Friendship is Magic Part 1
"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 the 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 forth, 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. But permanently was not what Nightmare Moon had in mind. Before her defeat, she announced that one day she will return, along with her conquest for eternal night. The elder sister however had a prophecy of her own. When Nightmare Moon returns one mysterious pony will use the powers of harmony and will be powerful enough to defeat Nightmare Moon once and for all and restore peace and harmony to the land once more. At the mean time, the elder sister took on responsibility for both sun and moon and harmony has been maintained in Equestria for generations since."
Lying by a tree near a small lake laid a lavender colored unicorn pony reading a book under her hooves.
"Hmm... Elements of Harmony." pondered the pony. "I know I've heard of those before... but where?"
-Main music plays-
The purple pony was so fascinated by the Elements of Harmony she had to know what they were really meant for. She was on her way to the local library when three other colorful unicorn ponies showed up. The first is blue coated with a darker blue and white mane and tail, the second is tan with pink fluffy mane, and the last is yellow with a light blue mane.
"There you are Twilight!" said the second pony. "Moondancer is having a little get-together in the west castle courtyard. You wanna come?"
"Oh, sorry, girls... I've got a lot of studying to catch up on." said Twilight.
She gallops pass the other unicorns in a hurry to get to the library.
"[sighs] Does that pony do anything except study? I think she's more interested in books than friends." groaned the second pony.
"I know I've heard of the Elements of Harmony." Twilight said as she runs.
She then passed by two more ponies who waved a hello to her but ignored them as she keeps running. She later runs to the stairs of a tall white building and heads to the top. A little purple dragon with green spikes was walking to the door with a present in his claws until all of a sudden the doors opened thus hitting him with the process.
"Ow!" yelled the baby dragon.
"Spike! Spi-ike! Spike?" Twilight yelled. "There you are."
Spike was laying on the floor, grunting while rubbing his head.
"Quick, find me that old copy of Predictions and Prophecies. What's that for?" Twilight pointed at his tail.
Spike turned to see the present he was holding stuck on his tail.
"Well, it was a gift from Moondancer, but..." Spike said as a ripped teddy bear falls through the bottom hole.
"Oh Spike, you know we don't have time for that sort of thing." Twilight said as she searches for the book she asked for.
"But we're on a break!" Spike complained
Twilight stares at a book on the ground for a moment until she her horn started glowing. Books were now levitating with a purple glow surrounding them similar to Twilights horn.
"No, no, no,... no, no, no! [grunt] SPIKE!" Twilight yelled in frustration.
"It's over here!" Spike said while holding a book on a ladder.
He was suddenly pulled off the ladder by the book which Twilight was controlling and face planted on the ground.
"Ah!" Twilight walked with the floating book by her side leaving Spike a huge mess to clean up.
"Elements, Elements, E, E, E... Aha! Elements of Harmony, see: Mare in the Moon?" Wondered Twilight.
"Mare in the Moon? But that's just an old ponies' tale." Spike said while reshelfing the books.
"Mare, mare... aha! 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! [gasps] Spike! Do you know what this means?" Twilight worried.
"No-whoa!" Spike fall's off the ladder while putting the books away and was about to have another painful fall but was saved by Twilight.
"Take a note please, to the Princess." Twilight ordered extending her tail.
"Okie-dokie." Spike obeyed sliding on her tail.
"My dearest teacher, my continuing studies of pony magic have led me to discover that we are on the precipice of disaster!" Twilight saying what to write as Spike writes.
"Hold on. Preci... preci..." Spike finding difficulty on how to say it.
"Threshold."
"Threh..." Spike still having trouble.
"Uh, brink?"
"..." Spike just stares confused.
"Ugh, that something really bad is about to happen!"
Spike resumes writing.
"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 this terrible prophecy does not come true. I await your quick response. Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle." Twilight finishes.
"Twi-light Spar-kle. Got it!" Spike announced.
"Great! Send it."
"Now?"
"Of course!"
"Uh, I dunno, Twilight, 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. 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..." Spike yet again having spelling problems.
"Important!" Twilight shouting at Spike's face.
"Okay, okay!" Spike takes a deep breath and blows green fire on the letter and moves out of the window like it was burning to ashes. "There, it's on its way. But I wouldn't hold your breath..."
"Oh, I'm not worried, Spike. The Princess trusts me completely. In all the years she's been my mentor she's never once doubted me." Twilight said with a confident tone.
Spike made a sound like he was about to throw up then makes a belch of green fire come out then magically turns into a nice crisp note like it was never burnt.
"See? I knew she would want to take immediate action." Twilight said with another confident tone.
Spike picks up the note and begins to read. " [clears throat] My dearest, most faithful student Twilight. You know that I value your diligence and that I trust you completely."
"Mm-hm." Twilight with a delighted sound.
"...but you simply must stop reading those dusty old books!"
"[gasps]. B-b-b-b-b-but I don't understand, did I do something wrong, was it something I said?" Twilight said worried while trotting around the room.
"Calm down Twilight, there's more. "You've been too worked up on grades and studying for nearly your whole life and I think it's affecting your social skills. I've decided that you should take a well needed vacation which will also have some lessons. Meet me at my throne room at noon and we'll begin your preparations. I will see you and Spike soon. Your teacher, Princess Celestia." Spike finishes.
"I-I-but there-did I-[moans]." Twilight complained.
"Twilight it's okay. The princess just want's us to take a well needed rest from so much work we have been doing."
"But Spike Equestria could be in danger and the princess seems to not know the crisis that is about to unveil."
"Un... un..."
"[groans] About to happen!" Twilight yelled.
"Alright, sorry."
"But still, does the Princess know what's gonna happen if we don't act?"
"Twilight, it's just a made up story, it's not real. And even if it is, the Princess will take care of it. She's the most powerful ruler of the land."
"I don't know, Spike. I don't think it's wise to act at the very last second if this does happen."
"Don't worry, Twilight. Just relax and I'm sure everything will be alright."
"I really don't know, Spike." Twilight still unsure of Celestia's decision.
"Come on, we should get ready for the trip the Princess is sending us for and we can have a relaxing time."
"Well, I guess some time away can-"
She was cut out by a rumbling sound, scaring both the unicorn and the dragon. Then a bright flash of light lit in the sky through the big window's.
"Wha-what's going on?" Spike said hiding behind Twilight.
"I-I don't know. But I don't think it's good." Twilight answered with a frightened tone in her voice.
The orb of light gets bigger and bigger and brighter, as ponies outside screaming and panic in terror. Then just like that the light disappears.
"...Are we still alive?" asked the confused dragon.
"Yes. What in Celestia's name was that about?" Twilight also puzzled.
"I don't know, but what ever it was it's over now."
"For a moment I thought that was Nightmare Moon's return, but it's not the thousandth year of the Sun Celebration yet."
"Oh well, at least it's-"
Suddenly they hear faint screaming. They look outside but don't see anypony out. They looked up and see's something falling and screaming. It was on a collision course with the library.
"Oh my-GET DOWN." Twilight warned.
They ducked to the nearest chairs and hide behind them. The falling object breaks through the window and crashes into a pile of books, fortunately breaking it's fall. Twilight and Spike peeked to see what it was. It was moaning in pain and looked at the two before falling into unconsciousness. They see it was just a regular pony colt. They slowly got closer to get a better look at him. He was brown with a black mane and tail and looked to be about roughly a year older then Twilight.
"Is...is he okay?" Spike asked worried.
"I don't know let me see. Hello? Sir? Are you okay?" Twilight asked.
The colt did not answer as he lies there unconscious.
"Let's see if he has any-HUH?" Twilight rolled the pony to discover something weird.
"What is it Twilight?"
"He... he doesn't have any wings!" Twilight showed.
"Huh? That's weird. How did he get in the sky with no wings? He couldn't have used magic either since he's not a unicorn." Spike said also surprised on what he's seeing.
"Hmmm maybe he-What the?"
"What-what is it now?" Spike said with a more worried tone.
"For somepony who's probably older than me, he appears to not have a cutie mark!" Twilight pointing at the mysterious pony's flank.
"Whoa that is weird...and embarrassing." Spike said a little amused.
"But it still doesn't make any sense, where did he come from?" Twilight said while looking up at the broken window.
It has been nearly 25 minutes since the 'phenomenal' moment. Twilight and Spike set the strange pony on the couch since then. They wrote a note for the Princess about this but they haven't sent it because they want to give the pony a chance to explain himself. They were at the meantime cleaning up the debris the crash caused. The brown pony is just waking up, groaning in pain.
"Ugh my head." moaned the pony.
He was getting off the couch awkwardly. He seems to be trying to get on his hind legs and walks kind of like Spike.
"Whoa I feel funny." grumbled the pony almost losing his balance.
He opens his eyes to see a library he's never seen before. His large brown eyes looked around the room to see if he was not alone but there is no other presence. He sees a kitchen and decided to wash his face. He still walks on his hind legs, struggling to keep his balance. He reaches the sink and turns on the water. He gathers a little puddle of water in his hooves and slaps it on his face with a big clop.
"OW." cried the brown pony.
"Why did-huh?" he looks at his hooves surprised.
"Wha-what the-AHHH!" he starts rapidly looks at his fur and hind hooves.
Then he sees a mirror to look at. He takes a peek and his eyes start to widen as big as they can. Finally, he looks at his tail realizing something.
"AHHHHHHHHHH, WHAT HAPPENED TO ME?" the pony starts to scream from the top of his lungs.
"Sir, calm down it's okay." Twilight said.
"Who-who's there? Who said that?" the pony asked terrified.
"Me." said a voice behind him.
He rapidly turns to see a purple like horse standing right in front of him with a reptile like creature beside her.
"GAH!" the pony surprised at the site and takes a leap backwards to a corner.
"WHA-WHAT? BUT HORSES AREN'T SUPPOSE TO TALK!"
"Uhhh actually sir I'm not a horse, my name is Twilight Sparkle and I am a pony just like you." Twilight corrected.
"Bu-bu-I'm not a pony." said the brown pony.
"I think he hit his head too hard from the crash." Spike whispered.
"And WHAT are you?"
"HEY I'm not a what, I'm a dragon."
"But dragon's DON'T exist!"
"Yep, I think you're right." Twilight agreed.
"Thi-this must be a really, really bad dream. There is no way this can possibly be real." the mysterious guest said confused.
"Do you need any help, sir?" Asked Twilight.
"Would you stop talking, and no I don't need any help."
"Really? Because you seemed to be confused about our species."
"I told you I'm not-wait did you say 'our'?"
"Yes, I mean you're in a city filled with ponies. In fact the whole country of Equestria is filled with ponies!"
"Equ-what?"
The guest frantically gets back up on his hind legs and still struggles to keep his balance as he walks awkwardly to a window. He swiftly opens the curtains to see talking ponies of all shapes, colors, and sizes walk by, talking to one another. The pony widened his eyes in disbelief.
'Wha-but It's-uh-bu-how-wha-what's happening to me?"
"Mr.-uh actually what is your name?" Twilight asked curiously.
"Not that it concerns you..." the pony looks at Twilight, feeling a tiny bit guilty on how he said it. "But my name is Zachary Lanson but others call me Zach."
"Zach Lanson? What kind of name is that?" asked Twilight.
"What kind of weird name is Twilight Sparkle?"
"It's a perfectly normal name."
"Listen missy, I don't care what you think of me, but I am not a pony period, I am actually a human and-"
"A human? You mean the mythical creatures?"
"Yes and no, human's aren't mythical, unicorns are suppose to be!" snapped Zach.
"Uhhhh yeeeeeeah." Twilight puzzled by Zach's behavior.
"Anyway I want to know where on Earth am I?"
"Earth? What's that?" Spike asked.
"Duh, the name of this planet!"
"..." Twilight and Spike stared at him in confusion.
"So Zach, where did you say you were from?" Twilight asked.
"New York City."
"...What the hay is that?" Spike asked again.
