//------------------------------// // Chapter 4: Journey through the Everfree Forest Part 2 // Story: The Legend Of Harmony: The Eternal Eclipse // by Radiant Eclipse //------------------------------// As a rule, there are basically always two possibilities for an outcome of a situation; a success or a failure. Usually, a failure will result in the end of a story, because it often leads to either death of the protagonists or more failures. A success will continue the path of the story, leading to a new situation with two more possible outcomes as well. This phenomenon repeats itself over and over, until the story ends. In the case of this event, we had two basic possible outcomes. The heroes die or the heroes survive. If the heroes would have died, the story would have ended. And even if just some of them would have died, the others would have possibly retreated back to Ponyville, which had possibly resulted in a bad ending of this story. The only possibility for this particular event, if the story should have continued and should have had the chance for a good ending, was the survival of everyone. But who knows? Maybe this story was never supposed to have a happy ending. Maybe this story is not a comedy but a drama, or something in between. I know it of course, but do not worry, I will not spoil you. So or so, I assure that you would not understand anything if I would spoil you at this moment. This is because we have not even open-worked the mantle of this story. That is just a simple fact. ======== Twilight Sparkle slowly woke up and found herself in a with candles well-lit, small cave. She felt soft hay under her underside, like she would lie on a bed. She stood up to make herself a picture of the situation. Her neck still hurt from the impact, but at least she was able to move. There were crates, shelves attached on the wall and bottles filled with strange looking mixtures on them. Twilight looked to her friends and saw them waking up as well. Everyone was there, except for Rainbow Dash. “Gosh… my head feels like pound into cider… by my own, strong kicks…” Applejack complained about her headache. “Hihi, so many Gummies spinning around my head. You for sure want a party, am I right? Hihi…” While Pinkie Pie was still talking with her own hallucinations, Twilight helped her friends getting on their legs so they could figure out where they are and what is going on. “Does anypony know what happened? I’ve a blackout.” Spike asked his friends. “Let’s sum up. We travelled through the Everfree Forest. Timberwolves attacked us. A river flushed us away and then we lost consciousness, because we fell about a hundred meter or more into our doom. Everything correct so far?” “Yes… but how did we get here?” Rarity asked. “I have no idea. Somepony else, maybe?” Applejack asked but only got negative nods. Fluttershy did not care about herself. She only wanted to know how Rainbow Dash was. “Rainbow Dash… where is she?” She asked but when she only got silence as answer, she rushed out of the small cave into the bright outside. It blinded her and the others for a second, but when they were able to see again, they realized that they were still in the Everfree Forest, but in a small, treeless area. “Oh…. My….” Fluttershy stuttered when she discovered something that shocked her. It was a wooden cross hammered into the ground. The earth in front of it looked freshly dug over and Fluttershy and the others feared the worst. “No… this can’t… be…” She sobbed when she fell on her knees and began to cry. No one could comprehend and stand the apparent fact that they lost a friend. “You stubborn idiot. Always playing the hero…” Applejack mumbled sobbingly. “What… have I done…?” Twilight whispered, suffering in self-reproach. Everyone was so focused on the cross that they did not realize that another person joined the dolorous group. “Hey! Hello…? Hey…? What’s the matter? What happened?” The unknown asked without getting any eye contact by the others. Twilight answered. “We… we lost a good friend.” “A loyal pal you could always count on…” Applejack continued. “Somepony you could always have fun with... you know… pranks and parties.” “She was a heroic pony who sacrificed herself to save her friends.” Rarity then turned towards the stranger and talked with her face to face. “I don’t know if you knew her, Rainbow Dash, but Rainbow Dash was a really good pony, a strong pony, a true blue pony. We will…” The others suddenly turned to the stranger and realized who it was. A particular blue pony with a bandage around her chest. “Rainbow Dash!” Everyone yelled and they sprang towards her, hugging her and performing a group cuddling. They overbalanced and fell on the ground, resulting in everyone bursting out laughing. They got on their hooves again and Rainbow Dash wanted to understand why everyone was so overjoyed to see her. “Hey, guys. What’s wrong with you? Why so overwhelming in… overwhelming me?” Fluttershy went up to her and gently punched her shoulder and began to shed tears. “Don’t ever do that again. Don’t ever scare us to death like that again, got it? You… you dimwit.” “Hey, Fluttershy. Please, pull yourself together. I promise, ok? That’s my style, marking the hero, but I promise I will be