//------------------------------// // Chapter 13: Shining Light In Darkness, Part 1 // Story: Rise of the Element Gang, Book 1: The Adventure Begins // by Power of Six //------------------------------// Chapter 13: Shining Light In Darkness, Part 1 Galloping as fast as we could, we dashed after my color puppet of Applejack, as it continued to lead us through the forest, completely of its own accord and without my instruction. Up until now, while I had never really been able to explain my talent, I at least thought I understood most of the aspects: I could weave a shape out of color and move it around, from basic geometry, to more complex “silhouettes” of ponies and the like. They were essentially puppets, under my control and nopony else’s. Or that was what I used to think. Though this wasn’t the first time I had this happen to me. I remember when I used my magic to create that yellow shield to protect me and the squad. But I could control that shield and create different variations of it. This was a creation of mine that moved on its own. How was the puppet doing this? Was this something new that I’d never expected before? Did it have something to do with the girls? More importantly, was I right about it leading me and the guys to Applejack and could I use it to find the others too? Eventually, the puppet slowed and stopped. We stopped too just in time or else we would have run into the pit in the middle of the forest clearing we had followed the puppet into. It had stopped above the pit, then it faded away. Was this the right spot? Only one way to find out… “Applejack!” I called down into the pit. “Are you down there?” “Dusk? Dusk, is that you?” I never thought I’d be so relieved to hear her voice. “Yeah, along with the others.” I said to her. “AJ, are you okay?” Dog asked her. “Yeah, Dog… I’m fine.” She told him. “I can’t climb out, the sides are too steep!” “Don't worry, I think I see you.” I could just make her out in the depths, looking up. “We might be able to get you out. Hold on!” “Dog, you ready?” I asked. “Yep.” Dog said. “Don’t worry, AJ, I’m comin’ to get ya!” Focusing my tail spikes, I surrounded them around Dog to form a safety harness. “Okay.” I said as I explained the situation to Dog. “AJ’s probably too deep in there to clearly see us. Only being able to hear us, she’ll be expecting to see our secret identities: Dusk Noir, Shield Steedor, Leon Aquilous, and Dog Fries. She doesn’t know about our elemental forms. Since you’re the one going down there, Dog, you should probably change…” “Here I come, AJ!” Dog said as he then went off and jumped into the pit, still as Icedra. “Dog! Aah!” I said before I was pulled by the line as I didn’t have time to make it long enough where I wasn't pulled down with him or could grip the ground so he didn’t drag me with him. “Dusk!” Shield and Leon said as they grabbed my claws and helped me back up. I managed to hear Dog grunt in pain as he no doubt swung into the wall of the pit. “You okay, Dog?” I said to him, trying to make sure he didn’t hurt himself too bad. “Yeah, I’m fine.” The cowpony said to me. “Just bonked my noggin’ a bit.” “Next time, wait until I give you enough line to go down there.” I said to him. “You nearly dragged me down with you.” “Oh, sorry.” He said to me. “Never mind. Just get Applejack out of there.” I said to him as I then began to lower him down. “Just tug on the line once you got her and I’ll pull you guys up.” “Will do.” Dog said as he continued to descend. Okay, to explain this, what I’m doing is called metalbending, a basic power that allows us Fire Dragons to manipulate and reshape the metal of our tail spikes into anything we want. Though the formation we use it for can only be used as an extension to grab or pull things and to change the shape of our bodies or a part of it. That’s why I was able to make my tail look like a pony tail. To explain the camouflage, one of my ancestors discovered that the tail spikes could change from gold to any color we want like a chameleon, another reason why my tail looked like a normal pony tail. Though there is little defect to it. The metalbending can only be applied to the Fire Dragon using it and can’t be spread and applied to others. Being literally a part of us, we can’t spread it to other ponies. The only way we can give it to them is by taking the spike off and giving it as solid matter. It only changes shape while it’s still attached and when we want them to. Without that, they just be regular gold spikes. Getting back to the story, I was actually grateful that the guys were able to catch me. “Sweet Celestia, that was close.” I said to myself before speaking to Shield and Leon. “Thanks, guys.” “No problem, bud.” Shield said to me with a smile before he gave a look of confusion. “Wait, isn’t Dog still Icedra?” We then heard a scream from the pit and we gave a look of shock as we looked back at the pit, knowing that was Applejack seeing Icedra for the first. Dog told me that she had never saw an Element Gang elemental before. I could only imagine how scared and confused she might be. Dog’s view Well, this wasn’t the reaction I was expecting. When I got down to AJ, she just screamed and started punching me all willy-nilly. I managed to block them, but she still glared at me with anger. I just didn’t have a single clue why she was freaking out so much. “Stay back, ya darn varmint!” She said to me as she kept trying to punch me. “AJ, stop! Please! Ow!” I said as she managed to land a hit on my nose. “Applejack!” I then caught and held both her hooves. “Ngh! Let go of me! Ngh!” AJ grunted as she tried to break free. “Wait, calm down!” I said to her as I shook her and she finally looked at me. “AJ, it’s me, Dog.” She growled at for a moment until her eyes widen and she said “Dog? Is that really you?” “Yep.” I said as I smiled at her. I watched as she smiled at me before she then hugged me. “Dog, ya scared the heck out of me.” she asked me as I realized I was still Icedra and remember she hadn’t seen me like this. “What happened to ya?” “Kind of a long story.” I said to her. “I’ll