Tales of Harmony

by Starwind Dood

Chapter 11

The Broken Town: Ponyville

"We're here!" Minuette announced as she landed the flying chariot. "Mares and gentle-dragon, welcome to Ponyville."

Twilight stepped off of the Flying Chariot. Its lights revealed a path for her to the bleak city in the distance, decorated with dilapidated architecture of candy-shaped candy stores, smiling billboards with the paint almost worn completely off, and trees whose leaves had almost all fallen off. "Ponyville. Interesting name for one of the first earth-pony cities to be built."

"I don't think it means just earth-ponies." Pinkie Pie prattled on. "I mean, the word pony can mean earth, pegasus, or unicorn, right? Even if the original founders were earth-ponies, maybe they wanted Ponyville to be a place for all ponies no matter what they were. Even if it's not as bustling as it used to be, Ponyville does have all kinds of ponies here, even pegasi."

"A pegasus lives in this sinkhole?" Rainbow Dash sputtered in disbelief. "Must be a real ditz."

"Nah, he's more of a braggart."

"Oh, Ponyville," Rarity sighed, taking in a deep breath of the chilly night air. "It's been a long time since I've stepped hoof here."

"You remember!" Pinkie Pie squealed as loud as she could, latching onto Rarity with a suffocating hug.

"Get off me; I can't breathe," Rarity gagged, forcing Pinkie Pie away. "Have you no self-control? As far as remembering goes, I remember very little of my life in Ponyville. I must have been younger than Sweetie Belle when my parents lost our house and we were forced to move to Caballus."

"Do you remember seeing an Element of Harmony?" Twilight asked.

"No," Rarity flatly replied. "No, I do not." Rarity took the first few steps towards the rusted gates. "Well, shall we get on with it?"

"I-I'll just wait here," Fluttershy sighed weakly. "I don't really know anypony here, so, uhh, yeah."

"I think I'll actually hang back with Fluttershy too," Rainbow Dash added in. "This place seems duller than Dullsville. Besides, we can get some real pegasus time in. Teach her how to be brave and strong, like me." Rainbow Dash stood up and flexed her forelegs impressively before Applejack sent her tumbling down with a swift buck.

"What was that about strength, Sugarcube?" she joked as she trotted past her. "Nopony here is stronger than me."

"Really, well why don't we test that out, right now?!" Rainbow Dash shot into the air in a flurry of disgruntled feathers. "Me, you, hoof-wrestling, now!"

"Mares, please flaunt your egos later," Twilight ordered. "We're here in a mission of national, and most likely global, urgency."

"Go on without me, I've got to teach Tiny Two-Wings who's the real iron-pony around here."

"Tiny Two-Wings? Bring it you orange-bellied hill-filly!"

Pinkie Pie: Ponyville! Oh, it's sooooo good to be home!

Pinkie Pie: Oh, I missed Ponyville so much I could sing about it!

Twilight: Don't.

Pinkie Pie: Aren't you excited to be back home too, Rarity?

Rarity: Not really. My home, as cold as it is, is Caballus.

Pinkie Pie: Oh...

Pinkie Pie: I know! I should throw everypony a 'Welcome to Ponyville' party!

Pinkie Pie: My parties around here are the stuff of legends! You should have seen the party we threw for Trixie!

Twilight: Where!?

Rarity: What, Trixie passed through here?

Pinkie Pie: Yeah, she passed through here and tried to put on a show, but we had no bits to give her, and, somehow, me, Snips and Snails got on her crew and started traveling the country snipping purses and wallets everywhere!

Rarity: You, you really are a bandit!

Pinkie Pie: Shhhhhhh!

From a distance, Ponyville looked like a wreck, but the insides painted a brighter picture. Makeshift homes had been erected over the wreckage of the crumbling buildings, and various ponies went about their daily lives of just living in the town seemingly forgotten by the rest of the world, but they all stopped and stared at the newcomers.

"Heya everypony!" Pinkie Pie gleefully howled. "No need to be stone-faced! I'm home, so it's time to party!"

All at once the crowd let out cheers and whoops as they rushed to Pinkie Pie, enveloping her in cheer and merriment.

"Well, this is different," Twilight gazed in bewilderment.

One of the ponies of the crowd, a dark pegasus with an icy white mohawk, turned to Twilight and Rarity. "Well, it's not every day Pinkie Pie brings back a couple of cute mares."

"Beat it, coltsanova," Twilight curtly retorted as she gave the pegasus a magical push.

"Joking, joking, I already have a special somepony anyway." The pegasus readjusted himself with a single flap of his wings. "The name's Thunderlane. So, mind explaining what you are doing here in Ponyville?"

"Looking for an Element of Harmony."

"An element of what?" Thunderlane bleated in response.

Twilight groaned and magically reached into her saddle-bags. She pulled out one of the elements. "Something like this. Do you have one? It's of grave importance that you tell me."

The cheering stopped and the whole crowd turned to Twilight. Twilight nearly balked before all the attention she was suddenly getting, but they did not look at her with anger or spite. Instead, she noticed that they all smiled at her uneasily. "Is something wrong?"

"We sold it." A mulberry mare stepped out of the crowd, dressed in an oversized orange coat "Our town was attacked by a hydra years ago and we were never quite able to recover. As you can see, the damage is just too much. We had to sell some of our valuables in order to make some repairs, and one of those items was a stone orb just like that."

"You sold it?" Twilight blinked, and nearly exploded into hysteria. "How can you sell a priceless artifact from the days of Celestia!? How can you even put a price on it? Are you crazy!"

"Twilight, calm down." Pinkie Pie jumped out of the crowd and to Twilight's side, trying to keep her from exploding with fiery rage. "Things have been really bad here, we needed the bits. Nopony knew it was some kind of element of whatever."

"But, but!" Twilight groaned vainly. She stomped her hooves on the ground in frustration. "Do you at least remember who it was you sold it to?"

"He was a brown earth-pony," the purple pony answered her. "Nothing about him was very distinguishing. He said he was a collector."

"Helpful," Twilight sighed before collapsing to the floor. "A collector that can be anywhere, but I'm so close I can't give up now." She felt tiny hooves nudge her from behind. She turned, and behind her was none other than Trixie's old lackeys: Snips and Snails. "What are you two doing here?"

"Snips and Snails are Ponyville-ians!" Pinkie Pie snuck up behind the two and tossed them onto her back. "And the best bit bandits a mare trotting across Equestria could ask for."

"So you finally admit to being a thief?"

"Did I say that?" Pinkie Pie giggled as she nudged Twilight with her elbow.

"You're bad for my mental health," Twilight exhapsetaly groaned. "So, what's the deal, thieves?"

"We know somepony, well she's not a pony, that can help! I think." Snips excitedly yelled out. "She lives a little into the Everfree Forest, but Snails and I saw her doing all sorts of crazy stuff inside her hut of ter-rors!" He drew out the r and dropped into a faux-sinister voice that failed under his naturally high-pitched one.

"You don't mean," Pinkie Pie gasped, "the Evil Enchantress."

"Yep, bad for my mental health," Twilight groaned again. "What, may I ask, is so evil about this Evil Enchantress?"

"Well, you didn't hear it from me," Pinkie Pie grabbed Twilight and drew her in so close their eyes almost touched, "but she does some pretty evil dances, and if you look deep into her eyes, she'll put you in trances."

"Rarity, save me," Twilight pleaded.

Rarity gasped and stepped further away. "And have her target me with her insatiable neediness? Not happening."

"I am not needy," Pinkie Pie retorted defensively. "Now, what was I telling you?"