"Oh for crying out loud, where am I?"
"I told you, you're in Canterlot, the capital city of Equestria."
"Canterlot? Equestria?" Zach said in disbelief.
"Listen, we just sent a note to our ruler, Princess Celestia, and she'll-"
"Queen?" Zach cuts out Twilight.
"What?"
"Do you mean queen?"
"No, her name is Princess Celestia."
"Then does that mean there is a King and Queen?"
"No, she's the only ruler and she is a Princess."
"[sigh] Whatever." Zach said annoyed.
Zach gets back on his hind hooves still trying to walk on them, only this time he falls flat on his stomach.
"What are you doing?" Twilight asked curiously.
"Walking, what does it look like?" Zach replied annoyingly.
"But that's not how ponies walk. This is how we walk." Twilight said as she demonstrates.
"Uh okay. left front leg then-oof." He immediately trips.
"No no no no no no no, like this." Twilight demonstrates again.
"Fine. Right front then left back and then." Zach was then getting the hang of it. He was walking like a normal pony."
"Huh. Uh thanks."
"No problem." Twilight replied happily.
"But this doesn't make us friends."
"Yeah, I know."
"Well, we should be getting a response from the princess soo-." Spike was about to say when another bright light appears in front of the three.
"Oh not this again." Spike complained.
They shielded their eyes from the harmful rays as it gets brighter. Shortly the light dissipates and they opened their eyes slowly. They were not in the library anymore. Instead, they were in a marble made room with a long hallway leading to what looks like to be a throne.
"Twilight Sparkle and Spike, so glad to see you two again." said a soothing female voice.
The three turned around to see a majestic presence. It appears to be a white pony nearly the size of a regular horse with a mane and tail colored pink, blue, and green. She has a horn and crown and to Zach's surprise, wings. She was an almighty alicorn.
"Likewise, Princess Celestia." She and Spike bowed. Zach however just stared in disbelief yet again.
"What are you doing? Do you know how to show respect in front of royalty?" Twilight snapped at Zach.
"Wha. Oh right, sorry." Zach bowed.
"[giggles] It's quite alright. Is this the mysterious visitor that dropped by the library, Twilight?" the princess asked.
"Yes, yes he is. His name is Zachary Lanson and he believes to be a human. I know it sounds ridiculous." Twilight earning a glare from Zach.
"Does he now?" Celestia asked as he looks at Zach.
Without warning she lowered her horn on to Zach's head and an orb of light comes right to Celestia's horn.
"He-hey what the heck did you just do?" Zach asked with a scared tone.
"No need to be frightened Zachary, I just extracted your memories so that I can see for myself."
"HEY those are private leave them alone I..." Zach couldn't finish for he didn't want to be to disrespectful to her.
"Oh. Right I'm sorry, I'll-"
"No, never mind. Go ahead and look. It's not gonna make a difference anyway."
"On what?" Twilight asked a little bit concerned.
"Ju-just forget it, okay? It's none of your concern!" Zach retorted.
"Very well then, now that that's taken care of we will now discuss where to send you, Twilight." said Celestia.
"Bu-but Princess what about-" Twilight protested.
"Now listen my student, I want you to forget about studying here in Canterlot for two days and start making some friends."
"But what does-" Twilight still fighting back.
"In fact, I think you should take Zachary Lanson along with you." Celestia announced.
"WHAT?" both Zach and Twilight said in unison.
"HEY what about sending me back where I came from!" Zach asked.
"Because I think you can learn something from two days of helping out on the Summer Sun Celebration. As you finish with the preparations, I'll send you back where you came from." Celestia answered simply.
"What's there to learn from this weird place?"
"You'll see. Both of you."
"Fine." Zach and Twilight said in unison again.
"Excellent, a carriage will be waiting at the front gates for you. Here's a check list with the location to where this year's celebration is." she uses her magic and gives a scroll to Spike. "Good luck to both of you." Celestia said
They soon left the throne room, both ponies grumbling at the Princess's decision. They later come across a carriage with two armored pegasi in front. Zach was a little intimidated at the sight at first but just ignores them. The two ponies and dragon get on the carriage and the pegasi start flying in the air, with a little frightened brown pony hanging for dear life, taking them to there destination.
"My dear Twilight, there is more to a young pony's life than studying, so I'm sending you to supervise the preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration in this year's location: Ponyville." Spike reads the instructions as a small village in the distance is revealed. "And I have an even more essential task for you to complete: make some friends!"
Twilight takes a long displeasing sigh.
"You think you have it rough, I have to spend two days at this freaky place." Zach said unpleasantly.
"Look on the bright side, Twilight. The Princess arranged for you to stay in a library. Doesn't that make you happy?" Spike said trying to cheer her up.
"Yes, yes it does. 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." Twilight said confidently.
"Then... when will you make friends, like the Princess said?"
"She said to check on preparations. I am her student, and I'll do my royal duty, but the fate of Equestria does not rest on me making friends."
"Great, not only am I stuck with some weird creature, I'm also stuck with a teacher's pet." Zach said unpleasantly yet again.
The two pegasi whined as they landed.
"Thank you, sirs." Twilight said.
The pegasi gave a proud huff to the nice mannered unicorn. Then they stared at Zach, hoping for the same gesture.
"What, you want an apple? Then go find an apple tree!" Zach said to them rudely.
The pegasi then gave a threatening growl at him as he walks away.
"Maybe the ponies in Ponyville have interesting things to talk about." Spike said as a pink pony with puffy cotton candy style hair with light cyan eyes and three balloons as a cutie mark comes down their path. "Come on, Twilight, just try!"
"Um... hello?" Twilight said a little shyly.
"[GASP]." The pink pony made a long over dramatic gasp, surprising the three before making a swoop over them.
"Well, that was interesting alright." said Twilight.
"[sigh]." Sighed the dragon in disappointment as they were on their way for preparations.
"Summer Sun Celebration official overseer's checklist." Spike read as they were walking to their first destination listed on the list. As Spike read, Twilight looked at Zach who had an unimpressed look on his face, which Twilight returned. "Number one, banquet preparations: Sweet Apple Acres."
They looked to see a farm with thousands of apple trees as far as the eye could see. They suddenly jumped from an upbeat voice. "Yeehaw!" yelled a southern accent voice in the distance. They turned to see an orange, blonde mane and tail pony, with three red apples as a cutie mark, charging to a tree. She bucked it with her hind legs and every single apple on the tree fall on the baskets that lay around it. She then folded two of her hooves in front of the others with a smile on her face, congratulating herself.
"[sighs] Let's get this over with." Twilight said tiredly.
"Best thing I heard all day." agreed Zach. They then walked to the southern pony.
"Good afternoon. My name is Twilight Sparkle and this is Zach Lanson-" as she pointed at Zach, both her and his hooves were pulled in.
"Well, howdy-doo, Miss Twilight and Mr. Zach, a pleasure makin' your acquaintances. Ah'm Applejack. We here at Sweet Apple Acres sure do like makin' new friends!" Said the wild pony while shaking their hooves rapidly.
"[voice vibrating] Friends? Actually, I-" Twilight said, trying to keep her voice steady.
"So, what can I do ya for?" Applejack said with a wink.
Zach and Twilight's hooves keep shaking uncontrollably. Spike stopped there shaking with a snicker.
"[clears throat] Well, we are in fact here to supervise preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration. And you're in charge of the food?" Twilight asked politely.
"We sure as sugar are! Would ya care to sample some?" asked Applejack.
"Sure, whatever AJ." said Zach.
"AJ?" Applejack repeated.
"Yeah, you know, a nickname for short?" Zach said a little annoyed.
"AJ. I like the sound of that, you can call me AJ anytime you want." Applejack said with a confident attitude.
"Whatever." Zach said.
"As long as it doesn't take too long..." Twilight noticed Applejack made a fast run to ring a triangle.
"SOUP'S ON EVERYPONY." Applejack yelled.
The three looked back to see what she was yelling at. A stampede of ponies charged to their direction and took them to a pavilion with dizzy looks on their faces.
"Now, why don't I introduce y'all to the Apple family?" Applejack said with a bunch of other ponies in front of them with southern appearances.
"Oh, it won't take too long, it'll take forever!" Zach said with much annoyance in him.
"Thanks, but we really need to hurry-" Twilight was interrupted when the ponies lined up with dishes in their mouths.
"This here's Apple Fritter. Apple Bumpkin. Red Gala. Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Caramel Apple, Apple Strudel, Apple Tart, Baked Apples, Apple Brioche, Apple Cinnamon Crisp... [takes deep breath] Big Macintosh, Applebloom and..." she then shoves two apples up in both Zach and Twilight's mouths. "Granny Smith." Applejack finished. "Up'n'attem, Granny Smith, we got guests."
"[snorts] Wha? Soup's on? Here I come, ah, comin'..." the old looking pony gets off her rocking chair from sleeping and walks slowly to the group.
"Why, Ah'd say you're already part of the family!" as Applejack finished, both the ponies spat the apple crumbs out of their mouths.
"[laughs mockingly] Yeah, I'm not sure I'd want to be with this family." Zach said.
"[laughs nervous] Okay, well, I can see the food situation is handled, so we'll be on our way." Twilight said as they were about to leave.
"Aren't ya gonna stay for brunch?" asked a little yellow filly with a red bow tie on the back of her head, blinking with puppy eyes.
"Sorry, but we have an awful lot to do..." Twilight said sadly. After that every pony made a disappointed sigh with their heads down.
"Okay, so we'll be on our-" Zach said with a happy tone for once, but was interrupted. "Fine." Twilight said unpleasantly. Zach made a grumble as the whole group cheers.
"Food's all taken care of, next is weather." Spike said checking off the list. He looks back to see two sick looking ponies with huge bulges in the bellies.
"Ugh... I ate too much pie..." Twilight said painfully.
"Don't...say...pie." Zach said also in pain.
"Hmm, there's supposed to be a pegasus pony named Rainbow Dash clearing the clouds." Spike said while looking up.
Both ponies looked around to find a pegasus, but found only clouds.
"Well, she's not doing a very good job, is she." said Twilight.
"Wait, what do you mean by-OOF!" Zach was about to finished, but both him and Twilight were rammed by something.
They then laid in a puddle of mud. Both groaning in both irritation and pain. A cyan pegasus with a rainbow colored mane and tail and crimson eyes, then stands up with mud on her as well.
"[laughs sheepishly] Uh, 'scuse me? [more sheepish laughing]"
Both Zach and Twilight grumbled as they retain their balance.
"[laughs] Lemme help you." the cyan pony then flies to get what looks like to be a rain cloud right above them.
"Huh? How are you-?" Zach was interrupted again when she starts hoping on the cloud, producing a gush of rain on them. Thus, making them soaking wet, with more grumbling.
"[more sheepish laughing] Oops, I guess I overdid it. Um, uh, how about this? My very own patented Rain-Blow Dry! No no, don't thank me, you're quite welcome." the pegasus then notices amusing about them.
"Thank you for what?" asked Zach embarrassingly. Both him and Twilight's hair are puffed and messed up.
The pegasus then bursts out laughing hard, falling to the ground. Spike shortly joins in, landing on her.
"Let me guess. You're Rainbow Dash." Twilight said annoyed.
"The one and only. Why, you heard of me?" she said with a overconfident attitude.
"I heard you were supposed to be keeping the sky clear. [sighs] I'm Twilight Sparkle." she introduces herself.
"And I'm Zach Lanson, no questions asked." Zach said dryly.
"And the Princess sent us to check on the weather." Twilight explained.
"Yeah, yeah, that'll be a snap. I'll do it in a jiffy. Just as soon as I'm done practicing." she said as she relaxes on a cloud.
"Practicing for what?"
"The Wonderbolts! They're gonna perform at the Celebration tomorrow, and I'm gonna show 'em my stuff!"
"The what?" Zach asked confusingly.
"The Wonderbolts?" Twilight asked.
