The mares and doe stopped at a creek panting after retrieving Silverspeeds armor and she set her helmet down after taking it off, stepping into the water to wash the mud off her coat and mane.
“She seems different,” Derpy noted as they stared at the mare washing her wings with Roseluck occasionally glancing at Fern sniffing some blueberry bushes.
“A bit yeah. She’s usually much more energetic than this,” Shoeshine commented as Silverspeed dunked her head in the water before coming back out and shaking her mane.
Sunset sighed as she stood up and trotted over, shivering at the cold water sinking up to her barrel.
“Are you alright?”
Silverspeed jumped slightly and turned her head to stare at Sunset.
“What?”
“I asked if you’re alright,” Sunset repeated as she and Silverspeed came out of the water.
“Not really,” Silverspeed admitted as she sat down and picked up her knife. “I killed somepony.”
“What?” Trixie asked as the others sat down next to them. “What the hay do you mean?”
“I mean I shot a deer in the chest with a bow and arrow I made, dragged his body up to the highest tree branch I could find, tied his body down and stabbed him in the sternum before taking Fern hostage. I killed somepony.”
The mares gave her a stunned look as she picked up her bloody knife and started washing it off quickly with her rag she brought as she wiped her eyes with the other.
“Silverspeed,” Sunset sighed and pressed her hoof on top the one cleaning the knife and Silverspeed paused. “It’s clean. Also, you’re crying.”
“Oh,” Silverspeed said as she stared down at her shiny knife before glancing at the red water. “So it is.”
“Who did you kill?” Shoeshine asked as she rested on a nearby rock.
“One of the deer guarding the entrance. We ran past the spot I killed him at and I faintly remember seeing red dripping from the tree branches as we galloped past. I’m a horrible pony, I’m going to jail.”
“No you’re not,” Derpy said and gagged. “Technically you did what you had to so you could save us. Sunset wanted to kill one of them too but well, there was too many of them. Are you hurt?”
“No,” Silverspeed sighed and shook her head. “Let’s just go.”
“But-”
“Fern!” Silverspeed cut off Roseluck as she stood up. “How far to the castle?”
“Uhm just a few more minutes till we get there,” Fern said uncertaintly and scuffed a hoof on the ground. “Follow me.”
“And remember, if it’s a trap I’m doing you in,” Silverspeed threatened as the others shuddered at her cold tone and Fern nodded nervously.
“Y-yes ma’am,” Fern nodded weakly as Silverspeed gestured forward as the two started walking.
“I’m still worried about her,” Roseluck mused as the mares slowly followed and Sunset levitated the knife from the creekside.
“I got this one,” Sunset said casually as she sped up to catch up to the two.
“Almost there,” Fern said as the two nodded.
“Hey,” Sunset said casually as Silverspeed glanced at her. “How’s it going?”
“Okay I guess. You?”
“Likewise. Uh thanks. For coming back. You could have abandoned us you know?” Sunset pointed out as Silverspeed shook her head.
“Not really. Then I’d have that to deal with. Plus, we’d still have Nightmare Moon to deal with. What do you think the hostages are up to?”
“Go fish,” Daisy sighed as she slapped a card down on the table in her cell she shared with her sister, Dinky, Sparkler, Carrot Top, Silver Spoon, Berry Punch, Ruby and Liza.
“Well dang it,” Dinky grumbled as she crossed her forelegs before shakily levitating a card out of the stack. “You’re too good at this game.”
Daisy snickered dryly as she looked out the window overlooking Canterlot.
“I don’t know,” Sunset said finally. “I’d rather not think about it.”
“Same,” Silverspeed agreed. “Silver is probably scared out her mind.”
“Well I guess we will find out after. I know you don’t like me much so uh thanks,” Sunset said as she slowed down her trot.
“I’m perfectly fine with you. And you’re welcome.”
“This is it,” Fern stated as they all stared across a chasm at a castle as Trixie and Sunset levitated the end of the bridge up, tying it off at the end. “I’d recommend one by one, not all at once. Who knows how old this bridge is.”
Sunset stepped hesitantly on the bridge and it shook as the others watched nervously. Sunset inhaled and continued walking across as it swayed and the others hesitantly followed.
