Sunlight filtered through the windows of the castle as Spike made his way along the hallways, illuminating his view with a faint cobalt glow. It was something that he'd grown accustomed to over the years but it always had a soothing effect whenever his nerves were frayed. Something told him that he needed it right now. Every time one of these major adventures began, he couldn't help but wonder to himself if this would be the last time he would see his home so peaceful. Or ever at all. The thought wasn't helped by the knowledge of just what they would be doing.

Twilight and Aurora's plan was relatively straightforward: Split up into two groups and move to secure both the Elements of Harmony and the Alicorn Amulet at the same time. He would be leading the ponies headed into the Everfree Forest for the elements and had already taken measures to ensure everypony would be safe while inside. Twilight would take all the unicorns in their group and get the amulet. It may have seemed strange to do so, but Aurora's belief was that Tantabus would be focused on the offensive and go after the amulet. Unless they were lucky enough for her not to know about it, it was possible that she would get there at the same time they did. As the events of the past few days had shown, it was likely that those without magic wouldn't stand a chance in a straight fight.

The worrying thoughts lingering in his mind, he took a slow breath to calm himself before reaching the door to Twilight's room and opened it up.

"Twilight? Everypony's ready to go."

Spike didn't even blink as a white marble shot toward his face before stopping an inch away from his nose. He was long used to Twilight's style of meditation and she hardly ever clipped him anymore, even when caught by surprise. Twilight herself was sat in the center of her room, levitating herself in her magic with a full set of similar marbles orbiting her in all directions. Once the lone marble had been returned to the others she opened an eye and lowered herself back to the ground, setting the marbles down in a case by her bed.

"Thanks, Spike. I think I am too." She said, her voice a little smoother than it had been earlier. A quick glance at the clock confirmed it was only half past three. Earlier than anticipated considering the rapid briefing and training she had been through with the other unicorns, followed by a brief period to relax herself. They would need to head out now if everypony was to be back safe before nightfall though.

"Glad to see it," The dragon commented as he waited for Twilight to join him, the two of them making their way back toward the foyer. "So how did it go with the others."

"Well, Sweetie Belle hasn't lost her drive to learn from me," Twilight smiled wistfully, remembering just how close she had come to taking her on as a student after becoming Princess of Friendship. "She picked up the basics of shield magic really quickly. Starlight Glimmer doesn't seem to have lost much of her strength. If she can keep it focused...Rarity and Bounty may not be as used to this sort of thing but Aurora will be looking out for everypony."

"Same as I will for the others."

Twilight's smile became more genuine at that, not needing any words to show how much his support meant. By the time they reached the foyer everypony had gathered in preparation. Aurora, Rarity, Bounty, Sweetie Belle, Trixie and Starlight were off to one side with everypony else waiting by the main doors. Only Fluttershy was missing, likely making sure her family was alright before she set out.

"Alright everypony," Twilight said as she made her way down to ground level, doing her best to keep her voice calm. "I just want you to know that I trust you all. Even you, Starlight. Look out for each other, be careful, and everything will be alright."

"...That's it?" Trixie asked after a moment of silence. Although there was some teasing in her tone, it was mostly genuine surprise.

"Sometimes we don't have time for a big friendship speech," Twilight replied as she moved over to the unicorns. Trixie looked a little put out but didn't comment. "Okay, gather close to me or Aurora."

As the group huddled up in preparation for their part, Spike came over to the remaining pegasi and earth ponies. Applejack, Apple Bloom and Pinkie Pie looked as ready to go as ever, Peace Walker even more so. Deep Note was fidgeting with his wings slightly and Quick Fix wasn't even trying to hide how nervous he looked, although Scootaloo was doing her best to keep him focused.

"We all ready here?" Spike asked as he joined them.

"Sure are," Applejack told him. "Fluttershy went on ahead to check up on her kids. She'll meet us at her place."

"Alright. We shouldn't waste any more time then."

Spike took a last look back as Twilight and Aurora teleported away with their group before setting his sights forward again and pushing the doors open. The seven ponies and one dragon set off at a quick pace, making their way across Ponyville. At the back of the group, Scootaloo noticed that Quick was lagging behind slightly and dropped back to fall in step with him.

"You okay?" She asked gently. It took a moment for him to blink back into focus and look at her.

"I err, yeah. Yeah, kinda," He admitted, sighing slightly. "I'm just...Well, I'm scared about all this. I mean I actually get nervous about my own job if I let my thoughts dwell on it. This is times a million."

"You know there's no shame in backing out right? No need to try and be a hero just to impress anypony."

"I know. But I promised to help however I could, I'm not going to give up now. Besides, being a hero takes a bit more than just standing up against evil."

"Actually that's pretty much all you need," Peace Walker interjected, glancing back at them. "The will to stand your ground, mixed with being in the wrong place at the right time and enough luck for three lifetimes. At least, that's how Bulwark always put it..."

Scootaloo and Quick exchanged a look and moved forward to stick with Peace. Even if they were attempting to discuss an awkward topic, it put the stallion's focus back where it needed to be.