"Yep!" Rainbow Dash answered.
"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." Twilight said smugly, also earning a little light chuckle from Zach.
"Hey, I could clear this sky in ten seconds flat." Rainbow Dash defending herself.
"Prove it." Twilight said.
"I'll be the timer, GO." Zach said giving Rainbow no warning as he starts counting down.
Rainbow Dash starts clearing every cloud as fast as she can, making some swooshing sounds as she goes. Zach in the meantime was counting down like a timer. Rainbow Dash was nearly done and the three watchers cannot believe their eyes.
"Loop the loop around, and WHAM!" Dash finishes. "10?" Zach also finished in disbelief.
"What'd I say? Ten. Seconds. Flat. I'd never leave Ponyville hanging." Rainbow Dash said. The the three just stared with surprise looks on their faces, while sheep baa's in the distance. "[chuckles] You should see the look on your face. Ha! You're a laugh, Twilight Sparkle. I can't wait to hang out some more." Dash said before flying away.
"Wow, she's amazing!" Spike said in admiration.
"Pfft, yeah if she really was that amazing she would've been in that lame team by now." Zach said in a disappointing mood. But he was actually really impressed on the inside. Spike then starts playing with both their manes and he laughs. They grumble as they start walking to their next stop.
"Wait! It's kinda pretty once you get used to it!" Spike said trying to be nice.
"Let's just get going." Zach said.
"Decorations. Beautiful..." Spike said in a dreamy sigh. They came to a building, which is probably the tallest in the town, with banners hanging from the ceiling and ribbons hanging from the sides of the building.
"Yes, the decor is coming along nicely. This oughtta be quick. I'll be at the library in no time. Beautiful indeed." Twilight agreed.
"Not the decor, her!" Spike points to a white unicorn. She has purple wavy mane and tail with dark blue eyes. She seems to be trying to study which ribbon to use as a decoration.
"No, no, no, oh! Goodness no." She looks at the ribbons, seeing which one suits best.
"How are my spines? Are they straight?" Spike said trying to adjust himself. Twilight rolled her eyes with a smile, while Zach just lets out a quite annoyed sigh.
"Good afternoon-" Twilight was about to introduce herself.
"Just a moment, please! 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 yo- [yelps] Oh my stars, darlings! Whatever happened to your coiffures?" Rarity just stares at their manes in surprise.
"Oh, you mean our manes? Well, it's a long story. We're just here to check on the decorations, and then we'll be out of your hair!" Twilight explaining herself.
"Out of my hair? What about your hair? Rarity comes over and pushes both the ponies with her head.
"Wait! Where are we going? Help!" Twilight yelled.
"Hey, stop. Let me go!" Zach also protested. Spike started floating in mid air and uses is tail like a propeller to move forward. They came to a building with a similar style to the building they were in a couple minutes ago. It was a boutique and Rarity's home.
"No, no, uh-uh. Too green. Too yellow. Too poofy. Not poofy enough. Too frilly. Too... shiny." Rarity gives each pony a different design to see which fits them the most.
"Now go on, my dear. You were telling me where you're from." She then talks to Twilight.
"[wincing] I've... been sent... from Canterlot... to-" Rarity immediately lets go after tightening her waist.
"Huh?" was all she could say. Twilight crashes into Zach with a loud thud.
"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 said with enthusiasm. Twilight widened her eyes at the remark.
"And what about you, kind sir?" She then speaks to Zach.
"Earth."
"...Earth?"
"Yeah, Earth, the planet I was from."
"..."Rarity stood there confused.
"He's a little confused." Twilight earned another glare from Zach after that.
"Emeralds? What was I thinking? Let me get you some rubies!" Rarity notices the emerald on Twilight's dress she was wearing, as she walks away.
"Quick! Before she decides to dye my coat a new color!" Twilight said running away.
"Or turn me to another freaky creature!" Zach remarked. Spike stares at the direction Rarity went with a big sigh.
"Wasn't she wonderful? Spike said dreamily.
"Focus, Casanova. What's next on the list?" Twilight asked.
"[clears throat] Oh, uh, music! It's the last one!" said Spike
"Finally." was all Zach had to say.
Then they started hearing upbeat chirping sounds like music. They looked at each other wondering what that sound is coming from. They find behind a bush a flying yellow pegasus with a long pink mane and tail and light cyan eyes, composing to a group of birds. One of them soon goes awfully off key.
"Oh my. 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-" The yellow pegasus was then interrupted.
"Hello!" Twilight yelled out.
The pegasus made a surprised yelp and turned to see who her caller was. The birds flew away also scared.
"Oh my, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to frighten your birds. I'm just here to check up on the music and it's sounding beautiful." Twilight complimented the pegasus. She then lands near Zach and Twilight, kicking the dirt and shyly avoiding their gazes. Zach and Twilight looked at each other, wondering how to advance.
"I'm Twilight Sparkle." Twilight introduced.
"Zach Lanson." Zach introduced with a dry tone. Another long awkward silence produced.
"What's your name?" Twilight decided to ask.
"Um... I'm Fluttershy." the shy pony said softly.
"I'm sorry, what was that?"
"Um... My name is Fluttershy." this time even quieter.
"Didn't quite catch that."
The shy pony hides behind her mane and makes a frightened squeak. The birds eventually come back to their original spots on the tree.
"Great, she can't even speak her own name clearly! I'm gonna wait with shorty." Zach said impatiently, walking to Spike.
"My name is not shorty!" Spike yelled out.
"Well, um, it looks like your birds are back, so I guess everything's in order. Keep up the good work!" Twilight complimented, but receives another shy squeak.
"Oookay." She slowly backs away to meet with the others. The shy pony takes a little peek from her mane to see what they do next. "Well, that was easy." Twilight said to Spike. She then notices Spike walks toward Twilight.
"[gasp] A baby dragon!" the pegasus said with a much more uprising voice. She then bumbs Zach and Twilight out of the way.
"Oh, I've never seen a baby dragon before. He's sooo cute!" she said to Spike with admiring eyes.
"Well, well, well...!" Spike said, folding his arms and enjoying the attention.
"Oh my, he talks. I didn't know dragons could talk. That's just so incredibly wonderful I, I just don't even know what to say!" the pegasus said with a delightful voice.
"Well, in that case we'd better be going." Twilight said as she uses her magic to put Spike on her back.
"Wait, wait! What's his name?" the pony comes up behind them.
"I'm Spike." Spike answered.
"Hi Spike, I'm Fluttershy. Wow, a talking dragon! And what do dragons talk about?" Fluttershy asked.
"Well, what do you wanna know?"
"Absolutely everything." Zach and Twilight both groaned at the answer.
"Well... I started out as a cute little purple and green egg..." Spike begins his story as they walked to the library.
"...and that's the story of my whole entire life! Well, up until today. Do you wanna hear about today?" Spike asked.
"Oh, yes, please!" Fluttershy said excitingly. Before Spike could begin, he was pulled away from Fluttershy's range, only to meet Twilight's face.
"I am so sorry, how did we get here so fast?" Twilight said with a sarcastic sound. Behind them awaited a tree with a door and windows like tree house.
"So fast? We've been hearing them tell about his life's story for nearly half an hour!" Zach pointed out.
"This is where we're staying while in Ponyville and my poor baby dragon needs his sleep."
"No I don't-whoa!" Before Spike could finish, only to be sent up to the air and land on the ground.
"Aww, wook at dat, he's so sweepy he can't even keep his widdle bawwance!" Twilight said with a baby voice. Spike gave an unamused glare at her.
"Poor thing, you simply must get into bed..." Fluttershy said picking up Spike and taking him inside the library. But Twilight zoomed in to get him and pushed Fluttershy out of the door.
"Yes, yes, we'll get right on that. Well, g'night!" Twilight quickly said and shuts the door.
"And goodbye." Zach said as he opens the door and shuts it again as he finishes.
"Huh. Rude much?" Spike said irritated.
"Sorry, Spike, but I have to convince the Princess that Nightmare Moon is coming, and we're running out of time! 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?" Twilight asked.
"Hold on, I think I found it." Zach said and flips the switch.
"SURPRISE!" a bunch of voices yelled out, thus surprising the group. A kazoo blows right in Zach's and Twilight's face. They then moaned, knowing what's going to happen next.
"Surprise!" yelled a pink pony, who was in fact the same one they saw earlier the first time they came to ponyville.
"You?" Zach said surprised at the familiar presence.
"Hi, I'm Pinkie Pie, and I threw this party just for you! Were you surprised? Were ya? Were ya? Huh huh huh?" Pinkie Pie said with an overhyped attitude.
"Very surprised. Libraries are supposed to be quiet." Twilight said irritably.
"Well, that's silly! What kind of welcome party would this be if it were quiet? I mean, duh, bo-ring! Y'see, I saw you when you first got here, remember? You were all "hello" and I was all [gasps dramatically], remember? Y'see I've never saw you two before and if I've never saw you two before that means you're new, 'cause I know everypony, and I mean everypony in Ponyville!"
Zach and Twilight yet again groaned as the hyped pony keeps talking.
"And if you're new, 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 [gasps dramatically]! I just throw a great big ginormous super-duper spectacular welcome party and invite everyone in Ponyville! See? And now you have lots and lots of friends!" Pinkie showed the group they met over the day. The two took a drink they poured. As soon they drank they felt a lot spiciness from it. Their faces started sweating and turned red.
"Are you alright, sugarcube?" Applejack asked.
The two ponies ears start blowing steam and started running up the stairs.
"Aww, they're so happy they're crying!" Pinkie
Spike wondered what the reaction was about. He took a look a the bottle they poured.
"Hot sauce." Spike read.
"Ooh." Pinkie then tipped the bottle on a cupcake and eats it. "What? It's good!" she said with her mouth full.
Later that night, the party gets louder and longer while Zach and Twilight try to sleep in a bedroom upstairs. They looked at the clock and it's past 1. They moaned at how late it is.
"Hey Twilight! Pinkie Pie's starting pin the tail on the pony! Wanna play?" Spike opens the door while the music gets louder.
"No! All the ponies in this town are CRAZY! Do you know what time it is?" Twilight asked frustrated.
"It's the day before the Summer Sun Celebration. We're trying to get used to staying up at night so we can watch the Princess raise the sun. You really should lighten up, Twilight. It's a party!" Spike said with enthusiasm. Twilight then mocked the last thing he said.
"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!" Twilight complained.
"Big deal, you still have one more day to do your stupid homework. So get over it." Zach said rudely as he lies on the ground with a blanket over him.
"Oh that's it!" Twilight had enough of Zach's attitude. He pulled the blanket off him to see him clearly.
"I've had enough of your attitude. All you've done was disrespecting everypony and pushed them away as they tried to be nice to you."
"You're a hypocrite, you've been trying to get away from everyone as fast as you can just so you can get here and do your stupid studying." Zach retorted.
"Well, at least I was more lenient."
"Whatever, look, I just want to get away from here and just get back to my real life."
"Why do you keep thinking your a human?"
"Because I AM!" Zach then gets up to get away.
"So I guess your life is so great as a human, congratulations."
Zach then stops at the remark.
"...How dare you." Zach said with a little unease, sounding like he was about to cry. Twilight just stares with a little concern in her.
"You have no idea how hard life can actually be." Zach said as he looked at Twilight. Tears were forming from his eyes. Twilight couldn't believe it, he was crying. Zach then sat down at the spot he stopped at.
"I... I'm sorry, was it something I said? Twilight asked with sincerity.
"It's... it's fine, it's just... I've been through a lot in my life."
"I'm so sorry. Do you want to talk about it?"
"No, not right now."
"Okay." Twilight then turns back to her bed.
"Hey!" Zach called out unexpectedly. Twilight turned to see what he wanted.
"... I'm sorry for my behavior today. It's just been an... unusual day for me."
"It's okay." Twilight accepted his apology. She then gives his blanket back and tucks it over him.
