"Okay, Pinkie Pie. Think you can stop shaking around for a moment while I get us across this chasm?" Asked Twilight Sparkle as she looked to her twitchy companion.
"I-I-I think s-s-so!" Pinkie said, her voice vibrating with each shake from her doozy of a twitch.
Pinkie Pie closed her eyes in focus, trying to still the intense sensations that were assaulting her body. For a moment, it looked as if she was calming down, but alas, it was to no avail, and the twitches returned in full force, much to her dismay, "N-n-nope! Guess n-n-not!"
Twilight sighed, "Of course not. Alright, just... try to stay close, but no touching, I need full focus for this. Teleporting Spike with me is one thing, but you're much bigger than he is. When this is over, I'm going to research a much better group teleportation spell." She said before closing her eyes and focusing on the spell.
She grunted with effort as she focused her magic in to her horn. She was attempting to be a bit more precise with this one, since she had more time to work on it, and soon, her horn was glowing brightly.
"Ooo! P-p-pretty!" The pink pony said as she watched the show.
In a flash, Twilight's horn exploded with light that surrounded the two ponies, and in an instant, they were gone from the spot, only to re-appear a moment later, not just on the other side of the chasm, but directly in front of the Palace of the Royal Pony Sisters. The dilapidated castle stood before them, just as they had left it over a year ago.
"It's g-g-getting stronger! We must b-b-be close, T-T-Twilight!" Pinkie said after she re-appeared.
Twilight Sparkle stumbled around for a moment as the dizziness set in, but she quickly shook it away. She gave a nervous gulp as she looked to the castle and steeled herself for what might lie in store for them, "Okay, Pinkie... we... well, I, will think of a plan as we go along. You just let me know when whatever is making you twitch happens, alright?"
Instead of speaking her reply, Pinkie Pie merely nodded a few dozen times, aided by her never ending twitch. With that, the two ponies made their way in to the dark and spooky castle. As they went inside, Twilight noticed that it wasn't as dark as it was the last time she was here. As far as she knew, the conditions were the same, but as she looked up to the sky, she noticed that the moon was shining more brightly than usual, something she found a little strange.
"I didn't realize it was already so late. The moon's already high in the sky, which means we've probably been in here for hours... how time flies when you're fearing for your life." She said dryly, "We should start to hurry up. If it's this late already, it's going to take a while to get back after we find the plant... Hopefully we'll get back in time."
Quietly, the two companions trotted through the palace, their hoofsteps, and Pinkie's shaking, were the only things either pony could hear, and it made them terribly nervous. After the unicorn's short speech about the time, they decided to pick up the pace, moving faster and faster through through the building until they finally reached its end. Throughout the short trip, Twilight had been growing increasingly nervous, and her pink companion's twitches only became more intense.
However, when they reached the back of the castle and took a few tentative steps out in to the open, nothing happened.
"Well... that was a little anti-climactic." Twilight remarked.
"Y-y-yeah! Oh wait... here it comes!" Pinkie Pie suddenly shouted, her twitching reaching its most violent state, her body contorting in ways a pony simply shouldn't, before coming to a rest.
And then there was silence.
Twilight Sparkle was frozen on the spot, her nerves shot as she waited in the silence for something to happen. But after a scant few minutes, she saw nothing.
"Are you sure it's here, Pinkie? Because I don't see a-" She said as she started to walk forward.
However, she cut herself off as she sensed powerful magic in the area. She instantly recognized it as some sort of aura based spell, and she just stepped right in to it. She knew that whatever was creating it now knew she was here.
"Uh-oh..."
"What is it, Twilight?" Pinkie Pie asked.
"I'm not sure, but something knows we're he-"
"DO NOT COME ANY CLOSER!" Came a booming voice from the shadows.
The two companions leaped back in fright, wrapping their hooves around one another in their fear as they began to cower. They watched as a pair of glowing, white eyes appeared in the shadows, glaring maliciously at the two of them.
However, as the pair of eyes realized just who the two ponies were, they softened considerably, "Twilight Sparkle? Pinkie Pie? What are you two doing here?" The voice from before asked, now sounding much more friendly.
"What the? Wait... I recognize that voice." The purple unicorn said as her eyes widened.
It was then that the owner of the voice stepped out of the shadow, and there, bathed in bright moonlight, stood the Goddess of the Moon herself, Princess Luna.
"Princess Luna!" Twilight shouted as she quickly untangled herself from her companion in order to bow before the alicorn, and moments later, Pinkie did the same.
"There's no need for that, you two, not after what you did for me. But, my question from before still stands, what are you both doing here?" The moon Princess asked.
