Made Of Magic

Chapters

Prologue: Black Magic
Chapter 1: Mystic Moon and Shining Star
Chapter 2: Problems
Chapter 4: Pride
Chapter 5: Foalnapping
Chapter 6: The Manticore
Chapter 7: Rescued
Chapter 8: Leaves That Fall
Chapter 9: The New Cub
Chapter 10: Confessions
Chapter 11: The Attack
Chapter 12: A Castle Found
Chapter 13: Quest Complete
Chapter 3: The Red Star Spider's Venom

Prologue: Black Magic

Tap, tap, tap. Hoofsteps, slowly making their way down the cobbled corridor of the crumbling ruined castle. Stepping carefully around the weak parts in the floor, not wanting to fall through the floor to the level below, the hooded pony looked to all the rooms, hoping to find the room he was looking for. Suddenly a wall slid in place in front of the intruder and one behind him. There was no way out.

Lifting up his hoof the pony realised that he had been standing on a pressure pad and that he had activated a trap that was there to keep out intruders like himself. Spiders, he could hear them crawling down the walls and floor. Hmm, spiders, how cliche thought the mysterious pony. No matter, he knew exactly what to do.

The spiders were closing in, they were your average Star Spiders, poisonous, but not deadly. The hooded pony relaxed. These spiders detected their prey via body heat but, while he was no unicorn, he had a few tricks up his metaphorical sleeve. Pulling out a can of some kind of spray from a pocket in his cape, the stallion sprayed the spiders and the trap with the heated air in the can. The spray would confuse the spiders enough for him to make his escape.

Now, how to get out, those spiders won't be a bother any more. The pony searched around the edges of the 'room' for any triggers that might release him. Nothing. Perhaps it was a spell, not being a unicorn would prove problematic if that was the case. Aha! Right there, a little button that had slipped passed my radar the first time round. Pressing the button did indeed move the walls back to where they were only minuets ago and the stallion continued to search, being extra careful to mind where he put his hooves this time.

Unfortunately for the uninvited guest, while he was watching his hooves, he had forgotten about the walls and accidentally hit a switch on the crumbling bricks that made up the walls around him. A cage. So simple yet so effective if done properly. Really small gaps between the bars, strong metal and to heavy to lift off, yep, this is one well made cage, to bad that I have to destroy it the stallion commented in his head. Pulling out yet another gadget from his collection. A blowtorch, hm, I didn't have that before, did I? Oh well, it'll come in handy given my current situation. So, using the randomly found blowtorch that he had apparently brought with him, the pony broke through the bars. Right, back to searching, at least I know it will be worth it.

Finally, after hours of endless searching, the mysterious visitor came across his prize. The library. An ancient room with hidden secrets embedded in its shelves. This uninvited guest unbolted the eroded door as it creaked on its hinges, dilapidated from lack of use. It opened. There, in the centre of the huge library, lay the very book he was looking for. Lying there as if waiting to reveal its secrets. Tap, tap, tap. More hoofsteps. Warily stepping towards the book with its two covers that seemed to have been woven by evil and darkness. Taking a deep breath he did what he came here to do. He opened the book of black magic.

Suddenly a titanic gale flew from the dreaded book, propelling the strange pony onto the cobwebbed shelves, sending a cascade of hardback books tumbling from the sky. From this blood curdling book rose a figure of darkness and death. A shadow of the last pure black magic alicorn.

“Ah, I am free. Thank you little pony.” Whispered the ghostly alicorn.

“Master, your welcome, what is your will?”

Chapter 1: Mystic Moon and Shining Star

“Come on Mystic, you can do it,” Mystic Moon whispered to herself. As she galloped towards the terrifyingly large jump, her hind legs gathered up and she soared over the high poles like they were half their size.

“Beat that Shining Star,” Mystic Moon shouted from the other end of the arena.

“I can do way better” Shining Star, Mystic's brother, shot back.

“Prove it.”

“Fine,” Shining Star cantered over to the arena where they were practising, slowing to a walk when he was a few feet away from the gate. As he was walking by Mystic decided to turn it into a competition.

“I’ll make you a bet, whoever jumps the highest is the winner and the loser has to put away all, and take out, the jumps for the next month”

“Done.”

After a long day of finding out which one of them is the best jumper, in the end Mystic won, the filly and colt sat down with their foster parents for dinner.

“So you’re both back to school tomorrow,” Their foster mum said. Mystic and Shining groaned loudly. They hated school.

“Now, now, enough of that,” their foster dad said.

Early next morning Mystic Moon woke up to find the sun beating down on her. She yawned. Then stretched. Brushed her mane and had breakfast. After she came back from school that day she practised her jumping and reminded her brother of the bet. Just the usual day. The next day, however, was quite remarkable.

“You entered me and Shining Star in the local jumping competition,” Mystic squealed with excitement.

“Thanks so much,” said Shining, keeping his cool while his sister lost control.

“Well your welcome” Their foster dad said with a beam. The young competitors ran from the room and out into the arena to sharpen their skills for the event.

“I think they have made peace at last” The young children’s foster father said. A loud shouting came from outside.

“So much for that idea.”

After days and days of practising they were finally ready and the day of the event was upon them.

That day was one Mystic Moon and Shining Star would always remember.

“My mane is all matted, it’ll take me hours to brush this out so that I will look magnificent for the competition,” Mystic groaned

Shining giggled in the background.

“Shut up Starry, it’s not funny,” Mystic yelled at her brother.

“Hey! Don't call me that!” Shining yelled back.

The competition was upon them. Mystic Moon cantered into the arena like a pro; Mystic's coat was gleaming thanks to her special shampoo and her mane free of knots. They stunned the judges and amazed the audience. Shining, however, stumbled into the arena and was clearly flustered as he rode on. Mystic Moon flew over the jumps as if they were mere trotting poles and never let a pole drop. Shining Star crashed into a jump and knocked down two poles, Shining trotted out of the arena in shame.

“Wait till I tell everyone at school that you were beaten by your younger sister who took first place while you were down in 6th. Even Sapphire Shimmer, ” Mystic mocked.

“You wouldn’t dare,” Shining Star retorted through gritted teeth. The two fighting siblings left for home, Mystic carrying her large trophy, showing it off to her jealous brother.

“I will so beat you next time”

“You just keep on dreaming, Starry”

It was a chilly day the next time the sun broke the horizon.

“Morning” Mystic Moon yawned, even though she slept in her own bedroom and no one else was there. Mystic looked up at her shining trophy and remembered that it was the weekend and so she promptly went back to sleep.

“Hello Mystic” A loud voice echoed around the dark corridor that the filly was now lying in.

“Huh, who said that, show yourself, I’m not afraid of you” Mystic Moon said putting on the bravest face and voice she could.

“All right, If that is what you wish” The voice replied. Suddenly, near the end of the corridor, where a book lay, sprung dancing lights and wild colours coming from the book. A magnificent and golden light leaped from the pages and in a swirling and shimmering mist rose the figure of an alicorn, a sparkling glow surrounding its entire body and the horn on its head was razor sharp, but beautiful at the same time, and it was pulsing with light and all the colours of the rainbow. Mystic rubbed her eyes and wondered if this could really be happening or if it was a dream.

“Listen well young one for there is a prophecy that I must pass on to you....

When day becomes night the moon and stars need to share their light with the world to guide it through the darkness until dawn and the strong oak must stand firm to support the world through its darkest time. You must not-“And with that the golden alicorn dimmed and dimmed until it faded completely, not having time to finish the last part of the prophecy.

“I must not what? where are you going? come back!” Mystic Moon yelled at the fading alicorn. All of a sudden the outline of another alicorn appeared, except this time there were no shimmering colours or dancing lights, just simply a dark alicorn that started to circle Kate while whispering to her,

“Mystic Moon, Mystic Moon, Mystic...”

“Moon, Mystic Moon, wake up, it’s nearly time for lunch you’ve been sleeping for ages, we were worried” Shining Star's voice sounded in Mystic's head and she jumped out of her bed wishing she hadn’t missed breakfast, she was starving. Unfortunately Mystic had forgotten her dream, as she does most dreams, so she could tell no one about the prophecy or ask what it might mean.

“Good morning Red ,” Mystic had wandered into the dog shelter after a hasty lunch to say good morning to Red, even though it was nearly the afternoon! Red barked at Mystic when she entered the room, like always, but was acting a little jumpy. Even though Red seemed a little spooked the filly knew she had to exercise the dog, it was her weekend job after all, so she took out Red's lead for a walk. While she was walking past the house Shining Star came out to get some exercise himself. Secretly Shining was very proud of his little sister because of the way she jumped with so much control and confidence and never backed down from a challenge (apart from getting up in the morning. That was one battle she never won). Hardly ever did he wished that they could get along and that they didn’t argue, but sometimes he did.

“Hey Mystic! Mind if I join you” Shining's voice rang out across the yard.

“Ahhh” Mystic screamed, she had been distracted by her brother’s call and Red, who had been jumpy the whole time, charged in the opposite direction, twisting Mystic around so that she nearly lost the lead, nearly, but she had erupted and there was no escaping her fumes.

“How dare you interrupt my walk just when Red was starting to calm down. It is my JOB for pony's sake and then you just have to go and ruin everything, you're lucky I didn't lose Red!” Mystic boomed so loud that even the farm next door could hear her.

“Sorry,” Shining said meekly, knowing it wouldn’t help.

“Sorry, sorry! That’s all you have to say for yourself. I’m going to tell our Foster dad and he’ll ground you for ages” Mystic smirked. At that point Shining Star let out a loud groan, he didn’t mind being grounded, much, but he had plans for the weekend that he had promised to be there for.

“Please, have mercy”

“No,” and with that Mystic Moon walked off to tell their foster dad that her brother was grounded for, hopefully, ages (after putting Red away). For the next couple of hours Mystic and Shining were hanging around with the animals and as per usual they weren’t talking to each other. After a while the two siblings fed the animals and went back inside for their meal. The day from then on was nothing out of the ordinary, chores, jumping and eating, nothing special but the next time sun rose and went to work brightening everyone’s day, Mystic Moon and Shining Star had a huge surprise waiting for them. One that would leave a bitter taste in their mouths for a very long time.

Chapter 2: Problems

All the dogs refused to go out for their daily walks.

“Red, come on, you need your lead on if you want to go for a walk.”

“I’m having the same problem with Woody” Shining said, trying his best to calm down the aggravated dog.

“Maybe they’re ill,” Mystic said worriedly.

“If so than let’s tell dad maybe he’ll know, he is a vet after all,” Shining replied

“Okay, and for the last time it’s foster dad.”

So Shining Star hurriedly ran to get their foster dad.

“All right then let’s have a little look at them then shall we” Mystic’s foster dad said as he strolled confidently over to the huge pen the dogs stay in. A while later he could not find anything wrong with Red, or any of the other dogs.

“The only thing wrong with them is that they’re frightened of something, but what I don’t know.”

“Maybe will find something in the library, I once heard that there is a whole area just on animals” Mystic said thoughtfully.

“Well let’s go then” Shining said urgently.

“We’re here” Mystic Moon panted a while later.

After hours and hours searching in the animal section of the library the two children finally found what they were looking for, “I guess this is the one,” so Shining and Mystic turned the first page.

