//------------------------------// // Chapter 6: The Return of Nightmare Moon, Part 1. // Story: The 7th Element. Season 1: The Magi-Tech Pony // by Rojack79 //------------------------------// Dec, 30th, 999, C.E. Canterlot Equestria. "No, no. no. no! no! no! no! uh! Spike." twilight shouted as she sent her menagerie of floating books flying in all direction's. Spike was looking through the top shelf of one of there many bookshelves when his face lit up. "Ah! Here it is Twilight!" He said waving the book around on top of the ladder he was precariously balanced on. The book was forcefully pulled to the ground carrying spike with it. As her dragon assistant rubbed his head in pain, twilight went about her frantic search for any mention of the elements of harmony throughout her book. Oh great. Another mess to clean. Spike thought to himself as he began to pick up the books scattered about the room. Twilight flicked through the glossary in the back of the book. "Come on, come on E, E, E, Ah ha! The Elements of Harmony. See Mare in The Moon." "The Mare in the moon?" Spike had heard of that tale. It gave him nightmares as a baby, but now naaa no way was he scarred of an old pony's tale. "Hey Twilight isn't that just an old pony tale?" Twilight stopped as she was flipping through the book lost in though for a sec. What if this is just another freak out moment? "Yes spike it is." Her determination however outweighed her self doubt. "But i can't take that chance." She continued to flip through the book and found what she was looking for. Her face paled as she read the story. "If this section of the book is real then that means we only have until the day after tomorrow before Nightmare Moon return's. And the elements of harmony are the only thing that can stop her!" Oh this is bad. Twilight thought as she began to prance around in circles. According to the History of Equestria, The Elements of Harmony have been missing for at least as long as Nightmare---- "THATS IT!" She shouted startling spike as he put the last book back on the top shelf. Spike who was on yet another ladder lost his footing and fell of said ladder. "wow! wow! wow!" Smack! "Oh..." Spike groaned as he picked himself up of the floor. "Spike quick take a letter!" She said completely oblivious to the pain her assistant was in. "Sure thing Twi." He said in a nazely voice. "Just let me go get a roll of tissue first." He said as he held his nose which was now bleeding. "Oh." Twilight said as she looked at spike with sympathy in her voice and shame on her face. "Ya you go and take care of that. I'll get the letter going and you can just send in when i'm done." Spike nodded and went to the bathroom to go and find some dragon proof tissue. Meanwhile Twilight began her letter. Dear Princess Celestia...... Dec, 31st, 999, C.E. Ponyville, Equestria. The next day Twilight and Spike were on there way to ponyville via royal decree of the Princess. While spike was thrilled to finally be out of Canterlot Twilight was less than enthused. "Come on Twilight this won't be all that bad." Spike said trying to cheer up his surrogate sister. Twilight tried to see the silver lining in this particular situation but every time her mind thought of a reason to be happy that thought was imminently crushed by the fact that Nightmare Moon was going to return tomorrow. And she still had no idea were the elements of harmony were. She sighed as she looked out of her golden chariot at the town of ponyville as it came into view. This is such a peaceful looking town. No wander Princess Celestia decided to have this years Summer Sun Celebration here. "So Twi what's the first thing were going to go and do when we get to ponyville?" Spike asked. He had sent the letter that Twilight had written but his nose had started to bleed when he belched out the return letter. He didn't even get to read it before there bag were packed and they were out the door to the castle. They spent the night in one of the guests bedrooms. Early this mourning they were whisked away into a chariot and off to ponyville. "Well spike first we're going to track down the nearest library and see if we can't find some hint as to were the elements of harmony are. Then were going to find them and stop nightmare moons return." She said with such a conviction that spike was momentarily speechless. He got his composer under control. "Is that what the princess said in her letter?" Twilight looked at spike, a guilty look on her face said it all. Spike however was not amused, his face had a deadpan look. "Seriously." He said. "Look spike