The general discussion slipped back into more positive topics for everypony else after that, almost like they were just a regular group with nothing wrong looming over them. Before long they had passed through town and were making their way toward Fluttershy's cottage and wildlife sanctuary. Fluttershy was waiting for them by the entrance gates, her wings twitching slightly. Standing next to her was a familiar zebra, studying everypony calmly as they approached.

"Fluttershy, Warden Zecora." Spike greeted them both. Zecora chuckled softly and raised a hoof in good natured dismissal.

"My friend, you need not be so formal. I still prefer to be treated like normal." She replied. Time had been kind to the herbalist turned protector of the Everfree Forest. Despite being in her late fifties, she was as physically adept as she was twenty years ago and the only significant difference in her appearance was her manestyle, now flowing loosely and tucked under the hem of a light brown robe she wore for carrying plants, seeds and concoctions.

"You doing alright too, Fluttershy?" Applejack asked her friend as she came up to her.

"Oh, yes," Fluttershy replied, smiling gently. "Silent Breeze and Mist Chaser know everything they need to to look after the sanctuary and Star Glider settled quickly again after nursing. I'm ready now."

"Is everypony else ready to proceed?" Zecora asked, watching as they all either motioned or voiced their readiness. "Then let us make haste, and may our task succeed."

Zecora quickly turned and started down the path that led on toward the Everfree, the rest of the group following closely behind her. Although the forest retained much of its imposing appearance from the outside, once they had passed through the outer perimeter of trees it felt largely like any other woodland. Enough sunlight filtered through the canopy to provide good visibility and the few creatures that were about quickly scurried away in the face of such a sizeable group.

"Maybe it's just me being unfamiliar with it," Peace said after as the surroundings got slightly darker. "But, are we sure that just walking into the most dangerous forest in Equestria is a good idea?"

"Oh we used to do it all the time," Pinkie told her, bouncing in place for a moment to drop back beside her. "And that was before we had pony troopers keeping these outskirts clear and Zecora doing her part to keep those beasties deeper in calm. We're probably safer here right now than we were in Ponyville."

"An' if we weren't, ah'd just have to protect you." Apple Bloom told Pinkie teasingly, getting a giggle out of the party mare. Peace gave an almost unnoticeable shudder at that and looked firmly forward again.

"I wouldn't worry," Spike told her reassuringly. "The Everfree forest really has lost a lot of its edge over the years. Even if there are still things big enough to cause trouble, Zecora could probably handle most of them. With me here too, nothing's gonna lay a claw on any of you."

"Ah sure hope so," Applejack said quietly, sighing to herself. "I really don't want to have to face another chimera or cragadile..."

"Well, it's like Princess Twilight said, we'll be looking out for each other," Deep Note said to her as he gave her a gentle nudge with his wing and got thankful smile for it. "Though, why a cragadile?"

"We made a bad decision regarding Twilight after an encounter with one years ago," Fluttershy explained, hoping to spare Applejack from having to admit it had been her idea. "An understandable one in the moment, but still wrong."

That reminds me," Apple Bloom said after a few moments of quiet. "Twilight always said that the Tree of Harmony generated a magic that helped keep the forest contained. Is taking the elements that give it strength a good idea? Or are we just riskin' another threat once we're done?"

"It's a much stronger tree than you like, almost like it's made of iron instead of wood," Pinkie told her. "I mean it managed to go without the elements for a good two thousand, two hundred and eighty three years without them, all while getting some pretty serious poking from Discord's plunder seeds. I doubt it'll mind if we borrow them for a week. Three tops."

"Okay, but...Are we even gonna be able t'get them without Twilight, Rarity an' Rainbow Dash?"

Fluttershy and Scootaloo suddenly looked more worried at the thought. Applejack straight up stopped in surprise, causing Quick to walk into her from behind. The whole group stopped for a moment as the four of them untangled themselves and regained their composure.

"Twilight was certain that we won't have that problem," Spike explained before anypony could start to worry further. "She was able to return each of the elements to the tree on her own and theorized that just the presence of an element bearer will be enough to retrieve them. If not, we'll think of something."

"Let's hope so. I don't know about the rest of you, but I can't shake the feeling we're going to run into trouble." Quick said as the group started moving again, the nerves seeping back into his voice.

"Do not underestimate the strength in your soul, we are all more than capable of reaching this goal," Zecora told him. "If we are alone, it is still a boon, for if we hurry then we shall be there soon."

"She's right, Quick. The quicker we're done, the less likely it is something'll go wrong," Deep added, spurring the earth stallion into quickening his pace. "Though I have to admit, it being calm does worry me."

"Yeah, if we're not the ones running into trouble..." Scootaloo said, picking up her pace as well.

"Maybe the others have finished already." Fluttershy offered hopefully. It was a welcome thought but nopony could shake the idea that it wasn't going to be that simple.

The rest of the walk was made in comparative silence. Although they weren't headed for the deepest depths of the Everfree, the thicker canopy and setting sun meant that the light was fading fast. Zecora knew the trails better than anypony and kept the group moving, quickly weaving her way through the trees with everypony following close behind. After a few more minutes the trees gave way to open space, allowing the group to spread out slightly and take in the view before them. A familiar rocky chasm stretched ahead, the ground beyond rising steadily to the ruins of the Castle of the Two Sisters, silhouetted slightly by the setting sun. An isolated cave just visible within the canyon marked their final destination; the Tree of Harmony.

