Bold: Brave Beginning

Strongbolt had had enough. He was going to find Shiera, get to Twilight and put an end to all this. He looked left and right before emerging from his boulder and charging into the mist.

"It moves in the darkness." He reminded himself as something shot past him. He stopped and listened, he heard a wailing in the distance and something hit him dragging him off the side of a hill and sent him tumbling down. He could have sworn for a moment he had heard something yell: "My mustache!"

Strongbolt charged through the crowd of ponies and out of the door, Shiera followed him.

"We have to find Twilight!" He said.

Shiera nodded and said: "I don't know much about Nightmare Moon, certainly not as much as she does."

Strongbolt spotted the rainbow pony from earlier chasing the purple cloud that was Nightmare Moon, she stopped and looked up. Strongbolt watched her, before realizing she was watching Twilight.

"There!" He pointed. "Twilight!"

The purple pony stopped abruptly and looked around bewildered. Her eyes fell on Strongbolt running towards her.

"Strongbolt? And Shiera?" She asked. "What are you two doing here?"

"Good to see you too." Shiera replied.

"Sorry," she said, "I'm just a little bit busy right now. I need to find these things called the Elements of Harmony." It was at this point that Strongbolt realized she was carrying a sleeping baby dragon on her back, but, given the circumstances, he did not question it.

"Elements of Harmony?" He asked. "The name... seems familiar. I think I've heard the Princess talk about them before."

"Do you know where to find them?" Twilight said hopefully.

"She never really said." He replied.

Her hope was gone. "I'm on my way to my library, I think I might have a book about them there."

"Alright." Said Shiera. "Tell us once you find anything."

Twilight nodded. "Just... try to keep everyone calm! I'll meet you back here in thirty minutes." And she ran into the darkness.

"We've got some flashlights back at the hotel." Strongbolt suggested.

"Let's be quick then." Shiera replied.

They turned and ran. Out of the corner of her eye, Shiera saw five other ponies: the rainbow Pegasus, the Pegasus with the bird choir, the unicorn who had first realised Celestia was missing, a pink pony with frizzy hair and an orange pony with a hat. They ran (and flew) after Twilight.

"Darkness is coming, be ready. Our hopes rely on just six little ponies." The words echoed in her mind.

They arrived at the hotel ten minutes after they had left Twilight. They grabbed everything they needed and galloped back as fast as they could. When they arrived back at their meeting point, Shiera saw Twilight and the other five ponies exit a giant tree which she assumed was Twilight's house. Twilight ran to them, carrying a book behind her with magic.

"Listen," she said, "we're going into the Everfree Forest."

"What?" Strongbolt questioned. "It's not safe in there!"

"I have to." She told him.

"Twilight you know I can't let you do that. Think of what your brother would do if he found out I let you do this."

"What choice do we have?" She asked, but Strongbolt had no answer.

"Do what you must." Shiera said. " We'll wait outside the entrance, if you are not back in one hour we'll go in."

Twilight nodded, and looked at Strongbolt.

He nodded back and said, "Are you going alone?"

"Unless they follow me in." She gestured towards the other five ponies and began walking away.

"Good luck out there." Strongbolt and Shiera called after her. She looked back one last time and nodded, she arrived at the mouth of the forest and began talking with the other five. She closed up the book and placed it on the floor outside. Then one by one the ponies trotted into the woods.

Fifty five minutes later, Strongbolt walked up and down anxiously. Shiera sat next to the book, briefly flicking through the pages.

"They should be back by now. We have to go in." He said at last. Shiera looked up, and gazed into the entrance.

"I guess it's time." She confirmed. "Got your flashlight?" He pulled his flashlight out of his bag, and settled the bag down by the book, Shiera did the same. Strongbolt turned on the light and placed it in his mouth. They walked slowly into the depths of the Everfree Forest. After around fifteen minutes of searching they came to a steep cliff with hoof marks all around it.

"Looks like they were here." Shiera said. Strongbolt studied the tracks. He felt a cold shiver run down his spine. A faint laugh came from the trees and bushes in front of them. Shiera stared at Strongbolt, he stared back.

"Did you hear that?" He whispered. Shiera nodded slowly. There was a sudden thud in the distance, then another, and another.

"Footsteps." Strongbolt muttered. The thudding came closer until it stopped in the shrubbery in front of them. They both looked into the darkness, and from it, a pair of red eyes appeared.

The creature stepped out into the moonlight, its body was made of black mist that shaped a stallion, its hair was a mess of dark spikes and its piercing crimson eyes glared at them. Its forked tongue snapped out and back in.

"Awful long way from home, little ponies." It hissed in a voice that changed constantly. "You need be watchful of where you wander," it continued, "who knows? You might run into a monster."

"We don't want any trouble." Strongbolt said, but he could hear his own voice quivering.

"Trouble?" The creature asked, stepping closer. "Oh, no. We want none of that." Strongbolt and Shiera continued to back away.

"W-We?" Shiera asked nervously.

"Of course." It exclaimed. "We are everywhere. Under your bed, in your wardrobe."

"Well, we'll just be leaving then." Strongbolt said.

The creature moved in front of them, and said: "Won't you stay a little longer? Not very often we get guests." It bared its luminous grey teeth. All around them the darkness seemed to grow larger and closer, surrounding them.

"Oh," it said, "where are my manners? I am The Corruption and this," he pointed to where they stood, "is my territory." Strongbolt and Shiera briefly glanced at each other.

The Corruption licked its lips and said: "Wait. Did I say guests? I meant fresh meat!"

The creature charged and Strongbolt dodged, but The Corruption caught his tail and dragged him back. Shiera jumped on it, and it turned to face her. Strongbolt got up and grabbed its head.

"Run!" He yelled at Shiera. "I'll be fine!" Shiera understood and she leaped out of sight. The Corruption kicked Strongbolt off and onto the floor. Strongbolt extended his wings and rolled off of the side of the cliff, when he landed he ran into the woods aimlessly, dodging branches and vines until he finally arrived at a clearing. He jumped behind a small boulder, he was breathing heavily.