We all know about The Elements of Harmony, what if there are seven Elements instead of six. This is the story of Silver, the seventh Element of Harmony.
We all know about The Elements of Harmony, what if there are seven Elements instead of six. This is the story of Silver, a talented unicorn stallion, who's one of Princess Celestia's students. He, along with Twilight Sparkle will travel to Ponyville, where their lifetime adventure will begin.
It was a beautiful day in Equestria. A pale, light grayish mulberry unicorn was laying on her stomach on the grass, near a crystal clear lake in the Canterlot Castle gardens, while she reading a book. She has moderate violet eyes and a dark sapphire blue mane with moderate purple and brilliant raspberry streaks. Her cutie mark is a sparkling purple star surrounded by five tiny white stars. Her name is Twilight Sparkle, and she is one of Princess Celestia's students.
"Once upon a time, in the magical land of Equestria, There were two regal sisters who ruled together and created harmony for all the land. To do this, the eldest used her unicorn powers to raise the sun at dawn; the younger brought out the moon to begin the night. Thus, the two sisters maintained balance for their kingdom and their subjects, all the different types of ponies. But as time went on, the younger sister became resentful. The ponies relished and played in the day her elder sister brought but shunned and slept through her beautiful night. One fateful day, the younger unicorn refused to lower the moon to make way for the dawn. The elder sister tried to reason with her, but the bitterness in the young one’s heart had transformed her into a wicked mare of darkness: Nightmare Moon. She vowed that she would shroud the land in eternal night. Reluctantly, the elder sister harnessed the most powerful magic known to Ponydom: the Elements of Harmony. Using the magic of the Elements of Harmony, she defeated her younger sister, and banished her permanently in the moon. The elder sister took on responsibility for both the sun and moon and harmony has been maintained in Equestria for generations since." The mare read aloud, with interest.
"Hmm... Elements of Harmony. I know I've heard of those before... But where?" Twilight asked herself, as she placed her hoof up to her chin and looked up to the sky.
Meanwhile, a grey unicorn stallion was sitting in the grass while doing his daily meditation, while a green aura surrounded him. With his hind legs crossed, his front hooves extended, and his eyes shut, he takes a deep breath so he could focus. He has a dark grayish phthalo blue mane with white highlights, while has a cutie mark a dark blue shield with a big white star. This unicorn's name is Silver, and like Twilight, he's also Princess Celestia's student.
Three days ago, the Princess had asked Silver to supervise the preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration in Ponyville. At that, Silver decided to ask her if it was possible to move and continue his studies there. He said that he had the thought of leaving Canterlot for a long time now and that Ponyville is a great town to start a new life and to make some new friends there.
Princess Celestia smiles proudly at her student and said she will do whatever she can. The next day, she said that Mayor mare, the mayor of Ponyville, allows him to use the library to work as a librarian and as his new home. Silver was so happy about that and told the news to his old classmates, his big brother, Soarin, in Cloudsdale, and Twilight and her number one assistant, Spike. The last two were not only happy about their friend but also sad that Silver is leaving Canterlot.
Silver was also sad about leaving them, especially Twilight. The grey unicorn has a crush on her ever since he first meets her, but was afraid to tell her his real feelings for her. Silver shakes his head to get those thoughts out and return his focus on his meditation before he hears...
"Silver!"
A familiar voice makes Silver's moderate emerald green eyes instantly snapped open, making the green aura around him disappear.
Silver groaned, as he slowly turned his head to see none other than the mare of his dreams, Twilight Sparkle, standing next to him.
“Oh, come on, Twi,” Silver groaned. “How many times had told you not to do that while I'm doing my meditation, or then I am in the middle of a spell?”
“Sorry Silver, but I have got something big to work on and I need your help,” Twilight said, urgently.
“… Now?”
“Now.”
The stallion saw the look on her face, he sighs before he nodding his head. With that, Silver began to follow her, with only one thing in his mind. 'I wonder what in Celestia's name she wands this time. Then there's something in her head, nothing stopping her from doing it.'
As they stroll down the path, they soon found themselves blocked by three of their old classmates: Minuette, Lemon Heart, and Twinkleshine.
“There you are, Twilight!” Twinkleshine said. “Moon Dancer is having a little get-together in the west castle courtyard. You wanna come?”
Silver rolled his eyes as he knows how it's going to end. Twilight, as always, is going to refuse so she could return to her studies. The only pony she spent her time with is him. Her only 'friend'.
“Oh sorry, girls,” Twilight replied gently. “I’ve got a lot of studying to catch on." With that, she dashed away.
The grey unicorn sighs as he uses his magic to summon a grey box with a dark blue ribbon. He gives it to Minuette before he said. "This is Moon Dancer's present. Please tell her that I sorry again for not being at her party."
The girls just stood there as Silver dashed after his crush, easily catching up with her. The three friends just looked indignant as they watched both unicorns disappear.
“Does that pony do anything except study?” Twinkleshine remarked, with a sigh. “I think she’s more interested in books than friends.”
“How does Silver put up with her?” Lemon Heart added. The two other unicorns just shrug silently.
Twilight busily dashed about the grounds at high speed, with Silver following right behind her. They just crossed a bridge when Lyra Heartstrings waved to Twilight, but the latter zipped by without noticing. Silver on the other hoove he stops and waved to Lyra and her friend before he starts running again. In no time, he was right beside her.
“I know I’ve heard the Elements of Harmony,” She said aloud. Silver eyes slammed open in shock from what she said.
' Did she just said the Elements of Harmony?!' he thought as they continue to run back towards a tall, golden tower representing both her home and her research lab. The princess had told him what happened between her and her little sister, Princess Luna. She told him to not tell anypony about this. Exeptialy Twilight. 'I have a bad feeling about this.'
As they arrived at the entrance, Twilight didn't notice that a familiar tiny little dragon was making his way out of the tower with a package in his claws. She bashed him out of the way the instant she opened the front door.
“Ow!” Spike groaned.
Silver had rushed past Twilight and noticed Spike rubbing his head from the pain. He has Moderate pistachio eyes, moderate harlequin spikes, light mulberry scales with a light spring budish gray underbelly, and light lime green ear fronds. Storm helped him to his feet.
“You alright, little buddy?” Silver asked, concerned.
“Yeah, I’m good,” Spike answered.
“Spike! Spi-ike!” Twilight called. “Spike?”
She climbed up the steps to the research department of her home, not realizing she almost ran over her number one assistant, who only groaned in response.
“Down here! Thanks for asking!” Silver called out, in frustration.
“There you are!” Twilight called out. “Quick, find me that old copy of Predictions and Prophecies.”
It was then Twilight eventually noticed, while Silver and Spike climbed the stairs, with the abashed package stuck on the end of Spike’s tail.
“What’s that for?” She asked.
“It was a gift for Moon Dancer, but…” Spike yelped as the gift was set aside.
“Oh Spike, you know we don’t have time for that sort of thing,” Twilight frowned.
“And when exactly do we ever have time for anything?” Silver asked. “You’ve been cooped up in this library for the last two weeks! You work too much, Twilight!"
“Exactly, we’re on a break after all!” Spike added.
Twilight just ignored the two, as she used her magic, a pale, light grayish orchid aura, summoning several books before her, quickly looking them over one by one.
“No, no, no… No, no, no!” Twilight grunted in frustration, seeing none of these titles showed the information she needed. Silver rolled his eyes, sighing while shaking his head.
“Spike!”
Spike just sighed, as he effortlessly heads toward another tall ladder, scanning another bookshelf before grabbing the book with ease.
“It’s over here!” Spike called out, the book in his arms. Then the book and the dragon were pulled towards Twilight. Silver noticed Spike quickly plummeting towards the floor and rushed forward catching Spike on his back before he hit the floor.
“Ah! Elements, Elements…” Twilight said aloud, searching the pages.
“Don't you even care that Spike almost face-planted on the ground?” Silver asked, in disbelief.
Once again, Twilight refused to acknowledge his question. She skimmed over the contents of the book, in deep concentration.
“E… E… E… Aha! Elements of Harmony, see: Mare in the Moon?”
Spike and Silver just sighed. Not only was their day-off ruined, now they were left cleaning up Twilight’s mess… Again. This wasn’t the first time she left the two boys on cleaning duty, specifically putting the books back in their proper place. The glares on their faces showed just how annoyed they were about it.
“Mare in the Moon?” Spike pondered. "But that's just an old ponies' tale."
'Not exactly, Spike. This old ponies' tale is very real.' Silver thought to himself.
“Mare… Mare… Aha!” Twilight exclaimed, finding what she was looking for.
“The Mare in the Moon, myth from olden pony times. A powerful pony who wanted to rule Equestria, defeated by the Elements of Harmony and imprisoned in the moon. Legend has it that on the longest day of the thousandth year, the stars will aid in her escape, and she will bring about nighttime eternal!”
“Spike! Silver! Do you know what this means?” Twilight asked.
Of course, Spike was fighting not to lose balance on Silver’s back as the two tried to balance themselves on a dangerously wobbling ladder. The grey unicorn tried to keep the ladder steady, but the number of books and Spike’s wobbling made the task very difficult.
“No… Whoa! OW!” Spike tumbled once more, but this time Twilight caught him with ease. Silver just looked from atop the ladder, relieved that Spike was alright but turned towards Twilight rather glumly.
"That she's definitely not going to Moon Dancer's party." Silver said to himself.
“Take a note please, to the Princess,” Twilight asked Spike.
“Okie Dokie!” Spike said. He grabbed a quill and some paper, hopping off Twilight’s back, and got ready to write.
“My dearest teacher,” Twilight began, pacing about the room. “My continuing studies of pony magic have led me to discover that we are on the precipice of disaster!”
“Hold on,” Spike interrupts. While Spike was a fast writer, sometimes Twilight tended to use words far too… Complex for his caliber. “Preci… Preci…”
“P-R-E-C-I-P-I-C-E.” Silver spelled for him.
“Thank you. Please continue.” Spike said.
“For you see, the mythical ‘Mare in the Moon’ is in fact ‘Nightmare Moon’, and she’s about to return to Equestria, and bring with her eternal night! Something must be done to make sure that this terrible prophecy does not come true. I await your quick response. Your faithful student Twilight Sparkle.” she said.
Spike was about to send it when he realized something important.
“Uh, I dunno, Twilight,” Spike replied, holding the letter. “Princess Celestia’s a little busy getting ready for the Summer Sun Celebration. And it’s like, the day after tomorrow.”
“That’s just it, Spike,” Twilight pointed out, in his face. “The day after tomorrow is the thousandth year of the Summer Sun Celebration! It’s imperative that the Princess is told right away!”
“Impera… Impera…”
“Important!” Twilight bellowed.
“Whoa!” Spike exclaimed.
The little dragon tumbled backward toward a bookshelf. Luckily, Silver caught the little guy in a magic bubble before the impact. Spike sighed in relief, turning toward Silver.
“Thanks, man.”
Silver smiled with a nod, before turning back to Twilight and regained his frown.
“You need to take it easy, Twilight,” Silver suggests. “Let’s just calm down, think this over for a sec…”
“NOW!”
“Okay, okay!” Spike retorted.
Taking a deep breath, Spike blew a green flame over the letter as it magically disappeared into the sky.
“There, it’s on its way. But I wouldn’t hold your breath…”
“Oh, I’m not worried, Spike,” Twilight replied, confidently. “The Princess trusts me completely. In all my years she’s been my… Er, Silver and I’s… mentor, she’s never once doubted me.”
“You know Twi, there’s more to life than studying all the-” Silver started talking before...
"BELCH!" Spike let out a loud belch and another letter magically appeared before them.
“See?” Twilight replied with a smile. “I knew she would want to take immediate action.”
“I knew she would take immediate action,” Silver mocked, silently. “Ooh boy…”
While the two ponies bickered behind each other’s flanks, Spike opens the letter and cleared his throat.
“My dearest, most faithful student, Twilight Sparkle,” Spike read, mimicking a regal tone. “You know that I value your diligence and that I trust you completely…”
“Mm-hm!” Twilight nodded smugly, as Silver rolled his eyes beside her.
“… but you simply must stop reading those dusty old books!” Spike finished.
Twilight gasped, as Silver chuckled to himself.
"Called it." He said.
Soon enough, the two ponies and Spike were on a flying chariot pulled by two strong royal Pegasus pony guards. The two guards were assigned to carry them towards their mission above the clouds. Silver enjoyed the ride, while Twilight kept pouting while leaning over the edge of the chariot. Along the way, Spike continued to read the letter Celestia sent.
“My dear Twilight, there is more to a young pony’s life than studying, so I’m sending you to help Silver to supervise the preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration in this year’s location: Ponyville. And, I have an even more essential task for you to complete... Make some friends!” Twilight sighed to herself, not looking forward to the mission at all. Specifically, the second half.
“Look on the bright side, Twi." Silver spoke to Twilight. "The Princess arranged for you to stay with me in the library. Doesn’t that make you happy?”
“Yes, yes it does,” Twilight said, now smiling. “You know why? Because I’m right! I’ll check on the preparations as fast as I can, then get to the library to find some proof of Nightmare Moon’s return.”
“Then… When will you make friends, like the Princess said?” Spike asked.
“She said to check on the preparations,” Twilight retorted. “I’m her student, and I’ll do my royal duty, but the fate of Equestria does not rest on me making friends.”
As they talked, the chariot descended into what appears to be an open street right in the middle of the town of Ponyville.
“Yeah? Well, I’m her student too you know!” Silver argued. “Least I’m willing to put down the books and make an effort at friendship!"
Silver didn’t argue any further when he heard the two royal guards give a horse-like whinny.
“Thank you, sirs,” Twilight replied.
The two stallions huffed in appreciation, as the two ponies and little dragon scanned about the town. Just then, a particularly pink pony with cotton candy style mane and tail, with balloons for a cutie mark on her flanks, approached them.
“Maybe the ponies in Ponyville have interesting things to talk about,” Spike suggested. “Come on, Twilight, just try!”
Twilight noticed the pink pony standing in front of her, trying her best to smile.
“Um… Hello?” She said, slowly.
"GASP!" The pink pony gasped in utter surprise, before zipping away at top speed. If Twilight hadn’t ducked, she’d have collided with her head and took her clean off.
“Well, that was interesting all right,” Twilight said, unamused.
"And random too." Silver added.
Eventually, the motley little group walked through an entire crop of Apple trees before eventually winding up on a large farm. Spike proceeds to take out the long checklist and began reading it off.
“Summer Sun Celebration official overseer’s checklist,” Spike read aloud. “Number One – Banquet Preparations: Sweet Apple Acres.”
“YEEHAW!”
The group turns to notice an orange pony, with a blonde mane and tail tied into ponytails. She also had a brown Stetson hat on her head and a cutie mark of three apples on her flanks. The pony proceeds to knock apples from a tree, by bucking the tree with her hind legs with incredible strength.
“Whoa!” Silver exclaimed, clearly impressed
“Let’s get this over with,” Twilight sighed.
They made their way towards the orange pony, who was admiring her work, all the apples she bucked neatly stacked in barrels.
“Good afternoon. My name is Twilight Sparkle—”
Just then, Twilight was caught off-guard as the orange pony began to roughly shake her hoof.