explain later. Right now, let’s get out of here.” “Right.” She said as I then got a hold of her and then yanked the cord Dusk made to pull us up. Dusk’s view Getting the signal from Dog, I lifted them out of the pit and into the clearing. I’d done this before, so lifting two ponies was as easy as pie. As such, it didn’t took a bit out of me when I’d finished. We had done our first rescue together here in Ponyville: getting Applejack out of danger. “Dusk, you okay?” Dog asked, his voice laced with concern. “I’ll be alright.” I assured him. “I’d done this dozens of times in Canterlot before, remember?” “Wouldn’t expect less from a Fire Dragon.” Dog said as I removed the harness, helping me stand when he’d given me long enough. “Dusk?” Applejack said as she cover to me with a look of shock. “Hey, Applejack.” I said to her with a smile. “Not really how I thought you were gonna learn about our secret.” “I’ll say.” Leon said as he and Shield came over. “Never thought our secret would be revealed in a rescue.” Shield said. “Wait, Leon? Shield?” she said as she realized who the other two were by recognizing their voices. “Yeah, it’s us.” Shield said, confirming her suspicion. “We were gonna tell y’all about this when ya got back.” Dog said explain to us. “Sorry you had to find out like this.” I said, feeling ashamed about this. “It’s alright, sugarcube.” she smiled. “Thank y’all for savin’ me. Good thing ya found me, else ah might never have got outta there. How did ya find me anyway?” “I’ll…I’ll explain later.” I turned to leave. “Come on, we need to find the others…” “Now hold on there.” I stopped and turned back to her. She had a stern expression on her face. “I feel that ya owe me an explanation, Dusk. If ya won’t talk to the others, ya can talk to me, right now.” “Applejack, is now really the best time to…” “It’s as good a time as any.” She stood rooted to the spot. “Y’all are gonna explain to me why, when we’ve tried to be yer friend, yeh’ve pushed us all away and kept yerself locked up inside. Ah ain’t angry at ya, I just wanna know why.” I couldn’t say that I hadn’t expected this. Regardless though, I was at a loss for words. I’d never had to explain myself or my actions to anypony, mainly because nopony bothered with me. I’d never had friends to talk to or keep promises with, I just had to be honest with myself and deal with my own problems, not really worrying about how I did it. But now, here was Applejack, demanding that I tell her why I had been pushing her and her friends away. She probably saw it as bad-mannered and rude as I rightly expected. But I wasn’t ready to tell her…yet. “Dusk, ya had to tell her sometime.” Dog said to me. “Okay.” I started slowly, finding the right words. “I can’t tell you the whole story, it would take too long. Let’s just say it’s to do with how I see things, how I view others. That’s all I can tell you for now. I’m sorry.” She stared at him for a while, then sighed. “Okay, ah guess that’ll have to do. Still doesn’t quite let ya off the hook, but we got other things to do right now. Just remember, when we get outta here, ah want the full story. That sound fair?” “That’s fair.” I had to concede. There was no running from this now, not anymore. “By I promise that I…I’ll tell you the whole story. But right now, we need to find the others.” “No arguments from me.” she agreed. “Ah don’t know where they all are, ah got separated.” “Separated? How?” Shield asked her. “Well, that’s the weird thing.” she began. “We were all together, walkin’ in the forest when…ah heard the voice-a ma lil’ sister, callin’ me to help her…” “AppleBloom? Did ya find her?” Dog asked her. “No. I ran off to try and find her myself, she really sounded like she needed me. Guess I didn’t see where I was goin’ and landed in this here pit. The sides were too steep ta climb out of and nopony could hear me. Thought I was a goner…til y’all showed up. What was that light I saw?” “It was what I used to find you.” I said briefly. “What about AppleBloom? Did you find her?” “No, but before I started tryin’ to get out, I heard this…laughin’. Horrible noise, gave me the chills just hearin’ it. Then…nothin’…” I frowned. That didn’t give us a very good lead, but it did get me thinking. Whatever it was the sounded like AppleBloom was likely to be a creature of deception. My first thought was a Changeling, but if that were the case, it would have just blended into the town. Why would one feel the need to lure them into the forest like this? One other suspicion was…no, definitely not that…at least, I hoped it wasn’t… “We’ll figure this out later.” I said to the group as I got back on track. “Right now, we need to find the others, and I think I know how.” Time to see if this worked twice. I had Applejack, an athlete and a fighter. Now, I needed somepony to match her. I thought of her next, the elation I felt when she considered me an equal, the warmth I felt from my trust in her. I needed to find her. The form of Rainbow Dash appeared in the air, flapping her wings. Like before, it began to move away, leading him in another part of the forest, where the genuine article would probably be. “What the hay?” Applejack was staring in wonder at the puppet. “Dusk…what is that?” “It’s an um…a locater spell.” I said quickly. “I looked it up before we came here, it’ll lead us to Rain-bow, come on.” Without waiting for a reply, I sped off, with the country pony close behind. Before I’d had, however, I’d glimpsed the doubting look on her face. She didn’t fully believe my story and looked like she was about to ask further questions. Eventually, she dropped it and continued to follow me. Dusk, why didn’t ya tell her that was your magic? Dog mentally said to me as we follow the Rainbow puppet, trying to make sure our conversation was private from Applejack. AJ already knows our secret. Dog, this is different. I mentally said to him. We’re already giving her and the others too much of a shock with our secret. We don’t need any more questions right now. Once we’re done, I’ll maybe tell them the truth about my magic. Maybe? Dog