“Don’t let anypony else die, Rarity…”

‘I won’t. I WILL NOT!’ This situation had gone to tartarus, but they weren’t taking Pinkie from me. Avoiding the ghosts’ eyes was a must to escape the hell that was last time. Whatever they did to me nearly incapacitated me, and I couldn’t afford that now.

I got to my hooves, ready to fight with grim conviction. The ghost to my right smirked at me and dropped his guard. Whether or not it was a feint would be decided rather quickly.

I shot forward blindingly fast, my red tinted hoof throat punching the ghastly ghost. His companion darted forth to assist, but I spun around, hooves at the ready. We traded blows for a bit, but a lucky strike in the weak spot of his armor knocked him backwards.

With the two quickly occupied for the moment, it was time to make my escape. I stopped momentarily and lifted Pinkie on my back, grunting and breathing heavily as I began to run off. It wasn’t the first time I’ve had to carry a pony out of harm’s way. Being wounded and having to retreat with someone completely unconscious, however, was a nightmare.

I turned my head to see if the ghosts we’re still pursuing, and tripped. Pinkie slid along the ground further ahead, so I focused my attention elsewhere. There was no point in looking or understanding what happened. I struck fast at my pursuer and picked up Pinkie before galloping down the path. I didn’t have to turn around this time to see how far away they were. They were right on top of us, breathing down our necks as the path stretched on. My vision was darkening as my unattended internal wound bothered me. My pace was rapidly slowing, my wound being the primary cause.

Then, the light of the clearing ahead revealed itself to me. I pushed myself harder, but with minimal results. Pinkie and I were in dire straits, but we made it! My horn glowed as we arrived in the elemental trees clearing. That restoration crystal wasn’t there before, but there was no time to ponder. I tapped it and paused as the liquid inside flowed into the both of us.

“Pinkie, are you ok?” I voiced aloud. I trailed my hoof along her forehead as her wounds were taken care of. She started shaking, and I took my hooves off before she sprung up and exclaimed.

“Right as a twitching tail during an earthquake!” And that much was obvious. She didn’t seem at all affected that we almost died.

“Oh, by the way, that is the same forest where we laughed at all those scary trees, right?” she asked me inquisitively. With a questioning look at her, I responded.

“I believe so, yes.” Where was she going with this exactly?

“Then they need to get outta my forest of laughter!” she shouted, looking particularly furious with them being there, being more determined than ever despite the fact that we almost died.

“Time to fight!! PINKIE PIE STYLE!!” Pinkie shouted again. I just had to put my two cents in before we made a foolish decision.

“Didn’t we just get our flanks kicked?” Although truthfully, they only had the upperhoof with their hidden technique. Which means the reason we lost was my fault… dammit. I was startled out of my thoughts by Pinkie’s mane straightening, and her gaze sharpening.

“Last time you did this, Spike was there to stop you… and I assure you that you do not want me to ‘stop you’!” I threatened, gritting my teeth and stating forcefully. She had nothing to say in response, that eerie unsettling look of hers stared back at me.

“Just having fun, Rarity!” she stated simply, her features returning back to normal with ease. She giggled at my unsettled look, and I sighed, running my hoof along my face. That… Pinkamena state of hers was quite dangerous. Spike explained it to me as a sort of, “berserker” state that consumed Pinkie.

*Whooosh*

The wind and fog swept into the clearing then cleared quickly. Trixie stood across from us as it passed. As much as it pained me, we almost died, and if I wanted to better our chances…

“Trixie…” sighing, she glanced at me and hesitantly asked,

“Do you need my help?” Don’t push it by saying we need your help, but…

“Yes,” I reluctantly said, Pinkie nudging me and offering a comforting smile.

“I know you don’t want me around... so I’m going to do my best.” Even if Trixie was a betrayer and a deceiver; She was a powerful pony to have around for her magical talents.

“Glad to have you aboard, Trixie!” Pinkie quickly began chattering with the mare whose eyes rose up in surprise. I let the two mares get acquainted, laying down against Applejack’s tree. They talked quietly, their eyes glancing at me occasionally.

“Girls, I have a plan.” They snapped to attention and leaned in eagerly. I got back to my hooves and walked in front of them before turning to face.

“What’s up, Rarity?” Pinkie piped up first, her eyes inquisitively staring into mine.

“I hate to admit it, but I’m not very effective at fighting the undead.” Pinkie nodded, her memory of the fight playing out while Trixie remained silent.

“But I did learn something a while back to help Twilight fight.” My eyes glanced over to Trixie. Her eyes widened in realization, then at shock because I would actually be helping her.

“Hopefully, it will make both your magic more potent,” I stated, including Pinkie because surprisingly she could use magic. As Twilight had come to find out, each of us used magic in a different way due to being element bearers. This came in two different ways, direct and indirect.

Indirectly, the element bearers inspired different effects based on their respective elements. Pinkie Pie being the element of laughter inspired others to carry on no matter what. No matter how bad things got, Ponies that were on fire, poisoned, it would be as if the effects meant nothing. Directly, and it’s important you know this now, Pinkie’s laughter actually harmed ponies when imbued with magic. It is things like this that constantly make me grateful that she is not a sadist.

“We should probably get going. I know you said you were on a mission after all,” Trixie piped up. She was right, I took the lead with the others flanking my side behind me. We headed back into the Forest of Laughter, and very quickly, our previous enemies faced us.

