The Seventh Pony

"Seize her!" commanded the mayor to some royal guards, "Only she knows where the princess is!". However, Nightmare Moon had different plans.

"Stand back you foals!" Shouted Nightmare Moon. Her eyes became enveloped in a light blue light. When the royal guards reached her, they were quickly bounced back thanks to the lightning. She then proceeded to return to her dark mist form, and barged through the doors. I saw the rainbow pony escape the orange ones grasp, and flew out the doors in an attempt to pursue Nightmare Moon.

"Come back here!" I heard her shout. I walked over to the doors and peeked out. She had not been able to catch Nightmare Moon. Suddenly, the purple pony from the party ran out the doors. Now, where was she going? Should I follow her? Maybe for once I could help someponies. I made up my mind and decided to follow her and offer my assistance. Apparently, the rainbow pony had the same idea, as she was flying after the purple pony. I decided not to run too fast, the rainbow pony might see me if I do that. When I got to the library, the purple pony and the rainbow one were inside the library. I noticed some of the other ponies from the party enter the library. There was a sudden crash from inside, and I could hear the voice of the purple pony.

"Elements, elements, elements... Ugh! How can I stop Nightmare Moon without the Elements of Harmony?" She said, frustratingly searching through every book in her library. Suddenly, the rainbow pony confronted her.

"And just what are the Elements of Harmony? And how did you know about Nightmare Moon, huh? Are you a spy?" said the rainbow pony. I was about to jump in there to save her, but the orange one pulled her back.

"Simmer down, Sally. She ain't no spy," said the orange pony,"But she sure knows what's going on, don't you, Twilight?" she gave a sigh and began to explain.

"I read all about the prediction of Nightmare Moon," started Twilight, "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!" she exclaimed. I saw Pinkie Pie, looking at a book in the E section. Oh...

"The Elements of Harmony: A Reference Guide!" she read. Twilight ran over and took the book.

"How did you find that?" She asked.

"It was under E!" said Pinkie in a sing-song voice. Twilight opened the book and began reading it, "There are six Elements of Harmony, but only five are known: Kindness, Laughter, Generosity, Honesty and Loyalty," she started, "The sixth is a complete mystery. It is said, the last known location of the five elements was in the ancient castle of the royal pony sisters, located in what is now The Everfree Forest," Everypony except Twilight gasped, "What's wrong?" She asked

"Th...Th...The Everfree Forest is a forest outside of Ponyville, where things just ain't natural," stammered the orange pony.

"The clouds move on their own!" Said the rainbow pony.

"The critters care for themselves!" Said the yellow pony. Her voice was surprisingly soft.

"The plants grow on their own!" Said the orange pony.

"Well good news for you because I am going in there by myself in order to save Princess Celestia!" said Twilight.

"No can do sugarcube!" rejected the orange pony, "We ain't letting one of our friends go into that creepy place alone!" Twilight released a groan.

"Fine, but don't get in my way!" she commanded.

"Um... Maybe we should take another pony with us," suggested the yellow pony.

"I saw a gray unicorn buying apples from my stand," suggested the orange pony, "maybe we should take him with us."

"No!" Shouted the rainbow pony, "that pony insulted me by calling me a spy!"

"Well, is there any other ponies you know that are capable of the journey?" Asked Twilight. The rest of the ponies shook their heads

"Alright then," said the orange pony. The six of them started walking towards the door. I panicked and hid in a flower bush. They filed out of the door and made their way to the forest. The one with the yellow coat, however, paused and looked at the bush. Oh no! Had I been spotted. However, it turns out a bunny had just hidden in the same bush as me. When they were far enough away,  I got out from my hiding place and followed them. They stopped at the border of the forest.

"Whee! Let's go!" Shouted Pinkie Pie.

"Remember, sugarcube, we're stickin' to you like caramel on a candy apple." Reminded the orange pony

"Especially if there's candy apples in there!" The rest of the ponies stared at Pinkie, "What? Those things are good!"

The ponies made their way into the forest. When I got inside the forest, I got a very uneasy feeling. There was something watching me, something very evil. I could barely see three feet in front of me. Wait, where had the ponies gone. I started to panic. I didn't want to get lost in this forest and ever get seen by ponies ever again. I felt a breeze brush past me. Suddenly, three ponies came out of the darkness.

"Oh look, it's that pony," said one.

"The one that will never make any friends," said another

"The one that will never be seen again!" added the third.

"No.... that's not true!" I shouted, "I will make friends, and I will be seen again!" Even as I said it, I doubted my own words.

