//------------------------------//
// Chapter 07: Because Friendship Is Magic! 
// Story: Quest For Equestria 
// by Skyguy626 
//------------------------------//

The heroes enter the old castle, they make their way through the rubble, looking for the Elements.
"This castle must have seen better days..." Twilight noted as she climbed over a fallen pillar.
"It kinda reminds me of my school." McGrath noted absent minded. "You go to school in an old castle? What is the name, Hogwarts?" Phoenix said looking back to him.
"Yes." McGrath said with a complete straight face.
Twilight looked around "Were do you think the Elements could be?". she scanned the area. Skywalker pointed at a large door "That's were I would hide them."

They go through the large door and enter what appears to be the old throne room. And as luck will have it, five stone orbs on a pillar stands right in the middle.
"The Elements of Harmony, we've found them." Twilight said with a big smile on her face.
Sutakira uses his Hard Light to carefully take them off the pillar and lays them down at their feet/hooves in a circle.
"One, two, three, four... There's only five!" Pinkie counted. "Where's the sixth? Or Seventh?"
Twilight responded "The book said: when the five are present, a spark will cause the sixth Element to be revealed." Skywalker scratched the back of his head "What's that supposed to mean?" 
Twilight gave a shrug "I'm not sure, but I have an idea. Stand back. I don't know what will happen." starts to charge her horn.
"Come on now, guys. She needs to concentrate." Sutakira said as he prepares to leave's the room. "Yeah, what is the worse than can happen while we leave her alone and unguarded?" Griffifth said as the rest left the room.
"I'll be right there..." Skywalker said as he gave Twilight one last look, before noticing that a certain purple mist surrounding the Elements and starts to teleport them away. 
"Twilight! The Elements!" he shouted while rushing forward as both he and Twilight grab onto one of the orbs, teleporting them along with it.

Skywalker and Twilight slam hard on the stone floor, knocking the wind out of them. Skywalker rises first to his feet and sees Nightmare Moon standing on a platform.
Twilight slowly gets back to her feet, "Go for the Elements. I'll distract her." Skywalker whispered to her as he takes his fighting stance.
Nightmare Moon gave him a smug smile before responding "You're kidding. You're kidding, right? You would risk your life away for a complete stranger." Skywalker grabs something from his belt, it seems to be the hilt of a sword. With the flick of a button, a 145 centimeters long red beam of energy appears out of it. "I'm not risking my life away for a complete stranger." Skywalker said as he took a firm hold on the hilt with both hands, "I'm risking it for a friend!" he shouted as he charged at Nightmare Moon, Twilight look on in awe as the jump shattered the floor under him "What... Is this feeling I have in my chest?" Twilight thought as she saw Nightmare Moon using her magic, creating a similar blade of energy, as she herself charges at Skywalker. Their blades clash in mid air, the shock from the clash shatters some of the rubble laying around. Skywalker unleashed a flurry of attacks pushing Nightmare Moon on the defensive. Skillfuly Nightmare Moon blocked Skywalker's attacks, before he gave a vicious kick to her side sending her into a stone pillar. 
In the chaos, Twilight rushes to the elements and tries to use her magic on them "Just one spark. Come on, come on!" she groaned as a piece of debris narrowly misses her head.