“Well, howdy-doo, Miss Twilight,” The orange pony greets, with a thick country accent. “A pleasure makin’ your acquaintance. I’m Applejack. We here at Sweet Apple Acres sure do like makin’ new friends!”
“Pleased to meet you, Applejack,” Silver added, trying to introduce himself. “The name’s Silver.”
Poor Twilight’s hoof still shook about, so Silver had to grab it with his magic to make her stop. Spike just snickered until Twilight glared at him, before clearing her throat.
“Well, we are in fact here to supervise preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration,” Twilight explained.
“And, from what we understand, you’re in charge of the food?” Silver finished.
“We sure as sugar are!” Applejack said, proudly. “Would you care to sample some?”
“Well, I am a little hungry,” Silver smiled.
“As long as it doesn’t take too long,” Twilight added.
Silver turned to Twilight, glaring at her. But before either could say anything, they heard a triangle ring.
“Soup’s on, every pony!” Applejack called out.
“Soup?” Silver asked.
Suddenly, they heard a loud thumping as Silver, Twilight, and Spike were whisked away by a huge mass of ponies and brought before a round table with a green checked colored cloth. All three felt rather frazzled, until Applejack sat nearby.
“Now, why don’t I introduce y’all to the Apple Family?” Applejack proposed.
“Thanks, but we really need to hurry—” Twilight began.
“This here is Apple Fritter—” Applejack began
She proceeds to introduce each family member, who each brought an apple treat to the table.
“—Apple Bumpkin, Red Gala, Red Delicous, Golden Delicious, Caramel Apple, Apple Strudel, Apple Tart, Baked Apples, Apple Brioche, Apple Cinnamon Crisp..."
Applejack took a deep breath to regain some air.
“… Big Macintosh, Apple Bloom, and Granny Smith.”
On the last name, the trio turns to an elderly pony sleeping on a rocking chair. She had a light gray mane and a light lime green coat. She wore an orange scarf with white lacing around the edges with red apples for the design. On her flank is a cutie mark resembling a pie. This was Granny Smith, who unbeknownst to Twilight and her two companions is the patriarch of the Apple Family… And more.
“Up’n’attem, Granny Smith, we got guests!” Applejack called out.
The elderly pony woke from her slumber with a loud snort.
“Wha…? Soup’s on?” She retorted. “I’m up, and here I come, ah’m comin’…”
As Granny Smith slowly joins the family, her ankles cracking with each step, Applejack turns over to the family as they surround the three newcomers. It was then Silver noticed a green apple shoved into Twilight’s mouth, making him chuckle a bit.
“Why, I’d say you’re already part of the family,” Applejack declared.
Silver and Spike both smiled widely and happily, even began to speak to several of the Apple Family. Twilight, meanwhile, spat the now chewed apple from her mouth and gave a nervous laugh.
“Okay, well,” She replied slowly. “I can see the food situation has been handled. So, we’ll be on our way…”
Twilight had just turned to leave when a small yellow filly with a red mane and big pink bow walk shyly up to her. Silver remembered her name being Apple Bloom.
“Aren’t you gonna say for brunch?” Apple Bloom asked quietly.
She gave Twilight and Silver the cutest little puppy dog eyes any pony had ever seen.
“Aw… How can we say no to that face?” Silver smirked.
In all honesty, he wasn’t in a big hurry to leave. But Twilight, on the other hoof…
“Sorry,” Twilight said, trying to minimize the damage. “But we have an awful lot to do…”
Every pony gave a long, disappointed sigh, until Silver stepped up and took the lead.
“Now hold up, every pony,” Silver spoke up. “Pay no mind to what she said. Why we’d be honored to share brunch with you all, as a gesture of friendship.”
The last word he growled quietly towards Twilight, as he shot her a glare. She glared back, as the two ended up in a standoff for the next few seconds. They kept their gaze locked, waiting for one of them to crack, until Twilight finally blinked and looked away with a huff.
“… Fine,” Twilight conceded.
Silver smirked in victory, while the Apple family cheered and invited their guests to the table to eat.
A couple of hours passed before Twilight and the boys finally left. Suffice to say, Spike and Silver felt very satisfied.
“Food’s all taken care of,” Spike said. “Next is the weather.”
“I say all the food was awesome,” Silver replied, happily. “If I didn’t love apples before, I’m starting to now! What do you say, Twi?”
Twilight, needless to say, lagged behind the both of them and moaned. Her stomach bulged greatly.
“Ugh…” Twilight groaned. “I ate too much pie…”
“Told you so,” Silver pointed out. “Sampling means taking ‘small’ amounts of everything. Not devouring everything shoved at you. But did you listen? No! Still, you always had the appetite of a horse.”
Twilight just grunted angrily, while Silver smirked for teasing her, as they kept moving. While they bickered, Spike examined a few clouds hanging over the sky.
“Hmm… There’s supposed to be a Pegasus pony named Rainbow Dash clearing the clouds,” Spike pondered.
“Well, she’s not doing a very good job, is she?” Twilight pointed out.
Suddenly, a blue Pegasus pony with a rainbow mane and tail came crashing down on Twilight. It should also be noted there was a cloud shooting a rainbow-colored lightning bolt cutie mark along her flanks. The initial impact sent Twilight flying into a giant patch of mud. She moaned angrily, coated badly in mud. The blue pony just laughed sheepishly.
“Uh… ‘scuse me?” She replied.
As the Pegasus hovered about, Twilight just gave a death glare while she just laughed.
“Lemme help you,” The blue pony offered.
She grabs a nearby rain cloud and made it downpour with her hooves hopping on the cloud. The rainwater soaked the unicorn, while the blue pony, from above the cloud, laughed sheepishly once more.
“Oops, I guess I overdid it,” She remarked.
“Oh, you don’t say,” Twilight retorted.
“Um, uh, how about this? My very own patented Rain-Bow Dry!”
She created a large wind tunnel around the mare unicorns, drying her off quickly.
“No, no. Don’t thank me,” The blue pony replied, before facing Twilight. “You’re quite welcome.”
It was then the Pegasus saw that her trick worked a little too well. While Twilight was dry, her mane and tail were now frizzy and poofy. The sight was too much, and both the Pegasus and Spike burst out laughing, falling onto their backs, while Silver trying himself to not do the same. Twilight just stood and glared.
“Let me guess,” Twilight retorted. “You’re Rainbow Dash.”
The Pegasus, hearing her name, stopped laughing and quickly got up, knocking Spike aside.
“The one and only. Why, you’ve heard of me?”
“I heard you were supposed to be keeping the sky clear,” Twilight remarked with a sigh. “I’m Twilight Sparkle and this here is Silver, and the Princess sent us to check on the weather.”
Suffice to say, Rainbow Dash had made herself comfortable on a cloud above them. She didn’t seem the least bit motivated to actually do the job.
“Yeah, yeah, that’ll be a snap,” Rainbow waved off. “I’ll do it in a jiffy. Just as soon as I’m done practicing.”
“Practice for what?” Silver asked.
“The Wonderbolts!” Rainbow Dash said, excitedly.
She motions toward a nearby poster showing what appears to be a bunch of Pegasus ponies dressed in flight suits, which feature a shade of gold and aquamarine along with a ‘winged bolt’ logo.
“They’re gonna perform at the Celebration tomorrow, and I’m gonna show ‘em my stuff!”
"Good luck with that," said Silver. After all, his brother is a member of the team. And it wasn't easy for him.
“The… Wonderbolts?” Twilight asked, with a smirk.
“Yep!”
“The most talented flyers in all of Equestria?”
“That’s them!”
“Pfft! Please! They’d never accept a Pegasus who can’t even keep the sky clear for one measly day.”
When the unicorn started talking, Rainbow Dash was very cross over her choice of words.
“Hey, I could clear this sky in ten seconds flat!” Rainbow retorted.
“Prove it!” Twilight challenged.
'This is going to be interesting.' Silver thought.
Rainbow zoomed high into the sky, bucking off the remaining clouds in a rapid session. Silver was impressed. Twilight was agape as Rainbow returned with a whoosh.
“Loop-de-loop around, and wham!” Rainbow Dash said, finishing up. “What’d I say? Ten… Seconds… Flat. I’d never leave Ponyville hanging.”
Twilight, Silver, and Spike stared with their jaws dropped. She began to laugh at their initial shock as she flew around them.
“You should see the looks on your faces,” Rainbow laughed. “Ha! You’re a laugh, Twilight Sparkle. You too Silver! I can’t wait to hang out some more.”
"Cool!" said Silver once he shook off his shock as Rainbow Dash zoomed away. 'She will have a bright future if she joined the Wonderbolts.'
“Wow, she’s amazing!” Spike said, with a laugh.
“… Yeah, you’re right,” Silver admitted.
It was then Silver turned and noticed Spike playing with Twilight’s still puffy mane. Twilight growled at the fact her mane was still a mess when she felt two eyes watching her. With a roll of her eyes, she turns to Silver.
Twilight sent a heated glare towards her friend, before walking off. Silver, on the other hoof, just smiled.
“I meant what I said,” He replied, softly.
Their next leg of the trip leads the trio into a large building with a round dome. It was apparently supposed to be where the main ceremony would take place later tonight.
“Decorations,” Spike said, in awe. “Beautiful…”
“Yes, the décor is coming along nicely,” Twilight nodded. “This ought'a be quick. I’ll be at the library in no time. Beautiful indeed.”
“Not the décor,” Spike said, clearly dazed. “Her!”
Silver and Twilight turn ahead and before their eyes was a marshmallow-coated unicorn, with a beautiful curled dark purple mane and tail. Along her flank appear to be three blue gemstones on each side. She was apparently deep in thought, shuffling through some ribbons with her magic.
“No, no, no, oh!” She exclaimed. “Goodness no.”
“How are my spines?” Spike asked, worried. “Are they straight?”
“You’re fine, little buddy,” Silver said, patting the dragon’s back.
Twilight just rolled her eyes, before stepping forward.
“Good afternoon—” Twilight tried to address.
However, the other unicorn seemed far too focused to acknowledge the newcomer.
“Just a moment, please!” The Unicorn replied, continuing her work. “I’m in the zone, as it were. Oh yes! Sparkle always does the trick, does it not? Why, Rarity, you are a talent. Now, um, how can I help up-AAAH! Oh, my stars, darling! Whatever happened to your coiffure?!”
Twilight looked puzzled until she looked up. Silver's eyes had already looked at her mane when Rarity said that. He had studied French.
“Oh, you mean my mane?” Twilight clarified. “Well, it’s a long story. I’m just here to check on the decorations, and then I’ll be out of your hair!”
“Out of my hair?” Rarity exclaimed. “What about your hair?”
Rarity began pushing Twilight out of the building from the flank.
“Wait! Where are we going?!” Twilight called out. “Help!”
Silver just casually walked beside her, while Spike was too mesmerized to be of any help.
“I think she’s taking us to that building there,” Silver pointed out. “Is that a boutique?”
“That would be right dear,” Rarity replied. “My humble abode, I own and operate the place myself.”
It was then Rarity realized something as she pushed Twilight along.
“Oh dear, I’m afraid I didn’t quite catch your name.”
“Silver’s the name, Miss Rarity,” Silver said.
“Well, it’s lovely to meet you,” Rarity smiled. “Ah, here we are!”
It wasn’t long before Twilight stood in the center of what was indeed a clothing boutique Silver had visited plenty of boutiques in Canterlot when the other girls would drag him along for one of their shopping weekends. And of course, being the only guy in the group, he was the one who carried all the bags. He sometimes wishes he had more male friends back in Canterlot. Also, something about this particular boutique carried a certain charm, as Silver looked around. All the while, Rarity shuffled through various outfits for Twilight.
“No, no, uh-uh,” Rarity said to herself. “Too green. Too yellow. Too poofy. Not poofy enough. Too frilly. Too… Shiny…”
“Considering how bright the sun is, what good’s a dress if it blinds every pony who looks at you?” Silver said.
“Silver!” Twilight sneered.
“What? I’m just saying!” Silver replied, innocently. “You hang out with Lemon Heart as I do; you learn a thing or two about fine couture.”
Just then, Twilight was garbed in some form of cyan-colored dress with a large emerald up front, as Rarity proceeds to tie the back straps, roughly pulling them against Twilight’s chest.
“Now go on, my dears,” She continued. “You were telling me where you’re both from.”
Twilight strained to answer, since the dress was a tad tight from all the tugging, but she did her best.
“I’ve… That is we… Were sent… From Canterlot… To—”
“Huh?” Rarity exclaimed.
Rarity suddenly released the straps, sending Twilight tumbling forward.
“Canterlot!? Oh, I am so envious! The glamour, the sophistication! I have always dreamed of living there! I can’t wait to hear all about it! We are gonna be the best of friends, you and I…”
Rarity held Twilight close, though the latter was uncomfortable. Suddenly, Rarity noticed the broach on the dress.
“Emeralds?! What was I thinking? Let me get you some rubies!”
Rarity dashed away, as Twilight used a nearby screen to quickly remove the dress.
“Quick!” Twilight called out. “Before she decides to dye my coat a new color!”
Spike was too dazed, but somehow used his smitten feelings to hover with his tail, as Twilight scooped him up and dashed away with Silver right behind them. By that point, all three were outside the shop and continued their way down the path.
“Wasn’t she wonderful?” Spike asked, out of the blue.
Silver turned to Spike and smirked, he could tell the purple dragon had been struck with Cupid’s arrow. He knew that feeling very well.
“Focus Casanova,” Twilight joked, sarcastically. “What’s next on the list?”
Spike quickly recomposed himself, before checking the list.
“Oh, uh, music!” He answered. “It’s the last one!”
It was then they heard a multitude of birds singing. Hiding in a bush, they saw all the birds gathered into a large tree and apparently conducted by a yellow Pegasus with a soft pink mane and tail, complete with butterfly cutie marks on her flanks. During this mesmerizing rehearsal, something caught her attention.
“Oh my,” She said, very softly. “Um, stop please, everyone, umm. Excuse me, sir? I mean no offense, but your rhythm is just a teeny-tiny bit off. Now, follow me, please. A-one, a-two, a-one-two-three—”
“Hello!”
Twilight called out at the worst possible time. All the birds were startled and flew away, even the yellow Pegasus gave a frightened yelp before turning around. From the look on her face, Twilight soon realized her mistake.
“Oh my, I’m so sorry,” Twilight apologized. “I didn’t mean to frighten your birds. We’re just here to check up on the music and it’s sounding beautiful.”
The yellow Pegasus said nothing, but turn away shyly, rubbing a hoof upon the ground.
“I’m Twilight Sparkle,” Twilight continued. “And this is Silver.”
“Afternoon,” Silver greeted.
Again, the yellow Pegasus said nothing. She seemed to grow shyer.
“And… What’s your name?” Twilight asked, trying to be friendly.
“Um… I’m Fluttershy,” The Pegasus replied. Of course, her voice was so quiet, Silver was surprised even ‘he’ could hear her name. All the same, the name suited her perfectly.
“I’m sorry, what was that?” Twilight asked, unable to hear.
“Um… My name is Fluttershy,” She replied again, more softly.