more careful next time. After all, this claw marks do really hurt.” “And they will continue to be painful, if you will not be more careful.” Another stranger coming out of the bushes told her. It was a grey pony. No, it was not a pony, it was a zebra, a zebra that always tended to communicate in rhymes. “Zecora!” Twilight yelled happily. “I knew you were the one who saved us. All this herbs and liquids. It only could have been you.” “Indeed my dear friend, I was the one that brought you into this cave. It’s one of my storage rooms, in which materials for the winter I save. I couldn’t let you be on that feral place, it sure would have been your grave.” “And what is that then?” Spike asked her, pointing at the wooden cross that stuck in the ground. “That is where I grow a special substance, but this is of no importance.” “Well, I guess I’ve got to thank you for saving me and my friends.” Rainbow Dash said. “No problem, it was my obligation. But I have to ask you why you were in this situation.” “We…” Twilight Sparkle said before she realized that all of their saddlebags were missing. “Oh no, our saddlebags!” “Most of your things inside were beyond remedy, yet the Elements of Harmony and a strange book escaped that destiny. They are inside the cave and I will bring them to you. Just give me a minute, if you are patient then two.” Zecora went into the cave and came back some time later with a bag where the Elements of Harmony and the historical tradition were in. “Oh thank you so much, Zecora.” “No problem my dear, now tell me why you are here.” Twilight knew she could not avoid this confrontation, so she requested everyone to sit down and listen to her. Although most of them knew what is going on, they still were excited about what Twilight had to say. After about ten minutes, she was finished and waited for the reaction of Zecora. “And that is why we are here. It is our responsibility.” “I am not sure if that what you say is really true, but there is no doubt that I and everypony else have faith in you. You for sure have to go this doubtful path through, but in this condition you won’t be able to. Good that I have something for you.” Zecora went to the spot where the cross was and bore her hooves into the soft earth, digging out some brownish, bitter looking nuts. She cleaned the nuts in a little brook right next to the cave and then gave them to the group. Everyone got one and not one more. “Just eat them up without to consider, they will give you the energy you need, although they taste bitter.” Everyone stared at the unsavory looking, brown nuts, but they knew they could trust Zecora, so they just put them in the mouth and tried to chew them up, but the instant reaction of everyone would hinder them from doing so. “Hard and bitter! Buarg!” “Don’t chew, just swallow the seed without hesitation! Your stomachs may not want that, but this time, you have to ignore you inner insubordination.” Although they bristled, they had quiet no other choice, so they did as she said. They swallowed the nuts up and after just a few moments, they felt way better than before. They were not dozy anymore and they even filled quite sated. “This things are amazing! What are they?! You need to tell us!” Pinkie Pie asked her nervously while beginning to dither and jump around like a hedgehog had pricked her flank. “These have some special extra abilities, but in general, with these beans, you make coffee.” She replied. “That were coffee beans? Quite astonishing what special abilities these particular beans have. I am as fit as a fiddle!” Rarity told her thankfully. “Woah, woah, woah!” Spike shouted to interrupt everyone. “Your last sentence wasn’t a rhyme!” Zecora rolled her eyes and reacted to Spike’s infantile comment. “If you can make a rhyme with coffee, I will give you a trophy.” And then she realized that she found a very fitting rhyme. “Oh! That was quite easy… coffee, trophy… guess I have not slept that well this night. But it doesn’t matter, after all, it is you who are going to fight.” “Thank you very much, Zecora.” And with that sentence finished, she embraced her. “Always a pleasure for me to help you, but I think you have to continue.” Suddenly, Rainbow dash threw her bandage away and her body seemed to be completely healed. “Oh yeah! We are going to show this black brute what we are made of!” She shouted out loud, but then she felt a little pain in her chest and calmed down. Fluttershy moved to her and helped her. “Do not go over the top, again. You may look as sound as a bell, but you still have to recover, so please, take it easy.” “Yeah, yeah. I know I promised it. I will not break it.” The whole group, even the still squirrely Pinkie Pie got in one line and bow to Zecora. “Thank you very much!” Everyone said and with Twilight Sparkle putting the saddlebag with the Elements and the historical tradition on, they moved along.” “Farewell my little ponies and all the best! I hope… you will defeat this edacious pest.” She turned around and walked back into her cavern. “Coffee; trophy. What in the hay is wrong with me today?” --------------- “According to the position of the sun, we have about 3 o’clock.” Applejack told her friends as they went deep into the forest, again. “You