The next morning the whole population of pony ville tried, in vain, to prevent Twilight to challenge the legend.
Even the brave Dash trembled and tried, with little success, to stop her friend:
"And if they catch you? Did not you think? And if it hurts you? ... I do not want to think! I do not want to think! "He repeated breathlessly the rainbow pegasus. But the innate curiosity of Twilight had always had the better of any legend, rumor or superstition: she had studied and was naturally brought to thoroughly investigate into things.
"Forget it, Rainbow Dash: I decided to see clearly and so I will!" Was the firm response.
Given the situation the population took note of the fact that the librarian was going to his death and there were those who despaired, who gave an impromptu farewell, who prayed that we came back, some in tears watching her just disappear into the forest.
The forest of Ponyville still had his usual appearance: mysterious, dense, populated of the various species of animals and plants, but despite that, still mild and friendly towards the adventurers. Twilight and her friends had already crossed dozens of times, almost like they knew their pockets ... but the area that interested her was quite different: there was no one ever was. It was virtually unexplored, the sun was beating almost never there and, according to legend, a mysterious "monster" you wandered from time to time and it was this fact to alarm the filly "Well look, Twilight: If Fluttershy saw the beast and not is certainly entered the dark area of the forest ... v-c-means that ... the creature came out of her comfort zone! And if it really means that output could reach the city! I can not stop, damn it. I promised to find out what lies beneath this malnata legend and I will, "she said, trying to be brave shame that his body did not agree with her, which is why advancing flickering, one step at a time. It was hard to believe something when the whole city argued the opposite, especially when it was something potentially dangerous.
"You have a hard head, huh Miss magic wand?" A second voice cut the silence of the forest all too familiar voice, as well as the trail of rainbow color that drew around her in an instant ...
"What the hell are you doing here, Rainbow Dash?"
"That's true, but we are still your friends"
"I never would leave you alone, you know" echoed the other ponies: Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and even Fluttershy, though he was still in shock.
"Thank you my friends, now that we are together nothing can stop us!" Would never, ever allowed to be afraid as they are.
The merry band was so united, and more than ever determined to unravel the mystery that was terrorizing the city.
They walked gingerly, lending an ear to the smallest noise that the forest produced, and at the same time wishing with all their own not to be there at that time, after a couple of hours of driving, the group reached the dark side of the forest.
It was like walking into a room whose shutters were barred from which every living being kept away, to complicate things more that day the sky was very cloudy, so that the pale sunlight filtering through the clouds could not minimally to creep among the dense foliage of the trees. It was dark, very dark: even Pinkie Pie had stopped jumping joyfully. "Wow! How nice! We scout! "Exclaimed, with his usual mirth. Applejack replied in return
"Yeah, and maybe at least one of us will come back to Ponyville alive in order to arrange for the recovery of the remains of her companions!"
"Uh, you're so pessimistic," then went on Rarity.
Although they were trying to give themselves a reason to go on, to all of them had never stopped shaking legs. Twilight seemed the safest, who led the team, which dimly lit the area thanks to the magic.
The dark forest was the most mysterious side of the forest, and to all intents and purposes seemed bewitched: the air was traveled by the incessant cries of wild owls, perched in the tall trees that hindered the advance of sunlight. A few fireflies wandered among the branches, uttering their mild and vaguely reassuring lights: in effect, that area seemed inhabited only by fireflies and owls, the only daredevils who dared foot or place and housing.
It did not take long for something ... different spectral appeared fleetingly in such a place, it was little more than a shadow, a quick appearance that only a quick eye like that of Twilight might have noticed.
"Girl, I saw a shadow! Perhaps we are close to our goal! "
"Where?"
"Li river near that!" Said the element of magic pointing to a clearing at the center of which passed a river, suddenly a ray of sunshine lit up the clearing and a figure quadruped with a robust body, very tall and with a head from the neck average stretched intent to drink, it took very little because the group realized what it was, a giant unicorn, but before that their ideas were illuminated, the earth started shaking, pushing the pony to hide in a bush, attracting while the figure to the hiding place of the pony.
The imposing figure is closer and closer to the hiding of her friends, paralyzed by fear and unable to move even a single muscle. It was from when they were matches from Ponyville trembling, but on balance they had never found so close to a legend. Meet Discord, or Chrysalis, was one thing ... but there, in the darkest of the forest, Twilight Sparkle and friends were about to encounter something even stranger, a danger hitherto unknown to all who finally revealed in all its grandeur, it was a unicorn up more than any other inhabitant of Equestria, even Princess Celestia would have been forced to watch from the bottom up such a creature. His coat was completely dark gray, adorned only by a yellow belt at the waist, his mane and tail were relatively short, and black as night. But what most surprised was what the pony noticed later: much of his hair, with the exception of muzzle and paws, was solidified to the point of forming a kind of armor, armor natural hair hardened ... and not only that: even more surprising was the fact that he possessed three horns, two on the sides of the head. He had never seen such a living being.
