but just random icons like a cupcake and a rubber chicken.
“Twilight are we almost done getting our manes wet by all the rain?” Rarity asked.
“Not yet.” Twilight said. “We have to find this cave.”
“Twilight, who’s to know this cave even exists?” Starlight asked. “It was just a dream.”
“No, our dreams have to mean something!” Twilight said determinedly. “Luna knows it, Zecora knows it, it has to be around!”
“We have to have had looked through the entire forest already.” Fluttershy said.
“Yeah, and who’s to know we aren’t walkin’ in circles?” Applejack asked.
“How about this? One more rain stop. I’ll try to stop one more rain storm, and if it stops, we’ll go home and try again another day.” Twilight promised. “Do we have a deal?” Her friends all agreed. “Okay, I see another rain storm up ahead. I’ll give it a shot.” Twilight walks over to the rain storm, and uses her magic on it. However, it didn’t stop. Twilight tries again, and it still doesn’t stop. “Huh.” Twilight thinks. “Starlight, you try.”
Starlight uses her magic on the rain storm, and her magic doesn’t affect it either. “Nope. The rain’s still falling.” She said.
“This is it!” Twilight said excitedly. “This is the rain! The cave has to be close!”
“Alright, y’all! We should split up in groups of two to find it.” Applejack suggests. “Ah’ll go with Rarity-“
“You’re ALWAYS with Rarity, Applejack!” Rainbow informs her. “You two hang out non-stop!”
Applejack sighs. “Fine. Maybe ah’ll go with Fluttershy, Rarity will go with Twilight, Spike will go with Starlight, and-“
“Ooo, ooo! Can we stop for a second? Because I need to use the little filly’s room!” Pinkie said as she starts dancing.
“Ugh, fine!” Applejack sighs. “Go behind those bushes, and we’ll wait for you.”
“Actually can I go in that cave over there?” Pinkie points. “I could really use the privacy!”
Twilight and her friends all gasp as they spot the cave in front of them with the same exact symbol on top. “That’s it!” Twilight said. “That’s the cave we’re looking for!”
“And there’s the logo!” Starlight points to the logo.
“Wait… I know that logo!” Twilight said as she starts observing it. Just then Twilight starts having a flashback.
“Tirek tricked me into believing that he could offer me something more valuable than friendship.” Discord explains to Twilight with a medallion around his neck. “But there is nothing worth more. I see that now. He lied when he said that this medallion was given as a sign of gratitude and loyalty. But when I say that it is a sign of our true friendship, I am telling the truth.” Discord places the medallion around Twilight’s neck as a sparkling rainbow shines through it.
Back in the present, Twilight explains, “That’s the same logo as the medallion Discord gave me back when we were fighting Tirek.”
“What does it mean?” Spike asked.
“I don’t know for sure.” Twilight said. “But Princess Celestia told me that the medallion first belonged to Tirek’s brother Scorpan.”
“Well now that we found the cave, can we go in now?” Rarity asked. “Maybe finding some rare gems will make up for my ruined mane from all this rain!”
So the eight of them walked inside the cave all feeling nervous, but the cave just looked like any ordinary cave. “Well, ah don’t see any nightmares comin’ true.” Applejack said as Fluttershy peeks over while hiding behind Applejack.
“Looks like an ordinary cave.” Fluttershy said.
“Awww! I was hoping for nightmares!” Pinkie whined. “At least nightmares aren’t boring!”
“True that, sister!” Rainbow agreed as they bro-hoofed.
“Oh no!” Starlight said feeling really nervous. “I really hope Chrysalis isn’t here! I’m really scared, Twilight. I’m not ready to confront her again!”
“Starlight, you have nothing to worry about.” Twilight comforts her. “Remember what you said in the dream? Trixie was with you; but Trixie isn’t here – we are! So the dream can’t come true.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right.” Starlight smiles.
“Yeah, Harry isn’t here either.” Fluttershy said.
“Neither is my family.” Applejack said.
“And neither is a party!” Pinkie said.
“Yeah, but I might still abandon you.” Rainbow said. “But, heh! That won’t happen!”
“I honestly hope not.” Rarity said. “Now… where are we supposed to go now, Twilight, darling?”
“I’m not sure.” Twilight said. “Zecora mentioned a sealed…” Just then Twilight’s jaw dropped as she saw what was in front of her. “…door.” She finishes the sentence as her friends notice the giant door in front of them. The door is made of pure gold, and had six gems on it, and even a carving of Star Swirl’s face on top.
“Wow! That’s a big door!” Fluttershy commented.
“Oooo! I hope those gems are for the taken!” Rarity said excitedly.
“Wait, look at the gems though!” Twilight observed them. “There are six of them, each different colors, and… wait, is that a carving of the Tree of Harmony?”
“There is still SO MUCH I need to catch up on.” Starlight said.
“It feels like it’s our destiny to be here.” Fluttershy said.
“Fluttershy’s right.” Applejack said. “If the door has the Tree of Harmony on it, then the Elements of Harmony might have somethin’ to do with it.”
“Too bad we don’t have those marvelous elements anymore.” Rarity said.
“So how do we open the door?” Spike asked.
Twilight starts walking towards the door and gives it a poke. Just then, the earth starting shaking as a voice shouted, “Who DARES disturbs the sacred cave of Star Swirl the Bearded?!”
“Of course! The infamous voice that guards a passageway!” Spike said nervously. “What adventure would be without that?”
“I say… WHO?!” The voice yells as Fluttershy hides behind Applejack again in fear.
“It… it is us, the Keepers of the Elements of Harmony!” Twilight shouts. “We seek to solve a mystery of who gave us nightmares about this cave!”
“Ahh, so you heard my summon!” The voice said. “Good! I’ve been waiting for you to show up!”
“Sorry we couldn’t get here sooner. You could’ve given us better directions!” Rainbow complained.
“SILENCE!” The voice yelled.
“Who are you, mysterious scary voice who sounds like he’s faking it?” Pinkie asked.
“I am the Guardian of Star Swirl’s Den!” The voice said. “I protect his beloved secrets and treasures from ever going out to the public.”
“So why did you summon us?” Applejack asked.
“Before I give you the answer to that, you must complete a series of trials to prove that you are who you say you are!” The Guardian said. “But first, we must get rid of the extra weight.” Just then, a trap door opens below Starlight and Spike, and they begin to fall.
“STARLIGHT! SPIKE!” Twilight shouts as she hears their screaming as they fall. The trap door closes as Twilight yells at the Guardian, “Why did you do that?!”
“These trials are not for them.” The Guardian said. “Only the Keepers of the Elements of Harmony can complete these trials to reach me, and the answer to your summons.”
“What about Starlight and Spike?!” Twilight yelled.
“They will be fine.” The Guardian said. “You will reunite with them once the trials are complete. If you accept these trials, we shall begin immediately. If not, well, you might not see your two friends again. What’s it gonna be, Twilight Sparkle?” Twilight was left between a rock and a hard place of wondering what to do next.