can determine the time by analyzing the position of the sun?” Twilight asked her. “Eeyup! Ponies need such talents to work on a farm. All in a day’s work.” “Impressive.” Spike pointed out, sitting on Twilight’s back as usual. “Thanks.” “Wait! We lost 5 hours?! It will be night when we reach the end of this dreadful forest.” Rarity pointed out grumpily.” “Worst of all, we lost all S.S.R. cupcakes! At least these coffee beans were filling, but they tasted horribly.” Pinkie Pie said grumpily. “Gosh, we had much luck with Zecora. I don’t even wanna imagine what would have happened if she didn’t take care of us. Sometimes… I really mess things up.” Rainbow Dash admitted, reproaching herself for her actions. “Stop blaming yourself already and stop to sulk. Smile already!” Pinkie Pie said to convince her. “Pinkie is right. You already suffered retaliation, so finally get over with it.” Fluttershy added. “Ok, ok. I won’t bother anymore. I am just happy that these mixtures, ointment and whatever Zecora used else worked so pretty well and healed my body in just a few hours.” “That explains why you are not injured. But I have still a question in mind.” Twilight said with a scrutinizing look.” “Sure. What is it?” “Did you really mean to sacrifice yourself?” Rainbow dash thought about it for a second, but then she rolled her eye amusedly and began to giggle a bit. “Are you crazy? Of course not! This was all part of my plan, if the timberwolf would have bite into it. They would have focused on me, you were able to run away and in the last second, I would have dashed into the air and followed you. That would have worked… somehow…” Her friends were very suspicious about Rainbow Dash’s plan, but they left the topic for good and focused on their journey again. Speaking of their journey, Fluttershy got a question in mind. “Does anypony know in which direction we are walking?” Hearing this question, Twilight gave herself a facehoof and turned to Fluttershy. “Would you mind scouting the area for us…” “You can count on me!” Rainbow Dash shouted. She opened her wings, ready to soar, but got interrupted by Twilight and the pain her chest caused. “No Rainbow Dash, you stay on the ground. Fluttershy, would you mind?” “But of course not.” She replied as flew above the treetops, landing again after just a few seconds. “Luckily, we are walking the right path.” “Great… Now I am no use at all.” And with that sentence spoken, Applejack beat Rainbow Dash’s head again. “Ouch! AJ! Stop doing that.” “Only when you stop to behave so melancholic.” “Not behaving like a hero, not behaving like a mope... What are you? My mother?!” “Nope! Just a friend who is concerned about you.” “Ok, ok. I will be quite from now on. But thankfully, I remembered that I am supposed to write a letter for my parents in Cloudsdale. Haven’t seen them for quite a while…” “I did not either.” Everyone but Spiked replied synchronously, causing the ponies to laugh. “Wait. I don’t get it, what are you laughing about?” Spiked asked confusedly. “Oh right, I remember.” Twilight said. “You don’t have parents. You hatched in the royal castle in Canterlot.” “I consider Princess Celestia my mother in some way; after all, she took care of me for quite some years.” “And what am I then?” Twilight asked him excitedly. “Well… you are my best friend, a sitter and mentor for me.” He replied. Hearing what she wanted to her, Twilight tousled his round spikes, making him laugh a bit. “Stop it Twilight. You know I am ticklish there.” “You mean like this?” With these words spoken, she levitated him on the ground and continued to tickle him, making him stumble on his back and laugh. “No, no, no, no, no! Please, stop it!” He begged her, but she continued. The situation was too enticing; that is why the rest of the group joined Twilight’s ambush and assisted her in making Spike cry because of laughter. Finally, they stopped and fell on their back, too, laughing out loud and getting rid of their former atrabiliousness. After just a few minutes, they stood up again and with Spike sitting on Twilight’s back, they kept going on. At 4 o’clock, the sun merely began to sink, but it still was very bright. In this moment, Twilight began to think about their self-imposed task again, looking at her saddlebag with the historical tradition and the Elements of Harmony in it for a second and wondering about what is to come. “How powerful do you think is Pariah? After all, in some way, he is an alicorn, but with 4 wings and very destructive magic.” “I am honest, I have no idea. Having the story of the princesses in mind, we may have to offer more than just the powers of the elements.” Applejack answered doubtfully. “It doesn’t matter! We will defeat him anyway! There is no way that this guy can overwhelm us.” Rainbow Dash commented agitatedly. “And even if we have to retreat; together with the power of our dear princesses, he has no chance.” Rarity pointed out elatedly. “We will gobble him up like a piece of cake. I bet my smile on it.” Pinkie Pie shouted out loud, bursting with energy as usual. “Don’t you think you are taking this whole situation a bit too easy? We have nearly been devoured by these wolf-thingies; and I am really sure that Pariah, if he really is a