“What was that shark thing by the way?” Derpy asked and Sunset inhaled.
“Not sure. I know there’s countries out who experimented on them to make soldiers but it didn’t go to plan and most got killed as a precaution. The Duke of Maretonias daughter had one as pet but apparently mysteriously went missing. Might have been that one but who knows.”
“Sounds like you have a fun life,” Trixie quipped as Sunset gave a humorless laugh.
“Oh you have no idea.”
“So this is the castle of the two sisters right?” Roseluck asked as she examined some torn banners hanging on the walls. “What happened here?”
“This is where Celestia fought Nightmare Moon years ago according to the books. Place is more falling apart than I thought. The history here is insane,” Sunset mused as she looked around. “If only these walls could talk.”
She and Silverspeed warily approached some stones in the center of the room before the others joined them.
“So these are it,” Fern stated as she waved a hoof. “We didn’t know what they were so we left them behind. Deer don’t really take stuff that we don’t understand the purpose of. Protecting the village and all.”
“But how do they work?” Derpy asked as Sunset examined it closer.
“Book says something about a spark. I know a few fire spells but that’s it.”
“And thee won’t do anything with them,” the seven spun around and stared at Nightmare Moon glaring at them from the doorway. “Those belong to us.”
“Not in a million years,” Sunset said as she shifted her hooves apart. “It’s over.”
“Hmph. We will see, we suppose now won’t we?” Nightmare Moon asked as Silverspeed pushed Fern behind her and spread her wings.
“I guess we will,” Shoeshine stood next to Sunset and smirked slightly. “One way to find out.”
Nightmare Moon shot a laser at them as Sunset hastily formed a shield in front of them and it bounced off the surface.
“Nice save,” Trixie nudged Sunset with a grin. “Gotta teach Trixie that some time.”
Derpy snuck around the two and took off flying as she did a loop accidently before crashing into Nightmare Moon.
“Oof,” Nightmare Moon groaned as she rubbed the back of her head and Derpy hastily ran away.
“Nice work. I think?” Roseluck said with a sheepish smile.
“You don’t even know how to use the stones!” Nightmare Moon screamed as the shield broke apart and Sunset stumbled and Roseluck caught her before she fell.
“We’ll find a way,” Roseluck grunted as she straightened Sunset. Sunset glanced at her and one of the glowing stones before levitating it over to Roseluck. “What the hay do you expect me to do with this?”
“I don’t know! Give me a minute!” Sunset snapped she noticed the other rocks glowing respective colors of the other ponies and she inhaled, levitating each one over before closing her eyes and sighing. “I just realized something and I’m not entirely sure how to process this.”
“Uh what?” Trixie gave her a confused look as she dodged Nightmare Moons hoof.
“I never would have admitted this back then at the village but I was worried for us all because you’re all my friends. Especially because I dragged you all into this shit. I was grateful you all didn’t die,” Sunset admitted as they all stared down at the red necklace in the shape of a Roseluck in Roselucks hoof. “The elements are generosity, honesty, kindness, laughter, loyalty and magic.”
“I call honesty!” Shoeshine called out with a smirk as she examined the silver and blue horseshoe necklace on her neck. “Pretty.”
“Derpy is probably the kindest pony I know,” Sunset continued as the pegasus glowed faintly and Derpy stared at her own necklace with her cutie mark. “And Silverspeed refused to leave us behind, even killing a pony to save- oof!”
Sunset slammed against a wall and slumped over on her side as blue smoke rose off her coat and the others gave her horrified looks as Nightmare Moon blew off her smoking horn.
“She talks too much,” Nightmare Moon scoffed as she rolled her eyes. She stepped around the stunned ponies and stared down at Sunset as the mare groaned.
“Back off,” Derpy pushed her back as she stood over Sunset as Shoeshine and the others joined her.
“Thee have-”
“It’s you!” Trixie screamed and Nightmare Moon paused.
“What?”
“It’s you! Nopony has used thee or thou in hundreds of years. It’s you! I can make up words too. Fuck. I don’t know what it means but fuck it’s there,” Trixie continued as she shifted her weight.