“She said Fluttershy.” Storm said. As he said that, the birds had returned. Which Twilight took notice.
“Well, um, it looks like your birds are back. So, I guess everything’s in order. Keep up the good work.” Fluttershy only just squeaked.
“Oookay…” Twilight replied uneasily, turning to Spike and Silver. “Well, that was easy.”
The moment Spike appeared Fluttershy instantly turned around, wide-eyed and smiling.
“A baby dragon!” Fluttershy exclaimed, more audibly.
Her sudden outburst made the birds fly away as she raced towards Spike, bucking Twilight out of the way.
“Oh, I’ve never seen a baby dragon before. He’s sooo cute!”
“Well, well, well…!” Spike smiled.
Twilight glared over being pushed, as Silver went over to help her.
“You alright, Twi?” He asked.
“What do you think?” Twilight grumbled.
“Oh my, he talks!” Fluttershy exclaimed again. “I didn’t know dragons could talk. That’s just so incredibly wonderful, I, I just don’t even know what to say!”
By then, Twilight used her magic to scoop Spike onto her back and started walking.
“Well, in that case, we’d better be going,” Twilight said.
The unicorns started walking back to town for the library, with Fluttershy started to follow them.
“Wait, wait! What’s his name?” Fluttershy asked.
“I’m Spike,” Spike replied.
“Hi Spike, I’m Fluttershy. Wow, a talking dragon! And what do dragons talk about?”
“Well, what do you wanna know?”
“Absolutely everything…”
Twilight groaned, as she continued her way towards the library with the rest following close behind.
“Well… I started out as a cute little purple and green egg…” Spike began.
It was sunset, even then Fluttershy and Spike were still in conversation, while Twilight’s mood couldn’t get any sourer. Silver had purposely lagged behind to hear the conversation, even adding his own two bits once in a while. All the while, Fluttershy listened attentively.
“…And that’s the story of my whole entire life!” Spike concluded.
By then, they finally arrived at the front of a grand oak tree that marked the town’s library.
“Well, up until today. Do you wanna hear about today?”
“Oh, yes, please!” Fluttershy replied happily.
Just then, Spike was startled when Twilight did a fast one-eighty.
“I’m so sorry, how did we get here so fast?” Twilight said plainly. “This is where I’m staying while in Ponyville and my poor baby dragon needs his sleep.”
“No, I don’t… WHOA!” Spike was taken aback again, as Twilight sent him flying off her back and onto the ground with a thud.
“Aww, wook at dat,” Twilight said in baby talk. “He’s so sweepy, he can’t even keep his widdle bawance!”
Silver just rolled his eyes, while Spike glared. But somehow, Fluttershy actually believed Twilight.
“Poor thing,” She replied, scooping him up. “You simply must get into bed…”
Fluttershy opened the door to tuck him in, but Twilight interrupts and shoves Fluttershy out. Silver just watched this entire scenario completely shocked.
'Seriously?! Did she had to be that rude!' Silver thought.
“Yes, yes,” Twilight replied quickly. “We’ll get right on that. Well, g-night!”
Twilight then pulls Silver inside, slamming the door behind them.
“Huh, rude much?” Spike pointed out, with a glare.
“I’ll say,” Silver added, clearly not happy for his 'friend' behavior with the yellow pegasus.
“Sorry guys, but I have to convince the Princess that Nightmare Moon is coming, and we’re running out of time!” Twilight replied.
Once again, Silver rolled his eyes and said. “You’re seriously still hung up on all this, Twi? You’ve already sent your letter to the Princess, who I believe wrote back to tell you to, oh I don’t know… Chill out and make some friends!”
“Right,” Twilight added. “I just need to be alone so I can study without a bunch of crazy ponies trying to make friends all the time. Now, where’s the light?”
Before Silver could say more, the lights turned on and the trio found themselves surrounded by numerous ponies. The place itself was heavily decorated. And they all jumped as a honk went off.
“SURPRISE!!!” The ponies shouted, blowing kazoos.
Twilight just groaned, while Spike and Silver were still in shock.
“SURPRISE!”
Before the trio was the pink pony they just met, before taking off earlier that day.
“Hi, I’m Pinkie Pie, and I threw this party just for you! Were you surprised? Were ya? Were ya? Huh-huh-huh?”
“Looks like some pony had her fair share of sugar today…” Silver thought to himself.
“Very surprised,” Twilight said. “Libraries are supposed to be quiet.”
“Well, that’s silly!” Pinkie Pie answered. “What kind of welcome party would this be if it were quiet? I mean, duh, bo-ring! Y’see, I saw you when you two first got here, remember? You were all “hello” and I was all (GASP), remember? Y’see I’ve never saw you two before and if I’ve never saw you before that meant that you’re both new, ‘cause I know every pony, and I mean every pony in Ponvyille!”
“O-kay…” Silver said, uneasily.
Twilight just groaned, as she approached a table with all the cups and sodas for a quick drink.
“And if you’re new,” Pinkie Pie continued. “That meant you haven’t met anyone yet, and if you haven’t met anyone yet, you must not have any friends, and if you don’t have any friends then you must be lonely, and that made me so sad, then I had an idea, and that’s why I went (GASP)! I must throw you a great big ginormous super-duper spectacular welcome party and invite everyone in Ponyville! See? And now you have lots and lots of friends!”
Silver had a tough time keeping track of what Pinkie Pie said, but soon noticed the five other girls he and Twilight met today. As he went over to converse with them, Twilight seemed to tune them all out and sipped her drink. Suddenly, she lifts her head, turned around, and her cheeks puffed out as her face went deep red.
“Are you all right, sugar cube?” Applejack asked.
Twilight said nothing, as flames erupted from her mane, tail, and her mouth before she rushed off. Once the flames fizzled out, she dashed upstairs without another word.
“Aww, she’s so happy, she’s crying!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed.
Silver rolled his eyes, as Spike examined the soda bottle Twilight drank from.
“Hot sauce,” Spike read on the label. Silver just sighed with a head shake.
“What in Equestria is that doing with the soda?” He asked.
Just then Pinkie Pie dumped a large dollop of it atop a cupcake and gobbled it up. Silver and the others made faces.
“Ooh…!” Pinkie Pie remarked, as she ate it. “What? It’s good!”
“If…you say so…” Silver said, with a face hoof. Losing his appetite, Silver looks up sadly toward the staircase leading to what was apparently Twilight's bedroom. Rarity noticed his body language and stood beside him.
“You seem worried about Twilight,” Rarity observed. “Why not go check up on her?”
“Eh… I don’t know what good it will do…” Silver said. “Twilight’s not exactly the most social pony, and I speak from experience.”
“Well, why don’t you tell us more about yourself, sugar cube?” Applejack asked.
“Sure, why not? I’m an open book. You can ask me anything you want, while I get to know you girls a bit. After all, this 'is' my new home.” he said, as he starting talking with the girls about himself. Then he said that his older brother is one of the Wonderbolts, the five mares were shocked. But not more than the blue pegasus.
"What?! Your brother is a Wonderbolt?!" Rainbow Dash yell. "This. Is. Awesome!"
As she said that, Silver and the others couldn't help but start laughing at how she reacted.
It was well into the night when he and Spike finally decided to visit Twilight. Twilight groaned from all the noise and loud music downstairs, practically burying her head underneath a large pillow as she sat in her bed. Suddenly, the doors burst open as Silver and Spike came in. The little dragon had a nightshade over his head.
“Hey, Twilight!” Spike called out. “Pinkie Pie’s starting ‘Pin the Tail on the Pony’! Wanna play?”
“Yeah, come on down and have a little fun.” Storm said.
“NO!” Twilight barked. “All the ponies in this town are crazy! Do you know what time it is?!”
“It’s the eve of the Summer Sun Celebration,” Spike answered. “Every pony has to stay up, or they’ll miss the Princess raise the sun! You really should lighten up, Twilight. It’s a party!”
“You really should lighten up, Twilight,” Twilight imitated, mockingly. “It is a party!”
Spike just left, while Silver stood on the rails with his hoofs folded, a disappointed look on his face. He finally had enough of her attitude today and decided something had to be said.
“Twilight, in all seriousness, you’re really missing out on all the fun,” Silver said. “Celestia said to make new friends. I’ve already made five since we’ve been here, and there could be more since every pony here enjoys chatting with me. Spike and I are having a great time, but I really hoped you’d join in. But if you’d rather sit here and pout the whole night, then go ahead.”
Twilight remained silent, neither saying a word nor turning to him. Silver just sighed, before closing the door, with one last look at her before turning around to join in on the party games. Twilight just stared at the ceiling, hugging her pillow close.
“Ugh, here I thought I’d have time to learn about the Elements of Harmony but, silly me, all this ridiculous friend-making has kept me from it!”
And yet, despite all the frustration, Twilight couldn’t stop remembering the last thing she read.
“Legend has it that on the longest day of the thousandth year, the stars will aid in her escape, and she will bring about everlasting night.”
“I hope the Princess was right…” Twilight said, worried. “I hope it really is just an old pony tale…”
It wasn’t long before Silver walked back into the room, with Spike on his back.
“C’mon, Twilight!” Spike called out. “It’s time to watch the sunrise!”
Twilight looked toward the moon one last time, the silhouette of Nightmare Moon’s face remained on the surface and several stars shined around it, but nothing seemed to change. She crawled off the bed and found Silver waiting for her. While his face remained stern, he still offered her a hoof. Twilight just stares at him before placing her hoof on top. Silver smiles approvingly, before escorting her out of the library towards the main building for the ceremony.
The building itself wasn’t particularly large, but somehow it fit every pony who came to see the sunrise, with plenty of room to spare. Twilight was still worried as she stood beside Silver waiting for the ceremony to begin. Just then, Pinkie Pie swooped in from nearby.
“Isn’t this exciting?” She asked, out of the blue. “Are you excited, ‘cause I’m excited, I’ve never been so excited—well, except for the time that I saw you walking into town and I went (GASP) but I mean really, who can top that?”
Twilight just gave Silver a curious, yet annoyed look.
“If you drank five bottles of soda and a bottle of hot sauce, you’d be hyper too,” Silver whispered.
Twilight just rolled her eyes when Mayor Mare, a cream-colored mare with a whitish mane, tail, a scroll tied in a blue ribbon for a cutie mark, and glasses upon her nose, appeared. Silver had a chance to speak to her during the party. As soon as Fluttershy’s birds performed their opening number, she took center stage.
“Fillies and gentlecolts,” She announced proudly. “As Mayor of Ponyville, it is my great pleasure to announce the beginning of the Summer Sun Celebration.”
All the ponies cheered proudly, stomping their hooves at the start of the upcoming arty. But while she spoke, Twilight looked up and saw the stars approach the moon and the Mare in the Moon’s silhouette disappeared from the moon’s surface. This made her rather nervous, as the Mayor continued completely blissfully.
“In just a few moments, our town will witness the magic of the sunrise, and celebrate this, the longest day of the year! And now, it is my great honor to introduce to you the ruler of our land, the very pony who gives us the sun and the moon each and every day, the good, the wise, and the bringer of harmony to all of Equestria…”
“Ready?” Fluttershy asked her birds, who simply nods.
“… Princess Celestia!” Mayor Mare announced.
A spotlight appears where the Princess is set to arrive, and Rarity opens the curtains… But she wasn’t there.
“Huh?” Rarity said, shocked.
The rest of the ponies chattered quietly and nervously in the background.
“This can’t be good,” Twilight said.
“Remain calm, every pony,” Mayor Mare replied, keeping the peace. “There must be a reasonable explanation!”
“Ooh, ooh, I love guessing games!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed. “Is she hiding?”
Rarity searched the area where Celestia was supposed to be, but all she could say is…
“She’s gone!”
Every pony gasped, the news of Celestia’s disappearance hitting them like a boulder to the chest.
“Ooh, she’s good!” Pinkie Pie remarked.
Just then, she gave a great yelp as every pony gasped once more. Only this time, a dark, cloudy mist entered the hall. They all watched fearfully, as the mist slowly took form, morphing into the shape of a tall, dark alicorn in light blue armor.
“Oh no…” Twilight panicked, quietly.
“Nightmare Moon!” Twilight and Silver said, in unison.
Spike was so shocked, he practically fainted, falling off the seat of Silver’s back. Nightmare Moon laughed menacingly before the ponies surrounding her.
“Oh, my beloved subjects,” She said, boldly. “It’s been so long since I’ve seen your precious little sun-loving faces.”
For the moment, most ponies were afraid to say a word. They did nothing but look at her fearfully. Rainbow Dash, on the other hoof…
“What did you do with our Princess?!” She demanded angrily.
The Pegasus tried to confront Nightmare Moon herself, only for a certain cow pony to hold her back by the tail.
“Whoa there, Nelly…” Applejack muffled.
Nightmare Moon chuckled at the gesture, but then her expression quickly changed.
“Why, am I not royal enough for you?” She asked angrily. “Don’t you know who I am?”
The dread silence and blank expression on every pony’s faces showed they clearly didn’t. Even Silver himself felt uncomfortable know that no pony else, minus Twilight and himself, knew exactly who she was.
“Ooh, ooh, more guessing games!” Pinkie remarked excitedly. “Um, Hokey Smokes! How about… Queen Meanie! No! Black Snooty, Black Snooty…”
Pinkie Pie was quickly shushed, as an apple cupcake was shoved down her throat. Suffice to say, Nightmare Moon was furious. She glared angrily, first to Fluttershy, who couldn’t look her in the eye, and eventually turned to Rarity.
“Does my crown no longer count now that I have been imprisoned for a thousand years?” She demanded. “Did you not recall the legend? Did you not see the signs?”
“We did.”
Nightmare Moon turned as Silver stepped forward, followed by Twilight Sparkle.
“And I know who you are,” Twilight said. “You’re the Mare in the Moon – Nightmare Moon!”
All the other ponies gasped, knowing that an ancient story they’ve been told as foals and colts was suddenly real. And a once mythical figure now stood before their eyes.
“Well, well, well,” Nightmare Moon said. “Some ponies who remember me. Then you two also know why I’m here.”
“You’re here to… To…” Twilight gulped.
Either she had forgotten, or she was afraid that the next thing she’d say would make it worse for all the town ponies. Either way, she felt a twinge of regret.
“You’re here to snuff out the light forever,” Silver growled. “And bring about eternal darkness…”
Nightmare Moon just chuckled, all that was on her mind was that she had successfully made a triumphant return.
“Remember this day, little ponies,” Nightmare Moon declared. “For it was your last. From this moment forth, the night will last forever!”
Nightmare Moon laughed manically, as the thunder crashed alongside her. Every pony, especially Twilight and Silver, could only watch in pure horror. Nightmare Moon had returned and the only pony who can stand to her, the princess they all need the most, had vanished. But even after all of that, even after an age-old prophecy had been fulfilled, the worst was still to come.
Nightmare Moon cackled amongst the gather of frightened ponies before her. She stood high and mighty, believing she had won over her subjects. The only pony brave enough to speak up was Mayor Mare.
“Seize her!” Mayor Mare shouted. “Only she knows where the Princess is!"