I know this will sound wrong but i don't have time to make friends and watch over the celebration." Spike looked like Twilight had slapped him. "Is that what Celestia Wants us to do?" He said in confusion. Twilight handed spike the letter. After he got through reading it he looked from the letter to Twilight. He sighed and shook his head. "You know Twi i'm certain that if the princess think's that this is important enough to send us to oversee it then there has to be a good reason." He said as he to now looked towards the town. Twilight mulled his words over as they descended to the town below. After His run in with Rainbow Dash, the two of them had set up the date for the race. It was to be two weeks from tomorrow. Gadget just couldn't hold in his excitement. He had a goofy grin on his face ever since the two had parted way's. He was so eager to go back home and work on MK 6 that he almost missed the royal chariot flying over head. Huh wander who's coming to town. He trotted over to get a better look at the new pony but somepony else had beaten him to the punch. "Oh hay pink---" The rest of his sentence was cut off as the wind was knocked out of him as Pinky ran into and then over him. He was really wishing he had kept his armor on. That mare was insanely strong and hyperactive to boot. That was a bad combo on any given day, but for pinky it meant that she could do some really crazy stuff. Impossible stuff. Stuff not explainable by any form of science. Gadget's own tool could hardly keep up with the strange mare. So eventually he just stopped trying to scan her for anything. Life moved on. The world was bright and cheery. Gadget was brought out of his blunt force induced day dream by a lavender hoof in front of his face. "I'm sorry about that. Are you OK?" came a soft voice from above gadget. He followed the lavender hoof to it's owner and saw a what Pink's problem was. A new pony in town usually meant a big extravagant party. He got up off of the ground, dusted himself off and introduced himself to this new pony. "Hello there miss. My name is Gadget." He said holding out his hoof. The new mare in town introduced herself as Twilight Sparkle, Official Overseer of The Preparation's for The Summer Sun Celebration. He had to admit he thought the title was pretentious as all hay, but to each there own. "Hey gadget i have a question?" Twilight said as the two started trotting through town. "Fire away princess." This comment took twilight by surprise. "What?" Gadget said. Twilight shook her head. "Um.. so anyway i have a favor to ask of you." "I don't do window's or dry cleaning." Gadget said a smug grin spreading across his face. Twilight was not amused with his attempted humor. "OK, OK, sorry. In all seriousness what do you need help with?" He said his face now neutral. "I was wandering if you or anypony else could help me find my way around ponyville. I would have asked that pink mare but she just up and bolted out of nowhere." Gadget chuckled, evilly rubbing his hoof's together. Then he began to cackle menacingly. That eventually grew into a full blown evil guffaw that led to twilight and spike backing up a little. Gadget got control of himself and cleared out his throat. "Uh hum. Sorry. Anyway that 'Pink mare' is named Pinky Pie and she does that from time to time." "Really?" Twilight questioned as she looked gadget up and down. Strange. His mental state seems fine, but after what just happened i'd better keep a closer eye' on him. "Ya don't worry. you'll be getting to know her and just about every other pony in ponyville soon enough." He said with a knowing smirk. "Spike." Twilight whispered to her assistant. "Ya twi?" "Make a note of everything we do just in case there's any funny business." Spike gave her a thumbs up and whipped out a spare quill and piece of parchment. "So miss sparkle you were wandering if anypony could help you around town?" "Oh yes!" Twilight said a she came back to her dilemma. "Well i'm free until this afternoon? Care to have my company?" He asked, a smile on his face. A few minutes later and they were in there way to Twilight's first destination. "Sweet Apple Acre's." Gadget announced as they came up to the pictures farm, with its isle's of apple's as far as the eye could see. Twilight was taken aback by the shear amount of tree's that were contained on this one property alone. On the way down the road she noticed several acre's with nothing but seedlings just beginning to bloom. "Wow." "Ya i know. Took me by surprise when i first saw it to." "This one family own's all of this