"Thanks. But remember you do still have one more day to study on that... thing you've been talking about." Zach said reminding her.
"Yeah, but I still have to check up on a couple things here for the celebration."
"Don't worry... I'll take care of it."
"Are... are you sure? It's a lot of work."
"It's nothing I'm not used to. I can handle it."
"Okay, thank you."
"You're welcome." Zach said this time with a polite tone.
"Goodnight, Zach."
"Goodnight."
Zach then lays his head down to the hard wood ground, but stays awake. He looks up at the moon for a couple minutes then drifts to sleep.
watch?gl=US&hl=en&client=mv-google&v=AMGXq9_IQBQ (Link to play Zach's theme.)
The next morning starts and Celestia's harsh sun rays shine on Zach's face, thus waking him up. He gets up ready to do his promise he kept to Twilight. He also starts remembering his past as a human. He sees himself in a building in New York, an orphanage, and rests on a window and watch an adopted child walk with his new family. Then he goes back looking at the stars, with a sad expression on his face. He returns to reality in a bakery with Pinkie Pie, which she works in. Zach covered his ears so he can stop hearing her babbling about her opinions on her life and teaching him how to make a cupcake. As she finishes making her cupcake and turns to talk more with Zach, she finds him gone with a cupcake on the table where he sat. She then see's the door open and opens the window curtain to see him walk away. She turns back at the cupcake and observes it with her own. To her surprise, they match. Next, Zach is at Sweet Apple Acres bucking apples. As soon as he finishes bucking another tree, after what seems like an eternity of hitting trees, he decides to call it a day. But before he can leave, he bumps right into Big Macintosh and looks up at him, and Applejack right behind her. He looks at them confused, until Applejack hands him a couple more buckets. He gets the message and rolls his eyes. He gets back to bucking apple trees and pick up a couple fallen ones. Another flashback comes into his mind, as he eats an apple near the main door of the orphanage he stays in. The door opens with a couple coming in, searching for a new child. He then comes to introduce himself and try to get them on his side, but was ignored by them. He looks with disappointment, then looks at his apple and decides to throw it away. Back again in reality, he was on a bridge, looking up in the sky, thinking of the past day of this weird but yet happy experience. Later, he was back at the library, taking a break and drinking a beverage while sitting. He turns to see what Twilight and Spike were doing. Twilight was telling a story to Spike and making funny expressions on her face. It made Zach smile for the first time since he got there. He was back to work at the boutique. He was finished stitching damaged clothing, but another stack of clothing comes piling in front of him by Rarity. He looks at her with an angry expression on his face as she walks away. 3 hours past and he was finally done. He puts his saddle bag on his back and started to leave. Rarity notices the great job he did on the sewing and couldn't leave him unrewarded. So she puts a bag of money in his bag and makes a jingle. Zach notices the sound and sees the small bag in his. He turns to Rarity and smiles at her as she heads upstairs. He returns to the library to help Twilight prepare for a little trip she has to make. He looks at Twilight and makes a small smile, starting to take a liking to the unicorn. He ties her saddle bag and waves a thank you and goodbye. He returns the gesture but frowns as she leaves. Back in Canterlot, Princess Celestia looks into a crystal ball to see Zach's memories. It shows him and what seems to be his parents in an odd looking contraption. His father was holding a wheel making light turns, while his mother sits next to him. Zach was showing in the back of it. They were human as Zach said he was. Celestia realizes he was telling the truth. All of a sudden, the father began turning the wheel rapidly, while Zach and his mother screamed. This widened her eyes, knowing something was wrong. A bright flash of light then appeared and everything changes. Zach was in a hospital bed, sobbing with a nurse trying to comfort him. Celestia's eyes turned to a sad expression. Zach was then with a group of people in an open field and in front of him was a stone tablet. She knew what it was. The group of people started to depart slowly, one by one. One person had a hand on Zach's shoulder then let's go and leaves, leaving Zach alone. He collapses suddenly, and starts crying right in front of his parents grave. Celestia started crying herself, then looks to the setting sun out her window. Back at Ponyville, Twilight came back to the library and suggests Zach to come. This widened his smile and comes running to her. She tells Zach where she's going and why. Zach then had a crazy idea, he suggests a race. Twilight happily accepted, with a confident smile. They get in ready positions, and Zach begins the countdown at three, two, one. They started galloping as fast as they could. As Twilight's trip ends, the two started sprinting back to the town. They look at each other with competitive looks on their faces. Zach then notices a pole and stands in front of him. This gives him a devious grin. He unexpectedly bumbs the pole and falls on the stand, surprising Twilight at this action. Zach runs up the pole and jumps from stand to stand, and even did a wall run, which earned a lot of onlookers watching in awe. He finally makes a big leap and lands near the town hall. He jumps in celebration for his victory, but was interrupted by a tap on his shoulder. He turns to look at a grinning Twilight stand before him. She won. He wondered how she got in front of him so fast. She showed him by teleporting right behind him. He looked behind her in wonder and both started laughing together. They finally started their run home. As soon as they got back to the library, they started taking off their gear while talking.
"[panting] Whoo, jeez do you ponies always run like this everyday?" Zach asked with a fun tone.
"[panting] Almost. We usually run if it's important or for exercising." Twilight simply answered.
"Well then, you sure have big lungs in order to run this fast and long."
"[chuckles] Well, we do this on a daily routine."
"I suppose you're right. I guess those who exercise nearly everyday gets used to it very quickly."
"You got that right."
As Twilight finished, Zach looked at her cutie mark, wondering what it is and why it's there for the past 2 days.
"Uh hey, I like to know something for quite awhile, what are those... tattoo things on your flanks?" Zach asked kindly.
"What? Oh [chuckles] these aren't tattoo's, these are called cutie marks." Twilight explained.
"Cutie marks? Really? Do they call it those on males too?"
"Yes."
"Oh... well that's a little embarrassing."
"Anyway, you see, we get these by finding our special talents. Once you find your special talent, that becomes your living."
"Oh, I see."
"Do human's get them?"
Zach was surprised at the question. "You... you believe me?"
"Well it's a little hard to believe, but I studied some books on human's and you behave, walk, and even sounded like a human."
"Huh." Zach simply replied.
"So, how was your life like as a human?"
Zach didn't know where to start on that. No one asked about his life for a long time and she was a pony. He decided maybe it's time to open up.
"Are you... sure you want to know my life?"
"Oh that's right, no questions asked, you don't have to tell me."
"No, no it's okay, you deserve to know. I was a huge jerk to you and everyone who has been kind to me for the past 2 days. Besides, I want to tell you." Zach said with a smile. Twilight smiled back.
"Well, I'll tell you it started out great, I had a great father, a magnificent mother, and we had a happy life together. We were the Brady bunch, or the perfect family. We did everything together, laughed, played, and had an adventure everyday. These were the best moments of my life." Zach's smile then turns to a frown. "But then one day, all that changed drastically. When I was 10, me and my parents were on our way home from shopping for my birthday. It was my birthday when... it happened. Then all of a sudden, an... accident occurred, thus putting me in the hospital." Twilight gasped at that. "When I woke up, there were two nurses at both sides of the bed. They were surprised to see me awake, saying that I was lucky to be alive. But I wasn't worried about me. I asked where were my parents and they just answered-" Zach paused and started shedding a couple tears. "... Son, your parents are in a better place now." Twilight started crying herself. "I had never cried so much in my life after hearing that." Then without warning he felt hooves wrapped around his neck. Twilight hugged him tightly while crying on his shoulder. "I'm so sorry." Twilight said through her tears. "Hey, hey, it's okay, it wasn't your fault." Zach said hugging her back, trying to comfort her. "But you were in so much pain and I didn't know. I feel so terrible to what I said last night." Twilight said still crying. "Hey, it's okay. That's all in the past now. None of what happened 5 years ago, was your fault. You had no connection to it, and you shouldn't blame yourself on what happened all those years ago." Zach gave her a confident smile while she looked up at him still crying. Twilight returned it and wiped away her tears. "So what happened next?" Twilight wondered. "Well, after weeks of recovering from the hospital and a painful funeral, I went to an orphanage and in a way became it's... janitor." Twilight then became more curious from that. "What do you mean by janitor?" Zach paused on how to explain it. "Um well, let's just say the manager at the orphanage has a grudge against my family name. All I know is that she once worked with my father and she did something bad and got herself fired, thus ruining her reputation. But the point is she hates me. I pretty much kept the place up and running. I had to dust every inch, wash the floors, and I even learned some mechanics when I was 12. I guess it goes to show that happiness lasts only so long." He still feels Twilight hugging him and feel wet tears coming down his shoulder. He decided to change the subject.
"So, enough about me, how did your studying on that prophecy went?" Zach asked.
"...Well, actually, I didn't study on the prophecy." Twilight answered.
Zach was surprised. "What? But all that time while I was gone helping on-"
"Yes, yes, I know. But I honestly think that there's no point into it anymore."
"What makes you say that?"
"Well, I've been thinking on the Princess's decision of sending us here and... I honestly think she send us here for a reason."
"And what would that reason be?"
"To be honest, I don't know. But there should be a purpose, I just know it."
"Speaking of that studying, what is this prophecy and what is it about?"
Twilight thought for a moment on how to explain it. "It started about a whole millennia ago, there were two royal sisters, the oldest controlled the sun and the youngest controlled the moon. They both made Equestria a happy place for many years, but one day, the youngest made a decision that nearly destroyed Equestia. She refused to lower the moon and soon she turned into a great evil known as Nightmare Moon. Her plan was to shroud the whole planet into eternal night, never to let the sun rise. But eventually the older sister used powerful objects called the Elements of Harmony, to defeat her and banish her to the moon forever."
"Wow, that's... that's awful. You mean no more light, no more heat, no more rays to grow food?" Zach said in shock, knowing what could've happened.
"Yes, it would have ended all life as we know it."
"Wait, you said that the oldest sister banished this Nightmare Moon into the moon forever. How is it that the prophecy relates to her?"
"It said in the legend that she will defy the prison and return to Equestria to finish what she started."
"How?"
Twilight looked at the moon out her window. She then hovered a book next to her and opened it to the page.
"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." Twilight said as she read the book.
"I hope the Princess was right... I hope it really is just an old ponytale..." Twilight said. She looked up at the moon with the face of a unicorn darkened on it with four stars getting closer to it. Zach looked at her worried face. He can't stand seeing her like this. For the past 2 days he somehow made a feeling. A feeling he didn't expect to have. A feeling he hadn't felt for a long time. A feeling of... love. He didn't know how and why, he just felt the urge to wanting to get closer to her. But how can she love a pony who had been so mean to her from the first day they met, for that matter... a human. Zach however, felt he should follow his heart and do the right thing. For her.
"Well, if it does come true, if the prophecy is true and she does comes back, I will do everything I can to help you find a way to stop Nightmare Moon." Zach said.
"You will? But what about getting back to your home planet?" Twilight said surprised.
"That can wait. For now, I will stay for a little while longer to help you."
"Really?"
"Really."
Zach and Twilight smiled at each other. Twilight never thought he would even consider of staying to helping her stop this crisis. It brought her comfort into her heart. Suddenly a loud bang startled the two.
"C'mon, guys, it's time to watch the sunrise!" Spike said.
Moments later the group went to the town hall along with nearly the whole town coming to it. The three wait for the ceremony to start, with worried looks on the two ponies face, hoping that the prophecy doesn't come to past. Just then, Pinkie Pie comes out by their sides.
"Isn't this exciting? 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 [gasps dramatically] but I mean really, who can top that?" asked the over hyped pony.
"Oh I have no idea." Zach said as he rolled his eyes.
Then the whole room was silenced by birds, chirping a melody conducted by Fluttershy. As the birds finished, a light beamed from the back of the room and lowered itself to a lone pony on the small stage. She was a tan pony with a gray mane and tail. She wore glasses and has a collar around her neck.