A group of Pegasus guards flew toward Nightmare Moon, to prevent her escape.
“Stand back, you foals!” Nightmare Moon laughed.
Generating gigantic thunderbolts, Nightmare Moon knocks the guards back. Then she turned into a dark blue mist and easily slipped out of the building.
“Ergh…” Applejack groaned.
In the meantime, Applejack had tried to hold Rainbow Dash back. But eventually, the blue Pegasus finally broke free, sending Applejack flying backward as Rainbow tried to pursue the released Mare in the Moon. But the mist proved too fast, disappearing into the night.
“Come back here!” Rainbow panted.
It was then that she allowed Nightmare Moon’s words to sink in, realizing what she meant. “Nighttime? Forever?”
Just then, before Rainbow had more time to think, she spots Twilight Sparkle and Silver dashing out of the building.
Before Rainbow Dash knew it, she watched him gallop away at incredible speed as if he had just made a remarkable recovery. This stunned the speedy Pegasus, but then remembered her train of thought.
“Where’re they going?” She demanded from above. “Hmph… They know something!”
Meanwhile, the two unicorns had just arrived back at the library. Twilight had just put Spike to bed, the baby dragon completely oblivious to the situation as he slept.
“Uh… We gotta stop Nightmare…”
But it wasn’t long before the young dragon conked out again, falling fast asleep. Twilight smiled warmly, as she tucked Spike into his basket for the night.
“You’ve been up all night, Spike,” Twilight pointed out, as he slept. “You are a baby dragon after all.”
The two unicorns walked downstairs and began trashing through the books.
“Elements, elements, elements…” Twilight said frantically. “Ugh! How can we stop Nightmare Moon without the Elements of Harmony? Silver, can you…?”
Twilight didn’t finish when a certain blue Pegasus with a rainbow mane and tail flew right into Twilight’s face, forcing the unicorn to back away nervously.
“And just what are the Elements of Harmony?” Rainbow demanded. “And how do you and Silver know about Nightmare Moon, huh? Are you two spies? Whoa!”
Rainbow was pulled back just as Applejack appeared. The cow pony tugged the blue Pegasus away by the tail, letting her go at a safe distance from the two unicorns.
“Simmer down, Sally,” Applejack remarked. “She and Silver are no spies. But they sure knows what’s going on. Don’t you, guys?”
Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Rarity arrived close behind, clearly sharing the same train of thought as their faces showed. Twilight looked at them one by one, hesitant to answer. Silver stood beside her, motioning her to talk.
“I read all about the prediction of Nightmare Moon,” Twilight explained. “Some mysterious objects called the Elements of Harmony are the only things that can stop her, but I don’t know what they are, where to find them; I don’t even know what they do!”
Pinkie Pie merely walked over to a nearby shelf, examining a rather old book. “’The Elements of Harmony: A Reference Guide’,” She read aloud.
Hearing the title, Twilight zipped over and pushed her out of the way. “How did you find that?!” Twilight asked.
“It was under ‘E’,” Pinkie said, in a sing-song voice.
Silver slapped a hoof over his face; Twilight felt rather silly as well. “Oh…” Twilight remarked.
Regardless, Twilight was quick to recompose herself before reading the contents of the book. “There are seven Elements of Harmony, but only five are known: Kindness, Laughter, Generosity, Honesty, and Loyalty. The last two are a complete mystery. It is said, the last known location of the five elements was in the ancient castle of the royal pony sisters.”
It was during this time a mysterious black mist returned, floating as if it were watching the seven ponies from outside the window. Having heard enough, the mist zips away unnoticed by the group. "It is located in what is now—” Twilight read.
“THE EVERFREE FOREST!” The ponies said in unison, as they stood before the aforementioned wood.
"Whee! Let's go!" Pinkie Pie said eagerly and bounced forward.
"Not so fast," Twilight as she stopped her, "Look, I appreciate the offer, but...Silver and I can handle this alone."
“No can do, sugarcube,” Applejack said firmly. “We sure ain’t lettin’ any friends of ours go into that creepy place alone. We’re stickin’ to you like caramel on a candy apple.”
The rest of the girls agreed with a ‘Hmph’, as they ventured forward. Even Fluttershy, the most nervous of the group, trotted with the group of eager ponies. The only one who didn’t go in with them was Pinkie Pie.
“Especially if there’s candy apples in there,” Pinkie Pie said.
But her rambling earned some stares from both Twilight and Silver.
“What? Those things are good.”
Twilight just sighed heavily, while Silver stifled a chuckle. They wasted no time following the group of ponies close behind, venturing into the deep dark wood in search for the Elements of Harmony.
The trek through the Everfree Forest was quiet… Perhaps too quiet. Apart from a slight breeze brushing against the trees, the forest was as inactive as the starry night sky as the moon cascades over the area. As they walked, Twilight spoke up.
“So, none of you have been in here before?” Twilight asked.
“Ugh, heavens no!” Rarity answered, surveying the marsh. “Just look at it – it’s dreadful!”
“I’m not going to argue with that one,” Silver nodded. They had started approaching a large cliffside. It was then the dark mist appeared and crept into the cracks of the ground beneath them.
“And it ain’t natural,” Applejack added. “Folks say it don’t work the same as Equestria.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Twilight asked Applejack.
“Nopony knows…” Rainbow said.
The way she lowered her voice, Rainbow Dash made it sound as if she were about to tell a scary ghost story. It was more than enough for Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Fluttershy to shiver nervously.
“You know why?”
“Rainbow, quit it!” Applejack scolded.
The cow pony knew exactly what the blue Pegasus was trying to do, and she did not like it, not one bit.
“’Cause everypony who’s ever come in has never come out!” Rainbow Dash concluded, make the three mares filnched quietly.
Suddenly, there was a loud crash, as the ground beneath their hooves gave away. Every pony screamed as they slid along the steep slope. Only Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash were able to avoid the drop, but saw their friends were in danger.
“Oh my goodness, oh my goodness!” Fluttershy panicked, before joining Rainbow.
Both Twilight Sparkle and Rarity screamed their lungs out, trying to slow their descent down the slope, which ended at a very large drop-off. Silver uses his magic to flown himself into the air and help the two pegasuses. Applejack managed to clamp her feet on a root to stop sliding. Rainbow scooped up Pinkie Pie, while Fluttershy and Silver grabbed Rarity’s left and right front hoof to slowing her down. But Twilight was losing ground fast and soon dangled over the edge of the cliff.
“Hold on!” Applejack called out. “Ah’m a-comin’!”
Applejack let go of the branch, gently making her way towards Twilight. She grabs her front legs, preventing the unicorn from falling.
“Applejack! What do I do?” Twilight asked, frightened.
Applejack just held Twilight tightly, before she looked up and saw something. She then turns toward Twilight.
“Let go,” Applejack said, plainly.
“Are you crazy?!” Twilight retorted.
“No ah ain’t,” Applejack assured. “Ah promise you’ll be safe.”
But the frightened look on Twilight’s face proved she wasn’t convinced.
“That’s not true!” Twilight proted.
“Now listen here,” Applejack said firmly. “What ah’m sayin’ to yah is the honest truth. Let go, and you’ll be safe.”
Twilight Sparkle hesitated for a moment, before she eventually lets go.
“YAAAAAAAAAH!!!” Twilight screamed before she felt her fall stop midway. She looks up and saw Silver, who was blushing, carried her bridal style, while they were in the air with his magic. After she realizes what happened, Twilight's face heats up as well and her heart starts beating faster.
"A-are you alright, Twi?" Silver asked nervously, as he slowly lands them.
“Y-yea thank you, Silver," Twilight answer him nervously as well. 'W-what wrong with me? Why my heart beat so fast?'
Then Silver brought Twilight to the bottom of the drop-off, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie were already there waiting for them.
“Sorry girls,” Fluttershy apologized. “I’m not used to holding anything more than a bunny or two.”
In the meantime, Twilight watched Applejack hop her way down and smile, grateful she could trust this pony. Little did they know, the purple mist swooped about the forest before approaching a creature, its contact made it utter a mighty roar.
As they ventured through the forest, Rainbow couldn’t stop bragging about herself.
“And once Pinkie and Rarity were saved,” Rainbow spoke, excitedly. “Whoosh… Silver loop-de-loop around and WHAM! Caught you in the nick of time.”
“Yes Rainbow, I was there,” Twilight said while blushing a little, before smiling. “And I’m very grateful that Silver save me, but we gotta—”
Suddenly, to every pony’s surprise, a creature pounced before them. Twilight gasped, as before her eyes stood a hybrid between a lion and a scorpion.
“A MANTICORE!!!” Twilight cried, as it roared. “We’ve gotta get past him!”
The creature tried to attack, with a swipe of his paws. But Rarity gave him a good buck in the face, forcing him to jump back.
“Take that, you ruffian!” Rarity called out confidently.
The manticore responds with a mighty roar, the intense breeze messed up Rarity’s mane, making it poofy and messy.
“My hair!” Rarity cried out, before noticing the Manticore’s glare. “Woop—”
Rarity just barely missed getting swiped, dashing off to the side.
“Wait,” Fluttershy said, softly. But only Silver was able to hear her.
'Huh?' Silver thought, looking at her confused. Meanwhile, Applejack lands atop the creature.
“YEE-HAW! Git along, little dogie!” Applejack called out, as she rides the beast like a wild bull at a rodeo.
“Wait,” Fluttershy said a little louder, but still they didn't hear her again. Silver tried to think what wrong with the manticore. Since Fluttershy is grate with the animals, he thought that there is something that he and the others can't see. Meanwhile, the manticore roars before officially bucking Applejack off of his back.
“Whoa!” She exclaimed as she was thrown through the air.
“All yours, partners.” She said to Rainbow Dash.
“I’m on it!” Rainbow said, diving towards it. Then, Silver gasps then he finds what wrong with the beast.
'That's it!' “Wait!” Silver called out. Rainbow Dash soared round and round the Manticore, trying to distract him. But the monster’s roar blows the Pegasus away, making her scream.
“Rainbow!” Twilight called out. The beast’s grunt gestures the group toward them. Soon, all the ponies, minus Silver and Fluttershy, leaped into battle. Twilight snorted with determination before the five girls began to charge at him all at once. They were within attacking range when Fluttershy and Silver cut them all off.
“WAIT!!!” They called out. The beast and the ponies stopped charging, though the creature still growled. Fluttershy simply approached the Manticore, who raised its paw to attack. The girls flinched nervously, anxiously assuming the worst. Silver on the other hoof, was calm. He knew that Fluttershy was going to be okay.
“Shh… It’s okay.” The five mares open their eyes as Fluttershy kindly nuzzled the Manticore’s other front paw. The creature extends it, revealing a very thick thorn in his paw.
“Oh, you poor, poor little baby,” Fluttershy cooed.
“Little?” Rainbow replied, stunned. The others watch with interest, as the Manticore faced the kind yellow Pegasus with a rather sad look.
“Now this might hurt for just a second,” She told him gently. The Pegasus quickly used her mouth to pull the thorn out. The beast roared, scooping Fluttershy towards his mouth quickly.
“Fluttershy!” The mares cried out. But what really made all their jaws drop in shock. The manticore wasn’t going to eat her. Instead, he just licks her, clearly grateful that this pony removed the thorn from his paw, practically purring even. That made everypony smiled.
“Aw, you’re just a little ol baby kitty, aren’t you? Yes you are, yes you are.” Fluttershy replied sweetly as he continued to lick her mane and then set her down. Everyone gave her a cheer as the manticore set her down and went on his way. Twilight was most impressed.
“How did you know about the thorn?” Twilight asked.
“I didn’t,” Fluttershy replied, as she walked by. “Sometimes we all just need to be shown a little kindness.”
Twilight just smiled as Fluttershy moved on, before noticing Silver smiling as well. "What's your reason for letting her do that?" she asked.
“Honestly, I just trusted her judgment. After all, she is talented with animals.” Silver replied with a smile. Twilight smiled back, as the two followed the ponies deep into the Marsh, missing the fact that the thorn shifted back into the mist as it followed them.
The march through the marsh continued for this rag-tag group of ponies. But the forest seemed to go on forever, they felt like they weren’t getting any closer.
“No,” Rarity groan. “My eyes need a rest from all this icky muck!”
All at once, every pony’s vision went black as darkness was casted all over the forest. "Good job, Rarity. You jinx us." Silver said grumbling.
"That wasn't what I had in my mind!" responded Rarity.
“That ancient ruin could be right in front of our faces and we wouldn’t even know it,” Twilight pointed out. It was so dark in fact, Rarity bumped right into Twilight.
“I didn’t see you there, my apologies,” Rarity remarked.
“Oh wait,” Applejack paused, raising her hoof. “I think I stepped in somethin’.”
Fluttershy suddenly screamed, but Applejack was indifferent. “It’s just mud,” Applejack reassured.
Suddenly, there was an ominous growl from one of the trees. Then another, another, and soon, they were all surrounded. On each tree, they seemed to make a scary face at the ponies with large eyes and razor-sharp teeth. The girls screamed, while Silver guarded the girls.
“Stay back, girls!” Silver said bravely. “I’ll protect—”
Suddenly, they saw that Pinkie Pie was... laughing?! Surprised, all the ponies noticed how Pinkie was busily laughing and making goofy faces toward one of the scary trees.
"--you?" Silver finished, confused.
“Pinkie, what are you doing?!” Twilight asked fearfully. “Run!”
“Oh guys, don’t you see?” Pinkie Pie asked. And all at once, before any pony knew it, Pinkie Pie started singing…
Pinkie Pie (Sings): When I was a little filly, And the sun was going doo-ow-ow-n!
“You’re kidding me,” Silver replied with dread.
“Tell me she’s not…” Twilight added. But she never finished when Pinkie popped up from above them, upside down.
Pinkie Pie (Sings): The darkness and the shadows, They would always make me froo-ow-ow-n!
“She is,” Rarity replied. Meanwhile, Pinkie kept singing while bouncing around the group.
Pinkie Pie (Sings): I’d hide under my pillow, From what I thought I saw. But Granny Pie said that wasn’t the way To deal with fears at all!
“Then what is?” Rainbow asked, as Pinkie got in her face.
Pinkie Pie (Sings): She said, “Pinkie, you gotta stand up tall Learn to face your fears. You’ll see that they can’t hurt you Just laugh to make them disappear.”
Ha! Ha! Ha!
As if by magic, the once scary tree turned normal, no face on it whatsoever. Even the darkness surrounding the tree disappeared, much to the ponies' surprise. “Well… in that case...” Silver smiled, before he joins the pink pony.
Pinkie & Silver (Sings): So… Giggle at the ghostly, Guffaw at the grossly. Crack up at the creepy, Whoop it up with the weepy. Chortly at the kooky, Snortle at the spooky.
Pinkie Pie (Sings): And tell that big dumb scary face To take a hike and leave you alone And if he thinks he can scare you Then he's got another thing coming And the very idea of such a thing Just makes you wanna... Ha-ha-ha-ha.... Laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaauuuugh!
Soon, with a little help from her friends, all the scary trees disappeared. The rest of the ponies rolled on their backs, laughing themselves silly.