“Nope, nothing in here” Mystic said disappointedly.

Shining and Mystic restarted their search. After an unlucky day the two children returned home with solemn faces and nothing but bad news.

“Did you find anything” their foster dad said hopefully.

“No,” the children chorused.

“Well go to bed then, it’s late” said a worried foster mother. So the brother and sister snuggled down into bed wondering about what the next day would bring.

The next day Mystic awoke to find the sun smiling down at her through the window. Today was going to be a good day she could feel it. After a hearty breakfast Shining Star and Mystic Moon ran as fast as they could to the library.

“We’re here, again” Mystic panted, once more.

This time they had more luck.

“Over here, there’s an old book on strange animal illnesses” Shining Star called.

“Coming,” Mystic shouted back, receiving hundreds of ponies shushing her.

Shining Star and Mystic studied the book for hours. They learnt about a magical book that would grant you any wish and heal any wound, but the part about how was smudged. Although the book did mention the whereabouts of this magical book.

“The Everfree Forest, I’ve never heard of such a place” Shining thought aloud.

“Aye you wouldn’t know”

“What?” The siblings said in unison

“I said you wouldn’t know of the Everfree Forest.” It was an old stallion standing behind them, “And you don’t want to, it’s a petrifying, cold, dark forest always filled with misty ghosts blocking your path.”

There was stillness for a few heart beats. It felt like hours. Then Mystic Moon broke the silence.

“But we have to go, please tell us where it is”

“No, because if you two young uns don’t come back what would I tell your parents”

“We don’t have parents” Mystic gulped, she was very touchy about that.

“Sorry young uns, but you can’t change my mind”

“Please kind sir because if we don’t go the animals might die.” Shining said in the most formal voice he could muster.

“If it is a disease then you can go see a vet”

“But it is not a disease they are frightened of something”

“But why can’t you calm them down if they are so scared”

“We don’t even know what is terrifying them, so how can we calm them down”

“All right then, if you are so desperate”

“Yes, we really are”

“It’s 60 miles north from here, find it at your peril” and with that he walked of.

“We should go, we have to go” Mystic said determinedly.

“But it could be dangerous” Her older brother said, being cautious, as always.

“But, but what if Red and the other animals ran off, what if they injure themselves, what if-”

“I don’t know, anyway maybe they’ve calmed down now.”

“They haven’t, they haven’t, I checked on them before we left and they’re still wild”

As they debated over what to do the sun sank lower and lower in to the mouth of the horizon until it vanished entirely and the moon began its stroll across the night sky. The next day the two children argued some more and the next day and the next until they finally came to an agreement.

“So we’re going?”

“Yes. Of course we are”

“Then let’s make our plans”

So for the next few days the courageous twosome planed and planed until there was nothing left to plan.

“If we leave at around eight o’clock than we’ll have a little walking time before we find a place to sleep that night” Shining said, thinking carefully.

“Shall we leave in three or four days, I mean we need time to get ready and pack up” Mystic said.

“Come on then we don’t want to waste time.”

And with that they ran to their rooms to start packing their clothes and a few other necessities.

Tiptoeing silently down the stairs the two adventurers sneaked out the front door lying that they were going to see the animals, incase they were better.

“Well it’s a shame that Red and the others aren't better yet, I know Red would have loved to come along” Mystic stated.

“Well if they were fine we wouldn’t need to be going, and keep it down” Shining and his logic won again. They opened the gate. Walked slowly out. The gate was closed behind them. The journey had begun.

Chapter 4: Pride

Eventually the two journeyers reached a pleasantly warm place to sleep and settled down for the night.

When they woke up again the globe of fire, which slept under the horizon, had risen to sit in the comfort of the fluffy clouds in the sky. Mystic Moon and Shining Star were ready to face another hard day of walking.

Back at the farm, two worried foster parents sat waiting for the police to arrive. The doorbell rang. The police entered.

“So you think they left trying to save the animals, or, atleast, find out what's wrong with them?”

“Yes and we are very anxious about them, oh I do hope they’re ok,” Shining and Mystic’s foster father choked out as the children's foster mother comforted him.

“Well the police department have also been having problems with our dogs, it’s as if they are scared of something or need to get somewhere.”

“Exactly the same with the animals at the shelter where I work,” their foster dad wondered out loud, tears forgotten for the time being.

“Well we will keep an eye out for them but the only thing we can do is put up missing posters and hope they will return safely.” The police officer said solemnly. With that he departed.

“We’ve been walking forever” Mystic grumbled, “And I’m hungry”

“Fine, just fine. We'll stop and eat at the foot of that hill over there, okay?” Shining said, clearly agitated by his sisters complaining.

“Okay”

After a brisk meal the fearless travellers continued. Unfortunately they had travelled so far in such a short amount of time that the posters weren’t up where they were so no one knew that they were missing children.

“According to the map I traced we will be there in about one more day or maybe two.”

“That’s great, let’s get moving then”

“Come on then”

Suddenly Mystic yelled out in shock. She had tripped on a rock, while she was running, and scraped her knee when she fell. Mystic hit the ground hard and was in a lot of pain, but her pride wouldn't let her accept help.

“Are you ok? That scrape looks pretty bad.”

“I’m fine,” Mystic grimaced through her teeth.

"Let me put a plaster on it, to stop it from getting worse, good thing I brought a first aid kit."

"I'm fine! Don't worry about it, it's nothing to waste time on!" Mystic insisted, saying that there wasn't enough time to stop and take care of her leg. Reluctantly, Shining agreed, knowing that there was no arguing with his sister when she was like that. So, the two continued along the road until they reached a muddy looking river, with no bridge in sight, and Mystic, though the other pains had subdued, still having the scrape on her knee. But not even that would stop Shining's stubborn sister. Despite Shinings best efforts, Mystic was going to swim though the water and risk getting an infection, all for the sake of her pride.

Two hours or so after Mystic was beginning to feel a sharp pain in her leg, right where her scrape was, she looked down at it too find that the skin wasn't looking all that good (she was slightly trained in medical 'stuff', as she liked to call it, from her years working at the shelter). However, again, her stubbornness and pride wouldn't let her admit defeat against her brother, so she gritted her teeth and kept walking, though, she had a small limp in her leg as she did so. Shining noticed.

"Are you sure we shouldn't do something about that scrape? I think the water might infect it if we don't at least clean it," Shining said, worry in his rich purple eyes.

"W-what do you mean? I-I'm fi-" Mystic's bad leg gave out beneath her and she felt the ground come rushing up to greet her. Mystic groaned, her facade broken, and pulled herself up, blowing her silver mane out of her face.

"Ugh! Fine! Fine! Put a stupid bandage or whatever on it!" Mystic shouted, the pain in her leg sharper after her fall. Being as careful as possible, not wanting to aggravate his sister any more, Shining cleaned the wound and wrapped it in a bandage after putting a special cream, that their foster dad invented, on it.

"Thanks to that cream you it should be fine by tomorrow," Shining said, thanking Celestia that Mystic didn't kick him while he was fixing up her injured leg. So the filly and colt traveled onwards, hoping to find a good place to set up camp for the night.

After a few more minutes of walking the winter sun started to dance a final dance on the horizon and the moon started a long stroll across the star speckled sky. The courageous duo settled down and waited for the sun rise.

“Morning,” Shining mumbled

“Five more minutes,” Mystic groaned

“We have to go, now”

It was 10 am when they finally woke up the two siblings rushed to get ready, they had over slept!

It was a very hot day and the two travellers were glad they had brought lots and lots of water with them from the last town they past, the only town they had passed through. After a few hours walking Kate and Thomas reached the Everfree forest, it was dark and grey with thick mist that was blocking their path and any sunlight that might try to break through the wall of ghosts and trees, not matter how hard the sun tried or how brightly it shone, it would never be able to break the wall of fog.

“Do we ha-have to go th-through there” Mystic squeaked.

“I-I guess” Shining replied warily.

So the two brave rescuers took their first steps into the forest to end all forests, the Everfree.

Chapter 5: Foalnapping

“I can’t see a thing, are you sure you know where we’re going?” Mystic questioned.

“Yes, I’m sure.”

But what they didn’t know was that they were walking in circles and that someone was watching them through magical means.

“Those kids, they might just make it” A strange stallion whispered.

“NO, I shall not allow those foals to ruin everything I have planned for this miserable world. The ponies will all pay for what they did to me long, long ago. They will all pay” A shadow cackled sending shivered down the stallion’s back right down to the tips of his hooves.

“And you. You have served your purpose, you are no longer needed here. You set me free and helped me grow strong so now you are useless to me and my purpose” The shadow boomed.

“A-And what-what is that” The stallion whispered, scared.

“To destroy all ponies and to take control of the world, and NOTHING will stop me. And because I must rid the world of filthy ponies, I must rid the world of YOU!”

“No!” And with a puff of purple and black smoke the shadows releaser was thrown against the wall and then chucked out the window like trash into the unforgiving forest.

“Well now that he’s out the way my work can really get started..."

It was getting dark and the twosome had gotten nowhere in the time they had been in the misty forest.

“We have gotten nowhere thanks to your navigational skills Stary” Mystic groaned.

“Well I’m sorry. Do you think you could find a way out of this forest, Moony?”

“Well no, but neither could you”

So they decided to sleep in the forest and try again the next time the sun rose.

"Help!" The raspy voice cried out into the night, "Please...help," the voice was fading with each breath.

Mystic woke to the sound of a pony calling for help, so she shook her brother awake and they went to go see if there was anything they could do. What the saw was awful, a stallion was lying on the ground with blood running down his face from a cut on his forehead, his body covered in bruises and one hoof bent in an awkward direction. The filly and colt rushed over and kneeled down next to the stallion, who's name was Shade, apparently, and asked him how he came to be in the situation he was in.

"Run........magic....evil....book...alicorn......LEAVE NOW!" The strange stallion could only manage those words before he convulsed and fell unconscious, his heart slowing. Mystic backed away, her blue eyes filled with fear and directed at the stallion.

"Shining, we need to get away from here!" Mystic called, her voice filled with fright; something wasn't right with that stallion, she could tell.

"But, Mystic, he needs our help!" Shining shouted back, not wanting to leave the pony to die.

"Shining, please, we have to get away from here," Shining could hear the desperation in his sister's voice and so he dragged himself away from the stallion, muttering the word sorry continuously under his breath as he walked away.

"Mystic, why? Why did you make me leave that stallion, chances are he'll die now," Shining frowned at his younger sister.

"I-I'm sorry, but there was something not quite right with that pony. I couldn't tell what it was but something about him was, wrong. I think he had been involved with some kind of black magic, but I-I I don't know!" Mystic shouted, coming to terms with the consequences of her actions,

"I-I do-don't want him t-to die, I j-just co-couldn't st-stay there, I-I just co-couldn't," Mystic choked, tears welling in her eyes. Shining pulled his sister close, glad that she didn't pull herself away, and hugged her, doing his best to comfort her.

"Listen, I don't know what was going on with that stallion back there, but I trust you. If you could sense that something was wrong and that we had to leave, I believe you, promise," Shining said truthfully, "I just wish there was something we could have done," the colt hug his head in defeat, surrendering himself to the inevitable.