"Fillies and gentlecolts, as mayor of Ponyville, it is my great pleasure to announce the beginning of the Summer Sun Celebration!" the mayor announced. The ponies around the whole room cheered as Zach and Twilight stood silent.
"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, the bringer of harmony to all of Equestria..." as the mayor paused, Zach and Twilight looked up at the moon. The stars moved even closer to the moon and touched it. The face of a mare in the moon had suddenly disappeared. This worried the two even more.
"Ready?" Fluttershy asked her birds.
"...Princess Celestia!" the mayor raised her hoof to the air.
Rarity was on a balcony and pulled down a rope and it opened a curtain as the birds sing a final melody. As the curtains were fully opened, there was nothing to be seen. "Huh?" Rarity gasped in confusion. The ponies then chattered in confusion as well.
"This can't be good." Twilight said worriedly.
"Oh crud." Zach also said in worry.
"Remain calm, everypony, there must be a reasonable explanation!" the mayor said, trying to calm down the crowd.
"Ooh, ooh, I love guessing games! Is she hiding?" Pinkie Pie said, looking everywhere.
Rarity comes out from the hallway, where the Princess was suppose to be. "She's gone!" she said to the audience. The whole crowd gasped at this.
"Ooh, she's good." Pinkie said impressed. Though Twilight and Zach were far from impressed.
"What's happening? You don't think that..." Zach trailed off believing he knows what Twilight's thinking.
"I don't know. I'm hoping no-" Twilight said fearfully before being cut off.
"[yelp]." Pinkie screamed looking up.
"What?" concerned Zach. He looked up to see a dark aurora mist, flowing on the balcony.
"[gasp]." Zach gasped along with the crowd.
"Oh no..." Twilight said knowing what's happening. Just then, the mist broke up, thus showing a dark female alicorn. She was wearing dark blue armor, her tail and mane resembled the mist, and had light blue reptile like eyes. "Nightmare Moon!" Twilight gasped. Spike then fainted off of Twilight as the whole room stared in fear and confusion.
"Oh, my beloved subjects. It's been so long since I've seen your precious, little sun-loving faces." Nightmare Moon said with a royal like voice.
"What did you do with our Princess?" Rainbow Dash shouted out. She was about to charge her, when she was pulled by the tail.
"Whoa there, Nelly..." Applejack muffled as she holds on to Dash's tail with her mouth.
"[chuckles] Why, am I not royal enough for you? Don't you know who I am?" Nightmare Moon asks.
"Ooh, ooh, more guessing games! Um, Hokey Smokes! How about... Queen Meanie! No! Black Snooty, Black Snooty-[makes muffled noises]" Applejack shoved a cupcake up Pinkie's mouth, so she doesn't anger the threat.
"Does my crown no longer count now that I have been imprisoned for a thousand years?" Nightmare Moon said as she comes up to Fluttershy. Fluttershy cowers behind her hair with her eyes closed shut tight. "Did you not recall the legend? Did you not see the signs?" Nightmare Moon then comes up to Rarity and gives her a little slap on her chin with her mane.
"We did. And we know who you are. You're the Mare in the Moon – Nightmare Moon!" Zach and Twilight shouted her name in unison again. The audience yet again gasped.
"Well well well, somepony who remembers me. [whispers to self] And the boy seems very familiar to me. Then you also know why I'm here." Nightmare Moon said.
"You're here to... to... [gulps]" Twilight was too afraid to finish.
"To bring eternal night!" Zach said with bravery and boldness. The whole crowd gasped again to this statement.
"[chuckles] Remember this day, little ponies, for it was your last. From this moment forth, the night will last forever! [evil laughing]" Nightmare Moon laughed while lightning striked from the aurora that raised from her mane and tail. Zach and Twilight stared in fear. They both know if they don't do something and fast, all of Equestria will be doomed... forever.
To Be Continued...
Friendship is Magic Part 2
Nightmare Moon laughs evily on the balcony in the town hall of ponyville while lightning strikes from her mane and tail as they flow into the air. The so called 'ponies' tale' was coming true, and it becomes a nightmare.
"Seize her! Only she knows where the Princess is!" commanded the mayor. Three pegasus gaurds swooped up to attack.
"Stand back, you fools! [laughs]" Nightmare Moon then strikes the gaurds with lightning bolts.
She then turns into the aurora of her mane and tail and swoops out of the building. After struggling to escape her grasp, Rainbow Dash finally gets away from Applejack and starts to pursue Nightmare Moon but she got away.
"Come back here! [pants]" Rainbow Dash shouted. "Nighttime? Forever?" she says to herself. She then notices two ponies rushed out of the building. It was Zach and Twilight with Spike on her back, galloped to the library's direction. "Where are they going?" she wondered.
Soon the three were in the library. Spike was shuddering in fear on his bed, still in his fainted condition. "Uh...We gotta stop Nightmare!..." Spike drifted back to sleep after trying to get up.
"You've been up all night, Spike. You are a baby dragon after all." Twilight said while tucking Spike in.
"[chuckles] Yes he is. Okay, let's find something about those elements." Zach mentioned. They went to the library section downstairs and started searching for a book about the Elements of Harmony. A huge mess was being made from the frantic searching.
"Elements, elements, elements... Ugh! How can we stop Nightmare Moon without the Elements of Harmony?" Twilight said in frustration while searching through the books.
"Did your ancestors even made a book about those things?" Zach asked out.
"And just what are the Elements of Harmony?" Dash said to Twilight's face, coming out of nowhere. "And how did you know about Nightmare Moon, huh? Are you a spy?" Dash then pushed Twilight back a couple feet.
"Spies? Yeah, if we were spies, we would have ran with her, sweetie." Zach said with a little sarcasm at her.
"DON'T call me that!" Dash retorted at Zach. They then locked heads together, looking like they are ready to fight. All of a sudden a force pulled Dash back from Zach's head. It turned out to be Applejack and the others the two met 2 days ago.
"Simmer down, Sally. They ain't no spies. But they sure know what's going on. Don't you, Zach and Twilight?" Applejack asked as the group gathered around. Zach looked at Twilight and gave her a nod.
"We read all about the prediction of Nightmare Moon. 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!" Twilight explained.
"The Elements of Harmony: A Reference Guide." Pinkie read a book on a shelf. Twilight bumped Pinkie out of the way to see for herself.
"How did you find it?" Twilight asked in disbelief.
"It was under 'E'!" Pinkie said in a singing voice.
"Oh." Zach and Twilight both said. Twilight levitated the book to her and flipped through the pages. She then found the page she was looking for and started reading.
"There are six Elements of Harmony but only five are known: Kindness, Laughter, Generosity, Honesty, and Loyalty. The sixth is a complete mystery. Legend shows that the Elder sister from the sister story used all six to defeat the Youngest sister but was not powerful enough to destroy the darkness that lied within her. Later, the Eldest sister made a prophecy that when the darkness known as Nightmare Moon returns from her exile on the moon, a mysterious chosen champion from a far land will also rise, and will have the power to rid the darkness and restore harmony once again. It is said-"
"Wait a minute, 'a champion from a far land'?" Rarity interrupted Twilight and pondered. She then stares at Zach with widened eyes. "Zach darling, where did you say you came from?"
"The planet Earth. Why?" Zach answered.
"Earth?" the rest of the ponies asked in confusion. "What in the hay is that. Are you saying you're from another world, that you're some sort of alien?" Dash asked with puzzled eyes.
"I suppose you can put it that way." Zach answered again.
"And it's true, I made studies of him and he nearly does what they call a human." Twilight explained, trying to defend Zach.
"You mean all those mythical creatures and all that hooey?" Applejack asked.
"It's not a lie. He's telling the truth. I know it may sound crazy, but he really was a human." Twilight was then defending herself.
"Okay, I'll try to believe ya." Applejack said.
"Well if this is true, then Zach, I think this 'champion' character... is you." Rarity finished.
"What? B-but how could I be-" Zach try to ask in total disbelief.
"Because it's like you said darling, you're from another world right? The book said about a stranger from a far land will come to save us all and if you're telling the truth that you're from another world, then it has to be you." Rarity simply explained.
"I-I'm sorry but you got the wrong guy. I'm no hero or some chosen one in a thousand year old prophecy, it's impossible. Besides, it said the hero is from a far land and I'm from a planet. I'm sorry, but you got the wrong one." Zach finished. The groups ears then drooped down along with their heads with sad faces on their faces.
"... But I did make a promise that I'll stay and help if this happens. So, I will do everything in my power to help out in any way." Zach said trying to cheer them up. He succeeded with confident smiles on their faces as a reward. "Thank you again." Twilight said with a smile on her face. "Don't mention it. Anyway, what else does the book say?" Zach asked.
"Oh yes. Anyway: it is said, the last known location of the five elements wading the ancient castle of the royal pony sisters." Twilight continued reading. Zach then heard something from outside as his ear twitched from the sound.
"What was that?" Zach asked while looking at the window.
"What was what?" Twilight asked curiously. A long silence took place so Zach could hear. Nothing came.
"Nevermind, I thought I heard something. Must have been the wind. Anyway, where is this castle?" Zach asked ignoring the sound.
"It is now located in what is now-" Twilight was now stuttering unable to finish.
"The Everfree Forest!" all the mares said in unison. They later came to a dark forest with fog around it. It resembles a forest Zach would see in his world but was a little creepy.
"Okay, it's a spooky forest I get it, but I don't see what the big deal is." said Zach.
"Don't you see? The Everfree Forest is one of the most dangerous places in Equestria. It has many predators with razor sharp teeth that could eat you up in just seconds." Twilight explained.
"Oh. That is scary." Zach said with a gulp.
"Whee! let's go!" Pinkie Pie said with excitement.
"Not so fast. Look, I appreciate the offer, but I'd really rather do this on my own." Twilight said stopping Pinkie in her tracks.
"No can do, Sugarcube. We ain't lettin' any friend of ours go in that creepy place alone. We're stickin' to like caramel on a candy apple." Applejack said as she walks into the forest with the others.
"Especially if there's candy apples in there." Pinkie said randomly. Zach and Twilight stared at her confused.
"What? Those things are good!" Pinkie said while trotting over to the forest. Twilight made a long sigh after that.
"Hey look, I know you feel responsible of letting this happen, but like I said I will help you get through this in any way I can. Don't worry everything will be fine." Zach gave a soft smile at her. She smiles back.
"Okay, let's go." Zach said leading Twilight to the others. It's still a dark but pretty night as the stars shine in the night. However, it does not help them see much in the dark forest. The seven ponies still journey through in hope to find the ancient castle.
"So, none of you have been in here before?" Twilight asked shakingly.
"Ugh, Heavens no! Just look at it- it's dreadful." Rarity said also shakingly.
"And it ain't natural. Folk say it don't work the same as Equestria." Applejack added.
"What's that suppose to mean?" Twilight said still scared.
"Nopony knows." Rainbow Dash said in a ghostly tone as she approached out of the shadows scaring Rarity, fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie. "You know why?" she then starts doing creeping steps towards them.
"Rainbow, quit it." Applejack said.
"Cause everypony who's ever come in, has... never... come... OUT!" Dash makes a jump scaring the three. All of a sudden, the cliff they stand on just collapsed taking the five wingless ponies with it.
"Fluttershy! Quick!" Dash ordered and swoops down to save the others. "Oh my goodness, oh my goodness." Fluttershy said in fear as she joins Dash. They both managed to get Rarity and Pinkie Pie while Applejack grabs on to a root. Zach and Twilight however were nearing the edge of the cliff with no one to save them. As Zach was about to grab on to a root of his own it snaps out of the ground and sends Zach screaming down the cliff.
"ZACH!" Twilight yelled out in horror as she holds on for dear life.
"Hold on, I'm-a-comin'!" Applejack said while she slides down to save her. She grabs a hold of her but she isn't strong enough to pull her up.
"Applejack! What do I do?" Twilight said in panic.
"... Let go." Applejack answered simply.