“Sometimes we learn when we are ready,” Pinkie replied, before zipping away. Silver looked bugged out for a second, before shaking his head. A giggly grin forms on his face.
“I have a feeling that I’ll never understand this mare,” Silver thought to himself.
As they continue to laugh and hop merrily on their way, Pinkie Pie came to a sudden stop causing every pony to collide with each other. Before they could say anything, they noticed before their eyes was a wide stream dividing the forest. While it appears rather shallow, the water was actually raging violently.
“How are we gonna cross this?” Pinkie Pie asked. Before anyone could answer, they suddenly heard the sound of someone crying in the distance.
"Huh?" Pinkie remarked as they all turned to see a rather large but lanky sea serpent weeping himself in the middle of the water. His elongated figure wiggling so fast, the rapids were building. They also noted one-half of his orange mustaches, which matches his orange hair, looked torn as if it were chopped off.
“What a world,” He sobbed dramatically. “What a world!”
“Excuse me, sir,” Twilight called out, trying to be polite. “Why are you crying?”
“Well, I don’t know,” The Serpent replied, facing the seven ponies. “I was just sitting here, minding my own business, when this tacky little cloud of purple smoke just whisked past me and tore half of my beloved mustache clean off, and now I look simply horrid!”
“Oh, give me a break,” Rainbow muttered annoyingly.
“That’s what all the fuss is about?” Applejack asked, in disbelief. Suffice to say, Rarity felt indignant about the situation.
“Why, of course it is!” Rarity replied, stepping forward. “How can you be so insensitive?”
“Rarity actually has a point. Any pony would feel subconscious if they had to be out in public, only to have a bad or messy mane. Or in this case, a mustache.” Silver added, in agreement. He looked at Rarity, who in return looked him back. They nodded their heads and began to walk side by side toward the sorrowful serpent.
“Precisely,” Rarity nodded. “Oh, just look at him. Such lovely luminescent scales.”
“I know,” Silver nodded. “And that expertly coiffed mane.”
“Oh I know, I know,” The serpent replied, running his fingers through it.
“Your fabulous manicure,” Rarity pressed on. Meanwhile, Silver watched her with interest. Course, it was hard to tell if Rarity was genuinely cheering him up or buttering up his vain ego. Either way, he allowed her to keep talking.
“It’s so true!” The serpent answered, looking at his fingers.
“All ruined without your beautiful mustache,” Rarity finished, sympathetically.
“It’s true, I’m hideous!” The serpent cried dramatically. As over the top, as the serpent was acting, Silver too felt sympathetic for him. Something needed to be done to cheer up this poor creature, but ‘how’ to do it was another matter. Luckily, Rarity was already a step ahead of him.
“I simply cannot let such a crime against fabulosity go uncorrected!” She declared.
Before the serpent or Silver could say any further, the determined mare pulled off one of the serpent’s scales, making him yelp. “Ow! What did you do that for?” He asked.
Rarity said nothing, as she held the round part of his scale in her mouth. The sharp end gleams in the moonlight, as she raised it in the air. The rest of the ponies were stunned, unsure what she was about to do. Then Twilight spoke. “Rarity, what are you—” SWIPE!!!
Every pony’s eyes shrunk with shock, as the serpent fainted. Fortunately, he neither splashed them with water and neither was he severely hurt. Instead, Rarity’s now long, beautiful tail was cut off, leaving just a short remainder of purple hair. Using her magic, she levitates the cut tail and carefully ties it with the remains of the serpent’s sliced mustache. When he awoke, he saw that his mustaches had been restored… for the most part.
“Oh-hohohoho!” The serpent exclaimed, gleefully. “My mustache. How wonderful.
“You look smashing,” Rarity said, returning to her friends.
“Oh, Rarity, your beautiful tail…” Twilight said sadly.
Rarity looks upon her now short tail sadly yet still smiling.
“Oh. It’s fine, my dear,” Rarity said bravely. “Short tails are in this season. Besides, it’ll grow back.”
“So would the mustache,” Rainbow muttered on the side.
“Yea, right,” Silver said, hearing Rainbow. “Tell you what: Next time that awesome mane of yours gets a buzz cut, I’ll be sure to remind you, ‘It’ll grow back’. What do you say?”
Rainbow nervously put a hoof on her mane, as the others chuckled to each other.
“Heh, heh… No thanks!” Rainbow replied, chuckling. “I’m good.”
"I thought so." Silver said with a smile. Just then, Twilight looks ahead and gasped as the water before them was shallow again.
“We can cross now,” Twilight informed, walking through the water. “Let’s go. Ah!”
Twilight was startled when she found herself upon the hump of the serpent’s elongated body. “Allow me,” He offered.
And so, the serpent creates a set of hump platforms with his body for all the ponies to cross to the other side.
It wasn’t long, during their travels, when Twilight recognized the site which they had been searching for.
“There it is!” Twilight said, excitedly. “The ruins that hold The Elements of Harmony. We made it!”
Twilight proceeds to take off, with Silver and the girls following in hot pursuit. “Twilight! Wait for us!” Silver called out.
“We’re almost there!” Twilight called back. “Whoa!”
In her hurry, Twilight nearly tumbled down a large gap but managed to dig her front hooves against the cliff side preventing herself from falling. Rainbow dash grabbed Twilight's tail to keep her from slipping forward.
“What’s with you and falling off cliffs today?” Rainbow joked, but Twilight was looked shell-shocked and breathed a sigh of relief.
“Now what?” Pinkie sighed.
“Duh,” Rainbow remarked, flapping her wings into the air.
“Oh yeah,” Pinkie chuckled.
Taking to the skies, Rainbow searched for the rope holding the boards to the bridge in place. Finding them through the mist, she flies back toward the opposite end intending to tie the bridge together.
“Rainbow…” A mysterious voice caught the blue Pegasus’ attention, dropping the rope before she could tie it.
“Who’s there?” Rainbow asked.
“Rainbow…” She stood upon her upright hoofs, using her wings to stay balanced. She placed her front hooves in front of herself in case the mysterious figure had malicious intent.
“I ain’t scared of you!” Rainbow said bravely. “Show yourself!”
“We’ve been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the best flyer in Equestria,” The voice spoke, deviously persuasive.
“Who?” Rainbow asked curiously.
“Why, you, of course.” The voice spoke again.
“Really?! I mean… Oh yeah, me,” Rainbow stuttered. “Hey, uh, you wouldn’t mind telling the Wonderbolts that, would ya? ‘cause I’ve been trying to get into that group for like, ever.”
“No, Rainbow Dash…” Before Rainbow’s very eyes, three Pegasus ponies, wearing dark blue-and-black flight suits and goggles, appeared before her. While two of the ponies were silent, the leader, the mare, did the talking.
“We want you to join us, The Shadowbolts. We’re the greatest aerial team in the Everfree Forest, and soon we will be the greatest in all Equestria, but first, we need a captain.” The lead pony began to fly around Rainbow Dash, stroking her ego more and more.
“The most magnificent—”
“Yep,” Rainbow agreed.
“Swiftest—”
“Yes.”
“Bravest flyer in all the land.”
“Yes,” Rainbow chuckled. “It’s all true.”
“We need… You,” The leader offered.
“WOOHOO!” Rainbow shouted excitedly. “Sign me up. Just let me tie this bridge ‘real’ quick and then we have a deal.”
Rainbow grabbed the rope in her mouth, proceeding to tie it to the post. Suddenly, the leader charged next to her, making the blue Pegasus drop the rope.
“No!” She barked. “It’s them or us!”
Rainbow suddenly felt as if she was in a tight spot. On one hoof, Rainbow needed to get the bridge tied so their friends can cross and help find the missing elements. But on the other hoof, if she turned down this offer to join a real flight team, word of this will surely get out and Rainbow may never get accepted into ‘any’ flight team. She won’t get another chance if she refused now.
“Rainbow, what’s taking so long?” Twilight called out. From the other side, the other ponies were waiting for Rainbow Dash to tie the bridge. Silver quickly saw the Shadowbolts and silently pointed them out to Twilight.
“Oh no,” Twilight gasped. “Rainbow!”
The Shadowbolt leader’s eyes glowed, creating a thick fog drowning Twilight out.
“Don’t listen to them!” Twilight called out. But it was all for naught, her cries were muted by the fog. From the other side, Rainbow was unsure what to do while the mysterious flight team waited for her answer.
“Well?” The leader asked.
“Rainbow!” Silver shouted. “I know how much you want to be the best flyer; I know this has been your dream! Don’t worry about us, we’ll find the elements and save Equestria. Just know whatever you decide, we’ll always support you no matter what. Even if this means goodbye… I won’t be disappointed in you; I promise.”
Rainbow Dash hesitated for another second, until a decision was finally made.
“You…” She spoke. The three Pegasus ponies seemed satisfied with her answer, when she suddenly took the rope to secure the bridge, much to their shock.
“Thank you! For the offer, I mean,” Rainbow clarified. “But I’m afraid I have to say no.”
Rainbow zipped away, as the leader and her two cohorts grit their teeth before turning back into the dark mist and floated away. The rest of the ponies cheered as Rainbow Dash flew back to the other side, as they began to cross the bridge.
“See?” Rainbow told Twilight. “I’d never leave my friends hangin’.”
Twilight just smiled, as Rainbow zipped just above Silver’s ear. “Thanks for the support,” She whispered. “It made the decision easier.”
Silver smiled, giving her a nod as they all crossed the bridge together.
It wasn’t long before our heroes found themselves in the ruins of the Castle of the Royal Sisters. As they explored the ancient castle, they pause before a large stone structure, which held several orbs around it. In a way, it reminded the ponies of something out of a planetarium.
“Whoa!” Twilight and Silver gasped, in unison.
“Come on, guys,” Applejack said. “Isn’t this what you’ve been waitin’ for?”
“The Elements of Harmony,” Twilight said, gapping at the statue.
“We’ve found them!” Silver added.
Slowly but surely, Rainbow and Fluttershy brought down the orbs one at a time.
“Careful, careful!” Twilight warned.
But fortunately, all the orbs were set in place before Twilight and Silver.
“One, two, three, four… There’s only five!” Pinkie pointed out.
“Where’s the last two?” Rainbow asked.
“The book said that when the five are present, one would be revealed through hope, the other by a spark!” Twilight explained.
“What the hay is that supposed to mean?” Applejack asked curiously.
“I’m not sure,” Twilight admits. “But I have an idea. Stand back. I don’t know what will happen. Silver, can you give me a hoof, please?”
"With pleasure," said Silver as they both knelt forward and began to make their horns glow to try and concentrate.
“Come on now, y’all,” Applejack said, guiding every pony out. “They need to concentrate.”
As Twilight and Silver concentrated, the dark mist soon arrived and encircled the elements, all while they tried to generate a magical spark. Soon, they both open their eyes and witnessed a huge blue cyclone before them. Twilight and Silver gasped, realizing what was happening. “Aah!” They both shouted.
“Twilight! Silver!” Every pony shouted.
“The Elements!” Twilight shouted.
“We must stop her!” Silver added. The two unicorns dove into the funnel of the cyclone, as it magically disappeared along with them. The other five ponies looked around, talking amongst each other.
“Twilight?!” Fluttershy called out. “Silver?!”
“What?!” Applejack exclaimed.
“Where did they go?” Rarity asked.
“What happened?” Pinkie asked.
“What’s going on?!” Rainbow Dash finished.
All of them, minus Applejack, dashed about, wondering where their two friends disappeared to.
“Twilight, Silver, where are you?” Applejack asked, worried.
“Look!” Rarity called out. They turned toward where Rarity was pointing, as a nearby rundown ruin glowed nearby.
“Come on!” Applejack called. Together, all the ponies rushed out as fast as they could to reach their friends.
Meanwhile, the blackish-blue mist transported Twilight and Silver toward a new location, the two unicorns coughed and sputtered from all the dust. Before them was Nightmare Moon herself, laughing evilly over the Elements. Twilight gasped, before she and Silver glared sternly, preparing to charge.
Twilight just glared, before she and Silver charged toward her, and Nightmare Moon came right at them. At the last possible moment, just when their horns were about to make contact, they conjured their magic to instantly vanish and reappear in the middle of the elements.
“Just one spark,” She groaned. “Come on, come on!”
Nightmare Moon quickly turned back into mist, sending an electric blast propelling the unicorns backwards and onto their backs. However, the elements seemingly charged back to life.
“No, no!” Nightmare Moon cried out. Twilight and Silver smiled triumphantly… Until the charge fizzled out, leaving them agape.
“But… Where are the last two elements?!” Twilight cried out. Nightmare Moon laughed sinisterly, lifting her front hooves, and stomped around the orbs, causing them to shatter into a billion pieces. Twilight and Silver stood in shock, their only weapon against her… Destroyed before their very eyes.
“You little foals!” Nightmare Moon laughed. “Thinking you could defeat me? Now you will never see your precious, or your sun! The nightwill last forever!”
Nightmare Moon cackled evilly, generating a great dark blue storm above her. Twilight felt that it was all over, their efforts to prevent Nightmare Moon’s take over were in vain. But then Silver saw her fall into despair, something spark inside him.
"No," Silver said, take the attention of both mares as he gets up. "I will not let it happen."
"You foal!" Nightmare Moon said. "The Elements are gone! There's nothing that can stop me now!"
"She's right, Silver," Twilight said hopeless, "with the Elements gone, we can't do anything. It's pointless."
"NO, THAT'S WRONG!" Silver yell, shocked the mares. "It's not pointless! There's still hope! We can overcome her and save Equestria! As long as we believe to hope, we can stop her!"
Then he said those words, a white aura surrounded him for a few seconds, shocked Twilight and Nightmare Moon even more. After she hears him spoke those words, Twilight felt something warm inside her. Like the despair inside her start to disappear and replace with something else. And that something is called Hope. Then, familiar sounds caused them to turn behind, as a group of shadows approached talking over each other.
“Don’t worry Twilight, we’re here!” Pinkie called out.
“Don’t worry, we’ll be there!” Applejack added.
As they waited for their arrival, something clicked between Twilight and Silver. A special spark suddenly appeared in both their eyes. Exchanging looks, they give each other a quick smirk silently realizing what this means. They turned around to face Nightmare Moon, their expressions shifting to fierce confidence.
“You think you can destroy The Elements of Harmony just like that?” Twilight challenged, as Silver stood beside her. “Well, you’re wrong, because the spirits of The Elements of Harmony are right here.”
As if they rehearsed this moment, all five mares stood around Twilight and Silver.
“What?” Nightmare Moon exclaimed. Before her eyes, several shards suddenly rose from the broken elements, as Twilight spoke.
“Applejack,” Twilight spoke, “who reassured me when I was in doubt, represents the spirit of… Honesty!”
Applejack found herself surrounded by some of the shards.
“Fluttershy, who tamed the manticore with her compassion, represents the spirit of… Kindness!”
Fluttershy hesitated but found reassurance in the shards around her.
“Pinkie Pie, who banished fear by giggling in the face of danger, represents the spirit of… Laughter!”
Pinkie got giddy as shards surrounded her.
“Rarity, who calmed a sorrowful serpent with a meaningful gift, represents the spirit of… Generosity! Rainbow Dash, who could not abandon her friends for her own heart’s desire, represents the spirit of... Loyalty!”