land?" "Yup. The Apple Clan is the biggest clans in ponyville and its also one of the founding family's." Gadget said. Twilight had stopped in her track's, her brain digesting this new found information. "Wow!" Was all Twilight could say at this. "Ya. So you'll want to talk to Apple Jack about the food preparations." "YE HA!!!" Came a shout from a nearby field of tree's. "Speaking of which." Gadget said a soft chuckle escaping his mouth. Both unicorns looked over to the nearby field to see a stout, orange earth pony mare buck a huge apple tree. All at once the apples began to rain down into baskets carefully placed underneath the tree to gather them. A few apples however didn't land on the mark and began to role away from AJ. "And just were do y'all think your gett'n to?"AJ Said as she trotted after the wayward apples. "Hear AJ Let me help." Gadget called out to the farm mare. AJ looked up from her quest for the apples to see both a familiar face and a new one. "Well howdy there Gadget." She said addressing the charcoal stallion She then turned to address the new comer. "An' you are?" AJ said a smile on her face. As Gadget struggled to get his magic working Twilight introduced herself to Apple Jack. "Well it's a pleasure to meet ya, Twilight." AJ extended her hoof for a shake. Twilight not wanting to be rude excepted the hoof. She was jarred from any thought she had as her leg was almost wrenched from its socket by the strength of this mare. Gadget appeared a little while later sweating profusely and looking ragged. "Uh Gadget what did you do?" Twilight had a look of concern. "Now sugar cube." AJ said as she began to lecture the full grown stallion like a little colt. "I don told ya not to over exert your'self have i not?" "Well ya but--." "Ah no 'buts'. Now look at you. You look like you don run a marathon." She shook her head. "Come on back to the house. We'll get you fixed up with some grub." "Oh no AJ That's fine really i don't want to be a bother. You all have your hooves full with all of the food for the celebration." "Nonsense Gadget." The orange mare had made up her mind. And everyone knew that once Apple Jack made up her mind on something there was nothing to be done about it. " I'm not gona let you go on looking like your gona just drop dead at the slightest touch." With the final word she turned around and led the way to her farm house. Gadget just shrugged his shoulder's and trotted up to fallow AJ. Twilight fallowed with him not wanting to be left standing out in a field. "Oh..." Twilight grumbled as she and Gadget made there way back to ponyville. "Well... I... Think .... She ...Has... The... Food... Covered." Twilight said between breaths. "Ya i would say so." Gadget chuckled at his aquatints misfortune. He thought about all of those relative's AJ had over. That mountain of food. He drooled at the thought. Beside him Twilight made her discomfort known. "Well i told ya to pace yourself." He said a small smirk adorning his face. "How can you say that when you were wolfing down pie after pie like that?" She said, as a look of annoyance crossing her face. Spike meanwhile was riding on Gadget's back, "So Twilight can have a brake." He didn't mind. The poor overseer looked like she could use a nap after all of that food. "Hey i was the one who was exhausted." He said as a chuckle made its way from his throat. "Ya?" Twilight said losing all of her previous discomfort. Her face now confused. "Speaking of which what was up with that?" She asked. Gadget looked away a, blush making its way across his visage. "Oh..so you noticed that huh?" he hung his head. Twilight was now hoping she didn't hurt Gadget's feeling's. "Well let's just say that i'm not a normal unicorn and leave it at that." This did nothing to ease Twilight's mind of her questions but she let the matter drop for now. Back to business! "So spike whats next on the list?" Spike pulled out his scroll and quill. "Let's see." He scanned it looking for the next task for them to oversee. "Ah here we go. It looks like a pegasus pony named Rainbow Dash is supposed to be clearing up the cloud's." At the mention of her name Gadget stopped dead in his track's. "O-o-h. A-a-are w-we g-going t-to s-see R-Rainbow d-d-dash?" He stuttered. Twilight looked at him for a sec and eyebrow held high. "Yes? Is that a problem?" "N-n-no. J-j-just uh n-n-never m-m-mind." Well that was weird. "So anyway." Twilight continued. "Were is she?" She asked looking around. The sky had several cloud's still drifting about. "It doesn't look like she's doing a good job of keeping them clear." Gadget