"Are you crazy?" Twilight asked in disbelief.
"No I ain't. I promise you'll be safe."
"That's not true."
"Now listen here. What I'm sayin' to you is the honest truth. Let go, and you'll be safe." Applejack gave Twilight the most sincere look telling her it's the truth. Twilight thought for a moment and decided to let go. She screams thinking she knows what's going to happen next. But then a bump forced her to open her eyes. She looks down to see her not on the ground but flying. She looks back to see a familiar face holding her.
"Zach!" Twilight said in shock. It was really Zach still alive. He was holding on to a vine with his left hoof and held Twilight with his right.
"But how did-"
"I had my share of exercises." Zach said to her while swinging on the vine. The vine begins to break and sends the two falling down once again. But they were again rescued by Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy. "Phew-whoa!" both Zach and Twilight said together while the two pegasi struggle to hold on.
"Sorry, I'm not used to holding more than a bunny or two." Fluttershy apologized. Twilight watched Applejack jump down from the steps of the cliff smiling, knowing she can trust her with her life. They soon land on the ground safely. Twilight unexpectedly hugged Zach thankful he's still alive. Zach hugged back. After multiple thanks to Applejack, the group continues their journey.
"And once Pinkie and Rarity were saved, whoosh... Me and Fluttershy loop-de-loop around and WHAM! Caught you both in the nick of time." Dash gloated over the rescue that happened 10 minutes ago.
"Yes, Rainbow, we were there, and we're very grateful, be we gotta-" Twilight was then interrupted by a beast that popped out of nowhere. It looked to be a lion with wings and a tail of a scorpion.
"A manticore!" Twilight yelled out.
"A what!" Zach asked in shock.
"Half lion, half dragon, and half scorpion!" Twilight explained quickly. "We got to get past him!"
The beast begins attack witha swipe at Rarity but she dodged the attack and countered with a kick in the face with her hind hooves.
"Take that you ruffian!" Rarity shouted at it. The manticore then roared at Rarity thus giving her name a puffed up mess similar to Twilights that happened 3 days ago.
"My hair!" Rarity stared at her mane in shock. She then notices the manticore gave her a low growl and she yelped at it and started running.
"Wait!" Fluttershy shouted quietly. The beast was chasing Rarity when it stopped all of a sudden.
"YEE-HAW! Get along, little doggie!" Applejack rode the manticore like a bull.
"Wait!" Fluttershy shouted again a little louder. The manticore finally managed to get Appkejack off.
"Whoa! All yours, partner." Applejack said to Dash as she flew.
"I'm on it." Dash gave a salute and started charging the beast.
"Wait!" Fluttershy yet again shouted still getting louder. Dash was spinning around the manticore making a rainbow twister around. It somehow managed to swipe Dash away with its tail.
"Rainbow!" Twilight yelled out. Dash landed in front of them.
"Are you okay?" Zach asked concerned.
"I think so." Dash answered as she gets up in pain. The manticore made a swipe on the ground ready to take another attack. Zach, Twilight, and Applejack did the same. Zach made a huff at it and blowed steam from his nose. The group then begins to charge it for another fight.
"WAAAAAIT!" Fluttershy yelled out in front, finally getting their attention and stopping the fight.
"What?" Zach simply asked. Fluttershy turned to the manticore and approached it.
"What are you-" Zach was about to stop her but didn't want to get the beast angrier. The manticore was about to attack her, which made everyone except Zach close their eyes.
"Shh... it's okay." Fluttershy said to the manticore calmly.
"What?" Zach said in disbelief. The group opened their eyes to see what was going on. To their surprise the manticore didn't strike. Fluttershy rubbed her muzzle on the creatures left paw. It then presented its paw to her showing a thorn stuck on it.
"Oh you poor, poor little baby." Fluttershy cooed at the manticore.
"Little?" Rainbow Dash exaggerated.
"Yeah, more like gigantic." Zach agreed.
"Now this might hurt for just a second." Fluttershy said before she pulls the thorn off it's paw. It picked her up and roared.
"Fluttershy!" everyone shouted. But to their surprise it didnt eat her, it was licking her and purring in thanks.
"[giggles] Aw you're just a little ol' baby kitty, aren't you? Yes you are, yes you are." Fluttershy cooed the creature in a motherly tone.
"Okay, I'm not going to ask how she pulled that off." Zach said in disbelief as they walked past the manticore. Soon the beast lets go of Fluttershy leaving her mane sticking back in a rock star fashion.
"How did you know about the thorn?" Twilight asked Fluttershy.
"I didn't. Sometimes we all just need to show a little kindness." Fluttershy said as she walks by. Twilight was about to catch up with the others when she notices Zach thinking to himself.
"Zach, are you okay?" Twilight asked.
"Hmm? Oh nothing, just thinking. Lets get going." Zach said returning to his senses.
They continue into the forest as it gets darker the more they walk in.
"Eugh. My eyes need a rest from all this icky muck." Rarity complained. Soon the trees cover the moons light from visibility.
"Well, I didn't mean that literally."
"That ancient ruin could be right in front of our faces and we wouldn't even know it." Twilight said. They then began rambling about not seeing anything in front of then earlier. They were then bumping into each other without seeing.
"Oh wait, I think I stepped in somethin'." Applejack said lifting her hoof. Fluttershy then made a horrifying scream.
"it's just mud." Applejack tried to calm her down. She then looks at the direction she was screaming at and looked up. It was a tree with a monstrous face. She takes a leap back within a shout of surprise. The group found themselves surrounded by multiple face trees. They all start screaming in fear. Zach tried calming them down amiditly a little frightened himself. But then they start hearing giggling. It was Pinkie Pie laughing at the trees and making silly faces at them.
"Pinkie, what are you doing? Run!" Twilight yelled out.
"Oh girls, don't you see?" Pinkie began a little dance like there was a beat.
"When I was a filly and the sun was going down." Pinkie started to sing.
"Tell me she's not-" Twilight began but was interrupted by Pinkie who came out of nowhere.
"The darkness and the shadows, they would always make me frown." Pinkie continued singing.
"She is." Rarity said.
"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 Dash asked.
"She said: Pinkie, you got to stand up tall
learn to face your fears
you'll see they can't hurt you
just laugh at them and make them dissapear. Ha, ha, ha."
As soon as she laughed at a tree, it's face dissapeared. The group gasped.
"So, giggle at the ghostly
guffaw at the grossly
crack up at the creepy
whoop it up with the weepy
chortle at the kooky
snortle at the spooky."
Soon the group began laughing at the monstrous faces and one by one each face begins to dissapear.
"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 wants to make you...
Hahahaha...heh...
LAUUUUUUUUUGH!" Pinkie finishes. The whole group then started laughing hard on the ground enjoying the sensation of laughing. They return to their journey still laughing while running. Pinkie then stopped in front of a raging rapid river with everyone bumping and looking from behind her.
"How are we gonna cross this? Pinkie asked aloud.
"I like to know what's causing it." Zach added.
They soon heard crying in the distance they followed it behind a bush to see a crying purple serpent with a stylish mane. His long body was making waves of its own which happens to be the cause of the rapids.
"I guess that answers my question." said Zach.
"[sobbing] What a world, What a world!" the serpent cried as he splashes the river with his fists.
"Excuse me sir. Why are you crying?" Twilight asked.
"Well, I don't know. I was just sitting here, minding my own buisness, when this tacky little cloud of purple smoke whisked past me and tore half of beloved mustache clean off." the serpent pointed at his right cut off mustache.
"Wait. Tacky purple smoke? ...[gasp] Nightmare Moon." Zach said in shock.
"What?" everypony exclaimed together in shock.
"It was her the whole time. The avalanche, the thorn on the manticore, the faces. She knows we're after the elements. She's trying to stop us. We got to get to them before she does." Zach said putting the puzzle together.
"How? The serpent here is making the river a hazard." Rainbow Dash said annoyed.
"Excuse me, sir. Do you think you can stop the shaking for a little bit do we can cross? We're on an important mission here." Twilight asked politely.
"I don't know. Not while I'm still looking like this." the serpent pointed at his face again still crying.
"So, you're saying unless your precious mustache is whole, you're not stopping?" Zach asked irritated.
"Yes, because I look simply horrid." he then splashed himself in the river getting the group soaking wet with moaning and displeased looks on their faces.
"Oh give me a break." Dash said annoyed.
"That's what all the fuss is about?" Applejack said also a little annoyed.
"Of course it is. How can you be so insensitive?" Raity said with a tone in disbelief.
"Oh just look at him." Rarity cooed in a motherly tone.
"Such lovely luminescent scales." she then complimented.
"[sniff] I know." the serpent said.
"And you're expertly coiffed mane."
"Oh, I know, I know."
"Your fabulous manicure."
"[gasps] It's so true."
"All ruined without you're beautiful mustache."
"It's true. I'm hideous." the serpent began crying again.
"I simply cannot let such a crime agains fabulosity go uncorrected." she then unexpectedly took one of the serpents scales out.
"OW! What did you do that for?" the serpent said in pain with a tear coming out of his eye.
"Rarity, what are you-" Twilight was interrupted by a snipping sound. The serpent fainted rather over dramatically. Rarity cut her tail and took the longer peice with her magic and put it in the cut off part of the serpents mustache.
"Oh ohohohoho. My mustache. How wonderful." the serpent cheered in glee with his pride back.
"You look smashing." Rarity complimented.
"Oh, Rarity, you're beautiful tail..." Twilight looked at her tail in worry.
"Oh. It's fine, my dear. Short tails are in this season. Besides, it'll grow back." Rarity said with confidence.
"Gee, Rarity, that was very... generous of you. I didn't think you had it in you." Zach admitted.
"So would the mustache." Rainbow Dash said in obvious. They then notice the rapids stopped. It was now calmed waters.
"[gasp] We can cross now. Let's go. Ah!" A sudden force pulled Twilight up from the wet water.
"Allow me." the serpent kindly gestured as he raised his long back to make it as a bridge.
"Why thank you." Zach politely thanked the serpent. The gang hopped on the arches on his back to continue their adventure. They finally come across the ruined castle just yards away across a bridge.
"There it is, the ruin that hold the Elements of Harmony. We made it." Twilight said excitingly and sprints to the castle.
"Twilight, wait for us." Applejack shouted out.
"We're almost there. Whoa!" Twilight was nearly about to fall to see the bride cut off.
"Twilight!" Zach shouted out and quickly grabbed her tail. Je was still struggling until he was pulled by Rainbow Dash.
"What's with you two and falling off cliffs today?" Dash asked amusingly.
"I don't know." Zach said. "This was freshly cut." Zach said observing the other side.
"How can you tell?" Twilight asked.
"See how flat the cut ropes are at the other side? That means Nightmare Moon can't be to far." Zach explained.
"[sigh] Now what?" Pinkie said in exhaustion.
"Duh." Dash flapped her wings in front of Pinkie. She then flew down to grab the other side of the bridge.
"Oh yeah." Pinkie remembered about Dash's wings.
Dash managed to grab the other side of the bridge and took it to the other side. Just when she was about to tie it to the poles, she heard a mysterious voice call for her.
"Rainbow..." the voice called out.
"Who's there?" Dash shouted.
"Rainbow..." the voice said again.
"I ain't scared of you! Show yourself!" Dash demanded.
"We've been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the best flyer in Equestria." the voice said.
"Who?" Dash asked dumbfounded.
"Why, you, of course." the voice then said.
"Really? I mean... oh yeah, me. 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. We want you to join us, the Shadowbolts." the voice reveals itself as a female mare with two colts in acrobatic like suits similar to the Wonderbolts from the posters but darker and more intimidating.
"We're the greatest aerial team in the Everfree Forest, and soon we will be the greatest in all of Equestria, but first, we need a captain. The most magnificent-" the mare began complimenting Dash.
"Yep." Dash agreed.
"Swiftest-"
"Yes."
"Bravest flyer in all the land."