asked me with a raised brow. Just focus on trying to find the girls, okay? I said to him as we then got back to following the puppet. Another few minutes and we appeared out into a thicker part of trees, where the puppet proceeded to fade away. Through the branches, there wasn’t a lot to see, though I could make out a small clearing up ahead, where I saw a flash of blue on white and also…creamy yellow. “Rainbow! Fluttershy!” Applejack took the lead, as we hurried out into the clearing to them. It was certainly both of the pegasi. They were stuck fast in a gigantic web, made in the space between two trees. Rainbow was trying to struggle her way free, while Fluttershy was trembling in terror. Two birds, one stone. I thought. “Applejack!” Rainbow broke into a smile. “Am I glad to see you! Who are these guys?” “Dash, it’s us!” Shield said to her. “Shield, Dusk, Dog, and Leon!” “Shield? Dusk? But how…” She said as she about to ask a question until she shrugged off her curiosity. “Never mind. Quick, get us down!” “Don’t worry.” I turned to Shield and Leon. “Shield, you catch Rainbow, and Leon, you catch Fluttershy.” They nodded without question, hurrying up underneath the two pegasi. “Oh, my.” She looked a million times more relaxed when she saw us. “Oh, please get me down.” “Don’t worry, we’re not leaving you stuck in there.” I said firmly as I turned my tail spikes into scissors and cut a few threads of the web, though it took a few attempts to slice through the sticky, tough webbing. Acromantula webs were built to last against their prey and that included ponies, if they were lucky. Fortunately, the web’s architect was nowhere in sight…for now, at least. I finally managed to cut them down and they both yelled as they fell down and Leon and Shield caught them. “Thanks.” Rainbow said. “Boy, you weren’t kidding that he was cool.” I smiled at that compliment. “Thank you.” Fluttershy said and immediately, to everypony’s surprise, wrapped her legs around Leon in a tight hug, however, Leon return it gently and kindly. “I-I-I’m sorry.” she stuttered quietly. “I-I-I was j-j-just so…sacred…thank you…” “Hey, hey, it’s okay, it’s okay. You’re safe now.” Leon assured her soothingly. Then, I heard something move behind her and regretted my words. “Um…guys? Not to worry y’all, but…I think somepony’s hungry.” Dog said scaredy. Out of the shadows, it scuttled forward, the huge form of a spider. Its hairy legs were pointed at the sky, with many eyes fixed hungrily on them, making horrible hissing sounds and clicking its venomous pincers. Leon let go of Fluttershy and moved her behind him, even though I knew he felt just as terrified as she did. I felt the same. I’d read enough about acromantula to know how dangerous they were. My mind quickly began forming a plan to fight it, perhaps distract it somehow, until… “So…trap my friends in a web, will ya?” I glimpsed to see Shield step forward in front of it. And he looked furious. Was it my imagination or did the giant spider recoil slightly? “You hungry, huh? Well, how about a face full of my hoof!” With a battle cry, he charged forward to engage it. Rainbow seemed to have joined the fray as she began to hit the arachnid. They moved so fast, that I barely had time to register where her blows landed and the acromantula could hardly keep up with Rainbow and Shield, let alone counter-attack. Its fangs were poisonous and its webs were sticky, but they weren’t of great help to it here. I supposed it was a good thing I decided to free her. It was over in ten seconds flat (I actually counted) and the victors were clear. Rainbow and Shield dusted off their hooves like it was nothing and their would-be opponent was lying on the ground, dazed and knocked-out, waving a little white flag in surrender. “Nice work, you two!” I praised as they came back, Rainbow giving it one last kick with her left rear hoof. “Hey, you know us.” she said casually, though she did glare at me slightly. “That was great, Rainbow, but…” Fluttershy spoke up. “Did you really…have to hit him?” “Fluttershy, he was going to eat you.” Shield pointed out impatiently. “I know, I know but…maybe there could have been another way out?” “There was only one way out and it was past him.” “What matters is,” Applejack stepped in, “is we’re all still uneaten. Now, let’s get outta here, before our dinner host wakes up.” “Agreed. Come on, I think the forest path is this way.” They nodded and followed. Edging past the dazed spider, I took the lead as we hurried away from its web. We soon arrived back at a path in the forest, as I suspected, and stopped to catch our breath. Rainbow then rounded on me, looking angry. “Alright then, so here’s the thing,” she started, “so I’m waiting with the others, for hours, yesterday, waiting for you to show up and tell us what’s going on, then you don’t even show. What I wanna know is why and don’t try backing out of this, I’m onto you, ‘Dusky’…” I was actually frightened of her at this point. She’d thought of me as cool once, but now it looked like I was going to be getting the same treatment as the unfortunate arachnid back there. “Come on, spill it! Why have you been avoiding us?” “Hold on there, Rainbow,” the country pony mare placated, “we’ve already been through this. Dusk has promised me, all of us, an explanation after we get outta this forest. Twilight’s right about not wantin’ ta hurt his feelin’s, but he feels we’re due an apology and the full story. Right, Dusk?” “Yes…I have…” I still felt a little fearful…and ashamed. “Oh, yeah? How do I know we can trust you? Are you just gonna leave us in the dark again?” “I promised. If there’s one thing that’s true about me, it’s that I never break a promise.” I said sincerely. “It’s true.” Shield said, supporting me. “There’s never been time when he has broken a promise.” “Okay, fine. But you better keep that, otherwise I’ll be resorting to…different methods.” Rainbow said to me. “Right…okay.” I said as I shifted uncomfortably and Applejack took over. “Now that that’s settled, we need to find everypony else. I was tricked away from the