"Oh will you?" Asked the first pony.

"Stop lying to yourself," said the second.

"Just give up," Suggested the third. However, something inside of me realized that I couldn't give up.

"STOP!" I screamed, "No matter what you say I will never believe you!"

"Well then, I guess my little charade has failed!" they said in unison, but this time it was Nightmare Moon's voice that came out, "Have a nice sleep!" I felt a hoof hit me in the head, and I was out cold.

I don't know how long I was out, but when I woke up, I wasn't where I had been when I had been hit in the head. Instead, I was outside of the ruins of a castle. I then remembered where the Elements of Harmony were supposed to be kept. Was this the place? My suspicion was confirmed when I heard the voices of the ponies. "Twilight!" They shouted in unison. I stopped, puzzled. What had happened to Twilight? I saw the rest of the ponies making their way up a staircase, which probably lead to the main chamber. I quickly followed, hoping I could be of some use. As I was climbing the staircase, I heard the voice of Twilight.

"You think you can destroy the Elements of Harmony just like that?" she started, "Well your wrong, because the spirits of the Elements of Harmony, are right here!"

"Applejack, who reassured me when I was in doubt, represents the spirit of... honesty!" I peeked through the door to the chamber to find the orange pony being surrounded by gray crystals.

"Fluttershy, who tamed the manticore with her compassion, represents the spirit of... kindness!" I saw gray crystals surround the yellow pony.

"Pinkie Pie, who banished fear by giggling in the face of danger, represents the spirit of... laughter!" More gray crystals surrounded Pinkie Pie.

"Rarity, who calmed a sorrowful serpent with a meaningful gift represents the spirit of... generosity!" The white pony got surrounded by gray crystals.

"And Rainbow Dash, who could not abandon her friends for her own heart's desire represents the spirit of... loyalty!" The rainbow pony got surrounded by gray crystals. The only one without gray crystals around her was Twilight. Nightmare Moon didn't seemed phased about the fact that the elements were being assembled right in front of her.

"You still don't have the sixth Element! The spark didn't work!" She said, starting to look a little nervous.

"But it did!" She began, "A different kind of spark. I felt it the very moment I realized how happy I was to hear you, to see you, how much I cared about you. The spark ignited inside me when I realized that you all... are my friends!" A round stone appeared out of nowhere, engraved with, Twilight's cutie mark? "You see, Nightmare Moon, when those Elements are ignited by the... the spark, that resides in the heart of us all, it creates the sixth element: the element of... magic!" The ponies started floating upwards. The crystals then converged around their necks, forming a necklace with their cutie mark on it. Twilight's, however, was different. Instead of a necklace, she got a tiara. However, the ponies dropped to the ground. Nightmare Moon started laughing, "But.... what?"

"Oh it makes me laugh to see how pathetic you really are!" she cackled, "There is a seventh element you foals!"

"But, my book said that there were only six," said Twilight, glumly.

"The reason your precious book didn't say there were seven is because no one knows that there is a seventh element!" Nightmare Moon then used her magic to lift the ponies upwards. Darkness started to engulf the room. I couldn't just watch this unfold! If this did work out the way Nightmare Moon wanted it to, the world would forever be engulfed in darkness, and would lose six ponies. I swallowed my fear and ran right at Nightmare Moon, and hit her. I was sent flying backwards, but Nightmare Moon dropped the ponies, "What! Who dares attack Nightmare Moon!" The ponies gazed at me in shock.

"I dared to attack you!" I said. Nightmare Moon stared down at me and laughed.

"Why, who is this little foal?" Nightmare Moon started cackling again, "You can't hurt me, you need the Elements of Harmony to do that, and there's seven of them, and you don't have the seventh one, do you?" Suddenly, I felt something light up inside of me. Something I've never felt before in my life.

"I do have the seventh element!" I answered, "I've never had friends before in my life, but after I met some of you, I realized what I was missing out, and I guess that makes you girls.... my friends!"

"Of course!" exclaimed Twilight, "you are..."

"Yes... I am the seventh element, the element of.... a pure heart!" Everyone of the ponies suddenly got lifted in the air, and from us, emerged a rainbow, that surrounded Nightmare Moon. After a bright flash of light, we were all on the floor.

"Ugh, my head" Complained Rainbow Dash.

"Everypony okay?" Asked Applejack. The pony named Rarity looked back at her tail to find that it was longer.

"Oh, thank goodness," She said.

"Why Rarity, it's so lovely!" Said Fluttershy quietly.