"I wish we could have done something too, but being near him felt like I was bathing in insects, I'm sorry," Mystic explained and tried to apologise again.

"It's okay, now lets get some more sleep, we'll need our energy for the trek," Shining said, already walking back to their 'campsite' to get a few more hours of sleep. Mystic followed, occasionally glancing back in the direction of the stallion she left to die.

Even though hidden behind the mist the sun still made a steady climb through the sky as the moon slept for the day waiting silently for the next time to wander the sky with the silver stars.

The brother and sister actually woke up on time that day, but not by themselves they had little help from the creatures in the forest.

“Who’s there?” the spooked filly jumped up from her sleeping bag.

“It was just an animal, go back to sleep,” the tired colt groaned.

“Hey we have to get going anyway, so wake up,” Mystic shook Shining so he would wake up. They didn’t have a moment to spare.

The two adventures set of again dashing around in circles yet again.

“Ok, so we might just maybe be lost, but only maybe,” Shining proclaimed.

“So we’re lost”

“Well yes”

All of a sudden a root rose up from the ground and grabbed Mystic by her hooves and started to drag her down into the mud.

“Help!” Mystic screamed to her brother.

“Mystic?! I’m coming!” Thomas dived after his sister and using the pen knife he had brought in case of emergency and started to cut the root. However, despite from Shining's best efforts, the root would not cut and his sister was being drawn down further and further into the mud.

“Please, help!!” Mystic screamed louder than the last time. So in desperation Shining Star started to pile rocks on the root. The root started to wither and pulled itself back into the ground to heal itself. Mystic Moon started to pant and sat herself down in shock of what had just happened.

“Are you ok?” Shining asked sitting down as well to comfort his sister.

“Yeah, I guess I’m ok” Mystic said, slightly out of breath. After a short rest Mystic declared that she was better and they had to keep going and get to the castle.

“What! How did those troublesome kids defeat my grabbing root? It can’t be true,” A loud voice thundered around the small library, the sound waves themselves knocking books of shelves and smashing the glass cases of the precious ones ,“I will not stand for it. Let’s see those kids get through my illusions, they never fail.”

“This is taking forever. Are you sure we aren’t going in circles, we should be out by now,” Mystic’s moaning filled the peaceful air.

“Oh quit complaining and help get us out of here, if you’re so confident that you know the way”

“I never said I knew the way, I thought you did,” Mystic replied cheekily.

“Oh haha. Get a move on.” The Adventurers continued to walk through the eerie forest, for once not walking in circles. Unexpectedly a few trees that were standing in front of them jumped up and surrounded the siblings.

“What’s going on here?!” Mystic screeched.

“I don’t know!” The trees were almost doing a dance around them. All of a sudden Shining cried out, “Now it’s your turn to help me!”

“Wha- I’m coming” Mystic shouted in reply. Turns out one of the trees had Shining in his grasp and was dashing away from the group. Kate hurriedly picked up a rock and threw it at the moving tree, not really believing that it could possibly real. It went straight through it’s body.

“What! How did that happen? Wait a minute”

“I don’t have a minute” Shining Star shouted at the top of his voice, the 'tree' was getting further away.

“Shining don’t worry”

“What do you mean don’t worry, I’m being abducted by a tree, start worrying” Shining had to scream to be heard by his sister.

“It has to be an illusion. Put your hooves on the ground and walk away,” Mystic yelled back.

“What did you say!” Shining yelled back.

“I said-” but is was no use, Shining was out of sight, lost in the unforgiving forest with a tree. Mystic Moon tried holding back tears at how useless she had been. It was times like these that Mystic envied pegasus', if she had been able to fly then maybe she would've caught her only known relative left.

“No, I must go after him, I hate him, but now is not the time for petty arguments,” Mystic said through gritted teeth. So, with a growl, the filly charged into the forest, using the powerful leg muscles built up from years of jumping to their fullest.

Chapter 6: The Manticore

Even though Mystic had been training her whole life to have great stamina, running through a dark canopy of trees with constant obstacles blocking the way would take a lot out of anypony, and Mystic was beginning to tire, the only thing keeping her going was her anger, adrenalin and fear. The Everfree was definitely not a place for ponies, as Mystic found out when she ran into a manticore. Mystic was terrified, as anypony would have been in that situation, but she wasn't going to give up on her brother because of a giant, ferocious, evil- maybe it would be a good idea to go around it thought Mystic, but the manticore wouldn't let her pass. Then Mystic spied something behind the manticore, a cub. A cub with a wounded wing, tail and leg. Mystic finally understood. This manticore was a mother, not some ferocious beast, a mother protecting her injured cub. Now that Mystic was looking closer she noticed that the cub's mother also had a damaged wing, Mystic had read somewhere that occasionally a manticore's mate will turn on them, it looked like the mother won the fight, but payed a price. Her cub would die without medical help and Mystic had just the thing.

ViperTail had had enough of the strange pony staring at her injured cub. What right did it have to waltz into her territory? Viper could her the ponies thoughts now Look! An injured manticore family, I think I'll kill them, two less manticore to worry about and I'll be named a hero for slaying this mighty beast. It made Viper growl in anger at the pony. Couldn't it see that she just wanted to be left alone with her dying cub!? That she new her cub was dying and wanted to be with him in his dying moments!? That she didn't want the last thing her saw to be an unnecessary fight!? Apparently not, as it just kept standing there, staring. Right, times up pony.

Mystic was frozen. The manticore was charging and she didn't know how to tell it she meant no harm to her or her cub. So she stood there, not knowing what to do, accepting that this might be the end. Worthless, useless, failure, all these words echoing in her mind and the manticore ran. Tears began to fall again, she made no effort to stop them, why bother? She had failed her brother, friends and parents. Mystic was full on crying now, the pain in the wounds in her mind were being stung by the salty water. Maybe it's good that this is the end for me Mystic thought, now I can't fail anypony again. Mystic had given up. What could she do against an angry manticore? Nothing, she was as useless as always. These thoughts only spurred on the lines of tears as if it was a race to the growing puddle by her hooves.

Tears? Viper hadn't seen a pony cry before, usually they just pull out a weapon after she starts to attack, tears, that was new. Viper stopped, this creature was wounded like her cub, though it was more of a mental wound than a physical one (manticores are far more intelligent than ponies give them credit for). Viper looked back at her sleeping cub and frowned at his jagged movements, then looked at the pony again and frowned and the tears streaming down her face. Viper didn't like to frown. So, carefully, she used her tail to pull the pony closer and hugged her.

Mystic suddenly felt a powerful tail wrap around her and pull her close to the manticore, she didn't fight back. Mystic opened her eyes wide when she felt the manticore, hugging her? Yes, it was definitely a hug, but, why? Mystic looked up at the manticore, it had tilted its head towards the cub, a frown plastered onto her face, then turned back to Mystic and smiled a bit. Mystic realised that the manticore had understood her feelings.

"I have something that could help, help your cub that is," Mystic gestured to the cub and then to her saddle bags incase the manticore couldn't understand her. Viper could clearly see what the pony meant, and slowly let go of her and led her over to her cub, claws sheathed, just incase the pony tried anything. Mystic shoved of her saddlebags and pulled out the first aid box that took up most of the space in the bag. After rummaging through the box for a minute Mystic found the bandages and antiseptic for the cub. Being as careful as possible Mystic put some of the antiseptic on the wounds and then softly wrapped the bandages around the injuries.

After she was finished, Mystic stood up and nodded to the mother of the cub to show that she was finished and would take her leave, realising that she had to be quick if she wanted to get to Shining without wasting any valuable time. However, the sun was just peaking over the horizon and was clearly getting ready to leave the sky so the moon was free to rule during the night. Just as Mystic was about to foolishly try to travel through the Everfree at night, Viper wrapped her tail around her, again, and pulled her back towards them. After a firm 'talk' Mystic decided that she'd stay with the manticores throughout the night. Mystic tried to escape a few times in the night, when her worry for Shining Star peaked, but Viper kept her in check, she owed Mystic that much for saving her cub.

Morning. It didn't come early enough for Mystic Moon. ViperTail growled a thank you to Mystic before she left, wishing her luck on her journey and hoping that she finds what she's looking for. Mystic wasted no time and headed straight in the direction she had seen the illusions go last.

"Must-keep-going," Mystic panted. She had been running for 3 hours straight and she was beginning to feel weak in her legs, but she wouldn't give up. She couldn't.

"So, that silly little pony thinks that she can stop me! Hahahahaha, this is too rich! How could that pony stop me if she can't even find her bro- Wait! Don't go that way! Or you'll get to- the base," the shadow roared in anger at the pathetic pony that had somehow found the base that had been hidden for eons!

“That’s it. They are finished. Now they’ve done it. They made me mad, no one wants to see me mad. No. One.”

Chapter 7: Rescued

"Come on, they have to be here somewh-Ahh," Mystic suddenly crashed into what seemed to be an invisible wall of some kind, "Wha- Was that a force field or something?" Mystic wondered out loud. Using her fore-hooves, Mystic felt along the wall, looking for any signs of weakness; a crack or crevice, anything would do. The wall went on for ages. Mystic was beginning to feel like she had been walking in circles,

chances were she had.

It took Mystic half an hour to find a weakness in the forcefield like wall. Using her strong hind legs, Mystic pounded at the weak point endlessly until it finally gave way. Stepping carefully into the gap Mystic looked around to get her bearings, she didn't like what she saw, not one bit.

Ponies and animals of all ages trapped in cages. There was no way of looking out, the only light entering the cages via small holes on top, and Mystic only knew that they were there because of the constant smashing of hooves and claws on the cage walls, the chirping and chattering of the animals and the undeniable sound of a foal crying. A foal, a young, innocent child that had been subjected to the life of a prisoner, with no hope of ever seeing the sun again. It made Mystic mad. The whole place made her mad. Mad for the animals, mad for the ponies trapped, mad for her brother and mad for the foal. The poor defenceless foal, thrown into the cell as if he, the voice gave it away, was a broken toy, thrown out and left to rot, alone. The other sounds in the prison like area faded away as Mystic's mind focused on the tears, the crying was drained of all hope as if the foal new there was no escape and had given up. His tears were the last drops of happiness leaving his heart, leaving him hollow and empty. No. If she had to Mystic would pick up each drop of happiness individually, if only to hear the foal laugh and see him smile.

"Wait, if these are all illusions, then I could just slip in and slip out again!" Mystic began to trot confidentially toward the cage, knowing that anything that tried to stop her would just be another illusion, and try they did. Manticores, timberwolves, hyras and many other terrifying animals leapt out at Mystic but she just kept on trotting, everyone of the beasts being, as she predicted, was an illusion. Keep trotting, keep trotting, it's just an illusion, just an illusion Mystic repeated in her mind continuously as she hurried past the monsters, not wanting to waste any time.

When Mystic arrived at the cage she was out of breath, usually a run like that would be easy but, due to the 3 hours of running Mystic had done prior to the short run with only a 10 minute break in between, she was exhausted. However, Mystic knew she couldn't rest yet, so she slid in through the illusion. In the corner of the cage, only just visible in the light, sat the foal, he was a pegasus with a rich blue coat and a messy red and pink mane, Mystic couldn't see his eyes at first, but when he looked up at her she could see that they were a beautiful shade of blue.