Twilight winked out of Pinkie Pie's vice-like hold and turned back to Snips, choking for air. "So, where was this 'Evil Enchantress' that can find me an element?"

"She has a hut a little into the Everfree Forest expanse right next to Ponyville."

"I've got you now!" Applejack howled as she threw all her weight forward and driving her front hooves into the ground. "Revolution Apple Buck!" She pivoted and aimed to give that braggart knight the knock of common sense she thoroughly needed, but Rainbow Dash shot up into the sky mere seconds before the blow. "Cheatin' little— Wah!" Applejack flew into the flying chariot with all the force she put behind her attack. "Ow..."

"Uh, Rainbow Dash three, Applejack two," Fluttershy weakly recounted.

"Round’s... not over yet you blue-bellied varmint," Applejack spat as she dragged herself back up onto her wobbly hooves. "I demand a recount!" She fell right onto her face.

"A-Applejack, are you okay?" Fluttershy rushed to her side, but was unsure of what to do, but the resounding echoes of three loud-mouthed fillies knocked her off her hooves, over Applejack, and right onto her stupefied back.

"Cutie Mark Crusader Stowaways, yay!" Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo all shot out of one of the Flying Chariot's closets.

"Wait, we popped out too early, Sweetie Belle!" Apple Bloom scolded her unicorn friend. "Look, now we're gone and gotten caught!"

"Don't blame me, I was following Scootaloo's lead!" Sweetie Belle argued back, pointing to her pegasus comrade.

"Only because Apple Bloom gave me the signal!" Scootaloo yelled back, trying to pin the blame on her earth-pony companion.

"Only because Sweetie Belle said to jump!" and the cycle continued.

"Girls, what are you doing out here?" Applejack groaned, her voice rising as she glared down on the misbehaving fillies. "Ain't y'all supposed to be back in Caballus where it's safe?! This is no place for you all to be."

"Well, we were, but," Apple Bloom replied matter of factly, "but I want to fight for Equestria too! It's our home, right?"

"Filly has guts!" Rainbow Dash enthusiastically chimed in. "More than you do, A.J." She shoved Applejack aside and posed gallantly for the fillies. "Follow my lead you three, and Nightmare Moon won't stand a chance! As of now, you're all honorary knights under Private Rainbow Dash."

"R-really!?" Scootaloo tackled Rainbow Dash, clinging to her with unparalleled joy. "Will we get armor and swords and everypony will love us and you'll teach me how to fly!?" she said all in a single breath. "Will you, will you, will you!?"

"Easy kid, one thing at a time." Rainbow Dash struggled to pry the overexcited filly off her. "Can't teach you anything if you cling to me like this, kid!"

"This is all just too silly," Applejack sighed to herself.

The Everfree Forest

"This is all just too dirty!" Rarity cried with each step she took into the Everfree Forest. Led by the dubious pair, Snips and Snails, Rarity follow Twilight and voiced her every little complaint. "I heard this place was dreadful, but no one prepared me for all this dirt and grime and... what did I just step in? Somepony tell me what I just stepped in!" Her shrill voice was sure to call any chimera hungry for blood.

"You don't want to know!" Pinkie Pie sang as she skipped around Rarity. "Here's a clue though: it's a great fertilizer."

Spike was at Rarity's side in seconds. "Don't worry, m'lady, for I, Spike, Equestria's finest dragon, will have your hooves so clean you could eat off them!"

"Would you all knock it off!" Twilight screamed, at the end of her nerves. "Or do you want to be up to our our necks in gnashing teeth!" Her seething frustration with her party of ponies was nipped at the bud when a shaking bush set off her panic reflexes. "Monster!" Twilight cried, tripping over a rock and landing right on her nose.

From within the bushes emerged not a monster or chimera, but a cloak, hugging a creature of equine form. Flashing yellow eyes peered out from within its shadows. "You would do well to make yourselves quiet, lest you should go and spark a riot."

"There she is!" Snips and Snails cried out at the same time. "The Evil Enchantress!"

The cloaked figure sighed. "I have proven time and time, that such a title is not mine." She removed her hood, revealing a zebra from its darkness, different striped shades of gray contrasting against her hide.

"But it's just so catchy!" Pinkie Pie giggled as she hopped next to the figure. "So, Ms. Enchantress, what's bubbling today?"

"Malice and hate," the zebra replied, "cast under dark fate."

"Oooh! Freaky stuff is going on here, huh?" Pinkie Pie added.

Twilight stared blankly at the pair, her patience suddenly snapping into two itty-bitty pieces. "Enough! You're the Evil Enchantress, right? Well these two numb-horns told me you can find the element of honesty. Now, can you help me?"

The zebra laughed, not a sinister one but a joyful one. "Why did you not say so in advance instead of standing idly by in a trance?"

Twilight huffed as she ignored Spike and Rarity's not-so-quiet giggling. "Right, well, lead the way."

"Lead the way, Rainbow Dash!" Scootaloo positively exploded with energy as she, her friends, Applejack and Fluttershy followed Rainbow Dash into the edge of the Everfree Forest.

"Alright squirts, the enemy of Equestria, Nightmare Moon, is our target," she prattled with over-dramatic flair. "In this dire battle for Equestria's future, are you ready to give everything a pony's got?!"

"Cutie Mark Crusaders Heroes, yay!" the three fillies yelled in unison.

"Oh for pete's sake, Rainbow, stop leading them on," Applejack groaned, tired and exhausted. "Girls, stop listening to this blowhard."

"Exactly the kind of thing a loser would say." Rainbow Dash circled the air above Applejack lazily, repeating the world 'loser' in softer and softer tones, but Applejack scowled with her forelegs crossed, trying her hardest to ignore to ignore Rainbow Dash's taunts.

"Girls," Applejack barked with authority, "we're heading back to the chariot now. This game is over."

"But sis'!" Apple Bloom pleaded with her largest tear-filled eyes.

"No buts!" Applejack sternly told her. "This is already too dangerous."

"Relax. What's the worst that could happen? A chimera shows up and then Fluttershy and I beat it down and everything is okay. You and all the other fillies will be fine." She patted Applejack's head, struggling not to laugh at Applejack's steaming face.

"Stop bein' stupid and listen to me! This is too dangerous."

"As dangerous as a broken record," Rainbow Dash sighed as she drifted to the ground. "C'mon, girls, let's do some reconnaissance!"

"That mare is going to get us all killed," Applejack huffed. "C'mon, Fluttershy!"

Fluttershy, even more timid than usual, barely followed two steps behind Applejack. "L-lead the way."

"What's your problem? I thought you liked the Everfree?"

"Something isn't right," Fluttershy squeaked, nearly frozen in terror. "It's not like before; something is different: it's more d-dangerous." The look of terror in her eyes shot chills into Applejack.

"If that's true, than we need to get out of here."

"Ponies, it is here I reside," the zebra announced as she lead them to a small cottage that seemed to have been carved out of a tree. "I invite you all to come inside."

"Wonderful," Twilight sighed, exhaustion filling her mind as she crossed the threshold into an elaborate and foreign realm. The zebra's house was decorated with masks, herbs and books with a single large cauldron in the center. It certainly did give off an 'Evil Enchantress' vibe.

"It's... quite charming?" Rarity commented, unable to take her eyes off one mask that seemed to stare at her wherever she went. "Emphasis on the word charm."

"Boo!" Pinkie Pie squealed, popping out from behind Rarity wearing a large and frowning mask. It even had a large wood tongue poking out. Rarity was indeed surprised off her hooves, shaking on the floor completely dazed. "Too much surprise?"

