//------------------------------//
// Fifth Lesson- The Elusive Element 
// Story: The Magnificent Six 
// by Paradise Oasis 
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Fifth Lesson- The Elusive Element

"Ah-ah really don't know, girls." The uncertain unicorn replied, looking back and forth between the dress, and the two mares who were awating his awnser. "This ain’t just something ah cain decide off the top ah mah head. Ah-ah rally need to think."

Trotting around the room nervously, Glory's feelings were torn over her choice. She thought of her dear friend Twilight, who had held the group together through all of their adventures together over these past few weeks. A filly who would be heartbroken if her grandmother's gown was ruined forever. And then her thoughts turned towards the dear, sweet unicorn colt who she had spent just as many warm and happy times with. A colt she would not see again for quite some time, whom she would really miss over their lengthy time apart. 

I'd love to spend some time with him, especially if he's going away for such a long time. But if I don't fix this dress now, my magic won't be able to get the rest of this icky gunk out. The unicorn filly thought to herself, frowning. I'm sorry Fireball, but poor Twilight's suffered enough for one day.

Looking back at the dress, Glory closed her eyes for a moment, before turning back towards North Star, and Fizzy. "I'm really very sorry girls, but I'm going to have to decline the princesses' very generous offer." She shook her mane, dropping the exaggerated accent that Truly had taught her, to speak in a voice that was her own. "I'd dearly love to see Fireball again... but I'm afraid I must remain here, and finish my work."

"What? You don't wanna see your very special somebody?" Fizzy asked in shock. "Remember, you're not gonna be able to be with him for a loooong time!" 

"Blimey! Are you absolutely sure about this, Glory?" The pink Pegasus asked, sharing her friend's surprise.  "Tis' a rare gift for a pony ta be granted a special favor like this!"

"I know, and I truly do appreciate our benevolent rulers' generosity." Glory's horn started to glow, as she returned to work. "But I  simply can't leave dear Twilight's dress in this dreadful state." She tried to hide the disappointment in her voice. "Besides, I'm sure Fireball will understand."

The two other ponies nodded towards each other, and smiled. 

“As you wish, Miss Glory. We shall inform their highnesses of your decision.” North Star replied, as the two mares trotted back out of the doorway. “Cheerio then, my dear.”

“Bye bye.”  Fizzy whinnied cheerfully, before hopping out of the room after the Pink Pegasus. "Talk ta you later, Glory!"

“Goodbye, girls, thank you anyway.” Glory told them, hoping that she had made the right decision. "I sincerely hope we get to meet again, before this whole Elements of Harmony business is over." 

Once they were outside of the room, the two mares smiled at each other.

"Well, that pretty much takes care of the other elements." Fizzy giggled. "Now magic's the only one left."

"We Dream Valley ponies have done our part to ensure Ponyland's future." North Star agreed, as they trotted back towards the throne room. "The rest is up to Princess Cadence, now." 

...

Meanwhile, in Princess Cadence's room at the Royal Paradise, two teenage fillies were making peace with each other, as the last living alicorn looked on.

"Listen Twilight, I'm really really sorry about what I did back there." Surprise whinnied sadly, scratching the back of her neck with her hoof. "That was a really mean trick I played on you, and I never meant to mess up your grandma's dress. I promise I'll never play with your feelings about Tornado like that again." 

"It's all right, Surprise." Twilight shine replied with a sigh, shaking her mane. "You were only trying to make other ponies laugh, but try not to go to far with your pranks in the future, all right?"

"Yeah." Surprise replied, smiling hopefully. "Still friends?"

"Of course." Twilight smiled back. 

The two reconciled ponies hugged each other, as the Princess smiled, pleased at how well everything had worked out. 

"I am very pleased that this little dispute was resolved." The alicorn told them, trotting over ad sitting sown in her red velvet, high back chair. "Now, I don't meant to spoil this moment, but I need to speak with Twilight alone for a few minutes."

"No problem, princess!"  The white Pegasus filly bowed to her, then waved to her unicorn friend. "See ya later, Twilight!" 

As the element of laughter candidate went gleefully bouncing out the door, Twilight Shine turned her attention back to the princess, who looked much more stern and serious now. 

"ANd I'm glad you and I have worked things out, Aunt Cadence." The little pink unicorn told her, having a seat on the stool near Cadence's elegant golden canopy bed. "Though I get the feeling that's not what you wanted to talk to me about."

"You are indeed correct, my good Twilight," Cadence started, looking down at the filly before her. "I know you and your friends have come through many trials and adventures since you came together, and you have triumphed over each with the power of your friendship and love for each other." She stood up, trotting across the thick purple carpeting to the other side of the room. "But I'm afraid you must face yet another great challenge- and this time, overcome it on your own." 