"Yes, [chuckles] it's all true."
"We need... you." the mare whispered in Dash's ear.
"WOOHOO! Sign me up. Just let me tie this bridge real quick and then we have a deal." Dash said approaching the bridge.
"No, it's them or us." the mare suddenly steps in Dash's path.
"Rainbow, what's taking so long?" Twilight called out. She then noticed three more figures in front of her.
"Oh no. Rainbow! Don't listen to them." Twilight shouted. The mares eyes turned yellow and a thick cloud of fog blocked the others view from Dash.
"Well?" the mare asked again. Dash struggled to make two big decisions of her life. Abandon her friends and take the offer or stay with her friends and save Equestria. She then finally made up her mind.
"You... thank you! For the offer, I mean, but I'm afraid I have to say no." Dash then tied the bridge and went to meet the others. The group cheered to see Rainbow Dash stay with them to the very end. They then began walking across the bridge to meet their destination.
"See? I'd never leave my friends hangin'." Rainbow said to Twilight. As they crossed the other side, they notice that the figures are gone. Twilight noticed Zach was also missing. She turned to see him pondering about something.
"Zach, are you okay?" Twilight asked.
"Hmm? Oh, yeah, I'm fine, just thinking." Zach answered.
"About what?"
"Well, something caught me. Since our journey began, these other five ponies jumped in to help us and ironically made some sort of... connection."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Well, think about it for second. AJ's honesty to you, Fluttershy's kindness to the manticore, Pinkies laughing at the trees, Rarity's generosity for cutting off her tail, and now Dash's loyalty to us... You don't think that they are somehow... connected to the elements don't you?" Zach explained.
"What? You don't think that the Princess planed this, don't you? Come on Zach, it's a one in a million chance to meet somepony who is somehow connected to the elements." Twilight said.
"I guess you're right. Maybe it's just my imagination. Oh well, let's get going." Zach said as they walk to the ruins. When they got inside the roof was destroyed from erosion most of the windows were completely shattered. In the center of the entrance room lies a broken fountain with five stone spheres on them.
"Whoa. Come on, Twilight. Isn't this what you've been waitin' for?" Applejack said in admiration of the room.
"The Elements of Harmony. We've found them." Twilight said looking at the elements in surprise. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy then flew up to retreive the stone elements. "Careful, careful!" Twilight said cautiously.
"One, two, three, four... There's only five!" Pinkie said as she counted the spheres.
"Where's the sixth?" Dash asked.
"The book said: when the five are present, a spark will cause the sixth element to be revealed." Twilight explained.
"What in the hay is that suppose to mean?" Applejack asked confusley.
"I'm not sure, but I have an idea. Stand back. I don't know what will happen." Twilight's horn began to glow as she prepares to do a spell.
"Come on now y'all. She needs to concentrate." Applejack said as her and the other four females walk out.
"I'll stay here and keep a watch out. Who knows when Nightmare Moon will show up?" Zach said while he stands behind Twilight. Everything was quiet, there was no sound of anything approaching what so ever. Until Zach's ears began to twitch. He heard a sound from behind him and assumed it was Twilight doing the spell. As he turned around he notices the elements were picked up by a small twister and sees that it wasn't Twilight doing it.
"Look out!" Zach shouted at Twilight. Twilight opened her eyes to see the twister right before her eyes.
"Aah!" Twilight screamed.
"Zach, Twilight!" the group outside shouted in worry. The elements began to dissapear in the small tornado.
"The elements!" Twilight then made a daring move and jumped into the monsoon.
"Twilight!" Zach rushed and joined her into it. He did it in the nick of time as the twister dissapears into thin air. The rest of the group rushed in only to find their two companions dissapear. They all rambled on saying 'where did they go' and 'where are they'. They then began searching the room for any sign of them.
"Zach, Twilight, where are you?" Applejack called out.
"Look!" Rarity pointed to another taller section of the castle. There were bright lights shining from the building.
"Come on!" Applejack ordered and they started galloping to the unexplored parts of the castle. Soon a spark of smoke appears in a room with Zach and Twilight in the middle of it. They started coughing from the effect.
"Are you okay?" Zach put a concerned hoof on her back. She nodded and turned her attention in front of her as did Zach. They gasped to see what they were seeing. It was none other than Nightmare Moon standing in front of a throne laughing with lightning striking behind her and the five Elements of Harmony floating by her side. Both Zach and Twilight put determined looks on their faces and started kicking the ground.
"You're kidding. You're kidding, right?" Nightmare Moon mocked.
"Does it look like we are?" Zach said in a brave tone. Twilights horn begins to glow and both ponies began to charge the foe. Nightmare Moon also began to charge ready for battle. Twilights horn glow begins to intensify.
"NOW!" Zach shouted. Then in an instant Twilight dissapeared but Zach stayed on course. Nightmare Moon was successful on striking one of her targets. Zach shouted in pain and was sent rolling a couple feet away. Nightmare Moon searched the room for Twilight and found her appearing in front of the elements. She looked in worry to see her friend hurt.
"Forget about me, just do it!" Zach yelled.
"[groan] Just one spark. Come on, come on." Twilight began another spell trying to perfect what she tried to do earlier. Nightmare Moon then begins to turn into her cloud form to stop her. Zach leaped to try and grab her leg but it was too late. She makes her way to the throne and returns to her normal form. A spark of electricity finally produces out of Twilight's horn but rebounded to her. She yelled in pain ad was sent flying back next to Zach.
"Twilight!" Zach said and came over to help her up. Electricity was running through the stone spheres.
"No, no!" Nightmare Moon said in anger. Zach and Twilight had confident smiles on their faces thinking they had did it. But the victory was short lived and the electricity dissipates. Nothing.
"[gasp] But... where's the sixth element?" Twilight said in shock. Nightmare Moon began laughing evilly and slammed her forehooves to the ground and smashes the elements into glass pieces. Zach and Twilight stared in horror knowing that their only hope in defeating Nightmare Moon was gone.
"You little foals! Thinking you can defeat me? Now you will never see your princess, or your precious sun! The night will last forever! [evil laugh]" Zach and Twilight stood there in defeat knowing there is nothing they can do now.
"And as for you, you have been a thorn in my side for far too long. Time I put an end to it." Nightmare Moon grinned devilishly and her horn glows a dark purple glow. Twilight was prepared to meet whatever is about to happen. A beam of energy shoots out of Nightmare Moons horn and it was aimed at Twilight. She closes eyes her tight ready to take the impact. A couple seconds past and nothing happened. Instead she hears a hollar of pain. She opens her eyes swiftly to see a brown blur past right in front of her. It rolled over the ground rapidly until it stops. It was Zach groaning in pain with smoke rising from his body.
"ZACH!" Twilight screamed in horror. She was about to rush for his aid but was interrupted by Nightmare Moon getting in her path.
"Uh, uh, uh, don't want to end up like him now do we?" Nightmare Moon said with an evil grin. Twilight didn't move but stood her ground. Nightmare Moon approached the injured pony and turns his body with her hoof to get a better look of his face.
"Ah, now I recognize you. You're that so called 'hero' that was suppose to have the power to stop me. HA. What a joke. You don't even have any power. It's too bad. I actually expected your princess was telling the truth about sending a challenge to face me. Instead I get a weak colt who can't even put up a fight. How pathetic." Nightmare Moon pushed Zach away to face Twilight.
"Now, where were we?" Nightmare Moon said with her horn glowing. Twilight began a fighting pose with her horn glowing as well.
"N... no." Zach said weakly.
"Hmm?" Nightmare Moons horn stops glowing and turns to see what Zach has to say.
"You... you have to be stopped." Zach said weakly and slowly gets up.
"I... I HAVE TO STOP YOU!" Zach shouted with fury. Suddenly his eyes turns into a blinding white glow.
"What? What is this?" Nightmare Moon said in surprise as she and Twilight stepped back cautiously. A white aurora then shines over Zach and begins to float in the air. The black charred mark on his chest vanishes and returns to the brown fur it was before. A horn then forms from his head magically. Then another surprise comes as wings began to grow on his back. And finally his flank begins to glow and reveals his cutie mark. It was a star similar to Twilight's but had divided colors on each angle. White on top, blue on the left, red on the bottom left corner, yellow on the right bottom corner, and green on the right. In the middle was a circle with a gray half on the left and a purple half on the right. He opens his eyes and the light dissipates. His iris was no longer the matching brown of his coat but a whitish gray. He lands on the ground gracefully and prepared himself for one final battle.
"Zach, you... you are-" Twilight said in disbelief.
"No. This is impossible. You're... you're a-" Nightmare Moon said shakingly in disbelief.
"An alicorn, a colt from another world, and the chosen one that's gonna put you in your place." Zach said with a victorious grin on his face.
"No you won't. I am not going to let a child defeat me." Nightmare Moon said in defense.
"Oh, but I'm afraid that's going to happen. It took me a while to believe but I accept that I am the chosen one and I am the one who was meant to take you out for good."
"[evil laugh] And how are you going to do that? Don't you remember? I destroyed your precious elements and your hopes of stopping me. It was said that the chosen one needs the Elements of Harmony to defeat me for good. But how are you going to do it without them?"
"That maybe true, but there are ways to take down an enemy without following the rules of a prophecy."
"[chuckles] Good luck with that. I am immortal."
"So am I." Zach then takes a charge with his wings. In his mind he didn't know how he learned how to fly so fast but he was more focused on taking down Nightmare Moon. She then flys to take on his attack. They then impacted and locked horns. They both grunt in effort as they take on each other proving who is the more superior. Their horns seperated and Zach begins firing beams of energy from his horn. Again doesn't know how it's possible he knows these things so fast but he is still focusing on fighting Nightmare Moon. She dodged every beam and shoots an attack of her own. Zach ducked and flew at her and forced her into the air and break the ceiling to the outside night. Twilight stared at the hole in ceiling in worry for his changed friend.
Meanwhile, the group is still running to the higher castle grounds to help their missing friends.
"We're almost there!" Applejack said to the others as they keep running up the stairs. They suddenly hear a loud bang take place at the building they were running at.
"What was that?" Fluttershy said shakingly. The group looked through a window to see what's going on. They see two showdowy figures fly into the air.
"Look, up there!" Rarity pointed.
"Oh no. It's Nightmare Moon and... ZACH? But how is he flying? Where did he get those wings?" Rainbow Dash said in shock.
"Nevermind that for now. We got to help him. Lets go." Applejack said with determination and continued running to the throne.
Zach and Nightmare Moons horns began to glow radiantly and were ready to fire another powerful beam. Both horns released their energy and collided with each other and made a loud explosion. They both flew into the smoke and locked with each other and flew straight down back to the castle hole spinning like a drill. As they were inches to the ground they released and flew away from each other. Nightmare Moons mane then made multiple cloud sized fog and moved in rows in front of Zach. As he charges lightning striked from the clouds trying to hit him but he turns and avoids each clouds path and eventually past all of them without getting hurt. They once again locked horns staring into each others eyes with fury. Their horns began glowing at the same time making a bright flash of light beam from the center. An explosion of energy then seperate the two. Nightmare Moon landed back to the throne by the shattered elements while Zach landed and slide a few feet right next to Twilight. Twilight looked at him with worry. Zach was panting fast and was sweating beads from his forehead.
"[evil laugh] Just as I thought. Look at you. You're already tired and you haven't even put a scratch on me. Even with your new powers you're still not powerful enough to stop me. Face it boy, it's over. [evil laugh]." lightning was striking everywhere above her.
"What am I going to do? She's right, even with my new powers I'm still not strong enough to defeat her. And she destroyed the very things I needed. I... I... I'm sorry." Zach said in defeat. But then when all hope seems lost both Zach and Twilight heard shouting from the stairs. They recognized them as the others that got seperated from each other. They were shouting their names saying they're coming. Zach and Twilight gasped and at the same time a twinkle of a spark ignited in their eyes.