Suddenly a second figure made his entrance into the clearing
"U-Wow ..." he murmured Pinkie Pie, surprised and admired by the new creature. "How GGRREEAATT!"
The newcomer was scary and mysterious, as tall as the first one had a blood-red cloak on which stood two strong wings and fairs, a robust gray tail, un'irta silver mane that made him look much taller, and the teeth were long and razor-sharp implying that the diet of carnivorous creature was but what was more impressive were the legs, robust and most incredible thing and they were eight in number.
"G ... Gir ...'S GIRLS 'ARE TWO GIANTS!" Said the friend of animals blanching attracting the attention of the newcomer that his voice was cold and detached.
"My friend, it seems that we have visitors, let 'those who dare to venture into these places where never shines the light of the sun and death reigns supreme!" Then he spat fire from his nostrils incinerating the hiding place of the pony, without hurting the direct sections concerned, who found themselves face to face with another giant who inspired fear at the mere sight, especially his grim look ... and his eyes without pupils in sharp contrast with the red eyes of his companion. More than two inhabitants of Equestria, they seemed to come out of demons dal'inferno.
For a good half hour silence sovereign kingdom until the being who had not spoken decided to break the silence
"Pony ... why are you here? "he said in a loud, hollow, at times almost ghostly. "What do you seek in this place, where as my friend said light ends and the darkness takes over?" And then wait for a response. Obviously no one dared to open his mouth, petrified with fear and surprise: they could not issue more than monosyllables confused.
"I think they're terrified!" Said the eight-legged
"And you certainly do not help you should do something about that your ugly face scapegallows!"
"However, I think that your face does not help!"
"I understand!" Shooting then the huge unicorn "Whoever you are, I suggest you go away from here. You will not find anything but darkness. There's nothing for you here "
"Apart from the dead!" Said the other, in a tone almost resigned.
Unexpectedly, the timid Fluttershy was to speak: "Er ... s-lords .... N-P-We are residents of Ponyville, the p-d-town not far from here. And v-wanted ... "
His speech was interrupted almost overnight "Hm, I understand! Apparently the last hunt we went out of our borders! If you are here to scold you have my apologies! "Said the one with the horns.
"But we have the excuse that the winter was harder and more rigid than other years. Know that we do not care if you do your stuff to survive! However, you also accept my apologies! "Said the other, then the two turned to leave the area.
At these words the ponies were surprised but began to recover because they both seemed not to care about anything.
Twilight decided to talk to her, "Hey wait a minute, 'said attracting the attention of the two" Here we do not want any of you any kind of blame. Do you know that here bears a legend and we have come here to see things clearly! "
At these words both gasped evidently surprised
"Ah heard Iacopo?"
"Yes, I've heard but do you think that we can trust?" Replied the eight-legged.
At that moment, an owl landed on the back of Fluttershy
"It seems that we know whether to trust or not?"
"Vah well follow us!" Said Iacopo driving the pony
"I forgot: I'm Twilight Sparkle, a student of the sovereign of Equestria!" Twilight said, trying to fraternize with the warriors "They are Applejack, Fluttershy, Rarity, Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash," he continued, giving an overview of her companions and pointing a for a.
"I am Iacopo!" Said the one with the wings "And he's Garland!"
The direct smiled and interrelated "I am not surprised that some of us are raving legend. Often people are superstitious towards those who are different from them! "In his words, however, you could hear a thin veil of sadness, a sadness hidden very well. It was the same story took place before the pony knew Zecora, the zebra shaman: the similarities between the two stories were many and impressive.
After a brief and silent trip, the group reached a cave where the two made to accommodate their guests.
"Whose turn is it to take care mess today?" Said Iacopo
"To me," said Garland lit a bundle of twigs shooting fire from his horn arousing the wonder of ponies.
"James spits fire while I know the magic. However, I imagine that you will want to know why our issues and our history? "
"Yes, I admit that I'm curious!" Said the student model.
"And are not you afraid of getting into trouble?" Said Iacopo
"We always tell him" Dash said smiling.
"Well you're right, however, my old friend!" Said Iacopo, smiling, "and then a good story is always a pleasure!"
"All I'll start bne and know that no one will ever tell a similar story"