//------------------------------//
// Chapter 6: Guessing Games 
// Story: Legend of the Harbingers 
// by PvtFlutters 
//------------------------------//

	The halls of Canterlot Castle were loud, and not with the typical chatter of guards and common ponies. Rain pounded the castle's windows, sometimes accompanied by an explosion of thunder or a blinding flash of lightning. Nopony could explain it. All the pegasus ponies were too busy being slaves to create a storm. So that left one question... who caused it?
As Twilight and her friends reached the Everfree's entrance they began to feel tiny droplets of rain. Rainbow looked up in confusion as one smacked her on the muzzle.
"Hey! What gives? There isn't suppose to be a storm today!" Rainbow protested at the storm clouds looming over head. Twilight looked up into the sky. It was just sunny a minute ago... what was going on?
"Forget the weather, y'all. We need to get to Zecora's," AJ stated as she led the group onward. Rarity shuffled around trying to dodge the increasing number of rain drops. "Uh... are ya comin' Rarity?" AJ asked in a sort of giggle. Finally coming to terms with the fate of her mane, Rarity followed them into the woods. She smiled when they made it inside the forest and onto the main path. Since the forest's canopy was so thick, little to no rain made it through.
The six continued down the path, Applejack still in front. Fluttershy slowly trotted behind AJ, afraid of anything and everything in this place. Fluttershy slowly trotted behind AJ, afraid of anything and everything. She walked by a strange tree with a limb that looked like it was reaching for her. Her eyes widened, and just as she was about to scream, a pony closed her mouth with their hoof. Fluttershy looked down at the pink hoof and turned to see a familiar face with a huge smile. 
"Giggle at the ghosties, Fluttershy. Don't scream at them," she giggled. Fluttershy let out a nervous laugh. Pinkie decided it was best to stay at Fluttershy's side throughout the trip to make sure she didn't get scared.
Rainbow and Rarity stayed at the back; Rarity revolted by the Everfree's nature, and Rainbow just surprised.
"This dirt path is positively awful. What pony could have passed this for a road!? It's not even fit for Applejack's muddy, disgusting pigs!" Rarity complained. Rainbow stared to laugh.
"Maybe for you! This place is awesome!" Rainbow proclaimed. Rarity was unconvinced. 	
"You wouldn't understand, Rarity. A racing pony like me loves a challenge. I can see it now... flying at speeds unmatched by any other pegasus! I would be dodging tree after tree! Until... Finally... I would burst through the tree layer and strike a pose in the bright rays of sunlight!"
"Rainbow Dash... you're drooling," Rarity pointed out. Rainbow snapped out of her daydream and quickly wiped the drool from her mouth. Embarrassed, she continued the rest of the trip in silence.
Twilight was in the center of the pack. Her mind raced with thoughts about her teacher, her friends, and most of all... Equestria. She knew that her actions would be the ones to save Equestria and all of ponykind... but was it even possible? Her teacher, the most powerful pony in all of Equestria, was defeated without any trouble... what chance did she have? After all, she had already fought him once and that didn't end well at all. She could still feel her head ache from the blow she received.  
Finally the ponies arrived at Zecora's place. Applejack knocked on the door... there was no answer. Applejack gave Twilight a strange look and then pushed on the door. It slowly opened, revealing a sight inside that made Applejack gasp. Zecora was lying on the ground unconscious. Her hut had been ransacked, her decorative mask was trashed on the floor, and her bed was split in two. Twilight and the others rushed inside and huddled around their fallen friend. Zecora had cuts and scratches all over her body... they were fresh wounds too.
"Oh my goodness... she's still alive!" Fluttershy announced. The others turned to her. Fluttershy had a hoof lightly placed on Zecora's neck and sure enough... she was breathing. Fluttershy didn't wait for permission- she hoisted Zecora on top of her back and flew out of the hut. No doubt she was headed for Ponyville Hospital.
"Zecora's attacker... was looking for something," Twilight said. The other ponies turned to her to see her levitating a mask and placing it back on the wall. "Why else would they have destroyed her hut?" Suddenly Twilight saw something- a book that had been tossed on the floor... but something was different... there was a bookmark inside with Twilight's cutie mark on it. Was this meant for her? Did Zecora know that Twilight would come to her for answers? Did Zecora know she'd be attacked? Twilight banished the thoughts and focused on the present... she opened the book with her magic to the bookmarked page. The chapter was titled: "The Legend of the Harbingers." 
"Legend has it that there exists a divine prophecy. It says that at the apex of a civilization, four Harbingers, War, Conquest, Famine, and Death, would emerge to extinguish the entire civilization," Twilight read aloud. The others looked around nervously at one another. "These four would bring about the end of the world. Their powers would be far too superior for anypony to handle," she continued.
"How to you beat them? There has to be a way?!" Rainbow pleaded. Twilight skimmed through and suddenly found her answer circled in ink. Zecora... when she got out of the hospital, Twilight would have to thank her.
"Though hopeless and powerless ponies may be to the Harbingers' great power, there is a way to stop them. It is believed that the combined magic of the nine Elements of Harmony is the only way to destroy a Harbinger," Twilight stopped confused. "Nine?"
"I was under the impression that only six of those magnificent pieces of jewelry existed?" Rarity inquired.
"So was I... does that mean that there are three more that nopony had told us about?" Twilight asked, confused.
"Oh! Oh! Is it a guessing game! Can I go first!?" Pinkie jumped with joy.
"I guess it is..." Twilight said with a look of despair. She opened her saddle bag and looked at the crown of Celestia. "You knew... why didn't you tell me?"