"I was hoping to ask you the same question, Princess." Twilight said as she raised her head, "You see, one of the fillies in Ponyville has come down with a terrible disease called White Demure, and so we came here looking for a cure before it's too late!"
"Oh no... it is as I've feared... Twilight, I'm afraid to tell you, but there's no known cure in all of Equestria for White Demure. Over a thousand years ago, before I was banished to the moon, this disease had struck and took from us several ponies. The only way we were able to end it was to quarantine the sick, as well as the source of it all. We let the ponies infected live out the days they had left, but when the disease finally took them, we had to call upon a old favour to annihilate what remained. The disease has already caught six ponies across Equestria... and now seven with your filly. I'm so sorry, Twilight Sparkle..." Luna said, hanging her head.
"But... but that's not true! Okay, while it might be true that there isin't a cure known in Equestria, we got a cure from somewhere outside of it! Zecora, a zebra from a far away land, knows how to cure White Demure. She just needs a few special ingredients, and me and the others are out to get it!" The purple unicorn said, the passion in her voice increasing as she went on.
Luna's eyes widened considerably at the news, "You speak the truth? There really is a cure after all? This is wonderful news! I shall make sure to reward this Zecora for her efforts... When this is all over, you're going to have to introduce me to her. In the past, we have not had very good politics with the Zebras, but now I see that there is much our cultures can learn from each other, so that will have to change. I will see abut contacting my sister about this, and make sure that we just keep those infected ponies safe until you find what you need."
"Yes. We'll have the cure soon, we hope. One of the ingredients is on the edge of the Everfree, but we should be able to get to Zecora with a few days to spare before Apple Bloom's week is up. And with your help, Princess we can get it done faster!"
"Yeah! And when we get it done, we can throw all of those poor, sick ponies a big 'You're Cured' party! And you can come to, Luna! I haven't had a party with you yet, well, except for that one time, but that was only one time, and so we gotta have another!" Pinkie Pie said, sounding ecstatic.
However, Luna's face fell a little, "I wish I could help, but, sadly, I won't be able to help you. I'm needed here, and I don't know for how much longer."
"But why? What's so important here that you can't help us find the cure." Twilight asked incredulously.
"Let me show you both." The Princess said before her horn began to glow. Moments later, a bubble appeared around the two ponies, the both of them looking at it curiously, "This will protect you as long as I'm here. Now come with me."
With that, she turned around and walked in to the shadows, the earth and unicorn ponies behind her following along.
Twilight Sparkle watched in awe as the once dark shadows of the Everfree seemed to light up, as if the moonlight was following the Princess and being her personal guide to wherever she might want to go. As they walked through the forest, they soon came upon a clearing, and what they saw within made the two mortal ponies gasp in shock.
The clearing held several creatures, critters ranging from snakes to bats, all surrounding a single, white flower. What made them gasp, however, was that each of the animals were frozen and white, just like how Zecora had described.
"This is the source of White Demure. A deadly flower with a sweet smell that attracts unknowing animals. From there, they spread out and, when the sickness overtakes them, they turn white, like this, and crumble to dust. That dust then settles in to the ground, and from it, grows a new flower, and the cycle begins anew. I've gathered up all of the sickened creatures in the forest, and sadly, it was too late for them. I found one near the outskirts of Ponyville, which might explain how your filly became ill. Ever since I found it, I've been guarding it, keeping creatures at bay and isolating the wind, so that it doesn't spread any further." The moon goddess explained.
"Oh my... This is terrible! Those poor animals... I'm so glad I sent Fluttershy with Rainbow Dash instead of making her come here... She'd be devastated!" The unicorn exclaimed, thinking about her shy friend.
"Though... Now I'm curious, about a couple of things, actually."
"What is it, Twilight Sparkle?" Asked Luna.
"Well, you don't have any visible protection, how is it that you are around this plant but not sick?"
"Ah, yes. Alicorn immortality helps to protect against many things, White Demure included." Luna replied.
"I thought as much, but wasn't sure... My other question is... What is Princess Celestia doing in all of this?"
"Ah yes, my dear sister. She's doing something equally important. You see, simple fire doesn't destroy this plant, only stalls it, sets it back a little while. Plus, the smoke that rises from it can serve to spread it even further. The only way to completely destroy it, the way we used before to rid ourselves of it, is dragon's fire."
"Oh my..."
"Yes. Back then, a dragon owed us a favor, so with the magic from my sister and I, we forcibly contained the dragon's fire breath as he destroyed this accursed plant. Now, however, we lack any dragon allies... Except for one."
Twilight furrowed her brow for a moment, before her eyes suddenly widened in understanding, "Spike!"
"That's right. However, since he's just a baby dragon, Celestia is using a spell to store up his little bursts of flame, a spell that I have yet to learn. Once he manages to breathe out enough flames, my sister will join me here, and together, we will immolate the area and completely annihilate the White Demure. And hopefully, it will be for the last time."