group into that pit, but how’d you two get stuck in that web?” “Well…you see…it’s kind of…my fault…” Fluttershy’s cheeks flushed red and she pawed the ground with her hoof. “We were walking along…Applejack had just run off. We didn’t know why, but we couldn’t chase after her. Twilight lead us on until…I heard…I heard animals. They sounded like they were in trouble…poor little things…” She went silent at that, retreating behind her mane. “Yeah, so anyway,” Rainbow took over impatiently, “she ran off into the forest to try and find ‘em. We knew Applejack could look after herself, but I knew Fluttershy is about as tough as a feather. So, I chased after and, before I knew it, I’m stuck in that web and so was she.” “Sorry…” She looked so ashamed of herself. So much so, I was compelled to speak up. “Fluttershy, it wasn’t your fault.” I told her gently. “You’re safe now, that’s what matters and I’m glad that you are. I’m sorry that…I upset you so much, when I turned you and Leon down those other times, you didn’t deserve that.” “Okay…thank you, Dusk. I forgive you.” She gave me a gentle hug, which I returned shyly. “Seein’ a pattern here.” Dog noted. “You’ve all been lured away from the others somehow and trapped. This can’t be a coincidence.” “Yeah, it’s all pretty fishy, if you ask me.” Shield said suspiciously. “Dusk, you’re the resident egghead without Twilight, any ideas?” “I’m not sure. Hold on, I need to think.” I closed my eyes, analyzing what they had so far. So, I could definitely rule out the Changelings. They would never do anything this elaborate and they would never imitate animals, only ponies. That didn’t leave many creatures on the list. It could be a Chameleodemon, but they weren’t that smart or cunning. There was, of course, one other I could consider… A creature from Equestria’s dark history, from a time when chaos reigned. The ancient servants of their master…no, it couldn’t be one of them. They’d all been wiped out in the Order Uprising. But the signs…so far, it seemed to fit one of them… “What is it, Dusk?” Applejack brought me out of my thoughts. “Ya got an idea, ‘bout what’s doin’ this?” “I’m er…not sure yet, I need more facts first. I have an idea, but I really don’t want to consider it.” They looked at me for more details, but I gave them none. “Right, enough of that for now.” We had to find the others first. The next pony I pictured was one of sophistication and grace, one who had been kind enough to invite me to stay for tea, to be glad to be in the same room with me…that reminded me of home… As soon as my cousin Rarity’s form appeared, amid an amazed gasp from Fluttershy, I led them off once again. This region of the forest was a lot muddier than the rest of it, as we discovered the hard way. I was determined to find Rarity, Rainbow, and Fluttershy could fly and Applejack worked on a farm, so it didn’t bother them. My only concern was if it started to get thicker…which it did. “Wait!” My command made them halt as I had more and more difficulty pulling my claws and hooves out of the mud. “It’s too deep, if we keep this up we’ll be stuck!” “But we haven’t found Rarity yet.” Applejack reminded me, as she too tugged her hoof out. “We can’t leave her here!” “I know, I know.” I racked my brains for an idea. I’d noticed that, as we got closer, the puppets got brighter. Right now, the fashion debutante’s was shining like the stars. She couldn’t be too far away. “Okay, um…” But my shy nature prevented me from speaking up. “Dusk, if you have an idea, this is no time to be shy about it.” Rainbow said. “Okay.” I pointed to Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash. “I’ll send my spell on ahead of you, you’re the only ones who can’t get stuck in this mud. You just keep following it, she can’t be far now. Me and the others will wait here for you.” “Wait, why aren’t you going with them?” Shield said to me. “You can fly, can’t you?” “I can, but,” I said as I showed him my muddy claw, “unfortunately my claws got covered in mud.” “Yeah, so?” Shield asked. “So I’m not taking the risk of getting this mud on her and getting a beating.” I said. “You know how she is about her appearance.” “Ugh! I still have nightmares about when I made her mad.” Leon shivered, remembering how Rarity traumatized him back then. “So it’s up to you, girls.” I said to the pegasi. “Right. You see, that’s a good idea. Come on!” The daredevil led the way, the Rarity puppet guiding them along. I did my best to maintain it, I’d never let one get so far away before. After a few seconds, my influence faded and I breathed deeply. It had reached Rarity and faded away…at least, I hoped it had. Fear still gripped me by my chest, due to my surroundings and the situation we were in. Nopony had ever relied on me for anything this big before. What if I couldn’t handle it? What if I failed? What if I was just a coward and ran away, leaving them here? I bowed my head, wondering if this would be worth it…if I could actually pull it off... I felt a hand on my shoulder. Dog was there, giving me that honest smile that seemed to say “Don’t worry, everything will be alright.” I returned it gratefully, believing him. Even if the Forest was terrifying, at least I wasn’t alone in it anymore. I’d found three of them, perhaps four now, and I lead my team to execute each rescue. Of course we would find the others too. I was actually amazed that he and Applejack still wanted to comfort me, especially after the way I’d acted around them. Maybe it was just their kind natures that they didn’t like to see others in distress. Either that or they’d already forgiven me…not likely though… We waited, with baited breath. And we didn’t have to wait long. The two pegasi returned, hovering over the muddy lands, my white unicorn cousin being held between them. Her hooves were covered in mud and she looked utterly relieved to see us all. “Applejack! Thank goodness, you’re alright.” The girls set her on the dry ground as she reviled again from the mud. Until she saw me and the guys and…surprisingly brightened up. “I can’t believe it! The Element