//------------------------------// // Chapter 7 // Story: It's a wonderful friendship // by Ugly-Duckling123 //------------------------------// Applejack was pacing around the throne room, muttering to herself, worried for her little sister and her friends. "Oh where could they be?" she kept saying to herself. "Applejack," Thunder-Lane called out. "The Crusaders are back!" Hearing this, Applejack stopped pacing and ran out to the courtyard. As said Apple-Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were walking though the gates, talking over what they had just seen and heard. "You really think the Elements are here Apple-Bloom?" Scootaloo asked looking up at the rundown old castle as if for he first time. "I don't know Scoots," Apple-Bloom said also eying the castle. "But if they are they may be our only chance against those three." "What might be your only chance against who, Sis?" Applejack asked sternness in her voice. Although Applejack and Apple-Bloom were only sisters, sometimes they treated each other as mother and daughter. This was one of those times, Applejack being so worried for her sister. "We were told that if we find the new bearers of the Elements of Harmony, that might save everything," Sweetie Belle said with high hopes that she might see her sister again after all. Not knowing what to say, Applejack went with the first question that came into her head. "And who told you that? And...and where have you been? Thunder-Lane said something about Timber Wolves and a yellow and pink Pegasus." "Well in reverse order..." Apple-Bloom said not knowing what to say for the second question due to the promise, "Thunder-Lane was right about the wolves and the Pegasus." "Her name's Fluttershy and she can talk to animals. The wolves sort of adopted her as a daughter after she ran into the forest after the Nightmare Guards started taking ponies," Scootaloo said. "And we've been with her all this time listening to her story. And were told of the Elements of Harmony, by Lupin, the pack leader, and that they're waiting for the new bearers to come looking for them," Sweetie Belle said. "But we said we wouldn't tell you where their home is, so the cubs will stay safe," Apple-Bloom said looking up at her sister. "Oh. Come on!" Thunder-Lane said who had heard all this as well. "Do you really believe them Applejack?" "Yes. Yes I do Thunder-Lane," Applejack said turning to him. "I didn't become the leader of this rebellion without knowing where to see truth and lies," looking back at the Crusaders who were shocked that Applejack believed them. "I know you can't take me to the wolves' home," she began, "But I would like to meet this Fluttershy please." Then turning to Thunder-Lane, confusion on his face said, "Tell every-pony Big Mac's in charge till I get back." And with that all four girls went back out into the Forest. Up in Canterlot castle Nightmare Moon was brushing her ethereal mane, humming to herself. Then she felt a that someone else was with her. Knowing it couldn't be Sombra, as he went to the Crystal Empire to see how his mines were doing, she put down the brush, lit her horn, and aimed for the place where the presence could be felt. "Ow," Discord yelled popping into existence, jumping up and rubbing his back where Nightmare Moon's blast had just hit him. "Now what ever was that for my dear?" he asked. "What are you doing here Discord?" Nightmare Moon asked. "Your home is that corrupted Ponyville." "Well, I was coming to give you some very interesting news about Sombra and those long forgotten Elements of Harmony," Discord said in his almost sing-song voice. "But if you don't want to hear it..." He made to snap his fingers when... "Wait," Nightmare Moon said holding up her hoof. "What's this about my husband and the Elements?" she asked. Smiling a little Discord began, "Well, that pink jester of mine, told me that Sombra was only able to get that purple Unicorn the other day, because he was hunting around the Everfree Forest, supposedly looking for those little trinkets." He said suddenly somehow on a therapist couch. "Then Pinkie said, 'he wants them to kill you, so he could rule Equestia all by himself with that Unicorn by his side.'" "WHAT!" Nightmare Moon called out in the ancient Royal Canterlot Voice, shaking all the windows panes in the room. "She said that Sombra...." Discord began speaking very slowly. "I HEARD YOU DISCORD!" Nightmare Moon yelled beginning to pace around wondering what to do. Then... "Guard!" In ran the mare that was stationed outside the King and Queen's room, Artemis. "Yes my Queen?" she asked bowing not noticing Discord was there. "Go get your Captain, Guard, and tell her to see me in the throne room," Nightmare Moon said spreading out her wings