...

"Move your fat butt, Reeka!" Draggle hissed, trying with all her might to hang onto the vines beneath her morbidly obese sister. "I can't hear what the princess is sayin'."

"Awww, how's me movin gonna help you hear?" Reeka whined back, hanging on for dear life, and praying the rope wouldn't snap. "An' if we move around too much, those two'll either detect our invisibility spell, or they'll hear us!" 

Having snuck their way into the Royal Paradise during all of the comings-and goings, Hydia's two daughters had cast a powerful enchantment of concealment out of their spell book. Learning where the alicorn's Princess's room was, the two bumbling sisters had managed to climb the thick ivy going up the side of the tower where the royal guest was staying. Upon hearing the two ponies talk inside, Reeka and Draggle decided to eavesdrop, and see if they could learn any useful information in helping them defeat the ponies.

"Shhh, I think she's gonna say sometin' important!"  Reeka hissed, stuffing a piece of worm cake into her mouth with her free hand. 

...

"Twilight Shine, the time has come for you to undergo your trial for the element of magic." Princess Cadence told her young niece. "And in order to do so, you must go back to the place where you and your friends first began." 

"Misty Mountain, where we all first met." Twilight nodded in understanding. 

"Yes, my own small kingdom." The princess replied. "One who is in need of your help in fulfilling their whishes awaits you there."

"But what about the other’s tests?" Twilight asked, looking out the window towards the opposite tower. "Won't they need my support to overcome their trials?"

"My dear Twilight, they have already earned their Elements of Harmony." The alicorn smiled at her niece, whose eyes went wide in shock. "Now all that remains is the most elusive element of all, magic."

"What?! When did they...how...?" The dumbfounded filly asked, stumbling over her words.

"Sometimes my good niece, a pony proves her worthiness in the simplest of everyday actions."  The princess trotted over towards the door. "For now, you should turn your attention towards the journey ahead of you. I have arranged transportation back to the Purple mountain range with the noble stallion 4-speed. And Tornado has been informed that he shall be accoponying you on your journey."

"Tornado?" Twilight asked, blushing furiously. "But why-"

He will be there to record your actions, so that others may know what you have accomplished."  Opening the door, she gently nudged the pink filly out into the hallway. "Now, you best be off, Ponyland can't wait forever for it's new protectors." 

Twilight started to trot out the door, then quickly turned back, and rushed up to hug the surprise alicorn. 

"Thank you so much, Aunt Candence." The unicorn whinnied softly, trying to hold back her tears. "You may not be a Princess Celestia, but you're the most wonderful alicorn I've ever known."

As the excited Twilight galloped out of the room, two excited figures outside the widow hurried to climb back down the side of the wall.

"Did ya here that, Reeka?" The skinny witch asked, trying not to get her feet tangled in the vines. "She's headin' back ta Misty Mountain for her test."

"Yeah, this'll be the perfect opportunity ta get rid a her! Hydia‘s gonna be so proud." The fat one told Draggle, as she tried to followed her sister down. "Now hurry up, ya beanpole, or we're gonna fall!"

"Awww, keep yer girdle on, laird butt!" Draggle snapped, as they vines they were holding on two began to snap. "I'm going as fast as I can!"

From her room, Princess Cadence heard the sound of the snapping vines outside of the widow, followed by two girly screams and splashes. With a soft chuckle, the alicorn turned back towards the door... only to find another unicorn had trotted into the room.

"I hope I'm not disturbing you, Princess." The yellow unicorn with a teal mane whinnied harshly, surprising Cadence. "I thought I might check in with you, before I departed for Misty Mountain."

"Oh! It's you." The startled alicorn replied, catching her breath. "Yes, I think it best if you were on your way. You do have your role to play in Twilight's obtaining the element of magic, after all."

"If I have my way, Twilight Shine will never claim that power." The pony with the five star cutie mark hissed indignantly. "A hopeless dreamer who grants wishes as her special talent, has no place being a guardian of ponykind."

"You are far too harsh on your cousin, Wish Shine." Princess Cadence chided, shaking her mane. "Remember, your supposed to make it difficult for twilight to accomplish her goal, not try to stop her altogether."  

Wish merely snorted in response, and trotted towards the door. Before she left however, Cadence called after her.

"By the way, I heard about the passing of your lifebond partner, Lucky." The alicorn whinnied sympathetically. "You have my condolences, my dear. I am so sorry for your loss."

"Don't worry about it, princess. I only joined with him to help that weakling Twilight out of a jam." The filly trotted out of  the room. "He served his purpose.  And besides, the world will be better off without a brutish earth pony gangster."