"Wh-who's th-there?" Came the clearly scared and unused voice of the colt.

"Hello, don't worry, I won't hurt you, promise. What's your name? I'm Mystic and I came here looking for my brother," Mystic replied, trying to be as friendly as she could.

"M-My na-name's Cobalt Shine miss. I came here with my parents a-and n-now I-I-I d-don't kn-know *sniff* wh-where th-*sniff*-ey a-are," Cobalt's tears were flowing freely again. Mystic wrapped her hooves comfortingly around the colt, doing her best to soothe him.

"Now, listen here Cobalt Shine, " Cobalt turned his head up too look at Mystic, "for one, you don't have to call me miss, I'm still a filly! Secondly, I know how we can get out, and we'll go get your parents too. They were taken here, right?" Mystic asked.

"Yeah, can you really help me get back to them?" Cobalt asked with enthusiasm, hope finally back into his voice.

"I promise," Mystic replied 100% sure that she could get Cobalt Shine back to his parents. So, after another hug, and explanation of the illusions and yet another hug Mystic slipped out again, telling the colt that he just had to believe that the wall wasn't real. The two then proceeded to go around the prison and release all the animals and ponies. Mystic had two more cages left on her side, one of them holding a bird, Mystic could hear the chirping, but she didn't know what was in the last cage, it was silent. After getting the bird out, turns out it was a bluejay, Mystics favourite bird, the traveller walked through the last cage door and gasped. Shining was lying in the corner with a bleeding forehead. She ran over to him and shook him, hoping to wake him up.

"Uhh, wha-what? Where am I?" Shining Star groaned.

"Finally, welcome back to the land of the living," Mystic smirked, "now hurry up, we've got to get going."

"Mystic, what are you doing here?" Shining said, clearly confused.

"I'm saving you, stupid," Mystic said, rolling her eyes as if it was obvious, "now hurry up!"

"Okay, okay, I'm coming," Shining said as he pulled himself up, wincing as he did so. Mystic slid out.

"What!" Shining shouted, "How the hay did you do that?!"

"It's an illusion, it's only there if you believe that it is, now get a move on!" Mystic yelled back. Mystic's brother rolled his eyes at his sister and told himself that the wall wasn't there. It worked and Shining Star soon felt the warmth on his back as he emerged from the place he had been held captive. On the other side of the prison Cobalt had found his parents and they were having a heartwarming reunion. Mystic walked slowly over to the reunited family, not wanting to disturb them, but wanting to say goodbye to Cobalt.

"Hey, Cobalt Shine. You found your parents?" Mystic asked even though the answer was obvious.

"Hi Mystic! I did, I did! All thanks to you," Cobalt bounced around her in circles then hugged her (again).

"So, you're the young mare our little colt was telling us about," said Cobalt's father, "I-I can't t-tell you h-how grateful we are," he continued, stammering a little, joy does that to some ponies.

"Yes, we are very happy that Cobalt wasn't harmed. Oh, by the way, how did you know it was an illusion spell?" Cobalt's mother inquired.

"When they took my brother I didn't believe that those things could possibly be real," Mystic said, somewhat sheepishly, "So, when I threw a rock at it and it passed right through it, I knew I was right," she confirmed, "All while you were screaming like a foal," Mystic said to Shining privately.

"Hey!" Shining cried back, "Not true!"

"Oh, but it is, and you know it!"

"Not true!"

"It so is!"

"Not!"

"Is-" Mystic got cut off my the coughing of Cobalt's mother; Mystic and Shining both laughed sheepishly. After apologies and good bye's were done, the filly and colt continued their trek through the Everfree, lying to Cobalt and his family about where they were heading.

Chapter 8: Leaves That Fall

The sun was starting to sink lower and lower into its bed to rest as the moon took leadership of the sky and land.

“Let’s stop for the night and get some rest. I’m sure we will get to the castle tomorrow.” Shining suddenly exclaimed.

“Ok. I guess we can stop, but only if you need to I’m fine” Mystic lied, to tell the truth she was exhausted and couldn’t wait till they had a chance to rest.

“This looks like a good place to stop” Mystic said as they passed under a tall tree with quite a few low hanging branches that led all the way up the tree.

“No, something could come get us during the night. Even we don't know what's out there.”

“Not at the foot of the tree. At the top where the branches are the thickest” Mystic said as if it was the most obvious thing ever and pointed upwards to show him.

“Okay, I guess” Shinings voice sounded wobbly as he was slightly afraid of heights (he was petrified of looking over the banister of the stairs at home). As they climbed higher and higher they could feel a strong wind flow through the tree, it blew them round in circles and Mystic had to grab Shining so he didn't fall off. After the wind calmed the filly and colt settled down on a large clump of tree branches the two lost travellers gazed up at the night sky to see the stars shimmering and shining in the black cobweb that the moon spun every night and when gazing upon those stars Mystic Moon and Shining Star thought about all the animals back home, they wished that their dogs could be there with them for, although different in many ways, Mystic and Shining shared two things in common, one of them being that they were the only links to their parents left alive and that they would both do anything for the animals, even trek across the entire country in order to help them. Mystic and Shining slept well that night both dreaming that they were back home with the dogs galloping through the fields.

“Good morning sunshine”

“Are you talking to me?” Mystic questioned.

“No, I was talking to the sunshine silly” Shining retorted.

“Weirdo,” Mystic muttered under her breath.

“Hey, I heard that!”

After a brief argument the siblings decided to make their charge through the haunted forest. Suddenly a previous scene started to replay itself. Trees came to life and surrounded them, except this time the filly was the one being carried away.

“Mystic, come one it’s an illusion remember,” Shining shouted, rolling his eyes at his forgetful sister.

“This is no illusion, it’s for real this time!” Mystic shouted back, having already tested the illusion theory.

“Then what is it?”

“Do I look like I know!” Mystic retorted. All the trees around Shining had re-planted their roots and the main focus was on the running tree. Shining galloped after her, trying his best to catch up with his sister.

“STOP!” A great shimmering light flashed in front of the tree with flying colours the sparkling light seemed to have no physical form and upon its entrance Mystic felt that she had seen it before but quickly pushed the thought from her mind, she didn’t ever recall seeing such brilliant light and colour, it must’ve been a dream.

“The light. It-it burns” The tree started to scream in agony and withered away into the ground.

“Hurry... hurry..... hurry..... I cannot stay... Hurry” The light started to burn out and fade away, even it's voice seemed to be full of light and colour.

“What just happened?” The two travellers said in unison.

“Let’s just get to that castle, quickly” Mystic exclaimed.

“Yeah, good plan, we should hurry.”

So the two, perhaps not so brave, travellers set out in a hurry to get to the ruined castle that resided in the forest .

Eventually they made it to the path that would lead them the the castle.

“We made it. No time to lose let’s keep going” Mystic sounded in a hurry.

“Okay, what’s the rush?”

“I don’t know, I just know that we have to hurry!"

Mystic and Shining ran and ran along the path, still not entirely sure that they were going in the right direction. They both had an awful sense of direction, however, this once, they were going in the right direction, urgency coursing through their veins. The path seemed to go on for ages and they were both tired after running for hours and they weren't even half way along the road.

"Come on Shining Star!" Mystic yelled to her brother, who was falling behind despite his longer strides.

"Mystic, stop!"

"Why? We don't have time, you can just hurry up!" She yelled back

"No! Really, stop, can't you hear that?" Mystic skidded to a halt, Shining was right, there was a strange noise coming from the side of the path. It sounded like an animal, an injured one.

"Do you think it was injured because it was scared like the rest of the animals?" Shining asked.

"Possibly. If it's a magical creature like, lets say, a manticore, some breed of Star Spider or a timberwolf then I don't think it's been affected like the other animals," Mystic said, recalling her incident with the manticore and her cub. Mystic walked cautiously over to the source of the noise, pushing passed a few bushes that blocked her path. It was a young creature, that was for sure. Mystic gasped as she saw the 'creature', it was like nothing she'd ever seen before. Calling her brother over Mystic took a closer look at the half timberwolf-half pony that was crying softly to itself.

"Um..Hello?" Mystic said, not really knowing what to make of the situation. The 'timberpony', as Mystic had decided to call it, shot it's head up in surprise,

"Ah! Stay away from me! I-I don't deserve to be seen!" The timberpony started to cry again, clearly hating herself, it was a filly if the voice was anything to go on.

"Of course you deserve to be seen, personally I think you look awesome. I'm Mystic Moon, you can just call me Mystic, I'm 13, how old are you and what's you name?" Mystic said, almost too quickly to be understood.

"I-I'm 6 in pony years, but 15 really, and m-my p-p-parents just called me Timber, I don't think I have a real name, I wasn't old enough," Came the tearful reply.

"Well, what do you think of Oak Leaf? You know, because you have a layer of oak, wait, it is oak, right?" the timberpony nodded, "thought so, oak wood covering your skin, and your eyes are the most beautiful shade of green, like a leaf, they match your mane," Mystic complimented, not noticing her brother standing behind her.

"Yeah, I really like Oak Leaf, Thank y- Ah!" The newly named Oak Leaf screamed as she noticed Shining Star standing behind her new friend. Mystic turned around to see her brother smiling sheepishly at her, "Shining!" Mystic scolded before turning back to Oak Leaf, "don't worry about him, he's my brother Shining Star, he's completely harmless, trust me," Mystic winked, blatantly insulting Shining.

"Hey! I am not harmless..." Shining trailed off, realising what he had just said, "I mean...She's right, I couldn't hurt a...a...a fly!" Shining exclaimed, as if he had just figured out how gravity works. Oak Leaf wasn't convinced and pulled herself back, away from Shining Star and sheathed her claws, getting into a defensive position.

"No,no. It's okay, he really won't harm you, he can't even look over the banister back home," Mystic giggled, happy when Oak did the same.

"So," Shining said, letting the insult slide, "your new name is Oak Leaf, can I call you Oak for short?" Shining tried to steer the conversation in a different direction.

"Sure," Oak agreed, after calming herself down, "So, you really don't mind how I look?" Oak Leaf asked, used to ponies running away, insulting her or just keep on walking past when they saw her.

"Of course we don't mind. Looks aren't important, what matters is your heart," Mystic said to the filly, not really understanding how she, a thirteen year old could be comforting a fifteen year old, even if she was 6 in pony years.

"Oh, and, If you don't mind me asking, how come you look like that? Not that there's anything wrong with how you look!" Shining asked, not wanting to offend Oak.

"Well, my dad was the Alpha wolf in our pack so he could speak pony and was very intelligent for a timberwolf and my mum was a pony, she had a talent with animals and could understand them, so she fit right in after her parents abandoned her because they thought she was insane for talking with animals. After living with the pack for a few years, she was, I think, 15 when she arrived, she and dad fell in love, nothing weird if you lived with timberwolves for 6 years. After a while they had me. I was welcomed in the pack and could speak both pony and timberwolf, both mum and dad were great and I loved them so much. But then, a village was built next to the forest and ponies found us. T-then they took mum away and k-ki-killed dad," Oak was in tears now, full on tears that formed marks on her smooth wooden skin. Her mind replaying some of the best days he had spent with her parents, and the last...