"Yes," Rarity answered her, unable to move.

The mysterious zebra roamed around the room taking various bubbling and smoking vials from around her decorated room. For Twilight, it was the various masks that unsettled her the most: they all seemed to be looking at her, sneering or laughing. The zebra mixed the contents of her vials into a single large cauldron. She lit it with a swipe from her hooves to ignite the flame and chanted. Smoke and light rose from the cauldron, and the zebra gazed deep into it, peering into the tiniest crack of a secret. "If the elements are indeed the source of your intent," the zebra started, "then it is to Manehattan you will find honesty was sent."

"So we'll find the element in Manehattan?" Spike asked as he stared into the cauldron.

"Is that not what I said, my little friend? The quest for the elements is near its end." the zebra answered him as she swiped his claws off the cauldron. Spike fell to the ground with a sound thump.

"That's incredible. Well, it will be if your prediction is right." Twilight still had doubts about the dubious form of magic.

"The magic of my bubbling brew I can guarantee, or are incantations and effects the only thing you see?"

"This isn't magic... is it?" Twilight curiously extended her aura of magic to the cauldron. She indeed felt something emanating from the strange concoction, but it was no magic she was familiar with. "I haven't read about anything like this. Is this some kind of zebra magic?"

The zebra laughed, deep and strong. "Zebra magic, pony magic, are they not the same? The source of my power comes from the nature I tame. These are things any one creature can do, so long as they understand how to." She stirred the cauldron with her hoof. "It's the magic of the plants and water that in I abide, but you will find that magic in all things it will reside." She stared deeper into the cauldron.

"Do you see something new?" Spike asked as he climbed up the cauldron again.

"What is this shadow I see?" The zebra's eyes shot open and she quickly withdrew her hoof. The contents of the cauldron had frozen solid forming solid ice. "No, what was it, how can this be?" she wrapped a hoof on the frozen cauldron. "This is ominous."

"What is it?" Twilight asked.

"The earth cries dire, twisted by insatiable desire." She knocked the frozen cauldron again. "With the abominable visions of the cauldron water that loom, I am afraid to say that our futures know only doom."

"That's... disheartening," Twilight groaned. "How in all of Equestria did it come to this?"

"But," Spike stepped in, "all we need to do is find the last element, which is Manehattan. We find it, save the world, and then the freaky cauldron message doesn't happen. Right?" The zebra remained silent.

Twilight took a deep breath and stomped a hoof. "Right, well, we're too close to fail now!"

"That's the spirit!" Pinkie Pie squealed in delight.

"Such conviction in your eyes, I can only hope it can turn the terrible tide." The zebra turned over to a chest by the back of the tree-hut. She lightly kicked it open and reached down with her mouth to pick up small purple rock. She flung it at Twilight who caught it with her magic. "That is a hunk of amethyst, as a charm it can ward off darkness."

Twilight inspected the rather unglamorous rock, Spike and Rarity crowding up next to her to see the dull gleams off the dim candles of the room. "I don't sense any magical properties in this thing," Twilight commented. "Do you know a specific spell for making it into a ward?"

"No unicorn horn could bring out the rock's true power, but skilled earth-pony hooves will make this stone shine in your darkest hour," the zebra recited.

Twilight looked at the rock again. "I think I get it. Everypony, let's head back to Ponyville," Twilight ordered. She turned and bowed to the zebra. "Thank you, we owe you much for what you could offer, Miss?"

"Zecora is my name," the zebra answered. "Can you do the same?"

"Twilight Sparkle, and It's been a pleasure." Twilight and her companions left Zecora's tree-hut in silence, ready to return to Ponyville. With only the sound of the wind and the leaves to distract her, Twilight could feel her quest reaching its end. She hadn't slept in a long time, and she knew she couldn't; not until everything was set right. I have to save Equestria... I have to...

"Take a left here!" Snips pipped in, catching Twilight's attention. She was about to wander further into the dangerous and dark depths of the Everfree Forest. "Are you okay?"

"Darling, with all the wrinkles in your face I can tell you're stressed," Rarity added.

"Don't worry about me, I'm fine," Twilight yawned. "I'm just fine. Let's go."

Within an hour, Ponyville was within view. Snips and Snails ran into town with the kind of excitement only childhood could bring, something lost on Twilight as she ambled into the town with the weight of the world on her back. "Let's go, quickly," she said to Rarity and Pinkie Pie. The former nodded approvingly, but Pinkie Pie wasn't so agreeable.

"Oh, but we just got here. Can't we just stay for a few more minutes?"

"We're leaving, now," Twilight ordered again.

"Chimera!" Thunderlane shouted as loud as he could, soaring above the city. "There's a chimera by the edge of the Everfree! It's got three fillies and two mares are trying to fight it off! Somepony, anypony, help!"

"Sounds like our cue," Pinkie Pie squealed. "Girls, it's clobberin’ time!"

Twilight groaned. "We're going to fight it, aren't we?" she asked Rarity.

"I'm expecting some kind of reward for this," Rarity huffed as she magically held her mirrors over her.

"Let's go!" Spike roared as he jumped on Pinkie Pie. She took the lead and shot straight back into the Everfree Forest.

Applejack charged straight at the monstrosity before her. It resembled a manticore, a chimera that was mostly lion save for its scorpion tail and bat-like wings, but it was worse than any manticore she had ever faced. It's mane consisted of spikes, its wings big enough to cover its entire body, and the monstrous eyes peering out at her contained a level of blood-lust she had only felt from the wicked Nightmare Moon. In a normal situation she would run, but the monster had Apple Bloom and her friends wrapped in its tail. "Let go of them!" Applejack screamed as she leapt at its face. "Summer Blossoms!" She turned and delivered a swift kick to its nose, followed by another, followed by another. The monster barely budged. "Rainbow!"

"Sangai!" Rainbow Dash threw her blade down from over the monstrosity, the blade trying to bury itself into its back in a futile attempt to pin it down. Rainbow Dash, grimacing, rose even higher into the air, stopping when she was barely above the clouds and diving down at the chimera with her back hoof first. "Hououtenku!" She slammed right into the chimera, but bounced off its impenetrable hide, flopping to the floor. "Shoot, Fluttershy do something!"

"D-do I have to!?" Fluttershy squealed in terror, hiding behind a tree. "Maybe he's just grumpy?"

"It's a chimera! It's always grumpy! And it's got my sister!" Applejack ducked under a looming claw and slammed herself into the monster's underbelly. "Give me back my sister! Beast!" With a lion's cry she blew the monster into the air. "Somepony, get it!"

"Shooting Star!"

"Prism Shot!"

Twilight and Rarity galloped into the battlefield, throwing out as much magic as they could. "Pinkie Pie!"

"Crazy Devastation!" Pinkie Pie howled out, appearing mysteriously over the chimera and swinging her massive pinwheel into its back, sending it back down to the earth with more force than her little pink body should actually possess.

The chimera, scratched and bruised but still able to fight, howled out in anger as it picked itself up, its hate-filled eyes glaring down on the ponies. It raised its claw, and seconds later a salvo of arrows stuck into it, through its hide.

"I've got another one for you," Spike taunted. "Crimson Locus!" He released a flame-tipped arrow that exploded into the chimera's claw. Howling in pain, the chimera let go of the three fillies.

