//------------------------------// // Ch.10: Forest journey part 1 // Story: The Element of Balance // by Sonic Boom //------------------------------// Chapter 10 Journey into the forest (part 1) _________________________________________________________________ 05:59 a.m. -------------- stuck thanks to Nightmare Moon Ponyville Town Hall "AHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Nightmare Moon. "Seize her! Only she knows where the princess is!" Mayor Mare. Two of the royal pegasi guards fly towards Nightmare Moon. "Stand back, you fools!" Nightmare. All of a sudden, lighting comes out of nowhere and strikes the two guards. "AHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Nightmare, who transforms back into a dark blue cloud and storms out of Town Hall. Applejack lets go of Rainbow Dash, who goes after Nightmare. "Come back here!" She stops with a worried look. "Nighttime? Forever?" she then notices Twilight and Spike, who rush off to the library. "Where's she going?" Alex, Applejack, Rainbow, Pinkie, Rarity, and Fluttershy all head for the Golden Oaks library, all wondering how Twilight knew about Nightmare Moon. They were even wondering how Alex knew about her, but when they asked him, he said that Twilight knew more and that they should ask her. They got to the front door and opened it to see Twilight frantically looking for a certain book. "Elements...elements...elements...UGH! How can I stop Nightmare Moon without the Elements of Harmony?" Twilight. Rainbow flew straight into Twilight's face. "And just what ARE the Elements of Harmony? And how did YOU know about Nightmare Moon, huh? Are you a spy? Whoa!" Rainbow, whose tail gets pulled by Applejack again. "sigh Simmer down, Sally. She ain't no spy. But she knows what's goin' on, don't ya, Twilight?" Applejack. Twilight looked at the six ponies that stood in front of her, and somehow, she had this feeling that she could trust them. "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." Twilight. Pinkie then spoke out loud as she was looking at a book. "The Elements of Harmony: a reference guide." Pinkie. Twilight shoved Pinkie out to the side to get the book. "How did you find that?!" Twilight. "It was under E!" Pinkie, hopping around. "Oh." Twilight, with a "burned" face. Twilight pulled out the book and flipped to the "Elements of Harmony" section. "There are seven elements of harmony, but only five are known. Kindness, Laughter, Generosity, Honesty, and Loyalty. The sixth and seventh are 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." Twilight. "The Everfree Forest?!" Everypony but Alex and Twilight. "What's so scary about a forest?" Alex. "You don't understand, Alex. The Everfree Forest is a strange and scary place. The clouds move by themselves, the animals care for themselves, and the seasons change all on their own in there." Fluttershy. "That's how it is in my world." Alex. Pinkie stared into Alex's eyes. "Really?" Pinkie. He pushed her aside. "Yes. Anyway, we should head to that castle as soon as we can." Alex. "Right." Twilight, nodding. Twilight and the other girls head out for the forest, but Alex stayed behind to check out the book Twilight got out. He turned to the original page and saw something Twilight didn't mention. "Chant of Harmony? Could that be..." Alex. "Hey! Alex! Ya comin'?!" Applejack. "Oh, right. Coming!" Alex. He put the book back and ran to catch up to the girls. 05:59 a.m. Everfree Forest entrance Twilight and the others were all staring at the deep, dark forest that laid in front of them. "So this is the Everfree Forest, huh?" Alex. "Whee! Let's go!" Pinkie, who stopped dead in her tracks after Twilight's interruption. "Not so fast. Look, I-I appreciate the offer, but I'd really rather do this on my own." Twilight. "No can do, sugarcube. We sure ain't lettin' any friend of ours go into dat creepy place alone. We're stickin' to you like caramel on a candy apple." Applejack. "Especially if there's candy apples in there." Pinkie. A couple seconds of silence. "What? Those things are good!" Pinkie. Everypony but a worried Twilight walks into the forest, but Alex turned back to help her. He placed his right hand on her mane and gave her the most confident look anypony has ever seen. "Don't worry, Twilight. Everything will be okay. I promise." Alex. Twilight smiled. "Okay. Thank you, Alex." Twilight. The two head into the forest to catch up with the others. Later... The ponies were walking deep into the forest, all trembling with fear, except for Alex and Pinkie. "So, none of you have been in here before?" Twilight. "H-h-heavens no. Just look at it. It's dreadful." Rarity. "Meh, it's not so scary to me." Alex. "Are you kiddin'? This place just ain't natural." Applejack. "Whadoyoumean?" Twilight. "Nnnnnoooo pppooony knnoooowwss. You know why?" Rainbow, talking in a spooky voice. "Rainbow, quit it!" Applejack, who was ticked off by Rainbow's scary business. "Cause everypony who's ever come in has Never. Come. Out!" Rainbow. Suddenly, the cliff they were standing on rumbled, then cracked, and then broke apart, carrying Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Twilight. "Fluttershy, quick!" Rainbow. "Oh my goodness. Oh my goodness." Fluttershy. "Hold on, girls! We're coming!" Alex. Rainbow caught Pinkie and Flutttershy. Alex was about to catch Applejack and Twilight, but then he remembered something. Applejack used her teeth to grab onto a twig, but noticed Twilight was about to fall off another cliff, so she let go and hurried to Twilight. "Hold on, I'm a comin'." Applejack. She held onto both her hooves, keeping her from falling. "Applejack, what do I do?" Twilight, scared to death. Applejack couldn't think of anything, until she noticed Alex flying above her. He winked at her, indicating he had a plan, and she knew what that plan was. "Let go." Applejack. "Are you crazy?!" Twilight. "No ah ain't. Ah promise you'll be safe." "That's not true!" "Now listen here. What I'm sayin' to you is the honest truth. Let go, and you'll be safe." Twilight, unsure about Applejack's words, but had no alternative to turn to, let go. She was falling. "YAAAAAAAAAAH!" She then stopped, wondering what broke her fall. She looked to see herself in Alex's arms. "I knew you could trust her." Alex, as he was floating gently down and setting Twilight down slowly onto the ground. Applejack climbed down the cliff and the ponies continued their journey to the ancient castle. _________________________________________________________________ Hope y'all are likin' the story so far. Chao!