threat, is much more powerful and diabolic than the wolves.” Spike responded seriously. “That is why we are here, Spike. We have to find this promising source of power which is hidden somewhere in the mountains at the edge of Equestria, before Pariah returns. I am still asking myself what this power could be. An artifact? A catalyst? I guess it doesn’t matter. All that matters is that it can help us defeat him.” Twilight remarked in a persuading manner. “Do you really think that Pariah is really that evil? This part of the legend could have been a lie, too.” Fluttershy pointed out and with that, everyone else suddenly stopped and turned around, looking at her with a questioning look. “I… I mean, maybe he is not mean at all and ponies have simply misunderstood him.” Twilight then replied to Fluttershy’s idea. “I know you don’t want to fight. Believe me, nopony of us wants to. But according to the legend, several heroes had to sacrifice themselves to stop him. “And nopony, not even the princesses, for what reason whatsoever, should deny such acts of heroism. You don’t fake these up and you don’t drag them in the mud. This is against moral and nopony should ever do this. And I am really sure about one thing. Though the princesses are keeping something secret, they do not, I repeat do not pad the legend with so much sorrow up.” “But I… I am not denying the pony-hearted acts of these heroes. I just think… we really should not overact. You know that every avoidable conflict has to be avoided. In these dark times, kindness is all left what we have. We should not be the first to attack, or we are not just a bit better than Pariah may is. I… just…” Applejack walked to her and she consoled Fluttershy, patting her on the shoulder and smiling in her direction. “You just can’t believe that a pony is wicked enough to do such bad stuff.” “Yes. I… I really don’t want to believe… that Pariah is pure evil.” She went into herself for a minute, but then she put her face up again and looked at her friends with a serious gaze. “I want you to stay calm when we met him. I will try to talk with him, no matter what.” Her friends were surprised and slightly shocked about what Fluttershy said, but she has not finished, yet. “I am sure about that he is not that evil as the legend has told us. Maybe there is a dark power that has its evil finger in the pie, or something else is responsible. It could be similar to Luna’s transformation into Nightmare Moon.” She nodded her head from side to side and continued. “No. We have to try this. After all these nonsensical things, we simply have to check this possibility. I am sure you assist my theory Twilight, right?” She looked gravely into Twilight’s eyes. She in return became slightly nervous, but she thought about Fluttershy’s theory for a moment. In actuality, she was right. There was really no proof that Pariah is really the one in fault for everything. “I see your point, Fluttershy… still, I am not sure.” The others did not mix in and waited for Twilight to decide what will happen. “Are… Are you sure, that you can handle this?” “I am absolutely sure, Twilight.” She replied with unusual confidence and spiritedness. “Then you will get your chance. You are right. Maybe we would do a big mistake by simply ambushing him. And you are also right that we are not on this low level. We would insult ourselves by doing this.” “I thank you for understanding my point and agree with me, but what is about you guys?” Both turned to the other five and waited for response. Fortunately, everyone nodded and agreed with their point. After all, they had no reason to no trust their words and it was a possibility not to be ignored. With these words spoken, they moved along. Fluttershy was visibly relieved, knowing that she had a chance to make everypony happy for the greater good and the kindness itself. But she was honest to herself; she was scared of Pariah. He probably was a ginormous threat and extremely malicious. But he also was a pony and somewhere behind his façade, there had to be a shining light; something he could claim to be his soul. In any darkness, there has to be a light. She wanted to fuel this light and weaken the darkness. Defeating an enemy always made her feel poorly, especially when she had to fight the Changelings or banish Discord into stone. At least here, she had the chance to rescue more than just innocent ponies, but also the adversary. “Still, there is something I have in mind. Do Celestia and Luna really have another sister? And who could this Radiant Eclipse be? Is he a pony?” Twilight asked the group, but the only thing she got was unknowing and unassertive gazes. “I guess we will just have to find it out.” Without being warned, they were abruptly blinded by a near, bright light. Nearly completely dazzled, they moved forward to it, causing everything surrounding them to blur and to glare. Standing in a perfect row, they opened their eyes and what they saw was stunning and bewildering at the same time. In front of their eyes, a wide, magnificent plain revealed itself. It was nothing they would have ever expected. In the far distant, they saw the ginormous mountain chain they were voyaging, too. The mountains were thousands over thousands of meters