Nightmare Moon using her magic, starts to throw piece's of the debris at Skywalker. Narrowly dodging her ranged assault, Skywalker retaliated by slicing a large pillar in two and kicking the upper part towards Nightmare Moon, who dodge's out of the way while assaulting Skywalker with a blast of magic. Skywalker blocks the attack, sending it into a wall directly behind Nightmare Moon, blowing it to smithereens. In the chaos, Skywalker closed the distance between the two but Nightmare Moon forces him into a blade lock which Skywalker attempted to break with a Lightning blast, though Nightmare Moon managed to counter with one of her own, beginning a vicious power-struggle. Sparks flying around the room, shattering the glass windows.
"I have seen the darkness in your heart, Jason." Nightmare Moon said giving him an evil grin, the light from the power clash illuminates her face giving her an even more demonic look.
"You don't know me! You know nothing about me!" Skywalker retorted, Nightmare Moon gave a loud chuckle "Does the name Claire rings a bell?" she asked innocently as Skywalker flinched at the mention of the name, though he kept the blade lock and the power struggle up. "How does it feel, living with the knowledge that you failed her? That you led her die!" Nightmare Moon taunted, trying to break Skywalker's will. Before any more words could be said the energy compressed by the combined lightning ruptured and exploded, flinging both Nightmare Moon and Skywalker against opposite walls. The shock wave made by the struggle flings Twilight across the room and shatters the Elements.
As the combatants and Twilight recover, they look over the destroyed pieces that once were the Elements.
Twilight's eyes widen in shock "But... where's the sixth Element!?" 
Nightmare Moon rises back to her full height casting her shadow over them "You little foals! Thinking you could defeat me? Now you will never see your princess, or your sun! You will never again see the light of day! The night will last forever! And as for you Jason, you have failed yet again. You failed the one's you care about the most once again!" breaks out into laughter as the door gets kicked open the other heroes arriving, ready for combat. 
"Somepony ordered a beat down?" Phoenix shouted as he conjured flames in both his hands. McGrath gazed over him before saying "Seriously, You have been here way too long."
Twilight happy to see them as Skywalker notice a spark inside her eyes.
"You think you can destroy the Elements of Harmony just like that?" Skywalker started standing in front of the group "Well, you're wrong! Because the spirits of The Elements of Harmony are right here!"
Nightmare Moon stopped chuckling as she hissed "What?" 
Twilight walked up next to Skywalker, while saying "AJ and Phoenix, who reassured me when I was in doubt, represents the spirit of... honesty! Sutakira and Fluttershy, who tamed the manticore with there compassion, represents the spirit of... kindness! Pinkie Pie and Griffith, who banished fear by giggling in the face of danger, represents the spirit of... laughter! Rarity and McGrath, who calmed a sorrowful serpent with a meaningful gift represents the spirit of... generosity!  And Skywalker and Rainbow Dash, who could not abandon their friends... loyalty!"
The shards starts to float around the Ponies and the guys, first slowly but started to gain momentum.
Nightmare Moon hissed again before continuing "You still don't have the sixth Element! The spark didn't work!" 
This time, it was Twilight's turn too smile smugly "But it did! A different kind of spark. I felt it the very moment I realized how happy I was to hear them, to see them, how much I cared about them. The spark ignited inside me when I realized that they all, are my friends. You see, Nightmare Moon, when those Elements are ignited by the... the spark, that resides in the heart of us all, it creates the sixth element: the element of... magic!" the gang start to be surrounded by a rainbow colored force field. As they started to float in the air, Skywalker continued "You are limited by your own abilities. We have no such limits! My friends are my power! And I'm their's! There is no force in all of the world who can defeat us, if we are together! You wanna know why?" Skywalker said as he raised his hand. For the first time, Nightmare Moon showed actual fear knowing she is doomed "NOOO! Nooo!"
"Because friendship is magic!" shouted the heroes at the same time as they fire a gigantic laser beam with all the colors of the rainbow, hitting Nightmare Moon as a big flash of white light fills the room.
A few seconds later, the heroes wake up looking around for injuries on them self or on others.
"Ugh, my head." Rainbow said, massaging the sides of her head.
"Is it... Is it Monday morning already?" McGrath said as he rises back to his feet.
"Everybody okay?" Skywalker said as he dusted of his jacked. 
Rarity looks over her back and shouted "Oh, thank goodness!" her tail has grown back... somehow... Seriously how does that work?
"Why Rarity, it's so lovely." Fluttershy said.
Rarity voice beaming with delight "I know! I'll never part with it again." she has a big smile on her face. "No. I think she means your necklace. It looks just like your cutie mark." Sutakira pointed out before noticing a bracelet around his right wrist.
"They got a necklaces but we got bracelets. I have a feeling some toy company is gonna make a huge profit making these." Phoenix said as he studied is own.
"Your's has a little bird on it!" Pinkie said about Phoenix's bracelet.
"I think its a Phoenix!" Phoenix responded but Pinkie cut him off "No, its a cute little bird!"
Applejack walks over to Twilight, while saying "Gee, Twilight! I thought you were just speaking a lot of hooey, but I reckon we really do represent the Elements of Friendship."
Skywalker interrupted "Not to change the subject and all but who single-handed defeated evil incarnate!" he gave fist pump as he smiled at his friends. 
"Yeah but, aren't there supposed to be seven Elements of Harmony? Why didn't we need the seventh?" Sutakira stated.
Skywalker shrugged before saying "Maybe we're just super badass, have you thought of that?"
"Indeed you are." A voice from outside is heard. As the sun rises a white horned winged pony comes flying in through one of the hole's the battle made. Her main is a combination of different colors that waves as if held by the wind... Just like Nightmare Moon.
The ponies take a bow, puzzling the guys as to why or who the hell the newcomer is.
"Princess Celestia!" Twilight said, happy that her mentor is save.
"That's Princess Celestia? Her hair is pretty..." Skywalker said, admiring the hair.
Princess Celestia gave a warm smile "Twilight Sparkle, my faithful student." he gaze travels over the gang as she notice the guys "Humans? That's strange..." her expression froze as she gazed over Skywalker. She snapped out of it Twilight asked "But... you told me it was all an old pony tale."
Celestia took her gaze off Skywalker and speaking directly to Twilight "I told you that you needed to make some friends, nothing more. I saw the signs of Nightmare Moon's return. And I knew you could defeat Nightmare..."
Twilight shook her head before looking back "I didn't defeat Nightmare Moon... Skywalker did all the fighting, and his words allowed the spark..."
Celestia looked from Twilight to Skywalker and back, contemplating something.
"So... We're not going to ask where she was the entire time?" Griffifth asked the gang who all responded with a big "No!"
"Okay then." Griffifth raised his hands.
"It seems more than one has found friendship in their heart. Now if only another will as well. Princess Luna." Celestia and the others turn their gaze to the corner were Nightmare Moon stood. But instead of the frightening Nightmare Moon, there was a small winged horned pony laying on the ground. Her blue mane didn't floated in the air, seeing as it was too short to do so anyways. Celestia walked over to her, saying "It has been a thousand years since I have seen you like this. Time to put our differences behind us. We were meant to rule together, little sister."
"Sister!?" the gang reacted in surprise. "Super special awesome plot twist!" Phoenix said.
Luna looked fearfully up at them, unsure how to react or what to say.
Skywalker taking pity on her stepped forward "Your Highness, may I say something?"
Celestia turned around, giving him a warm smile "Go ahead, Skywalker." 
Skywalker nods as he approaches Luna, while saying "I don't know why you did what you did Princess." stops in front of her.
Luna closes her eyes, scared of what he might do to her.
Skywalker lowered himself to her eye level before continuing "I'm an orphan with no relatives, so I can not imagine how it feels. The ponies may work and play during the day, but they relax, sleep and find companionship during the night. Tough a few might be awake during that time, those few who do, know the magic that is night."
Princess Luna looked up to him "Y-Your one of them? Those who like the night?" she asked him nervously.
Skywalker nodded, give her a warm smile before saying "Yes. Will you accept my friendship?" extended his hand, she flinched before realizing he's offering to help her up. Suddenly Luna jumps up, and pulling Skywalker into a tackle hug. "Yes, Lord Skywalker, I'm so sorry!" she started to tear up, Skywalker stroking her manes. Calming down a little, Luna turned to her sister "I missed you so much, big sister!" pulls Celestia into a hug. Celestia smiled returning the hug  "I've missed you, too." let's a single tear drop.
McGrath sniffs, as he rubs his left eye.
"A-are you crying?" Twilight said, in the few hours that she knew him, she figured him for a guy who wouldn't cry.
"No! There is something in my eye!" McGrath denied it.
Pinkie looked at the gang "Hey, you know what this calls for?" she asked as she gained a big smile on her face.
"A party! I'll get the shots ready!" Phoenix shouted excited.