As Rarity and Rainbow were surrounded by some shards, Twilight looked down at Silver, who smiled at her, and she finally understood.
“And Silver, who never lost hope ever since the beginning and give me hope then I was into despair, represents the spirit of… Hope!”
Twilight stepped away from Silver, who became surrounded by the shards as well, before she spoke again. "These six ponies got us through every challenge you threw at us.”
“But you still don’t have the seventh element!” Nightmare Moon protested. “The spark didn’t work!”
“But it did!” Twilight corrected, facing the six ponies. “A different kind of spark. I felt it at the very moment I realized how happy I was to hear you, to see you, how much I cared about you.”
Twilight smiled, as a single pair of tears escaped her eyes. “The spark ignited inside me when I realized that you all… Were my friends!”
Upon Twilight’s epiphany, a light glowed around the unicorn as all eyes watch it descend before her. It did not take long for Twilight to realize what it all meant.
“You see, Nightmare Moon,” Twilight continued. “When those Elements are ignited by the… The spark, that resides in the heart of us all, it creates the seventh element: The element of… Magic!”
It was then the seventh orb appeared, revealing the seventh element as it descends above Twilight. The shards of the other elements restored themselves, creating special gold necklaces with each element residing in the center for the mares. Silver's element was more special, a gold crown with the element of hope, a white five-point star gem, on the center appear on his head. Twilight’s element also was special, a gold tiara with the element of magic shining triumphantly on her head as well. Then, a rainbow beam flies from them and towards Nightmare Moon.
“Nooo!” Nightmare Moon screamed. “Nooo!”
As the rainbow’s power consumed the Mare in the Moon, the elements themselves glowed brighter until Twilight opens her eyes, which glowed as well. The brightness consumed them all, filling the entire room with radiance. Eventually, the bright light faded, leaving every pony laying on the ground, clearly spent from the exposure to all that power.
“Ugh, my head,” Rainbow groaned, sitting up.
“Everypony okay?” Applejack asked, as the rest got back on their hooves.
“Oh, thank goodness!” Rarity cried.
All the ponies turned as the fashionista looked behind herself. Apparently, the magic of the elements was so powerful, it restored her beautiful tail to its former glory.
“Why Rarity, it’s so lovely,” Fluttershy pointed out.
“I know!” Rarity said, cuddling her tail. “I’ll never part with it again.”
“No, your necklace,” Fluttershy corrected. “It looks just like your cutie mark.”
Rarity finally noticed her gold necklace, noting how the purple diamond in the center matched her cutie mark swimmingly.
“What? Ohh!” Rarity exclaimed. “So does yours!”
Fluttershy looked upon her own necklace, smiling warmly. All the other ponies acknowledged their new jewelry bestowed upon them by the elements’ power.
“Look at mine! Look at mine!” Pinkie said excitedly.
“Aw yeah!” Rainbow said proudly, admiring her own.
Silver has a small smile on his face as he looked at his crown.
All the ponies ‘oohed’ and ‘awed’ at their elements, as Twilight admired her tiara with a big smile.
“Gee, Twilight!” Applejack spoke. “I thought you two were just spoutin’ a lot of hooey, but I reckon we really do represent the elements of friendship."
“Indeed you do…” A majestic voice draws the group toward the window, as the sun returns, and a warm light enters the castle ruins. As the familiar golden orb of hope and light ignited the dark sky, another made its way before the ponies. And there, standing majestically before them, was Princess Celestia herself, towering before her subjects. All, minus Twilight and Silver, bowed before their mighty ruler. The two ponies in question were all too happy to see her again.
“Princess Celestia!” Silver and Twilight gasped. The unicorns rushed towards their mentor, sharing a warm embrace.
“Twilight Sparkle, Silver, my faithful students,” Celestia said proudly. “I knew you could do it.”
“But… You told me it was all an old pony-tale,” Twilight pointed out.
“I told you and Silver that you needed to make some friends, nothing more,” Celestia corrected. As the other ponies stood up, minus Fluttershy given her shy nature, Celestia continued as it all became clear for her students.
“I saw the signs of Nightmare Moon’s return, and I knew it was you both who had the magic inside to defeat her, but you could not unleash it until you let true friendship into your heart. Now if only another will as well,” Princess Celestia said.
The seven ponies turned as Princess Celestia made her way towards what remained of Nightmare Moon, or rather her true form…
“Princess Luna!”
There, sitting upon the remains of now useless pebbles and shards, a lighter blue alicorn, with an even lighter mane and tail, met their gaze. The paleness of her coat and mane a sign she had been drained of her magical power, the alicorn much smaller in size compared to the white-coated Princess Celestia. She gasped upon hearing her name, one she hadn’t heard in so long, as she looked toward Princess Celestia fearfully.
“It has been a thousand years since I have seen you like this,” Princess Celestia said. “Time to put our differences behind us. We were meant to rule together, little sister.”
Every ponies’ jaws, minus Silver, dropped upon that startling twist.
“Sister?” Twilight and Rainbow said at once.
“Will you accept my friendship?” Celestia offered, extending a hoof.
The other ponies leaned forward with interest, anxiously waiting to see how Luna would answer. Pinkie Pie, however, learned too far forward. “Whoa!” She called, losing her balance.
After a brief moment, Princess Luna burst into tears and raced to embrace her older sister. “I’m so sorry!” Luna sobbed. “I missed you so much, big sister!”
Tears formed on the bottom of Celestia’s eyes, holding Luna close. “I’ve missed you, too,” Princess Celestia said, tearfully.
That was when Pinkie Pie burst into tears, sobbing… For a few seconds, before blowing her nose. “Hey, you know what this calls for?” She asked.
“A party!”
It wasn’t long before the seven ponies, and the two princesses, returned to Ponyville, as the entire town cheered for the princesses’ return, as the celebrations began. Amongst the crowd, Spike appeared giving both Twilight and Silver a warm welcome. Princess Luna, unsure about being there, was suddenly approached by two young Pegasus foals presenting her with a beautiful necklace of roses, as she gave Celestia a teary smile. All of Ponyville was happy… Except for one mare.
Despite their success, Twilight exchanged a sad face, assuming this is how it all ends.
“Why so glum, my faithful student?” Princess Celestia asked gently. “Are you not happy that your quest is complete, and you can return to your studies in Canterlot?”
Twilight turned her head toward Silver and her new friends, who seemed sad that she was about to leave.
“That’s just it,” Twilight spoke. “Just when I learned how wonderful it is to have friends, we have to leave them.”
Princess Celestia smiled, understandingly. “Spike take a note please,” She commanded.
On command, a quill and parchment in claw, Spike took notes as Princess Celestia made an announcement before all the ponies in Ponyville.
“I, Princess Celestia, hereby decree that the unicorn, Twilight Sparkle, shall take on a new mission for Equestria. She must continue to study the magic of friendship. She must report to me her findings from her new home in Ponyville.”
Twilight smile excitedly, as the rest of the ponies cheered, and Silver and the five mares gathered around her for a group hug.
“Oh thank you, Princess Celestia!” Twilight said happily. “I’ll study harder than ever before!”
Silver smile, as all of Ponyville cheered once more. 'This is definitely the beginning of a brand-new adventure. I wonder what the future has for the seven of us.'
It's had been a few days since the defeat of Nightmare Moon, and Twilight and Silver's new life in Ponyvilly was wonderful. One morning, the two unicorns were helping Applejack at Sweet Apple Acres. They had both been working hard gathering basket after basket of apples gathered from the orchard. Spike was simply enjoying a comfy ride along Twilight’s back, apparently entertaining himself by separating the fresh apples from the not-so-fresh apples.
“No, nope, nope…” Spike muttered, tossing apples from Twilight’s basket. With Silver catching the apples and put them in his basket while he has a confused look on his face. He didn't understand what wrong with those apples, they look fine to him.
“Thank you kindly for helping me out, guys,” Applejack said. “I bet Big MacIntosh that I could get all these Golden Delicious in the barn by lunchtime. If I win, he’s gonna walk down Stirrup Street in one of Granny’s girdles.”
Hearing that, Silver cracked up as a picture of Big MacIntosh walking around town in one of Granny Smith’s girdles played in his head.
“Oh boy,” Silver chuckled. “I wouldn't want to be in his place.”
“No problem at all, Applejack,” Twilight said. “I’m glad the goal is lunchtime. All this hard work is making me hungry.”
“I know, right?” Spike said, as he tossed an apple and hits Twilight's head. She turns around with a glare, as Spike smiled apologetically.
“Puh-lease, Spike,” She groaned. “You’ve been lounging on my back all morning while we worked!”
“Exactly!” Spike said, “You three were taking so long, I missed snack-time.”
Twilight was about to retort when her stomach grumbled loudly. She just laughed nervously.
“Eh, I guess we better get some food,” Twilight replied. In the meantime, Spike kept digging into her basket searching for a good apple.
“Nope,” He mumbled. “Worm… A-ha!”
Spike pulled out a large sparkling, shiny red apple. Twilight could feel her mouth water at the very sight of the fruit in Spike’s claws.
“Oh Spike, that looks delicious,” Twilight said, eager for a bite. Suddenly, Spike devoured the whole fruit into his mouth much to Twilight’s shock.
“Spike!” She called out, annoyed and disappointed.
“What?” Spike asked, innocently. Just then, he gave out a large belch. Twilight ducked as a green flame left his mouth and a rolled-up scroll appears before the three ponies.
“It’s a letter from Princess Celestia,” Twilight gasped. Spike cleared his throat shortly before opening it.
“Hear ye, hear ye,” He read aloud. “Her Grand Royal Highness, Princess Celestia of Equestria, is pleased to announce 'The Grand Galloping Gala' to be held in the magnificent capital city of Canterlot, on the 21st day of, eh, yadda yadda yadda, cordially extends an invitation to Twilight Sparkle, Silver, and one guest.”
Applejack and Twilight just smile and gasp excitedly.
“The Grand Galloping Gala!” the girls said as they start hopping up and down excitedly with Silver and Spike between them. The grey unicorn smile at the excitement of the mares, especially Twilight's.
'It appears that this year's gala is going to be less boring.' Silver though, as he remembers the previous gala's he had attended. Sure he had his brother with him every year, and then he becomes a Wonderbolt Silver was able to spend time with Soarin's teammates, but was a little sad that Twilight wasn't with him. But this year is going to be different. He was sure about it.
While the two mares were still hopping up and down, Spike just looked indignant. He stuck a finger in his mouth until he burped again, as another scroll appears.
“Look, three tickets!” Spike said. Silver uses his magic to hold the ticket that is addressed to him, while he has a small smile on his face.
“Wow, great! I’ve never been to the gala. Have you, Spike?” Twilight asks the baby dragon. She knew that Silver had gone to the gala in the past, so she didn't bother questioning him.
“No, and I plan to keep it that way,” Spike said. “I don’t want any of that girly frilly frou-frou nonsense.”
“Now hold on there, Spike,” Silver replied. “I’ll have you know us boys like going to these events too. It's not only for girls.”
“Yea, Spike,” Twilight said. “A dance would be nice.”
“Nice?” Applejack said. “It’s a heap good more than just nice. I’ve love to go. Land sakes, if I had an apple stand set up, ponies would be chowin’ our tasty vittles ‘til the cows came home. Do you have any idea how much business I could drum up for Sweet Apple Acres?”
(Applejack’s Daydream)
As Applejack spoke, she's imaging a long line of Canterlot ponies as far as the eye could see. They all came together with bags of bits, more than enough to purchase all the apples and various apple goods the cow pony could sell.
“Why, with all that money, we could do a heap of fixin’ up ‘round here." Applejack said. "We could replace that saggy old roof, and Big MacIntosh could replace that saggy old plow, and Granny Smith could replace that saggy old hip.”
Visions of run-down items instantly became brand new, a roof that made the whole farmhouse in solid shape and a plow as shiny and clean as a whistle. Then, there was Granny Smith, walking with a stretcher, until ‘POOF!’ her mane is fixed up, her expression is energetic, and with a swish of her newly repaired hip, she starts dancing and bucking like a young school filly again
(Applejack’s Daydream Ends)
“Why, I’d give my left hind leg to go to that gala,” Applejack finished.
'How does somepony replace a hip?' Silver thought with a confused look on his face.
“Oh, well in that case,” Twilight began. “Would you like to—”
“WHOA!” Just when Twilight was about to ask Applejack to go with them, a certain blue Pegasus, from out of the blue, crashed upon all three of them. The impact knocked all the apples Applejack, Twilight, and Silver had in their baskets onto the ground.
It didn’t take long for the Pegasus to quickly hop back into the air, while the others were still crouched onto the ground. “Are we talking about the Grand Galloping Gala?”
“Rainbow Dash!” Applejack snapped, rising to her hooves. “You told me you were too busy to help me harvest apples. What were you busy doing? Spyin’?”
“No, I was busy napping,” Rainbow Dash replied. It was then Silver noticed a pillow and blanket conveniently on a nearby tree branch. How that was there and they never noticed was beyond him.
“And I just happened to hear that you two have an extra ticket?” Rainbow finished.
“Yeah, but—”
“YES!!!” Rainbow cut off Twilight. “This is soawesome. The Wonderbolts perform at the Grand Galloping Gala every year. I can see it now…"
'Here we go again.' Silver thought as rolling his eyes.
(Rainbow Dash's Daydream)
A picture in her mind showed Rainbow Dash in her moment of glory. A Wonderbolts display was just underway when the audience gasped. Before their very eyes, Rainbow Dash appears from the sky.
“Everyone would be watching the sky,” Rainbow explained, between scenes. “Their eyes riveted on the Wonderbolts, but then in would fly Rainbow Dash!”
Over the cheering crowd, Rainbow Dash performs one of her signature maneuvers before the eyes of the ponies.
“I would draw their attention with my Super Speed Strut,” Rainbow continued. “Then I would mesmerize ‘em with my Fantastic Filly Flash. And for my grand finale, the Buccaneer Blaze! The ponies would go wild!”
In her fantasy, Rainbow Dash performed all those maneuvers perfectly, although the Buccaneer Blaze is not seen. Still, the ponies cheered for her wildly and even the three Wonderbolts’ jaws dropped.
“The Wonderbolts would insist that my signature moves be incorporated into their routine, and then welcome me as their newest member.”
By the end of her fantasy, Rainbow Dash shakes hooves with all three Wonderbolts. Before long, she soon donned her very own Wonderbolt uniform, flying and racing with them into the clear blue sky.
(Rainbow Dash's Daydream Ends)
“Don’t you see, guys?” Rainbow asked excitedly. “This could be my one chance to show ‘em my stuff. You gotta take me!”
Rainbow was suddenly interrupted by a tug against her tail, which brought her down to the ground.
“Hold on just one pony pickin’ minute here,” Applejack said, with a hard spit. “I asked for that ticket first!”
“So?” Rainbow shot back. “That doesn’t mean you own it.”
“Oh, yeah?" Applejack asks. "Well, I challenge you to a hoof-wrestle. Winner gets the ticket.”
The two ponies find a nearby stump and began to groan loudly trying to out-stretch each other. This didn’t go on for long when Twilight shoved them apart.