“Trix I really wouldn’t antagonize her,” Roseluck said nervously as her eyes flicked to the taller fuming mare.
“Hell! I made up another one!”
“Do you realize how easily I could kill you?” Nightmare Moon asked as Trixie shrank back behind Roseluck. “Ow!”
A rock slammed into her head as Fern inhaled nervously as everypony gave her confused looks.
“Oh buck me,” Fern whispered as she ran in circles around Nightmare Moon.
“I think we get what you were saying earlier,” Shoeshine commented as she lifted Sunset up. “Are you alright?”
“Gonna be feeling that for a while,” Sunset grunted as she took a half step forward.
“Dibs on this one!” Roseluck called out as she admired her rose necklace on her neck. “What’s this one?”
“That was the generosity stone,” Derpy said helpfully. “Silverspeed has the loyalty one if I remember correctly.”
“Mhm.”
“So now what?” Trixie asked as she toyed with her own necklace idly with a hoof.
“I think this is yours,” Roseluck and Derpy rolled a stone to Sunset as it glowed red and they stared down at a crown as Sunset shrugged and put it on.
“Don’t get why it’s a crown but oh whale. And as for what to do now, I have no id-” Sunset paused and closed her eyes as the room glowed with various colors of the rainbow and Nightmare Moon screamed.
“What the hay just happened?” Trixie groaned as she opened her eyes and rubbed them. “Felt like the worst hangover ever.”
“I’m not sure,” Sunset admitted as the sun rose.
“Hey the sun is back,” Fern pointed out at the window as she jumped to her hooves. “And as for what happened, a rainbow came from your necklaces and crown, hit the other mare and boom bright white light.”
“What is that?” Derpy pointed to a blue mare on her side, missing the taller white mare.
“That would be Princess Luna,” Celestia as they all jumped and Fern backed away nervously as the ponies knelt down and bowed. “What’s her name?”
“Fern,” Silverspeed answered as she yanked her down with a wing hastily and the doe bowed hesitantly.
“Princess Celestia.”
“You call your mother by her first name?” Derpy whispered as Sunset nodded.
“It’s complicated trying to be professional and be related at the same time. Trust me,” Sunset whispered back as they stood up. “What are you doing with her?”
“You’ll see,” Celestia answered as Luna sat up. “Hello. We were meant to rule together remember, not hate each other.”
“I’m so sorry,” Luna sighed as the pair hugged.
“Wait, where’s Dinky and Sparkler?” Derpy asked worriedly.
“Ponyville. They’re all waiting for you,” Celestia answered as Shoeshine nodded. “And we will be talking back in Ponyville ourselves Sunset.”
“I understand.”
Fern watched quietly as she stepped to door and froze at the silver pegasus blocking her path.
“And where do you think you’re going?” Silverspeed asked with a smirk.
“Back to the village. Somedeer has to calm down the others and try to get things back in working order,” Fern answered sheepishly. “Might as well give it a shot.”
“As long as you come visit me sometime I’ll let you go. Friends?” Silverspeed held out a hoof.
“Sure why not,” Fern shrugged and hoof bumped the taller mare. Silverspeed nodded and stepped aside to let the doe out.
“Wow she’s fast,” Sunset noted as the pair watched Fern disappear into the woods.
“Got that right,” Silverspeed agreed and stared at her neck. “So what now?”
“We go back to Ponyville I guess,” Sunset gave a shrug. “But we’re teleporting this time. Fuck walking.”
“Are we actually embracing Trixies made up words?” Derpy asked as she hovered over them.
“Fuck it, why not?” Sunset commented as Roseluck snickered and hugged Derpy. “You two made up?”
“Yeah might as well if we’re these element thingies as you say,” Derpy answered.
“Excuse me but what is a fuck?” Celestia asked as Shoeshine hid a grin behind a hoof.
“I’ll tell you later,” Sunset answered as the others laughed. “I’m ready for a shower. I’m covered in mud, got a migraine and I need to sleep.”
“I agree with that holy fuck,” Shoeshine agreed. Celestia and Luna gave each other confused looks as they laughed again.
“What did we miss?” Luna whispered and Celestia shrugged.
“I have no idea.”