high; piercing the clouds like a push pin pierces a piece of paper. Dozens if not hundreds of them filled the entire background. “I guess we are on the right way, though this area wasn’t even marked on the map. We must be the first ponies to ever see this place. It is… astonishing…” Twilight said. In this very moment, Spike wanted to write down everything like he was originally tasked for, but he was unable to do so, making him feel useless. “Don’t worry about that, Spike. We will help you to write everything down after we have finished our task.” Rarity told him to console Spike. “Yeah, I am sure you are right. And I still have to see it with my very own eyes, or the chronicle won’t be written properly.” He answered happily and with his good mood restored again, he jumped of Twilight’s back so he could feel the soft, green grass under his own feet. “Let’s move along” Twilight said resolutely; and so they did. The whole area was like being split into three parts as they moved along. They have left behind the lugubrious forest, were in the extensive plain now and moved towards the colossal mountains. The variety of flora and fauna in this plane was astonishing. But these were normal, peaceful life forms especially Fluttershy was used to. Ducks and swans swam in little lakes or huge rivers, little mammalians like rabbits and hedgehogs shooed on the ground and all kinds of birds and flying insects, mostly butterflies, flew through the air. Combined with all the variety of flowers; roses, sunflowers, dandelions, marguerites, and uncountable more, this was nothing they have ever seen before or could imagine. The nature was so peaceful, so harmonic, but also completely unaffected by ponies. Was that possible? A place where peaceful creatures can survive on their own. This was something completely new for the ponies, but it also let them think about why it is different here and not in the rest of the world. Or maybe it was not the whole world but just Equestria. Especially Spike remembered the phoenixes he protected against Garble and his featherbrained friends. So all of it seemed possible, and they had the proof right in front of her eyes. Every animal seemed to be contented and happy, but also free and unbound to anything but them. Seeing all these little animals romping around and enjoy their lives, Fluttershy brought an aching but obvious question up. “Are we helping our animal friends, or are we oppressing them?” --------------- It was 4 o’clock when the ponies were celebrating the festival by competing in all different kinds of sports. Medals of Honor vaunted the winners, but everypony had their fun and participated in the competition, like they were called for duty. But something was amiss, because 3 well known foals were not able to find the ponies they were looking for. They sat on a small hill and looked at the competition from little distance. “Where is my sister Applejack and where are the others? They aren’t anywhere.” “Like they disappeared from the face of Equestria. Do you think they are in danger?” “Never! After all, they have Rainbow Dash on their side.” “But where in tarnation are they?” “Maybe we should ask the princesses. Rarity always ensured me that we can count on them when there is something wrong. And we know that there is something fishy going on.” “Exactly!” Scootaloo jumped on her 4 hooves and was in a hurry. “Come on guys! Hurry up already!” Applebloom and Sweetie Belle jumped on their hooves as well and followed Scootaloo’s lead. Meanwhile, the princesses sat on a high position; like a throne and watched the competition. The truth was that their minds were on something totally else. They looked to the distance, the mountains the heroes were travelling to, and had an anxious gaze on their face, but they hide it from the crowd. In any case, the ponies were too focused on the sport competitions to realize the real mood of Celestia and Luna. “I am glad that the illusion spell worked so well. Nopony realized that the Elements of Harmony and the artifact on the podium are fake and just images. That was a great idea Luna.” “Thanks, but this is barely noteworthy. After all, it now rests in the hooves of our friends.” Suddenly, Luna’s mood turned upside down and she questioned herself. “Do you… Do you think we have made a mistake? Was it the right thing to do? To… keep so much secret?” But Celestia was not sure about how to answer this hard question. “I don’t know. We awaited this for more than thousand years, prepared ourselves, but still… it feels like we did everything wrong.” “We did it to protect our servants. We want them to be able to lead a life worth living and not worry about an upcoming threat, being in constant fear for their whole lifes. We want them to be happy.” “And what could an army of combat-ready ponies actually achieve against him? We know the answer… Nothing. It would have not changed anything.” Though it consoled them for a moment, the facts still weighted heavily on their minds. “But… I feel confident. We lied so much, so many times. Was it all worth it?” Celestia asked her sister. “It will be worth it, sister. You will see, the presaged heroes of harmony will save the world.” “I have faith in them, but I think we should