had to bite his tongue from saying something not very gentalcolt like at that statement. Instead he thought about were she could be. "W-w-well s-she s-said earlier this mourning that she had---" As Gadget got his shudder under control he got the distinct feeling that he should move. He stepped back a little bit. "What was that for?" Twilight asked. "I don't quite know." Gadget said pondering the answer to that question as well. Then they both got there answer. "LOOK OUT BELOW!" Both pony's on the ground looked up to see a rainbow streak towards them. Before anypony could react Twilight was smashed into a puddle of mud with Rainbow Dash lying on top of her in a heap also covered in mud. "Um.. excuse me?" Rainbow said sheepishly getting off of Twilight and shaking the mud out of her fur. She then looked at the new pony with a sheepish grin on her face. Twilight how ever was not amused, a look of shock plastered on her face, much like the mud stuck in her coat. "Uh hear let me help you." With that Rainbow Took off and came back a few seconds later, a dark cloud in tow. She put the cloud over twilight and then hopped on top of it producing a downpour of water. Now instead of being muddy and annoyed, Twilight was wet and annoyed. "Well that's an improvement." Gadget said to spike who snickered. The two were silenced however as Twilight glared daggers at them. "OH! Hold on let me try something else." Rainbow then spun around Twilight creating a miniature tornado that made quick work of her wet fur. When the dust had settled Twilight was now dry...and still annoyed. Her mane and tail looked like a poofy mess. The three bystander's could only hold in there laughter for so long before they all fell to the ground in a fit of gut busting guffaws. "So let me guess." Twilight said not trying to hide the annoyance in her voice. "You must be Rainbow Dash?" She looked as Rainbow Dash went from on the ground laughing to in the air looking like a million bits were being thrown her way. "The One and Only!" Rainbow boasted punching the air in excitement. "So let me guess after palling around with Egghead here-." She said pointing a hoof at Gadget,-"HEY!" He whined,- "He couldn't stop talking about how awesome i am and you just had to find out for your self?" Rainbow said basking in the light of her own ego. "Actually i was told that you."-She said pointing a hoof at Dash.-"Were supposed to be clearing the sky for the celebration." Twilight replied, really not liking this pony's over inflated opinion of herself. "Oh that." Rainbow said now adopting a bored expression on her face. She shrugged her shoulder's and then sat down on the now white and fluffy cloud from before. "I can do that in no time at all." She said then her eye's grew wide from more excitement. "Beside's i really need to practice for the Wonder Bolts!" She flew into air faster than Gadget thought possible. He had to admit the if he wanted to have a chance at beating her there race he would have to work on MK6 the moment he was through showing Twilight around town. "The wonder bolts?" Twilight questioned. "You mean the Wonder Bolts? The fastest and most talented flyer's in all of Equestria?" "Yup." Rainbow said her face the pinnacle of pride. "Ya good luck with that." Twilight said her face had a deadpan look on it. Rainbow Gasped at Twilight's blatant dismissal of her skill's. "Hey!" She shouted getting real into Twilight's face. "I can get into the wonder bolts, no problem." She folded her hooves her point seemingly made.Twilight just rolled her eye's. "Please they'ed never except a pony that can't keep the sky's clear for one whole day." Twilight said goading rainbow dash on. "Hey i could clear those clouds in ten seconds flat." "Really?" "Really!" "Then prove it." Rainbow smirked at Twilight's challenge. Ten Seconds Later. The group of three made there way to there next destination a look of shock still on each of there face's. Twilight was the first to recover and got spikes attention. "Oook so whats next on the list?" She asked. Spike looked though the list until he came across, "Lets see, Decoration's at the town hall." "Ok spike. Gadget can you lead us to town hall?" She didn't get an answer and turned around to see gadget still in shock, and it looked like he was drooling a little bit? Gross "Hey Gadget!" Twilight shouted flailing her hoof in front of his face. He came out of his overdose of awesomeness and looked a little sheepish at the smirks on Twilight and spikes face's. "Um yes?" He asked trying to get rid of the awkward atmosphere. Twilight