Squad! How great it is to see you all again.” She then ran over and hugged me. “Oh, Posidacus, dearie, mind giving me a little sprits?” “O-okay.” Leon nervously said as he walked over and tried to give a light douse of water for her. He closed his eyes as his cannon began to shake. A moment later, it went pouring a very gentle spray of water out like a fountain. My cousin looked at it with surprise before giving Leon a gentle smile. “Oh, darling, there is no reason to be afraid.” She reassuringly said to him as he opened his eyes a bit to look at her nervously. “You can a little more power to it.” “O-okay.” Leon said as he stopped the spout before closing his eyes again and instantly pumping his hoof in the air, making his cannon blast a big splash of water. He opened his eyes, saw the splash of water as it started coming, and said “Uh-oh.” We all watched as it crashed down on Rarity, the water completely covering her but not being enough to push us away. When it clear, everypony was shocked to see what had happened to rarity. The mud was all gone, but the water had had completely soaked rarity and was dripping off her, her mane and tail now ruined. We couldn’t see if she was mad or not as her mane covered her eyes. Though we were all pretty scared as we had no doubt she was mad. “Oh, boy.” I said, worriedly as the other guys spoke while feeling the same. “Oh, geez.” Dog said. “He’s dead.” Shield said. “Aah!” Leon screamed as he then swiftly hid behind me and shielded himself for when Rarity would attack him. “I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to! Please don’t hurt me!” “Hurt you?” Rarity said as we all looked to watch her brush her mane back to uncover her eyes and, surprisingly, she gave a soft, friendly expression and smiled at Leon. “Whatever do you mean, darling? I’m not going to hurt you.” “Huh?” Leon said as he uncovered himself, got back up, and looked at her with confusion. “You’re not?” “Why, of course not.” She said to him keeping that friendly look on her face. “I knew you didn’t mean it. Really, I have no idea why you’re making such a fuss about it.” “But…your mane…” Leon said to her, pointing out that her mane was ruined. “Oh, this?” she said, acting like it didn’t happen. “Honestly, darling, this is nothing. It’s just a simple fix.” “Uh…how exactly are you supposed to fix that?” Shield asked, making a good point as it wasn’t like she could just shake it out. In an instant, we watched as she then spinning her hooves around each other, collecting some wind in the process. We were shocked as the wind then began to actually show as a ring around her hooves. “Huh?” Shield said as he raised a brow, shocked by this. “What the…?” I said, just as shocked as he was and doing the same. We then as she doing movements similar to a ballet dancer’s as the winds began to grow and surround my cousin. After a moment of her doing that, she then jumped into the air and twirled as the winds then surrounded her completely, the white color of her form still visible with the swirls of wind. It was a moment before they slowly floated down. We then watched as the winds disappeared as she stopped twirling and landed safely on her hooves like a cat landing on their feet. What shocked us the most was that the winds had completely dried her and, somehow, managed to changed her mane and tail back to normal. Me and the guys were literally jaw-dropped, buggy-eyed shocked as we saw she used the winds to restore her complexion. We weren’t the only ones as even Applejack, Rainbow, and Fluttershy were just the same (though Fluttershy wasn’t as much buggy-eyed as she was jaw-dropped). Guess they didn’t know about this either. “There we go. Back to being fabulous.” Rarity said to herself as she saw her mane and tail were back to normal. She then looked at us all and saw our looks of shock. “Why are you all staring at me like that?” “Rarity…what the heck was that?” Rainbow asked her, still shocked. “I never knew you could do that.” Fluttershy said, feeling the same. “Where’d ya learn how to do that?” Applejack asked Rarity, just as shocked. “Nowhere. I’ve been able to do that ever since I was a filly.” The fashionista answered them before she flicked her hair. “Honestly, did you girls really think this gorgeous mane of mine just happens?” “But how?” I said to her, still couldn’t quite figure out how a mare like her can be able to that. “Nopony can be able to do that!” “Why, darling, it should be as bright as day,” She said to me, “seeing how we’re both…elementals.” She fluttered her eyes at me when she said that last part. “Elementals? Wait…” I said as I began processing all of this. She was able to manipulate the wind like it was nothing and use it to set her mane like that, and she said we were both elementals. Piecing all that together with her personality, I soon realized what she meant and gasped. “You’re…the Air elemental?” “Air elemental?” Shield asked as he began realizing who she was. “As in…” “One of the six elementals of the Element Gang, yes.” She said, confirming it before she spoke with a bit dramatically. “I, Rarity Turbor, am the daughter of the hero Tornwing and the new Air elemental Torna.” “I don’t believe it.” I said to myself as I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. “All this time we’ve been searching for the Air elemental and she was right under our noses!” “But, if you’re the Air elemental, why didn’t you just come to Canterlot and help us?” Leon asked her, making a good point. “Oh, I would’ve, darling.” She said as she explained herself, giving a look of guilt. “But, unfortunately, I still had my responsibilities back in Ponyville. I truly am sorry I did not come to your aid sooner.” “Don’t worry about it.” Shield said to her, giving her a reassuring smile. “We all have problems dealing with our hero work and our normal lives.” “Hey, wait a minute!” Rainbow said as she spoke to Rarity. “You mean to tell me is that you had superpowers and didn’t even tell us?” “Rainbow’s right.” Applejack said as she spoke to Rarity. “Why didn’t you tell us?” “Well, a girl must