“Girls, these are our tickets,” Twilight said firmly. “We’ll decide who gets it, thank you very much. Whoever has the best reason to go should get the ticket, don’t you think?”
Twilight turned towards Silver on that last sentence.
“Well...” Silver began. "I don't know if this is the best idea—”
“Drummin’ up business for the farm?” Applejack cut off Silver.
“A chance to audition for the Wonderbolts?” Rainbow proposed.
“Money t’ fix Granny’s hip,” Applejack added.
“Living the dream,” Rainbow added.
“Oh my, those were all pretty good reasons, aren’t they?” Twilight said nervously before she hears her stomach start to rumble. Twilight laughed nervously at this.
“Listen to that, I am starving,” Twilight said, as Spike climbed on her back. “I don’t know about you, but I can’t make important decisions on an empty stomach. So we’ll, uh, think about it over lunch, and get back to you two, okay?”
“Okay,” Applejack and Rainbow said sadly.
Once Silver and Twilight left the farm, the Earth Pony and Pegasus glared at each other. Not wasting a second, they began to arm wrestle once more, determined to prove who’s the best.
Meanwhile, the two Unicorns and the baby dragon had made it back to town contemplating on the matter at hoof. They were just nearing a building known in Ponyville as ‘Sugarcube Corner’.
“So, who are you gonna give the tickets to, you guys?” Spike asked.
“I don’t know Spike,” Twilight admitted. “But I really can’t think straight when I’m hungry, so where should we eat?”
“Well,” Silver pondered. “I was talking to the Mayor just the other day, and she referred a good restaurant just down the—”
CRASH!!!
“OW!” Suddenly, something only Silver would describe as ‘the pink blur’ barreled into them at high speed. The quick impact made the tickets float from Spike’s hands and landed right on Pinkie’s nose.
“GAH!” Pinkie shouted, dashing about. “Bats! Bats on my face! Help!”
In the midst of her excitement, Pinkie Pie came to a stop when she noticed the front of the tickets, looking very closely.
“Wait, these aren’t… tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala?!”
“Oh no…” Silver muttered a little annoying. “Not this again!”
(PinkienPie's Daydream)
This time, in Pinkie’s mind, she imagined the Grand Gala as one big party, with all the wonderful things she could imagine.
“It’s the most amazing incredible tremendous super-fun wonderful terrifically humongous party in all of Equestria! I’ve always, always, always wanted to go!”
As if that wasn’t enough, Pinkie began singing.
Pinkie Pie (Sings): Oh the Grand Galloping Gala is the best place for me! Oh the Grand Galloping Gala is the best place for me! Hip hip Hooray! It’s the best place for me, For Pinkie…
And the party pony kept ranting between lyrics, just as she normally would:
“With the decorations like streamers and fairy lights and pinwheels and pinatas and pin-cushions. With goodies like sugar cubes and sugar canes and sundaes and sunbeams and sarsaparilla. And I get to play my favorite-est of favorite fantabulous games like Pin the Tail on the Pony!”
Pinkie Pie (Sings): Oh the Grand Galloping Gala is the best place for me! Oh the Grand Galloping Gala is the best place for me! ‘Cause it’s the most galarrific superbly-terrific gala ever In the whole galaxy! Wheee!!
(PinkienPie's Daydream Ends)
Silver just stared with his eyes rolled towards Pinkie Pie during that whole number, which he felt coming from a mile away. Meanwhile, Spike picked up the tickets.
‘Oh, for Celestia’s sake...’ Silver thought.
“Oh thank you, guys,” Pinkie said happily. “It’s the most wonderful-est gift ever.”
“Um, actually—” Twilight tried to explain.
“GASP!” A pony startled Spike from behind. He turns to see it was just Rarity the fashionista from the Carousel Boutique.
“Are these what I think they are?” Rarity asked.
“Yes, yes, yes!” Pinkie answered. “Twilight and Silver are taking me to the Grand Galloping Gala in Canterlot.”
“The gala?!” Rarity exclaimed. “I design ensembles for the gala every year, but I’ve never had the opportunity to attend. Oh, the society, the culture, the glamour! It’s where I truly belong, and where I’m destined to meet him.”
That last word Rarity spoke with a rather dreamy tone. At first, Silver was wondering who’s ‘him’ Rarity is talking about. But then his thought had gone to princess Celestia’s nephew, his eyes widen.
‘Oh, no...’ he thought. ‘Why him?!’
“Him!” Pinkie copied her tone, appearing puzzled. “Who?”
“Him…”
(Rarity's Daydream)
Rarity soon imagined herself at the Gala, all eyes from every pony were upon Rarity, in a beautiful golden yellow dress. She slowly marches down the aisle, approaching the regal Princess Celestia in all her glory.
“I would stroll through the gala, and everyone would wonder, ‘Who is that mysterious mare?’. They would never guess that I was just a simple pony from little old Ponyville.”
Before the Princess, Rarity bows before her and she seems quite pleased with the display.
“Why, I would cause such a sensation that I would be invited for an audience with Princess Celestia herself,” Rarity continued. “And the Princess would be so taken by the style and elegance that she would introduce me to ‘him’, her nephew: The most handsome eligible unicorn stallion in Canterlot.”
As Celestia stepped aside, there beside her was the ‘eligible unicorn stallion’. With alluring light brilliant arctic blue eyes, his perfectly combed light amber mane feathered and lethal, with the front of a tux with a white flower and matching blue bow tie along the light grayish coat, with a compass rose for a Cutie Mark. Indeed, the way he posed and the way he smiled, he looked like a fairy tale prince come to life.
The two unicorns soon dance regally together amidst the sea of the high-class ponies in attendance. This goes on until he bends on one knee, offering her the most beautiful diamond ever crafted for a mare of such flare.
“Our eyes would meet, our hearts would melt,” Rarity said dreamily. “Our courtship would be ‘magnificent’! He would ask for my hoof in marriage, and of course I would say, ‘Yes!’”
The last scene shows Rarity and the stallion upon the altar, all the ponies in Equestria gathering to bear witness to holy matrimony. The perfect wedding for the perfect bride and her perfect groom.
“We would have a royal wedding, befitting a princess, which is…” Rarity giggled. “… What I would become upon marrying ‘him’, the stallion of my dreams.”
(Rarity's Daydream Ends)
‘I knew it...’ Silver thought, with his eyes rolled. ‘It had to be that jerk.’
“Silver, Twilight,” Rarity said. “I simply cannot believe you two would invite Pinkie Pie so she can… party and prevent me from meeting my true love. How could you? Hmph.”
Rarity turned her head with a huff. Before Twilight or Silver could answer, Spike noticed a white bunny come up and snatch the tickets from his claws.
“Hey!” Spike called out.
But the bunny had already dashed away, straight towards… Fluttershy. He climbs upon her head, presenting the tickets from above which made her ‘GASP’.
“Angel, these are perfect,” Fluttershy replied softly.
Meanwhile, Rarity and Pinkie shot dirty glares at each other. Well, mostly Rarity, as Pinkie Pie bounced about like a beach ball.
“Uh, listen you guys,” Twilight said. “We haven’t decided who to give the extra ticket to.”
“You haven’t?” Rarity and Pinkie retorted together. That then Fluttershy approaches them slowly. She proceeds to come into view between Pinkie Pie and Rarity.
“Um, excuse me, Twilight, Silver,” Fluttershy said, gently. “I would just like to ask, I mean, if it would be alright, if you haven’t given it to someone else…”
“You?” Rarity exclaimed, knowing what the Pegasus was asking. “You want to go to the gala?”
“Oh, no,” Fluttershy replied. That answer received a swift jab from Angel Bunny insisting on the Yellow Pegasus to go on.
“I mean, yes, or, actually, kind of. You see…”
(Fluttershy’s Daydream)
A vision of Fluttershy in a beautiful garden takes the scene. An abundance of colorful flowers that are not often seen by the ponies beyond the castle. Not to mention the assortment of wondrous critters that appeared and gathered all around the shy Yellow Pegasus.
“… It’s not so much the Grand Galloping Gala, as it is the wondrous private gated garden that surrounds the dance,” Fluttershy explained. “The flowers are said to be the most beautiful and fragrant in all of Equestria. For the night of the gala, and that night alone, would they all be in bloom…. And that’s just the flora! Don’t get me started on the fauna. There’s loons and toucans and bitterns, oh my! Hummingbirds that can really hum, and buzzards that can really buzz. White-blue jays, and red jays, and green jays, pink jays, and pink flamingos!”
(Fluttershy’s Daydream Ends)
Then Fluttershy finished talking, she hovered happily before Silver and Twilight as she cuddled Angel in her arms.
‘Of course...’ Silver thought, rolling his eyes. ‘That’s probably the only reason she would go to the gala.’
“Gee, Fluttershy, it sounds… beautiful…?” Twilight asked, unsure of herself.
“Wait, just a minute!” A familiar voice made Twilight and Silver look up, as Rainbow Dash stared down at them from the roof top of a nearby house.
“Rainbow Dash!” Twilight retorted angrily, as the blue Pegasus flew toward them. “Have you been following us all day?”
“No. I mean, yes. I mean, maybe…” Rainbow stumbled. “Look, it doesn’t matter. I couldn’t risk a couple of goody-four-shoes like you two giving that ticket away to just anybody.”
“Wait just another minute,” Applejack called out, approaching Twilight.
“Applejack,” Twilight replied sternly. “Were you following us too?”
"No," Applejack replied quickly, before pointing at Rainbow Dash. "I was followin' this one to make sure she didn't try anything funny business. Still trying to take mah ticket."
“Your ticket?” Rainbow retorted.
“But Twilight and Silver are taking me!” Pinkie shot back.
Before Silver or Twilight could protest, the five mares started arguing over each other. Their voices grew louder and louder, nearly smothering the two unicorns untly Silver finally had enough.
"QUIET!" Silver shouted, silencing all of them. Exept...
“And then I said, “Oatmeal, are you craz—”
“PINKIE!” Silver shouted at the pink pony again. Pinkie Pie suddenly stopped once she realizing that the arguing had stopped.
“Oh…” Pinkie said sheepishly.
"Girls," Twilight declared, "there's no use in arguing."
"But Twilight..." Rarity tried to protest.
“No but’s!” Silver cut her off. “This is our decision; we’re gonna make it on our own.”
“And we certainly can’t think straight with all this noise…” Twilight added. Just then, her’s stomach start to grumbled loudly. “Not to mention hunger. Now go on, shoo!”
The five mares either walked or flew away, grumbling to themselves.
“And don’t worry, we’ll figure this out…” Twilight added.
But the mares had already disappeared, leaving Twilight alone with Spike somewhere to the side, out of sight, and Silver, who merely sighed.
“… Somehow…” Silver added quietly. He turns toward Twilight, who looked rather upset. Silver gives her a side hug.
“Come on,” Silver said. “Let’s grab some lunch, my treat.”
Twilight just gave a small smile as he guided her and Spike, who had caught up and climbing upon Silver’s back, towards the restaurant he had recommended.
At the restaurant, Silver and Spike were reading the menus as Twilight was slumped over the table.
“Oh Spike, what are we gonna do? All five of our best friends have really good reasons to go to the gala,” Twilight said worriedly. She then looked at Silver and notice that unlike her, he was very calm about the whole situation. It didn’t really surprise her, he’s always the most calming unicorn between the two of them. Even then she knew that, she couldn’t help but ask him. “Aren’t you worried about this, Silver?”
“Not really...” Silver said calmly, before he looked at her and continue, while he smiled at her. “I’m sure that everything is going to be fine in the end.”
“If you said so,” Twilight rolled her eyes, before her stomach grumbled again. That’s then their waiter, Savior Fare, approached the table.
“Have you made your decision?” He asked, with a French accent.
“I would love a daffodil and daisy sandwich,” Twilight said.
“I will have the same.” Silver said.
“Do you have any rubies?” Spike asked. The only response from the Professional waiter was an indignant glare.
“No? Okay…” Spike sighed, tossing the menu behind him. “… I’ll have the hay fries, extra crispy.”
Savior Fare was already walking away before Spike finished placing his order. As Savior Fare went back inside, the group had a brief moment to talk.
“What do you think, Spike?” Twilight asked.
“I think we have to try another restaurant,” Spike answered. “I mean, I like grass just fine, but would it hurt anybody to offer some gemstones?”
“She means about the gala and the ticket, Spike.” Silver answer for Twilight.
“Oh, you’re still on that?” Spike asked annoyed.
“Spike, listen,” Twilight insisted. She leans toward him on the table with her front hooves, knocking the flower vase off the table. “How do we choose? And when I do choose, will the other four be mad at us? I mean, I could give up my ticket and give away two, but that would still leave three disappointed ponies. What if we—”
Just then, Twilight was cut off when Savior Fare reappeared with their order.
“Ah, your food,” He replied, setting the plates on the table.
Silver and Spike start eating their food, while Twilight smiled at hers.
“Oh thank you,” Twilight sighed. “This looks so good. I’m sure everything will be much clearer once we eat.”
She uses her magic to lift the sandwich to her mouth when the other ponies galloped past them and into the indoor section of the café. The mare unicorn drops her sandwich back on her plate, turning in confusion.
“Em, madam, monsieur?” Savior Fare replied, concerned. “Are you going to eat your food in ze rain?”
“It’s not raining…” Twilight replied.
BOOM!
A thunderclap caused the trio to look around, noticing how everywhere, minus their table, was getting a large downpour.
“What’s going on?” Twilight asked. It was then, in a small hole in the clouds, a very familiar blue Pegasus appeared.
“Hi there, best friends forever I’ve ever had!” Rainbow said, sweetly. “Enjoying the sunny weather?”
“Rainbow Dash, what are you doing?” Twilight asked suspiciously.
“Whaddya mean?” Rainbow replied innocently. “I just saw the smartest, most generous ponies about to get rained on, so I thought I’d kick a hole in the clouds to keep them dry so they could dine in peace, that’s all.”
‘I can’t believe that she’s doing all this for a stupid ticket!’ Silver thought furiously. He is very angry and disappointed that Rainbow Dash is doing something like that.
“Rainbow, you’re not trying to get extra consideration for the extra ticket by doing extra special favors, are you?” Twilight asked.
“Me?” Rainbow chuckled. “No-no-no, of course not.”
“Uh-huh,” Twilight said.
“Seriously, I’d do it for anypony,” Rainbow added. Just then, the other ponies were running to find cover and failing miserably. The two unicorns look toward Rainbow Dash, clearly seeing that the seen exposed her bluff.
“So, I’d appreciate it if you closed up that rain cloud right now,” Twilight added.
“Ugh, fine,” Rainbow said, zipping up the cloud.
“That’s better,” Twilight said. Silver uses his magic to summon three umbrellas for him, Twilight, and Spike to keep themselves dry. A grey for Silver, purple for Twilight, and green for Spike.
“Thanks Silver.” Twilight thanking him.
“No problem.” Silver said. But before they could finished their food, Rarity arrived carrying a large purple umbrella.
“Twilight! Silver! It’s raining,” She said plainly.
“No, really?” Silver retorted sarcastically.
“Come with me before you catch a cold.” Rarity said as she grabbed Twilight and pulled off.