chuckled. "Did i interrupt something?" "No. no. no. So what you want?" "Well i was wandering if you could lead me to town hall?" Gadget got his bearing's straight and motioned for Twilight to fallow him. A few moments later they were inside the town hall, there breaths caught in the open air. The place looked nothing like Gadget had remembered. he had been there for a few other special functions but it never looked this good. There were great banners hung upon the wall's and giant streamer's hung from the rafters cascading down the wall's and trailing through the air above them like and eccentric web of color. "So beautiful." The words escaped spikes mouth before he could think of them. Gadget had to agree with him. "You could say that again spike." "What?" Gadget looked down at the young drake with a curious look. Then he saw who spike was looking at. On the stage taking care of the decorations was Rarity, ponyvilles one and only fashionista. Gadget whistled as he looked back down at the drake. "Well bud you have high tastes that is for sure." The drake looked a little downcast at that remark so he quickly added, "But who am i to talk. I've got my eye's set on a pony who's head is so high in the sky i don't think she would even give me the time of day." Now both guys looked a little forlorn. Twilight meanwhile was not around to hear any of this as she was up on stage talking to Rarity. "So Rarity?" "Yes darling i'll be right with you. I am in the zone right now." Twilight happy to have a break from running all over the place sat down on the stage. "Don't worry. Take your time." Twilight was and yet wasn't in a rush all at once. A few moments later and Rarity was done putting the last touches up in the town hall. "Now darling." Rarity said as she turned to her guests. "What can i --- OH SWEET CELESTIA WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOUR MANE!!" "Oh...That." Twilight sighed. "Its a long story." "Well darling we will have to hear all about it while i fix you up." Rarity then began to nudge Twilight to the entrance of town hall. "Ah a little help here?" She asked the boy's. They were snickering and shaking there head's, 'Nope'. A little while later in Rarity's Shop. "So darling what brings you here to our quint little town?" Rarity said as she tightened the strings to a saddle she was fitting around Twilight. Twilight was having a hard time breathing however so her words were starved for air. "I..m..from..canterlot!" She squeaked through the restrictive clothing. Her lungs were set free from Rarity's torture device a moment later as Twilight went flying headfirst into a ponykin. Gadget helped her off of the floor and they both saw why she had went flying in the first place. Rarity was starring off into space day dreaming about living in canterlot. In fact she was so lost in thought that she had let go of twilights dress strings. The group made there way to the door while the fashionista drooled at the thought of living in canterlot. "OK." Twilight said her voice not hiding her tiredness. "Spike who's next on the list?" She was exhausted now and just wanted to go home. He looked through the list and found them. "OK Twilight this is the last pony on the list." He said reassuring his sis with a back rub. She perked up at both the good news and the message from spike. "Oh thanks spike. i needed that." She gave him a soft nuzzle. Gadget let out a soft, "Dawww!" at the sight. Twilight got him with a glear and he pretended to whistle a tune. "So spike you were saying?" "Oh yes. It says here that her name is Fluttershy and she's in charge of the music." "Well that's great." Twilight looked around her. The trio was in the middle of town. "How are we going to--" "Shh!" Gadget cut her off. "Wha--?" Twilight was about to ask but she was cut off again. This time with a long, "SHHHHHHHHHHHH!"- Meanwhile Gadget gently brought a hoof up and then into her mouth.