Everypony was accounted for, made sure by Pinkie Pie, and they were all as ready for the hike as they could be. Many ponies felt afraid, but Pinkie sang "Giggle at the Ghosties" whenever it was needed. Many dangerous creatures appeared only to be taken out by Twilight, I.Q., or the stronger ponies in the crowd. They took few breaks to have nurse Redheart or any of the other doctors check on any possible wounds. They found themselves a mere hundred yards from their destination when they saw a storm morph into existence by itself overhead. "We are almost there everypony, we can withstand a few storm clouds." Twilight was commonly the first to respond when any "natural" things happened in the forest.
Their destination was a very surprising sight at arrival, not due to what was there but who. Their first observations were multiple roughly built shelters in a wide opening surrounding a fire pit, sitting at the base of the pit was Zecora with her head hung low and occasional tears dripping from her muzzle. Apple Bloom was the first to speak up, "Um.. Zecora?" her head shot up and spun to face the hundreds of ponies watching her with awe, "My my, what is this before my eye" she paused to scan the crowd in front of her, "A whole town before me? Now that is surely a sight to see." she said in her cryptic voice
"Zecora what is this place?" Twilight asked with major curiosity
"Well the village you see, used to house me. This was the home of my tribe, of their whereabouts I do not wish to describe. " her tone became somber as another tear dripped from her cheek.
I.Q. flew around the area making sure to not disturb the craftsmareship of the likely deceased.
"I know what happened." Zecora turned her attention to him,
"If you know my tale, then you must know who made this fail."
"All too much." he flew back to the crowd, "Zecora we need your help, Equestria's been taken over and all of us are targets, you know how it feels to lose your home along with the ones you care about. So could you please just let us take refuge here so we can fight to get our home back."
"I hear your plea, and I will let you be, for I was once a refugee." she wiped her eyes with her hooves, "I shall leave and let you get settled in, so you eventually can fight those creatures of sin." she began to walk back into the large forest.
"Okay everypony, stay with your families, only one hut per family we are limited on space." Twilight began to distribute orders as I.Q. found his family and their hut.
"So, I.Q. what caused Zecora's tribe to disappear?" Bolt was the first to ask
"Discord" I.Q. gritted his teeth as though letting out the word would cause him to appear.
Fluttershy stared at him with fear and confusion, "No Discord would never do this."
"Well during his second rein the Everfree creatures became more ferocious and attacked, Zecora was the only one to survive." he used his hoof to trace a claw mark on the wall of the hut.
"How do you know this, you were in Canterlot when he took over." Fluttershy asked with suspicion.
"Twilight told me." he lowered his head,
"Twilight knew and she didn't tell me?" her expression was a mix between disappointment and denial
"Starting to rethink who your 'true love' is now aren't you." he held a smug expression.
"No, No you're lying." tears began to well up in her eyes.
"Want the truth? Go ask Twilight yourself." she ran out of the hut and flew as fast as she could to Twilight
"What is wrong with you!" Bolt turned to scold him,
"Me? I'm trying to protect her from that monster!" their voices began to rise, and both of the foals started whimpering which made them both quiet down
"I.Q. why can't you understand that she loves him. Discord has done terrible things and I don't expect you to forgive him or respect him, but you need to remember that she loves you too, you're her little brother and when she sees you like this she doesn't know how to feel." his tone became more gentle, "When you do this, you make her pick between two families. That tears her apart."
I.Q. held a furious expression, "You don't think I know what I'm doing, I'm trying to make her choose a side. I hate seeing her like this, but if this is what it takes to protect her, then so be it." he walked past his brother to the back of the hut and lied down to sleep. Before he drifted off he heard his brother,
"If only mom and dad were here..."
He awoke with a sense of dread, awaiting bad news from Titan and Bellatrix or another nightmarish vision but the only thing he saw was him and Neo back in Ponyville having fun while playing carnival games.
was I daydreaming? he thought to himself
"Sorry bud but that wasn't the dream." I.Q. nearly leaped out of his coat
"Oh C'MON! why can't I have a normal dream?" he started to feel annoyed
"Calm down, they just wanted you not to stress, and to remind you of someone." I.Q. felt an all new feeling of guilt greater than that fateful day in Canterlot
"No, this is all my fault, how could I be so careless. I could remember a town of ponies some of which I've never met, but I forget my best friend." he sat down with his face hanging low, "I need to know how to control the elements. Bring them to me, please." he pleaded to the magical copy
"Look they don't think you're ready for this, you need to stay protected, you are the o-"
"I'm not the one that needs protecting, i have the power to save everyone, I just need to know how to use it." he started to get angry,
"Fine, but they might not be so open." suddenly a large door appeared in front of the two, it opened to reveal the cosmic plane that Bellatrix and Titan reside.
"I.Q, what are you doing here?" Bellatrix said with fear and confusion
"Cut the act, I know what you were doing. Sadly you made this clone, too similar. I need you two to teach me how to control the elements."
Titan stepped up, "You aren't ready, the power and endurance needed to withstand their use is too high for a mere child."
"Why is everyone treating me like a little kid, I can handle this, I took down Starswirl didn't I?"
"That was different, the elements found their way to you, using them is almost impossible at your age."
"Almost, look I know that you are trying to protect me, but I have ponies to protect too, that includes bringing back Celestia and Luna." a mischievous smirk plastered itself across his face as he turned to see their angry yet sullen faces.
A smirk suddenly appeared on Titan's face as well, "Very well, if you must know how. Lets do this one by one, I will be teaching you how to control loyalty, honesty, and magic, while Bellatrix will be teaching kindness, generosity, and laughter. Seeing as the most important is magic, that will be last. You will be taught in the harshest way possible, and you cannot back down, if you do, we will go to our original plan, understood?"
I.Q. stood at attention, "Yes sir!" Titan merely chuckled.
"Good, then let us begin."