“I thought you couldn’t get a cold in the rain,” Spike said.
“You can’t,” Silver said as he stood up and walked after Rarity, while Spike followed after him.
As soon as they were all inside the Carousel Boutique, Twilight shook the water off of her. Her mane fluffed up and went back to normal. She smiled before looking at a wet maned Rarity.
“Heh-heh, oops, sorry,” Twilight said apologetically.
“Oh no, it’s quite all right. After all, we are...” Rarity said. Suddenly, she was completely dry and nuzzled Twilight’s side before she continues. “… The best friends, are we not? And you know what best friends do?”
“Uh…” Based on their expression, both Twilight and Silver were afraid to find out.
“Makeovers!” Rarity exclaimed.
Rarity shoved a dressing screen in front of her and Twilight, knocking Silver and Spike aside as Rarity roughly dressed up Twilight.
“Ugh, Rarity, ow!” Twilight groaned. “This really isn’t fixing it. I mean, thank you, but, ooh, that’s too tight!”
As the screen was removed, Twilight was fitted in a glittery little dress. Seeing her like that, Silver couldn’t help but blush at how pretty she was.
“Uh, yeah, it is kinda pretty, isn’t it?” Twilight said, before she looked at Silver. “Uh, Silver, how do I look?”
“Y-you look very pretty.” Silver said, blushing even more. That makes her blushing as well.
“T-thanks,” Twilight said, as she smiled at him. Spike made a face, sticking his finger in his mouth. Rarity rushed into him, causing him to stick his entire claw inside his mouth.
“And you,” Rarity exclaimed. “Oh Spike, I have a dandy little outfit for the dashing gent. You too, Silver.”
Before they could say anything, both Silver and Spike were shoved behind a screen.
“Oh, hey, ouch, oomph, too tight, ye-ow!” Silver screamed. “Use a shoehorn next time!”
Once the screen had moved, Spike was dressed in a very traditional renaissance style blue suit with a blonde wig. Silver was in a similar suit, it is dark blue with a red powdered upper-class wig and some boots clearly too tight for his hooves. They both stood indignant and embarrassed.
“Oh, Spike… Silver…” Twilight giggled.
“This is so embarrassing.” Silver murmured, blushing in embarrassment.
“Now you just need a hat,” Rarity said, plopping it on Spike’s head.
“Ugh, I told you, I don’t want any part of this girly gala gunk,” Spike whined. “See you back at the library!”
The baby dragon quickly dashed right out of his clothes and out of the boutique.
“Oh, who needs him anyway,” Rarity said, with a laugh. As the fashionista brought a mirror, Twilight just looked at herself contently.
“This is all about you, and how fabulous you two will look at the Grand Galloping Gala.” Rarity said. Silver and Twilight both blinked at one another in realization.
“Wait, the Grand—” They said together.
“And oh, my goodness, what a coincidence!” Rarity explained. The way she went on, both Silver and Twilight knew exactly what Rarity was trying to do.
“I happen to have an ensemble of my own that matches Twilight to a T…” Rarity said, as she held Twilight close as they gazed into the mirror before the fashionista took full dominance of the reflection. “We would be the bells of the ball, you and I… Everyone would be clamoring for our attention. All eyes would be on us, and then everyone would finally know who, the most beautiful, the most talented, the most sophisticated in all of Equestria is Rarity the unicorn!”
Rarity had stars in her eyes, until she turned toward Twilight and Silver, who gave her death glares.
“Ah,” Rarity laughed nervously. “And Twilight Sparkle and Silver, of course.”
“I see what’s going on,” Twilight said angrily.
“You’re just trying to butter us up, so we’d give you the extra ticket!” Silver added.
“Well, it’s not going to work,” Twilight said. The two unicorns tossed the offered clothes back to Rarity, resuming their normal appearance.
“You’re going to have to wait for our decision just like everyone else. Now if you’ll excuse me, I've been trying all day just to get some lunch,” Twilight said firmly. They just turned to the open-door Spike left through, when suddenly.
“Did somepony say lunch?” said a familiar voice, before the owner of the voice grabbed the two unicorns and dragged them outside. The two unicorns soon landed in front of a wooden wagon loaded with various apple treats.
“You’ve got to be kidding me!” Twilight exclaimed.
It was then their culprit appeared before them: Applejack.
“I got apple pie, apple fritters, apple tarts, apple dumplings, apple crisps, and apple Brown Betty,” She listed, showing off the last-mentioned dessert. “Uh, the dessert, not my auntie. What do you say there, best friends?”
That's then Twilight's stomach start grumbled once again, as she could feel her temper slip and her eye twitched.
“Is that a yes?” Applejack asked.
“No, no!” Twilight snapped, making Applejack drop the last dish. “We don’t know who we’re giving the ticket to. And all these favors aren’t making it any easier to decide! In fact…”
“I'm less sure now than am was this morning!” She shouted. Groaning, Twilight high tail out of there. Applejack just looked stunned as she took off.
“So, that’s a maybe?” Applejack could only say before she gulped and turns her head nervously towards the grey unicorn, who gives her a death glare. She knew that she is in trouble now.
"Aj, we need to talk," Silver said dangerously ”Now!"
Yup. She is definitely in trouble.
It was a short while before Twilight had a moment to calm down. At least enough to get back to the Grand Oak Library. But it was clear that the mare was frustrated and stressed out after a long day.
“Ugh, I never thought being showered with favors could be so aggravating!” Twilight retorted angrily and opened the door. Before her eyes, various animals dusted and cleaned the interior of the library. She heard a familiar yellow Pegasus singing, as she dusted the bookshelves.
“Fluttershy, not you too?” Twilight gasped.
“Oh, well, hello Twilight,” Fluttershy greeted. “I hope you don’t mind, but we’re all doing a little spring cleaning for you and Silver.”
“It’s summer,” Twilight said, matter-of-factly.
“Oh, well, better late than never, right?” Fluttershy replied, flying next to them. “It was Angel’s idea.”
The little bunny smiled, continuing to toss a salad nearby.
“You’re not doing this for the ticket, are you?” Twilight asked, getting to the point.
“Oh no, I’m doing this because you’re my very best friends,” Fluttershy assured. “Right Angel?”
The little bunny just gave her a glare, which said otherwise.
“Oh yes, we are just doing this for the ticket.” Fluttershy finally said, as Angel offered the salad.
“No, no, no! Well, this was all very nice of you and Angel, but me or Silver are not accepting any extra favors until we’ve made our final decision, so I'm going to have to ask you to leave.” Twilight said, walking over to the door and opening it.
“SURPRISE!!!” a band of voices suddenly cheered outside, accompanied by the sound of party whistle and some confetti. Suddenly, Pinkie Pie grabbed Twilight outside the library and she is tossed up and down by a bunch of random ponies, while Pinkie Pie began to sing again.
Pinkie Pie (Sings): Twilight is my bestest friend Whoopie, whoopie!
“Pinkie…” Twilight said.
Pinkie Pie (Sings): She's the cutest, smartest, all around best pony, pony!
“Pinkie…” She repeated.
Pinkie Pie (Sings): I bet if I throw a super-duper fun party, party!
“Pinkie!” She said louder.
Pinkie Pie (Sings): They’ll give their extra ticket to the Gala to me!
“PIIIIIIIIIINKIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIE!” Twilight shouted so loudly, the ponies broke away and sent her landing hard on the ground.
“Yes, Twilight?” Pinkie asked, batting her eyes.
"At least the other ponies tried to be subtle about the ticket!" Twilight exclaimed.
"Wait, what ticket? What gala?" a pony named 'Drizzle' asked.
"Oh, you didn't know?" Pinkie declared, "Twilight has an extra ticket to the Grand Galloping Gala!"
"The Grand Galloping Gala?" all of the ponies cried out in unison, before surrounding Twilight.
"Have I ever told you how much I love your mane?", one of the ponies asked. Just then, Spike ran by, and start pulling Twilight away.
"I’ll wash your dishes!", other pony said. The three stopped short, finding their retreat blocked by some pony named 'Daisy'.
“Would you like help with our gardening?” she asks. They tried to get away again before they were stopped again.
“I have a cartload of extra carrots,” A pony named 'Shoeshine' proposed. Soon the crowd had swamped again, shouting favor after favor.
“What are we gonna do?” Spike asked. Their personal space began to dwindle rapidly; Twilight found herself ready to panic.
“We’re… gonna… RUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUNN!" Twilight shouted, before the unicorn jumped high in the air and dashing away at top speed with the mob in hot pursuit. Pinkie Pie stands still, watching the ponies run after Twilight for the extra ticket. That's then she hears the voice of a very, very, VERY angry Silver, which makes her so scared that her heart stops for a second.
"PINKAMENA DIANE PIE!"
(With Twilight and Spike)
On cue, some Benny-Hill style music plays as Twilight ran for her dear life trying to escape the crowd, while Spike held onto Twilight from behind. They tried just about everything just to get away.
First, they behind the cart with all the apple treats. They watch the mob rush past while they hid, only to be spotted by a pony from the window and another pony popping out of the cart. Soon, they were running again as the mob raced after them, even knocking one towns-pony aside.
A passing elderly couple with a stroller slowly walks down the street as the mob of ponies dashed past them. But it turns out to be Twilight dressed in a blue cloak and Spike dressed as a baby, with a binky in his mouth. But sadly, one of the girl ponies turns and points toward the group, forcing them to run away again. They quickly hide under a bridge by the canal, trying to hold onto the bottom. Just as they raced past them, Spike swiped a claw and sighed… Only to accidentally fall into the canal with a ‘SPLASH!’ exposing their hiding spot.
The mob kept racing after the group passing a window to a shop, where mannequins stood in a pose. But it turns out to be one pony and a dragon in disguise: Twilight like a circus clown, and Spike like a hula dancer (A girl one). Nothing worked for both of them. Soon, they ran until they were backed into a corner, as all the ponies approached shouting favor after favor at them. The pressure became so unbearable for Twilight, her horn began to glow brightly and she, along with Spike, disappeared. All the other ponies looked around, exclaiming shock and confusion.
“Where is she? Where’d she go? She’s disappeared?” the ponies question one other.
Fortunately, Twilight didn’t get very far, as she had triggered a simple teleportation spell, which landed them right back inside the Grand Oaks Library. She was quite frazzled from the trip and poor Spike was slightly fried.
“Ugh… Warn me next time you two are donna do that,” He groaned dizzily.
“I didn’t even know it was gonna happen,” Twilight protested. "Now quick, lock the doors!”
They quickly closed all the doors, locking the bolts, and shut off all the lights. They breathed a sigh of relief, slumping to the floor after finishing the job. Suddenly, a light came back on, they look up, and Twilight's five best friends stared down at them, all with sad smiles on their faces, near a high window. Before Twilight was able to say something, Silver comes near her and put one of his hoofs on her shoulder.
" Twilight, please listen to them. The girls have something to say to you." Silver smile at her. This made Twilight confused, as Applejack walked up to them.
“Twilight, sugars,” Applejack said gently. “I didn’t mean to put so much pressure on you, and if it helps, I don’t want the ticket anymore. You can give it to somepony else. I won’t feel bad, I promise.”
“Me too,” Fluttershy added. “I just feel awful that I made you feel so awful.”
“And me too,” Pinkie Pie cut in. “It’s no fun upsetting your friends.”
“Twilight,” Rarity joined in. “It was unfair of me to try and force you as I did.”
“Yes! That means the ticket is mine. Ha-ha!” Rainbow said, before singing and dancing in midair. “I got the ticket; I got the ticket—”
Rainbow soon stopped when Applejack, Fluttershy, and especially Silver shot her a dirty look.
“You know,” Rainbow said sheepishly. “I haven’t perfected my signature moves for the Wonderbolts anyway. I don’t need that ticket either.”
“We all got so gun-ho about going to the gala that we couldn’t see how un-gun-ho we were making you,” Applejack pointed out.
“We’re sorry, Twilight,” The five mares said, in unison. This made Twilight a little better. She looked at Silver who smile at her give her a nod, understanding what she had in mind and that he was okay with it, she smiled back and give him a nod.
“Spike take down a note,” Twilight instructed.
Spike grabs a sheet of paper and a quill. Twilight proceeds to speak aloud, as she picked up the three tickets with her magic.
Dear Princess Celestia,
I’ve learned that one of the joys of friendship is sharing your blessings, but when there’s not enough blessings to go around, having more than your friends can make you feel pretty awful. So, though we appreciate the invitation, we will be returning all three tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala.
“What?!” The other five mares exclaimed, in shock.
“If my friends can’t all go,” Twilight continued. “We don’t wanna go either.”
The other ponies, still in shock over the decision, felt worse about everything.
“Guys, you don’t have to do that,” Applejack protested.
“Nope, we’ve made up our mind,” Twilight said, as Silver gave a nod. “Spike, you can send the letter now.”
Spike released a green flame that ate up the letter, sending it on its way.
“Now you won’t get to go to the gala either,” Fluttershy said sadly.
“It’s okay, girls,” Twilight assured. “We couldn’t possibly enjoy ourselves without our best friends there with us.”
“So, we would rather not go at all,” Storm added, with a smile. 'Even though we could just ask the princess to send us more tickets so we all can go to the gala together. Oh well, there's always next year.
The other mares shared a group hug, chuckling with each other. Applejack turns as Spike began making faces as if he were grossed out. At least, that’s how Applejack interpreted his grunts.
“Well wallop my withers, Spike,” Applejack said, approaching the dragon. “Isn’t that just like a boy? Can’t handle the least bit of sentiment.”
BURP!!!
“Whoa, Nelly!” Applejack exclaimed. She barely missed getting singed by the green flame Spike spat out between her golden mane and Stenson hat. The flame turns into another letter.
“A letter from the princess?” Twilight said surprised. “That was fast.”
Spike proceeds to open the letter and reads the contents aloud.
“My faithful students, Twilight, why didn’t you just say so in the first place?” And low and behold, a familiar sight met their eyes… But ten times greater.
“Seven tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala!” Spike announced. All the ponies in the room gasped, excitedly.
“Now we can all go,” Twilight declared happily. Just then, her stomach growled. Which made Twilight laughed nervously.
“Allow us to treat you both to dinner,” Rarity offered.
“What a great way to apologize,” Rainbow declared. Each pony collected their ticket, the lot of them hovering above their heads as they left the house.
“And to celebrate!” Pinkie Pie added, while exiting. “Come on everyone, the cupcakes are on me!”
Spike held on to one extra ticket excitedly, until Applejack left. The ticket departed from Spike’s head and floated above hers.
“How come I don’t get a ticket to the gala?” Spike asked sadly.
HURK! BURP!
Applejack stopped moving when she heard the belch, as a green glow appeared behind her, and she turned back. Apparently, Spike received another letter from Princess Celestia.
“And one for you Spike,” He read.
Spike giggled happily as he held his ticket and left the library. Just then, he spots Applejack, standing casually with a sly smirk on her face. Spike froze for a second, before making a face.
“I mean, gross, I have to go too?” He remarked.
Eventually, Spike dashed away giggling again. Applejack merely chuckled, as she went to catch up with the rest of their friends.