Chapter 9: The New Cub

"Welcome to the pack little one," Oak's father said softly, leaning over the little foal as she looked out of her den for the first time in her life.

Surrounding the foal was a vast cave, lit by single beams of sunlight that raced in through miniscule cracks in the stone walls, the dim lighting perfect for timberwolf eyes. The ceiling seemed to stretch on for ages and the moss that hung down from the ceiling was the deepest shade of green the foal had ever seen, even though she had only seen the inside of her den. The shadows from a flickering fire danced across the walls, the fire was surrounded by walls of rock so the Timberwolves of the pack didn't burn but were still heated by the warm flames. Timberwolves of all shapes and sizes were scurrying about camp and the cubs were playing by the nursery, or what Oak assumed to be the nursery, entrance. The real entrance to the cave was blocked by boulders and rocks, the timberwolves used an underground passage to get in and out, worried that the 'ponies', as they liked to call themselves, wouldn't find them. The elders were lying in a patch of rocks that absorbed heat easily, the apprentices were practicing their battle moves and the warriors were laughing about a group of ponies they had come across in their forest. Overall, it was a busy cave, if it weren't for the sheer size of it all the timberwolves would be cramped. The most spectacular thing in the camp was the Great Rock that stood proudly in the very centre of the cave, it was the very reason this particular cave is where the timberwolves live, without it the pack meetings wouldn't work so well, despite the fact that the alpha, or leader, was always taller than the average Timberwolf.

"May all timberwolves gather beneath the Great Rock," The alpha's powerful voice reverberated around the cave, "I have wonderful news," He said, much quieter than before. All the timberwolves slowly gathered around the centre of camp, cubs pouncing on nearby beams of light or the occasional moss ball. Eventually all were gathered beneath the rock, excited to hear the 'wonderful news', even though all the timberwolves could guess what it was. A mare walked out of the den at the bottom of the Great Rock and joined the alpha at the top.

"Black Paw, I think you should be the one to give the pack this wonderful news. I am sure the pack would like to hear you hold a meeting for once," the alpha said softly to the mare, still speaking in timberwolf, knowing that she could understand him perfectly.

"Sure, If you're too scared Pine Needle," the mare smirked at her mate. Pine Needle just laughed quietly, and stepped back.

"Wolves of the pack, my cub is finally old enough to leave the den and come meet you all. I will not tolerate any judgment of her looks. Do I make myself clear," all the timberwolves nodded hurriedly, not wanting to get on her bad side, "Good. Until she is old enough to become an apprentice, which is at 10 years old for a pony by my maths, and receive her proper name, she will be know as Timber. Timber, come and join me up here on Great Rock," Black Paw said gently to her young daughter. The newly named Timber, jumped up onto the Great Rock, but only got a small way up before sliding down again, hot with embarrassment Timber managed to claw her way to the top. When she reached the platform on the Great Rock gasps of surprise at her appearance echoed around the camp. A stern look from Black Paw silenced them.

"She may be part pony, but she's beautiful Black Paw," Juniper Berry, one of the timberwolves in the crowd, called out; all the others nodded and smiled at Black Paw. Timber's mother smiled, glad that the pack was so welcoming of her foal's unique appearance. Timber had a stunningly smooth wooden coating over her skin, designed to allow maximum movement, and a leafy green mane that was extremely short, as to not obscure her vision. Timber's eyes were a luminescent shade of green, they matched her eyes perfectly. Unlike the others Timber had pupils and hooves (that had retractable claws), other timberwolves having their claws out all the time, but they unsheathed while the timberwolves slept.

The young foal was getting restless, she wasn't used to standing in one place for so long and wanted to go meet the other cubs. Pine Needle, who had been watching from behind the pair, saw his daughter shuffling on her hooves and smiled, he remembered his first time on the Great Rock and how much he had wanted to get off and meet the other cubs, Timber was just like him when he was younger.

"I believe it is time for us all to go back to our duties," Pine Needle shouted to the pack, his voice reaching all wolves in the gathering.

After the timberwolves had returned to their work, Timber climbed her way down the Great Rock and walked shyly over to the group of playful cubs who were chasing a ball of moss.

"Um....H-Hi?" Timber said quietly, the other cubs only hearing her thanks to their incredible ears.

"Hey, you're that weird timberpony, aren't you?" One of the cubs said, not meaning to be insensitive.

"Bay! Don't be rude!" Another cub hissed through his teeth, "Hi Timber, I'm Willow, by the way. None of us have our full names yet, but Bay here has gotten it into his head that his name is going to be Bay Leaf, but it probably won't be," Willow laughed, Timber couldn't help but laugh too.

"Hey, weird is good in my book. You look awesome!" Bay said enthusiastically. Timber only laughed louder...

Chapter 10: Confessions

"Happy birthday Timber!" The cubs pounced out of their hiding places and landed on the unsuspecting filly.

"Just one more pony year and then you'll be old enough to receive a proper name!" Willow Root exclaimed joyfully. Timber thought she'd burst with anticipation. It turns out that she aged faster than expected and would be the right age at 7, just like the other cubs. She would be 16 in timberwolf years when she became an apprentice, they became apprentices that old so the were big enough compared to their warrior mentors. Timber was going to have the smallest timberwolf availible as her mentor because of her size, she was growing faster and kept up with the other cubs, both mentally and physically, but she would stop growing before them; still being much taller than the average pony.

"Would you two hurry up, I know you've been away from each other for a full 10 minutes but can we go now, I don't want to miss out on the best prey for your birthday feast," Bay Pool (unfortunately his name wasn't Bay Leaf, as he had hoped) called out to the pair, ever since Black Paw joined the pack she ate vegetation but accepted the fact that the timberwolves ate meat (they promised not to eat pony though), Timber was born with the right teeth to eat meat and enjoyed it, so was allowed to continue doing so.

While they were walking across camp Timber and Willow Root's paw/hoof steps started to be insync and they walked closer and closer together until they were touching. At that point Willow Root pulled away, blushing.

"T-Tim-imber?"

"Yes," Timber said, confused at why her best friend had lost all his usual confidence.

"W-well, your m-mother, Black Paw, told me w-what a birthday present was, a-and I wa-want to g-give you o-one," Willow Root stuttered.

"Oh, sure!" Timber said, excited to get her first ever birthday present. But she wasn't prepared for what happened next. Willow Root leaned in and kissed her on the lips, only a quick kiss, nothing spectacular, just a short, sweet kiss, that managed to leave Timber speechless.

"S-sorry," Willow Root bounded off to the rest of the pack like he was chasing a rabbit. Leaving Timber alone with her thoughts.

Why? Why did he k-kiss me? We're just friends, right? I've never thought of him in that way. But, it-it could work. I mean he is kind, sensitive and sweet. He never minded the fact that I'm different and he's always been there for me. I guess there is a chance that I might-

"Hey! Hurry up Timber! We saved a raven for you, your favourite!" Pine Needle called from the middle of the group of timberwolves. Not wanting the raven to be snatched away by a cub who didn't know any better. Timber raced over, her mind still racing from the kiss.

"What took you so long Timber?" Timber stiffened at the sound of her father's question.

"I..was...talking, with Willow Root," Timber said, her cheeks flushing red.

"Oh, I see, I won't press the matter then," Pine Needle said knowingly; Timber turned away and continued to eat, hiding her face from her laughing father.

Thing went on as normal for Timber for a few days, though, she was rather upset that Willow Root was avoiding her, she wanted to talk with him about his 'gift'. That is, until Black Paw decided to do something about it...

"Timber!" Black Paw called to her daughter, "I need to talk with you."

"I'm over here," Timber said absent mindedly.

"Come, on. Tell me what's wrong. Why are you avoiding Willow Root? Does it have something to do with the birthday present he gave you?" Black Paw winked at her cub, but frowned when she just sighed and turned around in her nest, "come on Timber, you know you can tell me, or would you rather talk to your father?" Black Paw asked, knowing that Pine Needle was much better at dealing with situations like this.

"Yeah, can I?"

"Of course, let me go get him," Black Paw raced out, years of running with Pine Needle had built up her stamina and speed and now she was, arguably, the fastest pony runner in Equestria. It only took a few seconds for her dad to arrive, he had been on the other side of the camp, discussing the new town that had been built on the edge of the forest. She heard him push away the draping lichen that protected the den from the elements.

"Hey, your mother told me that you were down acting like a mouse without it's tail. What, or who's, your missing tail then, hm?" Timber's father lay down next to the distraught timberpony and nudged her gently with his snout.

"I-Willow Root-he...he...kissed...me andIdon'tknowwhattodobecauseImightlikehimtoo," Timber tried to explain, but once she had started, the rest came rushing out like a tidal wave. Pine Needle put his paw on her muzzle to quieten her.

"Hush now Timber, these things are complicated, but, if you love him then I suggest you go out there and tell him," Pine Needle raised his paw to stop the filly's outburst, "you have to be strong Timber, always remember that, whatever situation you are in, be strong. If he says he doesn't love you then there isn't anything you can do. But sitting here and doing nothing won't solve your problems, will it?" Timber shook her head, "exactly, now, go on out there and tell that Willow Root exactly how you feel. Oh, and do me favor, if he is rude or insensitive, rake his ear off for me will you," Timber giggled,

"You're starting to sound like mum," she laughed.

Yes, Timber was ready, she would walk right up to Willow Root and tell him exactly what she felt.

"Willow Root! Willow-" she was stopped by a familiar paw on her muzzle,

"Timber! I'm so glad to see you, but, I can't talk now, I'm dawn patrol," Willow Root said, in a whisper. Timber sighed and nodded, she couldn't pull him away from his duties, even though he was still an apprentice, "Meet me outside the entrance at sundown, okay?" Timber nodded again, what else could she do? Juniper Berry was calling for all the timberwolves who were on the dawn patrol, Willow Root had to go, "See you then, I have to go," Willow Root bounded across the camp to the paw-made exit, where Juniper Berry was waiting.

Sundown. Timber climbed out of the hole and looked out into the clearing, entranced by the sight infront of her. The setting sun was only just visible over the horizon, its rays lighting the mist in a brilliant orangey red glow. Water trickled through a small stream and was flamed scarlet by the setting sun, giving the water an almost blood like look. The emerald green grass was covered in a layer of thin frost, a sign that leaf-bare was on its way, that made the ground look like the sky at night, twinkling with starshine. The trees towered over Timber but didn't frighten her, instead, they gave her a sense of security and while their dark branches and odd shapes may have scared a few, Timber found them interesting and she would sometimes see if she could sketch them into the ground with stick. The normally freezing air was replaced with a warm breeze that blew all of Timber's doubts away; the sun casting a bright glow on the filly's face as she sat down and waited for Willow Root to arrive.

Timber could hear what sounded like pawsteps, coming from the forest. She stood still, giving no clue she could hear the sound as she tracked it around the clearing. It was directly behind her as it changed course and began to stalk towards her, she was ready. In the same second she rolled to the side, the creature leapt towards the space Timber had been occupying a split second ago. Timber say up and laughed as she saw Willow Root lying on the floor, looking very embarrassed.

"Hi Willow Root," Timber managed to say between fits of laughter.

"Hey Timber," Willow Root laughed a bit at is own mistake and pulled himself up, "How did you know where I was?"

