The Everfree Forest

According to the reference guide, there are five known Elements of Harmony: Honesty, Laughter, Loyalty, Kindness, and Generosity, though some pages were torn from the book. It was likely useful information. The elements were stored within a royal castle deep in the Everfree Forest, so that was where I headed.

Previous fighting had left my clothing torn and more tattered than it already was. I needed protective barding, but there weren’t too many blacksmiths to be found in those times. I wasn’t about to loot a hollow for their armor. I’ve heard it’s cursed gear they have.

That left me treading through the Everfree Forest with nothing more than a torn cloak, a ratty shawl covering my neck, simple metal horseshoes and, just as always, my trusty longsword. The Everfree wasn’t nearly as quiet as the lonesome road, but the noises I heard weren’t exactly comforting either. Skittering amongst the bushes and howling in the distance. At worst, it’d be the sound of breathing, only it wasn’t coming from my lungs.

It was in this period of walking when it happened. A foul scent overtook my muzzle. I could hear the clacking and squeaking of wood against wood. Rough breathing and light growling sounded from all around me. Out of the corner of the eye, I caught it. It was a wooden beast with green glowing eyes and sharp pointed teeth.

Timberwolves

The first leapt at me from behind. I bucked it out of the air with my hind hooves and quickly proceeded with sprinting fast as I could. I drew my sword in my muzzle. Another timberwolf lunged at my side. I rolled forward. The beast missed and landed on the ground tactfully. One wolf jumped out in front of me. I smashed through its head with my sword. I glanced back at the beasts following me. There were too many to count.

Another issue laid in endurance. I was a pony, a living creature. I couldn’t run for an eternity on end. These things were likely cursed beasts made with dark magic; they’d eventually catch me. For a matter of fact, they were already growing uncomfortably close. Fate was looking grim until a loud roaring sounded. A lion’s roar, something odd to be heard in a forest such as this. I always thought lions resided in grasslands.

The Timberwolves stopped chasing me immediately, instead choosing to run away. I was too busy catching my breath to notice the real danger ahead. An even greater beast had emerged, one bearing leathery wings, a scorpion’s tail, and the head of a lion. The Manticore gazed at me from down the forest. I took better grip of the weapon in my mouth, preparing for an arduous fight.

The beast began running towards me. It roared and gnashed its many teeth. I rolled out of the way of an attempted tackle. I slashed at the manticore as it landed, but my blade couldn’t quite cut through manticore hide like hollows. The beast batted me away with its tail, sending my flying back and landing on my side. I climbed atop my hooves, only to be caught by a set of manticore claws. The beast tore my shawl away from my neck and cut clear through the meat on my chest. I staggered away, trying to find opportunity to drink from my flask.

The manticore lunged at me with its toxic pointed tail. I rolled to the side of the beast. It tried to bite me, but I narrowly rolled out of the way, ending up behind the beastly creature. I braced myself for impact. The manticore slammed me with its tail again. I flew back just as last time, but anticipation allowed me to stick a proper landing. I took the time to drink from my Phoenix Flask as the beast turned towards me. It lunged full body at me. I rolled out of way of the tackle, slashing it with my sword. I managed three cuts to the creature’s side before it clawed at me again. A fresh set of wounds split on my foreleg. The manticore readied its tail to strike. I sheathed my sword and prepared to dodge the attack. The beast thrust its tail at me. I narrowly backstepped out of danger and gripped the scorpion tail with my teeth. The manticore lifted me into the air with its tail and immediately tried to fling me off the appendage. I opted to land on its back. I clung to the beast’s back with my hooves as I drank more from my Phoenix Flask.

The manticore began bucking about wildly while I hung onto its mane with my muzzle. I drew my sword in the clutch, rearing my foreleg to strike with blade. The manticore then bucked me off its back, sending me to the ground with a meaty thud. The beast pounced upon my laying body. It clawed through my side and nearly took my head off with its claws. A simple jerk of the head ensured the claws tore off part of my left ear rather than my skull.

“AGHHH!”

The manticore reared back to bite me. The beast opened its powerful jaws… and that was when I struck. I shoved my blade and the hoof attached down the manticore’s throat. My sword cut through the manticore’s throat, lungs, and some of his other vitals. The dying beast tried to bite my leg clear off, but could only managed to tear through flesh, not bone. I pulled my hoof out of the manticore. It was coated in blood, both the beast’s and my own. I promptly finished off the golden liquid in my Phoenix Flask. My leg, ear, and side began healing, though the wounds couldn’t completely seal the wounds. I hadn’t enough of my flask left.

Not to mention, I was missing half of an ear.

I tore off the rags covering my body. The manticore managed to tear my clothes to tatters. I continued to tread through the Everfree Forest with nothing but my sword and my saddlebags.

I trotted between a peculiar grove of trees. They were twisted and misshapen, almost looking like living creatures. I first mistook them for more beasts of the Everfree, with sharp teeth and sickly talons. They caught me off guard. I screamed in terror before realizing they were none other than trees. Twisted, yes, but they were still harmless.

The whole ordeal managed to draw a bout of laughter from me.

I continued until encountering a river. It appeared rather calm, serene even, but only until a great creature rose from its waters. Again, I first mistook it for a beast. I drew my sword in panic. The creature dripped with waters from the river. A massive river serpent sat in the water. His protective scales were of a lavender shade. It bore a magnificent orange mane with yellow streaks, and an equally magnificent moustache. The right end of his facial hair was a shade of deep purple rather than orange, almost as if another’s hair was fused in place.