have her secrets.” Rarity proudly said. “Speaking of powers, if you’re the Air elemental, why didn’t you get out of that mud yourself?” Shield said her, knowing about her powers. “You’re one of the only elementals that can fly!” “Well, I would have, but unfortunately, I couldn’t do so as it would mean ruining my hair.” She said, making me roll my eyes at her. “Of course, you would be worried about your complexion…Raritina.” I said to her with a smug, making her look at me with eyes widen with shock. “P-Pardon?” she asked me. “What did just say?” “Raritina. That’s your name, right?” I said to her, keeping my smug. “Why, yes, but that’s my real name.” She said to me. “How do you know it?” “Uh…Rarity?” Fluttershy said as she came up and got her attention before she then whispered into my cousin’s ear. After she was done, Fluttershy moved away as Rarity gasped as she looked at me with shock. “Dusk?” she said to me. “Is that really you?” “Hey, cuz.” I said to her as I smiled at her, but my smile instantly left when I saw her then glare at me. “Why you ungrateful colt!” she angrily said to me as she march to stand right in front of me. “You think the mere act of saving me is enough, do you?” “Rarity, hold on.” Shield attempted to intervene but she wasn’t finished yet. “Now, granted when I first met you, I found you polite and kind, but I’m not all smiles and style you know, I have my limits. It was extremely rude, saying you’d come back after you fetched something from home and then not doing so. I know that you are sensitive, but regardless of that, I, for one feel, that I am owed a reason as to why you saw fit to behave in such an…uncouth fashion.” I felt the words hit me like hammer blows. So, Rarity, like Rainbow, was just as offended by my actions. Even more so, because of her standards and expectations for me. I’d done so well, acting so politely, making a good impression… “Rarity,” I began, looking her in the eye, “you’re right about me. You have every right to be angry and I don’t blame you one bit. I shouldn’t have acted like that, especially to you, cousin. I’m no gentlecolt. I’m just a fool who thinks he is. You are owed my reasons for my actions and I’ve promised already to give them…to all of you. But…we need to find everypony else first, then I’ll explain myself. Is that fair?” She regarded me coldly for a few minutes, as if analyzing every word, seeing if any syllable might have a hint of deception weaved into it. Eventually, she conceded, though she still looked annoyed. “Very well…if you’ve promised, I will hold you to your word. A lady does not hold grudges you know, no matter how rude one may have acted. I’ll take your word, Dusk, but you had better not betray my trust.” “No problem, cuz. I won’t.” I said before getting back to the crux of the issue. “Anyway, we need to know how you ended up stuck in that mud.” “Oh, it was horrible!” she exclaimed. “My hooves, all dirty and wet! I thought it would be worth it, if it meant saving her.” “Let me guess, ya heard somethin’ that lured ya away.” Applejack ventured. “Same here, same with Fluttershy.” “Only with you…” I thought for a moment. If Applejack heard AppleBloom, then… “You heard Sweetie Belle, didn’t you? Sounding like she was in danger?” “Why, yes, I did.” She looked at me with a glare before continuing. “Yes, I did hear her, calling my name, begging for my help. I just couldn’t leave my little sister in this horrid place, so I set off in search of her. Then this…mud started forming, but I kept going. Eventually, it became so thick, I couldn’t go any further. I tried calling out to Sweetie, but as soon as I became stuck, I heard nothing.” I nodded, once again thinking, as the others began talking as well. So this creature knew about the fears of the girls, how to use them to its advantage. It had separated them, one-by-one, possibly to make them all vulnerable. It knew their friendship was strong, that they’d become easier targets once they were apart from each other. But to what end? What for? “Dusk? Dusk, are you feeling well?” I snapped my eyes open to see Rarity looking concerned. “He’s just using his egghead to figure this out.” Shield said, tapping my cranium. “Any better leads, Dusk? What do you think’s trying to get the girls?” “I hope it’s nothing too bad.” Fluttershy murmured. “Easy there, girl.” Applejack consoled. “I’m sure that, whatever it is, we can face it down tagether, right, Dusk?” “Well…” I was about to voice my suspicions about the possible creature I had in mind, how fierce and ruthless it was and what it might do. But then I looked around at them all, all looking to hopeful, despite the situation. These six mares were the ponies who defeated Nightmare Moon, who wielded the Elements of Harmony together. These were a group of wonderful friends and, while I might never hope to be a part of them, I could at least play a role in bringing them back together to defeat this foe. “Yes.” was what I said, as confidently as I could. “Yes, you can. I’m sure of it.” “Heck, yeah!” Shield led the cheering, as I smiled around at them all. “Let’s find Pinkie and Twilight and go get this thing!” “Indeed, yes. Let’s get going and… Aww, no!” “What? What is it?” Rarity asked. “Nothing important. I just realized I’ve lost my scarf. It must have gotten caught on a branch. That was a good scarf. I liked that scarf.” “Okay, now I know what can be used to tell you guys are related.” Leon said, talking about me and Rarity. “Well…we could find it later.” Fluttershy ventured. “Fluttershy, I don’t think a lost piece of winter wear is our biggest concern right now.” Rainbow pointed out. “Yes, you’re right. Sorry.” She looked back at me, where I felt rather silly bringing that up. “She is right. Anyway, never mind that.” I said getting back on track. “We have more important things to do.” “Indeed.” Rarity said before saying “Seeing how you four have decided to use your powers, mind if I join?” I knew she was asking if she could transform and I smiled and said “Not at all. Go for it.” “Thank you.” She said to me as she transformed. With