"I have the best hearing in the pack, remember, I could hear you when you started to circle the the clearing," Timber said, continuing to laugh. Willow Root laughed too, not minding the fact that Timber had been able to hear his approach. It took a few minuets for Timber to calm down.

"Doesn't the clearing look beautiful," Timber said, casting her gaze over the sunlit glade.

"Timber?"

"Yes"

"I-I just wanted to say that I-I-" Willow Root couldn't continue, his shyness taking over. Timber decided she would take over the situation, so, remembering her dad's words and staring into her childhood friend's crimson eyes she closed the gap between them and pressed her lips against his, smiling when he pushed back. They both closed their eyes and savoured the moment, unlike the time Willow Root kissed Timber on her birthday, the kiss lasted for a full minute before they both pulled away, gasping for air.

"I love you, Timber," Willow Root hugged the filly-soon-to-be-mare.

"I know, I love you too," Timber leaned into the 'colt's' embrace...

Chapter 11: The Attack

"They're coming!"

"We have to leave!"

"They have weapons that can destroy us!"

"What are we going to do?!"

"ENOUGH!" Pine Needle bellowed over the panicking timberwolves, they were immediately silenced, "Now, what's going on here?"

Forest Fire stepped forward, deciding that she would give the news, no one protested, "We were patrolling the border between the village and the forest when we saw the ponies in the village making weapons, we thought nothing of it because ponies fight a lot, but then their leader made a speech...

"Come on ponies, those timberwolves have had that forest for too long. I say it's time we got the forest for ourselves!" A cheer rose from the crowd of ponies, "We have weapons that can destroy them, but only because of Trixie Lulamoon, this towns very own unicorn trained by Princess Celestia, I do wonder why the princess stopped teaching such a talented unicorn. But now, she will help us defeat the timberwolves!" A light blue pony stepped up onto a stage and bowed, clearly enjoying the attention...

"Then we ran back to camp as fast as we could, but they're on their way now," Forest Fire stepped back, waiting for her leaders words. Pine Needle growled; the timberwolves had never had much trouble with ponies, because of their ability to put themselves back together, but, with their new weapons and Timber and Black Paw in camp, even though they were both excellent fighters, the ponies were a real threat.

"We will not run. While these ponies may have weapons that can destroy us, we are trained fighters, they are not. We are bigger, stronger and faster than them, they will not drive us away from our home! Now, I need Juniper Berry, Forest Fire, Tall Reed and Red Alder to guard the camp entrance and the forest surrounding it, no pony is allowed in or out other than Black Paw," the timberwolves in question raced out into the forest, "Black Paw," the mare, who had been sitting a few paces away, listening to the conversation, galloped over to her mate and sat down next to him, "Black Paw, could you attempt to change the ponies mind? I don't want any unnecessary woodchipping or bloodshed," Pine Needle asked.

"Of course, I'll do my best," Black Paw nodded and was about to leave when she felt a familiar pelt brush up beside her.

"Listen. I-I don't know how today is going to turn out, but, please, promise that you'll come back. I-I d-don't know w-what I'd d-do w-without-" Pine Needle was cut of by a hoof on his muzzle.

"Shh. Don't worry, no pony's been able to get the best of me. I'll be fine, I promise," Black Paw reassured, brushing away her mate's tears softly with one hoof. Pine Needle leaned in and embraced his one true love in life, wrapping himself around her as she embraced him in return, both of them knowing that they might not see each other again. Red Alder raced in through the camp entrance.

"They *pant* are *pant* nearly *pant* here!" Red Alder said between breaths, "If Black Paw wants to talk to them then she had to leave now," Red Alder then directed his gaze at the mare, "If you hurry then you could meet them at the flaming tree," Black Paw nodded.

"What's going on here?" Timber demanded, not knowing that the camp was going to be under attack.

"Timber, the ponies from the village are leading an attack on our camp, they want to drive us out," her father explained.

"How dare they! This is our home!" Timber growled, silently promising to tear of the limbs of anypony who wanted to hurt her friends or family.

"Timber, I must leave now. You are to stay inside your den unless it's an emergency. Do I make myself clear?" Timber nodded, and watched as her mother sprinted out of camp. The filly walked dejectedly back to her den, not wanting to let the others fight the ponies alone.

The pack was alerted and all the warriors, apprentices and even some of the older 'cubs' were practicing any battle or defence moves they knew. The camp was buzzing with fear and tension, everyone knew the direness of the situation and no one wanted to leave their home. Willow Root searched around the camp for Timber, wanting to see her, for, what might be, the last time. He spotted the timberpony sitting at the edge of her den's entrance. The timberwolf raced over.

"Hey," Willow Root said softly, "What are you doing over here, don't you want to practice with the others?"

"My mother doesn't want me to fight. But, I don't want to sit here and do nothing! I am the future leader of this pack and I'm not even allowed to defend it?! I shouldn't be sitting here doing nothing! Look at these markings, is it not clear that they show I am the future leader, does that not mean I should defend it?!" Timber shouted, thankful for how high up they were, no one heard her shouting or see her tears.

"Hey, hey. It's okay. I understand how you must be feeling, I know I would feel the same if I were in your position. But, as you said, you are the next leader, if something were to happen to you and your father, then we have no successor, do you know what happens then?" Timber shook her head, " Well, the pack hold a...competition to see who's be the next leader. A fight. To the death," Timber gasped in shock, "It's terrible, I know, and that's why no harm must come to you. Do you understand now?"

"Yeah, I guess. It makes sense that I have to be kept safe, but, I want to help, and I don't know how," Timber looked away and at the camp entrance, "I don't know if mum's coming back and dad might be killed by the new weapons the ponies invented. I don't want to become the leader of this pack because my parents died in a fight that I was forced to watch."

Black Paw was running as fast as she could, knowing that, if she didn't make it in time, the pack might be destroyed. There it is! The flaming tree. The mare could see the tree up ahead, it's namesake bark almost glowing a vibrant orange, it's branches dancing in the wind. The ponies! She could hear them approaching from behind the flaming tree. Their weapons clashing, making a noise that would scare away prey for miles. If it she wasn't greatly outnumbered, Black Paw would have beaten the will to fight right out of them, but, she was outnumbered and was supposed to convince them to leave by their own accord, no bloodshed.

Excuse me, could I speak with you?" Black Paw called out, getting the attention of the leader of the 'army'.

"Yes, what do you want? I'm in the middle of an attack!" The leader, who was also the mayor of the town.

"That's what I wanted to talk to you about. Why do you need to drive away the timberwolves?"

"We want this land!" The Mayor shouted, believing that he and the town deserved it.

"But it belongs to the timberwolves," Black Paw said, she was going to win this argument, she had to.

"That's it. We've wasted enough time already, if you won't join us..."

"Never."

"Then, we will have to dispose of you," the Mayor nodded to a group of ponies who then started to advance towards the mare. She didn't

move an inch, she knew what she was doing.

Suddenly, one of the ponies sprang towards Black Paw and attempted to hit her in the face, she jumped back only to find herself dodging another attack from behind. The mare spun around on one of her hooves and kicked the surprised pony on her legs, causing her to fall. Then, after ducking under a hoof that came flying at her stomach, she, while reared up on her hind legs, lept behind one of the ponies and punched him right in the middle of his back, causing him to fall to the forest floor. One down.....7 to go?! Black Paw was sure there hadn't been that many ponies trying to stop her at the start. Well she thought to herself this is going to be fun if she were talking aloud the ponies would be able to hear the sarcasm dripping from her voice. Black Paw whipped around to find one of the other ponies heading straight for her. The pony's pose suggesting that she wanted to knock Black Paw's legs out from beneath her. The mare lept into the air to avoid the incoming attack, but she had forgotten to see what the other ponies were doing. *Thud* Black Paw hit the ground hard, she had been hit in the head by a pegasus who had predicted her jump and moved accordingly. She lay unconscious on the floor.

"Take her back to the town, and throw her in the deepest prison we have."

"Yes, Mayor. Right away," they dragged Black Paw away.

"Now, Onwards, to the timberwolf camp!" The ponies charged, no more walking, they were close anyway.

Back at the camp, Pine Needle was organizing the timberwolves into pairs, if the ponies had weapons that could destroy them, then it would be better if the timberwolves fought in pairs.

" Twisting Ivy, you will be paired with Forest Fire (who had returned from patrolling the entrance). Bay Pool, you will fight with Grass Blade. Dew Drop, you will work with Fallen Log. Autumn Leaf, you will fight with Crescent Moon. Other than those timberwolves, you may all choose your own partners," Pine Needle informed the pack. Each timberwolf found their partners, and not a moment too soon.

"They're here."

The ponies came crashing through the entrance, destroying all the work the timberwolves put into building their entrance. The battle was upon them. The timberwolves training gave them the advantage against the ponies, but the newly developed weapons weren't for decoration. Pine Needle couldn't see Black Paw anywhere. She was supposed to be back, but, she wasn't. Pine Needle's heart roared with anger towards the ponies and his voice echoed what his heart felt. A great howl of sadness and anger washed over the camp and all was still. The timberwolves recognised the howl as their leader, and immediately knew what had happened. They all growled at the ponies, they had all come to love Black Paw like she was family. The ponies had the nerve to try and drive them away from their home and now, they had taken away a very special pony, who was loved by all the timberwolves, none more so than Pine Needle. He would have his revenge. They all would.

The fighting resumed, the timberwolves attacking with more force than before, blood ran like rivers through claw-scraped ridges in the ground. However, the ponies were still killing, their weapons making sure that they scored some points against the pack.

Timber could hear the battle going on outside. She had promised her mother and Willow Root that she would stay inside unless it was 100% necessary that she left her den on the side if Grea Rock. She couldn't stand it. While she was proud to be the next leader of the pack, sometimes she just wanted to be a normal timberwolf, she didn't mind the fact that she was half pony, but, she did mind being fussed over because she was the next leader. If she could have it her way, she'd be out there, fighting of ponies and doing something for her pack instead of waiting for the fight to be over. The sounds of battle radiated it like the small beams of sunshine that still shone through the gaps in the cave wall. Then, Timber heard an all too familiar voice cry out for help, Willow Root. I'm coming Willow Root. Timber ran out her den, promises forgotten. Well, not entirely, it was 100% necessary that she left.

Willow Root was backed into a corner, too many ponies to fight off, all of them with weapons and his partner, Summer Storm, dead. He had no way of getting out of the situation he was in, so, he hung his head in defeat. Then, he saw Timber crouching behind them as if she was hunting a squirrel. She leapt into the air silently and punched one of the ponies on the back of the head; she fell to the floor. Before the others could react, Willow Root took advantage of their distraction and kicked another pony in the forearm. They all cringes at the sound of bone breaking. The one pony remaining realised that she was outnumbered when Timber came round to stand next to Willow Root. At the sight of the timberpony she fled, not knowing what the 'horrid' creature was. Timber turned round to face Willow Root and he nuzzled her, a gesture of love and thanks.

"I know I was supposed to stay in my den, but when I heard you I cou-"

"Shh, I understand. Thank you for saving me, I love you," Willow Root said, while continuing to nuzzle Timber.

"I love you too," Timber replied, the battle, death and destruction forgotten; the only thing important in that moment was the love that the two shared.