"Apple Bloom!" Applejack cried as she dived under the manticore, sliding over to embrace her sister. "Oh hay, Apple Bloom!" she cried, on the verge of tears, but behind her the chimera turned, its guttural howl piercing the night as it rose its bloodied claw over her. Applejack instinctively grabbed onto Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo along with her sister and held them tight in front of her. The chimera struck her, leaving a terrible gash along her back.

"Applejack!" Pinkie Pie screamed out, sputtering anger and blood through her voice. "You monster! I'll kill you!" She leapt onto the monster’s back and held her pinwheel overhead, its keen edges spinning wildly over her anguished tears. "Ultimate Destruction!" She slammed her pinwheel into its back, grinding away at the monster’s back. She didn't notice its tail rising over her, and in the blink of an eye snap right into her back. "Uh oh," she whispered as she fell to the ground.

"Twilight," Rarity whispered to her, "please tell me you have a plan."

"Magic, lots and lots of magic." Twilight enchanted her spear with flame and swung it upwards, unleashing a volley of shooting stars, each one fizzling to nothing against the monster’s hide as it advanced on the two. "Need more magic..."

"Soarin' Lighting Blade!"

From nowhere, a streak of blue and gold shot into the manticore's back, calling down a barrage of lightning bolts with it that tore into its almost rock-like hide. The streak emerged from above the chimera, taking to the sky with a pair of light blue wings and clad in pegasus knight armor. "Have no fear, the spectacular Soarin' is here."

"Less talky more hurty!" Twilight cried as she fired another shooting star at the chimera.

"Aim at the weak spot!" Soarin' rose up again, gather lighting in his blade and then slamming down. "Lightning Tiger Blade!"

Rarity raised her mirrors around the monster as light poured out of their faces. "Ray!" she cried out as the light converged on a single point on its back.

The manticore stumbled back, its tail wildly waving around and threatening to pierce anything that got too close. Its wild eyes were about to burst with blood-lust, but it turned instead. It turned and ran off deep into the Everfree Forest, disappearing in its darkness.

Twilight fell back onto her rump, breathing heavily for precious air. "Why does everything we fight have to be stronger than the last!"

"Uh, Twilight," Fluttershy squeaked, "the others are very hurt."

"What?" Twilight turned back to Rainbow Dash, Applejack and Pinkie Pie. Whilst Rainbow Dash was still holding onto her back leg, trying to soothe the pain, Applejack and Pinkie Pie were far worse for wear as blood stained their much brighter coats. "Oh no!" Twilight scrambled back onto her hooves, but tripped, landing right on her nose.

"Help me get them back to town, quickly," Soarin' ordered.

"At once," Rarity replied, giggly. "I think I found my reward."

Applejack laid on a rolled out cot, stomach down to allow the various ponies over her to bandage her. "I'm alive, I take it?" she joked weakly. "Where am I?"

"Ponyville," replied Twilight. "Thank the stars you're alive, Applejack. I didn't think anypony could possibly survive an attack like that."

"Yeah well, if I'm good for anything, it's taking a hit," she sighed. "I'll be back on my hooves in no time, just you watch."

"That may not be a lie," said the mulberry mare that was working to bandage her back. "Your wounds are already beginning to close up on their own. It's quite amazing."

"Apple family endurance for you," Applejack weakly sighed as she pulled herself through the pain and back onto her hooves, much to the amazement of those around her. "So, where are the fillies? Where's my sis? I need to make sure she's alright."

"They're with Rarity and Fluttershy in the main square," Twilight answered her.

"And the others?"

"Pinkie Pie... she got hit by the manticore's stinger so she's being treated for poison. Spike is busy fawning over Rarity, and Rainbow Dash, well, after getting her leg bandaged Soarin' took her off somewhere but said he would return with her shortly."

"Just lead me to my sister then," Applejack wheezed. "Don't worry, I'll be fine."

"Rainbow Dash! I demand to know what the hail you were thinking!" Soarin' angrily shouted at her. "Taking three fillies into the Everfree Forest, perhaps the most dangerous place in all of Equestria, for what? A game! Knight, explain!"

"H-how was I supposed to know that thing would pop out of nowhere?" Rainbow Dash argued back, but it wasn't good enough. Captain Soarin' looked ready to come down on her harder than any king would.

"You are a knight! As a knight, your first duty is to protect! What you did was decidedly un-knightlike behaviour!"

"Alright, fine, I get it. Is their any other point to this other than to ream me, captain?" she shouted back, angry and annoyed.

Soarin' groaned, wanting to yell more at Rainbow Dash if only to let off a little steam for his own sake. "Fine. I received word from Quick Gleam that you were successful in retrieving the element from Blueblood and were heading here. I wanted to come here to deliver a message."

"Cool, then get on with it," Rainbow Dash groaned.

Soarin' sighed, heavy-hearted. "It's about your partner, Gilda."

Rainbow Dash perked up at the sound of her friend's name. "What's G. been up to?"

"She's turned traitor," Soarin' told her, downtrodden. "It was sudden but, soon after Gilda attacked Nightmare Moon, she turned and attacked our King. His majesty... won't be flying anytime soon... or ever."

Rainbow Dash froze, staring at the floor if only to focus her attention. "Wait, so Gilda defected? What's going to happen to her?"

"She has been stripped of her rights as a citizen of the cloud kingdom, her rank, and—"

"Whatever!" Rainbow Dash screamed. "I got the message, can I go now?" She didn't want to hear any more, and Soarin' couldn't blame her. With a nod of his head and a wave of his hoof, Rainbow Dash flew off back to the broken town.

Rarity and Fluttershy sat against a the hoof of a shattered pony statue: the rest of the pony laid on the floor scattered in rubble. Between them, the three fillies they had just saved sat quietly, waiting for their foreboding judgement. Sweetie Belle in particular hugged one of Rarity's forelegs, and if she wasn't so emotionally drained perhaps Rarity would have felt something, but now wasn't the time. "Fluttershy," Rarity called, "I don't suppose you have a canteen hidden in all those robes?"

"Sorry," Fluttershy sighed. "I don't."

"Lovely." Rarity fell onto her back, gazing at the full moon. Her sister mimicked her.

Spike appeared from seemingly nowhere, holding out a dirty cup containing water. "For you, oh radiant one that shines light in the darkest night."

"Well isn't that just darling," Rarity commented as she magically took the cup to her lips. Ignoring the fawning dragon. "How long has it been since we've seen the sun?"

"About twenty hours," Fluttershy answered her.

Rarity closed her eyes and yawned. "Is that so..."

"Apple Bloom!" Applejack cried out. She leaned against Twilight, slowly limping her way across town. "Apple Bloom, get over here!" she yelled again. She didn't sound happy at all.

Apple Bloom shot straight up, looking towards her fellow Cutie Mark Crusaders for support, but they couldn't offer any. Instead, she swallowed hard and approached Applejack. She couldn't help but feel terrible over every little wound Applejack suffered. "I'm sorry, sis'!" she sobbed. "We didn't mean to get y'all in so much trouble! We just wanted to help! Honest!"

"Yeah, well look what all that honesty gotcha?" she spat. "I'm dinged up more than my truck and Granny Smith just might bite it after I tell her about this incident. Twilight, let go of me!"

Twilight rolled her eyes as she carefully moved Applejack's leg off of her. She collapsed to the ground pathetically, but the fierce look in her eyes was more than enough to keep Apple Bloom in line. "I'll leave you two alone. I need to go check on Pinkie Pie now."

"You do that," Applejack remarked from the dirt with little shame.

Twilight sighed, and rubbed her temples. "C'mon, Spike."

"But—"

Twilight magically winked Spike from Rarity's side to her back. "I said c'mon."