"Wow... That's... I wish you the best luck in that Princess."
"I thank you, Twilight Sparkle."
"Yeah! Good luck! Hopefully this stuff will get all burned away and it won't have to bother our friends ever again!" Pinkie Pie said, crossing her hooves over her chest.
"I hope so too, Pinkie." Twilight said. A moment later, an idea came to mind, and she turned back to Luna, "Princess Luna?"
"Yes, Twilight Sparkle?" Luna replied.
"Even though you're stuck here, is there any way you can still help us get the plant faster?"
"Hmm... You know, there just may be a way. How adept are you at teleportation spells?"
"Quite good! Well, good at teleporting myself, at least. It's a huge strain to extend the spell to cover other ponies. It makes me a little dizzy every time I try it..."
Luna looked shocked for a moment, "Are you serious? You can really stretch out a teleportation spell meant for one pony and make it cover two?" She asked incredulously.
"Umm... Y-yes?" Twilight replied nervously.
"That's amazing! I've never heard of a unicorn being able to do that! You're forcing the spell beyond its limits in ways that are simply amazing, Twilight Sparkle. No wonder you're my sister's prized student." She said with a smile. She gave a small chuckle as she saw the purple unicorn blush in embarassement over the praise, but she quickly regained her serious demeanor, "Now, bow your head, Twilight Sparkle. Close your eyes and accept my gift to you."
The purple unicorn looked to the moon goddess curiously for a moment, but, in the end, she obeyed, bowing her head lightly and closing her eyes, ready for focus on whatever it was that the Princess was going to do.
Pinkie Pie made noises of awe as she watched Luna close her eyes and begin to glow. Magic seemed to surround the alicorn for a brief moment before it started to focus upwards, the glow growing brightly as it traveled up her body, and soon, the whole area was lit up as the magical energy was focused entirely on the tip of her horn.
Slowly, she leaned down and touched her horn to Twilight's, and passed on the light. When she was finished, she pulled back and watched as the glow she left traveled down the purple unicrn's horn and down in to her head, the magical energy passing in to her mind and granting her the knowledge it held.
As the magical energy entered her head and fused with her mind, Twilight Sparkle's eyes snapped wide open, "I... I know the spell. A group teleportation spell! How'd you do that?"
"An ancient magic that unicorns used to use to transfer knowledge from one to another. While it worked well in teaching complex spells very quickly, it was like passing a bit from one pony to the next. While you now have the spell in your possession, I've lost it." Luna explained.
"Oh! Are you sure, Princess? I don't want to take this from you if you won't be able to cast it yourself!"
"Don't worry, Twilight Sparkle. I don't see myself needing to teleport a group in the near future, and after this is over, I'll have time to learn it once again. Now, I think the two of you should be going now. I don't know where you might find the plant you're lookinig for, but you should hurry and be on your way. Once you have the plant, use the gift I've given you to return home and get the cure."
"Right Princess!"
"You can count on us!"
Twilight Sparkle and Pinkie Pie both raised their hooves and saluted their princess before giving her one last bow, "See you soon, Princess. Wish us luck."
"Good luck, you two. And stay safe."
At that, the two companions made their leave, the magical aura protecting them from the White Demure fading away the further from Luna they got. A new determination filled Twilight, determination drawn from the fact that not only did the life of Apple Bloom rest on their collective shoulders, but also the lives of six other sick ponies.
As they ran through the forest, it was Pinkie Pie that broke the silence between them.
"Well, that was sure nice of her to help you out like that."
"Yes. It's going to help shave off a lot of time. I might even get back first. If I do, could even teleport the others back to Ponyville all the faster. I was worried about not being able to make it before, but now, thanks to Luna's gift, I know we're going to be able to make it." Twilight replied.
"Totally! It's going to be great seeing Apple Bloom healthy again. And all of those sad faces back at your library will turn in to smiles and it's going to be the best thing ever!"
The unicorn just gave a laugh, "Oh Pinkie, how I wish I could be as carefree as you sometimes."
"Oh, well, I am worried about Apple Bloom, there's no doubt about that. It's makes me so sad knowing how sad they are, and that she's hurting. I wanna help as much as I can, and the best way to do that is to smile for my friends, and try to make them smile too." The pink pony said, an odd seriousness filling her voice.
"You know, Pinkie... I honestly think that that's the most important thing to do right now, keep our high hopes. And out of everypony I know, you're the one best suited for the job."
"Thanks, Twilight! That means a lot."