Pine Needle knew he had to calm down. His mentor had always told him to never fight with anger, but with drive to do what's right. But Pine Needle was too far gone, too engrossed in grief and anger to think clearly. He slashed left and right with his claws and never once stopped to consider the lives he was tossing aside like rotten prey. In the midst of his fury he did not notice the pony creeping stealthily up behind him. It was the Mayor, or Golden Bit. Golden Bit leapt up onto Pine Needle's back and, with greed blinding his heart, stabbed the leader of the timberwolf pack with his enchanted spear. Time stood still for Timber. She had just been running through the fighting, trying to find any ponies who weren't already fighting a pair of timberwolves or any outnumbered timberwolves who needed help, when she saw it. Her father, stabbed. He was falling. Collapsing to the ground. The pieces of wood that made up his structure fell apart like a jenga tower, Pine Needle had lost the game. Timber rushed over to where the remnants her father were lying on the cave floor. The timberwolves all fled, their leader gone, their hope gone with him. Only one timberwolf and one timberpony remained.

"No," Timber said, all hope and light gone from her eyes.

"I-I don't b-believe t-th-that h-he's g-gone," Willow Root choked. Timber started to sob, leaning over the sticks and pieces of wood that once made up her father. Willow Root pressed himself against her. On the other side of the camp Golden Bit was watching the two weep over the dead timberwolf and he was saddened by the sight. Realising there was no way he could ever make up for what he did he led the ponies out, telling them that he would explain why they were leaving later. He wanted to leave the two to mourn.

"Come now Timber, we have to go," Timber followed Willow Root silently, her head hanging low, tears still pouring from her eyes. Both of them unaware of what was waiting for them outside.

Seven of the ponies had decided to stay, not wanting to give up the cave that they nearly died for. They soon heard the sound of Timber and Willow Root approaching the entrance.

"3...2...1!" They leapt out of their hiding places, Timber managed to dodge and was free, however, Willow Root was held down by three grown ponies and couldn't get them off. Timber was going to try help when she heard Willow Root's voice telling her to stop.

"Timber, you have to get out of here, there's too many of them. I-I promise I'll find you, or maybe you'll find me," Willow Root attempted to laugh, but he was being crushed, laughing was nearly impossible, "Run," and Timber ran, she ran as if running would get her away from her problems, but, when she was in the middle of the Everfree Forest if finally hid her. She was alone....

Chapter 12: A Castle Found

"Hey, hey. It's okay, it's okay. What those ponies did was awful and wrong, but what's done is done. Would your mum and dad want to see you crying over them or would they want you to be strong and be happy?" Mystic tried to comfort Oak Leaf.

"I-I don't know how,"

"It is hard, I lost my parents, but I never knew them, so I can only half understand what it must be like for you, but I know my parents would want me to smile and not let myself be hindered by their death, that is, if they are dead, I don't know if my parents are actually dead or not,"

"Mystic, you're getting of topic," Shining hissed to his sister.

"Sorry, just, remember that they will always love you and want you to be happy,"

"O-okay, I can do that," a small smile pulling at the corners of her mouth. Mystic and Shining smiled with the timberpony, glad to see her smiling again. However, they both knew that Oak had nowhere to go, her pack either split up or dead and ponies turning her away, so they invited her to join them on their journey and then go home with them, knowing their foster parents wouldn't mind. Oak Leaf agreed, grinning with joy and bouncing around, questions about her soon-to-be home and parents and where they were going.

"Alright, one question at a time," Mystic attempted to scold her but couldn't bring herself to do it properly, too happy to see the filly so energetic and excited, "We live on a farm really close to an animal shelter, I work there as a dog walker on the weekends, and we also have huge fields that are great for running in, me and Shining practice our jumping there. Our foster parents are great, they really do their best to make sure we're happy. I'm sure they'll take care of you too," Mystic said, describing home the best she could.

"That sound amazing! I can sort of talk to dogs too, because I'm part timberwolf, do you think I could help out at the shelter?" Oak said, even more excited to get back to their home.

"Of course, we can always use an extra pair of hooves at the shelter," Shining said, knowing that Oak would be welcomed.

"Oh, and we're going to the castle that's here in the forest, if you hadn't noticed already the animals are freaking out about something, we came here looking for the book that can tell us why," Mystic explained, "Do you know a shortcut? We really have to hurry," Mystic said, urgency taking over again.

"Yes! I do, I do! Follow me!" Oak Leaf said, exuberated that she could help. Mystic and Shining had to speed their regular pace a bit because of Oak's fast pace, but they didn't mind, they were going to get to the castle quicker anyway.

"You know, I wonder how a pile of books could help us? What we're looking for is in a library,” Shining wondered.

“Don’t look at me.”

"I think what you're looking for is the book of...of..I can't remember, but it was a common legend in my pack that there was an alicorn made of pure magic trapped inside, there is also supposed to be a book that holds an alicorn made of evil magic, they keep balance in our world. Or, that's what the legend says," Oak explained.

"Hmm, it's possible," Shining said, "I guess we'll find out when we get there,"

While walking through the forest Oak, Shining and Mystic had no idea of what was watching them or what could be lurking in the shadows.

“NO! How could they of made it this far. It makes no sense.” The voice paused. “Wait, could they possibly be the children from the prophecy, no surely not, then how did they escape and survive everything I did to get rid of them?” A loud voice ricocheted around the book museum and almost cracked the shelves that the books were stored on.

“Come on Oak Leaf, we must be close now,” Shining tried to comfort the shaking filly (he was still confused that a half timberwolf, was scared of the forest).

“I know. It’s just, I, I don’t know. There is just something about this place, I, I just don’t know what it could be,” Oak wobbled. This made Shining even more confused and muddled. The forest really did have mysterious, misty ghosts that blocked your path and the sun was completely hidden by trees and fog, but Oak had been raised here, so it shouldn't scare her.

“Now, where is that castle?” Shining said to himself.

“Don’t look at me,” Mystic said.

“I’m not,” Shining retorted.

"We're nearly there, I promise," Oak intervened, not wanting the two of them to start fighting.

Continuing through the forest Mystic and Shining realized how much they missed the dogs and animals from the shelter, they had never been away from them for this long, and new that they wouldn’t feel half as scared as they do now if Red and Woody were there with them.

"Are you two okay?" Oak asked, not liking the fact that the ponies that had cheered her up, given her a name, accepted her and given her home, sad.

"Yeah, we're okay," Mystic reassured.

"We just miss the animals," Shining said, his voice portraying his sadness. Mystic nodded, agreeing with Shining.

"Well, you'll see them soon because look ahead, we're here," Oak said joyfully, pointing at something just ahead of them. Mystic and Shining followed her hoof but couldn't see anything through the mist, "Oh, right, I forgot that I have better eyesight than most ponies, but it is there," Oak laughed at her own mistake. Mystic ran ahead to double check, telling Shining to wait with Oak.

"So, do you know what you mum looked like?" Shining asked, trying to start a conversation.

"Yeah, she had a really pretty silver mane, kind of like yours, and a blue coat, her cutie mark was a pawprint, I think. My dad looked like an ordinary timberwolf but bigger because he was the pack leader, he also had the traditional markings of a pack leader," Oak said, happy that she could recall how her parents looked.

"Cool! What do the markings actually look like?" Shining asked, knowing, now, that she didn't mind talking about her parents.

"Just like my markings, but his were.....red! Yes, they were red," Oak said, pointing to the blue markings on her back that were a beautiful combination of lines and circles.

"Wait...if those are the markings of a pack leader then..."

"Yep, I was going to be the next pack leader! Isn't it awesome!" Oak almost shouted. Just then Mystic came running back and skidded to a halt.

"Wow, your eyes can see really far Oak," Mystic panted. Oak beamed with pride and strut forward telling the siblings to follow her, she knew where she was going. Both Mystic and Shining laughed quietly at the filly but followed none the less.

The ruin was, just as Mystic said, a while away but they made it. So the two adventurers had come to the end of their journey. But what they didn’t know that the adventure was about to get a lot more interesting.

“Ahh” Mystic yelped as the ceiling came down on her. Fortunately she made it out of the area so she didn’t get hurt. Oak jumped around at the sound of Mystics cry and growled at the danger that might have been there, when she realised that Mystic was fine the filly turned back around muttering something about instincts.

“Be careful. This place is crumbling apart,” Shining said, being as cautious as always.

“I know, I know,” Mystic said, but she was still a little shaky.

“Now we have to find the library, and we should be fine” Shining said maybe a little too confidently.

“Right, up the old stairs and hopefully the library will be on the top floor. If not we will work our way down and that way we’ll have to find the library” Shining said, thinking strategically.

“Ok, whatever works for you” Mystic was trying to hide her fear by sounding as laid back as possible, but Shining knew his sister better than anyone else and he could tell that she was petrified, but didn’t say anything in case she got angry and her shouting would bring the whole castle down and they would be crushed by the weight of thousands of bricks landing on top of them. Somehow Mystic (throughout the journey) had come to really depend on on her brother and Shining had grown an admiration for his younger sister and the way that she was so determined to prove that nothing could scare her.

“Here we are. At the very top” Oak panted.

“Yeah, the top. That took a while. Let’s get started right away” Mystic panted in reply. Shining only nodded, to out of breath to talk.

“Great. Just great. I cannot stop them now that they have passed through the gates and into my brother’s domain. If only that human was still around, then I could send him in to throw them off the scent and lead them away from my demise, or if I’m lucky, exile back into the pages.” A loud, deep voice resonated around the library, “But, wait. What if they were to open the wrong book? With my magic I should be able to create an identical book and hide within the pages.”

"Come on, this looks like a good room to start off with” Mystic’s voice reverberated around the ancient castle.

“Ok, let’s go then” and with that Mystic and Oak gave the large oak door, with its rusty hinges and creaking wooden boards, a huge tug and strained to open it. Meanwhile Shining was looking out of the great stained glass window at the forest beneath them.

“You could help you know” Although just as she finished his sentence the door gave way and nearly broke.

“Oh no, I wouldn’t want to ruin your fun, and besides it’s open now” Shining giggled.

“Not funny. Now hurry up I think this is the library.”

So the three orphans ran through the oak door and into the library of secrecy. When they entered they realised that there were two books in the library on pedestals and the both looked identical.

“How are we supposed to tell which one is which?” Oak questioned.

“Mystic, Oak, Shining, you have arrived. Do not make the wrong choice or else my brother will be set free and it would be the end of humanity. It is my brother, the dark unicorn, in the other book, he cannot be trusted. Remember the prophecy,

“That is simply rubbish, can you not see that my brother is lying to you” The other book shouted (can a book shout?).

“No, you are the liar. I recognise that voice from a dream I had that I can only now remember, for some reason.” Mystic walked up to the book on the right and turned the first page.

Chapter 13: Quest Complete

“No, you stupid child. You just had to remember, didn't you! Now I am finished.”

As the first page was turned the same light that had appeared in the forest leapt out of the pages in all its glory. The same creature from Mystic’s dream/vision suddenly burst out in front of the two travellers, who had journeyed far to reach the castle, and with all the same blazing light, as the two journeying children had seen in the forest, the creature took the shape of a golden shimmering alicorn.

“Wow” Oak stared in amazement at what she had just witnessed, "the legend is real!"

