Chapter 3: Apple Trial, Flutter Trial

Nightmare Moon smiles. She stares at everypony. I'm at the back, waiting to fly out the entrance. She speaks.

"Oh my beloved subjects. It's been so long since I've seen your precious little sun-loving faces."

"What did you do to our princess?!" RainbowDash shouts.

Nightmare Moon laughs in amusement.

"Why? Am I not royal enough for you? Don't you know who I am?"

Everypony looks at each other in confusion. I feel like facehoofing myself. Twilight stares with determination. A look of 'I was correct'. Nightmare Moon flips to stare at Fluttershy. Expecting an answer.

"Does my crown no longer count now that I have been imprisoned for a thousand years?"

She turns to Rarity instead. "Did you not recall the legend? Did you not see the signs?!"

"I did!" Twilight shouts. "And I know who you are. You're the mare in the moon. Nightmare Moon!"

Everypony gasps. I nod in agreement. Nightmare Moon smirks.

"Well well well. Some pony whom remembers me. Then you also know why I am here."

Twilight can't seem to remember.

"I know why you're here!"

Everypony turns to look at me as I fly up into the sky. I point my hoof at Nightmare Moon. She waits for me to answer.

"You wish for eternal night! You want appreciation. You think that by doing this, you're doing everypony a favor!"

Nightmare Moon laughs. Everypony turns to her again. I open the door, waiting to dash off on a chase.

"Remember this day little ponies. For it is your last. From this moment forth. The night, will last, FOREVER!"

As she laughs, her mane shifts into a storm. Thunder escapes from it. Making a more dramatic effect. The mayor shouts.

"Seize her! Only she knows where the princess is!"

"Stand back you foals!"

The useless guards from the show try to capture Nightmare. Each one is blasted away by the lightning. Nightmare becomes mist. She charges to the door. I chase her as far as I can. RainbowDash at my back. We both stop when we understand no longer can we follow. Rainbow and I spot Twilight running off somewhere.

She and I glance at each other. A mutual agreement. Although I feel as if she's not trusting me much. At least I tried to help.

"So… I guess we follow her?"

"She is the only other pony who knows about what's happening, besides from you."

"I only knew Nightmare Moon from an old ponies tale."

Rainbow and I dash off to follow Twilight. The others follow suit. When we enter into Twilight's house, she's flipping through countless books.

"Ugh! How can I stop Nightmare Moon without the elements of harmony?!"

"And just what are the elements of harmony?!" Rainbow gazes at Twilight in suspicion. "And how did you know about Nightmare Moon huh?! Are you a spy? Woah!"

AppleJack pulled Rainbow's tail back.

"Simmer down sally. She ain't no spy. But she sure knows what's going on. Don't you Twilight?"

While Twilight talks about what she knows, I look under E. I take the book and look through it. Landing on a page that always intrigued me. In the story, it is said there was only 5 known elements. The 6th element, unknown to ponies, is that of magic. Then why, as I look at the book, are there 6 elements drawn? Was that an error on the staff. Or meant for something more?

I look at the colors on each element. They match with the mane 6 perfectly. Only, what does this green one mean? And shouldn't it be a purple for Twilight? PinkiePie takes the book away from me. I decide to join the conversation.

"How did you find that?!"

"TipStir had it!"

Everypony looks at me. I shrug. "It was under E."

Twilight opens the book and reads.

"There are 6 elements of harmony. But only 5 are known. Kindness, Laughter, Generosity, Honesty, and Loyalty. The 6th is a complete mystery. It is said that the last known location of the 5 elements was in the ancient castle of the royal pony sisters. It is located in what is now…"

Everypony except me shouts. "The EverFree Forest!"

I look around at my surroundings. We're somehow at the entrance of the EverFree forest. TV logic I guess?

"Weee! Let's go!" Pinkiepie walks towards it, Twilight stops her.

"Not so fast! Look. I appreciate the offer, but I really rather do this on my own."

"No can do sugar cube." AppleJack opposes. "We sure ain't letting any friend of ours going into that creepy place alone. We're sticking to you like caramel on a candy apple."

"Especially if there's candy apples in there." Pinkie looks excited. "What? Those things are good."

Twilight sighs, I speak.

"The more help, the better. You never know if your odds are in your favor."

We enter the forest. Twilight asks. "So, none of you have been in here before?"

"Why, heavens no!" Rarity shudders. "Just look at it. It's dreadful…"

"And it ain't natural." AppleJack states. "Folks say it don't work the same as in Equestria."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Twilight looks a little worried.

RainbowDash creeps out from the dark.

"No pony knows. You know why?"

"Rainbow, quite it!" AppleJack looks at RainbowDash in disapproval. I back up from the cliff, fully aware of what's to come.

"Cause everypony who ever comes in, has never come out!"

The cliff falls. I see the mist escape swiftly. No time to try and catch it. Rainbow yells.

"Fluttershy, TipStir, quick!"

I fly as fast as I can to help. Rainbow gets Pinkie while Fluttershy gets Rarity. I grab Twilight quickly, struggling to keep her up.

"I can't hold you much longer!"

"No no no! You can't drop me!"

AppleJack calls up to us. Twilight and I look at her.

"TipStir! Let Twilight go!"

Before I could say anything, Twilight yells. "Are you crazy?!"

"No I ain't. I promise you'll be safe."

"That's not true!"

"I haven't got all night here! Please Twilight, take a chance!" I struggle to say.

AppleJack gives Twilight a sincere look. "Now listen here. What I'm saying to you is the honest truth. Let go, and you'll be safe."

Twilight looks at AppleJack for a moment before looking up at me. She nods. I let go.

"AHHHHHH! Guh!"

RainbowDash and Fluttershy catch her. I land on the ground, panting. Rainbow walks up to me.

"Woah. And I thought Fluttershy was bad at flying."

"Sorry… Where I was from, we weren't allowed to fly unless you paid."

"That's weird."

"Is everypony alright?" AppleJack asks while hopping down from the cliff.

"We're okay." I said. "Come on, let's keep moving."

_

We walk for a while. RainbowDash had just finished talking about what we just went through. She sure likes to brag. Then, a Manticore appeared. Twilight shouts.

"A Manticore!"

It roars. Fluttershy looks at it in worry.

"We got to get pass him!"

Rarity tried kicking it. "Take that you ruffian!" It roars, messing up her mane. "My hair!"

Rarity dashes off, the Manticore follows her. Fluttershy says wait. I walk up to her while AppleJack deals with it next.

"What's wrong Fluttershy?"

"Oh. I need everypony to stop and listen to me."

AppleJack is flung off from the Manticore. Rainbow tries next.

"Do you know of a way to stop the Manticore?"

"Yes."

Rainbow is swatted away. I nod at Fluttershy.

"Understood." As the ponies begin to charge, I shout. "Stop!"

Everypony halts. Fluttershy walks up to the Manticore.

"What the hey is Fluttershy doing?!" Rainbow shouts.

I use my wing to motion for silence as Fluttershy does her thing. Before the Manticore could swipe at her, she calms it down.

"Shh. It's okay." Fluttershy nuzzles her muzzle on the Manticore's paw. He flips it over, revealing a thorn. "Aww. You poor little baby. Now, this might hurt for just a second." She removes the thorn. The Manticore crys in pain. But licks her with thanks afterwards. When Fluttershy returns to the group, Twilight asks how she knew.

"How did you know about the thorn?"

"I didn't. Sometimes, you just need to be shown a little kindness."

Fluttershy walks up to me. "Thank you for the help."

I shake my head from side to side. "It was a gamble."

I look back to the thorn. It forms into mist. Looks like I won't be getting that. Oh well…