and stomping her hoof to make the order complete. "Yes, my Queen," Artemis said getting up, rushing out the door and going to find Rainbow Dash. "Going to send your little ponies on a scavenger hunt then are we?" Discord asked, now in a jungle tour guide outfit. "Only Rainbow Dash," Nightmare Moon said going back to her mirrors to check she was presentable to be seen by ponies other than Discord. "I know she's loyal to me, there's no way she would betray me if she heard there may be a way to destroy me. Unlike that so-called husband of mine," she hissed, putting on her helmet. "Well my dear," Discord said in his happy voice, "I'd like to send someone out too then. And lets say... Finder's keepers, and they can do what they want with them." Thinking that any-pony who Discord would send wouldn't last an hour in the Everfree Forest Nightmare Moon said. "Fine, fine, fine. Deal Discord," she said holding out her hoof to receive a shake of his lions paw. After accepting it, smiling yet again, Discord snapped his talons and up popped a pink Earth pony in a court jester's outfit. "What would you like today sir?" she asked bouncing up and down hoping to get some chocolate rain when she was done. "Nightie, Pinkie, Pinkie, Nightie," Discord said introducing the two mares. "So this is the pony who likes your chocolate rain so much?" Nightmare Moon said walking around inspecting a very bouncy Pinkie Pie. "And the one... HOLD STILL WILL YOU!" Nightmare Moon said in the Canterlot Voice at Pinkie who was jumping around the room. Coughing after Pinkie sat down, said "And the one who told you about Sombra?" "Yep," Discord said patting Pinkie's head "And she's the one I'll be sending." "Sending where sir?" Pinkie piped up. "Oh. Oh. Are you sending me to the Crystal Empire to get those Unicorns who are two of the bearers of the Elements so we can use them on..." But she was cut off as her mouth disappeared from her face. Nightmare Moon giving Pinkie a judging look, looked up to Discord who was twiddling his thumbs and whistling. After a while he said, "No Pinkie. I'm going to send you into the Everfree Forest to hunt for the Elements of Harmony, against Nightie's Captain Rainbow Dash. Understand?" he asked giving Pinkie her mouth back. "Okie-Dokie-Lokie!" she sang saluting him, zipping off somewhere to come back in a jungle tour guide uniform as well. "Right then," Discord said turning to Nightmare Moon who was suddenly regretting her deal with Discord. "Shall we go tell your candidate her role Nightie?" he said snapping his fingers consuming all three of them in his magic glow, transporting them to the throne room. *** In the throne room Rainbow Dash was looking around trying to get an idea of why she was called there. Then out of nowhere Nightmare Moon, Discord, and some pink and green something, flashed into the room at the top of the stairs to the thrones. Bowing straight away, Rainbow Dash said, "Rulers of Equestia," trying to ignore the pink puff ball maned thing that was jumping around laughing at all the statues. "Ah... Rainbow Dash," Nightmare Moon said also trying to ignore Pinkie. "Do you know what the Elements of Harmony are?" Confused at the question Rainbow got up to look at Nightmare Moon in the eye. "No my Queen, I'm afraid I do not." "They are the trinkets my so-called sister used on me to place me in the moon!" Nightmare Moon said getting more angry with each word. "Now, now Nightie. It's not her fault no-pony taught her anything," Discord said in his joking voice, smiling that Rainbow couldn't do anything to express her anger at him. "Yes, well that's what they are," Nightmare Moon continued. "And that pink, thing," she said pointing to Pinkie (still bouncing around), "tells Discord that they're in the Everfree Forest." Here Rainbow stiffened a bit hearing that name. "So I'm sending you to race against that... court jester, to go into the forest the hunt them down and bring them back to me. Understand?" Worried for Fluttershy's safety, but also knowing refusing her Queen would make her into one of the statues around her Rainbow said, "Yes, my Queen." "Excellent!" Discord rang out jumping up to fetch Pinkie Pie. "Now I'll send you to that dumb little old cottage, by the side of the Forest to get you started. There you can go whatever way you want to hunt the Elements down. Fine by you?" He turned to Nightmare Moon. "Yes. Yes. Just make sure you get them back to me before Sombra gets back from the Crystal Empire Rainbow Dash. I'd like to give him a bite of his own medicine when he gets home," she said growling, surprising Rainbow that Nightmare had lost all her feeling for Sombra. "Yes Ma'am." Then with a flash and a bang, Rainbow and Pinkie were outside Fluttershy's run down old cottage.