"How long have you been able to do that?"

"Since four seconds ago."

Spike: Say, Twilight, I couldn't help but notice that lately you've been a little...

Twilight: Abrasive, irate, petulant, temperamental, confrontational? I could go on.

Spike: I was going to say cranky.

Twilight: Yeah, that about sums it up.

Twilight: I'm sorry....

Spike: Woah, don't get that one often.

Twilight: This is really beginning to get to me. I haven't had a decent night’s sleep in I can't remember how long. Ever since we got back to Canterlot it's been one thing after another.

Spike: Hey, well, uh...

Twilight: And now with this eternal night thingy throwing off my sense of time, I'm not sure if I should be asleep or awake or taking my ten-minute study break nap.

Spike: Twilight...

Twilight: But now I'm pretty sure it's way past my bedtime!

Spike: Twilight!

Twilight: What!

Spike: Relax.

Twilight: Relax? Why didn't I think of that...

Spike: I mean, don't worry. The world's number one assistant is by your side!

Spike: With one flick of his amazing opposable claws, why, anything is possible!

Twilight: ...pft...

Twilight: Pft-ha-ha!

Twilight: Thanks, Spike.

Twilight moved aside the curtain separating Pinkie Pie from the rest of the world. One doctor was next to her in the dimly lit room. She was sweating, moaning, groaning and breathing rapidly. "How is she?" she asked the doctor.

"She's going to be alright for the most part. A little short of breath for a while. She'll need to take it easy." The doctor moved aside to allow Twilight into the tiny tent, Pinkie Pie unconscious on a dirty cot. Twilight sat down next to her, Spike hopping off her back to get closer to Pinkie Pie.

"You surprised me today, attacking so furiously like that. Who knew you had it in you?" Twilight lamented to her. She wasn't sure if her words could reach the pit of Pinkie Pie's mind.

Pinkie Pie's eye fluttered a little, her legs twitching as if to reach out to something. "No," she whispered. "Don't... I... no... alone..." She began shaking violently. "No... stop..."

"Pinkie Pie?" Twilight nudged her slowly animating body. "Pinkie Pie!"

"Stop it!" Pinkie Pie yelled as loud as she could, nearly shooting up out of her cot and coming back to the waking realm. "I? What? Where am I? What's going on? I... huh, Twilight... Twilight!" She jumped, barrelling at Twilight and bringing the both of them to the ground in a rib-crushing hug. "Oh, Twilight! I had the worst nightmare! The worst!" she said though a fit of tears.

"Well, it's alright, Pinkie, but, if you don't mind, I really need to breathe!" the purple unicorn gasped. "Air! Need!"

"Oh, sorry," Pinkie Pie giggled, wiping away a few tears. "Wow, did that manticore do a number on me or what? I was almost sure I was a goner when I felt that stinger sting me. Let me tell you, it hurts like a doozy! Like, not just any old doozy but the kind that really send you flying, but I guess I wasn't really flying but it felt like it was and now I'm really tired!" she collapsed to the ground, short of breath.

"The doctor said to take it easy," Twilight laughed. "That means no more run-on sentences." She helped pinkie up and gave her a shoulder of support. "C'mon, let's show the others you're okay and grab the last element."

"That sounds like a plan," Pinkie Pie wearily replied, bobbing her head back and forth.

Spike: Say, Pinkie Pie, what was your dream about?

Pinkie Pie: Huh? Dream?

Spike: Yeah, I mean, you were all shaking and talking in your sleep.

Spike: What were you dreaming about?

Pinkie Pie: Huh, well...

Pinkie Pie: I dreamt that somepony was taking away my friends...

Pinkie Pie: Fluttershy, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Twilight...

Pinkie Pie: And then...

Spike: Yeah, that does sound like a pretty bad dream...

Pinkie Pie: Yeah...

Spike: Wait, was I in it?

Pinkie Pie: Huh? Nope, not at all.

Pinkie Pie: O-oh, I mean of course you were, silly!

Spike: Do you really not see me as a friend?

Pinkie Pie: Oh no, no, no, no, no of course I see you as a friend!

Pinkie Pie: Your the best dragon friend a pony could ask for, probably the only one!

Spike: …

Pinkie Pie: Oh cupcakes...

Rainbow Dash flew back into the middle of Ponyville where everyone else was waiting. She could feel the ire coming off of Applejack and Rarity. It wasn't something she wanted to deal with one bit, so she stayed hovering a little too high in the sky. "Hey girls, what's up?" she yelled down from her vantage point.

"Oh not you don't!" Applejack hollered back as she pulled out her rope and lassoed Rainbow Dash to the ground in a mere ten seconds. "You, oh you, you! Do you have any idea how unbelievably stupid you are!"

"Your brashness almost caused my sister her life! What would you have done if she, no, if any of them had been killed? Well?"

"I don't know, call their next of kin?" Rainbow Dash growled. "Can you untie me already?"

"You're a lot less trouble like this," Applejack growled back.

"Girls!" Twilight screamed, Pinkie Pie resting on her side. "Enough with the patronizing, we have important business at hoof. We're going to Manehatten."

Manehattan: The Sleepless City

If it were any other city in all of Equestria, the eternal night would have brought chaos, panic and possibly ruin to its inhabitants, but for Manehattan it was just another seemingly desultory event in Equestria. Perhaps someone forgot to turn on the sun, but that was someone else's problem. Manehattanites were too busy with their lives to see anything amiss, and for Twilight and her companions, save for Pinkie Pie who stayed behind in the Flying Chariot to rest, it was the oddest thing to see. "Does nopony see the impending doom coming our way!?" Twilight lamented to the sky. "We all might die!"

"Sell it to somepony else, sister!" a random stallion yelled at her from his tenth floor apartment. "Some of us are trying to get some work done!"

"Wow, Manehattan hasn't changed a bit," Applejack remarked as she took in the eye-widening buildings. "Did that one get even taller?"

"You've been here?" Rarity asked incredulously. "Applejack, I never took you to be one to sample finer culture."

"Been here? I ran away here once when I was real young, and since then I've been hoping to never relive that experience. Manehattanites are nothin' but a bunch of stuck-up snobs with no care for anypony but themselves!" she spat, spraying spit all over an annoyed mare that just happened to pass her by.

"My big sis' in the Big Apple itself!" Apple Bloom gushed. "Just goes to show you we apple family ponies are all over Equestria. Wherever there are apples to be had, we're there!"

"Didn't I put you on time out?"

"Everypony, listen up!" Twilight ordered, catching everyone's attention. "Somewhere in this town is the element of honesty. Let's split up and look for clues."

"Well I sure as hay ain't goin' with Rainbow," Applejack growled. "No tellin' what that girl will lead us to this time."

"And I feel the same," Rarity hissed. "Sweetie Belle, come with me, and don't you dare leave my sight."

"Coming, Rarity!" Sweetie Belle replied as she skipped along. Rainbow Dash remained silent, fuming to herself.

Spike immediately jumped off Twilight and landed next to Rarity, kneeling. "Then allow me to escort you through this city of nighttime pleasure, milady."

"C'mon, Twilight," Applejack barked, "we got a rock to find."

The group scattered, off in every direction except Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy, the latter silent and the former quietly livid. "Yeah, well who needs you," Rainbow Dash whispered under her breath. "C'mon, Fluttershy, kid. Let's show them what a pegasus scouting party can do without some no-wing ponies to weigh them down."