This time, however, they lacked surprise, numbers, and skill to face us. With a flash, our group set off, Pinkie taking on one ghost while me and Trixie handled another. The ghost chuckled as my hoof seemed to pass through. The chuckle then became a cry of pain as my horn glowed and I jumped away, avoiding the weaker strike. Trixie quickly launched into action, her horn glowing a very light but noticeable purple . Several ice shards shot out and launched through the ghost who howled in pain as they impacted him. The ghost who was fighting Pinkie heard the cries both charged Trixie, who stepped back. When both of them came, I blocked the hits, getting bruised and knocked to the side. Trixie luckily got away, and Pinkie gasped and let in as much air as she could…!

“Hah! Hah! Hah!” Pinkie laughed haughtily and loudly at the ghosts. The one with the shards still inside of him ghastly moaned and then passed on. Before his friend could get revenge, more ice shards struck him, and he fumbled. It was then that I called upon my magic, my element…

“Element of Generosity... WRATH!” I whispered then shouted, and with my glowing red hoof I struck. The ghost spasmed in pain as my hit struck its mark critically before fading away. It appeared to have dropped a flask. Upon opening and smelling the contents, my eyes widened.

“Whatcha found, Rarity?” Pinkie Pie asked me, Trixie coming around to look.

“Hmm… Magically infused water,” I hummed in thought, shoving the flask into Pinkie’s hooves and walking ahead.

“We should avoid anymore like them,” I said, seeing as how the trail went on for a longer period of time. That and nopony in their sane mind would be coming this way anyway.

“Shouldn’t we try to clear them out?” Pinkie asked, but we simply didn’t have that luxury to do so.

“That would probably take a long time…” Time being something we lacked if we wanted to get this over with quickly.

“Plus, it is very rude to be disturbing their rests.” Although truthfully, it was uncertain if they even were at rest.

“By the way, Trixie, you never told us why you were here.” Stopping a moment to ask this question had been on my to-do list for a while.

“...? Yes I did,” Trixie said, raising an eyebrow.

“I think she means the real reason,” Pinkie chimed in, and she was spot on. Trixie, however, took a big dislike to my prying, and had no problem showing so.

“I have no reason to tell you. All you need to understand is that I am following Spike’s order… nothing more.” With an intense look of dislike directed at me, she huffed. Pinkie obviously saw the danger present in what Trixie had just done.

“Maybe we should just leave it alone for now…” She said carefully, I gave her a look of disdain at this.

“Don’t side with her, Pinkie. What are you thinking?” I said quite rudely, but being frank was what was necessary to get through that head of hers.

“I’m not siding with her… but even IF I was you don’t have to be mean about it…” She said defensively, but I knew better. She was defending Trixie’s right to not explain. And, considering who she is and what she’s done while helping us. I sighed, 'That’s a bad combination for disaster, why can’t she understand that?'

The rest of our walk was continued in silence. Trixie and Pinkie where no doubt whispering behind me. When the forest path ended and a wooden bridge came into distance… That was when the memories started coming in. In the clearing, there stood the bones of many dead soldier ponies. Even further beyond that, in front of the bridge to the Everfree Castle, there laid a sleeping Ursa Minor with dried blood smeared onto its maw.

“We have to get past that?” Trixie said uncomfortably, having a history with said creatures.

“Not yet, we still have time to prepare. Search the area, girls…” I said firmly, horn glowing as my cutie mark was detecting something. Trixie stopped at the bones ahead of us and looked like she was about to cry.

“I… caused this…” I had no words to say to her, none that she would like anyway.

“You did what now?” Pinkie asked confused. These bodies did look old and long deceased, not to mention Trixie would never have been able to take them all on. Indirectly however…

“Nothing… nothing at all, let’s continue,” Trixie said, steeling herself against what she caused.

“A monetary crystal!” I announced to the others with a shine in my eyes.

“A what?” Pinkie asked me, poking it experimentally.

“A monetary crystal. I used these during the war to purchase items I’d previously come across.” It was a big help, but Pinkie still seemed unconvinced.

“What?” She said giving her best flat and Maudlike impression.

“Well my talent is finding crystals, Pinkie. I just need to find them and we can use them,” I said unabashed. This is what my talent was supposed to be.

“So we can buy and sell? Because I’ve so been looking forward to selling all this junk of mine,” Pinkie said with a gleam in her eye.

“Just buy, unfortunately...” Sighing, the crystals had no need for things except to sell them. Although, I have to question where they even get these items from…

// DISCOVERER DETECTED

// OPENING ITEM NEXUS

The monetary crystal sold potions, magical regenerative water, and gems of all kind. I made sure to buy a bit of everything, but I wasn’t exactly made of bits. Luckily, Pinkie and Trixie were there to share in buying supplies. Although Trixie only shared her bits with Pinkie, not trusting or wanting to share her funds with me.

I also managed to find another recovery crystal, and with their frequence here… I was starting to suspect they commonly appeared in areas of great bloodshed. Tapping the top bubble, we all sighed in relaxation from being fully restored.

It was time, however, for the toughest part of our journey so far. The Ursa Minor was awake now, staring at us and waiting. If it’s bloody maw and the broken sword in its neck were any indication, it wasn’t going to step down.

“Let’s go girls.”

Author's Note

Kept you waiting, huh?