The two shared a smile with one another as they continued through the forest. At that point in time, a smile was just what Twilight needed. The severity of the situation, while still present, seemed to lighten. In fact, everything around her, in the spooky Everfree forest, seemed to lighten up thanks to the presence of a friend. And not just any friend, but the element of laughter herself.
"So, do you think we're getting close?" Pinkie Pie asked.
"I'm not sure, this forest seems like it goes on forever. But, if Zecora's note was right, we'll know it when we get to the edge of the Everfree forest."
"Well, I hope it's soon. My tail is getting twitchy, and you know what that means!"
Twilight continued to run forward, but her eyes became immediately glued to the skies. The canopy was thick, but flickers of moonlight still pierced through the thick foliage to provide some light, "I don't see anything."
"Twilight! Look out!" Pinkie shouted.
"What are yo- Ahh!"
Sadly, the warning came too late, and the unicorn ran straight off of the cliff that seemed to come out of nowhere, beginning a freefall down in to the chasm below, screaming her head off.
"Hold on, Twilight. I'll save you!"
With that, Pinkie took a quick look around before she chomped down on a vine that she hoped was long enough. And strong enough. With the long vine in her mouth, she jumped off of the cliff, swan diving straight down in order to save her friend.
The unicorn continued to scream her head off as she fell, flailing her arms about in an attempt to stabilize herself. Over the last year, she had slowly mastered the art of falling to her doom, and she put that experience to good use. After positioning her body to catch the most wind in her free fall, her arms helped to keep her that way, to give her the slowest fall and the best chance to be saved.
Of course, all of this was purely reflexive, as inside her mind, Twilight could only think a single thought.
"Help!"
Luckily, Pinkie Pie was a mare of action, at least, she thought she was at the moment. She held her hooves forward, mimicing the way Rainbow Dash flew in order to save Rarity during the Best Young Fliers competition. While she wasn't expecting to make a Sonic Rainboom any time soon, she was expecting it to allow her to slice through the air and let her catch up to her falling friend.
As Twilight fell, Pinkie approached. Down below, the fog of the chasm floor was approaching, and at the last minute, the pink pony made it.
She wrapped her hooves around her falling friend, clinging to her tightly as she bit down extra hard on the vine, hoping that it will pull taught at any moment. Twilight reflexively wrapped all of her legs around her companion, holding on to her for dear life as she continued to scream her head off.
A droplets of sweat beaded on Pinkie's forehead, lasting only a moment before they were thrown off by the wind. That ground was sure coming up fast. Almost too fast. And before she knew it, the two of them plunged in to the fog.
Then, everything stopped, and a loud twang echoed through the forest.
Pinkie Pie opened an eye tentatively, checking to see if they were still alive. Her neck and teeth hurt like no pony's business, but, as far as she could tell, she was still alive, and for the most part, still unharmed.
"Heyf, Wiyight..." Pinkie said with a mouth full of vine.
"AHHHHHHH!" Twilight replied.
"Wiyight..." The pink pony tried to say.
"AHHHHHHH!"
"Grr... Wiyight! Shop screanin' in 'y eya!" Pinkie Pie shouted through gritted teeth.
"AHHH- huh?" Twilight said, her screaming finally stopping as the words got through to her.
The first thing the unicorn perceived was the sound of her saviour sighing in relief. The second thing was the fact that she stopped falling, and was, in truth, saved.
"Oh my gosh! Pinkie! You saved my life! Thank you so much!" She said, as she gripped her friend a little tighter, changing her panicked grip in to a hug.
"Umm..." The earth pony replied, grunting out the sound. "'Ook." She said, pointing a pink hoof to the vine in her mouth.
"Oh! Right, sorry. Thank you so much for saving my life, now let's see what I can do about getting us out of here. Let's see... Oh!" Twilight said, as she looked down, "I think you can let go, Pinkie Pie. We're only a few feet off the groun- Waaaah!"
The moment she had heard that she was allowed to let go, she did, dropping both herself and her unicorn companion down on to the ground, "Oohhh... That feels so much better... I'm going to have to go and see Aloe and Lotus and get all these kinks out... I don't think I can even chew right now..." Pinkie groaned out.
"Don't worry, Pinkie Pie. We're almost there, I hope. When I get that plant, I'll teleport us back to Ponyville, and you can go to the masseuse while I deal with the plant."
"Okay... I think I'm just going to lie here for a little bit, let me know if we need to go far."
"Alright, you rest up, you deserve it."
Though the two of them were at the bottom of the chasm, it was a good a place to start as any. Zecora had said that she would know the end of the Everfree Forest when she saw it, and boy, did she ever see it. She was sure that this gorge marked the end of the forest; splitting apart Equestria from parts unknown to her.
With that in mind, she magically pulled out the parchment that contained information about what she was looking for, and she got to work.