- Twilight looked like she was about to beat the snot out of Gadget, but then she heard a soft singing coming from nearby. She smacked Gadgets hoof from her mouth, spit a few times to get the taste of dirt from her lips and then fixing Gadget with stern glare, set off to find the music. The Trio found the source of the music. It was coming from the park just over the bridge. They fallowed it all the way to were Fluttershy was. They saw her in the park surrounded by birds of all kinds. Twilight and Spike that the singing wasn't just Fluttershy. It was both her and the birds. She would start to sing and then stop and the birds would continue the song from there. However it sounded like one of the birds was off key a little. "Oh.. oh my.. um please stop a sec." She squeaked. She then flew up to the birds that were all arranged in a tree. Specifically she came to a stop in front of a small blue jay. "Um excuse me Sr," she addressed the bird who paid very close attention to her every word. "Sorry to tell you this but your rhythm is a teeny bit off." She smiled. The bird understood and shook his head in compliance. "OK." She sailed to the ground. "Now on three." She put her hooves up like a conductor with a wand. "One..Two..Thr--" "Hello!" "EEK!" Fluttershy screamed and ran to hide behind a the nearest tree. Her birds, having been frightened by the loud noise, flew off. "Oh no wait please." She feebly pleaded, but to no avail. The birds were gone. She turned around to see who it was that had scarred off her bird's and she came face to face with Gadget and a pony she didn't know. Gadget was giving Twilight a glare now but she didn't care at the moment. She was tired. "Hey Flutter's." Gadget softly said, getting down on his knees to get at eye level with Fluttershy. She looked at him with a soft look before she looked at the new pony with big eye's full of shyness. "This is Twilight Sparkle." Gadget said introducing Twilight to Fluttershy who relaxed a little bit. "Hello Twilight." She said in a low voice. "Hello Fluttershy." She said rubbing the back of her head with a hoof. "Uh listen i'm really sorry about your bird's." She said not really sure what to do about this mare's shyness. Even tho she was relaxed by Gadget's presence it didn't seem to be doing much to calm her nerves. "Oh that's fine they'll be back." "I'm sorry what was that?" Twilight was having a hard time hearing this this mare do to her shyness and the fact that she was cowering on the ground. Gadget decided to intervene on Twilights behalf. "Listen Flutter's?"- He pointed a hoof at Twilight and Spike who was now off of his back and on the ground.-"These two are here from Canterlot--" He never got the rest of his sentence out. As soon as Fluttershy saw the little dragon standing there she went into 'Mommy Mode'. She zipped past both Gadget and Twilight scooped up spike in her hooves and cooed at him. "Oh he is so cute!" She said now more excited than Gadget had ever seen her. "Wow." He whispered to Twilight. "I've never seen her this happy about much of anything." Twilight could only stare at the mare who not five seconds ago was trembling like a leaf. And now she was acting like a little filly playing with a puppy. This was the last straw. She had been all over this town doing what the princess had asked now it was time to go to her library look for anything she could on the element's of harmony and then take a long well deserved rest form all of this weirdness back in Canterlot. "Hey Fluttershy?" She called out to the happy pegasus. Fluttershy stopped rubbing spike tummy and looked at Twilight with big eye's. "Yes Twilight?" She called out softly landing on the ground. "Listen i hate to break up your cuddle time with spike but we really have to be going." "Ahh but Twilight--" "No buts. We have other errands to run before we go back to canterlot tomorrow remember spike?" She said whisking him away from Fluttershy and setting him on her back. "Oh ok then see you all later." Fluttershy called out to the trio as they left. "Gee Twilight rude much?" Gadget said once they were far enough away? She gave him a look that simply said don't push it. He grunted and said, "Well i hope your other errands go smoothly." He said a tired look in his eye's. "Because this is were i leave you." They had made there way to the library and the trio was standing at its front door. Twilight looked from the door to Gadget who looked back with a small smile. She to felt herself smiling and genuinely feeling both happy and sad. Happy that she was finally going to get into the library and hopefully find out more about the elements of harmony. But then she felt sad that Gadget had to go. He was someone she could relate to on some level. He was a great guide through ponyville and after spending the whole day with him it felt a little awkward to just up and leave. "So." Gadget said taking the awkward tension away. "I'll see you later on tonight for the party." With that last little bit of info Gadget spun around and walked away. Twilight sighed, turned around opened the door to the Golden Oaks Library and went inside. It was only when she had gotten up the stirs to her comfy, warm bed that she had asked herself one question. "What Party?"