“Well done, you truly are the chosen ones” the golden alicorn said in his deep voice.

“Chosen ones?” Shining questioned.

"Yes, the shining star, the mystic moon and the leaf of a strong oak"

With a flick of his horn the magical being, that stood before the siblings, cast away the dreaded book that only brought fear into ponies hearts and minds.

“Can you explain why the animals were all so...so crazy?” Mystic said, struggling to find the right word.

“Yes, they could sense that my brother, my opposite, had been released and were very frightened, but they will be fine now that he is gone. Remember, all three of you, that no matter where you are or what you are doing, that friendship and joy can banish all evils and all darkness that you may encounter. Was it not your care for all creatures that brought you here? Was it not love for the animals around you and back home that told you to keep on going no matter what? It was your hope and love that allowed me to come and free you from my brother earlier.”

“That was you” Mystic said “I had no idea” She said sarcastically. Shining and Oak elbowed her to be quiet so that the pure magic alicorn could continue.

“Now it is time for you two to return home, your foster parents must be worried.”

“Wait you knew that we are ado-” Mystic started, but didn’t want to finish.

“Yes, I know, but never lose hope. It is time for you to leave” and with yet another flick of his horn Mystic, Shining and Oak were transported, in a whirl, to the gate that led up to their home.

When they arrived they were greeted by a loud voice that shouted to them,

“Look, they’re finally home.” Shining and Mystic looked up to see the familiar face of their foster mother running towards them. She stopped short, however, when she saw Oak Leaf. Oak hung her head and backed away, but was held in place by Mystic's firm hoof.

"Winter Breeze, this is Oak Leaf, her parents were killed and she was outcasted due to her looks. I said she could stay with us, that's okay, right?" Mystic explained, hoping that her foster mother would understand.

"That's terrible, of course she can stay with us, she can sleep in the spare room," Shining and Mystic's foster father said, having overheard the conversation while walking over to the group.

"Yay" Oak exclaimed, remembering how her mum would say she sounded like her grandmother when she 'yayed'.

Then came the bombardment. Questions about the journey were being flung around like snow in winter. Where did you go?, how did you find Oak Leaf?, how did you fix the animals? and what did you see? where only a few examples of the questions that were thrown at them. Really, all three of them just wanted to sleep. Sleep for 1000 years if possible. So with all the stealth of a cat (or timberwolf in Oak's case) the three children snuck off into their rooms, Oak deciding to sleep on a mattress in Mystic's room. Leaving the two foster parents laughing at them standing outside.

"I guess we've been fooled again."

A few days later Oak Leaf was sitting in the kitchen, watching the sunset from the window when she heard the doorbell ring. She got up to answer it and when the door swung open, she couldn't believe her eyes. There, standing with the light of the setting sun behind him and the pale clouds slowly drifting over his head was the one timberwolf Oak Leaf never thought she'd see again.

"Willow Root?"

Chapter 3: The Red Star Spider's Venom

“Soooooooooooo bored”

“Be quiet Mystic, if we don’t do this what will happen to Red and all the other animals?”

“Sorry, you’re right, let’s keep moving.”

So they did. The siblings walked for hours with only short breaks, not wanting to waste any time. After a few hours Mystic stated that she wanted to rest for a while before continuing. Shining's aching legs were in no position to argue. So the pair sat down for a while, then decided to lay down for a spell and what harm could come from closing their eyelids for a minute or two. Before they knew it they were both fast asleep.

A small way away a tiny little spider was crawling across the grassy field in which the filly and colt dreamed. It's miniature legs moving faster than any pony eye could follow, it's fangs dripping with it's transparent venom. This particular spider was a Red Star Spider, a Star Spider but with a red star on it's back and with a strange venom, and it was out for the hunt. It's method, bite, confuse and let it's victim die slowly. Unfortunately for this spider, it didn't enjoy killing other animals to eat, but it also didn't want to die itself. So it continued to kill, but only to survive, it always ate as little as possible. Today, however, was the one day it would have rather missed. Feasting day. The day where all the Red Star Spiders had an uncontrollable hunger that they had to satisfy or else it could get really nasty really fast (to put it simply, they 'eat' themselves). Fang, this spider, was particularly hungry for pony, his least favourite animal to kill. Looking to the foot of the hill, Fang saw two ponies sleeping, perfect targets. It was only when he got closer did the ravenous spider realise that they were just a colt and a filly! The little spider didn't want to kill children. Then a sudden jolt of pain passed through the tiny spiders body, it had to eat must eat, must eat, must eat, mu-"Alright, shut up already, I'll-I'll eat," Fang sounded less confident with each word. Despite his lack of confidence, Fang knew he would die if he didn't eat soon. So, reluctantly he bit into the golden coat of the colt and then the deep blue coat of the filly. The venom entered their bloodstream.

Shining woke up to the blinding light of Celestia's sun, or was it Luna's moon? For some reason Shining couldn't tell. It seemed as though both were in the sky, but that wasn't possible. Looking up Shining Star's mouth fell open in shock at the sight he saw. The sky was broken. I was cracked with some pieces missing, the violet night visible through the gaps in the sunlit sky. Jumping up Shining looked around to find himself in a completely different place to where he had been resting and his sister nowhere to be found. The area around the colt was barren and lonely, filled with lonely rocks, lonely stones and one lonely colt. Mystic was in the same situation and her brother, only, for her the day was breaking through the night. But, she was just as alone.

"Mystic, you out there, sis?" Shining called out into the empty landscape.

"Over here!" Mystic called back, relieved that her brother was there. However, it wasn't her brother, it was a huge chimera with an oddly similar voice to Shining Star. Mystic recoiled in fear; the chimera, surprisingly, did the same. Why? Mystic didn't know, but she did know that she had to get away from the creature as fast as possible, unless she wanted to be clawed apart. So she ran. She ran as fast as her legs could carry her, maybe even faster.

When Shining heard his sister reply her ran towards the voice, hoping that she might know what's going on. It wasn't Mystic. It was a giant red dragon that sounded strangely similar to Mystic. Shining recoiled in fear; the dragon,surprisingly, did the same. Why? Shining didn't know, but he did know that he had to get away from the creature as fast as possible, unless he wanted to be roasted by the dragon's fiery breath. So he ran. He ran as fast as his legs could carry him, maybe even faster.

Tears he didn't even know he possessed ran down Fang's face, he didn't know they were siblings. He had just made siblings run in fear of each other. Siblings! He never wanted any of this, but siblings, he would rather kill himself then break the bond between sibli-. Wait, he could undo the damage, it would mean certain death for him, but it would be worth it.

Mystic couldn't believe it. Tricked! She had been tricked. Sure it was a little odd the chimera had run away too and that it had Shining's voice, but still, no one tricks her. There was no way Mystic was going to let that chimera get away with what it did. So, fear forgotten, the filly raced back in what she thought was the direction she came from. It wasn't. In fact it wasn't the direction she wanted to go in at all.

Shining was so mad at himself for thinking that the dragon was Mystic, surely he should have been able to know that it wasn't his sister. He was so angry at the dragon too, how dare it try to trick him. Shining would show that dragon not to mess with him again, then he could go back to searching for his sister. So, with doubts set aside, Shining charged off to go show that ugly dragon not to mess with him. Fortunately, Shining was heading in the same direction as Mystic.

It took a while, but, Mystic finally ran into the chimera again, this time it looked angry. Well, so was she. With a growl the chimera charged at her with it's claws extended and it's path clear. Mystic rolled out of the way as the claws whipped passed her ear, delivering a few blows to the chimera's side. That stubborn chimera wasn't having it and ran at her again, sliding under her, knocking her legs so that they gave way beneath her. Mystic pushed herself up and twisted herself around to kick away the pouncing animal.

Shining landed flat on his back, he was so sure that dragon was down and out, but it somehow managed to twist itself around to kick him away. No matter thought Shining Star I can still beat this dragon, though, I wonder why it hasn't torched me yet? the colt wondered. The dragon seemed far more agile than any dragon Shining had seen, it was up and on the attack already. But he was ready this time. Aiming for the legs once more, the colt sprung forwards and, while the dragon was aiming low to greet the attack, lept up, landing square on the dragon's shoulders. Shining clung on for dear life as the dragon thrashed wildly beneath him. The dragon managed to throw him off and he landed, again, on his back.

Mystic couldn't believe how light the chimera had been, well, light for a chimera, it was like her brother was on her back, not some rampaging animal, it didn't take much effort to throw it off. No matter, she knew she had to send that beast scurrying back to it's cave. Spinning round on her front leg, Mystic Stuck out one of her back legs, kicking the chimera right between the eyes. It looked like it hurt; Mystic smiled. So far the fight was in her favor, the chimera only landing a few blows on her shoulders and a few bruises from the fall. She had this 'in the bag' as her da- foster dad would say. Wasting no time on her thoughts Mystics instincts kicked in as she saw the beast dodge around her and attempt to attack her from behind. Spinning around again Mystic delivered another powerful kick to its shoulder, never missing a beat.

If the dragon wasn't clearly a dragon then Shining would be nearly 100% sure it was his sister, only Mystic could spin and kick with such accuracy and with such power. But this wasn't Mystic, it was a dragon that was kicking his flank.

Fang didn't know what to do. If he didn't give them the antidote soon then they might end up killing each other, but, if he intervened now then he might be crushed and that would destroy all hope for the siblings. The spider decided to wait until one of them, most likely the colt from what he could see, was down for a while, then he would try to get the antidote to him. Fang only hoped that he would be given the opportunity to help.

The chimera was down. I-I did it! I actually did it! Wait until I tell Shining, now I just have to find him the triumphant thoughts rang through Mystics head like church bells, signaling the next hour. Meanwhile, Fang had found the opportunity he was looking for, the colt was don and the filly was too busy celebrating to be aware of her surroundings. The spider got to work and within two minuets both the filly and the colt were cured and lying unconscious, their bodies recovering.

Fang retreated away, knowing full well what would would happen to him now. He could already feel his stomach acid turning on him, devouring him from the inside out. Well Fang thought at least I died for something good. I'm glad I could help, or, rather, undo my mistake. It was worth it, totally... worth... it

Shining blinked, the world around him normal once again, and, lying a few metres away, Mystic, safe. However, she had some injuries on her shoulders and a few bruises....Mystic was the dragon! Why was she attacking me then? Shining wondered, "Hang on. If she looked like a dragon to me, then what if I looked like a dragon or something else to her?!" Shining figured out it was an illusion as soon as he realised that Mystic was the dragon, "Hey, Mystic, Mystic! Wake up!" Shining Star shouted while shaking his sister in an attempt to wake her up.

"Ah! Don't get near me again you ugly- Oh, hi Shining, what happened to the chimera- and why are you- Are you the chimera?!" Mystic's mind was racing with crazy thoughts.

"Calm down! I-I was the..the chimera, right?" Mystic nodded, "And, to me, you were a dragon. It was, I think, an illusion," Shining explained.

"Well, um... I'm sorry for what I did to you, I thought you were a chimera so..." Mystic trailed off, never being any good at apologies.

"It's fine, just remind me to never make you mad," Shining joked. Laughing, Mystic chased him down the path, the both of them trying to make up for lost time. All the while, a small, insignificant spider smiled for the last time.