"But, uh, Rainbow Dash, I still can't fly," Fluttershy squeaked, but Rainbow Dash bit down on her robe and flung her into the air, flying up and catching Fluttershy on her back.

"Hop on, kid!" Rainbow Dash ordered to an awestruck Scootaloo. She gleefully climbed onto the pegasus tower and they all flew off, slowly.

Apple Bloom: Wowee, Manehattan. They say if you can make it there you can make it anywhere.

Apple Bloom: Say, sis', what was it like when you came here?

Applejack: Again, didn't I put you on timeout?

Apple Bloom: Oh c'mon! Pretty please with apples on top.

Applejack: Oh fine. I spoil you, y'know.

Applejack: It's not that different from how it is now. I came here and lived with Aunt and Uncle Orange for awhile, but it didn't live up to be everything I hoped for. Probably why I returned home.

Apple Bloom: Probably?

Applejack: As I said, I was pretty young at the time.

"Excuse me," Twilight magically grabbed the closest pony and started barraging him with questions:

"Lady, beat it," the pony spat back, actually spitting on Twilight and leaving her in shock.

"But I said please," Twilight mumbled, angry at the complete lack of manners displayed in so many metropolitan ponies. "Is there anypony in this city that can help me!?"

"I doubt it," Applejack sighed. "This city is full of snobs, just you see." She leaned back on a bench, staring straight up into the light of the moon, and an owl landed on her face. "What the hay?"

"An owl?" Twilight bleated. "Well, I guess since it has been dark out for so long this one's sleep cycles have been completely thrown off."

"Shoo, scram!" Applejack batted at the owl unsuccessfully. It managed to dodge every clumsy swing. "Stupid bird." It hooted at her and in a single flap of its wings and took to the sky and flew off down one of the busy streets. "We're going to follow it now, aren't we?"

"Following owls has always worked for us in the past, right?" Twilight pointed out. "Let's go." She lead Applejack and Apple Bloom after the bird, through every twist and turn of the city, through expansive crowds and tiny alleys, but the bird was always in sight just a few feet ahead, leading Twilight to a maddeningly large building. On it hung a large embroidered sign: Rich's Barnyard Bargains. The owl shot up, disappearing completely.

"This is it?" Applejack commented.

"Let's find out." Twilight magically opened the doors into the building and trotted in. "I would like to speak to the manager!" she spoke with authority.

"You and everypony else, lady," the mare at the front desk replied. "Take a number and sit down." She offered a little white slip to Twilight with the number five-hundred and twelve.

"Now serving number one-hundred and thirty-six!" came the booming voice of the intercom.

"But, we don't have time to wait. The fate of Equestria hangs in the balance!" Twilight hysterically snapped back. "We don't have time to wait!" The desk mare did nothing.

"Twilight," Applejack sighed, "let me show you how you handle these here kinds of ponies." Applejack lightly scooted Twilight aside, turned, and bucked the desk into two pieces. "Now, would you kindly direct us to the manager's office?"

"Elevator on the right, fiftieth floor," the mare answered her.

"Why, thank you."

A brown pony enjoyed a sip of the finest apple juice money could buy, enraptured with most precious treasure in the world he could ever ask for: the time he spent with his daughter. He smirked as he watched his little pink pony bob her head while her eyes darted across the game board. They played their favourite game, monopony, surrounded by hundreds of odd bits and bobs he had collected over the years. When one was as filthy rich as he was, one could afford to be as eccentric as they wanted to be. "My turn," he laughed as he balanced the dice on the end of his hooves. He rolled them onto the board and moved his piece. He landed smack dab in the most expensive space on the board, owned by his daughter. "I believe you win."

"You went easy," the filly pouted. "Play again, but this time you have to try to win."

A knock came from the door.

"I am not meeting with anypony right now," the brown stallion replied firmly. "Please, come back another time." The doors exploded inwards, an orange pony standing backwards at the door accompanied by a yellow filly and a lavender unicorn.

"See, what'd I tell you," Applejack smirked to Twilight. "Works every time."

"Like, just who are you?" the pink filly sneered fiercely. "You're interrupting a very important business meeting!"

"Settle down, Diamond Tiara." The brown pony soothed his daughter. "You three are here for the Element of Harmony, right?"

"I don't suppose that means you're going to hand it over, right?" Twilight groaned. "It's really important that—"

"It's yours," the brown stallion laughed.

"Huh? What's going on, dad?"

"Later, Diamond Tiara. Why don't you play with the young filly over there. Daddy needs to chat with these two for a bit." He strolled past her and beckoned to Twilight and Applejack. "Well, you want the element, right?"

"Of course," Twilight bowed. "Thank you." She and Applejack followed the brown stallion out of the room, leaving Apple Bloom alone in the room with Diamond Tiara.

"Uh, hi, I'm Apple Bloom!" she enthusiastically introduced herself.

"Oh boy, I'm so thrilled..."

Leaving the fillies behind, Twilight was led to another room, one filled with even more magical and mystical objects than she had ever seen before. "Did that sword just talk?" Twilight gasped, jumping back and staring at an ominous pitch-black sword.

"You can ignore Berselius," the brown stallion laughed. "You're here for the element, right?" Right next to him, sitting on an embroidered stand, stood an Element of Harmony. "Oh, by the way, my name is Filthy Rich, owner of this here fine business, but I would prefer you just call me Rich."

"Yeah we know, so, think you can hand over that element now?" Applejack spat. "We got important business to attend to."

Filthy Rich sighed and turned to Twilight. "Doesn't it bother you that I'm so willing to hand over this invaluable element, brimming with enough magical power to level this entire city were it to fall into foul hooves?"

"The fact you would call attention to it has me even more unnerved." Twilight extended her aura of magic to her spear. "Your aim, now."

"Easy, easy, I was honest about handing over the element of honesty, but before I do I want to tell you why I'm so willing to hand it over. A few days ago, another pony, a unicorn, broke into my residence, and she ignored all my treasured artifacts in favor of this element. Well, she wasn't as stealthy as she believed herself and I caught her."

"Is this going anywhere?" Twilight demanded. "Get to the point."

"She told me that you would come for it eventually, a lavender unicorn with a spear that looks like an ink-pen, and how you would need it to save the world from Nightmare Moon and her eternal night. Something to that effect. Believe it or not, our lack of good sunshine has not gone unnoticed on me." He rubbed his eyes and took a deep breath. "I couldn't to get a good look at her, but a white horn poked out of her cloak. I don't suppose you know any white unicorns with an eye for elements."

"A white unicorn... you don't suppose it could be Rarity?" Applejack asked Twilight, but she remained silent. Twilight took a step towards the element and magically lifted it into her already weighted saddlebags.

"Thank you, and I'll keep in mind the white unicorn." Twilight bowed, heavily, as if the weight of the entire world was upon her. In her weary state, all she could see was Filthy Rich's hooves. "Oh, I don't suppose you know anypony that could make a charm out of this." She magically drew out the hunk of amethyst.

"Hmmm, try asking my daughter. She's acquainted with a filly learning about how to make charms and whatnot."

"Hey, Twi', check out this crazy urn!" Applejack hollered from across the room ecstatically. "I think I can hear something inside of it."

"Please, don't touch that," Filthy Rich exasperatedly sighed.

Returning to Filthy Rich's office, the three of them were left wide eyed as every little artifact, furniture or office pen was left in pieces on the floor with two warring fillies facing each other down, breathing heavily. Upon noticing their captivated audience, the two fillies immediately pointed at the other and screamed, "she started it!"

"Apple Bloom!" Applejack fumed.