Rarity being an Air elemental, her transformation really differed from mine and the guys. The way she did it was that she jumped and span while a mini-cyclone forms around her. After so, a green flash went through and the winds dissipated, revealing her as a green Pegasus mare wearing sliver armor with three flat claws as the tips of her wings, this being her elemental form going by the name Torna. “Sweet!” Rainbow said as she and rest of the girls were amazed by Rarity’s transformation. “So that’s your elemental form.” I said to her as I finally got to see what an Air elemental looked like. “Really suits you.” “Why, thank you.” Rarity said to me. “Okay.” I said as we got back on track of what we were doing. “Let’s get to work.” Hiding my flushed face from them, I thought of how happy she made me, how easily she made me laugh and began following the Pinkie puppet, which was bouncing through the air like the actual pony. As I led us through the branches and thickets, I was cursing at myself. Why hadn’t I watched my mouth? Why hadn’t I stopped and thought about what I was doing? Even if they were doing it on Celestia’s orders, the girls were still angry at me for the way I acted because they had expected me to receive them better. If only they actually knew me. Explaining myself was going to be hard and they would never accept it. And yet…I was still hoping for a chance that they would forgive me, give me another chance…or at least, let my conscience be clear. Even it was fake friendship maybe…maybe it could be genuine, if I gave it a chance. Pinkie had said that you didn’t know what might happen, unless you tried first. Maybe there was some truth to that. On the subject of Pinkie… We found her, wrapped up in the roots of a tree, barely visible. Her joyous voice echoed out from the roots. “Hey, guys, I knew you’d find me!” So optimistic. I thought admirably. “This tree is weird, I jumped into the roots and it started trying to hug me. I tried getting out, but it must really like hugs, ‘cause it wouldn’t let go.” “I can see that.” I examined the moving roots, one of which tried to rope me in too. “What in the hay is that?” Applejack kicked away a groping root. “I ain’t never seen a tree like this before.” “It’s a Tentacle Tree.” I explained automatically, remembering when I’d read about it. “They’re very rare and are said to only grow in the Everfree Forest. They ensnare their prey in the roots and draw them in. The more they struggle, the more it pulls until…well…” “Wow, you are an egghead.” Rainbow noted. “Is that a bad thing?” “Depends, on if I like you or not.” “Oh.” I resumed my silence. “Is there any way to free her?” Rarity asked, drawing away from a creeping root. "Yes. There's a specific spot on the trunk that, if you tickle, it releases its hold on you.” I said as I explain the solution. “It involves getting up close though, but it should stand out from the rest of the plant.” “Well, who’s gonna try at it first?” Dog asked. “I’ll go first, I insist.” I said. “Dusk, are ya sure? Ya don’t have to do this to prove yourself or somethin’ like that.” “I can go, you don't have to.” Rainbow volunteered. “Trust me, I know what to look for and…I think I do it. Please, let me?” Nopony else argued as I approached the tree and began looking over the trunk. I could feel the roots beginning to wrap around my arms and legs, but I shook them off as best I could and continued. I was in my element, it was just like looking for a specific book on a shelf, one that stood out from all of the others. The roots were getting tighter, they’d soon pull me down…but Pinkie was counting on me. Then…there! A bright white patch on the back of the tree. With some effort, I strained myself out of the tree’s grip and tickled the spot with my claws. I heard a creaking as the roots receded and I hopped down from the roots in triumph. “Yay, I’m free! Not that I don’t like a good hug, but there is an official limit and that tree was pushing it.” She turned to me, grinning before she gasped. “El Dragon? What are you doing here?” “Uh…it’s me, Pinkie.” I said to as I revealed who I am. “Dusk.” “Dusk?” She said before she then pulled me into a tight hug. “Oh, I knew you were psychic!” “What?” I said as I was confused by this. “Well, you’re a Fire Dragon, right?” she said, shocking me. “What? How do you know what a Fire Dragon is?” I asked her. There was then a flash and she was gone, surprising me. I then felt something grab me by the arms, lift me off the ground, and then carry off to the others, gently putting me on the ground. After that, I looked and saw that everypony was looking at me with shock, confusing me. “What’s everypony staring at?” I asked before I then felt a tap on my shoulder. “Huh?” I looked and saw nothing there. “What?” Then there was another tap on my other shoulder and I looked again to get the same result. I then turned back and was surprised by Pinkie standing and smiling in front of me. “Aah!” I fell on my back as Pinkie began to giggle. I managed to get and look at Pinkie, ready to tell her that it wasn’t funny, only to be was shocked by what she was doing. She was actually standing. She was floating just a few feet off the ground. I looked and saw that the lower half of her body had transformed in a streak of yellow lightning. “Pinkie, how are you going that?” I said, still shocked by what she was doing. “Well, duh!” Pinkie said as she filled herself upside down. “Because I’m the Lightning elemental, silly!” “You’re the Lightning elemental?” I said to her and she nodded. Now I see how it all made sense with her. I actually laughed a bit at how obvious it was. “No wondering you’re so random.” I then looked to the guys as I motioned to Pinkie. “Guys, looks like we found our wild one!” “Pinkie Pie is the last member of our team?” Leon asked as he and the guys were shocked by this. “You have superpowers too, Pinkie?” Rainbow said, just as shocked as the guys. “Why didn’t you tell us before?” Applejack asked her. “You didn’t ask.” Pinkie said with usual smile before she then floated back down and her lower