"I know, I'll never part with it again." I guess she thought Fluttershy meant her tail.

"No, your necklace, it looks just like your cutie mark," She was correct, Rarity's cutie mark was three diamonds.

"What? Ooh. So does yours," Fluttershy released a gasp. Sure enough, her cutie mark was three butterflies, and sure enough, her necklace was a butterfly.

"Look at mine! Look at mine!" Shouted Pinkie Pie. Her cutie mark was three balloons.

"Aw yeah!" said Rainbow Dash. Her necklace was a storm cloud with a lightning bolt coming out of it.

"Gee, Twilight! I thought you were just spoutin' a lot of hooey, but I reckon we really do represent the elements of friendship." Suddenly, a light as bright as the sun appeared.

"Indeed you do," Said a voice. I could recognize that voice anywhere, it was Princess Celestia. Twilight gasped.

"Princess Celestia!" Sure enough, there was the princess, standing right where the light had been. I knelt down in respect.

"Twilight Sparkle, my faithful student, I knew you could do it," Said Princess Celestia. Wait, faithful student?

"But, you told me it was all an old pony tale," said Twilight

"I told you that you needed to make some friends, nothing more. I saw the signs of Nightmare Moon's return and I knew it was you who had the magic inside to defeat her," the rest of us stopped kneeling and stood up, "but you could not unleash it until you let true friendship into your heart," Princess Celestia walked over to where Nightmare Moon once stood, "Now if only another will as well," Where Nightmare Moon had once stood was now a small dark blue pony, "Princess Luna!" The pony released a gasp of distress, "It has been a thousand years since I have seen you like this. Time to put our differences behind us. We were meant to rule together, little sister."

"Sister?" Everypony said in unison.

"Will you accept my Friendship?" She asked Princess Luna. Princess Luna suddenly rushed up to Celestia

"I'm so sorry! I missed you so much, big sister!" She exclaimed

"I missed you too!" Said Celestia

"Hey, you know what this calls for?" asked Pinkie, "A party!" I started making my way towards the door, but Twilight saw me.

"Hey!" She yelled after me, "Who are you?"

"I'm..... I'm Midnight Smoke," I answered.

"Glad to meet you Midnight Smoke!" Before she could ask any more questions, Rainbow Dash flew in-between us.

"I have some unfinished business with you!" She yelled, "Come on, put um' up!"

"Rainbow Dash!" Twilight said, "Just because you two got off on the wrong hoof does not mean that you have to fight him!" Rainbow Dash moaned.

"Fine," she said.

"I have another question for you Midnight," said Twilight. I guess Midnight was what everypony was going to call me.

"What is it?" I asked

"Why do you represent the element of a pure heart?"

"I don't know," I responded, "I guess it may have something to do with the fact that I didn't even know you and I charged in here to save you."

"Well, I guess that makes sense," she said

'I guess it does," I said.

"Perfect, now lets go to Pinkie Pie's party!" Said Twilight.

When we arrived back in Ponyville, we realized that Pinkie had somehow got there before us and set up the party. Was Pinkie Pie the fastest pony alive, or were we in the forest for a long time? Everypony was celebrating our triumph against Nightmare Moon. Princess Celestia and Luna arrived from a chariot. I saw Spike hug Twilight. Two fillies placed some flowers on Luna's neck. However, Twilight didn't look like she was enjoying herself.

"Why so glum my faithful student?" Asked Princess Celestia, "Are you not happy that your quest is complete and you can return to your studies in Canterlot?

"That's just it. Just when I learned how wonderful it is to have friends, I have to leave them," said Twilight.

"Spike, take a note please," said Celestia.

I, Princess Celestia, hereby decree that the unicorn Twilight Sparkle shall take on a new mission for Equestria. She must continue to study the magic of friendship. She must report to me her findings from her new home in Ponyville.

Everypony cheered after she said that. Well, at least I don't have to lose a true friend.

"Oh thank you, Princess Celestia! I'll study harder than ever before," exclaimed Twilight.

The party lasted for a couple of hours, but even though I was having a blast, I decided that I needed to get some sleep. I started walking over to my house, but Twilight caught me.

"Where are you going?" She asked.

"Home, I need to get some sleep," I said.

"Well okay then, I guess I'll see you tomorrow then."

"See you tomorrow, Twilight," I kept walking to my house and opened the door. I walked up the stairs and laid down in my bed. What would happen tomorrow, I wondered. Would I be with my new friends, doing stuff. I also haven't met some of them yet. I pulled the covers over me and went to sleep. It was a nightmare-less sleep.