A few hours later, back in Ponyville. They held a celebration for Princess Luna's return. Though honestly, it's was just a excuse to use the Summer Sun Celebration stuff that they didn't use! The gang has split up, mingling among the population. Some mares seem "interested" in the guys, because their single and ready to mingle!
Some ponies are doing the 'chunk' game. You know, were you have to drink a lot from a funnel while the others shout 'chunk' at you?
McGrath approaches them "You! Big red one!" he points at Big Macintosh. "Eeyeah?" Big Macintosh asked, as McGrath points to the biggest barrel they have "Load it up." McGrath putted the end of the funnel in his mouth. "M'kay." Big Macintosh said as he started to pour the cider, while the crowd shouted "Chunk! Chunk!", McGrath drink it all up, till the last drop. Finishing the entire barrel, McGrath raised his fist to the air triumphantly before giving a loud burp, knocking some ponies on the front row over.

Over at a table, Skywalker and Rainbow are discussing something, while enjoying a nice can of cider... Don't they have anything else to drink?
"AJ?" Rainbow asked. Skywalker thinks for a second before answering "Hmm... Apple pie. Fluttershy?" he asked her in return.
"Summer dew? Sunlight?" Rainbow answered.
Skywalker shrugged "The world may never know." he said as Rarity walks by.
"Hmm... Probably perfume." Skywalker stated, before a snickering Rainbow said "I'm not sure she's that dedicated." meanwhile Twilight walks by talking to Celestia.
Skywalker gave a chuckle before saying "Books!"
Rainbow snickered before saying "Pinkie Pie?"
Skywalker needed to think again before saying "Do I need to say... Cake?" taking a sip from his cider. "I... hadn't thought about that..." Rainbow said as Phoenix approaches them "What are you two talking about?" he asked.
Rainbow gave him a smirk "We are guessing what everybody's vajayjay would taste like!"