The serpent declared, “The Harmony Keeper has appointed me to guard the Castle of the Two Sisters. Who are you, and what is it you seek?”

I answered, “My name is Fluoresce Daydream! I am a Sunseeker, coming from afar in search for the Elements of Harmony. I have heard they lie within the Castle!”

The serpent chuckled at me, stroking the purple end of his moustache.

“Aaa… another hopeless romantic in search of those Elements… Mhmm, the Harmony Keeper’s awaiting you inside the Castle. I shall allow you inside, for her.”

He settled into the river, forming a bridge across with his own body. I took to crossing the river on his lavender scales, nearly slipping a couple of times. I made it across without harm.

“Thank you, jolly friend!” I praised.

“Come now, you’ll make me blush! It’s just my job.”

I proceeded through the Everfree with a smile on my face. That river serpent was rather kind. I would’ve hated to have killed the guy.

I totted across an unsteady rope bridge. On the other end laid the castle or, at least, what remained of it anyway. Centuries of weathering appeared to have worn on the royal structure. There wasn’t too much keeping me from crossing the wooden rope structure.

I approached the castle. The wounds on my leg and side hadn’t completely healed over yet. I trotted through ruins. Bits of stone and rubble littered the ground. Soiled paintings and torn banners cloaked some of the stones. Old celestial imagery laid about: moons, stars, and the sun. I trotted through it all, approaching more sturdy remains of the structure deeper inside.

I eventually entered one of the remaining structures of the castle. Inside, I found two ponies. One was a white coated unicorn stallion with a two toned blue mane. He was a well-built stallion, muscular and sturdy. He wore a set of damaged barding, fit with dents and worn buckles. His armor was a faded royal purple with hints of gleaming gold. A matching helm with a dual toned plume fitting his mane sat next to him.

Sitting next to him was a mare in black and grey robes. A hood was pulled down, laying on the back of her neck. She was a lavender unicorn. She had a straight cut mane, dark purple with some streaks of lavender and pink. She appeared to be wearing some sort of saddlebags underneath the robes.

Then there was me. I typically didn’t go without some sort of clothing. It’s usually a sign of weakness, showing a pony has no armor whatsoever. I stood there before the two ponies. I was just a humble earth stallion, if not taller than most ponies. I was built lean, fit for dodging rather than strength like the unicorn stallion. My coat was a charcoal grey shade. My mane was a dark navy blue shade. On my flanks laid my cutie mark, the eclipsed moon surrounded by a ring of fire.

Both ponies looked at me as I entered. The mare was alit with happiness and excitement. The stallion rolled his eyes, casting me away with a look.

The mare asked, “Is that a Sunseeker who comes in search for the Elements of Harmony.”

I spoke. “Yes, that’s me! Are they inside these castle ruins?”

The stallion chuckled. “Don’t you think we would’ve cured this land if they were?”

The mare butted in. “Come now, Shiny, he’s just going off what he read in a book. You are, aren’t you?”

I curiously pulled the reference guide out of my saddlebag and placed it in front of the mare. Her face was practically glowing in glee.

“See, he’s here on good intentions!” She declared. “I shall put this back, so others like you might find the castle some day!”

She casted a spell on the book. It disappeared in a purple flash.

“Good intentions?” The stallion snorted at the comment. “Just like Scootaloo was here on good intentions? Tell me, when was the last time we saw her?”

The mare frowned at the stallion before looking at me.

She said, “Don’t mind my brother; he’s just tired. I am Twilight Sparkle, the Harmony Keeper. This is my brother, Shining Armor. Might we ask your name?”

I answered, “Fluoresce. My name is Fluoresce Daydream.”

Twilight said, “Come now, rest at the bonfire. You look like you could use it.

She pointed at the fire place in the center of the room. I eagerly followed instruction, resting at the warming flame and the coiled sword. Twilight followed me to the bonfire.

I asked, “So… if the Elements aren’t here, then where are they?”

The warming flame quickly began healing the wounds on my body, as well as refilling my Phoenix Flask.

Twilight explained, “The Elements of Harmony used to belong to five mares, my old friends, but now they’re all scattered. The Elements are capable of extremely powerful magic together, but separately, they are useless. That is where a pony like you comes in.”

“Who are these five mares? Where are they?”

“The five mares are Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and the three knights: Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity. They were each bearers of the five different Elements, all here in Ponyville, but they each returned to their separate homes after splitting apart. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy returned to Cloudsdale, capital of the Pegasai. Pinkie Pie returned to her family’s rock farm in-“

I piqued up curiously. “Excuse me, rock farm?”

“Yes, the Pie Family rock farm just beyond Ghastly Gorge. Do not ask of the purpose. Where was I now… Rarity fled to Canterlot, a mare fit for royalty. Applejack’s farm, Sweet Apple Acres, still lies within Ponyville. I would begin there.”

“You’re saying Applejack, an Element bearer, is still here in Ponyville!?”

Twilight said, “It’s a possibility. Though, nopony has tread upon Sweet Apple Acres and returned in quite some time.”

“Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rarity… how will I reach the sky-bound city of Cloudsdale?”

“I know of a spell to allow you to tread upon clouds,” Twilight informed. “You only need a balloon or similar device to get you up there.”

“So once I do that, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy.”

I stood up at the bonfire.

“By Celestia, I will gather all five Elements of Harmony, or die trying!”