half turned to normal. “Two elementals in one day.” Shield said. “What are the odds?” “And they’re wielders of the Elements of Harmony.” I said. “Rarity is Generosity and Pinkie is Laughter, both have elements that are their family virtues.” “Wait, Rarity?” Pinkie said as she looked at my cousin. “Is that you?” “Well, yes.” Rarity said to the wild card as Pinkie came up and grabbed her hoof. “Oh, my gosh! You know what this means?” Pinkie said as she looked at Rarity with eyes filled with excitement. “We’ll be working together! Now we’re really besties!” “You know, the way she is, I’m not gonna bother asking why she didn’t show up.” Shield quietly said to Dog, who nodded in agreement to not do so either. “Also thank you, Dusky Psychic Pony.” Pinkie said after she let go of Rarity and went over to me. “How did you know where to find me? I could see this pink bright light and then I saw you guys. Did you use your psychic powers to find me? I bet you did!” “I suppose you could say that, yes.” I said, humoring her. “Now, to demonstrate them further: you were in the forest, when something lured you off the path and got you trapped here.” “Ooh, you’re good.” She said to me. “Yep, that’s what happened. Me and Twilight were looking for everypony else ‘cause they’d all run off. I was looking in one spot, she was looking in another when I heard something that sounded like somepony having a party. I thought it sounded like fun and that I’d find my friends there, so I went off to have a look, then this tree started hugging me, then you all showed up and now we’re here. Did you see any parties by the way?” “No, we didn’t.” A party that was what it used to lure her? So, it knew desires and interests as well. “Well, we’re just glad you’re safe.” “Me too. I feel bad for leaving Twilight though, especially when I have no cake to bring her…” She stopped as she realized something. “Hey, I just remembered, you were meant to come back yesterday but you didn’t. How come?” She didn’t sound angry, more politely curious. I actually was tempted to tell her, but stopped myself. “I can’t tell you, not right now. I’ve promised to the others that I’ll explain myself to you all.” “Hmm…I know, let’s make you Pinkie promise! Then you’ll have to tell us!” “Pinkie Promise? Really?” I said, surprised she suggested that. “What?” Shield asked as he and the guys were confused by this. “It’s kind of promise she made, one you can’t really break.” I said as I explained it. I stared at her for a few minutes. She stared back. She was actually being serious about this. Well, if it guaranteed my word to be taken… I sighed in defeat and said “Alright. I’ll do it.” “Great! Now repeat after me.” Pinkie began miming several actions. “Cross your heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in your eye.” “Okay. I Pinkie promise.” I vowed, mimicking her actions, but shoving my claw too hard into my eye. “Ow!” “Oopsie! Oh, well, now you have to tell us when we get out.” “And if I don’t?” “Oh, believe me,” Rarity said, darkly, “you’ll tell us or…well, let’s just say it’ll get ugly.” “Like with you when somepony messes with your hair? Aah!” Leon said as he was then hit with a wind blast from Rarity, knocking him down. He then got back up. “Okay, I deserved that.” “I would have to say it is something similar to that.” She said to me. “Duly noted. Now, for Twilight. Hold on.” I focused my thoughts on her now, all of my hopes and dreams that I’d had, how they’d all virtually come true…how she had become the friend I’d always wanted. “Ooooh!” Pinkie stared as Twilight’s puppet formed. I almost felt happy just seeing that. “That’s pretty.” “You…think so?” This was hardly the best time to ask, but it would be nice to know. “Of course it is.” Rarity was the one who spoke up. “I didn’t want to say anything before since we were busy and I’m still rather offended, but it really is quite beautiful magic.” “No arguin’ that. That’s a mighty fine light show ya got goin’ on there. I’m sure Twilight would wanna have a look at that spell when we find her.” I looked at the guys and saw them giving me smug looks, their way of saying “We told ya they’d like it.” “Perhaps she will.” I felt a little more bolstered at their kind words. “Anyway, let’s go and find her, then get out of this forest.” “Sure thing. Lead the way!” Rainbow declared, giving me a grin as she dashed off. She seemed to have lightened up, now I had Pinkie promised. “Wait!” Pinkie said, making us all stop and look at her. “Yes, Pinkie?” I asked my new teammate. “Before we go, can I change like you guys?” She asked me before she started begging. “Can I? Can I? Please?” The way she was begging was just like a little kid wanting something from their parent. She even used the puppy dog face. She certainly isn’t the wild one for nothing. I thought as I smiled. “Yes, Pinkie. You can change.” I told her. “Whee!” She cheered as she then went on to transform. With Pinkie being a Lightning elemental her transformation was just as unique. An electrical sphere formed around her. After it did, it gave her a few volts of electricity before she curled up into a ball and started spinning clockwise at rapid speed. After she started spinning, a yellow flash goes through. When it was gone, she stopped spinning and landed on all fours on the ground, revealing herself as a white tiger-like mare wearing gold armor with paws for her front hooves and bracelets with small claws on them. “So that’s your elemental form.” I said to her. “Yep!” She said with a cheerful smile. “When I’m like this, you can call me ShockBlade!” “ShockBlade. I like it.” I said to her before getting back at the task at hoof. “Now, let’s go!” With that, we all then went off and followed the puppet. Further inspired by the high spirits of the girls and my team, the fact that me and the guys had found the girls, found out two of them we’re the last two members of our Element Gang team, and that they liked my magic, I charged on as my simulacra of Twilight ran on ahead, leading us to her. “Don’t worry, Twilight.” I murmured. “We’re coming for you.”