"Diamond Tiara, why don't you go introduce these nice ponies to your friend, Silver Spoon. We can discuss your punishment later."

"But, da-ad!" Diamond Tiara started whining.

"Go, now."

Twilight: Five, five elements. Out of the six Elements of Harmony, I now have the five known elements, and the last one is supposed to reveal itself when the others are gathered.

Applejack: And? You don't sound very pleased about this.

Twilight: No, I'm not.

Applejack: So, are you gonna share?

Twilight: It was easy, really easy. The elements almost fell into my bags...

Applejack: Isn't that a good thing?

Twilight: It should be...

Twilight followed Diamond Tiara back into the busy streets of Manehatten, and even though nothing about the city had changed, it felt off. Her entire world was slowly leaning more and more off-kilter. Colors and seconds passed in a blur as she followed Diamond Tiara to a silver gate. "Uhf," Twilight grunted as she walked right into the gate. The giggling coming from her cohorts did little for her mood.

"You should watch where you're going," Diamond Tiara haughtily scoffed.

"Diamond Tiara?" came a new voice. A little grey filly with a silver mane appeared on the other side of the gate, wearing thick-rimmed glasses. "Who are these weirdos?"

"No clue, they took one of daddy's things and want you to make a charm with some rock. You should, like, charge them a fortune for it."

"This is for the fate of Equestria!" Twilight seethed. "We barely have the bits we need to feed ourselves."

"Then I guess Equestria is doomed," Diamond Tiara laughed, opening the gate and skipping past Silver Spoon. "C'mon, let's forget these losers."

"Wait." The silver filly trotted up to Twilight. "Twenty bits."

"Fine," Twilight sighed. "I hope everyone else is having as wonderful a time as we are."

"Wa-ha-ha!" Rarity gushed as the shine of the glamorous jewelry reflected off her pearly eyes. "These gems are absolutely brilliant! And nothing I could ever afford in a million years," she groaned.

The pensive stare of the vendor broke when he heard the last words out of Rarity's mouth. "Lady, if you ain't buying, you're wasting. Trot off why don't you."

"Why, I never. See how many customers you can get with that kind of attitude! Hmph!" She quickly spun and stormed away from the stand, huffing, and in seconds Spike was right by her side.

"Is there any problem that I can solve for you, my'lady Rarity?"

Rarity's calculating eyes took in every little detail of Spike's form. If he really was a dragon, than he would be worth a fortune. "No, no, it's quite alright. Let's... let's just go. It was foolish of me to think that I could fit in here anyway, poor and now homeless. Let's return to the chariot."

"Aw," Sweetie Belle sighed. "I wanted to see more."

"More is for ponies who can afford it." Rarity strode past her "Come on, Sweetie Belle."

"Hey, how about some ice cream?" Spike suggested, popping up in front of Rarity. "That's not too expensive, right?"

"Yay, ice cream!" Sweetie Belle bounced up to Rarity. "Can we, Rarity, can we, can we?"

"Well, I guess. Oh, fine. At least then I can brag to everypony that I bought something here."

Rarity: Let's see, I have thirteen bits. Enough for a few small cones, I hope.

Spike: Is there a problem, oh beloved luminescent light that shines even in the darkest night?

Rarity: No, nothing at all! I, er, think I see an ice cream vendor over there. I'll be back.

Spike: Huh, but, Lady Rarity!

Sweetie Belle: Hmm... you seem awfully fond of Rarity.

Sweetie Belle: You don't have a crush on her, do you?

Spike: What? Me? No, of course not!

Spike: But, hypothetically speaking, if I had a hypothetical crush on Rarity, what would you hypothetically advise, hypothetically speaking of course.

Sweetie Belle: Hm, well, Rarity seems to like really handsome guys, especially with lots of bits.

Spike: That helps me so much...

Sweetie Belle: She also tends to hide that we don't have a lot of bits.

Spike: Huh?

Sweetie Belle: Oh, maybe I shouldn't have said that. Don't tell Rarity!

Spike: I won't...

Rainbow Dash lazily drifted through the sky, still encumbered by a panicking Fluttershy and a whooping Scootaloo. Neither did much for stabilization. "Settle down already!" Rainbow Dash screeched. "This isn't easy without a chariot."

"B-but do you have to fly s-so high?" Fluttershy squealed in terror. "W-we should take a break, for the filly's sake at least."

"What? But I'm fine?" Scootaloo retorted.

"Then for my sake, please!"

"Oh, fine," Rainbow Dash groaned as she slowly descended to the ground. "I don't get you! You’re a pegasus, but you're afraid of heights. Actually, you're afraid of everything, but you still managed to fight Nightmare Moon like it was nothing whereas me and Gilda nearly bit it." Bringing up her old friend's name didn't help Rainbow Dash.

"Are you kidding me? I was absolutely terrified the entire time. I was sure that at any moment I was going to... well, you know."

"Buy the big cloud plot in the sky?"

"Does it have to be in the sky?"

Rainbow Dash landed in a rather vacant park. "Alright, get off me, my back is killing me."

Scootaloo jumped off the pegasus tower while Fluttershy dainty climbed down from Rainbow Dash. "It looks like we couldn't find the element after all." she lamented.

"Meh, I bet the egghead found it already." Rainbow Dash sat on one of the nearby benches. "I just really didn't want to hear it from Applejack and Rarity anymore." She could already hear them and Soarin' yelling at her in the back of her mind. "I didn't mean for all that to happen."

"Why don't you try apologising?" Fluttershy suggested. "Maybe then they'll understand it was an accident."

Rainbow Dash remained silent for a long time before letting out one deep and loud groan. "That’s so horrible! I can already see the snide looks on their faces." She retched, gagged, spat and cursed. "But, I guess that's what I should do, even if I'm going to hate every moment of it." She jumped off the bench. "Let's go back to the chariot. We're getting nowhere anyway."

Scootaloo tip-hoofed behind Rainbow Dash. "I don't blame you for everything that happened."

"Thanks, kid." Rainbow Dash sighed.

Rainbow Dash: Hey, kid.

Scootaloo: Yes, Rainbow Dash!

Rainbow Dash: Do your parents know you're here?

Scootaloo: Uhhh.... yes?

Fluttershy: You're lying.

Scootaloo: What are you, a lie detector?!

Scootaloo: Okay... so my parents have no idea where I am...

Scootaloo: We were all at the Summer Sun Celebration, and then Nightmare Moon showed and I followed Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle out of the city. I guess they're part of that little army she attacked home and Caballus with.

Scootaloo: Do you... do you think they're okay?

Rainbow Dash: …

Fluttershy: It's alright, Scootaloo.

Fluttershy: Twilight is going to find the elements and stop Nightmare Moon. Your parents will be fine.

Scootaloo: Really? Thanks, I can't wait to see them again.

Fluttershy: Yeah... me neither.

"And it's done," Silver Spoon boasted as she carefully held up the new silver-embroidered amethyst stone, laced around a silver chain for any pony to wear around her neck. "I did the best I could, but I'm still learning this junk. I don't know how well it could act as a ward, but it should be better than nothing."

"Thanks." Twilight magically took in the charm, hanging it around her neck. She felt no different. "Well, girls, shall we head back to the chariot?"

"No point sticking around here," Applejack yawned. "Man, I'm really startin' to feel the lack of sleep."

"Really, I ain't even tired," Apple Bloom lied convincingly.

"So, about your payment," Twilight turned back to Silver Spoon.

"I'll bill you. Just go already," she scoffed. "I need to go play with Diamond Tiara anyway."