"You think you can destroy the Elements of Harmony just like that? Well you're wrong, because the spirits of the Elements of Harmony are right here." Twilight said the others appeared right behind them. The shattered shards began to float in the air with colorful glows surrounding them.
"What?" Nightmare Moon said as she watches each crystal float.
"Applejack, who reassured me when I was in doubt, represents the spirit of... Honesty." Twilight said. Crystas began flying around Applejack.
"Fluttershy, who tamed the manticore with her compassion, represents the spirit of... Kindness." shards of crystals rotated around Fluttershy. She was intimidated at first but calmed down knowing its okay.
"Pinkie Pie, who banished fear by giggling at the face of danger, represents the spirit of... Laughter." Zach then said. Pinkie's shards then came to her.
"Rarity, who calmed a sorrowful serpent with a meaningful gift, represents the spirit of... Generosity." Zach said again. Rarity's shards then began flying around her.
"And Rainbow Dash, who could not abandon her friends for her hearts desire, represents the spirit of... Loyalty." both Zach and Twilight said in unision. Finally Rainbow Dash was surrounded by her own set of crystals.
"The spirits of these five ponies got us through every challenge you threw at us." Twilight said with a victorious tone.
"You still don't have the sixth element. The spark didnt work." Nightmare Moon said defiantly.
"But it did! A different kind of spark. We felt it the very moment we realized how happy we were to hear you, to see you, how much we cared about you. The spark ignited inside us when we realized that you are all... my friends." Twilight finished with tears.
"And my family." Zach added also shedding tears. Suddenly a bright flash of light shined over them. It appeared as the sixth Element of Harmony. Nightmare Moon shielded her eyes from the harmful rays.
"You see, Nightmare Moon, when those elements are ignited by the... the spark, that resides in us all, it creates the sixth element." Twilight said.
"And the seventh." Zach added.
"What?" everyone yelled out including Nightmare Moon.
"There is also a seventh. This one was kept secret because, the elder sister couldn't use all seven at once, she was not powerful enough. It's also the very element that will destroy Nightmare Moon forever." Zach finished. Then an even more brighter light appeared revealing the seventh and most powerful element of all.
"These are the Elements of Harmony and the secret ones which we had unlocked." Zach said.
"The element of... Magic." Twilight said.
"And the element of... Life." Zach finished. Soon the five shattered elements began to reform around the necks of their new masters. Zach and Twilights elements formed and a radiant light formed arround them. Zach then spread all of his hooves and wings to shape a star. At that moment a beam of rainbow energy shot out of the group and aimed right at Nightmare Moon.
"NOOO! NOOO!" Nightmare Moon shouted in defeat while the beam of energy surrounded her. Zach and Twilights eyes open to show their irises have turned into blooming white lights. Shortly they were on the ground.
"Ugh my head." Rainbow Dash grunted in pain.
"Is everypony okay?" Applejack asked the group.
"I think so." Zach answered a bit weakly.
"Oh, thank goodness." Rarity shouted in delight. Her wavy tail was grown back to its original state like it was never cut.
"Why Rarity, it's so lovely." Fluttershy complimented.
"I know! I'll never part with it again." Rarity said as she wagged her tail and brushed her face to it.
"No. Your necklace. It looks just like your cutie mark." Fluttershy corrected. Rarity looked at her neck to find a golden necklace around. And it was true, in the middle it had purple jewel in a diamond shape like Rarity's cutie mark.
"What? Ooh. So does yours." Rarity pointed out. Fluttershy gasped in delight as she sees her necklace represents a pink jewel butterfly in the middle similar to Fluttershy's cutie mark.
"Look at mine! Look at mine!" Pinkie Pie shouted excitingly hopping next to Applejack. Pinkie's necklace shows a light sapphire jewel representing the middle ballon of her cutie mark. Applejacks shows an orange jewel apple like hers.
"Aw yeah." Dash beamed in pride as she looks at hers. It is lightning shaped ruby jewel looking like her rainbow lightning mark. Twilight however wears a crown like jewelery with a purple star jewel representing her cutie mark. As for Zach his are eight silver royal like bracelets two on each leg with white pearls in the middle. He looked at each of them seeing what they look like.
"None of these look like mine." Zach said in disappointment. Then a crazy idea hit him.
"Wait a minute." Zach said as he finds a mirror. He stood on his hindlegs and spread his legs and wings in the same stance he did earlier. He almost surprisingly looks like a star in his alicorn form.
"I... guess that makes sense." Zach said with raised eyebrow. He then went back on all fours and looked at his new friends.
"Gee, Zach and Twilight! I thought you two were just spoutin' a lot of hooey, but I reckon we really do represent the elements of friendship." Applejack said happily.
"Indeed you do." a familiar harmonious voice said. Then a light shined from the window. It was the sun rising after hours of absence. Then an orb of light appeared in the room and turned into the form of Princess Celestia herself. The group bowed except for Zach and Twilight as they approach her.
"[gasp] Princess Celestia." Twilight said in a happy tone.
"Twilight Sparkle, my faithful student. I knew you could do it." The princess said proudly as she nuzzles Twilight.
"But... you told me it was all an old pony tale." Twilight said.
"I told you needed to make some friends, nothing more. I saw the signs of Nightmare Moons return and I knew it was you who had the magic inside to defeat her, but you could not unleash it until you let true friendship into your heart." Celestia explained and turned to Zach.
"And it was all thanks to you, Zachary Lanson, the chosen one. Thank you for saving Equestria." Celestia gratituded to him with a majestic smile.
"It was my honor, your majesty." Zach assured. He then turned to Twilight and the others with a smile on his face which they gladly returned.
"Now, if only another will as well. Princess Luna." Celestia said as she walked to the abandoned throne. There lied pieces if Nightmare Moons armor and in the middle layed a light blue female alicorn with a light blue mane and tail. She opened her coat matching blue sapphire eyes and gasped.
"It has been a thousand years since I've seen you like this." Celestia said as she approached her and kneeled next to her.
"Time to put our differences behind us. We were meant to rule together, little sister." Celedtia said to Luna.
"Sister?" everypony said in surprise.
"Yeah, think about it. The eldest sister controlled the sun ant the youngest controlled the moon. But after the youngest was banished, the eldest took control of both right?" Zach explained.
"Will you accept my friendship?" Celestia asked Luna. The whole group except for Zach leaned forward from the suspense of hearing her answer. Pinkie leaned too far and hilariously fell down accidentally.
"I'm so sorry! I missed you so much, big sister!" Luna then rushed and nuzzled under her neck while crying.
"I missed you, too." Celestia said also crying while leaning her head over her sisters. Pinkie then began crying overdramatically.
"Hey, you know what this calls for?" Pinkie said with an exciting voice.
"I think I know the answer to that." Zach said rolling his eyes.
"A party!" Pinkie shouts in excitement. Back in Ponyville the town celebrates to the defeat of Nightmare Moon and the return of Princess Celestia and Luna. Spike rushed to hug Twilight seeing that she is okay. Zach couldn't help but smile at the site. As both princesses arrived the crowd all bowed. Luna however droops her head down in shame expecting boos and jeers from the town. But two filly pegasi flew over and gave a flower necklace to her assuring her they are not mad. Luna smiled at her older sister from this. Zach however had a sad look on his face.
"Why so glum, Zachary Lanson? Are you not happy to return to your home planet?" Celestia asked the brown part human pony. But there was a part in Zach that didn't want to go. The friends he just made put an impact on his life. For once in a very long time their were others who accepted him for who he is. He had... a family. But he knew in his heart that he doesn't belong there.
"Uh yeah. This was what I was after for, for these past 3 days, huh?" Zach said with a sad tone.
"Well as a princess, I made a promise to you 3 days ago that I would. And as a princess, I shall fulfill that promise just as you fulfill the propecy." Celestia said as her horn begins to glow. A portal opened behind Zach and surprised him.
"This will lead you back to your home." Celestia said to him.
"Wait. Can... can I say goodbye to my friends for one last time, please?" Zach asked the princess with begging eyes.
"I have no objections. You may." Celestia allowed Zach. Before Zach was about to approach his friends Princess Luna walked in his path and stared at him in the eyes.
"So, you're the one who freed me?" Luna asked.
"Yes I am." Zach simply answered.
"And you're the one who defeated me?"
"Yes."
"And you're the one who stopped my night from eternal slumber?"
"...Yes, yes I am." Zach said again. Luna unexpectedly threw herself at him and hugged him. Zach widened his eyes at this.
"Thank you. Thank you for saving me." Luna said quietly still hugging him. Zach hugged back.
"You're welcome." Zach said kindly. As they broke the hug Luna looked at him with a smile and tears forming from her eyes. She then moved back to Celestia for him to proceed. Zach approached his friends.
"So, this it. After 3 crazy days, huh? Amazing how time flies. This was probably the weirdest moment in my life. Entering another world, turning into a pony, and even fulfill some hero prophecy. But it was all worth it." Zach began to cry.
"You have all changed my life. Making it a lot better. Thank you all." Zach said to them. Each of the ponies also began to shed tears. Zach walked up to Twilight and looked at her.
"But I have to thank you the most, Twilight Sparkle. You had done the most to turn me into the person or pony for that matter [chuckles] to the one I am today. I'll never forget you." Zach said to her. Twilight couldn't but hug him. Zach hugged back to the crying unicorn. The group then joined in hugging him.
"I'm going to miss all of you." Zach said through his tears.
"We're going to miss you, too," Twilight said sadly. Regretfully they broke the hug and Zach makes his way to the vortex. He then stopped inches away from the entrance.
"One more thing..." Zach turned his head to look at them. "Did you know that you're all my very best friends?" Zach said with a sad smile. The group smiled back with the same gesture. Then Zach moved into the portal and dissapeared as it closed. Twilight looked down at the ground and wiped away her tears.
"Look on the bright side, Twilight. He returns to his home and you return to your studies. Are you happy about that?" Celestia asks her student with a calming voice.
"That's just it. Not only did I lose one great friend and just when I learned how wonderful it is to have friends, I have to leave all of them." Twilight said sadly. Celestia looked at for a moment and made a decision.
"Spike, take a note, please." Celestia ordered. Spike got out a quill and paper and prepared to write.
"I, Princess Celestia, hearby 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." Celestia announced. The crowd cheered and Twilight's friends gathered around her and hugged her.
"Oh thank you, Princess Celestia! I'll study harder than ever before." Twilight said happily to her.
"Um excuse me, Twilight Sparkle, correct?" asked a mysterious yet familiar voice.
"Why yes, I am. What can I-[gasp]." Twilight turned to see who her caller was. She couldn't believe her eyes. She didn't know if this was real or if she was daydreaming.
"I seem to have forgotten to return this book before I left." it was Zachary Lanson standing there with a book in his right hoof. He was actually there. He had returned to Equestria.
"ZACH!" everypony shouted happily and rushed over to him. They literally tackled him to the ground and hugged him. They were laughing together to see their part human friend return. As they got back up Twilight widened her eyes in disbelief.
"Bu-but how? I thought you were gone forever!" Twilight said to him in a surprise tone.
"Well, let's just say a certain princess gave me a certain 'passport' before I left." Zach explained. He then turned to Celestia with a sly smile on his face.
"You knew I would change my mind, didn't you?" Zach said with the sly smile.
"[giggles] I had a hunch. Besides, I couldn't let you go back to that horrible place. You deserve better than that. Which is why I want you, along with Twilight, to become one of my faithful students. Will you accept?" Celestia said with a smile. Zach paused for a moment and looked at his friends. He smiled at his new family. The answer was an obvious one.
"I... would be honored." Zach answered. The crowd cheered and Zach's friends rushed over and gave a big hug. This was the end of the journey but it was also the beginning of a new life.
"Isn't this exciting? Are you excited cause I'm excited I've never been so excited, well, except for the time that I went [gasp] but I mean really-"
Pinkie, get back in Ponyville now! [sighs] Party animals.