"There, it was not so tough. We are here sure enough." Zecora said with a small grin. Quick just nodded, looked visibly relieved to be out of the woods at this point.

"Alrighty then, let's get down there and get some elements, again!" Pinkie declared, bouncing forward and over the edge of the cliff, going into a dive only to stop after a few feet. "Wheeeeaaaat?"

"Pinkie Pie, there are stairs. Remember?" Applejack said to her, effortlessly holding her friend by the tail to keep her from dropping any further.

"Oh yeah. I mean duh, I found them." Pinkie said, mostly to herself as Applejack hauled her back up to safe ground.

"They were literally twenty feet away too," Apple Bloom added, chuckling softly. "Never change, Pinball."

With a way down established, the group made their descent. Fluttershy, Scootaloo and Deep Note flew down while Spike dug his claws into the rock face and clambered down, being a big too big for the stairs everypony else was using. Between the lighter environment now they were in the open and the prospect of their task almost being complete, everypony was in higher spirits.

"Alright, let's not waste any time," Spike said once they were all on the ground again. "Quick Fix, Deep Note, Peace Walker and I will keep watch for Tantabus out here. Everyone else, do your best to get the elements from the tree."

"You got it," Applejack replied, quickly turning for the cave. "Come on girls."

"And don't worry about getting jumped in there," Quick told them in an effort to be reassuring while Deep took off to watch from above. "We'll keep a keen eye open. I mean, I will, Alert is my middle name."

"It's actually Daniel." Pinkie whispered to Scootaloo, making the younger mare chuckle knowingly.

With the others taking up positions outside, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Zecora made their way into the cave. It was even brighter in here than outside, the glow of dozens of white leaves reflecting off the crystalline trunk of the Tree of Harmony. The elements of honesty, laughter, loyalty, generosity and kindness were still in place at the end of each main branch, the element of magic firmly fixed to the main trunk, each still styled after the cutie marks of their bearers. Nopony had been here in years but the sight was no less spectacular, even for those that had seen it before.

"Woah..." Scootaloo said quietly, eyes widening as she took it in, completely awestruck. "So this is where all the rainbow laser powers Rainbow Dash told me about come from?"

"Pretty much." Applejack replied. Filling her in on their actual purpose would be a long story. Explaining the truth as Twilight had learned from Princess Celestia would take all night.

"It looks even better than the last time I saw it." Fluttershy said happily, flapping up to her element and studying the tree.

Applejack nodded as she moved under the branch where honesty rested, Pinkie bounding up to hers and watched it expectantly. For several seconds, nothing happened. Several more seconds passed, still nothing.

"So, is there some kinda trigger to get them out?" Apple Bloom asked as she moved up to the tree and looked over the marks of Celestia and Luna engraved below the element of magic.

"Honestly, ah'm not sure. Normally they just react to however we needed them," Applejack admitted. "That and we've never actually tried to remove them from the tree either."

"Awww come on Mr. Tree. Can we just borrow them to save Equestria again? Please?" Pinkie asked, narrowing her eyes and focusing extra hard.

Just as Scootaloo leaned in with a quizzical look, the three glowed slightly brighter for the briefest of moments before the elements detached from their branches. Fluttershy was in position for hers to drop into her hooves while Applejack and Pinkie caught theirs as they fell. Apple Bloom was underneath the element of loyalty and managed to catch it as well. Scootaloo quickly darted over and grabbed the element of generosity before it hit the ground.

"Did...Did that actually work?" Scootaloo asked in disbelief, turning the element over in her hooves to make sure it hadn't taken any knocks.

"Eh, I'm good with persuading inanimate objects." Pinkie replied simply, slipping her element in her mane for storage.

"I cannot say what caused the tree to concede, but there is still one element not yet freed." Zecora pointed out. Sure enough, the element of magic was still firmly in place within the trunk.

"Hmmm. I wonder why that one got left behind." Fluttershy mused, hovering in front of the tree and looking it over.

"Well, we've got five out of six," Apple Bloom added. "If I'm honest, ah think it might be an idea to head back before the night sets in though. If Twilight got her part done she can just magic here, get her element and be done quicker than anything. If she didn't, then one way or another it probably don't matter."

"That's...That's a fair point sis," Applejack said, both her and Zecora smiling with content at seeing such sense from the young mare. "Ain't gonna be much help trying to force the last element when we don't even know how we got these ones."

"Alright then, let's get out of here. Some of us probably don't want to be in the Everfree after dark." Scootaloo said as she headed for the exit at a quick trot.

The other five made to follow her out, knowing that overstaying their welcome in this particular forest was a risk they didn't need to take. Just as they reached the exit though, a sudden flash from behind made everypony swing round, braced for anything. Even though it was immediately evident that nothing had happened to the Tree of Harmony, none of them were prepared for the pony that was standing before it.

Or the one lying unconscious at their hooves.

Author's Note

Not gonna lie, after this I have a lot more respect for every show writer that has done an episode with Zecora in it.