"Aw, you ain't so bad after all." Apple Bloom popped up to Silver Spoon's side, who eyed her with annoyance.

"I said beat it, blank flank. I've got real important things to do."

Twilight: Kindness, loyalty, generosity, laughter, and now honesty.

Twilight: These are the five known elements of harmony.

Twilight: And it is said that when the five elements come together, a spark will reveal with sixth element, which is unknown.

Applejack: Uh, Twi', are you okay back there?

Twilight: Just repeating useless information to myself for the millionth time, nothing to be afraid of.

Applejack: Yeah...

Applejack: So, what is the last element.

Twilight: Did you miss the part where I was talking to myself about it?

Applejack: Point taken, but if all the other elements seem to be about generally friendly characteristics, maybe the sixth one is too?

Twilight: Hmmm, the element of... compliments?

Twilight: Applejack, I like your...

Twilight: Your...

Twilight: I got nothing.

Applejack: Gee, thank you kindly.

Twilight: Well, we're really different. Quite frankly it's a mystery to me that we managed to get on such friendly terms after all the things we've been through. Don't think I've forgotten about the tournament.

Applejack: I apologised for that, didn't I?

Twilight: Oh, I got one! You're pretty honest about your feelings.

Applejack: Well, thanks. I try, I guess.

Twilight: And you're pretty strong, which compliments that I'm... well not.

Applejack: Yeah, but you're smart. Smart enough to lead a rag-tag group of noponies with absolutely nothing in common. That's something.

Twilight: All that complementing... and still no element though.

Applejack: Keep tryin', I'm sure you'll figure it out.

Pinkie Pie waited in the chariot, bored out of her pink little mind with only Minuette for company, who wasn't really helping to keep a conversation going. "So, how did you get your cutie mark?" Pinkie Pie asked the quiet mare.

"Nothing special, I just proved to be rather adept with time based magic." She returned back to her book, once again leaving Pinkie Pie with too little to preoccupy herself with.

"I'm sooooo bored..."

"We're back!" Spike yelled out as he waddled into the Flying Chariot, his claws covered in a half-melted ice-cream cone. "Man, how come nopony ever told me pistachio could be so good."

"Strawberry is better," Sweetie Belle retorted, her face nearly painted red. Rarity followed right after her, cleaning her lips with a napkin.

"Spike, Rarity! Oh man, you have no idea how boring it is here! Nopony taught Minty here here how to hold a conversation."

"I heard that," Minuette groaned.

"My statement still stands!"

"Alright, who's on deck?" Came Rainbow Dash's gravely voice. She entered the chariot, followed by Fluttershy and Scootaloo. "Oh good, Applejack is not back yet."

"Avoiding, somepony," Rarity growled. "Don't think you've gotten off easily for your brazen, idiotic, self-pleasing, arrogant, dangerous—"

"What are you, a dictionary?" Scootaloo interrupted her, silencing Rarity and inciting a chorus of laughter from Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie. "My statement still stands!"

"Who the hay is hollerin' so much!" Applejack hollered as she ambled into the chariot. "Well, I guess Rarity's whiny voice is the only one that can make that racket."

"Everypony is a comedian," Rarity huffed.

"Well, I guess I shouldn't mind, so long as R.D. is getting her comeuppance."

"Gee, thanks," Rainbow Dash mumbled. "Are you done yet?" Both Applejack and Rarity stared at her with ferocious intensity. "Look, I know I messed up, okay. I'm sorry. I am! I never meant to put anypony in danger. So back the hail off and leave me alone already!"

"Fine." Applejack retired to one of the benches of the chariot, placing her hat over her eyes. "Apple Bloom, get over here."

"Try and make sure you don't let your brashness doesn't put another pony in danger again," Rarity added.

"What, so are we cool?" Rainbow Dash was taken by complete surprise. She was so sure that the others would take a chance to grind her under their hooves for apologising, but she was wrong. "Like, no hard feelings now?"

"It's too much effort to go on despising you, especially when the crux of our mission is at hoof." Rarity started wiping Sweetie Belle's sticky face. "Oh these stains are ruining your fur. Oh, did anypony find that last element of whatever it was; truth?"

"Honesty," Twilight corrected her. "Minuette, get us back to Ponyville."

Scootaloo: Hey, pink pony?

Pinkie Pie: My name is Pinkie Pie, silly filly. What's up?

Scootaloo: Do you remember how you got your cutie mark?

Pinkie Pie: Do I! I can never forget the day I got my cutie mark! It was the bestest best day of my life ever! The bestestestest!

Sweetie Belle: Best...est...estes... what?

Apple Bloom: So tell us!

Pinkie Pie: Well, my sisters and I were raised on a rock farm outside of Ponyville. We spent our days working the fields. There was no talking. There was no smiling. There were only rocks. We were in the south field, preparing to rotate the rocks to the east field when all of a sudden there was this huge rainbow explosion!

Pinkie Pie: I never felt joy like that before. It felt so good I just wanted to keep smiling forever. And I wanted everyone I knew to smile too, but rainbows don't come along that often. I wondered, how else could I create some smiles?

Pinkie Pie: So I threw a party, my first party ever, just for my family! And when they saw it, oh the looks of joy in their eyes and the brightness of their smiles! It was then I knew that I wanted to make everypony around me smile! I knew that was what I lived for. And thats when my cutie mark appeared.

Apple Bloom: So, a random magical explosion caused you to get your cutie mark?

Pinkie Pie: Well, I guess you could say that.

Sweetie Belle: Well what good does that do us!?

Scootaloo: We're back to square one girls. Let's go try asking that blue pony.

Pinkie Pie: But... well, what else I gained that day was far greater than any cutie mark...

Pinkie Pie: And they're not listening...

The flying Chariot descended on the field just outside of Ponyville, connecting directly into the Everfree Forest. Waiting by the outskirts was Soarin'. He waved to them solemnly. "So, how did that fetch quest go?" he joked as Twilight led the others out of the chariot.

"Completed, Twilight told him. "Are you going to accompany us?"

"Actually, no. Quick Gleam gave me orders to stay away and leave it to you all." Soarin' paused for a moment, quickly turning between the luminescent castle in the distance, and Twilight. "If you can, please find Spitfire. I know Nightmare Moon has her held up somewhere. She's a very important friend of mine."

"Drats," Rarity cursed.

"We'll try," Twilight answered him.

"So, this is where we part, right?" Spike moaned. "You'll be too afraid for my sake?"

"Yeah, Spike." Twilight turned and wrapped herself completely around Spike. "If anything happened to you, I have no idea what I'd do. Stay safe, okay?"

"I'll be fine. I'll have a great feast ready for you by the time you come back."

"I can't wait." Twilight fixed one of Spike's lopsided spikes.

"Apple Bloom, you are to stay put, right here in Ponyville! Move an inch, and you'll be in so much trouble missy that not even Big Macintosh can save you, understood?"

"I understand, sis!" Apple Bloom replied, saluting.

"Good!" Applejack gave her sister one last hug and an affectionate noogie.

"Sweetie Belle, stay." Rarity ordered.

"I understand." Sweetie Belle replied. "Can I get a hug too?"

"Well, fine." Rarity embraced her sister awkwardly. She had prefered not to leave her sister with the idea that she was going to fight some corrupted evil princess.

"Okay, girls, let's march!" Rainbow Dash ordered, taking the lead.

"Aren't you forgetting something?" Fluttershy protested.

Rainbow Dash turned around, Scootaloo smiled up to her in the wake of her shadow. "Kid, go back to Ponyville with the others already."