A few hours later, Twilight's mood changed from happy to glum.
Celestia said, as he walked up next to her "Why so glum, my faithful student? Are you not happy that your quest is complete and you can return to your studies in Canterlot?"
Twilight looked over at the friend before looking down to the ground "That's just it. Just when I learned how wonderful it is to have friends, I have to leave them." answered.
Celestia looked over at Spike, yeah he still exist "Spike, take a note, please." Celestia said as Spike grabs a piece of paper and a feather out of no where. Because magic.
Celestia cleared her throat "I, Princess Celestia, hereby decree that the unicorn Twilight Sparkle shall take on a new quest for Equestria." roll credits!... Oh wait.
Spike write's down everything Celestia says, who continues. "She must continue to study the magic of friendship. She must report to me her findings from her new home in Ponyville."
The gang cheered, as they have been listening in. Twilight smiled from ear to ear before saying "Oh thank you, Princess Celestia! I'll study harder than ever before." looking over at her new friends who are smiling back at her.
"Yea, but we are still stuck here, with no way home." Skywalker said.
Celestia looked at him before addressing the guys "Rest assured, brave heroes. I'll do anything I can to find you all a way back home. But for now it seems you guys have no choice but to stay a little longer."
The guys give a smile, well they have no way home for now. At least they are with friends.
Pinkie started to bounce around giving each guy a hug "Isn't this exciting? Are you excited cause I'm excited I've never been so excited, well, except for the time that I went but I mean really!..." she started to motor mouth before McGrath cuts in. "All good and well but where are we going to live?" he said as Celestia give a mischievous smile "Well, I already solved that problem." she said, leading the way.
The guys and pony girls started to follow her as Griffifth whisper to them "I think she is gonna rape us..."

On the outskirts of Ponyville, they see a two story house. It is painted in a mint green color and seems to be in excellent condition. Celestia uses her magic to unlock the door as they entered the hall. To their right is a stair that leads to the second floor, where the bedrooms must be. On their left is a dining room, with a dining table made of oak wood and six comfortable looking chairs at it. As they walk further into the house, they find quite a spacius living room, filled with a sofa, a coffee table, two more lazy chairs and... weirdest of all, a flat screen television... I can't believe it either.
To their right they can see the kitchen and next to the fridge they can see a glass door that should lead to the back garden.
The guys looked awed as Celestia chuckled "I take it this would do?"
McGrath looked around before asking "Does this place have a basement?"
"Yes" Celestia responded, giving McGrath a grin as he said "Nobody comes into the basement until I'm done there. And after that stay out of my basement, m'kay?" the others nodded before Skywalker spoke up "What about the rent? And groceries?"
Celestia gave him a smile "As a thank you from Equestria, Canterlot will pay for the rent, gas, light, food and drinks for your stay." The guys mouth dropped open, as Celestia turns around to leave "I will take my leave now. If I have any progress on a way home, I'll let you know. If you need to contact me, I'm sure Twilight would be glad to help you out." Twilight nodded at this statement.
Celestia gave them one last look before taking off, flying in the direction of Canterlot.
McGrath took a seat on the sofa as he looks around "This house is not too bad. Only thing we are missing is a hot tube and a swimming pool."
Phoenix looks out of the window into their back garden "Hey look! A hot tube and a swimming pool!"
The gang rushes outside, and indeed there is a swimming pool and a hot tub.
Skywalker gave one big grin "We are living the sweet life now."

Meanwhile, in a dark room, were the only light comes from the windows behind a throne made out what appears to be swords shaped like a key. Unknown sits on his throne as another clocked figure enters and kneels before him. Unknown motions her to stand up, as she raises to her feet she spoke "Nightmare Moon has fallen. Our plan has failed, my lord."
Unknown shifts in his chair before calmly replying "It does not matter. We have others ways to gain Equestria, sooner or later Equestria will fall to me. Though I prefer sooner. How is the search for the entrance of Tartarus going?" the clocked figure takes a moment to contemplate her words before saying "They have uncovered some clues, though the Corrupted haven't found its exact location just yet."
Unknown digested the information, falling lazily back into his throne "A day, a week, a month, a year, a millennium it does not matter. Luckily we have some... other candidates..."