//------------------------------//
// Chapter Six: The Adventure Begins 
// Story: Radiant Hope and The Nightmare 
// by EmmyRosie5 
//------------------------------//

Nightmare Moon laughed evilly from the podium. Now that she is in charge, Equestria would fall into eternal night.

“Seize her! Only she knows where the Princess is!” The mayor instructed the guards. The guards did as the mayor told told them.

“Stand back, you foals!” Nightmare Moon said. She then transformed into some nightmarish fog, and struck down the royal guards. The fog then flew off.

“I got her! I got her!” Derpy said chasing after the fog. She almost caught it when the fog flew down, making Derpy hit a wall.

“You okay, Derpy?” Raindrops said, checking on Derpy. “Yeah, I’m fine Rainy.” Derpy replied. The two Pegasi looked outside. It was all pitch black.

“Nighttime? Forever?” Derpy said worried. “This can’t be good.” Raindrops said nervously.

Limestone, Vinyl, and Coloratura all ran up to the Pegasi. “Guys, we got to do something.” Coloratura said. “She’s right. We can’t just let that Nightmare Moon pony make it eternal night forever.” Limestone added.

“But what can we do?” Derpy asked. Just then, Vinyl got an idea. “Hey, That Radiant Hope pony knew who Nightmare Moon is, so maybe she’ll know how we can defeat her!” Vinyl said.

“Good thinking, Vinyl.” Raindrops said, agreeing with Vinyl’s idea. Vinyl turned around. “Hey Hope, do you know how-?” She started, but Hope was not there.

“Uh, where is Hope?” Vinyl asked. Raindrops looked outside and saw Hope running somewhere. “I think I know where she is.” She said.

“Really?” Limestone said. Raindrops nodded. “C’mon girls, follow me!” She said. And the five ponies ran off to Hope.


~~~


Back at the library, Radiant Hope was putting a tired Spike to bed. 

“Uh... We gotta stop Nightmare!...” Spike drowsy said before immediately falling asleep. Hope put a blanket over him.

“You've been up all night, Spike. You are a baby dragon after all.” Hope said. She then turned off the lights and went downstairs.

But as she went downstairs, Hope started frantically searching. “Elements, elements, elements…” Hope muttered while searching the library. She looked through every book, but couldn’t find anything.

“Ugh! How can I stop Nightmare Moon without the Elements of Harmony?” Hope said frantically. That’s when Derpy flew up to her.

“Just what are the Elements of Harmony? And how do you know about Nightmare Moon? Are you working for her?! TELL ME CELESTIA DAMMIT!” Derpy said angrily.

“Derpy, calm down. Hope is not working for Nightmare Moon!” Raindrops said, calming down an agitated Derpy. She then turned to Hope. “But she sure knows what's going on. Don't you, Hope?” Raindrops asked.

Hope looked at Coloratura, Limestone Pie, Vinyl Scratch, Derpy Hooves, and Raindrops who were all looking for an answer. Hope took a deep breath and began to explain.

“I read all about the prediction of Nightmare Moon. Some mysterious objects called the Elements of Harmony are the only things that can stop her, but I don't know what they are, where to find them; I don't even know what they do!” Hope explained.

Just then, the girls heard Coloratura. “The Elements of Harmony: A Reference Guide.” She said looking at a book on a shelf.

Hope pushed Coloratura as she saw the book. “How did you find that?!” Hope asked.

“Before I played music, I used to read a lot of books at the library, so I know where everything is!” Coloratura explained. “Plus, it was under ‘E’.” She added.

Hope was shocked. She wanted to ask Coloratura how a pianist like her read books, but she decided not to. Hope grabbed the book, and flipped through the pages until she found the page she was looking for. Then she started reading.

“There are six Elements of Harmony, but only five are known: Kindness, Laughter, Generosity, Honesty and Loyalty. The sixth is a complete mystery. It is said, the last known location of the five elements was in the ancient castle of the royal pony sisters. It is located in what is now…”


~~~


“The Everfree Forest?!”

The six ponies were stood face to face with the forest. “We can’t go in there! It’s dangerous and scary in there!” Derpy said worried.

“But we have to, Derpy! The elements are in there! And they’re the key to defeat Nightmare Moon!” Limestone told Derpy.

“She’s right! We’re not chickening out this time! We’re going in and saving the world!” Raindrops said with determination in her eyes.

“Okay.. If it’s to save the world, then let’s do it!” Derpy said, now filled with determination. “That’s my girl.” Raindrops said, smiling.

“Well what are we waiting for, let’s go save Equestria!” Vinyl said, running straight to the forest. 

“Not so fast!” Hope said, stopping Vinyl in the process. “Look, I appreciate the offer, but I'd really rather do this on my own.” Hope told the five ponies. 

“Oh, no! We are not letting you go into a dangerous place all by yourself! We’re sticking with you like a breakfast muffin with a side of bacon!” Raindrops said. Coloratura, Limestone, and Vinyl agreed.

“Ooh! Especially if the muffin is a chocolate chip muffin!” Derpy said happily. The five ponies just looked at her. “What? Those things are good.” Derpy added.

“Girls, you don’t have to.” Hope told the five ponies. “But we insist. It’s the least we can do.” Coloratura said. Hope then sighed. “Fine. You guys can come.” She said.

Limestone, Vinyl, Raindrops, Coloratura, and Derpy cheered. “Alright everypony! Let’s go save Equestria!” Vinyl said happily.

“Just stay close behind me, okay?” Hope told the five ponies. “We will. Just lead the way.” Limestone told Hope.

And so, the Mane Six headed into the Everfree Forest. 

It looks like the adventure was about to begin.