have told them the truth.” “Only to fuel their fear and doubts?” “No; to prepare them what is to come.” With these words sounding in Luna’s ears, her defense fell apart and she shared her opinion. “Celestia… I… I don’t know. I can’t think clearly anymore.” “I can’t either… I can’t either.” The 3 Cutie Mark Crusaders popped up out of nowhere and scared the princesses, but they immediately calmed down and put their fake façade back on. “My little ponies! Don’t come out of nowhere next time. You could scare everypony that way.” “That was just direful.” “We are sorry…” Applebloom said and to strengthen their remorse and pay respect, their bowed to the princesses. “But we need your help. We can’t find my sister or any of her friends. Do you know where they are?” Celestia stocked for a minute. What could she say to those three little, innocent and kindhearted foals. She just could not lie directly into their round, irresistible eyes. She looked to her sister and Luna nodded. Celestia made room so the foals were able to sit down right next to them on the pillow-like underlayment. “Will you promise, no… pinkie promise… not to tell anypony what I am going to tell you now? Not until I will allow you to tell it anypony else?” The young fillies put one of their hooves in front of one of their respective eyes and promised it. “Good. Your friends are on a secret mission. They are preventing a threat from attacking. Pariah, to be precise. We don’t want to cause any riot or panic, so we are keeping it secret. Don’t worry about your friends; they will make it for sure. They have everything they need. The Elements of Harmony on the podium are only fake. They have the real ones.” Luna continued. “Until the threat has been averted, nopony else is allowed to hear that. Not your friends, your neighbors; nopony. Understood?” They took their time to comprehend what they have just been told, but they nodded and made the pinkie promise another time. “Good. I am counting on you. And know, enjoy the festival.” The princesses were alone again and breathed a sigh of relief. “At least you did not lie.” “A white lie is still a lie. But when this is over, there won’t be any lies. I am sick of it.” “Me too, sister. Me, too.” The fillies returned to where they came from, a little hill, just a hundred feet away. They sat down and looked into each other’s eyes. “This is strong cider.--” “Our friends? Pariah? But why now. Just another way for Rarity not spending time with me.” Applebloom and Sweetie Belle were in a sad mood, but Scootaloo was there to console them. “Hey. Don’t be sad. Think about it that way. After that, Celestia will reveal the secret mission and our friends will be celebrated like heroes… again. And they will probably get their own festival. After all they have done, they deserve that; and the princesses know that. And we will be the friends of these heroes. Hey! You will even be the sister of a hero who saved Equestria multiple times. Well; and I will be the famous pupil of the fastet Pegasus in Equestria, but you know what I mean.” She thought about a second and then gave the most attractive reason. “And we can rub that in Diamond Tiara’s and Silver Spoon’s arrogant, snobbish and spoiled noses.” Hearing these words and seeing Scootaloo smile in a nasty manner, they smiled as well and nodded. “That might be worth it.” Sweetie Belle said frowningly “Oh yes. This is good. Really good.” Applebloom commented about Scootaloo’s idea. “They will go green with envy and bow to us and cry for being our friends; and we can simply shoo them away.” The filly trio laughed nastily and enjoyed their daydreams. The belief in finally defying these two narcissistic fillies was pure nectar for their souls; true satisfaction. But Sweetie Belle broke the daydream by asking her best friends a question. “Will we still crusade for our cutie marks?” She asked seriously, yet uncertainly. Her friends opened their eyes widely and looked at each other, then looked confusedly to Sweetie Belle and displayed a surprised gaze. ======== Poor, inculpable Fluttershy. She tends to move from one extreme to the other. Sad, happy and then sad again. The closer the heroes come to an answer, the more question pop up and plague them, but at least they were able to relish the peaceful nature for some moments. Considering how many things surprised and confused them, I wonder how their minds were even able to still work right, but I guess they simply did what they thought was right; like the princesses did. Following your heart is a lifestyle considered to be worthwhile, but what does that mean? Does that mean to be happy? But the heroes followed their hearts and were not happy about the situation at all. Does it mean to do great things? But what does accomplishing great things bring. when you are not happy? Is it worth to follow your heart at all; or is it just a way to repudiate responsibility. You can argue about that until the end of time, but you can trust me and the heroes in one thing. There is a lesson everyone has to learn to overcome their own fears and doubts. It is the only way to achieve true happiness. Fluttershy did it and gained a chance to save everyone, even her enemy. Follow your heart, you will never be wrong.